Casual Dining

2012 tourist figures: Inbound visitors spend £19bn in UK in Olympic year

14-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Inbound tourism contributed £19bn to the UK economy in 2012 as 31 million international tourists flocked here for the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have shown. 

Horsemeat scandal: How can foodservice operators avoid the fallout?

14-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

With the Government currently investigating how horsemeat has made it into processed beef products, restaurant, hotel and pub owners are being urged to take extra steps to know the provenance of the produce they are using to avoid being embroiled in future...

Running successful pubs ‘isn’t hard’, says London licensee

14-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The owner of the Princess of Shoreditch pub in East London has claimed that running a pub in the current climate isn’t difficult, and that the reason so many pubs are closing across the UK is because they’re being run by people that ‘don’t know what they’re...

McCormick creates Schwartz Grill Mates for foodservice

14-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

With grilled dishes now having a greater presence on menus, McCormick has decided to make its Schwartz Grill Mates range of seasonings available for foodservice. 

Fleet Street Kitchen set for Birmingham debut

13-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Town & Country Inns is set to launch Fleet Street Kitchen, a new ‘farm to fork’ British restaurant featuring a Barbacoa open-fire grill, which will sit alongside the bar operator’s Après and Mechu outlets in Birmingham’s Summerrow development.   

Tri-star packaging launches portable ice bucket

13-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Tri-Star Packaging has added a portable ice bucket to its PortaBrands range of out-of-home drinks carriers, which it says could help operators drive sales of Champagne, wine and beer at outdoor events and venues this summer. 

Britain’s Best Pub: Camra’s National Pub of the Year revealed

13-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The Baum in Rochdale, Lancashire, has today been crowned the best pub in Britain by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) in its National Pub of the Year competition.

Gleneagles restaurant supervisor Rebecca Dibben wins first Gold Service Scholarship

13-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Rebecca Dibben, restaurant supervisor at Deseo Mediterranean Restaurant at Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, has won the first Gold Service Scholarship after wowing judges with her 'charm, enthusiasm and technical skill'.

Food and drink sales at railway stations continue to rise

12-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Food and drink sales at railway stations are continuing to rise faster than those on the high street according to the latest figures from Network Rail, who says that the areas now provide operators with some of the most lucrative trading environments...

Four exotic flavours launched by fruit juice brand Sunmagic

12-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Fruit juice brand Sunmagic has added four new flavours to its range - Mango, Pomegranate, Passion Fruit and Pineapple and Coconut - which it says take it into a more 'exotic arena'. 

Business confidence hits new low, BHA remains optimistic for hospitality

11-Feb-2013

Confidence among UK businesses has hit its lowest level in at least 21 years but the hospitality industry has 'reason to be confident’ as one of the few sectors planning for growth and creating jobs.

City Pub Company ploughs on with EIS-funded expansion

11-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

City Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)-funded pub operator established by the team behind the Capital Pub Company, has unveiled plans to raise a further £10m to expand its estate of ‘individual’ pubs across the South of England.

Plusfood introduces three chicken wing flavours

11-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Poultry supplier Plusfood has introduced three flavoured chicken wing products to its range designed for busy caterers who want to cook freshly prepared meals to order. 

Nightclubs ‘easy target’ for high crime rates, says Luminar boss

08-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Peter Marks, chief executive of nightclub operator Luminar, has claimed that late-night venues have become an ‘easy target’ for local authorities and the police when it comes to reducing crime rates, as an increase in phone thefts is shadowing a significant...

Tom Kitchin to open Edinburgh pub restaurant with Castle Terrace's Dominic Jack

08-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Tom Kitchin, chef proprietor of Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant The Kitchin, is to open a pub restaurant in the Scottish capital with fellow chef Dominic Jack.

Mövenpick to launch Macadamia Dulce de Leche ice cream

08-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Swiss ice cream brand Mövenpick has taken inspiration from the cuisine of Oceania and added a new flavour to its gourmet range - Macadamia Dulce de Leche.

