Corney & Barrow, with two new appointments in recent weeks, has added five staff to its on-trade supply area in the past six months, and there are more to come, says on-trade manager James Franklin.
Tom and Ed Martin, proprietors of The Gun gastropub in London's Docklands, are to open a striking, colonial-themed pub in London's east end. The former name of the establishment, The Empress of India, is to be restored in a return to authentic style - the wording refers to one of Queen Victoria's overseas roles. Hand-painted silk wallpaper depicting Indian scenes and a recently laid mosaic floor have been constructed, with input from Concorde Interiors.
The best city to eat out in in the UK after London is Edinburgh, according to the Harden's new restaurant guide. The vegetarian restaurant David Bann, as well as VinCaffe, part of Valvona & Crolla, were among more than 20 venues in the city to have impressed reviewers in the 2007 guide. Edinburgh was followed by Brighton, Leeds and Manchester, with Bristol managing a surprisingly lowly tenth place. In the individual awards for top restaurants, sponsored by Rmy Martin, the new Soho-based diner Arbutus was placed first for its imaginative rendition of French and European dishes.
Simon Rogan is planning a less-pricey version of his Lake District restaurant L'Enclume, in a bid to subsidise his highly rated Cumbrian site at the fine dining level.
Languedoc producer Jean-Claude Mas has called on the EU to end its policy of subsidising winemakers.
Rowley Leigh is to leave Kensington Place and is looking at a handful of new projects to work on as head chef. Speaking to Harpers, Leigh said that he was sad in some ways, but I've had a good innings. Kensington Place was becoming like a warm bath for me and I needed something new.'
Not a single UK pub is open for 24 hours, a year after new licensing laws came in, allowing longer opening, and predictions of increased town-centre violence fuelled by higher alcohol consumption have failed to materialise.
Mario Batali's new Del Posto restaurant has come from nowhere to gain two-star status in the 2007 Michelin guide to New York.
David Massey has become head chef at Butcher & Grill, the Battersea meat restaurant with shop attached, after his brief stint at Sonny's, in Barnes. Prior to Massey, the long-standing head chef was Helena Puolaka. She is now heading the kitchen at Harvey Nicols' Fifth Floor restaurant. Ed Wilson, 30, has taken over from Massey at Sonny's, having worked at Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, The Wolseley and Orrery.
Read more...A US producer specialising in kosher wine has forced a boutique winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, to change its name.
By Stuart Peskett
Some of the greatest Riesling producers in the world gathered at The German Embassy in London to discuss the grape and how it is affected by its terroir.
Baron de Ley, one of Rioja's leading producers, is moving its UK off-trade representation from Stokes Fine Wines to Bottle Green.
South Africa is the fastest-declining country in the UK in terms of wine sales by value, according to latest statistics. The country's overall UK market share dropped from 9.7% in 2005 (AC Nielsen MAT to week ending 8 October) to 8.6% this year. The decline is due in part to its number-one brand, Kumala, seeing a 9% slump in the 12-month period.
By Gary Werner
Christian von Guradze, director of Brklin Wolf estate in Germany, has suddenly left the business after 17 years of service.
Will Ricker is to open his fifth, restaurant, to be called XO, in Belsize Park in December. The Australian restaurateur has turned a pub in this part of north London into a modern Asian diner, seating 90.
By Christian Davis
The battle lines are being drawn across Europe over the definition of vodka. The north Europeans want the ingredients of vodka to be restricted ideally to just grain and potatoes, possibly sugar beet molasses. The wrangling and final decision has serious implications for volume producers and for marketers of new products who like vodka' because of its reassurance to consumers.
Jacob's Creek is launching a new Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Reserve ros in the UK, following the continuing popularity of both this grape and this style of wine in one of its key markets.
Enotria Winecellars has appointed Alison Levett as chief executive. She takes over from Clive Beharrell, who will now become executive chairman.
By Dawn Cran
The Trinchero family, owners of Californian wine brand Sutter Home and famed for creating white Zinfandel, have announced plans for a new winery, hospitality centre and tasting room.
Allocations of water to Australian wineries are down to as little as 8% following the country's worst drought since the 1880s, when records began. August saw the lowest recorded levels of rainfall for the country in one month, the latest in a pattern of reduced rainfall and high temperatures since 1997.
