Pub insolvencies hit decade high
Nearly 800 pubs entered insolvency in 2023 – the highest number in over a decade.

According to data from accountancy firm Price Bailey, 769 pubs closed across the UK, which marked a 48% jump from the 518 closures recorded in 2022.

Price Bailey said the final figure was likely to be higher, as more pubs would have been closed by multi-site groups that did not enter insolvency.

There were 38.

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21/Mar/2024 10:55
WorkplaceCompany News
Cheat sheets: how to make your laundry operation clean and serene
Cutting wash time, using less detergent and smart dryers all contribute to running a super-efficient, sweet-smelling laundry. Angela Frewin reports on the freshest developments

Clean linen is critical to hotels. In fact, procurement bosses at hotel companies Marriott International and Accor said that 'without it, we can't sell our rooms' at a series of joint round tables held by the Textile Services Association (TSA), UKHospitality and the UK Housekeeping Association.

Multiple surveys have consistently underlined the supreme importance to guests of comfortable and immaculately-laundered bedroom fabrics for sumptuous sleep and bathroom bliss.

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21/Mar/2024 10:53
WorkplaceCompany News
Compass partners with Women in Food to create ‘industry-first’ maternity chef jacket
Compass Group UK & Ireland has created its own maternity jacket; a specially-designed, industry-first uniform that provides proper support, fit and function for female colleagues throughout pregnancy and beyond.

Led by Compass Group’s Women in Food community and tried and tested by pregnant Compass chefs, the team worked with respected fashion designer Lynda Yong for over a year to perfect the design, health and safety specifications, comfort, fit and practicalities.

The jacket has been made in a ‘unique’ lightweight material that helps dissipate heat and promotes airflow.

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14/Mar/2024 12:30
WorkplaceCompany News
Education catering organsiations celebrate International School Meals Day
The heads of school catering organisations throughout the UK have joined forces to mark International School Meals Day today (March 14th) with an open letter of praise for the work of their teams.

In the letter to their members Christopher Ross, chair of ASSIST FM, Anita Brown, chair of LACA, Judith Gregory, vice chair of LACA and former chair of its Wales Region, and Stephen Briggs, head of catering for the Education Authority (Northern Ireland) say: 'We have the pleasure of wishing all our school meals colleagues across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland a very happy International School Meals Day.

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14/Mar/2024 12:28
WorkplaceCompany News
A brill idea: how to link sustainability with inventive seafood cookery
Sustainability is paramount when serving fish and seafood, so why not make it work to your advantage and introduce unusual species and dishes? Will Hawkes reports

He might be the godfather of modern British seafood cooking, but even Rick Stein is not immune to criticism. When Rick Stein Restaurants' Instagram account revealed in November that his Padstow flagship restaurant had bought and served a 150kg bluefin tuna, a species that has recently returned to British waters, online criticism began almost immediately and the articles followed (‘Rick Stein roasted by conservationists', insisted the Daily Mail).

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29/Feb/2024 11:54
WorkplaceCompany News
MPs increase pressure on chancellor to support hospitality in Spring Budget
More than 40 MPs have signed a letter to chancellor Jeremy Hunt calling for the hospitality and tourism industries to be supported in the Spring Budget saying they are 'significantly over-taxed'.

The MPs said that action was needed to allow operators to 'thrive and accelerate growth in the wider UK economy' and urged the chancellor to take action on 'inequitable business rates' and VAT.

The letter written by Simon Jupp, Conservative MP for East Devon and chair of the all-party parliamentary group for hospitality and tourism.

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29/Feb/2024 11:47
WorkplaceCompany News
Former National Chef of the Year appointed LACA school food ambassador
Mark Sargeant, former National Chef of the Year, has been named the LACA school food ambassador.

Having spent 13 years alongside Gordon Ramsay, the chef joins the association of school caterers during a period marked by substantial price increases, staffing challenges, and funding gaps within the sector.

