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.
September 10, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
Will ‘more toff than tough’ Geordie Greig take the ‘Daily Mail’ into the realm of rational? Matthew Steeples suggests that’s as likely as Jacob Rees-Mogg donning a Kappa tracksuit and dancing a jig with Diane Abbott Yesterday, in an opinion piece for The Guardian, Jane Martinson claimed new editor of the Daily Mail Geordie … Continue reading “The Gamble of Greig”
June 1, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
A 20-question interview with criminal justice expert, former police officer and Liberal Democrat candidate for Kensington Annabel Mullin The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? To live every moment to the fullest and make the biggest difference to people’s lives that I can. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, … Continue reading “Annabel Mullin – What’s on your mantelpiece?”
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 25, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Actor Michael Caine claims to be “a socialist” in spite of having been involved in a tax avoidance scheme and previously leaving Britain to avoid the top rate of tax in the 1970s Sir Michael Caine, CBE is a man who flip-flops like no other and whose political views are best described as “chaotic”. … Continue reading “Wally of the Week – Sir Michael Caine”
September 15, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Armoured Jaguar that served as Margaret Thatcher’s last car – and which was also used by David Cameron – sells at auction Offered with an estimate of £15,000 to £20,000 ($19,800 to $26,400 or €17,600 to €23,600), an armoured Jaguar XJ8 used by Margaret Thatcher sold at auction yesterday for £37,500 ($49,900 or €44,200). … Continue reading “Thatcher’s Jag”
April 22, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Remembering one of London’s great ladies, Marisa Masters
December 5, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times selects three of the best items on offer in the online auction of items formerly owned by Margaret Thatcher
August 10, 2015
June 3, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
An American election contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton would most definitely be something to relish
February 20, 2015
by General
Tesco heiress Dame Shirley Porter joined Twitter in August 2014 and describes herself there as “an English philanthropist and former UK politician residing in Israel”.
January 12, 2015
by General
This Spanish socialite and fashion model has – alongside Coco Chanel, Carolina Herrera, Diana, The Princess of Wales, Baroness Thatcher and Anna Wintour – been a member of the International Best Dressed List since 1984.
September 14, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples suggests that David Cameron needs to show his hand Yesterday, David Cameron attended the wedding of his wife’s half-brother, Jake Astor. Unlike others, we have no problem with that but at a time when Isis have beheaded a British hostage and when the Union teeters on a knife-edge, many have called for … Continue reading “Where is David Cameron?”
August 6, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks The Nth Degree Club’s founder Robert Walton MBE: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
July 28, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
“Who the f*ck is Matt Forde?” – allegedly the words of Noel Gallagher – are the first thing one encounters on accessing the website of this comedian and one time political advisor to the Labour Party. Nottingham born and the son of a former nun, Forde’s Twitter handles reads: “A talentless liar, a shameless sycophantic … Continue reading “Matt Forde”
December 31, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Thoughts for the year ahead 2013 has not been the best of years. We’ve lost Margaret Thatcher and Sir David Frost and the word “selfie” has entered the Oxford English Dictionary. The economy has not got better – despite the nonsense spouted on the BBC – and the slaying of Private Rigby summed up … Continue reading “Goodbye 2013”
December 29, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
20 questions with food writer and car collector Morgan Murphy The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Bourbon and bacon, which is, by the way, the title of my next book coming out from Time Inc. next year. No, it’s not a diet book. “Don’t get even, get medieval” … Continue reading “Morgan Murphy: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
December 27, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The births, deaths and innovations of the year 2013 has been a year of change. Much new has reached us but sadly many have left us and amongst them have been Iain Banks, Joan Fontaine, Sir David Frost, Richard Griffiths, Cory Monteith, James Gandolfini, Lou Reed and Paul Walker.
December 20, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
20 questions with former English rugby union player and England captain Lewis Moody The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Family and friends who will always keep you grounded and honest “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? A man’s character … Continue reading “Lewis Moody: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
December 12, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
‘Cotswold style’ mansion dramatically reduced in price after 14 years on the market Americans love all things British and they especially love to replicate our architecture. In the Northern Californian town of Hillsborough, a fine example is a 35,000 square foot mansion named The Tobin Clark Estate.
November 28, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Mirror’ is wrong to attack Boris Johnson’s speech to the Centre for Policy Studies The Mirror is a left-wing paper so some would say their latest attack on Boris Johnson was inevitable, but this time they are utterly wrong.
November 27, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Steven Berkoff’s ‘Greek’ at The Barons Court Theatre Running until Saturday 30th November, Greek by Steven Berkoff is performing nightly at The Barons Court Theatre within The Curtains Up public house.
