News

Great Sausage Roll Off 2023 winner revealed

10-Feb-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Previous Masterchef winner Mat Follas, from Bramble Restaurant in Sherborne, Dorset, has been crowned the winner of the 2023 Great Sausage Roll Off.

69% firms have hiked menu prices

01-Feb-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rising food and supply costs are causing major issues for operators, but staffing shortages causing fewer problems than expected, new research has revealed.

Secrets behind #1 Gastropubs success

01-Feb-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Aspiring chefs need to cook for themselves and never for their ego, according to chef-patron of the 2023 number one Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Stosie Madi.

Gov support 'important' to reduce inflation

25-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Current levels of food inflation “underline the importance” of Government investment in the hospitality sector, trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has stated.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Brook House wins top service award

25-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Brook House in Fulham, west London was presented with the Front of House Team of the Year Award at the 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs.

Top 50 Gastropubs

The Oarsman named Newcomer of the Year

25-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Marlow-based bistropub and wine bar the Oarsman was awarded the title of Newcomer of the Year at the 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs.

Food inflation hits record high 24% at year end

25-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (FPI) ended 2022 at record highs, with the food basket almost one quarter higher than December 2021 but including drinks, it ended slightly lower at 22.9%.

Top 50 Gastropubs

New number one Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub

23-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The 2023 number one Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub is the Parkers Arms in Newton-in-Bowland, Lancashire, a prestigious ceremony revealed on Monday 23 January.

1 in 10 of UK’s top restaurants are pubs

18-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Ten gastropubs have been credited in SquareMeal’s list of the UK’s best 100 restaurants, heralding from Kent, to Norfolk to Northern Ireland.

Judging panel for Great Sausage Roll Off revealed

18-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The judges for this year’s Great Sausage Roll Off have been unveiled for the competition, which is taking place on Wednesday 8 February at the Red Lion in Barnes, south London.

Fuller’s to hand out 100 free burgers & pints

17-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Free cheeseburgers and pints are up for grabs for 100 guests at a Fuller’s pub this January to celebrate the launch of the pubco’s new burger.

Healthier eating trend helping operators manage costs

16-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Operators are capitalising on healthier eating and sustainability food trends in a bid to help mitigate rising costs, a report has found.

The MA Energy Focus in partnership with Heineken

How food-led pubs are fighting rising energy costs

10-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Operators have been taking a number of steps to reduce energy consumption around their food offer including changing kitchen equipment, menu adaptions and a focus on sustainability.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list unveiled

09-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list will be announced in full later this month (Monday 23 January).

'Different world' forces pub to axe hours

23-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Rocketing food and energy costs on top of staff shortages have forced a Warwickshire based pub to reduce its trading hours and food service.

Food inflation exceeds 20%

19-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Foodservice price inflation has reached inflation of 21.5% – a record rate and the 10th consecutive month of double-digit inflation.

Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub awards finalists unveiled

15-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The finalists for the specialist awards at the 2023 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs have been revealed.

Phishing scam at Andrew Pern’s York site

14-Dec-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Andrew Pern-operated site the Star Inn The City has warned customers not to give their credit and debit card details to anyone after falling victim to a phishing scam.

Pub hits back at ‘watery gravy’ review

13-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

A London pub has responded to a one-star TripAdvisor review that criticised its ‘watery gravy’ and the fact it served cabbage rather than “a decent green vegetable”.

Snack provider workers end 11-week strike

09-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than 750 workers at the Jacob’s Cream Crackers factory have won a pay deal after ongoing strike action.

Inflation makes pricing xmas menus 'tricky'

08-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Managing soaring food prices is going to be “tricky” for operators this Christmas as festive menus announced months ago no longer reflect current costs.

'Communication' key as supply chain 'under threat'

07-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality businesses need “clear lines of communication” from suppliers to remain “prepared” as the National Farmers Union (NFU) warned British food supply was “under threat”.

Nigel Howarth discusses 'interesting and tricky year'

02-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington caught with up Three Fishes at Mitton chef patron Nigel Howarth this week to discuss what’s been an “interesting and tricky year”.

Bird flu outbreak ‘worst in years’

01-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The outbreak of avian flu wiping out Christmas turkey stock is the worst seen in recent years, according to the British Poultry Council.

Winter looks 'bleak' as food prices rise

30-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Winter looks “increasingly bleak” as food inflation accelerated to 12.4% in November, the highest inflation rate in the food category on record, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) index.

