Sir Rocco Forte enjoys record pay day after hotels empire deal August 13, 2025 The hotels group founded by Sir Rocco Forte has issued a record dividend for the first full year after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) became a major shareholder. Rocco Forte Hotels has paid out dividends totalling £8.9m for the year to 30 April, 2025, to its shareholders. The international hotels group, which is headquartered in [...]
Kensington Roof Gardens plunges to £26m loss August 13, 2025 The company behind the revamped Kensington Roof Gardens suffered a £26m loss after the venue reopened as a private members’ club, its latest accounts reveal. The grade-II listed former nightclub, situated on London’s swanky Kensington High Street, unveiled plans to launch as a members’ club in February last year, offering annual memberships of up to [...]
Hospitality sector on brink of claims crisis as Employment Bill looms August 12, 2025 The hospitality and leisure sector is already experiencing a rising number of Employment Tribunal claims, a situation likely to worsen further when the Bill becomes law.
London pub scene ‘showing real resilience’ despite soaring costs August 7, 2025 The number of pubs in London has barely budged in the last decade despite heavy pressure on the capital’s hospitality scene. There are 3,523 pubs in the capital, only 10 fewer than in 2023 and just under the 3,530 venues recorded in 2017, according to data from the ONS. “The data shows it’s far from [...]
Borough Market: New chief takes the helm at London’s oldest food hall August 6, 2025 Borough Market has announced hospitality veteran Alistair Maddox as the iconic site’s new chief executive officer following Jane Swift’s resignation earlier this year. One of the capital’s best-loved and oldest food markets, Borough Market has grown into a thriving six-day-a-week market, attracting 20 million visitors a year. The market, which has been in the same [...]
Simmons: Bar chain owed millions to OakNorth, tax collectors before entering administration August 6, 2025 Simmons owed millions of pounds in debts to OakNorth bank and tax collectors before it was put into administration, fresh corporate documents have revealed. The London-based cocktail bar chain has made at least 30 staff redundant alongside closing several sites as founder Nick Campbell battled to secure rescue funding to buy the company in a [...]
London cocktail chain Simmons enters administration amid site closures August 5, 2025 London cocktail chain Simmons has entered administration after announcing plans to close at least four sites as it became the latest victim of the immense cost pressure facing hospitality firms. The upmarket bar group, which had operated more than 20 venues across the UK, has appointed advisory firm Kroll to oversee the administration, company filings [...]
Dishoom served huge valuation after founders sell stake August 4, 2025 Dishoom has been valued in the region of £300m after striking an investment deal with a firm backed by LVMH. The restaurant chain has agreed a deal for an undisclosed sum with US-based L Catterton in a move which will see founders Shamil Thakrar and Kavi Thakrar dilute their stakes. Both co-founders are expected to [...]
Papa John’s: UK losses continue as over 70 locations closed August 4, 2025 The UK arm of Papa John’s continued to make significant losses in 2024 as it closed more than 70 locations. The division of the US pizza giant has reported a pre-tax loss of £21.8m for its latest financial year, having also lost £19.2m in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also show the firm’s [...]
McDonald’s sheds 2,000 UK jobs as profit almost doubles August 4, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of McDonald’s almost doubled in 2024 as it shed more than 2,000 jobs, it has been revealed. The US fast food giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £120m for its latest financial year, up from the £66.3m it reported in 2023. That figure though was down from the £170.8m [...]