Leisure Report articles from September 2006

Leisure Report archives from September 2006

Multitrax to launch new UK fitness club concept in London.(Multitrax Group)
September 1, 2006... Multitrax Group, a leading European fitness instructors organisation, has announced plans to expand into the UK health club market, with the launch of five London clubs over the next two years, as part of a 30m [pounds sterling] investment. ...

Holmes Place in good shape this summer.
September 1, 2006... Holmes Place has seen a sharp increase in performance, according to its July 2006 performance figures. Despite the summer heat, and a backdrop of merger speculation, the company has posted a set of impressive figures, which it believes are...

Reach out ... they will be there.(Editorial)
September 1, 2006... Officially, this August has been the gloomiest for 20 years. And while the figures may refer to the lack of sunshine hours, the gloom could also apply to the general sentiment across the country at the moment. Travellers are trapped in huge...

Football clubs set up online ticket exchange in effort to thwart touts.(News)
September 1, 2006... A new ticket exchange system has been launched, which allows football fans to buy and sell unwanted tickets legally online, a move that could spell the end of ticket touts. Viagogo.com, which is backed by Brent Hoberman, the dot.com...

Gala Bingo announces Coffee Nation trial.(News)
September 1, 2006... Gala Bingo, the UK's leading bingo operator, has signed an agreement with Coffee Nation, the self-service coffee bar company, to trial its coffee stations in a number of its clubs. The first self-service coffee bar in the trial has been...

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

Bridges adds 3m [pounds sterling] to Chill.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Bridges Community Ventures has committed 3m [pounds sterling] to a new project to build England's first real snow Alpine village. Based next to the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester, Chill Factor hopes to open its doors in late 2007 having...

DCMS polls music venues.(Department for Culture, Media and Sport)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has commissioned MORI, market research specialist, to investigate the effect of the Licensing Act on venues hosting live music. In particular, the survey will look into the ease or...

Ex-BETonSPORTS CEO is bailed.(News)
September 1, 2006... David Carruthers, the former chief executive of BETonSPORTS, has been released from jail in the US and placed under house arrest in Missouri on $1m (530,000 [pounds sterling]) bail. Carruthers faces charges of fraud and conspiracy, after he...

PartyGaming shares rise over BWin takeover speculation.(News)
September 1, 2006... Shares in PartyGaming, the leading online gaming company, rose amid speculation that it was building a stake in BWin, the troubled Austrian online bookmaker. BWin, formerly, BETandWIN, saw its shares fall 30% last week, after it was banned...

Bannatyne acquires standalone LivingWell fitness clubs for 90m [pounds sterling].(News: Health & Fitness)
September 1, 2006... Bannatyne Fitness, the UK's largest independent operator, has acquired LivingWell, the health club chain owned by Hilton International, in a deal worth 90m [pounds sterling]. Bannatyne, which is owned by entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, best...

Eyes down for Esporta and Cannons sale?(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The branded health and fitness market looks set for a further shake up before the end of the year, with the news that Duke Street Capital has appointed Citigroup to conduct an auction of Esporta, in which it owns a majority stake, while Royal...

JJB reports increase in like-for-like revenue.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... JJB Sports reported a 9.0% increase in like-for-like revenue for the 25 weeks to 23 July, compared to the same period in 2005. JJB reported a 40.7% increase in revenue through its health club estate, which consisted of 37 sites with 153,800...

Academy drops club sale plans.(Academy Leisure Group )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Academy Leisure Group has dropped plans to sell its three UK health clubs, and is now focused on reinvesting in and developing the business instead. The three clubs in question are all based in north Yorkshire and include the Academy...

Love blooms for silver slimmers.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Romance begins at the gym for 50-somethings, says a study by Saga and David Lloyd Leisure, which found that 75,000 over-50s have met a significant other at the gym. The survey also showed 32% of over-50s exercise more than four hours a week....

