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.
-
Oct- 2024 -8 OctoberRestaurants
D&D London owners complete TGIF acquisition
TGI Fridays has been acquired by D&D London owners Breal Capital and Calveton UK through its acquisition vehicle Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited for an undisclosed sum. The sale, which is based on 51 restaurants, should secure the future of more than 2,000 jobs across those restaurants. Breal Capital…
Read More » -
Aug- 2024 -19 AugustNews
Today’s news in brief – 19/08/24
The industry saw its first quarter-on-quarter growth in outlets in two years. It comes as a 0.5% rise in the number of licensed premises between March and June of this year has resulted in 462 net new openings, or five per day. The latest Hospitality Market Monitor has highlighted “particularly”…
Read More » -
19 AugustBusiness
Hospitality returns to outlet growth in Q2
The hospitality industry has recorded its first quarter-on-quarter growth in outlets in two years, according to the new Hospitality Market Monitor fry CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners. It comes as a 0.5% rise in the number of licensed premises between March and June of this year has resulted in 462…
Read More » -
Jul- 2024 -12 JulyRestaurants
Burger brand Hub Box bought out of administration
South-West based burger chain Hub Box has been bought out of administration and sold to South West Restaurants Limited for an undisclosed sum. The transaction will see all of Hub Box’s 10 restaurants across the South West of England continue to trade, with all of the company’s circa 300 staff…
Read More » -
Jun- 2024 -26 JuneNews
Today’s news in brief – 26/06/24
Year-on-year hospitality inflation has fallen to 4.6%, the lowest recorded in 28 months by Prestige Purchasing and CGA’s Foodservice Price Index report, revealing more positive trends for the industry. May also saw month-on-month deflation of negative 0.4% – only the fourth such decrease in the last 32 months. Restaurant deliveries…
Read More » -
26 JuneNews
Slim Chickens to open at Festival Place in July
American fried chicken restaurant chain Slim Chickens is set to open a new location at Festival Place in July. With room for over 85 diners, the restaurant will deliver its casual dining offer serving hand-breaded buttermilk-marinated chicken, as well as other dishes including sandwiches, crispy wings, wraps, salads, sides and…
Read More » -
25 JuneRestaurants
Bangladeshi restaurant Dakaah to open in Camden Market
Casual dining restaurant Dhakaah is set to open its doors in Camden Market’s Hawley Wharf on 24 July, with a series of soft launch activations in the run-up to the opening. Dhakaah is a celebration of the street food and specialities of Bangladesh and is named after the country’s capital…
Read More » -
19 JuneNews
Today’s news in brief – 19/06/24
Pure has launched a Food for Business division just as its survey revealed more than 50% of respondents rated the food at their most recent meeting or event as average, poor or terrible. The new division will be catering for meetings and events, and will also provide workplace feeding options…
Read More » -
19 JuneRestaurants
Cocotte to open new site in Richmond
Casual dining restaurant Cocotte is set to open its doors in Richmond next month. The restaurant, which is known for its rotisserie chicken since opening in Notting Hill in 2016, has also opened multiple sites across London in Parson’s Green, Queen’s Park, Shoreditch and South Kensington. The new restaurant will…
Read More » -
May- 2024 -8 MayRestaurants
Hospitality closures slow in Q1
Closures in Britain’s hospitality sector slowed from eight sites a day in 2023 to four a day in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from CGA. The sector saw a 0.4% decline in total numbers between the start of January and the end of March, the third smallest…
Read More »