Articles by Date : October 01 2004 - October 31 2004

Parks drive profits at the Restaurant Group
Leisure parks continue to be the prize performers at the Restaurant Group, which last week (15 September) posted a record interim pre-tax profit of.... more
(12 October 2004 10:26)

Worldwide briefing
Essential news from around the world... more
(12 October 2004 10:06)

DCMS licensing draft omits fee guidelines
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) last week launched its long-awaited draft regulations for the Licensing Act 2003 - but again.... more
(11 October 2004 17:49)

Landel will replace Bellon at Sodexho
Sodexho Alliance founder Pierre Bellon has appointed an heir to his contract catering empire. more
(11 October 2004 17:48)

Craft Guild honours its graduate chefs
Two young London chefs have gained graduate status in the second annual Craft Guild Graduate Awards scheme. more
(11 October 2004 17:46)

Eton College caterer goes missing
A catering manager at public school Eton College has gone missing. more
(11 October 2004 17:39)

Hollywood's historic Ambassador hotel to be replaced by school
The hotel where Senator Robert F Kennedy was shot and the first Oscar was handed out is to be almost completely demolished and turned into a school. more
(11 October 2004 17:39)

Blunkett keeps up pressure on pubs
Home Secretary David Blunkett has warned the pub industry that it remains on probation. more
(11 October 2004 17:37)

The return of Martin Blunos
Martin Blunos seemed to appear from nowhere, snaffle two Michelin stars, then disappear again. Now he's back - at the Lygon Arms. Caterer went along.... more
(11 October 2004 17:36)

Review of the reviews
Jan Moir joyfully discovers Sixteen in Glasgow... more
(11 October 2004 17:20)

Wookey Hole Inn, Somerset
This week's prize property, the Wookey Hole Inn in the Somerset village of the same name, could well appeal to a publican with a passion for.... more
(11 October 2004 15:18)

Hotels growth slows during August
UK hoteliers reported a much slower rate of growth in August, according to the latest monthly figures from consultancy TRI. more
(11 October 2004 12:36)

UK visitor numbers continue upward drive
The past 12 months have seen an “unprecedented” turnaround in the number of overseas visitors coming to the UK, according to the latest monthly.... more
(11 October 2004 11:10)

What the weekend papers say
A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry... more
(11 October 2004 09:52)

Table Talk
Last month Tony Furlong, general manager of Manchester's Midland hotel, was arrested in the city centre, handcuffed and frogmarched to Newton Street.... more
(08 October 2004 18:08)

Strong growth for British tourism
More overseas visitors came to the UK during August and they spent more money. more
(08 October 2004 16:10)

Compass signs cash machine deal with Moneybox
Contract caterer Compass has signed a five-year agreement with Moneybox to install cash machines at sites across the UK and Ireland. more
(08 October 2004 10:10)

VisitBritain to support only assessed hotels
VisitBritain has announced that from 2006 it will promote only hotels assessed either by itself, VisitScotland, the Wales Tourist Board, the RAC or.... more
(08 October 2004 10:08)

Lettuce blamed for salmonella outbreak
Fast-food and take-away outlets are being blamed for contributing to an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning across the north of England and the.... more
(07 October 2004 17:47)

Restaurant drinkers put the squeeze on pubs
British drinkers are increasingly spurning pubs and bars, preferring to chat over a bottle in restaurants or in the privacy of their own home,.... more
(07 October 2004 15:38)

Travelodge poised for £400m sale-and-leaseback deal
A property entrepreneur and a venture capitalist could be poised to snap up 135 Travelodge budget hotels in a deal potentially worth £400m, according.... more
(07 October 2004 15:25)

Regional restaurants give London a run for its money
London may still have the best and most varied restaurants in the UK, but the rest of the country is now catching up fast, according to the latest.... more
(07 October 2004 15:02)

Trophée Gosset Celebris judges hit out at Champagne mark-ups
Restaurants are charging exorbitant mark-ups on Champagne, with wine experts branding prices "an insult to the customer". more
(07 October 2004 12:59)

Industry slams calls for publicans to pay more to keep the streets clean
Seaside bars and clubs should fund a levy to clean the streets after binge-drinkers wreck them with vomit, urine and litter, according to the leader.... more
(07 October 2004 12:56)

