Monday 21/9/15
GolfClubManagement.co.uk: Is this Britain’s most environmentally friendly golf club?: Coventry Golf Club has been hailed as Britain’s most environmentally friendly golf club after it became the first in England to be re-certified to the eco GEO standard. Coventry’s close relationship with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WKWT) has seen many new initiatives put in place to enhance the habitat for both flora and fauna, for example. Coventry’s close relationship with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WKWT) has seen many new initiatives put in place to enhance the habitat for both flora and fauna, for example. Wildlife boxes and log piles have been created along with a new wildflower area providing good opportunities for a range of pollinators, birds and small mammals. The creation of an artificial otter holt in a disused irrigation pump house on the golf club’s grounds has been a successful partnership project with otters settling in. The club is also involved in the WKWT’s Princethorpe Woodland project and the trust runs a range of other community conservation activities within the course thoughtout the year. The club has also carried out a number of other initiatives, including: Read More
Propelinfonews.com: Be At One to open 28th bar in Norwich: Be At One will open its 28th bar in Norwich in November. The company is opening the venue on the site of the former Lola Lo nightclub after buying the lease from Eclectic Group earlier this year. Be At One is spending £800,000 refurbishing the site, which the company said “will still keep its character”. Sales and event manager Danielle Brown told the Eastern Daily Press: “It’s in a great location, right in the city centre. There is nothing like it in Norwich at the minute.” Be At One opened its first bar in Battersea in 1998 and as well as sites across London, it has venues across the UK including Brighton, Bath, Cardiff and Leeds.
Morningadvertiser: Restaurants struggle with sustainability standards
By Sophie Witts, 18-Sep-2015
British restaurants consume more than £1.3bn in energy each year, but three quarters of restaurateurs don’t know how to reduce costs, according to new research from E.ON.
Greencast.co.uk:Eco projects that don’t cost the earth – Syngenta Operation Pollinator Environmental Award Winner, Anthony Darker, hasn’t been resting on his laurels at Elsham Golf Club in Lincolnshire. He has continued to develop a whole range of eco projects that has served to further enhance the environmental value of the golf course in the area. In addition to the wonderful wildflower areas that have been created for the benefit of players and pollinating insects, importantly Anthony has also been busy providing vital winter refuges – or hibernaculum – for the bees and bug life that has been attracted. But with only a limited budget he’s been trying to come up with ways to create them by recycling materials laying around the yard: bricks; roof tiles; old wood and logs; even old hole cups and more have been cleverly utilised. “Not only is it more cost effective, but reusing existing materials and supplies reduces waste and is a more ecological approach,” reported Anthony. “I have the theory if every time you want to build a birdhouse you cut down a tree, eventually we won’t have any trees to put the house in!” Anthony pointed out that though the year they end up with pallets from deliveries of turf, fertilisers and machine parts, which typically end up just getting in the way in a pile in the corner of the work shop, or used as fire wood. “We have started to dismantle these pallets and reusing them for bee hibernaculum; be it a pallet stack filled with other recycled goods, or wall mounted hibernaculum on sides of sheds and out buildings. “Log and brash piles in open south facing glades are incredibly attractive to a whole range of insects and other wildlife. And leaving standing dead wood is an excellent habitat too, since it blends into the surroundings and gives that more natural look.” Syngenta Operation Pollinator Manager, Caroline Carroll, highlighted that there was still time to work on establishing valuable new ecological habitats around the golf course this autumn. “Warm soil conditions and adequate moisture in September is ideal for sowing wildflower areas, either as stand-alone areas or as part of rough enhancement. “Thick rough can be sprayed off now with Rescue, to remove coarse grasses and make space for finer fescues, as well as giving the wildflowers the room to establish,” she said. “The work at Elsham has ably demonstrated the immense benefit from enhancing the essential combination of food resources and nesting sites for pollinating insects.” Anthony Darker added: “Syngenta Operation Pollinator workshops have demonstrated ways to manage and improve our out of play areas and make the golf course more wildlife friendly. I would urge all greenkeepers to take a look around their own work shop and club house, and see what they can come up with to get creative; the possibilities are endless to get involved and to do your bit.”
