Enterprise Inns slates pub aid from ministers March 31, 2010 ENTERPRISE Inns, the UK’s second-biggest pubs company, yesterday lashed out at the government for its failure to provide adequate aid to struggling publicans. Enterprise, which has over 7,000 tenanted pubs, said it noted the proposals by newly-appointed pubs minister John Healey to commit £4.3m of funding to the industry over the next three years. But [...]
CSC closes in on Trafford Centre mall November 24, 2010 CAPITAL Shopping Centres (CSC) confirmed yesterday it was close to buying the Trafford Centre in Manchester for a total of £1.6bn. The retail property group said it was in advanced talks with current owner Peel Holdings, which has held the shopping centre since it was built in 1998 at a cost of £600m. CSC plans [...]
CSC closes in on Trafford Centre mall November 24, 2010 CAPITAL Shopping Centres (CSC) confirmed yesterday it was close to buying the Trafford Centre in Manchester for a total of £1.6bn. The retail property group said it was in advanced talks with current owner Peel Holdings, which has held the shopping centre since it was built in 1998 at a cost of £600m. CSC plans [...]
Restaurant and pub sales bounce back March 15, 2010 Top pub and restaurant groups have seen like-for-like sales bounce back, following a dismal January. The 15 major companies participating in the The Coffer Peach Business Tracker, which include Costa Coffee group Whitbread, collectively saw like-for-like sales up 1.3 per cent against the same month last year. Total sales were ahead 3.0 per cent on [...]
Wetherspoon shares hit as execs leave October 14, 2010 JD Wetherspoon yesterday surprised investors by announcing the departure of two of its top executives. Finance director Keith Down and chief operating officer Paul Harbottle are to leave the pubs group “in due course” said a statement, which offered no explanation for the sudden shake-up. Wetherspoon’s has weathered the economic downturn well, with Down considered [...]
FOCUS ON: POTTERS BAR September 2, 2010 NORTHAW ROAD WEST, NORTHAW, Price: £299,950 Not perhaps your typical first home, but this two-bed country cottage offers sufficient living space and a pretty back garden. Grade II-listed, the cottage has been recently modernised by the current owners so the property doesn’t require further decoration or works. The village has two gastro pubs. Contact: Savills [...]
Dallaglio: Hape shouldn’t be allowed to play for England November 24, 2010 WORLD CUP winner Lawrence Dallaglio believes the law that allows the likes of Kiwi-born duo Shontayne Hape and Dylan Hartley to represent England is deeply flawed and in urgent need of review. Hape, a former New Zealand rugby league international, has starred at centre during England’s impressive autumn campaign, while Hartley appears to have stolen [...]
BOBSLEIGH FANATIC TO INJECT CITY WITH SHOT OF ADRENALINE November 2, 2010 YEARNING for an unusual extra-curricular hobby to brighten up your working week? Addicted to adrenaline? The Capitalist might have chanced upon just the thing for more adventurous City types. Ian Barbour is best known for his position as director of financial printing group Millnet, where he runs the financial document services operations. Yet he’s just [...]
Asahi sales lift boosts Shepherd Neame’s profits October 7, 2010 DEMAND for trendy Asahi lager has helped to drive profit up by a quarter at Shepherd Neame. The company makes and sells Asahi Superdry under licence for the Japanese brewer and it has been selling well in cities, particularly London. Asahi volumes were up five per cent overall with draught sales rising more than a [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 14, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES AIA CHIEF FAVOURS ORGANIC GROWTH AIA will address questions about its growth by increasing profitability and expanding organically rather than by pursuing acquisitions, according to the chief executive of the $30bn Asian life assurer about to list in Hong Kong. Mark Tucker told the Financial Times that AIA, which is being sold by [...]