Leisure Report back issues from March 2008:
Levy shambles could result in further FOBT machine curbs.
Mar 01, 2008 ... You can't please all the people all of the time, but the government's unwillingness to take a stance on the horseracing levy, coupled with its ongoing failure to reach a suitable outcome over the sale of the Tote, has achieved the impressive feat of leaving all sides at least mildly ...
Courting a PR disaster.(Inside track)
Mar 01, 2008; ... For such a short month, we seem to have crammed so much news into February that it's difficult to know where to begin an analysis, but the story that could have the most far-reaching consequences for the leisure sector is that of Graham Calvert, who is suing William Hill for failing to ...
Merlin Entertainments is UK's fastest-growing PE-backed firm.(Breaking news)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Global visitor attractions operator Merlin Entertainments has topped the Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100--'Biggest 10' list, which identifies the private equity-owned companies in the UK with the fastest growing profits (ebitda) of more than 50m [pounds sterling]. This underlines ...
Mintel: smokers go out less since ban took force.(Breaking news)
Mar 01, 2008 ... New research has confirmed that the smoking ban has seriously threatened the leisure industry, with some two million smokers admitting to going out less since it came into force. The report by market analysts Mintel found that 16% of smokers said they go out less since the ban ...
Probability finds backer.(Breaking news)(issue of shares)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Probability, the AIM-quoted mobile phone gambling specialist, has raised approximately 1.7m [pounds sterling] (net) through a placing of 397,028 new ordinary shares of 1p each in the company at 50p per share with IPGL, a private holding company in which Michael Spencer, chief executive of ...
SHOKK launches dietary workshop.(Breaking news)
Mar 01, 2008 ... SHOKK, the children's gym specialist, has launched a new interactive nutrition workshop to help parents and children learn how to follow a healthy, balanced diet. The workshop, launched recently at Moorhead Sports College, Accrington is designed to give families a better ...
Ladbrokes takeover mooted.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Shares in Ladbrokes were buoyed by takeover rumours as Leisure Report went to press, following increased speculation it may be subject to a bid from a private equity concern. The takeover talk was prompted by dealers ...
US tourists shun UK.
Mar 01, 2008 ... American tourists are turning their hack on Britain and taking their holidays elsewhere, according to VisitBritain, the national tourism agency. Figures released last week revealed a sharp 6% decline in US visitors to Britain to 4.5m in 2007. The biggest ...
Trump in heraldry row.(Donald Trump's is developing golf course)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Donald Trump's plan to build a 1 bn [pounds sterling] golf course development in Scotland has hit another snag. The coat of arms, which has appeared on his promotional material, jackets and caps, is unregistered. The Scottish ...
Elbow rooms sold.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Restaurant company Inc Group has bought The Elbow Rooms, a trendy chain of pool halls. Terms of the deal are ...
Turftrax floats on AIM.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Turftrax, which provides technical services to the racing industry, has floated on AIM with a market cap of 17.6m [pounds sterling]. The 40p-a-share placing raised gross proceeds ...
Health screening demand is rising.(News: Health & fitness)
Mar 01, 2008 ... There has been a sharp rise in the number of health clubs wishing to offer health screening for members, according to Ultralife, which provides nutritional products and wellness services to health clubs across the UK. The firm said that, although its offer is still in the first ...
US clubs report healthy growth in Q3 2007.(News: Health & fitness)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... A recently-conducted survey of 18 leading US health and sports club companies found that financial performance had improved for the quarter ending 30 September, compared to the same period in the previous year. The IHRSA index found companies collectively grew their total ...
LC secures 5-year contract extension.(News: Health & fitness)(Leisure Connection's contract with North Kesteven District Council)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Leisure Connection (LC), the public access sports and leisure operator has secured a five-year contract extension with North Kesteven District Council. LC currently manages the Council's 10 leisure and sporting facilities, and has been doing so since 2003. The company said its ...
