Risk tolerance: Why decadent Europe is whistling as chaos reaches its gates June 29, 2014 WILL the US ramp up its involvement in Iraq? And if so, on what terms? Will Europe build on its new partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to draw an effective line over which an expansive Russia would not dare cross? Will Israel persist in rattling its sabre, while Western powers search for a [...]
Finding strength in numbers: Meet SBD Apparel founder Ben Banks June 29, 2014 Peter Spence talks about the powerlifting business with SBD Apparel’s Ben Banks If you've ever come across the extreme world of strength sports, you’ll probably have got your first introduction stumbling through the TV channels on a Boxing Day morning. Last year, more than a million of us tuned in to watch the competitors of [...]
Suarez feels the pinch as 888poker becomes latest company to withdraw sponsorship June 27, 2014 It's not just playing time that Luis Suarez will be missing out on following his bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini. The incident and his subsequent four-month suspension from all footballing activity is also eating into his lucrative commercial deals. Following sportswear giant Adidas announcing that it was dropping the Liverpool striker from its marketing [...]
From plates to plinths: David Shrigley set to transform Soho’s Sketch and Trafalgar Square June 26, 2014 David Shrigley is best known for his pithy sketches; surreal, misanthropic depictions of modern life. His work straddles the worlds of fine art – he was nominated for the Turner Prize last year and will be the 13th contemporary artist to show his work on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth – and pop culture, with books [...]
Chef Jason Atherton touches down in the City’s Tower 42 June 26, 2014 Three years ago, Jason Atherton bet the house on Pollen Street Social. Literally: he remortgaged his home to fund it, stumping up 75 per cent of the cash out of his own pocket, money saved from more than two decades cooking everywhere from the world famous elBulli in Catalonia to the fiery environs of [...]
EasyHotel IPO raises just half of target £60m June 25, 2014 EasyHotel has raised just half of the £60m it had hoped to gain for its 30 June IPO on the AIM market. The company has now priced its shares at 80p for the company's flotation on 30 June, implying a market capitalisation of £50m. The £30m the IPO is set to raise will be used to roll out [...]
No sleep and a locked jaw fail to stop Watson June 24, 2014 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson says she can finally look forward to a good night’s sleep after winning her first-round match at Wimbledon yesterday. The 22-year-old revealed she was so overcome by nerves ahead of her meeting with Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic that she awoke at 4am and 7am, and then locked her jaw as she attempted [...]
Greylock fund backs UK based SME specialists June 23, 2014 GREYLOCK IL, the Israeli-UK venture capital firm which has backed Just Eat and Wonga, has joined forced with other investors to invest $30m (£18m) in UK-based financial services company Ebury. The firm, which is an affiliate of famous US venture capital pioneers Greylock Partners, will join with the other anonymous investors to provide debt and [...]
The perfect fit: Meet Girl Meets Dress co-founder Xavier de Lecaros Aquise June 23, 2014 Harriet Green talks true grit with Girl Meets Dress co-founder Xavier de Lecaros Aquise. Advocates of the sharing economy, otherwise known as collaborative consumption, claim that it is finally reaching a mainstream audience. Earlier this month, for example, the government announced reforms to outdated legislation, ending long-running questions over the legal status of ultra short-term [...]
Review: Dirty Burger/Chicken Shop Stepney June 20, 2014 Food: ★★★★☆ | Value: ★★★★★ | Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆ A few months ago I swore to myself I was going to stop reviewing anywhere that’s part of a trendy chain; Dirty Burger and Honest Burger and Burger and Lobster and Patty and Bun. Not because I don’t like them – I slum it with the rest of the plebs [...]