Leisure Report articles from February 2006

Leisure Report archives from February 2006

Long winter nights lift online rivals.(Inside track)
February 1, 2006... The colder weather over the past few months provided an extra fillip to online gaming giants 888.com and PartyGaming, both of which shrugged off last year's volatility to post stronger trading updates as 2006 got underway. PartyGaming...

Altium picks out likely superstars for 2006.
February 1, 2006... With industry observers forecasting a bumper year of activity across the leisure sector for 2006, Altium Securities highlighted the companies it thinks most likely to perform well. The broker and advisor pointed to the online gaming sector...

Service with a smile, and style.
February 1, 2006... The more news-hungry among you may have noticed that this month's edition is slightly later than usual--well even Leisure Report has to take some time off, and I've been spending it researching various leisure pursuits in South Africa, all in...

UK tourism deficit up to 17bn [pounds sterling] despite growing number of visitors.(News)
February 1, 2006... Britain's tourism deficit has moved from a surplus of 2bn [pounds sterling] in 1979 to a 17bn [pounds sterling] deficit, despite growth in the number of visitors, according to research under-taken by VisitBritain. The Foresight Review...

Smart buys begin to pay dividends for Gamingking.(financial report of Gamingking)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Reporting interim results for the six months to 31 Ocvtober 2005, Gamingking said it had seen increases in turnover and operating profits, as last year's acquisitions began to pay off. Turnover increased by 71% to 2.5m [pounds sterling],...

New Bingo site for Sportech.(LittlewoodsBingo.com)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Sportech is extending its offering of gaming products into online bingo. The company's new website, LittlewoodsBingo.com aims to tap into the lucrative online bingo market, which is expected to grow significantly. The site will be marketed...

Hilton confirms Ladbrokes approaches.
February 1, 2006... Hilton Group has confirmed that it has received "expressions of interest" in Ladbrokes. However, the company said that it remained focused on concluding its negotiations with Hilton Hotels Corporation in relation to the sale of the...

Talarius coining it in.(Talarius)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Talarius, the UK's largest High Street slot machine operator, said that following last year's successful acquisition programme business was booming. Like for like sales growth for the 24 week period to 31 December was up 9%, compared with last...

Cadbury sees record numbers in 2005.
February 1, 2006... Cadbury World has announced a major new refurbishment for 2006 following a record year for the Birmingham-based attraction. Over 560,000 people visited Cadbury World in 2005, exceeding the previous record by 3.5%. Gerrard Baldwin, general...

Pottinger quits Northern.
February 1, 2006... Northern Racing said Piers Pottinger had resigned as non-executive director. Graham Stow, chairman, said: "We are sorry to see Piers leave the group but would like to thank him for his contribution."

Pricing issues spell end of talks between LA and Crown Sports.(News: Health & fitness)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Crown Sports, the UK's last-remaining listed fitness club operator, is understood to have called off takeover talks with LA Fitness, after both sides remained some way apart on price. Following its MBO in 2005, LA is reported to be keen to...

Leisure Connection pushes PFIs and PPPs as solution to LGA pool problems.(News: Health & fitness)
February 1, 2006... The country's leading provider of public access leisure facilities, has stepped into the row over the closure of public swimming pools stirred up recently by Duncan Goodhew, former Olympic swimming champion. "With an increasing number of...

Fitness First eyeing deal for Exchange.(News: Health & fitness)
February 1, 2006... Fitness First, the UK's largest gym operator, is reported to be in exclusive talks to buy smaller rival Fitness Exchange, for a price between 10m [pounds sterling] and 15m [pounds sterling]. The Times reports that Fitness Exchange, founded...

What deal is Esporta's Next?(News: Health & fitness)
February 1, 2006... Esporta boss Neil Gillis is set to announce that his company, which operates 52 top-end racquets and fitness clubs, saw its operating earnings rose 10% last year to 38.5m [pounds sterling] on 150m [pounds sterling] sales. Member retention...

