Money blog: Top restaurant chains named for serving 'ready meals' to kids (2024)

More than 28,000 prosecutions for alleged rail fare evasions have been quashed during a two-minute court hearing.

The prosecutions were brought by Northern Rail and TransPennine Expressusing the single justice procedure (SJP) - they were not being permitted to do so.

Northern welcomed the outcome and apologised for the "errors".

"Customers affected by the issues raised in court will be contacted directly by HM Courts and Tribunal Service. We are unable to respond to individual queries at this time," a spokesman said.

The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.

Rail companies were permitted to use the SJP in 2016 to privately prosecute fare evaders, but many have been brought under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed under the procedure.

Earlier this year, our cost of living specialist Megan Harwood-Baynes spoke to Sam Williamson who had been threatened with prosecution after he mistakenly bought an invalid ticket...

The Scottish government has announced that all pensioners in Scotland will receive a winter fuel payment in 2025-26.

The benefit is expected to come into force by next winter and will help the estimated 900,000 people north of the border who were cut off from accessing the once universal winter fuel payment.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the news in a statement to the Scottish parliament on Thursday.

It comes after both the UK and Scottish governments earlier this year axed the universal winter fuel payment, except for those in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits.

At Westminster, Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed the decision was made due to financial woes inherited from the previous Conservative government.

The decision led the Scottish government - which was due to take control over a similar payment through the devolved Social Security Scotland but has since announced a delay - to follow suit.

There are signs first-time buyers are racing to complete house purchases to beat an increase in stamp duty rates in a few months' time.

Property website Rightmove said buyers in higher-priced areas of England are set to be particularly affected when thresholds increase from April, having been temporarily cut by Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.

The nil rate - the value of a property at which you start to be charged stamp duty - will drop for first-time buyers from £425,000 to £300,000. For the rest of the market, the nil rate will halve to its old level of £125,000.

Stamp duty is 5% up to £925,000 - and 10% or 13% over that.

Rightmove said just 8% of homes in London would be stamp-duty free come April for first-time buyers, with percentages estimated at 24% in the South East and 32% in the East of England.

In those areas, the property site said it had seen an uptick in demand "suggesting some first-time buyers are rushing to avoid paying higher charges".

In London, demand jumped from 28% pre-budget to 31%, while the South East also increased by 1%.

Demand was measured by the volume of inquiries being sent through the website to estate agents.

Movers and buyers need to act quickly, as the average British house sale takes five months to go through.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove's property expert said: "With stamp duty thresholds in England lowering from April, we're seeing early signs of first-time buyers reacting.

"In London and higher-priced areas, where first-time buyers are most likely to be affected, we're seeing some pull forward their plans to try and avoid higher charges.

"In most other areas of England, which have a greater availability of stamp duty-free homes for first-time buyers, we're seeing the opposite trend of some first-time buyers taking a pause for breath."

Whether it's seeking out a Christmas market, or jetting off for some sun, a holiday in the colder months can be a great way to get through the winter blues.

Surprisingly, Expedia has found dates around Valentine's Day offer the best flight deals for a winter getaway.

Flights between 12 and 14 February 2025 were found to be the cheapest, it said.

The most expensive were between 16 and 19 December.

For hotel stays, people have been told to target 8 or 15 January 2025, when average daily rates are almost £40 cheaper per night than the seasonal average.

This year, Britons are opting for more affordable and lesser-known locations, the travel company has found.

In its latest report, it discovered Strasbourg in France had seen the biggest jump in holiday interest, with hotel searches growing by 670% since last year.

Gothenburg in Sweden and Poznan in Poland were also big hitters, with searches for accommodation in the cities up 660% and 360% respectively.

Here's a list of the other trending destinations:

• Zurich, Switzerland (+275%)
• Tromso, Norway (+270%)
• Bruges, Belgium (+255%)
• Agadir, Morocco (+245%)
• Bucharest, Romania (+240%)
• Budapest, Hungary (+235%)
• Langkawi, Malaysia (+230%)

Despite this, there are still some firm favourites based on search data, and London has been found to be the most popular.

Here's a list of the top 10 most popular winter destinations:

1. London
2. New York
3. Edinburgh
4. Paris
5. Dubai
6. Amsterdam
7. Manchester
8. York
9. Bath
10. Reykjavik

Restaurant chains could be "ripping parents off" by serving "ready meals" and processed food to children, according to a study.

