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Michelin stars released by the new Michelin guide

2011-01-20T02:02:00.000-08:00

Michelin has released its 2011 guide for Great Britain and Ireland and has awarded two stars to Cornwall-based chef Nathan Outlaw and French female chef Hélène Darroze.

The guide, which this year celebrates 100 years since its first publication in 1911, also awarded 12 restaurants in London and England with their first stars. There were no new additions in Scotland, Wales or Ireland and 10 establishments lost theirs stars. However, the results bring the total of Michelin-starred restaurants in Great Britain and Ireland to 143, the highest number in the guide's 37-year history of awarding stars.

A total of 26 restaurants were named Bib Gourmands for offering good food at moderate prices.

Commenting on the results, new editor in chief Rebecca Burr, who has replaced outgoing editor Derek Bulmer, said: "There is no doubt that 2010 was a difficult year but those hotels and restaurants that represented value for money, at whatever price, were the ones best placed to weather the storm. We found 12 new one-star restaurants but also awarded 26 new Bib Gourmands, which our readers particularly appreciate for their moderate prices."

Nathan Outlaw has debuted in the guide with two stars, having previously been tipped by Michelin as a rising two-star chef for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009. He relocated his restaurant from the Marina Villa hotel in Fowey to the St Enodoc hotel in Rock last year, where he also runs a more casual Seafood and Grill restaurant.

Meanwhile, French chef Hélène Darroze has been awarded her second star having held one star since 2009 following the opening of her eponymous restaurant at London's Connaught hotel in 2008. Last year, Darroze lost one of her two Michelin stars at her restaurant in Paris in the 2010 edition of the Michelin guide for France.

Among those operators celebrating their first star are newcomers including Nuno Mendes's Viajante, Philip Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas's Kitchen W8 and Alexis Gauthier's eponymous restaurant in London; as well as the 10 in 8 restaurant group's Paris House in Woburn, Bedforshire.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings has gained a star at the relaunched Pétrus, which reopened last March a stone's throw from the original, now occupied by Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley.

More established restaurants being awarded their first Michelin star include Petersham Nurseries in Richmond; the Curlew in Bodiam, East Sussex; and the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, Somerset.

The Michelin guide for Great Britain and Ireland this year celebrates its centenary as it has been 100 years since the very first edition was published in 1911 (it was published from 1911-1930 and then returned in 1974).

NEW TWO STAR RESTAURANTS

LONDON
Hélène Darroze at the Connaught, Mayfair

ENGLAND
Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock, Cornwall

NEW ONE STAR RESTAURANTS

LONDON
Kitchen W8, Kensington
Petersham Nurseries, Richmond
Viajante, Bethnal Green
Galvin La Chapelle, Spitalfields
Pétrus, Belgravia
Seven Park Place, St James
Gauthier Soho, Soho

ENGLAND
The Curlew, Bodiam, East Sussex
Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, Somerset
Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
The Black Rat, Winchester, Hampshire
Paris House, Woburn, Bedfordshire

RISING ONE STARS

The Marquis, Alkham, Kent
Artichoke, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
The Black Swan, Oldstead, Yorkshire
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh

DELETIONS

LONDON
Nahm (at The Halkin Hotel), Belgravia
Roussillon, Victoria

ENGLAND
Drakes on the Pond, Abinger Hammer, Surrey
The Goose (closed), Britwell Salome, Oxon
West Stoke House (closed), Chichester/West Stoke, West Sussex
The New Angel (closed), Dartmouth, Devon
Harry's Place, Grantham/Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire
The Star Inn, Helmsley/Harome, North Yorkshire

SCOTLAND
Summer Isles, Achitibuie, Highland

NORTHERN IRELAND
Deanes, Belfast, Antrim

NEW BIB GOURMANDS

LONDON
Goldfish City, City of London
28°-50°, City of London
Charlotte's Bistro, Chiswick
Trullo, Canonbury
Morito, Finsbury
Canton Arms, Stockwell
Simply Thai, Teddington
Zucca, Southwark
Galvin Café a Vin, Spitalfields
Iberica, Regent's Park & Marylebone
Polpo, Soho

