Life

Even if you’re not responsible for the turkey and all its trimmings, there are plenty of things you can get involved with when it comes to Christmas Lunch. From carving the meat to serving the right wines, here are some top tips to help make your contribution a good one.

While we often spend hours, if not days, putting together the perfect Christmas lunch, it can be hard to dedicate the same care and attention to the wines that will accompany it. So let SL take the strain: we asked a Master of Wine for the best supermarket bottles to pair with each course.

From a mini film projector to a wine decanter with a patented preservation system, there are innovative, life-enhancing home gadgets to suit every need and budget. In this roundup of the latest home tech, you’ll find great gifts or perhaps it’s just time to treat yourself.

The fry-up is the godfather of breakfasts and, of course, the best way to start a weekend. Whether you’re following a heavy night out or just giving yourself a well-earned treat, four top chefs have given us four new ways to take your full English to the next level.

December has arrived and with it comes one big night too many. If your nights out don’t come with self-employment or duvet days life has to carry on as normal. From the drinks to avoid and the food to seek out, here are eight ways to help your get through it.

An Ironman is surely the greatest test of endurance. If you reckon you might be up for the challenge, there are a few things you need to know before taking the plunge. Triathlon coaches Paul Jones and Richard Miller told us everything it takes to complete an Ironman – from the hours you need to put in to the best places to train. Here is your essential guide.

There’s the one that finds you the best local handymen; the one that lets you queue jump at walk-in only restaurants; and the one that will call you a doctor at the click of a button. Not all of these are brand new, but they do all make a difference. Here are eight apps well worth downloading.

James Dawson started selling wine from the back of his motorbike while holding a full-time job in the City. Fast forward ten years and he is making a real success of Humble Grape. He tells us what it takes to run a business that includes wine bars, a wine club and subscription service, an online retail outlet and a wine school.

In the early 80s, a supermodel asked legendary London bartender Dick Bradsell for a drink that would “wake her up and mess her up”. So he invented the espresso martini. His creation has stood the test of time and now makes a fine post-dinner digestif. But how do you make a really good one for your guests? We asked four master mixologists for their take on this modern classic – each one suits a slightly different palate…

Patrick Grant is a man of many talents. He is the owner of Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons and men’s casualwear brand E. Tautz. Plus, he is founder of the Community Clothing social enterprise, which aims to create jobs and restore pride in the British textile industry. You might also know him as a judge on BBC2’s The Great British Sewing Bee. From the best soufflés to spinning classes, he gave us a glimpse into his very stylish little black book.

Deciding to buy out of London is one thing, knowing where to focus your search is another. On the one hand, you’re probably making the move to get more space and for a change of lifestyle; on the other, you still want to be able to get into the capital as quick as possible and without crippling yourself with transport costs. To help focus your search (or perhaps at this stage it’s just food for thought) SLMan spoke to the experts at Savills about everything from which towns have the most manageable commutes to the areas with the most sought after schools.

Jamie Ramsay has run across the Atacama desert, summited the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere and cycled the Salar de Uyuni salt flat – when it was flooded. Back over here, he’s the first person to run the Three Peaks and the distances in between. As he preps for his next expedition, he tells us what it takes to be an endurance adventurer.