Food and farming charity The Soil Association found meals are "rarely" being prepared and cooked on site using fresh ingredients.

Some restaurants including Bella Italia, Prezzo and TGI Fridays were simply warming up pasta sauces, it said, following a study which involved using secret diners and surveying restaurants directly.

Its annual Out To Lunch restaurant league table found an "abundance of unhealthy options, excessively sugary desserts, problematic additives, plus ultra-processed and low-welfare meat" at some of the most popular chains.

Pizza restaurant Franco Manca was bottom of the table, with the charity criticising a lack of vegetables on the children's menu, as well as its failure to reveal how its food is prepared or what its sourcing policies are.

In contrast, Wahaca received the best rating - children's meals were mostly prepared on site using fresh ingredients while being less pricey than other chains offering reheated meals.

Only Wagamama, Nando's and Leon offered children's menus free from artificially sweetened and added sugar drinks, the Soil Association said.

Money has contacted Bella Italia, Prezzo, TGI Fridays and Franco Manca for comment.

By signing up for a free Lidl Plus account, you can grab £65 off a Jet2 holiday.

And your savings could be even higher if you stack this with the company's Black Friday discounts, Which? has found.

The airline is offering reductions of £100 per person on some holidays.

Here's a quick guide to booking a cheaper holiday with this hack:

1. Download theLidl Plus appand sign up for your free account;
2. Click "partner offers" and select the £65 off Jet2 Holidays deal;
3. Click "redeem this offer" to reveal your discount code;
4. On theJet2 Holidays websitemake sure to sign in, or register for an account to get access to Black Friday deals;
5. Click "see offers" across the top of the site offering Black Friday deals and select the £100 off per person offer;
6. Select the departure airports, destinations, number of travellers and nights and add the holiday you'd like to your basket;
7. Fill out all the passenger information and confirm your booking details and billing address;
8. Add your Lidl discount code on the final page, right before paying.

Lidl's £65 off deal is available until 19 December 2024 on all holidays departing from now until 31 March 2026, while Jet2's Black Friday deal is valid until November 2026.

ByOllie Cooper, live news reporter

Welcome to the next part of my series on fitness supplements - where I aim to discover whether they are helping you get ripped, or you're getting ripped off.

I've enlisted the help of performance nutritionistAndrew PettsandArj Thiruchelvam, personal trainer and head coach at Performance Physique, to analyse 12 different supplements every lunchtime over the next two weeks - and today we're looking at caffeine and pre-workout.

Caffeine and pre-workout

Do you really need a caffeine hit to get you pumped for the gym or a run?

And if so - is a killer coffee preferable to a pre-workout powder?

Let's take you through what's out there.

What is it?

Caffeine is a natural central nervous system stimulant, referred to by some as a drug.

It's most commonly found in coffee and is famed for making you feel "awake".

In reality, it prevents the onset of the feeling of tiredness, by blocking the effects of adenosine - a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired.

It may also increase adrenaline levels and brain activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with arousal, alertness, and focus.

Do gymgoers need it?

If those benefits sound good for you, then you can take caffeine via coffee, powders, pills or gummies before a session.

Lots of gymgoers report getting a "boost" by using pre-workout or drinking coffees and many bodybuilders or fitness influencers swear by them. It's relatively cheap too.

But, when speaking to professional athletes, Andrew says: "My best advice is to use caffeine sparingly where possible and only use it when needed, on event/game day."

For the average person, he says it's simply "not needed".

Arj agrees, saying "outside of performance sport, there's minimal need".

Pre-workout powder

Andrew recommends that if you are hell-bent on using caffeine before a workout, use a supplement that allows you to accurately track how much you are consuming - as coffee caffeine content varies wildly.

Pre-workout powder is one such alternative - usually flavoured and packed with E numbers and other chemicals and compounds promising to improve your "pump".

Beta alanine, carnosine and sodium bicarbonate are usually included, and while "these are very effective for repeated sprints and lactate tolerance", outside of performance sport these additions are pretty much "pointless", Arj says.

