Tim Bacon dies following cancer battle: Tim Bacon, the chairman and co-founder of Living Ventures, has died aged 52. Bacon had been fighting a battle with cancer after being diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 2014. Living Ventures chief … view

Horizons – US restaurants poised to pass Mexican segment as biggest UK growth area: American-themed barbecue pits, smokehouses, burger bars, and diners could be about to replace Mexican outlets as the biggest growth area on the UK’s e … view

The Restaurant Group reports further deterioration in trading, like-for-likes down 2.7%: The Restaurant Group has reported a “further deterioration” in trading conditions since it updated on current trading with the preliminary result … view

Downing seeks to plug crowdfunding investment confidence and due diligence by launching underwritten bonds: Investment firm Downing, which has investments of circa £100m in the licensed leisure sector, is to plug a gap in investment conf … view

ALMR extends casual dining reach with Bill’s and Pizza Hut joining: The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has extended its casual dining membership with Bill’s and Pizza Hut joining. The new arrivals from the casual di … view

Luke Johnson acquires major stake in Lussmanns: Sector investor Luke Johnson has taken a stake Hertfordshire-based Lussmanns Fish & Grill, becoming a major shareholder and joining the board of directors. It is the third major investment i … view

Zeus Capital – Upham Group has ‘proven formula executed by first-class management team’: Analysts at Zeus Capital have argued premium pub operator Upham Group’s flotation on AIM raising up to £12m to fund further acquisitions is … view

Coaching Inn Group makes £2m Cambridgeshire acquisition: Independent coaching inns operator The Coaching Inn Group has acquired The Golden Lion in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. The deal, worth more than £2m, is part of the Group’s £20m ex … view

Crussh chief executive to step down: Chris Fung, chief executive of Crussh, the healthy food and juice brand with 25 sites, is stepping down with Shane Kavanagh, who was previously managing director of Benugo, taking over. In an email to … view

Jamie Rollo – more positives than negatives at Whitbread: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has reiterated an ‘Overweight’ recommendation on Whitbread shares in the wake of yesterday’s (Tuesday, 26 April) strategic update … view

Brazilian restaurant chain Tropeiro ceases trading: Tropeiro, the Brazilian restaurant chain operated by Camboriu Restaurants, has ceased trading. A statement on its website said: “We are sorry to inform you that Tropeiro has ceased tra … view

Whitbread reports annual sales near £3bn: Whitbread has reported sales grew 12% to £2,921.8bn in the year to 3 March, with like-for-like sales up 3%. Profit for the year was up 5.8% to £387.3m. Hotels and restaurants saw underlying pro … view

Indian restaurant owners call on government to introduce one-year chef visas: Indian restaurant owners in the UK have sent a 75-page document asking the government to introduce one-year visas so they can bring in chefs from the sub-contin … view

Coaching Inn Group reports Ebitda hits £2.7m: Specialist coaching inn operator The Coaching Inn Group, led by Kevin Charity, has reported a 29% increase in sales and a 60% rise in profits as turnover tops £13m. Reporting on its results … view

Hakkasan Group to expand into Mexico with $150m investment planned in partnership with Grupo Vidanta: UK-based restaurant and nightclub company Hakkasan Group is set to invest $150m in a new venture in Mexico. It has partnered with top Me … view

McDonald’s reports 6.2% increase in global like-for-likes: McDonald’s has reported a 6.2% increase in like-for-like sales for its first quarter ended 31 March 2016. Chief executive Steve Easterbrook said: “McDonald’s brand and bus … view

Starbucks reports like-for-likes up 6% in Quarter Two: Coffee company Starbucks has reported global like-for-likes up 6%, comprised of a 4% increase in ticket and 2% increase in traffic, for its 13-week second quarter ended March 27, 2016 … view

Draft House set for double opening including company’s largest site to date, targets London orbital towns: Draft House, led by Charlie McVeigh and backed by Luke Johnson, is to open two new sites in less than a month as it “gathers mo … view

Luke Johnson – ‘my new investment, Gaucho, could double in size’: Sector investor Luke Johnson has suggested that Gaucho Grill and sister brand CAU, in which he has taken a significant minority stake on a personal basis rather than … view

Coffer Peach Tracker – pubs and restaurants see 0.6% rise in like-for-likes in March: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant operators are experiencing a sales slowdown at the start of 2016, latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business … view

Government agrees to discuss Pubs Code with BBPA: The government has stated it will meet over the soon-to-be-implemented Pubs Code with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), which has attacked key sections of the code as “unworka … view

Punch Taverns report average profit per pub up 3%: Punch Taverns has reported that average profit per pub across the entire estate rose 3.0% in the 28 weeks to 5 March 2016. The core estate saw like-for-like net income growth of 1.6% with … view

Greene King Leisure Tracker – early Easter boosts leisure spend in March driven by eating and drinking out: An early Easter provided a boost to leisure spend in March driven by people eating and drinking out, according to the latest Gre … view

Greene King Leisure Tracker – early Easter boosts leisure spend in March driven by eating and drinking out: An early Easter provided a boost to leisure spend in March driven by people eating and drinking out, according to the latest Gre … view

Drake & Morgan lines up three sites, two in Manchester: Drake & Morgan has unveiled the acquisition of a further three sites, scheduled to open over the next 12 months, bringing the privately owned bar & restaurant group’s portfolio to … view

