THE MAGAZINE FOR LONDON, ABOUT LONDON, BY LONDON
the
London Bug ISSUE 2 JANUARY 2010 FREE
ES T I H BRAND W E EST D R L O R E H E I ONE OF T P O ON C E K PLUS: R EW TA A MD HIS N AN
2010 PROPHECY OUR PREDICTIONS FOR 2010
GEMMA SLACK On her new collection
LONDON’S GHOSTS Haunted tales from the capital
From ÂŁ598
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FULLY INCLUSIVE
e are visiting tailors, meaning that we visit your home or place of work to take your measurements and walk you through our cloth swatches. Once we are done (typically in an hour) we go away to craft you a beautiful handmade suit which we bring right back to you for a fitting. Alternatively, you are most welcome to visit us at anytime, by appointment, on Savile Row Mayfair.
www.henrylouis.co.uk
HENRY LOUIS F I N E E N G L I S H TA I L O R S
Info and Contacts: Editor: Brad Green brad@thelondonbug.co.uk Sub Editor: Kate Howard kate@thelondonbug.co.uk Circulation Director: Lucy Wescott lucy@thelondonbug.co.uk Copy Editor: Hayley Michaels With thanks to: Katie Bann Fact Checker: Hayley Michaels copy@thelondonbug.co.uk Creative Director: Amanda Felson design@thelondonbug.co.uk Fashion Editor: Stevey Paris style@thelondonbug.co.uk Fitness Contributor: Natasha Price natasha@central-health.com Music Editor: Alex Telfer music@thelondonbug.co.uk (do not send MP3s) Business Contributor: Carolyn Clayton business@thelondonbug.co.uk Culture Contributor: Alison White culture@thelondonbug.co.uk Food & Restaurants food@thelondonbug.co.uk Advertising Manager: Jason Scott sales@thelondonbug.co.uk BUG PUBLISHING LIMITED Office 24 164 Kensington High Street Kensington London W8 7RG Switchboard: 0845 481 8585 info@thelondonbug.co.uk www.thelondonbug.co.uk The London Bug is a trading name of and is produced by Bug Publishing LTD Registered in England & Wales No. 7031583.
contents LOCAL Haunted London London’s Grim Past CC London - We don’t Care Harley Street for what? Top Ten Places for Kids
6 7 8 9 10
LIFESTYLE How to be funny No Spring Chicken The Fitness Bug Your intuitive genius Get into Franchising Axis of Evil
12 14 16 18 20 22
CULTURE London Gallery Guide Red wine is healthy No big apples here Marco Pierre White Wine of the Month Restaurant Review
24 26 27 28 30 31
FASHION Fashion Editor’s Letter Detox in 2010 Street Style Gemma Slack
32 33 34 36
MUSIC Band of the Month Angel J & St Lucia And the beat goes on Bug Nightlife Club of the month The music prophecies
38 40 42 44 45 46
2010 T
EDITOR’S LETTER
he New Year always begins with a blizzard of self-motivating, life-improving resolutions. But the true test of a civilization is not for how long we can stick to these new guidelines; it is simply that we put them there in the first place. Giving ourselves goals, albeit goals we will probably shortly discard, can only be looked upon as a good thing. A large part of human nature is the act of wanting to better or improve our lives. In so many parts of London there is still an immeasurable gulf even between one side of the street and the other. The divide between rich and poor is no longer subject to class or status. Well, I am proud to say that whichever side of the street you are from, The London Bug has something for you. I guess that’s it in a nutshell, The London Bug has something for everyone, even if it is simply one small article (though we do hope it is more than that). Let’s tell it like it is, 2009 was pretty dreadful all things considered. Interest rates were lowered to an historic low of 0.5%, Government borrowing soared to £20.3bn and Britain now has a net debt of 60.2% of GDP (gross domestic product). However, 2010 does hold promise, 2010 is not just a new year, it’s a new decade, it’s a chance to start afresh and put our murky recent past behind us. So here’s to 2010 and unsullied beginnings. The Editor & All the team The London Bug
LOCALBUG
HAUNTED LONDON Where does the "Coffin Lift" of St Barts take you?
By Gaizka Pujana
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ardrobe Court is a glimpse of the London of the past and dates back to 1720. To stand here on a winter's night, in the pitch black stillness, is to experience the true thrill of historic and haunted London. Massive trees tower over the three-story houses, and even the faintest of breezes will send their branches creaking and their trunks swaying. The perfect stillness of the yard keeps you constantly on edge and glancing furtively around at the gloomy shadows; you feel certain that eyes are watching you from the inky blackness of the house windows. Not surprisingly, the courtyard has a ghost. People going about their honest, nighttime toil in the neighbourhood have reported sighting a lady, dressed all in white, drifting aimlessly from door to door. Who she is and why she should choose to wander this courtyard is unknown. She says nothing, does nothing and pays little heed to anyone or anything, being more than content to let the world pass her by as she goes about her ghostly business. However, should you be so rude as to stare at her, she becomes displeased and irritated and promptly responds by fad-
“People
ing away, leaving you rubbing your eyes and staring at the place she once was. The Viaduct Tavern dates back to 1875, and is the last example of a late Victorian gin palace left in the City of London. It is also prone to suffer from bouts of poltergeist activity. The restless spirit that haunts the Viaduct Tavern loves to haunt the pub cellars where several members of the staff have experienced its unwelcome attentions. In 1996, a manager was tidying the cellar one Saturday morning, when the door suddenly slammed shut and the lights went out. Feeling his way to the door, he found that no matter how hard he pushed, it just would not open. Fortunately, his wife heard his cries for help and came down stairs to investigate. She found that the doors, which would not open from the inside, were unlocked and easily pushed open from the outside. In May 1999 two electricians, working in one of the pub's upstairs rooms, also attracted the ghost's unwelcome attentions. They had rolled the carpet up and were taking up the floorboards, when one of them felt a hand tap him on the shoulder. Thinking it was his workmate he turned round, but found that he was on the other side of the room;
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going about their honest, night-time toil in the neighbourhood have reported sighting a lady, dressed all in white, drifting aimlessly from door to door.”
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LONDONS PAST
LOCALBUG
By Isla Campbell As much as London is a sunshine city, it certainly has a darker side where mystery and horror reign. Perhaps not many people know about it, though the Tower of London stretching up over the city skyline is hard to ignore. If the Tower of London doesn’t put you off searching for London’s hidden truths, perhaps a trip to the London Dungeon will. This attraction takes you on a tour through London’s gruesome history, where you’ll learn about Jack the Ripper and other hideous monsters from the past. London also has a wealth of ghost walks, which are outdoor tours that take you through famous streets and are hosted by storytelling guides, brimming with the knowledge of a hundred grisly tales to set your skin crawling. What’s more, you’ll hear about the ghosts that are said to haunt the city today, meaning you could find yourself closer than ever to a spooky encounter. After all that ghost hunting and past-seeking, you might be ready for a stiff drink in one of London’s many bars. And, continuing the theme of haunted London, why not go for one of the city’s many reputedly haunted bars? Much of the accommodation in the capital is housed in old buildings but if you’re worried about things going bump in the night, you’ll be relieved to hear that many London hotels are in new buildings without a dark past.
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this happened not once, but twice. When he asked his workmate if he was playing a prank, they both witnessed the heavy carpet, that lay rolled up by the window, lift into the air and drop heavily onto the floor. St Bartholomew's Hospital, or Bart's as those who study and work here know it, has the distinction of being the oldest hospital in London to still stand on its original site; its origins stretch back to 1123. In the depths of the hospital there is an elevator, which generations of doctors and nurses have come to know as the 'coffin lift.' In the silent hours of early mornings, it has been known to take unsuspecting passengers down to the basement, regardless of which floor they have pressed the button for. Once there, its lights go out and it will not move; after a few moments of pushing the buttons, staff will pull open the gates and walk back to the ground floor. Here they find the lift waiting, its gates open and its lights on. Should they then choose to walk up to the original level they were trying to reach, they will have the unpleasant experience of the elevator following them up, as the stairs they must take are twisted around the lift shaft. Tradition maintains that it is the ghost of a nurse, who was once murdered in the lift in the basement by a deranged patient, that is responsible for the malfunction. Why not take a guided tour of the haunted places in London and see what kind of spooks you can rile up.
