Gaucho holding company Lomo Bidco, an entity owned by Investec Bank plc and SC Lowy, has acquired M Restaurants. The transaction, which concluded late yesterday, brings together M Restaurants’ three venues and Gaucho’s sixteen restaurants. Following the transaction, Lomo Bidco will be renamed ‘Rare Restaurants’ and will act as the holding company for the group. … [Read more...]
Lake District Hotel donates furniture stock to charity
The refurbishment of a Lake District hotel has allowed a local charity to take delivery of a range of furniture items to give to local people in need. The development of Low Wood Bay into the Lake District’s first luxury resort hotel has resulted in over 170 pieces of furniture being donated to CERT (UK), an emergency community response organisation. The inventory … [Read more...]
The perfect summer party raises over £3,300 for children’s charity
It’s 8.45 am Saturday 11th June and the phone goes, Chef Thomas Leatherbarrow has arrived to continue prep for the first H&C News Summer Supper Club Charity Party. The day has arrived and yes continue prep, we have 35 guests arriving at 7.15 pm and they’re all expecting to be fed and watered well. The previous day two Chefs had both spent 6 hours on prep and there’s still … [Read more...]
Hospitality employers to enter prestigious new training awards
Applications are now open for the Princess Royal Training Awards – a new set of awards designed to recognise UK employers who directly link learning & development to the performance of their business. The awards provide an excellent opportunity for all types and sizes of organisations to gain recognition for an exemplary approach to training. They will recognise … [Read more...]
Hospitality employers encouraged to pre-empt equal pay claims
Employers within the hospitality industry could be in for a barrage of equal pay claims when the government orders companies to publish their gender pay gap this coming spring. Currently, only 32% of women believe they are paid the same as their male colleagues for equal work, a survey shows. Previous research revealed that women in the hospitality industry were on average … [Read more...]
80,000 reasons why a Career in Hospitality works
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have teamed up to launch a nationwide focus on hospitality jobs this month. The ‘Hospitality Works’ initiative will feature over 80,000 different activities up and down the country to help people choose a career in the hospitality industry. The programme aims to inspire jobseekers by … [Read more...]
Pubs and restaurants surge as online fuels overall rise in Christmas spending
Consumers helped themselves to a generous measure of Christmas cheer over the festive period, increasing spending across all major categories from department stores to supermarkets. Pubs surged 13.7 per cent and restaurants fared similarly well, up 13.1 per cent, thanks to office parties and family gatherings before Christmas. Total retail spending grew 4.0 per cent … [Read more...]
Launch of Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2016
Business leaders that were successful at last year’s Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards came together today to welcome the launch of the awards. Representatives ranging from historic family businesses like Macsween and Ian Macleod Distillers, key export businesses like the Scottish Salmon Company and younger SMEs like Aberdeen-based chocolatier Cocoa Ooze and food and … [Read more...]
Contactless spending in Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants 92% up
Spending in pubs and bars made by ‘touch and go’ payments has almost doubled (up by 92 per cent) since the contactless limit rose from £20 to £30 in September, according to Barclaycard data Contactless spending in fast food outlets and in restaurants has also jumped by 62 per cent and 51 per cent respectively over the same period More than 8 in 10 consumers use less cash … [Read more...]
Tourists to UK forecast to spend record levels in 2016
It has been a record-breaking year to date for inbound tourism numbers and spend to the UK and growth looks set to continue in 2016, according to forecasts from national tourism body VisitBritain. In spite of the strength of sterling, spending by overseas visitors is predicted to reach almost £23bn in 2016, a 4.2% increase on spending this year which is expected to top out … [Read more...]
One in three travellers planning to spend more on travel in 2016
TripAdvisor has released the results of the latest TripBarometer study, the world’s largest accommodation and traveller survey, highlighting key travel trends for 2016. Conducted on behalf of TripAdvisor by independent research firm Ipsos, the TripBarometer study is the analysis of more than 44,000 survey responses from travellers and the hotel sector worldwide. The … [Read more...]
London eating and drinking-out markets down 1.5% after post-Paris nervousness
London’s pub and restaurant trade saw sales dip in November in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. Public nervousness about going out led to a 1.5% decline in like-for-like sales in the capital, with chain restaurants feeling the biggest impact, according to latest figures from the industry’s sales barometer, the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Restaurant groups saw … [Read more...]
Consumer spending slowdown continues into November
According to data from Barclaycard, which processes nearly half of all UK card transactions, consumer spending in the first part of November fell to an 18-month low as households cut back in anticipation of Black Friday at the end of the month. No doubt we will see the impact on hospitality spending reported in the coming weeks. Spending fell to just 2.2 per cent in the … [Read more...]
Carlsberg report reveals trends impacting pubs
The second annual Carlsberg UK Consumer Insights Report explores the current trends and consumer buying behaviours shaping the UK on-trade and has found that consumers are enjoying a new found confidence, while value-seeking habits developed during the recession, remain. More competition as pubs fight for share This year’s report reveals that consumers are spending more … [Read more...]
The Big Event at Hotelympia is back!
Springboard will be hosting The BIG Event at Hotelympia 2016 and this time with a touch of St. David’s Day celebrations to get the party going. This spectacular event will take place on Tuesday 1st March 2016 at ExCel London and will be the Gala Dinner for this year’s Hotelympia – the largest and most well-known Foodservice and Hospitality Trade Show in Europe, it will be a … [Read more...]