Casual Dining

Trade bodies call for introduction of 'Property Bounceback grant'

11-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Landlords and operators have issued a joint call for a joint call for a Government-backed Property Bounceback grant to facilitate in rent negotiations.

More than 10.5m Eat Out to Help Out claims made in first week

11-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Treasury has said that diners used the Eat Out to Help Out scheme more than 10.5m times in its first week.

Rick Stein encourages unemployed hospitality workers to move to Cornwall

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Following the boom in staycations, Rick Stein is encouraging unemployed hospitality workers to move to Cornwall to fill 39 active vacancies within his business empire.

Hospitality Ulster seeks rescue package for Northern Ireland's wet-led pubs

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Trade body Hospitality Ulster is calling on the the Northern Ireland Executive to create a rescue package for wet-led pubs, which have been told they can’t open until 1 September at the earliest.

22,000 restaurant jobs axed this year with fears worse is yet to come

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The number of jobs lost across the embattled restaurant sector in 2020 is already nearly double the amount shed during the whole of 2019 with experts fearing that the worst is yet to come.

Friday Five: The week's top news

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

This week's main news stories include the launch of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen being ordered to close as Scotland's first local lockdown is imposed.

Cub closes its doors permanently

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Cub, the restaurant and bar opened by award-winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) in partnership with Silo chef owner Douglas McMaster, has announced it will not reopen.

People on the move in hospitality: August 2020

07-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

This month's round-up of recruitment stories includes a new executive chef for The Dorchester, a new director for Giggling Squid and Rooney Anand stepping down from his role at Casual Dining Group.

PizzaExpress announces next wave of reopenings

07-Aug-2020 By Georgia Cronin

PizzaExpress is set to reopen a further 63 sites next week, taking its total reopen estate to over 300.

Franco Manca and Real Greek operator reports post-lockdown sales at around 72% on previous year

07-Aug-2020 By James Halliwell

Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore has released a trading update and announced a fundraise as it looks to fight its way though the Coronavirus crisis.

UK footfall reaches 50% of pre-lockdown levels

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The footfall on UK high streets has returned to 50% of pre-lockdown levels, according to the latest data from Wireless Social.

Mandatory calorie counts strongly opposed by hospitality bosses

07-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The hospitality industry is strongly opposed to mandatory calorie counts on menus and alcohol point of sale material, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence.

Numbers of cancellations and no shows begin to drop

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Results from the latest CGA consumer pulse survey suggests that consumers are now more likely to honour their eating out reservations than they were after venues initially reopened.

"The industry needs this kind of kick-start" - restaurateurs hail Eat Out to Help Out response

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Chefs and restaurateurs have hailed the initial success of the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme as an important first step in giving consumers confidence to return to restaurants.

Wetherspoon could axe nearly a third of head office roles

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than 100 head office roles at JD Wetherspoon are at risk of redundancy.

Tandoor Chop House to open sister site in Notting Hill

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality group Ennismore is to open a second Tandoor Chop House location next week in London's Notting Hill.

Randy’s Wing Bar strengthens senior team with a view to diversifying offering

06-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

London-based chicken business Randy’s Wing Bar has recruited former Bodeans and Belgo chef Richard Coates and hospitality consultant Andrew McHeron as it looks to grow and diversify its business post lockdown.

Restaurateurs call on Sadiq Khan to do more to champion the capital

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs including Angela Hartnett, Yotam Ottolenghi and Michel Roux Jr have signed an open letter to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, demanding he do more to champion the capital.

APPG Inquiry into Coasts and Waters enters second phase

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The second phase of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism’s (APPG) 'coasts and waters' inquiry has opened.

Dishpatch partners with restaurateurs to launch meal kit platform

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Delivery platform Dishpatch is partnering with several chefs and restaurateurs to create bespoke feasting menus that will be available for home delivery nationwide.

Pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen ordered to close as local lockdown imposed

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has ordered all pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen to close again after imposing a local lockdown in the city.

One in three pubs unable to break even

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than a third of UK pubs cannot break even one month after reopening, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Liquid assets: all the latest drinks launches

05-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

This month's selection of new drinks products includes a high-end gin from Provence, new whisky expressions from Johnnie Walker and a canned Bloody Mary.

How I Got Here: Lawrence Mallinson

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Lawrence Mallinson is the managing director and owner of James White Drinks, makers of the Beet It, Big Tom and James White juices.

