Country & Town House - December 2019

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

BEAUTY QUEEN

Charlotte Tilbury waves her magic wand

DECEMBER 2019 £3.90

BOOGIE NIGHTS Surviving the season of excess

PRESENT & CORRECT

15 pages of gorgeous gifts Cover-V6.indd 2

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©2019 Harry Winston, Inc. RUBY AND DIAMOND NECKLACE by HARRY WINSTON

Discover the HIGH JEWELRY COLLECTION

LONDON, 171 NEW BOND STREET 0207 907 8800 LONDON, FINE JEWELLERY ROOM HARRODS 0207 907 8899 HARRYWINSTON.COM

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CONTENTS D E C E M B E R 2 019

COLUMNS 24 28

THE GOOD LIFE Alice B-B swerves a scam by the skin of her teeth THE RURBANIST Gillian Anderson

UP FRONT 31 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48

LITTLE BLACK DRESS 2019 update THE EDIT Style news TO THE MAX Bolder is always better THE MAGPIE Elisabetta de Simone Niquesa finds meaning in Belgravia LUCIA LOVES Ettinger MY STYLE Virginia Chadwyck-Healey BODY LANGUAGE Sit up straight POWDER ROOM De-party your skin BODY & SOUL Rethinking red wine WELL GROOMED Men’s style news

THE GUIDE 53 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 72

THE DIARY Boris the joker A SHAKESPEARE A DAY The Bard was a country and town man, finds Allie Esiri THE EXHIBITIONIST How to source art as presents. By Ed Vaizey ARTIST’S STUDIO Eileen Cooper GOOD READS Best books for stockings THE OLYMPIAN Peter Ueberroth ROAD TEST SUVs get a supercar makeover. Jeremy Taylor gives them a spin SEEDER’S DIGEST Forage for your own wreath, says Sarah Raven CONVERSATIONS AT SCARFES BAR Nicholas Coleridge

FEATURES 74

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GREAT SCOT! Karen Gillan used to make horror movies at home using ketchup. The Scottish-born actor has come a long way since then, as Benji Wilson discovers THE RISE OF THE SUPERGOWN The bigger, the louder, the glitzier, the better. Kinvara Balfour welcomes the era of the supergown MAN OF THE MOMENT Richard Young has attended the most starry parties of the last half century. He takes Anastasia Bernhardt on a stroll down memory lane HOUSE OF CHANEL The fashion designer built her home in the South of France to look like the convent she grew up in, says Caroline Young

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CONTENTS D E C E M B E R 2 019

PARTY GUIDE 95

’Tis the season to throw a party of epic proportions. C&TH has scrambled a crack team of professional partygoers to advise on everything from your outfit to the napkin ring holders

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This season we’re sharing souvenirs from our travels with our nearest and dearest

GIFT GUIDE

INSIDER 147 STAR OF WONDER True blue 150 DESIGN NOTES One-off wreaths 152 CLOSE DOOR, LIGHT FIRE A well-

designed fireplace creates a focal point 153 THE HOLLY & THE IVY The natural

art of laying the table 154 THE ITALIAN JOB A glimpse into

Tricia Guild’s Umbrian retreat

FOOD & TRAVEL 157 DREAM OF CALIFORNICATION Holly

Rubenstein’s guide to the sunshine state 162 THE WEEKENDER New York can’t

be beaten at Christmas, says Caiti Grove 164 THE HOTEL WIZARD Fiona Duncan

takes a very posh train through Portugal 166 THE BUCKET LIST Imogen Heap 168 ROAST WITH THE MOST Pancetta

and porcini make grouse sing 169 FORK & FIELD Clementina Jackson

celebrates a countryside classic 170 HAPPY HOUR Follow Alice Lascelles’ rules

to make a memorable toast every time

ON THE MOVE 171 PROPERTY OF THE MONTH 172 LET’S MOVE TO Brockenhurst 175 FIVE OF THE BEST Party pads

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ON THE COVER Karen Gillan wears dress by Dundas and earrings by David Morris.

Fashion Director, Nicole Smallwood.

Photographer, Rachell Smith. Art Director, Fleur Harding. Hair by Ken O’Rourke using Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce range. Makeup

by Nathalie Eleni using Shiseido and Quantum Botanika

REGULARS 14 18 50 174

EDITOR’S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS HIGH SOCIETY STOCKISTS

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101 EDITOR’S PICKS

STARGAZE Forget flying to see the Northern Lights and head to the UK’s latest Dark Sky Reserve in Cranborne Chase instead

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s the bottles of booze line up on my desk (for sampling purposes only, of course), I’m more than aware that the Silly Season is almost upon us.

I’m quite relieved to surrender myself to the merry-goround of drinks parties and celebrations this year (serious and sober can wait for January), although I don’t want to be too tipsy to remember to vote in the impending December election. I wonder if Downing Street thought of that?

Luckily, at C&TH HQ, we’ve thought of everything else you could possibly need to get your party started. Makeup tips from Charlotte Tilbury? Check (p98). Dress suggestions from Isabel Spearman? Check (p99). Decorating tips from Katharine Pooley? Check (p108). In fact, with all the advice in our Party Guide, I defy you to put a stiletto’ed foot wrong this year (from p95).

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In celebratory mood too is our cover star, the immensely talented BUY Sorel’s new silver Karen Gillan who, since entering Joan of Arctic the Tardis as the 11th Doctor boot ticks both Who’s companion back in 2010, the sparkly and warm boxes has gone on to conquer Hollywood with a slew of exciting roles, plus a stint at making her own film. She’s still an Inverness girl at heart though, as she tells Benji Wilson on page 74.

Fancy a change of scene yourself? Perhaps the bosky charms of Brockenhurst in the New Forest will tempt you to READ leave city life behind.

Shelf Respect – book trivia to regale your Anna Tyzack profiles the family with Hampshire town that has ponies roaming its streets along with great coffee (p172).

When it comes to Christmas shopping, we’ve got you covered. For the culturist, Ed Vaizey recommends affordable art (p58), while I’m quite keen to get Nicholas Coleridge’s The Glossy Years in my stocking SWEAT for some light relief (read his Peloton – studio-style Scarfes Bar interview on page 72). For more spin classes from than 200 other suggestions, we’ve trawled the comfort of home.

I’m signing up now everywhere from the markets of Marrakech to the Shinjuku of Tokyo to bring you our @countryandtown globetrotting gift guide. /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse Happy Christmas. n

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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B DIMENSION COLLECTION Available in all Bucherer stores and on bucherer.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

Your one Christmas wish this year is… This year, my Christmas wish and New Year’s resolution is to laugh, sing, dance and GLOW. Your favourite Christmas ritual is… Relaxing at home with my gorgeous husband and boys.

Family is number one.

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing? All you need to get a party going is a great playlist. I live for music and dancing, it’s when I feel my most full of joy.

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is…

My finishing touch is always a spritz of my magical Scent of a Dream fragrance – no glamorous look is complete without it.

ALLIE ESIRI

Your one Christmas wish this year is…

That I somehow manage to buy the same amount of presents for each of my children.

Your favourite Christmas ritual is… The Rainbow Trust Carol Concert at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

Because it couldn’t be more Christmassy – all candlelit, and at its heart it has the spirit of giving to children and families in need.

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing?

Caribbean carols (my father’s favourite).

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is… Red flowers in my hair; although this year I have had some flowers made out of Shakespeare’s poetry so they might have to fight it out on my dressing table.

ISABEL SPEARMAN

Your one Christmas wish this year is… That no one has an argument all day.

Your favourite Christmas ritual is… My siblings and I have a competition on Christmas night as to who can make the best leftovers sandwich. The competition is fierce.

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing? I start the evening with a strong G&T and often that’s all I need.

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is… It changes all the time, at the moment it’s hairbands. I’m amassing quite a collection and they literally crown all my party outfits.

LOHRALEE ASTOR

Your one Christmas wish this year is…

I really hope it snows.