ENGLAND
The New Inn, Bristol, Backwell
The Jolly Cricketers, Beaconsfield / Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
Chilli Pickle, Brighton and Hove, West Sussex
Carpenters Arms, Burford, Oxon
Pea Porridge, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Freemasons Country Inn, Clitheroe/Wiswell, Lancashire
La Locanda, Gisburn, Lancashire
Crown, Maidenhead/ Burchett's Green, Windsor & Maidenhead
The Magdalen Arms, Oxford, Oxforshire
Purefoy Arms, Preston Candover, Hampshire
Black Rock, St Ives, Cornwall
The Cat Inn, West Hoathly, West Sussex
The Bull Inn, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset

SCOTLAND
Osso, Peebles, Borders

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
O'Dowd's, Roundstone, Galway

For more information please visit: http://www.catersearch.com/

Cameron says fund to create 50,000 tourism jobs is on target to reach £100m

2011-01-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

A new four-year campaign which aims to market Britain as "the greatest show on earth" would create 50,000 tourism jobs and bring in an extra one million overseas visitors to the UK, the prime minister announced this morning.

Cash and payment in kind has been pledged by the likes of Radisson Edwardian, British Airways, Lastminute.com and P&O to help match the £50m of public money already committed by VisitBritain, to create a total fund of £100m.

David Cameron told a reception at Downing Street, attended by representatives of some of the companies which have already showed their support, that the eyes of the world will be focused on Britain as never before over the next two years.

"A Royal Wedding, Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee and of course the London Olympic and Paralympic Games offer us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not just for national pride and celebration, but also to promote this country as the perfect tourist destination, helping to create 50,000 new jobs and bring £2b more visitor spending to the UK," Cameron said.

"Last year we challenged British businesses to help us put together the best tourism marketing campaign ever for Britain - something that will make us the must-see destination for visitors from new growth markets in Asia and Latin America, as well as core ones such as Europe and the USA.

"The response has been magnificent, with pledges of cash and kind from companies that mean we are well on the way to our target."

Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport, said that British companies had already dug deep to back the Government in promoting the campaign.

"And I hope that others will pitch in, too - to become part of the global launch to market Britain as quite literally the greatest show on earth," he added.

The companies that have been announced so far are just the first raft of the founding partners of the campaign. Other companies involved in the tourism industry are being urged to sign up, too.

Jasminder Singh, chairman and chief executive of the Radisson Edwardian Group, said that his company was proud to be playing a part in promoting the country as a tourism destination, working in partnership with both trade and Government.

"We have 13 individual hotels in fantastic locations across London and Manchester which we hope will benefit from this partnership and provide both sides with some key opportunities for growth," he said.

For more information please visit:
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2011/01/05/336499/Cameron-says-fund-to-create-50000-tourism-jobs-is-on-target-to-reach.htm

Christmas party bookings sour

2010-12-09T05:44:00.000-08:00

Hospitality operators look set to benefit from the return of the Christmas party, with reports from one bookings firm that bookings are up more than 70% on last year.

Online booking service BookaTable said it had registered a 73% rise in bookings, with Friday 10 December as the most popular day for celebrating.

But the traditional Christmas meal seems to be losing popularity, with an increased number of Brits choosing dishes like tagliatelle and tiramisu over turkey and Christmas pudding, according to the sites. The most favoured food for Christmas party meals this year is Italian with 62% of revellers choosing this cuisine, compared with French (12%) and British (6%).

Jemima Bird, marketing director from Tragus Group, which includes Strada, Bella Italia and Café Rouge, said: "We've seen a significant rise in group bookings for Christmas parties, especially compared with last year. Interestingly, it seems our customers are not only ordering from a Christmas menu, but plenty are requesting Italian menu options instead. It might be that they are happy to wait till Christmas Day for their turkey with all the trimmings."

A spokesman for the British Hospitality Association said: "It's great for our industry that consumer confidence has returned to the extent that Christmas party bookings have seen such an increase. Restaurants rely on being full in December to cover the quieter times so this should stand them in good stead for the New Year."

Celia Pronto, managing director - consumer marketing for BookaTable, added: "The Christmas party is back with a bang in 2010 as it seems businesses are able to begin rewarding their employees again. Although many places are now fully booked, those still looking can find some fantastic deals."

Northcote unveils Obsession Food line up

2010-11-23T05:38:00.000-08:00

Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft (pictured) have announced the line-up of the 2011 Obsession Food Festival at their Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire.

