Casual Dining

Italian food festival returns to London

10-Feb-2010 By Becky Paskin

La Dolce Vita, the annual Italian festival in London’s Business Design Centre, is returning for its sixth year next month with a variety of Italian chefs and producers present

Increased profits predicted for London hotels in 2010

08-Feb-2010 By Becky Paskin

London hoteliers are expected to see an increase in profitability in 2010, according to a hotel market forecast by TRI Hospitality Consulting

Stand-up at Slumdog restaurant and Alpine dishes at Le Bouchon Breton

05-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs across the country

Digital Economy Bill bad news for hoteliers, warns BHA

04-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

The Digital Economy Bill could be bad news for hotels providing internet services to guests if it's passed, the British Hospitality Association has warned, because it makes them responsible for identifying guests who have downloaded material illegally...

Hospitality businesses get £1,000 to employ young British jobseekers

04-Feb-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Government is offering free recruitment support and up to £1,000 as a reward to hospitality operators if they promote job vacancies to young, British jobseekers instead of migrants

Emily Hodgson opens second dining pub

03-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

Emily Hodgson, owner of The Rose pub in Fulham, will open her second pub, The Hillgate in Notting Hill later today

Academy of Hospitality launches in Stockport

02-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

A hospitality academy to help develop the careers of budding chefs, hotel managers and hospitality staff has launched in Stockport with spaces for 60 apprentices to start training schemes right away

Apprentices more productive than other staff, research shows

02-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

A large number of employers in the hospitality industry are finding apprentices more productive than other staff and are helping make their businesses more competitive, research by People 1st has shown

British tourism industry set for bumper 2010

01-Feb-2010 By Emma Eversham

Britain is set to benefit from a domestic tourism boom for a second year running, with the high Euro and frustrations with air travel the main reasons for Brits choosing to holiday at home again this year.

Save money on business rates and parking spaces, hoteliers urged

01-Feb-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hoteliers are paying 13 per cent too much on their business rates, and could save up to £21k if they challenge any overpaid rates before 31 March

Vama to close and relocate to London's West End

29-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Indian restaurant Vama in Chelsea will close tomorrow before relocating to a new site in London's West End later this year, owner V8 Gourmet has announced

Free chips at Eddie Gilbert's and afternoon menu at Wild Honey

29-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham & Joe Lutrario

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants across the country

Absorb the VAT increase, consumers tell businesses

29-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Almost half of British consumers think businesses should continue to absorb the 2.5 per cent VAT increase throughout 2010, as many intend to cut back on spending this year

BigHospitality's Sustainability Week: 10 ways to run your business more sustainably

29-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham & Stefan Chomka

Our top 10 tips to help make your business greener, leaner and more ethical.

Moonshine Bars buys Puzzle Pub from administration

29-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Puzzle Pub in Horseferry Road, London, has been acquired by Moonshine Bars from the administrators of the Food and Drink Group

After hours with… Leanne Langman

29-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Leanne Langman, sister of Peach Pubs co-founder Lee Cash, became the youngest general manager in the group at the age of 24. She now heads up The Old Mill in Berkhamsted

BigHospitality's Sustainability Week: Pubs

28-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

With pub closures at an all time high, the sector has had to be extra resourceful and creative in order to stay afloat. We speak to a small pub company and an independent to see what they're doing to run their businesses in a more sustainable way.

Recession ends but hospitality insolvencies rise

26-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

The hospitality and leisure sector experienced a 12 per cent rise in insolvencies at the end of last year, as news today came that Britain is finally no longer in a recession

BigHospitality's Sustainability Week: What is sustainability?

25-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality's Sustainability Week: What is sustainability, why should your business support it and how can you be sustainable?

Hospitality's women triumph at Shine Awards 2010

22-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Eleven women working in hospitality, travel and tourism have been recognised for their 'extraordinary contribution' to the industry, their businesses and staff at the sixth Shine Awards

Lake District hotel Holbeck Ghyll changes ownership

22-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Lake District hotel and restaurant Holbeck Ghyll has been bought by businessman Stephen Leahy in a multi million pound deal

Restaurants and chefs rally to help Haiti earthquake survivors

22-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham & Rosie Birkett

Restaurants across the country have responded to appeals from humanitarian charity Action Against Hunger (AAH) to help raise funds for survivors of the Haiti earthquake

Harry Ramsden's sold to Fishworks owner

20-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Fish and chip shop chain Harry Ramsden's has been bought by Fishworks owner Ranjit Boparan who plans to open up to another 100 sites over the next five years

BBPA dubs government's alcohol code 'lop-sided'

19-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

The British Beer & Pub Association has called the government's planned mandatory alcohol code 'lop-sided and unbalanced' because it focuses too heavily on pubs and not enough on supermarkets.

