All posts tagged: shops

What England’s World Cup run really did for Britain’s pubs, shops and restaurants

What England’s World Cup run really did for Britain’s pubs, shops and restaurants

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Before a ball had been kicked, the World Cup was apparently going to make Britain rich. One estimate put the potential boost to the UK economy at £7.6bn between May and July. Pubs were told that England reaching the final could be worth £275m to them. There would be millions of extra pints, packed bars and a nation temporarily forgetting that it had spent most of the year worrying about the price of almost everything. These forecasts arrive before every major football tournament and should generally be treated with the same caution as predictions that England will win it. But now, with England’s World Cup 2026 run over after they lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final, there is something we did not have in June: receipts. And the receipts suggest Britain has spent the past month eating burgers, ordering pizza and drinking an extraordinary …

The pretty riverside town with indie shops and a fairy tale trail just 30 minutes from Birmingham

The pretty riverside town with indie shops and a fairy tale trail just 30 minutes from Birmingham

Published by Sam Flores

Here’s a fun day out that’s free and super close to home. The black-and-white town of Droitwich Spa is set on the banks of the River Salwarpe and has seven miles of canals, making it great for walks and picnics. It has independent shops to mooch and cute cafes for ice creams and milkshakes, the famous lido for outdoor swimming and a brand new Saltwich Splash Park. And, just launched for summer 2026, there’s a fairy tale trail for families to follow, exploring each of the 10 beautifully illustrated shop windows Read more: 20 free things to do around Birmingham for the whole of the summer holidays Read next: Summer 2026 things to do in and around Birmingham Once Upon a Trail is free to enjoy and kids can pick up free trail activity books to collect hidden words in each window then turn them into their own story. The black and white buildings in historic Droitwich Spa -Credit:Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live A spokesman for Wychavon District Council, which is running the trail, said: “Looking for …

John Lewis makes major in-store change to 30 shops – 200 jobs on the line | UK | News

John Lewis makes major in-store change to 30 shops – 200 jobs on the line | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A John Lewis store in London (file image) (Image: Getty) A high-end British department store chain has put 200 jobs at risk with plans to close desks offering gift wrapping and foreign exchange services. John Lewis, which has 36 stores, said it had started a consultation on redundancies as it plans to close the desks that operate bureau de change services in 30 stores and gift wrapping in 25 stores. A final decision has not been taken on the closures, but if confirmed they will take place in autumn. The brand is known for its strong customer service on the high street. “They are removing the area of the shop that John Lewis claims they stand for,” a staff member told the Guardian. The staff member said that shop floor workers who will take on the additional work of handling queries and offering gift wrapping at tills are “already overworked, overwhelmed with responsibilities and short staffed”. John Lewis Partnership shopping bags (file image) (Image: Getty) A spokesperson for the brand said its independently measured customer …

Best restaurants, coffee shops and bars in Melbourne, Australia

Best restaurants, coffee shops and bars in Melbourne, Australia

Published by Sam Flores

Among coffee geeks, “pilgrimage” isn’t too strong a word to describe visiting the Collingwood neighborhood cafe owned by barista/roaster/industry visionary Nolan Hirte and his wife, Shari. Nolan was one of the leaders who built on Melbourne’s early coffee culture, established by Italian immigrants and their daily espresso habits in the mid-20th century. After Nolan took a tour of America’s burgeoning third-wave coffee shops in the mid-2000s, he returned to Melbourne determined to push the expressive possibilities of filter coffee even further. At the cafe, the drink menu — whether drip, espresso drinks or pour-overs — includes flavor descriptions that can resemble wine-tasting notes, but there’s nothing fussy about the experience, or the easygoing breakfast and lunch options. Pour-over freaks looking for the highbrow deep dive should walk two blocks to Aunty Peg’s, the Hirtes’ laboratory/counter/roasting facility, for two or three rounds of Panamanian geishas. Proud Mary —172 Oxford St., CollingwoodAunty Peg’s — 200 Wellington St., Collingwood Source link

