WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING December 21, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES EX-LEHMAN CHIEF TO RUN SPAIN’S ECONOMY Spain’s new government has placed the economy in the hands of Luis de Guindos, former head of Lehman Brothers in Spain, as Mariano Rajoy, the prime minister, seeks to return the country to growth while embarking on a programme of budgetary austerity. As finance minister, Mr de [...]
Where will our readers be spending Christmas? December 20, 2011 DAVID WOOTTON LORD MAYOR OF LONDON “I am going to spend Christmas day in Mansion House with all the family, including my grandchildren who are coming from Chicago. Boxing Day will be spent in Sevenoaks and then to a hotel in Kent for the family to enjoy. Lastly my wife and I will be spending [...]
Joe Lewis raises his stake in M&B December 19, 2011 Billionaire currency trader Joe Lewis’s Piedmont investment vehicle has upped its stake in pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers, a former acquisition target, to over 25 per cent. Piedmont, which in October abandoned plans to make an offer for the group, is now M&B’s largest shareholder with a 25.65 per cent stake. “He’s blocking [...]
We’re nearly at £300,000! December 15, 2011 We have been overwhelmed by the huge support from our readers for City A.M.’s first-ever Christmas charity appeal. After just four weeks of fundraising we are delighted to be within reach of raising £300,000 for our chosen charity, Opportunity International, which offers small loans and banking services to entrepreneurs in southern Malawi. We’re now asking [...]
MANAGERS PULL THE PLUG ON THE OPENING OF NEW £25M SOHO CLUB December 15, 2011 IT SEEMS The Capitalist spoke too soon about the resurgence in Piccadilly’s entertainment scene. Just hours before the champagne was due to be uncorked at the new £25m club Dstrkt on Rupert Street, as reported yesterday (15 December), the long-awaited launch was abruptly cancelled. No official word on why last night’s opening didn’t go ahead [...]
X FACTOR CAST GET FIRST LOOK AT SOHO’S £25M NIGHTCLUB LAUNCH December 14, 2011 CRISIS, what economic crisis? Piccadilly, at least, is experiencing a revival, says clubs entrepreneur Fraser Donaldson, who tonight opens the £25m Dstrkt on Soho’s Rupert Street. “If you look at Hakkasan, Nobu and Roka, they all have two to three-week waits for tables,” reasons Donaldson, the former owner of Prince William’s favourite club Crystal on [...]
Whitbread sales growth slows in tough economy December 13, 2011 Britain’s biggest hotel operator WhitbreaD said its sales growth had slowed in the third quarter as tough economic conditions kept customers away from its Premier Inn hotels and Costa Coffee shops, which had previously proved resilient. The group, which also owns the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant chains, said on Tuesday sales at outlets [...]
£250,000 RAISED IN THREE WEEKS December 12, 2011 OUR Christmas charity appeal has raised a staggering £250,000 in just three weeks – all thanks to our generous readers. Please find the time to make your contribution, and through our match funding agreement, all donations from UK individuals will be matched by the Government pound for pound. You can also try your hand at [...]
Stuck for wine this Xmas? Try a Madeira my dear December 12, 2011 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT In the great age of exploration, Portuguese sailors would fill the holds of their ships with the wines of Madeira and sail to the New World. Like many wines of the era, destined for export, they were fortified – grape spirit was added to improve their stability and [...]
SINGAPORE TYCOON TO PITCH FOR FULHAM’S HISTORIC TOWN HALL December 11, 2011 FORGET the West End, the eyes of the property world will tomorrow be fixed on Fulham, when the council decides the fate of its historic town hall. The tender to develop the Grade II-listed site, which dates back to 1888, has been narrowed to a list of three developers – one retail, one residential and [...]