Whitbread has announced deals for two prime City of London sites for its innovative new 'hub by Premier Inn' format, adding more than 350 bedrooms to the 'hub by Premier Inn' secured development pipeline The new sites – on St Swithin’s Lane near Bank, EC4, and on Quaker Street, Shoreditch, E1 – take the total number of secured ‘hub by Premier Inn’ development sites to nine … [Read more...]
NRB Top 50 Powerlist 2014 for North of England
Fifty top hospitality professionals have been honoured as the best in their industry in the North of England, as part of Northern Restaurant & Bar, held at Manchester Central on 18-19 March 2014. The third annual NRB Top 50 list was chosen by the exhibition organisers and a panel of industry experts from the Russell Partnership, strategic consultancy specialising in the … [Read more...]
Positive budget reactions despite unchanged business rates
The Chancellor announced the scrapping of the alcohol duty escalator, extension of reliefs for businesses, and efforts to deal with the cost of living in the measures in today’s Budget statement. It also signalled an increase in the personal allowance to £10,500, a doubling of the Annual Investment Allowance to £500,000, extension of Capital Allowances for three years, and an … [Read more...]
Imbibe Live 2014 appoints Ryan Chetiyawardana as Spirits Ambassador
The UK's largest on-trade drinks show, Imbibe Live, has announced it is working with world-renowned cocktail guru Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan) to continue to develop its acclaimed programme of inspirational spirits and cocktail features. Mr Lyan will work closely with the Imbibe team, as well as the magazine's regular drinks contributors, to develop compelling content and … [Read more...]
Clarissa Dickson Wright dies at 66
Clarissa Dickson Wright has died in Edinburgh aged 66. One half of TV cookery duo Two Fat Ladies with the late Jennifer Paterson, she started her career as a barrister, and filmed four series of the BBC Two programme before Paterson's death in 1999. "Loved dearly by her friends and many fans all over the world, Clarissa was utterly non-PC and fought for what she believed … [Read more...]