The Long Weekend: A child-friendly country house just half an hour from central London January 28, 2019 City life can be tough, especially if you have a toddler intent on destroying every moment of peace and quiet in your so-called “spare time”. Frazzled urban parents may be left without the energy to plan a faraway escape – and this is where Stoke Park comes into play. Jump on a fast train from [...]
FA Cup fourth round talking points: Misery for Spurs, Hudson-Odoi makes his point, unhappy Hammers and trouble at Millwall January 27, 2019 What a terrible four days for Tottenham. Having lost in the Carabao Cup semi-final on penalties to bitter rivals Chelsea on Thursday, Mauricio Pochettino’s side made it back-to-back cup exits yesterday at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace stepped up yet again against a Big Six side. The Eagles can add Spurs to their pile of [...]
City broker Shore Capital closes in on deal to buy rival Stockdale Securities January 27, 2019 City stockbroker Shore Capital Markets is set to complete a deal to buy rival Stockdale Securities in the next few weeks. The firms are in advanced talks for Shore Capital to purchase Stockdale for an undisclosed multi-million pound figure, Sky News reported, creating the second largest broker to clients on London’s Aim market. Sky News [...]
Flybe shareholder demands EGM in bid to oust chairman as row over cut-price sale continues January 26, 2019 Flybe’s largest shareholder have requisitioned an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) next week where they will demand the company’s chairman be sacked. Hosking Partners owns just under 19 per cent of Flybe and are contesting the cut-price sale of the struggling airline to a consortium that is led by Virgin Atlantic. The aim of the meeting [...]
BAE Chairman: Britain should be a ‘critical friend’ to Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi and Yemen January 26, 2019 Britain must remain a “critical friend” to Saudi Arabia, the head of the UK’s largest defence company has said. BAE Systems chairman Roger Carr said that the UK could help Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman change his country’s trajectory. Read more: BAE Systems sells off majority stake in UK military vehicle arm to German firm [...]
Interiors: Stacks of stones and giant pebbles will be filling your living room before you’ve even realised what happened January 25, 2019 There’s nothing like a statement piece of furniture to break the ice when new guests arrive – something quirky and interesting to get conversation flowing. Have you considered picking up a pebble? Pebbles and stacked stones are having a moment in interior design this year. And when you see all the fun ways furniture-makers are [...]
Mike Ashley tells HMV landlords: Give me six months rent-free January 25, 2019 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is reportedly demanding a rent holiday from landlords of HMV stores as he negotiates a rescue deal for the music retailer. Ashley has written to HMV’s landlords to see a six-month period without having to pay rent if he buys the chain, according to reports. The landlords include major players in [...]
Mark Kleinman: Flybe might struggle for take-off without investors on board January 25, 2019 Talk about a crash landing. The outrage of Flybe’s largest shareholder about the terms of its £2.2m takeover, articulated in a legal letter to the airline’s board last week, is at face value perfectly understandable. On the full pre-flight checklist-worth of complaints from Hosking Partners, the most incendiary may be Flybe’s decision last year to [...]
Struggling retailer Paperchase exploring sale or store closures January 24, 2019 The owner of stationery and greeting card chain Paperchase is exploring a possible sale as its feels out landlords about a potential company voluntary arrangement (CVA). According to Sky News, Paperchase’s adviser KPMG has been contacting potential buyers this week about a deal which could include a pre-pack administration. The company is also sounding out [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: You should have a few Buttons on Willie Boy and Federici at Donny January 24, 2019 CHELTENHAM takes centre stage this weekend, but there is some decent racing at Doncaster as well, where the big betting race is the Sky Bet Chase (3.15pm). Just 11 runners are set to go to post for the £100,000 contest, which is a smaller field than normal and is undoubtedly due to the dry winter [...]