Monday 11/7/16
British Hospitality Association – Call for Seaside Tsar to Save Coastal Towns: A Seaside Tsar should be appointed to help Britain’s forgotten seaside towns fight back from decades of decay according to new research which paints a grim picture of the problems facing many coastal communities. The report, commissioned by the British Hospitality Association (BHA), says that people living in seaside towns are more likely to be… Read More
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk – Licensee fined over short measures
By Nikkie Sutton, 11-Jul-2016
Serving short measures has landed a North Yorkshire licensee in court. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Five Guys to open second Leicester restaurant in September: Better burger brand Five Guys is to open a second restaurant in Leicester in September. The company is opening the new-build site at the Meridian Leisure Park in Braunstone Town. It will join Casual Dining Group brand Bella Italia as well as The Restaurant Group-owned Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito at the complex. Rebecca Newman, spokeswoman for Meridian Leisure, which runs the site, told the Leicester Mercury: “We’re extremely excited about the opening of the new Five Guys. It is a great addition to our already diverse offering of restaurants on the park.” Five Guys was founded in Virginia in the US in 1986 by the Murrell family, and opened its first UK restaurant in Covent Garden in 2013. It has 45 other restaurants in the UK, including its other Leicester outlet in Cheapside, which opened last October.
Tuesday 12/7/16
Traveldailymedia.com – UK hotels struggling to meet guests’ Wi-Fi expectations: New research from ZyXEL Communications has revealed that guests are demanding more personal digital services from hotels, yet more than a quarter (27%) of hoteliers admit that their Wi-Fi struggles to cope with the number of connected guest devices. With the number of consumer internet enabled devices continuing to rise, one in ten (13%) hoteliers are still not happy with the Wi-Fi service they currently provide. Top complaints regularly made by guests are too much noise (49%) and no or poor Wi-Fi (40%) followed by an uncomfortable bed (12%) and no mini bar or tea and coffee facilities (9%). The survey of 100 UK hoteliers and over 1,000 consumers revealed a clear disconnect between the Wi-Fi service that hotels think they provide, and what guests actually demand. Hotel managers say that a reliable network access is available throughout the building; reception (98%), bedrooms (97%) and restaurants (93%), however 65 per cent of consumers admit that they’ve had to rely on a 3G / 4G network at some point during their stay, with many moving to the hotel lobby (35%), searching for a café (22%) or sat in the hotel corridor (18%) to get good wireless signal. Hotel managers highlight that Wi-Fi speed (37%) and drop outs (26%) are the biggest issues for guests, yet many remain confused as to the reasons why this happens. Thickness of walls (71%), size of connected devices (31%) and wooden furniture (13%) are just some of the answers hoteliers provide for poor connectivity. However, only 15 per cent are aware that microwaves impact Wi-Fi performance, and as little as 5 per cent understand that mirrors can also hinder Wi-Fi signal. To compound this, a quarter of hotels (26%) didn’t have a site survey before installing their wireless network and 46 per cent don’t even know if they had one. This suggests that hoteliers are not installing wireless networks that fits the needs of their building environment, and not designing their rooms with guest performance in mind. With Wi-Fi now one of the most requested services by guests (72%), ahead of items such as an iron or ironing board (37%) and tea / coffee facilities (24%), it’s no surprise that many expect to be provided with personalised concierge services during their stay. Over two-fifths (44%) of guests expect to be offered regional knowledge and information, a third (36%) want access to local special offers, and over a third (36%) want restaurant booking capabilities available over hotel networks. Yet only one in five (18%) hoteliers say that utilising W-Fi to improve the overall guest room experience was part of the business case when first installing a network. When asked about when and how their network was installed, forty-three per cent of hoteliers couldn’t name their network provider and a quarter (24%) couldn’t say who completed the installation. “With the likes of Airbnb shaking up the hotel industry, it’s critical for hoteliers to fight back and stay relevant by providing an exceptional guest experience,” said Lee Marsden, European president, ZyXEL. “It’s incredible to think that many hotel managers don’t know who provides their Wi-Fi or who installed the network considering it’s one of the most requested services by consumers these days. Many haven’t even had a site survey prior to installation. Installing a Wi-Fi network without conducting a site survey first is like throwing a party without checking if the venue is large enough for the number of people you want to invite.” “With guests expecting hotel Wi-Fi to provide digital concierge-like services, there’s a real opportunity for managers to utilise a high performing network to improve the guest experience while also exploring new revenue streams for the business. By offering reliable and effective Wi-Fi, hoteliers can ensure customer satisfaction and increase guest retention.”
