Sales overflow for drink giants Diageo and AB InBev as consumers still opt for pricey tipples July 28, 2022 Global drinks titans Diageo and AB InBev have reported overflowing sales after the easing of Covid lockdowns has driven punters back into bars. Johnnie Walker maker Diageo posted net sales of £15.5bn, an increase of 21.4 per cent, which it accredited to the pub and bar sector recovering from the side effects of Covid 19 [...]
Marston’s: No ‘discernible change’ to pub chain sales amid cost of living crunch yet July 27, 2022 Marston’s has said there has been no dramatic change in punter sales at the pub chain since the cost of living crisis. In a trading update for the 42 weeks to 23 July 2022, the pub chain acknowledged sales were two per cent below 2019 levels. However, the pub chain put this down to the [...]
San Sebastian: The Michelin capital of the world July 26, 2022 Throughout the confinement of the pandemic we dreamed of the day travel restrictions would finally ease. This year that wish came true – but the monkey’s paw twitched. While we are allowed to fly almost anywhere – even Japan and Korea, some of the strictest countries for Covid restrictions, have welcomed tourists back – but [...]
Bitcoin Island: The Isle of Man is Turning Orange July 22, 2022 In April 2015, an article was published on the BBC News website about “Bitcoin Island” – a place where you could use Bitcoin to buy a pint of beer from The Thirsty Pigeon and then scan a QR code to pay for your taxi ride home. The price of one bitcoin was a mere £230, [...]
Exclusive with Jean Paul Gaultier: ‘Straight actors should be able to play gay roles’ July 21, 2022 It’s 9.30am and Jean Paul Gaultier is relentlessly turning over last night’s performance of ABBA Voyage. It’s far too hot for coffee so we’re sitting with a pair of orange juices and Gaultier is encouraging me to get stuck into the breakfast buffet. I politely decline because there are more important things at hand: discussing [...]
James Cochran, head chef at 12:51 on where to eat in London July 21, 2022 James Cochran started his career at Wheelers Oyster Bar in Whitstable. Upon moving to London, he honed his talents in several Michelin-starred restaurants including The Ledbury and The Harwood Arms. He went on to run the kitchen at James Cochran EC3 before launching his first restaurant, 12:51, in 2018. He recently opened Valderrama’s bar in [...]
Franco Manca owner’s revenue soars over 100 per cent with post-lockdown demand July 21, 2022 Revenue at Fulham Shore, which owns Franco Manca and The Real Greek, has soared more than 100 per cent in the post-lockdown march back to restaurant dining. The London-listed hospitality giant mas made an operating profit of £6.7m in the year to 27 March, swinging from a £4.8m loss in 2021. Fulham Shore has unveiled [...]
Restaurateurs grapple with food costs as dairy prices spike July 20, 2022 Restaurateurs are being forced to fork out more and more to create Brits’ favourite dishes, with the sharpest price hikes among dairy, grains and meat. Dairy costs have surged the most, with increases of up to 40 per cent, according to data from around one thousand pubs and restaurants collected by Fourth. Grains, including pasta [...]
Heatwave: Brits shun high street as businesses close to protect staff from scorching temperatures July 18, 2022 Brits have shunned the high street today as temperatures are expected to hit 40 degrees on Monday, while some businesses in London have closed. Office workers have shunned their workplace air-con and opted to avoid sweltering public transport, Springboard’s footfall figures reveal. Springboard’s ‘back to the office’ benchmark for central London office hubs shows that [...]
Chelsea Creek is a rare opportunity to buy a designer new build near King’s Road July 17, 2022 Designed by Goddard Littlefair, this show-home at Chelsea Creek is a slice of country life Home to one of the only new canals built in London in the last 100 years, Chelsea Creek is the waterfront living quarter that’s a stone’s throw away from the King’s Road in Chelsea. The apartments are relatively affordably priced [...]