By: Amber Murray

Retail Reporter Amber Murray is a reporter at CityAM, covering retail, luxury and property stores. Prior to CityAM, she worked as a sub-editor for Fastmarkets and completed a Masters in Financial Journalism at City University. Please get in touch with stories/tips/coffees at [email protected]

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Heston Blumenthal calls for VAT cut to ‘save British pubs’

September 2, 2025

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has called on the government and licensees to take urgent action to halt the closure of thousands of UK pubs. The chef, who owns owner of the Michelin-starred gastropub The Hinds Head, is campaigning for a reduction to the UK’s VAT rate, which is one of the highest in Europe. He [...]
InPost nearly triples UK parcel volumes after Yodel acquisition

September 2, 2025

InPost has reported a huge boost to UK parcel volumes and revenue after its takeover of competitor Yodel earlier this year. Revenue in the UK grew 303.1 per cent year on year in the second quarter to PLN 954.2m (£193m), making it the second-largest contributor to Group revenue after Poland, which has a 27 per [...]
Business rates reform set to give boost to Greggs, B&M and Halfords

September 1, 2025

The government’s proposed reform of business next year is set to give a boost to companies with a large number of small stores like Halfords, Curry’s and Dunelm, according to analysts. Despite significant backlash against the reform from large high street retailers, analysts at Panmure Liberum have suggested the move would, overall, be good for [...]
Why have house prices run out of steam this summer?

September 1, 2025

The average price of a UK home dipped in August for the fourth time in six months, in a sign that the property market is under real pressure. The average price of a house in the UK fell to £271,079, down 0.1 per cent from the month before – a surprise to market watchers, who [...]
Stamp duty overhaul could save prime London buyers £500k

September 1, 2025

Buyers of prime London mansions could see huge benefits from a move to an annual property tax, according to new data. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering replacing stamp duty with a new national property tax on homes, as well as replacing council tax with an annual property tax. Stamp duty, which is paid in bands tied [...]
Greene King landlords plea for Rachel Reeves to cut bills

September 1, 2025

More than 600 Greene King landlords have called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to lower taxes for pubs ahead of the Autumn Budget as the sector grapples with ever-rising costs. The hospitality industry has been vocal about the cost pressures it has been facing since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, with businesses facing surging energy, [...]
National Insurance ‘final nail in coffin’ for landlords as some already seek exit

August 29, 2025

A national insurance raid on landlords’ rental income risks being the final straw for smaller landlords, with some already making plans to leave the sector. The Chancellor is reportedly examining proposals for applying national insurance (NI) to rental income in the hope of raising £2bn. Earnings from property, pensions and savings are currently largely exempt from NI [...]
House sales rise in summer, but will property tax rumours kill confidence?

August 29, 2025

The UK housing market has proved remarkably resilient this year despite significant pressures, with sales on track to match 2022 highs. The number of UK residential transactions in July was 95,580, four per cent higher than July 2024 and one per cent higher than June 2025, according to the latest data from HMRC. The market [...]
Canary Wharf announces plans for an Olympic-sized open-water lido

August 29, 2025

Canary Wharf plans to open an Olympic-sized open-water lido at Eden Dock in its latest push to expand its leisure offering. Set to open next summer – subject to planning approval – Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will offer a natural water lido, plus saunas, a clubhouse and a restaurant. “Almost one year on from the [...]
Reeves slammed as ‘Baldrick Chancellor’ by Kirstie Allsopp after landlord tax rumours

August 28, 2025

TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp has compared Rachel Reeves to Blackadder’s hapless servant Baldrick after rumours surfaced of a new tax on landlords. Allsopp, who is best known as the presenter of Channel 4 shows like Locaation, Location, Location, tweeted earlier today: “Another week, another cunning plan from our Baldrick Chancellor.” “What Rachel fails to understand [...]

Hydration breaks: World Cup ad cost could eclipse Super Bowl’s $7m price tag

Hydration breaks: World Cup ad cost could eclipse Super Bowl’s $7m price tag

Bowls Club is the City’s most eccentric (and brilliant) pop-up

By: Amber Murray

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