Sold

We report on business sales and ownership changes across the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, including restaurant acquisitions, pub disposals, catering firm takeovers, and brand portfolio restructures. Our coverage captures who’s buying, who’s selling, and why, with commercial context that matters to operators, F&B executives, and group-level decision-makers. Whether it’s a strategic divestment, private equity deal, or local venue sale, we break down what the transaction means for market positioning, leadership, and operational continuity across the industry.

Aug- 2025 -

8 August

Features

Could Gusto’s fall signal a casual dining scene in crisis?

Italian restaurant chain Gusto, once seen as a staple of mid-market dining in the UK, has become the latest brand to fall victim to the sector’s mounting structural and economic challenges. On 29 July, the 13-site operator entered administration before being swiftly acquired via a pre-pack deal by Cherry Equity…
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7 August

Catering Companies

Restaurant Associates renews catering contract with Imperial War Museums

Restaurant Associates has secured a new five-year contract to provide hospitality and retail catering across all five Imperial War Museums (IWM) sites. The agreement covers IWM London, IWM Duxford, HMS Belfast, Churchill War Rooms and IWM North. Under the renewed contract, the hospitality firm will continue managing food and beverage…
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Jul- 2025 -

30 July

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Caffè Nero sees global sales rise 12% in Q4

Caffè Nero has reported a 12% rise in global sales in the final quarter of its financial year, with growth in the UK boosted by demand for iced drinks. The coffee chain said like-for-like sales across the group increased 6% in the three months to 31 May. In the UK,…
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29 July

Restaurants

Cherry Equity rescues Gusto from administration, 190 redundancies expected

Cherry Equity Partners is set to acquire the majority of Italian chain Gusto following the appointment of administrators and a pre-pack administration process, with almost 200 redundancies expected. The deal will see seven flagship Gusto restaurants continue to trade, in a move that safeguards over 300 jobs. Six restaurants will…
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24 July

Restaurants

Seaco acquires Busaba out of administration

Busaba has been sold in a pre-pack administration deal to Seaco Investments, safeguarding around 240 jobs across its seven remaining sites. News comes after the Thai restaurant group entered administration on 16 July, with Neil Bennett and Alex Cadwallader of law firm Leonard Curtis appointed joint administrators. The sale to…
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23 July

Pubs and Bars

JD Wetherspoon to open 30 new pubs as sales jump 5.1%

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.1% rise in like-for-like sales in the 12-week period to 20 July, as it prepares to open roughly 30 new pubs in the next financial year. The pub operator, which said like-for-like sales for the year-to-date also rose 5.1%, plans to release its full-year results…
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21 July

Pubs and Bars

Red Oak Taverns sales jump 21% to £23.5m despite lower FY profits

Red Oak Taverns has reported a “record” 21% rise in sales to £23.5m for the year ended 31 December 2024, despite a fall in annual profits and continued economic pressures. The pub group, which owns and operates sites across the UK, attributed its jump in sales to estate investment, acquisitions,…
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16 July

Pubs and Bars

Oasis comeback helps boost hospitality sales, UKH finds

Hospitality operators in Manchester, Edinburgh and London can expect a welcome boost to trade when Oasis come to town for their reunion shows over the next few weeks, according to data from UKHospitality. The first shows of the tour, held at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday 4 and Saturday 5…
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14 July

Restaurants

Darwin and Wallace FY losses widen to £11.3m under new ownership

Bar-restaurant operator Darwin and Wallace has seen its pre-tax losses widen, from £1.9m to £11.3m in the 70-week period to 30 September 2024, after restructuring its estate and operations under new ownership. According to its latest filing at Companies House, the results were affected by an impairment charge of £7.3m,…
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10 July

Food and Drink

Pret introduces ‘Super Plates’ to meet salad demand

Pret A Manger has introduced a new category of salads called “Super Plates”, aimed at customers seeking larger, protein- and fibre-rich lunch options. The chain said the range reflects growing demand for more substantial salads, with its salad sales increasing three times faster than its sandwich category over the past…
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