Multi-Site

Poke House: "We're taking a very opportunistic expansion approach"

12-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Italian poke chain Poke House plans to open 65 UK sites in the next two years, with the bulk of its estate expected to eventually be focused outside of London.

The Daisy Green Collection on target to crowdfund another £2m

08-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

All-day Australian restaurant group The Daisy Green Collection is launching another round of crowdfunding to raise around £2m in equity capital, with more than £1.7m already raised in pre commitments.

The Athenian to expand into Europe and the UAE

08-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Greek street food player The Athenian has announced plans for international expansion, beginning this year, with the group also laying the groundwork to double the size of its UK estate.

Hickory’s Smokehouse to open first venue in west Yorkshire

05-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

Southern-barbecue style group Hickory’s Smokehouse has taken on a former Marston’s pub, The Malt House in Horbury, taking the number of sites for the privately-owned group to 16.

Top restaurant brands see 20% turnover decline in 2020

04-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

The UK's top restaurant brands saw their combined turnover fall by nearly a quarter last year, the latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Operator Data Index reveals.

Burger & Lobster lines up 'strong pipeline of sites' as it looks to accelerate expansion

03-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Burger & Lobster is looking to accelerate expansion both in the UK and internationally as it prepares to mark its 10th anniversary next month.

Hostmore admitted to London Stock Exchange

03-Nov-2021 By Restaurant

TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st parent company Hostmore has completed its demerger from Electra Private Equity and been admitted to the London Stock Exchange.

Popeyes unveils UK menu ahead of 20 November launch

02-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

US fried chicken brand Popeyes has confirmed its first UK site in London’s Westfield Stratford will open on Saturday 20 November.

Nando's reaches carbon neutral milestone

02-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Nando's has announced it has reached the first major step in its goal to reach net-zero direct emissions by 2030.

Dong Hyun Kim to step away from Wasabi

01-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Wasabi fouunder Dong Hyun Kim is to step away from the group to focus on developing his other business interests, it has been announced.

Coqfighter looks to expand restaurant estate with six new openings planned

29-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

London-based fried chicken brand Coqfighter will open two new bricks and mortar restaurants before the end of the year, with a further four in the pipeline.

Coppa Club owner Various Eateries has reported “very encouraging trading” since reopening in a trading update.

28-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Coppa Club owner Various Eateries has reported “very encouraging trading” since reopening in a trading update.

PizzaLuxe to bring pizza and cocktails to Peterborough and Cambridge motorway services

28-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Fast-casual restaurant brand PizzaLuxe will open venues in motorway service areas in Peterborough and Cambridge by the end of the year.

Final La Tasca restaurant replaced by Tapas Revolution

26-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Restaurant brand La Tasca has closed its last remaining restaurant, bringing to an end its presence on the UK highstreet 28 years after it first launched.

The Big Table Group looks to double Las Iguanas estate as it plans 50 new restaurant openings

25-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

The Big Table Group has set out plans to take its total UK estate to 200 sites, with a particular focus on growing its Las Iguanas brand.

Hawksmoor announces 25 November as launch date for Canary Wharf restaurant

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Hawksmoor has announced that its first new London restaurant for four years will open in Canary Wharf on 25 November.

Shoryu Ramen restarts plans to open franchises in the UK and internationally

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Shoryu Ramen is restarting its plans to open franchise restaurants across the UK and internationally now that trading has returned to some sort of normality.

Pret a Manger 'moves into new terrirory' with Express format

22-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Pret A Manger is trailing a new a smart, self-service coffee-to-go format as it looks to move into the self-service hot drinks market.

Black Sheep Coffee targets rapid UK growth and US move

21-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Independent café chain Black Sheep Coffee is set to double the size of its UK estate within a year, with a move into the US market also mooted.

Frankie no Benny’s: restaurant brand changes famous name as part of new identity

20-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Restaurant group Frankie & Benny’s has dropped by Benny’s name from its logo as part of a more modern identity for the American-Italian brand.

Tom Moxon returns to Bone Daddies as executive group chef

19-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Bone Daddies's original head chef, Tom Moxon, has rejoined the ramen group ahead of its 10 year anniversary next year.

Neat Burger ramps up expansion following $70m growth valuation

19-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Lewis Hamilton-backed vegan fast-food group Neat Burger is ramping up its expansion in the capital following the completion of a funding round that valued the company at $70m.

D&D London's Des Gunewardena: "I’m working on 16 deals over the next two to three years"

18-Oct-2021 By Stefan Chomka

D&D London is looking to grow its estate significantly in the next two to three years with 16 potential projects in the UK and overseas currently in the pipeline.

Giggling Squid hits 40 sites as it pushes ahead with expansion

18-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid is continuing to push ahead with expansion, with a number of new locations set to launch before the end of the year.

