United Kingdom

Bubbledogs to pop-up on Park Lane

25-Apr-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Champagne and hotdog concept Bubbledogs is making a return with a prolonged pop-up on Park Lane.

UKHospitality: extending licensing hours for King's Coronation would provide 'much-needed boost' for sector

23-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has backed the Government’s plans to extend licensing hours during the King’s Coronation celebrations in May.

Honest Burgers line up more regional openings as Cambridge site exceeds sales expectations

14-Feb-2018 By Mark Wingett & Georgia Bronte

Brixton-born burger restaurant group Honest Burgers has chosen a site in Bristol to make its south west debut.

Richard Branson to open first Virgin Hotel in the UK

01-Feb-2018 By Sophie Witts

Sir Richard Branson has announced plans to launch the UK’s first Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh.

Ottolenghi warns of potential post-Brexit staff shortages as profits rise

04-Jan-2018 By Sophie Witts

Yotam Ottolenghi’s London restaurant and deli chain is the latest hospitality group to warn it could face a potential shortage of staff after Brexit.

Wahaca: "limitations on EU migration could leave us struggling to fill senior positions"

14-Dec-2017 By Sophie Witts

The founders of Wahaca have warned that limitations on EU migration after Brexit could leave the group struggling to find long-term staff to fill senior positions.

Five Guys looks to express formats as expansion continues

01-Dec-2017 By James Wallin

Burger brand Five Guys UK is continuing its rapid expansion across the UK, with plans to take on smaller sites for a more express format.

Killian Crowley to represent UK and Ireland at S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 global final

22-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Irish chef Killian Crowley has won the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 regional final and will represent Ireland and the UK at the competition’s global final, which takes place in Milan next summer.

Shaun Rankin 'removed' from Ormer Jersey board [Updated]

20-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

The owners of the Ormer restaurant in Jersey have cut ties with Shaun Rankin four years after opening.

Trade bodies welcome clarification on 'settled status' for EU nationals

08-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality trade bodies have cautiously welcomed government efforts to clarify how EU migrants will be able to apply to stay in the UK after Brexit.

The Black Swan at Oldstead named world's best restaurant by TripAdvisor

11-Oct-2017 By Stefan Chomka

The Black Swan at Oldstead in North Yorkshire has been named as the best restaurant in the world, according to TripAdvisor.

Deliveroo: "employing riders could add £1 per delivery"

11-Oct-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Deliveroo’s UK and Ireland boss has told MPs that employing workers full-time - as opposed to self-employed contractors - could add £1 per delivery.

Concern as new catering qualifications delayed until after Brexit

06-Oct-2017 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has reacted angrily after it emerged government plans to train students to work in hospitality have been put on hold for five years.

Friday Five: the week's top news

29-Sep-2017 By Sophie Witts

From the 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand winners to a new strategy to tackling the chef shortage, we round-up the top stories you might have missed this week.

Eating out openings reach ‘new peak’ but boom will be short-lived

28-Sep-2017 By Sophie Witts

The number of food and beverage (F&B) outlets opening across Britain reached a new peak in the last year, according to a report by the Local Data Company (LDC).

BHA: Leaked Brexit plan could be 'catastrophic' for hospitality

06-Sep-2017 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has warned that Government plans to cut the number of low-skilled EU migrants working in the UK could prove ‘catastrophic’ for the hospitality industry.

Britain’s “thriving” tourism economy gives sector a boost

25-Aug-2017 By Georgia Bronte

New research commissioned by Barclays Business has shown the UK’s tourism economy to be thriving, with turnover for hospitality businesses up significantly over the last year.

Brexit workforce shortage threatens homegrown produce

24-Aug-2017 By Joe Lutrario

The UK food industry has warned that a Brexit workforce shortage could leave a third of its businesses unviable and said that the sector faces a “rapidly approaching skills gap”.

Chef Paul Tamburrini is launching his first Edinburgh restaurant

27-Jul-2017 By Sophie Witts

Chef Paul Tamburrini is to launch his first restaurant at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh this autumn.

Franco Manca facing staff shortages after Brexit

13-Jul-2017 By Sophie Witts

Pizza chain Franco Manca has joined an Italian food association in warning of an exodus of skilled staff following the Brexit vote.

Restaurant operating costs rise above 50% turnover

12-Jul-2017 By Sophie Witts

Average operating costs in the restaurant sector now account for over 50% of turnover, according to a new study in to the state of the licensed hospitality sector. 

Restaurant sector bucks the trend in Q2 with a rise in consumer spending

11-Jul-2017 By Stefan Chomka

The UK’s eating out and leisure sectors have shown resilience in the second quarter of 2017, with household spending on hotels, restaurants and bars growing by 4.9%.

Fast-growing hospitality must reduce 'dependence' on EU workers

03-Jul-2017 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry’s contribution to the UK economy has grown faster than any other sector since the 2008 downturn, but the status of EU staff means its future remains uncertain.

The AMLR welcomes PM details on post-Brexit EU worker rights

26-Jun-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Details revealed by Prime Minister Theresa May on safeguarding EU workers’ rights after Brexit have been welcomed by the Association of Multiple Licensed Retailers (AMLR).

