Restaurant

Light at the end of the tunnel for restaurants, says Horizons

19-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The UK restaurant industry is weathering the financial storm, with increased consumer spend and on-going innovation in the foodservice market providing a solid foundation for post-recession recovery over the next 18 months.

World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards: What makes a restaurant world class?

18-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

In the ten years since the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards was launched a wide variety of gastronomic and dining styles have been represented in the top 50 so as excitement builds for the 2012 list BigHospitality asked chefs and experts what makes...

Restaurant no-shows: are booking websites to blame?

17-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

A number of high-end restaurateurs and industry experts have condemned the use of online reservation systems, claiming booking websites are contributing to the growing number of people booking tables and not showing up. 

VisitEngland launches online tool for restaurants to improve customer access

13-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

National tourist board VisitEngland has today launched a new version of its Access Statement Online Tool, specifically tailored for restaurants and cafés to help them cater for customers with access needs.

Nicola Horlick's Georgina's restaurant 'a good business proposition' as well as a tribute to late daughter

12-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Nicola Horlick, the investment manager dubbed 'superwoman' for balancing her career and family, has described her latest venture, a Barnes restaurant with Trinity chef Adam Byatt in tribute to her late daughter Georgina, as a 'good business...

London restaurant Lowcountry to serve 'authentic and regional' American cuisine

12-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

The owner of new London restaurant, Lowcountry Bar & Eating House, is hoping to introduce diners to 'authentic and regional' American food when it opens in Fulham High Street next month.

Champagne, hot dogs and fine dining under one roof in first restaurant for husband and wife pair

11-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

James Knappett, formerly of The Ledbury and Marcus Wareing's The Berkeley, is to open a new restaurant with his wife combining a hot dog and Champagne concept called Bubbledogs with a more private fine dining element - Kitchen Table.

Restaurant sector 'cautiously optimistic' about closure of VAT loophole for takeaway food

05-Apr-2012 By Joe Lutrario

The Chancellor’s impending closure of a VAT loophole that meant some hot takeaway foods escaped the tax has been met with cautious optimism by the restaurant sector.

Bill's Produce to take over Zilli Fish and Café sites in London's Soho

05-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Bill's Produce, the Richard Caring-backed café, restaurant and store group is to open a third site in London, on the former Zilli Fish and Zilli Café site in Soho. 

London the place to be, says restaurateur following successful La Bodega Negra opening

03-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

A leading London restaurateur has refuelled the argument that London is the only place to be for operators in the current climate, revealing he would never consider opening a site outside the capital.

Mark Hix to open Tramshed restaurant in Shoreditch

03-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Mark Hix’s long-awaited plans for a restaurant in the Tramshed building in London’s Shoreditch have been revived, with a new 150-cover restaurant and bar set to open next month.

Son of Miso restaurant chain owner launches steak concept solo venture

03-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Reis Remzi, the 21-year-old son of Olgun Remzi, the owner of noodle restaurant chain Miso, has launched his own company and opened the first site under a new restaurant concept - Branded: Steak & Burger.

'New era’ for Spaghetti House with boutique restaurant in Kensington

02-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Family-owned restaurant chain Spaghetti House is re-tuning its concept with the launch of a ‘new generation’ of boutique venues in a bid to attract local communities.

Le Bouchon Breton sees business ‘explode’ with cheaper prices

02-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

French restaurant Le Bouchon Breton has seen business ‘explode’ in recent weeks after ‘dramatically reducing’ prices and appointing a new head chef.

Pearls of Wisdom: Sriram Aylur

30-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Chef Sriram Aylur embarked on his culinary career in his own father’s restaurant before working his way up to lead the kitchen at the Taj Gateway Hotel in Bangelore. It was there he launched his own Karavali restaurant which was voted one of the top five...

The Restaurant Group, M&B and Spirit big winners at 2012 Menu Innovation Awards

29-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Restaurant Group, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) and Spirit Pub Company have all been named winners in the Menu Innovation Network’s annual Menu Innovation and Development Awards (MIDAS).

