Reeves’ summer of fun won’t deliver growth Opinion Instead of attempting to stimulate demand, Reeves should focus on helping hospitality from the supply-side, writes Matthew Bowles.
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 [...]
Full house: Gen-Z flocks to bingo halls in latest leisure trend February 18, 2026 Following in the wake of analogue trends including vinyl, polaroid cameras and Nokia phones, Gen Z Brits could be swarming into bingo halls as they take their retro obsession back to the 1950s. Buzz Bingo, which operates at 79 sites in the UK including five in London, claims interest from young people is driving its [...]
Loveholidays eyes £1bn London IPO as soon as March January 27, 2026 London’s public markets could be set for a blockbuster £1bn spring listing from one of Britain’s largest online travel agents, giving the bourse welcome momentum in the new year after a strong end to 2025. Loveholidays’ private equity owners, Livingbridge, has reportedly added Investec to its roster of banks preparing to launch a listing. According [...]
Budget 2025: What exactly is happening with business rates? November 26, 2025 Long-awaited changes to business rates were finally announced in the Budget, with a lower rate for small companies to be paid for by a higher levy for large firms. Retailers have been railing against for business rates for years, with concerns that the tax creates an unfair playing field between high street and online firms, which [...]
The View from The Shard makes first profit since 2019 September 3, 2025 The business behind the viewing gallery at The Shard has returned to profit for the first time since 2019, it has been revealed. The London attraction has posted a pre-tax profit of £1.6m for 2024 after having fallen to a pre-tax loss of £678,839 in the prior 12 months. The late total comes after the [...]
Zip World: Losses revealed ahead of £100m takeover July 15, 2025 Adventure park operator Zip World fell into the red before being acquired by a private equity firm in a deal worth £100m, it has been revealed. In January, City AM reported that the Wales-headquartered company had become the latest investment for Dolphin Capital. The firm currently runs eight sites in Wales, Manchester, Cumbria and London [...]
Battersea Power Station receives green light for next phase of development May 1, 2025 Battersea Power Station has received planning consent for the next phase of its 42-acre regeneration. A new group of residential, retail, community and leisure builds has secured planning approval from Wandsworth Council, completing “London’s newest street”, Electric Boulevard. Head of development at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), James Wixley, called the planning consent the [...]
Hammerson: Bicester Village sale hits earnings February 26, 2025 British shopping centre giant Hammerson has reported a drop in earnings due to the impact of portfolio sales despite an overall rise in rents and occupancy. Despite higher rents across its portfolio, Hammerson’s rental income fell to £189m during the year, down nine per cent year on year. Hammerson attributed this to the impact of [...]