Today’s news in brief – 19/02/25

Hospitality insolvencies were down 7% year-on-year from 3,737 in 2023 in 2023 to 3,464 in 2024, according to ONS data. Insolvencies in the sector saw an even bigger drop month-on-month, down 31% from 327 in November 2024 to 224 in the following month, and fell 29% compared with the same period the year before. Overall, the number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales was 6% higher in January 2025 after seasonal adjustments. 

Greene King’s The Railway in Liverpool Street will reopen next week after a £1m investment. The pub has benefited from new interiors and exterior to elevate it to a flagship site within the Greene King’s pub brand. Accessibility throughout the venue has also been redesigned to improve customer flow, while an accessible toilet has been added. A new room, known as “the waiting room”, has also been added and will be fully equipped to host meetings. 

Roadchef will be welcoming three new brands at Folkestone Services on the M20: McDonalds, Costa and WH Smith. In addition, Roadchef will be introducing new EV charging stations to meet the increasing demand from electric vehicle drivers in the UK. The three openings are expected to create 80 new jobs in the local area, spanning from management and supervisory roles to administrative positions. 

Luna Omakase is set to open within Los Mochis London City in March. Distinct from its sister restaurant Juno Omakase, Luna Omakase will be an exclusive 12-seat restaurant that offers Sosaku-style Edomae Omakase, a modern interpretation of traditional Edomae sushi which originated in Tokyo during the Edo period. The restaurant’s executive head chef, Leonard Tanyag, has 20 years of experience and will bring a “refined and personal approach” to traditional omakase dining.