Leisure Report articles from October 2006

Leisure Report archives from October 2006

Gyms 'not attracting lower earners'.
October 1, 2006... People from lower income groups take less exercise and are least likely to make use of publicly available health facilities such as gyms in leisure centres, a new study has shown. According to the first ever National Audit of Fitness...

Champneys to roll out day spa offering.
October 1, 2006... Champneys, the spa and health farm operator, is planning to open 100 small day spas across the UK over the next few years. The company, which runs four health farms in the UK and one in India, will open its first day spa in Chichester, West...

Moving the fitness goalposts.(Goals Soccer Centres Goals)
October 1, 2006... The UK football sector has come under the spotlight in recent months, with a number of high profile deals, and more lately, with allegations of widespread corruption, but behind the headlines and the multi-million pound deals which have seen...

Greenwich regeneration could be endangered by casino bid wrangles.(News)
October 1, 2006... Controversy surrounding the Millennium Dome's bid for the first UK super casino threatens to derail a major land development project. At a hearing of the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP), AEG, the company owned by Philip Anschutz, the American...

888 pay special dividend interims impress.(News)
October 1, 2006... 888, the online gaming entertainment company, said pre-tax profits for the six months ended 30 June 2006 had risen by 88% to $48m. As a result, the firm is proposing a one off special dividend of 4 cents a share. The company said net...

Sportingbet shares resume trading.(News)
October 1, 2006... Sportingbet, the online gaming company has recommenced trading in its shares, after dealings were suspending in September. Shares in the company where temporarily suspended on request, after Peter Dicks, at the time non-executive chairman...

Rumour of the month.(News)
October 1, 2006... Which great British holiday business is being put up for sale? Reports suggest the private equity backer of Park Resorts, which was recently merged with GB Holiday Parks, has already held a beauty parade with UBS, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley,...

New image for Fitronics as it becomes The Retention People.(News)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Fitronics has re-branded to form 'The Retention People', in a move which it hopes will better communicate the goal and nature of the business to its clients. Alister Rollins, managing director, said: "Our technology is very important but...

Deloitte Benchmark Survey paints worrying picture for UK dubs.(News: Health & Fitness)
October 1, 2006... Rising interest rates and falling consumer confidence have started to impact the health and fitness sector, with the number of people joining health clubs falling by an average 8% from January to June, compared with the previous year. ...

Virgin Active confirms Holmes Place deal.(News: Health & Fitness)
October 1, 2006... Virgin Active has signed an agreement to acquire Holmes Place's UK business, in a 650m [pounds sterling] deal that will see Bridgepoint and Permira reinvesting in Virgin Active by taking a minority stake. Virgin will have a majority stake...

Fitness First buys Fitness Exchange.(News: Health & Fitness)
October 1, 2006... Fitness First Group Limited, the world's largest fitness company, has announced the acquisition of Fitness Exchange, a privately owned, 10-club operation, for an undisclosed sum. Nine of the clubs are in locations in central London, with...

Sats 150m [pounds sterling] sale?(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Scandinavia's biggest health clubs operator Sats has appointed UBS to explore strategic options including a sale. Sats, valued at up to 150m [pounds sterling], has about 25% of the market share in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. It...

Investment company eyes Newcastle United.(News: Sport)
October 1, 2006... Belgravia Group, a Jersey-based investment company, confirmed it has made an approach to buy Newcastle United Football Club. A spokesman described the Premiership football club, which has a market value of about 81m [pounds sterling], as...

Club blames attendance fall on illegal TV screenings.(News: Sport)
October 1, 2006... Illegal satellite feeds are damaging Premiership grounds' gate receipts, according to officials at Blackburn Rovers Football Club. The club has reported a decline in attendance of roughly 5,000 over the past two years, which the club blames...

Fuller's tees up sponsor deal.(News: Sport)
October 1, 2006... Fuller Smith &Turner, the brewer and pub operator, has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the English Golf Union. The new deal will see the company's London Pride brand supporting a number of initiatives across golf clubs throughout...

England's biggest Alpine indoor venue to open in '07.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Chill Factor, the proposed biggest Alpine indoor centre in England, is expected to open in October 2007, after it secured a further 3m [pounds sterling] worth of funding. The latest funding from Bridges Community Ventures takes the total...

