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 [...]
Guinness sales in focus as Diageo updates market after boss’s exit August 3, 2025 Investors in Diageo will be hoping the continued boom in demand for Guinness will help put the drinks giant back on track following the departure of its boss, and challenging conditions. The FTSE 100 firm, which also makes Johnnie Walker whisky and Gordon’s gin, is among the index’s weaker performers this year, with its share [...]
Gusto: Restaurants to close and almost 200 jobs lost as rescue agreed July 29, 2025 Almost 200 jobs have been lost at Italian restaurant chain Gusto after a deal to buy it out of administration was agreed. Cherry Equity Partners is to acquire the majority of Gusto in a move which will lead to around 190 redundancies and the closure of six restaurants. The deal, which is being undertaken through [...]
Labour to introduce new licensing rules to boost high street venues July 26, 2025 The Labour government has pledged to simplify the opening process for new high street venues in a bid to ramp up British hospitality prospects. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said new licensing framework, which comes as part of Labour’s overhaul on planning, plans to fast-track permissions for al fresco dining, helping to “protect pavement pints”. The [...]
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to lift ban on drinking alcohol in stands July 24, 2025 Football fans will be able to drink alcohol in the stands during Women’s Super League games at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United next season. They are among 14 clubs from the top two divisions of English women’s football who have signed up to the second phase of a trial, following a successful [...]
EXCLUSIVE: The Ned to launch members’ club in the countryside amid aggressive growth plans that echo Soho House July 24, 2025 City icon The Ned is set to open a “rural” estate in the UK as part of an aggressive expansion plan, with a first outpost in mainland Europe also in the pipeline. Group managing director Gareth Banner told City AM the company has three additional “very serious offers with either real estate owners or potential [...]