The Court
Coverage of operational strategy, branding, and performance at a hospitality venue known for combining premium drinks, atmosphere, and experience-led service. This section explores leadership moves, event programming, menu development, and F&B positioning—offering insight for bar operators, venue managers, and hospitality professionals tracking concept-led growth and competitive differentiation in the UK’s nightlife and casual premium sectors.
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Sep- 2019 -2 SeptemberRegulations & Policies
Restaurateur banned for nine years after concealing tax
A restaurateur behind Cyan Restaurant in Glasgow, has been banned from being a company director for nine years after he “concealed” over £130,000 in tax from HMRC. David Cowan was the sole director of Avenbrae Limited, the company behind Cyan Restaurant, it began trading in August 2014, but did not…
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Jul- 2019 -25 JulyGovernment
Jailed restaurateur hit with 12-year ban after £1m tax fraud
Jailed restaurateur Lam Chin Seong, from Barnet, has been banned from running companies for 12 years after he was found to owe HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over £1m. Seong was the sole director of Novari Limited and Novari (at the O2) Limited, which were both incorporated in 2012. The…
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18 JulyRegulations & Policies
Benugo fined for selling alcohol to 15-year-old at Waterloo
The café and restaurant chain Benugo has been fined thousands of pounds after an employee sold a bottle of beer to a 15-year old during an undercover operation run by Lambeth Council. Benugo was fined £6,000 by Camberwell Green Magistrates Court and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £860 for…
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Jun- 2019 -24 JuneAdvice
Living the dream? Part two
In the first part of this article, I considered the changes in the pub market over the past 20 years and the need for a mutually beneficial partnership between pub owners and publicans rather than the traditional arm’s length landlord and tenant relationship. A successful tenant recognises the changing market…
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Dec- 2018 -6 DecemberApps & Technology
Deliveroo drivers lose High Court battle
The High Court has dismissed a judicial review launched by the IWGB trade union against earlier decisions by the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) and the High Court which had found that Deliveroo riders were self-employed. The decision means the delivery app’s riders are not in an “employment relationship” for the…
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Nov- 2018 -27 NovemberAnalysis
Recent criticism of CVAs raises the question: “are they fit for purpose?”
In 2018, we have seen a number of high-profile retail restructurings and common to many is the use of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). After much press comment, which tended to focus on the plight of landlords, R3, the association of business recovery professionals, produced a report in May 2018…
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Sep- 2018 -26 SeptemberPubs and Bars
York Brewery fined £44,600 after man fell through pub trapdoor
York Brewery has been fined £44,600 after a man fell through a trapdoor in its Last Drop Inn pub located in Colliergate, York. The incident happened as a delivery driver was delivering gas cylinders to the pub, the driver was led into a pitch black room where he stepped aside…
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Aug- 2018 -8 AugustGovernment
Restaurant boss banned for fake five-star hygiene rating
A restaurant owner has been banned from running companies for five years after he falsely advertised a five star food hygiene rating in a magazine. Rushan Ahmed, 31, claimed his Moza restaurant in Derby had been awarded a five-star food hygiene rating in three adverts he ran in a local…
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