All articles by Finn Scott-Delany
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InterviewsGaucho: ‘Very soon we’ll be in double-digit growth’
CEO Baton Berisha is evolving the restaurant group’s offering away from its core Argentinian-inspired steakhouse group towards a more accessible South American and Latin influence, he tells MCA
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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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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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OpinionFull circle as Revolution Bars join Neos Hospitality
As Neos Hospitality acquires 20 Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites out of administration, it’s just the latest in a series of talks the parties have held over the years about joining forces
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OpinionBack in the Box: Roger Wade’s next move
After stepping down from the board of Boxpark four years on from its sale, founder Roger Wade is launching a shipping container venture for events and hospitality. But could opposition to the trade
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Opinion‘If a pub disappears it’s a tragedy. A chain restaurant doesn’t have the same cache’
Despite pressure to widen relief to the whole sector, the Chancellor has repeatedly emphasised pubs as the category most in need of support
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NewsRates valuations boss: ‘We don’t want there to be any surprises’
Jonathan Russell has defended the Valuation Office Agency’s work to MPs, and insisted ministers were kept informed of upcoming hikes to business rates, as he revealed overall valuations for the pub sector are up 32% since the last list in 2023
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OpinionRates solution must be for whole hospitality sector
Having signaled a U-turn on pub business rates is on the cards, ministers will hope the climbdown eases the onslaught – though a few critical questions remain
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OpinionLet’s raise a glass-half-full this Christmas
Despite a prevailing sense of gloom over costs, it was refreshing to hear some genuine positivity from hospitality leaders looking ahead to 2026
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OpinionCrisp Pizza on relocating pubs
Carl McCluskey points the finger at the landlord of his family Hammersmith pub; and a flamboyant former pub tycoon joins forces with a former PM for a private members’ club wheeze
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OpinionTop chef’s astonishment over pub’s rateable values
One of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs, and owner of a growing colleciton of premium pubs in Yorkshire, Tommy Banks is one of many operators who have been left gobsmacked by new business rates bills which appear to penalise their success
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OpinionBusiness rates changes ‘gaslighting at its worst’
Promising to level the playing field with online giants, the government’s new business rates plan is leaving many hospitality operators facing material increases in their tax burden
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Analysis & InsightBudget reaction: ‘Our only option is to look for growth overseas’
The entrepreneur behind Fallow cautioned that expanding in the UK was ‘simply not worth the cost’ under the current tax regime, while Markus Thesleff warned investors were deserting the UK
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OpinionDid Andrew Rennie talk himself out of a job?
The Domino’s Pizza Group CEO abruptly departed after overseeing a period of challenged trading and sliding share price, the failure to acquire a second brand, and a regrettable interview where he appeared to suggest there was little growth left in the pizza market
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OpinionDownbeat assessment of a government ‘that’s throttling us’
Describing the restaurant trade as simply “not great fun” right now, senior leaders spoke of a deterioration in trade which in some dayparts bordered on “catastrophic”
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OpinionTrouble at the top
A war of words is brewing between two of the premium restaurant sector’s top CEOs, whose musical chairs seem to have contributed to a growing sense of acrimony
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NewsBritvic acquisition delivers strong growth for Carlsberg despite difficult market
The Danish brewer reported volume growth of 16.2%, and organic volume development -3.0% in its Q3 results
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NewsBurger King UK set to surpass $1bn in revenue
Restaurant Brands International praised the UK business, noting that the brand’s recent collaboration with Gordon Ramsay drove ’strong engagement and sales’, while the business has added more than $115m (£87.5m) in revenue over the last 12 months.
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NewsEvolv Collection acquires Vinoteca
The Evolv Collection has acquired London wine bar group Vinoteca. Both businesses are backed by Breal Capital, but Evolv confirmed to MCA that it was a normal cash acquisition rather than a portfolio restructure.
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OpinionPizza Hut Restaurants’ slow slide into irrelevance
Shifting consumer preferences, increased competition, and an uninspiring product were no doubt factors in the brand’s latest round of closures, even if being fashionable was never part of Pizza Hut’s ambition