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 [...]
57 salmonella cases confirmed as Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs recalled April 4, 2022 The UK’s food authority has confirmed 57 cases of salmonella, mostly among young children, with suspected links to Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs. Confectioner Ferrero has recalled batches of its individual 20g eggs and eggs that come in packs of three with a best before date of between 11 July 2022 and 7 October 2022. The [...]
Fever pitch: Battle for Ted Baker intensifies as new owners set to face post-pandemic high street ‘challenges’ April 4, 2022 Fashion chain Ted Baker has seen its share price boom after kicking off a formal sale process, with a third US private equity proposal. Analysts said the proposal comes as valuations of British companies have fallen in the wake of the pandemic and Brexit. Ted Baker has received an improved proposal from Sycamore, in addition [...]
Prime London rent hits double-digit growth for first time since 2010 April 4, 2022 The priciest areas to rent in London have seen double-digit annual rental growth for the first time in more than a decade. According to figures released by Savills, growth in prime London hit 11.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year, against a backdrop of low stock levels. It is the first time [...]
Value of serviced office providers’ portfolios drops £1.4bn after Covid April 4, 2022 Goliaths in the office space sector have taken their first hit as the value of their property portfolios has dropped. The value of the largest serviced office providers’ estates have fallen to £24.3bn from £25.7bn in the previous year, according to law firm Boodle Hatfield. Since 2017, the value of office space providers has leaped [...]
Raising a toast: Beer sales return to pre-pandemic glory as pub goers ditch wine and spirits April 4, 2022 Beer sales have brewed a comeback with 1.1bn more pints sold last year than in 2020. Some 4.6bn litres of beer was sold in 2021, up 13 per cent on 2020. Lockdown drinkers opted for spirits, causing beer sales to plummet, but pints regained popularity when pubs reopened. Wine and spirits saw a drop of [...]
Hospitality venues receive less than half of £635m Omicron support package April 4, 2022 Hospitality businesses in England received less than half of a £635m support package promised at the end of last year to make up for Omicron cancellations. Just £305m was paid out less than three weeks before the final cut off, analysis by the Altus Group revealed. The Treasury had announced one-off grants worth up to [...]
Lush lathers up for return to profit amid buy out of US partner April 3, 2022 Soap-seller Lush has bought out its US partner in a bid to almost double its sales in the UK. According to The Financial Times, the high street name is eager to pump cash into rebuilding its UK operations after they took a hit amid Covid restrictions. The retailer returned to profit in its last financial [...]
Whitbread searching for new CEO as Alison Brittain plans to step aside April 3, 2022 The hospitality powerhouse behind Premier Inn is hunting for a chief executive to replace Alison Brittain. Brittain is readying to step aside from her role heading Whitbread, following seven years in the top job, according to The Sunday Times. Headhunters at Spencer Stuart have been hired by Whitbread to find a suitable replacement for Brittain. [...]
English Heritage ‘reviews’ relationship with disgraced P&O Ferries April 3, 2022 In the latest indignity for P&O Ferries, English Heritage has reviewed its partnership with the disgraced shipping company. The charity is reviewing its relationship with the ferry operator, after it came under fire for sacking 800 employees last month. English Heritage told the Mail on Sunday that it was “pausing and reviewing” its partnership with [...]
