Casual Dining

Latest opening: Holy Carrot

26-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Following a successful pop up, first-time restaurateur Irina Linovich has found a permanent home for her ‘vegetable forward’ concept Holy Carrot in London’s Notting Hill.

The Lowdown

Another US fried chicken brand is coming to the UK. Is there space for it?

26-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

US-based Dave’s Hot Chicken has bold plans for the UK, with 60 restaurants planned.

Dishoom crosses the pond for the first time with New York café collaboration

25-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Indian restaurant group Dishoom will make its transatlantic debut next month in the form of a collaboration with famed New York French brasserie Pastis.

Pasta Evangelists begins franchise rollout with two London sites

25-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Pasta Evangelists is opening two Pasta Emporiums under franchise in London as part of its plans roll out a further 20 sites over the next five years.

Bavette named Britain’s Best Local Restaurant

24-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Leeds-based restaurant Bavette has been named as Britain’s Best Local Restaurant by The Good Food Guide.

Kanada-Ya returns to expansion trail with Westfield opening

23-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Japanese ramen group Kanada-Ya is to launch its first London restaurant in nearly two years with a new opening at Westfield shopping centre in White City.

Latest opening: The Pig’s Ear

22-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The Gladwin brothers have made their first move into the pub world with their new gastropub and dining room.

MHDL to relaunch El Gato Negro Leeds as Black Cat Club

19-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Simon Shaw’s Mills Hill Developments Limited (MHDL) is to launch a second site under its competitive socialising concept Black Cat Club in Leeds.

The Tivoli to open in Cheltenham

18-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

West Country-based operators Tom Noest and Peter Creed will open their fifth venue later this month, in Cheltenham.

Wagamama launches Soul Club loyalty programme

17-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Wagamama has become the latest restaurant brand to launch its own loyalty programme that will offer members free menu items and exclusive content.

Generation Next

Santo Remedio’s Natalie Diaz-Fuentes on her restaurant journey so far

17-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The co-founder of the two-strong Mexican group on chillies, balancing being a restaurateur with family life and the perils of opening a restaurant with no Wi-Fi.

Tonkotsu heads to Bristol

16-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

London-centric ramen restaurant group Tonkotsu has chosen Bristol for its third regional location.

Latest opening: NIJŪ

16-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

The increasingly prolific Endo Kazutoshi has been drafted in to turn things around at Creative Restaurant Group’s short-lived 20 Berkeley restaurant.

YolanDa Brown’s Soul Mama relocates to Stratford ahead of launch

16-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Musician, broadcaster and author YolanDa Brown has confirmed that her music venue and restaurant concept Soul Mama will now open in London’s Stratford, having initially planned to launch in Islington.

The man who built a beefy empire

16-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

With a group that spans Europe, the Middle East, Asia, The Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean, Riccardo Giraudi knows a thing or two about opening restaurants.

Spaghetti House swings to loss amid ‘extremely difficult year’

16-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

London-based Italian restaurant chain Spaghetti House has reported an ‘extremely difficult year’ in its latest financial results, posting a loss of £93,331 in the year to 31 March 2024.

Comment

Could the wider expansion of Albert’s Schloss reinvigorate the UK’s struggling nighttime economy?

15-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

While large swathes of the segment struggles, Albert’s Schloss shows there’s still plenty of opportunity in the nighttime economy.

Gabriel and José Luís Gonzalez are taking Lima to Shoreditch

15-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Lima founders Gabriel and José Luís Gonzalez are heading east with an opening at Shoreditch’s Sun Street Hotel.

The Coconut Tree enters into CVA

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant group The Coconut Tree has entered into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Latest opening: Albert's Schloss – London

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Alpine cook haus and Bavarian bier palace brand has arrived in London with its biggest site to date.

Burger brand Hub Box bought out of administration

12-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

South west-based burger chain Hub Box has been bought out of administration in a deal that will save its 10 restaurants.

Fatto a Mano plots further expansion following Middleton investment

11-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Neapolitan pizza restaurant group Fatto a Mano is plotting further expansion in the capital after securing new investment from Middleton Enterprises.

Analysis

New dogs, old tricks. Can the gourmet hot dog make it big this time round?

11-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

They might have failed to capture the UK market in the same way gourmet burgers have, but that hasn’t stopped chefs from trying to elevate the humble hot dog. Can this new wave of hot dog hopefuls succeed?

Wagamama rolls out breakfast menu at 22 locations

11-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Wagamama is making another tilt at breakfast nearly a decade after it first dipped its toe into the morning market.

Restaurant Associates takes over running of Maria G’s restaurants from Robin Gill

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Restaurant Associates has won a contract to operate two Maria G’s restaurants in Kensington and Fulham with chef Steve Groves to oversee the menus.

Sticks’n’Sushi heads to Islington for 14th restaurant

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Danish Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi will open its 14th UK location this September.

Lussmanns returns to expansion trail with double opening

10-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Sustainable seafood restaurant Lussmans will return to the expansion trail next month with a new opening in Highgate that’ll also mark the brand’s return to the London after two decades.

Loungers reports record year as sales and profits surge

09-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Loungers has announced a record year for sales, profits and site openings in its latest full-year results.

Chef Jakob Grant opens Deal bistro

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Former Bouchon Racine chef Jakob Grant has opened his first solo restaurant venture, a bistro located upstairs at The Bohemian public house on the seafront in Deal, Kent.

"We are gutted, humbled": Bundobust to close Birmingham site

09-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Indian street food group Bundobust has announced it will close its Birmingham restaurant later this month.

Sales up over 50% at Mission Mars

09-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Rudy’s and Albert’s Schloss operator Mission Mars has reported revenue growth of 51% in its 2023 accounts.

Azzurri to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to UK

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group is to bring California-based fast casual concept Dave’s Hot Chicken to the UK with a view to opening 60 sites under the brand beginning in London next year.

Capdesia exits Marugame Udon Europe

08-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Marugame Udon Europe parent company Toridoll Holdings is to take full ownership of the noodle restaurant group, with Capdesia successfully exiting its investment.

Salt Shed duo to launch second Brighton restaurant

08-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Brighton and London-based grill and barbecue concept Salt Shed has acquired the former Murmur site on Brighton seafront for its second permanent restaurant.

The Ivy gets go-ahead for first Liverpool restaurant

04-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Ivy is to open its first outpost in Liverpool after plans were approved by the city’s council.

Zia Lucia plots international expansion via new franchise model

04-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

London-based pizzeria group Zia Lucia is aiming to reach 100 sites within five years amid plans to roll out a new international franchise model across Europe and the Middle East.