In memory of Richard Vines, a sage and a gentleman May 6, 2025 My friend Richard Vines, chief restaurant critic of Bloomberg for 25 years, passed away this week. A champion of both genius chefs and restaurateurs, he was a wonderful man who I admired hugely. Over the last few days, I have been reminded of some magnificent City lunches with Richard; at Kym’s by Andrew Wong, after [...]
Tourist tax: Lisa Nandy says Labour may ‘explore’ restoring VAT free shopping April 16, 2025 Lisa Nandy has said the government “could explore” restoring VAT free shopping after hearing “very loud and clear” the calls from the industry to scrap the so-called tourist tax. The culture, media and sport secretary told Elle UK magazine that fashion was in the “soul of the nation” and ministers recognised its “centrality” to the [...]
Rocco Forte: Labour’s ‘ideological approach’ risks hammering private sector investment October 27, 2024 Luxury hotelier Sir Rocco Forte has said Labour’s rumoured tax raid at the Budget this week will discourage investment from the private sector and unnerve businesses looking to come into the country. Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the English businessman said Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer are taking an “ideological approach” and [...]
Sir Rocco Forte leads 300 business leaders in call to scrap ‘spectacular own goal’ tourist tax October 21, 2024 Over 300 business leaders have signed a letter asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reinstate tax-free shopping in the UK, calling the so-called tourist tax a “spectacular own goal” for retail. The signatories, which include hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, Paul Smith, Heathrow, John Lewis and Shakespeare’s Globe, have said that if Reeves is serious about promoting [...]
Rocco Forte Hotels counts cost of £1.4bn deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund August 27, 2024 Profit at the British hotel group co-founded by Sir Rocco Forte was cut by more than half during its latest financial year as it sold a significant stake to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The deal, which was first announced in December 2023, saw the PIF take a 49 per cent holding in London-headquartered Rocco Forte Hotels [...]
Irene Forte on success, sustainable skincare and scaling up July 23, 2024 Ambition A.M. meets Irene Forte, daughter of English hotelier Sir Rocco Forte and founder of Irene Forte Skincare to hear how she found her own recipe for entrepreneurial success. It is not hard to understand how growing up in the shadow of a successful parent can be overwhelming.That’s why Irene Forte, daughter of English hotelier [...]
Bring in duty free on arrival for post-Brexit boost, says Gatwick boss June 13, 2024 Introducing duty-free arrivals would boost the UK's competitiveness and stimulate jobs in the retail sector, Gatwick says.
Spring Budget 2024: Business leaders livid ‘overwhelming’ case for one tax cut didn’t land March 6, 2024 Bosses, including the chief of Marks and Spencer and the head of British Airways, have reacted with fury this afternoon, following the Chancellor’s snub of the tourist tax.
Spring Budget 2024: Tourist tax under review ahead of next week’s statement February 4, 2024 The so-called ‘tourist tax’ is under review ahead of the Spring Budget, according to reports, indicating the Treasury could ditch the policy.
Saudis take 49 per cent stake in Rocco Forte’s luxury hotel chain December 4, 2023 Hotel chief Sir Rocco Forte has sold 49 per cent of his eponymous hotel chain to the Saudi Public Investment Fund