THREE OTHER HIGH-END ITALIANS July 13, 2009 L’ANIMAClassy, chic, and with excellent food, this is one of the best new openings in the City in the past year, and one of the few Square Mile restaurants that you might want to visit with friends, as well as contacts. 1 Snowden Street EC2A 2DQ, tel: 020 7422 7000, www.lanima.co.uk. LOCANDA LOCATELLIAn oldie, but [...]
Battle of Canary Wharf and City is unimportant July 12, 2009 THIS newspaper can justifiably claim to have “scooped” the news of Nomura’s plan to base its European HQ in the Square Mile – confirmed last week but trailed, I believe, in City A.M sometime before Christmas. Many commentators have characterised the news that Nomura will take up residence in Lower Thames Street as a “victory” for [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 8, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES ARCELORMITTAL ATTEMPTS TO EASE DEBT BURDENArcelorMittal has started talks with its banks about making conditions for re-paying its $26bn (£16.2bn) of debt less onerous, in a bid to reduce financial pressure on the company as the global downturn continues. The world’s biggest steelmaker has taken this step as an insurance policy against its [...]
When the going’s tough, the City goes shopping June 28, 2009 SIR Stuart Rose has recently waived more than £1m worth of Marks & Spencers share options, and could come under more pressure at this week’s annual meeting. Discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl have just announced a slowdown in growth, while on TV Mary Portas has moved from advising high street stores to charity shops. [...]
How London City Airport’s veteran boss is keeping his sights set high June 28, 2009 Whenever you meet Richard Gooding, London City Airport’s relaxed-looking chief executive, you can’t help feeling he has seen it all before – and after clocking up 42 years in the airline business, he probably has. Aged just 18, Gooding left rural Suffolk to work as an apprentice for British European Airways – which later became [...]
Pamper your feet with the best pedicures in London June 22, 2009 Spa Studio at the LanesboroughThe Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA. 020 7333 7700 THE SETTING: The Lanesborough is London’s last word in hotel luxury. The spa is a hidden chamber in the depths of the hotel appointed with perfect European luxury and taste. THE PEDICURE: The Foot Loose and Fancy Free package (£85) begins [...]
How the King of the UK back office plans to keep his business growing June 21, 2009 IT is fascinating to listen to David Andrews talk about his business. For most of us, back offices may seem deadly boring – but when you discover Andrew’s passion for Xchanging, the FTSE 250 back office outsourcing giant he founded 10 years ago, you suddenly realise just how true it is that finance and corporate [...]
Slick tricks and patter prove Derren Brown is the real deal June 18, 2009 TheatreDERREN BROWNAdelphi TheatreDerren BROWN has been on our TV screens long enough now for most of us to be fairly familiar with his shtick, but that doesn’t make seeing it live anything less than a wholly mesmerising experience. I can’t think there’s a more joyfully entertaining evening to be spent in a West End theatre [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 16, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES NATIONAL EXPRESS IN DEBT TALKSNational Express is in talks with bankers to renegotiate terms on part of its £1.2bn debt amid fears that the bus and rail operator will breach loan conditions in December. The group is expected to pass a key test of whether it is meeting the terms of its debt [...]
Ashley’s new bargain basement June 14, 2009 Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has set up a £1 shop in the former Burberry headquarters in London’s West End, despite budget retailer TK Maxx being blocked from opening nearby. The former up-market building is now plastered with “sports clearance” signs. It is believed Ashley’s Sports Direct chain is using the store to clear old [...]