Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from July 2008

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from July 2008

Hotel of the Year - IndependentSponsored by Colliers Robert BarryIsle of Eriska Hotel.(Features)
July 10, 2008... The Isle of Eriska hotel, spa and island was described as a "real beacon of light in the Scottish hospitality industry" by judges this year - and it's not difficult to see why. Set on its own remote 300-acre island off the west coast of...

Foodfile ingredients in season.(Features)
July 10, 2008... We are now starting to see the benefits of the warmer weather in relation to the numbers of spring lambs becoming available. Individual cuts are now becoming affordable and in plentiful supply. Silverside is a good alternative to topside...

Going places.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... Kate Young has been appointed sales manager at Durley Dean hotel in Bournemouth, the Folio Hotels property due to open on 1 August. She was previously sales executive at Golden Tulip Hotels. She also worked as sales and marketing executive at...

Pubs must battle back as sales fall and costs rise.(News)(Survey)
July 10, 2008... A drop in turnover and spiralling costs have taken their toll on the pub industry, but there is positive action licensees can take, reports Christopher Walton The pub sector has been a tough place to do business in recent months. Two major...

Features.
July 10, 2008... To mark the Cateys' 25th birthday, Caterer and Hotelkeeper commissioned a one-off statue made of silver to give to the individual or partnership that has done most to drive forward the UK hospitality industry in the past quarter-century. The...

How to: deal with difficult people.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... We've all known difficult people. In social situations, you can generally choose to ignore or avoid them, but that's not always an option in the workplace. You may have to work closely with them, you may even have to report to them. Here are...

News.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... * Hotel groups back awards De Vere, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin are to back the inaugural Applied Ability Awards (AAAs) in a bid to create home-grown chefs. The AAAs, founded by Prue Leith and managed by the British Food Trust, are designed...

Tye steps in after Knight's shock split from Spirit.(News)
July 10, 2008... Andrew Knight, managing director of Spirit, Punch Taverns' managed division, left the business abruptly this week in a move that surprised industry watchers. The move, announced on Monday, Knight's last day at Spirit, came just weeks after...

Charles Wells woos outsiders.(News)(Charles Wells Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Midlands-based brewer and pub operator Charles Wells is hoping to freshen up its estate by recruiting licensees from outside the hospitality industry and encouraging more chefs to take on their first business. Paul Wells, chairman of...

A source of pride and inspiration.(News)
July 10, 2008... This week's Cateys night marked a milestone for the industry's most prestigious awards, with the British hospitality industry gathering in London for the 25th time to recognise and celebrate its highest achievers. In the generation that has...

Green AwardSponsored by JohnsonDiverseyStrattons hotel.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Running a hospitality service can have a damaging effect on the environment. The energy needed to heat and power a hotel, the wastage caused by catering for large numbers and the food miles often racked up by restaurants can leave something of...

Features.
July 10, 2008... In 2008, the Caterer and Hotelkeeper Awards, or Cateys, reached a milestone. It's now 25 years since Caterer established these awards to recognise and applaud the best of British hospitality. Since their inception in 1984, the Cateys have cast...

Hotel of the Year - GroupSponsored by Matthew ClarkThe Stafford.(Features)
July 10, 2008... The Stafford has been a key player on London's hotel scene for many years and has built up a loyal customer base, thanks to its traditional and highly personalised approach to hospitality. Located in a cul-de-sac behind the Ritz, it has the...

Accessibility AwardSponsored by Personnel TodayClaridge House.(Features)
July 10, 2008... This is the first year that Caterer and Hotelkeeper has presented the Accessibility Award and it was a difficult decision for the judges. Each of the candidates had unique strengths, all catering for disabled people in different ways. However,...

Olympic city.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Five-star rooms are set to double in Beijing by 2010, From the windows of the new Executive Tower extension, guests at the Hilton Beijing hotel can marvel at the sheer scale of development taking place as the Chinese capital prepares to...

Book Review.(Side Orders)(Another Fine Romance from Maestro of Fish)(Book review)
July 10, 2008... Another fin romance from maestro of fish Fish, Indian Style Atul Kochhar Absolute Press, [pounds sterling]20 ISBN 9 781904 573838 The restaurant world has known about Atul Kochhar for some years - ever since 2003 when, as...

The briefing.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... * FSB's innovation funding plea The Federation of Small Businesses has urged the Government to maintain its Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) scheme, which supports entrepreneurs. The scheme has seen local authorities...

Chef AwardSponsored by Fairy Warewash SolutionsJohn Campbell.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Despite leaving school with no qualifications, John Campbell has a highly educated and analytical approach to cooking. Partnered with his generosity in training and development, this has made him one of the industry's highest-profile chefs. ...

