Articles by Date : July 01 2009 - July 31 2009

Compass appoints Alan Vukomancic F&B manager at the Cumberland hotel
Compass Group UK & Ireland has appointed Alan Vukomancic as food and beverage director at the 1,020-bedroom Cumberland hotel, which is part of the.... more
(24 July 2009 00:01)

Neil Cooper to head up two Artisan restaurants and nine tea rooms for Booths
Booths' in store restaurants and tea rooms has taken on Neil Cooper to look after the regional food and drink chain's two Artisan restaurants in.... more
(24 July 2009 00:00)

Planet Hollywood and Twotwentytwo horrify critics
Eating at the newly-opened flagship Planet Hollywood restaurant in London is equivalent to a “TV dinner from hell”, according to the Evening.... more
(23 July 2009 15:52)

What’s on the Menu? - A round-up of the latest restaurant reviews
A round-up of the latest London restaurant reviews including: Lutyens, EC4; Planet Hollywood, W1; Twotwentytwo at The Landmark hotel, NW!; and the.... more
(23 July 2009 15:42)

Liquid assets - ViVAS Case Studies
ViVAS, the 3663 wine business, works with the Priory Arms in Stockport, London, and with the Cross Keys in Henley to devise improved wine lists that.... more
(23 July 2009 15:32)

Vinopolis hosts first Identita London Italian Chef Congress
The first Identita London Italian Chef Congress took place last month at Vinopolis and featured demonstrations from a string of chefs from Italy, the.... more
(23 July 2009 14:49)

Sodexo announces £220m-worth of contract wins
Sodexo has scooped a string of new and retained contracts worth over £220m securing more than 1,000 jobs over the next five years. The Sodexo Remote.... more
(23 July 2009 13:04)

Trade body pleads for moratorium on new Scottish licensing laws
Thousands of Scottish pubs could be forced to close their doors on 1 September if their new licence applications are not processed in time. The.... more
(23 July 2009 12:35)

More diners are eating out but are spending less, says survey
The eating-out market is still suffering in the recession and, while diners are starting to eat out more, they are increasingly spending less,.... more
(23 July 2009 12:26)

Waitress jailed after falsely accusing restaurant owner of sexual assault
A Shropshire restaurant waitress has been jailed for four months after falsely accusing the owner of the restaurant of sexually assaulting her. Emma.... more
(23 July 2009 12:17)

July update: the Taverners – liquid assets
"When we took over the pub we had a large range of session lagers and beers along with extra-cold versions," says Roger Serjent, co-owner of the.... more
(23 July 2009 11:59)

July update: WildWood – liquid assets
Dominic Wood's bar and restaurant, the WildWood, treads that fine line between informality, value and individuality. So how do you reflect that in.... more
(23 July 2009 11:43)

July update: Royal Sportsman – liquid assets
When Louis Naudi first met Peter Birnie earlier this year he was "both excited and nervous because his background and experience was precisely what I.... more
(23 July 2009 11:35)

July update: Tudor Farmhouse hotel – liquid assets
Following Robin Hutson's latest visit to the Tudor Farmhouse, the "big, new idea", as he puts it, is to "really go large on the concept of local.... more
(23 July 2009 11:12)

July update: The Mulberry Tree – liquid assets
Proprietor Karen Williams buys all of the wine, spirits and beer at the Mulberry Tree and manages the cellar. The drinks offer, which makes up 30% of.... more
(23 July 2009 11:10)

July update: The Stephan Langton – liquid assets
Thirsty punters can choose between a wide selection of quality beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks at the Stephan Langton to complement a menu of.... more
(23 July 2009 10:57)

Council to rule on Petersham Nurseries’ application today
The fate of Petersham Nurseries will be sealed today as Richmond Council decides whether to grant the restaurant and garden centre its mixed-use.... more
(23 July 2009 09:00)

Mixed blessings for celebrity chef Worrall Thompson
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson could be the subject of an embarrassing legal battle from two disgruntled former employees, The Independent.... more
(23 July 2009 08:00)

Trouble could be brewing for branded coffee chains
Research warns that the branded coffee chain market could be reaching the limits of its expansion. But analysts are divided on the issue. Kerstin.... more
(23 July 2009 07:00)

Enterprise Inns sells six pubs to two companies
Enterprise Inns has sold six of its pubs to two companies in the past month. Independent gastropub chain Food and Fuel has purchased four of.... more
(22 July 2009 15:47)

Billy Hastings - A Minute on the Clock
Dr Billy Hastings, founder and owner of Northern Ireland hotel chain Hastings Hotels, was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's latest honours list. more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Last orders kill tartan tourism
Alex Buchan, partner in the property department, Brodies, fears that the relicensing of Scotland's pubs will mean the demise of many rural.... more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

