Casual dining - Hospitality

‘Transitional year’ sees Hostmore significantly reduce losses

03-May-2024 By James McAllister

TGI Fridays owner Hostmore has significantly reduced its losses following what the group has described as a ‘transitional year’.

Big Mamma Group criticised for applying 'checkout fee' on its payment app

03-May-2024 By Finn Scott-Delany

Big Mamma Group has become the latest restaurant operator to face the ire of customers after its mobile payment provider introduced a new charge to its bills.

Revolution confirms ‘exploratory’ meeting with Nightcap over possible sale - updated

02-May-2024 By James McAllister

Revolution Bars has confirmed it held talks with rival operator Nightcap over a potential takeover deal.

Restaurant radar: May 2024

01-May-2024 By James McAllister

The return of a West London institution, Michel Roux Jr's next venture and a restaurant that pays homage to Winston Churchill are among this month’s key openings.

Whitbread to shed 1,500 jobs under plans to scale back restaurant estate

30-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Whitbread is to exit 126 sites from its branded restaurant estate and convert a further 112 into new hotel rooms as part of a new ‘accelerating growth plan’ (AGP).

Fraud charges denied by ex-Patisserie Valerie finance team

29-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

The former CFO of Patisserie Valerie along with three other defendants, including his wife, have denied being part of a plot to commit fraud at the collapsed café chain.

Danny Trejo: “50 years ago I was heading to the gas chamber, now I’m in my own London restaurant”

26-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

The Hollywood actor on how he went from robbing restaurants to owning them, and why now is the right time to bring his eponymous LA taco brand to London.

Three Joes confirms closure of Chichester and Fareham restaurants

24-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Sourdough pizza brand Three Joes has confirmed the closure of two sites including its original restaurant in Fareham as the group grapples with cost pressures.

Afrikana plots further expansion with six openings planned

23-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

African-inspired restaurant group Afrikana has announced plans to open a further six sites in the coming months, which will take its estate beyond 20.

Anthony Demetre launches Bistrot at Wild Honey

23-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Anthony Demetre is opening a more casual offer at Sofitel St James to sit alongside Wild Honey.

Owners of Birmingham’s Vietnamese Street Kitchen group to launch new seafood boil concept

22-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

The group behind the Birmingham-based Vietnamese Street Kitchen restaurant brand is to launch a new seafood boil concept at the Arcadian in the city centre in early June.

Chotto Matte to expand into Georgia

19-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Kurt Zdesar’s Japanese-Peruvian restaurant brand Chotto Matte is continuing to push forward with international expansion having secured a site in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Dalston Mexican restaurant Corrochio’s to quadruple in size following site expansion

18-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Regional Mexican taqueria Corrochio’s in London’s Dalston is to quadruple in size with the addition of a new 120-cover street level bar and restaurant.

Coffee group WatchHouse launches second crowdfunding campaign

18-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Coffee house brand WatchHouse has launched a second crowdfunding campaign to support its global expansion.

Celebrations and early Easter holiday lift hospitality groups to 5.2% growth in March

18-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved above-inflation like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% in March 2024, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Clean Kitchen Club swaps plant-based menu for whole food approach following ‘tough year’

17-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Clean Kitchen Club co-founder Verity Bowditch is to leave the business following a decision that will see the formerly plant-based fast food brand add animal products to its menu.

Flash-grilled: Rachel Morgan

17-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

The co-founder of Edinburgh-based restaurant and bakery group Twelve Triangles on why its important to stay in jobs for a decent length, and finding solace by chatting with chickens.

Hostmore set to acquire TGI Fridays’ US business

16-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Hostmore, the owner of the TGI Fridays UK franchise, has reached an agreement for a proposed all-share acquisition of TGI Fridays in the US for a value of £177m.

Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany with plans to turn it into a community hub

15-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Squatters have taken over Gordon Ramsay’s York & Albany restaurant and hotel with plans to open it as a community venue.

Nell’s expands Manchester estate as it plots further growth

12-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

New York-style pizza brand Nell’s is to launch a new site in Manchester’s city centre, bringing its estate to four sites in the city.

Busaba ‘well placed to face economic challenges’

12-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Thai restaurant group Busaba has said it is ‘well placed to face the anticipated customer and market economic challenges ahead’ despite a slight drop in sales.

Big Fang tees up first London site

11-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective has confirmed it will open its first London outpost later this year, having secured a site in Waterloo.

Temper to launch ‘sustainable’ smash burger concept next week

11-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

London-based steakhouse and barbecue restaurant group Temper will launch the first site under its new ‘sustainable’ smash burger concept next week in White City.

Revolution Bars plots further closures as it sets out restructuring plan

11-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Revolution Bars Group has set out a proposed restructuring plan that will see offload up to 18 sites alongside raising up to £12.5m in equity.

Justin Carter named Loungers group managing director in one of three key appointments

08-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Loungers has made three key appointments across its business as it continues to expand.

Pizza Pilgrims: “Getting B Corp status is the beginning, rather than the finish line”

05-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Pizza Pilgrims co-founder Thom Elliot chats about the group’s journey to B Corp status, and how he hopes to use it to build a better business for the future.

Zia Lucia opens first regional restaurant in Reading

04-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Pizzeria group Zia Lucia has opened its first restaurant outside of the capital in Reading.

Ping Pong to trial 15% ‘brand charge’ ahead of tipping law introduction

03-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

London-based dim sum chain Ping Pong has scrapped service charge and is replacing it with a discretionary 15% ‘brand charge’ to fund wage rises for all of its restaurant teams.

The Breakfast Club cuts costs in a bid to improve performance

03-Apr-2024 By Restaurant

Cost cutting helped The Breakfast Club improve its financial performance last year, the group’s latest results have shown.

“I just have nothing left” – Ben Ambridge closes The Fox's Revenge pub and Onda restaurant

02-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Cornish chef Ben Ambridge has announced the closure of his Summercourt pub The Fox's Revenge and its nearby sister restaurant Onda in Wadebridge.

Shares in Revolution Bars suspended after it fails to publish interim results

02-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Revolution Bars has had its shares temporarily suspended from the AIM index of the London Stock Exchange after being ‘unable’ to publish its interim results last week.