Casual Dining

The art of social listening

09-Jul-2019 By Eloise Sheppard

Call Systems Technology's managing director on why it's vital to be part of the online conversation.

'Complacency is death': what's next for Patty & Bun?

09-Jul-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Joe Grossman’s London-centric chain Patty & Bun is responding to challenges in the premium burger market with two new concepts and the launch of several vegan dishes.

'World's first cheese conveyor belt restaurant' to open in Covent Garden

08-Jul-2019 By Stefan Chomka

A YO! Sushi style cheese and charcuterie restaurant where plates are delivered to diners via a conveyor belt is set to open in Covent Garden this September.

Sonny's Kitchen to close

08-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

Sonny’s Kitchen, Rebecca Mascarenhas’ first restaurant, is to close its doors having operated in Barnes for 33 years.

Full House! Harry Ramsden partners with Mecca Bingo for new concept

08-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

Fish & chips brand Harry Ramsden is to roll out a new menu concept to more than 70 Mecca Bingo outlets across the UK this week.

Five tips to securing investment in a challenging market

08-Jul-2019 By Catherine Gannon

In the current climate, it might seem as though the finance market has fallen out of love with the hospitality sector, leaving many operators wondering how they can fund their growth plans. Here, Catherine Gannon, founder of Gannons Solicitors, offers...

Flash-grilled: Charles Morgan

05-Jul-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Charles Morgan, who previously oversaw operations at The Forbury Hotel in Reading, is now general manager of The Five Arrows hotel near Aylesbury.

Friday Five: the week's top news

05-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

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

Amazon's Deliveroo investment paused by competition watchdog

05-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

The UK’s competition watchdog has pressed pause on Amazon’s investment in to restaurant delivery platform Deliveroo.

Monty's Deli to close flagship Hoxton restaurant

04-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

London’s 'Jewish soul food' restaurant Monty’s Deli is to close its flagship Hoxton site after two years of trading.

Patisserie Valerie overturns 'butter ban' with new menu

04-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

Patisserie Valerie has overturned a 'ban' on using butter in its puff pastry with the launch of its new summer menu.

Arnold Ivey appointed Avenue head chef

04-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

D&D veteran Arnold Ivey has been appointed head chef at the group’s Avenue restaurant on London’s St James's Street.

Monsieur Le Duck looking to expand in London and beyond

03-Jul-2019 By James McAllister & Andrew Don

French-focused brand Monsieur Le Duck has its sights set on opening two more London locations, BigHospitality’s sister website MCA has learnt.

Can YO! Sushi finally crack the US market?

03-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

YO! Sushi has made another play for the North American market with the acquisition of US operator Snowfox.

Social Pantry set to expand following investment

02-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

London-based catering company Social Pantry is to put a series of expansion plans into action after receiving a £1.1m investment from investment firm Edition Capital.

St. John Group to open second retail bakery

01-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

The St. John Group is to expand its retail bakery business with the opening of a second site at London’s Fora co-working space in Borough this September.

London's Great Queen Street to close after 12 years

01-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

Longstanding London restaurant Great Queen Street is to close this month after 12 years in the West End.

L’Atelier Du Vin to open second Brighton bar

01-Jul-2019 By James McAllister

Wine bar and cocktail and concept L’Atelier Du Vin is to open a second Brighton site in the city’s Seven Dials area later this week.

Pret a Manger CEO Clive Schlee to step down

01-Jul-2019 By Sophie Witts

Clive Schlee is to step down as CEO of the Pret a Manger café chain after 16 years in the role.

The name game: why it's time to take your online reputation seriously

01-Jul-2019 By Restaurant magazine

The proliferation of social media and review sites means a restaurant’s online reputation is under constant scrutiny and flux. We gathered a group of restaurant marketers to discuss how businesses can manage their online reputations and even enhance them.

Red's True Barbecue is bought out of administration

28-Jun-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Red's True Barbecue has been bought out of administration by club, bar and music venue operator Tokyo Industries.

Friday Five: the week's top news

28-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

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

Silo set to open in London in September

28-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Chef Douglas McMaster’s zero-waste restaurant Silo is to open on the upper floor of Crate Brewery’s White Building taproom in London this September.

San Carlo set to open first airport location

28-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Italian restaurant group San Carlo is to open its first airport location in Manchester’s new ‘super terminal’, which is set to open next year.

Mourad Mazouz to bring Mo Diner to Mayfair next month

27-Jun-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Sketch London and Momo founder Mourad Mazouz is to open a colourful Mediterranean take on the classic American diner in Mayfair next month.

Gonzalez brothers to launch Venezuelan-inspired concept [updated]

27-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Lima London founders Gabriel and Jose-Luis Gonzalez are to launch a Venezuelan-inspired casual dining concept at Westfield London later this month.

