Wetherspoon shares fall as it warns that staff wage increase will hurt profits November 7, 2018 J D Wetherspoon shares fell 13 per cent to 1,138p today after it announced a rise in sales, but warned its decision to hand staff a wage increase without increasing prices will impact full-year profits. The pub chain, which has almost 1,000 branches in the UK, said like-for-like sales increased 5.5 per cent and total sales by [...]
UK distillery numbers jump as craft gin popularity booms March 16, 2020 The number of distilleries in the UK has surged as craft gin continues to grow in popularity, according to the latest research. Distilleries jumped 20 per cent to 246 over the last year, up from 205 the previous year, as the UK gin industry toasted a nine per cent increase in export sales to £672m [...]
Easy does it for travel and leisure as they underpin the FTSE 100 today February 23, 2021 After a promising start European markets struggled to maintain their early market optimism today. However, some decent gains continue in the likes of travel and leisure stocks, with multi-month highs in a lot of cases. Over the last three days this renewed buoyancy has been evident in anticipation of a possible reopening, and with a [...]
Retail restraint: John Lewis and Primark decline government help to play the long game July 16, 2020 For retail, the story of Covid-19 has been one of survival. Inevitably, the sector has looked to the government for assistance. Even the most hardened devotee of the free market has seen the Treasury’s coffers as a life belt to help companies get through the worst of the pandemic. Change and adaptation can come later. [...]
Beer sales sink to 20-year low June 11, 2020 Beer sales in the UK slumped to their lowest levels for 20 years in the first quarter of 2020, as the lockdown continues to weigh on the hospitality industry. The figures Figures released today by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the largest brewing and pub body in the UK, showed that beer sales [...]
Travis Perkins suspends dividend and delays Wickes de-merger March 20, 2020 Builders’ merchant Travis Perkins has suspended its dividend due to coronavirus uncertainty. The company also announced its intention to delay its long planned de-merger of DIY retailer Wickes. However, the group announced in its trading update a strong balance sheet with cash deposits of £185m. Boss Nick Roberts said: “Our highest priority is the health [...]
Pubs say ‘time running out’ to be ready for 4 July reopening June 4, 2020 The UK’s pub lobby has warned the government that its members urgently need clarity on how it will reopen the sector if they are going to be ready by the target date of 4 July. The British Beer and Pub Association (BPPA) said today that pubs will need at least three weeks’ notice for when [...]
FTSE 100 and US stocks plunge amid coronavirus lockdown fears September 21, 2020 A horrible start to the week saw the FTSE 100 suffer its worst day since June as worries over rising coronavirus cases combined with a financial scandal to cause chaos in the City. London’s blue-chip index plunged 3.5 per cent to 5,800 points just before the close, having started the day above 6,000. The FTSE [...]
Coronavirus live: Social distancing needs to be in place for most of a year, say government advisers March 20, 2020 1.35pm: Social distancing measures need to be in place for “most of a year” Scientists advising the government have said social distancing measures need to be in place for “at least most of a year” to combat the coronavirus outbreak. In a press conference last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK could “turn [...]
Wetherspoon’s will slash the price of food and drink for a day to protest tax burden on pubs | City A.M. July 31, 2018 Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has announced that it will hold another “Tax Equality Day”, reducing the price of all food and drink to protest VAT. Spearheaded by founder Tim Martin, the protest calls on the government to lower the tax burden on the hospitality industry. Food in pubs is subject to 20 per cent VAT, [...]