The best restaurant I ate at in 2022: Why Sessions Arts Club is pure dining escapism December 30, 2022 Every now and then, perhaps once or twice a year, a place opens that combines all the right elements in just the right order to create the rare alchemy that we call the “it” restaurant. Gloria did it with its maximalist Italian amore della vita, as did Gymkhana with its studiously crafted modern Indian cuisine [...]
Business energy support set to be halved to reduce taxpayer bill December 30, 2022 Support for businesses to help them cope with swelling energy bills will halve in the spring to avoid taxpayers holding the bag if oil and gas prices surge again, according to The Times. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt next month will announce a 12-month extension to a scheme that caps energy costs for businesses, similar to a [...]
Govt accused of ‘rank double standards’ as civil servants paid £30m in vouchers December 29, 2022 The Government has been accused of “rank double standards” after giving almost £30 million in high-street vouchers to civil servants amid a pay freeze prompted by the cost-of-living crisis. Sixteen Whitehall departments in 2021-22 paid out a combined total of £29.57 million to staff in the form of ‘reward and recognition’ vouchers, a third more [...]
Cancel culture: Will 2022’s cancelled celebrities make 2023 comebacks? December 24, 2022 If we’ve learned anything about cancel culture in the last few years, it’s that being cancelled doesn’t necessary mean, well, being cancelled. Harvey Weinstein had been cancelled. But then there he was, sipping on a drink in a public bar, without a care in the world. J.K. Rowling had been cancelled too. But then there [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group agrees £340m debt terms with lender December 22, 2022 The Restaurant Group has announced an amendment and extension of its debt facilities, with a revised £340m package. On Thursday, the owner of the Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s brands said the new deal comprised of a £220m term loan facility and a £120m revolving credit facility with its existing lenders. The new terms represented [...]
Britain’s workaholics: Meet the Hackney fishmonger who is up earlier than the milkman December 21, 2022 Britain’s small business owners are among the hardest working people in the country with many up before the milkman and still going long after the DJ has played their final song. Nearly half of bosses work more than 50 hours per week while a third start work before 5am – a time better known to [...]
Restaurants with DJs and live music to book for New Year’s Eve in London December 21, 2022 It may still be days until Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t already left it extremely late to make your New Year’s Eve plans. If you feel a little old for clubbing, we have the perfect solution: go to a restaurant. This selection of dining venues all have special menus and live entertainment to [...]
Government must outline support for businesses, urges leading energy supplier December 20, 2022 One of the UK’s leading energy suppliers has criticised the delay in outlining future support for businesses beyond next spring.
London businesses lament dismal start to 2023 after another rail strike set for January December 20, 2022 Hospitality leaders have reiterated calls for rail firms and unions to hash out an eleventh-hour resolution to swerve January strikes, after train drivers announced another walk-out. Train drivers at 15 companies in the union Aslef have agreed to strike on 5 January, as part of a long-standing pay dispute. The walkout will take place on [...]
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]