Latest news with #Allsopp
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
William Sitwell reviews The Blue Stoops, London: ‘This, in all its mash-and-cabbage glory, is the menu of Reform'
They were literally smashing down my past when I walked along Kensington Church Street in London, heading for The Blue Stoops. In the 1990s I lived with my brother, George, around the corner, at the summit of Notting Hill, on a street called Farm Place. Knowing there was a rehab in Surrey of the same name we spent our time putting in the work so the inevitable move from one to the other would be seamless. And much of that effort was concentrated at Kensington Place. Rowley Leigh was the chef of that tall-ceilinged, vast goldfish bowl of a restaurant; the theatrical Tim Brice maître d'. The scene was a constant, civilised party, fuelled by the likes of Leigh's foie gras on a bed of sweetcorn and his chicken and goat's cheese mousse. But, no sooner had I turned the corner of Notting Hill in happy reverie about glorious KP than the air was shattered by thunderous noise. I walked past the old site as demolition dust blew up and into my face. Having eaten most of the menu decades ago, I was now swallowing what was left of the building. Fortunately The Blue Stoops offered respite from my melancholy. Indeed it did far more than that. This corner pub – recently opened by the Allsopp's brewing family and named after the 18th-century tavern (now long since gone) where their first drop of ale was brewed – offers comfort in spades. Nay, shovels. There's a drinking area that's all nooks and crannies, with dark wood panelling, a chequered tile floor and a handsome blue-tiled bar. The ceiling is fag-smoke brown and there's a comfortable dining room filled with caramel-brown banquettes and a couple of booths. And into this Victoriana, where warmth radiates from the staff, comes a wholesome menu to match. You might call it all-day Edwardian. For the starters comprise a trencherman's breakfast – oysters, anchovy toast and devilled eggs – and for lunch or supper you can mix it up with rabbit croquettes, ham hock pie, braised shoulder of lamb, a plate of cheese, and walnut tart. It is distinctly, chest-pumpingly, vow-to-thee-my-country English food. If vegan is hallowed turf to the Lib Dems, then this, in all its rabbity, mash-and-cabbage glory, is the menu of Reform. Three devilled eggs came first, the filling within the hard white cleverly topped with orange fish roe to mimic the yolk – a gentle starter which laid the groundwork for a very tempting 'anchovy toast'. But where was the anchovy? I cut my way through the undergrowth of white onion, parsley and capers and still, on reaching the toast, found none. 'Where's the anchovy?' we wept to the waiter. He told us the chef whips it into the butter. Yet, just like KP, alas, there was no trace of it. There was full-on flavour, however, in three rabbit croquettes, crisp to bite into, warming and gamey within. Joe was enjoying a very fine ham hock pie, but I had the lunch of champions: braised lamb – soft and earthy, the skin crisp and blackened a touch, covered in a green sauce (I detected chives and spinach and parsley). With spring-like green beans dotted around the plate, it was a dish well-balanced but also deeply sumptuous and comforting, like a magic potion for happiness. After a slab of nicely stinky Pevensey Blue cheese, we shared a simple, but very fine, pud of meringue, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Truly one of the best that Ephrata High School has to offer'
Jun. 4—EPHRATA — Hannah Keen, a senior at Ephrata High School, has been recognized as one of the June Students of the Month for her exceptional growth, dedication and positivity both in and outside the classroom, according to Marla Allsopp, the teacher who nominated her. Allsopp, an English teacher, has had the privilege of teaching Keen in her College English 101 and 102 classes and the award highlights Keen's journey from a struggling student to a passionate learner and leader. Having known Keen since her sophomore year, Allsopp has witnessed firsthand the significant transformation in Keen's academic and personal life. "Her growth and how she has come out of her shell, and how she has really discovered who she is, has been really inspiring to me," Allsopp said. The recognition of Keen as Student of the Month is not merely an acknowledgment of her academic achievements but a celebration of her character and willingness to support others, Allsopp said. Allsopp emphasized Keen's inclusive spirit, pointing out her ability to connect with her peers regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. "She really is accepting and wants to listen to you and knows that she has something to learn from you," Allsopp said. This quality not only fosters a positive environment but also encourages open dialogue among classmates, leading to more engaging discussions in the classroom, Allsop explained. Keen has consistently demonstrated leadership in academic settings, particularly during class discussions, according to her teacher. "She leads the discussion, asking people questions and digging into why they think the way they think," Allsopp said. Allsopp elaborated, saying Keen's conversational skills not only promote participation but also allow her to respectfully disagree with others, when necessary, a vital leadership trait that encourages critical thinking. "I absolutely hear what you're saying, but this is the way that I saw that," Keen said, reflecting on her approach to discourse. In her college English classes, Keen exceeded expectations through her detailed and research-driven work. "She will come in several times during the days as she's preparing to ask me questions and tell me about other research articles that she's looked up," Allsopp