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.
-
Aug- 2019 -2 AugustRestaurants
Whitbread to launch Bar + Block Steakhouse in Reading
Whitbread is set to launch a new Bar + Block Steakhouse in reading following a “successful” roll-out in Wimbledon, Belfast and Bristol in 2019. The new steak-focussed all-day casual dining restaurant will open on Reading Road in Winnersh on the 16 August. Bar + Block Winnersh will be a 418…
Read More » -
Jul- 2019 -31 JulyRestaurants
Gisborough Hall launches new bar and grill
De Brus Bar and Grill’ has opened at Gisborough Hall hotel in North Yorkshire. The new restaurant is set to offer a casual dining and drinks throughout the day offering salads, meat and fish grills, dishes to share, vegetarian dishes and “healthy options”. The bar and grill is led by…
Read More » -
29 JulyAdvice
How to keep ahead of the competition with flexible funding
Our most recent data tells us that there has been a 100% increase in the use of merchant cash advances by independent restaurants so far in 2019. This is purely due to restaurants and pubs striving to keep ahead of the competition and grow their businesses while many chain restaurants…
Read More » -
29 JulyRestaurants
Italian eatery launches in North London with secret cocktail terrace
Terra Terra, a new all day Italian restaurant and café complete with an open bakery and outdoor terrace will launch this September on Finchley Road in North London. Terra Terra is set across two floors and will also include a private tucked away patio with “contemporary design tones of Tuscan…
Read More » -
22 JulyPubs and Bars
Number of insolvencies fall over second quarter
The number of insolvencies in the UK has fallen by 14% for the second quarter of this year. The study compiled by ‘Big Four’ firm KPMG found that 310 companies filed for administration between April and June, a fall of 14% compared with the first quarter. The results are on…
Read More » -
11 JulyPubs and Bars
Pub and bar operators more upbeat than restaurants about future
Pub and bar operators across the UK remain relatively upbeat about future business according to the CGA Fourth Business Confidence Survey, which polled 140 senior industry executives. The survey, which was completed in partnership with research consultants CGA and hospitality solutions provider Fourth, found that 41% of bosses were “fairly”…
Read More » -
10 JulyAnalysis
The hungry searcher
Last month, it was revealed Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain collapsed with 22 restaurant closures. This is the continuation of a trend which has seen a number of food outlets – including Ed’s Easy Diner, Giraffe and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) – close their doors, and has prompted speculation that Brits…
Read More » -
4 JulyRestaurants
El Gato Negro acquires former Jamie’s site for third opening
Restaurateur Simon Shaw and Mills Hill Developments have acquired 35 Park Row, Leeds, the former site of Jamie’s Italian restaurant to open a third El Gato Negro for a winter 2019 launch. The premises based in Leeds city centre were acquired from Jamie’s Italian’s administrators KPMG and the company was…
Read More » -
3 JulyPubs and Bars
Jamie Oliver Restaurant’s former operations chef takes on pub
Jamie Oliver Restaurants’ former operations chef, Kanwar Gurmohan has taken on the lease of Star Pubs and Bars’ Surrey Cricketers in Windlesham. He will also undertake the joint £272,000 refurbishment with pub company starting this week. During his time at Jamie Oliver’s, he was operations chef for six years, Prior…
Read More » -
Jun- 2019 -25 JuneAnalysis
Why are chain restaurants losing customers?
After the recent news of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain going into administration, concerns have been raised that the food industry is on a steep decline. Food and drink chain establishments such as Carluccio’s, Byron Burger and Gourmet Burger kitchen have also closed down some of their stores to cut costs,…
Read More »
