WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING January 30, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES HK IPO FOR SUNSHINE OILSANDS Sunshine Oilsands, a Canadian tar sands company backed by Chinese state-owned enterprises, has shunned Toronto and will next month launch an initial public offering in Hong Kong that could raise as much as $600m. The company plans to sell a 25 per cent stake in the offering, according [...]
The Rib Room is okay… but that’s it January 30, 2012 The Carlton’s eatery turned 50 last year, celebrating with a refurb and new chef. But has it worked? Jumeirah Carlton Tower, SW1X 9PY FOOD ** SERVICE **** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £65 Elderly restaurants can be a bit like grandparents – demanding of respect without doing very much to deserve it. They [...]
Try dog sledding, shooting and snowshoeing – all before tea January 29, 2012 WITH the wind flying in my face, I looked ahead to see my pack of dogs, panting and straining at the leash, pulling us through the pristine white landscape of Haute Maurienne Vanoise. With just the teams of huskies in sight as far as the eye could see, and only the sound of barking and [...]
Subway to create 6,000 new UK jobs January 26, 2012 SUBWAY, the sandwich franchise chain, has announced ambitious plans to open over 2,000 stores in the UK and Ireland over the next three year, creating more than 6,000 jobs. The company, which is famous for its US-style foot-long rolls, said its expansion plans were fuelled by a growing consumer demand for “convenient, affordable” food on [...]
Investors give M&B a bloody nose on execs January 26, 2012 MANY shareholders in Mitchells & Butlers yesterday rebelled against the dominance of the company’s largest investor Piedmont by voting against the re-election of its representatives Ron Robson and Douglas McMahon to the board. Although all five directors were voted back onto the board at the company’s AGM, about one in five investors either voted against [...]
DARK HORSE HSBC TAKES RETAIL SITE IN LATE BID January 26, 2012 HSBC is committed to the City of London – for its latest retail opening, at least. The Capitalist hears the bank has gazumped a well-known restaurateur to emerge as the new tenant at 1 Bishopsgate, after offering a far higher, undisclosed, sum to turn the disused property into a “premier suite” retail bank in time [...]
GOING OUT January 26, 2012 The festive season witnessed the birth of a plethora of new bars and clubs in the capital, notable amongst them was The Rose on 23 Orchard Street in Marylebone, brought to you by clubland mainstays Nick House and Piers Adam (Whisky Mist, Punchbowl, Mahiki). Their newest project houses a 300 capacity, chic speakeasy-style nightclub with [...]
Mitchells & Butlers sales better than forecast January 26, 2012 Restaurants and pubs group Mitchells & Butlers reported a better than expected first quarter sales rise, benefiting from milder weather over the Christmas and New Year period and strong demand for casual dining. The company, whose chains include Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One, said it was confident of further growth in the year [...]
GROUPON LISTS MILLION DOLLAR TRADER’S DEAL January 25, 2012 RESTAURANTS, holidays, cars – and now trading seminars. Today’s deal of the day on the internet coupon business Groupon is a 95 per cent discount to £19.95 on the trading academy run by the irrepressible hedge fund manager Lex van Dam. To recap: van Dam (right) is the ex-Goldman banker who left to set up [...]
Britain edges closer to recession as GDP falls January 25, 2012 Britain’s economy edged closer to recession in the last three months of 2011, after output contracted for the first time in a year, official data showed. The figures are likely to reinforce expectations the Bank of England will inject more stimulus into the economy next month after BoE Governor Mervyn King warned of an arduous [...]