How to live the Polynesian dream October 3, 2010 IT’S a hot and humid afternoon in Nadi on the Fijian mainland as we squash into the rather intimate 14-seater plane that is to deliver us to Taveuni in the north-east of the archipelago. Known as Fiji’s Garden Island for its pristine tropical rainforests and ridiculously beautiful beaches, Taveuni is to be the starting point [...]
The Square Mile’s retail revolution September 27, 2010 IN the thrust and frenzy of City life, it’s crucial to have somewhere you can take yourself for a bit of quiet repose, if only while you wolf down a sandwich at lunchtime. Problem is, such spaces are rather thin on the ground in the Square Mile – but in a month’s time, one of [...]
Off-piste: the pre-snow joys of Chamonix September 26, 2010 ASK MOST people what comes into their head when you mention Chamonix, and they’ll say skiing. But the mountain capital of the world has much more to offer, especially when the snow disappears from everywhere but the highest peaks. Home to over eighty nationalities – making it one of the most multicultural places in France [...]
Fears grow over second EU debt crisis September 23, 2010 FEARS of a second European Sovereign debt crisis grew yesterday as economic data showed Ireland’s second quarter GDP fell while uncertainty over how the country will support its banking sector triggered a sell-off in its bond markets that sent gilt yields to a record high. The sell-off came after the Irish government signalled that holders [...]
M&B profit fed by food sales September 23, 2010 PUBS and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers yesterday reported a surge in food sales in recent weeks and said it was looking to make acquisitions as it re-shapes itself into a food-led business. M&B, which has over 2,000 pubs and restaurants and whose brands include Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery, reported a 4.4 [...]
FOCUS ON: EPSOM, SURREY September 23, 2010 ELEMENTS Price: From £294,995 for a two bed terrace Constructed on a former hospital site, this development consists of 322 two, three and four-bed homes. There are private rear gardens while some properties also have balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. Contact: Crest Nicholson on 0870 751 3958, www.crestnicholson. com/elements by Jessica Mead 13 COURT FARM AVENUE [...]
Mitchells & Butlers sees food sales soar September 23, 2010 Britain’s biggest pubs and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers reported a 4.4 per cent increase in sales at outlets open for more than a year driven by a surge in demand for food. The company, which is re-shaping itself into a food-led business, said sales of food increased 7.1 per cent in the nine weeks [...]
THE TIPSTER September 22, 2010 Mitchells & Butlers has lost ground this month despite last week reporting it is paying around £20m for 22 Ha Ha Bar & Grill restaurants. Can today’s trading update, which analysts expect to provide positive news, help lift the stock back up above the 300p level? ShortsandLongs.com has a rolling spread of 294.5p-296.1p. The afterglow [...]
Why go out for dinner when dinner could come to you? September 22, 2010 WHAT’S a hungry banker with a bonus burning in his back pocket to do? Ostentatious displays of wealth just aren’t the done thing anymore, unless you want to risk attracting the attention of marauding bands of bitter taxpayers. But just because a ten course blow-out at your favourite high-end restaurant might be off the menu [...]
Ivy founder in Middle East deal September 20, 2010 Richard Caring, the entrepreneur behind The Ivy, Rivington Grill and Scott’s has signed a joint venture with Jumeirah, the Dubai-based hotels and leisure business. The deal allows Jumeirah to open restaurants under the Caring brands. There is already a Rivington grill in Dubai, which opened in 2008. It is understood Caring’s holding company, Caprice, will [...]