LOCALBUG
We don’t By Matt Rowlands
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
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e all love London which is why I feel the need to vent my frustration. Ok, I am going to moan about driving in London and to those who have “already heard it”, or don’t want to hear it, I suggest you turn the page as this article will consist of little else. Oh TFL, how is it possible to get it so wrong. I seem to be stuck in unending traffic jams in and around central London mainly caused by either the ridiculous and constantly changing one way streets or those sodding bendy busses that unendingly take up the whole of London completing even a simple turn. But that’s not what gets my goat. I have somewhat sadly, grown used to this daily, tireless and relentless performance of inner city traffic choreography (or lack of) that can take me two hours to get from the Bow Flyover to New Bond Street by car. What really gets my goat is that you expect ME to pay you for the privilege!!! (yes, it needed three exclamation marks). If you are going to levy an £8 per day congestion charge (£50 if you forget to pay it folks) I want to see some noticeable differences. In fact, I want to see some noticeable differences as someone who pays well over £200 per year on my tax disc. It is not acceptable that any traffic lights in London simply DO NOT WORK and are replaced by unending temporary traffic lights which seem only to change every time hell freezes over. It is not acceptable that any nonessential road works are carried out during rush hour on a Monday morning and not 8
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are!
over the weekend. It is not acceptable that in some parts of London, car parks charge nearly £25 for two hours of parking and there are no rules to govern this. I would not expect to pay a removal company to move the contents of my house and then find that the contents had indeed been untouched (yet I had still been charged) anymore than I would expect to pay the
congestion charge and be left sitting in nothing but congestion. London is a great and vibrant city with a host of exciting opportunities and places to see. Let’s make it easy for the people who have no other option other than to navigate its gorgeous, antiquated streets by car, to do it with less difficulty. Rather than levy a congestion charge, why don’t TFL do away with some of the no entry streets, which patently would make navigating many roads much easier and ease congestion? It seems that no matter what happens to our beloved little city, our streets will always be full.
Hatton Garden for jewellery, and Harley Street for?
LOCALBUG
SAVILE ROW FOR SUITS By Anthony Heywood
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The influx of medical professionals began around the middle of the 19th Century. The Street was well placed for rail links to the north and a supply of rich customers on its door step. The opening of the Medical Society of London in Chandos Street in 1873 and then the Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street in 1912 further enhanced the areas reputation for medical care. Records show that in 1860 there were
around 20 doctors in Harley Street, this had risen to 80 by 1900 and almost 200 by 1914. With the establishment of the NHS in 1948 there were around 1,500 doctors practising in the area. It is estimated that some 3,000 people are employed in the medical profession in and around Harley Street. It looks as if the Street will continue with its noble trade for some years yet. LB
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arley Street is one of several London Streets that are inextricably linked with a certain trade. Savile Row is world famous for its host of bespoke tailors, Fleet Street with newspaper production, Denmark Street with songwriters and musical shops. Harley Street’s niche is that of the medical profession. Unlike Savile Row which has seen an increasing decline in the number of tailors shops and Fleet Street which no-longer produces newspapers, Harley Street continues to flourish as a centre for all things medical and medicinal. The history of Harley Street really begins in the early 18th Century when the land between Oxford Street and Marylebone Road was developed in the grand Georgian style of the day. Architect John Prince backed with capital from Edward Harley (2nd Earl of Oxford) created an abundance of highly sought after property with its centre at Cavendish Square. By the 1790’s the area was highly fashionable ,drawing in a number of wealthy and famous residents. Gladstone lived at 73 Harley Street,William Turner lived at a number of addresses: first at 35 Harley Street and later at 46 and then at 23 Queen Street, where he built a gallery.
By Max Clarke
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aving now accepted our status as dedicated, if frazzled and rapidly aging, parents, my partner and I are devoting time to planning some activities for wet weekends and hyper half-terms joined by nephews and nieces.
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
In our former, almost forgotten, 'couple' life we lived in London. Those days (as I like to remember them) were filled with friends, posh restaurants, cocktails, super-cool bars, exhibitions, theatre, and lazy Sundays reading the papers. I did watch too much Sex and the City though. In reality, much of my spare time was spent attempting to crawl out of bed in my tiny flat in one of the most unfashionable parts of outer East London. My most cultural achievement was to make it to the corner shop for some bread and Heat magazine before lunchtime. However, I thought London was the best city in the world then (New York a close second) and I still do. Our lives may have changed forever but our capital can still keep us entertained with little H tottering along too. It is a fantastic place for young children and these are my top ten activities if you ever find yourself in the big smoke with little people. For other great ideas on great places to take kids go to www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk
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r n you o eve train, s s e l ic g on a e veh ts lov fun. Ridin g the tube o t y Tin y can be kin be d to axi, ta e journ n bus or t an preten ffic or c o ra Lond here you hing the t es. You c w n t ( o g. ttle LR st wa or D ver) or ju n many li fascinatin i s i r a a t the d ill enter d it quite w n trains ly won't fi b a b o pr
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If your litt le tinker is getting real serious abou ly t transportat ion, the new reopened L ly o n d o n T ra in Covent nsport Mu Garden may se be ideal. Exp um the link bet ween transp loring ort and the of modern growth London, th ere are man features that y regular will appeal to children, costumed such as characters, and specia during scho l activities ol holidays like buildin g a bus.
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The London Aquarium on the South Bank of the Thames has nearly 400 species on display in over 2 million litres of water. Seeing anything from sharks and stingrays to moray eels and piranhas, your little fish are sure to enjoy the multisensory journey which includes a pool where they can stroke a range of friendly creatures and regular talks and feeding sessions.
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Still lurkin g the Tate M on the South Ban k, odern has a lot to o families w ffer ith childre itself is a b n . The buil rillia ding explore. Eve nt place for older ch ildren to ry weekend the 'Start' on hand to team are provide exci ting games in the gal leries, main to play ly for the over fives.
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LOCALBUG
TOP TEN LONDON
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The best London destinations for your little ones...
LOCALBUG
PLACES FOR KIDS an with your brood for half bustle of the South Bank s use Ho the te osi opp Escaping the hustle and nk (on the South Ba e Ey n ndo Lo e Th y . eal onl s hour may well app r age. Although it doe g experience whatever you ording to their website of Parliament) is an excitin ing as a tortoise sprint , acc fast as ce twi r hou per on a clear day you can see travel at 0.6 miles views are outstanding and e Th . ks. frea ed spe for e capsule's are quite cool too - so it's not as far as Windsor Castle. Th t's tha , top the m fro m around 40k
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Two of the bes Museum an t free attractions in Lo n d the Scien ce Museum don have to be the N History M atural Histo u in se South Ken u m , H tot after se ry sington. At eing the big arry and the Dinosau the Natura rs will leap softy Diplo scary for ve l in to docus and ry li real life for super-sensi your there are fu ttle ones). The life-siz n g T .R e model of n activities ex (who's a a blue whal planned ev tours, Explo ery day (in e is awesom bit rer backpac cl e and uding talks, ks and a sc is a tempora ience disco behind-thery interactiv very centre) scenes e exhibition . Ic e Station A running un ntarctica til 20 April (extra charg e applies).
I might be biased as I lived there for a while, but Greenwich is one of the most beautiful areas of London and ideal for a family trip to the capital. It has everything you'll need for the day from the wide open spaces of the park, the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum, Old Royal Naval College and university buildings, to high street shops and restaurants, independent boutiques and bistros, a lively market and riverside walks. An unexpected highlight for our funny little man is the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, where you walk under the River Thames.
London is full of green spaces and parks - ideal for letting energetic monsters let off steam. You might even get the chance to lie down for a while. Hyde, St James', Green and Regent's parks are all easily accessible.
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Nestled within Regent's Park is London Z oo which recently wo na at the Vis number of awards it including th London Awards, e 'Kids Love London' award. Ther e's so much to see here including th e new ÂŁ5.3m enclosure Gorilla Kin gd Paul Child om, the Ambika ren's Zoo, Butterfly Paradise, Meet the Monkeys and Clore Rainforest Lookout. LB
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e Sound of Music, Wicked,The Lion King,Th ..you can't go iot. Ell Dirty Dancing, Billy st End shows. We se the wrong with one of
LIFEESTYLEBUG
HOW TO BE FUNNY
Even if you are not...
By Rick London
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I take notes. I see that short is sweet. Shakespeare instinctively knew so many years ago that, “Brevity is the soul of wit”. Even then, he had the insight to know that people’s attention spans are short. Sure, they want to hear your joke or funny story, but they also have other things on their mind. Even if they think something is funny, if it is long-winded, and takes too much of their time, they may consider you “funny”, but chances are they won’t come back for more of your humour. Consider the cartoonist and humour writer.That would be me. I created a single panel offbeat cartoon called Londons Times Cartoons in 1997. I based it on the Shakesperian theory that humour was and is the soul of wit. No long drawn out
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ore than once, people have asked me “How do you become funny?” Sometimes I don’t know if that is a compliment or a complaint. It has always been a question I’ve pondered because “funny” is not a major in college, we don’t study and get our degree in funny. I really did not understand what went into being funny for many years. The jury is still out whether I do or do not. I believe I have “paid my dues” though in learning just what is funny and what is not. And there is as much science to it as their is art. Now I keep my ears open. I listen to not just the humour but the rhythm of how it is delivered. I watch people’s reactions to other people’s humour.
