All news articles for July 2008

Tip victory for waiting staff

31-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

The government announces plans to stop employers topping up wages with tips

Brewery restaurant employs Masterchef finalist

31-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Masterchef finalist Jonny Stevenson takes on a job at Hilden Brewerys Tap Room Restaurant.

Whitbread and M&B in restaurant and hotel swap

31-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Whitbread acquires 21 Express by Holiday Inn hotels from Mitchells & Butlers in exchange for 44 pub restaurants.

Reduce your salt FSA tells caterers

30-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The FSA is urging restaurants and pubs to commit to lowering the levels of salt in their dishes

Ramsay cheats death after 280ft cliff plunge

30-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Gordon Ramsay struggled to survive after falling from a cliff during filming for the F-Word

The Best of Italy

30-Jul-2008 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant magazine travels to Italy to find the restaurants, dishes and ingredients that make our vita a little more dolce

Beer sales at worst levels since Great Depression

29-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

New figures show on-trade beer sales fallen dramatically as pubs struggle to compete with supermarket prices

Restaurants face profit drop as food prices rise

29-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants may have to swallow rising food costs to keep cash-strapped customers coming through the door, analysts have warned.

Norwich's waiting staff campaign for fair tips

28-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Waiting staff in Norwich take to the streets to get public backing for fair tips campaign

Restaurants may have to rename non-Cornish pasties

28-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Steps by the Cornish Pasty Association mean restaurants and cafes may only sell Cornish Pasties if they originate from Cornwall

Steve Lowy's BigTalent

28-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

BigH meets Umi Hotel’s founder Steve Lowy in the first in a series of exclusive interviews with the best of Britain’s rising talent

Alternative Meat company spreads its wings

25-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

A supplier of exotic and rare meats signs a contract to supply hundreds of pubs and restaurants across the Midlands and Wales

Cyrus Todiwala praised by government

25-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Government praises the celebrity chef’s skills and training programme at restaurant Cafe Spice Namaste

Town House Collection sets up Wine Academy

24-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Scottish hotel group the Town House Collection launches a wine training scheme for staff

Umi Hotels make VQ Day hospitality success

24-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Umi Hotels champions vocational qualifications in hospitality industry at first annual VQ Day

Mason opens his first restaurant

24-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Former Hare and Orrery Head Chef Tristan Mason opens his own restaurant in West Sussex and aims to win back his Michelin star

Business booming for Big Brother Rex’s restaurant

23-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Rex Newmark’s Beach Blanket Babylon restaurant in Notting Hill is reportedly flying high after the housemate’s constant TV plugs

ISS launches Guest Chef Exchange programme

23-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Chefs at catering company ISS Eaton are being encouraged to create a British menu to be served abroad as part of this years Guest Chef Exchange programme.

Pub owner turns bake house into Champagne & seafood bar

22-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Earl of March owner Giles Thompson opens up a Champagne and Seafood Shack for the summer

Chefs to sign contract over sticky toffee pudding recipe

22-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

The Sharrow Bay hotel forces staff to sign document to prevent leaking of its famous Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe

Pubs and bars face tougher rules on alcohol sales

22-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Pubs and bars could face tougher regulations over the sale of alcohol following a major consultation about Englands drinking culture.

Lighten up with cordless lamps from Neoz

22-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Cordless, rechargeable lamps make safe alternative to candles

Young Paragon apprentice breams at Dorset seafood event

21-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Trainee Paragon Skills chef impresses judges Mark Hix and Tom Cull at Young Seafood Chef of the Year

Craft Guild of Chefs launches Culinary Academy

18-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Craft Guild of Chefs sets up academy to boost skills among young chefs

Jacob Kenedy & Victor Hugo to open London restaurant

18-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Former Moro and Konstam Head Chef Jacob Kenedy and partner Victor Hugo unveil plans to open new Italian restaurant in Soho

ECO restaurant launches ice-cream and ham pizzas for expectant mums

17-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

London pizza restaurant ECO, have launched ‘Pregnancy Pizzas’ for expectant mothers, with some very bizarre topping combinations

Independent's fair tips campaign gains pace

17-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

A fair tips campaign launched by the Independent newspaper this week has gained support of chefs and restaurant guide editors

Ashdale adds Harrogate hotel to portfolio

16-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

North-Yorkshire based hotel group Ashdale Hotels buys Grants Hotel in Harrogate

Skills for Chefs winner employed by Ramsay’s Maze

16-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The winner of the competition’s senior heat has been offered a job working in the kitchens of Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurant

Beer tax hike to threaten industry, not binge drinkers

15-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Majority of the British public think the beer tax hike to curb binge drinking, will only harm the already struggling pub industry

Hospitality industry voices economic concerns

15-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

A third of businesses in the hospitality sector say they are concerned about their economic prospects for the coming year according to a new survey

Drinkers want Wi-fi when they visit pubs, survey reveals

15-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

A T-Mobile survey has found that almost half of Brits want to surf the net on-the-go, and have chosen the pub as their favourite location

Rising Star: Ryan Cessford

15-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Every month here on BigHospitality we bring you an insight into the hottest catering and hospitality talent of the future in our Rising Stars section. This month City College, Plymouth student Ryan Cessford talks about his inspirations and aspirations...

Helene Darroze opens for business at The Connaught

14-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

French chef Helene Darroze officially takes over as Executive Chef of the Connaught hotel in Mayfair, London today.

UK’s first energy-generating nightclub opens in Islington

11-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Eco-friendly nightclub, Surya, complete with energy generating dancefloor, opens in Islington

TomTom helps find hidden country pubs

11-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Ale enthusiasts CAMRA have teamed up with TomTom to launch the Good Beer Guide 2008 on their range SatNavs.

Vivek Singh spices up Cinnamon Club with world’s hottest ever curry

11-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The celebrity chef has attempted to get his tongue-melting Bollywood Burner curry into the Guinness Book of Records

Chad Sarno gives raw cooking classes at Saf

10-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The ‘raw chef’ hosts a range of culinary workshops at his London restaurant

Edinburgh hotel group amongst CommunityMark achievers

09-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The Town House Collection hotel group has been recognised by a new national standard for its work within the community

Patisserie Valerie founder unveils new restaurant concept

09-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Enzo Scalzo will open a new art caf? in Belgravia in September

Restaurants could benefit from EU's VAT reduction

09-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

A 65 per cent reduction in VAT rates could help boost restaurant trade if EU plans go ahead

Wine and chocolate matching competition launched

09-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Roussillon wines launches its third Roussillon Dessert Trophy

Momma Cherri & Levi Roots BBQ bash

08-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

The celebrity chefs teamed up at Momma’s Brighton restaurant to celebrate the Fourth of July

Time for tea?

03-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Emma Eversham finds that with little effort and time, but plenty of ideas and enthusiasm, putting afternoon tea on the menu can help boost profits

The lights go on at the Gas Lamp

03-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

Scottish bar and restaurant group Gastro Taverns re-launches its Aberdeen caf? bar The Gas Lamp.

Italian wine, unique design

03-Jul-2008 By Becky Paskin

Voga, the Italian wine in a cylindrical bottle, is to be launched in the UK.

Leicester Sq restaurant & nightclub is sold

02-Jul-2008 By Emma Eversham

The lease for London nightclub and restaurant Number One Leicester Square has been sold to Interguide London for £1m.