Spending hits 13-month high as Brits splurge on entertainment, Barclays says Economics Spending in the UK economy reached a 13-month high in August after a rebound in the entertainment and travel industries, according to fresh data from Barclays. Overall card spending grew 2.1 per cent year-on-year, following on from two per cent growth in July. Both essential and non-essential spending were up 2.1 per cent, according to [...]
Hollywood Bowl strikes share boom to defy consumer spending fears Hospitality Hollywood Bowl shares have rocketed after the firm said Brits are prioritising nights out to the bowling alley over going shopping as they cut down on non-essential spending. The UK’s largest tenpin bowling operator said it has seen a “robust” performance even as consumer confidence plummets amid the Iran war, sending its share price up [...]
Cinema chain Vue eyes blockbuster £1.5bn sale or listing Retail Vue is bringing in bankers to oversee a float or sale which could value the cinema titan at as much as £1.5bn, according to reports. The British cinema chain, helmed by Canadian founder Tim Richards, has been interviewing banks in recent days as it pencils in the formal appointment of advisors later this year. Vue [...]
Disney streaming gains momentum as Hollywood pressure builds February 2, 2026 Disney beat Wall Street expectations in its latest quarter, buoyed by an unexpected improvement in its streaming business, despite rising costs hitting the entertainment industry. The media giant reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.63 for its first fiscal quarter, ahead of estimates of around $1.56. Revenue rose five per cent year on year to [...]
£13bn streaming boom defies sluggish UK economy January 7, 2026 The UK’s digital entertainment sector emerges as a rare diamond in the rough for a stuttering national economy, with revenues surging more than four times faster than sluggish GDP growth in 2025. Streaming services and retail drove UK revenues from video, music and games to new highs of £13.3bn, according to a recent report by [...]
Everyman boss departs with immediate effect weeks after profit warning December 29, 2025 The boss of luxury cinema chain Everyman Media Group has stepped down weeks after warning over sales and profits following poor box office trading. Shareholders were informed on Monday morning that Alex Scrimgeour was stepping down as chief executive with immediate effect, with current non-executive director Farah Golant to take over on an interim basis [...]
Joshua vs Paul: A defining moment in evolution of sport entertainment December 19, 2025 Tom Wild discusses how Joshua vs Paul shows sport can no longer be separated from the cultural forces that surround it. In a world where attention is fractured and loyalty is fluid, one of the most powerful tools available to help marketers cut through isn’t new at all – it’s culture. More specifically, it’s the [...]
Harry Potter Studios Tour profit spikes ahead of expansion October 6, 2025 Profit at Warner Bros’ Harry Potter Studios Tour near London has spiked ahead of a major expansion project opening. The business behind Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has reported a pre-tax profit of £113.4m for 2024. The latest total, published in new accounts filed with Companies House, comes after [...]
Jimmy Carr handed whopping tax bill after tour brings in £3m August 4, 2025 Jimmy Carr has been handed a huge tax bill after his wealth surged by more than £3m thanks to launching his International stand-up tour and the success of his Netflix special. The comedian took his Laughs Funny show across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America and also released his fourth Netflix [...]
Losses continue at Simon Cowell’s talent agency YMU amid high-profile departures July 18, 2025 Losses continued at the London talent agency which represents the likes of Simon Cowell, Graham Norton and Ant and Dec in the period it was sold for £60m, it has been revealed. YMU, whose clients also include Stacey Solomon and Davina McCall, was taken over by Permira Credit in March 2024. The deal, which saw [...]