We love taking the children sledging, nothing beats the sound of their squeals of delight as they go down the hill. It is also a great excuse for us to have a LOT of dairy-free hot chocolate…

Your favourite Christmas ritual is… Building gingerbread houses, it generally ends up being a bit of a competition. Who has the most candy bling? Whose house stands up the longest (or has ever stood up)?

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing? Eggnog, vodka and more vodka.

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is… Red lipstick and a nice pair of stilettos.

PHOTOS: © ANTONIO TERRÓN

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

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18ct Gold & Diamond Star Charms from £2,500 London: 1 South Molton Street 41 Cadogan Gardens 10-11 Burlington Arcade Harrods • Harvey Nichols Liberty • Selfridges Hong Kong: Mandarin Hotel

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Bill Amberg

CONTRIBUTORS

KINVARA BALFOUR

Your one Christmas wish this year is…

That I get to spend it with my boyfriend, Sudhin and our beautiful baby boy, Marlowe and all our family.

Your favourite Christmas ritual is…

Opening my stocking in bed with my three sisters (irrespective of how many husbands, boyfriends, children and babies that are in tow) because Father Christmas (aka my mother) still visits us and I adore him for that.

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing? Always introduce old friends to new.

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is… A blow dried head of hair at Josh Wood Atelier and eyebrows by Kamini Vaghela.

If those are done well, I can wear old clothes and still feel dazzling.

KAREN MUNNIS

savoirbeds.com

London

New York

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Paris

Shanghai

Hong Kong

Singapore

Your one Christmas wish this year is…

To kiss Santa.

Your favourite Christmas ritual is…

Christmas morning in Canada with pancakes, maple syrup (yes, really), and my mum’s ambrosia salad.

How do you ensure your party goes with a swing?

Always invite the neighbours.

Your crowning accessory to your party outfit is…

Sequins and a smile.

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CO U NTRYA N DTOW N H O U S E .CO.U K

EDITOR Lucy Cleland EDITOR-AT-LARGE Alice B-B ASSOCIATE EDITOR Charlotte Metcalf MANAGING EDITOR Anastasia Bernhardt SUB EDITOR Belinda Bamber FEATURES ASSISTANT & SUB EDITOR Sofia Tindall FASHION DIRECTOR Nicole Smallwood BEAUTY DIRECTOR Nathalie Eleni FASHION EDITOR Lucy Bond LUXURY EDITOR Lucia van der Post INTERIORS EDITOR Carole Annett EXECUTIVE RETAIL EDITOR Mariella Tandy PROPERTY EDITOR Anna Tyzack MOTORING EDITOR Jeremy Taylor ONLINE EDITOR Rebecca Cox ONLINE WRITER Ellie Smith ONLINE ASSISTANT Daniella Saunders CREATIVE & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Parm Bhamra JUNIOR PRODUCTION DESIGNER Samuel Thomas LUXURY LIFESTYLE ADVERTISING MANAGER Ellie Rix ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Eleanor Selby ACCOUNT MANAGERS Shanna Whaley and Bianca Maraney DIGITAL MANAGER Adam Dean TECHNICAL MANAGER Hannah Johnson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Mark Pearson DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Wil Harris ACCOUNTS & CREDIT CONTROLLER Aimi Nicastro SALES & OFFICE MANAGER Daisy Orr-Ewing FINANCE DIRECTOR Jill Newey PROPERTY & MARKETING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Gemma Cowley GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Tia Graham MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeremy Isaac CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stephen Bayley, Simon de Burton, Fiona Duncan, Olivia Falcon, Daisy Finer, Lydia Gard, Avril Groom, Richard Hopton, Emma Love, Mary Lussiana, Anna Pasternak, Caroline Phillips, Holly Rubenstein, Marcus Scriven,

Celebrate Christmas with a BANG! ‘Tis the season to start thinking about those all important Christmas presents. West London Shooting School has a wide range of gift vouchers, that will cater for everyone’s shooting needs. From novice to experienced shot, our gift vouchers will allow for an exciting experience that won’t be forgotten!

THE EDITOR editorial@countryandtownhouse.co.uk FASHION fashion@countryandtownhouse.co.uk ADVERTISING advertising@countryandtownhouse.co.uk PROPERTY ADVERTISING property@countryandtownhouse.co.uk ACCOUNTS accounts@countryandtownhouse.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS subscribe@countryandtownhouse.co.uk COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE is a monthly magazine distributed to AB homes in Barnes, Battersea, Bayswater, Belgravia, Brook Green, Chelsea, Chiswick, Clapham, Coombe, Fulham, Holland Park, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Pimlico, South Kensington, Wandsworth and Wimbledon, as well as being available from leading country and London estate agents. It is also on sale at selected WHSmith, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s stores and independent newsagents nationwide. It has an estimated readership of 150,000. It is available on subscription in the UK for £29.99 per annum. To subscribe online, iPad, iPhone and android all for only £24.99 visit: exacteditions.com/read/countrytownhouse. For subscription enquiries, please call 020 7384 9011 or email subscribe@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. It is published by Country & Town House Ltd, Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL (tel: 020 7384 9011). Registered number 576850 England and Wales. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd, West Midlands. Paper supplied by Gerald Judd. Distribution by Letterbox.

Copyright © 2019 Country & Town House Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Materials are accepted on the understanding that no liability is incurred for safe custody. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. All prices are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change. Whilst every care is taken to ensure information is correct at time of going to press, it is subject to change, and C&TH Ltd. takes no responsibility for omissions or errors.

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COLUMN

LU XU RY & N ECESSIT Y

on the phone to the actual fraud team later and thank god no money had been swiped. But jeez, she was good. And I thought it was just daft old folk who got scammed…

MEANWHILE IN THE STICKS… the blasted leaking shower rumbles on. I’ve scratched my nut, cursed the builders and had it re-siliconed five times. Finally the plumber decides to dismantle the woodpanelled ceiling from below to get a good look. Turns out the leak wasn’t the shower but…

THE LOO! And it was coming PARTY TIME from the… waste pipe (insert Frocks that rock. vomit emoji). simonerocha.com And beneath the leaking pipe GOOD READ Welcome in Mrs was the culprit...

Tiggy Winkle. a dead mouse. octopusbooks.co.uk Now, I like mice, but I like them in the garden.

Alice B-B on scams, a leaky loo Not in the house, and a fake tooth where they seem to use our water pipes as rodent toothbrushes, HE DREAD! A text pops to sharpen their gnashers. up from the bank, ‘Your NOT SO SHABBY CHIC So now what? Traps? Poison? card was recently used at Cushions by pennymorrison.com A cat? I hate cats.

Booking Online Store for £2,499.

AND SUDDENLY IT’S MY If not you, please urgently call fraud BIRTHDAY. Mr Love keeps asking prevention on…’ I know, I know. what I’d like for a present. But is it Never call the number. Instead, age? Or peak stuff? Or just being take a deep breath, calmly look at your bank’s website, find the number lucky to have a lot? Cause the truth is, I want less. Actually that’s not strictly for the fraud department and call true – what I really want is a new front it. So what did I do? Yep, I called tooth. I cracked it when I was 17: the bloody number on the text and diving into a shallow pool, showing then proceeded to hand over ALL GROW YOUR OWN Avocado vase by off to boys. Now the fake tooth needs MY BANK DETAILS to the kind ilexstudio.com an upgrade. But Mr Love looks and helpful lady on the phone – horrified at my wish list. Granted, who I thanked profusely for getting it’s not terribly sexy. So maybe I’ll me out of this scrape. And when she suggest a puff of magic party dress asked me to fetch my card reader,

by Simone Rocha. I suspect he’ll say I apologised, ‘I’m so it’s too Villanelle. sorry I can’t get to a And he’s probably card reader for a week because I’m travelling.’ right. Though I think there’s a bit of Then, the not-so-kind Villanelle lurking in lady abruptly hung TREAD AHEAD me… She’d buy her up. And it dawned Trainer of the moment. pierrehardy.com own tooth. Or nick on me... I’d been had.

