Combining a mix of society's last word and both wit and wisdom, The Steeple Times covers food, drink and fine dining as well as luxury, travel, the arts, individuals of influence and current affairs in the United Kingdom, America and elsewhere. We are best described as being akin to "a cross between The Huffington Post and Private Eye".
The magazine's following is affluent, engaged and international. With 41% of readers coming from the UK and 38% from America, The Steeple Times also has strong presence within Canadian, Italian, German and Australian territories.
December 3, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
Superb example of the “world’s ultimate limousine” to be auctioned; the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman was the favourite of dictators across the globe Produced from 1963 to 1981 with a run of 2,677 units made, the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman – also known as the ‘Grosser’ or ‘Grand Mercedes’ – is undoubtedly a star amongst cars. … Continue reading “A Dictator Rides”
November 11, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
“One of Britain’s finest 20th-century country houses” has been placed for sale for £20 million; it comes with 530 acres and was built by the late businessman Sebastian de Ferranti in the 1980s One could imagine being in the early 18th century or in Italy even on first taking a look at the Palladian … Continue reading “A Modern Beauty”
September 25, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Knightsbridge townhouse for sale for sum 11% lower than it sold for in 2011; it comes with a rather large hole in the garden that has been described as “almost as deep as the Führerbunker” To the poet and wit Henry Luttrell (1765 – 1861) “eating pâté de foie gras to the sound of trumpets” … Continue reading “A Bastard of a Basement”
September 10, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Octagonal Victorian Gothic landmark in Westchester County, New York available for rent; Bono was filmed there and it includes the only domestic Egyptian Revival room in existence A Victorian Gothic house in Irvington, Westchester County, New York that resembles a wedding cake has been put on the market to rent for £30,300 per month … Continue reading “The Icing on the Cake”
May 13, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Dame Paddy Ridsdale, as she generally known, was an intelligence operative, secretary to Ian Fleming during WW2 and the inspiration for the Bond character Miss Moneypenny. A Conservative Party stalwart and married to Member of Parliament for Harwich from 1954 to 1992 Sir Julian Ridsdale CBE (1915 – 2004), Dame Paddy – or Vicky, … Continue reading “Lady Ridsdale DBE (1921 – 2009, née Victoire Bennett)”
April 10, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Ex-Marshal Tito Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet for sale for staggering sum 1,598% higher than similar examples owned by other dictators “Benevolent communist dictator” Marshal Josip Tito, 1st President of Yugoslavia (1892 – 1980) had use of a Boeing 727 plane, a private train and a 55-foot yacht but now the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman … Continue reading “Taking the Tito”
March 25, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples extols the relevance of the Donmar Warehouse’s ‘Limehouse’ to Britain’s contemporary political climate At a time when Brexit has divided Britain and Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour continues to provide little-to-no opposition to Theresa May’s somewhat unfocused, unelected government, the relevance of a play named Limehouse is especially poignant. Based around the formation … Continue reading “Limehouse”
February 21, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Daimler used in ‘Minder’ to be auctioned alongside a Ford Capri from the same series; rather appropriately it was once clocked
February 8, 2016
February 7, 2016
by General
A leading member of the ‘smug club’, Kelly Brook claims to love animals yet reportedly laughed about punching two ex-boyfriends in the face during an interview in 2014.
September 7, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I drophead coupé owned by Bond set designer Sir Ken Adam to be auctioned at RM Sotheby’s Battersea sale tonight
September 6, 2015
by General
This dandy dynasty of diplomats and collectors of motoring marvels are renowned on the international jet set. Diplomat H.E. Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri was once termed “Arafats’s banker”
July 28, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Michael Bloomberg offers £2 million above the £15 million asking price to see off three other bidders and buys George Eliot’s house by the River Thames
July 26, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Pioneer of pizza in Britain places £1.15 million Lancashire home on the market
June 20, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
£3 million sought for a repossessed, roofless shell set in 1,530 acres of Cumbrian countryside
June 10, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Steeple Times’ asks blogger, columnist and television personality Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
March 5, 2015
February 15, 2015
by General
Born in Carpentersville, Illinois to an American Indian and a mother of Polish descent, Joyce Cohen’s tale takes in a journey from rags to riches to rags.
January 3, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
The last great Newport ‘cottage’ heads into its second year on the market
September 8, 2014
by General
The co-founder and CEO of “hospitality exchange” Airbnb grew up in Niskayuna, New York and attended the Rhode Island School of Design. Brian Chesky jointly set up his business in 2008 in San Francisco and has connected over 17 million guests as of September 2014. Offerings on the website range from yurts through to the … Continue reading “Brian Chesky”
June 19, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
An English country house that sold for a £1 and a Scottish mansion with an asking price of just £1 Downton Abbey addicts take note: For the same price as a double cheeseburger on McDonald’s saver menu you could live like the Earl and Countess Grantham if you bought a Georgian mansion in Chirnside … Continue reading “Mansions for £1”
September 30, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A website that explains the legal restrictions on the rights to take photographs Knowing your rights when it comes to taking photographs – especially in an age when most have iPhones and other smart devices with camera facilities – has never been more important.
