Compass Group has released its interim statement for the period from 31 March 2012, showing strong performance in the third quarter of the year and unchanged, positive expectations for the full year. North America and the Fast Growing & Emerging regions grew strongly, with several large new contracts commencing; no surprise that conditions in Europe are described as … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2012
Lindley wins contract exclusivity at Spurs : Lindley 1 : 1 Kudos
Recent days have seen two prestige and hotly contested contracts secured in the world of sports stadia: Lindley securing all catering services at Tottenham Hotspur FC, whilst Kudos landed rugby giants, Northampton Saints. Lindley Venue Catering has won the prestigious five-year contract to provide all match day and non-match day catering services and develop the conference, … [Read more...]
UK to have higher energy prices than competitors
Recent research found that the price of energy paid by UK businesses has increased by as much as 58% since January 2010, with significant impact on the performance of many businesses – including those in the hospitality sector. Using less energy in your business has become ever-more important. Now a survey of energy experts from 153 of the UK’s largest businesses finds that … [Read more...]
Dining at its finest arrives at Harewood House
Harewood House one of Yorkshire’s finest country homes and family seat of the Earl and Countess of Harewood, has announced that The Box Tree Restaurant will head up their fine dining offer. Rena and Simon Gueller, who own and manage Box Tree Events were welcomed by David Lascelles, the 8th Earl of Harewood, on the State Floor of Harewood House where they will provide a variety … [Read more...]
Being accessible is good for your pub
The BBPA has published an essential guide on how to make pubs as accessible as possible, and the significant business benefits this brings. The guide has been given a warm welcome and a call to action from legendary Paralympian, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, who has written the foreword. An open welcome - Why being accessible is good for your pub, is available on the BBPA … [Read more...]
Little Chef gets serious…about coffee
Little Chef has been busy in recent years transforming itself from over 200 struggling sites to just 90 with a very different offering. Now it has announced that it will partner with Lavazza to offer motorists quality Italian coffee served by highly trained barista staff. The partnership takes its hot beverage offering to a new level, and is designed to position Little Chef … [Read more...]
Battersea Power Station scheme will include hotel and reastaurants
The latest proposal for the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station by Real Estate Opportunities (REO) has finally got the go-ahead. The £5.5bn scheme to revamp the Battersea Power Station will include a hotel and several restaurants as well as an estimated 3,400 homes and 15,000 jobs. REO bought the Battersea Power Station 4 years ago for £400m, but the original … [Read more...]
London drives 2012 European hotel investment market
Hotel investment activity in EMEA slightly weakened in the first 6 months of 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011 according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. Hotel investment volumes totaled €3.7 billion, a 12% decline compared to sales volumes in the first half of 2011. The majority of transactions were single asset sales, accounting for 64% of total EMEA transaction … [Read more...]
Does Sunningdale deliver the best Pizza Express experience in England?
For the past 30 years or so I have enjoyed frequenting Pizza Express as the brand mostly delivers on its promise. Good food and good service at a fair price. Yesterday evening my wife and I went to our local Pizza Express in Sunningdale, recently refurbished and looking and feeling very chic. It was our 26th wedding anniversary yesterday and our three sons booked and pre … [Read more...]
Chef’s Restaurant of the Week, The Queens at Belbroughton
This week's Restaurant of the Week is The Queens at Belbroughton, West Midlands and courtesy of Great British Chefs Andy Waters helped put the Midlands on the gastronomic map when he won a Michelin star in 2003 for Edmunds. In March 2012, Andy became head chef of The Queens at Belbroughton, a 16th century pub in Worcestershire and has recently been awarded the … [Read more...]
Satisfactory trading for Marston’s
Marston’s reports satisfactory trading in the 42 weeks to 21 July 2012 despite the very wet weather conditions affecting summer trading to date: there has been continued progress across the business, and profitability is in line with expectations. In managed pubs, like-for-like sales for the 42 week period were 2.2% ahead of last year, including like-for-like food sales … [Read more...]
StayWell Hospitality Group to expand into UK
StayWell Hospitality Group (StayWell) has announced its expansion into the UK, and is working together with its strategic partner, Seven Capital, to identify suitable hotel development opportunities. StayWell's first UK hotel will be the Park Regis Birmingham for which StayWell has secured a 30 year long term management agreement. Due to open in 2014, Park Regis Birmingham … [Read more...]
Frequency of eating out on the increase
Eating out is proving a luxury that few people are willing to forgo according to Horizons’ latest QuickBite survey, conducted amongst 2,105 consumers in June 2012 by YouGov. Consumer confidence may still be low, but British adults are choosing to go out more often than they have done previously, the highest frequency since December 2010, with the average British adult … [Read more...]
VisitEngland Launches The Pink Book 2012: Legislation for Tourism Accommodation
VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has launched the latest version of The Pink Book - a comprehensive guide covering everything operators need to know about running an accommodation business - from obtaining entertainment and alcohol licences to food hygiene, and health and safety. Designed to help both self-catering and serviced accommodation providers navigate the … [Read more...]
Good news for hospitality industry from 10 million Brits
10.3 million Brits (21%of the adult population) plan to make the most of the summer (until the end of August) by taking at least one holiday or short break in the UK, with 8.9 million people (18%) planning to take that trip in England, according to VisitEngland’s Summer Trip Tracker. This is likely to generate some £2.3 billion in tourism spend for the UK economy, around … [Read more...]