Born in a unit at Woolwich’s Royal Arsenal, Hop Stuff Brewery has since become one of the fastest growing craft breweries in London. Last month, the brewery drew ‘Funding III’ – a crowdfunding initiative - to a close after just two days, with over 190 per cent funded and more than 1,000 investors having participated. Founded by James Yeomans in 2013, Hop Stuff is the only brewer in the world to successfully complete three rounds of funding via Crowdcude, raising over £1.5m in the...

With many investors both domestically and internationally on the lookout for their next investment opportunity in the UK, London often appears near the top of their list of destinations, however rising prices in the capital and London's international reputation for overpriced property can deter many investors from choosing London as their next investment destination. With billions of pounds being invested in regeneration projects in London and major upgrades to transport links throughout the city, more and more niche areas are...

CQS New City High Yield - “Conservative and boring” - In the words of its manager, Ian Francis, CQS New City High Yield Fund (NCYF) is “really conservative and boring”! However, NCYF offers a high yield and has beaten the consumer price index, Libor and the MSCI UK Index by significant margins over the last 10 years; all while providing low volatility returns. Furthermore, its premium rating (an average of 5.5% during the last year) and its ongoing share issuance (5.3% during...

QuotedData has released the 2018 edition of its highly-regarded Investment Companies Guide.  Building on the success of last year's publication and updated to reflect developments within the sector, the Guide harnesses QuotedData's wide-ranging distribution capabilities to reach over 100,000 self-directed investors and their advisers. 2018 Investment Companies Guide Final Version Partnership approach The guide has been supported by sponsors including Aberdeen Standard Investments, Fidelity International, Jupiter Asset Management and Polar Capital and will be hosted by Alliance Trust Savings, Zurich, Transact...

A crime scene investigator has been accused of sexual assaulting a victim while working for the police. Kevin Dowley, 61, will appear before Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with two counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to allegations about conduct while undertaking his work for Essex Police in July and August 2016. He has worked for the force since 2013 and previously worked as a police officer for the Metropolitan Police. Dowley, of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, was suspended from...

An Oxford student who was spared jail after stabbing her boyfriend in a drug-fuelled rage has been denied permission to appeal her sentence. Lavinia Woodward, 24, who has a history of cocaine and MDMA abuse, was given a suspended sentence after plunging a bread knife into Thomas Fairclough's leg but challenged the judgement. The appeal was denied, however the aspiring heart surgeon can still apply to have her case heard by a full court of two or three judges. Woodward...

A lifelong footie fan has scooped nearly £10m on the lottery after buying a lucky dip when his team stormed to a 3-0 victory. Paul Long, 55, felt his luck was in when his beloved Leyton Orient secured a home win against Woking on Saturday. He bought a £2 online ticket for the Lotto draw that evening - only to match all six numbers and win the £9,339,858 jackpot. Dad-of-three Paul said: "I try to go to most home games...

A student at one of the UK’s leading boarding schools was suspended after he tried to force feed a Jewish pupil - PORK. The victim "suffered psychologically" after the incident involving a ham pizza at £35,000-a-year Clifton College in Bristol, it was claimed. The Jewish teenager remained at the prestigious school alongside his alleged attacker, who was allowed back into classes after a short suspension. Insiders revealed the suspended boy was on the periphery of another incident at the school...

Easter is here and like other religious festivals it gives us chance to enjoy a few days off, overeat and, crucially, think hard about wine pairing. With spring on the horizon it is a wonderful time of year to embrace the rich and diverse colours and tastes of the season, tapping in to the variable flora and fauna transported to our table courtesy of the lamb meats we consume. Although there is a temptation, especially given the gloomier weather forecast, to...