Casual Dining

London’s luxury hotels slash prices

17-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

London’s upscale hotels have reduced room rate so much that revPar for June saw the biggest decline since January

Banks refusing loans to all restaurants and pubs, says business forum

17-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Forum of Private Business has raised concerns that banks are implementing blanket bans on lending to pubs and restaurants over fears they may collapse

Restaurants count cost of Dean Street blaze

16-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

Two Soho stalwarts - Quo Vadis and Signor Zilli – see trade drop during the busy tourist season following a major fire in a building in Dean Street

Britons’ eating out spend drops for first time in 40 years

16-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

The amount Britons spend on eating out has fallen for the first time in 40 years, with experts predicting our demand for low-cost meals to last long after the recession is over

Rising Star: Caroline Wintershaw

15-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

South Downs College professional cookery student Caroline Wintershaw shares her thoughts on the industry as she prepares for her future career

Barnsley House Hotel finds new owner

15-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Cotswold hotel and one of the pubs owned by the same company are bought out of administration by Calcot Health and Leisure

North Devon College wins Nestle Toque d'Or 2009

13-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

Six students at North Devon College pick up the Nestle Toque dOr 2009 trophy as the competition celebrates its 21st year

Cocktail bar and restaurant replaces Worrall Thompson’s Notting Grill

13-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Antony Worrall Thompson’s Notting Grill restaurant, which went into administration earlier this year, has been transformed into a cocktail lounge, bar and restaurant by Mikee Fletcher, co-owner of the Ruby Group

People 1st creates customer service qualifications

10-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

People 1st launches two customer service qualifications to ensure frontline staff are equipped with the skills they need for London 2012 and beyond

Event incentives at the Landmark and long lunches at Cliveden

10-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

Find out what marketing ideas hotels and restaurants are doing to help boost trade in BigHospitalitys Friday round-up

Royal Lancaster Hotel installs beehives

09-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Hyde Park hotel aims to help boost the number of honey bees in existence by installing beehives on its roof

Hotel dining is dead, says industry expert

09-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Hotels have been criticised for having ‘sterile’ restaurants by an industry expert, who claims hotel dining is dead

Raymond Blanc to judge Coeliac Chef of the Year 2009

06-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Coeliac UK is calling for both experienced and student chefs to enter its 2009 Gluten-free Chef of the Year competition, to be judged this year by Raymond Blanc

Heston Blumenthal to revamp Little Chefs in York & Kettering

06-Jul-2009 By Emma Eversham

The new style Little Chef, unveiled by Blumenthal at Popham in Hampshire earlier this year, will be introduced at branches in York and Kettering next as part of a planned roll-out across the 175-strong estate

Profits at Gordon Ramsay restaurants plummet by 90 per cent

03-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Gordon Ramsay Holdings has seen profits slide by 90 per cent, following ambitious and rapid expansion plans last year

Restaurant and hotel insolvencies to soar after summer

03-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

While the amount of restaurant and hotel insolvencies has dropped, experts warn a ‘second wave’ will develop after the summer

Edinburgh bartender wins UK World Class 2009

02-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

Ryan Chetiyawardana from Bramble in Edinburgh has been crowned the best bartender in the UK in the final of World Class 2009

Punch Taverns sells four pubs to St Austell

02-Jul-2009 By Becky Paskin

St Austell Brewery is set to acquire four pubs from Punch Taverns this month in a deal that would increase its estate to 173

Restaurant operators warned against discounting

01-Jul-2009 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant operators have warned against the dangers of using two-for-one deals to stimulate the market and predicted that overuse of the practice could be damaging for the industry as a whole

R150 list reveals large restaurant groups confident about future

01-Jul-2009 By Stefan Chomka

Many of the UK’s biggest restaurant operators plan to expand next year, despite the recession, Restaurant magazine’s R150 research has revealed

Heston Blumenthal to increase Fat Duck prices

01-Jul-2009 By Joe Lutrario

Heston Blumenthal is planning a 30 per cent price hike for the Fat Duck, making it the most expensive restaurant in the UK

Manchester’s Barca Bar sold for around £750k

30-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

Manchester’s Barca Bar, formerly owned by Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall, has been sold to a local property company for around £750k

Reuben Brothers to take over PBR?

