UK Immigration Bill: Illegal workers face jail as part of crackdown on rogue migrants and employers August 24, 2015 The Government is raising the stakes in its crackdown on illegal working today, introducing new penalties for employers who give jobs to undocumented migrants. Immigration minister James Brokenshire will say: “Illegal workers will face the prospect of a prison term and rogue employers could have their businesses closed, have their licences removed, or face prosecution [...]
National Living Wage: Lidl and Morrisons have boosted perception by adopting salary rises ahead of time October 7, 2015 From a reluctant starting point, British retailers are now falling over themselves to make the most of Living Wage goodwill, announcing wage rises ahead of next year's obligatory rise. Initially there was much gnashing of teeth over George Osborne's ruling that firms must pay staff above the £7.20 minimum for over-25s from April. Wetherspoon's founder [...]
Greene King and Spirit Pubs in £773m takeover November 4, 2014 BRITISH pub retailer and brewing giant Greene King finally reached agreement yesterday over the long-mooted takeover bid of compatriot brewer Spirit Pubs. Greene King’s offer – worth £773.6m, at 115p a share – has been accepted by Spirit Pubs’ senior management. The arrangement will see Greene King shareholders take 71.1 per cent in the newly [...]
Super Bowl XLIX 2015: Where to watch in London- 19 bars, pubs and clubs to see the New England Patriots Vs Seattle Seahawks NFL game January 29, 2015 Got your giant foam finger and pom-poms ready? The Super Bowl’s coming to town. The New England Patriots will face off against the Seattle Seahawks in the biggest game of the year broadcast at 11.30pm here in London on Sunday. Yankophile’s, ex-pats, American football fans and anyone who happens to be free on Sunday night [...]
Pubs operator Marston’s records steady year despite profit loss November 27, 2014 BRITISH brewer and pub operator Marston’s yesterday reported a steady year of growth in its preliminary results for the year ended 4 October, despite posting a drop in profits. The Wolverhampton-based company’s underlying group revenue increased one per cent to £787.6m in the period, but its profit before tax fell 3.6 per cent to £83m. [...]
Abolishing the beer tie would be terrible news for British pub-goers November 19, 2014 THE British pub is much-loved, but they have experienced a difficult few years. Changing consumer tastes and the challenging economic environment of recent years have made life tough for pub landlords and companies like Punch. We are now on the road to recovery. At Punch, we were planning to invest over £400m over the next [...]
Labour leadership race: Want to be like Jeremy Corbyn? Now you can, with this blazer September 7, 2015 We all know Jeremy Corbyn, the nation’s new political celebrity, is more than a man with bold ideas: with his characteristic beard and crumpled suits, his distinct style transcends generations. Now you can look just like him – with the "Jeremy Corbyn 70s Beige Burton Blazer" on Ebay. Simply combine with a white shirt and dark [...]
Pub firms left in limbo by MP vote to slash beer tie November 18, 2014 Pub companies suffered a bitter setback last night after parliament voted to let landlords buy their beer on the open market, opening the door to a historic overhaul of the industry. In a surprise loss for the government, MPs voted 284 to 269 to remove the obligation for around 13,000 UK landlords to buy their [...]
Magna Carta 2015: Where you can enjoy beer deals in London with #CheersBDB June 15, 2015 On 15 June 1215, King John finally agreed to sign the Magna Carta – a deal that meant monarchs were finally subject to the law, just like everyone else. But not only that. It also gave birth to the humble pint, thanks to the inclusion of an article that demanded "a single measure for ale". [...]
The Long Weekend: Woburn, Bedfordshire November 2, 2015 Our new series on the perfect places in the UK to take a long, relaxing weekend break. First up, a foodie trip to Paris house in nearby Woburn. THE PITCH: A molecular gastronomy masterclass by a Michelin-starred chef surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK. You will rustle up a feast before [...]