Casual Dining

Hygiene: Inspirational cleaning ideas

06-May-2010 By Emma Eversham

Cleaning, while essential, may not be the most exciting aspect of a job in the hospitality industry, but maybe you'll feel inspired with some of these different ideas for keeping things clean.

Clapham House Group to raise £3.3m for Gourmet Burger Kitchen expansion

06-May-2010 By Martyn Leek

Clapham House Group has revealed plans to raise £2.2m from a cash placing to fund the rollout of its Gourmet Burger Kitchen brand for the next two years

Volcanic ash cloud leads to £500k loss at The Restaurant Group

06-May-2010 By Emma Eversham

The volcanic ash cloud hit which caused major disruption to air travel last month hit 90 per cent of The Restaurant Group's airport business and led it to lose £500k of business, the company said today in a statement

Food hygiene, the law

05-May-2010 By Rod Hunt

If you work in the hospitality industry, you will be in no doubt that it is one of the most heavily regulated business sectors. But do you know what the consequences are for your business and its employees if there is a breach of food safety rules?

Ask the Experts: Should I boast about my green credentials?

04-May-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality puts one reader's question about the benefits of environmental awards to John Firrell, director of the Considerate Hoteliers Association

Make hospitality hygiene a priority

04-May-2010 By Becky Paskin

At the start of a week-long hygiene feature on BigHospitality, we take a look at why making hygiene practices a top priority for your hotel, restaurant or pub could be the secret to business success.

Fortnum & Mason launches outside catering business

04-May-2010 By Emma Eversham

London restaurant, cafe and deli Fortnum & Mason has joined forces with Austrian company DO & CO to launch an outside catering service

Mitchells & Butlers to sell 300 pubs valued at £500m

04-May-2010 By Chris Druce

Mitchells & Butlers has appointed an adviser to look into the disposal of 300 wet-led pubs, as part of its aim to reshape the business into a food-led operation.

Campaign cocktails at Park Plaza and St James's hotels and power nap packages at Thistle

30-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

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

S&M Café chain up for sale

30-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Smash Foods, operator of sausage and mash-style restaurant chain S&M Café has put the six-strong group up for sale

Volcanic ash could put dampener on UK hotel recovery

26-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

Despite an initial boost in London hotel bookings there could still be fallout from the volcanic ash episode that closed down UK airspace, an industry expert has warned

Fondue Fridays at Avenue and masterclasses at Hyatt Regency London

23-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

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

Flight uncertainty could provide boost for UK hoteliers

21-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Uncertainty around airline travel could be an opportunity for UK hoteliers and B&B owners to grab more domestic trade this summer, industry experts have claimed

Number of hospitality administrations fall by half

20-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

The number of hospitality and leisure businesses going into administration has dropped by half, surprising industry experts Deloitte

Accor hotel revenues down 10 per cent in 2009

20-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

Accor’s hotel revenues fell 10 per cent last year but a recovery is now underway

Ask the Experts: What's the best way to train staff on a budget?

19-Apr-2010 By NULL

A reader asks our expert Jane Sunley of Learn Purple how to train staff effectively on a budget

Hotels' volcanic bookings boost will continue into weekend

16-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

The UK’s air traffic control service NATS has advised the current flight restrictions affecting UK travel should not be lifted until 7am tomorrow (17 April), meaning thousands of travellers will be forced to find accommodation for another night

Restaurants celebrate St George's Day and Risotto lessons at Carluccio's

16-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us what they're doing to make their business more appealing and draw in more trade

Volcanic ash cloud sees airport hotels reach max occupancy

16-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin & Emma Eversham

Airport hotels across the country have been enjoying maximum occupancy levels as a cloud of volcanic ash preventing planes from flying, has stranded passengers in the UK

Rezidor sells stake in Regent

16-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

Rezidor Hotel Group has sold its stake in the Regent luxury hotel brand for €9.5m (£8.3m)

Pearls of Wisdom: Massimo Tebaldi

16-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

Massimo Tebaldi has been executive chef for Renaissance Pubs for 10 years. Having once worked with John Torode and Canadian singer Bryan Adams, he is now working to transform The White Hart into a fish and chips gastropub called The Tommyfield

Bob Cotton to chair new business tourism action group

14-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

Bob Cotton, the British Hospitality Association’s chief executive, is to chair a new action group to boost England’s business tourism, which has suffered as a result of the recession

Ethnic restaurants face staffing squeeze as politicians get tough on immigration

14-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

A skills shortage for UK restaurants reliant on chefs from outside the EU is looming, after Labour promised to ban entry for the group under the points-based immigration scheme.

Best Western launches first TV ad campaign

12-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Hotel promotions group Best Western has launched its first TV ad campaign as part of a major drive to promote its properties as 'hotels with personality'

Labour to push ahead with National Insurance hike

12-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

The government has vowed to press ahead with its controversial plans to raise National Insurance next year despite widespread criticism from businesses.

