Luxury lifestyle, prime property
THE WISHLIST
ART & DESIGN
Hynde Sight
Exhibiting her latest paintings, rock icon Chrissie Hynde’s subjects include instruments, and portraits of friends including Paul Weller. Whether singing with The Pretenders or painting, Chrissie has expressed her creative flair in numerous ways. Exhibiting at 4 Cromwell Place. Until 14 December chrissiehynde.art
Caroline Gardner: Christmas Calligraphy Writing Workshop
In the Marylebone store, learn the art of beautiful calligraphy, allowing you to send out beautifully personalised holiday cards to friends and family. Enjoy a cosy, festive environment with expert guidance to help students perfect the art of calligraphy. 6 December carolinegardner.com/blogs/the-blog
EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
The Nutcracker
Forever a key part of Christmas, the Royal Albert Hall welcomes back the classic Christmas tale to its festive programme. Performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet, experience the true magic of Christmas and the wondrous world of ballet, below 29-31 December royalalberthall.com
Wreathmaking Atelier Emmanuel
Opening his atelier doors, founder Emmanuel is an award-winning florist who designs bespoke arrangements for events with fashion house Dior. The wellnesscentric workshops will be led by the floral maestro himself, with guests learning his tips and tricks to create a beautiful unique door adornment. Book now via Eventbrite. 2,5,10 December atelier-emmanuel.com; eventbrite.co.uk
VOGUE: Inventing the runway
Explore the history of the runway in this immersive Lightroom experience. Chart the runway from couture and readyto-wear to pop-culture moments, from legendary designers such as Chanel and Alexander McQueen, left On now lightroom.uk
ON STAGE
TP Caring Spaces Carol Concert
Held in St Luke’s Church, Chelsea, the London design community will come together in aid of TP Caring Spaces.
Founded by interior designers Bunny Turner and Emma Pocock of Turner Pocock, filled with musical brilliance, past readers have included Nina Campbell and Nicky Haslam. 16 December tpcaringspaces.co.uk
The Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival
Returning to the Barbican London, the festival includes a line -up featuring The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Holiday with a live orchestra, The Four Seasons By Candlelight and more. Whether you enjoy Christmas films, classic carols, festive hits, or choirs, add to your holiday calendar. Starts 7 December barbican.org.uk
The Macmillan Carol Concert
In Cadogan Hall, join star-studded guests. Hosted by Dame Joanna Lumley, readers include Baroness Floella Benjamin and Elaine Page OBE, and will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. 3 December macmillan.org.uk; cadoganhall.com
A Christmas Carol (ish)
Starring Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed as Mr Swallow, A Christmas Carol (ish) transfers to the West End. In this retelling of the Dickens classic, Santa cancels Christmas and is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. Find out if it can be saved... Until 31 December achristmascarolish.com
FOOD AND DRINK
TOZI Victoria
Have yourself a cicchetti Christmas at TOZI Victoria, a neighbourhood favourite. The Italian feast includes a selection of cured meats, burrata, paccheri and charcuteries, and to finish the pezzo forte: warm panettone with mascarpone cream. tozirestaurant.co.uk
The Langham
Head to the home of the hotel afternoon tea (dating back to in 1865) to sample The Langham’s Christmassy take on its own tradition. Partnering with Hamley’s this year, the festive spread for children will feature whimsical, delicious patisseries shaped like legendary historic toys, left. langhamhotels.com
Dear Jackie
At the Broadwick Soho Hotel, embrace the spirit of Soho. With interiors from Martin Brudnizki, dine at Italian restaurant Dear Jackie, or head to Bar Jackie for a nightcap. Try a Christmas Eve meal curated by head chef Harry Faddy with delights such as tortellini, roast porchetta and mulled pear tart. events.broadwicksoho.com/christmas
Kanishka
Within Mayfair, the acclaimed pan-Indian restaurant will be serving Christmas menus, with delights such as turkey tikka, and a tasty festive brunch, below kanishkarestaurant.co.uk L
LOOK AHEAD
LONDON ART FAIR
Start the new year by filling your walls with art you will love for years to come. Returning to the Business Design Centre in Islington, the 2025 edition will include its museum partner, the Sainsbury Centre, presenting a display called Living Art which champions ways to engage with art. Elsewhere, artist-turned-curator Becca Pelly-Fry will present Today for You, Tomorrow for Me
22-26 January londonartfair.co.uk
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Brought to life by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Shakespeare's Globe is transformed this winter. The new version of the classic tale by the Brothers Grimm will follow the siblings. Ends 5 January shakespearesglobe. com
CINNAMON BAZAAR
Explore the latest restaurant to join the Cinnamon Kitchen family, Cinnamon Bazaar in Richmond, which promises fragrant delectable dishes from all over India. Open now cinnamon-bazaar. com
DEAR
Do Son EDP (75ml), £153, diptyqueparis.com
Suede coat, POA, charlottesimone.com Peony & Blush Suede candle, from £28, jomalone.co.uk
“I’d be over the moon if someone treated me to a facial with Hadda Akrim. We all need a bit of extra TLC at this time of year, and Hadda tailors her treatments to suit. She gets my skin completely.” Total sculpt, £275, minimalbyhadda.com
“This year of course I’ll be giving away copious amounts of Della Vite – a premium Prosecco brand my sisters and I set up a few years ago. We’ve developed a beyond-delicious DOCG prosecco, rosé prosecco and now a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé too, so there’s something for everyone. I’ll be popping lots of bottles of these at parties, and serving with Perello olives and pizza on Xmas Eve.” Della Vita Rosé, £22, dellavite.com/uk
Leather watch case in Black, £970 brioni.com
Oura ring 4, from £349, ouraring.com
Leather bomber, £6,865, brettjohnson.co
Code 11.59 watch, POA, audemarspiguet.com
Four leaf clover charm, £680, loquetlondon.com
Milk frother, from £179.95, smeguk.com Candle, £220, marthafreud.com
Powder EDP (100ml), £210, perfumerh.com
“Bull in Burford is an intimate hotel in a picture-perfect English town, with the benefit of having the most comfortable, beautiful rooms that feel like a home from home.”
