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Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Landsec retail sites enjoy strong quarter, fashion and beauty both boom
Major retail property giant Landsec has announced some new quarterly numbers and said that it outperformed the market in Q1 as consumers visited high-quality locations. Its properties include Bluewater Kent, Trinity Leeds and Liverpool One, among many other big-name malls. And it saw 'significant year-on-year increases in both sales and footfall" in the three months from April to June. This comes after Landsec experienced a record last financial year across its retail destinations. It said the results 'reflect the success of the company's strategic approach to retail, prioritising top-performing centres and major retail destinations that offer something special to brands and shoppers alike'. Total sales were up 8.1% across its major retail destinations (it didn't give a monetary figure), while footfall was up 4.8% – substantially outperforming the BRC benchmark of 2.3% in sales and the MRI benchmark of 1% in footfall over the same period. Retail outlet destinations performed particularly well, with sales up 11.2% and footfall up 8.4% as shoppers prioritised the experience of shopping in outdoor retail villages. The popular Braintree Village in Essex saw a 14.9% year-on-year boost in sales across the period. And it added that the recent box office recovery has highlighted 'growing consumer demand for shared, immersive experiences'. Within Landsec's retail destinations, cinema sales surged by 38% year-on-year in Q1, nearly double the national increase of 20%. While the jury is still out on the overall impact of the recent heatwave UK-wide (reports have suggested both a rush to stores and an unwillingness to shop), Landsec said the sunniest Q1 in recorded history encouraged shoppers to refresh their wardrobes and treat themselves to health and beauty products. Clothing sales rose by 15.7% year-on-year, with fragrance, health and beauty close behind at 15.5%. This strong growth has also been driven by continued investment from brands. New store openings across its destinations have pushed overall occupancy to nearly 97%.
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Scottish Labour MP launches bid for 'untouchable' prison bosses to lose immunity from prosecution
The campaign comes after an inquiry into two deaths at a Scottish jail found a 'catalogue of failures' in the prison system. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish Labour MP has put forward plans to strip 'untouchable' prison bosses of being shielded from prosecution over suicides in a Scottish young offenders institute. Blair McDougall, the MP for East Renfrewshire, has tabled a ten minute rule bill in the House of Commons, calling for Crown immunity in UK prison estates to be abolished. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An inquiry into two deaths at Polmont young offenders institute found they could have been avoided Crown immunity, which has been previously removed from the NHS and police, essentially halts any criminal consequences for the prison service due to failings. Under the current law, the Crown, including the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), cannot be held criminally responsible for deaths in custody. Both the Scottish Government and the SPS have backed calls to remove the Crown immunity but it would require action at Westminster to do so. Mr McDougall's constituents, Linda and Stuart Allan, lost their daughter Katie, 21, when she died in Polmont Young Offenders Institution in 2018. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) last year found that Katie's death and that of 16-year-old William Brown could have been prevented but for a 'catalogue of failures' in the prison system. Speaking in the House of Commons, the MP said: 'The problem with prison deaths is UK-wide but these losses are a particular problem in Scotland. 'The loss of young people in prisons is felt especially.' Katie Allan, 21, and William Lindsay, 16, who died within months of each other in 2018 at Polmont Young Offenders' Institute | Contributed Mr McDougall pointed to research showing 'our prison death rates are akin to those in Azerbaijan' and findings that 'Scotland's suicide rate was more than two and a half times higher than the average and about double that of England and Wales'. The Labour MP highlighted so-called 'ligatures" - anything that could be used to tie something in a way that poses a risk of strangulation or hanging. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: Suicide prevention strategy launched in wake of Polmont YOI deaths He said: 'Years after both deaths, nobody in the prison service had thought to remove the doorstops or to replace them with safer, sloping alternatives. Bunk beds had not been removed. 'Nothing for me signifies that institutional lack of care - the failings that someone somewhere should have been held legally responsible for.' Scottish Labour MP Blair McDougall | Jane Barlow/TSPL Mr McDougall said that 'eventually, the authorities said there was enough evidence to charge the prison service with breaches of the health and safety act'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He added: 'But there was no prosecution…because of Crown immunity. 'The Health and Safety at Work Act places duties on state-run prisons but Crown immunity means they cannot be prosecuted for breaching those duties. If they'd died in a privately-run prison, there would have been prosecutions.' The MP warned that the Scottish Prison Service is 'untouchable because of Crown immunity'. He added: 'An untouchable service remains unaccountable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Without legal consequences, prisons across the country appear incapable of learning lessons or making changes. Every day with immunity risks more avoidable deaths. 'If those running our prisons won't act, and they haven't, they should lose their protection from legal consequence.' Mr McDougall's bill will now move forward through the Westminster legislative system. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: "We recognise the profound responsibility we hold in caring for people during some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "When someone dies in prison custody we know families, and the wider public, rightly expect us to do everything possible to prevent further tragedies.
