Nico Simeone’s Six by Nico restaurant group is set to launch its first Bristol location in early February.

Famed for its themed six-course tasting menus that rotate every six weeks, the group will open a new location at Quakers Friars.

Simeone launched his first restaurant in 2017, aiming to make tasting menus more accessible to a wider audience. Prices begin at £44 per person, with an optional wine pairing available for an additional £30.

Current menu themes feature “The Chippie.

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Crazy Bear Hotel in Stadhampton will launch OAK by Chris Emery in January 2025, marking the hotel group's first new restaurant concept in over a decade.

The brainchild of Managing Director Tom Etridge and Chef Chris Emery, OAK will feature 42 covers and offer 'innovative, ingredient-led' dishes inspired by Emery’s extensive culinary career.

The menu at OAK will showcase seasonal and locally sourced British produce, featuring dishes such as steamed brill with scallop, fennel, celeriac, and green curry sauce.

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Set to open early this month, the first Honest Smash + Grab has taken over the group’s London Liverpool Street restaurant and is being presented as a pop-up.

Restaurant understands that the group plans to open a dedicated site soon after, likely featuring a smaller footprint to better suit the quick-service restaurant model.

This move follows Honest Burgers, founded by Tom Barton and Phillip Eeles in 2011, raising nearly £3 million last year to help it 'challenge the big guys' in the QSR space with the new concept.

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Lussmanns has launched a new restaurant in Woburn, housed in a beautifully restored Grade II listed Georgian building.

Founder Andrei Lussmann collaborated closely with builder Michael Rhodes, his long-time partner in restaurant renovations over the past decade, to bring this seventh establishment to life. It joins the group’s five locations in Hertfordshire and the latest addition in Highgate, North London.

Lussmann said: “I hope that our customers will, first and foremost, feel a really warm welcome when they come and eat with us at Woburn.

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PizzaExpress has launched its first PizzaExpress Pod, a grab-and-go concept, at Tesco Extra in Southampton.

Located outside the main entrance of Tesco Extra, the PizzaExpress Pod offers customers the convenience of ordering on the go through an open kitchen and collection window. In addition to serving walk-in customers, the Pod also partners with delivery services, enabling local residents to order pizzas for home delivery.

The PizzaExpress Pod offers a selection of brand favourites, including the American Hot and Padana pizzas.

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David Loewi will be stepping down as Chief Executive of D&D London at the end of the year.

The co-founder of D&D London will remain on as an advisor to the board until a replacement is found.

Loewi, trained at a Swiss hotel school, began his hospitality career at Claridge’s before moving to Hyatt International. In 1995, he joined Sir Terence Conran to launch Mezzo (now D&D's 100 Wardour Street) in London’s Soho and later supported D&D’s expansion as COO.

In 2006.

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Ollie Dabbous has revealed that he will be stepping down as chef patron of Hide in Mayfair, London, in early 2025.

The chef launched Hide in April 2018 as a multi-level collaboration with Hedonism Wines in London’s Piccadilly. This followed the closure of his casual dining restaurant Barnyard and his eponymous restaurant, Dabbous, which had earned him the 2013 Newcomer Catey award, the year prior.

With the support of then-head chef Luke Selby, now executive chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

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Prezzo has announced the appointment of Mark McCulloch, former marketing director at Pret A Manger and YO! Sushi, as its Chief Marketing Officer.

McCulloch will join the high-street brand part-time, working three days a week, to lead the next phase of Prezzo’s strategy focused on enhancing the customer experience.

He will collaborate closely with newly appointed Chief Executive James Brown to strengthen Prezzo’s position as one of the UK’s most cherished Italian dining destinations.

McCulloch said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Prezzo at such an exciting time.

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On Tuesday, 26 November, Big Mamma will host chefs Francesco Martucci and Diego Vitagliano, from two pizzerias ranked by 50 Top Pizza, for a charity dinner at Gloria Trattoria in Shoreditch.

The event will raise funds to support the projects of the Italian humanitarian organisation INTERSOS, which provides aid and protection to unaccompanied minors separated from their parents in conflict zones.

The dinner will feature antipasti and dolci from Big Mamma's Executive Chef Filippo La Gattuta.

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Din Tai Fung, the globally acclaimed Taiwanese restaurant renowned for its authentic dining experiences, is excited to announce the opening of its fourth UK location. Scheduled to open in early 2025 at Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf, this milestone marks the brand’s first venture into East London.
Building on six successful years in the UK and sixty-six years of global heritage, Din Tai Fung is recognised for its commitment to quality, precision, and craftsmanship in Chinese cuisine, and is known for its signature menu including its world-famous Xiao Long Bao (Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings). Founded in 1958, the Taiwanese brand has captivated diners worldwide with its blend of culinary traditions and modern dining experiences.

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The Sloane Stanley Estate has announced that Pizza Pilgrims has opened its new restaurant on King’s Road.

