Casual Dining

KERB makes moves off the street as it opens first permanent site

27-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

KERB is launching is first ever permanent bricks and mortar site this month as it looks to reposition itself as an all-day food and drink offer.

"The next project is always bigger than the one before it": The owners of Sophie's on their upcoming Soho site

27-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

It’s been 15 years since Sophie Bathgate and Rupert Power launched Chelsea steakhouse Sophie’s, inspired by the steakhouses of New York. Having closed their Covent Garden restaurant in June 2017 after nine years of service, the pair are “taking the steakhouse...

Grind smashes crowdfunding target to raise £1.5m

27-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Coffee house and restaurant group Grind has raised double its £750,000 crowdfunding target in just four days.

Friday Five: The week's top news

24-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

From the end of an era at Ormer Jersey to a new project for a Manchester chef, we round-up the top stories you might have missed this week.

Hotel with restaurant inspired by historic London completes £1.5m revamp

24-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

The Apex City of London Hotel has completed a £1.5m refurbishment with the launch of a new restaurant inspired by 17th century London diarist Samuel Pepys.

Rock'n'roll pub from the team behind The Alma set to open next month

24-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind two popular north London pubs will launch a third this December.

Gordon Ramsay's Plane Food spin-off will land in airports worldwide

24-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Gordon Ramsay is planning to roll-out a new takeaway concept to airports worldwide, nearly a decade after the launch of his original Plane Food site at Heathrow.

Latest opening: Smoking Goat

24-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind Kiln are bringing their sister brand to Shoreditch, staying open until late to serve a menu of Thai drinking and comfort foods

Australian brand Antipodea is heading to Richmond

24-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Australian brasserie Antipodea has chosen Richmond as the location to open its third site.

Bel-Air ceases trading with closure of three London restaurants

23-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Californian-inspired restaurant group Bel-Air has ceased trading with the closure of its three London restaurants.

Hip coffee chain Grind to open in transport hubs following deal with SSP

23-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Grind looks to be heading to airports and train stations across the UK and Europe following a deal with transport hub specialist SSP.

The Lowdown: Black Friday

23-Nov-2017 By Stefan Chomka

The US shopping phenomenon that sees people fighting over white goods in the supermarket aisles returns today and is now a big deal in the UK. And restaurants haven’t wasted any time in getting in on the act.

Bánh Bánh secures second London restaurant

23-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

The five siblings behind Vietnamese restaurant Bánh Bánh are to launch their second London site in Brixton.

Sean Marsh announced as head chef at The Hour Glass

23-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

West London pub The Hour Glass has announced the appointment of St John and Mugaritz alumnus Sean Marsh as head chef.

Mary-Ellen McTague to launch crowdfunding drive for Manchester restaurant

23-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Mary-Ellen McTague is preparing to launch a crowdfunding campaign to open a restaurant and bakery in Chorlton, Manchester.

The Chancellor's 2017 budget and its implications for the industry

22-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Pubs had a reason to raise a glass to the chancellor’s budget today (22 November) with the announcement of a freeze in alcohol duty.

Killian Crowley to represent UK and Ireland at S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 global final

22-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Irish chef Killian Crowley has won the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 regional final and will represent Ireland and the UK at the competition’s global final, which takes place in Milan next summer.

By Chloe announces flagship opening date, as it secures second site

22-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

US vegan fast food chain By Chloe will open two restaurants in London next year.

Chef masterclass: Francisco Migoya's sourdough

22-Nov-2017 By Bill Knott

The Cooking Lab head chef and author of Modernist Bread - sister publication to Nathan Myhrvold’s Modernist Cuisine - shares his recipe for the most ancient form of leavened bread.

Franco Manca continues to expand, securing first Scottish site

21-Nov-2017 By Mark Wingett

Brixton-born pizza chain Franco Manca is continuing with its rapid expansion, making its Scottish debut next year.

Deliveroo begins targeting wet-led pubs

21-Nov-2017 By Mark Wingett

Deliveroo has started working with pubs and bars which don’t have kitchens, allowing customers to order food to the pub they are in.

Linda Lee is set to open her sixth Korean restaurant

21-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Korean restaurateur Linda Lee is adding a new ‘table and market’ concept to her Korean restaurant portfolio.

Shaun Rankin "extremely sad" to cut ties with Ormer Jersey

21-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Shaun Rankin has confirmed he has cut ties with Ormer Jersey after his ideas became ‘incompatible’ with the planned direction of the restaurant.

The Good Eggs: Joel Braham and Alex Coppard on attempting to crack Soho

21-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The Good Egg, the Middle Eastern inspired, street-food success story, is branching out to Soho after over two years of serving Jerusalem-inspired brunches at its Stoke Newington restaurant. The pair behind the brand, Joel Braham and Alex Coppard, recently...

East London's Del74 join the UK's taco boom with a second site

20-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

East London Taco group Del74 is expanding to a second site in Dalston this month, with a host of new menu items.

YO! Sushi gears up to crack US market with £59m takeover

20-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

YO! Sushi has become the first UK restaurant brand to make a serious play in North America, with the acquisition of the continent’s second biggest sushi brand, Bento Sushi.

