Nero Group announces new partnerships with Waitrose and John Lewis
The Nero Group is to launch a new café concept across five Waitrose supermarkets, as well as open its first Caffè Nero in a John Lewis store, in White City, London.
News
Spanish vegan brand PLANT SHACK plans UK move
Fast casual vegan brand PLANT SHACK, which operates six sites across Spain, has signed a franchise agreement to open its first UK outpost in London.
Chuck E. Cheese plans entry into UK market
US restaurant group Chuck E. Cheese is looking to expand into the UK market, targeting locations in cities including Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol.
Chris Emery to oversee new restaurant concept at Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Chris Emery, former head chef at Jason Atherton’s The Clocktower in New York, is to launch a new restaurant and dining space at Crazy Bear Stadhampton in January.
Friday five: the week’s top restaurant stories
The theft of chef Tommy Banks’s pie van, the closure of Mayfair restaurant Socca, and Ibérica filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators lead this week’s top news stories.
Two Thirds Beer Co. to launch Euro-inspired beer hall
The team behind Sheffield-based bar, kitchen and bottle shop Two Thirds Beer Co. is to open a Euro-inspired beer hall and restaurant in the South Yorkshire city next year.
Scottish Budget: Major operators ‘left unsupported’ as industry slams ‘headline-grabbing rates relief’
Industry trade bodies have warned the measures announced to support hospitality businesses in the Scottish Budget will ‘do little to stop closures and significant job losses in the sector’.
Jackson Boxer to close Orasay and relaunch site with ‘bold new direction’
Jackson Boxer is to close his Notting Hill restaurant Orasay at the end of the year ahead of plans to relaunch the site under a new concept in 2025.
Firebird duo to launch seafood restaurant Noisy Oyster
The team behind Soho restaurant and wine bar Firebird will launch a new project in Shoreditch next year.
Whitbread hires former Boparan CEO as restaurant division MD
Whitbread has appointed former Boparan CEO Joe Texeira as managing director for its restaurants division.
Fear the Reaper: Dave’s Hot Chicken confirms spiciest burger will feature on UK menu
Dave’s Hot Chicken has said it will now offer its Reaper spice mix in its UK restaurants, with diners required to sign a waiver before they order it.
Applebee’s celebrates 25th birthday with relaunch and new exec chef appointment
Frankie van Loo has joined Borough Market restaurant Applebee’s as its executive head chef ahead of a relaunch of the restaurant early next year.
Tommy Banks’s stolen pie van found ‘badly damaged’
Tommy Banks has confirmed that a van carrying £25,000 of handmade pies, which was stolen earlier this week, has been found ‘badly damaged’ and will ‘almost certainly be written off’.
Ibérica on brink of administration
Spanish restaurant group Ibérica has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
Ottolenghi plans further expansion outside central London as group falls to loss
The Ottolenghi group says it is continuing to explore expansion outside of Zone 1 and 2 in London, with a new site in Richmond set to open next year.
Clapham stalwart pizza restaurant Eco to relocate
Clapham-based pizzeria Eco will relocate this month after more than 30 years in business.
More shareholders voice opposition to Loungers sale
More shareholders have said they will vote against Fortress Investment Group’s acquisition of Loungers, with one saying they are ‘furious’ about the proposed deal.
Tommy Banks loses £25,000 of pies in robbery
Tommy Banks says he has lost £25,000 of stock after a van carrying handmade pies he planned to sell at a Christmas market in York was stolen.
Harry’s restaurant to open at The Gallivant
Matthew Harris is joining forces with the team behind Rye-based boutique hotel The Gallivant for a new restaurant.
Leeds-based Tharavadu to open new South Indian concept
Leeds-based Indian restaurant Tharavadu is doubling up in the city with a new concept.
Mayfair restaurant Socca to close
Samyukta Nair and Claude Bosi will close their Mayfair restaurant Socca this month, with the last service taking place on Saturday 30 November.
Friday five: the week’s top restaurant stories
KFC reneging on its Better Chicken Commitment target, Ollie Dabbous leaving Hide, and Loungers being acquired by US firm Fortress lead this week’s top news stories.
Loungers sale faces shareholder resistance
Two of Loungers’s biggest shareholders are to vote against Fortress Investment Group’s acquisition of the all-day café and restaurant group.
Noodle & Beer to open second site
Chinese restaurant Noodle & Beer will open its second London restaurant in the new year.
Gregg Wallace steps away from MasterChef amid allegations of historical misconduct
Gregg Wallace is to step away from his role on MasterChef while complaints made to the BBC regarding historical allegations of misconduct are investigated.
