Working lunch in Canary Wharf: Toddy Shop June 23, 2015 WHAT? Toddy Shop is the informal, reasonably-priced half of Chai Ki Canary Wharf (a smarter restaurant is opening there soon). Inspired by the drinking shacks found on the coast of southern India – where punters sip alcoholic beverages made from palm tree sap called toddies – the restaurant/bar serves up cocktails, craft beer and street [...]
Car review: BMW’s futuristic new 7 Series lets you talk to your car using hand signals June 22, 2015 From city traders to third-world dictators, the Mercedes S-class has traditionally been the default limo of choice. BMW’s 7 Series won fans among those who prefer to drive than be driven, but it could never match the S-class for all-round appeal. The new 7 Series, though, could take the lustre off Mercedes’ three-pointed star. [...]
Not convinced? June 22, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… JAGUAR XJ 3.0 V6 PREMIUM LUXURY LWB PRICE: £69,155 0-62MPH: 5.7 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 224g/km MPG COMBINED: 30mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Three Stars PRACTICALITY Three Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Four Stars MASERATI QUATTROPORTE V6 S PRICE: £81,565 0-62MPH: 5.1 secs TOP SPEED: 177mph CO2 G/KM: 244g/km MPG COMBINED: 26.9mpg [...]
Savour 2015: The foodie revolution arrives in the Maldives at Coco Bodu Hithi June 21, 2015 The Coco Residences set out in a circle formation at Coco Bodu Hithi A friend once told me, in total bafflement, about a couple who left their honeymoon in The Maldives early. They were bored, she said, in the midst of the Indian Ocean, so changed their plans and spent the rest of their [...]
48 hours in… Istanbul June 21, 2015 WHERE TO STAY Locationwise, you can’t beat The House Hotel Nisantasi. The Bosphorus-facing hotel is in the centre of town and it’s surrounded by chic boutiques. The modern rooms also come with a cocktail shaker, glasses and plenty of liquor for budding mixologists. From £147 per night, visit thehousehotel.com WHERE TO EAT If you’re ever [...]
Hit the right note June 20, 2015 This self-playing piano can recite 1,700 masterpieces of classical, jazz and contemporary music, all to concert standard Digital music is made to be heard but not seen. Once, huge brass gramophones added an element of theatre to playing music at home, and the resurgence in sales of vinyl records shows there’s still a desire to [...]
Summer Igloo June 20, 2015 Forget freezing blocks of ice; the coolest igloo in town is ideal for lazing around a pool in the blistering sunshine Whatever the season, this Garden Igloo will improve your entertaining credentials. The “convertible greenhouse” is available in a choice of materials: the open-fronted “canopy cover” (pictured above) and a fully rain proof plastic sheeting [...]
Something for the weekend June 18, 2015 SING! BLUR IN HYDE PARK See the britpop quartet perform their full roster of 90s classics as well as some tracks from their well-received latest album. They never disappoint in front of a large crowd. Saturday, get your tickets now from bst-hydepark.com. FEAST! LOBOS TAPAS New Borough tapas restaurant promises to deliver a perfect blend [...]
Theatre review: We Want You To Watch June 18, 2015 NT Temporary Theatre | ★★☆☆☆ We need to talk about pornography. Since the internet allowed it to profligate, it has become as instantly accessible as television. Acts of reprehensible violence, criminal outside the medium, are available for easy consumption. In We Want You To Watch, dance-performance duo RashDash and playwright Alice Birch have collaborated to [...]
Film review: Entourage is a harmless cinematic victory lap June 18, 2015 Cert 12a | ★★★☆☆ What better way to end a series about Hollywood than with a movie adaptation? Movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his trio of friends are trying to keep Chase’s directorial debut from spiralling out of control while managing their own frantic personal lives. From the start, Entourage falls into the [...]