Friday five: the week's top news stories

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Simon Wilkinson's departure from Byron, Lisa Goodwin-Allen's new role in London, and northern-based Chinese restaurant group Tattu's proposed entry into the capital are among this week's top hospitality stories.

- Byron CEO Simon Wilkinson has stepped down from his role with Gavin Cox named as his replacement. Cox, who joined the business recently, has previously worked at food companies including Adelie Foods, McCambridge Group and Street Eats. Byron brand owner Famously Proper says Cox's expertise, which is specifically focused on growth, will aid the development of the Byron burger brand as well as Mother Clucker, the fried chicken brand it acquired earlier this year. “I have reached a stage in my life when I am looking for a change of direction. I believe my job is done and I am confident I am leaving Famously Proper in a very strong position to capitalise on future growth opportunities,” says Wilkinson, who joined Byron three years ago and has helped stabilise the business when it was acquired by Famously Proper in 2020 in a pre-pack administration.

- Chinese restaurant group Tattu is making its first foray into the capital with opening of a restaurant in the West End. Located in The Now Building it is expected yo open at the start of 2022 and will be the fifth restaurant in the group. The London restaurant will seat 220, offering elevated dining experience with panoramic views of the capital The Now Building’s rooftop and terrace. Tattu operates restaurants in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

- Chef Tom Shepherd will open his debut restaurant in Lichfield next month. Called Upstairs by Tom Shepherd it will be located on the first-floor restaurant above his father’s jewellery shop in the Staffordshire city. It will have 28-covers and will serve Shepherd’s modern British cooking using seasonal ingredients and with subtle influences from Japan and east Asia. The restaurant, which is due to open on 8 October, will have a bar area and central chef’s table with a roof terrace planned for early 2022.

- Haar chef Dean Banks has launched a crowdfunding campaign to reopen the restaurant in its new location. The MasterChef The Professionals 2018 finalist hopes to raise £50,000 ​to help fund renovations at the restaurant’s new location in St Andrews on Golf Place. Options on the crowdfund include a six-course menu tasting for two and a lunch tasting menu for two at the new restaurant and a seven-course tasting menu for four at Dean Banks at the Pompadour in Edinburgh, the restaurant which he opened in June.

- Northcote executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen will oversee The Stafford London’s The Game Bird from later this month. Working with the hotel’s executive chef Jozef Rogulski, Goodwin-Allen has developed a new menu of seasonal British produce drawing on her experience at Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire. It will mark the first time her cooking will be available on a permanent basis to diners in the capital. She will continue her role as executive chef at Northcote, another property within The Stafford Collection.“I am thrilled to be working with the team at The Game Bird,” she says. “Jozef and I have created an exciting new menu that truly celebrates high-quality, seasonal British produce and I look forward to my dishes being available to diners in London for the very first time.”