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CRAVING WINTER SUN? FUERTEVENTURA IS A HIDDEN TREASURE
While the UK is buying winter bonnets and stocking up on Lemsip, sun lovers are stocking up on sun screen and flip flops and looking more than a little bit smug. If you want to banish the winter blues, and get away from premature fairy lights, Fuerteventura offers laid back luxury at any time of year; But is particularly pleasant in the winter, as it’s a hidden gem. |
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Little Kolkata London
Set in the heart of Central London, on the back streets of Covent Garden, Little Kolkatan is a hidden gem, offering a tapas version of modern Bengali influenced Indian cuisine from Kolkata. Unlike general Indian restaurants offering delicious but heavy foods, Little Kolkata offers lighter versions and smaller dishes to share in the tapas style- where you can indulge in several options. |
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FUERTEVENTURA HAS IT ALL
If you’re craving some winter sun, and let’s be honest, who isn’t in January? The Canary Islands might be just what you are looking for. Tropical climes, desert landscape, stunning beaches and an abundance of water sports, are just what you need to shake the winter blues away. Although it’s part of Spain, the second largest of the islands, Fuerteventura is only 62 miles from Africa, and it possesses a kind of barren, |
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HUNGRY SOUL BY JACQUES BRENNAN
There might be sceptics out there who think that vegans (poor things) just eat beans and rice, but the only type of vegetable that those uneducated folk eat is probably a fried potato chip! Vegans (and vegetarians) just have to be a little experimental in the kitchen, and having been a veggie lover for decades, I was quite looking forward to expanding my culinary prowess in the kitchen. So donning my favourite pinny, I got stuck in to the Hungry Soul cookbook by Jacques Brennan over the Christmas holidays. |
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THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE IS AN EXPERIENCE
Everyone loves holidays a lot more than aftershave or socks! So why not book a bargain break for you and your loved ones for summer 19. Not only will it give you something to look forward to, you will get some brownie points too and a great deal too! Marigot Bay Resort and Marina is ideally situated on the pretty island of St Lucia in the Caribbean and offers a vast array of pools, cuisine and activities, and is booking now for families who are looking for somewhere magical for their 2019 summer vacation. |
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I SPY A VEGAN PIE AT PIEMINISTER
What could be more seductive than a hot, oozy pie with mash and gravy on a winter’s day? And if it's stuffed with all manner of veggie goodies, that’s all the better right? Trying to eat healthy, doesn’t mean you can’t tuck in to a hearty pie now and again, especially if you have a large side of peas and onion gravy- all part of your five a day. |
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Simpson’s on the Strand: Inclusive Exclusivity
London is full of the most fantastic restaurants, serving truly international cuisine, and across London from north to south, you are never short of many a dining experience. The city is known especially for its new restaurants popping up all over the capital, and equally closing not long after in many situations due to the high competition. With a new body of illustration works being exhibited throughout Simpson’s by working Artist in Residence, Satirical Cartoonist Zoom Rockman, 55 ventured for a slap up meal and the legendary Simpson's |
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Cafe Forty One: Vegan Lunch
Cafe Forty One launches its new Christmas Vegan menu, and not being much of the Christmas fan myself, but a fan of Vegan-ism; this was all the excuse I needed to get a little bit festive and take a long lunch of yummy health and fabulous Vegan food and some mocktails |
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UNPRETENTIOUS EAST LONDON??
