Choosing Which UK City To Start Your First Business

27 May 2026

Toby Patrick

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When it comes to the UK economy at the moment, a lot of prospective owners are probably of the mind that it's not the best time to start a new business. But this isn’t the case across the board. Numerous industries are either experiencing steady, consistent growth or are thriving on the chaos and remaining unfazed, like companies operating within AI and technology spaces.

While the type of industry is no doubt a huge factor that can determine the success of a business, in many cases, a company's location is just as important. Where you choose to settle can be influenced by several factors, from the cost of operations, employee wage expectations, rent, and so much more.

London

The UK’s capital is naturally home to the headquarters of a lot of very successful businesses, but with London’s high business rates, employee wage expectations and rental costs, setting up there can be eye-watering for a small, start-up business.

While some options a bit further out from the city might be more attractive in those aspects, it’s again dependent on the type of business you own. For example, a fashion retailer might thrive in London's city centre, as footfall, tourism, and overall population are higher than in any other major city. That being said, other areas can also be more attractive in terms of costs, such as a shopping centre in Essex and so forth.

It’s also worth noting that in 2023, the average turnover for a small business in London was just over 100,000, with 9% business growth.

Leeds

Known as one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the North. Within the digital sector alone, there was a 125% growth above the national average, which screams new opportunities to start your own tech business here. Leeds is great for that area of business, but also holds the benefits of competitive business rates, much cheaper rental compared to southern areas, and you have the added advantage of being located in a skilled talent pool of university students, which allows you to build your company, train your business, and also offers affordable wages to begin with as you grow and enter a new market.

Manchester

England's second city and capital of the north is an unsurprisingly hub for a range of industries, with a history of success in the textile industry, but in recent years it has boasted promising opportunities for creative media and fashion, which are both going through periods of consistent growth.

Not to mention that Mancunians love their nightlife, so that would also be a promising opportunity, even if the hospitality industry is struggling by and large, bars in Manchester are having more success, as people there are heading straight to Irish bars for a pint, music and vibes so it’s something to consider for hospitality start-ups.

Fashion, like other cities such as London, is at Manchester’s core, but like other industries, it’s very competitive; that’s why incorporating a creative media element would allow new businesses within this field to thrive there.

Manchester as a whole can be expensive, but there are places where you can find a real bargain for rental units, there are also pretty competitive. It’s also worth considering that in 2023, Manchester's average business turnover was just under £90,000, with 4% growth that year.

Liverpool

Liverpool is another northern powerhouse with potential in a variety of fields and opportunities for professional services, such as tech and cybersecurity. Though it’s still a major UK city, its economy is slightly smaller than that of Manchester, while still growing consistently, but, on the bright side, operating costs are also generally lower.

There is an art to getting your foot in the door without being bled out in the first year on business rates and rent, so Liverpool is a great place to consider starting up. It might be an easier environment in which you can build your reputation, customer base, and make a name for yourself before expanding into other major cities.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to picking which city to start your start up it’s completely dependant on what industry you want to emerge into, what you can afford in terms of business rates, wage expectations and rent prices, as while you might not turn a profit in your first year or two, you don’t want to dig yourself into a hole that will burnout your business before you’ve even started.

The vast majority of cities tend to be tech and financial hubs, which just comes with the modern-day expectations and overall growth, but there are so many other industries that are also growing to consider, and choosing something you are passionate about can make individuals, whether it’s B2B or B2C, seem so much more inviting and interested in it compared to others.

Make sure you do your research in terms of growth within that industry in various locations over the last 5 to 10 years before setting up shop anywhere, as this will give a better insight into potential trends.

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WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event – A Retro Throwback with a Modern Problem

Paul Francis
Jul 15, 2025
3 min read

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event returned on 12th July 2025 with all the nostalgic bells and whistles, neon lighting, synth-heavy intro music, and classic-style graphics reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Originally launched in 1985 as a network TV alternative to Saturday Night Live, the show was once a crown jewel of primetime wrestling, showcasing megastars like Hogan, Savage and The Rockers. In its modern form, it has taken on a part-retro, part-premium live event style, but this time, it came with one major problem: actually watching it.

