News

New Opening

Former chef to the Royal family to open new Nottinghamshire gastropub

03-Jul-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

A chef who cooked for the Royal family and at the House of Lords is opening a new countryside gastropub.

Star on track to invest £30m in estate and eyes first managed pub

02-Jul-2015 By Ed Bedington

Dutch brewing giant Heineken has announced plans to invest up to £30m into its Star Pubs and Bars estate and is also on course to open its first managed pub site.

National Restaurant Awards

National Restaurant Awards: The Sportsman wins Gastropub of the Year 2015

30-Jun-2015 By Jo Bruce & Emma Eversham

Shepherd Neame tenancy the Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent, took the title at an awards ceremony at the Hurlingham Club in London last night (29 June).

Trends

New research claims higher-quality food key driver in attracting more pub visitors

29-Jun-2015 By Jo Bruce

A new report claims pub goers rank higher-quality food as the number one reason why they would visit pubs and bars more often.

MY PUB

My Pub: Richmond Arms, West Ashling, West Sussex

26-Jun-2015 By Alison Baker

William Jack, former chef to Jacques Villeneuve and Simon Fuller, talks to Alison Baker about his recipe for success at his West Sussex pub, the Richmond Arms

Kingham Plough competing in "Best Brigades" competition

24-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The Kingham Plough’s kitchen team is competing as a finalist in Essential Cuisine’s Best Brigades contest.

No-shows losing restaurants £16bn a year

23-Jun-2015 By Michelle Perrett

The restaurant industry could be losing out on up to £16bn in revenue every year because people fail to turn up for bookings, according to online reservation system ResDiary.

Former British Larder site damaged in early morning blaze

23-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Suffolk pub the Unruly Pig, in Bromeswell, has been severely damaged in a fire.

Pubs triumph in Bristol Good Food Awards

22-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Four pub operators have been named as winners in the city of Bristol’s fourth annual Good Food Awards.

Food offer

Sussex licensees open new "steampunk" country pub

18-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Tony Leonard and Dom McCartan, owners of the Snowdrop Inn, Lewes, have reopened the Roebuck, in Laughton, Sussex with a new food offer after taking on a private lease for the site and giving it a major refurbishment.

Food

Food only factor driving growth for pubs outside London

17-Jun-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Food sales are more important than ever according to the latest data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker, which found meals were the only factor driving growth for pubs outside London.

Cobra beer launches new chef skills-sharing initiative with high profile support

16-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

With the ethnic restaurant sector facing a sharp decline in the number of more highly-skilled chefs coming from abroad, Cobra Beer has launched a campaign to give back to the community, inviting chefs up and down the country to take part in a comprehensive...

Operators

Publican Awards 2015 winner to open new venue in Liverpool

15-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

New World Trading Company (NWTC), the Chris Hill-led group, is set to open new bar and restaurant concept the Club House on Liverpool ONE’s Chavasse Park.

Day of celebration for UK's kitchen porters

15-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The day aims to celebrate kitchen porters who may not usually receive the same amount of recognition for their work as other kitchen staff.

Fuller's sales up 6.3% in managed and 5% in tenanted

05-Jun-2015 By M&C Allegra FS

Fuller’s recorded like-for-like sales growth of 6.3% in its managed arm for the year to 28 March with like-for-like profits up 5% in its Tenanted Inns division.

Mitchells & Butlers and Help for Heroes give food discount for Armed Forces

02-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Mitchells & Butlers chains Crown Carveries, Sizzling Pubs and O’Neills have announced the launch of new charity initiatives for British Armed Forces members.

Scottish brewery to open new gastropub

01-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Arran Brewery, which produces a range of ales, is to convert the site of the old Bower Bar in Kilbirnie to new gastropub the Weavers.

Celeb chef Phil Vickery to hold gluten-free masterclasses

01-Jun-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Celebrity chef Phil Vickery is set to run a gluten-free masterclasses in collaboration with Knorr Gravy, aimed at operators and chefs who want to diversify their coeliac-friendly food offer.

New name and structure for Bidvest 3663

01-Jun-2015 By Jo Bruce

Foodservice provider Bidvest 3663 is changing its name and is entering a "new era of development" for the business.

National Barbecue Week: ready, flame, fire

26-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

National barbecue week is upon us and operators are firing up their grills across the country as the weather takes a turn for the better to cash in on consumer demand for charred and marinated delights.

Booker claims price deflation being passed on to customers

21-May-2015 By Jo Bruce

Wholesaler Booker says the benefit it is seeing from food price deflation is being passed on to customers.

M&B's Toby Carvery ranked top in new M&C Allegra research

19-May-2015 By Mark Wingett

Consumers rate Toby Carvery, the Mitchells & Butlers-owned brand, highest among pub brands for food quality, value for money and low prices, according to M&C Allegra Foodservices' latest Eating Out Panel data.

