Leisure Report articles from January 2003

Leisure Report archives from January 2003

New year trading crucial to fitness deals.
January 1, 2003... The new year, traditionally a busy time for health club operators, has kicked off with intensifying speculation over the future ownership of the sector's leading players. Holmes Place, the upmarket health club operator, confirmed it is in...

Olympic opportunity for UK leisure.(Inside track)
January 1, 2003... By the time you get your Leisure Report, the government may well have decided on whether or not to go ahead with a London bid to stage the 2012 Olympics. Going by the recent press reports on the matter, things weren't looking too hopeful....

Gala aims for float despite venture capital interest.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Gala, the bingo and casinos firm, is hopeful of announcing plans for a stock market flotation in the first quarter of the year, despite growing interest from venture capital firms. Permira, the new owner of the Little Chef roadside...

Top Ten makes Welcome addition to its bingo estate.(News)(Top Ten Bingo)(Welcome Social Clubs )
January 1, 2003... Top Ten Bingo took a step forward with its ambitions to become the country's third force in bingo, in terms of number of clubs and turnover, when it acquired the five-strong Welcome Social Clubs group for 3.3m [pounds sterling]. The...

First Leisure CEO quits.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Paul Kinsey has resigned his position as chief executive of First Leisure Corporation, by mutual consent, to pursue another business interest. Kinsey led the company's 210m [pounds sterling] MBO, backed by Candover, three years ago. The...

Georgica unveils 'unsatisfactory' figures for 2002.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Georgica, the cue sports, fast food and tenpin centre operator, reported a drop in sales from 124.6m [pounds sterling] in 2001 to 123.2m [pounds sterling] in 2002. In a trading statement, the firm said turnover across the group declined in...

Crown rejigs after Bennelong victory.(Health & fitness news)
January 1, 2003... Crown Sports confirmed its new board structure after Bennelong, the investment vehicle of Jeff Chapman, the former chairman of Crown, took control of the company. Jeff Chapman, the company's chairman, Martin Knight, the deputy chairman,...

FIA opens doors to parliament for more members.(Health & fitness news)(Vanguard Group)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Operators and suppliers throughout the fitness industry are being encouraged to help raise the profile of the sector with the government through the expansion of the Fitness Industry's Vanguard Group. The group, set up two years ago,...

Club Med could sell its gyms after poor results.(Health & fitness news)(Club Med Gym)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Club Med Gym, the operator of 75 fitness clubs which is owned by holiday resort firm Club Mediterranee, is the subject of speculation after the resignation of its president followed disappointing financial results. Club Med Gym president...

Horizons plans to broaden health club portfolio.(Health & fitness news)(Horizons Health & Leisure)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Horizons Health & Leisure, the company which recent]y bought struggling club operator Topnotch's Derby venue for 1m [pounds sterling], is planning to expand. The company is about to start work on a 3m [pounds sterling], 40,000 square foot...

Branded Leisure gets 500,000 [pounds sterling] injection for Cosmo spa bars.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Branded Leisure, the owner of the Cosmopolitan Spirit spa and bar in Manchester, has secured investment for the next stage of the concept's roll out. The Catalyst Enterprise investment Scheme 1 Fund put 500,000 [pounds sterling] into the...

Core turnover up 40% at Clubhaus.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Clubhaus, the golf club operator putting an emphasis on its fitness facilities, reported a 41% increase in turnover at its "core" 11 golf clubs, reaching 25.4m [pounds sterling] for the year to 30 September. The company said "core" group...

David Lloyd to start work on first Continental site.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Work is due to start this year on David Lloyd Leisure's long-planned first foray into Continental Europe. The Whitbread-owned company has had an option to develop a 100,000 square foot site in suburban Brussels for a number of years and now...

Bannatyne unveils further details of expansion plans.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Crewe in Cheshire, Wellingborough in Northamptonshire and Glasgow have been revealed as the locations for a trio of new clubs planned by Bannatyne Fitness next year. The company plans to spend about 4m [pounds sterling] per centre, each of...

Clubs could benefit from disabled fitness scheme.(Health & fitness news)(English Federation of Disability)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Plans to roll out a scheme to encourage more disabled people to use public sector fitness facilities could benefit the entire industry. That's the view of the English Federation of Disability Sport's Inclusive Fitness Initiative, which...

