Caterer & Hotelkeeper articles from October 2004

Caterer & Hotelkeeper archives from October 2004

In Brief.
October 7, 2004... Poor weather hits profits at Hartford Hartford Group, the owner of Jamies bars, last week blamed poor summer weather for a weak sales performance. A trading statement revealed that like-for-like sales for the whole group had dropped...

weblog.(Calendar)
October 7, 2004... A round-up of the stories you might have missed last week. For details log on to www.caterer-online.com/news and search by date. 3 October Venison trial for Scottish school dinners Venison burgers are to be offered to hundreds of...

BOOKREVIEW.(Book Review)
October 7, 2004... BY Marc Wilkinson A Return to Cooking: The Chef, the Cook and the Artist Eric Ripert and Michael Ruhlman [pounds sterling]40, Workman Publishing ISBN 1-57965-187-9 Among the stream of US cookery books to make it to this...

changing dining rooms.(Creative Management Services)
October 7, 2004... Managing refurbishments is hard work but very rewarding... when it gets results. Julian Edwards, director of consultancy Tenet Education Services, explains that you don't need to get in a top designer. Just follow these simple steps to make...

Last supper.
October 7, 2004... Bangers and mash in Cape Town after cocktails in Venice would be the perfect send-off for Madalene Bonvini-Hamel - so long as she can sit next to Michael Schumacher So, what's the grub? Sausages and mash with proper onion gravy (the...

London's rum affair rekindled.
October 7, 2004... When Floridita, legendary Cuban haunt of Ernest Hemingway, opens in London it's aiming to sell up to 4,000 Daiquiris a week as the rum revival rolls on Rum is set to take an even firmer grip on the capital with two new openings in the next...

week 1: financing your business.
October 7, 2004... Elvisly Yours Elvisly Yours is an Elvis-themed restaurant due to open in central London next year, but first the people behind it have to secure the capital. They told Emma Allen how they're going about it The five-strong team behind...

Outlook gloomy on business failures.(influence of fuel tax on businesses)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BY SAMANTHA McCLARY Nearly 2,500 hospitality and leisure companies will be forced to close over the next two years as the public tightens its purse strings. The latest Industry Watch report from accountant BDO Stoy Hayward reveals that...

The children's crusader.(Kids Kitchen)
October 7, 2004... Sadly, practical cookery lessons have disappeared from most schools. Now Kids Kitchen, a new organisation with backing from some influential suppliers, is determined to re-equip primary schools and put cookery back at the heart of learning. Ben...

Crawford plans Ramada roll-out all over Ireland.(Crawford Investments)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... By Samantha McClary Cork-based Crawford Investments has launched a [pounds sterling]200m-plus expansion of the Ramada International hotel brand in Ireland. Crawford, which holds the Ramada master franchise for Ireland, plans to open...

End of the range?
October 7, 2004... With island suites growing in popularity and equipment such as combi-ovens and deep-fat fryers to handle specific tasks, has the traditional cooking range still got legs, asks Bob Gledhill The traditional cooking range has been around in...

Chef Eats Out.
October 7, 2004... NORTHCOTE MANOR, 8 NOVEMBER Truly regional chefs - those cooking the produce and traditional dishes of their area - are a rare breed. But Nigel Haworth, the chef-patron and joint owner of award-winning Northcote Manor in Langho,...

Room service? Send up Brad Pitt, please.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Want to know how to keep your guests coming back to your hotel night after night? Hire Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt to tuck them up in bed. A survey by Hilton in the USA found that 28% of its customers wanted to be tucked up at night by...

Thinking of starting your own business?(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Then the chances are you're already feeling the first pangs of anxiety. The prospect of having to cook, serve and clean for the rest of your life just to repay the bank is enough to put many people right off the idea. But it doesn't have...

From pariah to a City darling.(City Centre Restaurants)
October 7, 2004... In just three years, group managing director Andrew Page has helped turn City Centre Restaurants from a stock market outcast into a City darling. Karl Cushing found out how he did it When Andrew Page joined City Centre Restaurants (CCR) as...

Urban Dining group set to make first purchase.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... By Angela Frewin Urban Dining, the fledgling restaurant group that was set up this summer, is in advanced talks to buy another group. Its shares were suspended on the Alternative Investment Market after the company, which was set up by...

Groupe Chez Gerard shapes up for management buyout.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Paramount - the owner of the Groupe Chez Gerard restaurant business - confirmed last week that it was in talks with executive chairman Guy Naggar that could lead to a buyout worth [pounds sterling]28m. Craftbutton, a company owned by Naggar...

