Restaurant

Latest opening: Ambassadors Clubhouse

06-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

JKS Restaurants' first Indian restaurant in the UK since launching BiBi in 2021 is a paen to Punjab food.

Friday five: the week's biggest hospitality stories

06-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Baton Berisha's departure from The Wolseley Hospitality Group, debut regional openings for Big Mamma and Lina Stores, and David Thompson's long-awaited return to the capital were among this week's most read stories.

Alexandre Laforce Reynolds joins Bistro Freddie

06-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

The chef behind Shoreditch restaurant Eline is now leading the kitchen at Bistro Freddie in Shoreditch following the departure of Anna Søgaard.

Fernando Corona Burch to oversee the food and drink offer across Rosewood London

06-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Fernando Corona Burch has been announced as executive chef of Rosewood London.

The Lowdown

Why Gordon Ramsay’s new Netflix show will cement his position as the world’s biggest chef

06-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

After years spent tackling Kitchen Nightmares and searching for the next MasterChef, Gordon Ramsay is turning the camera back on himself to chronicle his biggest restaurant opening ever.

Pizza Pilgrims to hit Chelsea's King’s Road

06-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Pizza Pilgrims has signed for its latest site on Chelsea's King’s Road.

Nick Beardshaw on life after Tom Kerridge and flying solo at Starling

05-Sep-2024 By Stefan Chomka

The long-term right-hand man of Tom Kerridge has gone it alone with the opening of Starling restaurant in Esher.

Lina Stores to expand into Manchester next year

05-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Lina Stores is the latest London-based restaurant group to announce that it is heading to Manchester.

Bossa site to relaunch as Maroto

05-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

The site that previously housed Brazilian chef Alberto Landgraf’s debut London restaurant Bossa is to relaunch later this month as Maroto.

Couple behind counter Japanese restaurant Roji to open a ‘neo izakaya’

04-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

The husband-and-wife chef team behind Japanese counter restaurant Roji (pictured) have announced its closure ahead of opening a new more casual izakaya.

Chuku’s launches fundraise for second London restaurant

04-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Nigerian restaurant Chuku’s is launching a fundraise to help raise money for a second site in the capital.

Fallow secures B Corp certification

03-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

'Sustainably focused' London restaurant Fallow in St James's Market has attained B Corp status.

Restaurant Sat Bains celebrates 25 years with guest chef series

03-Sep-2024 By Restaurant

Restaurant Sat Bains is to host a series of collaborative dinners in honour of its 25th birthday.

Business Confidence Survey records third consecutive quarter-on-quarter drop

03-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

Business confidence among Britain’s hospitality leaders has fallen for the third consecutive quarter, new figures from CGA by NIQ reveal.

Restaurant radar: September 2024

02-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

A new concept from the Maison François team, another project from Jason Atherton, and the debut venture from chef Greg Clarke are among this month's key restaurant openings.

NGO report calls for return of government-funded restaurants

02-Sep-2024 By James McAllister

A new report is calling for the introduction of a ‘national restaurant service’ similar to that established by Winston Churchill during the Second World War, to help tackle food inequality.

Leeds to welcome 'first truly authentic' Filipino restaurant

30-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

A restaurant which is said to be the first to offer true Filipino food in Leeds is opening soon in the city centre.

A&M Hospitality Group to open Terra Mare in Cardiff

30-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

The group behind Silures restaurant in Cardiff is set to unveil a new dining experience in the Welsh capital this autumn.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

30-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

The rising price of fish and chips, the prospect of a smoking ban in pub gardens, and Pizza Express's latest financial results lead this week's top news stories.

Yari Club will be London's first robotic yakitori restaurant

29-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

London will become home to the UK’s first automatic rotary yakitori machine-operated concept when it opens next month.

Pizza Express sees profits turn to loss despite strong like-for-like sales

27-Aug-2024 By Georgi Gyton

Pizza Express saw revenue climb to £454.6m in 2023, up from £422.1m in 2022, driven by strong like-for-like sales of 8.3% in its UK & Ireland business.

Glasgow restaurant Celentano’s adds bedrooms

27-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Celentano’s, the Glasgow restaurant led by former Robin Gill alumnus Dean Parker, is to evolve into a restaurant with rooms next month.

Soho’s Cafe Kitty closes after less than a year

27-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Kitty Fisherʼs Group has closed Cafe Kitty in London’s Soho after less than a year of trading, with the group saying ‘in life some things just don't work out’.

Pizza Hut Restaurants back in the black but ‘uncertainty’ over group’s future remains

23-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Pizza Hut Restaurants has turned around a £3m loss in 2022 to report a £1.75m operating profit in its latest results, but auditors say ‘uncertainty’ over the group’s future remains.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

23-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

The death of French chef Michel Guérard, Rick Stein's plans for a central London restaurant, and McDonald's plans to open 200 new sites are among this week's most read stories.

