Latest news with #Willingham
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Brighton i360 owner Sarah Willingham reveals purchase price
The new owner of the Brighton i360 viewing tower says she paid £150,000 for the company Nightcap, run by ex-Dragons' Den judge Sarah Willingham, announced its purchase of the site in Willingham claims to have spent £400,000 to get the pod working again, in addition to £150,000 to take the attraction out of administration, a spokesman confirmed to the BBC, after The Argus first reported the story on & Hove City Council wrote off £51m worth of debt in January to facilitate the purchase. Brighton i360 entered administration in November 2024 before closing suddenly the following month, with the loss of over 100 reopened in March following Nightcap's company plans to invest an additional £1.5m in hospitality space at Brighton i360 by September 2026, according to a March trading city council agreed to finance construction of the observation tower in 2014 after planning permission was originally granted in 2006. The tower opened in 2016.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It screws with all of us.' Tacoma small businesses react to tariff uncertainty
At a business roundtable on Wednesday focused on the effects of widespread tariffs on local trade, one factor was expressed repeatedly. Small businesses are taking huge hits. A February 2025 survey conducted by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce found that 76% of respondents expected challenges due to tariffs, and almost 40% were already actively adjusting supply chains. Those who employed 1-5 workers made up 45% of respondents, and 51% of respondents shared that they rely on trade for over 11% of their revenue. When U.S. Sen. Patty Murray visited Tacoma for Wednesday's roundtable held at candymaker Brown & Haley's facility, the leader of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County emphasized to the group how 'predictability drives competitiveness.' Michael Catsi, president & CEO of the EDB, added that 'businesses need a stable environment to make smart decisions about sourcing materials, negotiating contracts and investing in capacity.' That predictability so far has been elusive, according to three separate business owners who shared their own tariff stories with The News Tribune. For Kyle Willingham, owner of Naomi Joe Coffee Roasters in Tacoma, the coffee market has become 'a hot mess.' As he explained in a phone interview Friday, there are two primary coffee trade markets, commodity (think lower-cost store brands) and specialty. Willingham, as a local roaster, buys from the specialty growers market. He said for now, he's turned off the noise of the daily news cycle when it comes to purchasing decisions. He described recent dealings with a new wholesale client. Willingham wanted to make sure he could lock in a reasonable price for a contract. And then, an initial round of tariff hikes with Mexico was announced by the Trump administration, and 'all this chaos kind of started happening,' Willingham said. 'So I scare-bought a bunch of coffee with capital that I had been saving up for something else to ensure that the pricing for this client would stay the same, at least initially, while we figure out what's going to happen here in this country,' he said. 'Then I wake up the next day, and it's like, 'Just kidding, we're not doing that,'' he said. 'I'm not even trying to really pay attention to the tariff news, because I just can't afford to let the scare tactics affect my buying decisions.' The loss of a Canadian market also has hit home for business growth. 'In Canada, they all rallied together, and it's no joke,' he said. 'They ripped all U.S. stuff out of the stores. And I was really hoping to tap into the Canadian market this year, and there's just no way. They would be, like, 'Are you serious?' 'Even though it's a product that maybe they would have wanted,' he continued. 'Now, it doesn't matter. It's personal. It's not personal to me, but it's personal to their economy. They would not allow my product to be sold inside their store when they could support a Canadian business instead.' He noted the uncertainty on the U.S. side on how small businesses will get through the current situation stands in stark contrast with our neighbors to the north. 'When Trump did that to Canada, the Canadian government had meetings, came together, came with a plan for Canada and all of their people,' he said. 'It felt like they really rallied to come through to make sure that the Canadian businesses were going to be as strong as possible.' He's not seen the same supportive-elbows-up rally here. As he pointed out, U.S. grocers aren't exactly pulling competitors off the shelves to strengthen the positions of domestic vendors. He thinks the on-again, off-again indecision surrounding the Trump administration's handling of the tariffs is partly to blame for a lack of national rallying to support small local businesses. 'I mean, they're changing their minds daily instead of committing to something,' he said. 'But it screws with all of us,' he said. 'I have four employees, and two of them have families. And I need to make sure the show keeps going on.' Willingham said that for now, pricing would stay the same, 'and I'm trying to not let the day-to-day news impact my business decisions, and then we'll see what happens when I need to resupply.' Jennifer Luna owns The Curious Bear in Fircrest, first profiled by The News Tribune when it opened in 2018. She is also a member of the National Retail Federation and recently joined other small business owners to speak with members of Congress about tariff impacts. 