The Water House Project at Corbridge Cresent to close this summer
British tasting menu restaurant The Water House project will close its doors at the end of June.
News
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Adam Byatt’s and Spencer Metzger’s upcoming restaurants and a decline in fast-food and casual dining restaurant traffic are among this week’s top news stories.
Big Table gets green light to proceed with Las Iguanas restructuring plan
The future of the Las Iguanas group is to go to a creditor vote after its owner received approval from the High Court.
Influential restaurant designer Philip Harrison steps down after almost 50 years in the industry
Philip Harrison is stepping back from day-to-day operations at his hospitality design firm Harrison after 37 years at the helm.
Uncorked: Cameron Dewar
The Australian-born head of operations at Soho’s Osteria Vibrato on working at Mas Coutelou, unearthing an interesting Picpoul and introducing his guests to the joy of Italian wine.
The National Restaurant Awards 2026 Opening of the Year shortlist
The list of the most impressive new restaurants of the past year, sponsored by Square, has been revealed.
Indian food group to make UK debut with huge Leicester Square restaurant
India’s largest sweet and snack brand will open its first restaurant in the UK this June.
Leon confirms the closure of 23 sites as John Vincent injects £2.5m
Healthy fast food chain Leon has confirmed that its recent Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) has seen the closure of 23 of its sites.
Deliveroo launches in-app restaurant reservations
Deliveroo has launched an in-app feature enabling customers to browse real-time restaurant availability and book tables directly through its platform.
KERB drives £38.9m in revenue for independent hospitality operators
Independent food traders in KERB’s network generated £38.9m in revenue in 2025 despite mounting pressures on the hospitality sector.
Fordwich Arms duo to open Whitstable restaurant and bar
Dan Smith, the chef behind the Michelin-starred Fordwich Arms in Kent, is teaming up with his former sommelier Elliott Ashton-Konig to open a wine bar and restaurant in Whitstable.
Spencer Metzger to open French bistro Chez Rose on former Little Social site
Spencer Metzger is opening a restaurant on Mayfair’s Pollen Street in partnership with Jason Atherton.
Restaurants and cafes fined almost £9m for hiring illegal workers
UK restaurants and cafes were hit with fines totalling £8,912,000 for hiring illegal workers in the third quarter of 2025, according to Home Office data analysed by training provider Caredemy.
Thinking outside the box: how big pizza is embracing sourdough
The UK’s largest pizza chains are adding artisan-inspired products to their core range amid intense competition from smaller-scale, on-trend brands
Carl Clarke steps away from Chicken Shop
Carl Clarke, founder of Chicken Shop (formerly Chik’n), has stepped away from the business following the announcement that Kitchen Ventures has acquired a majority stake in the brand.
Fast-food and casual dining traffic falls at fastest rate for two years
The fast-food and casual dining restaurant sectors have seen their steepest decline in consumer traffic for two years in the first quarter of 2026.
The National Restaurant Awards 2026 Chef to Watch shortlist
This year’s shortlist, sponsored by San Pellegrino, is bursting with cheffing talent.
Adam Byatt to open new Italian-inspired restaurant in South London
Adam Byatt, the chef-owner of Michelin-starred Trinity, is set to open Rosina, a new Italian-inspired restaurant in Wandsworth, marking his first neighbourhood project in over 10 years.
Majority of The Real Greek sites saved as Côte owner makes purchase
The Real Greek will continue to have a presence on UK high streets following the purchase of 19 of its 28 restaurants.
Stow duo open Trof Pub & Dining Room in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
The duo behind Manchester restaurant Stow have reopened their Trof restaurant as the Trof Pub & Dining Room.
Salt Yard Group and Theo Randall both to mark 20th anniversaries with chef series
Salt Yard Group and Theo Randall Cucina Italiana are both celebrating 20 years with a chef series to mark their milestone anniversaries.
Heston Blumenthal eyes expansion following strategic investment from COMO Group
Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Group says it is looking build on recent growth and explore expansion opportunities following a strategic investment from COMO Group.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants to close with 3,800 jobs at risk
Premier Inn owner Whitbread is to close its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, with the loss of around 3,800 jobs.
Pizza Express moves into QSR with new restaurant format
Pizza Express is moving into the QSR space with a new restaurant format that will feature ordering kiosks and an emphasis on takeaway.
Enter the National Restaurant Awards Estrella Damm Sustainability Award 2026
Entries for this year’s Estrella Damm Sustainability Award, which is part of the 2026 National Restaurant Awards, are now open.
