All news articles for February 2011

Hotels across UK hit by tough trading in January

Hotels across UK hit by tough trading in January

By Lorraine Heller

Hotels in London were faced with lower demand for their rooms in January, indicating that even the resilience of the capital is impacted by the traditionally tough trading month.

Breakfast: Is your hotel getting it right?

Breakfast: Is your hotel getting it right?

By Lorraine Heller

Breakfast in hotels is often one of the most under-rated and overlooked meals, but if it’s done right it becomes a key driver for business and extra revenue. BigHospitality takes a look at how you can make the most of breakfast in your hotel.

Pearls of Wisdom: Michael Caines

Pearls of Wisdom: Michael Caines

By Joe Lutrario

Trained under Raymond Blanc and Joël Robuchon, Michael Caines is operational partner, director and executive chef at both Devon’s Gidleigh Park and The Bath Priory in Bath.

Pizza Express rolls out Living Lab design

Pizza Express rolls out Living Lab design

By Becky Paskin

Pizza Express is set to roll out the pioneering features from its Living Lab site in Richmond to the rest of its estate, starting with six “New Generation” restaurants penned to launch in the next two months.

Punch launches Original Pub format

Punch launches Original Pub format

By Mark Wingett

Punch Pub Company, the managed arm of Punch Taverns, is to roll out a new pub format – Original Pub Company – as part of its continued focus on concept strategy.

Loyalty cards go digital with Stampfeet smartphone app

Loyalty cards go digital with Stampfeet smartphone app

By Lorraine Heller

Restaurants, bars and coffee shops are trialling a new mobile loyalty scheme that allows customers to collect loyalty points on their smartphones, while businesses get a new way to communicate with their clients and detailed analytics on their loyalty...

Breakfast: Is it right for your restaurant?

Breakfast: Is it right for your restaurant?

By Becky Paskin

Some restaurant operators have been serving breakfast successfully for years, while others are only just beginning to understand the potential revenue stream afforded by the early morning mealtime.

Soho House goes west with Pizza East

Soho House goes west with Pizza East

By Mark Wingett

Soho House Group, the bar, restaurant and private members club company owned by Richard Caring and headed by Nick Jones, has acquired a second site in London for its pizzeria concept, Pizza East.

Ask the Experts: Preparing for the 2012 Games Part II

Ask the Experts: Preparing for the 2012 Games Part II

In the second part of this series on how the hospitality sector can prepare for the 2012 Games, Vince Fihosy, Director of London 2012 City Operations, tells BigHospitality readers about transport changes, engaging staff and preparing for special events.

Town & City invests in chef training schools

Town & City invests in chef training schools

By Becky Paskin

Town & City Pub Company, operator of Yates’s and Slug and Lettuce, has launched its own chef schools to help chefs and kitchen managers improve their skills.

Career Profile: Morag Stark

Career Profile: Morag Stark

By Becky Paskin

Morag Stark is the general manage of the MacDonald-owned Cardrona Hotel in Peebles, but had started her career in hospitality with the NHS, which gave her the basic skills she needed to succeed.

No hotel CSR could cost you business, say Considerate Hoteliers

No hotel CSR could cost you business, say Considerate Hoteliers

By Lorraine Heller

Hoteliers not thinking about social and environmental responsibility will likely face losing some business as the consumer and corporate market becomes increasingly more demanding in the field, says the Considerate Hoteliers Association.

Draft House and Bennett’s appointments

Draft House and Bennett’s appointments

By Becky Paskin

Charlie McVeigh’s Draft House has appointed a new operations director to oversee its three existing venues in London and future openings.

Extended opening hours for Royal Wedding

Extended opening hours for Royal Wedding

By Lorraine Heller

The government intends to grant extended opening hours to restaurants and pubs during the Royal Wedding, allowing venues in England and Wales to serve food and alcohol until 1am on the festive weekend.

Breakfast: Expanding your offering in pubs

Breakfast: Expanding your offering in pubs

By Lorraine Heller

With some of the biggest high street pub brands moving into the breakfast market, BigHospitality takes a look at why early morning trade makes sense – for some pubs.

Quarter of operators fail to upsell wines

Quarter of operators fail to upsell wines

By Becky Paskin

A quarter of hospitality operators are missing out on potential revenue by failing to encourage their staff to upsell wines, research has found.

Ask the Experts: Preparing for the 2012 Games Part I

Ask the Experts: Preparing for the 2012 Games Part I

The eyes of the world will be on the capital as London hosts global events in 2012 and in the run-up to the 2012 Games. Vince Fihosy, Director of London 2012 City Operations, tells BigHospitality readers how the hospitality sector should prepare for the...

Pearls of Wisdom: Ronan Sayburn

Pearls of Wisdom: Ronan Sayburn

By Becky Paskin

The Master Sommelier has been Hotel du Vin’s director of wine for 15 months, and previously oversaw the wine offer at Gordon Ramsay Holdings for eight years. He recently appeared on Michel Roux’s Service programme for BBC2, and is now concentrating on...

Be wary of Olympics ‘displacement effect’, warns Minister

Be wary of Olympics ‘displacement effect’, warns Minister

By Lorraine Heller

The Minister of Tourism John Penrose has warned the hospitality sector to be wary of a ‘displacement effect’ that could be caused by the Olympics, saying it is crucial to treat the event as the hors d’oeuvre rather than the main course if the UK is to...

Former Clapham House boss in new venture

Former Clapham House boss in new venture

By Mark Stretton

David Page, the restaurant industry veteran and former chief executive of Pizza Express, has teamed up with Giuseppe Mascoli, the Italian chef behind the fledgling Franco Manca pizza chain.

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