SECRET RESTAURATEUR Forget the Vat rate — the Restaurants Association of Ireland should have a laser focus on staffingRepresentative body for the sector needs to rethink its strategy given the thousands of vacancies across the country
The Secret Restaurateur: “In situations like these, there is often a feeling of helplessness”This month, our industry insider is reflecting on the sector’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
The secret restaurateur: I found a talented chef I hired sleeping in a shed at the back of the restaurantWithout access to appropriate housing it is difficult to perform well at your job, to manage stress and stay healthy and to fulfil your personal life goals
The Secret Restaurateur: How Amazon has become an unlikely threat to staff retention The hospitality industry is struggling to hold onto staff against a myriad of challenges — and now the tech giant is offering pay and bonuses which will tempt many workers to its Dublin operation
The Secret RestaurateurThis month, our industry insider ponders the reasons why some venues aren’t complying with Covid regulations
The Secret Restaurateur: ‘Our industry seems to be on a mission to destroy its image’ The message reaching the public is that we blame workers for our woes, with the subtext that some of them are social welfare cheats
The Secret Restaurateur on why the PUP is not the problemThis month, our industry insider is exasperated by the narrative around the pandemic unemployment payment
The Secret Restaurateur on a sudden outbreak of virtue-signallingThis month, our industry insider suspects that some voluntary closures are a convenient means of covering up the fact that restaurants don’t have enough staff to reopen
The Secret Restaurateur on diners’ pet hatesThis month, our industry insider turns the table on themselves and their peers as they ponder what might be irritating their customers
The Secret Restaurateur on the downsides of tipping culture This month, our undercover owner wants us to think about the damage tipping culture is doing to the restaurant sector
The Secret Restaurateur: We are clearly past the stage where full closures are justifiedThis month, our business owner is seeking direction on the plan to reopen
The Secret RestaurateurThis month, our writer explores food writing and restaurant reviews from the industry’s perspective
The Secret Restaurateur on life after lockdownThis month, our anonymous business owner ponders what’s in store for the restaurant trade once restrictions are eventually lifted
The Secret Restaurateur takes on the insurance industry This month, our undercover restaurateur examines the ongoing insurance issues that small business owners around the country are facing in the wake of Covid-19
The Secret Restaurateur: a very tricky ChristmasThis month, our undercover business owner reflects on a Christmas season that was not all comfort and joy
The Secret RestaurateurEach month, our anonymous restaurant owner lifts the lid on life in the hospitality business. Today, they write about a Christmas full of uncertainty and stress
