Square Mile braces for Plan B as businesses say work from home guidance will ‘destroy’ trade December 8, 2021 Businesses in the City of London have said they are preparing for the worst ahead of a reported announcement on a work-from-home message. Multiple media outlets have reported that the Prime Minister is to usher in vaccine passports for large venues and instruct office employees to work from home once more. There will be a press [...]
Over-40s to be offered Covid vaccine ‘from tomorrow’ April 12, 2021 Over-40s are due to be invited for their first vaccinations against coronavirus from tomorrow, as part of government plans to offer a first injection to all adults in the UK by 31 July. Initial appointments will be reserved for people aged 49, with people in their mid-to-late-40s told to book later in the month as [...]
Boris Johnson confirms England’s pubs and non-essential retail will open Monday as vaccine passports given green light April 5, 2021 Boris Johnson has today confirmed pubs, restaurants and non-essential retail across England will reopen on 12 April as a large section of the country’s economy is released from Covid-19 restrictions. The government also confirmed that retail and hospitality businesses will be allowed to use new Covid vaccine certificates to determine whether people can enter their [...]
Why civil servants shouldn’t fear a move to Darlington March 10, 2021 Guy Opperman, the MP for Hexham in Northumberland and the Minister for Pensions, on falling for the charms of the North East and why Treasury civil servants shouldn’t shed any tears when they move from London to Darlington. The Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget was truly transformative. The North East will be home to the flagship [...]
Covid-19: Boris Johnson ‘optimistic’ lockdown can be eased soon February 13, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson today said he was optimistic he would be able to announce the easing of some Covid-19 lockdown measures soon as the UK’s vaccine rollout continues at pace. The prime minister, who will unveil his “roadmap” for ending the lockdown on 22 February, said he would prioritise aims to reopen schools from [...]
Bosses beg for help as new Tier 4 restrictions shutter 50,000 businesses December 24, 2020 Some 50,000 more businesses have shut their doors as a result of the latest Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, causing panic among affected industries. Yesterday afternoon health secretary Matt Hancock announced Tier 4 restrictions would be extended to cover almost all of the South of England from Boxing Day. Tier 4 restrictions are largely the same [...]
When will pubs, shops, cinemas and theatres reopen under Boris Johnson’s roadmap? February 22, 2021 The Prime Minister unveiled his roadmap for leaving lockdown this afternoon, promising that it would provide a “one way road to freedom… after a wretched year”. Boris Johnson said England would “start reclaiming our freedoms” in a fortnight’s time, with all legal limits on social contact set to end on 21 June at the earliest. [...]
Virgin Voyages to launch in UK for vaccinated passengers April 8, 2021 Virgin Voyages has today announced that it will finally launch its long-delayed debut cruises this summer – but only for fully vaccinated passengers. The firm, which only caters to adult passengers, will offer six trips in UK waters, starting from Portsmouth, from August. Passengers aboard the Scarlet Lady can opt for either a three or [...]
High Court rules against hospitality bosses on indoor closures May 5, 2021 Hospitality bosses have lost their legal battle for a quicker reopening of indoor hospitality in England. Punch Taverns founder Hugh Osmond and Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, brought a case against the government challenging the current rules. Lord and Osmond said there was no justification or scientific bias for pubs and [...]
West End classic Angus Steakhouse ‘on brink of administration’ March 9, 2021 West End staple Angus Steakhouse is reportedly on the edge of collapse unless it can secure rent concessions from its landlords. The restaurant chain, which was founded in the 1960s, has hired KPMG in a bid to strike a last-minute deal with landlords, the Telegraph reported. The Big Four auditor has written to letters to [...]