From Pizza Express to Channel 4: Who is Luke Johnson, Revolution Bars Group’s new chair? September 9, 2024 After a lengthy restructuring process that included £12.5m in emergency funding, Revolution Bars has appointed Luke Johnson as its new chair. The former Pizza Express and Channel 4 chairman provided £3m of the financing and owns a 20 per cent stake in the company. He will replace outgoing chair Keith Edelman, whose nine years in the role [...]
‘Game over’ for TGI Fridays’ UK owner Hostmore as shares crater almost 90 per cent September 9, 2024 TGI Fridays’ UK owner Hostmore is set to be wound down in a move that could wipe out its shareholders, after revealing it had dropped plans to buy the US restaurant chain for £177m. Shares in the London-listed company tanked by almost 90 per cent following the announcement on Monday. Hostmore, a hospitality firm which [...]
The Amalfi Coast is at its best in October – here’s why September 9, 2024 Mention Amalfi, and most imagine a sun-drenched romantic road trip along Italy’s famed coast, meandering through rustic towns draped in bougainvillea and cascading down mountainous cliffs towards a shimmering blue sea. A UNESCO world heritage landscape, the 34 mile stretch on Italy’s southern coast has inspired artists and writers whose creativity is fuelled by a [...]
T20 Blast Finals Day: When is it and how much are tickets? September 6, 2024 The traditional T20 Vitality Blast weekend is soon upon us, where the best white-ball domestic sides in England compete to be crowned champions. But when is it, where will it be held, who won it last year and how much are tickets? Well, City A.M. have you sorted. When is T20 Finals Day? T20 Finals [...]
‘King of Mayfair’ on cusp of selling The Ivy restaurant group to little-known London firm September 6, 2024 Billionaire restaurateur Richard Caring is on the cusp of securing a deal to sell his majority stake in The Ivy restaurant chain after more than two decades at the helm. The reported buyer, the little-known investment firm SI Advisers, is likely to pay in the region of £1bn for the group, which also includes The [...]
Chapel Down: Half-year profit almost wiped out as wine maker blames ‘one-off factors’ September 4, 2024 English wine producer Chapel Down has blamed ‘one-off factors’ for its pre-tax profit almost being wiped out during the first half of its financial year. The Kent-headquartered company, which is listed on AIM, said the fall from £2.4m to £40,000 in the in the six months ended 30 June was due to a ‘difficult macroeconomic environment’, [...]
Revolution Bars returns to AIM after major restructuring plan completed September 3, 2024 Revolution Bars has resumed trading on AIM following the completion of a comprehensive restructuring plan designed to steer the business back to profitability. After months of financial turbulence, the bar and pub chain, which includes brands such as Revolution, Revolución de Cuba, and Peach Pubs, has reissued over 1.26bn new ordinary shares. The restructuring plan, [...]
‘Chicken King’ Ranjit Singh Boparan to sell poultry arm to himself September 2, 2024 The poultry arm of 2 Sisters Food Group, which is owned by the so-called ‘Chicken King’ Ranjit Singh Boparan, is to be sold to his private office for more than €200m (£168m). Boparan, who also owns high street restaurant brands like Carluccio’s and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, is to sell the European poultry operation to his [...]
The authentic part of the Bahamas, with secret beaches and amazing food September 2, 2024 Arriving into a tiny airport after a twenty minute hop from Nassau International, we’re driving down the dusty palms highway to Freeport. The trees are ragged, stripped of their leaves and dead. Fields of new ones have been planted, but like anything beautiful in nature, patience is the virtue. It’s something the Grand Bahamians have [...]
Kurt Geiger boss joins list of retailers slamming the end of tax-free shopping September 2, 2024 Kurt Geiger’s boss has said the UK is shooting itself in the foot by not bringing back tax-free shopping for international visitors. Kurt Geiger’s chief executive, Neil Clifford, told The Times that the end of VAT-free shopping has had a “massively negative effect” on Britain”. “International tourists, whether it be Middle Eastern or American travellers, [...]