5 amazing things to see at the Barbican’s 1996 exhibition May 6, 2026 Ahead of the Toast the City 2026 Awards, we spotlight the venues to put on your radar this spring. Here, we look at the Barbican’s arresting new 1996 exhibition It is heralded as the peak of the Britpop era: the Spice Girls and Oasis were holding the front pages, and the country was on the brink of [...]
The Square Mile rooftop bar you’ve probably never tried May 6, 2026 Ahead of the Toast the City 2026 Awards, we meet the venues to put on your radar this spring Have you made time for Madison, sipped at Sabine and quaffed at Coq d’Argent? Then it’s time to try another of the Square Mile’s fabulous rooftop bars you probably haven’t heard of. Florattica is on the [...]
Alex Dilling: Mastering the art of French cooking May 6, 2026 After honing his craft under two titans of French cooking, Alex Dilling now presides over one of London’s most refined dining rooms. His double Michelin-starred restaurant at Hotel Café Royal is a masterclass in modern haute cuisine, writes Carys Sharkey. As a teenager in sunny, expansive California, Alex Dilling thought he’d be a punk rocker, [...]
Two million global airline seats cut as jet fuel shortage grounds travel May 6, 2026 Airlines are preparing to slash millions of seats from this month’s schedule, as the Middle East conflict and soaring jet fuel prices drive up costs ahead of the industry’s busiest travel season. Some 13,000 flights have been removed from May schedules worldwide, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. Istanbul, one of the [...]
This is how to choose between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris May 6, 2026 While on Alan Carr and Lee Peart’s podcast Bottoms Up recently, Peart asked me what is the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. I replied, “one of them is drinkable”, which was perhaps a little unfair. It is true I would never choose to drink Pinot Grigio, but it remains one of the most [...]
Toast the City winner: The Rising Sun on what makes a great pub May 5, 2026 At the inaugural Toast the City Awards, one of the most amazing moments was seeing Sheila Dixon, one half of the husband and wife team behind City pub the Rising Sun, shed a tear as she collected our award for Best Boozer. The Rising Sun is one of those pubs where everyone feels like a [...]
Forget France and Germany – why Spain is ideal for a river cruise May 5, 2026 Elevate your European river cruise by taking the waterways to Spain I must admit I hadn’t read through the full itinerary of the last day of our Croisi river cruise. So, it was a revelation coming face to face with three life size replicas of the ships that took Christopher Colombus to the New World. [...]
Lectures in pubs are selling out. Sorry Michael Gove – experts are back May 5, 2026 Once shunned by a populace 'tired of experts', a new generation is embracing intellectualism with personal curriculums and lectures for leisure.
European carmakers slam on the brakes after Trump tariff shock May 4, 2026 Volkswagen reveals €4bn hit even before Washington threats to tear up the Turnberry Deal’s pledge on car import tax Shares in European carmakers were stuck in reverse on Monday, after the sector became the latest to be caught up in threats into the weekend from US President Donald Trump. The White House announced fresh plans [...]
My Alps adventure holiday with endless high-octane thrills May 1, 2026 Simon Miller on an Alps adventure holiday stuffed with high-octane adventuring I’m never going to argue that a good book and a sun lounger isn’t a winning summer holiday formula, but go on enough of those trips and the novelty starts to wane. Seen one swim up bar, you’ve seen them all. I wanted to [...]