Casual Dining

How I Got Here: Bob Van Den Oord

06-Nov-2019 By James McAllister

Bob Van Den Oord is managing director of The Langham, London, as well as regional vice president of operations for The Langham group in Europe, the Middle East and US.

Puttshack lines up second London site

05-Nov-2019 By Sophie Witts

Mini golf and restaurant concept Puttshack is to launch its second London location, in Bank, on 22 November.

Chef Aktar Islam to collaborate on new Birmingham restaurant

05-Nov-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Aktar Islam, chef director at Michelin-starred Birmingham restaurant Opheem, is joining forces with the team behind Craft Dining Rooms to open a new restaurant and garden terrace.

Season's Eatings: what to consider when creating a Christmas menu

05-Nov-2019 By Tony Naylor

Whether you’re going full turkey or giving the bird a wide berth, there’s plenty of things to consider when creating a cracker of a Christmas menu

Selin Kiazim’s Kyseri to become Turkish bakery

05-Nov-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Selin Kiazim and Laura Christie’s Fitzrovia Turkish pasta restaurant Kyseri will close at the end of the year to make way for a Turkish bakery.

Richard Caring sells £200m Caprice Holdings stake

04-Nov-2019 By Georgi Gyton

Richard Caring has sold a 25% share of his hospitality empire Caprice Holdings to the former prime minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, for £200m.

Barrio Comida chooses Durham for first permanent site

04-Nov-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Following a successful year-long residency in Newcastle taqueria Barrio Comida is to launch a permanent, multi-faceted location in Durham city centre.

Three steps to making seasonal recruitment less stressful

01-Nov-2019 By Mark Williams

Follow these three steps to ensure your business runs like clockwork during some of the busiest trading periods of the year.

Flash-grilled: Nathan Eades

01-Nov-2019 By James McAllister

The head chef at The Wild Rabbit in Chipping Norton on whistling in kitchens and why his nan is his harshest critic.

McDonald’s opens first ‘dark kitchen’

01-Nov-2019 By James Halliwell

McDonald’s has opened its first dark kitchen dedicated solely to Uber Eats deliveries in Hounslow, according to a report by Property Week.

Rockfish reports sales uplift in 'turning point' year for business

01-Nov-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Rockfish, the seven-strong seafood chain run by Mitch Tonks, has reported a sales uplift of 15% to £7.95m for the year end 2019.

Record rise in cost of dinner out in London

01-Nov-2019 By Sophie Witts

The average price of dinner for one in London has risen 6.3% in the past year, according to data from restaurant guide Harden’s.

UKHospitality: business rates have directly contributed to the decline of high streets

31-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

A government reporting calling for action on business rates has been welcomed by trade body UKHospitality.

Adam Handling to open zero-waste restaurant

31-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Adam Handling is to launch a ‘sustainable casual’ restaurant and champagne bar on Chelsea’s King's Road next month.

The Lowdown: selfie etiquette

31-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Emma Thompson has reportedly stepped in to try to save the job of a waiter who was suspended after asking the actress for a selfie as she dined at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair.

Shaun Presland to launch Heddon Street residency

31-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Australian chef Shaun Presland will take up residency at rotating pop-restaurant 10 Heddon Street next month, replacing chefs Chris Leach and David Carter.

Borough Market launches click and collect service

31-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

London’s Borough Market has launched a click and collect service allowing customers to order produce from its famous traders.

The rise of the residency restaurant

30-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

London landlords are becoming increasingly nervous about signing restaurants up for long leases following several high-profile closures, according to a leading property expert.

Is this the future of Patisserie Valerie?

30-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

The bakery chain is overhauling its menu and branding, promising ‘no more frozen pies in microwaves’. Can it secure its place on the high street?

Douglas McMaster: ‘I’m so ambitious to show the world that doing the right thing can be excellent’

30-Oct-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Cocktails served like wine, real-time menus projected onto walls (solar powered, of course), progressive, thoughtful cooking. With Silo Hackney Douglas McMaster is out to prove that a zero-waste approach can be used to maximum effect

Latest opening: Sabroso

30-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Lima London founders Gabriel and Jose-Luis Gonzalez have opened Sabroso at Westfield London, a Venezuelan-inspired concept inspired by the food of their childhood.

Twisted partnering with Market Halls to open film studio

29-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Online food channel Twisted is to set up a film studio within Market Halls’ new West End venue when it opens early next month.

Karen Forrester to leave TGI Fridays

29-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Karen Forrester is to step down as chief executive of TGI Fridays UK on 13 December, after 12 years in the role.

