Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from March 2006

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from March 2006

VAT when acquiring premises.(Value-added tax)
March 2, 2006... Taking over a restaurant that is in receivership can be a taxing time if you haven't considered the VAT implications of the deal, says Adrian Houstoun THE PROBLEM Gordon, a chef, wants to open his own restaurant. He has a number of...

Hotels with histories.(Malmaison Oxford)
March 2, 2006... Reminders of a building's grisly or notorious past can make it a certain failure - or a surprise tourist draw. Linda Fox looks at the history of three properties that have put new life on old bones Malmaison Oxford The...

WIN a [pounds sterling]5,000 Infinity Fryer.(Falcon Infinity Fryer)
March 2, 2006... Energy costs are spiralling and are one of the biggest threats to profitability facing hospitality. At Caterer we know this because we have conducted a survey to see how important energy costs are to businesses in the sector. Our...

Old Butchers.(gastropub)
March 2, 2006... Moving from a respected gastropub to a small local restaurant could be a smart move to stay ahead of the pack, or a lifestyle change - or just a way to raise customer spend. Whichever it is, it works at the Old Butchers, as Dan Bignold...

A minute on the clock... Phil Thompson.
March 2, 2006... Jean-Christophe Novelli's high-profile departure from Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire last October left Auberge du Lac's head chef Phil Thompson to pick up the pieces. Following months of uncertainty, he has just been officially appointed...

Pros and consultants.
March 2, 2006... The first joint venture from restaurateurs Dominic Ford and Pat McDonald is, unsurprisingly, given their track record as consultants, remarkably well placed to do spectacular business. Janet Harmer went to find out how they get it so right...

English pubs get set to show smokers the great outdoors.
March 2, 2006... With a smoking ban in English pubs and bars timetabled for next summer, some are predicting a cash bonanza for builders of outdoor shelters. But could it also be a bonanza for the pubs themselves? Paul Gander reports MPs' decision to...

Britain's food fad is only skin deep - so far.
March 2, 2006... The real shift in attitude will have to be seen on the supermarket shelves, says Bill Knott Every month or two, there appears in the press a slew of headlines along the lines of: "British food now 'better than French', says survey";...

Leven swaps Choice for Thistle.(Choice Hotels Europe)(Hilton International)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Stuart Leven is to quit his role as sales and marketing director of Choice Hotels Europe to take up a new position at Thistle Hotels. His new job absorbs some of the responsibilities of Thistle's previous sales and marketing director,...

Spas on the rise as offer is increased.(UK and Ireland Spa)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... New openings drive growth, and more men are indulging By Emily Manson Spa sales are rocketing by nearly 30% year on year as their offerings become increasingly complex, according to a new survey. The latest market snapshot comes...

Claridge's hotel gets new general manager.
March 2, 2006... By Emily Manson Three of London's top hotels will all have new general managers after a flurry of departures and appointments in recent weeks. Claridge's appointed Sylvain Ercoli from Hotel Martinez in Cannes as its new general manager...

Hotels get a flying start to new year.
March 2, 2006... It's "the mother of all years" so far, says top hotelier Stauss By James Garner London's leading West End hotels are experiencing their best ever start to the year, according to Four Seasons general manager John Stauss. Speaking...

Loch Fyne looks to Middle East for expansion.
March 2, 2006... Loch Fyne is looking to launch overseas, according to its chief executive Mark Derry. Speaking at a seminar at Hotelympia last week, Derry said: "We are in the process of signing an international licence in the Middle East. "We're...

Little Chef chain says goodbye to Fat Charlie.
March 2, 2006... Roadside group to test out four new designs this spring By Tom Bill Little Chef is poised to ditch its iconic Fat Charlie logo as part of a major brand rethink. Owner Lawrence Wosskow told Caterer the roadside group would trial...

