Celebrity chef cooks up a profit at his Michelin-star Dublin restaurant

ONE of the country’s most exclusive restaurants, the Michelin-starred Thornton’s, owned and operated by celebrity chef Kevin Thornton, returned to profit last year.

Abridged accounts just filed to the Companies Office by Conted Ltd, trading as Thornton’s Restaurant, show the 80-seater Dublin restaurant recorded an after-tax profit of €37,990 to the end of August last year, compared to a post tax loss of €17,354 in 2008.

In spite of the return to profit in a financial year which saw the closure of another Dublin-based Michelin-starred restaurant, Mint, Conted Ltd had total net liabilities of €52,590 at the end of August last year.

As a result, in a note to the accounts, Conted Ltd’s directors, Kevin Thornton and his wife, Muriel state they have "considered the uncertainty in the current economic and financial environment and are confident that the company will be in a position to trade through these difficult trading circumstances and continue to take appropriate steps to manage its business activities in this environment. The shareholders have indicated their willingness to continue to provide continued financial support".

The note adds: "In view of the foregoing, the directors are of the opinion that the accounts should be prepared on a going concern basis."

The company’s total net liabilities and the financial statements being prepared on a going concern basis also drew the attention of the firm’s auditors, Howarth Bastow Charlton.

As the accounts are abridged, they provide limited financial information and do not disclose turnover.

Thornton’s restaurant was first established in Portobello in 1995 before moving to its present location on St Stephen’s Green in 2002.

Cashel native, Kevin Thornton was the first Irish chef to receive the rare accolade of two Michelin stars and Thornton’s is today one of only six Irish restaurants to attain a Michelin star – Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin’s Merrion Square remains Ireland’s only two-star restaurant

BBC cancels Blanc's Restaurant

BBC Two programme The Restaurant, fronted by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc, will not return to TV screens, it has been confirmed. The reality show focused on couples competing for a chance to open a restaurant financially backed by Blanc. A BBC statement said "the time is right for The Restaurant to close its doors after three successful series."

Blanc is currently "in discussions" with the BBC about a new series of Kitchen Secrets and other projects.

The announcement comes as BBC Two launches its autumn and winter schedule.

China: The new fast food nation

Consumers around the world have developed a taste for American fast food, but demand for fried chicken sandwiches and pepperoni pizza appears to be particularly strong in China.

Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said Tuesday that profits from its operations in China surged 33% in the second quarter.

The company, which has over 36,000 fast food restaurants in more than 100 countries, generates about 60% of its profits in overseas markets, the largest of which is China.

Yum opens one new KFC in mainland China almost every day. It already has nearly 3,000 of the fried chicken restaurants operating in 650 Chinese cities. That's in addition to 560 Pizza Hut locations.

The company aims to eventually open at least 20,000 fast food outlets in mainland China. In the second quarter alone, Yum opened 59 restaurants in China, bringing the total for this year to 155 restaurants.

"A key driver of our overall growth continues to be new unit development in China and Yum Restaurants International," David Novak, the company's chief executive, said in a statement.

Britain’s favourite boy band to open new restaurant

JLS the X Factor finalists and now Britain’s favourite boy band are looking into entering the hospitality sector with a new restaurant and club based in London’s West End, according to The Sun.

Aston, Marvin, JB, and Oritse will be equal investors in the venture and the band is now actively looking for suitable locations.

The Sun stated that JLS plan to open an Asian establishment, probably to be named Jewels of the Lotus Sutra, which is based on the group member’s initials, wanting to make it one of the best venues in London.

A source close to the band told the Sun, “each of the boys want to get involved in how it will look, what’s on the menu and who’s on the guest list.”

Fullerton Bay Hotel is Preferred Hotels & Resorts' newest member

Opening in July 2010, the Fullerton Bay Hotel is Preferred Hotels & Resorts' newest member and Singapore's most anticipated new luxury waterfront hotel.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a brand of Preferred Hotel Group and a collection of more than 200 of the world's most desirable destinations, is pleased to announce its newest member in Singapore - The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore.

The much anticipated July opening of the 100-room The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore will mark the hotel as the city's first and only waterfront hotel. Seated on Marina Bay's prime waterfront location in the Central Business District and the historic Arts and Cultural precinct, the hotel will offer impeccable service and hospitality.


