The year of gin! Spirit enjoys record sales as drinking habits change
About 40m bottles were sold over the past 12 months – enough to make 1.12bn gin and tonics – as Spain and US become key markets
business
Heston goes the whole hog this Christmas with bacon and banana trifle
Gastronomic gamble from chef Blumenthal to hit Waitrose shelves as British food stores unleash twists on festive classics
Selfridges goes bigger on bags as £300m London revamp begins
Oxford Street store to have biggest ‘handbag hall’ in the world designed with architect David Chipperfield
Still in vogue: luxury magazines defy print market gloom
Top glossy titles pull more readers and advertisers as fashion, arts and lifestyle content retains its shiny appeal
Qatar wins approval to turn US embassy in London into hotel
Westminster council accepts plan to build 137-room hotel in Grade II-listed building in Grosvenor Square
Pop music was a great leveller. Now it’s a bespoke plaything for the rich
Buying albums and watching bands were egalitarian pursuits. Now both reflect society’s wealth divide