Wheways to bring spa to London.(Health & fitness news)(Wheway Lifestyle International)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Wheway Lifestyle International, the spa consultancy business set up by former Champneys owners Tanya and Allan Wheway, is planning to bring its new Alanya spa concept to London. The company is in negotiations for a contract to manage a spa...

JJB health clubs still successful.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... JJB Sports, the sportswear chain that also runs a health and fitness club brand, said that "in contrast to several health club chains", its combined health club and superstores format "continues to prove successful and to deliver a strong value...

Golf courses "not fulfilling potential.".(Sport news)
January 1, 2003... Golf course operators could be doing much more to attract new players and to get existing players to play more, according to the market research firm Mintel. The firm has published a report on the sector which shows that of those aged...

Bristol City optimistic despite losses.(Sport news)(Bristol City )
January 1, 2003... Football League Division Two newcomer Bristol City insisted it was in a strong position for the future, whatever its on-field performance, as it unveiled pre-tax losses of 6.4m [pounds sterling]. The losses for the year to August 31, 2002...

Calpers mulls bid for Chelsea Village.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers) is reported to be considering a bid worth at least 50m [pounds sterling] for Chelsea Village. Chelsea's chairman, Ken Bates, is believed to have rejected an initial approach...

Cardiff City submits plans for new stadium.(Sport news)(Cardiff City Football Club )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Cardiff City Football Club hopes to be in a 100m [pounds sterling] new home for the 2005/2006 season, after submitting plans for a new stadium. The proposed scheme involves the redevelopment of the Football League Division Two club's...

Burhill boosts golf portfolio with Shropshire club.(Sport news)(Burhill Estates)(The Shropshire Golf Club )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Burhill Estates is to invest 1m [pounds sterling] in The Shropshire Golf Club in Telford after acquiring the facility for an undisclosed amount. Burhill, which now has eight UK courses, is planning improvements to the courses and clubhouse...

Tourism gets new head and reveals more of its new body.(Tourism & attractions news)
January 1, 2003... Sir Michael Lickiss, the lead spokesman on behalf of all Regional Development Agencies for tourism, has been named by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell as the head of Britain's new tourism body, which launches in April. Lickiss, who recently...

Deep Sea reports rising profits but sinking visitors.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Deep-Sea Leisure, the Alternative Investment Market-listed aquarium operator, reported a 53% profit increase, despite an 8.2% decrease in visitor numbers. The company, which owns the Blue Planet aquarium in Cheshire and Deep Sea World in...

Parkdean Holidays enjoys UK short breaks boost.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Parkdean Holidays reported a 97% to 3.4m [pounds sterling] in the year to 31 October, after a sharp rise in the number of people taking short-breaks in the UK. Graham Wilson, chairman of the company, which runs 12 holiday parks, said that...

Euro brings price rises to Ireland's tourism industry.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Price rises in the service sector in Ireland has hit tourism since the introduction of the single European currency. A report by Price Waterhouse Coopers and University College Dublin, has found unusually large rises in the prices of beer,...

Go-ahead for Welsh studios and theme park.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Plans for a 300m [pounds sterling] film and television studios and theme park in Wales have taken a major step forward. Rhondda Cynon Taff and Vale of Glamorgan, the two planning authorities for the 350-acre scheme, have given approval to...

Disney breaks ground in Hong Kong.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Disney has broken the ground of its Hong Kong theme park, which it has described as its most culturally sensitive. James Rasulo, the president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alluded to the problems faced by the company when it opened...

Free admission boosts museum visitor numbers.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The number of people visiting museums and galleries has grown by 70% since admission lees to many sites were abolished a year ago. According to figures from the government, the number of people visiting museums which used to charge rose from...

Mercedes plans Brooklands attraction.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Mercedes Benz has submitted an outline planning application for a Heritage and Technology Centre at Brooklands racetrack in Weybridge, Surrey. The proposed visitor attraction will form part of a 150-acre scheme including a hotel, business...