said. Keen's curiosity and proactive nature make her not only a student who seeks knowledge but also one who shares it, Allsopp said, helping her classmates understand complex materials in the process. Beyond academics, Keen has shown a commitment to extracurricular activities. She has been involved in the Hope Squad, an organization focused on mental health awareness, for three years and played a vital role in coordinating activities that promote peer support. Allsopp praised her dedication. "She showed up every single day and made sure things were happening, made sure things were going on," her teacher said. Allsopp said this commitment has encouraged other students to engage in the initiative, highlighting Keen's ability to make a difference within her school community. When asked about her passions, Keen shared that reading is one of her favorite pastimes. "You can live a thousand different lives and learn so much from reading," Keen said. Her love of literature has significantly shaped her educational experience, especially this year, as her English teacher introduced her to new writers and ideas. "It was so nice to escape from the hectic chaos of senior year," she said. Keen also encourages her peers through her own journey. Reflecting on her past struggles, she provided advice to younger students. "Life probably sucks right now, but it will not suck forever. All you can do is keep moving forward," Keen said. She said this perspective has not only been a guiding light in her life but also serves as encouragement for those who may face similar challenges. As she prepares to graduate, Keen plans to attend South Puget Sound Community College to pursue a paralegal degree while balancing work. Her aspirations reflect her diligence and commitment to personal development. "I just want to see where life takes me," she said. Allsopp said Keen's nomination as Student of the Month encapsulates her remarkable journey of resilience, leadership and friendship. Along with her ability to uplift her peers while wholeheartedly engaging in her studies, she sets an inspiring example for students at Ephrata High School. "She is truly one of the best that Ephrata High School has to offer," Allsopp said.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I recently moved in with my boyfriend - I never expected us to be at 'war' over windows
We moved into the flat in January of last year, my boyfriend and I. By then we had been going out for about two years. I assumed living together would be straightforward, and it has been. I look forward to seeing him every evening; he is a good cook; he is practical; he is tidy. The trouble is that we have, it transpires, very different concepts of temperature, ventilation and smells. Those concepts being: he gets cold all the time, would live in a home that was hermetically sealed and does not mind the aroma of food. I, however, rarely get cold and could have had a good career as a sniffer dog. I smell everything – strongly and unpleasantly. And so we entered into a window war. I would wake up early, get out of bed, go into the kitchen to make my tea and open the window. Half an hour later, he would wake up, get out of bed, go into the kitchen to make his coffee and push the window shut. The evenings were worse. My boyfriend would cook entire meals with the windows closed, the useless extractor fan fixed on a measly setting. I would walk through the front door, sniff twice and know we were having mushrooms for supper. Candles and diffusers were no help: next morning I got up and the food smells remained. I confided in a friend at the pub. Living together was lovely, I said, but there was this weird and tricky thing about cooking and smells and windows. 'Oh,' she said, setting down her glass, her voice becoming suddenly serious. 'You have to have the windows open. Always.' Apparently her cousin – a boy who also didn't mind smells – never cooked with the windows open. He was a vegan so was always making stews. Eventually, she said, 'The smell of chickpeas baked in to the walls.' The thought of our otherwise happy flat becoming a giant legume scared me so much that I went home that evening, opened all the windows and sat in the living room for a while so it could air out. It was midnight – and late January. I felt mad sitting in the cold, but I shouldn't have: in fact, I was pre-empting a trend. Last month, the TV presenter and property expert Kirstie Allsopp advised people to practise lüften, a German ritual that involves opening windows wide every day, no matter how chilly it is, for at least ten minutes. As Allsopp explained, 'It is the way to deal with the majority of mould and damp problems.' She didn't mention that it is also the way to deal with pesky cooking smells but I'm sure she thinks that, too. Consequently there were lots of articles with headlines like, 'I tried Kirstie Allsopp's easy (and free) trick for fixing black mould – the results were remarkable' and 'Struggling with mould? Kirstie Allsopp swears by this simple German trick'. Of course, what people on the internet are branding a new home hack I think a lot of others just call 'common sense'. Still, opening the windows has, sort of, gone viral. When I proudly told my boyfriend about lüften, he said that having the windows open for ten minutes in the morning was quite different from having them open for hours in the evening while cooking as, in an ideal world, I would. I ignored this, obviously. I am not alone in long-running window wars – wars that are, it transpires, fought over matters other than just cooking smells. My boss's partner likes their house to be heated to T-shirt weather all year but will also 'infuriatingly' open the bedroom window above the radiators that are on full blast. 