Row erupts as new London arena dubbed ‘enormous glowing blight’ gets planning approval March 23, 2022 A row has erupted over a new music venue branded an “enormous glowing blight” which has now been granted planning permission. The MSG Sphere in Stratford at the site of the 2012 Olympics got approval from the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) today, despite more than a thousand complaints from residents about the 21,000-seater arena. [...]
Pub and restaurant bosses slam Chancellor for neglecting sector with VAT hike March 23, 2022 Hospitality bosses have said the government has ignored their plight as venues struggle with Covid debts and rising costs. Calls from pub and restaurant bosses for a VAT freeze fell on deaf ears as the Chancellor unveiled his spring statement on Wednesday afternoon. The sector had been lobbying for the tax to remain at 12.5 [...]
Still serving Moscow: Subway increasingly sandwiched between Russian interests and pressure to pull out March 23, 2022 Sandwich giant Subway is coming increasingly under pressure to shut down all of its operations across Russia which, unlike most other western companies, it has so far refused to close its 450 branches across the country. In a statement issued late last night, Subway explained it has no intention to cease operations in Russia as it “has [...]
Nestlé suspends brands including KitKat and Nesquik in Russia after scolding from Ukrainian President Zelensky March 23, 2022 Food and beverage giant Nestlé is suspending brands including KitKat and Nesquik in Russia. “We are focused on providing essential foods such as baby food and medical/hospital nutrition products. This means we will suspend the vast majority of our pre-war volume in Russia,” a Nestlé spokesperson said. It comes after the world’s largest consumer goods [...]
Wildwood restaurant owner Tasty remains ‘cautiously optimistic’ amid ongoing labour shortages and inflation woes March 23, 2022 Wildwood restaurant owner Tasty reported a 44 per cent revenue boost to £34.9m this morning, despite obstacles in re-opening stores.
UK inflation tops 6 per cent as households call on Rishi Sunak for cost of living respite March 23, 2022 The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation marked the largest monthly increase since 2009 last month. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), CPI rose 0.8 per cent in February 2022 on a monthly basis. This was compared to a rise of just 0.1 per cent in February 2021. CPI rose 6.2 per [...]
Soaring energy bills cause hospitality businesses to raise prices and cut opening hours March 23, 2022 Spiralling energy bills are forcing hospitality businesses to raise prices and cut trading hours, says a new survey from four UK trade bodies.
New chairman for THG as Matt Moulding relinquishes role March 22, 2022 E-commerce retailer THG has named Charles Allen as its new chairman as Matt Moulding will continue as CEO at the beleaguered company. The company had previously declared it would split the roles of executive chair and CEO held by Matt Moulding. Allen, who has the same role at FTSE 250 construction giant Balfour Beatty, is to [...]
Food industry: Government must act to tackle cost of living crisis as prices spike March 22, 2022 A food industry leader has called on the government to intervene to ease supply chain pressures on food firms as a cost of living crisis looms. Food and Drink Federation boss Karen Betts has urged ministers to act to help millions of households as they face rising food and energy prices this spring. Measures urged [...]
City Pub Group sells number of pubs as operator eyes post-Covid property opportunities March 22, 2022 Premium pub operator City Pub Group has announced the disposal of six pubs for around £17.1m. Five venues on the south coast – the Walrus, Brighton Beach Club and Lion and Lobster in Brighton, the Inn on the Beach on Hayling Island and The Travellers Friend in Woodford Green, Essex – have been sold to [...]