Casual Dining

Hospitality industry celebrates National Waiter's Day

22-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality businesses around the UK showed their support for National Waiter's Day yesterday (21 May).

Rise in young landlords drives pub and bar growth

22-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Rising turnover and a surge of young talent entering the industry are providing encouraging signs of growth for the pub sector, according to new data from Barclays released today (22 May).

UK bids to host 2018 European Bocuse d'Or

21-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

The UK is one of six European countries intending to bid to host the 2018 edition of the Bocuse d'Or Europe. 

Hotel group Firmdale installs karaoke at two London venues

21-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Firmdale is tapping into the trend of hotel businesses providing unusual extras by adding karaoke to two of its upmarket London venues.

Make business rates fairer, Government urged

21-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A leading trade body and an independent adviser have called on the Government to make business rates fairer to small businesses.

London businesses boosted by record-breaking year of tourism

20-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

London received a record-breaking number of international tourists in 2014, according to official figures.

Ed’s Easy Diner CEO headlining Arena Summer Event

20-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality networking association Arena has announced details of its 2015 Summer Event, taking place on 26 June at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.

Xavier Rousset to leave Texture and 28°-50° Restaurant Group

19-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Xavier Rousset has left Texture and 28°-50° Restaurant Group, the company he co-founded with chef Agnar Sverrisson. 

Supply uncertainty after Bidvest Logistics drivers agree to strike

19-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Restaurant and pub operators face having their food supplies affected after workers at a leading foodservice company voted to walk out over a pay dispute.

Champagne sales fizz, but wine market challenges remain

19-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Industry innovation, improved distribution and a greater consumer awareness of leading brands is continuing to boost UK sales of Champagne and sparkling wine, a market report has found.

National Chef of the Year 2015: Semi-finalists revealed

19-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Craft Guild of Chefs has named the 40 chefs who have made the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year 2016 competition. 

TripAdvisor reports rise in top rated UK hospitality businesses

19-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The number of UK hospitality businesses receiving high ratings from customer reviews has risen in the past year, according to TripAdvisor.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How changes to employment law could affect your hospitality business

18-May-2015 By Shivali Chaudhry

Shivali Chaudhry a solicitor at Hamlins LLP, explains how recent changes to employment law and holiday pay could affect businesses in the hospitality industry and suggests ways to mitigate risk. 

TRENDS

Dining trends: Restaurants must adapt menus to cater to all age groups

15-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Operators must engage with customers and adapt their menus to target the needs of all age groups, according to a new study.

SABMiller announces Meantime acquisition

15-May-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

London craft brewer Meantime has been bought by SABMiller for an undisclosed sum.

Ministerial appointments welcomed by hospitality trade bodies

14-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Trade bodies have welcomed the appointments of the two ministers given responsibility for tourism under the new Government.

Star Pubs & Bars to spend £250k to make pubs food-led by 2020

14-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Star Pubs & Bars, the leased pub business of Heineken UK, is to invest £250,000 across its estate as part of a drive to make food 50 per cent of overall sales by 2020.

Coeliac Awareness Week 2015: research shows diners still fear contamination

13-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Food suppliers and a research company have used Coeliac Awareness Week (May 11-17) to highlight how eating out remains a challenge for consumers with restricted diets.

Brakspear boosts managed pub estate with Grade II listed George Hotel

13-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Brakspear has added to its fledgling managed pub estate with the purchase of a Grade II listed site in the Cotswolds.

VisitEngland 2015 Awards for Excellence winners announced

12-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality and tourism businesses were honored at the 2015 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence last night (11 May).

Consumers continue to spend more on eating out

12-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Increasing consumer confidence and the warm weather saw a rise in people eating and drinking out in April, according to the latest Barclaycard Consumer Spending Report.

Young's to roll out burger shack concept

12-May-2015 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Young’s pub company is planning to roll-out more than 20 Burger Shacks across its pub estate following introduction of the fast casual offering at The Windmill in Clapham and The Bull in Streatham, retail director Patrick Dardis told M&C Report.

JDW threatens legal action over meal deal copyright

11-May-2015 By Mark Wingett

JD Wetherspoon has threatened to take legal action against competitors including Stonegate, Greene King, Whitbread and Mitchells & Butlers over meal deals which it says are infringing its copyright.

Election 2015: Hospitality industry reacts to result

08-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry has welcomed a clear majority result in the general election, after fears that a hung parliament could create uncertainty for businesses.

Whitbread announce 2020 sustainability and jobs targets

07-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Whitbread PLC, owner of Costa and Premier Inn, has committed to reducing its environmental footprint and creating 15,000 new jobs by 2020 as part of its Good Together corporate responsibility programme.

WEST Brewery opens second Glasgow pub and restaurant

07-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Glasgow's independent brewery, bar and restaurant concept WEST is to open its second permanent pub in Glasgow this month. 

ALMR funds national advertising campaign to promote hospitality careers

07-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

An advertising campaign from Perceptions Group promoting careers within the hospitality industry has launched on the websites of three national newspapers.

