Will Andy Burnham’s stockpile missive start a tinned food revolution? Analysis If you are old enough to remember 70s London you will have heard of Big Biba, the fashion retailer that expanded into a huge, seven-storey department store on Kensington High Street in 1974. The opening of Big Biba mesmerised Londoners: the shopping experience was unlike anything else. The walls were adorned with groovy patterns while [...]
Traffic-free Oxford Street delivers boost for retailers Retail Retailers on London’s Oxford Street have seen their sales jump by nearly a fifth since the iconic shopping street was pedestrianised last month. The number of transactions at 40 Oxford Street stores jumped by 19 per cent in the first week of the scheme, compared both to the prior week and the same time last [...]
Meet the woman trying to fix hospitality’s toxic kitchen culture Food Can a company backed by some of hospitality’s biggest names push the industry to clean up its act, asks Carys Sharkey This autumn some of the most influential figures in London’s hospitality scene gathered to discuss the issues hitting the industry. But for once, cost pressures weren’t top of the agenda. Instead, chefs and restaurateurs [...]
‘The government needs to take us seriously’: Pub landlords brew plans to bar MPs – again November 3, 2026 Pub landlords across the country are poised to launch a fresh ban on hundreds of MPs after a campaign to cut VAT on hospitality fell on deaf ears in the House of Commons. Andy Lennox, who led a ban on Labour MPs following the surge in business rates bills caused by last year’s Budget, told [...]
Renault 5 E-Tech 2026 long-term review – final report October 30, 2026 So, my time is almost up with the Renault 5. I had quietly hoped that Renault’s press office would forget to ask for it back, but no such luck. After four months as our do-it-all family car, we’re obliged to say au revoir. Production of the reborn R5 started in October 2024 and, two years [...]
Gherkins and guffawing: Watching my first Budget, an idiot’s blow-by-blow account October 29, 2026 Culture writer Adam Bloodworth tried to watch the Budget 2026 in full. From the famous 4p off gherkins to the pantomime jibes, he struggled to keep pace with the childish politicians I am an alien in the City AM office. While the other journalists concern themselves with taxation and business rates, I am writing about [...]
Alushibe Holding Group to Bring 12 Global F&B Brands to Libya by 2028 October 29, 2026 Ahmed Gadalla signs exclusive master franchise agreement with Türkiye's MADO: US$7 million, 7 cafés and 350 jobs in the first phase; 1,000 sq m Benghazi flagship opens Q1 2027
Pint prices to rise as Healey hikes beer duty October 28, 2026 The price of a pint is set to rise by 2p after John Healey announced plans to hike beer duty, saddling pubs with more costs despite a commitment to cut their business rates. The Chancellor said alcohol duty, which is charged on every pint sold, will rise in line with Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, [...]
Budget 2026: Healey grants HMRC sweeping powers to chase tax debts October 28, 2026 John Healey has given HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) more funding and sweeping powers “to collect overdue tax from those who can clearly afford to pay but ignore repeated contact”, in yet another clampdown on tax debts. The move marks a major expansion of the taxman’s power and comes amid the government’s push to stamp [...]
Jobs apocalypse: Britain’s biggest firms cut more than 130,000 roles in two years October 28, 2026 Britain’s biggest businesses have axed more than 130,000 jobs over the past two years, a City AM analysis has found, laying bare the scale of pressure facing firms amid surging employment costs and the growing tide of automation. The analysis compiled more than 250 separate media reports of layoffs, job cuts and company administrations at [...]