More pub groups sign up to voluntary charter.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... By CHRIS DRUCE A further 18 pub companies have joined the smoking reduction initiative launched by the UK's big five last month. Barracuda Group, Laurel Pub Company, Greene King, Wolverhampton & Dudley and Yates Group are among the...

Property Watch.
October 7, 2004... regional spotlight Durham Property Advice zone Business rates update On 1 October, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) published online its new rateable values for 1.75 million commercial and other non-domestic properties in...

Whitbread close to sale of Courtyard by Marriott hotels.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... By Angela Frewin Whitbread is believed to be in advanced talks to sell its 11 Courtyard by Marriott hotels to privately owned Kew Green Hotels for an estimated [pounds sterling]80m. In May, Whitbread announced the sale, saying it...

Taxman helps businesses that comply with DDA.(Disability Discrimination Act)(plant and machinery allowances)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Businesses that have made alterations to their premises to comply with the new Disability Discrimination Act can qualify for tax relief. A new guide to the tax allowances available to firms that have made "reasonable adjustments" has been...

Family firms will face taxing times.(Inland Revenue)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Family-run restaurants and hotels could be clobbered with larger tax bills, after the Inland Revenue won a landmark case last week. The Revenue's Special Commissioners judged it had been right to query dividends paid to the husband-and-wife...

Ronay's back with restaurant guide.(Egon Ronay RAC Guide to Restaurants in the UK)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... BY ANGELA FREWIN Egon Ronay's legendary restaurant guide will be back on the shelves next February after a seven-year absence. The outspoken restaurant critic has won sponsorship from the RAC, which will provide funding, promotional...

Health minister is 'abdicating responsibility'.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Enduring smoky workplaces is an "unacceptable burden" on employees, John Britton, professor of epidemiology at the University of Nottingham told delegates at the Labour Party Conference last week. Speaking at a fringe meeting on smoking in...

Labour keeps smoking plans under wraps.
October 7, 2004... By Jessica Gunn The smoking issue was surprisingly left off the agenda at the annual Labour Party Conference last week. Health Secretary John Reid disappointed those hoping for an announcement on smoking in enclosed public places by...

Hutson sells up as he celebrates 10 years.
October 7, 2004... By Samantha McClary Hotel du Vin, the chain built up by hotelier Robin Hutson, has been sold to property firm Marylebone Warwick Balfour (MWB) for [pounds sterling]66.4m, 10 years to the day after it was launched. The deal was...

Hotel directors snap up Meriski.(Luxury Family Hotels)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The directors of Luxury Family Hotels (LFH) and Alias Hotels have moved into the holiday tour operator market with the purchase of Cirencester-based Meriski for an undisclosed sum. Meriski has a contract to run 11 luxury skiing chalets in...

In Brief.(Salt Manufacturer's Association)(hospitality industry)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Salt makers go with grain The Salt Manufacturer's Association (SMA) has told the Government that it will contribute towards the cost of research needed to provide scientific certainty on the debate over salt and health. The SMA said it had...

VisitBritain to support only assessed hotels.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... VisitBritain has announced that from 2006 it will promote only hotels assessed either by itself, VisitScotland, the Wales Tourist Board, the RAC or the AA. The decision comes as part of an initiative by the Government and VisitBritain to...

Industry slams calls for publicans to pay more to keep the streets clean.
October 7, 2004... By Chris Druce Seaside bars and clubs should fund a levy to clean the streets after binge-drinkers wreck them with vomit, urine and litter, according to the leader of Europe's biggest beach award, Blue Flag. Alan Woods, chief executive...

Diet up to individuals, says survey.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The hospitality industry should not be held accountable for the nation's poor diet, according to a survey carried out at an Arena debate at the Novotel Euston in London last week. The survey was conducted among the 150 people from the...

Deadline looms for MCA awards.(Master of Culinary Arts)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... The Academy of Culinary Arts is inviting senior chefs and restaurant managers aged 26 or over to register for its fifth Master of Culinary Arts awards before the 19 November deadline. The MCAs are degree-level awards presented every four...

Finalists line up for Food & Farming Awards 2004.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Dinner ladies and a pub company are among the finalists in BBC Radio 4's Food & Farming Awards 2004. Nominees will find out if they have been successful on 28 November, when presenter Sheila Dillon and celebrity chef Hugh...

