UK motor industry shifts down a gear as inflationary sentiments creep in March 14, 2017 Britons are expected to put the brakes on their spending for new cars in 2017 as inflation bites, new data by consumer research company GfK finds. In research out today, it forecasts that car sales will slide by 5 per cent this year, following last year’s record. Joe Staton, head of market dynamics at GfK, [...]
Bentley Mulsanne Speed review: This rolling fortress is like a luxury flat on wheels March 13, 2017 There’s an old saying that Bentleys were made to be driven and Rolls-Royces were made to be driven in. That hasn’t really been the case since Bentley was taken over by Volkswagen Group and Rolls-Royce by BMW – you can now buy wafty Bentleys and sporting Rolls-Royces – but even so, you’d expect a Bentley [...]
Opinion: The Budget left out property and the housing crisis – but here’s what Philip Hammond should have done instead March 13, 2017 Apart from a nod towards business rates (the devil will be in the Finance Act detail), the Budget was almost a property-free zone. But Mr Hammond missed out on some much-needed blue-sky thinking, especially if the government is going to fix what it calls the ‘broken’ housing system. Here are some things that Spreadsheet Phil [...]
British book worms are spending more on reading this year, sending sales up £100m March 13, 2017 Britons are reading more than last year and increased spending by six per cent on books by as much as £100m more compared to 2016, according to research from Nielsen Book Research UK. Printed book sales were up seven per cent, driven by greater reading amongst younger generations, despite commonly held assumptions that young people [...]
Long Weekend: Tackle the French Alps in Chamonix, the perfect resort for a snow-filled weekend getaway March 13, 2017 The weekend: Hitting the mountain is often an annual affair – the same week, the same place, the same friends. While this might give you something to look forward to it’s worth remembering how easy it is to simply grab your gear and treat yourself to a weekend adventure. If you worked on Thursday and [...]
Focus On Kensal Rise: This north west London town ticks all the boxes for a place that’s due a price rise March 10, 2017 How can you tell if a place is about to get seriously popular? Well, there are a few signs that you can look out for; plenty of Victorian architecture; well-to-do neighbours; improving schools; green space; and a sudden proliferation of independent shops and restaurants. Kensal Rise in north west London ticks all of these boxes [...]
Property of the Week: 48 Sloane Square in Chelsea has been restored to its original Art Deco glory March 10, 2017 48 Sloane Square, Chelsea, £6.95m When property developer Aristo refurbished this second floor apartment overlooking Sloane Square, it pulled out a perfectly preserved newspaper from 11 August 1904, the year the building was built, from underneath the floorboards. This window into the art deco era inspired a theme for the entire project and Aristo set [...]
Organic, natural candles are the only way to go. Here are a few brands to get you started March 10, 2017 Flickering candlelight – there’s nothing like it to bring warmth, romance and life to a room. As we transition from cosy nights in to entertaining for spring outdoors, lighting candles lifts the spirits. They’re so hot right now, there’s even a new kind of consultant whose job it is to create signature scents for the [...]
New Homes: What’s on sale in London this weekend in Hackney, Southwark, Bermondsey, Mitcham and Clapham March 10, 2017 Kings Crescent, Hackney From £98,750 for a 25 per cent share First time buyers living or working in Hackney will be able to get a step on the ladder with Shared Ownership at Kings Crescent. Tomorrow will see 36 none to three bedroom apartments on sale, some refurbished some new, next to Clissold Park each [...]
Elle film review: a bizarre but effective revenge comedy as black as the sky on a moonless night March 10, 2017 The recent gaff at the Oscars meant a number of films and performances were lost amid the noise. One of them was Elle, which gained a Best Actress nomination for French star Isabelle Huppert. A favourite of film makers including Michael Haneke, she takes the title role in Paul Verhoeven’s (RoboCop, Starship Troopers, Total Recall) [...]