News
The latest industry news 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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Mar- 2025 -24 March
Wendy’s plans to open 50th UK restaurant this year
Wendy’s has revealed that the brand is on track to open its 50th UK restaurant in 2025, a year that will also see it establish its presence in Scotland, Ireland and Romania for the first time. New Wendy’s restaurants will open in Blackpool, Glasgow, Grays (Lakeside), Watford, and York in…
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24 March
Shepherd Neame reopens The Westminster Arms after £1.2m refurb
Shepherd Neame has officially reopened its landmark London pub, The Westminster Arms, following a 10-week £1.2m refurbishment programme. Located in very close proximity to the Houses of Parliament, the pub features a division bell by its bar so that MPs can dash back to the House to vote. Now open…
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24 March
Allister Richards appointed chair of The Springboard Charity
The Springboard Charity has announced the appointment of Allister Richards, chief operating officer of CH&Co, as its new chair. Richards takes over from Alastair Storey, who has led the charity’s board since 2019, overseeing its growth and impact as it expanded its reach to support those entering the hospitality industry.…
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21 March
Today’s news in brief – 21/03/25
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin said that the budget’s impact will raise costs by £60m at the pub chain, which would mean about £1,500 per pub, per week. It comes as Wetherspoon revealed in its half-year report that operating profits fell by 4.3% to £64.8m, mainly due to labour and utility…
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21 March
Hospitality workers embrace AI to enhance guest experience, research finds
Hospitality workers are embracing AI to deliver better guest experiences with almost all saying it has had a positive impact on their workplace, new research has revealed. According to The Access Group, 54% of people who work in hospitality, and who regularly handle information as part of their job, use…
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21 March
Burger King UK seeks £40m refinancing for expansion
Burger King’s main UK operator Bridgestone is initiating talks with lenders for a significant refinancing, as the fast-food group plans to open 30 new restaurants this year, according to Sky News. Almost eight years after acquiring the business, the private equity firm has committed £35m in new equity as part…
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21 March
Carlsberg signs multi-year deal with UEFA
Carlsberg has signed a new multi-year partnership deal with UEFA to become the official beer of UEFA national team football. This includes sponsorship of the men’s Euro 2028, women’s Euro 2029, UEFA Nations League Finals, and UEFA Women’s Nations League, Men’s and Women’s European Qualifiers and UEFA Futsal Euro. As…
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21 March
Tim Martin: NICs and labour rates to cost JD Wetherspoon £60m
JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has warned that the imminent increases in National Insurance and labour rates will result in company cost increases of roughly £60m, which would mean about £1,500 per pub, per week. He said: “Since labour costs are around 35% of the pub industry’s sales, compared to…
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20 March
Today’s news in brief – 20/03/25
UKH have called for packaging supplied to venues to be exempt from the EPR. The likes of Azzurri Group, Burger King UK, Fuller’s, Marston’s, Punch Pubs, St Austell Brewery, Stonegate Group and Wells & Co have signed the letter to Steve Reed, the Defra Secretary of State, that states that…
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20 March
Hospitality businesses claim new packaging rules will ‘cost millions’
Pub and hospitality businesses have joined with UKHospitality to write to Steve Reed, the Defra Secretary of State, to call for packaging supplied to hospitality businesses to be exempt from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The likes of the Azzurri Group, Burger King UK, Fuller’s, Marston’s, Punch Pubs and Co,…
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