Fine Dining

Ping Pong's head of operations says 2014 was a 'transformational' year for the brand

More autonomy for restaurant GMs helps Ping Pong sales rise 10%

By Emma Eversham

Giving more autonomy to the general managers of its eight restaurants and investing in staff training helped make 2014 a ‘transformational’ year for dim sum restaurant chain Ping Pong, according to head of operations Michael Pearson.

Costa & A Kip service launched

APRIL FOOLS

Costa to trial coffee and kip service

By Emma Eversham

Costa is trialling a new service in its coffee shops which offers customers the chance to have an afternoon nap before drinking their coffee. 

Hospitality Openings: March 2015

Hospitality Openings: March 2015

By Sophie Witts

March has seen a flood of restaurant and bar openings in the hospitality sector, including the first James Martin Kitchen at Stansted Airport, Vinoteca in King's Cross and Boozy Cow expanding within Scotland.

Thai Leisure Group is planning expansion of its new street-food brand Thaikun as well as its fine-dining brand Chaophraya

Thai Leisure Group secures £10m for expansion

By Mark Wingett

Thai Leisure Group (TLG), operator of fine dining brand Chaophraya and street-food brand Thaikhun, has secured £10m of new funding from Santander to aid its expansion plans.

Ensure all staff know when a deaf guest is staying and avoid uncomfortable situations for everyone says Ruthy Fletcher

Why hotel staff should be trained in deaf awareness

By Ruthy Fletcher

Ruthy Fletcher, deaf awareness trainer and consultant at Support the Deaf People takes us through the reasons why staff at hotels should be trained in deaf awareness and how to go about it to ensure non-hearing guests feel just as welcome as hearing ones. 

Hotels in Glasgow and Edinburgh continued to capitalise on events in February said the LJ Forecaster Scottish Intercity Report

Scottish hotels continue to capitalise on events

By Michelle Perrett

Hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow are continuing to capitalise on events, while demand continues to weaken in Aberdeen, according to the monthly LJ Forecaster Scottish Intercity Report.

Smith & Wollensky UK operations director Nathan Evans is gearing up for the London restaurant launch in June

Smith & Wollensky UK: plenty of room in London for another steakhouse

By Emma Eversham

There is ‘plenty of room’ in London for another steakhouse and burger operator to make their mark, according to Smith & Wollensky’s operations director Nathan Evans, who is gearing up to open the company’s first site outside the US on the Strand in...

Hotel chains in the provinces continued to see upward growth in February

Hotel chains outside London continue to perform well

By Michelle Perrett

Hotel chains in the UK provinces continued to show positive year-on-year growth while London hotels struggled during February according to the latest HotStats' UK Chain Hotels Market Review.

Levy Restaurants UK's four new culinary directors

Levy Restaurants UK creates culinary director roles

By Emma Eversham

Compass Group UK & Ireland's sports, leisure and hospitality business Levy restaurants has created four culinary director roles to help it better manage its operations across its different types of venues. 

People on the Move in Hospitality: March 2015

People on the Move in Hospitality: March 2015

By Sophie Witts

It's been a busy month for the hospitality industry once again, with new appointments at Welcome Break, Hampton by Hilton and Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

Attention to detail is what makes Hotel Gotham stand out, says its managing director. Situated in an Art Deco style building designed by Edwin Lutyens, the building has been restored to house the 60-bedroom boutique hotel

Hotel Gotham: What we can expect from 'the sexiest hotel in Europe'

By Emma Eversham

Bespoke Hotels' latest property Hotel Gotham will open its doors on King Street in Manchester on 7 April following a year's worth of renovation work at the Art Deco-style building. BigHospitality speaks to managing director and general manager...