Food

Inflation impact: Hospitality hit by soaring costs (Credit: Getty/ Hispanolistic)

Food inflation hit 21.6% in May

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Year-on-year inflation, as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index, increased to 21.6% in May – only just below the record high of 22.9% of December 2022.

Struggling sector: Hospitality tackles a perfect storm (Credit: Getty/Art Event ET)

Spiralling food costs pack pressure on hospitality

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Ongoing hikes in food and drinks prices are piling the pressure on hospitality operators, as supply chain fragility continues to hit the industry hard, a new report from Fourth has revealed.

Menu planning: Lynx Purchasing's Market Insight offers insight into food prices

Quality British food ‘key’ to menu success

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

High quality produce with a focus on the best of British is a key chance for hospitality businesses to thrive beyond the cost-of-living crisis, according to hospitality buying specialist Lynx Purchasing.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 63

The Lock In Podcast

Season finale: The challenges ahead

By Ed Bedington

With season three of the Lock In podcast coming to a close, we take a look at some of the current challenges, energy, supply, inflation etc - and where we see things heading.

New site: Oisin Rogers (left) and Charlie Carroll (right) are set to open the Devonshire in the autumn

Rogers announces launch of long-awaited pub

By Ed Bedington

Former Guinea Grill legend Oisín Rogers has teamed up with the founder of Flat Iron to open a new London pub that they hope will take the capital by storm.

Morning meals: Operators advise on how to elevate your brunch offering (Credit: Getty/ Geber86)

How to boost your brunch offer

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Brunch has captivated customers’ hearts and plates over the past decade. What started as a humble breakfast progressed to boozy brunch, which rapidly became a bottomless affair. Now, Disney brunches, drag brunches, karaoke brunches, and cabaret brunches...

Price hike: inflation was driven up by cost rises in vegetables, fish, sugar and jams & syrups categories (credit:Getty/fcafotodigital)

Foodservice inflation jumps back above 20%

By Gary Lloyd

Year-on-year foodservice inflation has jumped up to 21.4% after slowing at the end of March – the first time it had dropped below 20% since mid-2022.

On the scene: Simon King (left) and Matt Larcombe (right) took the Victoria on in 2021

The secrets behind the Victoria, Oxshott

By Nikkie Thatcher

Described as a quintessential British experience, the Victoria Oxshott is a neighbourhood gastropub, set in the heart of its Surrey community, with a stellar food and drink offer.

Variety of benefits: foraging for ingredients could benefit chef's bottom lines and mental health (Image credit: Chloe Newcomb Hodgetts of Gourmet Gatherings)

How can foraging for ingredients benefit chefs?

By Rebecca Weller

Foraging for ingredients offers a multitude of benefits to operators, from sustainability to variety and diversity to mental health and finances, according to people from across the sector.

Tuck in: JDW, which is chaired by Tim Martin, has scored impressively high across the UK for its food hygiene

JDW food rating score almost perfect

By Gary Lloyd

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has scored an average rating of 4.99 out of 5 in the latest food hygiene rating league for its 763 pubs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Extra flavour: NQ64's Shoreditch opening is its first site to offer food

Inside drinks and gaming bar NQ64's 10th site

By Gary Lloyd

Arcade bar NQ64 has launched its biggest site to date and the first of its 10 locations to offer food. Here are some pictures to show you what to expect there.

Cooking up a storm: It's all hands on deck at Tommy Banks' new gastropub

Tommy Banks: 'Your business is only as good as its people'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Last month, Tommy Banks picked up keys to the pub where he washed pots as a kid. It was a real full-circle moment for the chef, whose high-flying career has carried him from championing sustainability to Michelin-starred heights.

Forecasted growth: Lumina data shows the UK eating and drinking out market could grow 4.6% this year (Credit:Getty/sturti)

Eating out market to grow 4.6% in 2023

By Rebecca Weller

The eating out market has been predicted to grow by 4.6% during 2023, reaching a total value of £95.2bn, figures from Lumina Intelligence have revealed.

Say cheese: many cheeses can be matched with a huge variety of cider and perry styles

OPINION

Matching cheeses with ciders

By Andy Swinscoe, co-owner of The Courtyard Dairy

Cider and cheese are traditional bedfellows.

Joint submission made: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin is ‘pleased to provide evidence’ to help fill jobs in hospitality

BBPA and BII push Gov to fill pubs vacancies

By Gary Lloyd

Chefs from overseas must be included on the Government’s Shortage Occupation List, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British institute of Innkeeping (BII).

Story time: Heath Ball at the Red Lion & Sun writes stories about wines rather than tasting notes (credit: Getty/SolStock)

FEATURE: Wine

FEATURE: Let your pub shine with wine

By Michelle Perrett

There are some fantastic pubs serving amazing wines in the UK – but the pub sector does have some challenges to overcome in the category because it has a reputation for being focused on developing its beer menus rather than targeting wine sales.

Eating and Drinking Out Panel: consumers visiting pubs less and seeking inexpensive meal options (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Pub visits in year-on-year decline

By Rebecca Weller

Pub and bar occasions showed a 1.2 percentage point year-on-year decrease in the four-weeks to Sunday 16 April, the latest data from Lumina Intelligence has revealed.

Making a meal of it: Pubs torn on the ethics of adults ordering kid's food (credit: Getty/Rawpixel)

Should adults be able to order from the kids' menu?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Operators and customers have debated whether adults should be able to order from the children’s menu: some slam the behaviour as unacceptable, with others viewing it as no big deal.

How to survive in the pub trade

'Total war' - surviving 20 years in the trade

By Ed Bedington

Surviving 20 years in the pub trade without going backwards is no mean feat, but the founders of the Three Cheers Pub Co can look back with a real sense of achievement.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 60

The Lock In Podcast

Giving pubs a sporting chance

By Ed Bedington

Sport and pubs often go hand in hand, but are we making enough of the opportunity sporting events provide? Despite a total lack of understanding or interest in sports, the Lock In team take a look at the topic, with a little expert help from special guests.

Smiles all around: James Nye felt

James Nye: ‘Put your people first’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The managing director of Anglian Country Inns, which took home the Best Premium Food accolade at The Publican Awards, said investing in staff was key to success.

Double show: Charlotte Vincent has made two appearances on Great British Menu

TV chef to join award-winning pub

By Nikkie Thatcher

Devon born chef Charlotte Vincent has been appointed the new head chef at the award-winning Candlelight Inn, Chard in Somerset.

Foodie debate: Many said pubs had every right to charge for added items (credit: Getty/ The Good Brigade)

40% of pubs charge for added items

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Chefs are torn on whether pubs should charge for added items: gravy on a roast dinner, or butter on a cheeseboard, for some it's a ‘no brainer’, but others price accordingly to cover the added cost.

Sharp drop: delivery and takeaway sales in decline as consumers switch back to in-venue visits (Credit: Getty/Dimensions)

Delivery and takeaway sales in decline

By Rebecca Weller

In-venue sales show “modest” increases as more consumers swap at-home ordering for going out, the latest Home Tacker from CGA by NIQ has revealed.

Freebies or fair game? Chef hits out at guest complaint (credit: Getty/ libin jose)

Do you charge for extra items?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

MasterChef star Simon Wood has sparked a debate after sharing a diner’s complaint that they were charged for extra butter on a cheeseboard.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 Stars in bars! Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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