THE TIPSTER August 23, 2010 POLITICAL turmoil and the prospect of a hung parliament pushed the Australian dollar to its lowest level in more than a month against the greenback yesterday. Independent MPs have now become the kingmakers and the uncertainty as to whether they will lean more towards the Conservatives or Labour has weakened the Aussie dollar. Will the [...]
Punch Taverns on track as summer sun boosts takings July 6, 2010 BRITAIN’S biggest pubs firm Punch Taverns yesterday reported an upturn – fuelled by the warm weather and World Cup football fans. The company, which has 7,100 pubs in the UK, said trading had been brisk in recent weeks. However, with debts of £3.2bn, Punch remained cautious about future trading. It said in a statement: “We [...]
INSIDE THE MISCHIEVOUS MIND OF A FIXED INCOME BONDS ANALYST October 10, 2010 EVER wondered about the fantasies of a bonds analyst? Well, no, we can’t say we did either, until Evolution Securities’ Gary Jenkins decided to bare all in his column for Credit Matters. Fresh from his promotion to head of fixed income, Jenkins’ megalomaniacal ambitions know no limit: he imagines himself in a new role as [...]
M&B sales hit by World Cup July 22, 2010 PUBS and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers said yesterday sales growth slowed in June and July as diners were lured away by the attraction of the World Cup. M&B, which has over 2,000 pubs and restaurants and whose brands include Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery, said the World Cup had a “negative impact” [...]
Punch on track thanks to World Cup and sunshine July 6, 2010 BRITIAN’S biggest pubs firm Punch Tavern said it was on track to meet full-year expectations as trading was boosted by hot summer weather and the World Cup. The company, which has over 7,100 pubs, said trading during the World Cup had been brisk, helping sales at pubs open for more than a year grow in [...]
Greene King toasts profit July 1, 2010 PUB company Greene King reported a 3.8 per cent increase in full-year pre-tax profit yesterday and said it had made an encouraging start to its current fiscal year. The pub, which operates 2,472 pubs and restaurants across Britain, reported a pre-tax profit of £123m in the year to 2 May. Greene King said sales at [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK August 15, 2010 WEST London gastro pub Paradise By Way of Kensal Green is clearly onto a winner with its new ruse – a private karaoke room for well-oiled customers to sing their hearts out. This group ended up hogging the room for the whole night, paying a hefty £600 for the privilege. They fortified themselves for the [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK August 15, 2010 WEST London gastro pub Paradise By Way of Kensal Green is clearly onto a winner with its new ruse – a private karaoke room for well-oiled customers to sing their hearts out. This group ended up hogging the room for the whole night, paying a hefty £600 for the privilege. They fortified themselves for the [...]
Wetherspoon’s brekkie boost July 14, 2010 JD WETHERSPOON returned to sales growth in the fourth quarter as its pubs opened two hours earlier for breakfast, and as the warm summer weather lured in more drinkers. The company yesterday posted a one per cent increase in fourth-quarter sales at pubs which had been open for more than a year, compared with a [...]
Behind the scenes at the house of KRUG December 19, 2010 KRUG, the grand old Champagne house, has been feeling a little unloved of late. Revered across the world as a wine that’s emblematic and long-lasting, it is perhaps perceived as a Champagne to be bought, sold and stored, rather than drunk in celebration. This was not always so, and Krug wants to have fun again. [...]