The death of chivalry? Men aren’t paying for dates anymore August 17, 2011 DEAR VEXED: I am confused. As a recently single woman, I’ve been dating quite a lot. Seven out of ten times the man doesn’t pick up the tab on the first date. Is this because they’re chumps or because they don’t know if I’ll see it as infringement on my feminine liberation? Marsha, 29, human resources [...]
OUT OF OFFICE August 17, 2011 “I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS” AT THE HILTON PARK LANE What better way to get over the start of the week than a Sunday night spent in the lap of luxury, with in-room treats of popcorn and Prosecco and a selection of films. Monday morning will begin with a continental breakfast delivered to the room and [...]
The gastropub kings with their sights set on the City August 17, 2011 IF you’re the sort of person who appreciates London’s classier pub offerings, the chances are you’ve been a customer of Tom and Ed Martin. The brothers, a pair of gangly good eggs who exude bonhomie and serious business ambition in equal measure, are the operators of an impressive number of the capital’s upper echelon public [...]
The sociable way to barbecue August 17, 2011 ONCE again, this summer’s been a dud for barbecue weather. We’re still holding our hopes out for the rest of August though – at time of writing, the weekend looks like a possible scorcher, and we may yet make it to one last bank holiday of sunshine. Fingers crossed. If by some miracle that does [...]
Westminster gets some cocktail class August 17, 2011 WITH half of London on holiday there aren’t many launches right now, but there are a few noteworthy openings that warrant investigation. First up, Roux at the Pembury. Located in master chef Michel Roux’s Roux at Parliament Square restaurant in Westminster, this beautifully refurbished bar offers MPs and punters alike a classy conceptual cocktail menu [...]
Eco-warrior pipe dream gets real August 16, 2011 LEONARDO DiCaprio has one. In fact, diCaprio has the first production Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sports car ever built. And he paid for it. That one of the world’s biggest film stars is driving the world’s most eco-friendly sports car is perhaps not so surprising. But the man that built it is car designer Henrik [...]
CAR TALK August 16, 2011 PRIUS PLUG-IN Toyota is introducing a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid electric car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) has an extended EV (electric power only) range – of up to 12.5 miles – and can achieve 128 mpg and has CO2 emissions of just 49g/km, [...]
EPISODE 23: Heard through the doorway August 15, 2011 FOR the last week I’ve been walking on eggshells. Emma is anxious and agitated. Noel is under-stimulated and over-reactive. Maria is angling for a pay increase. Meanwhile the twins, according to Emma’s obstetrician, both seem comfortable and to be gaining weight. And I am simply tired. I stand, unobserved, at the kitchen door, my tie [...]
Beauty and the Yeast August 15, 2011 Honey & Barley Facial 75 minutes, £95 Call me a cynic, but I’ve a feeling you could take any natural substance and make a case for the wonderful job it will do for your skin. Roses! Thyme! Seaweed! But anyway, this is about barley, and barley that’s grown in Cambridgeshire and normally used for brewing beer. [...]
Self-defence guru Mo Teague on how to be a hard target August 15, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT WHAT I’ve come to realise after 10 years in the fitness industry is that good self defence is more than kicking like the girls in Charlie’s Angels. There are many self-defence options available to both men and women in the capital but what’s becoming increasingly popular is “intelligent self-defence”. This is [...]