- Jamie Oliver's Barbecoa steakhouse in Piccadilly has fallen in to administration a week after it was put up for sale. Administrators Alix Partners said no 'viable commercial offers' were made for the site, which launched in 2017. The original Barbecoa in St Paul's remains open after being bought back by a subsidary of Oliver's restaurant business.
- Meanwhile the CEO of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group has opened up about where the business went wrong. Jon Knight told the Casual Dining Show that the chain had become "complacent", opened sites which "didn't work" and failed to innovate. He also hinted that opening in transport hubs could be a key part of its turnaround strategy after the success of the two Jamie's sites in Gatwick airport.
- Restaurant Mark Greenaway in Edinburgh is to start charging diners who don't turn up after revealing it had 450 no-shows and cancellations in just one month last year. From 1 March the 42-cover site will take credit or debit card details for all bookings, with a £30-£50 fee for no-shows. "We need to act to put an end to this lunacy of customers booking and not turning up," said Greenaway.
- Casual Dining Group is to launch a new delivery brand based out of Cafe Rouge kitchens this year. Stack and Grill will focus on burgers, croque monsieur and craft beers in a bid to boost sales at the chain during quieter evening periods. It will operate out of over 80 Cafe Rouge sites across the UK and be available on Deliveroo.
- Chef Tom Kerridge is to open his first London restaurant at the five-star Corinthia Hotel London this year. The project will take the site currently occupied by Massimo, with dishes inspired by the chef's Michelin-starred Marlow pubs.
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