What the weekend papers say...

A round-up of the weekend's news affecting the hospitality industry...

Rumours of UK’s biggest-ever hotel sell-off
Thistle Hotels, London’s biggest hotel operator, is in advanced talks over the sale of about £500m of assets in a move that could lead to the hotel industry’s biggest securitisation. The group is thought to be discussing a deal that would mean the sale of its entire portfolio of 33 regional hotels together with up to half a dozen of its bottom-end London hotels, including the London Ryan and Bloomsbury Park. – The Times, 2 March

New finance boss for pizza chain
PizzaExpress has completed its board restructuring by appointing Paul Campbell as finance director. Campbell was previously chief executive of health and fitness club operator Balance Fitness. – The Times, 2 March

La Tasca expansion plan for Scotland
John Barnes, the man who took Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop to the stock market, has begun a major expansion of Spanish-style restaurant chain La Tasca in Scotland. Barnes, who is chairman of the group, plans to increase the number of restaurant to as many as 50 in the next three years. La Tasca will open a new outlet in Edinburgh's Charlotte Street on 25 March, followed by another in the city in September, and possibly a second in Glasgow and one in Aberdeen. - Sunday Herald, 3 March

McDonald’s accused of health risk
McDonald’s is at the centre of a row about threats to children’s health after it emerged that hundreds of its restaurants are being used as sites for mobile phone transmitters. The chain has a deal with Cellnet giving the mobile phone operator the right to place micro base stations above its restaurants. Campaigners have reacted angrily, saying McDonald’s are conducting an experiment that could affect public health. – Mail on Sunday, 3 March

Cosmo restaurant venture to float
Branded Leisure, a company that is planning to open a chain of health and lifestyle venues for women using the Cosmopolitan magazine brand, is to float on the Ofex stock market. Branded is aiming to raise £650,000, valuing it at £3m. The move comes a year after Branded sealed a deal with National Magazine Company, the owner of Cosmopolitan, to develop "Cosmopolitan Spirit" venues which include a bar, take-away, dining, health and beauty services under one roof. – Sunday Telegraph, 3 March

Rocco in bidding for famous Venice hotel
Sir Rocco Forte is thought to be aiming to buy the famous Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice, the Grand in Rome and the Bristol in Vienna, all part of the Ciga hotel chain owned by Starwood and currently up for sale. Another hotelier looking to cherry-pick from the Ciga portfolio is Ken McCulloch, who has raised £100m to expand his Columbus chain. - The Business, 3 March

Guy Hands in race for £50m bonus
A fierce battle has broken out to become Britain’s biggest pub operator as Enterprise Inns and Punch compete to buy the Unique and Voyager pub chains, put up for sale by Nomura. If the deal is not done by 20 March it is thought Nomura’s leading financier Guy Hands stands to lose a £50m bonus. – Mail on Sunday, 3 March