Casual Dining

Latest opening: The Elder

11-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

A sibling to The Woodsman in Stratford on Avon has opened in Bath.

One sheet to the wind: how the pandemic changed wine lists

11-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Coronavirus has all but brought an end to the hefty leather-bound wine list, and not just because of the safety implications of passing such an object from table to table.

Chancellor urged to 'carefully consider' targeted furlough extensions

11-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

A cross-party group of MPs have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to 'carefully consider' targeted extensions to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) beyond the end of October.

New body calls on Scottish Government to shut down premises flouting distancing rules

11-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

A new body representing a number of Scotland's most successful restaurant and bar owners has called on the Scottish Government to shut down licensed premises that flout social distancing regulations.

Wales to introduce 'rule of six', but only for indoor gatherings

11-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Wales has become the latest UK country to introduce the ‘rule of six’ that limits the number of people that can attend indoor social gatherings.

Hospitality businesses to make redundancies when furlough ends

11-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

At least half of hospitality businesses will have to make some level of redundancies once the furlough scheme comes to an end, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence for BigHospitality, MCA Insight and The...

Nando’s and Deliveroo form exclusive partnership

11-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Nando’s and Deliveroo have entered into an exclusive partnership that will see 360 of the peri peri chicken brand's restaurants join the delivery platform in what is being described as a nationwide rollout.

Restaurants see August boost but healthy like-for-likes 'present artificial market impression'

11-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Managed pub, restaurant and bar groups saw collective like-for-like sales bounce back up to 2019 levels in August thanks to the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out (EOHO) campaign.

Caffè Nero hires KPMG as it looks to cut rents

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Caffè Nero has reportedly asked KPMG to help negotiate rent cuts with landlords and review options relating to its property portfolio.

The Lowdown: The Safe Six Menu

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Following the Government’s decision to ban social gatherings of more than six people across England, Gaucho and M Restaurants have launched a ‘Safe Six’ menu.

Sturgeon extends 'rule of six' on social gatherings to Scotland

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that social gatherings in Scotland, both indoors and outside, will be limited to a maximum of six people from two households.

Mitch Tonks: "We've created an easier model, retained the magic of Rockfish and got a much more efficient cost base"

10-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The co-founder of Rockfish restaurant group and fine dining restaurant The Seahorse on streamlining his business post lockdown, changing his approach to staff and weathering the coming winter.

Coppa Club operator Various Eateries prepares £25m float

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Various Eateries, the restaurant group founded by hospitality entrepreneur Hugh Osmond, has announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM under plans to scale the business 'at pace'.

Tossed acquired by former directors

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Salad bar brand Tossed has been acquired out of administration by its former managing and commercial directors Neil Sebba and Angelina Harrisson.

Government announces grant scheme for businesses affected by local lockdowns

10-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Businesses in England that are required to shut because of local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will be able to claim grants of up to £1,500 per property every three weeks.

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards Top 100 Auction raises over £117k

10-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards Top 100 Auction has raised over £117k for industry charity Hospitality Action.

Hospitality businesses face fines and closures if they fail to keep premises Covid secure

09-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurants and hospitality businesses face fines and quicker closures if they fail to ensure their venues are Covid secure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned.

Sushisamba to launch rooftop Edinburgh restaurant in 2022

09-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Sushisamba has signed up to open a rooftop restaurant at the upcoming the W Edinburgh when the upmarket hotel chain launches in the Scottish capital’s St James Quarter development in 2022.

Sam Buckley: "This crisis could help us become more green"

09-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The chef patron of Where The Lights Gets In on making his highly-rated Stockport restaurant even more sustainable following lockdown and why others should do the same.

Pizza Hut to permanently shutter 29 restaurants

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Pizza Hut has announced plans to shut 29 restaurants as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), with hundreds of jobs set to be lost.

Collection of track and trace details to become mandatory in England

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

The Government is set to tighten track and trace rules making it compulsory for pubs and restaurants in England to take customers’ details.

Labour warns blanket furlough withdrawal risks permanent pub closures

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Labour has warned a blanket withdrawal of the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) risks permanent pub and bar closures and threatens the the country's high streets and night life.

Leon to launch 'unlimited' coffee offer

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy fast food chain Leon is to launch its own ‘unlimited’ coffee offer in an apparent bid to help entice back workers returning to the office.

Eat Out to Help Out boosts treasury coffers by £250m

09-Sep-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme benefitted the Government to the tune of £250m, data revealed by leading hospitality trade bodies shows.

How I Got Here: Andreas Labridis

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Former investment banker Andreas Labridis is CEO of the Modern Greek Food Group, which operates Opso in London's Marylebone; PITTABUN in Soho; and the two Michelin-starred Funky Gourmet in Athens.

