Glasgow’s Dakota Deluxe hotel review: a Hollister-hip new venture from the kingpin of Scottish hotels July 15, 2016 Steve Dinneen takes a break in his former hometown of Glasgow, where he finds a much improved hotel scene and restaurants that are as good as ever. The weekend: For many southerners, a weekend break to Scotland involves a trip to Edinburgh Castle or a few rounds at Gleneagles. And while these are both perfectly [...]
Cha Chaan Teng review: why this Holborn restaurant is like Miley Cyrus twerking August 30, 2016 The liberal food world tied itself in knots last month when Girls creator Lena Dunham suggested that her alma mater serving terrible banh mi and sushi could be classed as cultural appropriation. The story is largely bollocks, of course – many have pointed out that a handful of students (quite rightly) saying that pulled pork [...]
Opinion on fracking linked to political ideology, study says May 10, 2016 Whether or not the UK should get the frack on with it and start extracting shale gas is a politically contentious issue. So it's hardly surprising that an individual's stance on the controversial drilling technique is linked to their political persuasion. Politically conservative people are more likely to be in favour of fracking due to its economic [...]
The best way to get to Berlin? Take the Venice Simplon Orient Express, an enchanting route to the German capital that crosses the Rhine Gorge June 10, 2016 THE WEEKEND: Berlin, which has always demonstrated its ability for re-invention, is experiencing one of its most exciting eras. The old East, left by the Kremlin to rot, has been cleaned up with futuristic steel-and-glass architecture; making for a dazzling capital city. THE JOURNEY: Take Belmond’s new London to Berlin overnight service, the Venice Simplon [...]
All that food Instagraming means millennials face higher inflation than anyone else May 9, 2016 It looks like their obsession with Instagram-friendly "experiences" is coming back to bite Millennials – after new research suggested they're facing the highest level of inflation of any generation around today. The research, by Fidelity International, suggested Millennials (which the research defines as those under 30) were faced with the price rises of 0.9 per cent in the year to March, thanks to [...]
Earning a crust: With Centrica, Rolls Royce, BHP Billiton and others cutting their dividend, where should investors look for income? March 31, 2016 As central banks have pushed down interest rates, income has become ever harder to find. While returns on cash savings have remained low, dividend-yielding stocks have looked like a source of stability. But now, trouble in the global economy is forcing reliable dividend payers such as Centrica and Rolls Royce to slash their payouts. Companies [...]
UK’s Isa options are too risky for investors, according to research exposing “major mismatch” March 30, 2016 The UK's Isa portfolios are too risky for the appetites of investors, new research has found. Some 70 per cent of the nation's investment Isa portfolios are in sectors with top risk ratings, according to online investment platform Rplan.co.uk. And this has created a "major mismatch" between Isas and investors. Read more: Do you really understand [...]
Enjoy a gin-fuelled long weekend at Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill distillery June 1, 2016 A partnership between Bombay Sapphire and – improbably – the wine-heaped environs of the Vineyard Hotel in Newbury, the Bombay Gin Break is a package holiday designed with the more holistic bon viveur in mind. Arrive to complementary gin and tonics, then head to the very place they were made to discover just what it [...]
Best. Job. Ever: Lastminute.com founder Martha Lane Fox joins the board of Twitter April 8, 2016 When you think about it, it's an obvious choice: this afternoon it emerged Martha Lane Fox, one of the UK's best-known entrepreneurs, is joining the board of Twitter – and she's already pretty keen. Yep: as she announced it in a tweet, the Lastminute.com founder Lane Fox – also known as Baroness Lane Fox of Soho – added [...]
Shock, horror? How the City reacted to today’s MPC’s interest rate inaction July 14, 2016 Another month, another deferral of The Big Interest Rate Move. That makes 88 so far. How is the City reacting? Two words: "we're cautious". Read more: Over to you, Carney – our MPC has voted to cut rates 1. "BoE is playing wait and see" Michael Martins, economist at the Institute of Directors: “The Bank [...]