All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers’ share price lifts despite drop in full-year sales September 22, 2016 All Bar One owner Mitchells and Butlers has toasted a rise in drinks sales during the summer heatwave, but this hasn't been enough to lift a decline in turnover over the full year. The figures Like-for-like sales in the 51 weeks to 17 September fell by 0.8 per cent, the pub and bar group said today [...]
Start saving: The average cost of a UK wedding has reached a new record high driven by a boom in “mini-moon” breaks and expensive venues September 22, 2016 If you have any weddings left to go to this year you may want to avoid catching the bouquet – unless you have a hefty pile of savings. The average cost of a wedding has reached its highest-ever level, increasing 21 per cent in the last year to a record £25,090, as venue hire and "mini moons" [...]
Slimmed corporate travel budgets have hit London’s hotel sector September 22, 2016 Corporate uncertainty and tight travel budgets took their toll on hotels in the capital during the first half of the year, according to figures from PwC. Occupancy rates are forecast to have declined by 1.8 per cent this year to 81 per cent for London-based hotels and are expected to drop again by 0.8 per cent [...]
Majestic Wine issues profit warning after botched US marketing campaign September 21, 2016 Shares in Majestic Wine closed down by more than almost a quarter today after the booze merchant issued a profit warning, citing challenging trading conditions and a failed marketing drive in the US. The firm was expected to post £440m of revenues in the year to March 2017, up 10 per cent on its sales in the most recent [...]
What you need to know about St Matthew the Apostole on Patron Saint of Bankers Day September 21, 2016 Today, 21 September, is St Matthew the Apostle's day. This may have passed most of you by, but if you work in the City it's more relevant than you realise – St Matthew is the patron saint of bankers. Here are three things you need to know about St Matthew, in case talk of him [...]
Goldfish, beanbags, fidget cubes and plants: Forget mindfulness, here are three other ways you can de-stress at work September 21, 2016 Almost four in five of us claim to be under pressure every day, according to new research from Tetra. But if you thought the only way to feel more relaxed at work was to get your head around mindfulness, we have some good news for you. Forget meditation and other in-head mind techniques: fish keeping [...]
Seaside pubs and managed estate give Kent-based group Shepherd Neame something to toast September 21, 2016 Shepherd Neame was raising a toast to its managed pubs and seaside pub sales this morning, as the group posted "record" annual sales and boosted trading at its coastal pubs over the summer. The figures Turnover at the pub group, which is also the UK's oldest brewer, grew by 1.2 per cent to £139.9m in [...]
In ‘n’ Out Burger: This US cult burger chain will get in and out of the capital with a four hour flash restaurant opening today September 21, 2016 US fast food chain In 'n' Out Burger, which has an almost cult-like following stateside, will be coming to London for just four hours today Between 11am and 3pm In 'n' Out will be making a flash appearance at Brazilian steakhouse Estancia Brasil on Finchley Road, providing a temporary rival to the capital's other burger stalwarts. The premium [...]
Party Poker and Foxy Bingo owner GVC Holdings posts record results as Bwin integration steams ahead and company joins FTSE 250 September 20, 2016 Party Poker and Foxy Bingo owner GVC Holdings' stock closed up 6.6 per cent today as the gambling group posted record half-year results and said the integration of Bwin was ahead of schedule. The figures Pro forma net gaming revenue increased eight per cent to €441.8m (£339m) in the six months to 30 June, driven by [...]
