Monday 5/10/15
Propelinfonews.com: Norfolk entrepreneur Charles Coker buys former Marco Pierre White pub: Acting on the instructions of the Joint Administrators of Defiance Inns Property UK, agent Fleurets has sold the Bridge Inn, Acle Bridge, the Norfolk Broadland riverside pub and restaurant which Marco Pierre White previously operated. The Bridge Inn provides 140 dining covers internally and 200 plus external covers. There are 12 riverside boat moorings and extensive gardens set in 1.75 acres. The buyer is Acle Bridge owned by Norfolk businessman and entrepreneur Charles Coker. Coker said that he will continue to operate the Bridge Inn under direct management and will be retaining the services of Vanessa and Phil Hannon who have been running the Bridge Inn day-to-day for several years.
Morningadvertiser: Enterprise trialing segmentation programme
By M&C Allegra, 02-Oct-2015
Enterprise Inns has unveiled details of its new segmentation programme to members of its operations team and key suppliers at a conference in Birmingham. Read More
Tuesday 6/10/15
Propelinfonews.com: Pesto opens seventh pub site and first in Leicestershire: Pesto, the brand led by Neil Gatt and Sara Edwards, has launched its seventh Pesto in a Pub site – and its first venue in Leicestershire. The company has opened at the site of the old White Horse in Desford after a £550,000 co-investment with owner Marston’s. The site, which had been closed for six months, has undergone an extensive refurbishment, creating 40 jobs. General manager Ian Vinsen, who has experience of running busy high street restaurants all over the country, told the Hinckley Times: “We’re looking forward to welcoming many customers through our doors in the weeks and months ahead to experience our unique concept of Italian piattini.”
Morningadvertiser: Business rate changes labelled ‘unhelpful’
By Emily Sutherland, 05-Oct-2015
Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that uniform business rates will be scrapped and councils allowed to keep all the proceeds has been labelled ‘unhelpful’ by trade bodies. Read More
Propeinfonews.com: Pint Shop hires Rosie Sykes as development chef: Pint Shop, the award-winning Cambridge beer house specialising in “meat, bread and beer”, has appointed Rosie Sykes as development chef. As well as being a regular food writer for the Guardian, Sykes previously cooked in the kitchens of some of the UK’s most celebrated chefs, including Shaun Hill and Alastair Little. She’s also known for setting up critically acclaimed gastro-pub The Sutton Arms in Smithfield, London. A Cambridge local and a Pint Shop customer, Sykes was a natural fit. Pint Shop co-founder Benny Peverelli said: “We’re massively excited to have Rosie on board. We’ve got big plans for 2016, a big part of which is taking our food offer to the next level. Rosie brings bags of talent and a unique energy to an already awesome food team. I can’t wait to get going.” Sykes added: “I quickly realised that we share a lot of values – a love of British food, a commitment to impeccable provenance and a passion for seasonality. Pint Shop is doing really amazing things and I was keen to be a part of the story. I truly admire their ethos. The Pint Shop classics we collaborated on and made even better, but I’ve also introduced my own favourite influences. The end result is something really special that brings a feast of autumnal colour.” From the new menu, Sykes singles out the devilled lamb kebab, Denham Estate red venison with stuffed mushrooms and saffron and chilli cod Cheek kebab as particular favourites. She added: “Cod cheek is a lovely cut of fish that’s so often overlooked. We’re cooking this wonderful cut on skewers over coals, it’s absolutely delicious.” Peverelli added: “Rosie has brought a wonderful new spin to our menu. She’s introduced us to some amazing new suppliers and some great new products.”
