Peach Pubs and Revolution Bars operator launches sales process
The operator of Revolution Bars, Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs, is launching a strategic review of options, including a formal sales process.
Casual Dining
Pubs continue to outpace restaurants for sales growth
Britain’s top managed restaurant, pub and bar groups saw a marginal increase in like-for-like sales growth, according to the latest data.
Are Pizza Hut UK’s restaurants stuffed or can the brand rise again?
Pizza Hut UK’s inability to capitalise on the UK’s burgeoning pizza sector was a missed opportunity. What hope do its remaining restaurants have?
Pasta Cosa to open second Liverpool site
Sisters Kayleigh and Talia Baccino will open a second site of their Italian restaurant Pasta Cosa this week.
Zuma and Roka operator receives investment to drive global expansion
The group behind restaurants Zuma and Roka has entered into a partnership with Abu Dhabi–based luxury hospitality investment company DIAFA.
The Double Red Duke to open second site at Bicester Village
Hotel and restaurant group Country Creatures is opening a second venue of its The Double Red Duke gastropub and boutique hotel brand.
Sticks’n’Sushi to launch Manchester restaurant
Sticks’n’Sushi will open a restaurant in Manchester’s Spinningfields area this spring, taking its total number of UK sites to 17.
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Will Velvet Taco’s move into the UK be a smooth one?
The US brand, known for its vast range of globally-inspired tacos, is landing soon on these shores. But its success is far from a given.
Taiwanese restaurant group 6 of 1 to open a Cantonese wonton noodle soup shop
The team behind the Mr Bao, Daddy Bao, and Master Bao restaurants are moving beyond Taiwanese cuisine for the first time to bring Cantonese comfort food to London Fields.
The Devonshire team to open Covent Garden pub and restaurant
The team behind Soho super pub The Devonshire are heading to Covent Garden for their next venue.
Pizza shut: 68 Pizza Hut restaurants close with more than 1,200 job losses
Nearly 70 Pizza Hut restaurants and more than 10 pizza delivery outlets have closed after the company behind its UK business fell into administration.
Pizza Hut Restaurants to shutter over half its estate following pre-pack rescue deal
Pizza Hut is to close around 70 restaurants after the company behind its UK venues fell into administration.
Gaucho to reduce waiters’ share of service charge
Argentine-themed restaurant group Gaucho is reportedly cutting the share of the service charge its waiters receive, using some of the funds to bump up the pay package of head office workers.
The £30 beef wellington test: why dining out still wins
Retail’s attempt to muscle in on restaurant territory fails to acknowledge that there’s more to dining out than the food alone.
Liverpool ONE to welcome a host of new restaurant brands
North American comfort food brand Brewski and Caribbean Street Food restaurant Jerk Junction are among a number of restaurants to open in Liverpool ONE in the coming months.
Honest Burgers returns to profit and says it will expand its Smash + Grab brand
Honest Burgers has returned to profit for the first time since 2020, reporting a ‘very strong’ performance in its latest results.
PINS Social Club to open huge Manchester venue next year
The team behind PINS Social Club in Liverpool have now confirmed plans to open what it says will be the biggest new hospitality venue in Manchester in recent years.
Red Engine secures further investment as expansion continues
Flight Club and Electric Shuffle owner Red Engine has secured further investment to support its growth plans in the UK and overseas.
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No longer cheap as chips – QSR embraces the £5 meal deal
Amid a clamour for customers, more and more QSR operators are introducing their own meal deals all pitched around the same price point in a hopeful bid to demonstrate value.
Sushinoya heads to Soho
Dong Hyun Kim ‘omakase to-go’ brand Sushinoya has chosen Chinatown for its second London restaurant outing.
Latest opening: Chuck’s
Rhode Island-born patty purveyor Chuck George has opened a permanent smash burger restaurant within Carousel following a series of London pop-ups.