Hospital chefs triumph at salon culinaire 2006.
March 2, 2006... Hospital chefs Sue Mayhew (left) and Sharon Slaughter picked up a gold award at Salon Culinaire 2006 and the title of Hospital Caterers Association's Chefs of the Year 2006. Mayhew, a team leader for catering and domestic hotel services at...

Tootsies boss to launch new chain of restaurants.
March 2, 2006... Andrew Bonnell, founder and managing director of the Tootsies burger chain, is launching a new group of restaurants styled on the Brackenbury in West London. It will be headed by Lisa Inglis, former operations director at Tootsies and now...

Savoy to put refurb budget up to [pounds sterling]90m?(Savoy hotel)(Fairmont Hotels investment program)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Plans to upgrade London's Savoy hotel have stalled once again, but this time it's because owner Fairmont Hotels is set to double or treble the investment programme. The Canadian hotel group's original fund to refurbish the Strand's...

Outside catering from fifteen.
March 2, 2006... Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in London is branching out again, with the launch of a new outside catering business. Fifteen to You uses the Old Street restaurant's trainees, chefs and staff to offer a tailored catering service for...

UK contract caterers find their market is shrinking.(Food and Service Management Survey 2006)
March 2, 2006... By Angela Frewin Contract caterers have faced their most challenging year in a decade, according to the British Hospitality Association's annual survey. The Food and Service Management Survey 2006, which was published on Tuesday at...

Stars come out for casual dining style.(Michelin's guide)
March 2, 2006... Michelin guide's French awards buck the fine-dining trend By Jessica Gunn Michelin's guide to France dished out only one new three-star award this year, but it was the recognition of a more casual style of dining that really caused a...

The week in brief.(General Electric Real Estate)(Acorn Club Ball)(Bermondsey eaterie)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... French hotel sale General Electric Real Estate (France) has sold three French hotels for 47.15m ([pounds sterling]32m). The Golden Tulip in Boulogne was sold to Fonciere des Murs and will be operated by Accor under the Mercure brand....

welcome break strikes deal with starbucks.
March 2, 2006... Roadside group Welcome Break has confirmed its franchise deal with Starbucks, as exclusively revealed in Caterer last week. The 24-strong group said the first site would open at the end of April at Corley services near Coventry on the M6....

The week in brief.(Fuller's is to close Hampshire's Gales brewery)(Folio Hotels leased 19 sites to Washington Hotels)(Cafe des Amis appointed Andy Gale)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Fuller's closes Gales brewery London brewer and pub operator Fuller's is to close Hampshire's Gales brewery, following a strategic review that will save it [pounds sterling]3m annually. Fuller's paid [pounds sterling]91.8m for the rival...

'Put focus back on hospitality'.
March 2, 2006... Sale-and-leaseback of hotels is just a passing trend in hotel finance circles, according to a leading hotel group boss. Malmaison and Hotel du Vin chief executive Robert Cook dismissed sale-and-leaseback as "flavour of the month stuff" and...

Compass chefs celebrate Hotelympia success.
March 2, 2006... Compass Group employees flexed their culinary muscle at Hotelympia 2006 last week, winning an impressive 194 awards in Le Salon Culinaire de Londres and Open Team Grand Prix. The world's largest caterer's employees bought back a hoard of...

Avian flu destabilises poultry sales.
March 2, 2006... The poultry market is becoming increasingly unstable as bird flu moves closer to the UK, according to suppliers. Confirmation that avian flu had reached flocks of geese and ducks in South-west France has led to 20 European countries - the...

Demetre plans Soho opening.(open a new business in Soho)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Anthony Demetre, former chef-proprietor of the one-Michelin-starred Putney Bridge restaurant in London, is to open a new business in Soho. Demetre is in negotiations to buy the former site of Bistro Bruno on Frith Street where he worked...

The good, the bad, and the simple.(London's ExCel for Hotelympia)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Having spent the best part of a week camped out at London's ExCel for Hotelympia, the industry's leading food and equipment show, I emerged on Thursday night to find that the industry had, of course, continued to motor on with reports of both...

