Caroline Phillips

Journalism

Caroline Phillips
“Caroline Phillips is a tenacious and skilful writer with a flair for high quality interviewing and a knack for making things work.”

Caroline Phillips

Journalism

All articles

My Personal Sanctuary review: roaming therapists, UK

Queen of Retreats | 5 Feb 2016

The quick read: This lovely company organises spa therapists to come to your own home or five star holiday homes anywhere in the UK outside of London. They have hundreds of high-end therapists on their books, do training and secret shopping to maintain standards, and use products by Neal’s Yard Remedies, which smell great and are effective. You can buy an amount of time and mix and match the treatments to your needs – from deep tissue massage to facials and hand and feet pampering treats. It’s great for parties, family get togethers, hen nights and corporate jollies.


View cutting image View PDF

Sicily’s Finest

Lusso | 22 Jan 2016

The Fattoria Corleonese is heaven on earth in the heart of a bustling working estate. (Think parfaito homemade cheese, olive oil and luscious tomatoes which the owners leave you as a welcome.) It’s in the middle of the Sicilian countryside – near Corleone – with views of hills, meadows and avenues of pines and eucalyptus trees from the house to eternity. And gardens of walnut, cherry and apple trees. The estate dates back to 1873 and the accommodation is in part of a bougainvillea-covered manor house – built around a cobbled courtyard –that’s still a family home.


View cutting image View PDF View Web page

Escape to Casalnuovo

The Luxury Channel | 12 Jan 2016

The sky is streaked pink and purple. There are hills that recede into the distance where the Tyrrhenian Sea twinkles and the magical Aeolian islands stick temptingly out of the water. The villa is surrounded by an organic estate with olive trees, two gamboling dogs and a vegetable garden with sun-blushed tomatoes, beans and squash. Nearby are the Nebrodi mountains with walking trails, lakes, streams and woods.


View cutting image View PDF View Web page

Escape to Fattoria Corleonese

The Luxury Channel | 12 Jan 2016

Rolling landscapes, home grown tomatoes and traditional red clay roof tiles. This is Fattoria Corleonese, a gorgeous manor house for holidays in Sicily. It’s in the heart of the country, part of a working farm and in a building that has been in the same family since 1873. It’s set in 92 hectares of beautiful countryside, among cornfields and sheep with clanking bells on their necks. All midst plum trees, cypresses, and ancient walnut trees as far as the eye can see. You’d be hard pushed to find a more pleasant place.


View cutting image View PDF View Web page

Bohème Villa in Somerset

Our Man on the Ground | 4 Jan 2016

There’s little outside Bohème – with its working farm buildings and agricultural machinery – to indicate how cool it is inside. But open the vast barn doors – the keypad is a clue that this is no normal farm building, Sherlock – and suddenly you’re in a wonder world near Stawley, Somerset. It’s a blend of 16th century former dairy farm turned cider press that is now an exclusive self-catering rental property. A sanctuary where original features (says my mum) stand alongside stylish contemporary touches. And where you can have fun, fun, fun – even with your parents there.


View cutting image View PDF

In Calais

London Review of Books | 24 Dec 2015

At the Jules Ferry refugee centre in Calais on Saturday there were hundreds of men clamouring to get in to listen to Handel’s Messiah but the gates were closed, with 700 people already inside. I was there with Play 4 Calais, an offshoot of the Lexi social enterprise cinema in North London, spearheaded by the actress Alix Wilton Regan. The aim was to bring four days of film screenings to some of the Jungle refugee camp’s estimated 6500 inhabitants, including children who are waiting to be reunited with their parents in the UK.


View cutting image View PDF View Web page

Bohème – a secret sanctuary of style

The Luxury Channel | 18 Dec 2015

Bohème. Does the very name conjure up thoughts of Puccini’s opera? Well, think again. Because this Bohème is actually one of the loveliest self-catering houses in Somerset. Say the word, ‘Bohème.’ And imagine now a converted sixteenth century former cider mill turned drop-dead stylish, modern-rustic house. Say ‘Bohème’ and imagine instead a place that was also an erstwhile dairy farm and now blends original features with contemporary dash and comfort.


View cutting image View PDF View Web page

QMS Skincare popup at Liberty, London

Our Man on the Ground | 11 Dec 2015

If you’re tired of Christmas shopping and longing to be pampered, hotfoot it to the QMS Skincare Spa pop up in Liberty, London. The treatment rooms are on the first floor, a hidden world (think The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) behind a door at the rear of the shoe department. Boasting a gently clinical vibe and classical music, the rooms are simple and white-on-white – with white-clad therapists who look after you beautifully. (A hand and shoulder massage comes with the facial.)


View cutting image View PDF

Mindful movement (and cake) in the Atlas Mountains

Queen of Retreats | 6 Dec 2015

The quick read: Satvada Retreats’ 5-day yoga, mindfulness meditation and walking retreat runs on set dates throughout the year and is based at a kasbah at Tahanaout, in the spectacular foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The vibe is gentle, mindful and uncompetitive, so these retreats suit beginners just as much as they do the experienced practitioner. The accommodation is traditional – in a serene setting – and the food rustic and good, including cake and wine if you want it. There are superb guided walks, a hammam (with so-so massages) or it’s just a 30-minute drive from Marrakech for the souk. You’re almost guaranteed to come back from the holiday feeling inspired and restored.


View cutting image View PDF

Top articles

View all

Topics

Publications

Archive