West End gets bank holiday boost as shoppers flock to central London June 1, 2021 Shoppers flocked to London’s West End over the bank holiday weekend, keen to make the most of shops, restaurants and bars in the sunshine. Footfall in the area was up 67 per cent over the bank holiday weekend when compared with last weekend’s figures, data from New West End Company found, which represents 600 retail, [...]
Caffè Nero slurps up 82 per cent post-restrictions sales spike May 31, 2021 Caffè Nero has enjoyed a sales spike in recent weeks, as restrictions were gradually eased, while it has also repaid all of its Covid financial support. Weekly sales surged 82 per cent as outdoor seating was allowed and then restricted indoor eating was permitted in the last 13 weeks. After paying back a £12.2m Liquidity [...]
Hospitality: A quarter of Britain’s pubs and restaurants still to reopen after lockdown May 31, 2021 One in four of Britain’s restaurants, pubs, bars and other licensed premises have yet to reopen despite the return of inside service. Around 25,000 venues across Britain are still shut, according to new hospitality data from CGA and AlixPartners, shared with City A.M. this morning. The data shows similar trading numbers in England (76.6 per cent) and Scotland [...]
‘Nothing but blue skies’: Today could be the hottest day of the year so far May 31, 2021 Today’s Bank Holiday could be the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures predicted to hit 25C in parts of the UK. Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist from the Met Office, said the mercury could reach 25C today – surpassing the high for 2021 so far, which was set on March 30 at Kew [...]
Clucky escape: Nando’s avoids £300m debt default May 30, 2021 Lenders have given Nando’s some breathing space to avoid it defaulting on a £300m debt pile after being hit hard by pandemic-led restrictions. Banks including NatWest, Barclays and Santander have agreed to waive the testing of loan covenants in May, the Telegraph first reported, a move that helped Nando’s avoid defaulting. Covid restrictions have seen [...]
Bank holiday: Pubs predict 21m fewer pints sold and £80m in lost sales May 28, 2021 Bank holiday: Pubs predict 21m fewer pints sold and £80m in lost revenue
Grocery sales: Ocado on top as supermarkets snag 58m more visits as UK exited lockdown May 25, 2021 As the UK’s vaccination programme pushes on, supermarkets have enjoyed 58m more shopping visits in the first quarter of this year than last year, according to industry data released today. Supermarkets actually had more visits in the 12 weeks to 16 May, than when panic buying gripped shoppers at the start of the pandemic, market [...]
Full reopening key for West End landlord Shaftesbury after its £338m loss over winter lockdown May 25, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury banking on a summer revival after its £338m loss over winter lockdown
Listed law firm DWF announces two acquisitions as trading beats expectations May 25, 2021 City law firm DWF has resumed M&A activity, acquiring two businesses after a strong year of trading amid the pandemic. The listed firm this morning announced it had acquired compliance training business Zing 365 Holdings for £1.8m, as well as reaching an agreement to acquire BCA Claims & Consulting. DWF said completion of the £2.2m [...]
Wagamama owner Restaurant Group sees sales rebound as dining returns May 25, 2021 Wagamama owner Restaurant Group said sales were recovering well as Brits dined after the lifting of lockdown restrictions. The group, which has around 350 sites trading since the resumption of indoor dining, said delivery services were much higher before Covid curbs were eased. Some 130 of its Wagamama sites traded at 85 per cent of [...]