Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill is one of London’s most iconic restaurants, blending sophistication with timeless elegance and reflecting the hotel’s rich heritage. Reimagined by Gordon Ramsay, the restaurant reopened its doors in April 2023, revitalising a space that has been a favourite of actors, politicians, and influential figures for generations. The subtle updates were well worth the investment, as the buzzing dining room now welcomes a new demographic of passionate foodies alongside its regulars.

Valentine’s Day has long been associated with grand gestures and sentimental traditions, but at its core, it’s simply an occasion to slow down and share something meaningful. Few things do this as effortlessly as wine. Whether opening a bottle for a quiet dinner at home or selecting something special to toast an evening out, the right choice enhances the moment without needing fanfare. This year, rather than reaching for the predictable, I have chosen 8 wines that you might not ordinarily choose - it is good to be adventurous after all!

The British have always harboured a faintly masochistic love affair with queuing. We queue for Wimbledon tickets, we queue for airport security, we queue - often with existential regret - for a lukewarm G&T at the theatre bar. And in Marylebone, a particularly dedicated breed of diner queues, rain or shine, for steak frites at Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte.

Introduction

Villa Mamas is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need to try too hard. Tucked away on a quiet street off Chelsea Green, it’s small, always busy, and doesn’t rely on gimmicks or overblown fuss. The low lighting, flickering candles, and the warm scent of fresh flatbreads and spices make it instantly inviting. The staff greet you with understated hospitality, a quiet reverence in keeping with the restaurant’s origins. It’s the kind of place where people become regulars after a single visit, as I found after moving nearby last year.

An island perfectly suited to a geologist, a poet or indeed an artist! For Lanzarote has such an awe-inspiring setting: dramatic, expansive, picturesque and welcoming. This island of cacti and volcanoes, though highly individual, summoned to me the glories of other lands. The long sweeping landscape, punctuated with the occasional finca, evoked the beautiful expanse of Andalusia. The straight, low and narrow back streets of habitation with those of Colombia. The aridity and jagged landscape of the Sahara with which it is globally parallel.

Kris Griffiths reports on an extraordinary hotel in northern Michigan and its symbiotic relationship with a 1980 cult film, and how he’s waited over 30 years to visit – the same weekend hundreds of other fans of the film annually do too…
 

Nestled on a prominent hilltop in Saint-Émilion, Château Quintus offers stunning panoramic views of the Dordogne valley. This remarkable estate is a wonderful blend of historical charm and modern winemaking prowess.

Gordon Ramsay has taken dining in the capital to new heights - literally. His latest venture at 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building in the City of London, introduces three dining experiences and a bar, all set against a breathtaking skyline. With the city stretching out below, I had my first taste of the offering at Lucky Cat during its inaugural lunch, and it left a lasting impression.

Heavens Door

Bob Dylan has spent a lifetime resisting definition. The man who reshaped folk music, redefined rock, won a Nobel Prize, and became a reluctant prophet of a generation also has his own whisky - and, fittingly, a new film that refuses to pin him down. The Complete Unknown, a biopic, doesn't attempt a straightforward retelling of Dylan’s life. Instead, it fragments his identity, reflecting the ever-shifting enigma of the man himself.