People

Pearls of Wisdom: Alan Murchison

27-Apr-2012 - Alan Murchison took up his first post in the kitchen as a porter at the age of 14. During the 1990s, the Scot worked in a number of Michelin-starred kitchens, including Claridges, Nobu, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and L’ortolan. He returned to the latter in 2001 as executive chef/managing director and in 2007 he re-opened the renowned Hibiscus restaurant in Ludlow as La Bécasse. In 2010, Murchison launched the 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group, with an ambitious aim to operate 10 Michelin-starred restaurants by 2018.

News in brief

Charlie McLean takes on MD role at CAU to push forward restaurant expansion

26-Apr-2012 - Gaucho's finance and commercial director Charlie McLean has been appointed managing director at its sister group CAU to help push forward expansion of the restaurant chain. 

Recruiting and retaining staff: A guide to CVs and interviews

26-Apr-2012 - So you’ve advertised a role in your business and the applications are beginning to pour in. But how do you effectively search through stacks of CVs and what questions should you be asking in the interview stage to make sure you’re picking the best person for the job?

The Wolseley owners receive private equity backing to fund expansion

26-Apr-2012 - Rex Restaurant Associates, the company headed up by experienced restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, has received private equity backing to fund expansion plans for the group that owns The Wolseley.

Time for Greek cuisine in London to 'evolve', say operators of Notting Hill's Mazi restaurant

25-Apr-2012 - A new Greek fine-dining restaurant promising to remove old misconceptions of cuisine from the Mediterranean country is set to open in Notting Hill in May.

Recruiting and retaining staff: How and where to advertise hospitality jobs

25-Apr-2012 - What do Gumtree, Twitter, viral web videos and local newspapers have in common? The answer is they have all served as promotional mechanisms for advertisements for hospitality jobs recently.    

News in brief

Lynne Franks calls on hospitality employers to continue to address gender diversity

25-Apr-2012 - The writer and PR businesswoman Lynne Franks is calling on hospitality businesses to do more to change the gender gap in the top positions in the industry where women remain under-represented.

Finalists revealed for Annual Awards of Excellence 2012

25-Apr-2012 - Nearly 50 young chefs, pastry chefs and waiters have made it through to the finals of the Academy of Culinary Arts’ Annual Awards of Excellence 2012.

News in brief

Charlie McVeigh secures Draft House number five

25-Apr-2012 - Charlie McVeigh’s The Draft House concept is set to cross the river Thames having secured a fifth site in Fitzrovia, on the corner of Charlotte Street and Goodge Street. 

News in brief

ALMR opens nominations for top operations managers

24-Apr-2012 - The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has announced it has opened nominations for its annual Operations Managers Awards which recognize excellence in the licensed leisure sector. 

Gregg Wallace appoints new Gregg's Table head chef after less than two months

24-Apr-2012 - Masterchef host and judge Gregg Wallace has appointed a new head chef at his Bermondsey Square Hotel restaurant Gregg's Table less than two months after the restaurant opened.

The Edge Hotel School: Essex hotel to be run by students

24-Apr-2012 - The Edge Hotel School - the UK’s first hotel school to provide degree-level studies entirely within a fully operational commercial hotel - is set to enrol its first set of students to the newly refurbished Wivenhoe House hotel and restaurant in Essex later this year.

Hospitality industry steps up calls for VAT cut to boost business and jobs

23-Apr-2012 - The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has revealed results of a new survey which show an overwhelming majority of operators support calls for a VAT cut. 

Village Hotels expands with luxury room launch as De Vere Group disposes hotels

23-Apr-2012 - De Vere Group has announced it has disposed of two hotels with plans to sell two more to fund development of its brands including De Vere Village Hotels where Robert Cook has launched a new luxury room type; 'Upper Deck'.

Cyrus Todiwala expands Café Spice Namaste into event catering with new partnership

23-Apr-2012 - Cyrus and Pervin Todiwala have launched an event catering partnership for their pan-Indian restaurant Café Spice Namaste with the London-based event company and caterer Moving Venue.

Craft Guild of Chefs reveals finalists for 2012 Awards

23-Apr-2012 - The shortlist for the 2012 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards has been announced for all 15 categories, following a record number of entries from chefs across the UK.

Thomas Keller receives World's 50 Best Lifetime Achievement Award

23-Apr-2012 - Thomas Keller has been given the S.Pellegrino Lifetime Achievement Award by the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Academy.

Noma's René Redzepi to set up restaurant in London during 2012 Olympics

23-Apr-2012 - Noma's head chef René Redzepi is to open a pop-up restaurant at London hotel Claridge's this summer to coincide with the start of the 2012 Olympics. 

Raymond Blanc and Spirit Pub Company among Footprint Awards 2012 nominees

20-Apr-2012 - Raymond Blanc, Spirit Pub Company, The Clink and Sark Island Hotels are among hospitality professionals and businesses nominated for the Footprint Awards 2012 which celebrates sustainable and environmental excellence in the foodservice supply chain.

Career Profile: Martin Morales

20-Apr-2012 - Peruvian-born entrepreneur Martin Morales has finally ventured into the restaurant sector after years of wait, with last month's opening of Ceviche in Soho - featuring the UK's first pisco bar. The ex-DJ and Apple executive talks to BigHospitality about some of his thoughts on life, his career and the hospitality industry.

World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2012: The final countdown begins

20-Apr-2012 - With just one week to go until the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2012 on 30 April at the London Guildhall speculation is mounting over which chefs will be celebrating and which restaurant will be taking home the top prize. 

Chancellor ‘totally wrong to raise beer tax’, says BBPA

20-Apr-2012 - The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has slammed Chancellor George Osborne and the Government for their decision to raise beer tax by a further five per cent in the March Budget.

Chris Meredith and Scot Turner to leave Coworth Park

19-Apr-2012 - 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. 

Ribstock 2012: Top chefs to compete for title of Great British Rib Champion

19-Apr-2012 - Ten of the UK’s best restaurants and chefs are set to compete in Ribstock - a barbecue rib cook-off taking place in London’s Soho later this month.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings to open two more restaurants in Doha

19-Apr-2012 - Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) is to open two more restaurants this year in the Qatari capital of Doha.