- Skye Gyngell, the chef behind Spring restaurant in London and Heckfield Place in Hampshire, died at weekend at the age of 62. The Australian-born chef was head chef at Petersham Nurseries, where she won the restaurant a Michelin star in 2011. Spring, which she launched in 2014 within London’s Somerset House, was among the first high-profile restaurants in the capital to have a primarily female brigade in the kitchen, and the first single-use plastic free restaurant in London.
- Restaurants in London have been warned to be vigilant following a spate of thefts. A case of langoustines worth around £300 were stolen from Michelin-starred Chelsea restaurant Elystan Street and the team behind Spitalfields’ Galvin La Chapelle, which also holds a Michelin star, says earlier this month £800 worth of meat was stolen from outside the restaurant.
- Brands including Dave’s Hot Chicken, Wingstop, Big Mamma, Brother Marcus and Honest Burgers Smash + Grab were among the winner’s at the R200 Awards 2025. The annual awards, created by Restaurant, celebrate excellence in the hospitality sector and are voted for by industry professionals. They were held on 24 November at a special dinner at Big Mamma’s Circolo Popolare restaurant in Manchester.
- The group behind London restaurants Aqua, Hutong and Shiro will launch its Hong Kong-born concept Dim Sum Library in Covent Garden early next month. The Long Acre restaurant will be located on the former site of Aqua Restaurant Group’s casual Italian restaurant and deli LUCI, which launched in 2023.
- Chutney Mary and Masala Zone owner MW Eat has been acquired by Canadian firm Fairfax Financial Holdings in a private deal. The acquisition is expected to accelerate MW Eat’s growth strategy, with Fairfax planning to make “significant investments”, pursue international expansion, and explore new restaurant formats.