All articles by James McAllister – Page 7
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InterviewsRanjit Mathrani: ‘People aren’t spending, they’re saving'
The chairman of MW Eat tells MCA the impact of last year’s budget has been ‘devastating’ while uncertainty over what comes next is putting a dampener on consumer spending
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Analysis & Insight‘There’s such appetite for innovation’ – hospitality leaders on new formats, tech opportunities and food development
Leaders from some of the UK hospitality sector’s biggest groups, including Wingstop, Leon, German Doner Kebab, Moto Hospitality and Franco Manca gathered for a roundtable ahead of MCA’s Innovation Conference last week to discuss how they are evolving their businesses for the future
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NewsEvolv Collection sets out expansion plans for Sartoria brand
The London-based group is to relaunch restaurants in South Kensington and Battersea Power Station under the Italian concept, with a further opening on Liverpool Street also planned
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![InnoConf-161[1]](https://d36hgjhwuw81py.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/7/6/9/373769_innoconf1611_564867.jpg)
NewsGail’s: ‘We’re at the point of growing up the business’
Gail’s MD Nick Ayerst told MCA’s Innovation Conference that the rapidly expanding bakery chain is looking to grow its estate from 180 to 300 sites
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NewsMarket Place: ‘Leicester Square is our biggest leap forward yet’
The London-based food hall operator is set to take over a huge five-storey site that will feature sixteen independent kitchens and three standalone bars
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NewsMW Eat ‘significantly more profitable’ despite negligible sales increase
The London-based operator behind Indian fine dining restaurants Chutney Mary and Veeraswamy reported a pre-tax profit of £4.4m for the year ended 30 March 2025
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NewsPizzaExpress’ equity markets in Hong Kong and UAE are ’outposts of innovation’
PizzaExpress CEO Paula MacKenzie has said the launch of the casual dining group’s Pod concept in the UK last year followed the development of smaller footprint locations in Hong Kong
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NewsSales dip after end of EOHO
Food and drink sales fell back in the week following the end of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to the latest CGA data.
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NewsTrack and trace to become mandatory in England
The Government is set to tighten track and trace rules making it compulsory for pubs and restaurants in England to take customers’ details.
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NewsWagamama announces double closure following business review
Wagamama is to permanently close two of its London sites, including its ‘noodle lab’ in Soho. The pan-Asian chain, which is owned by The Restaurant Group (TRG), says it made the decision following a review of the company’s portfolio brought about by a ‘marked shift’ in customer demand caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result of the review, it has been decided that Wagamama’s Mansion House restaurant, as well as its ‘noodle lab’ test kitchen on Dean Street, are no longer economically viable, and both sites have been closed.
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InterviewsLuke Johnson: ‘This lockdown has been incredibly harmful. We can’t allow it to happen again’
As restaurants, pubs and cafes set about preparing to reopen on 4 July, entrepreneur and investor Luke Johnson discusses what the future of the hospitality sector may look like.
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NewsElite Bistros launches meal kit service
Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros group is to launch a nationwide meal kit delivery service this week.
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NewsLuke Johnson: Lockdown will kill more than virus
Gail’s Bakery backer Luke Johnson believed the lockdown will cause more deaths than the coronavirus itself.
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NewsGovernment urged to reconsider tronc question
Restaurateurs including D&D London CEO Des Gunewardena and Hawksmoor founder Will Beckett have signed a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding the inclusion of tronc payments in the job retention scheme.
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InterviewsYard Sale Pizza: ‘The focus isn’t on making money, it’s on survival’
Yard Sale Pizza co-founder Johnnie Tate has described the company’s current focus as being on survival rather than making money.
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NewsHix: 'Not my decision to appoint administrators'
Mark Hix has appointed administrators to his three restaurant companies - WSH & Mark Hix Restaurants, Restaurants etc and Hix Townhouse.
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NewsFlour power: how Padella changed London’s pasta landscape
Padella (named after the Italian for frying pan) created the blueprint for pasta-focused small plates places when it opened in 2016. Four years on, founders Jordan Frieda and Tim Siadatan face stiff competition in the space they established as they open their second London site.
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OpinionMiddle Eastern promises: James Walters on Arabica KX
James Walters has opened a second incarnation of his Levantine-inspired restaurant concept Arabica. A lot has changed, but what remains is the chef’s determination to steadily evolve the brand
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NewsTiPJAR begins rollout with Honest
TiPJAR, the tip solutions platform from BrewDog retail director James Brown and Rosa’s Thai co-founder Alex Moore, has begun rolling out to restaurants, beginning with Honest Burgers.
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Analysis & InsightArcade Food Theatre
There are plenty of theatres in the West End of London, but there’s never been one quite like Arcade. Located on the ground floor of the Centre Point building, next to Tottenham Court Road Tube station, it’s a playhouse, of sorts, where the drama is designed to unfurl behind the counters of the Theatre’s seven open-plan kitchens.