Taqueria
Permanently Closed
Mexican tacos, tostadas, margaritas, extensive tequila list
Mexican tacos, tostadas, margaritas, extensive tequila list
"Owning two London restaurants in Notting Hill and on Exmouth Market, Worldwide Taqueria registered the word “taqueria” as a trademark in 2005 and, through lawyers, served Sonora with a 20-page letter on 6 September alleging trademark infringement and demanding that Sonora cease using the word across its name and branding (with a response deadline of 21 September). The company’s lawyers outlined the alleged infringements and recommended resolutions, but their demand to remove the word was met with resistance and has so far been unsuccessful." - Eater Staff
"A competing taqueria group that operates restaurants in Notting Hill and on Exmouth Market registered TAQUERIA as a trademark in 2005 and, in September, had lawyers write to the smaller business alleging that use of the word in its name and across branding (including social media) constituted infringement and demanding it be dropped. The company is owned by Trent Alexander Ward and Daniele Benatoff, both listed as directors on numerous businesses, and an operations manager (Ismael Munoz Sonora) framed the claim as trademark infringement; however, representatives have not engaged with further questions since initiating the action." - Adam Coghlan
"A rival restaurant group that operates outlets in Notting Hill and on Exmouth Market instructed lawyers to allege infringement of its registered Taqueria trade mark and demanded the other business stop using the word across its name and branding. That legal move provoked a large public backlash and a high-profile petition arguing that the Spanish term is generic and should not be owned; the group did not immediately respond to requests for comment." - Adam Coghlan
"Claiming exclusive rights to the mark “TAQUERIA,” Worldwide Taqueria Ltd argues that Sonora’s use of the term constitutes trade mark infringement in the UK. The business — run by Trent Alexander Ward and Daniele Benatoff — traces its restaurant back to a first site on Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove opened in 2005, with a follow-up on Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell opened in 2021; the restaurant grew out of a street-food stall that also retailed Mexican ingredients and cookware under the Cool Chile Co brand (which still exists but is no longer affiliated). Taqueria’s operations manager, Ismael Munoz, stresses that UK trademark law grants the proprietor exclusive rights and that the company has developed significant goodwill since 2005; the brand has previously acted legally, successfully opposing the trademarking of Taco Ria in 2020." - Adam Coghlan
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