How Secret Garden Party outshines all other UK music festivals, including Glastonbury July 27, 2023 Die-hard festival fans pretend rain doesn’t ruin their fun – they pretend that they enjoy sliding around in mud – but when the cameras stop filming, we all know they retreat to huddle in embryonic balls in their tents like the rest of us miserable British campers. On Saturday, for a few hours, the incessant [...]
Sinead O’Connor dead: Irish legend dies after long mental health battle July 26, 2023 The Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has died after a long battle with her mental health. O’Connor was 56 and will be remembered most fondly for her 1990 cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U. She retired from the music industry in 2021, having released 10 studio albums, with one more to come posthumously, called No [...]
Qatar’s top Arabic wellness retreat offers loads that Western retreats don’t July 24, 2023 Could Middle Eastern wisdom be the answer to modern ill health? Lisa Kjellsson checks into Qatar’s royally appointed new wellness retreat to find out It’s not every day you come face to face with royalty, but at Qatar’s new uber-luxurious spa retreat, I’m shocked to see the queen sweep past with her small entourage, instantly [...]
Christopher Nolan has hit gold again with Oppenheimer July 23, 2023 For the first time in years, blockbuster season hasn’t been dominated by superheroes. Instead, the summer belongs to two very different movies, one of which marks the return of Christopher Nolan. Oppenheimer finds itself going up against Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, which has the same release date. The contrast has inspired an unofficial double bill fans [...]
This new Hitchcock documentary is a must-see for film buffs July 22, 2023 Hours and hours of footage are dedicated to examining the work of the late Alfred Hitchcock, but what would the director himself have to say if he were here to reflect on his legacy? That’s the premise at the centre of Mark Cousins’ new film, continuing the historical analysis he began with the epic documentary [...]
How to make the ultimate summer sangria July 20, 2023 My name is Pedro Paulo and I’m the head bartender at the Ham Yard hotel in Soho. This is my twist on a sparkling wine sangria. I have been making this recipe since I was a teenager and it never fails to impress. You can also prepare the drink ahead of time which makes hosting [...]
I tried Russell Brand’s alcohol free festival – it changed my outlook for good July 20, 2023 “One more time? How about ten more times? Let’s all get high!” declares a sober Russell Brand on the main stage at his Community Festival, conducting a breathing exercise to a crowd of thousands which is so mind-bending that people frequently collapse. Medics are on hand as Brand stands centre stage. Alongside him is the [...]
Why Barbenheimer is actually about masculinity July 20, 2023 Both Barbie and Oppenheimer offer revealing male character studies, says Adam Bloodworth You wouldn’t think it from all the beaming photos of Margot Robbie plastered about the place, but ‘Barbenheimer’ has actually ended up sending some pretty prescient messages about masculinity, asking questions about what it’s like to be a man today. In case you’ve [...]
Oppenheimer review: Cillian Murphy is career-best in Christopher Nolan’s atomic hit July 19, 2023 Oppenheimer review and star rating: ★★★★ Well, here you have it: all three hours of Oppenheimer are finally ready for your consumption. Directed by directorial titan Christopher Nolan, nobody really likes being in the cinema for three hours, do they? Well, sometimes they do, but only when the film is very very good, and Oppenheimer [...]
Barbie movie review: Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling shine, but what’s the point? July 19, 2023 Barbie movie review and star rating: ★★★ I can only assume the Barbie movie PR team have checked into the most beige hotel possible this week, cowering from all the pink to engage in some much-needed deep breathing. The movie’s ballistic marketing campaign has been even more omnipresent on social media than the endless stream [...]