London shoppers evacuated from Oxford Street after gas leak April 4, 2022 Shoppers have been evacuated from Oxford St after emergency services have shut down the West End shopping destination. The Met closed several streets in the area on Monday afternoon, including Poland Street, Berwick Street, Oxford Street, Noel Street, Wardour Street and Great Marlborough Street. In a tweet, the police force said: “Please can we make [...]
West End to fully recover in just two years following Covid-19 decimation, says report February 17, 2022 The West End will have fully recovered in just two years, according to a new report, after Covid-19 restrictions decimated London’s entertainment and hospitality industries. Some £8.6bn is expected to be pumped into the retail and theatre district, nearly double the £4.6bn it pulled in in 2021, property consultancy Colliers has forecast. It signals the [...]
Best of 2021: Hamlet at the Young Vic December 30, 2021 Playing Hamlet is still seen by many as the pinnacle of an acting career. When we think of the greats in the role we think of John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ian McKellan (twice, as of this summer). But Cush Jumbo inhabits the part so brilliantly in this new production at the [...]
West End calls for ‘tangible relief’ as footfall hit by Omicron messaging December 22, 2021 Footfall was down 27 per cent on 2019 levels in the West End yesterday, despite the crucial build up to Christmas. Although footfall was up 10 per cent compared with the previous week, businesses have struggled to see the Christmas shopping momentum they anticipated this year. The West End has been hit by messaging to [...]
London theatres forced to cancel shows after Covid afflicts cast and crew December 21, 2021 London theatres have been forced to shut this week after a wave of Omicron infections hit the capital. Venues have been impacted by cast and crew testing positive for Covid while customers have cancelled tickets for performances. Productions forced to cancel shows include Aladdin, Bring It On, Cabaret, Cinderella, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen [...]
London’s shopping destinations seeing ‘first sign’ of hit from plan B measures December 13, 2021 Retail destinations have started to see the impact of the government’s latest Covid messaging, after a drop in central London footfall last week. Footfall fell three per cent in central London shopping destinations and 5.3 per cent in the capital’s office hubs last week. Last week, the Prime Minister outlined fresh measures to tackle the [...]
West End ‘extremely concerned about long-term survival’ as new guidance comes into force December 13, 2021 Central London retailers are hopeful eager Christmas shoppers will offset the absence of office workers in the capital this month while warning businesses are running out of cash. New West End Company, which represents 600 brands, restaurants and businesses in the West End, said footfall for the week of 6 December was up three per [...]
Liberal Democrats call for hospitality support amid ‘unprecedented rates’ of Christmas cancellations December 9, 2021 The Liberal Democrats have written to the government requesting urgent support for hospitality firms impacted by plan B measures. Pubs and restaurants in city centres have been concerned about a drop off in trade during what is usually their busiest time of year, following fresh work-from-home guidance. In a letter to the minister for small [...]
West End laments government Covid messaging as footfall falls flat December 7, 2021 The West End has bemoaned government messaging on Covid as it reported no uptick in footfall last week. New West End Company, which represents 600 brands in the area, said yesterday footfall was still down 30 per cent on pre-pandemic levels. Flat footfall was blamed on “the impact of Government messaging around Omicron,” and tube [...]
West End landlord points to new signings as proof of post-lockdown recovery December 6, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury has signed over 60 new retail and leisure brands since October 2020, in a vote of confidence for central London’s post-lockdown recovery Bosses said this interest highlights the speed of the West End’s recovery following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. Some 33 retail brands including American Eagle and Aerie have set [...]