Articles by Date : July 01 2008 - July 31 2008

Caterer Elior threatened with legal action over school dinners contract
Cornwall County Council has threatened Elior with legal action after the contract caterer pulled out of a school meals contract, just weeks before it.... more
(22 July 2008 07:00)

The Imperial Pasta Cooker
With Italian food on the increase1, pasta is a popular choice on both mainstream and Italian menus. Now chefs can prepare better tasting pasta with.... more
(22 July 2008 00:00)

Heinz cooking sauces
The new Traditional Ready to Use range incorporates Roasted Tomato & Herb, Creamy Mushroom, Hearty Ale & Onion, Zesty Lemon & Parsley and Classic Red.... more
(22 July 2008 00:00)

Domino's makes strong start to the year
Delivery firm Domino’s Pizza has made a strong start to the year as consumers look to cut costs by ordering takeaways rather than eating out. more
(21 July 2008 14:00)

Pub trade slams Home Office report on on-trade
The British Beer & Pub Association has dismissed a Home Office-backed study by KPMG into drinks industry standards as ignoring existing evidence. more
(21 July 2008 13:13)

Hélène Darroze at the Connaught divides opinion
Jasper Gerard from the Daily Telegraph visits Hélène Darroze at the Connaught hotel in London after its £70m refurbishment. more
(21 July 2008 12:38)

What’s on the menu? - A round-up of the latest restaurant reviews
A round-up of the latest restaurant reviews including: Hélène Darroze at the Connaught; Magdalen, London;Princess Victoria, London; The New Inn,.... more
(21 July 2008 12:25)

U2’s Bono gets permission to redevelop Clarence hotel and other international hotel news
Essential news from around the world, including: Rezidor opens Radisson SAS hotel in Jordan; Hotel Concorde in Paris awarded four-star status; A new.... more
(21 July 2008 12:06)

Travelodge calls on tourism industry to support the UK seaside
Budget hotel chain Travelodge is calling on the tourism industry to support a new campaign aimed at attracting more UK tourists to seaside towns. more
(21 July 2008 11:32)

Pub self regulation 'has failed' says pressure group
The on-trades’ voluntary code for retailing alcohol responsibly is failing to safeguard the public, according to pressure group Alcohol Concern. more
(21 July 2008 11:14)

MPs seek Europe-wide fair tipping rules - For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say
A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry. News includes: Councils crack down on Peking Duck ovens; Dawnay Day sale slashes.... more
(21 July 2008 10:30)

Conservatives hit out at government 'uninterest' in tourism
The Conservatives have hit out at Culture Secretary Andy Burnham for being “uninterested” in tourism. more
(21 July 2008 09:30)

Real Hotel Company boss says business as usual despite share fall
The Real Hotel Company’s (RHC) chief executive has insisted the group will continue with its expansion plans, despite the company’s shock share-value.... more
(21 July 2008 09:00)

Tristan Mason aims for Michelin star at new restaurant
Former Michelin-starred chef Tristan Mason has reappeared on the culinary map and set up his own business in Horsham, West Sussex. more
(21 July 2008 08:00)

Carlisle crowned 2008 Nestlé Toque d’Or winners
A team of students from Carlisle College have been revealed as the 2008 Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or champions. more
(18 July 2008 18:27)

TRI HotStats: monthly European hotel figures - Industry data
Budapest’s hotels saw the biggest increase in profitability in May 2008 of the 10 European cities listed in the monthly Europe HotStats survey from.... more
(18 July 2008 17:16)

McDonald's to invest 'heavily' in staff recruitment and training
McDonald's, the fast food giant, has pledged to continue investing heavily in staff recruitment and training as other employers around the UK slash.... more
(18 July 2008 14:48)

Merchant Inns buys Essex inn for £1.95m
The Saracen’s Head hotel in Great Dunmow, Essex, has been sold to Merchant Inns for close to the asking price of £1.95m. more
(18 July 2008 14:27)

Dark Star Scotland buys Aberdeenshire inn
Aberdeenshire’s White Horse Inn is now part of the Dark Star Scotland leisure group. more
(18 July 2008 14:20)

Eastbourne hotel becomes third Big Sleep
The Wish Tower hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex, has become the UK’s third Big Sleep hotel under new owners hotelier Cosmo Fry (a member of the Fry’s.... more
(18 July 2008 14:16)

Edinburgh hotel operators buy venue in Moffat
Edinburgh hoteliers George and Sandrina Lawson are the new owners of the Best Western Mofffat House hotel in the Borders town of Moffat,.... more
(18 July 2008 14:12)

Oriental restaurateur buys Exeter inn
Heavitree Brewery has sold the Cowley Bridge Inn, Exeter, to local operator David Jim, who once ran the city’s Magic Wok restaurant. more
(18 July 2008 14:07)

Close Investments fund buys Chelmsford freehouse
The Dog and Gun, a food-led country inn and freehouse on the outskirts of the Essex village of Little Waltham, has changed hands. more
(18 July 2008 14:04)

Local operator acquires Plymouth fish restaurant
Joined Up Whiting, the acclaimed fish restaurant on Plymouth’s historic Sutton Harbour, has been leased to local restaurateur Edmund Da Vari. more
(18 July 2008 13:59)

