All news articles for December 2008

Merry Christmas and happy new year

Merry Christmas and happy new year

By Emma Eversham

The team at BigHospitality would like to wish all our loyal readers a very merry Christmas and a happy new year

London's Cafe Royal closes its doors

London's Cafe Royal closes its doors

By Emma Eversham

The 143-year-old venue will trade for the last time as the Cafe Royal on Sunday before work starts to turn it into a luxury hotel

Hotels rewarded for innovative marketing

Hotels rewarded for innovative marketing

By Emma Eversham

Etap, Hilton, Holiday Inn and De Vere were among the hotel groups to be rewarded for their marketing efforts at the 2008 Hotel Marketing Awards

Weak pound is silver lining for hospitality industry

Weak pound is silver lining for hospitality industry

By Emma Eversham

The Tourism Alliance renews its calls to the government to invest in tourism to help the industry benefit from the increasing number of foreigners visiting the UK to take advantage of the weak pound

Business profile: Richard Caring

Business profile: Richard Caring

By Ben Shipton

Richard Caring has announced expansion plans in 22 countries. And involvement with a Brighton greengrocer. Whats going on?

Albert Roux condemns foie gras

Albert Roux condemns foie gras

By Becky Paskin

The influential chef has condemned traditional methods of producing foie gras, despite other top chefs, including his son Michel Roux Jr, continuing to serve the delicacy on their menus

Diners to spend 12% less this Christmas

Diners to spend 12% less this Christmas

By Emma Eversham

Deloittes annual Christmas survey finds that people will make the biggest cutbacks on socialising this year with the average spend dropping 12 per cent to £126

Varma creates new 'Chicken Tikka Masala'

Varma creates new 'Chicken Tikka Masala'

By Emma Eversham

The Gourmet Groups Andy Varma wins National Curry Weeks competition to find a new curry recipe that can rival the popularity of the Chicken Tikka Masala

Grana Padano wages war on Parmesan

Grana Padano wages war on Parmesan

By Becky Paskin

Italian hard cheese Grana Padano is set to take on Britain’s current favourite pasta topper, Parmesan, after teaming up with chef Theo Randall

Earl of March, Sauterelle and R34 appointments

Earl of March, Sauterelle and R34 appointments

By Becky Paskin

The Earl of March, by Giles Thompson, receives a new head chef, as does D&D restaurant Sauterelle, while Glaswegian restaurant R34 appoints a front of house manager

Karen MacKay’s BigTalent

Karen MacKay’s BigTalent

By Becky Paskin

Armed with an enormous amount of confidence and passion, Karen MacKay, head chef of Edinburgh hotel Channings, tells Becky Paskin why a job knock back on the grounds of her gender has not dampened her catering ambitions

Industry divided over VAT cuts

Industry divided over VAT cuts

By Becky Paskin

The hospitality industry is divided over whether to keep or pass on savings from the Government’s VAT cuts that came into force today