in brief

Guests flee hotel fire

Three City traders were arrested this week after an incident at Careys Manor hotel in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, which ended in a fire that forced the evacuation of more than 60 guests. Damages have been estimated at £20,000. The men have been bailed until January.

Coffee expansion

Coffee Republic has announced plans to open 40 outlets a year nationwide. It wants to increase the number of units it holds from 44 to 60 by Christmas. The group will seek a London Stock Exchange listing in May 2000.

Cornish purchase

The three-star Greenbank hotel in Falmouth, Cornwall, has been bought from the receivers for an undisclosed sum by a group headed by Aaron Pascoe, whose family have run Redruth's Penventon hotel for more than 30 years. The waterfront hotel went into receivership last month.

S&N sets buyout date

Scottish & Newcastle hopes to complete its £1.13b acquisition of Greenalls' pubs, restaurants and budget hotels on 1 December.

Martin's Contract Catering

Martin's Contract Catering has asked us to point out that two-thirds of school meals staff involved in a dispute with the company have voted for industrial action and not two-thirds of all school meals staff in Yorkshire's East Riding.