Focus on Victoria: Once just a train station, this central postcode now has an identity all its own October 25, 2019 There was a time not so long ago when Victoria was a train station, not an area. You could be ‘near Victoria station,’ but not ‘in Victoria’. Happily, it’s now made the transition thanks to an explosion of new bars, shops, offices and restaurants which have put the district firmly on the map. “For many [...]
Botanical drinks startup with top City backers set for crowdfunding May 14, 2019 A botanical drinks startup which counts high-profile City veterans and celebrities among its backers is set to launch a £1m crowdfunding in its latest expansion drive. David Spencer-Percival, the serial entrepreneur who runs No.1 Rosemary Water, told City A.M. he is looking to lure in fresh capital amid a global product drive and the launch of [...]
Pub group Hawthorn Leisure to attract interest from competitors as private equity owner calls closing time on investment March 4, 2018 The 300-strong UK pub group Hawthorn Leisure is up for sale, according to industry sources, as its private equity owner looks to pass the group on. The young pub group, which was founded in 2014 by former Merrill Lynch banker Noah Bulkin with funding from Avenue Capital, is in the early stages of a process [...]
Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds Immersive Experience: CGI meets theatre in unique show June 28, 2019 Ever wondered what it would be like to live through the tortuous humiliation of mankind by aliens with minds immeasurably superior to ours? Ever wanted to watch your peers get tossed around like flaccid ragdolls by the snaking tendrils of Martian machinery? Of course you have! Well, my friend, you are in luck. Jeff Wayne’s [...]
Rory walks on with a campaign to spice up the race for London mayor October 11, 2019 Watch out London, your favourite selfie-taking, tie-rejecting, accidental-opium-smoking, politician/rambler is coming to a Tube station near you. Yes, it’s Rory Stewart time once again. For those of us who were mesmerised by the former international development secretary’s short-lived sensation of a campaign to be Tory leader, now we get to enjoy the sequel, after Rory [...]
Seeking solace in the Square Mile: Rise in stressed City workers turning to churches April 22, 2019 Stressed City workers have always sought a variety of antidotes to their fast-paced life – ranging from the gym to the pub – but many are now turning to a more traditional form of relaxation: finding a moment of peace in the City’s historic Wren churches. Church authorities are welcoming a distinct rise in attendance [...]
Like-for-like sales slip at The Restaurant Group despite Wagamama boost after ‘pivotal year’ January 24, 2019 Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) posted a dip in like-for-like sales during 2018, but said that it has been seeing positive growth since the World Cup as its pubs continued to outperform the sector. The group also remained upbeat on its recent £500m acquisition of Wagamama, saying that the noodle chain "continued to trade well over [...]
The great British sell-off: Three ways for investors to profit September 13, 2019 As the final act of the Brexit saga approaches, investors are still locked in a state of perpetual uncertainty. We can’t know what will unfold, but what business is continually telling the government is how difficult it is to plan in the current environment. Brexit is the moment when we will receive some clarity, for [...]
How Thriva is putting its customers’ health to the test December 2, 2019 Standing in the middle of a street in Farringdon, it’s hard to know if I’m in the right place. After scanning the list of businesses by the side of the door, I finally spot the name Thriva, and enter a reception-less building where I’m meeting co-founder and chief executive Hamish Grierson. Thriva specialises in blood [...]
Fuller’s preparations for Christmas eat into profits, despite revenue receiving a World Cup boost November 23, 2018 Profits at pub chain Fuller's Brewery have fallen as the firm attempted to brace itself for the Christmas period, despite rising revenues after a long summer and England's performance in the World Cup. Its share price fell more than 1.2 per cent as markets opened this morning. The figures Revenue for the six months to [...]