Casual Dining

Atul Kochhar to open Indian street food bar and restaurant

16-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Michelin-starred Indian chef Atul Kochhar is to open Colony Bar & Grill, a new mid-market venture, with restaurateur Carlo Spetale in Marylebone in February 2010

Costa spearheads ‘outstanding’ Whitbread trading

15-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Whitbread has reported an ‘improving performance’ across its hotel, pub and restaurant brands, with Costa delivering ‘outstanding’ trading results

Orchid buys Premium Bars & Restaurants sites

15-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Orchid Group has bought 43 former Premium Bars & Restaurants (PBR) sites taking its portfolio to 292 pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK and safeguarding more than 1,500 jobs

Innovative design for W Hotel Leicester Square unveiled

14-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

The ‘extrovert and playful’ design for the new 192-bedroom W Hotel in Leicester Square, due to open in summer 2010, has been unveiled

Stocking fillers at The Charles Lamb and cupcake deal at Paperino's

11-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

Drake & Morgan launch third London bar/restaurant

11-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Bar/restaurant operator Drake & Morgan has announced plans to expand in London next year, with the launch of a third site near St. Paul’s Cathedral in April 2010

Elizabeth Hotels placed in administration

10-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

Three companies within Elizabeth Holdings Group, operator of 14 hotels and 13 pubs in Essex and East Anglia, have been placed into administration

Chancellor confirms alcohol tax rise in Pre Budget Report

10-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Chancellor confirms that alcohol tax increases will remain in place after announcing in his Pre Budget Report that the VAT rate will return to 17.5 per cent in January

Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café to close at The Berkeley

10-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge is to close in April 2010 and move to new premises in London

Vineyard Group to operate seven former Folio hotels

09-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Vineyard Group, operator of The Vineyard at Stockcross and Donnington Valley Hotel, are to manage the seven former Folio hotels owned by sister company Sonoma Ltd

Chefs are unhealthiest workers in Britain

09-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Chefs have topped a poll of the unhealthiest lifestyles in Britain, smoking more cigarettes, eating more junk food and drinking more alcohol than any other profession

Bristol restaurant finds itself victim of smear campaign

08-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

The owners of Pan Asian restaurant chain Cosmo have put up a £10,000 reward to find the person responsible for a fake news article that claimed their Bristol restaurant had been shut down for serving dog meat.

AAK launches Sesame and Groundnut cooking oils

08-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

AAK Foodservice has launched two new flavoured oils to its Prep Premium collection, Groundnut and Toasted Sesame

Whitbread pledges to cut carbon emissions by 26%

08-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

Premier Inn and Beefeater owner Whitbread has pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 26 per cent by 2020

Give small firms employee training help says FPB

07-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Forum of Private Business is urging the government to give help to small firms in employment and training after 22 per cent of bosses said they were forced to provide staff with basic skills training themselves because of a lack of external providers.

Tapas auction at Pinchito and cocktails for curries at Voujon

04-Dec-2009 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

Akkeron Hotel group acquires eight remaining Folio hotels

03-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

Newly formed company Akkeron Hotels has acquired eight former Folio properties, which went into administration in December last year, as a platform for building a portfolio of 150 regional hotels across the UK

Peach takes estate to 13 with Surrey pub

02-Dec-2009 By Emma Eversham

Pub operator Peach signs a deal to take over the Richard Onslow pub in Cranleigh, Surrey, boosting its estate to 13

Spanish eggs blamed for salmonella restaurant outbreak

01-Dec-2009 By Becky Paskin

A batch of Spanish eggs linked to an outbreak of salmonella in a number of restaurants and catering establishments, has sparked the Food Standards Agency to warn caterers to cook their eggs properly

Sensory dining at Sheraton Grand and conveyor competition at YO! Sushi

27-Nov-2009 By Joe Lutrario, Restaurant

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

Scotland presses ahead with Alcohol Bill

27-Nov-2009 By Gemma McKenna

The Scottish Government has published its controversial Alcohol Bill, which will give ministers powers to impose minimum pricing, introduce a new tax for retailers and ban off-trade promotions

Springboard awards hospitality businesses for excellence

27-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

Hospitality individuals and businesses have been honoured for their dedication to the industry at Springboard’s Awards for Excellence 2009

New recruitment law curbs non-EU employment

25-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

Employers seeking to hire workers from outside the EU must now advertise job vacancies for an extra two weeks, to allow British workers more time to apply

People 1st confirms cuts in catering education next year

25-Nov-2009 By Joe Lutrario

The sector skills council predicts college-based learning will be hit hard because the government is likely to favour apprenticeships and work place-based learning courses next year

2010 may be tough for beer sales

24-Nov-2009 By Gemma McKenna

A drinks analyst has made gloomy predictions for the coming months — with Christmas set to be 'at best flat' and the first part of 2010 'extremely tough'

