R200 - Hospitality

Turtle Bay reaches 50 site milestone

31-May-2023 By James McAllister

Caribbean-inspired restaurant group Turtle Bay will open its 50th UK site in August in Camden, which will also mark the brand’s first outpost in north London.

Whitbread considering sale of restaurant brands

30-May-2023 By James McAllister

Whitbread is understood to be exploring the potential sale of part of its £700m pub and restaurant arm in order to focus its efforts on its Premier Inn hotel chain.

Fazenda Bishopsgate will be the group's 'most ambitious restaurant yet'

25-May-2023 By Restaurant

South-American restaurant group Fazenda will open its first London restaurant in Bishopsgate this August.

Pizza Pilgrims to launch new deli concept as it prepares to open 20th pizzeria

24-May-2023 By James McAllister

Pizza Pilgrims will open its 20th restaurant this summer, which will launch alongside a new deli concept selling Italian produce and dry store goods.

Rare Restaurants posts “record financial results”

24-May-2023 By Joe Lutrario

The company behind Gaucho and M has announced “record financial results” for the year ending 1 January 2023 with turnover up 29% on its pre-pandemic 2019 figures.

TRG to keep remuneration policy ‘under active review’ after overcoming investor revolt

23-May-2023 By James McAllister

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has said it will keep its remuneration policy ‘under active review’ after more than a third of investors voted against it at the group’s AGM.

BrewDog to roll out across travel hubs under SSP partnership

23-May-2023 By James McAllister

BrewDog has partnered with SSP Group to bring the brand to various travel locations in the UK, beginning with a site at London Gatwick Airport.

Inception Group secures £6.7m loan to fund growth

22-May-2023 By Restaurant

Inception Group has secured a £6.7m loan from OakNorth Bank to continue to help fund its expansion.

Vinoteca blames energy prices and train strikes as it shutters Birmingham site

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

Wine bar and restaurant group Vinoteca is to close its huge site within Birmingham’s Paradise development after less than a year, blaming rising energy prices and ongoing train strikes.

Poke House looking to accelerate global expansion after securing new investment

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

Italian poke chain Poke House is looking to accelerate its global expansion following the completion of a new investment round.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Itsu targeting £100m grocery business within two years following appointment of Justin King

25-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Itsu is looking to drive the sales of its grocery business to £100m in the next two years following the appointment of former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King.

MJMK launches crowdfund to expand Casa do Frango and launch second concept with Santiago Lastra

24-Apr-2023 By Restaurant

The restaurant group behind Casa do Frango and Santiago Lastra’s KOL is launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for further growth, including a second concept with the Mexican chef.

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.

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.

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.

Lunar Pub Company to open ‘most ambitious site to date’ in Clapham

06-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

Boutique hospitality group Lunar Pub Company is to open its third London gastropub this spring, which has been described as the operator’s ‘most ambitious site to date’.

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.

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.