Casual Dining

Gaucho to file for administration

18-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Gaucho restaurant group is preparing to file for administration, putting 1,500 jobs at risk.

Jackfruit korma and tofu carbonara: Buffalo joins Shoreditch's vegan scene

18-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Vegan diner Buffalo is the latest operator to join Brick Lane’s burgeoning plant-based restaurant scene.

Fall in EU migration a "possible disaster" for hospitality

18-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The fall in net migration from the EU could spell a “possible disaster” for the hospitality sector, trade body UKHospitality has warned.

"It is different from molecular gastronomy, it is about a passion for colour": Jeremy Chan on Ikoyi

18-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The chef patron of Ikoyi on the challenges and rewards of creating contemporary and exploratory west African cuisine

Hawksmoor confirms Manhattan site for 2019 New York launch

18-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

British steakhouse and cocktail bar Hawksmoor will make its long-awaited US debut at a site in New York next year.

Neil Rankin's Temper City to swap curry for tacos

17-Jul-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Temper City is dropping its curry dishes and will introduce a menu more akin to that at the original Temper Soho site, according to its founder.

Monty's Deli to launch crowdfund campaign to finance expansion

17-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Salt-beef sandwich specialist Monty’s Deli will launch a crowdfund at the end of the month with the aim of financing a roll out of its Jewish deli-inspired restaurants.

Cosmo Group founder launches PizzaSqr

17-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The founder of the Cosmo World Buffet chain is behind a new pizza concept launching this summer.

Salon heads further south for upcoming opening

17-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind Brixton small plates restaurant Salon will open a new south London restaurant this autumn.

North's 'first food waste catering business' set for Manchester

17-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Real Junk Food Manchester (RJFM) is to open what it says is the North’s first outside catering business to only cook with food waste.

"Behind each piece of meat there had been a living, breathing, hopping animal": Alexis Gauthier goes green

17-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Alexis Gauthier, chef-patron, Gauthier Soho, on why his fine-dining French restaurant is going vegan.

Gaucho seeks rescue deal to cover unpaid tax bill

16-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Gaucho group is at risk of falling in to administration if it is unable to secure a sale to cover an unpaid tax bill.

Restaurant groups feel the heat as June sales fall

16-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

UK restaurant groups saw a 1.8% drop in trade in June as people flocked to pubs to watch the football.

“When we approach another culture’s cuisine we walk a very thin line”: the industry responds to Shaun Beagley sacking

16-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Following Friday’s sacking of Som Saa chef Shaun Beagley for making racist remarks online, a number of industry figures both from the Thai restaurant scene and further afield have commented on the situation across their social media platforms.

PizzaExpress at 50: What's next for the chain?

16-Jul-2018 By Mel Flaherty

As the pioneer of casual dining in the UK, PizzaExpress holds a unique position in the nation's hearts. And it is now hoping to pull at its strings.

Som Saa fire chef for racist social media posts

13-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

A chef at one of London’s best-rated Thai restaurants has been fired after he was found to have posted a number of racially offensive Instagram posts and YouTube videos.

Latest opening: Hawksmoor Edinburgh

13-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Hawksmoor team has just launched its ninth restaurant, making its first foray outside the English border.

Friday Five: the week's top news

13-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Pig & Pallet team to launch Exmouth pub-restaurant

13-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind Topsham smokehouse The Pig & Pallet will launch its first pub this month

The 'UK’s largest board game café' is coming to Shoreditch

13-Jul-2018 By Stefan Chomka

It’s already home to a cafe that only serves cereal and soon Shoreditch will be the location for what is claimed to be the UK’s largest board game café.

Emma Underwood: "Front of house staff have to be charming - most people are terrible at it"

13-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Stem restaurant manager and partner in the TMRW Project on why front of house need stages too

Latest opening: Ichiba

12-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Tak Tokumine unveiled his latest project this week, billed as the biggest of its ilk in Europe.

Tristan Welch's Cambridge restaurant to open in August

12-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Former Launceston Place head chef Tristan Welch will open his long-awaited Cambridge restaurant on 1 August.

Bundobust confirms Liverpool opening and eyes second Manchester site

12-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte & Georgi Gyton

Gujarati street food and craft beer concept Bundobust confirms its Liverpool opening and eyes up site for a second Manchester location.

