Kudos News

• RoSPA gold award - 5.7.2010 - 0:00
  
  Crown Group (UK) Limited, which Kudos Hospitality is part of, has won the Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Award for occupational Health & Safety, for the second consecutive year. The award means that the group has achieved the highest level in health and safety by successfully implementing and managing an efficient health and safety system for both employees and clients.
  
  Karl Wilkinson, Crown Goup Safety & Assurance Manager, commented: "Our dedication to health and safety is paramount and we work hard to ensure our high standards are maintained across the whole of the Crown Group. Being awarded the prestigious accolade for a second year is a great achievement."
  
  
  
• Central Hall Westminster wins Business Excellence Award - 29.6.2010 - 0:00
  
  Central Hall Westminster proudly walked away from the annual Hospitality Assured awards with the Team of the Year award in hand. In house caterer Kudos Hospitality forms an integral part of the hospitality team providing catering services for over 2K events per annum. The awards ceremony was held at The Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington and formed part of the Institute of Hospitality’s annual lunch with guest speaker Peter Lederer, Managing Director of Gleneagles Hotel and President of the Institute of Hospitality.
  
  Kudos Hospitality Managing Director Jon Pryce said “this award is testament to the relationship that has been developed between Central Hall Westminster and Kudos. To keep information flowing freely between all elements of an event and delivering customer’s expectations is vital. With the 3 ISO’s we have achieved it is important for us to maintain a high level of staff training to ensure the needs of the venue and the end client are always met.”
  
  
  
• Special menu for first Women in furnishings awards - 3.6.2010 - 0:00
  
  June 3rd saw the launch of the first Women in Furnishings Awards, fittingly held at Furniture Makers Hall and organised by the Furnishing Industry Trust. Kudos Hospitality created a chic summer inspired lunch menu which included smoked chicken tian with avocado puree, beetroot and orange relish with parmesan crisp to start and roasted red mullet with broad bean and mascarpone ravioli, shellfish bisque and baby leeks for main. The dessert, chilled mango soufflé, was artistically dusted with coco powder to form the Furnishing Industry Trust initials (FIT).
  
  Five female high-flyers from the furnishings industry were shortlisted from several nominations and invited to join judges and industry peers at the awards luncheon. Two awards were up for grabs at the ceremony; Businesswoman and Inspirational Woman of the Year, won by Tean Dallaway, group finance director, Airsprung Furniture and Wendy Shorter of Wendy Shorter Interiors respectively. In addition to the main two awards, a further surprise Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Norma Kerry, MD of Parker and Farr. Television presenter and journalist Alison Cork from ‘Home In The Country’ and ’60 Minute Makeover’ fame hosted the ceremony.
  
  
  
• Kudos chef reaches the final of the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2010 - 11.5.2010 - 0:00
  
  Simon Firth, Kudos Hospitality Executive Chef at Manchester Central, is a finalist in the Banqueting Chef category of the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards 2010. Now in their 17th year, these coveted accolades recognise and reward the leading talent working in kitchens across the industry.
  
  The host of candidates nominated by their peers were scrutinised by an 18 strong panel of expert judges from across the industry. They had the incredibly difficult task of selecting 40 nominees from an elite list of chefs who will be acclaimed on the day, 13 of which will receive what have been called the Oscars of the culinary arena. The awards ceremony will take place at the Lancaster London Hotel on June 24th when winners of 13 award categories representing every aspect of the culinary arena will be revealed.
  
  
  
• Kudos retains the Cambridge Corn Exchange contract - 26.4.2010 - 0:00
  
  Kudos Hospitality has retained sole caterer status at the Cambridge Corn Exchange after pitching against 3 other catering companies. The new contract will see Kudos continue to provide catering and hospitality services at the venue for a further 3 years, taking the contract up to 7 years of service.
  
  Jon Pryce, Kudos Hospitality managing director commented: “We are delighted to have retained the Cambridge Corn Exchange contract, this is a testament to the hard work the team has been doing. The venue holds a wide range of events throughout the year from Paul Weller to Peppa Pig and a range of corporate events as well so the audience and Kudos’ offering couldn’t be more diverse.”
  
  The Cambridge Corn Exchange boasts Victorian and 1930’s architecture complete with state of the art conferencing technology. The venue comprises the main auditorium which can accommodate up to 1,450 people and is ideal for concerts, conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs; there are three other rooms that can be used as a registration area or for meetings or receptions drinks.
  
  
  
• Kudos joins ESSA - 19.4.2010 - 0:00
  
  Kudos Hospitality has become a member of the Event Suppliers and Services Association (ESSA) which is the trade association representing contractors and suppliers of goods and services to the exhibitions & events industry. Its aim is to encourage best practices within the industry and as a member Kudos is committed to providing a professional and efficient service to its clients and other ESSA members.
  