First Choice Coffee's tips on drinks
First Choice Coffee gives advice on how top make the most of your beverages offer. more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Gerard Basset on how to become a sommelier
As master sommelier, Master of Wine and owner of Hotel TerraVina in the New Forest, the UK's "Godfather of Wine" Gerard Basset has impeccable.... more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Sommeliers uncorked
Four Great British sommeliers share their experiences of the job: the highs, the lows and the impact their nationality has had on their role. Fiona.... more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Graeme Nesbitt - My life in hospitality
Graeme Nesbitt is the resort general manager at Cameron House on Loch Lomond. more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Wine: top 10 marketing tips
If you don't tell your customers about your wines, you're not going to sell them. James Aufenast provides 10 ways of marketing your vinous assets. more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Fresh English pea salad, by Dan Woodhouse
Fresh English pea salad, by Dan Woodhouse, head chef of Boulters restaurant in Maidenhead. more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

Menuwatch - Bath Priory
Just two hours from his flagship Gidleigh Park, Michael Caines had to show all the traits of his cuisine at the Bath Priory when he took over the.... more
(22 July 2009 15:27)

London Eye to serve dishes from leading chefs during restaurant festival
Leading chefs will be treating diners to meals on board the London Eye as part of the London Restaurant Festival this October. The pods, which can.... more
(22 July 2009 15:19)

Frozen food as nutritious as fresh for school meals, says report
Frozen food is as effective as ‘fresh’ in providing necessary nutrients to primary school children, according to a new scientific report. The report,.... more
(22 July 2009 13:53)

Hilton is the hospitality leader in the UK business superbrands list
Hilton and Compass Group are the highest-ranked hotel and contract caterers respectively in the latest UK Business Superbrands 2009 list. The UK.... more
(22 July 2009 10:44)

MP wants Glasgow recognised as home of Tikka Masala
A Glasgow MP has launched a campaign for the Scottish city to be recognised as the official home of Tikka Masala, one of the most popular curry.... more
(22 July 2009 10:12)

British oyster-opening championship opens for entries
Entries are being sought for this year’s British Oyster Opening Championship, which challenges competitors to open 30 oysters in record time..... more
(22 July 2009 09:30)

More than 50 pubs now closing each week, warns BBPA
More than 50 pubs are now closing every week in Britain, equating to more than seven a day, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned..... more
(22 July 2009 08:30)

Weekly revpar drops by 14% in regional hotels
Hotel revenue per available room (revpar) dropped by 3.4% in London and by 14.1% in the provinces in the week ending 4 July 2009, according to.... more
(22 July 2009 07:30)

Blackstone writes down nearly half its investment in Hilton
Private equity firm Blackstone Group has written down its investment in Hilton Hotels by nearly half from $1.45b (£0.88b) to $742m (£452m), documents.... more
(22 July 2009 07:00)

Gordon Ramsay pub evacuated during fire
One of Gordon Ramsay’s London’s pubs was forced to be evacuated last weekend after a fire broke out in the kitchen, Caterersearch has learnt..... more
(21 July 2009 17:59)

Birmingham caterer closed after 44 police officers get food poisoning
A Birmingham catering firm has been shut down by environmental health officers after 44 police officers suffered food poisoning. Meal Machine was.... more
(21 July 2009 17:02)

Compass and Mecco to cater jointly at the 2010 Ryder Cup
Industry Goliath Compass Group has teamed up with Oxfordshire-based contract caterer, Mecco, to provide the hospitality and catering at the 2010.... more
(21 July 2009 15:47)

Law firm warns that licensing changes may make things worse
Industry law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner has warned that the government’s impending changes to licensing laws could actually make existing problems.... more
(21 July 2009 14:20)

Kettering hotel is first buy for Balaji Hotels
New-start company Balaji Hotels has acquired its first property with the purchase of the leasehold on the Comfort Hotel Royal in the Northamptonshire.... more
(21 July 2009 12:53)

Local villager saves South Hams pub from closure
A local resident in Stokenham, Devon, has rescued and revived local village pub the Tradesmans Arms, which had been closed. more
(21 July 2009 12:51)

Snooty Inns pubs sold out of administration
Experienced operator Jo Marks has bought the Snooty Fox in Northamptonshire and its sister business the Snooty Tavern in Cambridgeshire out of.... more
(21 July 2009 12:48)

Perry family buys Bude’s only nightclub
The Perry family has bought the lease on the Kazbar Nightclub, which is the only remaining nightclub in the North Cornish seaside resort and surfing.... more
(21 July 2009 12:46)

VisitEngland launches review of hotel star rating system
The star rating system looks set for a shake-up with the launch of an industry-wide survey to assess the success of the Common Standards in the UK.... more
(21 July 2009 10:30)

Matthew Long to replace Richard Baker as Luton Hoo GM
Richard Baker has left his post as general manager of the Luton Hoo hotel in Bedfordshire, Caterer can exclusively reveal. He will be replaced by.... more
(21 July 2009 09:52)

Anchor Trust announces chef winners of its Care Services Awards
Two chefs have been honoured for their work at the Grand Final of Anchor Trust’s Care Services Awards. The awards recognised the pair for culinary.... more
(21 July 2009 08:30)

Restaurants’ used chip fat could be re-used for road building
Roads may provide a second, money-spinning way for restaurants to dispose of their old cooking oils responsibly without clogging up the nation’s.... more
(21 July 2009 07:00)

BHA unveils its first code of practice on tipping
The British Hospitality Association has urged restaurants to be open with customers in its first code of practice on discretionary tips and service.... more
(20 July 2009 17:32)