Eat.Drink.Sleep - April 2023

Striving for greatness and cleaning up competitors waste while they are at it.

Watercare has always been at the forefront of the eco-friendly scene, regenerating their filters media for the past 25 years.

“We were green before being green was a thing” claims Andy Slark, the MD at the Essex based water treatment company.

We’ve had a fully recyclable filter for decades, but we wanted to expand on this by introducing a ‘Quick Change’ insert based cartridge filter that performs as well as anything else in the market today, where the end user could change and return just an insert. So the iX range of filters was born, saving hundreds of tonnes of plastic from landfill every year.

New filter on the block..

British made, market leading, feature full and environmentally friendly products are nothing new for Watercare but the process continues with a new line of eco-friendly, fully recyclable insert-based cartridge filters, set to hit the market in the coming months. We didn’t want to just improve on our current range of iX filters, we wanted to create something brand new, so we went right back to the drawing board and created something that we know our customers are going to love. The rugged yet sleek design, coupled with functionality and ease of use will set the new range far above the rest.

Keeping it Green!

Awarded the accolade of the “world most sustainable water treatment company” by world finance magazine in 2021, Watercare have strived to be the greenest and cleanest for many years now, a whole recycling department is one of their latest additions, taking competitors filters and reusing or recycling up to 100% of their components to keep plastic waste to a minimum. Customers are issued a “Green Earth Certificate” to log how much they have recycled and equivalent carbon and plastic savings by weight and by volume.

Predictive maintenance, saving your money as well as your assets.

WaterCare works hard to look after your assets so you don’t have to, we don’t believe in the ‘run it until it goes wrong approach’. Our service department covers the whole of the UK, exchanging filters on a service plan so you can rest assured that your filter is giving nothing but the best quality water for your coffee machine, steam oven or ice machine, preventing costly repair bills and down time. Watercare has a filter and a service plan for any need.

Contact Us

For more information on the publication or to talk about advertising within the next issue. Contact one of the team via the details below:

Publication Manager

Dan Draper 01843 591 523 dan@jetdigital.co.uk

Publishing Director

Jodie Little 01843 582 733 jodie@jetdigitalmedia.co.uk

Editor Jeremy Tring jeremy@eat-drink-sleep.com

Outdoor Hospitality Products

We are an independent supplier of outdoor hospitality goods based on performance, style and value. We believe in supplying goods that look good, are well made and extremely durable through season after season.

Lords welcome tipping bill but warn of ‘unintended consequences’

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill was introduced to the upper house for its second reading by Lord Robathan who said “This is a bill entirely about fairness… at the core of the bill is the creation of a legal obligation for employers to distribute all tips to workers without any deductions.”

The passage of the bill was welcomed by peers across the house and Lord Mitchell added: “It is a vital bill, and when it becomes an Act it will give certainty of earnings and security to many hundreds of thousands of people who work in the hospitality industry.”

But Mitchell did highlight a number of areas where he believed the bill could present a “risk of unintended consequences”.

The first concerned agency workers who, as the bill currently stands, would receive tips at the same level as directly employed staff.

Mitchell said: “It seems equitable that agency workers qualify for sharing in the tip allocation on the same basis as directly employed staff. But I am told that agency rates have now gravitated upwards, to the extent that there is now an implicit tipping share built into the daily fee. Therefore, if agency people also share in an establishment’s tips, does it not mean that, in effect, they get the benefit of the tip twice over? That cannot make sense.”

Lord Johnson of Lainston said the issue would be dealt with in a code of conduct, which will accompany the bill after it receives Royal Assent.

Mitchell also raised concerns about the inability for employers to deduct costs associated with the processing of credit card payments and a stipulation that would prevent tips being pooled across multiple venues under the same group.

Several peers said it would be preferable for hospitality to move away from a payment system that incorporates tips and service charge.

Baroness Deech said: “Will this legislation serve only to cement out-of-date pay practices that will serve to inhibit

the hospitality industry’s recruitment efforts? Pricing and employment practices in that industry need to be brought into line with best practice. Instead of relying on tips, employers need to be able to set salaries that offer fair and competitive levels of pay and provide prospects for promotion, bonuses and recognition of long service.

“The employee needs to know exactly how much they will be earning and ensure that they benefit fully from pension and other pay-related benefits such as holiday and sickness pay. Those pay-related benefits should relate to their total earnings. Those full earnings should be liable for tax… Ideally, all prices quoted by service and hospitality businesses should be fully inclusive, with no additions expected. Customers would be relieved and grateful.”

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth added: “This is not an attractive practice. What happens in Singapore, for example, where people just do not tip, has its attractions: then, the wage reflects the job that is done.

“However, we are where we are. I strongly support this measure, because I do not think that we will get to that position in the short term, and we need something that is fair to employees, as my noble friend said.”

Peers in the House of Lords have welcomed a bill that would prevent employers making deductions from tips, but warned of ‘unintended consequences’.

