WHISPERS OF THE CITY: It’s not easy to wake up; try asking IHG about LGBT

After Pride month, Holiday Inn and InterContinental Hotel owner IHG should have its LGBT+ credentials proofed to continue to attract as many guests as possible.

But the company is in hot water after human rights activist Peter Tatchell accused it of “hypocrisy” for displaying pro-LGBT+ attributes on its website while operating a hotel in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, where people-to-people activity of the same sex can lead to up to three years in prison.

IHG said the company did not discriminate based on sexual orientation, but admitted it would “comply with legal requirements” when national law conflicted with its own policy.

But when contacted by The Mail on Sunday, the hotel said it would “provide a safe space for guests, regardless of whether they are in a same-sex relationship,” apparently against the law.

However, when asked if this “safe space” would still apply if Tashkent police came looking for LGBT+ people, IHG said it “didn’t want to get involved in what-if scenarios.”

BrewDog’s gimmick is frivolous in the cost of living crisis

Skip the recent video posted online by BrewDog boss James Watt if you have a fear of heights.

Watt is shown dropping a bagged laptop from a helicopter 1,000 feet above Las Vegas to celebrate his investment in Mous, which makes phone cases, computer bags and more.

Impressively, the bag looks in mint condition when it lands.

The laptop turns on, but it’s in much worse shape.

However, it may not be much of a trick during a cost of living crisis.

Hamoodi preparing coup de grace in Nanoco?

Pictures of activist Nanoco shareholder Tariq Hamoodi channeling THG’s Matt Molding, topless and showing off his muscles, have been circulating.

The video at least had context, as it was filmed when Hamoodi was at a charity boxing match several years ago.

Hamoodi and hedge fund Decagon Asset Management have requested a shareholder meeting at the technology firm, which settled a legal dispute with Samsung earlier this year.

He has been pushing for a board overhaul at Nanoco for some time and has a host of directors proposed to replace current management if successful.

But Nanoco’s shares ended the week lower than before the meeting was arranged. Perhaps Hamoodi is still preparing to deliver a knockout blow?

More confusion for Sanjeev Gupta

More confusion for industrialist Sanjeev Gupta last week when Simec Atlantis Energy, a renewable energy company he backs, requested a suspension of shares as it would miss a June annual report deadline.

The group, set up by Gupta’s father, said it had been “working hard” to sign a 30-year lease in Wales, where it is building an energy storage facility.

Negotiations for this closed on June 20.

Simec said there were “no material issues” causing the delay.

While nowhere near the scale of, say, being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, it’s a less-than-ideal turn of events for Gupta.