By: Felix Armstrong

Retail Reporter Felix Armstrong is City AM's retail reporter, covering retail, hospitality and property news. He has previously written for The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and The i Paper. Email Felix at Felix.Armstrong@cityam.com

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Can debt-ridden Morrisons become a Big Four supermarket again?

August 22, 2026

“Nothing but difficult” is how one retail analyst describes the road ahead for Morrisons boss Rami Batiéh. Since taking charge of the grocer in November 2023, the chief executive has faced an uphill battle, as the group – once a firm member of the UK’s ‘big four’ – is outpaced by its rivals. Batiéh, whose [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers offers to pay personal shoppers in Harvey Nichols takeover

August 20, 2026

Frasers Group has offered to secure the pay of personal shoppers and stylists at Harvey Nichols after Mike Ashley’s retail empire bought the luxury department store. The Sports Direct and Flannels owner will make “goodwill payments” to a number of personal shoppers and stylists who were left owing money when Harvey Nichols collapsed. Frasers snapped [...]
‘Alice in Wonderland’ workspace firm lands £129m Aberdeen-backed finance

August 20, 2026

A luxury workspace provider whose offices feature novelty themes like Alice in Wonderland and Monopoly has landed a £129m refinancing package. Office Space in Town (OSiT) has bagged a new debt package which includes around £72m in backing by leading asset manager Aberdeen, City AM has learned. OSiT operates 225,000 sq ft of flexible office [...]
Travelodge boss quits amid backlash over hotel sexual assault

August 20, 2026

Travelodge boss Jo Boydell has quit as the budget hotel brand pursues an overhaul of its safety measures following a sexual assault at one of its sites. The group said on Thursday that Boydell will depart with immediate effect after 13 years in the role, thanking the chief executive for her “dedication” to the group. [...]
JD Sports shares crater after ‘King of Trainers’ warns on profit

August 20, 2026

JD Sports has slashed its profit target as the growth plan led by chief executive Régis Schultz loses steam, sending its share price into a tailspin. The sports and fashion retailer saw sales performance improve in the UK, but a slowdown in the US and intense discounting by rivals is dragging on the firm’s profit, [...]
House prices in wealthy London boroughs fall by up to £300,000

August 19, 2026

House prices in London’s most sought-after areas plummeted further in June, with the average price in some postcodes falling by nearly £300,000 year on year. London’s average house price slipped by 2.5 per cent to £554,000 in the year to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Though this was a softer fall [...]
Supermarkets ‘actively shielding’ shoppers as food inflation falls again

August 19, 2026

Food inflation fell again in July to its lowest level in nearly five years, as retailers claim they are “actively shielding” consumers from worse price rises. The rate of food price inflation slipped to 1.3 per cent last month, down from 1.7 per cent in June, to reach the lowest point since September 2021. Industry [...]
Fishing retailer catches sales boost to defy summer drought

August 19, 2026

The UK’s largest fishing shop has posted a surge in sales to defy fears that the record drought is impacting the country’s rivers and fisheries. Angling Direct, the UK’s leading seller of fishing equipment, said it has grown its market share and is on track to meet its profit targets despite the drought, which has [...]
New planning rules ‘could blight high streets with empty pubs’

August 18, 2026

Angela Rayner’s attempt to stop pubs being redeveloped into offices and housing could “blight high streets” with empty venues, property experts have warned. The housing secretary has unveiled reforms to planning rules which mean that developers can only turn a pub into housing or an office if there is no reasonable prospect that it can [...]
Diageo boss ‘drastic’ Dave Lewis eyes £20m pay deal as 2,000 jobs slashed

August 18, 2026

Diageo boss Sir Dave Lewis could take home as much as £20m in pay for the next year, it has emerged, while the drinks giant sheds 2,000 staff. The chief executive of the Guinness and Smirnoff maker could make as much as £20m in the year to June 2027, though he is more likely to [...]

Jousting, goblins and furries: Dispatch from a UK renaissance faire

The BBC’s bulletin cuts show how crowded sports broadcasting has become

Jousting, goblins and furries: Dispatch from a UK renaissance faire

By: Felix Armstrong

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