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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Bring ‘punishing’ high street taxes in line with banks, Healey urged

October 1, 2026

John Healey has been urged to bring down the “punishing” tax burden facing the retail and hospitality industries, which is higher than any other sector. Hospitality businesses pay 82p in taxes for every pound and retail pays 72p, compared to the 40p paid by banks, according to new analysis by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) [...]
Poundland owner weighs break-up of retailer it bought for £1

September 30, 2026

A flurry of bids for just some of Poundland’s 600 shops could prompt Poundland to consider a break up of the retailer, City AM understands. US investment firm Gordon Brothers initially sought offers for the entirety of the business, but may instead opt to sell Poundland’s stores to a number of different buyers, sources told [...]
Mike Ashley continues leisure push with Boom Battle Bar deal

September 30, 2026

A company backed by Mike Ashley has snapped up Boom Battle Bar for £11m, extending the retail tycoon’s push into leisure and hospitality. Leisure operator We Do Play, which is backed by Ashley’s Frasers Group, has bought back the business its bosses founded from experiential leisure group XP Factory. Mike Ashley began his retail empire [...]
Can Brewdog get ‘equity punks’ onside in bid to move on from James Watt?

September 30, 2026

Craft beer giant Brewdog has launched a reset under its American owners Tilray. Felix Armstrong explores whether the company can truly move on from James Watt Dessert-flavoured beer, provocative ad campaigns, waxy-mustached artisans – much about Brewdog’s long-anticipated reset feels familiar, as if the recently-collapsed craft brewer is really getting back to its roots. But [...]
Huel rapped for ‘irresponsible’ Spencer Matthews ad

September 30, 2026

Huel, the meal replacement drink backed by Steven Bartlett, has been rapped by the advertising watchdog for an “irresponsible” ad featuring Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews. The drinks firm, which is owned by French food giant Danone, paid for a video featuring Matthews to be circulated on Instagram and Youtube. Both adverts have been [...]
Studio behind Danny Dyer and Hugh Jackman films calls in administrators

September 30, 2026

A British film studio founded by an ex-Lionsgate boss has folded into administration just a few years after taking $150m in start-up financing. True Brit Entertainment, which was founded by former Lionsgate UK chief executive Zygi Kamasa, appointed administrators on Monday, according to filings. The distributor was set up in 2023 hoping to boost the [...]
Greggs puts 740 jobs at risk as baker braces for worse inflation

September 30, 2026

Greggs has announced a shakeup of its manufacturing processes which could lead to the closure of four factories and cost 740 jobs, as the baker warns of “greater inflationary pressures” across its business. The sausage roll seller told shareholders on Wednesday that it is consulting on a move to consolidate its manufacturing operations, which would [...]
New Brewdog owner mounts comeback from ‘horrible’ collapse

September 29, 2026

The new owner of Brewdog has launched a comeback for the company after it collapsed earlier this year, blaming “horrible” sales during its change of ownership on “negative” media reports. The craft beer firm saw sales slump by as much as 20 per cent year on year following its takeover by US cannabis and drinks [...]
Crew Clothing warns on consumer confidence as profit stalls

September 29, 2026

Crew Clothing has warned that it could suffer from a significant slowdown in consumer confidence, as the retailer saw profit stall last year. The high street clothes seller said it is bracing for a potential drop-off in spending, as inflation fears caused by the Iran war tighten shoppers’ budgets. In a statement the firm said: [...]
Land shortage leaves Nato defence targets at risk, Streeting warned

September 29, 2026

The UK risks falling short of Nato defence spending targets unless it immediately slashes planning red tape to address its land shortage, the government has been warned. Demand for defence-related industries and logistics space is set to surge to 32m sq ft by 2033 if the government meets Nato’s defence spending targets. The UK is [...]

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By: Felix Armstrong

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