ADDleisure confident on prospects as new corporate deals lead the way.(News: Health & fitness)
Mar 01, 2008 ... ADDleisure, the AIM-traded company formed to develop products and services in the health and leisure sectors, reported a pre-tax loss of 2.16m [pounds sterling] (2006:-1.41m [pounds sterling]) for the year to 31 July 2007, which it allotted to continued investment in its products and ...
Powerleague set to outscore Goals over the short-term, says Altium.(News: Sport)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... With both leading small-sided soccer operators set to release interim results this month, analysts at Altium Securities are tipping Powerleague to outperform Goals Soccer Centres. Altium said: "Powerleague shares have been weak over the past three months, underperforming the ...
2012 deal will see BA reach 6.5 million people.(News: Sport)
Mar 01, 2008 ... British Airways, the latest 'Tier One' London 2012 sponsor, can expect over 6.5 million people in Britain to be aware of its involvement with the Games, according to new research. Sports Marketing Surveys, the sponsorship and sports research agency, said its sponsorship brand ...
NAKMAS warns on martial arts insurance shortfalls.(News: Sport)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Many martial arts clubs, as well as fitness clubs which offer such activities, are not properly insured, leaving them exposed in the event of an accident or allegation of abuse, according to NAKMAS (the National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools). The UK governing ...
Blues against Grandtop appointments.(News: Sport)(appointment of Fan Zhi Yi and Steven McManaman at Grandtop International)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Birmingham City said it does not support proposals by its major shareholder Grandtop International, the Chinese property company, to appoint Fan Zhi Yi and Steven McManaman as additional directors to its board, and has unanimously recommended shareholders vote against the resolutions. ...
Sport England gets Strategic for NW sports strategy.(News: Sport)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Sport England NW has appointed Strategic Leisure to undertake the development of the north west regional sports facilities strategy. This strategy will set out the vvision for future sports facility provision in the region, and identify the priorities for investment. The project ...
Soccercity sets its out future plans as it prepare to delist from AIM.(News: Sport)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Soccercity, the AIM-listed small-sided soccer firm, has confirmed its decision to cancel its stock market listing and re-register the business as a private limited company. The firm said its creditors, Acceleris, WH Ireland and Valedale Consultants have agreed that 100,000 ...
Ladbrokes makes Eastwood's day with 117.5m [pounds sterling] LBO acquisition.(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... UK gaming giant Ladbrokes has acquired Eastwood Bookmakers, Northern Ireland's largest retail betting operator, for 117.5m [pounds sterling], adding 54 shops to its portfolio. The deal, which includes goodwill payments and property leasebacks, also involves the sale of the ...
AsianLogic secures new Philippines deals.(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... AsianLogic, the Asia-Pacific-oriented online and land-based gaming company, has secured a licensing agreement with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and Bingo Bonanza, which it says will extend its presence in its core target market. Gamebuilders, a ...
Global Gaming Technologies needs a deal.(News: Betting & gaming)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Global Gaming Technologies (GGT) reported a narrowed full-year pre-tax loss, but said that its AIM listing will be suspended if it fails to make an acquisition within a year of its AGM. For the year to 31 July, the company said its pre-tax loss came in at 0.88m [pounds ...
NMLS backs Inspiring tie-in to drive future opportunities.(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... New Media Lottery Services (NMLS), the AIM-listed gaming content and systems provider, said it is currently exploring several additional lottery opportunities together with Inspired Gaming. The announcement came as NMLS announced interim results for the six months ended 31 ...
Mobile gaming market is set to take off, says GBGC's Bartlett.(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Betting through the mobile phone has been a disappointment so far but a combination of three important factors means that this neglected segment of the market is now about to lift off, according to Warwick Bartlett, lead partner of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC). ...
Predators circle Rank but is Gala deal on cards?(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Guoco Group, a Malaysian-based business which owns Thistle Hotels and the Clermont Club, has increased its interest in Rank Group to 23.6 million shares, or 6.05% of the total voting rights in the company. Hong Leong has been consistently raising its stake in Rank since the ...
