London - Hospitality

VisitEngland launches RGF-funded local marketing campaign worth £365m to UK economy

21-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The national tourist board VisitEngland has today announced the start of a partnership project to deliver local destination marketing and thematic campaigns throughout the country, creating 9,100 jobs in the UK tourism sector over the next three years.

Hilton area president promotes hospitality careers to youth at launch of National Football Centre hotels

16-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Hilton Worldwide's area president Simon Vincent has used the opening ceremonies of two hotels at the National Football Centre to both encourage more visitors to Britain and promote hospitality as a worthwhile career for more young people.

Malcolm John closes Le Cassoulet and Fish & Grill

14-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Two of Malcolm John’s restaurants - Le Cassoulet in South Croydon and Fish & Grill in Putney - have closed their doors after trade at the sites failed to pick up over the past 12 months.

Benugo's sales rise 31%, owner predicts £44m revenue rise by end of 2012

09-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Benugo, the deli cafe and public space restaurant operator, increased its turnover by 31 per cent during the first half of the year with owner Westbury Street Holdings (WSH) predicting to make £450m by the end of the year, a £44m rise on last year.

Cumbrian beer judged Best in Britain, London revealed as most transformed brewing scene in the UK

08-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Coniston brewery’s No.9 Barley Wine has been named the Champion Beer of Britain 2012 by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) on the first day of its annual Great British Beer Festival being held at London Olympia this week.

Olympics boost for hotels? 2012 performance and insolvency figures show otherwise

07-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Despite many hotels in London boasting increased occupancy rates during the London 2012 Olympics and some already claiming to see a positive legacy after the event, new figures on half-year hotel performance and hospitality insolvencies paint a very different...

London 2012 Olympics: Are restaurants still suffering from the ‘ghost town’ effect?

07-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The London 2012 Olympics may have reaffirmed Britain’s place at the toptable of world sport and sparked a wave of euphoria across the country, but for many of the capital's restaurants, the event has not yet proved to be so successful and business...

Tube visits to West End stations up 27% but many London restaurants still not gaining from 2012 Olympics

06-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham

Tube journeys to stations in London's West End were up 27 per cent on Saturday (4 August) night according to the latest figures from Transport for London (TfL), but many restaurants still feel they are not benefiting from the trade boost promised...

MeatLiquor owners look to expand in London and to Brighton: Overseas investors show interest

01-Aug-2012 By Mark Wingett

Meatailer, the company behind MeatLiquor and MeatMarket, is hoping to open a further three outlets - two in London and one in Brighton - according to M&C Report.

London 2012 Olympics fail to bring gold so far for restaurants, but pubs fare better

01-Aug-2012 By Emma Eversham & Luke Nicholls

The London 2012 Olympics have so far failed to bring the benefit of extra trade to restaurants in London’s West End and City areas with some actually reporting a sales drop of up to 70 per cent.

Brighton nightclub owners to open experimental dining and drinking venue in Islington

30-Jul-2012 By Emma Eversham

The founders of Brighton nightclubs Madame Geisha and Haunt have unveiled plans to open a new Victorian-style experimental dining, drinking and live entertainment venue on London's Upper Street this autumn.

London 2012 Olympics: What will ‘the greatest show on Earth’ bring for hospitality?

27-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The wait is finally over as the London 2012 Olympics kicks off with the opening ceremony this evening. BigHospitality rounds up what the 17-day event could bring for your business and looks at whether it will actually have an overall positive effect on...

Las Iguanas aims for over 40 sites with two new openings this year

25-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas plans to expand from 27 sites to over 40 across the UK in the next two years, with two new outlets opening this autumn in Plymouth and Aberdeen, BigHospitality has learnt.

Fire-ravaged Baltic restaurant to re-open in time for Olympics

19-Jul-2012 By Emma Eversham

Baltic, the Eastern European restaurant close to London's Southbank, forced to close after a fire gutted its kitchens, will re-open its doors to customers today, just in time for the start of London 2012 Olympics.

