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
Editorial Director
INDUSTRY NEWS
Prezzo to close up to 100 sites
The Italian restaurant chain Prezzo is to close up to a third of its 300 UK sites as it proposes a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) to stay afloat.
Owners private equity group TPG Capital, which acquired Prezzo for £304m in 2015, hopes to turn around the business by closing around 100 unprofitable sites, including all the branches of Chimichanga, its Tex-Mex offshoot.
Prezzo’s creditors will be asked to approve proposals under which the chain’s landlords accept reductions in rent. The CVA, if agreed, is expected to result in about 1000 job losses from the 4,500 strong workforce.
The company saw its total business rates bill rise 23% to £15.9m over the last year, according to research from Colliers International.
The news follows a difficult 2018 so far for casual dining brands including Byron, which agreed on a CVA with creditors last month, and Jamie’s Italian which plans to close 12 sites.
St Austell extend and grow Surfing England partnership
St Austell Brewery and Surfing England have announced the extension and growth of their partnership which has Korev Cornish Lager as the official beer of the organisation.
The new three-year agreement will see the Korev brand continue its commitment to support and develop Surfing England. The sponsorship will also form a key part of Surfing England competitions, events and international representation, increasingly important as surfing makes its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
Jeremy Mitchell, St Austell Brewery Marketing and Communications Director, said: “Our long-term partnership with Surfing England has enabled us to witness firsthand the incredible dedication of the organisation, both in terms of developing the sport and its commitment at grassroots and local club level. We’re very proud to be playing our own small role in helping to grow this wonderful sport and look forward to working closely with surfing England over the coming years, especially as we edge closer to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic decisions.”
Cornwall’s first single estate distillery open for Easter
Colwith Farm Distillery, near Lostwithiel, will be Cornwall’s first single estate distillery when it opens its doors over Easter 2018.
Visitors will be able to see the ‘plough to bottle’ journey of how potatoes grown on the family farm are turned into Aval Dor vodka and Stafford’s Gin.
Fifth-generation farmer Steve Dustow said: “We first had the idea of producing our own spirits and building our own distillery around eight years ago. The concept for Cornwall’s first potato vodka came to fruition with the launch of Aval Dor in 2014, followed by Stafford’s Gin in 2015. It’s been a while in the making but it’s fantastic to see the distillery finally taking shape. There are lots of companies producing Cornish gin but we’re the first in Cornwall to bring the whole process under one roof.”
Construction of the distillery began in 2017 thanks to a SELAG (South and East Cornwall Local Action Group) grant from the LEADER Programme. The LEADER Programme is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
A soft launch is planned for Good Friday, 30 March. Tours will last approximately 45 minutes (up to 20 people) and will cost from £15 per adult. Bespoke tours and events will be available on request. For more information visit www.colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk
Tourism awards up for Awards Award
The South West Tourism Excellence Awards have been announced as a finalist in the ‘Best Regional Awards’ category of the 2018 AwardsAwards.
The South West awards saw a record number of entries for 2017/18, and many winners are nominated to represent the region in the national VisitEngland Awards. The South West has maintained its position as England’s top region for quality, winning more awards than any other region for the past five years.
Awards organiser Robin Barker said: “Being recognised as a Finalist for ‘Best Regional Awards’ is fantastic recognition for the awards, our tourism industry and the joint working we enjoy with the wider business community of the South West. It’s not easy running the Awards in a region with our shape and diversity. Other regions are often blessed with public funding, better road networks and venues that can seat 1,100 or more – but we are blessed with the best quality tourism offering in the UK, and we are delighted to work as part of this.”
The AwardsAwards take place in London on Friday 27th April. Get more information at awardsawards.co.uk.
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Polar Monkeys launch new Blue Collar lager
The Theodor Schiøtz Brewing Company from Odense, Denmark are introducing their range of ‘nordic beers’ to the UK with Polar Monkeys Blue Collar Amber Lager.
According to the brewer: “Blue Collar Amber Lager is the fresh, laid-back member of the Polar Monkey family. A crisp, balanced hoppy flavour delivers a real thirst quenching beer, while the light amber colour and vibrant citrus taste complement the fruity notes and appealing flowery scent. Served chilled, this amber lager is 5.0% alcohol by volume and is served in stubby 330ml bottles or in kegs for those looking for a draught beer offering.”