Government urged to cut licensing fees.(alcohol licensing fees)(Central Council of Physical Recreation)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) has urged the government to cut alcohol licensing fees for community sports clubs, after research showed that the new system costs them more than 2.6m [pounds sterling] a year. The...

Energie targets independent operators.(Fitness Clubs)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Fitness franchise operator energie Fitness Clubs has launched a club operators' conversion programme to entice independent owner-operators to join its brand. By the beginning of 2007 energie aims to have expanded its portfolio of clubs...

Lerner likely to take the wheel at 63m [pounds sterling] Villa.(Randolph Lerner)
September 1, 2006... Randolph Lerner, the US billionaire, looks set to become the latest overseas tycoon to take control of a Premiership football club, after Aston Villa's board announced it was recommending his 62.6m [pounds sterling] bid to shareholders. A...

CVC struggles with F1 plan.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... CVC Capital Partners is struggling to securitise a bond on the future revenue stream from Formula One, in which it holds an 86% stake, according to The Business. It had planned to have the bond in place by now but has not managed to lock...

Celtic results dampened by early cup exits.(Celtic Sports Academy and Training Centre)
September 1, 2006... Despite running away with the Scottish Premier League title last season, and continuing strong support, Celtic reported a full-year loss of 4.22m [pounds sterling] for the year to 30 June 2006. The club's early exits from European...

Leisure report LR index: football stockwatch August 2006.(News: Sport)
September 1, 2006... With the imminent de-listing of Aston Villa, the question is how long the rest of the remaining listed football clubs will stay public. The onerous and costly administration aside, it is questionable whether listed clubs can continue to...

IGH expects positive Ebitda in third quarter.(Interactive Gaming Holdings)(financial report)(Financial report)
September 1, 2006... Interactive Gaming Holdings, operator of the PremierBet and Heathorns websites, reported a pre-tax loss of 928,000 [pounds sterling] in the first half of its financial year, up from 321,000 [pounds sterling] last time, but said it expected to...

Rank break-up speculation continues.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... The Rank Group is close to selling the Clermont Club, its upmarket casino in Mayfair, London, in a 30m [pounds sterling] deal, according to reports, increasing speculation that it is to break up its business to concentrate on its gaming...

Sportingbet tops 100m [pounds sterling] profits.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... Sportingbet, the online sports betting and gaming group, said it expects full-year profits, before goodwill amortisation and share option charges, to exceed 100m [pounds sterling]. In a trading update for the year to 31 July 2006, the board...

Probability lists on junior market.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... Probability, the supplier of gambling games for the mobile telephone market, said it would press ahead with a listing on the Alternative Investment Market, despite the stock market's current aversion to virtual gambling. Shares in the...

Betcorp drops US phone bets.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... Online gaming group Betcorp said it will no longer accept telephone bets from US residents, in the wake of the BETonSPORTS arrests. However, the firm said it still plans to take bets via the internet. Pre-tax profits at the group rose to $4.63m...

Numbers down for 888 in Q2.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... Shares in online gambling firm 888. com fell further last month, after its second-quarter results failed to meet analysts' expectations. The web casino reported a rise in sales of 23% year-on-year, down 4% compared to the previous quarter....

Talarius reports 15% increase in like-for-likes.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... Talarius, the owner-operator of high street gaming machine outlets, reported a 15% increase in like-for-like sales for the 28 weeks to 15 July. The company said it grew its estate of Quicksilver Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) from 164 to 185...

World Cup helps William Hill report 30% rise in pre-tax profits.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... William Hill, the bookmaking chain, reported a 29.8% increase in pre-tax profits, before exceptional items, to 160m [pounds sterling] for the six months to June 27. Gross win increased by 24.8% to 478.3m [pounds sterling], while basic...

PartyGaming acquires Gamebookers.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2006... PartyGaming, the leading internet gaming firm, announced it had acquired Gamebookers, the online sports betting business, from Trident Gaming, for an estimated cash consideration of 102m [euro] (69.5m [pounds sterling]). Of the total fee, 81m...

