News

30th July 2018   The UK’s takeaway food sector is avoiding the turmoil hitting the restaurant sector, according to research by Funding Options, the online business finance firm. Funding Options research shows that the turnover of the UK’s Top 100 takeaways has risen 10% in just a year, up to £2.7b from £2.46b.  Profits at […]

24th July 2018   London’s Chinatown was came to a standstill today, as businesses closed in a mass protest against recent enforcement raids by the Home Office.  At noon, whistles signalled the beginning of a protest led by businesses and community leaders in the capital. Restaurants were shut for five hours as they marched on

17th July 2018   Boutique travel operator Pandaw is offering a Lower Ganges sailing from December 2018.  Pandaw’s  plans for India include deploying more ships to the region, adding four new itineraries and launching a range of new pre and post cruise tours.   A spokeman said: “Pandaw will place two further river cruise ships

17th July 2018 Kensington-based Indian restaurant Chakra has opened a second site in Kingston-upon-Thames. The restaurant, set on the banks of the river, offers  contemporary fine-dining take on Indian cuisine.   Arjun Varma launched Chakra’s Kensington restaurant seven years ago. The site underwent a refurbishment and reopened last month with a new look and menu.

16th July 2018   Peter Joseph, former exec chef at Tamarind, the world’s first Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, is to launch his first solo venture. Joseph, who spent 10 years in charge of the kitchen at Mayfair’s Tamarind, will launch Kahani in Chelsea in September.   Inspiration for the 90-cover restaurant comes from the chef’s upbringing

15th July 2018 East London Thai restaurant Som Saa has sacked chef Shaun Beagley — author of the @BoringThai Twitter and boring.thai Instagram accounts — when the chef’s conduct and language was deemed racist, misogynistic, homophobic, Islamophobic, gross and shameful. Instagram user @midnightbakerliz highlighted a number of Beagley’s offensive posts, imploring Som Saa to consider

10th July 2018     The BBC has commissioned “a new type” of TV documentary series –  a cooking programme designed to reach “a whole new audience.” The producers are looking for all levels of professional chefs and cooks to take part in a European road trip, working under a high-profile head chef to learn

7th July 2018   Jeff  Tan, the former Hakkasan Mayfair head chef, has opened Viet Lounge, a new cocktail bar in London’s Soho above Viet Food.   It serves Asian fusion cocktails with Vietnamese small plates.  Typical dishes include Sweetcorn crab balls with homemade chilli sauce and bone marrow.  

6th July 2018   ABIL an Indian property developer, has made its first  investment in the UK with a £90m acquisition of a building on London’s Strand, from BlackRock, which it plans to create a 200-bedroom luxury hotel.   The building is currently used for council offices with retail space.  The property was marketed with Adjaye

5th July 2018   Rosa’s Thai Café has signed a 15-year lease at Blue Water Plaza, the new leisure extension to the Kent shopping centre, after securing investment from a private equity firm.   The chain, which operates 13 sites plus a Loa Café, will open the 2,5000 sq ft restaurant at Blue Water in