Coronavirus: Landlords will show pragmatism to save businesses April 15, 2020 Once the Covid-19 pandemic has abated and the UK retail property market returns to some semblance of normality, the way in which landlords reacted to the crisis will be forensically assessed by retailers. The hard lessons learnt by both sides will reshape the landlord-tenant relationship and people will have long memories with regard to how [...]
Portsmouth’s fan-led revival reaches new milestone with Arsenal FA Cup clash March 1, 2020 When Portsmouth welcome Arsenal to Fratton Park on Monday night there will be a release of emotions from the almost 20,000 Pompey fans present, many of whom are responsible for the club’s slow but steady revival. The fifth-round tie is the furthest the club have progressed in the FA Cup since the 2010 final and [...]
No laughing matter: The impact of coronavirus on London’s standup comics March 30, 2020 One of the benefits of living in a vibrant metropolitan city like London is seeing live entertainment. For many, the highlight of their week — before the coronavirus crisis — was enjoying standup comedians at pubs, open mic nights and comedy clubs across the capital. As well as being a source of entertainment, live comedy [...]
FTSE 100 and US stocks rise despite more dire economic warnings May 7, 2020 US stocks have joined the FTSE 100 in positive territory as investors bet on a relatively speedy economic recovery from coronavirus despite yet more dire economic predictions. London’s blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 1.4 per cent at 5,933 points in afternoon trading. This was despite the Bank of England warning of the worst slump [...]
Why Boris is a mixed blessing for the City January 26, 2020 Boris and the Conservatives’ thumping electoral victory inevitably led to an uptick in confidence, but dealmakers should keep an eye on the course Number 10 is plotting. Business is celebrating the thwarting of Labour’s most anti-business leader since Michael Foot and the abatement of Brexit-related uncertainty. But we may be left wanting if we expected [...]
World Cup delivers consumer spending boost as pubs rake in 10 per cent more cash July 10, 2018 The World Cup prompted the biggest spike in non-essential consumer spending in June since October 2016, as Britons spent 33 per cent more in pubs during England’s first match. Non-essential spending jumped by 5.5 per cent in June compared to the previous year, the strongest year-on-year growth since October 2016, according to data to be [...]
Exclusive: City of London councillors call for associate guild to admit female members January 7, 2020 One of the City’s ancient trade guilds that does not accept female members is “tainting” the City of London, according to a group of councillors. The City of London Corporation has 110 associated Livery companies, which were traditionally trade associations and guilds for different crafts. Read more: Exclusive: City of London mulls over historic Lord Mayor selection reform The groups [...]
Retail bosses call for £6bn corporation tax hike to fund business rates cut February 5, 2020 Retail bosses are preparing to urge the Treasury to increase corporation tax in order to cut business rates by £6bn in a bid to save the UK’s struggling high streets. The recommendation to the government will be made in a report by a sub-committee of the Retail Sector Council, due to be shared in the [...]
Wetherspoons shareholders back Tim Martin after corporate governance row November 21, 2019 Outspoken JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has emerged victorious from his clash with a proxy adviser after shareholders voted overwhelmingly in his support. More than 98 per cent of investors voted to re-elect Martin, who founded the company in 1979, as executive chairman at the budget pub chain’s annual general meeting today. Read more: Wetherspoons [...]
Retail landlord New River REIT swings to a loss on weak investor sentiment November 21, 2019 Property landlord New River REIT swung to a loss in the first half of the year as its portfolio valuation sank due to weak investor sentiment in the retail sector. The FTSE-250 real estate investment trust, which focuses on retail and leisure properties, reported a loss of £21.3m from a profit of £2.7m last year. [...]