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk– Brexit: EU allergen rules ‘not going anywhere’
By Daniel Woolfson, 12-Jul-2016
Licensees should not expect allergen legislation handed down from Brussels to change in the near future, despite Britain’s impending exit from the European Union, a leading food-safety expert has stressed. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Hotel Chocolat reports sales up 12% to £92.6m: Hotel Chocolat Group has reported sales of £92.6m for the full year to 26 June, an increase of 12% compared to the prior year, slightly ahead of market expectations. The group’s digital retail channel continued to perform well with revenues increasing by 20%. Since the Company’s admission to trading on AIM in May 2016, the new store opening programme has seen one new store opened in Sheffield on 9 May, with a further four new stores expected to open later this year. Capital projects, notably the increase in manufacturing capacity at the group’s facility near Cambridge, are on schedule and within budget. The Board maintains focus on its operating margins and tight cost control across all aspects of the business. Trading since FY16 continues to be in line with management’s expectations. Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and chief executive of Hotel Chocolat, said: “Hotel Chocolat has had a good start as a listed company, with pleasing growth slightly above expectations. We remain confident in our strategy. Our plans to invest further in our British chocolate manufacturing operations, in new stores, and in our digital offering are all progressing well.”
Propelinfonews.com – Initial part of J D Wetherspoon’s first pub and stand-alone hotel development to open in Huntingdon next week: J D Wetherspoon will open Sandford House in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on Tuesday, 19 July, seeing in the initial stage of its first pub and stand-alone hotel development. The 22-bedroom hotel will open next door to the pub on 4 October. The £4m development is on the site of The Old Post Office and George Hall in George Street. The pub will have a Rolls-Royce and royal carriage theme when it opens, creating 75 jobs. The pub’s manager, Sarah Hemingway, told the Cambridge News: “Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into the pub and we are confident it will be a great addition to the Huntingdon community.” Before it became a post office, the grade II-listed building was a substantial private home belonging to coachbuilder Charles Sandford Windover and was known as Sandford House. The adjacent factory made carriages for royalty and then custom-built car bodies, including 800 for Rolls-Royce. J D Wetherspoon bought the buildings in 2013.
Wednesday 13/7/16
British Hospitality Association – The BHA Catering Guide to Good Hygiene Practice Launched: Over 150 food and hygiene safety experts attended the launch of the long-awaited new industry guide to good hygiene practice in the catering industry on Monday, July 11. The Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Catering 2016, which is recognised by the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, and assured by the BHA’s Primary Authority,…Read More
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk – BT Sport hikes prices by 8.9%; launches two new services for pubs
By Mike Berry, 13-Jul-2016
BT Sport has revealed its price increase for the coming year for its commercial customers following Sky’s 10% hike. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Snug Bars to open evening-only venue in Bedford this month: Bar operator Snug Bars, led by Giles Fry, is to open an evening-only venue in Bedford this month. It will open at the former Artisan Tap in the high street in the centre of town on Monday, 25 July. The new location will be the eighth to open in The Snug group, which began in Cambridge ten years ago and has spread across the south of England. It will open from 4pm onwards and focus on cocktails – offering a range of 50. Fry said: “We can’t wait to welcome Bedford into our new Snug. We’ve created a unique twist on The Snug for a unique town and hope to welcome everyone through our doors over the next few weeks.”
Thursday 14/7/16
MorningAdvertiser.co.uk – 1 in 5 pubs under ‘significant financial distress’
By Oli Gross, 14-Jul-2016
The number of pubs struggling financially is on the rise, with more than one in five reporting ‘significant distress’, according to latest research. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Krispy Kreme opens drive-thru doughnut store and production hub in Peterborough: Krispy Kreme has opened a drive-thru doughnut store and production hub in Peterborough. The company opened the 4,577 square foot Hotlight site in Hampton having previously agreed a deal with landlord Sladen Estates. The venue has about 40 seats, a drive-thru lane and a production hub supplying doughnuts to all Krispy Kreme in-store cabinets within a one-hour radius. The new venue is one of only 11 Hotlight sites in the country. It opens from 8am and also serves coffee and Kreme shakes. Chief marketing officer Judith Denby told the Peterborough Telegraph: “Our Hotlight stores provide the ultimate way for doughnut-lovers to experience the joy and excitement of Krispy Kreme. It will allow customers to see and smell the magic at work in its unique doughnut theatre – a true sensory experience. From hand-dipping the doughnuts to sprinkling and piping the decorative finishes, Krispy Kreme’s skilled production teams will be working around the clock to ensure each doughnut in its 16-strong range is unique and tastes delicious.”
Propelinfonews.com – Family-run business opens vegetarian Indian restaurant, second Norwich site: The husband-and-wife team that operates the Namaste India vegetarian restaurant in Norwich has opened a second site in the city. Vijay and Urmila Jetani will open Namaste Village in Queens Road with Vijay’s brother Dalsukh, his wife Drashti and friend Rudhika Vaghasiya. Vijay Jetani told the Eastern Daily Press: “The family aspect is one of our biggest strengths – the business keeps us together as a family, we all work as a unit, all live together in one house and share lots of the same philosophies. Everybody who cooks learned through their mothers – watching, experimenting and tasting. This means we have authentic Indian recipes that are unique to our family.” Like Namaste India, the restaurant offers only vegetarian food, with several vegan and gluten-free dishes. Vijay Jetani added: “We are all vegetarians, so I would not feel true to our principles serving meat dishes when we don’t eat it ourselves.”