Björn Frantzén named Honorary President of Judges for Roux Scholarship 2020

29-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Sweden’s first three-star Michelin chef Björn Frantzén has been appointed Honorary President of Judges for the 2020 Roux Scholarship competition.

Smoke & Dough opens debut site

29-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

An American-Italian restaurant featuring an ‘interactive’ barbecue element has opened its debut site within the Liverpool ONE development.

Burger & Lobster expands Smack Lobster concept

28-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

Burger & Lobster is to launch its delivery-only Smack Lobster Roll concept in a third London location this week.

Breddos closes Soho restaurant [updated]

28-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

Breddos Tacos has closed its restaurant in London's Soho after less than two years of trading.

Mark Hix 'in talks' to close Soho restaurant

28-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Mark Hix is reportedly in talks to close his HIX Soho restaurant, as he continues to reduce his company’s presence in London.

Chick-fil-A opens second UK site in Scotland

28-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

US fast food chain Chick-fil-A has quietly opened a second UK site at the the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel in the Scottish highlands.

Latest opening: Kolamba

25-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Kolamba has arrived in Soho, inspired by the bold flavours of Sri Lankan home-cooking and with a mission to serve a more authentic take on the island’s vibrant cuisine.

Friday Five: the week's top news

25-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

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

Laughing all the way to the bank: Stuart Gillies on his return to the restaurant floor

25-Oct-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Stuart Gillies left a high-powered role as CEO of Gordon Ramsay’s international restaurant empire to open Bank House, a wine bar in Bromley. And he couldn’t be happier.

Former Fat Duck chef sues restaurant for £200,000

24-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

A former pastry chef is suing Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, claiming its delicate food preparations left her with chronic wrist pain and unable to work.

The Chefs’ Choice Awards 2020

24-Oct-2019 By Restaurant

The Chefs’ Choice Awards are back, once again giving foodservice suppliers a golden opportunity to benchmark and showcase their products

Rosa's Thai Cafe to open third regional location

24-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Rosa’s Thai Cafe is to open its first site in Manchester next year, as it continues to push forward with its regional expansion.

Busaba set for rebrand around 20th anniversary

24-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

Thai restaurant group Busaba is undergoing a rebrand around its 20th anniversary in a bid to remain distinct in a crowded casual dining market.

Gordon Ramsay alumni to open Beaconsfield pub and restaurant

23-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Husband and wife team Daniel Crump and Margriet Vandezande-Crump are to open a contemporary pub and restaurant in Beaconsfield in early December.

YO! to trial grab and go concept in Manchester

23-Oct-2019 By Sophie Witts

YO! is to trial an express format restaurant designed for customers on the go.

Ellen Chew to open Singaporean restaurant and bakery concept

23-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Entrepreneur Ellen Chew is to launch a Singaporean restaurant and bakery concept on Frith Street in London’s Soho early next month.

How I Got Here: Daniele Quattromini

23-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Daniele Quattromini, who won the 2015 Gold Service Scholarship, is operations manager of The Northall at Corinthia London.

Victor Garvey to launch Californian concept on former Rambla site

22-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Victor Garvey has closed his Catalan restaurant Rambla in Soho and is refurbishing the site in order to relaunch it under a new concept next month.

IT Ibiza to launch first UK site next month

22-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Ibiza bar and restaurant brand IT is finally set to open its first UK location on Dover Street in Mayfair next month.

Yen to leave London after two years

22-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Parisian noodle house Yen is to close its London outpost after just two years, with the general manager saying it has been unable to offer its signature soba noodles since June.

Hedge funds circle PizzaExpress

21-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

A hedge fund that shared a multibillion-pound bounty after making bets on the collapsed Wall Street investment bank Lehman Brothers is among those reportedly circling debt-laden dining chain PizzaExpress.

Bill's posts £9.1m loss, but says turnaround has begun

21-Oct-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Bill's Restaurants made a £9.11m loss last year – but has returned to above market like-for-like sales growth across its estate following a major refurbishment programme.

Just Eat reports revenue rise of 25%

21-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Online food delivery platform Just Eat has reported a 25% increase in year to year group revenue - up to £247.5m - for the third quarter of 2019.

Jamie Oliver named Best Food Personality at 2019 Observer Food Monthly Awards

18-Oct-2019 By James McAllister

Chefs Jamie Oliver, Danny Wallace and Tommy Banks were among the winners at the 2019 Observer Food Monthly (OFM) Awards, which took place last night (17 October) in London.