Consortium 'ready' to buy ailing Morecambe
As it stands, Morecambe's fixture away to Boston United on 9 August, their first home game against Brackley Town on 16 August, and the trip to Scunthorpe United on 19 August, will no longer take place as scheduled.Whittingham, who has been looking to sell the club since 2022, announced a new buyer, named as a consortium led by Jonny Cato, had been found earlier in July, but it remains unclear where that bid also stands.Whittingham said on Sunday he had "not heard from" Panjab Warriors in the past week and talks with Cato were ongoing.The Lancashire side, who were promoted to League One in 2021, were relegated from League Two last season - their second relegation in the past three seasons.
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Metro
10 minutes ago
- Metro
UK firm introduces new model for collecting fine spirits in the US
Decant Group, the company behind the Decant Index platform, has launched in the United States. Known in the United Kingdom for simplifying fine wine and spirits collecting, the company is bringing its digital-first model to a growing but still fragmented American market. Over 44,000 UK users already rely on the platform, which has facilitated 1,618 exits and returned more than £4.6 million to clients. Decant Index is not only a marketplace. It provides tools for collectors to build and manage portfolios with transparency and ease. Focusing on bonded storage, real-time tracking, and education, it offers an alternative to traditional, opaque collecting practices. The move signals a push to introduce American collectors to a structured way of owning and understanding premium assets. Decant Index provides users with full legal ownership of their purchases. Each bottle or cask is sold whole, without fractional schemes or pooled investments. Ownership documentation is available through the platform, offering buyers full control and clear asset verification. Assets are stored under bond in regulated warehouses. These UK-based facilities store goods without triggering import taxes, which are deferred until the goods are withdrawn. This bonded model helps maintain product condition and supports long-term value preservation. Although well-established in the UK, the concept remains relatively unfamiliar to many in the US. All features are integrated into a digital dashboard, enabling users to track portfolio performance, access valuation data, and receive curated recommendations based on their portfolio behaviour. The platform combines functionality with transparency, allowing collectors to navigate the market with enhanced insight. Education is central to Decant's approach. The company offers detailed content on valuation, market behaviour, distillery heritage, and the fundamentals of collecting. Tools are designed to help users understand what makes certain bottles or casks collectable, rather than encouraging impulsive purchases. Decant has launched a series of webinars for new users. These online sessions explore topics such as how bonded storage works and what separates a collectable cask from a standard commercial product. In-person events are also being planned to engage collectors in the US more directly. Chief Executive Alistair Moncrieff said the goal is to support informed decision-making. 'We will be heavily focused on educating the market on the pros and cons of purchasing fine wine and spirits under bond in the UK and how that can help retain value,' he said. The platform removes much of the guesswork traditionally associated with collectables. Each asset is traceable, securely stored, and updated with valuation data. Collectors can follow market trends, monitor asset appreciation, and adjust strategies without relying on third-party interpretations. Decant Index users also benefit from bonded storage in Alloa, Scotland. These facilities are HMRC-audited and provide insurance coverage for every cask. Clients receive routine updates about their holdings, and real-time access to their asset history helps reduce the risks often tied to alternative investments. Decant Index recently expanded to include fine wine and premium rum. One new offering, the Wine Cellar Plan, is a subscription service that starts at $330 per month. It includes curated wine portfolios, bonded storage, and digital management tools. This move broadens the platform's appeal and aligns with demand for diverse collectable assets. Decant Group is also building relationships in the US. These include partnerships with local distilleries, compliance consultants, and logistics providers. These efforts aim to ensure that US-based collectors receive relevant support and information tailored to their region. Moncrieff explained that product design is based on listening to what users want. 'We have invested seven figures in technology, ensuring our customer experience is at the forefront of what we do,' he said. 'We believe our success has come from understanding what the customer expects to see and how they want to be spoken to.' By combining education, clear ownership, and warehouse-backed security, Decant Index presents a collecting model built on clarity. It is not centred on quick sales or speculative flips. Instead, it offers a complete system for acquiring, managing, and understanding spirits as assets. Expansion into the US reflects the company's intention to standardise fine spirits collecting for a wider audience. The platform will continue to evolve, with plans to enhance production guides, offer valuation trend insights, and deliver more educational material. Its long-term goal is to help users navigate collecting with more confidence and less confusion. Decant Index is positioned not only as a trading platform but as a system built for collectors who want reliable access, structured management, and real-time data. For those serious about fine spirits, it offers a way to participate in a category where culture, history, and tangible value meet. Decant Group is preparing to launch House of Decant, an e-commerce channel for collectable bottles. The online store will offer premium selections, fast delivery, and concierge-style customer service. It is designed to complement the firm's investment platform while also reaching a broader audience. Chris Seddon, managing director at Decant Group, said the company is focused on adapting to evolving consumer expectations. 'We are building a platform that changes how premium wine and spirits are discovered, purchased and enjoyed—designed for what today's luxury consumer expects.' Learn more about what House of Decant has to offer here. As with all alternative asset purchases, the value of fine spirits can go down as well as up. These assets are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and may be illiquid.
