Thames have changed: CEOs going green will reap the benefits January 26, 2021 WHEN Paul Polman drank a glass of water drawn from the murky River Thames a decade ago the Dutchman could hardly have imagined how many of his peers would follow suit. Not by matching his dubious consumption, but by attempting to generate more from the companies they run than profit alone. Polman’s stunt took place in November [...]
More than 150 London pubs, bars and restaurants closed permanently last year January 22, 2021 More than 150 London pubs, bars and restaurants closed permanently last year, the latest figures showed as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the sector. The number of licensed premises in the capital in December shrunk 4.5 per cent compared to the previous year. That represented a drop from 3,460 venues to 3,303 [...]
London house prices hit record highs due to impact of stamp duty holiday January 20, 2021 London house prices jumped at the end of last year, with average values breaking the £500,000 threshold for the first time. Average house prices in London rose four per cent between October and November last year, according to the latest official data. The annual price rise of 9.7 per cent took the average property value [...]
Wetherspoon taps investors for £94m as pub chain circles central London acquisitions January 19, 2021 JD Wetherspoon will tap investors for almost £94m as the pub chain is seeking to bolster its balance sheet and swoop on potential central London expansion opportunities. The FTSE 250 firm announced this afternoon that it will launch an equity placing for the second time during the pandemic, which is expected to raise gross proceeds [...]
Naughty or nice: Which businesses pleased or peeved Santa in 2020? December 21, 2020 Which businesses stood out this year for going above and beyond for customers and staff, and which will be remembered less favourably for their pandemic policies? The last year has certainly been one that will not be forgotten. The last 12 months have been widely been touted “the worst ever” by people around the world, [...]
Wetherspoon slams ‘baffling’ Covid-19 restrictions as sales slump November 11, 2020 JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin this morning slammed “baffling” coronavirus rules, as the pub chain reported a sharp drop in sales due to tightening restrictions. The company, which also revealed it had accepted a £48.3m government-backed loan during the crisis, said sales in the 15 weeks to 8 November plunged 27.6 per cent. Sales had [...]
Weekly outlook, 9-13 November: Investors shift their focus back to the UK economy November 9, 2020 Investors were kept busy with the drama across the Atlantic last week, but they’ll soon want to focus back on the UK in what will be a busy week of results and economic updates. After a nail-biting election, markets will likely be considering the implication of a Biden presidency. But with GDP and unemployment figures [...]
KFC to hire 5,400 new workers despite ‘extremely difficult year’ for hospitality October 23, 2020 Fast food chain KFC has announced plans to hire 5,400 new workers in the UK and Ireland by the end of the year, signalling confidence in the hospitality industry despite an “extremely difficult year” for the sector. KFC, which has already employed more than 4,300 new team members since the start of lockdown, said the [...]
End the war on pubs — hospitality isn’t to blame for the Covid crisis October 21, 2020 2020 should have been a year of cheering on our teams in the European football finals and Olympics from pubs and bars across the land, bolstered by meals out in beer gardens throughout a typically blistering British summer. Instead, thanks to Covid-19, this year will be remembered for social distancing, job losses, and uncertainty. After [...]
London financial services jobs rise after Covid-19 crash October 19, 2020 The number of available jobs in London’s financial services sector jumped in the third quarter as confidence began to return to the capital. Finance job vacancies rose 53 per cent in the three months to the end of September when compared to the previous quarter, according to recruitment agency Morgan McKinley. For London workers changing [...]