Welcome to Rise & Shine
If you have any news about your business you’d like to see here 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
Avon Gorge Hotel to reopen as Hotel du Vin
Malmaison Hotel du Vin have announced they are opening their second hotel in Bristol, ‘The Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin’ from spring 2018.
The 75-bedroom Avon Gorge Hotel, acquired by Hotel du Vin owners Frasers Hospitality from Swire Properties Hotels Holdings two years ago as part of a £36m deal, is being extensively refurbished.
A new general manager, Josie Simcox, has been appointed, moving from the same position at the Malmaison London.
Nick Halliday, chief operating officer at Hotel du Vin, said: “Over the past 12 months we have worked tirelessly to restore and reinvigorate this iconic hotel. It’s been a fantastic journey – we’re almost there now, and we can’t wait to share the full results with the local community and hotel guests, new and old.”
Wessanen invests in Dorset factory
The organic food company that owns Clipper Teas, Wessanen, has invested £1.25m in new equipment at its Dorset tea factory.
As part of a plan to develop a Centre of Tea Excellence, the investment will allow Wessanen to produce an additional 100 million tea bags and manufacture Piramide, its Dutch organic tea brand.
Daniel Parr, Wessanen UK Project Manager for Piramide Insourcing and Head of Technical and R&D, comments: “We have an excellent and passionate team at Wessanen UK that has worked tirelessly together with our Piramide friends and colleagues to make this a success. It has been a complex project to improve and integrate such a wide range of excellent quality Organic Teas and Infusions into the Beaminster site, and we are very pleased with what we’ve achieved. We will have continuing work to do but seeing the new production line in action is a huge milestone in the project.”
Tony Buckton, Wessanen UK Factory Manager, adds: “This new tea line supports the incredible growth we’re seeing for tea and infusions across Europe. The decision to invest in the Beaminster Factory, here in Dorset, is aligned with Wessanen’s ambition to make the factory their ‘Centre of Tea Excellence’ across all their brands.”
Last month, Wessanen won a Food Manufacture Excellence Award for its Clipper Teas factory for the second year running.
Dartmoor Brewery launch online craft ale shop
South West craft beer producer Dartmoor Brewery has launched an online shop for Christmas in order to market its ales to a national audience.
Richard Smith, Managing Director of Dartmoor Brewery, commented: “Our ales have always had a strong following in the South West, and we are now extending our coverage outside the region where the appeal of craft ales is just as strong. We have a great range of branded merchandise, clothing and gifts, and we wanted to make it easier for fans of our beers to buy our merchandise, wherever they might be in the country.
The new shop – www.dartmoorbrewery.co.uk – offers one-click shopping, low-cost carriage, secure check-out and a choice of payment options.
BAPTAs open for entries
The 2018 Bournemouth and Poole Tourism Awards are now open for entries and nominations. The BAPTAs celebrate the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry across the BH postcode in Dorset.
There are 19 categories to choose from including ‘New Business of the Year Award’ and the ‘Self Catering Accommodation Award’, which are new awards this year.
Entry is free and closes on 10th January 2018. Visit www.bapta.co.uk/categories to enter.
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
British Polo Gin go Sloe
The artisan gin maker have launched British Polo Sloe Gin No.2. It includes hand-foraged sloe berries from British hedgerows. Distilled with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, orange zest and cloves, the producer describes it delivering “the taste of a British Christmas.”
Featuring half the sugar of other sloe gins, it’s “less syrupy… [and] mixes well with fizz.” It’s available from www.britishpologin.co.uk
Low sugar chocolate spreads to hospitality sector
Jim Jams are launching new 15g peel back pouches of their two low sugar chocolate spreads aimed at the hospitality and airline sectors.
Available in Milk Chocolate and Hazelnut Chocolate, the brand point to Nielsen scantrack data that suggests over the last 12 months Jim Jams enjoyed the largest sales growth within the UK’s top 30 UK Jams & Spreads category.
They are available to trade customer from Compass Foods and from http://jimjams-spreads.co.uk/
Langham launch Blanc de Noirs 2013
Sparkling wine producer Langham Wine Estate are adding Blanc de Noirs 2013 to their portfolio. A blend of 58% Pinot noir and 42% Pinot meunier, the Dorset vineyard describes the wine as being “alive with red fruit, violet and brioche aromas. These flavours are joined by citrus fruit on the palate and complemented by the complexity derived from prolonged lees ageing.”
