Articles by Date : October 01 2004 - October 31 2004

How we got started
David Anderson, Harvey Peters, Sharifin Gardiner, and Sharif Horthy and partners more
(18 October 2004 15:55)

More pub groups sign up to voluntary charter
A further 18 pub companies have joined the smoking reduction initiative launched by the UK's big five last month. more
(18 October 2004 15:15)

Taxman helps businesses that comply with DDA
Businesses that have made alterations to their premises to comply with the new Disability Discrimination Act can qualify for tax relief. more
(18 October 2004 15:13)

Groupe Chez Gérard shapes up for management buyout
Paramount - the owner of the Groupe Chez Gérard restaurant business - confirmed last week that it was in talks with executive chairman Guy Naggar.... more
(18 October 2004 15:12)

Urban Dining group set to make first purchase
Urban Dining, the fledgling restaurant group that was set up this summer, is in advanced talks to buy another group. more
(18 October 2004 15:07)

From pariah to a City darling
In just three years, group managing director Andrew Page has helped turn City Centre Restaurants from a stock market outcast into a City darling..... more
(18 October 2004 15:06)

Room service? Send up Brad Pitt, please
Want to know how to keep your guests coming back to your hotel night after night? Hire Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt to tuck them up in bed. more
(18 October 2004 14:54)

Employing workers from overseas
Many hospitality businesses in the UK are turning to workers from overseas to fill existing skills gaps. But employers have to be careful to follow.... more
(18 October 2004 13:26)

Does the traditional cooking range have a future?
With island suites growing in popularity and equipment such as combi-ovens and deep-fat fryers to handle specific tasks, has the traditional cooking.... more
(18 October 2004 12:40)

Crawford plans Ramada roll-out all over Ireland
Cork-based Crawford Investments has launched a £200m-plus expansion of the Ramada International hotel brand in Ireland. more
(18 October 2004 12:36)

The children's crusader
Sadly, practical cookery lessons have disappeared from most schools. Now Kids Kitchen, a new organisation with backing from some influential.... more
(18 October 2004 12:26)

Outlook gloomy on business failures
Nearly 2,500 hospitality and leisure companies will be forced to close over the next two years as the public tightens its purse strings. more
(18 October 2004 10:54)

London's rum affair rekindled
When Floridita, legendary Cuban haunt of Ernest Hemingway, opens in London it's aiming to sell up to 4,000 Daiquiris a week as the rum revival rolls.... more
(18 October 2004 10:43)

Last supper
Bangers and mash in Cape Town after cocktails in Venice would be the perfect send-off for Madalene Bonvini-Hamel - so long as she can sit next to.... more
(18 October 2004 10:40)

Top tips on refurbishing dining rooms
Managing refurbishments is hard work but very rewarding... when it gets results. Julian Edwards, director of consultancy Tenet Education Services,.... more
(18 October 2004 10:34)

A return to cooking: The chef, the cook and the artist, Eric Ripert and Michael Ruhlman
"Truffles pop up again as a main ingredient in a risotto carbonara, which is buried under both white and black varieties: not exactly what home cooks.... more
(18 October 2004 10:07)

In Brief
Poor weather hits profits at Hartford... more
(18 October 2004 10:03)

Done deals
Randolph hotel changes hands... more
(15 October 2004 17:53)

Return to spenders
Job prospects in restaurants and bars are on the up as overseas visitors start to return more
(15 October 2004 17:50)

Local talent
So what's the job scene like in the capital's pubs and bars? Read on... more
(15 October 2004 17:47)

Capital contracts
So what are the opportunities in London's contract catering scene? Read on... more
(15 October 2004 17:44)

Table Talk
An Australian hotelier has come up with an ingenious way of simultaneously dealing with complaints and promoting the sale of his hotel... more
(15 October 2004 17:04)

Just opened
Guanabara, E Bar, Purple Ocean, The Roxy more
(15 October 2004 14:57)

Inside track
Ask Central more
(15 October 2004 11:24)

Food file
Fish, fresh produce, meat more
(14 October 2004 18:05)

We love...
...Chocolate Week more
(14 October 2004 17:57)

