Casual dining - Hospitality

Generation Next

Smoke + Ash: “We think the whole concept of pizza can be pushed”

08-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The founders of Birmingham-based pizzeria Smoke + Ash have learnt a lot in their first year as restaurateurs, and now they’re looking to parlay that knowledge into long-term success.

Azzurri Group looks to test bidders’ appetite with auction sale

08-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group owner Towerbrook Capital Partners is lining up bankers to launch an auction next year of the Ask, Zizzi and Coco di Mama restaurant chains.

Banana Tree doubles estate in a year

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Fast casual pan-Asian chain Banana Tree has doubled its estate in a year following its acquisition by The Big Table Group.

Train strikes knock profits at Drake & Morgan as sales rise

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Ongoing industrial action on the railways has been blamed for dip in profits at Drake & Morgan, with the group reporting a rise in sales in its latest financial results.

Arslan Sharif: “Just another loyalty scheme would simply not do”

06-Dec-2023 By Arslan Sharif

The digital and loyalty director at PizzaExpress on how the group has linked the physical and the digital with its sophisticated and highly-successful loyalty app.

Various Eateries looks to raise £12m

05-Dec-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Various Eateries has confirmed it is in advanced stages of conducting a potential fundraising of up to £12m.

How I Got Here: Ranjit Mathrani

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The chairman of Indian restaurant group MW-Eat, who was recognised at this year's R200 Awards, on what makes a good leader and how to deal with unpredictability in business.

Honest Burgers ‘back growing business’ after clash with HMRC

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Honest Burgers is ‘back growing its business’ after a clash with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) briefly saw it slapped with a winding-up petition.

JKS targets US market after latest funding round

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

JKS is eyeing expansion into the US market as well as further growth in the Middle East following the completion of its latest funding round.

Debt pile grows for top restaurant groups leaving some 'in a precarious position'

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The collective debt burden of the UK’s top restaurant groups has broken through the £3bn mark for the first time, new research by UHY Hacker Young shows.

Restaurant radar: December 2023

01-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

This month's key openings include two new ventures from Cardiff restaurateurs Sophie Pascoe and Benito Martinez, the return of Gilgamesh, and the UK debut of Monaco and Dubai-based restaurant Gaia.

The Lowdown: Bistro Greggs

01-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The high street bakery chain is looking to stake (bake) a claim on the dinner market with a month-long, pop-up restaurant featuring a Gallic-inspired menu.

Mitchells & Butlers posts 'record outperformance' against the market

30-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 9.1% in its latest financial results covering the year ended 30 September 2023.

Gary Usher warns tough trading could force him to close Burnt Truffle

30-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Gary Usher has warned he may be forced to close his Burnt Truffle restaurant in Heswall unless trade picks up.

‘Challenging’ recruitment landscape forces Ottolenghi to cut opening hours as group sees turnover rise

30-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The Ottolenghi group has had cut operating hours across some of its sites as a result of challenges to recruitment caused by Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kricket tees up fourth London site as it secures further funding

29-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Rik Campbell and Will Bowlby will launch a fourth restaurant under their modern-Indian brand Kricket next year in London’s Canary Wharf, alongside a second iteration of their SOMA bar concept.

Latest opening: Rind

28-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Turophile Mathew Carver has swapped central London for the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales for his latest restaurant venture.

Loungers CFO to step down as group toasts 'strong financial and operational growth'

28-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Loungers chief financial officer Gregor Grant has told the company he plans to step down next July after six years in the role.

The Restaurant Group shareholders approve sale to Apollo

28-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Shareholders of The Restaurant Group (TRG) have formally approved its sale to private equity company Apollo Global Management for £506m.

Berenjak launches international outpost in Dubai

27-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

London-based Persian restaurant brand Berenjak has launched its first international location in Dubai’s Dar Wasl district.

Pho continues expansion amid sales growth

27-Nov-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Pho Restaurants has reported financial results for the year ended 19 February 2023, with turnover of £58.3m.

Perilla pair to launch Morchella in Clerkenwell

23-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The pair behind popular north London restaurant Perilla are to launch a new venture next year in Clerkenwell, just off Exmouth Market.

Competitive socialising venues growing at ‘unparalleled levels’

23-Nov-2023 By Hannah Currie

The competitive socialising sector has grown extensively in recent years, with a 38% uptick in venues since 2018.

'Macro pressures' force Neat Burger to halve its UK estate

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Neat Burger, the vegan fast food concept backed by Lewis Hamilton and Leonardo DiCaprio, is to close half of its UK estate amid large-scale financial pressures.

Confidence in hospitality sector climbs again despite cost challenges and rates threat

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The optimism of Britain’s hospitality leaders has risen for the fourth quarter in a row, but they remain concerned about inflation in key inputs, and the challenge of business rates.

Delivery and takeaway sales grow for fifth consecutive month

21-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Delivery and takeaway sales at the country’s leading managed restaurant groups rose 5% year-on-year in October 2023, figures show.

Long read

Jamie Oliver: “This is a really important moment, and it means the world to me”

21-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The TV chef has assembled a team of familiar faces from his Barbecoa days to lead the opening of his highly anticipated return to London’s restaurant scene.

Tesco delists Cinnamon Kitchen retail range after a year

20-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Cinnamon Kitchen’s retail range has been axed by Tesco after little more than a year.

Whyte Rushen launches crowdfund to support the opening of first permanent restaurant

17-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The London-based chef known as Whyte Rushen has created a crowdfund to support the opening of his first permanent restaurant, which is set to launch next month in Hackney.

Strong post-pandemic recovery pushes Hawksmoor to ‘record sales and profitability’

15-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hawksmoor is toasting ‘record sales and profitability’ across its restaurant estate following a strong post-pandemic recovery.

Wet weather softens growth for managed restaurants in October

15-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Managed restaurant groups saw year-on-year sales growth slow to 2.7% last month amid widespread poor weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

UK restaurant market growth remains behind pubs and fast food as outlet decline hinders recovery

15-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The UK restaurant market is forecast to grow by 5.2% to a value of £18.7bn in 2023, the latest Lumina Intelligence Restaurant Market Report shows.

Rising costs and reduced footfall force Liverpool restaurant Lu Ban to close

14-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Liverpool restaurant Lu Ban has permanently closed its doors after four years of trading, with a combination of rising costs and reduced footfall cited as being behind the decision.

Purezza acquires plant-based cheesemonger La Fauxmagerie

13-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Brighton-based vegan pizza brand Purezza has acquired a majority stake in artisanal plant-based cheese manufacturer La Fauxmagerie.

Jamie Oliver: Jamie’s Italian model was ‘wrong from day one’

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Jamie Oliver has admitted the model for his Jamie’s Italian chain, which collapsed back in 2019, was ‘wrong from day one’.

Wingstop to open two more Scottish restaurants

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingstop UK is opening two more sites in Scotland by the end of the year to bring its total to three restaurants in the country.

Edinburgh pizzeria Matto to launch third site

10-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Edinburgh-based Neapolitan pizza brand Matto will launch its third and largest site later this month in the Scottish capital’s Newington neighbourhood on the southside of the city.

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Down but never out: I salute the comeback kings

10-Nov-2023 By Stefan Chomka

Jamie Oliver and Jeremy King are two high-profile restaurateurs who could have called time on the sector after suffering setbacks, but both are back with something to prove.