Most Arcadia stores lie empty a year after empire’s collapse December 1, 2021 Press Association THE vast majority of stores from Sir Philip Green’s former Arcadia empire remain empty a year after the retailer’s dramatic collapse. Around 86 per cent of shop sites run by the group – which included Topshop, Topman, Burton and Dorothy Perkins stores – are still vacant, according to data from the Local Data [...]
How the Berlin Wall still influences culture and commerce December 1, 2021 Nature is reclaiming the Death Strip. Pioneer birch trees have self-seeded, creating a winding, shady memorial that cuts through the heart of Berlin. There are cherry blossoms too, a gift from the Japanese government. But it is the slim, silvery trunks of the birches, and the dappled, dancing shadows they cast on the path, that [...]
London lags behind country on house price growth December 1, 2021 London is still playing catch up to the rest of the country on house price growth, Rightmove data revealed today. The national average price of property is set to rise 5 per cent next year, thanks to the ongoing trends of fierce buyer demand and low stock levels. However, the London market will grow at [...]
Central London only slightly busier amid Black Friday sales November 29, 2021 Central London was only ever so slightly busier thanks to Black Friday deals last week as retail chiefs noted fewer shoppers than pre-pandemic levels. Central London saw a 2.3 per cent boost to footfall week on week for the week beginning 21 November. Footfall in the area was down 22.3 per cent on 2019 levels, [...]
Soho’s revival was a boon for the capital – the al fresco revolution must continue November 29, 2021 Eating outdoors with the sun beating down may feel like a distant memory now the nights have drawn in and the mercury has dropped. But we must not forget the critical role al fresco has played safeguarding countless jobs during throughout the pandemic. And what a joy it has been to walk around the West [...]
Restrictions make sense, but this cannot become the new normal November 28, 2021 One of the many criticisms of the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis has surrounded its seeming inability to learn lessons after the first wave. In particular, the failure to put in place effective border controls once a new variant was identified in India has been held up as one example of failing to take [...]
Five things we learned this weekend: United show Rangnick hallmarks to hold Chelsea November 28, 2021 We may not yet know how much he influenced Manchester United’s approach in their 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday but their approach bore some of the hallmarks of Ralf Rangnick. Rangnick is expected to arrive at United this week to take up the role of interim manager until the end of the season, when [...]
Energy crisis: Government sets aside £1.7bn to save ‘too-big-to-fail’ supplier Bulb November 25, 2021 Nearly £1.7bn is set aside by the government to allow Bulb to continue supplying energy to its customers as it tumbled into administration. In court on Wednesday, the company was put into special administration, which will allow it to continue to trade for the time being. The £1.69bn loan will be set aside by Government [...]
William Wolfe’s Guide to Living Excellently in London – an extract from this amazing new book November 24, 2021 This new book by the fictional William Wolfe is a who’s who of the London luxury scene – here are some of his top tips: In the 1960s a gentleman couldn’t possibly exist without Sir Francis Chichester’s Guide to Good Living in London. It was a pocket-sized map of the West End and the City, [...]
It starts with a chat: FinnCap CEO Sam Smith on the female IPO deficit November 24, 2021 Sam Smith has led FinnCap through a particularly busy six months, as a flurry of activity in the M&A and IPO markets helped the City broker achieve record half year results last week. Earnings jumped 55 per cent to a record £32m, pre-tax profit was up around three-quarters to £6.3m, and the firm enjoyed a [...]