Third Notting Hill Gate gastropub for Perritt & Perritt

12-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

Perritt & Perritt has launched its third gastropub in Notting Hill Gate today, after teaming up with former Hix chef Jesse Dunford Wood

Hoxton Pony hosts tea parties and Hilton hotels honour loyal guests

09-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us what they're doing to make their business more appealing and draw in more trade

After hours with...Nicolas Clerc

09-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Nicolas Clerc joined Le Pont de la Tour last May as head sommelier and manager of the Wine Store. He talks about his career and shares his top tips for success in his field

92% of hospitality workers against National Insurance rise

09-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

More than 90 per cent of workers in the hospitality industry are against Labour's planned 1 per cent rise in National Insurance, according to the results of an online survey

Government suspends cider duty hike

07-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

The government has suspended plans for a 10 per cent tax increase on cider until after the general election

BHA releases hospitality manifesto ahead of general election

07-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

The British Hospitality Association has prepared its own manifesto ahead of the general election on 6 May, asking all political parties for their support of the hospitality industry

Ask the Experts: How can I distribute tips fairly?

06-Apr-2010 By NULL

A reader asks our expert Martin Couchman of the British Hospitality Association, for advice on the best way to distribute tips to staff

Chef Paul Bloxham to open second gastropub

06-Apr-2010 By Emma Eversham

Chef/restaurateur Paul Bloxham of The Tilbury in Datchworth, is to open a second gastropub in the area, The Blue Anchor in St Albans

Hoteliers face 'tough' 2010 says PKF

01-Apr-2010 By Chris Druce

UK hoteliers survived a difficult year in 2009 only to face an uncertain future, according to the latest report from consultancy PKF

Guide to online marketing: iPhone applications

01-Apr-2010 By Becky Paskin

Technology moves faster than Alastair Darling at a pub convention, but one rising trend that looks likely to stick around is the iPhone application, which if implemented properly, can help increase restaurant or hotel bookings

Guide to online marketing: Social media

31-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

In the third part of our four-day feature we look at how restaurants, hotels and pubs can use social media networks like Twitter and Facebook to target customers.

Cheap domestic Sky plan 'slap in the face' for pubs

31-Mar-2010 By Chris Druce

A regulatory decision to force pay-TV channels such as Sky to slash prices for domestic users only, has been described as a 'slap in the face' for the pub trade

Guide to online marketing: Make newsletters work for you

30-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

One of the most effective ways of getting bums on seats and bodies in beds is through the use of email marketing, but how can you ensure your newsletter is even opened?

Ufi Ibrahim succeeds Cotton as new BHA chief executive

29-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

The British Hospitality Association has announced that Ufi Ibrahim, former chief operating officer of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), will succeed Bob Cotton as chief executive when he leaves later this year

Guide to online marketing: Using external websites

29-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

As the online world grows in size, how can you ensure your restaurant, hotel or pub doesn't get lost in that increasing community?

Dirty hospitality reception areas turn off consumers

26-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

Nine out of 10 people would not recommend a hotel, pub or restaurant that did not appear clean and fresh, while half would not return somewhere that delivered a poor first impression

What you're doing: Easter special

26-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality finds some cracking ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs for Easter weekend

Leeds diners dubbed UK's most generous tippers

26-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

Diners in Leeds are the most generous tippers in the UK, according to a survey by discount and deals website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, while their Swansea counterparts are the least likely to leave a tip when eating out

After hours with… Jillian MacLean

26-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

Jillian MacLean launched bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan in 2008, and is about to launch her third London site, The Anthologist, near St. Paul's Cathedral next month

Budget 2010: Alcohol duty to rise 'as planned'

24-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

Duty on alcohol is set to increase by another 2 per cent above inflation as planned under Chancellor Alistair Darling's tax escalator he announced today, despite pleas from the trade to halt it

Mitchells & Butlers to ‘rapidly reshape’ into food-led business

24-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

Mitchells & Butlers is to ‘rapidly reshape’ its portfolio into a food-led business by reducing exposure to its ‘price sensitive’ drink-led pubs

Controversial Rose Bowl hotel build goes ahead

23-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

Work on a new four-star, 175-bedroom hotel at the Rose Bowl cricket ground in Hampshire has resumed after a judicial review, launched by a group of local hoteliers into its construction, was overturned

Adult catering courses face funding cuts

22-Mar-2010 By Emma Eversham

Adult catering courses are among those facing funding cuts as the government plans to reduce budgets by an average of 16 per cent to further education colleges

Government proposal forces businesses to recycle

19-Mar-2010 By Becky Paskin

A proposal to ban sending recyclable items such as food, cardboard, cans and glass to landfill may mean restaurants, pubs and hotels that do not currently recycle, will be forced to do so