Ramsay's curb on Foxtrot Oscar hours spurs closure fears – For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say

Ramsay's curb on Foxtrot Oscar hours spurs closure fears23 November, Read the full article in the Mail on Sunday>>
Customer sues McDonald's for £2m over nude photos
A customer is suing fast-food giant McDonald's for $3 million (£2 million) after nude photos of his wife from a mobile phone he left in an Arkansas store appeared online. Phillip Sherman left the phone in the Fayetteville McDonald's in July and said staff promised to secure it until he returned. The Shermans claim they received offensive messages and were forced to move house after the nude images were posted on 5 July, along with their name, address and phone number. The suit was filed on Friday against the chain, the franchise owner, and the store manager and is claiming damages for suffering, embarrassment and the cost of moving home. - 23 November, Read the full article in the Sunday Telegraph >>

Government publishes first annual food statistics pocketbook
Money spent on eating out has risen by 27% since 2002 to £30.5b, according to the Government's first annual food statistics pocketbook, which assesses Britain's changing food habits. Fast food accounted for one-quarter (£7.6b) of the eating-out total, while gastro-pubs and restaurants took 23% and 15% of sales respectively. Sales of Thai takeaways have soared by 36% in the past five years to account, with Indian and Chinese takeaways, for 6% of the eating-out market - double the 3% represented by traditional fish and chips. The report coincides with a government campaign urging people to "Buy British" in response to the recession. Local food producers will, from tomorrow, be encouraged to bid for more public sector contracts and the Government will work to promote British food in Europe. - 23 November, Read the full article in the Independent on Sunday >>

Trump threatens to move £1b Scottish golf development to Ireland Billionaire Donald Trump is threatening to drop his £1b luxury golf development in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire and site it elsewhere because of delays in the planning process. Last week his son, Eric Trump, was in Northern Ireland viewing a number of alternative sites and seeking advice on how quickly plans for a similar development could be processed. Trump's plan to build two luxury championship golf courses, a five-star, 450-bedroom hotel, 960 timeshare apartments and 500 private houses across a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Balmedie, attracted opposition from local councillors and environmentalists. Although Trump won outline planning permission earlier this month, he has to meet more than 80 conditions to protect the wildlife and environment and is thought to be unwilling to wait beyond next spring to start construction. 23 November, Read the full article in the Sunday Times >>

Cobra beer on the market for £200m
Indian entrepreneur Lord Bilimoria has put the Cobra beer business up for sale for an estimated £200m. Bilimoria, who owns two-thirds of shares in the company that supplies around 95% of licensed Indian restaurants, will consider selling a stake or accepting a full takeover. Bilimoria came up with the idea of a less gassy beer that was easier to drink with food while studying law at Cambridge. In tandem with a brewery in India, he shipped the first crates of Cobra to Britain in 1990. The beer, which has been brewed in Britain since 1997, is one the UK's fastest growing brands although it has yet to make a profit. It has started to be sold in pubs and clubs and recently gained a second brand, the flavoured Cobra Bite, aimed at women. The group raised £15m in new capital two months ago after talks to sell a stake to Diageo foundered. - 23 November, Read the full article in the Sunday Times >>

By Angela Frewin

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