Fine Dining

Iconic London restaurant Le Caprice to close after 38 years

15-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Caprice Holdings director Jesus Adorno has confirmed that the group’s Le Caprice restaurant in St James’s is to close after nearly 38 years trading.

The new (ab)normal? What the future holds for restaurants

11-Jun-2020 By Stefan Chomka

As the lockdown easing tentatively begins, restaurants owners’ minds are turning to reopening their businesses. But what does the short-term future hold for restaurants?

Raymond Blanc's Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons announces official reopening date

10-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Raymond Blanc's beloved English country house restaurant Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire has announced plans to reopen its doors in mid-July.

James Lowe: “A strength we have is we don’t mind changing things last minute”

10-Jun-2020 By Stefan Chomka

ASAP Pizza, the takeaway pizza restaurant that is being launched today (10 June) on the ground floor of Flor in London’s Borough Market, could occupy the site long after lockdown has been lifted, according to co-owner James Lowe.

Anna Haugh: "Nothing the Government says right now makes running a fine-dining restaurant feasible"

08-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Anna Haugh says owner-operated fine-dining restaurants such as her own will face further significant pressure if forced to implement a two-metre social distancing gap between tables.

promotion

Downtime development: pan-roasted Norwegian cod, pea sauce, asparagus and potato gnocchi

05-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

The Elephant chef-patron Simon Hulstone has created a bright dish that hints of the transition from spring into summer

A third of diners plan to spend less in restaurants post lockdown, Marcus Wareing survey reveals

05-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurant margins could be squeezed further still when they reopen after a survey by Marcus Wareing found that more than a third of diners plan to spend less in restaurants after lockdown.

10 finalists in Young National Chef of the Year competition announced

04-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

The 10 finalists in this year’s Young National Chef of the Year (YNCOTY) final have been revealed by the Craft Guild of Chefs.

David Moore launches Pied à Terre Vegan offshoot

04-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

High-profile restaurateur David Moore has launched a vegan offshoot of his Michelin-starred Fitzrovia restaurant Pied à Terre.

Survey shows a new customer confidence about eating out, says Raymond Blanc

04-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Nearly 90% of people are likely, or very likely, to dine out when restaurants re open, as lockdown is eased, according to a survey by Brasserie Bar Co.

Delving into dim sum: why chef Andrew Wong has gone back to school

04-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Andrew Wong has become a research associate at London university SOAS, helping academics make sense of ancient Chinese gastronomical texts while driving menu development at his London restaurant A Wong.

Whatley Manor's Sue Williams and Niall Keating on Paradise Carriage

03-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Sue Williams and Niall Keating have launched a food truck operation within the manicured grounds of their Cotswolds hotel Whatley Manor.

2020 M Young Chef of the Year competition launches

03-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

The M Young Chef of the Year competition is returning for a fourth year.

Promotion

Downtime Development: Alaska black cod, green curry

01-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Frog chef Adam Handling cooks a Thailand-inspired dish that celebrates Alaskan black cod’s ability to stand up to powerful flavours.

Tom Kitchin on the plight of Scottish hospitality

01-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Edinburgh-based chef restaurateur Tom Kitchin says he is deeply concerned about the Scottish hospitality industry, which is expected to re-open for eat-in no early than August.

Moor Hall's Mark Birchall: 'help shape our return'

29-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Mark Birchall is asking guests and subscribers to his restaurant’s newsletter to help shape the reopening of his two Michelin-starred Moor Hall.

Opinion

Comment: Planning for the long journey back

29-May-2020 By Sam Harrison

The Coronavirus pandemic has blind-sided everybody. With no restaurant crystal ball, we have to be creative and diversify

Kray Treadwell on launching his debut restaurant in a post lockdown world

27-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Reopening a restaurant once lockdown is over is one thing, but chef Kray Treadwell will launch his debut venture, 670 Grams, in Digbeth, Birmingham, once the Government has relaxed its lockdown rules for hospitality.

Nathan Outlaw's London restaurant Siren to close permanently

26-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Nathan Outlaw’s London restaurant Siren will not re-open post lockdown as part of a planned scaling back of The Goring’s F&B department.

Tommy Banks on adapting to life after lockdown

22-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Chef Tommy Banks says that his two restaurants will have to adapt to a post-lockdown word but that he wouldn’t be cutting prices in an attempt to attract people back to his venues.

Niall Keating named Great British Menu 2020 'Champion of Champions'

18-May-2020 By James McAllister

Whatley Manor’s Niall Keating has been named the ‘Champion of Champions’ at this year’s Great British Menu banquet.

Supported by Arla Pro

The Future of Restaurants – Part Two

18-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

In the second of our four-part video series, supported by Arla Pro, D&D London CEO Des Gunewardena and Dishoom co-founder Shaiml Thakrar talk about the major challenges the restaurant industry will face post lockdown.

Comment

Praying for the return of a ‘feel good’ factor

15-May-2020 By Anthony Demetre

The restaurant sector is currently in unchartered territory, but brand loyalty and reputation will eventually triumph

Alex Greene scores double win during Great British Menu finals

15-May-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Alex Greene will be cooking two of the courses at this year's Great British Menu banquet having scored a double win during finals week.

