Leisure Report articles from November 2004

Leisure Report archives from November 2004

Few surprises from Gambling Bill.
November 1, 2004... The government finally published the long awaited Gambling Bill amid a stream of concessions designed to ease its path through parliament, but there were few surprises in the legislation, as the politicians sought to appease the anti-gaming...

Nomura in United bid to fight off Glazer offer.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The future ownership of Manchester United remained in the balance, as Malcolm Glazer continued his pursuit of the company, having built up a 28.1% stake. As Leisure Report went to press it emerged that Nomura, the Japanese bank, was...

The birth of a new age--but where's the substance?(Inside Track)
November 1, 2004... Congratulations go out all round this month, starting with our editor Mel and her husband Owen, who are now the proud parents of Hannah Alice Flaherty, born on 1 October, weighing 7lb 14 oz. Many of you have asked me to pass on your best...

Parkdean spends 42m [pounds sterling] on five new sites.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... UK holiday park operator Parkdean splashed out 41.8m [pounds sterling] on the purchase of five new sites, making group the second largest operator in the UK with 20 sites from Bourne Leisure, as it continued its expansion drive. The group...

Sheffield United nets small loss as cup failure hit profits.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sheffield United announced it had slipped into the red over the course of the year, but said that underlying trading was improving. Unveiling full year figures for the 12 mouths to 30 June 2004, the club said it had made an operating loss...

Pari-Mutuel the future for betinternet as online group announces fundraising plans.
November 1, 2004... Following its recent strategic review, betinternet.com, the UK-listed global online gaming group, announced that its future focus would be on its Pari-Mutuel businesses. In a statement to the stock exchange, the group said that its...

Paramount to roll out Bodysensual spas across estate.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Paramount, the UK luxury hotel brand owned by Dawnay Shore Hotels, announced plans to roll out its Bodysensual spa concept across its UK portfolio. Sitting under the Bodysense umbrella-the brand name for health and leisure clubs within the...

Refocus on Dragons health chain lifts Crown Sports' profits.
November 1, 2004... Crown Sports, the AIM-listed UK health club operator, said the decision to focus its brand on Dragons health and fitness chain had paid dividends, while announcing improved interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2004. Despite...

Clubhaus renamed The Club Company after MBO.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Clubhaus, the golf and health club operator, announced it had rebranded as the Club Company, following the management buyout backed by L & G Ventures, the private equity firm. The group also revealed it had secured funding for an 11m...

Board reshuffle as Reflex Group becomes Healthy Living Chain.(Health & fitness news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Reflex Group, operator of the Motorcise fitness centres, was considering re-naming itself the Healthy Living Chain, in order to better reflect its activities, as Leisure Report went to press. The group was due to put the proposal to...

Esporta backing pedal power.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Following a highly successful trial period at the group's Guildford club, Esporta is set to roll out its new spin concept "Revolution" at sites across the UK. The brainchild of Esporta's inhouse team, the concept was taken from the group's...

Fitness First's fire faux pas.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... There were red faces at the UK's largest health and fitness chain in the wake of newspaper reports that, following a fire at a health centre in Bury St Edmunds, staff from the local Fitness First appeared and began handing out membership...

Grayshott loss.(Health & fitness news)(GR Holdings)(Grayshott Hall )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... GR Holdings, the health club operator, announced a loss for the year to 30 June, as turnover fell at its clubs. Posting a pre-tax loss of 371,418 [pounds sterling] (2003: 164,069 [pounds sterling]), the group said occupancy at Grayshott...

LA Fitness in good shape with record results.(Health & fitness news)
November 1, 2004... LA Fitness impressed the City with record full year results, with turnover up 20% to 79.6m [pounds sterling], and plans for a new 'weight loss or your money back' concept. Announcing preliminary results for the year ended 31 July 2004, the...

JJB shares take a hit after Cinven approach fails.
November 1, 2004... JJB Sports, the sportswear retailer and health, fitness and five-aside soccer operator, saw shares slump after a possible takeover approach from private equity group Cinven fell through. The group was forced to announce to the stock...

Losses cut as turnover soars at ukbetting.(Betting & gaming news)
November 1, 2004... Gaming group ukbetting reported a sharp reduction in its first-half losses, on the back of a 56% increase in turnover. Figures for the six months to 30 June showed the firm made an operating loss of 700,000 [pounds sterling] before goodwill...

Dome casino plan could land Prescott in court.(John Prescott )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A group of private gaming companies may take legal action against deputy prime minister John Prescott if he awards a licence for a Las Vegas-style casino at London's Millennium Dome while turning down their attempts to set up rival casinos in...

