Latest news with #PeterJordan
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Full list of 72 Côte Brasserie restaurants at risk of closure as chain ‘up for sale' – is one getting the chop near you?
The chain was bought out of administration in 2020 COOKING UP A STORM Full list of 72 Côte Brasserie restaurants at risk of closure as chain 'up for sale' – is one getting the chop near you? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) POPULAR French restaurant chain Côte Brasserie is on the brink – with all 72 of its UK sites at risk of closure as the company is officially put up for sale. The upmarket bistro chain, loved for its croque monsieurs and steak frites, has already shut several sites. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Côte Brasserie currently operates around 70 restaurants Credit: Alamy 2 But the sale process now puts all branches at risk Credit: Peter Jordan While around 60 branches are said to be profitable, insiders warn that underperforming locations could be axed if no buyer is found. Private equity firm Partners Group, which rescued Côte from collapse in 2020, has now called in Interpath Advisory to find a buyer – sparking fears of a major shake-up across the chain. Several restaurants have already bitten the dust, including Gloucester Quays, which closed earlier this year, and Hampstead, which shut after 14 years. The Harrogate branch also closed in April, with hopes of relocating elsewhere in the town. Sources say rising costs, staff shortages, and soaring energy bills have put intense pressure on the business, leaving every branch under review as the sale process unfolds. Now diners across the country are bracing for bad news – and wondering if their go-to Côte is next on the chopping block. Full list of Côte Brasserie locations that have closed: Gloucester Quays Hampstead (London) Harrogate Manchester (St Mary's Street, Deansgate) Trinity Leeds Haywards Heath Full list of Côte Brasserie locations currently operational, but at risk: Barbican Covent Garden Hay's Galleria Kensington Marylebone Sloane Square Soho St Christopher's Place St Katharine Docks St Martin's Lane St Paul's Barnes Blackheath Chislehurst Chiswick Ealing Kingston Muswell Hill Richmond Royal Festival Hall Teddington Wimbledon Basingstoke Bluewater Brighton Canterbury Chichester Esher Farnham Guildford Hanley on Thames Horsham Lewes Marlow Newbury Oxford Reading Reigate Tunbridge Wells Winchester Windsor Woking Wokingham Bath Bournemouth Bristol - Clifton Village Bristol - Quaker Friars Cheltenham Cirencester Dorchester Exeter Salisbury West Bridgford Bishop's Stortford Bury St Edmunds Cambridge Chelmsford Norwich Peterborough St Albans Welwyn Garden City Cardiff Bay Cardiff Central Chester Liverpool Newcastle York Edinburgh Leamington Spa Shrewsbury Solihull Worcester What happens next? All 72 Côte Brasserie branches are on the chopping block as the chain goes up for sale – but that doesn't mean they'll all shut. While some fan-favourite spots could be spared, every single restaurant is under review, and it all comes down to the buyer, the books, and the bottom line. Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure Only the most profitable sites are likely to survive, so diners are being warned: no location is safe just yet. Chair of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls, said: "If we carry on with these trends and the situation doesn't improve - and clearly Rachel Reeves's statements are giving a signal to consumers that it is not going to get better any time soon - then I would see this accelerating. "Unless there is a change of tack by the government, we are looking at 150,000-200,000 fewer workers in hospitality during the first full year of [employer national insurance contribution] changes."
