Ben Winstanley
Deputy Editor
Ben Winstanley is Deputy Editor at Square Mile, London's leading luxury lifestyle magazine for the City, and Editor of its sister title HEDGE, where he covers the intersection of haute horlogerie, fine dining, travel, and sporting culture.
As Square Mile's head watch writer, he stands on the front line of the latest industry news and releases, regularly attending Watches & Wonders in Geneva and interviewing some of the most influential figures in watchmaking. Over his tenure, Ben has profiled industry titans including Breitling CEO Georges Kern, Vacheron Constantin's Laurent Perves, and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser, while taking readers inside esteemed manufactures from Jaeger-LeCoultre to Tudor. His writing spans the full spectrum of horology – from accessible gateway timepieces to seven-figure complications – always with an eye toward helping readers navigate the intricate world of mechanical watchmaking.
Beyond watches, Ben's expertise extends across the luxury landscape. He's interviewed Hollywood stars like Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, explored Michelin-starred restaurants from London to Tuscany, and profiled everyone from fashion dynasty scions to legends of Formula 1 like Lewis Hamilton. However, if you were to nail him down to a singular passion it would be his love affair with golf.
As an avid course aficionado and student of golf architecture, Ben has travelled the length and breadth of the planet in search of his next great round. Whether it be the wind-swept links of Northern Ireland or the dramatic coastline of Saint Lucia, he's experienced the lot – typically found in heated competition with his equally golf-mad wife, Sophie.
Outside of the office, you'll find Ben studying the art of cocktails and coffee making, or having the occasional flutter at the racetrack.
Ben Winstanley's articles
Best watches of Baselworld 2017
Baselworld is the biggest watch event in the world and a great opportunity to see the latest timepieces. Square Mile reports on the key watches for every style and budget
Published: Wednesday 13th June 2018
Square Mile Golf Awards 2017
From the best players in the world this year to the finest courses you'll find anywhere on the planet, here’s our pick of 2017’s golfing standouts.
Published: Wednesday 13th June 2018
The alternative guide to buying wine this Christmas
Christmas wine is always a challenge, but this year try something different. This is the alternative guide to buying wine in and around the City of London.
Published: Wednesday 13th June 2018
Best designer hotels in London
Designers from the world of fashion and art are making their mark on London's hotel suites. From the iconic Claridge's to the new Beaumont hotel, these are our favourites
Published: Monday 4th June 2018
The best golf resorts in Britain
The only thing better than a great round of golf is staying the night afterwards. Ben Winstanley picks the best golf resorts in the British Isles
Published: Friday 25th May 2018
Best new watches under £5,000: Baselworld 2018
Baselworld 2018 is the world's largest and most important exhibition for the watch industry – and a key event for anyone in the market for a new timepiece. Armed with £5,000, Ben Winstanley takes to the stands to find this year's standout pieces…
Published: Thursday 5th April 2018
Indian Accent is a Michelin star waiting to happen
One of the best restaurants in India has arrived in Mayfair, and the hype is justified.
Published: Tuesday 3rd April 2018
The Best Shots in Masters History
From pressure putts to miraculous birdies, Ben Winstanley takes a trip down Masters memory lane to discover the shots that won the most iconic Major championship. How will this year’s crop compare?
Published: Wednesday 28th March 2018
The definitive bespoke guide
Hand-cut suits with secret pockets, one-off luxury cars that cost millions, and yachts more audacious than your wildest nautical dreams… Ben Winstanley discovers why the time is now to go big on bespoke
Published: Friday 9th March 2018
Best Watches of SIHH 2018
Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is a crucial annual event for any watch lover. Square Mile joins the crowds to bring you the latest and greatest timepieces from the brands that matter…
Published: Monday 26th February 2018
Flank review: Tom Griffiths serves up a carnivore's paradise
Flank is the thrilling antithesis of London’s new wave of vegetable-focused restaurants – and in Tom Griffiths has a chef primed for stardom
Published: Monday 19th February 2018
Meet the Bamford Watch Department x Fragment Design x Zenith El Primero
Bamford Watch Department has teamed up with Hiroshi Fujiwara's Fragment Design to create a new-look Zenith El Primero timepiece. Here's everything you need to know.
Published: Tuesday 13th February 2018
Visiting Bangkok? The Siam Hotel offers a seriously sophisticated stay
Bangkok can be a challenging destination at the best of times, but Ben Winstanley finds the perfect remedy in The Siam Hotel
Published: Monday 5th February 2018
Best new watches under £5,000: SIHH 2018
Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is renowned for its high-end watches, but among the glitz and glamour there is still good value to be found. Ben Winstanley sniffs out the best deals of this year's show
Published: Monday 22nd January 2018
Will Tiger Woods rise from the ashes of his golf career?
Tiger Woods may be one of the greatest players to have graced the game of golf, but after a decade of injury set backs and media scandals, many believe the golfer is finished. Does the legend have one final trick up his sleeve? Only time will tell…
Published: Tuesday 9th January 2018
Brand Watch: Fromanteel Watches
Fromanteel Watches have a rich horological history thanks to its name sake, watchmaker Ahasuerus Fromanteel. This is the story of the brand.
Published: Friday 1st December 2017
Brand Watch: John Smedley
Iconic knitwear brand John Smedley is more than just a stylish name, its company history and Lea Mills factory in Derbyshire dates back to 1784.
Published: Tuesday 28th November 2017
Call to arms: three military watches ready for action
Military watches from army-inspired tool watches to historically commissioned pieces from the archives. These timepieces are perfect for whatever you can throw at them.
Published: Wednesday 25th October 2017
Simple Pleasures: three stunning minimalist watches to add to your collection
Minimalist watches from timeless date-only designs to ultra-slim watch movements are the perfect timepiece for any occasion. Here's three of the very best.
Published: Tuesday 24th October 2017
Bonus Buster: MB&F Octopod could become an unlikely icon
A marine chronometer in the loosest sense of the word, The Octopod is every bit as bonkers as you would expect