Whitbread’s share price falls as half-year results fail to impress October 25, 2016 Whitbread's penchant for the finer stuff failed to excite the market as its share price fell nearly three per cent after unveiling its half year numbers. The figures Total revenues increased by 8.1 per cent to £1.6bn, although like-for-like growth was up by a more modest 1.9 per cent. The group's Premier Inn hotel network generated just [...]
Long Weekend: Discover the glitzy nightlife and historic Portuguese-Chinese heritage of Macao, China October 21, 2016 THE WEEKEND: Macao may be known for its glitzy nightlife, but this unique destination only 40 miles from Hong Kong on the south coast of China offers a whole lot more than the roll of the dice. A huge foodie scene, a dazzling array of luxury hotels and a vibrant selection of cultural hotspots make [...]
Focus On Herne Hill: House prices rise 12 per cent year-on-year in Brixton’s genteel neighbouring town October 21, 2016 Without a doubt Brixton’s greener neighbour, Herne Hill is also seen historically as Brixton’s more genteel neighbour. In the mid-19th century, this well-heeled south London suburb was home to mainly large, upper class “country” estates and revered members of high society – such as art critic John Ruskin – grew up there. These days, past [...]
Focus On Holloway: How the area went from “no-go area” to a thriving hotspot for independent businesses October 17, 2016 Holloway may be one of the oldest neighbourhoods in north London, but it hasn’t always been popular. Londoners who weren’t Arsenal fans might only pass through to get on to the M1 and its infamous women’s prison on Parkhurst Road hardly does wonders for its reputation. For a long time, its only cultural claim to [...]
Meet the founder of Happn – the dating app putting love on the map October 17, 2016 Nearly one in 10 Londoners use dating app Happn. A colleague who’s more in the know than I am tells me it’s “recently become enormous on Instagram” – users can upload pictures direct from one to the other, with 30 of your most recent appearing automatically on your Happn profile. And once you’ve liked someone, [...]
Can Toronto seriously become the North American city break of choice? October 14, 2016 As the cab from the airport inched forward in nose to tail traffic towards the distinctive skyline in the distance, I already knew I was going to be charmed by Toronto. While beaches and mountains are all very well, I’m a city girl at heart and the lure of late night shopping, museums and a [...]
Elegant Hotels announces second dividend but bookings hit over the summer by “political uncertainties” in the UK October 14, 2016 Caribbean tourism group Elegant Hotels has announced it will pay out another dividend in February despite its booking feeling the effects of a summer of "political uncertainty" in the UK. In addition to an interim divi for the period to 30 September of 3.5p per share, Elegant Hotels will also pay a second divi also [...]
Time Out to open first London market in Shoreditch next year following success of Lisbon venue October 12, 2016 Time Out will launch its first London market in Shoreditch next year, the magazine publisher-turned-entertainment group announced today. The London market will follow the same model as the group's flagship venue in Lisbon, Portugal, which opened in May 2014. The 19,250 square foot space on Commercial Street will hold restaurants, bars, shops, an art gallery [...]
New Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch says there’s nothing fishy about Brexit, is hungry for global tourists October 11, 2016 The team behind the upcoming Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch hope to capitalise on Britain’s tumbling pound by luring wealthy foreign visitors. The five-storey, 150-room hotel on Willow Street in Hackney – originally slated to launch in 2014 but delayed by “construction issues” – will finally open its doors in spring 2017, just in time for [...]
National living wage pushes tens of thousands of companies into financial distress October 11, 2016 Nearly 100,000 businesses have been pushed into financial distress due to the introduction of the national living wage six months ago. According to data from insolvency firm Begbies Traynor, 97,342 firms impacted by the introduction of the national living wage are now struggling financially, an increase of 23 per cent since the legislation came into [...]