32Red stays in the black.(News: Betting & gaming)
Mar 01, 2008 ... 32Red, the online casino, poker and sportsbetting operator, said it expects full-year trading to fall in line with management expectations, and said it is set to enter the bingo market with a game launch scheduled in February. Providing an update on trading for the year to 31 ...
Sportingbet board backs its offer.(News: Betting & gaming)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Sportingbet said Peter Dicks, who has returned to the company to becomenon-executive chairman, has purchased 50,000 shares. The purchase is the latest in a number of director dealings which have ...
Dark clouds gather at The Weather Lottery.
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Weather Lottery said its full-year pretax loss widened, due to static sales and the increased costs of listing on AIM. For the year to 31 July, the lottery operator saw its pretax loss widen to 170,000 [pounds sterling] from 82,000 [pounds sterling] in ...
DM pays 1m [pounds sterling] prize.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... DM, the AIM-listed direct marketing group specialising in database management and home gaming, has awarded an industry record breaking 1m [pounds sterling] jackpot through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Purely Creative. The prize ...
Neville Porter refinances.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Neville Porter, the listed UK bookmaker, said it has entered into various agreements with two of its directors, David Neville Porter and Brian Morton, for a proposed refinancing and restructuring of the ...
Bodog eyes UK market.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Bodog Entertainment Group, the online gaming firm, has applied for a licence to ...
Devilfish plans float.(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Online poker site Devilfish Gaming is set to seek a listing on Plus Markets, formerly Ofex. The firm aims to raise about 1m [pounds sterling] from the float, which will ...
Tenpin sale-and-leaseback underpins Georgica.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Georgica, the UK leisure operator, posted a eight-fold rise in full-year pretax profit, bolstered by the sale and leaseback of nine of its Tenpin properties, that generated a profit of 28m [pounds sterling]. The firm, which since the sale of its Rileys cue-sports estate is now a ...
Bowplex on a roll as it cuts carbon footprint.(News: Cinema & entertainment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... UK leisure operator Bowlplex is reducing its carbon footprint in all 16 of its family entertainment centres with the implementation of a number of energy saving schemes. With the help of partners including the Carbon Trust, Dorset Resource Efficiency Club and Powertech Solar, ...
Novus in talks to buy Soho Clubs.(News: Cinema & entertainment)(Nevus Leisure to buy Soho Clubs & Bars )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Nevus Leisure, the bar operator led by Steve Richards, has entered exclusive negotiations to buy Soho Clubs & Bars for between 7m [pounds sterling] and 10m [pounds sterling]. Talks are thought to be at an advanced stage for the company, which operates 10 clubs and bars in the West End. ...
Alliance attacks VisitBritain review.(News: Tourism & attractions)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Tourism Alliance has agreed to contribute to the tourism review currently being undertaken by VisitBritain at the request of DCMS, but said it believes the "review is fundamentally flawed and will not resolve the structural and funding problems facing tourism". The Alliance ...
New attraction towers ahead for RTC.(News: Tourism & attractions)(Retail Theatre Company)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Retail Theatre Company (RTC), specialists in the design and build of leisure projects, launched its new 'Jungle Jim's Towering Adventure Attraction' at this year's European Attractions Show in Nice, France. The project has been created for Leisure Parcs, and win be featured ...
Lo-Q signs new management deal with Merlin.(News: Tourism & attractions)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Lo-Q, the AIM-traded ticket management company, announced it has reached agreement with Lego Windsor Park for the use of its flagship queue management system. The two-year extendable agreement provides for the operation of the system from 15 March this year. Lo-Q's Text-Q ...
Fears that eating-out fuel obesity are overblown and prejudicial.(News: Food and drink)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Last month's national news story directly linking eating out to rising obesity shows how poorly-organised the sector is when it comes to refuting negative PR, to say nothing of the fact that the evidence was thin, at best. The story came from a report by Datamonitor that argued ...
