Casual Dining

Friday Five: the week's top news

13-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week

PizzaExpress to close Za spin-off site

13-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

PizzaExpress is to close its spin-off concept Za on 20 December after nine months of trading.

Generation Next

How MasterChef's Larkin Cen built a mini restaurant empire

13-Dec-2019 By Joe Lutrario

In just a few years former MasterChef contestant Larkin Cen has opened four Woky Ko restaurants in Bristol and is now one of the UK’s most exciting Chinese chefs

General Election 2019: industry bodies welcome end to 'uncertainty'

13-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality trade bodies have called on the Conservatives to follow through on promises to cut business rates after the party won a clear majority in the general election.

Latest opening: 14 Hills

13-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

D&D London's latest project is an ambitious and crowd-pleasing garden in the sky

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall closes after nearly 14 years

12-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Fifteen Cornwall in Watergate Bay, one of the last remnants of Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant empire, has closed with immediate effect.

Average consumer spends £451 a year on takeaways

12-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

The average UK consumer spends £451 a year ordering in takeaway food, according to a study by KPMG.

Richard Caring on Bill's: "We’re fighters. We’ll make it work by investing in the business"

12-Dec-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

With an estate-wide refurb programme and a repositioning as an evening proposition, Richard Caring and David Campbell are starting a new chapter for Bill's.

Content provided by Nestlé Professional

Toque d’Or’s finalists dish out advice to this year’s competitors

11-Dec-2019 By Nestlé Professional

Previous finalists of Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or young chef competition share their pearls of wisdom.

Pub numbers up for first time in a decade

11-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

The number of pubs in the UK has increased for the first time in a decade, according to a report released today (11 December) by Scottish hospitality start-up Stampede.

Watchdog warns Amazon's Deliveroo investment raises 'serious concerns'

11-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

The UK’s competition watchdog has warned that technology giant Amazon’s investment in to food courier platform Deliveroo could lead to higher prices for restaurants.

Breakfast Club targeting regional and London expansion

11-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

The Breakfast Club has appointed Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh as chairman as it gears up for further expansion.

How I Got Here: Adam Jones

11-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Adam Jones is the co-founder and managing director of UK-based contemporary Chinese restaurant group Tattu, which recently launched its first Scottish location in Edinburgh.

Kudu team to open two new sites next year

10-Dec-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The owners of South African-inspired restaurant Kudu are to increase their presence in Peckham with the launch of two new venues in early 2020.

Oklava founders smash crowdfunding target in less than a week (updated)

10-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Oklava founders Selin Kiazim and Laura Christie have smashed their crowdfunding campaign target in a matter of days.

Fatburger puts debut UK restaurant on the market

10-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

US chain Fatburger has put its debut UK restaurant in London’s Camden on the market.

High Grange feast venue and retreat to open in Devon next year

10-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Chef Luke Mackay and his wife Sara are opening a feast venue, wellness retreat and cookery school in Devon next year.

Pho owners consider sale

09-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

The private equity investors behind Vietnamese restaurant brand Pho are reportedly eyeing a sale of the business.

Carluccio's seeking franchise partners for expansion

09-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is seeking franchise partners to expand the brand in to travel hubs, and within the Republic of Ireland.

Mark Hix confirms Soho restaurant closure

09-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Mark Hix is to close his HIX Soho restaurant later this month after 10 years, marking the end of the chef’s presence in the West End of London.

Ox and Finch team to open second restaurant

06-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

The team behind Ox and Finch, the Glasgow small plates restaurant which holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, are to open their second site in the city next year.

Friday Five: the week's top news

06-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week

Watchdog warns Stonegate pub merger could lead to higher prices

06-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

A £1.3bn merger between Slug & Lettuce operator Stonegate and pub chain Ei Group could lead to higher prices in some areas, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned.

Latest opening: Hot May

06-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Knightsbridge has a new northern Chinese hot pot restaurant.

Crowdfunding campaign launched to open Oklava Bakery + Wine

05-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Selin Kiazim and Laura Christie have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to help open Oklava Bakery + Wine in Fitzrovia.

Harnessing tech to balance ethics with costs

05-Dec-2019 By Eloise Sheppard

Call Systems Technology's managing director on the role technology can play in serving ethical food and drink

The Lowdown: inHouse

05-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

A membership scheme that gives perks to restaurant diners is launching in London in the new year.

