Fast Casual Restaurant

The Lowdown

Another US fried chicken brand is coming to the UK. Is there space for it?

26-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

US-based Dave’s Hot Chicken has bold plans for the UK, with 60 restaurants planned.

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.

Azzurri to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to UK

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group is to bring California-based fast casual concept Dave’s Hot Chicken to the UK with a view to opening 60 sites under the brand beginning in London next year.

Boojum heads to Nottingham for second England site

02-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Ireland-based Mexican restaurant brand Boojum will open its second UK mainland restaurant this autumn in Nottingham.

Luke Johnson takes a stake in Tortilla

28-Feb-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Hospitality entrepreneur Luke Johnson has taken a 3.6% stake in Tortilla Mexican Grill.

business profile

Sowing the seeds of success: how Farmer J is disrupting lunch al desko

22-Feb-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Jonathan and Ali Recanati’s 10-strong fast casual restaurant business is set to cross the pond following a £5.5m investment.

The Vurger Co closes final restaurants as business ceases trading

22-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Vegan fast-food restaurant group The Vurger Co has closed its final three restaurants less than a year after being bought out of administration.

Boojum targets university cities for England launch

30-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

Ireland-based Mexican restaurant brand Boojum has chosen Leeds for the location of its first site in England.

Which Wich makes another play for UK expansion

20-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

US-founded sandwich chain Which Wich is making another play for expansion across the UK through a newly launched sub-franchising model.

Mother Flipper opens first permanent restaurant in ‘spiritual home’ of Brockley

09-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Burger slinger Mother Flipper has opened its first permanent restaurant in its ‘spiritual home’ of Brockley, south London, more than a decade after originally launching as a street food outfit.

Italian brand Indegno to make UK debut in London's Shoreditch

05-Oct-2023 By James McAllister

Fast-casual Italian brand Indegno will make its UK debut next month having secured a site on Brick Lane in London's Shoreditch.

Acai brand Oakberry to make its London debut next month

22-Aug-2023 By Joe Lutrario

International acai-focused QSR brand Oakberry will make its London debut next month with a site in Fitzrovia.

I am Döner to open in Windsor

31-Jul-2023 By Restaurant

Kebab brand I am Döner will open its most southerly restaurant next month in Windsor.

Karapincha to open first permanent spot within Canary Wharf tube station

18-Jul-2023 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan street food brand Karapincha will open its first bricks and mortar site next month in London’s Canary Wharf.

Azzurri Group acquires Ireland-based Mexican chain Boojum

19-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group has acquired a controlling interest in Ireland-based, fast-casual Mexican chain Boojum and plans to expand the brand across Great Britain.

The Vurger Co. closes Canary Wharf site as founders acquire brand in pre-pack sale

05-May-2023 By James McAllister

Vegan fast food restaurant group The Vurger Co. has been bought out of administration by its founders in a pre-pack sale.

Truffle Burger heads to Marylebone

11-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

London-based 'finer diner' brand Truffle Burger will open its fourth bricks and mortar site later this month in Marylebone.

Fat Hippo heads to Soho as it plots further expansion

02-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Northern-based burger brand Fat Hippo will open its second London restaurant this summer, on Wardour Street in Soho.

Judy Joo: “Seoul Bird still hasn’t seen a day of normal trade in the UK”

22-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

The Korean-American chef recently took her fried chicken brand Seoul Bird to Las Vegas for its first overseas site. However, her focus remains on growing the concept in the UK.

Karapincha unveils new branding ahead of Canary Wharf opening

09-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Fast casual Sri Lankan restaurant Karapincha has unveiled a new brand identity ahead of opening its new restaurant in London’s Canary Wharf.

Operation: Falafel set for London debut

30-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Dubai-born street food concept Operation: Falafel is to make its UK debut next month in London's Camden, ahead of plans for a wider roll out across the country

Slim Chickens to launch first restaurant in partnership with Tesco Extra

09-Aug-2022 By James McAllister

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is set to open its first Slim Chickens restaurant under a new partnership with Tesco Extra this month, in the supermarket giant's Redditch superstore.

I am Döner signs multi-site franchise deal

07-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

Premium kebab concept I am Döner has signed a multi-site franchise deal to take the brand to Merseyside and the Isle of Man.

Mezcalito doubles up in London

01-Jun-2022 By James McAllister

Chelsea-based Mexican restaurant Mezcalito has launched a second site in the capital on Newington Green Road in Islington.

Latest opening: Chicken Shop

20-May-2022 By James McAllister

CHIK’N, the fast-casual spinoff of Chick 'n' Sours, has rebranded as Chicken Shop under a partnership with Soho House Group, and launched its first new site in London’s Notting Hill.

Fat Hippo eyes London debut

10-May-2022 By James McAllister

Northern-based burger chain Fat Hippo is planning a move to the capital amid an expansion drive that will also see it establish permanent outposts in Scotland and Wales.

