Casual Dining Group to create 2,000 jobs thanks to 40 Bella Italian openings in three years: Casual Dining Group’s Bella Italia brand has unveiled plans to create over 2,000 new jobs nationwide thanks to a growth plan which will see 40 new sites opened by 2017.These jobs will cover front of house team members, chefs and management positions, at a variety of levels of responsibility, providing opportunities for people at all stages in their careers, with comprehensive training available to skill them up as required. An average of 1,000 roles will be created per year, at locations across the country, an investment trend that Bella Italia expects to continue year on year for the foreseeable future. For 2015, the majority of these jobs will be created in the south east of the country, with 400 new vacancies, while 200 people in the north west will be able to join the Bella Italia team. A further 150 positions are to be opened up in London this year, followed by 120 in the south west, 110 in the east Midlands, 100 in the north east, and 80 in the west Midlands. The announcement of these new jobs comes after Bella Italia created 200 roles in the last two months, thanks to openings in Bristol, Dudley, Taplow and Ashton. Catherine McGuckin, HR director for Bella Italia, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to announce the creation of such a huge number of new jobs around the country, which we know will provide real opportunities for those looking for flexible, motivating work, whatever their experience. We’re investing heavily in our employer brand, including the launch of a new recruitment website, and these roles are a reflection of that. This comes as part of our national investment programme, which will see our whole estate refurbished, alongside the 40 new openings, by 2017.” Casual Dining Group, led by Steve Richards, is owned by Apollo Global Management. There are currently 84 Bella restaurants throughout the UK.

John Gaunt research shows Late Night Levy not having any impact on crime and disorder: Research by law firm John Gaunt, under the Freedom of Information Act, has found crime figures unaffected among the seven local authorities that have introduced a Late Night Levy (LNL). The law firm stated: “More than one licensing authority, when addressing our request, commented that many of the premises choosing to limit their licence were premises that did not ordinarily trade beyond midnight in any event, the permitted hours either being historic or rarely called upon. It would appear that the city centre bar and nightclub have generally chosen to bear the additional costs and trade on. Although we have sought data from the relevant police forces, the available crime figures provide only a rough estimation to any impact. In general, crime figures appear to be unaffected with alcohol related crime continuing to drop at average yearly rates, flat line or, in the case of Newcastle, increase. Alcohol related crimes in the Newcastle LNL area increased during the first year, a trend mirrored in the wider Northumbria Police region. Our initial findings would suggest the LNL schemes have been effective in raising additional revenue but their impact on crime and disorder is yet to be established.” John Gaunt & Partners licensing update – this useful monthly update is being issued later today but is available to preview here: LINK

Consumer confidence hits 15-year high: British consumer morale has hit a 15-year high this month as shoppers said they were ready to spend, a survey showed yesterday (Tuesday, 30 June), adding to signs that growth is picking up after a weak start to the year. British household spending was weak at the start of the year but a pick-up in wage growth and the lowest inflation in 50 years has boosted disposable income in recent months. Market research company GfK said British consumers’ mood was now the most buoyant since January 2000, after its monthly sentiment index jumped to +7 in June from May’s +1, the biggest rise in a year. “We’re seeing a dramatic uptick in confidence this month, a real post-election bounce that’s put a spring in the step of consumers across the UK,” said Joe Staton, an executive at GfK.

Luke Johnson invests in business mentoring app: Sector investor Luke Johnson is among a group of business figures who have invested in a new mentoring app called SmartUp. The app builds up a profile of the user by asking the same questions investors and mentors would if they were advising them in person. As users go through the app they are awarded points for their decision-making which then puts them onto a global ranking leader-board. The app takes the data about you from Facebook/LinkedIn and then asks questions about what you are trying to do/solve and then delivers targeted advice to help you do it. Every day, a new content piece from a top founder or investor is pushed to the app. When people reach 1,000 points in the app, they can go into a draw where expert people are chosen at random to receive one-to-one live mentoring with a member of Founders Forum.

