Casual Dining

Adam Handling’s new The Frog restaurant and bar to open in Covent Garden

25-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The chef is to open a second The Frog restaurant and bar in central London, this summer, following the opening of the first Frog E1 in Shoreditch last year.

Pastry Team UK comes eighth and wins Best Sugar at World Patisserie Cup 2017

24-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Pastry Team UK has come in eighth place at the 2017 Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie at the Sirha exhibition in Lyon, France, and Sugar candidate Florian Poirot won ‘Best Sugar Piece’.

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How a restaurant brand can retain personality as the business grows

23-Jan-2017 By Helene Mills

Growing a brand and opening multiple sites is the aim of many restaurant operators, but how do you hold onto the essence of the original as your empire grows? Helene Mills of Pragma gives her top tips.

Wine industry launches push for duty cut

20-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is stepping up its efforts to encourage the Chancellor to reduce wine duty this year.

Restaurant chains' sustainable fish use rises but diners still unsure

20-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

High street restaurant chains have been commended for their increasing use of sustainable fish and seafood, but still need to increase information given to diners, a new report has concluded.

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 16/01 - 20/01

20-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Karaoke bar Lucky Voice shapes up F&B, seeks London expansion

19-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Karaoke bar Lucky Voice has announced plans to open a third site in London as it shapes up its F&B offer and adds more languages to its playlist.

Chain restaurants and pubs given festive uplift

19-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Like-for-like sales across 34 of the UK's largest restaurant and pub groups rose 2 per cent over the last festive season figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker have shown.

Urban Leisure Group to open 70s-inspired bar Bobby Fitzpatrick

18-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Urban Leisure Group, operator of London bars Coin Laundry and Alice House, is to open a 70s-inspired bar in West Hampstead this week.

Industry to Theresa May: make immigration system flexible

18-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Tourism trade association UKinbound is urging Prime Minister Theresa May to create an immigration system that is ‘flexible’ to the needs of the UK’s hospitality and tourism sectors as well as create ‘the best possible trading environment for goods and...

Roux Scholarship 2017: Anne-Sophie Pic named honorary president of judges

18-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Chef Anne-Sophie Pic has been named honorary president of judges for the Roux Scholarship 2017.

Banishing Blue Monday: 10 of the best

16-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Whether you’re feeling the blues this Monday or firmly believe it’s a made-up concept designed to capitalise on our waning New Years’ Resolutions, there’s no denying Blue Monday is making its mark in hospitality today.

Ben Murphy new head chef at D&D London’s Launceston Place

16-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Chef Ben Murphy, previously head chef at The Woodford in east London, has been appointed head chef at D&D London’s Launceston Place, in Kensington.

New York food waste pop-up WastED to launch at Selfridges

16-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

WastED, a New York-based pop-up focusing on food waste from chef Dan Barber, is to open at London’s Selfridges department store this February.

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 09/01 - 13/01

13-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Casual Dining Group creates two new brands for new Jersey Airport contract

13-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The Casual Dining Group (CDG) is to create two new brands in its portfolio after landing the contract to run all food and beverage concessions at Jersey Airport.

Industry warns against regional tourism taxes

13-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

Proposals to introduce a ‘tourist tax’ in Bath have met with strong criticism from the hospitality industry.

More than half of consumers seek greater choice of soft drinks in pubs and bars

12-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Pubs and bars should do more to promote their non-alcoholic drinks, say 55 per cent of consumers with more than a quarter saying they struggle to know what to order at the bar when not drinking alcohol.

Hospitality: Proposed £1,000 fee for EU workers 'very worrying'

12-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

The industry has called proposals to charge British employers £1,000 for every worker they employ from the European Union following Brexit, 'very worrying' with concerns the move will add huge costs to restaurants, hotels and pubs.

Chef Daniel Boulud to make personal appearance at Harrods pop-up

12-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

New-York-based, two-Michelin-starred French chef Daniel Boulud has confirmed he is to make a personal appearance in the kitchen at his first ever Bar Boulud pop-up at Harrods department store this month.

Frontier Pubs to open two London sites as part of wider expansion

11-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The Frontier Pubs group is to open two new London sites in the next few months, with the Rose & Crown in Tooting Bec, and The Lion in Stoke Newington.

Bitters n' Twisted expands Bodega Cantina brand to Derby

11-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Bar and restaurant operator Bitters n' Twisted is to open its fourth site under its Bodega Cantina brand in Derby due to its ongoing success in other locations.

Government reveals 10 most bizarre excuses for not paying minimum wage

11-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The 10 most bizarre excuses for not paying staff minimum wage have been revealed by the Government, as it launches a £1.7m campaign to ensure workers know how much they should be paid.

Chewton Glen to open informal restaurant and cookery school, The Kitchen

10-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Chewton Glen, the five-red star luxury hotel in Hampshire, is to open an informal restaurant as part of its The Kitchen development, which will also include a cookery school with TV chef James Martin.

Cote and Hix Restaurants sign up to energy efficiency forum

10-Jan-2017 By Emma Eversham

Cote, Hix Restaurants and Patisserie Valerie are among the latest hospitality operators to join the Hospitality Carbon Reduction Forum (HCRF) in a bid to help them reduce energy, water and waste.

