Spotted Dick?

Word has reached us here across the pond that Gordon Ramsey’s company has applied for a UK trademark on “The Spotted Pig”, the NYC gastropub owned in part by Mario Batali and chef-owner April Bloomfield. While the name has already been taken in New York, the trademark’s up for grabs in England.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings submitted the application on October 2nd, and it’s now been published for comment, with 2 months given for objections to be made. A rep for Ramsay’s company says it regularly seeks trademarks and there were no current plans beyond that.

Read the full story here: Ramsay Seeks U.K. Rights to Batali Name Spotted Pig [Bloomberg]

For some good news in the London-to-New-York restaurant exchange, Danny Meyer has announced plans for a new Shake Shack in London next year: Danny Meyer to Open Shake Shack London in 2013 [Eater NY]