M&S sales in surprise lift April 6, 2011 MARKS and Spencer yesterday lifted some of the gloom surrounding the retail sector with a slim sales rise – but the company warned that times will get tougher. The chain – which had been expected to report a sales slump – was given a boost from its food section. Overall its UK like-for-like sales rose [...]
Episode 10: Blood rises on Broadway May 9, 2011 The glass express elevator in the Corry Building descends from the 65th floor at what feels like terminal velocity. I close my eyes and try to breathe slowly. Ordinarily we’d be returning from a fortnight’s skiing at Lake Louise up in the Canadian Rockies at this time of year. But with Emma pregnant and advised [...]
TRAVEL NOTES FOR VALENTINE’S DAY January 24, 2010 Fall in love in New York You and your partner can enjoy some top quality pampering and fabulous food, along with the best of the Big Apple, at New York’s famous slice of Upper East Side luxury, The Carlyle. In the swankiest city on Earth, it doesn’t get swankier than this Art Deco landmark on [...]
Royal wedding to boost struggling UK shop sales March 6, 2011 DESPITE sluggish retail sales growth in February, next month’s bank holidays will provide a spring bounce for the high street, accountancy group BDO said today. Like for like sales were up just 0.3 per cent in February compared to the same time last year, the BDO high street sales tracker found. “With January sales and [...]
VALENTINES ADDING TO OUR TRADE DEFICIT February 13, 2011 THERE are no excuses for disappointing Valentines dates this evening who fail to produce a plush dozen roses: rose deliveries to the UK this year are at record highs. Virgin Atlantic’s cargo division has reported a 40 per cent increase in the volume of flower deliveries to the UK from Kenya, our main supplier of roses, compared to [...]
PRICE OF LOVE RUNS HIGH FOR ST VALENTINE February 7, 2011 WITH heart-strewn cards and lavish bouquets lining the shelves of the City’s shops, it seems even the most business-focused of postcodes can’t escape the romantic distractions of St Valentine’s Day. So it’s lucky that bonus season is in full flow, as the VAT hike and inflation combine to push the expected Valentine spend up from [...]
PRICE OF LOVE RUNS HIGH FOR ST VALENTINE February 7, 2011 WITH heart-strewn cards and lavish bouquets lining the shelves of the City’s shops, it seems even the most business-focused of postcodes can’t escape the romantic distractions of St Valentine’s Day. So it’s lucky that bonus season is in full flow, as the VAT hike and inflation combine to push the expected Valentine spend up from [...]
OUT OF OFFICE January 26, 2011 VALENTINE’S BURLESQUE AT PROUD Proud Cabaret, known for its evenings of seductive glamour, is pulling out the stops for Valentine’s Day. Expect a star line up of performers, with the BBC’s “Queen of Swing” Kai Hoffman as compere and hot young dancers in situ to bewitch with their own 1930s take on the genre. A [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS February 7, 2011 AN EVENING WITH NOBU HIMSELF Nobu Matsuhisa will be hosting three intimate dinners where guests will hear him describe the tradition, design, and creation of his famous cuisine. Guests will not only experience his famous umami dishes with a selection of sake to bring out the subtleties of each dish, but over dinner Nobu will [...]
Get booked in early for a Valentine’s to remember January 19, 2011 RESTAURANTS Sauterelle The cosy bolthole overlooking the inner courtyard of the Royal Exchange (right) is serving up a special Valentine’s menu on the day. Diners will be given a rose cocktail on arrival, followed by a five course meal showcasing head chef Robin Gill’s sophisticated seasonal style. And of course, while you’re there, you can [...]