I went storm chasing in Canada – but this Hawaii-style holiday offered so much more March 25, 2025 The irony is not lost on me that on the day I fly out to Canada’s Vancouver Island to chase some of the world’s gnarliest weather, the UK is being battered by its biggest storm in decades. Flights are being cancelled by the minute – airport boards lighting up red like Eighties arcade machines; travellers [...]
Wetherspoons: Pub group hikes dividend despite cost warning March 21, 2025 Pub giant J D Wetherspoon has reported a dip in profits in its half-year results despite an uplift in sales, while chairman Tim Martin warned that rising labour costs and tax disparities are set to hit the pub industry hard. Its share price fell more than seven per cent in early trades. Like-for-like sales rose [...]
All the pubs hiking the price of a pint after Budget tax raid March 19, 2025 Shepherd Neame announced this morning that it would be forced to raise prices at its 290 pubs due to cost pressures from last October’s budget. The family business follows a host of other hospitality companies in raising prices, with the average price of a pint set to go up by six to eight per cent, [...]
Wetherspoons set for profit spike as it braces for Budget tax hit March 16, 2025 JD Wetherspoon is expected to reveal soaring sales this week, as experts tip the pub group to seize more market share from smaller competitors amid tax rises coming in April. The London-listed firm, which has around 800 pubs across the UK, is set to report its half-year results on 21 March. In a January trading [...]
Birmingham landmark on sale in cut-price deal as value slashed in half March 11, 2025 A landmark office building in Birmingham city centre has been put up for sale for half what it was bought for in 2019. The Lewis Building and its adjoining neighbour Priory Court in Bull Street were acquired by Gulf Islamic Investments for £140m. The investor, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, bought the [...]
Chelsea: Stamford Bridge to get Wetherspoons as MPs call for Abramovich raid February 27, 2025 Chelsea fans may be protesting about the price of tickets at Stamford Bridge but they’re set to see a cut in the price of a pint with JD Wetherspoon to open a boozer in the summer. Walham Green has been given a summer opening date and will sit on Fulham Road, just around the corner [...]
Vitality: ‘Why your health and life insurance premium won’t go down’ February 18, 2025 In this episode of Boardroom Uncovered, Neville Koopowitz, the chief executive of health and life insurance giant Vitality.
Trainline on track for European expansion as state-backed rival nears January 28, 2025 The boss of Trainline has outlined his European expansion plans as the online ticket giant faces government-backed competition at home.
Diageo shares surge amid Guinness sale rumour January 24, 2025 Diageo’s shares spiked to the top of the FTSE 100 today amid a rumour the company is looking to spin off or sell its most famous brand, Guinness, for up to £8bn. The transaction was first reported in a piece by Bloomberg, which said Diageo may be looking to review its portfolio to kickstart growth. [...]
Revealed: Who paid the most tax in 2024? January 24, 2025 One of the UK’s richest hedge fund managers paid the most tax in the UK this year, contributing over £339m in just 12 months, according to the Sunday Times Tax list. Sir Chris Hohn, who founded British hedge fund the Children’s Investment Fund Management in 2003, topped the list of Britain’s top taxpayers, trumping gambling [...]