August 17, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Can the former homes of notorious criminals ever really be ‘bargains? In recent days many newspapers have featured the sale of the apartment where Dennis Nilson committed several murders. Most refer to it as a ‘bargain’, but are such places truly really the deals they’re made out to be?
July 12, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Where will the world be without Whicker’s World? The answer: “A hell of a lot poorer”. Born in Egypt, this “broadcasting genius” shot footage of the body of Benito Mussolini during the Second World War before beginning a career interviewing the likes of John Paul Getty, the Sultan of Brunei, ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier and Peter … Continue reading “Alan Whicker CBE (1925 – 2013)”
April 26, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Max Clifford charged with 11 counts of indecent assault We recently criticised Operation Yewtree for failing to take proper action against anyone since it began. Now, with Max Clifford having been charged with 11 counts of indecent assault, progress has at last been made.
March 17, 2013
by General
Her Evening Standard editor father was known as “Chilly Charlie” and she’s become “Nuclear Wintour”. This New York based Brit states that she’s “lost count” of the number of times she’s been attacked by activists and once retaliated by sending anti-fur campaigners a plate of roast beef when they picketed her Condé Nast offices. In … Continue reading “Anna Wintour OBE”
by Matthew Steeples
This witty Northern comedian began his career as deputy headmaster at Caton Primary School in Lancashire. Best known as the host of Bullseye between 1981 and 1985, Bowen’s back in the limelight as many suggest he’s a lookalike of the new Pope. His BBC Radio Lancashire show was axed in 1999 after he referred to … Continue reading “Jim Bowen (born Peter Williams)”
March 16, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A review of Wolfgang Puck’s CUT at 45 Park Lane Continuing our series of revisiting articles from the blog that preceded The Steeple Times, today we re-publish our review of CUT at 45 Park Lane. We’re delighted to report that it’s just as good today. Wolfgang Puck once commented that he “learned more … Continue reading “Magnificently CUT”
March 9, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
This child star has morphed via a stint on the Disney Channel and in boy band ‘N Sync into an internationally known singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, dancer and businessman.
by Matthew Steeples
“Mademoiselle Khoo”, as she likes to be known, is a Paris based chef, writer and broadcaster. Bubbly and vivacious, she’s “seduced the French with Paris’ smallest restaurant” and charmed the Brits with her fresh and enthusiastic approach to all things edible. Watch out – her profile is rising faster than any soufflé.
March 3, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A five times winner at Le Mans, this British racing icon also won the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice. Described as “one of the most liked drivers of his generation”, Bell suffered minor burns whilst working with Steve McQueen on the 1971 film Le Mans and is now a global … Continue reading “Derek Bell MBE”
December 4, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Jilly Cooper’s state of the nation style summary strikes chords with Matthew Steeples Best-selling bonkbuster author Jilly Cooper might be best known for novels such as Riders and Jump! but in the 1980s and 90s she was equally lauded as “one of the Conservative Party’s most ardent supporters.” Cooper, born in 1937, showed … Continue reading “The Woman Who’ll Make Politicians Jealous”
November 17, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The sale of the The Manor House, Stoke Poges In the blog that preceded “The Steeple Times,” Matthew Steeples took a look at The Manor House at Stoke Poges in March 2012. It’s still on the market at £13,500,000 and though the price has yet to be cut, there has been uproar about revelations … Continue reading “A Monarch Carries On”
November 15, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This mouthpiece was born in Rettendon, Essex in 1958 and vents bile on all manner of subjects. Articles such as: “Why don’t more women moan like me?” and “Liz Jones’ baby craving drove her to steal husband’s sperm in ultimate deception” are frankly illustrative of why she’s so unpopular. After she got banned from the … Continue reading “Liz Jones”
November 12, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples examines the truth behind Liz Jones giving up on her “rural idyll” The Mail’s Liz Jones is a waspish woman who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Those who’ve paid even a moment’s attention to her bleating, will be familiar with lines such as: “Last week, my brand … Continue reading “The battleaxe in the Beemer”
November 5, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Edgware born Costa is best known as a member of the boy band Blue but he actually started out as an actor in the BBC’s Grange Hill. He’s sung with Stevie Wonder and Elton John and thinks that groups created via shows such as The X-Factor achieve fame “the wrong way.” We’d say he has … Continue reading “Antony Costa”
October 24, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This billionaire was born in Damascus in 1939 and declares his loves to be music, architecture, art and horse racing. His home is the £50 million neo-Georgian mansion Tusmore Park near Bicester in Oxfordshire and he supposedly paid Robbie Williams in excess of a million to perform at his daughter’s May 2012 wedding to PR … Continue reading “Wafic Saïd”
October 21, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This Kentuckian buccaneer founded Sea Containers in 1965. He is best known though buying the Hotel Cipriani in Venice for less than £1 million “on a whim” and reviving the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express. A true perfectionist with an attention to detail unlike any other, Sherwood was victorious in 2010 in a battle with the Cipriani family over … Continue reading “James Sherwood”
