News in brief

Travelodge for Islington
Expansion-hungry budget hotel chain Travelodge is to build a £20m hotel in London. The 380-bedroom hotel will be located on City Road in Islington, north London, and is the company's biggest project this year. The group is developing major expansion plans. Travelodge director Ben Roberts said: "Our current plans call for the construction of 80 new hotels over the next two years, which is 2,500 bedrooms a year."

Brown's ready to reopen Rocco Forte Hotels has announced the reopening of Brown's hotel in London's Mayfair following a £19m refurbishment. The hotel, which has 117 guest rooms and 15 suites, will reopen on 12 December. Brown's hotel also features The Grill restaurant run by matre d' Angelo Maresco, the Donovan Bar and English Tea Room. Other facilities include private rooms, a spa and fitness centre.

Chewton Glen accolade
Hampshire hotel Chewton Glen has won the Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Award for best hotel in the British Isles. The hotel was also ranked second in the list of the top 100 hotels worldwide, in which Ladera Resort in the Caribbean's St Lucia was the winner. Chewton Glen managing director Andrew Stembridge said: "We are thrilled to receive this award, which reinforces our standards of excellence and attention to detail."

Extended hours countdown
Businesses with extended liquor licences will be able to cash in on their extra trading hours from one minute past midnight on Thursday, 24 November. Pubs will still have to close at the usual time of 11.30pm on 23 November, but will be able to reopen 30 minutes later, when the new law comes into force. Mark Devaine, spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed the arrangement: "Pubs with extended licences will be able to reopen at midnight on 24 November."