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants takes over Soho House Group’s Pizza East

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has confirmed the acquisition of the Pizza East brand from the Soho House group.

In January, a spokesperson for Soho House & Co stated: “We have unfortunately made the decision to close Pizza East Portobello, and temporarily close Pizza East Shoreditch.”

Pizza East in Shoreditch is set to reopen on 15 March under Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, offering dishes that were available on its original menu as well as new additions such as rigatoni alla vodka; and nduja and honey pizza.

Pizza East will continue to operate as its own brand, as opposed to being relaunched under the Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza umbrella, The Caterer understands.

Andy Wenlock, chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, said his restaurant group and Soho House Group had “always had a great relationship”, and added:

“Pizza East is a brand that is and will continue to be cherished for years to come, as well as sitting proudly in our portfolio offering great food and great service to all our guests.”

Pizza East was first launched by the Soho House Group in October 2009 on Shoreditch High Street and offered thick, chewy ciabatta pizzas inspired by Los Angeles’ Mozza Pizzeria.

UKHospitality calls for ‘urgent’ Ofgem intervention

UKHospitality is urging energy regulator Ofgem to intervene in the non-domestic energy market as businesses struggle with costs and a looming reduction in government support.

In a letter to Grant Shapps, the secretary of state for energy, security and net zero, the trade body has called on the regulator to address suppliers’ “unscrupulous behaviour” towards hospitality.

If the government is unable to do so, UKHospitality added, there should be a three-month extension to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for sectors recognised as energy intensive, and therefore vulnerable, and that hospitality should be among them.

It said that 48% of businesses in the sector were contending with energy bills fixed at record high prices during the height of the energy crisis between July and December last year, which could be “terminal” for businesses once government support significantly diminishes from April.

UKHospitality has urged the government to instruct Ofgem to:

• Enforce the renegotiation of contracts signed between July and December 2022, penalty-free, with the support of deposits already taken.

• Enact full regulation of the nondomestic energy market if suppliers are not willing to act. Reset security deposits to reflect falling prices and increase business liquidity.

• Introduce a government-backed trade credit insurance scheme for sectors that suppliers perceive to be high-risk.

In the letter, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls wrote: “Half the businesses in our sector will be locked into extortionate prices as energy support is significantly reduced from April. This

could have a potentially terminal impact on thousands of businesses that are simply unable to afford their bills.

“We appreciate that government has had to take tough decisions to stabilise the nation’s finances, and that is why the onus has been put on Ofgem. We welcomed this direction but have concerns about the extent of Ofgem’s powers and their ability to act at the pace necessary to provide the support businesses require.

“We need to see Ofgem take action on non-commodity, service and access charges, as well as security deposits and terms of supply, which undermines government support. Evidence we have seen from businesses demonstrate refusals to supply, blanket risk applied to sectors, 600% increases in standing charges and widespread use of security deposits.”

Starbucks and Caffè Nero gear up for UK expansion

High street coffee chains are ramping up their postpandemic expansion plans as trading returns to normal levels, with Caffè Nero and Starbucks both set to launch almost 200 sites between them.

Nero Group, the parent company of the Caffè Nero, Harris + Hoole, Coffee #1 and Aroma coffee chains, said it was “cautiously returning” to a rollout programme of “over 90 stores worldwide” in 2023.

It marks a return to typical expansion rates, as Caffè Nero would expect to open between 70 to 90 global stores in a normal year.

Caffè Nero’s growth had been disrupted by the pandemic, which saw it open just 19 sites in 2021 and 20 new stores in 2022.

The boost in planned openings comes after the group reported that sales in May 2022 reached 100% of pre-Covid levels. Revenue for the year to 31 May 2022 increased by 69% to £349.1m compared to £206.5m over the previous 12 months.

Pre-tax earnings also showed signs of recovery, moving from a loss of £16.7m to a loss of £7.6m over the same period.

Nero Group added: “All brands and territories are now returning to a more typical level of openings as trading returns to normal levels.”

Starbucks has also announced plans to open 100 stores in the UK, putting an end to rumours that circulated last July that the brand was looking to sell its UK business.

The US-based chain said its latest expansion drive would target key cities and drive-thru sites.

The strategy forms part of a £30m investment in Starbucks UK, which will also see existing company-

Liam Rogers joins Lisa Goodwin-Allen at the Lancashire powerhouse following stints at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Restaurant Sat Bains.

Northcote has a new head chef. Following the departure of previous head chef Danny Young; Liam Rogers will step into the role, working underneath long-time executive chef and AYALA Female Chef of the Year 2023 winner, Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Warrington-born Rogers grew up just down the road from Northcote, and he has already spent time working in some extremely prestigious kitchens. Previous to his new role at Northcote, Rogers was chef de partie at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, and held a junior sous chef role at two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham. He was also a finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2021, where he first met GoodwinAllen in her role as a judge for the show.

operated stores renovated over the next three years.

Total revenue for the coffee chain jumped 37% last year to £449.3m.

