All MCA Insight articles in February 2026 – Page 4
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NewsNew people and culture director at NEOS Hospitality
Kayleigh Holmes joins the 40-strong bar operator at a pivotal time, as the business continues to scale and invest in its senior leadership team
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NewsChaiiwala seeks partners for US launch
The Indian street food concept, which operates more than 100 UK locations, has successfully hosted a series of pop-ups in Texas and is exploring local franchise opportunities
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NewsGaucho appoints regional operations director
Jamie Belton, a former general manager at The Ivy Collection, will oversee operations across the steakhouse group’s eight regional restaurants
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OpinionA pound off a pint is fantasy economics
Nigel Farage reckons Reform UK’s tax cutting pubs plan will see the cost of a pint fall by a whole pound, but it doesn’t take much scrutiny for these claims to look as wobbly as an old barstool
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Weekend PressAt last, Britain is turning its back on Dry January
I’m all for moderation, but there’s enough to be worrying about without torturing ourselves over the odd glass of red, writes The Telegraph’s Victoria Moore
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Weekend PressIrn-Bru is so strong it’s buying up the posh health drinks
The Times examimes AG Barr’s recent acquistion of Fentimans
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Weekend PressSacha Lord: 'What Rachel Reeves must do now is offer hospitality a sector-specific VAT reduction'
VAT for restaurants and bars in Europe is around nine per cent. Why is it so much more here, asks Sacha Lord in The Standard
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Weekend PressKate Nicholls: 'The help for pubs is a good start, but there’s so much more to be done'
Businesses in hospitality all benefit from one another — it is a virtuous circle. The Government must do more, writes the UKHospitality chair in The Standard
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Weekend PressHow Britain became a fried chicken nation
Chicken shops are opening at a faster rate than all other fast food outlets on British high streets, but what does this trend mean for traditional takeaways, asks the BBC
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InterviewsKaran Gokani: ‘There isn’t a restaurant in central London that truly does regional Indian food’
The Hoppers co-founder has spent six years improving efficiency and evolving the scope of his Sri Lankan-focused group. Now he’s opening in Shoreditch, and is hungry for more restaurants
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Analysis & InsightDeals and discounts successfully entice consumers in January
Operator initiatives to drive footfall have been effective, with both participation and frequency rising during a typically slow month, according to Lumina Intelligence
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NewsYouMeSushi reports ‘year of record growth’
The fast casual sushi chain says it reached £20m in sales in 2025 with 14% year-on-year growth
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NewsMarket Taverns reports ‘positive trading momentum’ as it strengthens senior team
The group has appointed Miles Slade as managing director it prepares for its next phase of growth following ‘a strong trading period’ over Christmas and through January
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NewsRichard Tallboy joins Sona as chief information officer advisor
Sona says the newly created executive advisory role is designed to accelerate the company’s enterprise strategy and deepen its expertise across key areas of hospitality operations
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NewsWetherspoon defends dog policy following ‘misleading’ article
Tim Martin said the BBC’s suggestion Wetherspoon’s dog policy could be breaking the law ‘did not explain the company’s broader legal responsibility for the safety of its customers and staff’
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InterviewsJonathan Recanati: ‘We’re now going through a mega growth phase’
The Farmer J founder has said his initial aim to open 50 sites under his field-tray concept ‘feels small’, adding that his ambition is now ‘far bigger’
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NewsWetherspoon urges sector to back Reform tax plans
Chairman Tim Martin criticised the ’underwhelming’ reception from pub sector leaders to Nigel Farage’s pub proposals, which includes cuts to VAT, business rates, beer duty, National Insurance, as well as reform of the tied system
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NewsOakNorth backs leisure concept Mad Swans
The digital bank has provided a £10m loan to Longshot, the group behind Mad Swans - a concept combining leisure, sport, hospitality, and wellness at repurposed countryside golf clubs
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NewsCornish Bakery to launch new concept for Welsh debut
The independent bakery has confirmed the opening of six new sites by May 2026, including its first in Wales, where it will debut a new format called RISE.
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InterviewsFederal Café to launch in York amid Northern expansion plans
The brunch concept is actively pursuing sites in Northern cities following a £3m investment from Foresight Group and the appointment of Karen Jones as chairperson, founder Claudio Ribeiro tells MCA