All news articles for May 2011

Strong hotel trade pushes growth for Young’s

Strong hotel trade pushes growth for Young’s

By Emma Eversham

Hospitality operator and brewer Young’s said it saw the strongest growth in the hotel sector of its business last year with revpar up 14.2 per cent to £44.11.

Summer drinks trends: Beer

Summer drinks trends: Beer

By Lorraine Heller

Local and premium beers will continue to be a priority for consumers this summer, but in order to make the most of sales and appeal to a range of consumer groups, publicans must promote beer as a respectable drink with a diverse history.

What are employer and employee rights when management changes?

Ask the Experts

What are employer and employee rights when management changes?

Management change in the hospitality sector often comes along with a new approach to employee shifts and benefits. But what rights do employers and employees have in this situation? Caroline Essex, employment specialist at the law firm Davenport Lyons,...

Paul Kitching named best chef in Scotland

Paul Kitching named best chef in Scotland

By Becky Paskin

Paul Kitching, chef proprietor of the Michelin-starred 21212 in Edinburgh has been named the best chef in Scotland in the Catering in Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards.

Career Profile: Anna-Marie Dowling

Career Profile: Anna-Marie Dowling

By Lorraine Heller

Hotel manager Anna-Marie Dowling tells BigHospitality how her endless energy drove her from the lowest to the highest positions in the hotel sector. Throughout her career she has managed hotels including Le Meridien Piccadilly and London’s Marriott County...

Summer drinks trends: Wine

Summer drinks trends: Wine

By Becky Paskin

While there are no real new trends emerging this summer in the wine category, there are several areas of growth that restaurant and pub operators need to be aware of.

Tourists spent £114bn in UK in 2008, says ONS

Tourists spent £114bn in UK in 2008, says ONS

By Lorraine Heller

Domestic and foreign tourists spent a total of £114bn in the UK in 2008, with more money forked out on food than on hotels, according to a new set of experimental data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

YCYW introduces new skills awards

YCYW introduces new skills awards

By Becky Paskin

Entries are now open for the 2011 Young Chef Young Waiter competition (YCYW), which this year see the addition of six new skill awards.

Abokado targets rapid London expansion

Abokado targets rapid London expansion

By Mark Wingett

Abokado, the chain of healthy food bars led Mark Lilley, is to increase its presence in London, with up to five new sites targeted for opening in the capital by the end of March next year.

Battlesteads named Considerate Hotel of the Year

Battlesteads named Considerate Hotel of the Year

By Lorraine Heller

Battlesteads hotel and restaurant in Northumberland has been named the Considerate Hotel of the Year 2010/11 for its sustainability initiatives, which include a wood-chip boiler and a vegetable garden with a ‘field to plate’ time of four hours.

Cass Titcombe to open West London bistro

Cass Titcombe to open West London bistro

By Becky Paskin

Former Canteen executive chef Cass Titcombe is to open a neighbourhood bistro and wine bar in West London next spring, BigHospitality can reveal.

Another Icelandic ash cloud set to hit UK

Another Icelandic ash cloud set to hit UK

By Becky Paskin

Ash from an Icelandic volcano looks set to hit UK airspace tomorrow, threatening to close airports and disrupt thousands of travellers almost exactly a year since a similar event last April.

Britons to spend £7bn on home holidays this summer

Britons to spend £7bn on home holidays this summer

By Lorraine Heller

The British tourism industry is set to receive a £7.2bn boost this summer from cash-strapped Britons opting to take their holiday break in the UK, reveals a new travel study conducted by the budget hotel group Travelodge.

UK hotels to house electric car charging stations

UK hotels to house electric car charging stations

By Lorraine Heller

Hotels across the UK will be installing electric car charging stations on their premises, with the aim of attracting motorists to use their facilities while cars are charging.

Tossed to open 8th London site after operational changes

Tossed to open 8th London site after operational changes

By Lorraine Heller

Healthy eating chain Tossed will be opening its eighth London site in September this year, while further expansion remains held back by a lack of suitable sites, says the chain’s owner, Vincent McKevitt.

Cyrus Todiwala receives Footprint Special Achievement Award

Cyrus Todiwala receives Footprint Special Achievement Award

By Becky Paskin

Cyrus Todiwala OBE, chef proprietor of Café Spice Namaste in London, has been given the Special Achievement Award at the annual Footprint Awards for championing environmentally-friendly and sustainable operating practices.

M&B food sales overtake drink for first time

M&B food sales overtake drink for first time

By Lorraine Heller

Food sales have overtaken drink sales for the first time at pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), which is now focusing on growing its food-led business.

BII launches training course for pub management

BII launches training course for pub management

By Lorraine Heller

BII, the trade group for the pub industry, has launched a management training programme for business development managers in the leased and tenanted sector of licensed hospitality.

Diageo to distribute Red Stripe from August

Diageo to distribute Red Stripe from August

By Becky Paskin

Drinks distributor Diageo is to take over the marketing and distribution of lager brand Red Stripe from Wells & Young’s as of 1 August this year.

Montcalm luxury hotel opens doors in City

Montcalm luxury hotel opens doors in City

By Lorraine Heller

The new five star Montcalm hotel will be opening its doors next week in a Grade II listed building, which formerly housed the Whitbread brewery.

Hallmark buys Croydon’s Aerodrome hotel

Hallmark buys Croydon’s Aerodrome hotel

By Lorraine Heller

Leeds-based hotel group Hallmark Hotels has acquired the Aerodrome Hotel in Croydon, marking the seventh UK property in the company’s portfolio.

Government calls for feedback on hospitality regulations

Government calls for feedback on hospitality regulations

By Lorraine Heller

Publicans, restaurateurs and hoteliers have just a few weeks left to voice their concerns with regulations that they feel are stifling the industry as the deadline approaches for the government’s call for comments.

April pub and restaurant sales up, but analysts urge caution

April pub and restaurant sales up, but analysts urge caution

By Lorraine Heller

The Royal Wedding, Easter Holidays and record sunshine all contributed to higher sales in pubs and restaurants this year, but market analysts warn that they also created new challenges for the hospitality sector, which did not trade as well as it could...

Summer drinks trends: Spirits

Summer drinks trends: Spirits

By Lorraine Heller

In the second part of our feature on summer drinks trends, BigHospitality takes a look at which spirits will be in the spotlight this summer season, and why.