Category: The Caterer

This year’s festive season will be unlike any we’ve seen before, but that’s not a bad thing, says Neil Rankin.

The hospitality industry continues to live through challenging times. After 17 weeks of being able to trade again following lockdown, restaurants, pubs and bars in England were ordered to close their doors to customers dining and drinking-in from 5 November to 2 December.

Passengers arriving into England from 15 December will be able to finish their quarantine earlier than 14 days if they have a negative Covid test after five days of self-isolation.

Cottage in the Dales provides what it describes as a ‘Distinctly Dales’ experience across three Grade II-listed cottages – Inglenook Cottage, the Byre and the Dairy – in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Edwardian Hotels London has been awarded this year’s Best Use of Technology Award for its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, affectionately named Edward, which is so effective guests have mistakenly thought they have been interacting with a real person.

The Bay Fish & Chips in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, is the highest-rated fish and chip shop accredited by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Neil Borthwick was introduced to Soho institution the French House by a friend before being invited to head up the dining room by landlady Lesley Lewis, who gave the chef free rein to “do what I love best”.

Chef Tom Brown launched his debut restaurant in east London in 2018, transforming a site on a budget of £140,000, with the help of family backing.

In 2006, Des Gunewardena and David Loewi bought Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant company and expanded the group internationally. It now has more than 45 restaurants and bars worldwide, as well as the South Place hotel in London, and generates annual revenues of around £150m.

Sally Abé has been at the helm of the Harwood Arms, London’s only Michelin-starred gastropub, for more than two years, retaining the accolade while continuing to innovate across all areas of the business.