Leisure Report articles from October 2003

Leisure Report archives from October 2003

Esporta to double racquet clubs portfolio.(acquiring new sites for clubs)
October 1, 2003... Esporta, the health club operator owned by Duke Street Capital, has bought a site in Swindon as part of an expansion drive that will see it double its racquets club portfolio within three years. Speaking to Leisure Report, Neil Gillis, the...

Pierre & Vacances in the frame for Center Parcs.(Pierre and Vacances Distribution; Center Parcs UK)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Pierre & Vacances, the holiday accommodation group based in France, looks to be the most likely buyer for the management business of Center Parcs UK. MidOcean, the private equity group that owns the Center Parcs UK management firm, is...

Is it time to rethink salaries for customer-facing staff?(Inside Track)(International Health, Racquets and Sportsclub Association)
October 1, 2003... You get what you pay for. So why do so many leisure operators insist on paying so little to the people who, arguably, are the most important to their business--the front-line workers who deal with the customers? That was one of the points...

iGGBA, calls for unity on betting exchanges.(News; Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association )
October 1, 2003... The Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association is urging the racing and betting industries to agree a sensible regulatory framework for betting exchanges. Andrew Tottenham, the chairman of iGGBA, said: "People need to understand...

FIA to unveil revised strategy for future.(News; Fitness Industry Association )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Fitness Industry Association was due to launch a new strategy plan to better serve the evolving needs of the maturing sector, as Leisure Report went to press. The plan follows a major strategic view during the summer and is believed to...

Spirit to retain Premier Lodge.(News)
October 1, 2003... Whitbread has declared itself "fairly relaxed" about Spirit's decision not to put the former S&N Retail budget hotels business, Premier Lodge, up for sale. The company said that in the absence of any auction for the 131-outlet Premier...

Top ten now in top three bingo firms.(News; Top Ten Bingo acquires eight bingo clubs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Top Ten Bingo announced the 5.8m [pounds sterling] purchase of eight bingo clubs, making the group the third-largest operator in the United Kingdom, after Gala and Mecca, with 24 sites. The company said it was buying the sites from Mason...

LA fitness profits hit by interest payments and 'clubs without a swimming pool'.(Health & fitness news)
October 1, 2003... A 110% rise in interest payments to 3.27m [pounds sterling] knocked the gloss off full-year results at LA Fitness as turnover for the year to 31 July climbed 39% to 66.3m [pounds sterling] but pretax profits before exceptionals dropped 8% from...

Greens plans relaunch as profits double.(Health & fitness news; Greens Health and Fitness)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Greens Health & Fitness, the De Vere Group-owned chain of 15 health clubs, is planning a relaunch, the firm said as it reported that operating profit for the division this year is expected to almost double to around 2.3m [pounds sterling] from...

JJB looks to fitness sites to reverse H1 slump.(Health & fitness news; JJB Sports PLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... JJB Sports PLC, the largest sports retailer in the United Kingdom, reported a sharp fall in first half profit, but looked to an expansion in its strongly-performing leisure business, which saw sales increase 74%to 20.7m [pounds sterling] in the...

European fitness industry must work as one.(Health & fitness news)(International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association)
October 1, 2003... Health club operators across mainland Europe and the United Kingdom need to work together more to ensure the industry fulfils its potential and plays its part in the public health agenda. That was the overriding message from the third...

Harris buys Topnotch clubs.(Health & fitness news; Matthew Harris buys eight Topnotch Health Clubs )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Matthew Harris, the founder and chief executive of Topnotch Health Clubs is believed to have paid between 3.5m [pounds sterling] and 4m [pounds sterling] to buy eight of the firm's nine clubs out of administration. Harris and other unnamed...

Anderson funds SpringHealth loan repayment.(Health & fitness news)(Thistledown Investments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sandy Anderson, the non-executive chairman and major shareholder of SpringHealth Leisure, the Alternative Investment Market-listed health club firm, is behind a 900,000 [pounds sterling] loan to repay loan notes issued to the company. ...