Manager of the YearSponsored by the Dudson GroupDuncan Pitfield.(Features)
July 10, 2008... This year it was Duncan Pitfield, general manager at D&D, responsible for the Royal Exchange and Skylon who wowed judges on every front to win the Manager of the Year award. Not only was he praised for successfully launching and managing...

Best Independent Marketing CampaignSponsored by Caterersearch.comThe Vineyard at Stockross and Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa.(Features)
July 10, 2008... One of the stated objectives for the team at the Vineyard and Donnington Valley when launching the Pink Pelican promotion was "for the campaign to be awarded Best Independent Marketing Catey 2008". An admirable objective (if we do say so...

Menu of the YearSponsored by QuornScott's.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Since its revamp by Caprice Holdings, Scott's restaurant has reverted to a rendezvous of choice for dining A-listers, echoing its days as Ian Fleming's fancy in the swinging sixties. But behind the scattered glitterati in the Mayfair site...

Lifetime Achievement AwardSponsored by Heinz FoodserviceHarry Murray.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Harry Murray is renowned for his immaculately pressed suits and perfectly folded handkerchief. When he enters a room fellow hoteliers have been known to check their ties, and quickly polish spotless shoes. But Murray's contribution to the...

Education and Training AwardSponsored by the Institute of HospitalityJohn Campbell.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Industry has a responsibility as an educator, the judges agreed when deciding the winner of this year's Education and Training Catey. And in John Campbell there is the personification of this idea. Campbell's links with education have grown...

good weekBad week.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... Biscuits A century after it was first produced, the custard cream finally features in the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver Celebrity chefs receive RSPCA awards for promoting the...

Zilli Brasserie, Brighton.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... Aldo Zilli's first restaurant outside London is housed in Brighton's MyHotel on Jubilee Square. It comprises a main dining room, large alfresco terrace and 15-seat chef's table and serves a modern Italian menu specialising in fresh seafood. ...

12 Temple Place, London.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... Located at London's SwissA[acute accent]tel the Howard on the Embankment, this restaurant serves a modern British menu with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. It includes a main dining room and 40-seat outside area. Opened...

Brasserie James, London.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... Former Quaglino's and Butlers Wharf Chop House chef Craig James has opened this neighbourhood restaurant in Clapham, south London. It includes an alfresco area and serves a modern British menu made from locally sourced ingredients. Opened...

The Royal Well Tavern, Cheltenham.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... This bistro and bar in Cheltenham is located near the town's Promenade and serves a menu of classic French food. The team behind it are Sam Pearman and Humphrey Fletcher, who previously worked together at the Michelin-starred Glasshouse in Kew....

Best Group Marketing CampaignSponsored by Coca-Cola EnterprisesBest Western Hotels.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Best Western, the consortium of more than 280 individually owned hotels across the UK, scooped this year's award for its highly successful tie-up with Disney. The group was approached to support Disney's Christmas film, Enchanted, and...

Hix oyster & chop house.(Features)
July 10, 2008... In the second of two Menuwatches on Mark Hix's new ventures, Suki King visits Hix Oyster & Chop House in London The first two months that Hix Oyster & Chop House - close to Smithfield Market on London's Cowcross Street - has been operating...

My life in hospitality Duncan Palmer.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... Managing director, the Langham, London Highs... I first worked abroad in 1981, and jetting out to Dubai as a young man when the country was only 10 years old was an amazing break. Doing something like that is a great opportunity to discover...

Newcomer AwardSponsored by Christie + CoThe Kitchin.(Features)(List)
July 10, 2008... With the list of former winners such as Chris and Jeff Galvin, Paul Heathcote, Tom Aikens, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White reading like a Who's Who of the hospitality industry, there's no questioning the kudos of the Newcomer Catey and the...

Outside the box.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... For established restaurants, operating a sideline in outside catering can be a good way of expanding revenue. Humayun Hussain reports A lamb main course from Field & Fork The current economic climate is forcing operators to think on...

Public Sector Caterer AwardSponsored by apetitoAlison McCree.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Alison McCree has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years to improve the lives of patients and was commended by all judges for her exceptional achievements. "Alison McCree is an outstanding caterer who leads from the front and displays a...

The Finnish model.(Features)
July 10, 2008... Finland's policy of free school meals for all is not about to become part of EU law, but there are lessons for the UK in how teachers, parents and children are kept involved in this part of Scandinavia. Sean Crowley reports Finnish cuisine...

