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The City, Square Mile, and the London business economy.
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Business
UK small businesses target US market at London pitch event
Over 40 companies from food, retail, and consumer goods sectors sought American buyers.
News London Desk//3 min read
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London businesses face tax pressure as LCCI urges cost cuts ahead of budget
Business
Whitbread closes seven Bar + Block restaurants in London on 3 September
Business
Revolut clears first U.S. banking hurdle, launch set for 2027
Business
Two London small firms to receive £10,000 grants from Small Business Saturday
Business
FTSE 100 closes lower as inflation data weighs
Business
Melrose to restart California plant, faces damages claims
Business
Avon House Preparatory School to close due to financial pressures
Business
London stocks dip as Rightmove reports sharp August house price fall
FTSE 100 closes 0.3% lower while average asking price drops 2% to £364,999 in August
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More from Business
Business · LondonUK’s largest Harry Potter shop to open at 134-140 Oxford Street on 4 November
The flagship store, occupying two floors at 134-140 Oxford Street, will open on 4 November 2026. Warner Bros promises a Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon, a full-sized Knight Bus and a themed pub serving Butterbeer, aiming to draw half a million daily visitors to the West End.
London4 min readTrust 78 · Craft 44 · Hype 15
Business · LondonBreyer Holdings collapses: 285 jobs at risk as administrators take control
Breyer Holdings Limited, the Harold Hill-based firm behind Breyer Roofing and Breyer Repar, has appointed administrators after failing to meet debt obligations. Its 285 employees face an uncertain future while proposals are prepared for creditors by early October.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 54 · Hype 18
Business · LondonSimon Cowell faces High Court claim over £100,000 napkin deal dispute
Simon Cowell is being sued in the High Court over an alleged business agreement written on a napkin. Ian Rosenblatt, a former adviser, claims he is owed a percentage of a confidential 2025 deal or £100,000 in damages. Cowell has not yet filed a defence.
London4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 62 · Hype 35
Business · CroydonJanes Bakery reopens 25 Coughlans shops after £9m asset transfer
Janes Bakery has bought most of Coughlans' 31 shops, reopening 25 under its name. The Thornton Heath site, transferred to Smitham Lodge Estates Ltd before liquidation, remains excluded. Redundant staff were notified by text and may reapply for their jobs.
Croydon5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 15
Business · LondonLidl makes 37 Ivybridge staff redundant before Isleworth store opens
Lidl confirmed 37 former Asda staff at Ivybridge Retail Park were made redundant on 24 June 2026, despite earlier assurances they would transfer under TUPE. The company now guarantees interviews for the new Isleworth store, but pay and conditions remain unprotected.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 35
Business · LondonAldi plans £370m London expansion with 25 new stores in 2026
Aldi will invest £370 million in 2026 to open 25 new stores across Greater London, including Bromley, Lewisham and Elephant & Castle. The expansion aims to create jobs and improve access to affordable food, with store assistants earning at least £14.88 per hour inside the M25.
London5 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Business · CroydonAldi targets South Croydon for new supermarket expansion
Aldi has identified South Croydon as a priority location for potential new stores. The supermarket is currently inviting landowners to propose sites as part of a wider UK expansion programme that includes investments exceeding £370 million this year.
Croydon2 min readTrust 50 · Craft 80 · Hype 30
Business · LondonAldi targets Barking for new store as London expansion accelerates
Aldi has listed Barking among 30 London locations where it wants to open a new supermarket. The chain plans to invest £370 million in UK stores in 2026 and aims to reach 1,500 sites nationwide. Landowners can submit potential sites by email.
London4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 50
Business · LondonAldi targets four north London neighbourhoods for new supermarkets
Aldi is scouting locations in Wembley, North Harrow, Wood Green and Maida Hill for new stores, part of a £370 million UK expansion. A Willesden High Road branch is already under construction, with staff earning £14.88 an hour within the M25.
London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 15
Business · LondonJohn Lewis invests £800m to expand sports departments in 36 UK stores
John Lewis is relaunching sports departments in 36 stores, including Brent Cross, as part of an £800 million investment. The new 5,000 sq ft spaces will combine apparel, wearable tech, and recovery services, with free gait analysis for shoppers. The rollout begins this autumn.
London4 min readTrust 42 · Craft 55 · Hype 35
Business · LondonCellist Sally Kenyon sues Starbucks for £2m after Embankment injury
Sally Kenyon, a professional cellist from Somerset, is seeking over £2 million in damages from Starbucks after a wooden fridge surround fell on her at a London Embankment branch. The High Court case centres on whether the incident caused career-ending injuries or worsened pre-existing conditions.
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Business · LondonTottenham submit £50m-£55m opening bid for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen
Tottenham Hotspur have tabled an initial offer of £50 million to £55 million for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur reports. The Turkish club are holding out for £65 million, while Osimhen is said to be open to a Premier League move.
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Business · WestminsterM&S invests £700m in store revamp starting with Oxford Street’s Pantheon
Marks & Spencer has completed a £700 million investment plan, beginning with the Pantheon store on Oxford Street. The 10-storey rebuild, approved after legal challenges, includes offices and a gym. Food sales rose 16% in the latest quarter, but profits fell to £671 million last year.
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Business · LondonAnthropic’s book-scanning sparks rare book rush in Barnet and London
Anthropic’s $1.13 billion settlement and a US court ruling on fair use have triggered anonymous bulk purchases of rare books in London, including Barnet. Dealers report large, unexplained orders for specialist titles, raising concerns over the destruction of physical copies for AI training data.
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Business · LondonArsenal agree £80m fee for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães
Arsenal have agreed an £80 million deal with Newcastle United for Bruno Guimarães, with the 28-year-old expected to undergo a medical this week. Manchester United are also assessing a move for Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, while Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi denied knowledge of transfer talks for defender Cristian Romero.
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Business · WandsworthHeineken evicts Park Tavern managers after £150k refurbishment
Managers of the Park Tavern in Southfields must leave by 5 August 2025 after investing over £150,000 to restore the pub. Heineken’s Star Pubs refused to renew the lease, while a petition and political pressure mount for MFM Pub Group to stay.
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Business · BarnetBarnet sole traders and landlords face first Making Tax Digital deadline
Barnet and North London sole traders and landlords with annual incomes above £50,000 must submit digital tax records quarterly under new HMRC rules. The first deadline is 7 August 2026, replacing the traditional annual Self Assessment process for affected individuals.
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