Leisure Report articles from July 2004

Leisure Report archives from July 2004

UK casino firms hit by gambling u-turn.
July 1, 2004... Existing casino operators in the United Kingdom are preparing to fight back after the government's unexpected u-turn over future casino developments under the Draft Gambling Bill. In its response to the Joint Scrutiny Committee's report on...

Bids come in for UCI and Odeon cinema chains.
July 1, 2004... Michael Green, the former chairman of Carlton Communications, has become the latest name associated with the consolidation of the cinema industry in the United Kingdom, after it emerged he plans to buy Cine-UK in order to strengthen a bid for...

Tough job ahead for those wanting gambling bill changes.(Inside track)
July 1, 2004... It was only a matter of weeks ago that John Kelly, the chairman of Gala Group, declared at a conference that so far the proposed modernisation of the gambling laws had "probably had the most consultative activity of any legislative process...

European betting borders fight boosted by Dutch court ruling.(News)
July 1, 2004... The battle to achieve harmonization in European remote gambling laws is gaining strength after an interim ruling by the Dutch Court in Arnhem supporting Ladbrokes' appeal against a ban on accepting telephone and internet bets from Dutch...

Potential buyers line up for AMF.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Potential buyers from the trade and venture capital sectors are showing interest in the 33-strong AMF Bowling tenpin chain in the United Kingdom, which is expected to be sold by its American private equity owner. American Amusements is the...

De Vere out of Premier Lodge auction.(News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... De Vere has pulled out of the auction for Premier Lodge amid concerns over the cost of the acquisition. Carl Leaver, the company's chief executive, said: "Our involvement in the auction process for Premier Lodge signifies the ambition of...

Leopards--The Leisure Operator Awards 2004.(News)
July 1, 2004... Leisure Report is launching a new awards event to reward innovation in the leisure industry Without the ability to invent new concepts, or to implement new ideas to extend the appeal of existing venues and activities, the leisure industry...

Champneys expands brand.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Champneys Group, the health resort operator, hopes to raise awareness of its brand through the launch of a range of bath and beauty products to be sold through Sainsbury's supermarkets in October. Details of the Champneys-branded The Health...

Clubhaus MBO declared unconditional.(Health & fitness news)(Management buy out )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Clubhaus, the country club and golf course operator, was due to exit the Alternative Investment Market late last month after Park Lane Acquisitions' 56m [pounds sterling] recommended offer for the business was declared unconditional. Park...

Vistrastar goes for two more Gold's.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Vistrastar Leisure, owner of the three-strong Gold's Gym fitness club chain in the United Kingdom, is in negotiations for two further clubs which it plans to open in 2006. The company is currently building its fourth site, as part of the...

EHFA to examine European qualifications.(Health & fitness news)(European Health and Fitness Association )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The European Health and Fitness Association has announced plans to establish European 'minimum standards of reference' for fitness instructor qualifications to enable transfer of skills across the newly expanded European Union labour market....

Energie fitness franchise roll out powers ahead.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The roll out of the Energie Fitness franchise is gathering pace with the signing of a deal for its eighth club and negotiations underway for further sites in Oxford, Nottingham, Manchester and Leicester. Last month, Guy Foster, who formerly...

Springhealth buoyed by clubs sale.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Springhealth Leisure has reported a fall in its first half loss, to 6,000 [pounds sterling] from 222,000 [pounds sterling] in the same period last year. The company has reduced its net debt over the last year from 5.1m [pounds sterling], to...

Gaming Bourse plans to broaden appeal of exchange betting.(Betting & gaming news)
July 1, 2004... A new betting exchange operator aims to broaden the appeal of the activity by offering backers and layers the opportunity to bet on a wider range of events than those available on existing exchanges and by harnessing futures trading technology...

Bannatyne appoints CEO for casinos.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bannatyne Fitness Holdings has appointed Nick Malone, a gaming industry veteran with 30 years' experience, as chief executive officer of its planned casino operations. Malone, who will join the company in September, is currently a gaming...

Virgingames.com launches with GamCare approval.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Virgin Group's first foray into the gambling sector got a boost with certification from GamCare, the charity that provides support to address the social impact of gambling, for its virgingames.com portal. Virgingames.com was due to launch...

Accor and Luminar work on new casino brand for planned UK chain.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Accor Casinos, the French gaming firm, and Luminar, the nightclub and bar operator from the United Kingdom, are working up plans for a new brand for their planned UK casino joint venture. The pair recently confirmed their partnership and...

MBO vehicle ups Gaming Int'l stake.(Betting & gaming news)(Managment buy out)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... TokLon, the vehicle set up by the management team of Gaming International, to buy the greyhound stadia and facilities management firm, announced an irrevocable undertaking to buy 14.49% of the business, which can only be withdrawn if TokLon...

Sandown installs betting terminals.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Sandown Parkhas become the first racecourse in the United Kingdom to install flee access computer terminals, which will allow racegoers to lay their own bets via exchanges and other online betting services. The course has invested 50,000...