Wednesday 7/10/15
Nottingham Post: It was once a place where all of Nottingham’s lace industry artefacts were housed under one roof. Now the High Pavement Business Centre, which was formerly Nottingham’s Museum of Lace, is set to start a new era. It is to become home to a high-end bar and restaurant called The Loom, which will double up as an entertainment venue and create 12 full-time and five part-time jobs. Diners will be able to grab a bite to eat from the ‘contemporary British menu’ with ‘Mediterranean fusion and Asian inspiration’ while watching a drama performance or music on the purpose-built stage. And remaining true to the building’s history – and that of the city – a 19th century jacquard loom in the basement is to be made a feature. This is a new foray into the hospitality trade for Poseidon Kumar, the man behind the new venue. He will be juggling his time running The Loom with his job as an investment manager with e.on. The 27-year-old, who lives in Sherwood Rise but is originally from Canada, said: “There’s nothing like this in Nottingham. “The main thing is once it’s fully-operational, we will be holding theatrical productions and live music. “Customers will be able to book a table and sit down to live entertainment. “Once we get more established, we are looking to see what type of talent we can attract from around the East Midlands and further afield.” Mr Kumar described The Loom as “high-quality” but “not pretentious in any way”. Read More
Propelinfonews.com: £5 million deal sees double Yorkshire acquisition for Coaching Inn Group: The Coaching Inn Group has announced a £5m double acquisition as the fast-expanding independent coaching inn specialist continues its £20m expansion programme. The off-market deal, worth more than £5m, sees the group purchase two landmark North Yorkshire Inns, The Golden Fleece in Thirsk and The Feathers in Helmsley, from Homfray Hotels, bringing the Coaching Inn Group estate to ten sites and more than 300 bedrooms. Founder and managing director Kevin Charity said: “Awareness of our acquisition plans is enabling us to have a number of off-market meetings in the coaching inns sector. This deal was the result of one of those discussions and fits perfectly with our expansion plans. The Golden Fleece is a famous coaching inn, steeped in history, whilst The Feathers is an extremely popular traditional inn in the busy market town of Helmsley, both at the gateway to the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors.We plan to invest in both sites in the new year, but for now we look forward to working with the existing, highly successful management teams. We’ll be investing across accommodation, food and beverage, and adding to what is already a very well supported offering.” The Coaching Inn Group operates individually styled coaching inns, each with an all-day offer, across the UK and has built a strong reputation in the industry for transforming under performing establishments into busy and profitable businesses. Property search firm PH Land and Developments acted as agents on the transaction for the Coaching Inn Group. In response to its recent acquisitions The Coaching Inn Group has announced it is now searching for a group operations manager to join the rapidly expanding business. The company has said it is looking for to an individual who can help contribute to the broader strategic vision of the group while maintaining responsibility for its day-to-day performance. It is expected that role would see promotion to the board as group operations director in the future. Interested candidates should email Kevin Charity directly on K.Charity@innmail.co.uk
Thursday 8/10/15
Propelinfonews.com: JD Wetherspoon applies to build 30-bedroom stand-alone hotel, extend pub in Hellesdon, Norwich: JD Wetherspoon has applied to build a 30-bedroom stand-alone hotel at The Whiffler pub in Hellesdon, which is four miles north-west of Norwich and has a population of 11,177 inhabitants. The Whiffler on Boundary Road is one of two remaining pubs in Hellesdon. Owner JD Wetherspoon wants to redevelop the site to meet the area’s “growing business needs”. In documents, the agent for JD Wetherspoon said: “The proposals represent an opportunity to provide good quality hotel accommodation for this pub/restaurant, to suit the growing business needs, whilst maintaining and enhancing the character and setting of the pub/restaurant and promote tourism to the area. The proposed new hotel will not adversely affect the local community other than improving the general appearance of the overall site, whilst making efficient use of the under-used land. There are always going to be objections raised by adjacent residents to any form of new development, hopefully the quality of the proposal and content of this statement will address those adequately.”
Hospitality & Catering News.com: AA Hospitality Awards 2015 – the winners: A veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of the hospitality world attended last night’s AA Hospitality Awards, considered to be the industry’s own ‘Oscars’ and one of the unique times when the hospitality industry comes together to recognise the achievements of the nations’ best hoteliers, restaurateurs and publicans. Drawing on the unrivalled knowledge and expertise of the AA inspectorate and other industry professionals involved in the judging process, winners are selected in recognition of excellence and success within their chosen category, having shown a significant improvement in the preceding 12 – 18 months and proving their dedication to raising industry standards and enhancing both their guest and diner experiences. All the winners appear in the latest edition of the 2016 AA Hotel, Restaurant and Pub Guides which were launched at the event.Guests at the event, hosted by Fiona Bruce (pictured above with Robin Hutson and Simon Numphud of AA Hotel Services), were treated to a gastronomic menu created the 2014 AA Chef’s Chef, Nathan Outlaw.