Meat firm faces £110,000 bill over meat quality fraud: A meat processing company has been prosecuted at Newry Magistrates’ Court for a number of offences relating to serious food fraud. Freeza Meats, based in Newry, pleaded guilty to a total of 12 offences against the Food Safety Order (NI) 1991 and the General Food Regulations (NI) 2004. It was fined a total of £42,500, and was ordered to pay £71,902.73 court costs and a £180 offender’s levy. The 12 offences related to: substitution of meat ingredients with cheaper product, ie hearts, and subsequently not declaring hearts as an ingredient on the label, therefore not only misleading a major supermarket retailer, but also deceiving customers; misdescription of product as Halal when non-Halal ingredients were used. Maria Jennings, director of the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland, said: “Consumers deserve to know that the food they buy is what it says it is. Firm action is being taken by district councils against businesses committing food fraud and we welcome the decision by Newry Magistrates’ Court to penalise Freeza Meats for these offences. The result is a real victory for consumers, it shows that enforcement procedures work and sends out a strong message to any food business that is tempted to commit fraud.”

JD Wetherspoon to sell 20 leasehold pubs: JD Wetherspoon is to sell 20 leasehold pubs and has hired CBRE to handle the disposal. It is thought to be the largest package disposal by Wetherspoon in the past decade or so. The properties, which are being considered for sale either individually, in small packages or as a group, are located in prime town and city centre locations within England and Scotland. The outlets have strong exposure to London and the south with 14 of the 20 outlets located in these regions. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We have taken a commercial decision to dispose of a small number of pubs. These pubs will remain trading until they are sold. We will continue to open new pubs in the coming months and years. Staff at the pubs will be offered jobs within our existing pubs, however, some might decide to remain with the new owners.”

TGI Friday’s to reward staff and celebrate American heritage: TGI Friday’s will be serving up over 4,000 breakfasts for its staff on Independence Day (4 July) to recognise all their hard work over the past year and to celebrate the company’s American heritage. On the same day, 1,194 shortlisted team members will be recognised following nominations from their peers and each will receive a personal letter from chief executive Karen Forrester thanking them for their contribution to the company. 100 finalists will then be picked from that shortlist, and crowned as this year’s “legends” and will go on to be rewarded at the TGI Friday’s National Bartenders Final in Liverpool. Head of culture development at TGI Friday’s UK Dawn Cheetham said: “Our team members are the backbone of Fridays, helping us to achieve all our successes, and that’s why we believe it’s important to recognise and celebrate these individuals.” Meanwhile, the company has been granted permission to open a restaurant at Stevenage Leisure Park in Hertfordshire.

Crab Tavern to launch second venue in Dubai: Crab Tavern, an all-day New York style seafood restaurant and bar that recently launched in London, is to open its second venue in Dubai next week. The concept, started by Igor Krayushkin, whose hospitality background includes a LaResidence restaurant in Dubai, will open Crab Tavern Dubai on Tuesday, 7 July. The restaurant, located at the Media One Hotel, will feature diner-style booths, high top counter placements and a bar, reports Time Out Dubai. The menu includes an abundance of crab dishes, as well as USA-style sandwiches, salads, classic grills, seafood selection and American diner style desserts. Krayushkin launched the concept in June with the opening of the 150-seat Crab Tavern in Broadgate Circus in London.

Grillstock and Turtle Bay set to open in Liverpool where Wall of Records stands: Barbecue specialists Grillstock and Caribbean restaurant company Turtle Bay are set to open in Liverpool – where the Wall of Records that celebrates the city’s musical heritage stands. The restaurants will be based on the ground floor of the grade II-listed Produce Exchange building in Mathew Street, where the musical golden discs tribute adorns an outside wall. The discs, which mark every number one record generated on Merseyside, will be moved to just inside the Grillstock building allowing the public to view the wall even if they are not customers, reports the Liverpool Echo. Explaining the need to temporarily remove the tribute while work is carried out, a spokeswoman for London based Fusion, the architects behind both restaurants, said it was being taken down to create access to a window covered up by the colourful commemorative wall. Though she was unsure how it would be recreated, she confirmed the Wall of Records would be retained and returned to the site once work is complete. The two restaurants are expected to open in August.

Goodbody raises Greene King and M&B share target price: Leisure analysts at Goodbody Stockbrokers raised their price target on shares of Greene King from 845p to 1,000p in a report released yesterday (Tuesday, 30 June). The firm currently has a ‘Buy’ rating on the stock. Goodbody Stockbrokers price target indicates a potential upside of 17.72% from the company’s current price. Meanwhile, Goodbody boosted its price target on shares of Mitchells & Butlers from 485p to 550p. The firm currently has a ‘Buy’ rating on the stock. Goodbody Stockbrokers price target suggests a potential upside of 19.31% from the stock’s previous close.

