Benefit rises capped as coalition regulates pubs January 8, 2013 THE SECOND half of the coalition’s parliament got off to a busy start yesterday, as the government pushed through a one per cent cap on increases to most working-age welfare payments, as well as setting out its stall for the new year with plans to speed-up large infrastructure projects and regulate the pub industry. The coalition won [...]
Spirits at Marston’s pubs lifted by influx of Christmas diners January 22, 2013 PUB and brewing company Marston’s, known for beer brands such as Marston’s Pedigree and Hobgoblin, said comparable sales rose 5.8 per cent at its pubs in the Christmas holiday season. The company, which operates around 2,150 pubs across England and Wales, said like-for-like sales at its managed pubs in the three weeks ending 5 January [...]
London Report: GDP figures and housing prices reveal recovery October 20, 2013 GROSS domestic product (GDP) figures due on Friday are expected to reveal the UK’s solid recovery prospects, coupled with further good news from Nationwide and Rightmove housing figures earlier in the week. Analysts predict further improvement in the economy, with third quarter GDP expected to rise. “We expect GDP to rise 0.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter. [...]
Five of the UK’s coolest offices September 11, 2013 Google Located behind Tottenham Court Road station, Google’s UK headquarters features Union Jacks, allotments where employees can grow veg and outdoor workplaces called “secret gardens”. Mother London There’s only one desk at ad agency Mother: a 240ft concrete work surface that stretches through the entire building. Workers change positions every six weeks thanks to a randomly [...]
Government is making high streets suffer and the situation may worsen December 18, 2013 WHATEVER the chances of a last-minute Christmas shopping spree, the retail climate remains difficult. To assist troubled high streets, the chancellor’s Autumn Statement appeared to make a valiant effort to address complaints about business rates, long resented as an excessive tax burden on retailers. For the first time ever, the uniform business rate rise will [...]
Best of the Brokers for 09 September 2013 September 8, 2013 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com JD WETHERSPOON Panmure Gordon has reiterated its “buy” rating and target price of 806p for Wetherspoons, which is due to report its full-year results on Friday. The broker expects the pub chain to report a “solid” two per cent growth in like-for-like sales [...]
Christmas diners fail to make up for weather at Spirit Pubs January 15, 2013 CUSTOMERS returned to taverns operated by Spirit Pubs over Christmas, although the influx did not make up for lower-than-expected sales during October and November. The company, which split from Punch Taverns in 2011, blamed the continuing wet weather towards the end of last year for it missing expectations, although rising food sales provided a boost. Spirit [...]
Sport Comment: Time for class of 2015 to show they can follow 2003 October 27, 2013 WITH both codes of rugby competing for attention at the moment, this weekend it’s the turn of England to play Australia in the 15-man version, 10 years on from THAT game in Sydney. And, by way of a warm-up on Thursday, many of those who a decade ago were fitter, slimmer and with rather more [...]
Libor now has a new administrator – but our reforms have gone much further | City A.M. November 4, 2013 WHEN the Libor scandal broke just before I became chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), the banking industry was condemned by politicians, the media, and in pubs and homes across the country. For many, it encapsulated what was wrong with the industry – both at an individual and institutional level. It seemed the [...]
Libor now has a new administrator – but our reforms have gone much further | City A.M. November 4, 2013 WHEN the Libor scandal broke just before I became chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), the banking industry was condemned by politicians, the media, and in pubs and homes across the country. For many, it encapsulated what was wrong with the industry – both at an individual and institutional level. It seemed the [...]