Casual Dining

Jimi Famurewa replaces Fay Maschler as Evening Standard chief restaurant critic

10-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

The Evening Standard has appointed Jimi Famurewa as chief restaurant critic following Fay Maschler’s announcement that she will be stepping back from the role after 48 years.

Sessions Market launches start-up accelerator

10-Dec-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Food hall business Sessions Market has launched a new accelerator platform aimed at reinvigorating the hospitality sector in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis.

HUŎ to open in Chelsea next year

10-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

The team behind Notting Hill-based Asian restaurant ULI is launching a sister Asian restaurant in Chelsea next year.

Fears grow London could move to Tier 3

10-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

An industry voice has warned that moving London to Tier 3 and thus forcing the capital's hospitality businesses to close would 'further devastate' the sector.

The Olive Branch in Rutland named UK Pub of the Year

10-Dec-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Olive Branch in Rutland has been named UK Pub of the Year by The Good Pub Guide 2021.

'Additional action still needed' as Scottish Government unveils new financial package

10-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Scotland has warned that longer-term help will be necessary if businesses are to weather the winter Covid crisis, after the Scottish Government unveiled a further £185m of support.

'No hard evidence' behind curfew

10-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Sir Patrick Vallance has said there was 'no hard evidence' behind the Government's decision to impose a 10pm curfew on hospitality venues back in September.

Parliamentary group formed to support night-time economy businesses

09-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

A group of cross-party MPs and peers have came together to establish an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the night-time economy.

How I Got Here: Nicolas Hanson

09-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Nicolas Hanson owns Borough Market-based pasta supplier La Tua Pasta, who pivoted his business and launched an online shop with nationwide delivery in the wake of the pandemic.

Rent moratoria further extended into March next year

09-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has confirmed that the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria will both be extended until the end of March 2021.

Ramsay lines up further London openings

09-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay is planning three further openings in the capital under his respective Street Burger and Street Pizza brands in the coming months.

Edinburgh hospitality businesses to continue to be hit with strict lockdown rules

08-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Edinburgh hospitality businesses will continue to be hit with strict lockdown restrictions, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Udon noodle restaurant group Kineya Mugimaru to make European debut in London

08-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Kineya Mugimaru, the Japanese noodle restaurant chain that has 500 sites across Japan, Hong Kong and the US, is making its European debut in London this month.

Rita's duo open Soho pop-up ahead of restaurant opening

08-Dec-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind Rita’s Dining and Bodega Rita’s are to open a pop-up bottle shop in Soho within the space that will eventually be home to permanent restaurant venture Rita’s Soho.

Pastry chef Kimberley Lin launches Floozie Cookie in Covent Garden

08-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Kimberly Lin, a former pastry chef at Claridge’s and The Savoy, has taken advantage of the pandemic to launch her ‘fantasy project’: selling cookies in Covent Garden.

Bleeding Heart Restaurant Group: “Our heart is still pumping after 37 years”

08-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

The co-founder of London’s Bleeding Heart says that despite the pain of having to close the group’s flagship restaurant she remains confident about the future of the business.

Black Axe Mangal and Willy's Pies team up for Match Day Special pie launch

07-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Fans of Black Axe Mangal can get a taste of the restaurant even though it remains closed throughout the pandemic thanks to a partnership between its chef-patron Lee Tiernan and Willy’s Pies founder Will Lewis.

San Carlo to open new restaurant concept in London's St Christopher’s Place next year

07-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

San Carlo Restaurant Group is opening a new Italian restaurant in London’s St Christopher’s Place next year.

Dodo scopes new sites

07-Dec-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Russian-founded pizza delivery brand Dodo Pizza is targeting a number of new openings for 2021, as it prepares to launch a new site under a revamped concept later this month.

Birmingham restaurateur delays legal challenge against Tier 3 restrictions

07-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

A Birmingham-based restaurateur has delayed plans to launch a legal challenge against the Government's Tier 3 restrictions while local leaders continue to push for greater financial support for the sector.

HospoDemo: "We're determined to continue fighting the cause for hospitality"

07-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

The founder of HospoDemo says the hospitality sector has been made a scapegoat by the Government, as she prepares to lead a second hospitality demonstration against the ongoing restrictions.

Drinks

Liquid assets: December's latest drinks launches

07-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Christmas cocktails, mince pie hard seltzer, medicinal mushroom beer and botanical rum expressions make up some of the most interesting new drinks launches for the festive period.

Northern Ireland restaurants get green light to reopen while wet-led pubs forced to remain closed

07-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants in Northern Ireland will be able to reopen from Friday (11 December) following an eight-week lockdown of the country's hospitality sector.

Majority of hospitality operators expect to be in tier 3 in January

07-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Over two thirds of hospitality operators say they expect to be in a tier 3 style lockdown in January following the busy Christmas period, during which people can meet outside of their bubbles for a small number of days.

UKHospitality warns of 'business bloodbath' if Government fails to extend rent moratoria

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality warns the sector is on a countdown to a devastating rent tipping-point that could trigger a bloodbath of business failures with potentially hundreds of thousands more jobs lost.

