Mezze Restaurants is bucking the national trend of UK pub closures by further expanding its fast growing empire. The West Country group, which already has six restaurants under its belt, is ploughing ahead with its expansion with two new venues earmarked for 2014. Latest figures by the Campaign for Real Ale reveal that 28 pubs are closing every week, an increase of two a week … [Read more...]
Marriott London Grosvenor Square changes owners
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has sold the 237-room Marriott London Grosvenor Square hotel for £125.15 million ($207.7 million), or approximately £528,000 per key ($877,000). The hotel was sold to an affiliate of Hong Kong based private equity firm Joint Treasure and remains subject to a ground lease with 43 years remaining on the term. The Company was advised by JLL … [Read more...]
Domino’s UK sales up 10.8% in pleasing results
Domino's Pizza Group has announced its Trading Statement covering the 13 week period to 30 March 2014, making a strong start to the year with system sales rising by 14.8% to £188.5m (2013: £164.1m), largely driven by strong like-for-like sales growth in the first part of the quarter. Successful meal deal drives sales Like-for-like sales in the UK in 725 mature stores … [Read more...]
Chaine des Rotisseurs: 2014 winners
The results of the two Chaine des Rotisseurs competitions for 2014 have been announced. Young Chef of the Year Winner: Ricki Weston from Southlodge Hotel (London City) Second: Deepak Mallya from Bournemouth and Poole College & The Ritz (Wessex) Third: Joe Gould from Lainston House (Wessex) Young Sommelier of the Year Winner: Tanguy Martin from Hotel … [Read more...]
PizzaExpress unveils its new spring menu
To celebrate the arrival of Spring, PizzaExpress has launched a new menu which boasts classic Italian style and fashionable flavours, as well as a wider range of its low-calorie Leggera dishes which contain fewer than 500 calories. The new menu is available from 1 April 2014. Rebecca Farrer, Brand Director at PizzaExpress said, “We’re constantly looking at food trends and have … [Read more...]