ANGELA HARTNETT WHISKS FEMALE CHEFS INTO ACTION Angela Hartnett, one of the industry’s most talented and highly regarded chefs, is supporting the prestigious KNORR National Chef of the Year 2008 competition, run in partnership with the Craft Guild of Chefs, and calling on female chefs in the UK to throw their toques into the ring. read more …

THE WALNUT TREE REOPENS FOR BUSINESS, writes Clifford Mould The Walnut Tree, a much-loved restaurant just outside Abergavenny in South Wales, has re-opened (19 December) as a joint venture between William Griffiths, of The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny, and top chef Shaun Hill. William Griffiths and Shaun Hill first worked together some years ago at read more …

“NO ROOM AT THE INN” – YORKSHIRE’S ONLINE BOOKING BOOM “No room at the inn” is the message coming from Yorkshire tourism businesses who have taken advantage of online booking through Yorkshire’s Destination Management System (DMS). Good news for Yorkshire’s accommodation providers and their guests, after a particularly tough year so far with a summer read more …

LAS IGUANAS APPOINT NEW CHAIRMAN Las Iguanas, the Latin American restaurant and bar operator, has announced that Mark Jones will be its new non-executive Chairman. The appointment takes effect immediately. Eren Ali, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the team at a very exciting time for Las Iguanas. Following our recent read more …

Blame it on Rio… Las Iguanas gets into the carnival spirit at Lakeside Latin American restaurant group Las Iguanas will be creating its own carnival spectacle when it opens on February 1 at the Boardwalk at Lakeside – the same weekend as the Rio Carnival. Guests will be invited to the VIP opening party to read more …