Chelmsford
Regional coverage of foodservice and hospitality activity in Chelmsford, including the city centre, Bond Street, Moulsham Street, and the railway station area. This section highlights restaurant and pub openings, commuter and leisure trade, independent business growth, and F&B trends shaped by local affluence and evolving consumer demand. Built for chefs, operators, and hospitality professionals, it offers insight into running venues in one of Essex’s fastest-growing and well-connected urban centres.
-
Sep- 2022 -29 SeptemberBusiness
Big Table Group acquires Banana Tree
The Big Table Group, operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge, has acquired the fast-casual Pan-Asian restaurant chain, Banana Tree, adding a new cuisine flavour to its family of restaurant brands. The group said Banana Tree is famous for its authentic, exotic and street-food inspired dishes, with flavours…
Read More » -
26 SeptemberPubs and Bars
Scratch Consultancy expands lease with Star Pubs and Bars
Business consultancy company, Scratch Consultancy, has taken the lease on its second site with Star Pub and Bars, The Compasses in Chelmsford, with aspirations to build an estate of five pubs across Essex and North Kent with the pub and bar operator. The two companies will undertake a joint £250k…
Read More » -
Jun- 2022 -13 JuneVenues & Properties
Popeyes UK to open six more sites
Popeye’s UK, which first launched in November 2021 with “runaway success”, has announced plans to speed up its national rollout with six new sites confirmed across the country in Nottingham, Gateshead, Oxford, Reading, Brighton, and Ealing. Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972, and currently has sites in Stratford,…
Read More » -
May- 2022 -26 MayRestaurants
Fridays owner set to double estate despite profit warning
Hostmore is set to expand its portfolio with the addition of three new sites in FY22, as it outlined its ambition to almost double its site locations from the current 89 over the medium term, subject to an improved trading environment. The owner of Fridays and 63rd+1st said this growth…
Read More » -
12 MayFood and Drink
Popeyes doubles up in Essex with new Romford restaurant
Popeyes UK is opening its second restaurant in Essex with the new Romford site set to open on Saturday 11 June 2022, seating up to 72 guests. The Romford restaurant marks the brand’s third site in the country, following the announcement of a Chelmsford location and the launch of its…
Read More » -
Apr- 2022 -4 AprilRestaurants
Popeyes opens first standalone UK site
Popeyes UK, the master franchise for the United Kingdom, is set to open its first standalone, sit-down restaurant in the UK in Chelmsford, shortly following its Westfield Stratford opening. Menu items already available at the Stratford restaurant will be offered at the standalone site, including Popeyes’ 12-hour marinated chicken and…
Read More » -
Feb- 2022 -23 FebruaryPeople
Fridays appoints Julie McEwan as COO
Fridays, part of newly listed Hostmore plc, has announced the appointment of Julie McEwan as its chief operating officer. McEwan started her career at Whitbread, spending several years as operations manager for Premier Inn, before joining Spirit Pub Company. At Spirit, she held several senior roles, including leading the Flaming…
Read More » -
Jan- 2022 -17 JanuaryRestaurants
Fridays owner ups guidance following positive December trading
Hostmore, the owner of casual dining brand Fridays, and the cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand 63rd+1st, has said it expects full-year revenue to be ahead of expectations following stronger than expected trading in December. Trading for the month of December 2021 was ahead of early-month expectations despite the fact that…
Read More » -
May- 2020 -1 MayRestaurants
Five Guys reopens eight more UK sites for delivery and takeaway
Five Guys has reopened a further eight of its UK sites for takeaway and delivery amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Restaurants in Norwich, Cambridge, Colchester, Chelmsford, Reading,York, Southampton and London’s Kensington reopened their doors this week, following government guidelines to temporarily close last month. It comes a week after the burger…
Read More » -
Aug- 2019 -5 AugustAnalysis
Jamie Oliver’s Restaurant Group – timeline
The collapse of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain is arguably one of the biggest developments in the industry in recent times. The company’s fall into administration is synonymous with the challenging times restaurant groups are currently facing, which has seen Byron Burgers approve company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) allowing them to close…
Read More »
