Wagamama halts expansion November 8, 2009 Wagamama, the canteen-style noodle bar chain, has said that it has temporarily halted its expansion plans, but is set to resume openings in the spring after a robust financial performance. The Japanese restaurant chain, which has 65 restaurants, said operating profits jumped 75 per cent to £7.1m for the year to April 2009 on sales [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 4, 2009 THE FINANCIAL TIMES OPEL U-TURN LEAVES GERMANY ANGRYGermany and Russia reacted furiously to General Motors’ surprise decision to keep Opel rather than sell it, throwing up fresh uncertainty about the future direction of one of Europe’s biggest carmakers. The news that GM’s board had abandoned the sale of Opel/Vauxhall to Canada’s Magna and Russia’s Sberbank [...]
Sun, sea and Arabian Delights November 1, 2009 THERE are many parts of the world about which I am pessimistic but Dubai, despite its recent economic woes, is not one of them. Nobody else in the Middle East has pulled off what Dubai has achieved: a peaceful, capitalist, multi-ethnic state based on commerce, property, finance, entertainment and tourism. While it has been engulfed [...]
DELOITTE CONSULTANT DUSTS OFF DANCING SHOES IN CINEMA DEBUT November 1, 2009 HERE at City A.M., we like to champion the interests of our dear parishioners, and there’s nothing The Capitalist likes better than hearing about one of the flock with aspirations in the glitzy world of showbiz. Step forward Sanjay Shah, a consultant at Deloitte, whose debut on the silver screen was shown across London for [...]
Bag yourself an apartment in the iconic Barbican October 29, 2009 WHEN it comes to residential property in the City, there is nowhere quite like the Barbican. Ever since it was built in the sixties, the brutalist masterpiece has been one of the most iconic buildings in the Square Mile. For those who work in the City there could hardly be a more convenient location – [...]
20-hour shifts are the recipe for success October 28, 2009 IT’S 9AM and Marcus Wareing looks very tired. We’re in the kitchen at his self-named Mayfair restaurant, the best in London, according to Harden’s Guide. It is unusual for a chef of Wareing’s fame and brand-power to be so involved in the kitchen, but he is nothing if not hands on. “This morning I’ve been [...]
Growing our truly unique readership October 22, 2009 City A.M. is based upon the idea that print remains a competitive and efficient medium, even today. While we are planning exciting developments for our digital offering in the months ahead, we believe a great print product remains the fastest and most efficient way of providing readers with a quick and concise overview of all [...]
Why we are about more than just financial news October 22, 2009 RIGHT from the start, City A.M. has been about much more than just business and financial news and comment. Our daily sports section has always been an essential part of our offering and our writers and columnists now enjoy a growing and devoted following. We have all the biggest sports stories that matter – every [...]
Serious Fraud Office begins probe into City trader Levene October 21, 2009 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched a formal criminal investigation into the activities of north London financier Nicholas Levene. The 45-year-old, from High Barnet, has been declared bankrupt as City clients pursue him through the courts over alleged debts of at least £200m. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said it has opened an inquiry [...]
Hunker down in a cosy bar this autumn October 19, 2009 WHEN temperatures drop – as they did rather suddenly at the weekend – it’s time for a change of tack when it comes to drinking venues. Those breezy summer cocktails in light-filled bars don’t seem quite the thing when it’s dark and blowing a freezing gale outside. What we need is intimacy and comfort – [...]