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Robin Alway
Editorial Director
INDUSTRY NEWS
New wine tasting venue for Bristol development
A new innovative wine tasting venue, Le Vignoble, is to open at Finzels Reach, a mixed-use development in Bristol.
French for ‘the vineyard’, Le Vignoble wine lounge and shop will offer up to 64 wines in the atmospheric surroundings of the restored heritage brewery.
The selection of wines, changing monthly, will be available from self-service Enomatic dispensers that keep wine at the perfect temperature.
The wine will be sold in tasting 25cl, medium or large glasses and customers can either pre-pay on a free membership card or pay at the end of their evening. Members will be able to preview new wines and have priority booking for events at the venue.
Every wine comes with tasting notes and “all staff are highly trained experts able to guide novices towards new grapes, regions and varieties.” An authentic French tapas-style food menu will also be available to complement the wine including meat and cheese platters. Craft beers and ciders sourced from the South West will be served too.
Le Vignoble is the newest addition to Finzels Reach which has seen Left-Handed Giant and Mission Pizza open this summer, joining established independents Spicer+Cole and Café Matariki. Bocabar’s brand new third venue, with a plaza-style outdoor terrace, is also set to open this autumn.
Le Vignoble founder Yannick Loué came up with the idea for his wine lounge ten years ago. He was struck by how many people stuck to well-known wine brands because they did not have the opportunity to find out more. He wanted to create a place where people could help themselves to new wines without feeling intimidated by a waiter or ‘maitre d’. He opened the first bar in Royal William Yard, Plymouth seven years ago and last year opened a second outlet in Milsom Place, Bath.
Yannick Loué says: “There is so much snobbery in the wine world, I really wanted to democratize the wine tasting process and make it accessible to everyone. Our self-serve dispensers enable people to try a small glass without having to buy a whole bottle so it is a great way to explore and discover new wines.”
Gavin Bridge, executive director at Cubex, the developer behind Finzels Reach, said: “Le Vignoble brings something completely new to the city’s eating and drinking scene and we are thrilled they are opening at Finzels Reach adding to our eclectic mix of independent businesses. With such an array of different eating and drinking options, Finzels Reach is becoming a social hub for the local community and the city.”
New protections for food allergies
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed a series of measures to protect those with food allergies and intolerances. The plans were announced on at a quarterly board meeting on 18th September, a week after the conclusion of the inquest into the tragic death of Owen Cary, who died after having an allergic reaction to milk at a London restaurant.
The actions include:
- issuing a clear and easy to follow aide-memoire for enforcement officers (Environmental Health Officers and Trading Standards Officers) which is focused specifically on the action they should be taking within business in relation to food allergies
- publishing an urgent update of the highly-regarded ‘Safer Food Better Business’ guide, including a review of on the allergens information included
- at the end of the year, launching of an awareness campaign to remind businesses and consumers about how to keep people with food allergies safe
As part of the meeting, the Board also considered other major public health risks, including campylobacter and AMR. There was a strong endorsement from the Board to sustain current achievements and continue efforts to tackle Campylobacter in smaller food businesses.
The board also debated the global challenge of tackling antimicrobial resistance, the Cost of Illness Model for foodborne diseases and food hypersensitivity and stated its concerns about the ability to fund the people and systems required to deliver a reformed regulatory system.
Cornwall hotel gets second five-star rating
The Headland in Newquay has become Cornwall’s only double-five star hotel with the award of a five-star rating by the AA on Friday 20 September.
The new AA rating for the hotel follows a five-star award from Quality in Tourism earlier in the year. The Headland already holds AA five stars for their self-catering cottages, and a “five bubble” rated spa.
Darryl Reburn, the hotel’s managing director, said: “2019 is turning out to be a vintage year for The Headland. We have always strived to offer a five-star experience for our guests, and it is wonderful for our team to see this reflected in the AA rating moving up to the highest level.”
Also awarded an AA five-star rating on the same day was The Nare Hotel on the Roseland, run by the Armstrongs’ nephew Toby Ashworth. The family has more than 100 years’ experience of hotelkeeping in Cornwall.
The Headland is set to receive further investment with the construction of the Aqua Club, an £8 million leisure facility combining five swimming pools and an informal restaurant, due to open in spring 2020.
Paignton restaurant joins St Austell estate
St Austell Brewery has secured a long-term lease for the Harbour Light in Paignton. It will become a part of the Cornish brewer’s managed pub estate.
