Holiday Inn owner IHG boosts dividend and buyback amid continued growth February 18, 2025 Holiday Inn owner IHG has announced the purchase of its 20th brand and a boost to shareholder returns as it benefits from the revived travel market. IHG has soared as travel has returned after the pandemic, with early estimates for 2024 suggesting the hotel industry has finally surpassed 2019’s revenue. The Windsor-headquartered company told markets [...]
Haute Maurienne Vanoise: A mindful hike in the French Alps February 17, 2025 On my climb towards the Vallonnet glacial cave in Haute Maurienne Vanoise within the Savoie region of the French Alps, the landscape was pristine and the silence profound – it was a stillness I had never experienced before. There was no wind, no animal sounds, no people, no traffic. Nothing. The snow is abundant – [...]
Unicorn play review: Mike Bartlett as sharp as ever with Stephen Mangan throuple play February 14, 2025 Unicorn play review and star rating: ★★★★ Through plays like King Charles III and Cock, Mike Bartlett has delivered some of the freshest-feeling contemporary writing about the way we live our lives today, particularly to do with sexuality and dating. Cock with Jonathan Bailey became one of the hardest tickets to land in the West [...]
Bridget Jones director on finding ‘real heat’ between Leo Woodall and Renee Zellweger February 14, 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy director Michael Morris shares “precious” memories of reuniting Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger, those age-gap sex scenes and reflects on the scenes he wishes he didn’t have to cut Renee Zellweger was apprehensive about playing Bridget Jones again. Of course she was: you’re careful about reprising the roles that [...]
Whisky Business: The Glenlivet’s oldest permanent expression to date February 14, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. The key to whisky’s unique flavour is patience, but for producers, there will always be a trade-off between patience and profit. While the process of distilling whisky only takes a few days, Scotch whisky must be matured for a minimum of three years, a significant [...]
Three Sisters at The Globe: Tragedy reimagined as farce February 13, 2025 The bijou, candlelit stage at The Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse gives the feel of a doll’s house to this production of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Dressed in puffy, floaty period costume and framed against exquisite wood panelling, the actors seem like they’ve been picked up and placed on the stage to read their lines rather [...]
Love Hurts review: February 13, 2025 Love Hurts | ★★☆☆☆ | Dir. Jonathan Eusebio Ke Huy Quan completed an astounding career comeback with 2023’s Everything Everywhere All At Once, winning an Oscar for his part in the surreal action hit. Other than a support role in Marvel’s Loki series, things have been relatively quiet since then. Love Hurts is Quan’s first lead [...]
Bridget Jones director reveals cut Renee Zellweger drinking scene that ‘hurt’ to loose February 13, 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is finally out today, on Galentine’s Day, nine years after the last film landed in cinemas. Based on the original novel by Helen Fielding, it tells the story of a 50-something Bridget dealing with grief after the loss of her husband, Mark Darcy, while bringing up her two young [...]
The Italian job: My favourite places in London to gorge on pasta February 13, 2025 The greatest restaurateur of my generation was Russell Norman, the founder of both Polpo and Brutto. Exuding charm and charisma, he immediately lit up a room; shining brighter than most Hollywood A-listers. Omnipresent at his Smithfield restaurant Brutto, he would recognise every guest by name, carefully choosing where to seat each to ensure everyone enjoyed [...]
Reviewing the new Gordon Ramsay opening that’s the highest restaurant in Europe February 13, 2025 Lucky Cat at 22 Bishopsgate by Gordon Ramsay review and star rating: ★★★ Going to Gordon Ramsay’s newest restaurant is palm sweat-inducing stuff. From its sky-high vantage point, one can look down at the Walkie Talkie, which, despite being famed for its views, looks puny. Lucky Cat at 22 Bishopsgate, on the 60th floor of [...]