“This is our f**k it restaurant”: Faber team launches Above restaurant that celebrates 20 years in business
The team behind London restaurants and pubs Faber, The Somers Town Coffee House and The Victoria are opening a restaurant that celebrates two decades of being in business.
Electric Star Pubs founder Rob Star to make restaurant debut with Firestarter
Electric Star Pubs founder Rob Star will launch a live-fire restaurant near Liverpool Street station next month.
The Evolv Collection backs Sartoria in major expansion push starting with South Kensington opening
The Evolv Collection will bring Sartoria to South Kensington later this year as part of a major expansion drive for its longstanding high-end Italian restaurant brand.
Charlene Liu and Linda Liu to launch Liu Xiaomian residency in London’s The Strand
The duo behind Chongqing noodle restaurant Liu Xiaomian are taking their spicy dishes to London’s The Strand with a residency a new pub The Stranded.
Bar group The Alchemist to be put up for sale
The long-standing private equity backer of The Alchemist is reportedly working with advisors on an auction of the cocktail bar group.
Mission Mars tests the water for a potential buyer
The company behind Albert’s Schloss beer halls and Rudy’s pizzerias has reportedly hired advisers to sound out buyers for all or part of its business.
Evolv Collection owners acquires London Brasseries
Evolv Collection owners Calveton UK and Breal Capital have bought London Brasseries for an undisclosed sum.
Hawksmoor to take over former Midland Grand Dining Room at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel
Hawksmoor is taking over the former Midland Grand Dining Room at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel for what will be its 14th restaurant across the UK, Ireland and the US.
Humble Grape to open wine bar beneath Cheapside’s Bow Bells
Humble Grape has chosen the City’s Bow Lane for its seventh London wine bar.
Soaring operational costs pile pressure on capex in hospitality sector
Rapid rises in operational costs are damaging hospitality’s capital expenditure programmes, new data shows.
Karali Group buys French brasserie brand Côte
Côte Restaurant Group has been acquired by family-owned business Karali Group for an undisclosed sum.
Inception Group on course to exceed £30m turnover in 2025 after reporting ‘strong growth’
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 sees turnover rise above £64m
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.
Pizza Express owner Bain Capital makes bid for Costa Coffee
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.
Cover charge – how restaurants are using the power of targeted promotions
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?
Half of consumers still don’t trust restaurants to pass on tips, according to new research
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.
Brasserie Blanc invites its customers to join Le Club loyalty scheme
Heartwood Collection has unveiled a new loyalty program across its Brasserie Blanc French restaurant group.
Shoreditch natural wine bar Oranj reveals new culinary director
Jasper Delamothe has appointed chef Yuto Fujimoto to lead his recently relocated Shoreditch natural wine bar and restaurant Oranj as culinary director.
Individual Restaurants targets corporate dining with new loyalty scheme
Individual Restaurants has launched what it says is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ loyalty club dedicated to corporate dining in the UK.
Latest opening: Solaya
Top Newcastle chef Kenny Atkinson has made his London debut with Solaya, a relaxed Mediterranean-inspired restaurant.
Plaza Khao Gaeng chooses Borough Yards for second London 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.
Tonkotsu tees up new openings as turnover rises
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 eyes further expansion in the UK and US
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 creates high-rise Stories brand as its renames Birmingham restaurant
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.
Cocotte founder Romain Bourrillon to launch Southern Italian restaurant in London’s Queen’s Park
The restaurateur behind London rotisserie chicken brand Cocotte will launch a Naples-inspired restaurant in Queen’s Park late next month.
Honest Burgers to acquire 12 former GBK sites
Honest Burgers is set to acquire 12 restaurants from rival Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK).
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Chuck E. Cheese – can a US brand built on childhood nostalgia make it in the UK?
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 swings to loss despite record revenues
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.
Pie and a pint? Bakery chain Greggs has opened a pub
Bakery chain Greggs has opened a pub that serves pastry-inspired drinks as well as range of traditional pub classics with a bakery twist.