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Tension builds ahead of TRG crunch meeting

19-May-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Hedge fund Oasis Management Company has ratcheted up its attacks on The Restaurant Group (TRG), accusing it of withholding information from key shareholders ahead of next week’s annual general meeting.

Pret launches in Luxembourg

17-May-2023 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger has launched its first location in Luxembourg, the latest international market for it to enter amid a global expansion drive.

Demand for deliveries and takeaways shows signs of stabilising as sales decline slows

17-May-2023 By James McAllister

Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups saw delivery and takeaway sales drop 1% year-on-year in April, the new Hospitality at Home Tracker from CGA by NIQ shows.

MEATliquor to expand through Sessions kitchens

17-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

MEATliquor to expand across delivery-only kitchens for the first time after partnering with Sessions.

Social Pantry appoints James Spragg as non-executive chairman

15-May-2023 By James McAllister

London-based restaurant group and catering company Social Pantry has announced the appointment of former Casual Dining Group CEO James Spragg as its new non-executive chairman.

Nando’s rolls out energy recycling system

15-May-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Nando’s has announced it is using waste heat generated from its kitchen to heat water and buildings following the success of a year-long trial at its Didsbury branch in Manchester.

TRG faces new investor pressure

15-May-2023 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has come under renewed pressure from investors after Coltrane Asset Management, which has built a 3% stake in the business, called for change at the company.

Crudo to open Seven Dials restaurant this month

15-May-2023 By Restaurant

Cevicheria group Crudo will open its fourth restaurant in London later this month, in Covent Garden.

“We want our destiny in our own hands”: Marco Mendes on MJMK’s crowdfund

12-May-2023 By Stefan Chomka

The co-founder of the restaurant group behind Casa do Frango and Santiago Lastra’s KOL discusses its expansion plans.

MJMK surpasses £1m crowdfund target

12-May-2023 By Restaurant

Restaurant group MJMK has already passed its crowdfunding target moments after its launch.

Rosa's Thai secures funding from Barclays as it plots further expansion

11-May-2023 By James McAllister

Rosa’s Thai has secured a new £10m bank facility from Barclays to help fund its ongoing openings pipeline.

Wendy’s focusing on drive-thrus to build UK footprint

11-May-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Wendy’s first UK drive-thru is performing ahead of expectations, with the format seen as a key driver for its growth across the country, according to CEO Todd Penegor.

TRG receives welcome boost from largest shareholder ahead of AGM

11-May-2023 By James McAllister

Beleaguered casual dining operator The Restaurant Group (TRG) has received the backing of its largest shareholder ahead of its AGM later this month.

Bunsik expands beyond the capital

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

Korean QSR brand Bunsik is heading to Manchester for its first location outside of London, which will also be its biggest site to date.

Eggslut moves into food halls with Market Halls partnership

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

‘Gourmet’ QSR brand Eggslut is to open its first London location housed within a food hall under a new partnership with Market Halls.

Comptoir Group posts strong recovery

10-May-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Comptoir Group has posted revenue of £31.7m for its 2022 financial year, up 49.7% from £20.7m in 2021.

Lina Stores heads south of the river

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

London-based Italian brand Lina Stores will launch its first outpost south of the river next month in Clapham, nearly two years after the opening was first mooted.

Prezzo warns creditors it would ‘likely enter administration’ without restructuring plan

10-May-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has warned creditors that it would ‘likely enter into administration’ should its recently announced restructuring plan, which will see nearly a third of its estate closed, not be implemented.

The Vurger Co. closes Canary Wharf site as founders acquire brand in pre-pack sale

05-May-2023 By James McAllister

Vegan fast food restaurant group The Vurger Co. has been bought out of administration by its founders in a pre-pack sale.

London footfall on the rise as workers return to offices

05-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

London has risen to second place in the latest Top Cities table from CGA by NIQ and Wireless Social, following a bounce back in office workers and visitors to the capital over the first quarter of 2023.

Arc Inspirations to open BOX bar in Birmingham

04-May-2023 By Restaurant

Bar operator Arc Inspirations will open its largest BOX bar to date in Birmingham this June.

Julie McEwan appointed permanent CEO at Hostmore

03-May-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Julie McEwan has been confirmed as the permanent CEO at Hostmore, having led the business on an interim basis since January.

Flat Iron sets its sights on Manchester

28-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

London-based steakhouse group Flat Iron is looking to open a restaurant in Manchester as part of a push outside of London.

Second shareholder voices intention to vote against TRG’s remuneration policies

27-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A second shareholder in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it intends to vote against its remuneration policy, piling further pressure on the beleaguered casual dining operator.

