Articles by Date : July 01 2004 - July 31 2004

Hill in restaurant and pub family venture
Ex-Lords of the Manor chef Toby Hill has taken over the Moon and Sixpence in Hanwell near Banbury, Oxfordshire, with plans to open several more.... more
(08 July 2004 12:04)

Sodexho ups forecast but UK still down
Contract caterer Sodexho Alliance has upped its global sales forecast for the year, but its UK division continues to lag behind. more
(08 July 2004 11:50)

People Moves: Amanda Hopkins, Roland Fasel, Phil Conisbee...
All the latest appointments and promotions... more
(08 July 2004 11:34)

Countdown starts to new licensing regime
The countdown to the reform of licensing laws in England and Wales began today with the publication of guidance by the Government. more
(07 July 2004 17:06)

New openings lift sales but hit profits at Urbium
Urbium, owner of the Tiger Tiger chain of bar-restaurants, said today that like-for-like sales for the six months to 27 June were 5% ahead of the.... more
(07 July 2004 16:00)

Visitor recovery continues during May
The number of international visitors coming to Britain increased by 28% in May when compared with the same month in 2003, but the amount they spent.... more
(07 July 2004 15:32)

Greene King confirms Laurel talks
Pub group and brewer Greene King is close to buying a package of 430 neighbourhood pubs from the Laurel Pub Company. more
(07 July 2004 15:15)

2004 Catey award winners unveiled
The winners of this year's Caterer & Hotelkeeper Awards were announced last night at a glittering ceremony at London's Grosvenor House hotel. more
(06 July 2004 16:10)

Café Rouge owner raises £13.5m to expand
Tragus Holdings, owner of the Café Rouge and Bella Italia restaurant chains, has raised an extra £13.5m from Barclays Bank to fund expansion. more
(06 July 2004 15:38)

Pharmacy fittings set to fetch £3m in auction
Ashtrays, bars stools and other items from britpack artist Damien Hirst's now defunct Pharmacy restaurant in London's Notting Hill are expected to.... more
(06 July 2004 15:11)

Group Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by JohnsonDiversey more
(06 July 2004 14:43)

Independent Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Learnpurple more
(06 July 2004 14:36)

Pub and Bar Operator of the Year
Sponsored by Booker Cash & Carry more
(06 July 2004 14:22)

Pub and Bar Industry Award
Sponsored by Errázuriz Estate - Chile more
(06 July 2004 14:14)

June sales drop for Chicago Rock Café owner
A sharp drop off in sales during June followed a steady three months to the end of May at Luminar, the operator of nightclubs and late-night bars.... more
(06 July 2004 13:08)

Group Restaurateur of the Year
Sponsored by Bunzl Outsourcing Services more
(06 July 2004 12:53)

Foodservice briefing
A round-up of the latest news from the contract catering sector... more
(06 July 2004 12:41)

Which? slams unhealthy food at tourist spots
The food at some of Britain’s top tourist attractions has taken a hammering from the Consumers’ Association. more
(05 July 2004 16:20)

Just Opened
Made in Brasil, London... more
(05 July 2004 15:57)

Alias
Hotel group LHM has unveiled widening pre-tax losses as it continues its ambitious expansion programme to triple the size of its Alias hotels chain. more
(05 July 2004 15:51)

Eating up Italy: Voyages on a vespa, Mathew Fort
"As I read the book, it made me want to jump on a scooter and head off to do the same trip. However, not having the time to do so, I had to rely on.... more
(05 July 2004 15:49)

Our back pages stories from the caterer vaults
1973, 1958, 1970, 1987, Reader's letter 1998 more
(05 July 2004 15:44)

Corus sells Stafford hotel for £4.2m
Midmarket hotel chain Corus Hotels has sold the 60-bedroom Garth Hotel in Stafford for £4.2m to a property developer. more
(05 July 2004 15:36)

Over to you
What do you think of David Blunkett's plans to "blitz" alcohol-related violence and under-age drinking? more
(05 July 2004 15:35)

Cipriani looks to City for second restaurant
Cipriani, currently one of London's trendiest restaurants, is planning to open a second operation in the City. more
(05 July 2004 15:32)

Little Chef drops Harry Ramsden's
Customers eating at 40 Little Chef restaurants will not be able to order Harry Ramsden's meals when owner Compass Group withdraws the dishes from its.... more
(05 July 2004 15:31)

