Restaurant & Hospitality News 30 June

New Conran restaurant opening, as well as some great tips on Chinese food plus a few special events at London restaurants that should see more customers through the door - good news for the industry (crosses fingers). Plus my personal favourite topic - where to eat the best BBQ in London.

Terence Conran's new restaurant, Lutyens, opens this week in Fleet Street. Named after the building's architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, the venue boasts a 130-seat restaurant with crustacean and sushi bar... (read more)

All Star Lanes in Brick Lane is celebrating American Independence Day with an all-American chilli cook-off. Chilli fans from across the UK are invited to compete for the Chilli Champ 2009 award. Top London food writers and chefs... (read more here)

Keelung goes high on to the list of places David Sexton would recommend to a friend, spending his or her own money. .. (more about Keelung)

Playing a walk-on role in Sir Terence Conran's dream world at the Boundary Rooftop is such a treat. Worth paying up for... (read on)

1920s glamour comes to Covent Garden this week with an old-fashioned tea party on the piazza. You can enjoy freshly brewed tea and cream cakes served on retro crockery; dress up in fascinators, parasols and other items from the vintage fancy dress box... (read full review)

Restaurant & Hospitality News 29 June

Heavy coverage of Heston Blumenthal continues (he's everywhere lately), plus the speakeasy's back - secret restaurants you'd never know existed. More service charge shenanigans, and the latest news on openings, closings and expansions.

From the Loft in Dalston to the Salad Club in Brixton, London offers an array of underground restaurants... read more

Twotwentytwo is a place mostly inhabited by tourists and loud men in suits, which is a huge shame... full review here

Chefs Mark Hix and Heston Blumenthal were among the winners at last night's Guild of Food Writers awards after impressing judges with their latest cookbooks more...

Restaurant group Giraffe has announced plans to expand the business over the next two years following the recent opening of its 25th outlet in Victoria, London Full story

Heston Blumenthal dismisses suggestions that his new restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London will be an off-shoot of the Fat Duck Blah Blah Blumenthal...

The British Hospitality Association calls for the industry to adopt a new voluntary code of practice for service charges to help rebuild its reputation following the controversy over tips let's play fair...read more here

News Roundup – 28 June '09

More excuses for the pub industry (it's everyone's fault but their own, apparently), more pubs change hands, more branches of Villandry due to open, and there's yet another industry group to promote London.

Mass pub closures caused by lack of housing
More than 650 country pubs are expected to close within the next 12 months due to a 'chronic shortage of affordable housing', according to a coalition of industry groups.

Orchid buys 10 pubs from Bar Room Bar
Pub group Orchid has bought back 10 properties from the collapsed Birmingham-based Bar Room Bar chain, which was put into administration in April 2009.

Eclectic to reopen Embargo
Eclectic Clubs and Bars will open its re-designed Embargo nightclub on King's Road in London later this month, following a £750,000 refurbishment.

Villandry Kitchen opens in High Holborn
The respective owners of Villandry and Relish Restaurants, Jamie Barber and Ed Standring, have opened a new joint venture called Villandry Kitchen in High Holborn, London.

New council set up to promote London
Representatives from London's promotional agencies and business groups have met with mayor Boris Johnson following the establishment of a new council designed to promote and “rebrand” the capital.

Mayor promotes volunteer drive
Boris Johnson's latest initiative to improve the lives of Londoners aims to boost the number of volunteers in the capital.

Mitie wins £2.5m deal at London’s Irish Club

Facilities management company Mitie has signed a five-year deal worth £2.5m in total turnover to provide catering and front-of-house services at London’s re-opened Irish Club. Mitie, which will employ 12 staff across the operation, will also provide cleaning at the Blackfriars-based members' club...

Roof Gardens restaurant manager wins Academy of Food & Wine title

Peter Avis of Babylon at Roof Gardens in London has been named the Academy of Food & Wine’s inaugural UK Restaurant Manager of the Year. Avis, who was crowned the winner of the competition at a dinner held at the Langham hotel in London last night, beat five other finalists to the title.

Restaurateur calls for abolition of stamp duty on lease renewals

Soren Jessen, owner of 1 Lombard Street and Papillon restaurants in London petitions Downing Street to suspend stamp duty on lease extensions during the recession to help keep restaurants afloat

Celeb chefs and critics to take the Taste challenge

Antonio Carluccio, Atul Kocchar, Oliver Rowe and Anjum Anand’s palates will be put to the test this week as the celebrity chefs are pitted against food critics at the Taste of London’s taste challenge

News Roundup – 27 June '09

More pubs sold (and bought), more pubs in trouble, executive movements at Mitchells and Butlers, and good news for catering groups.

