Two in five small theatres could close this Christmas following sales slump December 6, 2022 Two in five small theatres in the UK could face closure as energy costs soar and Christmas sales tank. According to a new study by GoDaddy and the Society of Independent Theatres, three quarters of independent theatres – those with fewer than 300 seats – say their ticket sales have still not returned to pre-Covid [...]
Cocaine Bear, a drugged up warning for Netflix & co in the streaming wars December 6, 2022 Two ambulance workers rush inside a house where furniture is all over the place, and the walls are stained with blood. One of them opens a door, only to be attacked by a giant brown bear whose face is covered in – we quickly figure – human blood. These are the first 20 seconds of [...]
Brits had most volatile year for fuel costs as CMA probe ‘rocket and feather’ pricing December 6, 2022 Brits have suffered the most volatile year on record for fuel prices, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and cost of living crisis continued to pile pressure on drivers the pumps. New analysis published today show fuel prices rose by 50p a litre from January to July, which is the largest leap ever recorded. It [...]
‘Thousands of jobs at risk’: Bar bosses despair over fresh Christmas rail strikes December 6, 2022 Pub and bar bosses were last night left despairing over a slew of fresh strike dates, which fall over Christmas. Rail union RMT announced three more days of walk-outs on Monday night, with workers set to strike from 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on 27 December. Industrial action had already been planned on 13, [...]
Grocery inflation dips for first time in almost two years but ‘long way down’ for price increases December 6, 2022 Grocery price inflation has dipped for the first time in almost two years while the price of a family Christmas dinner sits at an eye-watering £31. The rampant pace of price increases let up slightly this month, dropping 0.1 percentage points – the first dip in 21 months. Four-week inflation now sits at 14.6 per [...]
Marston’s swings back to profit as pub chain anticipates Christmas without Covid limits December 6, 2022 Marston’s has welcomed being in the black, after trade at its pub estate recovered from the side effects of Covid-19 lockdowns this year. In results for the year to 1 October, the community pub operator posted a total profit before tax of £163.4 m, versus a loss of £171.1m the year prior. The operator of around [...]
RMT announces three more days of rail strikes over Christmas December 5, 2022 The union RMT has announced three more days of strike over Christmas as it put Network Rail’s offer to its members with the recommendation to reject it. Workers are set to walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on 27 December. This will be in addition to the planned industrial action on 13, [...]
London venues warn they will haemorrhage sales if rail strikes go ahead this Christmas December 5, 2022 London restaurants have warned they will haemorrhage sales should planned railway strikes go ahead this month, as union bosses rejected a new pay offer over the week. Searcys champagne bar and restaurant chain, which has venues at the Gherkin and St Pancras International station, said it was worried it would take a 30 per cent [...]
Foxconn faces revenue slump after iPhone factory fallout December 5, 2022 Revenues slumped for Foxconn as the iPhone manufacturing partner feels the sting on ongoing unrest over Covid restrictions and pay. The company reported NT$551bn (£14.7bn) in revenue last month, tumbling 29 per cent from October, and 11 per cent on the year before. November is usually a prosperous period for the firm, as it gears [...]
Searcys boss: London venues set for ‘real reality check’ in the new year with spending slowdown warnings December 5, 2022 London restaurants face a “real reality check” come January and February, as consumers will pull back from dining out after Christmas, the boss of champagne bar chain Searcys has warned. Diners will “want to batten down the hatches” next year after enjoying their first Christmas free of Covid measures in three years, with the cost [...]