Leisure Report articles from September 2007

Leisure Report archives from September 2007

Code set out for gambling ads.(Inside track)
September 1, 2007... A new industry code designed to ensure socially responsible advertising across the UK gambling industry has been published. The code, which supplements the principal advertising rules which are produced and administered by the Committee of...

Esporta holding firm goes into administration.
September 1, 2007... The premium sector of the UK health and fitness market is facing a shake up after it was confirmed that Bell Leisure, holding company of Esporta, had been placed into administration. Grant Thornton has been appointed to handle the...

High finance is never low risk.(Inside track)
September 1, 2007... Unless there has been an unexpected bounce back in between the time of writing this and publication, it is fairly safe to say there has been a sea-change in the UK and global financial markets which will mean both public and private businesses...

William Hill to recommence share buybacks as H1 profits improve.(Breaking news)
September 1, 2007... William Hill, the prominent UK bookmaker, said it will resume its share buy-back programme, after the group reported an expected marginal increase in first half underlying profit, as well as solid current trading. The company, which trades...

Soccercity losses widen.(Breaking news)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Soccercity, the indoor football centres operator, has reported that its full-year pre-tax Loss widened to 952,843 [pounds sterling] from 283,862 [pounds sterling] the previous year. The company said that the year to 31 January had been...

Licensees reminded to get gaming permits in order.(Breaking news)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Licensees have been reminded to get their gaming machine permits in order as new laws on gaming machines are set to come into force on 1 September. The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the local authority coordinating body LACORS...

Bannatyne plans 10m [pounds sterling] resort.(Breaking news)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Bannatyne Group, which is owned by entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, has unveiled plans to open a 10m [pounds sterling] luxury hotel and health resort on the south coast of England. The entrepreneur plans to add a gym and a health spa next...

Fall in SME insolvencies 'a blip', says ICA.(Breaking news)
September 1, 2007... The number of companies going into administration fell to 3,032 in the second quarter of this year, down 2.1% on the previous quarter, and 4.2% on the same period last year, according to government figures. But Clive Lewis, head of SME issues...

888 sportsbook?(Breaking news)
September 1, 2007... 888.com, the online gaming group, is preparing to launch a sports betting service by the end of the year, The Sunday Telegraph said, without citing sources. The paper reported that Blue Square, Rank Group's online subsidiary, is believed to...

IGH suspended.(Breaking news)
September 1, 2007... Shares in Interactive Gaming Holdings were suspended at the company's request, pending clarification of its financial position, as Leisure Report went to press.

New study shows southerners 'less interested' in health and fitness.(News: Health & Fitness)(Report)
September 1, 2007... New research from CDMS, the marketing solutions firm, shows a definite north/south divide when it comes to consumers' enthusiasm for healthy activities, including fitness offerings, with locals preferring to take advantage of natural facilities...

Soho's Third Space Group sold for 22m [pounds sterling].(News: Health & Fitness)
September 1, 2007... The Third Space Group, the Soho-based standalone health and fitness club, has been bought out by its management for 22m [pounds sterling]. Debt was provided by Lloyds Bank. The company was sold by Longshot, the restaurant and club operator...

Next Gen to rebrand sites as DLL.(News: Health & Fitness)
September 1, 2007... Whitbread has completed the sale of its David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) chain to London & Regional (L&R), the property development firm owned by the Livingstone brothers, for 925m [pounds sterling]. The sale represents a multiple of 13.4x Ebitda...

Industry wins small victory but pre-9pm gambling ads banned.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2007... The government has banned the gambling industry from advertising on television before 9pm, but has allowed it to show ads during sporting events. The changes to the 2005 Gambling Act, which was due to come into force next month, were part...

Troubled IGH secures short-term funding.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2007... Interactive Gaming Holdings, the Aim-listed online gaming firm, said it had agreed to an interim funding facility of 400,000 [pounds sterling] to be provided by General Capital Venture Finance (GCVF), in order to meet its short-term working...

