All news articles for July 2013

The 20-cover venue combines an independent coffee shop and British deli

Damson & Co coffee shop and British deli opens in Soho

By Luke Nicholls

Damson & Co, a new British concept which combines an independent coffee shop with a British-themed deli bar, has just opened the doors of its first outlet – a 20-cover venue on Brewer Street in Soho.

The VAT Club is also distributing 250,000 posters to venues across the UK in order to highlight Tax Parity Day

Borel’s VAT Club calls on support from pubs

By Luke Nicholls

Just weeks after planning ‘Tax Parity Day’ for the hospitality industry, Jacques Borel’s VAT Club has written to every pub in the country, calling for their support in its on-going efforts to reduce VAT to 5 per cent.

How to cut time spent on administration

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How to cut time spent on administration

By Jerry Brand

Jerry Brand of integrated technology provider Caternet suggests ways hospitality managers can cut the hours they spend dealing with paperwork after research it commissioned showed that 86 per cent of food and beverage managers were spending too much time...

Helping staff develop and climb the career ladder can keep them happy and keep staff retention levels high

Want to keep your staff? Invest in training, says People 1st

By Luke Nicholls

With the hospitality industry suffering from low levels of staff retention, nearly three-quarters of businesses working across the sector now believe that training holds the key, with an increase in budgets required to reduce turnover rates. 

Keep menus simple to combat food inflation, chefs told

Keep menus simple to combat food inflation, chefs told

By Emma Eversham

Chefs and restaurateurs have been advised to keep their menus simple and look at streamlining processes within the kitchen to help keep their business thriving while food prices continue to rise.

Business Profile: Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Business Profile: Gourmet Burger Kitchen

By Joe Lutrario

Gourmet Burger Kitchen has grown to become the UK’s biggest premium patty purveyor, but a host of new players are threatening to shake up the market. 

Popular US burger chain Five Guys has reportedly already secured two further UK sites after opening its first restaurant in Covent Garden

Five Guys to open at Westfield London

By Mark Wingett

Five Guys, the popular US burger chain, which launched its first UK site to long queues last week in Covent Garden, is understood to have secured a third site here, at Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush.

GG Hospitality's managing director Stuart Procter (centre) says Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have been involved in every detail of the business

Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs launch new hotel and restaurant business

By Luke Nicholls

Manchester United star Ryan Giggs and former United defender and pundit Gary Neville have together launched a football-themed hospitality company with a restaurant being launched in Westfield Stratford later this year and a hotel opening in Manchester...

Danny Meyer on burgers and enlightened hospitality

Shake Shack's Danny Meyer denies a 'burger war', welcomes competition

By Emma Eversham

New York restaurateur Danny Meyer, who opens the first branch of his burger restaurant Shake Shack outside of the US in London tomorrow, believes there is plenty of space within the market for more burger restaurants, saying he welcomed the arrival of...

Lancashire-based root vegetable company Huntapac has launched a crisps product for the first time

Huntapac launches root vegetable crisps

By Peter Ruddick

Lancashire-based root vegetable grower Huntapac has launched a packet of crisps using its vegetables which will be exclusively available to wholesale buyers. 

Charles and Christine Harris will re-open The Lygon Arms as The Forest at Feckenham in August

CD Pub Co hits Worcestershire

By Luke Nicholls

Warwickshire-based business CD Pub Co has added a third venue to its portfolio of food-led pubs, having purchased the freehold of The Lygon Arms in Feckenham from Enterprise Inns. 

The two sides had been in a legal battle for over two years for control of the Maybourne Hotel Group, which includes Claridge's

Maybourne Hotel Group: McKillen loses battle with Barclay brothers

By Luke Nicholls

Property developer Patrick McKillen has today suffered ‘a complete and total defeat’ at the hands of the billionaire Barclay brothers after losing his latest appeal in a two-year dispute over the ownership and control of the Maybourne Hotel Group.

DoubleTree Hyde Park now includes a 24-hour fitness centre, 12 new first-floor guest rooms and a ‘farm to fork’ restaurant

DoubleTree continues UK growth with Hyde Park hotel opening

By Luke Nicholls

Less than a week after DoubleTree by Hilton entered Dundee, Hilton Worldwide’s upscale hotel brand has added the DoubleTree by Hilton London Hyde Park to its growing portfolio, following a £10m refurbishment of the 228-bedroom property.

Steakhouse chain Hawksmoor won the Culinary Award for its fresh, high-quality food

ALMR Late Night Awards 2013: Winners revealed

By Luke Nicholls

Hawksmoor, Be At One and Luminar were among the big winners of the inaugural ‘Late Night Awards’ from the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), held at a special ‘Dusk ‘til Dawn’ event in London’s Café de Paris earlier this week.

Japanese restaurant Kurobuta expansion plans

Scott Hallsworth: Kurobuta expansion likely

By Emma Eversham

Chef Scott Hallsworth, who announced new Japanese izykaya Kurobuta earlier this week, has said he plans to roll the concept out to other sites once the original is established.

Raising the white flag: Union Jacks fell flat

Jamie turns to trattorias as Union Jacks fails to fly

By Mark Wingett

“I still worry that it’s all going to come tumbling down. I still feel like I’m 17 and I’ve got it all to prove. I have to pinch myself when I sit down and think about everything that’s happened to me. But I don’t get complacent about it,” so answered...

Hub by Premier Inn hotel rooms are just 11.4sq.m, with an en-suite shower, 40-inch TV and free Wi-Fi

Hub by Premier Inn: Whitbread launches cheaper budget hotel brand

By Luke Nicholls

The battle for control over the budget hotel market has today taken another turn as Whitbread has announced the launch of ‘Hub by Premier Inn’, a new city centre brand offering rooms around 25 per cent cheaper than standard Premier Inn pricing.

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