Archives for March 15, 2013

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Scott Hunter & Maria Larsen: Career Profile

By Luke Nicholls

This young husband and wife are a pub success story, with a knack of reinvigorating dilapidated London boozers into profitable gastropubs. The pair took over the Princess of Shoreditch in 2008, doubling sales in less than a year. They then acquired the...

Travelodge targets 145 new London hotels within 15 years

By Peter Ruddick

Grant Hearn, Travelodge chief executive, has revealed the budget hotel company will open three more London hotels this year and is hoping to operate a further 145 in the capital over the next 15 years.

Kua ‘Aina eyes London expansion

By Luke Nicholls

Hawaiian burger and sandwich concept Kua ‘Aina, which currently has one UK restaurant in Soho, is actively seeking funding to open two more sites in central London this year, with hopes to expand to up to 20 outlets by 2020, BigHospitality can reveal.

Beer tax argument heats up at BeerX event ahead of 2013 Budget

By Luke Nicholls

Labour may have to retain the controversial Beer Duty Escalator if it came into power at the next election as Shadow Small Business Minister Toby Perkins admitted to brewers at SIBA’s BeerX conference that they ‘can’t solve all the problems facing pubs’.

National Apprenticeship Week 2013: Hospitality industry shines

By Luke Nicholls

As the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, an array of hotels, restaurants and pubs – and even Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg – have supported the initiative which promotes the positive impact that apprenticeships can have on...

Camden's Crown & Goose pub to close

By Peter Ruddick

The Crown & Goose pub in Camden will close despite a high-profile campaign to prevent its closure which was backed by Madness star Suggs.

JD Wetherspoon’s profits slip on higher costs

By Luke Nicholls

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon posted a ‘reasonable’ set of results for the half-year ending 27 January 2013, with the burden of what the Group calls ‘stealth taxes’ contributing to a drop of 2.7 per cent in its pre- tax profit to £34.8m.