New Media Lottery Services plays down full-year loss.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... New Media Lottery Services (NMLS), the Aim-traded supplier and operator of lottery systems and games for government sanctioned Lottery programs and charities, said its full-year pre-tax Loss more than doubled to 2.7m [euro] (1.8m [pounds...

Neville Porter enjoys Galway Festival.
September 1, 2007... Neville Porter, the listed on-course bookmaker, said it had attended the Galway Summer Festival for the first time in its history. During the seven days' racing, the amount staked on-course with the company was 550,381 [euro] and the gross win...

Fitzdares off to good start.
September 1, 2007... Upmarket bookmaker Fitzdares, which is backed by Ben and Zac Goldsmith, has got off to a flying start since launching 18 months ago. Accounts filed at Companies House show that the firm has made a gross profit of 5m [pounds sterling] on...

32Red on track.
September 1, 2007... 32Red, the UK-focused online gaming operator, said trading for 2007 is in line with management expectations to the half year, and it remains confident of prospects for the full year. The relocation of its betdirect business has now taken place,...

Camelot wins Lotto.
September 1, 2007... As expected, the National Lottery Commission (NLC) announced Camelot Group as the preferred bidder to operate the third National Lottery Licence. The NLC said Camelot's bid was likely to generate the best returns to good causes over the 10-year...

New chair for Gambling Commission.
September 1, 2007... The DCMS announced the appointment of Brian Pomeroy as new chair of the Gambling Commission. Pomeroy will take over from the current chair Peter Dean on l January 2008, and be responsible for enforcing many of the new parts of the Gambling...

Hills moves online operations to Gibraltar.
September 1, 2007... William Hill is to transfer its online gambling operation from the Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean to Gibraltar before the government bans UK advertising of websites that operate outside of the European Economic Area or so-called 'white-listed'...

BetFred reportedly planning 600m [pounds sterling] float.
September 1, 2007... BetFred, Britain's biggest chain of independent bookmakers, has hired investment bank NM Rothschild to draw up plans that could lead to a 600m [pounds sterling] flotation. It has 700 betting shops across the country. Trade rivals could be...

Bookmakers' lottery games anger Camelot.
September 1, 2007... Camelot is complaining to gambling regulators about bookmakers using games, which it claims capitalise on the popularity of the National Lottery. It claims the lottery-style games, which allow punters to bet on the outcome of foreign lotteries,...

Arena Leisure misses H1 profit targets as bad weather hits fixtures.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Arena Leisure, the UK's largest operator of horseracing fixtures, has reported pre-tax profit of 2.3m [pounds sterling] for the six months to 30 June 2007, slightly ahead of 21.6m [pounds sterling] the previous year. The company said that...

Ladbrokes to begin buyback programme as profits dip.(News: Betting & Gaming)
September 1, 2007... Ladbrokes, the UK bookmaker, has reported a slight fall in pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 June to 156m [pounds sterling] from 158.6m [pounds sterling] a year ago. Pre-tax profit and non-trading items was 160.6m [pounds sterling],...

Gala reports 4.4m [pounds sterling] rise in bingo profits.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Gala Coral, the gaming operator, has reported a 4.4m [pounds sterling] increase in full-year operating profits for its bingo division to 128m [pounds sterling]. The company saw turnover grow from 435.3m [pounds sterling] to 476.6m [pounds...

Playtech posts 76% rise in Q2 revenue.(News: Betting & Gaming)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Playtech, the designer, developer and licensor of software for the online and land-based gaming industry, has reported a 76% rise in second quarter revenue to $24.2m (12.2m [pounds sterling]). The Aim-listed company said that casino...

Georgica mulls approaches as it sells off Rileys.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2007... Georgica has agreed to sell Rileys, its snooker and pool hall business, to the European private equity arm of Greenhill & Co and North Atlantic Value LLP, for 34.1 m [pounds sterling]. It also announced it had received a number of...

100m [pounds sterling] roll-out for Everyman.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2007... Boutique cinema the Everyman Cinema Club has announced ambitious expansion plans to roll out its innovative concept nationwide. Daniel Broch, Everyman Media Group founder and chief executive, developed the cinema club lifestyle concept at...