72% profits rise for Goals.(Goals Soccer Centres)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Goals Soccer Centres has reported a 72% increase in pre-tax profit to 2.1m [pounds sterling] for the six months to 30 June. The company, which operates 21 soccer centres, saw sales increase by 35% to 7.5m [pounds sterling] during the period,...

Profits up as Arena looks to drive growth.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Arena Leisure, the UK's largest operator of horseracing fixtures, has posted an increased pre-tax profit of 2.2m [pounds sterling] for the six months to 30 June 2006. Turnover at the group rose by 5.7% to 21.9m [pounds sterling], helping drive...

Buy-seeking Talarius reports rise in like-for-like sales.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... Talarius, owner and operator of the 'Quicksilver' estate of 187 High Street Adult Gaming Centres (AGC), said it had seen strong like-for-like sales growth as well as strong second half trading, while announcing its interim results for the 28...

Genting in 700m [pounds sterling] bid for Stanley.(Genting International, Stanley Casinos)
October 1, 2006... The speculation over the future of two of the UK's leading casino operators came to an end last month, with the news that Stanley leisure, the UK's market leader, had agreed a cash offer from Genting International, while rival LCI is likely to...

Paddy Power sees 12% rise in pre-tax profit.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... Paddy Power reported a 12% increase in pre-tax profit to 20.5m [euro] (13.87m [pounds sterling]) for the six months to 30 June. Turnover increased 27% to 878m [euro], with the World Cup generating turnover of 48m [euro], 37m [euro] of which...

Ukbetting mulls gaming arm sale as it launches strategic review.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... Ukbetting, the online gaming company, is reportedly set to appoint consultants to handle a strategic review of its business, which could lead to sale of its betting operation, according to reports. Speculation that the company was preparing...

PartyGaming sees 71.8% profit rise.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... PartyGaming, the online gaming giant, has reported a 71.8% increase in pretax profit to $320.5m (170.38m [pounds sterling]) for the six months to 30 June. Revenue increased by 51% to $661.9m over the same period, compared to $437.4m in...

Ladbrokes lifted by World Cup winnings.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... Ladbrokes announced a 12.3% increase in its operating profit to 151.3m [pounds sterling] for the six months to 30 June, compared to 134.7m [pounds sterling] in the same period last year. Overall winnings increased by 12.0% to 523.1 m...

Revenues on the increase but 32Red warns on full-year profits.(News: Betting & Gaming)
October 1, 2006... 32Red, the AIM-listed online casino, poker and sportsbetting operator, said that while total group revenues were 48% up on the first half of 2005, recent trading had been slow, and full-year targets may not be met. Reporting interim...

Visitor numbers up at London's attractions.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
October 1, 2006... VisitLondon's latest Attractions Monitor has revealed that visitors put off by last year's London bombings are now flooding back to the city's attractions, with nearly one million more visits in July 2006 than in the same month of the previous...

Xscape and London Eye named UK's best.(News: Tourism & Attractions)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Xscape Castleford and British Airway's London Eye have been ranked joint first in a survey of paid-for attractions in the UK. The survey was conducted by VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, and measured visits to 2,111 visitor...

Loss of appeal doses attraction.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
October 1, 2006... Southport Pleasureland, the amusement park situated in England's northwest, has ceased trading, afte reporting a 76% slump in visitor numbers. Originally opened in 1913, it was one of the UK's oldest theme parks. Directors blamed...

Terror alerts lift Bourne bookings.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
October 1, 2006... Bourne Leisure brands Haven and British Holidays said they have seen a run of late bookings following this summer's security alerts, putting the year's Bank Holiday business 10% ahead of last year's. Overall, the two businesses have seen...

Kingsdown village sold for 3.2m [pounds sterling].(Kingsdown Park Holiday Village )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Kingsdown Park Holiday Village near Deal in Kent has been acquired by Colonial Homes (Europe) for 3.2m [pounds sterling]. The 34-acre site features 149 Scandinavian-style "A" frame chalets, and has its own six-acre private beach with a...

Vista announces ticket tie-in with Mobiqa.(News: Cinema & Entertainment)
October 1, 2006... Vista Entertainment Solutions, one of the world's leading cinema ticketing companies, is to integrate Mobiqa's mobile ticketing technology into its Vista Cinema Management system. The integrated solution, which will allow mobile barcode tickets...

