UK job security perception plunges as coronavirus spreads March 23, 2020 Britons are more worried about their employment prospects than at any time since 2011 as confidence in the economy plunges due to the coronavirus pandemic, a survey has shown. UK consumers also plan to slash their spending on major purchases at the fastest rate since 2012, data firm IHS Markit’s household finance index showed today. [...]
Coronavirus: Pret will see the benefits of doing the right thing April 22, 2020 The coronavirus crisis has required businesses to alter their COVID-19 strategy frequently in line with changing government advice. Some businesses have had more success than others with striking a good balance and doing the right thing in the eyes of the public, particularly at the start of the crisis in March. One brand which has [...]
McDonalds, Topshop and New Look close stores due to coronavirus March 23, 2020 High street retailers have begun to shut stores in response to the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. Topshop, New Look and H&M are among the major UK retail chains to temporarily shut all branches over the weekend. The government ordered all pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants to close on Friday as the public were encouraged [...]
Restaurant bosses call for VAT cut as dining out sector braces for difficult return to business June 16, 2020 Restaurant industry bosses have today urged Boris Johnson to take drastic action, including slashing VAT on the food they serve, to help the struggling sector survive the effects of coronavirus. In a letter signed by the bosses of 90 major chains, Deliveroo founder Will Shu said that the government should also extend its job retention [...]
Lifting coronavirus restrictions could lead to second peak, says Number 10 April 20, 2020 Easing the country’s coronavirus social distancing restrictions too quickly could cause a second peak of infections, Downing Street has warned. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman poured cold water on the suggestions the lockdown could be eased next month, saying it could mean the virus would “begin to spread exponentially again”. The Sunday Times reported yesterday [...]
Bailey: Khan is failing to get London moving again October 1, 2020 Over the last few months, coronavirus has forced our elected representatives to make some tough choices. And the overwhelming majority of Londoners have supported them. We stopped going into offices. We stopped making unnecessary trips to the shops. We shut down pubs, restaurants and hospitality businesses for months on end. We followed the rules, played [...]
Boris Johnson to announce ‘very limited’ lockdown easing May 7, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce a very limited easing of the UK lockdown from next week as authorities seek to restart the economy without sparking a second wave of infections. Johnson will announce the next phase of the country’s virus strategy on Sunday following a review by ministers of the current lockdown, [...]
Pizza Express draws up plans to close 75 restaurants July 16, 2020 Pizza Express is drawing up plans to close up to 75 restaurants around the UK as the pizza chain undergoes a wide-scale financial restructure as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The company is mulling the closure of “around 75” of its 470 UK outlets through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), Pizza Express said today. [...]
UK lockdown: Shoppers spend more on booze, beauty and crafts May 7, 2020 Brits have been splashing out on tequila, crafts and their beauty and exercise regimes during the UK lockdown, according to the latest data on consumer spending. The data from John Lewis showed that sales of skincare products jumped 183 per cent and facial masks are hair treatments soared 187 per cent during the UK coronavirus [...]
Uber Eats orders skyrocket 160 per cent in lockdown June 29, 2020 Orders on Uber Eats have jumped significantly since lockdown began, rising by over 160 per cent as the UK turned to food delivery apps to replace the high street. The number of new restaurants on Uber Eats’ UK platform has almost doubled in the last four months to a total of 17,000, as smaller independent [...]