Heron Tower police raid: The colourful world of Chelsea FC’s forex partner CWM FX March 6, 2015 Only one company in the Heron Tower has alluded to this week’s police raid. We ask who they are… Three days ago police raided offices in the Heron Tower, hauling 13 City workers out of the building and away for questioning. The event has sent shockwaves through the Square Mile; but aside from pub gossip [...]
193,000 Brits had their Christmas dinner in an M&B pub January 30, 2014 Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butler sold an impressive 193,000 meals on Christmas Day, as more people opted to bypass the culinary pressure. Milder weather meant more customers ventured out this year, M&B said. The pub chain, which also owns All Bar One and Browns, sold 6.9m meals in the three weeks to 4 [...]
Secrets of London part II: Our homebuyer’s guide reveals more hidden gems October 3, 2014 In the second part of our series on hidden London, we reveal the secrets and ancient artefacts living side-by-side with some London’s newest and most innovative residential architecture. Here are just some of the treasures future homeowners will be living alongside, including Ernest Hemingway’s favourite riverside pub in London, a tribute to the [...]
Dish that’s orbit of a guilty pleasure February 3, 2015 Daniel McGarey, head chef at Canary Wharf restaurant Plateau, on his Hawking tribute Why did you choose The Theory of Everything as your inspiration for this dish? The Theory of Everything is one of my favourite recent movies and while I am not a scientist, I believe I have a good basic understanding. I find [...]
Don’t believe Labour’s scare tactics: Free trade is good for British workers January 12, 2015 This week, our Prime Minister will meet with Barack Obama at the White House. Margaret Thatcher used to say fondly that she could “smell the freedom” in America. And doesn’t the country’s economy prove it? The US is still a jobs juggernaut: the largest standalone economy on Planet Earth. We owe it to our children [...]
Punch Taverns calls for time August 11, 2014 PUNCH Taverns yesterday confirmed its £2.2bn debt restructuring will launch in the next 10 days, a slight delay to its original Monday deadline as the pub operator looks to conclude certain discussions with stakeholders. Punch, which has over 4,000 pubs, was hit hard by country’s economic downturn in 2008 and unveiled new proposals in June. [...]
Wetherspoons founder hits out at Labour’s pub regulation plan January 21, 2014 THE FOUNDER of the pub chain JD Wetherspoon has hit back, after a Labour minister called for tighter regulations for pub companies. Tim Martin said that although he thinks Punch Taverns and Enterprise have not treated some tenants well, tighter regulation would punish family-run companies who do a good job and try to be fair. “The [...]
Punch Taverns’ £2bn debt deal poised to launch August 10, 2014 TROUBLED pub group Punch Taverns will today announce that the long battle between the firm’s management, shareholders and lenders over Punch’s £2.2bn debt pile will come to an end this week as its restructuring is set to launch in coming days. After years of impasse over how Punch could best secure the future of its [...]
Punch Taverns slows disposal of pubs as performance improves January 6, 2014 PUNCH Taverns yesterday said its disposal of non-core pubs would take longer than anticipated after they performed better than expected. The chain previously announced it would close these 1,106 non-core pubs as they are smaller and predominantly led by alcohol sales. “Given the limited scope for investment, these pubs are more likely to be impacted [...]
Labour calls for change to rules to create a statutory code to govern pub companies January 26, 2014 LABOUR’S shadow minister for pubs has called a debate in the House of Commons today in a bid to create a new statutory code for pub companies. In a move supported by Labour leader Ed Miliband and shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, Toby Perkins will call for a pubs bill to introduce rent reviews, a [...]