TRAVEL NOTES January 9, 2011 Brazil’s rustic paradise Trancoso, in Brazil’s coastal Bahia region, is a fishing village famous for its quiet, perfect beaches [right] with natural pools formed by reefs. UXUA Casa, a fashionable eco-chic hotel in the village, has recently opened its 10th villa, an old fisherman’s lodge converted into a place of rustic, romantic loveliness. Head there [...]
History, elegance and luxurious style overlooking Regent’s Park January 6, 2011 IF – as Kirtsy and Phil are always telling us – the three most important things in a property are location, location and location, then there can be few better than Cornwall Terrace, overlooking Regent’s Park. It’s a short chauffeur-driven hop from the Ritz, the Houses of Parliament and Harley Street. This Grade I-listed crescent [...]
PROPERTY NEWS January 6, 2011 WHERE TO BUY IN 2011 Predictions for the property market may be uncertain, but independent homefinders network County Homesearch has named the areas it expects to be bucking the trend for sliding prices. These include perennial favourites like Alderley Edge in Cheshire, Exeter in Devon and East Hampshire, but it also names places such as [...]
Here come the Oscar contenders January 6, 2011 Film THE KING’S SPEECH Cert: 12A RECENTLY missed out on the Best Actor gong? Check. Playing a monarch? You bet. With a disability? Hell yes. Colin Firth’s turn as tongue-tied stammerer George VI ticks so many Oscar boxes that it’s barely worth other contenders turning up at next month’s ceremony, whether he or the film [...]
OUT THIS WEEKEND January 6, 2011 FILM SEASON OF THE WITCH Nicolas Cage goes witch hunting in this dark medieval hokum. IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY It kind of is – a tale of teenage depression and redemption – but only a bit. ABEL A quirky, enjoyable comedy directed by Mexican actor Diego Luna. DVD SOULBOY Drama set amid the [...]
A taste of the north in Clerkenwell January 5, 2011 North Road 69-73 St John St, EC1M 4AN Tel: 020 3217 0033, www.northroadrestaurant.co.uk FOOD 4/5 SERVICE 4/5 ATMOSPHERE 4/5 Cost per person without wine: £30 IF I tell you that the nibbles supplied at the start of this meal consisted of “skin” – of chicken, fish and pig – and then tell you the meal [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS January 5, 2011 NEW RESTAURANT FOR THE RA Not before time, the Royal Academy of Arts is going to be getting the dining room a venue of its stature deserves when restaurateur Oliver Peyton launches his latest there this month. It’ll be joining the dining rooms at the National Gallery, the Wallace Collection and Kew Gardens in Peyton’s [...]
THREE OTHER NORDIC RESTAURANTS IN LONDON January 5, 2011 MADSEN This stylish West London eatery opened in 2009, and has won a loyal following for its food, which focuses on traditional dishes like herring platters, gravlax, Danish pork meatballs and venison and mushroom stew. There are also some enticing open sandwiches for lunch. 20 Old Brompton Rd, SW7 3DL. www.madsenrestaurant.com SCANDINAVIAN KITCHEN Proving that [...]
Swedish, swift and very swish January 4, 2011 THIS is the first Saab to be launched since GM handed the brand over to Dutch supercar maker Spyker, and one that gives a flavour of what Saab might look like in the future. It’s been a long, long 13-year wait since the previous 9-5. Thankfully this one is a lot more attractive and slick [...]
CAR TALK January 4, 2011 HAPPY NEW KIA Kia is hoping to follow the success of its POP compact urban electric concept car – unveiled at September’s 2010 Paris Motor Show – with another successful introduction at next week’s 2011 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Kia’s KV7 large crossover concept has a clever clamshell tailgate and unusual [...]