He has assumed the role with immediate effect and will actively participate in the 'Levelling Up School Food' campaign, which is set to hold its flagship event at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in July.

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22/Feb/2024 07:19
WorkplaceCompany News
Luxury Hotels see Highest Rise in Room Rates as Demand Stays Strong
The luxury hotel market was the 'clear front runner' of UK hotel performance in the last few months of 2023, according to recent data.

The RSM Hotels Tracker, compiled and produced by Hotstats, revealed consumer demand for high-spend stays remained strong, with average room rates of UK luxury hotels jumping from £320.74 in November to £365.43 in December.

The London luxury market was particularly buoyant, with gross operating profits per available room (GOP PAR) up from £173.00 to £208.34 between November and December.

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21/Feb/2024 15:49
WorkplaceCompany News
Discover New Technology at the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering show
The Hotel, Restaurant and Catering show is returning to London's ExCeL, bursting with the latest equipment and technology launches.

The 2024 edition of the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HRC) sees the show become part of the Montgomery Group's new Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.

The event will encompass IFE Manufacturing, IFE and the Pub Show, as well as chef competition International Salon Culinaire, all being held on 25-27 March at ExCeL London.

As well as a showcase of industry innovation and networking opportunities.

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21/Feb/2024 15:43
WorkplaceCompany News
IHG reports revpar boost amid 'strong' demand for travel
UK revenue per available room (revpar) at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) rose 14% last year, just shy of the hotel company's global revpar growth of 16%.

UK revpar was also up 17% compared to 2019 and up 5% in Q4 of 2023 compared to last year's figures.

In its full year results for 2023, IHG's profit before tax almost doubled from $540m (£428m) in 2022 to over $1b (£0.8b) in 2023, while adjusted EBITDA rose from $896m (£710m) to $1.1b (£861m).

Across the board.

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21/Feb/2024 15:39
WorkplaceCompany News
BT Tower to Become a Hotel
The BT Tower, one of the most eye-catching structures in the UK, is to become a hotel after it was sold by BT for £275 million.

BT announced the deal in a stock market statement this morning. The tower has been bought by MCR Hotels, an American hotel group whose other sites include the High Line Hotel in New York and the Sheraton hotel in Times Square in the same city.

MCR is going to work with architect Thomas Heatherwick to develop the new hotel. Heatherwick also designed the cauldron for the Olympic flame for London 2012.

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21/Feb/2024 15:29
WorkplaceCompany News
UK open-air comedy festival announces 2024 Warwick Castle lineup
- Major weekend event features Live at the Apollo, Netflix, BAFTA, and Mock The Week stars.
- Festival promises award-winning street food; cocktail, craft beer and fizz bars, and host DJs.
- Performances will take place in the courtyard of the world-famous Warwick Castle.

Comedy at the Castle
Friday 24 - Sunday 26 May 2026
Warwick Castle grounds
Tickets.

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15/Feb/2024 16:08
WorkplaceCompany News
NESCAFÉ® B2B by Nestlé Professional is giving small businesses across the UK a unique opportunity to win face-to-face business advice from DEBORAH MEADEN
In an exciting new partnership for 2024 – NESCAFÉ® B2B by Nestlé Professional - is giving small and medium businesses, a unique opportunity to win bespoke insight and advice from serial entrepreneur and business guru Deborah Meaden.

Open to SMEs*, across all industries, the new business programme, Let’s Partner up for Good, will see six lucky businesses win a seat at the table to discuss their business challenges relating to their sustainability journey, workplace wellbeing and business growth with Deborah Meaden and NESCAFÉ® B2B business experts.

Nadia Roberts.

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13/Feb/2024 10:26
WorkplaceCompany News
Shortlist announced for Springboard Awards for Excellence 2024
The 50 shortlisted hospitality businesses and individuals competing to win a coveted Springboard Award for Excellence 2024 on 11 April, has been announced.

Springboard was delighted to receive nearly 200 entries and nominations this year, a record number for its annual hospitality awards, which are delivered in partnership with headline sponsor IHG.

