Revolution Bars to close six sites as sales plunge due to coronavirus 10pm curfew October 27, 2020 Revolution Bars will permanently close six sites after coronavirus restrictions such as the 10pm curfew on hospitality venues caused sales to plummet. The bar chain announced this morning it would launch a company voluntary arrangement to close sites, cut rents and improve profitability. Investors will need a stiff drink today, with shares already down 6.5 [...]
Sunak spars with education secretary in free school meals row October 26, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak locked heads with the education secretary today as both ministers attempted to shirk the blame for the government’s decision not to extend free school meals throughout the October half-term. Sunak rebutted claims made in the Sun on Sunday yesterday that the Treasury had “parked the bus” on providing free school meal vouchers [...]
It may not feel like it but the greatest year of sport is almost upon us October 26, 2020 As we fast approach the end of the year we should all allow ourselves to look forward to crawling out of the dark cloud of Covid-19 and into 2021, the greatest year of sport ever. Euro 2020, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Twenty20 cricket World Cups, the Women’s Euros, a Ryder Cup, a Rugby League World [...]
Post Office to axe 600 cash machines October 26, 2020 The Post Office will cut 600 of its free to use cash machines after a decision to take the assets in-house. Over the next four years, the Post Office will invest £16m into 1,400 ATMs across its estate. At the moment, there are 2,000 cash machines at its branches, but these are owned and operated [...]
Marks & Spencer ramps up online capacity ahead of ‘most digital Christmas yet’ October 26, 2020 Marks & Spencer is ramping up its online delivery capacity in the run up to what it said will be “the most digital Christmas yet”. M&S, which said festive-related searches are up 80 per cent on last year, will add more than 500 Christmas temporary employees. The new seasonal workers will be employed in addition [...]
Online retailer The Hut Group hikes full-year revenue guidance October 26, 2020 Online retailer The Hut Group (LON:THG) said revenue this year will be stronger than previously anticipated as it entered the crucial Christmas trading period, with Black Friday expected to boost sales. THG, which raised £1.88bn when it listed on the London Stock Exchange last month, this morning raised full-year 2020 revenue guidance to between £1.48bn [...]
Screenshot: Will the UK’s live music industry ever recover? October 23, 2020 A weekly column from City A.M. bringing you all the biggest stories and trends in technology, media and telecoms This week: ** Media Moment of the Week: Sky History gets tattoo regret ** Can the live music sector survive this crisis? ** The tide turns against Google Media Moment of the Week This week we [...]
KFC to hire 5,400 new workers despite ‘extremely difficult year’ for hospitality October 23, 2020 Fast food chain KFC has announced plans to hire 5,400 new workers in the UK and Ireland by the end of the year, signalling confidence in the hospitality industry despite an “extremely difficult year” for the sector. KFC, which has already employed more than 4,300 new team members since the start of lockdown, said the [...]
Entrepreneurs don’t want Rishi’s restaurant handouts — they want to be allowed to do their jobs October 23, 2020 The Conversative Father Christmas — Rishi Sunak, to you and me — has visited once again. In a better-late-than-never display of magnanimity, the chancellor has finally realised that conditions in Tier 2 Covid areas — which now cover 26.7 million people — make operating impossible for thousands of businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector. Whereas [...]
When will the government stop hanging bars out to dry? October 23, 2020 “Dreadful evening, so many bookings cancelled, sent half the staff home” “So many cancellations after new announcements — no way we could police it.” “Much, much lower takings, any good momentum we had is gone.” This is the real, unfiltered voice of the hospitality industry. These direct quotes from our bars’ manager reports last Saturday [...]