3 someone else’s. n A shame-faced hour

THE GOOD LIFE

1

Having a computer overhaul thanks to those tech geniuses at You Need An IT Guy. youneedan itguy.com

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Going to see artist Suzy Murphy’s latest show – I Won’t Look Away. lyndsey ingram.com

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Checking out The Wing – Fitzrovia’s new women-only workspace. the-wing.com

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PORTRAIT BY JANE MCLEISH-KELSEY

THIS MONTH I’LL BE

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COLLECTION LIN E

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INTERVIEW

THE RURBANIST

Gillian Anderson on browsing property porn and sampling gong baths favourite contemporary writers. I don’t think that there’s a book of hers that I haven’t put down at the end and been haunted by for weeks after.

Most valuable piece of advice you’ve received?

Let go, let go, and just once more: let go.

Last song that made you dance? The Ginning by Stavroz, in my car with the sunroof open and my kids in the back.

Oh, and Taste by Tyga (the latter was in PG form).

Favourite game? Exquisite corpses. You fold a piece of paper into however many people are playing – usually each player draws part of the human body from head down and then folds it so it’s not seen – but we put our own twist on it by adding a story or poetry to each section. At the end you unfold it and expose the creation to the group.

Signature dish? Grilled salmon with tarragon sauce. I’d like to make it for my brother, who passed away eight years ago – he was a pescatarian. It might be the only thing that I’ve become good at cooking, but I’ve perfected making the salmon very pink in the middle so that it melts in your mouth. He would have loved it with smashed squash and crisp asparagus.

Where was the last place you ‘discovered’? My sister gifted me a

sound bath session in Paddington for my birthday, it was definitely a new experience walking into a stranger’s garage to be immersed in ambient gong noises for an hour.

Gillian Anderson’s new collection for Winser London is available on winserlondon.com n a lot, but being in the vicinity of my loved one is where I feel most at home.

Where do you go to lose yourself? Property porn! And work: neither are particularly healthy but both definitely relax me.

Daily ritual? Eating muesli with blueberries and almond milk for breakfast.

Best thing a cabbie has ever said to you?

Has anybody ever told you that you look like that lady on the X Factor?

What never fails to bring a smile to your face?

Quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever seen is the bad lip-reading video Seagulls.

What item in your wardrobe do you wear the most? My Winser London swing coat is an

incredibly versatile piece that works with anything – jeans, dresses, even pyjamas on some days.

Last book you read? The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, she’s definitely one of my top

FROM ABOVE: Gillian Anderson wears her Winser London swing coat; there’s nothing like going to a stranger’s garage in Paddington for a gong bath; Ann Patchett is a favourite author; salmon is Gillian’s specialty

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © CRYSTAL SOUND LOUNGE; REX FEATURES

Where’s home to you? I move around

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53 JERMYN STREET, LONDON | 118 HIGH STREET, ETON | 970 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK NEWANDLINGWOOD.COM

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STYLE BEAUTY JEWELLERY PA RT I E S

UP FRONT

LITTLE BLACK DRESS Alessandra Rich is known for her irreverent take on evening wear.

The Italian-born, London-based designer always incorporates plenty of vintage references while managing to make each piece modern and sophisticated.

The beauty of her pieces are that they can be worn dressed up or down, leaving you free to express your personal style. alessandrarich.com

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UP FRONT

The

EDIT Mariella Tandy’s top ten seasonal style saviours

GET YOUR KICKS

Fashionistas are notoriously difficult to shop for, that’s where Net-a-Porter’s new fantasy gift packages come in handy.

Recipients of The Ultimate Shoe Subscription will receive a pair of shoes every month for a year. net-a-porter.com

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MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME… What to get the person with everything? This Tiffany & Co advent calendar will do the trick. £POA. tiffany.co.uk

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CRUISE AND COLLECT Collector’s item alert comes in the form of the new Christian Dior Cruise 2020 collection. Artistic Director Maria Grazia Chiuri collaborated with Uniwax, reinterpreting the house’s signature motifs: toile de jouy and tarot cards. dior.com

HIGHLAND FLING TARTAN STAYS FRESH FROM SEASON TO SEASON

DAKS Trench coat, £995. daks.com

Cartier boxes are as iconic as the jewels inside them.

The Guirlande bag takes its inspiration from the famous packaging and comes in a slew of colours and sizes, now including this Nano version. £1,060. cartier.com

GUCCI Wool twill wrap skirt, £1,600. net-a-porter.com

PHOTOS: © MORGAN O’DONOVAN

NANO BAG

SMYTHE Wedding blazer, £599. shopsmythe.com

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TAKE THREE

KNEEHIGH BOOTS

The Arceau watch

by Hermès, was originally designed

by Henri d’Origny in 1978. This season, it has been reinterpreted with a wood marquetry dial based on the design of the iconic Hermès Astrologie Nouvelle silk scarf. Arceau Limited and numbered edition of eight pieces. £47,130. hermes.com

LOW Ariat lace-up boots, £470. harrods.com

MEDIUM Jimmy Choo Snake print boots, £950. jimmychoo.com

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WATCH IT

BUNNY BOILERS

The House of Minimus is home to the world’s most chic boiler suit, thanks to the input of founder Rhi LennonSmith, who worked alongside Tom Ford for many years. £290. houseofminimus.com

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THE NEW IT BAG

HIGH Saint Laurent Leopard print boots, £1,040. farfetch.com

The Small Iris bag from Mulberry’s latest bag offering has achieved automatic cult status thanks to its relaxed vibe and roomy interior. £995. mulberry.com

BUON NATALE

PHOTOS: © MORGAN O’DONOVAN

For the ultimate in holiday villas head to The Thinking Traveller. This Christmas you can rent out the beautiful Trulli Andrea in Puglia. The two traditional dry stone trulli can be rented separately or together. thethinkingtraveller.com

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THE EYES HAVE IT

The eye area is often one of the first places to show the signs of ageing. That’s where La Prairie comes to the rescue with its new Skin Caviar Eye Lift, with its super clever formula. £365. harrods.com

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AGEING GRACEFULLY

Pop Nyetimber’s newly released Prestige Cuvee – the 2010 vintage of Nyetimber 1086 – at any celebration. It has one of the longest ageing periods for an English Sparkling Wine. We’ll drink to that. £150. nyetimber.com

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UP FRONT GALVAN Galaxy Flyover dress, £1,095

CHANEL Heart earrings, £850

KAVANT & SHARART Origami sapphire rings, from £1,900

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Evening dress, £3,990

RALPH AND RUSSO Feather and black crystal dress, £9,900

JENNIFER CHAMANDI Grossgrain pump, £550

S T Y L E

TO THE MAX Pearls, crystals, feathers, sequins – this season’s party wear is anything but boring.

As ever the devil’s in the detail; layer multiple embellished pieces for a bold look, or choose one item to complement the most simple of black dresses. If there is one time of year where more is more, it’s Christmas.

DAVID MORRIS Cushion cut diamond ring, £POA

ROSANTICA Crystal embellished Penelope bag, £1,314 BAMFORD Palazzo pant, £495

SABINA SAVAGE Silk twill shirt, £735

MOLLY GODDARD Pink tulle mini dress, £680

OLYMPIA LE-TAN New Yorker clutch, £1,200

THE EXTREME COLLECTION Faux pearl blazer, £471

SHRIMPS Faux pearl headband, £150

MIU MIU Crystal buckle belt, £245 MANOLO BLAHNIK Kavafi heels, £825

SEE STOCKISTS FOR MORE DETAILS

Go big or go home, says Mariella Tandy

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Rosa Collection

Our stunning range of bespoke, handcrafted jewellery, provides an opportunity to give a truly unique gift this Christmas.

Come in to see us at our Mayfair boutique to view more of our beautiful one-off pieces.

catherinebest.com

COME IN TO SEE US AT OUR BOUTIQUE 1b Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4HB | Tel: (0)203 947 5850 | Mon – Fri 10.00am – 6.00pm | Sat 10.00am – 5.00pm

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UP FRONT J E W E L L E R Y

THE MAGPIE

FIVE OF THE BEST...

