Casual Dining
We report on the business of casual dining, a key segment of the UK foodservice sector encompassing high-street restaurant brands, all-day dining concepts, and accessible, mid-market hospitality. This includes our coverage of openings, closures, financial results, menu innovation, tech integration, and leadership moves across the casual dining space. Whether you’re managing a national chain or operating a regional brand, we deliver timely insight into the pressures, pivots, and opportunities shaping this highly competitive market, with a focus on operational performance, consumer trends, and commercial sustainability.
-
Apr- 2022 -7 AprilNews
Gusto partners with PayCaptain to strengthen ‘people-centric agenda’
Gusto Italian, the casual dining restaurant group, has announced a new partnership with PayCaptain, which will further strengthen its employee proposition and “people-centric agenda”. It said Gusto employees will benefit from greater flexibility over pay, savings and pension planning, as well as having the opportunity to access pay on-demand. The…
Read More » -
Mar- 2022 -28 MarchCatering Companies
The Lucky Club to open in London this spring
The Lucky Club, cocktail and casual dining venue, is set to open a roof terrace within The North Yard of Camden Market, London in May 2022. Following the brand’s debut site in Mayfair, the 5,600 sq ft Camden Market space, which sits upon the historic Grade II listed horse hospital,…
Read More » -
Feb- 2022 -23 FebruaryPeople
Fridays appoints Julie McEwan as COO
Fridays, part of newly listed Hostmore plc, has announced the appointment of Julie McEwan as its chief operating officer. McEwan started her career at Whitbread, spending several years as operations manager for Premier Inn, before joining Spirit Pub Company. At Spirit, she held several senior roles, including leading the Flaming…
Read More » -
15 FebruaryPubs and Bars
Managed groups see sales recover in January
Rising consumer confidence about safety and the easing of restrictions have boosted sales across managed pub, bar, and restaurant groups in January, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker. Total sales across these groups were 3% higher than pre-pandemic trading in January 2019, and represent a “solid recovery” from…
Read More » -
2 FebruaryFeatures
Hell Yeah Hospitality: Secrets of growth during a pandemic
The past 18 months have not been all doom and gloom in the hospitality industry. Despite the period of uncertainty, companies have found ways to grow their business by exploring alternate avenues and diversifying their approach. Hell Yeah Hospitality Group, which operates three hospitality brand concepts; Pizza Punks, Mamasan and…
Read More » -
Jan- 2022 -17 JanuaryRestaurants
Fridays owner ups guidance following positive December trading
Hostmore, the owner of casual dining brand Fridays, and the cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand 63rd+1st, has said it expects full-year revenue to be ahead of expectations following stronger than expected trading in December. Trading for the month of December 2021 was ahead of early-month expectations despite the fact that…
Read More » -
Nov- 2021 -8 NovemberFeatures
Q&A with Alan Morgan, CEO of The Big Table Group
What is the history of the business? The Big Table Group was formed last summer to acquire and operate the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas restaurant brands. In a process handled by AlixPartners, parts of the business formerly known as Casual Dining Group were acquired from administration, preserving…
Read More » -
Oct- 2021 -4 OctoberRestaurants
Blk Sheep Baa and Grill to open this October
Hospitality operator One Hundred Knights has confirmed that Blk Sheep Baa and Grill will open its doors for business at the Plassey Holiday Park, Wrexham, on Monday 25 October 2021. Based at the former old dairy ‘Shippon’ site, the restaurant is five miles from the centre of Wrexham and has…
Read More » -
Sep- 2021 -27 SeptemberRestaurants
Tasty H1 revenues rise 33%
Casual dining owner and operator Tasty has reported a 33% year-on-year revenue increase to £11.6m in H1 FY21. The group also revealed that it swung to an adjusted EBITDA of £800,000 in the 26-week period ended 27 June 2021, up from £100,000 losses the previous year. While the owner of…
Read More » -
17 SeptemberRestaurants
Electra confirms plans to demerge Fridays
Electra Private Equity has confirmed plans to demerge its Fridays and 63rd+1st brands under a new parent company, Hostmore. The firm had previously announced plans to demerge the brands earlier this year. It is planned for the shares in Hostmore to be admitted to the main market of The London…
Read More »
