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 [...]
West End landlord Shaftesbury posts smaller annual loss thanks to retail rebound November 30, 2021 West End commercial landlord Shaftesbury posted a smaller annual loss thanks to its hospitality and retail firm tenants rebounding after lockdown. “There has been great progress on Shaftesbury’s road to recovery in recent months,” chief executive officer Brian Bickell said in a statement yesterday. However, he cautioned that there was “still further to travel before [...]
London recovery: West End busier than week before as shoppers get into Christmas spirit November 22, 2021 Central London was busier last week than the previous week, as shoppers got into the festive spirit. Shopping destinations including Oxford Street and Regent Street saw an 8.3 per cent boost to footfall, in the week beginning 14 November. In a further endorsement for the City’s rebound, London’s office hubs were also busier than the [...]
The Normal Heart at the National Theatre is a desperate howl October 8, 2021 In the same week Matthew López took home the Best Play gong at the Tony Awards for The Inheritance, a work that has drawn strong comparisons to fellow Tony-winner Angels in America, the National Theatre began its revival of the original play chronicling the AIDS crisis: The Normal Heart. Larry Kramer’s semi-autobiographical 1985 play follows [...]
Visitors migrate back to London’s West End as venues throw open their doors July 26, 2021 Visitors are beginning to migrate back to London’s tourism spots like the West End, as last week’s ‘Freedom Day’ meant theatres and clubs could throw open their doors for the first time in over a year. Last week’s heatwave meant locals and visitors alike could make the most out of London’s reopening – before the [...]
Oxford Circus to be transformed into two pedestrian-friendly piazzas June 17, 2021 Oxford Circus will be transformed into a two pedestrian-friendly piazzas in a plan that should also improve access to Oxford Circus tube station and create a greener space in Central London. Work in the area will begin later this year, and will be delivered through a phased approach, starting with two ‘car free’ piazzas on [...]
‘West End productions cannot survive under social distancing’ warn theatres June 15, 2021 The four-week delay to easing lockdown restrictions will have “serious implications” for many theatres, with large-scale commercial productions at most serious risk, the industry has warned. On Monday evening the government postponed plans to fully re-open society on 21 June amid a sharp rise in cases of the more transmissible Delta variant, which was first [...]