The 10-day gastronomic celebration, which will run from 24 January to 2 February 2011, will feature some of the UK's most talented chefs, who will each cook an exclusive "one night only" menu.

The line-up of participants includes Michelin-starred chefs Martin Wishart, Martin Burge, Simon Rogan, Lisa Allen and Sat Bains, as well as Kenny Atkinson, James Martin, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Claire Clark and Vivek Singh.

Bancroft, Managing Director of Northcote, commented: "The event develops its own momentum, in a way it's a thank you to our customers for supporting us. It is also an opportunity for the staff to gain invaluable experience from some of the greatest chefs in the industry."

Tickets for the event, priced £100, are available on 01254 244508.

For more information please visit: http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/11/23/336026/Northcote-unveils-Obsession-food-festival-line-up.htm

Hospitality expected to benefit from royal wedding

2010-11-17T06:03:00.000-08:00

Prince William's wedding to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton is expected to boost business for the hospitality industry.

Due to take place in London in the spring or summer of next year, the wedding will mark the start of an unprecedented period in which the world's eyes will be focused on the UK, with the event being followed by the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics in 2012.

Visit England chief executive James Berresford said he was thrilled for William and Kate, and for tourism as well.

"The wedding next year will mean that once again the eyes of the world will be turned to our nation. We will have a wonderful opportunity to showcase all that is best about the country," he said.

VisitBritain research shows that the monarchy and associated places, events and history generates directly and indirectly more than £500m a year in revenue for the British tourism industry.

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the number of visits made to the UK by overseas residents in the first nine months of this year totalled 22.48 million - a 2% dip on the same period in 2009. Spending by overseas residents during UK trips so far this year has reached £12.57b - 1% down on the January to September 2009 figure.

For more information please visit: http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/11/16/335929/Hospitality-expected-to-benefit-from-royal-wedding.htm

Excellent British holidays are boosting domestic tourism

2010-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

"Excellent" holiday experiences and concerns over job security will help boost the popularity of the staycation in the future, VisitEngland has said.

According to UK Tourism Survey figures releases yesterday by VisitEngland, 4 per cent fewer domestic holiday trips were taken this year compared to 2009, although the UK saw an increase in 13 per cent on 2008.

The figures, says James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, reflects not only consumers’ increasing desire to cut back on leisure spend, but the quality of British holiday being offered.

“Our research shows that the England holiday experience remains an overwhelmingly positive one,” he said. “84 per cent of English break-takers rated their holiday experience as excellent or very good.
“69 per cent of people who had switched from an overseas holiday to one in England agreed that in the longer term, beyond 2010, they will take more domestic breaks than they did previously, which demonstrates that last year’s uplift in tourism has fundamentally changed perceptions of holidaying at home for the better.”

VisitEngland will next February launch a multi-media advertising campaign to help boost domestic travel figures during the Easter holidays.

For more information visit: http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/?page=articles&ID=205850

Paul Heathcote sells five restaurants to Living Ventures

2010-11-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

North-west-based chef-restaurateur Paul Heathcote has sold the majority of his restaurant portfolio to Living Ventures, owner of the Gusto, Blackhouse Grill and Est Est Est brands.

The former two-Michelin-starred chef has sold five of his nine remaining restaurants to the group, which was founded by Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, for an undisclosed sum. They include three Olive Press sites in Manchester, Liverpool and Cheadle Hulme as well as Grado in Manchester and London Road in Alderley Edge.

The move comes just weeks after Heathcote was forced to close his Liverpool flagship Simply Heathcotes and the Leeds branch of his Olive Press group of restaurants.

The deal leaves the chef with four sites including his former two-Michelin-starred Longridge Restaurant in Preston, Heathcotes Grill & Bar in Clitheroe, which opens next week, and two Olive Press sites in Preston and Bolton. Heathcote is currently looking to sell the Bolton site.

Heathcote said the deal would allow him to concentrate on gaining recognition for a small group of restaurants.

"I have always said that at 50 I would change the way I worked. After nearly 35 years in the business I still have ambitions, including gaining Michelin recognition for Longridge," he said.

"I have known Tim Bacon, CEO of Living Ventures, for many years. He is a very good operator and has had great success in growing his two brands - Gusto and Blackhouse Grill - so I know the restaurants are in good hands."

