restaurant spy

A woman has died and 30 people have fallen ill following a Christmas Day lunch at an east London pub.

Della Callagher died two days after eating at the Railway Hotel in Hornchurch.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) began an inquiry after the Clostridium perfringens bacterium was found in samples from the affected diners.

Mrs Callagher's husband John said he took her to hospital on Boxing Day but is angry doctors told her to go home.

A restaurant has apologised after a toddler was served whisky instead of fruit juice at his birthday party.

Sonny Rees drank the 40% proof whisky at his second birthday in a Frankie and Benny's restaurant in Swansea.

His mother Nina Rees only realised the mistake after he had finished the drink.

Sonny, from Pontarddulais in Swansea, was taken to accident and emergency where he was kept under observation by doctors.

Preedee Thai, the acclaimed Thai restaurant in Tunbridge Wells' Camden Road, is closing after six years to start a new non-food venture.

Two men barred from an all-you-can-eat Mongolian restaurant in Brighton say it was because they ate too much food.

George Dalmon and Andy Miles, both 26, have visited Gobi, in Middle Street, twice a month for two years to take advantage of the £12 deal.

But when they each ate five bowls from the buffet at their last visit, Mr Dalmon said they were called "filthy pigs" and barred by the "rude" manager.

The restaurant's owners said they were fed up with their lack of manners.

Batchelors Local Foods, which has been supplying high quality, locally produced foods to restaurateurs, publicans, hoteliers, deli and café owners in Kent and East Sussex since 2010, is now offering a home delivery service.

Rochester-based entrepreneur Jason Batchelor supplies local produce from companies that do not offer delivery themselves and whose products are often only available in local farm shops and at farmers’markets.

Celebrity chef Richard Phillips has told staff to “go celebrate” after his Thackeray’s Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells bagged a coveted Michelin Star.

Gaining a Michelin star is internationally seen as one of the highest commendations in the restaurant industry and Phillips, who is also known for his TV work on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, is rightly delighted.

After the 2013 Michelin Guide was leaked online yesterday, Phillips took to social networking site Twitter to express his feelings.