Top Ten plans first new-build club.(Betting & gaming news)(Top Ten Holdings operator of bingo clubs )
July 1, 2004... Top Ten Holdings, the third largest operator of bingo clubs in the United Kingdom, is planning its first new-build club. Alan Weston, the firm's managing director, confirmed that discussions are underway for a site in Barrow-in-Furness,...

Carlton AIMs for flotation to raise capital.(Betting & gaming news)
July 1, 2004... Carlton Clubs, the largest independent bingo operator in the United Kingdom, was due to float on the Alternative Investment Market this month to raise funds for its future expansion strategy. The group said it expects to achieve a valuation...

BHB agreement with OFT opens up racing industry.(Sport news)(British Horseracing Board)(Office of Fair Trading)
July 1, 2004... Horseracing in the United Kingdom is to undergo sweeping changes that are expected to generate an extra 40m [pounds sterling] of income for the industry and a 30m [pounds sterling] a year increase in prize money. The changes are anticipated as...

Man U review leads to tighter transfers.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Manchester United completed a review of its transfer dealings, prompted by the battle between Sir Alex Ferguson, club manager, and John Magnier, the Irish racing tycoon who owns a large stake of just under 30% of the club through his Cubic...

Premiership wage rises slow down.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Top footballers' wage demands in 2003 rose by the lowest amount since the inception of the Premier League, according to a new report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the accountancy firm. Football finance: improving finances at Premiership...

No blues for Birmingham FC.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Birmingham City FC announced an 11% rise in turnover for the six-month period to the end of February 2004. The Blues, who were never out of the top ten in the Premiership this season, reported a turnover of 22.6m [pounds sterling]. Operating...

Deep-Sea reports strong first half.(Entertainment & tourism news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Deep-Sea Leisure, the operator of two aquarium attractions in the United Kingdom, posted interim results showing an "encouraging" performance in the traditional quieter first half of its financial year. The firm, which owns the Blue Planet...

Tenpin award winners unveiled.(Entertainment & tourism news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bowlplex scooped three of the four centre-based titles in the recent Annual Tenpin Bowling Awards. The company picked up the trophies for best modernised/ refurbished centre, for its 26-lane centre in Basingstoke; the best traditional...

Hoteliers remain cautiously optimistic after first quarter trading.(Entertainment & tourism news)
July 1, 2004... Optimism within the hotel industry continued to rise in the first quarter, according to the latest confidence survey by TRI Hospitality Consulting. Of the hotel operators polled, 71.4% described the current business environment as pleasing...

Euro Disney announces deal with banks to restructure debt and raise new project funds.(Entertainment & tourism news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Euro Disney SCA, the owner of Disneyland Pads, has reached an agreement with its creditors to restructure existing debt and raise new debt and equity. The company did not stale how much money it hoped to raise, but speculation in the...

Urbium appoints for Tiger Tiger growth.(Entertainment & tourism news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Urbium has appointed Simon Williets as development director, where he will focus on the group's Tiger Tiger chameleon bar/club/restaurant brand. Williets formerly held a number of acquisition roles with both Bass Leisure Retail and Scottish &...

Brent council approves 1.5bn [pounds sterling] Wembley development.(Property & development news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Plans for the 1.5bn [pounds sterling] development of a 42-acre site around Wembley National Stadium, featuring extensive leisure facilities, have been given the green light by the London Borough of Brent. Quintain Estates and Development...

Detailed plans submitted for Kings Cross.(Property & development news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The proposed redevelopment of Kings Cross as a thriving central London hub took a major step forward when developer Argent St George submitted its planning and heritage applications for the scheme. Details of the planned 67-acre project,...

Xscape v Broadway Plaza in leisure property awards.(Property & development news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Xscape indoor skiing-anchored entertainment complex was battling out with Birmingham's Broadway Plaza scheme in two categories of the Retail & Leisure Property Awards as Leisure Report went to press. The pair were included in the...

Leisure at heart of Camberley scheme.(Property & development news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A 128,000 square foot leisure box forms more than half of a 100m [pounds sterling] project to revamp Camberley town centre in Surrey. Crest Nicholson Developments recently submitted an outline planning application for the 241,000 scheme,...

35m [pounds sterling] luxury spa retreat planned.(Property & development news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council is due to make a planning decision tills month on a 35m [pounds sterling] spa retreat proposed for Docking in north Norfolk. Feast Properties submitted the plans for the upmarket health, beauty...

Chains go to market to raise funds for further expansion.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Madisons Coffee has sought shareholders' approval for a placing of 30 million new shares to fund a potential acquisition. The group, which also announced that it will change its name to Gourmet Holdings to mark its move away from the coffee...