Greene King acquires 11 Punch pubs
Greene King, the Suffolk-based pub operator and brewing company, has reached an agreement with Punch Taverns to acquire 11 managed properties for £30.4m

Brits' summer savings spent on leisure
More than 40 per cent of British people admit that they spend the money saved on bills during the summer on leisure activities, according to a new report by National Savings and Investments (NS&I).

Absolute Leisure businesses up for sale
Bars, restaurants and clubs formerly owned by Newcastle-upon-Tyne-based operator Absolute Leisure have been put up for sale after the firm was placed in administration.

New restaurant opens in Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne opera house's restaurant, the Middle and Over Wallop, has reopened in Lewes, East Sussex, following an extensive renovation to mark the Glyndebourne Festival's 75th birthday.

Mitchells and Butlers chief executive resigns
Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) has announced that it has parted company with chief executive Tim Clarke. The pub company has also recently reported a 47.6 per cent fall in pre-tax profits for the 28 weeks to 11 April 2009.

Hornby quits Visit London
David Hornby, commercial director at Visit London, has left the tourism organisation following six years of service.

Four star hotel for Birmingham's City Park Gate
Hotel La Tour has announced that it will open a four-star hotel at the mixed use City Park Gate development in Birmingham.

Hospitality advised to go green
Renewable energy specialist Stiebel Eltron is launching an advice service on how companies within the hospitality sector can save money by investing in green energy.

Approach for Carluccio's
Carluccio's has confirmed a preliminary takeover approach by an unnamed suitor, speculated to be from a private equity firm.

MPs call for pub industry probe
A committee of MPs has called upon the Competition Commission to launch an investigation into whether the beer-tie arrangements used by pub companies is pushing up drinks prices.

Compass Group wins £11m Roehampton University deal

Compass Group’s education caterer Chartwells has won a £11m total turnover contract to provide services at Roehampton University in London. Chartwells will provide student catering at four campuses in a deal worth £2.2m in annual turnover, which also includes hospitality for weddings ...

Egyptian construction magnate in line for Stafford hotel?

The general manager of Mayfair’s luxury hotel the Stafford, has confirmed it is currently in talks with a buyer to sell the property for an undisclosed sum. The hotel, which has been owned by North-west based brewer Daniel Thwaites since 1995, and is part of Shire Hotels,...

FSA admits restaurant menu labelling could become compulsory

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has admitted for the first time that menu labelling for restaurants could be made compulsory if its voluntary scheme does not achieve a high enough level of take-up. The FSA launched the voluntary menu labelling trial, which includes listing calories,...

Yohann Jousselin named as UK’s Young Sommelier of the Year

Yohann Jousselin, head sommelier at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester, has been named the UK’s Young Sommelier of the Year. Jousselin, who was runner-up in the UK Sommelier of the Year competition earlier this year, beat five other finalists to win the title. Second place went to Erica Laler ...

Not the End of the Line for sustainable fish restaurants

With the release of documentary The End of the Line we speak to suppliers and restaurants about what they're doing to ensure the fish they sell doesn't mean the end of the line for fish stocks or their business

Charlton House Hotel goes into administration

The Somerset country house hotel and spa bought by Mulberry founders Roger and Monty Saul in 1996 looks for a new owner after it falls victim to the economic downturn

Aubergine announces new head chef

The London Fine Dining Group has announced Christophe Renou as the new head chef of Aubergine in Chelsea, after William Drabble’s departure last week

Jamie Barber to roll out Villandry Kitchen concept

Villandry owner Jamie Barber and Ed Standring, owner of Relish Restaurants launch their first joint venture - an all day cafe and bistro called Villandry Kitchen

US restaurant chains agree to mandatory calorie labelling

Large chain restaurants in the US have agreed to support a new law to make calorie and nutrition labelling on menus compulsory, sparking fears such a move may be implemented in the UK

Which? names shopping centre bistro as Restaurant of the Year

The Which? Good Food Guide has named shopping centre restaurant Ronnies in Thornbury, near Bristol as the publicly-voted-for 2009 Restaurant of the Year

Regent Inns sells seven Walkabouts to Cavendish Bars

Embattled pub operator Regent Inns, which yesterday delisted from the London Stock Exchange, has sold seven Walkabout venues to Cavendish Bars group. The deal, which brings Cavendish’s estate to 34, forms part of Regent Inns’ strategy of disposing of non-core sites ...

