SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND December 1, 2011 COMEDY 3 DEC DANIEL KITSON LIVE AT THE CHAPEL I’m loath to recommend Daniel Kitson’s night at Union Chapel. He’s the best comedian most people haven’t heard of, the guy you can wheel out in social situations to make yourself sound more interesting (“pfft, you like Michael McIntyre? You really need to check Kitson out”). [...]
Lenders pursuing Battersea owner November 30, 2011 LENDERS to Battersea Power Station could force parts of its owner into administration, after running out of patience over loan repayments. Creditors including Lloyds Banking Group and Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency have applied to send some arms of the Battersea Power Station Shareholder Vehicle (BPSSV) into administration after the group said it could not [...]
Shaftesbury gets boost from booming West End November 30, 2011 THE WEST END property company Shaftesbury has hailed it most “prosperous” era despite the economic gloom, as it posted a 12 per cent rise in full year net asset value. Shaftesbury owns a prized portfolio of 500 properties in London’s popular tourist spots including Carnaby Street, China Town and Covent Garden. Brian Bickell, Shaftesbury’s former [...]
Daejan blames Southern Cross for its losses November 30, 2011 PROPERTY group Daejan Holdings yesterday blamed its swing to a half-year loss on the failure of care home manager Southern Cross. FTSE 250-listed Daejan posted a pre-tax loss of £121,000 for the six months to the end of September, compared with a profit of £39.3m a year ago. The firm said lost rent and expenses [...]
Know your Fire from your Vox with our guide to the ultimate e-readers November 30, 2011 People said e-books would never catch on. For some reason, this was quite often backed up by the argument that e-readers don’t smell like real books. But – and this is no slight on the aroma of the works of Mark Twain – these people were wrong. Retailers are rubbing their hands at the prospect [...]
Quintain seeks new partner for Wembley designer mall project November 29, 2011 QUINTAIN Estates has ended talks with a potential joint venture funding partner to develop and run its London Designer Outlet at its £2.5bn Wembley scheme. In its half-year results, the regeneration specialist said talks had ended after the partner failed to deliver part of the proposed financing structure and will launch a formal market process [...]
Audi’s Sportback is worth the price November 29, 2011 IT’S early Sunday morning. I’d rather be asleep but my daughter has discovered insomnia. After two hours of trying everything to get her back to sleep I succumb to the fail-safe car trip in the hope of inducing her slumber. Outside it’s raining sideways. She’s wailing as I run to the car and wet by [...]
CAR TALK November 29, 2011 FORD FOCUS IN THE SWEENEY’S SPOTLIGHT A movie remake of The Sweeney is exciting enough. But Jack Regan will be played by Ray Winstone and he’ll be driving the new 250PS Ford Focus ST. We just wanted an excuse to show it because it looks so good. The Sweeney is set in London after all, [...]
House prices rise for third month November 29, 2011 House prices edged up in November, beating expectations and despite a weak economy, but activity remains subdued and prices are more likely to dip in the next 12 months, mortgage lender Nationwide said. House prices rose 0.4 per cent from October on a seasonally adjusted basis, their third straight monthly increase, a Nationwide survey showed. [...]
Richard Desmond’s office block in the Docklands sold for £12m November 28, 2011 THE HOME of part of Richard Desmond’s media empire has been sold by Standard Life for £12.2m. Standard Life Investment Property Income Trust has sold the Northern & Shell Tower, an office block in the Docklands, to a private buyer. Desmond’s rental contract will run until 2022 as planned at the previously agreed £909,000 a [...]