Casual Dining

Trade stabilises at Enterprise Inns

04-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Enterprise Inns has reported that trade is stabilising across its estate with average income per pub rising 1 per cent in the last 18 weeks.

Gordon Ramsay sells The Warrington to Faucet Inn

04-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Gordon Ramsay and Chris Hutcheson have sold their Maida Vale pub The Warrington to pub and hotel group Faucet Inn for a sum in excess of £5m.

Pubs selling food escape sector sales declines, finds survey

03-Aug-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Almost half of UK pub owners have reported a fall in sales over the past year, although serving food has been the saving grace for many pubs, according to a new survey.

How to get your business online

03-Aug-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Having an online presence for your restaurant, pub or hotel is crucial nowadays. But how do you go about this if you’re a small business with little budget to spare and no technical know-how? This article takes you through the first basic steps, which...

How iPhones are changing the way we pay restaurant bills

03-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

We’re moving rapidly towards a cashless society, and with the rise of the smartphone as the one item we cannot live without, it’s inevitable that the future of payment is through our handsets.

Coffee shops more popular than pubs for out-of-home eating and drinking

03-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Coffee shops and cafes have beaten pubs, fast food outlets and restaurants as the most popular places to eat and drink outside of the home according to a survey of 3,000 consumers.

Diners ignore calorie information, despite demanding it in restaurants

02-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of British diners claim calorie-labelled menus would help encourage them to make healthier choices when eating out, but research has found their intentions are vastly different from what they’d do in reality.

Redefining the gastropub: Why there's a need to do it

02-Aug-2011

When the term 'gastropub' was coined in the ’90s few could have predicted its use would become so widespread. What was once a useful descriptor for a serious food pub has become a catch-all for all manner of places.

Great British Beer Festival kicks off in London

02-Aug-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The number of ale drinkers and real ale breweries in the UK have risen significantly over the past five years, creating a new market for more growth, says CAMRA as the Great British Beer Festival opens its doors today in London.

More business failures expected for hospitality SMEs

01-Aug-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Small businesses in the hospitality sector should be particularly vigilant of their business strategies over the years ahead, as corporate financial analysts warn that the worst is still to come.

Marston’s sales boost from premium beers and food

01-Aug-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Brewer and pub operator Marston’s has said sales of its focus on local beers and premium ales has helped boost its business performance in a difficult trading environment.

Luke Johnson acquires stake in The Draft House

01-Aug-2011 By Becky Paskin

Serial investor Luke Johnson has acquired a substantial minority stake in The Draft House, the wet-led craft beer concept headed by Charlie McVeigh.

Vouchers are losing influence on diners’ eating habits

29-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

Restaurant vouchers and discounts are losing their influence on diners’ decisions on where to eat, a survey has found.

Campaign to cut VAT continues despite rejection from Treasury

28-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

A campaign which aims to reduce VAT to 5 per cent for the hospitality industry has vowed to continue despite claims from the Treasury that there is no 'compelling evidence' for the cut.

Planning for the 2012 Olympics: Staff and training

28-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

As McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc once said ‘You’re only as good as the people you hire’ so if you believe his mantra and want to make sure your business is a winner during next year’s Olympic Games, make sure you read our fourth and final instalment of...

Researchers developing software to combat fake online reviews

28-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Researchers from Cornell University are developing computer software to identify fraudulent online reviews, with initial tests on hotel reviews found to be 90 per cent accurate.

Labour calls for VAT cut

27-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The Labour Party has called for a temporary cut in VAT to 17.5 per cent as it embarks on a campaign to rejuvenate Britain’s high streets.

Calorie labelling does not influence diner choice, New York study finds

27-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

Displaying calorie information on menus does little to encourage diners to choose healthy options, a New York study has found.

4m Brits plan holidays to avoid Olympic Games

27-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Just over half of Brits feel that the Olympic Games will have a positive impact on the country’s economy, while almost 4m people will be leaving the country to avoid the 2012 Games, finds a new survey by PwC.

How ready is the UK for Olympics hospitality?

27-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

With exactly one year to go until the London Olympics, the UK is sending out a call to the world to come to these shores next year, but initial figures suggest that the hospitality sector is far from ready to welcome the additional visitors.

G1 Group launches new company to increase Edinburgh presence

26-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Scottish hospitality and leisure operator G1 Group has announced it is creating a new company that will enable it to broaden its coverage of the leisure market in Edinburgh.

Premium brands driving on-trade spirits growth

26-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

A growth in cocktails, premium drinking venues and the rise of the Weekend Millionaire has fuelled growth of the spirits market, which is largely driven by premium brands.

Red tape costs small firms £14K a year, finds research

26-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Small firms in the UK are spending an average of £14,000 per year on complying with regulations, despite government initiatives to cut red tape, finds a new survey from the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

Spirit rolls out graduate trainee scheme

25-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Pub company Spirit has decided to roll out a graduate trainee scheme across its entire estate following a successful trial in its city and urban pubs.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Afternoon tea for kids at Royal Horseguard's Hotel and Free Jimmy Choos for wedding bookings at ETM's White Swan

22-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including ETM's White Swan pub and Prezzo, tell us about the extra activities and promotions they’re planning to keep their business thriving.