Tiffinbites owner plans Bombay Bicycle Club rollout
Gourmet Restaurants Group, owner of Indian restaurant chain Tiffinbites, plans to “rapidly expand across the country” after acquiring the Bombay.... more
(18 July 2008 13:04)

Food and Drink Group to call in the administrators
Food and Drink Group (FDG), the embattled owner of Jamies wine bars and Henry J Beans, is reportedly set to call in the administrators after losing.... more
(18 July 2008 11:14)

Tough second half of the year ahead for hoteliers
The hotel industry should brace itself for a much tougher second half of the year, according to a new report from consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers.... more
(18 July 2008 11:00)

Soho pub faces ban on outdoor drinkers after 6pm after review
A pub in Soho faces a ban on drinkers and smokers outside its premises from 6pm after a review of its licence by London’s Westminster City Council. more
(18 July 2008 10:00)

Fair tip campaign launches in Manchester
The Daily Mirror backed fair tips campaign has been launched in Manchester. more
(18 July 2008 09:00)

Contract caterer Charlton House retained by King’s Fund
Contract caterer Charlton House has been retained by charitable foundation the King’s Fund in London for another three years. more
(18 July 2008 08:00)

Maybourne Group plans major international expansion plan
The owner of three of London’s top landmark five-star hotels is set to embark on a major international expansion programme, Caterersearch has learnt. more
(18 July 2008 07:00)

Clapham House sells Bombay Bicycle Club to Tiffinbites owner
Clapham House Group, the owner of Gourmet Burger Kitchen, has sold its Bombay Bicycle Club (BBC) delivery and restaurant business to Gourmet.... more
(17 July 2008 15:22)

TRI HotStats: monthly European hotel figures - Industry data
Amsterdam’s hotels were the most profitable in April 2008 of the 10 European cities listed in the monthly Europe HotStats survey from TRI.... more
(17 July 2008 14:56)

Revpar grows by nearly 20% at London hotels
London hotels boosted revenue per available room (revpar) by 19.28% in the week ending 13 July, according to figures from hospitality research.... more
(17 July 2008 12:07)

School caterer Alliance in Partnership breaks 100 contract barrier
Education caterer Alliance in Partnership (AIP) has celebrated a decade in business with three new wins, taking it past the 100 contract mark. more
(17 July 2008 11:28)

Michelin chefs back calls for government to close tips loophole
Marco Pierre White, Mark Hix, Giorgio Locatelli and the editor of the Michelin Guide have all backed calls for the Government to close the loophole.... more
(17 July 2008 10:35)

STR Global: London weekly hotel performance to 13 July, 2008
London hotels boosted revenue per available room (revpar) by 19.28% in the week ending 13 July, according to figures from hospitality research.... more
(17 July 2008 10:34)

London restaurant launches pregnancy pizza menu
A London restaurant has launched a range of pregnancy pizzas after numerous requests from customers for bizarre toppings. more
(17 July 2008 10:30)

STR Global: West Midland hotel performance in December 2007
Hotels in the West Midlands increased revenue per available room (revpar) by 5% during the month of December. more
(17 July 2008 10:24)

Travelodge set to expand internationally
Budget hotel chain Travelodge has unveiled plans to expand its non-UK operation with the creation of an international division. more
(17 July 2008 10:00)

Giorgio Locatelli takes authentic Italian to Dubai
Giorgio Locatelli, chef-patron of London's Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, is to open a restaurant in Dubai, Caterer has learnt. more
(17 July 2008 09:00)

Four Seasons lays off staff for London refit
All but eight of the 331 staff working at the Four Seasons Park Lane have been made redundant ahead of the five-star hotel's closure on 30 September.... more
(17 July 2008 08:00)

Aubergine to open restaurant at the Compleat Angler
Aubergine, the Michelin-starred Chelsea restaurant made famous by Gordon Ramsay in the 1990s, is launching a country outpost at the Compleat Angler.... more
(17 July 2008 07:00)

Drink and drug addiction: The battle goes on
We know it goes on, but most of us pretend it's not happening. However, two of the industry's most high-profile chefs, Jamie Oliver and Heston.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

Education month: Cafe culture comes to campus
Undergraduate food has often lagged behind that available on the high street, with branded cafés and onsite bars that are effectively poor imitations.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

Education month: Harrison Catering on the challenges of higher education
Before the University of London brought in Harrison Catering to unitfy service across nine of its sites, the contract was shared by three outside.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

Peat Inn, near St Andrew - Menuwatch
Since taking over Scotland's famed Peat Inn two years ago, Geoff and Katherine Smeddle have put their own stylish mark on the remote site. Tom.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

How do I calculate the national minimum wage?
All workers are entitled to be paid at a rate which is not less than the national minimum wage, currently (per hour) £3.40 for 16- and 17‑year‑olds,.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

Food education is first priority
In a special opinion for Caterer's Education Month, Sara Jayne-Stanes, director of the Academy of Culinary Arts, argues that "local" and "seasonal".... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)

Buying a second business
When purchasing a second business, there are certain problems operators should be careful to address. Emma Ladd of lawyers Stevensdrake gives some.... more
(17 July 2008 00:00)