Fishing for compliments.(Mason's Arms)
March 2, 2006... A visit by Michel Roux to the Mason's Arms gives the Dodsons a chance to get expert advice and compare notes on produce costs. Joanna Wood reports It's a crisp, blue-skied February day and chef-proprietor Mark Dodson, his former boss...

Caterer loves... Bankers' bonuses.
March 2, 2006... Investment bankers and City folk up and down the Square Mile are strutting around significantly richer this month, thanks largely to a payout comparable to a small country's GDP. Totalling a record [pounds sterling]7.5b in 2006, the City's...

The saviour of Smollensky's?(restaurant reshaping)(hotels history)(joint venture of ford and mcdonald)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... How new boss Sandra Thomson is reshaping the restaurant chain Rare breed versus standard pork - see our butchery masterclass Hotels with dark histories Infozone: What to look out for when buying a business in receivership ...

David Clarke, chief executive, Best Western Hotels.
March 2, 2006... Independently owned Best Western Hotels has appointed David Clarke chief executive. He was previously with Portland Hotels in Edinburgh as managing director. He has also worked for Trusthouse Forte and Edinburgh's Caledonian hotel.

Events.(Calendar)
March 2, 2006... Fairtrade Fortnight is running from 6-19 March, a two-week period of campaigning and promotion that looks to heighten awareness of the Fairtrade cause. Sales of Fairtrade coffee in the out-of-home sector have almost quadrupled in the past...

foodfile... ingredients in season.(poultry market)
March 2, 2006... Meat The poultry market is still confused. Some cheap poultry has arrived on the UK market from Italy and France as demand on the Continent falls, but the meat hasn't always been very fresh. British meat, however, hasn't dropped in price,...

good week/bad week.(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... London hotels Haven't cashed in as much in January since 2000. Haggis linguine Study finds Glasgow packs more Italian restaurants per square mile than rest of UK. Nottingham Same report uncovers more culinary variety here than rest of...

How I got here... Jean-Christophe Forge.(Restaurant Martin Wishart)
March 2, 2006... Head sommelier at Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh Jean-Christophe Forge, 23, has been head sommelier at Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh's first Michelin star winner, for the past three years. At the 43-cover restaurant,...

How to... Improve customer service.
March 2, 2006... * Be the customer - spend a night at your own hotel, eat in your restaurant or join a tour to find out what it's really like to be a guest. * Introduce a simple feedback form or suggestion box to learn more about what your customers think....

Infozone.(guide to building business success)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Your weekly guide to building business success A new look for Smollensky's Meet the chief executive who's making changes at the restaurant chain Page 48 Adopted Business Michel Roux calls in on old friends at the Mason's...

International Openings.(Cologne Marriott hotel)(Adina Apartment hotel)
March 2, 2006... Abbaye de la Bussiere, Dijon, France This stunning nine-room hotel was formerly a 12th-century abbey and spiritual retreat. Now owners Clive and Tanith Cummings - Clive is the son of Martin Cummings at Amberley Castle in West Sussex - have...

Kitchen Bible Treasure in second-hand shop.(British Cookery: A Complete Guide To Culinary Practice in the British Isles)(Book review)
March 2, 2006... British Cookery: a complete guide to culinary practice in the British Isles Edited by Lizzie Boyd Croom Helm (1976) ISBN 0-85664-851-5 This book is as much an encyclopaedia as a collection of recipes, and emphasises the...

Don't fear pushing back the boundaries.(Letter to the editor)
March 2, 2006... letter of the week Reading about the Madrid Fusion event was an inspiration for anyone interested in cooking - chef, amateur or curious diner (Caterer, 23 February, page 30). The advances made through molecular gastronomy to our...

Which pig?(porker)
March 2, 2006... Masterclass Jose Souto and Pat Carey Want to know how to butcher a pig, or what the difference between a standard commercial variety and a rare-breed porker is when it comes to yields? Michael Raffael has the answers What is pork?...

