The top 5 stories in hospitality this week 29/08 - 02/09
What were some of the top stories in hospitality this week? Here's our pick.
- Claude Bosi is to close his two Michelin-starred restaurant Hibiscus on 1 October after nine years in Mayfair. The chef said it was not 'the end', but simply the start of a 'new chapter', with a further announcement expected later this year.
- Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) has been sold to Famous Brands, owner of the Wimpy burger chain, for £120m. South African-based Famous Brands said it saw 'substantial growth opportunities' for GBK and was aiming to open 10-15 restaurants a year.
- Chef Adam Handling has reignited the TripAdvisor debate after he apologised for branding a user an 'imbecile' for leaving a bad review of his restaurant The Frog on the site. Handling encouraged diners to be more honest at the time of the meal as online reviews denied restaurants the chance to 'put things right'.
- Cult Canadian chain Tim Hortons is to bring its coffee and doughnuts to the UK after signing a franchise deal with an unnamed investor. It is the first European agreement of its kind for the Burger King-owned brand, which indicated stores could open as early as 2017.
- The American boutique hotel brand Kimpton Hotels could be on course to open in the UK following its European debut in Amsterdam in 2017. Parent company Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) confirmed it was interested in launching Kimpton in London, Milan and Berlin as well as worldwide.
For a full rundown of this week's news, click here.
