All adults to be vaccinated ‘by June’ as jab programme accelerates March 13, 2021 Every adult in Britain will be offered their first dose of a Covid vaccine by early June, according to reports, as the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme continues to accelerate. All adults will be offered at least one jab by around 10 June, beating the government’s target of the end of July, according to estimates [...]
Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out but rules out repeat this summer March 12, 2021 The chancellor has defended last year’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme despite concerns it caused a spike in coronavirus cases, though he ruled out reintroducing it after lockdown restrictions are lifted. In evidence to MPs yesterday, Rishi Sunak that there was so much “pent-up” demand for meals and pints out among consumers that there [...]
Best of travel: Living La Dolce Vita in Puglia in a Fiat 500 March 10, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. Today we revisit Adam Hay-Nicholls’ drive through Puglia in a retro Fiat 500. ••• I’m touring the heel of Italy in a car with no seatbelts and ropes for doors. Puglia is home to the mainland’s best [...]
Government extends ban on commercial property evictions to dismay of landlords March 10, 2021 The government has extended its ban on commercial property evictions for a further three months, to the dismay of landlords who say some tenants “can pay, but won’t pay” their rents. Robert Jenrick MP, the housing minister, this afternoon confirmed that the block on evictions will continue until 30 June, compared to the previous cut [...]
36 amazing restaurant delivery kits to cure your food ennui March 10, 2021 Almost a year since the first lockdown, the restaurant world has been forced to change in ways that would have seemed laughable in the pre-Covid times. Top chefs including Simon Rogan are now launching successful at-home delivery platforms that promise to change the face of fine dining for years to come. We have sampled some [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group taps investors for £175m March 10, 2021 The Restaurant Group, which owns Japanese-inspired chain Wagamama, is preparing to tap investors for £175m. The firm said this morning that capital raise will be used as a buffer in case of a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic and also allow it to expand its Wagamama brand and pubs business. Restaurant Group said it expects [...]
Zara owner Inditex posts 70 per cent drop in net profit during pandemic March 10, 2021 Zara owner Inditex this morning posted a 70 per cent drop in net profit after a year of trading restrictions and weak demand during the coronavirus pandemic. The European retail giant said profit last year fell to €1.1bn, a steeper drop than anticipated, due to the impact of store closures during global Covid-19 lockdowns. Total [...]
FTSE 100 opens lower as inflation worries weigh March 10, 2021 The FTSE 100 opened lower this morning as market momentum slowed following a tech-fuelled rally on Wall Street last night and inflation worries weighed on investors. London’s blue-chip index dipped 0.21 per cent to 6,715 points shortly after markets opened. The domestically focused FTSE 250 was marginally down. It came on the back of a [...]
Just Eat Takeaway forecasts order growth after bumper year March 10, 2021 Just Eat Takeaway today said it expected further growth in orders in 2021 after the pandemic helped drive a sharp rise in revenue for the year. The food delivery group hailed an “exceptional” 2020 after posting revenue of €2.4bn (£2bn), up 54 per cent from €1.6bn in the previous 12 months. The company said it [...]
West End classic Angus Steakhouse ‘on brink of administration’ March 9, 2021 West End staple Angus Steakhouse is reportedly on the edge of collapse unless it can secure rent concessions from its landlords. The restaurant chain, which was founded in the 1960s, has hired KPMG in a bid to strike a last-minute deal with landlords, the Telegraph reported. The Big Four auditor has written to letters to [...]