Tchenguiz confirms bid for M&B… For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say

Tchenguiz confirms bid for M&B
Robert Tchenguiz yesterday confirmed he had made an informal takeover approach for bar operator Mitchells & ButlersYorkshire Post, 22 April

McDonald's report 14% drop in profitsMcDonald's reported a 14% drop in first-quarter profit, primarily because of a tax gain from a year ago, and flagged up potential problems ahead. The world's largest hamburger maker said that it earned £351m, compared with a profit of £460m a year earlier. - The Times, 22 April

Works starts on hotel in space An inflatable hotel that will orbit the Earth is being built by a millionaire hoping to kickstart interest in space tourism. Robert Bigelow, an American hotelier who says he wants to open up space to the general public, is ploughing more than £280m into the project. - Sunday Times, 23 April

Smoke-free Scottish pubs are now smellier
Pubs across Scotland have installed air fresheners and improved ventilation since the smoking ban was introduced after complaints about unpleasant smells since the ban on smoking was introduced last month. Customers claim odours from sweating drinkers, strong perfume and stench from toilets were previously masked by the cigarette fumes. - Scotland on Sunday, 23 April

McDonald's plan £140m makeover for UK restaurantsMcDonald's is to launch a fresh attempt to revive its struggling British business with a change of chief executive and a three-year turnround programme that will cost £140m. The world's largest fast-food chain, which has been hit by stalling sales in its British operations for several years, could announce the overhaul as early as this week. Under the plan, which has been approved by McDonald's global headquarters in Oak Brook, Chicago, the UK chief executive, Peter Beresford, is to step down and be replaced by Steve Easterbrook, the current chief operating officer. - Sunday Times, 23 April

£60m roll-out for Le Monde hotel chain
Saltire Taverns is planning a £60m roll-out of its Le Monde hotel and bar concept across the UK. Tony McGrath who runs Saltire, said takings at the £12m leisure complex in Edinburgh had exceeded expectations since it opened in February. Sources at the company suggested it may sell some of its portfolio, which includes the Frankenstein theme bars and Edinburgh's Rutland Hotel, to finance new Le Monde outlets. - Scotland on Sunday, 23 April

British hotelier battles in France over church conversion British hotelier Clive Cummings is locked in bitter conflict with locals over the ancient abbey they have converted into a luxury hotel which opened on 8 April. Cummings, who runs La Bussière with his wife Tanith, has seen the hotel dragged into a series of lawsuits. - Sunday Times, 23 April

One Devonshire Gardens eyed by leisure group MBI, the leisure group which recently bought Edinburgh's Scotsman Hotel, has expressed an interest in One Devonshire Gardens, the Glasgow boutique hotel which went on the market with an £8m price tag last week. A spokesman for the group, owned by Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, said the West End hotel was "exactly the sort of property we are looking for at the luxury boutique end of the market". - Scotland on Sunday, 23 April