Multi-site - Hospitality

Bunsik takes Chinatown site for next London opening

26-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Korean QSR brand Bunsik has taken a site on Wardour Street in London’s Chinatown for its next opening in the capital.

Pasta Evangelists begins franchise rollout with two London sites

25-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Pasta Evangelists is opening two Pasta Emporiums under franchise in London as part of its plans roll out a further 20 sites over the next five years.

Tortilla sees half-year revenue fall as a result of new delivery strategy

24-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Tortilla has reported a fall in revenue for the first half of the year, amid several new strategic initiatives at the business.

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.

COMMENT

Wagamama wants to join the breakfast club. But will its customers?

22-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

The Japanese noodle chain is looking for a slice of the breakfast market. But after 33 years of offering just lunch and dinner, can it change its customers’ habits of a lifetime?

Benito's Hat owner launches pizza brand

19-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The owner of Mexican mini group Benito’s Hat has launched what is describes as an ‘edgy, pizza slice brand’.

Pret scraps its five-a-day coffee subscription

18-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger is scrapping its five-coffees-a-day Club Pret subscription offer in favour of a more traditional discount model.

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.

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.

Mercato Metropolitano Ilford finally opens its doors

12-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Food market Mercato Metropolitano has finally opened its long-awaited Ilford site nearly four years after plans for it were first announced.

Burger brand Hub Box bought out of administration

12-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

South west-based burger chain Hub Box has been bought out of administration in a deal that will save its 10 restaurants.

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.

Wagamama rolls out breakfast menu at 22 locations

11-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Wagamama is making another tilt at breakfast nearly a decade after it first dipped its toe into the morning market.

Sticks’n’Sushi heads to Islington for 14th restaurant

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Danish Japanese restaurant group Sticks’n’Sushi will open its 14th UK location this September.

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.

Loungers reports record year as sales and profits surge

09-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Loungers has announced a record year for sales, profits and site openings in its latest full-year results.

Capdesia exits Marugame Udon Europe

08-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Marugame Udon Europe parent company Toridoll Holdings is to take full ownership of the noodle restaurant group, with Capdesia successfully exiting its investment.

Pizza Express to trial new format within Tesco stores

08-Jul-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Pizza Express is looking to grow its presence in the retail space with the opening a new concept within Tesco stores.

Wingers opens five new sites as expansion continues

05-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Chicken wing brand Wingers has opened five new franchised store openings this year as part of its plans to have 20 stores by the end of 2024 and 50 by 2028.

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.

Zia Lucia plots international expansion via new franchise model

04-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

London-based pizzeria group Zia Lucia is aiming to reach 100 sites within five years amid plans to roll out a new international franchise model across Europe and the Middle East.

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.

Karali Group becomes the UK’s largest Taco Bell operator

02-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Karali Group has become the UK’s largest Taco Bell operator after acquiring 46 restaurants under the brand from a single franchisee.

Des Gunewardena to launch multi-faceted hospitality venture at Olympia redevelopment

01-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Des Gunewardena is to launch a restaurant, bar and events space at West London’s Olympia redevelopment.

McDonald's won't be rolling out the McPlant in the US

01-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The future of the McPlant in the US looks doomed following unsuccessful tests of the plant-based burger by McDonald’s.

Wingstop named fastest growing UK restaurant group

28-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Wingstop UK has been named as the fastest growing restaurant group in the UK by The Sunday Times 100 for the second year in a row.

Tasty looking to 'explore new concepts' as revenues rise

28-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Wildwood and dim t operator Tasty has reported an increase in revenues as it looks to stabilise the business.

Lina Stores picks Shoreditch for eighth site

28-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Lina Stores is continuing its expansion across London with plans for an eighth site having been revealed.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants to expand into India

27-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants (GRR) is making its first move into India through a partnership with Travel Food Services (TFS), India’s leading travel food and beverage company.

White Rabbit acquires full control of Island Poké

27-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality incubator White Rabbit Fund has acquired full control of Island Poké by way of a pre-pack administration.

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.

Hawksmoor opens Chicago steakhouse as it eyes key cities in North America

26-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

Hawksmoor will open its second US restaurant this week as part of its plans to expand within North America.

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.

Tortilla rolls into France with acquisition of Fresh Burritos

25-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Tortilla has acquired France’s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, providing a platform to accelerate its ambitions to franchise across Europe.

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.

Popeyes UK reaches 50 site milestone

21-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Fast-growing fried chicken brand Popeyes will open its 50th UK site next month in Glasgow.

'Do you want bacon with your ice cream?' McDonald’s ends AI drive-thru trial in US after order mistakes

19-Jun-2024 By Restaurant

McDonald’s in the US is ending its AI drive-thru trial after of errors with customer orders, including bacon being added to ice cream, have gone viral.

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.

Burger & Sauce plots further expansion as it announces first Liverpool site

14-Jun-2024 By James McAllister

Midlands-based fast food chain Burger & Sauce is looking to reach 20 sites nationwide by the end of the year.

Crosstown sold for just £500,000 after racking up £3m in losses

13-Jun-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Crosstown Doughnuts made losses of more than £3m over the last two years, before it was sold for just £500,000 in a pre-pack administration to the Karali Group.