Hopes that new kitchens would bring pub grub boom go spectacularly awry
Jump to full article: The Guardian (uk), 2008-06-30
Author: Simon Bowers
Intro: This time last year the British high street saw an unprecedented wave of behind-the-scenes spending on sparkling new kitchen facilities, as optimistic restaurant and pub operators predicted that the ban on smoking in public places - introduced in England 12 months ago tomorrow - would trigger an explosion in eating out.
Reliance on the old guard of heavy-smoking pub "regulars" would be replaced with brisker trade, including more women and families looking for something more adventurous than a bag of pork scratchings with their drinks.
But the investment was a huge financial bet - and it now looks to be failing spectacularly for all but the largest and most canny operators.
Jump to full article » |