Category Archives: Press Releases

Luke Johnson, Simon Kossoff and Steve Richards lead Casual Dining’s 2016 Keynote line-up

With visitor registration now open, Casual Dining – the UK’s multi-award winning trade event for the multiple restaurant and pub group sector, has announced its initial Keynote line-up for 2016. Returning to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 24-25 February next year, the show’s extensive Keynote programme will feature an exclusive interview with Luke Johnson, chairman of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners.  Johnson, one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, is well-known for his involvement in growing the Pizza Express, Giraffe, Strada, and Patisserie Valerie brands.  He’ll be discussing his experiences in the UK casual dining sector –…

Casual Dining wins Best Trade Show Award for a second year!

Diversified Communications UK’s Casual Dining show – the award winning trade event for the UK’s multiple restaurant and pub group sector, has won ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ at the AEO Awards for a second time in its first two years of business. The Association of Event Organisers’ Excellence awards ceremony, widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ for the live events and exhibition industry, hosted over 1000 event industry professionals at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair on 26 June. Facing tough competition, Casual Dining defended its title for a second consecutive year over fellow finalists, including The Surface Design…

Casual Dining shortlisted for Best Trade Show Award!

Casual Dining – the UK’s dedicated trade event for the multiple restaurant and pub group sector, has been nominated for ‘Best UK Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ for a second time in its first two years of business.  Following on from its big win of the same award at the exhibition industry’s annual AEO Excellence Awards last year, Casual Dining (organised by Diversified Communications UK) will now have the chance to defend its title. Casual Dining was the first launch show in over five years to triumph in the Association of Event Organisers’ hotly contested ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ category;…

Casual Dining 2015 ticks all the right boxes

The second edition of Casual Dining – the award winning trade event for the UK’s pub, restaurant and bar sector – has been hailed a big success. Brilliant, lively, informative, refreshing, and relevant – is just some of the feedback received from visitors so far; with Paul Pavli, operations director at Punch Taverns calling it “a must attend event”. The show, which took place at the Business Design Centre in London last month, on 25-26 February, featured over 150 exhibitors and welcomed 3,608 attendees (from nearly 2,000 companies).  Notably, over 30% of visitors cited a corporate spend of over £500k…

Casual Dining launches major new industry awards

Casual Dining, the award winning trade show, which ran its second edition at the Business Design Centre in London last week, has today announced the launch of The Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards, in response to industry feedback. The awards will take place on the evening of 24 February 2016.  Not only will they form an important highlight of next year’s event, but aim to become the leading celebration of the growing £7 billion casual dining sector. The launch of this prestigious industry awards dinner follows the launch of the highly successful Casual Dining Design Awards last year –…

The Lynx Purchasing Casual Dining Report 2015

Bringing together data from a wide range of sources, the Lynx Purchasing Casual Dining Report includes at-a-glance information on consumer spending and eating out habits, as well as trends in everything from US dishes to craft beer. The report is a snapshot of the latest trends, in a user-friendly graphic format, and is an invaluable tool for operators as they work their way around the market and talk to the many different suppliers hoping to win their business. Click here to view: Casual Dining Report 2015 web version    

Casual Dining 2015: Opening day photo gallery

Today’s Keynotes at Casual Dining 2015: Thursday 26 February

If you weren’t able to attend Casual Dining yesterday, there’s still plenty of great content to enjoy today – including Keynotes from the CEOs of TGI Friday’s and GBK, industry icon Ian Neill in conversation with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin, plus the results of the Innovation Challenge Awards. Today’s Keynotes (in order of sessions): Jamie Campbell, Account Director, CGA Peach: Mind the Gap: Life Beyond the Capital Karen Forrester, CEO of T.G.I Friday’s: Theories, Philosophies, Values and Traditions The Propel Info Panel – How Pub Operators are Diversifying: Chaired by Paul Charity, MD of Propel Info, featuring James Nye (Anglian Country…

Today’s Keynotes at Casual Dining 2015: Wednesday 25 February

Casual Dining opens for business at 10am today at Business Design Centre in London.  Over 4,000 attendees (representing multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, distributers, and contract caterers from across the UK) are expected to pack the aisles over two days (Wednesday and Thursday, 25-26 February). Today’s highlights include Keynotes from: Peter Backman, MD of Horizons: Who is setting the casual dining pace? And where are they going? Anthony Pender, chairman of The BII & MD of Yummy Pub Co: How we’ll raise standards in licensed retail together The CGA Peach Pioneer Panel: Chaired by Peter Martin, VP of…

Casual Dining 2015 opens in London tomorrow

Casual Dining – the award winning trade event for the UK’s pub, restaurant and bar sector – is set to take casual dining to new heights as it takes over three floors of the Business Design Centre in London this week. Already an essential date on many hospitality buyers calendars, Casual Dining opens for business at 10am on Wednesday 25 February.  Over 4,000 attendees (representing multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, distributers, and contract caterers from across the UK) are expected to pack the aisles over two days. Casual Dining will feature over 150 sector leading exhibitors showcasing…