Casual Dining

Friday Five: the week's top stories

23-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

A round-up of the biggest hospitality stories you might have missed this week

TRG Concessions and Crêpeaffaire team up

23-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

TRG Concessions has entered into a partnership with Crêpeaffaire which will see the fast casual crêpe and waffle specialist make its airport debut before the year is out.

The Vurger Co: 'how we proved the vegan doubters wrong'

23-Nov-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

The Vurger Co co-founders Rachel Hugh and Neil Potts on building a loyal following, proving the vegan doubters wrong, and navigating an unfamiliar industry

Duo of new Thai restaurants promise to bring ‘reinvented Thai food’ to Soho next month

23-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

A double-headed restaurant is promising to bring ‘reinvented Thai food’ to London’s Soho when it opens next month.

Edinburgh's proposed tourist tax divides city's hospitality sector

22-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

A consultation in to introducing a controversial tourism tax in Edinburgh has divided hospitality businesses in the city.

Faecal bacteria found in ice and soda at five leading pub chains

21-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Ice and soda contaminated with faecal bacteria has been served to customers at some of the UK’s leading pub chains, an investigation has found.

Clockjack chicken restaurant group liquidated

21-Nov-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

Clockjack, the rotisserie chicken restaurant turned delivery-only concept, has been liquidated.

Chef Masterclass: George Barson's cheese and ham toastie

21-Nov-2018 By Bill Knott

George Barson, head chef of Cora Pearl in Covent Garden, has fond memories of the toasted cheese and ham sandwiches from his childhood.

Deadline extended for Chefs’ Choice Awards 2019

21-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The deadline has been extended for the Chefs’ Choice Awards 2019, giving foodservice suppliers a little more time to enter their products.

Aiden Byrne to relaunch Manchester House in December

20-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Chef Aiden Byrne has confirmed he has taken over Manchester House and plans to relaunch the restaurant in December.

Upcoming Dalston restaurant to offer 'surreal' mix of Japanese and Italian cuisine

20-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

A restaurant promising to offer a ‘surreal exploration’ of Japanese and Italian cuisine is to open in East London in February 2019.

Latest opening: Pachamama East

20-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The surge of Peruvian restaurants opening in London has slowed over the last few years, but Pachamama is still on the expansion trail.

Playing with fire: avoiding the hazards of solid-fuel cooking

20-Nov-2018 By Alex Rushmer

Wood and charcoal burning stoves and ovens are the current kit du jour in kitchens, but a decision to install one shouldn’t be taken lightly

Pizza Pilgrims: seven ways expanding restaurant groups can ‘roll out with soul’

20-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Like all the best ideas, Pizza Pilgrims started in a pub. Back in 2012 brothers James and Thom Elliot decided to quit their desk jobs and go on a ‘pilgrimage’ to Italy to learn all they could about pizza.

Casual dining sector feels the pinch as like-for-like sales drop in October

19-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Like-for-like sales across the UK’s leading casual dining brands fell by 0.3% last month, reflecting the continuing pressure on the casual dining sector, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Three Richardson Hotels properties exit administration

19-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Three properties in the Richardson Hotel Group have exited administration after ten months.

Acai Berry chooses Chelsea for second site

16-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Brazilian ‘superfood’ brand Acai Berry has opened a second grab-and-go site in Chelsea following the success of its inaugural bricks-and-mortar location in Soho’s Kingly Court.

Friday Five: the week's top news

16-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

12 steps to starting your own restaurant business

16-Nov-2018 By Chris Miller

Chris Miller, a star of Million Pound Menu and backer of restaurant brands Kricket, Kym's, Lina Stores and Island Poke, on how to seek investment and deal with investors

Thai restaurant group Mango Tree to lay roots in transport hubs

16-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Thai restaurant group Mango Tree is looking to gain a greater foothold in the UK with expansion into transport hubs such as airports and railway stations.

Toque d’Or 2019 open for entries

16-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Registration has opened for the 2019 Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or, a national competition for students and junior chefs.

Patisserie Valerie CEO resigns amid accounting investigation

15-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The CEO of Patisserie Holdings has resigned amid an ongoing investigation in to the company's accounts.

Middletons Steakhouse & Grill continues regional expansion

15-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Middletons Steakhouse & Grill is to launch its eighth restaurant, in Chelmsford, with plans for a further two openings in 2019.

We want.... bowls?

15-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

First-time restaurateur Zarifa Ragimova is to open a Soho restaurant that serves food only in bowls.

HOP Vietnamese changes up for fifth City site

14-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Grab-and-go group HOP Vietnamese will launch its largest ever site at The Leadenhall Building (AKA The Cheesegrater) early next month.