Stay in Bull in Burford, POA, bullburford.com
Cashmere roll-neck sweater, £550, alexeagle.com
Embellished flat sandals, £585, charlotteolympia.com Cotton polo, £105, chestudios.co.uk
Hand-painted ceramic cake stand, £94, skyemcalpinetavola.com
Victorian rug, from £804, pelican-house.com Leather pencil skirt, £1,670, emiliawickstead.com
AND FOUNDER OF TAVOLA skyemcalpinetavola.com
lessons, from £60, cotswoldsclub.co.uk
Festive
RECIPES
DELICIOUS SEASONAL DISHES TO ENJOY AT HOME FROM THREE OF LONDON’S GREATEST RESTAURANT KITCHENS: PETERSHAM NURSERIES, THE INTERCONTINENTAL AND CUBITT HOUSE
RADICCHIO AND ENDIVE WITH DRESSED CRAB AND FENNEL TOPS
SERVES 4. PREPARATION TIME: 20 MINUTES, PLUS STANDING TIME
Petersham Nurseries Restaurant, Richmond, petershamnurseries.com
The salad leaves act as cups to hold a delicious crab meat filling.
INGREDIENTS
1 head each of radicchio, white endive and red endive
100ml extra -virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
400g fresh picked crab meat
1 bulb fennel
½tsp chilli flakes, crushed (optional)
20g each of flat- leaf parsley and dill, leaves picked, plus extra dill to garnish Lemon zest to garnish
METHOD
• Separate and cut the salad leaves into similar bite-sized pieces.
• Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and leave to stand for 20 minutes before using.
• Check the crab to make sure all of the shell has been removed. Chill until required.
• Thinly slice the fennel with a very sharp knife or a mandolin if you have one. Put the slices into a bowl of iced water, so it curls and stays fresh-looking until needed.
• Put all the ingredients, except the salad leaves, into a bowl and mix well. Taste to ensure there ’s a good balance of dressing and seasoning. Divide the crab mixture up between the salad leaf ‘cups’. Garnish the platter with a sprinkle of lemon zest and a few extra dill sprigs.
ROAST DUCK
SERVES 4
Theo Randall at the InterContinental, Park Lane, theorandall.com
INGREDIENTS
2kg Gressingham duck
1 orange, cut into 2cm pieces
1 lemon, cut into 2cm pieces
75g honey
75ml port
3 sprigs of fresh thyme
Sea salt
METHOD
• Take the giblets out of the duck and place in a separate tray with chopped leek, carrot, celery and parsley stalks. Place in the bottom of the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Place into a saucepan , add 1 litre of water, then reduce on the stove , so you only have half the liquid. Keep to one side.
• In a medium-size d bowl, mix together the chopped lemon and orange and thyme branches, fill up the duck cavity with them. Take a roasting tray and put a wire rack that fits into the roasting tray. Place the duck in the middle of the roasting rack. Take some tin foil and rub olive oil on the inside, this is to stop the duck skin sticking to it . Cover the duck so there are no gaps. Place in a pre heated oven and cook for 45
COVENT GARDEN VILLAGE LONDON
BUYERS LOOKING TO HAVE A SPOT AT THE CENTRE OF IT ALL ARE BEING SEDUCED BY THIS HISTORICAL DISTRICT'S BUZZING SOCIAL SCENE
It was once a humble street market, where George Bernard Shaw’s Eliza Doolittle sold posies and dreamed of being “a lady in a flower shop”. Today, Covent Garden is a glamorous shopping haven, where theatregoers spill out onto the streets and into the coolest cocktail bars in town.
It’s little wonder people, from near and far, want to live here. “Covent Garden is a popular location for British and international buyers who value being in the heart of theatreland and embrace the vibrant atmosphere,” says Andrew Chambers, a director at UK Sotheby’s International Realty. “The typical buyer is acquiring a pied-à-terre , and so wants to be in the middle of the action.”
says Chambers. “One of the apartments we ’ve just sold overlooks the Piazza , and it was part of their fi rst scheme on the Piazza back in 2013. It ’s a stunning three-bed property fi nished in a classically traditional way, boasting special views over the historic piazza.”