French Table owners take over Stepping Stone
Battersea restaurant the Stepping Stone has shut and been replaced by a new operation from the owners of the French Table in Surbiton, Surrey. more
(05 July 2004 15:29)

Bell Inn sounds a winning note
Nottingham's Bell Inn won the conservation category in the Campaign for Real Ale's (Camra) 21st National Pub Design Awards last week. more
(05 July 2004 15:27)

Diners demand they know meat's origins
More restaurant diners than ever now want to know the origin of the meat they eat, according to the latest research commissioned by the Meat and.... more
(05 July 2004 15:26)

Honeycombe keeps sweet
Pub operator Honeycombe Leisure enjoyed a solid performance last year despite being in the middle of a major operational shake-up. more
(05 July 2004 15:16)

Schoolchildren get early taste of fine dining
Children in Norfolk are being offered free school meals and a taste of working in the hospitality industry by two local restaurateurs. more
(05 July 2004 14:54)

Domino's cuts the fat
Domino's is offering a pizza made with 30% reduced-fat mozzarella. more
(05 July 2004 14:51)

European hotel values fall by 4%
Hotel values across Europe dipped by 4% last year, according to the latest edition of consultant HVS International's Hotel Valuation Index. more
(05 July 2004 14:49)

Ramsons tops list of Booker winners
Five independent caterers won awards at this year's Booker Prize for Excellence, in a ceremony held last week at Arbury Hall near Nuneaton,.... more
(05 July 2004 14:48)

Ever So Sensible takes £1m stake in Coventry scheme
Nottingham-based Ever So Sensible Bars has taken a £1m leasehold at a new eating and drinking development in Coventry city centre. more
(05 July 2004 14:45)

Senior staff leave newly opened Baglioni hotel
Four top members of staff have left London's five-star Baglioni hotel since it opened three months ago. more
(05 July 2004 14:43)

Investment firm leads race for Wagamama
Japanese-style noodle bar chain Wagamama is in advanced talks with several companies over a possible £60m buyout. more
(05 July 2004 14:42)

First national deal for Holroyd Howe
Contract caterer Holroyd Howe has won its first national contract deal. The Amersham-based company will cater for 3,750 staff at 18 UK sites owned by.... more
(05 July 2004 14:34)

Red tape threat to smaller businesses
The relentless tide of red tape and paperwork is threatening to overwhelm smaller hospitality businesses. Karl Cushing inspects the damage so far more
(05 July 2004 14:20)

FSA rethinks safe limits of oily fish consumption
Britons should restrict the portions of oily fish they eat each week, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has indicated, in its latest guidance on food.... more
(05 July 2004 14:12)

Young Guns meet key players in hospitality
Every year, two hospitality students who excel on their work placements are awarded the title of Young Guns - and whisked away to the Catering Forum..... more
(05 July 2004 14:10)

London to get Jackson Five café?
Michael Jackson may fighting a legal battle to stay out of prison, but his brother Jermaine was in London last week scouting for a site for a new.... more
(05 July 2004 13:35)

Shaken all over
Can't tell a grasshopper from a cricket bat, or a Manhattan from a man with a hat on? Stir yourself to the Shaker BarSchool, By Drinks Editor Fiona.... more
(05 July 2004 11:50)

Industry data: Contract catering trends 1998-2003
The number of contract catering outlets and number of meals served has remained fairly stable between 1998 and 2003. Food sales, though, have.... more
(05 July 2004 11:49)

Fresh lessons
Individual schools have had the right to arrange their own catering service since 1998. But gaining greater control over the provision of school.... more
(05 July 2004 11:41)

Success at last in Gresham takeover saga
Irish chain Gresham Hotels has finally succumbed to the consortium of hoteliers and a property developer that has been wooing it for a number of.... more
(05 July 2004 11:38)

The scholars' progress
There's still time to enter this year's Gordon Ramsay Scholar competition. Amanda Afiya and Dan Bignold catch up with the current holder of the title.... more
(05 July 2004 11:37)

Industry data: Leisure trends 1998-2003
The number of leisure outlets and number of meals served has remained fairly stable between 1998 and 2003. more
(05 July 2004 11:26)

Improving diet needs leadership
If we are ever going to improve the diets of children in the UK, we will need trailblazers who are prepared to challenge the way we currently provide.... more
(05 July 2004 11:12)

MBO on the cards at Yates as Laurel interest wanes
Pub group Yates looks set for a £93m management buyout after rival chain Laurel decided not to bid and analysts believe fresh approaches are unlikely. more
(05 July 2004 11:08)