Modern life calls on us to be in demand, in contact and on the go at all times. While many people thrive in this hectic environment, others strive to keep up, and some simply struggle to keep alive. Maybe the last one is a bit drastic, but the point remains pertinent; remaining healthy and fit while trying to stay afloat in your career and active in your social life can be tough. So, we’re here to help. Here are 4 IDEAL staying fit strategies for those with busy lifestyles.
DO MORE ON FOOT
When you take stock of how you move from A to B, especially in the city, you’ll realise how often you drive or take public transport somewhere which is easily walkable. Consider walking to a client meeting that’s down the street, taking the stairs instead of the lift, getting off the tube a stop early and walking at lunchtime instead of sitting at your desk. It’s really beneficial, healthwise, to take in an adequate amount of steps each day to burn enough calories to keep the weight off, and such an approach saves money on an expensive gym membership, too. It’s as simple as being aware of your current habits and slipping in more steps whenever – and wherever – possible.
MEET A GOAL BEFORE WORK
One way to keep you on top of getting your daily exercise is to come up with a routine. Make working out the first task you tackle in the morning, and you’ll feel great about yourself for the rest of the day. You can try different things like early morning gardening. It will help you relax and you can do some exercising while using the leaf blower or cutting the grass. So many things that can be done around the house. It won’t be hanging over your head as a to-do, and you’ll find you have more natural energy throughout your working week. Exercise won’t get in the way of meetings or plans you schedule after business hours, and it’ll give you a reason not to stay out too late each night. Perfect, then.
CLEANSE AND DE CLUTTER
Cleansing of the body and soul, reducing both toxins and toxic distractions, will get you to your fighting weight and fighting mentality. A health cleanse using shakes, supplements and proper guidance may seem a commitment, but the results are impressive. Use a program like www.nutritionalcleanse.co.uk to guide you through the process properly, safely and helping you receive the full benefits. Cleanse your cupboards of junk food too, and your work space of clutter, to improve focus and concentration.
WEEKEND MEAL PREP
Though you may want to dedicate your weekend to brunches, lunches and generally wringing every last drop of fun out of things, take advantage of the free time by going to local markets, shopping locally and healthily, and prepping your lunches and dinners for the following week. This will make it easy for you to grab a nutritious lunch and snacks on your way out the door and you won’t have much work to do when you get home each night either. You could also purchase some snacks to go with your workouts from Muscle Rage. All it takes is a little pre-planning, and you’ll be on your way to eating healthier and consuming fewer unhealthy calories.
A carpet can be the difference between homeliness and inhospitable, between warm welcome or cold shoulder. The feeling under foot, the texture on your toes, the lift it brings to matters cosy – a carpet is a key component in making your house a home. After such a ringing endorsement, we’re assuming you’ve rushed out (or shopped online) and bought your favourite carpet by the time you’ve got to the end of this sentence. So, time to get it installed and get comfy. But how do you actually fit a carpet?
It takes a whole lot of expertise, experience and preparation. While we can try to DIY it ourselves, it’s a momentous task that requires specific steps and skill sets. A word of caution, the best fitting is often courtesy of a professional third party. Most carpet fitting costs are quite reasonable and will save you the hassle of navigating unheard of parts and processes. If you are intent in going it alone though, then here are 5 IDEAL tips for fitting a new carpet.
TAKE MEASUREMENTS & CLEAN THE FLOOR
First things first, you have to measure the room carefully and draw a room plan with the help of the graph paper. Make sure that you purchase more carpet (around 10-15 percent should be enough) than the measurements, keeping room for miscalculations and human error. The floor panels might be dusty so you have to clean the floor panels properly before starting the work as dust can hamper the new carpet’s settling in.
INSTALL CARPET GRIPPER
Next up, you have to fit carpet grippers to your existing floor. Carpet grippers are usually used to reduce the chance of slipping and movement and help you to put your carpet in place. These are very lean and long in shape with the sharp pins in one side of it. Carpet grippers should be placed on the border of the wall excluding the doorsteps. However, installation of carpet gripper can be risky to you as the nails are very sharp as well as the incorrect installation of carpet gripper hampers the carpet fitting.
INSTALL SOME UNDERLAY
The next step is you have to choose right underlay for your carpet. If you want the carpet longevity then you have to install the right underlay for it. It will be better to use lining paper before applying the underlay as it makes the underlay non-sticky as well as preventing the carpet from accumulating dust and dirt on the floor. Lt Flooring, who are carpet fitters in Colchester, recommend going for thicker and denser underlay in the busiest parts of the house, especially parts with lots of traffic or underneath a lot of heavy furniture
CUT YOUR CARPET IN SIZE
The next cog in the wheel is cutting the carpet to the right size, according to the measurement previously taken. The help of carpet tucker will make the task more manageable. It’s recommended that you have to leave extra carpet as it stretches with continuous use, as well as any errors in the initial calculation. Once it’s cut and put in place, ensure that the carpet is fully attached and stretched against the wall.
HIRE A CARPET FITTER
The processes of fitting a carpets are not as easy as the youtube videos and wikihow slideshows might imply. In many cases, it can become a tedious and error-prone task. Just some of the hurdles and pitfalls lying in wait are possible errors in the calculation, getting your grippers wrong or lining up the underlay improperly.
In the face of such risks, it’s advisable to have your fitting handled by the experts, such as a third party. Seek a carpet fitting cost calculation online to compare best prices, and you’ll be in carpet-comfort heaven in no time.
The New Year is here and with it, the inevitable hike in train fares and predicted soaring of car fuel prices set to materialise. Combined with the setting in of January’s gloomy weather and the continuing national obsession with all things Uber, this could all mean more taxi journeys in the coming year. Travelling by taxi brings with it a number of considerations, conundrums and questions of etiquette and safety, which we’re all too happy to address. So, here are 5 IDEAL taxi travel tips.
TO TIP OR NOT TO TIP?
That age old question, and one which gives us the fear, quite frankly; to tip your taxi driver, or not?
Tipping rules vary by country, region and even scenario. However as a general rule, in the UK it’s common practice to round up the fare and to tell the driver to ‘keep the change’. If the trip has come to £9, then simply handing over a tenner is fair for all.
However, if you’ve had a long journey or they’ve helped you with your luggage, or if the driver has been particularly charming and courteous, a 10 – 15% tip is a nice gesture.