Workers crave better work-life balance.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Caterers could release unknown potential in their employees if they were more flexible over working times, according to a survey from the Department of Trade & Industry. The poll found that 40% of employees thought being in control of...

Old Course hotel calls news of sale 'inaccurate'.(Fife hotel)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Newspaper reports that Scotland's Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews, Fife, has been sold to a consortium for an estimated [pounds sterling]35m have been branded "inaccurate". The 22-bedroom Fife hotel - which is an AA Top...

SFI claws its way out of the financial mire.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... By Jessica Gunn Serious financial surgery has helped pull SFI, the group behind the Slug & Lettuce chain, back from the brink, with the company reporting a significant narrowing of losses in the past year. SFI delisted from the London...

Compass signs cash machine deal with Moneybox.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Contract caterer Compass has signed a five-year agreement with Moneybox to install cash machines at sites across the UK and Ireland. A similar deal with Moto will see the cash dispensers located in Compass's motorway services areas. ...

Amuse bouche.
October 7, 2004... OPINION H ADVICE H innovations The burning issue Not much of a choice Deputy news editor Jessica Gunn Choice was a key buzz word at last week's Labour Party Conference. Tony Blair used it numerous times during his keynote...

Wake-up with Caterer to tackle drugs and alcohol.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Drug and alcohol abuse is everywhere, particularly the hospitality industry. To find out how to help spot the signs and deal with the problem, join Caterer at its Breakfast Wake-Up to Drugs and Alcohol on 1 December. Peter Kay, chief executive...

Calling all you entrepreneurs.(Editorial)
October 7, 2004... Ever thought about being your own boss? Of course you have. We all do at some point in our careers. But this is an industry where it's probably easier than most. In the world of publishing, for example, you don't come across many journalists...

Wentworth bid.(Wentworth golf club)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Irish billionaire Sean Quinn is likely to become the new owner of the Wentworth golf club and hotel in Virginia Water, Surrey. Property group Chelsfield, which owns the club, has accepted Quinn's [pounds sterling]122m offer for the property...

Trophee Gosset Celebris judges hit out at Champagne mark-ups.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Restaurants are charging exorbitant mark-ups on Champagne, with wine experts branding prices "an insult to the customer". Judges at the year's Trophee Gosset Celebris competition were shocked by the level of mark-ups on Champagne and the...

stockwatch.(hospitality industry)
October 7, 2004... Pub company MITCHELLS & BUTLERS was the darling of the listed hotel and leisure companies this week with a 9% increase in its share price to 280.75p, up from 257.5p the previous week. The increase was caused by a well-received trading update...

Sandefeldt moves to Imperial Wharf.(Deep in Imperial Wharf)(new restaurant)(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Swedish chef Christian Sandefeldt is on the move again, with a new fine-dining fish restaurant called Deep in Imperial Wharf, London. Sandefeldt said he planned to open the restaurant later this year. The chef sold his London restaurant,...

Help us to Stub out Smoking.(Brief Article)
October 7, 2004... Caterer's campaign to Stub out Smoking is receiving great support from readers with signed petition forms flooding in. These pledge support for our campaign, which will lobby the Government to put an end to smoking in the workplace. But...

JUst OPENED.(restaurants and bars)
October 7, 2004... All the latest openings! Paternoster Chophouse, London The latest offering from the Conran empire offers the best of British in the way of food and the cool, clean interiors we've come to expect from Sir Terence. It's a bustly,...

Nestle's commitment to youth is all Toque.(annual Nestle Toque d'Or competition)
October 7, 2004... I wholeheartedly agree with Simon Turl's comments (Caterer, 16 September, page 18) about the need to invest in the future and skill base of our young chefs. As an ex-chef, I am deeply passionate about the need to support initiatives that...

Masterclass.(Kit Chapman's Castle hotel)
October 7, 2004... with RICHARD GUEST British beef Richard Guest, executive head chef at the Castle hotel in Taunton, Somerset, offers tips, techniques and recipes on British beef. Michael Raffael reports Kit Chapman's Castle hotel in Taunton,...

What's in.(practical cookery lessons)
October 7, 2004... inside education A CLOSERLOOKat schools catering "Education, education, education" The disappearance of practical cookery lessons from most school timetables is a sad reality for the hospitality industry, and for society at large....

