Casual Dining

Hakkasan plans 15 restaurants and hotel in the UK

28-Jan-2015 By Ruth Williams

International hospitality group Hakkasan is looking to more than double its estate in 2015 with the opening of 15 new restaurants across its portfolio of brands, including a new concept called Ling Ling.

Franco Manca & Crab Tavern take London’s Broadgate Circle scheme close to capacity

27-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A £20m retail redevelopment in London’s Square Mile is now almost fully pre-let after three restaurants took units on long-term leases.

People 1st calls for more higher education training in wake of manager skills shortfall

27-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

People 1st has called for higher education to play a greater role in addressing the future management needs of the hospitality sector, after it claimed the industry will need 66,000 more managers by 2020.

Sandals seeks UK chefs for growing restaurant portfolio

27-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Luxury Caribbean resort operator Sandals has started a recruitment drive for skilled chefs to work within its growing restaurant portfolio as it looks to 'offer guests the most comprehensive dining experience possible'.

World Pastry Cup 2015: UK team comes 6th

27-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The UK team competing in the World Pastry Cup (Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie) took sixth place at the final in Lyon yesterday, the highest result for the UK in the history of the competition.

The Sportsman named top UK gastropub

26-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The Sportsman, in Seasalter, Kent, was been voted the best gastropub in the country by a select band of influential industry experts.

New Moon Pub Co continues on expansion trail with first site in Liverpool

26-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

North-west operator New Moon Pub Company has secured its first Liverpool site and its seventh in total.

Debrett's 500: Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton among food & drink's most influential

26-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Chefs Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton along with restaurateurs Russell Norman and Alan Yau have made a list of the 500 most influential people in Britain according to The Peerage publisher Debrett's.

Fall in unemployed 16 – 18 year olds

26-Jan-2015 By Ruth Williams

The number of 16 – 18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) has fallen to 148,000 out the population of two million but it is still behind other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) according...

Pubs of Distinction acquires Camden pub

23-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs of Distinction has acquired its fourth London-based venue as it continues to grow its portfolio of ‘local beer houses’

Sandra Kelly of Whitbread on plugging the skills gap in hospitality

23-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sandra Kelly, head of education at Whitbread, suggests ways the hospitality sector can best address its skills shortage.

UK regions feel benefit of overseas visitor growth

22-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

UK regions saw faster growth in overseas visits than London last year, although the capital enjoyed the biggest uplift in tourism spend, according to new analysis from VisitBritain.

Feeling valued is top priority for third of hospitality workers

22-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Two thirds of hospitality workers believe it is important to feel passionate about a job while a third think feeling valued is a top priority, a survey looking into employee motivation has found.

Team UK turns to crowdfunding to improve Bocuse d'Or chances

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Chefs competing in the UK team for this year's Bocuse d'Or have launched a crowdfunding campaign to improve their chances in the global competition.

PRODUCT NEWS

Orderella wins Star Product at The Hospitality Show

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Orderella, the cashless app which allows customers to order drinks and food from their smartphones, has been named Star Product at this year's Hospitality Show. 

Village London founder to open European brasserie

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Village London co-founder Clive Watson will open European brasserie Blixen in Spitalfields next month.

McVeigh to open seventh Draft House

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Publican Charlie McVeigh will open his seventh Draft House pub on Shepherds Bush Road in Hammersmith next month.

2015 World Pastry Cup: UK team ready for action

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

As the final countdown to the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie begins, UK team captain Barry Johnson has told BigHospitality he has a ‘positive outlook’ on their chance of success.

Labour children's food plan: Concerns of additional bureaucracy for hospitality

19-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Industry bodies have warned politicians against creating additional bureaucracy for the hospitality sector after Labour outlined plans to make high levels of fat, sugar and salt in children’s food illegal under the party's administration. 

Police appeal for information on missing hotel night manager

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Members of the hospitality industry are being asked to get in touch with police over the disappearance of a hotel night manager. 

The Burlington Restaurant gains four AA rosettes

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Burlington Restaurant at The Devonshire Arms Hotel in Bolton Abbey is celebrating after receiving four rosettes in the AA's latest round up of inspections. 

Employers raise concerns over Government direct apprenticeship funding plans

14-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The Government has conceded “further design work” is necessary in its bid to give employers direct control of apprenticeship funding after a public consultation raised concerns over cost and extra paperwork.

Bristol's hospitality businesses pledge to create 1,000 work opportunities

14-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hotel, restaurant and pub owners in Bristol have pledged to create 1,000 work opportunities for job seekers after attending the Big Hospitality Conversation.

General election 2015: what it could mean for hospitality

14-Jan-2015 By Melodie Michel & Noli Dinkovski

The outcome of the general election on 7 May is the most unpredictable in decades, but the main political parties are starting to set out policies that could affect the hospitality sector. 

Coffee and wine specialist Notes to open three new sites

13-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Coffee and wine specialist Notes will open two new full-service sites and a grab-and-go site in London this year as it looks to broaden the reach of its unique concept across the capital. 

VisitEngland predicts creation of 500,000 tourism jobs in next decade

13-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

VisitEngland has added further weight to the view that UK tourism will continue to boom by claiming that more than half a million new tourism jobs will be created over the next decade.

London restaurant and bar groups report record Christmas sales

13-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

London-based restaurant and pub operators, including D&D London and Capital Pub Company have reported record trading figures over the Christmas period.