3 South Place and Angler restaurants to open in D&D London’s South Place Hotel

19-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

D&D London has revealed full details of the two restaurants set to open within the new South Place Hotel later this year.

London 2012 Olympics: Hotel prices average £210-a-night

12-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The average price of a hotel room in London during the London 2012 Olympics is an increase of 26 per cent compared to the same period in 2011, with one night in the capital costing £210.

Third of London's restaurants, hotels and pubs stockpiling goods to reduce deliveries during London 2012 Olympics

11-Jul-2012 By Emma Eversham

More than a third (37 per cent) of London-based businesses, including restaurants, hotels, and pubs, have said they will stockpile non-perishable goods in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics to help reduce deliveries made during the Games.

The Big Conversation: Industry event highlights importance of young people in hospitality

11-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

A joint initiative between Business in the Community (BitC), the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and Springboard today brought together an array of hospitality industry leaders with young people to stimulate a dialogue on employability skills, work...

JD Wetherspoon reopens Woolwich pub following riots destruction

09-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Great Harry pub in Woolwich is set to reopen tomorrow (July 10) on the site of the original building which was burnt to the ground during last year’s riots.

Ignite Group’s Matt Hermer reveals major expansion plans for Bumpkin

05-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

British restaurant chain Bumpkin, which currently has three sites in London, has plans to expand to 20 venues across the UK within the next five years.

Tourists find customer service at London’s hotels below average in run-up to London 2012 Olympics

28-Jun-2012 By Emma Eversham

London’s hotels have been given a lower customer service score than the capital’s tourist attractions, shops, pubs and restaurants by a sample of overseas visitors who came to the city earlier this year.

Restaurants and pubs see sales pick-up in May

20-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Restaurant and pub groups across the UK saw a welcome 2.6 per cent increase in collective like-for-like sales in May, with total sales up 6.5 per cent on the same month last year.

IHG opens two hotels in Westfield Stratford City ahead of London 2012 Olympics

12-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has today announced the opening of two new hotels in Westfield Stratford City ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

Whitbread considers London living wage; urges hospitality industry to join jobs conversation

08-Jun-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants managing director Patrick Dempsey has revealed the Premier Inn operator is considering introducing a London living wage and urged fellow hospitality employers to join The Big Conversation to talk about jobs and apprentices...

Hospitality & Tourism Summit: Britain ‘deterring’ tourists, UK hotels ‘losing out’

01-Jun-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Complications and difficulties obtaining a tourist visa are a ‘major deterrent’ for potential visitors to the UK, reducing the impact of tourism as an engine for growth in the UK economy.

The Zetter to take part in Twitter chat to help businesses Get Ahead of the Games

29-May-2012 By Emma Eversham

The Zetter hotel’s group HR director Lindsey Venter is to take part in a live Twitter chat with officials from Transport for London (TfL) and O2 tomorrow to help businesses in the capital plan around The Olympics.

What recession? London hotels boast highest occupancy rate of any Olympic host city

23-May-2012 By Luke Nicholls

With London bracing itself for a bumper summer, packed full of once-in-a-lifetime events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics, the city’s hotel market is booming, with the highest occupancy base of all time for any host city of...

BO Innovation's 'Demon Chef' Alvin Leung to open London restaurant

09-May-2012 By Emma Eversham

Alvin Leung, the chef behind the two Michelin-starred restaurant BO Innovation in Hong Kong has confirmed plans to open a restaurant in London this year.

Ignite Group appoints new managing director of Bumpkin

03-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Ignite Group has announced the former commercial director of Ping Pong Restaurants, Tina English, is to join the company this month as the new managing director of British food restaurant chain Bumpkin.

Liverpool and Manchester competing with London for international tourists

03-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Liverpool and Manchester have experienced big rises in the number of international tourists they attract as cities in the regions begin to emerge as rivals to Edinburgh and London for foreign visitors.

