Why Engawa is an unusually well thought-out restaurant March 17, 2015 In Japan, the fax machine is still king of the office. While the western hemisphere abandoned it at the first whiff of email, the Japanese persevered, appreciating the personal touch that comes from a hand-written note, even if that note has been broken down into a series of blips and hisses and reassembled somewhere far [...]
The latest gimmick (or the next big thing): Cheese and coffee March 17, 2015 How does a new restaurant make its mark on a London foodie scene already reaching saturation point? There’s the old fashioned way: serving great food at a reasonable prices. And there’s the 21st century way: coming up with a gimmick, a weird pairing, some novelty way of serving or ordering food, something to make people [...]
Car review: Future-proof your life with the Audi A6 Avant TDI Ultra March 16, 2015 Audi’s family estate is big, economical and comfortable – and that makes it one of the best cars in its class. How best to future-proof your car? There’s one absolute rule: if it’s cheap to run, it’ll serve you well while it’s yours, and there will be plenty of people looking to take it off [...]
Not convinced? March 16, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… BMW 520D M SPORT TOURING PRICE: £37,090 0-62MPH: 8.1 secs TOP SPEED: 143mph CO2 G/KM: 122g/km MPG COMBINED: 61.4mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three Stars PERFORMANCE Four Stars PRACTICALITY Five Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Four Stars MERCEDES-BENZ E220 BLUETEC AMG LINE ESTATE PRICE: £38,555 0-62MPH: 8.8 secs TOP SPEED: 136mph CO2 G/KM: 129g/km MPG COMBINED: 60.1mpg [...]
The other Alexander McQueen exhibition: Can’t get in to Savage Beauty? Try Showstudio March 16, 2015 A week after Savage Beauty opened, a smaller show gives us McQueen at his edgy best. Rumours are rife that it’s impossible to get a ticket to Savage Beauty, the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. That’s not true – turn up on a week day before work and you’re likely to [...]
Bijou skiing on a budget: Saint Martin de Belleville March 15, 2015 You can’t beat this intimate 14th century village for convenience and scenery. Saint Martin de Belleville is the most civilized way to access the Three Valleys without having to re-mortgage your dacha. It’s aptly named; villes don’t get much more belle than this. The town square boasts a church built in the 14th century facing [...]
48 hours in… Kefalonia March 15, 2015 WHERE TO STAY With stunning views overlooking Lourdas Bay and an infinity pool, Villa Zeus Temple is one of the best hotels on the island. Visit uniquevillaskefalonia.co.uk WHERE TO GO This was the rock where Byron would sit, write and philosophise. “Time passes more pleasantly than ever long before,” the poet said of Kefalonia. WHERE [...]
How to hire a private island: Top tips and where to book March 15, 2015 Think desert islands are only for the Bransons of this world? Fly away to your secluded paradise in the sun. Peter Island, British Virgin Islands elegantresorts.co.uk With over 1,800 acres of unspoilt land, five pristine beaches and only three villas, Peter Island is a real isolated hideaway in the Caribbean. It has a spa [...]
Top tips for booking your private island March 15, 2015 By Diana Cherry, director of operations at Oxford Private Travel 1 Plan your stay with travel in mind – One of the best things about private islands is their total seclusion, so by their nature, they can be a tricky to get to. If you only have five days or a long weekend for a [...]
Theatre review: Antigone starring Juliette Binoche March 13, 2015 Barbican | ★★☆☆☆ A new translation of Sophocles’ ever-resonant Antigone by poet Anne Carson is one thing, but add cinematic icon Juliette Binoche and director du jour Ivo van Hove – whose rapturously received A View From The Bridge recently transferred to the West End – and you have what sounds like a guaranteed success. [...]