Scottish Sun
13-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
The 55p supermarket iced coffee that's better than a Starbucks carton
Check how to cut costs at the supermarket CAFFEINE KICK The 55p supermarket iced coffee that's better than a Starbucks carton Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOTHING tastes better on the early commute or school run than a refreshing iced coffee on a rushed summer morning. No wonder iced coffee sales have shot up 22% in the UK over the last five years, according to trend-watcher Innova 360. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Lucy Tobin has tested iced coffees on sale in supermarkets Credit: Peter Jordan The cheapest way to make them is, of course, to do it yourself at home. But if you love the luxury treat of a barista brew, there's an easy way to replicate it for less. Just pick up a canned iced latte for as little as 55p from your local coffee shop or supermarket. That's an absolute bargain compared to high street options: Starbucks is currently selling its venti iced latte for over £5 in London stores. Below I put iced coffee to-go to the test, pitting big brand names like Starbucks and Nescafé against budget rivals from the supermarkets. Emmi Caffè Latte Cappuccino Iced Coffee 230ml £1.85 from Sainsbury's 8 Emmi's iced cappuccino is the perfect drink for those who want a refreshing morning caffeine hit Credit: Louis Wood This might just be the perfect cool drink for people who don't like the bitterness of coffee but want a refreshing morning caffeine hit. Emmi Caffè has a milky taste, chocolate overtones, a creamy texture, and slips down very smoothly. It's sweetly delicious - low-fat cocoa powder is one of the ingredients and, at 145kcal, it might not be a dieter's choice. The only other downside is that this coffee comes in a plastic cup rather than a can, where the cup's rim was a bit sharp when drinking straight from it. Worth it, though, for one of the tastiest brews we tried. 4/5 Ueshima Iced Latte 250ml £2 from Ocado 8 Enjoy a premium drink from the canned coffee investors Credit: Peter Jordan This is a premium drink from the Japanese inventors of canned coffee. The story goes that Mr Ueshima bought a coffee at a train station in the 1960s, but had to leave it behind to catch his train - so spent a year working on canned coffee and started selling it in 1969. This one tastes like it's been improved over decades, with a rich and refreshing taste. Being only 75kcal in the can, one of the lowest-calorie canned coffee drinks, it doesn't taste as sweet as some others - anyone who likes a traditional coffee over ice will enjoy this one. At £2, though, it's not far off the cost of a coffee shop treat and wasn't distinctive enough for the price to seem worthwhile. 3/5 Jimmy's Iced Coffee Original 275ml £2.10 from Tesco 8 Use this bottle for water once you'ved finished your coffee Credit: Peter Jordan This is a super refreshing choice, and comes in a classy and recyclable silver-coloured bottle which we found perfect for refilling with water later on. The coffee is the perfect consistency: not too thick or runny, and full of flavour without being overly sweet. It's just over 100kcal per bottle, despite containing more coffee than the other products thanks to its larger bottle size. Jimmy's comes in a range of flavours, from gimmicky "iced coffee donut" flavour to the usual mocha, caramel and extra-protein options. You can buy Jimmy's in slightly smaller 250ml cans, starting at £1/25 at Iceland. 4/5 Starbucks Caffè Latte Iced Coffee 220ml £2.20 from Tesco 8 It's clear Starbucks has spent a lot of thought on its iced latte Credit: Peter Jordan As you'd expect from one of the kings of high street coffee, Starbucks has put a lot of thought into its iced latte. It came in the easiest to drink packaging: a cup with a recyclable lid and straw which is perfect to sip on the go. The Starbucks latte - espresso plus creamy milk - is a flavoursome brew, sweeter than others and very moreish. But the calorie content showed the sweetness too, coming in at a hefty 165kcal per cup. Price-wise, I'd avoid it for £2.20. 3/5 M&S classic latte 250ml £2 8 The overriding flavour of the M&S coffee is creaminess Credit: Peter Jordan There's a double shot of espresso and semi-skimmed milk in this generous-sized can. It's not too sweet, but it also doesn't have a particularly strong coffee flavour: the overriding flavour is creaminess. Despite that, there's only 100kcal in each 250ml can, and it was a refreshing caffeine hit: I definitely felt extra alert after this double shot of espresso. Anyone who likes their coffee to taste like milk with a dash of Arabica will love this can - but hard-core bean fans may find it too creamy. 