Comment

The Comment section on Catering Today features expert opinions, editorials, and thought leadership from across the UK hospitality industry. It offers in-depth perspectives from restaurateurs, chefs, trade body leaders, and analysts on the key issues shaping foodservice — from staffing and supply chain challenges to innovation, sustainability, and market recovery. Catering Today’s commentary highlights diverse industry voices, providing critical insights and strategic viewpoints that help hospitality professionals navigate commercial, regulatory, and operational change.

Nov- 2025 -

7 November

Twelve months on, has the UK Tipping Law been successful?

In 2016, a government report concluded that 100% of tips in restaurants, hotels and bars should go to workers, not their employers. This signalled the start of a drawn-out process that should have put the matter to rest when the UK Tipping Law came into force on 1 October 2024.…
Read More »
Oct- 2025 -

14 October

How international students are influencing the UK’s food scene

International students and diaspora communities are increasingly influencing the UK’s hospitality sector. Their appetite for genuine flavours and cultural familiarity is creating new opportunities for businesses willing to embrace global cuisines, ultimately shaping menus, delivery app offerings, and high street food trends nationwide. From bubble tea and hotpot to Korean…
Read More »
7 October

Experts call for a return to seasonal food joy

Britain’s kitchens have been spoiled for choice for decades but industry experts say there could be a costly price to pay for eating whatever we want, whenever we want it. Instead of dining on all things all year round, a return to enjoying the occasion of certain foods at certain…
Read More »
6 October

25 years of Aqua: David Yeo’s vision for experiential dining

Yeo’s path to the restaurant world was anything but conventional. Born in Singapore and educated at Cambridge, he trained as a lawyer before spending nearly two decades at Freshfields and Credit Suisse in London. Yet, outside of courtrooms and boardrooms, Yeo’s reputation as a consummate host was already forming. Friends…
Read More »
Sep- 2025 -

22 September

What effect will Labour’s proposed business rates reform have ahead of the budget?

After years of pressure from hospitality businesses and the trade organisations that represent them, the government has finally relented. Last week it revealed its proposed changes to the business rates system in England and Wales. Despite this positive news, it remains to be seen how this reform fits in with…
Read More »
Aug- 2025 -

28 August

From high streets to hotels: Piccolino’s new chapter

For the second consecutive year, privately owned hospitality group Individual Restaurants has reported record turnover, achieving £76m in sales and 4% growth despite what it describes as a “challenging market.” Now, the company is looking beyond its traditional estate. Alongside new openings and refurbishments, it has branched into hotels for…
Read More »
21 August

Ebb and flow or terminal decline: the state of summer hospitality jobs

For generations, the “Great British summer job” has been a rite of passage. Students pulling pints in pub gardens, teenagers serving fish and chips on the pier, and young workers scooping ice creams at busy seaside resorts all became part of the seasonal rhythm of hospitality. These short-term roles give…
Read More »
12 August

Are the delivery apps too big to fail?

Last month, Just Eat launched Just Eat Plus, a membership service offering free delivery and special deals from certain restaurants for a fixed monthly fee. This followed in the footsteps of Deliveroo which launched a similar service back in 2017. This move is the latest ploy to drive profitability at…
Read More »
8 August

Could Gusto’s fall signal a casual dining scene in crisis?

Italian restaurant chain Gusto, once seen as a staple of mid-market dining in the UK, has become the latest brand to fall victim to the sector’s mounting structural and economic challenges. On 29 July, the 13-site operator entered administration before being swiftly acquired via a pre-pack deal by Cherry Equity…
Read More »
Jul- 2025 -

25 July

Can leadership programmes solve hospitality’s recruitment woes?

The UK hospitality sector is facing one of its most significant challenges in years. According to UKHospitality, the industry has shed 69,000 jobs since October 2024, a sharp reversal from the previous year when 18,000 roles were created in the same period. Job losses in the sector have been three…
Read More »