Now McDonald's sets its sights on sarnies
McDonald's, already famous for its burgers and fries, is now eyeing up the fresh sandwich market. more
(14 October 2004 17:56)

Over to you
Should service charges be left to the customers' discretion? more
(14 October 2004 17:55)

Montgomery takes the big cheese prize at festival
Somerset farmer and cheesemaker Jamie Montgomery's extra mature cheddar was named Supreme Champion at last weekend's British Cheese Awards. more
(14 October 2004 17:54)

New group snaps up London bars
London's second-largest collection of late-night bars has been sold to a newly formed company, Soho Clubs and Bars, for an undisclosed sum. more
(14 October 2004 17:50)

Thistle to launch Guoman at the Cumberland
Thistle Hotels has taken over the long-term lease and management of London's Cumberland hotel, which it will use to launch Guoman, a new de luxe.... more
(14 October 2004 17:49)

August hotel figures down
A poor British summer, an exodus of Brits seeking better weather overseas and regional freak floods caused hotel occupancy levels to fall in August,.... more
(14 October 2004 17:47)

Review of the reviews
AA Gill gives the thumbs-up to pizza at MPW's latest - a co-venture with jockey Frankie Dettori... more
(14 October 2004 17:45)

Better management and owner working partnerships likely
Hotel management companies and owners will forge stronger working partnerships in the future, according to Christopher Eddis, director of Mornington.... more
(14 October 2004 17:43)

Midmarket chain operators face the greatest challenge
The midmarket hotel chains remain the largest sector in Europe, but also the most problematic to operate, Paul Slattery, director at hospitality.... more
(14 October 2004 17:42)

Free energy-saving guide
The HCIMA has launched a free guide designed to help UK restaurateurs save as much as 40% on their energy bills. more
(14 October 2004 17:41)

Pubs 'n' Bars boosts profit
Pubs 'n' Bars, which has 64 managed and tenanted pubs throughout the UK, has boosted its profit in the first half of the year despite a drop in sales. more
(14 October 2004 17:40)

Love wins National Chef of the Year at fourth attempt
Steve Love of Love's Restaurant in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, realised a dream last week when he was crowned National Chef of the Year 2004 at the.... more
(14 October 2004 17:39)

Research points to rise in midweek social drinking
Midweek drinking outside the home is on the increase, according to market analyst Datamonitor. more
(14 October 2004 17:38)

Spanish tapas chain plans UK openings
Spain's largest tapas restaurant operator, Lizarran, plans to launch in the UK next year. more
(14 October 2004 17:38)

Black Bull in Fulham to be the fifth Camel sports bar
Camel Bars has added the Black Bull on Fulham Road to its chain of London sports bars in Victoria, Mayfair, Waterloo and Tower Bridge. more
(14 October 2004 17:37)

Minimum wage goes up by 35p
The national minimum wage goes up by 35p an hour tomorrow (1 October). more
(14 October 2004 17:37)

London's hotels are languishing behind domestic competitors
Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester are leading the way in a European hotel revival, leaving London to play catch-up. more
(14 October 2004 17:36)

Persistent Eaves takes Ramsay title
Persistence paid off for Marcus Eaves last week when he was crowned the 2004 Gordon Ramsay Scholar in his second tilt at the title. more
(14 October 2004 17:32)

The spice girls
It's light, it's healthy and it's a style of Indian food that has rarely been seen in this country. We spoke to the doyennes of the Indian restaurant.... more
(14 October 2004 17:30)

Alias hotels chain sold for £30m
Bristol-based hotel chain Alias has been bought by commercial and hotel property firm GuestInvest for £30.4m. more
(14 October 2004 17:16)

Spirit earmarks 350 pubs for possible sale
Pub operator Spirit has confirmed that it has identified around 350 pubs it could sell off, in a move that could be a precursor to an expected stock.... more
(14 October 2004 16:41)

Port-Na-Craig Inn
Jamie Thewes and his family have been winning acclaim since taking over the 17th-century Port-na-Craig Inn in 2002. Enrico Caballero reports more
(14 October 2004 14:49)

The burning issue
"Let's not forget that most of the really severe food health scares have had their origins further back in the production chain" more
(14 October 2004 14:29)

How we got started
Margaret Dunford more
(14 October 2004 14:26)