Jimenez in charge as wily Watson rolls back the years July 16, 2009 FIVE-TIME champion Tom Watson rolled back the years with an scintillating opening round 65 to take him to within a shot off the overnight night in the Open Championship. Just two months short of his 60th birthday, the American renewed his love affair with the Turnberry course with five birdies in a bogey-free round to [...]
ESPN scores rights for the Premiership June 22, 2009 DISNEY-owned ESPN yesterday scooped up the rights to show 46 games in next season’s Premier League, which were due to have been shown by ailing broadcaster Setanta. The deal marks the first time a broadcaster based outside of the British Isles has won the rights to air the English Premier League in the UK. Sources [...]
WHAT DOES TIM CLARKE’S DEPARTURE MEAN FOR MITCHELLS & BUTLERS? May 21, 2009 JOHN BEAUMONT SINGERS “The resignation of Tim Clarke may be a bit of a shock to the market initially. He has been very good at guiding the strategy of the company since its demerger. But this does not change our thoughts that the company is well positioned to continue taking market share and is under-valued. [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 2, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES M&B SEEKS TO FEND OFF INVESTOR REBELLIONMitchells & Butlers is prepared to head off a potential rebellion by offering its two largest shareholders board representation. Drummond Hall, M&B chairman, is understood to be in talks with Joe Lewis, the Bahamas-based billionaire, and Elpida, the investment vehicle for Irish horseracing tycoons JP McManus and [...]
Setanta’s non-payment has its rights-holders fretting June 2, 2009 THE Scottish football authorities were yesterday fearing the worst after Setanta, the struggling pay telelvision company, missed a £3m payment and gave no indication when it might be forthcoming. The missed payment has sent shockwaves through the Scottish football establishment which recently signed a lucrative four-year deal with Setanta worth £125m. Last night the chairmen [...]
Heineken takes on debt from Globe Pub division May 28, 2009 DANISH brewer Heineken said yesterday it has acquired discount debt from its UK pub management firm, Globe Pub Company, in a bid to reduce its own debts. The beer-maker acquired a further 55.6 per cent of class A1 notes, representing a face value of £111.2m, issued by Globe, meaning it now owns 85.7 per cent [...]
McGeechan hands Shaw Test chance June 25, 2009 THE BRITISH and Irish Lions face South Africa tomorrow in Pretoria, 4,500 feet above sea level – and head coach Ian McGeechan has told his players to set their expectations just as high. McGeechan’s beefed-up side head into the second Test at Loftus Versfeld trailing 1-0, after being overpowered in last weekend’s 26-21 defeat in [...]
OTHER RELAUNCHED GRAND HOTEL RESTAURANTS June 1, 2009 THE LANDAU AT THE LANGHAMOnce the ballroom of the newly reopened former grand hotel, the Landau offers posh and interesting European haute-cuisine with plenty of fish, and it’s quickly becoming a hot spot for afternoon tea. 1c Portland Place, Regent Street, GB W1B 1JA, tel: 020 7636 1000 HELEN DARROZE AT THE CONNAUGHTThe hotel – [...]
Home Retail sales enjoy a sunshine lift June 11, 2009 HOME Retail Group yesterday brought some cheer to the market after its Homebase chain reported its first positive sales figures in two years. The DIY chain yesterday posted a 3.8 per cent increase in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 30 May, beating market expectations. Homebase said total sales, which include those from new [...]
Home Retail sales enjoy a sunshine lift June 11, 2009 HOME Retail Group yesterday brought some cheer to the market after its Homebase chain reported its first positive sales figures in two years. The DIY chain yesterday posted a 3.8 per cent increase in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 30 May, beating market expectations. Homebase said total sales, which include those from new [...]