Stand-up at Slumdog restaurant and Alpine dishes at Le Bouchon Breton
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.
Comedy and curry
'Curry King' Charan Gill has introduced a weekly comedy night at his recently-opened Glasgow restaurant Slumdog Bar & Kitchen. Every Thursday evening four comedians will take to the stage at the venue to entertain diners who must book tickets in advance to attend. Gill said: “As well as appealing to family get-togethers, birthday parties and groups of friends meeting up on a night out, our early bookings show that businesses recognise the attraction of the Slumdog Stand-up as a cost-effective way to treat and entertain their staff.”
Arty stay
The May Fair hotel in London is giving away tickets to the Royal Academy of Arts' exhibition The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters to guests booking to stay there until 18 April. The Van Gogh package starts from £269 per night and includes open tickets to the exhibition, a gallery guide and full English breakfast.
The Alps come to London
Le Bouchon Breton in Spitalfields Market, London, is taking inspiration from the warming dishes served in the Alps this month and next with its £18 per person La Fete Alpine menu. The team has devised a range of apres-ski dishes designed to be shared, such as Tartiflette, Raclette and Pierrade de Boeuf which are served with a side of onion soup and a Belgian endive and walnut salad with a parmesan dressing and a choice of half a bottle of Roussette de Savoie, two pints of Kronenbourg or two pints of Bulmers cider.
Fairtrade fayre
The Lancaster London hotel has devised a special Fairtrade liqueur coffee menu to be served during Fairtrade Fortnight, running from 22 February until 7 March 2010. All coffees will be made using Fairtrade coffee beans and served with a Fairtrade chocolate. The £8.50 menu includes Double Shot Amaretto Latte, Chilled Espresso Martini and Rich Baileys Mocachino and will be available in the hotel's lounge and both restaurants - Nipa and Island.