Casual Dining

PizzaExpress MD: "a brand can never stand still"

29-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

PizzaExpress UK managing director Zoe Bowley has spoken of the need for the restaurant group to ‘elevate’ its offer after 54 years in business.

Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square up for sale

28-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The long leasehold interest in the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, home to Gordon Ramsay’s upcoming Lucky Cat restaurant, is up for sale.

The Coconut Tree to put down roots in Cardiff

28-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Fast expanding Sri Lankan street food brand The Coconut Tree is to open a restaurant in Cardiff city centre later this year.

PizzaExpress trials fresh approach to ‘future proof’ its business

28-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

PizzaExpress is the latest Italian casual dining chain to trial an overhaul of its design and service in a bid to 'future-proof' the business.

Sticks 'n' Sushi is UK’s fastest-growing restaurant group

28-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Sticks ‘n’ Sushi has been named the UK’s fastest-growing restaurant group in this year’s AlixPartners Growth Company Index.

Splendid Restaurants rebrands Jack & Alice sites

27-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Splendid Restaurants has converted its Jack & Alice wine bar sites to a new concept after parting ways with the brand.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: Odette knocks Gaggan off the top spot

27-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Singapore’s French fine dining restaurant Odette has taken the number one spot in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the first time.

Meatcure closes final burger restaurant

26-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Midlands burger group Meatcure is to close its final remaining restaurant, in Market Harborough.

Thai and Japanese chains in UK soar while Chinese brands stumble

26-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Britain’s restaurant tastes are changing, with Chinese and Spanish cuisines losing out to Thai and Japanese in the branded space over the last five years.

Great Scotland Yard Hotel to open after £75m revamp

25-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The former home of the London Metropolitan Police is to reopen as a luxury hotel with a restaurant overseen by chef Robin Gill this year.

Friday Five: the week's top news

22-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

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

Youtube star DJ BBQ to launch crowdfund for Suffolk restaurant

22-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Barbecue cookbook author and Youtuber Christian Stevenson, aka DJ BBQ, is to launch a crowdfunding campaign to open his first bricks and mortar restaurant in Suffolk.

Gary Usher is looking at Leeds for a potential new restaurant location

22-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Gary Usher is eyeing Leeds as a potential destination to open a restaurant next year.

Bowl food concept with Roux Scholar chef targets three sites

21-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

A bowl food restaurant concept with a menu designed by Roux Scholarship winner Frederick Forster is planning to open three London sites this year.

Huge halal steakhouse to open in Manchester

21-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

A halal steakhouse concept is to launch in Manchester this summer with what it claims is the city’s first dry bar.

Giraffe and Ed's Easy Diner CVA approved

21-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) is poised to close over a third of its Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner restaurants following the approval of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Harts Group: "footfall lower than expected at Coal Drops Yard"

21-Mar-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Harts Group has spoken of the challenges of opening four restaurants at the same time at Coal Drops Yard, with the landlord’s predicted footfall falling considerably short of expectations.

How I Got Here: Rosie Whaley

21-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

A former fashion buyer, Rosie Whaley launched Pi Pizza in Winchester in 2014 and followed up with a second in Battersea last year.

Is the customer always right?

21-Mar-2019 By Tony Naylor

Restaurant employees are becoming less subservient but, online and on the restaurant floor, diners are more combative than ever. It is an explosive mix

Dusty Knuckle launches crowdfund for sustainable Cardiff restaurant

20-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Cardiff pizzeria Dusty Knuckle has launched a crowdfunding campaign to open an eco-focused restaurant in the city centre.

Great British Menu - looking back at the last five years

20-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

The new series of Great British Menu gets underway on BBC Two on 20 March, with a fresh selection of Britain’s best chefs vying to serve their food at the final banquet.

Villandry still owes thousands to former staff

20-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Former staff at the collapsed Villandry café chain are unlikely to receive full payment from the company, documents show.

BV Restaurant Group launches "experiential" concept Rebound

20-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

BV Restaurant Group has launched its first restaurant and gaming hall concept in London.

Lost in translation: is Ikoyi London's most misunderstood restaurant?

