Tales from the Oriental
Dusklit opera on one of London’s busiest streets? Whatever next. Nick Hammond laments summer’s passing in his latest Tale From The Oriental… YOU know, sometimes only a pint of ale, thirstily swigged,...
View ArticleAn Oriental Club Christmas
Blasted by commercialism, swept along by shoppers, it’s a weary NICK HAMMOND who brings his family to the wreath-laden door of The Oriental Club. Salvation lies within… CHRISTMAS truly comes to those...
View ArticleThe William Hill World Darts Championships
Darts fans. They are among us. Everybody’s into darts, it turns out, or at least these darts. I tell my mother I’m going to the William Hill World Championship, preparing myself for twenty minutes of,...
View ArticleA Thousand Cuts: A Spike Sanguinetti Mystery
Evidently, there’s more to Gibraltar than a sovereignty debate as here in the Arb we are privileged to preview the first two chapters of the new Spike Sanguinetti novel from author Thomas Mogford. It’s...
View ArticleTales from The Oriental
A glorious night of Epicurean delights charts a remarkable journey for a remarkable wine. In the latest of his Tales from The Oriental, NICK HAMMOND gets effervescent… SOMETIMES luxury events can be...
View ArticleThe Good Murungu
AN English cricketing dynasty is led by a doughty, patriarchal figure. NICK HAMMOND finds him good company. And not short of a story… I LOVE it when seemingly ordinary chaps do extraordinary things. If...
View ArticleTales from The Oriental
A peck of pepper, the crack of cardamom, sugar, spice and all things nice – that’s NICK HAMMOND as he delves deep into the history of one of West End’s finest Private Members Clubs in his latest Tale...
View ArticleCelebrating Summer: The Somerley Beer and Music Festival
Big sigh. It’s nearly upon us; the Bank Holiday weekend that officially closes summer. The holiday’s a distant memory, tans are fading and with August’s autumnal rain so far summoning an early exit...
View ArticleThe Gardens of Shakespeare’s England
Aah! Is there anything more glorious than an English garden when all is lush and verdant, the sun warming hearts as much as nature itself? It certainly feels so today here in Stratford-upon-Avon in...
View ArticleA King with Feet of Clay
The 74th Venice Film Festival opens this week, at which Robert Redford is being honoured with a special Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement, alongside his co-star of their new film Our Souls At...
View ArticleOn Two Icons of the American West
In one of life’s great ironies both creator and his greatest creation died within a few weeks of each other. Writer Sam Shepard, who gave us the words for ‘Paris, Texas’, and the cult actor Harry Dean...
View ArticleA Big Mac Attack
We’ve all done it. Whether from past pleasures or present guilt, late night excesses or hunger excuses, the lure of omnipresent fast food outlets strikes even the most ardent food critic every so...
View ArticleSo, you think you can write a novel?
Have you got a novel in you? It seems like most of us have, or think we have. Novel writing, like marathon running, used to be an elite pursuit, undertaken by a dedicated few. Now it seems there’s an...
View ArticleA Pie and a Pint: Simple Pleasures at The Cleveland Arms
Stirling asks the eternal question - What's better than a pork pie?
View ArticleCowes Week: The Spirit of Adventure
Georgie Lane-Godfrey gets up close and personal with the action at Cowes week on Alex Thomson’s record breaking Hugo Boss… For most people, a visit to Cowes Week – the world’s largest and oldest...
View ArticleI Object: Ian Hislop’s Search for Dissent
A few years ago, the British Museum created an exhibition based around the telling of the history of the world through 100 objects. This exhibition on dissent also uses 100 objects and is in many...
View ArticleMany Happy Returns, Sir Winston: The Ultimate Gentleman’s Day
There are selected pleasures afforded a discerning gent, although in truth, many of the norms associated with maintaining a certain polished decorum are hardly what one might call a chore. Often, it’s...
View ArticleChristmas According to Dylan Thomas
As the big day looms, we turn to the words of someone who knew a little about festivities. Recorded originally in 1952 from a piece commissioned for radio by the BBC, this is an extract from Dylan...
View ArticleHoney Afternoon Tea at St Ermin’s Hotel
Tea, according to the Spectator, is having a bit of a moment. “Fine teas” are seeing sales soar in places like Fortnum & Mason as well as speciality tea shops. Last year, two new tea merchants...
View ArticleGreat White Shark
Our weekend travel feature takes a different turn this week as we run an extract from Nick Hammond‘s travel anthology, Around the World in 80 Cigars. Part picture postcard from a lifetime of roving...
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