All news articles for January 2014

Confidence boost? Horizons expects consumer confidence to return in line with economic growth

Consumer confidence setback puts restaurants in ‘stop-start mode’

By Luke Nicholls

With latest figures showing that consumer confidence suffered an unexpected dip in the final quarter of 2013, foodservice consultancy Horizons believes the eating-out sector will remain in ‘stop-start mode’ until the economy has fully recovered. 

Fair deal? The OFT has laid the groundwork for OTAs to compete more aggressively over the price of hotel rooms

OFT clears way for cheaper hotel room discounts

By Luke Nicholls

Online travel agents (OTAs) and hotels will now be able to offer greater discounts on online bookings after an investigation from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) into competition practices.

Bianco43 owners open fourth restaurant

Bianco43 owners open fourth restaurant

By Emma Eversham

Bianco43, the Italian restaurant company run by Massimo Parodi and Fabrizio Margarita, is to open its fourth site close to Trafalgar Square today (30 January). 

Swish kit: Whether its a fully bespoke range or just a smaller piece of kit your after, this photo gallery should help

Equipping your kitchen: The latest products in pictures

By Luke Nicholls

From large bespoke oven ranges to small salamander grills, chefs' requirements' for their perfect kitchen are often as varied and fanciful as they are mind-blowingly expensive. But hopefully this picture guide of 15 of the hottest pieces of...

UK leads growth in EMEA hotel investment

UK leads growth in EMEA hotel investment

By Carina Perkins

The UK is leading a ‘resurgence’ in hotel investment in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s Global Hotel Investor Outlook 2013.

There are numerous questions you should be asking yourself when on the hunt for a new bit of kit

Equipping your kitchen: a buyer's guide

By Luke Nicholls

How much should I spend? How long should it last? Do I even really need one? These are the questions every chef and restaurant operator will be asking when on the hunt for a new bit of kitchen kit. Here are BigHospitality’s top 15 tips on what to look...

Jamie Oliver Restaurants shuts three Union Jacks

Jamie Oliver Restaurants shuts three Union Jacks

By Mark Wingett

Jamie Oliver Restaurants has closed three of the four sites currently operating under its Union Jacks brand, as the company looks to concentrate on the continued roll out of its core Jamie’s Italian chain both in the UK and internationally. 

L-R: George's directors, Bernie Taylor, Ryan Giggs and Kelvin Gregory at the official launch last week

Ryan Giggs opens new restaurant in Worsley

By Luke Nicholls

Fresh from opening his football-themed restaurant with former teammate Gary Neville, Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has launched a new, premium dining destination in Worsley.

(L-R): Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent founded Leon in 2004 with a site in Carnaby Street

Leon starts regional expansion drive

By Mark Wingett

Leon, the healthy fast food chain led by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, has embarked on its expansion drive outside London, with an opening of a site at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone and restated that it could grow to over 100 units across the...

Bidroom, which launched worldwide earlier this month, is currently available for hotels in London and Edinburgh

New hotel booking website 'gives OTAs the boot'

By Luke Nicholls

The co-founder of a new booking website that allows hotels to bid for guests believes the current Online Travel Agency (OTA) model is an ‘unsustainable, tangled web that only serves the intermediates’.

UK team wins European Pastry Cup 2014

UK team wins European Pastry Cup 2014

By Emma Eversham

The UK team has won the European Pastry Cup, earning itself a cash prize and securing a place in next year's Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie. 

Idle Rocks owners buy St Mawes Hotel

Idle Rocks owners buy St Mawes Hotel

By Emma Eversham

The owners of the Idle Rocks hotel in St Mawes, Cornwall have acquired the St Mawes Hotel in the same town to help 'add scale' to their business. 

North West hotels lead UK profit growth

North West hotels lead UK profit growth

By Carina Perkins

UK hotels performed well last year, with eight out of 12 regions achieving profit growth, according to the latest Hotstats report.

Poppies Fish & Chips voted best in UK

Poppies Fish & Chips voted best in UK

By Carina Perkins

Spitalfields institution Poppies Fish & Chips has been voted the UK’s Best Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant at the 2014 National Fish & Chip Awards.

Lionel Benjamin was attracted to the 'entrepreneurial flair' of the Topland Group

Topland hires hotels director to drive £1bn business plans

By Luke Nicholls

One month after revealing plans to build a ‘£1bn hotel business’, the Topland Group has appointed a new director of hotels to lead the international property and investment firm through its next stage of growth.

Dagmara Glesmer-Salamon has become the general manager of Vapiano's Great Portland Street branch

People on the Move in Hospitality: January 2014

By Luke Nicholls

BigHospitality rounds up some of the latest movers and shakers in the industry with the past month seeing a number of key appointments at hotels, restaurants, pubs including the Dorchester Collection, Vapiano and Anglian Country Inns. 

Hotels must get personal, says new IHG report

Hotels must get personal, says new IHG report

By Carina Perkins

Hotels must focus on offering a personalised service to guests if they want to secure loyal customers in the future, according to a new report from the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).