Jewellery designer Elisabetta de Simone Niquesa finds inspiration in her Belgravia stomping ground

EVERYDAY DIAMONDS

From Left: Elisabetta de Simone Niquesa; Starlight red ring; Amore Dalia pendant; 18ct white gold, sapphire and diamond chandelier eardrops; Signature ring, all by Niquesa Fine Jewellery

Niquesa’s home is a beautiful salon in Belgravia, was it always your wish to set up a business in this area? We

If you could change one thing about London, what would it be? London is full

wanted to be in a residential area, rather than a central location surrounded by skyscrapers. Belgravia is such a beautiful and inspiring place, full of vibrant colours from the flowers, fashion and interesting shapes from the architecture. It’s a paradise for the creative mind.

of culture, amazing architecture and delicious food. I do, however, miss the amazing weather I experienced while living in Rome.

Who would you dream customer be? Liz Taylor had an incredible passion

for jewels. She really understood and appreciated the beauty of a stone and the soul behind each piece.

Do you have a favourite stone you love to work with? I am driven by the colour,

unique characteristics and soul of each stone, but to pick just one, I like Peridot.

What is your favourite piece you have made? Every time I create a piece

I think ‘this is my favourite’ because I put my heart and soul into each one.

What is the most meaningful piece of jewellery that has been given to you? My husband gave me a fancy

Tell us about your design process? It could be a flower,

nature, speck of light, colours – anything.

When I’m creating a piece of jewellery, I try to transfer the same emotion that inspired me into the final product.

yellow diamond ring to celebrate the birth of our daughter.

What are your secret haunts in London? The Ivy on the King’s Road

for Sunday lunch, Yashin Sushi for Japanese (High Street Kensington), the Royal Albert Hall for the classics and Cirque du Soleil.

Are you a tea or coffee person? When I’m working I prefer coffee, but at home I drink tea.

What does the future hold for Niquesa? We have recently launched

a new website and we’re opening our flagship London store.

My ultimate desire is to continue to create jewellery with its own personality.

My clients seek bespoke and unique pieces, which enables me to really utilise my creative skills and build a design with them in mind.

1 Boodles Circus earrings, £14,500. boodles.com 2 Messika Glam’Azone white gold and diamond ring, £2,740. messika.com 3 Theo Fennell Rainbow Star white gold bracelet, £750. theofennell.com 4 Sophie Keegan White gold and diamond Initial pendant, £1,500. sophiekeegan.com 5 Graff Diamond Threads studs, £15,500. graff.com

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UP FRONT

LIFE’S LIT TLE LU XURIES

L U X U R Y

LUCIA LOVES

Ettinger solves Lucia van der Post’s Christmas present conundrum

FROM TOP: Ettinger passport cover and luggage tag, £115; bespoke mini wallet, £350; Turnbull & Asser’s New York townhouse; Ettinger Mayfair briefcase, £920

time a small range of what it calls bespoke items – which is to say that for eight of its most popular pieces you can choose the leather (supple calfskin or bridle hide leather), colour and stitching. Decide between two different linings and to have the piece monogrammed in either gold, silver or what is known as blind emboss.

While Ettinger products have always been sold in only the most esteemed establishments (Asprey was an early buyer), it has just launched a link-up with fellow Royal Warrant holder Turnbull & Asser in New York. Right in the middle of chic of Manhattan, Turnbull & Asser has established a townhouse at 50 E 57th street.

While it is most famous for its wallets, card holders, luggage labels, billfolds and the like, Ettinger is gradually expanding its range and today it also has some lovely olive, ivory or beige canvas totes, overnight and weekend bags, hip flasks, pen and glasses cases. Many of them would solve the present-giving dilemma – a travel shoehorn, for instance, is £70, a travel box, perfect for storing cufflinks or jewellery, is £125. Clearly in the mood for some gentle expansion, Ettinger is one to watch. ettinger.co.uk n

TRAVEL COMPANION For travelling, a washbag with several compartments is the perfect container and organiser. Otis Batterbee has just produced one that comes with three separate compartments and a small internal hook so it can be hung on a tent guy rope (which is where I will hang mine, come my journey to the Sahara). £48. otisbatterbee.com

ROYAL STITCH UP There’s lots of retro appeal in this Prince of Wales jumper by Great English Outdoors.

Woven in Shetland, it is based around a famous Fair Isle sweater worn by the future King Edward VIII, who started the fashion for Fair Isle patterns when he was photographed wearing it in 1921. £155. greatenglish.co.uk

SECRET DOOR A bit of an insider secret is Debonnaire von Bismarck’s wonderfully colourful shop at 59 Egerton Gardens. There is no shop sign and you need to know the address, for Debonnaire sells out of what seems like a private apartment. It’s open five days a week from 10am to 6pm.

Just turn up and press the doorbell. debonnaire.com

PHOTOS: ©CHRIS POLLARD

E

ttinger is one of those elegant British companies that – in spite of the fact that it holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales – not everybody has heard of. Notable for its line of soft leather wallets, billfolds and passport holders; it was founded

by Gerry Ettinger in 1934 and is today run by his son, Robert.

Once upon a time the pieces were made in Clerkenwell. Today everything is made in an old leather factory up in Walsall. And, perhaps even more importantly, along with the factory came some highly skilled leather craftsmen whom Ettinger kept on, keeping alive the skills needed to produce high quality leather goods. Today, it runs an apprenticeship scheme to ensure that those skills never die out.

But in this, its 85th year, Robert Ettinger has launched for the first

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UP FRONT

Q & A

MY STYLE

Party frocks? It’s my birthday this month,

so I can indulge in a bit of wow factor.

Anna Mason is a genius – my beloved red ruffle dress by her is perfect for doing ‘festive’ with Jimmy Choo sparkly heels.

Wardrobe failsafes? Axel Arigato trainers, my khaki Fendi handbag (which is an old favourite but still looking so fresh and modern), and my Loewe rugby shirt dress - which is perfect for colour on a crisp winter’s day.

Everyday uniform? I commute from the country to London for work (as a brand consultant and private stylist). Home days mean dresses, biker boots, and an oversized Chinti & Parker jumper, while for running around London it’s a blazer, Rupert Sanderson heels and a vast tote bag to stuff everything into.

Style crush? Sienna Miller (my friends call me Gienna...), I also adore everything Caroline Issa wears.

Power dressing? My Gucci belt is a failsafe to take a pair of trousers to a whole new level.

Holiday essentials? A Pippa Holt

kaftan, Asceno silk dress, Ancient Greek sandals and my Jessica McCormack Gypset hoops – which I never take out. It all gets packed into my game-changing Away case.

Lounge lizard? A Stripe & Stare top (an amazingly sustainable brand), DL1961 jeans or my Levi’s dungarees and slippers.

Finishing touches? Slung over your shoulder a Liberty print tote looks chic with everything, with a spritz of Chanel Gardénia to finish off.

Jessica McCormack is a great friend of mine, so I wear a lot of her jewellery.

Under the radar labels? Kalita, Navygrey, Herbivore Botanicals.

Trend? I can’t wait to road-test feathers, or the moody florals inspired by Prada.

Style cheats? Always ask yourself ‘do I really, really need this?’ – and if you only spend in one area, spend it on shoes. vchstyle.com n

1 Loewe dress, £895 2 Ancient Greek sandals, £150 3 Away carry-on, £225 4 Axel Arigato trainers, £175 5 Pippa Holt kaftan, £568 6 Chinti & Parker sweater, £275 7 DL1961 jeans, £150 8 Chanel Gardénia Eau de Parfum, £155 for 75ml 9 Jimmy Choo heels, £495

PHOTOS: © ANDREW CROWLEY; REX FEATURES SEE STOCKISTS FOR MORE DETAILS

Virginia Chadwyck-Healey takes us from casual to couture

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UP FRONT

MIND & M ATT ER

1

SPRITZ All I want for Christmas is Jo Malone London Rose and Magnolia Cologne. £104 for 100ml. jomalone.com

R E V I E W

Olivia Falcon on how to hold your head high through Christmas

S

o there I was in my socks, getting weighed and measured like a Christmas turkey at the gym when I got the news. I have apparently shrunk an inch, which at the tender age of 45 feels a little premature. Matt, my instructor, suspects this is down to long hours hunched over a computer and poor posture. Terrified of turning into the proverbial little old lady, I put Christmas shopping plans aside and called Ivana Daniell, a postural expert and movement coach.

