Government housing minister Brandon Lewis has admitted defeat in the face of the housing crisis: Generation Rent can’t make a “judgement call” about where they live December 2, 2015 The government has admitted defeat in the face of the London housing crisis. At least, that was the conclusion I drew yesterday when the housing minister told people hoping to stay in London to make “a judgement call about what you can afford and where is right for you”. By being “up front about the [...]
Greene King share price jumps as profits rise and Spirit integration takes place “ahead of plan” December 2, 2015 Brewery Greene King had a strong six months to mid-October, after successfully integrating its latest purchase into the business. The figures During the 24 weeks to 18 October, Greene King's pre-tax profit rose by 46.9 per cent to £121.3m, driven mostly by its acquisition of pub group Spirit Pub Company for £774m in July. It [...]
German Gymnasium restaurant review: This menu has the best sausage in town December 1, 2015 1 Kings Blvd, N1C 4BU, germangymnasium.com FOOD ★★★★★ | VALUE ★★★☆☆ | ATMOSPHERE ★★★★☆ Cost for two with booze: £120 The name German Gymnasium evokes images of preening, glistening men flexing their biceps; of grunts of exertion and the repetitive fwap of fists against leather; of the distant scent of Lynx. Restaurant giant D&D’s new venture is so-called [...]
Focus On Dalston: Why City workers still dig it November 30, 2015 Dalston may have become a byword for a certain type of bearded hipster in recent years, but there’s much more to the area than meets the eye. While Hackney has been through a tremendous change, Dalston has probably seen the greatest amount of it next to Shoreditch. There are now too many hot bars and [...]
Fortnum & Mason gets a pre-Christmas boost with record sales November 30, 2015 Londoners' enthusiasm for posh food continues apace, after luxury food retailer Fortnum & Mason's posted record sales. In the 12 months to July, total sales amounting to £88m for the period – 19 per cent higher than 2014 and 70 per cent higher than five years ago. In addition, profit before tax was 31 per cent [...]
Shares rise at travel caterer SSP as summer holiday-makers boost profits November 26, 2015 Travel catering giant SSP posted a surge in full-year profits thanks to a rise in customers dining at their airport restaurants and cafes this summer before jetting off on holiday. The FTSE 250 company also paid its first full year dividend to 4.3 pence per share since its £1bn debut on the London stock market last [...]
Organic coffee company Cru Kafe turns to Seedrs to raise £300,000 in crowdfunding campaign to “stabilise its working capital” November 24, 2015 Ethical coffee brand Cru Kafe is looking to raise £300,000 in an equity fundraiser on crowdfunding site Seedrs. In exchange for 5.76 per cent of the company's stock, the Cru Kafe, which makes organic, Fairtrade coffee capsules for espresso machines, is looking for cash to help grow its business. Co-founder and chief executive Colin Pyle told City A.M. the [...]
Shaftesbury continues to be buoyed by London’s West End property market November 24, 2015 London's residential property market might be cooling, but the commercial sector is showing no signs of slowing down with landlord Shaftesbury reporting strong growth for the full year. The figures Shaftesbury's net asset value per share rose 21.9 per cent to £8.69 in the year to September 30, up from £7.13 a year earlier. Earnings at the [...]
Deliveroo: Restaurant home delivery app raises $100m investment from DST Global and Greenoaks Capital as it looks to expand in Asia and Australia November 24, 2015 Deliveroo, the app which delivers meals from restaurants to your door, has raised $100m (£66m) to fund further expansion. Deliveroo today launches in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney, thanks to $70m raised during the summer. It only launched internationally in April with locations in Paris and Berlin. This latest funding round, a series D investment, was [...]
Bamako Radisson Blu hotel attack: Hostages ‘freed’ after Mali special forces storm building November 20, 2015 Malian special forces have stormed a luxury hotel and seemingly brought an end to a hostage situation in the African state's capital, Bamako. Officials say there are "no more hostages" at the 90-room Radisson Blu Hotel but it is reported that 18 hostages and two gunmen are dead. A Belgian member of parliament, Geoffrey Dieudonne, has been confirmed among [...]