Secrets of success: meet the man who runs the Ivy April 18, 2011 WHAT’S THE KEY TO THE IVY’S ENDURING, RAGING, CULTISH SUCCESS? The juxtaposition of people; you’re rarely going to find that in another restaurant. Celebrities next to tourists and regular Londoners. Then it’s focus on the customer. That’s the key to a good restaurant. Each day we look at what went wrong and see how we [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS April 18, 2011 FRY-UP FLAVOUR EASTER EGGS The roars of delight that went up in the City A.M. offices on hearing of breakfast-themed Artisan du Chocolat easter eggs (see pic below) were probably heard across the City. Bacon, mushroom and tomato may not sound like the most enticing trio of chocolate flavours to normal people, but to us [...]
Head out of London to the new generation of old hotels April 17, 2011 GRAND old mansions, it’s obvious to say, make terrific hotels. History, character, beauty, location – they’ve got ‘em, and tourists want ‘em. However, the formula has become more than a little staid in a few places, and a bit of shaking up is always welcome. It was the opening of Hampshire’s Lime Wood a year [...]
THINK ROOMS… with LateRooms.com April 17, 2011 THE KINGS HEAD Main Road | Hursley | Winchester | SO21 2JW Enjoy the warmest of welcomes at this gorgeous Georgian coaching inn. The Kings Head is located in the historic village of Hursley and oozes real character and atmosphere. Each room is individually designed, boasting antique furnishings and feature fireplaces, and food lovers will [...]
TRAVEL NOTES April 17, 2011 EASTER IN DUBROVNIK…If you’re still looking for somewhere to escape over this weekend’s Easter holidays, Dubrovnik Sun Gardens, an extensive resort overlooking the Adriatic from the ancient Croatian coast, may have just the package. The resort enjoys a long sweep of beach (possibly a bit cold for a dip just yet), a top grade Anne [...]
Stuck for Easter? Try out an old Paris classic April 17, 2011 NOT everyone who visits Paris has a Carrie Bradshaw moment. That is to say, when fizzing with excitement to have touched down in the City of Light, you fling open the shutters of your Parisian hotel room on to a glittering view of the Eiffel Tower. In my experience, even in a decent three-star, the [...]
High time for creating rooms fit for Royalty April 14, 2011 THE Royal Wedding is just two weeks away. Come on, be honest, you are kind of interested and a bit curious. The truth is that there is something fascinating about the lives of the English aristocracy. Perhaps it is the Jane Austen we read as teenagers or the English heritage sites we were dragged round [...]
HENDON, LONDON April 14, 2011 DOWNAGE, NEAR PARSON STREET Price: £1.35m This five-bedroomed detached family home stretches across 3,030 sq ft and three floors. It has a landscaped garden, two separate garages and a long driveway with space for more than one car. Contact: Aston Chase on 020 8455 3538 or go to www.astonchase.com TENTERDEN GROVE Price: £699,950 This mews [...]
The Swiss town that’s emerging from the shadows April 14, 2011 ANDERMATT – a sleeping beauty of a village, nestled in the Urseren valley in central Switzerland – is set to be awoken from its slumber and transformed into one of the Alps’ major year-round holiday destinations. The prince in question here is the self-described “town-developer” Samir Sawiris. He plans to revolutionise the town’s tourism industry [...]
PROPERTY NEWS April 14, 2011 NEW DOCKLAND HOMES LAUNCHED Hamptons International has launched Streamlight, a new development in the London Docklands. The developers hope it will be completed by the autumn. It will consist of 133 homes, spanning across three buildings, including a 24 storey tower. The tower will house a range of apartments. Prices start from £295,000. BATTERSEA COTTAGES [...]