Leading UK retailer Debenhams has revealed the most unlikely of fashion superstars.

Spearheading the new clothing line to hit the high streets is the famous British walker Alfred Wainwright.

Wainwright is more commonly known for his walking guides to the Lake District, along with a reputation for foul moods to suit the foul weather. He is renowned as a notoriously bad dresser, which in some part could explain the new wave of counter-chic. Over the past two years, his fame has increased markedly thanks to a host of radio and television programmes about his life.

The public exposure has cascaded down from the cliffs to the high street in that time, with demand for walking boots, rucksacks and all-weather, hiking-style clothing soaring, leading Debenhams Director for Menswear Buying, Paul Baldwin, to call the new trend ‘Wainwright Chic’. Baldwin claims that both women and men across Britain have taken to the rugged outdoors look, and that the hill climbing image usually reserved for the most extreme of weekends has now found a place in everyday wear. In the past, specialist clothes such as Wainwright’s defining look were the preserve of nature enthusiasts and train-spotters only, but Baldwin says they are now just as likely to appear on the streets of Chelsea and Kensignton as Scafell or Grisedale Pike.

The Wainwright look usually involves a woollen jumper, belted coat and aged flapped-ear cap. These are most often complemented by trousers that use braces rather than a belt for support and which are tucked in to thick woollen socks. The choice of footwear is traditionally unstylish but highly functional.

Leading retailer Asda has introduced a new minimum pricing structure on alcohol.

The group has further declared that it will undertake closer working relationships with the UK government to ensure that it is at the forefront of tackling alcohol misuse and abuse across Britain.

The announcement follows the recent high-profile media case of a Tesco store that sold wine for less than cost price in Scotland, leading health campaigners to claim that supermarket chains could not be trusted to be self-policing when it came to the sale of alcohol.

Asda introduced its new alcohol policy on Tuesday, whereby a floor price of duty plus VAT is set on more than 99 per cent of the alcohol sold by the group. This will result in a minimum price of £8.95 for a 20-pack of 440ml 5 per cent strength cans of beer, which would be made up of a duty of £7.62 plus the VAT of 17.5 per cent on top. Similarly, a 750ml bottle of wine would go for a minimum of £1.99 and a one-litre bottle of spirit such as vodka at £10.49.

Asda has also proposed that the government enforce the same policy throughout the entire retail industry in a letter to home secretary Theresa May from chief executive Andy Clarke. Mr Clarke claims that Asda supports a Responsibility Agreement on Alcohol development agreement to ensure that the previously successful partnership between government and industry would not be wasted, and that in conjunction with the OFT, all those involved would be responsible for establishing a safe retail environment which would openly discuss and tackle the issues of alcohol misuse across the UK.

UK hoteliers are steeling themselves for a slow economic recovery.

Choice Hotels Europe’s UK division has released a new survey which shows that 36 per cent of UK hotel owners claim the slow the pace of economic recovery could continue for some years.

Choice Hotels, which operates the Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands, questioned managers and owners on priorities for the immediate future and also what they deemed the biggest factor to losing business.

The biggest barrier in preventing the highly valued customer loyalty was found to be the attitude of staff, with 50 per cent of those surveyed sating they felt this was the largest contributor to any negative impact. 18 per cent of hotels have subsequently implemented a range of staff training and customer service initiatives designed at making the customer experience as best as possible. In particular, front of house and Reception staff, along with room cleaners, will need to improve performance to prevent a poor image of a property being reflected on the key arrival time.

31 per cent of respondents said the past six months were the most difficult ever faced, with the trading environment unlike anything seen in the past. The Choice ‘Hotelier Pulse-Check’ survey however did manage to find that around a third of those polled held hopes that the 12 months ahead would show signs of a turnaround in fortunes. The main priority for all hotels in this period is to step up marketing and advertising campaigns to attempt to attract new customers to their properties, with 18 per cent of hotels also investing in new or upgraded facilities.

Looking for that exotic or erotic accessory to spice up your love life?

The leading specialised retailer in gifts for grown-ups, Ann Summers, is currently offering a massive 75 per cent of selected items in its huge summer sale.

The retail group is renowned for its high quality adult products, with everything from toys to oils, sexy to kinky on sale now. Highly respected in an industry which traditionally sees shady operators and poor quality products, Ann Summers claim they personally test and retest all of their items in what must be a fun job. With discounts on all of the classiest bedroom finery, including teddies, camisoles, suspenders, thongs nightwear, hosiery, briefs and even bondage clothing there is sure to be any number of sale items that will ensure you look and feel your sexiest.

Right now you can find some sultry lingerie deals including 50 per cent off selected bra sets, chic lace corsets reduced down £25 from £55, camisole and brief sets at just £8 and the online featured product – the gorgeous Cami-Suspender set from Florence which is on a steal at just £5, down from the normal £30. Still not satisfied? Spend more than £40 and you can add an intimate ‘bullet’ toy for just £5, or choose from the latest remote-controlled ‘rampant rabbits’. There’s also plenty of titillating items for the guys too, from brief sets to gels and lotions, adult DVD’s to videos. Everything is delivered via registered post in discrete packaging and comes with a money-back guarantee, so start shopping and discover the world or sensual wonders at AnnSummers.com

Being part of a group has been called more effective than the NHS when it comes to losing weight.

That is the verdict of one leading UK nutritionist should argues that GPs would be better of referring obese patients to group-focused weight-loss schemes instead of the national health provider.

The Medical Research Council’s Dr Susan Jebb found in a new study that sufferers who joined the popular WeightWatchers programme lost on average twice as much weight compared to those with individual GP care. Although the study was partially funded by WeightWatchers, Dr Jebb stressed that all similar group programs were likely to be just as effective. The National Obesity Forum has also said that NHS patients could benefit from group help, while the NHS is trialling pilot schemes with WeightWatchers, the recognised leading weight loss company.

Jebb and her colleagues spent over a year studying test patients referred to WeightWatchers meetings by GPs in Northampton, while also running similar projects in both Germany and Australia. The GPs referred half of their patients to the group program, leaving the remainder as a comparative group where they were generally provided with information and appointments with healthcare professionals. At the end of the 12 months, the WeightWatchers patients came out best, losing on average close to 7kg (15lbs), whereas the GP-led group lost on average3kg (6lbs).

While 3kg may not seem like a significant amount, ask anyone who has ever tried to lose weight and they will tell you that the slightest change can make all the difference, especially to diabetics or those with weight-associated illnesses. Ultimately, it appears the weekly meetings and group accountability is the better motivator.