Casual Dining

New hospitality apprenticeship scheme from De Vere Academy

23-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Young people looking to build a career in restaurants, hotels and pubs and bars will be able to get access to a new apprenticeship scheme from 1 February 2012, The De Vere Academy of Hospitality have announced.

Living Ventures to open seven sites in 2012 and roll out new Oast House concept

23-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

Restaurant and bar operator Living Ventures is planning to invest £8m in the opening of seven new sites next year as well as roll out a new pub concept called Oast House.

Career Profile: Peter Borg-Neal

23-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Gastropub entrepreneur Peter Borg-Neal is the brains behind the six-strong Oakman Inns & Restaurants, which was last month nominated for Best Pub Company at Restaurant magazine's R200 Awards. Having started his career as a cellar boy and also...

Chefs get more creative with Christmas menus this year as cost of ingredients rises 7%

22-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Many chefs are being forced to be more creative with Christmas menus to remain profitable this year as the latest food price index shows that the ingredients used in a traditional Christmas dinner have risen by an average of 7 per cent on last year.

Decline in pub drinking drives beer sales down

21-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

A decline in the number of people drinking in pubs has led to beer sales dropping by £2.2m this year, according to new data released by Mintel, although sales in restaurants rose slightly as the trend for matching beer with food grew..

Olympics style customer service training for thousands of hospitality staff in Northern Ireland

21-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Hospitality and tourism staff in Northern Ireland are set to receive WorldHost customer service training ahead of key events in the next two years including the Titanic Centenary and Derry-Londonderry’s period as the first UK City of Culture.

BigHospitality's Top 5 audio of 2011

21-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Some of hospitality's biggest names have talked to BigHospitality in 2011 about the key issues facing restaurants, hotels and pubs and bars. As the year draws to a close we took the chance to review the most listened pieces of audio gathered at leading...

Admiral Taverns continues to sell pubs as group releases financial results

20-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Executive chairman Jonathan Paveley revealed reducing the Admiral Taverns estate to a 'quality core' and becoming the UK leading operator of community pubs was the priority for the group who sold more than 450 sites in the most recent financial...

2012 Olympics and Queen's Diamond Jubilee to help push UK visitor numbers to 30 million in 2012

20-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Key events such as the 2012 Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee could push up the number of visitors to the UK to 30 million next year according to VisitBritain as it delivers its predictions for 2012.

Soho power cut: Pubs, bars and restaurants lose out on Mad Friday

19-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls & Peter Ruddick

As businesses braced themselves for ‘Mad Friday’, one of the busiest trading days of the year, a power cut left parts of London’s Soho without electricity for the majority of the day, forcing pubs, bars and restaurants to close.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to get rid of unpleasant odours from a commercial kitchen

19-Dec-2011

David Glover, an odour control specialist and managing director of Plasma Clean, gives his advice on how to control food waste smells from a commercial kitchen.

Pub and restaurant sales rise for sixth consecutive month

19-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Sales at pubs and restaurants run by the biggest operators, such as Whitbread, Mitchells & Butlers and Tragus, continued to rise for the sixth consecutive month in November as consumers refused to give up an 'affordable treat'.

Camra’s National Pub of the Year 2011: Finalists revealed

16-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has announced the four finalists of its National Pub of the Year competition for 2011.

How many units in your drink? BBPA launches unit awareness campaign for pubs

16-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

In the build-up to the busy Christmas period for the UK’s pubs, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has launched a national campaign to raise awareness of alcohol unit consumption among pub-goers.

Availability of finance for UK hotel sector holds key to 2012 success

16-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

An improved outlook for the UK hotel sector will depend largely on the availability of debt to fund hotel transactions and complete long overdue refurbishments, according to hotel consultancy HVS London.

Westminster parking charges postponed until after 2012 Olympics

16-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The controversial plans by Westminster City Council (WCC) to introduce weekend and night-time parking charges in London’s West End have been halted after a High Court judge granted campaigners a judicial review.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Cook your own Steak at Ciro's Brasserie and Networking Lunch at QHotels

16-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Restaurants, hotels and pubs including Ciro's Brasserie, QHotels, Renaissance Pubs and Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel tell BigHospitality about special events and promotions they're running to attract more customers.

