Olympia reborn: Inside a £1.3bn makeover for a 140-year-old icon Opinion Bringing a Victorian building into the modern age was a labour of love, but the method was “deceptively simple”, Olympia CEO Michael Volkert tells Andrew Busby Opened in 1886 as a Victorian temple to spectacle – trade fairs, Vivienne Westwood’s first runway show, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix under the same cast-iron roof – Olympia [...]
I’m a property developer – here’s why I’m still building in London Opinion Today’s housing market is hampered by higher interest rates, build cost inflation, weaker sales and headlines about war in the Middle East and Ukraine. But residential development has always been about managing cycles: with many projects taking more than a decade from conception through planning, construction to handing over the key to new homes. Property [...]
You can’t tax a casino if it’s closed Opinion Modern casinos are regulated entertainment destinations that invest in city centres, support skilled local careers and strengthen Britain’s visitor and night-time economy. Tax policy should recognise their full contribution, says Paul Willcock Politicians of every party say they want businesses to invest in Britain, regenerate city centres, create good jobs and attract overseas visitors. Genting is doing [...]
The Debate: Should Borough Market allow franchising? September 23, 2026 Bakery Bread Ahead claims it is being booted out of Borough Market for being "too successful" but should the market encourage expansion?
Next boss Wolfson tells Healey: ‘You can’t spend your way out of a crisis’ September 17, 2026 Lord Wolfson, Next’s chief executive, has urged Chancellor John Healey to cut spending at next month’s Budget, warning, “you can’t spend your way out of a funding crisis”. The retail boss has urged the government to clamp down on spending, avoid further tax hikes and slash planning red tape to boost economic growth. He told [...]
Dazn getting ‘IPO ready’, says CEO Segev, after swing into black and key hires September 15, 2026 Dazn chief executive Shay Segev has confirmed the global sports streaming platform is preparing for an IPO after achieving EBITDA profitability in 2025. Segev said the company had not decided on a timeframe for a float, nor whether the London-headquartered company would be listed on the FTSE or overseas. But he confirmed that the advent [...]
Battersea Power Station enters final ‘playful’ phase of £5bn project September 14, 2026 Battersea Power Station has entered the final phase of its £5bn regeneration project after its Malaysian owners submitted plans for the site’s remaining 16 acres. The neighbourhood’s newest development will add as much as 3.2m sq ft of residential, commercial and leisure space to the area, more than 15 years on from the original plans [...]
London Lions and NordVPN owner signs up NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal September 14, 2026 The owners of cybersecurity firm NordVPN and British basketball champions London Lions have signed up NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal as an ambassador. The 7ft 1in O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and member of the USA Dream Team who won Olympic gold at the Atlanta 1996 Games, is promoting NordVPN under the slogan “Go big on [...]
How Fevertree is taking on tap water to woo Gen-Z September 13, 2026 The world’s biggest ginger beer producer is waging war on tap water. Fevertree, best known for its premium tonics, is urging customers to see its products as standalone soft drinks, rather than as mixers for the harder stuff. “Tap water is not a very appealing, aspirational alternative” to alcohol, says the drinks maker’s chief executive, [...]
Giving Neets jobs in hospitality would generate £2.3bn, Hilton claims September 9, 2026 Hilton has urged the government to encourage unemployed young people into hospitality, claiming that filling all the industry’s vacancies would add £2.3bn to the economy. The hotel group, in collaboration with trade body UK Hospitality (UKH), has urged Andy Burnham to lower taxes on hospitality firms to give them the breathing space to take a [...]