Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 12853

early starters

The 100-bedroom Academy Hotel in Dublin (pictured above) opened ahead of schedule to assist with expected demand from visitors for the Tour de France in Ireland this week. It is owned by Joe and Julie Comerford from County Kilkenny.

radio food

Two Radio Café restaurants will be opening in November, in Southampton and north London, as part of Capital Radio Restaurants' plans to expand nationwide.

ssp's terminal time

Select Service Partner, the subsidiary of Compass Group, has been awarded the contract for all foodservice activities in terminal one of Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport. The contract runs for 10 years from October 1998.

combe house couple

Ken and Ruth Hunt, who formerly worked at St Mellion Hotel, Golf and Country Club in Cornwall, have bought the 15-bedroom Combe House Hotel at Gittisham, Devon, for around £250,000. The agent was Robert Barry.

henry's heads out

Pubs and restaurants operator Greenalls is opening its £1.7m Henry's Café Bar flagship site in Covent Garden, London, next month. It plans to open another seven next year.

s&n in starcity

Scottish & Newcastle is introducing four bars and restaurants to Birmingham's Starcity, the £75m leisure complex being developed near Spaghetti Junction.