Soho House evaluates acquisition offer
Soho House & Co has formed an independent special committee to evaluate an offer from a new third-party consortium.
News
KFC launches spinoff concept in US
KFC is to launch a new spinoff concept in Orlando, Florida, next week that it says is ‘unlike anything else in the market’ and has the potential for further rollout.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Ibérica being sold out of administration, Chotto Matte closing its Marylebone site and Isaac McHale’s next venture lead this week’s top news stories.
Restaurant’s 2024 review of the year
This year was marked by plenty of big restaurant openings, as well as, sadly, many high-profile closures, as operators faced ongoing cost pressures and an increasingly tough trading landscape.
Wingstop sees ‘strong growth prospects’ as UK revenue rockets
Fried chicken brand Wingstop is back in the black having reported a pre-tax profit of £3.5m in its latest financial results, up from a £2m loss the year before.
The Groucho Club given go ahead to reopen following licensing hearing
The Groucho in London’s Soho is to reopen after having its licence reinstated following a review by Westminster Council’s licensing committee.
CGL ‘continuing to assess viability’ of D&D London’s estate amid mounting losses
D&D London operator CGL Restaurant Holdings has said it is continuing to assess ‘the performance and viability’ of its estate after losses rose in its latest financial results.
Kevin Styles to step down as Jamie Oliver Group CEO
Kevin Styles is to step down as CEO of the Jamie Oliver Group after nearly two and a half years with the business.
Azzurri Group toasts ‘transformational year’
Azzurri Group has delivered an 18% increase in revenue to £303.1m for the year ended 30 June 2024.
Grace Dent to replace Gregg Wallace as Celebrity MasterChef judge
Grace Dent is to be a judge on the next series of Celebrity MasterChef, replacing Gregg Wallace who recently stepped away from the show amid historical allegations of misconduct.
Restaurants see ‘solid sales’ ahead of crunch Christmas
Britain’s leading hospitality groups recorded year-on-year sales growth of 2.7% in November 2024, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.
UKHospitality: Rising inflation ‘making day-to-day life harder for businesses’
UKHospitality has reiterated its call for the Government to rethink its planned hike in employer National Insurance contributions amid ‘a troubling economic picture’ caused by rising inflation and ‘lacklustre growth’.
Late night bar Parasol to open in Dalston
The team behind neighbourhood bars Discount Suit Company, The Sun Tavern and The Umbrella Workshop is set to open a new cocktail bar in Dalston this spring.
Carlsberg cleared to acquire Britvic
Carlsberg has been cleared by Britain’s competition watchdog to buy soft drinks manufacturer Britvic.
Hospitality insolvencies hit two year low
Accommodation and food services insolvencies were down 24% in October 2024 compared to the same month last year, new analysis from RSM UK shows.
Cost pressures ‘remain a challenge’ as Nando’s cuts losses
Nando’s is plotting further expansion in the UK following a ‘strong sales performance’ in its latest financial results, which saw sales rise and losses reduce.
Isaac McHale to open new Shoreditch restaurant
The Clove Club founder Isaac McHale is opening a new European restaurant close to his two-star flagship.
Ibérica sold out of administration to Camino with three sites closed
Ibérica has shuttered three of its five sites as part of an administration process with the group’s other two restaurants acquired by rival London-based Spanish operator Camino.
Official opening date of JÖRO announced
Luke French and Stacey Sherwood-French’s new restaurant JÖRO will officially open in January, the couple have announced.
Simon Rimmer’s restaurant group owed more than £500,000 when it collapsed
Chef Simon Rimmer’s restaurant business was more than £500,000 in debt when the business closed, documents have shown.
Foodservice inflation falls to 2.2% in October
Inflation in the hospitality sector fell to 2.2% in October, marking the 16th consecutive month of decline.
Rosa’s Thai swings into loss
Rosa’s Thai has reported a significant increase in sales and adjusted EBITDA For the 53 weeks to 31 March 2024, but has swung to a loss after tax.
Dubai restaurant Somewhere to open in Harrods
Dubai restaurant Somewhere will make its UK debut later this month with a new opening in Harrods.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Yet another closure for D&D London was among this week’s most read news stories.
Itsu turns to technology as cost of employment continues to rise
Technology will play an increasing role at Itsu as the healthy food fast chain battles the rising cost of employment.