Authentic Pub Company acquires seventh site in Windsor: Authentic Pub Company has acquired its seventh site by adding the Royal Oak in Windsor, Berkshire, to its estate. The company, founded by Simon and Sarah Bailey, has leased the pub, which is located close to Windsor Castle and opposite Windsor & Eton Riverside station, from Enterprise Inns. It will launch a tailored version of its authentic British menu and a new drinks range for the summer months before planning a full refurbishment in the autumn. Simon Bailey said: “The move to Windsor is a sensible expansion of our trading area, further west along the Thames, making the pub a great fit with our existing estate. While we continue to follow our core philosophy that every pub is unique, and needs its own approach, we now have two proven menu formats that give us greater flexibility both within the estate and when considering new opportunities.” The company also operates the Waggon & Horses, Surbiton; the Bell Inn, Hampton; the Flower Pot, Lower Sunbury; the Norbiton & Dragon, Norbiton; the White Lyon & Dragon, Worplesdon; and the renamed King & Dragon, Epsom, which serves the company’s Thai menu.

Whitbread buys City of London site for £55m: Whitbread has bought the City & Guilds Group’s former headquarters in the City of London for about £55 million to convert into a Premier Inn hotel. The company has acquired the 70,000 sq ft block at West Smithfield that was previously home to City & Guilds prior to its move to Giltspur Street, reports Property Week. City & Guilds had secure planning permission for a 74-unit residential conversion of the six-storey building in February before putting it on the market through Savills and Daniel Watney.

Rick Stein to open new seafood restaurant in Sandbanks: Celebrity chef Rick Stein is to open a new seafood restaurant in Sandbanks, Dorset, this autumn. Stein has bought Cafe Shore, which went into liquidation in early February, and plans to open a 200-seater venue. The self-titled “Rick Stein” restaurant will offer classic seafood dishes such as Dover sole meunière, turbot hollandaise and fruits de mer, alongside a more casual lunch time menu with dishes including a crab salad and moules frites. He told The Bournemouth Echo: “Sandbanks is the perfect place for a good fish restaurant. I’ve had my eye on it ever since I passed through about 15 years ago when I travelled the coast of Britain to make the Seafood Lovers’ Guide. Somewhere to drop in for local lemon sole, oysters or crab I thought, and now my dream has come true. It’ll be a place for some informal, inexpensive seafood. I’m very excited.” Stein, who opened his first seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, in 1975, also has sites in Newquay and Winchester.

Starbucks signs deal to expand with French supermarket business: Starbucks and Casino Restauration (a subsidiary of Groupe Casino) have signed a licensed partnership that will open Starbucks stores within Géant Casino hypermarkets and Casino supermarkets across France. The first store is expected to open before the end of 2015. Casino Restauration will be operating full-format Starbucks stores alongside Groupe Casino’s grocery sites. “This new partnership with Casino Restauration means we can deliver a quality Starbucks experience to many more people in convenient locations across France,” said Kris Engskov, president, Starbucks EMEA. “Casino Restauration has the perfect network and local expertise to deliver this new growth in the hypermarkets and supermarkets right across the country, where our customers want us to be. We’re excited to be working together to build beautiful stores and to bring great coffee to more customers in France.” Starbucks stores will be full store formats within Groupe Casino grocery locations, making premium coffee more accessible for customers and providing an even better shopping experience for many customers across France. The stores will be operated by Casino Restauration, the restaurant operating arm of Groupe Casino. At the moment there are over 100 Starbucks stores in France out of a total 2,200 stores across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. In France, Groupe Casino currently runs 10,416 stores included 127 Géant Casino hypermarkets and 444 Casino supermarkets.

Cafe Rouge franchisee acquires Johnny Rockets franchisee: Cafe Rouge’s UAE franchisee Diamond Lifestyle has acquired Al Faris Restaurant, a UAE-based restaurant company that owns and operates as a Johnny Rockets franchisee in the UAE and Oman. Shailesh Dash, founder and chief executive of Al Masah Capital and chairman of Diamond Lifestyle said: “Owning a global and reputable brand such as Johnny Rockets enhances our strategic profile and provides our company with a concrete foundation to reap the benefits of the lucrative hamburger market in the region. We are delighted to have added another landmark transaction to our rapidly growing portfolio of brands.” Al Faris operates 14 Johnny Rockets restaurants across the UAE, of which eight are in Dubai, four in Abu Dhabi and two in Ras Al Khaimah.

