Focus On Romford January 20, 2011 THE GATEHOUSE Price: £189,000 Ever fancied living in a brewery? This light and airy two bedroom apartment is worlds away from its former incarnation as part of the Romford Brewery Company. A central location (the railway station is just a short walk away) makes this property a good bet for commuters too. Contact: Haart of [...]
LETTING January 20, 2011 HEAD DESIGNER AT APD INTERIORS, AN INTERIOR DESIGN CONSULTANCY Q.We are planning to redecorate. What do I need to consider when planning a colour scheme? A.WHETHER you are looking to create a soothing calming interior or looking for your home to be colourful and edgy, the colours picked will dictate what you actually achieve. If [...]
PROPERTY NEWS January 20, 2011 HYDE PARK PROPERTY FLOURISHING Over 55 per cent of the mega-luxe, much-hyped Hyde Park development the Lancasters (competing with the even-more hyped One Hyde Park), has been sold in advance of its opening in June, making developers Northacre the second best performing retail stock in Europe. Klas Nilsson, Northacre’s chairman, puts this down to “a [...]
Limassol Marina is a slice of nautical heaven January 20, 2011 EVER wanted to take your superyacht through Cyprus en route to Africa or the Middle East but been discouraged because there was nowhere to berth it? Soon that will no longer be a problem, thanks to the completion of the new £350m Limassol Marina, a luxury collection of waterside villas, residences and moorings that can [...]
Slasher flick with added pliés January 20, 2011 Film BLACK SWAN Cert: 15 NATATLIE Portman plays ballet dancer Nina in this psychological thriller from director Darren Aronofsky (the Wrestler). She’s just landed the lead role in Swan Lake: it’s The Biggie. Notorious for being mentally and physically exacting, the challenge is made even tougher when the talented Lily (Mila Kunis) joins the company. [...]
Suiting that’s fit for a king January 20, 2011 THERE’S a moment in the movie du jour, The King’s Speech, when Colin Firth’s Bertie, Duke of York (and future George VI) goes to Balmoral where his brother Edward, the Prince of Wales (Guy Pearce, above right) is hosting a rather racy party. Firth shows up wearing a kilt, and looks rather a ninny compared [...]
ALSO OUT THIS WEEKEND January 20, 2011 FILM THE DILEMMA Vince Vaughan and Kevin James (no, us neither) star in this predictably lame bloke comedy. Avoid it – et voila, dilemma solved! NEDS Actor/director Peter Mullan’s terrific portrait of delinquent life in Glasgow’s tough estates in the 1970s. DVD THE SWITCH Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston star in a romantic comedy about [...]
Get booked in early for a Valentine’s to remember January 19, 2011 RESTAURANTS Sauterelle The cosy bolthole overlooking the inner courtyard of the Royal Exchange (right) is serving up a special Valentine’s menu on the day. Diners will be given a rose cocktail on arrival, followed by a five course meal showcasing head chef Robin Gill’s sophisticated seasonal style. And of course, while you’re there, you can [...]
Speakeasy cocktails come to Chinatown January 19, 2011 WHILE the new year has already seen a fresh batch of new London openings, one of the most original happened just before Christmas with the small but extremely endearing Parisian import, the Experimental Cocktail Club (www.chinatownecc.com). Touching down in Chinatown, an unusual destination address for discerning cocktail aficionados, ECC is nestled innocuously amongst the dim [...]
Electric cars get their city socks on January 18, 2011 THIS year will belong to zero emission cars, particularly the electric vehicle. A bunch of small city cars are coming to market with nine of them officially recognised by the government’s incentive grant scheme. And with city populations increasing, even the most cynical of car drivers must at least concede that this could be a [...]