Friday five: the week’s top hospitality stories
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ financial results and the continued expansion of Honest Burgers are among this week’s most-read stories.
News
Famed pizzeria Vincenzo’s is opening a site in Shoreditch
Tom Vincent is bringing his trademark pizzas to Shoreditch this autumn with the opening of a slice shop.
The Wolseley Hospitality Group sees turnover rise above £64m
The Wolseley Hospitality Group has reported a 7.85% rise in turnover in its latest financial results, fuelled by a combination of increased visits and higher average spend per head.
Stuart Ralston brings together Edinburgh restaurants as The Aizle Hospitality Group
Acclaimed Edinburgh chef Stuart Ralston is bringing his different restaurants together under a newly created parent company called The Aizle Hospitality Group.
London’s much-loved Le Colombier restaurant to close after 27 years
Long-standing South Kensington restaurant Le Colombier is closing after nearly 30 years in business.
Pizza Express owner Bain Capital makes bid for Costa Coffee
The investor behind Gail’s and Pizza Express has made a bid for Costa Coffee, which is being put up for sale with a roughly £2bn price tag by owner Coca-Cola.
Pasta Evangelists continues expansion as losses increase
Pasta Evangelists saw its revenues increase below the rate of inflation in 2024 as losses widened.
Half of consumers still don’t trust restaurants to pass on tips, according to new research
Around half of customers (54%) don’t trust that restaurants are passing on all tips to staff a year after the Allocation of Tips Act 2023 came into effect, research has found.
Brasserie Blanc invites its customers to join Le Club loyalty scheme
Heartwood Collection has unveiled a new loyalty program across its Brasserie Blanc French restaurant group.
Individual Restaurants targets corporate dining with new loyalty scheme
Individual Restaurants has launched what it says is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ loyalty club dedicated to corporate dining in the UK.
Gordon Ramsay is bringing an LA-based Michelin-starred pasta restaurant to the UK for two weeks
Los Angeles-based Michelin-starred restaurant Pasta Bar is coming to London in a partnership with Gordon Ramsay.
Tonkotsu tees up new openings as turnover rises
Ramen specialist Tonkotsu has reported an 8% rise in like-for-like sales in its latest financial results, with the group ‘demonstrating solid performance despite industry-wide challenges’.
Hawksmoor eyes further expansion in the UK and US
Hawksmoor is eyeing further expansion in both the UK and the US with several sites currently under consideration for opening in 2026 and beyond.
Internal promotions driving lower staff turnover in hospitality, report says
A rise in the rate of internal promotions for key hospitality leadership roles is contributing to a reduction in staff turnover across the sector, according to a new report.
Popeyes ‘well positioned to achieve growth ambitions’ as turnover tops £100m
Popeyes UK says it is on track to reach 100 sites by the end of the year, which will include its first-ever location in the Republic of Ireland.
The Evolv Collection creates high-rise Stories brand as its renames Birmingham restaurant
The Evolv Collection is changing the name of its high-rise Birmingham restaurant Orelle to 24 Stories in a move that it says will pave the way for new skyline locations to open across the UK.
Gourmet Burger Kitchen returns to profit
Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) returned to profit in 2024, according to its latest financial results.
Tortilla forecasts ‘most profitable year’ as UK sales increase
Tortilla has recorded a sales increase of 5% in UK like-for-like sales and record UK ebitda in its unaudited interim results for the 26 weeks to 29 June 2025.
Wingstop UK toasts record results as turnover and profits soar
Wingstop UK has described 2024 as a ‘transformational year’ for the business with pre-tax profits more than tripling and turnover soaring past the £100m mark.
Gizzi Erskine returns to Mare Street Market as chef creative director
Gizzi Erskine is returning to London’s Mare Street Market as chef creative director, developing ‘revitalised’ menus across both its sites and launching a new health concept.
Comment
Chuck E. Cheese – can a US brand built on childhood nostalgia make it in the UK?
The US entertainment brand might find bringing its experience to these shores easy, but translating its meaning to UK customers is another thing altogether.
Covent Garden to welcome a trio of cafes and bakeries
A trio of bakeries and cafés will open in Covent Garden this autumn.
“I will rise again”: Endo Kazutoshi breaks his silence on the closure of his west London restaurant
Endo Kazutoshi has released an impassioned statement about the closure of his Michelin-starred flagship restaurant, which was severely damaged by fire earlier this month.
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants swings to loss despite record revenues
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has reported record revenues following the merging of its UK and international operations and the opening of 20 new restaurants in its most recent financial year.
Pie and a pint? Bakery chain Greggs has opened a pub
Bakery chain Greggs has opened a pub that serves pastry-inspired drinks as well as range of traditional pub classics with a bakery twist.
