Casual Dining

Hotels, restaurants and pubs - and Boris Johnson - have supported National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week 2014: Hospitality leads the way

By Luke Nicholls

As the seventh annual National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, BigHospitality has heard from an array of hotels, restaurants and pubs - and even Boris Johnson – all pledging their support for the initiative.

A third of pub owners (32 per cent) said they would focus on improving their food offer in the next year

Customers want additional food occasions at pubs

By Mark Wingett

More than half (54%) of pub customers would visit a pub more often if it provided additional food occasions, and 20% would stay longer, new research from him! suggests.

Interstate continues to pursue UK expansion

Interstate continues to pursue UK expansion

By Carina Perkins

US hotel management company Interstate Hotels & Resorts has secured management contracts for two ibis budget hotels, boosting its UK hotel portfolio to 49.

Young British Foodie Awards 2014

Young British Foodie Awards 2014

The search is back on for the UK’s most innovative food and drink enthusiasts, with the Young British Foodie Awards 2014 now open for entries.

London set to lead European serviced apartment expansion

London set to lead European serviced apartment expansion

By Carina Perkins

Europe’s serviced apartment supply is set to increase 50 per cent by 2016, with operators stepping up competition with hotels by targeting the short stay market and London expected to lead the charge.

Hospitality thrives in London's West End

Hospitality thrives in London's West End

By Carina Perkins

Hospitality businesses in London’s West End enjoyed strong trading last year, but competition for prime retail space could hamper future expansion, according to a new report.

Apprenticeship programmes vastly oversubscribed, finds report

Apprenticeship programmes vastly oversubscribed, finds report

By Carina Perkins

As National Apprenticeship Week kicks off, a new study has revealed that demand for apprenticeships is outstripping supply in England, and boosting the number of apprentices would provide a £4bn a year boost to the economy.

Hotels, restaurants and pubs - and even Government Ministers - are supporting National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week: Hospitality industry unites

By Luke Nicholls

It's National Apprenticeship Week and hospitality businesses large and small have been pledging their support for the initiative which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on the UK economy.

The nation’s beer lovers drank nearly 33 million more pints of local beer than in 2012

2014 beer duty cut: Benefits clear for independent brewers

By Luke Nicholls

The argument to once again scrap the controversial beer duty escalator in next month’s Budget has been bolstered by the fact that the local brewing sector is now ‘thriving’ following last year’s cut. 

Frankie & Benny's delivered significant increases in turnover, EBITDA and profit in 2013

TRG targets 43 new restaurants in 2014 as profits rise

By Luke Nicholls

The Restaurant Group (TRG), owner of the Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito, Garfunkel’s and Coast to Coast restaurant brands, plans to open 36-43 new sites this year after delivering ‘another strong performance’ across its estate in 2013.

London’s King's Cross Station has seen retail sales increased by 26 per cent

Restaurants and pubs outperform retail at train stations

By Luke Nicholls

As the intense competition for prime, city-centre sites continues to spread into transport hubs across the UK, new figures released today reveal that restaurants, pubs and bars in Network Rail-owned train stations are now outperforming retail units. 

Tech-ing the lead: CitizenM hotel in London places technology at the heart of the customer experience

Customer-focused technology: High-tech hospitality in action

By Luke Nicholls

For the final part of our technology special feature, BigHospitality checked in at one of the country’s most high-tech hotels to bring you an exclusive video report on the business benefits of customer-focused technology.

Teching advantage: All-in-one apps can be targetted at customers before, during and after their visit

Customer-focused technology: Complete control

By Luke Nicholls

So you’ve enticed your customer with an efficient mobile booking service and wowed them with portable EPoS devices and super-fast Wi-Fi. In the third part of this special feature, we look at how you can use technology to encourage that customer to visit...

Customer-focused technology: Smart experiences

Customer-focused technology: Smart experiences

By Carina Perkins

In the second of our three-part focus on technology in hospitality, we look at how mobile technology can be used to improve customer experience from the moment they walk in the door.

Customer focused technology: Going mobile

Customer focused technology: Going mobile

By Carina Perkins

Mobile technology offers the chance to completely revolutionise the customer experience, with clear benefits for business. In the first of this three-part focus on technology in hospitality, we look at the meteoric rise of mobile, and how operators can...

Moving on up: 90 per cent of business executives are optimistic about the year ahead

2014 confidence boost for UK restaurants and pubs

By Luke Nicholls

The UK casual dining and pub sectors are brimming with confidence, with nine out of 10 business executives either ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ optimistic for the year ahead. 

How to maximise trade from overseas visitors

Ask the Expert

How to maximise trade from overseas visitors

By Dave Hobday

More overseas visitors are coming to the UK than ever before, and their rich new cultures are changing the shape of the UK events calendar. Here, Dave Hobday, managing director of WorldPay UK, argues that the hospitality industry must up its game, offering...

Honest Burgers’ Tom Barton and BrewDog’s James Watt want to tap in on the beer and food matching trend

BrewDog and Honest Burger create ‘BrewBurger’

By Luke Nicholls

Scottish-based independent brewer BrewDog and London restaurant business Honest Burgers have joined forces to launch a new product which taps in on two of Britain’s biggest food and drink trends – burgers and craft beer. 

Londoners splashing out on more expensive wine

Londoners splashing out on more expensive wine

By Carina Perkins

London diners are searching out more expensive wine, but Leeds restaurants sell more champagne than those in the capital, according to research from restaurant group D&D.

PACE and People 1st unveil plans for 2014 conference

PACE and People 1st unveil plans for 2014 conference

By Noli Dinkovski

The Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) and sector skills council People 1st have unveiled details of their second annual joint learning and development forum to help employers tackle the issues facing the hospitality sector.

Young’s completed the £300k refurbishment of Horts in Bristol late last year

Work that experience: The changing face of customer loyalty

By Mark Wingett

Consumers have become ‘value hunters’ and are increasingly willing to go extra lengths to get the best deal, making it more important than ever to build the relationship that will create brand loyalty. But with this loyalty comes further expectations...

Raymond Blanc and Brasserie Bar Co's chief executive Mark Derry

Brasserie Bar Co secures £13.5m of new funding

By Mark Wingett

Brasserie Bar Co, the owner of the Brasserie Blanc chain and White Brasserie Company, has secured £13.5m of new funding to support the expansion of the group by at least 20 new sites over the next three years

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