Christmas consumers face an epic hangover December 13, 2017 Britain’s inability to deal with a little snow may have kept shoppers from the high street this week, but Kantar Worldpanel and Nielsen (two of the biggest data firms going) have suggested that despite the weather, we’re gearing up to a cracker of a Christmas for retailers. For those who like to avoid the crowds, [...]
Here’s when and where the best 2016 Christmas TV programmes are being shown December 14, 2016 Gathering around the television with the family is now one of the great Christmas traditions. It's the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a mince pie or four and indulge in some of the best British TV. Use our list to plan your viewing. Our top picks: The Great British Bake-Off BBC1: Christmas [...]
Beware the cryptocurrency hype February 20, 2018 Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, as philosopher George Santayana famously wrote. What’s happening in markets today is a stark reminder of the dot-com days at the end of the last millennium, when company valuations rocketed at the mere mention of internet-related buzzwords. Fortunes were made and lost in relative [...]
Fears of a nightmare before Christmas for UK retailers as footfall and spending dip November 13, 2017 Retail analysts fear a nightmare before Christmas for British shops as figures published today show weakness ahead of the crucial holiday spending spree. Footfall in UK retailers fell by two per cent year-on-year in October, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard. The decline in the number of shop visits was [...]
Roy Hodgson: TV rescheduling over Christmas will take its toll on Crystal Palace squad December 14, 2017 Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has bemoaned “harsh” fixture re-scheduling for TV that requires his side to play three Premier League games in six days over the Christmas period. The Eagles host Arsenal on Thursday 28 November, two days after most clubs play on Boxing Day, in an 8pm kick-off on Sky Sports. Hodgson’s men [...]
The case for tobacco packaging restrictions goes up in smoke May 18, 2018 In 2016 and 2017, two significant pieces of tobacco control legislation came into effect in the UK and France. One was the EU’s Second Tobacco Control Directive (TPD2), which applied across the EU. The other was standardised packaging requirements, introduced only in individual countries, with the UK and France being the first. As well as [...]
Christmas shopping: UK high street benefits from rise in customer numbers at start of Christmas shopping season December 11, 2017 The UK high street benefited from a slight rise in footfall last month as retailers started selling their Christmas ranges. Footfall rose by 0.2 per cent in November, according to data from Springboard. This was a significant improvement on last year, when footfall fell by one per cent year-on-year. Read more: Bright spot for BrightHouse? [...]
Ukip leader Henry Bolton dumps girlfriend over racist Meghan Markle comments January 15, 2018 Ukip leader Henry Bolton has ended his relationship with glamour model Jo Marney after it emerged she had made racist comments about actress and princess-in-waiting Meghan Markle. Bolton had been facing calls to resign in the wake of the scandal, with the Mail on Sunday revealing Marney had repeatedly used the word “negro” and said [...]
Our luxury mince pie taste test 2017 sorts through the best gourmet offerings on the market December 13, 2017 It wouldn’t be Christmas without almost every favourite festive food getting a ‘premium’ makeover, and mince pies are no exception. These posh pies all put a gourmet spin on the classic Christmas snack – but which one delivered the goods? MARKS & SPENCER ★★★☆☆ These citrusy circles topped with pastry stars are so packed with [...]
Films out this week: Wonder review, Happy End review, and The Man Who Invented Christmas review November 30, 2017 Wonder (PG), Director: Stephen Chbosky ★★★☆☆ Jacob Tremblay stole our hearts in Room, and here dons a job-lot of prosthetics to do exactly the same as a Auggie, a young man with facial deformities squaring up to life in a new school. What sounds like a slush-fest of the highest order, particularly when you factor [...]