Articles by Date : February 01 2006 - February 28 2006

What the weekend papers say
A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry. News includes: InterConti sells hotel property shares; Compass shareholders.... more
(13 February 2006 10:33)

De Vere Group remains optimistic despite tough trading
British hotel and leisure operator De Vere remains optimistic for the year despite tough trading conditions. more
(13 February 2006 10:08)

Wozza signs lease for third London grill
Antony Worrall Thompson's grill concept is expanding into a "ménage à trois" with a new site set to open in Barnes, south-west London, at Easter. more
(13 February 2006 08:05)

Revenue ruling makes troncs more complex
Restaurants which run their tronc through a separate payroll are to face even more paperwork as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) continues its clampdown.... more
(13 February 2006 08:00)

Visits from Western Europe to UK up
Visits from Western Europe to the UK hit a record high in 2005, according to the Office for National Statistics. more
(10 February 2006 16:04)

New finance director for Fishworks
FishWorks has recruited the former finance director of Caprice Holdings to over see its books. more
(10 February 2006 15:21)

Gate Gourmet director jailed for stealing £30,000
Gate Gourmet's former finance director Ravinder Dhillon has been jailed for 12 months for stealing £30,000 from the company. Dhillon, 44, was.... more
(10 February 2006 15:20)

Students protest at meals price hike
Hundreds of students and teachers at Lambeth College in London have staged a one-day boycott of its four canteens to protest about unhealthy and.... more
(10 February 2006 15:20)

Tom Aikens diversifies with new opening
Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens is to launch a new restaurant concept around the corner from his existing site on Elystan Street, in Chelsea. more
(10 February 2006 10:32)

Laurel pubs look to food for growth potential
The Laurel Pub Company has put food at the centre of its growth plans. more
(10 February 2006 10:32)

Blunder forces school meals deal re-tender
West Berkshire Council has been forced to re-tender its school meals contract following a wrangle over paperwork. more
(10 February 2006 10:31)

CESA advises on how to economise on energy costs
Spiralling gas and electricity prices have pushed the cost of energy in the kitchen into the headlines. But help is at hand. CESA, the Catering.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Getting the most from your combi-oven
Combi-ovens are the most versatile item of prime cooking equipment any professional kitchen can have. But there are tips and tricks that might not be.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Why Hospitality Action deserves your support
Images of high-profile industry figures suffering serious illness and and financial hardship feature in the campaign to raise funds for Hospitality.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Holmes truths: An interview with Terry Holmes
Terry Holmes has worked in just a handful of hotels in his 43-year career. Now, stepping down as executive director of London's Stafford hotel, he.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Hotelympia gets behind growth of luxury hotel spas
Most luxury hotels have a spa these days, and this year the spa suppliers will be out in force at Hotelympia Janet Harmer reports more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Winter Olympics: Sporting chances
The Winter Olympics is coming to Italy this weekend, and host city Turin is determined to make sure its tourism industry sees some long-term.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

My new kitchen: Sam's Brasserie, London
Since its doors opened last August, business at Sam's Brasserie has grown above projection. So it's a good job the kitchen was made robust enough to.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Valentine's Day rings the changes... and the tills
Valentine's Day is still popular with romantic couples, but restaurants and hotels increasingly see it as a chance to nurture long-term.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Little Chef sets up coffee shop brand
Roadside operator to unveil Coffee Tempo! tomorrow more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Caffè Nero looks to the Middle East for international launch
UK coffee chain Caffè Nero plans to launch itself on to the international stage within the next six months, it revealed last week. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Arora Family Trust buys nine UK airport hotels
Property investment group the Arora Family Trust has bought nine hotels from the Airport Hotels Unit Trust (AHUT) for more than £300m. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Hodgson's hooks national fish and chip shop of the year title
Linda and Nigel Hodgson celebrate after their Lancaster chippy, Hodgson's, won the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition last week. In.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Charles backs mutton revival
Prince Charles launched his Mutton Renaissance Club at a gala dinner at the Ritz hotel in London last week. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Another Frenchman signs for the Gunners
Raymond Blanc has been announced as the latest signing at Arsenal Football Club. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

