Berkshire

Regional reporting on foodservice and hospitality activity across Berkshire, with updates from Reading, Windsor, Newbury, Maidenhead, and Bracknell. This section highlights restaurant and pub openings, rural and commuter-driven trade, premium hotel F&B developments, and supply chain insights. Built for chefs, operators, and hospitality professionals, it offers valuable coverage of trading conditions, investment, and seasonal opportunity in one of South East England’s most economically active counties.

Oct- 2020 -

16 October

Coronavirus

Fat Duck restaurant shutters for two weeks amid Covid-19 cases

The Fat Duck restaurant has announced a two week voluntary closure after several of its staff members tested positive for coronavirus. According to the Guardian, the restaurant in Bray, Berkshire contacted customers who had intended to dine there that the venue had closed with “immediate effect.” The Heston Blumenthal-owned restaurant…
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Sep- 2020 -

8 September

Food and Drink

New Food Hall opens at Squire’s in Wokingham

A new food hall has been opened in Squire’s Garden Centre on Heathlands Road in Wokingham. The space, which was originally occupied by a clothing store, is now being transformed into an eating venue which offers an array of cooked food and cupboard essentials Squires, is a family owned business…
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Feb- 2020 -

28 February

Restaurants

Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck profits rise to £750,000

Heston Blumethal’s Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, has seen its profits more than double, according to its latest documents filed with Companies House. For the full-year period ending 26 May 2019, the restaurant posted profits before tax of £746,741, up from £297,788 the year prior. Turnover during the period…
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Jan- 2020 -

22 January

Restaurants

Chick-fil-a shutters last UK site

American fast food chain Chick-fil-a has shuttered its last UK restaurant at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in Scotland. The chain opened its second restaurant in the UK in October of last year, following its debut site in Reading, but both launches were met with heavy criticism from the LGBT+ groups…
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Nov- 2019 -

7 November

Awards & Events

Wiltshire pub named ‘most eco-friendly’ food business

The Wheatsheaf has been named as ‘Business of the Year’ at the SRA’s annual Food Made Good awards, which aim to honour Britain’s environmentally friendly businesses amongst the hospitality sector. The Berkshire pub was recognised as a leader in sustainable hospitality, having achieved the highest score in the Food Made…
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Oct- 2019 -

30 October

Restaurants

Chick-fil-a facing fresh LGBT backlash over second UK restaurant

Chick-fil-a is facing fresh criticism from the LGBT community after its “quiet” opening of a second UK restaurant at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in Scotland. The Highland LGBT Forum said in a Facebook post that it is “disappointed” to see that the hotel has allowed a business with an “atrocious…
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28 October

Restaurants

Chick-fil-a opens second UK restaurant in Scotland

Chick-fil-a has opened a second site in Scotland, despite announcing that it would be closing its first UK restaurant following backlash from the LGBT+ community. A Chick-fil-a spokespeson said the chain is always “evaluating potential new locations”. They added: “The Aviemore Macdonald Hotel location gives us an opportunity to build…
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21 October

Restaurants

First UK Chick-fil-a restaurant set to close following LGBT backlash

Chick-fil-a’s first UK restaurant is set to close following backlash from the LGBT+ community. It comes after LGBT+ groups boycotted the opening of the restaurant, over comments made by the American fast food chain’s CEO about the LGBT+ community. A spokesperson for the chain told the BBC that “the right…
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Jul- 2019 -

17 July

Restaurants

The Six Restaurant to open at Kings Arms Hotel

Michelin-starred chef Mark Kemspon is to open The Six Restaurant at The Kings Arms Hotel near Hampton Court Palace, this August. The Six Restaurant will feature a menu designed by Kempson and the kitchens will be headed up by head chef Jack Scoines. Local produce will be championed, with a…
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May- 2019 -

29 May

Restaurants

Sloane Place restaurant and hotel launches in Chelsea

Sloane Place restaurant and hotel has launched in Chelsea, London by a team which includes executive chef, Bernhard Mayer and Matt Hobbs, former managing director of The Groucho Club. Sloane Place is also dog friendly and invites guests to bring their pooches with them when they dine. Mayer will oversee…
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