Taylor Wimpey profits from slow but steady progress August 3, 2011 HOUSE builder Taylor Wimpey said first half profits rose 32 per cent as it benefited from a stable housing market and cutting down its costs following the economic crisis. Britain’s second largest builder by market value said pre-tax profit in the year to June was £28.9m against a loss of £2.3m in the same period [...]
Capital & Counties asset value boosted by Covent Garden site August 3, 2011 CAPITAL & Counties, the London focused property developer, posted a four per cent rise in the value of its assets, boosted by an increase in value of its Covent Garden estate. Net asset value per share rose four per cent to 154p, while pre-tax profit was up 28 per cent at £70.2m from £54.8m a [...]
Turning up the heat on fro yo August 3, 2011 YESTERDAY was a big day for fans of icy treats as Pinkberry, the cult US frozen yoghurt brand, opened a concession in Selfridges. Stars from David Beckham to Alexandra Burke have publicly rejoiced and Americans all over the city are in raptures. Scheduled to open here in 2008, Pinkberry delayed its UK opening after Lehman [...]
GOING OUT August 3, 2011 ASIDE from Bunga Bunga (see below), the main action is in the City. The Door Oyster Bar and Grill opened this Monday across from the Royal Exchange on Cornhill, and their beautiful bar may become the best place to unwind after work with a fine drink and a plate of bivalves. Design features include a reclaimed [...]
Bunga Bunga everyone: Italy comes to Battersea August 3, 2011 Q: Charlie: You first showed your interest in nightlife and parties aged 13 when you arranged a party at Crazy Larrys. Duncan, you weren’t far on his heels. What was it about that world that drew you so powerfully? A (Charlie): I realised it was something I could do at the same time as studying [...]
Capital Shopping Centres spree helps boost profits August 2, 2011 CAPITAL Shopping Centres (CSC), the UK’s biggest shopping mall owner, said its half-year profits rose by 53 per cent, buoyed by the £1.6bn acquisition of Manchester’s Trafford Centre in January. Footfall across its 14 shopping centres increased by three per cent while net rental income rose by six per cent year-on-year, thanks to an increase [...]
Beauty’s in the i of the beholder August 2, 2011 LAST week BMW flew hundreds of journalists from around the world into Frankfurt to show them the future of motoring, as illustrated by its new sub-brand ‘i’. And the future looks pretty impressive if the near-production cars BMW revealed are anything to go by. The German manufacturer showed the first two of its ‘i’ branded [...]
CAR TALK August 2, 2011 TOYOTA GETS GREEN PLAUDITS Toyota has been named the “world’s greenest brand”, according to a survey from Interbrand. The “Best Global Green Brands” survey takes into account environmental performance coupled with public perception of eco sustainability. Data was collected from the world’s leading markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Brazil and India [...]
Europe’s rich flood London’s house market August 1, 2011 THE price of luxury homes in central London has jumped by almost 10 per cent in the past year, driven by demand from wealthy Europeans looking to invest outside of the troubled Eurozone economies. Prime London property prices have risen 9.6 per cent since July 2010, and are more than 28 per cent higher than [...]
Where the nail buffs go pre-hols August 1, 2011 PAYOT: “PRECIOUS FEET RITUAL” The French skincare brand is just the one to turn to if you want nourished, hydrated skin as well as pretty nails. The Precious Feet Ritual starts with the eyes – a firming mask rehydrates bags and plumps the brow area while the therapist goes to work on your feet. First, [...]