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the form of laughter, cash, testimonials, or a myriad of other elements and the more the better. I remember when I opened my first store, LTSuperstore that showcased 60,000 funny gifts, I learned that when people bought your products, it was one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. Then I created a store with specialized offbeat cartoon gifts, ones that I felt were the better part of our work, and when those sold, it was like nirvana. I learned that if you tell a funny story, a joke, or even write a short story, don’t insult your audience. They are smarter than you may think. Besides, if you have to explain the humour, it wasn’t worth it in the long run. Whether they “get it” or not, assume they do. They will at least appreciate you for considering them as intelligent, even if they don’t find it funny. So I tried writing, and I finally settled for cartooning. I spent much time on the phone with trailblazers in the cartoon industry who had walked that fiery path before me. One of them was Peanuts creator Charles Schulz. He was the most patient and helpful. I then read his autobiography in which he said the reason he went into cartooning is because he couldn’t do much else very well. That was the story of my life. If it is the story of yours, it is never to late to develop your sense of humour. Listen, read, learn, and have a leap of faith... and oh, and don’t be afraid to look foolish. They may just laugh at you yet.
LIFEESTYLEBUG
captions. Sometimes no captions at all. The picture would tell the story. It was an experiment. It was off the wall. That year, I posted less than a hundred cartoons on my website. Though I had thought of many others, those were the ones that past the litany test of “what is funny” to me. So now I have one of the most visited cartoon sites on the Internet, 8.9 million visitors since January of 2005 when we first started counting. It all happened so quickly, it seemed, it would be hard for me to describe just how it did all happen. But I’ll try. I am sure there is more than just one road toward making something like that happen. In my case, it was mainly listening to other people whom I felt were funny, reading autobiographies of funny persons, and studying humour. I watched sitcoms. I went to funny movies. I noticed oneliners in real life were really not much different than one liners in a cartoon. They got my attention. They were of value. They were something I could repeat to my friends and they would receive enjoyment from it. Another element of “being funny” at least in the marketplace is to find one’s niche or voice. Sometimes that can take time. A lot of time. In my case, I tried stand-up comedy, acting and other such venues for a number of years. The problem was that I didn’t understand the art well and was not able to perfect it to the degree to which I wanted. Of course there is a lot more to being funny than just “being funny”. There has to be some “payback”. It may come in
LMAO
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LB
LIFEESTYLEBUG
NO SPRING CHICKEN! Aging and the Advantages of Wrinkle Creams By Nayan Choure
THELONDONBUG   JANUARY 2010
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Aging is apparent in our physical appearance. Our skin becomes dry and we begin to develop wrinkles and fine lines. It shows more obviously around our eyes, on our cheeks, forehead, and body skin. These changes make us feel insecure sometimes and we think we do not look as nice as we once were. Fortunately to us who live in the modern world, cosmetology is becoming more advanced and there are now several products available to us to treat this skin condition. These are collectively called anti-aging treatments. It could be anything we apply or drink to help prevent or reduce unwanted marks due to aging. Examples of these are cosmetic surgery, herbal medicines or anti-aging chemical products. One of the most common anti-aging products is the wrinkle creams.These skin care products are known to effectively help our skin look younger and smoother. The collagen production of our skin normally decreases as we grow older. Elastin and collagen are essential in 14
keeping the skin soft, smooth and firm. It helps restore the normal texture of the skin. Thus, with decreased production in our bodies, we develop drier skin. And dry skin causes wrinkles. What wrinkle creams do therefore is to help the body enhance the production of collagen. It also contains antioxidants which washes away free radicals from our skin. There are different kinds of wrinkle creams on the market. They differ in the ingredients they contains and methods of application. Some of these anti-aging products can be used for some, while they may not be applicable to others. Choosing an anti-aging product for your type of skin is important to avoid any side effects or irritations that may occur. First, you have to know the ingredients of a certain product before using it. Try the product starting from small quantities. Observe if the product is working perfectly on your skin without any irritations. If it shows positive results, then continue using it.If not,then it is best to discontinue and try other products. Among the many wrinkle creams on the market is the Retinol Wrinkle Cream. This anti-aging product is a unique skincare solution which contains active ingredients and vitamins that rejuvenate the skin. Retinol works well in inducing these ingredients deeply to
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ging is a normal cycle in humans. It begins to show once we reach the age of thirty. But sometimes even at a young age, premature aging occurs because of many factors. It could be out of too much stress, too much exposure to sunlight, unhealthy diet, smoking and many other reasons.
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glycolic acid, a byproduct extracted from fruits. This is known to revitalize the skin cells. Its continued use can bring back the smooth texture of the skin in just short a short period of use. Remember, however, that using these creams is not enough. It is also important to change your lifestyle while applying these products. Take up a healthy diet to help nurture the skin with the essential nutrients. It is also important to avoid alcohol and smoking because these are common culprits of premature aging too. It is helpful to have regular exercise and enough rest and this will benefit your skin as well as the whole body. LB
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the skin to protect from any damage due to free radicals. This product is proven to be clinically safe and is an affordable alternative compared to expensive and painful cosmetic surgery. Another popular kind of anti-aging product is the Vitamin C Wrinkle Creams discovered by Dr. Linus Pauling. His discovery has resulted in the production of skincare products which includes Vitamin C as an active ingredient. Just like other wrinkle creams, with sufficient supply of Vitamin C the skin will develop its normal capability to produce enough collagen. Vitamin C is also known to help protect against premature aging, thus leaving the skin healthier. Glycolic Acid Wrinkle Cream is another ideal anti-aging solution available on the market. Based on its name, it contains
LIFEESTYLEBUG
KEEP THE FITNESS BUG ALL YEAR ROUND By Natasha Price
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t’s that time of year again! We are back at work feeling heavy, bloated, may be even guilty but determined to take action…So we have drawn the usual list of New Year resolutions! For many of us Londoners, December has been a long series of partying, late nights and far too much drinking, topped by the incredible eating binge on Christmas day where we have gone through about 6,000 calories each! As a result we will have on average put on another 2 kg (yes 5 lbs) and we now can’t believe we have done that to ourselves! So unsurprisingly, as every other year, ‘losing weight’ is bound to be high on the list of New Year resolutions. This is what the 2009 top ten looked like:
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
•Lose weight •Save money/spend less •Recycle/become greener •Get fit/exercise more •Stop smoking •Spend less time at work •Spend more time with family and friends •Learn something new •Reduce stress •Volunteer to help others
In the current economic climate, personal financial matters, maintaining a job and belt-tightening may well be number one priority, but there is no doubt that many will be aspiring to achieve health and happiness. January is usually greeted with a surge in gym memberships, and those who really overdid it in December may even pledge to ‘go dry’
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Phtography: Patricia Rayner
for a whole month – perish the thought! So the New Year often starts with every good intention but statistics suggest about a third of New Year resolutions are broken within a week, and after the first flush of enthusiasm most of the others do not last past the end of the month.
So how can you make sure your new fitness craze will last and your membership to the gym will not be wasted? One way is to set realistic goals and devise a lifestyle programme with achievable targets. Most resolutions regarding weight loss fail because the expectations are absurd and people get impatient hoping to see fat melt away in a few days. A sensible diet, cutting the portions and drinking in moderation, combined with increased activity will go a long way towards helping shed these ungainly pounds. Did you know that if the average Londoner committed to getting off the Tube one stop early and walked vigorously to their final destination every day, they would be likely to achieve a health promoting dose of exercise! For those keen to get fit I would not
LB
Fitness writer Natasha Price MCSP is a chartered physiotherapist and joint MD of Central Health – www.central-health.com. Do not hesitate to email her with your questions on health and fitness at natasha@central-health.com
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you will want to like your trainer, some may want more of a love/hate relationship), recommendation from a friend or from the gym, but make sure your trainer is experienced and qualified. Those seeking a total lifestyle revamp should consider working with Gary Stebbing who is a practitioner in conditioning and coaching. Gary’s approach goes way beyond just physical fitness and examines all elements of successful personal performance, including nutrition and stress management. With over 15,000 hours working with clients, Gary brings a wealth of experience to discuss your lifestyle goals and help you reach your potential and take control of your life. In January Gary runs the aptly named ‘Re-Boot Camp Lifestyle Overhaul’; £750 gets you an initial reality check plus 10 one hour appointments with Gary or a member of his team. To apply for a place on the Re-Boot Camp in the City, contact Gary on 07949 472 142. Whatever you do, make sure you have fun! And plan some well deserved therapeutic and relaxing time, such as booking a regular massage to get rid of tension and stress. And if all goes wrong, remember that a good physiotherapist will ‘put you back together’! Enjoy the New Year.
