Smithfield meat market to close: ‘Farringdon will be losing part of its history’ November 26, 2024 The fate of City institution Smithfield market was decided yesterday, with the City of London Corporation announcing the last chops will be sold after 2028. Local business owners reacted with dismay to the news. Graham Chatham, chef patron of Origin City and 56 West Smithfield said: “It’s terribly sad to see the market close after [...]
Labour cheered 1p off a pint but the Budget leaves a vicious hangover November 6, 2024 As Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget one week ago, the loudest cheer on the government benches came when she declared that her policies will take 1p off the cost of a pint. Labour was so pleased with this bit of good news that the claim dominated their post-match social media output. This self-congratulatory victory lap [...]
Hawksmoor: Sales and profits sizzle as steak chain hunts for a buyer October 29, 2024 Sales and profit both surged at Hawksmoor during its latest financial year ahead of a potential sale which could value the steakhouse chain at £100m. The London-headquartered business has reported a turnover of £89.7m for 2023, up from the £73.9m it achieved in 2022. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House have also revealed that the firm’s [...]
Employer National Insurance hike could risk jobs amid 95,0000 vacancies October 15, 2024 Increasing employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) could pose a risk to jobs amid some 95,000 vacancies across pubs and restaurants, a hospitality lobby group has warned. Data released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today revealed there are a “stubbornly high” 95,000 openings across the sector, including in venues, cafes and eateries. Hospitality UK [...]
Giggling Squid laughs all the way to the bank as Thai restaurant chain returns to profit October 14, 2024 Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid returned to profit during its latest financial year as it sales hit another record. The Guildford-headquartered company has reported a pre-tax profit of £1.5m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2024. The new total comes after the business fell to a pre-tax loss of £1.9m in the prior year. [...]
Chick-fil-A rolls out first of UK expansion plans as it reveals new locations September 25, 2024 Chick-fil-A has announced its first UK locations set to debut next year as the US fast food chain looks to invest tens of millions of pounds into local communities over the next decade.
Raise a glass to the City’s rich history of pubs, taverns and inns September 12, 2024 Samuel Johnson, the great 18th century writer, poet, and lexicographer, spent much of his life on Fleet Street, in the City of London. Dr Johnson’s house in Gough Square still stands a mere drunken stumble from pubs that the great man would have frequented, such as Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. In Johnson’s London, Fleet Street [...]
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts back in the red as cost increases bite September 9, 2024 Macdonald Hotels & Resorts slumped back into the red during its latest financial year as it battled a rise in its costs. The group, which is headquartered in East Kilbride, Scotland, has reported a pre-tax loss of £3.5m for the year to 28, September, 2023, after having posted a pre-tax profit of £44.5m in the [...]