Latest news with #CentralLondon
Fashion Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
May footfall fell flat but June looks promising, says MRI Software
Weekend footfall also fell for the second consecutive month, by 1.8% overall compared to 2024 levels. However, weekday footfall in May rose slightly (+0.3%) compared to last year 'which continues to support the changes in consumer behaviour; as the return to office remains strong, it may suggest that people are also visiting retail stores and destinations on the days they go into the office'. This is further reinforced by MRI Software's 'Central London Back to Office' benchmark that recorded a 2.4% uplift in weekday activity. The slight rise last month in shopping centres and retail parks was 'further evidence that consumers are likely more drawn towards the convenience factor of all-in-one destinations that offer more than just retail'. Larger shopping centres (over 500,000 sq ft) benefitted greatly from the half-term boost, recording an 8.4% increase in footfall from the week prior, 'and again indicates the attraction of retail destinations that offer leisure, hospitality and retail under one roof'. Info from MRI Software's 'Insights from the Inside' also saw 61.2% of retailers reporting lower sales during the early May bank holiday compared to last year, with 65.8% expecting softer trading through the half-term break. Also, rising operational costs are beginning to bite, 'and the knock-on effect is being felt at the till as higher prices are passed on to consumers, adding to the ongoing cost-of-living pressures' it said. And the forecast for June? With a packed calendar of music and sporting events, including Beyoncé's visit to London and the return of Wimbledon tennis, 'UK cities are expected to see substantial footfall surges if historical trends are anything to go by'. It added: 'Retail leaders are encouraged to analyse last summer's trends and ensure they are operationally ready to maximise this opportunity. As consumer habits continue to shift towards retail destinations that offer more than just shopping – a blend of retail with food, entertainment and experience may well remain front of mind for families. 'The challenge now is to sustain that momentum from the May half-term holiday into June and beyond.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hatton Garden stabbing sees man, 24, rushed to hospital
A 24-year-old man has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed on a Central London street famous for its jewellers. Police await an update on this condition following the attack which took place yesterday (Wednesday, June 4). The man was taken to hospital after being stabbed on the famous jewellery street after police were called there at around 3.40pm yesterday. He remains in hospital. Police say that no arrests have yet been made. Hatton Garden was closed yesterday while police investigated the incident. READ MORE: 'Very vulnerable' woman's disappearance not reported for 20 days as mum issues plea READ MORE: Café inside London Tube station gets worst possible food hygiene rating after discovery in fridge Stabbing, Hatton Garden — Martin Ricketts(@martin1ricketts) June 4, 2025 Members of the public with information on the stabbing are asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service. A spokesperson for the force said: 'On Wednesday, 4 June at 15:39hrs police were called to Hatton Gardens, EC1 following reports of an altercation. 'Officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service, who treated a 24-year-old man for stab injuries. He has been taken to hospital and we await an update on his condition. 'Road closures are in place while police investigate. No arrests have been made at this early stage. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the police on 101 quoting CAD 5119/4JUN. 'Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit Got a story? Please get in touch at Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
James Martin rages at lawless London as yob smashes his car window after friends were mugged or had cars stolen in last two weeks
Celebrity chef James Martin has raged at 'lawless London ' after yobs smashed the rear windscreen of his car in broad daylight. Martin, who hosts James Martin's Saturday Morning on ITV every week, took to Instagram to hit out at crime rates in the capital after he and several friends were all targeted in the space of a week. He said two friends had had their cars stolen and another was mugged. He wrote: 'So in a week two of my friends cars got stolen, one other mate got mugged and now I had this happen all in broad daylight all in central London. 