Explore
Words: Sophy Grimshaw Retail therapy A day out shopping in Belfast will now require an extra couple of hours, thanks to the recent opening of a new House of Fraser department store. This browser’s paradise covers five floors and measures 200,000 square foot, and is the retailer’s first new store in two years; www.houseoffraser.com Iran [...]
Words: Sophy Grimshaw
Retail therapy
A day out shopping in Belfast will now require
an extra couple of hours, thanks to the recent
opening of a new House of Fraser department
store. This browser’s paradise covers five floors
and measures 200,000 square foot, and is
the retailer’s first new store in two years; www.houseoffraser.com
Iran online
For the latest from Iran, check out the bilingual Tehran
Avenue magazine for news, arts and editorial from a local
perspective. The increasingly popular online mag has an
insider’s feel. Try a cup of Middle Eastern mint tea at one of
the cafés it recommends, such as Entr’act, a cosy coffee shop
above the Jomhuri cinema; www.tehranavenue.com
Call me
In London and fancy a spontaneous pint? The
compilers of the Good Pub Guide (£14.99, Random
House) can send you details of recommended
pubs in your location. To try the service on any
internet-enabled mobile, text “goodpub” to
87080 (texts cost 50p
plus standard network
charges) and follow the
prompts. Or if you’re
abroad, new service
provider Velofone
is offering reduced
call rates in foreign
countries, with calls
to the UK and USA
from 5p a minute;
www.velofone.com
Highland beauty
The biggest spa in the Scottish Highlands has now opened on the Isle of Mull (nearest airport
Glasgow), one of the best places to admire Ben Nevis at sunset. A sauna and spray tan booth are among the treatment rooms at the new Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa, where you’ll also find a hair salon, nail bar, 17-metre swimming pool and children’s splash pool. A “deluxe overnight” package includes a massage, facial and other spa treatments, and costs £145 per person.
Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa, Craignure, Isle of Mull, + 44 (0)870 950 6267; www.crerarhotels.com
Ti amo
Couples who are as fond of
Italy as they are of each other
will love Weddings Made
In Italy. The company has
packages which can include
everything from the flowers
to an interpreter. Historic
venues on their books include
a 9th-century villa just half an
hour from Venice, complete
with rose gardens and a
swimming pool. Speaking of
water, you can even choose to
get married during a gondola
ride. Prices on quotation;
www.weddingsmadeinitaly.co.uk
Lost and found
A new gadget called Loc8tor Lite
may eliminate the panic of losing
your hotel keys or passport while
travelling. Attach one of the small
fobs to any important possessions,
then use the handheld device to
track them if they become lost.
The light on the control will flash
from red to green and make louder
beeping noises the closer you get.
Cost £44.99; www.loc8tor.co.uk
Live the high life
If you aspire to owning the likes of a sports car,
vineyard, yacht, or even just a designer handbag
but can’t see it happening this millennium, the
shared-ownership company Fractional Life might
be the answer. It offers you the chance to buy a
small stake in the high-end lifestyle in the country
of your choice. So if you’re interested in becoming
the part owner of a racehorse, visit the Fractional
Life Expo at Broadgate Event Venues, London, from
28-30 April 2008; www.fractionallife.com
