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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Brewdog founder James Watt launches ‘equity punk’ comeback

May 23, 2026

Brewdog founder James Watt has launched a comeback after the craft beer firm he co-founded collapsed earlier this year. Watt said on Friday he will launch Second Best, a new crowdfunded beer venture, in a bid to win back the “equity punks” who were left empty handed in Brewdog’s sale. The divisive entrepreneur said he [...]
‘Economic catastrophe’: Social media and welfare state ‘to blame’ for youth unemployment

May 23, 2026

Social media and the welfare state are pushing Britain towards an “economic catastrophe” over youth unemployment, a landmark government review has found. Smartphones have “rewired” the brains of young adults and left them trapped in unemployment, former health secretary Alan Milburn has found in an official report commissioned by Sir Keir Starmer. Labour ordered the [...]
EU rejected UK push for single market on goods

May 23, 2026

The EU rejected a UK proposal to set up a single market for the trade of goods because the UK refused to allow freedom of movement. Michael Ellam, Britain’s chief negotiator, proposed that the UK align with UK regulations to allow free trade with the bloc, but the idea was rebuffed by Brussels. The rebuttal [...]
Trainline boss pay hits the buffers after missing bonuses

May 22, 2026

Trainline boss Jody Ford has seen his pay packet go off the rails in what will likely be his last year in the job, almost halving to £2.5m. Chief executive Jody Ford’s total pay packet fell by 44 per cent from £4.5m in the firm’s 2026 financial year, after he and executive director Peter Wood [...]
Estée Lauder and Charlotte Tilbury owner walk away from merger talks

May 22, 2026

Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has abandoned talks with the Spanish owner of Charlotte Tilbury over a merger which would have created a $40bn fashion powerhouse. Talks between the US cosmetics giant and Spanish beauty giant Puig ended on Thursday despite hopes that the merger could have helped both brands to compete with rival L’Oreal. Estée [...]
Morrisons blames Labour for closure of 100 lossmaking stores

May 22, 2026

Morrisons has taken aim at Labour policy for “significant cost increases” as it announced the closure of 100 lossmaking stores. The supermarket chain said on Thursday that it will close the 100 unprofitable Morrisons Daily convenience stores, in a move which could affect hundreds of jobs. Morrisons has faced steep debt costs following its £7bn [...]
Retail sales plummet as Iran war hits consumer confidence

May 22, 2026

Retail sales plummeted by 1.3 per cent in April, as Brits cut back on spending amid increasing pressure from the war in Iran. The huge fall in retail sales volumes in April was the largest since May last year and defied economists’ forecasts of a softer drop. This comes after a 0.6 per cent rise in [...]
Reeves food tariffs policy will ‘barely touch the sides’ on supermarket prices

May 21, 2026

Food manufacturers and retailers have slammed Rachel Reeves’ cost of living measures, claiming the government’s loosening of food tariffs will do little to help supermarkets to cut prices. The Chancellor urged supermarkets to pass on savings from the stripped tariffs to shoppers “in full,” but retailers fear this measure will “barely touch the sides,” City [...]
‘Economically reckless’ – Streeting calls for wealth tax ‘that works’ in pitch for leadership

May 21, 2026

Wes Streeting has called for a “wealth tax that works” as the former health secretary sets out his stall ahead of an expected Labour leadership contest later this year. Streeting resigned from the cabinet earlier this month and has confirmed that he would stand in a contest to oust Sir Keir Starmer, though he has [...]
The Works shares soar as families look for ‘screen-free’ fun

May 21, 2026

Shares in The Works soared on Thursday morning after the retailer said growing demand for “screen-free” entertainment is driving up revenue. The Aim-listed stock jumped 11 per cent on early trading, to 60p, after it reported revenue growth of more than three per cent to £260m in the year to May. The retailer saw like-for-like [...]

Healey rules out expanding mansion tax to £1.5m homes

Manchester City owners must get messaging right or risk own fans turning against them

Where to eat Greek food in central London

By: Felix Armstrong

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