TC Restaurant Group’s Post

Are you not entertained? The quality of at-home dining improved dramatically during the pandemic, raising the standard of what guests expect when dining out. Most venues have realised that one way to attract guests is with the promise of entertainment. What many venues *haven’t* nailed is how to do entertainment well, in a manner that doesn’t overpower the dining experience. It is commonplace to experience: ⁃ Poorly configured venues so performances aren’t visible. ⁃ Music so loud you have to shout to be heard ⁃ Confusing performances ⁃ Overly corny acts I'm still not sure anybody has cracked “premium” on the experiential side within a restaurant. When incorporating entertainment into a venue, it is essential to focus on your point of difference and make it the best it can be. Adrian, our new Director of Music & Entertainment, is working on the programme for our new venues.  His creative experience has challenged us to consider elements of the entertainment programme we would never have considered were it not for his expertise I’d be interested to hear of any venues you think have incorporated entertainment perfectly into a restaurant environment. #music #entertainment #hospitality

#Indians in the mass affluent category and above are clearly moving to an #experiential #economy. And it is not only about #music #concerts , annual #holiday or fancy dining-experiences from #michelin star chefs. They expect a good experience even when shopping - be it at a mall or a flagship store. Are you readying your #business to deliver an exceptional #experience? https://lnkd.in/dct8KZFY

Safety Thirst Returns to the City Licensed venues in the Square Mile are being invited to apply for accreditation for the City of London Corporation’s Safety Thirst scheme, which encourages good practice and enhances the safety of the venues’ customers. This year’s scheme has been expanded to include criteria on counter terrorism, drink spiking, women’s safety and sexual harassment, and suicide prevention, all of which are a top priority for the UK’s night-time economy. Invitations for accreditation will be sent to bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and events venues by mid-March and assessments carried out in April, May, and June. On completion of a ‘commended’ or ‘highly commended’ assessment, the venues’ management teams will be invited to attend an awards ceremony at The Mansion House in July, where they are presented with a certificate to display at their venue. The certificate is valid for one calendar year, with businesses encouraged to re-apply for accreditation every year. Accredited venues are eligible for a 30% discount from the City’s late-night levy applicable to all venues with permission to sell alcohol between the hours of midnight and 6am on any day of the week. Launched in 2006 and run in partnership with the City Corporation, City of London Police, and the London Fire Brigade, the Safety Thirst scheme was last run in 2019. It was put on hold during 2020 and 2021 when the COVID pandemic forced hospitality venues to close and remained on hold during 2022 and 2023 to enable City businesses to recover from the devasting financial impacts of the pandemic. Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Licensing Committee, James Tumbridge, said: “My colleagues and I are looking forward to receiving a record number of applications for accreditation for this year’s scheme, which makes a welcome return to the City after a five-year absence caused by the pandemic and its aftermath. “Not only does Safety Thirst underline the importance that the City Corporation puts on safety in the night-time economy for customers and staff, it is an opportunity for licensed venues to get much-deserved credit for their hard work in helping reduce crime, anti-social behaviour, and excessive noise levels.” Alcohol licensing, entertainment, and the night-time economy are flourishing in the City and its hospitality sector is a vital part of the Square Mile’s soft power. Over 140 pubs, café’s, bars, and restaurants offer al fresco seating, boosting the area’s vibrancy with outdoor seating. The City of London Corporation has been working to encourage more footfall into the City through its Destination City programme, which aims to make the Square Mile a world-leading leisure destination for UK and global visitors, workers, and residents to enjoy. Read More:

As we approach the final Bank Holiday of the summer for 2024, it’ll be interesting to see how bars, restaurants and pubs trade. The majority I've spoken to will be hosting live music for at least part of the extended weekend. According to new research released this week by CGA, pubs saw an uptick in trade during July, driven by the Euros. While this is a positive, it also impacted other areas of the industry. In the below MCA Insight article, Karl Chessell highlights that growth should hopefully be seen across all segments over the coming Bank Holiday. I agree with this sentiment while recognising that bars, pubs and restaurants have it in their power to attract customers with great experiences - and music is often top of the list. 🎶 We worked with the team over at CGA by NIQ to uncover the real impact that live music has on the hospitality industry, revealing that £2.4bn in annual revenue is available to the hospitality sector if all licensed venues offered music. So, to all venue operators, I hope you have a tremendous Bank Holiday trade this weekend. GigPig works with thousands of venues nationwide and we’ll be hosting a vast amount of live music in what we expect to be one of the busiest weekends of the summer for gigs. https://lnkd.in/eER3D_NA  

#SolutionsforGroup Thank you to everyone who participated in our latest poll on the challenges of integrating 🎵Live Music into your 🏨 Hotel’s amenity offerings. I’ll start offering one solution per post. Allow me to address the Number One concern: 💰BUDGET: After 3 decades of performing in hotels, I have observed that if success is measured solely upon the increase in Food and Beverage Sales in order to pay for the band, it is rarely justified by management. However, seen as a whole—as a guest experience amenity and a branding boost—there are few long term, cost-effective investments that can help create repeat business.  I estimate that 20% of guests acknowledge us in the positive while we perform in the lobby or in the restaurant/bar area. Given that our weekly rate is less than a two-night stay during the peak season, doesn’t it make sense to hire musicians if it brings back ONE guest who appreciates something more than canned music? All feedback is welcome! Let’s keep finding the right solutions for your property!

