UK house price growth slows to 1.9 per cent in May July 19, 2023 The average price of a UK house cost £286,000 in May, according to new government data, with the figure being £6,0000 up on 12 months ago – but £7,000 below its September peak. Average UK house prices increased by 1.9 per cent in the 12 months to May 2023, down from a revised 3.2 per [...]
Jamie Oliver looks to move on from chain collapse with new London restaurant July 19, 2023 Jamie Oliver has said he “hasn’t lost faith” in the restaurant industry as he pushes ahead with plans to open a new restaurant four years after the collapse of his eponymous high street chain. Speaking to The News Agents podcast on Wednesday the celebrity chef blamed a 40 per cent hike in business rates and [...]
New life sciences tower signals Canary Wharf gamechanger July 19, 2023 A new 23-storey life sciences tower will be erected in Canary Wharf, after planning permission for the building was approved this morning. The 823,000 sq ft tower, which is located adjacent to the Crossrail Station and Elizabeth Line at Canary Wharf, London, will be Europe’s largest and most “technologically advanced” life sciences facility. The life sciences [...]
Wagamama owner TRG dines out on cost savings as closure programme continues July 19, 2023 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) has seen revenues rise despite the cost of living crisis, it confirmed this morning, with plans to reduce overheads with a raft of closures continuing apace. Like-for-like sales in its most popular chain, Wagamama grew 21 per cent in the two weeks to 16 July 2023, despite trading being [...]
Illegal London candy stores turned into rent free shops in Oxford Street clean-up July 19, 2023 Oxford Street is set for a major revamp as Westminster City Council launches a new £10m scheme to transform London’s iconic high street. The council will make shops vacated by illicit candy stores, which have blighted the leading retail destination, available to small business owners rent free and lower their business rates by 70 per [...]
Restaurateurs reeling as no shows cost sector £90 per missing head July 19, 2023 Restaurateurs are reeling as punters not showing up for dinner costs businesses £90 per head, a new study has shown, leading many to consider throwing in the towel for good. A rising number of diners cancelling at the last minute, or just not turning up, over the last year has led to almost a fifth [...]
Pret A Manger: Back to profit for first time since 2018 July 18, 2023 Pret A Manger has announced an annual profit for the first time since 2018 thanks to a successful international push and its revamped coffee subscription service. The high-street favourite recorded revenues of £429.9m, growing by 20.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2022 when it reported a loss of £226m. Its last profitable year [...]
Ocado losses widen: Share price rises as retail arm shows signs of improvement July 18, 2023 Pre-tax losses at Ocado have widened to £289m in the first half of the year, as the grocery firm’s share price was up over 14 per cent this morning. The supermarket technology business said its retail arm – which is a joint venture with M&S – grew five per cent to £1.17bn as it returned [...]
Mace: Construction firm on track for £3bn revenues as it bolstered by international growth July 18, 2023 Construction giant Mace has been bolstered by traction in its consultancy business and completions of landmark buildings abroad and in the UK (such as Battersea Power Station) during the year, hiking its turnover to £1.936bn. The London-headquartered firm, which has plans to reach £3bn revenues by 2026, said that its consultancy business reached £500m in [...]
Ultra-high food prices here to stay as Russia exits Black Sea grain deal with Ukraine July 17, 2023 Soaring food costs may not fall as quickly as markets had hoped, retail and pub industries have warned amid a Russian supply squeeze.
