Jones – the crisis has allowed us to re-establish what was important, especially the well-being of our people: Karen Jones, executive chair of Prezzo, chair of Mowgli and Hawksmoor, and non-executive director at Deliveroo, has told Propel the pandemic has allowed the sector businesses to re-establish what was important, especially the well-being of its people. Speaking as part of Propel’s Friday Wrap series, Jones said: “You can’t say a ‘good lockdown’ because it comes from a very difficult cause but then using that enforced lockdown purposefully and well is the other side of the coin. For Prezzo it allowed us to relook at everything, including our dine-at-home offer, which had been virtually non-existent before. It also allowed us to re-establish what was important, so when we were reopening, it began with the safety and well-being of the teams. And that word well-being is so important. If there is one thing, apart from digitalisation, which has been given a massive shove forward, is focusing on teams’ physical and mental well-being. Looking at how we supported them during lockdown, reopening and going forward has been so important. And that can only make hospitality a better place to work. As a sector, we haven’t spent enough time in the past thinking about our people, and how we develop them, how we look after them, how we remunerate them and retain them. The thinking that has gone into all aspects of that, alongside other parts of the business, during lockdown and reopening and the way we communicate that, has been a good thing.” Jones said for Prezzo, which she joined in 2018, the challenge was “injecting a love of hospitality back” into the business. She said: “It is not the only business that experienced what could be one day written up as case study in miniature of what happened to the sector with the influx of private equity this century, and the rapid expansion of the sector, and the fall out. At the first meeting I pointed out at the end the backers didn’t mention ‘hospitality’ once when they were talking about the business. That was the nub of it, when you focus too much on the output, the profit and the expansion possibilities, you miss the entire point of hospitality – the inputs and the crucial day to day work that goes into it, and what the teams do to make our businesses places that people want to return to. If you lose the passion for that, it becomes a hollowed-out shell. My guiding light is every customer leaves wanting to return. In the place where Prezzo sits in the market, in that mid-market sector, I really believe the skills you see in fine dining – that beautiful set-up of the restaurant, pausing for ten minutes before you open to see if everything is perfect, and showing those same skills and attitude to customers – they should not be any different in the mid-market setting. They are the same skills but that message gets lost, and it is so important because it energises teams.”

Sponsored message – London Craft Beer Festival makes post-lockdown return, trade registration now open: We Are Beer’s first industry events in more than 18 months are set to return this year. Its first trade sessions will be at the inaugural Manchester Craft Beer Festival on 23 and 24 July at The Depot, Manchester. This will be followed by the London Craft Beer Festival, which will return to the Tobacco Dock, showcasing the very best in UK and international breweries, between 13 and 14 August. Trade registration is now open. Co-founder Greg Wells said: “Beer buyers will be flocking to both events this summer for the first post-lockdown trade shows. It’s an opportunity for industry professionals to network over tasters and sample latest product launches and recipes in the brewing world. In London, more than 100 established breweries including Northern Monk, Tiny Rebel and Signature Brew Co are confirmed, with 27 US beers (including Sierra Nevada, Deschutes and Cigar City) being imported by The US Brewers Association. European talent is represented by Mikkeller, Mars’s Brau, Whiplash, Lindheim and Nerd Brewing among others. Winners of the ‘Raise The Bar’ best new brewers competition will also be attending both shows, showcasing the latest tastes from the UK’s finest emerging brewing talent.” For more information, click here. If you have information you would like to feature in a sponsored message, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com

 

