Today’s news in brief – 17/10/24
Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, part of the Rocco Forte Hotels, is launching a guest chef series at The Donovan Bar, featuring renowned UK chefs Andrew Wong, Tom Kitchin, and Mitch Tonks. Each will curate a three-month residency, bringing unique culinary styles to the bar’s small plates menu. The series begins on 28 October 2024 with Andrew Wong, known for his two-Michelin-starred restaurant A.Wong in Pimlico. His dishes, inspired by the five flavours of Chinese cooking, include oysters with aubergine sauce and wagyu beef with Beef XO sauce. Following Wong in February, Scottish chef Tom Kitchin will offer seasonal Scottish dishes, showcasing his ‘From Nature to Plate’ philosophy. In June, seafood expert Mitch Tonks will bring his sustainable seafood expertise, highlighting British coastal dining.
Whitbread has opened a new Premier Inn in Cambridge City Centre at the Lion Yard Shopping Centre, converting vacant office space into a 125-room hotel. The development, in collaboration with investment manager Abrdn, marks Whitbread’s first city-centre hotel in Cambridge, creating 31 permanent jobs. The hotel features Premier Inn’s standard and Premier Plus rooms, as well as an integrated restaurant. The project, led by Carter Lauren, emphasised sustainability by retaining much of the original structure and improving energy efficiency. The new hotel offers guests a prime location in the heart of Cambridge, surrounded by historic sites.
Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, reported steady group revenues of £1.5bn for the first half of FY25, despite a drop in pre-tax profits from £391m to £340m. The fall is attributed to Whitbread’s Accelerating Growth Plan (AGP) and inflation. However, strong performance in Germany and high UK hotel occupancy helped offset these challenges. UK accommodation sales were down 1% year-on-year, while food and beverage (F&B) sales dropped by 7%. CEO Dominic Paul emphasised the company’s long-term growth strategy, which aims to deliver strong shareholder returns while expanding the Premier Inn brand across the UK and internationally.
The Principal York has rebranded as The Milner York, reflecting its railway heritage and honouring William Milner, a York Station foreman during WWII. Managed by RBH Hospitality, the hotel has undergone a £2m refurbishment, including the installation of air conditioning and a focus on enhancing guest experiences. The rebranding includes new signage and reimagined dining spaces: Peachey’s Bar and Grill and The Swollen Gambler. The transition highlights a modernised guest experience while maintaining a deep connection to the hotel’s historical roots.