"Times are tough for operators": the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker figures are in

20-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The UK is continuing to spend less on eating out across branded pub, bar and restaurant groups, according to research consultancy CGA.

The Coral Room to open in Bloomsbury amid hotel revamp

20-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The Coral Room will open in the historic Bloomsbury Hotel on Great Russell Street this week, serving cocktails and an all-day menu.

Shaun Rankin 'removed' from Ormer Jersey board [Updated]

20-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

The owners of the Ormer restaurant in Jersey have cut ties with Shaun Rankin four years after opening.

Mini Tortilla to launch as the brand looks beyond the high street

20-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Burrito brand Tortilla is to launch a mini version of its high street restaurants as it looks to expand to residential and office-based sites.

Three key ways to manage a flexible workforce

20-Nov-2017 By Victoria Albon

With Christmas just around the corner, it's vital businesses understand the advantages - and potential pitfalls - of employing a flexible, seasonal workforce. Victoria Albon, associate at Dentons Employment, shares her advice

Cubana launches £200k crowdfunding drive

17-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Cubana, the restaurant group founded by former Conservative treasury minister Phillip Oppenheim, has launched a crowdfunding drive to expand.

Restaurant group teams up with Greek agency to tackle UK chef shortage

17-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

The founder of Greek restaurant chain Olive Tree Brasserie has begun working with a recruitment agency in Greece after struggling to hire UK chefs.

Latest Opening: Pastaio

16-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Pastaio, in the heart of Soho, is another specialist Italian opening for London from chef and restaurateur Stevie Parle.

Robin Gill to relaunch The Manor as an Italian restaurant while closing in on first central London site

16-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Clapham based The Manor will close on New Year’s Day as chef patron Robin Gill gears up to launch his new concept, Sorella, on the same site.

Zuma plans to bring new robata concept Inko Nito to Soho

16-Nov-2017 By Mark Wingett

Restaurant group Zuma is planning to launch a Japanese robata concept in London’s Soho.

Are you ready for this jelly?

16-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

With fish stocks under intense pressure, chefs are casting their nets a little wider and looking to less obvious marine species. Would you put jellyfish and chips on your menu?

Sophie's subterranean speakeasy set to launch next month

16-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Sophie’s Steakhouse is opening a speakeasy bar in Soho next month in the basement of its new site.

Gunpowder team makes move out of Spitalfields

16-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

The team behind Gunpowder, Madame D and Gul & Sepoy has confirmed it will open a fourth restaurant, in Spring 2018.

Francesco Mazzei: EU chefs are leaving London as it's too expensive

15-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Francesco Mazzei has warned that the high cost of living in London is making it increasingly difficult for restaurants to find European staff.

Noma 2.0 to reduce opening hours and raise prices to reduce staff stress

15-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Noma is to cut its opening hours and raise prices in a bid to reduce pressure on staff when it reopens next year.

Europe’s largest Japanese food hall is heading to Westfield London

14-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

Japan Centre Group and Cool Japan Fund will launch Europe’s largest Japanese food hall as part of Westfield London’s £600m expansion early next year.

Wahaca's new Test Kitchen will let diners trial and review dishes

14-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

Wahaca is the latest restaurant group to launch a site that will let diners give instant feedback on new dishes before they hit the national menu.

Ignacio Perez-Barreiro opens Tinto in Didsbury

14-Nov-2017 By Joe Lutrario

The Spanish chef that helped launched the La Tasca restaurant chain 25 years ago has opened an upmarket restaurant in the Manchester suburb of Didsbury.

Monthly Column

Young chefs lack the time or money to eat out - can the industry help?

14-Nov-2017 By Tony Naylor

Eating widely and well is crucial for inspiring young chefs. Could the industry do more to facilitate that?

Industry 'hasn't seen the light' on tech

14-Nov-2017 By Mark Wingett

Many restaurant groups have “not seen the light” when it comes to technology, despite the huge potential for improving efficiency, according to Wagamama customer director Emma Woods.

Vegetarian burger concept Pure Filth to launch permanent site early next year

13-Nov-2017 By Stefan Chomka

Chef Gizzi Erskine and nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson are set to launch healthy vegetarian burger restaurant Pure Filth early next year following a pop-up at Tate Modern in London later this month.

The Palomar team to bring counter dining to relaunched Soho pub The Blue Posts

13-Nov-2017 By Stefan Chomka

The team behind London restaurants The Palomar and The Barbary is reopening Soho stalwart The Blue Posts on Rupert Street next month.

Pi Woodfired chooses Battersea for its London debut

13-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Fledgling pizza concept Pi Woodfired has secured its first London location.

"My role is to disrupt, rather than to manage”: Stevie Parle on soft launches, dodgy tech and his new Soho site

13-Nov-2017 By Georgia Bronte

Chef, restaurateur and food writer Stevie Parle has recently opened a new restaurant, Pastaio, just off Carnaby Street in Soho. The high footfall location is a sharp contrast to those of his existing restaurants, which include Rotorino, Dock Kitchen and...