Story of the week: Hotel, café, pub and restaurant customers all face the risk of being unceremoniously shunted off the information superhighway by a heavy-handed piece of government legislation passed hurriedly last week.
Last night saw the first election debate on TV between the main political parties – if you had the chance to ask one question what would it be? Tell us on Table Talk.
Meanwhile, Labour and the Conservatives have set out plans to woo the battered pubs sector, with both parties promising help to preserve community pubs.
And the Liberal Democrats have said that it wanted to reduce the levels of crime and ill-health caused by excessive drinking, without "unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs and important local industries".
A volcanic ash cloud has brought mass cancellations and extra bookings to airport hotels. Has the volcanic ash affected your business? Share your stories on Table Talk.
The Hotel du Vin founder Gerard Basset has been named the World’s Best Sommelier.
In more pub news, women could help save the British pubs, but only if those pubs serve better food and provide better seating, a survey has found.
JD Wetherspoon has bought the leasehold of two pubs from managed pub operator TCG Acquisitions for undisclosed sums.
Anthony Boyd, former head chef of the Michelin-starred Glasshouse in Kew, London, has left the restaurant after more than a decade to join the Clarendon in Chandlers Cross, Hertfordshire.
London restaurant Sushinho has become the first sushi outlet in the capital to take tuna off its menu.
The UK’s first fully vegetarian and low-carbon restaurant chain is set to launch in London’s West End this summer.
Bad news for the Penthouse restaurant atop Swansea’s Meridian Tower. The restaurant, which is located on the 29th floor of the 300ft tower has been closed while its bankrupt owner is being taken to court by his wine suppliers over alleged unpaid bills.
Police are trying to piece together the events that led to a British chef being beaten up and left for dead in a ski resort in the Italian Dolomites.
In contract catering news, education caterer Chartwells has kicked Avenance into touch on a lucrative contract at Rugby School, Warwickshire.
Contract caterers Aramark and hotel group Rezidor are among the new entries on a list of the most ethical businesses in the world according to international think-tank the Ethisphere Institute.
Sodexo continues to stress the importance of sustainability, following the publication of its fifth annual corporate citizenship report.
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Quote of the Week
"We mend an organ in Cyprus for the MoD, which clearly we subcontract out – we don’t keep organ-menders on the books – and we clean the horse muck at Horse guards Parade"
Sodexo boss Aidan Connolly on breadth of the contract caterer’s business