Special AwardSponsored by American Express Merchant ServicesAnne Pierce.(Features)
July 10, 2008... When Dr Anne Pierce joined Springboard UK 11 years ago, many people outside the trade regarded hospitality as a dead-end career. A decade on and the landscape is considerably rosier. The emergence of magazine-style, food-based programmes on our...

Best Use of Technology AwardSponsored by MICROS-FidelioDomino's Pizza.(Features)
July 10, 2008... One in every six meals delivered to UK households is a Domino's Pizza. The British pizza chain, which has 501 stores across the country, dominates the home-delivery market for food and is a resilient business. Unlike pubs, the company quite...

where nextforschool meals?(Features)
July 10, 2008... Does the secondary school meal have a future? There may be a credit crunch, but today's average teenager is a sophisticated consumer armed with pocket money and cash earned from holiday jobs. These youngsters are used to making swift...

Business strategy in a recession.(Infozone)
July 10, 2008... In these times of financial downturn, keeping a steady cash-flow is crucial. Chris Lane of accountancy firm Kingston Smith offers some advice THE PROBLEM With increased oil prices and reduced lending by the banks, the current economic...

Infozone.(Mark Hands appointed as general manager at Cadbury House hotel)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Move of the week Mark Hands has been appointed group general manager of the four-star Cadbury House hotel, health club and spa in Congresbury, Somerset. Hands has worked in hospitality for more than 10 years, mainly for De Vere and...

Opportunity begins at home.(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... In the week Travelodge research revealed that 30% of UK consumers have shelved plans for a foreign holiday, chief executive Grant Hearn calls on the hospitality industry to grasp the chance Whether you call it a "credit crunch",...

Over to you... How can the industry support domestic tourism?(Side Orders)
July 10, 2008... Phil Roker, director of business development, Vacherin "The thing that stops me holidaying in the UK more with my family is hotel pricing. I was in France for the 1998 World Cup, and even in some of the better-known cites and towns a room...

A minute on the clockReto Frei.(News)(Tibits)(Interview)
July 10, 2008... Reto Frei is the owner of Swiss vegetarian restaurant group Tibits, making its UK debut with the launch of two restaurants in London later this year. He spoke to Kerstin Kuhn Caterer What's Tibits all about? Reto Frei It's an all-day...

[pounds sterling]400k a day is wasted on water losses.(News)
July 10, 2008... Government research reveals how efficiencies can save caterers' money By Daniel Thomas Hotels and restaurants in England and Wales could make combined savings of nearly [pounds sterling]400,000 a day by using water more efficiently,...

News.
July 10, 2008... Country house hotels such as Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire (pictured) could have their expansion plans seriously stalled By Chris Druce Hotels will face tighter planning rules for developments such as golf courses and gardens after...

Roux brothers scoop thesilverware.(News)
July 10, 2008... Albert and Michel Roux were the big winners at Tuesday night's Cateys, picking up the one-off Silver Catey commemorating the 25th anniversary of the hospitality industry Oscars. The Roux brothers beat strong competition from Gordon Ramsay, Sir...

Insatiable demand for London rooms.(News)
July 10, 2008... GuestInvest plans to add 500 buy-to-let rooms a year By Gemma Sharkey The entrepreneur behind buy-to-let hotel scheme GuestInvest has brushed off talk of doom and gloom in the hospitality industry, insisting that there is an...

The week in brief.(News)
July 10, 2008... Timpson pulls out his hook Chef Dean Timpson has quit his innovative restaurant joint-venture with Macdonald Hotels at the Compleat Angler in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, after just over a year. Timpson, executive chef at the hotel since 2001,...

Norwegian chef takes Bocuse d'Or Europe crown.(News)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Europe's best: Norwegian Geir Skeie Norwegian chef Geir Skeie has been crowned best chef in Europe in the inaugural Bocuse d'Or Europe competition, which took place in Norway last week. Skeie, who works at MidtA[yen]sen restaurant in...

Delaware clinches [pounds sterling]60m Derby deal.(News)
July 10, 2008... "Vast improvements" promised for football club's catering By Daniel Thomas Derby County Football Club has signed a 10-year, [pounds sterling]60m catering deal with Delaware North, the caterer for Wembley Stadium and Arsenal's Emirates...

News.
July 10, 2008... restaurant news update * Ladhar makes London debut Newcastle-based leisure company Ladhar Group is to launch its first restaurant in London. The firm, which owns pubs and clubs in the North-east, will open Number One City Road Bar &...

Dorchester appoints Fasel general manager.(News)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Regional director role to help in UK expansion of the brand By Kerstin Kuhn London's Dorchester hotel has poached the general manager (GM) from neighbouring InterContinental London Park Lane to become GM and regional director. ...

