Multi-Site

Phat Buns heads to Bayswater for debut London site

20-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Burger brand Phat Buns will open its first restaurant in the capital next month.

PizzaExpress joins Just Eat for Business

17-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

PizzaExpress has become the latest restaurant brand to join the Just Eat for Business platform.

Olive Tree Brasserie to open in Leeds

16-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Greek restaurant group Olive Tree Brasserie will open its fourth site this month, with the brand planning further expansion across the north.

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.

Joe & The Juice acquired by General Atlantic

14-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Joe & The Juice is set to be acquired by New York-based investment firm General Atlantic, with plans for growth across the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Loungers on track to hit 34 new sites target this year

13-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Loungers says it is on track to open its projected 34 new sites in current financial year, with four sites having opened since its 200th Lounge opening on 13 September.

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.

comment

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.

Patisserie Valerie fraud trial not scheduled until 2026

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The trial of former employees of the collapsed bakery chain Patisserie Valerie will not take place until 2026, a court has heard.

Temper lines up fifth London restaurant in Paddington

07-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Steakhouse and barbecue restaurant Temper will open its fifth London restaurant next month in Paddington.

PizzaExpress to not make an offer for The Restaurant Group

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The owner of PizzaExpress has pulled out of the running for The Restaurant Group (TRG).

PizzaExpress launches frozen retail range

07-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

PizzaExpress has swelled its retail proposition with the launch of a frozen range of pizzas, pastas and a garlic bread.

Experiential dining 'key to winning young consumers'

06-Nov-2023 By Hannah Currie

Social occasions and experiential dining are key to winning young consumers, according to Lumina Intelligence.

R200

How I Got Here: Nico Simeone

06-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The CEO and founder of Sixco Limited, the group behind tasting menu restaurant brand Six by Nico, on what makes a good leader, being decisive, and business evolution.

Pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy to open in Leeds

06-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Japanese-style souffle pancake brand Fluffy Fluffy will open its fourth UK restaurant later this month.

Latest opening: Bistro Freddie

03-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The team behind London restaurants Crispin and Bar Crispin have taken on the old Oklava site to launch a new bistro concept.

Fatto a Mano reaches five sites with second London opening

03-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Brighton & Hove-based restaurant group Fatto a Mano will open its second London pizzeria early next month in Covent Garden, bringing its total estate to five sites.

Botanica Hall to open in Battersea this month

03-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

A large all-day restaurant, bar and vodka distillery will open this month in the former Arding & Hobbs department store in Battersea.

Glenn Edwards departs Leon

02-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Leon managing director Glenn Edwards is stepping down from his role.

Various Eateries tees up plans to expand Noci concept

02-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Various Eateries says it expects its modern Italian pasta concept Noci to ‘become an increasingly core part of its growth strategy’ following successful openings in Shoreditch and Battersea.

Dishoom hits double figures with Battersea opening

02-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

Dishoom is opening its first London restaurant south of the river this month in Battersea.

Fraquelli brothers to open third Brasseria restaurant

01-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The London-based Brasseria Family group will launch a third restaurant in the capital early in the new year.

R200 Awards 2023 shortlists revealed

01-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The shortlists have been revealed for the R200 Awards being held later this month.

Asda to introduce Leon brand into its stores

01-Nov-2023 By Restaurant

The Leon brand will be found within Asda supermarkets in the future following the supermarket's acquisition of EG Group’s UK business for £2bn.

Little LEAF to open in Liverpool

30-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Liverpool-based independent restaurant and cafe LEAF will open a spin-off smaller site in the city next month.

Byron estate reduced to single figures following further closures

30-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Beleaguered burger chain Byron has seen its estate reduced to single figures following a further wave of closures.

Waiters refuse to cooperate with new tipping policy at Miller & Carter restaurants

27-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Over 100 waiters across five Miller & Carter restaurants have said they will no longer cooperate with a new tipping policy that’s been labelled ‘deeply unfair’ by the Unite Union.

Turtle Bay to cross the border to Scotland for the first time

26-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Caribbean restaurant group Turtle Bay is to open its first restaurant in Scotland.

JKS sales nearly double as turnover reaches £50m

26-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

JKS saw turnover nearly double and reduced its losses in 2022, its latest accounts show.

PizzaExpress owner weighs up rival bid for The Restaurant Group

26-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

The owner of PizzaExpress could throw its hat into the ring to buy The Restaurant Group (TRG).

'Convenience-driven change' in consumer habits leads to dip in takeaway sales

26-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Britain’s top managed restaurant groups achieved double-digit growth in delivery sales in September, but takeaways dipped after a 'convenience-driven change' in consumer habits.

Gusto sees turnover rise to £24m

25-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Northern-based restaurant group Gusto Italian has seen its turnover almost double in its latest set of financial results, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also up.

'The most significant stage of a magnificent European journey': Big Mamma Group is finally opening in Italy

24-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

French founded Italian restaurant group Big Mamma is making its first move into the country that has inspired its cuisine.

Patty & Bun to close Soho restaurant

23-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Patty & Bun will close its Soho restaurant later this week seven years after its launch.

Pret looks to accelerate US expansion through new joint venture

20-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to accelerate its expansion in the US through a new joint venture (JV) with existing franchisee, Dallas International.

Managed groups register 12 months of growth

18-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups completed 12 consecutive months of year-on-year sales growth in September, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

‘Challenging year’ leads to erosion of profit margin for Rick Stein’s group

17-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Rick Stein’s restaurant group has blamed the rapid increase in supply chain costs, particularly the rise in fish and oil prices, for contributing to an erosion of its profit margin.

El Pastor to open at Battersea Power Station

17-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Harts Group is taking its Mexican taqueria brand El Pastor to Battersea Power Station for its fourth site in the capital.

£60m sale of D&D London 'imminent'

16-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

A sale of restaurant group D&D London for a price tag of £60m is ‘imminent’, according to its chief executive.

Greggs opens its first cafe within Sainsbury’s

12-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Greggs is continuing its push into retail with the opening of its first standalone café within a Sainsbury’s store.

Afrikana doubles up in London for fifteenth site

11-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

African-inspired restaurant group Afrikana has opened its latest site, in London’s The O2.

Bunsik eyes Westfield Stratford City for its fifth site

11-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Fast-growing grab-and-go Korean street food brand Bunsik will open a fifth venue later this year.

Honest Burgers smashes crowdfunding target

11-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Honest Burgers has beaten its crowdfunding target, raising almost £3m.

Four people in court over Patisserie Valerie collapse

11-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Four people have appeared in court over the collapse of bakery chain Patisserie Valerie.

Sarit Packer: “For us, baking has always been a big part of what we do”

05-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Middle Eastern restaurant group Honey & Co on the launch of their café concept, Honey & Co Daily, and London’s voracious appetite for baked goods

Expansion drives ‘strong growth’ for The Ivy Collection

05-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Troia (UK) Restaurants, the parent company of The Ivy Collection, has reported ‘strong growth’ across both sales and profits, driven by the expansion of The Ivy Asia brand.

Factory worker jailed after contaminating food bound for Nando's

04-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

A factory worker has been jailed after admitting to contaminating food destined for restaurant chain Nando’s.