From physics to fire: Caroline Martins on her unconventional career shift
The chef behind Manchester restaurant SAMPA on leaving the science world behind, cooking for Brazilian footballers, and her upcoming churrasco concept BRASA.
News
Patty & Bun closes all but two bricks-and-mortar sites
Better burger brand Patty & Bun has closed four of its London restaurants, including its original site on Marylebone’s James Street.
Aktar Islam seeks key team members for long-mooted Bristol restaurant project
Chef Aktar Islam has confirmed that he still plans to open his delayed Bristol restaurant, Kush.
Dom Chapman and Nigel Sutcliffe team up for Berkshire restaurant and pub with rooms
Chef Dom Chapman and restaurateur Nigel Sutcliffe will open a restaurant and pub with rooms in the Berkshire village of Binfield this May.
MEATliquor shutters bulk of estate
MEATliquor has closed more than half of its eight-strong estate following an apparent restructuring of the business.
Top grower John Rowlands joins Palé Hall hotel
Former Our Farm head grower John Rowlands has joined chef Luke Selby at Palé Hall hotel in North Wales.
Flash-grilled: Tom Kemble
The founder of London’s Spring Street Pizza and Bonham’s alumnus on Pierre Koffmann’s stuffed pig’s trotter, l’Arpège and his beloved Apex chopping board.
Analysis finds most major restaurant chains exceed 95% top hygiene ratings
New analysis has revealed that the vast majority of major restaurant brands are rated either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ for hygiene.
Just Eat and Pasta Evangelists among businesses being investigated in reviews probe
Just Eat and Pasta Evangelists are among a number of businesses facing investigation from the UK’s competition watchdog as part of a probe into fake and misleading online reviews.
Restaurant delivery boosted at-home sales in February
New delivery offers helped restaurants to strong at-home sales growth in February despite a sharp drop in takeaways, new data shows.
Rossella to open in North London’s Muswell Hill
Neighbourhood Italian restaurant Rossella is set to open its second North London site in Muswell Hill this May.
Sadiq Khan aiming for London’s ‘biggest ever summer for al fresco dining’ as Summer Streets returns
The Mayor of London’s ‘Summer Streets’ fund will return to the capital for a second year, in a bid to boost its bars, cafes, hospitality and nightlife economy.
Kiln and Smoking Goat chefs to cook at New York’s Comal
Kiln and Smoking Goat chefs Lonnie Rountree and Albert Smith will be bringing their Thai style of cooking across the pond next month with a pop-up collaboration with Mexico City-inspired restaurant Comal.
Protecting hospitality: three experts discuss what needs to happen
Ahead of their panel at next month’s UK Food & Drink Shows representatives from The SRA, BBPA and UKHospitality discuss the challenges the food and drink sector faces and how to address them.
Uncorked: Federico Quintavalle
The head sommelier at Ikoyi on growing up on the Tuscan island of Elba, Aleatico DOCG and being able to sniff out a dirty glass cloth a mile off.
Pizza Hut revamps reward scheme
Pizza Hut UK has its upgraded loyalty programme Hut Rewards so that customers are rewarded every time they order.
LUPA trio to open Milanese restaurant Ornella in London Fields
The team behind Roman-inspired restaurant LUPA will open a second restaurant in the capital next month.
Cue Point to mark its decade with first permanent site
Afghan-Texan barbecue brand Cue Point will open its first permanent home next month as founders Mursal Saiq and Joshua Moroney mark a decade since launching the business.
Bill’s teams up with ‘Potato Queen’ Poppy O’Toole for 25th anniversary limited edition menu
Bill’s has partnered with chef and social media creator Poppy O’Toole to launch a limited-edition menu as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
Inception Group to enter competitive socialising space
Inception Group is making its first move into the competitive socialising space with its new Mr Fogg’s Games Parlour concept.
How I got Here: Melody Adams
The restaurateur behind Basque restaurants Lurra and Donostia and most recently Maset on dreams of becoming a farmer, the importance of authenticity, and trusting your instincts.
Market forces: food halls power ahead with 31% growth
The UK food hall sector is in robust health, with venue numbers rising by 31% over the past year, according to new research.
Maria Boumpa: 2026’s sommelier Rising Star
The 32-year-old wine director of Da Terra on moving from economics to hospitality, discovering wine, and balancing further study.
Island Poké founder James Gould-Porter turns supplier with British spring water brand
Island Poké founder James Gould-Porter has moved from operator to supplier with the launch of Elder, a new British spring water brand offering a closed-loop glass bottle system.
