CAR TALK August 2, 2011 TOYOTA GETS GREEN PLAUDITS Toyota has been named the “world’s greenest brand”, according to a survey from Interbrand. The “Best Global Green Brands” survey takes into account environmental performance coupled with public perception of eco sustainability. Data was collected from the world’s leading markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Brazil and India [...]
Europe’s rich flood London’s house market August 1, 2011 THE price of luxury homes in central London has jumped by almost 10 per cent in the past year, driven by demand from wealthy Europeans looking to invest outside of the troubled Eurozone economies. Prime London property prices have risen 9.6 per cent since July 2010, and are more than 28 per cent higher than [...]
Where the nail buffs go pre-hols August 1, 2011 PAYOT: “PRECIOUS FEET RITUAL” The French skincare brand is just the one to turn to if you want nourished, hydrated skin as well as pretty nails. The Precious Feet Ritual starts with the eyes – a firming mask rehydrates bags and plumps the brow area while the therapist goes to work on your feet. First, [...]
FIT IN THE CITY August 1, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT RUN FREE Parkour or free running is the art of leaping around town – the idea is to get between two points as efficiently as possible, which usually involves lots of leaping and jumping, preferably with a bit of street furniture thrown in for good measure. Visit www.parkouruk.org for more info [...]
From hotels to hearty, classy bistros August 1, 2011 Bistro du Vin 40 St John Street, EC1M 4DL www.bistroduvinandbar.com FOOD *** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £35 IT’S hard to get excited about the name. If I didn’t know better, I’d bracket “Bistro du Vin” along with generic, naff, budget chains like Bella Pasta and Café Rouge, particularly upon learning [...]
THREE RESTAURANTS WITH SPIN-OFF VERSIONS August 1, 2011 POLPO Soho’s popular “Venetian tapas” destination Polpo has so far produced three offspring in remarkably short time: Polpetto and Spuntino, both also in Soho, and Da Polpo in Covent Garden. They reproduce Polpo’s winning formula of delicious small plate food, perfect cocktails and cosy, shabby-chic interiors, while each maintains its individual appeal too. www.polpo.co.uk PIZZA [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS August 1, 2011 WINE DINNERS AT PALM Palm Restaurant, the smart American steakhouse in Belgravia that’s built up quite a following since it opened on Pont Street two years ago, is holding a series of wine tasting dinners over the next year. Things kick off next month with a dinner celebrating Taittinger champagne on 16 September, with four [...]
Rivers, Buddhas and temples: SE Asia minus the beaches July 31, 2011 SOUTH East Asia is intimidatingly rich in temptations, fascinations and possibilities. As someone who had never been, and had ten days for the inaugural journey, I had to make some tough decisions. The first one was to steer clear of the beaches and focus on culture and rivers. This may sound a bit unsexy. But [...]
House prices down on a year earlier after sharpest drop for 20 months July 28, 2011 HOUSE prices have dropped at their sharpest rate since October 2009, the Land Registry announced yesterday. Compared to a year earlier, June’s prices were down 2.5 per cent, it said. However, house prices across England and Wales were flat month-on-month in June. There is some disparity across the regions, the Land Registry said, with Wales [...]
EASTBOURNE, EAST SUSSEX July 28, 2011 KING EDWARDS PARADE Price: £550,000 This three-bedroom seventh floor apartment sits on Eastbourne’s famous seafront and promenade. The apartment has an entrance hall, lounge, dining room, bathroom, shower room and a private balcony. The rooms and balcony have stunning views over the sea and downlands. Contact: Freeman Forman Eastbourne on 01323 453049 or go to [...]