Casual Dining

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

Raymond Blanc: Service is no longer about servitude

09-Dec-2015 By Emma Eversham

As part of our Spotlight on Service series we speak to chef Raymond Blanc OBE for his views on life front-of-house.

International tourists find Britain 'extremely welcoming'

08-Dec-2015 By Emma Eversham

The percentage of tourists who now feel 'extremely welcome' when they visit Britain has more than doubled in the last five years according to figures from tourism agency VisitBritain.

Vini Italiani plans expansion following Covent Garden opening

08-Dec-2015 By Emma Eversham

Italian wine retailer Vini Italiani is planning to open another three sites over the next two years following the launch of its wine cafe and store at Covent Garden.

M Restaurants Victoria Street opens six months early

08-Dec-2015 By Liam Garrahan

M Restaurants has opened M, Victoria Street six months ahead of schedule due to the ‘huge success’ of its Threadneedle Street branch, says its founder, Martin Williams.

JD Wetherspoon 'can no longer support' VAT Club

08-Dec-2015 By James Wallin

JD Wetherspoon has announced it has pulled out of the VAT Club Jacques Borel, according to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Allegra Foodservice.

Employers ‘unprepared’ for National Living Wage, Government warns

07-Dec-2015 By Sophie Witts

A majority of Britain’s employers are risking legal action by failing to prepare for the introduction of the National Living Wage next year, the Government has warned.

JD Wetherspoon admits data breach

04-Dec-2015 By Liam Garrahan

JD Wetherspoon has become the latest hospitality business to admit that some customer and staff data, including credit and debit cards, names, mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and dates of birth, has been accessed illegally by a third party.

Gold Service Scholarship 2016 finalists announced

03-Dec-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Eight young front-of-house professionals have been awarded a place in the final of the 2016 Gold Service Scholarship competition.

61% of Brits to dine out on Christmas Day

02-Dec-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Almost two-thirds of the British public have opted to eat out on Christmas day to alleviate the stress of cooking on themselves and their families, according to a report by Bookatable, while the website has seen a 251 per cent increase in Christmas bookings...

ALMR calls for ‘healthy options not harmful taxes’

01-Dec-2015 By Liam Garrahan

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has asked the Government to consider the impact of the sugar tax on pubs and bars and that the tax alone is unlikely to tackle issues regarding obesity.

Boozy lunches make a return

30-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

The consumption of alcoholic beverages such as beer, cider and wine, at lunchtime is on the increase, according to a report by M&C Allegra Foodservice.

Sugar Tax: Report urges Government to ‘wake up’ and take action

30-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

The Government Health Select Committee has urged MPs to take action and introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks, although it has expressed concerns that the hospitality industry could ‘absorb’ the tax instead of passing it onto consumers.

Hotel restaurants to serve up 507 tonnes of turkey every day in December

30-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hotel restaurants across the UK are expected to serve an average of 507 tonnes of turkey, 9.9 million chipolatas and 50 tonnes of stuffing to guests every day over the next month as Christmas celebrations get underway.

The top five stories in hospitality this week 23/11 - 27/11

27-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

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

Apprenticeship levy will cause 'extreme irritation' to businesses, pub boss warns

27-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

The boss of the Oakman Inns pub chain has criticised the Government’s planned apprenticeship levy as an ‘extreme irritation’ to businesses.

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

Spotlight on service: How do you define good service?

27-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan, Emma Eversham

What is good service? Restaurant, hotel and pub operators often talk about making it a key focus of the business and how it is integral to its success, but how exactly do you define it?

VIEWPOINT

Chef David Kelman of Ellenborough Park Hotel on why spending time out of the kitchen could help solve the chef shortage

27-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

Over the last few years David Kelman, executive head chef at Ellenborough Park hotel in Cheltenham has spent his spare time teaching secondary school pupils to cook and mentoring them for cooking competitions. He believes introducing students to cooking...

Plans announced for North West sports village

26-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Further plans have been unveiled for Mill Farm Sports Village in Lancashire which will now include a sports bar, restaurant and café.

BII invites publicans to enter Licensee of the Year Awards 2016

26-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is inviting publicans to enter the Licensee of the Year Awards 2016.

Punch and Neil Morrissey to create chain of sustainable pubs

25-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

Punch and actor Neil Morrissey's pub company have formed a new business partnership with the aim of creating a 'credible chain of sustainable pubs'.

Hospitality industry reacts to 'disappointing' Autumn Statement

25-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry welcomed small reforms outlined in the Autumn Statement but criticised the Government for failing to implement ‘real and meaningful change’.

What does the Autumn Statement mean for hospitality?

25-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Autumn Statement brought good news for the hospitality sector with a slashing of business rates, but failed to mention a cut in tourism VAT.

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

Service Tips: Gold Service Scholarship finalists on how to give great service

25-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

With our spotlight firmly on service and front of house we asked the finalists of the 2015 Gold Service Scholarship for their best tips for delivering great service.

BHA report: FSM companies take big steps to improve public health

25-Nov-2015 By Emma Eversham

Food Service Management (FSM) companies are leading the way in offering healthier meals outside of the home, a report by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) has shown.

Star Wars Cantina bar opening in Manchester

24-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

Drinkers in Manchester are about to be transported to a galaxy far, far away as a Star Wars themed bar opens its doors in the city.

Diners will pay the price for the Living Wage, Mitchells & Butlers warns

24-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

Mitchells & Butlers has warned that customers could see a hike in prices as the company faces rising costs from the National Living Wage (NLW).

Wetherspoon’s and Pret A Manger top food hygiene ratings

24-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

JD Wetherspoon’s and Pret A Manger have topped the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) hygiene ratings of the largest 20 high street brands.

Chinese tourists could spend £1bn a year in the UK by 2020

23-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

Britain’s tourism industry has welcomed a record number of international visitors this year driven by a surge of interest from the Chinese market.

Pubs face closure unless taxes are cut, BBPA warns Osborne

23-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

Community pubs could face closure if George Osborne fails to cut the industry's tax bill in this week's Autumn Statement, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to dress your hospitality venue for Christmas

23-Nov-2015 By Debbie Lakin

Debbie Lakin, senior designer at commercial interiors company Hunter Patel Creative Group, offers her top tips to making your hotel, restaurant or pub look suitably festive this Christmas.

The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 16/11 - 20/11

20-Nov-2015 By Sophie Witts

What were the hottest stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.

Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium: “It’s on their terms and that’s how we like it”

20-Nov-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Operating London’s first ‘cat café’ is a huge task, not only are there huge expectations to manage, food hygiene and the cat’s welfare has to be put first. BigHospitality caught up with Tenneil Graham-Murray, assistant manager at Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium,...

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