Robin Rowland: "Restaurant business rates akin to the window tax"

12-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The former CEO of YO! Sushi has likened the rise in restaurant business rates to the Dickensian window tax.

Independent kosher restaurant takes former Giraffe site

11-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

North London restaurant Tish will launch later this month, serving a fully kosher all-day menu of European cuisine and classic Jewish dishes.

The Lowdown: Bastille Day

11-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The French national holiday takes place on 14 July, and although England almost ended up playing against Les Bleus in the World Cup final the hospitality industry will not be letting the day go by unnoticed.

Pret to open store run by ex-homeless staff

11-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Pret A Manger is planning to open a store run entirely by members of staff who used to be homeless.

Luke Johnson: Majority of investors have "lost interest" in restaurants

11-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Nine out of ten private equity groups have completely “lost interest” in the restaurant industry, according to serial investor Luke Johnson.

A passage to India: Alun and Dawn Sperring on The Chilli Pickle Guildford

11-Jul-2018 By Joe Lutrario

After a false start, Brighton & Hove Indian stalwart The Chilli Pickle is finally on the expansion trail with a new restaurant in Guildford.

Rewriting the Million Pound Menu

11-Jul-2018 By Tony Naylor

In defining restaurant success as a big brand roll-out, BBC2’s Million Pound Menu is unrealistic and joyless

World Cup fever 'a boost to pubs and restaurants', says Barclaycard

10-Jul-2018 By Stefan Chomka

World Cup fever led to an increase in spending in pubs and restaurants last month, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.

IHG to expand Theo Randall's casual restaurant brand

10-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to open four new restaurants in partnership with chef Theo Randall this year.

Move over Nando’s, there’s a new piri piri place in town

10-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Algarvian restaurant Casa do Frango marks a number of new projects in the capital for restaurant and bar group The Collective MJMK.

Andrew Wong’s Bloomberg Arcade restaurant to be called Kym's

10-Jul-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Andrew Wong’s long awaited Bloomberg Arcade restaurant will be called Kym’s and is expected to open in September.

Casual Dining Group CEO: "My highest paid waitress is on £50k a year with tips"

10-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

The CEO of Casual Dining Group (CDG) has said the industry needs to dispel the “myth” that all restaurant workers are low paid.

Daisy Green smashes Crowdcube goal in under two hours

09-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Antipodean restaurant group Daisy Green has surpassed its £500,000 crowdfund target just hours after it launched on Crowdcube today.

Eat founders to resign after company restructure

09-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The founders of sandwich chain Eat are expected to resign after the company closes 10% of its sites.

Green & Fortune to undergo £1.5million birthday refurbishment

09-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Green & Fortune will mark its tenth anniversary with a £1.5 million renovation of its Kings Place café, restaurant and bar.

Sami Tamimi on ROVI, 'waste' ingredients and Ottolenghi

09-Jul-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Chef restaurateurs Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi opened their first restaurant in six years late last month. Located in Fitzrovia, ROVI serves a vegetable-centric menu that explores fermentation and cooking over fire.

Dan Doherty's pub reopens ahead of major revamp

06-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Dan Doherty’s London pub has reopened with a short menu ahead of a full renovation later this year.

The Weekender Interview: Dhruv Mittal

06-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Cordon Bleu-trained DUM Biryani chef patron on saffron old fashioneds, clicking at waiters, and why toddlers shouldn't listen to T-Pain.

Friday Five: the week's top news

06-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Latest opening: Bancone

06-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

In for a penne, in for a pound: pasta-centric restaurant Bancone has launched in Covent Garden this month.

Leon warns of high street struggles as sales growth slows

06-Jul-2018 By Sophie Witts

Leon CEO John Vincent has said the rising cost of trading on the UK high street is “incentivising” the group to open more restaurants overseas.

Kin + Deum joins eclectic London Bridge restaurant scene

06-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

An authentic and family-run Thai restaurant will join the increasingly varied food offering in the burgeoning dining destination of London Bridge.

Casual Dining Group trials delivery brand Blazing Bird

06-Jul-2018 By James Wallin

Casual Dining Group is trialling a delivery-only concept, Blazing Bird, from a selection of its Las Iguanas restaurants.

Thai Express joins Grand Central's diverse operator line-up

05-Jul-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Casual quick-service Thai restaurant Thai Express will make its Birmingham debut this month at a site in the Grand Central, part of the city’s Bullring Estate.