Gaming Board may walkout over move to the North.(Gambling Commission )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The organisation which will to oversee the expansion of the gambling industry is facing a mass walkout before it is even set up. The Gambling Commission is to replace regulatory body Tim Gaming Board, with a new head office in Newcastle...

Gaming Insight's future in the balance as it seeks new deals.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The future of Gaming Insight, the UK-based group, remains in the balance, after the company announced any further operations would be based on "its ability to successfully complete an acquisition and raise additional hinds that may be required...

Arena to manage Doncaster track.(Arena Leisure)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Arena to manage Doncaster track Arena Leisure is to jointly manage Doncaster Racecourse with Don caster Metropolitan Borough Council, with immediate effect. The company is expected to take full control of the site at the beginning of next...

Caesars marching on to Wembley with 335m [pounds sterling] casino plan.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Caesars Entertainment, the US casino operator, is in talks with Quintain Estates, the property developer, with a view to opening "the UK's biggest and most lavish gambling resort" at the new Wembley stadium in north London, at a cost of around...

Stanley Leisure eyes 125m [pounds sterling] casino for Leeds.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Stanley Leisure is planning to open a Las Vegas-style regional casino on a site adjacent to Elland Road, the home of Leeds United football club. Bb Wiper, the company's chief executive, said the complex would cost up to 125m [pounds...

Victor Chandler unveils new look to streamline brand.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... UK bookmaker Victor Chandler launched its new image in the same week as the Gambling Bill was published, although the timing was "purely coincidental", according to Alan Randall, the group's marketing director. The Victor Chandler name has...

Crown Leisure shuffles management team.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The new boss of Crown Leisure has announced the details of his new management team, in a bid to end speculation that the company is to be sold. Neil Moir, managing director, said two new heads of operations had been appointed; Arthur Wannop,...

Sportingbet delays results.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sportingbet, the UK-listed online gaming group, released a statement announcing the postponement of its preliminary results for the 16 months to 31 July 2004, on the basis that it was in "advanced discussions with a third party regarding the...

Gambling is 'good for old-age health'.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A Yale University professor has concluded that older people who enjoy a touch of hardcore gambling are healthier than those who are more risk-averse. According to a report in The Times, Professor Rant Desai's study of 2,417 adults also...

Champions league failure costs Newcastle.(Sport news)(Newcastle United )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Newcastle United reported a 3.3m [pounds sterling] drop in operating profit when announcing preliminary figures for the year to 31 July, as the side's failure to qualify for the Champions League cost more than 8m [pounds sterling] in television...

Preston posts loss.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Reporting preliminary figures for the year to 30 June 2004, Preston North End said that in a "challenging financial climate" operating losses were significantly lower on increased turnover, although the club posted a loss before taxation of...

Blades' share offer spurned by fans.(Sports news)(Sheffield United)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sheffield United said that its open share offer had closed with a takeup rate of just 3.2%, although it reiterated that under the terms of the deal, 50,000,000 shares would be taken up by Kevin McCabe, club chairman. Under the Underwriting...

Leisure Report LR Index football stockwatch Nov 2004.
November 1, 2004... Aston Villa shares hit a 12-month high after Doug Ellis, chairman, announced the club was on the verge of securing a deal to extend David O'Leary's contract as manager and would make funds available to strengthen the squad, while Newcastle...

Taskcatch sign ex-England skipper.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Taskcatch sign ex-England skipper Taskcatch, the AIM-listed operator of small sided soccer venues, announced it had appointed former England football team captain Trevor John Cherry as a non executive director. Cherry joined the board on 1...

Playgolf appoints R&A man as it announces reduced losses.(Royal and Ancient Golf Club)(Playgolf Holdings)
November 1, 2004... Playgolf Holdings. the operator of contemporary golf facilities in urban centres, announced the appointment of Peter McEvoy as director of business development, as it revealed interim results for the six months to 30 June were in line with...

Football Foundation nets 165m [pounds sterling] funding boost.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Thousands of new community sports projects could come to fruition after Tessa Jowell, culture secretary, announced that funding was being extended for the Football Foundation. A 45m [pounds sterling] package has been agreed in principle,...

Transfer dealings lead to 1.2m [pounds sterling] operating loss for Spurs.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tottenham Hotspur reported an operating loss of 1.19m [pounds sterling] for the year ending 30 June 2004, despite recording a profit before player trading of more than 9.7m [pounds sterling]. revealing a level of spending that chairman Daniel...