The group reported “strong footfall recovery” in suburban and retail park sites while office, travel and inner-city locations were boosted by a return of commuters towards the end of the year.

Duncan Moir, president of Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Whilst we are cautious about the macro-economic environment, we will continue to invest to grow the region this year. We plan to open over 100 new stores in the UK and 300 new stores in EMEA, to continue this growth momentum.”

Meanwhile, coffee chains are also boosting staff wages, with both Costa and Pret A Manger set to increase pay above the National Living Wage rates from 1 April. It will be the third pay rise across both companies over the past 12 months.

Northcote appoints MasterChef finalist as new head chef

‘Lisa is ultimately what attracted me to the role at Northcote,’ he says. ‘She is renowned for her fantastic training culture and is incredibly passionate about developing people and helping to create a path for their successful careers, this is something that’s really important to me.

‘The kitchen at Northcote is really impressive, I’m excited to be able to put everything I’ve learnt in my career so far into a head chef role and working with the great chefs within the team.’ Goodwin-Allen also expressed her excitement about the appointment, saying: ‘Liam is a highly motivated individual with the drive and ambition to learn all skills required to succeed, which I spotted when he was on MasterChefhe stood out to me as someone who was very creative, focused and calm, which is the type of chef that I want in my kitchen.

‘I’m very excited for him to join my team and to see what the future has in store for Northcote,’ she added.

Northcote has maintained a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the country, retaining its Michelin star for the last 26 years.

The fusion of style, technology & contemporary design.

AA reveals new Rosette Award winners for 2023

Fifteen restaurants were commended for their culinary excellence, demonstrating an unprecedented level of quality and originality.

One venue was awarded the esteemed four AA Rosettes, while an impressive fourteen were granted three AA Rosettes.

Establishments with three AA Rosettes are all outstanding restaurants achieving standards which demand national recognition well beyond their local area, while those awarded four AA Rosettes are considered among the top restaurants in the country.

London-based restaurant, the Amethyst, received four AA Rosettes – standing out for its creativity and boundarypushing flavours and presentation, which earned it a top spot as one of the finest UK restaurants.

The list of outstanding restaurants awarded three AA Rosettes, represents every corner of the UK, including One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin, in Scotland; Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, in the West Midlands, Home by James Sommerin, in Wales, Karrek, St Enodoc Hotel, in Cornwall, and Alex Dilling, Hotel Café Royal, in London.

Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Hotel & Hospitality Services, which operates AA quality assessment schemes, said: “This year we’ve seen an

exceptional level of culinary excellence demonstrated by those receiving our coveted three and four AA Rosettes.

“I’m constantly inspired by the resilience, innovation, and quality demonstrated by these trailblazers in our industry. Congratulations to the chefs and front-ofhouse teams who have helped make their Rosette awards possible.”

As is tradition, each winner of a Rosette Award also received the iconic porcelain AA plate.

Craig Martin, Head of Sales UK at RAK Porcelain, the sponsor for the 2023 AA Rosette Awards, said: “We are absolutely delighted to provide the AA Rosette plates, which are the hallmark of culinary excellence. It’s fantastic to recognise these outstanding restaurants which are amongst the best in the UK. Congratulations to all worthy recipients.”

Since 1956, the AA Rosette awards have been a mark of leading restaurant and hotel venues across the UK. The allocation of multi-Rosettes is determined by one or more visits by an AA inspector to a hotel or restaurant.

To discover all of the top restaurants across the UK with AA Rosettes and also watch the 2023 Rosette awards ceremony, please visit: www.ratedtrips. com/AA-Rosette-Restaurants\ The full list of 2023 Rosette winners

New four AA Rosettes:

• Amethyst | London

New three AA Rosettes:

• Upstairs by Tom Shepherd | West Midlands

• The Traddock | North Yorkshire

• Smoke, Hampton Manor | West Midlands

• Home by James Sommerin | Wales

• Karrek, St Enodoc Hotel | Cornwall

• The Dog and Gun Inn | Cumbria

• Turnips with Tomas Ludakevicius | London

• Thornbury Castle | Gloucestershire

• The Checkers | Wales

• Ben Wilkinson at The Pass, South Lodge | West Sussex

• Alex Dilling, Hotel Café Royal | London

• 263 | Lancashire

• Restaurant 1890 by Gordon Ramsay | London

• One Devonshire Gardens by Hotel du Vin Glasgow | Scotland

The UK’s top restaurants and hotels have been recognised at this year’s prestigious and highly anticipated AA Rosette Awards.

Desi Daru Wins World’s Best Flavoured Vodka Title

Launched just seven months ago, Indian-inspired and British-made ultra-premium vodka, Desi Daru has already been named World’s Best Flavoured Vodka in the prestigious, World Vodka Awards.

The vodka brand is owned by Britishborn Indians, who celebrate the best of the two countries they call home through the flavour-led spirits, using the highest quality ingredients from the Himalayan mountains to the jungles of Maharashtra and the lush English countryside.

