Casual dining - Hospitality

Latest opening: Holy Carrot

26-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Following a successful pop up, first-time restaurateur Irina Linovich has found a permanent home for her ‘vegetable forward’ concept Holy Carrot in London’s Notting Hill.

Farmer J makes West London debut with Hammersmith site

25-Jul-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Fast casual ‘farm-to-fork’ restaurant chain Farmer J will launch its first site in West London at the end of this month.

Kanada-Ya returns to expansion trail with Westfield opening

23-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Japanese ramen group Kanada-Ya is to launch its first London restaurant in nearly two years with a new opening at Westfield shopping centre in White City.

Wagamama launches Soul Club loyalty programme

17-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Wagamama has become the latest restaurant brand to launch its own loyalty programme that will offer members free menu items and exclusive content.

Spaghetti House swings to loss amid ‘extremely difficult year’

16-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

London-based Italian restaurant chain Spaghetti House has reported an ‘extremely difficult year’ in its latest financial results, posting a loss of £93,331 in the year to 31 March 2024.

Comment

Could the wider expansion of Albert’s Schloss reinvigorate the UK’s struggling nighttime economy?

15-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

While large swathes of the segment struggles, Albert’s Schloss shows there’s still plenty of opportunity in the nighttime economy.

The Coconut Tree enters into CVA

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant group The Coconut Tree has entered into a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Latest opening: Albert's Schloss – London

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Alpine cook haus and Bavarian bier palace brand has arrived in London with its biggest site to date.

Fatto a Mano plots further expansion following Middleton investment

11-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Neapolitan pizza restaurant group Fatto a Mano is plotting further expansion in the capital after securing new investment from Middleton Enterprises.

Lussmanns returns to expansion trail with double opening

10-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Sustainable seafood restaurant Lussmans will return to the expansion trail next month with a new opening in Highgate that’ll also mark the brand’s return to the London after two decades.

Chef Jakob Grant opens Deal bistro

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Former Bouchon Racine chef Jakob Grant has opened his first solo restaurant venture, a bistro located upstairs at The Bohemian public house on the seafront in Deal, Kent.

The Ivy gets go-ahead for first Liverpool restaurant

04-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Ivy is to open its first outpost in Liverpool after plans were approved by the city’s council.

Benugo reports highest turnover in 25-year history

04-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Benugo has reported the highest turnover in its 25-year history, rising to £123.5m in 2023 from £98.7m the year before.

Hawksmoor explores potential sale

03-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Steakhouse group Hawksmoor has been put up for sale in a deal that could value the restaurant chain at about £100m.

Jeremy Clarkson buys Cotswolds pub

01-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Jeremy Clarkson is to launch his own pub after acquiring The Windmill, a former wedding and banqueting venue set in five acres of countryside near Burford, Oxfordshire.

Bone Daddies tees up new concept as it returns to profit

26-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Bone Daddies will launch a fourth restaurant brand this year as part of a new joint venture.

Deliveries soar for restaurant groups in May as weather keeps some consumers at home

25-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups achieved their biggest year-on-year growth in delivery sales of 2024 last month, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals.

Former Brat chef Aidan Richardson takes over the stoves at Half Cut Market

24-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

North London restaurant, wine bar and bottle shop Half Cut Market has appointed Aidan Richardson as its new head chef.

Gusto launches menu of ‘comeback dishes’ using customer insights

24-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Northern-based restaurant group Gusto Italian has used customer insight to develop a temporary ‘Comeback Tour’ specials menu of popular past dishes.

El Mexicana seeks new investment

24-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

The owners of Mexican fast-food chain El Mexicana and dessert brand Don Churro are seeking an investment partner to support its expansion.

Caravan attains B Corp certification

21-Jun-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

London-based restaurant group and coffee roaster Caravan has attained B Corp certification.

French smash burger brand Junk Burgers to make UK debut

21-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

France-based smash burger brand Junk Burgers is to make its UK debut with a site in London.

Former Kudu chef Eloise Dawes takes over the stoves at Frank’s Canteen

21-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Modern-European restaurant and wine bar Frank’s Canteen in London’s Highbury has appointed Eloise Dawes as its new head chef ahead of its 10-year anniversary.

Hospitality groups see sales rise 3.6% in May

19-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 3.6% in May 2024 despite disappointing weather in many parts of Britain, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Unite to protest job cuts at Whitbread AGM

18-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Unite is to stage a demonstration at the Whitbread AGM in Dunstable today (18 June) over plans to cut 1,500 job.