Cosmo spin-off brand Umami to open at Gloucester Quays
Cosmo Restaurant Group is bringing its spin-off concept, Umami, to Cotswolds designer outlet Gloucester Quays.
Market Halls secures £11m to fund its expansion
Market Halls has secured £11m in funding to support the next phase of its national growth.
Cairo practitioner: the chef introducing the flavours of North Africa to Soho
With his new restaurant Impala, Meedu Saad wants to bring some of the chaos of the Egyptian capital to London’s dining scene.
Team behind Julie’s to launch Notting Hill pub
The team behind Holland Park restaurant Julie’s will take over the well-known Notting Hill pub The Prince Edward later this year.
Floating brasserie Marceline bows out after less than two years
Canary Wharf floating brasserie Marceline appears to have closed after less than two years of trading.
Côte launches French only online wine shop
Côte Brasserie has expanded its online offer with the launch of a wine shop dedicated to France’s vineyards and winemaking heritage.
Kricket heads to Dubai for international debut
Kricket, the London-based modern Indian group founded by Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, will open its first overseas site later this year in Dubai.
Prezzo Italian’s family dining subscription earns 4,000 signups in first month
Prezzo Italian’s family dining subscription, which entitles up to three children to a free three-course meal with an adult main purchase, has had 4,000 signups in its first month.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A wave of restaurant closures and the potential sale of a popular fried chicken brand were among this week’s top stories.
Industry encouraged to give feedback on the Mayor of London’s proposed licensing reforms
London operators are being encouraged to respond to a consultation that could bring about the biggest shake-up of licensing in the capital for decades.
Soho’s Shackfuyu to revert to Bone Daddies format, marking the end of ‘London’s longest pop-up’
Japanese restaurant Shackfuyu will close after more than a decade with its owner converting it into its Bone Daddies format.
Oldham restaurant Delve closes weeks after being put up for sale
Oldham restaurant Delve has closed with immediate effect just months after its owner had announced he was looking to sell.
Devinder Singh to open second Indian/Italian fusion restaurant
A restaurant that fuses Indian flavours and Neapolitan pizza will open it second site next month.
Flat Iron to make its Scotland debut next year
Flat Iron is continuing to sweep northwards with the opening next year of its first site in Scotland.
Boxpark signs deal with The Jockey Club as it looks to expand its events business
Boxpark has secured its first multi-year partnership with The Jockey Club that will see it return to the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse for this year.
March tube strikes cancelled
Two planned 24-hour strikes by London Underground drivers set to take place next week have been called off, the RMT union has confirmed.
Conor Gadd: “I realised I couldn’t do another Trullo”
The chef co-owner of Italian restaurant Trullo has just opened his new restaurant, Burro, in Covent Garden.
Somssi closes just five weeks after winning Michelin star
Korean chef’s table restaurant Somssi has closed just five weeks after winning a Michelin star, following the departure of its chef.
Factory Floor to open in Wigan following £3m investment
The Heaton Group will next week open a competitive socialising and late-night venue in Wigan.
Pret a Manger to open first drive-thru as it explores new formats
Pret a Manger will open its first drive-thru this spring as the group looks to evolve its offer through different formats and locations.
“Your policies are a dagger to our heart”: Thaikun shuts Cambridge restaurant
Thai Leisure Group has closed its Thaikun site in Cambridge, with managing director Ian Leigh blaming the move on government policy in a strongly worded statement aimed squarely at Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Social media star Giuseppe Federici begins six-week residency for Giuseppe’s Kitchen
Viral chef and author Giuseppe ‘Sepps’ Federici has begun a six-week residency at London’s BOXHALL City.
The Beefy Boys heads north with Nottingham restaurant
The Beefy Boys will open its most northerly restaurant next month with a site in Nottingham.
Crust brothers: Pizza Pilgrims teams up with well-known restaurant brands to get the nation dipping
Pizza Pilgrims is teaming up with restaurant brands Dishoom, Honest Burgers, Pho and Sweet Dee’s Jerk to launch a limited-edition pizza crust dipper menu.
Tom Kerridge backs £1bn youth employment drive
Tom Kerridge and trade body UKHospitality have backed a major employment drive by the Government to create 200,000 jobs for young people.
Veeraswamy at 100: Inside the battle for Britain’s oldest Indian restaurant
The Regent Street institution is locked in a legal dispute after its landlord The Crown Estate decided not to renew its lease.