October 7, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
That Ed Miliband was prepared to pose with an individual who wishes to dance on Margaret Thatcher’s grave is an utter disgrace Whilst Ed Miliband was rightly offended by the attacks upon his late father, he has brought shame upon himself in appearing in a photograph with a Labour activist wearing a T-shirt declaring … Continue reading “Ed Miliband: A true hypocrite”
August 4, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Atlantic Wire’ compares the British Conservative Party with both the American Republican Party and Democratic Party Traditionally the British Conservative Party is seen to align itself to the American Republican Party whilst the British Labour Party finds itself having more in common with the American Democratic Party. An article this week in The … Continue reading “Seeing blue”
July 17, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
As it is revealed that the late Baroness Thatcher attempted to get Jimmy Savile knighted four times, we call for a wholescale review of the British honours system Today, The Independent revealed that it took the late Margaret Thatcher four attempts to get the late Jimmy Savile knighted.
July 8, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
20 questions with author, screenwriter, playwright and literary critic Peter Jukes The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? ‘Duende’. Sounds pretentious I know, but it basically means follow things, people, events that have ‘soul’. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? … Continue reading “Peter Jukes: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
June 15, 2013
by steepleadmin
Claire Rubinstein laments this year’s Father’s Day offerings As far as celebrations go, Father’s Day seems to be a decidedly tepid affair if the dismal offerings from the High Street are anything to go by.
May 24, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Lord McAlpine shares his views on how to deal with the media In his 1999 book, The New Machiavelli: The Art of Politics in Business, Lord McAlpine, who successfully defeated Sally Bercow in a libel action today stated: “Another option is for the businessperson to learn the art of dealing with the media, … Continue reading “A word of advice from Lord McAlpine”
May 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks private investor and chairman of the Saltydog Investor Douglas Chadwick: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? The thoughts of Jesse Livermore. He was the first acknowledged momentum trader in the United States. He was worth over a billion dollars by the … Continue reading “Douglas Chadwick: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
May 11, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks hospitality consultant Debbie Eybers: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? “My belief in right and wrong”. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? “We plan, God laughs”.
May 10, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Always dressed to the nines and a prominent feature at Christie’s auction receptions, this lady plainly loves a perm as much as she likes antiques and fine art. She’d most definitely make a perfect body double for Hyacinth Bucket and Baroness Thatcher would, without doubt, have been green with envy over her collection of handbags.
May 9, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
“He condensed good and evil. An extraordinary personality” was Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of the Italian centrist Democratic Center Union party’s description of this seven times Prime Minister of Italy. Andreotti was given many nicknames by his detractors. Amongst them were the monikers of Beelzebub, The Hunchbank, The Black Pope and Divo Giulio (after Julius … Continue reading “Giulio Andreotti (1919 – 2013)”
April 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The sale of a Purdey gun engraved with a portrait of Baroness Thatcher Margaret Thatcher had many devoted followers and fans in her time as Prime Minister. Coal miners, in general, were not amongst them but some like Jimi Heselden OBE (1948 – 2010) used their redundancy payouts to make vast fortunes.
by Matthew Steeples
At the funeral of her grandmother, Baroness Thatcher, this young lady from Texas showed herself to be a “chip off the old block”. Her reading was composed and faultless and impressed the nation. She’s also said to be a talented sportswoman and there’s a most definite possibility she’ll take up the Iron Lady’s mantle in … Continue reading “Amanda Thatcher”
April 17, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The funeral of Margaret Thatcher As her coffin headed to St Paul’s Cathedral, I stood in Parliament Square to watch Margaret Thatcher leave Westminster for the last time.
April 15, 2013
by steepleadmin
Author Sarah Tucker shares her thoughts on the reaction to the death of Margaret Thatcher I can’t really remember much about when Maggie Thatcher was in power. I know my parents were full of praise for her because our country was almost third world when she became PM, strikes crippling industries, rubbish being left … Continue reading “Margaret Thatcher: Strong lady, weak men”
March 10, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks writer, broadcaster and entertainer Neil Hamilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Christine. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? If you say so dear.
March 9, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
This dynamic American television personality and author was one of the first women to work in “hard news” and is best known for having hosted the Today show, the ABC Evening News, The View and 20/20. She grew up “in awe” of the famous people her father, a Broadway producer and nightclub owner, introduced her … Continue reading “Barbara Walters”
February 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks matchmaker Deborah Walker: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? ‘The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible”.