  
  
• Kudos chef wins silver medal at the Salon Culinary held at Hotelympia - 4.3.2010 - 0:00
  
  Head Chef at the Bournemouth International Centre and Bournemouth Pavilion, Allen Townsend, was awarded the silver medal at the Salon Culinary contest held at Hotelympia on 4th March, missing the gold medal by just one point! Townsend entered the ‘senior display, plated 4 course fine dining meal’ category competing against six other chefs. Allen was only one of two chefs to win a silver medal, the highest medal awarded in that category.
  
  Allen’s four course gourmet menu included an amuse bouche of goats cheese and tender broccoli strudel, tea smoked scallops to start, a trio of lamb for main which included loin of lamb and quenelle of red cabbage, braised neck of lamb with morels and herb dumplings, rack of lamb with sweetbread haggis potato Dauphinoise served with rich Barolo lamb reduction, to finish baked plum soufflé.
  
  Allen Townsend, Kudos Hospitality Head Chef said “Entering catering competitions is a fantastic outlet for creativity allowing chefs to showcase their talents and be awarded for their efforts. Coming so close to winning gold is disappointing, but it is a great achievement to be the recipient of the silver award along with only one other candidate. I delivered to the highest standard and I am delighted with the medal. I am determined to win gold next year and working on menu designs that produce interesting flavour combinations.”
  
  A member of the ‘Craft Guild of Chefs’ Townsend has over 25 years experience in the catering industry and has won many awards including a gold medal and Best in Class award at Hotelympia in 2008, a silver medal at the World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt Germany also in 2008 and a gold medal and Best in Class award at the Hospitality Show at the Birmingham NEC.
  
  
  
• Last Night of the Prom sponsorship - 1.3.2010 - 0:00
  
  Kudos Hospitality is one of the sponsors of Last Night of the Proms, which is presented by The Lord’s Taverners and will take place on 15th May 2010. This special evening will be raising funds for The Lord’s Taverners Disability Sports Appeal, developing wheelchair sports for young people. The event will feature Britain’s favourite tenor Alfie Boe, Manchester Camerata and Harrogate Choral Society.
  
  
  
• M&IT best food and beverage supplier award - 23.2.2010 - 0:00
  
  The Novotel London West hosted the annual Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT) awards, which saw Kudos Hospitality win gold for best food and beverage supplier, beating competitors Rhubarb Food Design, Create Food and Party Design and Leith’s. Established in 1988 the M&IT Awards bring together various sectors of the meetings and events industry to ‘reward excellence of service and product’.
  
  Jon Pryce, MD, Kudos Hospitality said: “We are thrilled to have won the gold award. Kudos strives for excellence and we are proud to have established successful long running relationships with our clients. We continually listen to their needs, produce creative menu options and endeavour to provide the highest standard of hospitality service. To be recognised and awarded for our efforts is a wonderful achievement.”
  
  
  
• New contract at the Furniture Makers livery hall - 20.11.2009 - 0:00
  
  Kudos is charged with providing hospitality for all the livery lunches as well as developing the events side of the venue, located just behind Throgmorten Street. The venue, a relatively recent acquisition by the company is a 3 storey 19th Century building with a large dining room on the ground floor and subsequent smaller rooms also available for dining and events.
  
  
  
• Kudos retains the Church House contract - 16.11.2009 - 0:00
  
  After 17 years Kudos Hospitality proves it has the magic to retain the Crown Group’s very first contract. Kudos pitched against 5 caterers and proved that its mix of creative ideas for menu design and future events plus a sales driven team were the winning formula that won the board over.
  
  For the final stages Kudos Hospitality wowed the management at Church House with two top tastings held at Gibson Hall and Tottenham FC (both of which are fellow Kudos sites) with a menu that focused on locally sourced British produce. Various kinds of catering were displayed including a finger buffet, executive lunch and afternoon tea.
  
  MD of Kudos Hospitality Jon Pryce said “We are thrilled to retain the Church House contract for a further 5 years. Kudos has had a successful long running relationship with Church House and will continue to raise the bar and provide a high level of hospitality service at the venue.”
  
  Robin Parker General Manager of events at Church House said ‘We’re delighted to continue working with Kudos Hospitality. With the new team members to assist with driving sales and the new ideas for the venue, it promises to be an exciting future for the venue.’
  
  
  
• Wounds UK conference and exhibition at Harrogate International Central is a success - 12.11.2009 - 0:00
  
  Delegates from the medical profession attended Wounds UK, a 3 day conference and exhibition from 9th – 11th November at Harrogate International Centre. The event continues to grow and this year attracted more than 2,000 nurses and tissue specialists, 1,300 of which enjoyed a gala dinner on the second night catered by Kudos Hospitality.
  
  1,200 major healthcare companies including Activa, Alliance Pharmaceuticals Ltd and MA Health Care had exhibition stands showcasing their latest wound care products. Conferences in the venues main auditorium covered topics on science, clinical practice, research, service and professional development.
  
