Fast Food

US burger chain Wendy’s is looking to return to the UK

14-Oct-2019 By Stefan Chomka

US burger chain Wendy’s is looking to make a return to these shores almost two decades after pulling out of the UK.

Bleecker Burger: from start-up operator to established player

10-Oct-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Bleecker Burger built its reputation on its high quality burger but, as it looks to expand, is that enough?

Shake Shack continues to push forward with UK expansion

08-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

US burger brand Shake Shack is planning further expansion in the UK with the opening of its 12th site confirmed for Brent Cross shopping centre in North West London.

KFC sees profits drop following distribution crisis

07-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

KFC saw its turnover and profits plunge in 2018 following a logistics fiasco that at its peak saw more than 600 outlets forced to close temporarily due to a chicken shortage.

Biff’s Kitchen signs foodservice partnership with Punch

17-Sep-2019 By James McAllister

Vegan fast food brand Biff’s Kitchen has partnered with pub operator Punch to serve its jackfruit-based ‘junk’ food across the group’s nationwide portfolio.

KFC abandons plans to introduce baked products after poor sales

13-Sep-2019 By James McAllister

KFC has abandoned attempts to encourage people to eat healthier by introducing baked products onto its menus because of poor sales and ‘grief’ from customers.

The Lowdown: National Burger Day

22-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Today (22 August) is National Burger Day, and a number of the UK’s patty professionals are looking to mark the day in their own special ways.

Supermac's eyes UK expansion following partial victory against McDonald's

07-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Irish fast food chain Supermac’s is hoping to set up shop in London within the next year, following the end of a branding dispute with McDonald’s.

Latest opening: Eggslut

07-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Another week, another US operator landing on UK shores; this time it’s the turn of ‘chef driven, gourmet food concept’ Eggslut, which has opened in Notting Hill.

Spudulike enters administration

05-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Baked potato brand Spudulike has entered administration, closing all 37 of its restaurants with the loss of nearly 300 jobs.

McDonald's to Go: fast food chain trials new concept store

01-Aug-2019 By Sophie Witts

McDonald’s UK is trialling a new grab-and-go format designed to offer even faster service to customers on the move.

Burger King targets whopper UK expansion

18-Jun-2019 By Sophie Witts

Burger King UK is back on the expansion trail with plans to open at least 90 further restaurants over the next three years.

Twisted London expands operations

15-May-2019 By James McAllister

Delivery only fast-food service Twisted London is to open five more units in the capital following the success of its trial location in East London.

Call The Colonel: KFC to roll out pre-ordering and Netflix-style functions

01-Feb-2019 By James Wallin

KFC is set to roll out new Netflix-style recommendations technology trialled in its drive-thru estate across it UK operations, the company revealed at this week’s Hostech conference in London.

The Lowdown: Supermac’s versus McDonald’s

17-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario and Helen Salter

The Irish fast food chain has won a court battle with the golden arches and may now be able to bring its restaurants to the rest of the EU.

Latest opening: Jollibee

24-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The biggest fast food brand in the Philippines has opened its first ever - and long-awaited - UK site.

UberEats and restaurant workers strike over pay

04-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

Workers at UberEats and several McDonald’s, JD Wetherspoon and TGI Fridays restaurants are holding strikes over pay today (4 October).

Jollibee to replace Wagamama in Earl's Court

28-Aug-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Filipino fast food group Jollibee will take over the former Wagamama site in Earl's Court when it launches before the end of 2018.

Leon's Thai Tuk Shop 'pops down' and disappears from Shaftesbury Avenue

10-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Leon has closed its experimental Thai fast food restaurant Tuk Shop on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue after just two months of trading.

A week after running out of chicken, KFC runs out of gravy

01-Mar-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Although chicken is back on the menu following last week’s ‘chicken crisis’, KFC announced today that it is now running low on gravy.

Boparan to ruffle feathers with US import Slim Chickens

25-Jan-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner owner Boparan Restaurant Group has struck a franchise deal with Slim Chickens USA to bring the fast-casual chicken brand to the UK market.

COMMENT

Delivery dilemmas: Is it time to consider your delivery operations?

21-Dec-2017 By Caroline Entwistle

With new policy coming in the spring that will see restaurants with a strong delivery offer having to apply for separate planning permission, Caroline Entwistle at law firm Royds Withy King says it's time businesses got realistic about delivery.

Mayor of London proposes ban on takeaways within 400m of schools

28-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Hot food takeaways could be banned from opening near schools under new plans put forward by the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

The Orange Buffalo food truck to settle into the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen later this month

03-Oct-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Popular street food outfit The Orange Buffalo are to take over the kitchen at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in East London.

Restaurant radar: July 2017

04-Jul-2017 By Joe Lutrario

From an English dim sum restaurant to an upscale Japanese burger joint, here are the July openings you need to know about

New pecking order: Carl Clarke and David Wolanski on their new fast casual concept CHIK’N

31-May-2017 By Joe Lutrario

The founders of hipster-fried chicken restaurant Chick 'n' Sours are hoping to redefine the chicken shop

National Fish & Chips Awards 2018 open for entries in 30th year

04-May-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The National Fish & Chip Awards 2018 by Seafish are officially open for entries, in their 30th anniversary year.

