Friday Five: the week's top news
- Living Ventures has put its Manchester House and Artisan restaurants in to administration blaming "difficult trading" over the summer. It comes five years after the £3m launch of Manchester House, which was long-tipped to win a Michelin star, but never received the award.
- The future of Patisserie Valerie looks to be secured with chairman Luke Johnson set to bail out the group with a £20m rescue package.
- Some good news from London's Mandarin Oriental, which has confirmed Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Bar Boulud will reopen for business in time for the festive period on 4 December. The Rosebery Lounge, Mandarin Bar and hotel's spa and events space are to relaunch on the same date, though all guest rooms and suites remain closed until next spring.
- BrewDog is to start offering shareholders the chance to open their own craft beer bars under a franchise agreement, with an initial trial in 10 locations. The brewer has also set up a 'Mission Control Platform' in a bid to avoid further backlash over marketing campaigns, with shareholders encouraged to review and input on its plans on a bi-annual basis.
- YO! Sushi has begun trialling sushi counters in two Tesco supermarkets, marking the first time its YO! to Go products have been made available outside its restaurants. It is not the first play in to retail by the group, which bought Waitrose sushi supplier Taiko Foods in April for an undisclosed sum.
For more of this week's news click here.