How I got here
Tim Gould, bar supervisor at Mint Leaf restaurant, London more
(07 October 2004 12:43)

Old Course Hotel sold to US firm
The 134-bedroom Old Course Hotel overlooking the St Andrews golf course, in Fife, has transferred from Japanese to American ownership. more
(07 October 2004 12:38)

Fall from Grace clips Peel's profits
Independent hotel company Peel Hotels today reported a 14.1% fall in half-year pre-tax profits, partly because of a decline in income from management.... more
(07 October 2004 12:22)

People Moves
All the latest appointments and promotions... more
(07 October 2004 12:03)

Ultimate profits pave way for expansion
Club and bar operator Ultimate Leisure has achieved a fifth successive year of record profits, "despite the increasingly competitive trading.... more
(07 October 2004 09:39)

Le Vacherin
Classic bistro fare is on offer at west London newcomer Le Vacherin, and it's already proving popular with Chiswick diners, as Joanna Wood discovers more
(06 October 2004 19:08)

Only the Best, Michel Roux
Michel Roux has definitely mastered the art of cooking and is one very talented individual. more
(06 October 2004 19:04)

Last supper
While Bill Clinton argues the toss with Che Guevara and Elvis jams with Jimi and Eric, ROBINHUTSON tucks in to a bacon sarnie and a glass of Burgundy.... more
(06 October 2004 19:01)

Christmas the crafty way
It's still three months away, but Christmas needs to be planned right now - if you're the caterer, that is. Matthew Batham reports more
(06 October 2004 18:59)

Cannon has Eldridge Pope in his sights with £43m cash bid
Entrepreneur Michael Cannon has tabled a £43.3m cash bid for the Eldridge Pope pub company. more
(06 October 2004 18:55)

A day at the races
The Goodwood Revival offers a chance for fans to step back to the 1950s era when the venue was the social and spiritual home of British motor racing.... more
(06 October 2004 18:53)

The burning issue
Jane Sunley, of talent-retention specialist Learnpurple, on Britain's poor productivity more
(06 October 2004 18:42)

How to...
...pour the perfect pint more
(06 October 2004 18:40)

Over to you
Are you worried agency staff could pose a security threat to your business? more
(06 October 2004 17:34)

How we got started
Peter and Christina Matthews more
(06 October 2004 17:33)

Property Advice zone
Marketing your hotel restaurant to its full potential more
(06 October 2004 17:32)

On the move
Matthew Stephen has joined Catering Services International (CSI) as area development manager to oversee the expansion of the Cadbury Cocoa House.... more
(06 October 2004 17:31)

In Brief
Restaurant Associates sponsors students... more
(06 October 2004 17:20)

Done deals
Woodlands Country House sold for about £640,000... more
(06 October 2004 16:15)

Thousands of jobs at risk in low-productivity firms
The super-efficiency of Britain's top food and drink suppliers will compel their less productive rivals to axe as many as 2,800 jobs over the next.... more
(06 October 2004 16:12)

Punch gets InnSpired acquisition
Leased pub company Punch Taverns has bought rival InnSpired Group for £335m, reinforcing its own presence in the South of England. more
(06 October 2004 16:12)

Good prospects for small groups
The future looks rosy for the growth of smaller hotel groups in the UK. more
(06 October 2004 16:10)

Wetherspoon fears price cartel
JD Wetherspoon is to lobby the Office of Fair Trading amid fears that rival operators plan to introduce "minimum pricing" cartels. more
(06 October 2004 16:09)

Jones a finalist in Orange awards
Robyn Jones, co-founder of contract caterer Charlton House, has been named a finalist in the National Business Awards, sponsored by mobile phone.... more
(06 October 2004 16:07)

Pub group buys hotel
The Capital Pub Company, which operates 13 pubs within the M25 area, has bought its first hotel for an undisclosed sum. more
(06 October 2004 16:06)

Greene King deal to sell 13 pubs approved by OFT
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has agreed a deal with Greene King that means its acquisition of Laurel's neighbourhood pubs will not be referred to.... more
(06 October 2004 15:13)