Newspapers here in London are reporting that upwards of fifteen major retail chains may shut their doors after Christmas and a cabinet minister warns of a “bloodbath” with layoffs in the public sector too. If anything, the economy here looks worse than in the States.
Had an enjoyable dinner with Davide Simonetti of The Nether World and other blogs on Saturday. While he’s been too busy to blog much lately, we talked blogs, politics, music, and more. He tells me that 5 pubs a day are closing in the UK, a dual casualty of the ban on smoking in the pubs and much cheaper beer available at supermarkets. Only the pubs with good food stand a chance.