Boozy Britain? London is sobering up – and so is the rest of the country June 12, 2015 London is the soberest region in the UK, according to new data, showing drinking habits among adults, released today by the Office for National Statistics. Nearly a third of respondents from the Capital said they did not drink any alcohol – far higher than any other region. Across the UK, 21 per cent [...]
From London property prices and London smells to World Gin Day and naked cyclists: Here’s what got us talking this week June 12, 2015 There was (another) election. There was the start of some privatising. And late on Friday there was some biblical weather. Here's what got us talking this week 1. We should be paying for property with Monopoly money We wish it was that easy. This week were learned just how much of a share up [...]
Bonmarche share price soars as dividend increases on back of soaring profits June 12, 2015 Bonmarche's share price jumped more than five per cent as the value retailer revealed soaring pre-tax profits and solid revenue growth. The figures: The recently-listed retailer, which is aimed at older women, grew revenues 8.7 per cent to £178.6m, with like-for-likes up four per cent. Including online sales, which were up 36 per cent, like-for-likes [...]
Don’t teach entrepreneurship in schools – let us take our own risks June 11, 2015 As George Osborne prepares for next month’s Budget, he will already have told his speechwriters to provide a strong section on supporting entrepreneurship. The Conservatives made strong play throughout the election campaign of the importance of startups for the country’s future. David Cameron went so far as to say it was the willingness of entrepreneurs [...]
Work hard? Live harder in the City’s Brutalist Barbican Estate masterpiece June 11, 2015 When the Barbican was first conceived in the 1960s, it was a utopian ideal for inner city-living. Well ahead of its time, its cutting-edge, controversial architecture interweaved with public gardens, restaurants, shops, cultural destinations and a school. Brutalist architects Chamberlain, Powell and Bon then built four large residential towers that would become the Barbican [...]
Focus on Balham: Once the butt of jokes, now the SW place to be June 11, 2015 When Peter Sellers said Balham was the “Gateway to the South” he was poking fun at the fact that nothing of note ever happened there. A semi-suburban no man’s land at the bottom of the Northern Line, it was the pinnacle of meh – the kind of place north Londoners probably think about when they [...]
Middle-class kids are selfish, and it’s bad for their health June 11, 2015 Richer children tend to be more selfish than their poorer counterparts – and this could be hurting their health. A new scientific study has found that children as young as four could reap health benefits from being more altruistic. But this behaviour is “less common among kids from high-income families”, the research, published in [...]
Edwina Dunn: We must challenge archaic misconceptions around women in science – Tim Hunt hasn’t helped June 11, 2015 As a Nobel Prize Winner, Tim Hunt is among a select group of respected scientists that use their voice to actively change science for the better. Yet, this week he chose to reinforce a truly damaging stereotype about women working in the sciences. Read more: "Let me tell you about my trouble with girls" [...]
Selfie fever hits London hotel June 10, 2015 Kim Kardashian, P Diddy, Barack Obama and Kelly Brook. What do they all have in common? They love a good selfie. And from today, Swish St James’ hotel Conrad is offering selfie sticks to all their guests as part of a new marketing campaign. These can either be ordered from the minibar at £12 each, [...]
How to be successful in business: Richard Branson offers two big tips June 10, 2015 Entrepreneur Richard Branson has shared two of his biggest tips for business success. In an interview with the leaders of the Renaissance Foundation, which aims to help young people reach their full potential, he said what he believes to be the most important qualities. Here's his view on what it takes to make [...]