An exceptionally perky 60-something, Ivana has the kind of body I would have been happy to have at 30, so whatever she’s doing clearly works and I’m all ears. She tells me I have shrunk because I have lost elongation of my muscles. Sitting for long hours at a desk has caused my trunk to compress like an accordion between the meaty hands of a Bavarian mountain man.

‘You also have poor postural awareness, weak core muscles and shallow breathing,’ she observes.

Ivana believes the way we move today; shuffling rather than striding, pigeon-toed rather then plied, is a major health issue. Her aim is to rejuvenate clients by getting them to be functionally active and working at their optimum. She looks at your movement ‘personality’ – mine is introverted and sluggish. Her job is to reorganise muscles so they re-group in the right order to make your movements as efficient and dynamic as possible.

She doesn’t believe in gyms. Her approach is to use your everyday life to become fit. A daily half-hour walk is mandatory and she kits me out with trainers, a backpack and an ergonomic saddle chair for my desk, which I am instructed to sit on at a 120-degree angle with my legs slightly apart, adjusting the height hourly so as not to stress my hip flexors.

Interestingly I note Ivana doesn’t like standing desks. ‘Walking is great but standing still is not good for posture,’ she says.

Ivana is also a stickler for something she calls proactive sitting time, this involves kegel exercises and other very subtle shifts to realign the body at your desk. She prescribes ‘homework’ (more postural exercises), which she tapes for me on my mobile phone, and gives me a series of diaphragmatic breathing exercises as she says I am an accessory breather, rasping shallow breaths into my neck and shoulders rather than using my full lung capacity.

I’m only a few weeks into my new routine but far more connected to my body – I feel fitter, taller and more alive.

Initial consult, £250; follow up movement education, £150. ivanadaniell.com n

2

PULL Offset gluttony with Advanced Nutrition Programme’s virtuous crackers. £55. advanced nutritionprogra mme.com

3

SIT The Back App chair is a saddle-style seat that activates core muscles.

From £569. relaxbackuk.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

BODY LANGUAGE

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CASHMERE & FINE WOOLLENS MADE IN SCOTLAND JOHNSTONSOFELGIN.COM

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UP FRONT NEW RELEASES

HOT OFF THE PRESS

PARTY MAKEUP

1 Shiseido’s Synchro Skin SelfRefreshing Foundation SPF 30 is a demi-matte foundation that creates a flawless base, resists heat, humidity, oil and facial movement nonstop for 24 hours. £31.20. johnlewis.com 2 Hydrate winter skin with Decléor Green Mandarin Sun-kissed Cream. £58. lookfantastic.com 3 My Tins: Eyes kit by My Kit Co is all you need to create a feline flick or sultry smoky eye. £36. mykitco.uk

Three beauty saviours to help fight the signs of late nights, over-styled locks and a few too many glasses of wine.

MZ Skin Vitamin-infused facial treatment mask, £90 for pack of five. mzskin.com

Ches Editions The Ultimate oil, £65. cheseditions.com

Model: Martina Makeup: @Nathalieeleni_beauty Photo: @rvds Hair: Chloe Sandoz Earrings: IVAR Fine Jewelry Earring Zero 2

Intraceuticals Retouch starter kit, £289. skincity.co.uk

B E A U T Y

POWDER ROOM

Nathalie Eleni preps her skin for party season PARTY PILLS Imedeen Time Perfection tablets, designed for women who are 40 years plus, contain Vitamin C and zinc to protect cells from oxidative stress.

Marine Complex and LycoPhence GS Forte keep your face and body soft, smooth and rehydrated. Ideal for party season. £44 for 60 tablets. boots.com

NEW IN TOWN

An advanced menu of glow treatments by Doctor Sophie Shotter will instantly boost your skin, eradicating fine lines, tightening slack skin and making you glow.

Combining Profhilo (dubbed the ‘injectable moisturiser’) alongside IV Hydration and Volite. From £2,400. Kent illuminateskinclinic.co.uk; and central London cosmeticskinclinic.com

TREAT YOURSELF...

LIPSTICKS

RED OR DEAD

Nanushka x La Bouche Rouge Paris Shiva lipstick with case and pouch. £132. nanushka.com

Lipstick Queen Fast Car Coral. £22. spacenk.com

Lip Paradise Intense Satin in Marilyn. £28. feelunique.com

To a facial for your feet. Margaret Dabbs’ Medical Pedicure improves the look and condition of your trotters so you can squeeze into that pair of peeptoes. From £85. margaretdabbs.co.uk

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Make it magical.

Sprinkle a little Dr Sebagh Pure Vitamin C Powder Cream into your skin care routine this season for a brightening boost that protects. Like magic, the patented and award-winning powder transforms into a cream on contact with the skin, delivering a highly concentrated dose of stabilised antioxidant Vitamin C. Mix it with serum, moisturiser or use on its own to help lighten brown spots.

Available in-store and at drsebagh.com

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UP FRONT W E L L N E S S

BODY & SOUL

GREAT ESCAPE

Grape skins equal great skin, says Camilla Hewitt

’T

is the season to be jolly, so here is some wellbeing news to help you on your way – an organic compound called resveratrol, found in the skin of grapes and therefore red wine, can be beneficial for our health. In nature, resveratrol functions as part of a plant’s defence system; an antimicrobial substance produced by plants in response to stress, infection, or UV radiation. Resveratrol has become the subject of intense

LES SOURCES DE CAUDALIE, BORDEAUX

scientific interest due to its powerful antioxidant and anti-ageing properties, as well as its potential to keep our skin looking plump.

So this Christmas unwind with a glass of red wine on the grounds that your body will be reaping the vine-grown benefits.

MINDFUL DRINKING 1 LA Brewery Citrus Hops Kombucha This is a truly sophisticated soft drink that’s naturally low in sugar. Brewed in Suffolk, the tropical infusion of Citra and Cascade hops perfectly complement the soursweetness of kombucha. £3.25. planetorganic.com

Surrounded by the Grand Cru vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Les Sources de Caudalie was inspired by the ‘French Paradox’ i.e. that the French diet and lifestyle, particularly in the southwest, is conducive to good health. Located just 20 minutes from Bordeaux city centre, it was designed by architect Yves Collet, who used recycled local materials to create a collection buildings that are perfectly in tune with the idyllic surroundings. The Vinothérapie Spa offers treatments combining the virtues of natural hot spring water, drawn from 540m beneath the earth, with the most recent scientific discoveries of the benefits of grapes. The signature Crushed Cabernet Scrub is enriched with naturally exfoliating grape-seeds and six essential oils that leave skin smooth, soft and nourished.

If a weekend of wine tasting is not on the cards, visit Caudalie’s Covent Garden Boutique Spa to pick up its resveratrol-based range.

From £240 per night. sources-caudalie.com

3 Floreat Sparkling Botanic Wine Lower in calories than sparkling wines, this tipple also contains beneficial biodynamic botanics like violets, rose petals, lime flowers and milk thistle seeds. £26. floreatwines.com 4 Big Drop Brewing Co Born out of its founder's own lifestyle changes (fatherhood!), Big Drop has crafted a brew for almost any beer lover. The Winter Ale has aromas of ginger and cinnamon, guaranteed to warm your cockles when there is a bit of a chill in the air. £1.79. bigdropbrew.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

2 Seedlip Nogroni Seedlip has launched the world's first bottled Nogroni. This bold and bittersweet take on a classic cocktail is a complex, bitter and citrusy blend with hints of chinotto orange, grapefruit, all spice and gentian. £10. seedlipdrinks.com

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UP FRONT

TIME TO ROCK

Raymond Weil is commemorating the one and only Jimi Hendrix in this limited-edition Freelancer watch to mark 50 years since his Woodstock performance.

It includes a backwards Fender guitar counterweight and strap inspired by Jimi’s Woodstock costume.