I'm aware of 3rd party resellers for sports and music events, but this is the first I've heard about 3rd party platforms reselling restaurant reservations. The article states they are more active in major cities (I guess Cincinnati isn't major....LOL), so I'm curious if you have heard of these platforms. #restaurantmarketing #restaurantindustry https://lnkd.in/giekeGpZ

The late 20th century saw a remarkable intersection of entertainment, dining, and celebrity culture with the birth and evolution of two iconic brands: Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood. Both chains became more than just restaurants; they turned into cultural phenomena, drawing fans of rock music, Hollywood films, and celebrity culture worldwide. This article explores their origins, growth, notable investors, business model shifts, and their journey into the modern era. https://lnkd.in/gfm9XaYt

Mixed Entertainment Food Halls - Yesterday, I shared news about the opening of BoxPark and Blackstock Market in Liverpool. Both sites are exciting and exemplify a growing trend within food halls: mixed entertainment offerings. While the initial wave of UK food halls focused primarily on food, the industry has undergone significant evolution. Nowadays, food halls are incorporating music, entertainment, competitive socialising, and various other activities to enhance their appeal and broaden their reach. In many instances, food halls can fill the void left in our towns and cities by the closure of local music venues and clubs. As Generation Z moves away from traditional clubbing, food and experience-driven food halls present an enticing alternative. From a regional perspective, this development has an intriguing aspect. Having worked on projects across the north and northwest over the past few years, I've observed that audiences in these regions are notably more interested and receptive to entertainment, especially music than in the south. When planning Feast at the Mills, a meanwhile project in Wigan for The Heaton Group, music played a pivotal role in our thinking. The town boasts a rich musical heritage, proven by the success of the "Casino Shed" stage, a homage to the famous Wigan Casino. This aspect will be further expanded upon in the permanent food hall opening next year and later on the reimagining of the historic roller rink that has graced the site for the last forty years. Looking ahead, I predict that in the coming years, the capital will see more mixed-entertainment food halls and venues similar to Freight Island and Blackstock. #foodhalls #mixeduse #entertainment #hospitality #music #regeneration #nextphase

New Post: Tixr Hears London Calling With Expansion to Europe - https://lnkd.in/gjYdpARZ - Tixr, the fast-growing primary ticketing and live event commerce company, today announced the official opening of its London office and strategic expansion into continental Europe. Industry veteran Stephanie Rosa has been appointed to serve as managing director of the London outpost, leading a new handpicked local team to build upon the company’s already robust roster of partners in the region. The move marks the California-based company’s latest international launch, following the expansion of its operations into Canada, announced in March. Tixr’s recent client partnerships in Europe include Space Ibiza, Eden Nightclub in Ibiza, British digital radio station Kisstory, F.A.T. International, RuPaul’s Dragcon, Dreamhack, Uptown Festival, Dublin ComicCon, Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Egg London, E1 Series, Brockwell Live, Aramco Team Series, and London’s popular brewery Signature Brew. Most recently, Tixr partnered with Forbidden Forest Festival which took place earlier this month. Nestled in hundreds of acres of lush forest on the grounds of the stunning Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, Forbidden Forest brings together 20,000 over three nights to celebrate music, nature and dance. Tickets for next year’s fest, the first to be handled under the new Tixr deal, go on sale to the general public later this year. “There’s no modern platform more capable of servicing such a wide array of complex events, and the opportunities in the region are immense,” said Rosa. “The fantastic regional team we’ve built is honoured to partner with iconic sell-out festivals like Forbidden Forest that value design, innovation, and share in our mission to deliver the best fan experience possible, starting with the ticket.” Before relocating to London for her newly created role, Rosa served as Tixr’s director of partnerships and sales operations. She came to Tixr from UK-based Festicket, which was acquired by Lyte in 2022, where she served as vp of sales in North America.  “Each year we set out to deliver extraordinary customer experiences”, said Laura Ball, marketing director at Forbidden Forest Festival. “When we selected Tixr as our trusted ticketing partner for 2025 and beyond, we knew each year we could collaborate to further raise the bar and deliver a best-in-class experience for our Forbidden Forest customers.” Tixr already services events in 10 European countries and exclusively powers more than 500 of the most respected live entertainment brands in 40 countries. Since its inception, Tixr has processed nearly $2 billion in transactions through its highly visual, modern, unified commerce platform built for sales beyond admission tickets. Tixr’s new London office is located at London Bridge.   - #new

Let's be frank for a minute... the ACL food lineup is equally as important as the artist lineup. In between the sets, are you choosing Veracruz All Natural, East Side King, Tiny Pies, or one of the 50 other incredible options? With a lineup this good, we're struggling to see how anyone only chooses just a few. 🥧🌮🍴 #austincitylimits #aclmusicfestival #acl2024 #austinrealestate #austinlocal #findyourden #austinfoodie #atxeats #austinfood #austinrestaurants