Top chefs go head-to-head with food critics to dine in most Michelin-starred restaurants for Cannonball Run 2012

15-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Ten top chefs are set to go head-to-head with 10 national food critics and bloggers in a competition that requires teams to dine in as many Michelin-starred restaurants within 48 hours as possible.

Smartphone pub tour app backed by Northern Ireland Tourist Board to boost Belfast pubs

15-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

An iPhone and Android app designed to increase hospitality trade for Belfast pubs in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year is being backed by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the professional body, Pubs in Ulster.

New pub businesses launched as former Fuller's MD joins The City Pub Company

14-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Two pub companies, formed by the previous owners of Capital Pubs, have announced John Roberts, the former MD of London brewer and pub operator Fuller's, has joined the launch of the new business venture.

BigHospitality's Top 5 videos of 2011

14-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

As Christmas approaches and 2012 beckons, BigHospitality has reviewed our most popular videos of the year to give you the chance to see them again or catch a first viewing before 2011 draws to a close.

Whitbread reveals Q3 sales growth of 11.4%

13-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Hotel and restaurant operator Whitbread saw total sales rise 11.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2011 with its budget hotel brand Premier Inn and coffee chain Costa responsible for the growth.

The Portas Review: Recommendations could benefit high street restaurants and pubs

13-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Recommendations put forward in a review of the UK’s high streets released by retail guru Mary Portas today could not only bring in more diners to town centre restaurants and pubs but could also make more sites available for operators looking to expand.

West Ending: Hospitality’s elite unite with 15,000 workers and residents to oppose Westminster parking charges

13-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

They have been slammed by Caprice Holdings’ Richard Caring, strongly opposed by MPs and London Mayor Boris Johnson, and estimated to threaten over 5,000 local jobs. Now, over 15,000 West End workers and residents have united in signing petitions to halt...

Restaurant and bar mergers and acquisitions set to rise in 2012

13-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Restaurants and bars in the UK should be prepared for an increase in mergers and acquisitions next year as successful chains look to cash in and buyers prepare for growth in 2013, according to a new report.

Orchid prepares for 2012 with list of pub trends and predictions

12-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Orchid, the 290-strong food-led pub group, has released its own 2012 guide, featuring experts’ predictions of the trends, key issues and challenges facing the wider pub trade next year.

Craft Guild of Chefs adds military chef category to 2012 awards

12-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

The Craft Guild of Chefs has added Military Chef of the year to its category list for the 2012 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards, to recognise the individuals in charge of feeding the Armed Forces.

GMB urges Government to act over ‘under-filling’ of pints in pubs

12-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

GMB, the union for tied pub tenants, is urging the Government to act over the under-filling of pints by cash-stripped pub landlords.

Novus reveals strong pre-Christmas trading

12-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Bar and restaurant operator Novus Leisure has announced strong pre-Christmas sales, forecasting a record festive period driven by corporate parties and events.

Luminar saved from administration by former MD Peter Marks

12-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

A new group led by industry veteran Peter Marks, who was formerly chief executive at Brook leisure and Sports Café, has completed the acquisition of nightclub operator Luminar out of administration in deal worth around £45m.

Marco Pierre White’s restaurant at The Swan Inn sold to Mitchells & Butlers

09-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Marco Pierre White’s restaurant at The Swann Inn in Aughton, Lancashire, has been sold and will close for three months on 2 January, before re-opening as a Mitchells & Butlers pub.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Advent Calendar Tables at Andaz Liverpool Street and Duchess Rooms at Dukes

09-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Restaurants, hotels and bars from across the UK, including Andaz Liverpool Street, Dukes London, Vista at The Trafalgar and Bentley’s Oyster& Grill, tell BigHospitality about special events and promotions they’re running to attract more customers.

Westminster parking charges to cost West End businesses £800m a year and threaten 5,000 jobs

08-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The proposed night-time parking charges for London’s West End will cost businesses in the area £800m a year and threaten over 5,000 jobs, a study has found.

Hospitality employers urged to do more to attract responsibility-hungry university graduates

08-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Employers within the hospitality industry are being urged to do more to recruit young people at both graduate and non-graduate level after a survey of recent university graduates found that more than a third are disappointed with the levels of responsibility...

