McDonald’s profits fall as US diners stay away April 22, 2014 MCDONALD’S has suffered another sluggish quarter of sales in its key US market, dragging group profits down, as the fast-food giant struggled with fierce competition, weak consumer spending and a cold winter. Group like-for-like sales rose 0.5 per cent but US sales fell 1.7 per cent, which the hamburger chain blamed partly yesterday on the [...]
Restaurant review: One Kensington April 15, 2014 @steve_dinneen RESTAURANT 1 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP Tel: 0207 795 6533 FOOD Two Stars VALUE Two Stars ATMOSPHERE Two Stars Cost for two without booze: £100 I’m pretty sure Jason Atherton’s Berner’s Tavern featured prominently on the mood-board for Tamarind Collection’s new opening, One Kensington. They’re both big, high, grand old halls that have [...]
Heineken to sell off 100 UK pubs April 14, 2014 HEINEKEN is considering plans to sell around 100 of its UK pubs, up to 10 per cent of its British pub estate. The Dutch brewer is understood to be in the earliest stages of talks to dispose of the poorest performing pubs in its portfolio. “We currently have around 1,250 pubs in our estate, but [...]
Running your personal best time through the rainforest April 13, 2014 The day after the London Marathon, Kasmira Jefford tells us where to head for the next race IT IS is not yet eight in the morning but already the heat and humidity is cloying as I run down the long, red-earth road that skirts the south side of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, [...]
Crown Estate invests in St James April 10, 2014 The Crown Estate which owns Regent Street and other London landmarks, announced yesterday that it has made another investment in St James, acquiring 113 Jermyn Street for £6.7m. In the past five years the Crown Estate has invested £320m in 14 properties around St James’s. The investment is part of The Crown Estate’s plan to [...]
It’s high time you bought a plot in paradise April 10, 2014 Daniel O’Mahoney plays prospective buyer (and golf) at the resort THE sun-kissed Algarve region is hardly Portugal’s best-kept secret, and certainly not among British holidaymakers. It shows as soon as you step off the plane – plastered around Faro airport are loud English adverts for Marmite and ketchup. But only a 20 minute drive after [...]
Prezzo fires up its profits after launching chicken and rib brand April 9, 2014 PREZZO yesterday announced a 15 per cent increase in revenue for the year to December 2013, thanks to the launch of its new Cleaver branded restaurants. The company said growth had been boosted by the launch of its new open-grill chicken and ribs chain. Prezzo has so far launched four new Cleaver restaurants in Surrey [...]
Thali joins the growing Indian food renaissance April 8, 2014 @steve_dinneen RESTAURANT THALI 166 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0BA Tel: 020 7373 2626 FOOD Four Stars VALUE Four Stars ATMOSPHERE Four Stars Cost for two with some wine: £107 SO LAST month everything was plodding along nicely, all work, work, pub, pub, pub, taxi, take-away, bottle of red, quick whisky, sleep, aspirin, coffee, coffee, work, [...]
The man putting new power into Battersea Station April 7, 2014 Rob Tincknell talks to Kasmira Jefford about British buyers and a new breed of nesters ROB TINCKNELL is leading the way up a flight of steps to the roof of Battersea Power Station’s marketing suite. “We have got to be really quiet,” he whispers, as he opens the door onto the terrace and points to [...]
City watchdog confirms move to Olympic Park April 2, 2014 STRATFORD moved closer yesterday to becoming London’s next business district after securing the Financial Conduct Authority as its first tenant. The City watchdog confirmed plans to move its 3,000 staff from its current offices in Canary Wharf to a new £2bn development next to the Olympic Park known as the International Quarter. The deal is [...]