R200

ETM founders to raise £4.3m for new London-based bar and restaurant venture

17-May-2021 By Restaurant

The founders of ETM Group are raising £4.3m to fund a new venture that will open a range of new bars in the capital as it comes out of lockdown.

Island Poké signs up UK franchise partners as part of plans to treble its estate

05-May-2021 By Restaurant

Island Poké has signed up its first two UK franchise partners as part of its plans to treble its estate in the UK over the next five years.

Poke House to make UK debut after acquiring Ahi Poké

30-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Italian poke chain Poke House is to make its debut in London following the acquisition of UK poke brand Ahi Poké.

Ramen specialist Tonkotsu heads to Brighton

09-Apr-2021 By James McAllister

Ramen restaurant chain Tonkotsu has secured its first permanent restaurant outside the capital, in Brighton.

Loungers to open four more venues in “tenant-friendly environment” post lockdown

09-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Loungers will grow its estate to 172 restaurants and bars by the end of the May with the opening of four new venues as it looks to get back on track to opening 25 sites a year.

Chilango to open its first digital-only venue

06-Apr-2021 By Restaurant

Chilango is to open its first digital-only venue next month, in Croydon.

Rolling on: Tortilla looking to expand "quite aggressively” post lockdown

01-Apr-2021 By Andrew Don

Tortilla is seeking new locations to make the most of opportunities that present themselves in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Bone Daddies to expand Wing Daddies concept across London

26-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Ramen restaurant Bone Daddies is to rollout its virtual chicken wing-centric brand Wing Daddies across the capital.

Leon exits the US but doesn’t rule out second chance

25-Mar-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Leon has decided to exit the US market after just two years, closing its four sites across Washington DC and Virginia in order to focus on the UK and Europe.

James Spragg steps down as chief executive of The Big Table

23-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

James Spragg is to step down as chief executive of The Big Table after six years at the business.

Jo Fleet joins Hawksmoor to head up its nationwide meal kit business

23-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Jo Fleet, former managing director at Flat Iron and Wahaca, has joined steakhouse group Hawksmoor to head up its nationwide meal kit distribution and London restaurant delivery operations.

The Lowdown: TGI Fridays at 35

18-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

The American restaurant and bar chain celebrates its 35th birthday in the UK today (18 March), making it one of the most enduring restaurant groups on these shores.

Pizza Pilgrims to open four new London venues, with a further four in the pipeline

18-Mar-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Pizza Pilgrims is looking to open four new pizzerias in the capital by late summer, and has a further four in negotiations, after its expansion pipeline was put on hold during the pandemic.

Honest Burgers appoints Frank Hayes as its first CEO

10-Mar-2021 By Stefan Chomka

Honest Burgers has appointed Frank Hayes, a former director at Spirit Group, as its first CEO.

The Restaurant Group looks to raise £175m to grow its Wagamama and pub brands as reopening beckons

10-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

The Restaurant Group (TRG) is looking to raise £175m as part of its ‘Restructured, Recapitalised and Ready for Relaunch’ plans.

The Restaurant Group announces new debt finance as its burns through £5.5m a month in lockdown

02-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Wagamama and Frankie and Benny's operator The Restaurant Group (TRG) has revealed that it has a 'cash burn rate' of £5.5m per four-week period during lockdown.

Neapolitan pizza brand Mozza to make its England debut in Leeds

01-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Scotland-based Neapolitan pizza restaurant brand Mozza is making its England debut this spring.

Various Eateries poised to scale up post lockdown

25-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

The owner of restaurant brands Coppa Club and Tavolino says it will pursue an aggressive post-lockdown expansion drive, with plans to “create a major leisure group” this year.

Bone Daddies to open sister brand Wing Daddies next month

23-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Ramen restaurant Bone Daddies is continuing with its expansion with the launch of a sister brand as well as a new south London restaurant.

Camile Thai Kitchen to grow to 13 UK sites this year

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Thai restaurant group Camile Thai Kitchen will open seven new venues across the UK and Ireland as part of its international expansion plans.

