The week kicked off with arguably the biggest chef move of this year as double-Catey-winner John Campbell announced his decision to leave the Vineyard at Stockcross and join the Dorchester Collection's Coworth Park near Ascot. Campbell has notched up no less than two Michelin stars and four rosettes since joining the Sir Peter Michael-owned property seven-and-a-half years ago and is set to join Zoe Jenkins and Roland Fasel at Coworth Park this October.
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson's been in the news again this week after the Independent highlighted that he could become the subject of an embarrassing legal battle from two disgruntled former employees. Richard de Wet and his wife claim that they are owed £5,000 of holiday pay after they helped Wozza open the Windsor Grill.
Meanwhile, a Shropshire restaurant waitress has been jailed for four months after falsely accusing the owner of the Jolly Frog near Ludlow of sexually assaulting her. Emma Meredith later admitted perverting the course of justice during the hearing before Worcester Crown Court.
The British Hospitality Association has urged restaurants to be open with customers in its first code of practice on discretionary tips and service charges. The code, produced in conjunction with the Department for Business and issued this week, urges restaurants and hotels to disclose to customers exactly how they will split discretionary service charges and non-cash tips.
North of the border and thousands of Scottish pubs could be forced to close their doors on 1 September if their new licence applications are not processed in time. The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has formally written to the Scottish Government's cabinet secretary for Justice requesting a moratorium on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Nationwide, though, more than 50 pubs are now closing every week in Britain, equating to more than seven a day, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned. Some 2,377 pubs have closed in the last 12 months leading to a loss of 24,000 jobs, according to the figures compiled by marketing company CGA Strategy.
Domino's Pizza, however, is thriving despite the recession with first half profits up by 25% to £13.6m.
Things are looking up in the contract catering sector as Sodexo announced £220 million worth of contract wins this week, while rival caterer Compass confirmed it had teamed up with Oxfordshire-based contract caterer Mecco to provide the hospitality and catering at the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Chartwells scooped a £1m-a-year school contract in Essex with Chigwell School in Essex. The award is the latest in a series of successful consecutive competitive tenders by Chartwells to retain the contract which began in 1966.
Less savoury was news that a Birmingham caterer was closed after 44 police officers suffered food poisoning. Meal Machine was closed by Birmingham City Council under Food Hygiene regulations as a result of concerns over cleanliness and cross-contamination of foods.
A challenge to Birmingham's curry crown, a Glasgow MP has launched a campaign for the Scottish city to be recognised as the official home of Tikka Masala, one of the most popular curry dishes in the UK. The move comes just weeks after Birmingham City Council launched a push to protect the famous Balti name by preventing Indian restaurants outside the city from using it. Tikka Masala is believed to have been created decades ago in a Glaswegian kitchen by Asian immigrants catering to Western palates. I can feel a poll coming on.
Editor's Pick
Check out the highlights from the Italian Chef Congress Identita London with our video
Chef Conference 2009 - we have an amazing line-up for this year's conference with two three-Michelin-starred chefs topping the bill, Heston Blumenthal and Elena Arzak.
Please help us find Britain's most popular school meal
Check out our new digital magazine featuring some of the best supplier offers in hospitality
Quote of the Week
"Hotels will always be seen as targets where terrorists can bloody a Western nose in their own country"
David Bailey, deputy managing director of TRI Hospitality Consulting, on the bombs in Jakarta's Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels last week
By Amanda Afiya