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.
March 23, 2020
by Matthew Steeples
Curve shaped neo-Georgian house that wouldn’t look out of place in an Agatha Christie Poirot novel on the St. George’s Hill estate in Surrey for sale for an extraordinary sum Featured as the main article in Country Life just 15 days after the start of the Second World War on 16th September 1939, Hamstone House … Continue reading “A Poirot Curve”
January 9, 2019
by Matthew Steeples
Russian born Max Hammet-Millay has benefitted from all the privileges of being welcomed to Britain; he now wants to pull up the drawbridge and joined the attack on Anna Soubry MP on Monday In 2000, an infant named Max was plucked from an orphanage in Ulyanovsk in Russia by two gay men from Islington, … Continue reading “Wally of the Week – Max Hammet-Millay”
November 27, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
John Simpson marks the publication of his novel ‘Moscow Nights’ at Daunt Books in Marylebone Described as: “An engaging yarn with a strong, sometimes mischievous autobiographical element” by The Sunday Times, esteemed foreign correspondent John Simpson launched his second novel at Daunt Books in Marylebone last night. Amongst those present to celebrate … Continue reading “Moscow Nights”
October 22, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
Clangers overheard and snippets spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’ Mobile Arabs An Arab sat outside a shisha café on Brompton Road told her friend: “I lost my phone in Harrods today but I went back and they’d found it. Thank God it was Harrods. They’d have been so racist anywhere else but … Continue reading “Overheard – 22nd October 2018”
April 14, 2018
by General
“Playboy” turned lawyer Alexander van der Zwaan had it all but destroyed his reputation after being jailed for 30 days for lying to the FBI in April 2018 over Russia’s links to President Trump’s election campaign. Aside from receiving positive publicity in Tatler after marrying Eva Khan, daughter of a Ukrainian-Russian billionaire named German Khan, … Continue reading “Alexander van der Zwaan”
February 18, 2018
by Matthew Steeples
London has simply become a money park for dodgy money and though ‘McMafia’ reflected elements of that, the truth is far more depressing Since the 1st January, the nation was engrossed (though many were also totally bored) by the BBC’s eight-part drama series McMafia. Based on a fictional – though plainly inspired by … Continue reading “McMoneya”
October 22, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
C-shaped glass and stone house complete with a Grade II listed set of Druid stones for sale for £7 million; it sits next door to the £140 million home of the fugitive billionaire financier Andrey Borodin A C-shaped 20th century house in 43 acres of parkland has gone on sale for £7 million ($9.2 … Continue reading “In the Round”
June 10, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Patek Philippe watch allegedly originally owned by President Putin to be auctioned; it is said to be worth around £800,000 It’s given owner is potentially #FakeNews, but a watch that is due be auctioned in Monaco in July has been photographed with paperwork that suggests it originally belonged to President Putin. Said to … Continue reading “Watching Putin”
June 8, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Gargantuan Mayfair aprtment goes on sale for £30 million; it has eighteen windows facing Hyde Park and is in a building designed by the architect of Broadcasting House A vast maisonette, described as a “villa in the sky”, on London’s Park Lane has gone on sale for £30 million ($38.8 million, €34.6 million or … Continue reading “A Villa In The Sky”
by Matthew Steeples
London estate agents launch three properties priced over £25 million each on General Election day Pundits may be referencing worrying times ahead in Britain’s post-Brexit economy, but London’s top tier estate agents have come out all guns blazing on General Election day and launched a series of jaw droppingly priced properties. In Knightsbridge’s … Continue reading “Flop or Fly?”
May 29, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
EXCLUSIVE – “Nationally important” Grade II* listed Berkshire mansion in 130 acres for sale for £26 million; its interior is yet to be renovated A Grade II* listed building capable of being reinstated as one of Britain’s finest country houses has just been placed on the market for £26 million. Benham Park – … Continue reading “Best in Britain”
May 10, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Trophy house with a “dictator interior” in The Boltons has nearly £10 million sliced off its asking price; iceberg home behind reduced by £5 million A house in London’s second most expensive street has returned to the market at the much reduced price of £30 million ($38.8 million, €35.5 million or درهم142.6 million) in … Continue reading “Rich Pickings”
April 17, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Custard yellow Rolls-Royce complete with ‘0800’ numberplate takes to the streets of Knightsbridge Each year a bevvy of Arab and Russian owned supercars arrives in London and each year they get more outlandish. An especially fine example has just descended in the form of a bright yellow Rolls-Royce Phantom coupé complete with the registration … Continue reading “0800 Rolls”
April 19, 2016
by General
Always in a red ski jacket and always with a trolley and umbrella, The Pret Spitter is a most unpleasant vagrant.
