BrewDog co-founder James Watt launches new beer venture
BrewDog co-founder James Watt has revealed plans to launch a new beer company.
Trends & Reports
UK eating out market growth revised down
The UK eating out market will reach a value of £102.8bn in 2026, according to new forecasts.
Ardent Pub Group and Popeyes named among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work
Popeyes and Ardent Pub Group have been recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list 2026.
VAT on children’s meals to be temporarily cut to 5%
The Government will cut VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September.
Pizza Express reports a strong first quarter with like-for-like sales up 5%
Pizza Express reports a 5% rise in UK like-for-like sales in the first quarter of FY26, as the group says it continues to outperform the wider casual dining market.
‘Industry working incredibly hard just to stand still’ as hospitality sees sales decline
Hospitality groups experienced a 0.4% decline in like-for-like sales in April, as consumers continued to tighten their spend.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Another high-profile opening from Gordon Ramsay and the collapse of one of the UK’s oldest restaurant groups were among this week’s biggest hospitality headlines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
MasterChef: The Professionals judge Monica Galetti’s return to London’s dining scene and the closure of Brighton’s longest-running fine dining restaurant are among this week’s top news stories.
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.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ Welsh move and the group behind The Wolseley’s debut hotel are among this week’s top news stories.
Food to diet for: health trends impact diners’ choice of restaurants
Nearly a quarter (23%) of British consumers are switching dining venues due to limited high-protein, low-calorie menu options, according to new research from Circana.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The Ivy’s majority stake sale and Franco Manca’s CVA are among this week’s top news stories.
Over a quarter of UK diners check multiple allergens before eating out
More than a quarter of UK diners search for allergen information before choosing where to eat, according to new data from AllergyMenu.app.
Domino’s launches range of thinner, more premium pizzas
Domino’s has launched a range of Italy-inspired, thinner-style premium pizzas.
Which Wich signs London franchise deal in bid to accelerate UK expansion
Which Wich has signed a new multi-unit franchise agreement in London as the Texas-founded sandwich brand looks to step up its expansion across the UK.
Burger King UK reports strong revenue growth ahead of expansion phase
Burger King UK reported a 10% rise in revenue to £448.7m in the year to 31 December 2025, alongside securing additional funding as it prepares to accelerate expansion.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Theo Clench’s new project and Young’s £30m acquisition of Cubitt House are among this week’s top news stories.
Why hospitality’s margin crisis isn’t just about costs
As guest expectations accelerate and costs rise, hospitality’s traditional, labour-led operating model is being pushed to its limits.
Confidence in hospitality sector rises but prospect of increasing costs remain a concern
Hospitality leaders have entered 2026 with the more optimism than the previous year, new data shows.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Wahaca’s return to its UK expansion and Kricket’s international debut are among this week’s top news stories.
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.
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.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
BrewDog’s recent sale and a new venture from the Public House Group are among this week’s top news stories.
The rise, fall and reinvention of Bristol’s restaurant scene
After a wave of closures and the loss of several Michelin stars, Bristol’s restaurant scene is being reshaped by a more diverse, experimental and sustainably minded generation of operators.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Tom Sellers’ new restaurant and remarks from Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ advisor on the hospitality sector make this week’s top news stories.
Restaurants enjoy strong delivery sales as wet weather keeps diners at home
Britain’s top restaurant groups started 2026 with strong growth in delivery sales but took a hit on takeaway revenue, the latest data shows.
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.
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.