CHIK’N to rebrand as Chicken Shop with multiple openings planned

05-Apr-2022 By Georgi Gyton

CHIK’N, the quick-service spinoff of Chick 'n' Sours, is to rebrand as Chicken Shop under a new partnership with Soho House Group, with a significant expansion drive planned.

Food to go sector to reach £23bn by 2025

10-Mar-2022 By Georgi Gyton

The value of the UK food to go sector is expected to reach £23bn by 2025, driven by accelerated physical expansion, new product development and growth in channels such as delivery, according to Lumina Intelligence.

How I Got Here: Anmarie Spaziano

08-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

The American-born founder of Annie’s Burger Shack, which has sites in Nottingham and Derby, on bringing a taste of New England to Britain, and why hospitality is her dream job.

Marsha to double up with new Soho site

27-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Sustainability-focused chicken brand Marsha is to launch a second London restaurant next month having secured a site at Carnaby Street’s Kingly Court in Soho.

How I Got Here: Rachel Hugh

26-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The co-founder of vegan burger group The Vurger Co on why she gave up a career in fashion to run restaurants, and her vision of changing the fast-food world.

Döner Shack to make Scottish debut

25-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

German street food concept Döner Shack is set to make its debut in Scotland in the coming months having secured a site at Glasgow’s Silverburn shopping centre.

Tortilla reports 'strong trading momentum' as it sees like-for-like growth up 23%

10-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Tortilla has reported a like-for-like sales increase of 23.8% in the 2021 financial year compared to 2019, with group revenue up 36% across the same period.

Chaiiwalla to roll out in London

19-Nov-2021 By Andrew Don

South Asian street food franchise Chaiiwalla is gearing up to make its London debut as it targets 230 UK locations by the end of 2024.

Operators reminded: Natasha’s Law comes into force next month

30-Sep-2021 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality is urging all in the industry to ensure they are fully aware of and compliant with landmark legislation on allergen labelling for pre-packaged foods, which comes into force later this week.

Neat Burger heads to Finsbury Park ahead of wider London rollout

11-Aug-2021 By James McAllister

Neat Burger, the plant-based brand that counts Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton among its chief backers, is to open its fourth London restaurant in Finsbury Park next week.

Healthy fast food chain Friska sold

06-Jul-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The majority of Bristol-founded healthy fast food chain Friska has been sold by administrations Mazars LLP to a third party, with founders Ed Brown and Griff Holland taking two of the groups sites to operate under a different brand.

Eggslut chooses Shoreditch for third UK site

14-Jun-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Eggslut has taken the former The Good Yard site on Shoreditch’s Leonard Street for its third UK restaurant.

The Lowdown: Restaurant radio stations

13-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Infamous pirate radio station Kurupt FM is taking over Subway’s in-store radio network next week. Hold tight for the rhythm...

Judy Joo to launch a second Seoul Bird

07-May-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Judy Joo has chosen Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place for her second Seoul Bird restaurant.

Wasabi founder brings Korea's Pelicana chicken brand to UK

07-Apr-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim is set to rapidly expand South Korean fried chicken brand Pelicana in the capital following the acquisition of four sites.

Mission possible: how Neat Burger will become the biggest plant-based chain on the planet

25-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

When it launched in late 2019, Neat Burger set its sights on becoming the world’s biggest plant-based chain. Eighteen months and one pandemic later, the strategy has changed, but its plans for global domination remain undented.

Marugame Udon to debut on Liverpool Street

22-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The world’s largest udon noodles and tempura restaurant chain has chosen London’s Liverpool Street for its debut European location.

The Orange Buffalo set for global expansion as it accelerates franchise plans

05-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

New York-style chicken wing brand The Orange Buffalo is accelerating plans for both national and global expansion after signing its first franchise partner in the UK.

Thunderbird set to launch revamped brand identity as it secures former Bryon Earls Court site

29-Jan-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

London-based premium fried chicken brand Thunderbird has secured its fourth bricks and mortar site, which it will use as a platform to launch a revamped brand identity.

German Doner Kebab to open a dozen new sites before the end of the year

19-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Fast casual franchise German Doner Kebab is planning to open a further 12 restaurants by the end of the year.

Herman Ze German to close all London sites

13-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Fast casual sausage specialist Herman Ze German has announced the permanent closure of its entire London estate.

Ramen bar Heddon Yokocho to open in Mayfair

24-Sep-2020 By Restaurant

Ramen bar Heddon Yokocho will open on London’s Heddon street in Mayfair next month.

Latest opening: Seoul Bird

14-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Originally slated to launch in April, Judy Joo’s Korean fried chicken concept is now up and running at Westfield London.

Ben Tish to collaborate on fast-casual pizza concept Gallio

20-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Ben Tish is to collaborate on the menu for new Mediterranean-style pizza concept Gallio.