
ITC Dethrones India Unilever Unit to Become No. 1 Consumer Stock
Asia’s largest cigarette maker ITC Ltd. is set to reclaim its position as India’s most valuable fast-moving consumer
2023-07-24 16:56

El Niño Threat Looks Underpriced in Emerging-Market Rally
Emerging-market bond bulls are betting the imminent end of central bank interest-rate hikes will help power up the
2023-07-24 16:52

Restaurant introduces ‘minimum spend’ that will see solo diners pay double to eat alone
A restaurant in London has sparked criticism over its decision to introduce a minimum spend next month that will see solo diners charged double for their meals. In August, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, which boasts two Michelin stars, will increase the prices of its tasting menus. Currently, a five-course tasting menu costs £125 per person, while it’s £175 for seven courses. However, from 17 August, the restaurant will increase its prices by 11 per cent, bringing five courses to £165 and seven courses to £195. This is due to an increase in supplier costs and rising staff shortages in London, due to Brexit, that has put pressure on the business. For those dining alone, though, the new minimum spend means solo visitors could be charged a minimum of £330 to visit the restaurant due to the volume of requests they receive. However, the restaurant confirmed that they keep one to two tables for solo diners for every service without the minimum spend. So solo diners who book within 24 to 48 hours of their required booking time could be able to swerve the minimum spend depending on whether those tables are available at the time. Nonetheless, the initiative sparked outrage on Twitter, with commenters quick to point out the joys of dining alone, and how solo diners are often stigmatised. “F*** the Hotel Café Royal then… Solo dining is one of life’s great pleasures,” tweeted one person. “Oh great news. Yet another penalty for being single,” another added. Hugh Smithson-Write, who works in restaurant PR, tweeted: “A classic example of making the customer the problem, rather than finding a solution. “If you get ‘many solo diner requests’ how about you reconfigure your dining room to accommodate that and maximise the revenue? This is the very opposite of hospitality!” Victoria Sheppard, chief executive at Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, told The Independent: “Since achieving our two Michelin stars the demand for solo dining has increased dramatically and whilst we make every effort to accommodate solo diners, we also have to be considerate to the running costs of our business. “That said, we are increasing our opening hours from 17 August and will be able to accommodate more solo diners (without any discretionary minimum spend). 95 per cent of our solo diners requesting tables since we implemented a discretionary minimum spend when we are at capacity for solo diners have been more that happy to proceed with their booking, enjoying wine pairings or champagne of wine alongside their meal. “Nightclubs in our local vicinity have minimum spends for tables or hotels you pay the same price whether one guest or two which is never under dispute.” Read More Michelin star chef Marcus Wareing gives controversial answer to the best pizza in London Tom Kerridge addresses backlash to his £35 fish and chips at Harrods: ‘They shout at me’ Chef defends viral chicken recipe after TikTok backlash: ‘PSA to the seasoning police’ Restaurant with ‘tips are a privilege’ policy sparks intense backlash on social media Cher is launching a gelato brand called ‘Cherlato’ Popeyes widely mocked for attempt to join ‘girl dinner’ trend
2023-07-24 16:26

Iran targets e-commerce giant over photos of female employees without headscarves in new crackdown
Iranian authorities have shut down one of the offices of the country’s biggest e-commerce company and launched judicial procedures over the publication of photos showing female employees not wearing the Islamic headscarf
2023-07-24 15:46

Lingering Political Uncertainty Clouds Thai Industry Sentiment
A delay in government formation in Thailand amid the continuing political uncertainty is weighing on Thai business sentiment,
2023-07-24 15:20

Ryanair quarterly profit soars, cautious about winter travel
By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ryanair on Monday struck a cautious tone about travel demand for the rest of the
2023-07-24 14:17

Ryanair Beats Estimates, Cautions on Traffic Amid Boeing Delays
Ryanair Holdings Plc reported fiscal first-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates while cautioning that delays from new Boeing
2023-07-24 13:21

Tesla Is Lapping Germany’s Automakers in the Global EV Race
Germany’s automakers announced bold plans the last several years to shift to electric cars and challenge Tesla Inc.’s
2023-07-24 12:58

What to stream this week: Post Malone, Zach Galifianakis, 'This Fool,' Thandiwe Newton and 'Heels'
This week’s new entertainment releases include a new album from Post Malone, a movie starring Zach Galifianakis about the creation of the cute collectable Beanie Babies and a video game for the whole family with Disney Illusion Island
2023-07-24 12:56

Greatest rock'n'roll showman Mick Jagger turns 80
Mick Jagger once sang "what a drag it is getting old" but the most senior swinger in town shows little sign of slowing down as...
2023-07-24 11:18

Yemen police arrest 21 suspects in the murder of UN World Food Program local office head in Taiz
Yemen police have arrested 21 suspects in the killing of a local office head of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Taiz, according to Yemen's Interior Ministry.
2023-07-24 08:54

San Francisco-based company that pioneered craft beers open to buyout from employees
A spokesman for Anchor Brewing says the company is open to a purchase offer from its employees but warned that time is running out
2023-07-24 08:18