CHECK YOUR TAXI IS OFFICIAL
Safety is of paramount concern when taking a taxi, and being vigilant and exercising caution is a good starting point. Always call for a taxi instead of hailing one down, or use an official taxi rank. That way, you can be sure they’re registered and legit. Look for a meter, a radio and a visible ID badge.
All genuine licensed taxis in nearly all countries are required to display their ID badge. Beware of‘taxi touts’ that operate around Britain, particularly late at night. These are unregistered, untraceable drivers offering cheap fares in busy areas. If you don’t see a meter, badge or radio – don’t get into the taxi, it’s as simple as that.
NO FLAT RATES
If a taxi driver is trying to negotiate a flat rate, then alarm bells should ring. Flat rates and rip off fares go together like tea and jam, so insist that the the driver uses the meter so you know you’re getting a fair price for your taxi fare.
If the driver says the meter is broken, get out and get another one. It’s sensible to have a rough idea of fare estimates in all cases; there are plenty of apps and websites which can help with this.
KNOW YOUR DESTINATION
You’re in a different place and have no idea how to get where you want to go – probably one of the reasons you’re using a taxi in the first place.
Assuming every taxi driver is unscrupulous is a terrible way to look at the world, but it’s best to be aware of what’s going on, and know where you’re going and approximately how long it will take to get there.
And if you can get a handle on the route, either in your head or on your phone, then that’s an added bonus, if only to lend a hand if your driver gets lost.
REPORT THE TAXI DRIVER
If you’re unhappy with the driving and behaviour of the driver or believe a vehicle to be unlicensed, then report it immediately – you may help protect future passengers. This includes if they use their mobile phone.
You wouldn’t do it yourself or tolerate friends or family being on their phone while driving, so why do the rules seem to change with your taxi driver? All too often, it seems, we get comfy in our taxi, neglect to put on our seat belt and ignore our driver’s indiscretions willfully.
Research by auto retailer Peter Vardy has revealed that 74% of Brits would allow their taxi driver to drive around illegally, admitting they wouldn’t voice an opinion if they saw them using their phone when completing a journey. Be one of the 26% and tell your driver to get both hands on the wheel. If the issue persists, report them to the taxi operator or the local council where the offence happened.
A rough approximation of a house is four walls, a roof and a door. But a home is so much more than the sum of its physical parts — it’s a living space where you feel sheltered and sustained, somewhere you miss when you’re away and that takes you in a warm embrace when you return. There really is no place like it. Of course, family are the crucial ingredient for homemaking alchemy, but interior design also plays a crucial role. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL décor hacks that make turn the humble house into a handsome home.
Ambient lighting
Lighting creates atmosphere and has a powerful impact on home ambience. If you live in a climate affected by low-winter light-levels, consider pre-programmed lighting that automatically increases brightness when the winter nights draw in. Automated light systems can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder and ensure your home looks warm and welcoming to guests.
What’s more, brighter lights might be suitable for a study or kitchen where you want to feel awake and alert, but slightly dimmer lights are more soothing for lounges and living rooms. All in all, ambient artificial light is one easy fix for making a house a home.
Warm welcome
First impressions last. And for householders, the primacy effect is of particular importance when welcoming first time visitors. A bright yellow front door sets the right tone for an entertaining evening ahead and designer door mats with humorous family mottos will make guests feel at home before they even step inside.
An outdoor light is another must-have décor item — a retro style lantern assures guests that your home is a beacon of bonhomie. Your front entrance is the first sight of home for your family too — it should incorporate a brilliant blend of attractive, safe and secure elements.
The power of aroma
A few scented candles can bring so much to a home, with aromatics pleasing the nose as soon as you walk through the door. But smell isn’t the only positive they bring. The warm, flickering glow of a candle also creates visual intrigue – romantic and cosy all at once.
Transforming a house into a home takes time — but these give home décor hacks provide a shortcut to stylish success.
Blissful bedrooms
Your bed is the best place to rest and recuperate after a busy day, so it should be a sanctuary. Some of life’s most special moments happen here, so it needs to be a focal point.
Calming shades of green, grey, blue and purple can help you to switch off before you snooze in the master bedroom and a few carefully chosen pieces of artwork can also calm you down and soothe a stressed soul. Also, with the right accessories and lots of soft furnishings, a white bedroom can become a tranquil place for you to relax and sleep in, but remember to pay attention to little details to avoid it becoming sterile room.
Also important to remember; your kids’ bedrooms will most likely double as their private living spaces too — so allowing them the flexibility to use bolder colours lets them add vital personalised touches to their private space.
Air quality
The air inside your house can contain harmful critters like dust mites, as well as chemicals from cleaning products. So, making sure it’s as clean as possible makes your home a much more pleasant place for family members and visitors who may suffer from allergies. There’s nothing worse than a sneezing fit to interrupt flowing conversation. Air purifying plants are a great and natural way to clean your home’s air supply. A carbon monoxide alarm is also a wise investment for peace of mind and an air purifier keeps the atmosphere pristine. Most importantly of all; good ventilation; thorough dusting with natural products; and a smattering of plants, can all combine to provide a homely breath of fresh air.
Life used to be simple. Be interesting, be unique, be individual, and people will be drawn to you. Now, we have multiple personas to cultivate across multiple platforms; neglect your twitter feed and you’ll signal a lack of virtue; fail to post on Facebook and signal that you’re, well, dead. But there is one platform which all others bow down to. One which can be used to convince the world that you live the fullest, craziest existence, all from the comfort of your sofa. In your jim jams. Yes, we’re talking about Instagram.
Making sure that your Instagram game is up to scratch can be difficult. Friends will be posting snaps of far flung locations and far out activities, and keeping up can be tough. The good news is, there are some places much closer to home which will look just as amazing on your feed. So, we’ve teamed up Cottages in Northumberland, purveyors of cottages in Beadnell, to offer 7 unusual locations in Britain IDEAL for you Instagram.
ALNWICK TREEHOUSE
If you’re looking for an extraordinary treehouse high up in the branches – and let’s face it, aren’t we all? – head to Alnwick and you won’t be disappointed. The Treehouse in Alnwick Garden is one of the largest wooden treehouses in the world; made from Canadian cedar, Scandinavian redwood, and UK pine. That’s the most multicultural, treebased domestic space we’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing.