Record figures for Bowlplex site.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The newly refurbished leisure outlet Bowlplex at Tower Park in Poole has announced record figures, generated since its re-launch in July. The 24-lane family ten-pin bowling centre has published a trade increase of 94% compared to the same...

Acuity signs Cineworld management deal.(News: Cinema & Entertainment)
October 1, 2006... Acuity Management Solutions, the facilities management provider, has secured an exclusive agreement with Cineworld to manage its portfolio of cinemas across the UK. Acuity will be responsible for the management and delivery of all hard...

Odeon teams with Sky to target UK audiences.(News: Cinema & Entertainment)
October 1, 2006... Odeon and Sky have announced a joint venture designed to bring film titles to UK audiences in cinemas and at home. Called 'Odeon and Sky Filmworks', the collaboration will act as a UK-based film distributor, signing up titles directly from...

Ultimate reports 82.1% drop in pre-tax profits.
October 1, 2006... Ultimate Leisure, the Newcastle-based bar and club business, reported an 82.1% drop in pre-tax profits to 1.5 [pounds sterling] for the year to 30 June. The company said it was a year of "challenging market conditions", which was worsened...

WH Smith to launch high street food offer.(News: Food & Drink)
October 1, 2006... WH Smith, the high street retailer, is set to enter the lunchtime sandwich market by selling a range of sandwiches and snacks in its largest outlets, according to reports. The Independent says the company is set to take advantage of the...

Britons in love with dining out.(eating out)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Household expenditure on food and drink in takeaways, restaurants, pubs and clubs has overtaken the amounts spent on meals in the home, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. Spending on eating out more than doubled...

Coffee Republic sees 4.8% drop in 1-f-1s as Hashemi denies MBO plan.
October 1, 2006... Coffee Republic, the AIM-listed coffee and dell bar operator, has reported a 4.8% drop in like-for-like sales for the year to 26 March. Turnover declined by 15% to 14.9m [pounds sterling] over the same period, as the company restructured...

Ford in 'informal approach' to Cafe Nero.(News: Food & Drink)
October 1, 2006... Caffe Nero, the UK branded coffee bar operator, has confirmed it has received an informal approach from Gerry Ford, its chief executive, regarding a buy-out. The group's board said it would consider Ford's approach, which "may or may not...

New cafe for the National.(News: Food & Drink)
October 1, 2006... Oliver Peyton, the restaurateur, is to open a cafe at the National Gallery, to add to the Dining Rooms restaurant he opened at the venue in February 2006. The National Cafe, which is situated in the east wing of the gallery, will open on...

Coffee price inflation could hit high street.(News: Food & Drink)
October 1, 2006... Coffee shops could be forced into price increases after a rise in the cost of coffee beans. The price of Robusta, commonly used for instant coffee, increased by 50%, to 883 [pounds sterling] per tonne, its highest level since December...

London's celebrated Red Rose comedy club goes on the market.(News: Property & Development)
October 1, 2006... One of London's most popular standup comedy venues has been placed on the market with the Enfield office of property agents, Christie + Co. The Red Rose Club is located in the heart of north London on Seven Sisters Road, between Finsbury...

Hilwood acquires Bovey Castle for 26.4m [pounds sterling].(Hilwood Resorts and Hotels acquired Bovey Castle)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Hilwood Resorts and Hotels, the company set up by former Hand Picked Hotels operations director Gregor Ritchie, has acquired Bovey Castle, the luxury hotel and golf course located on the edge of Dartmoor, from Peter de Savary for 26.4m [pounds...

Land Securities gets consent for complex.(Land Securities Group PLC)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Land Securities has received consent from Thanet District Council for a new 96,000 sq ff leisure scheme to be built at Westwood Cross, Kent. The company acquired the 8.5-acre site earlier this year for 7.2m [pounds sterling] former from...

Parking problem for Wembley.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Crisis-hit Wembley Stadium could end up with only a fraction of the required 10,000 car parking spaces when it finally opens. Planning permission has so far only been granted for 2,900 on the old stadium's former East car park. ...

