Number of pubs in England and Wales falls below 39,000 for first time

More than 400 pubs in England and Wales shut their doors for good this year against a backdrop of rising costs and cautious spending among consumers.The number of pubs has fallen below 39,000 for the first time, as 412 were demolished or converted for other uses in the year to December, according to an analysis of government figures by the property data company Altus Group. Most of the closures happened in the first half of the year.The overall number of pubs in England and Wales, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell to 38,989 as closures accelerated. Some of them were converted to homes, offices and day nurseries

Most UK businesses expect to grow in new year, surveys find

A majority of UK businesses expect a positive start to 2025, according to two economic confidence surveys which show managers planning for growth after a challenging period for the economy.About 70% of UK businesses expect their turnover to increase over the next year, up from 62% in December 2023. Meanwhile, 73% are confident of greater profitability, according to research from Lloyds bank.Hann-Ju Ho, a senior economist at Lloyds, said: “It is exciting to see that businesses have ambitious plans for next year and are confident of growth. Overall, businesses have responded well to the changing external environment

‘All people could do was hope the nerds would fix it’: the global panic over the millennium bug, 25 years on

Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, 25 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II stepped off a private barge to arrive at London’s Millennium Dome for its grand opening ceremony. Dressed in a pumpkin-orange coat, she entered the venue with Prince Philip, taking her place alongside Tony and Cherie Blair and 12,000 guests to celebrate the dawn of a new millennium. At the stroke of midnight, Big Ben began to chime and 40 tonnes of fireworks were launched from 16 barges lined along the river. The crowd joined hands, preparing to sing Auld Lang Syne. For a few long moments, the Queen was neglected – she flapped her arms out like a toddler wanting to be lifted up, before Blair and Philip noticed her, took a hand each, and the singing began

Michael Adex: the entrepreneur aiming to inspire black-founded tech startups

He is the man behind 3bn streams, a string of chart-topping artists – and Wetherspoon’s newest brand of tequila.Ask Michael Adex how he has achieved all this by the age of 28 and he gives some credit to his “immovable” will to make things happen.But the Manchester-raised entertainment mogul, who first tasted success as the talent manager behind rapper Aitch before founding a talent agency, record label and global music publishing business, is acutely aware that no matter how powerful the vision, or how good the idea, fledgling companies need cash to survive.The UK aims to be a leader in “deep tech”, the field of innovation that includes advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. But the pathway from bright idea to commercial success can be a fraught one, especially for black entrepreneurs

Paris Olympics were great, so why not hold summer Games every two years? | Sean Ingle

We are knee-deep in Twixmas: that twilight zone between Christmas and new year, excess and reflection, lists and yet more lists. Over the past week there have been many saluting the best sporting moments of 2024. Yet across the globe there is one constant: these lists are dominated by a Paris Olympics seared into the memory. Nothing else came close.Pick your day, relive the moment

The alternative 2024 sports awards: quotes, gaffes and animal cameos

The best and worst of 2024 – featuring Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the war on woke and the happiest 34 seconds of the yearKeeper Lewis Patching – saying sorry in March after signing on loan for Rushden & Diamonds, conceding four, headbutting a fan in the bar and being sacked on the same day. “I was disappointed how the game panned out … I’d like to apologise and wish the club/supporter all the best moving forward.”Chris Wilder – setting out his red lines after Sheffield United’s loss at Palace in January. “It’s a ridiculous performance from the officials. I went to see the referee and I’ve told him that