Training boost for DC and 3d Leisure groups.(News: Health & fitness)
February 1, 2006... Multi-market leisure management services company 3d Leisure announced that it is to significantly increase its training provision in 2006. Having added the 30 leisure facilities at Swallow Hotels to its now 76-strong portfolio, 3d...

JJB sees health club offering as long-term strategy.(News: Health & fitness)
February 1, 2006... JJB Sports signalled a definite commitment to its policy of developing combined sports shop/health club sites, as it issued a profits warning for the seventh time in 18 months. The company said margin pressures from a price war in its...

Good housekeeping limits losses at relegated Southampton Leisure.(News: Sport)
February 1, 2006... Reporting results for the six months ended 30 November 2005, Southampton Leisure, parent company of Southampton Football Club, recorded a loss before taxation of 1.4m [pounds sterling], as the effects of relegation from the top flight hit the...

Range the driving force as golfers play less.(News: Sports)
February 1, 2006... According to the latest research from Sports Marketing Surveys, one of the leading sponsorship and sports research agencies, the total number of adults who have played golf in the past 12 months has increased by some 5% to a total of 3,950,000....

Villa mulls sale options.(Aston Villa Football Club PLC appointed Rothschild to act as financial adviser )(sales and earnings of Aston Villa Football Club PLC )(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Announcing disappointing results for the six months to 30 November, Aston Villa also revealed it had appointed Rothschild to act as financial adviser to determine the best strategy for club. Villa has received an approach from an investment...

Deighton to lead 2012 team.(Paul Deighton as a chief executive of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Paul Deighton is to take on the role of chief executive of the London Organising Committee for the 2012 Olympic Games. He will handle the day-to-day running of the London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee and will oversee programmes...

Leisure Report LR index: football stockwatch January 2006.(News: Sports)
February 1, 2006... It's a widely-held belief that for a football club to be successful, it has to play in the top flight, but there are exceptions to every rule. Judging by the performance of our listed soccer clubs over the busy January period, which sees a glut...

Fortunes improving for Stanley.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... A much-improved recent performance from its casino division helped Stanley Leisure post a reasonably satisfactory set of interim results. Reporting for the 26 weeks ended 30 October 2005, Stanley's figures were given a one-off fillip by the...

Top Ten adds 11m [pounds sterling] Apollo to its bingo estate.(Top Ten Holdings acquired Apollo Bingo)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Top Ten Holdings, the third largest UK bingo operator, said it had agreed to acquire the entire share capital of Apollo Bingo for 11.1m [pounds sterling]. Apollo consists of three freehold clubs, with a complimentary geographical fit, in...

Scramble to host super-casino 'becomes a lottery'.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... The scramble to house the UK's only Las Vegas-style super-casino is turning into a lottery, according to a report in the Financial Times. The body set up to decide the casino's location has already received more than 40 applications and...

Burke to take the helm as Rank returns cash to shareholders.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... The Rank Group announced the appointment of lan Burke, who will succeed Mike Smith as chief executive, with effect from 6 March, when Smith retires. Burke will join Rank from Holmes Place Health and Fitness. Before joining Holmes Place he...

Century makes its first UK casino move.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... Century Casinos is to make its first move into the UK, with plans for a casino in Croydon. The Colorado-based company has formed a partnership with Westmead Business Group, owner and operator of the Airport House and the Aerodrome Hotel in...

32Red set to hit targets as business grows rapidly.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... Aim-listed online casino and poker operator 32Red said it was on target to meet full-year expectations, as it provided an update on trading for the year ending 31 December 2005. Total gaming revenues at the group were up 67% on 2004 to...

11.5m [pounds sterling] placing to drive new content at ukbetting.(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Online sports content and gaming company ukbetting has announced a placing of up to 19,166,667 ordinary shares at 60p per share, to raise up to 11.5m [pounds sterling] before expenses. The funds raised will be used to accelerate the...

