- Birmingham’s Michelin-starred restaurant Simpsons has announced that it will close after more than three decades after failing to find a new owner. Founder Andreas Antona said that the economic environment and the costs associated with running the business had become too much and that closing it was ‘the most sensible decision’. In January last year the restaurant was put on the market after Antona retired from the industry after 50 years. The intention at the time was to find a buyer for the restaurant, but after three aborted sales attempts, he said he has been left with no choice but to close the doors. “I didn’t want it to end like this, but with the economy as it stands, and so much time and money invested to keep us going, it is the most sensible decision,” said Antona. Originally launched in 1993 in Kenilworth, Simpsons moved it to its current home in a Grade-II listed Georgian villa in 2004.
- French-founded Italian group Big Mamma has revealed it will open its first restaurant in the US later this year after entering a joint venture in the country. The brand has secured a site in Juno Beach, South Florida, which it will open as part of a 50/50 partnership with Chicago-based group Ballyhoo Hospitality. Big Mamma will also collaborate with Florida restaurateur Carmine Giardini, founder of Carmine’s Gourmet Market & La Trattoria for the opening. No name has been revealed for the restaurant yet, but it will continue Big Mamma’s approach of serving produce sourced directly from more than 200 family-run Italian suppliers, including 24-month aged Prosciutto di Parma DOP from Paolo and Gianfranco Leoncini and fresh mozzarella from Salvatore Corso in Napoli.
- Sophie’s Steakhouse & Bar will close its Chelsea restaurant on Fulham Road at the end of the month after almost 25 years. Revealed in a reel posted on Instagram, the group’s co-founder Rupert Power said that despite ‘never being one to leave a party early,’ the Chelsea restaurant would close its doors on 30 May for the final time. The New York-inspired steakhouse first opened in 2002 and its current lease is coming to an end, with Power saying it ‘therefore seems the right time to make this hard decision’. He went on to thank customers, independent suppliers and the restaurant team - ‘both past and present’ - adding that they ‘day by day by large make this a really happy place’. Sophie’s Steakhouse & Bar was founded by Power alongside Sophie Bathgate, who left the business in January last year. In 2017 Sophie’s opened in Soho following the closure of the brand’s Covent Garden location. Power urged guests to visit the Soho branch, which will remain open.
- Fulham Shore CEO Marcel Khan is to step down from his role, having overseen the CVA and restructure of Franco Manca and the sale of The Real Greek. Khan joined the business in early 2024 following the acquisition of the group by Tokyo-listed Toridoll the year before, to oversee the next chapter of the Franco Manca and The Real Greek casual dining brands. Earlier this month, Franco Manca announced plans to shut 16 restaurants as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), with the proposal backed by over 90% of its creditors, reducing its portfolio to around 54 sites. In a separate transaction, The Real Greek was acquired by Karali Group, the owner of Côte Brasserie, through a pre-pack administration deal covering 19 of its 28 restaurants. Khan’s previous roles include chief executive at Thunderbird Fried Chicken, director of operations and brand development director at Five Guys and regional MD at Nando’s.
- Junk Group, the French hospitality brand behind the smash burger concept Junk and cookie brand Puffy, is accelerating its expansion in London with four new openings. The group has recently opened a 12-cover new Puffy site in Mayfair and is preparing to launch a Junk in Spitalfields that will comprise 45 seats and serve both Junk Burgers and Puffy Cookies under one roof. This is set to be followed by standalone sites for both brands in Covent Garden later this year. The menus at the new sites will remain consistent with the existing offer, with a tight range of burgers on offer at Junk and a signature range of seven cookie flavours, including Chocolate Duo & Peanut Butter and White Chocolate & Matcha at Puffy. Founded by entrepreneurs Majed Mansour and Wissem Ben Ammar, the brand made its UK debut in 2024 with a site in Soho for Junk and opened a second restaurant in Marylebone the following year.