LIFEESTYLEBUG
recommend going on a 10 mile run and 40 kms bicycle ride if you have rarely or never exercised before! Likewise rushing on all the jazzy equipment in the gym without advice might produce an injury and even land you in hospital. I was reading recently that using leisure equipment contributes to a vast number of hospital visits – so beware. It makes sense to seek professional advice - especially if you are a novice, or if you are looking to adjust your goals to reach the next level. If you join a gym or re-activate dormant membership, make sure you are shown how to use the equipment to avoid injury and ensure that it is an enjoyable experience. Any serious gym will also encourage you to have a fitness evaluation to devise a programme adapted to your level and ability. Working out with others can provide added motivation so do think of having a gym buddy or sign up for a series of group classes, such as Pilates, spin or yoga. Also be specific about what you are trying to achieve; if you want to be fit to ski well there are plenty of Ski Fitness classes around, a must to increase your enjoyment of the slopes. And if you are unsure what you want to achieve or how you are going to achieve it, think about getting some expert knowledge and enrol the services of a personal trainer. The benefits of working one on one will be endless and will provide the motivation needed to keep your programme going throughout the year. There are many trainers around and a number of factors will come into selecting the one that’s right for you, such as personal chemistry (some of
LIFEESTYLEBUG
The Intuitive Genius of Your Being
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By Lynn Scheurell
ou already know everything you need to know, whenever you need to know it. The challenge is that you either don’t have conscious access to it, you don’t know how to interpret the messages, or you don’t know how to apply what you know. However, many (if not most) people run around seeking their answers from the outside, looking to others for direction and asking for validation about who they are and how they are showing up in the world. There’s a difference between knowing what you know and building your skills, just as there is a difference between knowing what you know and being willing to receive guidance on how to best focus that knowledge. Make no mistake – I’m not advocating that people don’t connect with each other or participate in a community or work with a mentor. That’s exactly the point… when you rely on the intuitive genius of your being, you will have greater discernment about who to share your time and energy with and what to spend it on as well as being aware of who is in best vibrational resonance with you. This is about listening to your own wisdom to make better choices and investments of your precious energy.
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
The intuitive genius of your being is your personal antenna for assessing your world. It’s your inner compass, your personal navigator and your own fail-safe system for awareness. Your intuitive genius within won’t let you make a mistake, if you listen and speak the language of your soul.
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LIFEESTYLEBUG
ten. It ’s then lis d n a ith with life otion, dancing w u Engage m yo ple that u are in when yo eting other peo ther vane a me as a we e life and n. Just o e intuitiv ti a th , m r d fo in w in o e ta r n s y is get mo if there energy to to b fe jo li s it s d g can’t do eing nee n seekin f your b ce is rather tha o self, r s u iu o y n e e n g ere utsid iff o d ( t e o n Th e ar sights vibrant. here you on the in ius. w d e lf s e u s c r u fo gen are find yo intuitive ple), you o r e u p o r y e from in oth receiving you are
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Learn yo ur langua ge. Go b examples ack to th of e past fo you inform how your intuitive r ation prev genius ha last time X s given io u sl happened y. Y o u may disco , Y is the didn’t list ver the message y en ou got an wanted to to it so Z was th d maybe e take a part result. Fo r example icular rou felt ‘off ’ so , yo te you took when driv th in a traffi ing but it u c jam tha at route anyway an d found y just t you cou myriads o ou ld have a f example voided. Th rself s in y listened to ere are a message our own life where you could it, blew it but you m have ight not h off or tho ught you ave recog the langu nized age of yo were mak ur intuitiv ing it up. to what’s e genius Learn happening so you ca in your li n apply it fe and bu siness rig ht now.
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
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Consider the present . W hat is sticking you or holding you back or is there some thing that you don’t want to deal with? W hy are you waiting for someone to give you already know? yo u an answer that Are you waiting for permission instead of doing what you know simply needs to be done? Th ere are messages wa for you right now iting about your world th at can help you ma decisions. Check in ke better with the present to start receiving your insights.
LIFEESTYLEBUG
New Year, New Chapter A look at buying into franchising
By Christopher Cook
THELONDONBUG   JANUARY 2010
I
f you feel the need to make some profound changes in 2010, then you are not alone. If you want to take control of your lifestyle and get the rewards you deserve, then you’ll be joining other proactive people who have decided to start their own business. According to The Times, 1 in 2 business start ups fail in their first 2 years, with the main reasons revolving around the areas of inadequate marketing, cash flow, poor planning and management and an unfamiliar brand. It is therefore understandable why purchasing a franchised business is becoming more popular as most of these reasons for failure are simply removed. Investing in a business that has proved both sustainable and profitable through times of economic uncertainty reduces your chances of failure. You get the support from the people who have been through the pain and have taken the time to get the model right. There are hundreds of franchises to choose from in different markets and sectors such as: CNA International, a recruitment franchise for professionals looking to continue working in their sector. If you already have significant equity and are looking to join the one of the fastest growing franchise networks, then read up on Platinum Property Partners. If you enjoy working with children, then consider Go-Kart Party, or if you prefer animals, look at Woodland Dogs. If you are fed up
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with the wet and windy UK weather, check out Murcia Villas based in Spain. There really is something for everyone. So how do you make one of the biggest decisions of your life? Here are some tips:
Grade the importance to you of: money, time and security? How much can you invest? (remember the banks look favourably on franchise businesses and will lend around 70% subject to your status) Do you want to work in or on your business? Talk to the British Franchise Association Look at the many listing sites, e.g. Which Franchise / The Franchise Shop / Franchise Info Visit the industry exhibitions like The Franchise Show at Excel in Feb 2010 or the International Franchise Exhibition in March 2010 Request information from 3 or 4 franchisors and read more about them Attend several discovery days and open events that franchisors often hold Choose your favourite business and get your solicitor to check the contract
http://www.thebfa.org/ The British Franchise Association
How £300K can become £3M in assets & £100K per annum pre tax profits What have an Ex-Worldwide FD of Norwich Union, a Harley Street Doctor and an Ex-European Director of Coco Cola found in us?
To find out, call 0845 293 2877 for your FREE copy of PPP’s 2010 Property Investing Guide. Or visit www.platinumpropertypartners.net to review our events schedule
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LIFEESTYLEBUG
THE AXIS OF EVIL In this case the axis of evil happens to reside with Facebook/MySpace:
By 30FLONDON Invitation error You have four friends called Bruce and invite the wrong one to the 'secret' party you have planned (why do all male friends have profile pictures of themselves dressed in superman costumes yes really!). Cue 'secret' party becoming Halloween free-for-all. The hot one night stand Over a decade ago and through Lambrini-goggles, you search for him although there are three ways you could spell his name. He had blond hair, right, maybe dirty blond, it could have been brown. A good half hour is wasted. IF you do eventually find him, he is certainly not as you remember him and consider booking self-esteem classes. The first love re-run First love is intoxicating, too overwhelming with raging hormones to back up every love-fuelled sigh. First love was real and felt it would last forever or you would just die. He is the ex you would never bump into at your local supermarket, who is now digitally thrown in your face with a "Hi, how are you doing", "Your photos look great, you haven't changed" and "Do you get back to any of the local hangouts"?. The ex-boyfriend's new (how young>?!) girlfriend All of sudden updates include how much he loves his new bit of fluff, how lucky he is to have met her, plus unnecessary photos of surprise weekends away *vomit*. You can't help but compare yourself to someone who wears a hell of a lot of pink and sequins and has to prefix every sentence with 'cute'.
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
Facebook chat One minute you're reminiscing on old times, with him saying he wished he were more mature when we met, to "do you remember that night we had sex six times during a rainstorm" to "I can remember what you feel like". Yes, even after five years of separation. Instant message sex has taken over from phone sex... Yet there is still an awkward post climax silence. The break-up Do you de-friend the ex only to regret that twenty minutes later you can't reassuringly check his status is "feel like shit" or be upset when all his photo albums are now called "party!!!!" or find that his wall is plastered with girls saying how funny he is (he isn't that funny)? Or keep him as a friend but revoke all permissions on your photos, status updates and heart? Apologies if this makes me sound bitter, I'm not, my tongue is firmly in cheek. Facebook is a necessary evil in my life and without it I couldn't stay in contact with so many friends,
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n the lead up to this week's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, we had a sweepstake on the winner; one wouldn't believe some of the people, materials and cataclysmic events subject to our betting. There are those that are downright sick, luckily this wasn't one of those times.
