Welcome to Rise & Shine
If you have any news about your business you’d like to see here, including recruitment, please contact our News Editor, Carolyn Moss, at [email protected] or call her on 01305 575155. Follow us on Twitter @BreadButterNews for updates.
Robin Alway
Editorial Director
INDUSTRY NEWS
Torbay hotel £14m demolition project approved
Planners have given the green light to the Fragrance Group’s application to demolish and replace the Park Hotel in Torbay.
The hotel group acquired the closed hotel in December 2017 and plans to build a new 161-bedroom hotel in its place at the cost of £14m.
The Singapore-based Fragrance Group also owns the closed Palace Hotel at Babbacombe and the Corbyn Head Hotel on Torquay seafront.
On behalf of The Fragrance Group, Martin Rogers, Savills’ head of UK hotel transactions, said in December last year: “The redevelopment of the Park Hotel represents a significant investment into the tourism industry of Torbay and Paignton in particular.
“The new hotel will generate a significant number of jobs and boost the economy of Historic England refused a bid to list the hotel, which would have protected it from development. It said the standard late-Victorian terrace was not architecturally important and had been substantially altered.”
Wookey Hole’s £5m investment pays off
A rolling £5m investment in the Somerset inland resort has resulted in a 17% increase in turnover on the previous year.
Managing Director Daniel Medley said: “This has mainly been driven by the launch of our Bucklegrove campsite as well as a moderate increase in visitor numbers.”
He explained the Somerset resort had combined the tourist attraction with short-stay accommodation to good effect.
“The development of the Bucklegrove campsite has been a real success and has linked seamlessly with the existing hotel, Mendip View Lodges and Caves’ revenue streams.
“Another area of growth has been in our core offering – the development of the Wild Wookey Experience has brought in a new type of visitor.”
Wookey Hole Caves recently acquired the nearby Homestead Camping site in Wookey Hole Village in order to expand its lodge and touring capacity when it becomes operational by 2019.
Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards
Nearly 300 guests from tourism businesses across Bristol, Bath and Somerset attended the annual Tourism Awards ceremony, held at the Apex Hotel in Bath on 15th November.
Gold award winners included Bath’s Historic Venues for Business Tourism and Venue; The Almshouse Tea Shop for Café/Tearoom of the Year; Where The Wall’s Bristol Street Art Tour for Guided Tour of the Year; The Roman Baths & Pump Room for International/Inbound Visitor Experience of the Year and Large Attraction of the Year; No15 Great Pulteney for Large Hotel of the Year, eat:Festivals for Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism Award; The Olive Tree Restaurant for Restaurant/Bistro of the Year and The Gainsborough Bath Spa for Spa, Pampering and Wellbeing Experience of the Year. The Winner of Winners went to eat:Festivals.
Organiser Nell Barrington said: “Last night I was just so excited and proud to be celebrating with these amazing tourism businesses. The numbers of entries this year has increased by nearly a third so the competition was really tough and it was great to see so many turn out in force to celebrate their achievements. My congratulations goes out to them all.”
Taste of the West open for early entries
The Taste of the West Awards 2019 are open for early bird entries as the organisers point to significant changes in next year’s judging.
Initial judging will be split into three rounds to determine gold, silver and commended awards. All rounds will be judged in the same manner with a limited number of products per round. There will be three separate entry and closing dates.
The early bird entry fee is £37 plus VAT per product and is only available for the first 350 products and entry closes on the 14th December.
For more details call the Taste of the West team on 01404 822012 or email [email protected].
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Skinner’s Chocolate Milk Stout
Truro-based brewery Skinner’s have announced a limited edition Chocolate Milk Stout. They describe the dry hopped, 6% ABV ale as a “rich and velvety brew, with smooth notes of chocolate and vanilla. The perfect ale with which to toast the arrival of autumn!”
Skinner’s Founder, Steve Skinner, said: “I hope everybody enjoys our latest creation. Our 2018 series of limited edition brews have been very successful and eagerly awaited – they’ve all sold through very quickly, which is great! We’ve loved experimenting this year and we can’t wait to start on our 2019 range.”
Available for a limited time, it will be in keg and cask in outlets across Cornwall and more widely available in 330ml bottles.
EQUIPMENT NEWS
The pizza oven for all seasons
Jestic have launched the Alfa Pro Piazza Oven in the UK. This commercial, stone hearth pizza oven has been “designed with the unpredictable British weather in mind” and can be used indoors and out.
Featuring a domed top, it has Alfa Po’s CompactFlame technology which means a heat up time of 30 minutes and a working temperature of 450°c. The chamber capacity can take four 12” pizzas, making for an output of 80 pizzas an hour.
Steve Morris, Sales Director at Jestic Foodservice Equipment said: “Stone-baked, authentic Italian pizza is one of the most popular food choices when eating out. The new Piazza from Alfa Pro builds on this, delivering an exceptional stone-hearth, gas fired pizza oven that not only looks fantastic, but is designed specifically to be used outdoors where it can produce pizza quickly, with an outstanding flavour and even bake.”
For further information, call 01892 831 960 or visit http://www.jestic.co.uk
PROPERTY NEWS
Cotswolds hotel on sale for £1.65m
Mayfield House Hotel in Crudwell is on the market for £1.65m. Agents Colliers International describe is as “a well-established business aimed squarely at mid-market tourism and commercial trade – with significant levels of repeat business.”
The country house hotel has 29 letting bedrooms, a conference room for 40-45 people and a main restaurant seating 50.
Peter Brunt, a Hotels Director with Colliers International, said: “Our clients bought the hotel in 2007 and have set up the business at the mid-market, 3-star AA rosette trade but are now selling in order to concentrate on other business activities.”
RECRUITMENT SPOTLIGHT
Job Vacancy
The Foston’s Ash Inn is under new ownership – come and join our small, friendly team!
You will be responsible for the day to day operation of the pub to a high standard, along with an established team and, if needed, the support and advice of the owners.
The ideal applicant would have previous experience in a similar management role within the hospitality industry or be looking to step up from an Assistant Managerial role at the same level or higher, be familiar with cellar management and stock control.
You will need to have a positive, “can do” attitude, sustainable enthusiasm and great attention to detail.
Fantastic customer service and high standards are needed along with the ability to train and motivate your team to provide the same.
The successful applicant will be responsible for the front of house day-to-day operation and management of the bar and restaurant.
Wages and benefits will be discussed in the interview.
To apply, please email your CV to [email protected]
Gin Showcase
The South West boasts some of the country’s most interesting gin producers. We have showcased a selection of them so you can find out more.
Meet the people behind Ginjar, Papillon Gin, Bath Gin, Isle of Wight Mermaid Gin, Fordington Gin and Wicked Wolf in our latest sector showcase, coming to your inbox on Friday 23rd November.
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INDUSTRY EVENTS
November
Food Matters Live 2018
20th – 22nd November 2018
ExCeL, London
“Featuring 400 speakers across 100 free-to-attend conference and seminar sessions – challenging assumptions, sharing insight and debating the issues shaping the future of food, drink and sustainable nutrition.”
https://www.foodmatterslive.com/
Devon Tourism Awards Ceremony
22nd November 2018
Highbullen Hotel, Golf & Country Club
“The ‘night of the year’ for the cream of the Devon Tourism Industry, with up to 300 finalists and sponsors gathering for the annual celebration of Devon excellence.”
http://www.devontourismawards.org.uk/page/45/awards-night-at-highbullen.htm
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