OFT clears way for discounts on hotel rooms: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has accepted formal commitments from two of the UK’s largest online travel agents, Booking.com B.V. (Booking.com) and Expedia Inc (Expedia), together with Int … view

Mitchells & Butlers reports 2.6% like-for-likes over festive period: Mitchells & Butlers has reported 2.6% like-for-like sales growth over the three-week festive period to 4 January. Like-for-like food volumes increased by 1.3%, selling 6 … view

Spirit Pub Company and Pesto call time on two-pub partnership: Spirit Pub Company is to transfer both pubs let to Pesto in the Pub, the Italian-in-a-pub offer led by La Tasca creator Neil Gatt and Sara Edwards, to its managed division aft … view

More than 60 Newcastle restaurants to take part in Restaurant Week this week after 43% uplift in sales last time: More than 60 restaurants in Newcastle are taking part in Restaurant Week this week, which produced a 43% uplift in sales las … view

New better burger concept seeks funding; question mark over valuation: A new better burger concept, Artisan Burger Company, is seeking seed-funding to open four sites offering handmade gourmet burgers, hand-cured salt beef and slow-cooked … view

Punch Taverns on collision course with senior bondholders: Punch Taverns looks to be on a collision course with senior bondholders after they rejected the latest set of restructuring proposals from the tenanted pub company. A group that r … view

Horizons – eating our frequency back in line with 2010 levels: The QuickBite survey of consumers by insights firm Horizons has found that Britain’s eating out market is recovering in terms of frequency, with the percentage of people e … view

McDonald’s plans between 1,500 and 1,600 new restaurants in 2014 – UK reports high single-digit growth: McDonald’s plans between 1,500 and 1,600 new restaurants around the world in 2014, with capital expenditure of between $2.9 and … view

JD Wetherspoon like-for-likes hit double digits in the ten most recent days but performance remains ‘enigmatic’: JD Wetherspoon like-for-like sales growth hit double digits in the ten days until 19 January compared to a period last ye … view

Barworks and Dean’s Diner report record profit: London-based bar and restaurant company Barworks and Dean’s Diner operator Good Life Group, two companies with the same four directors, have reported a combined pre-tax profit of circa � … view

JD Wetherspoon like-for-likes up 6.7%: JD Wetherspoon has reported that its like-for-like sales rose by 6.7% and total sales by 10.6% in the first 12 weeks of its second quarter to 19 January. In the year to date (25 weeks to 19 January 2 … view

Vince Cable – “we needed time to consider pubco regulation but we are nearly there”: Business Secretary Vince Cable has told MPs that the government needs time to consider pubco regulation evidence properly – although statutory re … view

Restaurant Group chief executive to retire: The Restaurant Group (TRG) has reported that its chief executive Andrew Page has notified the board that he wishes to retire as ceo in August 2014. The company stated: “Under Andrew’s leader … view

Davis Coffer Lyons predicts rise of “hybrid” retail/eat and drink concepts: The leisure consultancy Davis Coffer Lyons has produced its predictions form 2014, which include the growth of “hybrid concepts” that blur the boundaries … view

Christmas sales at Living Ventures up 43%: Christmas sales at Living Ventures Group, the company behind the Gusto and Blackhouse Grill chains, were up 43% over the same period in 2012, thanks to new six openings and a 9% rise in like-for- … view

Inventive Leisure launches ‘best-in-class’ drinks offer: The Revolution vodka bar operator Inventive Leisure has launched what it calls a “best-in-class” drinks proposition across its bottled, draught and wine ranges. A review of … view

December like-for-likes up 3.2%; London managed pubs up 6.5%: Latest figures reveal that the nation’s leading pub, bar and restaurant groups enjoyed a festive season boost, with collective like-for-like sales up 3.3% on last year. Total … view

Wetherspoon to open motorway pub at 4am: JD Wetherspoon is to open its new outlet in Beaconsfield motorway service station next Tuesday, 21 January, with the creation of 120 new jobs. The new premises will be open from 4am until 1am seve … view

