Metropol

I didn't know you needed a licence for such a thing, but that does explain the one solitary store in Spitalfields.

As I may have mentioned before, AmazonFresh had been reducing their own-label fresh stuff over the last year in favour of a ragtag mix of Morrisons and Booths, though the ambient range was still going strong, presumably because they can still sell it online. Indeed I just bought a case of tinned tomatoes to make up an order to be eligible for super-saver delivery, and they're better quality than the ones we'd previously been getting from Tesco.

156 Claire's stores have been acquired by Modella Capital.

The full list of Claire's closures.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/10/04/full-lis ... -24339954/

Pizza Hut have gone into administration. 68 restaurants are to close, along with 11 'delivery' sites.
https://news.sky.com/story/pizza-hut-to ... n-13453961

I can't say I am surprised really. Anytime I have been past a Pizza Hut, I have never seen anyone going in. And when I have seen people in there, there wasn't many. I think the last time I ate at a Pizza Hut was 15 years ago. Looking at prices, one has to say £17 for a 9" Pepperoni Pizza is all you need to know for why they've gone this way. Why would my girlfriend and I spend £40 to eat some average Pizza when we could go to a local restaurant, and get a much cheaper pizza, or just make it ourselves?

I wonder if we'll see any other retail park Pizza Huts turned into one of these?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RevLE1xUhTDzhuba9

Bodycare is returning as an investment group led by former Body Shop CEO Charles Denton has acquired the branding and intellectual property.

https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/bodycare- ... y-shop-ceo

I wonder when the first products branded as TG Jones will start to appear. I notice the Christmas decorations and the 2026 Diaries and Calendars are still branded ‘WHSmith’

Andrew wrote: Sat 01 Nov, 2025 22.02 I wonder when the first products branded as TG Jones will start to appear. I notice the Christmas decorations and the 2026 Diaries and Calendars are still branded ‘WHSmith’

I wonder if WHSmith branded items will just continue to supply TGJones?

I also wonder if they should have chosen a slightly different logo or name

GeekyJames wrote: Tue 04 Nov, 2025 22.30

Andrew wrote: Sat 01 Nov, 2025 22.02 I wonder when the first products branded as TG Jones will start to appear. I notice the Christmas decorations and the 2026 Diaries and Calendars are still branded ‘WHSmith’

I wonder if WHSmith branded items will just continue to supply TGJones?

I also wonder if they should have chosen a slightly different logo or name

To paraphrase Martin Brundle: That'll be a fairly short debate, GeekyJames.

Made a purchase in TG Jones, receipt said TG Jones but when the money was debit from my bank account it was WH Smith.