The Lowdown: the WalkIn app

27-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

A new app promises users that they’ll never have to stand in line for a restaurant again, by enabling them to join the queue from their phones.

How I Got Here: Maciej Lyko

27-Jun-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The head sommelier at Kensington's Launceston Place was recently awarded first place in The International Sommelier Association’s Best Polish Sommelier Competition 2019.

Henry Dimbleby to lead major review of UK food system

27-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Leon co-founder Henry Dimbleby has been appointed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove to lead a year-long review of the UK food system.

Video: Unlocking seafood’s potential

27-Jun-2019 By Restaurant

Restaurant magazine teamed up with Seafood from Norway earlier this month to host a seafood focused workshop, discussion and lunch at Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden.

Cashless tipping system to be launched

26-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Rosa’s Thai co-founder Alex Moore and BrewDog’s retail director James Brown are to launch a new venture that they say will ‘revolutionise the world of tipping’.

Levi Roots closes his Westfield Stratford Caribbean Smokehouse

26-Jun-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse, the casual dining concept fronted by the Dragon’s Den star, has closed its single site in London’s Westfield Stratford.

Harrods unveils Dining Hall concept

25-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Harrods is to open a new Dining Hall tomorrow with restaurateur Eddie Lim and chef/restaurateur Vineet Bhatia among the line-up.

Harts Group: madmen or visionaries?

25-Jun-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Last year Harts Group opened four venues at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. Despite lower than expected footfall at the development, the group has doubled down with a fifth, Parrillan. So are the trio behind it madmen or visionaries?

Lina Stores to open second restaurant

24-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Lina Stores, the Italian deli and restaurant company, is to launch its first site that encompasses both concepts in London’s King’s Cross this autumn.

Natoora launches ‘revolutionary’ café concept

24-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Fresh produce catering supplier and retailer Natoora has launched a ‘revolutionary’ café concept within its new Notting Hill store.

Coco di Mama to expand following Azzurri's acquisition of Pod

24-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Healthy breakfast and lunch restaurant brand Pod has been brought by the Azzurri Group as part of a ‘pre-pack’ deal after the chain fell into administration last week.

Five arrested as investigation into Patisserie Valerie's collapse continues

24-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Five more people have been arrested and questioned by fraud police investigating the collapse of Patisserie Valerie.

Friday Five: the week's top news

21-Jun-2019 By Sophie Witts

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

Flash-grilled: Alex Hely-Hutchinson

21-Jun-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Alex Hely-Hutchinson is the founder of popular Covent Garden breakfast spot 26 Grains, which offers a health-focused menu specialising in porridge. She recently launched an evening set menu.

Kensington Park Hotel in Notting Hill to reopen as Harcourt Inns gastropub KPH

21-Jun-2019 By Stefan Chomka

The Kensington Park Hotel (KPH) on London’s Ladbroke Grove is to reopen next month following an extensive, two-year restoration.

Bodean's BBQ closes Balham restaurant and eyes delivery hub

21-Jun-2019 By Andrew Don

Bodean’s BBQ has exited its Balham restaurant, blaming the accumulation of high delivery costs on top of steep rents and rates.

US brand Sweet Chick poised to make UK debut

20-Jun-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Sweet Chick, the US fried chicken and waffle concept backed by rapper Nas, is set to make its UK debut with a site in Fitzrovia.

How I Got Here: Kieran Waite

20-Jun-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Kieran Waite is the co-founder and director of Bristol's five-strong Season & Taste hospitality group, which opened Mexican restaurant Masa + Mezcal this spring.

The soft parade: 8 non-alcoholic drinks for summer

20-Jun-2019 By Restaurant magazine

With more and more customers choosing to lay off the hard stuff, the market for grown-up non-alcoholic drinks continues to expand. Here are some of the latest launches.

Arc Inspirations to 'focus on the strategic alignment of its brands'

18-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Northern restaurant and bar operator Arc Inspirations is to close The Pit bar in Harrogate and reopen the site under its Manahatta brand later this year.

What restaurants can learn from Wahaca’s PR disaster

18-Jun-2019 By Sophie Witts

The latest PR nightmare for Wahaca has shown the importance for restaurants to be clear about how pay and tips are distributed, or taken away.

How I Got Here: Sam Harrison

18-Jun-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The restaurateur ran Sam's Brasserie in Chiswick and Harrison's in Balham for a decade until 2015. He will open Sam's Riverside in Hammersmith this summer.

The Alchemist to push ahead with expansion plans

18-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

All-day restaurant and bar group The Alchemist is set to open four further sites in the UK as it continues to push ahead with rapid national expansion plans.

Smack Lobster transitions to online only

17-Jun-2019 By James McAllister

Smack Lobster Roll, the ‘informal’ spin-off concept owned by the London-based Burger & Lobster group, has transitioned solely to an online operation.