Casual Dining

How to plan the perfect recessionary Christmas

07-Sep-2009 By Becky Paskin

The recession may be affecting the corporate Christmas party budget, but with our guide on how to offer the perfect festive package, hospitality operators needn’t miss out

Cocktail & cookery classes at Anise and ladies who lunch at Stanley House Hotel

04-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

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

Bob Cotton to leave British Hospitality Association

03-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

Bob Cotton has announced he will leave his position as chief executive of the BHA in July 2010 after a 10-year stint in the role

Customer alcohol spend at 37-year low

02-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

The amount of money customers spend on alcohol when out drinking is at its lowest level since 1972 according to latest statistics from the British Beer & Pub Association

Ferran Adria launches range of Borges oils

02-Sep-2009 By Stefan Chomka

The El Bulli chef proprietor will launch a range of speciality oils - based on those he uses at his restaurant -  at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair next week

Harden's London Guide honours Marcus Wareing and Angela Hartnett restaurants

01-Sep-2009 By Emma Eversham

Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley is voted top restaurant in the latest edition of Harden's London Restaurants Guide while diners vote Angela Hartnett's Murano best new restaurant

TGI Friday's fined £30k for running 'filthy kitchens'

28-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The American-themed restaurant chain pleaded guilty to six food hygiene offences in court on Wednesday after inspectors found dead cockroaches, mouse droppings and grease-encrusted cabinets in its kitchens

Win a pub restaurant competition scrapped due to red tape

28-Aug-2009 By David Barros

A prize draw to win the Arbor Lights pub restaurant in Walsall was cancelled at the last minute following enquiries from the Gambling Commission

Landmark's gluten-free afternoon tea and cookery classes at Corrigan's Mayfair

28-Aug-2009 By Joe Lutrario and David Barros

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

Good Food Guide honours Blumenthal's Little Chef

28-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Little Chef in Popham, revamped earlier this year by Heston Blumenthal, is given a score of 2/10 in the 2010 Good Food Guide

Lost Society to launch third London restaurant and bar

27-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

Restaurant and bar operator Lost Society is to open its third venue in Putney, at the former site of Bar Room Bar

Number of diners booking tables online doubles

27-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

The number of diners reserving a table online has more than doubled in the last year, but less than 10 per cent of UK restaurants use online booking systems

Momma Cherri's closes its doors

27-Aug-2009 By Stefan Chomka

The Brighton restaurant made famous on Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares closes as funds dry up

Future uncertain for Kinnaird Estate's hotel

26-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Staff at Kinnaird Estate in Scotland wait to hear what their future holds after owner Constance Cluett Ward announced her retirement from the hotel business

Sodexo reviews payroll system after underpaying staff

26-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

The contract caterer has implemented a new payroll system, after it was revealed they were paying thousands of staff below the National Minimum Wage

Plastic pint glass designers need to create Holy Grail

25-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

The designers commissioned to create a new, plastic pint glass in a bid to cut crime have been told they’ll need to create the ‘Holy Grail’ if it is to succeed

Operator sought for horror restaurant

21-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurant operators with an interest in the paranormal are being urged to put in offers to run the Hellfire horror-themed restaurant as the current owner looks to take to the road with his hog roast hearse.

Sud de France announces Sommelier of the Year finalists

21-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

The finalists for the first ever Sud de France UK Sommelier of the Year competition have been revealed

Chopstick challenge at The Royal China Club and Meza's secret garden parties

21-Aug-2009 By David Barros

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

London restaurants defying recession, say Hardens

20-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The restaurant industry is remaining immune to the pressures of the recession with the lowest closure rate since 2000 and openings up 8 per cent on the previous year

Neil Morrissey to repay £2.5m debt after pub business collapse

18-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

Publican and TV personality Neil Morrissey has vowed to repay all his debts after losing £2.5m when his pub and hotel company collapsed

Restaurant and pub sales rise for third month running

18-Aug-2009 By David Barros

Latest figures from Peach Factory show like-for-like sales in restaurants and pubs were up 1 per cent in July with chains faring better than independents 

Over 7,000 pub-goers oppose alcohol code

18-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

There has been widespread opposition to the Government’s mandatory alcohol code, as over 7,000 pub-goers sign up to the Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub campaign

Restaurants make staff cuts and renegotiate contracts to save cash

18-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

A survey of major restaurant companies details the ways they have saved money in the last year and gives their predictions for the next 12 months

ETM Group opens kitchen at The Lexington

17-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Tom and Ed Martin, owners of the ETM Group, use their expertise in catering to provide the food offering at Islington music venue The Lexington