Second edition of Blue Book now available for Premium subscribers: The second edition of the Propel Turnover & Profits Blue Book database has been released to Premium subscribers. Another 62 companies have been added, meaning the latest database features a total of 280 companies and provides an overview of the most recent five years, ranking them by turnover and profit conversion. It also shows directors’ earnings over five years and the top-earning director. Total turnover for the 280 companies is £25.8bn. The minimum company turnover to be included will be £4m. The Blue Book is updated each month, with more companies added. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The regular single subscription rate of £395 plus VAT for operators and £495 plus VAT for suppliers remains the same. Premium subscribers also receive access to a second exclusive monthly database, The Propel Multi-Site Database. The updated database of multi-site companies for June includes 63 new companies since its previous update in May – making a total of 1,880 listed businesses. Collectively, the 63 new companies operate 565 venues. Subscribers not only received the database as a PDF and an Excel spreadsheet, they were also sent a 10,389-word report on the businesses added during June. Subscribers also receive access to Propel’s library of lockdown videos and Friday Wrap interviews and now also have access to a curated video library of the sector’s finest leaders and entrepreneurs, offering their insights on running outstanding businesses in the sector. Premium subscribers also receive their morning newsletter 11 hours early, at 7pm the evening before our 6am send-out; regular video content and regular exclusive columns from Propel insights editor Mark Wingett. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to sign up. 

 

UKHospitality Cymru calls on Welsh government to lift remaining sector restrictions: The Welsh government has been urged by UKHospitality Cymru to lift remaining restrictions on the industry and give visitors simple and clear messages about staying safe. Executive director David Chapman said: “This week’s Welsh government review is a chance to lift remaining restrictions and help businesses in Wales to manage the huge influx of summer visitors. Let’s keep it simple: open up, stay savvy, stay safe. On 19 July, we’re expecting England to fully open up and from that moment we need to make sure visitors to Wales are welcomed with a set of simple directions about how to stay safe and enjoy their holiday while they are here. Welsh government ministers are suggesting we have to now learn to live with the virus; it’s time to make it simple and easy for those looking to take their first restriction-free break in 18 months. We don’t want hospitality workers to be at the receiving end of visitor confusion, disappointment or annoyance about what can or can’t be done; let’s make it as straightforward as possible.”

 

Job of the day: COREcruitment is working with a private equity investor that is looking to partner with a growing leisure business. The brand has a great customer base and circa 20 venues UK-wide, and its growth plan includes new site openings and developing an innovative food and beverage offer. The investor is looking for an entrepreneurial individual with proven scale and brand expansion experience in the food and beverage or leisure space who can join the company as a managing director/chief executive. Salaries between £100,000 and £150,000 will be considered, plus bonus, equity and benefits. The position is national, but the company is keen for the incoming leader to be based in the Midlands or north west. Anyone interested can email Hollie@corecruitment.com

 

Jonathan Peters steps down as CFO of Richard Caring-backed restaurant businesses: Jonathan Peters has stepped down as chief financial officer of the Richard Caring-backed The Ivy Collection, Caprice Holdings, Birley Clubs and Bill's Restaurants, Propel has learned. Peters initially joined The Ivy Collection in March 2019 from Everyman Media Group, where he has been chief financial officer for four years. Over the past 18 months, his remit extended to Caprice Holdings, Birley Clubs and Bill's. Propel understands he has stepped down to pursue another project and that his successor will be announced in due course. Earlier this month, Propel revealed Jon Davis, formerly of Village Hotels, had joined the Ivy Collection and Bill’s Restaurants, as its new chief technology officer. At the same time, Bill’s appointed Dan Wonfor as a new operations director. Formerly of Food and Fuel and Geronimo Inns, Wonfor spent more than 11 years at Cote, which was previously backed by Caring, and was for the past two years a regional operations director at the Partners Group-backed brasserie concept. Wonfor joined Joel Claustre as an operations director at Bill’s. 

