- Sally Abé has announced her departure from Cotswolds pub The Bull Charlbury after less than a year. The chef joined the pub, which is part of Public House group, as head of food in March having left her role at Westminster restaurant The Pem earlier in the month. Abé hasn’t given a reason for her departure but in an Instagram post says that ‘something new and exciting’ is coming that she will announce soon.
- Glen Leeson and Prince Durairaj are set to open a flagship Soho site for their faster paced Indian restaurant brand Tamila next month. Tamila follows the success of sites in Clapham and King’s Cross, which are positioned as a marginally more casual counterpoint to Leeson and chef Durairaj’s London desi pubs, The Tamil Prince and The Tamil Crown.
- The group behind the revival of Jamie’s Italian in the UK says that it could open up to 40 sites of the brand over the next decade. Brava Hospitality says a development agreement allows up to 40 sites to be opened over an initial 10-year period. The agreement also includes the exclusive rights to airports and any further concepts launched by Jamie Oliver in the UK.
- Another London style pizza joint is opening in the capital, this time from the man behind pizza restaurants 081 Pizzeria. Andrea Asciuti will launch Connie’s Pizza - named after his wife Connie and inspired by his daughter Lili who was born into both British and Italian culture - beneath the railway arches of Queen’s Road Peckham. The restaurant is described as blending Italian mindset, technique and ingredients with British flavours, produce and culture.
- TGI Fridays could close around 20 restaurants, almost halving its estate, as part of its pre-pack administration plans. Owner Sugarloaf TGIF Management could shut between 15 and 20 of TGI Fridays’ 49 sites as part of the process.