Gray launches charity to train school cooks.(Rose Gray)
October 7, 2004... By Rosalind Mullen The charity Cooks in Schools, launched to give extra training to school cooks and to lobby for larger budgets, is facing a "huge challenge", according to River Cafe co-founder and chef Rose Gray. Talking after her...

our back pages stories from the caterer vaults.
October 7, 2004... 1907 The Caterer Hotel-keepers' Gazette, 15 February It appears that the costly furs of the Princess Louise of Belgium (the divorced wife of Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg) are to be sold by public auction in payment of a debt. Last...

week 1: financing your business.(hospitality business)
October 7, 2004... Where's the money coming from? You've made the decision to go it alone, you think your idea has legs, and you know you have the talent to make it work. Question is, how can you raise the money? Business expert Chris Lane offers some...

food File.(supply)
October 7, 2004... ingredients in season... Meat The best of Scotch beef is arriving in better numbers, but by no means in good supply yet. Consequently it is still not cheap. There is still a great supply of imported beef and, with the relative strength...

salary watch.(food service executives)
October 7, 2004... Food Service Business and Industry, London****Low****Normal****High Unit Manager, up to 500 covers****[pounds sterling]18,000****[pounds sterling]24,000****[pounds sterling]27,000 Unit Manager, 500-plus covers****[pounds...

CONTRACT WINS.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... A good game for Bite Bite, the contract catering arm of food retailer Bigham's, has announced a new contract with the toy and game manufacturer Mattel in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Turnover for the one-year rolling contract is estimated at...

how i got here.(Biography)
October 14, 2004... Mike Palmer, joint venture partner, Outback Steakhouse Mike Palmer is one of a team of three joint-venture partners, working under managing director Phil Broad, who are developing the Outback Steakhouse chain in the UK. At present, the...

on the mo ve.
October 14, 2004... Contract caterer Brookwood Partnership has made Louise Foster and Anna Melville (left) operations managers. Foster was a recruitment consultant at Portfolio International and Melville has moved from the National Trust, where she was...

weblog.(Hotels)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... 11 October Royal Mile refurb Rezidor SAS unveiled plans to spend six months and [pounds sterling]5m overhauling its 248-bedroom Radisson SAS Hotel, on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. 7 October Peel loses zest Peel Hotels this...

Table talk.
October 14, 2004... If you like it so much, you can buy the company An Australian hotelier has come up with an ingenious way of simultaneously dealing with complaints and promoting the sale of his hotel. A message at the bottom of menus at the Imperial...

take it from me...
October 14, 2004... Robin Hutson The founder of Hotel du Vin, which he recently sold to Malmaison owner MWB for [pounds sterling]66m, speaks about his career path. The six-strong chain started life a decade ago in Winchester and has enjoyed enormous success...

How to...(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Deal with guests who speak little or no English H It's a good idea to keep a list of staff who can speak foreign languages at reception. When there's a problem, you can call on them to translate. H Some things are difficult to explain...

Finding a property.
October 14, 2004... For first-time entrepreneurs, now is a good a time to look for property, as rents are becoming more reasonable and property supplies are up. Karl Cushing offers some foolproof steps towards property purchase Over the past few years the...

The Moving Venue.
October 14, 2004... For flashy event caterers, the nearer you are to your clients and venues the better. In the capital, most are based within easy reach of Chelsea. But one pioneering company broke the mould and headed for SE8. That's right - low-down, dirty...

Your shout.(methods to select an advertising agency)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... by Steve Rodell of chartered surveyor Fleurets' hotels division Choosing an agent wisely If you are putting a property on the market, do your homework carefully, or you could incur expensive costs without a sale. Avoid unnecessary...

Nick Shipton.(search of new location for restaurant and bar)
October 14, 2004... When Hertford restaurant and bar owner Nick Shipton, 33, began to hunt out a site for a new bar, the place he clapped eyes on had other ideas. The Mercury Building, former HQ of the local Mercury newspaper, wanted to be a hotel. Here he tells...

The vend is near - but that's OK.(influence of vending machines)
October 14, 2004... There's something inhuman about vending machines. There's no personal interaction, the transaction is all a bit matter-of-fact, and the only reassuring thing is the thud of a can as it falls to the bottom of the dispenser - then, at least, you...

Letters Caterer.
October 14, 2004... A job or a sacrifice? Thank you for publishing my letter "Chef's life is no life if you want to enjoy life" (Caterer, 2 September, page 16). I have put together a composite response from the e-mails I received from your readers and thought...

