- The impact of the train strikes has cost the hospitality sector a total of £2.5bn in lost sales since industrial action began in June last year, according to UKHospitality. The revised figure is significantly up on the originally estimated £1bn cost of the strikes. It takes into account that the expected pre-Christmas bounceback during a period when fewer strikes were called never materialised, and also factors in the new strike dates called by rail workers this week, according to chief executive Kate Nicholls. Industrial action by the RMT and Aslef unions this week has effectively seen workers return to the office delayed until Monday 9 January, due to Network Rail staff in the RMT union striking on 3, 4, 6 and 7 January and train drivers for Aslef striking on 5 January.
- Business leaders from across the hospitality sector have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list. Vineet Bhatia became the 'first Michelin starred chef of Indian origin to be awarded an MBE. Baa Bar founder Elaine Clarke and former Marston’s CEO Ralph Findlay were awarded OBEs for their services to the hospitality sector. Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes was awarded a knighthood. In addition, marketing and PR firm Representation Plus founder Janine Cryer was praised for her services to the tourism and hospitality sector and awarded an MBE; while Jocelyn Croft, CEO of UKinbound, was awarded an OBE for services to the tourism industry.
- Restaurant group D&D London has closed two sites in the capital as well as outposts in Leeds and Bristol as part of a strategic review of its portfolio. The group announced that its Avenue and Radici restaurants in London had ceased trading, as had East 59th in Leeds and Klosterhaus in Bristol. In a statement, D&D London said: "Like many other businesses in the hospitality sector, we continue to strategically review our portfolio and such decision is a result of the current economic challenges including spiralling utility, food and beverage costs and the unstable labour market."
- Three new chefs have been appointed at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House following the departure of executive chef Hrishikesh Desai. Tom Westerland, Ollie Bridgwater, and Aakash Ohol will join the hotel and will work across Gilpin’s portfolio including fine dining restaurant HRiSHi, which will be renamed as SOURCE; the Gilpin Grill, which will also be renamed; and Gilpin Spice. Bridgwater, who has worked as a sous chef at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck for five years, will be executive chef at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant while Ohol, previously sous chef at HRiSHi, will become head chef at Gilpin Spice. Westerland, who has worked as head chef at Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa for six years and was formerly head chef at Ember at Crockers in Henley-on-Thames will head up the kitchen at Gilpin’s newest restaurant, Gilpin Grill at The Lake House.
- PizzaExpress managing director Zoe Bowley is to step down after 12 years with the casual dining chain. During her tenure at the pizza chain, Bowley has served as customer experience director, operations director and UK chief operating officer. She served as managing director under various CEOs including David Campbell and Richard Hodgson and more latterly Paula Mackenzie.
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