The UK’s Top 100 restaurant groups see profits fall by nearly half
Profits at the UK’s 100 largest restaurant groups have fallen by 44%, according to new data by accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.
Trends & Reports
Treasury launches review of business rates for pubs and hotels
The Treasury is to launch a review into how business rates for pubs and hotels in England are calculated.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Tom Sellers’ search for a London pub and country house hotel Heckfield Place’s new bar are among this week’s top news stories.
Delivery and takeaway sales stagnated in July
Britain’s top restaurant groups recorded marginal growth in delivery and takeaway sales in July.
Hospitality insolvency figures jump in second quarter of the year
The number of hospitality businesses filing for insolvency rose by more than 10% in the past quarter, figures show.
Little Caesars quietly closes sole remaining UK site
Little Caesars has quietly closed its only operating UK site in Greenford, west London, leaving its future plans on these shores in doubt.
Soho’s Khao Bird pledges to achieve net zero by 2030
Soho Thai restaurant Khao Bird has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 as part of parent company Redroaster’s Climate Action Plan.
Drought conditions in the UK threaten supplies as food and drink prices rise
Food and drink prices in hospitality have continued to rise with concerns over the impact of prolonged heatwaves creating uncertainty for buyers.
Up in smoke: what the closure of Bodean’s means for the wider BBQ sector
The apparent collapse of London’s best-known barbecue brand feels like the end of an era in which operators and investors believed US barbecue could become a major force in UK casual dining.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The Fallow and Roe trio’s acquisition of the OXO Tower Restaurant and Bodean’s BBQ’s uncertain future are among the top stories making headlines this week.
Animal welfare activists target Pret A Manger store launch
Animal welfare activists have targeted the launch of a new Pret A Manger store in Rainham, Greater London, by depositing a car-sized Pret wrap with a giant ‘frankenchicken’ stuffed inside.
Andy Burnham signals further business rates relief for high street businesses
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering further measures to support high street businesses through business rates relief at the budget on October 28.
Yo! told to pull ads promoting cream puffs
Yo! has been told to withdraw paid-for online advertising for its KitKat cream puffs after falling foul of new rules governing the promotion of less healthy food and drink products.
Inside the UK’s taco boom
Taco brands are accelerating their UK expansion as changing consumer habits, affordable pricing and growing interest in Mexican cuisine reshape the market.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A wave of brands making their UK debuts and the closure of Norwich’s only Michelin-star restaurant are among this week’s top news stories.
Riding high: what does Brava have planned for its latest purchase?
The Prezzo owner’s recent purchase of Riding House Café group is another feather in the cap for the growing restaurant group. But can it continue the entrepreneurial spirit of the all-day brand?
Food-to-go and coffee shops took bite out of restaurant spend in first half of 2026
Consumers traded down from traditional restaurants in favour of coffee shops and food-to-go concepts in the first half of the year, according to fresh data from CACI.
UK restaurant market to grow to £18.7bn in 2026
The UK service-led restaurant market is forecast to reach £18.7bn in 2026, according to research from Lumina Intelligence.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A new pizza brand tied to Greg Wallace and the closure of Steve Drake’s Surrey restaurant are among this week’s top news stories.
KFC UK & Ireland delivers record quarter as pickle menu drives strongest sales week in KFC history
KFC UK & Ireland has recorded strong growth for the quarter ended 30 June 2026, with its Pickle Mania Menu driving the highest sales week the fried chicken brand has ever seen.
On the move: why casual dining is looking beyond the high street
From transport hubs to roadside locations, casual dining brands are increasingly investing in formats designed for consumers on the move.
Technology
The Access Group to acquire Talent Funnel
Hospitality management software provider The Access Group is set to acquire applicant tracking system Talent Funnel.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Robin Gill’s partnership with the London Museum and Green & Fortune, and a new venture from the team behind Camille, are among this week’s top news stories.
Foodservice price inflation jumps 1.8% in June
Foodservice price inflation rose by 1.8% in June, according to the latest Foodservice Price Index from NIQ and Prestige Purchasing.
Swede as pie: the new pizza style everyone’s (not yet) talking about
Move over London-style pizza, there’s a new kid in town, and it’s got a Scandi swagger.
