Enterprise Inns pins hopes on Olympics May 15, 2012 Enterprise Inns reported slightly weaker than expected profits but said celebrations centering on the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year would help offset tough trading conditions and keep the pub group on track for the full year. The company, which has over 6,000 pubs across Britain, also said it had cut bank borrowings [...]
The cigarette display ban is a smoking gun in the war on free expression August 20, 2012 THERE’S something odd about my local Tesco. Since April, the kiosk at the entrance has looked incredibly dull. As I was recently trying to work out why, I saw a sign saying that all cigarettes and tobacco-related products must now be hidden behind closed doors – to comply with UK regulations. As an economist, I [...]
Seven places to watch the Euros June 14, 2012 KETTNER’S, SOHO This Georgian mansion in the middle of Soho is famous for its glamorous clientele, burlesque aesthetic, selection of English wine and champagne vibe. Not, on first glance, the sort of place you’d think of for watching the football. Well, think again: with a warren of private rooms available for hire, it’s just the [...]
Marston’s gets a lift from drive to up food sales May 17, 2012 PUB and brewing group Marston’s reported a rise in profits yesterday, which it attributed to its strategy of increasing food sales and targeting family consumers searching for value in a struggling economy. Marston’s underlying profit before tax rose nearly 15 per cent to £33.5m in the half-year ending 31 March. The company credited its “F-Plan” [...]
Marston’s gets a lift from drive to up food sales May 17, 2012 PUB and brewing group Marston’s reported a rise in profits yesterday, which it attributed to its strategy of increasing food sales and targeting family consumers searching for value in a struggling economy. Marston’s underlying profit before tax rose nearly 15 per cent to £33.5m in the half-year ending 31 March. The company credited its “F-Plan” [...]
FOCUS ON: GUILDFORD June 28, 2012 ALBURY HEIGHTS Price: £4.95m Albury Heights is a substantial family home recently built in the Georgian style. It includes six bedrooms and six en suite bath/shower rooms, reception hall, drawing room, dining room, family room and office. Contact Savills on 01483 796 820 or go to savills.com. ENNISMORE AVENUE Price: £1.85m A five bedroom double-fronted [...]
Fuller’s faith in London pride May 31, 2012 PUB group Fuller, Smith and Turner yesterday posted a five per cent full year revenue rise to £253m and said that its pre-tax profits grew three per cent to £30.3m. The company said like-for-like sales in accommodation, food and drinks were up by 7.4, 4.5 and four per cent respectively. While the new year has seen [...]
Fuller’s faith in London pride May 31, 2012 PUB group Fuller, Smith and Turner yesterday posted a five per cent full year revenue rise to £253m and said that its pre-tax profits grew three per cent to £30.3m. The company said like-for-like sales in accommodation, food and drinks were up by 7.4, 4.5 and four per cent respectively. While the new year has seen [...]
Karpo is a curate’s egg but its kitchen still impresses September 3, 2012 RESTAURANT KARPO 23-27 Euston Road, NW1 2SD Tel: 020 7843 2221 FOOD *** SERVICE **** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £30 Train stations don’t tend to attract the nicest crowds. Wherever you go in the world, the very worst people from that area will naturally gravitate towards the train station; the pimps and [...]
BSkyB’s rivals scheme over new live football rights deals August 22, 2012 Word that ITV might be interested in showing live Premier League matches for the first time ever is fascinating. If the unlikely move occurred, ITV would bring elite football back to a broader audience after more than 20 years of having it shown exclusively live on pay-per-view television. Not everybody would be cheering from their [...]