As someone who couldn’t tune in live, catching up was more of a test of endurance than enjoyment. Between YouTube’s constant interruptions (not a Premium user here), a full WWE ad reel baked into the show, and then even more ads from YouTube right after skipping... at one point, I watched 30 seconds of wrestling sandwiched between two minutes of adverts. For a show rooted in nostalgia, that’s one modern update I could have done without.

Still, when the show got going, it did offer a few standout moments, even if not everything landed.

Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jimmy Uso – United States Championship

This one felt more like a placeholder than a PLE-worthy match. Solo retained the title in a relatively short and uneventful bout, with the usual interference from the “MFTs” (Most Feared Tongans, now routinely backing Solo). While the storytelling of the fractured Bloodline brothers once had weight, the formula now feels tired. Predictability and repetition took the edge off, and it’s hard to get invested when you can already guess the ending three minutes in.

Verdict: Forgettable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7baPlhmUsDE

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles Match

This match had real heavyweight energy. Orton and McIntyre brought intensity, physicality, and crowd investment from the first bell. It had all the makings of a top-tier match — until the interference.

Jelly Roll, whom I’d genuinely never heard of before Friday’s SmackDown, played the distraction role, and while I understand WWE’s crossover marketing, it felt jarring. To make it worse, Logan Paul — a man who’s gone toe-to-toe with Roman Reigns — backed off from Jelly Roll like he’d just seen Brock Lesnar reincarnated. The wrestlers were excellent, but the booking took a slight shine off what could have been a match-of-the-night contender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR5CINK-veA

LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins

This one started well. LA Knight was over with the crowd and brought that electric charisma he's quickly become known for. Seth Rollins, while technically sound, isn’t everyone's cup of tea and personally, I think others on the roster outshine him both on the mic and in the ring.

Midway through the match, things took a nasty turn. Rollins attempted a springboard knee and landed awkwardly. He immediately collapsed and clutched his knee, unable to continue. LA Knight improvised the finish, landing his Blunt Force Trauma finisher for the win. There was genuine concern from the audience, and even Knight toned down the celebration.

Not the way anyone wanted this to end, and while I’m not Rollins’ biggest fan, no one wants to see an injury derail a career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmrf5xRhMoM

Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg – World Heavyweight Championship

Say what you want about Goldberg, but there’s still something special about seeing him make that entrance, smoke, sparks, and a sea of chants. Gunther played the perfect opponent: cold, calculating, and punishing.

This was no technical masterpiece. Goldberg struggled throughout, visibly gassed by the second act of the match. Gunther targeted his knee early on and wore him down with brutal precision. Gage Goldberg attempted to get involved, only to be restrained, and after one final powerbomb, Gunther put the Hall of Famer away.

Goldberg gave a post-match farewell, briefly thanking the crowd, but unfortunately, NBC cut the broadcast before his full speech aired. A frustrating end to what could have been a sentimental moment.

This wasn’t about five-star ratings; it was about closure. Goldberg clearly didn’t have much left, but the match was structured to protect that, and the fans got a decent nostalgia hit without things going off the rails.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnHklPAhd7M

Saturday Night’s Main Event Overall Thoughts

Saturday Night’s Main Event was a mixed bag. The retro presentation was a welcome throwback, but it clashed with the frustrating reality of modern streaming. Gunther vs. Goldberg offered closure, and LA Knight continues to rise. But predictable interference and an over-reliance on faction storytelling dragged some matches down.

Match of the Night: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre (despite the interference)

Moment of the Night: LA Knight’s improvised win after Rollins’ injury

Most Forgettable: Solo Sikoa’s title defence

Next up: Evolution — where the women delivered a very different kind of show.