Cider fizzes to three-year high as sales hit £1bn September 14, 2017 A resurgence in the popularity of cider has boosted sales to a level not seen since 2014. In the year to 15 July, cider sales rose 5.5 per cent to just over £1bn, according to measurement company Nielsen. The boom was partly attributed to unseasonably warm weather. Sales between the middle of May and July [...]
Panic at the disco? Nightclubs are struggling to compete with bars and pubs August 8, 2016 The party could be winding down in the UK's nightclub scene, as revenues in the top 100 nightclubs have fallen nine per cent in the last year. A lack of access to funding and increased competition has left clubs struggling to compete with late-night bars and pubs, according to commercial lender Ortus Secured Finance. Turnover [...]
Irvine Welsh interview: Growing old disgracefully May 3, 2018 The image of a former enfant terrible growing up, moving to a big house by the ocean and living a life of manicured leisure is hardly novel. Even so, hearing Irvine Welsh – former heroin addict, guitarist with punk band The Pubic Lice, and author of Trainspotting – talk about his Miami pilates regime is [...]
Seaside pubs and managed estate give Kent-based group Shepherd Neame something to toast September 21, 2016 Shepherd Neame was raising a toast to its managed pubs and seaside pub sales this morning, as the group posted "record" annual sales and boosted trading at its coastal pubs over the summer. The figures Turnover at the pub group, which is also the UK's oldest brewer, grew by 1.2 per cent to £139.9m in [...]
Revolution Bars (RBG) share price dips as Deltic muscles in on Stonegate’s Vodka Revs bid with new offer October 5, 2017 Nightclub operator Deltic has put the brakes on an agreed deal between Revolution Bars and Slug and Lettuce owner Stonegate Pub Company, with its own all-share proposal. Shares in Revolution were down two per cent at the time of writing. Students’ favourite Revolution has already agreed to a £101.5m takeover offer made by Stonegate, but [...]
David Lloyd investor ICG Enterprise Trust makes record proceeds and outperforms October 9, 2017 Listed private equity fund the ICG Enterprise Trust has announced it generated record proceeds in the first half of this year, receiving £117m from the sale of various investments. The trust, which invests in other private equity funds as well as making its own investments alongside funds, increased the underlying value of its portfolio to [...]
Greene King warns that Brexit could hurt pub industry after strong summer September 9, 2016 The Euro 2016 football championship and sunny summer weather helped pub group Greene King enjoy a "strong start to the year", but the company said it is preparing for tougher trading conditions as a result of the recent Brexit vote. Shares in the company were down 3.8 per cent in early trading. The firm reported 1.7 [...]
Brexit: 23 answers to investors’ questions October 16, 2018 The UK’s scheduled departure from the EU is fast approaching. Many observers are hopeful for an orderly withdrawal. But plenty of potential pitfalls between now and Brexit-day which could result in a chaotic divorce. The only near-certainty at present is that the UK will cease to be a full member of the EU on 29 [...]
Quit doublethinking and ask the tough questions about the NHS January 11, 2018 George Orwell created the concept of doublethink in 1984 to describe a state of brainwashing so profound that it is possible to believe two mutually contradictory opinions at the same time. We have reached this point with the NHS. Ask people whether the NHS needs more money, and the answer will be as quick as [...]
Power to the people: Meet the P2P lender that uses a centuries-old way of lending September 21, 2017 Think back to 2001 when the Foot and Mouth epidemic raged across the UK. The outbreak led to the culling of thousands of animals, not to mention the loss of billions of pounds. It certainly took its toll on agricultural, leisure and tourism sectors over the years, and many needed funds to revitalise their business. [...]