Latest news with #FrenchRiviera
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sir Philip Green, 73, displays his slimmed down frame as he soaks up the sun at the Hotel Eden Roc in France
Sir Philip Green displayed his noticeably slimmed down frame as he soaked up the sun at the Hotel Eden Roc on the French Riviera on Wednesday. The Topshop founder, 73, cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and a pair of blue patterned shorts as he enjoyed a day at the beach. The businessman looked relaxed and carefree as he enjoyed the trappings of his still vast fortune. Philip was seen alongside Elliot Grange, the CEO of Atlantic Music Group and the husband of Lionel Richie 's daughter Sophia. Sir Philip and his wife Tina have been laid low in Monaco after the collapse of Arcadia Group, which fell into administration in 2020 at the cost of more than 700 jobs and 162 store closures, plus a £500million-plus pension scheme deficit. One of his last appearances was in October 2021, when he was seen snarling at photographers outside Harry's Bar, an exclusive London club. He was understood to have been on a brief visit to Britain, in part to have dental treatment. The mogul was accompanied by Tina, who was named in 2020 in the explosive Pandora Papers about offshore tax havens. The leaked documents appeared to show that she bought four multi-million-pound properties while BHS – the department store she once owned with her husband – teetered on the brink of collapse. Arcadia's assets, including the luxury furnishings of Sir Philip's boardroom, were sold, the Topshop brand was acquired by online retailer Asos, and Ikea moved into the Oxford Street building following its £378 million sale. Arcadia also oversaw the chains Dorothy Perkins, Burton and Miss Selfridge. The Greens previously sold BHS for £1 to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, who was last year sentenced to six years in jail for tax evasion over the 2015 sale. The chain collapsed the following year, and MPs subsequently dubbed Sir Philip 'the unacceptable face of capitalism' over the affair. Despite the fall of the one-time high street retail king, the Greens are still worth £910 million, according to The Sunday Times Rich List, and continue to enjoy the trappings of their wealth.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hugo Lloris behind Riviera FC rebrand
LAFC goalkeeper and former France international Hugo Lloris (38) is behind the rebrand of a club on the French Riviera. Lloris, a shareholder and ambassador of the formerly named VSJB FC (Villefranche Saint-Jean Beaulieu FC), and club president Cédric Messina are behind a complete rebrand of the club, which will see it renamed Riviera FC. Riviera FC's logo Advertisement The rebrand is part of attempts to grow the club, currently in the National 3, which not only entails making a climb up the ladder in the French game, but also improving its training of young players. Notably, the club has a partnership with the Zidane Académie, a partnership signed with the perspective of improving the level of training provided for the younger players. 'Today, we are at a turning point for the club,' said Messina in a press release marking the rebrand. 'By becoming Riviera FC, we are affirming a renewed ambition.' Last season, Riviera FC finished sixth in their National 3 group. The rebrand, instigated by Lloris, it is hoped will raise the club to new heights. GFFN | Luke Entwistle
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
In Conversation With Hugo Toro: The Designer Du Jour You Need To Know
Hugo Toro in La Minerva, Rome Hugo Toro is the hospitality designer to know right now. The French-Mexican artist, architect and interior designer is at the helm of some of the most imaginative new hotel and hospitality projects in Europe, including the Paris' Michelin-starred Pur' restaurant in Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, Marlow in Monte Carlo's new Mareterra, and the intimate retro reverie Le Mas Candille in Mougins above Cannes, in the French Riviera. Perhaps most exciting of all, Toro is behind Accor's first Orient Express hotel, Hôtel la Minerva in Rome. What sets Toro apart is his ability to balance narrative with detail. His spaces tell stories—of place, of history, of fantasy—while still delivering on the intimacy and functionality that high-end travellers expect today. It is designed as escapism but with a rigorous architectural underpinning. Forbes spoke with Toro to find out more. I think what resonates, first and foremost, is that I do this job with real passion. I genuinely love what I do, and I believe that comes across. People today are looking for interiors that envelop them; warm, welcoming places where they feel comfortable, almost at home. In my work, I try to create spaces that have the softness of candlelight, that evoke the warmth of a lived-in apartment. I'm not afraid of small imperfections in a layout: an unexpected nook, a curve, a less-obvious transition. These are often the moments that give a place its character. And above all, everything is custom-designed: the architecture, lighting, fabrics, furniture... Every element contributes to creating a unique space, rooted in its context. I also enjoy crafting a narrative through references, whether historical or contemporary. This patchwork of influences is, to me, a very modern approach to design [and] a kind of invitation to travel. Above all, I hope my style is embodied. I like to create a tailored story for each project. For me, a hotel in the mountains has nothing to do with a hotel in Rome. Each place has its own energy, its relationship to the landscape, the light, and local history. So, my style is nomadic. What interests me is finding the right balance between modernity, respect for the past, and, most importantly, respect for context—whether architectural, geographical, or