The family-owned Apex Hotels has made its second rural property acquisition with the purchase of Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course in Aberdeenshire, the specifics of the transaction undisclosed.

Following its acquisition of Pine Trees hotel in Pitlochry in July of last year, the group intends to further expand its footprint in rural areas.

For over three decades, Meldrum House, a 13th-century manor house nestled within 250 acres of picturesque countryside, has been under the private ownership of Aberdeenshire businessmen Bob Edwards and Terry and David Buchan.

more »

The Institute of Hospitality, in its pursuit of Chartered Status, has announced the appointment of Martin Traynor OBE FIH to its Board of Trustees. Traynor, formerly the Small Business Crown Representative at the UK Government’s Cabinet Office, brings valuable expertise to advance this process.

The appointment is a direct response to feedback from His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, highlighting the Institute's limited recognition within the Government and for the Chartered Status application, the need to increase their visibility as the hospitality industry’s largest global, organisation for professionals.

more »

Pizza restaurant group Rudy’s is set to open its sixth London location this month, aiming to have a total of 10 venues in the capital by year's end.

Rudy’s will open its first west London restaurant in Queensway on 27 April. This new venue will complement its existing London locations in Soho, Shoreditch, Fitzrovia, and Spitalfields. Additionally, the group has a site at the competitive socialising venue Fairgame in Canary Wharf.

Located in a former bank close to Hyde Park, Rudy’s Queensway will be set over two floors with a basement complete with original exposed brickwork arches.

more »

MasterChef: The Professionals runner-up Tommy Thorn is to head up the kitchen at Puro restaurant in Somerset from next month.

Puro, owned by Dom and Alex Lamy, opened in 2017. Dom said: 'We are absolutely over the moon to have Tommy joining us at Puro. He is an excellent chef with a good business mind and we cannot wait for him to get into the kitchen and start cooking. We have no doubt that Tommy will elevate the food at Puro to the best it's ever been, and how lucky for the people of Clevedon to have this right on their doorstep!'

Thorn added: 'I'm delighted to be taking on a new concept with Puro.

more »

In London's Knightsbridge, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has recently launched Lucho, a dinner-exclusive restaurant showcasing the flavors of Chilean cuisine.

Executive Chef Francisco Hernandez highlights Chilean recipes inherited from his grandfather, Luis, fondly known as Lucho.

Lucho, the restaurant's namesake, was renowned for hosting regular gatherings for friends and family behind his grocery store in Chile. These evenings were characterised by homemade cuisine, board games, and inventive cocktails.

more »

Mark Reynolds has been appointed as the new chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs.

Reynolds, previously serving as the regional executive chef for Levy UK and Ireland and boasting six years as the executive head chef for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, steps into the role, succeeding Matt Owens, who held the position for three-and-a-half years.

In addition to his roles, Reynolds serves as a committee member for Springboard and has been an advocate for enhancing mental health awareness within the industry.

more »

The chef from London's 'mostly vegan' eatery Tendril is set to unveil a new café at Somerset House in May.

Rishim Sachdeva is launching Café Petiole, a 27-seat ‘plant-first' establishment featuring all-day dining options and a selection of homemade condiments available for takeout.

Situated just off the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, Café Petiole will complement the offerings of Skye Gyngell's Spring restaurant and WatchHouse coffee, enhancing the culinary landscape at Somerset House.

Named after the botanical term for the connecting stalk between a plant stem and its leaf.

more »

Incipio Group, known for managing establishments like Pergola on the Wharf and the Libertine, has revealed intentions to introduce a 'elevated F&B offer' at the upcoming Olympia development in London.

The £1.3 billion, 14-acre endeavor spearheaded by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International is slated for a grand opening in the summer of 2025.

Upon completion, the Olympia will offer a plethora of entertainment and event facilities, featuring multiple dining and beverage venues, office spaces.

more »

Lukas Juhaniak has been named the head chef of the two-Michelin-starred Trivet restaurant located in London's Bermondsey.

Juhaniak (pictured on the left) joined the restaurant in 2021 and has worked with its founders, Jonny Lake (pictured on the right) and Isa Bal, for the past three years.

Trivet was established in 2019 by Lake, the former executive head chef at the Fat Duck Group, and Bal, who previously served as the head sommelier at the Fat Duck.

The restaurant won its first Michelin star in 2022.

more »

Loungers has ramped up its site rollout significantly this year, unveiling a new location every 10 days.

Earlier this month, the company behind the Lounge, Cosy Club, and Brightside brands fortified its senior leadership team with three new appointments. This strategic move is aimed at providing robust support for the ongoing expansion and growth of the business.

Since the beginning of 2024, the group has opened new Lounges in Bromsgrove, Chepstow, Macclesfield, Westwood Cross, Bracknell, Ilkley.

more »

The Lifeboat Inn and The Chequers Inn in the North Norfolk coastal village of Thornham have become the latest acquisition for Chestnut, East Anglia’s fastest-growing hospitality business.

