City round up - all the latest news...
Entrepreneur Steve Wilkins, who sold his Thomas & Carter bar and restaurant group for £6m to Massive in May, has launched new company Lewis & Clarke, to develop a chain of modern gastro-bars. He has three central London sites ready for development and has exchanged on a fourth.
Nightclub operator Springwood has bought Victorian Leisure for £3.25m. Victorian owns a late-night bar complex that comprises Pharaohs nightclub, a live music venue and three bars in Barnsley. Springwood will convert the site to its Zanzibar brand.
Fuller, Smith & Turner has appointed Chris Alcock to spearhead the planned expansion of the company's managed division. The London-based brewer and retailer intends to double its entire pub operations over the next five years. Mr Alcock, a former operations director of Whitbread Restaurants, will head a team of eight operational managers.
The "Style in the City" group that operates vodka bar Babushka has bought three Dôme outlets from Whitbread. The London-based company will convert the units to its informal Bed Bar offering. The company, set-up by Gary and Tony Hibberd and partner John O'Donnell, also operates style bars Nylon and Snug.
Philip Morris has asked for two board seats as part of its $5bn (£3.4bn) disposal of Miller Brewing to South African Breweries (SAB). SAB will finance the deal through a cash and shares mix. Philip Morris, the world's largest tobacco company, will own between 25 and 33 per cent of the brewer.
Marketing and promotions company Maxxium has appointed Huw Pennell as marketing director for its portfolio of premium wines and spirits, which includes Absolut, Famous Grouse, Remy Martin and shooter After Shock.
