All news articles for March 2014

The new mobile payment system was trialled at GBK’s Richmond site last year

Wagamama and GBK embrace mobile payment

By Mark Wingett

Wagamama and Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) have joined Prezzo in introducing new mobile payment technology via the PayPal smartphone app to the whole of their estates.

The Mayor of London said training and apprenticeship initiatives like these are 'the way forward' for the industry

Hospitality 'walks the talk' on job creation

By Luke Nicholls

Following another successful National Apprenticeship Week for the hospitality industry, a number of other hotels, restaurants and pubs have since stepped up to the plate to offer training and apprenticeship initiatives of their own.

Range of stylish fire safety products launched

Range of stylish fire safety products launched

By Lauren Houghton

The Henry Wolfe Collection is a new range of stylish fire safety products intended to complement smart restaurants and hotels. It consists of quality, modern pieces including fire extinguishers, door retainers and metallic safety signs.

Development Chef Awards 2014: In Pictures

Development Chef Awards 2014: In Pictures

By Carina Perkins

The Farm Frites Development Chef Awards 2014 took place in London yesterday, recognising and rewarding the best menus, dishes and multi-site chefs across the restaurant and pub sector.

PPHE Hotel Group reveals London expansion plans

PPHE Hotel Group reveals London expansion plans

By Carina Perkins

PPHE Hotel Group is planning to build three new hotels in London and spend €8.4 million on upgrading four of its existing hotels, which will almost double its room count in the Capital.

Dev Biswal is aware of the 'huge number of variables' he faces when expanding The Ambrette

The Ambrette set for South East expansion

By Joe Lutrario & Luke Nicholls

Dev Biswal, chef patron of The Ambrette which has restaurants in Margate and Rye, has revealed plans to expand across the South East, with two new sites opening in the coming few months. 

The alcohol duty escalator has been scrapped and 1p has been cut from beer tax

Budget 2014: Key points and reaction

By Luke Nicholls

Following the delivery of the 2014 Budget by Chancellor George Osborne earlier today, BigHospitality caught up with some of the key organisations representing pubs, hotels and restaurants as well as individual operators for their reaction.

Women in hospitality conference

Women 1st announce 2014 conference date

By Lauren Houghton

Women 1st, the initiative which aims to increase the number of women working in senior positions in hospitality, is holding its third annual conference at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in London on 3 July 2014. 

George Osborne delivered the Government's 2014 Budget to a jubilant House of Commons earlier today (19 March)

Budget 2014: George Osborne scraps alcohol duty escalator

By Luke Nicholls

Pubs across the UK can breathe a big sigh of relief today as Chancellor George Osborne has once again scrapped the punitive escalator for all alcohol duties and cut another penny off the price of a pint of beer in his 2014 Budget announcement. 

Chancellor George Osborne will make his 2014 Budget announcement at 12:30 GMT

Budget 2014: What can we expect from George Osborne?

By Luke Nicholls

The Chancellor George Osborne will today present 'a Budget for a resilient economy'. But with further calls for another beer duty cut and a reduction in VAT, hospitality professionals will undoubtedly be among those watching most closely.

The Convotherm 4 merges a conventional oven with a steamer in a single unit.

New Convotherm 4 steamer focuses on aesthetic design

By Lauren Houghton

German combi steamer company Convotherm Elektrogeräte GmbH has launched Convotherm 4. This latest steamer aims to combine aesthetic design with functionality and low energy consumption.

Laura Morgan, Stephanie Dennett, Scott Golding and Emma Sweet have all taken up new positions at Brakspear

People on the Move in Hospitality: March 2014

By Luke Nicholls

We've rounded up some of the latest movers and shakers in the hospitality industry, with the past month seeing a number of key appointments at hotels, restaurants, pubs including Hampton by Hilton, Brakspear and The Fable.

The four-star Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel has undergone a significant refurbishment of its public areas and meeting rooms

Macdonald Hotels focuses on health & wellbeing

By Luke Nicholls

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has been investing heavily in its estate, with a £1.4m upgrade of the spa facilities at Craxon Wood hotel in Chester and a significant refurbishment of the Alveston Manor Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Heston Blumenthal was awarded Doctor of Sciences, while Lorraine Pascale received a First Class Honours

Hospitality stars honoured at industry awards

By Luke Nicholls

Heston Blumenthal, Fred Sirieix, Chris Corbin and Jeremy King were among some of the biggest names from the hospitality industry to receive honorary awards from the University of West London’s School of Hospitality & Tourism.

Marcus Wareing's new restaurant, Tredwell's, will be led by group operations director Chantelle Nicholson

Marcus Wareing to open third London restaurant

By Luke Nicholls

Marcus Wareing Restaurants, led by the eponymous two-Michelin-starred chef, is opening a third London restaurant in Covent Garden which marks an 'exciting stage of growth' for the business.

The Edge Hotel School's students took part in a number of activities at the five-star Marriott Hotel County Hall

Marriott focuses on youth development with hotel school partnership

By Luke Nicholls

One of Marriott’s flagship London properties has partnered with the UK’s first hotel school in a fully functioning hotel for a series of training workshops which the hotel group hopes will help to inspire the industry’s future leaders.

The East London Liquor Company is the brainchild of former Barworks operations manager Alex Wolpert (left) and master distiller Jamie Baxter (right)

Spirits production returns to East End

By Luke Nicholls

A new craft spirits company is set to bring spirits production back to London’s East End next month with the launch of a gin, whisky and vodka distillery and adjacent cocktail bar.

Vapiano's UK and US managing director Phil Sermon says now is the right time to expand outside of London

Vapiano looks past London

By Luke Nicholls

Fast-casual Italian restaurant chain Vapiano has announced it is looking for ‘entrepreneurial partners’ to support its UK expansion outside of London.

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