New study gives insight into how age affects dining out behaviour

18-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Millennials (aged 18-34) are the most adventurous when it comes to trying new tastes, whilst war babies (aged 65+) prefer British cuisine and familiar dining out venues, reported research commissioned by Santa Maria Foodservice.

Fishy business: Brakes commits to Sustainable Fish Cities initiative

18-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Brakes has joined the Sustainable Fish Cities initiative.

Survey reveals nation's favourite dishes

18-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

A new survey has named the British public’s favourite dishes.

New product

New products: French tartelettes and caramelised onion sausages

15-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Brioche Pasquier has launched a new range of traditional French tartelettes to the UK foodservice market.

Want to know how to make the most out of a gluten-free food offer?

13-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

National Coeliac Awareness Week is in full swing. And, whilst gluten free dishes are often a contentious topic for many chefs, one in every 100 people is reported to suffer from the coeliac disease and a growing number of consumers are adopting the gluten-free...

Young's to roll out burger shack concept

12-May-2015 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Young’s pub company is planning to roll-out more than 20 Burger Shacks across its pub estate following introduction of the fast casual offering at The Windmill in Clapham and The Bull in Streatham, retail director Patrick Dardis told M&C Report.

Openings

Award-winning pubco opens first London site

11-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

New World Trading Company is set to open its first London site next month.

Menu focus

Focus on hot beverages: boiling point?

08-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Despite strong competition from a seemingly relentless horde of newly opened coffee outlets, licensees are in the ideal position to take advantage of growth in the category. Daniel Woolfson looks at ways licensees can capitalise over the coming summer.

New Product

New products: Nordic delicacies and whipping cream

08-May-2015 By Jo Bruce

Ocean Crown has introduced a premium marinated and flavoured herring range.

Awards

Licensee hoping for ‘wild card’ vote in British Street Food Awards 2015

06-May-2015 By Jo Bruce

The licensee of two Suffolk pubs who competed in the first regional heat of the British Street Food Awards 2015 is hoping for a vote by the judges to gain a place in the final in September.

Pub Food

Finalists announced for Slider Decider 2015

05-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Sixteen chefs will face off at the contest, which takes place at ETM Group site the Gun, Docklands, London, with the winner to be crowned Slider Decider champion.

New Opening

Award winning publicans open new West Lancashire site

05-May-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Lancashire-based Seafood Pub Company has opened its seventh site, the Town Green Brasserie, in Aughton.

money makers

Cornish pub diversifies with craft and food store

01-May-2015 By Helen Gilbert

A 16th century Cornish pub is now serving up freshly baked bread, home-made jam and handmade crafts alongside its beer and spirits.

Food news

Pieminister opens flagship restaurant site with expanded offer

30-Apr-2015 By Jo Bruce

Pie company Pieminister has opened a pie and cocktail restaurant in Leeds, described as its “most ambitious restaurant yet.”

Young's buys Islington pub

29-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Young’s Pub Company has acquired Islington pub the Canonbury with an eye to re-opening it as a food-led venue.

Licensee competing in British Street Food Awards 2015

29-Apr-2015 By Jo Bruce

The licensee of two Suffolk pubs is competing in the British Street Food Awards 2015.

Pubs failing to get behind sustainable fish

27-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The pub industry is failing to get behind sustainable seafood despite industry pleas for their support.

Openings

Award-winning pub reopens following refurb

27-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

An award-winning pub that ranked in this year’s Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropubs has undergone major refurbishments.

Food sales up year-on-year for majority of operators

27-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Out-of-home food sales grew again over the last year with snacking on the increase despite a drop in the average amount spent by each consumer, new data reports.

Pieminister gets gold medal

27-Apr-2015 By PubFood

Pieminister has won a gold medal in the ‘Bride’s Pie’ category annual British Pie Awards for a take on a classic Italian dish.

Product news

M&B wins Best Sirloin Steak award

23-Apr-2015 By Ed Bedington

Pubco giants Mitchells & Butlers were celebrating after taking the foodservice title for England’s Best Sirloin Steak.

Bloody Mary campaign launched by Ketel One Vodka

23-Apr-2015 By Jo Bruce

Ketel One Vodka, the luxury vodka from Diageo Reserve, has launched a Bloody Mary campaign in 100 bars.

Operator news

Young's Spring Grove reopens

22-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Young’s site the Spring Grove, Kingston-Upon-Thames, has reopened after a period of refurbishment with a new food offer.

Training

Nestle Professional Toque d'Or competition crowns winners

22-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Westminster Kingsway College’s team of hospitality students were announced as winners of the Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or competition last night, the college’s third win to date.

Operator news

M&B launches Sizzling Pizza, Pub & Carvery

21-Apr-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to launch a new concept this week which will be a combined and evolved version of its Crown Carveries and Sizzling Pub formats called Sizzling Pizza, Pub & Carvery, M&C Report has learnt.