Shaftesbury sees West End rents rise May 26, 2010 PROPERTY group Shaftesbury yesterday said tourists travelling to London had not been put off by the economic woes of the Eurozone, as it announced a 14.3 per cent jump in net asset value for the first half of the year. “Although the outlook for the UK and European economies remains uncertain, London’s West End is [...]
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 [...]
Step off the beaten track to find France’s secret treasure, the Loir May 23, 2010 SITUATED on what used to be fiercely fought over territory separating Maine from Anjou, the Fléchois region was for centuries at the heart of some of France’s best-known and most bitter conflicts. With those struggles long over and done with, what’s left is a mellow and absorbing destination less than three hours drive from the [...]
Modern living in reborn Wembley May 20, 2010 WITH three weeks to go until the World Cup, the red and white flags and bunting have started appearing in the shops this week, which must mean it’s okay now to be getting excited. Notwithstanding the unfortunate comments of Lord Triesman last weekend, there’s still the hope that in eight years time we’ll have the [...]
Efficient tale of swords and magic May 20, 2010 Film PRINCE OF PERSIA: SANDS OF TIME Cert: 12A *** BASED on a computer game, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time sees doe-eyed actor Jake Gyllenhaal switch to swashbuckling action star, not entirely successfully. He’s got the beefy physique, and thanks to CGI there’s no end to the acrobatic leaps and somersaults he can perform [...]
Skyscrapers to surge in building boom May 20, 2010 LONDON office space has been the subject of much consternation amongst the financial elite. The recession caused office construction to grind to a shuddering halt as firms battened down the hatches and waited for the worst to pass. As the economy shifted into growth, the construction industry lagged behind and office rates crept up. Prime [...]
WORLD CUP FOOTBALL FANTASY WINS THE HEARTS OF THE LADIES May 19, 2010 PUT A bunch of ladies in a room for a corporate networking event, and what’s the last topic you’d choose to centre the discussion on? Football? So when The Capitalist rocked up yesterday at the swanky Mayfair hotel for a “Ladies’ Day” organised by law firm Crowell & Moring, it was surprising, to say the [...]
Polo’s hottest event returns to Hurlingham May 18, 2010 FOR a game that’s nearly 3,000 years old, polo has certainly kept up with the times. Last year’s MINT Polo in the Park event at Hurlingham attracted a crowd of 24,000 and a TV audience of more than two million viewers, making it the most watched polo match ever. The first recorded game took place [...]
Darling to quit front line politics and sit on the backbenches May 17, 2010 ALISTAIR DARLING is returning to the backbenches, ending his thirteen-year career in front-line politics. Darling, who along with Jack Straw and Gordon Brown was one of just three surviving cabinet ministers from Tony Blair’s original line-up in 1997, said it had been an “enormous privilege” to serve in government. He added: “But I believe it is time for me [...]
City looks to REITs for new building sites May 16, 2010 ANALYSTS are hoping for a wave of new property developments as three of Britain’s largest listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) report their year-end numbers this week. British Land, Great Portland Estates and Land Securities will all reveal increases in the value of their portfolios, according to City consensus. The trio of positive results will [...]