3/5 Nescafé Iced Coffee Latte 750ml £3 (£2.50 on Tesco Clubcard deal) 8 Nescafe's iced coffee comes in a bigger bottle Credit: Peter Jordan This is a larger bottle, perfect for keeping in the fridge at home. The bulk discount means it works out at a cheap 83p per 250ml portion - but it's too big to cart around so minus points for the convenience factor. As it has UHT milk inside, though, it doesn't need to be stored in the fridge until after it's opened. Nescafé's latte tastes like a sweeter drink than Ueshima and Jimmy's- it comes in at 93kcal per 250ml portion - but lacks the chocolatey taste of some others. It's a mild, creamy latte that's a good value option if you like to have an iced coffee to grab at home, but I prefer the convenience of cans and cups to multitask as an on-the-go refreshing treat. 3/5 Lidl Latte Macchiato 250ml 55p 8 Lidl's 55p was crowned a joint winner Credit: Peter Jordan The cheapest iced coffee by miles - and it tastes great too. Lidl's latte has a mild coffee taste, with a creamy, slightly thicker texture - which might be why it packs a stonking 200kcal in per portion. The packaging is a bit of a drawback, too: it has a thin foil covering the plastic cup at the top. I'd be too nervous to chuck this iced latte into my bag as any jostling during the commute would see it burst, unlike Starbucks' cup design which has a plastic lid for security. Other can designs are more robust too. Still, overall this macchiato slips down really easily and is a refreshing, sweet coffee that tastes even better when you know how much of a bargain it is. 4/5
Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers are ditching ‘dry' Jaffa Cakes in favour of supermarket own brand that ‘taste better, & are half the price'
One shopper described the Mcvitie's treats as tasting like "drywall" JAFFA FAKES Shoppers are ditching 'dry' Jaffa Cakes in favour of supermarket own brand that 'taste better, & are half the price' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS are in a frenzy over a supermarket dupe of Jaffa Cakes, after branding the original Mcvitie's cakes "dry". Jaffa Cakes are one of the nation's favourite sweet treats, with Brits across the country choosing to dunk them in their afternoon cup of tea. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Shoppers have complained that McVitie's Jaffa Cakes are "dry" Credit: Peter Jordan 3 Snack fans are choosing the more budget friendly Aldi Jaffa Cakes instead Credit: Facebook/ExtremeCouponingAndBargainsUK However, some snack fans have become disappointed with the "dry" texture of McVitie's Jaffa Cakes, choosing to switch to cheap knock offs instead. Posting to Reddit, one biscuit lover shared that she recently treated herself to a packet of the Mcvitie's branded snack, hoping they would taste as delicious and spongy as she remembered them growing up. However, after sinking her teeth into the orange flavoured dessert, she was left extremely disappointed. "They're dry af. That 'spongy' bit? It's not the same spongy bit I remember growing up. "It's like drywall. I had three, just to make sure I wasn't going crazy, and they were all the same." The disappointed woman then revealed she dished the remaining cakes out to her friends, who confirmed that the snacks did not taste as good as they used to. "Has something changed?" she asked. "Have false memories allowed me to remember an absolutely supreme experience whilst munching on these delights? "Or have they just decided to change the whole recipe to save a few quid?" The post was flooded with comments with social media users, who suggested alternative Jaffa Cake brands the snack fan should try, and many said the same thing. SWEET TOOTH 'A tangy twist', cry fans over 85p packs of Jaffa Cakes in a unique flavour One person said: "Off-brand Jaffa cakes have been superior for a few years now. Aldi ones are pretty good." A second person said: "Aldi cherry bakewell ones are sublime." A third person said: "The Aldi ones are far superior now. "Succulent, citrusy and generously jellied." 3 A fourth added: "Buy the Lidl and Aldi own brands. "They taste better, have more filling and they're about half the price." Aldi's own brand Jaffa Cakes come in a variety of different flavours including cherry bakewell and passion fruit flavour for just 99p. Shoppers can also snap up Aldi original flavour Jaffa Cakes for £1.25 for 300g, much cheaper than the Mcvitie's version which are on sale at Aldi for £2.75 for 330g. M&S also sells its own version of Jaffa Cakes for £2.10, whilst Tesco's own brand offering is priced at £2.