'With 80% of toys manufactured in China, we're already experiencing 10–20% price increases and added tariff surcharges from our vendors,' she told The News Tribune via email. China has received the largest of what the Trump administration has called its 'reciprocal' tariffs, with a 145% tariff rate on items imported from China, which the White House said last week was actually 245% for some goods when previous tariffs are included in the rate. China has hit back with a 125% tariff on items imported from the United States and called the 245% rate a 'meaningless tariff numbers game.' Luna told The News Tribune via email that 'As current U.S. inventory levels begin to run low over the next month or two, I expect to see even steeper price hikes — and the outright unavailability of many products, which could leave our shelves empty.' She wrote that she strongly feels that 'small businesses are going to become the collateral damage of these tariffs and many will close. 'We don't have 2+ years to wait for manufacturing to move to the U.S. And it is unrealistic that toys would be at the top of the list of new manufacturing to start building,' she added. Stephanie Lollar is one of the owners of Lollar Guitars Inc., which does business as Lollar Pickups in Tacoma. The company specializes in the manufacturing of pickups for electric and steel guitars and bass, plus custom parts for a global customer base. In response to questions, Lollar told The News Tribune via email that 'We previously did quite a bit of sales to Canadians, which has been almost nonexistent the past two months.' She wrote that 'We manufacture electric guitar pickups that we sell to guitar builders, guitar players and music stores all over the world. Not only have we had several large-value customer orders put on hold because of the tariffs, but we are also facing large increases in costs.' A key issue, as she explained, is that guitar pickups are made of magnets and wire. 'Our magnets are purchased from a U.S. company that produces magnets in China,' she wrote. 'Even the one company that makes magnets in the U.S. sources their materials from China.' Her incoming order of magnets is set to have the 145% tariff applied, 'and (we) have been told we were lucky to have gotten it shipped before the Chinese government banned the sale of rare earth minerals to the U.S. That may include the magnets used to make our products. 'We are currently waiting to find out more,' Lollar added. Many of Lollar's vendors who manufacture in the U.S. buy materials from elsewhere, she noted, with China, Germany and Canada serving as three of the principal suppliers of such materials. 'We are a small company; we support 29 families,' she added. 'Between current events and the additional costs of doing business in Tacoma, it's getting tougher to provide for our employees in the way we feel a company should.'
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Brighton's i360 reopens with new owners after two-month closure
Brighton's i360 is back up and running two months after it closed amid financial problems. The tourist attraction was bought over by Nightcap Ltd in February after Brighton & Hove City Council wiped the i360's £51m debt. Sarah Willingham, Nightcap Ltd founder and CEO, opened the tower's pod, gift shop and cafe at 11:00 GMT on Saturday but said there is more to come. Former Dragons Den judge Mrs Willingham told BBC Radio Sussex ahead of the opening that she wanted the i360 to be "the heartbeat of the prom". A pre-booked ticket for an adult over 16 will remain at £18.50 but the attraction has introduced £5 tickets for adults and £2.50 for children who live in BN1, BN2, BN3 and BN41 postcodes.A bar on the site is due to open in the summer, says Nightcap Ltd, and there will be further refurbishments. Mrs Willingham said: "This is very much a phased opening." The original owners of the 531ft (162m) tower, which opened in August 2016, suddenly closed the viewing tower in December, making 109 staff redundant the week before Christmas. In order to secure a sale Brighton & Hove City Council announced in January they would wipe the venue's £51m local Sarah Willingham's firm took over the tower in February in a deal which will see 1% of i360 tower ticket sales revenue go to Brighton & Hove City Council.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix just got an emotional biographical drama movie — and it's already crashed the top 10
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Netflix top 10 has shifted quite a bit in recent days. For starters, the original rom-com 'La Dolce Villa' has rocketed straight to No. 1 spot over the Presidents' Day weekend, while action-thriller 'Aftermath' sits in the runners-up spot. However, it's the flick just behind these two that has caught my eye. 'Trial by Fire' was added to Netflix last week (on Thursday, February 13), and while this 2018 biographical drama struggled to gain much traction in theaters, it's finding a whole new audience via the world's most popular streaming service. As of writing, 'Trial by Fire' ranks as the No. 3 most-watched movie on Netflix U.S. charting ahead of Amy Schumer's 'Kinda Pregnant', Sly's curtain-closer 'Rambo: Last Blood' and animated family smash hit 'Sing.' Never heard of 'Trial by Fire'? I'm not super surprised. As noted, the drama made barely a splash upon release (its box office haul was a measly $150K). The largely forgotten drama flick recounts a tragic true story and packs two strong performances from Jack O'Connell and the ever-reliable Laura Dern. So, here's everything you need to know about this new to Netflix movie… 'Trial by Fire' chronicles the true story of Cameron Todd Willingham, a man accused of purposefully setting a deadly house fire that killed his three young daughters. A heavy metal music fan with a violent past, prosecutors are convinced Willingham set the fire to cover up his own domestic abuses. Sentenced to death by the state, Willingham (played by Jack O'Connell) strikes up an unlikely friendship with Elizabeth Gilbert (Laura Dern), a playwright sympathetic to his pleas that he is actually