Cocotte returns to expansion trail with new Richmond restaurant

17-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

French-style rotisserie chicken concept Cocotte is to open its first restaurant in nearly three years next month in Richmond, London.

Patisserie Valerie launches partnership with Brakes

17-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Patisserie Valerie has announced a distribution partnership with foodservice wholesaler Brakes in a bid to reach a broader audience.

Bow Hospitality to open first Edinburgh restaurant

14-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Scotland-based operator Bow Hospitality Group is to open its first restaurant in the country’s capital next month.

Value of UK eating out market nears £100bn

13-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

The UK eating out market is expected to grow by 2.8% this year, according to new data from Lumina Intelligence.

Karen’s Diner ‘to concentrate on pop up events rather than restaurants’ after closing multiple sites

13-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Karen’s Diner, the Australia-founded restaurant group known for its rude service and staff with attitude, has rowed back on its plans for UK expansion after closing multiple sites.

Vagabond’s Gatwick sites to be rebranded following acquisition

12-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) is to rebrand the two sites within Gatwick Airport that it acquired earlier this month from Vagabond.

Whitbread denies allegations it's failed to conduct redundancy consultations in ‘genuine or meaningful way’

12-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Whitbread has pushed back against allegations that it has failed to consult with staff facing redundancy in a ‘genuine or meaningful way’.

Richard Caring set to sell entire stake in The Ivy

11-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Richard Caring is set to sell his entire share in The Ivy and its sister restaurants to an as yet unidentified buyer.

Snowfox owner Zensho brings ramen concept to UK

11-Jun-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Zensho Holdings, the owner of Snowfox Group, has launched its first new brand into the UK since acquiring the YO! operator last year.

Sushi Revolution plots further expansion as it launches second London site

07-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Contemporary Japanese restaurant Sushi Revolution has launched its second London site in Shoreditch with plans for further openings in the capital.

Blanchette founders to launch second Soho restaurant

07-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Maxime and Yannis Alary, the brothers behind French bistro Blanchette, are to launch a wood fire restaurant in Kingly Court this summer.

Vagabond’s Gatwick sites acquired by ARE

07-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Beleaguered bar group Vagabond’s two sites within Gatwick Airport have been acquired out of administration, saving 122 jobs.

Dalston Yard to launch on former Street Feast site

06-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

The founder of Street Feast’s original site in London’s Dalston is to relaunch the space as a multifaceted ‘cultural playground’ next month combining food, drinks, art, music, and wellbeing events.

El Gato Negro to close Leeds restaurant and relaunch under new concept

05-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Simon Shaw is to close the Leeds outpost of his tapas bar and restaurant brand El Gato Negro later this month ahead of relaunching the site under a new concept.

Hostmore jettisons 63rd+1st brand after less than four years

03-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Hostmore is to close its final 63rd+1st sites this month as it winds down the cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand little more than three years after first launching it.

National Restaurant Awards 2024: The Estrella Damm Sustainability Award shortlist

30-May-2024 By Restaurant

These six restaurants that lead the way in sustainable and social practices have made this year's shortlist.

Leo and Roobs cafe to open in Salford

30-May-2024 By Restaurant

The team behind Salford pub The Black Friar is launching a sister venue and neighbourhood café next month.

Delivery and takeaway sales grow ahead of inflation in April

30-May-2024 By Restaurant

Britain’s top managed restaurant groups achieved year-on-year growth of 4.5% in delivery and takeaway sales in April 2024, new data shows.

Megan’s reports rise in revenues and profit

24-May-2024 By Restaurant

Megan’s has reported a rise in annual revenues for the year ending March 2024.

Restaurant groups see modest sales growth as wider sector suffers from April showers slump

22-May-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups saw sales drop 1.7% year-on-year in April 2024 after widespread wet weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

P.F. Chang's to enter ‘a new chapter’ as it reopens London restaurant

22-May-2024 By James McAllister

American-founded casual dining brand P.F. Chang's is eyeing further UK expansion following the relaunch of its only London restaurant.

Hank’s Dirty employees save Ipswich restaurant following group collapse

21-May-2024 By James McAllister

Employees of vegan fast food restaurant Hank’s Dirty in Ipswich have saved the site from closure after the wider group fell into bankruptcy.

Comptoir Group ‘optimistic and cautious’ for the year ahead following marginal revenue rise

21-May-2024 By James McAllister

Comptoir Group says it remains ‘optimistic and cautious about 2024’ following the publication of its latest financial results, amid ongoing price rises and ‘challenged and erratic’ footfall.