WHERE SMALL PLATES RULE January 31, 2011 KOPAPA, COVENT GARDEN WWW.KOPAPA.CO.UK From the same Kiwi genius behind Providores on Marylebone High Street, this is a hodgepodge of Asian-fusion and – despite not being a trendy concept anymore – it seems to be going down a treat. If you fancy a plate of coconut sticky ribs, some beautiful smoked duck magret and grilled [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS January 31, 2011 AMARANTO OPENS AT FOUR SEASONS All the grandeur of the Four Seasons’ new London property comes together in its new top-of-the-line Italian restaurant. Think sea bass carpaccio with shaved raw artichoke salad, warm Amalfi citrus tart of white chocolate with and lime with passion fruit sorbet and great cocktails set in a glossy, high-ceilinged bar [...]
Montreal gives us the world’s first floating spa January 30, 2011 IT can’t be that difficult to find a boat, especially if it’s moored. When the taxi driver said “You can’t miss it!” my heart sank as that is precisely what I knew I would do. In my defence, my two colleagues and I were battling a snowstorm in the dark, in downtown Montreal, knee-deep in [...]
Royal honeymoon: three months to go January 30, 2011 GIVEN the furore surrounding the Royal Wedding, there has been surprisingly little speculation as to where Prince William and his new wife Kate will go for their honeymoon, even though it’s just three months away. Recognizing the tough times we are all facing and keen to show his understanding I believe that His Royal Highness [...]
VARSITY HOTEL, CAMBRIDGE January 30, 2011 The Varsity is a beautifully-built hotel – once you get past the unpreposessing brick exterior. But what is most remarkable about it is that it is Cambridge’s first proper, world-class luxury hotel. Complete with stunning penthouse suites, a wonderfully sexy roof terrace that will be brilliant in summer and a state-of-the-art spa, it would make any [...]
TRAVEL NOTES January 30, 2011 Four Seasons returns Four Seasons returns to Mayfair this week with the re-opening of the Four Seasons Hotel London, Park Lane. With views over Hyde Park and interiors designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel is sure to become one of central London’s must-stay destinations. Call the hotel on 020 7499 0888; www.fourseasons.com/london. A room in [...]
Mount Gay, Barbados: a tour round rum’s natural home January 30, 2011 THE heart of the Barbados rum trade is perched at the northernmost tip of this small Caribbean island. High in the mountains in the St Lucy district sits the Mount Gay refinery, surrounded by a nine feet tall sugar cane plantation and gazing out over wild Atlantic waves which crash into the Florida coast 1,600 [...]
Priced out by foreigners, bankers are on the move January 27, 2011 BONUS season is in full swing and – despite the dire economic figures released earlier this week – there is likely to be no shortage of cash being splashed in the next few months. Recent figures from Savills show that bankers are due to spend £1bn on homes this year. But whereas in the old [...]
COLCHESTER January 27, 2011 SHEEPEN STREET Price: £86,995 Compact but thoughtfully decorated, this one bedroom apartment proves that good things come in small packages. A spacious open-plan kitchen/living room provides the perfect place to entertain at home, while the property’s central location means that all the amenities of the town centre are only a short walk away. Contact: Spicer [...]
BUYING January 27, 2011 DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL LONDON LETTINGS FIRM DRAKER LETTINGS Q.I have recently purchased a flat in Chelsea as a buy-to-let that I will be refurbishing. How do I get the best price and attract the best tenant without breaking the bank? A.I would always advise ensuring that the basic quality of finish is as high a [...]