Central London office space under offer climbs April 22, 2019 Fresh evidence of demand for Central London offices has emerged today, with new data showing a rise in year-on-year commercial space under offer in the City and West End. Read more: IWG shares surge after £320m Japanese franchise deal Roughly 3.7m square feet (sq ft) of office space was under offer during the first three [...]
On the rocks: Brewery openings stall as multinationals move in April 22, 2019 A boom in new brewery sites has slowed down dramatically in the last 12 months as multinational firms muscle in on the growing demand for craft beer. Read more: Carlsberg promotes negative tweets about its own beer Growing competition from large businesses has hindered smaller brewers from setting up new outlets, causing the growth in openings [...]
Chrysaor takes another big chunk in the North Sea with $2.7bn deal for Conoco Phillips oilfields April 18, 2019 Oil giant Conoco Phillips has exited the North Sea in a $2.7bn (£2.1bn) deal with private equity-backed Chrysaor Holdings. Chrysaor will get access to more than 280 million barrels of oil equivalent when it takes over two hubs in the North Sea, and an interest in the Clair oilfield area in the West of Shetlands region. [...]
Extinction Rebellion’s climate change protests blockades London roads for fourth day April 18, 2019 Londoners face another day of climate change protests today after action has so far cost businesses millions in lost revenue and disrupted key transport services. Read more: Protesters glue themselves to train at Canary Wharf station The Extinction Rebellion protest entered its fourth day this morning as organisers vowed they would not leave until the [...]
Crossrail ‘could be delayed until spring 2021’ April 18, 2019 Crossrail could be delayed until as long as 2021 after incurring some difficulty with the dynamic testing of trains and signalling, according to a BBC source. The Elizabeth Line, which will run between Reading and Shenfield Essex underneath central London, had been due to open in December 2018. Read more: MPs warn Crossrail may not [...]
Campaigning against climate change doesn’t make you above the law April 18, 2019 UNTIL this week, the anti-climate change activist group Extinction Rebellion had hardly been a household name. Its various activities, like pouring fake blood onto Downing Street and stripping semi-naked during a session of the House of Commons, had been received with the sort of good humour that the British people always reserve for righteous causes [...]
West End businesses lose £12m in two days during climate change protests April 17, 2019 West End businesses have lost an estimated £12m in sales due to the disruption caused by climate change protesters this week. Extinction Rebellion protests at Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Marble Arch have hit retailers in London’s main shopping district, with some stores reporting a 25 per cent drop in footfall. Read more: Climate change protesters target [...]
Brexit impasse sends UK business confidence plummeting, new surveys show April 15, 2019 The political crisis surrounding Brexit has sapped confidence from some of the UK's biggest and smallest companies alike, as crunch talks between Labour and the Conservatives reach a “delicate stage” this week. Read more: MPs could be forced to choose a Brexit option if talks with Labour fail More than eight in 10 finance chiefs [...]
Israel has voted for a dose of reality when it comes to the peace process April 11, 2019 It would be fair to say that Benjamin Netanyahu is not high on the list of many people’s favourite politicians. Bibi, as he is known, rarely engenders cheers of joy when he bounds onto television screens presenting his latest commentary on Israel’s turbulent neighbourhood, often with forensic PowerPoint presentation in hand. Yet against all odds, [...]
Hotels stump up for new business rate bills April 7, 2019 Some of London’s most iconic hotels are facing renewed pressure from rising property taxes, according to business rate experts who fear that the sector could be hit by the latest round of bills. Real estate services firm Colliers found that 93 London hotels have been charged with a combined total rates bill of £12.2m this [...]