Propelinfonews.com: JD Wetherspoon hits further delays and opposition in Welwyn Garden City: A plan for a JD Wetherspoon pub in central Welwyn Garden City (population: 43,252) has run into further delays and fresh opposition. Borough council officers have recommended rejection of JD Wetherpoon’s planning application to convert 22 Parkway, while the company has submitted a 59-page planning and economic statement. The statement stresses the company’s pubs attract few complaints, and concentrate on providing traditional beer and good value food. Planners say the application will be decided by councillors “on a date yet to be confirmed”, and will accept comments until 5 October. Critics say the proposed pub will disturb neighbours and betray the town’s original design.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Government “can do more” to help pubs – despite saving businesses £25m
By Oli Gross, 18-Sep-2015
The industry has welcomed an assessment of the Enterprise Bill – which claims it will save businesses £25m a year in total – but some insist “more can be done” to help reduce costs for pubs.
Tuesday 22/9/15
Propelinfonews.com: Berkeley Inns to open first site after refurbishment: Berkeley Inns, which was formed in April this year, is to reopen The Three Horseshoes in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with Michelin-trained chef Gareth Ward as head chef. In total, 25 jobs have been created, as the renovated and enlarged venue seeks to position itself as a quality restaurant-pub, without losing any of its village pub atmosphere. Since Berkeley Inns acquired the pub in April, extensive refurbishments have been carried out to renovate and extend the venue, including an extension to the rear of the property, providing new restaurant space for approximately 65 covers and cutting edge kitchen facilities. Local entrepreneur Howard Thacker, who amongst other successful businesses interests was founder of the Howson/Hippo golf company and co-founder of uDate.com, is the managing director of Berkeley Inns. Over the next few years the company plans to operate several prime licensed properties as quality restaurant-pubs. Thacker said: “Having been fortunate enough to travel extensively, in comparison, I often felt that our area features a distinct shortage of quality places to eat, especially in the beautiful rural areas around Derby and Ashbourne. Several friends and colleagues agreed and have invested into the project alongside me to develop a serious offering locally and further afield.”
Propelinfonews.com: Independent coffee company Bewiched set to open fifth site in Wellingborough, eyes further expansion: Independent coffee company Bewiched is set to open its fifth site in Wellingborough – its first at a train station – and is eyeing further expansion. The company, which already has coffee houses in Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and Peterborough, is looking to give the station cafe in Midland Road an overhaul before reopening. It has applied to Wellingborough Council to take the site back to its roots, including exposing original brickwork, replacing frosted panes in listed windows with clear panes and restoring the original ceiling with hanging pendants. Managing director Matt Fountain told the Northamptonshire Telegraph it had been looking at opportunities to open a branch at a train station when it was approached by East Midlands Trains and Network Rail. The company is eyeing further expansion. As well as negotiations for a drive-thru coffee house at an undisclosed location, it is also targeting a site in Northampton. Fountain said: “We have looked at Northampton three times now and agreed deals but they have fallen through. We are really keen to go over to Northampton at some point.”
Propelinfonews.com: Leicestershire-based businessman to reopen iconic Coalville nightclub after buying it back from brother: Leicestershire-based businessman Arthur Holland will reopen the Emporium nightclub in Coalville next month after buying it back from his brother. Arthur Holland previously owned the club in Belvoir Road for more than 15 years before selling it to brother Michael seven years ago. Michael Holland then went into liquidation and closed the club in January. It was put up for sale in March and his brother bought it back. Emporium will reopen on Saturday, 31 October following a £500,000 refurbishment, creating 20 jobs. It will have multiple rooms and a 20ft x 15ft LED screen – the largest LED light wall in the Midlands, reports the Leicester Mercury. During its prime, the club attracted top DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk and Judge Jules, who all performed at Passion, the club’s award-winning Saturday night event.
Wednesday 23/9/15
Propelinfonews.com: Prezzo gets go-ahead to open new restaurant in Grantham: Prezzo has been given the go-ahead to open a new site in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The company has been granted permission by South Kesteven District Council to open the restaurant in St Peter’s Hill, creating 20 jobs. It will now refurbish two adjoining empty units next to Costa Coffee and hopes to open the venue, which will cater for about 100 diners, before Christmas, reports the Grantham Journal. The restaurant will be open from noon to 11.30pm seven days a week. A spokesman previously said: “A new Prezzo restaurant will contribute to the vitality and viability of the shopping frontage in Grantham town centre. The inclusion of Prezzo in the town centre will also increase consumer choice and diversity in this location. Prezzo would be an asset to the evening economy of Grantham town centre, especially give its proximity to the Guildhall Arts Centre.”
