London energy startup Dare poaches former Monarch and Betfred finance whizz Barry Nightingale July 14, 2022 London-based energy tech company Dare revealed to City A.M. it has recruited Barry Nightingale as its new Chief Financial Officer, in what is said to be a major hire as the fundraising expert gained worked for a range of large UK firms. Nightingale previously held positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Finance Director, at Wejo, The Restaurant Group, [...]
Loungers beats pre-pandemic sales as customers flock back and expansion picks up pace December 1, 2021 Bar and restaurant group Loungers has beaten pre-pandemic sales as customers flocked back to its sites following the lifting of Covid restrictions earlier this year, the company has revealed. Revenues hit £102m in the six months to October 3 with a pre-tax profit of £12.8m as bosses opened 12 new sites and aims to open [...]
London businesses lament dismal start to 2023 after another rail strike set for January December 20, 2022 Hospitality leaders have reiterated calls for rail firms and unions to hash out an eleventh-hour resolution to swerve January strikes, after train drivers announced another walk-out. Train drivers at 15 companies in the union Aslef have agreed to strike on 5 January, as part of a long-standing pay dispute. The walkout will take place on [...]
Shop ’till you drop: Christmas spending up despite rampant inflation December 20, 2022 Shopping habits die hard as Brits continue to spend across the board in the run-up to Christmas and the holiday season despite historic levels of inflation raising prices. Spending on essentials is up by an average of 43.5 per cent compared to the same time last year, with non-essential expenditure also rising by an average [...]
This hotel close to London has food so good it inspired a Netflix series February 5, 2024 The Grove in Hertfordshire has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Visit for Tiger Woods nostalgia and one of the best buffets in the UK
TGI Friday’s owner shares plunge after revenue sinks amid diners’ tightening purse strings May 26, 2022 TGI Friday’s owner Hostmore’s share price has plummeted almost 15 per cent after the restaurant operator posted subdued revenue versus pre pandemic levels. Hostmore, which also operates the cocktail bar brand 63rd+1st, said like-for-like revenue was six per cent lower than 2019 levels. In a trading update for the 20 weeks ended 22 May, the [...]
Skiing in St Moritz and Pontresina, the Swiss towns where British ski holidays were born January 29, 2023 The Grand Hotel Kronenhof is like a Wes Anderson movie brought to life. You join me in Pontresina, in Switzerland’s Eastern Alps, a pretty little mountain town of 18th century villas and Belle Epoque buildings. The hotel itself is large and neo-baroque, crowned with a jaunty green dome, and was opened in 1848 before being [...]
Fridays owner Hostmore remains on track despite Omicron cancellations January 17, 2022 Hostmore, which owns Fridays, has confirmed that its earnings and new site pipeline are on track despite weaker trading over the festive period. The hospitality firm’s board expects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation for the year to January 2 to be “well ahead” of £18.6m. London-listed Hostmore, which also owns cocktail bar [...]
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour kicks off today. How much is it really worth to the UK economy? June 7, 2024 As Taylor Swift starts the UK arm of her Eras tour, we look at how much will it help British business, and where will that benefit be felt.
Mark Kleinman: Why Starling needs Engine to fuel IPO dream November 2, 2023 Mark Kleinman is City editor at Sky News Starling needs Engine to fuel IPO dream Companies offer myriad reasons for the departures of chief executives. Few are as downright peculiar as the one given by Starling Bank when it announced in May that founder Anne Boden was stepping down. “Now that we have grown from [...]