James Crosby-backed Moneybarn sold in £120m deal to Provident Financial August 14, 2014 Doorstep lender Provident Financial yesterday raised £120m to snap up Moneybarn, the motor insurer chaired by ex-Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) boss James Crosby. The lender, which makes loans to people with poor credit scores, generated the cash in a matter of hours after mandating JP Morgan to raise the fund. Existing shareholder Invesco bought [...]
Elephant and Castle named the most dangerous junction in London as top 10 cycle hotspots revealed February 25, 2015 The 10 worst hot spots for cyclists in London have been identified – and Elephant and Castle has been named the most dangerous junction in the capital. There have been 80 accidents between motorists and cyclists reported to police between 2009 and 2013, topping the list of locations surveyed by insurance giant Aviva. The next [...]
London boozers to watch World Cup goals by June 10, 2014 The Square Mile’s best spots for World Cup football: THE ANTHOLOGIST This cavernous venue is perfect for sipping cocktails while cheering on your team. It also does some decent food to keep you going through those late night matches. 58 Gresham Street, City, EC2V 7BB OLD BENGAL BAR If you want a touch of class [...]
World record holder Michael Johnson: Encourage employees to act like athletes when it comes to far-off goals September 7, 2014 Claims that elite sports men and women have something to teach businesses are often (rightly) greeted with scepticism. Sir Alex Ferguson’s lectures at Harvard Business School aside, the topic can be dominated by empty phrases like “hard work” and “will to win”, with few specific pieces of advice or strategies translating from one domain to [...]
The Australian food revolution: Heston Blumenthal and Jamie Oliver are joining a new wave of top antipodean chefs October 28, 2014 A grizzled miner in grubby, cement-splattered overalls clutches the stem of a wine glass with blackened fingertips, sipping chardonnay while recounting a recent dining experience at one of the city’s top tables. “It was the worst pizza I’ve ever tasted. The base was too limp and the feta too salty; it totally overpowered the [...]
St Patrick’s Day 2015: From Greenwich Dance’s Ceili and The Shard’s silent disco to the St Patrick’s Day parade, here are the best things to do this weekend March 12, 2015 It's that time of year when your liver either cries and begs you to stay in for the night, or rubs its hands with glee at the thought of getting some of the black stuff. Whether you hate the crowds of drunks staggering around in oversized hats, or indeed are one of those said staggerers, [...]
London’s tech boom is more than just hype – and the City is at its heart September 18, 2014 WHILE London Technology Week may not yet rival London Fashion Week for glamour, there is real substance to the capital’s tech boom. This is why, for the first time, TechCrunch is bringing its Silicon Valley conference to London this October. A number of things are driving this tech boom. London has long acted as a [...]
Open House 2014: Our pick of the best events in the City of London September 4, 2014 It’s hard work running a city – especially one that leads the world in culture, heritage and population growth, like London. The increasing demand for housing in the capital has put more pressure than ever on our open spaces and buildings. The pace of urban change is fast and cities need creative solutions to stay [...]
Lights out for darker skies: First World War started with a crash August 3, 2014 For the City, the Great War began with a financial crisis. Even before Britain committed itself, Europe’s great powers ranging against one another spelled disaster: the collapse of the magnificent, peaceful edifice of international trade built between the empires. As told in Jerry White’s riveting account of London in the war, Zeppelin Nights, on Friday [...]
The Square Mile sets sail for the Isle of Wight August 6, 2013 GLORIOUS Goodwood, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Henley Royal Regatta have all been and gone, so it was off to the Isle of Wight yesterday, for the last of the City summer sporting jollies. Aberdeen Asset Management’s Cowes Week means days of sailing and schmoozing down in the small town of Cowes, with the highlight of [...]