Restaurant Group plots more site openings as profits jump February 29, 2012 THE RESTAURANT Group, the owner of the Garfunkel’s and Frankie & Benny’s chains, said another 600 jobs were in the pipeline for this year after boasting of another “corking” set of full-year results for 2011. Revenue increased to £487m in the year to January, while like-for-like sales were up 3.25 per cent. Pre-tax profit was [...]
Live like a true king in Kingston July 8, 2012 THE SUN descends over Kingston town, casting a warm blood orange-hued glow over the city and dramatic dock beyond. At street level music systems crank out raga, cars beep, locals chat animatedly by beer shacks and jerk chicken stands as our car weaves masterfully through the throng of traffic. “Rush hour,” explains our driver, handing [...]
And now…auf wiedersehen March 26, 2012 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT ANDREW CONNOR THIS will be my last column for City A.M. I’d like to thank you all for reading over the last eight months. My wife and I have recently had our first child and we’d like him to spend some time with his German relatives, so I [...]
And now…auf wiedersehen March 26, 2012 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT ANDREW CONNOR THIS will be my last column for City A.M. I’d like to thank you all for reading over the last eight months. My wife and I have recently had our first child and we’d like him to spend some time with his German relatives, so I [...]
Luxury hotel in the City given the go-ahead April 2, 2012 SINGAPORE’S KOP Group yesterday won approval to convert 10 Trinity Square, a listed landmark overlooking London’s Tower Hill, into a luxury boutique hotel. KOP said in a statement yesterday that City of London had approved plans to turn the building – which was originally home to the Port of London Authority’s headquarters – into a [...]
Chakra: good but not great March 19, 2012 157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3LF Tel: 020 7240 2078 FOOD *** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE ** Cost per person without wine: £50 WE hate it when our friends become successful,” lamented Morrissey back in 1992. “And if they’re Northern, that makes it even worse.” I have to disagree with the last part. In Birmingham, Manchester [...]
Chakra: good but not great March 19, 2012 157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3LF Tel: 020 7240 2078 FOOD *** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE ** Cost per person without wine: £50 WE hate it when our friends become successful,” lamented Morrissey back in 1992. “And if they’re Northern, that makes it even worse.” I have to disagree with the last part. In Birmingham, Manchester [...]
CRASH PADS May 24, 2012 For the City’s movers and shakers, it’s the million pound question: do you live in the town centre and save yourself hours of tedious, stressful commuting, safe in the knowledge that you own property in one of the world’s cultural hubs? Or, do you move to the commuter belt, get yourself a bigger house with [...]
London’s developers have a prime role in ensuring its future success May 28, 2012 IF LONDON is to retain its status as a global capital for business in the face of technological revolution and the rise of mega cities in the South and East of the globe, it is vital for property developers to respond to changing business needs. This is not just building new offices that are well [...]
Ex-slickers cooking up a storm May 13, 2012 Poncho 8 FOUNDERS Nick Troen (formerly a consultant at KPMG); Frank Yeung (formerly a trader at Goldman Sachs); Nick Birkett (formerly an investment analyst at BlackRock). BUSINESS The first Poncho 8 in Spitalfields opened in September 2009 with the aim of being the first of a fast-casual Mexican chain. www.poncho8.com WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE [...]