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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Feb- 2025 -3 February
Glasgow sees highest volume of F&B deals in 2024
Glasgow city centre saw the highest volume of F&B transactions for over six years in 2024 with over 34 new openings, signifying a 25% rise on the year before, according to Savills. Of those 34 openings, almost 90% were local independent operators. This is a marked change since 2023, when…
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3 February
Lidl gets greenlight to open first in-store pub in Northern Ireland
Lidl has received permission from a High Court to open its first ever in-store pub inside its store in Dundonald, near Belfast, Sky News reported. This comes after a judge dismissed an appeal from another trader. During the ruling on Monday (27 January), Mr Justice Colton said that he saw…
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Jan- 2025 -31 January
Today’s news in brief – 31/01/25
Loungers has agreed to Fortress Investment Group’s £354.4m takeover bid. News comes after Fortress submitted a revised deal after its first attempt of 310p a share was opposed by Loungers shareholders. The deal is due to be sanctioned in a court hearing expected to take place on Friday 7 February. …
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31 January
Houston and Hawkes appoints new sales director
Independent catering company Houston and Hawkes has announced the appointment of Jessica Burgess as its new sales director. She joins from a senior sales role at BaxterStorey, bringing over 12 years of experience in operations and business development within the foodservice and hospitality sector. In her new role, Burgess will…
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31 January
Brother Marcus and Hagen to open new sites in Canary Wharf
Brother Marcus and Hagen are set to open new F&B sites at YY London, a newly refurbished 415,000 sq ft Canary Wharf office building. Brother Marcus, London’s Eastern Mediterranean restaurant group, founded by duo Tas Gaitanos and Alex Large, is bringing its brunch, mezze, cocktails and Eastern Med wines to…
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31 January
Loungers agrees to £354.4m Fortress takeover deal
Loungers has revealed that 94% of its shareholders have voted in favour of accepting Fortress Investment Group’s £354.4m takeover bid. News comes after Fortress submitted a revised deal after its first attempt of 310p a share was opposed by Loungers shareholders. The revised deal of 325p implies an enterprise value…
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31 January
Butcombe sees 7.8% rise in FY24 revenues
Butcombe Group, a privately owned premium pub operator and brewing group, has reported that its full-year LFL revenues were up by 7.8%, including 23% LFL across the two week Christmas period. For the year ended 25 January 2025, its standout performance was in food at 12% growth, with both accommodation…
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30 January
Today’s news in brief – 30/01/25
TGI Fridays has closed its flagship venue in London’s Leicester Square, which opened in 2015 after a multi-million pound investment. The closure means that TGI’s now has no restaurant in Central London although it retains venues at the O2 Greenwich and Westfield Stratford. UKH has urged the chancellor to bring…
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30 January
Weymouth pub hits the market for the first time in 40 years
The Weatherbury, a traditional pub with rooms in the coastal town of Weymouth, has hit the market for the first time in nearly 40 years with an asking price of £650,000. Located in a residential neighbourhood a short walk from Weymouth beach, The Weatherbury is a 18th Century pub and…
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30 January
Growth plan must include foundation economy, UKH says
UKHospitality has urged the chancellor to bring forward a specific growth plan for hospitality, and other sectors in the foundation economy, that can deliver growth “swiftly”. While the trade body agreed that big infrastructure projects are much-needed, it also pointed out that their benefits won’t be realised “for years or…
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