Sandwell, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil are among the UK councils with the most indebted residents March 11, 2016 One in six adults in the UK, or 8.2m people, are struggling with debt worries and living with "problem" debt, according to a new study from the Money Advice Service and market analysis company CACI. The councils with the most indebted residents in the UK are Sandwell in the West Midlands, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, both in [...]
Pea soup: London fog causes “severe” disruptions at London City Airport March 11, 2016 The thick fog that coated much of London this morning has resulted in "severe" delays at London City Airport. Smog descended upon London this morning after a drop in temperatures last night and has affected both arrivals and departures at the airport, located in the Royal London Docks in zone 3. "Due to adverse weather conditions [...]
Spirits are down as Stock Spirits Group announces drops in 2015 results March 10, 2016 Stock Spirits Group, the central European-focused vodka and spirits producer, saw a drop of around €30m (£23.4m) to €262.6m (£204.9) in total revenue over 2015 after a year of "disruption" in the Polish spirits market, as the company announced its preliminary full-year financial results. Operating profit decreased 22.3 per cent to €41.7m (£32.5m) from €53.6m (£41.8m) over [...]
Britain’s first vegan and free from ice cream parlour Yorica! has opened in Soho March 10, 2016 Holy dairy free lollies, Batman: Britain's first fully vegan and free-from ice cream parlour has just opened in London Yorica!, on Wardour Street in Soho, serves ice creams, frozen yoghurts and shakes free from the 14 main allergens, including wheat, gluten, dairy, lactose, eggs, nuts, GMO and artificial sweeteners, while their entire menu is compatible with a vegan [...]
Greg Mulholland slams “unacceptable” appointment of Paul Newby as Pubs Code Adjudicator by Sajid Javid March 10, 2016 Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland has slammed Sajid Javid's appointment of Paul Newby as the new Pub Codes Adjudicator (PCA). Newby, who will take up the role of PCA on 2 May for an initial term of four years, will be responsible for enforcing the Pubs Code – new legislation that will govern the relationship [...]
Whisky costs on the rocks: the UK’s tax rate on Scotch is 1.5 times than the European average finds Scottish Whisky Association March 10, 2016 Years after Don Draper made drinking whisky cool again, it might be time to stop pouring that Old Fashioned, after new research by the Scottish Whisky Association showed the UK's tax rate on Scotch is 1.5 times the rate found in the rest of the European Union. In addition to the higher domestic tax rate, the research revealed despite Britain [...]
Netflix and other binge-watching might be making you unhappy and unwell according to new study March 10, 2016 Self-confessed binge-watcher? All those hours sat in front of House of Cards, Breaking Bad and Orange is the New Black could be making you ill, a new study has warned. The addictive way we watch Netflix, box-sets, stacked series linked shows is being linked to poorer mental and physical health. It is, according to researchers from the [...]
Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance £1.6bn merger approved by UK regulators March 10, 2016 Pensions heavyweights Just Retirement and Partnership Assurance have received approval for their £1.6bn merger from financial regulators. Both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have given approval to the all-share merger, which was agreed in August last year. Plans to merge the annuities companies came in the wake of pension reforms announced in March 2014, after [...]
UK house prices: Service charges for new-build properties are double those of older homes March 10, 2016 Service charges on new-build properties have been dubbed a "hidden cost" that have reached an average of £2,777, according to a new survey by the insurer Direct Line for Business. This cost is 96 per cent higher on new-build properties than the average annual property service charge in Britain, which is £1,863. The survey also shows some 33 [...]
Ima-gin that: British gin sales broke all sales records in 2015 while 49 new distilleries opened March 9, 2016 Sales of mother's ruin broke all records last year as 49 new gin distilleries opened across the UK, while shop and restaurant sales topped over £900m. Shop sales of the juniper-based spirit reached over £400m in 2015, up 10 per cent on the previous year, while restaurant sales hit £500m, up 20 per cent year on year, [...]
