'The economic cost of 48 hours of snow: £1 billion... and counting'

Business groups have warned that the cost of absenteeism to the economy because of this week's snowfalls could reach £2 billion.The Federation of Small Businesses estimated that about 10 per cent of the 30-million strong workforce was unable to get in yesterday, costing the economy an estimated £600 million - The Times​

A mother was left stunned after her local pub refused to serve her unless she took off her woolly hat. Despite the freezing temperatures outside, staff at The Wheatsheaf in Preston would not serve Caroline Lonergan until she removed her hat. The mother-of-one says bar workers told her it was pub policy that she had to remove her headgear as it had a peak - Daily Mail​

A nightclub has been blasted for advertising half-price entry to the first 50 "sluts". Flyers showing naked women with a sex toy were handed out in a city centre. They announced that the Mint Club in Leeds was holding a "Slut party - £8 entry to the first 50 sluts". The evening was entitled Filth. Four people complained that the flyers "demeaned women" and kids could see them - The Sun​

Geronimo Inns, the London-focused pubs group, has put the fizz back into Christmas after posting a 6pc increase in like-for-like sales over the festive period. In the four weeks to January 3, total sales rose 43.7pc. The increase came after Geronimo acquired six sites from Punch Taverns, the listed pubs operator, for £8.3m in the summer of last year - The Telegraph​