Portobello Road Gin is opening the UK’s first gin restaurant, hotel and distilling experience November 28, 2016 Portobello Road Gin is capitalising on the UK's "ginaissance" by opening an all-in-one gin-themed restaurant, bar, hotel, museum, distillery and off-licence shop. The venue, called The Distillery, is the first of its kind in the UK. The ground floor features a bar stocked with gin and a range of other spirits created on-site and abroad. The spirits verge on the experimental [...]
Bang for your buckwheat – here’s where Londoners say they pay over the odds for dinner November 24, 2016 While there are plenty of budget-friendly food options in England's capital, dining in some restaurants – and in some neighbourhoods – can come with a staggeringly steep price tag. Harden's London Restaurants Guide for 2017, released Wednesday, revealed the results of its 26th annual survey of 7,500 regular restaurant-goers to determine not only which restaurants [...]
Service Partner One coffee price index shows UK’s cheapest coffee is in Dundee November 16, 2016 Everyone knows that giving up your daily takeaway coffee habit is the fastest way to become a millionaire (or something like that), but maybe you don't have to go completely cold turkey – just move to Dundee instead. That's where you can pick up the cheapest cup of coffee in the UK, according to new [...]
Working Lunch: Climb to the top of Harrods for a view from Chai Wu, its contemporary Chinese restaurant November 15, 2016 Chai Wu Harrods, Knightsbridge WHAT? A surprisingly intimate Chinese restaurant in Harrods, with a crowd-pleasing, wide-ranging menu. WHERE? On the fifth floor, next to the menswear department. And if the thought of eating quite literally next to a room full of suits in one of the world’s busiest department stores puts you off, give it [...]
Healthy “grab and go” food chain set to open its 30th London location as millennials look for nutritious lunches November 15, 2016 Feel-good food chain Abokado is projected to turn over £17m following a current turnover of £14m and the opening of its 30th site in London set for early next year. The healthy, internationally inspired food company has thrived in the "grab and go" sector, providing busy Londoners something fresh for breakfast and lunch. The business, which aims to stock its [...]
Our resident chef Mark Hix on the hidden charms of the Romanesco cauliflower November 15, 2016 The first time I set eyes on Romanesco I thought it was some weird hybrid broccoli-cauliflower that had landed from another planet. Later in life I discovered it was an ancient member of the cauliflower familly, also known as Roman cauliflower, and has been grown since the 16th century. Over the years I’ve gradually learned [...]
Former chair of Northern Foods says consumers will see food prices rise “substantially” with inflation November 15, 2016 This is one of the most difficult times for the food industry in decades, according to Lord Christopher Haskins, former chair of Northern Foods. Haskins, who was the chairman from 1980 to 2002, said consumers will see food prices go up “substantially” in an interview this morning on BBC Today. With wages expected to stay [...]
Why it’s time to stop drinking prosecco November 10, 2016 Three years ago, when I was just starting out with this column, I boldly predicted the rise of prosecco in the hearts of the British quaffing classes. And oh how it has turned out to be true. Clever marketing, combined with the British love of cheap fizz, has propelled prosecco relentlessly up the wine charts. [...]
Restaurateur Mark Hix reminisces with artist Gavin Turk about the glory days of the YBAs ahead of his upcoming show at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery November 10, 2016 I’ve converted a couple of veggie artists over the years, tempting them with tasty cuts of rare beef – Tim Noble and Mat Collishaw spring to mind – but I suspect Gavin Turk is a lost cause. Gavin, one of the original YBAs, has been veggie for over five years and went full-vegan last year; [...]
Eight of the best winter gins: Remember, gin isn’t just for summer, it’s for Christmas, too November 10, 2016 At this time of year, we mistakenly relegate gin to the back of the drinks cabinet. The ubiquitous gin and tonic is a summertime staple, but what can you do to turn it evergreen? Gin, like that other popular translucent tipple vodka, is traditionally distilled in cold countries, after all, and can be made from [...]