The bliss of bespoke relaxation January 24, 2011 THE cult of the spa has thoroughly invaded the lifestyle landscape. No hotel or holiday experience is complete without a treatment or three, or at the very least, the chance to lounge around a purple-tinted pool and bask in a steam room or multi-coloured (and scented) “experience” shower. Indeed, wellbeing has become so linked to [...]
FIT IN THE CITY January 24, 2011 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT PIERRE Meyer used to be a Marketing Manager at Krispy Kreme, helping the American doughnut giant get more cakes down British throats. Nowadays, however, you’ll find him in his Nordic Balance gym, a club in the heart of Mayfair he set up with partner Jo, preaching balance in all things. While [...]
FOUR WAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES January 24, 2011 THERAPIST AND ANTI-STRESS COURSE DIRECTOR WWW.MBSRLONDON.COM 1. BREATHE (PROPERLY) Bring your awareness to each in-breath and out-breath as it happens. Breathing in slightly more deeply than usual will stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, energising the body and clearing out some of those mental cobwebs. Focusing on the out-breath stimulates the para-sympathetic nervous system which calms [...]
Thrills, grills and big bills on the Strand January 24, 2011 Savoy Grill The Savoy Hotel, The Strand, WC2R 0EU Tel: 020 7592 1600, www.gordonramsay.com FOOD SERVICE ATMOSPHERE Cost per person without wine: £50 THREE years ago, when the Savoy hotel closed for its gazillion pound refurbishment, Gordon Ramsay’s reputation as a cook and restaurateur of true brilliance had yet to be eclipsed by his brutish [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS January 24, 2011 LAST-MINUTE BURNS NIGHT Dust down your kilts: even if you haven’t booked a Burns Supper for tonight, there are still possibilities. Gordon Ramsay’s Limehouse pub, the Narrow (www.gordon ramsay.com), is having its own tartan knees up, with West End theatre actor Cameron Jack reading the poetry while fine whiskies are served with broth, mutton and [...]
Israel’s land of plenty January 23, 2011 “WOW,” says my (non-Jewish) friend. “Whenever you’ve banged on about how gorgeous Israeli men are, I always thought you were just being biased. But you weren’t. They are. This is madness.” Olivia and I are one-and-a-half hours off our brilliantly Israeli El Al flight – think warm bread rolls, smoked salmon, mid-aisle prayer, non-stop gossiping [...]
Boutique chic comes to Jerusalem January 23, 2011 WHO can begin to describe Jerusalem? The religious centre of the Western world and much of the East, it is Tel Aviv’s polar opposite. Tel Aviv has a beach, Jerusalem has mountains. Tel Aviv has a party atmosphere; Jerusalem has a studious one (though you can still stay out to 4AM any night of the [...]
Moving in on Britain’s top private schools January 20, 2011 SETTING your child up as a day boy or girl can be the perfect compromise for parents who want to give their child a private education, but can’t bear the idea of letting them live away from home. While independent schools tend not to require you to live within a certain distance, parents determined not [...]
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 [...]