The milkshake tax is another blow to businesses already drowning in complex taxes and soaring fixed costs. If this isn't balanced with meaningful business rates reform for hospitality, leisure, and retail, it's a clear net negative for growth. While the levy targets only packaged drinks, not fresh café-made shakes, it still shakes up a struggling sector, and piles on administrative burden and cost at a time when margins are already diluted and consumer demand dwindles.
"We help F&B businesses build lean, profitable, and resilient models that give owners freedom, not burnout. Our focus is on streamlining operational structure, eliminating debt, and embedding robust financial systems that boost profit and cash flow. Ultimately, our goal is to help F&B owners step back, enjoy the reward of their hard work, and build a lasting legacy through their business."
"It was a kick in the teeth," says Katya Milavic-Davies, who owns four Myla and Davis hair salons, as well as the restaurant Llewelyn's and the cafe Lulus, both in Herne Hill in south London. She says she had to increase her turnover across her four salons by 500,000 to cover the costs of the National Insurance contribution (NICs) hikes, and a national minimum wage rise, adding that businesses like hers had been "punished" for having a large number of employees.
Ask any visitor to Albania and they'll tell you the same thing: It's the warmth of the people that makes this country so memorable. And some of the best hotels in Albania present a stellar example. Yes, it has crystal-clear rivers, snow-dusted peaks, a glittering Ionian shoreline, and ancient UNESCO heritage sites galore, but it's the Albanians and their innate kindness and hospitality that make a visit here truly special.
There are meals that you simply eatand then there are meals that unfold like a story you want to keep retelling. House of Domes is the latter. I slipped in for a quiet weekday lunch with a dear friend, the kind of friend you can exhale with, laugh with, speak in soft conspiratorial tones with. The city outside felt brisk and urgent, but the moment we stepped through the glass-domed terrace, the pace of everything shiftedslowedbecame silkier somehow.
Our critic enjoys the warm hospitality and some good food, but the wine list needs a revamp Dún Laoghaire is a town of two halves. The folk who flock here at weekends to walk the piers, eat from market stalls and drink coffee on the terrace of Happy Out, located in the old baths, are envious of those who live here.
As a traveler, I've been privileged. Not due to family wealth or a secret benefactor, but the fortune of falling into a travel writing career that has included 10,000 hours, and then some, at hotels and resorts around the world. These stays - sometimes comped, sometimes not; sometimes incognito, sometimes not - are turned into reviews, guides, listings, features, profiles, round-ups for print and online publications. Topics run the gamut, too, from service, amenities and facilities to design, architecture and technology.
The startup's software automates tip pooling, compliance, and payments, giving employers transparency while helping staff receive earnings faster and more fairly. The founders' inspiration came from their experience in the United States, where structured tip management proved to boost morale and retention. In the UK, they saw operators "drowning in admin" - using sprawling Excel sheets to manage tronc systems while facing rising National Insurance costs and new legal obligations.
One sip here and you might think you've stumbled into a Parisian salon from another era, not a cocktail bar tucked into the heart of Brooklyn. Bar Rêve opened earlier this month at the corner of Smith and Butler Streets in Cobble Hill, bringing a cosmopolitan flair to its craft with a curated selection of specialty cocktails. Guests receive the cocktail menu in a bound book, which can also be purchased, and is refreshed every 12 to 18 months.
The steep rise in hospitality wages to a record high will come as a big concern to the sector, particularly following a prolonged period of subdued sales. This puts more pressure on margins, with every £1 increase in wages also leading to additional employers' NIC, resulting in a double whammy on operators' costs.
"I've been camping and hiking my whole life, I moved to San Francisco and I saw the pace of life among my friends and people that I met. They said they were too stressed and I realized that they needed the nature experience that I grew up having, but they didn't know how to do it. They don't have the gear or the time and they don't know where to go...so my business partner and I realized that we should start a glamping business that made it easier for people to get outdoors, but it had to be comfortable, easy, and also fun,"
In her speech at the conference, the home secretary said that if someone wanted to stay in the UK permanently, they would have to contribute. She said: "I will be proposing a series of new tests, such as being in work, making National Insurance contributions, not taking a penny in benefits, learning English to a high standard, having no criminal record and that you have truly given back to your community, such as by volunteering your time to a local cause."
Some people truly shine when it comes to being a house guest. Whether they're stopping by for dinner or staying the whole week, there's a list of spoken and unspoken etiquette rules to follow, and they nail it every time. While it's obviously the host's job to make their guest feel comfy, there are plenty of things the guest can do in return to be just as thoughtful. Things like taking their shoes off at the door, cleaning up after dinner, or making the bed every morning of their stay.
For those willing to pay, booking a VIP package for highly-anticipated concerts, such as Taylor Swift's Eras tour, is an increasingly attractive prospect. For one, it makes it much more likely that you'll bag a ticket in the first instance, as they tend to sell out more slowly than general admission, which are often long gone before most people are even graced with the chance to buy (we haven't forgotten the 2025 Oasis tour debate).
The hospitality industry continues to evolve, and strategic leadership appointments are crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in today's dynamic food and beverage landscape. The historic Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has just made three pivotal moves that signal a new era of culinary excellence and operational innovation. AHC Hospitality, the Grand Rapids-headquartered management company overseeing more than 15 hotels and 30 restaurants, has announced a comprehensive restructuring of the Amway Grand Plaza's food and beverage leadership team.
You may know your paratha from your roti. You may have even mastered how to pronounce the trickier dishes on the menu, such as paneer lababdar. The modern gourmand knows that they have to steer clear of the major mistakes that people commonly make at Indian restaurants. But beyond the finer nuances of the menu, there is a world of unspoken rules of dining etiquette that govern every Indian meal.
