Fine Dining

Angela Hartnett buys Murano

11-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Angela Hartnett has bought Michelin -starred restaurant Murano from Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), BigHospitality understands

Britain's top chefs unite to support Hulstone's Bocuse D'Or bid

11-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Britain's most high profile chefs have rallied round to support Simon Hulstone in his bid to win the Bocuse d'Or culinary contest, dubbed the "culinary equivalent of the Oscars", for the United Kingdom

French cuisine no longer King, says Albert Roux

11-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

French chef Albert Roux has claimed that French cuisine is no longer the ‘king’, claiming that some American, British and even Japanese chefs do it better

After hours with… Andy Barber

08-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

The head chef at The Forge in Covent Garden has been in the industry for over 30 years, working along the way with some of the best chefs in the last few decades

Charcoal grill is heart of new Fulham venue

07-Oct-2010 By L Heller

Operator Brenhan Magee has launched a new bar and grill restaurant in West London, which he says will be taking a “modern back to basics approach”

Prepare for onslaught of snow and ice, businesses warned

07-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Small hospitality businesses are being warned to prepare now for an onslaught of snow and ice later this year, as forecasters predict yet another freezing winter ahead

Salt Yard owner to open Covent Garden bar/restaurant

06-Oct-2010 By Joe Lutrario

The operator of London restaurants Salt Yard and Dehesa is to open a new concept in Covent Garden's Opera Quarter, Big Hospitality can reveal

National Restaurant Awards 2010 to be announced Monday

06-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

Top chefs from around the UK will be gathering in London next week as results are revealed from the National Restaurant Awards 2010

Pre-register now for next week's Restaurant Show

06-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Chefs including Albert Roux, Jason Atherton, Ashley Palmer-Watts, Massimo Bottura and Chris and Jeff Galvin will head the line up at this year’s Restaurant Show, which runs next week from 11-13 October at London’s Earls Court 2

VisitBritain and BA campaign set to boost tourism

06-Oct-2010 By Lorraine Heller

VisitBritian and British Airways today launch a new campaign designed to attract more tourists to the country, which includes special discount deals with hotels.

Cheshire hotel fined £75k by fire service

06-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hoteliers are being warned to check fire safety equipment and procedures at their premises after The Belfry Hotel in Cheshire was fined £75k for breaching fire safety codes

Richoux Group plans rollout after raising £2m

05-Oct-2010 By Martyn Leek

Richoux Group, the casual restaurant operator, this morning revealed it has raised £2m via a share placing in order to fund expansion

The Restaurant Group buys O2’s S&M Café

05-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

The Restaurant Group has acquired the former Smash Foods-operated S&M Café at the O2 in Greenwich, London.

Savoy Grill opening delayed until November

04-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

The reopening of the Savoy Grill is to be delayed until November, seven weeks after the hotel has been opened

Blakes Hotel rescued from administration for £20m

04-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Luxury boutique hotel Blakes Hotel in London has been purchased out of administration for around £20 million, as its new owners announce plans to take the brand abroad

Ask the Experts: How should my business handle the rise in wheat prices?

04-Oct-2010 By NULL

BigHospitality puts one reader's question about how their business can handle the rising price of wheat to Sharon Glancy, managing director of Stonebow, the training division of People 1st

Royal Shakespeare Company to launch new restaurant and café

04-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Theatrical group the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is to launch two new food offerings, a restaurant and café, at its newly transformed riverside location in Stratford-upon-Avon in November

Heritage golf hotel The Links up for sale

01-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

A historic hotel has come on the market in Norfolk, with a golf course designed by one of the pioneers of the game, and with a price tag of £2.75 million.

Yorkshire town on the hunt for ""top class"" chef to open new restaurant

01-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

The Yorkshire town of Malton is looking for a "top class" chef or patron to open a new restaurant in the town, and it's offering £10,000 to the right person to do so

Pearls of Wisdom: Henry Harris

01-Oct-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Henry Harris was chef at the Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols for 10 years before opening Racine – also in Knightsbridge – to widespread critical acclaim

Third of restaurant-goers say ‘no’ to calories labelling

01-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Over a third of British restaurant goers would not want calorie labelling on restaurant menus, with 44 per cent of these saying it would ‘ruin’ their restaurant experience, a new poll has revealed

Corporate Responsibility: Ten top tips

01-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin & Rachel Johnson

Trouble beginning your journey toward becoming a more responsible business? We've asked the experts for their top tips to help get you started.

Sol Melià brings new ME city hotel brand to London

30-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Spanish hotel chain Sol Melià is to bring its latest hotel brand, ME, to London, as it announces plans to open a site in Holborn in 2012

Simon Rogan “chuffed to bits” with fifth AA Rosette

30-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Chef Simon Rogan, owner of L’Enclume, has said he is “chuffed to bits” with his restaurant’s fifth AA rosette.

Derek Bulmer stands down as Michelin Guide editor

30-Sep-2010 By Joe Lutrario

Derek Bulmer, editor of the Great Britain and Ireland Michelin Guide, has retired from his position after 30 years working for the group.