The Coconut Tree to open Bath restaurant this spring

10-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Sri Lankan street food restaurant group The Coconut Tree will open a seventh site, in Bath.

Tomahawk launches two virtual restaurant delivery brands

09-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Northern-based Steakhouse group Tomahawk has launched two virtual delivery brands out of its newly-opened Hoxton restaurant.

Steakhouse group Tomahawk to open two more restaurants in the summer

08-Feb-2021 By Stefan Chomka

Steakhouse group Tomahawk has said it will continue to push on with its expansion plans in spite of the ongoing pandemic and that it has a couple more sites in the pipeline for summer.

Loungers to stick to its property model post pandemic

01-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

The inevitable increase in high-footfall site opportunities following the pandemic will not change Loungers’ established property strategy, CEO Nick Collins has said.

Rosa’s Thai Café to open in Birmingham's Paradise development this spring

27-Jan-2021 By Restaurant

Rosa’s Thai Café will open its fourth restaurant outside of the capital, in Birmingham’s Paradise project.

NO! Sushi: what YO! is doing next

04-Feb-2020 By Sophie Witts

YO! has dropped its sushi moniker, ditched its iconic conveyor belts in some restaurants and made a major play into retail both here and across the pond.

Chop specialist Blacklock to open a restaurant in Covent Garden

17-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Chops and steak specialist Blacklock is to open a fourth restaurant in the capital next year, in Covent Garden.

Shortlist revealed for Restaurant's R200 Awards

07-Nov-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Arcade Food Theatre, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, Circolo Popolare, Nando’s, Bleecker Burger, Giggling Squid, Rockfish and Loungers are among the restaurant groups and new openings that have been shortlisted in this year’s R200 Awards.

Dishoom takes on former Jamie's Italian site

15-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

Dishoom is to expand its Covent Garden restaurant after securing the lease on the former Jamie’s Italian site next door.

Rock star: how Mitch Tonks created a coastal casual dining empire

13-Jun-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Rockfish, the seafood restaurant group from Mitch Tonks, recently opened its most ambitious site yet in Exeter. And it’ll be spreading its net wider soon.

Mowgli confirms Bristol restaurant opening

16-May-2019 By Sophie Witts

Expanding Indian street food brand Mowgli is to open its first Bristol restaurant later this year.

Byron appoints former La Tasca boss as new CEO

29-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Byron has appointed Simon Wilkinson, former head of La Tasca, as CEO.

Hawksmoor's Will Beckett: "We were very close to getting it wrong in Manchester"

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

It’s 13 years since Will Beckett and Hugh Gott opened the first Hawksmoor restaurant in London’s Shoreditch.

How Flight Club hit the bullseye with its darts-based concept

22-Jan-2019 By Mel Flaherty

Flight Club is fusing technology and food and drink to create a concept that can be rolled out across the country.

Flat Iron receives £5m funding towards expansion

14-Jan-2019 By Sophie Witts

Steak restaurant chain Flat Iron has received a £5m funding package from alternative lender ThinCats.

Mowgli lines up second Manchester restaurant

11-Jan-2019 By Sophie Witts

Indian street food group Mowgli is to open its second Manchester restaurant later this month.

New partnership sees Bella Italia menu items stocked in Tesco freezers

23-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Casual Dining Group (CDG) has partnered with Tesco to launch a range of Bella Italia-inspired frozen ready meals based on dishes served at the Italian chain's eat-in restaurants.

Richard Caring: "Bill's needed help"

17-Sep-2018 By Mark Wingett

Richard Caring says he received approaches for Bill’s last year, but that he didn’t think the all-day dining restaurant group was “dressed well enough to be sold” and that “it needed help”.

How I got here: Chris Webb, Coco di Mama

30-Aug-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Born in New Zealand, Chris Webb is head of operations at fast casual pasta brand Coco di Mama, which is now operated by ASK and Zizzi owner Azzurri Group.

Carluccio's cooks up £10m restaurant rescue plan

04-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Carluccio’s is to begin a £10m revamp of its restaurants after approving restructuring plans to close almost a third of its estate.