Cheers to that: Britain is now the “beating heart” of the global wine trade May 3, 2016 Britain has become the "beating heart" and a "giant" of the global wine industry, according to research from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA). We'll drink to that. Britain's wine trade has more than doubled in the last decade and has become a key hub for importing and distributing wine to 124 countries across [...]
Costa Coffee owner Whitbread orders a salad to go after buying a £6.8m stake in Pure May 3, 2016 Whitbread, the hospitality company behind Costa Coffee and restaurants including Beefeater Grill, is balancing out its diet after buying a 49 per cent stake in a healthy food-to-go chain for £6.8m. Pure, which was founded by entrepreneur Spencer Craig in 2009, has eight outlets serving up salads and wraps to health-conscious commuters in locations including Moorgate and Soho. Craig said [...]
Just Eat share price rockets after upgrading full year guidance May 3, 2016 Just Eat has issued new full-year guidance on earnings – and investors are lapping it up. Shares in the takeaway ordering firm rocketed more than seven per cent in early trading after upping its revenue forecasts for the year by £8m and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) by £4m, all thanks to an increase on [...]
Conviviality to soak up wine wholesaler Bibendum May 3, 2016 Alcohol group Conviviality is to buy wine distributor and wholesaler Bibendum in a deal that worth £60m, which will be part-funded through a share issue. The Aim-listed business is looking to raise £32m through issuing shares at 205p each, with a further £10m being drawn from its banking facilities. Bibendum, which supplies wine, beer and spirits to around 4,000 restaurants, pubs [...]
New Builds: From Notting Hill to Battersea, here are the hottest new developments on the market this week April 29, 2016 Alto, Wembley From £715,000 High rise apartments have gone on sale at Alto, a development by Keystone and Quintain, which is part of the 83-acre regeneration of Wembley Park. The two and three bedroom apartments sit in the Pienna building, the 19-storey ‘crowning glory’ of the scheme designed by Flanagan Lawrence Architects, which worked on [...]
In pictures: The world’s tallest tower has just been unveiled – and it’s going to be in Dubai again April 28, 2016 If you thought the Burj Khalifa was big, prepare yourselves for a new tower that will leave the Dubai landmark in its shadow. Developer Emaar Properties has just unveiled a rival to snatch the title as the world's tallest tower. No final decision has been taken on how tall the Tower will be, but it will be [...]
Profit at Spanish banking giant Santander drops five per cent in the first quarter on currency headwinds April 27, 2016 The eurozone's largest bank and the UK challenger Banco Santander, has posted a 4.9 per cent fall in first-quarter net profit from a year earlier. Santander reported net profit of €1.63bn (£1.84bn), beating a Reuters analyst poll of a 12.5 per cent decline. The drop was put down to currency headwinds as a fall in the value of the Brazilian [...]
Hilton checks in double profits in the first quarter thanks to tax benefits and higher rooms rates April 27, 2016 US hotel group Hilton has reported a sharp increase of 42 per cent in like-for-like earnings per share compared to 2015 in its first quarter. Profit rose to $309m (£212m) – up from $150m in the same period in previous year – thanks to tax benefits and higher rooms rates. Hilton earned 17 cents per [...]
Kojawan restaurant at the Hilton Metropole is like a retro-futuristic art gallery in the sky April 26, 2016 Andrew Baggs overcomes a fear of high restaurants to thoroughly enjoy this Asian fusion izakaya Food | ★★★★☆ | Value ★★★★☆ | Vibe ★★★★☆ | Hilton Metropole, 225 Edgware Rd, W2 1JU Tel: 020 8088 0111 | Cost for two with wine: £140 I have, over the years, learnt to read the restaurant warning signs. There is an inverse relationship between [...]
Whitbread’s expansion drive continues as Costa Coffee and Premier Inn sales jump April 26, 2016 Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread has promised more expansion is on the way for the food, beverage and hotel chain as it posted improved profits in its full year results out this morning. Investors had clearly had their morning dose of caffeine as they bought up Whitbread with vigour on Tuesday morning, sending it up 2.97 per [...]