Britannia Hotels has purchased the 103-bedroom Ramada Hotel Leeds North out of administration for an undisclosed sum. It will be renamed as the Britannia Leeds hotel and become be the 38th hotel to be added to the privately owned portfolio of hotels, run by Alex Langsam.
Posted: 10 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
Restaurant consultant and hospitality industry veteran Roy Ackerman has been appointed chairman of the Wine Guild of the United Kingdom. The Wine Guild's purpose is to encourage the understanding and enjoyment of the fruit of the vine and to support the wine producers of the UK.
Travelodge has announced that it has received a record number of applications for JuMP, its junior management apprenticeship programme, as university applications plummet. The budget hotel group said it had received more than 3,000 CVs for its 45 apprentice positions, equating to 66 school-leavers going after every position.
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) is urging the Government to allow hotels to benefit from the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's failure to include hotels in the scheme in his autumn statement...
The high-profile death of a former Jamie Oliver chef has prompted a renewed effort to combat the stigma surrounding depression within the restaurant and catering industry. Dave Ahern, head chef at Ben's Canteen in south London, is to stage a charity dinner...
New Russian restaurant Mari Vanna has announced it will open in London's Knightsbridge at the start of next month. Serving a menu of 'babushka cooking' - traditional homely fare - the Russian dishes will be served with influences from Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan and with a contemporary presentation...
A small Welsh community pub has become the first-ever establishment from the country to win the Campaign for Real Ale's (Camra) National Pub of the Year award. The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, only reopened, having been revived by its current owners, in March 2009.
Iconic venues caterer Ampersand has today launched a new children's healthy eating range at Hampton Court Palace under the iconic the Very Hungry Caterpillar (VHC) brand. The range, which will be rolled out to all three Historic Royal Palaces that are catered for by Ampersand, will feature...
Posted: 09 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
A record number of holiday visitors - spending a record amount of money - came to the UK in 2011, according to figures released today by VisitBritain. Overseas visitor numbers increased 3%, year-on-year, to 30.6 million last year...
An eye-watering £100,000 is the price tag that has been put on a VIP package to celebrate the centenary of the Stafford London by Kempinski hotel. The five-star, 105-bedroom hotel in St James's Place is describing the three-night package as the "ultimate VIP experience".
Professional Partners: How the couples who've started their own businesses get the work-life balance right. The Caterer and Hotelkeeper Interview: Choice Hotels Europe chief executive Duncan Berry on why reducing the group's number of hotels was so important
D&D London has appointed Timothy Allen as head chef at Launceston Place following the departure of Tristan Welch who left the restaurant last month. Allen joins the Kensington restaurant from the two-Michelin-starred Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds...
Hugo Warner, founder of café-to-restaurant operator Benugo, is to open his first solo venture after leaving the company in 2010. Market Café, which will open in Broadway Market in east London in March, will recreate the spirit of the classic Italian "Formica" café of the 1950s.
The Autogrill Group, together with its subsidiary HMSHost, has entered a new relationship with Leon Restaurants, to launch a branch of Leon at the redeveloped King's Cross station in London. Set to open in mid-March, the partnership marks the entry of Autogrill Group and HMSHost...
Restaurant 23 in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, is set to reopen this month following its relocation to new premises. Currently located on Dormer Place, the restaurant will close on 11 February and reopen in its new location on Holly Walk, Hamilton Terrace, with a soft launch on 22 February.
Enterprise Inns has appointed Robert Walker to succeed Hubert Reid as its chairman. Walker will join the board as a non-executive director and chairman designate today and will assume the role of chairman on 31 March...
The owner and operating company of coffee shop chain St Ali has rebranded as part of its strategy to consolidate its operations within the UK. Formerly known as Long Black, the company will now be known as Workshop Trading...
Hoteliers in York are fighting a proposed tourist tax which they say could have "detrimental implications" for the city's businesses and economy. Labour-controlled York City Council is considering a proposal by the York Fairness Commission to levy a £1 per head per night contribution on all visitors to the historic city.
Posted: 08 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
Host Contract Management has strengthened its national sales and operations functions with several new appointments to its senior management team. Alan McDonald joins the independent caterer as regional director for Scotland from Elior where he was operations director for Scotland.
A Berkshire pub at the centre of a legal dispute between Marco Pierre White and its former business partners has been put up for sale. The owners, businessmen Andrew Parton and Peter Featherman, are looking for offers in excess of £1.65m for the freehold of the Yew Tree Inn in Highclere, near Newbury.
John Scanlon has been appointed to the newly created position of hotel manager at London's Dorchester hotel. Scanlon, who takes up his new role on 1 March, is currently director of revenue for the hotel's parent company, the Dorchester Collection, where he has been since 2008.
Serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson has slammed the discount culture that remains prevalent on the high street, branding Groupon as a way to attract 'hit and run' customers. The Risk Capital Partners chairman, and former chair of Channel 4 and PizzaExpress...
Independent contract caterer BaxterStorey has appointed Christian Pauritsch to the role of operations director, South-west. Pauritsch, who has 23 years of catering and hospitality experience, will be responsible for enhancing BaxterStorey's business in the South-west of England.
A serious fire has severely damaged the main barn at Park Farm, the headquarters of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage business, and the site of his River Cottage cookery school. In an announcement on its website, River Cottage said no people or animals were hurt.
Hotelier Sue Williams triumphed at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2011-12 with success in three categories. As well as carrying off the award for Outstanding Achievement, Williams was also presented with a gold award for the Bath Priory and silver for Gidleigh Park.
Leafi Kitchens & Event Catering has launched a new mobile take-away sandwich unit at its Smith Square Café & Restaurant in a bid to raise the profile of the venue. Operating in the foyer of the restaurant, the new unit will offer a food and hot and cold beverage offer throughout the day.
Private equity company RCapital has confirmed that it has completed the restructuring of roadside restaurant chain Little Chef and will close 66 out of the total of 161 sites, as announced last month. Some of the restaurants have already closed...
London's South Kensington will see the launch of a new Oriental eaterie next month with the opening of Umami on the Cromwell Road. Created by Darren Kutty, formerly head chef of both the Ramada Hyde Park and the Washington hotel in Mayfair...
A London community eco café has been thrown a lifeline to continue operating for another year after a successful fundraising effort. A campaign by the FoodCycle Café in Haringey, powered by crowdfunding website Peoplefund.it and supported by celebrities, MPs and Twitter, reached its £5,000 target this week...
Posted: 07 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
Sir David Michels has assumed the presidency of the Institute of Hospitality during the Annual Fellows' Dinner held at the Corinthia hotel in London this week. During the dinner, Sir David told the story of how, as a student, he was sacked from Simpson's-in-the-Strand...
Still time to get your nominations in for this year's Cateys. Closing date is Monday 13 February 2012.
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