Arena wins planning approval for Lingfield Park development.(Lingfield Park Racecourse)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Arena Leisure has announced it has received planning permission from the government office for the South East to carry out improvements to Lingfield Park Racecourse. The improvements will include the complete transformation of the venue,...

Center Parcs to appeal over Woburn site.(holiday village )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Center Pares UK's is to appeal against the decision by Mid-Bedfordshire District Council to reject its application to build a 160m [pounds sterling] holiday village on the Duke of Bedford's estate, near Woburn. In July councillors rejected...

Abbeymore Stadium for sale.(News: Property & Development)
October 1, 2006... Abbeymore Stadium, the home of Glastonbury Town Football Club, in Somerset, has been put on the market through the Bristol office of Christie + Co. Located near the town centre, the football stadium occupies a six-acre site and is suitable...

Information line for smoking ban is launched.(News: Industry)
October 1, 2006... The government has launched the Smokefree England Information Line to help businesses who have any questions regarding next summer's proposed smoking ban. Initially set up to answer basic questions about the proposed regulations, the...

Sluggish service sector staves off interest hike.(News: Industry)
October 1, 2006... Britain's restaurant and hotel sectors fell short of growth expectations in August due to rising costs, according to a new survey from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing Supply and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Observers had expected the...

Up to 85% of leisure firms are in the dark over new fire safety laws.(News: Industry)
October 1, 2006... With new fire safety regulations coming into place this month, research by hospitality purchasing organisation, Beacon has shown that a high proportion of businesses in the leisure industry are unaware of the forthcoming changes in law. ...

Immigration 'crucial' for growth targets.(News: Industry)
October 1, 2006... The government would have missed its growth targets without the estimated 600,000 new immigrants that arrived from the former Eastern Bloc since June 2004, it has been claimed. According to Business for New Europe (BNE), a pro-European...

Food outlets could soon be forced to display hygiene scores.(Food Standard Agency )(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Food Standard Agency (FSA) is looking into launching a new scheme, which could see food inspection reports by environmental health officers displayed in all restaurants, cafes and pubs. The FSA has announced that is has reached an...

Sex lives and measuring-tape: David Minton says that, like sex and ambition, exercise can be as addictive as a drug--for some--but is it ultimately more fulfilling?(Insight)
October 1, 2006... In the UK we're leading the world in collecting and maintaining detailed information on the constantly changing structure of the fitness industry, and let me remind you that all this information is available at www.activeplaces.com. So...

The relentless march of neo-Croms: the assault on pleasure and enjoyment is deep-seated and far-reaching.(Special feature)
October 1, 2006... A dynamic, yet under-observed phenomenon is slowly transforming British culture and giving birth to a new ethical ordering of our lives. At the Future Foundation we call this the assault on pleasure- the ever lengthening list of rules and...

Serve up hotel fitness: Ray Algar says that the majority of fitness offerings in hotels are not proving viable, and looks at solutions to the problem.(Sector update: Hotel gyms)
October 1, 2006... It is Sunday evening and you are about to set off on yet another business trip that will see you away from your family and normal routines for three nights. You researched that the hotel has a health and fitness club and so pack your gym bag....

The 2006 Annual Remuneration Survey of the Leisure Industry: Janet Salmon reveals key findings from a survey of pay packages in the UK leisure sector.(Feature: Annual remuneration survey)
October 1, 2006... One of the key findings from this year's survey was that if companies lose key executives it can have a major impact on their long-term strategy and competitive advantage. In addition to the obvious loss to the business of a senior...

A brand, or just a mark in the sand? Silverman Sherliker's Dennis Lee on the complexities of brand registration.(Legal: Branding)
October 1, 2006... It seems to have everything going for it: you have come up with the perfect brand, based on a catchy place name. But before you invest in design, marketing and PR, ask yourself this--will you be able to protect it, or are you just building up a...

Come together, right now: Dominic Walsh examines the current consolidation feeding frenzy consuming the leisure sector and considers whether boom will be replaced with bust.(Behind the headlines: Leisure consolidation)
October 1, 2006... Bob Ivell, the chairman of Regent Inns, once declared: "It's a case of eat or be eaten." Events since have proved how prescient the words of the former Scottish & Newcastle Retail boss were. Having himself looked at acquiring rivals such as...

