China’s paradoxical growth plan is still attractive for global funds: Why President Xi’s pursuit of unity as well as expansion is working for now October 23, 2017 When President Xi first gained the position of President of China five years ago there was considerable western enthusiasm. He came across as a keen reformer willing to push on with China’s enterprise revolution. He wanted to open China’s markets more to the west, to liberalise foreign exchange, privatise more industry and even introduce more [...]
Kaylen Hinds interview: Former Arsenal youngster on why he traded hometown club for Wolfsburg and Bundesliga August 8, 2017 In 1983 England striker Luther Blissett traded Watford for a life in the foothills of the Alps when he joined European giants AC Milan. His impression of the city renowned for its envied art collection, imposing cathedrals and high fashion? “No matter how much money you have here, you can’t seem to get Rice Krispies,” [...]
Four improvements which need to happen before Oxford Street can be pedestrianised September 5, 2016 Sadiq Khan is under pressure to remove buses from Oxford Street to clear the way for happy shoppers – but before Oxford Street is pedestrianised there are a lot more changes the London Assembly have in mind. The London Assembly's Transport Committee wrote to Sadiq Khan today, suggesting ways to help the pedestrianisation of the street happen. Here are [...]
Billionaire Hollywood bad boy Alki David is resurrecting the dead with holograms | City A.M. November 6, 2017 There’s a rather bonkers Russian chap named Dmitry Itskov who claims that by the year 2045 his team of scientists will have achieved human immortality by uploading brains onto a computer. That’s a little way off, though. In the meantime, if Frankenstein’s monster meeting Blade Runner doesn’t tickle your fancy, one can achieve a rather [...]
Spotify backer Accel moves headquarters in West End to The Crown Estate’s One New Burlington Place April 18, 2016 East London may have stolen the tech spotlight in recent years as new and more established names flocked to get a foothold in Tech City, however, the West End has proved it is still getting its fair share of deals. The Crown Estate has today announced that fintech venture capital firm Accel will move its European headquarters to one [...]
City of London braced for £2bn business rate hike September 29, 2016 The City of London is bracing itself for a tax hike estimated at more than £2bn when new business rates are revealed tomorrow. Details of new business rates represent the first re-evaluation since 2010. Due to rocketing rents in London over the past six years, businesses in the capital are expecting huge increases for the [...]
West End property hit despite surge in interest from Chinese buyers February 20, 2017 The value of commercial property transactions fell in January despite a surge in interest from Chinese buyers. According to numbers from real estate agents Savills, £841m worth of commercial properties were transacted in January this year, down from £895m in the same month last year, representing a fall of around six per cent. However, Chinese buyers are [...]
Crossrail’s coming (a bit later than planned): Date for first Elizabeth Line train to enter passenger service pushed back until June 2017 May 30, 2017 The first Elizabeth Line services for London’s £14.8bn Crossrail project have been pushed back until next month, for thorough testing of the train to be completed. The first new train was meant to enter passenger service between Liverpool Street Main Line and Shenfield by the end of this month, but Transport for London (TfL) has [...]
Formula 1 plans to move to a new global HQ in St James’s Market March 2, 2017 Formula 1 is moving its global headquarters from Knightsbridge to a £400m development in the West End. The motorsports business will be taking up 21,000 square feet of space over two floors of a redevelopment by the Crown Estate and Oxford Properties called St James's Market. It is expected to make the move later this [...]
Swim with the pigs in the Bahamas: How domestic swine became big business for the paradise islands November 13, 2017 On 9 September the ocean around the Bahamas’ Long Island and the Exumas vanished. Where there should have been endless stretches of aquamarine, there was mile upon mile of muddy grey sand, flecked with seams of stringy kelp, all set against a foreboding backdrop of slate-grey cloud. Sandwiched between hurricanes Irma to the west and [...]