Latest

Slow food tops 2017's culinary trends

02-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Reducing food waste and slow-cooked food are the two main trends operators must keep an eye out for this year, according to research from Mintel.

Chefs’ health put at risk by ‘punishing’ long hours

27-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Chefs have called out industry working hours as potentially damaging to their mental and physical health in a snapshot survey by union Unite.

Food Hygiene Ratings now more important to consumers

25-Apr-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Cleanliness and hygiene are major influences on where consumers choose to eat out, according to a report from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Fall in consumer demand for out-of-home breakfasts

21-Apr-2017 By Ma Freelance

The number of consumers choosing to eat breakfast outside the home on a daily basis has dropped by 11% since 2015, according to purchasing company Beacon.

Pubs warned ‘watch out for duty cheats’ after rules tightened

19-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has urged pubs to be vigilant when purchasing alcohol following the introduction of tougher wholesale registration rules.

Pub slams ‘unscrupulous untruths’ in TripAdvisor review

18-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A pub has slammed one customer’s review on TripAdvisor, which criticised its staff, toilets and interior design, calling their comments ‘unscrupulous untruths’.

Fire devastates Thwaites pub after £1m transformation

13-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A Thwaites food pub and microbrewery in Hoghton, Lancashire, has been devastated by a fire that tore through the building just months after a £1m refurbishment.

Innis & Gunn launches largest Beer Kitchen

12-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish brewer and pub operator Innis & Gunn has launched its fourth and largest Beer Kitchen concept in Glasgow’s West End, with its own onsite microbrewery.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Why local is best for UK’s top gastropub

04-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Chef-patron of North Yorkshire’s Star Inn Harome Andrew Pern does not use local “for local sake” in his venues, but because little else measures up to the produce available on his doorstep.

‘Lickable’ menus, hippo petting zoos and job-stealing dogs: the best April Fools gags

03-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

From some questionable menu innovation by Flaming Grill to horseplay from Robinson’s Brewery, it’s clear the pub trade was feeling silly this weekend. Here’s our round up of the best April Fools gags from across the sector.

Top 50 Gastropubs

New rooms and fourth site for Star Inn Harome

03-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Top UK gastropub the Star Inn is set to expand its original site in Harome, North Yorkshire, while a fourth site in the local seaside town of Whitby will open soon.

Mitchells & Butlers launches new steak brand

23-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Mitchells & Butlers has unveiled its latest brand called Son of Steak, in Nottingham, this week (20 March).

Pubs charged for food hygiene re-inspections

20-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs could be made to pay for requested re-inspections of their businesses under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced.

JD Wetherspoon to slash 7.5% off food and drink at 900+ pubs

16-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin will hack 7.5% off all food and drink prices for one day across his 900+ pub estate later this year to demonstrate the effect a VAT cut could have on the hospitality industry.

Food safety controls to be ramped up by local authorities

16-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Food safeguards and allergen protection for consumers will be moved up a gear by local authorities, and will be core to delivering a better system of control to ensure a higher level of confidence in UK food.

Woman dies of food poisoning after eating at Cornwall pub

01-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

A grandmother died from food poisoning after eating incorrectly prepared roast lamb at a Cornwall pub, a court has heard.

Ex-Potting Shed and Rectory couple set up Welsh food pub

27-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

The couple behind famous Cotswolds pub and boutique hotel the Potting Shed and the Rectory have set about transforming a Welsh village pub into a food destination.

Mounting costs pose real threat to on-trade growth

23-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Increasing food and drink prices, as well as business rates revaluations, pose immediate threats to on-trade growth this year, new research shows.

MA500

Pub food can survive the Brexit storm

17-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Food-led pubs are in the best position to weather the storm of Brexit-induced price rises and reduced consumer confidence caused by political instability.

Mitchells & Butlers apologises to ‘mocked’ job candidate

09-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Mitchells & Butlers has apologised to an interviewee who was ‘mocked’ in a text message when applying for a job at its Miller & Carter steakhouse format.

Top gastropub the Falcon Inn on the market for £1.4m

03-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Historic gastropub the Falcon Inn in Fotheringhay, Peterborough, is on the market with Christie & Co for £1.4m.

Food and drink industry supported by PM in Brexit speech

18-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Industry bodies have welcomed Teresa May’s “recognition” of the value of the food and drink sector in her Brexit speech.

Food safety

Zero hygiene rating for pub with encrusted fly killer and E.coli

13-Jan-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A heavily “encrusted” electronic fly killer, the presence of E.coli and a lack of hand-washing facilities has left an historic Northamptonshire pub with the lowest food hygiene rating.

Food

JD Wetherspoon apologises to 'disgusted' customer for 'half' eaten dish

11-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

JD Wetherspoon has apologised for not replacing a woman’s dish that had been already partially eaten by another customer.

