Casual Dining

Christopher’s American Grill sold to Caparo Group chairman

05-Jul-2010 By Becky Paskin

Christopher’s American Bar & Grill in Covent Garden has been sold to Ambar Paul, chairman of engineering company, Caparo Group for an undisclosed sum

Tourism industry ‘confident’ about summer trade

05-Jul-2010 By Becky Paskin

More than 80 per cent of the tourism industry feel ‘confident’ that the staycation will continue to be popular this summer

Hospitality Forum against fraud and theft launches

05-Jul-2010 By Becky Paskin

The UK’s first hospitality forum against fraud and theft has been launched, with Gondola Holdings, Starbucks and Compass Group amongst the first members to sign up

Match Bar Group targets four London sites for Robot expansion

02-Jul-2010 By Becky Paskin

Jonathan Downey, managing director of Match Bar Group, has revealed confident plans to open up to four more Robot bars by the end of the year

Inspiring your bar team

02-Jul-2010 By Chris Druce

Working behind a bar can be a lot of fun but you’re on your feet for most of your shift and thirsty customers can be a demanding bunch. Keeping your bar team on top of their game is therefore vital to your business’s long-term success.

Pubs report mixed fortunes after England football game

01-Jul-2010 By Gemma McKenna

Pub operators say England’s match with Slovenia drew the biggest crowd of any England game — but opinions on the tournament overall have been mixed

Concentrate on existing customer base, restaurants told

01-Jul-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants spend five times more on attracting a new customer than they do to retain existing ones, new mystery shopping research has revealed

Gondola Holdings tops R200 list once more

30-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

Gondola Holdings has once again retained the top spot in the R200, Restaurant magazine’s annual list of the top restaurant operators in the UK

Skills crisis looms for ethnic restaurants as government gets tough on immigration

28-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

The Conservative led coalition has launched a consultation to explore how best to cut immigration to the UK, fuelling fears of a skills crisis in the ethnic restaurant sector

Inspiring your team to deliver a great business performance

28-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Why take time to inspire your team? Well a motivated team is a hard working one that will deliver the attention to detail and customer service hospitality businesses live or die by.

Ask the Experts: How do I build a brand

28-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

BigHospitality puts one reader’s question about creating a business brand to Neil Giles, creative director at design consultancy Circle Brands

Sensory afternoon tea at Firmdale Hotels, and collagen drinks at YO! Sushi

25-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including Firmdale Hotels and Yo! Sushi tell us about the extra activities they're planning to make their businesses more appealing

Pizza Express king of the discount vouchers with demand set to soar

24-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Pizza Express offers more discount vouchers than any other restaurant chain, with demand for deals set to reignite as consumers feel the pinch of higher VAT following the budget

The Capital Pub Company buys rival Tomahawk for £5m

24-Jun-2010 By Martyn Leek

The Capital Pub Company has bought rival Tomahawk for £5m, as it looks to extend its estate to the 50 pub mark.

Hospitality experts welcome delay in VAT hike but fear effect on trading

23-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Industry experts have welcomed the delayed start of the new 20 per cent rate of VAT, claiming it will allow hospitality companies to find ways of absorbing the additonal costs rather than passing them on to cash strapped consumers

Charlie McVeigh targeting early 2011 for Draft House number four

21-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Pub operator and restaurateur Charlie McVeigh is targeting an early 2011 launch for Draft House number four, having just exchanged contracts on a third site at London’s Tower Bridge

After hours with...Tim Homewood

18-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Tim Homewood is head bartender at Babylon restaurant at the Roof Gardens, London, and winner of the 2010 Saffron and Sides cocktail competition. He talks about his career and why bartending is a great job

Hotel group Eaton Collection in administration

17-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Luxury hotel operator The Eton Group has been placed into administration, putting 250 jobs at risk

Restaurant magazine wins prestigious award

17-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

BigHospitality’s sister title Restaurant magazine has been named the Monthly Business Magazine of the Year in the PPA Awards 2010

July opening for Be At One's 10th bar in Shoreditch

17-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Cocktail bar chain Be At One’s 10th site in London’s Shoreditch will open next month with another set to follow soon after, the company has confirmed

Diners swap takeaways for restaurants as eating out increases

17-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

Diners are eating out at restaurants and pubs twice as much this year than in 2009, claiming they have more disposable income than before

Deal to find new pub operator for Merchant Inns close

17-Jun-2010 By Mark Stretton

Royal Bank of Scotland is thought to be close to appointing a pub group to operate Merchant Inns, the business set up by Robert Breare and Sir John Ritblat that was placed in administration late last year

Ask the Experts: How can I market my business effectively

14-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

BigHospitality puts one reader’s question about how best to market their business to restaurant consultant Victoria Searl

Brasserie Blanc moves into pubs

14-Jun-2010 By Mark Stretton

Brasserie Blanc, the French casual dining chain, is moving into the pub market. It has acquired the leases of two pubs formerly operated by Massive, the London managed pub group

Three Michelin starred guest chefs at Brunello and cross-dressing dinners from 1901

11-Jun-2010 By Joe Lutrario & Becky Paskin

Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including Brunello at Baglioni Hotel and 1901 at Andaz Liverpool, tell us about the extra activities they're planning to make their businesses more appealing

Food Standards Agency ditches stars for hygiene scores

08-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

The Food Standards Agency has ditched a stars-based format for its ‘Scores on the Doors’ national hygiene scheme to avoid confusing the public.