New music fee proposals 'totally unacceptable' says BBPA

21-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Proposals to increase the rates that pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants pay to host DJ nights or other special music-focused events are 'totally unacceptable' according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

Planning for the 2012 Olympics: Transport and deliveries

21-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Hospitality businesses will be amongst the most affected by the transport and logistics changes during the Olympics next year. This article includes a simple break-down of what you should be thinking about to ensure business continuity, together with...

M&B takes hit from weakened consumer spending

21-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) says it is feeling the effects of weakened consumer spending as like-for-like sales for the first 42 weeks of the year rise just 3 per cent.

Display calories on menus despite lack of evidence it works, operators told

20-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

Despite a lack of proof that diners are willing to change their eating habits, the hospitality industry has been warned to start thinking about calorie counting their menus before EU legislation is introduced.

Restaurants and pubs sign up to Olympics fair pricing charter

20-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Restaurants, pubs and other consumer-facing businesses in London have signed up to the Mayor’s new London Visitor Charter, which commits them to offering fair pricing for visitors during the Olympic Games.

Peach on track for 22 pubs by 2013

20-Jul-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Peach Pub Company is on track to reach its target of opening 22 pubs by 2013 and is hoping to secure its first pubs in London if suitable sites become available.

Rhubarb opens 'new and improved' restaurant at Heathrow's T3

20-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Events catering specialist and restaurant operator Rhubarb has opened a 'new and improved' airside restaurant at Heathrow's Terminal Three.

British Country Inns put up for share sale

19-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Eight pubs under the British Country Inns portfolio have been put up for sale at a guide price of £5m.

CAMRA calls for Pub Design Award 2011 entries

19-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CMRA) is calling for entries for its Pub Design Awards 2011, which are open to pubs that were refurbished or newly constructed last year.

Greene King to buy Capital Pubs for £93m

19-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Greene King this morning announced it has agreed a deal to buy the London-based Capital Pub Company for £93m.

Football tournament-free June helps restaurant and pub sales bounce back

19-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

A football tournament-free June helped restaurant and pub sales bounce back from a flat May and perform better than the previous year, according to the latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

FSB calls for 5% VAT for hospitality businesses

18-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the government to temporarily lower VAT for the tourism sector in order to give businesses the chance to stimulate economic growth in a time of low consumer confidence.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to ensure you don't miss out on business opportunities presented by the 2012 Olympics

18-Jul-2011

Ian Lacey, a market analyst at Elliott Marketing & PR and recent visitor to Vancouver, the host of last year's Winter Olympics, gives his top tips on how to avoid missing out on the opportunities the 2012 Olympics could offer your hospitality...

Planning for the 2012 Olympics: Marketing

15-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

Once you’ve made yourself aware of what’s happening during the 2012 London Olympic Games (by reading our first feature in this series) you need to decide how you’re going to use the event to boost your business’s profile.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Vegetables for restaurant vouchers at Terre a Terre and photography at Mayfield House hotel

15-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including Brighton restaurant Terre a Terre and Mayfield House Hotel in Wiltshire, tell us about the marketing campaigns and promotions they're running this summer to attract customers.

Terry Wogan’s daughter opens third pub in Buckinghamshire

15-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

The daughter of radio DJ Terry Wogan has opened her third pub in Gerrard’s Cross, Buckinghamshire.

Tourism to Britain increases 11%

14-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Britain is on its way to recovering its appeal as a holiday destination for international tourists, according to encouraging data on tourism figures so far this year.

M&B lose another chairman as Burke steps down

14-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin

Mitchells & Butlers has lost its third chairman in just 18 months after the pub and restaurant group announced Simon Burke has stepped down.

TripAdvisor admits to lacking customer service

13-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The online review site TripAdvisor has admitted that its contact process for businesses to report fraudulent reviews has been lacking, as the threat of legal action still looms from disgruntled restaurant operators.

London 2012 and TfL help businesses set Olympics transport plans

13-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

London 2012 and Transport for London (TfL) will be providing free tools and workshops to help businesses minimise transport disruptions to their operations during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brigid Simmonds commits to growing tourism in new chairman role

13-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds has committed to meet 'challenging' inbound and domestic tourism targets as she returns to her role of chairman of the Tourism Alliance.

D&D to convert Bishopsgate warehouse into restaurants

12-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Restaurant group D&D has announced plans to redevelop an old spice warehouse in the City, which it will convert into two restaurants, bars and a wine shop.

Wetherspoon to open three hotels this summer

11-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Pub group Wetherspoon is preparing to open three new hotels this summer, bringing up the number of hotels in its portfolio to 23.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Travelodge and JD Wetherspoon among companies improving corporate social responsiblity

11-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, pubs and hotels, including Travelodge and JD Wetherspoon, share information about the charity initiatives they're involved in for our special corporate social responsibilty themed Ideas from your Peers.

Nestle Toque d’Or 2011 winners announced

11-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The College of Food, University College Birmingham, has won the Nestle Toque d’Or competition, which recognises culinary talent and business acumen in the next generation of chefs.