Renault 5 E-Tech 2025 three month review – first impressions July 18, 2026 My first rendez-vous with the Renault 5 was at a rain-lashed EV charging hub, just off the A1(M) in Stevenage. Not the most auspicious start, you might think, but somehow this little car seemed to prise the sunshine out from between leaden clouds. I was smitten. The occasion was a driving day for UK Car [...]
The PlayStation Portal 2026 review: Japanese innovation, hampered by UK infrastructure July 17, 2026 The PlayStation 5 may have outsold Microsoft’s Xbox Series X by a country mile, but Nintendo’s Switch has, since its release, dominated the handheld console market. Now Sony’s PlayStation Portal may finally be in with a chance to gain some ground. Released in 2023 to mixed reviews, the PlayStation Portal baffled gamers and critics upon [...]
Renault Scenic E-Tech 2026 review: An electric SUV for our times July 17, 2026 The Renault Scenic pioneered the practical but unfashionable compact MPV in the 1990s. Now it has returned as a more conventional electric SUV. John Redfern sees how well this reimagined Renault suits our different times. Three decades ago, Renault launched the original Megane Scenic to the world, kickstarting the small MPV category. It was a [...]
The Executive Ledger: Is the company car consigned to history? July 17, 2026 | Sponsored The traditional executive company car used to be defined by a beautifully simple set of rules, writes motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay. It required a German saloon, 3.0 litres of naturally aspirated displacement, finished in metallic paint, and a designated parking space close to the boardroom doors. It was a statement of seniority, paid for by [...]
Heartstopper Forever review: Bucketloads more queer joy from Netflix July 17, 2026 Heartstopper Forever review and star rating: ★★★★ “Everyone thinks teenage relationships don’t last,” teases Joe Locke’s Charlie Spring in the feature length finale of Heartstopper. To be fair, they tend not to. But Netflix’s LGBTQ teen romance series has always been dished with a side of fantasy: literal multicoloured sparks fly across the screen when [...]
Oura Ring 5 vs Google Fitbit Air: The battle of the fitness trackers July 16, 2026 This summer has seen the release of two hotly anticipated pieces of health tech, each aimed at polar opposite ends of the market. I wore the Oura Ring 5 and Google Fitbit Air for two weeks to see how these wearables compared to my Apple Watch Series 7. The Oura Ring 5: A sleek but [...]
McMurtry Spéirling Pure: the £1m electric hypercar redefining what speed means July 16, 2026 | Sponsored The McMurtry Spéirling Pure made its public debut at Goodwood this month. With fan-powered downforce and a record-breaking acceleration claim, the British-built track car offers a glimpse of where extreme performance is heading. The ultimate measure of a performance car used to be simple enough. First it was engine size, then horsepower, then lap times. [...]
Toast the City Awards 2026 finalists announced – vote now! July 16, 2026 It’s here: the Toast the City Finalists have been announced, with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, green spaces and more from across the City being celebrated in the Square Mile’s biggest and best awards. Now is your chance to vote for your favourite city spots – just visit our Toast the City website and cast your [...]
Why lighter, chilled Claret is causing a stir July 16, 2026 Bet on Claret – but the Brit fave is changing Wine has a habit of making things more complicated than they need to be. The terminology, the labelling, the annoying communicators warbling on about “mouthfeel” and describing perfectly enjoyable bottles as tasting of “tar”, “tennis balls” and that Sauvignon Blanc classic “cat’s pee”. (Sorry about [...]
Jamie’s Italian is awful but don’t worry, there are some great new Mediterranean restaurants too July 15, 2026 This week I talk about two Italians, one Greek, a talented Cypriot and an irritating Englishman. Prepare to read about two restaurants you should visit (Bancone and Zylia) and one you should reserve for your worst enemies (Jamie’s Italian)… ZYLIA Covent Garden is a part of London that you only go to for a specific [...]