human. I like to go deep into detail with a holistic vision that embraces both architecture and interior architecture. Everything is thought out together, like a single story. La Minerva I had the chance to design the very first Orient Express Hotel, to open its doors to the world. And that opportunity also came with a kind of freedom: I didn't have to work around existing design constraints from the past. I could imagine new codes for a brand that already belongs to the collective imagination. I wanted architecture that was rooted in its context, in this case, Rome, without falling into pastiche. The building itself is iconic and steeped in history, and I wanted to subtly embed the spirit of the Orient Express into it, as a kind of thread running throughout. The references are there, but they appear as nods—in the details, the proportions, the materials. The goal was to propose timeless architecture, capable of becoming an institution not just static decor. Le Mas Candille is a very different project from the Orient Express in Rome. It's an intimate boutique hotel nestled in a large park. Each room feels like a little house scattered in nature. The atmosphere is that of a vacation retreat, with a much softer, almost domestic scale. In Rome, the hotel interacts with the city with its intensity and monumentality. At Le Mas Candille, the relationship is with the landscape, with time slowing down. They are two very different projects, and I love them for that reason. I couldn't choose between the two. What I seek is diversity—the chance to reinvent myself with each location. Le Mas Candille This approach has always been central to my practice. I was trained in both architecture and interior architecture, and for me, there is no real boundary between the two. Everything is connected; everything influences everything else. In the Minerva project in Rome, for example, I designed the major architectural structures, like the glass roofs, but also the smallest furniture details. I love moving from macro to micro, creating a seamless transition between the shell and the fit-out. It's an organic vision, where each element has its place, like in a living organism. My goal is always to create a coherent, fluid, 360-degree experience. I'm genuinely interested in any kind of project. What moves me is a place's ability to tell a story. But if I had to dream a little, I'd love to design a sailboat. It's such a poetic world, where the interior and exterior blend together, and space is in constant motion. On the opposite end, I'd also like to design a crematorium. These are often dehumanized places. Giving them back a sense of beauty, dignity, and serenity would be deeply moving for me. And then, in a more whimsical, fantastical register: why not a hot air balloon or even a zeppelin? Right now, I'm really developing my artistic practice outside of architecture. Painting has become a daily passion. It's a very direct, intuitive act that reconnects me to a form of spontaneity. And even though it's a separate world, I feel it nourishes how I design spaces. Drawing, color, composition, material: these all create bridges between my two practices. Painting brings me a new kind of freedom that is starting to infuse my projects, including hotels, with a perhaps more sensitive and personal approach.
Geek Tyrant
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
The Animated Studio Behind ARCANE Developing MISS SATURNE Series Inspired by 1980s New Wave Music — GeekTyrant
French animation studio Fortiche, which helped redefine animated storytelling with Arcane , is diving into a fresh, original story. Teaming up with French-German broadcaster Arte, Fortiche has announced Miss Saturne , a coming-of-age miniseries set in the 1980s, rooted in the emotional rhythms of adolescence and the sonic pulse of New Wave music. Based on Barbara Israël's novel of the same name, Miss Saturne follows 16-year-olds Mercy and Tom as they flee the French Riviera on a night train. Along the way, a mixtape of New Wave tracks becomes their emotional roadmap through memory and trauma, guiding them back through the highs and heartbreaks of youth. This marks Fortiche's second new project since wrapping Arcane Season 2, and it's a different, more grounded project for the studio. Still stylish, still emotionally charged, but more intimate in scope. Fortiche founder Jérôme Combe said in a statement: 'With Miss Saturne , we've found a team with the perfect artistic sensibility. Louise Silverio brings her already known flair for coming-of-age stories, having worked on the award-winning series Happiness and Ceux qui rougissent. 'Anne Raffin, who worked on Arcane and music videos, fully shares our desire to explore a strong aesthetic for today's youth. This project is an opportunity for us to explore indie animation designed for the new generation.' The 2D-animated series is being developed with ARTE France and Les Storygraphes, with Silverio writing and Raffin directing. It's being shaped into ten short episodes, each 10 minutes long. According to co-producer Annelyse Vieilledent of Les Storygraphes: 'At a time when young people are rediscovering the retro musical repertoire of that decade, I'm convinced that this free, visceral and resolutely pop tale will resonate strongly with them.' That generational thread is exactly what Fortiche hopes to tap into. The studio says the series aligns with their deep connection to music as a narrative tool. Production is aiming for 2026 with a release in 2027. Fortiche is currently in talks with international platforms and partners to broaden the show's global reach. Meanwhile, the team is at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week for a special Arcane exhibition. Curated with Riot Games and the festival itself, the exhibit offers fans a peek behind the curtain with concept art, props, and exclusive production materials.
