Soho
We report on the dynamic foodservice scene in Soho — one of London’s most competitive and trend-defining hospitality districts. This features our coverage of new restaurant and bar launches, concept innovation, chef-led ventures, lease activity, and the operational realities of trading in this densely packed, high-footfall zone. Whether you’re running an independent venue, expanding a brand presence, or benchmarking against Soho’s influential operators, we provide commercial insight into the challenges and opportunities of hospitality in the heart of the capital.
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Aug- 2018 -22 AugustApps & Technology
Third London restaurant in two months closes with extraction issues
Soho restaurant Flavour Bastard has announced it is closing for a short while to faults with its air-conditioning equipment. The restaurant had already been closed since 6 August due to refurbishment, and it is expected to be closed for around three weeks. The closure comes just a month after Yotam…
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20 AugustBusiness
Salt Yard Group sells Opera Tavern restaurant
Salt Yard Group has announced it has sold the Opera Tavern Spanish tapas restaurant in Covent Garden to Urban Pubs and Bars. The Covent Garden restaurant opened in 2011 and was one of four owned by Salt Yard. The group said it will now be “focusing fully” on its Soho…
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13 AugustBeverages
Lush to offer free coffee
Cosmetics retailer Lush is to offer free coffee in an attempt to cut down on single use coffee cups. Customers in Lush’s Soho store will be eligible for the coffee if they bring along a reusable cup between 7am and 3pm in the four weeks commencing 14 August. The coffees…
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9 AugustPubs and Bars
Be At One pub criticised over white faces on historic photo
A Soho Be At One pub has been forced to remove a photograph from its walls after patrons objected to an edited image which superimposed the faces of exclusively white investors over those of black drinkers in the original. The original historic photo, which has hung in the pub for…
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1 AugustRestaurants
Ed Baines’ ‘Randell and Aubin’ restaurant for sale
TV chef Ed Baines’ ‘Randell and Aubin’ restaurant in Manchester has been listed for sale with a lease price of £80,000 per year. The seafood restaurant was opened in late 2017 in an attempt to replicate the success of Randell and Aubin’s Soho branch which has been a staple of…
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Jul- 2018 -27 JulyProduct Releases
JKS Restaurants to open new Persian restaurant in Soho
Asian restaurant group JKS Restaurants has announced it is to move into Persian cuisine with its new Berenjak restaurant, based on Romilly Street in Soho. Iranian chef Kian Samyani will lead the new restaurant with the assistance of JKS’ Sethi siblings Karam, Sunaina, and Jyotin. Samyani has previously worked under…
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19 JulyFood and Drink
Temper City to change entire menu after Indian grill sees ‘sluggish’ customer response
Chef Neil Rankin’s Temper City restaurant is to change its entire menu as a result of what Rankin calls a “sluggish” customer response to the current Indian grill offering. The new menu will be more similar to that at Rankin’s first restaurant Temper Soho. A Temper spokesperson told Catering Today…
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Jun- 2018 -29 JuneFeatures
The rise of the delivery-only kitchen
In today’s increasingly competitive restaurant market, delivery presents potential for growth. The lure of increased brand awareness and extended the customer base, while utilising surplus kitchen capacity, logically translates into opportunity to drive sales. As delivery becomes an expected part of the offer, operators need to understand how to effectively bring…
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21 JuneFood and Drink
Chef Alexis Gauthier supports foie gras ban
Chef and restaurateur Alexis Gauthier whose restaurant, Gauthier Soho, used to serve 25kg of foie gras per day, has told Catering Today he is fully behind banning the substance on ethical grounds. When asked if he would support a ban on foie gras Gauthier replied “of course” saying its production…
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19 JuneRestaurants
Former foie gras-serving restaurant Gauthier Soho goes vegan
Gauthier Soho, a restaurant which used to serve foie gras is aiming to become 100% vegan within two years, the restaurant used to serve 20kg of foie gras per day. The restaurant’s meat and seafood options currently include lobster and caviar ravioli, Berkshire pork fillet and Atlantic cod, however these…
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