Coronation Street’s Gail bids farewell after 50 years Coronation Street’s Gail bids farewell after 50 years Coronation Street’s longstanding, long-suffering character Gail said farewell to Weatherfield on Christmas Day, after 50 years on the cobbles. Actress Helen Worth has stuck with the character through thick and thin since 1974, and
From Squid Game to Blackpink how South Korea became culture powerhouse From Squid Game to Blackpink how South Korea became culture powerhouse Evan Barringer was 14 years old when he stumbled onto Full House, a South Korea romcom where two strangers are forced to share a house. Sitting in his
Fog causes disruptions to UK flights for second day Fog causes disruptions to UK flights for second day Heavy fog has continued to cause delays and cancellations at some of the UK’s busiest airports for the second day in a row, with the majority of flights at Gatwick and Stansted
London’s disappeared department stores of days gone by London’s disappeared department stores of days gone by Once the bastion of middle-class ladies going up to town to shop, with deferential and attentive staff and a respectable place to lunch, department stores were a world away from today’s shopping habits of
Alfie Boe sings Happy Birthday to UK’s oldest man Alfie Boe sings Happy Birthday to UK’s oldest man Opera star Alfie Boe has serenaded the UK’s oldest man with a special version of Happy Birthday as he turned 110. The singer made a special appearance, by video call, during Donald
Zelensky condemns ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day attack Zelensky condemns ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia made a “conscious choice” by launching a major overnight attack on his country’s energy infrastructure on Christmas Day. Ukraine’s air force said it had detected 184 missiles and drones, but many were
Cadbury loses royal warrant after 170 years Cadbury loses royal warrant after 170 years Chocolate maker Cadbury has been dropped from the list of royal warrants for the first time in 170 years. The Birmingham-based chocolatier was awarded its first royal warrant as chocolate and cocoa manufacturers by Queen Victoria
Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother jailed for life for her murder Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother jailed Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother are sentenced to life in prison for the 10-year-old’s murder Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother are sentenced to life in prison for the 10-year-old’s murder Urfan Sharif, 43,
Winter fuel payment replaced by some London councils Winter fuel payment replaced by some London councils An east London council is rolling out its replacement winter fuel payment after the government changed the criteria, meaning millions of pensioners no longer qualify. Tower Hamlets Council is offering a £175 cash payment
Free school meals as long as I am mayor says Khan Free school meals as long as I am mayor says Khan The Mayor of London has said his policy of free lunch for every pupil at state primary schools in London will continue despite questions about how he will
Ministers back plans to enhance pie ‘n’ mash status Ministers back plans to enhance pie ‘n’ mash status Ministers have backed a motion to give pie ‘n’ mash special protected status, just like Scottish salmon and Welsh lamb. The Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, Richard Holden, led a debate
Pie ‘n’ mash needs to be protected, says Essex MP Pie ‘n’ mash needs to be protected, says Essex MP An Essex MP is to lead a parliamentary debate calling for traditional pie ‘n’ mash with liquor to get protected status, like champagne and Cornish Pasties. Richard Holden, the Conservative
Man raped and killed unconscious woman on park bench Man raped and killed unconscious woman on park bench A sexual predator has been found guilty of the rape and manslaughter of a woman he attacked while she was unconscious on a park bench. CCTV footage was shown of NHS worker
Sir Keir Starmer vows to ‘take decisions’ on outdoor smoking ban to ease NHS ‘burden’ Free Sir Keir Starmer vows to ‘take decisions’ on outdoor smoking ban to ease NHS ‘burden’ Free NHS ‘heartened’ by possible beer garden smoking ban while pubs say it will ‘increase isolation’ Sir Keir Starmer
Wetherspoon profits jump as Covid recovery continues Wetherspoon profits jump as Covid recovery continues Pub chain Wetherspoon has reported an eightfold jump in profits, saying its recovery from the Covid pandemic is continuing. Pre-tax profits leapt from £4.6m to £36m in the first six months of the financial year, as
Pub chain Wetherspoon reveals jump in sales as boss warns about costs Pub chain Wetherspoon reveals jump in sales as boss warns about costs Wetherspoon now operates more than 800 pubs. Pub chain J D Wetherspoon said that sales have risen by around £1 in every £10 in the last
J D Wetherspoon to open pubs at Haven holiday parks J D Wetherspoon to open pubs at Haven holiday parks Pub chain J D Wetherspoon has signed an “exclusive agreement” with Haven Holidays to operate at its parks. Haven, which runs 38 parks in the UK, said the first on-site