Former chef to the Queen takes Hawthorn Leisure site for first pub: Former private chef to the Queen Des Sweeney and his wife Trish, a pastry chef, are to on their first pub next week (9 July), The Kitchen at the Cross Keys in Epperstone, Nottinghamshire, a Hawthorn Leisure site. Trish Sweeney said: “The Cross Keys is a dream come true. We have an amazing team, all from the local area and most of whom have worked with myself and Des for almost a decade. We’re a tight-knit community here in Epperstone, so it’s a pleasure to be able to create new jobs in the village but also to provide a calm oasis where people can come to enjoy fresh food, quality drinks and relax with their friends and family, which is essentially what we want the Cross Keys to be all about.” The pub has been transformed into a chic, traditional country venue with chesterfield sofas, open fires and log burners, two bars, a dartboard, an open kitchen, and banquet seating. Des Sweeney added: “I’ll be changing the menu daily, if not hourly – it all depends on what products I receive that morning. We are committed to using fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers or from our vegetable and herb garden. We also have a chicken coup and have planted fruit trees – apple, plum and cherry.”

Hakkasan launching Ling Ling in Mykonos today: Restaurant and nightclub operator Hakkasan is opening Ling Ling today (Wednesday, 1 July) in Mykonos, Greece. Located in the centre of the old town on the Greek island, Ling Ling is inspired by Japan’s Izakaya concept and encourages customers to discover Hakkasan’s cuisine differently. Reinvented presentations of smaller plates provide the opportunity to share and try a variety of the Cantonese-style dishes. A spokesman said: “The sound design is being mastered and perfected by Hakkasan London resident DJ, Pathaan, bringing eclectic, high-energy beats to the island and its late night party scene. The Ling Ling experience is designed to evolve throughout the night taking you from dining, to drinking to dancing, in no particular order. The Mykonos location is the perfect setting for this fluid escapism compromising an open-air restaurant and bar, private dining and lounge.”

McDonald’s adds premium lobster roll to US menu for the summer: McDonald’s has added a premium item, a lobster roll, to US menus for the summer. A lobster roll was first trialled in the US in 1993 but failed to take off. It was also available periodically in New England until 2005. Nicole Garvey, of McDonald’s, said: “The return of the Lobster Roll is exciting because we have requests for it every summer. It’s a delicious sandwich and we are thrilled to offer this regional favorite at a great value.” For a limited time, customers will be able to taste a lobster roll made of 100% North Atlantic lobster and mayonnaise, layered on a bed of lettuce in a toasted roll for $7.99.

Las Iguanas set for Braintree site: Las Iguanas is set to open a new site after planning permission was granted to build a new restaurant at a leisure park next to Braintree Freeport. Braintree Council has allowed Braintree Leisure, which runs Braintree Leisure Park, to build an extension to the row of restaurants, which already includes Prezzo and Nando’s. The extension, which will be built on land next to TGI Friday’s, will house Las Iguanas and a management suite above.

NewRiver Retail reports ‘significant progress’ on Marston’s pub portfolio: Developer NewRiver Retail has reported “significant progress” on redeveloping 202 pubs it acquired in November 2013 from Marston’s. The company told its annual meeting: “Significant progress was made on NewRiver’s portfolio of 202 public houses acquired from Marston’s, with the Co-operative Group signing an agreement for lease for 63 convenience stores. Development of the pub portfolio and convenience store programme was well-advanced with 39 of the 52 planning applications submitted during the period pertaining to the pub portfolio and the company securing ten consents by the financial year end.”

JD Wetherspoon opens third Dublin pub: JD Wetherspoon opened its new Dublin pub in Blanchardstown yesterday (Tuesday, 30 June) – its third in the city. The company has spent £2.82m (€3.87m) developing the venue, which is on the site of the former Light Nightclub, in Westend Shopping Park, Westend Commercial Village, creating 120 jobs. The pub, which is called The Great Wood, is on two floors, featuring two bars, as well as two meeting rooms. There is a beer garden to the front and side of the building, where smoking is permitted in a designated area. Great Wood manager George Collins said: “We are confident that it will be a great addition to the Blanchardstown community.” The company already runs two pubs in the city – The Three Tun Tavern in Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, and The Forty Foot in The Pavilion Centre, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire. A fourth pub, located in the Swords area of Dublin, is due to open on 21 July.