A collector’s must. £2,795. raymond-weil.co.uk

M E N ’ S

WALK THIS WAY RENNÉ

S T Y L E

WELL GROOMED

Design duo Helen and Annie Rennison have launched their first men’s collection for Renné Jewellery, comprising rings, bracelets, chains and charms, all made from sterling silver, 18ct gold and a variety of vibrant semi-precious stones. Between £25 and £540. rennejewellery.co.uk

All along the watchtower.

By Matt Thomas

WINNING FORMULAS Master perfumer Roja is launching four more classic men’s scents having altered their formulas to transform them into Parfum Colognes – a specially created style which has the brightness and freshness of a classic cologne but the staying power and projection of a pure perfume. £225 for 100ml. rojaparfums.com

SNAP THIS UP ALL WHITE NOW

SNOODS & STRIPES

MG Rivers’ super-soft snoods and fingerless gloves are perfect for the gifting and ski season, with distinctive stripe detailing and a range of classic and bright colours.

Snood, £45. mgrivers.com

We’re dreaming of a white Christmas – one that involves a pair of Crown Northampton’s minimally cool white sneakers. Handmade in Northampton in premium calf leather, this is a shoe that works with all outfits. £235. crown northampton.com

Deveaux New York is the brainchild of ex-street photographer turned designer Tommy Ton. It produces ‘lifeproof’ pieces that are made to travel and made to last.

The collection has just arrived at Matches. Score!

Coat, £1,290. matchesfashion.com

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Amy

BY APPOINTMENT TO HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER OF FOOTWEAR CROCKETT & JONES LIMITED, NORTHAMPTON

A full brogue Oxford, made in England using the finest cavalry calf.

Featuring our lightweight cleated rubber sole MADE IN ENGLAND | SINCE 1879

Women’s Collection CROCKETTANDJONES.COM

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UP FRONT S O C I A L

S C E N E

HIGH SOCIETY People, parties, places

Hugh Seaborn, Heather Tilbury Phillips and Lord Chelsea

Ron Arad and Erin O’Connor

David Downton and Virginia Bates

Kim Hersov

Zafar and Natalie Rushdie Caroline Mazouz and Lara Bohinc

Lara Bohinc, Assia Webster, Fergus Lawlor and Mourad Mazouz Julian Vogel and Xavier Cadiou

A CHAIR AFFAIR

Ashley Hicks

Yasmin Mills and Camilla Rutherford

After all that Ruinart champagne, no wonder guests were having a brilliant time at Ron Arad x OKA’s collaboration party. The unveiling of a bespoke chair, inspired by Arad’s ’80s Chair by Its Cover was the high point. A design buff’s dream.

Sarah Byfield and Ian Walker

Jeremy Hackett and Gen Greensted

Cassandra Goad and Heather Tilbury Phillips

Sigrid Kirk and Tia Graham

Mary McCartney

Sabrina Percy

Amanda Strang

David Walliams, Batia Ofer and Jason Suckley

Jean-Paul Engelen and Cheyenne Westphal

Going, going, gone; a celebrity bidding war ensued as auctioneer legend Simon de Pury took the stage to sell pieces by the likes of Virgil Abloh and Ai Weiwei at the Art of Wishes Gala. Suited and booted guests raised a glass (and their cheque books) to support the Make-a-Wish foundation in style.

Pierre and Letizia de Maigret

Annie Morris and Georgina Cohen

PRIVATE VIEW

Trailblazing ’60s designer Mary Quant would have highly approved of the stylish set who attended the V&A x Mary Quant private view. Flower power was fuelled by The King’s Road Strategy, led by Cadogan, who is sponsoring the exhibition.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

AUCTION ACTION

Jace Tyrell, Steven Medway and Hugh Seaborn

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OBEY YOUR SPIRIT

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Carol Concert Join us for a festive evening in support of children’s mental health

Wednesday 4th December (6pm–8:30pm) St Marylebone Parish Church, 17 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LT

For more information and to secure your tickets, visit: place2be.org.uk/carolconcert Adult £30 each | Child £15 each

Place2Be is a children’s mental health charity. We are the leading provider of in-school support striving to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and staff. Place2Be provides emotional and therapeutic services in primary and secondary schools, building children’s resilience through talking, creative work and play. We promise a heart-warming night to welcome in the festive season, raising vital funds to ensure Place2Be can be there for children across the UK when they need us most.

Registered office: 175 St. John Street, London, England, EC1V 4LW. Registered charity in England and Wales (1040756) and in Scotland (SC038649).

Registered company in England and Wales (02876150). This is a fundraising event held by and for Place2Be to help continue our charitable work of improving children’s mental health.

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ART CU LT U R E BOOKS PEOPLE

THE GUIDE

BORIS IN BIRO

JOKER JOHNSON BY JAMES MYLNE

Have your dinner-table Brexit conversations become increasingly fractious of late?

At least artist James Mylne in Mayfair is having a laugh: immortalising Boris Johnson in Bic pen as arch villain the Joker in A Decade of Shady Business. Why so serious?

12–22 December. jamesmylne.co.uk

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EXHIBITION

IF YOU’RE WILLING

In the first major UK retrospective since his death – Hastings Contemporary is exhibiting a collection of paintings by artist Victor Willing. Featuring key loans from Tate and more, the pieces chart a journey from his time at the Slade to his death from multiple sclerosis.

Eerie and arresting, it’s a hauntingly beautiful reflection of the artist’s tumultuous life. 19 Oct to 20 Jan. hastingscontemporary.org

DON’T MISS

E V E N T S

COUNTRY LIFE

New-age nativity in Norfolk.

By Sofia Tindall

ROYALTY

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES Standing Nude, Victor Willing (1955)

Stourhead by starlight

GARDEN

WINTER WALKS

Glistening shards of light, shimmering stars and clusters of baubles have enchantingly transformed the grounds of Stourhead this winter, for its first Winter Illuminations walk.

Experience the lights with a spiced cider or mulled wine in hand, and a fire-pit where you can toast marshmallows and warm your hands at the end. Truly magical.

29 Nov to 30 Dec. nationaltrust.org.uk

King George IV may have been a controversial patron of horse racing (not least because of the scandal he was caught up in, involving his steed Escape), but there’s no doubt he made his mark on the sport. Through a phenomenal collection of paintings at Palace House in Newmarket, King George IV: Royalty, Racing and Reputation remembers the quirky figurehead of racing, whose antics remain as amusing in 2019 as they were in the 18th century. 28 Nov to 19 April. palacehouse newmarket.co.uk MUSICAL

’TIS THE SEASON

ART

NEW NATIVITY

There’s not a cardboard ox or cotton-wool sheep to be seen in Nativity, an immersive, movingimage artwork by Martha Fiennes.

Inspired by Renaissance paintings, her interpretation is a re-telling of a favourite childhood tradition for grown-ups. Tour the rooms of Holkham Hall by candlelight before settling down in the Chapel for the screening.

27–30 Dec. holkham.co.uk

Nativity: a bold take on the biblical

Feel-good (whisper it: cheesy) Christmas musicals are the ultimate festive guiltypleasure. With New York and a rom-com plot thrown in, The Season at Royal & Derngate promises to deliver a smash hit show for all ages. Keep an ear out for music by rising song-writing talent Jim Barne.

5–30 Nov. royaland derngate.co.uk

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THE GUIDE

EXHIBITION

BANKING BROTHERHOOD

The rise of the Osterley family is as gripping as any political drama. Against the sprawling backdrop of their former home, Treasures of Osterley – Rise of a Banking Family explores the history of the family who counted Nell Gwyn and Sir Isaac Newton among their clients.

4 Nov to 23 Feb. nationaltrust.org.uk

E V E N T S

TOWN LIFE

Saint Agatha, Carlo Dolci (16161687) on show at Osterley Park

Chelsea gets painted in a new light

DON’T MISS EQUESTRIAN

Theatre of cruelty

TALLY HO! THEATRE

CURTAIN CALL

Christmas cheer getting too much for you? A revenge-tragedy might be just the thing. Olivier award-nominated Lydia Wilson’s stint as the Duchess in Rebecca Frecknall’s interpretation of The Duchess of Malfi, is more than enough reason to get in line for a ticket at the Almeida Theatre.

