Barbecoa bucks Brexit woes
Jamie Oliver is to open the long-awaited second branch of his barbecue and steakhouse brand Barbecoa in Piccadilly next month. The launch comes after the chef blamed Brexit for the upcoming closure of six of his Jamie's Italian restaurants later this year.
Borough Market gets creative
Borough Market has opened its own restaurant serving dishes created entirely from produce sold by its resident traders. Borough Plates will run for two months until 17 March, with a weekly rotating line-up of guest chefs helping to create the menu.
Plans for new hotel chain
New hotel group H&M Hotels has purchased its first property, the 30-room Stonecross Manor in the Lake District, ahead of plans to create a larger chain. H&M said it is actively seeking further sites to develop a 'character' hotel brand.
Cinnamon Collection spices up recruitment
The Cinnamon Collection has launched a chef de partie training scheme across its four London restaurants ahead of a planned £10m expansion. The year-long course will be headed up by chef Rakesh Ravindran Nair, and will support trainees with a £22,000 salary throughout the programme.
Brexit migration concerns
Tourism trade association UKinbound has urged the Prime Minister to create a post-Brexit immigration system that is 'flexible' to the needs of the UK hospitality sector. In a speech this week Theresa May said that the Government would exercise greater control over the number of migrants coming in to the UK to work after the country leaves the EU. This is despite an estimated 43 per cent of workers in the restaurant, pub, hotel and QSR sectors being born overseas.
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