Home transactions up in November as eyes turn to Omicron’s impact on market December 21, 2021 Transaction numbers gained pace in November, up 24.3 per cent on the previous month, following an initial dip after the end of the stamp duty holiday. According to the latest HMRC data, there were 96,290 housing transactions in November, 16.4 per cent lower than November 2020, but up on the prior month. The figure for [...]
Hospitality sector ‘bleeding out’ with looming £1.5bn Christmas Eve rent bill December 21, 2021 A £1.5bn rent bill and the sudden drop in seasonal shopping means the hospitality sector faces a flood of bankruptcies in the new year, according to reports. The £1.5bn payment for rent is due on Christmas Eve, according to the Telegraph, which first reported the news. But a third of pubs, bars and restaurants have [...]
Biscuit maker McVitie’s warns of price hikes December 20, 2021 McVities’ owner Pladis Global has said prices on popular household names could increase as much as five per cent. The company said it had experienced higher costs due to staff absences, increased ingredient costs and higher labour costs. Pladis’s UK managing director, David Murray, said: “Omicron disruption, absenteeism, and the rising cost of business going [...]
One in three nightclubs fear imminent closure without government aid as sector faces Omicron ‘death sentence’ December 20, 2021 One third of nightlife businesses are afraid they will close within a month, without urgent government support, as ministers mull further measures this week. One fifth of firms fear they could lose their entire workforce without more financial aid, according to a survey of more than 500 venues by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). [...]
Shoppers shy away from West End on ‘critical’ weekend before Christmas as bosses call for urgent support December 20, 2021 Shoppers were deterred from visiting central London’s shopping district last weekend as Omicron infections continue to rise across the capital. Retailers have called on the government for more financial support as businesses have been hit by falling footfall in the crucial trading period before Christmas. It comes after health experts have advised Brits to prioritise [...]
Pints of experience: Wetherspoons opens up board to publican employees December 20, 2021 Wetherspoons has opened up its board to its publican employees, in a bid to bring real pub experience into focus. The British pub chain has hired four employees, who were working under managerial positions from across Manchester to Exeter to join the board as employee and associate employee directors. “A successful pub company depends primarily [...]
‘We’ve been thrown under the bus’: hospitality demands government support as the UK faces further restrictions December 20, 2021 Business owners have called for greater government support and stronger communication as the UK heads towards another lockdown.
Fast-fashion giant Missguided edges closer to a rescue deal December 19, 2021 Fashion retailer Missguided is on the cusp of a rescue deal, after a challenging pandemic period for the fast-fashion machine.
Just Eat enters grocery delivery market race with Asda deal December 17, 2021 Just Eat has waded into the escalating market battle over rapid grocery deliveries, unveiling a deal with supermarket chain Asda.
Helical buys 100 New Bridge Street office site for £160m December 17, 2021 Real estate firm Helical has bought City office site 100 New Bridge Street for £160m. The deal – which is considered a Class I transaction – is conditional to shareholder approval at the firm’s general meeting, to take place in early February. “The acquisition of 100 New Bridge Street provides us with the opportunity to [...]