Monday Bulletin: Energy price rises in focus

Catch up on the latest industry news stories of the week from the CODE Bulletin

Energy bills

Pub, hotel and restaurant owners have warned that soaring energy bills might force mass closures this winter, putting 500,000 jobs at risk. They are among scores of businesses that might have to shut or cut opening hours, but by far the industry most at risk is hospitality. With thousands of entrepreneurs saying energy prices mean it will cost them more to remain open than close, the UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has said almost 10,000 businesses, many of them small and independent, could close permanently in the next 18 months. Read more and contact the business secretary if you haven’t already: [email protected]

Case study

Si Toft is the chef-owner of the highly regarded Dining Room in Abersoch, North Wales. He’s appeared in these pages before, then talking about rising food prices, but today, alongside staffing pressures, it is energy costs that are hitting the hospitality industry hardest. CODE caught up with Si to discuss the challenges he faces – challenges replicated in towns and cities everywhere.

Small plates

• One of London’s foremost bastions of the gourmet sandwich renaissance, Sons + Daughters, will open a second site in Borough Market next month. Read more.
  
• Bar Swift, a standout place to drink in the capital, is also opening in Borough, launching at number 66 on the high street in October.
  
• Dollars, chef Andrei Soen’s American sandwich spot and deli based in Singapore, will open a residency at The Hoxton hotel’s Rondo La Cave on September 14.
  
• Mayha, a new Japanese omakase in Marylebone from the Beirut-based restaurant group Nothing But Love, will launch in London for the first time in late September.
  
• Dorian, a new restaurant in Notting Hill, will open in late October. Behind the venue are Chris D’Sylva of Notting Hill Fish + Meat Shop; head chef Max Coen, formerly of Kitchen Table, Ikoyi, and Frantzén; bar manager Ale Villa, from Core by Clare Smyth; and former Corbin & King operator Ben Whitfield
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• And here’s Tom Parker Bowles writing beautifully on the joys of the local pub.

Brighton empire

Tutto, a new Italian restaurant from the acclaimed restaurateur Razak Helalat – the man behind The Coal Shed, The Salt Room, and Burnt Orange – will open in Brighton in September. In charge will be head chef Mirella Pau, formerly of Café Murano and Padella. Razak is building something of an empire in Brighton. Much more to come on his latest launch.

Climat

A new ‘wine-led’ rooftop restaurant from the team behind Covino in Chester is opening in Manchester later this year. Climat, a 100-cover restaurant at Blackfriars House, will have a ‘contemporary Parisian-style’ aesthetic and serve 250 wines from across the globe. The food? Small plates dependant on the season.

Geroge Ryle

George Ryle, head chef at the Garden Café at Lambeth’s Garden Museum, has announced he is leaving the role after five years. Departing next month, George plans to move back up to his home county in Yorkshire to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant. He said: ‘I feel incredibly proud of what has been achieved since opening in 2017.’ 

Sam Miller

Sam Miller has been appointed chef-director at the Cottage in the Wood restaurant with rooms in the Lake District. His past roles include executive sous chef at Noma, head chef at Faviken, and head chef at the Terrace in North Yorkshire. He has replaced Ben Wilkinson, who left to take up a head chef role at the Pass in the South Lodge country hotel and spa in Sussex.

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