Vapiano to open first delivery kitchen, in north London: Vapiano, which was acquired last year by the Mario C Bauer-led consortium Love & Food Restaurant Holdings, will open the first delivery kitchen for the international Italian casual dining brand, in north London, later this month, Propel has learned. The business is partnering with Foodstars to open the new pilot site in Kentish Town. The delivery kitchen site will allow the company to reach previously un-serviced areas for the brand, including Hampstead, Islington, Camden and Highgate. The brand said it would give it the ability to reach “half a million potential new guests”. Craig Goslin, managing director for Vapiano UK, said: “This is an exciting opportunity and a first for Vapiano in the UK and in-fact also our first delivery-only kitchen across the global Vapiano business. For a long-time our guests have been demanding our pasta in north London, and while this is our first pilot site, we are confident it will be a great success and deliver additional growth for our business.” Vapiano operates four sites in London, plus restaurants in Manchester and Edinburgh.

Katona hints at possible London opening this year for Mowgli: Nisha Katona, the founder of Mowgli, has hinted an opening in London is a possibility for the Indian street food concept before the end of this year. In an Instagram update, Katona said “the dogs and family have approved a possible site in London for October”. She also said the 12-strong business, which recently opened in Cheshire Oaks, was looking at Newcastle and Cambridge for 2023-24 and the brand would “continue to build at the steady rate of four sites a year as long as you want us”. Katona posted: “Mowgli has swung to 12 restaurants now, created 500 jobs and raised almost £1m for our house charities. This all started from and is still run by me and my superb team, from our little office in Liverpool – that is something that makes me so happy. Mowgli Cheltenham will open in August, the dogs and family have approved a possible site in London for October, Bristol will open early 2022 followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Brighton and Preston. I’m looking at Newcastle and Cambridge for 2023-24 but will continue to build at the steady rate of four sites a year as long as you want us. I’m only signing the sites that I have hand-picked because they feel like home and always take my family pets and Ma to shortlist them… and the little kitten cuddling girl covered in chapati flour is how I still feel in my heart. This is as unbelievable for me as it might be for you. Wish us well as we build simply to enrich lives in the cities we go to. Now then shoulder back to the plough.” Earlier this year, the company confirmed it had secured the ex-Handmade Burger Co site in Glasgow’s St Vincent Street for an opening next year. The company is also set to open in Edinburgh’s Hanover Street. 

The Inn Collection Group creates new people team: The Inn Collection Group has created a new people team to attract and invest in talent. The group has bolstered its senior team by appointing Elizabeth Robertson as head of people and development, and Siobhan Hodge as learning, development and integration manager. Their appointments come as the company launches a talent-spotting drive as its workforce swells alongside its growing site portfolio. The Inn Collection Group is keen to look at further investment in learning and development, including apprenticeships, management training and career pathways. As the portfolio continues to expand, the people team will also be embedding frameworks and policies with a people focus, as well as ramping up recognition schemes linked to group values. Robertson joins the group after 14 years with independent retailer Fenwick as head of HR and training while Hodge arrives following 12 years with JD Wetherspoon. The Inn Collection Group managing director Sean Donkin, who joined the group as a general manager before rising through the ranks, said: “Hospitality is going through a fundamental transition because of the perfect storm between covid and Brexit, but also from preconceptions surrounding hospitality as a viable career prospect. That’s a stigma we want to blow out of the water.” The launch of the Alchemy-backed group’s people team comes as the 24-strong company undergoes a new phase of business expansion, with further acquisitions and organic growth in the pipeline for its pubs with rooms operations across the north of England.

 

BrewDog opens 15th London bar: Scottish brewer and retailer BrewDog has opened its 15th London bar. BrewDog Chancery has launched in Plough Place and marks ten years since the first BrewDog bar opened in the capital. It has 30 taps of draught beer from BrewDog and craft breweries from London and further afield, alongside canned and bottled offerings to drink in or take away. There is also cider, soft drinks, wine, spirits and coffee. The traditional BrewDog menu of burgers, buffalo wings and salads, alongside a weekend brunch is available. Co-founder James Watt said: “Since we rolled down Camden High Street in a tank a decade ago, London has been at the core of everything we do. We have loved watching the beer scene in the city grow into one of the best in the world and we believe our bars are central to that. Our new Chancery bar is perfectly placed to bring more great beer to the people, right in the centre of the city. We owe a lot to Londoners and with each BrewDog bar that opens in the city, we hope we are doing our bit in paying them back.”