KERB to launch its first bricks and mortar market

14-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Street food collective KERB and major London landlord Shaftesbury are teaming up to open a food hall concept in a former warehouse building in Covent Garden.

Latest opening: Pabellón

14-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Lee Shipley's follow up to Circo is located in a listed building next to Brighton Pavilion and again blends Spanish and Asian influences.

Five ways to raise your restaurant’s chocolate game

14-Nov-2018 By Restaurant Magazine

Want to get more creative with chocolate? Here's five interesting ways to dabble with the dark stuff.

Hard Rock Cafe to launch flagship restaurant in Piccadilly Circus

13-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Hard Rock International is to launch a fifth UK Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly Circus, a short walk from its original location on Old Park Lane.

Rusk & Rusk continues Glasgow restaurant expansion

13-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant group Rusk & Rusk has launched its fourth Glasgow site following a £1m investment.

Breakfast carbonara and bespoke art: how Azzurri is keeping its Italian restaurants fresh

13-Nov-2018 By James Wallin

Azzurri Group says it is primed for further expansion following the group’s announcement that sales have rise 8.5% for the year to 1 July.

How I Got Here: Mark Lilley

13-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Mark Lilley founded healthy eating chain Abokado in 2004 with his wife Lindsay. The company has grown to 23 locations across London with further growth planned for next year.

Freaking out: restaurant milkshakes accused of containing 'grotesque' sugar levels

13-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant brands Toby Carvery and Five Guys have been singled out for serving milkshakes with ‘alarming’ and ‘grotesque’ levels of sugar by health charity Action on Sugar.

UKHospitality issues warning over falling migrant numbers

12-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The falling number of migrants working in the UK could result in ‘disaster’ for restaurants, hotels and pubs, UKHospitality has warned.

The Restaurant Group looks to raise £315m to fund Wagamama deal

12-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Restaurant Group (TRG) is planning to raise £315m through a rights issue to fund its acquisition of the Wagamama casual dining chain, despite facing criticism from shareholders and analysts.

How restaurants can create a good (and profitable) Christmas drinks list

12-Nov-2018 By Patrick McGuigan

Make Christmas go with a bang with an appealing festive drinks offering.

Momo Canteen is coming to Canary Wharf with its third site

12-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

London-based pan-Asian mini restaurant group Momo Canteen will open its third site, in Canary Wharf, next month.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen approves restructuring plan

09-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Creditors at Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) have voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of a restructuring plan that could see a number of restaurants close.

Miami's Buns & Buns confirms London launch

09-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Miami-based restaurant brand Buns & Buns has confirmed it will open its long-awaited UK site this month.

Flash-grilled: Stephen Tozer

09-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Stephen Tozer founded Le Bab with Ed Brunet in Soho back in 2015. Earlier this year the pair launched a larger upmarket kebab restaurant in Covent Garden called Maison Bab.

Latest opening: Barrafina, Casa Pastor, Plaza Pastor, The Drop

09-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Hart Group has gone all out with not one but four new venues at the newly opened Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross

Friday Five: the week's top news

09-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Stone me! The UK's first cannabis restaurant to open in Brighton

09-Nov-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

The UK’s first restaurant themed around cannabis ingredient CBD is set to open in Brighton.

Tony Kitous: "I want to see 1,000 Lebanese restaurants in the UK'

09-Nov-2018 By Food Spark

With a new site set to open in London Bridge, the Comptoir Libanais founder discusses the group's star dishes, making Lebanese food more accessible to the masses and why people are rediscovering Middle Eastern cuisine.

Restaurant leaders call for People’s Vote as Brexit is “the most important thing to happen to our industry in living memory”

08-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

A group of leading restaurant figures, including Trevor Gulliver, Fergus Henderson, Mark Hix, Jeremy King, Ruth Rogers, Rick Stein, Paul Moran and Gary Usher are calling for support for a People’s Vote.

The Lowdown: immersive bingo

08-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

What is being billed as the UK's first dedicated immersive bingo hall opens in London next month

COMMENT

Comment: UK's post-Brexit immigration policy is highly damaging for hospitality

08-Nov-2018 By Gemma Jones

The Prime Minister’s immigration policy once the UK leaves the EU shows a lack of understanding about the hospitality sector, says Gemma Jones, co-head of immigration at legal experts SA Law

Takeaway workers jailed over peanut allergen death

08-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Two takeaway staff have been jailed for manslaughter after the death of a teenager who they sent a meal containing peanuts.

Latest opening: Vermuteria

07-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Anthony Demetre's new project is a low-key bar that celebrates vermouth as well as exploring the link between cycling and food and drink.

Living Ventures launches CVA for Blackhouse restaurants

07-Nov-2018 By MCA

Living Ventures has launched a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) process for its five-strong steakhouse concept, Blackhouse.