Malmaison owner markets two Edinburgh hotels for £21m

18-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hotel du Vin and Malmaison owner MWB Group has put two of its Edinburgh hotels on the market as part of an ‘evaluation of the group’s corporate strategy and brand identities’

Von Essen banishes 'Blue Monday' and Yo! Sushi runs January sale

15-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs across the country

Recovery predicted in hospitality property market for 2010

15-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Property values in the restaurant, hotel and pub sectors fell sharply in 2009, but there was an increase in transactions on the previous year as operators snapped up bargains across all three sectors

Restaurants called to support Haiti earthquake disaster appeal

15-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Action Against Hunger (AAH) is appealing to the UK’s restaurants to support its emergency response to the Haiti earthquake, which is feared to have killed 50,000 people

Freezing temperatures cause flood at Deanes restaurant in Belfast

12-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Michelin starred Belfast restaurant Deanes has temporarily closed after freezing temperatures caused a pipe to burst, flooding the premises and damaging its structure

Living Room MD to quit following Orchid takeover

12-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Living Room managing director Danny Fox has announced he is quitting the company following the acquisition of 43 Premium Bar & Restaurants sites by Orchid Group

Whitbread to open second 'green' Premier Inn

11-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Whitbread has unveiled plans to open its second 'green' Premier Inn and its first low-carbon restaurant in Burgess Hill in West Sussex this autumn

Hotel room prices rise 2% in UK

11-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

UK hotels are leading the upturn in Europe according to a survey by hotel price comparison website Trivago with room prices rising on average 2 per cent to £91 in the last month

Fitness sessions at Paradise by way of Kensal Green and £1 rooms at Umi Hotels

08-Jan-2010 By Joe Lutrario

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs across the country

Gravetye Manor looks for new owner after going into administration

08-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Gravetye Manor in East Grinstead, West Sussex, is looking for a new owner after being placed into administration this week

BBPA and D&D London’s The Avenue appointments

07-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

The BBPA appoints a new director of brewing, while D&D London’s newly refurbished the Avenue appoints a new head chef

Heavy snow damages business for hospitality industry

06-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hotels, restaurants and pubs across the UK have been affected by heavy snowfall and icy conditions, with many losing business through absent staff and booking cancellations

Town & City Christmas sales up 8%

06-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Town & City Pub Company, owner of Yates's and Litten Tree, is starting 2010 'with optimism' after seeing Christmas sales leap 8.1 per cent

After hours with...Emily Hodgson

06-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality catches up with one of hospitality's top achievers for the lowdown on her career and thoughts about the industry

Fire guts Little Bay’s Battersea restaurant

05-Jan-2010 By Becky Paskin

Eight fire engines and over 40 firefighters were called to fight a blaze at the Little Bay restaurant in Battersea on New Year’s Day, just as the restaurant finished its first service of the year

Charlie McVeigh to roll out The Draft House concept

04-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

Pub operator Charlie McVeigh has announced plans to roll out his Draft House concept this year following the launch of his first beer-focused pub on Northcote Road in Clapham last year

Seven hospitality workers make 2010 New Year Honour's list

04-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

River Cafe co-founders Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers have been awarded MBEs in the 2010 New Year Honours list in recognition of their work in the hospitality industry

Review of the year 2009: Pubs

23-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin & Emma Eversham

Beer tax continued to rise and a record number of pubs closed, but it wasn't all doom and gloom in the pub sector in 2009. As the year draws to a close take a look back with BigHospitality at the major events of this year

Power cut destroys Christmas business for Smithfield restaurants

23-Dec-2009 By Joe Lutrario

Operators in London’s Smithfield Market claim to have lost thousands of pounds’ worth of trade and stock because energy supplier EDF failed to stop power cuts over the Christmas period.

CAMRA to launch legal challenge to OFT

22-Dec-2009 By Gemma McKenna

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on consumers to help fund a legal challenge against the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) report that ruled out action against the beer tie.

Review of the year 2009: Hotels

22-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

As the year comes to a close we take a look back at the hotel sector's major events of the year

Review of the year 2009: Restaurants

21-Dec-2009 By Stefan Chomka

As the year comes to a close we take a look back at the restaurant sector's major events of the year

Sherlock Holmes Hotel's free drinks for sleuths ballet dancers at Little Bay

18-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality takes a look at some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants across the country

Pub trade should work together, says ALMR

17-Dec-2009 By Gemma McKenna

The pub trade should 'put aside any differences' and work together says the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers

Exeter hotelier fined for failing to have correct TV licence

17-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

A hotelier in Exeter has been fined for failing to have a TV licence in place, leading to calls for the industry to check they are correctly licensed

Helene Darroze’s Connaught restaurant blasted for Dutch veal slip-up

16-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Helen Darroze’s Michelin-starred Espelette restaurant at The Connaught in Mayfair has been blasted by animal welfare activists for serving Dutch veal when waiters claimed it was British