Casual Dining

Parents of pre-schoolers say restaurants, pubs and cafes are failing to cater for children

17-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

The majority of parents of children of pre-school age say high street restaurants, pubs and cafes are failing to cater for their needs with almost two thirds saying they refuse to eat out with their families at venues that don't offer children's...

Champagne + Fromage to expand to Brixton Village

17-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

Champagne + Fromage, the grower Champagne and cheese specialist which opened its first shop and restaurant in Covent Garden two years ago, is to open a site in Brixton Village this autumn. 

Personal licences: Should they be scrapped?

17-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The Government has this month launched a consultation into whether personal licences should be abolished, enabling licensing authorities to apply relevant conditions to premises licences where appropriate. 

Who lets the dogs in? Survey reveals lack of awareness of access issues for the deaf

17-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

As more than 80 per cent of people with guide dogs have been denied access on the high street, a new business guide has been issued to help hotels, restaurants and pubs understand what they must do to comply with their legal obligations.

Amber Taverns ramps up expansion plans with £27.5m funding deal

16-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Amber Taverns, the Lancashire-based community pub operator, is set to acquire around 30 more sites over the next three years after agreeing a major funding deal with Lloyds Bank.

Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2013: Winners revealed

16-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Tramshed, Kitchen Table and the Atrium Champagne Bar were among the UK winners of the 2013 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, held last week in London.

Great British Pub Awards 2013: Winners revealed

13-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The Red Lion Inn, based in Cricklade, Wiltshire, has been crowned the BT Sport Great British Pub of the Year at the 2013 Great British Pub Awards.

Return of the ‘brewsters’: Female brewers reinvigorate real ale market

12-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The number of women involved in Britain’s thriving brewing industry is on the rise, with many opening their own breweries in response to a growing interest in ales.  

Good Beer Guide 2014: Pub of the Year finalists revealed

12-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The 16 regional finalists of Camra’s Pub of the Year competition have been announced today, marking the launch of the 2014 Good Beer Guide. 

Robson brothers to open Austrian 'schnitzel & spritz' restaurant Boopshi's in London

12-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

Brothers Ed and Ben Robson are set to open their first hospitality business in London this autumn, a Viennese inspired restaurant called Boopshi's that will specialise in schnitzels and spritz cocktails. 

Good Beer Guide 2014 raises a glass to Britain's brewery boom

12-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The past 12 months have seen a ‘boom’ in the growth of the brewing industry, with the opening of 187 new breweries taking the number of regularly brewed British beers to over 5200.

2013's hot summer continued to boost food sales at restaurants and pubs

11-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

The hot summer weather continued to boost trade at the UK's restaurants and pubs according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker, which shows a like-for-like growth of 1.9 per cent in August compared to the same month the previous year.

Spirit doubles up on Premium Pub offering

10-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Following the successful launch of The George on Havestock Hill in London earlier in the year. Spirit Pub Company is opening a second venue under its ‘Premium Pub’ concept next week having extensively and refurbished of one of its sites in Richmond.

In the black: Quality coffee could hold the key to customer retention for pubs

09-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Pubs are increasingly realising the importance of coffee for their business, with national operators now selling more of the hot beverage than high street coffee shops. However, a ‘quality’ cup is apparently still hard to find in the licensed trade as...

Hot summer becomes 'long dry drought' for pubs and restaurants

09-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

The hot summer turned into a 'long dry drought' for the on-trade according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association's (WSTA) latest Market Report, which shows that alcohol sales at restaurants and pubs have fallen six per cent in the...

Drinks supplies at risk as delivery workers plan strike

06-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Unite Union members at Kuehne & Nagel Drinks Logistics (KNDL) are planning to strike for 24 hours next week over jobs and working conditions, leaving drinks supplies to some of the UK’s largest pub companies at risk.

Spirit follows US route with new Fayre & Square food offering

06-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Fayre & Square, the 157-strong family pub offering from Spirit Pub Company, is the latest brand to tap into the rising popularity of American food concepts with the launch of its new autumn menu.

