in brief

Jarvis to run Hiltons?

Jarvis Hotels is tipped to take on the management of 11 Hilton hotels put up for sale in May. Norwich Union will provide about £150m to buy the properties.

Bluebird 2 You

Sir Terence Conran's London restaurant Bluebird has launched an events and outside catering service called Bluebird 2 You. The service will cater for parties from six to 2,000 people, and prices per head (including VAT) will range from £19.04 for a two-hour cocktail reception to £66.39 for a three-course lunch or dinner.

Jobs still falling

The number of advertised catering jobs continued to fall last month. They dropped 14% to 9,707 from the 11,272 recorded in June 1998. The figures are compiled by Salary Survey Publications from adverts in seven publications.

Porter in court

A kitchen porter appeared at London's Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court last week, accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague at the Oval Cricket Ground last month. Sylvani Carmier was remanded on conditional bail until 30 July following an incident at the ground on 4 June.

Roof repairs

Demolition workers have removed the roof of the140-seat Long Reach Beefeater restaurant in Whitstable, Kent, which was badly damaged by fire three weeks ago. A Beefeater spokeswoman said: "It is not a total demolition and we want to save as much of the building as possible." An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.