Not convinced? February 2, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… ASTON MARTIN DB9 COUPÉ PRICE: £133,080 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 183mph CO2 G/KM: 368g/km MPG COMBINED: 18.2mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Five Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Two Stars FERRARI FF PRICE: £227,142 0-62MPH: 3.7 secs TOP SPEED: 208mph CO2 G/KM: 360g/km MPG COMBINED: 15.4mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Five Stars [...]
The £10,000 wardrobe: What to buy if all your clothes catch fire February 2, 2015 The worst has happened. Your flat has burned down and all your clothes have gone up in flames. You would go out tonight but you – literally – haven’t got a stitch to wear. The insurance company has made you a take-it-or-leave-it offer of £10,000 to replace the whole lot, from the shoes up. What [...]
Nippon’s sublime amber nectar: Why is Japanese whisky gaining so many global plaudits? February 1, 2015 Kampai!’ says my effusive barman, as I lift the highball glass to my lips. I’m in a narrow, low-lit, eight-seater bar called Hanare, just a few minutes’ walk from Gion-Shijo station, in the heart of Kyoto’s entertainment district, and about to try my first taste of Japanese whisky. It’s an apposite time to do so, [...]
48 hours in… Boston February 1, 2015 WHERE TO STAY Situated in the Back Bay area, Boston’s family-owned Lenox Hotel combines historical charm with modern luxury. The Lenox has been a Boston landmark ever since it opened for business in 1900. Now it’s known for its friendly, personalised service. Rooms start at $195, lenoxhotel.com WHERE TO GO Protopunk legends The Modern Lovers [...]
Art review: Christian Marclay January 30, 2015 White Cube Bermondsey | ★★★★☆ This is Christian Marclay’s first solo London show since 2010’s legendary The Clock, the 24 hour video montage of film clips including clocks, watches and people telling a time perfectly synchronised with the real world. Though none of these works reach the dizzy heights of that masterpiece, there’s still plenty [...]
Film review: Trash is Richard Curtis’ best work since Blackadder Goes Forth January 30, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★☆ Trash is a noir-ish political thriller that draws attention to the deep social and economic problems of the developing world without sacrificing on plot. It’s a welcome surprise from the director of Billy Elliot and the writer of Love Actually about children living and working in a Brazilian dump. Pursued by [...]
Film review: Kingsman recalls the days when spy movies were fun January 30, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★★ Kingsman is the best Bond film Roger Moore never made. Gentlemen spies in immaculately tailored suits battling flamboyant villains bent on global destruction; the plot is pure Moonraker, albeit with an origin story, class warfare, better jokes and flashier production values. The team behind Kick Ass have created a pop-culturally literate, [...]
Theatre review: The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studios January 30, 2015 Trafalgar Studios | ★★☆☆☆ Britain’s poshness obsession reaches new heights in The Ruling Class, a 1968 Peter Barnes play that shows its age in every scoffing caricature and fusty, laboured punchline. Aristocratic power may be super-relevant in today’s poshocracy, but the fact that it’s topical doesn’t mean this play has anything profound to say. Somewhere [...]
Film review: Inherent Vice star Joaquin Phoenix rises to the challenge January 29, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★★★☆ The trailer for Inherent Vice achieves a rare thing: it perfectly conveys the tenor of the film without giving anything away. In two minutes, we’re introduced to the woozy Californian setting and the entire colourful cast of characters. But as to what actually happens in the film, we’re left guessing. [...]
Something for the weekend January 29, 2015 DRINK MEDCALF TRAITEUR Medcalf Traiteur is the latest foodie destination to open in Islington’s Clerkenwell. The delicatessen specialising in European produce also has an informal chef’s table so you can sample edible goodies in-store. Visit medcalfbar.co.uk BOWL THE BIG LEBOWSKI PARTY Head down to Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes tonight for an evening celebrating the Coen brothers’ [...]