Welcome to Rise & Shine
If you have any news about your business you’d like to see here, including trading updates and appointments, please contact our News Editor, Carolyn Moss, at news@breadandbutter.media or call her on 01305 575155. Follow us on Twitter @BreadButterNews for updates.
Robin Alway
Group Editor
INDUSTRY NEWS
Apex’s £35m Bath hotel prepares for launch
The Apex City of Bath Hotel is set to open on 1st August. The 177-bed property is the group’s first in England outside London and will bring 130 jobs to the area and create the city’s only purpose-built conference facility for up to 400 guests.
Apex Hotels Limited now has a portfolio of ten hotels spanning Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and London. The Bath opening follows a financial year for the company which saw an 11.8% rise in underlying profits before tax, up from £9.2m to £10.3m in 2016.
Angela Vickers, Chief Executive Officer, Apex Hotels Limited said: “This is a significant milestone for the business and one that we have been working towards for some time. The Apex City of Bath Hotel will be our first opening in England outside of London and is set to be the historic city’s largest hotel in terms of conference and events spaces and number of bedrooms. This is an attractive proposition for businesses looking for new locations to host conference and events and the hotel is already taking bookings from international brands keen to get in early.”
Angela added: “Our portfolio is stronger than ever as our presence in key cities grows year on year. Now the finishing touches are being put to Apex City of Bath Hotel, we can move our attention to new opportunities that will continue to strengthen the Apex brand.”
The four-star Apex City of Bath Hotel is located 200 metres from the world famous Roman Baths in the city.
St Austell Brewery wins manufacturing prize for the South West.
The Cornish brewer scooped the award for the UK’s best manufacturer at the Insider Media Made in the UK Awards 2017.
This national awards event brings together all the regional winners from the past 12 months. The Brewery was nominated as it won two awards at the regional Insider Made in the South West awards last year.
Brewery CEO James Staughton said, “2016 was an incredibly important year for us and for the efforts of everyone within the company to be recognised at such a high level is truly rewarding. The fact that the Insider Media Awards celebrate excellence across the business sector as a whole make this an even more important accolade for us and we are proud to be helping to put the South West firmly back on the UK manufacturing map.”
The judges were impressed by the company’s contract wins, notably with British Airways, which show the company looking for growth through new market entry points. Also highlighted was the company’s acquisition of Bath Ales last year alongside plans to double the existing brewing capacity at its Warmley site.
First hotel Brasserie Blanc opens in Marriott Bournemouth
Raymond Blanc’s French restaurant chain is opening its 20th site at the Highcliff Marriott Hotel in Bournemouth.
The 3,500 sq ft restaurant will be the first to open in a hotel and provide 108 covers, 42 of which are on the terrace.
Mark Derry, chief executive of Brasserie Blanc, said: “We are delighted to be opening our 20th site and partnering with Marriott to launch Brasserie Blanc in Bournemouth.
“This is an exciting new phase for Brasserie Blanc’s development. The bar, brasserie and terrace will be absolutely stunning, and this is an exciting opportunity for us to scale up and run the full F&B for the 160-room hotel.”
Brasserie Blanc will be open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.The seasonal a la carte menu features their signature French classics and new seasonal dishes.
Gastro pub for former Jamie’s
A planning application has been submitted to turn the former Jamie’s Italian restaurant in Cheltenham into a gastro pub.
The empty site in Regent Street has been acquired by pub group Brunning and Price who have submitted a change of use from a restaurant to a pub.
The grade II-listed building, built between 1869 and 1871 was formerly the county court. Jamie’s Italian opened there in 2010, but it was one of the six sites in the celebrity chef’s group to be closed, with a downturn following the EU referendum blamed for the decision.
Brunning and Price plan to turn the building into a “destination gastro pub”. They propose moving the kitchen to the basement to “better reveal the significance of the listed building”.
The pub group has venues across the South East, West Midlands and East of England and is owned by The Restaurant Group.
Rick Stein launches film and food event
The celebrity chef’s season of outdoor cinema and food kicked off at Cliveden House in July. The 150 seat, sell-out event was presented by the Pop-Up Picture Company, who are creating a series of outdoor gastronomic film nights that will run throughout the summer at both Cliveden House and Chewton Glen in Hampshire.
Guests watched political thriller Scandal at Cliveden, which features in the film, and were served two courses of Rick’s seafood followed by ice-cream desserts from Tom Kerridge’s 2 Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers.
Rick commented, “The evening couldn’t have been better. It was just a perfect combination of a stunning location, the best movie for that, and dinner served to your sofa. Oh, and the weather – never to be taken for granted in England!”
With a different classic film to be screened each evening, the event will run from Wednesday 21st June to Tuesday 11th July at Cliveden House and from Sunday 9th July until Sunday 23rd July at Chewton Glen.
