London tourism revival gets boost as Pocket Planet latest to land in Oxford Street September 5, 2023 Oxford Street’s continued revival has been given another vote of confidence, with the launch of miniature world specialists Pocket Planet as the latest to take up a spot in the West End. Retail leaders have heralded plans to open its 30,000 square foot indoor world as proof of the capital’s investment attractiveness, and big brands’ [...]
More misery for London retail as footfall flatlines January 5, 2024 London retailers took yet another battering over December as footfall fell -1.4 per cent on a year-to-year basis, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Festive cheer did not appear to be enough to drag shoppers back to the capital’s high streets, with the figure widening from -0.4 per cent the [...]
West End Christmas intake to be squeezed by pandemic and cost of living at £1.55bn November 3, 2022 West End Christmas intake is set to be a quarter up from last year but still almost 30 per cent down on pre-Covid levels. Around £1.55bn is set to be splashed out in the heart of London’s shopping district, as the capital bounces back from the pandemic in a restriction-free Christmas. The cost of living [...]
London’s West End ‘picking up’ after £102m worth of deals bolsters high street August 23, 2023 The West End showed signs of “picking up” in July as demand from businesses to secure a spot in London’s premier shopping district led to a cluster of five deals totalling £102.2m taking place. So far this year some 58 property transactions have taken place and turnover year to date has reached £1.92bn. This is [...]
Michelin Guide 2024: What the awards say about London February 6, 2024 The Michelin guide for 2024 is out and it’s good news for the west end with 15 London restaurants in Zone 1 awarded a new star
Boxing Day footfall bounce for retail as West End chief calls for recovery help December 27, 2022 Retail destinations across the country reaped the rewards of a Christmas without Covid restrictions as Boxing Day sales enticed shoppers out of their houses. However, business leaders noted footfall was still below 2019 levels and called on the government to help accelerate retail’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic as it grapples with an economic downturn. [...]
London investment body appoints first CEO in bid to open doors to capital September 26, 2023 LONDON’S drive to attract foreign investment to the capital could be set for a lift after a public-private partnership with a mandate to drum up business appointed its first CEO.
Finally here: Elizabeth line Bond St station to open on Monday October 18, 2022 The long-awaited Elizabeth line is one step closer to completion as Bond Street station is set to open its doors to millions of travellers next Monday. The station – whose final operations are currently underway ahead of the opening – will relieve congestion at Oxford Circus and give a boost to the West End by [...]
West End has 109 per cent sales boost but retail leaders call for ‘urgent’ business reform October 10, 2022 West End retailers are calling for fresh support and radical reform to help continue their pandemic recovery. The organisation representing 600 outlets and hospitality firms in Bond St, Oxford St, Regent St and Mayfair announced the district is returning to pre-coronavirus levels, but that it still needs help to stop it faltering. The New West [...]
Brands in London “suffering”: Fresh calls to scrap ‘tourist tax’ amid Mulberry losses June 28, 2023 Fresh calls have been made to reinstate VAT-free shopping for international tourists, after the chief of Mulberry warned its profits have been hit hard by it as they ditch London for Paris and Milan. Pre-tax profit at the British handbag maker fell to £13.2m in the year to April, down from £21.3m the prior year. [...]