Friday five: the week's top restaurant stories
- TGI Fridays’ UK franchise has been acquired by Breal Capital and Calveton in a deal that will save at least 51 of the American bar and restaurant brand’s sites. The deal, which was announced this week, secures the future of more than 2,000 jobs across those restaurants. However, a further 36 TGI sites face closure with around 1,000 jobs set to be made redundant. The new owners said they are hopeful they may be able to secure further locations following discussions with landlords, but according to administrators Teneo the 36 other restaurants have been closed with immediate effect.
- Permanently Unique is planning to bring its Greek-Mediterranean inspired concept Fenix and Italian-American brand Louis to London next year following the success of both restaurants in Manchester. The group, which also owns upmarket Chinese restaurant brand Tattu, is currently in negotiations on a London site for Fenix, and has ‘a landmark London location’ in development for Louis that’s expected to launch next summer. It comes as the Manchester-based operator revealed in a financial update covering the year ended 31 December 2023 that is has secured a new £15m revolving credit facility with long standing banking partner NatWest to fund future expansion. In addition to new London locations for both Fenix and Louis, it will open and operate its first international location next year, with Tattu due to debut in Dubai in summer 2025.
- Orry Shand, executive chef at Entier Ltd, Scotland’s largest independent catering company, has been crowned National Chef of the Year 2024. Shand claimed the title earlier this week alongside Jonny Smith, junior sous chef at Gravetye Manor in Sussex, who was named Young National Chef of the Year. Ten finalists took part in the National Chef of the Year competition, with the winners announced at the Hippodrome in London’s Leicester Square. Cleverson Cordeiro from Frog by Adam Handling improved on his third place ranking in 2023’s competition to be named runner up this year, with Paul Gamble, who works for Waitrose & Partners, taking the third place spot. Shand took the top spot after impressing judges, who included Matt Abé, Aktar Islam, Brett Graham, Gary Jones, Roberta HallMcCarron and Kenny Atkinson, with his menu of turbot from the North Sea with smoky Orkney scallop for starter; Lumina lamb with the Scottish autumn for main course; and a celebration of Manjari Valrhona with influences from Asia for dessert.
- Seafood restaurant and retail brand Caviar House & Prunier has shuttered over half of its UK airport estate following an administration sales process that secured 67 jobs across three sites. Caviar House Airport Premium (CHAP) went into administration on 6 September 2024 with Ken Touhey, director of Insolvency & Recovery Limited, and Marco Piacquadio, director of FTS Recovery Limited, appointed joint administrators. The business and its assets were subsequently sold to SBC Travel Limited, a newly incorporated company that counts Peter Rebeiz, CEO of the wider Caviar House & Prunier business, among its owners.
- Michael Caines has closed his Devon restaurants Mickeys Beach Bar and Restaurant and Café Patisserie Glacerie after three years. The seafront venues, which are located at the Side Shore in Exmouth, closed on 9 October in preparation for a sale to a local business. In a statement, Caine said: “On behalf of all the team we would like to thank our customers and suppliers for your support, we have thoroughly enjoyed serving each and everyone of you and making Mickeys and the Café a special place to meet by the sea. I would also like to thank my team for their unwavering support and dedication, despite challenging times we have had, I am proud of what we have been able to create. We are however delighted to announce the sale of the business to another local business operator who shares a similar passion, for fun relaxed dining.”
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