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 23, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples reports on ‘Mad Friday’s’ arrival in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Vomit on the pavement and kids pissed on the streets: A standard night in Newcastle on ‘Mad Friday’ but this year this horrific occurrence hit the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea with vengeance and with equal aplomb to … Continue reading “Mad K&C”
November 1, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Pint-sized flat in Knightsbridge goes on sale for ambitious sum of £5,813 per square foot; it was offered for the even more crazy sum of £7,027 per square foot in 2013 The owners of an apartment in the edifice of vulgarity that is One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge plainly have no belief in Brexit … Continue reading “Highs and Lows in Hyde Park”
October 24, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Six-storey Belgravia residence with controversial business connections goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 A 6,961 square foot freehold terraced townhouse in Belgravia has gone on sale for £25 million or 3,497% more than it was sold for in … Continue reading “Wealthy Wilton”
October 20, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Belgravia mews house with garaging for five cars for sale for equivalent of £1,442 per week A two-storey mews house behind The Lanesborough Hotel in Belgravia has gone on sale for what initially seems like a bargain price of just £1.5 million ($2 million, €1.7 million or درهم7.2 million). The catch? The 1,391 … Continue reading “A Bargain in Belgravia”
September 9, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Convoy of five yellow Lamborghinis spotted cruising around Kensington and Chelsea Someone once said: “Work until you feel a Lamborghini is cheap” and plainly the owner of a convoy currently in London has exactly that attitude. Pictured here on Brompton Road opposite the former premises of La Brasserie, a fleet of five yellow … Continue reading “Gaining a Lambo (or five)”
July 24, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Gold wrapped van advertising “elite” dogs parks opposite the Ecuadorian Embassy ‘home’ of bail skipper Julian Assange The silly season has come early in Knightsbridge: Sighted Sunday evening and parked, rather appropriately, opposite the Embassy of Ecuador ‘home’ of the fugitive bail skipper Julian Assange, was a gold wrapped van advertising protection and guard … Continue reading “Dogging Assange”
July 16, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
After a Chelsea chef who came out of nowhere named Michael Riemenschneider is revealed to be a “conman” in the ‘Mail on Sunday’, readers tell of his past form As can only be expected of a paper that loves a bit of sensationalism this week’s Mail on Sunday’s ‘YOU’ got rather carried away in … Continue reading “Canvassing a Con”
by Matthew Steeples
As Arabs descend on London with their eccentric convoys of cars, we select a new arrival; such things delight some and infuriate others The time of year is upon Knightsbridge when Arabs and their supercars descend. Amongst them come exotically coloured Bentleys, Bugattis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces, but one new arrival this season is … Continue reading “Limited in Knightsbridge”
July 5, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
James Stunt finds support from the aristocracy, receives a suggestion he takes to the stage from actor Steven Berkoff and issues two more YouTube video posts Update: 07:45am, Thursday 6th July – Three of the four videos by James Stunt have been removed. YouTube have replaced them with a comment: “This content is not … Continue reading “Rinder vs. Stunt”
June 21, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
New Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad fails to join Labour heavyweights showing support for the single market Prior to her victory, the now newly elected Member of Parliament for Kensington, Emma Dent Coad, clearly and repeatedly said she’d “fight to retain access to the single market”. Yesterday, however, she failed to join a whole … Continue reading “Disappointing Dent Coad”
June 19, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Actor and producer Steven Berkoff suggests Her Majesty The Queen should open up Buckingham Palace to survivors of last week’s Grenfell Tower tragedy Sir In these grim times, when the shadow of death is stalking us with bitter regularity, an opportunity presents itself for our beloved Queen to actually do some real service … Continue reading “Letters – Berkoff & Brenda”
June 18, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Vast “architecturally rich” Knightsbridge apartment for sale for £8.5 million A Knightsbridge triplex with a truly extravagant interior has gone on sale for £8.5 million ($10.9 million, €9.7 million or درهم39.9 million). Spread over the ground, basement and first floors of a Grade II listed portered building in Pont Street, SW1X, the apartment … Continue reading “Going Dutch”
June 8, 2017
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?”
