Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal is delighted to announce the promotion of Ben Miller to Head Chef. The appointment comes as the restaurant proudly retained two Michelin stars at the 2026 Michelin Guide Awards on Monday 9 February. A Canadian-born known for his creative precision, deeply personal culinary … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2026
Swinton Estate Appoints Ramune Aleks as New General Manager
Hotel News Sponsored by Ditsch UK Swinton Estate is pleased to welcome Ramune Aleks as its new General Manager, bringing extensive experience in hospitality leadership to the estate’s growing leisure operations. Her appointment comes during a milestone year, as 2026 marks 25 years since Swinton Park Hotel opened its doors, a celebration of the estate’s rich heritage and … [Read more...]
VisitEngland Launches Domestic North West Coastal Campaign to Boost Spring Breaks
VisitEngland will next week launch its domestic coastal marketing campaign to drive breaks to all seaside destinations on England’s North West coast. The £1 million funded campaign, 'All on England's North West Coast', which kicks off on 16 February, is putting the spotlight on destinations, attractions, experiences and accommodation providers to build back demand for … [Read more...]
Grand Metropolitan Hotels Plans Growth in Asia
Following its recent entry into the UK through the takeover of London-based Signature Hotels, Grand Metropolitan Hotels is accelerating its international expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. Martin R. Smura, Chairman and Founder of GMH, together with Supervisory Board Member and former Vice Chancellor of Germany, Dr. Philipp Rösler, were received by the Prime Minister of … [Read more...]
The Observatory Sun Valley, A Viceroy Resort Appoints Euan Taylor as General Manager
The Observatory Sun Valley, A Viceroy Resort, is pleased to announce the appointment of Euan Taylor as general manager. A seasoned hospitality executive with global experience across luxury hotels and resorts, Taylor will lead the property as it prepares for its highly anticipated opening in June 2026 in downtown Ketchum. Taylor brings over three decades of hospitality … [Read more...]
The Balmoral Retains Its Prestigious Forbes Five-Star Rating as Edinburgh’s Only Five-Star Hotel
Hotel News Sponsored by Ditsch UK The Balmoral, A Rocco Forte Hotel, has once again been awarded the coveted Forbes Five-Star rating, reaffirming its position among the world’s finest luxury hotels. Notably, it remains the only hotel in Edinburgh and one of just two in Scotland to hold this prestigious accolade. Occupying the city’s most distinguished address at No. 1 … [Read more...]
The Swinton Estate joins Accessible Hospitality Alliance
Swinton Estate, the private estate owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s and the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton, has become the latest hospitality operator to join Accessible Hospitality Alliance. Occupying more than 20,000 acres on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the estate sits within one of northern England’s most commanding landscapes reflecting a … [Read more...]
Hopetoun House Extends Catering and Hospitality Partnership with Heritage Portfolio
Continuing a collaboration that spans more than two decades, Hopetoun House has confirmed a five-year extension of its catering and hospitality partnership with Heritage Portfolio at one of Scotland’s most prestigious historic houses. The renewed agreement will see the specialist events and catering company Heritage Portfolio within Sodexo Live! continue to deliver … [Read more...]
US National Restaurant Association Report 2026
America’s restaurant industry is poised for a year of measured growth, though a cooling labor market, persistent cost pressures, and cautious household spending will continue to challenge operator margins. According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry report, total restaurant and foodservice sales are projected to reach $1.55 trillion … [Read more...]
The Heaton Group to Transform Historic Wigan Mill into Factory Floor, A Major New Competitive Socialising Venue
Restaurant News Sponsored by Ditsch UK The Heaton Group has revealed plans to launch Factory Floor this spring, a brand-new competitive socialising and late-night venue set inside the historic Eckersley Mill at Cotton Works in Wigan. Backed by a £3 million investment, Factory Floor will transform part of the Grade II listed mill into a large-scale social playground … [Read more...]
Tom Simmons To Open Second Cardiff Restaurant with Exclusive Chef’s Counter Experience
Chef News is sponsored by the the Kitchen Porters Club Celebrated chef Tom Simmons is set to open a second restaurant in Cardiff, offering diners a front-row seat to an intimate, chef-led counter experience. Lofft will officially open on Saturday 14 February, marking exactly six years since Tom first opened the doors to his award-winning restaurant, Thomas by Tom … [Read more...]
Nicolas Dubort Appointed Managing Director Of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris
Hotel News Sponsored by Ditsch UK Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, the iconic luxury Palace hotel located in the elegant 8th Arrondissement, announces the appointment of Nicolas Dubort as Managing Director. Within walking distance from the idyllic Parc Monceau, the Arc de Triomphe, and Champs Elysées, Le Royal Monceau’s refined elegance, immaculate service, and contemporary … [Read more...]
UK Electronic Music Powers £2.47bn: Free Parties Boom, Mid-Tier Venues in Crisis and the North Leads 93% Growth, New Report Reveals
Pub & Bar News Sponsored by Ditsch UK New national report finds audiences growing and regional scenes surging - even as economic pressure accelerates club closures and hollows out the UK’s nightlife infrastructure. UK electronic music generated £2.47 billion in measurable economic activity in 2025, up 3% year-on-year, despite the loss of more than one in three … [Read more...]
Alfred Works Reveals Line-Up of Food Partners
Restaurant News Sponsored by Ditsch UK Digbeth is about to get even tastier! Alfred Works, the new food hall from award-winning hospitality group Blend Family, has today revealed the line-up of food partners set to open at the reimagined Custard Factory site. From global street food to cult favourites and homegrown hits, the roster brings together independent operators … [Read more...]
Workshop Launches Belgravia Flagship Academy, Shaping the Next Chapter of London’s Specialty Coffee Scene
Workshop, one of London’s original pioneers of specialty coffee, today unveils its flagship Cafe & Academy in Belgravia, marking a major new chapter for the brand. Designed as both a shop window and the true home of Workshop, the space brings together the brand’s sourcing ethos, roasting philosophy, and hospitality values under one roof for the first time, creating a launch … [Read more...]
