Latest news with #familydining


BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Do you think child-free places should be banned?
Have you and your family ever wanted to eat out or go to a public place but you haven't been able to due to "no children" rules? Well, France is facing a debate about this, as a group of politicians are hoping to bring in a ban on all adult-only holiday spots, including hotels, campsites and restaurants. They are hoping to make it possible to take legal action against places that ban children, saying it discriminates against a whole section of everyday society - of the ban say not everywhere is child-friendly and adults should be allowed to have some places to proposal is a long way from becoming a law, but if it were to go ahead, France would become one of the world's first places to bring in a total ban like this. Do you think it is fair to ban children from certain facilities? Or should adults be allowed to have some child-free spaces if they want them? Have your say in our vote and leave us a comment below too. Views for and against Some adults have spoken out against this idea in France, as they want to be able to choose whether to be around children or not. For example, some adults say they want to feel relaxed to read a book and swim in an adult-only pool, rather than the possibility of having noisy children around when they are on holiday. Some restaurants have spoken out of one too many bad experiences with young people creating lots of mess and noise. Nettie's House of Spaghetti in Tinton Falls, USA, said on their Instagram account that they "love kids" but due to "noise levels, lack of space for high chairs and cleaning up mess", they are no longer able to accommodate also said they wanted to take control of the situation after they were overwhelmed with "kids running around the restaurant".But people on the other side of the debate have said that families should be able to go anywhere and take their kids along too, as they are also members of society. They argue children usually misbehave when their needs aren't being looked after properly, and that it's important for children to learn how to behave properly in shared areas and to learn how to be considerate of other grown ups. And to do that they need to be able to access them.


Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major chain launches 'kids eat for FREE' offer over the May half-term - but there's a catch
Premier Inn has launched an exciting 'Kids Eat Free' offer to celebrate the May half-term. The major hotel chain already runs a 'Kids Eat Breakfast Free' year round but it's extending the offer between May 23 and June 1. Over the half-term holiday, kids will be able to eat for free at lunch and dinner as well. And you don't have to be a guest to take advantage of the deal. While the deal is an attractive one for parents looking to feed their kids for less this holiday, there are a couple of terms and conditions to be aware of. Up to two children (aged 15 and under) can have one free main from the kids' menu per adult. The adult will need to order a main course from Premier Inn's core evening menu and a drink priced at £1.99 to qualify for the offer. The 'Kids Eat Free' at lunch and dinner offer is valid at selected Premier Inn restaurants, a list of which can be found on the hotel brand's website. A Premier Inn spokesperson says: 'Whether you're a guest or not, this offer is sure to help your money go further this half-term holiday and bank holiday weekend, and with up to two children eating for free with every adult ordering a main course of full breakfast, Premier Inn hopes that families of all shapes and sizes can enjoy this great value deal. 'Premier Inn have designed its kids' menu with the help of its clever nutritionist, always 100 per cent responsibly sourced fish, 100 per cent chicken breast and 100 per cent UK and Irish beef, designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing children.' Premier Inn's Kids' menu includes dishes such as 10-Veg Tomato Pasta and Oven Baked Poppin' Chicken. The hotel brand recommends that people call their chosen location prior to visiting to confirm the opening times. Still looking to get away on a holiday over this half-term? Find out how to save money on a last-minute flight.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coast restaurant appears closed months after switch away from popular steakhouse
He had such high hopes for the family-style restaurant he opened at Ocean Springs in January, in the building where he owned and operated Kenny Ward's Steakhouse for many years. Now the building at 224 Bienville Blvd. has 'for lease' on the sign, his Facebook page was taken down and Kenny Ward's dream seems to have faded. His 38 Degrees restaurant appears closed five months after opening. Ward wasn't available for comment Tuesday afternoon, but he talked a lot about his dream restaurant in late 2024. 'I always wanted to do this concept,' he said after he closed the steakhouse and prepared to open 38 Degrees. The new restaurant was named for a process he uses to brine meat to make it more flavorful. Prime beef prices were part of his decision, he said, but Ward had been refining recipes and 'practicing' for eight years for his new place. It was now or never, he said. Pictured is one of the dining areas at 38 Degrees Family Style Dining in Ocean Springs on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Ocean Springs has more than 100 restaurants and competition is tough. His restaurant was something different, kind of old fashioned and what people claimed they wanted, he said. It was all-you-can-eat, but more like grandma's table than a buffet. Pick from among seven varieties of meat or seafood, such as his fried catfish and chicken fried ribeye. Your choice of sides were brought to the table in refillable bowls. The southern fried chicken and grilled shrimp spread is pictured at 38 Degrees Family Dining in Ocean Springs. On opening day in January, the crowd was very large, he said, and most people posted positive comments on social media. Before they tried 38 Degrees, many people who saw the new name posted outside Kenny Ward's fine-dining restaurant declared him crazy for switching his successful steakhouse to family-style dining, he said. He had envisioned a brisk take-out service, with meals packaged to stack and take home for the nights 'Mama's not cooking and neither is Daddy,' was his concept. A screenshot of the 38 Degrees listing on Google says the Ocean Springs restaurant is permanently closed. Ward had years of experience in the restaurant and food industry, learning to cook at White Pillars in Biloxi while he was in high school. He was the chief operating officer of Dairy Queen, he said, a vice president of Pepsi and opened Taco Bells across the area. He operated his steakhouse for about 20 years in Ocean Springs, first on Government Street and later on Bienville Boulevard.


