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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Jun- 2022 -21 JunePubs and Bars
The Alchemist unveils second Edinburgh site amid £1.5m investment
The Alchemist has announced its continued expansion in Scotland with a £1.5m investment in a second bar and restaurant in Edinburgh, set to open in early 2023. The new site comprises a 7,051 square feet space located on George Street and it will house 185 covers for cocktails and all-day…
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13 JuneRestaurants
Losses at top 100 UK restaurant groups surge 24% to £832m
Losses at the Top 100 UK restaurant groups grew 24% from £673m to £832m in just the past six months, according to a new study by UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group. It said the scale of the losses has been driven by the effects of major restructuring programmes…
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May- 2022 -25 MayRestaurants
Revamped Nether Wallop set to open this summer
Restaurant Associates and executive chef Steve Groves have announced the launch of a new casual dining concept, the revamped Nether Wallop restaurant, which will open this summer at Glyndebourne Festival 2022. The restaurant’s menu has been built around a core philosophy of sustainability, aiming to “work closely with award-winning local…
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24 MayCafes and Coffee Shops
Jamaica Blue launches first Northern Irish store
Jamaica Blue has opened its first casual dining coffee shop in Ireland at the Forestside shopping centre, Belfast, as part of the coffee chain’s UK wide expansion. The new site has seen the business invest £350,000 in fit out costs, and it will employ up to 15 people as part…
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24 MayRestaurants
Tortilla acquires Chilango in £2.75m deal
Tortilla, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, has announced the acquisition of Chilango Limited for a total consideration of up to £2.75m from investment firm RDCP Group Ltd. Chilango is a fast-casual restaurant chain specialising in Mexican food including burritos, salads and tacos. The business operates from an estate of eight…
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16 MayRestaurants
Gusto Italian launches apprenticeship scheme
Casual dining chain Gusto Italian has launched a new apprenticeship scheme which will enable employees to achieve a degree-level qualification. Through a partnership with training and development providers, Dove Nest, thirteen junior managers have been selected for the first cohort of apprentices. Over the next 18 months, they will study…
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11 MayRestaurants
Slim Chickens to make Liverpool debut
Slim Chickens, a “rapidly growing” American dining brand operated by Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), is set to make its debut in Liverpool at the Liverpool ONE shopping complex. The 5,000 sq ft flagship restaurant is set to open later this year and will provide over 175 covers, as well as…
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Apr- 2022 -29 AprilRestaurants
Black and White Hospitality to open new MPW Restaurant
Black and White Hospitality, which owns and manages the franchise rights to eight Marco Pierre White restaurant concepts, has signed a deal to open a new restaurant in South Gloucestershire. Located at The Gables Hotel in Falfield, the 104-cover restaurant (60 in restaurant / 44 in bar), which is planned…
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28 AprilRestaurants
Gusto Italian appoints new chief operating officer
Gusto Italian, the casual dining restaurant group, has announced the appointment of Scott Grimbleby as its new chief operating officer (COO) to “drive expansion and growth as the business seeks to open in more locations across the UK”. Grimbleby joins from Living Ventures and replaces Tim Selby, who is leaving…
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20 AprilRestaurants
UK licensed premises contract as CGA warns of future closures
Britain’s number of licensed premises contracted 0.9% in the first quarter of 2022, the latest market recovery monitor from CGA and AlixPartners reveals. It indicates that Britain had just under 106,000 licensed premises at the end of March 2022. CGA said that “while this small decrease does represent a slowdown…
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