The boss of Clapham House, the company behind Gourmet Burger Kitchen and The Real Greek, which was sold to its close rival Nando's, has quit and is setting up a fund investing in new restaurants. Paul Campbell resigned as the chief executive of Clapham House on Friday after selling the company for £30.4m in September to the peri-peri chicken chain and its … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2010
Farm Assurance, now a proven indicator of good welfare compliance
Red Tractor Farm Assurance schemes have been operating for well over a decade and are designed to make sure that good standards of animal health and welfare are achieved on UK livestock farms. Now an independent report proves that they deliver. The report, ‘Does membership of Farm Assurance Schemes affect compliance with Animal Welfare Legislation and Codes’, was … [Read more...]
James May Fuller’s London Pride campaign hits the Streets
Fuller, Smith and Turner today announced the launch of its second tranche of advertising for London Pride, the UK’s No 1 premium ale, featuring new brand ambassador James May. Over 500 posters will appear across southern England in the weeks to Christmas, in four different designs, complementing the four television adverts currently on UK screens. John Roberts, … [Read more...]
The snow code
The last issue of eInsideTrack took a quick look at planning for the impacts of snow this winter, little realising it would arrive quite so quickly (see article). Now it’s time to live with the realities, and one very basic reality that affects all businesses (and householders) is whether to clear snow and ice from pavements and public spaces. In recent years, and fearful of … [Read more...]
Claim your small business rate relief
All small businesses with a rateable value of below £18,000 a year (or £25,500 in Greater London) can claim up to half of their business rates back. Do you? This is not an automatic process: currently, you have to claim it back from your local council, although the Government has just pledged to help to make small business rate relief automatic. For some small companies, … [Read more...]
UK Chain Hotels Market Review – October 2010
Growth in RevPAR hides the pain in the Provinces A growth in rooms revenue masked the reality of hotels in the Provinces suffering the biggest drop in year-on-year profitability levels since January 2010, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting. Despite a 1.6% increase in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) to £51.60 from £50.77, the unique … [Read more...]
IHG’s CEO returns home to open Holiday Inn Manchester MediaCityUK
Andy Cosslett the CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), returned to his home town of Manchester to open the new Holiday Inn Manchester MediaCityUK. The 218 bedroom hotel, owned and operated by Peel Leisure, is in the heart of MediaCityUK in Salford Quays. The hotel has good transport links. It's a twenty minute drive from Manchester Airport. The new waterside tram … [Read more...]
Birmingham Uni to build 200-bed conference building
The University of Birmingham is planning to refurbish its historic Victorian facilities in Edgbaston as part of a £300m modernisation programme. The ambious upgrade project at the red brick university will be delivered as a series of projects ranging from £300,000 refurbishment packages to £60m new build jobs. Plans are still at an early stage and the university has just … [Read more...]
Construction of the National Football Centre to start in January
The site will feature a 250-bed four star hotel, a regional conference facility, banqueting suite, training and seminar rooms, including a 90-seat lecture theatre and modern digitally equipped library. Construction work on the National Football Centre in Burton will start in January after the Football Association board unanimously approved plans. The board yesterday … [Read more...]
NHS caterers win patient praise for their hospital food
Patients at a Cambridgeshire hospital have delivered high praise for their mealtime experience – and in particular, the quality of the food. The feedback for Lifespan Catering Services, which delivers meals into the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely (run by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust) came during a far-reaching NHS initiative aimed at helping hospital staff … [Read more...]
Cornwall can now lay claim to the tastiest truckle on the planet
The producers of Roquefort and Époisses de Bourgogne may view it as infernal rind but the world's best cheese comes from England. Cornish Blue, made in Liskeard by Philip and Carol Stansfield, nosed ahead of 2,600 entries from 26 countries to win this year's World Cheese Awards. The full story can be seen at The Independent Food and Drink … [Read more...]
The Royal Garden Hotel, another milestone in service delivery achieved through partnership with ConnectedHotel TV
Swisscom signs The Royal Garden Hotel, London with award winning* ConnectedHotel TV The capital’s celebrated Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, has partnered with Swisscom Hospitality Services in order to deliver an enhanced guest experience worthy of this internationally acclaimed 5-star operation. In what has been described by Patrick de la Mar, rooms division manager at … [Read more...]
Llangoed Hall sold to von Essen Hotels
Acting on behalf of the Estate of the late Sir Bernard Ashley, Christie + Co has sold the freehold of Llangoed Hall Hotel in the Wye Valley, Wales, to von Essen Hotels, the luxury hotel group, for an undisclosed sum. Set within circa 15 acres of formal gardens and parkland, the 4-Star country house hotel comprises 23 letting bedrooms, residents’ morning room, drawing … [Read more...]
National Taste of Game Fortnight a huge success
A fortnight-long event organised by the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), to encourage people to enjoy eating game meat has been a huge success. National Taste of Game Fortnight ran from 6th – 20th November and was part of BASC’s ongoing Game’s On game promotion campaign. Game meat has seen an explosion in … [Read more...]
Property of the week, 77 bed Hotel in Paddington for sale
Acting on behalf of private owners, Christie + Co is marketing the freehold of the Ventures & Camelot Hotel in Paddington, London, with offers in the region of £15 million sought. Situated a short distance from Paddington rail and underground station on Sussex Gardens, the property dates back to c.1880 and comprises five substantial, Victorian-style buildings, which are … [Read more...]