All O'Neill's articles – Page 2

  • PizzaExpress
    Opinion

    Pizza pioneer

    2018-12-07T08:31:00Z

    The inventor of the UK’s casual dining industry, an inspiration to a generation of restaurant entrepreneurs and the founder of what today is the country’s biggest restaurant brand, PizzaExpress, Peter Boizot, who sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 89, can lay claim to all of those descriptions and more. Here was a life, truly well lived, and one that shaped the industry as we know it, arguably more than most. Mark Wingett talks to those he inspired and worked with, including Ian Neill, Luke Johnson, Hugh Osmond and Harvey Smyth.

  • Ian Neill
    Opinion

    Lines from a legend

    2018-12-03T08:27:00Z

    With 50 years’ experience in the UK’s hospitality sector, primarily in the development of multiple successful branded restaurant concepts, Ian Neill was quite rightly honoured earlier this year with the inaugural lifetime achievement award at MCA’s Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards in March. The driving force behind the formative years of PizzaExpress and the growth of Wagamama from one site to 110 worldwide, recently sat down with Mark Wingett to discuss the current state of the market, delivery, the pub sector and of course a certain deal.

  • Miller & Carter exterior
    News

    M&B FY lfls up 1.3%

    2018-11-22T07:26:00Z

    Mitchells & Butlers has this morning announced like-for-like sales the year to 29 September up 1.3%, with a 2.2% rise in the past seven weeks.

  • Amber Taverns The Northern Way
    News

    Amber to roll out new brand, The Northern Way

    2018-11-13T08:15:00Z

    Amber Taverns is to roll out a new brand after a successful first iteration in Preston, MCA understands.

  • Jayne Baker
    News

    Smashburger appoints Baker as MD

    2018-10-30T08:48:00Z

    Smashburger UK has appointed Jayne Baker, formerly of Wright & Bell, as its new managing director, MCA understands.

  • Sourced Market
    News

    Sourced Market launches £750,000 Crowdcube campaign

    2018-10-16T08:19:00Z

    Sourced Market, the hybrid London-based concept, has raised 85% of its £750,000 Crowdcube campaign within the first 24 hours.

  • Opinion

    Craic-ing the market

    2018-10-12T08:44:00Z

    The Irish pub is a global brand but over the past decade the segment appears to have fallen out of step with fashions. This appears to be changing as a new generation of operators give their twist to the classic Irish pub model. Jo Bruce reports

  • K10
    News

    Todd promoted to MD of K10

    2018-10-09T08:36:00Z

    Reuben Todd has been promoted to managing director of London-based sushi concept K10, as the brand eyes further growth in the capital in 2019.

  • Bharti Radix
    News

    Jamie Oliver Restaurants appoints Radix as interim CFO

    2018-09-04T08:20:00Z

    Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group has appointed Bharti Radix, formerly of Draft House, as interim chief financial officer, MCA understands.

  • James Baer of Amber Taverns
    News

    Amber Taverns takes on Aprirose site

    2018-08-09T08:41:00Z

    Amber Taverns has acquired Shenanigans in Preston, one of the 73 pubs Aprirose acquired from Mitchells & Butlers last year.

  • Money
    Analysis & Insight

    Two out of three operators implement regional pricing

    2018-07-13T08:42:00Z

    On average, two out of three operators surveyed in MCA’s latest Menu Tracker report vary their prices dependent on region, with JD Wetherspoon, All Bar One and O’Neill’s among the operators with the largest differentials.

  • Harvester
    News

    Urban on M&B’s “engine room”

    2018-05-17T08:23:00Z

    MCA spoke to Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive, Phil Urban, on the back of yesterday’s half-year results. He discussed the next stage of the group’s transformation programme, including bolder pricing strategies on a local basis. He also talked about consolidation in the Stonehouse brand, further evolution of Harvester and the revival of O’Neill’s; as well as the scope for pay at table and delivery options.

  • Simon Townsend
    News

    EiG: Managed Expert exits; REIT status and regional growth

    2018-05-16T08:41:00Z

    Following Ei Group’s H1 trading update, MCA spoke to chief executive Simon Townsend.  He discussed what the group’s revised growth prospects mean for the long-term goal of converting to a REIT. He also spoke about the where growth would come from in the managed estate, timetabling eventual exits from the Managed Investment partnerships and the first new site for its joint venture with PubLove. On the tenanted and leased estate, he said that while the Midlands and the north of England had slipped into negative like-for-likes, the long-term recovery of these areas remains on track.

  • News

    M&B H1 lfls up 1.6%

    2018-05-16T07:21:00Z

    Mitchells & Butlers has this morning reported a 1.6% increase in H1 like-for-like sales, with food sales up by 1.8% and drink sales by 1.4%

  • Freshii
    News

    POD co-founder to head Freshii UK

    2018-05-09T08:51:00Z

    POD co-founder, Kate Skerritt, has been appointed UK chief executive of health-focused fast-casual chain, Freshii, as it gears up for expansion.

  • Jamie Oliver
    News

    Holder steps down as Jamie’s CFO

    2018-04-20T08:44:00Z

    Crispin Holder has stepped down as chief financial officer of Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group just six months after joining and two months after its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) process, MCA has learnt.

  • News

    Ex-M&B pair to become next Ei Group managed experts

    2018-04-05T08:25:37.127Z

    A pair of ex-Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) employees are set to become the latest operators to team up with the Ei Group

  • The winners of RROTY 2018
    News

    Schlee named Retailers’ Retailer of the Year

    2018-03-08T08:34:00Z

    Pret A Manger chief executive Clive Schlee has been voted by his peers as the stand-out individual in the UK’s eating and drinking-out sector.

  • News

    Neill steps down from Jamie’s Italian

    2018-02-02T08:20:31.613Z

    Ian Neill, the former chairman of Wagamama, has stepped down as a non-executive director of Jamie’s Italian

  • Buff & Bear Saloons site the Dolphin in Newbury
    News

    Turner secures second Buff & Bear site

    2017-12-14T08:41:00Z

    Former Geronimo Inns managing director, Ed Turner, has secured a second site for his Buff & Bear Saloons business, for an opening in the Spring.