Macdonald invests 900,000 [pounds sterling] in Aviemore.(Tourism & attractions news)(Aviemore Highland Resort)(Linden Hall Hotel and Health Spa)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Macdonald Hotels is to invest 900,000 [pounds sterling] in the consortium to redevelop the Aviemore Highland Resort in Scotland. The consortium, which consists of Macdonald Hotels, Tulloch and Bank of Scotland unveiled a 25m [pounds...

LDA, confirms future strategy for London tourism.(Tourism & attractions news)(London Tourist Board )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The London Tourist Board will continue its role as the lead body for tourism in the capital, after the London Development Agency agreed its proposed new strategic plan. Mayor Ken Livingstone announced the three-year Visit London: The...

Budget hotel sector triumphs throughout Europe.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Budget hotels in Europe fared far better than their mid-market and luxury counterparts across the Europe over the last year, according to research by Deloitte and Touche. The company's HotelBenchmark Survey found that the luxury,...

Capital & Regional considers changes to the former MWB fund portfolio.(Property & development news)
January 1, 2003... Capital & Regional, the developer, is considering rebranding and adding facilities to some of the 19 leisure sites it now owns after its 30.2m [pounds sterling] acquisition of Marylebone Warwick Balfour Group's fund management business. ...

Nottingham in line for mixed-use project.(Property & development news)(Overton Developments )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Leisure units play a key role in a proposed 75m [pounds sterling] development for Nottingham. Overton Developments is planning a retail, leisure and residential scheme on Trinity Square, which adjoins the city's Victoria Centre shopping...

120m [pounds sterling] leisure scheme heads for Scarborough.(Property & development news)(Scarborough Borough Council)(Benchmark Properties)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Scarborough Borough Council hopes one of its priority sites for redevelopment will get a new lease of life after it received plans for a 120m [pounds sterling] leisure scheme on the plot. Benchmark Properties has put in an outline...

Chateau offers luxury resort opportunity.(Property & development news)(Chateau le Mortier )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... A French chateau set in 600 acres and with planning zoning for development as a luxury hotel, golf course, country club and leisure resort has come onto the market with a price tag of 10m [pounds sterling]. Chateau le Mortier has been in...

Kent theme park earmarked for redevelopment.(Property & development news)(Rotunda Amusement Park )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Rotunda Amusement Park in Folkestone Kent could be redeveloped as a multi-million pound leisure, retail and housing scheme. Trent Property Development has submitted a detailed planning application to replace the attraction with a 250,000...

Yacht harbour changes hands.(Property & development news)(Shotley Marina Holdings)(Burnham Yacht Harbour )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Shotley Marina Holdings has bought Burnham Yacht Harbour for 4.19m [pounds sterling]. The harbour, in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, is home to the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Royal Burnham Yacht Club, Crouch Yacht Club and Burnham Sailing...

Coffee Republic unveils restructure plan.(Eating & drinking news)
January 1, 2003... Coffee Republic announced that pre-tax losses in the six months to September 29 had widened from 775,000 [pounds sterling] to 3.9m [pounds sterling] on turnover up 19% to 15.42m [pounds sterling]. It also announced a restructuring programme,...

Ask holds restaurant openings until the spring.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ask Central, the pizza restaurant operator, said the company still expects to open 25 to 30 outlets this year, but the first will not open until March. Teather & Greenwood, the company's broker, left its forecast for profits for 2002...

Permira buys Little Chef and Travelodge.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Permira, the private equity firm, became the operator of the largest roadside restaurant chain in Britain through its 712m [pounds sterling] purchase of Little Chef and the Travelodge budget hotel business from Compass Group. The deal,...

First site for EasyCinema "imminent".(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... EasyGroup is expected to announce the first site for its proposed new cinema concept later this month. The company said it is in negotiations to buy one of three existing multiplexes, one of which is in London, in which it will launch...

Leisure Report teams up with UK Cinema Conference.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Leisure Report is supporting the 2003 UK Cinemas Conference, Sustaining cinema--preparing for the future. The Landor Conferences event takes place at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London's Piccadilly on March 20. ...

Cinema visits reach all-time high in 2002.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Cinema Advertising Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Cinema Advertising Association was due to confirm 2002 as a record year for UK cinema visits, as Leisure Report went to press. Admissions for December, when the second parts of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings trilogies...

