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 [...]
Prezzo toasts strong first-half September 5, 2012 Italian restaurant chain Prezzo posted a jump in first-half revenues and profits as it continues to roll out its expansion programme. Sales rose 14 per cent to £68.1m in the 26 weeks to 1 July while adjusted pre-tax profits increased by four per cent to £7.6m. The company opened 12 restaurants in the period bringing [...]
Lloyds ploughs £20m into new restaurant fund September 3, 2012 LLOYDS Banking Group’s private equity arm said yesterday it has agreed to provide £20m for a new restaurant fund set up by the former boss of The Clapham House Group. Paul Campbell is setting up the fund through his vehicle Hill Capital in partnership with LDC to invest in restaurant businesses with a small number [...]
Focus on: Wimbledon August 30, 2012 Wimbledon has become one the most popular places to live in London, with Wimbledon Village being near the top of the tree. Easy transport links make it ideal for those who want quick access to the city, whilst reaping the benefits of a quieter suburban life. On the fast train, you can expect to be [...]
Pop-ups are everywhere but The Seagrass shines August 27, 2012 RESTAURANT THE SEAGRASS 74 Chapel Market, Islington, N1 9ER Tel: 020 7837 5270 FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £30 POP-UPS. They’ve become a thing, haven’t they? If it’s not located in the loft of an abandoned Victorian insane asylum, it isn’t worth a dime. You can’t move for the [...]
All aboard the magnificent Orient Express August 19, 2012 ITALY’S in debt, you say? Well, I’m on the Orient Express headed straight to Venice – fiddling while Rome burns, you might say – and there’s no sign of the Italian economy crashing here. As if to prove my point, the flamboyant Massimo shows me another popular purchase from the train’s on-board shop. “These diamond [...]