Here is our Hospitality News Roundup from around the country for week commencing 7th March. If we’ve missed anything please add in the comments below:
Monday 7/3/16
Morning Advertiser: Pubco fined £100k after firefighter dies from fall through railings
By Oli Gross, 04-Mar-2016
A pubco has been fined £100,000 after the death of an off-duty firefighter who fell through a gate in the railings at a pub. Read More
Big Hospitality: Government gets tough on fake online reviews
By Sophie Witts, 04-Mar-2016
Businesses which arrange for third parties to write fake positive reviews about them online are at risk of falling foul of consumer protection law, according to new guidance. Read More
Propelinfonews.com: Chestnut Group appoints growth marketing agency to support expansion plans: Cambridgeshire-based Chestnut Group, which was established in May 2012 by former banker and corporate financier Philip Turner, has appointed growth marketing agency Thomond to support its expansion plans. The Chestnut Group has recruited Thomond as it looks to establish its footprint within East Anglia and is currently reviewing a number of opportunities as it looks to develop services across hospitality, management and lifestyle. Turner said: “We are at a very exciting stage in The Chestnut Group’s evolution and wanted a partner that can help us achieve our ambitions of creating a brand that is renowned for setting new standards within the hospitality sector. Thomond’s proven experience of establishing market leading brands and providing a flexible range of PR and marketing services made them an ideal partner for us.” Thomond managing director Jonathon Bates added: “Having meet Philip and the team it was clear straight away that they are no ordinary hospitality group. There is a very clear vision and plan for how they want The Chestnut brand to become synonymous with a new benchmark for service and quality within the hospitality sector, which is a hugely exciting prospect.” The Chestnut Group’s first opening was The Packhorse Inn in Moulton, near Newmarket. It also owns The Rupert Brooke in Grantchester and has taken on The White Horse in Easton, near Framlingham, which marks the company’s first move into management. The portfolio also includes the former nine-bedroom Ounce House in Bury St Edmunds, which is currently undergoing a major renovation before opening later this summer.
Propelinfonews.com: Loungers eyes venue at Corby nightclub site: Cafe bar brand Loungers plans to open a venue, with the working name Paletto Lounge, on the site of a former nightclub in Corby, Northamptonshire. Loungers has applied to serve alcohol from 10am to 11pm, from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 10am to midnight on Thursday to Saturday. There is also an application for late-night food to be served from 11pm until 11.30pm during the week, and from 11pm until 12.30am from Thursday to Saturday. The Northamptonshire Telegraph reports final agreements have yet to be signed by the leaseholders Sovereign Estates, but negotiations are believed to be in the final stages. Loungers was started by three friends in Bristol in 2000 and now has nearly 80 sites in the UK. The closest Loungers venue to Corby is Kino Lounge in Kettering.
Tuesday 8/3/16
Propelinfonews.com: Sheldon Inns ordered to pay record £23,900 for illegal Sky use: Midlands-based pub management company Sheldon Inns has been ordered to pay £23,900 in fines and costs for showing Sky Sports illegally in the Castle Inn in Park Lane, Kidderminster. The sum is a record following the conviction brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft for illegal Sky use in licensed premises. Sheldon Inns entered a guilty plea at Redditch Magistrates’ Court for dishonest reception of a Sky televised football match without a commercial viewing agreement with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable charge. Alison Dolan, deputy managing director of Sky Business, said: “This issue is very close to the hearts of our legitimate Sky pub customers, who are being left short-changed by licensees broadcasting Sky content illegally.”
Wednesday 9/3/16
Englandgolf.org: Women to the fore as historic club shrugs off tradition: One of England’s oldest golf clubs will shrug off 123 years of tradition next week when women are appointed to all its key positions.Royal Norwich Golf Club in Norfolk will give a champagne welcome to new club captain Angela Loveday and club president Cherry Bishop, who will be supported by junior captain Jasmine Campbell and ladies’ captain Janet Clare. The historic drive-in, on Saturday 19 March, will be attended by all four and by England Golf President-Elect Marian Rae. Royal Norwich is actively involved in attracting more women and girls into golf and supports England Golf initiatives to grow the game.Lauren Spray, the England Golf Women and Girls’ Participation Manager, commented: “This is very good news which helps to break down barriers and dispel perceptions about the game. Golf is a friendly, welcoming sport and a game for all. Congratulations to Royal Norwich and its officials.” General Manager Phil Grice said: “We have appointed the best people for these roles, regardless of sex, and it is a shame in some respect that this is considered ground breaking. “We hope that other clubs, whilst respecting their heritage, also look forward with an open mind in terms of equality and developing our sport.” Angela Loveday, who has been a member of Royal Norwich for almost 14 years, will be the first woman club captain in Norfolk, but her appointment will be quickly followed by at least two other county clubs which have women vice captains. Read More
Morning Advertiser: Pubco directors banned for failing to keep adequate books
By Oli Gross, 09-Mar-2016
The directors of a pubco which racked up debts of £213,081 have been banned from the trade for eight years for failing to keep adequate books in the build-up to the company’s liquidation. Read More
Propelinfonews.com: Lifeboat Pub Company takes on third site: Lifeboat Pub Company, led by Tim Joudrey, has take on its third site – the Enterprise Inns-owned The Wash & Tope in Hunstanton, Norfolk. The pub in Le Strange Terrace has officially reopened following a £340,000 refurbishment. It features nautical-themed decor, including maritime-style seating and lighting. The revamp has created eight additional jobs with up to ten more staff being taken on from Easter. Joudrey said: “I want The Wash & Tope to replicate what we’ve done at our other Norfolk pub, The Two Lifeboats, at Sheringham, and offer a very accessible, mid-range drinking and dining experience for couples and families. The local authority and people in Hunstanton are delighted with what we’re doing in partnership with Enterprise. They’re really pleased to see this sort of investment, saying it’s just what the town needs, and a real breath of fresh air.” The Lifeboat Pub Company’s other venue is The Shroppie Fly in Audlem, Cheshire, which is owned by Punch. Enterprise Inns invested £2.4m in key pubs across its East Anglia region in its last financial year (FY15) and early FY16.