The acquisition accelerates Chestnut’s foothold in the region, through the addition of a further 28 bedrooms – with the opportunity to add more. A 27% increase in the number of overnight stays going into 2023, according to data from Visit North Norfolk, highlighted increasing demands from tourists for accommodation in the area.

The Group recently hired Rob Spillings as Head of Operations Norfolk to help drive the expanding business.

more »

There are just days to go until the Grand Finals of Nestlé Professional’s prestigious Toque d’Or competition. And award-winning chef and judge, Tommy Banks, has offered last-minute advice for the 12 budding chefs and restaurateurs competing for the grand prize.

As the finalists prepare to go head-to-head, Tommy shares his five top tips to help them excel under pressure and make the most of the transformative, week-long experience:

1. Stay organised and focused: “First and foremost it’s all about maintaining your composure.

more »

Leading baked goods manufacturer, Délifrance, has announced the launch of an irresistible Chocolate Bun, adding to its range of premium, ready-to-bake viennoiseries.

Catering to the indulgence trend and moments of escapism, the hybrid Chocolate Bun pastry is perfect for those who eat breakfast on-the-go, or as a delicious snack throughout the day. Its generous and delicious chocolate filling, together with its unique dome shape and a spiral puff pastry effect, offers the perfect combination of classic flavour and innovative design.

More than half of global consumers claim to eat chocolate confectionery at least once a week[1].

more »

In July, The Francis hotel in Bath, part of the Sutton Hotel Collection, is set to undergo a £13 million refurbishment.

As part of the refurbishment, all 98 bedrooms and suites will undergo renovation, alongside the addition of a thermal spa featuring three treatment rooms.

Additionally, there are plans to introduce a new Townhouse Brasserie, highlighting seasonal British cuisine as part of the renovation.

Simultaneously.

more »

The ownership of Palé Hall Hotel & Restaurant in Llandderfel, Wales, has transitioned to private buyers Anthony and Donna Barney of Baslow Holdings Developments.

For the past decade, Angela and Alan Harper have been the proprietors of the 22-bedroom, five-AA-red-star country house hotel nestled within 50 acres of landscaped gardens.

In February, the couple listed the property for sale with a guide price of £6 million as they prepared for retirement.

Dating back to 1871.

more »

Berenjak, the Persian restaurant backed by JKS Restaurants, has opened a site at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire.

Little Berenjak sits in the grounds of the Soho House members' club and serves a similar menu to its London restaurants, which is inspired by the hole-in-the-wall ‘kabab' houses of Tehran.

'As the name suggests, it's a little sister to our London restaurants in all the best ways,' said the Berenjak website.

'The menu is made up of Berenjak classics.

more »

With consumers’ tastes and shopping habits evolving and sustainable sourcing, health and nutrition being crucial to their decision-making, find out how seafood meets these credentials – and how UK retailers can capitalise.

As consumer tastes and shopping habits evolve, the interest in responsibly sourced seafood is growing, marking it as a vital, healthy and delicious component in the food security conversation. But to keep its unique qualities front of mind, it is imperative that the seafood industry takes a leading role, guiding consumers towards making informed choices.

At the recent Norway – UK Seafood Summit.

more »

Little Door & Co., renowned for its house-party inspired late-night ambiance, is set to unveil its fifth location on Kingly Street come June.

Expanding its central London presence, The Little Violet Door marks the group's second venture in the heart of the city, complementing its existing Soho establishment, The Little Scarlet Door. Adding to its vibrant neighborhood locations—The Little Yellow Door in Notting Hill, The Little Blue Door in Fulham, and The Little Orange Door in Clapham—the group is poised to exceed 150 employees upon the new site's launch. With this growth trajectory, the company anticipates achieving a turnover of £12 million by the end of 2024.

more »

After dedicating eight years to the Ottolenghi group, Elaine Goad steps into the role of head chef at Nopi, the renowned restaurant nestled in London's vibrant Soho district.

Goad is the second female head chef at Nopi. Nicole Pisani was the first female head chef at this restaurant back in 2012 and left in 2014.

Having spearheaded Ottolenghi Chelsea's launch in 2021 as head chef, Elaine Goad now brings her expertise to Nopi, marking a significant transition within the Ottolenghi group.

In 2015.

more »

Twenty winners of the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2024 have been announced at a prestigious ceremony hosted by comedian Simon Brodkin at the InterContinental Park Lane.

Delivered in partnership with headline sponsor IHG, the awards celebrated those that have gone above and beyond to grow their organisations, look after their people and champion the industry.

The evening began with the Fiona Colley Trainee of the Year Award, sponsored by Savoy Educational Trust. Winner Sophie Pace-Balzan was recognised for showing tenacity and passion to overcome challenges which had previously prevented her from finding employment.

more »