UK hotel investment remains the most active in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) but increasingly more 'creative transactions' are being considered over straight cash purchases, according to two new reports out today.
Coworth Park is now looking to fill two top dining positions following the announcement that executive chef Chris Meredith and food and beverage manager Scot Turner are to leave the country house hotel.
The so-called 'Pasty Tax' will be introduced as planned after a last-minute amendment to the Budget proposals for VAT changes on hot takeaway food was narrowly defeated by 35 votes in the House of Commons last night.
Hotel group Jurys Inn is running a four-week national advertising campaign worth £800k to help promote itself as a 'great value and credible' alternative to both four-star and budget hotels.
Spirit Pub Company has announced it is continuing to transform the business as pre-tax profits for the 28 weeks to 3 March 2012 rose 7 per cent to £20m driven by a strategy for the managed site portion of the business.
International hotel operator Accor has revealed in its first quarter results that increased revenue growth globally has been driven in the UK by a very strong period in London with occupancy rates at near record levels for the French company.
National tourist board VisitEngland has revealed the names of the hospitality businesses and individuals who have made the final shortlist for 15 award categories in its 2012 Awards for Excellence.
Harbour Hotels has been granted planning permission for a super-yacht inspired £25m luxury 76-bed hotel at Southampton's Ocean Village Marina; building work is expected to start within weeks.
As the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics reaches the last 100 days hospitality businesses are being urged by VisitBritain and People 1st to 'warm up their welcome' and improve customer service to make the most of the Games.
In the ten years since the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards was launched a wide variety of gastronomic and dining styles have been represented in the top 50 so as excitement builds for the 2012 list BigHospitality asked chefs and experts what makes...
It has been confirmed that the Covent Garden Market Building which was acquired by Jamie Oliver in February is to open under the Union Jacks brand in July.
Hotel group Hilton is running a week of promotional activity around recruitment to help fill 700 jobs across its properties in the UK and promote hospitality as a valid career option.
London-based Japanese restaurant chain Feng Sushi has announced it is to open its eighth site in West Hampstead later this year focusing on diners eating in; the second opening since serial investor Luke Johnson took a majority stake in the business.
Antoinette Hotel Group has acquired the Best Western Crown Hotel in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, and is planning a £1m investment in the venue which is the fourth for the company and its first site outside London.
Rupert and Jo Clevely, the duo behind London-based, food-led pub operator Geronimo Inns, have reclaimed the Group’s first pub and are set to relaunch it this month, 17 years on from its initial opening.
The organisers of a fundraising dinner in honour of Eddie Gilbert’s founder Jonny Dunhill are hoping to raise enough cash to set up a chef bursary in his name.
A Bromley-based property developer, accused by Sydenham residents of demolishing more of The Greyhound pub than Lewisham Council's planning permission allowed, has pledged to rebuild the venue and ensure it is reopened for the local community.
Benny Peverelli, former head chef at healthy fast-food chain Leon, has said London restaurants should not 'rest on their laurels' and must consider value for money as a survey suggests diners think some restaurants might be overpriced.
The world’s largest hotel operator, Accor, has today launched a comprehensive sustainability programme as part of its bid to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 per cent by 2015.
Food service and hotel operators are being urged to take part in the Gram Green Paper report for 2012 to look at the industry’s attitudes to the environment and sustainability.
The Forum of Private Business has warned the proposed introduction of a Late Night Levy (LNL) is little more than a 'stealth tax' against business and will further harm pubs and operators catering for the night-time economy.
Portuguese-born Hugo de Castro has worked in the hospitality industry for 40 years, 30 of which have been spent as concierge at the Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa in St Helier. He has seen the hotel change hands four times, most recently in August 2011...
Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including The Gun in London's Docklands and The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon tell BigHospitality about new marketing ideas and promotions they are running to help attract more customers.
Grant Hearn is to return to the role of Travelodge chief executive less than two years after moving from the position to become executive chairman of the budget hotel chain; as a result of the decision Guy Parsons, the current chief executive, will now...
