Need to know August 29, 2012 Samsung last night released the hotly anticipated successor to its genre defining “phablet” the Galaxy Note, catchily dubbed the Galaxy Note II. The Korean firm is still reeling from the ruling that could yet halt sales of some of its most popular smartphones. The Note, though, is not on Apple’s hit-list – and that makes [...]
The FF is a supermodel on steroids August 28, 2012 Ferrari doesn’t tend to do things by halves. When it launched its FF model – the first four-wheel-drive in its history – it did so by having its two F1 racing drivers drive it at the top of Plan De Corones in the Dolomites at 2,350 metres. It’s fair to say, then, that Ferrari is [...]
Car talk August 28, 2012 Bentley shows off its most powerful creation The fastest, most powerful road-going Bentley ever makes its debut at the Moscow Motor Show today. Capable of 205mph, the all-wheel-drive flagship Continental GT Speed is powered by a 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine developing 616bhp, and can sprint from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds. Chassis, steering and brakes are [...]
International money bolsters central London property boom August 27, 2012 INTERNATIONAL cash is flooding into the London property market, as foreign buyers capitalise on weak sterling, a report released today by Cluttons claims. The property consultants predict a 3.2 per cent annual increase in prime central London house prices, driven by cash buyers – in turn driven by the weak pound. Compared to the 2007 [...]
Pop-ups are everywhere but The Seagrass shines August 27, 2012 RESTAURANT THE SEAGRASS 74 Chapel Market, Islington, N1 9ER Tel: 020 7837 5270 FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE *** Cost per person without wine: £30 POP-UPS. They’ve become a thing, haven’t they? If it’s not located in the loft of an abandoned Victorian insane asylum, it isn’t worth a dime. You can’t move for the [...]
For a taste of Peru in Fitzrovia try Lima August 27, 2012 RESTAURANT LIMA 31 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, W1T 1JH Tel: 020 3002 2640 FOOD **** SERVICE *** ATMOSPHERE **** Cost per person without wine: £45 PERUVIAN FOOD has soared in popularity in recent years, which would explain why Lima was packed out, even on a Monday night. There are countless restaurants in London that offer bland [...]
Beat the back to work blues with a revamped daily routine August 27, 2012 FITNESS & DIET EXPERT NOT KNOWN as “the ugly cousin of hangovers” for nothing, post-holiday blues can be at their worst this time of year. They are helped along by the knowledge that the last Bank Holiday until mid-winter has passed, a new school term is around the corner and there are no more Olympics [...]
Bank on a great holiday weekend August 23, 2012 NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 26-27 August; all day; free; Ladbroke Grove; thenottinghillcarnival.com Since Notting Hill Carnival’s debut in 1966, people have flocked to take part in this Caribbean spectacle. Buzzing crowds, live music and a mass of colourful dancers and processions will all get you in the party spirit. The main parade takes part on the [...]
Shadow Dancer is provocative, dramatic and brilliant while The Watch and The Three Stooges are unwatchable August 23, 2012 FILM THE WATCH Cert 15 | By Steve Dinneen * The canon of movies starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn is turning into something of a machine-gun (I count at least five). In The Watch, the lovable goofballs form a neighbourhood watch scheme. But wait, get this… They find an alien! And it eats people’s [...]
Where to drink August 23, 2012 In recent times, London has witnessed a renaissance of the private members’ club, updated dramatically from traditional gentlemans’ clubs, yet retaining much of their DNA. This Spring, Robin Birley (of Annabel’s stock) opened 5 Hertford Street in Shepherd’s Market, a beautiful bordeaux-coloured 23,000 square foot building featuring elegant dining rooms, oyster bar, terrace courtyard, cigar [...]