Brexit: 23 answers to investors’ questions October 16, 2018 The UK’s scheduled departure from the EU is fast approaching. Many observers are hopeful for an orderly withdrawal. But plenty of potential pitfalls between now and Brexit-day which could result in a chaotic divorce. The only near-certainty at present is that the UK will cease to be a full member of the EU on 29 [...]
Embattled Patisserie Valerie boss steps down from The Restaurant Group amid financial fiasco October 15, 2018 Patisserie Valerie’s boss has resigned from his role on the board of The Restaurant Group (TRG) “with immediate effect”, as he vies to keep the cake firm afloat in the wake of an accounting scandal. Paul May has stood down from his position at the group, which owns brands such as Frankie & Benny's and [...]
Editor’s Notes: The joy of Scan-dining, coming down to earth and never mind the Banksys October 12, 2018 The City’s restaurant scene has changed enormously even in the last few years. There’s more life in the Square Mile at weekends and more choice for City lunches than ever before. These are exciting times. A good way to get a sense of this is to embark, as I did yesterday, on a lunch safari. [...]
Chilango offers big investors a free burrito every week as it launches crowdfunder to help fund five new London restaurants October 11, 2018 Chilango is offering investors the chance to get a free meal a week, as it looks to raise £1m from its new ‘Burrito Bond’. The Mexican restaurant chain plan to add five more establishments to its 10 in London by 2020. Read more: Protein powerhouse Glanbia shakes things up to buy Slimfast for $350m It [...]
Fevertree’s fizz falls flat with investors as shares dip again October 10, 2018 Fevertree’s share price is down more than nine per cent today as the tonic maker continues to tumble from its mid-September peak. The gin mixer brand saw its stock hit its highest level on 12 September, at 4,120p, but it has failed to climb further, instead seeing shares dip in the weeks before today’s losses. [...]
Passenger numbers soar to 1.5m at London Luton Airport October 10, 2018 London Luton Airport has hit a new milestone after experiencing its busiest September ever with more than 1.5m passengers travelling through it last month. It marks the 20th consecutive month that the London-based airport has welcomed more than 1m passengers and represents a 3.9 per cent increase on the same month last year as demand [...]
Pub giant Marston’s hikes profits as summer boom adds to sizzling sales October 10, 2018 Pub operator Marston's today said it expects to see higher growth in annual profit, after boosted sales in the summer led the turnaround from a disappointing first half of the year. The figures In a trading update before its preliminary annual results, Marston's said group turnover grew 15 per cent to more than £1.1bn. As [...]
Patisserie Valerie suspends finance boss as it warns investors of potential fraud October 10, 2018 Patisserie Valerie has warned shareholders of potential fraud this morning, suspending its shares from trading. The cake maker has also suspended finance boss Chris Marsh as it investigates the potential black hole in its accounts. Read more: Patisserie Valerie shares face suspension over '£20m accounting hole' The irregularity could be as high as £20m, according [...]
Insurer Beazley becomes second tenant in City skyscraper Twentytwo October 10, 2018 The City's tallest skyscraper has landed its second major tenant – specialist insurer Beazley – in a sign of the bumper year for insurance take-up in the Square Mile. City A.M. can reveal the FTSE 250 insurer is set to take 50,000 square feet (sq ft) over two floors at 22 Bishopsgate when construction is finished [...]
Last call: Uber drivers to stage 24hr strike in London today October 9, 2018 Hundreds of Uber drivers are set to stage a 24-hour walkout across London today, in addition to protests in Nottingham and Birmingham, over workers' rights and demands for increased wages. The strike is being organised by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), and is scheduled to begin at 1pm. A separate demonstration is also expected to be [...]