Michael DiFiore, restaurant manager at the Park Terrace, Royal Garden hotel.(appointment of Michael DiFiore and Patrick de la Mar )(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... The Royal Garden hotel in London's Kensington has added Michael DiFiore (left, above) and Patrick de la Mar (left, below) to its team. DiFiore, who has joined as restaurant manager at the Park Terrace, was restaurant manager of the Dorchester...

Extended ESS deals slammed.(US congressional committee)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... A US congressional committee has slammed a decision by the United Nations to extend four contracts with Compass Group division ESS. The House of Representatives International Relations Committee is angry that deals in Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus,...

Next move & for a graduate looking to start.(graduate recruitment programme)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Each week our panel of recruitment experts provide answers to an employment question from a Caterer reader the question What should I look for in a graduate recruitment programme? the answer Look for an organisation that...

Just desserts.(buyers guide)(Buyers guide)
March 2, 2006... Matthew Batham looks into what's new in everyone's favourite food group 1. Convenient coulis Macphie has relaunched its ready-to-use fruit coulis range in easy-pour 500ml Gualapacks. The products themselves, available in raspberry,...

Review of Reviews.(restaurants rankings)
March 2, 2006... The Independent 25 February Tracey MacLeod visits the Astor Bar & Grill in London and samples a menu struggling to live up to sumptuous surroundings It occupies the gorgeous art deco premises so magnificently and stylishly filled...

Richard Light, group executive chef, Plum Pubs Group.
March 2, 2006... Richard Light has become group executive chef of Plum Pubs Group, which owns the Plum Pudding pub in Armitage, Staffordshire, and the newly acquired and refurbished Shropshire at Haughton. He was executive chef at the Plum Pudding.

Salary Watch: what sommeliers should be earning.
March 2, 2006... Head sommelier Michelin-starred establishment, [pounds sterling]35k-[pounds sterling]45k Head sommelier Non-Michelin-starred establishment, [pounds sterling]28k-[pounds sterling]32k Assistant sommelier Michelin-starred establishment,...

Strategy clinic.
March 2, 2006... What sort of things can I do to make sure I'm generating revenue from every part of my building? I pay rent on every square foot and feel I should be maximising my sales on that basis Ian Graham, Hotel Solutions Partnership Ikea makes...

Table Talk.(White Hart hotel)(healthiest chef)(Travelodge)
March 2, 2006... Gays take 'gun-toting' hotelier to court A gay couple's weekend in the country degenerated into farce when a hotelier objected to them sharing a double bed, a court heard. Kevin Smith and Jose Ruiz claimed their stay culminated in hotel...

The saviour of Smollensky's?
March 2, 2006... Smollensky's Bar & Grill is 20 years old this month, but it has had a rough ride in recent years. Chief executive officer Sandra Thomson talks about her plans to turn the brand's fortunes around. Rosalind Mullen reports Meeting Sandra...

the week in brief.
March 2, 2006... Another helping of Jamie Jamie Oliver's involvement in the campaign for better school meals is a double-edged sword, according to Kevin McKay, chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association. McKay said the Government cash was...

Tom Rowntree, vice-president of sales and marketing for the Middle East and Africa region, InterContinental Hotels Group.
March 2, 2006... InterContinental Hotels Group has promoted Tom Rowntree to vice-president of sales and marketing for the Middle East and Africa region. He replaces Denis Johnson, who has been promoted to vice-president, sales, Europe, Holiday Inn brands....

Vivien Slater, director of sales, Golden Tulip UK.
March 2, 2006... Golden Tulip UK has appointed Vivien Slater in the new post of director of sales. She has moved from Le Meridien, where she was director of sales. Before this, Slater worked at InterContinental, latterly as assistant director of sales.

Get wise with wine.
March 9, 2006... Tired of paying big fees to recruit qualified sommeliers, only to see them leave quickly to further their careers with someone else? Craig Bancroft of Northcote Manor thinks he has come up with the answer The employment of sommeliers - or...

