Articles by Date : May 01 2006 - May 31 2006

Bed tax: Hearn's way
Travelodge supremo Grant Hearn has strong views on the overall state of the hotel industry, but right now he's mobilising tens of thousands of his.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Konstam at the Prince Albert, London
Oliver Rowe is ploughing a lonely furrow in central London by trying to source all his ingredients from within the M25. To his credit, he's making a.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

More hotel rooms taken via internet than agents
Internet bookings have, for the first time, overtaken those from traditional travel agents. Andrew Sangster reports on what happens next more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Boom time to come for Gulf economy
The economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations is set to quadruple to $2 trillion (£1.1 trillion) by 2030, making it the sixth- or.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Middle East must grasp green issues
Delegates at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference are warned of need for dramatic improvement on environment more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

A pilgrimage to Michel Bras's restaurant
Michel Bras's restaurant in south-west France is a Mecca for many chefs, and when three of the UK's top cooks made the pilgrimage to eat there for.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Paul Sowden, group head chef, Tomahawk Hotel Group
Paul Sowden is group head chef at Tomahawk Hotel Group, a venture set up and owned by Rob Foulston and Tom Horsfall. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Is 'modern British' dead?
If the phrase "modern British cooking" ever meant anything, does it have any meaning in today's professional kitchens? asks Bill Knott more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Staff crisis threat to Gulf hotels
Hospitality operators in the Gulf region are facing a staffing crisis as the market continues to burgeon. In Dubai's five-star market alone, an.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

InterContinental Hotels Group in fight for franchise fees
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has taken a German company to court in a £4m legal battle over franchise fees. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Ollie Couillaud teams up with Tom Aikens
Chef Ollie Couillaud is leaving the Dorchester after only a year to take up the role as head chef at Tom Aiken's second London restaurant, Tom's.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Mews of Mayfair recruits ex-Nobu chefs
Former Nobu London chefs David Selex and Kurt Zdesar have joined forces at a new four-storey restaurant, lounge and cocktail bar in the heart of.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Dubai takes lead in Arab hotel expansion efforts
This year's Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai was a hotbed of industry news. James Garner and Emily Manson were there more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Sheffield school deal shunned by caterers
Sheffield is the latest council to get a dire response from bidders for its school meals contract. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Smaller operators join bed tax fight
Independent hoteliers sign up to oppose new tax that could spell doom for struggling businesses more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Three-star brands surge into market
More than three-quarters of the three-star hotels in Dubai are unbranded and privately owned. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

England to repeat Scotland's smoking errors
Mistakes made introducing the smoking ban in Scotland look set to be repeated in England unless action is taken, hospitality trade associations have.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Premier Travel Inn and Paramount to roll out together?
Budget hotel chain Premier Travel Inn is joining forces with Paramount Restaurants in a deal which will see a Caffé Uno restaurant open at its new.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

A Grelha at the Gun, London
Offering an alfresco dining experience in London's Docklands, A Grelha is located next to the award-winning Gun restaurant. It offers traditional.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Sarmad Zok, chief executive of Kingdom Hotel Investments
Sarmad Zok is chief executive of Kingdom Hotel Investments and one of the key players in the Middle East's hotel development scene. He took time out.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Andrew Henning, executive manager, Park Lane hotel, London
Starwood's Park Lane hotel, in Piccadilly, London, has appointed Andrew Henning as executive manager. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Vegetables by 40 Great French Chefs
Take one market gardener, 40 French chefs, a couple of food journos and a London-based translator writing for the US market; garnish with extravagant.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Caterer loves... sandwiches
The great British culinary institution known as the sandwich was created in 1762 by the fourth Earl of Sandwich... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Christopher's, London
Reopening after a complete renovation, this Covent Garden American bar and grill has new menus, a new look and a new bar. The ground floor is now.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

David Trotter, operations director, Next Level Group
David Trotter has left Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh, where he was director of corporate hospitality company the Murrayfield Experience. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Edward Kreft, general manager, Millennium Gloucester hotel, London
The Millennium Gloucester hotel in London's Kensington has welcomed Edward Kreft as general manager. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

