From Tudor to Bell & Ross: How modern watches are leaving nostalgia behind August 1, 2025 Retro, revivalist, old-skool, shabby-chic, heritage… However you want to pigeonhole #vintage there’s no denying that beyond the bare brickwork and filament lightbulbs of hip vinyl cafés, the trend’s nostalgic tendrils have stretched all the way to Switzerland. This is not without precedent, admittedly: the country’s famed mechanical timepiece is, after all, inherently anachronistic in an [...]
Housing affordability creeps up amid wage growth and rate cuts August 1, 2025 Housing affordability in the UK has slowly been improving amid slower house price growth than wage growth, as well as a fallback in mortgage rates. House prices grew 2.4 per cent in the year to July, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index, while wage growth was five per cent. The price of a typical [...]
SME housebuilders are key to growth – and the Conservative revival August 1, 2025 Housing was a major cause of the Conservative collapse – particularly with young people. If we want to build the right houses in the right places, SMEs are the answer, says Jack Rankin Like the Chancellor, I’m no economist. She might have a degree in PPE, but you don’t need that to work out that [...]
UK should introduce its own ‘Trump card’ to woo back the wealthy August 1, 2025 To address the UK’s fiscal challenges and reverse capital flight, Rachel Reeves’ government should implement creative, pro-investment policies, such as reforming non-dom rules and reintroducing an investor visa, rather than pursuing punitive tax measures, says Brandon Lewis Rachel Reeves’ recent Mansion House speech was full of assurances that she would neither bend nor break in [...]
What’s on London August 2025 July 31, 2025 London truly comes alive in August, offering countless ways to enjoy the city. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new exhibitions, take part in fitness activities from outdoor yoga to an exciting range of installations at London Sports Festival, and try new cuisines at bustling food markets or new restaurants. Our guide outlines some of [...]
Forest’s Hounslow e-bike contract win sparks concerns over cash-first tender model July 31, 2025 Hounslow Council awarded one of its two e-bike contracts to the operator which offered them the highest fees despite scoring demonstrably lower than rivals on other metrics, City AM can reveal. The move, which has attracted fury from rival operators, lays bare the competing interests of cash-strapped local authorities as they weigh which criteria to prioritise [...]
Inside The National Gallery’s intriguing new restaurant with food inspired by Caravaggio July 31, 2025 With multiple London restaurants opening every week, it’s a food writer’s dream when one comes along and offers something different. Locatelli, the new opening within The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, did just that when an invite popped into my inbox. The menu, says the press release, is “reflective of the restaurant’s surroundings.” Interesting! I [...]
Chloe Kelly and the Lionesses are marketing gold. Brands take note July 31, 2025 In a world gripped by political instability and economic uncertainty, the Lionesses offer something powerful: focus, momentum, and cultural relevance. Sunday’s nail-biting Euro 2025 win wasn’t just a sporting triumph. It was a commercial line in the sand. The Lionesses aren’t a moment – they’re a movement. And for brands, the message is clear: the [...]
Another blow to London as Just Group goes to Canadian manager July 31, 2025 The London Stock Exchange lost yet another constituent to foreign ownership on Thursday, after pension insurer Just Group agreed a bumper takeover deal from Canadian asset manager Brookfield Wealth Solutions (BWS). The FTSE 250 firm’s board told markets it had accepted a £2.4bn offer from the North American company in a deal valuing the firm [...]
Rachel Reeves could use bank windfall tax to plug Labour’s U-turns July 31, 2025 Rachel Reeves could launch a fresh tax grab on banks to plug the spending holes left by Labour’s recent U-turns, new analysis has found. The Chancellor is poised to hike taxes in the Autumn Budget after a series of government policy switches eroded her already wafer-thin fiscal headroom of £9.9bn. This comes as fresh research [...]