Casual Dining

Valrhona starts search for UK's pastry stars

22-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

French chocolatier Valrhona has started its search for talented pastry chefs and chocolatiers to compete in the next UK Pastry Open.

BrewDog plans first hotel as part of £25m crowdfunding campaign

22-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Craft brewer BrewDog has announced plans to build a craft beer themed hotel as well as expand its UK bar estate and extend its brewery capacity by raising £25m through its Equity for Punks crowdfunding campaign.

Restaurants and hotels losing billions by neglecting the over 65’s

22-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

The UK hospitality sector has lost at least £16bn in potential revenue over the last year by ignoring the over 65 age group, according to a report from Barclays Corporate Banking released today.

Westminster Kingsway College wins Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or 2015

22-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

A team of students from Westminster Kingsway College has won the Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or 2015 competition.

Put front-of-house in the spotlight says Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons MD

21-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Philip Newman Hall, the managing director of restaurant and hotel Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, is calling on the industry to do more to raise the profile of service roles and encourage more young people to consider a career working front-of-house.

How to successfully grow your own produce

20-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

The kitchen garden is nothing new, but over the last few years more pub, restaurant and hotel owners have started growing their own produce to enable their business to run more sustainably and give them an interesting point of difference.

Election manifestos recognise the hospitality and tourism industry

20-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has welcomed election manifestos from several key political parties as acknowledging the contribution of tourism and hospitality to the UK economy for the ‘first time ever’.

ASK THE EXPERTS

What you should know about Shared Parental Leave

20-Apr-2015 By Tom Solesbury

Tom Solesbury, a solicitor at Hamlins LLP, gives advice to hospitality employers about the new rules on Shared Parental Leave which came into force earlier this month.

Carl Clarke opening Chick 'n' Sours in Dalston

17-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Chef and pop-up veteran Carl Clarke is opening a new fried chicken restaurant in Dalston.

Shortlist for 2015 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards announced

17-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The shortlist has been unveiled for the 2015 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.

Great British Pub Awards 2015 open for entries

16-Apr-2015 By Jo Bruce

The search is now on for the best pubs in Britain in the Great British Pub Awards 2015, organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Hospitality industry shamed over gender pay gap

16-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Women working in the hospitality and catering sector were on average paid 18 per cent less than their male co-workers in 2014, according to research from reed.co.uk

Hospitality employers and staff encouraged to enter VQ Day vocational awards

16-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality businesses are being encouraged to enter The VQ Employer of the Year Award 2015, which recognises the promotion of the value of vocational qualifications in the workplace.

Strong Easter sales help bolster flat March across pub and restaurant groups

16-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Like-for-like sales rose 5.1 per cent over the Easter weekend at pub and restaurant groups, helping to overcome a flat March according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker figures.

Government must act on apprenticeship schemes, says leading hotel director

16-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

A leading independent hotel group is calling on the government to increase its focus on apprenticeship schemes.

Longshot Country Inns to open seventh Bel & The Dragon

16-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Longshot Country Inns will open its seventh site under its Bel & The Dragon brand, in Kingsclere, Hampshire, next month.

Government must act on apprenticeships, says leading hotel director

15-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

A leading independent hotel group is calling on the government to increase its focus on apprenticeship schemes.

Ossett Brewery opening CANDLEBAR at Leeds' Granary Wharf

15-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Ossett brewery is opening a new canal side venue at Leeds’ Granary Wharf following a £300,000 investment.

Eleven foodservice sites open at Broadgate Circle

15-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Eleven new foodservice outlets including Yauatcha and Jose' Pizarro Tapas Bar & Restaurant have opened today (15 April) as part of the £20m Broadgate Circle development in The City.

BUSINESS PREVIEW

Mark Sargeant: Duke William pub to be 'accessible to all'

15-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Mark Sargeant is planning for his first pub - The Duke William - to be an accessible and welcoming environment where customers will be able to order 'simple pub food done well' alongside local ales, drinks and bar snacks.

Zerodegrees founder: 'now's the time to expand'

14-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Bar, restaurant and microbrewery business Zerodegrees has set plans into place for expansion this year with locations along the M4 corridor its focus for new sites.

Consumers eating-out more but spending less

13-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Consumer spending in restaurants rose 17 per cent year-on-year in first quarter of 2015, though average transaction values fell, according to the latest Barclaycard consumer spending report.

Employee of the month: How internal competitions help motivate staff

13-Apr-2015 By Joe Lutrario

Internal competitions are a crucial tool to motivate staff within all levels of a business and can also be used to drive menu development and promote sales of certain items.

Shortage of skilled chefs and hospitality staff worsened in March

10-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Staff shortages in the hotel and catering sector worsened in March 2015 with chefs singled out as remaining in demand, according to a monthly job report by The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG published today (9 April).

Value conscious consumers shunning independent outlets in favour of chains

08-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

Diners are shunning independent restaurants in favour of better perceived value and quality of food at larger casual dining chains, according to new research by NPD Group.

VisitEngland reveals finalists of 2015 Awards for Excellence

08-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

VisitEngland has revealed the list of finalists for the 2015 Awards for Excellence.

Hospitality named one of the most sociable industries to work in

07-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

The hospitality industry has been named as one of the most sociable industries to work in with almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed saying they see colleagues socially at least once a month.

Business Profile: The Seafood Pub Company

07-Apr-2015 By Stefan Chomka

The Seafood Pub Company is on track to grow to 20 sites in the coming years. Founder Joycelyn Neve talks about how she is making waves with her fish-led group.

Beyond maple syrup: Why more Canadian food could be making it onto UK menus

07-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

While their American cousins have enjoyed a broadening popularity on UK menus, Canada’s cuisine has remained largely off the mainstream radar.

Center Parcs UK plans opening of first park in Ireland

02-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Center Parcs UK has announced plans to open its first holiday village in Ireland after signing an option agreement with state forestry company Coillte.

Are micro-stays the next big hotel trend?

02-Apr-2015 By Sophie Witts

With the UK hotel sector set to see continued growth in to 2016, an increasing number of operators are beginning to use hourly micro-stays to maximise occupancy and monetise empty rooms during the day.

Jam Tree group to launch dim sum and cocktail bar Fu Manchu

02-Apr-2015 By Emma Eversham

Gastropub group The Jam Tree is opening a late night dim sum and cocktail bar which takes inspiration from Sax Rohmer's Chinese master criminal Fu Manchu.