Ladbrokes in for UK Lottery.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... Labrokes will bid for the next UK Lottery licence. A team of executives is already working with Greek partner Intralot on a tender document ready for when Camelot's licence expires in 2009. The two companies also revealed they are...

LCI recovering after 7/7.(London Clubs International financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... London Clubs International reported a half-year pre-tax loss of 2.6m [pounds sterling], but said that trading had "recovered strongly" after the impact of the London bombings. In the six months to 25 September, the group reported a profit of...

Arena to redevelop Doncaster racecourse.(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Arena Leisure has agreed a 32m [pounds sterling] redevelopment of Doncaster racecourse, home of the St Leger. The company says it will create a"world class leisure and racing venue" in a joint venture with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough...

Hill upgrades forecast.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... William Hill has upgraded its full-year profits forecast, citing the likely interest in the football World Cup this year. In a trading statement the company said it expected to see profits of between 230m [pounds sterling] and 240m [pounds...

Online casino group sold.(News: Betting & gaming)
February 1, 2006... Austrian gaming company BETandWIN.com is buying Swedish casino group Ongame e-solutions, operator of gaming website PokerRoom.com, for Eu473.6m euros (321 m [pounds sterling]), in a mixture of cash and shares.

Reubens build 25% stake in Ultimate Leisure.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
February 1, 2006... The Reuben brothers, the secretive billionaire property players, confirmed they had managed to build a 25% stake in Ultimate Leisure, the late-night operator, which recently issued a profits warning in the wake of a difficult Christmas and New...

Another String follows blow.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
February 1, 2006... Nightclub impresario Peter Stringfellow is to open his first club in Dublin, in the wake of the news that the eponymous nightclub in London has lost its appeal to extend its opening hours. The London nightclub had applied for an extension...

Luminar pulled down by Jumpin' Jaks.(financial report )(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Luminar, the late-night bar and club operator, reported a 1.7% fall in overall like-for-like sales for the five weeks to 2 January. The group's results were pulled down by an 8% fall in like-for-likes at the Entertainment Division,...

CC casts critical eye on Vue deal.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
February 1, 2006... The Competition Commission has provisionally concluded that the completed acquisition of the Festival Place cinema in Basingstoke by Vue Entertainment would "substantially lessen competition, leading to higher prices and reduced choice for...

UK cinemas beat EU rivals.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
February 1, 2006... Total U K box-office figures for 2005 are up by 1%, according to figures from Screen Daily, which show the home market bucking the downward trend in Europe which has seen significant reductions in box office takings. In Spain, a slump in...

Gordeno parts with Soho Clubs & Bars.(Jeremy Gordeno)(Soho Clubs & Bars)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Jeremy Gordeno has parted company with Soho Clubs & Bars, the West End group owned by marketing and media businessman Geoffrey Rose. Gordeno was unveiled as the head of the group when it was formed in September 2004 with the acquisition of...

Graphite Capital makes successful pitch for 130m [pounds sterling] Cinque Ports.(Cinque Ports Leisure has been sold to Graphite Capital)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Cinque Ports Leisure, one of the UK's largest independently-owned holiday park businesses, has been sold to Graphite Capital for 130m [pounds sterling]. The 19-strong group, which was founded by Peter Bull and Jim Watson in 1985, has sites...

Parkdean rallies after 'challenging' year in 2005 as potential buyers open bid talks.(financial report)(Financial report)
February 1, 2006... Parkdean Holidays, the UK-focused holiday park operator, put a brave face on a difficult 2005, announcing its audited results for the year ended 31 October, and looked to the future as talks over the ownership of the business continued. ...

Center Parcs unveils plans for Jersey site.(Les Jardins Leisure)(Les Jardins Residential)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Center Parcs unveiled plans to operate a new luxury development in Jersey. The group has signed an agreement with Les Jardins Leisure and Les Jardins Residential to operate Les Jardins de la Mer, a new luxury waterfront apartment and...