Former Michelin-star winner John McClements plans central London restaurant

Former Michelin-starred chef-restaurateur John McClements plans to launch his first restaurant in central London, Caterersearch has learnt. McClements currently operates six restaurants in south-west London, including three Ma Cuisine sites in Twickenham, Kew and Barnes ...

Restaurant & Hospitality News 26 June

If you're a fan of Spanish food and wine, head to Brick Lane this weekend for the free Tapas Fantasticas festival. As well as tasting lots of lovely red, white and rosé Rioja wines... more...

The glamour of Hollywood arrives in Haymarket this week as Planet Hollywood launches its new London restaurant. The glittering new venue is packed with movie memorabilia and screens showing the latest films. There's a Best of British room with a giant Union Jack carpet an... more

Cocoon's Japanese sushi chefs are revealing the secrets of their trade this month at a sushi-making masterclass. On the two-hour course, you'll learn about the history of sushi, find out more about the ingredients, and take part in a fun hands-on sushi-making competition. read more

Heston Blumenthal is planning a 30 per cent price hike for the Fat Duck, making it the most expensive restaurant in the UK read more

Chef restaurateur Paul Heathcote has taken his flagship Longridge restaurant in Preston, Lancashire, off the market after four months. Heathcote had put the former two-Michelin-starred restaurant up for sale in March after 20 years to focus on growing his more casual restaurant business ... read more

Restaurant & Hospitality News 24 June

Travelodge builds up £100m war chest for expansion

Budget hotel group Travelodge is aiming to secure a £100m war chest to take over going-concern hotels from existing operators, banks and administrators. The company has teamed up with property fund manager Meghraj Properties Limited in a bid to raise £40m of equity...

Palm Restaurant, Knightsbridge

Mickey Rourke, Jeff Goldblum and our very own Cheryl Cole (pictured) have all been spotted at the LA branch of Palm Restaurant in recent months, but will the new Knightsbridge outpost turn out to be such a celeb-fest? ...

Ba Shan, Soho

Third time's a charm. Or is it? Seems that Shao Wei’s third Szechuan eatery Ba Shan has inherited the two least attractive aspects of its siblings: Baozi Inn’s uncomfortable surrounds and Bar Shu’s steep prices. ...

The Park Terrace, Knightsbridge

The British summer is an elusive creature. No sooner do we don flip-flops than the dark clouds reappear. Still, if you're going to take your chances and dine outside, there are few better places to do it than the Mandarin Oriental's idyllic alfresco space, open May to September...

Cheese tastings at Le Bouchon Breton

Calling all cheese-lovers: popular Spitalfields brasserie Le Bouchon Breton, will be running a series of informal masterclasses in cheese on the last Tuesday of every month, overseen by its resident cheese expert, or 'frommelier'...

Approval for Birkwood hotel scheme
Eatonfield Group, the Cheshire-based development company, has been given the green light to transform a former NHS hospital in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, into a country house hotel.

‘Worst over’ for British hotels as trading improves

The ‘worst may be over’ for British hoteliers after in depth analysis has revealed an improvement in hotel performance over the last five months

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Restaurant & Hospitality News 23 June

The Waterside Inn reopened in April following the installation of a new £1.5m kitchen at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire. It was the kitchen’s first refurbishment in 24 years and the project was 18 months in the planning and took 14 weeks to complete,...more

Private equity group Seahold has diversified into catering with the acquisition of a restaurant and a delicatessen in its native Aberdeen. The group has acquired Max’s Restaurant and Francesa’s Delicatessen in the city’s Ashdale Drive for an undisclosed sum and set up a ...more

Former Caterer Adopted business the Preston Park Tavern in Fiveways, Brighton, has bought the freehold of the pub from landlord Punch Taverns. Andrew and Helen Coggins have leased the pub from Punch for the past two years but have now purchased the freehold for an undisclosed sum. Full story

Marston’s today announced plans to raise £176m through a share issue to create a warchest to speed up development of new pub sites and make acquisitions. The brewer and pub operator will use £140m of the total to acquire and develop new pubs, taking advantage of the ...full story

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