Culture, Crafts and Cuisine in Western Japan My first impression of Kanazawa was monumental. Outside the central station, where most visitors arrive, is the Tsuzumi-mon gate, an enormous wooden structure fit for a giant. It is based on the tsuzumi drums used in Noh theatre and is an apt introduction to a city where traditional […]
Roketsu – Marylebone
Seasonal Japanese cuisine If you are yearning for a familiar taste of Japan or are new to this unique cuisine, book a table at Roketsu, where you will find yourself steeped in the atmosphere, food, and respect for craft, design and culture that typifies the best Japanese restaurants. Enjoying every mouthful of my lunch, I […]
The Pig and Butcher
The Pig and Butcher Gastropub in central Islington The Pig and Butcher is a gastropub located on a busy road that cuts through Islington, in an attractive building that harks back to the mid-1800s when the surrounding fields were used by farmers to graze livestock due for sale at Smithfield’s Meat Market. The restaurant takes […]
The Oresteia – The Bridge Theatre
A Greek tragedy for our times The Oresteia is a big play in all senses. It runs for three and a half hours, including two intervals, so it demands a level of commitment from the audience that seems unusual these days, when so many productions are done and dusted within 90 minutes. It is a […]
Nagoya
Japan’s fourth city Nagoya is a city that flies beneath the radar. As Japan’s fourth-largest city, it attracts over ten million fewer annual visitors than Kyoto and Osaka, with many travellers, both foreign and domestic, transiting through this regional transport hub. On a second trip to Japan, I wanted to explore beyond the big three […]
Willett’s Restaurant
British Bistro dining – Willett’s at The Cadogan ‘Technical excellence with a bit of fun,’ explained our server about the approach at Willett’s, the recently refurbished bistro at The Cadogan, serving British cuisine with a side of British humour. Executive Chef Michael Turner, formerly of The Savoy Grill and the River Restaurant, presents his classical […]
Banyan Tree Higashiyama – Kyoto
A sanctuary in the city Kyoto is perennially popular, both for its exquisite temples and exemplary food. While still a vast city, it is smaller than Tokyo and much easier to navigate, being set out on a grid. During my first visit to Kyoto, I reviewed the Dhawa Yura Kyoto Hotel by Banyan Tree in […]
Springwood – Hampstead Theatre
The hot dog summit Springwood, which has just opened at Hampstead Theatre, is a historical drama that tells the story of the 1939 meeting at Franklin (Robert Lindsay) and Eleanor (Jemma Redgrave) Roosevelt’s New York estate, Hyde Park, with King George VI (Andrew Havill) and Queen Elizabeth (Rebecca Night). The King hopes to garner American […]
Rossella – Muswell Hill
Neighbourhood restaurant with a good time vibes There are some neighbourhood restaurants that warm the heart. The place is packed with multi-generation families – grandparents sharing ice cream with their grandkids, the sound of children’s voices not having to be quietened because almost every table has at least one child seated at it. This was […]
Cyrano de Bergerac – Noel Coward Theatre
A moving Cyrano with words that fly Getting an entire audience onto its feet is no mean feat in the London theatre. Yet this is how we found ourselves early in the RSC production of Cyrano de Bergerac, which has opened at the Noel Coward Theatre. In fact, the opening scenes had me wondering quite […]