Alan Murchison reveals details of two new 10 in 8 restaurants

28-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Alan Murchison has unveiled news of two new restaurants to open under his 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group later this year, claiming that ‘a perfect location won’t guarantee success’.

Pubs need to think beyond traditional food and must emulate high street restaurants

22-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Traditional pub food may not be the lifeline for publicans looking to tackle falling drink sales and pubs need to emulate the high street restaurant market in order to survive.

Food and drink matching trends: Spirits/Cocktails

22-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

As we have seen in previous parts of this feature, food and drink can be a marriage made in heaven for restaurants and pubs. But cocktails, apéritifs and spirits are not products that tend to be associated with food and they are rarely even advertised...

Airport restaurants: the changing face of airside dining

21-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

With up to 30,000 people departing from Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 3 every day, established food concepts and emerging brands are increasingly recognising the potential of such high-footfall transport hubs.

Resident DJ to launch Meter Bar & Eatery at CAMP in Shoreditch

19-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

This Wednesday (21 March) sees the opening of Meter Bar & Eatery – a new pizzeria and bar concept from acclaimed DJ James Priestley, aiming to offer 'a slice of Naples in urban Shoreditch'.

Byron and Union Jacks to open restaurants at Bluewater

16-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Byron and Union Jacks are the latest restaurants to recognise the business potential of high-footfall shopping centre locations, with the opening of two new sites at Bluewater in the coming months. 

Bubbas restaurant brings Caribbean fine dining to South London

15-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Bubbas – a new Caribbean restaurant which aims to ‘redefine Caribbean food’ – has opened its doors in South London.

Philip Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas to partner up for second restaurant

13-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

Chef Philip Howard and restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas have announced they are to work together on a second restaurant project this year.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Rococo Chocolates at The Chester Grosvenor and Hop Shoots at The Draft House

09-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars including The Chester Grosvenor, The Draft House, The Dorchester and Ichi Sushi tell BigHospitality about special events and promotions they're running to attract new customers. 

Food and drink matching trends: Beer

08-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

When it comes to maximising drinks sales, beer has always stood in the shadow of higher GP wine and there has been little faith that diners would ever choose grape over grain. But, with a rise in the popularity of craft beers and a continuing surge in...

Chefs urged to pitch their chips against McCain's in Hand Cut Chip Challenge

07-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

McCain Foodservice is giving chefs who are proud of the hand cut chips they make for their menus to pitch them against their own Gastro Chips range to see how they compare in terms of taste, appearance and operational efficiency.

Bruno Barbieri opens Cotidie: modern Italian restaurant in Marylebone

07-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Michelin-starred Italian chef Bruno Barbieri has opened his first restaurant in the UK: Cotidie – offering modern Italian cuisine in London’s Marylebone High Street.

The Clink plans second prison restaurant in Cardiff

05-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Clink Charity has announced plans to expand and open a second prison restaurant before the end of the year with discussions ongoing between the charity and HMP Cardiff and HMP Prescoed, South Wales.

One to watch: Byron named fastest-growing restaurant chain of past six months

02-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Rapidly-expanding gourmet burger chain Byron has been hailed as the fastest growing restaurant concept of the past six months having more than trebled its portfolio in the past three years.

Pesto plans three more Pesto in the Pub openings

21-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Pesto, the Italian restaurant chain founded by La Tasca founder Neil Gatt, is to open three more sites under the Pesto in the Pub concept in the next six months after the first under the brand was successfully opened at a Punch Taverns site in Cheshire...

AFWS UK Sommelier of the Year competition open for entries

21-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Acadamy of Food and Wine service (AFWS) has this week launched its 2012 UK Sommelier of the Year competition and is calling for sommeliers and wine waiters nationwide to test their knowledge and skills by entering.

Pearls of Wisdom: Jeremy Lee

17-Feb-2012 By Stefan Chomka

The newly-installed head chef and partner at Quo Vadis in London reflects on his Soho surroundings after 16 years at Bermondsey’s The Blueprint Café, which is owned by D&D London.

