Losing power
Miles Templeman, executive chairman at pub company Eldridge Pope, will lose his executive powers when he becomes director-general of the Institute of Directors in October. From that date, he will act as a non-executive chairman at the struggling pub company.

Templeman is also non-executive director of brewer Shepherd Neame and restaurant group Yo! Sushi.


Jarvis deals done
Jarvis Hotels, the company that chairman John Jarvis and his team took into private owneship early this year, is understood to have agreed deals on both the London properties it put up for sale in February.

The group is said to have reached an exclusive agreement with a UK investor for its 377-bedroom Ramada Plaza Regent's Park hotel for nearly £65m. It is also believed that a deal has been struck on its 82-bedroom Ramada Jarvis Kensington, in west London, for close to £12.5m.

The properties were being sold through agents CBRE Hotels and Colliers Robert Barry respectively.


Girls on rampage
New research from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed the much-publicised rise of the "loutettes" is a reality. The ONS found that UK women are now drinking more than ever before, with the greatest increase in those drinking more than the recommended 14 units a week in the 16- to 24-year-old bracket.

In fact, in this age group, the numbers of those breaking the guidelines have more than doubled, from 15% in 1988-89 to 33% in 2002-03.


DSH eyes rivals
Dawnay Shore Hotels (DSH), the newly created company that recently bought Paramount Hotels, is understood to be eyeing rival hotel groups Marston and Hanover.

DSH revealed that it was in talks to buy a second hotel group when it announced its £215m purchase of Paramount last month. It is now believed to be in advanced talks to buy Marston for £150m-£200m, and is also said to have approached Hanover International. Sources said that any deal with Hanover was likely to take some time.