The river views in Istanbul are fit for a Sultan January 3, 2010 IF you have never been to Istanbul, then this is the year to do it. the Turkish capital is one of the two European Capitals of Culture for 2010 it is sharing the privilege with Pecs, in Hungary. Istanbul is an interesting choice: it has long been considered the meeting place between east and west, [...]
Antigua has a touch of Caribbean class January 31, 2010 GREY London Februaries can be hard to bear, which is why Antigua’s sun, sea, sandy beaches – and direct flights – make it a regular haunt for Brits in search of winter sun. This year there is a real buzz around the island, largely because of the re-launch of Rosewood’s Jumby Bay resort, which has [...]
A resort that leaves you feeling brand new January 31, 2010 NESTLING in warm Caribbean waters, sun-kissed Antigua washes over you, covers you in sunshine, and leaves you feeling as laid-back as the locals. The island is a prime wedding and honeymoon destination, but is also perfect as a place to turn over a new leaf. I’m used to spending my time off doing as little [...]
SLOVAKIA November 29, 2009 SLOVAKIA is perhaps the most up-and-coming location for European skiing. The past decade has seen considerable investment in the area’s tourism, which means an increasing number of top-quality lifts and facilities, and some plush new hotels. The especially good news is that it’s cheaper than skiing in the Alps – a six day lift pass [...]
Tootsies folds after Clapham House hires administrators October 12, 2009 TOOTSIES, the restaurant chain, yesterday fell casualty to the credit crunch after its parent Clapham House called the administrators in. Clapham House said it had put Tootsies into administration because “there was little prospect of the Tootsies business as a whole generating a profit in the near future”. The group said it was acting to [...]
For a late winter ski trip, north-east France is a red hot option February 8, 2010 YOU will hear many British voices on the slopes of the French ski resort of Morzine, but despite the fact that “the Brits are here” the region still retains a Gallic shrug. Unlike Meribel, which has long since been colonised by Brits, and where the main town is full of raucous British pubs like Dick’s [...]
London is the big smoke for cigar connoisseurs January 3, 2010 Those resolutions are going up in flames in the city’s new breed of smoking terraces, writes Timothy Barber SITTING back on a luxurious sofa with a glass of fine champagne in one hand and a cigar in the other, I’m among a group of around 25 men and a couple of women sending up a [...]
DINING OUT ON THE DOWNTURN October 18, 2009 CAPRICE Holdings, the restaurant empire behind celebrity haunts The Ivy and J Sheekey has defied the consumer downturn by posting a 20 per cent lift in underlying profits. The group, owned by rag trade millionaire Richard Caring (pictured), has grown earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to £16.7m in the financial year to the [...]
Losses widen at Piccolino’s parent firm September 28, 2009 INDIVIDUAL Restaurant Company (IRC), the owner of the Piccolino and the Restaurant Bar & Grill chains, yesterday reported widening first half losses and said that it would put its expansion plans on hold this year. First-half pre-tax losses widened to £838,000, compared to £83,000 in 2008, despite a five per cent increase in revenues to [...]
Losses widen at Piccolino’s parent firm September 28, 2009 INDIVIDUAL Restaurant Company (IRC), the owner of the Piccolino and the Restaurant Bar & Grill chains, yesterday reported widening first half losses and said that it would put its expansion plans on hold this year. First-half pre-tax losses widened to £838,000, compared to £83,000 in 2008, despite a five per cent increase in revenues to [...]