Wetherspoon selling another 22 pubs amid estate overhaul Wetherspoon selling another 22 pubs amid estate overhaul The group has already sold 28 pubs this financial year, but insisted the move was not a ‘money-raising exercise’. Pub group JD Wetherspoon has said 22 of its pubs remain up for sale after
UK top listed firms targeted in biggest ethnicity pay gap push UK top listed firms targeted in biggest ethnicity pay gap push The pressure will build on companies gathering together shareholders at their annual general meetings (AGMs) this year. The UK’s biggest listed companies are set to be pressed on
Firms hit back at Bank governor in prices row Firms hit back at Bank governor in prices row Business leaders have hit back after the Bank of England governor said they should think twice before raising prices to cope with inflation. Andrew Bailey said increased prices could drive up the
Wetherspoons in London Every pub in Zone 1 ranked from best to worst Wetherspoons in London Every pub in Zone 1 ranked from best to worst Greenwich is welcoming a new £3million Spoons. But what about those closer to the centre of town? One word is all it takes to
Disabled woman and service dog asked to leave Hanley pub Disabled woman and service dog asked to leave Hanley pub A disabled woman said she was reduced to tears when asked to leave a pub because of her assistance dog. Louise Harris, who has multiple sclerosis, was approached by a
Wetherspoon’s sales jump over Christmas but still lag behind pre-Covid Wetherspoon’s sales jump over Christmas but still lag behind pre-Covid The pub chain said like-for-like sales surged by nearly 18% over the last three months of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021. JD Wetherspoon has revealed that its
Independent food hall to take over Kings Heath pub Independent food hall to take over Kings Heath pub A food hall is planned to open inside a former Birmingham pub, featuring six independent kiosks, a bar and bakery. District Marketplace wants to take over what was Wetherspoons’ Pear Tree pub
Wetherspoon sees sales come under pressure Wetherspoon sees sales come under pressure The pub chain said like-for-like sales dropped 1.1% in the five weeks to November 6 when compared with pre-pandemic trading in 2019. JD Wetherspoon has revealed slowing sales and said it is facing “substantially higher” costs across the
Global stocks sink as all eyes on mass tech sector lay-offs Global stocks sink as all eyes on mass tech sector lay-offs Free 221224 The FTSE 100 ended the day 9.89 points lower, down 0.14%, at 7,296.25. European and US stocks drifted into the red as a second round of
Full list of 9 London pubs facing closure as Wetherspoon puts sites up for sale amid soaring costs Full list of 9 London pubs facing closure as Wetherspoon puts sites up for sale amid soaring costs JD Wetherspoon has warned it would slip to an annual loss after hiking staff
University of Hull student’s union seals Wetherspoon partnership University of Hull student’s union seals Wetherspoon partnership Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has gone into partnership with a students’ union in the first deal of its kind at a British university. Hull University Students’ Union (HUSU) said the deal meant “students will
Wetherspoons: Cocktail sales up but ales out, says pub chain Wetherspoons: Cocktail sales up but ales out, says pub chain Cocktail sales have soared in comparison with traditional ales as more young people venture out post-lockdown, says Wetherspoons. In the 15 weeks to 7 November, sales of drinks such as
Pub chain Wetherspoon reports record loss Pub chain Wetherspoon reports record loss JD Wetherspoon has reported a record annual loss after Covid lockdowns saw its pubs shut for 19 weeks. It posted a £154.7m loss as sales fell sharply in the year to 25 July, after a £34.1m loss a
Wetherspoons runs low on some beer amid driver shortage Wetherspoons runs low on some beer amid driver shortage The Wetherspoons chain has said some of its pubs have run out of some beer brands because of supply chain issues. The Wetherspoons chain has said some of its pubs have run
Shot in the head in Angola left for dead now a Wetherspoons star Shot in the head in Angola left for dead now a Wetherspoons star After the bullet burst through his mouth and neck, Cesar Kimbirima lay in the long grass, thought of his family, and waited to die.
Wetherspoons warns price of meals to rise if VAT goes up Wetherspoons warns price of meals to rise if VAT goes up Wetherspoons says it will have to put up the price of food in its pubs by around 40p a meal if a VAT cut for the hospitality industry
Bromley man fined for ordering banana for black man in pub Bromley man fined for ordering banana for black man in pub A man who sent a banana to a black customer in a Wetherspoon pub has been fined. Mark D’arcy-Smith was drinking with a friend at The Richmal Crompton
Coronavirus Wetherspoon pubs set out post-lockdown plans Coronavirus Wetherspoon pubs set out post-lockdown plans The JD Wetherspoon pub chain has outlined plans for reopening hundreds of pubs once lockdown restrictions are eased. The JD Wetherspoon pub chain has outlined plans for reopening hundreds of pubs once lockdown restrictions are eased.