The 2,021 sq ft space has launched at 219 King’s Road, bringing a slice of coastal Italy to the heart of Chelsea for the first time. The ground floor, with space for 40 covers, features ornate details and striped parasols, reflecting its playful ‘Chelsea Flour Show’ arch made entirely of pizza flour bags. The basement has an additional 32 covers, and transforms into Cinema Paradiso, adding an experiential element to the prominent gateway to the Sloane Stanley Estate.

The Chelsea menu echos its other pizzerias around London.

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The popular Italian restaurant, Como Garden, is launching a brand new pizza menu that will take diners on a culinary odyssey through the authentic flavors of Italy. Captivating diners with its romantic charm and lush garden-inspired interiors, Como Garden is bringing Kensington an essence of Lake Como.

All serving as a tribute to the rich culinary heritage of Italy, the new selection will offer both a classic interpretation and modern twist that reflects global influences.

Diners will be able to try Italian classics.

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HERA (4 Arber Way, Stratford, London, E20 1JS) will open on November 21st. Named after the Greek Goddess, the restaurant will champion Greek cuisine and transform seasonal ingredients into elegant dishes that reflect the variety of what Greek food has to offer.

HERA’s menu takes you on a journey through Greecian cuisine where vegetables, meat and seafood all contribute to create a varied and enticing selection of dishes designed to share. ‘To Begin’, a selection of hero mezze dishes are available from Anchovies, to Kalamata Olives and of course a selection of dips such as Tarama, Tzatziki and Melitzanao Salata (Smoked Aubergine with Thyme and Honey).

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Nando's has introduced its Apprenticeship Programme in Scotland, offering opportunities from Level 2 to Level 5, creating a comprehensive career pathway in the hospitality industry. Simultaneously, the company has rolled out its Level 5 apprenticeship in England, establishing a structured progression route from entry-level roles to the position of Managing Director.

The Level 5 ‘Pathway to Strategic Leadership’ apprenticeship, accredited by The Chartered Management Institute, offers Nando’s apprentices in England and Scotland a well-defined pathway for career growth and progression into management roles.

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Gavin Adair has announced that he will step down as Chief Executive of Rosa’s Thai at the end of the year.

Following his departure, Gavin will transition to a non-executive director role, supporting the board in overseeing the continued growth of the business.

Adair joined Rosa’s Thai as Managing Director in 2017, following his role as Commercial and Strategy Director at Wahaca. In 2020, he was promoted to Chief Executive of the Thai restaurant group.

During his tenure.

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The Sloane Stanley Estate has announced that Fantômas, George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev’s new neighbourhood bistro restaurant, has opened at 300 King’s Road.

Headed up by chef Chris Denney, formerly at 108 Garage, Fantômas has opened its debut site in Chelsea, bringing its Modern European concept to King’s Road. The 2,000 sq ft, open kitchen restaurant seats up to 80 covers and hosts a private dining room for up to 18 people with an adjoining courtyard, creating an intimate space for Chelsea’s diners. The menu offers dishes such as Castelfranco Salad, Pumpkin & Almond Agnolotti and Crispy Veal Sweetbreads.

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AngloThai, the debut restaurant from husband-and-wife team, John and Desiree Chantarasak, in partnership with MJMK Restaurants, is now open. The opening marks the culmination of a nearly four-year site search and numerous highly acclaimed pop-ups and residencies. The couple brings their unique vision for contemporary Thai-British cuisine to Seymour Place in London’s vibrant Marylebone neighbourhood.

The Food
John's inspiration is drawn from both his Thai and British heritage, offering à la carte and chef’s selection menus that change with the seasons.

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Babbo, a new neighbourhood Italian restaurant, will officially open its doors in St John's Wood. Offering a charming all-day dining experience, the restaurant will focus on authentic Italian cuisine, from breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, rooted in family and traditions.

Set to bring a taste of La Dolce Vita meets Little Italy to the heart of the neighbourhood, and nestled among St. Johns Wood High Street, the restaurant, Babbo, meaning “Daddy” in Italian, will embody a welcoming atmosphere for all of its guests. The restaurant, seating up to 84 guests, will consist of three main inside areas.

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Michael Blades has taken on the role of head chef at Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Alongside his appointment, the restaurant has announced plans to open a second, more informal dining venue.

Blades has a longstanding history with Tom Shepherd, having known him for over a decade and been instrumental in supporting the launch of Upstairs by Tom Shepherd. Their collaboration proved successful, as the restaurant received a Michelin star only four months after opening.

Upstairs by Tom Shepherd was awarded Newcomer of the Year at the 2024 Cateys.

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April Lily Partridge, the 2023 Roux Scholarship winner, has departed from the Ledbury in London to pursue her 'next chapter.'

The former sous chef at the three Michelin-starred restaurant shared the news on Instagram.

She said: “The Ledbury – a huge chapter in my life and my career. I’ve grown a lot from the chef and person that first walked through the doors all those years ago and I’m proud to have been a small part of the Ledbury story.

“I’ve worked with incredible chefs who have become friends for life.

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