in brief

Explosive find

The Belvedere House hotel in Grenville Place, South Kensington, London, was evacuated last Thursday (10 August) after staff found commercial explosives and detonators in a room. Police have ruled out any links to dissident IRA factions.

Faultless manoir

Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons has won an AA five-rosette award for the 10th consecutive year. The accolade, which was given to just six properties in the UK and Ireland this year, requires a meal to be "faultless".

Hotel theft charge

A man arrested after an investigation by the Hotels Intelligence Unit appeared at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court last week over an alleged plot to steal luggage and briefcases from guests at central London hotels. Mimi Abdulla, 41, from Kent, was remanded in custody on a charge of conspiring with others between 9 December and 8 August to steal from hotels.

BHA additions

Membership of the British Hospitality Association has been increased with the addition of Paramount Hotels' 17 properties and Warners Holidays' eight hotels and five holiday villages.

Ulster first

JD Wetherspoon last week opened what it believes is the first pub in Northern Ireland to be owned and run by an English chain. The Guinness-less and music-free Spinning Mill in Ballymena cost £1m to redevelop and will be joined by pubs in Coleraine and Londonderry in 2001.