Desi Daru’s Alphonso Mango-flavoured vodka has been making waves in the drinks world since its launch last July. And it impressed the global panel of judges so much, it claimed the top spot in the UK Flavoured Vodka category and then competed against the best from each country to win the coveted title of World’s Best Flavoured Vodka.

Desi Daru co-founder, Mohit Singh says: “It is the perfect marriage of East and West and we are thrilled the judges agree and have honoured us with such a prestigious accolade.

“The World’s Best title reflects the quality of the finest alphonso mangoes, prized for their sweetness that we sourced from India’s Ratnagiri, which are distilled rather than infused for a fuller, smooth flavour. All of our vodkas are distilled seven times from creamy, English winter wheat, grown in Oxfordshire.”

Commending excellence in the vodka industry, the awards (part of the World Drink Awards) judges spirits in four categories: Pure Neutral, Infused and Botanical, Varietal and Flavoured.

The Alphonso Mango Spirit is Crowned Global Leader at World Vodka Awards

This is the second award for the mango vodka, which has won a Spirits Business Global Vodka Masters Award and been scored 96 points by the International Drinks Specialists.

The spirit is distilled seven times to make a vodka that is smooth enough to sip as well as providing the perfect foundation for bold and memorable cocktails, which can be enjoyed at some of the UK’s top bars and restaurants, from Mayfair’s Michelin-star Benares and Fitzrovia’s Pahli Hill to the glitzy Farzi and Holborn’s luxury Colonel Saab.

The brand also produces the Desi Daru Original, distilled using English winter wheat and the purest water from the snow-capped Himalayas. This has won a Spirits Business Global Vodka Masters Gold Award and been scored 90 points by the International Drinks Specialists.

This year, the brand has ambitious expansion plans, with the recent addition of drinks industry pioneer, Ben Reed as consultant for brand strategy and activation, a new design team and PR agency Cult Media Collective to its team and plans to launch a fully bespoke bottle design this year.

How to Improve Customer Experience with Smart Video Solutions

Intelligent video can also improve employee performance which is important to ensure a positive customer experience. You can track employee and customer behaviour, identifying areas where employees might need additional training and support. We call this ‘big sister technology’ as it can be used to instigate positive change across the business.

Measuring Customer Experience

Another key measurement in customer experience is order accuracy. Using video solutions to monitor orders helps businesses identify why orders may be delivered inaccurately and how the issue can be addressed and solved.

Help from DTiQ

Today’s business owners need to provide an exceptional customer experience to develop a loyal customer base and stay competitive. Smart video systems can play a significant role in success. By helping protect businesses from criminal activity and providing insights that help improve every aspect of a customer’s experience from the moment they enter your establishment, it’s no wonder more businesses are leveraging smart video solutions.

Evolving Technology

Intelligent video has evolved. These days, users can expect their video solutions to offer insights, track key metrics, and generate reports on transaction times, customer conversion, and other trends. With insights like this at business owners’ fingertips, using analytics to improve business operations is rapidly becoming the norm – Fast Company reports that 99% of Fortune 1000 companies are investing in big data. Often there is no need to upgrade your current CCTV or EPOS to get on board with intelligent video, as the latest tech can work with existing infrastructure.

Once a leadership team has taken steps to monitor customer and employee behaviour, how can success be gauged? Intelligent video can generate valuable insights on metrics such as speed of service (SOS) which is a key indicator of customer satisfaction.

Intelligent video and AI-powered analytics allow businesses to find areas of improvement in their customer service operations, ultimately becoming more efficient and being able to deliver an even better customer experience. Investing in analytics pays off big: Forbes reports that businesses using customer analytics have higher growth and more sales.

If you need expert advice on how to improve customer experience with video surveillance, DTiQ has more than 20 years of experience, serving more than 45,000 clients around the world. DTiQ works with some of the leading QSR brands in the USA and Europe including Burger King, Subway, Starbucks, Domino’s, and the Hard Rock Café to help them manage costs, optimise revenue, and drive operational excellence.

DTiQ combines best-in-class surveillance equipment with cloudbased analytics and convenient managed services. The team at DTiQ can build a customised business intelligence solution that integrates with your existing POS system, saving time and money. Our 24/7 support and enhanced reporting tools give you the data you need to drive better business decisions.

Hospitality

Access People for Hospitality

The complete employee lifecycle solution, your whole workforce will enjoy using!

Access People for Hospitality delivers:

Recruitment & Onboarding also Employee screening & RTW checks

Expenses

HR & Workforce Management

Payroll also Access EarlyPay

Staff Scheduling & Labour Optimisation

Training Management also CPL Learning

Introducing Citizen Spritz:

Innovative new entrant to the low and no alcohol market. Alcohol-free for the people - all of the flavour - none of the faff

A disruptive new entrant to the market, Citizen Spritz is reimagining adult drinks with its range of innovative concentrated spritz mixes. Sophisticated and deeply complex in flavour, when combined with sparkling or soda water, the carefully crafted but simple-to-serve drinks, create a refreshing aperitif style beverage, designed to be enjoyed either at home or served via the on-trade in hotel bars and restaurants.