Napoli on the Road unveils pizza tasting menu at its Soho restaurant
Pizza restaurant Napoli on the Road will launch its pizza tasting menu at its newly-opened Soho restaurant this month.
Insight
11 trends shaping - and set to shape - the restaurant sector in 2026
From the resurgence in food halls to faster casual dining formats, our new report gives you the intel on the sector.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Luke Johnson’s acquisition of Wahaca and the government’s withdrawal of its updated tipping code of practice are among this week’s top stories.
IRO Sushi reports 20% like-for-like sales growth as expansion accelerates
IRO Sushi has reported a 20% increase in like-for-like sales in the first half of 2026, supported by accelerated growth across the UK.
Hospitality experiences spend growth in June with England’s semi final match set to bring more cheer for businesses
Spending growth increased inly marginally in the eating and drinking out market in June despite pubs getting a huge boost to sales from England’s FIFA World Cup matches.
Hospitality leaders’ confidence tumbles as pressure on the sector mounts
The confidence of hospitality’s leaders has tumbled amid fears about operating costs and consumer spending, according to new research.
Northern Ireland launches inquiry into VAT levels for hospitality and tourism sectors
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the taxation of the hospitality and tourism sectors in Northern Ireland.
It’s coming home: England’s World Cup matches lead to 16% rise in takeaway orders
England’s World Cup matches are leading to a surge in takeaway orders, according to delivery platform Just Eat.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A new restaurant from the Dorian team, Coq d’Argent’s relocation, and a map identifying female-led hospitality businesses are among this week’s most-read stories.
Pret doubles down on Dubai-style flavours
Pret a Manger is continuing to lean into the popularity of Dubai-style food and drink with a new range for summer.
Heatwave could reduce bookings by almost a half, sector warned
The heat wave that is currently sweeping across the UK could significantly reduce demand for eating out, new data suggests.
Rise of weight loss medication ‘reshaping how consumers eat and socialise’
GLP-1 weight loss medications are reshaping how consumers eat, drink and socialise, with many users increasingly choosing activities over food-focused occasions.
Benugo records highest turnover in its 27-year history
Contract caterer and café operator Benugo has recorded the highest turnover in its 27-year history, according to its latest annual report.
Togather acquires Field Vision Bars to become UK’s largest integrated live events F&B operator
Togather, the UK events business behind food experiences for festivals, stadia, office residencies and private events, has acquired Field Vision Bars, one of the country’s leading festival bar operators.
Comment
Lost in translation? The challenges of bringing Asia-born brands to the UK market
Colombo-founded restaurant brand ISSO is hoping to make waves with its live-fire seafood concept, but importing a successful restaurant brand from overseas is rarely straightforward.
Andy Burnham’s small business rates plan ‘could cost £880m’ a year
Andy Burnham’s plans to reforming business rates to support small businesses could lift more than 140,000 additional small premises out of paying business rates altogether, new research suggests.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The passing of a pioneering figure in Chinese hospitality and Loungers’ first international brand are among this week’s top news stories.
Foodservice inflation drops slightly in May
Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector eased by 0.1% month-on-month in May.
Use of weight loss medication to reduce out of home food and drink spend by £1bn
GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro will reduce out of home food and drink spending by almost £1bn by 2031, a new report suggests.
The World Cup drives 90% revenue surge for UK pubs and bars, data shows
UK pubs and bars saw revenues jump by 90% during England World Cup match periods compared with baseline trading, according to new transaction data from global payments company Square.
One in six hospitality businesses ‘at risk of failure’, new data shows
One in six hospitality businesses say they are at risk of failure within the next 12 months, according to new industry data released ahead of the consumer launch of the #VATsTheProblem campaign on 1 July.
20 brands to watch: part one
In this first of a two-part feature we identify the brands that are deserving of your attention.
Scale of the UK’s fish and chips sector revealed in new report
The scale of the UK’s love of fish and chips has been mapped in a landmark new report.
Tech
Survey finds just 54% of hospitality workers are happy in their current role
A survey of 1,446 hospitality employees has found that just over half are happy in their current role.
Technology
Ello Group looks to grow following cash injection
Tastecard and Gourmet Society owner Ello Group has secured a £16.5m revolving credit facility from HSBC to underpin growth plans as well as day-to-day operations.