Homeslice enters administration
Pizza group Homeslice entered administration earlier this month, filings have shown
Gold Service Scholarship finalists revealed
Ten young front of house professionals from across the UK will compete in the final of the 2025 Gold Service Scholarship, the highest number of finalists since the competition began.
UKHospitality welcomes ‘permanently lower level of business rates’
UKHospitality has expressed its support for the Government’s stance on business rates.
Coffee shop % Arabica to open fourth London site
Speciality coffee brand % Arabica has chosen the former turbine halls of Battersea Power Station for the location of its fourth London location.
Brasserie Adeline to open in The Newman hotel next year
All-day restaurant Brasserie Adeline will open next year as part of new Fitzrovia hotel The Newman.
McWin Capital in talks to acquire Gail’s
Sticks’n’Sushi and Big Mamma investor McWin is reportedly in talks to acquire rapidly expanding upscale bakery chain Gail’s.
Yolk becomes latest brand to launch hot drinks subscription model
‘Fine fast food’ brand Yolk is to become the latest brand to launch a hot drink subscription to customers.
Jackson Boxer to replace Orasay with new restaurant Dove
Jackson Boxer will open a new restaurant more suited to ‘today’s economy' on the site of his current place Orasay.
Officina OO to serve pizza for the first time at its new Covent Garden restaurant
Italian kitchen and pasta workshop Officina OO is dipping its toe into the world of pizza with its new restaurant.
D&D London to close final Leeds restaurant
D&D London will close its Angelica and Crafthouse restaurant at the top of the Trinity Leeds shopping centre this month, bringing an end to the group’s presence in the city.
Nero Group announces new partnerships with Waitrose and John Lewis
The Nero Group is to launch a new café concept across five Waitrose supermarkets, as well as open its first Caffè Nero in a John Lewis store, in White City, London.
Spanish vegan brand PLANT SHACK plans UK move
Fast casual vegan brand PLANT SHACK, which operates six sites across Spain, has signed a franchise agreement to open its first UK outpost in London.
Chuck E. Cheese plans entry into UK market
US restaurant group Chuck E. Cheese is looking to expand into the UK market, targeting locations in cities including Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol.
Chris Emery to oversee new restaurant concept at Crazy Bear Stadhampton
Chris Emery, former head chef at Jason Atherton’s The Clocktower in New York, is to launch a new restaurant and dining space at Crazy Bear Stadhampton in January.
Friday five: the week’s top restaurant stories
The theft of chef Tommy Banks’s pie van, the closure of Mayfair restaurant Socca, and Ibérica filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators lead this week’s top news stories.
Two Thirds Beer Co. to launch Euro-inspired beer hall
The team behind Sheffield-based bar, kitchen and bottle shop Two Thirds Beer Co. is to open a Euro-inspired beer hall and restaurant in the South Yorkshire city next year.
Scottish Budget: Major operators ‘left unsupported’ as industry slams ‘headline-grabbing rates relief’
Industry trade bodies have warned the measures announced to support hospitality businesses in the Scottish Budget will ‘do little to stop closures and significant job losses in the sector’.
Jackson Boxer to close Orasay and relaunch site with ‘bold new direction’
Jackson Boxer is to close his Notting Hill restaurant Orasay at the end of the year ahead of plans to relaunch the site under a new concept in 2025.
Firebird duo to launch seafood restaurant Noisy Oyster
The team behind Soho restaurant and wine bar Firebird will launch a new project in Shoreditch next year.
Whitbread hires former Boparan CEO as restaurant division MD
Whitbread has appointed former Boparan CEO Joe Texeira as managing director for its restaurants division.
Fear the Reaper: Dave’s Hot Chicken confirms spiciest burger will feature on UK menu
Dave’s Hot Chicken has said it will now offer its Reaper spice mix in its UK restaurants, with diners required to sign a waiver before they order it.
Applebee’s celebrates 25th birthday with relaunch and new exec chef appointment
Frankie van Loo has joined Borough Market restaurant Applebee’s as its executive head chef ahead of a relaunch of the restaurant early next year.
Tommy Banks’s stolen pie van found ‘badly damaged’
Tommy Banks has confirmed that a van carrying £25,000 of handmade pies, which was stolen earlier this week, has been found ‘badly damaged’ and will ‘almost certainly be written off’.
Ibérica on brink of administration
Spanish restaurant group Ibérica has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
Ottolenghi plans further expansion outside central London as group falls to loss
The Ottolenghi group says it is continuing to explore expansion outside of Zone 1 and 2 in London, with a new site in Richmond set to open next year.