Northampton

Regional coverage of foodservice and hospitality activity across Northampton, including the Cultural Quarter, Market Square, Wellingborough Road, and Sixfields. This section explores restaurant and pub openings, local and student trade, regeneration projects, and F&B trends influenced by commuter links and community demand. Built for chefs, operators, and hospitality professionals, it offers insight into trading in a growing Midlands town balancing heritage, investment, and high-street transformation.

Mar- 2021 -

3 March

Comment

Is enough being done to upskill the UK’s hospitality sector?

On 22 February Boris Johnson announced the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England. The plan, which he described as a “one-way road to freedom”, came almost exactly 11 months after the UK became submerged in a national lockdown that disrupted life as we know it. For business…
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Sep- 2020 -

15 September

Pubs and Bars

JD Wetherspoon confirms 66 staff Covid cases but insists pubs are ‘low risk’

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed 66 of its 41,000 members of staff have tested positive for Covid-19, but insists its pubs remain safe for customers. In a statement published on Monday (14 September), Wetherspoon reported an estimated 32 million visitors to its 861 establishments in the 10 weeks beginning…
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Jul- 2020 -

28 July

Restaurants

Frankie & Benny’s to open a further 15 sites

Frankie and Benny’s has announced the reopening of a further 15 restaurants that have, taking the total number of reopened sites to 35 by the end of the month. The restaurant chain said it has followed “strict” Government and Public Health England guidelines and has worked “incredibly hard” to put…
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May- 2020 -

26 May

Beverages

Carlsberg UK announces joint venture with Marston’s

Brewing company Carlsberg UK and pub operator Marston’s have announced a proposed transaction to form a new joint venture beer company, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. The new company will bring together the two brewers with shared values to create “significant value” for its employees, customers and consumers in the UK…
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Oct- 2019 -

14 October

Catering Companies

Northampton Saints extends catering partnership with Levy UK

Premiership Rugby Club Northampton Saints has extended its contract with Levy UK, which will continue to be the official food and hospitality partners at the Franklin’s Gardens stadium until 2025. According to the club, the contract extension will allow Levy UK to “enhance the supporter experience” at the 15,000-capacity stadium…
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Jul- 2019 -

24 July

Catering Companies

Orderswift and Stuart increase direct delivery coverage to 34 UK cities

Online ordering platform Orderswift and on-demand logistics specialist Stuart have expanded their direct delivery partnership to cover 34 cities and towns around the UK. The move comes after a successful two-year collaboration between the two companies in London. With direct delivery, customer orders are placed through a restaurant’s own website…
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May- 2019 -

1 May

People

Richard Warrington appointed head chef at Ramsgate’s Empire Room

Michelin-trained chef, Richard Warrington has been appointed head chef at the Empire Room restaurant in Ramsgate, Kent. Warrington, has previously worked at nearby Wyatt and Jones in Broadstairs and the Buoy and Oyster restaurant in Margate, along with periods at several Michelin-starred establishments including Castle Ashby in Northampton and the…
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Mar- 2019 -

19 March

Catering Companies

Crussh announces first site opening in partnership with Sodexo

Crussh Fit Food and Juice Bars has opened its first site in partnership with hospitality company Sodexo, at City, University of London, on 18 March 2019. The new kiosk at City will offer the company’s classic menu, offering a range of healthy food from breakfast pots, toasties, salads, wraps and…
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5 March

Pubs and Bars

Northampton pub operators acquire first Oxfordshire site

Northamptonshire pub operators Mark and Melissa Lynch have taken the lease of The Bell at Banbury with Star Pubs & Bars. The pair will commence work on a £320,000 refurbishment which will see the pub modernised with a “distinctive” craft beer and cask ale offering along with pizza served from…
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Nov- 2018 -

27 November

Beverages

Carlsberg pollution leads to restorative charity donations

Carlsberg has paid £120,000 to environmental charities as part of an Enforcement Undertaking (EU), following two pollution incidents in the River Nene, in Northampton. The EU was offered to the Environment Agency after the company admitted causing two similar diesel pollution incidents in the River Nene in July and October…
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