David Attenborough London documentary wanted to ‘rebrand’ rats February 19, 2026 Showcasing that a population of non-native constrictor snakes live in central London wasn’t enough for the makers of David Attenborough’s recent London documentary, who have revealed that they also wanted to “rebrand” the capital’s rats. Some estimates suggest there could be 20 million rats in the capital, and it is every Londoner’s worst nightmare to [...]
Exclusive: Evolv signs star chef as part of ambitious plans February 19, 2026 The Evolv Collection, one of the country’s biggest high-end restaurant groups in the country, has continued its ambitious growth plans with the appointment of highly rated chef Miller Prada as group culinary consultant. With almost 20 years of experience in kitchens including The Ledbury, Pollen Street Social and Endo at the Rotunda, Miller is best [...]
Hirundine whisky: Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe unveil 38-year-old masterpiece February 19, 2026 Two years ago, international rugby stars Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, stalwarts of the Scotland national team and the British & Irish Lions, stepped into the world of premium spirits with the launch of Against the Grain (ATG) Spirits. Against the Grain champions brands with purpose and craft at their core. The philosophy [...]
Chiharu Shiota and Yin Xiuzhen at the Hayward Gallery February 18, 2026 As you walk into one gallery in this new exhibition, a thick weave of string forms a kind of nightmare spiders’ web around a dozen institutional-looking beds. Once a month, these will be occupied by volunteers, bringing an element of performance to Chiharu Shiota’s installation. There’s a sense of child-like wonder as you navigate narrow [...]
‘Hundreds of outdoor drinkers’: City AM’s Pub of the Week is The Wren on Watling Street February 18, 2026 If you’re looking for a man in finance, go to TikTok, where videos streamed millions of times tell you to go to Watling Street. It’s the skinny lane with St Paul’s Cathedral at the end and four pubs along it, where in the summer hundreds tightly pack with al fresco pints. Ye Olde Watling, where [...]
Fascinating Wimbledon exhibition reveals players drank champagne on court February 18, 2026 Suzanne Lenglen was the Serena Williams of her day. It was the Roaring Twenties and the six-time Wimbledon women’s singles champion was practically unbeatable. How? In breaks between games, she would neck champagne or cognac, passed to her by either her father or her coach. She gave it up once but then went back to [...]
Victor Garvey’s mad new MATER1A concept is a Willy Wonka-esque theatre of gastronomy February 18, 2026 MATER1A, 115 Westbourne Grove, W2 4UP | ★★★★★ | Cuisine: Japanese, fine dining, tasting menu A benefit of having written restaurant reviews for 15 years is that you begin to see the overarching warp and weft of the business, the trends that slowly emerge and dissipate, the way hospitality gradually evolves, holding up a mirror [...]
Dracula review: Cynthia Erivo is overwhelmed in tech-heavy production February 17, 2026 Dracula review and star rating: ★★ How much further can this trend for incorporating live video in theatre productions go? In Kip Williams’ adaptation of Dracula, it is often not like being in the theatre at all. Far too often it feels like watching a film at the cinema, with giant video screens playing pre-recorded [...]
Bond girl Maryam d’Abo is ‘compelling’ in new London play February 17, 2026 Spanish Oranges review and star rating: ★★★★ “Those legs of yours,” purrs Jay Villers’ Ivo to his wife Fiona in the new play Spanish Oranges. For the actor Maryam d’Abo, who played opposite Timothy Dalton’s Bond in The Living Daylights, it’s another decade, another man with emotional issues as she takes on her first stage [...]
BFI Flare 2026 announces full line-up, from Heartstopper to Russell T Davies February 17, 2026 BFI Flare 2026 runs from 189 – 29 March at BFI Southbank The UK’s dedicated LGBTQ film festival BFI Flare has announced its full line-up for 2026, the year in which the event celebrates its 40th birthday. BFI Flare features world premieres of the latest LGBTQ cinema, as well as talks, events and workshops for [...]