Casual Dining

Pret A Manger to give away £12m to staff after £1.5bn sale

29-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Pret A Manger's 12,000 employees are to each receive a £1,000 windfall following the company's sale to Krispy Kreme doughnuts owner JAB.

Cult Taiwanese tea brand makes double debut

29-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Cult Taiwanese tea brand YiFang is launching its first two permanent UK sites in central London this summer.

How newcomer Freshii is shaking up the healthy eating scene

29-May-2018 By Sarah Sharples

Canadian fast-casual chain Freshii launched in the UK earlier this year with ambitious plans to capitalise on the appetite for healthy eating.

Dan Doherty partners with Rhubarb for New York restaurant

29-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Dan Doherty has teamed up with London catering company Rhubarb to act as chef partner at its upcoming New York restaurant.

The Weekender Interview: Eric Chavot

25-May-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Born in France, Eric Chavot cooked under Raymond Blanc and Pierre Koffmann and went on to hold two Michelin stars at his eponymous restaurant at The Capital Hotel for a decade. He now oversees the kitchen at Soho restaurant Bob Bob Ricard and will soon...

Bocuse d’Or hopeful Tom Phillips on his gruelling training regime

25-May-2018 By Joe Lutrario

26 year-old Restaurant Story sous chef Tom Phillips will represent the UK at the European heat of the Bocuse d’Or on 11 June.

Friday Five: the week's top news

25-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

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

Latest opening: Inko Nito

25-May-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind Zuma and Roka are looking to target younger, less-moneyed diners at this slick but accessible new Soho restaurant.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen unveils transformation plan after £7.8m loss

25-May-2018 By James Wallin

Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) plans to close six restaurants and slash its openings pipeline for the year as it seeks to turn around falling sales.

Food delivery services chip away at restaurant growth

24-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Consumers are swapping dining out for eating at home using food delivery services, new data has shown.

Just Eat launches restaurant support scheme

24-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Just Eat has launched a programme in partnership with Dragon’s Den star Sarah Willingham, to give independent restaurants a platform for growth.

The Lowdown: Tory party discount card

24-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Tories are considering offering a discount card to offer deals on restaurant food

Norse announces immediate closure after four years

24-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Scandinavian restaurant Norse in Harrogate has announced its immediate closure months after asking customers for greater support.

Casual Dining Group set for more hotel restaurants

24-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Casual Dining Group (CDG), the owner of brands including Café Rouge and Bella Italia, has signed a deal to further expand in to hotels.

Mr Lyan: "Seasonal and foraged produce won't feed the world"

24-May-2018 By Joe Lutrario

One of the world’s most famous bars has launched a menu that explores and champions mass production.

Gingerman Group to open new restaurant in Brighton's Lanes

23-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Brighton and Hove’s Gingerman Restaurant Group is to open a new site in the city in early 2019.

Adam Handling is appointed executive chef of Belmond Cadogan Hotel

23-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Scottish chef Adam Handling will take the reins at Belmond Hotel Group’s long-awaited Cadogan Hotel at the end of the year.

Little Kolkata supperclub secures permanent Covent Garden site

23-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind Bengali supper club operation Little Kolkata will open its debut permanent restaurant in Covent Garden next month.

Northcote Group sells four Ribble Valley Inns sites

23-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Northcote Group has sold its Ribble Valley Inns portfolio to Brunning & Price, the pub division of The Restaurant Group, for an undisclosed sum.

Gaucho restaurant group to hold talks over possible sale

23-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Gaucho restaurant group is considering a sale of its entire company following the underperformance of its CAU casual steakhouse brand.

Latest opening: Stem

23-May-2018 By Stefan Chomka

The third London restaurant from chef-turned-restaurateur Mark Jarvis is his most grown up yet.

Inside Liverpool's booming restaurant scene

23-May-2018 By Restaurant magazine

Ongoing regeneration and a thriving independent scene has helped Liverpool top the table of growth in the UK’s restaurant and bar scene.

Brewery, bar and Cypriot kitchen to launch in Hackney next month

22-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

A brewery, bar and restaurant concept is launching in Hackney Central’s renovated arches next month, offering craft beers and traditional Cypriot small plates.

The Restaurant Show celebrates 30 years at the heart of the industry

22-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The Restaurant Show celebrates its 30th anniversary this October, and plans to mark it by making it the “best year yet”.

Alex Bond on running Nottingham's Alchemilla, Sat Bains and plant-based menus

22-May-2018 By Carina Simon

As chef de partie at Restaurant Sat Bains, Alex Bond was part of Nottingham’s restaurant revival. Now he’s making a name for himself at his own place in the city.

Hedone launches standalone bakery in Vauxhall

21-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Hedone chef Mikael Jonsson has significantly boosted his bakery business with the launch of a standalone site in Vauxhall.

Dynamic pricing: why restaurants are using airline tactics

21-May-2018 By Restaurant magazine

Pioneered by airlines and hotels and now commonplace in many industries, dynamic pricing sees the cost of goods and services fluctuate according to demand.

Chef Tommy Heaney to open Cardiff restaurant

21-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Chef Tommy Heaney is planning to open his first Cardiff restaurant with the help of a Kickstarter campaign later this year.

Restaurant job vacancies fall 11% in six months

21-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

The number of job vacancies in the UK restaurant sector has dropped 11% over the past six months, a new study shows.

The Porridge Cafe founder opens almost-vegan east London restaurant

21-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

The founder of now-closed Shoreditch restaurant The Porridge Café has opened a plant-based restaurant in London Fields.

Chef Masterclass: char siu pork by Xu's Erchen Chang

21-May-2018 By Bill Knott

There is nothing coy or discreet about a Cantonese siu mei restaurant. Its wares are in the window for all to see, hanging from dozens of meat hooks.

Last orders: iconic Dalston cafe to close as directed by late owner's will

21-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

Dalston’s “only non-hipster café”, Arthur’s, has announced it will close after 70 years of service, because its founder and namesake decreed in his will that it must be sold on his death.

Deliveroo to create own restaurant brands using £5m fund

21-May-2018 By Sophie Witts

Deliveroo has launched a £5m "innovation fund" to invest in creating its own restaurant brands in partnership with budding and established chefs.

BurgerFi disappears from the UK dining scene

18-May-2018 By Georgia Bronte

US-born burger restaurant BurgerFi has closed its two UK sites, according to BigHospitality’s sister publication MCA.

The Weekender Interview: Shaun Rankin

18-May-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Born in County Durham but raised in Yorkshire, Shaun Rankin has an eclectic CV that includes Charlie Trotter’s famed Chicago restaurant. He made his name as a chef in Jersey, winning Michelin stars at Bohemia and later Ormer. He now runs an Ormer restaurant...

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