Fine Dining

Worlds 50 Best Restaurant's 2015: As it happened

02-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

As the global culinary community descended on London's Guildhall last night to find out who made the list of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants, BigHospitality was on hand to report the action.

Travel trends: Consumer spending set to rise on shorter 'staycations'

01-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Britons are turning their back on the traditional two week holiday in favour of taking a series of shorter breaks, according to Travelodge’s 2015 Holiday Index survey.

Massimo Bottura to bring Osteria Francescana to Sotheby's London

01-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Italian chef Massimo Bottura has announced plans to bring his three Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria Francescana to Sotheby's London this month.

London hotels ranked worst for guest satisfaction

01-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

London hotels have been ranked as some of the worst for guest satisfaction in the UK and Europe, according to an analysis of six million customer ratings left on www.Hotel.info.

Young National Chef of the Year 2015: Semi-finalists revealed

01-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Craft Guild of Chefs has revealed the 16 semi-finalists for this year's Young National Chef of the Year (YNCOTY) competition. 

Champagne + Fromage opening in Greenwich

01-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

French artisanal bistro Champagne + Fromage is opening a new site on Church Street in Greenwich market this June. 

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How design can encourage secondary spend in hotels

01-Jun-2015 By Sam Stokoe

Sam Stokoe, director and design lead at commercial design agency Newman Gauge, discusses how clever design can be used to encourage hotel guests to spend more during their stay. 

World's 50 Best Restaurants 2015: El Celler de Can Roca takes back top spot

01-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

El Celler de Can Roca has been named the World’s Best Restaurant, reclaiming the number one spot on the list from Noma once again. 

Liverpool landmark to become restaurant, bar and events space

29-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A famous Liverpool building is to be turned into a restaurant, bar and events space after being taken over by a local entrepreneur.

SMALL TALK

Bryn Williams on his new restaurant and why Goodwood is a ‘no brainer’

29-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Bryn Williams, owner of Odette's in Primrose Hill, is about to open a second restaurant close to his birthplace in north Wales. The celebrity chef told BigHospitality about his plans for the new site, and how he is to be the special guest chef at...

Southport hotel set to return to past glories after D’Urberville acquisition

28-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

One of Merseyside’s most famous hotels is set for a major refurbishment after changing ownership.

Regional hotels continue to outperform London sites

28-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Regional hotels have experienced mixed fortunes in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) as national rooms revenues continued to fluctuate in April.

Meat & Shake eyes expansion after change in direction

28-May-2015 By Mark Wingett

Meat & Shake, the London-based concept, is eyeing further expansion after securing three new sites and changing its model from burger-led to a more smokehouse-based format, according to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Allegra Foodservice.

Queen's Speech 2015: Hospitality industry responds

28-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry has welcomed legislation outlined in the Queen’s speech at the state opening of parliament yesterday (27 May).

Gladwin brothers to take forged food pop-up on the road

27-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Two brothers are to combine the best of their wild food-themed west London restaurants into a pop-up in time for the summer festival season.

O' My Buns! eyes UK franchise agreement

27-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

International cafe brand O’ My Buns! is opening its first UK site in Leicester in June, and plans to expand nationwide.

Angela Hartnett reveals June opening date for second Café Murano site

27-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

TV chef Angela Hartnett has unveiled further details of her second Italian-themed London café and restaurant concept Café Murano.

Apartment Group owner acquires the Percy Arms Hotel

26-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Duncan Fisher, owner of North East hospitality operator The Apartment Group, has acquired the Percy Arms Hotel at Otterburn.

Valor Hospitality Europe expands UK hotel portfolio

26-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Newly formed management company Valor Hospitality Europe has added a further five hotels to its expanding portfolio.

World's 50 Best Restaurants 2015: 100-51 list announced

26-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has announced the list of restaurants ranked 51st-100th in 2015, ahead of the annual awards ceremony in London on 1 June.

Brighton's Grand Hotel planning second restaurant

26-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Grand Brighton Hotel is planning to open a second on-site restaurant following its sale to a private investor last year.

Outside in: How creative use of outside space is proving big business for hospitality

26-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Despite the unpredictable British weather, pubs, restaurants and hotels are investing more in their outside spaces and using them more creatively than ever before. 

Red's True Barbecue secures £5m funding to continue expansion

22-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Leeds-based Smokehouse concept Reds True Barbecue has secured a £5m investment from leading figures in the hospitality industry as part of a drive to accelerate its expansion plans.

Hospitality industry celebrates National Waiter's Day

22-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality businesses around the UK showed their support for National Waiter's Day yesterday (21 May).

VIEWPOINT

Ben Bengougam on Hilton Worldwide's careers programme and encouraging employee development

22-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Ben Bengougam started his career washing pots in a hotel kitchen, now he is vice president of Human Resources at Hilton Worldwide. Following the launch of the company’s Youth in Hospitality month he spoke to BigHospitality about tackling the industry’s...