innocent. The two bond over their shared experiences of parenthood, and as Gilbert begins to investigate the case she uncovers some disturbing concerns about the high-profile trial. Gilbert's findings suggest that some of the state's key witnesses aren't as reliable as presented. She also learns that evidence that could raise a reasonable doubt about Willingham's guilt is being suppressed. But as Gilbert pushes for the case to be re-opened, the date of Willingham's execution draws ever closer, and there may not be enough time to save his life. Anyone who has seen the 1990s Oscar winner 'Dead Man Walking' with Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn may feel a sense of déjà vu when watching 'Trial by Fire.' Both movies explore a surprising relationship between a death row inmate and a compassionate stranger sympathetic to their plight. The key difference between the two is the element of doubt. In 'Dead Man Walking,' Matthew Poncelet's (Penn) guilt is never in question. However, 'Trial by Fire' adds an element of mystery with Willingham's denial of starting the fire presented as more open-ended. Or at least, initially, it's presented this way. The movie does eventually come down on a clear side of the debate, but for the first act, you'll be thinking to yourself 'did he do it?' As with many biopic dramas, 'Trial by Fire' lives on the strength of its leading performances, and this movie is blessed with two strong actors. Laura Dern's role is well within her wheelhouse. Playing Gilbert doesn't challenge her, but she's as reliable as ever. Jack O'Connell is given the film's most intense material and thrives on it. Willingham is a complex character. He's a deeply flawed individual, but O'Connell manages to make him equally sympathetic. Plus, the movie's exploration of the morality of the death penalty is engaging. 'Trial by Fire's' biggest flaw is that it leans a little too heavily on emotionally manipulative techniques that have become commonplace in the genre. This is especially apparent in the third act. Rarely are the emotions of a scene left to breathe. Instead, everything is ramped up to ensure maximum melodrama. Director Edward Zwick would have benefited from trusting the viewer more and allowing the emotions to flow naturally instead of trying to force things. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, 'Trial by Fire' has scored a respectable 63% with critics. The performances of Dern and O'Connell were praised by reviewers, with the story also labeled 'heartbreaking' but the aforementioned manipulative approach was seen as the main flaw. Audiences were similarly impressed rating the movie 70% on RT's meter. The most recent user reviews call the movie 'powerful' and 'harrowing' praising its 'emotional depth.' 'Trial by Fire' definitely shouldn't be at the top of your Netflix watchlist if you want something light and breezy to kickstart your week. However, if you want to stream something with a real emotional punch that asks some difficult questions about what is justice and how the system can be rigged against those from disadvantaged backgrounds, 'Trial by Fire' is worth considering. It's by no means an easy watch, but it's got some important things to say. The lead performances from Jack O'Connell and Laura Dern are the biggest draws, and the two have a great on-screen chemistry as well. Just be warned, 'Trial by Fire' isn't afraid of resorting to some cheap tricks in an effort to make you reach for the tissues. Ironically, if the movie was more willing to let emotions flow naturally, it would probably hit even harder. Nevertheless, it's a well-made biographical drama that makes a compelling case for itself. If you're looking for some alternative options, be sure to check out our roundup of everything new added to Netflix in February 2025. Watch "Trial by Fire" on Netflix now New on Prime Video in February 2025 Netflix just got an overlooked sci-fi thriller movie New on Netflix: 5 movies and shows to watch this week
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buyer confirms takeover of Brighton i360
A buyer has been found for the i360 viewing pod in Brighton. Hospitality group Nightcap Limited, which runs 46 venues in England and Wales, has taken on the remaining 115-year lease of the i360 for an as-yet undisclosed fee. Sarah Willingham, founder and CEO of Nightcap, said: "We couldn't be happier to welcome the i360 to the Nightcap family." The i360 went into administration in November. Brighton & Hove City Council then announced in January it would be writing off the attraction's £51m debt. Brighton-based Nightcap said clearing the debt and any "historic liabilities" would give the i360 a "fresh start" after significant investment from the new owners. "We pass the i360 every day and were as disappointed as everyone else when it went into administration and no buyer was found," said Ms Willingham, a former star of TV show Dragons' Den. "The impact of its closure would have been catastrophic to our local businesses and a blemish on this important part of the Brighton seafront. "We hope we will get the support of our tight-knit local community as we embark on this new chapter for the i360." Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of the city council, said the sale was the "best option" for Brighton. "We are delighted that Nightcap has taken such a keen interest in revitalising the i360, and their passion and commitment to the city is evident," he said. Rachel Clark, chief executive officer of the West Pier Trust, said she was looking forward to a "fruitful and collaborative partnership" with Nightcap. Nightcap confirmed it would operate both the viewing tower and hospitality areas. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Brighton i360 £51m debt written off to secure sale Brighton's debt-hit i360 files for administration 'Financial disaster' Brighton i360 suddenly closes
