Kojawan restaurant at the Hilton Metropole is like a retro-futuristic art gallery in the sky April 26, 2016 Andrew Baggs overcomes a fear of high restaurants to thoroughly enjoy this Asian fusion izakaya Food | ★★★★☆ | Value ★★★★☆ | Vibe ★★★★☆ | Hilton Metropole, 225 Edgware Rd, W2 1JU Tel: 020 8088 0111 | Cost for two with wine: £140 I have, over the years, learnt to read the restaurant warning signs. There is an inverse relationship between [...]
Whitbread’s expansion drive continues as Costa Coffee and Premier Inn sales jump April 26, 2016 Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread has promised more expansion is on the way for the food, beverage and hotel chain as it posted improved profits in its full year results out this morning. Investors had clearly had their morning dose of caffeine as they bought up Whitbread with vigour on Tuesday morning, sending it up 2.97 per [...]
Pizza chain Zizzi to cut staff perks in wake of the National Living Wage April 25, 2016 Zizzi's staff have had their perks cut as the National Living Wage puts a strain on the business. The private-equity owned restaurant chain has become the latest business to respond to changes in the minimum wage. Waiting staff have had their free meal choices limited while a cap has been imposed on how much they can earn from [...]
This exceptional house has come up for sale by The Solent with its own jetty and waterside cabin April 25, 2016 Calling all sailors to one of the most exceptional contemporary homes on the market, on one of the most sought after roads overlooking The Solent. River House is a remarkably modern home with lots of flexible space and promising outbuildings in the popular harbour village of Itchenor. And it’s only an hour and half away [...]
The uniquely spectacular Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg: “An outstanding project the likes of which will never happen again in the city” April 25, 2016 It’s hard to describe the appeal of Hamburg. It isn’t as picturesque as Munich, nor as cool as Berlin. Instead it’s quietly confident, relaxed, comfortable with its role as Germany’s second largest city, a hub for commerce and industry. One of Europe’s most important ports, Hamburg is located on the River Elbe and the city [...]
Entrepreneur Luke Johnson and Casual Dining Group said to be bidding for Tesco-owned restaurant chain Giraffe April 24, 2016 Friendly-dining restaurant chain Giraffe has piqued the interest of serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson and the hospitality giant behind Bella Italia and Las Iguanas. Casual Dining Group, which also owns Cafe Rouge, could be set to lock horns with Johnson in the race to buy the Tesco-owned restaurant chain, reported the Sunday Times. Tesco announced it was [...]
Brewers: Restaurant owners will be richer, more handsome and more successful if they sell you more craft beer April 21, 2016 Well, knock us down with a feather. A beer industry body has suggested one in three people would visit restaurants more regularly – if more craft beer was available there. According to independent research for the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), conducted by M&C Allegra Foodservice, more than 33 per cent of 1,000 people would be enticed [...]
Gaucho Group beefs up board with new non-executive chairman Luke Johnson April 21, 2016 Argentine steakhouse chain Gaucho Group, backed by Equistone Partners Europe, has appointed hospitality and leisure entrepreneur Luke Johnson as non-executive chairman. Johnson is currently chairman of Patisserie Holdings, Bread Holdings (which owns Gail's), 3Sxity, Feng Sushi, Draft House Grand Union and Genuine Dining. In the past, he was chairman of PizzaExpress, Giraffe and Strada. Gaucho Group owns [...]
Nearly 60,000 companies hit by National Living Wage already in “significant financial distress”, insolvency firm warns April 20, 2016 The National Living Wage (NLW) risks tipping thousands of vulnerable companies over the edge as they struggle to absorb higher staff costs, one of the UK’s leading insolvency firms has warned. More than 1.8m workers were given a pay rise on 1 April after a new minimum wage came into force, requiring employers to pay at least £7.20 per [...]
The Woodford review: Fine dining hits TOWIE country April 19, 2016 Food | ★★★★☆ Value | ★★★☆☆ Atmosphere | ★★★★★ 159 High Rd, London E18 2PA Tel: 020 8504 5952 I’m going to open a restaurant. It’s going to be just outside the North Circular – not technically in Essex, but close enough that people from central London will sneer – in a former nightclub that was shut down [...]