Restaurant radar: May 2026
A new brand from Thesleff Group and a brace of high-reaching Indian restaurants in the capital are among this month’s key restaurant openings.
Karali Group in ‘advanced talks’ to buy part of The Real Greek restaurant estate
The group behind Côte Restaurants is reportedly close to buying a bulk of The Real Greek’s restaurant estate as part of a pre-pack deal.
Bagatelle to bring ‘Riviera vibe’ to Chelsea Football Club with new partnership
French restaurant group Bagatelle is partnering with Chelsea Football Club for a new match day hospitality venue.
Uncle Hon’s BBQ launches crowdfund for first permanent restaurant
Man Hon Luk has launched a crowdfund campaign to open his first permanent Uncle Hon’s BBQ restaurant in London’s Hackney Wick.
Manchester’s Climat closes amid ‘perfect storm’ for hospitality
High-profile Manchester restaurant Climat has closed with immediate effect, with owner Christopher Laidler citing a ‘perfect storm’ facing the hospitality sector.
Uncorked: Francesco Rignanese
The assistant head sommelier at Chelsea restaurant Elystan Street on Chile, Château Haut-Brion 1989 and keeping it classic with truffle and Barolo.
Nando’s reaches 500-site milestone with Leatherhead opening
Nando’s UK & Ireland has opened its 500th restaurant, marking a major milestone for the South African-born fast casual piri piri chicken brand.
East London’s Lardo to ‘evolve in a bold new direction’ as Marta Sandini takes the reins
Hackney stalwart Lardo will be reimagined early next month as Italian-born chef Marta Sandini takes over as head chef.
Doghouse Distillery to launch Clapham bar
Multi-category craft distiller Doghouse Distillery has chosen Clapham for its debut bar.
Tonkotsu to open in Bath later this year
Ramen specialist Tonkotsu has announced it will open in Bath city centre later this year.
Monica Galetti returns to London scene with social enterprise restaurant 130 Primrose
MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti has been revealed as the executive chef behind upcoming north London social enterprise restaurant 130 Primrose.
TOAD Bakery chooses Deptford for second south London location
TOAD Bakery will open a new, larger site in Deptford this June, marking the high profile brand’s second site.
Brighton’s longest-standing fine dining restaurant Gingerman to close
Ben and Pamela McKellar’s Brighton and Hove flagship, Gingerman, will close its doors this summer after nearly 30 years.
Alex Bond to close his Nottingham fried chicken restaurant
Alex Bond, the chef behind the Michelin-starred Alchemilla, has announced his Nottingham fried chicken restaurant Mollis will close.
OpenTable unveils its first-ever restaurant awards winners
Online restaurant reservation platform OpenTable has announced the winners of its inaugural London restaurant awards, including a list of ‘Icons’ highlighting venues shaping the capital’s dining scene.
Michelin Green Star restaurant Chapters in Hay-on-Wye to close
Mark and Charmaine McHugo’s Powys restaurant Chapters will close next month after a seven-year run.
Super 8 Restaurants plans further openings as turnover rises
The group behind top London restaurants Kiln and Brat is plotting further expansion following solid financial results.
Simon Ulph to lead Rothay Manor’s Rowan restaurant as head chef
Lake District boutique hotel Rothay Manor has appointed Simon Ulph to lead its Rowan restaurant as head chef.
Richard Wilkins closes 104 Notting Hill
Chef-restaurateur Richard Wilkins has closed his 104 Restaurant in Notting Hill after seven years trading.
UK hospitality hits three closures per day due to ‘soaring costs’
The number of hospitality venues across the UK has fallen by a total of 0.3% in the first three months of the year, according to NIQ’s Hospitality Market Monitor.
Government support called for as rising fuel prices push up inflation
UKHospitality has called on the government to reduce the cost of doing business for sectors including hospitality as rising fuel prices push up inflation.
Creams Café races to trademark ‘Froffle Toast’
Creams Café is moving to trademark its ‘Froffle Toast’ after the French toast–waffle hybrid became its best-selling brunch item across more than 100 UK stores, with more than 5,000 sold in its first month.
Restaurants return to growth in March
Britain’s restaurant groups reported modest like-for-like sales growth of 2.5% in March against the same month the previous year, according to new data.
The Wolseley owner to open Mayfair hotel under its new Colbert Collection
The group behind The Wolseley will open its first London hotel later this year, opposite the original restaurant on Piccadilly.
Uncorked: Sinéad McCarthy
The head of wine at Hawksmoor on Poland, Mendoza’s Altos Las Hormigas and mixing up Graham Norton’s savvy b with a Bâtard-Montrachet.