The brainchild of successful food industry entrepreneurs, Mark Gould and Mike Bagshaw, Citizen Spritz was born from the desire to moderate their own alcohol intake. Both passionate foodies with a zest for life, they appreciate a cold beer or glass of wine but were on the hunt for a refreshing and genuinely delicious drink to be enjoyed as an alternative to alcohol.

Citizen Spritz Co-Founder and owner of I.T.S. International Taste Solutions, one of Europe’s fastest-growing flavour companies, Mike Bagshaw says, “We weren’t looking to quit alcohol completely but wanted something for the times it was too early to start drinking, or for when we just fancied a break from the booze.  We tried so many mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits, but most were sickly sweet, with no complexity or depth of flavour. We thought that we couldn’t be the only ones looking for a satisfying ‘inbetween’ drink that wasn’t a compromise, so Mark and I combined our many years of food and flavour expertise and decided to create our own.”

Designed to make everyday moderation desirable and effortless, Citizen Spritz is carefully crafted with over 40 natural ingredients, expertly blended and layered, to provide the depth, complexity and taste profiles normally only found in alcoholic drinks. Launching initially with four spritz recipes, the down-to-earth but deliciously sophisticated drinks, deliver an intense flavour experience, simply served by combining a 25ml measure of Citizen Spritz with 175ml sparkling or soda water and ice.

Co-Founder of Citizen Spritz and previously Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Wholebake, (9Bar and Bounce Balls) Mark Gould says, “The number of adults in the UK choosing not to drink alcohol is increasing, and there has been a definite focus in recent years towards healthier living. According to a 2021 Mintel Report, more people reduced their alcohol intake in 2021 compared to 2019 - 21% of adults report not drinking alcohol at all and over a third say they’ve reduced or limited their intake in the past year. This doesn’t always mean quitting alcohol completely but just being more mindful and moderating alcohol intake.”

Mark continues, “We identified a gap in the market for a desirable, delicious zeroalcohol drink, that rather than feeling like a compromise, would be a genuine first choice. A drink to be savoured alone or with friends, that heralds the next part of the day, to fill the space between work & play. Complex in flavour but still very simple to serve, it was essential to us that Citizen Spritz not only hit the mark when it came to the flavour, but that it was accessible and value for money too, for both consumers and the on-trade. A nonalcoholic cocktail that is complicated and expensive to make, whether at home or behind a bar, just didn’t make sense. We’ve put in the work so that you don’t have to!”

Over the last two years and through dozens of concepts, the Citizen Spritz team developed a flavour almost indistinguishable from authentic Italian Prosecco. This flavour became the base notes for the whole spritz range.  The first spritz to take shape was a non-alcoholic Aperol style drink, which they have called Bitter Orange Spritz, followed by Cool Lime, Pink Grapefruit and Passion Fruit, with a bank of other flavours and formats in the pipeline.

The product retails at £20 per 500ml bottle, delivering 20 serves per bottle.

www.citizenspritz.com

In stock now at our online shop:

www.citizenspritz.com

Alcholol usage and reduction 2019* & 2021*

“Have you at some time in the past 12 months, limited/reduced the amount of alcohol you drink in comparison to how much you would consume?”

gruvyer chair and armchair

The Gruvyer is a best selling Italian manufactured range available in both a side chair and armchair.

Striking design in a choice of 16 different polypropylene colours.

harrogate Range Truro Range

Rustic Vintage Style Furniture

Eden Furniture has a massive selection of Indoor, Outdoor & Poolside Furniture. Our Harrogate and Truro Ranges have become increasingly popular with their rustic and rural charms. The Harrogate Range is available in dining and bar height with complimentary stools and benches. The Truro Range is also in dining and bar height with dining stools and benches.

Both ranges are made to order so almost any size is achievable.

SalfordDchair

The Salford is a great looking all-weather stackable chair with an aluminium frame in an Antique Vintage finish

The Salford Chair can be used both indoors and outdoors and we stock these in Antique White and Antique Grey

Available for QUICK DELIVERY

THE BEAUTY OF BARREL-AGEING

They may be packaged in 650ml or 770ml bottles with distinctive wax caps and have long-shelf lives that make them easy to store. Barrel-aged beers produced by America’s craft breweries regularly win medals at prestigious international beer competitions judged by panels of experts. Worth seeking out for their incredible complexity, depth of flavour and subtle nuances of character, barrel-aged beers are a shining example of the skill and innovation of America’s craft brewers.

A variety of beer styles are suitable for barrel-ageing in wood but sour or high alcohol beers are the most common. Barrels for sour or ‘wild’ beer may be used several times over while barrels that formerly held spirits such as bourbon, tequila or gin are rarely used beyond their first or second fill because the spirit character is diminished after the first maturation cycle.