Top Ten Holdings acquires Yorkshire-based bingo company.(acquired Lance Leisure)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Top Ten Holdings, the UK's third largest bingo operator, has acquired Lance Leisure, which operates a freehold bingo club in Mexborough, West Yorkshire, for 1.05m [pounds sterling]. The consideration for the acquisition includes a payment...

Revenue faces machines rebate.(on gaming machine revenues)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The government may be forced to make tax rebates to pub operators because of "illegal" VAT charges on gaming machine revenues. A landmark judgement by the European courts decreed that a VAT exemption on machine income enjoyed by bookmakers...

British prefer action-packed holidays.(according to a survey by lastminute. com)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Britons want more action and less relaxation when they go on holiday, according to a survey by lastminute. com. Four-fifths of those questioned by the travel website said they would prefer action-packed breaks rather than lying by the pool....

Lack of belief cancels Alton Towers faith day.(financial obligations)(Islamic Leisure)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Poor sales have forced Alton Towers to cancel its all-Muslim faith day. Islamic Leisure, the Muslim promotions firm, booked the amusement park for 17 September, and had planned for Sharia-based guidelines to be followed. While 20,000 were...

YHA to close 32 hostels.(Youth Hostels Association)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The Youth Hostels Association is to close 32 of its hostels by the end of next year's summer season. The YHA has a deficit of 30m [pounds sterling] and although it owns a 100m [pounds sterling] property portfolio, occupancy rates at some...

New safari park for the Highlands.(safari park is under development in the Scottish Highlands)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A new safari park is under development in the Scottish Highlands. The Alladale Wilderness Reserve, an hour north of Inverness, is set to become Scotland's largest eco-tourism project. The 36 sq mile estate is already a forest regeneration...

Tourism impact of new terror threat 'limited'.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
September 1, 2006... Tourism agencies are claiming the impact of the foiled bomb plot that led to severe disruption of air travel and hundreds of cancellations during August will not lead to a prolonged slump in the sector. VisitBritain said there would be 'no...

Parents face raw deal on days out.(survey in Mother and Baby magazine)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... British family days out are 'anti-child rip-offs', a new survey in Mother & Baby magazine has claimed. The poll found that 96% believed that amusement park admission fees for venues like Legoland and Alton Towers were too high, while 97%...

Disney ditches mobile service.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
September 1, 2006... Disney has ditched plans to launch a mobile phone operator in the UK. It had hoped to have handsets in shops in time for Christmas. The National Consumer Council was among opponents that said Disney should not be trying to market mobile phones...

Butlins presses ahead with its timeshare scheme.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
September 1, 2006... Butlins has unveiled its first timeshare apartment development. To be situated in Minehead, Somerset, the 4.5m [pounds sterling], 24-apartment complex will be called 'BlueSkies by Butlins'. The company expects up to 1,000 people to buy into...

Karaoke diner planned for Chancery Lane.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2006... A new karaoke and restaurant concept backed by the Royal China Group, the international restaurant group, is set to open in London this October. Aimed at the corporate entertainment market, the 3,000 sq ft venue, which has yet to be named,...

Soho Clubs adds Jewel.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2006... Soho CLubs & Bars has acquired the Jewel nightclub and brand for an estimated 1m [pounds sterling]. The nightclub, in Covent Garden, London, was launched in 2004. It has been running a sister venue, Jewel Piccadilly, under licence.

Jordan opens London venue.(Crystal Palace football club)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Simon Jordan, chairman of Crystal Palace football club, has invested in a 1m [pounds sterling] launch of The Club Bar and Dining restaurants and drinking venue in Soho, in the West End of London. It is his first foray into the hospitality...

Hot weather hits Georgica in the pocket with fall in first-half profits.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2006... Georgica, the UK cue sports and tenpin operator, has announced a 2.7% drop in turnover and a 1.6% drop in same outlet sales for the six months to 2 July 2006, compared to the six months to 3 July last year. Ebitda for the period was 10.46m...

