Daily news, insight and opinion from the world of restaurants
Inception Group has reported ‘strong growth despite challenging market conditions’ in its 2024 financial results, with forecasts for 2025 suggesting it will exceed £30m turnover for the first time.
The Wolseley Hospitality Group has reported a 7.85% rise in turnover in its latest financial results, fuelled by a combination of increased visits and higher average spend per head.
The investor behind Gail’s and Pizza Express has made a bid for Costa Coffee, which is being put up for sale with a roughly £2bn price tag by owner Coca-Cola.
Restaurants are increasingly relying on targeted promotions to boost covers at lunchtimes and on weekday evenings, but do the benefits outweigh the inevitable hit to the bottom line?
Around half of customers (54%) don’t trust that restaurants are passing on all tips to staff a year after the Allocation of Tips Act 2023 came into effect, research has found.
Heartwood Collection has unveiled a new loyalty program across its Brasserie Blanc French restaurant group.
Jasper Delamothe has appointed chef Yuto Fujimoto to lead his recently relocated Shoreditch natural wine bar and restaurant Oranj as culinary director.
Individual Restaurants has launched what it says is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ loyalty club dedicated to corporate dining in the UK.
Top Newcastle chef Kenny Atkinson has made his London debut with Solaya, a relaxed Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
Southern Thai restaurant concept Plaza Khao Gaeng will open a second London location later this year, taking over the former Vinoteca site in Borough Yards.
Ramen specialist Tonkotsu has reported an 8% rise in like-for-like sales in its latest financial results, with the group ‘demonstrating solid performance despite industry-wide challenges’.
Hawksmoor is eyeing further expansion in both the UK and the US with several sites currently under consideration for opening in 2026 and beyond.
The Evolv Collection is changing the name of its high-rise Birmingham restaurant Orelle to 24 Stories in a move that it says will pave the way for new skyline locations to open across the UK.
The restaurateur behind London rotisserie chicken brand Cocotte will launch a Naples-inspired restaurant in Queen’s Park late next month.
Honest Burgers is set to acquire 12 restaurants from rival Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK).
Comment
The US entertainment brand might find bringing its experience to these shores easy, but translating its meaning to UK customers is another thing altogether.
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has reported record revenues following the merging of its UK and international operations and the opening of 20 new restaurants in its most recent financial year.
Bakery chain Greggs has opened a pub that serves pastry-inspired drinks as well as range of traditional pub classics with a bakery twist.
The restaurant group behind brands including Tattu, Fenix, and Louis has reported a rise in sales and profits in its latest financial results.
Mowgli Street Food moved into delivery for the first time through an exclusive national partnership with Uber Eats.
Managed restaurant groups recorded a 1.6% dip in sales in August, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, as sustained sunshine attracted consumers to pub gardens and terraces.
Pizza Express has blamed a ‘challenging macroeconomic environment’ for a fall in turnover in its latest financial results.
Thesleff Group will take its Mexican-Japanese restaurant concept Los Mochis transatlantic in 2027 with a 12,103 sq ft site at the upcoming 17.5-acre Los Angeles development One Beverly Hills.
Flat Iron is continuing its nationwide expansion with the opening of a restaurant in Newcastle next year.
Meat-free Indian restaurant group Namaste Village has chosen Oxford for its sixth site.
The team behind recently shuttered Camden pub The Farrier will open a 45-cover deli and wine bar in Shoreditch next month.
The group behind Prezzo Italian has rebranded as Brava Hospitality Group amid plans to transition from a single-brand operator to a broader platform designed to manage and grow multiple concepts.
The team behind popular London pubs The Pelican, The Hero and The Fat Badger as well as The Bull in Charlbury in the Cotswolds is adding to its portfolio with a new London opening.
Detroit-style pizza and natural wine bar Ria’s will open a second site in the capital this autumn.
Canadian brand The Tavern Collective has made its UK debut with a restaurant and bar in the Victoria Quays area of Sheffield city centre.
A restaurateur who closed his kebab shop after just one month in the face of online criticism has reopened the site as a neighbourhood deli.
London café and bakery group FINK’s has launched a large, multi-faceted venture in Stoke Newington’s Clissold Park.
Syrian chef and restaurateur Imad Alarnab has launched a new daytime concept within London’s Somerset House.
JKS Restaurants will bring its Persian restaurant brand Berenjak to Los Angeles next week.
Vietnamese restaurant group Bánh Bánh has given its City-based grab-and-go site Little Bánh Bánh a new look and relaunched it with a new menu focused on over rice dishes.
Japanese restaurant group Taro has opened its ninth location and its first major site outside of the capital, in the seaside town on Brighton.
Former Crystal Palace and Scotland international footballer James McArthur is behind a new restaurant opening in East Kilbride.
The Beckford Group is gearing up for expansion with three new openings in three months, including the group’s first hotel.
New World Trading Company (NWTC) has promoted Amber Wood from managing director to CEO.
Recently established seafood restaurant group Shrimp & Co has outlined bold expansion plans, with a target of reaching 50 sites within the next three years.
Anthony Demetre is overseeing the menu at this rebooted Belgravia pub.
The hospitality industry in the UK will have lost 111,000 jobs by the time of the winter Budget, an industry trade body has warned.
US restaurant group Chuck E. Cheese has confirmed it will be making its debut in the UK after signing a multi-unit franchise agreement.
Meet Bros will launch a second London restaurant this November following the success of its debut site in Paddington.
The number of takeover deals for UK restaurant groups has increased 88% in the past year, new data shows.
Vietnamese restaurant brand Pho will launch its 50th site. later this year.
Comment
They may be frugal, but this is a generation that still values dining out. But they want it on their terms.
Kricket will become the latest UK-born Indian restaurant to run a residency in the US, pointing to a potential permanent move for the brand.
South West hospitality collective The Pony Group has taken a former Jamie’s Italian site slap bang in the city’s centre for what will be its largest project to date.
The future of Byron Burger is in doubt once again with its owner looking set to enter administration.