Big Easy continues expansion with first non-London restaurant

18-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Barbecue restaurant group Big Easy will open its first restaurant outside of the capital after signing on a location at Bluewater.

Coco di Mama launches Sainsbury's partnership

13-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Coco di Mama has become the latest casual dining brand to partner with a major national supermarket.

Popeyes, Big Table Group, Dishoom and Pizza Pilgrims join Restaurant Conference line-up

12-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Popeyes UK’s chief development officer Tom Byng, Big Table Group’s property director Matthew Ainger, and Itsu’s property director will discuss the opportunity for well-capitalised businesses looking to grow post-pandemic, at MCA’s Restaurant Conference...

Benihana to relocate Piccadilly restaurant

11-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Benihana has closed its London Piccadilly restaurant amid plans to relaunch it in a new location in Covent Garden next year.

David Campbell departs PizzaExpress

08-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

David Campbell is to step down from his role as PizzaExpress chief executive, citing personal reasons.

James Martin joins SpudULike amid rebrand

08-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Baked potato chain SpudULike has undergone a rebrand with a new menu designed by chef James Martin.

Butchies chooses Borough Yards to open ninth restaurant, with three more in the pipeline

06-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Fried chicken burger brand Butchies will open its ninth restaurant later this year having secured a new site in London’s Borough Yards.

Harts Group to open its Barrafina, Parrillan and Bar Daskal at London's Borough Yards next year

06-Oct-2021 By Restaurant

Harts Group will open its Barrafina and Parrillan restaurants as well as Bar Daskal at Borough Yards in London in early next year.

McDonald's UK aims for net zero emissions by 2040

05-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald's UK and Ireland (UK&I) has launched a new sustainability strategy with the aim of achieving net zero emissions across its entire business and value chain by 2040.

Boy meets world: Indian restaurant group Mowgli is coming of age

04-Oct-2021 By Stefan Chomka

With six new restaurants in the pipeline, including a move into the capital, Nisha Katona’s Indian restaurant group is flourishing.

Chewing the fat: Ellen Chew on the growth of her restaurant empire

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

Despite the pandemic, Singaporean restaurateur Ellen Chew has remained steadfast in her determination to grow her Asian-focused portfolio, with plenty of openings planned for the coming months.

PizzaExpress plots new expansion as restaurants outperform market

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

PizzaExpress is 'well underway' with plans to open 50 new restaurants over the next three years.

The Ivy Collection to open in Chichester

30-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Caprice Holdings is looking to open a restaurant under it’s The Ivy brand in Chichester.

Latest opening: Cocotte South Kensington

29-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The French 'farm-to-table' rotisserie brand is continuing to push ahead with steady expansion, launching of its fifth London restaurant in leafy South Kensington.

Fulham Shore sees trading surpass 2019 levels

29-Sep-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator Fulham Shore has seen total revenues reach more than £39m for the half year to 26 September 2021, compared to £36m achieved in the comparable period in 2019.

Tortilla announces plans to float and open 45 new sites

24-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Tortilla has announced its intention to float on AIM as it looks to open around 45 new sites in the next five year.

Lina Stores to make City debut on former Kym's site

23-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

London-based Italian delicatessen and pasta restaurant brand Lina Stores is to make its City debut, opening on the Bloomberg Arcade site previously occupied by Andrew Wong's Kym's.

How I Got Here: Duncan Edwards

22-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Four Hundred Rabbits, which recently launched a new flagship location at Elephant Park in Southwark, on building his London-based sourdough pizza brand.

Pret plans 200 new sites in two years as it ramps up expansion

22-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to open 200 new UK sites in the next two years as part of an aim to double the size of its estate within five years.

Big Easy to open Stratford restaurant this month

21-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Barbecue restaurant group Big Easy will open its fourth London venue at the tail-end of this month, in Stratford.

Megan's sets out 'ambitious growth plans'

21-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Neighbourhood-style restaurant brand Megan's is pushing ahead with 'ambitious growth plans' with an aim to reach 22 sites in total by the end of 2022.

Lina Stores lines up former The Dairy site for third London opening

20-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Italian delicatessen and restaurant brand Lina Stores has taken over the Clapham sites previously home to Robin Gill's seminal Clapham restaurants The Dairy and Counter Culture.

Chopstix Group secures £190,000 in Government tax benefits

17-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Noodle bar operator Chopstix Group has secured £190,000 in Government tax benefits after fine-tuning its recipes and improving kitchen processes.

By Chloe quietly shutters UK estate

17-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

US vegan fast food chain By Chloe has quietly closed its four-strong London estate.

Fridays IPO plan 'on track'

16-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st backer Electra Private Equity says it is 'on track' to float the brands on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under new parent company, Hostmore.

The Alchemist to make its Scottish debut next month

16-Sep-2021 By Restaurant

Apothecary-style bar and restaurant group The Alchemist will open its first venue north of the border next month.