A minute on the clock Chad Fox
Chad Fox is guest services manager at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, one of Canada's premier skiing resorts. He tells Emily Manson about the.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Book Review: The Dylan, Amsterdam A Tasteful Experience
This is not a pure cookbook, rather an insight into the world of the Dylan hotel in Amsterdam, the 41-bedroom hotel transformed by Anouska Hempel in.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Caterer loves... Valentine's Day
It's said that money can't buy you love, but for those prone to ridiculous fiscal displays of affection, Valentine's means more than just a padded.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Design energy efficient catering equipment
If the catering industry does not start to make changes in its energy efficiency and CO2 discharge levels, says David Clarke, it runs the risk that.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Earl Withers, deputy catering manager, the NEC Group, Birmingham
Earl Withers has been promoted to deputy catering manager of the NEC Group, Birmingham. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Fire hazards in grease extraction
Richard Norman, managing director of Indepth Hygiene Services, offers advice on the hazards of grease-extraction systems and implications of new.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Helen Walford, training and projects manager, Golden Tulip UK
Golden Tulip UK has promoted Helen Walford to training and projects manager. She joined the company in 2004 as human resources openings manager, and.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Mike Hicks, proprietor/manager, Outback Steakhouse, Romford, Essex
Mike Hicks has been with Outback Steakhouse for five years. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

How to… make an anti-Valentine's Day cocktail
Ingredients 50ml Monkey Shoulder triple malt Scotch whisky 5ml Frangelico 5ml Grand Marnier Method Pour all the ingredients into a short.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

How can I improve lunch sales?
We're busy for dinner most nights of the week, but lunch covers are always low. How can I improve lunch sales? more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Peas, yellow plums, sea bass
Ingredients in season... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

It's time to tackle energy costs
Amanda Scott, general manager of London's Warldorf hotel, recently told me that she feared that utility costs would ultimately cripple the industry. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Jeremy Wilson, e-marketing manager, Corus Hotels
Corus Hotels has recruited Jeremy Wilson as its new e-marketing manager to increase the profile of its website. Wilson has moved to the company from.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Let it breathe
In his third masterclass on wine service, Ronan Sayburn, executive head sommelier with the Gordon Ramsay group, shows us why decanting and.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Lynn Abernethy, Sodexho catering manager, the Scottish Parliament building
Lynn Abernethy has joined Sodexho as catering manager at the Scottish Parliament building, Holyrood. She was previously resident manager at Edinburgh.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

The versatility of combi-ovens
The versatility of a combi-oven makes it suitable for a wide range of kitchens, from banqueting operations to much smaller venues more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Next move… for someone keen for promotion
I am 28 and currently a hospitality manager at a small catering company and stuck in a rut. I wish to move into senior management and am considering.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Paul Skinner, food and beverage manager, Royal Automobile Club, London
Paul Skinner has left the Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in London, where he was director of food and beverage. His new role is food and beverage.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Samantha Hayes, business development executive, Buckland Tout-Saints hotel
Samantha Hayes, who was conference and events co-ordinator at Mallory Court hotel in Warwickshire, has gone to newly refurbished sister hotel.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Spare us the heart-shaped nightmare
Valentine's Day looks decidedly unromantic from the other side of the pass, says chef and writer Bill Knott more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Steve Lewis, general manager, Hotel du Vin, Bristol
Steve Lewis is the new general manager of the Hotel du Vin, Bristol. He comes from the Old Bank hotel in Oxford, where he was general manager. more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Table Talk
The new Malmasion in Oxford was originally a prison, and CEO Robert Cook thinks it'd be fun to invite some of the old lags who've done time there to.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Gastronorm pan from BGL Rieber
Stainless-steel gastronorm pans rarely make the news, but latest versions from leading German producer Rieber are made from a 2.3mm thick,.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Kitchen ventilation system from Britannia Kitchens
The self-contained Refresh kitchen ventilation system is designed for use over electrical cooking equipment in applications where ductwork cannot be.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)

Mini oven from Dualit
Designed originally for bedsits and other space-conscious domestic applications, a new Mini Oven from Dualit also suits food service situations such.... more
(10 February 2006 00:00)