Deep Sea Leisure not making waves during year of consolidation.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Deep Sea Leisure, which operates two aquariums in the UK featuring marine life, announced preliminary results for the year ended 31 October 2005 which showed flat pre-tax profit of 1.65m [pounds sterling] (2004: 1.65m [pounds sterling]) on...

Leisure and concessions perform well for TRG.(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... The Restaurant Group reported a 3% increase in like-for-like sales for the year to 1 January. The company said that it had seen strong trading in its leisure and concessions businesses, as well as over the Christmas period. TRG opened...

La Tasca to launch Sam & Maxie's--a new 'family' brand aimed at leisure attractions.(financial report of La Tasca Group )(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... La Tasca Group reported a 22.1% increase in first-half Ebitda, whilst announcing the launch of a third brand for its stable, a family-centred offering which will be targeted at the leisure attraction market. For the six months to 30...

Domino's 2005 sales up 7.1%.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland reported like-for-like sales growth of 7.1% for the 52 weeks to 1 January. For the six weeks to 1 January like-for-likes were up 3.6%. The company reported growth of 57.6% for sales via its online and...

Starbucks perks up with record December sales.(News: Food & drink)
February 1, 2006... Starbucks has reported consolidated net revenues of $791 m (460m [pounds sterling]) for the five-weeks to 1 January, an increase of 22% on the year, lifted by strong sales of its seasonal flavoured coffee range, such as egg nog and gingerbread...

M&S plots Simply Food tie up with BP.(News: Food & drink)
February 1, 2006... Marks & Spencer is understood to be working on plans to place its Simply Food stores in up to 300 BP service stations nationwide. The move follows the acquisition of 28 Iceland stores yesterday that the retail and food giant plans to...

$2.5bn float for Burger King?(News: Food & drink)
February 1, 2006... Burger King is planning a $2.5bn (1.3bn [pounds sterling]) flotation on Wall Street. The company started with one restaurant in 1954 but now has more than 11,220 eateries in 61 countries. Private equity groups Texas Pacific, Bain Capital...

Autogrill approached by PE firms over joint SSP bid.(Private equity firms )(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... Private equity firms bidding for SSP, the 1bn [pounds sterling]-valued Compass concessions business that includes Mote and Upper Crust, have approached Autogrill over a joint bid. The Italian-based group, which has motorway and airport...

BISL welcomes free smoking vote as report assesses impact of ban.(News: Industry)
February 1, 2006... Business In Sport and Leisure (BISL) has welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that the government is to allow a free vote over a complete ban on smoking. Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of BISL, said: "We have been working over...

New insurance scheme for leisure firms.(News: Industry)
February 1, 2006... Independent insurance broker Alan Boswell Group has launched a dedicated insurance service for pubs, restaurants and hotels. The service, called AB Leisure Insurance, is designed to cut down on the unnecessary premiums that the hospitality...

De Vere Group appoints Richardson as chairman.(News: Industry)
February 1, 2006... De Vere Group announced the appointment of David Richardson as non-executive chairman, effective from 3 April, to succeed Lord Daresbury, who will step down on that date. Lord Daresbury, who became the managing director of the Greenalls...

Cotton to chair Hospitality Action.(News: Industry)
February 1, 2006... Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, is to replace Don Davenport, former chief executive of Compass Group UK, as chairman of industry charity Hospitality Action. He commented : "Having worked closely with...

Venue Solutions Holdings valued at 7m [pounds sterling] after float.(News: Industry)
February 1, 2006... Just ahead of the festive break, Venue Solutions Holdings, a specialist provider of venue management technologies, listed on the junior AIM market, in a bid to help fund expansion plans. The company raised an initial 300,000 [pounds...

Christie & Co predicts high property prices throughout 2006.(News: Property)
February 1, 2006... Christie & Co has forecast a strong year ahead for the hotel sector, after naming 2005 'the year of the corporate deal'. In the company's annual Business Outlook report Christie's reported that the UK hotel sector leading Europe in the...

