Pubs closing down: Crisis for industry as more than one a day shuts doors December 24, 2022 More than 32 pubs disappeared from communities in England and Wales each month in 2022 as rocketing energy bills and staffing pressures forced businesses to shut for the final time. New analysis of official government data by real estate adviser Altus group found the overall number of pubs slid by 386 during the year. The [...]
Currys, Asos and Sainsbury’s top retail stocks this Christmas December 23, 2022 For investors looking to give their portfolios a seasonal shake-up, CityA.M. takes a look at analysts’ selections of the retail stocks to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks. Analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown chose Currys, Asos and Sainsbury’s as the three retail stocks to watch this Christmas. It comes as retailers have been [...]
Government ‘will not hesitate’ to ensure retailers give drivers fair fuel prices December 23, 2022 Fuel retailers have been threatened with state intervention over prices by the business secretary, who urged companies “to take any steps necessary” to ensure affordable prices for drivers. In a letter to retailers on Thursday, Grant Shapps said the government “will not hesitate to act to ensure competition is healthy and consumers get a fair [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group agrees £340m debt terms with lender December 22, 2022 The Restaurant Group has announced an amendment and extension of its debt facilities, with a revised £340m package. On Thursday, the owner of the Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s brands said the new deal comprised of a £220m term loan facility and a £120m revolving credit facility with its existing lenders. The new terms represented [...]
Oil, pasta and tea see largest price rises as food inflation leaves poorest worst off December 22, 2022 Budget staple grocery products have shot up considerably in price this year, as new analysis shows the most vulnerable have been hardest hit by food inflation. Some 61 per cent of people in the most deprived areas are buying less food compared with last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
02 Academy in Brixton has licence revoked after two deaths at concert December 22, 2022 The 02 Academy Brixton has had its premises licence suspended following two deaths this week during crowd problems. The famous south London venue has its licence taken away by Lambeth Council in wake of the incident on 15 December, in which two people died and multiple suffered serious injury. The council’s relevant committee took the [...]
Made.com board proposes formal liquidation of collapsed furniture firm December 22, 2022 Shareholders of Made.com have been encouraged to back a board proposal to formally wind down the furniture firm through a member’s voluntary liquidation. In an update to the London Stock Exchange, the collapsed homeware firm said this would allow liquidators to realise its remaining assets pending completion of its administration. It would also allow the [...]
Justin Bieber brands H&M collection ‘trash’ forcing retailer to remove items December 21, 2022 Justin Bieber forced low-cost fashion retailer to remove a line of clothing with his name plastered on it, after the global superstar called it “trash”. The Canadian musician took to Instagram to call out H&M on Tuesday, saying he “didn’t approve it”. “Don’t buy it” he said. “The H&M Merch they made out of me [...]
Britain’s workaholics: Meet the Hackney fishmonger who is up earlier than the milkman December 21, 2022 Britain’s small business owners are among the hardest working people in the country with many up before the milkman and still going long after the DJ has played their final song. Nearly half of bosses work more than 50 hours per week while a third start work before 5am – a time better known to [...]
London businesses lament dismal start to 2023 after another rail strike set for January December 20, 2022 Hospitality leaders have reiterated calls for rail firms and unions to hash out an eleventh-hour resolution to swerve January strikes, after train drivers announced another walk-out. Train drivers at 15 companies in the union Aslef have agreed to strike on 5 January, as part of a long-standing pay dispute. The walkout will take place on [...]