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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Nov- 2019 -26 NovemberRestaurants
Wingstop launches third UK site
Wingstop is set to launch its third UK restaurant in partnership with Xbox. Lemon Pepper Holdings, the brand partner of Wingstop, confirmed the third UK site would be opening in Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent, and feature a “stay and play” gaming zone in partnership with Xbox. This marks the first…
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15 NovemberAdvice
Why food businesses are an enticing prospect for angel investors
While it remains a tough time for dining on the High Street, the seeds of recovery are being planted, thanks to the health of start-ups in the food industry. The UK, led by London, is now one of the leading investment centres for the food and beverage sector. Angel investment…
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Oct- 2019 -25 OctoberRestaurants
Busaba set for rebrand amid 20th anniversary celebration
Thai restaurant group Busaba is set to undergo a rebrand in celebration of its 20th anniversary as part of a drive to “re-energise the brand while celebrating its past”. The new identity, launching this week, includes a new logo, a suite of menus and a team uniform designed by design…
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24 OctoberComment
Pizza Express: how to keep pizza on the menu and on the High Street
Recent news that Pizza Express, is engaging in ‘debt talks’ has sparked fears that it could be the next company to disappear from the high street. Will it be possible to turn the company’s fortunes around? In a sector as fast-moving as the UK restaurant industry, even small changes can…
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Sep- 2019 -18 SeptemberRestaurants
New Italian restaurant Calici to open in Belsize Village
A new Italian restaurant, bringing the best of traditional, regional Italian food into the 21st century, will be opening its doors in North London’s Belsize Park on Friday 20th September. Tapping into the casual dining scene, Calici will offer diners a laid-back dinner location coupled with a sleek and sophisticated…
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11 SeptemberBusiness
Closures hit ‘record’ levels in the first half of 2019
The number of stores closing down in the first six months of the year has reached its highest levels, with 2868 closures recorded for the period. An average of 16 stores a day shut their doors, according to research by the Local Data Company (LDC) and accounting firm PwC. The…
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2 SeptemberEducation
Star Pubs & Bars launches free cookery school courses
Star Pubs and Bars is launching a series of free chef training courses at regional cookery schools around the country to help licensees with kitchen staff recruitment and retention. The series of practical one-day courses is aimed at staff in pubs with a strong food offer who may not have…
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Aug- 2019 -21 AugustAdvice
Five ways restaurateurs can use digital marketing to survive the high street turbulence
Looking at the high street restaurant scene at the moment, it is easy to feel pessimistic. Jamie’s Italian became the latest popular British restaurant chain forced to shut its doors for good when it announced the closure of 23 of its 25 restaurants. Since 2018, Carluccio’s has closed nearly a…
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14 AugustRestaurants
Casual Dining Group commits to sourcing higher welfare chicken
Casual Dining Group (CDG), has signed up to the European Chicken Commitment, in a bid to improve welfare for the animal. The commitment requires companies to commit to a range of key standards by 2026 around slower growing chicken breeds, reduced stocking density, environmental enrichment, natural light, and humane slaughtering…
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13 AugustAnalysis
Spotlight: Restaurant chains defying the high street downturn
Pizza Express Pizza Express has been a mainstay on the UK highstreet since it was founded in 1965. In spite of a fairly saturated Italian dining scene the brand has maintained its presence where a majority of its competitors have struggled, including Jamie’s Italian, Prezzo and Carluccio’s. One of the…
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