Sometimes you don’t need frills to make a memorable stay, you just need crisp white cotton sheets, a giant TV and fluffy towels- which East London Hotel in Bethnal Green has that and more! A hop skip and short shimmy up Cambridge Heath Road, the Bethnal Green station is almost as close as an Uber can get. The latest addition to the Shoreditch scene is perfectly situated for nightlife and day activities, with rooms overlooking the park and The Museum of Childhood. |
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TORONTO: NUIT BLANCHE
With a huge student population bringing a youthful energy to the city of Toronto, there is a vibrant and active coffee culture, a myriad of multicultural restaurants, edgy music and art scene; Fashion is also a major past-time with high street and high end shops located around Queen Street West, and secondhand/ vintage stores in the West Queen West area. |
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SATIRE AND SURREALISM AT 100 YEARS OF KINETIC ART
As Rotterdam is a very experimental city, it is the perfect platform to get acquainted to the school of kinetic art. Fuelled by movement and interaction, the latest exhibition at the city’s progressive Kunsthal Museum ‘’Action<--> Reaction.100 Years of Kinetic Art’, will surprise and mesmerises at the same time. When you visit a gallery, you don’t always get immersed in the art. Normally it registers with your eyes and they tell the rest of your body what emotion to feel; But autumn’s retrospective, celebrates the hard to pin down concept of kinetic art. |
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HELLO HALLOUMI! FOR ONE MONTH ONLY….
Winter is on its way, so it’s the perfect time to indulge in a hearty halloumi brunch and as many bloody Marys as you can down in 90 minutes, and Las Banderas on Wardour Street is the place to do it. Taking the humble Cypriot cheese, which is usually the fodder for summer salads and BBQs, the Head Chef at Las Banderas has transformed it into a selection of comfort food delights. No more avocado and rye bread bores! The new brunch kid on the block is halloumi with everything! |
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GORGEOUS GUERNSEY - EVEN IN THE AUTUMN
Have you ever fancied a last minute get away, but can’t commit to going too far? Our friendly cousins in the Channel Islands might just be the answer. The second largest of these, Guernsey is just a short hour flight from London and is the perfect place for a weekend away. Closer to France (just 27 miles away) it is almost like heading to Europe, but you can still spend the GBP, so it has the best of both worlds (and no VAT on shopping!) |
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SO THIS IS BELGIUM...
The summer show at aesthetik01 in Berlin, was first published in ID-Magazine’s February 2001 issue, curated by Raf Simons. Eerily documenting Monday morning frontages of warehouses and rave clubs in Antwerp, the photographs contradict visual expectations, with Illusion, Obsession, Cherry Moon, Escape and Explosion, the "it" clubs of the day, morphing into day time carparks with no suggestion of the hedonism inside. |
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THE HOTTEST HOTEL IN MADRID RIGHT NOW
Visiting Madrid is like visiting any European capital city. Spacious boulevards, expansive manicured parks, and neo classical facades which exaggerate the humility of the patrons. However, there is deceptively modern structure in the centre of a historical city. The latest offering from the VP family is a welcome addition to the traditional classic builds which surround the Debod Temple and Royal Palace in central Madrid. Set in a prominent location, it is ideal for shopping, sightseeing and exploring the best of what Madrid has to offer, and the bonus is, you can do it by foot! |
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TWO FIFTY ONE: ART in Residence
The Artist in Residence programme showcases the broad range of artistic talent that this city has to offer. Each artist has taken inspiration from Elephant & Castles’ evolving skyline, heritage and creative culture. Not only are we creating a series of bespoke works to be enjoyed by residents of TWO FIFTY ONE, and locals alike, but also raise funds for local charity Cool Tan Arts, a locally based arts focus group which help fund local well-being work through artists work |
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CUBA FOR BEGINNERS
Why go to Cuba? Why not? Sunshine, sea, rum, cigars, cars and sexy salsa dancing with strangers in the street. Sounds like a hedonist’s dream right? But there is more to do than party, as Cuba has heaps of history- with permanent reminders of the nation's favourite second in command, Che Guevara everywhere. Widely recognised as leading the Cuban revolution on 1st January 1959, and overturning the capitalist exploitation of Latin America by the United States, he is immortalised across the land. His distinct visage can be found on T shirts, berets and murals, and was potentially seen by the nearly 5 million tourists, that visited Cuba last year. |
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HOTEL LOLA JAMES HARPER
THE NEWEST HOTEL IN PARIS IS BOUND TO MAKE YOU SMILE The Lola James Harper lifestyle brand, is all about embracing what makes you happy. Whether this be songs, scents or photographs. Typically French it has a sense of je ne sais quoi but not so typical, thanks perhaps to worldwide travel- a sunshine view of life! It has just been announced that the brand is adding to their portfolio of art, philosophy, poetry, culture, music and travel, as founder Rami Mekdachi has unveiled his plans for a hotel in central Paris. |
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BILBAO IS ANYTHING BUT BORING!!
