in brief

Chef loses restaurant

A part-time chef and his wife who ran a restaurant in Cumbria have lost their fight to stay in the council-owned building. Kendal county court ordered Peter and Julie Worsick to vacate the Castle Dairy restaurant because they had no consent agreement with South Lakeland Council to run the business, which they took over from a friend in 1997.

smoking scheme

Hotel groups Stakis and Forte are the latest to join the British Hospitality Association's Courtesy of Choice scheme in light of the Government's recent voluntary code to increase smoke-free provisions. The scheme is funded by cigarette makers.

smollensky's sold

London restaurateur Michael Gottlieb has sold his Smollensky's restaurant in Dover Street to brewer Marston's, which is turning it into a Pitcher & Piano bar. Gottlieb said the Dover Street restaurant had not been as successful as he hoped after its refit with a more modern image in 1997.

writers join up

Environmental group Greenpeace has signed up 50 food writers to a campaign against genetically modified foods. Supporters include restaurant critic Fay Maschler, cookery writer Nigel Slater and wine expert Jancis Robinson. A similar campaign targeting chefs is planned for later in the year.