Good month bad month

Good month for Med bar concept Que Pasa: Marston's is investing £1m in three new sites. Saucy chefs: Innovate Foods is giving away a trip to...

Good month for

Med bar concept Que Pasa: Marston's is investing £1m in three new sites.

Saucy chefs: Innovate Foods is giving away a trip to Amsterdam to the UK's sauciest pub chef, after it launched a new mushrooms in sauce product. See www.sauceoutmushrooms.co.uk for more information.

All-day dining: Moy Park Foodservice research claims two-thirds of adults want food in a pub in the afternoon and 66% of under 35s want food after 9pm, but aren't able to get any.

Burgers: Chef/licensee, Tony Robson-Burrell, from the Wheatsheaf, in Oaksey, North Wiltshire, won the catering category of England's Best Beefburger Challenge with a 100% rump-steak beefburger. The contest is run by the English Beef & Lamb Executive.

Winning a trip to Oz: Enter the Nestle Chef Twists on Classics competition and be in with a chance of winning a trip to Australia. To enter visit www.nfspromotions.co.uk

Food at Marston's Pub Company outlets: A new survey revealed that licensees were getting more into food. Marketing and development director Andrew Cooney said: "Nearly 40% were recording an uplifting in food sales and almost 50% were planning to develop and extend this side of their business."

Bad month for

Farmers and growers: Flooding and foot-and- mouth has cost farmers thousands this year. Crops have failed, livestock has drowned and produce is being flown in from across the world to meet demand. As a result chefs and suppliers are feeling the pinch.

Sunday roasts: According to new research, the old favourite family meal-time has been replaced by Friday nights round the table. Future Foundation research found that only six million people eat Sunday lunch together - half the number who did so in 1961.

Tenants quitting: trade leaders fear the disastrous summer pub sales slump is causing a sharp increase in the number of tenants giving notice to quit.

Chef shortage: The British Hospitality Association and People 1st has called for the Government to allow highly-skilled chefs to be fast-tracked into the UK due to the growing skills gap.