Greene King, Costa Coffee and KFC set for Dudley development: Greene King’s Hungry Horse pub brand, Whitbread-owned Costa Coffee and KFC are the latest companies set for the Castlegate Business Park development in Dudley, West Midlands. The three brands will open venues on land by the existing Premier Inn hotel, creating a total of 80 jobs, if Dudley Council approves the plans. A fourth unit would also be constructed on the site, off Castlegate Drive, with developer Stoford Properties hoping to attract another restaurant to the complex. Stoford Properties said in its application the proposal “supports the development of Castle Hill and Dudley town centre by providing complementary visitor facilities”. The Castlegate Business Park is already home to restaurants including Frankie & Benny’s and Pizza Hut as well as a Showcase Cinema.

Bill’s set for Taunton debut: Bill’s is to debut in the Somerset town of Taunton next Monday (6 July), occupying a site at 3-6 Cheapside. Bill Collison, founder of Bill’s said: “This is a beautiful building and a great location, and we are excited about opening in this pretty town. A lovely Georgian building, on the corner, it has lots of cosy rooms and spaces, as well as an upstairs area that will be perfect for larger gatherings.” The Taunton opening comes as the brand eyes an opening in Birmingham’s Bullring where a change of use application has been submitted to convert the former Mango fashion store.

Ippudo to launch second UK site in Canary Wharf: Global ramen restaurant group Ippudo will open its second UK site in Canary Wharf on Friday, 10 July. The company, founded as an independent ramen restaurant in 1985 in Japan by Shigemi Kawahara, is opening the 65-seat venue within the 115,000 sq ft Crossrail development. Ramen bowls and spoons adorn the walls of the restaurant and an open kitchen allows guests to watch the chefs at work. The menu will see a reinvention of traditional Japanese dishes such as tori karaage and crispy gyoza, while new exclusive dishes to the east London site will feature taki gyoza, homemade yakisoba and anchovy and salted kelp hiyayakko. The modern cocktail bar will serve Ippudo’s signature cocktails and sake by both the bottle and the glass. Ippudo, which opened its first UK site in London’s Central St Giles in October 2014, operates over 120 restaurants across 13 countries, serving more than 50,000 bowls of ramen each day.

Partners secure their fifth Enterprise Inns site: Two business partners have taken their fifth pub with Enterprise Inns, the newly refurbished Elephant and Castle, in West Yorkshire. John Lengthorn and Andy Rickard will reopen the pub tomorrow (Thursday, 2 July), following a £150,000 investment. Lengthorn said: “We’re very excited to reopen The Elephant and Castle, after its extensive refurbishment. Our brand new menu features fresh, locally sourced dishes, and we’re offering a whole variety of new draught products, all at reasonable prices.” Enterprise regional manager Jay Weir said: “We’ve unearthed a lot of potential at The Elephant and Castle, with the help of two very experienced and successful publicans. Despite bringing it into the modern day, its loyal customer base will always form the backbone of what the pub is all about.”

Leeds brewer eyes international growth after brewery move: Leeds brewer Northern Monk Brew Co has outlined further plans for international expansion after moving to a new site. The company, run by Russell Bisset, has increased its capacity by two-thirds since relocating to The Old Flax Store at Marshalls Mill in Leeds in August 2014. The move was enabled thanks to a £26,500 grant from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The grant was part of a wider £132,000 investment by the company in the business, which has allowed Bisset and his team to transform what was a derelict building into a thriving asset, brewing more than 10,000 pints a week. The brewery is planning to make a substantial investment on packaging lines to enable it to tap into the lucrative export market. Bisset, a former international business development manager, said: “We’ve got the space to expand further at the brewery and introducing packaging lines will give us a real point of differentiation. We’re presently exporting to countries including the US, Germany, Italy and Spain and international trade is a key growth area for Northern Monk Brew Co.” Northern Monk Brew Co has created a taproom on site featuring 20 beers showcasing Northern Monk and a kitchen run by its partner The Grub & Grog Shop. It is also set to launch a series of public exhibitions and events on the third floor of the brewery.

