Restaurant review: Second time lucky for Kensington’s Zaika? March 31, 2015 Zaika has a pleasingly convoluted history. Pay attention, now. It opened in 1999 under the auspices of chef Vineet Bhati and two years later won a Michelin star – the first time an Indian restaurant had received the accolade (two did that year). It held onto the star for four years, during which time it moved [...]
Saga nudges past issue price on its first day May 29, 2014 Over-50s insurance-to-holiday provider Saga yesterday joined a small band of newly floated firms trading above their issuance stock price, as it began trading in London. The group, which was listed on the stock market at 185p, rose to 188p during the day but ended up barely above its initial price, closing at 185.25p. Saga, which [...]
From flights to philanthropy: Ebookers founder Dinesh Dhamija talks luck, Romania and why Britain’s entrepreneurs shouldn’t be too bothered about the General Election April 12, 2015 We often hear that the startup landscape of today lacks funding opportunities: the banks still aren’t lending to small businesses, and despite pockets of cash existing, unless you’ve got the inside track, it’s difficult to know how to access them. But Dinesh Dhamija, the multi-millionaire son of an Indian diplomat who, in 1999, founded online [...]
George Osborne likes to think the unthinkable: Now he should abolish the Budget March 16, 2015 It’s a well-known saying that “turkeys don’t vote for Christmas”. So calling for George Osborne to take to the despatch box tomorrow and announce that he’s abolishing future Budgets – in turn, greatly diminishing the Treasury’s power – might seem a fanciful plea. In truth, it’s about as likely as Ed Miliband offering journalists the [...]
Taxi app Hailo scoops Europas award ahead of today’s bitter Uber strike June 10, 2014 HAILO may be embroiled in today’s anti-Uber taxi strike but there was no place for app-bashing at last night’s Europas Awards, the annual gong-giving bash for Europe’s tech start-ups. The taxi app, which has seen many of its black cab partners revolt against it, picked up the award for Best Transport app but aside from [...]
GrubHub targeting $2bn New York Stock Exchange valuation April 1, 2014 GRUBHUB, the US food delivery service similar to Britain’s Just Eat, has raised its expected share price range up to between $23 and $25 ahead of its listing on Friday. The price range will raise GrubHub about $176m from its initial public offering (IPO), with a top end valuation of around $1.9bn (£1.14bn). GrubHub, backed by [...]
Forging ahead: Raidla Ellex founder Juri Raidla talks Baltic collaboration, grandchildren and the day the world changed June 14, 2015 At the back end of 1991, the Soviet Union began heaving itself out of Estonia – 60 years after it invaded and illegally occupied it, and shoved in a puppet government. For the former Estonian SSR, independence was a watershed moment – a brighter future for a country reclaimed. But this was a country [...]
Selection dilemma for Pochettino as trophy bid looms for Spurs February 25, 2015 TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted the conundrum of juggling resources is preying on his mind as his side prepare to face Fiorentina in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League tie tonight. Spurs have reached the last 16 in the past two seasons but face a potentially difficult assignment having travelled to Florence [...]
Flying off the scale: Fever-Tree’s Tim Warrillow talks malaria, crane strikes and private equity May 25, 2015 We're seeing a renaissance; it’s incredibly exciting. People are better educated and the market is growing and growing – and quite right too, it’s a great English invention.” Tim Warrillow is talking about the gin and tonic – something the co-founder of maverick drinks company Fever-Tree knows a fair bit about. The gin and [...]
Mix it up: There’s something fishy about Nobu’s new Caviar Martini December 16, 2014 Plenty of people like their Martinis with a thimble or less of dry vermouth. I've never understood the pleasure of sipping on a couple of shots of ice-cold vodka or gin, myself. But it's not just vermouth; I'm always liable to get itchy tastebuds without a suitable garnish, which is why one desperate evening, [...]