Hospitality criticises ‘disappointing’ Queen’s Speech

22-Jun-2017 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality trade bodies have given a lukewarm reception to the ‘disappointing’ announcements made in the Queen’s Speech yesterday (21 June).

Future of hospitality in the spotlight in new BHA and ITN news show

06-Jun-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has helped to create a news and current affairs-style TV programme that explores the future of the hospitality industry.

Asian restaurants warn of curry crisis over immigration plans

19-May-2017 By Sophie Witts

Conservative plans to double the charge on employing non-EU staff could prove dire for the UK's curry houses, trade bodies have warned.

Restaurants warn immigration cap could stall growth

09-May-2017 By Sophie Witts

Conservative party plans to reduce immigration to the ‘tens of thousands’ could put the brakes on the growth of the UK's restaurant sector, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has warned.

Cash-conscious diners still spending more in restaurants

09-May-2017 By Sophie Witts

UK restaurants and pubs saw a double-digit rise in spending in April, despite consumers continuing to cut back on non-essential items.

UK chosen as Top 5 country for 2019 Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie

25-Apr-2017

The United Kingdom has been selected as one of the Top 5 countries granted automatic entry to the 2019 Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie.

Barista visas 'won't solve hospitality staffing crisis'

21-Apr-2017 By Sophie Witts

Introducing short-term ‘barista visas’ for EU migrants would only worsen the long-term staffing crisis in the UK’s restaurants, pubs and cafes, hospitality recruiter The Change Group has warned.

What does a 2017 general election mean for hospitality?

18-Apr-2017 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry has welcomed the announcement of a general election on 8 June as a chance to challenge politicians on the issues facing restaurants, hotels and pubs.

Restaurants could keep EU staff under "barista visa" plans

18-Apr-2017 By Sophie Witts

A new "barista visa" could be introduced to ensure the UK’s restaurants, pubs and coffee shops do not struggle for staff after Brexit.

Tim Hortons begins UK expansion in Glasgow

10-Apr-2017 By Sophie Witts

Canadian coffee giant Tim Hortons is to open its first UK site in Glasgow next month.

Hospitality could face 1m staff shortfall post-Brexit

31-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry could face a shortfall of one million workers within 10 years if EU migration is restricted after Brexit, a new report has warned.

Uber to expand UK restaurant delivery service

28-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

Uber is to expand its restaurant delivery service to more than 40 locations across the UK as it looks to ramp up its challenge to rivals such as Deliveroo.

Pret promises to pay interns after online backlash

27-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

Pret A Manger has promised to pay teenagers on work experience its starting hourly rate following online criticism.

Uncertain future for hospitality industry's EU staff

14-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

EU nationals working in the UK’s restaurants, pubs and hotels have been thrown in to limbo after MPs passed the Brexit bill on Monday, leaving the government free to kick start the process of the UK leaving the EU.

Rise in EU citizens applying for hospitality jobs since Brexit

13-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

The number of EU nationals seeking hospitality work in London has risen slightly since the Brexit vote, new data shows

Pret A Manger facing Brexit staffing crisis

09-Mar-2017 By Sophie Witts

Just one in 50 workers who apply for a job at Pret A Manger is British, its director of human resources has said.

UK won't 'shut the door' on EU workers

22-Feb-2017 By Sophie Witts

Brexit secretary David Davis has offered further hope to the hospitality industry by claiming the UK is not about to ‘shut the door’ on EU workers.

Restaurant business rates capped in Scotland

21-Feb-2017 By Sophie Witts

The Scottish finance minister has announced a cap on business rates for hospitality companies following warnings that the sector could be crippled by rising fees.

Mandatory Scores on the Doors will affect 43,000 businesses

07-Feb-2017 By Stefan Chomka

More than 43,000 restaurants and catering businesses across England could be affected when a law to make it compulsory for places that serve or sell food to display their food hygiene rating comes into force in 2019.

Industry hits back over proposed London tourism tax

27-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he ‘fully endorses’ a report which recommends the introduction of a tourism tax on London hotels.

Wine industry launches push for duty cut

20-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is stepping up its efforts to encourage the Chancellor to reduce wine duty this year.

Malmaison Hotel du Vin to open in York

20-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Boutique hotel group Malmaison Hotel du Vin is to open a 160-bedroom hotel at Yorkshire House in York after receiving planning permission for its multi-million pound renovation proposal.

Accor to focus on Mercure expansion in 2017

22-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

AccorHotels is to focus on expanding its four-star Mercure brand across the UK in 2017 after making a string of acquisitions in the past year.

Macdonald Hotels cuts debt by half a billion pounds

21-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

Independent hotel group Macdonald Hotels saw turnover rise five per cent to £163m in the year to 31 March, with operating profits of £17.7m 

UK one of Europe’s fastest-growing coffee markets, says report

06-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

The UK is among the countries with the fastest-growing coffee market, which is still thriving and innovating to stay ahead, according to new research.

Scottish Rugby extends Elior UK catering contract

30-Nov-2016 By Emma Eversham

Elior UK's contract to supply corporate hospitality, conference and event matchday catering at BT Murrayfield has been extended by another 10 years.