The judging panel of industry experts and Springboard ambassadors praised the exceptionally high standard of entries received across all categories this year.

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12/Feb/2024 10:16
WorkplaceCompany News
‘Game-changing’ UK arts and social space relaunches with world-class cultural programme
A major new arts and music offering at Hockley Social Club is ‘opening up’ cultural experiences for UK audiences, alongside an acclaimed food and drink offering at the centre of the newly revamped space.

The popular Birmingham night-time destination, on the 10,000 sq ft site of a former industrial printworks in the historic manufacturing district of Hockley, will mark its fourth year with a substantial line-up of academics, artistic organisations, comedians, DJs, musicians, and speakers.

The city’s renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) will perform to sell-out audiences at the 900-capacity venue.

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08/Feb/2024 16:31
WorkplaceCompany News
JS DAVIDSON LANDS HIGHLY COVETED AA+ BRCGS GRADE
Following a recent unannounced audit, JS Davidson has this year been awarded with a AA+ grade for Storage and Distribution from BRCGS.

The temperature-controlled solutions specialist, which has invested heavily into its operations in the past couple of years, has achieved an AA+ BRCGS rating until February 2025, with its AA+ accreditation acting as its crowning grade to date.

JS Davidson, which was formerly named Chiltern Cold Storage Group prior to its rebrand earlier this November 2022.

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08/Feb/2024 16:26
WorkplaceCompany News
Kanishka in Mayfair announces Executive Chef Ashok Kumar’s involvement in cooking competition
Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, the acclaimed pan-Indian restaurant in Mayfair, is delighted to announce that Executive Chef Ashok Kumar was selected to compete on BBC’s Great British Menu 2024, as part of the London and Southeast England region.

Presented by Andi Oliver, and now airing on BBC Two and iPlayer at 8pm until Thursday 8th February, this years competition theme is celebrating the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, with a banquet hosted by the British Ambassador in France and Team GB to wish the British athlete’s good luck in Paris.

Regular judges include Michelin-starred.

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07/Feb/2024 17:13
WorkplaceCompany News
CACTO UNVEILS NEW ERA WITH CALIFORNIA-INSPIRED PRICKLY PEAR RTD LAUNCH
Cacto (www.cactodrinks.com ), the innovative natural prickly pear drinks company, is thrilled to introduce the latest addition to its product line, marking the beginning of the company’s exciting rebrand. The new RTD, California Dream, is a strawberry and watermelon flavoured prickly pear juice that appeals to consumers’ ever-growing demand for new flavours and embodies the essence of California in every sip.

Crafted from 70% pureed prickly pear juice (not from concentrate) and premium, fresh, natural ingredients, California Dream is a rich source of magnesium, potassium, fibre, plant-based calcium.

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07/Feb/2024 17:06
WorkplaceCompany News
Rayners Catering Equipment Hire to shut in March .
London-based Rayners Catering Equipment Hire has notified its customers it will wind down operations after over 100 years in business.

The family firm will be pulling down the shutters on 28 March but will continue to operate as normal and process orders until then to allow its clients time to find suitable alternative suppliers.

Director Raymond Rayner is the third-generation owner of the company, which was established in 1922 by his grandparents. He cited contributing factors to the closure as being changing market demands.

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31/Jan/2024 11:52
WorkplaceCompany News
Tortilla to roll out more restaurants in UK travel hubs
Mexican restaurant group Tortilla is set to continue expanding into travel hubs after extending its partnership with SSP.

The burrito brand will open four new restaurants through the franchise in 2024 and said it had an 'exciting pipeline' of opportunities lined up for 2025.

SSP and Tortilla began working together in 2019 with the launch of a restaurant at Euston station in London. Together, the groups now operate five sites across the UK, the most recent of which opened at Manchester Piccadilly train station in 2023.

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31/Jan/2024 11:48
WorkplaceCompany News