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James McAllister

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Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski unveil further details for Sesta

🍴 Drew Snaith and Hannah Kowalski will launch their first restaurant, Sesta, in London's Hackney this September, following the closure of Pidgin on 18 August. Sesta, replacing Pidgin, will serve British seasonal ingredients and feature a menu influenced by live fire cooking, British, European, and Southeast Asian cuisines. The founders previously worked together at Brunswick House and Pidgin. The team includes sous chef Ben Ing and general manager Majalis Lundstrom Celedon. Sesta will source produce from Shrub, connecting to Sussex farms. The menu will change seasonally and offer dishes like Doddington cheese scone with rarebit and cured mutton bacon ribs. Natural wines, particularly French, will be curated by Kowalski, while Celedon will craft cocktails with house-made spirits. The 26-cover restaurant will later add counter dining and display local art.
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Ben Murphy to depart Launceston Place

🍴 Ben Murphy, head chef since 2017 at Launceston Place, a D&D London restaurant in Kensington, West London, is set to depart on October 31, 2024, without specifying his next move. His career started at Koffmann’s at The Berkeley in 2010, followed by roles in France and other prestigious London restaurants. In 2022, Murphy was named National Chef of the Year. Launceston Place opened in 1986 and D&D London acquired it in 2017. Murphy’s successor is not yet announced.
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Allegra to close its doors after five years trading

🍴 Allegra, a restaurant located in East London, will close after five successful years. General Manager Ashley Shaw cites 'inextricable changes' in London's culinary scene as the reason. The announcement follows the departure of Patrick Powell, who launched Allegra in 2019 and achieved a listing in the UK's Top 100 Restaurants. Allegra's final service is scheduled for Saturday, 31 August. The Stratford hotel will soon announce a new dining concept to replace Allegra.
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Deliveroo reaches ‘key financial milestone’ with first half-year profit

💰 Deliveroo reports first-ever half-year profit with £62m adjusted EBITDA, a 57% increase from H1 2023's £39m. In the six months to June 30, 2024, they turned a £1m profit, recovering from a £83m loss the previous year. With initiatives like the Plus Diamond loyalty tier, grocery growth, and new retail partnerships, orders grew 2%, revenue rose 2%, and Gross Transaction Value (GTV) increased 6%. UK & Ireland GTV grew by 7%, international by 5%, with positive trends in France, UAE, and Italy. A £150m share buyback reflects confidence after these results, expecting GTV growth of 5-9% and EBITDA in the upper half of £110-130m for the year.
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Flash-grilled: Kaneda Pen

🍴 Kaneda Pen, former advertising professional, transitioned to the culinary industry at 37 as a part-time commis at The Exhibit in Balham. Admiring industry figures like Rick Stein and Raymond Blanc, Pen's cooking style is described as "unfussy, comforting and lacking subtlety." He values repetition in the kitchen, prefers à la carte over tasting menus, and cannot live without a rice cooker. Pen's signature dish is a sour pineapple curry, showcasing Cambodian flavors.
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The Breakfast Club toasts ‘most successful financial year’ in almost a decade

🍴 The Breakfast Club reported a revenue of £17.8m for the year ending 31 March 2024, a slight dip from £18m the previous year. EBITDA for restaurants increased 40% to £2.8m, and group EBITDA turned a profit of £884,000 from a loss of £76,000. Operating profit saw a £1.1m positive swing. Four new sites were added, totaling 16, including a 256-cover restaurant at Gatwick Airport. A second franchise opened in St Pancras International, with more to come.
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