Benetton in talks to buy Little Chef - For more hospitality stories, see what the weekend papers say

Benetton in talks to buy Little Chef
Italy’s Benetton family is in talks to buy Little Chef. The family has made an approach through Autogrill, the Italian motorway services company it already owns. The restaurant chain, which employs 3,200 people, was bought out of administration last January by R Capital. – Sunday Times, 24 June

Gastropubs forcing out traditional pubs
Gastropubs are replacing the traditional local in market towns as booming house prices lead to the gentrification of the areas, a new study has disclosed. The attraction of the "rural ideal" - mid-sized towns with all the benefits of country living but without the isolation - is causing a class migration, say researchers. – Daily Telegraph, 23 June

Top Scotland hotel in late night noise row
One of Scotland's most prestigious hotels, the five-star Prestonfield House, is being investigated by City of Edinburgh Council licensing officials after neighbours complained of noise from buses ferrying guests to and from parties. – The Scotsman, 23 June

Hempel puts Dutch hotel up for sale
The Dylan Hotel in Amsterdam, a 17th century property that was turned into a lifestyle hotel by Anouska Hempel, has been put up for sale through Christie & Co, the agent, for more than £22m. – The Times, 23 June

Pub chain shares tumble
Shares in pub chains took a tumble this weekend as nervous investors abandoned ship ahead of the impending smoking ban next week. Enterprise Inns saw its share price fall 17.5p to 674.5p, while Punch Taverns's share price dropped 20p to 1,272p. Independent on Sunday, 24 June

Bank to sell 12 Hilton hotels
Royal Bank of Scotland is believed to be close to agreeing the sale of 15 hotels, including 12 Hiltons, for about £1.1b to Robson Asset Management, a new investment firm set up by Jeremy Robson, former head of principal finance at RBS. – The Times, 23 June

Pubco market values fall on eve of smoking ban
Enterprise Inns was the main casualty as the blue-chip FTSE fell for a fifth straight day, with the pubs operator hit by worries that its property portfolio may not be as valuable as once hoped. – The Times, 23 June

By Bob Gledhill

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