Times
6 days ago
- Times
The Côte d'Azur has reinvented cool — and it's stylishly affordable
There you'd be, driving past a screen of high hedges and electric gates on the French Riviera, wondering when you'll get another glimpse of the Mediterranean, and the hotel would zip past your window like a misplaced dental clinic from the 1950s. Straight out of Palm Springs, perhaps, or even Las Vegas. Long-slung, flat-topped and ever so modernist, the single-storey street front in the town of St Raphaël, between St Tropez and Cannes, is certainly eye-catching but it doesn't break the wall of overdevelopment that hems in so much of the Côte d'Azur. Nor does it promise anything approaching coastal splendour. A split second later, you'd put your foot down and accelerate off towards the glitzy Cap d'Antibes or the rocky grandeur of the Massif de l'Esterel. But you'd be missing out. Because that austere whitewashed façade hides one of the loveliest seafronts in the south of France — and one of the coolest Côte d'Azur hotels to have opened in the past ten years. Les Roches Rouges has just had an £11 million growth spurt too, expanding into a secret cove along the coast, and last month I was first in to have a look at what's new. The appeal is obvious as soon as you open the hotel's front door. Framed by a glass wall at the far end of its reception yawns a widescreen strip of sea and sky — and as you walk first towards it, then out onto the balcony, you realise you're not on the ground floor but right at the top of the building. Everything else (apart from one of its restaurants) drops away below you, clinging to the side of a cliff. Three floors of bedrooms, a small spa, another restaurant, a sizeable terrace: they're all there, layered up in a brilliant white slab of concrete that butts straight out into the glittering sea. It's so close, the waves seem to break right underneath your feet. 'It was built as a three-star in the 1950s and it was way past its best when we found it,' Billy Skelli-Cohen tells me when I join him for a drink on the terrace shortly after I check in. Skelli-Cohen is chief executive of the boutique hotel brand Beaumier, which rescued Les Roches Rouges from obscurity in 2018. 'Rescued' is the word, because this was not a rebuild. Beaumier's trick is to find dated but distinctive properties in extraordinary places and then work with what's already there — 'respecting the building's DNA', as Skelli-Cohen puts it. Elsewhere that means celebrating the playful, art nouveau architecture of the Grand Hotel Belvedere in Wengen, Switzerland, and preserving the muscular simplicity of a former watermill that is now La Moulin at Lourmarin in Provence. In Les Roches Rouges' case, it's about showing off its mid-century concrete rather than trying to conceal it — and then setting it against richly textured details. The library of hardback art books, the butterfly chairs and the alarmingly moreish cocktails all seem to have more impact when placed amid such architectural rigour. The colours, meanwhile, are muted. Think white walls, terracotta table lamps, ochre rugs and lots of cadmium red in the abstract art. Which is just as it should be when nearly every floor-to-ceiling window is a slab of dazzling blue. Almost all of them look straight out to sea. Add two swimming pools into the mix, as well as Michelin-starred food and room rates, including breakfast, that start from £338 a night (which counts as mid-range in these parts), and it's no wonder Les Roches Rouges quickly found its way on to many top ten Côte d'Azur hotel lists. Now Beaumier has gone a step further and invested in a second phase of expansion. Central to this new project has been an extension of the site westwards to incorporate a snack bar (focaccia sandwiches from £12), a place to launch the hotel's paddleboards and kayaks, a yoga studio and an annexe that adds 25 bedrooms, bringing the total to 67. Not surprisingly, on a coast where property prices can easily top those in Paris, it has cost a small fortune. But the money has been well spent. Les Roches Rouges can now extend its sense of ease and comfort along the whole length of this hidden (and nameless) cove. When half of Europe is jostling for elbow room hereabouts, that seems nothing short of miraculous. Inside, the new bedrooms are as zesty as the red tuna ceviche at the hotel's main Estelo restaurant, which they serve with a sidekick of chilli (mains from £27). Designed by the Parisian architecture studio Atelier St Lazare, the rooms have the same sense of restraint as those in the main building, with polished concrete floors, more books and pops of colourful art. They have the same sense of quiet luxury too, courtesy of their lush bed linen and Grown Alchemist soaps and smells. But here the dazzling intensity of sea and sunlight seems to wash in with even greater force. Leave the floor-to-ceiling windows open at night and you worry you'll wake up with the waves breaking over your feet. • The best European cities for art lovers Meanwhile, there's a new chef cooking up a storm in Récif, the top-floor gastronomic restaurant (six-course menus from £126). Previously, Alexandre Baule was at L'Alpaga, a Beaumier property