Make sure you head into the café; only accessible by walking across the rope bridges. These places make for good Insta-pics if you’re a foodie and love to show off unique dishes to your followers.
If you’re looking to add some landscape shots to your profile, Northumberland should be your first stop. Enjoy a walk to Ketley Crag Rock, home to mysterious cup and ring carvings that have recently been named as Ancient Monuments by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Research has said that these markings were made between 3800 BC and 1500 BC. That’s a looooong time ago, before Instagram even existed. Fancy that? Historians are, however, still unsure of the meaning behind them.
THE PINEAPPLE
If you’re looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind flourish on a historic building, look no further than this tropical fruit rendered in stone. Built in 1761 by the Earl of Dunmore (a village in Falkirk, Scotland), The Pineapple is an eccentric summerhouse surrounded by a walled garden.
But why a pineapple? During the 1700s, the Earl of Dunmore was serving as governor in the state of Virginia, where sailors would leave pineapples on gateposts to announce their safe return from sea. After returning home, the joker Earl Dunmore decided to bring this tropical custom to Scotland in a more permanent fashion. We admire his commitment to the joke; it’s massive!
Sometimes the madcap momentum of London can be a little overwhelming. This one is easy to miss when being moved by the crowd – but next time you find yourself in Trafalgar Square, head to the south-east corner to find this hidden treasure. This tiny police station has been around since 1926 and was built from a hollowed-out lamppost to help policemen keep an eye on protests, once upon a time a favourite pastime in Trafalgar Square.
With a direct line to Scotland Yard, this police station can surprisingly hold two prisoners at one time. Although today it’s used as a broom cupboard for the Westminster Council, Britain’s smallest police station is the ideal size and location for a selfie.
ANGEL OF THE NORTH
This one is taller than four double-decker buses and has wings the size of a jumbo jet; the Angel is the most dominant, iconic landmark that the North of England has to offer. It attracts over 150,000 visitors each year and is considered the biggest angel sculpture in the world, so why it may not exactly be unique to your feed, it’s a stunning sculpture nonetheless.
THE HEADINGTON SHARK
If your Instagram theme is for those with artistic minds, then the shark in a roof in Oxford is one snap you definitely need to capture. What makes it even more curious and crazy is its residential credentials. It’s not like it’s part of a quirky bar or restaurant, it’s simply protruding out of someone’s home in Oxford. It’s made from painted fibreglass and has become one of the town’s most famous residents since its installation in 1986. Despite legal battles to get the shark removed on health and safety grounds, the sculpture lives on and now, people from all over the UK stop by to get a selfie with the shark.
This spot has made an appearance in the Guinness Book of Records and been declared the smallest house in Wales. Amazingly, 19th century couples lived here — however uncomfortably — and it was last occupied in 1900. If you’re looking for a picture that will trend then look no further, as this home in Conwy will be sure to bring in those likes.
The bottomless brunch field in London has been worked and reaped so extensively, one wonders if there’s any space left on the plot for a budding new upstart. In a terrain teeming with imitators, places need to differentiate themselves to stand a chance of seeing the sun. The Potting Shed seems to have taken the extended metaphor very literally, digging its roots down a floor below London’s ground level, and lining every available wall with pots, plants and whispers of fresh produce. It’s a gamble which pays off, in spades.
IDEA
A decor and menu working in synergy, promoting notions of green, health and lightness, is the schtick the Potting Shed has settled on. The vision is tunneled, but that’s the charm – from the name to the ubiquitous plant pots to the fresh, seasonal menu, everything is as immersive as covering yourself in earth and waiting to get watered. If the water was prosecco, that is.
LOCATION
The Potting Shed is nestled under (and part of) the Dorset Square Hotel, a short walk from the Baker Street tube station. Alternatively, Marylebone overground station is equally close.
ATMOSPHERE
The mood was sophisticated and gentle, though a little subdued, owing to our time of fairly late brunching. Towards the end of our meal, the place started to fill up with lunch guests and the noise rose accordingly.
Furnishings are resolutely earthy hues – browns and greens aplenty – and art takes the form of garden sculpture. Service is attentive, professional and prompt, with wait staff razor eyed for when the drinks are getting low. With complimentary fresh bread, constant topping up of glasses and a wait staff eager to please, there is a real sense of hospitality and generosity here that some other brunch places (with such emphasis on turning tables) could learn from. Brunch should be a leisurely affair, and it certainly is here.
FOOD
Brunch menus in the capital are a difficult balancing act. There is a need to stand out from the very crowded market of smashed avacado and poached eggs, but stray too far from the all-conquering formula and to put it bluntly, you’ll be empty. Brunch demands a certain comfort in the familiar – people tend to be a little jaded by Sunday morning – and to hit them with too much choice is to invite bemusement. The Potting Shed menu thoughtfully pitches itself seemingly with all this in mind.
There are perennial brunch favourites like eggs benedict and pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. Alongside these are healthier options – berries and muesli are given an equal billing to our more indulgent friends. We choose to go for a couple of green dishes – peas and burrata is seasonal and fresh, with the creaminess of the milky delight bringing a sense richness and glutton to an otherwise light plate. Avocado, cucumber and feta on toast riffs gently on the ubiquitous brunchtime staple, and succeeds in being different enough to be noticed. We follow this with a rosti, salt beef and pickles, which feels naughty next to all the grassy notes of the previous dishes (and all the better for it). The ongoing theme of the mildest deviation from breakfast staples is complete with Merguez sausage, tart and fragrant, over home-made baked beans. It’s another sound dish, and a fulfilling end to things.
DRINK
Of course, there’s enough prosecco to take a bath in, and that’s wonderful but the abstinent and well-behaved are also catered for with fresh fruit juices and good tea and coffee.
MUST TRY
We particularly enjoyed the fresh green vegetables with burrata, which seemed to encompass the philosophy of the place most fittingly – fresh, clean, seasonal flavours with just a hint of indulgence.
WHY GO
For something just a little different, in a brunch field so crowded it’s tough to know where to start, for those craving something light but fulfilling, The Potting Shed ticks all the boxes. It’s a thumbs up from us.
Address: 39 Dorset Square, Marylebone, London NW1 6QN
Disclosure: IDEAL magazine dines as a guest of the restaurant.
