01/05/2018
Hilton reports strong start to 2018
Hilton has reported a strong start to 2018, with positive first quarter results improving their 2018 yearly forecast. The Caterer announced that the global hotel group reported a net income of $163m (£117m) for the first quarter, and EBITDA increased 9%, to $445m (£319m), when compared with the Q1 2017, whilst RevPAR increased by 3.9%. Hilton has subsequently increased its annual projections, reflecting 8 to 10% growth.
NWTC's Florist to open in Watford
According to Pub and Bar Magazine, New World Trading Company is launching its latest concept, The Florist, at intu's leisure and retail extension in Watford. The £180m, 400,000 sq ft extension in Watford is due to open later this year and will feature 11 new restaurants alongside 14 new shops.
Yotam Ottolenghi set to open new Fitzrovia restaurant in June
Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi are set to open Rovi, Ottolenghi's largest restaurant yet, at 85 covers. According to The Caterer, the restaurant will open in London's Fitzrovia in late June and focus on vegetables from farmers and small suppliers, such as Brambletye in Sussex, as well as shellfish sourced from the Ethical Shellfish Company. Furthermore, Rovi will have a focus on fermentation and cooking over a fire.
Punch launch Urban Oasis concept
Punch, the Patron-backed pubco, has launched a new high street bar concept, Urban Oasis. The Morning Advertiser reports that Urban Oasis' first site is the former Rising Sun in Bath, which has been renamed The Claremont, and is due to open in May. Furthermore, Punch has launched a new community pub concept, Our Local, with its primary site in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Celebrity chef to open two restaurants in Birmingham
Celebrity chef, Aktar Islam, is set to open two restaurants in Birmingham, according to Propel Info. The first of which is Opheem, which will open in June in Summer Row, serving "progressive Indian cuisine"; whilst the second, also located in Summer Row, is a new Italian restaurant, Mi Amore Ristorante Pizzeria, due to open in May. Atkar Islam made his name on Gordon Ramsay's The F Word in 2010, specialising in creative fine-dining Indian cuisine.
And Finally...
Jump Giants, the trampoline park operator, is set to open its fourth site on the 4th May in Gateshead. This new opening in Dunston follows a £1m investment, according to Propel Info, and will feature wall-to-wall trampolines across the 40,000 sq ft site as well as dodgems, a café and an under-five's soft play area. Jump Giants operate other sites in Loughborough, Thurrock as well as Heathrow.