Are vaccine passports inevitable to keep the global travel industry afloat? February 10, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps today gave the clearest indication yet that people could soon be required to prove they had been vaccinated in order to travel abroad. Speaking to the BBC, he confirmed talks had been held with his counterparts in the US and Singapore over creation of an international vaccine certification system. Such a [...]
Man Down: Rihanna’s Fenty fashion line closes after two years February 10, 2021 Pop star Rihanna is closing her Fenty fashion line less than two years in production. Luxury goods group LVMH announced it was putting the brand “on hold” but pledged to concentrate on the “Fenty ecosystem” which includes Rihanna’s lingerie and beauty ranges. The singer and Louis Vuitton owner launched the brand in May 2019 and [...]
London pubs and restaurants face ‘bombshell’ without action on business rates, Khan says February 10, 2021 London pubs, restaurants, shops and other hospitality firms have saved more than £3bn due to the business rates holiday, it was revealed today, as pressure mounted on the government to extend the break. Figures showed that 73,140 retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in the capital had benefited from the business rates holiday during the pandemic [...]
Twitter, Uber and Disney: What to expect in the latest round of tech earnings February 9, 2021 Twitter, Uber and Disney will all be under the spotlight as they report fourth-quarter earnings this week. Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google (known as the FAANGs) all closed the year with bumper results as the tech titans continued to cash in on the pandemic. But it will be a more complicated picture for Twitter, [...]
Best of travel: Beijing and its surprising contemporary art scene February 9, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. This week we revisit Laura Millar’s exploration of Beijing’s contemporary art scene. Read more: Jaguar XF P300 review: revitalised luxury at a surprisingly low price ••• Picture the likes of London’s White Cube, the Saatchi Gallery, and the [...]
Cain International mulling insolvency process for Italian chain Prezzo – report February 8, 2021 The private equity firm which bought Italian chain Prezzo in December is reportedly mulling putting the restaurant group through an insolvency process. Sky News reported that Cain International was considering a number of options, including pre-pack administration, as uncertainty over the future of the casual dining sector goes on. The firm, which also owns Swingers [...]
Franco Manca owner The Fulham Shore in talks over restaurant expansion February 8, 2021 Franco Manca owner The Fulham Shore said it is in negotiations for many sites across the UK as it gets ready to restart its expansion plans as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted. The firm has been able to secure discounts on new sites, with the coronavirus pandemic enabling it to acquire new restaurants at [...]
TDR Capital aims for bullseye with £540m Arrow offer February 8, 2021 Private equity firm TDR Capital has made a fourth offer for European investor and asset manager Arrow Global. The offer stands at a price of 305 pence per share, TDR said on Monday. Shares in Arrow rose 29 per cent to 298 pence following the bid, which would value the company at around £540m. The [...]
Losses at top 100 restaurant groups rocket 112 per cent to £571m February 8, 2021 Losses at the top 100 UK restaurant groups increased 112 per cent to £517m last year, rising from reported losses of £269m at the end of last month. According to UHY Hacker Young, the losses are expected to continue, as restaurants have been forced to shut again because of the latest coronavirus restrictions. UK Hospitality, [...]
Don’t let Covid spoil Valentine’s Day – bring the party home February 6, 2021 Usually the first busy night of the year for bars and restaurants, this Valentine’s Day promises to be a more subdued affair thanks to ongoing restrictions. But don’t let that spoil the romantic fun – here’s a list of some ways to bring the party to you on 14 February. Boisdale Valentine’s Night Dinner Kit [...]