Roko starts work on third site.(Health & fitness news; Bournemouth fitness club in works)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Roko, the sports and fitness club operator owned by Penta, the private equity firm, Sellar Property Group and the Civil Service Sports Council, has started building its third centre. The Bournemouth club is costing 5m [pounds sterling] to...

Sunbeds kill two people each week.(Health & fitness news; cause skin cancer )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Around two people die each week from skin cancer caused by lying on sunbeds, according to a study by Newcastle General Hospital. Dr Brian Diffey, the researcher leading the study, stopped short of coifing for an outright ban, but said that...

EC clash looms over latest BSkyB deal.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Europe's Competition Commission is set for another clash with BSkyB over the rights to broadcast Premier League football matches. Under the latest deal, announced earlier this month, BSkyB has gained total control of broadcast rights for...

Scottish football nets record losses.(Sport news; Scottish Premier League )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Scottish football remained in the financial doldrums last season, with combined losses of the 12 clubs in the Scottish Premier League topping a record 60m [pounds sterling]. Net debt was also up 12m [pounds sterling] at 144m [pounds sterling],...

Record profits for Newcastle.(Sport news; soccer club Newcastle United)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Newcastle may be languishing near the bottom of the Premiership table, but financially the club is at the top of its game, with record profits before amortisation and player trading of 27.6m [pounds sterling] for the year to 31 June (2002:...

Chepstow begins trading on AIM.(Sport news; Chepstow Racecourse acquires Northern Racing; trading on Alternative Investment Market)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Chepstow Racecourse's 34m [pounds sterling] acquisition of Northern Racing was completed after shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting. The combined companies are now trading as Chepstow on the Alternative Investment Market....

West Brom doubles turnover.(Sport news)(West Bromwich Albion )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A season in the top flight saw West Bromwich Albion report turnover of 28.4m [pounds sterling] (2002: 14.3m [pounds sterling]) for the year to the end of June. Operating profit before exceptionals was 5.7m [pounds sterling] (-1.8m [pounds...

Man Utd profits up as bid rumours fly.(Sport news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A lucrative sponsorship contract with Nike, along with strong performances in domestic and European cup competitions, allowed Manchester United to post a 39.3m [pounds sterling] pre-tax profit in the year to the end of July, despite a fall in...

Gaming International continues JV racino talks as greyhound business slumps.(Betting & gaming news)
October 1, 2003... Gaming International, the second largest operator of greyhound stadia in the United Kingdom, is continuing talks with potential joint-venture partners for casino developments for new sites planned in Milton Keynes, Reading and Bristol. The...

Kerzner in talks with Anshultz to develop 200m [pounds sterling] resort casino at the Dome.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Kerzner International, the gaming group, is believed to have struck deal with Anschutz Entertainment Group Europe, the company turning the Millennium Dome into a sports and entertainment complex, for a 200m [pounds sterling] casino and hotel...

Greenway to chair scrutiny committee.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... John Greenway, the Conservative MP for Ryedale and the former opposition spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport, was appointed chairman of the joint scrutiny committee for the Gambling Bill. The committee, made up of eight members of...

Interactive gambling gets code of conduct.(Betting & gaming news)(Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association )
October 1, 2003... The Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association has published a code of conduct to underline its members' commitment to "the highest standards of corporate social and commercial responsibility." The code covers: -Regulatory...

Sportingbet and betinternet issue profit warnings.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sportingbet, the Alternative investment Market-listed online bookmaker, said its gross margin for the six months to 30 September would be about 2m [pounds sterling] below expectations, due to unfavourable results in European and American...

Sportech plans TV betting.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sportech, the gaming group which owns Littlewoods Football Pools, said it expected performance to improve in the second half, driven by a five-year deal with ITV to provide interactive betting and gaming for its shows. The firm said future...

