Alcohol

Dave White of Dead Parrot bar on competition and bartending success

SMALL TALK

Dave White of Dead Parrot bar on competition and bartending success

By Emma Eversham

Dave White, manager of the Dead Parrot bar in Horsham, West Sussex, beat over 120 contestants to win the Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender competition in July for the second year running. He gives his top tips for bartending success ahead of London Cocktail...

£601m worth of gin was sold in the on-trade last year

Why the gin trend is showing no sign of drying up

By Emma Eversham

The popularity of gin in the UK is showing little sign of waning with sales of the spirit breaking the £1bn barrier six months earlier than predicted according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

In Operation with... Drake & Morgan

In Operation with... Drake & Morgan

By Emma Eversham

The return of our popular video series In Operation with... sees us find out more about the inner workings of bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan.

Cooler climate wines like Riesling and Gruner Veltliner are proving hits with customers

WINE TRENDS

Restaurants sell more cool climate wines

By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs are stocking more wines from cool climate regions to help fuel diner demand for lighter, fresher and food-friendly styles.

Epic Pubs' senior management team L-R: Chef/director Mark Austin, managing director Andrew Coath, central services director Wendy Twiddy and group operations director Jonathan Taylor

Epic Pubs to open pub with rooms in Rutland

By Emma Eversham

Epic Pubs, the operator of the Golden Ball Pub & Kitchen in Berkshire and 185 Watling Street Pub & Kitchen in Northamptonshire, is to open its third site - a pub with rooms in Rutland next month. 

Harry Ramsden's at The Wingerworth is a pub first and foremost says Gavin Mansfield

Pub’s trade doubles with arrival of Harry Ramsden’s

By Emma Eversham

Trade at the first Punch Taverns pub to partner with Harry Ramsden’s has doubled since the iconic fish and chips brand took over its operations according to its head of pub operations Gavin Mansfield.

Holborn Dining Room's dedicated gin bar stocks 400 different variants of the spirit

Holborn Dining Room opens 400-strong gin bar

By Emma Eversham

Holborn Dining Room, the restaurant at Rosewood London, has opened a gin bar which its owners claim stocks the largest collection of gins in the capital. 

Asia de Cuba's new re-focused bar now specialises in rum and ceviche

Asia de Cuba London launches Asia de Cuba Bar

By Emma Eversham

London restaurant Asia de Cuba has re-positioned its bar area as Asia de Cuba Bar, which will specialise in sugarcane-based cocktails and ceviche dishes.

The Alchemist, London

The Alchemist to open in Newcastle

By Liam Garrahan

All-day dining restaurant The Alchemist is to open in Newcastle’s Intu Eldon Square’s catering development, Grey’s Quarter, marking the chain’s first opening in the North East.

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists revealed

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists revealed

By Liam Garrahan

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has announced the finalists for its Awards for Excellence, paying tribute to businesses and individuals who are at the top of their game with customer service and practice.

Jonathan Downey

Jonathan Downey: Streets ahead

By Stefan Chomka

His street food markets will attract more than one million visitors this year and his latest business, London Union, is backed by Jamie and Nigella. Now Jonathan Downey has his sights on creating the world’s best food and drink market.

Stars Pubs & Bars opens training pub

Stars Pubs & Bars opens training pub

By Liam Garrahan

Pub and bar operator, Stars Pubs & Bars, has opened a training pub in Arnold Nottingham, which will provide on-site training for Star Personnel and prospective licensees once it is established.

Som Saa set for first permanent site

Som Saa set for first permanent site

By Liam Garrahan

Popular Thai pop-up Som Saa is set to open its first permanent site in Spitalfields, London, this Spring, following a successful crowdfunding campaign that saw it raise £700k in three days.

Malissa Fraser, Chris Tonner and Scott Fraser of Cue Barbecue

Aberdeen restaurant relaunches as Cue

By Liam Garrahan

Aberdeen-based Beetroot Restaurants Ltd has announced the opening of CUE Barbecue, which replaces the company’s The Courtyard restaurant after a one-month renovation process.

Jeff Galvin: Blurred lines between pubs and restaurants

Jeff Galvin: Blurred lines between pubs and restaurants

By Liam Garrahan

The line that has been drawn between pubs and restaurants is blurring as restaurateurs are being priced out of London and pushed into pub operations, according to Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur and pub operator, Jeff Galvin.

Galvin pub Spitalfields first look

First Look: Galvin HOP

By Liam Garrahan

BigHospitality takes an exclusive First Look at Galvin HOP, the brand new pub concept from the Michelin-starred Galvin Brothers, which opens today in Spitalfields, London, following a soft launch period.

20 chefs will take part in the annual Who's Cooking Dinner charity event

Who’s Cooking Dinner: Charity event returns for 2016

By Liam Garrahan

Who’s Cooking Dinner, a charity event that raises money for research into the causes of Leukemia and blood cancer, is returning for 2016 with a line-up of 20 world class chefs who hold 16 Michelin stars between them.

Christine Harris with operations director Charles Harris

CD Pub Co acquires fourth pub

By Emma Eversham

Warwickshire-based gastropub operator CD Pub Co has acquired its fourth pub - the Old Chequers Inn in Crowle.

First Look: Inamo Covent Garden

First Look: Inamo Covent Garden

By Sophie Witts and Liam Garrahan

Tech-driven restaurant Inamo re-located its St James's site to Covent Garden last week and BigHospitality was one of the first to see it.

Feathers Inn pub to switch to five-day week

Feathers Inn pub to switch to five-day week

By Liam Garrahan

The Feathers Inn pub in Hedley, Northumberland, is to follow in the footsteps of Michelin-starred kitchens by switching to a shorter working week to offer staff a better work-life balance.