Badenoch claims Reeves’s Budget was designed to ‘milk private sector’ Politics The Labour government’s “ideological” Budget was “designed to milk the private sector”, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed. Quizzing Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, the Conservative leader accused the Labour leader of “having nothing to offer but platitudes”. She said: “Their ideological Budget was designed to milk the private sector and [...]
Employer National Insurance hike a ‘significant burden’ and will impact working people, warns Thwaites Business The hike in employer National Insurance contribution (NICs), which was revealed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Budget, will place a “significant burden” on historic brewer, pub and hotel owner, Daniel Thwaites, the company has said. The Lancashire-headquartered group added that the increase, together with the rise in the National Living Wage, “make it less [...]
Business Budget backlash builds as hospitality giants write to Chancellor Economics The government is under increasing pressure to revisit its hikes to employer national insurance contributions and the minimum wage after a number of the UK’s largest employers voiced concerns about the impact of the changes on their costs and operations. Over 200 of the UK’s biggest hospitality businesses signed a letter to the Chancellor yesterday [...]
Why now is the summer of sake: Where to drink this amazing wine July 23, 2024 This is the summer of sake in London – and about time too. I had been under the misguided impression that all sake was rough and intensely boozy, the type of drink one hocks back as a dare. However, despite a fairly high alcohol percentage, sake is relatively low in acidity and has a graceful [...]
Frankie & Benny’s: Why this failing chain still holds a place in my heart June 4, 2024 Frankie & Benny's may be crap but my childhood self remains sitting in one of those booths, smile stained red
Coffee Wars: Inside the race to become London’s number one chain June 1, 2024 Coffee has played a vital role in reviving Brits for centuries. Despite feeling like a relatively new phenomenon, the first record of a coffee house in England dates back to 1652 and was said to be opened by a Turkish Man named Jacob in Oxfordshire.
Losses widen at Café Rouge, Bella Italia and Frankie and Benny’s owner The Big Table May 20, 2024 Losses widened at The Big Table, the owner of Café Rouge, Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny's, despite its turnover rising.
Former O2 and Pizza Express boss takes chairman seat at Gaucho-owner Rare Restaurants May 13, 2024 Hospitality grandee David Campbell is to take the chairman's role at Rare Restaurants, the group behind the Gaucho and M restaurant brands.
Private equity backing has made casual dining market ‘lazy,’ Hestia boss warns April 27, 2024 The owner of a premium hospitality investment group which is targeting revenue of £100m over the next three years has said operators in the casual dining market have gotten “lazy” because of private equity backing.
Square Mile and Me: Workspace CEO Graham Clemett looks back at his career April 25, 2024 Graham Clemett, CEO of Workspace Group, takes us through his career in the Square Mile ahead of his upcoming retirement.