Monday 2/3/15
Propelinfonews.com: Batemans opens first pub in managed house drive: Lincolnshire brewer Batemans has re-opened a newly acquired pub in Beverley as the first step in developing a managed house division. Residents feared The Game Bird, in Holme Church Lane, was to be demolished after it closed unexpectedly last summer. The venue is now re-opened by Batemans, which acquired it at the end of 2014, and is managed by Martin and Tina Scott. The kitchen is run by head chef Shane Tate, who won the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitality Association Copper Saucepan Award for the Apprentice Chef of the Year in 2009.
Propelinfonews.com: Frank’s Steakhouse brand expands in Northampton: The Frank’s Steakhouse brand has added a third site in Northampton, taking over the restaurant of The Sevens pub, in Weedon Road, which used to be The Rover. The brand, owned by businessman Tom Hewers, has two other sites in Wellingborough Road. He also operates The Artizan Pub, in Artizan Road, Abington and a butcher’s shop. Hewers is also set to open a fourth restaurant in Towcester. Of his expansion, Hewers said: “There wasn’t a massive amount to do, but we’ve put in new furniture and rebranded the place and all in two weeks.”
PropelInfonews.com: Four out of five diners say no to ‘cakeage’ charge: After news that restaurants and bars are charging customers up to £9 per person for the privilege of bringing their own birthday cake to a celebratory meal or drinks party, a survey by the guest experience management company HospitalityGEM has found that an overwhelming 80% of diners would not be happy to pay a “cakeage” charge. Survey respondents described the new trend, which seems to be restricted to London, according to a Sunday Times report, as “pointless” and “ridiculous”, as it strays too far from the standard of service expected in restaurants. The national survey proved that the trend is very London-focused, with only 1% of respondents admitting to ever having paid a fee, and only 27% having even heard of a cakeage fee.
Propelinfonews.com: Amber Taverns to open third Hogarths gin palace: Amber Taverns, the 100-strong community pub operator led by James Baer and Bryan Wardman, is to invest £550,000 on a refurbishment of a former Bramwell Pub Company site, The Charter, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, to turn it into the company’s third Hogarths Victorian gin palace selling more than 100 varieties of gin. It is scheduled to re-open in April or May.
Propelinfonews.com: Oakman Inns seeking to open restaurant in Amersham: Oakman Inns and Restaurants, led by Peter Borg-Neal, is looking to open a pub-restaurant in part of a disused car showroom in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Tuesday 3/3/15
Propelinfonews.com: Dolly Saville dies after 75 years pulling pints: A woman thought to be the world’s oldest barmaid has died less than a year after celebrating her 100th birthday at the pub where she worked for 75 years. Dolly Saville first pulled pints at the Red Lion Hotel in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, before World War Two. Pub owner Fuller’s Inns said she was “a huge part of the community”. She was still on the payroll but had not done a shift for a couple of weeks before her death, a spokeswoman said.
Bighospitality.co.uk: Chefs urged to check supply chain after nut traces found in cumin and paprika
By Emma Eversham, 02-Mar-2015
Chefs in restaurants, hotels and pubs using spices and spiced products in dishes are being urged to run extra checks with their suppliers after traces of almond protein were found in five products on sale in the UK.
Propelinfonews.com: Whitbread seeks to expand Peterborough Premier Inn by 50%: Plans to expand the Premier Inn in Orton Waterville Peterborough from 40 bedrooms to 60 by building an extension on land which was part of a golf course have been submitted to the city’s council. The current 40-bedroom hotel saw an average occupancy of more than 82% during the financial year 2013/14. The site also contains The Granary, a co-located Beefeater pub restaurant.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Punch Taverns announces new chief executive
By James Wallin, M&C Report, 03-Mar-2015
Punch Taverns has appointed Duncan Garrood, former president of food at international franchise operator MH Alshaya, as its new chief executive.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Company-City-News/Punch-Taverns-announces-new-chief-executive
Bighospitality.co.uk: Chefs Chris and James Tanner at launch of restaurant designed to ‘equip young people for work’
By Emma Eversham, 02-Mar-2015
Chefs James and Chris Tanner were among those last week leading the launch of BR6, a training restaurant at Bromley’s Hospitality, Food and Enterprise Career College designed to equip young people with the right skills to work in the industry.
http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Venues/BR6-Bromley-Career-College-launch
Wednesday 4/3/15
Propelinfonews.com: Greene King to encourage 1,000 staff to become Dementia Friends: Greene King is supporting the Dementia Friends initiative by encouraging more than 1,000 of its employees to sign up by the end of March. There are currently 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s is the most common type, affecting 62% of those diagnosed.
