Casual Dining

Chef Joel Robuchon wins 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award

14-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The French chef and restaurateur, whose empire spans the globe, is declared the winner of Restaurant magazines 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award

Travelodge acquires three former Purple Hotels

14-Apr-2009 By Rosie Birkett

Budget hotel group Travelodge acquires the leases on three former Purple hotels in a deal totalling £14m in rent payments

English Lakes Hotels to manage The Midland

14-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Urban Splash, the company responsible for restoring the 1930s hotel in Morecambe to its former glory, hands over the reins to English Lakes Hotels

Hillbrooke Hotels adds to portfolio

09-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Hillbrooke Hotels re-opens the Master Builders House Hotel in the New Forest after taking it over late last year

The Swan's giant egg and Easter egg rooms at The Andaz

09-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

A handful of restaurateurs, hoteliers and publicans tell us about the ideas theyve had to celebrate Easter this year

Nestle Toque d'Or 2009 finalists revealed

09-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The names of the five college teams who go through to the final of the 21st Nestle Toque dOr competition are announced

Jamie Oliver criticised in Panorama Dubai expose

08-Apr-2009 By Rosie Birkett

The chef has his attention turned to the plight of construction workers in Dubai after a Panorama programme exposes their squalid living conditions

Beer tax rises threaten 60,000 pub jobs

08-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The British Beer & Pub Association warns that 10 per cent of jobs in the pub sector could be lost in the next five years if the Chancellor continues to move forward with planned beer tax increases

Chocolate Master rivals launch bespoke collections

08-Apr-2009 By Becky Paskin

Former UK Chocolate Master competitors Mark Tilling and Sebastian Kobelt do battle once more with the launch of their own bespoke chocolate collections

The Bridge Tea Rooms and Brown's Hotel voted top for afternoon tea

07-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Tea Guild calls The Bridge Tea Rooms in Wiltshire Top Tea Place 2009 and gives The English Tea Room at Browns Hotel its Top London Afternoon Tea 2009 award

New GM for Crewe Hall and education sales director for Elior

07-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

QHotels appoints Ian Pollock general manager of Crewe Hall in Cheshire and Elior employs Robert Salmon as education sales director of its Avenance Contracts division

Gleneagles boss Peter Lederer given Lifetime Achievement Award

07-Apr-2009 By Becky Paskin

Peter Lederer, Gleneagles Hotel and VisitScotland chairman has received the 2009 HIT Scotland Lifetime Achievement Award

Four catering colleges endorsed by Hospitality Academy

06-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The National Skills Academy for Hospitality announces the first four catering colleges to receive accreditation under its excellence scheme

Bollywood comes to Moti Mahal and The Albannach celebrates Tartan Day

03-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs share their ideas for events and promotions

Restaurant leaders to discuss industry's future

03-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Executives from Clapham House Group, Wagamama and Jamies Italian are among those coming together to discuss the future of the industry at Allegra Strategies summit this summer

Abode Hotels launch boutique Baby brand in Chelsea

03-Apr-2009 By Becky Paskin

Abode Hotels are to launch a boutique bed and breakfast brand named Baby Abode at Sydney House in Chelsea next month

Future Inns to open third UK hotel

03-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Canadian hotel group Future Inns will open a hotel in Bristol next month as part of plans to expand the brand in the South West.

Gov blamed for 'holding back' Britain's tourism industry

02-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The British Hospitality Association says the Governments withdrawal of financial incentives and a disjointed marketing strategy threatens the success of Britains tourism industry

National Skills Academy unveils plans to plug skills shortage

02-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

The National Skills Academy for Hospitality announces a partnership with Living Ventures, an endorsement scheme for catering colleges and a host of other ways to improve skills in the industry

Prezzo sees 2008 profits fall

02-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Italian restaurant chain Prezzo reported a robust 2008 despite profits dropping by almost half on the previous year

Kevin Thornton launches restaurant in Belfast’s Fitzwilliam Hotel

02-Apr-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Irish Michelin-starred chef has opened his latest restaurant in Belfast’s Fitzwillliam Hotel

A gastronomic evolution: the rise of scientific cooking

01-Apr-2009 By Becky Paskin

As Heston Blumenthal and his inventive creations become increasingly admired and replicated by chefs the world over, Becky Paskin asks whether molecular gastronomy is the future of cooking

Business rate u-turn gives hospitality industry welcome break

01-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Chancellor Alistair Darling puts a stop to plans to increase business rates by 5 per cent from today to help businesses meet the challenges of the current economic climate

Compass trading well in 'difficult environment'