Gatherings of more than six to be banned across England

09-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Social gatherings of more than six people will be, with some exemptions, banned in England from Monday (14 September) as fears of a second Coronavirus wave across the country grow.

Ellen Chew to open first Birmingham outpost

08-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew is to launch a new Chinese-focused concept within Hammerson's Grand Central shopping centre in Birmingham later this year.

Barrafina Drury Lane to temporarily become specialist Spanish seafood restaurant

08-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Barrafina’s Drury Lane restaurant will re-open for the ‘near future’ as Barrafina Mariscos, serving a blackboard menu of fish and seafood specials.

Pubs and restaurants in Bolton limited to offering takeaway-only under new lockdown measures

08-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality venues in Bolton will be restricted to offering takeaway-only with immediate effect under measures announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to try and curb the spread of Covid-19 locally.

The Avocado Show to make UK debut

08-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Netherlands-founded mono product restaurant The Avocado Show is to make its UK debut later this year in an as-yet undisclosed central London location.

CMA fines Amazon for causing 'serious and flagrant issues' in Deliveroo investigation

08-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined Amazon a total of £55,000 over its failure to hand over documents in time for its Deliveroo deal investigation deadline.

Michelin to launch 'digital-only' 2021 Guide in January

08-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

The 2021 Michelin star revelation ceremony will be held next year on January 25, rather than next month as originally planned.

"This is not the time to throw petrol on the fire" - UKH questions timing of food target announcement

08-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has questioned the timing of Public Health England's (PHE) decision to announce new calorie and salt reduction targets for eating out and takeaway businesses.

Liquid assets: all the latest drinks launches

08-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

This month's round up of new drinks products includes booze-free mezcal, half strength vodka and Niall Keating's kombucha-based gin.

Delivery to account for a greater share of consumer meals post Coronavirus

07-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Increased consumer exposure during lockdown is set to provide a 'long-lasting boost' to the foodservice delivery market, according to Lumina Intelligence’s new Foodservice Delivery Market Report Update 2020.

PizzaExpress CVA approved

07-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress' company voluntary arrangement (CVA) proposal, which will see 73 of the group's restaurants closed and 1,100 jobs put at risk, has been approved by creditors.

Alex Head on the benefits of employing ex-offenders

07-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The boss of events catering company and restaurant group The Social Pantry has been giving prison leavers a second chance for the past five years.

Pret plans suburban expansion and shift into retail as it looks to evolve

07-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger will evolve into a 'multi-channel business' with dark kitchens, more suburban sites and a shift into retail all planned.

Greene King sees record number of tenant applications

04-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Greene King has recorded its highest ever number of new tenant applications this summer, despite the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Friday Five: the week's top news

04-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

A round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including the closure of pioneering vegetarian restaurant Vanilla Black, and Mark Jarvis joining Liv in Belgravia.

More than 1 in 4 hospitality businesses in Scotland at risk of going under

04-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Nearly 60,00 hospitality and tourism jobs are at risk in Scotland because of the economic downturn as a result of Coronavirus, according to a new report.

One Love: “We’re surrounded by people telling us how to stay apart - we want to remind people of what keeps us together"

04-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

With their pop up One Love Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix are not just serving Caribbean/French food, they are championing diversity and challenging age-old gastronomic stereotypes

EOHO meal claims smash 100 million mark in final week

04-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

More than 100 million meals were claimed in total by diners under the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme.

'High levels of uncertainty' put 1,650 Costa jobs at risk

03-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Costa Coffee has warned up to 1,650 jobs are at risk of redundancy as a result of the ongoing impact on trade caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Angela Hartnett and José Pizarro launch Bermondsey Street hospitality campaign

03-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Chefs Angela Hartnett and José Pizarro have joined forces to launch a community-wide initiative to promote business on Bermondsey Street in London.

Gail’s opens new Blackfriars bakery

03-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Artisanal bakery chain Gail’s has launched a 50-cover site in London's Blackfriars.

Nathan Richardson to head up new upstairs restaurant at Mayfair pub The Windmill

03-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Nathan Richardson, previously the head chef of The Guinea Grill in Mayfair, is to head up the new upstairs restaurant at Mayfair pub The Windmill.

East Coast Concepts bought out of administartion, safeguarding 250 jobs

03-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurant and bar group East Coast Concepts has been bought out of administration, safeguarding around 250 jobs and its venues.

Jeremy King: "the pandemic will provide a platform for the next generation"

02-Sep-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The co-founder of Corbin & King discusses reopening most of his estate, trying to launch a restaurant during the pandemic; the mixed bag of dealing with landlords and what he hopes the positive sides of the pandemic will be.

EOTHO gave industry a boost - but figures still down on 2019

02-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Diners spent 34.2% more at restaurants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August than they did in July thanks to the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out Initiative but the industry is still down on last year.