Still not ready for Valentine’s tonight? February 13, 2012 Staying In & Going Out ENJOY THE PERFECT RESTAURANT MEAL – AT HOME | FROM £35 Get amazing takeaway. The key for this one is to make sure it’s ready when she gets home – you want the table set, the candles lit, the wine out. Chinese isn’t allowed: instead, opt for the very best [...]
Mother’s Day boosts takings at Greene King April 23, 2012 RECENT calendar highlights boosted Greene King as strong sales on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s Day drove business up 4.5 per cent in the quarter. The pub operator said it sold 220,000 meals on Mothering Sunday, a 16 per cent increase on 2011 with wine sales up 18 per cent. Greene King chief [...]
Mother’s Day boosts takings at Greene King April 23, 2012 RECENT calendar highlights boosted Greene King as strong sales on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s Day drove business up 4.5 per cent in the quarter. The pub operator said it sold 220,000 meals on Mothering Sunday, a 16 per cent increase on 2011 with wine sales up 18 per cent. Greene King chief [...]
Clinton’s looming date with death was on the cards May 9, 2012 I’M SURPRISED about Clinton Cards. Not that it has gone into administration, you understand – I’m surprised it lasted so long. It’s a struggling retailer with a gigantic high street footprint (861 stores in the UK, including 188 Birthdays outlets) selling a disposable product with no intrinsic value that you could replace with a free [...]
Clinton’s looming date with death was on the cards May 9, 2012 I’M SURPRISED about Clinton Cards. Not that it has gone into administration, you understand – I’m surprised it lasted so long. It’s a struggling retailer with a gigantic high street footprint (861 stores in the UK, including 188 Birthdays outlets) selling a disposable product with no intrinsic value that you could replace with a free [...]
EPISODE 52 – IN WHICH WE’RE LIKE CALVES TO THE SLAUGHTER April 9, 2012 We’re just off the return flight from Venice. Walking through the terminal, I’m speaking to Noel on the telephone. “Were you good for Maria?” “Yes daddy. Of course I was. But Gwennie…” The call is suddenly interrupted by a flurry of incoming messages. “Noel, I’m going to have to call you back.” “But daddy…” “A [...]
FIT IN THE CITY February 13, 2012 Valentine SOS: Foxy fitness for the 14th Too late to pump it up to impress your Valentine date? No way – this lunchtime you can get buff, glowing and well in the mood for your dinner date. Plump for the fitness facelift. Anything that gets you sweaty and out of breath is good news for [...]
TRAVEL NOTES January 29, 2012 See Ayers Rock by balloon for the first time While Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of Australia’s best known monuments it has previously only been accessible by guided walk or camel. This is all set to change in March when visitors after a new arrangement has been agreed with the local Aboriginal Anangu people to [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK February 12, 2012 THE CRACK Baby, a favourite with Chelsea property developers, isn’t as illegal as it sounds. But still – judging by the 26 vodka and champagne concoctions of the same name a party of 14 socialites got through when they visited Eclipse – the drink is just as addictive as its Class-A namesake. As is the [...]
The good, the bad and the average: the best and worst films to keep you out of the sun this week May 24, 2012 FILM MEN IN BLACK III Cert PG | By Chris Ward *** Men in Black III has a major problem to overcome before the opening credits even roll: it has been a decade since the last instalment – so why exactly does it exist? This time, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are up against [...]