April 30, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples takes a look at the services offered by City Relay, a hassle free short-term rental management company Established three years ago and based in Earl’s Court, City Relay offer the very best guest and host management services for over two hundred apartments and houses in Central and West London. Primarily focused … Continue reading “Advertorial – City Relay”
by Matthew Steeples
Breaking News – Rachel Johnson explains why she ditched the party of her Foreign Secretary brother Boris and defected to the Lib Dems On this morning’s Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, Rachel Johnson was interviewed about her decision to defect to the Liberal Democrat Party. Explaining her rationale for ditching the Tories and … Continue reading “Breaking with Boris”
April 26, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Cadogan Square flat for sale for a sum that, if achieved, could make it the most expensive subterranean home in London; it is offered at a price that equates to £2,130 per square foot Created from the merger of two flats, one of which was marketed for £3 million ($3.8 million, €3.5 million or … Continue reading “A Big Priced Basement”
April 21, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Hidden house in Knightsbridge for sale for £1.595 million; it might suit those with an aspiration to live like Julian Assange A cleverly refurbished ‘hidden house’ behind 163 Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge has been brought to the market by Savills. 699 square foot Hans Cottage has its own private front door, a patio … Continue reading “Hidden in Hans”
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 11, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
As 50% of care homes in Kensington & Chelsea are rated “inadequate”, we suggest this reflects what the area has become: A money park for the selfish rich A society that does not care for its elderly is, as the Pope pointed out in 2015, a “perverse society” and bizarrely, it has just been … Continue reading “K&C Doesn’t Care”
April 10, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
1996 Mercedes-Benz SL500 that has been driven just 81 miles and stored in a Knightsbridge garage since new to be auctioned for 1,000% more than a normal example of its age A Mercedes-Benz with a difference is to be auctioned on its twenty-first birthday on 12th April. The car to be offered is an … Continue reading “81 Miles From New”
March 12, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Vast Knightsbridge penthouse with two terraces and a double garage for sale for a sum 478% higher than it achieved in 2000 A penthouse across three buildings in Knightsbridge that sold for £5.1 million (the equivalent of £7.9 million, $9.6 million, €9 million or درهم 35.3 million today) in November 2000 has gone on … Continue reading “Large in Lowndes”
February 23, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Belgravia flat offered for £4.95 million in spite of featuring collapsed ceilings, ripped out light fittings and holes in the walls Before putting a property on the market and having it photographed for a sales brochure, most would clean up and make the space look appealing. In Belgravia, however, the owners of a £4.95 … Continue reading “A £5m Fixer Upper”
February 3, 2017
by Matthew Steeples
Scene of a Dawn Ward shoving match Salmontini closes to makes way for a new restaurant by chef Nuno Goncalves; next door, hotel The Hari replaces its Pont Street restaurant too Opened in September 2014, Salmontini was a restaurant in Belgravia’s Pont Street that was never going to be a hit. Aside from its … Continue reading “Rumblings in Pont Street”
December 5, 2016
by General
20% discount at luxury goods retailer Pickett this Christmas Readers of The Steeple Times can get 20% discount off full-priced items at luxury good retailer Pickett until 24th December. To redeem the offer online or in-store, quote ‘PI16’. Pickett, 10 – 12 Burlington Gardens, London, W1S 3EY. Pickett, 149 Sloane … Continue reading “Reader Offer – 20% Discount at Pickett”
December 4, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
New series contrasting the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ begins with Sloane Rangers Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lady Diana Spencer used to drink at The Admiral Codrington whilst Sloanes named Perdita and Peregrine downed gin like it was water in The Australian in Milner Street. Loud braces and yellow cords … Continue reading “Old and New – Sloanes”
September 28, 2016
by General
50% off tickets to a charity event at Cadogan Hall for readers of The Steeple Times Further to our previous feature Alan and Gina Miller’s True and Fair Foundation charity variety concert at Cadogan Hall, off Sloane Square in Chelsea, London on 3rd October, we can now offer readers of The Steeple Times 50% … Continue reading “Reader Offer – An evening for good causes”
September 19, 2016
by General
An invitation to a most worthy charity evening at Cadogan Hall in London On 3rd October, Alan and Gina Miller’s True and Fair Foundation will host a charity variety concert at Cadogan Hall, off Sloane Square in Chelsea, London. Featuring amongst others the infamous Olympian Eddie the Eagle, magician Richard Essien (AKA ‘Magical … Continue reading “Reader Offer – Music, Magic and Mayhem”
April 22, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Remembering one of London’s great ladies, Marisa Masters
March 28, 2016
by Matthew Steeples
Gold cars appear to be all the rage with London’s visiting Arabs this season
November 4, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
South Kensington studio with what are described as “two sleeping areas” hits the market for a staggering £1.195 million or £1,950 per square foot
October 31, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
As Amanda Clutterbuck and Ian Paton lose their attempt to reclaim £14 million worth of Kensington and Chelsea properties that they signed over to the ‘Vamp in the Veil’ Sara Al Amoudi, we suggest all three are nothing but tawdry
June 30, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Most expensive house to be publicly offered for sale in the UK to be stripped of everything including the kitchen sink
June 27, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Unmodernised Knightsbridge flat for sale for the equivalent of a staggering £1,500 per day
June 13, 2015
by Matthew Steeples
Belgravia restaurant Motcombs to host special Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day lunch
March 12, 2015
by General
At the age of 22 in March 2015 this Saudi playboy and wannabe member of the Rich Kids of Instagram was convicted of driving whilst unfit through drugs and fined £400.