Byron hamburgers to open first Welsh site in Cardiff

27-Mar-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Byron, the burger group founded by Tom Byng, is to open its first Welsh site at Cardiff’s St David’s Grand Arcade this summer.

Ninth Rosa’s Thai Café site will open in London’s Seven Dials

06-Mar-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Thai restaurant group Rosa’s Thai Café is to open its ninth site, in London’s Seven Dials, after securing a 1,500 sq ft venue at 26 Earlham Street.

UK’s top three new fish and chips shops announced

07-Nov-2016 By Hannah Thompson

The top three new fish and chips shops have been announced at the 2017 National Fish & Chip Awards, pending the awards’ final results in January next year.

Dining trends: Burger market beefs up in 2016

25-Aug-2016 By Sophie Witts

The UK’s love affair with burgers has seen the market grow by almost a quarter in the last five years, a new study claims.

Leon secures £19m funding towards expansion

08-Aug-2016 By Mark Wingett

Healthy fast food chain Leon is set to open 50 new sites over the next four years after securing a new funding deal worth £19m from bank OakNorth, according to BigHospitality's sister site MCA.

SMALL TALK

Happiness Forgets founder Alastair Burgess on opening his first restaurant

29-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

Alastair Burgess, founder of bars Happiness Forgets and Original Sin, talks about his move into restaurants as he opens Petit Pois bistro in Hoxton Square. 

Happiness Forgets owner to push ahead with expansion following Petit Pois restaurant opening

14-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

Alastair Burgess, the owner of bars Happiness Forgets and Original Sin has ramped up plans to expand his business following the successful opening of his first restaurant Petit Pois bistro.

Aubaine founder to launch chicken concept

12-May-2016 By Mark Wingett

Hani Nakkash, the founder of Aubaine, is to launch a new fast-casual concept in London’s Baker Street, called Chickens & Foxes. 

Pubs and bars witness steep rise in contactless spend

29-Feb-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Contactless payments in pubs and bars leapt up by 188 per cent in 2015, latest figures from Barclaycard show.

High street restaurant dishes contain more salt than McDonald's

15-Feb-2016 By Michelle Perrett

High street restaurants and pubs have some of the highest salt dishes on menus, research from Dr Wayne Osborne for Treated.com has revealed.  

Chiquito to demonstrate ‘brand improvements’ with new Mexican street-food menu

27-Jan-2016 By Emma Eversham

Tex-Mex restaurant chain Chiquito will launch a new menu with a dedicated Mexican street food focus next month as part of its development of the brand.

Eight restaurant trends to look out for in 2016

06-Jan-2016 By Stefan Chomka, Joe Lutrario and Tony Naylor

What fads will shape the eating out sector over the coming year? Restaurant peers into its crystal ball. 

Tequila hotel and restaurant opening on the Isle of Wight

07-Aug-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Europe’s first Tequila hotel, El Patron Isle of Wight, will open on the Isle of Wight in August.

Councils urge restaurant and pub chains to display calories on menus

20-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant and pub chains are being urged by councils to introduce calorie labelling on menus in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates.

Business Profile: Leon

08-Jun-2015 By Joe Lutrario

One of the UK’s most influential restaurant chains is finally gearing up for serious growth and intends to build a healthy presence outside its London heartland within the next few years.

TRENDS

Battle for non-traditional trading hours intensifies

29-Apr-2015 By Mark Wingett

The battle for non-traditional trading hours among fast food, café, pub and restaurant operators is set to intensify during the coming year as more and more brands look to stretch their offer.

'Globalisation' of UK food scene drives chain operator growth

28-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

The rise of street food and the ‘globalisation’ of the UK restaurant scene have led to the unbroken growth of chain operators over the last 17 years, according commercial property and real estate services advisors CBRE.

Restaurant trends for 2015

07-Jan-2015 By Stefan Chomka & Joe Lutrario

Fast fine food, shawarma with drama, rotisseried vegetables and the return of the plate: Restaurant magazine predicts what’s on the menu for 2015.

Domino's and PizzaExpress lead Youth100 list

07-Nov-2014 By Mark Wingett

Domino’s Pizza has topped the fast food and restaurant category in this year’s Youth 100 List: which highlights the UK’s top brands according to 18-24 year olds.

Friska plans national roll-out following £1.25m investment

06-Oct-2014 By Carina Perkins

Healthy fast-food chain Friska has revealed plans to open 10 new sites in Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester after raising £1.25m in funding.

Starbucks unveils POD tie-in

24-Sep-2014 By John Harrington

Starbucks has announced a tie-in with POD, the healthy fast food concept, to sell selected items from its breakfast and lunch ranges at three Starbucks stores in central London under a trial period from Thursday (25 September).

Customers more satisfied with fast food than full-service restaurants

11-Sep-2014 By Carina Perkins

Quick-service restaurants are outperforming full-service restaurants in terms of customer satisfaction for the first time, according to the latest National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK).

ISD Solutions extends cold storage range for hospitality sector

16-Jun-2014 By Lauren Houghton

ISD solutions is expanding its offering of energy efficient modular walk in cold and freezer rooms for the hospitality sector.