The National
17 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Tall Ships celebration attracts 400,000 visitors to Aberdeen
Described as one of Scotland's biggest tourism events, this year the Tall Ship Races began on Saturday and saw thousands of people cheer on almost 50 vessels from around the world. The four-day event concluded on Tuesday with organisers hailing it as an outstanding success, along with boosting the economy and re-energising the Granite City with a 'renewed sense of pride and confidence' in the future. It was estimated that 400,000 visitors made the trip to Port of Aberdeen with tens of thousands more at the beach and around the bay during the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025. READ MORE: Edinburgh gift shop accused of tax evasion following UK-wide probe In partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Port of Aberdeen, and Aberdeen Inspired, the event boasted a packed programme ranging from Quayside Concerts featuring performances from Deacon Blue and Kaiser Chiefs along with a display from the Red Arrows. First Minister John Swinney praised the success of the Tall Ships when he toured the Port of [[Aberdeen]]'s Marine Operation Centre on Tuesday and watched the Parade of Sail, which marked the end of the four-day extravaganza. He also met Tall Ships sail trainees who had been sailing from Dunkirk to Aberdeen along with volunteers who made sure the event was smooth sailing for all to enjoy. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Swinney said: 'It has made me extremely proud to witness first-hand the success of The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 and meet some of the people involved. 'The young crew members who have sailed from Dunkirk to Aberdeen are a true inspiration. And the four-day programme, pulled together so expertly by organisers and volunteers, has been an incredible spectacle that will be remembered for years to come. 'Aberdeen has built a strong reputation as a globally recognised event hub that boosts local economy, community pride, and international connections. 'The Scottish Government is committed to supporting world-class events like The Tall Ships Races that raise Scotland's profile, attract tourism and investment, and grow our economy.' The Tall Ships Races was the biggest event staged in the Granite City in a generation, and organisers of the event said the full impact it has had on the economy now and into the future will be closely assessed. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Highlights of the event included the chance to explore the ships themselves, while budding sailors were also able to enjoy the bustling market of Curated On The Quayside along with pop-up bars and food stalls as well as free music and entertainment all day long. Councillor Martin Greig, chair of the Aberdeen Tall Ships organising committee, said the whole experience was 'rewarding' for young people. He said: 'I'm pleased that the event turned out to be so popular. The huge number of more than 400,000 visits is a massive boost for our area. The crowds of people show this has been a truly inclusive event for all ages and abilities. 'The Tall Ships visit has been a marvellous, uplifting experience for everyone involved. It's been great to welcome so many visitors from far and wide to our harbour and to our city. The festival has given enormous pleasure to so many thousands of people. 'It has been a really splendid time for sharing fun, learning and friendship. Aberdeen opened itself up to the world and has confirmed our identity as a good-natured, kind community. 'Young people are at the heart of the Tall Ships and it has been especially rewarding to see them benefit from the opportunities of taking part in so many different ways. Hopefully our city can build on the amazing experiences of Tall Ships 2025 so that we can continue to grow together as a cosmopolitan, outward-looking place.' Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: 'Wow, what a party that was! It created such a fantastic sense of vibrancy and excitement in the city that everyone who enjoyed it will never forget it. And 400,000 visits is an astonishing achievement. 'As well as the fun, the Tall Ships brought with them a major economic lift for the city with a huge jump in footfall for all the city centre businesses, who made the most of this opportunity, dressing their shops in bunting and posters, welcoming visitors through the door. It also underlines just how much there is to see and enjoy in our city centre.'
