Fine Dining

World Pastry Cup 2015: UK team comes 6th

27-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The UK team competing in the World Pastry Cup (Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie) took sixth place at the final in Lyon yesterday, the highest result for the UK in the history of the competition.

The Goring to close for refurbishment

27-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Goring hotel will close its doors today (27 January) for the first time in its 104-year history to allow refurbishment work on its lobby to be completed. 

Steak of the Art opens Cardiff restaurant

26-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Steak of the Art, the restaurant concept that serves steaks and other meats in an art gallery setting, has opened a second site in Cardiff.

The Sportsman named top UK gastropub

26-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The Sportsman, in Seasalter, Kent, was been voted the best gastropub in the country by a select band of influential industry experts.

Signature Living starts 2015 on a high note

26-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Liverpool's serviced apartment and hotel operator Signature Living has reported starting 2015 on a high note with New Year bookings up 40 per cent on the previous year. 

Debrett's 500: Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton among food & drink's most influential

26-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Chefs Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton along with restaurateurs Russell Norman and Alan Yau have made a list of the 500 most influential people in Britain according to The Peerage publisher Debrett's.

Fall in unemployed 16 – 18 year olds

26-Jan-2015 By Ruth Williams

The number of 16 – 18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) has fallen to 148,000 out the population of two million but it is still behind other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) according...

S.Pellegrino reveals UK judges for Young Chef 2015

26-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

S.Pellegrino has recruited four of the UK & Ireland’s leading chefs to help identify the world’s best young culinary talent.

Jean-Christophe Novelli to open Liverpool restaurant

23-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Jean-Christophe Novelli will make a return to the UK restaurant industry with the launch of his own brasserie in Liverpool city centre this spring.

Hipping Hall and The Ryebeck owner to open third hotel

23-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Andrew Wildsmith, the owner of Hipping Hall and The Ryebeck hotels in Cumbria, will open a third hotel in the county this summer after acquiring a former walkers’ hostel.

Sandra Kelly of Whitbread on plugging the skills gap in hospitality

23-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sandra Kelly, head of education at Whitbread, suggests ways the hospitality sector can best address its skills shortage.

Scott Hallsworth to move Kurobuta Chelsea and open new Pan Asian diner

22-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Chef Scott Hallsworth is moving Kurobuta Chelsea to a larger location on King’s Road and opening a new Pan Asian diner in its place.

Nestlé Professional Toque D’Or 2015: regional finalists revealed

22-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

A record breaking 36 college teams have made it through to the regional heats of the Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or 2015.

Bulldog Hotel Group set for expansion following Commer Group investment

22-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Independent hotel operator Bulldog Hotel Group has outlined plans to double the size of its business after gaining investment from the Commer Group.

UK regions feel benefit of overseas visitor growth

22-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

UK regions saw faster growth in overseas visits than London last year, although the capital enjoyed the biggest uplift in tourism spend, according to new analysis from VisitBritain.

Hampton by Hilton to open hotel at Humberside Airport

22-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hilton Worldwide has announced plans to open a Hampton by Hilton hotel at Humberside Airport. 

Feeling valued is top priority for third of hospitality workers

22-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Two thirds of hospitality workers believe it is important to feel passionate about a job while a third think feeling valued is a top priority, a survey looking into employee motivation has found.

First look: Ealing Park Tavern

22-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

ETM Group opened its latest venture, Ealing Park Tavern, in South Ealing yesterday – BigHospitality takes a first glimpse inside.

Team UK turns to crowdfunding to improve Bocuse d'Or chances

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Chefs competing in the UK team for this year's Bocuse d'Or have launched a crowdfunding campaign to improve their chances in the global competition.

Auction house Bonhams opens restaurant with chef Tom Kemble

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

International auction house Bonhams has opened its first restaurant with ex-Hedone chef Tom Kemble in the kitchen. 

Haymarket Hotel tops TripAdvisor's 2015 Travellers' Choice Awards

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Haymarket Hotel in London has been voted the UK's top hotel for 2015 by users of reviews website TripAdvisor. 

Hotel Indigo implements neighbourhood food policy to broaden F&B appeal

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

InterContinental Hotels Group's (IHG) boutique brand Hotel Indigo has introduced a new neighbourhood food policy to its F&B offering to help broaden its appeal to guests and local customers.

Connect and communicate: AHC 2015 aims to inspire and engage independent hoteliers

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The organisers of the Annual Hotel Conference have said this year's event will aim to provide more relevant advice and networking opportunities than ever for the independent hotelier. 

PRODUCT NEWS

Orderella wins Star Product at The Hospitality Show

21-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Orderella, the cashless app which allows customers to order drinks and food from their smartphones, has been named Star Product at this year's Hospitality Show. 

Second Brighton restaurant from The Coal Shed founder

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Razak Helalat, the restaurateur behind The Coal Shed in Brighton, is opening a second venue in the seaside town.

Village London founder to open European brasserie

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Village London co-founder Clive Watson will open European brasserie Blixen in Spitalfields next month.