Arsenal scores 100m [pounds sterling] stadium sponsorship deal.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Arsenal FC's new ground at Ashburton Grove will be known as the Emirates Stadium, after the club announced it had signed a 100m [pounds sterling] sponsorship deal with the airline, the largest in the history of British football. The...

Sunshine provides boost for outdoor visitor attractions.
November 1, 2004... The long-forgotten good weather during the summer of 2003 helped fuel a small increase in visits to outdoor attractions in the UK, with those in the countryside outperforming their urban rivals. According to Visitor Attractions Trends England...

Etches to leave Leisure Parcs.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Leisure Parcs' managing director Marc Etches announced he is to leave the company at the end of the year, having decided to seek out a new challenge, although he will remain involved with the regeneration of Blackpool and plans to remain within...

New Chairman for VisitBritain.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Tessa Jowell, UK culture secretary, announced the appointment of Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge as the new Chairman of VisitBritain. Lord Marshall will succeed the current chairman, Sir Michael Lickiss, on 2 January 2005. Commenting on the...

Euro Disney agrees new debt deal.(Tourism & attractions news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Euro Disney announced it had reached a debt restructuring agreement with its creditors, staving off the immediate threat of bankruptcy. The troubled theme park operator said its creditors and leading shareholder, Walt Disney, had "unanimously...

Edinburgh development finds mystery operator.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A 2bn [pounds sterling] waterfront development in Edinburgh has found an operator for the hotel and casino complex to be built on the site. Although still at the planning stages, the development has secured all operator for what will be a...

MGM Grand Olympia names planning team.
November 1, 2004... Earls Court & Olympia and MGM Mirage Partnership have named the team they will use to seek approval for the 150m [pounds sterling] MGM Grand Olympia development. The Partnership intends to transform 25,000 sq m of under used exhibition...

Billing Aquadrome to get 10m [pounds sterling] redevelopment.
November 1, 2004... Multi-million pound plans to create an entertainment complex called The Boardwalk, at Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire have been unveiled. Developers have submitted an outline planning application for a 10m [pounds sterling] upgrade...

UGC sale touted as Blackstone ties up Cine-UK purchase.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Blackstone, the US venture capitalist group, has bought Cine-UK, the UK cinema chain, in a deal worth about 120m [pounds sterling], just weeks alter being thwarted by rivalTerra Firma in its attempt to buy the Odeon chain. The US private equity...

Record results as Ultimate eyes minimum pricing.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Ultimate Leisure recorded a fifth consecutive year of record results, while announcing that it will never run all inclusive drinks offers, and branding the practice "irresponsible". The company released its full year results for the year to...

Allied calls in receivers as Georgica halts funding.(Allied Leisure )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Allied Leisure has called in the receivers after parent company Georgica announced it had completed the sale of the company's Burger King businesses for 4.75m [pounds sterling], and said it was subsequently withdrawing any further funding for...

Power stays on.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Vince Power is to remain at the helm of Mean Fiddler after the group's new chief executive was ousted. The company pulled out of its deal to buy Media Internet Telecom firm, so its boss Richard Clingen will no longer become chairman. No reason...

Urbium buys West End nightclub.(Strawberry Moons nightclub)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Urbium announced that it had bought the Strawberry Moons nightclub, off Regent Street in London, for 1.45m [pounds sterling]. John Conlan, the group's executive chairman said: "The acquisition of this well located 550-capacity venue with a 3am...

Bourne shareholders buy AMF Bowling.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Two shareholders in Bourne Leisure, the holiday group behind Butlins and Haven, have purchased AMF Bowling, the ten-pin bowling chain, for an estimated 40m [pounds sterling]. John Cook and Peter Harris bought the UK's second largest...

Profits droop at Spearmint Rhino.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Profits at lap-dancing operator Spearmint Rhino have reportedly slumped by a quarter from 6.61m [pounds sterling] to 4.95m [pounds sterling] as UK customers apparently seek more discreet venues. Parent group Spearmint Rhino Companies (Europe)...

Caffe Nero ups expansion plans.(Food & drink news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Caffe Nero plans to open 46 sites during the current financial year, taking its estate up to 210 properties. Of those, the company will open between two and three outside the M25 for every one in London. Gerry Ford, the company's chairman,...

Restaurant Group sees 40% rise in H1 profits.(Food & drink news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Restaurant Group reported a 40% increase in pre-tax half-year profit to 9.8m [pounds sterling] for the six mouths to 30 June 2004. The company, which owns the Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito, Caffe Uno, Garfunkel's and Est Est Est brands,...

