Stephen Raducki, 28, head sommelier at the Hotel du Vin Winchester, has been awarded the Moët UK Young Sommelier of the Year Award 2012, presented by the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS). The Award is made each year to a sommelier under the age of 30 who took part in the competition. Stephen was presented with the award, along with a magnum of Moët & Chandon … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2012
Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association Industry Awards 2012
At this year’s Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards, the judges identified more pizza and pasta restaurants than ever before achieving gold and platinum standards for their food and service. The Awards, which were presented on November 15, aim to recognise the ‘movers and shakers’ who continue to drive and inspire this multi-billion pound industry. While the … [Read more...]
Lindley provides catering cover at Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s Amex Stadium
Lindley Venue Catering, the specialist sports stadia catering division of The Lindley Group, is now providing all catering, hospitality and events services at Brighton and Hove Albion FC’s Amex Stadium on a temporary basis until the end of the season. Lindley was approached at short notice to manage the match day public and hospitality catering at the Club’s fixture with … [Read more...]
CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2012 finalists
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has announced the four pubs making it into the final of its National Pub of the Year competition for 2012. CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition is judged by CAMRA’s 145,000 members. Each of the 200 CAMRA branches vote for their favourite pub. The branch winners are entered into 16 regional competitions, with the 16 winners then … [Read more...]
New HACCP recording thermometer, saving work for safer chefs
Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd launches the new Saf-T-Log HACCP Recording Thermometer The new innovative Saf-T-Log thermometer from ETI Ltd is a simple to use HACCP Recording Thermometer that measures, stores, downloads and enables the printing of temperature reports. No more paper logs or complicated hand held computers to train staff how to use! The … [Read more...]
WineNation 2012 Report reveals crippling effect of tax
Accolade Wines, the UK’s number one wine company, is calling for unity across the drinks trade in a bid to encourage the government to re-think the alcohol duty escalator, after the company’s WineNation 2012 Report revealed the level to which tax is having a crippling effect across the industry. Tax accounts for 60% of price, 80% of price increases Paul Schaafsma, General … [Read more...]
Government announces Consultation on Alcohol Strategy
The Government’s announcement of its Consultation on Alcohol Strategy will result in an even more intensive debate on the subject, and especially the pros and cons on minimum alcohol pricing. Here, we show the initial responses from the WSTA and BBPA. Wine and Spirit Trade Association Chief Executive Miles Beale commented: "It is hard to understand why the Government … [Read more...]
This year’s perfect gift – for wine lovers (or nerds)
Wine Grapes is the indispensable book for every wine lover, carefully researched, written and assembled by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz. Where do wine grapes come from and how are vine varieties related to each other? What is the historical background of each grape variety? Where are they grown? What sort of wines do they make? Using the most … [Read more...]
Five Guys to join burger migration to UK
Five Guys has been a Washington, DC area favourite since 1986 when the Murrell family began serving only hand-formed burgers cooked to perfection on a grill along with fresh-cut fries cooked in pure peanut oil. The little burger joint quickly developed a cult-like following. Press paid attention. Customers voted the burger"#1" in the metro area. During the 1980's and 1990's … [Read more...]
UK beer sales down a billion pints
New figures show that pubs are now selling a billion fewer pints of beer per year since the introduction of the Beer Duty Escalator in March 2008. As reported in the Sunday People and Sunday Mirror of 25 November newspapers, regions in the North and Wales have been particularly badly hit, according to the figures compiled by analysts CGA Strategy and released today by the … [Read more...]
Hotel Indigo introduces it’s “Not All Business” for business travellers
Hotel Indigo has responded to research into business travellers to create a ‘package’ designed to add ‘local’ value to their stay. A recent survey by IHG’s upscale boutique hotel brand Hotel Indigo® found that nearly half of business travellers (48%) like spending time outside of their hotel room exploring the neighbourhood, but nearly half of these same travellers (47%) … [Read more...]
Danny Meyer’s SHAKE SHACK coming to London
Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group has announced it will introduce its first UK restaurant, when it opens Shake Shack in London’s Covent Garden in mid-2013. Born in New York City’s Madison Square Park in 2004, Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its all-natural burgers, flat-top dogs, frozen custard, American craft beer, wine and more. A … [Read more...]
Starwood builds customer loyalty with f & b discounts for SPG members
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), the award-winning loyalty programme from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, is offering its members up to 30% savings in over 870 top restaurants and bars across its global portfolio. This initiative will be available across more than 400 Starwood hotels around the world including signature restaurants and bars at nine of Starwood’s … [Read more...]
Le Pain Quotidien to roll out new J2 touchscreen EPoS
Hardware manufacturer J2 Retail Systems, known for delivering one of the lowest total costs of EPoS ownership in the retail and hospitality industries, has revealed details of the latest company to select its PC-based touchscreen terminals. Le Pain Quotidien is a chain of characterful, upmarket bakeries-cum-casual dining venues. Spanning both fine food retail and food … [Read more...]
Fuller’s delivers on all fronts
Fuller’s delivers on all fronts Fuller, Smith & Turner has reported comprehensively on the 26 weeks ended 29 September 2012, a period that indicates continuing growth, progress and performance. Financial Performance • Revenue up 8% to £137.9 million (2011: £128.2 million) • Adjusted profit before tax up 4% to £17.1 million (2011: £16.5 … [Read more...]