Don’t ruin Christmas by bringing Brexit to the dinner table December 21, 2018 The build up to Christmas has almost reached its agonising conclusion. Since November, when the first few flinching bars of Slade seeped from the radio, we’ve crawled through endless reels of TV adverts and Christmas lights. It’s nearly over, though; the bonus has been frittered on tat for loathed relatives, the out-of-office message is on, [...]
The Weekly Grill: Mark Lloyd of Notting Hill restaurant Pomona’s on his best ever meal and his gran’s jam collection November 14, 2018 Who are you and what do you do? I am a cook who loves to travel, write, learn the ‘old ways’, forage for wild food and spend as much time outdoors as possible. I’m also the new executive chef at Pomona’s, a neighbourhood restaurant in Notting Hill. Tell us about your new menu It’s all [...]
If Theresa May’s withdrawal deal passes, it will haunt the Tories forever March 21, 2019 Thank you John Bercow. I’m sure that the speaker had his own reasons for announcing that Theresa May cannot just keep bringing back the same motion to parliament so she can browbeat, blackmail and bribe her backbench MPs into supporting the abomination that is her withdrawal agreement. I’m sure he is hoping that, in whittling [...]
How to eat well during a pandemic, from pre-mixed cocktails to Michelin home delivery November 11, 2020 Another endless week approaches its inglorious mid-season finale. But what do we have to look forward to in the barren cultural landscape of November 2020? Well, restaurants may be closed but many canny entrepreneurs have turned their empty kitchens into home delivery hubs, allowing you to feast like it’s 1999, or indeed 2019. Each week [...]
Restaurants and pubs will be the “future of the high street” in London December 16, 2018 Pubs and restaurants could be the “future of the high street” in London, according to industry experts, as new figures revealed a healthy growth in like-for-like sales throughout the sector last month. Sales grew by 2.3 per cent in London pubs and restaurants in November against the same month last year, statistics published by the [...]
Just Eat bumps up earnings guidance though order growth slows November 2, 2016 Warm weather hasn't been a dampener for Just Eat: the online takeaway group bumped up its full-year revenue and earnings guidance on the back of a decent third quarter. The figures Total orders for the third quarter were 33.3m, showing growth of 34 per cent year-on-year (on both a reported and like-for-like basis). UK orders [...]
Horrible bosses: How retailers can clean up their image March 7, 2019 It seems like a case of “another day, another scandal” in the retail industry at the moment. This time it’s Ted Baker founder and CEO, Ray Kelvin, who has been accused of “forced hugging”. While I can’t comment on the innocence (or otherwise) of the shamed chief, he joins a growing list of alleged wrong [...]
The Weekly Grill: Rochelle Canteen restaurateur Margot Henderson tells us about the first meal her husband Fergus cooked for her and her love of snails December 20, 2018 Who are you and what do you do? I am a wife to my darling Fergus Henderson, mother to three lovely young adults, a food lover and have made restaurants my life. I love to cook and eat and gather people together. My business partner Melanie and I have had restaurants for 24 years, including [...]
Weapon of choice: How nutrition brand Grenade has exploded into the market November 12, 2018 Grenade is the kind of brand that just appears out of nowhere – you blink and suddenly the products are a staple stock in shops around the country. For those who have somehow missed the craze, Grenade is a food company specialising in healthy snacks – and now you’ve heard the name, you’ll probably start [...]
China is proving a tough market for western brands – here’s the common mistakes that companies keep making April 12, 2019 Last week, the International Monetary Fund upgraded its 2019 growth forecast for the Chinese economy to 6.3 per cent, up from 6.2 per cent. For comparison, the UK economy is only expected to grow 1.2 per cent this year. It’s worth noting these figures, because they highlight why many brands in the UK and elsewhere [...]