Food safety

Rare burger crippling health risk warning

13-Dec-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

A food safety watchdog has warned of the crippling health threats undercooked burgers can cause now that the category is in steep growth and as a result of more consumers specifying how their burgers should be cooked.

FULLER'S

Fuller’s names the Hydrant as Pub of the Year 2016

10-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

London pub group Fuller’s has named Monument pub the Hydrant as the winner of its Pub of the Year competition.

NEW OPENING

Dark Star opens new site with top London gastropub owner

09-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Sussex brewer Dark Star has opened its new pub, the Lockhart Tavern, in Haywards Heath.

GASTROPUBS

Grantley Arms owners to sell award-winning gastropub

07-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The owners of the Surrey gastropub that won Best Turnaround Pub in the Great British Pub Awards 2016 are to sell the site to a local pub group in the new year.

Food safety

‘Food fraud will hit profits and customer trust,’ pubs warned

02-Nov-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs and other food-serving businesses have been urged to be vigilant and protect themselves and consumers against the growing crime of food fraud.

Free-from food

Extra '£5k profit' in pubs from vegan food

26-Oct-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

A meat and dairy alternative company that is growing in popularity in UK pubs has launched a ‘joint of lamb’ and ‘chorizo sausages’ specially for eateries, following an uptick in demand for vegan and vegetarian products in pubs.

NEW OPENING

Michelin star pub chef Josh Eggleton to open site with ex-Butcombe director

24-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Michelin star-winning chef Josh Eggleton has taken over a new pub in Bristol with the former director of Butcombe Brewery, Guy Newell.

Skills shortage

Living Ventures launches chef academy to fight shortage

13-Oct-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

North-west-based Living Ventures has teamed up with The City of Liverpool College to launch its Chef Academy in a bid to help tackle the chefs shortage.

JD Wetherspoon

JD Wetherspoon and Punch push for greater food sustainability

06-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and Punch have signed up to the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA)’s Food Made Good scheme.

Food Hygiene

Mitchells & Butlers helping FSA develop Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

30-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) is testing the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) new food hygiene scheme, which aims to ease pressure on resource-strapped local authorities, improve food safety and adapt the current Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

STAFF PAY

Europeans paid less than Brits in London pubs, research claims

28-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

British hospitality workers are being paid approximately 18% more than their European counterparts by London businesses, new data reveals.

MENU TRENDS

Snacks, sides and nibbles key focus for pub menus

15-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

UK operators are boosting customers’ average spend by increasing starter and dessert prices as well as focusing on side dishes and snacks, new research claims.

OPINION

TripAdvisor: who gives a hoot?

14-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

TripAdvisor: love it or hate it, if you work in hospitality, you’ve got an opinion. And the chances are it's a strong one.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Get ready for Top 50 Gastropubs 2017

07-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Eight months ago, 2016’s top 50 gastropubs were named, followed by a whirlwind of national press coverage. Plans for 2017’s event are under way and it’s shaping up to be a belter

Breastfeeding

Pub apologises to breastfeeding mother

24-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A Greene King pub has issued an apology to a breastfeeding mother after a member of staff asked her to breastfeed her baby in the toilet

Property

Second Wetherspoon pub plan in city refused

24-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A second Wetherspoon pub in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, has been refused for the second time in less than a year.

The Craft Beer Co

Craft Beer Co secures another London site

21-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

London-based pubco the Craft Beer Co has secured a new site in the city’s Limehouse.

EU REFERENDUM

Post-Brexit pessimism: hospitality bosses' confidence crashes

25-Jul-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Optimism for the eating and drinking out sector has crashed since Britain voted to leave the European Union in June, exclusive research claims.

COFFER PEACH BUSINESS TRACKER

Pub chains outperform casual dining despite 'sluggish' growth

20-Jul-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Pub chains outperformed casual-dining establishments in June largely thanks to Euro 2016 screenings, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

FOOD SAFETY

Operators warned to "wash all salads" following E.coli deaths

18-Jul-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Public health experts have urged operators to be vigilant and "wash all salads" when preparing and serving mixed salads after two people died of E. coli.

Top Portuguese chef to cook 'nose to tail' dinner at London pub

13-Jul-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

High-profile chef Nuno Mendes is set to cook a five-course meal based on Fergus Henderson’s revered British cookbook Nose to Tail Eating at Hackney pub the Marksman later this month.

Food standards

Rat droppings and mouldy liver pate lands pub zero hygiene rating

03-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

A pub has been slapped with a zero food hygiene score after rat dropping and mouldy liver pate were discovered by inspectors.

Food

300-year-old Shepherd Neame pub serves food for first time

20-May-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Shepherd Neame pub the Royal Standard in Hastings is serving food for the first time in its 300 year history, after £75,000 was pumped into the refurbishment of its kitchen and décor.

Gluten-free Report

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