Friday five: the week’s top stories
Gordon Ramsay’s take on restaurant influencers and Nest’s upcoming rebrand are among this week’s top news stories.
Trends & Reports
Wet weather and ‘Dry January’ dampens post Christmas sales
Slow post-Christmas spending led to a slight fall in like-for-like sales across Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in January.
Gordon Ramsay: “Influencers are the most powerful critics on the planet today”
They are loved and loathed in almost equal measure by the restaurant industry, but the world’s most famous chef is unequivocal about his respect for influencers.
Scottish political parties urged to back permanent cut to business rates
Political parties in Scotland are being urged to commit to permanently lowering business rates for hospitality in their manifestos by UKHospitality Scotland.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The Michelin Guide’s new stars and Sally Abé’s debut opening are among this week’s top news stories.
Comment
2026 trends? Here’s what we hope is confined to the scrapheap this year
Two-sip cocktails, extreme eating challenges and undercooked steak can do one.
Table for two? Valentine’s bookings up by almost a third
Restaurant bookings for Valentine’s Day are up 30% year-on-year across the UK, according to new data, with people looking beyond the traditional two-top reservation.
Majority of UK restaurant owners expect growth in 2026 despite labour concerns
More than 70% of UK restaurant owners anticipate growth in 2026, according to a new survey by hospitality platform Toast.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The announcement of 37 new Bib Gourmands and the Beckford Group’s new acquisition are among this week’s top news stories.
Access you free copy of the Restaurant Report 2026
Restaurant has published its free-to-access report of the UK’s top 100 restaurant brands.
Michelin announces 37 new Bib Gourmands
Michelin has announced 37 new Bib Gourmands ahead of its ceremony in Dublin next week.
Star gazing: our predictions for Michelin’s 2026 guide
With Michelin to reveal its latest Great Britain & Ireland guide next week, we give our predictions on its new starred entries.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The crowning of the UK’s top gastropub and the confirmation of a business rates support package for pubs are among this week’s top news stories.
Why just the pubs? High streets are more than just pubs: we should help them too
Restaurants, salons and other labour-intensive high street businesses deserve equal support.
Restaurants lean on delivery growth after flat December at-home sales
Britain’s leading restaurant groups ended 2025 with little growth in at-home sales, but a rise in delivery helped lift overall performance in December, according to new data from NIQ.
The smarter tech creating smarter restaurants
As margins tighten, operators are turning to AI-driven systems that analyse data, predict outcomes and prompt action.
8% of Brits admit to leaving a restaurant without paying, survey finds
New research on the prevalence of ‘dining and dashing’ has found that 8% of Brits have admitted to leaving a restaurant without paying for their meal.
Hospitality lost four sites each day in the final quarter of 2025, figures show
An average of four hospitality sites closed every day in the final quarter of last year, figures have revealed.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The new culinary director at Le Manoir and the location of Tony Parkins’ debut solo restaurant are among this week’s most read news stories.
Comebacks, Old Fashioneds and late nights: 11 restaurant trends for 2026
Chinese bar snacks, dirty sodas and an old school grill and chophouse revival are also on our 2026 bingo card.
Diners show caution with fewer consumers eating out over the festive period
Fewer people ate out over the Christmas period amid ongoing economic challenges, latest data shows.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Sally Abé’s departure from The Bull Charlbury and a flagship Soho site for Indian restaurant Tamila were among this week’s most read stories.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Sergio Herman’s premium frites restaurant, and closures for Paco Pérez and Nick Nairn were among this week’s most read stories.
Hospitality enters Christmas with flat sales growth
Hospitality groups entered the Christmas period on the back of flat sales in November, according to the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Leon’s administration and the uncertain future of TGI Fridays are among this week’s most read news stories.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
The return of Jamie’s Italian to the UK and yet another change of hands for burger brand Byron are among this week’s most read news stories.
Comment
Trend watch: four things to keep an eye on for 2026
From smaller, smarter portions to food flights, Lockhart Catering’s Simon Britten identifies four restaurant trends for the year ahead.
In at the deep end: Popeyes launches cup-sized dips in a ‘UK first’ for QSR restaurants
Popeyes is taking the fight to rival Raising Cane’s with the launch of cup-sized version of sauces in the UK.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
The death of pioneering chef Skye Gyngell dominated this week’s news.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The temporary closure of Dave’s Hot Chicken’s UK restaurants and Vagabond’s plans to open the largest urban winery are among this week’s most-read stories.
Early doors: 5-7pm overtakes 7-10pm as key hospitality trading period
Consumers are continuing to opt for earlier social experiences with research revealing the 5-7pm slot has now overtaken 7-10pm as the biggest earning trading period of the average day.
8 trends that defined eating out in 2025
From protein-packed dishes and premium seafood to super posh sandwiches, here’s what happened in 2025’s restaurant scene.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Ireland winning the World’s Best Steak award and the closure of Lee Tiernan’s FKABAM are among this week’s most read stories.
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.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The Gaucho ‘greenwashing’ row and a welcome comeback for Leeds chef Michael O’Hare were among this week’s most-read stories.
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.
12 ways to create a killer loyalty programme
Restaurant has published a free-to-access guide to creating a successful loyalty programme.
Kwenching the thirst of Gen Z: KFC opens first site under its new drinks-led brand
KFC has opened its first site under its drinks-led Kwench brand, in Liverpool’s city centre.
Deliveroo reveals most popular delivery items of 2025
A London-based bagel shop is responsible for the most ordered takeaway item on Deliveroo this year, the delivery company has revealed.
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%.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Pip Lacey and Calum Franklin’s restaurants at London’s new Guinness Open Gate brewery, and a spat over spud names were among this week’s most read stories.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
The closure of 68 Pizza Hut restaurants and The Devonshire team’s plans for a Covent Garden venue are among this week’s most read stories.
Pubs continue to outpace restaurants for sales growth
Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups saw a marginal increase in like-for-like sales growth, according to the latest data.
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.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
A second London restaurant from the group behind Carbone and the opening of a Japanese-inspired chophouse in Shoreditch are among this week’s most read stories.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
New restaurants from Hawksmoor and former Kiln head chef Meedu Saad were among this week’s most read stories.
Comment
From tuna sandwiches to lobster rolls: how big brands are borrowing from the independent playbook
The best brands must be both predictable and surprising. The challenge is knowing where to draw the line.
Soaring operational costs pile pressure on capex in hospitality sector
Rapid rises in operational costs are damaging hospitality’s capital expenditure programmes, new data shows.
Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ financial results and the continued expansion of Honest Burgers are among this week’s most-read stories.
Cover charge – how restaurants are using the power of targeted promotions
Restaurants are increasingly relying on targeted promotions to boost covers at lunchtimes and on weekday evenings, but do the benefits outweigh the inevitable hit to the bottom line?