Casual Dining

Yamagoya ramen moves in to Shuang Shuang site

06-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Ramen restaurant Yamagoya is returning to Soho to take over the downstairs site currently home to Shuang Shuang.

Bun House to roll out second restaurant

06-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The team behind London’s Bun House have announced they will open a second location in Chinatown next year.

21st century hospitality: have restaurants been too slow to exploit technology?

06-Nov-2018 By Tony Naylor

Smaller independent restaurants tend to run scared of ‘faceless’ technology, but from no-shows to personalising your offer, liberation is nigh.

Scott Macdonald leaves role as Polpo MD

06-Nov-2018 By MCA

Scott Macdonald is believed to have left his role as managing director of Polpo after less than a year and a half in the role.

Former Ping Pong CEO has bao bun in the oven

05-Nov-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

The former chief executive of dim sum restaurant group Ping Pong is launching Taiwanese concept Bao & Bing in London's Marylebone.

Zizzi Salisbury to reopen after novichok poisoning

05-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

A branch of Zizzi caught up in the Salisbury poisoning is to reopen to the public on 6 November.

GUEST TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Christmas is coming: give the gift of experience

05-Nov-2018 By Eloise Sheppard

Restaurants need to raise their tech game to ensure the customer experience is slicker than ever during the festive period, says Call Systems Technology managing director Eloise Sheppard.

Industry costs rise to 12-year high

05-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Operating costs faced in the hospitality sector have risen to a 12-year high, according to figures in a new report.

‘Bourgee 2.0’ to open in Norwich as steak and lobster brand makes a comeback

05-Nov-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Steak and lobster restaurant brand Bourgee is undergoing a ‘re-birth’ with the launch of a restaurant in Norwich seven months after the group fell into administration, with the closure of three restaurants.

Friday Five: the week's top news

02-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Southampton's Grand Harbour Hotel sold for £29m

02-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton has been acquired by the fast-growing Fattal Hotel Group for £29m.

Thomas Carr closes Seafood & Grill restaurant after nine months

01-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Chef Thomas Carr has closed his Seafood & Grill restaurant in Devon just nine months after it opened with the help of a crowdfunding campaign.

Last call? Airport restaurants could face tougher licensing laws

01-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

It could soon be last orders for the pre-flight pint under proposals put forward by the government.

Over 120 jobs lost as Mad Ltd. goes into liquidation

01-Nov-2018 By Georgia Bronte

A leading Manchester bar group has closed some of the city’s best-known venues after it went into liquidation earlier this week.

Luke Johnson faces shareholders at Patisserie Holdings

01-Nov-2018 By Sophie Witts

Shareholders at Patisserie Holdings are meeting this morning to vote on a proposed rescue package for the beleaguered bakery chain.

How I Got Here: Martin Williams

01-Nov-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The actor turned steak magnate is best known for his stint at Gaucho as managing director and founding M Restaurants. He recently returned to Gaucho to lead a re-invigoration of the business.

The Begging Bowl smashes crowdfund target with hours left to go

31-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Jane Alty’s Thai restaurant The Begging Bowl has hit its crowdfund target with just 47 hours left until the campaign draws to a close.

Peggy Porschen to launch all-day savoury menu at new Chelsea site

31-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Pretty, Instagram-friendly bakery and cafe Peggy Porschen will launch a flagship all-day restaurant early next year.

Didier Fertilati: "No one should be ashamed to be a waiter"

31-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant manager Didier Fertilati spent five years in charge of the dining room at The Fat Duck and is currently maitre d’ at Quique Dacosta’s eponymous three Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain.

GG Hospitality to close The Rabbit restaurant

30-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

GG Hospitality is to close its fine dining restaurant The Rabbit, formerly Michael O’Hare’s The Rabbit in the Moon, next month.

The Ivy Collection to launch Asian restaurant in Manchester

30-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Ivy Collection will debut an Asian concept next month as it launches its biggest site yet in Manchester's Spinningfields.

Northern burger group KerbEdge to cease trading after winding up order

30-Oct-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

KerbEdge, the North East-based burger restaurant concept, has been ordered to wind up by the High Court, according to BigHospitality’s sister publication MCA.

Using its noodle: why TRG wants Wagamama

30-Oct-2018 By Stefan Chomka

In Wagamama, TRG sees a burgeoning brand with plenty of growth opportunities still ahead of it.

What does Autumn Budget 2018 mean for hospitality?

30-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Autumn Budget drew a mixed reaction from the hospitality industry, with Chancellor Philip Hammond offering an olive branch to the high street, but facing criticism from winemakers.

The Restaurant Group buys Wagamama in deal worth £559m

30-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has reached agreement on the purchase of the entire share capital of Mabel Topco Limited, the company that owns and operates Wagamama.

Video: Making seafood the star of your menu

29-Oct-2018 By Restaurant

Restaurant magazine teamed up with Seafood from Norway last month to run a seafood focused development workshop, discussion and lunch at Adam Byatt’s restaurant, Upstairs at Trinity.

