Fine Dining

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to create a Single Customer View

06-Jul-2015 By Jason Lark

Jason Lark, managing director of data marketing company Celerity gives three quick and easy tips on achieving a Single Customer View (SCV) which can help in better understanding of your customers and their habits. 

Gymkhana founders launching third Indian restaurant

03-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

The family behind Michelin-starred Indian restaurants Gymkhana and Trishna are launching a third site inspired by the roadside shacks of southern India and Sri Lanka in October.

A castle and four hotels: Highland Heritage Ltd. is for sale

03-Jul-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Ian Cleaver, owner of Highland Heritage Limited, is selling up his hotel estate after announcing his intention to retire.  

What do consumers look for when booking hotels?

03-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

Online reviews play an increasingly important role in driving hotel room bookings, so what factors can trigger different types of consumers to book?

Restaurant brands missing out on customer loyalty schemes

03-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

Restaurant brands should make better use of data obtained through loyalty schemes such as cards and apps to create deals targeted to customer preferences.

Dining trends: Consumers reluctant to 'trade up' to more expensive dishes

03-Jul-2015 By M&C Allegra Foodservice

An ongoing reluctance by consumers to trade up to more expensive menu items is squeezing restaurant profits, according to exclusive research.

Katie Leslie wins prestigious Le Cordon Bleu scholarship

03-Jul-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Edinburgh chef Katie Leslie has been awarded Le Cordon Bleu’s UK Scholarship Award 2015.

Scotchtails founders opening Nordic-inspired restaurant

02-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

The duo behind gourmet scotch egg brand Scotchtails are launching a Nordic-inspired restaurant and coffee shop in Covent Garden in late July.

World of gastronomy 'enters new era of casual-dining'

02-Jul-2015 By Emma Eversham

Fine-dining chefs and restaurateurs are making continued moves to make their offerings more relaxed and informal as the world of gastronomy shifts towards 'a new era of casual dining'. 

Hospitality employers must act to prevent staff soft skills crisis

02-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality employers must do more to tackle poor staff soft skills, which risk creating an industry crisis by 2020.

Allergy UK launches accreditation scheme for hospitality businesses

02-Jul-2015 By Emma Eversham

Allergy UK has launched an accreditation scheme for foodservice operators which it says will help them better cater for customers with food allergies.

Expedia axes rate parity agreements with UK hotels

02-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

The Expedia Group has joined Booking.com in amending its rate parity agreements to allow European hotels to offer lower prices through other online booking sites.

Hospitality Openings: June 2015

01-Jul-2015 By Liam Garrahan

A round-up of June's hospitality openings that include Smith & Wollensky, Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar, and Inn on the Square.

Chef's Table restaurant wins OpenTable Fit for Foodies award

01-Jul-2015 By Emma Eversham

Following the National Restaurant Awards 2015, online restaurant booking provider OpenTable has revealed its Top 50 Fit for Foodies restaurants in the UK.

Bella Italia to open 40 new restaurants by 2017

01-Jul-2015 By Mark Wingett

Bella Italia, the Casual Dining Group restaurant brand, is to open 40 new sites by 2017, with openings lined up in Orpington, Chichester, Burton and Hemel Hempstead among others.

Boris Johnson urges hospitality businesses to pay Living Wage

01-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

London Mayor Boris Johnson has called on hospitality operators to pay employees the Living Wage.

Marco Pierre White to open restaurant at Hinckley Island Hotel

01-Jul-2015 By Liam Garrahan

World-renowned chef, Marco Pierre White, is set to open a new restaurant at The Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire.

EU referendum: Hospitality industry risks 'sleepwalking in to danger'

01-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry must wake up to the potential dangers posed by Britain voting to leave the European Union, according to Travelodge CEO Peter Gowers.

Gleneagles Hotel and resort sold to Ennismore

01-Jul-2015 By Sophie Witts

Gleneagles Hotel and resort has been bought by London-based hospitality group Ennismore for an undisclosed sum.

National Restaurant Awards 2015: In pictures

01-Jul-2015 By Emma Eversham

Take a visual tour of the National Restaurant Awards 2015.

Galvin Brothers: Bringing restaurant ethos to pubs

01-Jul-2015 By James Wallin

Chef-restaurateur brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin have set up a pub company which Chris said has been prompted by soaring property prices for restaurants and the need to create opportunities for his staff.

Phillip Oppenheim sets opening date for second Cubana site

30-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Former Tory Treasury Minister Phillip Oppenheim has confirmed an October opening date for his second Cubana bar and restaurant site. 

Connected Traveller: Smartphone-using hotel guests express preference for apps

30-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hotel companies would cater better for smartphone-using guests if their business developed an app, a report by TripAdvisor has found. 

Square Pie to expand further following The O2 restaurant opening

30-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Square Pie has opened its 'biggest restaurant to date' at The O2 Arena in Greenwich as it sets out plans to expand its operation this year and next. 

