Casual Dining

Google to offer business advice to hospitality industry at Restaurant Show

07-Sep-2011 By Rachel Parkes

Representatives from Google are to be among the line-up of companies on hand to offer business advice to the hospitality industry at the Restaurant Show’s Business Bootcamp next month.

London Olympics preparations on track for hospitality businesses

05-Sep-2011 By Becky Paskin

Most hospitality, travel and leisure businesses believe they are on track with their preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games, although half claim staff availability for the event is a major challenge.

Cheshire entrepreneur launches ‘bubbly & Bentley’ bar

05-Sep-2011 By Emma Eversham

Cheshire entrepreneur Mark Harrison has opened the first ‘bubbly and Bentley’ bar on the site of the former taproom bar at the Royal George Hotel in Knutsford.

Cigarette vending machines to be banned next month

02-Sep-2011 By Becky Paskin

Publicans are being reminded to move or dispose of cigarette vending machines in pubs and bars on or before 1 October before a change in the law takes place.

Gaucho’s secrets to successful recruitment and training

02-Sep-2011 By Becky Paskin

The key to hiring the right staff first time round is a strict recruitment process, thorough training, and giving staff room to grow.

Pub visits fall 19% in a year

01-Sep-2011 By Emma Eversham

The number of visits made to pubs in the past year has fallen 19 per cent to 4.3 per month as cash-strapped consumers are forced to cut their leisure budget.

Not enough restaurants offer contactless payment, consumers claim

01-Sep-2011 By Becky Paskin

Most consumers using contactless payment believe the technology makes paying for items simpler, but claim not enough outlets offer the payment method, research has shown.

Redefining the gastropub: Definition 4 - the craft pub

31-Aug-2011

The fifth and final part of our feature series, first published in Restaurant magazine, looks at whether a pub serving restaurant-quality food alongside a vast selection of beers would be better described as a 'craft pub' rather than 'food-led'...

Lib Dems propose new ‘binge drinking’ tax on alcohol

30-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The Liberal Democrats are considering plans for an additional tax on drinks served in town centre pubs and bars to cover the cost of binge drinking.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to cut waste disposal costs

30-Aug-2011

Most hospitality businesses strive to operate sustainably and cut their waste, but if waste disposal costs increase then the financial strain could outweigh the environmental benefits. Eoin Harris, senior practioner at the National Industrial Symbiosis...

Bar Sport aims to open in ‘every major UK town and city’

30-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

The founder of American-style sports bar brand Bar Sport says he is aiming to see a branch in every town and city across the UK as the company’s second site opens in the Midlands.

Health experts call for ‘fat tax’ as obesity predicted to rise

26-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The number of UK citizens classed as obese could hit 40 per cent by 2030, prompting experts to call on the Government to impose a tax on unhealthy foods.

Restaurants, pubs and hotels recognised for animal welfare policies

26-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Due South in Brighton and Strattons Hotel in Swaffham, Norfolk, are among the nominated finalists for the RSPCA’s Good Business Awards 2011.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Fashion lunch at Sketch and dishonourable drinks at Town Hall Tavern

26-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, pubs and hotels including London's Sketch and Leeds' Town Hall Tavern, tell us what promotions they're running to attract customers.

Average beer price breaks £3 barrier

26-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The average cost of a pint of beer has broken the £3 barrier, as increasing taxes force prices up across the UK on-trade.

Restaurants to open at Westfield Stratford revealed

25-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Westfield Stratford has revealed a near-complete restaurant and bar line-up for its grand opening on 13 September.

Redefining the gastropub: Definition 3 - the food-led pub

24-Aug-2011

The fourth part of our feature series, first published in Restaurant magazine, continues to define the term 'gastropub' by looking at whether a pub serving great food would be better describing itself as 'food-led' than 'gastropub'.

Barracuda highlights importance of Smith & Jones brand with relaunch

23-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Pub group Barracuda is highlighting the importance of its Smith & Jones brand with a nationwide relaunch of the 161-strong chain.

Staffordshire pub installs bread and milk vending machine

22-Aug-2011 By Adam Pescod

A vending machine selling bread and milk has been installed outside a pub in Staffordshire after its licensee was refused permission to open a shop on the premises.

Businesses believe hospitality will drive UK’s economic recovery

22-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Most business leaders in the UK expect the hospitality and leisure sector to drive economic growth over the next decade, new research has revealed.

Restaurater Arjun Waney to re-open The Arts Club

22-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurateur Arjun Waney will re-open private members’ club The Arts Club next month with La Petite Maison’s Raphael Duntoye in charge of the food and DJ Mark Ronson as director of music.

Eight Young National Chef of the Year 2011 finalists named

22-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Eight young finalists for the 2011 Young National Chef of the Year award have been named, and will now go forward to compete for the title at The Restaurant Show, Earls Court 2, on 11 October.

Heineken to launch ‘schooner’ sized glasses this winter

19-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Heineken UK is to launch a two-third pint glass or ‘schooner’ as it’s known in Australia, for its trade customers, starting with Heineken, Amstel and Tiger beer branded glassware.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Oysters in the park with ETM and Children’s concierge with Millennium & Copthorne

19-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants, pubs and hotels including The Botanist and Millennium & Copthorne tell us what promotions they’re running to attract customers.