To Ryan Giggs’s Personality
LIFEESTYLEBUG
CONGRATULATIONS his talent and flair are undeniable, they definitely haven't been honed this year and the amount of times I have heard how the England football team would progress in competitions with his input, but one would have to admire his family loyalty choosing to play for Wales. I was reminded
The nominees for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009 were: Jenson Button Mark Cavendish Tom Daley Jessica Ennis Ryan Giggs David Haye Phillips Idowu Andy Murray Andrew Strauss Beth Tweddle of the speculation surrounding Martin Scorsese when he finally won that elusive Academy Award for Best Director, as if to compensate for the year(s) he didn't win... It was a timely reminder not to overlook a strong industrious and loyal addition that could easily be taken for granted.And in turn I have started to write personal cards and emails, not only to those friends I miss and love, but to the ones I see regularly and who are unconditionally at the end of my sometimes brisk attitude. LB
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THELONDONBUG  JANUARY 2010
So my money was on David Haye, the boxer of a David and Goliath fight earlier this year, plus he actually seems to have a personality. Harsh on the others? Maybe. I wouldn't have been taken aback if tipped-favourite Jenson Button or 2012 Olympic hopefuls (we like to award those that are willing to give it a bloody good go) would have come in first.I was however surprised at Ryan Gigg's triumph, not because he was undeserving, quite the opposite. Let's forget for just a minute that Ryan plays for Manchester United, he is currently the "most decorated player in English football history". Although
CULTUREBUG
London Gallery Guide Our Top 5 London Galleries
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ondon is famed for its Art galleries and if you are thinking of having a browse this January or in fact at any time this year, The London Bug has composed a list of the top places to see art in its many forms. You must not miss The Sacred Made Real’ at the National Gallery which presents a landmark reappraisal of religious art from the Spanish Golden Age with works created to shock the senses and stir the soul. Paintings, including masterpieces by Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán, are displayed for the very first time alongside Spain’s remarkable polychrome wooden sculptures. Also The National Portrait Gallery has Beatles to Bowie: the 60s exposed until 24 January 2010 together with the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 until 14 February 2010. There is no excuse to miss any of the below haunts which are without a doubt the best places to see art and culture in the UK.
2) National Portrait Gallery (Free) Very large collection of portraits - including a superb set of Kings, Queens and other famous historical figures. The Tudor portraits gallery is one of our favourite galleries, quite unlike anything else, anywhere! Right next door to the National Gallery (vide supra). The ground and top floors are the best - the endless collection of Victorian Prime Ministers in between is quite boring. For a great half hour R & R in the centre of London, visit the Tudor Gallery (15 minutes) and then have coffee at the restaurant, the views from the top floor across London are worth the trip. Diarist Bridget Jones (who lives just round the corner from our office) says it's worth it just for the sight of Nelson's buns. We're not quite sure what she means. Open daily 10.00-18.00, to 21.00 Thursday & Friday. www.npg.org.uk 24
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1) National Gallery (Free) Vast gallery on the north side of Trafalgar Square, with an impressive collection of Western European art from the middle ages to the early 20thC. As it's free we recommend you make a number of trips, doing it in at least two stages (it's only 200 yards away from Leicester Square, and in the heart of theatreland). Do the East Wing, North Wing and the Sainsbury/West Wings in separate trips, or you may find yourself becoming oblivious to the quality of the exhibits. We prefer it to the Louvre or the De Gaulle in Lille because it doesn't push boring 18thC landscapes in your face, nor flaunt patriotic canvases. We particularly like the Sainsbury Wing, a modern extension where the lighting makes the medieval work shine out - featuring the beautiful Wilton Diptych. Open daily 10.00-18.00, 21.00 on Wednesdays www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
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3)Tate Britain (Free/Charge) New space carved out of the old Tate Gallery (once the site of a model prison) at Millbank, on the north side of the Thames, overlooking the HQ of Britain's Intelligence Services next to Victoria Bridge. We weren't impressed when it first opened its doors but they've retrenched, re-ordered and re-hung to come in a very close second to the National. They've certainly got it right - the quality of the modern stuff is better than the Tate Modern, the pre-Raphaelites and neo-classicists impressive, the Tudors rival the Portrait Gallery. Gone are the stuffy 18thC landscapes and in is the full and often surprising range of Victorian Sensuality. www.tate.org.uk 4) Tate Modern (Free) Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, joined to the North Bank by a special pedestrian bridge (that proved too wobbly and was closed within hours of its ceremonial opening and only re-opened two years later). This former power station has been superbly converted into the world's biggest collection of Modern Art. And it's free. The two huge floors cover the complete century - there's a whole room devoted to Rothko. The layout and juxtaposition are certainly worth the hype, though the starkness and modernity of the building have their critics. A lot of the work is of the 'so what' school (piles of bricks, meaningless splodges of paint) especially the 3rd floor - the first of the two huge free floors, and we are quite disappointed with the latest layout. The fifth is much better and scores points for mentioning modern art's huge debt to African art. In between is a non-permanent exhibition space. It gets extremely crowded at weekends. Open daily 10.00-18.00, Friday & Saturday til 22.00. There's a fun pointillist catamaran that takes you downriver to the Tate Britain, which is also very worth visiting - passing many London riverside sights on the way. www.tate.org.uk
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THELONDONBUG  JANUARY 2010
5) Royal Academy (Charge) Schizophrenic exhibition space, displaying major international art that's home a couple of times a year to the efforts of untalented wannabees (eg the 'Sensation' exhibition). The quality of the exhibitions vacillates between the staid and the undeserved. Great building, off Piccadilly, opposite Fortnums. Ticket prices vary. Sometimes opens 24 hours to cope with demand. Widely advertised across London, the gallery is trying a difficult balancing act: on the one hand it's created the infamous 'Sensation' exhibition, which was banned when it went on to New York (virgin Mary made out of elephant dung, bisected sheep), and was more famous for being famous than the quality of the work (we only felt one work in the whole exhibition to be worthy of international acclaim). On the other hand it is an Academy, with members, and the inheritor of a long tradition, to have the letters RA after your name still counts for something. It can assemble a collection of works from galleries round the world, and display them in a new light, the result of its academic pedigree. Basically judge it by the current major exhibition, avoid the Summer show and you'll get the best out of it. LB www.tate.org.uk
CULTUREBUG THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
RED WINE IS HEALTHY By Alison White
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s red wine beneficial for health or a potent poison? In the old times Plato said that “nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the Gods to man.” Nowadays research suggests that a glass of red wine each day may be providing you with more than just a little relaxation. The French seem to know something about the health benefits of red wine considering that studies that compared French and German red wines, revealed that the French red wines delivered a greater health benefit due to their higher level of antioxidants. Experts believe that red wine contains certain compounds that help protect the heart. This has opened the door for other researchers to study the components in red wine that may be responsible for its health benefits. In the last 10 years, a vast amount of research on red wine showed that moderate intake of this drink improves cardiovascular health. The cardio protective effect has been attributed to antioxidants present in the skin and seeds of red grapes. Based on the research experts advise that the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways: by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol), by boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and by reducing blood clotting. Furthermore researchers have found that moderate red wine consumption may be beneficial to more than just your heart. One study found that the antioxidant resveratrol, which is prevalent in the skin of red grapes, may inhibit tumour development in some
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cancers. Another study indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells, which experts believe may be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The most recent studies on red wine presented at the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) annual meeting, in Orlando, Florida by the Canadians show that Red wine polyphenols may help fight gum disease. V. Houde, M. Boisvert and their colleagues from University Laval in Canada investigated the role of polyphenols, including those from red wine, in scavenging free radicals released by immune cells stimulated with components of bacteria causing periodontal diseases. Free radicals are believed to be at least partly responsible for the development of gum disease and are generated by immune cells during periodontitis. In order to have healthy gums it is important too that free radicals are maintained at low levels. Their results indicated that red wine polyphenols significantly modulate several inflammator y components released by macrophages (a population of host immune cells) in response to bacterial stimuli.
