Articles by Date : October 01 2004 - October 31 2004

Table talk
OQO: 'ah, so' or 'oh, no'? more
(29 October 2004 15:32)

We love...
...Restaurants Against Hunger more
(29 October 2004 11:44)

New start for Simpsons
Andreas Antona has more than relocated his restaurant, Simpsons, in Birmingham. It's a move up as well as across - creating a boutique hotel around a.... more
(29 October 2004 11:39)

Ireland to relax 9pm ruling for under-18s
An order banning children under 18 from licensed premises in the Irish Republic after 9pm is to be relaxed, following complaints from angry hoteliers.... more
(29 October 2004 11:12)

Visitor numbers on rollercoaster
Numbers of overseas visitors to the UK between May and August rose by 8% year-on-year to 6.6 million, according to the latest figures from the Office.... more
(29 October 2004 11:10)

Sodexho's struggles show sector fragility
The hardening of the UK contract catering market is having a significant effect on the fortunes of the major players. Karl Cushing investigates more
(29 October 2004 11:00)

Permira close to deal on freehold properties sale
Travelodge owner Permira is poised to sell the majority of its chain of budget hotels to property entrepreneur Nick Leslau and private equity group.... more
(29 October 2004 10:47)

Clapham House buys new sites for Bombay Bicycle chain
Clapham House Group, the restaurant company set up last year by two former PizzaExpress directors, is to open its third Bombay Bicycle Club.... more
(28 October 2004 17:13)

Hawkes to retire from Aramark
Garry Hawkes is to step down from his role as non-executive chairman at contract caterer Aramark at the end the month. more
(28 October 2004 17:09)

People moves
All the latest appointments and promotions... more
(28 October 2004 16:34)

London hotels enjoy highest occupancy levels in four years
London hotels have been enjoying their highest occupancy levels since September 2000, according to Deloitte’s latest HotelBenchmark. more
(28 October 2004 16:25)

How I got here
Hreinn Agustsson, deputy general manager, Tulip Inn, Glasgow more
(28 October 2004 15:39)

High occupancy fuels revpar growth in London hotels
Average room rates in London hotels exceeded £90 in September for the first time since the terrorist attacks of 2001, according to the latest figures.... more
(28 October 2004 15:38)

Women and wine put beer sales off song
The rise in the number of female drinkers has put the tradition of downing a few beers in the pub under threat, according to a new report from market.... more
(28 October 2004 15:01)

Text and Pretext in Textures: El Bulli, Soler & Adria in Context, Oscar Caballero
When Caterer asked me whether I would like to review a book about Spain's überchef, Ferran Adrià, I was really pleased, as I have been a big fan.... more
(28 October 2004 15:00)

Property Advice zone
All change for change of use - and it won't be easy more
(28 October 2004 14:57)

Last supper
Adam Culverwell would regress to his grandmother's house, and round off his last meal with some of his favourite sweeties... but he'd insist on.... more
(28 October 2004 14:53)

How we got started
Roger Cudlip more
(28 October 2004 14:43)

Gordon Ramsay Scholar 2004
A young chef from Ludlow is still celebrating his victory in the Gordon Ramsay Scholar competition. Caterer was there to see how it all happened more
(28 October 2004 14:41)

The vend is near - but that's OK
There's something inhuman about vending machines. There's no personal interaction, the transaction is all a bit matter-of-fact, and the only.... more
(28 October 2004 14:36)

Nick Shipton
When Hertford restaurant and bar owner Nick Shipton, 33, began to hunt out a site for a new bar, the place he clapped eyes on had other ideas. The.... more
(28 October 2004 14:33)

The Eddrachillies Hotel, Scourie
This week's featured property is an ideal lifestyle business for the operator looking for a change of pace. more
(28 October 2004 14:22)

Regional Spotlight: North-west
Demand for hotels in the North-west of England shows no sign of letting up in the final quarter of 2004, although the shortage of available.... more
(28 October 2004 14:13)

Your Shout: Steve Rodell, Fleurets
Choosing an agent wisely more
(28 October 2004 14:10)

Conflicting smoke signals
The Conservative Party sent out a mixed message on whether smoking should be banned in enclosed public places at its annual conference in Bournemouth.... more
(28 October 2004 13:46)

Whitbread plans “sale-and-manage-backs” on half its Marriott hotels
Whitbread plans to dispose of up to half of its 52 four-star Marriott hotels in “sale-and-manage-back” deals over the next two years. more
(28 October 2004 12:53)