18-year-old Luke Thomas named chef-patron at Mark Fuller’s Sanctum on the Green restaurant

16-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Springboard’s FutureChef 2009 winner Luke Thomas has gone into partnership with hotelier, restaurateur and former nightclub owner Mark Fuller to open his first restaurant at the tender age of 18.

Gordon Ramsay 'saddened' by Canadian restaurateur's decision to end consultancy

16-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Gordon Ramsay has said he is ‘surprised and saddened’ over a decision by the owner of Laurier Gordon Ramsay, the Canadian restaurant where he has a consultancy, to remove his association with the business.

Final of AFWS Sommelier of the Year competition to be held at LIWF

15-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

The final of the Academy of Food and Wine Service's (AFWS) UK Sommelier of the Year compeition will be held at the London International Wine Fair for the first time this year.

Jamie Oliver makes airport debut at Gatwick: Union Jacks bar, Jamie's Italian and bakery planned

14-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Jamie Oliver's restaurant business will make its airport debut with the opening of a Jamie's Italian and two new concepts - a Union Jacks bar and a bakery - at Gatwick this summer.

Bluewater redesigns The Wintergarden dining area, adds new restaurant

13-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Bluewater, the Kent shopping centre, has announced a redesign of The Wintergarden which will include a new restaurant in the family dining area of the site.

Benugo founder to open Market Café in London’s Broadway Market

10-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Market Café, a new café, bar and dining room, is set to join the growing list of restaurants on Broadway Market in East London as Hugo Warner embarks on his first project since leaving Benugo in 2010.

Benito's Hat King's Cross site a 'statement of intent'

10-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen founder and director, Ben Fordham, has declared the forthcoming opening of a King's Cross site a 'statement of intent' for the restaurant chain with plans for two more sites this year and a move outside...

Skye Gyngell and Petersham Nurseries part company

10-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Petersham Nurseries Café has confirmed the departure of head chef Skye Gyngell after eight years at the Michelin-starred venue and announced she will be replaced by Austalian chef Greg Malouf.

Timothy Allen succeeds Tristan Welch as head chef at Launceston Place

09-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Timothy Allen has been announced successor to the role of head chef at London restaurant Launceston Place following the departure of Tristan Welch.

Adam Byatt to open second restaurant in Clapham

09-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Trinity chef-owner Adam Byatt is to open his second restaurant in Clapham this week with former St John Bread and Wine chef Karl Goward heading up the kitchen.

Pearls of Wisdom: Richard Muir

03-Feb-2012 By Emma Eversham

Richard Muir has worked in the industry for the past 30 years, starting out as a chef before moving into corporate catering. He was managing director of Sodexo’s UK corporate business and opened restaurants for Gary Rhodes before buying and redeveloping...

Jason Atherton to open restaurant in Singapore

02-Feb-2012 By Willliam Drew

Jason Atherton is to open a restaurant in Singapore in June called Pollen.

Compass launches Rapport to improve guest services

30-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Foodservice supplier Compass Group has launched Rapport – a new specialist provider of front and back of house guest services – to run in tandem with the group’s corporate dining arm Restaurant Associates.

Masterchef's Gregg Wallace to launch retro restaurant in Bermondsey Square Hotel

27-Jan-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Masterchef's Gregg Wallace is to open a 1970s themed restaurant in the Bespoke Hotels venue, the Bermondsey Square Hotel, close to the area where the TV host and former greengrocer grew up.

Saf trials ‘express’ concept at Harvey Nichols, London

26-Jan-2012 By Emma Eversham

Vegan restaurant group Saf is trialling an ‘express’ concept at London department store Harvey Nichols with plans to roll out the idea to more sites in the future if it proves a success.

Hilton London Olympia unveils new concept Society Bar and Restaurant

25-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Hilton London Olympia has opened Society - a completely redesigned bar and restaurant featuring Victorian-inspired interior, new menus and a new logo identity.

Eating out reserved for special occasions as cash-strapped consumers cut spending

24-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Eating out at restaurants and pubs is fast-becoming a treat reserved for special occasions, as cash-strapped consumers are more cautious with their discretionary spend, according to foodservice consultancy Horizons.