All news articles for February 2009

Ankur Ahuja's BigTalent

Ankur Ahuja's BigTalent

By Becky Paskin

Grosvenor House Hotel’s housekeeping executive Ankur Ahuja tells Becky Paskin how his grounding in Indian hospitality led him to achieve industry recognition in the UK, in our latest BigTalent interview

Mat Follas crowned Masterchef 2009

Mat Follas crowned Masterchef 2009

By Becky Paskin

Mat Follas, a 42-year old New Zealand IT engineer from Dorset, has been crowned the Masterchef winner for 2009 after beating fellow finalists Andy Oliver and Chris Gates to the title

Restaurant discounts here to stay says Martin Lewis

Restaurant discounts here to stay says Martin Lewis

By Joe Lutrario

Martin Lewis, the man behind money-saving advice website Moneysavingexpert.com says restaurant discount vouchers will continue to drive trade throughout the recession and after it has ended

Queen meets hospitality students

Queen meets hospitality students

By Emma Eversham

The Queen meets hospitality students at Thames Valley University as she officially opens new facilities there

Travelodge aims to double business trade

Travelodge aims to double business trade

By Emma Eversham

The budget hotel chain aims to double the number of business travellers staying at its hotels this year with the launch of a business account card

Tom Maxfield to sell Fisherman's Lodge

Tom Maxfield to sell Fisherman's Lodge

By Emma Eversham

The North East entrepreneur who turned Seaham Hall into a luxury hotel has put his Newcastle restaurant Fishermans Lodge on the market to concentrate on other business

Business profile: Rhubarb takes flight

Business profile: Rhubarb takes flight

By Emma Eversham

Catering company Rhubarb has opened its first restaurant and its at Heathrows T3. BigHospitality went along to see how it is performing in an environment dominated by established high street operators

Chinese restaurant Twitters way to success

Chinese restaurant Twitters way to success

By Emma Eversham

The owner of Sweet Mandarin restaurant in Manchester says demand for tables has gone through the roof since she started using social networking and micro-blogging service Twitter

Rising Star: Carl Fleischer

Rising Star: Carl Fleischer

By Emma Eversham

Our hospitality student of the month tells us about his inspirations and aspirations as he prepares for a career in the industry

Disaronno runs Valentines Day promotion

Disaronno runs Valentines Day promotion

By Emma Eversham

The Italian liqueur brand is running a Valentines promotion in the on-trade throughout February and March as part of plans to drive growth and sales

National Chip Week: Fryer Guide

National Chip Week: Fryer Guide

By Jackie Mitchell

To produce quality chips in volume, youll need a reliable fryer, but how do you choose one to suit your establishment? Find the answers in BigHospitalitys Fryer Guide

100 MPs back freeze on beer tax

100 MPs back freeze on beer tax

By Emma Eversham

A campaign to stop the government’s plans to increase beer tax in this year’s Budget in order to give the pub industry a break gains the backing of 113 MPs

Rick Stein becomes pub landlord

Rick Stein becomes pub landlord

By Emma Eversham

The seafood chef signs a 15 year lease with St Austell Brewery to run the Cornish Arms at St Merryn in Cornwall

Boost chip sales during National Chip Week

Boost chip sales during National Chip Week

By Emma Eversham

National Chip Week starts on Monday so be sure to log on to BigHospitality throughout the week to find out how to maximise sales by featuring them on the menu

Chavot and Singh cook for Mumbai victims

Chavot and Singh cook for Mumbai victims

By Becky Paskin

Eric Chavot and Vivek Singh are to cook for a charity fundraiser, of which all proceeds will go to helping the families of the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attacks

Guiding principles

Guiding principles

By Stefan Chomka

Critics say they encourage elitist cooking and inflated egos. The compilers say they help consumer choice and put bums on seats. So are the restaurant guidebooks the industrys saviours or sinners?

Getting in the guides

Getting in the guides

By Emma Eversham

Missed out on being listed in this year’s Michelin guide? Fancy bagging yourself an AA rosette? Read on for details of four of the best known, restaurant, hotel and pub guides and how you can maximize your business’s chances of appearing in them.

Business profile: Leon

Business profile: Leon

By Paul Wootton

Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent set up fast food chain Leon after spotting a gap in the market. And they’ve got some pretty ambitious plans, including going worldwide.

Hotel insolvencies doubled in 2008

Hotel insolvencies doubled in 2008

By Emma Eversham

The number of hotels going bust has doubled in a year and the trend is set to continue through 2009, PricewaterhouseCoopers warned today

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