CI Traders wins Channel Islands' first casino licence.(Betting & gaming news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... CI Traders, the consumer and leisure group that owns the Blubeckers restaurant chain in the United Kingdom, has been awarded the Channel Islands' first and only casino licence. The casino will be built at the group's St Pierre Park Hotel...

Aspinalls bid goes unconditional.(Betting & gaming news)(Aspinalls Online )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Damian Aspinall 500,000 [pounds sterling] bid for Aspinalls Online was declared wholly unconditional after acceptances from shareholders of 73.66% of the company by the first closing date of 1 October. Aspinall applied to cancel trading of...

Georgica confident in Megbowl's future.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Georgica, the cue sports and tenpin operator, is looking increasingly likely to exercise its option to buy outright the Megabowl business, the 50-strong tenpin centre joint venture business owned with Duke Street Capital. The firm had...

Ultimate raises 20m [pounds sterling] through share placing.(Cinema & entertainment news; Ultimate Leisure )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Ultimate Leisure has raised 20m [pounds sterling] from a placing of 6.9 million new shares at 300p through Brewin Dolphin Securities. The North East of England-based Alternative Investment Market-listed bar and nightclub operator said the...

Springwood's banks oust chairman.(Cinema & entertainment news; executive chairman Adam Page forced out)
October 1, 2003... Adam Page, executive chairman of the late-night bar operator Springwood, has been forced out by his bankers and replaced by a turnaround specialist alter the company made its first-ever loss. The company's interim results for the six months...

UCI's Knibbs joins Vue.(Cinema & entertainment news; Steve Knibbs; Vue Entertainment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Steve Knibbs has switched cinema companies, joining Vue Entertainment, the newest company in the sector, after 16 years at UCI. Knibbs joins "Cue, the firm formed earlier this year out of SBC's venture capital-backed 250m [pounds sterling]...

Vivendi signs NBC deal.(Cinema & entertainment news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Vivendi Universal Entertainment and NBC signed an agreement to merge the companies. The deal will create NBC Universal, which would be worth $43bn and will be 80%-owned by General Electric and 20%-owned by VUE shareholders. The sale...

X-Leisure to implement new strategy as Xscape number two opens, in Castleford.(Tourism & development news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... X-Leisure, the branded leisure property arm of Capital & Regional, has opened its second real snow indoor ski slope-anchored Xscape attraction and said that from next year it plans to implement a new five-year business strategy backed by its...

Four VC firms show interest in Tussauds Group.(Tourism & development news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Tussauds Group, the largest operator of theme parks in the United Kingdom, is believed to be the subject of potential bids from four private equity groups. BC Partners, PAI, Permira and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts are all believed to be on...

Exeter plans premiership rugby stadium and leisure complex.(Tourism & development news)(Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club announced plans to build a state-of-the-art, Premiership-quality stadium and leisure complex with a combined value of about 50m [pounds sterling]. In a joint venture with Mowlem, the club has submitted a detailed...

UK visitor numbers up in August.(Tourism & development news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... An increase in visitor numbers from the rest of the world in August helped offset a 4% decline in tourists from North America, the Office for National Statistics said this month. A total of 2.82 million visitors came to the United Kingdom...

100m [pounds sterling] scheme for Birmingham.(Tourism & development news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Mars Pension Fund is to team up with property development group Taylor Woodrow to transform an office tower and shopping centre in Birmingham's Fiveways district into a 100m [pounds sterling] hotel, leisure and retail complex. The...

Advent bids for Spanish parks.(Tourism & development news)(Global Private Equity IV LP)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Global Private Equity IV LP, the fund owned by Advent International, the American venture capital firm, has made a [euro]6.25 a share bid for Parques Reunidos. The offer values the Spanish theme park operator at [euro]165m and is...

Reading FC awards 27m [pounds sterling] catering contract to Compass' All Leisure division.(Eating and drinking news)(Reading Football Club)(All Leisure)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Reading Football Club has awarded a seven-year, 27m [pounds sterling] contract to provide catering, hospitality and conference and banqueting services at its Madejski Stadium and the adjacent Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, to All Leisure....

