Cafes and Coffee Shops
The latest news and updates on cafes and coffee shops, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.
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Feb- 2019 -14 February
Patisserie Valerie rescued from administration
Bakery chain Patisserie Valerie has been bought out of administration by Irish equity firm Causeway Capital Partners (CCP) for an undisclosed sum. The transaction was funded with investment from Causeway Capital and the new management of the business. Steve Francis will remain as the chain’s chief executive officer. Some 96…
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8 February
Pret opens homeless shelter
The Pret Foundation, which was set up by Pret A Manger’s founders in 1995, has announced the opening of a new home for homeless people, in partnership with West London Mission (WLM). For over 30 years, Pret has been supporting homeless people by giving away unsold food to shelters across…
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Jan- 2019 -31 January
Caffe Nero acquires majority stake in Coffee#1
The Caffè Nero Group has announced it has become the majority owner of Coffee#1, after acquiring shares from its owner SA Brain for an undisclosed sum. SA Brain has owner the Wales, Midlands and south England based Coffee chain since 2011 and the first Coffee#1 site opened in 2001. The…
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30 January
Historic Pasticceria Marchesi bakery to open in Mayfair
Milan’s historic Pasticceria Marchesi bakery is set to open on 117 Mount Street, in London’s Mayfair area. The bakery, which opened its first outlet in 1824, will offer a wide range of traditional Italian products such as panetone, sugared almonds and dragées. The outlet will feature both a pastry counter…
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29 January
Mike Ashley ‘eyeing up’ Patisserie Valerie
Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is reportedly considering buying collapsed cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, just a week after the company fell into administration. The chain confirmed some 71 businesses would close immediately while its remaining 122 stores would continue trading as normal as administrators KPMG looked for a buyer. According to…
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23 January
Corbin and King to open ninth restaurant in London’s Soho Square
Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s restaurant group is set to open its ninth restaurant in 2019 at London’s Soho Square. The group recently announced it was to open its eighth restaurant in St John’s Wood, the group currently operates seven restaurants, with all of them located in London. The tenancy…
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23 January
Patisserie Valerie goes into administration
Embattled cafe chain Patisserie Valerie has fallen into administration, four months after “fraudulent” activities were discovered in its accounts. The company was in talks to extend the standstill of its bank facilities beyond 18 January, but discussions failed and it was unable to renew its bank facilities. The company said…
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22 January
Kyoto’s % Arabica to open first UK site in London
Japanese coffee chain, % Arabica, is set to open its first UK site in London’s Broadway Market. The chain is yet to confirm an opening time, with the majority of its overseas openings done through franchising. Founded by Kenneth Shoji, % Arabica currently operates 30 outlets across 11 countries, with…
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21 January
90-year-old south London toilet becomes cafe
A 90-year-old toilet on Plumstead Common has opened as a new cafe named The Slade Cafe, under the stewardship of former Brick House and Frank’s Cafe chef Kieran Barry. The cafe’s operators say they want to inject “new life into the unused 1930s toilet block”, with support and funding from…
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21 January
Patisserie Valerie future uncertain as talks with bankers continue
The future of embattled cafe chain Patisserie Valerie is still unknown as the company revealed today (Monday 21 January) that it was still in discussions with bankers. Following an investigation by forensic accountants, the company realised its accounts showed signs of “significant manipulation” of the balance sheet and profit and…
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