Takeaways back in growth as restaurants’ at-home orders rise again
Britain’s leading restaurant groups extended a long run of inflation-beating growth in delivery and takeaway sales last month with a like-for-like increase of 4.8%, new research show.
Chantelle Nicholson to open cafe, bakery, restaurant and wine bar in West Sussex
Chantelle Nicholson has announced a new venture for 2025.
London’s Smithfield and Billingsgate markets to cease trading
London’s historic Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market are set to close.
Loungers to be acquired by US firm Fortress in £338m deal
Loungers is to be acquired by US-based investment firm Fortress in a deal that values the all-day café and restaurant group at approximately £338.3m.
“After 20 years of being missing from London I’m back” Aldo Zilli to open Undercroft in Mayfair
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Aldo Zilli is to return to London after 20 years to open a restaurant in the crypt of St George’s Church in Mayfair next month.
Last orders for The Fat Duck’s snail porridge?
The Fat Duck is launching an a la carte menu that features some of its most famous dishes to celebrate its 30th birthday, including Heston Blumenthal’s iconic snail porridge.
Just Eat files intention to delist from London Stock Exchange
Just Eat Takeaway.com has filed a notice of intention to delist from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) next month.
Temper shutters half its estate as operating company enters administration - updated
Temper has closed its restaurants in Shoreditch and Paddington, as well as its smash burger offshoot in White City, with its operating company understood to have entered administration.
The Fulham Shore to launch Super Club Roma next month
The Fulham Shore, the group behind Neapolitan pizza brand Franco Manca and The Real Greek, will open its new pizza concept in London’s Westfield Stratford early next month.
The Groucho Club temporarily closes after licence suspended
The Groucho in London’s Soho has temporarily closed after being served with notice of a licence review following allegations the venue has been associated with ‘serious crime’.
The Newt in Somerset named top boutique hotel for third time
South-west countryside estate The Newt in Somerset has retained the number one spot in the Top 50 Boutique Hotels list, marking the third time it has taken the top slot.
Mandatory calorie labelling fails to create ‘significant decrease’ in consumption
Mandatory calorie labelling on restaurant menus has not led to a shift in consumer behaviour, according to new research, with no ‘significant decrease’ recorded in the number of calories consumed.
The Cut & Craft to open Manchester steakhouse in the spring
Northern-based restaurant group The Cut & Craft has chosen Manchester’s historic Bond building as the location for its third venue.
Gail’s to launch £500m auction next year
The owners of Gail’s have hired bankers to handle a sale that could value the premium bakery chain by as much as £500m.
Too hot to handle: Dave’s Hot Chicken says Brits can’t hack its spiciest burger
Nashville-style chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken has said it is unsure whether to serve its Reaper-level spice mix in its UK restaurants after taste tests left diners ‘in tears’.
Loungers opens fourth Brightside
Loungers has opened the latest site under its roadside dining brand Brightside.
KFC ‘remains committed’ to Better Chicken framework as it reneges on pledge to ditch ‘Frankenchickens’
KFC has said it ‘remains committed’ to ensuring greater animal welfare standards across its supply chain after rowing back on plans to stop buying fast-growing chicken breeds by 2026.
Financial Times announces key appointments to its food and drink section
The Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner is to join the Financial Times as its new restaurant critic, with former Sunday Times restaurant critic Marina O’Loughlin also joining the paper as a columnist.
Glynn Purnell promises ‘mutually agreeable’ solutions for customers seeking voucher refunds following restaurant closure
Glynn Purnell has promised he has ‘a number of solutions and proposals in mind’ to support customers seeking refunds for vouchers to his flagship Birmingham restaurant, which closed last month.
Famed Milan sandwich shop to make London debut
London’s sandwich game continues to be on the ascendancy with Milan-based sandwich shop De Santis the latest to open a site in the capital.
Maneki Ramen launches crowdfund for Birmingham restaurant
Japanese restaurant Maneki Ramen has launched a crowdfunding campaign ahead of the launch of its new opening in Birmingham next spring.
Homeslice opens first restaurant in six years
Homeslice has opened its first site since 2018 in London department store Harvey Nichols.
Friday five: the week's top hospitality stories
The Clove Club split and David Loewi’s departure from D&D London were among this week’s most read stories.
David Loewi to step down as D&D London CEO
D&D London has announced that co-founder David Loewi will step down from his role as CEO and board director at the end of the year.
Restaurant has a new website
Restaurant is pleased to unveil its brand-new website, making it quicker and easier for you to find the content you are looking for.