Suffolk

Regional reporting on foodservice and hospitality activity across Suffolk, with updates from Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Southwold, Aldeburgh, and Felixstowe. This section covers restaurant and pub openings, local produce sourcing, tourism-driven demand, and rural catering operations. Designed for chefs, operators, and F&B professionals, it offers insight into trading conditions, seasonality, and opportunities in one of East England’s most distinctive and destination-led counties.

  • Jun- 2023 -
    8 June
    Catering CompaniesFormer HCI president Paul Foulger dies age 85

    Former HCI president Paul Foulger dies age 85

    Paul Foulger, former president of the Institute of Hospitality and former head of catering and employee services at Sainsbury has died at 85. Foulger joined the Hotel and Catering Institute (HCI) back in 1953, 18 years before the HCI merged with the Institutional Management Association (IMA) to form the HCIMA,…

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  • Jan- 2023 -
    31 January
    RestaurantsSilhouette opens restaurant in Norwich Castle Quarter

    Silhouette opens restaurant in Norwich Castle Quarter

    Italian restaurant and cocktail bar Silhouette is set to open a new site in Norwich’s Castle Quarter. The restaurant has taken 3,462 sq ft of space within the Timberhill Terrace area of Castle Quarter, where it joins existing occupiers such as escape room operator Escape Hunt and cinema Vue.  Silhouette…

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  • Sep- 2021 -
    3 September
    RestaurantsHospitality owners report staff shortages as vacancies rise

    Hospitality owners report staff shortages as vacancies rise

    Hospitality owners are reportedly facing staff shortages after a lack of response to job advertisements, according to the BBC.  In the UK there were 102,000 vacancies in the sector from April to June 2021 – a rise of 12.1% compared to the same period in 2019.  According to the BBC,…

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  • Feb- 2021 -
    10 February
    RestaurantsBig Table Group agrees deal with Centre Parcs restaurants

    Big Table Group agrees deal with Centre Parcs restaurants

    continued demand for our Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas brands in high volume, high quality locations. “Alongside this, the deal is testament to the commitment each of our restaurants have to delivering fantastic dining experiences to Center Parcs’ guests and the significant investment will ensure that we can…

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  • Dec- 2020 -
    22 December
    CommentReflecting on 2020 as a restaurant owner

    Reflecting on 2020 as a restaurant owner

    I am preparing for the new year with a sense of weariness and exhaustion. 2020 has, to say the least, had its moments of worry, pain, emotion, and tears for the country and certainly most of us in hospitality. ‘Unprecedented’ is now a hackneyed phrase and that perhaps that speaks…

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  • Jun- 2020 -
    15 June
    CommentThe coronavirus diaries: Tara Smyth

    The coronavirus diaries: Tara Smyth

    On Thursday 26 March 2020, my partner, James Santillo and I celebrated two years of running The Duke’s Head. Thursday 26th March 2020 also happens to be the first day of our personal lockdown, not quite the day we had planned in our heads, but we did still drink the…

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  • May- 2020 -
    5 May
    PeopleAdnams appoints Jenny Hanlon as chief financial officer

    Adnams appoints Jenny Hanlon as chief financial officer

    Pub group Adnams has appointed Jenny Hanlon as its new chief financial officer, effective 15 June 2020. She will succeed current CFO Stephen Pugh after he retires from this business. According to the group, Hanlon has “extensive experience” across multiple sectors, having spent time with Barclays, Greene King, Willis plc,…

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  • Feb- 2020 -
    27 February
    Pubs and BarsUnite announces Greene King pay dispute strike dates

    Unite announces Greene King pay dispute strike dates

    Workers at drinks giant Greene King have announced a rolling programme of strikes into July as a result of an ongoing pay dispute. Unite union announced the first two days of strike action will be on 12-13 March by its 160 delivery drivers, draymen, brewery production staff and warehouse workers…

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  • 25 February
    Pubs and BarsThe Three Blackbirds to reopen following devastating fire

    The Three Blackbirds to reopen following devastating fire

    The Three Blackbirds pub in Woodditton, Suffolk, is to reopen in March after a fire devastated the property in 2018. The Chestnut Group, which owns the property, said the rebuild work has retained much of the old pub’s “charm and character”, including original features, exposing charred beams and original paintings…

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  • Jan- 2020 -
    14 January
    NewsGreene King union staff members vote for strike action

    Greene King union staff members vote for strike action

    Greene King workers who are part of the Unite union have voted for strike action following a “paltry” pay offer by the brewery. Unite members, including draymen, brewery production staff and warehouse workers, voted “strongly in favour” of strike action after rejecting a 2% pay rise which they argue does…

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