Why I renovated a Victorian castle for my staff January 24, 2017 Star Wars cinema, tick. Gym, tick. Ice cave, tick. Library with secret door, tick. OK, they may not be essentials for an office space but when your office is a castle, why on earth not? For a company based outside of London, attracting and maintaining the best talent is paramount to our success, so I re-invested [...]
Why the UK is falling out of love with fashion: M&S, Debenhams and Ted Baker offer solutions to the high street clothing crisis January 24, 2017 In 2016, Britons were focused less on fashion, and more on enjoying themselves. We ate out and drank more, but spent less on clothes. In other words, we “shifted towards the experience economy”, according to Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics. “Since Brexit, the components within the economy holding up well have been consumer expenditure [...]
Property legal Q&A: What legal issues should I consider before I let a leasehold flat in a mansion block? January 23, 2017 Question: I own a leasehold flat in a mansion block and am considering letting it on a daily/weekly basis. What legal issues should I consider before doing so? Answer: The success of Airbnb and similar providers of short room/property rentals has increased significantly over the past few years, but there are several factors to consider [...]
Audi R8 Spyder review: The soft-top supercar threatening Lamborghini’s supremacy January 23, 2017 When did Audi become the ultimate ‘cool’ car manufacturer? It could have been around the end of the last decade, when the original TT was launched, along with the futuristic A2 compact MPV. But all this paved the way for 2006, when Audi launched its R8 supercar, along with bold claims about it being a [...]
Time to reconsider lunch? Experts have found chips can give you cancer January 23, 2017 First it was toast, now health experts have said well-cooked chips and other starchy foods could put you at risk of developing cancer. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a warning against a chemical called acrylamide, which is often created when foods such as potatoes, bread and root vegetables are cooked for too long [...]
Interiors: Get home gym inspiration from these funky designer health clubs in London January 21, 2017 Gym brands are spending millions on interior design, facilities, music and mood to impress us and keep us coming back. These days it’s all about creating a club atmosphere, making you look and feel fantastic. Where you train is a lifestyle choice. In and around the City, you have your pick of the bunch, from [...]
Five things you should know before you buy a leasehold property January 21, 2017 In its effort to turn Generation Rent into Generation Buy, the Government has announced a £1.4bn fund to build 40,000 new ‘affordable homes’. Typically, these tend to be leasehold flats, especially for first-time buyers wanting to live in city centres. But how many buyers taking their first step on to the property ladder understand fully [...]
Long Weekend: Keeping up with the super-fit locals while cycling around Malmo’s Western Harbour January 20, 2017 Getting there: The journey into Malmö itself is one of the most fascinating things about this Swedish city. First you must fly into entirely the wrong country, landing in Copenhagen, before boarding a speedy train that whizzes you out of Denmark and over the border in about 20 minutes. On the way you’ll travel along [...]
Cycling firm Velusso offers premium biking trips in the Balearics. We geared up to take them for a spin January 20, 2017 Cycling holiday firm Velusso has grand designs on satisfying the needs of City cycling enthusiasts. Its aim: to combine a luxurious break with a darn good workout while providing snippets of what it’s like to be a member of the Olympic cycling team. The post-London Olympic cycling boom led to increasing numbers of cycling holiday [...]
New Builds: New homes on the market this weekend in London from Help to Buy in Chiswick to luxury flats in Holborn January 20, 2017 500 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick From £420,000 Twenty-five apartments are going on sale tomorrow as part of the Government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme for first time buyers. With private outdoor space, a concierge and underground parking, it’s a relatively affordable opportunity to buy into Chiswick, a smart west riverside area that’s popular with [...]