London

Wagamama to open 10 restaurants in 2024

05-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

Wagamama plans to open up to 10 new restaurants around the UK in a move that it says will create more than 500 jobs.

Endo Kazutoshi reveals details of his forthcoming restaurant at The OWO

02-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Sushi maestro Endo Kazutoshi’s new restaurant at The OWO in London’s Whitehall will be called Kioku by Endo and is set to launch in the spring.

Restaurant radar: February 2024

01-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

A French bistro in Leeds, a meaty bar and grill in Southport, and a taco restaurant with a sprinkling of Hollywood glamour are among this month's new openings to look out for.

Flash-grilled: Ashley Chipchase

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The founder of London-based fusion street food brand Mexican Seoul on his first experiences working on Brick Lane market, solving problems, and the two best meals he's ever eaten.

“Operating in London has been increasingly challenging” - Greg Marchand closes Frenchie Covent Garden

31-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Greg Marchand has closed the Covent Garden outpost of his Parisian bistro Frenchie after eight years, blaming the ‘increasingly challenging’ trading environment in London.

London's first Scottish café-deli to open next month

31-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

London will welcome its first Scottish café-deli with the opening of The Shoap in Angel.

Brunch specialist Apple Butter to launch second London site

29-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Apple Butter will launch a site close to Oxford Circus later this year following the success of its debut café in Covent Garden.

Farmer J eyes US expansion as it secures £5.5m investment

29-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Health-focused QSR brand Farmer J is planning further expansion in the capital and a move into the US market after securing a £5.5m investment.

Markus Thesleff: “Sale e Pepe has amazing DNA but it is tired and needs love”

26-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The serial restaurateur behind Notting Hill’s Los Mochis will relaunch the Knightsbridge stalwart mid next month having been running the restaurant on a low-key basis since 2022.

RAI to reopen in Bloomsbury next month

25-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Omakase restaurant RAI will reopen in a new London location having been closed for a year.

Live-fire restaurant Nela to open at The Whiteley in London

22-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Amsterdam-born live fire restaurant Nela will open in the former Whiteleys shopping centre later this year.

Artfarm opens Mayfair wine bar

18-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Artfarm has opened a wine bar below its Mayfair-based Farm Shop.

Lina Stores lines up seventh UK site

18-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Pasta focused restaurant brand Lina Stores will open its seventh London site this spring.

Uncorked: Joshua Bratt

18-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The general manager of Fitzrovia‘s Carousel on Black Country Ale, designing a wine pairing for a different chef and menu each week and the Loire’s Domaine du Collier.

St John to pitch up at Fortnum & Mason for a restaurant residency

17-Jan-2024 By Stefan Chomka

St John has announced it will undertake a three-week residency at Field restaurant of Fortnum & Mason while its flagship Smithfield site undergoes a refit.

Latest opening: Temper Paddington

17-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

The steakhouse and barbecue restaurant group has launched its fifth London site.

Latest opening: The Dover

15-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Former Soho House group COO Martin Kuczmarski is channelling old school hospitality with his first solo venture.

Prezzo plots move into QSR with takeaway pasta concept

15-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Prezzo is plotting a move in the QSR market with the development of a takeaway pasta concept that will have branches in UK train stations.

Latest opening: Gaia

12-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile Dubai-based restaurateur Evgeny Kuzin has brought his glam Greek restaurant format to Mayfair.

'Optimistic' Boxpark reports record December revenues

12-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Boxpark has reported a record month in December 2023, with like-for-like sales up 22%.

Le Gavroche marks closure with events for hospitality industry and charities

11-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Michel Roux Jr’s two Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant Le Gavroche has announced it will host three hospitality industry-linked dinners next week to mark its closure.

Hovarda to occupy floating pavilion site in Wood Wharf

10-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Aegean restaurant Hovarda is opening second London site, in Wood Wharf.

Latest opening: Alley Cats Pizza

09-Jan-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Marylebone has welcomed a compact, high-quality pizzeria that pays homage to the by-the-slice joints of New York.

Scott Hallsworth gets his Freak on in Balham

08-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Scott Hallsworth is opening a second of his Freak Scene restaurants in south London, with a new site in Balham.

Romulo Café goes on the market - updated

08-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Filipino restaurant Romulo Café in Kensington has gone on the market.

Spaghetti House returns to profit

04-Jan-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Spaghetti House has reported financial results for the year to 26 March 2023, with turnover rising from the previous year’s £5.3m to £9.8m.

Bellazul to open in Marylebone

03-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

New neighbourhood Mediterranean restaurant and bar Bellazul is coming to Marylebone next month.