Loungers 'encouraged' by initial post-lockdown trading

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

All-day dining group Loungers has reported an encouraging sales performance during the first four weeks of post-lockdown trading.

CMA gives green light to Amazon/Deliveroo deal

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Amazon has been given approval by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to buy a minority stake in Deliveroo.

Over three-quarters of UK hospitality businesses at risk of insolvency

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than three-quarters of hospitality businesses in the UK are at risk of falling into insolvency within the next 12 months, according to UKHospitality.

Football-focussed competitive socialising concept TOCA secures massive debut site

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The O2 in London's Greenwich Peninsula is to become home to a massive 30,000sq ft 'interactive football and entertainment venue' featuring a 'chef-driven' F&B offering.

Wingmans lands in Soho

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Cult chicken concept Wingmans is to open a huge 150-cover restaurant on the former Belgo site in London's Soho next week.

PizzaExpress plans for major restructuring that could see 15% of its UK estate closed

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress is to undergo a financial and operational restructuring that will see it close a portion of its UK estate and put over 1,000 jobs at risk.

Disabled people fear exclusion due to Covid-19 precautions

04-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Disabled access review website Euansguide.com is imploring restaurants to ensure their Covid-19 precautions don’t make venues less accessible for disabled people.

Restaurant radar: August 2020

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Our first post-lockdown restaurant radar includes Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix's soon-to-launch pop up One Love, and how Stevie Parle is bringing joy back to London’s Portobello Dock with Flora.

Queensway café Normah's launches crowdfund to help secure its future

04-Aug-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Family-run Malaysian café Normah's has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help it survive the Coronavirus pandemic and successfully reopen.

Low footfall forces Oklava Bakery + Wine to close indefinitely

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Selin Kiazim has announced that the recently reopened Oklava Bakery + Wine in London's Fitzrovia has been closed 'for the foreseeable future'.

Wirral’s Beacon Arts Village names first F&B outlet

03-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The first of three restaurants due to open at Wirral arts development Beacon Arts Village has been named as the Middle East-inspired Beldi.

Minister shuns suggestions of shutting restaurants and pubs as ‘trade-off’ to reopen schools

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Housing Secretary has quelled speculation that restaurants and pubs could be ordered to close again as part of a ‘trade-off’ to allow children to return to classrooms in September.

Itsu pursues CVA in a bid to cut rents across much of its estate

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Itsu intends to close two sites and cut rents on a further 53 of its UK locations by means of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Eat Out to Help Out launches with over 72,000 restaurants signed up

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than 72,000 restaurants across the UK have now signed up to participate in the Government's Eat Out to Help Out initiative, which launches today (3 Aug).

Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix to open One Love pop up restaurant and bar

03-Aug-2020 By Restaurant

Andi Oliver and Fred Sirieix are opening a pop-up restaurant and bar space in Clapton, east London, this month.

Casual Dining Group rebrands as The Big Table after being acquired by former TGI Friday’s backer

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Casual Dining Group (CDG) has been acquired in a pre-pack administration deal by private equity firm Epiris, the former backer of restaurant group TGI Friday’s.

Byron to shutter 30 sites following pre-pack deal

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Burger chain Byron has been sold in a pre-pack deal that will more than half of the group's 51-strong estate closed permanently.

Restaurants and pubs in Wales finally get confirmed restart date for indoor service

31-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and cafés in Wales have been told they can finally begin indoor service from next Monday (3 August).

Friday Five: The week's top news

31-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories includes Dominique Ansel decision to quit London, and Corbin & King announcing the resurrection of Bellanger.

Restaurants in northern England count cost of last minute Coronavirus rule changes

31-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants in parts of northern England have seen a flurry of cancellations following the Government’s announcement of new Coronavirus rules late last night.

KFC vows to improve animal welfare conditions following report

31-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Fast food giant KFC has admitted to poor animal welfare among its UK and Ireland suppliers in a report that lays bare the realities of its chicken production line.

Branded operators report “steady improvement” in sales

31-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Branded restaurant, pub and bar operators are seeing a steady improvement in sales as more sites reopen across the country - but collective like-for-like sales in trading sites are still down 28.5% on the same week last year.

Feng Sushi to launch new concession at Selfridges Foodhall

30-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

London-based Japanese chain Feng Sushi is to launch a new concession in Selfridges Foodhall next month.

50 Best restaurant and bar grants still available

30-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Independent restaurants and bars hit hard by Covid-19 can still apply for grants from the 50 Best Recovery Fund, which has so far raised a total of $1.24m.