Christmas comes early for Prezzo Italian customers with its 99p main offer
Prezzo Italian is attempting to get diners into the Christmas spirit early by offering two of its yuletide creations for just 99p.
Permanently Unique Group reports strong trading as it gears up for international expansion
The restaurant group behind brands including Tattu, Fenix, and Louis has reported a rise in sales and profits in its latest financial results.
Mowgli moves into delivery for the first time under Uber Eats partnership
Mowgli Street Food moved into delivery for the first time through an exclusive national partnership with Uber Eats.
Restaurant sales dip again in August as warm weather draws consumers to pubs
Managed restaurant groups recorded a 1.6% dip in sales in August, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, as sustained sunshine attracted consumers to pub gardens and terraces.
Atomix crowned North America’s Best Restaurant in inaugural list
A husband-and-wife duo that are soon to open a restaurant in London have had their flagship New York venue crowned The Best Restaurant in North America 2025.
Friday five: the week’s top restaurant stories
Jamie Oliver’s latest reflections on the collapse of his UK restaurant empire, Rick Stein’s 2024 financial results and Prezzo’s transition to a multi-brand business lead this week’s most-read news stories.
“At heart I am an innovator”: Linda Lee relaunches Korean restaurant KOBA
Linda Lee has relaunched her Korean barbecue restaurant KOBA in Fitzrovia with a more contemporary style of cuisine.
Rick Stein group consults with Marlborough restaurant team as it shutters Padstow coffee shop
Rick Stein’s group has closed its coffee shop in Padstow, Cornwall, and has confirmed it is consulting with staff with a view to also shuttering its restaurant in Marlborough, Wiltshire.
KOYN in Mayfair to close, with KOYN Thai to find a new home
Samyukta Nair is closing her Japanese restaurant KOYN in Mayfair and will find a new home for KOYN Thai that occupies the space below.
Pizza Hut enters the value war with £5 flatbread pizza option
Pizza Hut has become the latest restaurant brand to launch a value proposition.
‘Challenging macroeconomic environment’ hits turnover and EBITDA at Pizza Express
Pizza Express has blamed a ‘challenging macroeconomic environment’ for a fall in turnover in its latest financial results.
Velvet Taco to open in London’s Broadgate Circle in November
US Taco brand Velvet Taco will open its first site on UK soil this November in London’s Broadgate Circle.
Gourmet doughnut brand Longboys closes blaming spiralling costs
Chef Graham Hornigold has announced the closure of his gourmet doughnut brand Longboys.
Nokz Majozi departs The Pie room at Rosewood London
Nokz Majozi has announced her departure from Rosewood London hotel after 11 years.
The Sushi Co to open seven sites before the year end
The Sushi Co will open seven new sites by the end of 2025, taking the brand to 30 sites across the UK.
Flat Iron to open in Newcastle next year
Flat Iron is continuing its nationwide expansion with the opening of a restaurant in Newcastle next year.
Leeds’ Silver’s Deli named the 2025 Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year
Silver’s Deli in Leeds has been named the 2025 Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year.
The Salad Project to launch matcha bar with new Notting Hill site
The Salad Project’s forthcoming site in London’s Notting Hill will feature a dedicated matcha bar, as the group looks to capitalise on the rising popularity of the green tea-based beverage.
Prezzo Italian plots transition to multi-brand business as it unveils new hospitality company
The group behind Prezzo Italian has rebranded as Brava Hospitality Group amid plans to transition from a single-brand operator to a broader platform designed to manage and grow multiple concepts.
Rick Stein calls on Government to ‘ease financial pressures’ on hospitality as revenue falls
Rick Stein’s restaurant group has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to ‘support the recovery’ of the hospitality sector in her forthcoming Budget after reporting a fall in revenue.
Public House Group to open The Hart in Marylebone next month
The team behind popular London pubs The Pelican, The Hero and The Fat Badger as well as The Bull in Charlbury in the Cotswolds is adding to its portfolio with a new London opening.
Lebanese street food brand Mayyil heads to Kingston for third UK site
Lebanese street food brand Mayyil is set to open the doors to its third London restaurant later this month.
Detroit-style pizza brand Ria’s to open second London restaurant
Detroit-style pizza and natural wine bar Ria’s will open a second site in the capital this autumn.
Homeless charity StreetSmart seeks restaurant partners for 2025 campaign
Restaurant groups are being urged to sign up to support charity StreetSmart, which helps homeless people in the UK, this winter.
Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurant to make its UK debut next year
Gordon Ramsay will bring his Hell’s Kitchen restaurant brand to the UK for the first time next year with the opening of a site within Marble Arch’s Cumberland Hotel.