Rupert Clevely steps down as Geronimo Inns managing director

07-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Young's has announced Rupert Clevely is to stand down as the managing director of Geronimo Inns and will take up a non-executive role with the brewer and pubco which plans to open three or four new Geronimo pubs this year.

La Tasca 'de-brands' first site for new independent restaurant arm

07-Feb-2013 By Joe Lutrario

Spanish casual-dining group La Tasca has de-branded an under-performing site, the first in a planned division of ‘independent’ restaurants that won’t be directly associated with the 42-strong group.

UK's first Starbucks franchise opens at former Little Chef site

07-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Coffee chain Starbucks has opened its first UK site under franchise on the site of a former Little Chef restaurant in Hampshire. 

Punch Taverns reveals business restructuring options

07-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Leased and tenanted pubco Punch Taverns has revealed the business restructuring options it is hoping to pursue as soon as possible in order to reduce its debt payments. 

Zwilling launches TruClad range of pans designed for induction cooking

07-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Catering equipment manufacturer Zwilling J.A. Henckels has launched the TruClad range of pans which have been designed specifically for use with induction hobs.

Fine-dining restaurant and Harbourside restaurant & bar hit the market in Bristol

06-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

A 56-cover fine-dining restaurant and a 30-metre barge housing a restaurant, bar and live music venue – both in Bristol - have today been put up for sale.

Hospitality Guild calls on employers to Act NOW! on apprenticeships

06-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The Hospitality Guild has launched a new apprenticeship campaign to raise employers’ and learners’ awareness of the career development opportunities offered by apprenticeships, in a bid to help 20,000 young people gain paid employment in hotels, restaurants...

TOZI Restaurant & Bar brings cicchetti to London Victoria

05-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Venetian-inspired restaurant and bar TOZI is set to open its doors in London’s Victoria next month as the first of several destination-led restaurant and bars planned for for the PPHE Hotel Group, independent of its hotel brands.

London restaurants urged to offer healthier kids meals

05-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

The Manor Arms pub in Streatham has been voted the best of the capital's eateries for healthy kids meals but other operators in the capital have been urged to do more to improve their children's menus.

The National Chef of the Year: Search for the 2013 winner begins

05-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

The Craft Guild of Chefs has announced it has begun its search for The National Chef of the Year 2013 with organisers keen to attract a diverse range of entrants from all sectors of the industry.

Studio William ‘reinvents’ steak knife with non-serrated Meat Blade

05-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

British cutlery company Studio William has claimed to have ‘reinvented’ the steak knife with the launch of the non-serrated Meat Blade.

Kornicis takes Jamies Wine Bar & Restaurant to London’s West End

05-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

London-focused bar and restaurant group Kornicis has acquired the former La Tasca site on St Martins Lane for what will be the first West End outpost for its Jamies Wine Bar and Restaurant brand.

Ping Pong founder to open Nikkei restaurant in London's Soho

04-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Kurt Zdesar, the founder of dim sum chain Ping Pong, has announced plans to open a restaurant in London's Soho this autumn that will focus on serving Nikkei cuisine, the fusion of Japanese cooking with Peruvian ingredients. 

Marriott Hotels, Wahaca and Devon's Cafe-ODE among winners at Sustainable Restaurant Awards 2013

04-Feb-2013 By Emma Eversham

Marriott Hotels, Wahaca and Cafe-ODE in Devon are among the 14 businesses and individuals who have been rewarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) in the second year of its awards.

Crowne Plaza London - The City to launch destination bar Voltaire

04-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

The team behind Blackfriars hotel Crowne Plaza London - The City are set to relaunch the hotel bar as a destination Champagne bar - Voltaire.

Futura Foods launches foodservice range of Greek cheeses

04-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Specialty cheese importer Futura Foods has made its Yamas! range of Greek specialty cheeses available to restaurants and foodservice buyers for the first time.

Hospitality administrations drop to lowest level in five years

01-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The number of UK hotels, restaurants and bars falling into administration has dropped to the lowest amount in five years, indicating 'recovery in the hospitality sector and resilience to the wider economic woes'.

The Beer Story: BBPA premieres film celebrating brewing and pub industry

01-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has premiered a new film which showcases the UK brewing and pub industry in a bid to promote calls for a freeze in the controversial beer duty escalator.