Heathcote and Living Ventures have entered a licensing agreement over joint continued use of the Olive Press brand, with both parties set to decide on future branding of these outlets in due course.

"There is every chance that I will look to rebrand the Preston restaurant in the New Year but a final decision has yet to be made," added Heathcote.

For more information please visit: http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/11/05/335850/Paul-Heathcote-sells-five-restaurants-to-Living-Ventures.htm

Women leaving hospitality costs industry £3bn finds reports

2010-10-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Every year, over 300,000 female workers leave the hospitality industry, a turnover that comes at a cost of almost £3bn to businesses, according to a new report.

Released yesterday by the hospitality skills council People 1st, the report also presented research findings that show how a company’s business performance increases when women form part of the senior management team.
“Employers in the industry are losing a valuable resource when talented women are unable to achieve their career ambitions,” said Martin-Christian Kent, director of policy and research at People 1st.

“If we are able to develop and retain more women in the industry, it would help ensure that we have the number of skilled managers we need for the future,” he said at the launch of the group’s awards for women in the hospitality industry.

The Top 100 Most Influential Women in hospitality awards – set up the council’s development programme, Women 1st – aim to recognise women for their achievements in the hospitality sector. Yesterday’s launch involved a call for nominations, which can be submitted via the People 1st website.
Barriers to the top
According to findings in the new report (‘Women 1st – the case for change: Women working in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism’) the sector loses £2.8bn per year in replacement recruitment and initial training directly as a result of 310,000 women leaving the industry. This compares to 224,500 men who leave the industry every year.
Although the sector continues to grow – with an additional 290,000 managers expected to be recruited over the next seven years – the percentage of female workers has been declining over the past six years, from 61 per cent in 2004/5 to 56 per cent in 2010.
Out of those, only 18 percent are employed in management or senior positions, compared to 25 per cent of men.
The report highlights the key barriers that prevent women from advancing to senior management roles in the sector. These are:
• The difficulty of combining work with caring responsibilities

• A dominant macho culture

• Preconceptions and gender bias

• A lack of networking

• A lack of visible women in senior positions

Business benefits of women

Women 1st also highlights research findings from various sources, which demonstrate a link between women’s representation in senior management and business performance indicators – such as financial performance and shareholder value.

For example, a Leeds University Business School study found that having at least one female director on the board cuts a company’s chances of going bust by about 20 per cent.

In addition, research by the New York-based group Catalyst found that the Fortune 500 companies with three or more women on the board showed a 73 per cent higher return on sales, an 83 per cent higher return on equity and a 112 per cent higher return on invested capital than those with the fewest female board members.

For more information please visit: http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/?page=articles&ID=205824

National Restaurant Awards 2010 to be announced next month

2010-09-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

Next month we will reveal the 100 best restaurants in the UK as part of this year’s annual National Restaurant Awards.

Voting by the National Restaurant Awards academy – comprising some of the UK’s best known chefs, restaurant critics, restaurateurs and food writers – is now over with votes cast across 15 categories, including the Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; Gastropub of the Year; Hotel Restaurant of the Year; Wine List of the Year and Best New Restaurant.

The results will be announced at an exclusive event on 11 October, after the first day of The Restaurant Show, and will be followed by a must-attend party.

The Fat Duck
Last year's winner of the ultimate accolade of National Restaurant of the Year 2010 as well as the Best Restaurant in England in 2009, was Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck in Bray.

Other winners last year included The Walnut Tree, named the Best Restaurant in Wales; Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, which picked up Restaurateurs’ Choice; Sat Bains, who was named Chefs’ Chef of the Year; and The Sportsman, which scooped Gastropub of the Year.
The awards this year, sponsored by Llanllyr Source Water, Martell Cognac, Nestle Chef and Nespresso, promise to be the most interesting yet.

To be among the first to find out how new high-profile openings this year, most notably Bar Boulud, Koffman’s, Bistro Bruno Loubet, Viajante, Kitchen W8, and Dean Street Townhouse have fared, and to see wether there are any major upsets, you’ll need to come along to the event.