Loui Blake chooses Fitzrovia to launch his second vegan restaurant

29-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The vegan influencer behind a Norwich vegan restaurant and members club will open his debut London restaurant next month.

People on the move in hospitality: October 2018

29-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

From a departure at a Michelin-starred restaurant group to changes at the top of a casual dining brand, we round-up who's been on the move this month.

Bateaux relaunches two boats as Tom Dixon-designed restaurants

29-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

River restaurant pioneer Bateaux will relaunch two classic boats over the coming months, reinventing them as dining destinations with menus designed by the former Flavour Bastard head chef.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen: majority of troubled sites opened in last two years

29-Oct-2018 By Mark Wingett

The majority of Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) restaurants earmarked for closure or rent reductions opened within the last two years, documents show.

37 of the UK’s top 100 restaurant groups are loss making, says report

29-Oct-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Profits at the UK’s top 100 restaurant groups fell a whopping 80% in the past year, according to new figures from accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young.

Anthony Demetre: "I'm very specific about my negronis"

26-Oct-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The Wild Honey chef on Vermuteria, an all day café and bar in newly opened Coal Drops Yard inspired by the origins of vermouth distilling (and cycling).

Patisserie Valerie's finance director resigns ahead of crunch meeting [Updated]

26-Oct-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Chris Marsh has resigned as finance director at Patisserie Holdings with immediate effect, following his suspension from the beleaguered bakery chain earlier this month.

Flash-grilled: Scott Hallsworth

26-Oct-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The ex-Nobu and Kurobuta chef now runs FreakScene in Soho, an irreverent Asian small plates restaurant that takes its name from a Dinosaur Jr. track.

Friday Five: the week's top news

26-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Latest opening: Berenjak

26-Oct-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The Sethi family's latest project is a stripped back and affordable Iranian kebab restaurant headed by ex-Gymkhana chef Kian Samyani.

Matthew Clark Bibendum pays off £160m debts

26-Oct-2018 By Sophie Witts

C&C Group says it has paid off £160m in debts owed by the Matthew Clark Bibendum group since it bought the troubled drinks supplier out of administration in April.

The Lowdown: Filipino cuisine

25-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Two Filipino restaurants have opened in the capital this week, signalling that the little-known cuisine of the tropical country may well be moving into the mainstream.

Cafe Rouge turns chicken with new virtual brand Chef & Rooster

25-Oct-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

French restaurant chain Cafe Rouge is spreading its wings with the trial of a new chicken-focused virtual brand, called Chef & Rooster, at a number of selected sites across the country.

The Barrie Brothers' cookery school crowdfund goes into overfunding

25-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The founders of award winning Anglesey restaurant The Marram Grass will launch a cookery school having surpassed the target on their Kickstarter crowdfund campaign to fund the project.

Ex-Noma chef to open Pucci Pizza-inspired Mayfair restaurant

25-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

A former Noma and Gordon Ramsay Group chef will launch a Mayfair restaurant serving dishes inspired by now-closed King’s Road institution Pucci Pizza.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen initiates CVA following £2.6m operating loss

24-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Casual burger restaurant chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen has confirmed that it will be initiating a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), becoming the most recent casualty of the casual dining crisis.

Burger & Beyond makes moves off the street with Shoreditch opening

24-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Street food burger operator Burger & Beyond will launch a permanent site alongside its residencies at KERB and Street Feast, having secured a site in east London.

Dreaming of a green Christmas: how restaurants can help vegans get festive

24-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The rise of diners following a plant-based diet means that vegans can no longer be left out in the cold come the festive season

Martin Williams announces new direction for Gaucho as it exits administration

24-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Troubled Argentinian restaurant group Gaucho has outlined its plans to re-engage customers as it exits administration, led by M Restaurants CEO Martin Williams.

Mind the age gap: why restaurants should employ the over 50s

23-Oct-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Corbin & King has launched an initiative to employ people in their 50s and older.

New partnership sees Bella Italia menu items stocked in Tesco freezers

23-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Casual Dining Group (CDG) has partnered with Tesco to launch a range of Bella Italia-inspired frozen ready meals based on dishes served at the Italian chain's eat-in restaurants.

Stem + Glory settles on City site for London debut

23-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Plant-based Cambridge restaurant group Stem + Glory will launch its first restaurant in London having successfully crowdfunded £350,000 through Crowdcube.

Patisserie Valerie investigation may be handed to independent body over legitimacy concerns

23-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Leading investors in troubled café chain Patisserie Valerie are concerned about the legitimacy of an internal investigation into a £40 million hole in the company’s accounts, according to The Times.

Tattu puts its mark on Birmingham with scheduled 2019 opening

23-Oct-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Modern Chinese restaurant group Tattu will launch its third site having secured a 150-cover site in Birmingham city centre.