New spa opens in Southampton.(News: Property)
February 1, 2006... Southampton's 56-room Botleigh Grange Hotel has completed the developmen of its new Lakeside Spa. The 1.5m [pounds sterling] project means the spa now includes treatment rooms, a spa bath, an indoor swimming pool and gym and sauna...

Notts licence for Stanley casino.(News: Food & drink)
February 1, 2006... Stanley Leisure has announces that, following final hearings which took place last month, magistrates have granted a new licence to one of its subsidiaries for a 30,000 sq ft casino in Nottingham's city centre. This will be the Stanley...

New planning pilot is launched.
February 1, 2006... New pilot projects intended to improve and speed up the planning process for large and complex developments were launched last month by Yvette Cooper, housing and planning minister. The Planning Delivery Agreement pilots will give greater...

St Modwen takes pole position for Silverstone.(St Modwen Properties merges with Silverstone)(Brief article)
February 1, 2006... St Modwen Properties is set to win the race to acquire Silverstone, reports Property Week. The company has entered exclusive detailed discussions with Silverstone's owner, the British Racing Drivers' Club, to acquire the 800 acre (324 ha)...

New casino for Middlesborough.(News: Property)
February 1, 2006... Central Middlesbrough is to be the site of a new casino complex. The town's council approved a license application from Thistle Hotel to operate the casino within its Fry Street Thistle Hotel. The gambling facility will occupy 960 sq m of...

Clubs need high value, long term members: imagine if customers set your club's New Year resolutions.
February 1, 2006... 'By-catch' is the name given to creatures caught, by accident, in trawler nets. What the trawlers really want is the high value fish but there's a price to pay. With 'pair trawling', when a massive net is strung up between two boats, or...

From Rover to the Rovers return ... Mark Stretton meets Jon Moulton, the venture capitalist with a taste for leisure assets.
February 1, 2006... For someone with a habit of turning lead into gold, Jon Moulton claims to have a dismal personal investment record. By his own admission, the managing partner of Alchemy, the pan-European private-equity group, hardly ever gets it right with...

Probably the best health club in the world? Oxygen Consulting's Ray Algar lives the dream of the 'perfect' club.
February 1, 2006... I was recently talking with Richard Duvall, the founder of Egg, the online bank, about his compelling vision to 're-invent' banking. He knew that people were ready for a radically new banking proposition. Eight years later, and Egg is quickly...

Brave new world beckons in 2006 for fitness sector.
February 1, 2006... The New Year brings with it a renewed sense of optimism in the fitness and leisure sector. A number of high profile transactions and rumours of others to follow has re-injected vigour and excitement, from the leotard-clad members on club floors...

UK leisure players anticipate continued M&A activity: exclusive results from the Livingstone Guarantee survey review--January 2006.(Acquisitions and mergers)
February 1, 2006... With 2006 already well under way, there is no sign of a let-up in mergers & acquisitions activity across the sector. That is the overwhelming conclusion of the second major industry survey commissioned by Livingstone Guarantee, the specialist...

Time to have chips with everything: futuristic technology is going mainstream, writes Derek Parkinson. With the latest wireless microchips, leisure operators can provide an enhanced experience for customers.(Insight: Technology)
February 1, 2006... It's your first visit to the city, but checking into the hotel couldn't be easier. It's just a case of pausing at a booth in the lobby while a floor map marked with your room is automatically printed out. The room has a pleasing...

LR Index leisure stockwatch January 2006.(Sharewatch)
February 1, 2006... The New Year has been kind to leisure stocks, at least so far, with the overall average of leisure shares rising just over 9% compared with last month. The gains were mainly driven by, yes, you guessed it, onling gmaing firms. Investors...

Diary dates: February.(Calendar)
February 1, 2006... Event: Audience, Access and Conservation Plans--Working with the Heritage Lottery Fund Date: 1 Location: London Description: Explanation of how to get the most out of the Lottery fund for your attraction Contact: Lydia...