Propelinfonews.com: Cosmo applies to open world buffet site at Northampton nightclub: World buffet brand Cosmo has applied to open a site at the former Balestra nightclub site in Northampton. The building, which dates back to the mid-19th century and is grade II-listed, has been vacant since the nightclub closed in spring 2013. The site used to be known as the Northampton Corn Exchange and in 1920 it was converted to a cinema. In 2010, the building was given a £250,000 refit and was renamed Balestra. When the company went into administration two years ago, the club closed and the building was later sold to the current owners, Cosmo Restaurants of London, which plans to convert it into a restaurant. The company opened its first restaurant in Eastbourne, East Sussex, in 2003, and now has a total of 17 across the country, including one in Northampton. A decision on the plans is expected in November.
Propelinfonews.com: Former Surya Hotels director of operations launches first restaurant: Gez Chetal, the former director of operations at Suffolk-based Surya Hotels, has opened his first restaurant concept where diners cook their own meals at the table on hot stones. Chetal and business partner Roger Cash have launched Hot Rocks @ Mojitos in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on the site formerly occupied by The Thai Orchid, creating ten jobs, reports the Lynn News. The restaurant, which Chetal hopes will be the first of six in East Anglia, seats 140 people and has a Latino theme. Diners are brought hot lava rocks and food to the table and can cook their meals to their liking. There is a set price for an unlimited amount of wine and food.
Propelinfonews.com: Lifeboat Pub Company acquires third site, this time in Hunstanton: The Lifeboat Pub Company has acquired its third site, this time in Hunstanton, Norfolk. The company, led by Tim Joudrey, has taken over the Wash and Tope Hotel in Le Strange Terrace. The site will close on Friday (25 September) for about eight weeks for a major refurbishment. Joudrey told the Lynn News: “The pub will provide a much-needed family venue, offering quality dining and a huge range of branded drinks. We expect to create additional permanent jobs at the pub as well as seasonal vacancies. In the past the pub has struggled due to lack of investment and the hope is to update the venue to provide exceptional facilities for the local community and further afield.” Lifeboat Pub Company also operates the Two Lifeboats in Sheringham, Norfolk, and the Punch Taverns-owned Shroppie Fly in Audlem, Crewe.
Propelinfonews.com: North Lincolnshire Businesswoman of the Year opening third site this week in Grimsby: Entrepreneur Liz Parry, the 2014 North Lincolnshire Businesswoman of the Year, is to open her third site this week. Parry is launching The Curious Cat Cocktail Bar and Kitchen in Bethlehem Street, Grimsby, on Friday, on the site of The Larder coffee shop and deli, creating about ten jobs. The two-storey grade II-listed building has been refurbished and the 220-capacity venue features a 6.5 metre dark oak bar on the ground floor, with kitchen and cellar and a function room upstairs. It will have an extensive cocktail list as well as serving an array of spirits and Heineken Extra Cold beer. Parry also operates Abbys Bistro, which is next door to The Curious Cat Cocktail Bar and Kitchen, and The Riverside in Cleethorpes, which she bought last November. She told the Grimsby Telegraph: “We want to top and tail what we offer at Abbys. We hear from customers at Abbys that there is limited choice for a drink before or after a meal, in a similar environment. There is definitely a different atmosphere between a restaurant or bistro and a bar, one is food-led and the other drinks, but we feel there is an opportunity to provide something that fills the gap, between that and the traditional pubs.”
Thursday 24/9/15
Propleinfonews.com: East Anglian Catering business wins £200,000 Madame Tussauds contract: An East Anglian catering business has won a three-year contract, worth £200,000 per year, with Madame Tussauds London. Servest Catering will provide breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and hospitality services for staff at the tourist attraction. The Bury St Edmunds company was approached by Madame Tussauds in June after notice was given to the incumbent caterer. Servest started providing a full catering service within two weeks. The company said many of the staff are young, aspiring actors and expect a catering offering that matches the high street in terms of quality, variety and price. Peter Gallagher, facilities manager at Madame Tussauds London, said: “We asked Servest to mobilise a full service for us within two weeks, which I thought would be a major challenge for any provider. True to their word, the team had a sandwich and snack service running within 36 hours and a full hot breakfast and lunch service within one week. I have been massively impressed with all the Servest team. Nothing is too much for them and the team at Madame Tussauds London has been pleasantly surprised at the improvements made already. I would thoroughly recommend Servest to any organisation.”
Friday 25/9/15
Morningadvertiser: It’s cask-ing for trouble not training bar staff
By Mike Berry, 23-Sep-2015
As Cask Ale Week begins, Mike Berry asks the important question: Do your staff know about cask?