None for the road: Takeaway pints banned as Home Office ends pub pandemic scheme August 7, 2023 Bad news for punters who enjoy a cold pint on the go as the government has decided to put an end to the Covid-19 scheme which allowed pubs to sell takeaway pints. Pubs were allowed to sell alcoholic drinks in plastic cups to customers on the street in 2020, when businesses could not trade normally [...]
Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors August 7, 2023 A Bill Gates-backed clean energy player is hoping to build dozens of nuclear reactors in the UK and will compete with global rivals.
More support with energy bills unlikely this winter, admits Grant Shapps August 7, 2023 Grant Shapps has warned households are unlikely to receive fresh support from the government this winter for their energy bills.
Last orders! Rate of pub closures reaches decade high as rate hikes and inflation bites August 7, 2023 The number of pub closures in the UK reached its highest quarterly figure in over a decade, new data reveals, as soaring costs force more of the country’s local watering holes to close their doors for good. Some 223 pub businesses entered insolvency in the second quarter of this year, up from 200 in the [...]
Pay households to back new electricity lines, urges former National Grid chief August 4, 2023 A new report has urged the government to offer lump sum payments to households and communities to ensure the rollout of new electricity lines.
Bank of England lifts interest rates to fresh 15 year high in smaller than feared 14th straight hike August 3, 2023 The Bank of England today hiked the UK’s official interest rate for the 14th time in a row but by a lower degree than some had feared. Members of the nine-strong monetary policy committee (MPC) voted 6-3 in favour of a 25 basis point rise, smaller than the 50 basis point lift some in the [...]
BMW: Shares dip on supply chain warning as carmaker lifts earnings guidance August 3, 2023 BMW’s higher annual earnings forecast failed to chime with investors, as the carmaker warned of a hit from supply chain issues and inflation. The Munich-headquartered firm said it expected an annual EBIT margin of 9-10 per cent, up from 8-10 per cent, as it reported strong demand for vehicles and a doubling of deliveries in [...]
Alcohol duty rise is ‘biggest shake up’ in decades as booze to be taxed by strength August 1, 2023 The price of beer and wine will increase today as part of plans previously set out in the Spring Budget. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the measures as part of the budget back in March, which saw an end to the blanket alcohol duty freeze which was put in place via the Autumn Budget 2020 during [...]
FTSE 100 close: HSBC leaps and BP gives up gains in mixed day for London index August 1, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 kicked lower today after a clutch of mixed results puzzled investors. The capital’s premier index fell 0.43 per cent lower to 7,666.26 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, slipped 0.41 per cent to 19,065.66 points. A set of results [...]
BP suffers second-quarter downturn but profit still tops £2bn August 1, 2023 Weaker refining margins and falling oil and gas prices has weighed down BP's profits in the second quarter of 2023.