Business rates cut will ‘backfire’ for Soho and West End September 22, 2026 John Healey’s plans to deliver an emergency tax cut for high street businesses would fail to boost most firms in London’s busiest areas like Soho and the West End, analysis suggests. The Chancellor is reportedly planning to cut taxes for pubs, shops, cafes and restaurants by hiking the threshold for small business rates relief (SBBR). [...]
Fast fashion copyright battle continues as Shein granted appeal against Temu September 21, 2026 Fast fashion retailer Shein has been granted permission to appeal against rival Temu in a first-of-its-kind copyright battle in the UK. A judge confirmed in a hearing on Monday that Shein can challenge a judgement handed down last month in the Court of Appeal. The judge said there were “compelling reasons” for the court to [...]
‘Less allegation’: Brewdog hits out at former owners September 21, 2026 Brewdog’s new owners have sought to distance the company from its founders James Watt and Martin Dickie with a new campaign that pledges the controversial brewer will be “run properly” and attract a “little less allegation”. The craft beer firm, which is now owned by US cannabis firm Tilray, has launched a multi-million pound campaign [...]
JD Sports launches in Mexico amid North American slowdown September 21, 2026 JD Sports has announced plans to open more than 140 shops in Mexico, as the ‘King of Trainers’ battles to halt falling sales and move on from a recent boardroom bust-up. The FTSE 100 retailer said it has reached an agreement with Axo, a Mexico-based retail distributor, to operate its stores in the country. JD [...]
The return of VAT-free shopping will boost Britain’s towns and cities September 21, 2026 Britain has so much to offer. It is no surprise that more than forty million overseas visitors choose to visit our country every year. Walk down Bond Street in London or Princes Street in Edinburgh and you will see visitors from around the world drawn to some of our most iconic retailers. Our high streets [...]
Summer of sorrow: Property sector bears brunt of August administration spike September 18, 2026 Nearly 2,000 businesses went into insolvency in August as economic pressures and ongoing geopolitical tensions weighed on British firms. According to new figures the Insolvency Service released on Friday, 1,946 firms went into insolvency in England and Wales in August, flat compared to July and down from 2,007 in August 2025. The data showed that [...]
British retail sales defy forecasts with surprise August rise September 18, 2026 UK retail sales unexpectedly rose in August, defying forecasts of a decline. Despite renewed pressure from higher fuel prices, hot weather drove a strong rebound in both online shopping and department store sales. Economists had expected sales to fall 0.2 per cent but sales volumes rose 0.5 per cent during the month, reversing a 0.5 [...]
Next boss Wolfson tells Healey: ‘You can’t spend your way out of a crisis’ September 17, 2026 Lord Wolfson, Next’s chief executive, has urged Chancellor John Healey to cut spending at next month’s Budget, warning, “you can’t spend your way out of a funding crisis”. The retail boss has urged the government to clamp down on spending, avoid further tax hikes and slash planning red tape to boost economic growth. He told [...]
Next lifts profit targets but sounds alarm on ‘vicious circle’ of high tax and low growth September 17, 2026 Next has lifted its profit target again following “much better” than expected trading in the first half of the year as the retailer was spurred on by booming international sales and record summer temperatures. The FTSE 100 retail giant saw sales across its group jump by nine per cent in the six months to July, [...]
Marks and Spencer shares slide as investors brace for inflation hit September 16, 2026 Shares in Marks and Spencer have taken a dip as investors fear that rising inflation will push shoppers away from the upmarket grocer and towards its budget rivals. FTSE-100-listed M&S, whose food arm accounts for more than half of its revenue, dropped as much as four per cent on Wednesday to 357p. The share price [...]