Business Profile: Brasserie Blanc

10-Jan-2017 By Stefan Chomka

Five years ago French chain Brasserie Blanc was a brand in stasis. But a revamp of the entire estate and a move into the pub sector means it has rediscovered its je ne sais quoi.

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How to capture customer data to benefit the business

09-Jan-2017 By Olivia Fitzgerald

With the festive season behind us, Olivia Fitzgerald of LiveRES, talks hospitality operators through the ways they can use customer data captured at Christmas to benefit business in the year ahead.

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 02/01 - 06/01

06-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Half of diners unsure whether tips go to staff

05-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

Over half of British diners are unsure whether to leave a tip in restaurants in case it is not passed on to waiting staff, according a study by AA Hotel and Hospitality Services.

Clare Smyth reveals more details on Notting Hill venue, on site of former Leith’s

05-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Chef Clare Smyth has revealed more details on her soon-to-open Notting Hill restaurant site, coincidentally a former location for the now-closed Leith’s restaurant in the 60s and 70s.

The Modern Pantry to open Alpha Beta Bar with mixologist ‘Mr. Lyan’

05-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

The Modern Pantry, the London restaurant from New Zealander chef Anna Hansen, is to open a new bar at its Finsbury Square site this January, in partnership with mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan.

Harrods staff demand greater control over tips

04-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant workers at Harrods are calling on the store to allow staff to vote on who distributes their tips in the latest row over the use of service charges.

Oakman Inns confirms million-pound expansion amid strong finance

04-Jan-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Pub company Oakman Inns & Restaurants has confirmed a number of multi-million pound expansion plans as it reports a strong financial position for the year.

Hospitality Action sets £1.8m fundraising target

03-Jan-2017 By Sophie Witts

Industry charity Hospitality Action is calling on the sector to help it raise a record-breaking £1.8m in the next 12 months.

Contactless spending rises in restaurants and bars

23-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

Contactless spending in restaurants rose 62 per cent in the past year, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.

Kerridge, McHale, and banning tipping: The top 5 hospitality interviews of 2016

22-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

It's been a bumper year for interviews, as we chatted to some of the world's finest chefs, innovative restaurant owners, and most impressive hoteliers. Here's our pick of the top five...

Hospitality industry backs proof of age scheme

21-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality trade bodies are backing a Government scheme to encourage young people to stop using passports as proof of age on nights out.

Hospitality urged to put safety first at fireworks shows this New Year’s Eve

21-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Hospitality businesses have been advised to follow strict safety guidelines this New Year’s Eve when inviting the public to any fireworks displays or events.

From frogs to oysters: The top 5 hospitality videos of 2016

21-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

From chefs’ best career advice to the re-invention of oysters, we had the honour of filming some truly great professionals this year. With so many innovative concepts and brilliant insights flying about, we struggled to choose our highlights, but here...

UK on brink of 'new wave' casual dining boom

20-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

The number of restaurants in the UK has risen rapidly in the past five years, but pubs and bars are continuing to close, according to a report by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and CGA Peach.

UK diners look to set menus and vouchers to get best value, says poll

20-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Eating out in the UK is on the rise, with diners looking to set menus, vouchers, and promotions to achieve best value for money, according to new research.

The biggest issues in hospitality in 2016

20-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality and tourism industry faced numerous challenges in 2016, from the ongoing tussle with Airbnb to the rise of plant-based dining.

Loungers bought by Lion Capital in £137m deal ahead of further expansion

20-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Loungers, the 94-site casual dining group of brands Lounges and Cosy Club, has been acquired in a majority stake deal by Lion Capital, in a £137m deal.

Sector leaders pen letter to PM highlighting key issues

19-Dec-2016 By Mark Wingett

More than 20 chief executives and business leaders from the UK’s leading eating and drinking out chains have penned a letter to the Prime Minister Theresa May asking her to “consider a reduction in VAT, extending transitional relief on business rates...

Springboard to hold its first ever star-studded fundraising pantomime

19-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Industry charity Springboard is to hold Springderella, traditional pantomime in January, casting a host of high-profile names in the industry.

PubAid launches World’s Biggest Pub Quiz to fundraise for Prostate Cancer UK

19-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

PubAid, the group that seeks to highlight UK pubs’ charity work, is to partner with Prostate Cancer UK to launch the World’s Biggest Pub Quiz.

Drake & Morgan plans 2017 expansion

19-Dec-2016 By Sophie Witts

London-based bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan has announced plans to open a further three sites in 2017 following a rise in sales.

Yard Sale Pizza to open third London site with new brunch menu

16-Dec-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Yard Sale Pizza, which originally opened in Clapton in 2014, is to open its third site in north London’s Walthamstow in February 2017.

Punch takeover

Sale of 1,900 Punch pubs to Heineken moves one step closer

15-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Heineken has moved one step closer to acquiring the lions share of Punch Taverns' pub estate, after three of the pubco’s top shareholders gave their support.