The Winners: Read More
Propelinfonews.com: Enterprise Inns names top Community Hero pub: A Norwich pub has been named national winner of Enterprise Inns’ 2015 Community Heroes Awards. The Cellar House, in Eaton Street, Eaton, claimed top prize ahead of 53 other Enterprise pubs that made it to the final as regional winners. The Community Heroes Awards, now in their fourth year, celebrate the vital role publicans and their pubs play in enhancing the lives of local people, and 2015 saw a record number receive prize money to plough back into their local communities. Cellar House publican Victoria MacDonald hosts a wide range of local community groups at the pub, and due to customer demand has introduced a beer festival, with entertainment for children. She said: “We always listen to the community and what it wants. We’ve been working in partnership with Pub is The Hub and will soon launch a post office service in the pub, following closure of the local facility.” MacDonald received the national winner’s cheque for a total of £6,000 for her to spend on future community projects. She said there are plans to use the money to develop The Cellar House’s successful beer festival into an annual family-oriented village fete, working in conjunction with Eaton Village Residents’ Association and its chosen charity. And because the pub, which describes itself as “a pub for the people”, is a village focal point, it is keen to develop an information hub for visitors, new residents and the broader community. It will also look at organising training sessions in information and communication technology for elderly residents. National runner-up, receiving a total of £5,000, was The Jolly Sailor, in Northgate, Canterbury, run by publican Ian Blackmore. He offers support and guidance to 16 local and university sports clubs, with the pub acting as a clubhouse where they can meet, and where they enjoy free post-match meals. The Jolly Sailor also hosts fund-raising events to help pay for the teams’ kit and equipment.
Morning Advertiser: Government must reward sustainable businesses, says top gastropub operator
By Daniel Woolfson, 07-Oct-2015
Morning Advertiser: Sustainability must “become the norm” rather than the “eccentric oddity” for food businesses, a top operator has urged.
Bighospitality: ‘Haggle’ with suppliers on Christmas produce prices, hospitality operators told
By Emma Eversham+, 07-Oct-2015
Operators in the restaurant, pub and hotel sectors are being advised to engage in ‘old-fashioned’ haggling over prices with suppliers this Christmas to take advantage of lower production costs of festive favourites such as turkey and ham. Read More
Friday 9/10/15
Propelinfonews.com: Great Northern Inns opening third Copper cafe bar in Nottingham today: Great Northern Inns is opening its third site under its cafe bar brand Copper in Nottingham today (Friday, October 9). The company has converted the former Reflex 1980s bar on the corner of Upper Parliament Street and Market Street, creating about 30 jobs. Antony Wilson is the general manager of the new venue, and is also a partner in Copper City, which comes under the Great Northern Inns umbrella. He told the Nottingham Post: “We’re thrilled to be opening the doors to Copper city, the third venue in the Copper brand. The building has been lovingly restored over the past few months and we’re excited to offer residents and visitors a little luxury in the city centre. Whether it’s for coffee and breakfast, our pre-theatre menus or craft beers and cocktails in the evening, we’re looking forward to welcoming our first customers.” Prior to being Reflex, which closed about two years ago, the venue was O’Neill’s, Café Royale and before that it was originally a Martins bank, which opened in 1932. Copper has two other sites in Mapperley and West Bridgford.
Bighospirtality.co.uk: Young chefs must spread sustainability message, says top campaigner
By Sophie Witts, 08-Oct-2015
The next generation of chefs has a responsibility to ensure future restaurants improve sustainability standards, chef and campaigner Arthur Potts Dawson has warned. Read More