New beer and pubs boss looks to ensure industry keeps its fizz December 3, 2019 Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy” is a quote that adorns tourist-tat t-shirts and bar mirrors across the world. It also, as far as anyone can tell, was never actually said by the man usually given credit — Benjamin Franklin. But regardless of whether the Founding Father uttered the words, [...]
Italy declares state of emergency as Venice plunged under water November 15, 2019 Italy has declared a state of emergency in Venice with much of the historic city under water following its worst flooding in 50 years. Numerous tourist hot spots, including its basilica, squares and centuries-old buildings have been submerged in water. One of the artist Banksy’s most famous pieces of work is also under water following [...]
Prosperity or pound shop? Our free trade future awaits August 9, 2019 Like most of us, I’ve been watching the new government in the UK with interest – and no small measure of anxiety. As it became clear that Boris Johnson would emerge as the new PM, it also became clear that there would be a sharp change in government policy across the board. Theresa May, for [...]
Sir Philip Green faces a crunch moment June 4, 2019 THESE are not good times for Sir Philip Green. The scandal-hit tycoon has been spending more days than usual at his Monaco base in recent months, laying low in the sunny tax haven while both his reputation and high street empire take a beating back in the UK. But even Green will struggle to avoid [...]
Burberry shares fall as transformation plan takes toll on growth May 16, 2019 Shares in Burberry fell 4.5 per cent this morning after the firm posted broadly flat revenue and profit in the first year of its major transformation plan. Read more: Burberry keeps momentum from China despite trade war fears The figures Revenue remained broadly flat at £2.72bn for the year to the end of March. Pre-tax profit [...]
Inside the Batcave: City A.M. tours London’s secret supercar bunker April 28, 2019 They call it the bat cave, and it’s the most exclusive car park in Britain. Inside a secret west London underground bunker there are rows of Aston Martins, Ferraris and Rolls Royces hibernating under blue blankets while their millionaire owners are away. It is easy to see the appeal of the high security vault: safe [...]
Hotels stump up for new business rate bills April 7, 2019 Some of London’s most iconic hotels are facing renewed pressure from rising property taxes, according to business rate experts who fear that the sector could be hit by the latest round of bills. Real estate services firm Colliers found that 93 London hotels have been charged with a combined total rates bill of £12.2m this [...]
A stay at Valsana Hotel in Switzerland, the geothermally powered Alpine retreat January 4, 2019 These days, a sense of wellbeing isn’t just about body and spirit but also about leaving a lighter carbon footprint. Which is why the new, eco-friendly Valsana Hotel is the perfect place to spend an Alpine spa weekend without feeling that you’ve given Mother Nature a battering. The Valsana is Switzerland’s first hotel to be [...]
The Kenyan island of Rusinga is considered to be the cradle of humanity. Today it’s an archaeologist’s playground October 22, 2018 "Whose baby is this?" I asked a crowd of fifty children, one of whom had just handed me a baby younger than some of the food in my fridge. They all laughed and pointed, and I began to worry that I’d somehow been tricked into becoming an adoptive father. But before I could start making [...]
Bored of Bora Bora? Set sail to the islands of Rangiroa, Moorea, and Tahiti to discover the real French Polynesia September 28, 2018 French Polynesia is the archetypal island paradise. A place of such astounding natural beauty that superlatives fail from overuse. This French overseas territory sits in the heart of the South Pacific, at the centre of the Polynesian-triangle; roughly equidistant between Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand. It consists of five culturally and geographically diverse island [...]