Four million to watch England World Cup opener in the pub

08-Jun-2010 By Martyn Leek

Up to four million people will watch England play the USA in the World Cup in the pub this Saturday, boosting sales by £35m, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA)

Hospitality industry must address seven key trends for success

07-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

The hospitality industry must address seven key trends during the next five years if it is to continue enjoying success and strong growth, according to a new report

Whisky master classes at Albannach and golf at Pennyhill Park for Father’s Day

04-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us about the extra activities they're planning to make their businesses more appealing for Fathers’ Day on 20 June

Peach Pubs launches book publishing arm

03-Jun-2010 By Becky Paskin

Peach Pubs has expanded its business by branching out into publishing, and will launch co-owner and writer Jo Eames’ first novel next week

Health body backs calls for minimum pricing

02-Jun-2010 By Mark Stretton

An influential health advisory body has backed calls for a minimum price on alcohol, new restrictions on the granting of licences and a ban on advertising

Ask the Experts: How can I profit from my World Cup food sales?

01-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

BigHospitality puts one reader's question about making a good return from food sales during the World Cup to Sharon Glancy, managing director of Stonebow, the training arm of People 1st

Hospitality skills crisis deepening

28-May-2010 By Chris Druce

The hospitality skills crisis is deepening, with more than a quarter of businesses within the sector claiming they employ staff lacking the skills needed for their jobs

FIFA World Cup: What you’re doing

28-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

Any pub, restaurant or hotel screening the World Cup games is sure to see a boost in trade over the summer, but how can you ensure you have the edge over the competition?

The FIFA World Cup 2010: Licensing

27-May-2010 By Chris Druce

Graeme Cushion at licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen gives his advice on enjoying a profitable and successful World Cup that remains within the law.

FIFA Word Cup 2010: Technology

26-May-2010 By Chris Druce

The FIFA World Cup 2010 will command a global TV audience of millions, and although many will watch it at home, restaurants and pubs can create a carnival atmosphere with the right equipment in place to show the games.

FIFA World Cup 2010: Boost venue appeal by utilising space

25-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

It may be all too tempting to turn your business into a World Cup party zone, but the true winners from the competition will be those who can successfully separate their original business concept from the football.

FIFA World Cup 2010: The World Cup opportunity

24-May-2010 By Chris Druce

The FIFA World Cup 2010 kicks off on 11 June in South Africa with 32 teams battling for football’s greatest accolade. BigHospitality takes a look at the opportunties it presents.

After Hours with... Anna Horsman

21-May-2010 By Chris Druce

Anna Horsman talks about joining Geronimo Inns as head of events, and her misson to develop the pub group’s private rooms business, especially during the World Cup

Freezing weather blamed for beer sale slump

21-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

January’s freezing weather has been blamed for an 8.8 per cent fall in beer sales for the first quarter of the year

Floral cocktails at St. James's Hotel and botanical afternoon teas at Harvey Nichols

21-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us about the extra activities they're planning to make their businesses more appealing during the Chelsea Flower Show (25-29 May)

Government to ‘overhaul’ licensing laws

20-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

The government has revealed plans to review alcohol taxation as part of a new coalition policy to overhaul the Licensing Act

Ping Pong to accelerate restaurant expansion

19-May-2010 By Martyn Leek

Ping Pong, the London-based dim sum restaurant chain, has unveiled plans to accelerate expansion in the UK and abroad, while launching a new takeaway concept

Restaurants and pubs face tough year ahead

18-May-2010 By Chris Druce

Restaurants and pubs have been urged to ‘stay on top of their game’ after new data revealed just how tight trading within the UK eating out market remains

Consumers set to holiday in UK as ash-cloud disruption continues

17-May-2010 By Chris Druce

The latest wave of vocanic flight disruption affecting UK airports will convince many more consumers to holiday in the UK this year, say experts

German asparagus at the Bavarian Beerhouse and Victorian banquets at The Valiant Trooper

14-May-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us about the extra activities they're planning to make their businesses more appealing

Coalition government good news for hospitality

12-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

The new coalition government formed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats yesterday should have a positive effect on the hospitality industry, experts have said

FSA claims ‘fat tax’ reports are exaggerated

10-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Food Standards Agency has cited reports that they plan to impose a ‘fat tax’ on junk food as ‘over exaggerated’

Cumbria's Swan Hotel re-opens six months after floods

07-May-2010 By Emma Eversham

The Swan Hotel & Spa at Newby Bridge in Cumbria has re-opened for business six months after floods swept the county

Hygiene: What to do if things go wrong

07-May-2010 By Chris Druce

Running a hospitality business and keeping on top of hygiene day-to-day can be a challenge, but there are things you can do when the occasional slip-up occurs to rescue your reputation and prevent bad word of mouth.