UK government launches £1bn Omicron rescue package for pubs, bars and restaurants December 21, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has launched a fresh £1bn rescue package to help sectors worst hit by the Omicron-induced economic storm survive. Pubs, bars and restaurants across England can now receive a one-off no strings attached payment of £6,000 per venue, the UK government announced today. Sunak said: “We recognise that the spread of the Omicron [...]
Cabinet to meet over additional Covid curbs to slow Omicron spread December 20, 2021 Cabinet ministers are to meet virtually this afternoon to discuss potential new measures to slow the spread of Omicron. A meeting will be held at 2pm this afternoon, with the BBC reporting that officials will look at three options for fresh measures. According to the BBC, the measures relate to different levels of severity: low, [...]
Raab says there are ‘no guarantees’ over Christmas Covid restrictions December 20, 2021 Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has said the government "can't make hard, fast guarantees" that there will not be a Christmas lockdown.
‘We’ve been thrown under the bus’: hospitality demands government support as the UK faces further restrictions December 20, 2021 Business owners have called for greater government support and stronger communication as the UK heads towards another lockdown.
England could face two-week ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown after Christmas December 18, 2021 Dark clouds are looming over the festive season with ministers planning a circuit breaker lockdown after Christmas to tackle the Omicron variant.
City of London calls on Rishi Sunak to support businesses in the Covid-emptied Square Mile December 17, 2021 The City of London’s local authority has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to provide “much needed” financial support for shops, restaurants and pubs in the Square Mile after the government reintroduced its ‘work from home’ advice. In a letter to the Chancellor, The City of London Corporation policy chair Catherine McGuiness warned that small businesses [...]
Asian food-focused delivery startup HungryPanda raises $130m December 17, 2021 London-headquartered HungryPanda, a food delivery startup that caters for Asian restaurants and populations overseas, has today announced it’s closed a $130m Series D funding round – just over a year after its $70m Series C. Its latest round was led by the family-backed private equity and growth investor Perwyn, alongside investors Kinnevik, Felix Capital, 83North, [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile today? December 17, 2021 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every morning. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. Carzam Online used car business Carzam’s has appointed Paddy Power’s former boss as a new executive chairman. Andy McCue, who spent a decade with the gaming and betting giant, was also CEO of The Restaurant Group during [...]
Hospitality pleads Chancellor for support amid ‘deja vu’ of mass cancellations reminiscent of March 2020 December 16, 2021 Pubs and restaurants have condemned the Chancellor’s “silence” over support measures for businesses after mass cancellations amid a surge in Omicron Covid cases. England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said the public should be considering “de-prioritising” certain social events in order to ensure they can visit family at Christmas. Fears of the highly transmissible Omicron [...]
Things between Zurich and Greggs heat up as insurer insists on slicing bakery’s £100m covid claim to £2.5m December 14, 2021 Zurich Insurance has retaliated in a London court against a claim by bakery chain Greggs for between £50m to £100m in payouts for Covid-19 related losses, according to reports. The insurance giant told the court that its business interruption cover went up to £2.5m for a single event, according to Legal 360, which first reported [...]