London 2012 Olympics: Hotel prices during the Games continue to rise

30-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Hotel prices during the Olympics period later this Summer are continuing to rise with the cost of rooms in the capital up 65 per cent on average on last years prices although occupancy levels still have room to grow, according to the latest study from...

Brazilian temakeria opens in London’s Soho

27-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Two entrepreneurs with an interest in Brazilian and Japanese cuisine are planning to introduce London's diners to a new style of Latin American food this month with the launch of what is though to be London's first Brazilian temakeria.

Ribstock 2012: Top chefs to compete for title of Great British Rib Champion

19-Apr-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Ten of the UK’s best restaurants and chefs are set to compete in Ribstock - a barbecue rib cook-off taking place in London’s Soho later this month.

Hotels on track to benefit from London 2012

17-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Hotels both in and outside of London are on track to benefit from London 2012 with occupancy and room rates predicted to continue to rise during the summer months following strong growth in March.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Free taxi services at The Gun and electric car chargers at The Arden Hotel

13-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants, hotels and pubs, including The Gun in London's Docklands and The Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon tell BigHospitality about new marketing ideas and promotions they are running to help attract more customers.

Largest Hampton by Hilton outside US to open in Birmingham

27-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

The largest Hampton by Hilton hotel outside the US, the company's flagship UK branch, is to open in Birmingham on May 1.

London hotels outperformed by the regions in February

26-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Hotels in the regions enjoyed a bigger rise in revenue per available room (RevPAR) than those in London for the first month in two and a half years in February, according to the latest market data from hotel consultancy firm PKF.

UK market remains key to Starwood's development plans

23-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced it plans to open 25 hotels in Europe over the next four years and the group's senior vice president for the region has suggested 'one or two' of those might be in the UK market which remains important...

Ilia owner sells Chelsea restaurant to Obikà

22-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Jessen & Co, the owner of Chelsea's Italian restaurant Ilia, has sold the site to the restaurant chain Obikà Mozzarella Bar blaming rising rent and rates in a small venue for the closure of the high-end establishment.

Premier Inn secures eight hotel sites in a week

15-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Premier Inn’s expansion programme has continued with the announcement that the Whitbread-owned hotel operator has secured eight new sites across the UK in just one week adding almost 750 rooms to the pipeline.

Day Tripper: Restaurants and bars drive 250 million UK day visits

13-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Going out for meals and drinks has been revealed by VisitEngland to be the second most popular reason for day trips in the UK with 250 million trips in 2011 helping to boost the worth of the day visit economy to £54bn.

Recent restaurant closures suggest London no longer a recession-free zone

07-Mar-2012 By Stefan Chomka

A number of high-profile closures across the capital in recent months could be the first signs that London is no longer the recession-free zone many have considered it to be.

PwC: Record year for London hotels but post-Olympics hangover could benefit the regions

23-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

2012 is set to be a record year for occupancy in London hotels but the situation after the Olympics will remain difficult although hotels in the regions may benefit in 2013, according to latest forecasts from Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC).

BII 2012 Licensee of the Year: Semi-finalists revealed

21-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The British Institute of Innkeeping has revealed the 21 semi-finalists for its 2012 Licensee of the Year Awards.

Marriott Gatwick Airport and InterContinental Westminster hotels up for sale

17-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Marriott’s 218-bedroom Courtyard London Gatwick Airport Hotel is being offered for sale by business adviser Christie & Co, which is seeking offers in excess of £20 million.

Radisson Edwardian acquires Odeon Leicester Square

08-Feb-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Radisson Edwardian hotels, owned by Indian-born multi-millionaire Jasminder Singh, is continuing on the acquisition trail with the purchase of Odeon cinema in Leicester Square.

Jamie Oliver to open first Union Jacks site outside London

03-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Jamie Oliver has acquired a site in Winchester for the first Union Jacks restaurant outside London it has been confirmed, while the successful Italian casual dining concept Jamie’s Italian will see five more openings before Autumn amid plans for a further...

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