All news articles for March 2012

Vinoteca Soho will offer a 300-strong wine list and a frequently changing menu of modern British and European dishes

Vinoteca to open third wine bar in Soho

By Luke Nicholls

Brett Woonton, Charlie Young and Elena Ares, the team behind Vinoteca with sites in Farringdon and Marylebone, will open their third wine bar, dining room and wine shop at 53 to 55 Beak Street Soho in mid April.

Campaign to promote UK tourism gets support from Prince Charles

Campaign to promote UK tourism gets support from Prince Charles

By Emma Eversham

English Tourism Week, VisitEngland's promotional campaign designed to raise the profile and importance of domestic tourism and showcase the value of the industry to local communities and to the national economy, has drawn the support of Prince Charles,...

Hospitality businesses and industry bodies have signed the letter to Chancellor George Osborne pressing for the reduced VAT rate

Hospitality industry unites to support VAT cut for tourism

By Luke Nicholls

The British Hospitality Association, Travelodge and Whitbread are among a number of leading hospitality businesses and industry bodies that have united to urge the Government to slash the rate of VAT for the tourism sector to five per cent. 

SIBA chaiman Keith Bott believes the Government are intent on punishing the pub industry

'Give beer a break', urges SIBA chairman

By Luke Nicholls

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) chairman Keith Bott has called for policy makers to ‘give beer a break’ as he addressed delegates at the organisation’s annual conference yesterday in Stratford-upon-Avon.

JD Wetherspoon to reduce planned pub openings for the year

JD Wetherspoon to reduce planned pub openings for the year

By Peter Ruddick

JD Wetherspoon has revealed a rise in like-for-like sales of 2.1 per cent in the 26 weeks to 22 January 2012 but announced it is scaling back its planned pub openings for the financial year and remains cautious about future performance.

Vivien Sirotkin, operations director, QHotels

Pearls of Wisdom: Vivien Sirotkin

By Luke Nicholls

In a week that marks International Women’s Day, there is no one better placed to give her thoughts on life, her career and hospitality than Vivien Sirotkin. With over 30 years experience in the industry, Sirotkin - currently director of hotel operations...

TGI Friday's Karen Forrester named best individual retailer

TGI Friday's Karen Forrester named best individual retailer

By Peter Ruddick

Karen Forrester, managing director of TGI Friday’s in the UK, has been named Best Individual at this year’s Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards where Cote, Brasserie Blanc and Alex Reilley at Loungers were also winners.

It's been a long time coming but beer and food is finally back on the menu

Food and drink matching trends: Beer

By Luke Nicholls

When it comes to maximising drinks sales, beer has always stood in the shadow of higher GP wine and there has been little faith that diners would ever choose grape over grain. But, with a rise in the popularity of craft beers and a continuing surge in...

Nominations open for Women 1st Shine Awards

Nominations open for Women 1st Shine Awards

By Peter Ruddick

Women 1st has announced the nominating process has opened for the 2012 Women 1st Shine Awards which recognise outstanding female achievement in the hospitality industry.

Business Profile: Jamie's Italian

Business Profile: Jamie's Italian

By William Drew

Restaurant magazine editor William Drew talks to Jamie's Italian managing director Simon Blagden about the chain's ongoing success.

Wine sales at restaurants, hotels and pubs fall 6% in 2011

Wine sales at restaurants, hotels and pubs fall 6% in 2011

By Emma Eversham

Volume sales of wine at restaurants, hotels and pubs fell 6 per cent in 2011, according to the latest Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) Market Report with spirit sales down slightly less at 2 per cent. 

Jacques Borel’s industry VAT club redesigns logo to focus on jobs

Jacques Borel’s industry VAT club redesigns logo to focus on jobs

By Peter Ruddick

The campaign set-up to lobby for a cut in VAT charged in hospitality businesses on drink, food and accommodation to 5% has redesigned its logo to represent a refocus for the campaign on the employment benefits a VAT boost to the industry could give the...

Park Plaza County Hall hotel has this month launched a special, limited edition martini called the Miss Moneypenny

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Miss Moneypenny Martini at Park Plaza and Book Club at The Bingham

By Luke Nicholls

Hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars including Park Plaza County Hall, The Bingham, PizzaExpress and Holiday Inn have told BigHospitality about special events and promotions they’re running to attract new customers.

The Clink plans second prison restaurant in Cardiff

The Clink plans second prison restaurant in Cardiff

By Peter Ruddick

The Clink Charity has announced plans to expand and open a second prison restaurant before the end of the year with discussions ongoing between the charity and HMP Cardiff and HMP Prescoed, South Wales.

Bonnet's Combi Oven ranges span nine different models, allowing caterers to choose a unit that closely matches their practical needs, kitchen size and price

Bonnet launches two new Combi Oven ranges

By Luke Nicholls

Cooking equipment supplier Bonnet, now under the Hobart brand, has released two new Combi Oven ranges, which launched last week at Hotelympia.

Training must be engaging, interactive and make wine approachable and simple for staff to understand

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to help staff sell wine with confidence

Lily Brierley, training manager at Enotria, explains how hospitality business owners can make their staff more aware of wine lists and encourage them to openly talk about wine with customers in a bid to maximise drinks sales.

Pearls of Wisdom: Nick Tamblyn

Pearls of Wisdom: Nick Tamblyn

By Peter Ruddick

Nick Tamblyn has a strong track record in both the business and operations side of running succesful bars; most recently as chief executive of Kornicis Group, which operates the Smollensky’s and Henry J Beans brands. Tamblyn has also worked for First...

Malmaison Aberdeen was one of the last hotels to be sold and leased back by the group to help reduce debt

MWB reduces debt but admits ‘challenging’ year ahead

By Luke Nicholls

MWB Group, the owner of boutique hotel chains Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, has successfully reduced its debt to £180m in just six months, with total revenue rising by nine per cent and occupancy and room rates holding firm.

Travelodge to open 184 London hotels by 2025

Travelodge to open 184 London hotels by 2025

By Peter Ruddick

At the opening of the 500th Travelodge in the UK in Stratford, the budget hotel chain has announced significant London expansion plans with another 184 sites planned for the capital by 2025 creating 5,000 jobs across the city.