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- 2020 -26 February
The Restaurant Group to close 90 restaurants by 2021
The parent company of Wagamama and Frankie and Benny’s, The Restaurant Group, has announced it is to close up to 90 restaurant sites by the end of next year. The group said the closure will affect its ‘leisure portfolio’, which includes the Chiquito and Frankie and Benny’s sites, and follows…
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25 February
Daniel Winstanley joins hotel group to lead culinary academy as head chef
Daniel Winstanley has been appointed to oversee the English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues ‘Culinary Academy’. He takes the reins from award winning chef Steven Doherty, who was brought in by the group to establish the Culinary Academy back in 2017. Now in its fourth year, the academy offers trainees…
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25 February
The Three Blackbirds to reopen following devastating fire
The Three Blackbirds pub in Woodditton, Suffolk, is to reopen in March after a fire devastated the property in 2018. The Chestnut Group, which owns the property, said the rebuild work has retained much of the old pub’s “charm and character”, including original features, exposing charred beams and original paintings…
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25 February
Chiquito to expand menu with further vegan alternatives
Mexican restaurant Chiquito has announced an expansion of its vegan dishes on its breakfast and kids menu. The restaurant attributes the menu expansion to the “huge success of Veganuary”, the extra ‘meat-free’ and vegan dishes will join the menu which has been designed to meet consumer demands for “more delicious…
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24 February
The Restaurant Group expected to announce further closures this week
The Restaurant Group (TRG) is expected to announce further site closures later this week when it provides a trading update. According to the Mail On Sunday, TRG is preparing to close a number of its underperforming sites with many believed to be located at retail parks. It has also been…
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24 February
Calls for new Treasury minister to cut tax on beer sold in pubs
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has written to the new chancellor and his Treasury team to call on them to slash tax on beer sold in pubs. With a new chancellor of the Exchequer, chief secretary to the Treasury and Exchequer secretary to the Treasury appointed in the recent…
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24 February
Hospitality insolvencies at highest level in seven years
Insolvencies in the hospitality sector increased by 10.4% in 2019, the highest amount in seven years, according to analysis by real estate adviser Altus Group under the Freedom of Information Act. The Insolvency Service, an agency of The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, paid out a total a…
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21 February
Administrators appointed to MPM Catering Limited
Conrad Pearson and Patrick Lannagan of Mazars, the international accounting and advisory firm, have been appointed as joint administrators of MPM Catering Limited. The company, which trades as Cook Street, operates from leased premises in Shrewsbury and provides high volume mobile catering to public events around the UK. The family-run…
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21 February
Buy & Bite to open third UK restaurant
Buy and Bite will open its third eatery in London after securing a new site in Fitzrovia. Buy and Bite only recently opened its second site on Cowcross Street, Farringdon after originally launching on Paul Street in Shoreditch in 2018. The healthy food concept serves Omurice, fried rice wrapped in…
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21 February
Manchester’s Mr Cooper’s to relaunch as Mount Street Dining Room & Bar
Manchester restaurant Mr Cooper’s has announced it will relaunch later this year as Mount Street Dining Room and Bar. The casual dining restaurant located at The Midlands Hotel in Manchester will be fronted by the hotels executive chef Brian Spark, and will serve “British classics with a twist.” The menu…
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