Workplace grievance procedure.
March 9, 2006... Anna Humphrey, of law firm Charles Russell, explains the steps an employer has to take in the event of a complaint from a dissatisfied employee The Problem When confronted by grumbles and moans from dissatisfied employees, the...

Customer or thief?(rise of electronic fraud and identity theft)
March 9, 2006... Soft touches, victimless crimes, only themselves to blame? That's how the conmen see it, no doubt, as they enjoy the services of another hotel for free. But theft is theft, no matter how charming the thief. Nic Paton looks into combating...

Pushing over the boundary.(hotel benefits and bullies)
March 9, 2006... There's a difference between being dominant and being domineering: one may be good management, the other is bullying - and it's dangerous and destructive. Stephanie Sparrow looks at the repercussions and the damage Ever since Basil Fawlty...

Destination Dulwich.
March 9, 2006... After runaway success with his L'Etranger restaurant in Kensington, Ibi Issolah has turned his attention to Dulwich village in south-east London for his latest venture, the [pounds sterling]1.5m Beauberry House. Gaby Huddart reports Ask...

Menuwatch ... Hilliard.(Hilliard)
March 9, 2006... Chef Louis Solley is on a mission to coax office workers to shun a quick lunchtime sandwich in favour of simple, wholesome fare at Hilliard "gastrocafe" in London's Blackfriars. Phin Foster reports The working lunch has become synonymous...

Confusion remains after further tronc revisions.(restaurants revenue)
March 9, 2006... Guidelines governing the notoriously complicated tronc regulations have changed yet again after HM Revenue & Customs admitted its previous position was wrong. But will it end there? Rosalind Mullen reports Ever since HM Revenue & Customs...

Giorgio's day.(Chef Eats Out lunch of 2006)
March 9, 2006... It would be hard to find a chef more passionate about the produce of his homeland than Giorgio Locatelli. It's this love of all things Italian that defines the food at his acclaimed London restaurant, Locanda Locatelli - something 70 Caterer...

Toner thinks again about Host role?(Host Management)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Former Aramark UK chief executive Bill Toner has reportedly abandoned plans to join independent caterer Host Management, Caterer has learnt. Toner was to join Host as commercial director in July and it is understood that he had signed a...

Swiss Centre hotel seeks operator.
March 9, 2006... London's landmark Swiss Centre in Leicester Square is looking for an operator to run a new 220-bedroom upmarket hotel scheduled to open in 2008. McAleer and Rushe, developer at the mixed-use site, has engaged property agent Jones Lang...

Two Hilton hotels go on the market for [pounds sterling]400m.
March 9, 2006... Two of Hilton Hotel Corporation's (HHC) flagship UK properties have been put on the market for a rumoured [pounds sterling]400m. The 1,054-bedroom London Metropole is the largest business hotel in the UK with 46,000sq ft of conference...

Students favour Fairtrade food.
March 9, 2006... Cash-strapped university students are prepared to pay extra for Fairtrade and organic food, according to two new surveys. The studies, carried out by caterers Sodexho and Compass education division Scolarest, also found that women place...

The week in brief.(Department of Work and Pensions)(Caffe Ritazza)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Guide on disability measures The Department of Work and Pensions has published an online guide to help small and medium-sized businesses comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Adjusting for Better Business illustrates the sort of...

McClements reopens as upmarket bistro.
March 9, 2006... Former Michelin-starred London eaterie takes on new guise By Jessica Gunn It's the end of an era for diners in Twickenham, west London, as renowned local restaurant McClements has closed its doors for the last time. Owner John...

Global travel spend hits new record.
March 9, 2006... Tourism is worth more than $6,000b By Emily Manson Global travel and tourism spending broke the $6,000b ([pounds sterling]3,400b) barrier for the first time in 2005, and is predicted to grow to $6,500b ([pounds sterling]3,700b) this...

