Good month bad month

Good month for

Raymond Blanc's The Restaurant programme winners Jane and Jeremy Hooper: The couple convinced Raymond and his panel of judges, including Peach Pubs co-founder Lee Cash, that they have what it takes to run a successful restaurant business.

The White Swan, near Hungerford, Berkshire:

The pub took the top gong at this year's RSPCA Good Business Awards.

Darren Bumm, head chef of the Chasers in Stokeinteignhead, Devon: He has been named Hardys Chef of the Year. The Michelin-starred chef won £10,000 in the food and wine-matching competition organised by Constellation Europe.

Pubs with quirky names: Research by More Th>n Business shows over half of consumers (58%) would remember a business with a creative, clever or humorous name.

Licensee John Barnard from the Half Moon in Bridport, Dorset: He won £250 in our reader-survey prize draw.

The Pear Tree, Whitley, Wilts: It was named AA Pub of the Year - England.

Offal: EBLEX (the English Beef and Lamb Executive) is backing a campaign for the renaissance of beef and lamb offal.

London pubs wanting to source locally:

A local food finder has been launched at

www.londonfoodlink.org

Bad month for

Pricy food pubs: Pub food prices are soaring to unacceptable levels, according to the editors of The Good Pub Guide 2008. A country-wide survey of prices puts the average cost of the humble steak and kidney pie at an astonishing £10.50. The guide claims many pubs could be overcharging by 67% for food (See Guiding Light - p26).

Pub staff: A Pension Capital Strategies study has revealed that pub and shop staff face shorter life spans. A nine-year gap has emerged between highest and lowest life expectancy for workers in the FTSE 100 companies.

Grey squirrels in Cumbria: The Famous Wild Boar hotel in Crook, Cumbria, is serving squirrel wraps as an appetiser. Reputed to taste like rabbit, grey squirrel munching was prompted by Lord Redesdale's Red Squirrel Protection Partnership.

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