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Diners won’t have to wear face masks in restaurants and pubs, the environment secretary George Eustice has confirmed. The coverings will be compulsory in supermarkets from July 24 but won’t be required in hospitality settings. Eustice told Sky News: “We’re not, for instance, mandating the wearing of masks in pubs and restaurants, because obviously people […]
Celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine and the musician Professor Green are to take over Passo restaurant in London this summer. Their pop-up concept, “Giz & Green”, will launch today in collaboration with the Old Street site and will feature the same stuffed crust pizzas that drew huge attention on their Instagram cooking stories over lockdown. The […]
PizzaExpress could well be in line to be taken over by its lenders in a debt-for-equity swap with owner Hony Capital, according to the Financial Times. Such a move is likely to include closures, though that such action has not yet been confirmed and remains speculative. It would be fair to say that the company […]
Our weekly round-up of what the national and local restaurant critics are writing about, for the week ending 12 July 2020. Restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes in England were permitted to re-open on Saturday 4 July after over 100 days of enforced closure. Some establishments remain closed – the owner of the three Market Halls, […]
Mark Hix, who closed his entire restaurant group in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, has announced he will reopen the Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis, Dorset, on July 28. The restaurateur and chef will reopen at the site of his former Hix Oyster & Fish House, a terraced seafood fixture overlooking Lyme […]
Selin Kiazim has scrapped the customary, optional 12.5 per cent service charge at her two Oklava restaurants and said the fees will instead be incorporated into her menu prices. Kiazim, who alongside Laura Christie owns two Oklava sites in Shoreditch and Fitzrovia, said service charge “has always gone to our staff in full” but, while […]
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has slashed VAT for hospitality to 5 per cent from 20 and has launched a “first of its kind” government discount scheme to encourage people to go out to eat throughout August. On Wednesday, Sunak announced VAT would be cut on food, accommodation and attractions for six months from 20 per cent […]
Ed Thaw and Jack Lewens, from the Michelin-starred and much, applauded Shoreditch restaurant Leroy, have followed Selin Kiazim in scrapping discretionary service charge to bills and will instead raise menu prices to better reflect the value of the dining experience. They explained “if you want to eat in a quality place it will cost you […]
Westminster Council has asked hospitality venues in Soho to implement a ‘no seat, no service’ policy after the reopening of restaurants, pubs and bars saw hordes of revellers on streets and on pavements, many apparently failing to observe appropriate social distancing guidelines. The council said to strategy would help avoid overcrowding in streets and said […]
The pop star Jess Glynne has complained on social media after she wasn’t allowed into Sexy Fish due to her informal clothing. The singer posted a photo of her outfit on Instagram and said she was not allowed into the expensive Mayfair restaurant and instead went to Amazonico, which let her in despite having a […]
