This week we raise a toast to UKHospitality’s chief executive, Kate Nicholls, welcome fresh investments and dream of a summer of love with festivals and beach parties…
Itsu expansion back on the menu
The future is bright for our new client Itsu, which has expansion on its menu. The Asian-inspired food brand has signed a significant deal with Bridgepoint and is targeting 100 new outlets in the next five years, creating 2,000 new jobs in the process.
Kate Nicholls appointed disability ambassador
Congratulations to UKHospitality’s chief executive, Kate Nicholls, who has been appointed by the government as Disability and Access Ambassador for the hospitality sector as part of its new National Disability Strategy. The strategy will set out an agenda and number of commitments to ‘transform the everyday lives of disabled people’ and will be supported by £1.6bn of funding from the private sector. Kate will use her influence in business to ‘encourage and support changes in access for both disabled customers and employees’.
London’s first ‘iceberg hotel’ is opening in Leicester Square
It has been billed the ‘iceberg’ hotel, not because The Londoner is going to be carved out of ice but because it will boast one of the deepest basements in the world. The 16-storey ‘super-boutique’ hotel, has six levels underground, and like an iceberg has a lot going on below the surface. The new-build boasts 350 rooms, six restaurants and bars, a cinema, a gym with a pool, a ballroom and a 24-hour private members’ club. It is due to open in Leicester Square this September and will be the capital’s biggest hospitality launch since the start of the pandemic. But if you are planning an overnight stay, it doesn’t come cheap with rooms starting at £400 a night.
10 of the UK’s best seaside festivals and summer beach parties
With the staycation market booming our seaside towns have never been busier, with beach parties and festivals popping up all over the place. So, we were taken by the Guardian’s top 10 to have on your radar this summer. Now all we need is our festival tents, sunscreen, sunhats and wellies!