Crowd pleasers: how food halls became hospitality’s not-so-secret weapon
The UK food hall sector is booming, with 65 sites currently in development and average revenues on the increase. What’s behind the growth, and is it sustainable?
QSR & Street Food
Plump and grind: Joe & the Juice launches collagen-infused matcha drink
Joe & the Juice is tapping into the booming matcha market as well as the growth in healthy ingredient collagen with its latest innovation.
Arcade reveals more details for its upcoming Covent Garden food hall
London food hall operator Arcade has revealed full details for its upcoming site in Covent Garden, which is set to launch mid next month.
Domino’s launches range of thinner, more premium pizzas
Domino’s has launched a range of Italy-inspired, thinner-style premium pizzas.
Which Wich signs London franchise deal in bid to accelerate UK expansion
Which Wich has signed a new multi-unit franchise agreement in London as the Texas-founded sandwich brand looks to step up its expansion across the UK.
Burger King UK reports strong revenue growth ahead of expansion phase
Burger King UK reported a 10% rise in revenue to £448.7m in the year to 31 December 2025, alongside securing additional funding as it prepares to accelerate expansion.
Coffee culture: what UK operators can learn from overseas markets
Experts at two leading café brands discuss the coffee sector, future opportunities and what the UK can learn from overseas markets.
Papa Johns reacts to changing pizza landscape with new sourdough range
Papa Johns is to launch a range of sourdough pizzas following what it says has been two years of development.
Chipotle looks to grow UK estate by 20%
Chipotle has unveiled plans to grow its UK estate by 20% this year as the US burrito giant looks to expand across Europe.
Dough Hands enters by-the-slice territory with new East London residency
London-based pizza brand Dough Hands has opened a new residency in East London’s Hackney Wick.
Smacks Burgers & Hot Chicken launches equity fundraise to support further UK expansion
QSR brand Smacks Burgers & Hot Chicken has started a £3.2m equity fundraise with Allenby Capital to support the next phase of its UK expansion.
Popeyes goes all-in on breakfast
Popeyes is doubling down on its early morning offer, rolling out an expanded breakfast menu across all UK sites and extending serving times to 10:30am.
Honi Poke to trial expanded food offer at new ‘evolved’ Fitzrovia site
Honi Poke will trial an expanded food offering at its new Fitzrovia site when it opens later this month.
Salad-bowl concept Atis heads to St James’s
London-based salad bowl brand Atis is set to open at St James’s mix use development The Broadway this summer.
Shake Shack to open its first UK-based halal restaurant in Manchester
US burger brand Shake Shack is opening its first fully halal-certified restaurant in the UK at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
Pizza Hut revamps reward scheme
Pizza Hut UK has its upgraded loyalty programme Hut Rewards so that customers are rewarded every time they order.
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.
Market Halls secures £11m to fund its expansion
Market Halls has secured £11m in funding to support the next phase of its national growth.
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.
Yard Sale Pizza to open 17th site in Queen’s Park
Yard Sale Pizza will open its 17th London location on Salusbury Road in Queen’s Park in late April 2026, marking the brand’s most westerly expansion to date.
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.
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.
Andrew Clarke to open Acme Taco next month
Acme Fire Cult chef Andrew Clarke is to open a permanent street food concept next month.
Azzurri Group explores sale of Dave’s Hot Chicken
Azzurri Group is reportedly preparing a sale of the UK and European franchises of its fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Laros heads to Sale for first sit-down site in Greater Manchester
Greek street food brand Laros is opening its first sit-down restaurant in Greater Manchester.
Berlin inspired ‘neighbourhood kebabery’ takes former The Counter site in Notting Hill
A new Berlin-inspired döner kebab concept will open in the former The Counter site on Notting Hill’s Golborne Road this spring.
Fast-growing European bakery concept Cinnamood to enter UK market
Cinnamood, the fast-growing European bakery franchise specialising in cinnamon rolls, will make its UK debut later this year.
Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich to close their Honey & Spice deli
Middle Eastern restaurant group Honey & Co are to close their Honey & Spice deli on London’s Warren Street after a decade of trading.
Swiss bakery brand Bear St. Bakery to make UK debut
Swiss bakery brand Bear St. Bakery will make its UK debut this spring.
Yolk launches £1m fundraise to kickstart expansion
‘Fine fast-food brand’ Yolk has launched another round of fundraising to facilitate the opening of its next two sites.
Former Mercato Metropolitano site in Ilford to relaunch as “community-first” marketplace
The former Mercato Metropolitano site in Ilford, east London, will relaunch later this month as Maison Noor, a “community-first” marketplace destination.
Freight Brixton will be a 1,000-capacity rooftop venue in South London
The team behind Manchester’s Freight Island are opening a 1,000-capacity open-air food, drink and music destination in Brixton
Chick-fil-A to open in Kingston this week
US fried chicken restaurant group Chick-fil-A will open its second company-owned site in the UK later this week.
Milk Beach to relaunch original West London site as a wine bar and open Soho takeaway sushi concept
Silver Tree Restaurants its transforming its Milk Beach venue in Queen’s Park into a wine bar and has also unveiled plans to launch a sushi QSR concept in Soho.
Edinburgh Street Food announces Manchester expansion
Food court Edinburgh Street Food has revealed plans to open a Manchester location this summer.
Pizza Express’s delivery-only Mac & Wings concept finally takes flight
Pizza Express is rolling out nationwide its Mac & Wings delivery-first brand six years after its conception.
Maki & Ramen opens at The O2
Japanese hospitality concept Maki & Ramen has opened a restaurant within The O2’s Entertainment District.
Boxpark abandons plans for Bristol and Birmingham sites
Boxpark has confirmed it has abandoned plans to open in Bristol and Birmingham.
Picante to return to Liverpool’s Cains Brewery Village
Mexican-inspired pop‑up Picante is set to return to Liverpool’s Cains Brewery Village this spring for a seven-month residency.
PICK.YOUR.OWN. to open second site in Broadgate
City-based grab-and-go concept PICK.YOUR.OWN. (P.Y.O.) is set to open its second location at Broadgate this March.
Cooking up change: How Syrian refugee Mouna Elkekhia built a thriving street food business
The founder of Arnabeet on challenging prejudice towards displaced people and empowering other refugees through her partnership with TERN.
Leon made losses of £60m under owner EG Group
Leon made combined losses of £60m during the four-year period it was owned by Asda/EG Group, an administrator’s report shows.
Zambrero opens first Scotland site in Glasgow
Modern Mexican restaurant group Zambrero has opened its first Scotland site in Glasgow’s West End.
McDonald’s UK closes out 2025 on a high as festive innovation boosts sales
McDonald’s UK ended 2025 with one of its strongest quarters in recent years, it has revealed.
Chaiiwala runs pop-ups in Texas as it prepares for US launch
Indian street food café brand Chaiiwala has completed a series of pop-ups in Houston, Texas, as it prepares for a full US launch later in 2026.
Domino’s CHICK ‘N’ DIP brand takes flight across the country
Domino’s is to roll out its CHICK ‘N’ DIP offer across all its sites in the UK & Republic of Ireland following a successful regional trial.
Digbeth Dining Club announces opening date for Dockworks Waterfront
Dockworks Waterfront, the new canalside food and events venue from Digbeth Dining Club (DDC), will open at the end of the month.
Brandon Stephens named Tortilla group CEO
Tortilla founder Brandon Stephens has been appointed group CEO at the California inspired Mexican group, with CEO Andy Naylor stepping down after eight years with the business.
Menu innovation drives sales at KFC UK & Ireland
Restaurant sales at KFC UK & Ireland grew by 6.5% in 2025, according to parent company Yum Brands!