Tortilla fuels expansion plans October 1, 2012 Mexican restaurant chain Tortilla has secured £2.25m in fresh funding from Santander to help pay for its expansion. Tortilla’s private equity investor Quilvest said yesterday the group will open three new outlets in the UK, including one opposite Trafalgar Square, taking its total in the country to 11. It is also in talks to take [...]
Utah: America’s secret scenic wonderland October 1, 2012 Touching down at Las Vegas airport at 9pm, we made a classic mistake. Predicting we’d be fine to drive the two-hour journey to our hotel after a refreshing Diet Coke and a few rounds of Blackjack at the Mandalay Bay, we didn’t expect to find ourselves deliriously sleep-deprived, jetlagged to the max and sans sat-nav, journeying [...]
Contemporary architecture at its best September 27, 2012 Broom Heath, Suffolk Strutt & Parker Guide Price £2.6m Located in the pretty market town of Woodbridge along the banks of the River Deben, stands this outstanding contemporary home. This award-winning house is a magnificent example of modern design, which sits harmoniously within its country landscape. Having been built just three years ago, buyers will [...]
Britain needs more venture capitalism – not a state bank September 25, 2012 HERE is a simple question. What do you think would do more to help the provision of finance for small firms? Vince Cable’s new state bank, which will begin its operations in 18 months’ time, or a radically improved tax system to improve the provision of equity financing and venture capital? In other words, is [...]
Duck & Waffle doesn’t have the greatest kitchen in the world but the views are ace September 24, 2012 RESTAURANT DUCK & WAFFLE Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY FOOD ** SERVICE **** ATMOSPHERE ***** Cost per person without wine: £44 MY HOUSE is what estate agents would euphemistically call “lower ground”, which translates almost exactly as “basement”. Outside the front door, running underneath the pavement, is a cupboard, which would, once upon a [...]
Capital & Counties gets cash to help it expand Covent Garden September 19, 2012 PROPERTY group Capital & Counties (Capco) yesterday raised £149.1m to help fund its ambitious plans for Covent Garden. The firm placed 68.4m shares at 218p per share, or a 1.1 per cent discount to Tuesday’s closing price. Capco said the funds will be used to help fund its £200m plans to snap up more properties [...]
No austerity bite at Conran restaurants September 18, 2012 REVENUES at the London outposts of Terence Conran’s restaurant group, D&D London, have grown by four per cent over the past year as customers flocked to his eateries including Quaglino’s, Coq D’Argent (roof terrace pictured) and Bluebird. Overall, turnover rose 2.5 per cent to £75.5m.
What the other papers say this morning September 18, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Greening orders probe into DfiD Justine Greening, the new international development secretary, has commissioned an investigation into her department’s use of consultants, despite assurances from Downing Street that the coalition has already done its best to “bear down” on wasteful aid spending. D&D London receives sales boost London’s fine diners have helped boost [...]
Winning the US Open is only the start – now Murray wants more September 11, 2012 British No1 Andy Murray believes his US Open victory can be the catalyst for myriad Major successes and has predicted that their is more to yet come from his game. Murray yesterday became the first British male to win a grand slam title in 76 years when he beat Novak Djokovic over five sets at [...]
Retail boss: Red tape is worse than ever September 9, 2012 THE COALITION will today announce plans to exempt hundreds of thousands of businesses from health and safety inspections, as one of the country’s leading businessmen criticised the coalition for taking too long to start tackling red tape. Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said the coalition’s decision to focus its efforts on economic growth after [...]