Daniel Ham, Langham Wine Estate winemaker, said: ““The decision to produce a Blanc de Noirs followed a successful Pinot noir and Pinot meunier harvest in 2013. The grapes, both black varieties, were picked from 11th-24th October 2013 and gently pressed, whole bunch, in a pneumatic press. Fermentation took place both in stainless steel vats and used oak barrels, then the wine was left to age on its lees for six months before being bottled. Secondary fermentation in the bottle has resulted in a fine effervescence with a delicious complexity derived from 24 months lees ageing.
The wine has an RRP of £27 and is available from https://langhamwine.co.uk/shop/
Wine Library welcomes tasters
Cheltenham retailer Tivoli Wines have opened the Wine Library, a tasting room where customers can sample a variety of different bottles.
Visitors will be able to sample 32 varieties from Enomatic tasting machines that allow wine to be poured without removing the cork so preserving the bottle.
It’s the first time this ‘state-of-the-art’ wine dispensing and preservation system has been used in Gloucester with a further number of fine wines available by Coravin, all chosen by the Tivoli Wines team.
After loading a top-up card with a member of the team, visitors are encouraged to sample as many or as few wines as they like, choosing from samples of 25ml, 75ml or 125ml, priced from 80p for a sample of a shop favourite to £80 for a glass of “some of the best wine in the world.”
EQUIPMENT NEWS
Biodegradable paper straws
Parsley in Time have introduced Utopia Tableware’s biodegradable Paper Straw to its range. With over 500 million single-use plastic straws estimated to be used every day in the US alone, customers are asking caterers to move to green alternatives
Utopia Paper Straws are 100% biodegradable and available in a range of colours, including a bamboo finish. Measuring 20cm long with a bore of 7mm, it’s manufactured to ensure it won’t unravel in the drink.
“Many of our customers are looking for environmentally friendly products,” says Parsley in Time’s marketing manager Rob Blunderfield. “Long-term, paper straws are the green alternative, and we hope that they become the preferred choice for operators and consumers.
“As awareness in these issues increases, we can help to combat the wastefulness head-on. Yes, in the grand scale of things, supplying sustainable straws can be seen as a small change, but given the large number being thrown away, we feel that it’s making a real difference.”
For more information, and to shop online, visit www.parsleyintime.co.uk.
APPOINTMENTS
Delayed hotel gets general manager and new opening date
Olivia Richli was announced as the general manager of Heckfield Place, the country house hotel which will now open in late 2018, some five years after its original launch date.
The hotel near Hook in Hampshire has had two previous managers and has been delayed by changes to the original plans. It was set to open with 70 bedrooms in time for the London Olympics in 2012.
Heckfield Place will now have 46 bedrooms and a biodynamic farm within its setting on a 400-acre country estate.
Richli has spent 18 years working at Aman properties across the world and most recently launched Soneva Jani resort in the Maldives.
Richli said: “I have been privileged to work in many beautiful corners of the world, and am so excited to be finally returning home to join the exceptional Heckfield Place.”
PROPERTY
Salcombe brasserie on market for £99,950
The Boatswains Brasserie in Salcombe has been put on the open market for the first time for 16 years with Charles Darrow.
The ground floor restaurant can seat 40 guests, and the property includes a bar and wine cellar, plus a fully equipped commercial kitchen on the first floor with dumbwaiter.
The business trades five evenings a week on a seasonal basis and has high net profits over the last three years.
The premises are available on a 15-year lease with a guide price of £99,950.
James Sanders, business agent at Charles Darrow, said: “Boatswains is a superb opportunity for a range of operators to immerse themselves in a wonderful established business, in arguably the most sought-after coastal destination in the South-West”.
