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Robin Alway
Editorial Director
INDUSTRY NEWS
Clipper Teas develop “world’s first” plastic-free tea bags
Clipper Teas, the Wessanen-owned brand, has announced the launch of the world’s first plastic-free tea bags.
The new bags manufactured in their Dorset-based factory will now be made from natural plant-based materials, including plant cellulose fibre, biodegradable thermoplastic PLA and abaca.
Emma Vass, Wessanen UK CEO said: “We believe in making ethical and sustainable choices and want to provide the best products for both our consumers and the world we live in.
“Having worked tirelessly to find a completely natural, non-GM solution, it is fantastic to see the new tea bags now in full production.
“As a brand, Clipper is all about the joy that comes with each and every cup of tea – and we believe the purest joy comes with a clear conscience.”
The plastic-free tea bags will be used throughout Clipper’s range of organic and Fairtrade teas with on-pack banners from January 2019 to inform consumers.
EasyHotel buys Bristol site
The ‘super budget’ hotel operator, easyHotel have acquired a freehold site in central Bristol for a 145-bedroom hotel, subject to planning permission.
Located opposite the Cabot Circus shopping centre, the site is half a mile from Bristol Temple Meads station. The easyHotel is expected to open in 2020 and is forecast to cost approximately £12 million including acquisition and construction.
Guy Parsons, CEO of easyHotel plc, said: “Our investment in Bristol, the fifth since our fundraising in March marks the latest addition to our fast-growing portfolio of comfortable, stylish and highly affordable hotels in key tourist and business locations.”
Cornish Tourism Awards breaks records
The 17th annual Cornwall Tourism Awards had a record 398 guests attending its awards ceremony on 1st November in Truro Cathedral, to see 80 awards presented across 26 different categories.
Winners on the night included Railholiday, picking up the Winner of Winners trophy alongside three further trophies, while the new Tourism Innovation and New Business Golds were shared between the Cohort Hostel and Cornish Wine Tours.
Food and Drink Golds went to The Cornish Vegan café, The Pandora Inn and The Fish House. The Self Catering Gold went to Carn Mar, whilst Attraction Golds went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Telegraph Museum, Porthcurno. Rick Stein’s Cookery School took Gold for Learning Experience with Select South West Tours and Bude Canoe Experience sharing joint Gold for Guided Tour.
Gold for the new Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism category went to Railholiday, while Lappa Valley Steam Railway took Gold for Accessibility and Inclusivity and Treworgey took Gold for Dog Friendly. The Tourism Event and Festival Gold went to Boardmasters, with a special community award going to Looe Saves the Day. Gold in the Wildlife Friendly category was taken by Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing.
Awards organiser Robin Barker said: “I’d like to congratulate you for having the courage to have a go, and put yourself through what is recognised as the country’s most rigorous tourism awards judging process.”
Winners in the Cornwall Awards will be fast-tracked into matching categories in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2019.
NCTA launches free Coast Ambassador course
A free online training course for customer-facing staff located on the coast has been launched by The National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA).
England’s Coast Ambassador will offer tips on welcoming international visitors and provide facts and figures on coastal attractions and events for coastal areas including Devon and Cornwall in the South West.
Hospitality and tourism staff can test their knowledge on the local area and download a personalised certificate on completion.
Samantha Richardson, NCTA director, said: “The England’s Coast Ambassador offers visitor-facing staff the opportunity to polish up their knowledge of their region and pick up useful tips on how to look after international visitors. It’s the first time this comprehensive information has been collated in one free, online course across almost all of England’s coastline.
“Hospitality staff on the coast live in some of the most beautiful parts of the country, attracting visitors from all over the world. As the first port of call, it makes them the best ambassadors to inform visitors of all there is to see and do.”
England’s Coast Ambassador is part of the Discover England Fund England’s Coast project which is aiming to attract greater numbers of international visitors to the coast.
FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Gin meets beer for Exmoor Gold
Exmoor Ales and gin producer Wicked Wolf have got together to produce the limited edition Exmoor Gold Gin. They say it’s the “first gin to incorporate in its ingredients a distillation of beer.”
Pat Patel, the co-founder of Exmoor-based Wicked Wolf, said: “‘For the gin, we take Exmoor Gold and double distil this to create a distillate which is basically a smooth beer schnapps; we then use this as a botanical distillate when blending the gin. Our process for making our gins remains the same, in that we distil each botanical individually, to capture the total range of flavour, then blend to our recipe, giving us a smooth, fuller flavoured gin.”
Exmoor Ales Managing Director Jonathan Price said: “With Wicked Wolf on Exmoor already supplying most of our regular pubs on Exmoor with their gin, it made sense to collaborate. Our head brewer made a joke about an Exmoor beer-influenced gin, which then inspired Pat to experiment with both Exmoor Gold and Exmoor Beast, producing astounding results.”
