New £27m aparthotel planned for Aldgate February 13, 2020 A new £27m 12-storey aparthotel development in Aldgate has been given the go-ahead, in the latest sign of confidence in London’s hotel market. US asset manager Oaktree Capital Management has backed the development, which will be a new Locke hotel operated by Edyn Group. The 103-unit venue in Buckle Street, near Aldgate East station and [...]
Restaurants and pubs boost sales during Dry January February 13, 2020 Restaurants and pubs had a strong start to the year despite sluggish growth in London, as they catered for vegan diets and Dry January, according to the latest research. The UK’s managed pub, bar and restaurant sector reported sales growth of 1.9 per cent in January compared to the same month last year, as relatively [...]
Weekly Grill: Barboun’s Fez Ozalgan on vomiting chicken hearts and cooking steak February 10, 2020 Who are you and what do you do? My name is Fez Ozalgan. I’m the head chef of Barboun on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch. Tell us about Barboun It’s an Eastern Mediterranean grill restaurant, specialising in dishes cooked over open fire. The menu features a lot of fish and vegetables but, in my opinion, a [...]
Hostel chain Safestay reports strong start to 2020 February 3, 2020 Boutique hostel brand Safestay said it had “momentum” going into this year after sales surged in 2019 following its portfolio expansion. Total revenue increased 25 per cent to £18.3m last year as the hostel chain opened eight new venues, taking its total portfolio to 21 sites and more than 5,100 beds. Like-for-like revenue was up [...]
Dominic Cummings sets up ‘spy network’ in bid to stop leaks February 3, 2020 Boris Johnson’s top adviser has set up a network of informants in plush Westminster restaurants in an audacious bid to stop ministerial aides from leaking to journalists. Dominic Cummings told special advisers on Friday that they must cough up half the bill if they go out for lunch, dinner or drinks with members of the [...]
Outernet: Is London’s new media complex the future of urban entertainment? February 3, 2020 Trying to find a definition for Outernet can sometimes feel like explaining Tiktok to a grandparent. Once completed, the 34,000 square feet (sq ft) site — sat squarely on the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road — will boast the world’s largest deployment of LED screens, as well as shops, restaurants, offices, a [...]
Davos Diary: Day 5 January 24, 2020 So here I am, on the final day of the 2020 World Economic Forum. It seems a lifetime ago that I woke up early on Monday morning, the Alpine air fresh in my nostrils and excited for the week ahead. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of heavyweights, celebrities, insights and networks: Thunberg, Trump, Charles, [...]
More than 280 jobs lost as Handmade Burger Co. collapses January 23, 2020 Casual dining chain Handmade Burger Co. collapsed into administration for the second time today, making more than 280 workers redundant. Leonard Curtis was appointed as administrator of The Burger Chain Limited this morning, after attempts to secure a sale of the business were unsuccessful. All 18 restaurants have closed, with the loss of 283 jobs, [...]
Uber sells Indian food delivery business to Zomato January 21, 2020 Uber today said it has sold its food delivery business in India to local rival Zomato in an all-share deal worth a reported $350m (£268m). The deal gives Uber a 10 per cent stake in Zomato, which is backed by Ant Financial, a fintech affiliate of Chinese conglomerate Alibaba. The companies did not disclose the [...]
Mobile shopping startup Rezolve shuns security fears with planned Huawei tie-up January 20, 2020 Mobile shopping firm Rezolve is set to bag a bumper deal with Huawei to embed its technology into the controversial Chinese tech giant’s phones. The new capability is expected to be available from March, when Rezolve will reveal further tie-ups with retailers, restaurants and media partners. The technology allows consumers to make purchases by using [...]