Ingredients for Great London Restaurant Guide By Aditi Miscall
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writing their own opinionated opinions of all things eating out with a fun, clear and concise London Restaurant Guide that goes where others fear to tread. There are page after page of wonderful London restaurant reviews that step outside of the usual way of looking at the city’s eating places. Anywhere that has a table and food may be included, ok they don’t all have tables. Reviewers have visited hundreds of establishments from the very trendiest Sunday Times must eat places to little London restaurants and cafés that other critics have never heard of. Sometimes the intrepid bloggers wish they had never “discovered”some of these dubious food backwaters. But all the disappointment is worth the effort when real undiscovered London restaurant gold is struck. The team are all of the same view, they like food and love searching for new food experiences. They are all amateurs, but they are accomplished amateurs, people who just like eating out and enjoying an evening of food delights. You can join in their travels though the cobbled back alleyways and hip reception areas of the London’s most exciting and interesting foodie haunts. They leave no stone unturned or bottle of wine uncorked in their efforts to share the excitement that is London eating. LB
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ake one New York woman, send her to London to work, make her go cold turkey to remove the last trace of Little Debbies and hot dogs. Then re-invent her as a fully certified food enthusiast and then get her to start a successful London restaurant review. Over the last four years Londonelicious has become the quintessential light hearted guide to everything foodie in the great smogopolis. The blogs logo reads like an advertisement in the lonely hearts column of the Evening Standard “American girl, loves food, and London, but not cooking” The about me section of the blog includes a confession that she started visiting London’s restaurants as a way to get out and explore the real London, and meet the locals, and discover the food. She was over-powered with enthusiasm for the great and awful London restaurants she found on her travels around the corners of the capital. Eventually she decided to let others find out about her discoveries, she started up her own London restaurant guide to delicious London and Londonelicious was born. The momentous task of telling the world about every last little eating place in London was obviously too much for one stomach and two typing fingers so other London Restaurant enthusiasts began to join her online world. Before long there were many food-nuts
CULTUREBUG
NO BIG APPLES HERE
CULTUREBUG
MARCO PIERRE WHITE
AND WHEELERS OF ST JAMES
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heelers is renowned for being the oldest fish restaurant brand in the world. Now, with Marco Pierre White at the helm and a fresh approach to a classic brand, Wheelers is set for great things. Marco is without a doubt the original celebrity chef. Unlike many of the other celebrity chefs that have followed in his wake, Marco has retained something many of the others have not, namely, dignity, status and value. At the height of Marco’s career he was noted for his
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exquisite and somewhat expensive food. Fast-forward just over ten years after Marco’s retirement from the Kitchen and he is still providing customers with fantastic dining experiences. Marco’s St James restaurant Lucciano’s, has recently undergone an amazing transformation and re-opened as Marco Pierre White’s Wheelers of St James. The new Wheelers of St James creation boasts two remarkable dining rooms. Firstly, the Oyster bar at the front which features a phenomenally priced menu and far more
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
By Brad Green
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affordable but with a sense of occasion which is sufficiently understated” as the ethos behind Wheelers of St James. “If we wanted a quick lunch, you and I could pop in to the Oyster bar dressed like this and have half a dozen Oysters” – I must point out that during the interview I was dressed as a rather unsophisticated journalist, t-shirt, jeans, pencil in ear and pad of unending questions. As far as inspiration goes, Marco Pierre White is a colossal inspiration to aspiring Chefs and Restaurateurs alike. I wanted to find out what exactly stimulated Marco into the new Wheelers of St James creation. “I personally like the great old restaurants of France; that is what inspired me all those years ago. We are in the business of providing fun, providing a night out. Do I want to sit in a big restaurant which is bit like a chapel of rest, with lots of spaces between the tables on the edge of my chair? No thanks, I’ve been there, I’ve done that, I just want to sit down and be relaxed and then I can be myself. If I was going to go to a Michelin Star restaurant, I would go to Paris”. Marco Pierre White’s Wheelers of St James will remain simply as a London restaurant you must dine at, but should you be reading this from a far-flung corner of the UK, fear not, in the very near future, Marco intends to bring the Wheelers brand to many places in the UK, all offering the same phenomenally priced, honest food as Wheelers of St James. Watch this space.
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than the selection one would expect from a menu in a fish restaurant. Secondly, the main Wheelers restaurant at the back. In both, you can expect to find simple, clean, classic food combinations yet cooked and presented to perfection. The Oyster bar at Wheelers charges £14.95 for two courses, lunch or dinner (yes, the decimal point was in the right place) which is truly incredible to think that you can sample Marco Pierre White food, in the heart of St James for that price. Wheelers, the main restaurant at the rear, offers a more glamorous and comprehensive menu, though still within the realms of average affordability. The creation and existence of these two differing styles of eating, under a single roof, offers great flexibility. Marco explains “I am quite simple with my taste, lunchtime I prefer to go to the Oyster Bar and in the evening I prefer the restaurant. People want affordable glamour while eating honest and simple food. Nowadays a large percentage of people are looking for value. Many restaurants today are too expensive for the average person.” I wanted to learn from Marco exactly what, for him, were the most important elements to a dining experience. “Quite simply environment, price point and good food, ultimately we are selling people a package, somewhere for them to enjoy themselves and feel comfortable”. Marco unmistakably knows what he is doing and more so, what the public want and can afford. Marco describes “Creating something
“If I was going to go to a Michelin Star restaurant, I would go to Paris”
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
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CULTUREBUG
Lamb with Olives by Marco Pierre White Preparation method
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Ingredients
2 Knorr Lamb Stock Cubes 1tsp olive oil, plus a bit extra to drizzle 8 lamb chops 12 black olives (with stones) 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, stalks removed 200ml water Fresh thyme and parsley to garnish
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1. Crush a Knorr Lamb Stock Cube and mix it into a paste with a teaspoon of olive oil; spread evenly over all sides of the chops. 2. Add a little oil to a frying pan and add the chops, fat side down and place on the hob to gently render and cook the fat slowly, so that it caramelises. 3. Slice ‘petals’ off the olives around the stone (3-4 per olive). 4. Once the fat has caramelised, fry the chops on both sides for 10 minutes or until cooked to your liking. 5. Remove the chops and place onto a warmed plate. Add the water to the pan to deglaze and crumble in the remaining Knorr Lamb Stock Cube. 6. Add the lamb juices that have collected on the plate with the rosemary and olives and drizzle with olive oil. 7. Put the chops in a bowl, pour over the juice and garnish with soft thyme and parsley.
wine of the month 92
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points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2000 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is 80% Tempranillo with the balance Garnacha, Mazuela, and Graciano. The wine is aged for one year in oak vats followed by 3 years in new French oak followed by 3 years in bottle prior to release. Dark ruby-coloured, the wine’s appearance reveals a bit of age in a traditional style. It offers up a complex bouquet of cedar, pencil lead, mineral, spice box, and blackberry. On the palate it is elegant with ample sweet, ripe fruit, good flavours and moderate length. AVERAGE BOTTLE PRICE: £35 LB RATING: 8/10
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unning some 45 mins early for an appointment I decided to do something I rarely do and eat by myself. My primary objective was actually just to get out of the bone chilling London wind, but a sign (bottom right) caught my attention. I must just articulate that my attention was grabbed not as a result of the staggeringly low price,
Taste of Spice 61 Berwick Street, London, W1F 8SX 0207 437 1817 LB Rating: 5/10
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but as a result of my preference for spicy food in association with the tantalisingly low price. Upon entering the restaurant I immediately noticed it wasn’t quite as warm as I had hoped it would be. Nonetheless, with a hot curry in sight I rubbed my hands in anticipation and perused the laminated menu which was full of classics. Upon entering I had ordered a diet coke and having spent some 15 minutes in the freezing cold, starkly empty restaurant, I had still yet to receive it. Finally, the waiter came over to take my order and to start with I ordered the Tandoori Chicken. Whilst ordering this I asked for a reminder on what the express lunch includes. The waiter said (in a most put out manner) “You cannot order from this menu if you want that deal”. He promptly walked away and returned with an even
smaller laminated menu which only had four options on it. “Choose from here” he said, handing me the tiny menu. I chose Chicken Tikka, Chicken Madras and Bombay Potatoes. A further 15 minutes elapsed (remember, at this point I am still the only customer) and the waiter appeared from the kitchen with a small plate which he placed in front of me with very little grace. There were four small lumps of Chicken Tikka on a rather unappetisingly placed salad however, somehow, it tasted ok, tender and authentic, though in despiratly small proportion. The main was quick to follow and was also adequate in taste. The Madras was a touch heavier on the Chilli powder than a regular Madras would be and the Bombay Potatoes were slightly oily and over seasoned however the overall flavour was acceptable, a good average Indian restaurant. By the time I had finished my main and ordered the bill, a handful of people had entered the restaurant and as the food was OK (despite the small portions) I couldn’t help but feel I had been a little harsh on this fairly well located restaurant. In retrospect, had the staff been a little more welcoming I would have taken more quickly to my surroundings. A restaurant therefore which I will sum up like this: Service slow, staff unfriendly, food OK, location great. LB
CULTUREBUG
FOODTaste REVEIW of Spice - Soho
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ith not long to go until the showcase of Autumn/Winter 2010 collections (I am so excited!) it's hard for us to get our heads firstly around the massive trends that are new this year for Spring/ Summer. Even though it maybe freezing cold outside it's time to get ahead of our friends and be the trend setter. So good-bye snoods and thigh high boots and hello nude coloured draping dress's and delicate ankle boots. Actually I take that back, maybe I'll just buy that stuff for now and wear it later, sticking to my warm, comfy garments that I know wont let me down with a sudden downpour or inch's of snow. I have had great fun picking out some of the top trends that have caught my eye from the collections of Spring/Summer10, there is a bit of something to suit everyone so it's hard to go wrong. With Nude being the main colour trend this year it's time to go 'back to basics' with a splash of print to add colour or you could do the complete opposite and stand out from the crowd by going more Avant Garde with pieces from the likes of, The London Bug's designer of the month, Gemma Slack. Read about what inspired her most recent collection over the next few pages and on what she thinks will be this years trends. Also in this month's issue I have started our very own street style team of buggers, to see what Londoners are wearing this season plus I have added in my top places to visit this January. It's all going on this month so sit back, enjoy this read and have a great start to the New Year.
