Franco Manca owner The Fulham Shore in talks over restaurant expansion February 8, 2021 Franco Manca owner The Fulham Shore said it is in negotiations for many sites across the UK as it gets ready to restart its expansion plans as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted. The firm has been able to secure discounts on new sites, with the coronavirus pandemic enabling it to acquire new restaurants at [...]
TDR Capital aims for bullseye with £540m Arrow offer February 8, 2021 Private equity firm TDR Capital has made a fourth offer for European investor and asset manager Arrow Global. The offer stands at a price of 305 pence per share, TDR said on Monday. Shares in Arrow rose 29 per cent to 298 pence following the bid, which would value the company at around £540m. The [...]
Losses at top 100 restaurant groups rocket 112 per cent to £571m February 8, 2021 Losses at the top 100 UK restaurant groups increased 112 per cent to £517m last year, rising from reported losses of £269m at the end of last month. According to UHY Hacker Young, the losses are expected to continue, as restaurants have been forced to shut again because of the latest coronavirus restrictions. UK Hospitality, [...]
Don’t let Covid spoil Valentine’s Day – bring the party home February 6, 2021 Usually the first busy night of the year for bars and restaurants, this Valentine’s Day promises to be a more subdued affair thanks to ongoing restrictions. But don’t let that spoil the romantic fun – here’s a list of some ways to bring the party to you on 14 February. Boisdale Valentine’s Night Dinner Kit [...]
Pubs and restaurants could reopen in April without alcohol February 6, 2021 Pubs and restaurants could reopen as soon as April on the condition that they agree not to sell alcohol, according to reports. Ministers are considering a a temporary “booze ban” as part of the government’s roadmap for lifting lockdown set to be unveiled on 22 February, the Telegraph reported. Scientists are understood to be concerned that [...]
Time Out to open Abu Dhabi market as it banks on post-Covid recovery February 3, 2021 Time Out today unveiled plans to open a new food market in Abu Dhabi as the media group pins its hopes on a return to dining out after the pandemic. The market, which is set to open on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island in 2023, will be the company’s second location in the United Arab Emirates, [...]
Best of travel: Eating and drinking with the St Petersburg locals February 3, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. This week we revisit Ashwin Bhandari’s trip to St Petersburg, the cultural heart of Russia. Read more: Jaguar XF P300 review: revitalised luxury at a surprisingly low price ••• There are not many places that have left me [...]
Chris Tremlett: India tours pose unique challenges, even more so at this time February 3, 2021 An India tour can feel very alien for a cricketer, as England’s players there for a Test series that begins on Friday will know. It is a completely different culture to other places you visit, like Australia, South Africa and the Caribbean, and poses unique challenges. Cricketers are like gods to Indians, so when you [...]
Sony raises profit outlook by a third amid lockdown home entertainment boom February 3, 2021 Japanese electronics and media giant Sony Corp on Wednesday hiked its full-year profit outlook by a third as it taps surging demand for video games, music and movies as people feast on home entertainment amid Covid19 lockdowns. Reuters reports this morning. Sony now expects 94bn yen ($8.95bn) in operating profit in the 12 months through [...]
Why baijiu is set to take the UK spirits business by storm February 2, 2021 The famous Chinese poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty had some very precise ideas about drinking. He once wrote, “One’s drinking companions should be elegant, unrestrained, forthright, understanding, old friends or beautiful”. He further counselled that “The best places for drinking should be in front of flowers, in the bamboo forest, in a high [...]