LONG READ
Med ahead: a decade of Brother Marcus
The East Mediterranean dining brand celebrates 10 years of growth in a challenging market, strengthening its London presence while keeping expansion beyond the capital on the horizon.
Casual Dining
IRO Sushi chooses Glasgow for first Scottish site
IRO Sushi is set to open in Glasgow this summer, marking the brand’s first Scottish location.
Chaiiwala opens first Welsh motorway café
Chaiiwala has opened an express-format café at Roadchef Magor on the M4, marking the brand’s first motorway location in Wales.
Nonna Bakery chooses Covent Garden for its second London site
Nonna Bakery has opened its second London site on Drury Lane in Covent Garden.
Big Mamma to open Edmondo in the City of London
French-founded Italian restaurant group Big Mamma is bringing its Hamburg-based pizza brand Edmondo to the City of London this autumn.
Up in smoke: what the closure of Bodean’s means for the wider BBQ sector
The apparent collapse of London’s best-known barbecue brand feels like the end of an era in which operators and investors believed US barbecue could become a major force in UK casual dining.
Belly founder to launch all-day restaurant in Kentish Town
Omar Shah, co-founder of the Maginhawa Group, which Is behind Belly Bistro Mamasons and Guanabana, is set to open Bunso, a new Filipino-inspired neighbourhood restaurant in Kentish Town, this September.
Cosy Club to make airport debut
Cosy Club is to open its first airport restaurant next year as part of a major expansion of the food and beverage offer at Bristol Airport.
1996 Group to open ‘London’s first speciality French toast and ube bar’
1996 Group is set to open Toasteé, a French toast and ube bar, at Westfield White City this September.
Yo! told to pull ads promoting cream puffs
Yo! has been told to withdraw paid-for online advertising for its KitKat cream puffs after falling foul of new rules governing the promotion of less healthy food and drink products.
Over 50 former Whitbread sites to be rebranded into new chain of value-led pubs
More than 50 former Whitbread sites, including Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations, are set to be rebranded into a new chain of value-led pubs.
Slim Chickens site awarded zero hygiene rating two months after receiving five stars
Slim Chickens in St David’s Shopping Centre, Cardiff, has been awarded a zero food hygiene rating, just two months after receiving five stars.
Bone Daddies rolls out breakfast ramen menu across all eight of its locations
Ramen restaurant group Bone Daddies has rolled out its breakfast menu across all eight of its locations following a trial of the concept at its Victoria restaurant last September.
Cluck’d heads to Leicester for third location
Independent grilled chicken restaurant Cluck’d will open its third restaurant in Leicester this August.
Wagamama enters joint venture in India as it plots 100 sites across the subcontinent
The Restaurant Group (TRG) has entered a multi-million-pound joint venture with Charcoal Concepts to accelerate the expansion of Wagamama across India.
Insight
The man leading the revival of Individual Restaurants
With its revitalised Piccolino brand and new Neapolitan pizza concept Forbici on the up, CEO Andrew Garton has found a rich vein of form at the Italian-focused group.
The Coconut Tree to double up in Bristol as it returns to expansion trail
The Coconut Tree is returning to the expansion trail with a new opening in central Bristol later this month.
Yummy Collection rebrands as Hoste as it turns 20
Independent pub company Yummy Collection has announced a rebrand as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Brother Thai sets ambition to reach five sites following success of Bristol location
Cardiff-born restaurant group Brother Thai has revealed plans to grow to five restaurants following the success of its second site in Bristol.
Yo-Chi to open first UK store in Notting Hill
Australian frozen yoghurt brand Yo-Chi is set to make its UK debut this August in Notting Hill, marking the brand’s entry into the European market.
Scran+ Roadie to open at the UK’s first SuperPark in Glasgow
Glaswegian brunch café Scran+ Roadie is doubling up with a concession within indoor park operator Superpark’s first UK location.
Luxury dessert brand Haute Dolci to come to Reading
Luxury dessert and brunch brand Haute Dolci is opening a site in Reading later this month.
Giggling Squid responds to ‘shrinking high street portions’ with generous menu overhaul
Giggling Squid is launching its biggest menu overhaul to date with 16 new dishes in larger portion sizes.
Meyhane by Sarher opens in Edinburgh
Turkish wine bar and meze Meyhane by Sarher has opened its doors in Edinburgh today (3 August) on Jeffrey Street.
Food-to-go and coffee shops took bite out of restaurant spend in first half of 2026
Consumers traded down from traditional restaurants in favour of coffee shops and food-to-go concepts in the first half of the year, according to fresh data from CACI.