Bilbao might not be the first (second or even third) place you think of when you consider visiting Spain, and because of this, it’s unexploited vibe is part of the appeal for the adventurous. Situated on the rugged coast of Northern Spain (otherwise known as Basque Country), it neighbours the more popular holiday destinations of San Sebastián and Santander. But even though Bilbao has the reputation of being a gritty industrial town in the seventies, it is now a emerging destination for culture vultures, who flock to see the impressive museums and modern architecture, which rub shoulders with proud Basque country roots. |
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IT'S ALWAYS TIME FOR A SPA AT DONNINGTON VALLEY
Everyone needs a treat now and again, and this is the perfect place to do it! We’ve had snow, ice and a really long winter, so when the daffodils are starting to emerge in March, it means spring is on its way; That suggests it is time to get a spring in your step and begin to look at the bright side of life again... |
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ROTTERDAM: A Modern UTOPIA
Blurring the lines between art and reality. Rotterdam makes other European cities seem out of synch with modern living. The idea of a utopian civilization was idealized during the post war years- designed by young architects and town planners. Yet by the late 70s and 80s, society under this structure was falling apart concrete slab by concrete slab. Rotterdam on the other hand, due to an absolute necessity to plough forward, has invented the most ideal, modern utopian city in Europe, or as damn close to this idealism comes anyhow! |
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GIANNI VERSACE PENTHOUSE PARTIES
HEAD TO SANTA MONICA FOR A SLICE OF FASHION HISTORY Versace was shot and killed on 15 July 1997, at the age of 50, on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion as he returned from a morning walk on Ocean Drive. But his legacy is not forgotten. Lauded as one of the groundbreaking designers of the 80s and 90s, he lived a full life, embracing gossip and speculation, but he was also a regular at Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica, where he could escape and relax. |
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IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES
WHEN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY OF THE PHILIPINNES CAME TO WESTFIELD to let people know more about it, it was certainly a riot of colour and entertainment. Taking place over five days, Westfield Shepherds Bush was transformed into a tropical paradise, with high energy fashion shows, music, Filipino food and a champion bartender, proving that it definitely is "more fun in the Philippines". |
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AMSTERDAM LIGHT FESTIVAL
AMSTERDAM AFTER DARK HAS A LOT MORE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT! Most people go to Amsterdam for the broad minded culture or the scenery, but if you go during winter time, there is lots more to see... The annual Amsterdam Light Festival is definitely worth the Eurostar, and the Christmas shopping isn't too bad either! |
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SLOVENIA: RESTORATIVE EMPOWERING RETREAT
Ani and Esther welcomes guests to enjoy a life-empowering infusion of feminine energy and spirituality in Slovenia’s vibrational landscape. The retreat will open guest’s soul to a deeper connection within themselves, uncovering their life’s calling, harnessing their power and embracing what it is to be a woman. |
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ROTTERDAM IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR LOVERS
If you are the type of person who starts getting excited about Valentines day mid way through January, you might also be the type of person who expects to get married by the time you are thirty, and have a life plan for children (one of each) by the time you hit 35.. |
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NO GLASTONBURY? NO PROBLEM
WHO WANTS TO STAY IN SOGGY ENGLAND ANYWAY?! Here are 55's tips for the best feet-tapping, new friend making, sun loving festivals from all round the globe. See you at at least one of them! |
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DID I FIND A NEW ME??
