Casual dining

The owner of the Zizzi and ASK Italian restaurant brands has reportedly begun testing buyers’ appetites for a sale of the business next year.

Comptoir Group is to open a restaurant at the Southbank Centre in London around Easter of 2024.

Private equity firm McWin has taken a majority stake in Italian restaurant group Big Mamma, in a deal that values the company at €270m (£233m).

Jamie Oliver will not look to roll out another UK casual dining chain due to the “huge pressure” on mid-market restaurants, the chief executive of his wider business has said.