Gaucho Manchester to unveil dedicated martini bar as part of August relaunch
Gaucho Manchester will relaunch its Deansgate restaurant this August following a major refurbishment, introducing a dedicated martini bar in collaboration with Belvedere Organic Vodka.
UK restaurant market to grow to £18.7bn in 2026
The UK service-led restaurant market is forecast to reach £18.7bn in 2026, according to research from Lumina Intelligence.
Doctor Dough chooses Chiswick for first permanent site
Independent pizza brand Doctor Dough Pizza will open is first permanent restaurant next month following a three-year search for a site.
On the move: why casual dining is looking beyond the high street
From transport hubs to roadside locations, casual dining brands are increasingly investing in formats designed for consumers on the move.
My Delhi makes Birmingham debut with Indian restaurant purchase
Much-loved Birmingham Indian restaurant Itihaas has been taken on by growing independent restaurant group My Delhi, ensuring the future of the city venue.
Lenny’s partners with MJMK to bring New Haven ‘apizza’ to prime Covent Garden location
Cult New Haven ‘apizza’ restaurant Lenny’s has secured a prime Covent Garden spot for its debut venue in partnership with MJMK Restaurants.
EMBER at The Chandlers Arms to open in The Cotswolds
The teams behind EMBER taproom and The Chandlers Arms are joining forces to bring a live-fire restaurant and taproom to The Cotswolds.
Bite Twice duo open second pizza restaurant in Covent Garden
Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany, the duo behind the Bite Twice Instagram food blog, have opened their second pizzeria with the launch of Carmy’s Pizzeria in Covent Garden.
Comment
Welcome to the next chapter of hospitality ownership
For almost a decade, the normal ownership cycle in UK hospitality has been on hold. Now we’re watching it restart.
Comment
The cavalry is a welcome opening move. Now it’s time for the heavy artillery
Andy Burnham’s decision not to include restaurants and cafes in his rates cut has been met with disbelief. Could he have other intentions for the wider sector?
Challenger pizza brand connected to Gregg Wallace starts recruiting
A pizza brand connected to Gregg Wallace that aims to take on Domino’s has begun recruiting ahead of its launch.
Wren Pubs sells The Carpenter’s Arms in Hammersmith to James Blunt
The Carpenter’s Arms in Hammersmith has been bought by musician James Blunt.
KIBOU signs flagship Covent Garden site for first central London restaurant
KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar will open a flagship site in Covent Garden, marking the restaurant group’s first central London location.
Swede as pie: the new pizza style everyone’s (not yet) talking about
Move over London-style pizza, there’s a new kid in town, and it’s got a Scandi swagger.
“When is a pub a pub, and when is it a restaurant?”: owners react to business rates announcement
Restaurant owners across the country have responded with frustration and confusion to the Government’s announcement of a reduction in business rates for parts of the hospitality sector.
Legare and WatchHouse founders to open Bermondsey pizzeria
A new independent pizzeria from the founders behind Legare, Luna and WatchHouse is opening on Bermondsey Street this September.
Nell’s Pizza launches youth hospitality jobs platform
Manchester-based Nell’s Pizza Group has launched a free jobs platform designed to connect 14 to 17-year-olds with hospitality jobs across Greater Manchester and Salford.
Two Twins Tacos chooses Spitalfields for fourth London site
Californian-inspired taco brand Two Twins Tacos is continuing its expansion with a fourth site set to open this August in Spitalfields.
Vagabond appoints Graham Hall as interim MD
Vagabond has appointed Graham Hall as its interim managing director.
20 brands to watch: part two
In the second instalment, we bring you another 10 brands to keep an eye on.
Chef behind Pahli Hill to open new Indian-inspired pub in Shepherd’s Bush
Avi Shashidhara, the chef behind Pahli Hill, will open Talli Queen, a new neighbourhood pub combining British pub traditions with Indian food and drink culture, in Shepherd’s Bush this September.
Dishoom confirms Borough opening for later this year
Dishoom has confirmed that it will open a restaurant in London’s Borough later this year.
Pablo’s Taqueria expands across all Arcade sites with Battersea Power Station and Tottenham Court Road openings
Pablo’s Taqueria has expanded across all three Arcade food halls, opening new sites at Arcade Battersea Power Station and Arcade Tottenham Court Road following the launch of its taqueria at Arcade Covent Garden.
Hospitality footfall rises 4.5% in June thanks to football fever
The hospitality sector entered the peak summer trading period with positive momentum in June, as warmer weather and the start of the World Cup helped drive footfall and dwell time.
Restaurant Moods to open at Kirkgate’s historic First White Cloth Hall
All-day cafe, restaurant, bar and events venue Moods will open in Leeds later this month.