Super prime property set to hit records November 15, 2011 LONDON’S super prime residential developments are expected to achieve record values of £10,000 per square foot as the capital continues to attract wealthy international investors, research from Knight Frank shows. Demand for luxury apartments and houses in London’s golden postcodes like Mayfair and Knightsbridge boomed earlier this century, with market values escalating from £1,000 per [...]
Lord Mayor Appeal’s City fanfare November 15, 2011 THE run-up to the Square Mile Salute dinner, an annual banquet that raises funds for wounded soldiers and their families, got off to a fine start this weekend with the Lord Mayor’s Parade through the City. Floats and parades through the Square Mile starring a range of causes and supporters, made for a brilliant spectacle. [...]
Wowed by grande dame of the Swiss Alps November 15, 2011 A beautiful two-hour train ride from Zurich brings one to the alpine town of Pontresina, near the more famous (and more developed) St Moritz. The Kronenhof’s remarkably attractive, traditional façade takes pride of place in the main street – and it’s met with suitably matching luxury interiors, splendid service and all the things that make [...]
Toyota Verso without va-va voom November 15, 2011 IT’S too noisy,” complains my daughter, referring to the Toyota Verso-S’s engine as it labours its way through North London and up the M1. Proof that even a two-year-old, if exposed to enough different cars in quick succession, has the smarts required to be a motoring journalist. She’s right too. Most of the time the [...]
CAR TALK November 15, 2011 PUTTING AN END TO “RANGE ANXIETY” The Department for Transport has announced that it is to begin mapping the locations of charging points for plug-in vehicles across the UK. The National Chargepoint Registry should make it easier for motorists to go electric and evaluate where and how often they need to charge their car along [...]
The dubious rise of the Energy Man November 14, 2011 AN advert on the Tube recently caught my eye. It was for an energy drink with two versions: a his and hers. His was called Wellman; her’s Wellwoman. The Boots logo on the bottom told me that this is a humdrum, mainstream product. The ad was striking for one big reason: its extremely traditional idea [...]
Loosen those belts: no diets allowed at City beef-house November 14, 2011 HOW much can one genuflect to the gods of steak? In London these days, the answer is a lot. And when an outlet of Hawksmoor opens up, it’s practically illegal not to sink to one’s knees in praise. And then sink one’s teeth in. You’ve probably already been to Hawksmoor in Spitalfields or Seven Dials. [...]
QUAFFER’S CORNER November 14, 2011 HEAD SOMMELIER AND MANAGER OF LUTYENS RESTAURANT BEING from the New World, I’m accustomed to thinking of grape growing as a specialised activity but, in fact, in parts of Europe it is the norm to grow grapes as part of a pattern of mixed agriculture, combining it with fruit or nut trees, perhaps a cow [...]
FOOD AND BOOZE | AROUND TOWN November 14, 2011 • With cutesy no-reservation restaurants opening by the bucketful in Soho, there’s now a dedicated cocktail lounge for those who want to cut straight to the chase after dinner or a show. Set over two floors, the style is boho chic: velvet sofas and button-back armchairs plus French windows and a long and a long [...]
Ski Seefeld’s winter wonderland November 13, 2011 TO MY mind, downhill skiing is too much like hard work. Long journeys from the airport to reach the resorts; dawdling in queues to take lifts up to the slopes; expensive ski passes; complicated clothing; the constant risk of a nasty accident. I have always wanted to enjoy everything skiing has to offer without all [...]