We're really not used to it but news broke yesterday that the new Maze restaurant by Gordon Ramsay Holdings in South Africa is to open ahead of schedule. Fancy that.
Perhaps whoever handled that project should take on the apparently onerous task of filing GRH's annual accounts with Companies House to make sure it doesn't miss the deadline for the third year running.
Regardless, Gordon will no doubt be chuffed at the leaked news that his first French restaurant at the Trianon Palace Versailles hotel, which launched last March, is to gain two stars in the new Michelin guide for France, bringing his global total of Michelin stars to a handsome 12.
And don't forget Jason Atherton, executive chef at London's Maze, is following in boss Ramsay's footsteps and running in the Flora London Marathon on behalf of industry charity Hospitality Action this April, so sponsor him now.
Closer to home, waiting staff demonstrated outside the House of Commons over tips as official figures showed the UK's tourism deficit was now more than £20b.
With the snow finally abating, there was instead a flurry of new appointments within the industry. Marston's revealed its new finance director, and the contract catering sector was busy also, with a new head of newly-created Graysons Education announced and a new executive chef at Sodexo's Director's Table.
Restaurant bottled-water supplier Belu made a £600,000-plus loss, while hotel group Hilton announced the loss of 1,000 jobs.
Budget hotel groups Travelodge and Whitbread were hospitality's representatives at the first meeting of the National Employment Partnership at Downing Street, and the chairman of Jurys Inns challenged the industry to present a compelling story to tell the rest of the world ahead of the Olympic Games.
Celebrity chef Rick Stein took on a pub lease in Cornwall but Antony Worrall Thompson was forced to close four of his restaurants.
And there's still time to enter our Acorn Awards, which recognise the brightest 30 stars under 30 in the industry, but don't delay, do it today!
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Antony Worrall Thompson hits out after he was forced to sell four restaurants
By Chris Druce