Cocktails & cupcakes at the Mayfair Bar and VAT freeze at base2stay

20-Nov-2009 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

New group to maximise benefits of 2012 Olympics for hospitality industry

18-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

A joint working group has been set up by some of Britain's biggest tourism and accommodation groups to help ensure hospitality businesses make the most of the 2012 Olympic games

The Restaurant Group to continue expansion in 2010

18-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Frankie & Benny's owner plans to roll out up to 20 sites next year, despite expecting trading conditions to remain tough

Top chefs at Midsummer House and rock 'n' roll tea at The Gore

13-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality rounds up some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs across the country

London hotels voted worst in Europe

12-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

London hotels have been voted the worst in Europe, with those in Birmingham rated only slightly better, according to hotel price comparison website Trivago.co.uk

Marco Pierre White to open restaurants in Lancashire

12-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

The famous chef reveals plans to open a restaurant in Chester and a restaurant and events venue in Aughton in Lancashire with Sanguine Hospitality

Oak Taverns to roll out microbrewery concept

12-Nov-2009 By Gemma McKenna

Oak Taverns plans to install microbreweries at seven of its pubs following the opening of one at its most recent acquisition, the Cross Keys in Oxfordshire

Rising Star: Alistair Birt

12-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

This month's Rising Star is Alistair Birt, a Culinary Arts Management degree student at Thames Valley University, Ealing

Cubitt House opens third pub The Orange

11-Nov-2009 By Gemma McKenna

Pub operator Cubitt House opens its third site, the Orange in London's Belgravia following a £1m refurbishment which includes the addition of four hotel bedrooms

Restaurant operator D&D London to launch first hotel

11-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

D&D London is to open its first hotel venture since The Great Eastern, an 80-bedroom boutique property in London’s Moorgate in 2012

Harvey Nichols’ Prism restaurant ditches fine dining concept

10-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

Harvey Nichols Restaurant Prism on Leadenhall Street in London has swapped its fine dining offer to a ‘contemporary brasserie style’ to keep up with consumers’ changing eating habits

Legacy to operate Laura Ashley hotel

09-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

Legacy Hotels and Resorts is to operate its eighth property in Wales, the four-star Llangoed Hall Hotel in the Brecon Beacons

Brits taking domestic holidays rises 32%

06-Nov-2009 By Hamish Smith

The number of domestic holidays Brits took in July rose by 32 per cent on the previous year while overall trips since January have increased by 4 per cent, the latest figures from VisitEngland show

Compass capitalises Sundays and Macdonald Hotels offers bargain autumn breaks

06-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality rounds up some of the promotions, offers and marketing ideas being run by restaurants, hotels and pubs across the country

Business Profile: Rupert Clevely of Geronimo Inns

05-Nov-2009 By Paul Wootton

Geronimo Inns has eschewed a one-size-fits-all approach to pubs, opting instead to tailor each of its 28 sites to its location. And it's working, according to its founder Rupert Clevely

Defra urges hospitality industry to cut waste and save £6.4 bn a year

05-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

Reducing energy and water use and cutting down on waste could save the industry £6.4bn a year, the government estimates as Defra launches its Saving money - it's your business campaign

Price of three-course meal rises by 6% in a year

05-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

The cost of a three-course meal in the UK’s restaurants, pubs and hotels has risen over the past year, despite the price of a main course remaining the same

Free customer service masterclasses from People 1st

03-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

People 1st and Business Link are holding a series of free employer masterclasses to help hospitality businesses deliver better customer service and marketing

Pubs innovate to stay in business, report finds

02-Nov-2009 By Emma Eversham

More than 90 per cent of publicans have introduced innovative ideas to pull in trade during the recession, a poll of British Institute of Innkeepers has found

Remy Martin IceBoxx launched to boost Christmas cognac sales

02-Nov-2009 By Becky Paskin

Premium cognac Remy Martin's new IceBoxx, which freezes liquid to -18C, has been launched to help businesses boost cognac sales in the run-up to Christmas

Edinburgh’s David Ramsden expands his Dogs restaurant chain

30-Oct-2009 By Hamish Smith

Edinburgh-based David Ramsden has opened Underdogs, his third venture in 18 months and plans to open a fourth, Seadogs, next year

Government rejects plans for £250m Edinburgh hotel

28-Oct-2009 By Hamish Smith

Plans for a £250m leaf-shaped InterContinental Hotel and complex in Edinburgh have been rejected by the Scottish Government over fears that views of the city would be obstructed

Hospitality education faces cuts

28-Oct-2009 By Joe Lutrario

Hospitality students could face cuts of up to 50 per cent in taught hours at colleges and the workplace, forcing the industry towards self-directed learning

Cairn Hotels acquires former Swallow-branded Imperial Hotel

28-Oct-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Cairn Hotel Group has acquired the Imperial Hotel in Newcastle-Upon Tyne for an undisclosed sum; a year after former owner Swallow Hotels put the property on the market