News
The News section on Catering Today delivers the latest updates and developments across the UK hospitality and catering industry. Covering restaurants, pubs, quick service brands, and catering groups, it reports on company announcements, market performance, government policy, and sector-wide trends. With a focus on commercial and operational impact, Catering Today’s news coverage keeps hospitality professionals informed of the events and decisions shaping business conditions and strategic opportunities across the sector.
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Feb- 2019 -11 February
Gujarati Rasoi in Dalston closes
Indian restaurant, Gujarati Rasoi, in Dalston has closed after almost seven years on Bradbury Street. The restaurant’s menu focused on the cuisine of the Indian state of Gujarat, with a large proportion of the offering vegetarian. The restaurant’s concessions in Borough Market and Broadway Market will remain open despite the…
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11 February
Mike Ashley cancels bid for Patisserie Valerie
Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has cancelled his bid for cake chain Patisserie Valerie, just two days after his Sports Direct group tabled the £15m bid. Sports Direct’s bid was said to be £2m short of the sum administrators KPMG were looking for according to reports in the Financial Times. According…
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8 February
The Palmerston to close after 15 years in business
East Dulwich pub, The Palmerston is to close following 15 years in business after it did not get a new lease just months after closing for refurbishment. The pub’s last day of service has been earmarked for 3 June 2019, ten years after the pub was first converted into a…
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8 February
Cornish pasty company criticised by councillors after Devon council buys factory land
A Cornish pasty company looks to have reigned an age old row over the pastry item’s origins after its factory was bought out by Devon’s Torbay Council. Torbay Council bought the factory land for £3m in order to boost its finances through investment. Councillors in Cornwall are said to be…
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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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8 February
Hospitality wages spike after months of deflation
The average hourly pay of workers over 25 in the UK significantly fell from £8.55 in June to £8.18 in November, before plateauing at £8.16 in December and rising to £8.38 in January. According to statistics from software provider for the leisure and hospitality industry Fourth, this is the first…
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7 February
Military contracts help Compass Group revenue grow 6.9%
UK-based contract caterer Compass Group saw its organic revenue grow by 6.9% for the three months to 31 December 2018. The group attributed its growth to “strong levels of new business wins”, continued good retention rates. It also said the impact of the new UK Defence contracts and a “positive”…
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7 February
Nicholson’s Pubs to use secondary spaces for annual Whisky Showcase
Nicholson’s Pubs has launched its third annual Whisky Showcase with a plan of exploiting secondary spaces within its pubs to deliver a “unique whisky experience”. Working with whisky brands, including Glenfiddich and Copper Dog, a number of Nicholson’s sites will be turning sections of their pubs into dedicated whisky zones…
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7 February
Pidgin appoints new head chef
Hackney restaurant, Pidgin, has announced it has appointed Greg Clarke as its new head chef. Clarke will takeover from Adolfo De Cecco on 11 March, with De Cecco preparing to open his own restaurant. The restaurant’s owners James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, who also run Heddon Street’s Magpie restaurant, said…
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7 February
Kara completes £1m investment to improve Manchester production plant
Kara, the foodservice arm of the Finsbury Food Group, has invested in excess of £1m into improving its Manchester production plant. According to the group, the “major investment” will bring about an improvement to production efficiency and will help the bakery increase its capabilities. The first wave of improvements has…
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