Martin Gilbert’s AssetCo enters bidding war for River & Mercantile November 23, 2021 Fund management veteran Martin Gilbert has been thrown into a bidding war for River and Mercantile (R&M) after the asset manager revealed it has been approached by more than one suitor. Both AssetCo, an Aim-listed acquisition vehicle chaired by Gilbert, and rival fund manager Premier Miton have made bids for R&M. Both firms already have [...]
Scottish vaccine passport scheme will not be extended to cinemas and theatres November 23, 2021 Cinema and theatre operators have breathed a sigh of relief after it was confirmed Scotland’s vaccine passport will not be extended to more venues. First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Covid pass scheme would come to include negative lateral flow test results, as well as the option to show proof of two jabs, from next [...]
Aviation recovery on its way, BA’s owner assures November 23, 2021 Luis Gallego, chief executive of British Airways’ (BA) owner IAG, is convinced aviation recovery will get back to pre-pandemic levels by 2023, as a result of the easing of air travel restrictions and the opening of transatlantic travel. Speaking yesterday at the Airlines UK conference in Westminster, Gallego revealed that “transatlantic bookings have reached almost [...]
Downing Street signals it is prepared to tear up Northern Ireland’s Brexit deal November 23, 2021 Downing Street said late last night the UK government is prepared to consider tearing up elements of Northern Ireland’s Brexit deal, despite a Cabinet minister insisting the option would not be used before Christmas. Number 10 said there was no timetable for whether or not it would unilaterally use the powers under Article 16 of [...]
Digital board game downloads rise by 144 per cent following pandemic explosion November 22, 2021 Digital board game group Marmalade Game Studio, and makers of Monolopy and Cluedo games, estimated that downloads have increased 144 per cent over the past 18 months.
Long Read: Europe’s growing Covid crisis pits vaccinated against unvaccinated November 22, 2021 With coronavirus infections spiking again across Europe despite nearly two years of restrictions, the health crisis is increasingly pitting citizen against citizen – the vaccinated against the unvaccinated. Instead of a Christmas where family and friends can once again embrace festivities and one another, the continent is the global epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic as [...]
London recovery: West End busier than week before as shoppers get into Christmas spirit November 22, 2021 Central London was busier last week than the previous week, as shoppers got into the festive spirit. Shopping destinations including Oxford Street and Regent Street saw an 8.3 per cent boost to footfall, in the week beginning 14 November. In a further endorsement for the City’s rebound, London’s office hubs were also busier than the [...]
Retailers are using experiences, not goods, to keep high street fashion on trend November 22, 2021 A short stroll along Oxford Street these days doesn’t necessarilly fill retail fans with confidence. A phalanx of American candy stores, souvenir shops of questionable quality and ‘to let’ signs have blossomed after the pandemic, and House of Fraser last week became the latest bricks and mortar flagship to announce it would be closing its [...]
British Airways threatens to cut Heathrow flights if recovery-undermining airport charges don’t come down November 22, 2021 The boss of British Airways’ parent company warned today that the airline will cut Heathrow flights if proposed increases in charges are implemented, IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said the west London airport’s fees are already among the highest in the world and are becoming “more and more expensive”. In October, the Civil Aviation Authority [...]
Australian Buy Now Pay Later firm wades into UK market November 22, 2021 Australian Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) firm humm has waded into the UK’s alternative credit market ahead of Black Friday and Christmas sales. It means Brits will be able to borrow between £1 and £3,000 across 12 months with zero interest. The Australian-listed firm offers consumers the ability to pay in five or 12 instalments [...]