Casual Dining

Sustainable Restaurant Association MD Mark Linehan to step down

25-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

The Sustainable Restaurant Association's (SRA) Mark Linehan has announced he is stepping down from his role as managing director. 

Why are so many female chefs leaving the industry?

24-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

The number of female chefs in the UK is falling with nearly two in five women considering leaving the industry, so what needs to be done to reverse this trend?

UK diners to spend £54.7bn on eating out by 2017

23-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

UK diners could spend an estimated £54.7bn on eating out by 2017, a new study has claimed.

Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2016 open for entries

23-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

The Craft Guild of Chefs has announced some changes to this year’s Graduate Awards as the 2016 competition opens for entries. 

Italian craft beer pub The Italian Job to expand

23-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Italian craft beer pub The Italian Job has started a crowdfunding campaign to help fund its expansion. 

Students swapping lager for lattes as campus beer sales fall

22-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

While students are often stereotyped as lecture-shy beer drinkers spending all day necking cheap pints in a union bar, today’s undergraduates are swapping the Carlsberg for cappuccinos.

Scotland becoming a 'global leader' in food and drink

22-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

The top performing Scottish food, drink and leisure businesses saw a combined turnover of £4.1bn last year as the country continues to further its reputation as a ‘global leader' in the industry.

The Stable to open first London site

19-Feb-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Craft cider and pizza restaurant chain The Stable is to open its first London site in Whitechapel in April. 

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 15/02 - 19/02

19-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

SMALL TALK

Steve Barringer on Masterchef and his new pub The Anchor

19-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Steve Barringer reached the finals of Masterchef: The Professionals in 2011 and is opening his first gastropub The Anchor in Tilsworth this month. 

Stars Pubs & Bars invests £75,000 in chef training

18-Feb-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Star Pubs & Bars is investing £75,000 in 2016 to roll-out its independent chef consultancy to 100 licensees. 

SPONSORED CONTENT

Focus on cleanliness for a ‘Top Rated’ business says P&G Professional & trivago research

18-Feb-2016 By P&G Professional

High standards of cleanliness impact hospitality businesses’ overall online rating affecting booking numbers and business success, recent research from P&G Professional and trivago has found. 

Sticky Walnut’s Gary Usher to talk crowdfunding at the NRB Debate

17-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Gary Usher, chef-patron of Chester’s Sticky Walnut and sweary social media phenomenon, has joined the line-up of the 2016 NRB Debate.

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How your menu can attract new diners over Easter and Mother's Day

17-Feb-2016 By Premier Foods

With Mother’s Day and Easter arriving early this year, chefs need to make sure they are prepared. In addition to exploring new recipes, outlets need to consider putting on set menus or special offers to attract consumers, as well as finding the best way...

Restaurants and pubs outside London see January sales bump

17-Feb-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Britain’s restaurant and pub groups reported collective like-for-like sales up 1.9 per cent for January, compared to the same month last year, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. 

Restaurant chains 'should display calorie counts' to tackle childhood obesity

16-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

The Government should make it a requirement for restaurant and pub chains with more than 20 outlets to spell out calorie counts as part of its upcoming child obesity strategy, the Local Government Association has claimed (LGA). 

High street restaurant dishes contain more salt than McDonald's

15-Feb-2016 By Michelle Perrett

High street restaurants and pubs have some of the highest salt dishes on menus, research from Dr Wayne Osborne for Treated.com has revealed.  

Jamie Oliver's sugar tax raises £50,000

15-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Restaurants signed up to Jamie Oliver’s voluntary sugar tax have raised over £50,000 towards the opening of free public water fountains in some of the most deprived areas of the UK.

The top five stories in hospitality this week 08/02-12/02

12-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

'Rotten' restaurant tipping laws need Government action, warns Unite

12-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Trade Union Unite has told the Government to stop ‘dragging its feet’ over tackling the ‘dubious tipping practices’ of major restaurant chains.

Are TV cooking shows contributing to the chef shortage?

12-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant-related films and TV are more popular than ever, but are they contributing to the growing chef shortage?

VIEWPOINT

Edmund Inkin of Eatdrinksleep on why hotels don't always need to invest in the latest technology

12-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Edmund Inkin is joint owner of Eatdrinksleep, the company behind the Felin Fach Griffin near Brecon and The Gurnard's Head and The Old Coastguard in Cornwall where technology takes a back-seat. He explains why.

Base & Barley secures Cardiff site

11-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Base & Barley, the sourdough pizza and craft beer concept created by Artigiano founder Joe Hill and Steve Keough, has secured its second site in Cardiff.

Heathrow joins campaign to boost tourism in flood-hit areas

10-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Heathrow has unveiled striking images of UK landmarks in Cumbria, Lancashire, Scotland and Yorkshire across its terminals in a bid to boost tourism in areas hit by recent floods.

Whitbread to launch 'contemporary' Beefeater brand Bar & Block

09-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Whitbread is launching an 'evolved, contemporary' version of its Beefeater brand to help it appeal to a younger demographic. 

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 01/02 - 05/02

05-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Tips scandal: Unite protest targets STK at ME London Hotel

05-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

Trade union Unite staged a protest against STK London at its ME London Hotel on Friday, amidst claims that its 15 per cent service charge is being used to increase the salaries of four senior managers by as much as £50k a year each.