Many American craft brewers consider barrels to be the fifth ingredient of beer and not simply a storage vessel. They source barrels with as much care and attention as selecting their annual hop varieties. Each barrel is unique which means experimentation and flexibility

is an essential part of the barrel-ageing process.

Oak is full of flavoursome, aromatic compounds that can add another level of depth and complexity to a beer, making it the preferred wood for many brewers.

Equally important to the flavour of the barrel is the art of blending different beer together to create the desired result. A number of base beers may be ageing in different barrels, some of which may be fresh barrels to give a high intensity of oak/spirit flavour and others may have been used before to give a lower intensity of flavour and it takes skill to create the end result. Other flavours may be added to add further levels of complexity, such as cocoa, coconut or coffee beans.

Simply leaving a beer in a barrel and hoping for the best is not going to cut it. Barrel-ageing presents a number of challenges and maintaining consistency in taste and flavour year after year is a skill that takes years of practice.

American craft beer is available through national wholesalers or on line from Athletic Brewing, or the Cascade Club Chefs and restauranteurs are invited to make use of the free resources available on www.brewersassociation.org or www.craftbeer.com

Barrel-aged American craft beers are wellsuited to the hospitality sector due their premium positioning and ability to command a price at parity with a bottle of wine.

New PEPPADEW® Bites - The Ultimate Bite to Pep Up Menus & Profits

PEPPADEW® - the UK’s No. 1 pepper brand6 - has launched new PEPPADEW® Bites, a premium branded bite exclusively available for foodservice.

PEPPADEW® – the UK’s No. 1 pepper brand – has launched PEPPADEW® Bites, a premium branded bite exclusively available for foodservice.

With 9/10 consumers looking to treat themselves when eating out1 and 87% of consumers saying they’d order new PEPPADEW® Bites2, this latest innovation from Peppadew® is set to take menus by storm. Made in the UK in their AA BRC accredited facility, these delicious new added-value bites balance the sweet, tangy flavour of their signature whole Piquanté Pepper, with a smooth, sumptuous West Country Soft Cheese filling, all coated in a crisp, panko-style crumb.

100% vegetarian, they meet the demand for tasty flexitarian options, as consumers continue to move away from meat3. The ultimate in versatility, they’re perfect for starters, sides, small plates/tapas, bar bites, or as an addition to sharing-platters. Not only that, they also come conveniently frozen and can be ready in 3-4 minutes straight from the fryer, making them the quick and simple way to pep up your menu.

Crucially, these delicious bites also offer an easy way to drive margin, as over half of consumers would pay more for PEPPADEW® Bites, than jalapeno poppersii, with each 5kg case serving up a substantial £200 return4. Whilst their frozen format, 18-month long shelf life and versatility help minimise waste, making them a sustainable and cost-effective choice.

Try PEPPADEW® Bites for Yourself This March!

This month the PEPPADEW® team will be showcasing new PEPPADEW® Bites at several foodservice events around the UK. Including the Northern Bar & Restaurant Show (14th-15th), Bidfood Big Food & Drink Show - Lee Mills (15th), HRC 2023, Excel London (20th-22nd) and the Confex Trade Show (23rd). Giving you the chance to try PEPPADEW® Bites for yourself and find out how they can pep up your menus.

Speaking about the branded PEPPADEW® innovation, Lukasz Lubasinski, Commercial Director, PEPPACO Ltd. said: “Now more than ever every part of your menu needs to taste great, work hard and most importantly drive spend and margin. PEPPADEW® Bites is an exciting, flexible and premium new product that works across a range of eating and drinking occasions as well as major trends5from indulgence and meat-free to sustainability.

“Consumers love the PEPPADEW brand, indeed our consumer research has shown that 66% of consumers would be more likely to order if they saw the PEPPADEW® brand on menu. So operators can take advantage of our brand profile and number one status to premiumise their menu with a quality product that works on a practical and commercial level.”

PEPPADEW® Bites are now available through leading wholesalers including Bidfood, Booker and KFF.

Visit www.peppadewfoodservice.co.uk for more inspiration and information.

PEPPADEW® Background

PEPPADEW® International has been the trusted global supplier to retailers and foodservice operators for over 25 years, in 25 countries. Famed for their sweet Piquanté Peppers, PEPPADEW® maintains a first-to-market approach with exclusive and unique offerings, including the Sweet GOLDEW® Peppers, PEPPADEW® Whole Sweet Piquanté Peppers and now the new PEPPADEW® Bites.

To find out more visit www.peppadewfoodservice.co.uk

Woolfox wellness experience exudes radiance amongst rural surrounds

The site is near to the town Stamford in Lincolnshire, set amongst hills and with vast space in all directions. Formerly known as The Woolfox Golf and Country Club, the membership now offers existing guests and new, so much more under the new ownership. Restaurant group Fika, has opened a site within the grounds and there are property development opportunities too for buyers to build their own holiday homes.

