Blue Orchid Hospitality granted permission to convert Atlas House to a luxury hotel City Talk Planning permission has been granted for Atlas House on King Street, Cheapside, currently vacant with prior uses as offices. The landmark Italianate-style property is to be transformed into a high-quality boutique hotel under the ownership of the award-winning Blue Orchid Hospitality group, part of the Integrity International Group, led by renowned hotelier and developer, Tony [...]
Glamorous world of the Edwardians to be explored in major exhibition at The King’s Gallery City Talk This spring, a major exhibition at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace will immerse visitors in the glamour and opulence of the Edwardian era. The Edwardians: Age of Elegance will explore the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen [...]
London businesses dismiss Chancellor’s growth hopes Economics Firms across London think the government will fall flat on its ambition to grow the UK economy, a new survey has shown. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set out to woo businesses in the City of London over the last few years. But around nine in ten businesses across the capital doubt the government can achieve growth, [...]
Norwegian oil fund buys a quarter of Covent Garden from Shaftesbury March 20, 2025 Shaftesbury Capital has sold a quarter of Covent Garden to Norwegian oil fund Norges for £570m in the latest bet by Noway’s sovereign wealth fund on the capital. Under the terms of the contract, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) will buy a 25 per cent non-controlling stake in the £2.7bn Covent Garden estate, which Shaftesbury [...]
London closes in on New York as top financial hub but risks remain March 20, 2025 London has edged closer to becoming the world’s top financial centre, fresh research shows, but concerns have been raised over the City’s future competitiveness. The 37th edition of Z/Yen Group’s Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 37) showed London maintained its second-place ranking amongst the world’s top financial centres, whilst climbing 12 points from its last [...]
Trump’s attack on Big Law puts London lawyers into an awkward place March 20, 2025 US President Donald Trump has set his sights on a new target for his attacks: American lawyers and law firms. But this problem has shifted across the Atlantic
London firms struggling to recruit staff as people want to WFH March 20, 2025 Firms in London are struggling to recruit staff as over four in five businesses have vacancies, according to a new survey of 1,000 companies. Mayor Sadiq Khan recently announced plans to boost economic growth in the capital, but the latest survey by BusinessLDN suggests he may have a mountain to climb before he achieves his [...]
Reform UK pledge to stand candidates at all council elections in May March 17, 2025 Reform UK has promised to stand candidates in all the council elections in May. Chairman Zia Yusuf has pledged the party will stand candidates in all council seats at the local elections on May 1. Speaking at a press conference in central London, Yusuf said: “Last May, Reform failed to stand in 88 per cent [...]
Elon Musk: Protesters outside London Tesla dealership call for boycott March 15, 2025 Protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in London have called for people to boycott the Elon Musk owned electric car maker. Organisers are encouraging Tesla owners to sell their cars and for people to dump stock. The electric car giant has already seen shares plunge since the start of the year as the firm comes [...]
Iconic cinema in Chelsea put on the market March 13, 2025 An iconic Grade II ex-cinema in Chelsea has been put on the market, with potential to turn it into a hotel, housing or a member’s club. The closure of the cinema, which Hugh Grant called “strangely unbearable”, sparked headlines last year. The site, which originally opened in 1930 as the Forum Theatre, became the 26th [...]