Art, history and pampering in New England’s capital February 12, 2012 Boston: the genteel city of academia, tea parties, clam chowder, Matt Damon, and for me at least, electric eels. I had come to Boston on a long weekend – a bit of sales shopping, sight-seeing and relaxing in this history-steeped city. Yet also to confirm something that had been a bit of a mystery for [...]
Whitbread sales growth slows in tough economy December 13, 2011 Britain’s biggest hotel operator WhitbreaD said its sales growth had slowed in the third quarter as tough economic conditions kept customers away from its Premier Inn hotels and Costa Coffee shops, which had previously proved resilient. The group, which also owns the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant chains, said on Tuesday sales at outlets [...]
TRAVEL NOTES December 4, 2011 Anantara opens luxe resort in Koh Phangan North of Koh Samui, you’ll find Koh Phangan tucked away at the base of a lush mountain. Set amid towering coconut palms and steps from idyllic Thong Nai Pan Noi beach, the resort has 44 private pool suites and villas and an open-air spa. Snorkeling, archery, elephant trekking, [...]
TRAVEL NOTES December 4, 2011 Anantara opens luxe resort in Koh Phangan North of Koh Samui, you’ll find Koh Phangan tucked away at the base of a lush mountain. Set amid towering coconut palms and steps from idyllic Thong Nai Pan Noi beach, the resort has 44 private pool suites and villas and an open-air spa. Snorkeling, archery, elephant trekking, [...]
Following Soho’s Norman invasion October 19, 2011 RUSSELL NORMAN was the former operations director at Caprice Holdings, where he launched concepts such as the Ivy Club with Mark Hix, chef director at the time. He left in 2008 to set up Polpo, a Venetian bacaro, which serves small Italian plates in an informal setting. Following Polpo’s success (which was recently named 25th [...]
When skiing becomes more like snow-flying January 22, 2012 The American satirist PJ O’Rourke had little time for snow sports. As he put it: “Skiing consists of wearing $3,000 worth of clothes and equipment and driving 200 miles in the snow in order to stand around at a bar and drink.” That might not have been so bad for O’Rourke – he is famous [...]
ALL BETS ARE OFF FOR DEL BONO’S CASINO PLOT December 6, 2011 IT WAS like the Marie Celeste when Luca Del Bono first looked round 50 St James’s: the tables in the restaurant were still laid for dinner and the staff uniforms were still hanging on their hooks in the hall. That’s what happens when you abandon ship so abruptly – as the site’s previous owner, the [...]
SPITALFIELDS December 8, 2011 QUAKER STREET, E1 Price: £930,000 Moments from Brick Lane and Spitalfields, this two bedroomed penthouse flat sits within a secure, gated residential development with secure off-street parking. Furnishings are state-of-the-art and super sleek. www.foxtons.com WOODSEER STREET, E1 Price: £550,000 A one-bedroom ground floor flat with lovely original features including a mezzanine level and amazing original [...]
X FACTOR CAST GET FIRST LOOK AT SOHO’S £25M NIGHTCLUB LAUNCH December 14, 2011 CRISIS, what economic crisis? Piccadilly, at least, is experiencing a revival, says clubs entrepreneur Fraser Donaldson, who tonight opens the £25m Dstrkt on Soho’s Rupert Street. “If you look at Hakkasan, Nobu and Roka, they all have two to three-week waits for tables,” reasons Donaldson, the former owner of Prince William’s favourite club Crystal on [...]
HOME FROM HOME FOR HYDE PARK OLIGARCHS November 9, 2011 LUCA del Bono has been busy ever since he exited Quintessentially, the concierge service he started with Ben Elliot, to start his property fund Del Bono & Partners. The leisure-focused fund has bought £150m-worth of property over the last two years, recently acquiring the C London restaurant in Mayfair and 50 St James’s, where del [...]