People 1st welcomes McDonald's HR boss as chairman

17-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism skills council People 1st appoints David Fairhurst, chief people officer at McDonald's UK & Northern Europe, its new chairman

Chefs urged to enter North West Young Chef Competition 2010

17-Aug-2009 By David Barros

The hunt is on for the next top chef of the North West as the 2010 competition opens for entries

Best Western's reward scheme and Savour Sundays with Von Essen

14-Aug-2009 By David Barros

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

Rising Star: Sam Tarneberg

14-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

This month's Rising Star is Professional Cookery graduate Sam Tarneberg who tells us about his plans for his future career in the hospitality industry

New Stella Artois glass keeps beer cool and retains head

13-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

InBev UK has launched a new Stella Artois chalice glass that it claims keeps beer colder and offers better head retention than other glasses

Chartered Institute of Marketing revises tourism & hospitality diploma

13-Aug-2009 By David Barros

The Chartered Institute of Marketing has revised its travel, tourism and hospitality diploma to equip staff with the skills they need for the current job market.

UK Tourism being 'held back' by government, says report

12-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The UK's tourism industry is in danger of falling behind international competitors because there is a lack of clear support and leadership from the government, a report from the British Chambers of Commerce and Travelodge has found

Butlins opens £20m spa hotel at Bognor Regis resort

12-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Butlins has opened a £20m spa hotel at its Bognor Regis resort as part of a six year £100m investment into its three sites in the UK

UK needs 'radical rethink' on food sourcing and production, says minister

10-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The rising demand for food globally and changes to the environment mean we will have to ‘radically rethink’ the way we produce and source our food in the UK, says environment secretary Hilary Benn

Bluefin tuna not endangered, say Nobu staff

07-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

Undercover video footage of Nobu staff apparently claiming that bluefin tuna is not an endangered species has emerged on the internet, acting as a warning to restaurants to educate their staff properly about fish sustainability

Palace tours with St James hotel and Beach parties at Mahiki

07-Aug-2009 By David Barros

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

Caterers and hotels offering less permanent jobs

07-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

Despite an increased demand for permanent positions in the catering and hotel sector, the number of long-term jobs has fallen sharply

Holiday Inn’s £600m relaunch gathers pace

06-Aug-2009 By Becky Paskin

The budget hotel chain’s £600m refurbishment is on track to upgrade every property by 2010, with 25 per cent of the UK and Ireland already completed

Thinking outside the box: alternative ways to use your outside space

06-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

Whether you have access to a tiny courtyard or acres of land, there are plenty of ways you can utilise the space outside your restaurant, hotel or pub. BigHospitality speaks to a handful of operators who are doing just that.

Brits take 1.2m more holidays in the UK

05-Aug-2009 By Emma Eversham

The number of domestic holidays taken by people in the UK was up 13 per cent in the first four months of this year, according to figures from VisitEngland

Free bubbly at Grand Union and dog treats at Best Western

31-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs share their marketing and promotion ideas

Seahold Catering expands with launch of takeaway outlet

31-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Seahold Group's new catering division opens a dedicated takeaway outlet next to its Aberdeenshire Italian restaurant Max's to increase its market share in the recession

Mandatory alcohol code expected to cost pub industry £58m

29-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

The government has received widespread opposition to its mandatory alcohol code, which is expected to cost the industry £58m in its first year

Direct Effect: Marketing for your restaurant

29-Jul-2009 By Joe Lutrario

Want a full restaurant on a Tuesday evening? Then take down your customers' details, get in touch with them and incentivise them to come back.

Hampshire pair lift 2009 Gastronomy Team of the Year trophy

28-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

The head sommelier and junior sous chef from the Chewton Glen hotel and spa in Hampshire have been named the 2009 Gastronomy Team of the Year

Britannia Hotels buys third Bournemouth hotel

28-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The private hotel company buys Bournemouth hotel Heathlands out of administration, bringing its total number of UK hotels to 34

Green travel plan saves Petersham Nurseries Café from closure

28-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The owners of the garden centre and restaurant in Richmond are told they can continue to operate after being given the all-clear by the council due to a green travel plan

Whitbread to sell four pub restaurants

27-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The group puts three standalone Brewers Fayres and one Table Table on the market to focus on its strategy of running restaurants with hotels alongside

Jazz at Vivat Bacchus and Titanic menu at Galgorm Resort

24-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants and hotels share some of their marketing ideas with the rest of the industry

Heather Mills buys Redwood vegan foods

23-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Just weeks after launching her first vegan café in Brighton and Hove, animal rights campaigner Heather Mills has announced her acquisition of the Redwood Wholefood Company