I signed a waiver to eat London’s hottest chicken at Dave’s Hot Chicken February 4, 2025 Dave’s Hot Chicken is open on Shaftesbury Avenue What is it with men (yes, it is men) and hot chicken? There are dissertations waiting to be written about masculinity and its inextricable connection to hot chilli eating contests, but the trend is more significant in America than the UK. However, London is getting a (red [...]
Chap Bistro is the sort of chef London needs more of February 4, 2025 Restaurants in London desperately need to be more fun. Yes, they should serve sustainable food, but surely ethical sourcing has evolved into an expectation rather than a concept by this stage – just be sustainable and stop talking about it. What this overworked city desperately needs is more humour and light heartedness. Gloria in Shoreditch [...]
Kolamba restaurant founders: chilli is massively overused in London kitchens February 3, 2025 Kolamba is a contemporary Sri Lankan restaurant with outposts in Soho and Shoreditch. Their dishes deal in big colour and splashes of vibrant flavour. Think roasted pineapple as a centrepiece for the table; jackfruit hopper biryani, moorish spinach dahl; and Idli with Sambar. They’re particularly proud of their vegetarian food – but here co-founders Eroshan [...]
Kitchen Table’s Sandia Chang: chilled, light red wine is big right now February 3, 2025 Kitchen Table is the Michelin starred Fitzrovia dining experience where guests sit around a horseshoe-shaped bar within close reach of the chefs. James Knappett’s team prepares the food and his wife Sandia Chang manages the drinks. Here Chang tells us about the alcohol (and booze-free) drinks on her mind. Read more: ‘Men stop behaving like [...]
Porsche 911 GT3 2025 review: An intense hit of purest Porsche January 31, 2025 An espresso machine is steaming furiously and fresh croissants are arranged on a shelf that doubles as a swan-neck rear spoiler. Morning has broken over the Ricardo Tormo circuit near Valencia and business is brisk at The 9,000rpm Cafe. The 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 launch is underway. The name of Porsche’s pit-garage breakfast bar is [...]
City break in Munich: Where to stay and what to see in Bavaria January 31, 2025 If there’s one thing Munich is famous for it’s Oktoberfest. But if beer-swilling stag parties aren’t your thing, visit the Bavarian capital any time of the year apart from late September and you will find one of Europe’s richest, most varied city break destinations. The art scene is second to none, and the beer stein [...]
Prince Charles Cinema: Pearl & Dean backs campaign to save icon January 30, 2025 Don’t let the credits roll on The Prince Charles Cinema, says Clare Turner, chief commercial officer at Pearl & Dean I was shocked to hear the news that the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square is under threat of closure. For many years this cinema has been a sanctuary for film fans in London. It [...]
Inside No 9 Stage/Fright review: Fans are served and opportunities are missed January 30, 2025 Inside No 9 – Stage/Fright review | Wyndham’s Theatre | ★★☆☆☆ Inside No 9 is one of the best British comedies of the last 10 years. Finishing a decade-long run last year, the smart, self-contained episodes – all somehow linked to the number nine – riff on everything from grand guignol theatre to kitchen sink [...]
The Colours Within film review: stunning and deceptively simple January 30, 2025 The Colours Within review and star rating: ★★★★ Japanese animation studio Science Saru may not be as recognised as Studio Ghibli, but they are perhaps best known in English language countries for their contributions to anthology series Star Wars: Visions. In The Colours Within the story follows Totsuko, a high school student who sees everything [...]
Hard Truths film review: Mike Leigh deserves Bafta nominations for this incredible return January 30, 2025 Hard Truths review and star rating: ★★★★ In Hard Truths Mike Leigh, one of Britain’s greatest living directors, reunites with actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste nearly thirty years after her cast her in the exceptional Secrets & Lies for a new hard-hitting drama. Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy, a wife and mother whose short temper barely covers deep-set depression [...]