For more bottomless brunch recipes, check out bottomlessbrunch.com/restaurants/london/ for a guide to everything from prosecco in Covent Garden to all-you-can-eat avo and Aperol in Dalston.
Staycations have become so commonplace in the country’s vernacular that the portmanteau needs no further defining. That said, it’s a strange, inverse world, that of the British holidaymaker. While most Londoners may have visited far flung corners of the globe with reckless abandon, you’ll find many who have never ventured beyond Oxford’s M40, who view Watford as a symbolic gateway to the North and who constantly harp on about a flight to Europe being cheaper than a train to Edinburgh.
It’s time to tap the great, unexplored resource of the Great British countryside, especially if you have kids, as it has so much to offer them. With that in mind, we’ve teamed up with Baby Friendly Boltholes who is the go-to site for stylish and child-friendly holidays, to present our 6 IDEAL staycations for families for pre-school children.
THE ISLE OF PURBECK, DORSET
The Isle of Purbeck, on England’s south coast, is full of fun activities for all the family. Studland bay offers beautiful, white-sanded beaches with water suitably shallow for the little ones to have a good toddle, giving parents peace of mind whilst they paddle. Swanage town has a lovely little beachfront where you’ll find crabbing and sandcastle building a plenty, with punters enjoying fish’n’chips on the beach, rain or shine, in true British style. Away from the sand and shore, Corfe Castle is a fascinating site for adults and children alike, with both historical intrigue and the opportunity for some fancy dress fuelled reenactments. It’s accessible via a working steam train, which the little ones love, and tickets for the aforementioned ride come with a visit to Corfe’s model village included. All in all, the options are endless for good family fun in this part of England.
THE LLYN PENINSULA, NORTH WALES
The Llyn Peninsula in Northern Wales has one of our favourite pubs in the world, Ty Coch Inn. But fear not, this one is for the kids too. The pub ‘garden’ is actually a small stretch of beach – you can sup your pint while you watch the children build sandcastles – could there be anything better? Port Madog railway is another kid crowd-pleaser and Snowdonia needn’t involve relentless climbing; family picnics at the foot of the mountain are a great way to luxuriate in the scenery without the heavy hiking.
THE NEW FOREST, HAMPSHIRE
The New Forest in Hampshire is a wonderful place for walks, wildlife watching and more. Moors valley, in the heart of the forest, is an adventure playground with a difference. It snakes and slaloms through the tall trees, seemingly adapting its shape to the nature around it. The structures are built from wood, camouflaging themselves against the dense forest, which adds a real sense of magic to the play. The area is full of wildlife too, with ponies and deer spotting a particular treat. For the adults, there’s some cracking country pubs, many serving grub elevated by seasonality and local ingredients to something much more than the usual staples.
LOCH LOMOND, SCOTLAND
Kids and castles; it’s a marriage made in heaven isn’t it? Balloch Castle country park is a brilliant day out for the babies, with plenty of room to run about and a castle maintained respectively by the National Trust. Loch Lomond also has an aquarium complete with ocean tunnel; a fascinating, immersive experience of sharks and turtles swimming overhead and all around.
SOUTH SANDS, DEVON
Two words which will have your kids sold on South Sands – ice cream. Salcombe has an ice cream factory, Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream Factory, which takes visitors and offers free samples. From there, it’s only a short walk to the picturesque North Sands Beach, with calm, shallow water perfect for paddling.
LONDON
Although the countryside is often the go-to for a staycation with pre-schoolers, the capital offers so much to do that it should never be overlooked. There are just too many options to list here, but there’s sure to be something to suit your toddler’s tastes. Attend events and places of interest during the week when it’s far less busy, making the most of the years before your little one is at school and you have all the freedom in the world.
The New-Nordic revolution is now anything but. A world order whose influence stretches far beyond its continent, you’ll recognise its sensibilities on every high street, in every restaurant, on every off-grey plate. Through all the mimicry – the motifs growing out of plates, the foraged everything, the austere aesthetic – a seasonal, hyperlocal seafood’s reverence remains the prevailing pillar of this food movement. In Copenhagen’s ultra-trendy Meatpacking district, you’ll find Kødbyens Fiskebar, serving some of the freshest, and finest, around.
IDEA
Opened in 2009, Kødbyens Fiskebar was intended as a dining experience not found elsewhere, in a city viewed by so many as a culinary mecca. The emphasis was to be on celebrating, putting on a pedestal even, the best seafood from local waters, to be enjoyed at the convenience and leisure of the customer. This mission statement, of unique proposition and an ever changing roll-call of different punters and personalities, has been met emphatically. Kødbyens Fiskebar is a must-go-to in a city spoilt for choice.
LOCATION
The restaurant is housed in the former meat-packing district of Copenhagen, in a square with a number of other hip establishments (we’d recommend following your meal with a pint of pokey craft ale in nearby WarPigs).There is outside seating – the area is super sociable during sunnier weekends- with a couple of fire pits leading to things getting atmospheric after dark.
ATMOSPHERE
Diners here should be equally as comfortable dropping in for a glass of wine and a snack as they are having a multi-course blowout. We love a place with this ethos, it encourages repeat custom – we are very much testament to that. This is conceived with a variety of different seating options – bar, sofa, and more formal table settings all available – as well as a range of course options, size-wise. All of this leads to a buzzy, lively atmosphere with pockets of the restaurant occupied with different walks of life. Service is accordant, and it’s clear everyone feels very much at ease.
FOOD
In a city whose culinary sea is awash with fantastic, on-point fish cooking, the sourcing and lightness of touch in preparation has to be perfect here for it to succeed. It is, it does, and then some.
Next to each item on the menu, the sea in which it was caught is listed. There are fish tanks. The squeaky freshness is apparent for all to see before your first bite. The menu depends on the catch and changes with frequency. Indeed, during our two trips, the options on offer were different, only days apart. All of this bodes very well indeed for lovers of seafood.
We particularly enjoyed a generous bowl of Limfjorden mussels, pepped up with not much else but cider and herbs – just as it should be and absolutely delicious for it. From the raw bar, mackerel from the Oresund strait glistened and bounced between the teeth in a way only the freshest does. This type of fish goes south very quickly, losing its vibrancy only after a day or so. Serving it raw then, showed a confidence in the product which reassures and titillates in equal measure.
The menu also saves room for a couple of ‘bigger’ courses, if you have, too. From here we enjoyed the hake, seared to a brown crust in butter, with carrot exploited and manipulated imaginatively to its best. The hake here tasted superb, a real joy.
