Rough with the smooth April 26, 2011 THE drive for good fuel economy usually puts a dampener on fun, with one almost always coming at the cost of the other. If you’ve driven a Mini you’ll know that the Cooper S is an exciting drive. The problem is the minute you hammer one around the Kent countryside then the fuel economy tanks. [...]
CAR TALK April 26, 2011 JAGUAR BEEFS UP THE 2012 XF Jaguar has shown its new, revamped 2012 XF at the New York Auto Show. The car gets a new fresh look with slimmer headlights, a more powerful-looking bonnet and a larger, more upright grille. A new 2.2-litre, four-cylinder 188bhp diesel engine, capable of 0-60mph in a time of 8.0secs, [...]
Vincci Baixa 4* April 26, 2011 Housed in an old townhouse in Baixa, the famous shopping and banking district of Lisbon, Vincci Baixa offers a truly enchanting stay. We love this bohemian part of town and the hip feel of the hotel is a perfect fit for its surroundings. Packed with style and elegance it’s a great place to base yourself [...]
Hotel Avenida Palace 5* April 26, 2011 An imposing neo-classical building in the heart of Lisbon, you know you’re in for a treat the moment you set eyes on Avenida Palace. And when you step inside you’ll find the luxurious décor just as impressive. Its classical style oozes majestic charm and the grand Restauradores Square location is just perfect for sampling the [...]
Axis Porto Business & Spa 4* April 26, 2011 This fantastic hotel is cool and modern with a really striking design feature throughout – floor to ceiling wooden panels running along each corridor showcasing iconic images of Porto. And whether you’re visiting on business or exploring the fascinating city for pleasure, the swimming pool and spa facilities here are just the sort you want [...]
Hardly the spice of life at the W April 25, 2011 Spice Market W Hotel, 10 Wardour Street, W1D 6QF www.wlondon.co.uk FOOD * SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE ** Cost per person without wine: £45 WHEN the W Hotel dropped like a spaceship on the corner of Leicester Square earlier this year, it brought with it Spice Market, the Pan Asian restaurant originated in New York by the [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS April 25, 2011 BECK LAUNCHES NEW APSLEYS MENU Anyone searching for a really lavish Spring dining experience could do worse than head to Apsley’s restaurant at the Lanesborough Hotel. Heinz Beck, the multi-starred German chef who specialises in the finest Italian cooking, has launched a new menu there which includes some of the most joyfully lovely dishes to [...]
THREE NEW WEST END RESTAURANTS April 25, 2011 ST JOHN HOTEL The brand new West End outpost of Smithfield’s most famous restaurant is a smart, bijoux haven of white-washed calm and simple culinary brilliance. Suckling pig for two with watercress and potato is an adventure in itself, snails and bacon are heavenly, while even tripe and onions has been winning fans. 1 Leicester [...]
Zara Phillips knows a thing or two about relaxation. So if she favours a beautiful horsey resort in the rolling hills near Lisbon, it can’t be a bad place for us, either April 25, 2011 THESE are busy days for Zara Phillips, what with her wedding to rugby player Mike Tindall in July, her cousin Will’s nuptials this week and training to compete in next year’s Olympics. But judging by Zara’s choice of holiday home – a 220 sq m, four-bedroom villa with pool set on rolling Portuguese hills half [...]
TRAVEL NOTES April 25, 2011 GO PRIVATE IN PALMA Mallorca, a perennial favourite for the euro-chic, has a new enticement, in the form of a new private wing at the ultra-swanky Puro Hotel in Palma. With 11 suites, the wing is available for private hire and connected to the restored 18th century townhouse hotel so you can use the amenities. As [...]