Urban Pubs & Bars launches acquisition spree after strong Christmas sales January 16, 2026 Urban Pubs & Bars has embarked on an aggressive acquisition spree as the London-based hospitality group toasted strong demand over the Christmas season. This week the company announced it had acquired The Birdcage in East London from Brewdog, marking its sixth acquisition of 2026. The deal follows the recent completion of five premium hospitality venues [...]
Gary’s Economics predictions are unravelling January 15, 2026 The new year is a great time to check whether past predictions have stood the test of time. So I revisited the forecasts of one of London’s better-known economic sooth-sayers, Gary Stevenson, known to you and me as Gary’s Economics thanks to his viral Youtube channel. Two years ago, almost to the day, Gary released [...]
Could this be the weirdest London IPO in 2026? January 15, 2026 What do you think the weirdest London IPO of the year could be? Take a moment to think about it. And now, let me tell you why you’re wrong. I have the answer. It’s a firm called Hybrid Air Vehicles, a company that makes airships. Yes, airships. If you thought – as I did – [...]
‘Downfall’: Home REIT faces SFO probe into suspected bribery and fraud January 14, 2026 The UK’s top financial crime unit has unveiled a major probe into the past management of Home REIT after identifying as much as £300m in suspected fraud and bribery. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said it has carried out raids and arrests into the former London-listed social housing company, including searches at homes in Altrincham, [...]
Revenue at pawnbroker Ramsdens rockets as Brits cash in on soaring gold prices January 14, 2026 Revenue at pawnbroker Ramsdens has risen to a fresh high as Brits take advantage of soaring gold prices. The London-listed business, which has over 160 stores across the UK, posted a 22 per cent jump in turnover to £117m in the year to end September amid a more than 50 per cent in profit from [...]
Mayfair-based The Arts Club plunges to £4m loss after wellness venture sours January 14, 2026 One of the swankiest private members clubs in central London has bemoaned a “challenging economic backdrop” after it suffered a loss of nearly £4m. Mayfair-based The Arts Club, which was founded in the 1860s by Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope and has been frequented by the likes of Beyoncé, Jessie J and Pippa Middleton, incurred [...]
FTSE 100 Live: UBS to get new boss; Premier Inn leaseback deal January 13, 2026 Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. What’s an easy way to tell apart a developed country from a less developed one? One straightforward yardstick is the behaviour of state institutions and their relationship to government. If they are well run, they are operated by professionals independently from the executive. Or – the executive [...]
Data centre planning applications rocketed more than 60 per cent in 2025 January 13, 2026 Data centre planning applications hit an all-time high in the UK in 2025, City AM can reveal, as investors rushed to gain a foothold in the burgeoning AI market. More than 60 separate planning applications for the construction of new data centres were filed in England and Wales over the course of the year, according [...]
Immigration law firm put up for sale on insolvency market amid visa crackdown January 13, 2026 A London law firm specialising in immigration services has been put up for sale on an insolvency marketplace in an early sign the government’s crackdown on visas has sparked a slump in applications. Woolwich-based A Vincent Solicitors, which employs more than two dozen staff and has a second office in Manchester, offered multi-lingual support services [...]
Donald Trump credit card cap sends Barclays shares tumbling January 12, 2026 Barclays shares were the worst performing on the FTSE 100 on Monday morning after fears over fresh plans by Donald Trump to curb credit card costs sent the stock tumbling. The bank’s shares, which had risen by around 80 per cent over the past year, suffered a 5 per cent slump to 462p in early [...]