 

Indian hotelier to open UK restaurant in September: Indian hotelier Roop Partap Choudhary is to open a restaurant in the UK in September. Choudhary, who is behind hotels including The Jewels hotel in Karnal, India, is launching Colonel Saab in London’s Holborn. Colonel Saab is opening in the former Holborn Town Hall building that has been home to various restaurants over the past few years, including Burger & Lobster and – most recently – Gezellig. Colonel Saab will have 150 covers, encompassing a 100-cover dining room and mezzanine, and two private dining rooms hosting up to 50 guests. The food menu takes inspiration from Choudhary’s many childhood travels throughout India with his parents, with the restaurant named in homage to his father Manbeer, who was known as “Colonel Saab” during his time in the Indian army. The all-day menu will offer dosas from south India, served with a choice of meat, seafood or vegetarian options, alongside rice dishes served in tiffins. The dinner menu will offer a choice of small plates to share through to larger individual plates. The drinks list will feature cocktails designed to complement the food menu alongside Indian-made gin, whisky and rum. Roop said: “Colonel Saab has been almost a decade in the planning and, after this past year or so, it’s great to have some positive news to share. London was always my first choice to open a restaurant outside of India. You have one of the best and most diverse dining scenes in the world and I’ve loved visiting and eating my way around the capital for many years now, so when this central London site came up it really was a no-brainer for me.”

 

Yotam Ottolenghi opens first deli site in six years, in Marylebone: Chef Yotam Ottolenghi has opened a new Ottolenghi deli – his first in six years. The deli, the fifth in total, is in Marylebone, and is its most central deli yet, with the other sites located in the neighbourhoods of Notting Hill, Islington, Belgravia and Spitalfields. The Marylebone Lane deli, which has an all-day menu, operates a no-reservations communal dining area along with a couple of tables and chairs out the front. Main dishes include char-grilled Loch Duart salmon with sweet chilli sauce; and vadouvan feta cakes with spinach, basil and rocket pesto, while there is a range of pastries, cakes and salads. Ottolenghi also operates Fitzrovia restaurant Rovi and Nopi in Soho.

 

Red Engine to open second London site for Electric Shuffle next month: Red Engine, the team behind Flight Club, will open the second London site for its Electric Shuffle concept in London Bridge next month. The venue comprises more than 8,000 square foot of space, located directly under the concourse of London Bridge station within five historic Victorian brick vault arches. Ellis Design Studio has designed the site, which will comprise two bars and ten shuffleboard tables, and opens on Friday, 20 August. Having reimagined the game of shuffleboard in a spectacular bar, Electric Shuffle sees teams of up to 16 players competing against each other in three games. Last month, Propel revealed Red Engine is to launch the first international site for Electric Shuffle, in the US, in Texas. Headed by US chief executive Gene Ball, formerly of Topgolf, the site will open this October in Deep Ellum, Dallas, with bookings going live in the coming weeks. Electric Shuffle launched in London’s Canary Wharf in November 2019. Red Engine is also behind darts concept Flight Club.

 

Whitbread opens most northerly Premier Inn with Thurso launch: Whitbread has opened its most northerly Premier Inn site to date, in Thurso in the Scottish Highlands. The opening of the 85-bedroom hotel marks the fourth new Premier Inn to open in Scotland this year. Located in Ormile Road, the hotel has created 35 jobs. Richard Aldread, head of construction for Whitbread in the UK regions, said: “We have been extremely busy in Scotland this year with openings in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton and now Thurso. Together, the new hotels add 566 Premier Inn rooms to our growing network in popular urban and leisure locations in Scotland, and we are continuing to invest with a further 60-bedroom extension to our Edinburgh Princes Street hotel. Thurso adds another unique location to our network.” In total, Whitbread expects to open about 3,000 new Premier Inn and Hub by Premier Inn bedrooms this financial year. The new openings to date in Scotland include a new Beefeater restaurant at Hamilton and Scotland’s first Bar + Block steakhouse restaurant, which opened as part of the new Premier Inn at St Enoch Square in Glasgow. The company is also looking for new locations for Premier Inn across Scotland, including in Dunblane, Ballater, Callandar, the Isle of Skye and Largs as it continues to grow its brands in strategic locations where it sees long-term demand for its style of accommodation.