Hummus Bros managing director joins Australasia food and coffee franchise company: Hummus Bros managing director Jon Hassall has joined Australasia food and coffee franchise company Foodco NZ in a national operations role. Hassall will co … view

London-based dating app with cocktail twist launches crowdfunding campaign: Rendeevoo, the London-based dating app with a cocktail twist, has launched a fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Seedrs as it aims to lay the foundations for aggr … view

McDonald’s to offer staff chance to move off zero-hours contracts: McDonald’s is offering UK staff on zero-hours contracts the option of moving to fixed hours in a major development in the debate about employee rights. The company is … view

New Code of Practice for tied tenants will begin next month: The government will introduce a new Code of Practice for tied tenants of pub companies with more than 500 pubs that takes effect next month. The provisions of the Code of Practi … view

Government states MRO option can be triggered by 'significant impact on trade': The government is to introduce a market rent only (MRO) review option for tied tenants that can be triggered by “a significant impact on trade” alongside … view

National Living Wage – Samuel Smith’s adds 10p to 12p a pint, Eat cuts lunch pay for recipients: North Yorkshire-based brewer and retailer Samuel Smith’s is adding 10p to 12p a pint on some of its beers to cover the cost of the Nati … view

Coal Grill and Bar owner hires adviser to review options: Charterhouse Leisure has hired Christie & Co to undertake a review of the strategic options of the business, which suggests sale options will be looked at. The company, which trade … view

Giggling Squid to open 20th restaurant in Norwich on former La Tasca site, second in East Anglia: Thai restaurant business Giggling Squid has secured a site in Norwich – its second in East Anglia. The company is opening the venue in Tom … view

Costa managing director Christopher Rogers to step down: Whitbread has announced that Christopher Rogers, managing director of Costa and an executive director on the Whitbread board has decided to leave the company. He will be stepping do … view

Marco Pierre White to launch new franchise concept: Marco Pierre White has confirmed plans for a new franchised “ultra-casual” dining concept known as Bardolino Pizzeria Bellini and Espresso bar. The first two outlets will open at The … view

Norfolk brewery Woodforde’s sold to private consortium: Woodforde’s, the award-winning Norfolk-based brewery, has been purchased by a private consortium of investors. The consortium is led by James Hughes, formerly of drinks business … view

Starbucks to roll-out Teavana brand across UK: Starbucks will introduce its Teavana tea brand across the UK as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as the company looks to exploit a “massive opportunity” to revitalise the … view

Eclectic Bar Group set to buy Brighton Pier, renamed as Brighton Pier Group: Eclectic Bar Group has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire The Brighton Marine Palace and Pier Company, which owns and operates Brighton Pier for a t … view

Top 500 US restaurant companies accelerate cumulative sales growth by 4.9%, fast-casual segment continues to lead pack: The 500 largest restaurant companies in the US accelerated their cumulative sales growth in 2015 by 4.9%, totalling an … view

Drake & Morgan to open its first airport site at Heathrow: Drake & Morgan will open its first airport restaurant and bar at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 this summer. In a joint venture with the global hospitality and food service provider, Del … view

Innis & Gunn buys Inveralmond Brewery in Perth: Craft brewer Innis & Gunn has bought the Inveralmond Brewery in Perth. The company plans substantial investment in the brewery to create a state-of-the art brewing centre for Innis & Gunn an … view

Coffer Peach Tracker – pub like-for-likes down 1.6% at Easter, restaurants up 4.3%: Wet and stormy weather across Britain put a dampener on people going out to eat and drink over the Easter holiday weekend, latest figures from the Coffe … view

Coffer Peach Tracker – pub like-for-likes down 1.6% at Easter, restaurants up 4.3%: Wet and stormy weather across Britain put a dampener on people going out to eat and drink over the Easter holiday weekend, latest figures from the Coffe … view

Iqbal Wahhab – National Living Wage will lead to closure of ‘thousands of restaurants’: Iqbal Wahhab, founder of the Cinnamon Club and Roast restaurants, has said the National Living Wage will lead to the closure of “thousands of … view

Tasty appoints Wildwood managing director: Tasty has promoted Joanna Bargery to managing director of its Wildwood Restaurants segment – she is currently operations brand manager. Meanwhile, Lee Kendall has been promoted to the position … view

HospitalityGEM survey reveals indulgent dining is mainly saved for weekends and with friends: New research by guest experience management firm HospitalityGEM has revealed indulgent dining is predominantly saved for the weekend and shared … view

Fulham Shore reports estate grown to 29 sites: Fulham Shore, led by David Page, has reported its estate has grown to 29 sites and has indicated it expects to report results in line with market expectations for the financial year ended 27 … view

Pret A Manger puts price of coffee up by 10p to help meet cost of National Living Wage: Pret A Manger has put the price of a cup of coffee up by 10p to help meet the cost of the National Living Wage, which came into effect on Friday (1 Ap … view

Former Cote owners among bidders for Pizza Hut UK: The former owner of French bistro company Cote is reported to be among the bidders trying to grab a slice of Pizza Hut’s ‎UK operations. Private equity firm CBPE is one of four prospe … view

More than 7,000 Costa employees under 25 to benefit from National Living Wage increase: Whitbread-owned Costa Coffee has claimed it was one of the few companies in the UK offering the National Living Wage to workers of all ages, not just … view