Utilita chief calls for ban on ‘archaic’ prepayment meters March 13, 2023 The government should scrap traditional prepayment meters and only allow suppliers to install smart options, says the Utilita boss.
London: West End and Knightsbridge urge Hunt to relax Sunday trading laws to bring in £350m extra March 13, 2023 The West End and Knightsbridge have urged the chancellor to relax Sunday trading restrictions and help them rake in an estimated £350m a year. The duo have submitted a joint proposal to Jeremy Hunt ahead of this week’s budget, urging the government to relax Sunday trading laws within the popular London districts in an effort [...]
Ukraine war: Top UN officials host Russian envoys in bid to extend grain export deal March 13, 2023 Senior UN officials have hosted Russian envoys in Geneva in a bid to extend an export agreement amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and to prevent a potential new spike in world food prices. Despite being at war, Ukraine and Russia struck a deal last July that allows Ukraine – one of the world’s key breadbaskets [...]
The Dart: Luton Council defends expensive ticket for new light rail dubbed UK’s most expensive line March 13, 2023 Luton Council has defended the cost to passengers of its new light rail shuttle service, amid claims it is the UK’s most expensive line. The Dart (direct air-rail transit) will launch commercial services between the Bedfordshire airport and Luton Airport Parkway – its nearest mainline railway station – in the coming weeks. One-way fares will [...]
“Project Yeti”: Inside the scramble to save Silicon Valley Bank UK March 13, 2023 “It’s going down to the wire.” That was the view of Coadec CEO Dom Hallas at 11pm on Sunday evening after hours of meetings had failed to produce a deal on the future of Silicon Valley Bank – with the tech industry warning it would be an existential threat to thousands of firms across the [...]
ISA season: Beat inflation with an IFISA March 13, 2023 | Sponsored With inflation still hovering around 10 per cent, savvy investors across the UK are searching for the most lucrative opportunities to protect their portfolios from eroding in real terms. As we head into ISA season, there is also the opportunity to enjoy tax-free earnings on your investments, giving consumers an additional boost during the cost-of-living [...]
Not so thirsty Thursday as Nightcap blames ‘targeted’ rail strikes for £1.2m earnings loss March 13, 2023 Cocktail bar operator Nightcap has estimated that 13 days of rail strikes over the last year has cost the company £1.2m. The bar company, which operates a number of venues across Clapham and central London, claimed rail strikers “deliberate targeting” of Thursdays and Saturdays, the most lucrative trading days for the hospitality sector, caused a [...]
TRG: Wagamama owner admits dining out will ‘never recover’ from Covid – but chains will not disappear from High Street March 13, 2023 The chief executive of Wagamama‘s owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) has claimed that dining out will never be as popular as it was pre-pandemic – but reassured chains will not disappear from the British high street altogether. “I don’t think the [casual dining] industry will never be quite as big as it was,” Andy Hornby, [...]
Spring budget: Back to work, childcare and post Brexit customs – what do we know so far? March 13, 2023 This Wednesday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will stand on the steps of No11 Downing Street – holding the famous Budget 2023 red box. Of his five predecessors, just Rishi Sunak was even in post long enough to reach this point. Political turmoil aside, his spring statement will also follow months of financial chaos, after economic shocks [...]
Heathrow reports busiest day since Christmas 2019 on half term getaway and lifting of Asia covid restrictions March 13, 2023 Heathrow Airport has exceeded pre-pandemic passenger levels for the first time since coronavirus, thanks to the February half-term rush and lifting of restrictions in east Asia. The good news was fuelled by a late getaway last month as millions of Brits took the chance to escape freezing Britain for some sun. Figures from the airport [...]