Fine Dining

Gourmet grilled cheese cafe opening in London, planning local delivery service

25-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Melt Room, London’s first gourmet grilled cheese cafe, is opening in Soho in May.

Hotel chains outside London continue to perform well

25-Mar-2015 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.

The Barbican re-launching restaurants and catering services

25-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Barbican Centre has announced new catering contracts with Searcy’s and high street brand Benugo.

Levy Restaurants UK creates culinary director roles

25-Mar-2015 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.

Awards

Pub operators celebrate success in Development Chef Awards 2015

25-Mar-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Five pub companies have been recognised for the quality of their food offers in Restaurant's Farm Frites Development Chef Awards 2015.

TA Hotel Collection opening first in-hotel spa

24-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

TA Hotel Collection is launching its first hotel spa at the 15th century Swan Hotel in Lavenham.

Center Parcs UK’s Martin Robinson: "Stick to your guns to build success"

24-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sticking to Dutch founder Piet Derksen’s original idea to create an environmentally and family-friendly holiday park and refusing to make drastic changes at the request of private equity companies has helped Center Parcs UK become the success it is today,...

People on the Move in Hospitality: March 2015

24-Mar-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.

TripAdvisor: North beats South for UK's best rated hotels and restaurants

24-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The North of England has dominated the list of top UK destinations in the annual Travellers’ Choice awards, announced by TripAdvisor.

Government must act to secure the future of the UK tourism industry, says WTTC

24-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The UK government must take action to ensure the future of the UK tourism industry, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned.

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

24-Mar-2015 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...

Casual dining restaurants set to continue leading growth in the foodservice sector

23-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The British foodservice market is set to grow by 1.1 per cent in 2015 and 1.5 per cent in 2016, according to NPD Group's first complete forecast for the foodservice market.

Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack appoints senior management team to help with expansion

23-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Big Easy Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack has recruited a new senior management team, including Noel D'Arcy as managing director, to help with its plans to grow the business.

Smart-meter saves hospitality industry £1m in food waste

23-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A smart-meter that helps chefs measure and manage food waste has saved hospitality caterers an estimated combined total of £1m, the manufacturer has claimed.

Dive bar inspired diner Brooklyn Social coming to Derby in April

20-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A new casual diner that will take influences from both US dive bars and east London watering holes is to open in Derby at the end of April.

UK hotels have worst customer service in Europe, says Hotel.info website

20-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Staff members in UK hotels are the least friendly in Europe, according to Hotel.info.

Bristol’s Finzels Reach development boosted by bridge approval

20-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A proposed new eating out quarter in Bristol has received a boost after councilors approved the building of a bridge over the city’s Floating Harbour.

ETM Group makes first move out of London with new Suffolk pub

20-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

London-based gastropub operator ETM Group is to open its first venue outside the capital.

Shortage of skilled chefs could limit ‘foodie’ tourism in the UK

20-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

A lack of skilled chefs could limit the growth of the UK tourism industry, with businesses struggling to fill nearly half of all chef vacancies, says VisitEngland.

MasterChef winner to co-run Brighton i360 viewing tower brasserie

19-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A former MasterChef winner is to team up with caterer Centerplate to run a 400-seat brasserie at the base of the new i360 viewing tower in Brighton.

Nottingham diner with focus on wood-ember cooking set for spring arrival

19-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A Nottingham restaurant that will serve dishes cooked on wood embers is to open later this spring.

Online review sites improve business standards, says TripAdvisor

19-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of UK businesses have taken steps to improve their service as a result of an online review, according to new research by TripAdvisor.

Prêt à Manger crowned UK’s ‘healthiest and fastest’ fast-casual restaurant in consumer poll

19-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Prêt à Manger has been declared the UK’s ‘healthiest and fastest’ fast-casual restaurant outlet in a customer satisfaction poll that also featured Nandos, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut and Dominos.

Poor staff soft skills could create industry crisis by 2020

19-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Foodservice and accommodation businesses are at risk of a major staffing crisis by 2020 if more is not done to recognise the importance of soft skills, a report by Development Economics warns.

VisitEngland asks industry for views on tourism growth strategy

18-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

VisitEngland is asking for views on the growth strategy it has in place for England's tourism industry over the next five years.

Budget 2015: Mixed news for the hospitality industry

18-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The 2015 budget brought good news for pubs across the UK, with a reduction in duty on beer, cider and spirits, but failed to mention a cut in Tourism VAT.