Sat Bains: “I got the measuring tape out. It’s devastating to see the damage to any business”

15-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Social distancing measures when restaurants are allowed to reopen will present huge challenges for businesses, according to the chef-patron of two Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms Restaurant Sat Bains.

Adam Handling launches London-based food delivery service

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Adam Handling has launched his own high-end, London-based food delivery and collection service.

L’Enclume's Tom Barnes through to Great British Menu banquet

14-May-2020 By James McAllister

Roux Scholar and L’Enclume executive chef Tom Barnes has been named as the next chef to make it through to the banquet on this year’s series of Great British Menu.

Niall Keating through to Great British Menu banquet

13-May-2020 By James McAllister

Whatley Manor’s Niall Keating has been named as the next chef to make it through to the banquet on this year’s series of Great British Menu.

Deanes Eipic's Alex Greene through to Great British Menu banquet

12-May-2020 By Restaurant

Deanes Eipic chef Alex Greene has been named as the first chef to make it through to the banquet for this season’s Great British Menu.

Stand and deliver: how restaurants have turned to takeaway and delivery in order to survive

11-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

In the face of forced closures, restaurant businesses large and small have been turning to takeaway and delivery as their survival instinct kicks in.

The Lowdown: Social distancing in restaurants

07-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

With the Government due to reveal plans for a gradual return to normal later this week, restaurateurs large and small are starting to think about what re-opening for eat-in customers might look like.

Ben Murphy: "To not know what we're going to be walking back into is heart breaking"

04-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Ben Murphy has described the emotional upheaval that came with being forced to close his Launceston Place restaurant.

Flash-grilled: Jean-Philippe Blondet

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

Jean-Philippe Blondet - who holds the position of executive chef at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester - reflects on his career, and tells us what he's been up to while in lockdown.

United We Stand

D&D London CEO lobbies Government for inclusion of tronc in UK furlough scheme

30-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

D&D London chairman and CEO Des Gunewardena has written to the Chancellor to lobby the inclusion of tronc payments in the UK furlough scheme after revealing that some UK staff are only receiving around 50% of their normal earnings through the Job...

Great British Menu finalist to open debut restaurant in Birmingham

27-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

Great British Menu finalist Kray Treadwell will open his debut restaurant in Digbeth, Birmingham, once the lockdown restrictions on hospitality businesses have been lifted.

Angela Hartnett: "times of crisis show how amazing this industry is"

27-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Angela Hartnett has praised the hospitality’s industry’s response to the Coronavirus crisis.

Campaign launched to force insurers to honour business interruption clauses

27-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to fund support and possible legal action over many insurers refusal to pay out for business interruption during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Benares appoints new GM to spearhead home delivery operation

17-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Indian fine-dining restaurant Benares has appointed Harsh Joshi as the new general manager of its London restaurant on Mayfair’s Berkeley Square.

Podcast: James Sommerin on feeding the NHS

16-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

The Michelin-starred chef is preparing thousands of meals a week at his Penarth restaurant to feed hospital workers on the front line of the Coronavirus crisis.

What the easing of restrictions around the world might mean for UK restaurants

15-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

With some European countries warily starting to ease restrictions on hospitality businesses, what could this mean for when UK restaurants might re-open and what that could look like.

Podcast: Paul Ainsworth – “two weeks ago was the worst week of my life”

09-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Chef and restaurateur Paul Ainsworth has described the week that started with Boris Johnson advising people to stay away from pubs and restaurants (16 March) as the worst week of his life.

Podcast: Simon Rogan on getting his restaurant empire through the pandemic

06-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Simon Rogan on the pandemic's affect on his global restaurant empire and how he's using his Cumbria farm to feed people.

Podcast: Alchemilla's Alex Bond on feeding NHS workers

02-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

We speak to Alchemilla chef Alex Bond about the Government's support package for staff and how he's switched from tasting menus to cooking simple meals for NHS workers.

Podcast: Adam Byatt on turning Bistro Union into a shop

31-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

We talk to the Michelin-starred chef behind Trinity and Charlie's about turning his Clapham restaurant Bistro Union into Union Stores.

Kari the day: the rise of Sri Lankan cuisine

19-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

With Hoppers opening its biggest site to date in London’s King’s Cross last month, and two Sri Lankan restaurants recently launching in Soho, the lesser known subcontinental cuisine has moved into prime London territory.

Major restaurant groups close in wake of Coronavirus crisis

18-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Major restaurant groups including Hawksmoor, D&D London, Corbin & King and Mowgli have temporarily shuttered their sites as the Coronavirus pandemic intensifies.

Duty of care: The Coronavirus and the law

16-Mar-2020 By James Campbell and April Lord

James Campbell and April Lord of law firm Pillsbury on the legal implications the Coronavirus has for restaurants, including risk assessments and force majeure in contracts.

Flash-grilled: Josh Angus

13-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Josh Angus is head chef at Ollie Dabbous’ Mayfair restaurant Hide.

Latest opening: Wildflower

13-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

28-year-old Irish chef Adrian Martin has opened his first ever restaurant – a contemporary fine dining concept with a classic, old school appearance – within a Camden shipping container.

Restaurants combat Coronavirus cashflow problems with gift vouchers

13-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant companies including Harts Group and Kricket are asking their customers to purchase gift vouchers to combat the Coronavirus’s potentially disastrous impact on their cashflow.