Coronavirus ‘Pay your staff’ scrawled on Wetherspoon pub Coronavirus ‘Pay your staff’ scrawled on Wetherspoon pub The words “pay your staff” have been scrawled across the windows of a Wetherspoon pub in south London. All of the chain’s 850 UK pubs were closed by the government announcement to shut bars
Wetherspoon boss suggests staff could take jobs at Tesco Wetherspoon boss suggests staff could take jobs at Tesco The boss of the Wetherspoon pub chain has said its staff can take jobs with supermarkets amid the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Tim Martin told 40,000 workers in a video
Black Wetherspoon’s customer boycotts pub over banana order Black Wetherspoon’s customer boycotts pub over banana order A Wetherspoon’s customer who had a banana sent to his table in an act of racial abuse is boycotting the pub. Mark D’arcy-Smith was drinking with a friend at The Richmal Crompton in Bromley,
Wetherspoons warns over labour costs Wetherspoons warns over labour costs JD Wetherspoon has warned that pre-tax profits for the first half of its financial year will be down on 2018. The pub chain blamed a £30m rise in labour costs, along with the rising cost of interest payments, utility bills,
Why staff at McDonald’s TGIs and Wetherspoons are striking Why staff at McDonald’s TGIs and Wetherspoons are striking Workers from McDonald’s, JD Wetherspoon and TGI Fridays are joining UberEats riders in a strike over pay. Three women taking part in a rally in London explain why they think staff should
McDonald’s UberEats and Wetherspoon workers strike over pay McDonald’s UberEats and Wetherspoon workers strike over pay UberEats riders and a small number of workers from JD Wetherspoon, McDonald’s and TGI Fridays have been staging walkouts in a pay dispute. Protests were being held in several UK cities, along with a
Wetherspoon McDonald’s and TGI Fridays workers to strike Wetherspoon McDonald’s and TGI Fridays workers to strike A co-ordinated day of strike action is planned by workers at a small number of JD Wetherspoon, McDonald’s and TGI Fridays outlets over pay. A rally is planned for 4 October in London, the
Wetherspoons warns of pricier pints Wetherspoons warns of pricier pints Wetherspoons has reported record annual sales and profits, but warned that prices and costs are likely to rise in the coming months. The pub chain led by Tim Martin said like-for-like sales, which exclude new pubs, rose 5% in the
CO2 shortage: Britain’s biggest pub chain runs low on beer brands CO2 shortage: Britain’s biggest pub chain runs low on beer brands Britain’s biggest pub group says some outlets are running out of certain beer brands as CO2 gas shortages continue to hit the food and drink sectors. Ei Group,
Meat supplier to Wetherspoon’s probed over food hygiene Meat supplier to Wetherspoon’s probed over food hygiene A meat wholesaler which supplies pub chain Wetherspoon, schools and care homes is being investigated over food hygiene concerns. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said, external it had stopped any meat leaving Russell Hume
Brexit Will more Welsh food and drink feature on menus Brexit Will more Welsh food and drink feature on menus Brexit should see Welsh produce feature more on restaurant menus, one of the UK’s largest pub chains has said. JD Wetherspoons, which has recently introduced a menu of Welsh dishes,
Why plastic straws could disappear from a pub near you Why plastic straws could disappear from a pub near you Pubs are calling time on “wasteful” plastic drinking straws, which campaigners say are used only once yet take centuries to decompose. So is it time to refuse the straw and
Wetherspoons chairman criticises ‘dinner party’ Budget Wetherspoons chairman criticises ‘dinner party’ Budget The chairman of JD Wetherspoons has criticised the Chancellor for a “dinner party” Budget that failed to tackle tax inequalities between pubs and supermarkets. Tim Martin said pubs paid 20% VAT on food sales while supermarkets paid “almost
Wetherspoon Aberystwyth garden shuts amid bird issues Wetherspoon Aberystwyth garden shuts amid bird issues A Ceredigion pub has stopped serving food in its outdoor area due to concerns over birds. JD Wetherspoon put signs on its outdoor tables in the Aberystwyth branch alerting customers food would not be served due
JD Wetherspoon aims to triple breakfast and coffee sales JD Wetherspoon aims to triple breakfast and coffee sales Pub chain JD Wetherspoon says it wants to triple its coffee and breakfast sales over the next 18 months. The company is cutting the price of coffee and breakfast in a bid
