Heron Tower still standing as overseas lenders flock to financing deal December 15, 2016 The City of London’s tallest skyscraper has attracted new lenders to the UK commercial property market, as its financers reached their syndication target. ING and Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (LBBW) have now completed the syndication of their £400m loan against Heron Tower. The pair have syndicated over £200m, exceeding their 50 per cent target. It is understood [...]
It’s take off for Gordon Ramsay Group’s Plane Food as it secures a 10-year Heathrow deal December 14, 2016 Gordon Ramsay Group has secured a 10-year extension of its Plane Food restaurant at Heathrow’s Terminal 5. The restaurant will close for 12 weeks next year as it undergoes a makeover, before reopening in July, when it will boast a new bar along with the creation of semi-private dining areas. Plane Food opened in Heathrow back [...]
Working Lunch: Think you know what Venetian food is? Educate and treat yourself at the same time at Veneta in St James’ Market December 13, 2016 Veneta St James’ Market, SW1Y WHAT? Everyone knows what Italian food is about, but could you name a distinctly Venetian dish? If you can’t, educate and treat yourself at the same time with a visit to Veneta. Stuffed full of regional delicacies like bigoli (fat spaghetti) and spice trade seasonings (plenty of saffron and cardamom), [...]
Camden Town Brewery, one of London’s leading craft beer brands, is launching in NYC December 7, 2016 Calling all British craft beer fiends: Camden Town Brewery will launch its flagship Hells lager in New York City this month. The craft beer brewer was acquired by global industry leader AB InBev for £85m about a year ago and has received significant investment from the brand's high end division, enabling it to launch into new markets and build a new, purpose-built [...]
Ikea’s global profit is up 20 per cent for 2016 with growth in China December 7, 2016 Swedish furniture retailer Ikea Group reported global profit rose 20 per cent following its fifth year of sales growth in the UK last month and rapid growth in China. The figures Total sales for the financial year reached €34.2bn (£29.1bn), up 7.1 per cent from last year, and sales grew in 27 out of 28 markets. China was one of [...]
Our resident chef Mark Hix on the perfect way to cook kale, our generation’s hipster superfood December 6, 2016 As a kid my grandmother used to serve curly kale every winter but like a lot of her home cooking, she’d completely crucify it. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't a bad cook per se, but like most people of her generation, she didn't really know when to turn the gas off. There was just [...]
Interiors: Embark on a ‘tipples and trees’ tour to get festive inspiration from London’s hotels and restaurants December 5, 2016 Now the merry month of December is upon us it’s time to fire up the festive spirit and prepare to entertain descending hordes of relatives. But what to do with them? A Christmas-themed afternoon tea or a festive cocktail at one of London’s landmark venues is a surefire way to impress. This time of year, [...]
Focus On Maida Vale: Why financiers and celebrities flock to the birthplace of the London mansion block December 5, 2016 The London mansion block has never been so popular, yet there are only a finite number in existence. While many luxury property developers are seeking to reinvent them for the 21st century for a tidy profit, the birthplace of the original – the real white-stuccoed deal – is still Maida Vale in north west London. [...]
Fortnum & Mason announces record results with sales and profit up December 5, 2016 Luxury retailer Fortnum & Mason has announced record sales and profit growth of more than 25 per cent for the third year in a row, and revealed that it has increased trading with domestic UK brands over the past 12 months. The iconic British brand reported profits of £6.2m, up 27 per cent compared to [...]
Feeling peckish? You can now get a Just Eat takeaway delivered by a robot December 1, 2016 The robots are coming. But wait, only to deliver your takeaway. Just Eat has teamed up with Starships Technologies to deliver its first takeaway meal by a robot. It follows five months of "exhaustive testing" in Greenwich, and the pilot programme will see local customers in the area received automated deliveries So fear not if [...]