Desperate Melbourne restaurateurs choke on outdoor dining plan

A $100m plan to help Melbourne’s cafes and restaurants survive tough lockdown rules by boosting open-air dining has run into widespread industry criticism, with the city’s notoriously fickle weather cited as just one objection.

Pandemic dining discount taken off UK tables

The British government is urging diners to keep going out to eat after the end of a popular government scheme offering half-price food in restaurants.

Photo: AAP/Joel Carrett

Wage theft a restaurant menu staple

The collapse of George Calombaris’ restaurant empire was prompted by a $7m wage underpayment scandal. Other celebrity chefs have been caught out, too. The bitter truth of Australia’s hospitality industry is that staff exploitation is not the exception but the norm, argue Richard Robinson and Matthew Brenner.

Coffee chain's hefty bill for misleading conduct

The District Court has handed the director of SA-based chain Funk Coffee & Food a $600,000 bill for misleading a franchisee about the turnover of a city café – but he’s vowed to appeal the judgement.