IFE 2015 Preview: 23 British chefs to demonstrate culinary expertise

18-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Alyn Williams, Adam Smith and Alan Bird are among the 23 British chefs demonstrating their skills and providing inspiration to others at this year's International Food and Drink Event (IFE).

Exclusive Hotels Chefs' Academy: Aiming to train and retain staff

18-Mar-2015 By Carina Perkins

BigHospitality takes a visit to Exclusive Hotels and Venues' new Chefs' Academy to find out how the company is aiming to train and retain its kitchen staff through an extensive two-year training programme

New hospitality apprenticeship standards approved

17-Mar-2015 By Mark Wingett

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has approved five new apprenticeship standards for hospitality that will expand the range of options available to young people.

Hospitality and bar courses tackling youth unemployment

17-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Employment charity Springboard has partnered with drinks company Diageo to launch its first Learning for Life Hospitality and Bartending course this week (16 March).

ODE True Food opens second Café-ODE in Devon

17-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

ODE True Food, operator of award-winning sustainable dining businesses ODE Dining and Café-ODE, has opened a second site under its Café-ODE brand.

New 115-bed hotel planned for the Eden Project

17-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Eden Project has unveiled plans for a new £6m, 115-bedroom hotel at its Boldeva, Cornwall site.

Jar Kitchen opens in Covent Garden

17-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

A new modern British restaurant serving sustainable “down to earth” food has opened on Drury Lane in Covent Garden.

Drake & Morgan operations director aiming to secure two more sites this year

16-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Drake & Morgan’s new operations director said he is keeping the company’s acquisitions momentum going with the aim of securing another two sites in the coming financial year (2015-2016).

Bruno Loubet launching pop up Grain Store Unleashed at the Zetter Hotel

16-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Bruno Loubet is opening Grain Store Unleashed at The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell for a limited period only.

Apothecary inspired restaurant opening at M by Montcalm hotel in London

16-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

A restaurant inspired by the apothecary history of Shoreditch is opening at the M by Montcalm hotel in London.

Loch Fyne, Burger King and Hungry Horse among restaurants creating 'a generation of salt addicts'

16-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Loch Fyne, Burger King and Hungry Horse are among the ‘family friendly’ restaurants whose children’s meals have been found to contain dangerously high levels of salt.

Noble Inns to open second Neil Rankin-inspired Smokehouse

16-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Noble Inns is to capitalise on the success of its Islington smokehouse and grill concept by opening a second site in West London.

Second Boozy Cow to open in Edinburgh

13-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

The company behind an Aberdeen restaurant that specialises in burgers, craft beers and cocktails is to replicate the concept in Edinburgh.

Rising hotel prices fail to deter domestic winter travellers

13-Mar-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Winter travellers are continuing to opt for domestic locations despite increasing hotel prices, a price comparison site has found.

IHG unveils ‘Smart Traveller’ hotel concept based on guest feedback

13-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has unveiled a complete revamp of Holiday Inn Express’s offering, based entirely on guest feedback.

VIEWPOINT

Bruno Zoccola of Valentina Fine Foods on why diversifying your business helps build success

13-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Valentina Fine Foods opened its first site as a delicatessen in East Sheen in 1991 and is now operator of seven restaurants, delis and an online shop. Owner Bruno Zoccola talks about how adding to and adapting the business while staying true to its family-run...

VisitEngland to become standalone body for English tourism

12-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

VisitEngland is separating from VisitBritain to become an independent body focusing on the development of ‘competitive and engaging tourism experiences’.

Jason Atherton aims to raise £100k through Hospitality Action Sundays

12-Mar-2015 By Stefan Chomka

Jason Atherton is aiming to raise £100k for industry charity Hospitality Action this summer by running an intiative that will see members of his team pair with other tops chefs for a number of special meals.

Starboard Hotels acquires first Scottish hotel

12-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Starboard Hotels has acquired its first hotel in Scotland as part of the company's rapid expansion plans.

Casual dining restaurants lead sector growth for 23rd consecutive month

12-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sales at some of the UK's biggest restaurant and pub groups rose for the 23rd consecutive month in February with casual dining brands leading the growth.

Industry responds to EU food allergen controversy

12-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Following the publication of a letter in which over 100 chefs criticised EU food allergy regulations as being a ‘bureaucratic nightmare’, BigHospitality rounds up some of the responses and looks at the guidance available to help restaurants comply with...

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