Casual Dining

Lina Stores heads south of the river

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

London-based Italian brand Lina Stores will launch its first outpost south of the river next month in Clapham, nearly two years after the opening was first mooted.

Prezzo warns creditors it would ‘likely enter administration’ without restructuring plan

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has warned creditors that it would ‘likely enter into administration’ should its recently announced restructuring plan, which will see nearly a third of its estate closed, not be implemented.

P.Franco to return following successful crowdfund

09-May-2023 By James McAllister

Lauded low-intervention wine bar and dining counter P.Franco in east London is set to reopen it doors next month following a successful crowdfund led by former manager Will Gee.

The Vurger Co. closes Canary Wharf site as founders acquire brand in pre-pack sale

05-May-2023 By James McAllister

Vegan fast food restaurant group The Vurger Co. has been bought out of administration by its founders in a pre-pack sale.

London footfall on the rise as workers return to offices

05-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

London has risen to second place in the latest Top Cities table from CGA by NIQ and Wireless Social, following a bounce back in office workers and visitors to the capital over the first quarter of 2023.

Julie McEwan appointed permanent CEO at Hostmore

03-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Julie McEwan has been confirmed as the permanent CEO at Hostmore, having led the business on an interim basis since January.

Mamma Dough bought out of administration

02-May-2023 By James McAllister

South London-based pizza chain Mamma Dough has been bought out of administration, with five of the group’s seven sites set to continue trading.

Restaurant radar: May 2023

02-May-2023 By Restaurant

This month's key openings include new concepts from chef Eyal Shani and Taiwanese restaurant group BAO, as well as the international debut of Barcelona-based restaurant group Los Reyes del Mango.

Hospitality records more than 12 closures a day as nearly 4,600 venues shut in a year

02-May-2023 By James McAllister

Britain has suffered a net decline of 4,593 licensed premises in the last year to March 2023, the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners shows.

Jamie Oliver to return to London’s restaurant scene with new Covent Garden opening

02-May-2023 By James McAllister

Jamie Oliver has confirmed he will open a new ‘landmark’ restaurant in London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, later this year.

Holy Carrot to make permanent debut in Notting Hill

02-May-2023 By Restaurant

Plant-based restaurant Holy Carrot will launch its debut permanent restaurant in Notting Hill this autumn.

Friday five: the week's top hospitality stories

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

This week's most read stories include the announcement of the Chef of the Year shortlist at this year's Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards, and more pressure being put on The Restaurant Group by its shareholders,

Flat Iron sets its sights on Manchester

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

London-based steakhouse group Flat Iron is looking to open a restaurant in Manchester as part of a push outside of London.

Maison De Boeuf to launch in Cardiff

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

A Parisian-inspired bistro where steak frites is its hero dish is to open in Cardiff’s Castle Arcade next month.

New pan-Asian restaurant concept to debut in London

27-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A new pan-Asian restaurant concept is to make its debut on Lisle Street in London’s Chinatown this summer with a former Hakkasan chef overseeing the menu.

Second shareholder voices intention to vote against TRG’s remuneration policies

27-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A second shareholder in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it intends to vote against its remuneration policy, piling further pressure on the beleaguered casual dining operator.

Tapas Revolution leaves £4.3m deficit as it's acquired in pre-pack deal

27-Apr-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Tapas Revolution has left a deficit of £4.3m to unsecured creditors after being bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal.

Weekly eating out occasions fall by 6%

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Weekly eating and drinking out occasions have declined 6.7% year on year as consumers continue to alter behaviours in response to the cost-of-living crisis, new data from Lumina Intelligence shows.

How I Got Here: Andrea Fraquelli

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of the Brasseria Family group London and grandson of Spaghetti House co-founder Lorenzo Fraquelli on being a third-generation restaurateur, working with his brother, and his problems with VAT.

Pret overhauls loyalty programme

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Pret a Manger has announced its coffee subscription service will be rebranded to Club Pret, with the price rising from £25 to £30 per month.

Oasis ups pressure on TRG as it urges shareholders to vote against remuneration policies

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

An activist investor in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has called on the company’s fellow shareholders to ‘reject pay without performance’ and vote against its remuneration policy at its upcoming AGM.

Latest opening: Browns Covent Garden

26-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The brasserie and bar brand has relaunched its West End restaurant to celebrates its 50th birthday.

Restaurant groups 'relying on menu price rises to stem delivery and takeaway losses'

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s top restaurant groups in March were 3% below the same month in 2022, the new Hospitality at Home Tracker from CGA by NIQ reveals.

Tommy Banks Group’s new pub with rooms to launch next month

25-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The Tommy Banks Group is to launch its latest venture, a pub with rooms in north Yorkshire, next month.

Itsu targeting £100m grocery business within two years following appointment of Justin King

25-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Itsu is looking to drive the sales of its grocery business to £100m in the next two years following the appointment of former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King.

