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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John Lewis boss takes 20 per cent pay rise as retailer cuts jobs

April 9, 2026

The new chairman of John Lewis took a pay rise and bonus despite the retailer cutting thousands of jobs. Jason Tarry saw his basic pay rate increase by 21 per cent and took a two per cent bonus, despite his firm slashing more than 3,000 jobs last year. Tarry took the reins of the John [...]
Co-op merger to bring huge shakeup to retail and funeral giant

April 9, 2026

The Co-op Group is preparing to takeover the Southern Co-op, in a merger which would bring a major shakeup to the retail and funeral giant in its bid to move on from a crushing cyber attack. The deal would see the group snap up around 300 food stores, funeral branches and Starbucks coffee shops. The [...]
Brewdog: Co-founder James Watt ‘terminated’ as director

April 9, 2026

Brewdog co-founder James Watt has been “terminated” as director of the craft beer firm after its sale to a US cannabis giant. Watt established the brewing company with schoolmate Martin Dickie in 2006 but resigned as a company director on 24 March, according to Companies House filings. Brewdog kickstarted the UK’s craft beer craze but [...]
Mood has shifted on housing market as rates rattle demand

April 9, 2026

High mortgage rates are unlikely to deflate immediately even if the Iran ceasefire holds, property experts have warned, as rising rates stifle demand for houses. The number of Brits enquiring to buy a new home fell even further in March, down from negative 29 per cent in February to minus 39 per cent last month, [...]
Holland & Barrett bets on high street with public health pivot

April 9, 2026

Holland & Barrett is mounting a renewed focus on its high street presence, offering free health drop-ins amid growing online misinformation and an “under pressure” NHS. The health foods retailer has faced huge losses in recent years and its new chief executive is battling to raise the profile of its high street stores. Anthony Houghton, [...]
Energy bills threat recedes but retail and hospitality remain on brink

April 8, 2026

Retail and hospitality leaders are optimistic that the Iran-US ceasefire could spare them from the worst energy bill shocks, but are urging the government to address an array of other cost pressures. British businesses had warned that the soaring energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East could be devastating if the conflict [...]
‘I fired the board that fired me’: TGI Fridays boss on restaurant turnaround

April 8, 2026

TGI Fridays had its heyday in the 1980s but slumped into administration last year. Its new boss Ray Blanchette tells Felix Armstrong the nostalgic chain can win back Britain after a period in turmoil. “I land at Heathrow and jump in a cab. The plane got in late,” says Ray Blanchette, recalling the day he [...]
British Airways, Easyjet shares soar as Iran ceasefire brings relief for airlines

April 8, 2026

Airline stocks have soared following President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire with Iran, offering cautious relief to fears flights could be grounded in weeks. Shares in British Airways owner IAG soared by more than 10 per cent on Tuesday’s market open, as the FTSE 100 firm was followed by WizzAir and Easyjet who also made [...]
House prices drop as Iran war shakes property market

April 8, 2026

House prices fell in March as the uncertainty caused by the Iran war stifled the property market and spiked fears of interest rate rises. Average house prices fell 0.5 per cent last month, reversing the modest 0.3 per cent February increase, according to Halifax’s house price index. This is the latest signal that the Iran [...]
Leon founder: Labour ‘killing’ restaurant industry

April 7, 2026

The founder of fast food chain Leon has accused the government of “killing” the restaurant industry by saddling the industry with a crushing tax burden. John Vincent, who founded Leon and recently bought it back, said on Tuesday “everyone knows restaurants are done” because of the government’s treatment of hospitality. The government has faced intense [...]

King’s Speech to unleash wave of City reforms

Italy and UK risk driving Formula 1 away with misguided tax raids

Why the Norwegian Arctic is the best place to see the Northern Lights

By: Felix Armstrong

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