Ben Winstanley

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

Old dog, new tricks: Fernando Alonso is back at the top of Formula 1

At 42 years old, Fernando Alonso is the oldest driver in Formula 1, but the two-time world champion continues to reinvent himself at new team Aston Martin, writes Ben Winstanley

Georges Kern talks the future of Breitling and the brand’s 140th anniversary

Breitling CEO, Georges Kern, sits down with Ben Winstanley to discuss life at the helm of the Swiss brand as well as his personal tastes in fashion

The long goodbye: Frankie Dettori on horse racing, retirement, and new beginnings

Frankie Dettori, one of the greatest jockeys of all time, has spent the last year on a farewell tour before he retires from the saddle. Or will racing pull him back in? Ben Winstanley finds out

Why your first Grand Seiko should be a quartz watch

Grand Seiko watches are renowned for their craftsmanship and groundbreaking movement innovations – and that extends to its quartz watch offering. Ben Winstanley explains why the brand's lesser-appreciated quartz collection is worth your time

Wentworth Club is more than just a golf and country club – it's an institution

A century has passed since Wentworth Club was first built but under new owners, Reignwood Group, since 2014 the famed private golf and country club has gone from strength to strength. Ben Winstanley takes a trip to Surrey to find out more

Tommy Fleetwood is ready to do battle in the Ryder Cup 2023

After a phenomenal season, Tommy Fleetwood heads into the Ryder Cup as a lynchpin of Team Europe’s side. Ben Winstanley sits down with the Merseyside maestro to find out more

Rolex and golf is a partnership unlike any other

It began with a simple handshake and grew into one of the most successful partnerships in world sports. Ben Winstanley tells the story of Rolex and golf

Reuben James is on the right track

Reuben James mightn’t yet be a household name but his work as a session musician has prepared him for a shot at the big time. He tells Ben Winstanley about his debut album Champagne Kisses, writing music for Stormzy, and the challenge of the music business

Should you invest in cask whisky? We speak to Tomoka to find out

Thomas White, new head of investment for Tomoka Fine & Rare, tells Ben Winstanley about leaving finance, the current state of play in the whisky market and why the time is right to invest in cask

The new Breguet Type 20 and Type XX pilot's watches take flight

Breguet has released two new models of its iconic Type 20 and Type XX wristwatches to celebrate the 70th anniversary, writes Ben Winstanley

Marcus Smith: "I count on God and surrender everything to Him"

Driven by God, family and burning ambition, England fly-half Marcus Smith has made it to the pinnacle of rugby in no time at all. The Philippines-born star reflects on thetumultuous road to this autumn’s Rugby World Cup

Patek Philippe | Collections 2023

Patek Philippe’s roster of 2023 novelties includes a couple of ‘firsts’ for the prestigious watchmaker, as well as the usual update to colours and materials. Ben Winstanley got hands on at Watches & Wonders to find out more

George Russell: "I'm ready to fight." The Mercedes F1 driver is hungry for more

George Russell is the heir apparent to British motor racing. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver talks to us about all things F1, bumps in the road, and mental health

Rolex watches 2023: the missing piece of the puzzle

Rolex has a reputation for quietly evolving its iconic watches over time, but this year it has thrown caution to the wind with a series of headline-grabbing launches certain to get the industry talking. Ben Winstanley gets hands on with the new pieces at Watches & Wonders…

Tudor: new house, new rules

Tudor flew out of the traps at this year’s Watches & Wonders buoyed by its brand-new facility in Le Locle

Back once again with the retrograde master

Vacheron Constantin has created three novelties for 2023 inspired by its signature retrograde complication. Ben Winstanley gets hands-on with the new watches to discover more

“I’m trying to build this empire” | Asher Angel is coming for it all

Actor. Musician. Producer. Superhero. At just 20 years of age, Asher Angel has the kind of CV any seasoned actor would envy. The Shazam! star shares his plans for world domination

Meet Audemars Piguet's most complicated watch ever: the CODE 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4

CODE 11.59 broke all the rules when it was first launched by Audemars Piguet in 2019. Four years later, the collection has matured and now contains some of the watchmaker’s most exciting innovations – like the oh-so extra Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4

The reluctant superhero: Mike Colter is ready for his next adventure

Mike Colter was quietly building a career as an ensemble actor when Marvel came calling with a job offer too good to refuse. Five years on, the breakout star of Luke Cage sits down with Ben Winstanley to discuss his circuitous route to fame – and new blockbuster Plane

Manchester City's Erling Haaland on his footballing mindset, pressure, and Breitling watches

As we publish this interview, Erling Haaland has scored 25 goals in 19 Premier League appearances. It’s a staggering record for the game’s next global superstar. Ben Winstanley heads to Man City to meet him