Bank of England
Coverage examines how monetary policy decisions, inflation forecasts, and economic commentary from the UK’s central bank affect the foodservice and hospitality sector, including implications for interest rates, consumer confidence, borrowing costs, and business investment. Reporting is tailored to help operators, finance leads, and decision-makers understand the macroeconomic environment shaping trading conditions and long-term planning.
-
Apr- 2020 -24 AprilCoronavirus
Chancellor considering 100% guarantee on small business loans
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering offering a 100% guarantee on loans to small businesses of up to £25,000. According to the Financial Times, Sunak is set to up the guarantee, which currently sits at 80%, in a bid to make it easier for banks to supply the loans and…
Read More » -
9 AprilCoronavirus
Greggs taps £150m from government
Greggs will receive £150m in funds from the Bank of England amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the bakery chain has confirmed. The group confirmed that it is now eligible to issue paper under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme. Through the scheme, available credit will “meet the company’s liquidity…
Read More » -
Mar- 2020 -19 MarchBusiness
New bank of England boss promises fresh measures to fight Covid-19
The new Bank of England boss, Andrew Bailey, has promised a fresh set of measures to help fight the economic “emergency” faced due to the coronavirus outbreak. Bailey, who has only been in the position for three days after taking over from former Bank Of England chief Mark Carney, told…
Read More » -
18 MarchBusiness
Chancellor extends rent holidays to all hospitality businesses
All hospitality businesses are eligible for a one-year business rates holiday after the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a series of new measures to help weather the financial strain caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Last week in his maiden Budget Speech the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced a one-year rent holiday for…
Read More » -
11 MarchBusiness
Bank of England cuts interest rates to help combat coronavirus impact
The Bank of England has cut UK interest rates back down to the lowest level in history to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy. The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, announced the 50 basis point (0.5 percentage point) reduction, from 0.75% to…
Read More » -
3 MarchBusiness Bites
Coronavirus is stepping up a gear – this could be serious
When I started this column back in December I did not anticipate a single subject would dominate it so much, but as I wrote last week it would be silly not to address the latest coronavirus circumstances given that each new development so far has had a profound impact on…
Read More » -
Feb- 2020 -28 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Coronavirus sends ripples through markets, governments, companies and the public
Apologies for the repetition, but the new coronavirus is causing such a serious global reaction today it would be silly to focus on other things, so here are four key stories about what looks to be developing into a full blown international crisis. The FTSE 100 has lost nearly £200…
Read More » -
19 FebruaryBusiness Bites
Inflation jumps, physical money nearing the end, immigration to prioritise skills, £150m film studio to launch
Inflation has reached its highest rate in six months, at 1.8%, after the price of fuel and energy rose over the course of the last year. The consumer prices index (CPI) which measures the rate by monitoring the price of consumer goods, was expected to come in at 1.6%, so…
Read More » -
18 FebruaryRestaurants
Wright Brothers announces new London site
Seafood restaurant Wright Brothers has announced the opening of its latest London restaurant at 1 Frederick’s Place. The restaurant, founded by brother-in-laws Ben Wright and Robin Hancock, has secured a 6,000 sq ft space on the ground and basement levels of the grade II listed building at Frederick’s Place. Designed…
Read More » -
Jan- 2020 -15 JanuaryBusiness Bites
Boohoo more valuable than M&S – a sea-change encapsulated
From a purely journalistic standpoint it is now a de facto cliché to refer to Marks and Spencer as the “high street bellwether”, yet that is the status it has held for so many decades. The once mighty monolith was the first British retailer to reach a market capitalisation of £1bn and…
Read More »