Caffe Nero buys clutch of Coffee Republic outlets.(Eating & drinking news)(Caffe Nero Group PLC)(Coffee Republic PLC)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Caffe Nero has bought eight leasehold sites from Coffee Republic for up to 900,000 [pounds sterling]. Caffe Nero will pay 700,000 [pounds sterling], plus the proceeds from the sale of its 5.7% shareholding in Coffee Republic. Following...

Irish kebab chain confirms UK plans.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Further details have emerged about the launch of Irish kebab chain Ahrakebabra in the United Kingdom. The first three will open in Northampton, Banbury and Bedford. Another two sites will be in similar towns, probably on high streets and...

Burger King aims to corner cafe culture market.(Eating & drinking news)(Burger King Corp.,)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Burger King is planning to open at least 25 new corner cafe-style outlets in the United Kingdom. The new restaurants will follow a different format to the group's current eateries, being about a third smaller on average than the chain's...

Easyinternet to close flagship site.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Easygroup is to close its standalone its flagship internet care on Oxford Street in London. The group's cybercafes division said it has been advised by its property agents that it could make a better profit from the site, which operates...

Restaurant Group sales up in Q1.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Restaurant Group reported a 3% increase in like-for-like sales for its main brands in the first quarter of this year. Alan Jackson, the company's chairman, said: "This trend has continued at this level in recent weeks and bodes well for...

Business as ususal for Welcome Break as financing arm goes into administration.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Welcome Break said the operation of its 26 service stations would not be affected after it put its financing arm into administration to resolve a long-running row with bondholders. But Welcome Break bondholders are expected to press for the...

Local authorities see Licensing Act as tool to control numbers and hours of pubs and bars.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... More than half of local authorities see the Licensing Act 2003 as an opportunity to control licensed venues in their areas. This is one of the findings of an exclusive study into local authority attitudes into the new Act carried out by PPS...

Common grading standards for UK hotels getting nearer.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The AA, RAC, VisitBritain, Visit Scotland, and Wales Tourist Board have all agreed in principle to common standards for grading accommodation. The new standards are the outcome of a review involving all five bodies, the industry, and...

Leisure and tourism world honoured.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Several people from the world of leisure and tourism have been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Fitness entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne was honoured for services to business and charity and given an OBE. So was Sonia Meaden, former...

London hotels face liability increase for losses by guests.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... London hoteliers will have to pay up to 15 times more for lost, stolen or damaged guests' property from 13 July, following changes to the London Local Authorities Act. Hoteliers ill Greater London will soon be liable to pay up to 750...

Smoking debate heats up as 'pro' lobby fights back.(Industry news)
July 1, 2004... Forest, the smokers' pressure group, began its fight back against those campaigning for a blanket ban on smoking by unveiling a survey that revealed three-quarters of people do not want to see tobacco outlawed in pubs and bars. The...

Playing the popularity card: Andrew Herd tells Mel Flaherty why he thinks casinos will become mainstream leisure venues.(Profile)
July 1, 2004... "I want my friends to say they go to casinos, without them feeling guilty or odd about it, and I want to be part of enabling that to happen." Andrew Herd's desire to turn his friends into gamblers is perfectly healthy, as he goes on to...

Confusion and political interference--the future of licensing? David Gold reveals the findings of exclusive research into local authorities' attitudes to licensing.(Research--implementing the Licensing Act 2003)
July 1, 2004... The Licensing Act 2003 introduces a new licensing system to bring together the sale of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment and late night food ill one licence. Councils have been asked to produce a new policy in line with draft...

Lean, mean business machines: Egremont explains how leisure business can profit from employing retail operating models.(Business sense--lean operations)
July 1, 2004... 'Lean thinking' is relatively new to the leisure industry but is likely to deliver powerful results for operators keen to respond to fierce competition by reducing costs and simultaneously improving customer service. High street retailers have...

Gambling on social responsibility: Marc Etches says UK operators would do well to consider a Canadian approach to responsible gaming.(Lessons from overseas)
July 1, 2004... Lord McIntosh of Haringey, the minister responsible for gambling at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has made the government's position clear when it comes to the modernisation of the United Kingdom's outdated gambling legislation....

Over-promising and under-delivering: Simon Parker says fitness industry growth is hampered by poor service standards.(Opinion--customer service in health clubs)
July 1, 2004... The health club industry is languishing behind other leisure sectors by offering some of the poorest standard of customer service. A wild statement, perhaps, until you review the evidence. While the last 20 years have seen a significant general...

Leisure Report LR Index leisure stockwatch July 2004.(Sharewatch & diary dates)(Illustration)
July 1, 2004... This month's share table reflects a few changes to leisure stocks, which means that overall mouth-on-month comparisons are a little harder to make than usual. Ask Central is no longer included in the listing, after its purchase by TDR Capital....

Diary dates.(Sharewatch & diary dates)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... July Event: BHA AGM and Annual Luncheon Date: 1 Location: The Hilton Park Lane, London Description: High profile annual British Hospitality Association event. Contact: 020 7404 7744 September Event: The Evolving...