To find out more go to www.popuppicturecompany.co.uk
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Summer breeze from the Cotswolds
The Cotswold Juice Company Ltd are launching a new juice called Summer Breeze. It’s a combination of cold-pressed organic watermelon and mint. It’s currently available at Warner’s Budgens, Moreton-in-Marsh and Munchies in Montpellier, Cheltenham.
For more details go to www.cotswoldjuices.com
Moonroast’s decaf Mexican coffee
Hampshire-based speciality coffee roaster Moonroast has launched a new decaffeinated single origin from Cuxtepeques Valley Mexico. Ethically grown on the Nueva Linda estate, it has toffee, raisin and milk chocolate notes and has won several Mexican quality contests.
Francis Bradshaw, Moonroast’s owner and master roaster said “We were really blown away by the flavours of this coffee. Many decaffs just don’t deliver on flavour and taste profiles, but Nueva Linda does not disappoint. I picked up a delightful molasses note on the finish.”
For wholesale enquiries email coffee@moonroast.co.uk
EQUIPMENT
New chargrills and fryers for Falcon’s Dominator Plus cookline
Falcon Foodservice Equipment has extended its Dominator Plus series with three new models: two electric chargrills and a twin-pan electric fryer.
The two electric chargrills feature powerful elements that reach temperature even more quickly than gas. Food is cooked directly on the elements to give chargrill branding.
The E3865 electric fryer has two independently controlled pans. The two 10kW elements deliver fast heat-up times, reaching frying temperature from cold in just nine minutes and giving an output of 54kgs of chips per hour from 48 litres of oil.
List prices start from £2725 for the chargrills and £4345 for the new fryer. Visit www.falconfoodservice.com for more information.
FEM keep a lid on self-serve mess
The new Vollrath LidSaver 2 from FEM offers a single, clean, untouched drinks lid when customers open the unit’s door. It offers a potential solution to the problem of untended self-service areas’ waste and poor hygiene.
The unit has been reported by a major chain to have reduced their lid use by 30%, as well as being found to reduce the total number of bacteria living on lids by over 40%, including an over 80% decrease in yeast and mould counts.
The LidSaver 2 fits into existing cabinets and can be used to dispense different kinds of lids.
The starting list price is £220 (+VAT). More details from www.fem.co.uk
APPOINTMENTS
Gilbert and Sullivan for Hop Back Brewery
Paul Sullivan has been appointed as the new managing director of the Hop Back Brewery. He joins the Salisbury-based brewer after 10 years at Wadworth, most recently as Commercial Director.
Chairman and Founder John Gilbert said: “Paul joins at a very exciting time. Not only is it thirty years since our initial brew of ‘GFB’ at the Wyndham Arms in Salisbury, but our estate of ten pubs continues to go from strength to strength with both ‘The Archer’ in Wolstanton and ‘The Sultan’ in London, being recognised most recently in CAMRA’s Best Pub Awards. I am confident that Paul’s significant experience in all aspects of our business will ensure that we are able to fully capitalise on future opportunities.”
Tate Catering strengthens team
The art gallery caterer, Tate Catering, has promoted Hamish Anderson to CEO and made a number of appointments to the recently reopened Tate St Ives. The new team at the Cornish gallery includes head chef Fraser Bruce and general manager Louise Butcher.
Bruce has worked in France and Spain and plans to create a modern British menu at the gallery based around local, seasonal produce.
Chris Dines has also been appointed to work as executive chef overseeing the Tate kitchens in St Ives, London and Liverpool.
PROPERTY
Historic Dartmoor pub and restaurant to be auctioned
Dartmoor pub and restaurant the Ordulph Arms in Tavistock will be sold at auction by Charles Darrow on July 5th at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. The property has a guide price of £325,000 and underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in all trade areas before closing its doors at the end of 2016.
The building is a former temperance hotel and boasts a bar, lounge and first-floor restaurant/function suite, with external covers by way of a first-floor balcony. Additionally, the property has three, one-bedroom apartments and two studio flats, offering diversification potential for investors.
Charles Darrow Director Jon Clyne commented: “Our auctions are held in Mayfair, London, every two months where London and South West buyers battle it out for properties in this beautiful part of the country.”
PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Tyler Home Products
Stump Teapots have been the backbone of our family business for over six years and are now proving their popularity within the catering and beverage industry.
Tyler Home Products Ltd have proudly grown to be the largest supplier in the U.K with the help from loyal customers and the quick delivery service we offer.
We currently stock a choice of 11 colours in 13oz and 18oz along with a variety of other teapots and products to compliment the art of serving loose leaf tea, as it should be done.
For further enquiries please don`t hesitate to call Simon on 01626 834544 or 07999 426925. Email: tylerhomeproducts@gmail.com.
