The negroni isn’t ‘woke’ – it’s a part of British tradition that we must save August 3, 2023 We have been drinking cocktails for a long time. The first recorded use of the word which didn’t refer to a horse’s tail is in 1798 and was mocking the drinking habits of the prime minister, William Pitt the Younger. (Premiers don’t hit the bottle heavily these days: Thatcher liked to unwind with glasses of [...]
UK economy shockingly grows in November on back of World Cup pub boost, raising hopes of shallow recession January 13, 2023 The UK economy expanded in November, smashing downbeat market expectations and signalling the coming recession could be short lived, official figures out today reveal. Gross domestic product (GDP) climbed 0.1 per cent in November, defying analysts’ bets on a 0.2 per cent contraction, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. The expansion was driven [...]
Almost a thousand pubs and restaurants have closed since Freedom Day October 13, 2021 The country has lost nearly a thousand pubs and restaurants since Freedom Day, when hospitality was freed from Covid restrictions. At an average closure rate of 16 licensed premises a day, the figures from CGA and AlixPartners make stark the difficulties still faced by businesses. Independently run pubs and bars accounted for nearly three quarters [...]
Calories on the menu: Bosses fear new rules for restaurants will leave a sour taste April 6, 2022 Diners are being confronted with the calorie contents of meals at some restaurants under new laws that come into effect today – but could this do more harm than good? Hospitality bosses have said the changes come at the worst possible time, as the sector endeavours to recuperate pandemic losses while staring down the barrel [...]
Rail strikes ‘cost £500m to the economy’ as Nightcap boss says action ‘decimating’ bars November 10, 2022 Ongoing railway strikes have cost the UK economy £500m this year, with businesses pleading with unions and bosses to find a solution to the disruption. “If we don’t get the services restored I’m worried people will give up on rail,” newly-appointed rail minister Huw Merriman told the Railway Industry Association’s conference on Thursday. “That would [...]
David Carrick: Sunak and Khan concerned about trust in Met after serial-offender Pc admits 49 offences, 24 rapes January 16, 2023 The Prime Minister and Sadiq Khan have renewed concerns about trust in the Metropolitan Police after it was revealed that a serving Metropolitan Police officer admitted 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape. Rishi Sunak and the London Mayor’s comments come after the Met was forced to apologised to victims for Pc David Carrick, who [...]
Sue Gray day: Who is the cat-loving former pub landlady from Tottenham who probed partygate? May 25, 2022 It’s D-Day in Westminster. Sue Gray has published her long-awaited report in the Downing Street parties during lockdown. The document is currently with the Prime Minister. Gray took on the civil service investigation into allegations of coronavirus rule-breaking at No 10 in December. As a result, over the course of the last six months, Gray [...]
Ed Sheeran set to headline Jubilee concert as organisers unveil £15m celebrations April 26, 2022 Ed Sheeran is set to be the centrepiece for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as preparations are made for the “people’s pageant”.
Sunak and Starmer offer little new year cheer on ailing UK growth path January 10, 2023 This brand new weekly column, published every Tuesday, will drill down into the stories behind the numbers to reveal what makes the UK – and global – economy tick. But, today, inspired by what resembled soon-to-broken new year’s resolutions by political leaders last week, it will make the case for why a stable government economic [...]
Gaucho boss: Restaurant menus featuring more seasonal produce could be ‘silver lining’ of high inflation September 12, 2022 Restaurants shifting to more seasonal menus may be the “silver lining” of sky-rocketing food prices, Gaucho boss Martin Williams has said. Hospitality venues have been forced to grapple with heightened prices for vegetables and proteins this year, in addition to energy bill increases that bosses say pose an existential threat to the sector. However, the [...]