Company of Cooks Extends partnership with the Royal Opera House in £130m deal
Company of Cooks and the Royal Opera House are extending their food, drink and hospitality partnership for a further five years.
Business & Legislation
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Debt duties: why it pays to know the finer points of your finance package
With the long-awaited budget looming, now is the time to be proactive - not reactive.
Hospitality insolvencies remain flat in run up to festive period
The number of accommodation and foodservice insolvencies were flat month-on-month in September, new data shows.
Middletons Steakhouse & Grill bought out of administration
Middletons Steakhouse & Grill has been bought out of administration in a move that has safeguarded 159 jobs.
Dave’s Hot Chicken forced to temporarily close UK restaurants after giveaway goes gangbusters
A recent giveaway by Dave’s Hot Chicken to coincide with investor rapper Drake’s birthday led to police temporarily closing the group’s restaurants in London, Birmingham and Liverpool due to overcrowding, the company has revealed.
Popeyes UK reaches 100 restaurants
Popeyes UK is on the cusp of reaching its 100 restaurant milestone in the UK.
Pasta la vista: unravelling the UK’s pasta restaurant sector
The simple combination of flour and eggs has become big business in the dining sector over the past decade with the rise of the pasta-focused restaurant.
The Coconut Tree bought out of administration
The Coconut Tree has been sold out of administration to MPS Hospitality Limited, a connected company led by two of the group’s founders.
Yolk reduces its London estate as CVA gets approval
London-based ‘fine fast food’ brand Yolk has seen its estate reduced from 10 sites to seven following a trio of closures having undergone a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Chaiiwala enters deal with Splendid Hospitality Group to boost expansion in the northeast
Chaiiwala is expanding its presence in Nottingham under a new franchise partnership with Splendid Hospitality Group (SHG).
Saithe option? The little-known fish that could be the solution for struggling chippies
The Norwegian Seafood Council plans to promote a little-known fish species as a potential lifeline for the UK’s struggling fish and chip sector.
UK restaurant sector to grow to £19.6bn by 2028
The UK restaurant sector is forecast to grow at a modest 1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next three years, reaching a value of £19.6bn in 2028.
The Coconut Tree appoints administrators
The Coconut Tree has appointed administrators four months after it was revealed the Sri Lankan restaurant group had defaulted on payments as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Out with a BAM: Lee Tiernan closes his cult Islington restaurant
Islington restaurant FKABAM will close at the end of the year after a decade of operation.
‘Blood on high street’ warning as Budget looms
Back hospitality or risk “further blood on the high street” is the stark message for Government from one trade association as the Budget draws near.
Azurrri Group sees further opportunities for Dave’s Hot Chicken and grocery channel after ‘transformative’ year
Azurrri Group says it experienced a ‘transformative year’ after entering the fast-growing fried chicken sector with its Dave’s Hot Chicken brand.
Are drinks really the way to Gen Z diners’ hearts?
The surge in popularity of drinks such as matcha and bubble tea among younger consumers has led QSR brands to give their beverage offers a glow up. Is it enough to entice them into their venues?
McDonald’s to introduce further measures to protect staff from sexual harassment
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has extended its legal agreement with McDonald’s UK to protect its staff from sexual harassment.
Papa Johns UK records strongest quarter since Covid
Papa Johns UK has recorded its strongest quarter since the pandemic, with sales seeing high single-digit growth in Q3 2025.
Martin Williams: ‘Gaucho was aware of charity agreement’
The former boss of Gaucho has responded to what he says is incorrect information provided by the steakhouse group over its agreement with charity Not For Sale.
KFC UK & Ireland reports strong summer sales performance
KFC UK & Ireland has reported an increase in sales for the third quarter of the year.
Hospitality feels the pinch as wholesale prices rise for sixth consecutive month
Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector rose by 0.7% in September - the sixth consecutive month of rising wholesale prices for the UK hospitality and foodservice sector.
Shoryu Ramen Ltd sees like-for-likes sales fall as turnover drops and losses widen - updated
Shoryu Ramen Ltd has reported a fall in turnover and widening losses in its latest financial results amid ‘challenging macro-economic and market conditions’.
Yum! Brands explores potential sale of Pizza Hut
Yum! Brands has initiated a strategic review of options for Pizza Hut after experiencing a decline in sales across Europe and the US.
Sea change: Deep Blue Restaurants to rebrand as Harry Ramsden’s Group as it leans into its heritage fish and chips brand
Deep Blue Restaurants is to change its named to Harry Ramsden’s Group as part of its next phase of growth.