Consumer trust is key to building brands, says IHG

20-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has highlighted building consumer trust as a key challenge for hospitality brands in the year ahead.

Active Private Equity takes stake in Honest Burgers

19-Jan-2015 By Mark Wingett

Active Private Equity, the backer of Leon and Evans Cycles, has taken a 50 per cent stake in Honest Burgers, the London-based better burger concept.

Noho Hotel Group to open first Urban Villa hotel in Brentford

19-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Noho Hotel Group is to open Urban Villa, a 100 all-suite bedrooms hotel in Brentford this week. 

Cordon Bleu-trained chef to open healthy takeaway and juice bar Maple & Fitz

19-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Le Cordon Bleu London graduate Adria Wu has unveiled plans to open a new takeaway and cold-pressed juice bar in London’s Fitzrovia where she aims to serve ‘delicious food that makes you feel good.'

Blackpool hotel offers midnight marriages after obtaining 24-hour wedding licence

19-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Hotel Collection’s Imperial Hotel in Blackpool has launched a ‘midnight marriage’ package to its guests after gaining a 24-hour wedding licence from the council.

Labour children's food plan: Concerns of additional bureaucracy for hospitality

19-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Industry bodies have warned politicians against creating additional bureaucracy for the hospitality sector after Labour outlined plans to make high levels of fat, sugar and salt in children’s food illegal under the party's administration. 

Amandine Chaignot joins Rosewood London as executive chef

19-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

French chef Amandine Chaignot has joined Rosewood London as executive chef where she will oversee the hotel's kitchens and restaurants, including the Mirror Room.

SMALL TALK

Ana and Sanja Morris on Le Coq and rotisserie chicken restaurants

19-Jan-2015 By Carina Perkins

Sisters Ana and Sanja Morris talk about starting London's chicken restaurant trend and growing the Le Coq brand. 

Busaba Eathai to open flagship site in Shoreditch

16-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Alan Yau’s casual dining chain Busaba Eathai is to celebrate its 15th birthday with a new flagship venue in Shoreditch that combines a restaurant and cooking academy. 

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill to open at Threadneedles Hotel

16-Jan-2015 By Ruth Williams

Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, one of the restaurant brands created by the high-profile chef, is opening at Threadneedles Hotel under a franchise agreement with Black & White which owns the franchise.

Diner mindset survey offers restaurant planning help

16-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Diners in the North and South East are most likely to splash out on meals spending an average of £113 per month, a new survey looking into differing diner mindsets has revealed.

Hunger for hotels leads to 17% property price rise

16-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Interest from US investors and a return of confidence in the market helped drive up the average property price in the hotel sector by 17 per cent last year, according to a report by Christie & Co. 

Manchester grill restaurant Solita to open third site

15-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Solita is planning to unveil one of the largest restaurants in Prestwich, North Manchester when it opens its third site at the end of May.

Goldsborough Hall opens dining room as restaurant

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The owners of Yorkshire stately home Goldsborough Hall are planning to open its dining room up as a restaurant to allow more people to enjoy the building and help showcase resident chef Paul Richardson-Mackie's skills.

Jackson & Rye plans further restaurant openings

15-Jan-2015 By Mark Wingett

The team behind the Richard Caring-backed Jackson & Rye is planning to open another three or four sites under the concept this year.

Joe's Southern Kitchen to open in Kentish Town

15-Jan-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Joe’s Southern Kitchen & Bar is to launch a second restaurant in London this spring as it forges ahead with plans to open up to four restaurants by 2018. 

IHG to run Dominvs Hospitality's Aberdeen hotels

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a deal with Dominvs Hospitality to run its two hotels at Aberdeen Airport. 

Police appeal for information on missing hotel night manager

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Members of the hospitality industry are being asked to get in touch with police over the disappearance of a hotel night manager. 

The Burlington Restaurant gains four AA rosettes

15-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Burlington Restaurant at The Devonshire Arms Hotel in Bolton Abbey is celebrating after receiving four rosettes in the AA's latest round up of inspections. 

Covent Garden's Porters to relocate to Berkhamsted

14-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Two restaurants in Covent Garden are to relocate more than 25 miles away to Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire where they will reopen as a single business.

Employers raise concerns over Government direct apprenticeship funding plans

14-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The Government has conceded “further design work” is necessary in its bid to give employers direct control of apprenticeship funding after a public consultation raised concerns over cost and extra paperwork.

Notting Hill boosted by restaurant openings

14-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The Notting Hill dining scene has been boosted with the arrival of two new restaurants situated within yards of each other.

Starwood Capital Group buys The Town House Collection

14-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Private investment firm Starwood Capital Group has acquired the Town House Collection as part of its strategy to buy prime hotel assets in top performing markets. 

Bespoke appoints managing director for Hotel Gotham

14-Jan-2015 By Emma Eversham

Bespoke has appointed Jeff Ward managing director of Manchester's Hotel Gotham, three months ahead of its much-awaited opening.