Stanley Leisure decides against LCI bid.(Betting & gaming news)
January 1, 2003... Stanley Leisure decided not to bid for rival London Clubs International, ahead of the noon January 22 deadline imposed by the Takeover Panel. The company announced on 10 January that it had written formally to London Clubs to withdraw its...

William Hill on course for profit.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... William Hill, the bookmaker, said it expects profits in its first full-year results as a public company to be in line with analysts' expectations. As the company published a trading update for the year ended December 31, 2002, finance...

Bookmakers and Gaming Board agree to test legality of betting machines.(Betting & gaming news)(The Gaming Board of Great Britain)(Association of British Bookmakers)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Gaming Board of Great Britain and the Association of British Bookmakers have agreed to bring a test case to clarify the status of fixed odds betting machines under the existing law. The move follows government concern about the increase...

SAB Miller sells hotels and casinos for 136m [pounds sterling].(Betting gaming news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SAB Miller is selling its hotel and casino interests to a new company, which will be run by the black economic empowerment organisation Tsogo Investments. SAB will sell the new company its Southern Sun Hotels division, the country's...

Henley looks at consumer angle on gambling.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Henley Centre, the strategic marketing consultancy, is hosting a forum to discuss how consumer trends may influence and respond to a deregulated gambling market. Game On: Capturing the New Consumer Pound in UN Gaming & Leisure was due...

Duke Street snaps up Sporting Index.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Duke Street Capital, the private equity firm has bought Sporting Index, the spread betting company. Duke Street Capital Sporting Index Limited, a company set up to acquire Sporting Index, made an offer of 17.50 [pounds sterling] a share,...

Licensees face battle over bureaucracy for Licensing Bill.(Industry news)(Local Government Association)(Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers)
January 1, 2003... Pub companies and local councils are heading for a fight over a call for a changeover period of almost three years before magistrates lose control of pub and bar licensing. The Local Government Association has told its members that the...

BHA and RA merge lobbying interests.(Industry news)(Restaurant Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The British Hospitality Association and the Restaurant Association have announced details of their new joint-working arrangements. Under the agreement, the RA, which represents almost 3,000 businesses, is merging its government lobbying...

BITOA announces new chief executive.(Industry news)(British Incoming Tour Operators Association )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The British Incoming Tour Operators Association has appointed Stephen Dowd as its new chief executive. Dowd started his career in hotel management before joining the Royal Air Force where he held positions in human resources, IT, training...

Chip and PIN--prepare now or pay later: major changes to payment systems raise worrying issues for leisure.(Hot issues)
January 1, 2003... In 24 months' time the biggest shake-up in UK payment since decimalisation takes place. Yet although it will affect 42 million consumers in the UK, is likely to cause widespread disruption at the point of payment and could cost you millions of...

London Clubs' reversal of fortunes: Dominic Walsh of The Times says the debt-laden casino firm is still a good bet for the future.(Behind the headlines)
January 1, 2003... So, Stanley Leisure has withdrawn its mooted 250m [pounds sterling] bid for London Clubs International. But my bet is that Bob Wiper, Stanley's chief executive, will be maintaining close tabs on his rival's fortunes and may return to the gaming...

A picture of health? Tina Milton looks into The Leisure Database Company's annual survey of the fitness industry.(Trends--the fitness industry)
January 1, 2003... Economic slowdown. Rationalisation. Consolidation. These four words were all too familiar to the fitness industry at the end of 2002 as a series of profit warnings and capped expansion plans triggered doom and gloom among operators and the...

Leisure Report LR Index leisure stockwatch January 2003.(Sharewatch)
January 1, 2003... The Leisure Report Leisure Index of leading leisure stocks is evenly split between risers and fallers this month, with 17 up, 17 down and one staying the same. The net result is a fall overall of 2%, against a fall of 3.3% in the FTSE All Share...

Diary dates.(Sharewatch)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... February Event: SIBEC Asia 2003 Date: 13-16 Location: Penang, Malaysia Business forum for face-to-face meetings for the south-east Asian health, fitness, sport and spa industry. Contact: Pelican Events 01273 602432, www.pelicanevents.com...