Goodbye Piccadilly: A short history of the Piccadilly Circus advertising billboards January 16, 2017 On only a handful of occasions in its 100-year history has the hotchpotch of billboards at Piccadilly Circus been intentionally switched off during peacetime. Most famously, when Winston Churchill died, and later, Princess Diana. The advertising space, recognisable around the world, is symbolic of the national mood; it wears black when we mourn. But today, minus [...]
Goodbye Piccadilly: It’s lights out for the Circus January 16, 2017 It's lights out for Piccadilly this morning, as the patchwork of billboards adorning the Circus is switched off for the last time, to be replaced with the biggest, most technically advanced, screen in western Europe. In its century long life, the advertising space has rarely been switched off during peacetime, bar a handful of notable [...]
A third of London firms to spend more on raised business rates than rent next year January 16, 2017 A third of London businesses have said they will be paying more towards new business rates than rent next year, according to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). More than 40 per cent of London firms were concerned about the new rate valuation, which will come into effect on 1 April, according to an [...]
Brexit and beginners: Why the City must step up and support the next generation January 16, 2017 The City of London Corporation hosted its annual London Government Dinner last week. Central to the event was the topic of Brexit, in which the London mayor Sadiq Khan was vocal on how devolution would play a critical role in supporting Britain’s capital after Brexit. The lord mayor’s speech covered a different but equally important issue; [...]
Growth in London’s business activity at 11-month high January 15, 2017 December saw the fastest period of growth in London’s business activity since January last year, according to a report by Lloyds Bank. London’s showing on the Lloyds Bank purchasing managers’ index (PMI) was up 56.1 points in December, from 55.3 in November. Despite the strong figures, London was behind most other UK regions for business [...]
London’s iconic Goring Hotel hits record £14m in revenue January 15, 2017 The Goring Hotel in Belgravia reported its highest ever turnover in 2016, coming in at more than £14m with a profit of £1.6m. In a year which saw the Goring Dining Room receive its first Michelin star and the hotel awarded five stars in the Forbes Travel Guide, profit before tax almost quadrupled to £2m. [...]
Smokers Paradise lost: City’s oldest cigar shop shuts its doors January 14, 2017 One of the City's oldest cigar shops has shut its doors after serving the great and the good of the Square Mile for almost 200 years. Smokers Paradise, a shop which was based in the iconic Royal Exchange at the heart of London's financial district, has sold its final Montecristo after rising rent costs made it [...]
Remember special relationships? The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator wants one with the City of London January 14, 2017 The EU's chief Brexit negotiator has indicated signs of a softening his previously hardline stance of the UK's exit from the union, letting slip a desire to allow member states access to the City. Michel Barnier wants a "special" relationship with London financial powerhouse as part of any Brexit deal, according to unpublished European parliament [...]
Best and worst: The UK cities that are most and least likely to follow through on New Year’s promises January 13, 2017 For many of us, a couple of weeks into January and we're ready to bin those well intentioned promises made on New Year's Day. But new research by Amex has revealed which UK city is most confident about following through on their New Year's resolution. Read more: This is how much you're going to spend on getting [...]
No business like snow business: The funniest tweets about London’s flurry of snow January 13, 2017 The Met Office had issued warnings, Transport for London (TfL) said it had prepared – but in the event, in the capital yesterday's snow flurry proved pretty disappointing. That didn't stop Londoners from taking to Twitter to express their excitement, though. Here are the best tweets about #Snowmageddon. With the Met Office having issued warnings [...]