Stockpiling: Shoppers buying ‘a few extra items’ driving shelf shortages March 23, 2020 Empty supermarket shelves have been caused by customers adding an extra few items to their baskets and making more trips rather than stockpiling, according to the latest data. The average spend per supermarket trip jumped 16 per cent in the week ending 17 March to £22.13 compared to the same week a month ago. Meanwhile, [...]
Brewdog opens 102 virtual bars for people to enjoy a quarantine pint March 23, 2020 Craft pub chain Brewdog has launched more than 100 virtual bars to host quizzes, live music and comedy shows throughout the coronavirus crisis. The new 102 online bars will replicate each of the brewery’s pubs across the world to allow customers to connect with friends virtually after all UK pubs were forced to close at [...]
Greggs scraps dividend as all branches set to close due to coronavirus March 23, 2020 High street bakery chain Greggs has scrapped its dividend as it announced it will close its 2,050 branches across the UK due to coronavirus. The company, which suffered a 9.9 per cent drop in sales last week, said all of its stores will close at the end of the day tomorrow for up to three [...]
London retail footfall plunges as shops close amid coronavirus pandemic March 23, 2020 Retail footfall in central London plummeted last week as employees started working from home and shops start to close amid the coronavirus pandemic. Footfall in the capital plunged 63.3 per cent last week, as office workers were advised to stay home. In shopping areas on the outskirts of London footfall was down 21.9 per cent. [...]
Coronavirus: MPs call for emergency funding for cultural organisations March 23, 2020 MPs today called for urgent government support for cultural organisations hit by closures and postponements due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Tate galleries, V&A and Natural History Museum are among scores of cultural institutions that have been forced to close their doors due to the pandemic. The National Trust yesterday reversed its decision to keep [...]
Coronavirus: Closed pubs and restaurants face multi-million pound rent bill March 23, 2020 The hospitality industry has urged the government to ban commercial landlord sanctions, as pubs and restaurants are facing a multi-million pound rent bill due this week. Pubs, bars and restaurants, which suffered a dramatic drop in footfall before they were forced to close on Friday night to slow the spread of coronavirus, are preparing to [...]
Coronavirus: All non-essential stores reportedly set to close March 23, 2020 The government is reportedly set to order the closure of all non-essential shops in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus. The decision to close all stores except for supermarkets and pharmacies is being discussed at an emergency Cobra meeting today and is expected to be announced at this evening’s government press conference, the [...]
Time Out rebrands to Time In as it closes print edition and markets due to coronavirus March 23, 2020 Time Out has temporarily rebranded to Time In after the coronavirus outbreak forced the media group to close its print edition and food markets. The publisher and events group has closed all six of its food markets, while it is also battling a slowdown in advertising revenue. The firm said it will now launch an [...]
Ted Baker completes London HQ sale to British Airways pension fund March 23, 2020 Ted Baker has agreed terms for the sale of its London headquarters, the Ugly Brown Building, with a British Airways Pension Trustees unit. Following the announcement of a strategic asset review in December, Ted Baker has today exchanged contracts with British Airways’ pension fund and the deal, worth £78.8m, is expected to be completed in [...]
McDonalds, Topshop and New Look close stores due to coronavirus March 23, 2020 High street retailers have begun to shut stores in response to the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. Topshop, New Look and H&M are among the major UK retail chains to temporarily shut all branches over the weekend. The government ordered all pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants to close on Friday as the public were encouraged [...]