31-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

The contract caterer predicts a 4 per cent drop in revenue, but is expecting to deliver increased operating profit for the first half of the year

Pub launches own-label wine to beat duty rise

31-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

The Charles Lamb pub and kitchen in Islington creates an own-label wine so it can continue to sell European wines for a reasonable price

Piccolino’s owner continues expansion despite profit drop

30-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Individual Restaurant Company, owner of the Piccolino’s and Bar & Grill brands, plans to open at least four new sites this year despite seeing profits fall by more than half in 2008

Itsu announces expansion plans with Covent Garden branch

30-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Healthy eating chain Itsu has announced plans to open up to six outlets in 2009, the first due to open in Covent Garden’s newly developed public square in May

Weak pound and international events may boost hotel industry

26-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

A report by PKF consultants shows how international events, the weak pound and budget hotel developments may help soften the blow of the recession in 2009

Tourism Minister tells industry to be greener

26-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Tourism Minister Barbara Follett calls for the industry to be more environmentally responsible in order to secure its long-term future

Britain’s best catering tutor reveals her secrets

26-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Margaret White, the Most Inspirational Tutor as voted for in the College Restaurant of the Year awards, reveals how she keeps her students passionate about the industry

Travelodge creates iPhone application

25-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Travelodge becomes the first UK hotel group to create a free GPS room booking service for owners of Apples iPhone

Jamie Oliver’s mentor closes Italian restaurant

25-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Jamie Oliver’s friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo has been forced to close his London restaurant, Passione

Cask ale outperforming beer sales to keep pubs afloat

24-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

An industry report has found sales of cask ale are outperforming those of beer, with pubs offering the drink faring better than those that don’t

Roast head chef helps kidney disease sufferers

23-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Roast head chef Lawrence Keogh has written a cookbook aimed at kidney disease sufferers

Great British Menu chefs prepare for cook off

23-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Sixteen chefs from across the UK get ready to compete in the fourth series of Great British Menu

Restaurant and hotel ideas for Mother's Day

20-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

A handful of restaurants and hotels share their ideas for marking the event

Thames Valley’s catering school celebrates 60th birthday

19-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

The London School of Hospitality and Tourism at Thames Valley University celebrates its sixtieth anniversary by honouring four industry-famous former students

Alcohol consumption drops 3.2 per cent

18-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Alcohol consumption fell by 3.2 per cent in 2008, a drop that saved the economy £804m through reduced alcohol harm

Jamie Sherriff buys second London gastropub

18-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

The former Zucca restaurateur and The Spencer Arms owner takes over The Salisbury gastropub in Fulham

Roux Scholarship 2009 finalists announced

16-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Six chefs have been chosen to go through to the finals of this years Roux Scholarship for the chance to win lifetime mentorship from the Roux family

Win a restaurant for £25

16-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

A landlady has launched a competition to find a new owner for her pub and restaurant in Walsall, and is charging just £25 to enter

Rising Star: Rory Baynes

16-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Lewisham College student Rory Baynes talks about his admiration for Tom Aikens, reaching the finals of the Nestle Toque DOr and why he wants to work in the hospitality industry

The Cavendish gets juicing and the Modern Pantry serves roasts with a twist

13-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs tell us what theyre currently doing to attract customers

MasterChef winner denies Le Manoir job offer

13-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

Mat Follas, winner of MasterChef 2009, has denied rumours of a job offer from Raymond Blanc, instead accepting a stage at Le Gavroche

Hotel staff prepare for G20 meeting

13-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Staff at the recently re-vamped South Lodge Hotel in West Sussex get ready to host the worlds financial leaders after two months of preparations

Pub Chef award winners announced

13-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Former Northcote chef Michael Ward has been crowned Pub Chef of the Year at this year’s PubChef Food Excellence Awards with Whitbread and Admiral Taverns also picking up awards

Hotel workers predict five hotel chain casualties in 2009

11-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Forty per cent of hotel executives predict that more than five hotel chains will go into administration this year

Coffee cart operator crowned UK Barista Champion

11-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

The operator of several independent London coffee carts has been named the UK Barista Champion, and will now represent Britain in the World Championships next month

£10m Design Hotel to open in London

11-Mar-2009 By Emma Eversham

Sanctum Soho Hotel - the latest hotel to launch under the Design Hotels umbrella - will open in London in just over a weeks time

Dakota Hotel in Nottingham becomes first MourHotel

10-Mar-2009 By Becky Paskin

The Nottingham hotel formerly owned by David Coultard has been launched as the first MourHotel, with a further 11 announced to be rolled out this year