Six restaurant managers are through to the final of this year’s UK Restaurant Manager of the Year competition, organised by The Academy of Food & Wine Service: Amie Duncan, The Butchershop Bar & Grill, Glasgow Dace Lace, Bat Globe House, London WC2 Karen Lee, The Cavendish Hotel, London SW1 Sunnil Panjabi, The Punch Tavern, London EC4 Ian Sturrock, The Arts Club, … [Read more...]
Paddy & Scott’s: coffee with a difference
In common with many operating in the world of artisan and speciality coffee, Paddy & Scott’s have not been operating for long: they started roasting coffee in 2007 in Scott’s garage over a real flame on an old 2 kilo roaster called "Old Smokey". In those early days it was all about having fun, creating new blends and delivering coffee from the boot of their car. But … [Read more...]
Piper invests in Hickory’s Smokehouse
City A.M. reports that Piper Private Equity, the organisation behind the Pitcher and Piano bar chain, has ploughed £6m into developing restaurant chain Hickory’s Smokehouse in a bid to guide and accelerate its expansion. Piper owns stakes in Be At One and Turtle Bay, and has backed Hickory’s Smokehouse with the aim of establishing 100 Hickory’s restaurants across Britain. … [Read more...]
Bella Italia: unfettered and forging ahead
Recent announcements from Tragus regarding disposals and management have tended to obscure the substantial activity and progress at their Bella Italia brand. H&C News therefore welcomed the opportunity to catch up with Nick White, Managing Director. Bella Italia already has a portfolio of 90 restaurants and has a declared objective of UK expansion to open up to 100 new … [Read more...]
Fraiche in Merseyside tops The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants
Fraiche in Oxton, Cheshire has been named Britain’s best restaurant, topping The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants. The list, which was published on Sunday 19 October is compiled by The Sunday Times in association with Harden’s. Now in its fifth year, it is based on 70,000 reviews from more than 6,000 consumers. Editor of The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants, Karen Robinson, … [Read more...]