Warm weather hits Giardino's.(Eating & drinking news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Giardino Group said the warm summer hit trading at its restaurants and cafes in shopping centres but lifted sales in its London-based restaurants, with many benefiting from outside seating. The company said gross profits for the six months...

Madisons cash-generative for first time since floatation.(Eating & drinking news)(Madisons)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Madisons, the coffee bar operator that also owns the Richoux restaurant brand, revealed full year results which showed it had become cash generative for the first time since going public in 1998. The company's operating loss for the 12...

Coffee Republic cheers deli success as loss doubles.(Eating & drinking news)
October 1, 2003... Coffee Republic gave its investors hope despite a doubling of its operating loss for the year, as its new Republic Dell concept showed a preliminary sales rise of more than 20%. However, it said, funds for rolling out the new concept will...

Page launches new restaurant company.(Eating & drinking news)(Clapham House)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... David Page, the former chief executive of PizzaExpress, is starting a new restaurant company. Page recently stepped down from his post at PizzaExpress after it was taken over by a consortium that included the backers of the Nando,s chicken...

Leisure spending sees modest rises, but the fitness pound goes from strength to strength.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... While one in five British people claims to have more cash to spend on leisure than they did five years ago, industry growth has been limited, rising just 6% between 1998 and 2002. The leisure market in the United Kingdom was worth 35bn...

Chip 'n' Pin for national roll-out after test success.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... New credit and debit cards that ask for a numeric code instead of a signature will be rolled out nationwide, after a successful three-month trial in Northampton. The new cards, known as Chip and Pin cards, work on four-digit pin codes...

Luminar wins hours case in High Court.(Industry news)(JD Wetherspoon's Lloyds No 1 bar )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... A High Court judge has narrowed the grounds on which licensees can apply for extended hours certificates in a case bought by Luminar against JD Wetherspoon's Lloyds No 1 bar in Norwich. Luminar argued that Lloyds No 1 did not qualify for a...

Caborn urged to put business tourism at heart of strategy.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Business Tourism Partnership called on Richard Caborn, the Sport & Tourism Minister, to consider raising the profile of and improving strategies for business tourism in the United Kingdom. When the partnership, a consortium of 19...

Sector Skills Council gets full licence.(Industry news)(Skills Active )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Skills Active became the fourth of 23 Sector Skills Councils to receive its full licence from Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, as part of the Skills for Business Network, which aims to help employers to increase productivity and...

Mood music 'should not need licence'.(Industry news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Pubs and bars using DJs to provide "mood music" should not have to apply for all entertainment licence once the new Licensing Act comes into force, according to Hamish Birchall, Musicians Union licensing expert. Birchall believes the...

Burke's fitness plan: the new Holmes Place CEO tells Mel Flaherty how he will apply hotel industry experience to health clubs.(Profile)
October 1, 2003... Ian Burke actually joined Holmes Place about two years ago. As a member of its club in Hendon, North London, that is. When he joined up, and until May this year, he was still chief executive of Thistle, the hotel firm. And he was an infrequent...

The concepts keep on coming: branded restaurant chains are alive and well and continuing to grow.(Sector update--restaurant brands)
October 1, 2003... Research by Martin Information shows that the number of sites operated by the biggest 10 eating-out chains grew by 2.5% over the past year--a show of confidence in a market that is supposedly struggling. Between them those 10 brands operate on...

Tiffinbites.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Two ex-Marks and Spencer employees have launched all Indian fast food brand called Tiffinbites, in London. Jamal Hirani and Jonathan Marks plan to open 10 further ouflets this year, with the aim of creating a 52-strong nationwide chain within...

Fresh Italy.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Fresh Italy )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Fresh Italy launched in London in July is hoping to appeal to fast food fans supposedly disaffected by McDonald's-style offerings. The concept, backed by private investors, opened its first outlet in Ludgate Hill, in the City of London. It...

