Loungers, the highly successful Bristol-based café/bar chain, is under new ownership after being acquired by a US private equity firm for £354m. Fortress Investment Group, which owns Majestic Wines, Poundstretcher and the Curzon cinema chain, secured nearly 94% of Loungers shareholders’ votes for its improved offer at a general meeting...
Detailed plans for a new transport hub at Bristol Temple Meads station have been unveiled, the latest scheme linked to the much-needed but long-delayed regeneration of the area. The Southern Gateway will include a new pedestrian access to the station, a bespoke cycle hub and multi-storey car park. It...
Business confidence has risen sharply in the South West as the region’s firms shrug off suggestions that UK economic growth is stalling. According to the latest Business Barometer from banking group Lloyds, optimism among South West companies climbed by 13 percentage points in January. Confidence in their own business...
Investment into small and mid-sized business by growth finance group BGF’s South West office fell last year by around £10m as it came up against what it called “several economic uncertainties”. BGF, the largest and most experienced investor in the UK and Ireland, completed deals totalling £60m during 2024...
The role that cities and regions can play in driving the government’s growth agenda will be explored at a major event in Bristol next week. Festival of Flourishing Regions will bring together policymakers, regional planners, economic development experts, academics and business and community leaders to explore and promote strategies...
Four Bristol firms are to develop new ideas and products after being selected for funding under a new regional creative industries scheme. Stagescreen, which has received £30,000, captures stage events for cinema and TV audiences worldwide as well as other media such as DVDs and educational performances. Its team has...
A former Mexican fast-food restaurant has become the new head office of Bristol-based specialist property developer Urban Creation. The firm, which was launched 20 years ago, spent nearly 11 months converting the Mission Burrito outlet on Park Street, pictured, into what it is calling “a physical manifestation of ...
Nearly 200,000 jobs in 19,000 South West businesses have been supported by investments made through the British Business Bank over the past10 years, according to a new report. Some 16,000 more jobs are expected to be created as the firms it has backed over the past decade continue to...
Investment group Foresight has appointed an experienced senior investment manager in its Bristol-based private equity team ahead of opening an office in the city this year. Olly Cox, pictured, brings more than 12 years’ deal experience to the role in which he will support the deployment and management of...
UWE Futures, the talent programme offering work experience and mentoring to UWE Bristol global majority students, is entering its second year by expanding to include more legal firms along with a leading organisation in Bristol’s creative sector. Founding law firms Osborne Clarke, Burges Salmon, Clarke Willmott and Simmons & Simmons...
Co-working operator BLOCK has launched its first hub in Bristol as the trend for flexible city centre workspace shows no sign of slowing. The firm, which already has sites in Taunton and Plymouth, has opened the new 8,300 sq ft base, pictured, on the 12 floor of The Fairfax,...
Leading figures from Bristol’s business community will celebrate the growing links between the city and China next month at a special banquet to mark the start of the Chinese Year of the Snake. Staged by the Bristol and West of England China Bureau, the annual event brings together firms...
Professional services and tech firms moving into high-quality buildings that reflect their ethical values helped push office rents in Bristol to a new high last year while increasing pressure on a dwindling supply of A grade space. Property agents in the city say occupiers are increasingly willing to pay...