10 Dec to 18 Jan. almeida.co.uk

Shetland Pony Grand National, anyone?

Exhibiting the finest equestrian talent since 1907, the Olympia Horse Show returns to West Kensington once again with everything from show jumping to stuntmen. For the less skilled in the saddle, the shopping stalls are perfect to get into the Christmas spirit.

16–22 Dec. olympiahorseshow.com CHRISTMAS MARKET

ART

SIGHTS OF SW3

The streets of Chelsea may seem an unlikely change from industrial Yorkshire landscapes – but the resulting paintings of Kitty North’s 18 months capturing life on the streets of SW3 are truly captivating. Browse through her works at 370 King’s Road and see the borough in a whole new light.

No wonder the likes of artistic legends Turner and Whistler loved it so much. 5–17 Nov. kittynorth.com

PERFECT PRESENT The Chelsea Christmas Shopping event has put the fun back into finding the perfect gift, with an operatic snow queen, wreathmaking, horse and carriage rides and strings of enchanting, twinkling lights. Yes that means no excuse to be rushing around the supermarket last thing on Christmas Eve this year. Happy shopping! 7 Dec. inchelsea.co.uk

PHOTOS: © NADAV KANDER; © SAM OAKES

75 Flood Street, Kitty North (2019)

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THE GUIDE P O E T R Y

A SHAKESPEARE A DAY…

Allie Esiri brings the ultimate Country & Town man to us every day anonymous ‘dark lady’. William and Anne had three children (in fact Anne was pregnant when they got married), though their only son, Hamnet sadly died at the age of 11.

We can never know what sort of a family man Shakespeare may have been. Once he found success as a writer in London, he helped build and then co-owned the Globe Theatre as well as other sought-after properties in Blackfriars. Also, as was the fashion, he consolidated his rise through the social echelons by buying a coat of arms for the Shakespeare dynasty, which punningly features a spear being ‘shaken’ by a falcon. However, despite his rising fortunes in London, he seemed rooted to rural Stratford where he housed his family in the grand, but unimaginatively named New Place.

Born in the country, made in the city; Shakespeare knew and absorbed the intricacies of both environments.

Throughout his work, he gives beautiful details of Warwickshire flora with as much precision as he captures the grubbiness and bawdry of the city. I leave you with Sonnet 18 – Is there even a hint of nostalgia in the ‘darling buds of May’?

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:

W

illiam Shakespeare divided his life between the country and the town. We know very little about him, but we do know that he was born, married and died in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, that he spent his working life in London, where he worked as an actor, a poet and a playwright, and that he became one of the first writers to amass a considerable fortune. With it, he built a property portfolio, owning the second biggest house in his hometown and buying up expensive property in London.

Shakespeare had relatively humble beginnings. His father was a glover and his mother came from a family of farmers. We know her maiden name to have been Arden, which she shares with the fictional forest in As You Like It. However, like her successful son’s wife and daughter, she was likely to have been illiterate, and so would never have read any of the work which has become so famous today. This is perhaps just as well in the case of his wife, Anne Shakespeare (née Hathaway), as none of the legendary sonnets seem to be addressed to her, and instead are divided between an anonymous young man, and an

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; Nor shall Death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year by Allie Esiri (Pan Macmillan, £18.88) n

PHOTOS: REX FEATURES

FROM ABOVE: William Shakespeare knew how to live the ‘best of both worlds’; Allie Esiri has edited a new collection of his work

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THE GUIDE

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Colour Me (Red) by Berni Searle, Manchester Art Gallery via Contemporary Art Society; Free Spirit (Supersize) by Rashna Hackett, £750 at Artfinder; Benjamin Senior Ball Games (2019) at Counter Editions

C U L T U R E

THE EXHIBITIONIST

G

rowing up in the rarefied atmosphere that I did, my first job was working for the Contemporary Art Society (in the mid ’80s, since you ask), not in a pub. The CAS is a venerable organisation. It has been around for almost 110 years, and still exists to raise money to buy art for regional galleries.

In the mid-1980s, the CAS hit on the idea of selling art like baked beans – so for a brief period the Contemporary Art Society Art Market was born. Every Christmas, the whitewashed walls of Smith’s Gallery in Covent Garden (now an upmarket jeans store) were hung with contemporary art. Anyone could wander in and buy a picture, usually for around £200. My job was then to bubble wrap their purchase, so that they could carry them home in their shopping bags, like the weekly food shop.

You can still buy art off a wall today, of course, but more and more of the art market is now online. So, as you sit and contemplate what to buy your beloved for Christmas, you are now in the luxurious position of being able to buy them something unique and special without leaving your sofa.

There are basically three kinds of art store online. First, there is the marketplace, basically a platform where any artist can upload photos of their work, and you buy direct from them. Artfinder.com is the best, with over 10,000 artists in 108 countries, with 15,000 works of art added every month.

The website is easy to use, and you can choose by medium and

style as you refine your search. They also show the art ‘in situ’ so you can get a feel for how it might look in your house.

Then there are the online galleries. Like a gallery on the high street, these virtual galleries choose and curate the artists whose work is on sale. My go-to site is Counter Editions, a properly curated site of unique limited-edition prints by some of Britain’s most established artists, such as Tracey Emin, Rachel Whiteread and Howard Hodgkin. Despite such big names it is surprisingly affordable in that you can get pieces from £600 although there are, of course – many that are more expensive.

Finally, there are platforms which the well-known galleries use themselves. The most famous of these art ‘startups’ is Artsy, which is now almost a billion-dollar company. Here, you can buy art online from the most prestigious galleries in the world, with prices to match. There is still stuff which is ‘affordable’ (Picasso for $4,000, anyone?), but it’s also fun to browse paintings with a price of $500,000 or more and imagine being able to buy them with one click.

Christmas is a time for magazines to fill their pages with gift ideas, from socks to fancy toasters. But the smart, unique and affordable gift you can buy as easily as a pair of pyjamas, and almost as affordably, is a wonderful piece of art – just one click away. n

PHOTOS: © BENJAMIN SENIOR, COURTESY OF COUNTER EDITIONS, MARGATE

Give the gift of art this Christmas, says Ed Vaizey

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THE GUIDE Eileen Cooper would rather be in her studio than in the garden

A R T I S T ’ S

S T U D I O

EILEEN COOPER

Caiti Grove meets the Royal Academician at her south London home

‘I

t’s just left to go wild really, which is a shame,’ says Eileen brightly, looking out onto crowns of lime and oak trees. ‘It could be fantastic.

My husband cuts the grass but I don’t want to be gardening, I want to be up here in my studio.’ In the middle of her south London townhouse, an easel stands in the window and squeezed paint tubes pile up on a worktable. Her work hangs on the walls and is stacked in a corner, soon to be collected for her exhibition in Piccadilly. The V&A, The Whitworth and The British Museum have all been customers.

The produce of a year’s preparatory drawing of friends, students and her assistant Julia, plus a year painting, the pictures are about personal spaces – a woman combing her hair, another puts on nail varnish or breastfeeds a newborn.

‘I was very careful, I didn’t want it to be voyeuristic,’ she tells me, ‘It’s about someone lost in their own space yet in control of it.’ Now in her sixties, she grew up in a working-class family in a small industrial town in the Derbyshire Peak district, which was ‘bleakly beautiful’, where she drew throughout her childhood. After nudges from teachers, she applied for art school. The artistic freedom and the anonymity of London were a thrilling escape. Both were on the cusp of change.

‘Feminism was a new word in the early ’70s, we all had those questions to answer – are you a feminist; what does that mean? I showed with galleries that were receptive to a woman’s voice and supportive of my work, but big corporate collections and museums were so slow off the mark,’ she says smiling. ‘They’re still chasing their tails now.’

She paints in plastic gloves, a practice left over from raising children, ‘I could whip off the gloves and overalls to pick up the baby if he was crying. Now I can’t paint without them.’

