Ivell takes on a new exec role at M&B October 27, 2011 BOB IVELL was yesterday confirmed as executive chairman of Mitchells & Butlers as interim chief executive Jeremy Blood stepped down, following a bruising period when largest shareholder Joe Lewis made an aborted takeover attempt. The shake-up brings the number of board-level changes in the last four years to nine, with six chairmen and three chief [...]
Reflections on a positive year October 27, 2011 Q.Are you happy with One New Change a year on? Has it been a commercial success? A.In just 12 months, and despite tough economic conditions, One New Change is playing a leading role in transforming the City of London into a desirable weekday and weekend shopping and eating destination for Londoners and visitors to the [...]
City of London calls in lawyers over St Paul’s campers as disruptions enter second week October 23, 2011 THE City of London has vowed to get tough with protesters camping outside St Paul’s as the Occupy LSX movement enters its second week. A crunch meeting today will see the City of London Corporation meet with representatives of the cathedral and lawyers to discuss how to close down the makeshift commune. A spokesman for [...]
BILL OF THE WEEK October 23, 2011 THE TOUGH times have finally reached Mayfair. When four private investors hit Bellamys on Bruton Place, they economised by settling for only the second-most expensive vintage on the wine list that prides itself on “accessible prices” – the 1982 Château Cos d’Estournel St Estèphe at £975. Add in a £150 bottle of 2007 Clos des [...]
Opening up a new vista in air travel October 23, 2011 THE Nina J is bobbing up and down in the clear sparkling Riviera water, flanked by other super yachts that occasionally eject bevies of python and white linen-clad babes ready to take Monaco by storm. Around the pier, portly perma-tanned sugar daddies squeeze the waists of their young Ivankas as they ponder how to blow [...]
Washington DC October 23, 2011 Food DC’s West End lies within an easy stroll of the White House, so there are plenty of opportunities for “power dining” among the area’s officials, lobbyists – and visitors alike. The Old Ebbitt Grill’s Oyster Bar is rightfully renowned, has an authentic Victorian interior, and being two blocks from the White House was a [...]
Protesters defy St Paul’s tourism pleas October 20, 2011 PROTESTERS outside St Paul’s yesterday dismissed fears their camp could force the closure of the Cathedral. Activists appeared indifferent after the clergy pleaded with them to consider the “risk to the life of the cathedral” created by the fall in visitor numbers since the protest began One activist named Lucy, 32, who described herself as [...]
RACEHORSE OWNERS DO THE DOUBLE AT GREEN’S October 20, 2011 IT HAS been two years since Lloyds Bank on Cornhill became the City outpost of Green’s. And to mark the occasion, the restaurant’s co-owner Simon Parker-Bowles threw a “double celebration” for his horse racing associates at the mezzanine Runner Bar. Double, because Parker-Bowles also unveiled the collection of silks donated by his friends: the colours [...]
Learning to cook El Bulli-style October 19, 2011 The Family Meal: Home cooking with Ferran Adrià Ferran Adrià £19.95, Phaidon WHERE the allure of Jamie Oliver’s and Nigella’s books comes from the idea that you’ll cook like them, “The Family Meal” is less “cook like Ferran”, but “eat like Ferran”. The recipes are a fresh insight into the working life at the now [...]
Following Soho’s Norman invasion October 19, 2011 RUSSELL NORMAN was the former operations director at Caprice Holdings, where he launched concepts such as the Ivy Club with Mark Hix, chef director at the time. He left in 2008 to set up Polpo, a Venetian bacaro, which serves small Italian plates in an informal setting. Following Polpo’s success (which was recently named 25th [...]