EVENTS
July
Hampshire Food Festival 2017
1st – 31st July
Various locations in Hampshire
“The Hampshire Food Festival is an opportunity to show people what is grown and made in the county and offer unique experiences. From walking with buffalo to distillery tours or watching demos from top local chefs, the festival offers something for all tastes.”
http://www.hampshirefare.co.uk/food-festival/
Imbibe Live 2017
3rd – 4th July
Olympia, London
“Join 12,000 drinks professionals at the innovative and interactive annual exhibition for anyone who sources, buys or serves drinks in the licensed on-trade. Be part of Europe’s largest on-trade drinks exhibition: listen to ground-breaking seminars, experience rare and unique tastings, source new products and discover new trends defining the future of the industry.”
http://live.imbibe.com/
FoodWorks SW Summer Workshops – Exporting is great – Where do I start?
5th July, 10am-4pm, free.
The Hive, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 8EE
“Would you like to know more about what government assistance is available to help your business export food and drink? Hilary Charman, International Trade Advisor for The Department for International Trade Southwest is hosting a series of free 121 appointments on Wednesday 5th July at The Hive as part of the FoodWorksSW Business Support Programme.”
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exporting-is-great-where-do-i-start-tickets-35169109754?aff=es2
FoodWorks SW Summer Workshops – Regional Food and Drink SME Support Workshop
6th July 2017, 8.30am-1pm, free
The Hive, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 8EE
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/regional-food-and-drink-sme-support-workshop-registration-34281732585
FoodWorks SW Interactive Workshops – Make it, or get it made?
13th July, 9am-3pm, £25
The Hive, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 8EE
“This highly interactive workshop aims to help you get your food and drink product made. Addressing the question of making it yourself or as many others now do; get it made for you.”
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foodworks-sw-make-it-or-get-it-made-tickets-34886759236
The Yeovil Show
15th – 16th July
The Showground, Yeovil, South Somerset
Celebrating Yeovil and South Somerset – showcasing amazing local food and drink including two food halls, the cheese & cider marquee and live cookery demonstrations.
https://www.yeovilshow.org/
The Mid Devon Show
22nd July
Knightshayes, Tiverton, Devon
“Experience a true celebration of rural Mid Devon with an eclectic mix of breathtaking entertainment, food, shopping, music, horticulture and farm life.”
http://www.middevonshow.co.uk/
New Forest & Hampshire County Show
25th – 27th July
The Showground, New Park, Brockenhurst
“Three days of agricultural fun and entertainment for all the family – now rated among the top ten agricultural shows in the country.”
http://www.newforestshow.co.uk/
FoodWorks SW Summer Workshops – Where to source money?
27th July, 9am-3pm, £25
The Hive, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 8EE
“Do you have a product but want some ideas on how to finance getting it to market? This highly interactive workshop aims to help you get your food and drink project financed.”
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foodworks-sw-finance-where-to-source-money-tickets-34886135370
August
Bristol Sausage & Cider Festival
4th – 5th August
Old Passenger Shed, Temple Meads Station, Bristol
“Music, real cider, and great sausages from artisan producers.”
http://www.sausageandciderfestival.co.uk/festivals/BRISTOL
Great Dorset Chilli Festival
5th – 6th August
St Giles House, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset
“A great day out for chilli enthusiasts, food lovers and families. A glorious weekend of “chilli fiesta”, with stalls selling all things chilli, plus cooking demonstrations; talks on growing chillies; artisan food producers and spicy street food.”
http://www.greatdorsetchillifestival.co.uk/
CAMRA Great British Beer Festival 2017
8th – 12th August
Olympia, London
“Celebrating its 40th Anniversary – Real Ale and other Craft Beer, Cider and Perry plus English Wine, Street Food and Entertainment.” Includes the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain competition.
https://www.gbbf.org.uk/
The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
19th – 20th August
Newchurch, Sandown, Isle of Wight
“There are huge garlic and food marquees and cooking demonstrations from top Island chefs in the all new theatre kitchen”
http://www.garlicfestival.co.uk/
The Melplash Show
24th August
The West Bay Showground, Bridport, Dorset
“One of the South West’s premier agricultural exhibitions, the show is packed full of exhibits including livestock, horses, homecrafts and horticulture. There are over 350 trade stands selling everything from locally produced food to tractors….and plenty in between!”
http://www.melplashshow.co.uk/
River Cottage Summer Festival
26th – 27th August
River Cottage HQ, Axminster Devon
“There’ll be demonstrations from well-known chefs, inspirational speakers, masterclasses to take part in, tasty street food to sample, not forgetting our very own River Cottage chefs preparing the best seasonal food for you to enjoy.”
https://www.rivercottage.net/dining-and-events/river-cottage-festival-2017
Witcombe Cider Festival
26th – 27th August
Brockworth, Gloucester
UK’s largest Cider Festival. 50 Ciders and a strong line-up of national music artists.
http://witcombeciderfestival.co.uk/