Cosmo spin-off brand Umami to open at Gloucester Quays
Cosmo Restaurant Group is bringing its spin-off concept, Umami, to Cotswolds designer outlet Gloucester Quays.
News
Market Halls secures £11m to fund its expansion
Market Halls has secured £11m in funding to support the next phase of its national growth.
Cairo practitioner: the chef introducing the flavours of North Africa to Soho
With his new restaurant Impala, Meedu Saad wants to bring some of the chaos of the Egyptian capital to London’s dining scene.
Team behind Julie’s to launch Notting Hill pub
The team behind Holland Park restaurant Julie’s will take over the well-known Notting Hill pub The Prince Edward later this year.
Floating brasserie Marceline bows out after less than two years
Canary Wharf floating brasserie Marceline appears to have closed after less than two years of trading.
Côte launches French only online wine shop
Côte Brasserie has expanded its online offer with the launch of a wine shop dedicated to France’s vineyards and winemaking heritage.
Kricket heads to Dubai for international debut
Kricket, the London-based modern Indian group founded by Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, will open its first overseas site later this year in Dubai.
Prezzo Italian’s family dining subscription earns 4,000 signups in first month
Prezzo Italian’s family dining subscription, which entitles up to three children to a free three-course meal with an adult main purchase, has had 4,000 signups in its first month.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A wave of restaurant closures and the potential sale of a popular fried chicken brand were among this week’s top stories.
Industry encouraged to give feedback on the Mayor of London’s proposed licensing reforms
London operators are being encouraged to respond to a consultation that could bring about the biggest shake-up of licensing in the capital for decades.
Soho’s Shackfuyu to revert to Bone Daddies format, marking the end of ‘London’s longest pop-up’
Japanese restaurant Shackfuyu will close after more than a decade with its owner converting it into its Bone Daddies format.
Oldham restaurant Delve closes weeks after being put up for sale
Oldham restaurant Delve has closed with immediate effect just months after its owner had announced he was looking to sell.
Devinder Singh to open second Indian/Italian fusion restaurant
A restaurant that fuses Indian flavours and Neapolitan pizza will open it second site next month.
Flat Iron to make its Scotland debut next year
Flat Iron is continuing to sweep northwards with the opening next year of its first site in Scotland.
Boxpark signs deal with The Jockey Club as it looks to expand its events business
Boxpark has secured its first multi-year partnership with The Jockey Club that will see it return to the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse for this year.
March tube strikes cancelled
Two planned 24-hour strikes by London Underground drivers set to take place next week have been called off, the RMT union has confirmed.
Conor Gadd: “I realised I couldn’t do another Trullo”
The chef co-owner of Italian restaurant Trullo has just opened his new restaurant, Burro, in Covent Garden.
Somssi closes just five weeks after winning Michelin star
Korean chef’s table restaurant Somssi has closed just five weeks after winning a Michelin star, following the departure of its chef.
Factory Floor to open in Wigan following £3m investment
The Heaton Group will next week open a competitive socialising and late-night venue in Wigan.
Pret a Manger to open first drive-thru as it explores new formats
Pret a Manger will open its first drive-thru this spring as the group looks to evolve its offer through different formats and locations.
“Your policies are a dagger to our heart”: Thaikun shuts Cambridge restaurant
Thai Leisure Group has closed its Thaikun site in Cambridge, with managing director Ian Leigh blaming the move on government policy in a strongly worded statement aimed squarely at Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Social media star Giuseppe Federici begins six-week residency for Giuseppe’s Kitchen
Viral chef and author Giuseppe ‘Sepps’ Federici has begun a six-week residency at London’s BOXHALL City.
The Beefy Boys heads north with Nottingham restaurant
The Beefy Boys will open its most northerly restaurant next month with a site in Nottingham.
Crust brothers: Pizza Pilgrims teams up with well-known restaurant brands to get the nation dipping
Pizza Pilgrims is teaming up with restaurant brands Dishoom, Honest Burgers, Pho and Sweet Dee’s Jerk to launch a limited-edition pizza crust dipper menu.
Tom Kerridge backs £1bn youth employment drive
Tom Kerridge and trade body UKHospitality have backed a major employment drive by the Government to create 200,000 jobs for young people.
