Restaurant

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

26-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

A rise in insolvencies, Dishoom's transatlantic debut, and Nick Beardshaw's first solo restaurant are among this week's most-read news stories.

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.

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.

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.

Bavette named Britain’s Best Local Restaurant

24-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Leeds-based restaurant Bavette has been named as Britain’s Best Local Restaurant by The Good Food Guide.

"We have given our all and have no regrets": Liz Cottam to close Home

24-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Liz Cottam will close her Leeds-based restaurant Home at the end of September after seven years.

Nick Beardshaw to open Starling in Esher this summer

23-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Nick Beardshaw will open his debut restaurant in his home town of Esher, Surrey, at the end of August.

Ryan Blackburn to close Ambleside restaurant Kysty and launch two new projects

23-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Ryan Blackburn will close Kysty, his casual neighbourhood restaurant located in Cheapside, Ambleside, after six years to focus on new projects.

Restaurant Trends Report - access your free copy

23-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Restaurant has published a report outlining the prevailing trends currently influencing the UK’s dining scene.

Lost Boys Chicken relaunches pub residency after closing Brighton restaurant

23-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Brighton-based fried chicken brand Lost Boys has returned to its roots and relaunched its original pub residency at The Joker near Preston Circus following the closure of its only restaurant.

Tropea to increase its covers and extend opening hours

22-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Birmingham restaurant Tropea has take on its neighbouring premises in order to boost its number of covers.

Dubai restaurant Shanghai Me to launch London outpost on former Galvin at Windows site

22-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Dubai-based group Fundamental Hospitality will open a London outpost for its high-end pan Asian restaurant brand Shanghai Me on the former Galvin at Windows site on London’s Park Lane.

Latest opening: The Pig’s Ear

22-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The Gladwin brothers have made their first move into the pub world with their new gastropub and dining room.

Begbies Traynor: Rapid rise in restaurants and bars facing financial distress

22-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

More than 1,500 restaurants and bars are in ‘critical financial distress’, new research from Begbies Traynor shows, with many of them expected to enter insolvency in the next 12 months.

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?

Hospitality insolvencies jump 20% as trading remains tough

19-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Insolvencies in accommodation and food service activities rose 20% in the 12 months to May, the latest statistics released by the Government show, the highest year-on-year increase of any sector.

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’.

Bokman couple to open Korean restaurant Dongnae

18-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Husband and wife duo Duncan Robertson and Kyu Jeong Jeon, the owners of Bristol-based Korean restaurant Bokman, are opening a second restaurant in the city.

The Tivoli to open in Cheltenham

18-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

West Country-based operators Tom Noest and Peter Creed will open their fifth venue later this month, in Cheltenham.

Social Eating House to close at the end of the month

18-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Jason Atherton will close his Soho restaurant Social Eating House later this month to focus on his forthcoming projects.

Restaurant group targeted by blackmailers over fake reviews

17-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Andrew Sheridan and his business partner Sam Morgan have revealed how criminals have targeted them with the threat of posting fake bad reviews online.

Kyle Lynch named head chef at Ormer Mayfair by Sofian

17-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Kyle Lynch has been promoted to the role of head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Ormer Mayfair by Sofian.

YolanDa Brown’s Soul Mama relocates to Stratford ahead of launch

16-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Musician, broadcaster and author YolanDa Brown has confirmed that her music venue and restaurant concept Soul Mama will now open in London’s Stratford, having initially planned to launch in Islington.

The man who built a beefy empire

16-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

With a group that spans Europe, the Middle East, Asia, The Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean, Riccardo Giraudi knows a thing or two about opening restaurants.

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.

Sandwich Sandwich looks to take on Pret and Subway as it plots further London expansion

16-Jul-2024 By Dan Riley

Bristol-based operator Sandwich Sandwich has said it’s looking to challenge the likes of Pret and Subway as it prepares for the official launch of its debut London site this week.

Pollen Street Social to reopen as grill-focused restaurant Mary's

16-Jul-2024 By Stefan Chomka

Jason Atherton will reopen Pollen Street Social as a grill-focused bar and restaurant called Mary’s this autumn in a major shake up of the site.

‘Bikini’ sandwiches, tinned fish and Bloody Marys: José Pizarro reveals his plans for Lolo

15-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

José Pizarro has revealed details of his new all-day dining spot Lolo, which is set to launch next month close to his eponymous London tapas bar José on Bermondsey Street.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Azzurri bringing US brand Dave’s Hot Chicken to the UK, a new concept from Pizza Express, and Bundobust closing its Birmingham site.

Rising costs cause profits at The Waterside Inn to sink

12-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Alain Roux’s The Waterside Inn reported a loss last year, with an increase in costs and lower consumer confidence cited as the reasons.

The chef showing London diners there’s more to Colombian cooking than beans and rice

12-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

With his new chef's table concept, Abajo, HUMO executive chef Miller Prada is taking the opportunity to explore his Colombian heritage.

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.

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.

Santiago Lastra's new restaurant Fonda will open in London this autumn

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

More details have been revealed about Santiago Lastra’s forthcoming restaurant Fonda, including dishes on the launch menu and an opening date.

Bocca Di Lupo to close temporarily for renovations

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Soho stalwart Bocca Di Lupo will close for a refurbishment this summer that will include a refreshed dining room.

Restaurant Associates takes over running of Maria G’s restaurants from Robin Gill

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Restaurant Associates has won a contract to operate two Maria G’s restaurants in Kensington and Fulham with chef Steve Groves to oversee the menus.

Patrick Powell departs Allegra and The Midland Grand Dining Room

10-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Patrick Powell has announced his departure from London restaurants The Midland Grand Dining Room and Allegra.

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.

Latest opening: Engel and Jang

09-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Former D&D London CEO Des Gunewardena has returned to the capital’s restaurant scene with a double opening within The Royal Exchange in The City of London.

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.

"We are gutted, humbled": Bundobust to close Birmingham site

09-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

Indian street food group Bundobust has announced it will close its Birmingham restaurant later 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.

Andrew Edmunds Restaurant to temporarily close for structural works

08-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Andrew Edmunds Restaurant in London’s Soho is to close temporarily in order for some ‘essential building works’ to take place.

The Fat Duck brings back its 'most iconic' dishes to celebrate its 30th birthday

05-Jul-2024 By Restaurant

The Fat Duck is marking its 30th birthday with a year-long celebration of what it has described as ‘the best of the Duck’.

Silo’s Fermentation Factory crowdfund reaches target

05-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Hackney-based zero-waste restaurant Silo has successfully reached its £10,000 crowdfunding target to build a Fermentation Factory that will produce commercial quantities of koji and beer grain miso.

Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories

05-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

This week's top news stories include Jeremy Clarkson's plan to open a pub, the sudden closure of London restaurant All’onda, and Hawksmoor exploring a potential sale.

Latest opening: Henri

05-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

Chef Jackson Boxer has once again partnered with hospitality operator Experimental Group to launch a new bistro concept in central London.

Paul Ainsworth: “Sometimes I visualise what it’d be like to win a second star”

05-Jul-2024 By James McAllister

The Padstow-based chef and restaurateur on writing his first cookbook, why he won’t be opening a place in London any time soon, and his Michelin ambitions.

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.