Breakfast Briefing - The latest hospitality news
Quote of the Week
"Build a voice and an opinion first, and then if it resonates with the audience, then you’ll get an audience”Adam Carolla Tweet of the Week
Donald Trump accidentally tweets Ivanka from Brighton in Twitter blunder Trump left a space in the name of his daughter and so inadvertently name checked Ivanka Majic in the UK. Ivanka replied with the gentle ribbing above. View the full tweet here Story of the Week
Gidleigh Park receives the first ever five AA Rosette Award to be awarded in January 
Gidleigh Park has become the first restaurant to ever be awarded the AA’s top hospitality award of five AA Rosettes in its January announcements. Awarded bi-annually in January and September, previously the top accolade of five AA rosettes has only ever been issued with the main awards in September, but feedback from the inspectors confirmed an exception for Gidleigh Park. Awarded to the restaurant at Gidleigh Park and to its chef Michael Wignall, the criteria for five AA Rosettes is “The supreme accolade awarded only when the cooking is at the pinnacle of achievement. Flavour combinations and textures show a faultless sense of balance, giving each dish an extra dimension”.
News of the Week
Brits spent more wining and dining this Christmas
British households enjoyed Eating and Drinking Out this Christmas, as leisure spend in these areas rose 2% compared to the previous year, according to this month’s Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker. In contrast, Other Leisure, which includes cinema and gym memberships, fell sharply in December, down 20% year-on-year, continuing the downward spiral pattern seen throughout 2016. This month’s report also reveals that the pub is now a more popular destination for Eating Out than restaurants and fast-food outlets. 37% of respondents said they visit pubs most regularly when Eating Out in the evening, slightly ahead of restaurants with 35% but well ahead of fast-food outlets, which were favoured by 12% of those surveyed.KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- In December, the average British household spent £205 on out of home leisure, a £15 (7%) decline year-on-year.
- The effect of Christmas was clear on a month-on-month basis with spending on Eating Out increasing over £4 (5%) and Drinking Out rising by around £3.50 (8%) compared with November.
- Month-on-month, Other Leisure spending fell by £8 (10%) as households prioritised food and drink during the festive period.
- The stability of Eating Out and Drinking Out and the fall in Other Leisure spending also saw the latter’s share of spend mix reduced by 6%.
- The Great British Pub is confirmed as the go to destination for Eating Out in the evening time, with 37% of respondents identifying it as the place to go, followed by restaurants (35%) and fast-food outlets (12%)
eHotelier Hospitality News
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Donald Trump accidentally tweets Ivanka from Brighton in Twitter blunder Trump left a space in the name of his daughter and so inadvertently name checked Ivanka Majic in the UK. Ivanka replied with the gentle ribbing above. View the full tweet here 
British households enjoyed Eating and Drinking Out this Christmas, as leisure spend in these areas rose 2% compared to the previous year, according to this month’s Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker. In contrast, Other Leisure, which includes cinema and gym memberships, fell sharply in December, down 20% year-on-year, continuing the downward spiral pattern seen throughout 2016. This month’s report also reveals that the pub is now a more popular destination for Eating Out than restaurants and fast-food outlets. 37% of respondents said they visit pubs most regularly when Eating Out in the evening, slightly ahead of restaurants with 35% but well ahead of fast-food outlets, which were favoured by 12% of those surveyed.