“Buyers value being in the heart of theatreland and embrace the vibrant atmostphere”
Capco and Shaftesbury, the West End estate holders which merged earlier this year, are responsible for recent upgrades to the retail and restaurant scene and “are keen to see the residential market support their vision,”
Covent Garden property types range from elegant Georgian townhouses and luxury apartments to converted warehouse lofts, according to Michael Keating, director of Dexters’ Bloomsbury o ce. His buyers include “professionals, creatives, and international residents”, who love the central location and easy access to the City. Away from the touristy areas, Keating enjoys quieter streets such as Floral Street or Seven Dials which have a more laid-back feel. “You can fi nd hidden gems like Monmouth Co ee, the intimate wine bar Terroirs, or a favourite restaurant of mine, Bancone on William IV Street with its freshly made pasta and tasty cocktail menu.”
A day IN COVENT GARDEN
9AM
Happy feet
Put on your dancing shoes! Whether you’re looking to start a new hobby or revisit an old one. Pineapple Dance Studios ( pineapple. uk.com) on Langley Street covers genres from tap to contemporary, ballet and lyrical. For a post-shimmy treat, shu e-ball-change over to Chez Antoinette (chezantoinette.co.uk) or Ladurée (laduree.co.uk).
11AM Checking it twice
A time for giving, this Christmas surprise your friends and family with presents they will love. For fitness lovers fi nd Lululemon on Long Acre; for the budding fi lmmaker, a gift voucher from the London Film School on Shelton Street (lfs.org.uk/giftvouchers); pampering from Patrizia Manias hairdressers or Townhouse nails, and BLOCH on Endell Street for dancers (uk.blochworld.com).
1PM
Food glorious food
Explore The Yards (theyardscoventgarden. co.uk), which connects two courtyards of St Martin’s and Mercer Walk. In the midst of Christmas planning, try some of the area’s culinary delights
that could inspire your own festive menu. Find Burmese dishes at Laphet on Slingbsury Place (laphet.co.uk), Gura Gura ( guragura.co.uk) for small plates or Le Bab for Middle Eastern cuisine (eatlebab.com).
3PM
Curtain up
Discover the wonders of The Royal Opera and Ballet (rbo.org.uk), this season. Until February next year, an exciting programme of music is within the opulent Royal Opera House Crush Room. With shows in the evening and afternoon, productions currently showing include classic Tosca as well as Maddaddam , based on Margaret Atwood’s dystopian epic, choreographed by Wayne McGregor.
5PM
Sing-a-long with the stars
On Bedford Street, fi nd St Paul’s. Designed by Inigo Jones, it ’s now a ectionately known as ‘t he actors’church’ (actorschurch.org) for its long association with the theatrical community, with memorials dedicated to Vivien Leigh and Charlie Chaplin. Artist JMW Turner was baptised here. On 4 December, attend t he Film and TV Charity Carol Service which raises money to support industry people facing hardship.
THE MAIN ADVENT Left: There's simply nowhere better to kick off your Christmas shopping than at Covent Garden Market Building's niche gift shops and high-end boutiques – and with the halls all decked out in festive finery, it's a great start to the season
Ask a local
ISABELLA MCGUI RE MAYES founder of Isabella Ballet
"I love working at The Yards – it’s such a lively area with a rich dance history, being so close to The Royal Ballet and Opera House. It makes teaching here extra special, with students often dashing from class to catch a performance. My favourite spot is the Townhouse nail salon; there’s nothing like fresh nails for ports de bras! Coffee is a must during long teaching days, and WatchHouse provides the perfect brew while I catch up on Ballet With Isabella admin. After teaching, I unwind at Dishoom – its house black daal is irresistible and the perfect end to a fun, social evening." balletwithisabella.com
SALES YEAR of the
London’s leading property agents select the homes that left a memorable mark on 2024, writes Zoe Dare Hall
As 2024 nears an end, top-end sales in London remain resilient, according to Savills, who handled one of the year’s highest-priced deals in the public domain: a £35m house in St John’s Wood. Despite pre-budget uncertainty, there have been more £5m+ transactions than there were in pre-Covid 2019. There were 98 £10m+ sales by mid-October.
But when it comes to what agents consider their sales of the year, it’s rarely about price. From the quickest to the quirkiest, the one-viewing wonders to the social-media sensations, CLEA agents pick their stand-out properties of the past 12 months.
RECORD BREAKER
Aston Chase’s
£15.25m sale of a detached St John’s Wood villa in March marked a new record for house sales in the area at £3,800 per square foot. The house and its beautiful walled gardens attracted interest from domestic and international buyers and sold quickly to a Chinese buyer who was living locally.
“Despite the challenging market conditions we' ve experienced this year, they recognised what a rare jewel this lateral, non-basement period house was on one of St John’s Wood’s most sought-after streets,” comments Mark Pollack at Aston Chase.