Propelinfonews.com: SME Survey confirms hospitality businesses are driving growth: Research released yesterday by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirms that licensed hospitality businesses are driving growth in Britain and are more optimistic about future prospects than the wider business community. The Small Business Survey 2014 shows that 32% of small and medium-sized employers expect to be employing more people in 12 months’ time, while Association of Licensed Multiple Retailer (ALMR) research shows that 57% of pub and bar operators will be recruiting more staff this year than last.
Bighospitality.co.uk: JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel seeks new owner after collapse into administration
By Emma Eversham, 03-Mar-2015
A new owner is being sought for the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel after the company which owned it – Sahara Grosvenor House Hospitality – collapsed into administration.
http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Grosvenor-House-Hotel-in-administration
Propelinfonews.com: NewRiver Retail in talks with PoundPub operator: NewRiver Retail, which acquired 202 bottom-end Marston’s pubs in November 2013, has approached the operator of the PoundPub concept, Here For You Hospitality, to see whether any of its sites might be suited to conversion to the idea. The PoundPub concept, which sells pints for £1.50 and half pints for £1, is to be offered as a franchise from Easter by its owner, Here For You Hospitality, after success at the first four venues to trial it.
Thursday 5/3/15
Propelinfonews.com: Councillors reduce Northampton nightclub’s capacity: A Northampton club has had its capacity reduced after police called for its license to be reviewed in the wake of public disorder incidents outside the venue. The review of Academy, on the corner of Gold Street and College Street, was prompted after two occasions where police had to employ public order tactics to control club goers outside the venue.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: David Cameron hints at third beer duty cut
By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 04-Mar-2015
David Cameron has hinted that the Chancellor will announce a third beer duty cut in the upcoming Budget.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/David-Cameron-hints-at-third-beer-duty-cut
Propelinfonews.com: NewRiver Retail pub landlord fights convenience co-location plan: The landlord of The Hare & Hounds Inn, in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, one of the 202 pubs sold by Marston’s to NewRiver Retail in November 2013, is fighting a plan to locate a convenience store next to his pub Lee Sargeant said if it went ahead, the development would leave him with just six car parking spaces. He said at busy times as many as 50 spaces could be filled by customers using the pub and if they were not available it would seriously affect his trade.
Friday 6/3/15
Propelinfonews.com: Molson Coors relaunches wholesale business: Molson Coors has re-launched its wholesale business, as part of its ambition to become “the clear number one drinks wholesaler to the UK on-premise”. After six months of customer research to understand what its customers wanted from a traditional wholesale offering, Molson Coors said, it found that the clear priority was customer service. Over 60% cited it as a real point of difference, with 61% also saying product range was an important factor. Only 25% of customers said price was a top consideration when choosing a drinks partner.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Government watchdog launches inquiry into online review sites
By Ellie Bothwell, 05-Mar-2015
Publicans are being urged to share their views on the use of online review websites like TripAdvisor as part of a government-backed probe on the impact of the sites.
Propelinfonews.com: Red Mist promises to do ‘everything it can’ for pub staff owed thousands after licensees flee: Red Mist Leisure, the pubco founded by Mark Williams and Mark Robson, has promised to do “everything it can” for former staff at the Headley Hill, the 17th century pub in the village of Headley, near Epsom, Surrey that the company took over last month, after they were left owed thousands of pounds by the previous licensees. Susan and Isabella Stevenson surrendered the pub lease at the start of February and subsequently disappeared, reportedly to Spain. Simon Tildesley, the former head chef, told the local Guardian newspaper he was still owed more than £1,000 and about eight other staff members were also left out of pocket. Some have had to go home to Romania because they have no money, while suppliers are trying to trace the Stevensons in a bid to get back the money they are owed. The pair allegedly owe a local butcher’s, a local fishmonger and a local drinks company thousands of pounds for supplies delivered but never paid for. Red Mist Leisure plans to reopen the pub, renamed the Cock Inn, on 18 March after a £450,000 refurbishment, and has promised to do what it can to help the pub’s staff.