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Top story
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Second liner firm in quit threat
Cruise line Fred Olsen is prepared to pull out of Liverpool as the dispute over berthing facilities grows. Thomson Cruise has already cut the city out of its plans after a trial run at Langton Dock, which unlike the city’s new cruise liner terminal has the necessary customs and baggage facilities, but is charitably described as unsightly. Nigel Lingard, Fred Olsen marketing director, said: “We have yet to make a formal decision as to whether a ship will be based in Liverpool in 2010 and beyond. Our success in building up a local market is not something we wish to sacrifice lightly – we’re carrying 8,000 passengers from the city annually. But we are reluctant to commit to Liverpool if our only option is Langton Dock. We find it virtually impossible to explain to potential customers why Liverpool has a much-heralded new cruise berth which lies idle while we are berthed in a dismal industrial area.” Discussions on plans for both facilities have taken place.
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Today's news
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Neptune shows New Brighton hand
As the new New Brighton Floral Pavilion Theatre nears completion, Neptune Developments has unveiled its plans for the main part of its £45m New Brighton scheme. Outline approval was received early in 2008, with detailed consent for the model boating lake, improved public realm, landscaping and parking following in August. NJL Consulting will submit the final application at the end of December. It will cover three buildings, the largest of which will include restaurants, a Premier Inn hotel, a 1,000-seat cinema and a Morrison supermarket. 
Skem shows good prospects
Warrington developer Prospect (GB) has secured outline planning permission for 91,400 sq ft of office development over a three-acre site at Whitemoss, just off junction 4 of the M58 near Skelmersdale. Prospect and its agent Knight Frank are marketing the opportunity to potential occupiers requiring bespoke offices. Knight Frank’s Graham Bowling said: “Whitemoss represents a tremendous opportunity for an occupier to secure tailor-made premises in an area in which new developments are rare.”
Weightmans appointed by Arrow
The commercial recovery team at North West law firm Weightmans has been appointed by debt purchasing giant Arrow Global. Sales of consumer debts by financial institutions and utilities companies in Europe and Asia have fuelled Arrow’s growth and Jill Cox, head of commercial recoveries at Weightmans, is enthusiastic about the deal: "Arrow Global is an international player. By the end of the 2009-10 financial year I anticipate this and other potential contracts will lead to a 100 per cent increase in current turnover.”
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
Knowsley-based furniture designer and manufacturer Wilson Duffy, which started trading in June, received a £20,000 cash boost from Alliance Fund Managers (AFM) through its Merseyside Special Investment Fund Small Firms Fund. Currently in talks with a top Liverpool hotel for a bespoke bedroom fit-out project, the company secured £47,000 in total, the remainder coming from directors’ own investment and a start-up grant from Knowsley Council.
The life of pie
Neil Court-Johnston has been on a charm offensive since becoming managing director of Holland’s Pies a few months ago and this week fluttered his eyelashes at Liverpool. Two Scousers took part in the company’s consumer tasting panel, with Court-Johnston saying: “In Liverpool, people lean heavily towards steak and kidney pies, whilst in Manchester the preference has always been for meat and potato pies and puddings.” We’re really not sure what to read into that.
Eight legs good
Simon Parker, the boss of Exchange Flags developer UK Land & Property, was in effusive mood at a tour of Walker House at the complex on Wednesday evening. Addressing the assembled property agents, Parker said: “We’re delighted with progress, the Horton House tenants are well established and the Ministry of Defence are now moving in. And we’ve acquired a spider over the course of the year, which is nice.” The spider, lighting up the lives of commuters in the dusk, is likely to be around until the end of January, we can exclusively reveal.
Roll up for the not-so mystery tour
A heartening press release came through this week about 16 music enthusiasts being awarded Liverpool Beatles Guide status through a training programme delivered by Cavern City Tours. The course comprised 12 sessions, featuring key speakers including John Lennon’s sister Julia Baird and world-renowned Beatles author Paul Du Noyer, as well as “practical activities”. All good news, but weren’t we supposed to be banging on about the Beatles a bit less?
Canapé won’t pay
Calamity struck last night as a lift failure at India Buildings meant the cancellation of DLA Piper’s Christmas drinks bash, the hot favourite for this week’s title. One can’t expect the great and good to go clambering up seven flights of stairs for a few canapés after all. Unless they are truly exceptional canapés.
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