St Austell has plans to invest in the development of the vacant two-storey property situated on the town’s harbourside and has a been granted a 90-year lease on the Grade II listed building by Torbay council.
Planning approval has been received for the development to include a new bar and dining venue, outdoor balcony seating overlooking the harbour, and a small coffee shop and takeaway.
Councillor Swithin Long, Torbay Council Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, said: “This is another example of a successful private operator bringing investment, development and regeneration into Torbay, which in turn will create jobs. This project supports the objectives set out in Torbay’s Economic Strategy and Destination Management Plan and complements other investment in Paignton such as the Fragrance Group at Park Hotel.”
Steve Worrall, retail director, St Austell Brewery, said: “We’re delighted to have secured a long-term lease on the Harbour Light restaurant. The building has huge potential, so we’re excited to be working closely with Torbay Council and the Harbour Committee to sensitively restore it into a family-friendly venue, with unrivalled views of Paignton’s harbourside.”
Dairy Industry Woman of the Year
Mary Quicke from Devon-based cheesemaker, Quicke’s was presented with the Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award on Wednesday 18th September.
She was selected by the panel for “having consistently demonstrated the core values of Women in Dairy – to connect, share and inspire.”
Mary took charge of the family farm in 1987, following her mother who built the original cheese dairy at Quicke’s in the 1970s. She has overseen the evolution of farming practices and cheesemaking at the farm, switching to specially bred cows and developing an eco-friendly cheese mite management system.
She sits on the board at both the Food Standards Agency and the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Dairy Sector and judges at cheese competitions across the globe including the British Cheese Awards, World Cheese Awards and American Cheese Society Awards. Mary received an MBE for her contribution to farming and cheesemaking in 2005 and became a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers in 2016 and was instrumental in the establishment of the Academy of Cheese in 2017.
Mary Quicke MBE commented: “I’m a great admirer of the work that’s been carried out by the Women in Dairy project since it was first established in 2015, so winning this award is a huge honour and a tremendous achievement for me and all the team. We have so many challenges and opportunities before us in dairy, including the chance to improve the carbon sequestration value of permanent pasture to make sure that eating dairy actually helps save the planet, but in order to thrive we must make the best use of all the people, regardless of their background or where they come from. There are so many amazing women in the dairy industry and I am very proud to be one of them.”
FOOD AND DRINK NEWS
St Austell and Two Thirsty Gardners brew tea-inspired beer
St Austell Brewery has collaborated with bloggers, the Two Thirsty Gardeners, on its upcoming Small Batch Brew named after the green-fingered duo.
The Thirsty Gardners (4.3% ABV) is a limited-edition pale ale brewed with hand picked wild hedgerow hops and is infused with a blend of lemon verbena and gunpowder tea.
The Two Thirsty Gardeners – otherwise known as Nick Moyle and Richard Hood – are acclaimed home brewing gardeners who combine their passions for alcohol and growing. Their 2015 book Brew it Yourself featured seasonal recipes for beer and wine using foraged and homegrown ingredients.
Nick Moyle, Two Thirsty Gardeners said: “We’re very excited to have collaborated with St Austell Brewery on this tea-inspired beer. It’s the first time we’ve used these ingredients to brew with and what better place to experiment than St Austell’s Small Batch Brewery.
“The beer is brewed with hops and lemon verbena grown on our own allotment, so we’re really looking forward to sharing it with beer drinkers across the South West.”
Rob Orton, brewing and bottling manager, St Austell Brewery: “We were delighted to work with the Two Thirsty Gardeners on this beer. Innovation is at the heart of what our Small Batch Brewery is all about, so it was great fun to help them make their home-grown idea a reality.”
The Thirsty Gardeners (4.3% ABV) will be on sale at select pubs that are part of the Small Batch Beer Club from 30th September. The beer will also be available at Falmouth Beer Festival and St Austell Brewery’s Celtic Beer Festival.
Christmas puddings for catering
Artisan Christmas pudding producer, Figgy’s, has launched a handmade single-serve version of their traditional Christmas puddings, specifically for the foodservice sector.
The West Country producer is offering the puddings to restaurants, pubs, cafés and hotels in small basins with lids which can be heated by steaming in advance or microwaving to order. They use ten-year-old Somerset Cider Brandy from the Somerset Distillery, as well as CAMRA-award-winning Port Stout from Devon-based Hanlons Brewery.