Setting up for summer.(Cube and Star)
March 9, 2006... Trimming and rejuvenating the cocktail list gave the Cube & Star the chance to get a head start on preparations for the warmer months. Diane Lane swapped bitter cold for bitters and got a taste of the sun in freezing February January saw...

Now it really is safe to go back in the water...(art of seafood preparation)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Five chefs get to grips with a 9ft mako shark at Novotel Tower Bridge hotel in London. The 105kg fish, caught off the Cornish coast, was delivered whole so the brigade could pick up tips in the art of seafood preparation. "Our menu...

Park Plaza to open two London hotels.
March 9, 2006... By Angela frewin Demolition work for a major new mixed-use development, including one of the largest conference hotels in London for decades, kicks off next month. The four-star, 14-storey property in Westminster Bridge Road is one...

Shine Awards light on hoteliers.
March 9, 2006... Two women in the hotel sector came up trumps at the annual Shine Awards for women's achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector. Avril Owton, owner of the Cloud hotel in Brockenhurst in the New Forest, scooped the title of...

North leaves Goose to start new business.(new restaurant)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Michelin-starred chef Michael North is leaving the Goose in Britwell Salome, Oxfordshire, to launch a new business nearby. North and his business partner, Imogen Young, are in the process of buying a 300-year-old, Grade II-listed building...

Roux hopefuls down to last six.(2006 Roux Scholarship)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... The final contestants in this year's 2006 Roux Scholarship have been announced following regional finals in London and Birmingham. The six chefs are Lisa Allen (Northcote Manor), Paul Kavanagh (Montague Arms), Armand Sablon (Orrery), Pravin...

Blanc stays on at rebranded brasseries.(Raymond Blanc)(Loch Fyne Restaurants)(Le Petit Blanc group)(Blanc Brasseries chain)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc will continue to lead the culinary direction of the relaunched Blanc Brasseries chain, according to executive director Mark Derry. Last week the management of Loch Fyne Restaurants (LFR) staged a [pounds...

Moto tops service stations survey.
March 9, 2006... By Tom bill Moto has emerged triumphant in a Which? survey to find the best UK motorway service stations. The 21 Moto sites visited were rated at an average of 3.1 out of five, Welcome Break (17 sites) was awarded 3.05, while RoadChef...

Hartford buy means more Beans.(Henry J Beans restaurant)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... The Hartford Group has acquired two new leasehold sites to convert to its Henry J Beans restaurant format, kicking off its expansion plans for the chain. Located in Chelmsford, Essex, and London's Wimbledon, the sites were owned by bar...

Junk food ban could drive caterers away.
March 9, 2006... Loss of confectionery sales will threaten profitability By Tom Bill Private caterers will ditch state school contracts if chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks are banned, leading industry figures have warned. They claim the loss of...

More big deals for Swallow.(Ballachulish hotel, the Isles of Glencoe Hotel and Leisure Centre and the Oban Caledonian)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Acquisition-hungry Swallow Hotels is close to completing two more major deals in Scotland - buying the family-owned Freedom of the Glen group and the prestigious Carnoustie golfing hotel. The deals are the latest in a string of acquisitions...

Sunday Times puts hospitality firms in best companies listing.
March 9, 2006... By Angela Frewin Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, contract caterer Holroyd Howe and Hayley Conference Centres were the only catering and hospitality firms to feature in this year's Sunday Times 100 Best Companies To Work For listing. ...

The week in brief.(Tragus)(fast-food restaurant)(migration system)(Brief article)
March 9, 2006... Features editor Helen Adkins has returned from maternity leave to take up the role of features editor at Caterer and Hotelkeeper. She will be responsible for commissioning features across the hospitality industry. Contact Helen at...

William Cowpe retires from the Goring hotel.
March 9, 2006... William Cowpe, managing director of London's Goring hotel, is stepping down at the end of March after 36 years' service. Cowpe joined the hotel as a junior assistant manager in the 1970s after starting his career in the kitchens of...