GOING OUT August 25, 2010 IT may still be peak holiday season but in our cosmopolitan capital you can complete a world tour whenever you like by taking a glamorous (if slightly less exotic) journey around London’s more exclusive international nightlife. Starting with Japan, the chic Kyashii has just re-launched on Upper St Martin’s Lane offering a sophisticated, ultra modern [...]
Marston’s upbeat as cask ale thrives May 20, 2010 BREWER and pub group Marston’s said it had returned to growth in revenues and profits at the half year – fulled by cask ale and food sales. The group, which makes ales including Pedigree and Hobgoblin, reported underlying profits up 0.4 per cent to £27.8m in the six months to 3 April. Sales in its [...]
Marston’s upbeat as cask ale thrives May 20, 2010 BREWER and pub group Marston’s said it had returned to growth in revenues and profits at the half year – fulled by cask ale and food sales. The group, which makes ales including Pedigree and Hobgoblin, reported underlying profits up 0.4 per cent to £27.8m in the six months to 3 April. Sales in its [...]
While you’re in the City soak up the atmosphere and the history October 27, 2010 FOR centuries St Paul’s, and not the Stock Exchange, was where the City’s activity and bustle reached its highest pitch. A seventeenth century writer wrote of it that “the noyse in it is like that of Bees, a strange humming or buzze, mixt of walking, tongues and feet: It is a kind of still roar [...]
City workers succumb to football fever June 23, 2010 WITH the Budget out of the way in good time, the City’s thoughts yesterday turned to the beautiful game, and England’s crucial third group clash against Slovenia. As the crucial hour approached, bars and pubs filled to bursting point and the employees of more generous firms gathered in communal areas to watch Capello’s squad clinch [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS June 14, 2010 WIMBLEDON TEA AT THE DORCHESTER Get into grand slam spirit with a Wimbledon Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester’s famous Promenade, with a selection of tennis-inspired pastries including the citrus court, raspberry drop and coconut smash. Included is also a glass of champagne, traditional strawberries & cream, finger sandwiches and homemade scones. From 21 June to [...]
Dyson to take over at Punch May 25, 2010 IAN Dyson will take over as Punch Taverns’ chief executive in September. The current finance head of Marks & Spencer (M&S) will take up the challenge of being boss of the UK’s largest pub company. Punch’s chief executive, Giles Thorley, will stay on board “until an orderly handover has been completed”, Punch said in a [...]
No hike in vice levies as 10pc cider tax is scrapped June 22, 2010 VICE goods, including alcohol, fuel and tobacco, survived the budget relatively unscathed, with no new duty rises announced. The rumoured five per cent increase in alcohol duty failed to materialise, although the industry will still be hit by the rise in VAT – likely to add 6p to the average pint. The biggest winners were [...]
Mitchells & Butlers profits rise by 50pc May 20, 2010 PUBS group Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has seen a surge in half-year profits – but its boss warned yesterday that cheap supermarket deals were threatening the industry. The owner of the All Bar One and O’Neill’s pub chains said pre-tax profits for the six months to 10 April were £73m, up from £47m the year [...]
Enterprise near £1bn debt deal May 9, 2010 BRITISH pub group Enterprise Inns is close to agreeing a refinancing deal for a £1bn bank loan, easing concerns it could be forced to turn to shareholders for cash. The UK’s second-largest pub company, which has over 7,000 pubs, could announce the deal in the next few weeks and possibly as early as tomorrow, alongside [...]