James McAllister
James is an NCTJ-qualified journalist whose career has seen him cover everything from the Cannes Film Festival to the plight of Chagossians living in the UK. He has written extensively about the hospitality trade since 2019, first as a reporter and later a senior reporter for Restaurant magazine. He is now business editor for MCA with a remit to cover all corners of the UK’s hospitality sector including restaurant groups, pubcos, and the quick service space.
Contact info
- Tel:
- +44 (0)1293 610437
- Email:
- James.McAllister@wrbm.com
InterviewsBrakspear: ‘Profitability is becoming more and more difficult to achieve’
Chief executive Tom Davies tells MCA that despite turnover remaining strong, spiralling employment costs continue to challenge the pub operator’s P&L
Analysis & InsightTrade bodies warn operators are finding it ‘more and more difficult to make ends meet’
Data from CGA by NIQ shows that a third of hospitality businesses are now either breaking even or making a loss
Analysis & InsightEating out sentiment on the rise
Data from BDO shows net spend intention across the eating out segment has risen 5.4 percentage points year-on-year with improving household confidence leading to a recovery among 35-44-year-olds
NewsDomino’s confirms Nicola Frampton as permanent CEO
Frampton, who has served as interim CEO since the departure of Andrew Rennie in November, is described by the pizza delivery group as ‘the outstanding candidate to lead the company’
NewsBrakspear acquires three pubs from Grosvenor
The pub operator is expanding its leased and tenanted estate with the latest acquisitions, which are all based in Surrey
NewsPatty & Bun announces multiple closures
The better burger slinger says the four closures, which reduces its bricks and mortar estate to just two sites, marks the end of a chapter, but ‘isn’t goodbye’
NewsMEATliquor shutters bulk of estate
The restaurant group has closed all but two sites under its core brand with founder Scott Collins also retaining control of Covent Garden sports bar BLOODsports
NewsStrong trading drives turnover and profit at Everards
The Leicestershire-based pub operator and brewer says it is well positioned to navigate market challenges after reporting a 90%+ rise in operating profit in its latest results
News‘A defining moment for the brand’ - Be At One rolls out concept evolution
The Stonegate-owned bar group says it is entering ‘a new era’ with a refreshed drinks menu and updated guest experience being expanded across its estate following a successful trial
InterviewsThe Coffee House: ‘We’re pretty optimistic about where the year’s going to head’
Co-founder Chris Shelmerdine tells MCA the Northwest-based group has a full pipeline of openings for 2026 that will see it stretch further into the Midlands, as well as Yorkshire
NewsGrind expands partnership with British Airways
The omnichannel coffee brand will become the new partner for complimentary coffee served across BA’s premium cabins and lounges globally
NewsMays Elansari joins Wasabi as marketing director
Elansari, who joins the sushi and bento brand following a stint at Stonegate, will be working alongside recently appointed commercial MD Tony Barr to support the group as it scales
NewsJust Eat and Pasta Evangelists among businesses to face CMA investigation in fake review crackdown
The UK’s competition watchdog says it has opened investigations into five businesses it suspects may have infringed consumer law with their practices in relation to online reviews
NewsWetherspoon expands presence in Spain with Barcelona airport pubs
Following the opening of the company’s first pub in Spain at Alicante Airport earlier this year, the group is now opening two sites across Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport
NewsWahaca brings in P-Three to accelerate UK expansion
The contemporary Mexican restaurant group says it is targeting new sites in Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham, as well as multiple locations across London
Analysis & InsightNumber of UK food halls rises 31%
Data from hospitality consultancy Next Phase reveals ‘the strongest growth figures yet for the UK food hall sector’ with just one closure recorded across the segment in the past year
Analysis & InsightDublin down on growth – why quick-service brands are flocking to Ireland
The Emerald Isle’s QSR market is seeing an influx of operators crossing the Irish Sea attracted by surging consumer demand, a strong economy and favourable rates of VAT
InterviewsPopeyes: ‘We’ve got a lot of white space to move into’
The fast-growing fried chicken chain is aiming to open a further 40 sites this year with chief development officer Tom Byng saying there’s still plenty of room for growth
NewsJames Gould-Porter turns supplier with British spring water brand
The Island Poké founder’s new venture, backed by former investors in Soho House, offers a closed-loop system designed for hospitality operators ‘seeking more circular solutions’ to their bottled water supply
InterviewsGreggs: ‘The early results for Bitesize are very positive’
The bakery group’s property director, Tony Rowson, says the small-scale offshoot is opening up more location opportunities with more launches under the format planned