Picture of the Week.(Side Orders)(Buddha Bar)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Buddha under the bridge Buddha Bar, the iconic Paris restaurant and lounge bar (pictured), opens its London outlet on 24 July. Located in a newly created space beneath Waterloo Bridge, Buddha Bar London will be spread over two floors...

Pub and Bar AwardSponsored by McCain Foods GBRupert Clevely.(Features)
July 10, 2008... It has been a difficult year for the pubs and bars industry. The smoking ban has taken its toll on the prospects of many sites. The chancellor introduced above-inflation rises in alcohol duty and Laurel Pub Company became a major casualty,...

Review of Reviews.(Side Orders)(Calendar)
July 10, 2008... The Daily Telegraph 5 July Jasper Gerard says there is much to be improved at the newly opened Jamie's Italian in Oxford, yet he still expects the chain to be the best mid-market restaurant in town e_SClBFood is mixed. Diana's...

Table Talk.(Side Orders)(hoteliers)
July 10, 2008... Gods with feet of clay - right up to the neck It seems hoteliers are becoming an increasingly elite bunch, their multimillion-pound business deals elevating them above the status of us mere mortals. At least, that's what a certain...

Strategy clinic.(Infozone)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... "I need to cut the number of staff I employ. How do I go about making redundancies?" First, ensure your circumstances fit the legal definition. A redundancy situation only occurs if there is a business or workplace closure or a reduced...

Hilwood eyes Dakota buy.(News)(Hilwood Resorts and Hotels considering the purchase of the Dakota hotel )(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Luxury hotel group Hilwood Resorts and Hotels is considering the purchase of the Dakota hotel in Nottingham. The group, which owns and operates Bovey Castle in Dartmoor National Park, Bailbrook house in Bath and the Grand in Jersey, is...

Von Essen in talks with Mittal family?(News)
July 10, 2008... Luxury hotel operator Von Essen has declined to comment on reports claiming that it's in talks with the UK's richest family, the Mittals, about acquiring a stake in the business. Von Essen chief executive Andrew Davies is reported to be...

CitizenM eyes UK in European expansion plan.(News)
July 10, 2008... The design-led budget hotel brand CitizenM is planning a European expansion, including several sites in the UK, Caterer has learnt. The Dutch-owned company, which aims to bridge the divide between low-end budget chains and full-service...

Food Service Caterer AwardSponsored by First Choice CoffeeKate Martin.(Supplements)
July 10, 2008... As one third of the Brookwood Partnership, managing partner Kate Martin, along with Graham Sibthorp and Sue Parfett, heads a business with a turnover in 2007 upwards of [pounds sterling]11m that caterers at more than 50 independent schools...

Restaurateur of the Year - IndependentSponsored by BrakesAnthony Demetre and Will Smith.(Supplements)
July 10, 2008... The Restaurateur of the Year - Independent award is one of the most fiercely contested of the Cateys, and one of the most prestigious trophies in hospitality. A tough line-up faces those nominated in this category every year, so it's a...

Leisure and Tourism AwardSponsored by Barclays Commercial BankDavid Sharpe.(Supplements)
July 10, 2008... David Sharpe is in charge of one of London's most recent and best-loved additions. No, not Boris Johnson, the London Eye. Designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield as part of the capital's millennium celebrations it has, since...

Restaurateur of the Year - GroupSponsored by Bunzl Catering Supplies and Bunzl Lockhart Catering Equipment.(Supplements)
July 10, 2008... The past 12 months haven't been easy for Britain's group and chain restaurant sector. The financial downturn and the consequent drop in consumer spend, the poor summer in 2007 and the smoking ban all conspired to make things tough for many...

Book Review.(Side Orders)(Book review)
July 17, 2008... Classic reference to Moroccan cooking Moroccan Cuisine Paula Wolfert Grub Street, [pounds sterling]10.99 ISBN 978-1-904010-90-6 If you're interested in exploring the essence of Moroccan cuisine, then you'll probably like...

Side Orders.
July 17, 2008... Let's help the UK take its holidays at home Letter of the week Grant Hearn is spot on (Opinion, Caterer 10 July, page 18) in identifying the opportunities for reaching out to domestic tourists. Taking short breaks within the UK can...

MPW's Great British Feast is not so great.(Side Orders)
July 17, 2008... Being a humble country inn and restaurant owner, I tend to watch cookery programmes to pick up tips for future trends, "new" ingredients, and so on, to pass on to my team of young chefs Being a humble country inn and restaurant owner, I...