Businesses splashing the cash as corporate entertaining makes a comeback

29-Sep-2010 By Stefan Chomka

Corporate entertaining, the saviour of many fine dining restaurants pre-recession, is making a welcome comeback with businesses beginning to splurge on expensive meals for clients, exclusive figures from American Express indicate

What does local sourcing really mean?

29-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Local sourcing is a term the whole nation is aware of, but what does it really mean?

Roussillon names Dan Gill as new head chef

29-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Former Midsummer House sous chef Dan Gill has been appointed head chef of Pimlico-based Michelin starred restaurant Roussillon, at the age of 23

Corporate Responsibility: South Sands Hotel

29-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hotelier Jeff Gillard, who has recently reopened South Sands Hotel in Salcombe, Devon, believes there is no excuse for shying away from your commitment to the local community, no matter what size of business you have.

August a ""healthy"" month for British hotels

28-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

British hoteliers have enjoyed a healthy trade in August according to preliminary monthly figures released today.

Martin Wishart named AA Chef of the Year

28-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Scottish chef  Martin Wishart, the owner of Edinburgh’s first Michelin starred restaurant, has been awarded the AA Chef’s Chef of the Year 2010 award by his culinary peers

Corporate Responsibility: Sam's Brasserie

28-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Being a responsible business isn’t just an extra, it’s an essential, says restaurateur Sam Harrison, owner of Sam’s Brasserie in Chiswick and Harrison’s in Balham.

Tampopo expands into South East England

28-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Pan Asian chain Tampopo has opened its sixth outlet in the Oracle shopping centre in Reading, the company's first venture into South East England

Corporate Responsibility: How to get started

27-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

With the hospitality industry still reeling from the effects of the recession, concentrating on how responsible your business is may not be at the top of your ‘to do’ list.

Hotels missing out on “free and instant opportunity” to cut costs

27-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Hotels are missing a ‘free and instant opportunity’ to cut energy costs and reduce their carbon reduction liabilities, according to an eco-tourism certification body

Roussillon Dessert Trophy UK finalists named

27-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Four finalists have been named for the UK leg of the Wines of Roussillon Dessert Trophy 2010, the dessert and Roussillon Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) wine pairing competition

Harvest Swap Shop at St. Paul's and Young Guns at South Lodge Hotel

24-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Restaurants hotels and pubs, including The Restaurant at St. Paul's and South Lodge Hotel tell us about the extra activities their planning to attract customers

Alan Murchison to buy The New Angel in Dartmouth

24-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Alan Murchison’s 10 in 8 Fine Dining Group is to acquire The New Angel restaurant with rooms in Dartmouth, with a view to reopening the “destination restaurant” in January

UK hotels still to catch up with pre-recession performance

24-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Hotels operating in Britain’s tourist destinations saw a successful August, although performance still languished behind pre-recession levels

After hours with... Riddian Davies

24-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

The area general manager for Guoman's Charing Cross and Grosvenor hotels talks about leaving South Africa, becoming 'the best' and multi-tasking

Tom Aikens abandons Paramount restaurant purchase

23-Sep-2010 By Mark Stretton

Tom Aikens, the high-end chef, has walked away from a deal to buy six sites from Paramount Restaurants  

Hallmark acquires sixth hotel in the Cotswolds

23-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Boutique brand Hallmark Hotels has acquired a new hotel in the Cotswolds, and is set to begin a £3 million refurbishment later this month, BigHospitality understands

Coworth Park prepares to open its doors

22-Sep-2010 By Joe Lutrario, Rachel Johnson

Hotel group Dorchester Collection is opening the doors to its latest country house hotel, Coworth Park on Monday (27 September)

BCA Caterer of the Year 2010 nominees announced

21-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Curry restaurant industry body Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) has announced the contenders for its coveted Caterer of the Year award

Pizza Express bids for breakfast market with ‘new generation’ restaurant

21-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Pizza Express is set to serve breakfast for the first time as it opens the first of its “new generation” restaurants in Richmond next month

Whitbread plans 200 new hotels by 2015

21-Sep-2010 By Martyn Leek

Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn and Beefeater, intends to open 200 new hotels in the next four to five years, BigHospitality understands

Intercontinental Hotels to open 18 new European hotels

21-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), owner of Holiday Inn, has announced plans to open 18 new hotels in Europe, including eight in the UK

Traditional dishes back in fashion as Brits call for regional food in restaurants

21-Sep-2010 By Rachel Johnson

British consumers are calling for more traditional British cuisine in restaurants, new research has revealed

National Restaurant Awards 2010 to be announced next month

20-Sep-2010 By Becky Paskin

Next month we will reveal the 100 best restaurants in the UK as part of this year’s annual National Restaurant Awards

London Olympics to hit UK hotel recovery

20-Sep-2010 By Martyn Leek

The 2012 Olympic Games could harm the strength of the UK hotel recovery, especially in host city London, according to new research