in Megève in the French Alps, whose restaurant won its first Michelin star in 2023. Now he's brought his love of seasonality to the coast and is playing with the way its flavours arrive at different speeds in your mouth. Never more so than with his jelly of pastis and sea water served with a jasmine emulsion, which starts salty but suddenly turns floral across your tongue. But don't set your heart on any particular dish. Thanks to his collaboration with the sustainable St Raphaël fisherman Olivier Bardoux, Baule's menus change daily. It comes as no surprise to learn that, once they get their electronic-wristband room keys, most guests at Les Roches Rouges don't step beyond the front door until it's time to settle the bill. For the most part they're design-conscious couples from London and America in their late twenties or early thirties, and many are honeymooning. But there are empty nesters sprinkled among them too, relishing their hard-won freedom. Usually, all are stretched out on sunloungers by the two pools, equipped with a cocktail and a little light holiday reading. Every now and again, however, one of them walks to the end of the hotel's jetty and dives into the sea. I don't blame them for not exploring. When you've got front-row seats like this, the Med is mesmerising. All the same, it's a crying shame because half a mile up the coast Mother Nature has her own surprise to share. Up there, at Cap Dramont, the mountains of the Massif de l'Esterel break through the coast road's cordon of villas, bars and marinas to plunge their red-rocked feet straight into the sea. I wander over on my final afternoon and as soon as I leave the main forest track, the world turns raw and wild. Overgrown footpaths weave through thickets of laurel, olive trees and pine. Deep channels of seawater sparkle invitingly between the cliffs and, occasionally, I use hands as well as feet to climb. In other words, it is just like Les Roches Rouges — a wake-up call for anyone who, like me, has ever written off the Riviera as samey and soulless. Suddenly, the only thing I don't like about it is having to Newsom was a guest of Les Roches Rouges, which has B&B doubles from £388 ( Fly to Nice Les Roches Rouges isn't the only hotel in Provence and the Côte d'Azur making a fuss of its 20th-century architecture. In Nice, the 35-room Hotel Gounod has been reborn in a shimmering, boudoir style that's the perfect match for its intricate art deco façade (B&B doubles from £138; Keep it in mind if you're visiting the Matisse Méditerranées show at the city's Matisse Museum this summer (until September 8; The exhibition includes loans from MoMA in New York and the Pompidou in Paris. It's part of Nice's Year of the Sea ( that also includes The Midnight Zone, an immersive installation that explores the deepest parts of the ocean. • More top hotels in Nice Meanwhile, inland from St Raphaël, two 19th-century properties are flying the flag for stylish B&B-keeping. Two years ago, the former coaching inn Le Gabriel put the hilltop village of Claviers on the map with its mix of zesty colours, big windows and playful decoration. Its five arty bedrooms and suites start from £190 a night B&B ( Nearby, in Draguignan, the five-suite Château Pimo opened this year with a more subdued colour scheme, but the same eye for detail as well as its own spa (B&B suites from £230; Both lie within striking distance of the spectacular Gorges du Verdon canyon. Further west, Aix-en-Provence's tight historic streets are always gorgeous and atmospheric. But this year the city is also honouring Cézanne, its most famous son, with a blockbuster exhibition at the Musée Granet (June 28 to October 12; as well as the reopening of the Jas de Bouffan, his parents' surprisingly highfalutin' home. The gardens at the recently refurbished Hôtel Le Pigonnet offer a welcome refuge from the gallery-going (B&B doubles from £233; while the town's thriving restaurant scene is strong with plenty of mid-priced menus. In the centre, Les Galinas has just been awarded one of Michelin's coveted Bib Gourmands for affordable, Provençal gastronomy that includes bourride (fish stew) (mains from £18; The newly opened O'père on the outskirts, has a growing reputation for its deeply flavoured sauces (mains from £20; • Great restaurants in Nice Finally, to the north of Aix lies a corner of Provence that's less touristy but no less delightful. The town of Carpentras is one of its stars, thanks to its sprawling Friday market — the perfect place to scoff the divine local nectarines, as soon as you've bought them. But it's also home to spectacular hiking beneath the limestone crags of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and two top-notch wine areas. Head to the villages of Gigondas and Vacqueyras for succulent, fruity reds, and to the new tasting cellar at the Domaine de Coyeux for sweet and fragrant Muscat de Beaumes de Venise ( Ten miles south of Carpentras, in the riverside town of L'Isle Sur La Sorgue, the L'Isle de Leos is a new, five-star MGallery property in a former watermill, decked out in a rich cinnamon-and-chocolate colour scheme. It opens next month with enticing introductory pricing (B&B doubles from £298;
