Zagat Survey

On top of the world: The Black Swan at Oldstead

On top of the world: The Black Swan at Oldstead

By Stefan Chomka

How did a struggling pub in the middle of nowhere get named the best restaurant in the world (according to TripAdvisor)? With blood, sweat, tears and a lot of beetroot.

(Top-left to bottom-right): Ametsa, Social Eating House, Outlaw's at the Capital and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal were all triumphant this year

Michelin Guide 2014: Chefs celebrate new stars

By Emma Eversham & Luke Nicholls

With Michelin upgrading two restaurants to two-star status and awarding 15 restaurants with their first star, BigHospitality has caught up with some of the chefs who are celebrating their awards in the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2014.

More than half of the SMG survey respondents are anticipating poor customer service when having Christmas dinner at a restaurant

Service standards hold the key to profitable Christmas for restaurants

By Luke Nicholls

Restaurants across the UK are being urged to focus on providing first-class customer service and nurturing customer relationships throughout the festive period after a survey found that December is seen by diners as the worst month to eat out in terms...

Pearls of Wisdom: Tom Aikens

Pearls of Wisdom: Tom Aikens

By Stefan Chomka

Tom Aikens was the youngest British chef to win two Michelin stars and is chef patron at Tom Aikens in Chelsea

Guiding principles

Guiding principles

By Stefan Chomka

Critics say they encourage elitist cooking and inflated egos. The compilers say they help consumer choice and put bums on seats. So are the restaurant guidebooks the industrys saviours or sinners?

Getting in the guides

Getting in the guides

By Emma Eversham

Missed out on being listed in this year’s Michelin guide? Fancy bagging yourself an AA rosette? Read on for details of four of the best known, restaurant, hotel and pub guides and how you can maximize your business’s chances of appearing in them.