Life Style

Think skiing and you’ll probably picture the millionaire’s playground that is the Alps. Take Courchevel 1850 — part of the exclusive 3 Valleys ski area — where you can fly onto a private airstrip off the piste, ride an Hermés horse-drawn carriage at the hotel Airelles and shop at Chanel in your ski boots. I once spent 30 euros on a crepe and a soft drink there. And if you didn’t go to the type of school that hosted annual ski trips, it can be easy to think that this is an exclusive world that doesn’t belong to you. However, so long as you pick the right resort and take advantage of a wave of new apps or organised trips, it is possible to take a 0 off of your total bill, without sacrificing on style (or the volume of melted cheese consumed). Remember, it’s never too late to learn from scrat...

There’s a scene in Peep Show when Mark flies off the handle with Jez on Christmas morning because he forgot to buy the turkey. “No turkey?” Mark says, quaking with rage, before screaming “That was your job, you f***ing moron” and going on an expletive-ridden tirade. But it turns out to be a joke – Jez has in fact bought an organic turkey which he spent “ages researching online”. Mark apologises. “That wasn’t very Christmassy,” says Jez. “That wasn’t very Christmassy” has become a catchphrase in my house. My siblings and I have shouted it at each other over the years for unwrapping stockings before one of us has woken up, for presents which are obvious regifts, and when someone pulls the crackers and loses on both sides. But nowadays the most un-Christmassy thing I fall foul of is going on ...

Our time exploring Folkestone was an almost constant flow of food and drink. In the afternoon we wandered 10 minutes from Shoreline, along the boardwalk towards the Folkestone Harbour Line, and first grabbed some delicious tacos from The Taco Shed. The next stop was Chummys, a popular seafood bar in the harbour, buzzy and busy with an endless queue of people wanting anything from a little pot of prawns to a fresh scallop and bacon bap, sweet and salty and a little bit spicy from a dash of chilli vinegar. Then, even though it was a heavy grey sky and blustery weather, we couldn’t resist sitting in the garden of The Pilot Bar, a beach bar in a shipping container, built on the footprint of the town’s old pilot station. Deckchairs, bumper cars from old fairground rides, palm trees – and loved...

This session is part of The Bigger Life Festival, designed to help you start the New Year with purpose, clarity, and confidence. Take the first step toward owning your quiet strength and thriving in 2025.Join us for an engaging 60-minute session with David Larbi, author of Frequently Happy: 52 Mindful Moments to Bring Hope and Joy, where mindfulness and creativity converge in a thought-provoking discussion. In this live conversation, David will share his journey to writing this unique blend of prose, poetry, and reflective journaling prompts. This session will provide an opportunity to explore how mindfulness can be applied creatively to enrich our everyday lives.David will join our Bigger Life Festival host for a captivating conversation, offering insights into his writing process, perso...

According to research conducted by Deliveroo, over half of us (55 per cent) have forgotten to purchase a present in the past. Whether it’s the office secret santa or you’ve forgotten to buy a gift for your grandad’s new girlfriend, Deliveroo can deliver a range of stellar gifts in as little as 30 minutes. Shops like Boots Beauty, Not on The High Street, Accessorize and Not Another Bill have hand-picked selections on the app, but if it’s edible products that you’re after, Deliveroo’s Plus Diamond offering deserves your attention. Source link

Seriously lacking in square footage? Don’t have a dining room? You must be a Londoner. But after the 12 months we’ve had, some merriment is definitely in order: it’s time for a party. So hit up the Whatsapp group, or send that Paperless Post (if you’re feeling fancy) and get your crew round to your place. But obviously the name of the game is chic and cosy, not cramped. So how to be the host with the most, without having any space? Here’s the brilliant advice we’ve gathered from some of London’s best hosts, to ensure your humble abode big on vibes this Christmas. First things first: ready the room. Obviously the kitchen is the go-to spot if you’re blessed with something larger than a galley space, and ideally with a table. If you’re not serving turkey and trimmings, though, then a buffet t...

Prince Andrew is back in the spotlight once more this week after news has emerged of his alleged friendship with a Chinese spy, codenamed H6.Though his name hasn’t been reported, the businessman was banned from Britain twice by the government, but apparently managed to grow close to Andrew - to the extent that he visited Buckingham Palace and was also invited by the Prince to St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle.Though Andrew says he “ceased all contact” when concerns were first raised - and that “nothing of a sensitive nature [was] ever discussed” - it’s not the first time that he’s found himself in hot water about whom he chooses to spend time with.From dictators to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew’s list of former acquaintances is long and many of them date back to the time he was m...

Situated on the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos is known for several things: glistening, sandy beaches, showboating sealife, luxurious resorts and — let’s be honest — Americans on tour. Unlike the rest of the country, what it’s not known for, however, is its culinary prowess — which, if you ask me, is set to change. Thanks to a growing number of standout cafes, bars and eateries, Los Cabos is becoming a foodie destination in its own right. So, if you want to catch glorious rays and watch walloping whales, all while refining and satiating your palette, this is just the way to do it. Due to the nature of the beast, fare at fuss-free, all-inclusive resorts can often be disappointing — no matter how luxurious the spot promises to be. Not at sister hotels Pueblo Bo...

A few hours north of Edinburgh, where the Cairngorms surge in all their smooth, rhythmic and peaty glory, lies a reimagined Victorian Coaching inn, snapped up by art power couple Iwan and Manuela Wirth. It is now the heart of film set-worthy Braemar, a town that, by virtue of its proximity to Balmoral (where Queen Victoria once roamed the heather-carpeted hills with Mr Brown), has received a sprinkling of regal fairy dust and architectural good looks. The Fife Arms taps into this era of eccentric Victoriana, just with lashings of contemporary art (think Freuds and Picassos casually hanging beside old watercolours). It's the sort of place that comes into its own during the winter months, with a fire-lit tavern of ale and venison pie, bedrooms dressed head-to-toe in tartan with deep, steamin...

I ask a group of my friends at 1am, during a private party in the basement of a member’s club, whilst most of them hold a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette in the other. “Yes” someone replies. “I think it’s like California sober, you don’t drink except instead of smoking weed you take magic mushrooms, or possibly ketamine.” Then my friend who hosts queer party nights Benny Cooper, proposes: “Maybe it’s drinking alcohol, but only on weekends; or just drinking beer or wine and no spirits.” My friend Reuben Larkin, a model/influencer, then suggests, “it’s probably not drinking but smoking cigarettes.” Personally, that sounds the most convincing argument. Surely everyone needs one vice. Source link