'London is broken big time… next time I'm bringing the Malis.' Martin was referring to his two pet dogs, who are Belgian Malinoises. He previously gushed about his beloved animals in a post in 2022, when he said: 'I have to say I have had dogs all my life but these two are unbelievably clever. Thanks to the trainer for doing all the work.' It comes as Labour announced new plans this week to free up spaces in the UK's overcrowded prisons. Martin's claim that London is 'broken' is a familiar call for many activists in the capital, who have decried the scourges of theft, shoplifting and knife crime - among other offences - which frequently blight the capital's streets. Earlier this month, campaigners called for mandatory five-year sentences for adults caught carrying blades on the street, and three years for youths. County lines drugs gangs and rival cartels are warring in city streets while youngsters in towns are carrying knives into school and slaughtering children in parks. Norman Brennan, a former police officer and director of the Law and Order Foundation - which campaigns for victims - said the 'tsunami' of bloodshed washing over Britain had now reached apocalyptic levels. Mr Brennan - who was almost stabbed to death tackling a burglar during his time as a London cop - has teamed up with publican influencer Adam Brooks, whose father was murdered by a machete gang, to call for tougher sentences. 'This is a national crisis. It is an emergency like I've never seen. We are heading to the abyss,' he said. 'We have slipped into a tide of anarchy. There's no police on the streets. The public don't feel safe. Criminals walk around now feeling untouchable. 'I predicted this knife crime epidemic 20 years ago. I've been warning governments of all political colours of the perfect storm that was coming - and now it's here. It's a tsunami... it's a tide of bloodshed.' The pair have launched a petition calling for change. In a matter of days, more than 32,000 people signed it. It needs 100,000 to be debated in parliament. But the idea is unlikely to gain traction in government due to the major problem of prison overcrowding and a lack of spaces. This week Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood took to the Commons to announce new plans to tackle the issue, including letting some criminals out on the streets after serving just a third of their sentence. Other suggestions to free up spaces involve avoiding sending people to prison if they would have received a sentence under 12 months and chemically castrating sex offenders. It followed a report by former Conservative Justice Secretary David Gauke, who made a series of recommendations ton free up 9,800 jail spaces by 2028.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
James Martin's horror as his car is vandalised in broad daylight as he shares pic and says ‘London is broken'
car break-in The TV chef showed the damage to his vehicle's rear side window CELEBRITY chef James Martin has shocked fans by revealing car window was smashed in by a vandal. The ITV star shared a photo of a gaping hole in the vehicle's rear windshield claiming it happened in broad daylight. 2 2 He didn't make clear what was stolen from his car boot. James wrote on Instagram: "So in a week two of my friends cars got stolen, one other mate got mugged and now I had this happen all in broad daylight all in central London. "London is broken big time…" Referring to his dog, James added: "Next time I'm bringing the Mali's." The star of James Martin 's Saturday Morning was flooded with support from fans. One said: "So sorry this has happened to you. The whole of the UK is the same, the laws need to change and we need more police on the streets." Another added: "This is so sad, what once was an incredible capital city is now a centre for crime." A follower wrote: "Not right is it, but what's worse is nobody in authority cares." Before his popular ITV series, James presented Saturday Kitchen, Home Comforts, James Martin's Great British Adventure, Islands to Highlands and James Martin's French Adventure. He has also published over 20 best-selling cook books.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Huge fire rips through London tower block with flats engulfed in flames as 75 firefighters scrambled
A HUGE fire has ripped through a London tower block, with flames engulfing flats and thick smoke pouring into the sky. Seventy-five firefighters were scrambled to tackle the dramatic blaze. 1 Ten fire engines were sent to the scene on Rochester Row as the London Fire Brigade (LFB) launched a significant emergency response. The fire broke out in a seven-storey residential block in Westminster, Central London, shortly before 8pm. Emergency services were alerted after receiving 23 calls about the incident, which has caused major disruption in the area. The London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire is located on the sixth floor of the building. Two of the Brigade's 32-metre ladders and the specialist Drone Team have been deployed to assist with the response. In a statement, the Brigade said: "Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are responding to a fire on Rochester Row, Westminster. "The fire involves a sixth floor flat, in a residential block of seven floors. "Two of the Brigade's 32m ladders have been deployed to the scene, alongside the Drone Team. "People are advised to avoid the area as crews respond, with local traffic being heavily impacted. "The Brigade received the first of 23 calls reporting the fire at 1950, with Control Officers mobilising crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington and surrounding fire stations to the scene in response. "Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 2132." Crews from Lambeth, Soho and Paddington were among those quickly dispatched to the scene. Roads near the site remain closed as emergency services continue their work. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
