Retail landlord Shaftesbury expects West End ‘revival’ as lockdown lifts February 25, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury this morning said occupier interest had improved after the lockdown lifting roadmap was announced, saying the easing of restrictions will herald a “revival” of the London’s theatre and shopping district. However, the FTSE 250 developer said current restrictions were continuing to have a “significant impact on economic activity and consumer spending [...]
Stocking up: Booze brand Virgin Wines confirms £110m London float February 25, 2021 Alcohol subscription service Virgin Wines today confirmed plans to list on the London Stock Exchange next week in a move that will value the company at £110m. The booze business, which has been a major lockdown winner, will debut on the Aim market on 2 March. Virgin Wines said it will place 6.6m new ordinary [...]
Labour proposes law to give UK councils power to take over empty shops February 24, 2021 Labour is proposing a new law that would allow councils to take over empty shops and reopen them without consent from the property’s owners in a bid to revive the UK’s struggling High Streets. The policy – being dubbed the “empty shops order” – would see councils work with owners to bring empty shops back [...]
Top London chefs expect summer gold-rush to toast end of Covid February 24, 2021 The last 12 months have thoroughly rewired our attitudes to eating and drinking. Once second nature, now the thought of just popping out to a restaurant feels impossibly decadent. But chefs and restaurateurs, many of whom have borne the brunt of Covid restrictions, are now expecting a period of full houses and fat tips. We [...]
Soho prepares to party, with al fresco dining back on the menu February 24, 2021 Hopes for a restaurant renaissance over the coming months were given a boost today when Westminster City Council announced its hugely successful – some have argued altogether too successful – al fresco dining scheme will return on 12 April. During the two “false openings” last summer and autumn, Soho became a Mecca for millions of [...]
TGI Fridays expects casual dining competition to drop 30 per cent after widespread closures February 24, 2021 The owner of TGI Fridays’ UK restaurants said it expects the casual dining chain to perform strongly when lockdown restrictions are lifted as competition has dropped by up to 30 per cent due to widespread sector closures. Electra Private Equity said the business is “well positioned to emerge strongly from lockdown” into a market with [...]
Dettol-maker reaps benefits of hygiene kick as revenue soars February 24, 2021 Reckitt Benckiser has emerged strongly from the pandemic with like-for-like revenue leaping 11.8 per cent to £14bn in 2020 compared to the previous year. Full year operating profit hit more than £2.1bn compared to a loss of almost £2bn in 2019. The consumer-goods company, which owns Dettol, Harpic and Calgon, reported a 19.5 per cent [...]
Ibis and Sofitel owner Accor swings to £335m loss as tourism revival splutters February 24, 2021 Ibis and Sofitel owner Accor swings to £335m loss as tourism revival splutters
Easy does it for travel and leisure as they underpin the FTSE 100 today February 23, 2021 After a promising start European markets struggled to maintain their early market optimism today. However, some decent gains continue in the likes of travel and leisure stocks, with multi-month highs in a lot of cases. Over the last three days this renewed buoyancy has been evident in anticipation of a possible reopening, and with a [...]
Survive the last months of lockdown with 35 amazing delivery kits February 23, 2021 Almost a year since the first lockdown, the restaurant world has been forced to change in ways that would have seemed laughable in the pre-Covid times. Top chefs including Simon Rogan are now launching successful at-home delivery platforms that promise to change the face of fine dining for years to come. We have sampled some [...]