Gove planning shake-up: ‘We need housing today, not tomorrow’ July 24, 2023 Michael Gove will loosen planning laws to allow vacant shops to be converted into homes as part of his latest efforts to tackle the UK’s housing crisis. On Monday the minister for housing and levelling up revealed a slew of planning reforms as well as a further commitment to building over 1m new homes across [...]
Adem is the new London hair salon you have to try July 21, 2023 A new in Belgravia hair salon inspired by nature and Turkish oils is top draw, finds Adam Bloodworth Posh hair salons are to be Belgravia what posh restaurants are to Mayfair. So how do you stand out in a crowded market? Forget the pomp and ceremony and just do a darn good haircut – or [...]
How to make the ultimate summer sangria July 20, 2023 My name is Pedro Paulo and I’m the head bartender at the Ham Yard hotel in Soho. This is my twist on a sparkling wine sangria. I have been making this recipe since I was a teenager and it never fails to impress. You can also prepare the drink ahead of time which makes hosting [...]
Chapel Down increases market share as premium wine sales soar July 20, 2023 Britain’s largest winemaker Chapel Down has upped its market share as demand for its luxury wines heats up. Chapel Down’s market share increased to 36 per cent in the first half of the year, and the brand drove 80 per cent of overall English Sparkling Wine category value growth, according to information tracker Nielsen. The [...]
The Square Mile and Me with Rowland Thomas on the energy of the City and its changes over time July 20, 2023 Each week we ask a City figure to take a trip down memory lane. Today, it’s Rowland Thomas, Close Brothers property finance managing director What was your first job? At the local greyhound kennels spreading sawdust on the training runs. I was accidentally paid double rates – £1 instead of 50p per hour – which [...]
Shiro restaurant on Broadgate Circle is for sushi done properly July 20, 2023 Finally, sushi that isn’t pretentious, high street or needlessly expensive, finds Adam Bloodworth Finally, new Broadgate Circle opening Shiro is somewhere to explore sushi as a culinary passion. Sushi is hard to get into in London. In West London it is sold for extortionate prices and dressed up in all sorts of fancy ways in [...]
Jamie Oliver looks to move on from chain collapse with new London restaurant July 19, 2023 Jamie Oliver has said he “hasn’t lost faith” in the restaurant industry as he pushes ahead with plans to open a new restaurant four years after the collapse of his eponymous high street chain. Speaking to The News Agents podcast on Wednesday the celebrity chef blamed a 40 per cent hike in business rates and [...]
Wagamama owner TRG dines out on cost savings as closure programme continues July 19, 2023 Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group (TRG) has seen revenues rise despite the cost of living crisis, it confirmed this morning, with plans to reduce overheads with a raft of closures continuing apace. Like-for-like sales in its most popular chain, Wagamama grew 21 per cent in the two weeks to 16 July 2023, despite trading being [...]
Why now is the best time to visit wild, untamed Sri Lanka July 18, 2023 It has been a tough few years for Sri Lanka but Steve Dinneen finds a country that’s ready to welcome tourists The last few years have been devastating for tourism-reliant countries across the world, but few have had it quite as bad as Sri Lanka. Visitor numbers fell to virtually zero following the 2019 Easter [...]
Live music gives London a £2bn boost – but venues are still battling rising costs July 18, 2023 Economists and melomaniacs alike have reason to cheer the capital’s post-pandemic musical revival with the capital’s coffers given a £2bn boost by large and small concerts alike. Nearly 5m music lovers flocked to the capital last year to attend live music events, according to a report from UK Music, filling hotels, bars and restaurants. The [...]