SIR TOM HUNTER TAKES TOP SCOTTISH HONOUR May 5, 2011 A VERY unusual thing happened earlier this week, according to motor racing legend Jackie Stewart: “A Scotsman did quite well.” Stewart was referring to the emotional moment when the Wizard of Wishaw John Higgins lifted the Snooker World Championship trophy for the fourth time on Monday night after narrowly beating newcomer Judd Trump. But he [...]
Bucolic beauty in a Cornish setting May 5, 2011 THERE are many Cornwalls. There’s the one of Celtic myths, Arthurian legends, castles and runes; the one of bohemian creativity, of Barbara Hepworth and Tate St Ives; the Cornwall of surfing and beach parties; and the Cornwall of lonely landscapes, remote fishing villages and, er, pasties. Nowadays there’s Cornwall for the modern sophisticate too: designer [...]
IT’S BACK: APPRENTICE RETURNS WITH FRESH BAIT FOR LORD SUGAR May 3, 2011 THE STAKES are higher than ever on series seven of The Apprentice with more pressure, more risk and even more difficult challenges for the 16 hard-nosed contestants. Gripping viewing – but no-one will be watching the opening episode of this year’s series (next Tuesday) with more interest than the employees of Scottish & Southern Energy [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS May 3, 2011 BSKYB Credit Suisse rates the media group “neutral” and has raised its target price to 870p, based on the price it believes News Corp might have to pay to secure a takeover recommendation from the board. A News Corp offer for BSkyB could come within days, the broker thinks. Credit Suisse has calculated its new [...]
NOISY NEIGHBOURS MAKE MAYOR MICHAEL A SORE-HEADED BEAR May 2, 2011 BEING Lord Mayor of London comes with its benefits. Just ask the present mayor Michael Bear, who took a seat in Westminster Abbey last Friday alongside David Beckham, Elton John and David Cameron as a guest at the Royal Wedding. There is also, of course, the advantage of a grace-and-favour home at Mansion House round [...]
Whitbread to expand faster as profits jump 20pc April 28, 2011 Pub and hotel operator Whitbread has pushed pre-tax profits up 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 and committed to further expansion in core brands such as Costa Coffee and Premier Inn. Whitbread produced £287.1m underlying pre-tax profit, up from £239.1m in the same quarter in 2010, as like for like sales increased [...]
BAA warns on Heathrow traffic as losses increase April 27, 2011 BRITISH airports operator BAA scaled back its forecasts for passenger traffic at Heathrow during the peak summer season and said higher interest costs pushed it deeper into the red in the first-quarter, wiping out the benefits of revenue increases and lower costs. BAA, majority owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial , said yesterday that its [...]
Greene King buys Realpubs as the fine weather brings in more customers April 27, 2011 PUBS and brewery group Greene King reported accelerating sales growth and said it had benefited from good weather attracting drinkers into its pubs over the last few weeks. The group, which brews Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen beer, also said it had purchased Realpubs, which operates 14 London pubs, for £53.1m. That takes [...]
It’s time to uncork a bottle of bubbly or ten April 27, 2011 NO doubt there’ll be rather a few champagne glasses being clinked around the country tomorrow. One of the more predictable aspects of attending a good wedding is the certainty of a pulsating champagne hangover the next day, and this time that applies to street parties, garden parties, pub gatherings and all the other get-togethers taking [...]
Zara Phillips knows a thing or two about relaxation. So if she favours a beautiful horsey resort in the rolling hills near Lisbon, it can’t be a bad place for us, either April 25, 2011 THESE are busy days for Zara Phillips, what with her wedding to rugby player Mike Tindall in July, her cousin Will’s nuptials this week and training to compete in next year’s Olympics. But judging by Zara’s choice of holiday home – a 220 sq m, four-bedroom villa with pool set on rolling Portuguese hills half [...]