20-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Almost universally misunderstood at launch, Ikoyi nearly didn’t make it. But a change of menu and attitude has seen it become one of the capital’s most distinctive and exciting places to eat.

NRB Top 50 power list 2019 revealed

19-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Nisha Katona, Gary Usher, Simon Rogan and Carlo Distefano have all been recognised on this year’s NRB Top 50 power list.

Eataly site planned for Harrogate

19-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Plans have been unveiled for a £250m food and leisure attraction that is set to be built near Harrogate in North Yorkshire.

D&D London opens third New York restaurant

19-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

D&D London has opened its latest New York restaurant following the rocky launch of Bluebird in the city last year.

Nestlé Professional announces Toque d’Or 2019 finalists

18-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Nestlé Professional has announced the finalists who will be competing in this year’s Toque d’Or Grand Finals, which take place between April 30 and May 4.

Six areas to make your restaurant more sustainable

18-Mar-2019 By Patrick McGuigan

From growing herbs on the wall to using ethical dairy suppliers, we run-down the key areas where you can make more sustainable choices in your restaurant.

Patisserie Holdings had £94m black hole in its accounts

18-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The parent company of the Patisserie Valerie café chain overstated its accounts by at least £94m, according to a report from administrators KPMG.

Flash-grilled: Alex Povall

15-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Alex Povall is head chef at Covent Garden restaurant Oystermen, which was recently expanded due to popular demand.

Wagamama to launch spin-off Mamago brand

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has developed a grab-and-go spin-off of the Wagamama brand, which it will trial later this year.

Friday Five: the week's top news

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

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

Restaurant Eats Out: Covent Garden

15-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

From Parisian bistro chic to creative Indian food, Covent Garden and its immediate surrounds has no shortage of interesting places to eat.

Roux Scholarship 2019 names six national finalists

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

The Roux family has announced the six national finalists for the 2019 Roux Scholarship.

Hawksmoor's Will Beckett: "We were very close to getting it wrong in Manchester"

15-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

It’s 13 years since Will Beckett and Hugh Gott opened the first Hawksmoor restaurant in London’s Shoreditch.

The Lowdown: Deliveroo’s automated food market

14-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The food delivery giant is switching things up with a new 40-seater dine-in space in Singapore.

Polpo is looking for a 'bigger and better' Spuntino - and will pay £10k finder's fee

14-Mar-2019 By James Wallin

Polpo is eyeing a “bigger and better” Soho site for its original Spuntino restaurant, after the landlord decided to take back the lease.

MOD Pizza UK to hit double figures with Coventry opening

14-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

US brand MOD Pizza is opening its 10th UK restaurant later this month, in Coventry.

How I Got Here: Mark Wogan

14-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Mark Wogan founder Homeslice with brother Alan and chef Ry Jessup in 2013. The relaxed, pizza-by-the-slice group now operates six London restaurants.

What's on at The International Food & Drink Event 2019

14-Mar-2019 By Restaurant

The International Food & Drink Event (IFE) is returning to London’s ExCel from 17-20 March.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen sales improve after CVA

14-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Sales at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) have improved after the restaurant group entered in to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) last year.

Wellbourne Brasserie in White City closes

13-Mar-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Wellbourne Brasserie in London’s White City has closed just over a year after it launched.

Latest opening: Gloria

13-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

France's Big Mamma group has landed in Shoreditch with the 'least Brexit-compatible restaurant in the UK'.

Roosters Piri Piri: the chicken brand that's ruffling feathers

12-Mar-2019 By Georgi Gyton

What started off as a bit of a ‘KFC rip off’ has grown into an international chicken brand that has its sights on 100-plus sites

Gary Usher crowdfunds £100k in 11 hours

12-Mar-2019 By Sophie Witts

Gary Usher has hit his £100,000 crowdfunding target for his next restaurant, Kala, in 11 hours.

Flat Iron MD: "No one wants to open 100-200 restaurants anymore"

12-Mar-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Flat Iron managing director Jo fleet has suggested there is “no number” on the scale of sites the brand could open – though admitted there was no longer any appetite in the industry to reach 100 or 200 sites.