
EP.121 | Pre-Budget Shambles
Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the shambolic run-up to the Budget, with persistent challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership still far from over – forming the main agenda items for this week’s Downtown Den podcast.
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Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the shambolic run-up to the Budget, with persistent challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership still far from over – forming the main agenda items for this week’s Downtown Den podcast.

Downtown in Business has urged the government to think again on its sweeping employment law reforms, warning that this week’s double whammy of announcements – UK unemployment hitting a four-year high, and growth at a disappointing 0.1% in the last quarter, is a flashing red light the Treasury cannot afford to ignore.

Downtown in Business has slammed the Bank of England for once again ducking the opportunity to inject desperately needed momentum into the UK economy, after the Monetary Policy Committee chose to hold interest rates at 4% this week—despite mounting evidence of economic fragility.

A 130-year-old former Unilever factory at Bank Quay, once a cornerstone of Warrington’s proud soap-making heritage, is set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art data centre powering the UK’s growing artificial intelligence economy.

On Thursday 13th November 2025, Downtown in Business hosted an exclusive Leader’s Lunch with Caroline Simpson, Group Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Nestled in the heart of Oddfellows on Lower Bridge Street, this enchanting new restaurant invites guests to enjoy locally sourced, seasonal dishes created by our dedicated team of chefs.

Birmingham Airport (BHX) has appointed global built environment consultancy Arup to lead the development of its next Masterplan, setting out a long-term vision for the airport’s growth and transformation through to 2041.

Liverpool conference and events venue Spaces at The Spine has been awarded Silver in the Venue of the Year (over 300 delegates) category at the 2025 miaList awards, unveiled by the Meetings Industry Association (MIA).

Downtown in Business was delighted to host a special farewell dinner on Tuesday 11th November 2025 celebrating the outstanding career of Steve Broomhead at the beautiful Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool.

Enter the festive season in style with Restaraunt Bar & Grill’s Christmas wreath making masterclass.

The £250,000 transformation is set for completion by Spring 2026, promising an elegant blend of modern luxury and timeless heritage.

The appointment follows a strong period of expansion for the division, which launched earlier this year in response to rising HMRC compliance activity and a more complex tax relief environment.