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Dear
Have we reached peak restaurant? Writing this newsletter and doing what
we do at CODE, we have a good understanding of what’s going on in the hospitality industry. Although it feels like things perhaps aren't quite as frenetic as they've been in recent years, there still seem to be a lot of restaurants opening, and not just in the capital.
There are definitely enough people in our bigger cities – both residents and tourists – to fill them but on how regular a basis is a different question. And by far the biggest concern is how are we going to run our restaurants; anecdotal evidence suggests staff at every level are leaving because of Brexit. Now more than ever, the hospitality world needs to start flying the flag for the industry and promoting it as a viable career path.
Have a good month.
Adam
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GB Pizza Co
Despite (or perhaps because of) the clean eating fad, carb-heavy restaurants are on the rise again. The GB Pizza Co, has opened a site in Didsbury, with a view to expanding further in the next two years. The company, started by ex-journalist Lisa Richards and chef/writer Rachel Seed, emphasises using local ingredients along with classic dough and tomato sauce recipes. The 45-cover casual restaurant, operated by Grant Ashdown, will focus on no-frills self-service.
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The Liars Club Group
Expansion is happening quickly for the Manchester-based Liars Club Group – a boost of £700,000 from Barclays has enabled them to start rolling out the Crazy Pedro’s concept across the UK, starting with Liverpool, with a site secured on Parr Street. But it’s not just about the fast-casual field, the company has also opened The Bay Horse Tavern in Manchester, its first true ‘restaurant’ venture, an elegant stripped-back space focusing on British food and local drinks (pictured above).
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Bucca Di Pizza
…and in other dough-based news, Hull is the location for a new branch of the Bucca Di Pizza chain, its fifth. What used to be a vast fresh produce warehouse in the Fruit Market development has become an 80-cover bar and restaurant with an array of classic and unusual toppings. And the drinks offering ranges from Italian wines to guest ales from the Yorkshire Brewing Co. It joins the Leeds, Beverley and Manchester sites which are operated by Wellington Pizza Co.
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Hula
You don’t have to be MAD to work here, but it helps! Manchester-based operator MAD, or Mark Andrews Developments, is on the move, opening a third site of the Hula tiki bars, this time in Stockport, with plans to expand the brand further in the near future. The irreverent bar concept on Shaw Road is now open; MAD’s other Heaton Moor sites are Tusk (whisper it, pizzas) and The Fitzgerald.
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La Casita
Meanwhile Spanish food is the focus for a new branch of the La Casita mini-chain, this one in Leeds. It’s part of the company’s plan to roll out across Britain and, while acknowledging (to The Business Desk) that Leeds city centre is highly competitive, it believes La Casita’s range of tapas and Spanish drinks is unique. The Granary Wharf site will open later this month and, like the Ikley, Boston Spa and Horsforth sites, will also use Yorkshire produce where possible, along with authentic Andalusian ingredients.
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Lunya
Our geographic trail moves within Spain to Catalonia, and from Leeds to Liverpool… And within Liverpool, just a short hop. The operators Grosvenor Europe has relocated its popular Lunya restaurant, bar and deli in Liverpool ONE to a larger site two doors down (which used to be Busaba) from its previous space. The new Lunya features a larger deli, a massive range of Spanish beers – Britain’s biggest, Grosvenor Europe says – and it’s all in one huge, single-storey space. It expects to host regular food and drink events too.
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Mark Birchall
It’s surprising that Moor Hall hasn’t received more reviews from the national critics; perhaps his new Michelin star will lure them, or perhaps chef patron Mark Birchall’s new, more casual concept at his Aughton restaurant-with-rooms? The Barn, just announced, will be a 65-seater dining room with a £23 set lunch, or main courses in the evening below the £30 mark. The acclaimed chef, late of L’Enclume, also plans to develop part of the actual barn into a dairy, bakery, curing room and small brewery.
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Justin Orange
We’ll avoid making the inevitable ‘relight my fire’ joke, but it’s tempting, given that a new toast-focused restaurant that’s recently opened is run by Jason Orange’s twin brother Justin. Toast, on Altrincham’s Stamford New Road, is all about dishes served on grilled bread, up to and including puddings. Orange has spent 18 months developing the idea, inspired by places he’s eaten in New York. His head chef, Ed Carr, has spent time at NYC star Eleven Madison Park, as well as The Fat Duck, so good things are expected.
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Thurs 9 Nov
Fri 10 Nov
Fri 24 Nov
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Thurs 7 Dec
Sun 3 Dec
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To the Tatler Restaurant Awards at the Savoy in London last Monday. Tatler’s editor Kate Reardon introduced Jeremy Wayne for what now turns out to be the last time, as he’s leaving the magazine. However, the restaurant editor was on fine form as usual dishing out some of his classic jokes. Winners on the night included Rochelle Canteen for the Test of Time award, Padella for Best Nosh Least Dosh and Juan Santa Cruz’s Isabel picking up the gong for Best Vibe.
The Dumbwaiter travelled west to the Design Museum in London on Tuesday evening to celebrate the launch of the third edition of Sir Terence Conran and Peter Prescott’s book Eat London. Guests included Raymond Blanc, Ewan Venters and Rowley Leigh, who now heads up the kitchen at Parabola within the museum. Sir Terence reminisced about his first restaurant The Soup Kitchen, which he opened in 1952. On the first day 42 homeless people turned up for lunch and then the cast of Guys & Dolls rocked up for dinner.
From Maiden Lane to Mayfair. Click here to read The Dumbwaiter’s best bites of the week.
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