West End booming for landlord Shaftesbury February 12, 2010 WEST End landlord Shaftesbury has seen buoyant trading over Christmas and New year, with lettings exceeding predicted prices. The company, which owns large areas of theatreland, said the West End had enjoyed a booming Christmas period. Around 70 per cent of the company’s portfolio comprises shops, restaurants and leisure and property for leisure uses but [...]
Ethel Austin closes 114 stores February 24, 2010 More than 1,000 staff at Ethel Austin lost their jobs yesterday after the stricken fashion retailer’s administrator was forced to close 114 stores. The move came after the Merseyside-based chain, together with Au Naturale, its homewares sister company, fell into administration this month, for the second time in two years, after poor Christmas trading and [...]
Sports Direct considers bid for Blacks March 2, 2010 SORTS Direct says it is considering a takeover offer for Blacks Leisure. Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, which has brands including Slazenger and Dunlop, already owns almost 30 per cent of Blacks shares. It said it is “evaluating a possible cash offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Blacks”. The company, [...]
Imperial a decent tip to finish in top three March 18, 2010 WE’VE had the thriller in Manila and the rumble in the jungle. Now it’s the War of the Wolds. Kauto v Denman III isn’t going to be quite the classic decider we have all wanted since the Tank and AP had that difference of opinion the first time they stepped out together at Newbury. Kauto [...]
Topps Tiles sees revenues dip March 31, 2010 BRITISH retailer Topps Tiles posted a second-quarter fall in underlying sales, blaming a dip in confidence as the general election nears and consumers brace themselves for tax rises and job cuts. “If I cast my mind back to previous elections, they’ve never done us any favours that’s for sure,” Matt Williams, chief executive of the [...]
Westfield sales up February 17, 2010 SALES at Westfield shopping centre were up 11 per cent last month lifting some of the gloom from the retail market. The mall in West London’s Shepherds Bush also saw spending in the run-up to Christmas soaring by 18 per cent compared with the same period in 2008 when the UK was in the grip of [...]
WESTFIELD PULLING IN THE CROWDS February 17, 2010 SALES at Westfield shopping centre were up 11 per cent last month, it was revealed yesterday, lifting some of the gloom that has dogged the wider retail market. The mall in West London’s Shepherd’s Bush also saw spending in the run-up to to crucial Christmas trading period soar 18 per cent compared with the equivalent [...]
Darling rules out a giveaway budget but tax rises not expected March 11, 2010 Alistair Darling says his budget on 24 March will not be a “giveaway.” He said the budget, Labour’s last chance to set out its plans for the economic recovery, before an expected 6 May election, will be “a budget for the times in which we live.” He said: “I don’t think anyone’s expecting some sort [...]
A bizarre night of telly to match the result May 7, 2010 BOB Hope memorably described the Oscars as “two hours of entertainment spread out over four hours”. You have to wonder what he’d have made of election night TV, which started when polls closed last night and is still going on. David Dimbleby presided over his eighth election night for the BBC, holding forth in a [...]
Thriller ahead for Michael Jackson fans January 26, 2010 THE Character Group, which had a Christmas hit selling Go Go Pets, is aiming for another top festive toy with the launch of Michael Jackson dolls. The company has won the UK licence to distribute four Jackson dolls made by Playmate Toys. Two of the dolls will be launched in August and two more before [...]