I did avalanche training so I could ski more January 13, 2025 What do an ex Royal Marine, a former police inspector and a Network Rail team leader have in common? They all recently passed the Ski Club of Great Britain reps course. I joined this trio and 32 others from all parts of the UK to undertake an intense 12-day programme in Tignes, France to become [...]
Chauffeur firm Blacklane looks to ‘double down’ on London after Saudi cash injection January 13, 2025 Luxury chauffeur service Blacklane is looking to “double down” on London after announcing its largest-ever funding round late last year. The Berlin-based firm, which counts Mercedes-Benz and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s Tasaru Mobility among its investors, raised £53.5m in October amid long-running reports of a possible Initial Public Offering (IPO). Blacklane’s airport transfer [...]
Extra bank holiday 2025: Hospitality industry slams Number 10 decision January 10, 2025 Bank holidays 2025: Number 10 has announced the additional day off has been canned It had been rumoured that an additional bank holiday would make its way onto the calendar for 2025 to earmark the end of WWII, but Number 10 has announced that the extra day off won’t be going ahead. UK hospitality bodies [...]
Best cocktails in London: the freezing martini at Hawksmoor January 9, 2025 Next in our recommendations for the best cocktails in London, the freezing martini at Hawksmoor While we wait for the announcement about the new James Bond, pass the time at the Hawksmoor, with its new ultrasonic homogeniser martini. Like drinking a super-refined slush puppy, it has a thicker consistency, adding texture to the drink’s formidable [...]
The Wolseley: Group behind high-end London restaurants eyes new openings January 9, 2025 The group behind some of London’s best-known restaurants is looking to open new locations at home and abroad. The Wolseley Hospitality Group, which is owned by Minor Hotels, currently operates nine high-end restaurants in the capital: The Wolseley, The Delauney, Brasserie Zedel, Colbert, Fischer’s, Belanger, Soutine, Manzi’s and The Wolseley City. The strategy update has [...]
Marks and Spencer shares plunge despite bumper results January 9, 2025 Marks and Spencer shares plunged by eight per cent in early deals this morning as investors digested the company’s Christmas trading update. The food and clothing retailer told markets this morning that food sales increased 8.7 in the 13 weeks to December 28, and sales of its new Christmas products grew 14 per cent. This [...]
Martin Williams: A wine-lover’s guide to London restaurants January 9, 2025 Having enjoyed many of the finest restaurants across the globe and my fair share of city breaks since leaving Gaucho and M in October, I can confirm that London’s restaurant scene continues to deliver in silver-plated spades and remains the gastronomic capital city, in terms of both diversity of offering and quality. As we enter [...]
The Capitalist: WFH rows, Zuck’s new watch and the City’s Tesco habits revealed January 9, 2025 WFH causes a ruckus, Zuckerberg's eye-catching watch and the nation's favourite meal deal: catch up on the latest gossip in The Capitalist.
Group linked to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar returns to profit January 8, 2025 A company linked to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has returned to the black, according to its most recently revealed set of accounts. Glasgow-based Hero Brands, whose portfolio includes German Doner Kebab, Island Poké and Choppaluna, has reported a £3.8m pre-tax profit for 2023. The new figure has been revealed in a statement while its [...]
Why the state should stay out of the kitchen January 7, 2025 A think tank has seriously floated the idea of government-run restaurants. The idea belongs in an age of wartime rationing, not the thriving, free-market food scene the City enjoys today, says Matthew Kilcoyne One wonders if the festive sherry stocks have been hit rather hard in certain London think tanks this Christmas. How else to [...]