52 h. ago 'Something I'll always cherish' Cardiff record shop closing down after 30 years

After more than three decades the shop is set to close for good this weekend as its owner is set to retire

Politics

60 h. ago ‘We introduced avocado to the high street!’ How Pret conquered London – and began eyeing the rest of the world

The sandwich chain now has 274 branches in the capital. How did it grow so huge – and can anything stop it getting even bigger?At 93-95 Victoria Street, Westminster, a blue plaque marks a piece of London history: the first ever branch of Pret a Manger opened on this spot on 22 July 1986. Nearly 40 years later, it is still going strong.It’s a nice story – but it’s not the whole story. Look closer and the plaque states that the first Pret sandwich shop opened “near here”. In fact, it was down the road, at 75b, now a branch of Toni & Guy. Except  that wasn’t the first shop, either. The original Pret opened two years earlier and five miles to the north, in Hampstead. It went bust after a year and the founder, Jeffrey Hyman, sold the name, branding and logo to Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham, who reopened in Westminster. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Independent Cardiff coffee shop makes 'tough' decision to close after a decade

They say they will "finally draw the curtain" with its final day trading this weekend

Politics

3 d. ago Iconic London bike shop Brixton Cycles closes citing “rising costs and brutal economic climate”

Iconic London bike shop Brixton Cycles closes citing “rising costs and brutal economic climate”  Road.cc

Economics

3 d. ago Boost to Ayr High Street retail as knitwear giant eyes up return

The shop, based at 208-210 High Street, closed in November 2020 when parent company, the EWM Group, entered administration.

Politics

4 d. ago Major UK high street charity shop to close 74 stores as bosses admit huge losses

Charity Scopes has been a fixture across the UK's high streets since it first opened a store in Sevenoaks, Kent, in 1970, but bosses have now confirmed many stores will close

Economics

5 d. ago Major supermarket shutters ANOTHER of its stores bringing total left to just 19 in blow to the UK high street

As the latest in a string of branches that have abruptly closed their doors, the Richmond shop was the 10th UK Fresh store, opening just over three years ago, in December 2021.

Politics

5 d. ago Fresh out of luck! Amazon shutters ANOTHER of its Just Walk Out cashless Fresh stores bringing total closing to 19

As the latest in a string of branches that have abruptly closed their doors, the Richmond shop was the 10th UK Fresh store, opening just over three years ago, in December 2021.

Politics

6 d. ago Preston’s attempts to bore Aston Villa to distraction crumble like pastry | Jonathan Liew

Championship perennials are beige down to their signature snack but their existence is still something to savourThe man behind the counter at Greggs on Fishergate has never heard of a butter pie, but try Poundbakery over the street. Poundbakery doesn’t do butter pie, but try Greenhalgh’s on the corner. Greenhalgh’s: closed on Sundays. The chip shop on Market Street does meat pie, meat and potato, steak, steak and kidney, chicken and mushroom, cheese and onion. Butter pie? A shake of the head.You’ve got to try the butter pie. That’s what everyone says the first time you visit Preston. It was created in industrial times, for the largely Catholic working population to eat on Fridays when meat was forbidden. Often you hear it described as a “delicacy”, but even this is to overstate its intensely yeoman nature. It’s layers of potatoes, onions and butter in a pie. It’s cheap. It’s hearty. It’s unpretentious. It exists to be consumed and then immediately forgotten. It is – with deepes...

Politics

9 d. ago Much loved London shop to close leaving famous Oxford Street 'without identity'

Much loved London shop to close leaving famous Oxford Street 'without identity'  Metro.co.uk

Politics

1 week ago Major charity shop will close more than half their UK stores in fresh blow to High Street

The charity shop will shut 39 of its 138 shops in the coming days amid declining footfall and spiralling costs. A further 31 have been earmarked for closure between April 1 and March 31 next year.

Politics

1 week ago Meghan Markle launches new page allowing fans to shop her closet

The Duchess of Sussex’s closet includes her signature white button-downs and beige dress pants

Politics

1 week ago Sussex for sale: Meghan Markle launches 'Instagram shop' including a £1,000 'Windsor' dress, £600 sandals and £200 earrings

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, gave her two million Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop - with handpicked pieces from her favourite brands.

Economics

1 week ago Meghan Markle launches new shop including £1,000 silk 'Windsor' dress

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, gave her two million Instagram followers a closer look inside her wardrobe when she launched an online shop - with handpicked pieces from her favourite brands.

Economics

3 w. ago Perth toy store set to close due to fall in sales and footfall

Fun Junction announce that its Old High Street shop will close in May.

Politics

4 w. ago 'Boxing should never be closed shop like UFC – no matter what Dana White and Saudis want'

BOXING CLEVER COLUMN: UFC president Dana White is teaming up with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh to launch a new boxing league that could change the face of the sport

Sport

4 w. ago Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for guava jam sandwich biscuits | The sweet spot

Upmarket, jammy dodger-style sandwich biscuits with a hole on top, made with a filling of fruity guava jam and creamy vanilla icingAt the start of the year, I spent a month eating my way around Mexico City, and one thing I ate in abundance (besides tacos) were guavas. I had them in every way possible: blitzed into a juice; sitting on a cheesecake at the iconic Contramar; or as a sticky, jam-filled pastry found at nearly every bakery I visited. My favourite version also came with a layer of cream cheese, and I’ve taken those flavours and put them in biscuit form. Shop-bought guava jam is as close as I’ll get here in the UK, but these remind me of a delicious trip every time I make them. Continue reading...

Politics