This luxurious retreat had a number of farm buildings that could be repurposed to make large spaces with lots of character. The Nordic minimalistic approach to the architecture allowed the design internally space to breathe. It is light, textured, sleek and timeless throughout. The large-scale windows provide a lot of natural light, bringing the colours and textures of the surrounding nature to flood within the spaces. B3 started applying their design expertise to the Old Barn which now is home to a pool, sauna, gym, yoga and changing facilities. Each of these health and wellness zones were sympathetic to the architecture and location and therefore the number of finishes were kept minimal, with smart lighting being key to layering the experience for guests. Simple and organic; the calmness of the outdoors spreads throughout the interior. Upon entering the Nordic-style timber clad Reception, guests check-in and get ready for their wellness or fitness experience with Woolfox. The desk is upholstered in a sage linen, adding softness and texture in the open barn entrance. The changing facilities are light with deep tones in the colour

palette, timber for comfort and warmth on the locker front. The soft green ceiling draws guests in, the layout is simple and easy, the red shimmering tiles adding more warmth. The wall lanterns are brass and classic in style, a slight contrast to the modern tapware. Additionally, further lighting throughout is soft ceiling spotlights, dimmable in every area of the space.

Guests proceed to the gym, pool, studio, sauna and relaxation room or can simply relax on the outdoor seating. The pool has a deep red ceiling with neutral walls and floor making the blue look serene and ever tempting. The spotlights that shine upwards showcase depth, exaggerating the tall ceiling heights in the space. The modern arch windows draw guests through to the different spaces from the pool. A pale pink, white, black and grey palette is applied in these spa facilities with the red gloss tile continuing throughout the space. The sauna features some of the best views from the wellness area; the views stretch for miles across the rolling hills while being warm in a timber clad cocoon.

The gym is industrial, raw and masculine; the near ceiling barn doors have become a feature to show the doubleheight voluted ceiling. The femininity detail of the glowing mirrors provide a welcome contrast, and the neutral warmth timber floor continues the use of natural materials throughout.

Mark Bithrey from B3 says “It’s been a great pleasure working with the client at Woolfox. Incredible vision and we’ve been really proud to be a part of the

journey. Transitioning this old barn into a luxurious destination has been really exciting. Designing a swimming pool, sauna and relaxation space, that looks out onto an uninterrupted landscape at Woolfox, has been really special opportunity to design and epitomizes what a spa experience destination should be.”

Holly Withers from Woolfox says “Working with Mark and his team at B3 has been brilliant. From the beginning, they realized our vision and pushed our boundaries, leading us to what Woolfox has become today. The old barns were beautiful yet somehow uninspiring, so to see how they’ve been brought to life in such a sleek and cosy way is truly impressive. B3 supported and inspired us to create, and make our own design decisions too which makes this project even more rewarding.”

www.b3designers.co.uk

Luxury lifestyle members club, Woolfox, approached B3 Designers to develop the design narrative of their estate as part of their design overhaul.

Restaurant Marketing Agency Launched to Help Restaurants

Local award-winning marketing consultant

Vicky White launches a restaurant-focused marketing agency offering hands-on, affordable packages to help restaurants promote their brand, get found online, increase covers, and grow.

In the 12 months to September 2022, the number of restaurants going bust in the UK increased by 60% compared with the previous year, according to advisory firm Mazars. To help restaurants weather the storm, Vicky White, a Buckinghamshire based marketing specialist has launched Appetite, a new, fullservice marketing agency dedicated to helping restaurants thrive.

Vicky has successfully run awardwinning marketing agency White Communications for over 10 years and has been increasingly specialising in restaurants. Now, she has launched Appetite to help restaurants grab attention and attract customers from a range of angles both online and offline. In the current economic climate, restaurants can use all the help they can get to show consumers that they’re worth spending time and money in.

Appetite’s aim is to take away the stress of restaurants managing their marketing, leaving them with time to focus on providing the best possible service when customers step through the door.

Vicky White, Founder of Appetite said: “Restaurants are an important part of our community but with so many demands on people’s time and money, restaurants can use a bit of help grabbing attention and bookings. Creating a fantastic customer experience across multiple

marketing touchpoints is crucial to attracting and keeping loyal customers.”

Here are our top 6 tips to stay ahead of the game when it comes to marketing your restaurant in 2023 –

• Don’t dismiss the power of Tik Tok. Start by creating an account and getting inspiration from others. Then think about how you can use this channel to promote your restaurant

• Capture as much data as possible about your customers. Discover any allergens, eating habits, how often they visit your restaurant or order from you, so when you are retargeting your customers, your marketing is more personable and engaging

• Use social media advertising to reach customers outside of your current audience. Both Facebook and Instagram allow you to reach a wide variety of audiences - an unknown audience based on interests, age, gender and location, retargeting your customers and website visitors and reaching lookalike audiences based on your current follower trends

• Collaborate with Food Bloggers, Vloggers, and Social Media Influencers by inviting them into your restaurant. It’s a great way to increase online exposure, shows credibility and an opportunity

to get additional social media content for your channels

• Offline marketing is still important – explore partnerships with other local businesses for cross promotion, research local events you can get involved in, support charities and advertise in the local press

• Google Business should be your best friend – capture the attention of customers who are turning to Google to look for local restaurants. Make sure you are regularly posting, encouraging, monitoring, and responding to reviews and your photos, videos and profile are up to date

About Appetite

Appetite is a Bucks-based full-service restaurant marketing agency run by award-winning marketing consultant Vicky White. Appetite offers hands-on, affordable marketing packages for restaurants with services including Digital Advertising, Marketing Strategy & Planning, Website Design, Social Media & Influencers, SEO, and Email Marketing.