Friday five: the week's top news

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

We round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including Wales banning sales of alcohol in hospitality settings; and the PM pledging a paltry one-off grant of £1,000 for wet-led pubs hit by tougher tier restrictions

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Pivot Pains, from a small restaurant business

04-Dec-2020 By Sandra Leong

Delivery isn’t the panacea to restaurants’ problems, says Old Chang Kee owner Sandra Leong

Young’s boss accuses police of ‘intimidation and harassment’ in enforcing new restrictions

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Police have been accused of ‘overzealous’ enforcement of Tier 2 restrictions in pubs, with landlords reporting officers arguing over ‘substantial meal’ regulations and throwing out customers after they finished eating.

Barburrito to close three sites following restructure

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Mexican chain Barburrito is to close three sites as part of a restructuring deal that will also see a new injection of investment led by chairman Graham Turner.

Hospitality's confidence shattered as sector continues to reel from impact of Covid

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

The pandemic has wrecked confidence across hospitality, with less than a fifth of business leaders in the sector optimistic about the market’s prospects over the next 12 months.

Birmingham restaurateur to launch legal challenge against Tier 3 restrictions

04-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

A Birmingham-based restaurateur is to launch a legal challenge against the Government, claiming it has failed to provide adequate evidence to support the closure of hospitality in Tier 3 areas.

Cocotte opens fourth London location

03-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

French-style ‘farm-to-table’ rotisserie concept Cocotte has opened its fourth London restaurant in Queens Park.

Polpo co-founder Richard Beatty buys the group's last two remaining sites

03-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Polpo co-founder Richard Beatty has bought the Venetian restaurant group’s last two remaining sites – including its debut venue – out of administration.

Star Pubs & Bars continues rent concessions for struggling tenants

03-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Pub operator Star Pubs & Bars says it is investing a further £5m in continuing rent concessions in December to support its pubs on core leased and tenanted agreements.

Just 27% of Britain’s pubs reopen under new tier restrictions

03-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Just 27% of pubs in Britain reopened yesterday (2 December), with many suggesting they could close again in less than a week if they are unviable under Tier 2 restrictions.

Hospitality businesses remain unclear on the impact of Brexit

03-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Business leaders across the UK food and drink industry remain unclear on the impact that Brexit will have on their business over the coming 12 months, despite the looming Brexit deadline.

The Lowdown: substantial meals

03-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Government restrictions demanding pubs operating in Tier 2 areas only open if they’re able to serve food has left minsters scrambling to explain what constitutes a ‘substantial meal’.

Every little helps: UKHospitality asks for returned Tesco £585m grant to go to hospitality businesses

02-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has called for the establishment of a Hospitality and Tourism Recovery Fund to support hospitality businesses that have not received any grant support and are at risk of closure.

Prezzo bought by real estate investment firm Cain International

02-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Casual dining chain Prezzo has been acquired by private investment firm Cain International in a bid to create the ‘UK’s favourite Italian restaurant group’.

Loungers CEO: "we approach 2021 with enthusiasm and optimism"

02-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

Loungers’ turnover fell 33% to £53.5m in the 24 weeks to 4 October, but the casual dining group still managed to turn a profit despite a raft of restrictions.

50,000 pubs and licensed venes to remain closed as lockdown ends

02-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

As many as 50,000 pubs and licensed premises could remain closed after the national lockdown ends today (2 December), new research has shown.

Caffè Nero approves CVA following failed takeover approach

02-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Caffè Nero has approved its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) after more than 90% of creditors voted in favour of the proposal,

Restaurant radar: December 2020

02-Dec-2020 By James McAllister and Stefan Chomka

With the lockdown lifted, many restaurateurs - particularly in the capital - are pushing ahead with belated new launches including Gordon Ramsay, Ellen Chew and the Bao team.

Leon launches CVA proposal

01-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy fast food chain Leon has served creditors with a two-year restructuring plan that will see the majority of its estate switch to a turnover-based rent model.

'Nowhere near enough' - PM pledges paltry one-off payment for wet-led pubs

01-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister has announced that wet-led pubs forced to remain closed under Tier 2 and 3 restrictions will receive a paltry one-off grant payment of £1,000.

Book review: Wine From Another Galaxy

01-Dec-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew’s debut book is as refreshingly unpretentious as their two central London restaurants.

Caring Family Foundation pledges 80,000 meals to children this Christmas

01-Dec-2020 By Restaurant

The Caring Family Foundation has launched a campaign that will provide 80,000 meals to children that are in danger of going hungry this Christmas.

Trade bodies call on Government to revamp alcohol duty system

01-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Two trade bodies have issued a joint call for the Government to revamp the alcohol duty system in order to boost businesses and deliver on the Government’s public health initiatives.

Pandemic takes toll on supply chain

01-Dec-2020 By Georgia Cronin

The Coronavirus pandemic has caused supply chain difficulties for more than nine in ten hospitality operators since they reopened in July, CGA and Prestige Purchasing has found.

Angelina team to launch Soho cocktail bar

01-Dec-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind Dalston-based Japanese-Italian restaurant ​Angelina are to launch a ‘playful’ cocktail and wine bar in Soho that will serve a concise menu of small dishes.