BAHA needs your views.(Side Orders)(British Association of Hospitality Accountants)
July 17, 2008... We are delighted to announce that the British Association of Hospitality Accountants (BAHA) is working in partnership with Oxford Brookes University and IDeaS - a leading company focusing on revenue management - to develop a new revenue...

Keep foie gras off the menu.(Side Orders)(Compassion in World Farming)(Brief article)
July 17, 2008... Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), the leading animal welfare organisation, has received information that your recent awards ceremony, the Cateys, had foie gras on the menu Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), the leading animal welfare...

Peat Inn.(Features)
July 17, 2008... Since taking over Scotland's famed Peat Inn two years ago, Geoff and Katherine Smeddle have put their own stylish mark on the remote site. Tom Vaughan reports Tucked away a few miles from the windswept Fife shore at St Andrews, the Peat...

The world of hospitality at the click of your mouse.(Features)(Caterersearch.com)(Website overview)
July 17, 2008... This week Caterer launches a new page giving you a greater insight into the content available on its sister website, Caterersearch.com While Caterer continues its role as the leading weekly magazine for hospitality professionals, our...

A minute on the clockKatie Caldesi.(News)(Interview)
July 17, 2008... British-born Katie Caldesi runs Italian restaurants Caffe Caldesi, in London, and Caldesi in Campagna, in Bray, Berkshire, together with her Italian husband, Giancarlo. Their London cookery school, Cucina Caldesi, of which she is the principal,...

Going places.(Infozone)
July 17, 2008... Tim Brooker has been appointed food and beverage manager at the Aldwark Manor hotel, near York, which is part of the QHotels group. Brooker joins from the Parsonage hotel in Escrick, North Yorkshire, where he was assistant manager. He began his...

News.(Infozone)(Brief article)
July 17, 2008... * Skills go to waste Almost two-thirds of UK hospitality workers believe they have untapped skills. In a Learndirect survey of nearly 150 hospitality employees, 63% said they engaged in activities outside work that were providing them with...

Springboard award winner: My Pub Life.(Infozone)
July 17, 2008... Springboard's Awards for Excellence celebrate what a great place the hospitality industry is to work. This year's awards, held at the Dorchester in London in January, saw My Pub Life pick up the Web Award. What is it? My Pub Life is a...

Licensing boards' decisions slammed.(News)
July 17, 2008... "Mad hatter's tea party" rulings defy evidence, seminar told By Christopher Walton The current state of licensing reviews and appeals for hospitality operators in London was likened to a "mad hatter's tea party" last week. ...

The perfect serve.(Features)
July 17, 2008... Enhance the quality of your soft drinks service to enlarge your sales and profits There is a huge opportunity for growth in soft drinks sales in the cold and licensed channels. In particular, paying close attention to quality of serve is...

Top of the class.(Features)
July 17, 2008... From New Mexico to Naples, Romania to Riyadh, the influences on school meals are expanding. But Government guidelines are unyielding. How are school caterers dealing with demands from the authorities and the customers? Emma White reports ...

Review of Reviews.(Side Orders)
July 17, 2008... The Daily Telegraph 12 July Jasper Gerard awards zero marks to Dans Le Noir? in London EC1 following an excruciatingly awful evening at this restaurant where customers eat in the dark A bottle of wine is shoved on the table and we...

Our back pages: stories from the Caterer vaults.(Features)
July 17, 2008... The Caterer and Refreshment Contractors' Gazette, 15 September 1904 Cheap vegetables and fruit are eminently desirable for hotel-keepers and restaurateurs, provided they are of really good quality. The Fruit and Vegetable Supply Company,...

Silver service.(Features)
July 17, 2008... A silver anniversary deserves a special dinner and this year, for the first time, the Cateys menu had the expertise of a past winner to draw on. Joanna Wood reports Four months ago two chefs met to begin tossing ideas around for the 2008...

Infozone Foodfile ingredients in season.(Infozone)
July 17, 2008... Fish Fresh produce There have been good landings of fish in the West Country leading to a wide range being available, including a large number of plaice and even some dived plaice. There are good quantities of bass and skate...

My life in hospitality Elena Leva.(Infozone)
July 17, 2008... Events manager, restaurant company Jessen & Co Highs... I started working in hotels when I was 19, at the Howard hotel in Temple Place, London. I was doing my training, and one day the head of banqueting walked out, so I covered for her and...

Learn to cook with Rosemary Shrager.(Features)
July 17, 2008... Win a place for yourself and a friend on the television chef's acclaimed two-day modern British cookery course at Swinton Park in North Yorkshire Caterer and Hotelkeeper, along with Premier Foods, is offering readers the chance to win two...