Gordon Ramsay Scholar 2004.(Marcus Eaves)
October 14, 2004... A young chef from Ludlow is still celebrating his victory in the Gordon Ramsay Scholar competition. Caterer was there to see how it all happened Following a tense final at London's Restaurant Show last month, Marcus Eaves, sous chef at...

how WE got started.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Roger Cudlip Roger Cudlip was looking to buy a butcher shop when he and his wife, Carol, bought the Tom Cobley Tavern in Spreyton, Devon. A butcher for 39 years in the nearby village of North Tawton, having started as a 10-year-old,...

Port-Na-Craig Inn.(services and management)
October 14, 2004... Jamie Thewes and his family have been winning acclaim since taking over the 17th-century Port-na-Craig Inn in 2002. Enrico Caballero reports The small town of Pitlochry, not far from Perth at the edge of the Scottish Highlands, has a good...

Last supper.(Adam Culverwell, Kilworth House hotel)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Adam Culverwell would regress to his grandmother's house, and round off his last meal with some of his favourite sweeties... but he'd insist on arriving by helicopter so, Let's get our priorities right. What's the grub on the menu? ...

property of the week.
October 14, 2004... This week's featured property is an ideal lifestyle business for the operator looking for a change of pace. The Eddrachilles Hotel in Scourie, Sutherland, enjoys a prominent location on the coast of north-west Scotland. Set in three acres...

Property Advice zone.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... All change for change of use - and it won't be easy The Government's plan to make yet more changes to the Use Classes Order looks likely to have big implications for operators intending to change the use of their premises. If the...

BOOKREVIEW.(Book Review)
October 14, 2004... Text and Pretext in Textures: El Bulli, Soler & Adria in Context Oscar Caballero g59.80 ([pounds sterling]41.30), Gourmandbooks ISBN 84-89131-40-6 When Caterer asked me whether I would like to review a book about Spain's...

Women and wine put beer sales off song.(British Beer & Pub Association)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... The rise in the number of female drinkers has put the tradition of downing a few beers in the pub under threat, according to a new report from market analyst Datamonitor. It reckons that beer is losing out to wine in sales, and has...

Pedersen to buy two hotels from Hanover International.(Pedersen Group)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Privately owned hotel and restaurant group Pedersen is continuing its rapid expansion with the purchase of two Hanover International hotels. The group is understood to be buying the 156-bedroom Hanover International Hotel & Club in Cardiff and...

Permira close to deal on freehold properties sale.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Travelodge owner Permira is poised to sell the majority of its chain of budget hotels to property entrepreneur Nick Leslau and private equity group West Coast Capital. Leslau and West Coast Capital are understood to be in advanced...

Sodexho's struggles show sector fragility.
October 14, 2004... The hardening of the UK contract catering market is having a significant effect on the fortunes of the major players. Karl Cushing investigates Analysts and shareholders were quick to react to last week's lacklustre figures from French...

Kohler pledges [pounds sterling]6m of Old Course investment.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... The US-based Kohler Company has pledged to invest as much as [pounds sterling]6m over the next three years in the Old Course hotel in St Andrews, Fife. The company, whose founder has a passion for golf, bought the five-star hotel, golf...

Visitor numbers on rollercoaster.(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Numbers of overseas visitors to the UK between May and August rose by 8% year-on-year to 6.6 million, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. However, this was down by 2% on the previous three months to May....

Ireland to relax 9pm ruling for under-18s.(Michael McDowell)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... An order banning children under 18 from licensed premises in the Irish Republic after 9pm is to be relaxed, following complaints from angry hoteliers that it is damaging their business and harming tourism. The order, recently imposed by...

Shaun Hill calls for local cooks in NHS kitchens.(National Health Service)(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... Contract caterers will never match a well-resourced in-house NHS kitchen, according to a former adviser to the Government's Better Hospital Food programme. Michelin-starred chef Shaun Hill told delegates attending BUPA's Chef's Best...

New start for Simpsons.(Andreas Antona)(Company Profile)
October 14, 2004... Andreas Antona has more than relocated his restaurant, Simpsons, in Birmingham. It's a move up as well as across - creating a boutique hotel around a food destination with real prospects of a Michelin star. Caterer went to see a keen business...

We love...(Brief Article)
October 14, 2004... ... RestaurantsAgainst Hunger Restaurants Against Hunger is a group of like-minded people in the UK food and restaurant industry who, over the past eight years, have come together to take action against hunger and malnutrition around the...