Rockfish nets Poole Quay site

05-Dec-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Mitch Tonks is to open a restaurant in Poole Quay at the end of January bringing the total number of Rockfish restaurants to nine.

Restaurant magazine's R200 winners announced

05-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Flat Iron, Wagamama, Caravan and Lina Stores were among the restaurants crowned winners at Restaurant magazine’s annual R200 Awards, which were held in London last night (4 December).

Second time lucky? French burger chain Big Fernand has another crack at London

04-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

French hamburger restaurant group Big Fernand is making a second play in the capital with a restaurant opening later this month in South Kensington.

Lussmanns Sustainable Fish and Grill to open first Oxford location

04-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Lussmanns Sustainable Fish and Grill is to open its first restaurant outside of Hertfordshire early next year having secured a site in the Jericho district of Oxford.

Hoppers set for third London opening

04-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Sri Lankan restaurant brand Hoppers has chosen Pancras Square in London's King’s Cross for its third and largest location.

Greek restaurant Ampἑli to open in January

04-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Former Nopi chef Oren Goldfeld is to oversee the kitchen at a Mediterranean-style restaurant that’s set to open on Charlotte Street in London’s Fitzrovia next month.

Deliveroo advert banned after receiving 300 complaints

04-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

A Deliveroo advert that suggests the company can deliver multiple orders from different restaurants at one time has become the third-most complained about TV advert of the year so far.

Michelin sells Bookatable in TripAdvisor partnership deal

03-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

Michelin has sold restaurant reservation platform Bookatable to the TripAdvisor Group as part of a 'strategic partnership' between the two companies.

Bun House founders launch 'community hub' in Shoreditch

03-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Husband and wife team Alex Peffly and Z He have opened a bar and cafe on Brick Lane in London.

Restaurants falling short on allergen training

03-Dec-2019 By Sophie Witts

A survey of 500 hospitality workers has found that almost a quarter are not confident advising customers with serious allergies.

Twisted London launches pizza concept

03-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Delivery only fast-food service Twisted London is to launch a pizza concept from its dark kitchen in Bethnal Green, London, today (3 December).

Gymkhana set to reopen following refurbishment

02-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana is to reopen its restaurant in London’s Mayfair early next year, after a fire forced it to temporarily close its doors back in the summer.

The Drumming Snipe to become second venue for Brucan Pub Company

02-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Former ETM operations director James Lyon-Shaw and ex Ivy head chef Jamie Dobbin are to open gastropub The Drumming Snipe in Surrey next year.

Gold Service Scholarship 2020 finalists announced

02-Dec-2019 By James McAllister

The 2020 Gold Service Scholarship has announced the eight candidates that have made it to the final.

Som Saa team to explore food hall and grab-and-go formats

02-Dec-2019 By Stefan Chomka

The team behind Thai restaurant Som Saa say they are considering food hall, grab-and-go and takeaway options as part of their expansion plans.

Gluten-free pasta concept to pop-up in former Stem site

02-Dec-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

A gluten-free pasta concept has taken the former Stem site in Mayfair.

Tyneside Indian restaurant fined over nut allergy

29-Nov-2019 By Lucy Britner

A North Tyneside Indian restaurant has been fined almost £4,000 for serving food containing peanuts to a teenager with a nut allergy.

Cyan replaces GB1 at The Grand hotel, Brighton

29-Nov-2019 By Lucy Britner

Brighton seafront hotel The Grand has replaced its GB1 fish restaurant with an all-day dining venue.

Friday Five: the week's top news

29-Nov-2019 By Joe Lutrario

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week.

Somerset’s 28 Market Place set for January opening

29-Nov-2019 By Lucy Britner

The Somerset venue from ex-Soho House director Ben Crofton and his wife Vanessa will open its doors on 3 January.

Daisy Green to open second City of London location

28-Nov-2019 By James McAllister

London-based antipodean restaurant group Daisy Green is to open its second City location next month in Barbican.

Boom Bap Burger secures permanent location

28-Nov-2019 By James McAllister

Burger brand Boom Bap Burger is to open its first bricks and mortar restaurant in Bethnal Green next month.

The Ivy MD: “Ivy Asia could work in other cities”

28-Nov-2019 By Sophie Witts

The outlandish restaurant brand has opened in London. Could it be Caprice Holding's next roll-out vehicle?