Confidence (consumer & hospitality), tube strikes, Dishoom & other:

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

Is it just me or are parking charges getting out of control?

I mean it seems as though technology, cheap cameras that can time you in and out of wherever you happen to be, have basically created a persecution industry that didn’t exist previously and, unless I’m mistaken, it wasn’t particularly missed.

So why do pubs, hotels, supermarkets and dozens of other venues have cameras installed when, on 80%, 90% of the time they’re open and when their car park is empty, all they’ll do is antagonise customers who have to ‘register their plate number’ and grievously hack off anyone who’s been there for more than two hours?

It can only really be a ‘left-hand, right-hand’ problem.

That property directors are persuaded by parking companies to ‘further monetise their customers’ by sticking them with the odd fine and the retail directors, who have queues of irate customers demanding their fines be quashed and promising they’ll never shop there again.

I mean sure, no shop wants their carpark hogged by over-stayers on any weekend in December but guys, get a grip.

Not that I’ve picked up a fine recently, of course. On to the news:

LANGTON EMAIL:

The Free Email is now written in short form. Extended versions of many stories (after the ellipses) are in the Premium Email. Reply to this email if you would like to upgrade.

Prices for the Premium are £395 for one subscription, £695 for multiple, £995 for very large subscribers, all plus VAT. Or sign up for easy in, easy out monthly option per subscriber HERE

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=87YUG2Z5W7PSN

PUBS & RESTAURANTS:

Overall consumer confidence:

GfK has reported that consumer confidence in the UK rose by two points in August to minus 17. It says that ‘four measures were up and one was down in comparison to last month’s announcement….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Confidence across hospitality sector:

CGA has reported that ‘the optimism of Britain’s hospitality leaders rose in the second quarter of 2025 despite the arrival of new labour costs.’ Its latest Business Confidence Survey shows that ‘41% of leaders feel optimistic about prospects for their business over the next 12 months—up by 7 percentage points from the first quarter, and a second successive increase.’ It says that ‘the proportion of leaders feeling confident about the future of hospitality in general is lower at 18%, but rose by 3 percentage points quarter-on-quarter….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

London industry:

The London mayor’s office says that ‘new analysis shows changes to licensing in London could boost the economy by billions as Mayor celebrates opening of latest al fresco West End dining hotspot…’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

More on London:

S4 Labour says that its latest data suggests that ‘hospitality sales across the UK rose by 2.2% in July 2025 compared to the same period last year, with London significantly outperforming the rest of the country.’ It says ‘the capital saw a 9.8% increase in like-for-like sales, while non-London regions experienced a slight decline of 0.2%….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

An alternative view on trading:

Tube strikes planned:

The RMT said yesterday that it planned ‘rolling strike action across the network beginning on Friday 5th September for seven days, with different grades taking industrial action at differing times.’ It says ‘the strikes come after management refused to engage seriously with union demands on pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns and a reduction in the working week, as well as failing to honour previous agreements made with staff….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Other news:

The BRC has organised the writing of a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves signed by some 60 retail bosses saying that any more tax increases in her autumn budget could cut living standards….

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Arabica coffee futures hit two-month highs yesterday of over US$3.50 per pound. The weather in Brazil has been unhelpful and some growers are thought to be holding back production until they can better assess the impact of President Trump’s proposed tariffs.

Disposable incomes. The average rate on a five-year fixed rate mortgage has held below 5%.

Lumina Intelligence Pub & Bar Market Report has said that the UK pub market is undergoing a profound structural shift.

COMPANY NEWS:

Restaurant company Dishoom has reported results to 29 December 2024 to Companies’ House. The company reports revenue up some 17.3% at £137.1m. GP% has increased by 100bps from 36.0% to 37.0% and the absolute level of gross profit is up by 20.5% at £50.8m. Admin expenses are up sharply (by 16.1% to £39.5m) and interest charges have risen. Nonetheless, the company is able to report that PBT has risen to £10.1m from $7.4m in the prior year. Dishoom paid a dividend of £4.75m in the year, down from the previous year’s payment of £9.8m. Retained profits rose to £8.8m from £3.5m in the prior year. Shareholders’ funds are £11.1m against £5.8m in FY23….

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

McDonald’s UK & Ireland CEO Alistair Macrow is to step down from his position with Lauren Schultz set to succeed him on 1 September.

Starbucks’ CEO Brian Niccol has reiterated the company’s plan to speed up service and delivery to customers.

HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:

WH Smith shares fell by a whopping 42% yesterday after the company admitted that it had got its numbers wrong, had booked profits too early and needed to more than halve its estimate for profits in the US division from c£55m to c£25m this financial year…

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Expedia Group has reported Q2 numbers and raised guidance for the full year. CEO Ariane Gorin says ‘even as the U.S. travel market was tough in the first half of the year, we made tangible progress on our strategic priorities…’

Hotel chain Travelodge is reported to be considering expanding its self-service hotel concept across more locations. The development allows both booking and checking without actually engaging with staff…

US tourism. The FT suggests that the expected slump in tourism to the US has not happened. It says that, for many operators, whilst there may have been a fall in the number of visitors from Canada and Europe, Americans have stayed at home and effectively supported the industry…

OTHER LEISURE:

The FT comments on Wrexham AFC, saying that ‘the Welsh football club owned by two Hollywood actors, expects commercial revenue this season to rival some mid-sized Premier League teams…’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

City AM reports that the 20 Premier League clubs ‘have broken the record for the amount spent in a single transfer window, splashing £2.37bn’.

FINANCE & MARKETS:

The CBI reports that ‘manufacturing output volumes fell at a sharp pace in the quarter to August, after being broadly flat in July.’ Its latest Industrial Trends Survey adds that manufacturers expect output to fall again over three months to November…

The ONS reports that the UK government borrowed a total of £1.1bn last month, compared to £2.3bn last year. The actual borrowings number is also below the OBR’s £2.6bn forecast for the month.

Sterling mixed at $1.3391 and €1.1563. Oil higher at $67.61. UK 10 year gilt yield up 6 basis points at 4.73%. World markets mixed yesterday and London set to open around 6 points higher as at 6.30am.

RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.