Propelinfonews.com: Nottingham-based restaurateur launches all-day Moroccan and Lebanese eatery, plans chain: Nottingham-based restaurateur Abdou Ali El Bahtini has started expanding his portfolio by opening an all-day Moroccan and Lebanese eatery and is planning a chain of sites. El Bahtini, who owns Arabic restaurant Marrakesh in Chapel Bar, has launched Marrakesh Express in nearby Long Row. He has signed a 15-year lease for the 35-seater cafe and takeaway on the site of former noodle bar Yo Yo. The asking rent was £24,000 per year. El Bahtini told the Nottingham Post: “It’s a very good area of the city. We’ve done well here with the restaurant so wanted to open another premises close by so I can work in both of them. We would like to create a chain. This new takeaway will have a different style with more Lebanese wraps and salads, whereas the restaurant is pure Moroccan.” Agent Bruton Knowles handled the lease and senior surveyor at its Nottingham office Geoff Solman said: “We received a lot of inquiries about the restaurant premises. The landlord was very pleased at the level of interest this property attracted. Marrakesh Express is a great addition to the proliferation of new restaurants in the city centre at the moment – it is offering something different and exciting to the mix.”
Thursday 10/3/16
Food Standards Agency: Views wanted on rare burgers advice: The Food Standards Agency is consulting on advice for food businesses and local authority enforcement officers on the safe preparation and service of burgers that are served pink or less than thoroughly cooked. The growing popularity of burgers served pink has led the FSA to develop the advice. It is aimed at helping businesses meet consumer demand for rare burgers while keeping customers protected. Burgers that aren’t thoroughly cooked can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning if the right controls aren’t in place. – See More
Propelinfonews.com: CAMRA welcomes £3.6m community pub business support programme: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed a £3.6m community pub business support programme to prevent the threat of closure for local pubs in England through support for community ownership. Chief executive Tim Page said: “With 27 pubs closing every week, CAMRA welcomes this great news from the community pubs minister Marcus Jones. Pubs play a key role in communities, increasingly providing services, which go above and beyond their traditional role. This programme will provide groundbreaking and comprehensive support for communities seeking to buy local pubs to save them from closure. The announcement of The Community Pub Business Support Programme recognises the valuable contribution our pubs make in our villages, towns and cities, and brings confidence to communities who want to keep their pub open for business. We would like the government to build further on its support of the pub by cutting beer duty and ensuring that planning permission is required for a pub to be converted to any other use.” CAMRA has actively campaigned for the preservation of local pubs by encouraging communities and pub-goers to persuade their local council to list their pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). So far more than 1,250 pubs are listed as ACVs and CAMRA aims to increase this to 3,000 by the end of 2016.
Propelinfonews.com: Hawthorn Leisure strengthens senior management team: Hawthorn Leisure has further strengthened its senior management team, appointing Matthew Ward as chief financial officer and Jennie Walton as head of marketing. Ward will take up his role on Monday, 4 April, having held a number of senior management roles across the retail, travel and transport sectors, most recently with the Co-operative Group. Walton will bring her wealth of experience in brand development and innovation into Hawthorn’s growing businesses Last Orders and craft beer concept Artisan Tap. She will also offer a range of marketing support packages to those who work in partnership with the company within its 350-strong leased and tenanted divisions. Chief executive Gerry Carroll said: “The appointment of both Matthew and Jennie further endorses the strength of the Hawthorn management team as we continue to grow and develop the business. We are delighted that both Matthew and Jenny bring with them bags of talent and energy as well as a real passion for the business.”
Friday 11/3/16
Morning Advertiser: Barred customer advice frustrates hosts
By Emily Sutherland, 11-Mar-2016
Frustrated licensees have hit out at restrictions preventing pictures of barred customers from being displayed in back-of-house areas.
Propelinfonews.com: Varsity Hotel in Cambridge to open £2m all-day restaurant: The Varsity Hotel and Spa in Cambridge is set to open a £2m restaurant on the premises. The hotel in Thompson’s Lane will open an all-day restaurant at the end of April, creating more than 40 jobs. The 120-cover restaurant and bar will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunches. It will be sited on the sixth floor, below the rooftop garden, complementing the hotel’s River Bar Steakhouse and Grill. A spokesman for the restaurant told Cambridge News: “Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout and two spectacular terraces will provide diners with a breathtaking panorama of historic Cambridge and its beautiful architecture.”