Nando’s to buy burger chain for £30m September 17, 2010 The UK arm of chicken restaurant chain Nando’s has confirmed that it has agreed a £30m deal to buy a rival firm. It plans to take over Clapham House Group, the company behind Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) and The Real Greek. Nando’s said that Clapham’s brands were struggling in the volatile market and needed its [...]
Brewing up a storm in SW11 November 24, 2010 AMID the gloom afflicting the pub industry right now, one chink of light has been the relative success of real ale. Perhaps due to the way its homely, hearty image seems more attractive in recessionary times, ale has increased its share of the beer market and grown its drinker base in the past year, according [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS September 19, 2010 BLUEBAY Singer Research rates the asset manager a “buy” with an upgraded target price of 400p. The broker sees a second leg of growth available in the emerging markets, and views performance in this region as already ahead of rivals. Overall operating margins should improve from 36 per cent to 40 per cent this year. [...]
M&B profit fed by food sales September 23, 2010 PUBS and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday reported a surge in food sales in recent weeks and said it was looking to make acquisitions as it re-shapes itself into a food-led business. M&B, which has over 2,000 pubs and restaurants and whose brands include Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery, reported a 4.4 [...]
JP MORGAN BOSS DIMON WARNS ON UK REGIME October 20, 2010 MUCH has been made of rumours that JP Morgan is to abandon plans to build itself an all-singing, all-dancing new HQ in Canary Wharf, with talk rife that the UK’s punishing tax regime and regulatory changes are behind the bank’s reluctance to commit. And in a little-noticed interview aside recently, JP Morgan’s chief executive Jamie [...]
FOCUS ON: CLAPHAM January 14, 2010 39 BEAUCHAMP ROAD, SW11 1PG Price: £1.1m Located on a quiet residential street, this smart five-bedroom family home is within walking distance of Clapham Junction, which has transport links into the centre of London (23 minutes from Bank) and to Gatwick. Those needing plenty of storage space will benefit from the cellar and the possibility [...]
MILIBAND JOINS IN THE FAMILY MAKEOVER October 7, 2010 MUCH has been made of the image transformation undergone recently by Justine Thornton, Ed Miliband’s long-term partner, who stepped out at the Labour party conference last week sporting a fresh make-up style and new elfin haircut. But not much has yet been said about the woman responsible for said makeover – who The Capitalist can [...]
FOCUS ON: THORNTON HEATH, SURREY July 29, 2010 SELLING Russell Hunt MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q.Dear Russell, I am looking to invest in a London property. Is central London still the best place to buy? A.It certainly makes sense to invest in prime central London property because at the end of the day it is all about supply and demand. Yes, you will [...]
vexx July 29, 2010 MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q.Dear Russell, I am looking to invest in a London property. Is central London still the best place to buy? A.It certainly makes sense to invest in prime central London property because at the end of the day it is all about supply and demand. Yes, you will pay a high [...]
Expansion curtailed as profits slump at restaurant group Clapham House December 17, 2009 THE company behind restaurants Gourmet Burger Kitchen and The Real Greek has suffered a 13 per cent slump in profits – scuppering any major expansion plans next year. Clapham House Group – whose Tootsies chain closed in October – said trading conditions remained “pretty challenging”. However, the firm claimed there were signs that things were [...]