Sportingbet.(People on the move)
October 1, 2006... Following his high-profile arrest and release in the US, Peter Dicks has resigned from his role as independent non-executive chairman of Sportingbet, with immediate effect. Dicks indicated that he wishes to concentrate on personal matters.

Whitbread.(resignation of Desmond Taljaard)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Also on the move this month is Desmond Taljaard, group development director at Whitbread, who has resigned from the leisure group. Taljaard, who joined Whitbread in November 2004, is thought to be in talks with several backers regarding the...

Sportech.(resingation of Gary Speakman)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Sportech, the UK gaming company, has announced that Gary Speakman has resigned from his role as chief operating officer. Speakman, who is leaving to pursue alternative business interests, will relinquish his role after a period of leave on...

Promote.(Promote Public Relations appoints Jo Smith)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Jo Smith, former events manager for the Fitness Industry Association and the Australian Fitness Network, has returned to the UK to join Promote Public Relations. She will head up Premote's new event management division. A graduate from...

People 1st.(appointment of Nick Basing)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Meanwhile, People 1st, the hospitality, leisure and travel industry skills council, has appointed Nick Basing, chief executive of Paramount Restaurants, as its new chairman. Basing, a Harvard graduate, is the latest high profile industry...

De Vere Group.(resignation of Carl Leaver)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... De Vere Group has confirmed that Carl Leaver, chief executive, left the company days after the company's 1.1bn [pounds sterling] sale to Alternative Hotel Group (AHG), the buyout vehicle headed by Richard Balfour-Lynn, completed. Leaver,...

Rank.(People on the move)
October 1, 2006... Rank non-executive chairman Alun Cathcart is to retire after five years with the group. The 62-year-old will remain in situ until a successor is appointed. Cathcart said he had great confidence in the group's prospects.

Top Ten Holdings.(retirement of Bruce Roberts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Top Ten Holdings announced that Bruce Roberts, its operations director, is retiring from the company and will resign from the board. Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, Top Ten chairman, said: "We would like to thank Bruce for the very valuable part he has...

Ultimate Leisure.(appointment of Stephane Nahum)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Ultimate Leisure, the Newcastle-based late-night operator, has announced the appointment of Stephane Nahum as a non-executive director. Nahum is currently a director of a number of different companies including the Wellington Pub Company,...

Rank Group's Gaming Division.(People on the move)
October 1, 2006... Lesly Hughes has been appointed as head of PR at Rank Group's Gaming Division, based in Maidenhead. She will be responsible for driving the division's reputation, positioning its brands and providing guidelines to field general managers to...

Preston North End.(appointment of Steve Jackson)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Steve Jackson has confirmed to the board of Preston North End that he is standing down as chief executive and director, with immediate effect. He said: "I feel that I have now provided a significant amount of personal and financial...

Aston Villa.(Aston Villa Football Club PLC)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Also in the football sector, following the recommended cash offer for Aston Villa made by RAL on 14 August, Doug Ellis OBE, executive chairman, Stephen Kind, Anthony Hales, David Owen and Peter Ellis, non-executive directors of Aston Villa,...

Betinternet.com.(People on the move)
October 1, 2006... Betinternet.com, the global on-line gaming group, unveiled the appointment of Damon Waddington as finance director. Waddington joined the group in February 2006 as financial controller. He previously held the position of financial controller...

SHOKK.(promotion of Justine Collins, Kieran Murphy and Ross Nadin)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Finally, SHOKK, the youth fitness specialist firm, has promoted three of its core management team to director level. Justine Collins has been promoted from sales manager to sales director, Kieran Murphy from brand manager to marketing director...

LR Index leisure stockwatch September 2006.(Sharewatch)
October 1, 2006... The private equity feeding frenzy for UK leisure firms looks set to continue for the foreseeable, future, and listed firms are all targets, regardless of size. The trend is exacerbated by the continuing underperformance of leisure stocks, which...

Diary dates: October.(Calendar)
October 1, 2006... October Event: SpaPro Asia 2006 Date: Sep 29 to 2 Oct Location: Taipei, Taiwan Description: Professional spa and medical esthetics conference and exhibition Contact: Amber Chen +886 922 709 138 sales@spaproasia.com ...