NEW YOU BOOTCAMP After the excesses of December you might have misplaced some pounds but gained some lbs on your tum! After all it is the season to be jolly, and eat drink and get merry at every opportunity!But, when the time comes to start thinking about wearing normal clothes (as opposed to Christmas loungewear), it could just be that they are feeling mighty tight! Hence the ever so popular new year’s resolution to get trim. |
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THE SUMMER OF LOVE
Try and forget the January blues by looking forward to a summer of love, and preferably dancing under the stars, somewhere hot! And if you need any inspiration, the hippest festival on the block is the three year old, Love International Festival in Croatia, which has risen from the ashes and replaced the infamous Garden Festival, which dominated the summer dance scene on the Dalmation Coast for a decade. |
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BOUTIQUE HOTEL AWARDS
55HQ LOVES HOTELS, ESPECIALLY BOUTIQUE ONES... So every year when the glitzy Boutique Awards Ceremony comes round, we get a bit excited to see the ones we haven't visited yet (alas, this is still quite a few!) |
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ICELANDAIR DOES THEATRE
It’s always exciting heading out to The Big Apple. The buzz starts in the departure hall, and the airline staff make sure you’re psyched up throughout the flight. If you’re lucky, you can ignore the early/late take off and just sit back and drink/eat your way through the nine and a bit hour flight. But if you’re anything like me, after a couple of hours sitting still, you begin to get a bit twitchy! So any in-flight entertainment is a welcome distraction- but how many films can you actually watch without going cross eyed? |
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SURFER'S PARADISE
If you ever needed an excuse to learn how to surf, this coffee table book is it! However, this is not just a picture book- even though it contains some of the most stunning images of surf culture that I have seen. Photographer and author Christopher Bickford, has made a home for himself in the sleepy Outer Banks in North Carolina, and uses it as a base to surf, write and collect documentary images. His book Legends of the Sandbar is an insider's view of life on the Banks. |
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THE NO DATE DATE NIGHT IS HERE
Summer might seem like it's full of star crossed lovers, or compulsive serial Tinder daters, but it's also a great time to have a laugh with your friends, and put relationships, both good or bad on standby! You don't need a date to have a giggle, so grab your gang, and head the the #NoDateNight at Shoreditch's Rooftop Film Club? Taking place for one night only on Sunday 6th August, the guest can stock up on free cocktails, popcorn and snacks, whilst lolling to a private screening of the cult Will Smith movie, Hitch. |
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MEXICO: Tulum Art Club TAC
Tulum, Mexico vibrates on a distinct frequency maybe it’s the remnants of the ancient Mayan civilization that imbues the air with a mystical quality, who knows…. What is apparent is that it is a gathering place for artists, creators, dreamers, visionaries, night owls, vagabonds, old souls, young souls and anyone with a spirit of openness and discovery. |
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BRIGHTON FOODIE FESTIVAL WITH ADDED GIN!
The Brighton Food Festival was not strictly far for me to travel, but I was anticipating tastes from all round the world. And it was a great opportunity to catch up with celebrity healthy eating guru Stacie Stewart, who has recently collaborated with Scottish Premium Carounn Gin. |
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TUNISIA: WE LOVE YOU
A stone’s throw away from the UK, with just a two and a half hour flight, Tunisia proves to be a bolthole for relaxation. With city life becoming ever more challenging, escaping the rat-race to recharge the batteries, doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg - if you head in the right direction. |
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CARIBBEAN: Still the Big Trip
Everyone who has ever visited the Caribbean will guarantee they will go back, and every patron has a favourite island, bar and story to share. As it was my first visit to the relatively undiscovered island of Nevis, I was excited to soak up all the traditions, food and sun as I could muster in my misjudged one week. |
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CERU. Born With a Love Of Food
The distinguished CERU Restaurant, serving a Fusion of food blended from the Middle East and East Mediterranean. Strongly influences from Istanbul, Cyprus and the Lebanon; CERU creates a unique and light menu. Avoiding the heavy sauces and breads traditionally from the Middle East classic diet, the food at CERU is light, fresh and easy to digest over a bottle of their fine wine selection. |
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ARE YOU READY FOR RELOAD?
