In Brief

No-smoking pledge

Pub retailer Eldridge Pope has vowed to provide no-smoking areas in the majority of its 150 pubs after working with the Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR) group, which was launched in 1997 to identify good practice in the accommodation of smoking and nonsmoking customers.

Record Urbium results

Strong December sales in London's West End has resulted in record operating results for the bar, restaurant and nightclub group Urbium. The strong recovery in the area, where the majority of Urbium's sites are located, meant like-for-like sales for the five-week trading period ending 31 December increased by 4% over last year's record trading levels. The group, which owns the Tiger Tiger brand, had reported like-for-like sales for the first 11 weeks of the third quarter down by 5% as a result of the prolonged spell of hot weather through July and August.

Cliveden man leaves

Cliveden House restaurant manager Saverio Buchicchio, 55, is to leave the hotel in Taplow, Berkshire, after just over a year in the job. Human resources manager Alison Keate said he was leaving to follow a more flexible lifestyle and concentrate on consultancy. Buchicchio has previously worked at Dormy house in Broadway, Worcestershire, the Marine hotel in Salcombe, Devon, and provided consultancy for Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.