English asparagus, hop shoots, haddock, lamb
Ingredients in season... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

How to... make the perfect egg and cress sandwich
(and why it's good for you) more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

More credit for online sector
There was much to commend in your report (Caterer, 4 May, page 36) on relations between the hotel and online sectors. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Lorenzo Nobile, general manager, Hotel D'Inghilterra, Rome
Lorenzo Nobile has become general manager at the Hotel D'Inghilterra in Rome. He was central manager at the hotel, which is part of the Royal Demeure.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Mark Willis, general manager, Radisson SAS Portman hotel
Mark Willis has become general manager at the Radisson SAS Portman hotel, London. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Next move... for a regional systems trainer
I am a regional systems trainer covering 35 UK hotels. I train people on four different IT systems, but was originally employed to train on one and.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Pam Bordman, sales manager, Hartwell House Hotel and Spa
Pam Bordman has joined Hartwell House Hotel and Spa in the Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, as sales manager. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Piccolino, Nottingham
Located in Nottingham's Lace Market, this latest opening from the Piccolino restaurant and bar chain hopes to bring Italian food "as it should be" to.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Review of Reviews: 11 May 2006
The Evening Standard, London, 3 May Fay Maschler finds a piece of hot heaven at Bar Shu in London's West End Sichuan (or Szechwan) food is.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Setting up a franchise scheme
In the first of two articles, David Morrison, of solicitors Rooks Rider, lays out the basic considerations and problems of franchising your business.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Shane Tierney, operations manager, Tulip Inn Dublin Airport
Shane Tierney, deputy general manager of the Tulip Inn Dublin Airport, has been promoted to the new post of operations manager. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

How do I know what online reservation system is right for me?
I have taken over an independent 70-bedroom manor house hotel in Hampshire and need to establish an online reservations system to boost sales. How do.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Table Talk
There have been spooky goings-on in the Marco Pierre White stable of late... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Volstead, London W1
Named in ironic reference to Andrew Volstead, author of the USA's Prohibition Act of 1919, Volstead is a 1920s-inspired lounge bar. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Loch Fyne Restaurants: Watch and learn
For Loch Fyne Restaurants employees, a visit to the original business on the banks of Loch Fyne is educational as well as inspiring, as Ben Walker.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Stop crippling new business
In November you printed a letter from me in which I expressed my displeasure with leasing pub companies which don't ensure that their new lessees can.... more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

In search of David Smolt
I am writing wishing to contact David Smolt. I am not sure if that is your real name or a nom de plume. more
(11 May 2006 00:00)

Legal uncertainity leads to Alpha Airports pulling shares
Airline caterer Alpha Airports has said legal uncertainty surrounding one of its contracts was behind the decision last month to pull its shares from.... more
(10 May 2006 17:51)

Ex-Thistle director Douglas Waddell takes on new role at Hand Picked Hotels
Hand Picked Hotels has recruited Douglas Waddell as operations manager. more
(10 May 2006 17:31)

Antony Worrall Thompson criticises foreign workers for poor service levels
Chef Antony Worrall Thompson has criticised eastern Europeans and other foreign workers for adding to poor service levels in UK restaurants. more
(10 May 2006 15:37)

Woody’s owner changes from nightclubs to restaurants
West London nightclub Woody’s has been put on the market for £1.9m. more
(10 May 2006 15:36)

Top AA manager retires
Albert Hampson, the AA’s business manager for hotel services, is retiring at the end of June after 19 years with the organisation. more
(10 May 2006 12:35)

New licencing law affects businesses with staff accommodation
Hospitality businesses that provide shared accommodation for their staff could be forced to be licensed as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). more
(10 May 2006 12:05)

Marylebone Warwick Balfour group sells Park Lane hotel in London for £105m
Marylebone Warwick Balfour Group (MWB) has sold the Marriott Park Lane hotel to a private Middle Eastern investor for £105m. more
(10 May 2006 11:34)