Can the Tories reclaim Britain’s towns again? The Red Wall vote is riding on it August 1, 2023 If the Conservatives want to win the Red Wall, they need to fall back in love with towns.
All Bar One owner toasts rising revenues as cost pressures start to ease July 27, 2023 Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) share price soared over five per cent this morning, as the pub and restaurant chain revealed a 9.7 per cent rise in revenues in the third quarter. The All Bar One owner was bolstered by a record breaking Fathers Day in June, with like-for-like sales in food and drink during the [...]
Cities are ecosystems and we need to constantly refresh them July 19, 2023 Oxford Street is, despite the fact that most Londoners venture their only under the most extreme of Christmas present pressures, a literal shop window for the capital. That it has been recently taken over by garish American candy stores and knock-off vape shops is, therefore, less than ideal. The steps Westminster Council are taking, then, [...]
California holidays: Why Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara make the perfect road trip July 17, 2023 There’s more to California than Los Angeles and San Francisco – try Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara, says Richard Franks America is the land of the road trip, and its Pacific Highway is up there with its most iconic. Hugging some 656 miles of rugged Californian coast between San Francisco and San Diego, the [...]
Could living in the City of London become popular? May 20, 2023 The race is heating up for the smartest City of London living – Adam Bloodworth looks at the competition Crypts, former gladiatorial jousting grounds, dozens of gorgeous old pubs and even more shiny glass buildings: the City of London is an under-visited district rich with cultural things to do. We should frankly all spend more [...]
All Bar One owner still feeling the pinch from inflation May 17, 2023 Mitchells and Butlers, the UK’s largest listed pub group, saw a drop in profits this morning, but said that its cost outlook was improving amid ongoing inflationary pressure. The All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner made £100m in adjusted operating profit for the half year ending on April 8, down from £120m a year [...]
Forget the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race: Here’s the Wine Race March 22, 2023 The Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge has been a tradition since 1829 when two friends challenged each other to a race on Henley-on-Thames. But as Oxbridge’s sporting elite works up a sweat through 4.2 miles of hard rowing, I shall be enjoying the Oxford vs Cambridge of wine. Rooting for Oxford are Stephen and [...]
All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers complains of ‘significant uncertainty’ over energy bills next year December 7, 2022 Mitchells & Butlers has said “significant uncertainty” remains over the heftiness of its energy bill next year, as pub bosses have called for more financial aid. The All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner said its trading environment “remains very challenging,” as cost inflation headwinds were expected to be as much as 12 per cent [...]
Nine pub chiefs plead with Mick Lynch to call off strikes and avert ‘devastating’ impact November 25, 2022 The chief executives of nine major pub and bar chains have written to rail union boss Mick Lynch pleading with him to call off strikes and to not unleash a “devastating” impact hospitality. The heads of Fuller’s, Young’s, Drake & Morgan and the City Pub Company were among those appealing to the RMT leader today. [...]
Mitchells & Butlers sounds alarm over soaring energy costs September 29, 2022 Pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers sounded the alarm over soaring inflation today as it reported a dip in sales in the year to September.