McDonald's sees UK results plunge.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... McDonald's reported a 71% drop in pre-tax profits in the United Kingdom last year, down to 23.6m [pounds sterling] from 83.8m [pounds sterling]. The company said that the results were in line with expectations arid that its new salads and...

Bannatyne to trial bar concept in Newcastle.(Bannatyne Fitness is to open a restaurant)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bannatyne Fitness is to open a har/restaurant in The Gate complex in Newcastle. Bar Bannatyne is due to open at the end of November. If successful, the concept will be rolled out nationally. Bannatyne's director Nigel Armstrong said:...

Hygiene scorecard may be on the cards for cafes.(Chartered Institute of Environmental Health)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Restaurants and cafes may have to display the results of hygiene cheeks under new proposals to he discussed this month. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health will be discussing plans to force food outlets to show the results of...

Whitbread looking for 50 extra Costas.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Whitbread is currently looking for 50 additional sites for its Costa Coffee chain. The group, which has opened 30 new stores within the last six months, is looking for the extra locations by February next year. The company is looking...

Starbucks hits its growth target.(coffee industry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Starbucks reported 7% growth in comparable store sales for September, at the top end of its targets. Howard Schultz, the company's chairman, said: "We are very pleased that we were able to deliver strong comparable store sales growth for...

New leisure skills body names chief executive.
November 1, 2004... People 1st, the recently-launched Sector Skills Council dedicated to the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries, will introduce Brian Wisdom as its new chief executive at its inaugural conference on 2 December at the iMaxTheatre,...

Cinema circuit valuations will continue to rise.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The recent sale of Odeon to Terra Firma marked a new high in valuations of cinema circuits, according to industry analysts Dodona Research. Launching its new Cinema Transactions Database, the company said Odeon sold for 9.6 times Ebitda,...

Smoking ban unlikely to affect nightclubs.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The government white paper on public health is repelled to leave out a ban on smoking in pubs and clubs, but include one for restaurants. A report in The Guardian said that British ministers think the public is not ready for an Irish style ban....

Leisure remains most popular use for UK hotels.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A recent survey has found that leisure breaks remain the most popular use for UK hotels. The survey, by market analysts Mintel, found that 34% of consumers had used a hotel for leisure purposes last year, and only 10% had stayed in one for...

British museums top leisure survey.(Industry news)(visitors)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A comprehensive survey of museum satisfaction rates and visitor numbers, published by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), revealed more people visit museums each year than go to live sports events, theme parks or the theatre. ...

Sir Stanley Clarke passes away.(Industry news)(horse racing)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
November 1, 2004... Sir Stanley Clarke, until recently chairman of Northern Racing, died at the end of September following a long battle against cancer. He was 71. Sir Stanley spent 20 years building up St Modwen, a successful property company, before buying his...

Book now for BISL conference and Leopards.(Industry news)(Business In Sport and Leisure)
November 1, 2004... Places are still available for the Business In Sport and Leisure Annual Conference and Exhibition, which takes place on Tuesday 23rd November 2004 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, and will be followed in the evening by the inaugural...

Attractions conference hears London still dominating UK tourism.(Industry news)
November 1, 2004... The first ever Visitor Attraction Conference, organised by VisitBritain, and supported by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, the DCMS, and the Tourism Alliance and...

Drive new business, without using a car: TransportEnergy outlines the benefits a travel policy can offer leisure operators.(Business Sense--Travel Planning)
November 1, 2004... How can a tourist or leisure facility increase business if it does not understand how visitors and staff travel to its site? Through making sure it understands its customers' ability to travel to its products (i.e. the site). A business...

Last of the international playboys? Matthew Martin talks to Accor's operations and development director about the UK casino sector.(Profile)
November 1, 2004... As David Marshall sits in the UK offices of Accor, he might feel as though he has not left His French homeland, as the group's UK office in Hammersmith is also home to L'Oreal and Allied Domecq. Perhaps it is this relaxed atmosphere that leads...

Leisure Report LR Index leisure stockwatch November 2004.(Sharewatch)
November 1, 2004... Mean Fiddler led the fallers in the sector in October. although the index saw a small rise overall, with 15 out of 95 stocks on the tip. The music venue and festival company, which holds a stake in the Glastonbury festival, saw itself...

Diary dates.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... November Event: HCIMA President's Ball Date: 5 Location: Dixie Queen, River Thames Description: High profile annual industry event of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association. Contact: www.hcima.org Event: European...