 

Nest and Fenn team to launch summer series of pop-up restaurants across UK: The team behind Hackney restaurant Nest and Fenn in Fulham is launching a summer series of pop-up restaurants in rural locations across the UK. Luke Wasserman, Toby Neill and Johnnie Crowe are hitting the road as they look to celebrate seasonal British dining. The first in the series will see the trio collaborate with food writer William Sitwell for a supper club at Rooks Nest Farm in Somerset. Running over two nights on 16 and 17 July, guests will be served a banquet-style feast in the farm’s converted barn. The next stop will take the team to the village of Sudborough, Northamptonshire, at the Old Rectory Gardens. The multiple-course set-menu will explore the flavours, colours and aromas of this English garden between 20 and 24 July. Anglesey will be the location for the Boathouse Dinner in Trearddur Bay, running from 17 to 29 August. The two-week pop-up restaurant will celebrate regional produce from around the north Welsh coast. The team will also be popping up at Norfolk’s Houghton Festival with a floating restaurant on Houghton Lake from 12 to 15 August. Neill said: “Nest began life as a pop-up series in 2017, so we’re excited to continue bringing a taste of what we do at our restaurants to unique locations across the UK this summer and showcase what we do to people that wouldn’t normally get a chance to visit us in London.”

 

Rosa’s Thai Cafe to open Baker Street site this week: TriSpan-backed Rosa’s Thai Cafe will add to its London portfolio when it opens in Baker Street this week. As revealed by Propel in May, the Gavin Adair-led company is opening in the former Bella Italia site. The restaurant will launch on Thursday (15 July). Propel revealed last month that Rosa’s is set to further add to its presence in London, with openings in Bloomsbury and King’s Cross. The company has secured the former ASK Italian unit in Grafton Way for an opening later this year, and a shell unit off Caledonian Road. The 25-strong group, which was founded by Alex and Saiphin Moore in 2008, also operates a handful of delivery kitchen sites. The business plans to open up to six new restaurants this year and continue to add to its delivery kitchen estate.

 

Papa John’s to invest $2.5m in hiring and referral bonuses this year: Papa John’s is investing $2.5m in new hiring, referral and appreciation bonuses for store employees at company-owned restaurants in 2021, in recognition of their hard work during the covid-19 pandemic. The company is offering $50 in referral bonuses – and $50 for each additional employee added to the team – and up to $400 in appreciation bonuses “to be paid in increments throughout the year” to its 14,000 corporate store employees. Chief executive Rob Lynch said: “The incredible hard work and commitment of our team members, which powered Papa John’s tremendous performance and transformation over the past 18 months, is just as important to our sustained long-term growth. Similar to programmes being offered by our franchisees, these new bonuses for our team members in our corporate restaurants reflect the value we place on growing, retaining and supporting our dedicated team.” Lynch also said the company has made permanent the expanded benefits rolled out during the pandemic, including expanded health and wellness programmes, paid time off and college tuition benefits. These bonuses have been announced just over six months after Papa John’s offered year-end bonuses at the end of 2020, with $2.5m set aside for corporate team members and supply chain employees.