Food spend has halved since 1957.(News: Food and drink)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Spending on food and drink has more than halved in the last 50 years, according to new figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that expenditure on eating and drinking has fallen to 15% of the average UK household's weekly budget, down from 33% in 1957. ...
Starbucks to shut 100 US sites.(News: Food and drink)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Starbucks has announced it will close 100 of its underperforming outlets in the US, after reporting a 1% decline in domestic same-store sales for its first quarter, to 30 December 2007. The company said that same-store sales across its domestic outlets fell 3% on the same period ...
Burger King reports 29% Q2 profits rise.(News: Food and drink)(Financial report)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Burger King has reported a 29% increase in second-quarter profits, driven by strong US sales of its Whopper burger, and new Homestyle Melt sandwiches. The chain said that net income for the quarter rose to $49m (24.6m [pounds sterling]) from $38m a year earlier. It recorded a ...
McD's cooks up a 5.7% sales rise in January.(News: Food and drink)(Financial report)
Mar 01, 2008 ... McDonald's has reported a 5.7% increase in global same store sales in January, driven by growth in Europe and Asia. The company saw comparable sales rise by 8.2% in Europe and 7.8% in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, while US sales were only up by 1.9%. The group ...
New spas in Scotland & Manchester.(News: Property & development)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Crerar Hotels has launched the biggest spa in Scotland's 'Highlands and Islands' with the opening of a new 2m [pounds sterling] facility at the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa at Craignure Bay, while the Isle of Eriska hotel has completed its spa conversion with the opening of a newly refurbished ...
Revamped Esporta Riverside to re-open.(News: Property & development)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Esporta's prestigious Riverside Health and Racquets Club in Chiswick is set to re-open, following the fire that forced it to close two years ago, providing a boost for the beleagured operator. The 155,000 sq ft facility will boast an additional 25,000sq ft of internal space, as ...
School plan for 2012 Olympic stadium.
Mar 01, 2008 ... The government has announced that it is looking into the possibility of establishing a school at the Olympic stadium site after the 2012 games. Tessa Jowell, Olympic minister and Jim Knight, schools minister, have commissioned a review into securing an educational legacy at the stadium ...
New SHOKK for north east.(re-opening of Spectrum Leisure Centre )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Spectrum Leisure Centre in Willington, County Durham, has re-opened the regeneration of its facility, which has seen a 170,000 [pounds sterling] investment enhance the existing gym and sports hall, and the ...
Rhydycar led by leisure.
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Merthyr Tydfil leisure park in Rhydycar, Wales, has agreed deals with Frankie & Benny's and Vue Entertainments for its 25m [pounds sterling] mixed-use development scheme. A nine-screen Vue cinema, as well as a ...
Puccino's to sell 11 sites.
Mar 01, 2008 ... Puccino's, the 90-strong UK coffee-bar group, has placed a package of 11 leasehold properties on the market through Christie & Co. The ...
EC takes Germany and Sweden to court over gambling restrictions.(News: Industry)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The European Commission announced it has launched legal proceedings against Germany and Sweden over laws which restrict competition in their gambling markets. The Commission has sent a said it had sent a "letter of formal notice" to which they have two months to respond, to the ...
Britons start to feel the squeeze.(News: Industry)(impact of subprime crises on taxes)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Britons have started to feel the effects of the credit squeeze, with average household taxes having increased by 7,800 [pounds sterling] per year since 1997, while disposable income has stagnated, according to new research. A report by the Centre for Policy Studies, a ...
AIM entries are subdued in 2007.(News: Industry)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The number of new entrants on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) fell from 362 in 2006 to 222 last year a 39% decline, although the total raised by the newcomers still amounted to 6.2bn [pounds sterling], according to research from Growth Company Investor. The study found ...
SkillsActive unveils plans for sports academy.(News: Industry)
Mar 01, 2008 ... SkillsActive has submitted its business plan to the Learning and Skills Council for the development of a National Skills Academy for sport and active leisure. Over 5.8m [pounds sterling] of employer and partner investment has been raised to open state of the art centres of ...
