Fine Dining

Consumers plan 50% fewer leisure and business trips in 2011, reveals survey

17-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

New consumer research indicates that people and businesses in Europe are planning to severely restrict their travelling and their hotel stays next year, findings that come into direct contrast with the hopes of hoteliers for rejuvenated trade in 2011

US chef Wolfgang Puck to open CUT restaurant at London hotel

17-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

American chef Wolfgang Puck has announced plans to open a London outpost of his popular CUT steak restaurant concept at the Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, 45 Park Lane in Mayfair

Royal Wedding to provide two-year tourism boost for UK

17-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

The royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton next year is expected to bring a two-year boost for hospitality operators, as tourists from across the globe flock to the UK ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games

2011 will be year of stability for UK hotels, says TRI

16-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

UK hotels should expect a period of stability next year, as the industry slowly emerges from the tough trading of the recession into a modest recovery, according to the latest market forecasts

Irish restaurateurs urge government action to prevent daily closures

16-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Restaurateurs in Ireland are calling on the government to take urgent action for the struggling restaurant sector to survive

Ask The Experts: How can I get more tax relief?

15-Nov-2010

BigHospitality puts one reader's question about how to minimise the tax effects of recent legislation affecting the hotel industry to Shirley Smith, Partner at business, tax and wealth advisors Reeves

Sale off for Starwood Capital’s budget Louvre Hotels

15-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Starwood Capital’s Louvre Hotels has dropped plans to sell its UK budget Campanile and Première Classe hotels, and has instead set up a strategy to grow the brands

Michelin-starred meals for £1 at Von Essen, and local game at the Rattlebone Inn

12-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants hotels and pubs, including Von Essen and The Rattlebone Inn, tell us what promotions they are running to attract customers

Pearls of Wisdom: Mark Sainsbury

12-Nov-2010 By William Drew

Mark Sainsbury is the co-owner of Moro and The Zetter hotel – both in Clerkenwell, London – with the latter housing the much-celebrated Bistrot Bruno Loubet. He also set up the Sustainable Restaurant Association earlier this year

Customer service training project to reach 200,000 by Olympics

12-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

People 1st has launched a new campaign to train 200,000 hospitality and tourism staff in time for the 2012 Olympics

Hibiscus's Claude Bosi to open Wimbledon pub

11-Nov-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Claude Bosi, chef patron at two-Michelin star Mayfair restaurant Hibiscus, is to take on a pub-with-rooms with brother Cedric, BigHospitality can reveal.

Marriott buys London hotel for first EU ‘boutique’ venue

11-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Marriott International has purchased the historic Berners Hotel in London, which it plans to redevelop over the next two years into a boutique Edition brand hotel

Turnover and sales up at The Restaurant Group

11-Nov-2010 By Martyn Leek

The 380-strong Restaurant Group, whose brands include Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito and Garfunkel's, has reported an 8 per cent increase in turnover for the 45 weeks to 7 November on last year

Atul Kochhar's Lamb Rogan Josh recipe

10-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

With National Curry Week around the corner (21-27 November), we've published this recipe for Lamb Rogan Josh by Michelin-starred Indian chef Atul Kochhar, to inspire you to get involved

Victoria pubs and restaurants launch online crime watch system

10-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Restaurants, pubs and cafes in London Victoria are trialling a new crime reporting system that aims to create a crime watch network between businesses in order to deter potential thieves

Marcus Wareing to open restaurant at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

09-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Marcus Wareing is to open a second London restaurant at Marriott’s St Pancras Renaissance Hotel when it relaunches in May 2011

London named World's Leading Destination once more

09-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

London has been voted the World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for the fifth time, following a rise in international visitors to the capital this year

US trends shaping the restaurant market

09-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

The US restaurant scene, which is one of the most competitive and dynamic markets in the world, is giving itself a facelift to respond to changing consumer behaviour. With the UK just several steps behind, restaurateurs here could gain valuable insight...

Business Profile: Busaba Eathai

08-Nov-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Busaba Eathai is among the few chains to gain plaudits from the critics and guides. Operations director and head honcho Jale Erentok discusses food quality, working cultures and the chain’s plans to expand steadily

Wagamama eyes 650 US sites

05-Nov-2010 By Martyn Leek

Wagamama, the fast casual noodle chain, has said it believes there is scope for 650 managed sites in the US

London's St. James's Hotel and Club sold for £60m

05-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

The St. James’s Hotel and Club in London, home to William Drabble’s Seven Park Place, has been sold to an overseas investor for £60m

Recession damaged hospitality less than expected, shows report

05-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

A new report on the state of British hospitality has found that the sector has survived the recession with less damage than predicted, although some lasting impacts have considerably altered the face of the industry

Extreme cheeseboards at Vivat Bacchus and wine discounts at the Vineyard at Stockcross

05-Nov-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants hotels and pubs, including Vivat Bacchus and the Vineyard at Stockcross, tell us what promotions they are running to attract customers.

