2021: Our most read stories of the year

Eddie Stobart

While COVID-19 continued to grab headlines around the world, the North West did what it does best and got on with business throughout 2021.

A review of our top 10 stories for the year reveals a wide range of topics which grabbed readers’ attention.

In February Stobart watchers were out in force, viewing our story regarding the change of name for the famous Warrington-based haulage business, making this the most widely read piece of the year.

Eddie Stobart announced it was switching its name to Logistics Development Group Plc, following the conversion of the company to an investing company under AIM rules.

Chairman Adrian Collins said: “This marks our transition to a growth-focused investment vehicle whilst further delineating the company from the Eddie Stobart business, in which we hold an indirect interest and which, as previously announced, has returned to profitability and firmly put its past challenges behind it.”

::

The new JYSK Bury store

Our second most read story of 2021 was news of fast-expanding Danish retail group Jysk opening the first of two new Greater Manchester stores, in June.

The Bury store, situated in Angouleme Retail Park, was the brand’s third store in the Greater Manchester region, with the fourth in Stockport set to open a month later, creating around 25 jobs, and marking the latest development in the company’s ambitious plans for expansion in 2021.

The opening heralded the group’s 22nd site in the UK, which is proving a solid investment for the Danes.

::

The proposed Bootle development

In March we, unfortunately, brought news of consolidation by banking group Santander with the axing of 111 branches, including several in the region, with many staff working from home due to the pandemic.

The banking giant said the plans came as it restructured its office sites into six main locations across the UK and introduced more flexible working.

The closures included a main site in Bootle, North Liverpool, impacting 2,100 staff, and a Manchester Deansgate branch. Santander had planned to invest £75m in the demolition and redevelopment of the Merseyside base into a huge campus, but put those plans on hold in 2020.

::

High-flying Manchester City FC was in the news in July when its owner, City Football Group, announced it had successfully raised $650m to fund infrastructure projects.

The debt deal will seek to boost investment in its international network of football clubs.

It has stakes in New York City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F Marinos, Montevideo City Torque, Girona, Sichuan Jiuniu and Mumbai City – playing in the US, South America, Japan, Australia, Europe and China.

::

The planned restaurant quarter at St George’s, Preston

Meanwhile, in February, we brought news that a Lancashire shopping centre had fallen into administration just months after it mothballed ambitious plans to develop a restaurant quarter.

St George’s Shopping Centre in Preston was bought by private equity firm InfraRed Capital Partners in 2015 for a reported £73m.

But a letter sent to creditors, that had been seen by TheBusinessDesk.com, confirmed the company that owned the centre – IRAF UK Dragon Limited Partnership and two subsidiaries – went into administration on February 1.

::

Southport’s Royal Clifton Hotel

In May, Manchester-based Britannia Hotels, so often in the news for the wrong reasons having consistently been ranked the UK’s worst hotels operator, made headlines with its acquisition of the Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa, in Southport.

Originally built by local architect Thomas Withnell in the 1850s, the 120-room Royal Clifton Hotel is a renowned Southport landmark, boasting an extremely impressive and imposing Victorian stucco façade.

It sits in a prominent location directly on Southport’s promenade overlooking the Marine Lake, King’s Gardens and beach, and is only 100 metres from Lord Street, the town’s main shopping boulevard.

::

High Legh Park Golf Club

Sport was to the fore, once more, in April, when Europe’s largest golf retailer, Warrington-based American Golf, bought the iconic High Legh Park Golf Club in Knutsford, Cheshire in a £2.7m deal.

It marked the first time the retailer has owned an entire golf complex inclusive of courses, retail outlet, conference and event facilities and a food and beverage offering.

The High Legh Park Golf Club investment, facilitated by specialist golf and leisure brokerage, HMH Golf & Leisure, supported the fast-expanding company’s strategy for growth.

::

Proposed Brewdog Fountain Street

Another popular read, in February, was the news that contracts had been exchanged and planning approval granted by Manchester City Council to bring the first English BrewDog bar, restaurant and hotel to Bruntwood Works’ new Bloc development on Fountain Street.

It was confirmed that the much-anticipated BrewDog Hotel would be called Doghouse Manchester, with a mid-June opening slated.

The 18-bedroom hotel is set over three floors, with industrial-style interior design features and bespoke furnishings promising high quality comfort. At reception, guests will receive a welcome beer on arrival from one of the 28 unique beers on tap.

::

EWM outlets shut down in Formby, Merseyside

A heartening story, in January, was the rescue deal for Carlisle-based retailer, Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

More than 1,400 jobs were saved with the acquisition out of administration. Joint administrators at FRP Advisory said the deal, with Purepay Retail Limited which is backed by an international investor consortium, saved 1,453 jobs and 246 stores.

However, they also confirmed that 119 stores had permanently closed and 485 staff made redundant. These were in addition to 866 job losses announced when the group collapsed in November 2020.

::

Steve Bartlett

And, in August, we reported that the founders of Manchester-based social media group Social Chain had left the business.

Steven Bartlett and Dominic McGregor founded the social media and marketing company six years ago.

The business now employs around 750 staff in five offices in Manchester, London, Berlin, New York and Munich, with a turnover of £178m. It was announced that Wanja S. Oberhof, the Co-CEO of Social Chain AG, would retain his position as chief executive.

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close