THELONDONBUG   JANUARY 2010
FASHION & STYLE
FASHIONBUG
Happy New Year and welcome to a fabulous fashion filled 2010!
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FASHIONBUG
My New Year Detox
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that we think our bad - chocolate,carbs, red meat,processed food only to be replaced by salads,fruit and soups, we will get super skinny and look like the girls on the covers of Vogue or fit into those jeans that every woman keeps hoping that one day they will have that teenage body back. Does this tactic work? Well over the period of a full working month I'm going to find out by going on the famous detox diet which only consists of raw foods - fruit,veg, salads and unprocessed fish with herbal teas and plenty of water. Sounds exciting, I know. Gone are morning coffee's, cheese sandwich's, creamy pasta dish's and the most important daily glass of red wine that calls out to me on my way home from a long day at work, only to be placed by a big mug of green tea, and a gym session - how fun! Working within the fashion industry people would have thought that the Atkins diet had become a normal way of life for me but unfortunately I love food too much so I can guarantee that the next four weeks will be pure hell and seem like a life time! Read next month's issue to see how I get on and if it's had any impact on my weight, health and state of mind. (I may even throw in a before and after picture, depends if it works magic!)
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ith all those naughty sins behind us (just!) it is now that time of year for those very famous words 'my new years resolution'. Whether it's to lose weight, stop drinking, stop smoking or a complete life changing overhaul - How many of us actually go through with them? LOSING WEIGHT? Trying to get rid of that entire box of Chocolates that you demolished or indeed those bottles of wine that got polished off a bit to quickly? Already looking in the magazines reading on fad crash diets, that lasts till someone sits next to you on the train with that perfect breakfast of a rich coffee and pastry whilst you stare at your very poor looking apple or when a friend orders a big slice of fat filled cheesecake whilst you sip on lemon and hot water? Funny how only an A-list celeb with their personal chef and trainer could keep that one up! Unfortunately once reality hits we realise that we are real woman, we have curves and we have busy lifestyles with not enough time to work out, spending hours in the gym. You would have thought that with this knowledge we would just try to eat healthier and be a bit more active but yet we still want miraculous fast results so we think that by starving ourselves of the things
FASHIONBUG
Street Style Our Fashion Edito r Stevey Paris is finding out what Lon doners are wearing Pictures: Nick Steven
son
May The Look - An ou tfit made up completely of designer lab els is just what I expected to find ou tside Browns Boutique. May looked fabulous in layered knee high biker boots teamed with a fur coat and a pink print ed top for a splash of colour. Definitely an outfit perfect for this winter trend s. May just shows that being chic in wi nter can be done! Jacket - Givenchy Shoes - Mui Mui Bag - Thomas Wilde
Lorene
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
stood out The Look - Lorene’s outfit Street stafrom the crowd at Liverpool ice. With a tion due to the colour cho dress from nude and peach floral print printed bag Sandro and an over sized to match, from the Natural Shoe Store years S/ Lorene looked perfect for this n on blusS10, colours that are rarely see ing in the tery winter days. But by add she mancoat, white tights and boots ter’s outfit . aged to pull the perfect win Dress - Sandro Jacket - Sandro re Boots - The Natural Shoe sto re sto e Sho l tura Bag - The Na 34
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lle
Annabe
fe couite a sa q is k c bla s stunk - All in Annabelle look Garo lo e h T t ro look, ye ing Ped rban lour and resh. By wear U n a gs, d f en her le for warmth ning an th g n le to oat cia boots lassic Parker c bag for an c s r d e ra a Outfitt sized P ed to look stylr e v o n anag and a g day. e has m h s , y a workin r r o o f t c e access f er fresh. P ish and tters an Outfi b r U t Coa arcia Pedro G Shoes - a ad Bag - Pr Topshop sTrouser
Jemma
The Look Jemma prov es that even at 31 you ca n still have fu n. By adding cute red boot s from Office and a checked coat from O xfam to her work clothes, she has man aged to give colour and a sense of play in her outfit. Putting her hair in bunche s completes th e outfit and reminds me of Dorothy fr om The Wiz ard of Oz. A great look fo r the office. Coat - Charity Shop,Vintage Boots - Office Tights - Marks and Spencer's
Lucy
THELONDONBUG  JANUARY 2010
m sic look of jeans fro The Look - A clas er nd Sa Jil at from Topshop and a co a r fo t tfi ou perfect at Uniqlo is the ed liz sty cy ndon. Lu stroll around Lo ir ng a scarf and pa di ad this outfit by bs ob H m s - both fro of biker red boot . op Sh ity ar at a Ch and a bag found - Uniqlo Coat - Jil Sander bs Shoes - Hob Jeans - Topshop Scarf - Hobbs op Bag - Charity Sh
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FASHIONBUG THELONDONBUG   JANUARY 2010
GEMMA SLACK I t's 9am on a sunny (yet blistering cold) Thursday morning and I'm already sitting in my office with a coffee and interview questions to hand, ready to speak to the predominant up and coming designer Gemma Slack. The girl who caught my eye due to her Avant Garde designs which draw similarity to Gareth Pugh, Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen. An outstanding talent to have at such an early stage in the stepping stones of the fashion industry. Gemma Slack was born and raised in Sheffield, moving to London to cultivate and enrich her creativity. With a love of fine art and sculpture Gemma engaged herself in an art course at the eminent, Chelsea College of Art and design. Whilst there she started to take an extraordinary interest in the female form, which lead to her tutor encouraging her to try fashion design. In doing so an anomalous fashion designer was born into the industry. Gemma starts by creating paintings and sculptures which she then modifies into garments. 'All my work has the same thought pattern. I research ideas and its then not until the later stages of development that I choose what form it will be, whether it's fashion, fine art or video.' By using this same thought process Gemma used it as an inspiration for her latest Spring/ Summer10 collection 'My most recent collection looks quite scatty but the central theme was about transformation and the interesting concept of somebody forming personality when wearing various garments. It seemed like quite a strange concept to design a collection on to me but speaking to Gemma made me realise that most of her work always relates back to the female form and body structure, which shows itself within her garments. Talking about influences and designs I asked Gemma what she thought would be the main trends of 2010, her answer? (As sincerely as you can get at that time in the morning) 'I don't know really, I don't genuinely follow trends. I go by my influences and creative mind, but I am sure that leather corsets and metal dress's will definitely be in!'
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As for London's style Gemma summarizes 'London always has a certain base even when there are massive trends that sweep through. It is completely different from many other city's as it has it own unique style of mini trends that vary from place to place.' Gemma has had a tough time starting in the industry and, after hearing her story, she can certainly be considered as an inspiration to all artistic designers. Without any funding, she managed to produce her first outstanding collection independently out of her bedroom, using hard earned savings from part time bar work. Only recently has she been able to afford her own studio to constitute her Spring/ Summer10 collection and one voluntary student to help on next seasons (which, I might add, I can't wait to see!). I asked her about advice for anybody looking to get into that field of the industry, she answered very honestly, 'actually make sure you want to do it, there are many ups and downs to think about. You will need persistence and a great group of friends around you, as I have found out whilst working in the studio at 3am ringing my friends telling them I cant take it anymore!! They were always there to push me and make me realise that it's my dream and ambition'. Being persistent in what she does makes Gemma Slack the extraordinary Avant Garde designer that she has become and her hard work combined with an extraordinary drive is certainly beginning to pay off. She is London Bug's designer of the month for many reasons but it is ultimately her pure ambition and drive that makes her stand out, combined with her astounding Spring/ Summer collection which certainly has taken my breath away. Her well constructed, unordinary pieces will be in your wardrobe must haves for centuries of fashion to come. From leather corsets to edgy dresses, these are garments that are requisite for standing out from the crowd and looking like a true fashionista. LB
FASHIONBUG
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
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“BEFORE THE STORM”
ABSTRACT PHOTOGRAPHY ON CANVAS
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
MUSICBUG
THE BRUTE CHORUS BAND OF THE MONTH
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t’s rare these days to hear new music that sounds fresh but this London band have managed to achieve just that. Their new self titled album is out now and it’s an exciting collection of folk,rock,blues,punk (anymore?) that goes off like a firecracker! Recorded live in one take, this organic approach pays off as it sounds like they are playing in your living room. The band mix moments of relative restraint with cauldrons of evolving rhythms, fuzzing bass and violently strummed guitar. Over this pulsating background frontman James Steel howls abstract tales of anguish, fantasised love lost and even fictional biblical references with hints of Shane MacGowan and occasionally Elvis! THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
Stand out tracks include “Hercules” with its upbeat flow and massive chorus, “Let’s Grow Fins” which has a radio friendly pop sound and “Send Me A Message”, which perfectly showcases Brute Chorus’s style and gives way to a stripped down fist in the air sing-along that will blow the roof off a some small sweaty club. An original record with tangible passion dripping from each track. Fill your boots! LB
www.myspace.com/thebrutechorus
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MUSICBUG THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
i
lovemydj.co.uk is a fresh dynamic music events company that epitomises the spirit of a new modern glamour and contagious personality. Explosive, dynamic and truly passionate about music making a difference, ilovemydj.co.uk stand out from the crowd – throwing live percussion, brass and singers into the mix to get the party started! As the brain child behind ilovemydj.co.uk, Angel J has years of industry experience and her enthusiasm continually inspires and drives the rest of the ilovemydj.co.uk crew. Saint Lucia is not only a DJ but has been a musician for 15 years so to say the girl knows a thing or two about music would be an understatement! Launched in 2009, ilovemydj.co.uk have played host to various parties in and around London as well as a festival appearance at Zimfest.Two new weekly residencies are coming to London in early Feb, they are hosting the dance arena at Zimfest, 42
as well as playing Sellindge Festival in summer. Add to this some dates across the pond in Miami and further afield in Kenya – and I am sure you will agree 2010 is going to be an exciting and defining year for ilovemydj.co.uk! ilovemydj.co.uk play music and make a difference by doing so! Closely working with Y-Gap in Australia (www.y-gap. org) a percentage of all ilovemydj. co.uk earnings go to rescuing children from slavery in Africa and helping young children around the world.