MJMK launches crowdfund to expand Casa do Frango and launch second concept with Santiago Lastra

24-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The restaurant group behind Casa do Frango and Santiago Lastra’s KOL is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for further growth, including a second concept with the Mexican chef.

Prezzo set to shutter nearly a third of its estate with 810 jobs at risk

24-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has announced the closure of 46 loss-making sites across the country following a strategic review of the business, putting more than 800 staff at risk.

Hospitality 'stuck in a rut' as inflation continues to outpace growth

24-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in March were 1.4% ahead of last year’s levels, the new Coffer CGA Business Tracker shows.

Latest opening: Embers

21-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Brighton chefs Dave Marrow and Isaac Bartlett-Copeland are out to set the seaside city’s food scene alight with their new restaurant, which puts wood fire cooking front and centre.

The Lowdown: staff meals

21-Apr-2023 By Joe Lutrario

US-themed casual dining chain Fridays has chosen to defy industry norms by ditching free staff food.

Petition launched after Fridays chooses to scrap staff meals

20-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Unite Hospitality has launched a petition calling on Fridays to reinstate free staff meals after it was revealed the casual dining chain is to scrap the benefit for its employees.

Middle Eastern style American diner Epicurus to open in Camden

20-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The founders of Middle Eastern Steakhouse The Black Cow are opening a new restaurant in Camden this month.

Contemporary Korean restaurant Chungdam opens in Soho

19-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The London-based CJ One Group has launched a new contemporary Korean barbecue restaurant concept on Greek Street in Soho.

How I Got Here: Alex Head

19-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The owner of restaurant group and catering company Social Pantry on combining her love of food and entrepreneurship, challenging outdated attitudes in the industry, and her secret signature dish.

Mitchells & Butlers to acquire remaining stake in Ego Restaurants

19-Apr-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to acquire the remaining 60% stake in Ego Restaurants, with plans to expand the brand across the UK.

P.F. Chang’s UK acquired by Pizza Hut franchise

19-Apr-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Pizza Hut franchise group Zaf Holdings has acquired the P.F. Chang’s flagship London site in Leicester Square, as well as the brand's master franchise rights in the UK.

The Wolseley Hospitality Group makes international debut in Bangkok

18-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The Wolseley Hospitality Group (TWHG) has made its international debut with the launch of a Café Wolseley pop up in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

Uber Eats pilots reusable container scheme

18-Apr-2023 By Stefan Chomka

Uber Eats has partnered with a group of London restaurants to provide reusable containers for their food delivery.

James Cochran quietly shutters Valderrama’s

17-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

James Cochran has quietly closed his neighbourhood-style bar and fried chicken restaurant Valderrama’s in London's Islington, less than a year after it launched.

Noci to double up with new Battersea restaurant

17-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Neighbourhood pasta restaurant Noci will launch its second London site next month within the newly-restored Battersea Power Station.

Purnell’s Café & Bistro at Charterhouse to open this month

14-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

Glynn Purnell will open his new café and bistro in Coventry later this month.

Smoky Boys opens 12th site

14-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

BBQ and ‘grill haus’ brand Smoky Boys has launched its 12th restaurant, at Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth.

Eyal Shani to launch Lilienblum in east London

14-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Miznon founder Eyal Shani is to launch his second restaurant concept in the capital next month with the opening of Lilienblum close to Old Street in east London.

Richard Corrigan and Daisy Green to launch restaurants within National Portrait Gallery

13-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Chef Richard Corrigan and antipodean restaurant group Daisy Green will both launch restaurants within the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery in London when it reopens in June.

Brasserie Bar Co builds 'strong pipeline' of freeholds

12-Apr-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Brasserie Bar Co has a 'big pipeline' of sites coming up with three new freeholds acquired so far this financial year, executive chairman Mark Derry has said.

Tripadvisor removed 1.3 million fake reviews in 2022

12-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

Tripadvisor stopped 1.3 million fake reviews from appearing on its platform in 2022 as part of its crackdown on the practice, the company says.

Restaurant sales down 5.6% as Brits make further cutbacks

11-Apr-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The latest Barclays report is grim reading for restaurants with sales down 5.6% in March and consumer research showing that 62% of consumers are trying to cut down on eating out in full-service establishments.

Rudy’s to launch pizzaiolo training academy

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Rudy’s Pizza is to become the latest restaurant operator to launch an academy to train new recruits.

Alcohol-free restaurant group Coco to open third site

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Alcohol-free restaurant group Coco is to launch its third site next month in London’s Canary Wharf.

Lunar Pub Company to open ‘most ambitious site to date’ in Clapham

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Boutique hospitality group Lunar Pub Company is to open its third London gastropub this spring, which has been described as the operator’s ‘most ambitious site to date’.