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Have tourists in Scotland reached 'ceiling' for hotel rates?
The latest RSM Hotels Tracker found average daily rates of occupied rooms (ADR) in Scotland increased from £155.27 to £156.04 in May year-on-year, as operators strove to offset the rise in labour costs. This was in contrast with the wider UK ADR, which fell from £152.93 to £149.08 over the same period. However, while room rates increased in Scotland, hotel occupancy across the country decreased year-on-year from 84.4% in May 2024 to 81.9% in May 2025. That contributed to gross operating profits falling from 43.9% to 41.9%. Sale of Glasgow west end care home nets £1m for charity Scotch whisky chief pays price as global turmoil hits industry Why the case for a 'Scottish visa' just got stronger Occupancy was higher in Scotland than the UK as a whole, which saw a slight drop from 79.5% to 79.4%, contributing to a year-on-year drop in gross operating profits from 39.1% to 37% in the UK. Stuart McCallum, partner and head of consumer markets in Scotland at RSM UK, said: 'Scotland's hotels are now facing the impact of April's employer cost rises and price pressures, and profits have continued their downward trend in May, alongside the wider UK market. 'With occupancy also falling in May, there is slight concern among hoteliers around how much it can rise again in the coming months. As living costs increase, Scotland's hoteliers face the challenge of encouraging customers to hotels, and we may be reaching the ceiling in terms of what they are prepared to pay in the current economic climate. 'Scotland's international tourism may also struggle, as US tourists aren't travelling here as much as in previous years. Scotland's economy relies heavily on these tourists to spend significant sums on luxury goods, dining out and experiences. Hoteliers will need to continue investing in their facilities to attract footfall, and also consider diversifying to attract wider overseas markets, otherwise it will become more challenging to increase occupancy levels and therefore profits.' The report is compiled and produced by Hotstats and analysed by RSM UK. It also found that hotels appear to be spending more on IT systems, with a 17.6% increase in Scotland over the past three years. There was a UK-wide increase of 21% over the same period. Mr McCallum added: 'It's clear hoteliers will need to find ways to improve efficiencies to boost profits, and investment in technology is already supporting this, particularly in the budget hotel market. At the premium end of the market though, people are willing to pay high rates for a high level of personal service, and this is unlikely to change any time soon. 'There are some positives ahead too for Scotland's hotels, and with better weather as festival season approaches, international tourism could see an uptick. With recent investment into Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, both now operating under new ownership, new flights into Scotland could help to increase the marketability of Scotland, and hotels could soon see a rise in footfall as a result.'
Scottish Sun
18 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Woman, 86, arrested after '50-year-old human remains' found buried at property
Police have ramped up reassurance patrols in the area Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN 86-YEAR-OLD woman has been arrested after cops reportedly discovered 50-year-old human remains at a property in Leicester. Police raced to the property after concerns were raised that human remains were buried at the address in the 1970s. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Police were spotted near Dumbleton Avenue and Wolverton Road following reports about 50-year-old human remains Credit: LeicestershireLive/BPM. 4 The remains were reportedly buried at an address on Wolverton Road Credit: LeicestershireLive/BPM. 4 Police are now appealing to the public for more information Credit: Getty Authorities searched an address on Wolverton Road on July 19, in the early stages of their investigation. Following that, a second property - this time on Dumbleton Avenue - was searched on the same day. Then, an 86-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the incident, though she is now out on bail. As the investigation into the remains continues, police have ramped up patrols in the area and are remaining at the two properties in question. Detective Inspector Neil Holden, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's major crime team, is leading the investigation. He said: "This is a very complex and sensitive investigation which will take time. "I appreciate the news of this investigation will be concerning to the local community and I must emphasise the investigation is in its very early stages as we continue to establish the full circumstances of the report. "Given the serious nature of the allegations which have been made, a scene preservation has been put in place at both addresses to allow officers to carry out a thorough search and secure any evidence that could help our enquiries. "Officers from the West Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area remain in the area to provide further reassurance to the local community." Authorities have appealed to the public for more information and have urged people to call them on 101, citing 25*422416. Gangster gran who used family to run UK-wide cocaine ring & splashed cash on designer accessories for her CAT is jailed The force has confirmed that it will provide updates as the investigation continues. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