Jo Evans, owner of Figgy’s said: “When we trialled our 130g Christmas pudding last year it was a great success and we found that restaurants who named our brand on their menus sold twice as many Christmas puddings as they had with the previous generic puddings they offered.”
For more information, samples or to place an order, contact Figgy’s on 01392 459 488 or email jo@figgys.co.uk
Arkell’s launch Ruby World Cup beer
Arkell’s Brewery has launched Big Hit, a new seasonal beer to celebrate the Rugby World Cup in Japan. The 4.2% ABV amber ale has “a hit of powerfully flavoured hops producing a tropical fruity, hoppy flavour.”
Created by head brewer Alex Arkell it will be available on a selection of Arkell’s pubs across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire areas.
Alex Arkel said: “We believe that without raw materials of exceptional quality it is impossible to produce great beers. With its own personality, Big Hit is a really straightforward beer that is fantastic to pair with the amazing food offered in our pubs. We’re really excited for everyone to give it a try and to get our customers’ feedback.”
APPOINTMENTS
New head chef for Marco Pierre White in Plymouth
Daniel Weaver has been appointed head chef at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill in Plymouth.
Born and bred in Plymouth, Daniel will take over at the restaurant which is located on the top floor of the Crown Plaza Hotel on Armada Way which has sea views over the Hoe.
Daniel said: “To take the reins at a venue that has been developed and is overseen by arguably the greatest chef the UK has ever produced is both hugely exciting and a little nerve-wracking in equal measure but I’m convinced that the team here has got what it takes to make this steakhouse an amazing place to dine for both visitors and locals to Plymouth.”
PROPERTY
Ilfracombe hotel on market for £1.2m
The Osborne Hotel in Ilfracombe, operated by the same family since 1970, is on the market for £1.2m with Colliers International.
The 53-room hotel is situated within easy walking distance of the town’s main attractions. Its main bar seats 60, the lounge 25 and the restaurant has 120 covers. Its ballroom is licensed for 200 people.
Ed Jefferson from Colliers International’s hotels team said: “Ilfracombe has a long association with tourism and now draws new generations of visitors keen to sample the popular surfing beaches at nearby Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands.
“The hotel also makes an ideal base to explore Exmoor and the South West Coast Path and there are a number of picture-postcard hamlets for people seeking a quieter holiday.”
INDUSTRY EVENTS 2019
October
Furleigh Wine Estate Trade Tasting
3rd October 2019
10.30-3.30pm
Brewery Square, Dorchester, Dorset
“Premium Dorset-based wine producer Furleigh Estate is hosting its first trade tasting in Dorchester’s stylish Brewery Square, giving inspiration to sommeliers looking to spruce up autumn wine lists and retailers preparing their Christmas shelves. A seasonal buffet lunch will be provided, and guests can also enjoy tasters from local artisan producers.”
To attend the tasting please email Hayley@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk
www.furleighestate.co.uk
Independent Hotel Show
15th – 16th October 2019
Olympia, London
“The Independent Hotel Show is dedicated to delivering an experience fit to serve the needs of the modern hotelier; delivering innovation, education and networking.”
https://www.independenthotelshow.co.uk/
Dorset Tourism Awards Ceremony 2019
17th October 2019
The Tank Museum, Wareham, Dorset
“The prestigious Dorset tourism awards dinner hosted by BBC Dorset’s Steve Harris, with guest Speaker Simon Cripps, chief executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust.”
For more information & to book tickets, please visit
https://www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk/
Welcome Italia 2019
18th – 20th October 2019
Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, London
“Organised by The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK to discover and explore the best of Italian food and beverage. Thursday 18th is trade-only day with a special program of seminars.”
https://www.welcome-italia.co.uk/
2019 Tourism Management Institute Annual Convention
23rd – 24th October 2019
University of Chester
“This is the event for anyone working, studying or interested in tourism destination management who want to find out about current issues affecting tourism.”
For further information & to book tickets, please visit https://www.tmi.org.uk/event/22/tmi-annual-convention-2019.htm
Three Counties Food & Drink Co Ltd – Digital Marketing Workshop
31st October 2019
UK Digital Retail Innovation Centre, Gloucester
“Small & medium-sized food and drink producers are invited to up their digital reach through a workshop on Digital Marketing, with guest speaker Wayne Standley, manager at award-winning beef and lamb producer Todenham Manor Farm.”
For further information & to book, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/developing-your-digital-strategy-the-way-forward-for-food-drink-producer-smes-tickets-72495408719