Cineworld's 300m [pounds sterling] IPO scheme back on the agenda.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2006... UK cinema operator Cineworld has reportedly revived plans for a 300m [pounds sterling] flotation, which could take place in September, if market conditions continue to improve. The company, which is the second-largest UK operator with a...

Stringfellows eyes LSE listing.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2006... Stringfellows is mulling floating on the London Stock Exchange next year. The news coincided with the announcement of a 1.17m [pounds sterling] loss at Stringellow Restaurants in 2005. It attributed this to the 1m [pounds sterling]...

Blair threatens tough measures if food industry fails to self-regulate.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2006... The Prime Minister has given the food and drinks industry a year to self-regulate effectively, or face a range of proscriptive measures from central government. Delivering the second of a series of major speeches themed "Our Nation's...

Starbucks UK moves into maiden profit.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2006... Starbucks UK, the operator of the largest chain of coffee houses in the UK, has moved into profit. Latest accounts from the US group show its UK subsidary recorded a pre-tax profit of 7.4m [pounds sterling] last year, compared with a...

Coffee Republic shareholders call for CEO to resign.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2006... Small investors accounting for 40% of Coffee Republic's shares are have written to the company's founder, Bobby Hashemi, asking him to consider stepping down as chairman and chief executive. They accuse him of playing down the success of the...

Outback in hunt for new sites.(opening at Stevenage Leisure Park)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Outback Steakhouse UK, the casual dining group, is stepping up its search for new outlets across the south-east of England. The company has six restaurants, including its latest opening at Stevenage Leisure Park in Hertfordshire. Its other...

Coffee market to exceed 1bn [pounds sterling].(branded coffee shop growth)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The UK branded coffee market is expected to be worth more than 1bn [pounds sterling] by 2009, according to research by IGD. The study also found that the growth of UK branded coffee shop operators is expected to increase by 50% over the same...

Greggs reports flat like-for-likes in first half as utility costs rise 69%.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2006... Greggs, the bakery chain, reported a 20% drop in first-half pre-tax profits to 12.5m [pounds sterling], on flat like-for-like sales and rising energy costs. During the first six months, like-for-like sales under the Greggs brand saw a...

Employers warned over hiring illegal migrants.(News: Industry & Property)
September 1, 2006... The Home Office has revealed plans to discourage the hiring of illegal immigrants, putting the issue of migrant employment back in the spotlight. The plans were unveiled last month, as it emerged that Eastern European immigrants are...

Skills academy makes shortlist for funds.(National Hospitality Skills Academy)
September 1, 2006... The Department for Education and Skills has shortlisted for funds the People 1st co-ordinated campaign to create a National Hospitality Skills Academy for the UK sector. Key organisations across the industry including The Edge Foundation...

Time for Swiss.(News: Industry & Property)
September 1, 2006... The Swiss Centre in London's Leicester Square is to be replaced with a new development comprising a hotel, shops and apartments. Planning permission has also been granted for a new underground level that will house a casino and restaurants....

Hwang takes on Battersea scheme.(News: Industry & Property)
September 1, 2006... Victor Hwang, the Hong Kong tycoon who owns the Battersea Power Station site through Parkview International, is to take personal control of its 1.5bn [pounds sterling] redevelopment. He will become executive director of the project, with...

Liberty buys Covent Garden Market.(legendary Borough Market as inspiration)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Covent Garden Market, the joint venture between Scottish Widows Investment Partnership and Henderson Global Investors, has sold Covent Garden Market to Capital & Counties, a subsidiary of Liberty, the property company. The 421m [pounds...

Whole pay cheque: David Minton asks whether there are lessons to be learned for the fitness industry from the Whole Foods operation.(Insight)
September 1, 2006... Last month I wondered how different things would be if the American superband The Eagles owned and operated UK health and fitness clubs. Well let me develop the theme this month by asking the question: how different would the offering be if it...