Make recruitment process more ‘youth friendly’ hospitality urged

04-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Businesses in the hospitality sector are being advised to make their recruitment process more ‘youth friendly’ to help safeguard the industry’s future workforce after a survey of 18-24-year-olds found they faced barriers when applying for jobs.

62% of people think high street restaurant food is ‘basic’

04-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

A survey of 2,000 UK diners has found that 62 per cent think that the food offer in high street restaurant chains is ‘far too basic’.

The Alchemist to open in Newcastle

03-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

All-day dining restaurant The Alchemist is to open in Newcastle’s Intu Eldon Square’s catering development, Grey’s Quarter, marking the chain’s first opening in the North East.

UK tourism jobs growing faster than other sectors

03-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

Jobs in the UK’s tourism industry have grown by 12 per cent over five years to 2014, more than double the growth witnessed across other sectors of the economy.

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists revealed

03-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has announced the finalists for its Awards for Excellence, paying tribute to businesses and individuals who are at the top of their game with customer service and practice.

Jonathan Downey: Streets ahead

03-Feb-2016 By Stefan Chomka

His street food markets will attract more than one million visitors this year and his latest business, London Union, is backed by Jamie and Nigella. Now Jonathan Downey has his sights on creating the world’s best food and drink market.

Stars Pubs & Bars opens training pub

02-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

Pub and bar operator, Stars Pubs & Bars, has opened a training pub in Arnold Nottingham, which will provide on-site training for Star Personnel and prospective licensees once it is established.

Flood-hit York hotels urge PM to holiday in Northern England

02-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

The chief executive of managed hotel chain Best Western Great Britain is calling on David Cameron and George Osborne to holiday in the North of England this year to help boost trade at hospitality businesses affected by the recent floods. 

Entries for National Chef of the Year now open

02-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

The Craft Guild of Chefs have now opened entries to this year’s National Chef of the Year competition.

Michelin Guide France 2016: Gordon Ramsay loses Versailles star

01-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Gordon Ramsay has both gained and lost a star in this year’s French Michelin Guide, which saw 54 new stars awarded overall.

London’s Jazz Café to be renovated by new owners

01-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

London’s iconic Jazz Café has temporarily closed its doors for refurbishment and alterations, following its purchase by nightlife company The Columbo Group.

Liverpool takes action to tackle hospitality skills shortages

01-Feb-2016 By Sophie Witts

Young people in Liverpool are to take part in a Visitor Economy Week designed to tackle skills shortages in the city’s booming hospitality sector.

Ex-Duck & Waffle chef to head kitchen at new Fuller’s pub

01-Feb-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

A chef who previously worked at acclaimed London eatery Duck & Waffle has taken on the role of head chef at new Fuller’s pub the Sail Loft, Greenwich. 

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to value your hospitality business correctly

01-Feb-2016 By Darren Seward

Darren Seward, hospitality specialist at commercial insurer, NFU Mutual, discusses the importance of valuing the business assets of a pub, hotel and restaurant correctly. 

77% would lower drink-drive limit, survey reveals ahead of Lords debate

29-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Doctors and health experts have urged the House of Lords to support a bill calling for the drink-driving limit to be lowered, bringing England, Wales and Northern Ireland in line with Scotland.

VIEWPOINT

Chris Knights of Young's Pubs on the importance of developing pub chefs

29-Jan-2016 By Emma Eversham

Chris Knights, group executive chef at Young's Pubs and Geronimo Inns, launched Young's Chef Academy last year. He feels strongly that developing and recognising chefs within the company will help address the skills shortage and retention. 

UK floods: Government help for tourism businesses branded 'totally inadequate'

28-Jan-2016 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) is among critics of a £15m Government funding package designed to help flood-hit tourism businesses in Cumbria.

Bar Soba adopts Living Wage early to support 'relentless' expansion plans

28-Jan-2016 By Sophie Witts

Asian restaurant group Bar Soba is to pay its staff the National Living Wage two months early in order to support its ‘relentless’ expansion plans.

The Seafood Restaurant and Lancaster London appear in Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer 2016 list

28-Jan-2016 By Emma Eversham

Seven businesses from the hospitality and foodservice sectors, including Rick Stein's The Seafood Restaurant and London hotel Lancaster London, have been named a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer 2016. 

SPONSORED CONTENT

Valentine's Day: Add sharing dishes to menu for right atmosphere

28-Jan-2016 By Premier Foodservice

February 14 is always one of the busiest nights of the year for the foodservice industry, as couples look to treat loved ones to a special meal out-of-home. From creating the right atmosphere, to providing a romantic menu, it is important for outlets...

Vegetarians avoid Gourmet Burger Kitchen over 'offensive' adverts

27-Jan-2016 By Sophie Witts

A series of ‘offensive’ Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) adverts criticised by vegetarians and vegans could lead to a drop in customer numbers at the chain, a new study has found.

Diners becoming increasingly adventurous

27-Jan-2016 By James Wallin

Consumers are becoming increasingly adventurous with their eating and drinking out choice with the trend being driven by millennials, the Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker has shown.

Jeff Galvin: Blurred lines between pubs and restaurants

27-Jan-2016 By Liam Garrahan

The line that has been drawn between pubs and restaurants is blurring as restaurateurs are being priced out of London and pushed into pub operations, according to Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur and pub operator, Jeff Galvin.