Nicola Horlick, the investment manager dubbed 'superwoman' for balancing her career and family, has described her latest venture, a Barnes restaurant with Trinity chef Adam Byatt in tribute to her late daughter Georgina, as a 'good business...
Hospitality businesses have renewed calls for extra support on energy bills and dealing with utility suppliers after the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced it was backing Ofgem proposals to help domestic customers.
Kinmel Hall, a Welsh mansion modelled on the Palace of Versailles in France and the largest private residential property in Wales, has been sold for around £1.5m and is set to become a luxury hotel after a development is completed.
The owner of new London restaurant, Lowcountry Bar & Eating House, is hoping to introduce diners to 'authentic and regional' American food when it opens in Fulham High Street next month.
As the number of people booking tables and then not showing up increases we ask how big a problem is it for the restaurant sector and what can the industry do to guard against it?
Hilton Worldwide has announced the £1.3m bedroom refurbishment at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor hotel in the West End district of the Scottish city has now been completed.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has launched a public consultation on options to change local planning laws to stop the closure of pubs including asking residents to make a list of pubs they want saved and protected.
James Knappett, formerly of The Ledbury and Marcus Wareing's The Berkeley, is to open a new restaurant with his wife combining a hot dog and Champagne concept called Bubbledogs with a more private fine dining element - Kitchen Table.
Brasserie Bar Co, the operator of the Brasserie Blanc and White Brasserie brands, has secured a new £6m facility from Barclays to support its expansion and development plans.
International hotel operator Accor has announced it is to open its second UK MGallery hotel in Bath in May; the first outside London for the luxury brand.
The owner of the former Colquhoun Arms Hotel in the Scottish village of Luss, has appointed a management team to run the property when it re-opens this summer following £2.7m of refurbishment work.
The bar and causal dining restaurant group Loungers has received a £16m investment from private equity specialists Piper which will now take a significant minority stake in the company led by managing director Alex Reilley.
Arnaud Stevens is executive head chef at 40/30 at The Gherkin and group development chef for Searcys. Part of the management team at Searcys, he has overall responsibility for the kitchen at The Gherkin while also overseeing all food concepts for the...
Hotel developer Sanguine Hospitality is to venture into the north east for the first time with the opening of a £20m Hotel Indigo in Newcastle, complete with a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill restaurant and in partnership with Savannah Lifestyle...
To celebrate the Easter weekend, hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars have told BigHospitality about the special events and promotions they’re running to market themselves more effectively and attract more customers.
Bill's Produce, the Richard Caring-backed café, restaurant and store group is to open a third site in London, on the former Zilli Fish and Zilli Café site in Soho.
The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington, formerly the Grosvenor Kensington Hotel, is to soft launch in July following a multi-million pound refurbishment for the venue before it opens fully in August.
Restaurants, hotels and pubs operating in areas with Olympics venues or hosting events during the sporting festival can expect extra visits from food safety inspectors in the run-up to the event.
Mexican restaurant chain Barburrito has revealed plans to triple its portfolio to 18 sites over the next four years, with the bulk of the new sites in prime locations in London.
Restaurant presentation, whether that be interiors or tableware, can have a huge impact on the diner experience, but how key is it to a business's success?
Fratelli la Bufala, the restaurant chain which currently operates around 100 venues in Italy, has opened its first full-scale UK site in Shaftesbury Avenue declaring there remains a lack of truly authentic Italian restaurants in the country.
A leading London restaurateur has refuelled the argument that London is the only place to be for operators in the current climate, revealing he would never consider opening a site outside the capital.
Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) ratings, awarded to recognise restaurants' efforts on sustainability, will now be highlighted in the Harden's guide in print and online.
Mark Hix’s long-awaited plans for a restaurant in the Tramshed building in London’s Shoreditch have been revived, with a new 150-cover restaurant and bar set to open next month.
