Whitbread has launched a new pub restaurant brand called Cookhouse and Pub in Oldbury in the west Midlands. It is modelled as a cross between an all-day restaurant and pub, and will sell brunch as well as lunch and dinner. Three more Cookhouse and Pub venues will be rolled out in Holystone, Ripley and Kilmarnock in the next few months. Head of strategy and innovation Sarah Tinsley said: “We feel this is a new, bold and revolutionary concept in the pub restaurant market which we hope will be welcomed with open arms. It’s a fantastic opportunity for guests to eat out for less and experience the quality of our food in a relaxed, friendly and welcoming environment.”
Dishoom has submitted more details of plans for its first Manchester restaurant, the Manchester Evening News reports. It wants to create a restaurant inside Manchester Hall on Bridge Street, which will be home to various other bars and restaurants. A decision on the licensing aspect of Dishoom’s application is due soon.
Scandinavian coffeeshop chain Wayne’s Coffee will open its first UK location on London’s Kensington High Street in December. The brand was launched in Sweden, and now also shops in Norway, Estonia, Finland, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. It specialises in organic coffee and eco-friendly policies like sustainable sourcing and biodegradable cups.
Canadian coffeeshop chain Tim Hortons opens its first venue in Wales in Cardiff on Tuesday (14 November) as it continues an expansion into the UK. A second Tim Hortons in Scotland will open two days later, at the Silverburn shopping centre.
Liberation Group is continuing an expansion into the west of England after acquiring eight pubs from SA Brain. They include six managed pubs in Malmesbury, Cirencester, Almondsbury, Bristol, Flax Bourton and Buckover, and two tenanted ones in Lower Langford and Hallatrow. The acquisitions will bolster the pub operation of the Liberation-owned Butcombe Brewery. The deal means SA Brain will now focus on its Wales pubs.
Gusto has set 30 November for the opening of its latest new restaurant at Mere Green’s Mulberry Walk development in Sutton Coldfield. The restaurant will have 156 covers over 4,000 square feet of space.
Desserts-only café concept Creams is opening at Liverpool ONE later this month.
US-style burger concept 7Bone Burger Co is opening on Guildhall Walk in Portsmouth, local media report. It already has restaurants in Southampton, Bournemouth, Camberley, Reading, Newbury, Eastbourne and Hove.
Paris-based healthy on-the-go concept Cojean is to open a second London site. It will be located on Berkeley Street and will launch before the end of November, joining the original Cojean on Ludgate Hill in the City. Cojean runs more than 20 sites in Paris.
Spanish bar and restaurant brand La Casita opens its fourth venue at Granary Wharf in Leeds next Friday (17 November). The first three locations are in Ilkley, Boston Spa and Horsforth.
Pret opened at the Nugent retail and leisure development in Orpington this week.
A new Cuban bar, restaurant and events space called Little Havana is opening on Inverness Street in Camden on 22 November. It is a 1,500 square feet unit with 65 covers, and will offer regular live music and salsa events as well as food and rum-based cocktails.
A new pop-up winter rooftop bar called Woody Bear has opened at 535 Oxford Street, on the corner of Marble Arch and Park Lane. It features fairground-style rides, eggnog and hot gin punch, while food provided by street food operator Madame and Monsieur includes grilled cheese sandwiches. The bar succeeds a summer operation in the rooftop space called Sisu.
Italian wine café and shop Veeno is opening at the One New Change centre in St Paul’s on 22 November. It is the group’s 15th venue and its first in central London. It plans more under franchise in London over the next few years.
Cardiff’s Indian street food restaurant Chai Street is opening a fourth venue in the city—in the Roath area. The first Chai Street opened in Cardiff in 2015.
Hollywood Bowl has opened a new bowling centre and diner in Dagenham. It follows a £500,000 investment in the site.
