Competition: Win a case of Sauternes with Morning Wire Wine Club May 19, 2015 *This competition is now closed To make joining the Morning Wire Wine Club taste even sweeter, we are offering two lucky entrants the opportunity to win a full case of Sauternes from one of Bordeaux’s top chateaux. Chateau Rieussec is one of nine estates originally classified by Napoleon in 1855 as a Sauternes Premier Cru. [...]
Adam Smith to be replaced by artist on £20 note May 19, 2015 Economist Adam Smith will be replaced by a historic figure from the visual arts on the new £20 note to be released next year. The Bank of England (BoE) will invite the public to nominate candidates on who should adorn the new bank note, via its website until the deadline of 19 July. In particular, [...]
Car review: Ford’s Mondeo Vignale attempts to appeal to today’s upwardly mobile classes May 18, 2015 The “Mondeo Man” who Tony Blair famously courted during the 1997 General Election could be found on suburban driveways, polishing his car and wondering whether he should vote Conservative now he was moving up in the world. If Ed Miliband had targeted a similar demographic ahead of this year’s election, perhaps he might have [...]
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Bangalore: India’s most livable city and the fast-track to its vibrant tech-filled future May 17, 2015 If Old Delhi is the crumbling emblem of India’s imperial past and Mumbai is the pounding heart of its contemporary popular culture, Bengaluru (anglicised as Bangalore) and Chennai are the country’s fast track to the future. The former, and less often the latter, are nicknamed the Silicon Valley of India on account of their thriving [...]
48 hours in… Porto May 17, 2015 WHERE TO STAY Stay in the heart of the theatre district in the equally showy Hotel Teatro. Known for its striking black and gold interiors, it’s also home to a Portuguese fine-dining restaurant and an impressive selection of port. From £102 a night. Hotelteatro.pt WHERE TO EAT Housed below the stock exchange, Bull & Bear [...]
Film review: Clouds of Sils Maria May 15, 2015 Cert 12a | ★☆☆☆☆ Clouds of Sils Maria takes the acting profession so seriously the entire script could be printed off and submitted to Private Eye’s Luvvies column. Juliette Binoche plays a fading Hollywood star, Kristen Stewart her assistant, and together they hit every cliché short of air-kissing and telling each other they’re marvelous. [...]
Art review: Peter Kennard May 15, 2015 Imperial War Museum | ★★★★☆ In the cathedral of militaria that is the Imperial War Museum, a dash of pacifism can help keep things in perspective. Photomontage artist Peter Kennard spent the last 50 years making provocative collages denouncing conflict, greed and corporate misdemeanours. Kennard’s work is caustic and confrontational, the stuff of [...]
Theatre review: Death of a Salesman May 15, 2015 Noel Coward Theatre | ★★★★☆ Incredibly, this year is the centenary of Arthur Miller’s birth, and he’s still America’s most famous playwright. It’s incredible because Death of a Salesman – his Pulitzer Prize-winning opus on the American Dream – still reverberates around the claustrophobic walls of our 9-to-5 culture. Through Willy Loman, an everyman [...]
Film review: Pitch Perfect 2 still hits the right notes May 15, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★★☆☆ If you haven’t heard of Pitch Perfect, it’s probably because you’re not a girl under the age of 25. But this comedy about rival acapella choirs became a cult hit in 2012, largely due to breakout performances from the sickeningly talented Anna Kendrick and offbeat Australian comedian Rebel Wilson. Simply [...]