There can be only bubbles for a new arrival October 17, 2011 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT THIS has been quite a week. I hope that you’ll forgive me if I start by thanking the wonderful staff of St Thomas’ hospital for the birth of my son. A new arrival is an event to celebrate so, with that in mind, I’m going to take a [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS October 17, 2011 ANGELA HARTNETT FEAST NIGHT AT WHITECHAPEL GALLERY DINING ROOM These monthly feasting menus are centred around a theme, and October’s is all about beef. Hartnett has worked with head chef Emma Duggan, ex-Foxtrot Oscar, to create these menus. “We want to create a night of eating for friends and family, with all of the food [...]
Treasury urged to back small banks October 16, 2011 THE Treasury is being urged to consider a radical new scheme that would see it hand government cash to banks so they can lend it to small firms, City A.M. has learned. The plan, which has been raised in meetings between government ministers and bankers, has sparked the interest of Vince Cable (pictured) as well [...]
Mouchel chair quits after just four days October 16, 2011 STRUGGLING infrastructure group Mouchel was plunged into further chaos last night after its interim chairman quit after barely four days in the job. David Sugden resigned after failing to win the backing of Mouchel’s lenders to fill the position permanently. He had only replaced Bo Lerenius on Thursday when the firm warned it could breach [...]
Trichet: Dissenters damage EU progress October 16, 2011 SLOVAKIA and other small countries must never again be allowed to defy the will of the European Commission on crucial financial initiatives, Jean-Claude Trichet, outgoing president of the European Central Bank (ECB), said yesterday, preparing the way for yet another power grab by Brussels bureaucrats. “It is necessary to change the treaty to prevent one [...]
Time to shake up transport policies October 16, 2011 BRITAIN’S transport policy needs fixing; last week’s appointment of Justine Greening as the new transport secretary is an opportunity for change in a difficult area. Her first move ought to be to scrap the high-speed rail (HS2) project. The crippling costs of the proposal, which would see a £32bn ultra-fast railway line built from London [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 16, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES CHOPPY MARKETS THREATEN EMI SALE Turbulent financing markets could derail Citigroup’s attempt to sell EMI, according to people close to the $3bn-plus auction who warned that the US bank could abandon the sale if it cannot squeeze higher offers from bidders. The bidding process remains fluid, with Citigroup expected to decide within two [...]
Hollande wins Socialist run-offs October 16, 2011 François Hollande yesterday became the French Socialist Party candidate who will try to unseat President Nicolas Sarkozy next April and return a Socialist to the Elysee Palace for the first time in 17 years. With well over two-thirds of close to three million votes counted, Hollande’s victory in a presidential primary election runoff against Martine [...]
Energy firms face dressing down October 16, 2011 The “big six” energy companies will today receive a dressing down at Downing Street amid warnings energy bills could climb even higher. Bills have doubled from just £740 five years ago to £1,345 for the average household. Cameron will meet with British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern in a bid [...]
UK quarterly dividends top £20bn mark October 16, 2011 DIVIDENDS in the UK have broken through the £20bn-in-a-quarter barrier for the first time since 2008. Data for the third quarter from analysts Capita Registrars shows investors pocketed £20.1bn in dividends, a 15.9 per cent rise on the same period in 2010. Forecasts for total dividends this year have been hiked to £67bn – 18 [...]