Pub sales fell by up to 40% following riots

19-Aug-2011 By The Publican's Morning Advertiser

Pub sales fell by up to 40 per cent at many pub companies last week in the wake of the rioting and looting that shook many English cities.

Government names 11 Enterprise Zones eligible for tax breaks

17-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Prime Minister David Cameron has named 11 new Enterprise Zones (EZ) around the UK where businesses will benefit from over £150m tax breaks and simplified planning rules.

Redefining the gastropub: Definition 2 - the bona-fide gastropub

17-Aug-2011

The third part of our feature series, first published in Restaurant magazine, looks at what kind of pub really makes the grade as a 'bona-fide gastropub'.

Ex-Zuma and Nobu chef to open Japanese steak house and pub

17-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Ex-Zuma and Nobu head chef Ross Shonhan is to open a Japanese steak house and contemporary Izakaya - a Japanese pub - in London next year.

Police requests fuel 19% increase in alcohol licence reviews

16-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The number of hospitality businesses having their alcohol licence reviewed has soared by 19 per cent over the past year, fuelled largely by requests from police.

Chain restaurants 'get it right' but have no room for complacency warn analysts

16-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Chain restaurants like Pizza Express, Harvester and Table Table are 'getting their consumer offer right' but will need to continue to work hard, be flexible and adapt quickly to new trends if they want to succeed in the current financial market,...

British tourism set for record-breaking summer?

15-Aug-2011 By Kate Mead

Latest figures for inbound tourism and visitor spending suggest a record-breaking summer for Britain lies ahead, but experts say the recent riots are a concern for potential visitors.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to turn website visits into bookings

15-Aug-2011

Chris Wood, social media specialist at Q Social Media Ltd, gives one reader advice on how to turn visits to his hotel website into bookings and valid enquiries.

Great British Pub Awards 2011 finalists revealed

12-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The finalists for the 2011 Great British Pub Awards (GBPA), organised by BigHospitality’s sister publication The Publican’s Morning Advertiser, have been revealed.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Post-riot promotions at Leon and Giraffe and afternoon teatox at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

12-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, pubs and hotels tell us about the promotions and marketing campaigns they're running to attract customers.

Loungers opens 19th site following fresh funding

11-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Bar/ restaurant group Loungers has opened its 19th site in Southampton having recently secured a £1m banking facility from new bank Santander.

David Cameron: We will help repair damage caused by riots

11-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to help businesses repair the damage caused by rioting and looting across England in the past few days, by unveiling a raft of cost-cutting measures.

Cost of London riots to business and Olympics tourism “unquantifiable”

10-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

It is too early to anticipate what the long-term cost rioting and looting around the UK will be to the hospitality industry and the 2012 London Olympic Games, but experts believe the overall cost to the British high street will reach tens of millions...

Tintern residents fight to re-open their local pub

10-Aug-2011 By Kate Mead

Hundreds of residents in Tintern, near Chepstow have petitioned their local council to save a 400-year-old pub which closed at the end of last year.

Redefining the gastropub: Definition 1 - the restaurant (that just happens to be in a pub)

10-Aug-2011

In the second part of this feature series, first published in Restaurant magazine, we bring you one definition to replace the term 'gastropub' as we attempt to redefine the market as we see it today.

Renaissance Pubs open sixth venue, The Rosendale, in West Dulwich

10-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Renaissance Pubs, the five-strong London-based pub group, has launched its sixth venue in West Dulwich, The Rosendale.

Young's stops brewing to focus on pubs

09-Aug-2011 By Kate Mead

Pub company Young’s has pulled out of its brewery operation selling its 40 per cent shareholding for £15.1m it has announced today.

Encourage all hospitality staff to improve wine knowledge, industry told

09-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Restaurant and bar operators should encourage their British staff to take up sommelier as a career to balance the level of foreign sommeliers in the hospitality industry.

Close your business if rioting escalates, hospitality operators warned

09-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Pubs and restaurants in areas affected by rioting have been advised to temporarily close down for the protection of their staff and customers if the situation escalates out of control.

JD Wetherspoon's Woolwich pub burnt to the ground in London riots

09-Aug-2011 By Kate Mead

A JD Wetherspoon pub in south-east London has been burnt to the ground during the third night of violent rioting and looting in London.

Restaurants and pubs vandalised and forced to close in London riots

09-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants and pubs across the capital were among the businesses vandalised in the riots which have broken out across many parts of London over the past few days.

BII launches first apprenticeships for pubs

08-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Professional licensing body The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has launched the first apprenticeship programme for the pub sector to help fill a skills gap identified by the industry.

Plans submitted to redevelop Newcastle’s empty Co-op building into hotel

08-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Plans have been submitted to transform Newcastle’s iconic Co-operative building into a 231-bedroom hotel complete with restaurants, retail outlets and gym.

Career Profile: Neil Millington

05-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

The Royal Horseguard hotel’s new bar manager Neil Millington didn’t start out in the hospitality industry following three years at college, neither did he undertake an apprenticeship. At the age of 29 he was approached to leave his job as a cigar retailer...

Stock lower strength beers to boost trade, pubs urged

05-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Lower strength beers, which will benefit from a 50 per cent decrease in excise duty from October 2011, could help boost trade for pubs, claims CAMRA.

Restaurants, pubs and hotels urged to invest in equipment now to get tax benefit

04-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurant, hotel and pub owners are being urged to invest in new equipment for their business now if they want to benefit from a special tax allowance.