What were our best read stories of 2013?
TODAY we reveal the best read stories of 2013 on TheBusinessDesk.com.
And while court cases and business collapses are prominent in the list, perhaps proving the old newspaper adage that bad news sells, readers were also interested in the positives too.
In the list, which includes our breaking news story about Leeds City Council defeating businesswoman Jan Fletcher’s High Court action over the Leeds Arena and another story about the subsequent fallout from the bitter legal battle, is also the news about the route of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart through Yorkshire being revealed.
That was the second best read story on our site last year, only topped by our story breaking the news that law firm Cobbetts was set to enter administration.
Another well read story in our top 10 was about the Yorkshire Rich List, topped by the Healey brothers, Eddie and Malcolm, with a joint fortune estimated at £1.5bn, while plans to add a new entrance to Leeds Station were also of interest to readers.
And voting on our site for our Yorkshire Business Masters Awards also proved popular, with the page receiving thousands of visits.
The story about clothing retailer Republic’s likely collapse also made the list while former Leeds United director Simon Morris facing prosectution over hidden assets was high up.
1. Administrators to be appointed at Cobbetts
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/425629-administrators-to-be-appointed-at-cobbetts.html
We broke the news that Cobbetts was set to enter administration, the second major Northern-based law firm to collapse in three years following the demise of Halliwells in 2010.
2. Tour de France 2014 route to be revealed
Excitement was building well before the arrival of the Tour de France in Yorkshire in July 2014, the announcement in January 2013 of the route it will take through the county was our second best read story of the year.
3. Former Leeds United director Simon Morris to face prosecution
Having already been jailed for blackmail, Simon Morris was facing criminal charges surrounding assets he kept hidden when he was made bankrupt. He was later convicted and received a suspended sentence.
4.Republic likely to be latest high street victim
The Yorkshire-based fashion retailer went into administration in February after becoming the latest store chain to experience poor trading.
5. Receivers appointed over Montpellier Estates portfolio
The latest chapter in the long running saga attracted much interest after Mrs Fletcher’s firm failed in its £43.5m damages bid against Leeds City Council over the contract to develop the city’s new arena.
6. Leading names honoured at Yorkshire Business Masters
Our Masters awards attracted plenty of interest from readers keen to vote for the winners.
7. Law firm closes down
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/news/550184-law-firm-closes-down.html
The latest Yorkshire law firm to collapse, Richardson & Co Solicitors, with offices in Leeds Harrogate and York, made headlines in December.
8. Leeds City Council defeats Montpellier Estates in arena case
Our breaking news story about Leeds City Council defeating businesswoman Jan Fletcher’s
9. Healey brothers top Yorkshire Rich List with £1.5bn fortune
In April, entrepreneurial brothers Eddie and Malcolm Healey topped the Yorkshire wealth league for the second year running according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
10. Southern entrance plans for Leeds station approved
Plans for a £16m project to build a southern entrance to Leeds station received final approval in October.