Current LFLs up 12.9% as Luminar extends buyback programme.(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2007... Luminar, the quoted nightclub group, has reported strong like-for-like sales up 12.9% for the 19 weeks to 12 July 2007 across its dancing division. It reported that growth in sales had been driven by successful promotional activities to...

Mama Group buys Mean Fiddler music venues for 6m [pounds sterling].(News: Cinema & Entertainments)
September 1, 2007... Mama Group, the live music specialist firm, confirmed that it had purchased the entire issued share capital of MFH from Mean Fiddler Music Group. The businesses owned by MFH at completion consist of: The Jazz Cafe, The Borderline, the...

Flood cleanup costs to impact tourism sector.
September 1, 2007... Tourism is one of the main industries suffering from the effects of the recent flooding and the consequent clean-up operation. The British Hospitality Association said some hotels, restaurants and attractions in affected areas may be closed for...

Global warming to provide boost to UK tourism?
September 1, 2007... Global warming and long-term climate change will assist the UK tourism industry, according to Deloitte. The company believes warmer weather will attract more visitors from abroad as well as persuading more Britons to holiday at home. However,...

Hotel planned for space.
September 1, 2007... Galactic Suite, a private tourism company, is planning a 3bn [pounds sterling] project to open the first three-bed hotel in space by 2012. It will be built from pods joined together in orbit. A three-day stay, including transport, will cost...

Holidaymakers face insurance levy.
September 1, 2007... The government wants to make holidaymakers insure themselves against the risk of their tour operator going bust. The plan is for a 1 [pounds sterling] per passenger levy to replace the long-standing protection scheme paid for by holiday firms.

Lapland for Kent.
September 1, 2007... A brand new visitor experience, Lapland UK, will aim to bring Christmas to the Bedgebury Forest in Kent for five weeks from 24 November. A ticket includes admission to the forest & pinetum.

VisitBritain launches 1m [pounds sterling] rural campaign.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
September 1, 2007... VisitBritain has launched a 1m [pounds sterling] marketing campaign to boost rural tourism in England, beginning last weekend. James Purnell, culture secretary, announced the plans at a meeting of tourism chiefs in London, which confirmed...

City visitors on business spend double.(News: Tourism & Attractions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Business visitors to London spent 3.6bn [pounds sterling] last year on restaurants, hotels, visitor attractions and shops, which is almost twice as much as the amount spent by dedicated leisure tourists. The new figures from Visit London...

Weak dollar provokes visitor slowdown.(News: Tourism & Attractions)
September 1, 2007... The estimated number of overseas residents' visits to the UK in the three months to June fell by 3% to 8.1 million, seasonally adjusted, compared with the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics. Comparing...

Expanding Coffee Republic posts increased pre-tax loss of 2.45m [pounds sterling].(News: Food & Drink)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... Coffee Republic, the coffee and deli bar operator, has reported a pre-tax loss of 2.45m [pounds sterling] for the year to 25 March 2007, compared to a 1.45m [pounds sterling] deficit in the previous year. Turnover fell 34.8% to 9.7m [pounds...

Food miles move up the consumer agenda.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2007... Britons are becoming more aware of the impact of food miles on the environment, with 41% wanting retailers to provide more details about how far the products they sell have been transported, according to new research. A study by Mintel...

Bar Sport seeks financial backing for national rollout.(News: Food & Drink)
September 1, 2007... Bar Sport, the Midlands-based sports bar and restaurant company, is seeking new investment to rollout out its concept nationally. The group, which was started nine years ago, currently operates three sites in towns across the Midlands and...

Hamburger Union reviews its options.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Hamburger Union, the fast-casual concept, has reportedly appointed advisors following an approach for the business. The Times suggests that Coffer Corporate Leisure has been recruited following an approach from a mystery suitor. The...

Bidders lining up for Pret.(Pret A Manger USA)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger is likely to be the subject of a 400m [pounds sterling] bidding war by private equity buyers. Pret was planning a flotation that would have valued it at between 300m [pounds sterling] and 350m [pounds...

