Longshot, the former owners of the Groucho Club and London’s first 24-hour restaurant, have raised £30m to buy pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels. M&C Report

Garry Shewan, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police has warned that cheap supermarket alcohol and 24-hour drinking is stretching police resources. The Sun

Celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, has announced that he is to expand his restaurant business with the launch of three new units in the North West of England. The report on caterersearch.com said that he “will launch two restaurants and an events venue in Lancashire, in January 2010”.

JD Wetherspoon has bought five pubs from Punch Taverns. The freehold pubs are expected to receive £4m worth of investment before reopening in January 2010. thepublican.com

Hotel revenue per available room rose by 1.5% in London in the week ending 24 October 2009. The report by hospitality research company STR Global, also revealed that occupancy grew by 3.7 percentage points, to 86.1% Caterersearch.com

Pubs have two years to remove cigarette vending machines from their trading areas, as the government’s Health Bill announced that they will be banned from October 2011. However, pubs will still be allowed to sell cigarettes over the bar. thepublican.com

Barracuda, Caffe Nero and Fuller’s, pub and restaurant customers will soon be able to pay with Oyster-style credit or debit cards, which operate without the need for pin numbers.