Planning permission granted for £6m Eden Project hotel: The Eden Project has been granted planning permission for a £6m, 115-bedroom hotel on its site near St Austell in Cornwall. The new hotel is expected to be completed in mid-2016. Eden is currently in discussion with a number of potential partners regarding the management of the project, which will create 25 jobs. The timber-clad structure will be in a similar in style to Eden’s Foundation Building that sits outside of the main visitor area. No catering provision has been included in the proposals, with guests instead accessing facilities on the main Eden site. Eden executive director David Harland said: “Having permission for a hotel on our site is a big moment for Eden and for the wider economy. We are very grateful for the support the proposal has been given by the council planners and by the community. Now it is full steam ahead.”

Experienced operator and social media expert partner to launch Brighton pub: Experienced pub operator James Tippett-Iles has partnered social media expert Matt Russell to reopen The Walmer Castle, in Queen’s Park Road, Brighton, as The Independent. The business partners bought the freehold of the Walmer Castle in November and started refurbishing it 15 weeks ago. Chef Nick Roberts, who has worked for Terrance Conran restaurants in London, has taken charge of the kitchen. The menu features a mixture of pub and bistro classics such as fish and chips and rotisserie chicken with aioli, while a selection of tapas-style small plates is also available, including bratwurst and sauerkraut, calamari and charcuterie. A range of real ales and craft beers will be served from Sussex and beyond. Tippett-Iles was previously a director of hotels, pubs and hospitality at Saint-Clair and Saint-George. Russell manages bands A Thousands Furs and Nordic Giants and is behind digital web agency Gingermoon.

Manchester site housing Red Hot World Buffet sold for £16m: The Manchester city centre building that houses the Venus nightclub, Red Hot World Buffet and a host of other firms has been sold for £16m, Manchester Evening News has reported. Maybrook House, on Deansgate has been bought by LaSalle Investment Management, on behalf of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund. It generates an annual rent of £1.15m. The tenants will not be affected by the change of ownership. It has been sold by a private investor with GVA having been instructed to market the property.

BOBO Social expands Experimental Burger Society concept: London high-end burger and small plates dining concept BOBO Social is expanding its Experimental Burger Society (EBS) that allows diners to create their very own burger. The company, founded by Michael Benson and Jacinta Maddison, is offering guests the chance to come for Saturday brunch and join the head chef in the EBS laboratory at their Charlotte Street restaurant for an experimental burger creation. Diners make their very own burgers using the likes of kangaroo, zebra, alligator, venison, ostrich and BOBO’s classic rare-breed beef. Its Monday night EBS has already received high acclaim since it started in 2014 and the Saturday offering will open the laboratory doors to more diners. BOBO Social has become a Fitzrovia institution in less than a year of its opening and has featured in magazines including the Tatler Restaurant Guide.

CPL Training adds vulnerability awareness and counter terrorism awareness courses to its stable: The need for licensees to understand what to do in critical situations, and to recognise potential terrorism risks has resulted in two new courses being created by CPL Training in recent weeks. Vulnerability Awareness and Counter Terrorism Awareness courses have been developed in response to demand from customers, said CPL training’s director Paul Chase. “Operators want to equip their employees with the knowledge of how to deal with vulnerable people,” said Chase. “In London as police crime prevention budgets are cut and the thin blue line gets thinner, the police are looking to industry to step in. A lot of pubs now have a customer care manager on the premises who is trained to spot and handle vulnerable people. The course helps teach them how to mitigate risks for the vulnerable individual and for the pub’s licence, having the added bonus of reducing the burden on policing.”

Propel hosts Professor Chris Muller for Multi-site Management Masterclass: Propel Info is hosting the US’ leading thinker, teacher and author on multi-site foodservice management, Professor Chris Muller, at its next Multi-site Management Masterclass on Friday 2 October. Leading UK businesses such as Mitchells & Butlers and TGI Friday’s have sent staff to be taught by Professor Muller at Boston University’s School of Hospitality – now Professor Muller is returning to the UK to lead this bespoke day. His interactive seminar will include contributions from Welcome Break chief executive Rod McKie and Sticks ‘n’ Sushi UK managing director Andreas Karlsson. The event will provide valuable insights for founders and area managers of small and medium-sized multi-site companies and area managers of large companies. Tickets are £345 plus VAT and £295 plus VAT for ALMR members. To download or view the leaflet as a PDF file please CLICK HERE. To book tickets please contact: adam.dickinson@propelinfo.com. Tony Hughes, non-executive director at The Restaurant Group, said: “Chris is THE world authority on the restaurant industry, the go-to man if you want expertise and knowledge and this is a rare opportunity to see a true master giving a Masterclass presentation.”