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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Jan- 2025 -30 January
TGI Fridays closes Leicester Square flagship
TGI Fridays has confirmed that it has closed its flagship venue in London’s Leicester Square. The casual-dining restaurant had opened the landmark venue in 2015 following a multi-million pound investment. A spokesperson for TGI Fridays said: “Our Leicester Square restaurant closed earlier this month. This was a mutual planned closure…
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30 January
Takeaway sales flatline in December amid more Xmas socials
Delivery and takeaway sales at restaurant groups saw year-on-year growth slow to 1.9% in December 2024 as consumers’ shifted towards going out, rather than ordering in over Christmas, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker. While at-home sales have risen for 19 months in a row, the…
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29 January
Today’s news in brief – 29/01/25
The hospitality sector ended 2024 with virtually the same number of premises as 12 months earlier. According to data from CGA, there were a total of 99,120 outlets operating in December 2024 – up slightly from 99,113 sites a year earlier. It represents a year of solid consolidation after contraction…
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29 January
Licensed hospitality closures slow in 2024
Britain’s pubs, restaurants and hotels overcame widespread challenges to end 2024 with virtually the same number of premises as 12 months earlier. Data from hospitality data and insight consultancy CGA shows a total of 99,120 outlets operating in December 2024, compared with 99,113 in December 2023. It represents a year…
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29 January
Greene King sees 30% uplift in Xmas Day online bookings
Greene King saw a 30% increase in online Christmas Day bookings in its managed pubs compared to the previous year, with a 13% increase in December alone. With 45 million customers visiting Greene King’s websites annually, the company has delivered a multi-million pound investment which has transformed its online presence.…
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29 January
SSP Group holds guidance as sales rise 6% in Q1
The operator of F&B outlets in travel locations, SSP Group, has reiterated its full-year guidance as like-for-like sales rose 6% for the first quarter ended 31 December 2024. For the whole period, group sales were 14% higher than the previous year, with both net contract gains and contributions from acquisitions…
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29 January
Boxpark appoints new chief financial officer
Hospitality and leisure group Boxpark has announced the appointment of Chris Burford as the group CFO to support and strengthen the operations and growth strategy of the business. With over 25 years’ experience working across private equity and venture capital backed enterprises in the hospitality, leisure, and retail sectors, new…
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28 January
Today’s news in brief – 28/01/25
Urban Pubs and Bars saw a “record-breaking” rise in EBITDA of 26% to £8.7m for the year ended 28 April 2024. The group also reported a 16% rise in turnover to £60.5m and a 4% uplift in like-for-like sales in the period. Over the Christmas trading period, which took place…
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28 January
Brighton’s sustainable restaurants initiative expands with new workshop
The University of Brighton and Restaurants Brighton have teamed up for a sustainability workshop to help local restaurants reduce their environmental impact and share sustainability success. Taking place on 29 January at Brighton’s Hotel du Vin, the session will provide local restauranters with practical tools to cut their environmental impact,…
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28 January
Almost Famous burger chain confirms closure
Burger chain Almost Famous has announced that it is set to close after financial pressures became “stacked against” it. The company said that the closure was due to lingering debts from the coronavirus pandemic, rising costs and fewer people being able to afford eating out. The brand started in Manchester’s…
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