Lodge Hotel to target CSR businesses with new sustainable events space

21-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A west London hotel is to target socially-responsible businesses with a new 1,800 sq ft energy-saving events space.

UK bids to host 2018 European Bocuse d'Or

21-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

The UK is one of six European countries intending to bid to host the 2018 edition of the Bocuse d'Or Europe. 

Hotel group Firmdale installs karaoke at two London venues

21-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Firmdale is tapping into the trend of hotel businesses providing unusual extras by adding karaoke to two of its upmarket London venues.

Pizza Hut to report third consecutive year of growth

21-May-2015 By M&C Allegra Foodservice news team

Pizza Hut UK, the Rutland Partners backed group, has reported sales growth of up to 40 per cent at refurbished restaurants since its reimaging programme began, as the company prepares to report a third consecutive year of growth.

London businesses boosted by record-breaking year of tourism

20-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

London received a record-breaking number of international tourists in 2014, according to official figures.

Malmaison Hotel du Vin to open Hotel du Vin in Stratford-upon-Avon

20-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Boutique hotel operator Malmaison Hotel du Vin has announced plans to open a Hotel du Vin in Stratford-upon-Avon next year. 

Ed’s Easy Diner CEO headlining Arena Summer Event

20-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality networking association Arena has announced details of its 2015 Summer Event, taking place on 26 June at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.

New management team for boutique hotel concept Urban Villa

20-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Union Hanover’s operations arm NoHo has named a management team for its new west London boutique hotel concept Urban Villa.

Honky Tonk Group launches French-Vietnamese restaurant and boutique hotel

20-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The owners of the Honky Tonk Group, the American themed restaurant brand, have launched their first ‘quirky’ boutique hotel in London’s Chinatown.

Gordon Ramsay sees national roll-out potential for Maze and Street Kitchen

20-May-2015 By M&C Allegra Foodservice news team

Gordon Ramsay believes he now has two branded operations ready for a national roll-out: Street Kitchen and Maze.

Xavier Rousset to leave Texture and 28°-50° Restaurant Group

19-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Xavier Rousset has left Texture and 28°-50° Restaurant Group, the company he co-founded with chef Agnar Sverrisson. 

Free guide to running a restaurant now available

19-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

BigHospitality’s sister publication Restaurant magazine has teamed up an EPoS provider to create a new free all-you-need-to-know guide to running a restaurant.

National Chef of the Year 2015: Semi-finalists revealed

19-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Craft Guild of Chefs has named the 40 chefs who have made the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year 2016 competition. 

TripAdvisor reports rise in top rated UK hospitality businesses

19-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The number of UK hospitality businesses receiving high ratings from customer reviews has risen in the past year, according to TripAdvisor.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants gives Daniel Boulud Lifetime Achievement Award

19-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud has been awarded the 2015 Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award by the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. 

Craft Guild of Chefs names new boss

18-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The new boss of the Craft Guild of Chefs has been named following the announcement that chief executive Martin Bates is to retire.

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How changes to employment law could affect your hospitality business

18-May-2015 By Shivali Chaudhry

Shivali Chaudhry a solicitor at Hamlins LLP, explains how recent changes to employment law and holiday pay could affect businesses in the hospitality industry and suggests ways to mitigate risk. 

TRENDS

Dining trends: Restaurants must adapt menus to cater to all age groups

15-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Operators must engage with customers and adapt their menus to target the needs of all age groups, according to a new study.

SMALL TALK

Claude Bosi on Hibiscus reaching its 15th birthday

15-May-2015 By Michelle Perrett

This May Hibiscus, the fine-dining restaurant owned by French chef Claude Bosi, celebrates its 15th birthday. The chef tells BigHospitality about his time at the restaurant in both Ludlow and London’s Mayfair and how he manages to keep things fresh after...

Benihana outlines UK expansion plans

15-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Global Japanese restaurant group Benihana is intending to expand its UK business outside of London and into other major cities. 

Brakspear boosts managed pub estate with Grade II listed George Hotel

13-May-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Brakspear has added to its fledgling managed pub estate with the purchase of a Grade II listed site in the Cotswolds.

A Hotel in Every Port: Travelodge targets ports for hotel sites

13-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

Travelodge has said it is scanning key port locations across the UK for potential hotel sites in a bid to capitalise on the growing interest in cruises. 

AA B&B Awards 2015: Redruth B&B The Old Railway Yard named UK's friendliest

13-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Old Railway Yard in Redruth, Cornwall, has been named the Friendliest B&B in the UK by the AA in its annual B&B Awards. 

DJ Tim Healey to open Brighton restaurant Kooks

12-May-2015 By Emma Eversham

DJ and music producer Tim Healey and his wife Rebecca are opening an all-day dining restaurant in Brighton this week. 

Masterchef finalist releases details of Soho meatball restaurant

12-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

Australian Masterchef: The Professionals finalist Bonny Porter has announced further details of her gourmet meatball restaurant opening in Soho in June.