Casual dining - Hospitality

Franck Desains on Mariage Frères' London tea emporium and restaurant

15-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The deputy managing director of high-end French tea company Mariage Frères on the group's recently launched London flagship.

The Culpeper team to double up with the opening of The Buxton

15-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

The team behind popular Shoreditch pub and restaurant with rooms The Culpeper is to open a second, similar, venture nearby in the capital.

Hampshire restaurant at centre of pink burger row closes

15-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The Southsea restaurant at the centre of a row over pink burgers has closed its doors after running out of cash to pay its legal bills.

The Lowdown: chromotherapy menus

10-Jan-2019 By Helen Salter

Soho’s Chotto Matte has launched a chromotherapy food and cocktail menu in collaboration with Island Poké.

How I Got Here: Lee Streeton

10-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Lee Streeton’s cooking CV includes Caprice Holdings and Hix Mayfair. He is currently head chef of Art Yard Bar & Kitchen

Loungers set to open 25 new sites in 2019

09-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

All-day dining restaurant group Loungers will continue its ambitious expansion plans, with the opening of a further 25 sites this year.

Last year's My Million Pound Menu contestants - where are they now?

08-Jan-2019 By Helen Salter

With the second series of My Million Pound Menu airing this evening, we take a look at what last year’s crop of contestants are up to now.

Bonnie Gull co-founder to launch Chelsea restaurant and fishmongers

08-Jan-2019 By Helen Salter

Bonnie Gull co-founder Alex Hunter is to open a fishmongers cum seafood bar in Chelsea this April.

MEATliquor Brixton closes, but looks to relocate

08-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

MEATailer has closed its MEATliquor Brixton restaurant after five years at the Market Row site in south London.

'Craft' pasta restaurant to open second site

07-Jan-2019 By Helen Salter

Andrew Macleod’s pasta restaurant Emilia’s is to open a second site, in Aldgate, this February.

Carluccio’s to pay for ‘settled status’ for EU staff

07-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Carluccio’s is to pay for its 1,550 non-British EU employees to apply for ‘settled-status’ in the UK after Brexit.

D&D London experiences 'best ever' Christmas trading

04-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

D&D London has recorded its ‘best ever’ Christmas trading results, with overall revenue in December in double-digit growth.

Gizzi Erskine's F!lth pops up in Shoreditch

04-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Gizzi Erskine and Rosemary Ferguson have launched a three-month residency of their vegetarian burger concept F!lth, in London’s Shoreditch.

Wagamama serves up 12% sales growth

04-Jan-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Wagamama recorded double-digit sales growth in the months leading up to its purchase, according to its latest figures.

Farmstand to open two new restaurants in the capital

03-Jan-2019 By Finn Scott-Delany

Sustainable and healthy fast-casual food concept Farmstand will triple its standalone restaurant presence in the capital in the coming months with the opening of two sites.

How I Got Here: Jonny Boud

03-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The co-founder of GLP Hospitality (The Rum Kitchen, Passo) on what motivates him, the importance of decent legals and accounts and why councils should relax planning laws.

'Casual dining crunch' cost over 10,000 restaurant jobs in 2018

02-Jan-2019 By Sophie Witts

The equivalent of 30 people a day lost their UK restaurant jobs in 2018 amid the so-called 'casual dining crunch' on the high street, a new study shows.

2018: a review of the year in hospitality

21-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

2018 was the year of the CVA, the KFC chicken shortage and the passing of two of the most influential French chefs of recent times.

Restaurant radar: the big openings of 2019 (updated)

21-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

From Adam Handling in Chelsea to Lee Westcott in Herefordshire, here's the biggest restaurant openings set for the first half of 2019

Wagamama staff to share £4m Christmas bonus pot

20-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Staff at noodle chain Wagamama are being given a Christmas bonus following the sale of the business to The Restaurant Group (TRG).

Baked In Brick has had great success on street food circuit in Birmingham and further afield with its eclectic pizzas. Founder Lee DeSanges recently opened his first restaurant at The Custard Factory in Digbeth.

Latest opening: Din Tai Fung

19-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

The Chinese restaurant brand famous for its xiao long bao soup dumplings has opened its debut European restaurant, in London's Covent Garden

Delivery sector grew to over £8bn in 2018

18-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The UK foodservice delivery market is worth £8.1bn, up 13.4% since 2017 according to new research from leading insight agency MCA.