New catering hygiene guide launched

30-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

An updated version of the industry guide for catering hygiene standards has been launched by UKHospitality (UKH), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

Bird flu: Half of Xmas turkeys culled

30-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Half of the free range turkeys produced for Christmas in the UK have been culled or have died due to avian flu, an industry official told MPs.

Guest satisfaction rises but pubs can do more

11-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Customer satisfaction is on the rise at hospitality sites but businesses could still do more when it comes to responding to online reviews, according to a Reputation study.

The Pelican team to relaunch Oxfordshire’s the Bull

09-Nov-2022 By Joe Lutrario

The team behind recently launched Notting Hill gastropub the Pelican are to take over the Bull pub in the Oxfordshire village of Charlbury this week.

Food and drink inflation rises to record-high 18.8%

08-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Inflation in food and drink prices hit a record high of 18.8% in September 2022 – the eighth consecutive month of double-digit rises – according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.

Top 50 Gastropub shuts due to ‘economic downturn’

03-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

A Devon pub, which featured on the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list, has closed as a result of “lockdowns and the economic downturns they caused”.

Avian flu means turkey prices could soar

02-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Turkeys are expected to rocket in price as avian flu forcers farmers to cull livestock and freeze birds for the festive season.

Brits want sustainability when dining out

01-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Brits want to make more sustainable choices when eating or drinking out, but according to new research, two-thirds of UK consumers are not able to.

Xmas planning 'essential' as costs rocket

24-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub operators need to plan and cost Christmas menus as soon as possible as food prices continue to rise, experts have warned.

Inflation leaving sector on 'cliff edge'

19-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Soaring food inflation has left many hospitality businesses facing a “cliffs-edge” as food costs push inflation up 10.1% in the 12 months to September 2022.

BrewDog packaging firm faces strike action

17-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Some of Britain’s best-known drink brands, including BrewDog, Pepsico and Diageo, face Christmas logistics problems as DS Smith workers vote over industrial action.

Fruit & veg prices soar by 35%

30-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

September seasonal fruit and vegetable prices have climbed by 35% versus the like-for-like period in 2019, adding to the “dangerous cocktail” of soaring costs threatening the sector.

Calorie counts on menus shift consumers’ choices

30-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Half (49%) of consumers would change their food choice if they felt the menu showed it was too calorific, according to research from CGA by NielsenIQ.

2022 World Steak Challenge results unveiled

29-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

This year’s World Steak Challenge results have been announced with a Japanese Wagyu crowned the overall winner.

McCain Foods acquires Scelta Products

13-Sep-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

Manufacturing business McCain Foods has bought Netherlands-based frozen foods producers Scelta Products for an undisclosed sum.

Fish and chips nation's favourite pub meal

07-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Fish and chips has been crowned Britain’s favourite pub and bar meal with more than a quarter of consumers listing it as one of their top three dishes when eating out, new data from CGA by Nielsen IQ has revealed.

Delivery and takeaway sales double pre-covid levels

01-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales have doubled compared with pre-covid levels but drop year-on-year, the latest CGA Hospitality at Home Tracker has revealed.

Food inflation hits 9.3%

01-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Food inflation soared to its highest level in 14 years during August as pubs continue to “feel the squeeze from every angle”.

Historic inn’s energy bill set to soar by £80k

31-Aug-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A South Lakeland inn, whose annual energy bill is set to rise by £80,000, is bracing for “long-term problems” at the operator says he will do all he can to protect staff’s jobs.

Village pub launches café to tackle loneliness

19-Aug-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Blue Bell in Stoke Ferry, Norfolk has opened a community café which helps combat loneliness through providing a place for locals to socialise.

Firms push up menu prices by 9%

17-Aug-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Business leaders have increased prices by 9% on average over the past 12 months with plans to hike them by a further 6% in the next year, research has found.

Pubs adapting dishes as oil prices rise further

10-Aug-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Chefs have continued to adapt dishes and implement cost saving measures amid rising olive oil costs.

Consumers looking to cut spending at pubs

09-Aug-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

British consumers are looking to spend less on social occasions at pubs, bars and restaurants as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, research has found.

Drought 'latest in long line of global food supply threats'

08-Aug-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Inflation in the foodservice sector rocketed to 11.5% in June in the fifth consecutive month of double-digit percentage inflation with drought outside of the UK posing the latest threat to supply, the latest edition of the CGA Prestige Foodservice Index...

Poultry supplies to remain tight

01-Aug-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Poultry supplies are expected to remain tight as feed and energy prices are expected to stay high into 2023, according to a new report from catering butcher Birtwistles.