DRINK
The bar in the name is represented almost as well as the fish, with a sterling, eminently affordable wine list. There is a commendable page devoted to by-the-glass, proving that walk-ins who enjoy just a glass and a dish are very welcome. French and Italian wines rub shoulders with a strong showing from Germany as well as Danish varieties. Naturally, white takes centre stage, with wait staff are primed with the knowledge to guide you to the best pairing with your food.
MUST TRY
Conversely, after all this lauding of the fish, which is undoubtedly the main event, and a damn worthy headliner at that, the desserts were the dishes which had us lingering for too long. A tricky balancing act of fennel and dark chocolate was divine, with the ubiquitous sea buckthorn coming into its own. Rhubarb from Denmark, with, we presume foraged, woodruff, was also sublime. We were moved to let our waiter know that the obvious, noisy ecstasy we were in was due to the desserts, in case he suspected foul play. He informed us the pastry chef was new at the time of our visit. We hope his career is a long and fruitful one here.
WHY GO
Kødbyens Fiskebar is the real deal. Housed in the grooviest part of Copenhagen, sprawling and spacious but welcoming and intimate all at once, it is here that you’ll find some of the most carefully sourced and respectfully cooked seafood in the city. The convivial welcome extends across the length of the meal, meaning one could easily let an early afternoon lunch slip into an evening here. That’s even before you miss your flight due to the desserts. An absolute must-visit.
Visit Copenhagen and the temptation to splurge big bucks (well, considerable Krone) on small plates of raw shrimp and sea buckthorn can sometimes be too strong to resist. Loans are taken out, backs-of-sofas checked and checked again, and more reasonable options overlooked in favour of the allure of Michelin-certified establishments.
The Danish capital is synonymous with good food, particularly fish. And we all know that the joy of good fish is that it sings in simplicity. If it’s fresh, locally sourced and stored correctly, it needs not much more than a light touch with the seasoning and a squeeze of something citric. With this praise of the austere in mind, here are our 5 IDEAL, affordable seafood restaurants in Copenhagen.
Oysters and Grill
When walking into Oysters and Grill in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro district, you know you’re going to be looked after. After all of the ice-cool, super chic dining experiences and cold chill in the air to match (we visited in winter), this place feels warm, welcoming and humble. There’s no exposed red brick, filament light bulbs and wood tables here; table cloths are brightly coloured and floral in design, candles flicker the atmosphere is jovial and loud.
The fish is no nonsense, with little in the way of garnish. Huge, shell on prawns arrive with simply mayo to accompany; all you need if the crustaceans are fresh enough. These squeak between the teeth as only the freshest do. This aesthetic and attitude continues for the meal and we leave satiated, satisfied, a bit too drunk and a bit too full. A final word for the service; utterly charming and personal, we also leave with a list of other great restaurants in the city to try and sights to see. Wonderful.
Address: Sjællandsgade 1B, 2200 København N, Denmark
Based in the gritty Vesterbro district, Kødbyens Fiskebar is a Copenhagen institution, famed for its super fresh, intricate yet simply presented seafood dishes. The fish is the star on every plate, caught from the surrounding waters and treated with according respect, and is presented beautifully.
It’s a large restaurant with a bar running through the middle, creating a buzzy atmosphere where you’re equally at home having a feature-length meal as you are a glass of wine and a snack. Although fish is the undoubted headline act, we have to mention the desserts. They are highly original and utterly stunning on both palate and eye – worth a trip for one with a glass of sweet one alone.
Krogs is one of Copenhagen’s oldest restaurants and on entry, its elegant, high ceilings, starched table cloths and besuited wait staff reassure you that you’ll be treated and fed well. Although there’s meat on the menu too, fish is the focus here, without doubt. The menu changes according to the seasons and what’s fresh, as any fish restaurant’s should – and there’s little in the way of nods to the New Nordic scripture. In fact, there’s heavy French influences here, with the bouillabaisse and sole meuniere being particularly exquisite.
Address: Gammel Strand 38, 1202 København K, Denmark
Coming from the same team as Copenhagen’s Pastis restaurant, Fishmarket continues the theme of confident, no frills French cooking, but with a focus purely on fish. There’s a devoted oyster section and large, varied champagne list, so if that’s your thing, a superb evening of indulgence writes itself. If you fancy a more modest evening, wine is offered by the glass and a bowl of gorgeous, plump mussels will set you back only 185 DK. The cheeseboard, to finish, is also a thing of beauty.
Address: Hovedvagtsgade 2, 1103 København K, Denmark
Not a restaurant, per se, but a marvellous place to indulge in some saline satisfaction nonetheless. Torvehallerne market, a stone’s throw from Copenhagen’s central station, boasts several stalls offering wide varieties of fresh-off-the-boat fish which they’ll prepare for you in house or you can take home to cook yourself. There’s lots of small tubs of pickled cockles and other treats which you can nibble on while you peruse the larger options available. And, there’s some damn fine smoked salmon, herring and more on rye bread. Lovely stuff.
Address: Frederiksborggade 21, 1360 København K, Denmark
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and a city of great dichotomy. Let’s start with colour; a place built on the foundations of the Golden Age, when Dutch art, technology and innovation were at the forefront of global sophisticated thinking; to the modern day red light district, where stags on wild weekends are anything but.
Then there’s the food; you can enjoy the finest that molecular European haute cuisine has to offer, with plates elevated to high art; or, you can elevate yourself higher by dining on the city’s famous ‘cakes’. And then there’s Amsterdam’s world renowned museums and art galleries, where you can get as high or low brow as you like. Basically, there’s something for everyone in this great city. So without further ado, here are 8 IDEAL things to do in Amsterdam.
EAT PANNEKOEKEN AT UPSTAIRS
Going to Amsterdam and not eating pannekoeken, which are a Dutch version of pancakes, would be a real crime. Traditionally, the Dutch rendition is larger and thinner than its English and American counterparts, and can be enjoyed in sweet or savoury form. We love the version at Upstairs, housed in a tiny 16th century house, with quirky and kitsch decorations including 100 hundred teapots hanging from the ceiling, and interesting pictures of the Dutch Royal Family and old paintings of Amsterdam.