FARM FRITES DEVELOPMENT CHEF CLUB

James Moyle-Rosser: Braised ox cheek with pancetta infused mash and bourguignon sauce

13-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

In the fourth of our videos from The Farm Frites Development Chef Food Forum, James Moyle-Rosser, executive chef at pub group Whiting & Hammond talks us through how he makes braised ox cheek with pancetta infused mash and bourguignon sauce.

Eating out sector returns to growth but uncertainties remain, says Horizons

12-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Trading in the eating out sector is back in growth but remains a long way off peak 2008 levels, foodservice consultancy Horizons has found.

Delicious Dining to open £1m tapas restaurant in Southampton

12-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Hospitality group Delicious Dining has revealed plans to open its first tapas-style restaurant costing almost £1m. 

Chef Josh Eggleton among speakers at next Big Hospitality Conversation

09-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton will be among guest speakers encouraging young jobseekers to pursue a career in the hospitality and tourism industry when he addresses delegates at the Big Hospitality Conversation (BHC) on Tuesday (January 13).

Recruitment agencies report growing demand for hospitality staff

09-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Demand for both permanent and temporary staff within the hospitality sector rose at the end of last year according to a survey of 400 recruitment consultants.

Festive cheer: Christmas 2014 a profitable one for restaurant and bar groups

08-Jan-2015 By Patrick McGuigan

Restaurants and bars performed well over Christmas and New Year, according to analysts, with some of the country’s major groups reporting bumper sales.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Optimising energy efficiency in the restaurant industry

08-Jan-2015 By Har Amrit Pal Singh Dhillon

Energy usage is one of the largest outgoing costs for a restaurant operator. However, this can be reduced without any equipment upgrades or overhauls. Har Amrit Pal Singh (HAPS) Dhillon of Wipro EcoEnergy explains.

Restaurants get innovative to drive January sales

07-Jan-2015 By Patrick McGuigan

Restaurants across the country are launching increasingly innovative promotions to beat the post-Christmas slump and attract customers during the traditionally quiet month of January.

Refreshed calls to cut VAT now tourism is 'important export industry'

07-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Cut Tourism VAT, the campaign set up to put pressure on the Government to lower the VAT rate for tourism and hospitality businesses in the UK to 5 per cent, is calling for politicians to think again about changing the rate now tourism has been dubbed...

PRODUCT NEWS

Tetley offers food pairing advice with Mood Infusions range

07-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Tetley has launched a new caffeine-free Mood Infusions range of teabags, a selection of blends inspired by popular fruit and herbal flavours but with a unique twist, for foodservice operators. 

All Star Lanes to expand after appointing Christian Rose MD

06-Jan-2015 By Patrick McGuigan

Bowling, dining and bar concept All Star Lanes (ASL) is set for expansion after appointing former Searcy’s and Chicago Leisure boss Christian Rose as managing director.

Political parties urged to support hospitality in election year

06-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Political parties are being urged to support the hospitality industry during the election year and recognize the important role it plays in the economy.

FARM FRITES DEVELOPMENT CHEF CLUB

James Petrie: Tart of Flowers with muscat grape sorbet and lovage ice cream

05-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

In the third of our videos from the Farm Frites Development Chef Food Forum, chef James 'Jocky' Petrie, head of development at The Ledbury talks through how he makes the restaurant's Tart of Flowers with muscat grape sorbet and lovage ice...

Springboard: Offer ‘meaningful’ work experience to inspire future workforce

05-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Employment charity Springboard is urging hospitality employers to make work experience ‘high quality and meaningful’ to help inspire the workforce of the future.

2015 to be record year for UK tourism and hospitality

05-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The forthcoming year is expected to be a record one for the UK’s tourism and hospitality industries with spend from overseas visitors forecast to reach £22 billion for the first time. 

Hospitality design trends for 2015

05-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Are you seeking out a new look for the New Year? Or opening a new venue? BigHospitality spoke to some of the UK’s hottest interior designers to get their top tips on the big trends set to hit hospitality in 2015.

Top cocktail trends for 2015

05-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

The UK has seen an unprecedented cocktail boom over recent years, and the category is set to outpace the drinks market in 2015. With this in mind, BigHospitality has compiled a list of the hottest cocktail trends for the year ahead.

BigHospitality's 2014 review: our top 10 stories

23-Dec-2014 By Carina Perkins

As the year pulls to a close, BigHospitality looks back at some of the biggest stories of the year – from Noma stealing back the title of World’s Best Restaurant to floods, beer duty and Tom Kerridge's long-awaited second pub.

Hospitality lags behind on loyalty

23-Dec-2014 By Carina Perkins

Hospitality brands are falling behind retailers when it comes to loyalty schemes, according to a new survey.

Beer sales bounce back at expense of cider

22-Dec-2014 By Carina Perkins

UK beer sales have bounced back after five consecutive years of decline, according to the latest research from Mintel.

BHA calls for political change in 2015

22-Dec-2014 By Carina Perkins

The chief executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), Ufi Ibrahim, has called on the hospitality industry to continue to push for policy change next year.

Eating out spend continues to rise

22-Dec-2014 By Carina Perkins

Eating out continued to outperform the overall leisure market last month, with families in particular spending more on meals at pubs and restaurants.

The BHA joins with PACE for 2015 forum

19-Dec-2014 By Lauren Houghton

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has joined forces with the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) for this year’s PACE Learning & Development Forum.