Hipster beards are here to stay: Independent grooming salons triumph on high street August 19, 2016 If you're already sick of the hipster beard trend, we have bad news for you. Increased attention to beards and eyebrows is here to stay, as 11 independent personal grooming salons opened each week over the last year. There was a net increase of 626 barbers and beauty salons last year, up 10.36 per cent from 2014, according [...]
Pity the City’s introverts now the Night Tube is here, how will they get out of dreaded work drinks now? August 19, 2016 Hurrah for the almost mythical Night Tube. We’ve known of its existence for nigh on two years, had to wait a year for delays and now, as you’ll already be aware, it will finally come into action tonight. The City is likely to be awash with its usual revellers and more asides, bolstered by the knowledge [...]
The chips have fallen: Rank Group and 888 Holdings abandon bid for William Hill August 18, 2016 Rank Group and 888 Holdings have abandoned their takeover bid for bookmaker William Hill. A consortium formed by Grosvenor Casinos operator Rank and online giant 888 Holdings previously submitted two bids for the high street gambling stalwart, which were both promptly rejected. Rank and 888 had proposed a three-way tie-up in which the two companies would [...]
The cup doth overfloweth: Profits at the world’s largest listed winemaker doubled last year August 18, 2016 The corks will have been popping today at Treasury Wine Estates, the world's largest listed pure-play winemaker, after its net profit more than doubled over the last year. The figures The Australia-based Blossom Hill maker's net profits rocketed to AU$179.5m (£105.5m) for the year to 30 June, up from AU$77.6m the year before. Net revenue was up [...]
Sweet Mercy: Government drops all-out war on sugar but pushes ahead with its soft drinks levy August 17, 2016 The government has today scrapped the most draconian measures from its long-awaited childhood obesity strategy, but the Treasury will forge ahead with its levy on soft drinks dubbed the "sugar tax". The department of health has pledged to work towards a 20 per cent reduction of sugar in foods and drinks that are popular with [...]
Pizza Hut has launched a “playable” DJ pizza box August 17, 2016 In all its pepperoni wisdom, Pizza Hut has delivered us the packaging that no one asked it to by creating the world's first playable DJ pizza box. Only available in the UK for now, the limited edition cardboard pizza box will serve up some choons along with food and will be distributed at select restaurants this [...]
Robert De Niro gets green light for boutique hotel The Wellington in Covent Garden August 17, 2016 Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro has been given the green light to open a boutique hotel in the heart of Covent Garden. De Niro has been working with Capital & Counties Properties and BD Hotels on the project for the luxury 83-room hotel, which will be called The Wellington. Westminster city council granted planning permission today, after [...]
Carlsberg falls flat as profits miss expectations and it struggles in Western European beer market August 17, 2016 Danish brewer Carlsberg fell flat today after its second quarter results missed analyst estimates and the group struggled to stay afloat in the UK and Western Europe. The figures Revenues grew by four per cent to 31.2bn Danish krone (£364m), though this was short of estimates of 31.4bn krone, in the six months to 30 June. [...]
North Korean deputy ambassador to the UK defects with his family to South Korea August 17, 2016 North Korea's deputy ambassador to the UK, Thae Yong Ho, has defected with his family, South Korean officials have confirmed. Yong Ho was a counsellor at the North Korean embassy, which is based in a suburban house in Ealing, and was deputy to the ambassador. The veteran diplomat is thought to be one of the [...]
MyOptique sets its sights on Europe after takeover by glasses giant Essilor August 16, 2016 Online glasses retailer MyOptique has been sold to the French eyewear giant Essilor. MyOptique, whose brands include the Sunglasses Shop and Glasses Direct, will leverage its new parent company’s global supply chain and collaborate with its other operating businesses to increase its reach across Europe, the company said yesterday. Glasses Direct, which was founded in [...]
