News in brief
plan was to create “a traditional, independent pub” that focused on “quality and locally sourced food and drink in an interesting and thought-through fit out”. The pub is expected to reopen
Sandwich Sandwich
BRISTOL’S SANDWICH SANDWICH TO MAKE LONDON DEBUT
Bristol-based sandwich purveyor Sandwich Sandwich will open its first site in London after being named Uber Eats’ Restaurant of the Year 2023. The family-run business will
open in Gresham Street in the City of London, taking a site formerly occupied by salad chain Tossed. Co-owner Josh Kleiner said:
“When my dad first opened his small sandwich shop in Bristol 12 years ago, he could never have imagined that we would be bringing it to London. “I honestly can’t put into words
how excited yet nervous we all are. Naturally, I find myself focusing on the risks involved in making this move, but the love and support we receive on a daily basis tells us this is the right decision to make.” Sandwich Sandwich, which
has three sites in Bristol, was presented with £100,000 to invest in its business on being named Restaurant of the Year UK and Ireland by Uber Eats.
PUB GROUP TAKES OVER HICCE HART SITE
Paul Foster’s first London restaurant, GrassFed in Camden, has closed after seven months of trading. A spokesperson for the
restaurant confirmed the closure but did not provide a press statement outlining the reasons behind the decision. The 50-cover restaurant opened last August and served cuts of grass-fed beef, ranging from hotdogs to ribs served on the bone. The chef opened his first
restaurant, Salt, in Stratford-upon- Avon in 2017, securing a Michelin star less than a year after its launch and the Newcomer of the Year Catey in 2019. Salt lost its Michelin star in
the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2024 . It is due to swap its tasting menu for small sharing plates from 10 April.
SARAH WILLINGHAM EXPECTS HOSPITALITY RECOVERY THIS YEAR
The Sybaritic Pub Group has taken on the former Hicce Hart site in London with plans to relaunch it as a neighbourhood pub. The venue was previously run
by chef Pip Lacey and her business partner Gordy McIntyre, but was put on the market 14 months after it opened. The Sybaritic Pub Group is also behind the George & Monkey in Islington, the Ninth Ward in Clerkenwell, the Temple of Foo in St Paul’s and the Chapel Market Tavern in Angel. In an email to The Caterer, one of the directors said the
8 | The Caterer | 22 March 2024
Nightcap boss Sarah Willingham has said she believes hospitality has “gone through the worst” of the current economic downturn and is facing a more positive future. Willingham, a former investor on
BBC’s Dragon’s Den, said there were “many economic indicators showing a likely recovery later this year”. Nightcap operates 46 sites in
London and across the UK under the Dirty Martini, Cocktail Club and Piano Works brands and is aiming to double in size in the medium-term. Nightcap saw revenue grow 42% to £33.4m in the last six months of 2023 while adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation increased 5% to £2.1m. However, like-for-like sales
dropped 10% amid train strikes and
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the cost of living crisis. “I believe this environment is
where some of the best businesses are built,” said Willingham.
DELIVEROO CUTS COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
Deliveroo said it saved over £20m in compensation costs last year as part of a drive to improve its service. The delivery giant said that
while the “overwhelming majority” of orders went smoothly, a small percentage went wrong and damaged consumer trust. It said it had worked with
restaurants and riders in 2023 to “substantially reduce” the number of missing items in deliveries or late orders.
in early April. PAUL FOSTER CLOSES GRASSFED
ADAM BATEMAN BIDS FAREWELL TO THE GRAND
Adam Bateman has left his role as culinary director at the Grand hotel in Birmingham after nearly four years.
The chef joined the
relaunch of the 142-year-old hotel during the pandemic in 2020 and oversaw the creation of the Isaac’s restaurant and Madeleine bar. Bateman, who has yet
to confirm his next move, previously worked on the hotel project while group operations and development chef at the Principal hotel group. He said: “It’s time…
Having started working on the Grand in 2016 to seeing her fully restored and open and now firmly established as Birmingham’s favourite hotel, it’s been a privilege. “But yes I’m moving on...
a massive thank you to all those amazing people that I’ve worked with along the way. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
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