"Generic pre-workout supplements can be based around proprietary blends, this means that companies can disclose the ingredients in that supplement blend, but not the exact amounts - which to me is pretty scary," Andrew notes.

The need for moderation

Like everything, caffeine is best consumed in moderation.

Pre-workout powders contain a large amount of the stimulant - somewhere between 150-300mg per serving (recommended adult limit is 400mg per day).

Consistently having too much caffeine can lead to short and long-term health risks, including heart-related issues.

There's also been studies that suggest over-use of caffeine can lead to a reliance on it, with some gymgoers suggesting they cannot perform without it.

"Do you need a stimulant to train, or can you find the habit and internal motivation to train?" Arj asks.

"Relying on something external to get you into the gym is a slippery slope, and not one I encourage."

The verdict: Not essential - but not to be completely avoided

For the average gymgoer, a good diet and regular sleep will likely do more for you than caffeine ever could.

That being said, we all need a boost sometimes, so don't feel bad downing a big coffee before you head into that cold winter gym session, or want to try out a pre-workout product.

As always, take it within a balanced diet and crucially with this one, in moderation.

ByJames Sillars, business and economics reporter

A debate has been raging for years over whether drivers pay far more than they should for fuel.

In its latest update on the industry's charges, the Competition and Markets Authority says it remains concerned about a lack of competition after accusing the industry of overcharging motorists to the tune of many hundreds of millions of pounds since the COVID pandemic.

The regulator said today that fuel margins of retailers – the difference between what a retailer pays for its fuel and what it sells at – increased between May to August.

The figure for supermarkets rose from 7% in April to 8.1% in August, its study stated.

Non-supermarket fuel margins also increased from 7.8% to 10.2%.

Whether petrol and diesel prices are a rip-off is a question that is hotly contested.

The fuel sector insists its own cost increases, such as for electricity and wages, have to be taken into account.

The government is set to force retailers to divulge their prices under a pump watch scheme that will allow drivers to compare costs locally before filling up.

The sustained increase in the level of fuel margins is concerning and suggests that overall levels of competition in the road fuel retail market remain weakened.

Manchester United have faced strong criticism after increasing ticket prices mid-season.

The club told fans in an email that all remaining tickets for home games this season will be £66 each, whatever the age of the person buying them.

The move effectively removes concessions for children and pensioners, a development which also prompted condemnation.

United argued price increase for seats yet to be sold this season would help improve "operational efficiencies" and "stabilise revenues".

But the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) labelled the move by England's second most successful football club "offensive".

"This means that for an adult member to take their kid to a game in the remainder of this season will cost £132.

"Well over double the minimum price they could pay to do it today. And this change is happening overnight, immediately.

"The club has provided zero consultation on the matter, neither with the Forum nor the Fan Advisory Board nor MUST.

"Suffice it to say, the idea that the fans must pay their 'fair share' for the club's excesses and/or mismanagement - and above all, the Glazers' lack of investment over two decades - is offensive.

"We fans have done everything we have been asked. We have cheered the players on even in the face of substandard performance. We have gone to matches and abided by the new usage rules for tickets. We have taken on a price increase this year.

"There is a risk that this is only the opening salvo of what will surely be massive pressure to implement a significant price rise for next season. Once they have got used to charging £132 for a parent and child to come to Old Trafford, will they really go back to the old pricing levels for next season?

"If the club has a need for short term capital they should issue new shares, as they did when INEOS first arrived, and bring in funding from existing or new shareholders."

United and Everton fans will display a banner protesting ticket increases before the sides face each other on Sunday, in action organised through the Football Supporters' Association's Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign.

"The club needs to ensure it remains financially sustainable," Manchester United told Sky News in a statement.

"It was a difficult decision following recent changes at the club but ultimately the increased revenue will also support investment in the team and contribute to football success."

Landlords could be banned from asking renters for more than one month's rent in advance.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook told parliament that "demands for extortionate rent in advance place a considerable financial strain on tenants".

He said the government was "very clear that the practice of landlords demanding large amounts of rent in advance must be prohibited".

The policy could form part of Labour's Renters' Rights Bill, Mr Pennycook said.

A recent poll by community union ACORN found that just over half of people who moved to a private rented home in the last three years were asked for more than a month's rent in advance, while around 23% were asked for more than six months' up front.