It’s like entering the house of an eccentric old aunt who has never redecorated. With only 4 tables, the room is absolutely tiny and Upstairs claims to be the smallest restaurant in Europe. The pancakes are absolutely huge – so come here hungry. Some of the combinations may seem a little odd – ginger and cheese, for instance – but it totally works. Since the place is so small we recommend booking – don’t be late as they only hold your table for 10 minutes.
TRY A SPACE CAKE
Well, it would be rude not to, right? Surprisingly delicious and super strong, these edibles laced with cannabis are the one type of brownie you should not scoff. The space cakes take up to two hours to kick in, and it’s recommended to only eat half at first. Don’t be tempted to eat the other half if you don’t feel anything straight away – bide your time.
Since there are hundreds of coffee shops in Amsterdam, with many of them selling marijuana related products, it’s not hard to find them. However, some places are a little more seedy and touristy than others, and should be avoided. According to our insider, Utopia on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, Paradox on Eerste Bloemdwarsstraat and 420Café, Oudebrugsteeg 27 are some of the best in the city. Oh and if you get the munchies after your space cake, then a few stroopwafels (a traditional Dutch treat) are ideal.
VISIT THE CHEESE MUSEUM
Amsterdam’s Cheese Museum is small, but it packs one hell of a punch. Dutch cheese has a long and proud history, ingrained in the culture, with many of its most famous cheeses named after towns in the country. This museum pays respect to the cultural and culinary heritage of the good stuff. The place is divided into two floors, with historical intrigue catered for below and the tasting of hundreds of vibrantly coloured wheels provided above. As it’s free to enter, a visit here seems like a no brainer. However if the cheese museum is full and you don’t want to face the throngs of tourists, there are plenty of cheese shops dotted around the city where you can sample the finest Gouda the Netherlands has to offer.
STROLL AROUND JORDAN
Jordan is one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in Amsterdam. Situated bang in the centre, it’s full of trendy shops, luxury boutiques, lovely galleries, lots of cosy cafes, breakfast and brunch spots and great restaurants. You could easily (and should) spend the entire day here, wandering from shop to shop, stopping for some coffee when your legs get weary. Follow it with some brunch, lunch and maybe even dinner for a decadent day. Every Saturday, the whole of Lindengracht becomes a market, selling everything from handcrafted items to cheese (of course). Westerstraat is another great street market in Jordan that opens on Monday mornings.
Psst, Hey you, shopping fan. An area near Jordan, known as The Nine Little Streets (De 9 Atraatjes) is also a great place to wander. Quaint and quirky, it’s full of cute cafes and stylish shops. Oh and don’t forget to have a slice of appletaart with your coffee. This thick and crumbly Dutch apple pie (which is more like a cake) is always served with a dollop of whipped cream and is absolutely delicious.
GET CULTURAL
Speaking of Jordan, Galerie Buuf is one of our favourite places in the area if you’re looking to get cultural. It exhibits all types of modern art, so if that’s you’re thing, it’s definitely worth a visit. Elsewhere, Upstream Gallery is another favourite, showcasing a well-curated mix of contemporary artists. W139 is another cool space for contemporary art – it was a former theatre which was squatted in 1979 by five young artists as ‘ a movement against the closed world of commercial art and museums’.
If you’re into photography then you must go to Huis Marseille. Housed in two 17th century canal houses, it’s absolutely stunning and its ever changing exhibitions mean a constantly evolving cast of unique pieces.
Want to learn more about the canals that makes Amsterdam unforgettable? Then Museum Het Grachtenhuis (The Canal Museum) is a natural starting point. Other popular museums to visit include the historic Anne Frank House, The Van Gogh Museum which is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh and The Rijksmuseum, a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam.
RENT A BIKE
Amsterdam is the bike capital of the world and no trip to here would be complete without getting on two wheels and exploring. Small cobbled streets, beautiful bridges and picturesque canals make Amsterdam ideal for bikes. There are hundreds of places to rent from, so if in doubt, just ask your hotel. A couple of tips: avoid rush hour – Amsterdam’s roads are super busy during which commuters getting to work become less forgiving to tourists and novice cyclists. Next, the city has many unwritten cycling rules, such as not to chain your bike to a stranger’s. This will be viewed very unfavourably indeed.
VISIT VONDELPARK
Vondelpark, appropriately titled ‘Amsterdam’s Favourite Park’ is a beautiful open space to kick back in after all the food and drink has got the better of you. 8 hectares of public green space play host to sculpture and open air theatre, and there are also restaurants, cafes and skate rental on offer, meaning it’s possible to spend the whole day here if you wish. The surrounding area of Vondelburrt has amazing nightlife when darkness falls, so whether it’s dancing the clubs, sipping cocktails at the bars, this lively area of Amsterdam has got you covered.
SPEND AN EVENING AT FOODHALLEN
Set in the old tram depot in Amsterdam’s cool Oud-West neighborhood and inspired by Torvehallerne in Copenhagen, Foodhallen is the first indoor food market of it’s kind in the Netherlands. Streetfood fans will delight in the large space lined with over 20 street food vendors serving up gastronomic delights from Michelin star concepts to ‘international streetfood’. There’s live music in the evenings and every Friday and Saturday the market hosts a live DJ set until 1am. So if music and food is your thing (and it is very much ours), you’d be mad not to visit Foodhallen.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and with shops and online stores bursting with gift ideas, with the help of FieldandTrek.com, we take a look at a more subtle way to share the love this month – a romantic walk.
Many people spend a fortune on presents, cards and going out for meals on Valentine’s Day, but going for an idyllic walk promises just as much romance as any of the above, if not more. Rather than being crammed into a busy restaurant, as much a part of your neighbouring tables’ sweet nothings as your own, a peaceful walk somewhere scenic offers a more intimate and cherished atmosphere.
BATH
Bath is well known for its beauty and iconic history, including the Roman Baths, and offers stunning walks, both planned and unplanned. The Cotswold Way National Trail offers over 100 miles of stunning scenery with journeys through small villages and famous historic sites to choose from.
THE MALVERN HILLS
The Malvern Hills divide the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire and at their high points offer picturesque views for miles.Worcestershire is also home to the UK’s best-known rivers; the Severn and Avon, a gentle stroll along the Severn Valley will see the Holt Castle and Church as well as the beautiful countryside.
