‘Imperative’ that Oxford Street pedestrianisation includes hospitality May 9, 2025 The Mayor of London’s plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street must offer visitors “a mix of hospitality, leisure and retail” if it is to be successful – including eating and drinking spaces scattered through the middle of what used to be the road – the UK’s top hospitality lobby group has said. Writing to Sir Sadiq [...]
Co-op breach a ‘stark reminder of why cash remains essential’ May 8, 2025 The disruption to card payments at Co-op stores last week is a warning to Brits on over reliance on digital payments, according to a leading consultancy firm. The Co-op shut down parts of its IT systems last week and suspended contactless payments at nearly 10 per cent of stores after detecting a potential breach. “The [...]
Transforming Elephant & Castle May 8, 2025 Elephant & Castle is changing, but its unique cultural history will be protected too, says Rick de Blaby Elephant & Castle is named after a coaching inn at a major crossroads, with the first recorded reference in 1765. By the early 20th century it was known as “The Piccadilly Circus of South London”, centred on [...]
Mark Kleinman: This is not just any retail cyber attack… May 8, 2025 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column This is not just any retail cyber attack… It’s hardly an exclusive club these days: a big listed company is the victim of a major cyber attack, compromising its systems and ability to continue serving customers. [...]
Gymshark: How going public could help take on ‘monster rivals’ Nike and Adidas May 7, 2025 Gymshark, the activewear brand co-founded by billionaire Ben Francis, could be pushed towards becoming a public company in its bid to “achieve the kind of global domination enjoyed by monster rivals Nike and Adidas”. According to Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, the Solihull-headquartered business would need to “amp up its presence” [...]
London crowned most expensive city for office refits after ‘perfect storm’ of costs May 7, 2025 Demand for high-quality facilities and specialist skills has made London the most expensive city in the world to refit an office, according to new research. The average high specification project in London costs £4,671 ($5,932) per square metre, four per cent higher than runner-up New York and eight per cent higher than third-place Zurich, Turner [...]
H&M Group takes minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra May 7, 2025 H&M has taken a minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra as it looks to deepen its relationship with the company. The stake, which is less than 10 per cent, values Centra at just over half a billion Swedish kronor, according to Di Digital. H&M will invest SEK 50m (£3.9m) in the company, which supports retail [...]
Trainline to take on Labour as shares plunge May 7, 2025 Trainline shares fell nearly eight per cent in early deals on Wednesday despite ticket sales reaching almost £6bn across its platform. The London-listed ticketing app’s stock price has fallen by more than a third this year due to concerns over government plans to launch a rival state-owned service. Trainline said it was taking an “increasingly [...]
Opus. A New Horizon May 7, 2025 Now launched by esteemed developer Native Land, Opus is set to become a definingarchitectural and residential landmark on the south bank of the River Thames. Rising to 50storeys, this striking tower marks the next chapter of elevated living in London – an addresswhere exceptional design, cultural vibrancy, and sustainability converge in the capital’s mostforward-looking district. The [...]
M&S and Co-op: UK retailers brace for cyber attacks May 1, 2025 Two of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands – Marks and Spencer and Co-op – found themselves at the centre of a growing cyber security storm this past week. From suspended online orders at M&S to locked-down systems at Co-op, the message from the frontline is clear: cyber threats are no longer just an IT [...]