For more information visit: appetite.whitecommunications.co.uk

Sharp strategy, fiery ideas = rich results Follow Appetite on Instagram.

JANGRO ENHANCES DIGITAL WALL CHART TOOL

Jangro, the UK & Ireland’s largest network of independent janitorial and cleaning distributors, has recently updated its award-winning digital wall chart creator with a fresh new look, as well as enhancing its functionality.

Featuring a sleek new header design, the site is not only more visually appealing but also provides a more userfriendly experience for customers. The clean and modern header makes it easier for users to navigate and find the chart they need.

The first of its kind in the industry, this innovative online tool enables customers to create bespoke colour-coded cleaning and hygiene charts for individual rooms or multiple spaces. Following the latest update, both the single and multi-room sections now include areas for the whole building, including bedrooms, washrooms, boardrooms, receptions, classrooms, offices, gymnasiums, hospitality, kitchens, and canteens/staff rooms.

Easy to use, customers simply select areas of a room and are presented with a list of suitable cleaning solutions, that include product recommendations, to choose from. After making their selections, the online tool creates a bespoke colour coded chart, which is emailed to the customer, along with a health and safety compliance pack that can be downloaded, printed, or shared with colleagues.

Each pack comprises of a wall chart, product safety data sheets, product user guides, and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessments for all the products that are featured on their chart.

Jo Gilliard, CEO of Jangro, comments, ‘Our innovative digital wall chart creator tool is one of a kind. Quick and simple to use, it now enables clients to build bespoke cleaning and hygiene guides for whole buildings effortlessly. It offers support by aiding correct product selection, acting as a handy reference chart, and helping customers to keep up with regulations.

‘The way it streamlines all of the health and safety documentation, so that customers can find whatever they need in one place, enables them to maintain compliance – and takes the stress out of health and safety audits’.

For more information go to wallchartcreator.jangro.net or call 01204 795 955.

• Pre-mixed cocktail market has rocketed by 226% over last five years

• Findings in line with recent research revealing 30% of Brits will cut their spending on alcohol in 2023

New research from premium British drinks company Gunner Cocktails Ltd has revealed that nearly 30% of Brits celebrated Valentine’s this year with a pre-mixed alcoholic drink, signalling the growing consumer uptake of ready-to-drink alcoholic alternatives. New research from premium British drinks company Gunner Cocktails Ltd has revealed that nearly 30% of Brits celebrated Valentine’s this year with a pre-mixed alcoholic drink, signalling the growing consumer uptake of readyto-drink alcoholic alternatives.

Of the 2000 respondents surveyed, nearly 30% of those celebrating Valentine’s Day with a drink did so with a Ready to Drink (RTD) alternative, shunning the wines and spirits traditionally associated with the day. Recent years have seen the pre-made cocktail market become one of the fastest-growing segments across beverage alcohol, with sales of RTD cocktails increasing by 226% from 2016 to 2021.

With research earlier this year revealing that 30% of Brits plan to limit their spending on alcohol due to the costof-living crisis, these latest results echo an increasing demand for portable bar-level quality cocktails which consumers can enjoy at home instead of potentially expensive nights out.

Other key findings from the survey reveal that:

• Just under half (45%) of UK adults intended to celebrate with a drink.

• A third (32%) planned to celebrate with an alcoholic drink.

• 16% planned to celebrate with a non-alcoholic drink.

• Around one in ten (11%) planned to celebrate with a cocktail.

This announcement follows previous research from the luxury cocktails company, which found that 40% of consumers feel let down by the lack of free/low alcohol alternatives, a

trend reflected in Gunner Cocktails anticipated year-on-year growth of 500% in 2023.

Dannie McDonald, Managing Director of Gunner Cocktails, said: “On an occasion that has long been dominated by wine and champagne, our survey revealing that almost a third of consumers will plump for premixed cocktails this Valentine’s Day is a bellwether moment. As consumers look to trim their spending on alcohol, highquality RTD alternatives which can be drunk at home with a partner or friends will be welcomed by consumers, and Gunner Cocktails stands ready to cater to this change.”

Giles Fuchs, Founder of Gunner Cocktails, said: “There is no debating that drinking habits in the UK are in a moment of transition and companies such as Gunner Cocktails, which are succeeding in tapping into this shift, will no doubt thrive.”

www.originalgunner.com

Almost a third of Brits chose pre-mixed cocktails this Valentine’s Day