Associated Press
06-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Huddle House Announces A Brand Renovation for A New Generation of Guests
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2025-- Huddle House , the iconic family dining brand known for its freshly prepared, home-style dishes served All Day, Your Way for 60 years, is undergoing a transformative evolution to better serve its loyal guests. Under the leadership of CEO James O'Reilly and Chief Operating Officer Blain Shortreed, the brand unveils a reimagined brand identity and positioning based on months of guest research, new menu innovation improving on the quality of core products for current guests and developing new products for new guests, and a trio of new restaurant prototypes to accelerate the brand's geographic expansion. 'As we celebrate 60 incredible years, we lay the foundation for the next 60 in a big way, stepping confidently into our evolution,' said James O'Reilly , CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Huddle House. 'This new chapter, driven by extensive customer research and a refined brand positioning, reflects our commitment to meet the needs of today's diners while staying true to our core values.' Huddle House introduces a redesigned logo that modernizes the iconic 'HH"—a nod to the signature imprint on every fresh-cooked waffle—blending 60 years of heritage with a contemporary edge. Paired with the new tagline, 'Bring it In,' Huddle House reaffirms its role as a welcoming hometown gathering spot, delivering high-quality food, personalized service, and unbeatable value. This transformation is a full reimagining of the guest experience, designed to elevate what current fans love while also appealing to a broader, younger audience. Transforming the Huddle House Experience: New Restaurant Designs At the heart of Huddle House's transformation is a bold redesign of Huddle House restaurants, crafted to maintain the brand's welcoming heart while attracting new and younger guests. Studio 11 Design leads this redesign, balancing Huddle House's timelessness with contemporary dining expectations. In addition to a totally redesigned and improved new small-town mainline restaurant, Huddle House has also developed two new restaurant concepts designed to accelerate growth in urban, suburban, and non-traditional settings. The QSR conversion format focuses on drive-thru and walk-up ordering, catering to busy urban and suburban areas with a menu packed with Huddle House classics and portable options like sandwiches, burgers, burritos, and waffle tacos. This prototype will be piloted with a select group of franchisees. The Huddle House Non-traditional format targets high-traffic locations such as airports, colleges, malls, and travel centers. The Non-traditional concept is designed for convenience, with portable, off-premise dining options in a smaller space of 500 to 1,200 square feet. 'The new store design will serve as the blueprint for our future locations, while the Non-traditional model allows us to enter new markets with a smaller footprint and reduced operational costs, all while meeting the demand for faster service,' said Blain Shortreed , President for Huddle House. 'We want to be able to plug and play beyond the Southeast and target a wider range of communities.' Menu Innovation After 18 months of rigorous development and testing, Huddle House is currently rolling out significant upgrades to its core offerings—a key pillar of its transformation. Guests can now enjoy the new soft and buttery Southern Country Biscuit, all-new crispy and juicy Chicken Tenders, the new Huddle Smashburger, a reimagined Huddle burger with a soft buttery potato bun, and all-new crispy crinkle fries. These enhancements, part of the brand's 'Innovate - Elevate - Communicate' strategy, underscore Huddle House's commitment to quality and flavor. Leading the development and communication of these initiatives is Huddle House's new VP of Marketing, Stephanie Mattingly, who will spearhead the marketing of these and future menu innovations. 'We're thrilled to share these improvements to our core products with our guests,' Mattingly says. 'It's about celebrating what makes Huddle House special while inviting everyone to taste the exciting future of our brand.' Guests and Data Agree: Huddle House Leads the Pack The proof is in the numbers. Full-year 2024 Blackbox guest feedback data reveals Huddle House outperformed all peer competitors in the family dining category on overall guest sentiment. This is a testament to the brand's focus on exceptional experiences and strong franchise partnerships. Fresh off a record-breaking year with the highest number of new franchise development signings in its history, Huddle House is riding this wave of guest love to accelerate its growth trajectory into 2025 and beyond. 'We're elevating every touchpoint for our guests, from the food on their plates to the way they feel when they walk through our doors,' says Blain Shortreed, Chief Operating Officer of Ascent Hospitality Management, who oversees operations for both Huddle House and Perkins. 'Our company and franchise teams have worked tirelessly to make Huddle House a standout in family dining, and these results show we're delivering.' To learn more about franchising opportunities with Huddle House, visit . For locations and menu, visit or follow them on social @HuddleHouse. About Huddle House All Day, Your Way. Huddle House shares that spirit of hometown togetherness, creating that warm atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Huddle House has been serving freshly prepared, quality home-style food since 1964. We're the champions of enjoying big without spending big because at Huddle House, flavor, fun, and value always go hand in hand. Huddle House Inc. is an Ascent Hospitality Management brand with nearly 300 locations open or in development. It has been named one of the Top 200+ Franchises by Franchise Times , ranked among Thrillist's list of ' Regional Breakfast Chains that Should Be Everywhere ,' and named a Top 500 Chain Restaurant by Restaurant Business . Facebook: Instagram: View source version on CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT: Brianne Barbakoff [email protected] 305.631.2283 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL RESTAURANT/BAR FOOD/BEVERAGE SOURCE: Perkins American Food Co. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/06/2025 08:34 AM/DISC: 05/06/2025 08:33 AM