Lost the plot: City A.M’s pick of the best books of 2020 December 18, 2020 Whether it was a period of furlough, a cancelled trip or endless weekends with no pubs, restaurants, museums or cinemas open: there has definitely been more time for most of us to get stuck into a good book this year. As we turn the last page of 2020, whether you’re looking for a page-turner during [...]
Frankie & Benny’s owner The Restaurant Group to outline site closure plans February 24, 2020 The Restaurant Group – which owns Chiquito, Frankie & Benny’s and Wagamama – is set to announce site closures as it publishes its full-year results this week. Chief executive Andy Hornby – who joined the casual dining company in August – is expected to announce which underperforming sites will be closed. Out-of-town retail park locations, [...]
Our university sector was broken long before Covid-19 August 13, 2020 UK higher education has reached a dead end. In the short term, the Covid-19 pandemic has created a huge hole in the current income of institutions, amounting to several billion pounds. In the longer term, Covid will probably result in a sustained decline in several sources of university income, above all fees from overseas students. [...]
Boris Johnson’s calorie labelling plan is well-intentioned but economically inept July 27, 2020 Let me start with a concession to the Prime Minister: not all the policies in his anti-obesity drive are outright objectionable. Banning food advertising and telling shopkeepers where they can and can’t stock their products are obvious and unacceptable intrusions, whatever their intended goal. But as a liberal economist, I am prepared to consider some [...]
Deliveroo expands Majestic Wine partnership during lockdown May 20, 2020 Deliveroo has expanded its partnership with Majestic Wine, adding an extra 50 stores to the app during the coronavirus lockdown. The platform will now provide deliveries from a total of 80 Majestic Wine stores across the UK, and has expanded the range of wine and spirits available to buy, to cater for a surge in [...]
Wirecard UK fallout lessens June 30, 2020 Readers will be very familiar with the €1.9bn Wirecard scandal that has rocked Germany, firmly placed a spotlight back onto the world of auditors and dangerously caused pause for thought for Fintech firms in the U.K. from a regulatory standpoint. As of this morning at 00.01 the FCA resumed Wirecard Solutions’ regulated activities which meant [...]
Could London be put into a second coronavirus lockdown? August 11, 2020 As London residents make use of the summer sunshine, the question of whether there will be a second coronavirus lockdown is never far out of mind for locals. The number of English towns and cities that have been plunged into local lockdown has grown steadily over the past two months, while the capital has begun [...]
Wetherspoon’s boss Tim Martin says he is concerned about Labour’s plans for the economy December 10, 2019 Wetherspoon’s boss Tim Martin said today that he is concerned about the Labour Party’s plans for the economy. “I’m worried by [Jeremy] Corbyn and [John] McDonnell’s plans. Wetherspoon has thrived in a free market economy under Conservative and Labour governments and the current Labour leadership prefers state ownership and control,” he told City A.M. A [...]
Roddy Doyle: The beloved author opens up on growing older, Irish politics and why he’s still angry March 11, 2020 Roddy Doyle is one of the most well known and beloved contemporary Irish authors. His work includes the Two Pints series and The Commitments, as well as numerous children’s books. We caught up with him on the eve of a new speaking tour. Hi Roddy. Your speaking tour, Conversations with Roddy Doyle, begins soon. Why [...]
Former chancellor Lord Alistair Darling backs Sunak’s VAT cut plans June 22, 2020 Former chancellor Lord Alistair Darling has backed government plans to cut VAT in a bid to boost the economy, adding that the coronavirus crisis will result in an “even more profound shock” to the UK than the 2008 financial crisis. In a foreword to a new Policy Exchange report, Darling expressed his support for current [...]