Rules Restaurant - 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden WC2E 7LB

"Lunch at Rules is as much about the experience and décor as the food.

Started with a rich fish soup, then tackled the rib of beef for two—recommended by my mother, a regular who probably fits the general demographic of the punters better than I do. One of my colleagues (won’t mention his name, but he likes rugby and supports Nottingham Forest) demolished the pork belly before gnawing on the rib of beef bone for good measure. More animal than man but he seemed satisfied and happy which is the most we can ask for in this current marketplace.

Even the cheapest wine on the menu was excellent. Spent the next few hours wandering central London, trying (and failing) to walk it off. A true classic."

The tubes seem fuller than this time last year — except for Fridays. Mondays remain slower too (see bottom left photo). It’s interesting to notice how commuting patterns are shifting, and it seems like working from home is evolving.

There’s a lot of chatter about working from home slowly dying. Whilst it’s true that more employers expect staff to return to the office, I’m hopeful companies will find the right balance. In fact, we see a huge opportunity here: companies that offer more days a week working from home will attract and retain the best talent. We’re seeing people accept lower salaries in exchange for more days working from home — work-life balance really matters to them. Companies that offer flexibility could attract the best talent, but good management of these employees working from home is key to keeping productivity high!

Tuesdays seem to be the busiest. Just check out the bottom middle photo — Bank Station at 18:30 was packed. It’s clear that mid-week is becoming the new “Monday” for many commuters. 

Whilst Charlie the MD was out, He met two people who made an impression. One was a guy who travels everywhere with his parrot (photo, bottom right). He said, "it was a bit random seeing a guy with a parrot on his shoulder in A&E but it made me smile"  Tyler, really impressed Charlie, an army veteran spending his morning off raising money for a veterans' charity at Bethnal Green station, that helped him get back into work. Tyler went on to say how the Veterans Association helped him transition from military to civilian life and find a job. It's tough for many veterans to adjust, and We’d love to see more employers in our industry giving them a chance. 

If you can donate : Donate To The Veterans Association - Veterans Charity