Hoteliers warned of room sales pitfalls
UK hotel operators looking to follow the innovative room-sales lead of hotel operator GuestInvest were warned of the potential pitfalls last week at.... more
(28 October 2004 11:49)

Pulze plans 'more relaxed' restaurant on Fleur site
Restaurateur Claudio Pulze has bought the site of Marcus Wareing's former restaurant, Fleur. more
(28 October 2004 11:48)

Innkeeper's Lodge brings in total ban
Innkeeper's Lodge has banned smoking in all of its hotels, following research showing that eight out of every 10 customers supported the move. more
(28 October 2004 11:45)

200 bidders line up for IHG sell-off
The sale of 75 InterContinental hotels in the UK attracted about 200 indicative bids in the first round of the disposal that is expected to raise.... more
(28 October 2004 11:38)

London groups Conran and Langan's to open restaurants in Dublin
Two of London's best-known restaurant groups, Langan's and Conran Restaurants, are to open in Dublin early next year in a move that is expected to.... more
(28 October 2004 09:44)

Employers seek cap on minimum wage
Hospitality industry employers have called for a cap on the £4.85 minimum wage amid fears that further rises could force job cuts and hit.... more
(27 October 2004 18:01)

QMH leaves stock exchange as new owner takes over
Queens Moat Houses (QMH) yesterday ceased trading on the London stock exchange as new owner Whitehall 2001 officially took control of the troubled.... more
(27 October 2004 10:35)

Worldwide briefing
Essential news from around the world... more
(26 October 2004 15:59)

Regent Inns appoints former S&N bosses to revive its fortunes
Struggling late-night bar operator Regent Inns has announced two top-level appointments on the back of its annual results, which were delayed from.... more
(26 October 2004 12:04)

Scotland must promote itself to attract key overseas talent
Scotland needs to market itself better to overseas workers if the country's hospitality industry is to attract the best talent, says a survey from.... more
(25 October 2004 17:07)

Consistent recovery for UK hotels, says PKF
Average room rates in UK hotels continued to strengthen during September 2004, proving that the industry is showing consistent recovery, according.... more
(25 October 2004 15:52)

Radisson to overhaul Edinburgh hotel
Edinburgh’s 238-bedroom Radisson SAS Hotel, on the city’s Royal Mile, is to get a £5m facelift. more
(25 October 2004 14:47)

What the weekend papers say
A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry... more
(25 October 2004 10:21)

Table Talk
The European Catering Association's Ready, Steady, Cook event attracted a record attendance... more
(22 October 2004 16:38)

First Irish hotel for Golden Tulip UK
Hotel operator Golden Tulip UK has added a first location in Ireland to its growing Tulip Inn chain. more
(22 October 2004 15:25)

George and Dragon snapped up
The George and Dragon gastropub at Rowde, near Devises in Wiltshire, has been bought for about £495,000. The new owners are childhood friends.... more
(22 October 2004 14:24)

Hardy country hotel sold
The Yalbury Cottage hotel at Lower Bockhampton, near Dorchester in Dorset, has been sold for more than £650,000. The thatched eight-bedroom property,.... more
(22 October 2004 14:22)

First-time buyers clinch Philipburn hotel
The Philipburn Country House hotel in Selkirk, Scottish Borders, has been sold for about £895,000. The new owners, Stephen and Joan Booy, have moved.... more
(22 October 2004 14:20)

Couple carve out Lake District property
Kenn Elliot and Rowan Mahon have bought the Cedar Manor hotel in Windermere, Cumbria, for just less than £1m. The two-star, 14-bedroom property,.... more
(22 October 2004 14:19)

Ramblers' rest changes hands
The Castle Inn hotel in Pengenfford, Powys, has been bought by Steve and Heather Swann for just more than £400,000. The property, which is popular.... more
(22 October 2004 14:17)

Surrey couple take chequered flag on Scottish hotel sale
The two-star, 16-bedroom Lochgair hotel in Strathclyde has been sold for more than £380,000. Couple Leslie and Lesley Grant-Pavitt have moved from.... more
(22 October 2004 14:16)

London and Eastern Europe lead hotel recovery across Europe
London hotels enjoyed the highest occupancy levels across Europe during the first nine months of the year, according to the latest Hotelbenchmark.... more
(21 October 2004 17:53)

The Chancery
Building on earlier success, Zak Jones and Andy Thompson found new customers among London's legal community. Suki King reports more
(21 October 2004 17:11)

Benjys looks to franchising to drive expansion
Sandwich bar operator Benjys is seeking franchisees to fuel a massive expansion of both its sandwich stores and its delivery van service across the.... more
(21 October 2004 16:22)