Ask Central.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Ask Central, owner of the Zizzi and Ask brands, said it intends to open stand-alone pizza delivery outlets. Adam Kaye, the company's chief executive, said he hoped to open the first home delivery and takeaway outlet in North London by the end...

Rice to Riches.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Rice to Riches)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Rice to Riches, a cafe and takeaway selling only rice pudding in the Nolita neighbourhood of New York, plans to open more outlets "after turning a profit from day one. Its owner, Peer Moceo, found it hard to get premises when he started...

Kantan.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * The first of a planned chain of take-away sushi outlets is opening its doors in Clerkenwell Road, Central London under the name Kantan. The name means "simple in Japanese." It is targeting 25 to 39-yea-old "urban professionals" with what it...

Yi Ban.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * A planned new restaurant chain that opened its first outlet in the London Regatta Centre near City Airport wants to be the "Chinese Yo! Sushi". Yi Ban, which means "number one" in Chinese, has been designed as a contemporary Chinese...

Ranch Grill.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Ranch Grill)(Liquid Assets International)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Ranch Grill, a new restaurant chain from Liquid Assets International, aims to provide a contemporary take on the simple steak and chips image of Berni Inn and Angus Steak Houses. The first outlet, featuring a design that includes large black...

On Fire Restaurants.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(On Fire Restaurants)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * On Fire Restaurants, which opened its first Shish venue two years ago in Willesden, north London, is opening its second outlet in Hoxton, on the edge of the City. The menu is encompasses central Asian, Mediterranean, North African and...

The Butchers.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Food and Beverage Group is launching the first in what it hopes will be a chain of pub and grill concepts called The Butchers. A test-bed site is opening this month in Witham, Essex, and FAB's chairman, Tony Carson, the man who created Jim...

Mugg & Bean.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Mugg & Bean)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Mugg & Bean--the South African coffee-themed quick-casual restaurant chain-is coming to the UK. UK franchisee, Mugg & Bean UK, is seeking high profile, high football locations in the South East.

Zimzun.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Peter Ponnampalan, the restaurant entrepreneur, has launched a new restaurant, called Zimzun, which he plans to roll out as a chain. The concept, which identifies itself as 'sophisticated Asian fusion' has its first site in Fulham Broadway...

Loco.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Tony Allan plans to increase the size of his new Loco restaurant chain to between three and four sites over the next six months. The first outlet, Loco Pronto, is due to open in Borough Market, London, at the end of August. Allan wants to...

On The Run.(Launch pad--new eating out concepts)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... * Exxon Mobil is considering launching its On The Run Cafe brand in Esso petrol stations in the UK. It currently has On The Run cafes in Chile, Canada, Singapore, Ireland and the US. The cafes offer sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried...

The debate drags on: operators could face increasing litigation over passive smoking in the workplace.(Hot Issues)
October 1, 2003... There is no smoke without fire, it is said, but is the leisure industry really facing an outfight ban on smoking in all workplaces, or will proposed European legislation come to nothing? Even if a total ban remains unlikely, what can...

Planning gains? Hugh Siegle gives his thoughts on the property issues affecting the leisure industry.(Business view-property)
October 1, 2003... Overtaxed and regulated, the leisure industry is facing an unprecedented amount of legislative change over the next few months. Leisure Report has carried details of proposals as they emerge and this article provides an update of where they...

Leisure Report LR Index leisure stockmarket October 2003.(Sharewatch)
October 1, 2003... Arena Leisure was one of the highest climbers this month. Its 26.2% increase in share price was helped by the announcement of a 40m [pounds sterling] new contract with the Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Service to provide live broad cast of...

Diary dates.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... October Event Lessons learned on the way to the top Date 27 Location Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London Description First in a series of events hosted by The Tourism Society as part of its reentering scheme for women in...