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Brits facing summer of chaos as hotel workers to strike every Friday in Tenerife throughout July and August
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENRAGED hotel workers in Tenerife are set to strike every single week of summer - in the latest blow to Brit holidaymakers. Colossal strike action, which will include protests outside major hotel chains, will see Brit tourists facing chaos in July and August. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Anti-tourism protests have been fuelled by soaring numbers of Brits flying in Credit: Alamy 7 Thousands of locals march in Gran Canaria, May 18 Credit: Alamy 7 Anti-social behaviour and a large number of tourists have fuelled the anti-tourism movement Credit: Peter Jordan 7 The strikes were proposed by the main tourism union and are expected to hit the Canary Island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. They are set to begin on July 4. Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists said the action came as employers were yet to agree on a pay rise for hotel staff. He said the employers had a "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements. Fitas explained that on May 29, they gave employers a fifteen-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5% salary increase before negotiating a new agreement. But employers are yet to come to a new agreement. If confirmed, the nightmare strikes will prove disastrous for thousands of Brit holidaymakers rushing to the popular destination this summer. Planned for every Friday of July and August, the action is set to hit the tourism industry's peak summer season. Brit tourists should expect major disruptions as the unions intend to launch protests right outside the doors of hotels for maximum impact. Each of the scheduled walkouts and protests will be confirmed on June 16 when the dates are locked in place. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Despite the threat of the devastating strike, the manager of the local employers' association, Juan Pablo González, said they were "moderately optimistic" of making progress in the talks. Asked if they would be willing to make an exception to avoid a strike, he confirmed that "we limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated". The action comes after similar anti-tourism strikes have unleashed holiday hell for Brits in the Canary Islands. Brits headed to Tenerife over Easter faced nightmarish conditions as hotel and restaurant workers walked out on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday, after last-ditch talks to prevent the protests failed. "The Canary Islands have a limit" movement argues the Canaries' current economic model is "based on touristification, speculation, inequality and infinite growth in a very limited land". According to the Canarian Trade Union Federation, the wealth generated by tourism should be distributed more fairly to improve the labour and wage rights of more than 170,000 tourism workers in the Canaries. 7 Protesters gather in front of the Sagrada Familia under the slogan - 'The Canary Islands have a limit' Credit: Getty 7 Thousands of people are known to attend these protests, often held in dozens of cities across Spain They also demand fairer distribution of tourism revenue to improve life for Canarians, boosting public services like healthcare, affordable housing and transport to fix the current road collapses. The movement has issued ten key demands, including halting destructive developments, imposing a tourist tax, enforcing a moratorium on new tourist projects, protecting natural areas and stopping sea pollution, among others. On May 18, thousands of fed-up locals flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests against overtourism this year. Locals across the Canaries say their home has been turned into a playground for tourists. Demonstrations took place across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Holidaymakers awkwardly watched from the sidelines as the marches progressed through towns. What is the anti-tourist movement? Locals are calling for three key measures: Tourist moratorium: A freeze on new hotel and holiday rental licences, especially in overcrowded areas, to ease pressure on resources and protect rural and coastal land. Ecotax: A tourist tax to fund public services and offset the environmental impact of mass tourism. Holiday rental regulation: Stricter controls on platforms like Airbnb and real estate speculation to keep housing affordable for residents. In Santa Cruz alone, Tenerife's capital, around 7,000 people were estimated to be on the streets by Spanish security forces. In Gran Canaria, around 3,000 people were estimated to be present. Misbehaving Brits visiting the Canary Islands have also fuelled a growing sentiment against tourism among workers in Tenerife. Shocking footage showed two brits starting a vicious brawl in Tenerife while a crowd of yobs cheered them on. Viral footage recorded in Playa de las Américas, a popular resort in the holiday hotspot, showed the men throwing jabs at each other before bystanders started to intervene. And last week, dramatic footage also showed two Brit women scrapping in the streets of Tenerife while being leered at. Both fights sparked fury among locals, who complained of the manic Brit behaviour on their streets.