Leader Live
10 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Connah's Quay studio florist up for national award
Wild Blodyn Florist, based in Connah's Quay, is a finalist in the Studio Florist of the Year awards. Run by 31-year-old Bethann Owen, the business was set up three years ago - starting out in the Windmill Garden Centre on Sealand Road. One of Bethann's designs. (Image: single-mum later moved the business to her Connah's Quay home. Bethann fought off competition from over 200 studio florists to make it in the final alongside nine other businesses. She said: "It's such an honour for Wild Blodyn to be named a finalist for Studio Florist of the Year. I'm truly touched by the support I've received, from those who took the time to nominate me and to everyone who has supported my journey. "This recognition means so much, and I'm beyond grateful to be part of such a wonderful and supportive community." (Image: Bethann Owen) Prior to opening Wild Blodyn, Bethann had worked for Bernardo's for seven years, taking the job just as her son, Oscar, started school. But with the first lockdown, she decided that the time was right for a change. Bethann enrolled at Coleg Cambria, with a major factor being the location of the Level 2 Floristry course, which had changed from the Northop site to Wrexham, which was closer to her home in Connah's Quay. However, as she couldn't drive at the time, travelling to Wrexham each day whilst looking after her son and still juggling hours at Bernardo's tested her determination. MORE NEWS: "It was really tiring, but it just goes to show that if you put your mind to something, you can get it," Bethann said. "I would have to walk Oscar down to breakfast club or to my mum's house and then get the bus, which took around 40 minutes. "We would get up around six in the morning and then get home at around six at night. But it's all worked out in the end, and I'm so glad it has." The winner of the awards, run by Ireland-based Kay's Flower School, will be announced on Friday evening.
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fears of rise in uninsured drivers as insurance tax receipts soar
Consumers paid a total of nearly 9% more in a tax on insurance premiums last year, leading to fears of drivers becoming priced out of policies. The AA, which conducted the research, urged the Treasury to cut the rate of insurance premium tax (IPT) on motor policies by a quarter, with a 50% reduction for newly qualified drivers. The standard rate of IPT – which applies to premiums such as motor insurance – has been 12.0% since 2017. It was 2.5% when it was first introduced in 1994. Premiums being more expensive mean receipts from standard rate IPT totalled £692 million last year, up 8.6% from the previous 12 months. HM Revenue and Customs said the increase was partly caused by 'rising car and property insurance premiums'. AA president Edmund King told the PA news agency: 'Insurance premium tax on motor insurance is a tax on responsible ownership – protecting yourself and third parties from the financial damage of incidents and injuries. 'Surges in the cost of insurance over recent years have ratcheted up the pain for those most prone to paying high premiums. 'Many of those are people least able to afford it, such as young and newly qualified drivers with higher risk as well as low-income policyholders. 'That not only threatens to price them out of cover but tempts more to drive without insurance.' Drivers caught behind the wheel of a vehicle without insurance face a £300 fine and six penalty points. The most serious cases are taken to court, and offenders can receive an unlimited fine and disqualification from driving. A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said: 'While we appreciate fiscal headroom is limited given pressures on public spending, we continue to believe that insurance premium tax is an unfair levy on a responsible purchase. 'Those who purchase insurance should not be penalised for trying to protect themselves, their loved ones and their property. 'We continue to call for IPT to be frozen until fiscal and financial conditions allow for the standard rate to be cut.' ABI figures show the average cost of motor cover last year was £622, representing a 15% (£78) jump from 2023. This followed a 25% (£109) annual rise from 2022 to 2023. The ABI said total claims payouts rose by 17% in 2024, and stressed that 'work must continue' to tackle the cost of insurance. It wants the Government to focus on issues such as reducing vehicle theft and insurance fraud, and boosting recruitment in the vehicle repair sector. It noted the average cost of policies in the first three months of 2025 was 7% lower than a year earlier. A taskforce led by the Treasury and the Department for Transport focused on the rising cost of car insurance was established in October last year. The body, which brings together industry and consumer groups, is expected to publish its final report in the autumn. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'The overall cost of insurance is determined only in part by insurance premium tax, which contributes over £8 billion a year towards vital public services. 'Our cross-Government taskforce on motor insurance will deliver on our commitment to support drivers by finding ways to tackle the high cost of motor insurance.'
