Zizzi owner Azzurri shrinks losses despite sector challenges November 18, 2019 Azzurri, the owner of casual dining restaurants Ask Italian and Zizzi, reported shrinking losses this year despite the challenges facing the sector in the UK. Azzurri reported a loss before tax of £16.3m in the 12 months to 30 June, compared to a loss of £23.4m last year, and said it remained confident despite “ongoing [...]
UK’s top restaurants swing to £93m loss November 18, 2019 The UK’s top 100 restaurants swung to a loss this year as they struggled to stay afloat under the increasing pressure of rising overheads and falling sales, which are taking their toll on the casual dining sector. The industry has plunged to a £93m loss in the last 12 months, in a year that has [...]
Focus on Wood Green: First-time buyers flock to this up-and-coming North London locale November 15, 2019 Known to many Londoners as the gateway to a night out at the Alexandra Palace, Wood Green is situated on the border between North East and North West London, just within the North Circular. It is also home to Wood Green Animal Shelter, one of the largest in London which was recently the subject of [...]
Exclusive: Questions over Chilango’s future after burrito chain calls in restructuring firm RSM November 14, 2019 Mexican chain Chilango, best known for its “Burrito Bonds”, is in talks to secure its long-term future with restructuring firm RSM and is more than six weeks late posting its accounts. City A.M. understands from a source familiar with the discussions that the firm is considering all options including administration or a company voluntary arrangement [...]
Ditch the train and test drive a Range Rover Sport on a long weekend at the Victoria Inn November 13, 2019 Some of Great Britain’s best spots are best explored without the disappointment often caused by the UK rail network. But what if you’re one of the thousands of car-less Londoners who yearn for a road-trip but shudder at the thought of queuing at an airport car hire kiosk for an hour just to be handed [...]
Meet our City A.M. PA Awards Judges – Leonid Shutov November 11, 2019 Leonid Shutov is the owner and CEO of Bob Bob Ricard and Bob Bob Cité Bob Bob Cité opened in the summer of this year after much anticipation – how have your first few months been? Very busy and very exciting – there is always much to do when a restaurant first opens. We have [...]
Focus on Barnsbury: An elegant oasis between Islington and King’s Cross November 8, 2019 Barnsbury counts bustling King’s Cross and lively Upper Street among its neighbours. But if you were blindfolded and dropped in the middle of one of its streets you’d probably think you were in a sedate suburb rather than the heart of N1. Firstly, it is very quiet – so quiet that, in 2013, one of [...]
Pizza Express owner to pay down debt pile with £80m cash injection November 6, 2019 The Chinese owner of restaurant chain Pizza Express has launched a tender offer to buy up £80m of the company’s unsecured bonds, as it looks to allay concerns about the firm’s financial future. Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital, which bought the company in 2014, appointed financial advisors before crucial talks with creditors last month [...]
Chef’s Table: Flor’s James Lowe invites My Dad Wrote a Porno creator Alice Levine for lunch November 4, 2019 The Lunch: Bread; Anchovy toast, lardo di colonnata, marjoram; Scarlet prawns, orange yuzu kosho; Palourde clam flatbread, spenwood, vin jaune, lautrec garlic; burrata, chestnut, pickled walnuts; Turbot, cultured butter, ‘les molates’ savagnin Alice Levine: Thanks for having me James. I remember when we first met – it was when I was doing supper clubs and [...]
How a Lexus mid-life crisis led to a £3m yacht and a car that outshines Jaguar and Porsche October 30, 2019 A few years ago, at the prestigious Pebble Beach concours in California, the president of the Toyota Motor Company was holding court and pressing flesh. Akio Toyoda, 63, is the grandson of Toyota’s founder and so, you can imagine, he takes enormous pride in its products, and none more so than its luxury off-shoot, Lexus. [...]