INDUSTRY EVENTS 2018
January
Cotswold Fayre New Product Launch Show (South West)
16th January 2018
Kendleshire Golf Club, Bristol. BS36 2UY
“Cotswold Fayre will be on the road with all their brand new suppliers. These events are for the retailer, to give them the opportunity to see and taste the product ranges, all in one place and to meet the people who make them!”
https://www.cotswold-fayre.co.uk/blog/new_product_launch_shows18/
BevExpo2018
23rd-24th January 2018
Ricoh Arena, Judds Lane, Coventry, CV6 6GE
“BevExpo2018 (incorporating Cellar to Seller and BrewEx) is an opportunity for the wider beverage industry to meet, learn and discover the excellence of products and services within the entire beverage industry supply chain.”
http://www.bevexpo.com/
Business South Local Produce Show
2018 – Producers & Suppliers
25th January 2018
Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
“Business South, Cavendish Ships Stores, Hampshire Fare, Hampshire Farmers’ Market, Paris Smith, Southern Coop and New Forest Marque invite producers and suppliers from the South to exhibit at the 10th Local Produce Show 2018.”
https://www.businesssouth.org/events/local-produce-show-2018/
February
South West Tourism Awards Celebration Dinner
1st February 2018
Arena at the Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay
“The dinner is the grand finale for the awards across the South West, attended by over 400 of the region’s top quality tourism businesspeople, as well as a great opportunity for the region’s tourism businesses to meet up, celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.”
http://www.southwesttourismawards.org.uk/page/47/awards-celebration-dinner-1-feb.htm
Pub18
6th-7th February 2018
Olympia, London
“The only dedicated show for the UK Pub industry. Keep up-to-date with trends, share ideas, network and gain inspiration with almost 200 of the sector’s most innovative operators.”
http://www.thepubshow.co.uk/
The Source Trade Show
7th – 8th February 2018
Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter
“The 2018 Source trade show provides the perfect mix of passionate producers, alongside the hottest hospitality and catering companies, and the freshest food service.”
https://www.thesourcetradeshow.co.uk/
Westcountry Tourism Conference
7th – 8th February 2018
Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter
“Running alongside the Source Trade Show, the conference is designed for anyone working in the tourism industry across Devon, Somerset, Dorset and further afield. It will provide tourism businesses with the opportunity to listen to industry experts who will be offering advice on a diverse range of topics.”
https://thesourcetradeshow.co.uk/show-features/westcountry-tourism-conference/
The Food to Go Conference & Study Tour
7th – 8th February 2018
Ham Yard Hotel, London
“MCA’s successful Food-to-go Conference returns with a further focus on THE most dynamic and fast-moving sector in the UK’s eating out industry. The 2018 Study Tour will visit key forward-thinking food-to-go operations in London and include operator talks and sampling.”
https://www.foodtogoconference.co.uk/
Casual Dining
21st-22nd February 2018
Business Design Centre, London
“Casual Dining is your only trade show entirely dedicated to the branded restaurant and pub sectors. Casual Dining gives you the unique opportunity to meet over 200 food, drink, equipment, tabletop, furniture, interior design, technology and services suppliers, taste and try products.”
http://www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/
The Bed & Breakfast, Retail and Self-Catering Show
21st & 22nd February 2018
Thornbury Leisure Centre, Bristol. BS35 3JB
“The fourth Exhibition and Conference covering the Bed and Breakfast, Guest House, Inns, Small Independent Hotel, Independent Self Catering Owners and Owner Managed Hospitality businesses.”
http://www.thebedandbreakfastshow.com/bristol
Packaging Innovations 2018
28th February – 1st March 2018
NEC, Birmingham
“Visitors will be able to meet with new and current suppliers supplying the latest in innovative food & drinks packaging, tap into the industry’s hot trends, and network with the world’s biggest brands under one roof.”
Co-Located with Label & Print 2018 & Empack 2018
http://www.easyfairs.com/packaging-innovations-birmingham-2018/packaging-innovations-birmingham-2018/
Professional Development Courses for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector
28th February – 16th March 2018
Bournemouth University
“Practitioners can develop their skills through a series of masterclasses and half-day courses to develop operational and strategic thinking. Delivered through interactive workshops and networking with leading academics, the courses are aimed at developing contemporary knowledge of critical business aspects that influence profitability and performance.”
For information, visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tourism-hospitality-shortcourses
To book https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professional-development-courses-for-tourism-hospitality-professionals-tickets-38863372393