January 30, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
One of America’s naffest houses returns to the market at a much reduced price of £11.9 million (down from £17.6 million) and with the neighbouring £5.6 million house thrown in as an extra
December 19, 2015
by steepleadmin
George Appleton identifies three breeds within the shooting classes and urges readers to see which they belong to
July 9, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Anyone who watches Channel 4’s ‘From Russia With Cash’ will agree that it is now time for estate agents to be regulated suggests Matthew Steeples
June 20, 2015
by General
Said to be worth £3.3 billion, businessman and politician Bidzina Ivanishvili counts two albino sons amongst his four children.
June 19, 2015
by General
Oxford educated actor, writer and co-creator of the comedy series Doll & Em Emily Mortimer is the daughter of the Rumpole of the Bailey creator Sir John Mortimer
May 29, 2015
by General
‘The Steeple Times’ asks banker and author David Gigauri: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
by General
Termed “the first female oligarch”, Goga Ashkenazi made her first fortune in oil and gas before moving into fashion after buying Vionnet in 2012.
May 22, 2015
April 26, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
A bizarre, eight-floor converted water tower in the middle of an ugly redevelopment of an Essex lunatic asylum remains on the market despite a price cut of £200,000
April 25, 2015
by General
A well-known fixture each and every evening at Knightsbridge restaurants including San Lorenzo and Scalini during the 1990s and 2000s
April 23, 2015
by General
Twice divorced Australian born racist and Holocaust denier Michèle, Lady Renouf began her career as an actress and model.
April 16, 2015
February 2, 2015
by steepleadmin
Conflict photographer Maximilian Clarke recounts encounters with doctors and drunks in Donetsk and finds that all the people there want is for the world to know what is happening to them
January 16, 2015
by steepleadmin
Photographer Maximilian Clarke recounts his experiences at the hands of soldiers in Donetsk
December 28, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Marinka Smirnova illustrates that stereotypes sometimes can be spot on
October 18, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Britain’s tackiest car, a crystal covered Mercedes, sells for just under £155,000 A previous Wally of the Week, Daria Radionova, might not be such a fool after all given that she has just sold her Swarovski crystal covered Mercedes CLS 350 for the astonishing figure of £154,600.
September 29, 2014
by General
This “true romantic” and “Londongrad playboy” is the publisher of The Independent and the Evening Standard and also was involved in setting up the London Live television station. Evgeny Lebedev is the son of a billionaire ex-KGB agent and has been described as “a modern Machiavellian prince” and as having “a penchant for white silk suits”. … Continue reading “Evgeny Lebedev”
September 23, 2014
by General
The Paris-born son of fashion editor Carine Roitfeld and Equipment shirt brand founder Christian Restoin, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld is the founder of New York art dealership of the same name. He’s the godson of the photographer Mario Testino and has dated the fashionista Giovanna Battaglia and “the female Roman Abramovich” Goga Ashkenazi. Restoin Roitfeld – … Continue reading “Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld (AKA “Vlad” Restoin Roitfeld)”
by Matthew Steeples
Russian student spends £20,000 covering her £25,000 Mercedes in Swarovski crystals and then wonders why she is mocked
July 20, 2014
June 21, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Brooklyn’s largest and most expensive waterfront residence is anything but modest Built for a self-proclaimed “titan of the business world” named John Rosatti in 1989, 2458 National Drive in Brooklyn’s Mill Basin is a property with an equally large ego. Standing on a 60,000 square foot plot complete with two substantial residences with a … Continue reading “Living it large”
May 4, 2014
by steepleadmin
R. K. Patrick reports on the first May Day parade in Red Square since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 MOSCOW — Last Thursday, over 100,000 people paraded through Moscow’s Red Square to celebrate May Day. It was the first time any such parade has happened in Red Square since the collapse … Continue reading “Our Man in Moscow on May Day Russian style”
April 29, 2014
March 28, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
David Brown Automotive’s Speedback is a stunning vehicle David Brown shares not only his name with Sir David Brown of DB Aston Martin fame but also an ability to create the most stunning of cars. The contemporary Brown, though not related to Sir David or Aston Martin in any way, has plainly taken inspiration … Continue reading “Speedback”
March 24, 2014
March 17, 2014
March 3, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Susannah Constantine calls for Putin’s henchmen to be expelled Trinny and Susannah are best known for telling the nation’s women what to wear but today one half of this brilliant duo spoke sense when she took to Facebook to express her views on Putin and his cronies.
