Compass capitalises Sundays and Macdonald Hotels offers bargain autumn breaks
The hospitality industry may be about providing food, drink, accommodation and service, but sometimes you have to go the extra mile to pull customers in. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to make your business more appealing take a look at what others are doing for inspiration.
Sunday screenings
The Compass in Islington has found a way to extend the amount of time its customers remain on site on Sundays by showing free screenings of classic films in its function room. The pub will serve roasts from noon until 9pm with films starting in the upstairs screening room from 5pm. Main courses are priced from £12 and the pub also has an extensive drinks menu, including cocktails such as its signature Bloody Mary; wines in half-litre carafes, beer and cider available while films are shown.
Curry and cufflinks
Cinnamon Club executive chef Vivek Singh has joined forces with jeweller Elizabeth de Chambrun to co-design two pieces of jewellery that will be sold in the Westminster restaurant and its city counterpart, Cinnamon Kitchen. Handmade silver earrings and cufflinks featuring a cinnamon leaf motif were made by Indian jeweller de Chambrun after she met with Singh and the pair realised they had a common goal to showcase the best of their native India. The range will be launched on November 10 and pieces will be sold for £75 each at both sites.
Fireworks
The OXO Tower restaurant is making the most of its Thameside location and views by offering customers the chance to watch the Lord Mayor's fireworks display there. For £20 customers can watch the display, which signifies the start of the mayor's year in office, on 14 November from the restaurant's terrace, drink Buffalo Trace cocktails and eat pulled pork wraps with a bbq sauce, cornbread and slaw.
Autumn offers
Macdonald Hotels has introduced a range of midweek and weekend hotel break packages for autumn to boost trade in the period between summer and Christmas. Packages start from £39 B&B per person per night with dinner available for an extra £20 per person. The hotel group is also giving customers a £15 voucher per night's stay midweek (£10 voucher for weekend stays) that can be used against spa treatments or in one of its restaurants.
Send promotional business ideas to share with the rest of the industry to arjf@ovtubfcvgnyvgl.pb.hx.