The two drinks producers previously worked on Wicked Wolf ale, a juniper-inspired beer released under the brewery’s ‘Exile’ range.
For more information, go to www.wickedwolfgin.com or www.exmoorales.co.uk.
Drury launches Christmas tea
Speciality tea blender and coffee roaster, Drury, are adding a limited edition Christmas tea to their range of pyramid-shaped teabags.
Made from black tea blended with apple, orange and spices, it is “warmly aromatic and spicy, with the rich scent of cinnamon and cloves”.
The Christmas tea is packed in Art Deco style packs of 15 for display and self-selection with a wholesale list price of £2.95. Alternatively, catering packs of 100 cost £16.20.
For more information, go to www.drurypyramids.com.
Luscombe’s Rhubarb Crush
Luscombe Drinks are introducing a new Rhubarb Crush, to be enjoyed as a soft drink or mixer. Created “with the sophisticated adult in mind”, it contains no artificial additives, sweeteners or concentrates and as well as organic rhubarb juice includes blueberry juice, Madagascan vanilla extract and lemon oil, all from organic sources.
Luscombe’s Communications Director Emma Cotton said: “Working with rhubarb is a totally different scenario from other fruits and vegetables, and making a drink from it is something of a balancing act. We were looking for a refreshing drink that captured the essence of rhubarb – that sweet-and-sour quality that diners and drinkers are currently seeking out.”
Rhubarb Crush, which is available in a 27cl bottle (RRP, £1.95), joins the other crushes in the Luscombe range – Raspberry, Lime, Strawberry, Apple, Cranberry and Blueberry.
For more information go to www.luscombe.co.uk.
EQUIPMENT NEWS
“Game-changing” Elite fryer launches
The Fast Chef Elite uses 24% less energy, up to 37% less oil and reduces frying time by up to 27% when compared to conventional fryers, according to distributors Taylor UK.
The ventless, countertop unit needs no ventilation. All the frying is done in an enclosed chamber so the hot oil is contained and because it has little exposure to oxygen and light, it lasts longer. Operators place food in the hopper at the top of the machine, push the relevant programme on the control pad and then take the fried food out of the bottom hopper, once it’s cooked.
The Fast Chef Elite can cook up to 500gm of product per batch. The self-contained frying chamber can be completely removed and disassembled for cleaning, with 90% of components being dishwasher safe.
“The Fast Chef Elite is a real game-changer,” says David Rees, Group Marketing Manager of HTG Trading Ltd, which owns Taylor UK. “It’s safer, more sustainable and more profitable than an open fryer. We believe it will appeal to chefs in many sectors across the foodservice market.”
The Fast Chef Elite is available through Taylor UK’s distributor network with list prices starting from £10,595 plus VAT. For more information visit www.taylor-company.co.uk.
PROPERTY NEWS
Cotswolds café bar up for lease
The Hangar café bar in Upper Rissington in the Cotswolds is on the market at £35,000 for the leasehold with Colliers International.
The café’s name is inspired by the nearby airfields and offers 30 covers, serving coffees, breakfasts and snacks. It has an alcohol license.
Peter Brunt, a hotels director with Colliers International’s hotels team, said: “The village is on the site of the former Central Flying School and the airfield is still an active RAF airfield… Our clients took on a new lease in the summer of 2016 fitting out a bare unit and creating the welcoming environment you see today. They have a number of other businesses around Bourton-on-the-Water and have found The Hangar is one too many to manage. As a consequence, they have decided to give new owners the chance to build on the excellent reputation they have created.
With so many classic Cotswolds pubs in the area, it’s good to think there is a location aimed at welcoming the younger generations.”
INDUSTRY EVENTS
November
Dorset Tourism Awards Ceremony
8th November 2018
The Lighthouse, Poole
“The 2018 Dorset Tourism award ceremony will be hosted by BBC Dorset’s Steve Harris, with guest speaker Debra Stephenson.”
http://www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk/
The European Pizza & Pasta Show
13th – 15th November 2018
Olympia, London
“The European Pizza and Pasta Show is the ultimate engagement channel for sellers and buyers in the European pizza and pasta industries.”
https://pizzapastashow.com/
Bristol, Bath, Somerset Tourism Awards Ceremony
15th November 2018
Apex Hotel, Bath
“This black-tie dinner is the event of the year for Somerset, Bristol and Bath leading tourism businesses and will be hosted by BBC Radio Bristol’s Laura Rawlings with guest speaker Giles Adams.”
http://www.somersettourismawards.org.uk/page/35/awards-night-at-apex-hotel-bath.htm
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