Harms around the world: Duncan Rowe talks to Mark Harms from Global Leisure Partners about his thoughts on the state of the UK leisure sector, and what he sees in its future.(Profile: Global Leisure Partners)
September 1, 2006... Mark Harms, chief executive of Global Leisure Partners, is a man with his finger on the pulse of the industry. I met with him in July, when he told me to be on the lookout for increased activity in the health and fitness sector, which he...

Creating good vibrations. Donna Werbner considers how the application of music can change consumer behaviour.(Feature: Music)
September 1, 2006... In his latest movie, Click, Adam Sandler is given a magical remote control that allows him to control the behaviour of the people around him. He speeds them up, slows them down, adjusts their volume, switches their moods and even makes them...

Hard labour for Carruthers? Dominic Walsh says David Carruthers is probably guilty of little more than naivety, but will still face a prison sentence for his BETonSPORTS role.(high-profile lobbying for a regulated industry)
September 1, 2006... Is David Carruthers a villain? Of course he's not. Will he end up going to jail in America? You can bet on it. In an ideal world, he would be able to prove his manifest innocence and end up being found not guilty. But as Nigel Potter, the...

Singapore swing: Ian Jarrett launches an investigation into the dilemmas facing the Asia-Pacific region's ever-growing casino developments in the wake of the decision to ease regulations.(Feature: Singapore)
September 1, 2006... At the opening to the Singapore River, crowds point their digital cameras in the direction of the iconic Merlion statue, many of them oblivious to the cluster of cranes across the water. But it is here, on the reclaimed land of Marina Bay,...

Physical Company.(appointment of Maxine E Thompson)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Maxine E Thompson is the latest addition to the Physical Company team, joining the firm as head of business development, to drive the continued expansion of its product ranges and services to key players within the fitness and sports...

energie Fitness Clubs.(People on the move)
September 1, 2006... Celia Gatward has been appointed national business development manager by energie Fitness Clubs, to drive the company's expansion. Her main focus will be on the independent club market (see page 4). After graduation, Gatward joined Fitness...

Lifetime.(appointment of Alex Bowman and Kate Constance)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Lifetime, the provider of training for employees in the leisure sector, has announced two new additions to its team. Alex Bowman joins as an assessor and Kate Constance as a course advisor. Since leaving university with a sports science...

Life Fitness.(People on the move)
September 1, 2006... Life Fitness has announced two new appointments within its core sales division--Ben Jobson joins as territory development manager for the midlands and David Connolly as channel sales manager for the north. Jobson's appointment strengthens the...

Yotel.(People on the move)
September 1, 2006... Yotel, the hotel concept masterminded by YO! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe, has appointed Hugo McNestry as its finance director. McNestry joins the company after 11 years at Whitbread, where his roles included director of business development...

Nexum Leisure.(appointment of Clive Preston and Amber Taverns)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Nexum Leisure, the late night bar operator, has announced the appointment of Clive Preston, chairman of Amber Taverns, as its new non-executive chairman. Preston will succeed Bill Gore, the current non-executive chairman of Nexum, on 1...

Krispy Kreme.(People on the move)
September 1, 2006... Canadian doughnut chain Krispy Kreme has appointed Judith Denby as its new marketing director for its UK operations. Denby, who was formerly Mission Foods marketing manager, replaces Charlotte Taylor, who quit the company to join Coffee...

Bally Total Fitness Holdings.(People on the move)
September 1, 2006... Finally, troubled American fitness club operator Bally Total Fitness Holdings has ousted its chief executive Paul Toback.

LR index leisure stockwatch August 2006.(Sharewatch)
September 1, 2006... The skies may have clouded over during August, but at least there was a sunnier outlook for listed leisure firms, as bargain-hunters moved quickly to snap up shares in the wake of the sharp falls of the previous couple of months. Whilst the...

Diary dates: September.(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... September Event: The Pure Energy Live Roadshow Date: 2 Location: Birmingham, UK Description: The road show will showcase top fitness presenters conducting the latest exercise to music classes, alongside lectures and...