November 29, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples responds to the recommendations of Leveson “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” was one of Edmund Burke’s most famous observations. Today, David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks were in court to face charges of … Continue reading “When good men should do nothing”
November 20, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
A marine residence with a history tied to the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy, the Special Operations Executive and Babycham The House on the Shore on Thorns Beach at Beaulieu in Hampshire is a home that wouldn’t look out of place in the Hamptons or Rhode Island. Dramatically situated next to the Solent waters to … Continue reading “Ecstasy and Babycham”
November 15, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples delves into the history of Albany, Piccadilly and discovers an affordable way of living there Albany, off Piccadilly in Mayfair, was most probably London’s first apartment block and it’s certainly the city’s most exclusive. It may be next to the Royal Academy and opposite Fortnum & Mason but surprisingly few have even … Continue reading “The badgers of Albany”
November 12, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
A George Orwell quotation sums up the current media firestorm perfectly We at The Steeple Times thought this image of a lady holding up a piece of cardboard summed up the events of the weekend perfectly. As a debate rages about the future of the BBC and the role of social media in … Continue reading “Picture of the Week: Journalism and public relations”
November 9, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Philip Schofield and the protection of powerful paedophiles Yesterday, when Phillip Schofield showed the Prime Minister a note containing the names of alleged politician paeodophiles who have been named on Twitter, little did he realise what he’d set in motion. Amongst the names was that of Lord McAlpine who also appears on … Continue reading “Name and shame at your peril”
November 7, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Why does the Savile story really keep running? We’re all Saviled out. It’s been more than eight weeks since revelations about Jimmy, formerly Sir Jimmy, Savile came to public attention. Yes, the horrors of his “activities” have appalled us all but frankly why do the media really keep this story running as a main … Continue reading “A long, long Savile road”
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
The Chief Whip erases mention of Jimmy Savile from his website Yesterday, segments of the media shared an image of a poster taken from the website of the new Chief Whip of the House of Commons, Sir George Young. The text on the website read as follows: The Youngs promote cycling by … Continue reading “Wishing Savile weren’t ‘ere?”
October 19, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The latest sale of 32a Ovington Square I first visited 32a Ovington Square in September 2009. At the time, this “hidden house” was the home of Lord Carrington and it had just come on the market at a price, if I recall correctly, of circa £3,000,000. A friend was looking for somewhere … Continue reading “First Among (Not So) Equals”
October 1, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The sale of a $25 million mansion modeled on Marie Antoinette’s favourite retreat that has connections to Levi Strauss & Co., Yehudi Menuhin, the Zodiac Killer and a controversial dot-com tycoon Modeled on the Petit Trianon, a small château in the grounds of Versailles that was favoured by Louis XVI’s wife Marie Antoinette, the … Continue reading “Going under the Kosh”
September 28, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The case of a Ferrari FF driver with more money than sense Last November, on my way to a lunch at The Stafford Hotel with The Steeple Times restaurant critic, Anthony Brown, I took a photograph of one of my favourite vehicles, a Ferrari FF, in Curzon Street, W1. Emblazoned with a Westminster … Continue reading “Ferrari’s ‘F’lipping ‘F’ool”
September 4, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks Trevor Abrahmsohn, the founder and managing director of Glentree Estates: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force? Knowledge and charm. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? The ninth ‘no’ is a precursor … Continue reading “Trevor Abrahmsohn: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
August 21, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The conviction of Asil Nadir Last month I visited a house I’d heard much about over the years in the company of Ed Burrows, the personable managing director of Barnsdale Lodge in Rutland. That house, located a few minutes from the hotel that Burrows so ably runs, was Burley-on-the-Hill House. Now converted into … Continue reading “The man who had it all”
June 10, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Has The Leveson Inquiry not gone on long enough? The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press commenced on the 28th July 2011 and has gone on and on. Lord Justice Leveson seems like a perfectly decent chap, but that every week more and more tittle-tattle is aired by a … Continue reading “Enough is enough”
May 31, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
The launch of Chelsea AutoLegends 2012 I was introduced to Chelsea AutoLegends some three years ago when my good friend the racing driver James Wood became involved in the organisation of it. Held at The Royal Hospital first in 2010, this extravaganza of all things motoring has grown immensely and will include over … Continue reading “A motoring must”
May 25, 2012
by General
She called the Conservative Party the “Nasty Party” in a speech in 2002 and now Theresa May makes for a pretty nasty Prime Minister herself. Gaffe prone May failed to appeal to the police in May 2012 when they heckled her at the Police Federation conference and was too busy hosting a party with Lady … Continue reading “The Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP”
May 22, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This former army officer boldly led a coup d’état in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. He was imprisoned for 34 years but received a presidential pardon from President Teodoro Obiang Nguema in 2009. This Old Etonian’s account of the episode, Cry Havoc, is a great read and he now lives peacefully in Hampshire with his wife … Continue reading “Captain Simon Mann”
May 13, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This flamboyant fedora wearing tycoon made his fortune selling an estate agency empire just before the 1987 stock market crash. He’s now worth in excess of £100 million. Married twice to a former Miss Blackpool, his 13th century Lancashire home, Claughton Hall, was moved from the bottom of a hill to the top. He served … Continue reading “Owen Oyston”