Tapas Revolution leaves £4.3m deficit as it's acquired in pre-pack deal

27-Apr-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Tapas Revolution has left a deficit of £4.3m to unsecured creditors after being bought out of administration in a pre-pack deal.

Popeyes to open first UK drive-thru restaurant next month

26-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

US fried chicken restaurant Popeyes UK is opening the doors to its first drive-thru restaurant next month.

Weekly eating out occasions fall by 6%

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Weekly eating and drinking out occasions have declined 6.7% year on year as consumers continue to alter behaviours in response to the cost-of-living crisis, new data from Lumina Intelligence shows.

How I Got Here: Andrea Fraquelli

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The co-founder of the Brasseria Family group London and grandson of Spaghetti House co-founder Lorenzo Fraquelli on being a third-generation restaurateur, working with his brother, and his problems with VAT.

Pret overhauls loyalty programme

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Pret a Manger has announced its coffee subscription service will be rebranded to Club Pret, with the price rising from £25 to £30 per month.

Oasis ups pressure on TRG as it urges shareholders to vote against remuneration policies

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

An activist investor in The Restaurant Group (TRG) has called on the company’s fellow shareholders to ‘reject pay without performance’ and vote against its remuneration policy at its upcoming AGM.

Latest opening: Browns Covent Garden

26-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The brasserie and bar brand has relaunched its West End restaurant to celebrates its 50th birthday.

Restaurant groups 'relying on menu price rises to stem delivery and takeaway losses'

26-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s top restaurant groups in March were 3% below the same month in 2022, the new Hospitality at Home Tracker from CGA by NIQ reveals.

Prezzo set to shutter nearly a third of its estate with 810 jobs at risk

24-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Prezzo has announced the closure of 46 loss-making sites across the country following a strategic review of the business, putting more than 800 staff at risk.

Hospitality 'stuck in a rut' as inflation continues to outpace growth

24-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in March were 1.4% ahead of last year’s levels, the new Coffer CGA Business Tracker shows.

The Lowdown: staff meals

21-Apr-2023 By Joe Lutrario

US-themed casual dining chain Fridays has chosen to defy industry norms by ditching free staff food.

Pret makes its debut in India

21-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

Pret a Manger has opened its first store in India today (21 April) as it continues its global expansion.

Camile Thai UK enters liquidation

20-Apr-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

The company that operates Camile Thai in the UK has entered into liquidation.

Petition launched after Fridays chooses to scrap staff meals

20-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Unite Hospitality has launched a petition calling on Fridays to reinstate free staff meals after it was revealed the casual dining chain is to scrap the benefit for its employees.

Mitchells & Butlers to acquire remaining stake in Ego Restaurants

19-Apr-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to acquire the remaining 60% stake in Ego Restaurants, with plans to expand the brand across the UK.

The Wolseley Hospitality Group makes international debut in Bangkok

18-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The Wolseley Hospitality Group (TWHG) has made its international debut with the launch of a Café Wolseley pop up in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

Noci to double up with new Battersea restaurant

17-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Neighbourhood pasta restaurant Noci will launch its second London site next month within the newly-restored Battersea Power Station.

Smoky Boys opens 12th site

14-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

BBQ and ‘grill haus’ brand Smoky Boys has launched its 12th restaurant, at Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth.

Book review: The Athenian - Eat Like a Greek

14-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Greek street food outfit The Athenian has become the latest brand in the casual dining space to release a cookbook of all its signature dishes.

Brasserie Bar Co builds 'strong pipeline' of freeholds

12-Apr-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Brasserie Bar Co has a 'big pipeline' of sites coming up with three new freeholds acquired so far this financial year, executive chairman Mark Derry has said.

Truffle Burger heads to Marylebone

11-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

London-based 'finer diner' brand Truffle Burger will open its fourth bricks and mortar site later this month in Marylebone.

Rudy’s to launch pizzaiolo training academy

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Rudy’s Pizza is to become the latest restaurant operator to launch an academy to train new recruits.

SushiDog secures funding for further expansion

05-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Quick service sushi roll concept SushiDog has secured more than £500,000 in funding to further expand in the capital.

How I Got Here: Tommy Lee

05-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

The US-born CEO of Californian-based pizzeria 800° Degrees Pizza, which made its UK debut earlier this year, on his extensive career in restaurants, and the importance of listening and learning.

Toridoll to acquire Fulham Shore in £93m deal

05-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Fulham Shore is set to be acquired by Japanese food conglomerate Toridoll in a deal that values the casual dining group at approximately £93.4m.

Prezzo posts significant loss despite strong H2 performance

04-Apr-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Prezzo reports that it returned to profitability during the second half of its FY21/22 financial year, with revenues for the full year to 2 January 2022 of £94.9m.