Outback off the market.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Outback Steakhouse group in the UK has been withdrawn from the market. It is thought that the six-strong business is exploring ways to fund future development and expansion. The group, which is backed by Irish investors, is thought to be in...

Greggs sees rise in H1 sales.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Greggs, the high street sandwich chain, has reported a 4.6% rise in like-for-like sales for the 24 weeks to 16 June 2007. Like-for-like sales for the first 18 weeks of the period increased 4.9%, and then slowed to 3.7% in the final six...

Casino for Taiwanese island.
September 1, 2007... Navegante Group, owned by Larry Woolf, the former chief executive of the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, has agreed to operate a 350m [pounds sterling] casino resort and hotel off the Taiwan coast. The development in the Penghu Islands, which...

1m [pounds sterling] refit for Gieldgud.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Sir Cameron Mackintosh's Gielgud Theatre (formerly The Globe) in Shaftesbury Avenue is set for a radical face-lift following the award of a 1m [pounds sterling] refurbishment project to leisure fit-out specialist Vivid Interiors. The...

First new-built Vibe to open.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The De Vere Group is set to open its first new-build and new look Village Hotel in Ashton Moss in Manchester. The 120-room property, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to open in Spring 2008. The hotel will feature a state of...

Westminster green-lights 25m [pounds sterling] regeneration of historic pool site.(News: Property & Development)
September 1, 2007... A 25m [pounds sterling] scheme to redevelop a historic swimming pool, closed for more than a decade, has been given the go ahead by Westminster City Council. The project will see the restoration of Marshall Street baths in Soho, as well as...

Planning changes to help industry go green.(News: Property & Development)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The government is encouraging leisure firms to use renewable energy, under changes to planning regulations that are set to make it easier to install solar panels and wind turbines. The Department of Communities and Local Government is...

25m [pounds sterling] leisure centre to be developed in Harlow.(News: Property & Development)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A new 25m [pounds sterling] community sports and leisure centre is set to be built in Harlow as part of the town's development under the Gateway Project. The three-storey complex, which will be located on a site in the town centre, will...

Debting away with it ... the UK fitness industry is under a growing mountain of debt, writes David Minton, which if not managed properly, threatens to become overwhelming.(Insight)(Industry overview)
September 1, 2007... I never realised that my interest-only mortgage and private equity houses had so much in common. I take on a load of debt, in the form of a mortgage, improve the property and assume the upside will be there for me when I come to sell....

You can lead a horse to water: most companies claim their most precious resource is people. Lucy McGee, of OPP, explains why the industry isn't making the most of its 'greatest asset'.(Insight: Staff development)
September 1, 2007... The UK leisure sector is, like the majority of service-based industries, built on the people within it. The skills needed to keep any company in the industry moving forward are many and varied. Excellent people skills, organisational expertise,...

Directing the future: Thomas Page, a corporate partner in CMS Cameron McKenna's Hotels Group, outlines the changes to the directors' duties regime under the new Companies Act 2006.(Legal: Director's duties)
September 1, 2007... The Companies Act 2006 is the first wholesale revision of the companies legislation since 1985. To cover all aspects of the new Act would probably keep this column occupied every month for the next year. For this reason, we have decided to...

On course for success: Ian Jarrett looks at the challenges facing leisure developers in Vietnam as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo put glitz on the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.(Insight: Leisure development in Vietnam)
September 1, 2007... On the streets of Ho Chi Minh City this month young people were hugging complete strangers. It was Free Hugs Day as hundreds of young people turned out to help visitors cling on to the idea that Vietnam is a much changed, more welcoming place...

Dealing with terrorism: recent threats in London and Glasgow have brought security issues to the fore. Leisure businesses should ensure the right policies and procedures are in place.(Insight: Terrorism and leisure)
September 1, 2007... The recent discovery of two cars containing explosives in central London evoked recollections of the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks. Thankfully the devices were defused but the incident was a sharp reminder of how the world has changed. ...

London Eye--the 2012 Olympics.(Inside Track)
September 1, 2007... This month marks exactly five years to go to the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games. In August 2012, we will hopefully be enjoying a festival of sport and culture, with packed venues and hotels. However, apart from the duration of the...

