Author Archives: Sharna

Today’s Keynotes at Casual Dining 2015: Wednesday 25 February

Casual Dining opens for business at 10am today at Business Design Centre in London.  Over 4,000 attendees (representing multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, distributers, and contract caterers from across the UK) are expected to pack the aisles over two days (Wednesday and Thursday, 25-26 February). Today’s highlights include Keynotes from: Peter Backman, MD of Horizons: Who is setting the casual dining pace? And where are they going? Anthony Pender, chairman of The BII & MD of Yummy Pub Co: How we’ll raise standards in licensed retail together The CGA Peach Pioneer Panel: Chaired by Peter Martin, VP of…

Casual Dining 2015 opens in London tomorrow

Casual Dining – the award winning trade event for the UK’s pub, restaurant and bar sector – is set to take casual dining to new heights as it takes over three floors of the Business Design Centre in London this week. Already an essential date on many hospitality buyers calendars, Casual Dining opens for business at 10am on Wednesday 25 February.  Over 4,000 attendees (representing multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, distributers, and contract caterers from across the UK) are expected to pack the aisles over two days. Casual Dining will feature over 150 sector leading exhibitors showcasing…

Buyers to decide Innovation Challenge finalists at Casual Dining 2015

Casual Dining is putting its visitors in the driving seat of the Innovation Challenge Awards this year, with the finalists to be determined by popular vote. The award winning two day trade event for casual dining restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels, returns to the Business Design Centre in London next week on 25-26 February. All products and services entered into the 2015 Innovation Challenge Showcase – including food, drink, packaging, equipment and technology – will have to win over the show’s visitors (including key buyers and decision makers from across the hospitality sector) before making it through to the exciting…

Casual Dining show up for Rising Star award

Casual Dining – which returns to the Business Design Centre in London next week – has been shortlisted for Exhibition News’ prestigious Rising Star Award. The recently announced nominations see Casual Dining up for its second industry award, having already won ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition (UK & International) under 2,000sq.m’ at the Association of Event Organisers’ AEO Excellence Awards last July. Diversified Communications UK (organiser of Casual Dining) has been shortlisted for six awards in all, with its lunch! food-to-go show also recognised in the Best Trade Show, Best Trade Show Marketing Campaign and Best Organiser Salesperson (Derek MacHale) categories. The Exhibition News awards, which celebrates talent and achievement across the exhibition industry, will…

Casual Dining gets crafty with new Drinks Innovation Theatre tastings

Pub, bar and restaurant buyers looking to refresh their drinks menus are set to enjoy a tastings extravaganza at next week’s Casual Dining trade show, which opens at the Business Design Centre, in London, on 25-26 February. Thanks to 140% increase in exhibitors offering alcoholic beverages for 2015, on-trade buyers will be able to see and sample the show’s biggest choice of beer, wines, ciders, spirits and mixers yet. Official tasting sessions are scheduled to run throughout the show in the new Drinks Innovation Theatre on the upper feature level, with the programme split equally between wine and craft beer/cider…

Sold out Casual Dining show confirms full exhibitor line-up for 2015

With all stand space now sold, Casual Dining 2015 – the award winning trade event for the UK’s £7bn casual dining pub, bar and restaurant market – will feature over 150 sector leading exhibitors when it returns to the Business Design Centre, in London, next week on 25-26 February. Showcasing a vibrant choice of food and drink, equipment, interior design, furniture, technology and table top supplies, the most recent additions to the eclectic line-up include Belvoir Fruit Farms; World Beers, Bear Brewery; frying oil filter machine specialists VITO UK; MAJIsign – leading manufacturers of A-Boards, chalkboards and menu holders; and Venue10, previewing…

Casual Dining Design Awards 2015

Over forty casual dining pubs and restaurants from across the UK competed for prestigious design awards at Casual Dining 2015. Now in their second year, the Casual Dining Design Awards includes three categories – Best Designed Independent Restaurant, Best Designed Multiple Restaurant, and Best Designed Casual Dining Pub.  The 2015 shortlist included high street names like ASK Italian, Nando’s, wagamama, and Pizza Hut Restaurants, plus a range of entries from scalable independents ready for rapid expansion to historic pubs that have been given a new lease of life. “Consumers are becoming more discerning where design and branding is concerned.  There’s more…

Press Invite: Reserve your press pass to Casual Dining 2015

Welcome to Casual Dining, the award-winning trade show for the UK’s £7bn casual dining sector, taking place later this month at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on Wednesday and Thursday 25-26 February. The free Keynote programme includes sessions by Karen Forrester (TGI Friday’s), Stephen Holmes (ASK Italian and Zizzi), Alasdair Murdoch (GBK), Scott Macdonald (Bill’s), Kate Nicholls (The ALMR), and Ian Neill (in conversation with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin).  Martin is also hosting a casual dining pioneer panel debate featuring Martin Morales (Ceviche), Harald Samuelsson (Côte), Brandon Stephens (Tortilla).  Whilst this year’s Propel Info Panel will feature four leading multi-site…

Exhibitor Show Highlights: Equipment, Business Services & Technology

The following is just a taste of what’s on show at this year’s Casual Dining. Glen Dimplex Professional Appliances is launching Burco’s new Convection Oven range. Featuring a countertop model, a large single phase model, and a powerful three phase unit, the range is fully gastronorm compatible, has a 60°-260°c working temperature, and a robust design to cope with the demands of a busy kitchen. (Stand M423) Buying specialist Lynx Purchasing is launching the 2015 edition of its Casual Dining Report. Building on the success of the 2014 edition, the 2015 report will spotlight the latest trends in the eating…

Exhibitor Show Highlights: Drink

The following is just a taste of what’s on show at this year’s Casual Dining. innocent drinks, typically known for its juices and smoothies, is showcasing a completely new offering for 2015. innocent bubbles is a brand new, refreshing, carbonated drink using spring water and fruit, and in true innocent style, absolutely nothing else. (Stand U115) Coca-Cola Enterprises is offering great deals on Appletiser, both their classic Apple and their new Apple & Pomegranate 275ml variants.  Following the recent press announcement of their 3 year partnership to become the Official Soft Drink of Ascot Racecourse, Appletiser will also be offering up…