After hours with… Claire Lara

05-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Claire Lara, the 30-year old winner of Masterchef: The Professionals 2010 found out she was pregnant during filming of the show, but is adamant that having a baby will not hamper her chances of one day opening her own Le Manoir-style restaurant.

John Burton-Race joins Boisdale restaurants

05-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Chef John Burton-Race has teamed up with the Boisdale group of restaurants, where he will work alongside head chef at The Lamb at Hindon, Simon Harris

The Connaught and May Fair Hotel appointments

04-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Nathalie Seiler-Hayez replaces Anthony Lee as general manager at The Connaught Hotel, as he moves on to The May Fair Hotel

Peter Gordon to open second London fusion restaurant

04-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Peter Gordon, world-renowned chef and co-owner of The Providores and Tapa Room in Marylebone, is to launch his second restaurant in London next month

Women leaving hospitality costs industry £3bn, finds report

03-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Every year, over 300,000 female workers leave the hospitality industry, a turnover that comes at a cost of almost £3bn to businesses, according to a new report

Catering tutor Claire Lara wins Masterchef: The Professionals 2010

03-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

Liverpool’s Claire Lara has been crowned the first female winner of the BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals

Hawksmoor owners sell Green & Red to fund expansion

02-Nov-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Underdog Group has sold its East London tequila bar Green & Red to concentrate on the expansion of its steak restaurant concept Hawksmoor

Brenham Magee launches Fulham grill restaurant

02-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Brenham Magee has opened his new grill restaurant, located above his newly launched bar in London’s Fulham

Ask the Experts: How can I protect my business from the spending cuts?

01-Nov-2010 By NULL

Robert Barnard, partner for Hotel Consultancy Services at PKF Accountants & business advisers, tells one reader what he can do to protect his business as the impacts of the spending cuts start to be felt

Many UK hotels still “fighting a losing battle”, reveals market data

01-Nov-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Hotels in some of the major markets in the UK continue to face an uncertain future as they are still unable to increase their corporate rates

What you’re doing: Christmas special

29-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Christmas in hospitality this year will be all about adding value to your services so you attract – and keep – new customers, while at the same time keeping your costs down. If you’re stuck for ideas as to how to go about doing this, take a look at what...

Hospitality benchmark names top brands for customer service

29-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

A hospitality benchmarking survey has named Living Ventures, John Lewis cafes and restaurants, Wagamama, Premier Inn and Maison Blanc as the top five multi-branch brands for customer service

Pearls of Wisdom: Claire Clark

29-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

The former pastry chef at Napa Valley’s The French Laundry has been running a pop-up patisserie at Harvey Nichols in London, and has hopes of opening her own dessert-focused restaurant concept in Mayfair next year

Profitable Christmas: Data capture for January

28-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Christmas is a time for good cheer, plenty of treats, and general jolliness. But if you’re in the hospitality industry, Christmas is all about welcoming those extra people who come through your doors, and making sure you find ways to bring them back.

Zizzi trials breakfast concept with national roll-out planned

28-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Zizzi will be testing a new breakfast concept at some of its branches, with plans to introduce the new ‘Brunchetta’ menu across all sites next year if it proves to be a success

Profitable Christmas: Adding value to hospitality

27-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Tightened consumer belts over the Christmas period need not be as damaging to the hospitality industry as you might fear. Despite the expected slowdown, here are some simple measures that can keep people coming through your doors.

Hotels fare well but future could be tight, says consultant

27-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Strong hotel business in most parts of the country over the past few months will help brace the industry for a tough road ahead as the effects of the Government’s spending review start to be felt

Pizza Express unveils radical restaurant template

27-Oct-2010 By William Drew

Casual dining giant Pizza Express has unveiled its new restaurant design template in Richmond, featuring a central theatre-style kitchen, banquette-seat tables with their own parabolic roof domes, bespoke music and fresh furniture and tableware

Profitable Christmas: Cut seasonal costs

26-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

With consumer spend expected to drop this Christmas, the last thing you’d want is for your business expenses to eat away at your potential profits, but there are several small, low cost initiatives you can implement now to tackle your growing outflow.

BBC’s The Restaurant winners open cocktail bar with Raymond Blanc

26-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

The winners of the BBC’s TV show The Restaurant – JJ Goodman and James Hopkins – will open a cocktail bar with Raymond Blanc at the end of November

Le Gavroche sommelier receives AFWS Excellence award

26-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

The head sommelier at Le Gavroche in London has received one of the top accolades in this year’s Awards for Excellence from The Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS)

Profitable Christmas: Attract spend-wary customers

25-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Although the hospitality sector is recovering well after the recession, and despite consumers’ traditional increase in spend during December, the Government’s £80bn spending cuts may mean that restaurants, pubs and hotels will need to work just as hard...

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