Kate Nicholls: “Licensing reform is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for restaurants”
The chair of UKHospitality is urging the sector to get behind the Government’s proposed changes the Licensing Act 2003.
Barrio Soho to rebrand as La Familia
Barrio Soho is set to relaunch as La Familia – a new two-in-one venue that blends a fast-casual taqueria upstairs with a hidden cocktail speakeasy downstairs.
Gaucho criticised for ‘greenwashing’ by modern slavery charity
Steak restaurant group Gaucho has been criticised for ‘greenwashing’ by a modern slavery charity over claims it hasn’t made its carbon offset payments.
TGI Fridays UK bought by Sugarloaf
TGI Fridays UK has been sold to Sugarloaf, the global manager of the TGI Friday’s brand.
UK restaurant market to experience only marginal growth this year
The UK restaurant market is expected to grow marginally by just 0.9% in 2025, lagging behind the total eating out market’s growth of 2.6%.
The Evolv Collection acquires Vinoteca as it plans Sartoria brand integration
The Evolv Collection has bought wine bar group Vinoteca’s two London venues with plans to bring them under its Italian Sartoria brand.
Urban Pubs & Bars buys bar and restaurant group Albion & East
Urban Pubs & Bars has acquired neighbourhood-style bar and restaurant group Albion & East for an undisclosed sum.
Pastures new: Dan Cox leaves Cornwall’s Crocadon Farm
Dan Cox has closed his Michelin-starred farm-to-table restaurant Crocadon and is leaving Crocadon Farm in Cornwall after eight years.
“Times are too hard to make ends meet”: Hackney’s Sesta to close
Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski are to close their Hackney restaurant Sesta just over a year after it opened.
Sandwich Sandwich to open its first grab-and-go format
Sandwich Sandwich will open its first site in London dedicated to pre-made grab and go products before the end of the year.
Spud wars: jacket potato brands get into a dispute over naming rights
Viral jacket potato brand SpudBros has been accused of ‘throwing its weight around’ after it threatened a rival potato player with legal action over its name.
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Transforming Côte is going to require a little je ne sais quoi
Karali Group has built a solid footing in the QSR and fast casual space, but taking on high street brassiere brand Côte is a whole new challenge
Emma Woods to step down as Tortilla chair
Emma Woods is to step down from her role as non-executive chair of Tortilla at the end of the year.
Peach Pubs and Revolution Bars operator launches sales process
The operator of Revolution Bars, Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs, is launching a strategic review of options, including a formal sales process.
Are Pizza Hut UK’s restaurants stuffed or can the brand rise again?
Pizza Hut UK’s inability to capitalise on the UK’s burgeoning pizza sector was a missed opportunity. What hope do its remaining restaurants have?
Zuma and Roka operator receives investment to drive global expansion
The group behind restaurants Zuma and Roka has entered into a partnership with Abu Dhabi–based luxury hospitality investment company DIAFA.
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Will Velvet Taco’s move into the UK be a smooth one?
The US brand, known for its vast range of globally-inspired tacos, is landing soon on these shores. But its success is far from a given.
Ross Shonhan: “This is far and away the hardest thing I’ve ever done”
The former Nobu executive chef and creator of Bone Daddies has gone all out with one of London’s most striking restaurant launches in years that pays homage to the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
“Thank you for never supporting us”: closed Highgate restaurant slams its local dining community
A restaurant in Highgate has hit out at the local community, blaming its lack of support is behind its closure.
Hospitality numbers fall with 11 licensed premises closing a week over the past year
The number of licensed premises in Britain has fallen in the past year despite modest growth in the third quarter of 2025, new data shows.
Pizza shut: 68 Pizza Hut restaurants close with more than 1,200 job losses
Nearly 70 Pizza Hut restaurants and more than 10 pizza delivery outlets have closed after the company behind its UK business fell into administration.
Coppa Club owner beats revenue expectations
The group behind the Coppa Club and Noci restaurant brands says it expects full-year revenue to have risen by 6% year-on-year ahead of market expectations.
Gerry’s Hot Subs completes fundraise as it eyes two more locations
Gerry’s Hot Subs has successfully closed a £250,000 fundraising round as it looks to build its presence in the premium sandwich market, with several new openings on the cards.
China Tang at 20: how the legendary London restaurant is looking to the future
The famous Cantonese restaurant within London’s The Dorchester hotel is evolving to stay relevant - but not at the expense of its founder’s original vision.
Honest Burgers returns to profit and says it will expand its Smash + Grab brand
Honest Burgers has returned to profit for the first time since 2020, reporting a ‘very strong’ performance in its latest results.