Top 10 lifestyle stories of 2016 including Leeds United, rich lists and holiday resorts
IN our last Weekender email before 2017, we take a look at some of the best-read lifestyle stories of the year from TheBusinessDesk.com.
1. Newcomer takes the top spot on Yorkshire’s Rich List 2016
Familiar names including Eddie and Malcolm Healey developers of Meadowhall fame, Lord Kirkham, founder of DFS and Sir Ken Morrison made the list again this year, but Yorkshire newcomers Richard Miller, an American billionaire, and his wife Marie Chantal took the top spot. The pair own the 36,000-acre Gunnerside Estate in Swaledale and have a combined estimated wealth of £1.58m.
2. Share price plummets to all-time low at fashion retailer
Wakefield fashion retailer Bonmarché suffered an all-time low share price drop in September following a price warning. Chief executive Helen Connolly had only been in her role two months before she was forced to issue a profit warning, causing the nosedive.
3. Theme park set to close its doors
The Pleasure Island Theme Park near Cleethorpes closed down this year. Formerly a subsidiary of its better known sister park Flamingo Land, the attraction was run by Richard Gibb, owner of Flamingo Land’s sister, Melanie Wood. She said it had been a “massive struggle” from day one and shut the doors at the end of its 2016 season.
4. Restaurant set to move in as £2m Greek Street refurb completes
The ongoing development of Greek Street was aided by the introduction of a new restaurant, The Lost & Found, this year. New bars and restaurants have livened up the area which is also getting a hotel and office refurb.
5. Fine dining restaurant shuts down
An independent Harrogate restaurant was forced to close its doors this year, unable to keep up with competition and the spa town’s growing food and drink offering. Van Zeller was open for seven years before its founder shut it down.
6. No horsing around for Yorkshire supercar entrepreneurs as sales reach £37m
Two entrepreneurs launched the business initially as a horsebox company before branching out into luxury cars. The Boroughbridge-based business sold 400 supercars in the past year. The Range Rover Sport, followed closely by Porsche 911s were firm favourites this year.
7. £37m leisure resort given the go-ahead
Gulliver’s Valley were given the green light for a major leisure scheme at a former colliery site in Rotherham, comprising two hotels, attractions, rides and ‘glamping’ facilities. 255 jobs are in the works at the site which was announced a year ago.
8. Italian bid on the cards for Leeds United
Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani has been rumoured to be the next owner of Leeds United since August. The club has faced many challenges under Massimo Cellino, and the announcement that an initial 50% sale to the sports media mogul seemed welcome relief to fans, although a deal has not yet been announced pointing to difficulties in the sale process.
9. Fraudsters ordered to pay £11m in biggest-ever boiler room scam
Two men who stood trial alongside defunct law firm Fox Hayes’ senior partner were forced to pay the major fine after a Serious Fraud Office investigation into persistently pushing the urgent sale of overvalued or even worthless shares in companies.
10. North Yorkshie establishment named Regional Pub of the Year
The landlord of the region’s best pub, according to the Good Beer Guide, was “chuffed” at the accolade. George and the Dragon in Hudswell entered the running for the best pub of the year nationally, putting it in the top 16 in the country.
