Bacon: Man and Beast at the Royal Academy review January 29, 2022 The galleries of the Royal Academy are shrouded in an appropriate gloom for this Francis Bacon retrospective, the atmosphere part cathedral, part occult gathering. Rather than simply present the works chronologically, which would have been easy given the number of paintings brought together, the RA explores Bacon’s work through a single recurring theme – his [...]
Toast the partygate PM with a special Boris brew January 29, 2022 If the endless partygate scandal has put you in the mood for a drink, one brewery has the beer for you. Perfect 10 pale ale by Congleton-based Beartown Brewery is equally at home being drunk in the garden or sitting at your desk in the office, and is said to pair excellently with Colin the [...]
The best places to celebrate Lunar New Year in London January 29, 2022 Next Tuesday will see celebrations across the world for the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year. Each year is represented by an animal, with 2022 being a year of the tiger – specifically a water tiger, said to represent strength and bravery. Most importantly, it’s an excuse for a nice party, with [...]
World number one Ashleigh Barty wins Australian Open women’s singles title after beating Danielle Collins January 29, 2022 World number one Ashleigh Barty has won the Australian Open women’s singles title by beating Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 (2). Barty’s serve is the foundation of her game, and she had been broken just once in six matches, but that became twice in the second game of the second set as the top seed again [...]
Ollie Phillips: Absent internationals will help and hinder Premiership clubs January 28, 2022 I’m in Seville for the World Sevens Series, whetting my appetite for the festival of international rugby that is the Six Nations. It’s the best championship on the planet, and what will be interesting this year is how the Premiership clubs cope with losing internationals. Only Worcester failed to get a player in the England [...]
Padel: The racket sport proving a smash but heading for the courts January 28, 2022 It’s loved by footballers, boasts celebrity investors and is among the fastest growing sports in the world, yet you may not even have heard of padel. The fast and furious hybrid of tennis and squash has long been hugely popular in Latin countries but recently participation has rocketed elsewhere, including the UK. Now it is [...]
Exeter Chiefs to drop Native American branding with new badge January 27, 2022 Premiership rugby club Exeter Chiefs will alter their branding and drop Native American associations following widespread criticism. The new branding, which cites its roots from an Iron Age tribe, will be in operation from June. Native American groups have previously called for the former European Champions to drop the branding, which featured a Native American [...]
The whisky diaries: Tasting a very special 39-year-old January 27, 2022 Some whiskies want to get you drunk, some want to challenge you, but The Singleton 39 Year Old is a super premium single malt that really wants to take you to dinner. While the first release in The Singleton’s Epicurean Odyssey series, a 38-year-old single malt launched in 2020, tasted of baked apples and caramel, [...]
For casual wine tasting there’s no better place than Humble Grape January 27, 2022 If you are looking for a fun and simple way to get out of your wine comfort zone then let me recommend Humble Grape. With various locations around London, I stopped into my local one in Battersea for a casual dinner and discovered ‘Tasting Tuesdays’ where, for only £15, one can try four wines selected [...]
England coach says ‘we will get on with the job’ amid absentees January 27, 2022 England head coach Eddie Jones insists his team will “get on with the job” despite an injury crisis ahead of next week’s Six Nations. Jones’s side, who begin their campaign on 5 February against Scotland at Murrayfield, have been dogged by a series of setbacks, including captain Owen Farrell being ruled out with ankle surgery [...]