15 of the best London pubs, food halls and bake shops

15 of the best London pubs, food halls and bake shops

Published by Sam Flores

With more than a dozen locations across the United Kingdom and its first stateside location landing in Manhattan next year, Dishoom is hardly a secret. But each outpost offers a distinct vibe and set of influences, with the location in Shoreditch recalling an eccentric Iranian cafe by way of Bombay with mismatched furniture, bamboo blinds and gently frayed rugs. For breakfast, there are stuffed naan rolls, date and banana porridge or a Bombay-inflected take on a full English breakfast with akuri, bacon, peppery Shropshire pork sausages, masala beans, grilled field mushrooms, grilled tomato and buttered buns, best paired with fresh juice, chai or a sesame espresso martini. The all-day menu features well-established hits such as chicken ruby, lamb and veggie samosas and the famous black daal that’s slow-cooked for 24 hours, with a range of lassi yogurt drinks, Indian beers and cocktails that put a spin on the classics, such as the thandai mai tai with rum, almond milk, black pepper, cardamom bitters and house thandai syrup. The restaurant doesn’t accept dinner reservations, and lines …

Major UK fashion retailer closes its last 20 shops after collapsing into administration | UK | News

Major UK fashion retailer closes its last 20 shops after collapsing into administration | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A major UK fashion retailer closed its remaining 20 stores this week after it collapsed into administration. Quiz Clothing, which once had 40 UK stores, entered administration in February. It has been the store’s second collapse in the space of 12 months. It comes as high streets nationwide are saying goodbye to stores every single day due to financial challenges seen across the industry. The remaining Quiz stores had final stock slashed with reductions of between 70 and 80% in some stores, before they closed for the final time on Saturday, June 20. Alistair McAlinden, head of Interpath in Scotland and joint administrator, said: “As the Quiz stores close their doors for the final time, we would like to thank every member of staff for their commitment over the past five months. “In exceptionally challenging circumstances, their professionalism ensured the business could continue to trade effectively. “We are extremely grateful for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future.” Closures also occurred on June 10, with shops in Aberdeen, Inverness, Warrington, Basingstoke, …

Morrisons update as customers told to check app over 10 per cent offer | UK | News

Morrisons update as customers told to check app over 10 per cent offer | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

All Morrisons shoppers are being encouraged to open their apps following the supermarket’s launch of a new scheme that could unlock a substantial discount. The retailer is giving selected customers the opportunity to earn a 10% reward by spending £250 before the end of the month (June). The offer is available through Morrisons’ More loyalty programme and runs until 30 June. Those who have received an invitation simply need to scan their More Card each time they shop in-store, or ensure their card is linked to their Morrisons online account. Spending is tracked automatically and can be monitored through the Morrisons More app, website or on receipts. Morrisons has confirmed that shoppers can work towards the target through several smaller purchases rather than a single large shop. The supermarket said: “You can shop as little and as often as you like to build up your total, this includes any shops you do both in-store and online as long as you scan your Morrisons More card with each transaction.” Online purchases also count towards the target, …

Seaside town ‘dying on its feet’ — ‘even the charity shops are closed’ | UK | News

Seaside town ‘dying on its feet’ — ‘even the charity shops are closed’ | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Residents and visitors say this once-popular seaside town now resembles a ‘ghost town’ (Image: Gavin Nicholas) Not so long ago, it was a jewel in the crown of this beautiful corner of the UK — now residents and visitors say it resembles a “ghost town” and a frustrated shopkeeper has voiced fears for his “dying” town. Each year millions of tourists pass through the gateway seaside town of Pwllheli on the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula of north-west Wales but fewer are stopping as the shutters go up. Long-time caravan owners have quit the area and those visitors who do venture into the town say they have been “shocked” by the desolation: “Even half the charity shops were shut when I visited,” said a woman online. Businessman Gavin Nicholas this week posted a dozen photos of buildings from a single street that until recently were occupied by local traders. A few years ago, Gaol Street was thriving area with around 30 shops, North Wales Live reports — now just eight remain. As Mr Nicholas fights ever-rising costs …