Punch Taverns publishes final restructuring proposal: Tenanted pub operator Punch Taverns has published its final proposals for restructuring the company’s £2.3bn securitised debts with amendments to the plans set out last month. The c … view

Hall & Woodhouse MD – ‘My successor won’t be a family member’: Mark Woodhouse, managing director of the Dorset-based brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse, says the next managing director of the company will not be a family mem … view

Wagamama reports £17.5m PBT: Noodle chain Wagamama has reported turnover grew to £141,170,000 in the year to 28 April 2013, up from £124,392,000 the year before. Pre-tax profit rose to £17,575,000 from £17,388,000 the year before. Th … view

Mitchells & Butlers loses four senior executives – two to join Tesco: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has been hit by four unexpected senior resignations with two of the four set to join the burgeoning foodservice division at Tesco. Tom Crowl … view

James Horler – Ego set to open in tenanted pubs: 3Sixty Restaurants is to open its Ego Mediterranean restaurant and bar brand in tenanted pub company sites. The company, led by James Horler, has retained agent Collier to find suitable s … view

Greene King reports 6% Xmas period like-for-likes: Greene King has reported managed division like-for-like sales up 5% in the last six weeks and 3.8% year-to-date – like-for-like growth hit 6% over the two-week Christmas and New Year pe … view

Adam Fowle – 750 Tesco stores big enough for a foodservice offer: Adam Fowle, the new chief executive of Tesco Family Dining Group, has reported that there are 750 Tesco stores that have the room for a foodservice offer. Fowle, who has … view

Bramwell owed more than £60m at time of collapse: Bramwell Pubs and Bars owed more than £60m to creditors at the time administrators were appointed last year, almost three times more than initially thought, it has been revealed. Adminis … view

Restaurant Group – up to 43 new openings in 2014: The Restaurant Group has reported that its full year results for the 42 weeks to 29 December, to be announced by early March 2014, are expected to be ahead of the consensus of market for … view

Barburrito co-founder quits: Paul Kilpatrick, co-founder of the Manchester-based Mexican food chain Barburrito, has left the company to pursue other interests. The news came as the company reported a rise in turnover and said it was looki … view

Yummy reports 30% like-for-like rise in December: The Yummy Pub Co, the four-site multiple founded by Anthony Pender, Jason Rowlands and Tim Foster has reported like-for-likes up 30.2% over the month of December, with increases at all fou … view

Allegra – coffee shop market grown by 6.4%: The total UK coffee shop market is estimated at 16,501 outlets and continues to show strong sales growth of 6.4% on last year with £6.2 billion total turnover, according to coffee specialist … view

Wolsely operator reports turnover doubled: Rex Associates, the operator of Brasserie Zedel and The Wolseley, has reported turnover increased by 105% to £28,587,820 in the year to 31 March 2013, up from £13,913,750 the year before. The c … view

Camra launches ‘pubs and the economy’ campaign: Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale, has launched a “pubs and the economy” campaign aiming to promote the benefits of pubs to the British economy and encourage more people to use their … view

Orchid reports sales up 9.8% over Christmas: Like-for-like sales at Orchid Group grew 9.8% over the Christmas and New Year period with food sales up 11% across the business. Simon Dodd, commercial & people director, said: “Across the co … view

Douglas Jack - we expect positive festive trading: Numis Securities leisure analyst Douglas Jack has forecast that the forthcoming trading update season will be positive, aided by good trading over December. He said: “Although storms, f … view

La Tasca secures up to £7.5m of new funding: Spanish tapas chain La Tasca, led by Simon Wilkinson, has secured a new loan facility of up to £7.5m from its existing banks. Principal bank Kaupthing and Commerzbank have provided a facility … view

Jongleurs set to unveil expansion plans – and catch-up on payments to comedians: The comedy club chain Jongleurs is set to unveil ambitious expansion plans – and promised to clear all the debts it owes to stand-ups who play its clubs … view

First companies report December trading uplift: Managed pub and bar group TCG has reported an average 7% like-for-like sales uplift across the estate during Christmas and New Year. Chief operating officer Nigel Wright said: “Our festive … view