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The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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RIP: The King of Soho. Porn baron and entrepreneur Paul Raymond dies

by Rebecca Burn-Callander - Monday, 3rd March 2008 -

RIP: The King of Soho. Porn baron and entrepreneur Paul Raymond dies

Paul Raymond, best known for Raymond's Revue Bar and porn magazines such as Mayfair, died yesterday, aged 82, leaving a pornography empire worth an estimated £650m.

Raymond is credited with inventing the market for top shelf porn in the UK. Labelled the British Hugh Heffner, his publishing company puts out seven monthly adult magazines including Razzle, Escort and Men Only, though business has dwindled over the past few years, following heavy competition from rival lad mags like Zoo and Nuts. Turnover in 2004 was £19m, by 2006 the figure had dropped to £15m.

In the seventies, Raymond diversified into real estate. Most of his fortune is tied up in his property company, Soho Estates, which owns swathes of London’s Soho from Piccadilly down to Tottenham Court Road.

Raymond opened the first British strip club, the eponymous Revuebar, in 1957. Raymond successfully flouted anti-nudity laws in nightclubs by having topless girls stand perfectly still, whereby the act was classified as “art”. This was an iconic moment in the history of the sex industry and the club owner was even immortalised in the 2005 film Mrs Henderson Presents… starring Bob Hoskins and Dame Maggie Smith.

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BUSINESS COMMENT >>

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Look out Boris! Sir Alan for Mayor?!

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I’m so excited. And I just can’t hide it.

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - June 25, 2008 11:09am GMT

Anyone else gearing up to go wild over the new domain name changes? No? Just think of the wit, variety and confusion it will bring to the world wide web.

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