30-Jun-2009 By Rosie Birkett

Property investors the Reuben Brothers are in exclusive talks to acquire troubled bar and restaurant chain Premium Bars & Restaurants for the sum of £52 million

Double points at Choice hotels and picnics at YO! Sushi

26-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Find out what marketing ideas hotels and restaurants are doing to help boost trade in BigHospitalitys Friday round-up

Favourite food tastes are defined by birthplace

26-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

A person’s place of birth has a significant impact on their favourite tastes and textures, as each UK region has been found to have its own ‘taste dialect’

Chefs Mark Hix & Heston Blumenthal win awards

26-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Chefs Mark Hix and Heston Blumenthal were among the winners at last nights Guild of Food Writers awards after impressing judges with their latest cookbooks

Restaurants urged to adopt service charge code

25-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

The British Hospitality Association calls for the industry to adopt a new voluntary code of practice for service charges to help rebuild its reputation following the controversy over tips

Hospitality industry scores well in customer service survey

24-Jun-2009 By Rosie Birkett

Businesses in the hospitality industry have scored an average of seven out of 10 for customer service in a mystery shopper survey by the National Skills Academy for Hospitality

Principal Hayley buys London & Glasgow properties

24-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

The hotel and conference group brings its portfolio up to 24 after buying The New Connaught Rooms in London and Glasgow Central Hotel from administrators

Catering lecturer receives top City & Guilds accolade

23-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

South Downs College lecturer Iain Baillie receives the Presidents Award from the Duke of Edinburgh in recognition of his work teaching City & Guilds courses

GMB protests against Enterprise for pub tenant

23-Jun-2009 By Rosie Birkett

Workers union the GMB stages a protest against pubco Enterprise Inns in support of a publican who may lose his pub and home because he cant afford the fees

Trade stays steady for large restaurant and pub operators

23-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Large-scale restaurant and pub operators such as Tragus and Whitbread are continuing to hold their own against competition from supermarkets and other market pressures, according to latest research

Macdonald Hotels buys Aviemore resort from administrators

22-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Hotel group Macdonald Hotels secures the future of the Scottish resort and saves 300 jobs after reaching an agreement with administrators PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

Bluebird celebrates Wimbledon and Aussie chefs say G'day UK

19-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants and hotels around the country tell us about the events, promotions and special offers theyre running

Not the End of the Line for sustainable fish restaurants

16-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin & Emma Eversham

With the release of documentary The End of the Line we speak to suppliers and restaurants about what theyre doing to ensure the fish they sell doesnt mean the end of the line for fish stocks or their business

Rockliffe Hall and St James' Hotel & Club appointments

16-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Martin Moore joins Rockliffe Hall Hotel to oversee all catering operations and St James Hotel & Club in London makes two appointments to its sales team

Babylon contender named Restaurant Manager of the Year

16-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Academy of Food and Wine (ACFW) has announced the 2009 Restaurant Manager of the Year as Peter Avis of Babylon at the Roof Gardens

Rising Star: Shaun O'Brien

15-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Liverpool Community College catering and hospitality student Shaun OBrien shares his thoughts on the industry as he prepares for his future career

Sally Clarke honoured in Queen’s birthday list

15-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

London chef and restaurateur Sally Clarke has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list

Charlton House Hotel goes into administration

15-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Somerset country house hotel and spa bought by Mulberry founders Roger and Monty Saul in 1996 looks for a new owner after it falls victim to the economic downturn

Perfume & tea at Harvey Nichols and Father's Day ideas

12-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants and hotels around the country tell us about the events, promotions and special offers theyre running

Hotel sees ebay wedding boom

12-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

A hotel in North Devon is using auction website ebay to sell wedding packages for £1k to boost its mid-week wedding trade

John McClements sells off Barnes Ma Cuisine

11-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

South west London-based restaurateur John McClements puts one of his Ma Cuisine sites on the market following a review of his business

Restaurant prices predicted to plummet to 2006 levels

10-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

Diners’ average restaurant spend is set to plummet to 2006 prices, as operators battle to remain competitive and the level of food inflation slows down

Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Commis Chef of 2009 named

09-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

The winner of the Chaines des Rotisseurs Young Commis Chef of the Year 2009 has been named as Thomas Helyer from Kinnaird Hotel and Sporting Estate, Perthshire

Diners call for restaurants to serve sustainable fish

09-Jun-2009 By Becky Paskin

As the issue of sustainable fishing practices is becoming more prevalent, almost 90 per cent of diners are calling for restaurants to serve only ethically sourced seafood

Marcus Wareing and Bocca di Lupo sign up to London Restaurant Festival

08-Jun-2009 By Emma Eversham

More than 400 of the capitals restaurants register their interest in the first London Restaurant Festival to celebrate the diversity of the London restaurant scene and drive more customers through the door.