Too much, too little, too late? Dominic Walsh sheds some light on the murky dealings behind the Esporta sale, which has left Simon Halabi out of pocket by up to 150m [pounds sterling].(Behind the headlines: Esporta)
September 1, 2007... The collapse of Esporta just six months after its acquisition by Simon Halabi, the Syrian-born entrepreneur, is one of the most remarkable stories I have covered. The property entrepreneur's reputation is now in shreds following this debacle,...

Department for Culture, Media and Sport.(People on the move)
September 1, 2007... Dame Liz Forgan and Darra Singh OBE have been appointed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as non-executive board members. The appointments will run from 1 September 2007 for two years, after which they are open for renewal. The...

LOGOC.(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... LOGOC, the organising committee for the London 2012 Olympics, has appointed Donna Taylor as head of accommodation. Taylor's role includes negotiating rooms and rates for members of the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic...

Ultimate Leisure.(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Ultimate Leisure has made its operations manager for Northern Ireland, Michael Stewart, redundant, as part of a move to restructure the company. Stewart, who was in charge of operations at the group's four bars in Northern Ireland, will work as...

Starbucks.(People on the move)
September 1, 2007... Starbucks has promoted Martin Coles to the new role of chief operating officer. Coles, who has held the position of president of Starbucks Coffee International since 2004, will report to chief executive Jim Donald. He will be responsible...

Gondola Holdings.(People on the move)
September 1, 2007... Gondola Holdings, the casual dining group that operates the Pizza Express, ASK and Zizzi restaurant chains, has appointed Kieran Pitcher as its new group property director. Pitcher has joined the company after 18 months at The Restaurant...

Luminar.(Martin Gatto to to resign from Luminar Leisure)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Martin Gatto, non-executive at Luminar and chairman of its audit committee, has stepped down from the group's board with immediate effect. Gatto, who held the role of chairman of the audit committee for three years, will be replaced by John...

Travelodge.(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Travelodge has announced the appointment of Nicola Stopps as its first director of environment and sustainability. In her new role, Stopps will be responsible for researching new technologies to reduce energy usage in hotels, including...

Close Brothers Corporate Finance.(People on the move)
September 1, 2007... Close Brothers Corporate Finance continues to bolster its senior management team and has appointed a new managing director to its leisure and retail sector group. Michael Dubois has been a key member of the leisure and retail group since 1999....

The Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL).(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL) has recently appointed Alex Blackwell as pool programme manager. Blackwell is well equipped to achieve in this role as he brings to the IQL over 20 years of industry...

Life Fitness.(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Life Fitness is expanding its team of key account managers with the appointment of James Blower. Prior to joining Life Fitness, Blower held the position of sports activity manager at David Lloyd Leisure for two years. Before his internal...

DC Leisure.(People on the move)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... DC Leisure announced the appointment of Phil Roebuck to the role of contract manager for Exeter. Roebuck took up the position at the beginning of July, having previously been DC Leisure's general manager at the Pyramids Swimming and Leisure...

Playgolf.(Alan Montgomery to be appointed by Playgolf)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Playgolf, creator and developer of public sports projects, reported the appointment to its main board of Alan Montgomery, who becomes a non-executive. Montgomery has considerable experience in the sports and entertainments industry having...

Southampton Leisure.(People on the move)
September 1, 2007... As previously reported, Brian Hunt retired from the board of Southampton Leisure on 30 June 2007. Andrew Oldknow, the commercial director of Southampton Football Club, joined the board with immediate effect.

LR Index leisure stockwatch August 2007.(Sharewatch)
September 1, 2007... August is traditionally a pretty quiet month on the stock exchange, as traders take their summer breaks, but then, it's also traditionally a month of sunshine, so it isn't a huge surprise that we've seen an awful lot of activity, with very...

Diary dates: September.(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... September Event: Professional Beauty Autumn 2007 Date: 2-3 Location: Olympia, London, UK Description: Inspirational brands, new ideas and fresh product lines for the beauty and wellbeing sector. Includes a seminar. ...