Story of the week: It’s been the longest cold spell in 30 years, and Caterer reports on a number of hotels that have provided solace for motorists stranded by the heavy snowfall.
Hotels reported buoyant bookings over Christmas and New Year and a year-on-year improvement in business during the first few months of 2010, despite a survey that suggested fewer UK consumers intend to take a break this winter.
Meanwhile, hotel guests are being enticed by increasingly generous loyalty programmes from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Marriott Hotels.
Not so good news for Gravetye Manor, the three-AA-red-star, three-AA-rosette country house hotel near East Grinstead in West Sussex, has appointed KL Dukes and EM Shires of PricewaterhouseCoopers as joint administrators to manage its affairs.
Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains took time out to talk to Caterer and we were on hand to capture it all on video. Watch it here.
Fellow, Michelin-starred chef Andrew Fairlie plans Burns Night supper on Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Hospitality Industry Trust.
Tom and Beth Kerridge, owners of the Michelin-starred Hand & Flowers in Marlow announced they are set to open a second establishment later this month, while Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton and Angela Hartnett have been predicted to take on the mantle of their mentor, Gordon Ramsay, and dominate the restaurant landscape in the coming decade.
Nigel Boschetti has been appointed as the new executive chef at the Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel. He will take up the position on 1 March 2010.
The hospitality industry was well represented in 2010 New Year’s Honours list, with a number of familiar names recognised.
In pub news, two pub companies have revealed that they are to freeze beer prices despite the increase of the VAT rate to 17.5% in a bid to help out licensees.
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is appealing to pub-goers to donate cash to its ongoing campaign to reform the beer tie.
Andy Tighe has this week been appointed as the new director of brewing at the British Beer & Pub Association.
Geronimo Inns enjoyed an excellent Christmas with all outlets significantly outperforming sales achieved over the festive period in 2008.
But JD Wetherspoon has provoked controversy for the second year running by re-launching its controversial “January sale” campaign – and extending it to glasses of wine and shots of gin.
In contract catering news, East Anglian contract catering firm Edwards & Blake has announced strong trading results with annual turnover for 2009 exceeding £8m, while Sodexo Prestige names new directors at Newcastle United FC.
Industry leaders have urged the Government to go “back to basics” after a report warned that more than £50m has been wasted on efforts to improve hospital food.
School meal uptake in County Durham has reached 86% since the start of the Government’s £40m trial to provide free school lunches in two UK regions.
And what do you think will happen in 2010? Caterer looks into its crystal ball and tries to predict how the industry will perform.
Editor's Pick
Still time to get your nominations in for the Acorns Awards
Enter now for the 2010 Catey Awards!
And win evening at Nigel Haworth’s gastronomic event Obsession
Quote of the Week
"It’s underground, it’s edgy. I love it. It has made me more creative. And it just goes to show you don’t have to spend three or four million pounds to achieve the top end of gastronomy "
Sat Bains on the quality of his Nottingham restaurant’s location