Maurizio Zanella: The man behind the rise of Franciacorta November 28, 2021 Franciacorta is a small but mighty Italian wine appellation currently making waves on the sparkling scene. Though wine has been produced here since the sixteenth century, Prosecco is the Italian sparkling wine that jumps more readily to the international mind. Franciacorta, however, is made via the traditional method and was the first region to gain [...]
Can I go to the theatre in Tier 2? Yes – here are the top December shows November 27, 2020 Few industries have been as badly hit by Covid restrictions as the theatre. Not have they had to shut for two lockdowns, but social distancing means most productions, already run on the thinnest of margins, are now loss-making operations. Throw in the uncertainty over what lies ahead, which is at odds with the long lead-times [...]
Banks amongst winners on FTSE as City waits for trade deal confirmation December 24, 2020 Lloyds Bank and Natwest are amongst those enjoying a Brexit deal boost on the FTSE 100 today. Lloyds is up more than 4 per cent on the last day of trading before Christmas. Natwest is also up. The deal is expected to be announced by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen within the next [...]
West End braces to lose £2bn in Christmas sales due to new lockdown November 2, 2020 Retailers in London’ shopping district are set to lose up to £2bn in sales across the eight-week period up to Christmas, new data released today has found. According to the New West End Company, only 9m people will visit the West End in the festive season due to the new month-long lockdown. Previously the group, [...]
An Italian (stuck) abroad: ‘The hardest part was telling my family’ December 22, 2020 Fortunato Benavoli, 39, is a London-based make-up artist. Born in Italy, he has lived in London for 12 years. After booking flights following the government’s promises about Christmas, he is now spending the day alone in his London flat, far away from hs family. He told us his about his frustration with the way the [...]
UK’s Covid-19 death toll passes 125,000 March 11, 2021 The UK’s official Covid-19 death toll passed 125,000 today, according to data from Public Health England.
London and southeast in Tier 3: What are the rules? December 17, 2020 Most of the southeast of England is set to join London in Tier 3 from midnight on Friday, as the government scrambles to contain a sharp spike in coronavirus cases. The move will see Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, and the whole of Hertfordshire move into the highest level of restrictions from 0.01am on Saturday. It [...]
UK retail footfall ‘more resilient’ in second lockdown November 16, 2020 Retail footfall has been more resilient during the second coronavirus lockdown compared to the first closure of non-essential stores in March, the latest analysis showed. Between Thursday and Saturday footfall in retail destinations rose by an average of 13.2 per cent from the same three days in the week before, when the lockdown began. Shoppers [...]
Lockdown extension in December would be ‘disastrous’ for retail sector, experts warn November 2, 2020 An extension of lockdown restrictions into December would be “disastrous” for the struggling retail sector, which will have already missed out on sales at the beginning of the crucial Christmas trading period. In a note to clients this morning, broker Peel Hunt said listed retailers had balance sheets strong enough to handle the November lockdown, [...]
‘We will lose £400k’: The cost of Tier 3 for the hospitality sector December 15, 2020 As the hospitality sector begins to count the cost of the latest Tier 3 lockdown, we spoke to one industry figure who says his company will lose £400,000. Stuart Procter, COO of Mayfair hotel and restaurant The Stafford, said the latest blow has left his company reeling in a year he’s already had to make [...]