LCL Architects, the group behind the hotel's inspiring glass facade, is also responsible for the creation of the luxury hotel rooms, while the arrival experience and restaurants are the latest projects by design wunderkind, Andre Fu. Guests will enter the hotel through a 17-metre-wide lobby at the historic Clifford Pier, an important heritage site that saw the arrival of many of Singapore's early settlers. The hotel's exquisite interior designs are richly-steeped in Singapore's illustrious history; Fu used vintage nautical maps and commissioned contemporary art that reflects the celebration of heritage and modernity in the Lion City.

Each of the hotel's six suites - including a Presidential Suite - are individually themed to reflect the wealth of cultures in Singapore's cosmopolitan population, including Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, and Colonial. Named after the ex-governors of the Straits Settlement, each features magnificent Marina Bay views from its balconies and is adorned with custom artwork and antiques alongside contemporary pieces.

The hotel's trio of culinary experiences includes the signature restaurants of Clifford, The Landing Point, and Lantern. Clifford, a modern brasserie, is illuminated by splendid 10-metre-high floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay. Guests are greeted by an opulent 800-bottle fine wine library and vintage furnishings in warm gray, burnt orange, and dark aubergine set against ivory French paneling and herringbone oak floors. With a majestic 13-metre-long bar and spacious outdoor terrace, The Landing Point is the hotel's sophisticated lounge. Lantern is a stylish rooftop bar, surrounding the hotel's 25-metre rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views of the waterfront, the Singapore skyline, and sunset.

"This new hotel will undoubtedly be Singapore's latest luxury design hot spot and will join its renowned award-winning sister property, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, as another iconic hotel in Asia's global city," said Mark Simmons, area managing director - Asia, Preferred Hotel Group. "Preferred Hotel Group is excited to have The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore as one of our exclusive partners to accommodate our distinguished group of global luxury clients."

"Catering to the Preferred Hotel and Resorts' discerning travellers - especially the well-heeled jetsetters and sophisticated chic - The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore embodies and sets the tone for an indulgent experience," said Giovanni Viterale, general manager of The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, and The Fullerton Heritage. "The ideal location of the hotel alongside the sparkling waterfront makes it a perfect destination for business, leisure, and gourmands alike."

Boris Johnson opens Travelodge in Waterloo Road

Mayor of London Boris Johnson came to Waterloo last Thursday to officially open the chain's 400th hotel as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Travelodge London Waterloo, located at St George's House in Waterloo Road, has 279 bedrooms and is full every night for its first month.


The development – which incorporates a grade II listed building as well as a new structure – has cost £21.1 million to covert into a Travelodge hotel. Travelodge says that the new hotel has created 60 new jobs, with half of the positions being filled via the London Employer Accord programme which helps the long term unemployed back into work.

"London Waterloo is the perfect example of the modern and vibrant company Travelodge has evolved into over the last 25 years," says Guy Parsons, chief executive of Travelodge. "Located in a prominent location it offers the perfect low-cost base for both leisure and business customers."

"With the Olympics getting ever nearer and given the prominent role tourism plays in the growth of the London economy, we have also invested heavily to ensure that Travelodge is the biggest hotel brand in the Capital in time for the 2012 games."

The hotel is offering a complimentary 'Triplet London sightseeing tour' which allows two customers and a tour guide to cycle around London visiting the capital's sights. In addition to these tours Travelodge is also trialling a free cycle service where customers can hire a 'Go Cycle', the world's lightest electric bike. To help guests seek out London's landmarks, Travelodge has created a cycle sightseeing guide which takes in the capital's top ten attractions in an hour's ride.

Waterloo has seen a flurry of new hotels opening, with several more on the drawing board. The H10 London Waterloo opened earlier this year and the Tune Hotels.com Westminster will welcome its first guests at the end of August.

New World Hotels launches new corporate ID

New World Hotels has launched a fresh corporate identity as New World Hospitality, with a logo that displays an elegant feel, both classic and modern in its simple interpretation.

This is the first in a series of repositioning initiatives, including revitalisation of the group’s namesake New World Hotels brand and ambitious expansion plans.

The emblem also represents the company’s new approach to delivering service based on “relationship hospitality” -- nurturing long-lasting relationships with guests, associates, owners and the community with service that is perceptive, engaging and inspiring.

These qualities will run through all New World Hospitality’s growing portfolio of brands, including New World Hotels and pentahotels, with the goal of being recognised as a distinctive hospitality icon, within the region and internationally.