in brief
Hotels fuel up
London hotels are experiencing an upturn in reservations this week, as the dust from last week's fuel crisis begins to settle. Mike Thirkettle, chairman of the Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA), said: "After a rush of cancellations and postponing of conferences last week, things are virtually back to normal."
Aramark's bank role
Contractor Aramark has won a three-year deal to cater for Japanese-owned bank Nomura in the City of London. It will serve more than 1,600 staff and manage the bank's hospitality catering. The contract will turn over about £1m a year. It was previously held by Sodexho's Directors Table division.
Fraud charge
A Wirral restaurateur accused of cheating the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise out of about £600,000 appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday. Arthur Rodney Heron, proprietor of Pastimes Restaurant, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to one charge of evading VAT and six charges of cheating the public revenue. Sentencing was set for 15 January.
Brown is Bass player
Bass Hotels & Resorts has appointed Christopher Brown as director of food & beverage, Europe. Brown will be responsible for 1,000 restaurants, bars and meeting rooms in 100 Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels across Europe.