February 28, 2014
by Sarah Tucker
Sarah Tucker visits Antarctica I was on the ship that didn’t get stuck in the ice at Christmas. In the wake of Prince Harry who trekked there and was airlifted back, I went via Patagonia and Buenos Aires (a phenomenal city where they genuinely dance in the streets and they miss their archbishop), to … Continue reading “An outworldly place”
January 2, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Rolls-Royce and Bentley are prospering Yesterday’s financial press rightly hailed the success of two of Britain’s finest brands: Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Their results during 2013 were frankly astounding.
December 30, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Central London is losing its character A house in Pelham Street for £105 million, Tamara Ecclestone spends £1 million on a bathtub and Made in Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews racks up a bar bill of £450,000. These are all headlines we’ve featured recently that illustrate the nonsensical world that has become The Royal Borough of … Continue reading “Naff off”
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 21, 2013
by steepleadmin
Anthony Mamo shares his views on the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky Yesterday, by virtue of executive order #922 signed by the President of Russia himself, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was freed from prison and is now in Germany visiting his seriously ill mother.
November 22, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Champagne at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland available for upto £2,000 a bottle Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park opens to the public today. By far from a cheap outing, with tickets costing upto £14.50 per ride, this isn’t an event for the financially limited but we must admit we were surprised to see champagne priced … Continue reading “A Smart Wonderland”
November 2, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Russian born and the wife of John F. Kennedy’s killer, Oswald Porter met Lee Harvey Oswald when he defected to the Soviet Union in 1961. The couple settled in Dallas, Texas in 1962 and after the murder, she married her neighbour Kenneth Porter in 1965. Helena Bomham Carter played her in the 1993 television film … Continue reading “Marina Oswald Porter (born Marina Nikolayevna Prusakova, Russian: Марина Николаевна Прусакова)”
October 2, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Pontus Maltborg examines the changing face of France’s Ligue 1 The French football Ligue 1 has long been the league of the many and of unpredictability as it has had 6 different champions during the last 6 years and lacked real established hierarchy. This is however drastically changing as the French league is now … Continue reading “La revolution reverse”
September 26, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Jana Bakunina Meets The Russians Last week, I was adamant to boycott the new show on Fox, Meet The Russians, which promised nothing but a reality TV spin on the stereotypical Russian expats in London: filthy rich, Knightsbridge-dwelling, vodka-drinking, fur-clad billionaires. And then I thought that I may have created a stereotype of my own: … Continue reading “Russkie rubbish”
September 22, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Will of Boris Berezovksy confirms he was far from broke and again raises questions about his death by hanging When he died, many wrongly jumped to the conclusion that Boris Berezovsky was broke. With the publication of a story about his will by The Sunday Times today, it most certainly seems that this was … Continue reading “The legacy of Berezovsky”
September 15, 2013
by General
A talented lady with a knack for being in the right place at the right time. When the founder of The Steeple Times first encountered her, Wickstead was a little known fashion designer who was part of a charity fashion event in Chelsea organised by a Russian with a boutique in Essex. This Auckland born … Continue reading “Emilia Wickstead”
September 14, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
We’d rather not ‘Meet The Russians’ Whilst Made in Chelsea is harmless nonsense and The Only Way Is Essex car crash viewing, the plethora of similar shows that have followed are surely just indicative of the new lows British television has arrived at.
August 24, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Born in 1993, this heir to the fortune of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is the founder of ARA Capital, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker ZOL. In 2010, he unsuccessfully bid for FC Copenhagen and in March 2013, he snapped up a Siberian oilfield for $46 million. Daddy will make … Continue reading “Arkadiy Abramovich (Аркадий Романович Абрамович)”
August 23, 2013
by General
Born in 1992, this Russian youngster launched a fashion brand in 2008 and currently has around 300 stores in “a few countries”. Plastinina’s father, a dairy tycoon, once paid Paris Hilton $2 million to attend one of the “teen millionaire’s” launches but her PR strategy hasn’t been exactly great. Of her designs, the Los Angeles … Continue reading “Kira Plastinina (Ки́ра Серге́евна Пласти́нина)”
August 22, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
British born, American raised, Miller rose to fame in the Fox Network series Prison Break. A Princeton graduate, the actor turned screenwriter used the pseudonym Ted Foulke to write Stoker and Uncle Charlie and came out as gay in August 2013 in a letter posted on GLAAD’s website where he declined to attend a film … Continue reading “Wentworth Miller III”
August 16, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
21st century gauche replaces 20th century elegance A hidden enclave opposite the V&A museum in South Kensington was home to two of the twentieth century’s most fascinating individuals. London club owner and arbiter of good taste Mark Birley lived at Thurloe Lodge for nearly thirty years until his death in 2007 and for a … Continue reading “All hail vulgarity”
July 3, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Stockinger’s safes represent the most secure of investments Masterpiece 2013 closes today. This impressive showcase is something that has been crammed to the brim with some of the finest works of art, design and antiques currently on the market, but given that many of these items are of immense value, they need to be … Continue reading “As safe as Stockinger”
June 24, 2013
by Oliver Estreich
Oliver Estreich’s New York real estate power brokers In the second in a series, Oliver Estreich profiles New York’s top realtors. He continues with Eva Penson, Leighton Candler and Dana Power.