Pubs must not be penalised under new gaming machine duty system, says BBPA

08-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Pub operators are awaiting a ‘crucial’ decision from HM Revenue & Customs over the rate of tax applied on gaming machines, following the announcement that they will be split into two bands.

Nelson Hotels buys The Fishpool Inn with plans for £1m gastropub transformation

07-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Nelson Hotels, the family-owned, Cheshire-based hotel group has bought The Fishpool Inn in Delamere, with plans for a £1m refurbishment of the property to transform it into a gastropub.

Pub prices plummet with north of England worst hit

07-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The price of bottom end freehold pubs has fallen by 3.2 per cent nationally and 11.6 per cent in the north of England, according to Fleurets’ latest annual survey of pub prices.

Urban & Country Leisure quits country pubs as Lazy Cow hotel & restaurant brand set for aggressive expansion

07-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

On Monday it confirmed the sale of The Marylebone Bar in what is one of the biggest tied-lease deals of the year, and earlier in the year it quit running the White Horse pub in Harpenden. Now, pub and restaurant operator Urban & Country Leisure (UCL)...

Pink, girly beer won’t tempt women, says master beer sommelier

06-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

As Molson Coors launches a sampling campaign for Animée, its new low-calorie beer range designed for women, master beer sommelier Mark Stroobandt believes many brewers and pub operators are ‘getting it wrong’ when it comes to attracting the female beer-drinking...

Gastropub chef Craig Minto opens third venture after acquiring The Fleece in Addingham

05-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

Gastropub chef Craig Minto has re-opened former Punch Taverns pub The Fleece in Addingham, West Yorkshire as a pub, deli and cook school.

The Marylebone Bar sold in record deal

05-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Pub and restaurant operator Urban & Country Leisure (UCL) has today confirmed the sale of The Marylebone Bar in what is one of the biggest tied-lease deals of the year.

Westminster parking charges: Proposed discount for night workers is ‘no comfort’ say critics

05-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

News that those working in Westminster after 6.30pm will be given a discounted rate when parking charges are extended into the evening and weekends next year comes as no comfort or relief to businesses or employees say critics of the scheme.

Restaurants and pubs show resilience as UK consumers eat out more

05-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

In spite of the current economic crisis, UK consumers are going out to eat and drink and restaurants and pubs even more than before, according to the latest Taste of the Nation survey conducted by Deloitte.

Drury releases special spiced pyramid teabags for Christmas

05-Dec-2011 By Emma Eversham

London-based tea blender and coffee roaster Drury has added a special spiced Christmas blend to its pyramid-shaped teabag range to enable hotels, restaurants and pubs to enhance their beverage menus for the festive season.

‘British publicans need a voice’: Industry bodies call for public consultation into pub sector

02-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Pub industry bodies have slammed the Government over its persistent reluctance to protect publicans from mistreatment by large pub companies under the new, self-policed pub industry framework code of practice.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Priscilla’s Fabulous Finale Afternoon Tea at Kettner’s and Sherlock Scones at Park Plaza

02-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Restaurants, hotels and bars from across the UK including Kettner’s, Park Plaza, Kumo and The Chester Grosvenor tell BigHospitality about special events and promotions they’re running to attract more customers.

People 1st receive funding boost to spark economic growth for hospitality businesses

02-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Hospitality businesses have been boosted by the news that People 1st has secured £6.8m from the Employer Investment Fund in a bid to reduce youth unemployment, increase professionalism and ultimately achieve economic growth for the industry.

Heineken buys entire RBS Galaxy pub estate for £412m

02-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Royal bank of Scotland (RBS) has sold its entire Galaxy estate, a portfolio consisting of 918 pubs, to Heineken in a deal worth £412m.

2012 Olympics: Hospitality businesses urged to plan ahead with new TfL travel hotspot information

01-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Hospitality businesses are being warned to plan ahead for the huge logistical challenge posed by the 2012 Olympics, following the release of detailed hotspot information from Transport for London (TfL).

SIBA Locals pub scheme reaches 100 members

01-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has reached 100 members for its SIBA Locals scheme, which launched this summer in a bid to help licensees capitalise on growing demand for locally-sourced food and drink in pubs.