Consensus Capital Property, the private equity-backed property fund, and Premier Inn, the hotel chain owned by FTSE 100 company Whitbread PLC, have agreed a deal to transform a well-known Edinburgh office block into a hotel. The £17 million deal will turn the existing office space, formerly used by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), into a 127 bedroom hotel development with a 30 … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2014
BGF provides further expansion funding of £3.6m to Barburrito
BGF (Business Growth Fund), the UK’s leading independent investor of growth capital in UK smaller and medium sized businesses, has invested a further £3.6m in award-winning burrito bar chain, Barburrito. BGF still retains a minority stake in the business following this latest investment. Barburrito was BGF’s first investment in the North West made in April 2012. UK’s first … [Read more...]
PizzaExpress opens 500th – in Beijing
Having opened their first restaurant in Chinatown in 1965, PizzaExpress has just launched their 500th in the capital of China - their first restaurant in the city, though there are now 22 sites in China - in Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The UK now has over 430 restaurants, whilst there is now also a strong global presence across 13 countries including India and the Middle East. … [Read more...]
International exhibition visitor numbers reflect recovering global economy
Leading decorative coatings manufacturer Armourcoat used two key international trade events to launch new products and finishes into the recovering interiors market. The Hospitality Design Exposition and Conference (HD Expo) celebrated a landmark year in Las Vegas. Held for the second year at Mandalay Bay Convention Centre, the show - the leader in design for the hospitality … [Read more...]
FSA: technical guidance on new allergen labelling and information rules
The FSA is seeking views on draft technical guidance primarily aimed at food businesses that are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The guidance gives SMEs information about changes in European Union food allergen labelling for prepacked foods and allergen information for non-prepacked foods. About the proposed guidance The draft guidance, which can be found via … [Read more...]
Vogue Pub innovates to success
Punch Taverns’ The Star Inn at Vogue has been named best innovative pub as well as Cornwall’s Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The Star is the first Punch pub to have won any awards from CAMRA. Judges praised the pub for its quality and choice of real ales, its welcoming environment and hearty food, as well as its innovative facilities such as the pub’s … [Read more...]
Pizza Rossa ready to roll the dough
Opening its first venue on Friday 6 June as a pop-up in the City, Pizza Rossa, the award-winning company born out of crowd funding and specialising in gourmet-quality pizza al taglio – by the square slice - is already set for expansion. The pop-up is located at 4-12 Whittington Avenue, corner of Leadenhall St at Leadenhall Market, London EC3V 1AB, an area with high footfall and … [Read more...]
Kurobuta – a Rock n Roll Izakaya in London
Hospitality design consultancy Salon Edesia has just completed its first commissioned project, Kurobuta - a commercially scalable, Japanese restaurant concept with 5-8 more sites in the pipeline for London and undisclosed international locations. Salon Edesia specialises in the design, development and delivery of hospitality, F&B retail and leisure spaces and the food and … [Read more...]
Everards wins prestigious CAMRA award for Project William scheme
Everards has been presented with CAMRA’s prestigious Bill Squires Award for its work supporting microbrewers, championing cask ale and reviving pubs. It is the first time the award has been presented in ten years. The winner of the Bill Squires Award is voted for by local CAMRA branches in the East Midlands, and CAMRA presented it to Everards in recognition of the Project … [Read more...]
Entry opens for first ever ‘FreeFrom’ Eating Out Awards
FreeFrom food (food free of gluten, wheat, dairy, soya, nuts and other allergens) is now seriously big business in the retail sector, with the market set to grow to over half a billion pounds in the next three years. But the rapidly growing number of those who either need or choose to eat FreeFrom has long complained that, while good free-from food is now relatively easy to … [Read more...]
Online sales of Italian sparkling wine up 76%
A new report has been published that identifies for the first time the key trends and growth opportunities within the sale of beer, wines and spirits online in the UK. Wilson Drinks Report (“WDR”), who set up and contribute to the WSTA Market Report, has consolidated ePOS data from 11 leading online retailers. The result is a unique analysis of sales of wine online split by … [Read more...]
Rusty Nail for London
This summer, edgy but high-end nightclub, Rusty Nail will arrive in the heart of London. With a capacity of 80, it will be a late-night hangout where the select few will enjoy super-premium whiskies and cocktails, a carefully curated line-up of international DJs, and a house party feel with like-minded people. Brought to London by nightlife entrepreneur, Nick House and similar … [Read more...]
New Manchester townhouse hotel for Eclectic
Turley has secured listed building consent and planning permission for a new luxury townhouse hotel in Manchester City Centre, enabling Eclectic Hotels to create an exciting 40-bedroom luxury townhouse hotel in Booth Street, in Manchester’s Upper King Street Conservation Area. It will be Eclectic Hotels’ fourth hotel in the city. The new hotel – to be called King Street … [Read more...]
Charlton House shakes 900kg of salt out of diet – so far
Charlton House - the specialist in providing high quality staff dining in business and industry (B&I) environments - is the first catering company to commit to the new salt pledge targets, as laid out on 29 May 2014 in the Government’s 2017 Public Health Responsibility Deal. This commitment comes as Charlton House’s parent CH&Co reveals it has already removed 986kg … [Read more...]
Flaming Grill Raising the Steaks for this summer’s football
Flaming Grill is encouraging guests to enter their flaming footy ‘SweepSTEAKs’ and be in with a chance of winning free steak every time England win a game in this Summer’s football. ‘Steak your claim’ The pub restaurant brand from Spirit Pub Company is asking guests to ‘steak their claim’ by entering the ‘sweepSTEAKs’ competition on the brand’s Facebook page. As part … [Read more...]