Tchenguiz shortlisted to buy former Spirit Group pubs … For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say

Tchenguiz shortlisted for sale of former Spirit Group pubs
Robert Tchenguiz's R20 vehicle has been shortlisted with Wolverhampton & Dudley BreweriesThe Times, 6 May

£12m refurb planned for Edinburgh's George hotel
Principal Hotels, the new owners of the George Hotel in Edinburgh, is to use a £12m overhaul to make the hotel a hi-tech centre for conferences and corporate events. Tony Troy, chief executive of Principal Hotels, which last September paid InterContinental £23m after a bidding war for the George, said the refurb was set for completion in September. - The Scotsman, 6 May

Tchenguiz drops offer for M&B pub chain
Robert Tchenguiz walked away from a £2.7bn cash bid for Mitchells & Butlers last night after being rebuffed by the pubs group for a second time earlier this week. In a statement issued after the market had closed, Mr Tchenguiz's investment vehicle R20 cited the Takeover Panel's "put up or shut up" deadline on Monday and the decision of the pub group's board not to enter talks for its decision not to table an offer. - The Independent, 6 May. Click here for more…

Macdonald Hotels settles out of court on discrimination charge
Macdonald Hotels has reached an 11th-hour settlement with a female executive who claimed she suffered sexual discrimination. Elizabeth Irons was due to give evidence against Macdonald Hotels at an employment tribunal in Edinburgh yesterday. But her lawyers revealed a last-minute deal had been agreed in principle with the Bathgate-based hotel chain. Ms Irons was dismissed last March after repeatedly trying to raise talks with her superiors about her position at the company. - The Scotsman, 6 May

Ireland to get another exclusive golf resort
One of Ireland's top golf resort hotels, the K Club close to Dublin is to get a €70m-plus southern rival at a 220-acre estate near Cork. The luxurious resort hotel is scheduled to open next December and will include 104 luxury suites, 42 golf lodges located in a special walled garden and will be operated by Capella Hotels & Resorts. - Irish Independent, 6 May

M&B may bid for Brewer's Fayre and Beefeater
Mitchells & Butlers is expected to pursue talks with Whitbread about acquiring its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre outlets following the collapse of the bid by Robert Tchenguiz. The bid is likely to be in the region of £300m - £500m for the 250 pubs put up for sale by Whitbread. - Mail on Sunday, 7 May

Travelodge appoint bankers to handle its sale
Travelodge, the budget hotel operator controlled by Permira, the private equity firm, has appointed UBS, the investment bank, to advise the company on its strategic options. Analysts suggested a secondary buyout was the most likely outcome. - The Times, 6 May

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