Propelinfonews.com – Plans submitted for new micro-pub in Peterborough: Plans to convert a vacant shop into a micro-pub have been lodged with Peterborough City Council. The applicant, Steven Williams, has filed a change of use application to convert 78 Storrington Way. The unit is in a residential area in Werrington and is part of a parade of shops serving the area. The property has been empty for a number of years. In planning documents submitted to the city council, the applicant said the venture would complement the existing businesses within the parade of shops and might provide them with “additional trade”. The application further added that the scheme would “fully respect the local amenity” and would not have an “undue or unacceptable impact on local people or businesses”. The micro-pub would be open from Wednesday to Sunday.
Friday 15/7/16
GolfClubManagement.net – Warning as Yorkshire golf club becomes victim of huge bank fraud: Hull Golf Club in Yorkshire has become the victim of what is thought to be, financially, the biggest bank fraud to have hit the golf industry ever. The club’s account has had nearly £300,000 taken out by fraudsters and a spokesman has admitted the club is unlikely to get most of it back. According to the Hull Daily Mail, the scam took place at the end of May. The police have been called in, an investigation has been launched by Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, and the club’s members have been notified. Much of the money came from their £1,000-a-year subscription fees. While it is not clear exactly what happened a security expert has warned all golf club employees not to disclose account details and passwords over the phone, as fraudsters are constantly trying to trick people into revealing information. In a letter to members, club chairman John Jackson says “with profound regret” he has to report that “a sum approaching £300,000 was removed from the club’s bank account.” He goes on to say “a partial although small” amount of money may be recovered, but it is likely the “scam fraudsters” will escape with the bulk of the cash. The club says its own “governance and internal controls” will be investigated. Independent experts said the crime had all the hallmarks of a “targeted attack” on the golf club. John McDowell, managing director of Encription, a digital security company, said: “Sports clubs make ideal targets. It sounds as though this was a targeted attack, and I say that because most large organisations have already been attacked, and so have taken the necessary precautions to protect themselves. “They are therefore much, much harder to hit, and it has forced hackers to go for the low-lying fruit, as it were – the golf clubs and small businesses. “The biggest weakness is people. “People like to be helpful and scammers exploit that. “They will phone businesses, as well as individuals, saying they’re from the bank and could they have account numbers and passwords.” The impact on subscriptions at the club is not yet known. The club, which currently has a nine-month waiting list to join, was founded in 1904. It is popular with high-profile businesspeople and has counted Hull City footballers among its 800 members. In a statement, Hull Golf Club said: “It appears that we have suffered at the hands of very cleverly organised scam fraudsters. We are cooperating fully with the Action Fraud. Despite this setback, the club is able to continue to provide normal services to members and visitors. Our members and staff have been informed.”
Propelinfonews.com – Rock ‘n’ roll chef transforms Enterprise pub: Sam Scott, who spent the past 15 years catering for performers such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi and The Beach Boys, has given up touring to become an Enterprise publican. Scott has turned The Swan in Kibworth, Leicestershire, into Scotts at The Swan. Her diverse menu, which includes a lunchtime tapas offering, has been inspired by her experience catering for bands from different cultural backgrounds. Everything from chutneys to sauces is homemade, with dishes including braised ox cheek, and coriander-roasted baby monkfish tail. She said: “I wanted to find a permanent property where I could focus on developing and innovating my food offer. When I saw the opportunity at The Swan, I jumped at it.” Enterprise regional manager Stefan Nycz added: “Sam had very little experience running a pub and managing a cellar, which goes to show if you have a strong vision for how a pub should be and the ability to make it happen, we can help train you.”
Sunday 17/7/16
Mirror.co.uk – It’s time to support your local pub as more than 2,500 bars closing: Camra boss Colin Valentine said the closure rate was “still alarmingly and unacceptably high”. Around 2,500 more pubs are set to disappear by 2019, industry experts warn. The number of locals across England is expected to slump from 47,500 to just 45,000 because of changing drinking habits and increased running costs. But pub closure rates are slowing down thanks to a big jump in food sales over the past 12 months and a Government freeze on beer duty – a result for our Support Your Pub campaign. Industry analysts MCA say the closures will result in a “leaner, fitter pub market” with independent locals taking a greater market share alongside managed, branded and high street bars. Almost two-thirds of pubs polled think their turnover will increase this year. Six out of ten owners plan to invest in their pubs, spending up to £10,000 on improvements. But Camra boss Colin Valentine said the closure rate was “still alarmingly and unacceptably high”.