The changing face of airport hospitality

06-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Airport dining has changed dramatically in the last ten years. While motor-way service style free-flow restaurants used to be the norm, heavy investment has seen the airside food offering start to outpace the high street.

Caffè Culture Show 2015: Coffee inspiration and innvovation

06-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hospitality operators looking to improve their coffee offering are being invited to attend this year's 'inspirational and innvovative' Caffè Culture Show. 

Stop demonising zero-hour contracts, Institute of Hospitality warns future government

06-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Institute of Hospitality has called for an end to the ‘demonisation’ of zero-hour contracts in an open letter to the future government issued yesterday (5 May).

#RestaurantsUniteforNepal: Tweet leads to widespread industry support for earthquake appeal

05-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

More than 240 restaurants have pledged to raise urgent funds for Action Against Hunger's (AAH) Nepal earthquake appeal following a rallying Tweet from restaurant The Sticky Walnut.  

Election 2015: Uncertain result could harm hospitality fear CEOs

05-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

An uncertain general election result later this week could damage consumer confidence and result in losses for the hospitality industry, top CEO’s have warned.

Earn £37k+: Springboard releases front-of-house salaries to change industry perceptions

05-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Employment charity Springboard has released a range of average salaries for staff working front-of-house to help change perceptions that working in hospitality means working long hours with low pay. 

Competition launches to find Seaside Chef of the Year

05-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Chefs are being encouraged to enter a new competition championing the best of British seaside food.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to ensure a sustainable supply chain

05-May-2015 By Mark Parker

Mark Parker of Whitbread talks about why having a transparent and sustainable supply chain is 'vital' within the hotel, restaurant and pub business and suggests ways to ensure your business is complying. 

Eating challenges: Do they make financial sense?

05-May-2015 By Joe Lutrario

Eating challenges are big business for many restaurants but do they make financial sense and what place do they have within an industry that’s increasingly trying to avoid excess and waste? Restaurant's Joe Lutrario finds out. 

Online review sites have turned travel in to a buyer's market, says Deloitte

01-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Consumers are increasingly being influenced by each other rather than travel companies, with more than half (59 per cent) citing online reviews as their 'main influence' when booking hotels and holidays, according to new research from Deloitte.

SMALL TALK

James Martin on launching his premium bakery concept at Stansted Airport

01-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Following the launch of the first James Martin Kitchen in Stansted Airport, the celebrity chef spoke to BigHospitality and other media about the challenges of opening airside and taking the concept to the high street.

The Lucky Pig to open second London site

30-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

1920s inspired restaurant and cocktail bar The Lucky Pig has announced plans to open a second site in London next month. 

Tea sommelier: Boom in global tea culture to bring teahouses to UK high streets

29-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Ajit Madan, owner of Camellia's Tea House and the UK's first accredited tea sommelier is predicting the rise of the teahouse on the UK's high streets as renewed interest in the hot beverage grows among consumers.  

TRENDS

Battle for non-traditional trading hours intensifies

29-Apr-2015 By Mark Wingett

The battle for non-traditional trading hours among fast food, café, pub and restaurant operators is set to intensify during the coming year as more and more brands look to stretch their offer.

Sustain declares Bournemouth & Poole first Sustainable Fish City

28-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Campaign group Sustain has named Bournemouth & Poole the UK's first Sustainable Fish City after the majority of restaurants and catering outlets in the two towns committed to only using responsibly-sourced fish. 

What you need to know about craft cider

28-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Like beer, cider is getting crafty. BigHospitality looks at what craft cider is all about and the opportunities it presents for pubs, restaurants and hotels. 

Bar and nightclub operators join together to launch Night Time Industries Association

27-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Operators from within the bar, nightclub and restaurant sectors have come together to form a new trade association which aims to be 'The Voice of the Night Time Industries'.

Renaissance Pubs changes name to Three Cheers Pub Company

27-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

London-based pub company Renaissance has changed its name to the Three Cheers Pub Company following a trademark dispute. 

Hospitality employers fail to meet the career expectations of staff

24-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality employers are failing to meet the career expectations of staff and create a desirable workplace environment, according to research from recruitment specialists Korn Ferry.

‘Staycation’ trend gives hospitality businesses a boost

24-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

UK hospitality businesses are predicted to see a boost in profits this summer due to an increasing number of Britons opting for ‘staycations’, according to new research from VoucherCodes.co.uk.

Election 2015: Where do the parties stand on cutting tourism VAT?

24-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Labour and the Conservatives have been accused of neglecting the travel industry following a review of the party manifestos by the Cut Tourism VAT campaign.

Bounce announces second London site and international expansion

23-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Ping pong entertainment concept Bounce is opening a second site in London and its first in the US following the success of its flagship site in Holborn. 

Branded Content

Diners want more gluten-free options on menus

23-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Operators are at risk of alienating diners by failing to offer an adequate range of gluten-free menu options, according to research commissioned by Aviko in the run up to Coeliac Awareness Week (11-17 May).