DORSET
A trip to Dorset to walk along Durdle Door or White Nothe will provide an abundance of romance thanks to the coastal views and arches carved by the sea. If the weather is okay then a walk along the beach or through the coves is be a real treat.
BODNANT GARDENS
For people who love nature as much as they do their partner then the Bodnant Gardens in north Wales is perfect. Owned by the National Trust, the gardens boasts stiles, kissing gates and wooden gates along the path which are perfect for stopping and admiring the views.
NORTH YORKSHIRE
North Yorkshire is home to some breath-taking sights, and the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal offer just that. The Abbey and Water Garden estates boast a tranquil and romantic setting thanks to the ponds, statues and temples as well as the river from the Abbey.
Once upon a time you didn’t want to spend it with anyone else but your partner. The clue’s in the name. Holidays were you two and you two alone. Now the prospect of another ‘getaway’ in Stockholm staring into your smorgasbord and drowning your shared sorrows in extortionate craft pale ale fills you with dread. You find yourself longing for that Monday back in the office; and the only getaway you really crave is the one away from your lover.
Well fear not, we’ve got your next holiday covered. It’s time for a group holiday with your friends – the people you actually enjoy spending time with – an escape from the drudgery of domestic dotage. We’ve teamed up with escapes4u.com to give you our 6 IDEAL group holiday ideas.
A Private Ski Resort in Switzerland
The opportunity to book a private ski resort would seem like a luxury only available to the super rich a decade ago. But, with falling flight costs and competitive pricing abound, this is no longer a pipe dream. One of the most easily accessible and affordable due to its close(r) proximity to England is Veysonnaz in Switzerland. Here you have access to 410km of terrain – you just have to find 49 friends first.
A Villa on The Algarve
The Algarve in Portugal is the dream destination for groups as there’s such a variety of activity options available. Sports, especially water-based and tennis, are abundant. If retail-therapy is more your thing, shopping options are plentiful. Resorts with villas to hire for up to 10 people house casinos, golf, cinemas and more. Basically, if you get bored here then we wouldn’t want to be your friend anyway.
A Cottage in Cornwall
One needn’t get on a plane to experience a great group holiday. Cornwall offers the best food the U.K has to offer, especially if you’re a fan of all things fishy. We certainly are. Consider Port Isaac where incredible chef Nathan Outlaw has three outposts serving fresh as you like seafood at totally reasonable prices for the quality. Consider a group trip to Rick Stein’s Cookery School in Padstow, where you can learn the tricks of the trade from a host of fantastic tutors, enjoying the fruits of your labours as a team after the course.
A Champagne Tasting Tour in Epernay
Could there be anything better than champagne tasting with a group of friends in beautiful France? Premium tasting may be an indulgence too far, but essential tours represent great value for money when you consider the fun and frolics in store. Many tour providers now offer a minibus service, a key component if you don’t wish to censor your consumption.
A Spa Break in Pembrokeshire
If your group love pampering, you could look closer to home with Pembrokeshire in Wales. You can go for a day, a weekend or even longer if you feel you deserve it (you do). 5 star treatments, massage therapy and bath robes galore await.
A Yoga Retreat in Yorkshire
Yorkshire may seem an unlikely destination for yogis, but it offers incredible retreat options for those wishing to top-up their inner zen. A weekend at The Orange Retreat has gained much critical acclaim in the national press in recent years, but this has done nothing to dampen its personalised, unique sessions and family feel. A must.
Is there anything more annoying than having to chase a client for an invoice? You’ve done the work, sent the invoice 30 days ago and now you’re waiting for payment that’s over a week over due. Familiar story? Well, Monday 12th February marks the start of the most stressful week of the year for the UK’s army of freelancers, according to a study by invoice finance experts Access Commercial Finance. It’s all to do with unpaid invoices stacking up and businesses using the Christmas break as an excuse for paying late.
Dealing with late payments is tricky. On the one hand you need to push for prompt payment as overdue invoices can be detrimental to your business – time spent chasing could be better spent working on other projects and growing your business. Plus it has a knock on effect – now you can’t pay your suppliers or employees on time. But, on the other hand, you want to be on their good side and continue doing business with them. A fine – and bank – balancing act, indeed.
If you’re a freelancer or running a small business then you’ll know all about the pain of chasing for invoices. So here are 5 IDEAL things to do when a client doesn’t pay your invoices.
DROP THEM A FRIENDLY CALL
The first thing you should do is simple; just talk to them. It may be something completely innocent, like the person who deals with invoices is ill or away. You don’t want to get on bad terms with your clients without good reason, as you need them to keep your business running. Give them a casual call and ask about how their business is going, then mention that they are yet to pay their invoice this month. Make sure you have all the correct information in front of you to avoid confusion. If you’re seeing them soon, you could bring it up during you meeting instead, as face-to-face communication is not only more respectful, but it also garners more honest results.
FOLLOW UP
The next step would be to shoot a casual email reminder over to your client – it’s always good to have something in writing. If they still don’t pay up, write them a letter stating the figure that they owe and if they don’t pay it within a certain number of days, you’ll charge the statutory interest (which is 8%) plus the Bank of England base rate for business-to-business transactions. If they still don’t pay, threaten legal action. If you choose to go down the more formal route be prepared to follow through.
CONSIDER MEDIATION
Are they completely ignoring you? Then it’s time to consider mediation. This involves you paying a company to act as a conciliator between you and your client. If they also choose to ignore this stage and the case is taken to court, it will be taken into account in court as it shows that you’re taking this seriously and professionally. Before taking your client to court, there are two precautionary steps you need to take. The first is a letter before action or LBA. This is where you contact your solicitor and they talk to your client warning them that you are going to take them to court. This works well if the client is ignoring you to save money, as taking it to court could cost them a lot more. The second is getting a debt collection agency likeHJS Solutions who will get back the money owed in exchange for a fee up front and a percentage of the debt recovered.
COURT ACTION
The final stage is court action. Depending on the size of the debt owed, the case will likely be taken to small claims court. The client will have to pay more as they will have to get their solicitors involved and if you win the case, they’ll generally have to pay for your legal fees, interest and more too, depending on the judge and jury’s final decision on the case. If they ignore your summons after 28 days, the court will then decide without a hearing.
Virgilio Martínez is THE chef of the moment, voted as such at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards this year. His restaurant, Central, in Lima was also named as the world’s 5th best in those awards, further recognition for a man making waves far beyond his native Peru.