June 13, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
William Dalrymple suggests the past should guide anyone considering invading Afghanistan Last night I attended a reception hosted by Sir Tom Stoppard and the Founders’ Circle of the London Library at the East India Club with my great friend Barbara Minto. At it, the writer and historian William Dalrymple gave a brief but fascinating … Continue reading “Return of a King”
June 11, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
‘The Steeple Times’ takes a look around a palace that allegedly cost $1 billion to construct Located on the Black Sea coast is a palatial residence that the press have named ‘Putin’s Palace’. The reported construction cost of this property is an astounding $1 billion.
May 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Ben Fogle suggests that he could have been poisoned by a Russian spy Ben Fogle’s rise to the middle realms of “fame” is something I’ve always found puzzling. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an affable chap and I have utterly no problem with him but whenever he comes on the screen, I find myself … Continue reading “Fooling Fogle”
April 18, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks estate agent Edward Thomson: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? Honesty and integrity. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? My favourite is: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” but “Try … Continue reading “Edward Thomson: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
April 16, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
He parties here, he parties there, he parties absolutely everywhere. Some say he looks like Julian Assange and others comment on his champagne loving companion.
March 23, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Boris Berezovsky found dead in his bathtub It has just been confirmed that 67-year old oligarch Boris Berezovsky was found dead in a bath at his Surrey home at around 11am this morning. His son-in-law, Yegor Shuppe, revealed the news earlier today on Facebook and later a statement came from Alexander Dobrovinsky of Moscow … Continue reading “Oligarch Boris Berezovsky found dead”
March 19, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A review of the St. Ermin’s Hotel I first visited the St. Ermin’s Hotel close to Scotland Yard in St James’s in June 2012 for the first Intelligence Book of the Year Awards. Today, I will return there to attend a reception to announce the second winner of this annual prize by judges Andrew … Continue reading “Spying bees”
March 15, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Belfast born Clugston is known as “The Posh Radio 4 Lady” or “The PR4L” and is BBC Radio 4’s continuity announcer. This witty lady’s voice is familiar to millions as a result of this but she’s also the female Irish voice for TomTom satellite navigation systems and the creator of the “Radio4minus1letter” Twitter based game. … Continue reading “Kathy Clugston”
March 14, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A property developer extraordinaire with a “passion for deals”. He has been involved in deals involving many of London’s most expensive properties and founded the Marcus Cooper Group in 1991. Cooper purchased the capital’s second largest home, Witanhurst on Highgate Hill, for £32 million in 2007 and put it back on the market five weeks … Continue reading “Marcus Cooper”
March 12, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Steeple Times asks emerging market investor David Reuben Jr: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? I try to follow the “Golden Rule”. Treat others the way you would prefer that they treat you. Be careful how you are with people on your way up, … Continue reading “David Reuben Jr: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
December 2, 2012
by steepleadmin
The Steeple Times asks model and personality Nicholas Gruber: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force? I try to learn something from everyone I meet. “Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours? Life is short so enjoy a … Continue reading “Nicholas Gruber: “What’s on your mantelpiece?””
November 25, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
Of Italian-Jewish descent, Caring is of the “supermarket-sweep” school of empire building. This billionaire started out in the rag trade but now controls the majority of the top restaurants and clubs in Central London. He survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and viewed that to be a wakeup call. Since then he’s donated millions to … Continue reading “Richard Caring”
November 24, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
If one spent $2,000,000 on cosmetic surgery, one would expect to end up looking fantastic. It didn’t quite work out in the case of the billionairess “Bride of Wildenstein,” though, as instead she discovered the husband she thought she’d please in bed with a 19-year old Russian. Feline like in appearance, the purr of this … Continue reading “Jocelyn Wildenstein (née Périsset and also known as “Jocelynnys Dayannnys da Silva Bezerra”)”
November 17, 2012
by General
Andreas Kirchberger captures the atmosphere at a private view of the works of Robert Fry On Thursday 25th October, Ilona Pacia and Jesper Thomsen of Mews42 Gallery hosted a private view of the works of Robert Fry in Princes Gate, South Kensington. Andreas Kirchberger was on hand on behalf of The Steeple … Continue reading “Fry’s delight”
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”