Rebecca Mascarenhas: Career Profile

01-Feb-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Rebecca Mascarenhas is best known as a restaurateur who, behind the scenes, has been an instrumental partner in some of London's leading neighbourhood restaurants - Sonny's Kitchen, Kitchen W8 and Sam's Brasserie - but the entrepreneur...

Hospitality businesses caught up in mis-selling scandal with high street banks

31-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

An estimated 8,000 hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK could be entitled to big compensation pay-outs after being mis-sold complex insurance deals offered by the banks to protect against rising interest rates.

The Huxley bar & restaurant opens in Edinburgh’s Rutland Hotel

31-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Signature Pub Group, which operates a number of hospitality businesses across Scotland, has just opened the doors of The Huxley – a new bar and restaurant housed within the Rutland Hotel in Edinburgh.

The Big Hospitality Conversation: Businesses urged to make job creation pledge

30-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Tackling youth unemployment through work placements, apprenticeships and new job opportunities will be the focal point of the Big Conversation for Hospitality taking place next Friday (8 February) on behalf of the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

The A-Z of Pubs and Bars

30-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

While publicans might not be faced with as baffling a list of acronyms as hoteliers or as driven by fashion as some restaurateurs, our handy A-Z glossary of key industry terms and trends is a must-read for those looking to make a few pounds from a few...

Goat in Boots to re-launch as GOAT restaurant & cocktail bar

30-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

After a three-month closure, the Goat and Boots pub in London’s Fulham Road is set to re-launch this spring as GOAT - a new 140-cover restaurant, cocktail bar and all-day lounge.

Punch supports pub licensees with BII Apprenticeship

30-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Pub giant Punch Taverns has partnered with hospitality training provider Charnwood to deliver the BIIBAB Level 2 Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality as part of the leased pub company’s bid to help its employees build their careers in the trade.

Pubs 'n' Bars sites put up for sale

29-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The administrators of the Pubs ‘n’ Bars group have put 20 pubs up for sale, at a combined value of around £6.25m.

Social media remains ‘missed opportunity’ for hospitality businesses

29-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

More than one in 10 hotels, restaurants and pubs now generate up to half of all sales through social media, leaving the rest of the industry ‘missing a trick’ when it comes to maximising the potential of the likes of Facebook and Twitter.

The A-Z of Restaurants

28-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The restaurant sector is a busy place, full of operators large and small, formal and casual, corporate and independent, high-end and mainstream, which can make it hard to define. Here in our A-Z guide we summarise it in just 26 words, explaining some...

Gordon Ramsay: 2012 'best year' for restaurant group

28-Jan-2013 By Emma Eversham

Restaurant group Gordon Ramsay Holdings has reported that 2012 was its 'best year to date' having returned to profit after two challenging years for the business.

BBPA demands action on tax hikes as beer sales continue to drop

25-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the Government to act on debilitating beer tax hikes after new figures revealed beer sales fell by 6.2 per cent in the last three months of 2012.

Young's re-launches Wheatsheaf pub after three-year closure

24-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The Wheatsheaf pub in London’s Borough Market has re-opened after a three-year closure and ‘complete overhaul’ by owner Young’s. 

Pubs to pasties: Roger Whiteside leaves Punch Taverns to become Greggs chief executive

24-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Leased pub company Punch Taverns has revealed its chief executive Roger Whiteside has handed in his resignation notice and will step down from the board on 1 February to take up the chief executive position at pastry chain Greggs.

On and off the menu: What fish is safe to serve?

24-Jan-2013 By Emma Eversham

With fish charity the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) making updates to its Fish to Eat list, downgrading previously sustainable and popular fish mackerel and gurnard, we take a closer look at what fish and seafood it does and doesn't recommend...

Antic Limited pubs for sale after unpaid HMRC bill forces administration

23-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Antic Limited, which operates leaseholds on 14 pubs in London, has been placed into administration due to an unresolved tax bill; parent company Antic, which operates a further 24 sites, is thought to be unaffected.