 

Former Le Manoir and Brunswick House chef to launch London pop-up for Nehmann restaurant concept: Chef Drew Snaith, previously of Le Manoir and Brunswick House, is opening his restaurant concept Nehmann for the first time in London, as a pop-up in Camberwell. Opening at the Corner Store on Wednesday, 21 July, Nehmann will serve plates of food that tell stories of Snaith’s culinary journey as well as his time spent as a child discovering his love of cooking in the kitchen with his grandmother. Nehmann, which means “neighbour” in old English, will comprise a menu of à la carte dishes designed to be shared. There will also be a “Have A Punt” chef’s selection, featuring unusual ingredients and dishes in development. The menu will continuously evolve with dishes set to include Norfolk quail stuffed with cotechino sausage served with IPA gravy and cherry mostarda; and Chalkstream trout, braised beans, smoked ajika and dill yoghurt. There will be a selection of wine designed to complement the menu. The pop-up will run until Friday, 27 August.

Nico Simeone to launch cheese shop at Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace: Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone is opening a cheese shop at Bonnie & Wild’s Scottish Marketplace – the new food hall concept from the founders of Scottish restaurant brand Mac & Wild at the St James Quarter in Edinburgh. The Cheese Club Shop, which launches in late-July, will offer a range of chutney, crackers, olives, cured meat and a deli counter serving both hot and cold snacks. The store will also offer a takeaway menu with loaded toasted sandwiches and brunch items. It joins a growing community of chef-led eateries within Bonnie & Wild’s casual-dining food hall, including Jimmy Lee’s Salt & Chilli Oriental Edinburgh; Erpingham House, the UK’s largest plant-based restaurant; and MasterChef: The Professionals winner Gary Maclean. It’s the second Cheese Club store in Scotland following the pop-up shop that set up in Glasgow's West End in March. Simeone said: “We've always had big ambitions to find a permanent home for The Cheese Club in central Scotland and delighted we are now part of an incredible food and drink offering within Bonnie & Wild.” Simeone operates seven restaurants under his Six by Nico concept, with an eighth launching in London’s Canary Wharf next month. There are also plans to open a third location in Simeone’s home city of Glasgow, in Byres Road, in September.

Plans lodged for Hotel Indigo ‘with a difference’ in Blackpool: Plans have been lodged for a Hotel Indigo “with a difference” in two landmark Blackpool buildings in a move designed to safeguard their futures. The developer – Cheshire-based Ashall Projects – has applied to Blackpool Council to create a 148-room Hotel Indigo and Indigo Suites in the grade II-listed former Post Office and Sorting Office. Ashall Projects said it believed the venue could play a “key role” in attracting tourists and business people to the town, while breathing life into a pair of well-known assets. Ashall Projects is working in partnership with the council and IHG on the project. Ashall Projects director Mark Ashall said: “This will be a Hotel Indigo with a difference. It will cater for both short-stay leisure and business visitors, and it will also offer extended stay suites with additional facilities, such as kitchenettes, to provide the space and amenities for guests who want to stay longer. There are almost 150 Hotel Indigo sites across the globe but this will be the first time anywhere that Indigo will be offering extended stay rooms in addition to the classic Indigo rooms.” The hotel will employ about 70 staff.

 

French bistro to open in historic Stockport building: A French bistro taking its inspiration from Paris is set to open in Stockport’s historic Winter’s building later this year. Led by husband and wife co-owners – chef Marc Molé and Rachel Winter Jones – Bistro Marc at Winter’s will be a French bistro, offering comfort food, such as French onion soup, croque-monsieur, boeuf bourguignon, pot-au-feu and crème brulée. The bistro will offer à la carte and fixed-price menus and there are also plans to hold events such as wine tastings. Molé was born and raised in Paris and is passionate about sharing his love of the Parisian bistro experience. He trained in Washington DC with the former French head chef to the French ambassador. Over the years, the building in the Underbanks has operated in many guises, including an optician, jewellers, a restaurant and, most recently, as a pub, managed by Manchester-based brewer and retailer Joseph Holt. Molé said: “We are honoured to have been given the opportunity to open our French bistro in the Winter’s building. We are also very proud to be part of Stockport’s regeneration programme in the Underbanks.” Cllr David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council, added: “I’m confident Marc and Rachel’s passion and energy to deliver an authentic French bistro, while still preserving the heritage and history of the building will be a huge asset to the town centre.”