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AND THE BEAT GOES ON We pay tribute to legends rhythm Where does the "Coffin Lift" of Stof Barts take you? By Alex Telfer
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
But on a serious note (Spinal Tap are of course a spoof band) music history is littered with a succession of talented drummers that have died before their time. Some of these deaths were a product of eccentric personalities and perhaps the pressure of living up to the rock’n’roll persona. Others were just tragic accidents. The obvious place to start is John Bonham perhaps the greatest rock drummer of all time. He was the powerhouse driving force behind Led Zeppelin the definitive rock band of the 70s. His rhythms are almost instantly recognisable and many of his beats are still sampled in hip hop music today. He died
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in 1980 at the age of 32 after a legendary drinking binge in which he consumed over 40 shots of vodka which included ordering 4 quadruples before breakfast! The day he passed away was also the day Led Zeppelin finished with the band choosing not to continue without him (apart from a few ‘reunion’ gigs) The silver medal goes to Keith Moon who to this day is a byword for on and off stage excess. He propelled The Who into Rock super stardom in the 70s but passed away before the decade was complete in 1978. Although mourned by music fans his passing was perhaps a blessing for the hotel industry due to his propensity for blowing up their toilets with DIY explosives, driving cars into their swimming pool and throwing their TVs out of their windows! Drum manufacturers may also not miss their lovingly crafted instruments being smashed to pieces in the trademark Who finale. Keith accidentally overdosed on prescription pills he was taking in an effort to help him retain his sobriety.
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n the recent list of ‘Most dangerous jobs in the world’, just after London Bug Journalist yet before undercover Mafia infiltrator came rock drummer. Just ask the loudest band in the world :Spinal Tap.They’ve worked their way through an unprecedented succession of sticks-man fatalities. However fortunately for them it hasn’t interrupted their smooth descent into the ‘where are they now file?’.
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The wave of sadness that spread across the world is a good indicator of a presence that will be missed. Check out Maserati’s track ‘Monolith’ on their MySpace page to hear him in all his glory.
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Honourable mentions: Ola Brunhart. The Abba drummer, fell through his own glass door cutting his throat and bleeding to death. Dennis Wilson. The Beach Boys tub-thumper drowned while diving after a heavy drinking session (knowing Americans this probably means 2 or 3 Budweisers). Jeff Porcaro, Toto drummer, died in a bizarre gardening accident after suffering an allergic reaction to some pesticide he was using. Phil Collins: still alive... The list goes on.
So, the Heaven house band is spoilt for choice in the rhythm section. Next month we’ll take a look at some hedonistic Bag Pipers who’ve fallen early... LB
Sadly there’s a recent edition to the above collection. Although not a household name Jerry Fuchs was one of the great but unheralded drummers of our age providing driving but hypnotic dance/rock influenced beats for a plethora of bands including !!! LCD Soundsystem. News broke in mid November that he had died attending a party in New York by somehow falling down an elevator shaft!
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
Phtography by Brad Green
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BugNightLife W
elcome to the London Bug nightlife list, your guide to the hottest venues to get yourself into this winter. We have explored, tried and tested the capital’s greatest venues to produce a list of top London recommendations. Each month we will feature our pick of London’s top nights out and where they are happening. Below you will find our January Top Ten places to be plus our Club of the Month. It is our goal to bring you a selection of London’s best clubs and nightlife events. In order to do this please keep your comments and suggestions coming into music@thelondonbug.co.uk to help keep our finger on the pulse. We will soon be extending our music with a divide between live and club music. Don’t forget to send us in (to the same e-mail address) clubbing photos of you and your friends enjoying the London nightlife. If we use one of your pictures you will win £25 plus, of course, have your photo appear in The Bug! Our London club guide for January 2010 is as follows:
Kensington Roof Gardens www.roofgardens.virgin.com
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
MAYA www.mayalondon.com Cafe de Paris www.cafedeparis.com BOUJIS www.boujis.com
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2010 TOP NIGHTS
VENDOME www.vendomemayfair.com
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OUR TOP VENUE P
reviously the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, No 5 overlooks the striking yet serene Cavendish Square. The dazzling Grade II listed Georgian townhouse features three bars, and a phenomenal restaurant. The exclusive members’ club in the basement of No 5, complete with its own VIP section, plays a selection of RnB and funky house tunes with a few classic dance tunes thrown in for good measure. This is an earnestly urbane location and for far too many reasons to list, it’s our Venue of the Month.
NIGHT OF THE MONTH
THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
22nd January 22:3006:00 >> Members Free Before 12 // £13 Advance // £15 Door // £6 From 3am // Students £6 before midnight £10 After
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: Oasis. The explosive bust up between the Gallagher brothers led to the UK's biggest band Oasis splitting up in August. With the departure of chief songwriter Noel many assumed the band were finished. However Liam has announced plans to continue and make a new record to be released in 2010. It’s uncertain whether this will be under the Oasis moniker.
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LB prediction: Watch out for this record to be slated by critics and to bomb... paving the way for an inevitable and emotional reunion! Followed by a comeback tour, a comeback DVD, a book, a dedicated night on Channel 4 etc... (if this doesn't happen in 2010 it will happen in 2011).
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THELONDONBUG   JANUARY 2010
: Christmas Number One. At the time of writing the prestigious (and of course lucrative) Christmas number one slot was being contested by this years X Factor winner's single and remarkably Rage Against The Machines 'Killing in the Name' which was originally released in 1992. The Rage Against The Machine song was in contention because it became the focal point of a social movement started on Facebook in order to challenge the monotony of X Factor songs topping the charts uncontested. LB prediction: Next Christmas we will see copycat Facebook groups trying to champion a variety of songs but will only end up diluting the process thus allowing the X Factor PLC to come out on top again.
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: Glastonbury. The annual Somerset festival is for many the musical highlight of the year. Over 130,000 actually attend the festival and many more watch and listen to the BBC's coverage. The 2009 festival featured Blur, Neil Young, Status Quo, Spinal Tap and The Boss amongst many others. The only confirmed act for this year’s festival so far is U2. LB prediction: Watch out for Glastonbury 2011 to sell out within 17 seconds. Tickets normally go on sale in October so be ready to move quickly if you want to go.
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: New Michael Jackson album. When the 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson passed away in June the hysteria which followed can only be compared to Princess Diana's death. 24/7 media coverage ensued lasting for many weeks. Lurid stories based on gossip, outrageous newspaper articles, shallow celebrities coming out of the woodwork for 15 seconds of exposure. Ignoring all this it seemed to be forgotten that a human being had died. LB Prediction: A record company somewhere will dig up a 'new' Michael Jackson album comprised of studio out-takes, unreleased versions of familiar songs and probably a live song or two in an effort to wring a few more dollars out of fan’s pockets.
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
: The Mercury Music Award Every September a collection of the years best UK and Irish albums are nominated for The Mercury Prize. The actual ceremony gets significant coverage and can often help launch or re-ignite an artist's career. However, the Award has a reputation for choosing odd and obscure winners. Can anyone name this year’s champion? Didn't think so. It was an album called Speech Therapy by little known London rapper Speech Debelle. Unfortunately winning the award seems to have had a negative impact on Speech as shortly afterwards she split from her record label citing poor record sales. LB Prediction: The 2010 Mercury Prize to be awarded to a mainstream act.
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THELONDONBUG JANUARY 2010
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