Meet M Threadneedle’s newest member of staff: Marion the robot December 5, 2020 This has been a year of surprises, few of them very pleasant – especially when it comes to the hospitality sector. But being served a glass of Veuve Clicquot by a robot called Marion was an unexpected and welcome moment of levity, especially on the first day out of lockdown. Marion the champagne bot is [...]
Goin’ underground: Tube journeys jump a third as lockdown ends December 3, 2020 The number of Tube journeys jumped a third yesterday compared to last week as the national lockdown restrictions were finally lifted. According to data from Transport for London (TfL), there were 2.64m taps in-and-out of Tube stations yesterday, 33 per cent higher than on the same day last week. That’s roughly a third of the [...]
Square Mile comes back to life as second lockdown ends December 2, 2020 As London emerges from the second lockdown there are tentative signs that life is returning to the City. London today entered Tier 2, representing a slight easing of lockdown restrictions, just as news of the Pfizer/Biontech vaccine approval landed in the Square Mile. City leaders breathe a sigh of relief Gyms, barbers and beauty salons [...]
Bottoms up: Vodka maker Stock Spirits plans special dividend as lockdown home drinkers boost profit December 2, 2020 Vodka maker Stock Spirits shares are up after it said a lockdown sales surge and profit rise will result in a special dividend for investors
From today, business lunches are allowed again December 2, 2020 Business lunches inside ARE allowed under new Tier 2 restrictions, so from today, the Government has confirmed. The Business Department confirmed the policy to City A.M. earlier. Official sources have though said that a traditional office Christmas lunch would not be permitted under the rules coming into place in London today. Government guidance dictates that [...]
What counts as a substantial meal under new Tier 2 rules for pubs? December 2, 2020 Scotch eggs were first mentioned in the House of Commons in 1979 by Labour MP George Cunningham, who said the proposed introduction of pub meals was little more than a decoy to sell more booze. Pub food would “likely result in the sale of liquor — and that is what we are talking about rather [...]
Where chefs plan to celebrate the end of lockdown 2 December 1, 2020 It has been a truly miserable month for foodies, who have had to rely on the new home delivery options from top restaurants to get their fix. As lockdown 2 nears its conclusion, we spoke to some of London’s top chefs to find out where they will be spending their first post-lockdown meal. Take some [...]
Restaurants and clubs that survive Covid may see a boom like never before December 1, 2020 For those in the hospitality industry, 2020 can’t end soon enough. Recent news suggests that by Spring, London finally will start to see some semblance of normal life return, with a lifting of this year’s countless rules and regulations. The hospitality industry has been decimated this year, despite the Government’s attempts to help by offering [...]
London set for major new music venue after £1.3bn Olympia revamp December 1, 2020 London’s music scene will be given a much-needed boost with the launch of a major new music venue as part of a £1.3bn overhaul of the Olympia exhibition centre. The iconic west London site, which first opened its doors in 1886, has played host to some of the biggest names in pop and rock, including [...]
Moderna seeks green light from US and EU for Covid-19 vaccine November 30, 2020 Moderna will today apply for emergency authorisation to roll out its Covid-19 vaccine in the US and the EU after its latest trial showed a 94 per cent success rate. The US biotech firm will submit data to regulators in both regions, paving the way for a potential rollout in December. Moderna today published full [...]