Selin Kiazim: “Turkish food is not represented so well in central London”

23-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Next month will see Selin Kiazim return to the capital with Leydi, an all-day restaurant in Farringdon the former Oklava chef says will ‘put Turkish food on the map’.

Norwich restaurant Store at Stoke Mill to close following departure of chef Liam Nichols

22-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Norwich’s only Michelin-starred restaurant is to close following the departure of its head chef.

Pasta Evangelists heads to Manchester for first airport site

22-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Pasta Evangelists will open its first site within a transport hub next month at Manchester Airport.

Bleecker announces first new opening in five years to coincide with ‘National Burger Day’

22-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

London-based better burger brand Bleecker is opening its first new restaurant in five years today (22 August) to coincide with ‘National Burger Day’.

Euros puts a dampener on restaurant sales

21-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Restaurants saw a steep decline in sales last month as consumers shifted their spend towards pubs during the 2024 Euros tournament.

Latest opening: Marceline

20-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

London’s Canary Wharf is now home to a huge new floating brasserie that features classical takes on rustic French dishes.

Menu price increases remain ahead of inflation as operators use premium ingredients to drive spend

20-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Chain restaurants are using more premium main dishes to drive average transaction value and attract a more aspirational consumer, according to Lumina’s latest quarterly Menu Tracker.

Hospitality returns to outlet growth

19-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s hospitality sector has recorded its first quarter-on-quarter growth in outlets in two years, the new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners reveals.

The Lowdown

Why are tasting menu-only restaurants turning to à la carte?

16-Aug-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Having an à la carte offer fell out of fashion with ambitious restaurants keen to flex their culinary muscles. But it’s making a comeback.

Menu prices rise 4.5% year-on-year

16-Aug-2024 By MCA Insight

Food menu prices have increased 4.5% year-on-year, according to Lumina Intelligence’s latest Menu Tracker quarterly update.

Gail's faces backlash over rumours it plans to open in Walthamstow Village

14-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

Nearly 500 people have signed a petition trying to prevent the opening of a Gail’s in Walthamstow Village.

Honest Burger CEO to become group chair - updated

14-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Honest Burgers has announced that CEO Thomas Kelly will be moving into the chair role from next month, just eight months after joining the business.

Kent restaurant to close after nearly 50 years in business

14-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

Husband-and-wife team David and Rona Pitchford will close their Kent restaurant Read’s after nearly half a century in business.

Fatto a Mano to open sixth pizzeria

14-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

Burgeoning pizza group Fatto a Mano will open its sixth site this autumn, its third in the capital.

Long Read

Hopping to it: why Kricket is back on the expansion trail

14-Aug-2024 By Stefan Chomka

With a new site in Canary Wharf and another opening in Shoreditch, the modern Indian restaurant group is entering a new phase of growth.

The Salad Project reaches ‘significant milestone’ with multifaceted fifth site

13-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

The Salad Project is to launch a multifaceted restaurant site on Fenchurch Street in the City of London that will also operate as a training academy and menu development hub.

Frankie & Benny’s leans into New York-inspired origins with menu shake-up

13-Aug-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Big Table Group is trialling a refreshed menu at three Frankie & Benny’s restaurants after discovering the brand’s remaining sites are mostly outperforming their neighbours.

Birmingham's 'first Japanese fine dining restaurant' to occupy former Carters of Moseley site

12-Aug-2024 By Restaurant

An ambitious new Japanese fine dining restaurant is to open on the site that was previously home to Brad Carter’s Michelin-starred Carters of Moseley.

Whatley Manor adds à la carte menu for the first time

09-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

The Dining Room at Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds has become the latest fine dining restaurant in the UK to add an à la carte menu.

Alex Dilling: “There will always be a place for fine dining”

09-Aug-2024 By Stefan Chomka

The executive chef at Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal on two-star cooking, sticking to a tasting-only format, and last year’s solo diner furore.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

09-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Restaurants closing early amid fears of riots and violent disorder, the closure of James Cochran's 12:51 restaurant, and Wingstop UK's possible sale are among this week's most-read news stories.

Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski unveil further details for Sesta

08-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski have unveiled further details for their new restaurant Sesta following confirmation that it will take the site in London’s Hackney that currently houses Pidgin.

Allegra to close its doors after five years trading

08-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Allegra, the east London restaurant housed on the seventh floor of The Stratford hotel, is to permanently close its doors at the end of the month after five years of trading.

The Breakfast Club toasts ‘most successful financial year’ in almost a decade

07-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

The Breakfast Club has reported its ‘most successful financial year’ in almost a decade with ‘significantly improved performance across all major metrics’.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

02-Aug-2024 By James McAllister

Thomas Straker's second restaurant, the spectre of further tipping legislation, and AngloThai finally finding a permanent site are among this week's most-read news stories.