Why Flaine in the French Alps is up there as one of the best ski resorts for beginners January 9, 2023 THE WEEKEND: I’m putting on skis from the first time ever and hitting the slopes in the brilliant sunshine. It’s hard to believe that only six hours earlier I was still in London. I’m in the French Alps ski resort of Flaine, near Mont Blanc, and the sheer ease of accessibility is one of the [...]
Puttshack and Bounce chief: Pubs and restaurants urged to ‘get creative’ instead of expecting government support January 6, 2023 The government can only do so much to help hospitality businesses amid turbulent times, with firms needing to “get creative”, the boss of the Puttshack and Bounce brands, told CityA.M. Pub and restaurant bosses have long been calling for more government to help it charter tumultuous waters, in the form of a VAT cut and [...]
Pubs: As record number predicted to go bust in 2023 hospitality guru urges gov to lift sector from ‘the abyss’ January 6, 2023 A record number of pubs, clubs and restaurants could go to the wall this year without more support, warned a leading industry voice.
What we’ll be eating in 2023: A guide to top new food trends, from seaweed to set menus January 5, 2023 London is one of the dining capitals of the world, representing every corner of global cuisine and sending ripples across the world with its food trends. We asked some top chefs what they think will be the big food trends of 2023, with answers ranging from lots more seaweed to a resurgence of “proper” Neopolitan [...]
Dry January: Pub bosses call on Brits to do their duty and get down the local – even if it’s for non-alcoholic beers January 3, 2023 Publicans have issued a rallying cry for punters to continue to back their local boozer this month as the industry battles an economic downturn – despite the growing trend for a ‘dry January‘ month off the sauce. The sector has struggled with sky-high energy bills all while consumers’ feel the pinch of household bills increasing [...]
Wine merchants to check out in 2023 for budding oenophiles December 31, 2022 If you got a special bottle for Christmas and want to learn more, or have simply decided that this is the year you finally become a wine expert, we know some merchants who will gladly help. The UK has some of the best fine wine merchants and specialists in the world. We asked some to [...]
The best restaurant I ate at in 2022: Why Sessions Arts Club is pure dining escapism December 30, 2022 Every now and then, perhaps once or twice a year, a place opens that combines all the right elements in just the right order to create the rare alchemy that we call the “it” restaurant. Gloria did it with its maximalist Italian amore della vita, as did Gymkhana with its studiously crafted modern Indian cuisine [...]
Business energy support set to be halved to reduce taxpayer bill December 30, 2022 Support for businesses to help them cope with swelling energy bills will halve in the spring to avoid taxpayers holding the bag if oil and gas prices surge again, according to The Times. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt next month will announce a 12-month extension to a scheme that caps energy costs for businesses, similar to a [...]
Govt accused of ‘rank double standards’ as civil servants paid £30m in vouchers December 29, 2022 The Government has been accused of “rank double standards” after giving almost £30 million in high-street vouchers to civil servants amid a pay freeze prompted by the cost-of-living crisis. Sixteen Whitehall departments in 2021-22 paid out a combined total of £29.57 million to staff in the form of ‘reward and recognition’ vouchers, a third more [...]
Cancel culture: Will 2022’s cancelled celebrities make 2023 comebacks? December 24, 2022 If we’ve learned anything about cancel culture in the last few years, it’s that being cancelled doesn’t necessary mean, well, being cancelled. Harvey Weinstein had been cancelled. But then there he was, sipping on a drink in a public bar, without a care in the world. J.K. Rowling had been cancelled too. But then there [...]