New up North
Chester's new Living Room
Bar-restaurant chain Living Room, run by Knutsford-based Living Ventures is to open its latest venue next month in Chester's Werburgh Street, to include a 200-seat restaurant and a private members' lounge. The group, which has sites in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, is also opening its second Prohibition bar-club in Liverpool next month. Next year it plans to open Living Rooms in York and Newcastle.
Radisson makes an impact in Liverpool
Radisson SAS is adding to Liverpool's skyline of cranes and scaffolding by building a 197-bedroom hotel in the heart of the city. The hotel is due to open in March next year and will create about 100 jobs. The hotel will start recruiting for all levels within the next couple of months.
Hotel du Vin opens in Harrogate
The Harrogate Spa Hotel in North Yorkshire has had a complete makeover by the stylish Hotel du Vin group, which has chosen Harrogate, one of the country's most important conference locations, to open its sixth hotel.
The hotel reopened last month, with 43 bedrooms and a 90-seat bistro.
West One development cements Sheffield's altered image
Sheffield is fast shaking off its ex-industrial image with a multi-million-pound regeneration scheme. Its most recent development is West One, in its smartest shopping district.
New apartments overlook the trendy West Street and a number of new bars and restaurants have sprung up, including East One noodle bar, Italian restaurant Antibo and a Vodka Revolution bar and club.
ÊThe city is to get a new hotel next year in its Heart of the City development, which has already provided Sheffield with the Peace Gardens and Millennium Galleries. Construction is to begin on the 156-bedroom hotel early in 2004. A further site, in Leopold Street, has been earmarked for development within two years.
Earlier this year Travel Inn opened Sheffield's biggest hotel in the city centre, and Macdonald Hotels is putting £18m behind a hotel and conference centre, due to open in 2005.
Viva Blackpool
Roll over Las Vegas, Blackpool is backing itself to become the UK's top gambling and hospitality hotspot, says Maggie Dollin-Evans of Blackpool and the Fylde College.
Blackpool is gambling on its future and it has a 20-year master plan behind it. Proposed changes in the gaming legislation this autumn will give Blackpool the chance to attract huge resort casino hotels - we're talking 24-hour entertainment and gaming attractions that cater for all ages and visitor types and will bring the clients to stay rather than just drive through.
The new resort aims to attract 30 million visitors from the UK and abroad. And with this the world of opportunity will open for all who wish to work in the industry - from the gaming halls to the high-class hotels, from convention centres to new visitor attractions.
And the process has started already. The airport has more flights coming in from London and Dublin, a new themed hotel has opened and the season for the Pleasure Beach has been extended. Blackpool is ready for take-off.
What it needs to succeed is people with high levels of customer service, loads of enthusiasm and energy and specialist skills for hospitality, leisure or tourism. From croupier to public relations officer, you'll find opportunities in Blackpool. And if you don't have all these skills, Blackpool and the Fylde College can get you there with its new training facilities for customer service and all aspects of the gaming industry.
Coming soon
If you're an up-and-coming chef in need of inspiration, check out the advice and demos from the chefs at this year's North West Food Lovers Festival, taking place in the grand setting of Cheshire's Tatton Park. Showing off their skills will be Simon Rimmer of Greens in Didsbury, Mark Urry of Choice bar and restaurant in Manchester and Robert Owen-Brown of Lounge 10 in Manchester.
When: 1-2 November, 10am-5pm
Where: Tatton Park, Knutsford
For more details call 01695 554918 or e-mailelizabeth.halsall@nw-fine-foods.co.uk