 

Accor to open three new Ibis hotels: Hotel group Accor is lining up three new openings for its Ibis brand. The company will launch sites in Bournemouth, London and Sutton. Ibis Styles Bournemouth is Accor’s 30th Ibis Styles hotel in the UK, as well as Britain’s first ice cream-themed hotel, with an interior design that evokes memories of childhood visits to the seaside. The 76-bedroom hotel houses its own ice cream station with bedrooms coming in three styles – mint choc chip, tutti frutti and very berry. The botanical-themed Ibis Styles Seven Kings will open in London on Monday (12 July). The day-to-day operations and strategic management will be undertaken by Black and White Hospitality. The hotel decor is themed around nature, with the fourth floor home to a rooftop garden. The hotel has a number of eco-friendly attributes such as charging stations for electric vehicles, secure bike storage, energy-saving lights as well as a water conservation programme. Meanwhile, Ibis London Sutton Point will open in Sutton this month. The hotel will offer 99 new plaza concept rooms and include Charlie’s Corner bar and restaurant.

 

Edwardian Hotels reopens Bloomsbury Street Kitchen restaurant: Edwardian Hotels has reopened its Bloomsbury Street Kitchen restaurant for the first time this year. Based in the Radisson Blu Edwardian Bloomsbury Street hotel in central London, the restaurant serves a variety of Mediterranean and Japanese dishes, with a selection of small plates, as well as a collection of fine wine, sake and cocktails. The menu includes sake-flamed black garlic king prawns as well as a signature six-course tasting menu, comprised of speciality dishes curated by executive head chefs, Neil Armstrong and Matt Downes. Edwardian Hotels’ other restaurant and bar brands in the capital include May Fair Kitchen, May Fair Bar and Peter Street Kitchen.

   

Essex country house hotel Down Hall to open new British restaurant: Essex country house hotel Down Hall is opening a new modern British restaurant. The Garden Room will open on Wednesday (14 July), with new executive chef Graham Noonan-Chatham at the helm. Set within the hotel’s 110 acres of gardens and woodland, the 1,161 square foot restaurant will house 60 covers. The Garden Room’s daily changing menus will focus on the produce grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden. Head gardener David Parkin will work hand-in-hand with Noonan-Chatham, using organic growing methods to bring the best seasonal ingredients to the table. A seven-course tasting menu will offer dishes such as summer gazpacho with smoked almonds; and treacle-cured longhorn beef fillet and stout braised short rib with shallot purée and hispi cabbage. The cocktail list will showcase local gin while there will be an extensive wine list, with 15 vintages available by the glass, alongside a selection of gin, beer and spirits. Noonan-Chatham said: “The team finds such inspiration in our spectacular surroundings and that is very much the ethos of The Garden Room – we are championing our landscape and bringing it to the heart of everything we do.”

  

Historic Cotswold hotel sold off £2.75m guide price: Historic Cotswolds hotel The Feathers, near Blenheim Palace World Heritage site in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, has been sold for an undisclosed price. The grade II-listed 21-bedroom hotel has been acquired by a private purchaser. It was brought to the market by Colliers with a guide price of £2.75m. Peter Brunt, director in hotels agency at Colliers, said: “Understandably, we received keen interest from a range of potential purchasers attracted by the strength of the business operated since 1999 by the private vendor, as well as the potential for the business to be developed further under new ownership. The Cotswolds has traditionally been an area in which well-located hotels and pubs are in high demand, and all the signs are that demand is set to intensify as the country moves out of lockdown and UK staycations become increasingly sought after.”