March 8, 2015
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.
October 2, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Lennox Gardens flat with just one year left on lease sells for £550,000 Indication of London’s somewhat bonkers property market has been illustrated in news that a one bedroom flat in Knightsbridge’s Lennox Gardens has sold for a staggering £550,000 on a lease that had just one year remaining.
July 31, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
The Wellesley lands itself in a Twitter storm Social media can do a business a great deal of good but if not used carefully, it can equally do immense damage. The Wellesley Hotel on Knightsbridge has provided an example of the latter in the wake of the scandal over them charging the ludicrous sum … Continue reading “Dazzlingly dim”
July 8, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Matthew Steeples samples a menu inspired by Monty Python at The Rib Room Michele Caggianese, the manger of The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower is a man who can be relied upon to come up with clever marketing ideas and in his latest menu offering he’s created something that … Continue reading “Monty’s menu”
April 6, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Giles Coren sums up what Knightsbridge has become I came across our Quote of the Week whilst searching for information about the charming Knightsbridge restaurant Chabrot. Upon reading a review by Giles Coren from The Times, I just knew that I had to share the most accurate portrayal of this area I’ve read yet.
April 5, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
£27,500,000 for a flat in Knightsbridge For the price of 110 average UK homes, a ‘high net worth’ individual can acquire an apartment in Lennox Gardens in Knightsbridge.
March 31, 2014
by Matthew Steeples
Renting a Knightsbridge penthouse for a month will cost as much as the purchase price of an average UK house In February, the Office for National Statistics revealed that the average UK house price has hit £250,000 for the first time. For just a little shy of that figure, a super-elite renter could take … Continue reading “An average penthouse”
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 23, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Wishing our readers a very Merry Christmas As we all head home for the holidays, may we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. We’ve had a busy year at The Steeple Times and below we highlight some of our favourite stories as a collage.
October 9, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Largest proportion of axed Aston Martin Cygnets were concentrated in Central London Yesterday, we reported that Aston Martin sold only 150 of their super-mini Cygnet vehicles between announcing it in 2009 and axing it recently. The total– we’ve now been told – may actually have been as low as 110 and given that we’ve … Continue reading “Sighting the Cygnet”
September 5, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Apartment to rent above Julian Assange’s hideout Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge since 19th June 2012. Now there’s a chance to share live in the same building as him as Harrods Estates are marketing a penthouse there for £5,750 per week.
August 29, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Creating a meal for 30p whilst helping to eliminate food waste On the blog that preceded ‘The Steeple Times’, Matthew Steeples wrote this article in December 2011. We republish it here given the response we’ve had to our article on food poverty and the comments of Jamie Oliver and Jack Monroe.
August 4, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Jack Vetrianno puts painting on the market (and throws in a flat) Whoever buys Scottish artist Jack Vettriano OBE’s £2 million flat in Pont Street, Knightsbridge gets not only a one bedroomed flat, but also a painting titled Suddenly Last Summer.
June 13, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Living on a small scale in Central London Space is at a premium in Central London, so here we share five of the best one bedroom apartments currently on the market. Prices range from £725,000 to an astounding £6,950,000. B.03.3, One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, SW1X – £6,950,000 The highest priced apartment in this … Continue reading “Five of the best: Compact living”
June 12, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
Does a fugitive have the right to sun? Ecuador’s foreign minister Richard Patino has called for his country’s enforced guest, Julian Assange, to be allowed the right to sunbathe and have a bit of “intimacy”. Instead, he would do well to do the decent thing by telling him to hand himself in.
June 6, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
This ridiculously named woman is Knightsbridge’s leading busybody. A resident of Sloane Street, Morgan-Thomas and her daughter hector motorists and believes she lives in a “village”. How many villages do you know with Chanel, Gucci and Armani on their main streets?
June 3, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
A letter that just had to be shared Today I was sent a scan of a letter written on 6th December 1983 by Spike Milligan. It made me laugh and I thought it most worthy of sharing with readers of The Steeple Times.
January 21, 2013
by Matthew Steeples
The Sunday Times describe him as a “secretive US financier” but Hersman, who is a sometime resident of London’s Bulgari Hotel is also said to have brokered the $1.6 billion buyout of Formula One over lunch on the French Riviera in the spring of 2005. Hersman was a contributor to the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008 … Continue reading “Eric Hersman”
July 21, 2012
by Matthew Steeples
This stylish Anglo-Italian entrepreneur was one of the founders of Quintessentially. Charm personified, Del Bono now assists wealthy foreigners invest in London’s finest homes and businesses. His most talked about venture is a £100 million project that will turn 50 St James’s Street into a member’s club, spa and hotel. In the residential sector, he … Continue reading “Luca Del Bono”