'And he's not paying the bills!' A cold-averse colleague also describes a 20-year-long (and ongoing) battle with her husband over a back door that leads from their kitchen to a draughty conservatory. She doesn't like the cold so keeps the door shut; he doesn't bother. 'I can be in the living room with the door shut and I still know he's got that bloody door open. And, obviously, I can't just ask him not to do this, I have to passive-aggressively, with a massive sigh, heave myself off the sofa, pointedly slam the door shut and go and put a jumper on until the downstairs has heated up again.' These battles don't end when the weather warms. One member of YOU magazine staff reckons this time of year is, actually, the worst for the window wars. 'After a few days of sunshine, it's like a switch flips. My husband goes, 'Right!' and turns off all the radiators and opens all the windows – at all times. But it's still freezing in the evenings.' Another says she specifically likes the windows to be closed in summer, rather than winter, because of her hayfever. Open windows let the pollen in. She is convinced her boyfriend buys her pollen-heavy flowers, like lilies, so that the flat itself becomes polleny and she's forced to crack open a window. (I admire his tactics.) Also: noise. The same colleague whose husband now has the windows open constantly says that she's woken up by birdsong at 5am. 'The dawn chorus is at its peak in May!' I grew up under the flight path, so am immune to sounds. My dad, however – who sleeps with the windows open – was woken up, for 26 years, systematically, every day, at 4am by the clamour of the first plane. He has now moved house. These conflicts aren't just at home, either. Safety measures mean you cannot open the windows yourself in either a simple room at a Premier Inn or a suite at The Ritz. Michelle Obama complained that the worst thing about living in the White House was not being allowed to open the windows on security grounds. There are many reasons why I will never become the first lady and/or the leader of the free world – not having been born in the United States, an (at best) flimsy understanding of geopolitics – but the idea of being unable to open windows in my own home is the primary obstacle. After a year and a bit, my boyfriend and I still haven't worked out a window system that suits us. And there is, I admit, one actual snag, that comes with keeping the windows open all the time. Not that it's cold, or that it's noisy, but that stuff can get in: like mice or, worse, moths. But that is another battle altogether.
Arabian Business
02-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Dubai real estate: Off-plan property sales surge 47% year-on-year in April
Dubai's off-plan property market recorded significant growth in April, supported by sustained interest from international investors and local buyers seeking new developments, according to Allsopp & Allsopp. According to the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the total real estate transaction value in April reached AED46 billion. This represents a 77 per cent increase compared to April last year and a 23 per cent rise from the previous month. Dubai off-plan surge Off-plan transactions drove much of this growth, with a 47 per cent increase in transaction value and a 29 per cent rise in volume year-on-year. These figures underline continued demand for properties under development. Off-plan sales accounted for 59 per cent of all transactions in April. 'Whether you are an investor or a homeowner looking to diversify your portfolio, the off-plan market is where the real opportunity lies,' Lewis Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp said. Allsopp & Allsopp reported a 99 per cent increase in year-on-year sales transaction volume, outperforming the wider market. Sales transaction value rose by 143 per cent compared to April 2024. The secondary market also showed strong activity. The average property price rose by 23 per cent month-on-month, with total transaction value increasing by 41 per cent. Year-on-year, secondary sales grew by 111 per cent in value and 68 per cent in volume. The segment accounted for 57 per cent of the total transaction value in April, with off-plan contributing 43 per cent. Villas and townhouses led the market in terms of price growth. Average values rose by 34 per cent month-on-month, while transaction volume more than doubled with a 110 per cent increase year-on-year. Apartments also recorded a 32 per cent year-on-year rise in average prices. 'We are witnessing a clear trend towards homeownership in Dubai with more individuals recognising the city as a stable and attractive place to settle and invest long-term, not just in villas but also in apartments,' said Allsopp. 'Where previously buyers may have rented before purchasing, many are now skipping that step and directly purchasing properties, drawn by the high-quality offerings of new developments,' he added. Rental transactions, meanwhile, declined. The DLD reported a 24 per cent decrease in rental volume in April. Allsopp & Allsopp noted a 9 per cent fall. This suggests a shift in preference towards property ownership. As demand continues, developers are expanding offerings to remain competitive. 'Developers are raising the bar and becoming increasingly competitive, offering world-class amenities and community-focused living spaces that are attracting strong buyer interest and fostering long-term loyalty,' Allsopp said.
Evening Standard
29-04-2025
- Evening Standard
Kirstie Allsopp's husband's plan for Kensington pub sparks upskirting fears
Early last year, Wentworth Anderson drew the anger of locals after a sign was put up on the building with Allsopp's name on it — the co-presenter of Location, Location, Location — which led some to believe she was behind the renovation and was imposing her name on the area.