United we should stand: David Minton says encouraging participation through alliances, as pushed by the airline industry, could provide effective within the UK fitness sector.(Insight)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The top 40 major airlines, with some smaller regional carriers, are now working together to improve the overall value of the airline industry, reducing operating costs, providing expanded rewards for the customer and increasing participation. Grouped into three powerful alliances; Star ...
Focused M&A to continue in 2008: the Livingstone Partners' Leisure Survey 2008 reveals some surprisingly upbeat attitudes towards likely M&A activity this year, despite the effects of the global credit crunch.(Research: M&A Survey 2008)
Mar 01, 2008 ... January is always traditionally a 'dark' month following the good cheer of the Christmas break as consumers try their best to stick to their New Year resolutions and take steps to makes amends for some of their more recent excesses (by giving up alcohol, going to the gym or concentrating ...
Looking through the froth: the recent trials at Starbucks are an illustration of what can happen if a brand loses sight of its core values, and touch with its customers.(Insight: Starbucks)(Company overview)
Mar 01, 2008; ... 'Brands with a cause' was my recent plea (What does my brand stand for? Leisure Report January 2008). Let us ignore the companies bordering on the irrelevant and connect with those that genuinely stand for something. Life is too short to waste on companies that are fickle, fake, or those ...
Coastal profit erosion: the British amusement arcade is facing an annus horribilis, after the twin blows of the smoking ban and the Gambling Act, says David Carey, but the battle is not lost yet.(Sector update: Amusement arcades)
Mar 01, 2008; ... There has been plenty of tough talk lately about the negative impact of double taxation and the smoking ban on the UK bingo industry, and rightly so, but less-widely reported has been the effect of certain aspects of the Gambling Act on the amusement arcade industry. The simple ...
Participation for the nation: more people, more active, more often--how can we achieve this? Graham Farrant, Leisure Connection chief executive, examines the importance of increasing mass participation.(Opinion: Fitness participation)(Viewpoint essay)
Mar 01, 2008; ... In a recent Sport England report it was highlighted that 10bn [pounds sterling] needs to be spent on 3,000 local authority sports facilities--but I question whether this is achievable within the current provision model of pubic access leisure provision. To date, there have been ...
Once more into the breach? Data losses can cost companies time, money and the confidence of their customers and, as Derek Parkinson investigates, hotels are more vulnerable than most to theft and misuse.(Insight: Data protection)
Mar 01, 2008; ... For those of us worried about the security of our personal data, 2007 was a strong candidate for "Annus Horribilis". Security breaches in both the public and private sectors, due to a range of miserable failures such as poorly designed websites, lost computer disks or stolen laptops made ...
Last call back for Scotland: CMS Cameron McKenna's Timothy Pitt reviews the changes to Scotland's licensing regime and what this will mean for hotels, which hold the majority of the country's 24-hour licences.(Insight: Licensing)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Background The Licensing (Scotland) Act, coming into effect gradually over 2008 and 2009, has overhauled Scotland's licensing laws for the first time in over 30 years. The new legislation was introduced with the clear aims of reducing irresponsible drinking and breaking the link ...
LR Index leisure stockwatch February 2008.(Sharewatch)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Frabjous day, caloo calay, one might be tempted to say, as February's Stockwatch can report a number of rays of sunshine, in keeping with the unseasonably bright weather we've enjoyed. Given the gloom surrounding the financial markets in general, it's pleasing to be able to ...
Barclays Commercial Bank.(People on the move)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Barclays Commercial Bank has made two new appointments in its leisure and gaming team. Mark Hewson, formerly a relationship director, has been promoted to the role of head of leisure and gaming operators. He will be responsible for leading strategy in the sector as well as ...
Top Ten.(People on the move)(Gary Bennett and Allen Walsh bingo )(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008 ... UK bingo operator Top Ten said Gary Bennett and Allen Walsh have been respectively appointed as finance director and operations director, with effect from 12 February. Both are currently executive directors of Top Ten Bingo, the subsidiary trading ...