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.
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Aug- 2020 -3 AugustRestaurants
Casual Dining Group rebrands following takeover
The Casual Dining Group (CDG) has rebranded as The Big Table, following its acquisition by private equity firm Epiris. A new business formed by the firm has successfully concluded a deal to take control of the Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge chains, alongside their existing management team led…
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1 AugustCoronavirus
Casual Dining Group falls into administration
The owner of Bella Italia and Café Rouge, Casual Dining Group, has fallen into administration. According to a report by the BBC, almost 1,900 of the group’s 6,000 strong workforce have been made redundant, with 91 sites closing their doors for good. The BBC said AlixPartners, the appointed administrators, will…
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Jul- 2020 -27 JulyCafes and Coffee Shops
Creams welcomes ‘record’ sales
Creams has welcomed a “strong performance” in the full-year ended 31 March 2020, with group sales up by 3% year-on-year to £43.4m. The dessert chain welcomed the results against the backdrop of a “challenging” period in the casual dining market in light of the “severe” impact of Covid. In its…
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22 JulyCoronavirus
Boxpark trials track and trace tool
Boxpark has unveiled its new digital Boxpark Black Card, a “customer-friendly” track and trace tool that collects customer data in a secure and contactless way. The dining, retail and leisure venue has appointed PassKit as its new technology partner to develop this new solution, which will be rolled out across…
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20 JulyRestaurants
Zizzi and Ask Italian to close 75 sites, 1,200 jobs at risk
Some 75 Zizzi and Ask Italian sites are set to close after the restaurant’s owner, Azzurri Group, was acquired by TowerBrook Capital Partners. The move has placed 1,200 jobs at risk and is the result of “unprecedented levels” of disruption in recent months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.…
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17 JulyRestaurants
Rick Stein to launch Stein’s on the Quay
The Rick Stein team has announced the launch of its new pop up restaurant Stein’s on the Quay in Padstow for summer 2020. The restaurant will be run by head chef Nick Evans and his team will aim to be serving up the “freshest Cornish catch of the day”. Stein’s…
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16 JulyRestaurants
Bistrot Pierre collapses into administration
KPMG has revealed it has led the administration of restaurant group Le Bistrot Pierre. The firm confirmed that restructuring practice members, Will Wright and Steve Absolom, were appointed joint administrators of the French-style restaurant chain. Following their appointment, the business and certain assets were “immediately” sold to Bistrot Pierre 1994…
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13 JulyRestaurants
Former TGI owner in talks to buy Casual Dining Group
Epiris, the former owner of TGI Friday’s, is reportedly in talks to acquire the Casual Dining Group from administrators. According to Sky News, the former backer of TGI is currently the frontrunner to acquire the restaurant group and while no deal has yet to be confirmed Sky sources said a…
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Jun- 2020 -10 JuneCoronavirus
The Restaurant Group launches CVA, 125 sites to close
The Restaurant Group has announced a proposal to reduce the size of its Leisure estate and rental cost base through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). The CVA will relate to the group’s Frankie and Benny’s estate, Chiquito and Garfunkel’s sites, but will have no impact on the group’s Wagamama, airport…
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8 JuneCoronavirus
The Restaurant Group confirms restructuring talks
The Restaurant Group has confirmed it has entered discussions with its landlords regarding the “potential restructuring” of its Leisure estate. The group’s Leisure Division, which includes its Frankie and Benny’s, Chiquito and Garfunkel’s sites, does not impact trading across the group’s Wagamama chain. It comes only days after news that…
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