For more information visit http://www.nationalrestaurantawards.co.uk/

Eating out report warns of long term effect of recession

2010-07-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

The UK eating-out market is starting to see green shoots of recovery, but while the amount spent on dining out of the home in 2010 is marginally up from last year the recession will have an enduring impact on consumer attitudes, according to new research.

The report, Eating Out in the UK 2010, produced by industry analysts Allegra Strategies, revealed the value of eating out would rise 1% from last year to £40.5b in 2010, with one in 10 meals eaten away from the home, down from one in nine in 2009.

The findings come in an extensive piece of research into the size of the UK informal eating-out market, which includes pubs, fast-food restaurants, staff restaurants and coffee shops.

The report, which tracked the eating habits of more than 2,000 consumers, found that there had been a decline in visits to outlets typically charging more than £10 per head, while outlets charging less than £10 have seen the strongest increase in trade. Moreover, discounting has become a permanent feature of the market, with nearly four in 10 adults using vouchers on a regular basis.

Eating Out in the UK 2010 predicted that growth would continue over the next five years, with the market hitting £49b in 2015. However, it warned that the market would be affected in 2011 by the outcome of the emergency budget and the rise in VAT to 20%.

The report also found a major trend towards healthier eating, sustainability and food provenance. It said that half of consumers claimed that healthier eating now formed part of their overall eating-out behaviour and said that local sourcing was the most important sustainability initiative for operators to engage in.

Steve Gotham, project director, Allegra Strategies, said the evidence of the market recovery after a difficult 2009 was encouraging. "However, with trading conditions set to be impacted by continuing economic uncertainty and the VAT rise to 20% in 2011, which will only serve to widen the price gap between the cost of eating in versus going out, short-term market prospects are set to remain challenging," he said.

"Foremost among customers' emerging needs are healthier eating and greater sustainability responsiveness from operators. Consumer awareness and knowledge of healthier eating and sustainability issues continues to grow - and more engagement in both of these areas from eating out businesses will be essential to strengthen customer affinity."

Centre Parcs to open more luxury accommodation

2010-07-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

Luxury accommodation at Center Parcs in Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire is to be increased with the opening of three tree houses and five exclusive lodges, in 2011.

The two-storey, four-bedroom tree houses at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire will each feature en-suite bathrooms and balconies to all bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a separate games and entertainment den and a private hot tub.

Meanwhile, the exclusive lodges at Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, will each have four en-suite bathrooms, a spa area with steam room, sauna and hot tub, as well as a dedicated games room with pool table and games console.

"The exclusiveness of the new lodges and tree houses make them very appealing not only for leisure guests but also for corporate bookers, offering a unique delegate experience," said Ian Linley, head of corporate sales, Center Parcs.

Over the past three years, more than £150m has been invested in improving the range of activities, upgrading the restaurants and introducing new luxury accommodation at the four Center Parcs in the UK, which include Elveden Forest in Suffolk and Whinfell Forest, Cumbria. A fifth site is currently under development in Bedfordshire.

Bhupinder Virdee-Lace Indian Recipes - Lamb Saag

2010-07-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

LAMB SAAG

Ingredients

400g roast lamb (cubed)
2 tins of spinach well drained or 750g baby leaf spinach
1kg of onions (finely chopped)
100g of butter or ghee
4 chillies finely chopped
1 thumb sized piece ginger finely sliced
2 heaped teaspoons of coriander seeds
2 teaspoons of turmeric
1 teaspoon of salt
Left over stems of coriander

Method

Cook the onions in butter or ghee for 2 hours on a low heat with crushed coriander seeds, stirring frequently to ensure that a crust does not form
Add chillies & root ginger and cook for a further 10 minutes
Add salt & turmeric and cook for a further 5-7 minutes
Add diced lamb and coat well with sauce
Heat for 10 minutes or until meat is piping hot
Add drained spinach or fresh spinach leaves and cook for 5 minutes
Add chopped coriander

Serve with rice or chapattis

Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 2.5 hours
Serves: 6

Relief Chef World Cup Competition

2010-06-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the 2010 world cup we are running a competition to win a mystery prize. To enter please text or email us and we will reply with your team and blogname. Check the blog to see who has which team and for updates on who’s been eliminated. There is also a prize for the first person to be knocked out!

New Website

2010-06-08T04:06:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, hope you like our new website. Please send us any news, views, tips or even a photo you would like to share!