  At the client’s request Kudos Hospitality provided exhibitors and visitors with a nutritious packed lunch containing healthy sandwiches with plenty of vegetarian options, fresh fruit and bottled water. The packed lunch encouraged visitors to have quick bite and continue to walk around the exhibition space. Franco Caroleo, Kudos Hospitality General Manager of Harrogate International Centre said “Often with large scale exhibitions visitors have a lot to see and do, leaving little time to sit down for lunch. Our packed lunch menu provided a healthy bite visitors could enjoy whilst on the move, maximising the number of stands and conferences they attended.”
  
  Edward Rusling Business Director of Schofield Healthcare Media – Wounds UK - said ‘We’ve worked with Kudos for 7 years and the quality and service has always been consistently excellent. Their ability to serve a large amount of people quickly and efficiently always amazes me. Whatever brief we’ve thrown at them, they have always managed. They have been very flexible to our needs and have always over delivered.’
  
  
  
  
  
• General Well Being Menu at the Conservative Party annual conference - 9.10.2009 - 0:00
  
  The Conservative Party held their annual conference at Manchester Central Convention Complex from 5th - 8th October. Preferred caterer Kudos Hospitality was tasked with creating a menu with nutritional value and with ingredients sourced from local suppliers.
  
  Kudos prepared all the food on site serving the 15,000 delegates that were in attendance. Delegates tucked into the General Well Being menu which offered a selection of healthy treats consuming 6,000 canapés, 2,970 sandwiches, 480 baguettes, 400 litres of fresh orange juice and 420 fruit salad pots.
  
  Stuart Lee, Operations Manager, Kudos Hospitality says “David Cameron has delivered speeches urging businesses to support local suppliers and producers. The ‘General Well Being’ menu is a reflection of this, created at the request of the party. All the produce was sourced locally from Manchester suppliers including the bread used for sandwiches which came from a local third generation Manchester baker.”
  
  
  
• New Coffee Republic outlet at Bournemouth International Centre - 5.10.2009 - 0:00
  
  Kudos Hospitality opened a brand new Coffee Republic outlet at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on Monday 5th October. The outlet was officially opened by the Mayor Beryl Baxter, Managing Director of the BIC Peter Gunn and Crown Group CEO Charles Beer and Coffee Republic’s Chief Operations Officer David Reynolds.
  
  Peter Gunn commented: “Since the £22m redevelopment in 2005, the number of visitors to entertainment events at the BIC has increased from around 250,000 to 350,000 - 400,000 each year. Plus last year alone, the BIC attracted 62,000 conference delegates and 37,000 exhibition visitors. With the volume of people who come through the doors each year, the new Coffee Republic is a great initiative to cater for their needs.”
  
  The opening of Coffee Republic marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the two brands and completion of the first phase of development at the BIC by Kudos Hospitality. It will provide the immediate surrounding area with its first coffee shop and an alternative option to the neighbouring hotels.
  
  Coffee Republic at the BIC will generally be open from 8am – 6pm. When concerts, conferences and exhibitions take place this will be extended. It can seat 80 people inside with a further 50 outside on the decking. It is wi-fi enabled allowing delegates and the public to work, and will serve the full range of coffees, teas and herbal infusions. The food range will include different paninis, muffins, biscuits and croissants.
  
  
  
• Michelin inspired hospitality arrives at BIC and Pavilion - 5.6.2009 - 0:00
  
  Kudos Hospitality, the new provider of catering and hospitality at the Bournemouth International Centre and the Pavilion under the ‘BIC Hospitality’ and ‘Pavilion Hospitality’ brands, showcased its menus on Thursday 4th June to select members of the press and local businesses.
  
  The lunch was created by Allen Townsend the new head chef of the BIC and Pavilion together with Executive Head Chef Larry Serra and two Michelin starred Chef Daniel Clifford of Midsummer House who recently starred on Great British Menu. The lunch was designed to show the new high standard of hospitality that can now be enjoyed at both venues.
  
  Terry Wright of Kudos Hospitality said ‘Kudos Hospitality is known for its passion and service and we’re delighted that we can bring some magic back to the BIC and Pavilion. We also have some exciting plans ahead of us that will open up both venues to the wider community.’
  
  The future plans Kudos Hospitality has for the BIC include the introduction of ‘fast pour’ lager taps in the bar areas to ensure that customers are served as quickly and efficiently as possible during concerts and entertainment events. Plus there will be a new show bar area, a new themed pub bar and an Ice Cream Parlour selling New Forest Ice Cream.
  
  Peter Gunn, Managing Director of the BIC and Pavilion said: “2009 is a special year for us as we are celebrating the BIC’s 25th Birthday and the Pavilion’s 80th Anniversary. The exciting developments we have planned for the venues in terms of our catering and hospitality offering are the icing on the cake.”