He isn’t at all harmed by boyish good looks and equally photogenic food, with his articulate way of narrating the cuisine of his home country, both spoken and on the plate, lending itself perfectly to the avant-garde Netflix hit series ‘Chef’s Table’ earlier this year. All of this hype has led to his second venture, Lima, in Central London, being one of the hottest tickets in town. We were fortunate enough to go there recently and boy, it’s good.
Idea
The food of Peru seems to capture everything that is now and zeitgeisty in the world of cuisine. Light, colourful plates, unheard of foraged ingredients and attention to hyper-locality are the foundations on which the culinary landscape has been built in the noughties, and Lima capitalises on all of these with flair and elegance. If you want to experience the most influential cuisine since Noma, New Nordic et al without spending tons on a flight to South America, then Lima is the place to go.
Location
Just off busy Oxford street, in Fitzrovia, in amongst a whole host of other great restaurants (the Ninth, Bao…..), you will find Lima. Settle into the area for the evening, as there are also some great pubs to visit and shopping to be done.
Atmosphere
The room is tight and tucked away, with scant space between tables creating intimacy rather than being intrusive. Young staff with flecks of Spanish in their voices dart between tables and there’s always noisy, busy chatter. There’s a couple of tables outside to park your bottom if the sun is shining, and this really feels like food you should be getting a tan to.
Food
Going to a Peruvian restaurant and not having cerviche would be like going to a bar and ordering a warm water. The cerviche at Lima is exactly how it should be – really, the ultimate compliment. So often raw fish cooked in citrus can be sour and harsh or overcompensated with excessive sugar, but here the balancing act is executed with the fine precision of a trapeze artist.
The seabass tiradito (akin to a raw fish carpaccio) was sweetened with coconut and given zest and zing by ponzu – both gently enough handled to let the taste of the wild bass shine. A vegetable which looked to us like beetroot (it turns out it’s aji mirsasol – nope, we hadn’t heard of it either) added extra crunch and sparkle. The black bream cerviche is equally delicious, vibrant with assertive aji limo, only let down by the ubiquitous and sometimes unnecessary avocado – surplus to requirements when earthy notes had already been covered by Jerusalem artichoke.
Mains, conversely, can seem like somewhat of an afterthought when the headliner opens the show, but the beef pachamanca with yellow potato purée and Andean roots was beautifully cooked with warm spicy background notes and plenty of understated brio. The king prawn chupe was as fresh as the cerviche, sweet and saline in equal bounds, the huacatay herb of its garnish tasting like a marriage of tarragon and basil. Very intriguing and very delicious indeed. Portions are generous so we forgo dessert in favour of more cocktails….
Drinks
The pisco sour is the must-drink here, as in any Peruvian restaurant, and Lima does a particularly fine one with bright passion fruit – as if allergic to grey and beige. The wine list is also commendable in it’s brevity, the absurd tome of many a Michelin establishment welcomingly swerved in favour of clarity and options by the half litre and glass.
Must Try
Enough has been said about the cerviche but an honourable mention is found in a section of the menu oft overlooked. The cusco corn bread is so deliciously more-ish it stopped being a ‘snack’ after the third order.
Why Go
If you want genuine, balanced cerviche, unfamiliar flavours, exciting plates of colour and precision, and thoughtful cooking of vegetables, this is the place to go. Lima has a unique style and rhythm that makes its billing as the hottest ticket in town seem like an understatement. Trends come and go and the food world is no exception. Lima, however, is.
Congratulations! Your start up business is becoming too big for your spare room and you’re thinking of getting an office. But what do you need to look for? What type of office do you want? Here’s our top tips for getting your companies first office.
CALCULATE THE COSTS
First things first, you need to decide if you’re in a strong enough position to lease a property. Renting an office space will significantly increase your outgoings. It’s not just the rent you have to worry about. It’s also the heating, lighting and insurance bills, not to mention the business rates and price of wifi. Also, in case you hadn’t made the connection between the commute to work and people’s bleeding bank balance, consider that the average person spends £148 each month getting to and from work – according to the Metro that’s a whopping £135,871 spent on travel by retirement time. And remember, time is also money too – the average worker spends 400 days of their lives commuting.
CONSIDER A SERVICED OFFICE OR CO-WORKING SPACE
Before you consider signing a lease, consider renting a serviced office or a casual co-working space. Both of these shared spaces will provide the infrastructure to run your business, without the commitment. You usually pay a monthly rate that includes internet and other bills. But which option is right for your business?
Well a serviced office space is fully furnished and ready for a quick set up. Not only do you get a designated desk space and use of meetings rooms and conference rooms – many come with other perks like fully equipped kitchens, administrative assistants and even showers. Serviced spaces are usually the home of small corporate companies and established, but smaller teams. A lot of large businesses such as Disney or Pizza Express use them so you may be sharing an office with a big firm that could become a future client!
A co-working space is a different beast altogether and are great for startups, freelancers, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and all types of digital nomads alike. Each are different in terms of amenities, but all offer the opportunity to work alongside other creatives in a cool, dynamic and nurturing environment. As well as desk space and meeting rooms, some offer free coffee, tea and yoga while others offer members amazing networking opportunities including pizza and prosecco nights and regular seminars with ‘thought leaders’.
Ideal tip: Some shared working spaces charge extra for use of meeting rooms, internet and telephone services so its best to compare what’s included in the monthly payment.
LOCATION
Location is one of the most important aspects when looking for your first office. Not only does it need to be affordable and accessible, it has to fit the image of your business. An area can say a lot about your company and choosing an office space that reflects it can play a big role in your success. Properties that have parking spaces and good public transportation connections is an important consideration. Also, it may be useful getting a space that’s close to your clients. If you’re not sure what properties are available in your area, check out Buy Rent Commercial. Sign up and they can help you find your perfect office. You should also think about other amenities are nearby. Your employees would like to be able to go to the supermarket at lunch or a restaurant after work.
SIZE
When looking at your office space, make sure you have enough room for all your employees and more. If you’re a small business that is always growing, you don’t want new employees being squashed in the corner of your office. You want to aim to get a small space with enough space for up to 5 more people. This will be perfect as you may expand quicker than you plan to, so room for 5 will give your employees ample space to work. This also links to how much parking you have. If employees drive to work, you need enough spaces for everyone.
