Articles by Date : September 01 2004 - September 30 2004

Ramada set to become biggest chain in Ireland
Hotelier Michael Knox-Johnston has announced ambitious plans to expand the Ramada hotel chain to make it the biggest in Ireland. more
(30 September 2004 17:09)

How I got here
John Price, operations manager at the Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel and Country Club, Norwich more
(30 September 2004 15:02)

People Moves
All the latest appointments and promotions... more
(30 September 2004 14:36)

Pub food on the up, says Which? guide
An increasing number of rural pubs are producing high quality food, shedding their image of microwaved steak and kidney pies, the latest Which? Guide.... more
(30 September 2004 12:45)

Paramount in bid talks
Restaurant group Paramount is in talks with executive chairman Guy Naggar that could lead to a £28m buyout, it has been confirmed today. more
(30 September 2004 12:32)

Urbium extends West End presence
Bar-nightclub operator Urbium has bought a 550-capacity venue in London’s West End for £1.45m. more
(30 September 2004 12:32)

Costa franchise gets first opening
Coffee shop chain Costa Coffee is poised to begin rolling out its new franchise operation, following the opening of its first individually franchised.... more
(30 September 2004 12:31)

Eating out keeps trading static at CI Traders
Hotels and restaurants have provided a financial lifeline over the past six months for the hospitality division of CI Traders, the former Ann Street.... more
(30 September 2004 11:21)

McDonald's says UK business is picking up after £40m drop
Burger giant McDonald's claims its UK business is beginning to turn around, despite a 3.5% drop in sales last year. more
(29 September 2004 17:46)

Hand Picked Hotels and the Grove scoop top AA awards
Hand Picked Hotels and the Grove hotel in Hertfordshire have scooped the top accolades in the AA Hotel Awards for 2005. more
(29 September 2004 17:17)

Restaurateur wins an 18-month tronc battle with Inland Revenue
A London restaurateur claims to have won his 18-month battle with the Inland Revenue, following an investigation into his business's tronc scheme.... more
(29 September 2004 17:06)

Brighter figures for De Vere, despite bad weather
The De Vere Group has reported increases in both sales and revenue per available room (revpar) at its Village and De Vere-branded hotels. more
(29 September 2004 16:13)

Thistle confirms takeover of Cumberland
The Thistle hotel chain will next month launch an upmarket hotel brand at the same time as reopening the 1,020-bedroom Cumberland Hotel in London. more
(29 September 2004 16:07)

We've changed careers. What's the next step?
We are a couple changing careers (midwife and customs officer). We wish to run a restaurant and guesthouse and have completed an NVQ level 2 in food.... more
(29 September 2004 14:54)

Table Talk
Here's a story going around the web under the title Random Acts of Lunacy... more
(27 September 2004 10:48)

Commons bomb hoax highlights lapses in agency staff vetting
The potential security threat posed by agency staff was dramatically highlighted last week when a journalist masquerading as a waiter smuggled a.... more
(24 September 2004 11:46)

Itsu plans two London openings
Sushi conveyor-belt chain Itsu is planning to open two new London venues at an estimated cost of £500,000. more
(24 September 2004 11:38)

Ritz-Carlton captures castle
Ritz-Carlton is to open a new hotel in a converted castle at a championship golf course being built in Ayrshire, Scotland. more
(24 September 2004 11:03)

Ramsay launches range of home-delivery meals
Gordon Ramsay has launched a range of upmarket semi-ready meals aimed at people who fancy fine dining at home but don't have the necessary culinary.... more
(24 September 2004 10:35)

How I got here
Alex Carroll, sous chef at the Real Eating Company, Brighton more
(23 September 2004 11:57)

Conran to open restaurant chain in Japan
The Conran Group is set to boost its profile in Asia by opening a string of restaurants in Japan. more
(22 September 2004 17:54)

Raymond Blanc named as the AA's Chef's Chef of the Year for 2005
Raymond Blanc, chef-patron of Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, has been crowned AA Chefs' Chef of the Year 2005. more
(22 September 2004 17:53)

Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge to head up VisitBritain
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today named Lord Marshall of Knighstbridge as the new chairman of tourist body VisitBritain. more
(22 September 2004 16:39)

Wagamama gets £13m to fund its expansion drive
Noodle chain Wagamama is set to launch an aggressive expansion programme after securing £13m from investors. more
(22 September 2004 15:34)

