Marks & Spencer to reopen 49 cafes as UK lockdown eases May 13, 2020 Marks & Spencer (M&S) will reopen cafes across the UK with social distancing measures in place from tomorrow, as the country gradually starts to ease the coronavirus lockdown. The retailer said 49 cafes will be open to sell takeaway hot drinks following a successful trial at five locations, allowing customers to buy coffee while doing [...]
Property stocks jump as restrictions on UK housing market ease May 13, 2020 Estate agent and housebuilder stocks soared this morning after the government last night loosened lockdown restrictions on the UK housing market. Shares in London estate agent Foxtons surged 8.31 per cent to 43.65p and online platform Purplebricks’ stock soared 11 per cent to 37.86p. LSL Property Services, the owner of Your Move and Reeds Rains, [...]
Bowling alley operator Ten Entertainment prepares for coronavirus lockdown to lift May 13, 2020 Bowling alley operator Ten Entertainment said it was preparing to reopen to customers with social distancing measures in place, and also said it had the resilience to face a second wave of coronavirus. Ten Entertainment this morning announced it has secured personal protective equipment for staff and its sites were being configured for social distancing. [...]
Young’s pub chain to secure extra £100m financing to survive coronavirus crisis May 13, 2020 Pub chain Young’s said it is in the process of securing an additional £100m of financial headroom to help sustain the business throughout the coronavirus crisis. The company said it has issued paper with a value of £30m and a maturity date of 13 May 2021 under the government’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility. It is [...]
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey to reopen show homes and sales centres after government lifts restrictions May 13, 2020 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey will begin the phased reopening of its show homes and sales centres this month, after the government lifted restrictions on the property market. The developer said sales centres and show homes will be available for pre-booked appointments from 22 May, and it will take the majority of its sales staff off the [...]
8,000 jobs at risk as Tui faces ‘greatest crisis’ for travel industry May 13, 2020 Holiday operator Tui said 8,000 jobs are at risk as it seeks to cut costs due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has presented the “greatest crisis” ever faced by the travel industry. The company said this morning that the coronavirus crisis has forced it to accelerate its transformation plan. Tui is aiming to reduce its [...]
UK retail sales suffer record decline as online surge fails to offset impact of closed shops May 13, 2020 A sharp rise in online shopping failed to offset plummeting UK retail sales last month, which suffered a record decline in April due to the coronavirus lockdown. Total sales plunged 19.1 per cent in April, against an increase of 2.4 per cent last year, which is the worst decline since records began in 1995. Over [...]
Restaurants hit out at delivery platform fees during lockdown May 13, 2020 Restaurant industry experts have hit out at takeaway delivery companies during the coronavirus outbreak, saying Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats make more than £1bn a year in fees through UK restaurants. A study found that three in five consumers have tried to support their favourite local restaurant during the lockdown by ordering through an [...]
McDonald’s set to reopen all drive-thrus by June May 12, 2020 McDonald’s has announced it will open 30 more restaurants this month as it aims to reopen all of its drive-thru sites by June. The fast food giant said it will open 30 drive-thru restaurants in the UK and Ireland from 20 May, and plans to open all sites by early June. The company has not [...]
Only 10 per cent of office space in use during lockdown, says Landsec May 12, 2020 Property landlord Landsec said only 10 per cent of its office space is currently being used as most employees are working from home during the coronavirus crisis. The property company, which this morning revealed a £1.2bn hit to the value of its portfolio, said the office sector had seen a “less pronounced immediate impact” compared [...]
