Hello and welcome...

… to the latest issue of Eat, which has a distinctly spring-like feel to it!

I love this time of year as nature springs back to life, the days start to get longer, bringing with them an optimism for the busy months ahead. And we have the first bundle of key seasonal occasions to enjoy and prepare for now.

First up is Mother’s Day and while not everyone chooses to celebrate, for those that do we have ideas to make it a memorable day for customers and a profitable one for operators – find out more on pages 12-14.

The big one is, of course, Easter and we look at ways every type of venue can entice customers and increase their spend over the bumper holiday weekend. With the prospect of four days of peak trading, it’s crucial to maximise every opportunity Easter provides – read how on pages 16-19.

And as we emerge from winter hibernation, there’s a new type of customer to welcome through your door… it’s furry and has four legs! Flick to pages 24-25, where we reveal all.

JESS DOUGLAS, DIRECTOR, CONFEX LTD