Blumenthal buys pub near the Fat Duck
Chef Heston Blumenthal has acquired the lease on a pub across the road from his three-Michelin-starred Bray restaurant, the Fat Duck. more
(22 September 2004 15:20)

Profits down at Hard Rock Café
Poor merchandise sales and adverse currency effects have hit both turnover and profits at Rank Group's Hard Rock Cafés, the company said this week. more
(22 September 2004 15:16)

Tamsanguan's title again
Reigning champion Sam Tamsanguan, of London's Wiltons restaurant, has retained his crown at the Tabasco British Oyster Opening Championships 2004. more
(22 September 2004 15:12)

Review of the reviews
Richard Johnson checks out Chez Kristof in London W6... more
(22 September 2004 14:57)

Whitbread to sell off Marriott hotel chain?
Hotel chain Marriott could be put up for sale next month when Whitbread's newly installed chief executive, Alan Parker, announces his strategic.... more
(22 September 2004 14:50)

The burning issue
A simple truthSimon Wright finds perfection in a few well cooked ingredients more
(22 September 2004 14:41)

Third Masala Zone to open in Earls Court
Midmarket Indian restaurant chain Masala World is to open its third Masala Zone restaurant on the site of a former Pizza Hut in Earls Court, London. more
(22 September 2004 14:39)

Choice Hotels nearly halves its half-year losses
Choice Hotels Europe (CHE) – the operator and master franchisor of the Quality, Clarion, Comfort and Sleep brands in the UK and Europe – has nearly.... more
(22 September 2004 14:38)

Macdonald Hotels to spend £30m revamping its food
Macdonald Hotels plans to spend £30m over the next two years to rejuvenate its food and beverage offer as part of a strategy to redefine itself as a.... more
(22 September 2004 12:49)

Sommelier opens London gastropub
Australian-born sommelier Mark van der Goot is setting up his own gastropub in south-west London called the Greyhound at Battersea. more
(22 September 2004 12:42)

Competition puts brake on expansion at Wetherspoons
Pub company JD Wetherspoon will opt for caution over valour in the coming year, as conditions in the industry become tougher. more
(22 September 2004 12:41)

Gilmour goes Italian in SW18
Restaurateur Christopher Gilmour is to open a Tuscan restaurant and bar called Pomino in Wandsworth, London, during the second half of October. more
(22 September 2004 12:33)

How we got started
Denise Shulver and Gareth Wilcox more
(22 September 2004 12:32)

Brewers put their message in a bottle
Restaurants are missing a trick if they're not listing some of the UK's 600-plus bottled real ales alongside their wine selections more
(22 September 2004 12:31)

Super six battle through to Gordon Ramsay final
Six chefs from the South of England have been chosen to join the final competition for the title of Gordon Ramsay Scholar 2004. more
(22 September 2004 12:29)

US travel service buys Active Hotels for £89m
US internet-based travel service Priceline.com has bought Active Hotels in Cambridge for $161m (£89.87m). more
(22 September 2004 11:29)

Costa continues coffee shop roll-out with WHSmith
Costa, the coffee shop chain owned by leisure group Whitbread, is opening outlets in 20 more WHSmith newsagents across the country. more
(21 September 2004 17:51)

Eating for life
Restaurants Against Hunger Week, one of hospitality's biggest fundraising efforts, is almost upon us. Emma Allen finds out how the industry is doing.... more
(21 September 2004 17:50)

The Bell at Sapperton
Head chef Ivan Reid is passionate about local produce but he's not above serving steak and chips - so long as it's beautifully cooked. Emma Allen.... more
(21 September 2004 17:43)

Property Advice zone
The benefits of remembering names more
(21 September 2004 17:40)

How to...
...greet a guest more
(21 September 2004 17:38)

Rooms for expansion
Entrepreneurs Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts are on to a winner with their Living Ventures restaurant and bar venture. Halfway through their 10-year.... more
(21 September 2004 17:35)

Refusing service
Pam Loch, assistant solicitor at Fladgate Fielder, looks at the legal implications of turning people away from your establishment more
(21 September 2004 17:28)

On the move
Roberto Pinus has joined Hotel Felix in Cambridge as deputy manager. He was food and beverage manager at the Jolly President hotel in Milan. Jonathan.... more
(21 September 2004 17:04)

How I got here
Steven Schaffer, catering development manager, Punch Taverns more
(21 September 2004 16:59)

In Brief
McVeigh unveils Matilda... more
(21 September 2004 16:52)