Veeraswamy at 100: Inside the battle for Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant
The Regent Street institution is locked in a legal dispute after its landlord The Crown Estate decided not to renew its lease.
The Walcot Group to open second Solina restaurant
Family owned restaurant business The Walcot Group is opening a second site of its neighbourhood pasta brand Solina.
Hospitality businesses to benefit from Government support to cut energy bills
More than 525 restaurants, small and medium sized pubs, and hotels are set to receive free support to cut their energy bills through the extension of a Government-funded energy and carbon reduction tool.
Sodexo announces culinary partnership with Anna Haugh
Chef and restaurateur Anna Haugh has entered into a partnership with Sodexo UK & Ireland.
Andrew Clarke to open Acme Taco next month
Acme Fire Cult chef Andrew Clarke is to open a permanent street food concept next month.
Arros QD to launch private members club
Arros QD, the Fitzrovia restaurant run by top Spanish chef Quique Dacosta, is set to launch a private members club that will ‘bring guests together to celebrate Spanish culture’.
Azzurri Group explores sale of Dave’s Hot Chicken
Azzurri Group is reportedly preparing a sale of the UK and European franchises of its fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Jamie Keeble: 2026’s chef Rising Star
The head chef of Mýse on thriving in a small team, valuing experience over pay, and almost moving to Hong Kong.
Chiswick restaurant The Silver Birch closes
Chiswick restaurant The Silver Birch has closed its doors after a five-year run.
Government to integrate VOA with HMRC from April
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will be integrated into HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from 1 April 2026 as part of changes to the structure of government bodies.
Friday Five: the week’s top stories
René Redzepi leaving Noma and The Wolseley’s expansion into the US are among this week’s top news stories.
Hospitality to be hit by spring tube strikes
A fresh wave of tube strikes starting from this month threatens to derail the hospitality sector’s hopes for a positive spring and could be devastating for operators it has been warned.
Laura Harper-Hinton named Leader of the Year at MCA Hospitality Awards
Caravan CEO and co-founder Laura Harper-Hinton picked up one of the top awards at last night’s MCA Hospitality Awards.
Uncorked: Nafsika Boltsi
The sommelier behind the list at Notting Hill Italian restaurant Pollini at Ladbroke Hall on Greece, Antinori and space-aged Pétrus.
The Wolseley to open in New York
The Wolseley Hospitality Group is crossing the pond to open its first Wolseley-branded hotel in New York.
René Redzepi steps away from Noma amid allegations of abuse
René Redzepi has stepped away from Noma following allegations of serious abuse from former staff at the world-famous Copenhagen-based restaurant.
Vivek Singh: “We paved the way for the kinds of restaurants you wouldn’t have previously dreamt of in this country”
As The Cinnamon Club celebrates its 25th anniversary its co-founder reflects on how it played a pivotal role in challenging perceptions of Indian cuisine in the UK.
Thomas Hine to open PL28 Café in Padstow
Chef Thomas Hine has announced plans to open his own restaurant in Padstow this month.
Blue Lagoon to open first restaurant across the border
Scottish-based family-run fish and chip shop business Blue Lagoon is crossing the border for its first restaurant in England.
Laros heads to Sale for first sit-down site in Greater Manchester
Greek street food brand Laros is opening its first sit-down restaurant in Greater Manchester.
Top Turkish chef Kemal Demirasal swaps UK for Dubai
High-profile Turkish chef Kemal Demirasal is leaving the UK to help create a string of new restaurant brands in Dubai as part of his work with strategic advisory firm Clé & Partners.
Sugo Pasta doubles up in Glasgow
Glasgow-based restaurant Sugo Pasta has opened the doors to its second restaurant.
Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich to close their Honey & Spice deli
Middle Eastern restaurant group Honey & Co are to close their Honey & Spice deli on London’s Warren Street after a decade of trading.
Swiss bakery brand Bear St. Bakery to make UK debut
Swiss bakery brand Bear St. Bakery will make its UK debut this spring.
Yolk launches £1m fundraise to kickstart expansion
‘Fine fast-food brand’ Yolk has launched another round of fundraising to facilitate the opening of its next two sites.