Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Royal Opera House review: a spectacular production that’s a perfect send-off for director Kasper Holten March 16, 2017 Wagner’s great comic drama, Die Meistersinger, premiered in 1868 and has been hugely successful ever since. It portrays the clash of the old and the new, of tradition and progress, of ancient and modern. The Nürnberg choir festival is shaken when a young knight, Walter, comes to the town and falls in love with Eva, [...]
Nier: Automata review: a thrilling, endearing, unhinged sequel to the cult classic from Yoko Taro March 15, 2017 While big-budget western game franchises often stand accused of design-by-focus-group, their Japanese counterparts are still dominated by mercurial auteurs with singular – and often bizarre – visions. Legendary figures such as Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Dark Souls’ Hidetaka Miyazaki, Metal Gear Solid’s Hideo Kojima and Silent Hill’s Keiichiro Toyama are inextricably linked with the blockbuster [...]
Ghost Recon: Wildlands review: Hunt down druglords in this ambitious but flawed open-world shooter March 15, 2017 In Ghost Recon Wildlands, the latest open world game from Ubisoft, you head to Bolivia, here a narco state overrun with junkies and drug lords who’ve corrupted those in power and killed anyone that stood in their way. You traverse and shoot your way across mountains, deserts, woodlands and floodplains as a four-strong team of [...]
Our resident chef Mark Hix comes out fighting over his early-season asparagus tips March 14, 2017 Last week we received our first cutting of asparagus from the Chin family up in the Wye Valley. They always seem to be ahead of the game with early asparagus, not to mention their second season asparagus in autumn – to my knowledge they’re the only UK producers working this way. I often get criticised [...]
Ristorante Frescobaldi review: A well curated wine bar tempered by some tame Italian fine dining March 14, 2017 Opened in November 2014, this is the first UK restaurant of those world-renowned purveyors of grapejuice, the Frescobaldi family. They’ve been turning out Tuscan wines since 1308, and their bottles are said to have been enjoyed by everyone from Renaissance visionaries to Popes. The glass-fronted wine cellar by the entrance is a statement of intent: [...]
Marks and Spencer has shut down its Beijing branch as it heads out of China March 14, 2017 Marks and Spencer has pulled out of China, closing its prestigious Beijing branch earlier this month, the company confirmed. The retailer said it also closed two stores in February in the country and three more in January. Three remaining stores in Shanghai are scheduled to close by 1 April. Adam Colton, Marks & Spencer managing [...]
London Beer Week: Here are the best events happening in the capital March 14, 2017 Attention beer lovers: your chance to quaff some of the capital’s finest alcoholic beverages has come round again – yes, London Beer Week (LBW) is here. Now in its third year, the city-wide celebration, which takes place until 19 March, will see all things beer, lager, ale and cider enjoyed (more than usual) at the [...]
Holiday Homes: Finding a property investment at Courchevel 1850 on the slopes in the Rhone-Alpes that will pay off March 14, 2017 In the rarefied air of Courchevel 1850, known as France’s ski playground for the wealthy, the word “only” quickly takes on a new meaning. A burger, for example, is “only” €30 on the slopes, and a duplex apartment is “only” €9.65m. But in the Rhone-Alpes prime real estate hotspot, where high-end chalets up to 3000sqm [...]
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 [...]