Business Diary: August 16

Whisper it quietly, but Keighley-based Timothy Taylor is expanding into the speciality cocktail market.

Yes, that’s right. You will see Timothy Taylor mugs with cocktail straws sticking out of them.

Leeds gastro-pub the Town Hall Tavern is hosting an exclusive cocktail party in honour of this epoch-making event.

The party on Saturday August 27 from 8pm will show off the tavern’s cocktail menu, which has been created by general manager and former Australian Bar Tender of the Year nominee Mat Atkinson and training and development consultant Nick Ord of Fluid Dynamics.

The cocktail menu and party theme of “dishonourable intentions” is a reference to the venue’s chequered past.

Dating back to 1926, the Town Hall Tavern was a venue used by solicitors who would sit on one side of the pub preparing for their cases at the nearby magistrates courts.

At the same time, the accused made the most of their last moments of freedom, drinking on the other side.

Marc Craddock, operations manager at Timothy Taylor, said: “While Timothy Taylor is not traditionally associated with cocktails, we want to ensure our customers can enjoy a range of beverages in our managed pubs which is why we’ve invested time and money into the development of a new cocktail menu, and training the staff to produce the cocktails to their full potential.”

England rules the cricketing world

DIARY remembers the time when the Commonwealth nations regularly dished out humiliation to England on the cricket pitch.

But today, after many of those countries have transformed into the emerging markets that are setting the pace for the world’s economic growth, we are the best cricketing side in the world, bar none.

For all countrymen who gently mourn the waning of Great Britain’s global economic influence, that’s some consolation.

Congratulations to Andrew Strauss and his world-beating team.

Words of warning over stalling recovery

DIARY heard a very considered view on the financial turmoil from a passing expert last week. It’s worth sharing.

The individual, who didn’t want to be named, said this: “The markets have decided to factor in the fact that the world economy is recovering very slowly.

“There is a lack of political leadership in Europe and the United States, mixed with slowing world growth.

“Markets have cottoned on to this and decided there should be a correction. And, as is always the case, the markets have over-reacted.

“In the UK at least, we have a credible fiscal plan. We have our own monetary policy.

“But in the markets, the penny is dropping that the world economy is not recovering from this recession as it has done in past recessions.

“China looks like it is running out of steam. The central banks have fired all their ammunition. You have to look for political leadership. But it’s sadly lacking.”

The expert concluded: “It’s not 2008, but it’s still a pretty tough time. That’s not surprising when you look at the overhang of debt.”

Firm’s gift proves a life-changer

When Melinda Messenger and Dominic Littlewood rode into Guildford for Channel 5’s Cowboy Builders, little did they realise the difference a stairlift would make to one family’s life.

Simon and Diane Saulis had been the victim of a cowboy builder who had left them living in a freezing house which had severely worsened Diane’s rheumatoid arthritis.

Acorn Stairlifts, based in Steeton, West Yorkshire, responded to a plea for help. As part of the makeover of the house organised by the Cowboy Builders team, Acorn installed a new stairlift with a five-year guarantee for free.

Melinda Messenger said: “The family were overjoyed with the stairlift and said it would change Diane’s life. It was great that Acorn could help us.”