Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant empire sees losses deepen July 14, 2019 Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant business posted deepening losses in its latest financial results as it works through an “efficiency program”. The group, which owns the three Michelin star The Fat Duck, suffered a post-tax loss of £1.7m in the year to 31 May 2018, compared to a loss of £700,000 in 2017. Read more: [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds going on sale in London this weekend July 12, 2019 High Street Quarter, Hounslow From £344,000 for a one-bed Jet-setting Londoners will want to check out Barratt London’s new High Street Quarter development in Hounslow, which launches this Saturday and is just ten minutes from Heathrow Airport. As well as 528 one and two-bed apartments it will also include a new public square, Cineworld cinema, [...]
KFC first UK fast food giant to pledge better chicken welfare standards July 12, 2019 KFC is set to become the first British fast food restaurant to sign up to new European welfare standards for farmed chickens to combat inhumane conditions in intensive meat production. Read more: DEBATE: Does KFC’s veggie burger signal a move towards veganism? Its decision to adopt the new standards could see McDonalds and Burger King, [...]
Londoners rejoice; Deliveroo will serve your Pret a Manger meal to your desk July 12, 2019 It’s not exactly hard to find a Pret a Manger in London; there are more than a dozen in the City of London alone. Read more: Pret vows to go veggie when it takes over Eat stores But it is hard to get away from your desk sometimes, so thousands of workers will be delighted [...]
CMA puts brakes on Amazon’s Deliveroo investment July 5, 2019 The UK’s competitions watchdog will examine Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo, it said this morning, putting the brakes on the multi-million pound deal. The internet retail giant took a stake in Deliveroo in May, leading a $575m (£450m) funding round. It did not reveal the exact size of the stake. Read more: Amazon leads £450m Deliveroo [...]
Greene King posts robust sales growth despite fall in profit after summer washout June 27, 2019 Pub chain operator Greene King has posted a robust rise in sales for the full year, despite a slump in profit and the impact of unseasonable weather in the first eight weeks. The figures Group revenue rose 1.8 per cent to £2.2bn in the 52 weeks to the end of April. Pre-tax profit dropped 12.5 [...]
Pizza Express losses widen amid strain on casual dining sector June 26, 2019 Pizza Express has reported hefty losses for the full year as it battles with increased competition in the casual dining sector. The restaurant chain posted a loss of £55.8m in 2018, an increase of more than 40 per cent from £31.6m the previous year. Read more: China expansion and UK troubles take slice out of [...]
MPs warn against UK neglecting ties with India in favour of China June 24, 2019 The UK is failing to build an economic and security relationship with India as it grows in wealth and influence, the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) has today warned. Read more: New UK-India tech hub to be opened in confidence boost for the City In a new report the FAC cautioned that Britain’s focus on building [...]
The Weekly Grill: Federico Casali talks dogs and the worst thing he’s ever put in his mouth June 18, 2019 Who are you? I’m a 33-year-old easy-going Italian, born with a passion for food and cooking. I could never imagine being anything other than a chef. My style of cooking is fairly experimental but I still make sure that tradition and culture are respected through my dishes. I like to bring back forgotten ingredients and [...]
Ramen chain Tonkotsu eyes expansion with YFM backing June 11, 2019 Ramen restaurant Tonkotsu has received £5m of funding from investment firm YFM Equity Partners as it eyes expansion. YFM will take a minority stake in the Japanese-inspired restaurant chain as it expands its presence in London. Read more: Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant empire returns to profit The group will open restaurants in Peckham and Shoreditch this [...]