For more information, see www.tsbrewing.co.uk.
Traditional Free Egg Co secure listing with Milk & More
The Traditional Free Range Egg Company’s Rambling Free hens eggs are now available for home delivery throughout the UK, due to a new listing with Milk & More, an online service delivering milk and groceries to customer’s doors every day.
The eggs are part of the Somerset-based producer’s Free Collection which is from small flocks of hens free to roam from dawn until dusk and housed in traditional flat deck sheds at night.
Dan Wood, managing director of The Traditional Free Range Egg Company, explains; “We love the concept of Milk & More, harking back to the days when the local milkman delivered fresh milk to your door every morning, so it’s fantastic to have our Rambling Free hens eggs sold as part of this traditional offering… This is a great coming together of traditional farming methods and a very modern way of shopping, which we hope will benefit everyone.”
Pinkster launches 3-litre bag-in-box gin
Spirits brand Pinkster have introduced a 3-litre bag-in-box version of its raspberry-infused gin aimed at on-trade and off-trade in a move to cut down on glass waste.
Pinkster managing director Stephen Marsh said: “Bag-in-boxes have been enjoying a renaissance in the wine world, with many retailers reporting a surge in sales, and we see no reason why this shouldn’t be the case with spirits.
“Pinkster on Tap is all about convenience and sustainability delivered in an eye-catching, stylish format. Rather than ordering bottle after bottle, the on-trade can now refuel in an environmentally friendly fashion and save a few pounds in the process.
“We’ve tested the concept with selected accounts and initial feedback has been mighty positive. It’s time for bag-in-boxes to shed their rather negative and passé perceptions, and we’re proud as a premium brand, to be leading the way on this.”
The 3-litre Pinkster on Tap is available in the UK with a recommended retail price of £135.
Moonroast launch new blend
Hampshire-based Moonroast Coffee have announced Lunar, a new espresso blend of Brazil, Colombia & Sumatra. According to the producer, Lunar is “enjoyably full-bodied but with bursting bright acidity and notes of Seville orange, mixed spice and dark chocolate. Coffee drinkers will enjoy the smooth, lingering mouth feel of both as an espresso or milk based coffee.”
It’s available in 1kg wholesale bags (no minimum order or case size) from Moonroast Coffee. Please telephone 01256 389996 or email coffee@moonroast.co.uk for prices.
EQUIPMENT NEWS
Vintage cocktail glassware from Artis
Reflecting the continuing trend for vintage-look cocktail service this year’s Artis catalogue includes a new collection of vintage look crystal glassware from Luigi Bormioli called Mixology.
The collection includes several different styles – Textures, Charme and Elixir in hi-ball and double old fashioned glasses alongside spritz, coupe, martini glasses and gin goblets. The different pieces are designed to be mixed and matched.
Mixology is manufactured using Luigi Bormioli’s patented SON.hyx process. This gives the “glassware a high level of transparency and brilliance, even after 4,000 commercial dishwasher cycles. The glass stems are titanium reinforced, for an enhanced hardness and resistance to abrasion and breakage. They are totally dishwasher safe.”
The different glassware styles are complemented with bitters bottles, mixing jug, dash bottles and a decanter. Selected price points include the Charme double old fashioned at £4.05; the gin goblet at £6.29; the coupe £4.45 and the Elixir decanter costing £9.98.
For your copy of the Artis catalogue call 020 8391 5544 or download online at http://www.artis-uk.com/catalogue
Café Plus in-room capsule system launches
Café du Monde are introducing a new capsule machine system, Café Plus, designed to “add a touch of luxury” to the standard of in-room hot drinks.
Café du Monde has packed three of its best-selling coffees in capsules – Grand Cru, Colombian and Swiss Water processed Decaffeinated. The coffee machine supplied by Dualit is gloss black with a chrome finish, heats up in 40 seconds and automatically switches off after 10 minutes of inactivity.
The Café Plus offers precise dosing control for espresso or americano and features a temperature boost control for a hotter cup of tea. The programmable dosing memory allows you to alter the extraction, which is useful if you have a particular mug or cup size in the room. The Dualit machine costs £105.00+VAT and there is no product tie-in. Capsules come in boxes of 125 and cost 25p–27p. The machine is compatible with other makes of capsules. For more details call 01322 284804.
