Friday five: the week's biggest hospitality stories
- US fried chicken giant Chick-fil-A is targeting sites in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast as it plots its return to the UK market. The Atlanta-based fried chicken chain, which runs more than 2,800 restaurants across the US, says that it is in ‘the process of selecting operators’ for the four cities and hopes to open a total of five restaurants within two years. Chick-fil-A announced that it was planning to relaunch in the UK in early 2025 last year.
- Ewan Venters has stepped down as chief executive of Groucho Club and Mount St. Restaurant owner Artfarm. According to a report in The Times, the former Fortnum & Mason boss has reportedly quit over a row about the famed private members club (pictured above) that counts Stephen Fry, Kate Moss and Noel Gallagher as members ‘going corporate’.
- The owners of D&D London are understood to be in advanced negotiations to take on TGI Fridays’ UK franchise. Breal Capital and Calveton, which acquired restaurant business D&D London last year, are looking to take on the high street restaurant chain. The deal would likely to see the new owners taking over the majority of its TGI Fridays 89 sites, but a significant number of jobs are expected to be lost as part of the process.
- Woven by Adam Smith, The Glenturret Lalique and Angel at Hetton have been awarded the full five AA Rosettes at the AA Hospitality Awards 2024. Five restaurants were awarded four AA Rosettes, including Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay, Bybrook at The Manor House Hotel and Lumiere. Muse chef Tom Aikens was named as Chefs’ Chef of the Year while the AA Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Adrian Ellis MI FIH, the former general manager of the Lowry hotel in Manchester
- BrewDog Bars CEO James Brown has stepped down from the Scotland-based brewer to join Prezzo. Announcing the decision on LinkedIn, Brown said was calling ‘last orders’ at his time at the company after having had “the most incredible journey” leading the brewer’s bars business. Following the announcement, he was revealed as the new CEO of Prezzo, the Cain International-backed casual dining chain.
