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The City, Square Mile, and the London business economy.
56 stories · page 3 of 4
Whitbread will shut seven Bar + Block outlets in Aldgate, Hammersmith, King’s Cross, Paddington, Southwark, Sutton and Wimbledon on 3 September. The move begins a five‑year plan to close 261 restaurants, save £250 million and reshape the group into a hotel‑focused business.
Revolut has secured conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for its American bank charter. The company still needs clearance from the Federal Reserve and the FDIC before it can roll out services, targeting a 2027 launch.
Small Business Saturday announced that two businesses on its Nation’s Favourite list will each receive a £10,000 grant from American Express. London‑based toy maker Get Kindy is among the featured firms, and shoppers are urged to support the listed companies on 5 December.
The FTSE 100 fell 34.98 points on Tuesday as 10-year gilt yields reached 5.22%, the highest since 1996. Rising oil prices and eurozone inflation at 3.3% increased borrowing costs, adding pressure on the Chancellor before next month’s Budget.
The Royal Lancaster London Hotel, rated the UK's best on TripAdvisor, has been given a food hygiene rating of 2 by the Food Standards Agency. The inspection found mouse droppings in the pastry kitchen and issues with cleaning of can openers.
Melrose Industries will not face criminal investigation over its California site incident. The company plans to resume manufacturing in late September and will launch a claims programme for up to $100 million for affected residents and businesses.
Avon House Preparatory School in Woodford Green will not reopen for the September 2026 academic year. The school cited financial pressures, including the upcoming VAT on private school fees, as a primary reason for its closure.
London’s FTSE 100 fell 29.81 points on Monday as oil prices rose and housebuilders declined after Rightmove reported a 2% monthly drop in average asking prices. The jobless rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to June, but housing market pressures persist ahead of autumn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.

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.

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.
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.
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.

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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