Michelin Guide 2017: The 15 new Bib Gourmand restaurants in London October 7, 2016 The UK’s Michelin Guide 2017 has been unveiled, and there’s new addition to the accolades handed out to restaurants with exceptional cuisine. Bib Gourmands are given to less formal restaurants offering exceptional good food at moderate prices. Restaurants which achieve this special honour are not required to offer the same level of service as those [...]
People are buying fewer diamonds now it’s summer, according to De Beers June 28, 2016 Diamonds have lost some of their sparkle to customers as the annual sales dry spell during the summer months gets underway. De Beers announced today that sales in the fifth "cycle" of 2016 reached $560m, down from $636m during the fourth cycle. However, the diamond giant has assured this is in line with typical seasonal demand, [...]
Investec prepares for a summer of high society sports, being named sponsor of Chatsworth House one week before the Epsom Derby May 25, 2016 Staff at Investec are set to look well-groomed all summer long. With the Investec-sponsored Epsom Derby just one week away, the financial firm's wealth management arm has just become the newest sponsor of Chatsworth House. The deal, which will run to 2019, will see Investec Wealth & Investment help arrange a number of events at Chatsworth, not least its annual charity clay [...]
Chappell took an early “hardship” salary and treated BHS’ money as his own, says former BHS chief executive Darren Topp June 23, 2016 Former BHS chief executive Darren Topp accused Dominic Chappell of treating BHS' money as his own, taking his salary early as a "hardship payment", evidence released by MPs today shows. In a letter to MPs on 21 June, Topp lists occasions when Chappell tried to take the company's money, saying that three-time bankrupt Chappell tried to buy family holiday flights from [...]
EU referendum: There may have been a record amount of betting on Brexit vote – but is it that impressive? June 23, 2016 The EU referendum has caught the betting world by storm. After the failure of the pollsters at last year's general elections, politics watchers have been broadening their horizons to try to understand who has the edge in the campaign. Of course, the betting markets themselves move in response to opinion polls, but discussions about polling methodology, [...]
RAC says petrol prices below £1 a litre “distant memory” June 4, 2016 The RAC declared the days of sub £1 a litre petrol a "distant memory" as it said prices rose for the third consecutive month in May. The average unleaded pump price rose 2p to 110.59p a litre, while the average diesel forecourt price jumped 2.2p to 110.7p. Average supermarket prices for petrol and diesel increased by two per cent [...]
CommuterClub’s co-founders talk desk dividers and the future of mobility October 24, 2016 We sat opposite each other and, although there was a barrier between us (a physical desk divider) we’d work late into the night and bounce ideas around,” says Petko Plachkov, co-founder of travel payment plan firm CommuterClub. He’s describing working at fintech legend Clive Cowdery’s firm, the Resolution Group, with his co-founder, Imran Gulamhuseinwala. “I joined [...]
Revenues up at Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate Pub Company July 4, 2016 Slug and Lettuce and Yates owner Stonegate Pub Company toasted healthy double-digit revenue growth in its first-half results today. The figures Total revenue across Stonegate's 660 managed pubs and bars was up 12.8 per cent to £342m for the 28 weeks to 10 April, up from £303m in the first half of 2015. Like-for-like revenue increased [...]
MPs have called Mike Ashley to give evidence to the joint select committee on BHS June 9, 2016 It seems MPs just can't get enough of Mike Ashley; the retail tycoon is now being called to give evidence in front of the joint select committee which is looking into the sale of BHS. The boss of Sports Direct responded to the committee saying he will provide written evidence. Ashley admitted this week that [...]
Mother’s Day and Easter fail to bring growth to high street, as March sees “disappointing” start to 2016 continue April 8, 2016 Mother's Day and Easter weren't enough to save a high street sales decline last month. Sales were down one per cent year on year in March after a month of peaks and troughs. March started strongly, partly due to an early Mother's Day, according to BDO's high street tracker, released today. Read more: High street bounces back thanks [...]