IT ‘stitch-up’: Hospitality managers misled with long agreements and hidden costs

05-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The majority of hospitality business managers believe they have been ‘misled’ by IT suppliers and are now saddled with upfront and on-going spiralling costs which were not transparent from the beginning.

Hoxley and Porter: Cocktail and dining ‘adventure’ arrives in Islington

04-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Hoxley and Porter, a new restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by ‘Victorian gentlemen's clubs, Colonial Poirot, Egyptian noir, and surrealist jungles’, is opening in Islington this month.

Oslo: restaurant, bar and live music venue coming to Hackney

04-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

DHP Family, the bar operator and live music promotions company, has secured its first site in London with the leasehold acquisition of the 7,000 sq.ft former station building in Hackney.

Punch ploughs ahead with restructuring plans as year profit set to meet expectations

03-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Pub and bar operator Punch Taverns is now embarking on its plans to restructure the business, having this morning reported an increase in like-for-like net income towards the end of the year. 

BII unites with Hospitality Guild to boost pub career prospects

03-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The British Institute of Inneekping (BII) has joined forces with the Hospitality Guild to introduce a clearer, more structured career pathway for pub employees, with an underlying aim of highlighting the credibility of hospitality as a profession.

BigHospitality's Christmas planning guide: Make your festive season go with a bang

02-Sep-2013 By Emma Eversham

September has arrived, marking the end of the summer holidays and the inevitable hurtle towards the festive season.

Notting Hill nightclub Cherryjam to re-open as Shimmy

30-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Former Notting Hill nightclub Cherryjam will re-open in October as Shimmy with LoveBrunch duo Hugo Heathcote and Deji Carr hoping to take the venue 'back to its legendary musical roots of the noughties'. 

JD Wetherspoon launches American craft beer brewing initiative

30-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

JD Wetherspoon has invited selected craft brewers from America to produce their beers in the UK as part of a new initiative to capitalise on the UK's growing interest in craft beer.

The Good Pub Guide predicts loss of up to 4,000 pubs this year

29-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

The Good Pub Guide has predicted that between 2,500 and 4,000 pubs will go out of business over the next year because they have failed to keep up with rising standards across the industry.

The Olive Branch, Clipsham named The Good Pub Guide's Pub of the Year 2014

29-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

The Olive Branch in Clipsham has been named The Good Pub Guide's 2014 Pub of the Year for its quality service and 'sublime food'. 

Chef Jesse Dunford Wood takes on ownership of Parlour, Kensal Green

28-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Jesse Dunford Wood has taken on full ownership of Kensal Green gastropub Parlour after severing ties with the Perritt & Perritt group. 

Restaurants, hotels and pubs at busiest since 2007, yet profits fall sharply

27-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs have seen business volumes rise at their fastest rate since August 2007, according to the CBI's quarterly Service Sector Survey with further growth expected 'through this year and into next'. 

Texas Joe's beef jerky founder to open BBQ and craft beer restaurants

27-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Joe Walters, the entrepreneur behind the Texas Joe’s beef jerky brand whose investors include BrewDog co-founder James Watt, has said he hopes to open a chain of barbecue and craft beer restaurants nationwide after securing his first stand-alone site...

Searcys to re-launch Barbican restaurant as Gin Joint brasserie and bar

23-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Contract caterer Searcys is re-launching its restaurant at The Barbican next month as a brasserie and bar called Gin Joint. 

Warm weather offers August Bank Holiday trade boost for industry

23-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Predictions of warm weather for the August Bank Holiday, coupled with an already strong summer, have led to an increase in the number of Brits planning to take a trip in the UK over the weekend which could result in an industry trade boost of £1bn, says...

Copita and Barrica founder to open traditional Sherry tavern Drakes Tabanco

23-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Copita and Barrica founder Tim Luther and business partner Nigel Howell will open a traditional Sherry tavern in London this autumn with plans to 'reignite' the nation's thirst for the 'often misunderstood wines'. 

The Bavarian Beerhouse to open in Bristol, first outside London

22-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

A third branch of German beer, food and entertainment concept The Bavarian Beerhouse is set to open in Bristol this month as the company looks to expand outside its London heartland.