APPOINTMENTS
Chewton Glen GM moves to Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa
Mark Bevan is to leave Chewton Glen after nearly four years as the general manager for a similar role at Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa in Warminster, Wiltshire.
He will join the 32-bedroom, four-star hotel in June to help oversee a five-year renovation, following its recent purchase by commercial and residential property developer Frank Mountain of Versant Developers for an undisclosed sum from Longleat Enterprises, who operate the safari park and visitor attraction in Wiltshire.
Bevan rejoined Chewton Glen in Hampshire in 2012 as operations manager having worked there in 2003-2007 as deputy restaurant manager. On his time at Chewton Glen, he said: “The past four years have been a very exciting time for the hotel with the owners investing heavily in the property to develop and move it forward. I have learned a huge amount and have particularly enjoyed working with Andrew Stembridge.”
On his new appointment, Bevan said: “The hotel will remain open while the refurbishment takes place in stages. Subject to planning permission we plan to add up to 10 to 15 bedrooms.
“There is massive potential for the property, which sits with a 26-acre estate. We plan to bring it back to life.”
PROPERTY
Gloucester gastro pub sold
The Puesdown Inn on the A40 Burford to Cheltenham Road near Compton Abdale was sold off an asking price of £550,000 by Colliers International.
Dating from 1236, the inn is thought to have been built as a staging post on the route to London.
Peter Brunt, a director in Colliers International’s Hotels Agency team, said: “The market responded well to the opportunity with competitive offers made to secure the property.
“The confidential purchaser was attracted by the three letting rooms and the fact it sits on a very large site so there is plenty of scope to take the business forward.”
EVENTS
March
Hotelympia
5th – 8th March 2018
ExCel, London
“The UK’s largest foodservice and hospitality event. Hotelympia is the most important event for any professional wanting to gain access to the latest products, ideas and thinking. It is the best place to find real innovation and ideas.”
http://hotelympia.com/
Expowest Cornwall
6th – 8th March 2018
Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge
“Perfectly timed and showcasing products that cover the whole of the hospitality and catering market; from tableware to furniture, catering equipment to business services, coffee to speciality food, this show really does have Cornwall covered.”
https://expowestcornwall.co.uk/
Welcome to Excellence courses
8th March – 3rd May 2018
Exeter, Bournemouth and St Austell
“Welcome Host Gold customer service courses and Welcome All disability awareness courses running in locations across Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Enhance the customer experience and reap the rewards in increased customer loyalty and repeat business. Provide great service to every single one of your customers – smart businesses know how to make everyone welcome.”
Further information available at http://www.purplecloudconsultancy.com
To book https://purplecloudconsultancy.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
The Publican Awards
13th March 2018
Battersea Evolution, London
“The Publican Awards recognises the best in every aspect of the pub industry – from the best brewing pub companies to the best late-night operators. Gold standard comedian and top television presenter Rob Brydon will be joining us to host the awards.”
https://www.publicanawards.co.uk/
2018 BAPTA Ball and Award Ceremony
15th March 2018
The Lighthouse, Poole. Dorset
“Set to be one of the largest tourism events in Dorset with over 500 guests attending, to celebrate the achievements of business that contribute to tourism and hospitality across the BH postcode area.”
To find out more and to purchase tickets, visit http://bapta.co.uk/
Art of Being Brilliant
15th March 2018
Westpoint Centre, Exeter
“Businesses have no divine right to succeed. As competitive pressures and customer expectations continue to rise, it’s your people that will ultimately make the difference. The key to a brighter future is brilliant people. It’s as simple as that! Let us give you and your staff a motivational boost for 2018 through our inspiring seminar the Art of Being Brilliant.”
Further information available at http://www.purplecloudconsultancy.com
To book https://purplecloudconsultancy.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
Northern Restaurant & Bar Show 2018
20th – 21st March 201
Manchester Central Convention Complex
“Northern Restaurant & Bar returns bringing the entire industry together for two days of networking, discovery and innovation. It is the place to source new products and services from 275 exhibiting suppliers and be inspired by 65 live food & drink demos.”
https://www.northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk/
British Tourism & Travel Show 2018
21st – 22nd March 2018
NEC, Birmingham
“Britain & Ireland’s essential domestic tourism exhibition. It is packed full of inspirational travel ideas to ensure that your forthcoming brochures, programmes and itineraries are fresh and innovative, even for the most seasoned traveller.”
https://www.tourismshow.co.uk/