The Irish Sun
10-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Brits facing summer of chaos as hotel workers to strike every Friday in Tenerife throughout July and August
ENRAGED hotel workers in Tenerife are set to strike every single week of summer - in the latest blow to Brit holidaymakers. 7 Anti-tourism protests have been fuelled by soaring numbers of Brits flying in Credit: Alamy 7 Thousands of locals march in Gran Canaria, May 18 Credit: Alamy 7 Anti-social behaviour and a large number of tourists have fuelled the anti-tourism movement Credit: Peter Jordan 7 The strikes were proposed by the main tourism union and are expected to hit the They are set to begin on July 4. Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists said the action came as employers were yet to agree on a He said the employers had a "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements. read more travel news Fitas explained that on May 29, they gave employers a fifteen-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5% salary increase before negotiating a new agreement. But employers are yet to come to a new agreement. If confirmed, the nightmare strikes will prove disastrous for thousands of Brit holidaymakers rushing to the popular destination this summer. Planned for every Friday of July and August, the action is set to hit the tourism industry's peak summer season. Most read in News Travel Brit tourists should expect major disruptions as the unions intend to launch protests right outside the doors of hotels for maximum impact. Each of the scheduled walkouts and protests will be confirmed on June 16 when the dates are locked in place. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Despite the threat of the devastating strike, the manager of the local employers' association, Juan Pablo González, said they were "moderately optimistic" of making progress in the talks. Asked if they would be willing to make an exception to avoid a strike, he confirmed that "we limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated". The action comes after similar anti-tourism strikes have unleashed holiday hell for Brits in the Canary Islands . Brits headed to "The According to the Canarian Trade Union Federation, the wealth generated by tourism should be distributed more fairly to improve the labour and wage rights of more than 170,000 tourism workers in the Canaries. 7 Protesters gather in front of the Sagrada Familia under the slogan - 'The Canary Islands have a limit' Credit: Getty 7 Thousands of people are known to attend these protests, often held in dozens of cities across Spain They also demand fairer distribution of tourism revenue to improve life for Canarians, boosting public services like healthcare, affordable housing and transport to fix the current road collapses. The movement has issued ten key demands, including halting destructive developments, imposing a tourist tax, enforcing a moratorium on new tourist projects, protecting natural areas and stopping sea pollution, among others. On May 18, thousands of fed-up locals flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests against overtourism this year. Locals across the Holidaymakers awkwardly watched from the sidelines as the marches progressed through towns. What is the anti-tourist movement? Locals are calling for three key measures: Tourist moratorium: A freeze on new hotel and holiday rental licences, especially in overcrowded areas, to ease pressure on resources and protect rural and coastal land. Ecotax: A tourist tax to fund public services and offset the environmental impact of mass tourism. Holiday rental regulation: Stricter controls on platforms like Airbnb and real estate speculation to keep housing affordable for residents. In Santa Cruz alone, Tenerife's capital, around 7,000 people were estimated to be on the streets by Spanish security forces. In Gran Canaria, around 3,000 people were estimated to be present. Misbehaving Brits visiting the Canary Islands have also fuelled a growing sentiment against tourism among workers in Tenerife. Shocking footage showed two brits starting a vicious brawl in Tenerife while a crowd of yobs cheered them on. Viral footage recorded in And last week, dramatic footage also showed two Brit women scrapping in the streets of Tenerife while being leered at. Both fights sparked fury among locals, who complained of the manic Brit behaviour on their streets. 7 Protesters with the slogan - 'The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended'