Consider hospitality for career, industry tells school leavers

22-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

School leavers picking up their GCSE results today have been urged to consider a career within hospitality with employers saying it ‘offers young people far more than just a salary’. 

Smith of Smithfields to re-launch The Luxe as SMITHS

22-Aug-2013 By Mark Wingett

Smiths of Smithfield is to launch a new all-day dining concept called SMITHS on the site of John Torode's former restaurant The Luxe in London’s Spitalfields Market next month.

Brakspear reports ‘busy and profitable’ year

22-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Leased and tenanted pubco Brakspear has today reported a strong set of annual financial results with turnover, pre-tax profit and draught beer and cider sales all up for the year ending 31 September 2012.

BII Licensee of the Year 2013 to mentor fellow publicans

21-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Ashley and Kelly McCarthy, co-owners of the freehold of the Ye Old Sun Inn in North Yorkshire and winners of the prestigious BII Licensee of the Year Award 2013, will be sharing the secrets of their success with fellow publicans as part of the BII’s ‘Business...

SRA report shows healthy dishes more important to diners than locally-sourced or organic

20-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

A report into consumer attitudes towards eating out has shown that diners now care more about whether restaurants offer healthy and nutritious dishes and deal with food waste effectively than if they serve locally-sourced or organic food.

Hospitality sector losing up to £37m in unreturned uniforms

20-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

The hospitality sector could be losing up to £37m per year because it is failing to recover uniforms and equipment from staff when they leave their jobs, says workwear specialist Alexandra.

Alan Yau to launch Chinese gastropub in Soho

20-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Wagamama and Hakkasan founder Alan Yau is planning to open a new Chinese gastropub concept in Soho, having acquired The Endurance Pub on Berwick Street.

Chefs with Altitude: Ashley Palmer-Watts and team arrive in Africa for Farm Africa Kilimanjaro climb

19-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Chefs Ashley Palmer-Watts, Paul Foster and John Freeman have arrived in Kenya with Bar Boulud senior maitre d' Paolo de Tarso ready for a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro which they hope will raise more than £50k for charity Farm Africa. 

Perceptions Group extends pre-employment scheme to chefs

19-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

Perceptions Group, the programme set up by bosses from across the pub sector to help train young people for careers within the industry, has extended its scheme to include chefs.

Pub of the Future: Wi-Fi crucial for attracting more young people, finds report

19-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

A report into the use of technology and marketing in pubs has found that members of ‘Generation Y’ are 67 per cent more likely than their elders to choose a pub offering Wi-Fi, yet the exact same percentage of venues still don’t offer any connectivity. 

Chameleon’s change of colours pays dividend

16-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Chameleon Bar & Dining, which operates six pubs across Yorkshire and Lancashire, has reported healthy annual accounts in the year to 31 March, with turnover up and margins improved following a shift of focus towards becoming ‘destination food venues’.

Hospitable Cities: Spotlight on Liverpool

16-Aug-2013 By Peter Ruddick

For years Liverpool was viewed from afar as the second-best city in the North West never mind being a destination in its own right, but in the last few years it has risen like a Liver bird from the flames due in part to its burgeoning hospitality scene.

FSA commissions research to help set sous vide cooking guidelines

15-Aug-2013 By Emma Eversham

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has commissioned research into sous vide cooking to help produce official guidelines for its use.

Chef Aaron Craze to open pub in Berkshire

15-Aug-2013 By Mark Wingett

TV chef and former Fifteen graduate Aaron Craze is to open his second pub after taking on a site in Berkshire, according to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Report.

Edinburgh Tourism Showcase helps hospitality businesses warm up for winter

15-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

As yesterday’s ‘Spotlight on Edinburgh’showed, tourism in the Scottish capital has been booming of late. But a brand new industry event - the Edinburgh Tourism Showcase – has been launched to help hospitality businesses prepare for the impending winter...

The Imperial loses its ‘Arms’ as new owners focus on food

15-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The ‘Arms’ are being removed from the Imperial Arms in Chelsea as the new owners of the popular King’s Road venue want to transform it from pub to restaurant.