SELL August 4, 2011 Managing Director of central London ESTATE AGENCY KAY & CO Q.I am contemplating putting my flat on the market, but have been told that the summer is not the best time as many people are away and the market is quieter. What do you think? A.While this is true and many people do wait until [...]
Oh, we Brits do like to have a second home by the seaside.. August 4, 2011 THE Victorians invented the idea of the British seaside as a holiday escape, and our coastal towns remain excellent options for second homes today. Even given the property market’s recent blip, seaside prices in England and Wales have increased by 128 per cent in the last decade. Seven out of 10 seaside towns have experienced greater [...]
A bargain estate in bucolic Ireland August 4, 2011 TO say the Irish property market has had a bit of a rocky patch is like saying Brian O’Driscoll’s relatively tasty when it comes to scoring tries. As the Irish economy came apart in the recession, the property market fell, and fell, and fell. Then it fell a bit more. Now, those prepared to make [...]
A gritty kids’ adventure that isn’t quite great August 4, 2011 Films SUPER 8 Cert: 12A Sometimes it can be a pleasure to see a children’s movie with real grit and pathos (especially after you’ve watched Mr Popper’s Penguins – see the review below). Of course, Super 8 has an A-grade pedigree, having been produced by Steven Spielberg and written and directed by J.J. Abrams, the [...]
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK FILMS, MUSIC, GAMES August 4, 2011 FILM THE TREE Charlotte Gainsbourg stars in this traumatic family drama set in the Aussie outback. KNUCKLE Hard-as-nails documentary about bare knuckle boxers. FRENCH CANCAN Reissue for one of the finest films from French cinematic pioneer, Jean Renoir. DVD LIMITLESS Bradley Cooper is an unexpected success in this strange tale of power and excess. SUBMARINE [...]
Rightmove defies gloom in real estate August 3, 2011 RIGHTMOVE, the property website, saw its half year pre-tax profits jump by 17 per cent as estate agencies spent more on advertising to attract customers in a challenging housing market. The company’s pre-tax profit rose to £28.7m in the year to June, compared with £24.5m in the previous year. Revenue was up 20 per cent [...]
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 [...]