Alan Lorrimer to open live music bar and restaurant The Piano Works

29-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Serial restaurateur and bar owner Alan Lorrimer will open The Piano Works in Farringdon this week, a live music venue, bar and restaurant that aims to revive the tradition of the Victorian music hall

National Restaurant Awards: Barrafina Adelaide Street takes 2015 title

29-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Barrafina Adelaide Street has been named the National Restaurant of the Year 2015.

Butlin's boss named as new Cut Tourism VAT campaign chaiman

29-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Dermot King, managing director of Butlin's, has replaced Graham Wason as the chairman of the Cut Tourism VAT Campaign with immediate effect.

How hospitality can tackle the 'death of the Saturday job'

29-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry is ‘perfectly placed’ to tackle the decline in young people combining part-time work with their studies, but must do more to retain the best talent.

Hilton opens 11th London DoubleTree

29-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hilton has opened the DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside hotel following a multi-million pound redevelopment.

Andrew Guy 'planning to stay' with Ed's Easy Diner

29-Jun-2015 By Ruth Williams

Chief executive Andrew Guy has said he will remain involved in the running of Ed’s Easy Diner in some capacity in the event of the mooted sale of the business going through.

ASK THE EXPERTS

What hospitality businesses need to know about trademarking

29-Jun-2015 By Joe Covill

Joe Covill, partner at Adams & Remers LLP looks at the issue of trademarking in the hospitality industry and outlines what you need to do to protect your brand

BHA slams 'restrictive' OTA rate parity agreements

26-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has criticised ‘restrictive’ price fixing agreements set by online travel agents (OTA’s), and announced that it will continue to campaign to ban the terms.

Premier Inn secures £18m expansion deal

26-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Premier Inn is to open new hotels in Gloucester, Newbury and Monmouth following an £18m investment.

Hotel chains report mixed May performance

26-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

Regional hotel chains continued to experience mixed year-on-year profit growth across the UK in May, as London sites registered a decline.

VIEWPOINT

Chef Kevin Tickle on why foraging is not a trend

26-Jun-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Former Rogan & Co head chef Kevin Tickle will head up the food offer at Forest Side hotel in Grasmere when it opens in September. Here he talks about his plans and why foraging, for him, is more than just a trend. 

Young National Chef of the Year 2015: Finalists revealed

25-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Five young chefs have been picked to go through to the final of the Young National Chef of the Year 2015 following semi-finals in Sheffield and London. 

Casa Cruz London to open in July

25-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

A South American restaurateur is opening his first London venue in Notting Hill on 7 July.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson to headline BHA Summit

25-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has announced the keynote speakers for the 2015 Hospitality and Tourism Summit being held in London next week (30 June).

TripAdvisor adds private feedback option

25-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

TripAdvisor has today (25 June) launched a private review feature allowing hoteliers to collect confidential feedback from guests.

National Chef of the Year 2015: Finalists revealed

25-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

The eight chefs who have made it through to the final of the National Chef of the Year 2015 competition have been revealed. 

Cutting tourism VAT could provide £20bn boost to the UK

25-Jun-2015 By Sophie Witts

The campaign to Cut Tourism VAT has placed renewed pressure on the government after a study revealed that lowering the tax could be worth £20bn to the UK.

The Walkaway Pound: 3.6m people leave restaurants and pubs because of poor disability awareness

25-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Hospitality operators are being encouraged to better equip their staff with the skills to interact with disabled customers after a report found that 3.6 million are leaving restaurants, pubs and clubs because of a lack of understanding of their needs. 

Craft Guild of Chefs reveals Graduate Awards finalists

24-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Ten young chefs have made it through to this year's Craft Guild of Chefs' Graduate Awards final. 

Eden Hotel Collection unveils £2m Bovey Castle renovation

24-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Eden Hotel Collection has completed the first phase of its five-year renovation project of Bovey Castle, the country house hotel in Dartmoor National Park it acquired in June last year. 

TRENDS

Restaurant, pub and hotel wine sales continue to decline

24-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Wine sales have continued to fall in restaurants, pubs and hotels over the last three months with only sparkling and fortified wines bucking the trend. 

European serviced apartment sector seeing growth, but brand awareness still needed

24-Jun-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The serviced apartment sector is receiving a boost as Europe’s largest operators are to open 3,500 units across 26 sites this year. 

People on the Move in Hospitality: June 2015

24-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality's latest round-up of career moves within the industry sees new appointments at the Gordon Ramsay Group, The Connaught, Grosvenor House and Drake & Morgan among others. 

M Restaurants secures second site and launches sushi bar

24-Jun-2015 By Michelle Perrett

M Restaurants has secured its second site in the Zig Zag building in London’s Victoria. 

Mowgli to open second site at Manchester's Corn Exchange

23-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

Indian street food concept Mowgli has signed a deal to open its second site at Manchester's Corn Exchange. 

The Lanesborough to re-open next month

23-Jun-2015 By Emma Eversham

The Oetker Collection is to open its first hotel in the UK with the re-opening of the London hotel The Lanesborough on 1 July.