Luxury retailers to push for tax cut acceleration ahead of coronation September 25, 2022 Luxury retailers in the West End are eager to elevate the shopping destination among its global rivals by appealing for tax changes to be accelerated. After the Chancellor suggested VAT-free shopping could boost the retail heartland from 2024 last week, the Association of International Retail said could be introduced in the next six months. The [...]
Sadiq Khan slams London City expansion as public consultation nears end September 6, 2022 London mayor Sadiq Khan has slammed the proposed expansion of London City airport as the 10-week public consultation on the ramp up of services ends on Friday. Khan accused the airport of not “having demonstrated satisfactorily that [the plans] are compatible with our net-zero and wider environment objectives.” “It is essential the airport recognises that [...]
Sail untouched Croatia for a late-summer escape August 22, 2022 Our tender skims into an empty and secluded turquoise bay, the only sign of civilisation being a 300-year-old fisherman’s cottage and a rowing boat on the shore. It’s the kind of place you might see at the end of a Jason Bourne movie; Matt Damon safe in an exotic hideaway as the camera pans out [...]
Lift our economic spirits by keeping duties and tax down on Scotch Whisky August 16, 2022 You will struggle to find another industry that is like the Scotch Whisky industry. One that’s continued to invest in the UK economy despite the lost exports, tourist visits and hospitality income during the pandemic, rising production and shipping costs, and the loss of more than half a billion pounds in revenue because of tariffs [...]
Growing inequality and financial strain is a threat to London’s social cohesion August 11, 2022 OUR great city works well because we Londoners muddle through together without too much friction. “Live and let live”’ has a claim to be the defining London motto. But there have been times where that harmony has shattered. I remember the shock of Tottenham and Croydon burning in August 2011 and of shops being boarded [...]
Government to review short term holiday lets like Airbnb in tourist hotspots June 29, 2022 The UK government said on Wednesday it was launching a review into short term rentals in popular tourism areas in England, including Airbnbs. Ministers said they wanted to support rental platforms like Airbnb but acknowledged concerns that such businesses could drive communities out of their area – for example if landlords opt to run their [...]
Fuller’s toasts return to profit amid ‘fragile’ consumer confidence June 9, 2022 Pub chain Fuller’s is back in the black after posting an adjusted profit before tax of £7.2m, as the licensed trade recovers from the pandemic. In results for the year to 26 March, the pub operator saw profit back in growth after posting a £48.7m loss in 2021, when Covid lockdowns enforced the closure of [...]
New West End Company chief leaves role as chief of business group for down under April 28, 2022 The head of the New West End Company is departing to oversee improvements to Sydney’s Western Harbour shopping district. After six years at the industry body, Jace Tyrell is leaving to head Australia’s first business improvement district (BID), the New Sydney Waterfront Company. NWEC works across 80 streets in the central London heartland, representing 150,000 [...]
Westminster must relax its grip on the purse string to fix regional inequalities February 2, 2022 Last week, Michael Gove visited Wolverhampton as he prepared to release the levelling up white paper out today. The central aim of this government has been to re-energise regions across the country to ensure investment and opportunities are shared widely. In the West Midlands, we have already begun the journey to create more opportunities and [...]
Westminster Council: West End to receive millions in recovery support fund February 1, 2022 Westminster Council is to inject millions of pounds into reviving the borough’s hospitality industry. Within a £190m investment to support the area, the council has announced a dedicated £1m to recruit waiters, baristas and bar staff, it said yesterday. Some £150m is to be used to redesign the Oxford Street district and make Strand Aldwych [...]