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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Aug- 2018 -21 August
AA reveals hospitality awards shortlist for 2018
Ahead of the AA Hospitality Awards, the association today revealed the shortlists across four of the 23 categories: Housekeeper of the Year Award, Food Service Award, Eco Hotel of the Year and Customers’ Choice Award. In the Customers’ Choice Award category, all three hotels are based in London with The…
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21 August
Former employer slams James Cochran: “He’s attracting attention to new venture”
Former employer and current owner of the James Cochran restaurant has hit out at the chef after he claimed they were trying to “sell off” his name. In a statement to Catering Today, Rayuela, the company which owns the now rebranded James Cochran EC3 restaurant said the trademarking of the…
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20 August
Fergus Henderson’s St John to open permanent bakery in Covent Garden
St John founded by Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver is to open its first permanent bakery at Neal’s Yard in London’s Covent Garden. The new bakery follows two successful pop-up bakeries on Old Street and Bermondsey Street. St John has applied for a licence to serve wine off-sales alongside a…
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20 August
Wetherspoon’s Welwyn hotel and pub plans lead to over 100 objections
JD Wetherspoon’s plans for a 13-room hotel and bar in Welwyn Garden City have suffered a setback after its planning permission application saw over 100 objections. Locals are said to be unhappy with the chain’s insistence to build on the spot after plans for a pub in the location were…
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20 August
Restaurants see drop in trade as pub sales increase
Britain’s pubs fared well during July’s heatwave as managed pubs collectively saw like-for-like sales up 2.7% against last July. The latest figures from CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker also showed that sales across restaurant groups were down by 4.8% compared with the same month last year. Altogether, the differing figures…
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20 August
Salt Yard Group sells Opera Tavern restaurant
Salt Yard Group has announced it has sold the Opera Tavern Spanish tapas restaurant in Covent Garden to Urban Pubs and Bars. The Covent Garden restaurant opened in 2011 and was one of four owned by Salt Yard. The group said it will now be “focusing fully” on its Soho…
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17 August
Vagabond receives £3.5m investment funding
Wine bar business Vagabond has secured a £3.5m funding from leisure and hospitality investment company, Imbiba. Vagabond was founded in 2010 by Stephen Finch as a relaxed bar with informal wine tasting, and fives sites across London with a sixth site to open in October 2018. The investment from Imbiba…
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17 August
Amazonico to open in London’s Mayfair area
Madrid restaurant Amazonico is set to open on Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair, well-known for its popularity with celebrities. Spanish restaurateurs, Santo da Silva and Marta Santos created the UK company and submitted planning permission for the new restaurant at the Allied Irish bank building. The restaurant will be situated…
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17 August
Tamarind to reopen Mayfair restaurant after appointing new chefs
Indian restaurant Tamarind is set to reopen after it appointed new chefs Karunesh Khanna and Manav Tuli to lead the restaurant following its refurbishment. The menu at the restaurant is expected to see changes aiming to challenge the UK perception of Indian dining and culture. Tamarind’s refurbishment cost £4m and…
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17 August
Business rates for English hospitality firms could rise to £50m, analysts say
Business rates for English hospitality companies could increase to £51.26m next April if inflation remains unchanged at 2.5%, according to real estate advisor Altus Group. Altus Group said next month could be “pivotal for the hospitality sector” as the upcoming Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation determines how business…
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