Government seeks injunction over BBC spy story over claims of security risks January 22, 2022 The BBC is facing an injunction as the government attempts to stop the broadcaster allegedly identifying a spy working overseas. The Attorney General will apply for an injunction against the broadcaster this week, the Telegraph newspaper has reported. The news story is “overwhelmingly” in the public interest, according to the BBC, and reportedly concerns British [...]
BrewDog boss accused of intimidating staff ahead of BBC doc on workplace culture claims January 21, 2022 BrewDog’s boss has been hit with allegations of intimidating former staff ahead of a documentary looking at claims of the brewery’s “toxic” workplace culture. The brewery has been trying to improve its image after ex-employees published an open letter claiming there was a workplace culture of bullying that negatively impacted staff mental health. The BBC [...]
December home transactions show ‘strong end to frenzied year’ as markets expected to slow January 21, 2022 According to HMRC data, the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of UK residential transactions in December 2021 was 100,110. This marks a 20 per cent dip on December 2020 but a 7.6 per cent spike on the prior month. Last year also saw a record level of home transactions of almost 1.5m, the highest since 2007, [...]
Wagamama owner TRG hikes profit forecast as it warns of slow battle to recover consumer confidence January 21, 2022 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group has upgraded its profit expectations after strong trade at the end of last year despite Covid uncertainty. The group was affected by Omicron concerns and restrictions, such as guidance to work from home, but said it continued to trade ahead of the market. In a trading update on Friday, the [...]
Stratford and Nine Elms enjoy rental market bounceback amid stock lows January 21, 2022 London areas to have enjoyed an especially strong post-pandemic comeback include Battersea/Nine Elms and Canary Wharf. Alongside Kensington, Stratford and the City of London, these areas have marked 7.5% average growth in rental prices. Growth from pre-pandemic levels has ranged from 5.8 per cent to 8.8 per cent, according to research from JLL. The research [...]
French champagne houses sparkle as 2021 sees record sales January 20, 2022 French champagne houses have toasted to record sales worth £4.6bn after demand climbed last year. According to preliminary estimates from the Comité Champagne trade association, sales hit $5.5bn, even though the hospitality sector continued to face lockdown restrictions last year. Some 322m champagne bottles were sold last year, an increase of 32 per cent on [...]
Grenfell campaigners outraged over Westfield owner’s plans for ‘death trap’ apartment block January 20, 2022 A developer has faced fury after plans for an apartment block twice the height of Grenfell with just one fire escape staircase. The 35-storey building has been proposed by the owner of the Westfield shopping centres, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), and will be part of a complex of 1,760 new homes, the Guardian first reported. The apartment [...]
City Pub Group looks to office workers’ return as pub sector faces soaring energy costs January 20, 2022 Premium pub operator the City Pub Group has said it is hopeful the return of office workers will boost its sales in cities across the country. It said there had been a “significant increase in trade” in the last 10 days, which it put down to an increased consumer confidence. The easing of the government’s [...]
Christmas sales at Revolution Bars dip as sector welcomes end of Omicron measures January 20, 2022 Revolution Bar Group has posted its disappointing like-for-like sales over the Christmas trading period, when fresh Covid measures hindered pub bosses’ hopes. Like-for-like sales sales for the six week period ending 1 January were down -23 per cent in comparison to the last Christmas before the pandemic struck. Office parties were cancelled in waves as [...]
Shop staff fear abuse and Covid infection after government ‘flip-flopping’ on mask policy January 19, 2022 Retail workers have called on the government to reconsider its plans to scrap the requirement for shoppers to wear face masks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the end of England’s plan B Covid restrictions yesterday. Mandatory mask rules will be scrapped next Wednesday. Retail trade union the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) [...]