‘Continued financial difficulties’ force Tony Rodd to close Copper & Ink

02-Jan-2024 By James McAllister

Tony Rodd has announced the immediate closure of his Copper & Ink restaurant in Blackheath, south east London, saying that ‘continued financial difficulties’ have made the business ‘untenable’.

Bill Granger dies at the age of 54

27-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Australian restaurateur and food writer Bill Granger has died at the age of 54.

Coffee brand WatchHouse secures £7.9m in Series A funding

22-Dec-2023 By Joe Lutrario

High-end London coffee business WatchHouse has secured £7.9m in Series A funding to support its ‘rapid’ growth plans in both the UK and New York over the next 36 months.

Burger brand Amigos looks to reach 100 sites

20-Dec-2023 By Joe Lutrario

London-centric burger brand Amigos is looking for franchise partners to help it reach its goal of reaching a total of 100 UK sites within the next five years.

Des Gunewardena to open a restaurant at The Royal Exchange

15-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Des Gunewardena, former CEO of restaurant group D&D London, will embark on his first project since his departure from the multi-site restaurant group at the end of 2022.

D&D London’s David Loewi: “This deal is about us getting our mojo back”

15-Dec-2023 By Joe Lutrario

D&D London CEO David Loewi says that the recent sale of the group to Calveton and Breal Capital will help the circa 30-strong business “get its mojo back”.

Stevie Parle to launch new West End restaurant next summer

14-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Stevie Parle has announced he will open a new restaurant in London's West End next summer.

Tom Hill and Clare Lattin to open Camille in Borough Market

14-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Ducksoup and Little Duck founders Clare Lattin and Tom Hill will open a provincial French-inspired restaurant in London next year.

Opulent Parisian-inspired restaurant Mistress to open in St James's

14-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

A luxurious Parisian-inspired restaurant and after-hours lounge and members club will open in St James’ early next year.

Flash-grilled: Joe Laker

13-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The chef patron of Counter 71 in London’s Shoreditch on his first industry job, tasting menus, and why he couldn't live without a Pacojet.

Owen Kenworthy to oversee kitchen at Julie's

11-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Owen Kenworthy has been named chef-patron at much-loved Holland Park restaurant Julie’s in preparation for its revival next spring.

Comptoir Libanais to open at London's Southbank Centre

07-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Comptoir Group will open its 23rd Comptoir Libanais next year as it continues to grow its UK estate following a recent return to the expansion trail.

Train strikes knock profits at Drake & Morgan as sales rise

06-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Ongoing industrial action on the railways has been blamed for dip in profits at Drake & Morgan, with the group reporting a rise in sales in its latest financial results.

Alsace-inspired restaurant and wine bar to launch in Fitzrovia next year

06-Dec-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Food writer Solynka Dumas and Julian Oschmann will launch an Alsatian-inspired restaurant and wine bar on Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street early next year.

Latest opening: The Tamil Crown

05-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The Tamil Prince team have launched a second London site, which places greater emphasis on its pub setting while retaining a robust food offering.

Aqua man: how David Yeo built an international restaurant group

04-Dec-2023 By Stefan Chomka

Twenty-three years on from opening his first restaurant, the Aqua Restaurant Group founder is showing no signs of slowing down, with new London restaurants Luci and Azzurra and more to come.

How I Got Here: Ranjit Mathrani

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The chairman of Indian restaurant group MW-Eat, who was recognised at this year's R200 Awards, on what makes a good leader and how to deal with unpredictability in business.

JKS targets US market after latest funding round

04-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

JKS is eyeing expansion into the US market as well as further growth in the Middle East following the completion of its latest funding round.

'Less destination, more neighbourhood': Pidgin launches raffle to help it return to its roots

01-Dec-2023 By Restaurant

Hackney restaurant Pidgin is looking to raise £100,000 to raise money for a refurbishment and to help take the restaurant back to it origins.

‘Challenging’ recruitment landscape forces Ottolenghi to cut opening hours as group sees turnover rise

30-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The Ottolenghi group has had cut operating hours across some of its sites as a result of challenges to recruitment caused by Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Claude and Lucy Bosi to bring ‘a little piece of Lyon to Fulham’ with Josephine

30-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Claude Bosi and his wife Lucy will launch their first joint venture early next year – a new neighbourhood-style French bistro in London’s Fulham.

Uncorked: Sunny Hodge

29-Nov-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The founder of forward-thinking London wine bars Diogenes The Dog and Aspen & Meursault on wine science, Uruguay’s Pablo Fallabrinos and the joys of Pugliese ‘plonk’.

Flash-grilled: Nick Yung

29-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The head chef at Pan Pacific London’s flagship restaurant, Straits Kitchen, on starting out as a prep cook, tackling bad attitudes in the workplace, and his favourite fast food joint.