We know Bentley make super-luxurious cars – now they also make Supersports cars!

The combination of the names Bentley and sport may not have been heard much in the past few decades, but with the arrival of the superhot new Supersports that is set to change for good.

True, think of Bentley and sumptuously crafted luxurious cars with a rather regal bearing come to mind, yet there was a time when the name was synonymous with both quality and speed. In fact, much of the enduring fame and pedigree of Bentley is built on its legendary racing successes of the 1920s and 30s, when the solid ‘Blower Bentleys’ swept all before them and beat even the Bugattis to win the 24 hours of Le Mans in four straight years from 1927 to 1930. Read the rest of this entry »

Tucked up against a slope just a few hundred metres from Marbella’s Golden Mile and Mediterranean beaches lies La Virginia, an idyllically charming representation of a Spanish village – and one of the prettiest places you will ever see.

Photo by David Toms

Enveloped in greenery, this established residential urbanisation appears as though created on the canvas of a great master. Here, private little cobblestone pathways and squares are lined with beautifully styled Andalusian ‘village houses’ tastefully daubed in tones of white, blue, cream, ochre and peach. Adding to this palette of colours are vines, creepers, flowers and the rich hue of bougainvillaea. Read the rest of this entry »

Draped along the undulating folds of the foothills a mountain range, the luxurious private estate of La Zagaleta looks down across sloping valleys to Marbella, the Mediterranean and the rocky outlines of Gibraltar and Morocco.

Situated just ten kilometres from Marbella’s centre, La Zagaleta’s elevation endows it with spectacular views over golf courses, pine-clad slopes and the entire sweep of coastline between Marbella and Gibraltar. The urbanisation lies on a gently winding road that works its way up from the coast and past a series of luxurious residential areas before reaching the gated entrance to this most private of estates. Read the rest of this entry »

In June I appeared on a local radio show called Profiles. Inspired by the iconic Desert Island Discs and hosted by Gillie Revill, this Talk Radio Europe programme profiles guests while allowing them to make a selection of six of their favourite songs.

I thought it would be fun and have to admit that the real draw was the chance to have a selection of my all-time favourites played. A bit like having your own show, and for the many frustrated DJs out there (myself included) it’s just the thing.

I’m too much of a talker to get very nervous, so I settled in and let Gillie ask me about my life and times – meanderings that have taken me via Holland, South Africa and Portugal to Spain. I suppose it’s not surprising that I ended up in a cosmopolitan place like Marbella, given that I feel pretty international myself. Read the rest of this entry »

In a world saturated with self-proclaimed experts and art dealers few can truthfully claim to be buyers and sellers of Picassos, Chagals and Kandinskys. For Helly Nahmad, it is part of a proud family dynasty that spans over 50 years.

A man with such a diverse background could not do something banal for a living. Born in Lebanon of Syrian origin, Helly Nahmad grew up in Italy before living in France, Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, and now in Marbella, Southern Spain. The result is a lively and inquisitive personality that has served him well, for it is his ability to connect with a broad range of people that has proved a particularly valuable asset in his unique line of work.

“My family set up the business when I was still very young, so I grew up with it and was exposed to it for as long back as I can remember,” says Helly. “My uncles, who still play a very active role today, chose to locate their first gallery right next to La Scala, in Milan.” It was from here that they built up one of the most renowned art dealerships in the world – one that specialises exclusively in the very pinnacle of art and the very greatest names. Read the rest of this entry »