Business confidence in eating out stays low despite sales growth in November

18-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Business confidence among leaders of Britain’s eating and drinking-out market remains strained, despite like-for-like sales growth in the UK pubs and restaurant sector, according to new research.

The Lowdown: The turkey shortage

13-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Feathers look likely to fly in restaurant kitchens as chefs struggle to secure birds for the festive period.

Flash-grilled: Mark Lloyd

13-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The chef and TV presenter was recently appointed executive chef at Notting Hill restaurant and bar Pomona’s.

How I Got Here: Marcos Fernandez Pardo

13-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Marcos Fernandez Pardo launched Spanish restaurant Iberica in 2008. He now operates seven restaurants in London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow and will soon help bring Quique Dacosta's InPaella to the capital.

Time Out Market to open in London Waterloo

13-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Time Out Group will open a Time Out Market in London’s Waterloo in 2021.

SpiceBox to go permanent in Walthamstow

13-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Vegan Indian street food vendor SpiceBox is to open its first permanent location, in London’s Walthamstow, next year.

World renowned bartenders to team up with TÁ TÁ Eatery for multi-faceted venue

12-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Globally recognised bartenders Alex Kratena and Monica Berg are teaming up with TÁ TÁ Eatery founders Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng to open multifaceted venue TAYĒR + ELEMENTARY in Shoreditch early next year.

Gino D’Acampo expands My Coffee & Deli Bar two months after launch

12-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gino D’Acampo has expanded his My Coffee & Deli Bar concept after eight weeks trading.

Franco Manca owner to ramp up expansion after strong half-year trading

12-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Franco Manca and The Real Greek operator Fulham Shore says it is looking at increasing the number of planned restaurant openings next year following strong growth in both brands.

Radio Alice: the pirates of pizza

12-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

London might not seem the most obvious place for Bologna-based restaurateurs to get inspiration for their pizzerias but in the case of Italian brothers Matteo and Salvatore Aloe the UK capital’s restaurant scene has proved invaluable.

Rooney Anand appointed non-executive chairman of Casual Dining Group

12-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Rooney Anand, the outgoing chief executive of Greene King, has been appointed non-executive chairman of the Casual Dining Group.

Opening of the month: Southside Scran

12-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

The fourth restaurant in Tom Kitchin’s Edinburgh-based restaurant group is a neighbourhood bistro that bridges the gap between his Michelin-starred flagship and his popular gastropub

Soho's The Duck and Rice is looking to expand in London and overseas

10-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Soho-based pub and Chinese restaurant The Duck and Rice, which was founded by restaurateur Alan Yau, is looking for partners to expand across the capital and globally under licence.

Friday Five: the week's top news

07-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week.

Jasper Gorst to open fourth restaurant early next year

07-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurateur Jasper Gorst will open his fourth restaurant early next year, in London’s Battersea.

Steam powered: what's the deal with Din Tai Fung?

07-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Henry Chu, group CEO at BreadTalk Group, on bringing the famed Taiwanese restaurant to London.

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs buys Bea’s of Bloomsbury

07-Dec-2018 By Finn Scott-Delany

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs has bought premium tea and cake shop operator Bea’s of Bloomsbury.

Latest opening: Wallfish & Wellbourne Bistro

06-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Two respected Bristol restaurants have merged to create a single restaurant in Clifton Village.

How I Got Here: Z He

06-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Z He launched Cantonese steamed bun specialist Bun House in early 2017. She will open a second Bun House early next year just down the road from the Soho original.

PizzaExpress founder dies, aged 89

06-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Peter Boizot, the founder of the PizzaExpress restaurant chain, has died aged 89.

Getting serious about food safety

04-Dec-2018 By Restaurant

As recent events have shown, food safety and allergen awareness have never been more important for restaurant businesses.

Restaurant Radar: December 2018

04-Dec-2018 By Restaurant

There are no shortage of openings this month with high profile launches imminent from restaurants including Tamarind, Spuntino, Din Tai Fung and Imperial Treasure.

The Crown to open in Chiswick early next year

04-Dec-2018 By Stefan Chomka

Former Racine and Dover Street Arts Club chef Daniele Zaffora will head up the kitchen at The Crown, the fourth pub from award-winning pub group Harcourt Inns that is due to open next year.

Restaurant's R200 Awards winners announced

04-Dec-2018 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant groups including Nando’s, Mowgli, Honest Burgers and Tortilla were among the winners at Restaurant magazine’s R200 Awards, held last night (3 December) at Hawker House.