IT'S FEELING MIGHTY FESTIVAL-LY IN 55FACTORY LAND... and even thought it's only the start of the summer, we have started to ear-mark the goodies that we cannot afford to miss..And by hook or by crook, I will make it to Norfolk Showground in September for the Reload Festival. Fingers crossed I could find my own superhero there too! |
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SURFER'S PARADISE: LEGENDS OF THE SANDBAR
If you ever needed an excuse to learn how to surf, this coffee table book is it! However, this is not just a picture book- even though it contains some of the most stunning images of surf culture that I have seen. Photographer and author Christopher Bickford, has made a home for himself in the sleepy Outer Banks in North Carolina, and uses it as a base to surf, write and collect documentary images. His book Legends of the Sandbar is an insider's view of life on the Banks. |
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SOUNDWAVE CROATIA: THE BEST PLACE FOR SUMMER MUSIC
ONLY ONE MORE MONTH TO GO... So you might have missed Glastonbury this weekend, but who wants to get lost in a mini city, and spend a fortune, with no phone reception in some soggy fields in Somerset?? Been there, done that! |
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YOU SAY CASTLE I SAY CHATEAU
What does France conjure up for you? Is it beautiful drives around the countryside, experimental gastronomy, heaps of history, the Eiffel Tower and late night coffees in art galleries? For me it is all the above and more. |
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TURKISH DELIGHTS ON THE AGEAN COAST
Having just returned from a long weekend in Turkey, I feel refreshed, relaxed and just tanned-enough, to receive some raised eyebrow envy from my non-journo friends.Marmaris is fondly known as the Turkish Riviera-a fishing village, busy port and well developed tourist resort on the Mediterranean coast; Located in Muğla Province, southwest Turkey, it has miles of white sandy beaches and a ten months of sun. |
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ASIA: INSIDER JOURNEYS
Asia offers endless possibilities for the adventurer. Heat, rain forest, scenery, mountains and amazing food. However it might be a daunting task to choose where to start your dream trip. That is where Insider Journeys comes in handy. Experts in planning trips for the discerning traveller, there is something on offer for everyone, and programmes can be personalised for all tastes. |
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CARIBBEAN: Sun, Sea and Swimming
Everyone who has ever visited the Caribbean will guarantee they will go back, and every patron has a favourite island, bar and story to share. As it was my first visit to the relatively undiscovered island of Nevis, I was excited to soak up all the traditions, food and sun as I could muster in my misjudged one week. |
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Lisbon: City of History and Quirky Innovation
The capital of Portugal is full of colours and flavours and guaranteed sunny weather just two and a half hour’s flight from London. This ‘little big city’ feels like an excursion off the beaten track. Bursting at the seams with history and culture, with quirky boutique hotels to stay in and delicious food to feast on - perfect for a city break. |
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THE ARTESIAN: The World’s Best Bar!
Martinis will never go out of fashion. And they come in many different guises. So check our tried and tested guide to both the traditional and more experimental places, to sample the gin based concoctions. It was hard but someone had to do it! Dirty, Porn Star, Classic, Espresso, Twisted – the choice is yours. Thank us in the morning. Or maybe after lunch! |
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ST PANCRAS RENAISSANCE LONDON
THE ST PANCRAS RENAISSANCE LONDON HOTEL, is a luxury five-star property with distinctive character- offering a truly unique place to stay, meet, eat, relax and be a busy fashionista! |
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GO TO TOKYO FOR A TOP HUG!
For the foodies, you won’t be spoilt for sushi, and the tallest freestanding tower in the world, The Tokyo Sky Tree restaurant is unforgettable. With five star cuisine, you are literally dining in the stars, and will probably rub shoulders with some local celebs too; at 345m high, you have a long way to work up an appetite in the lift, so go hungry! |
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Mykonos: Living the Ling Ling Dream
If you're a bit of a party animal, and love great food, you will probably already be aware of the delightful Greek island of Mykonos. And if you are really in the know, Ling Ling restaurant will also be on your radar as it's heading for it's second season on the island. Offering an inventive range of small plates, Ling Ling encourages guests to discover Cantonese cuisine differently and prides itself on it's open air surroundings. |
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BUDAPEST: GET INTO THE SWING
Who would have thought that you could watch a platinum album selling, 17 Grammy Award winning jazz band, in a converted cinema in Budapest? Always keen to return to the cobbled city on the River Danube, I was eager to visit the re-branded CAFe (contemporary arts festival). |