To supplement sales of her work, she began to teach, lecturing in printmaking at the Royal College of Art, and then to postgraduate painters at the Royal Academy, ‘I learnt as much each day as I taught, probably more.’ Eileen became Keeper there in 2010 for seven years, the first woman in its 250-year history. Now decades established, she has had solo exhibitions at the Royal Academy and Dulwich Picture Gallery, and curated the Academy’s Summer Exhibition in 2017. There are downsides to ageing, however, which are surprising, ‘Of course, one of the traps of getting older is you lose that degree of difficulty that you had when you were young and you didn’t know what you were doing at all, everything was new. Difficulty is so important, to keep you on edge.’

Now she actively seeks it out, and creates her complex women in collage, ceramics, bronze and print. For this exhibition, she began drawing from life again after decades of painting from imagination.

‘It was really hard, because you have to look after the models and chat to them and I remembered, that’s why I gave up drawing from life because I find the model a real interruption but,’ she says with relish, ‘it’s a degree of difficulty, which is very positive.’

Eileen Cooper: Personal Space shows at Huxley-Parlour Gallery, London W1 until 16 Nov. huxleyparlour.com n

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B O O K S

GOOD READS

Escape the family by sticking your head in one of these books.

By Richard Hopton

Confessions of a Bookseller is Shaun Bythell’s follow-up to his best-selling The Diary of a Bookseller, in which he continues, in his mildly curmudgeonly way, to recount the tribulations of life as a bookshop owner in Wigtown. Profile, £16.99

INTELLIGENCE

If you think fake news is a 21st-century phenomenon, think again. Henry Hemming’s racily-written Our Man in New York tells of British intelligence operations in 1940-41 aimed at inducing the US to enter the war against Germany. Quercus, £20

FOOD

A Cheese Monger’s History of the British Isles is the story of British cheese from Neolithic times to the present day, packed with tasty morsels. Perfect for the inquisitive cheese lover.

Profile, £16.99

LONDON

Simon Jenkins’ A Short History of London is a brisk, enlightening history of the capital from the Romans to Sadiq Khan.

London, Jenkins concludes, ‘is a masterpiece … the most exhilarating human construct in the world’. Viking, £25

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

DIARY

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THE GUIDE CHILDREN

Vicky Cowie has written five tales for children in rhyming verse, charmingly illustrated

by Charlie Mackesy. The stories Vicky Cowie The Collection are rooted in the English countryside, full of nature’s wonder and human foible. vickycowie.com, £49.99

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

COOKERY

FICTION

Donal Skehan’s Super Food in Minutes offers 90 recipes for ‘real, fast and delicious’ food perfect for the busy, healthconscious family with an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, and less, better meat (Hodder & Stoughton, £25).

Cerys Matthews’ Where the Wild Cooks Go takes recipes from around the world and leavens them with an eclectic, entertaining mix of music, poetry, local lore and travellers’ tales (Particular Books, £25).

This witty, worldly memoir charts Nicholas Coleridge’s life and career in magazine journalism with great brio.

The Glossy Years glides smoothly along, rubbing shoulders with London’s beau monde, with much gossip along the way. Fig Tree, £25

The setting for Laura Purcell’s Bone China is a remote house on the Cornish coast in the early-19th century.

It’s creepy and claustrophobic, a place where nothing is quite as it seems. Purcell writes with a light and assured touch.

(Raven, £12.99). Tracy Chevalier’s latest novel, A Single Thread, is a quiet and reflective work, told in a minor key (Harper Collins, £14.99).

FASHION

NATURE

HISTORY

Galliano: Spectacular Fashion

by Kerry Taylor is a sumptuouslyillustrated retrospective of John Galliano’s career from its earliest days to his long reign at Dior and his fall from grace. This is haute couture in all its glorious madness, a must for fashionistas.

Bloomsbury, £54

MEMOIR

Remarkable Trees is part dendrological handbook, part history. Enchantingly illustrated, Christina Harrison and Tony Kirkham’s book covers trees from all over the world, with species as varied as the English oak and the Fish poison tree.

Thames & Hudson, £24.95

The story of the early 1960s is well known – Berlin, Cuba, Macmillan, Profumo, Kennedy and the bomb – but Peter Hennessy’s Winds of Change brings them alive with high-level gossip and quirky fact.

Allen Lane, £30

STOCKING FILLERS

Eddie Ludlow’s Whisky A Tasting Course, is a thorough introduction to a fascinating, complex and sometimes mystifying delight. Just reading this book made me thirsty (Dorling Kindersley, £16.99). When the Christmas spirit begins to flag, bury yourself in William Hartston’s A Brief History of Puzzles.

You’ll emerge stimulated, refreshed and, perhaps, a little exasperated (Atlantic Books, £10.99).

TRAVEL

As it hosts the 2020 Olympics, Japan will come into the international spotlight as never before.

Those unfamiliar with its ways, should read Pico Iyer’s impressionistic, idiosyncratic A Beginner’s Guide to Japan.

Bloomsbury, £16.99

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THE GUIDE Peter Ueberroth, CEO of the Los Angeles Olympics Organising Committee

S P O R T S

THE OLYMPIAN

T

he first gamechanger in this series was Juan Antonio Samaranch, who gave me the confidence to carve out a role in sports administration. But if he prepared the groundwork, it is our final gamechanger in this series who gave me the platform.

Peter Ueberroth was the unlikely architect of the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, in which I successfully defended the 1,500m crown. Ueberroth’s challenge in delivering the most complex piece of project management known to man, in any city under normal circumstances, did not start well. He had little experience in the world of sport, when appointed CEO of the Los Angeles Organising Committee in 1979, having gained a business degree at San José State University, passed through the airline industry and created the second largest travel agency in the US. Ueberroth inherited a Games that the city of Los Angeles had originally tried to hand back to the IOC. The Moscow Games, four years previously, was mired in the geopolitics of East and West. Not only was Ueberroth dealing with global stakeholders, who were seriously questioning the future of the Olympic movement, but he also had to confront legislation that forbade any public money from being spent on this sporting festival. In taking over the reins, Ueberroth sold his business and took a 70 per cent pay cut. For the remainder of the delivery phase, he referred to himself as the ‘number one volunteer’ in the organising committee. He brought a smart coterie of managers with him, and together they effectively ripped up the rulebook.

With no public support available, he looked back at previous Games and drew inspiration from the 1948 ‘austerity’ Games in London that, in a very different era and for different reasons, was forced to deliver them on a shoestring. His use of existing facilities, like the Coliseum, the Forum and the sports arena, avoided the need for fresh builds. He persuaded ABC TV to pay a record $225 million for broadcast rights, created the TOP sponsorship programme that yielded another $130 million, and focused on ticket sales; a model that, in large parts, operates today. The rest, as they say, is history. Record attendances and ticket sales, helped in no small part by local favourites Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton and Joan Benoit (first female winner of an Olympic marathon), left a surplus of nearly a quarter of a million dollars which still supports projects to this day. At that point, the Games were the most commercially successful sporting event in history.

Not long after London was selected to host the 2012 Games and I became chair of the organising committee, Ueberroth called me.

He both congratulated and commiserated: ‘There aren’t that many of us left who have done this before,’ he observed. ‘I am going to call you regularly. And I will always be available for advice.’ I will forever remember the generosity of that gesture.

If Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the founding father of the movement, it is Peter Ueberroth who ushered it truly into the modern era. n

PHOTO: REX FEATURES

Peter Ueberroth ushered the Olympics Games into the modern era, says Sebastian Coe

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LEATHER FOOTWEAR | ACCESSORIES | CLOTHING FAIRFAXANDFAVOR.COM

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C A R S

ROAD TEST

Why drive a normal SUV when you can have a raging bull on the bonnet?

Jeremy Taylor grapples with the Urus…

SUVs are undergoing a supercar makeover

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VITA L STATS Lamborghini Urus PRICE £165,000 ENGINE 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol POWER 641 bhp 0-62MPH 3.6 seconds ECONOMY 22.2 mpg

hat happens when the world’s craziest car maker turns its hand to building a family SUV? Italian supercars aren’t for shrinking violets but the outrageously fast Urus is the closest Lamborghini has come yet to conventional.

On paper, it’s a five-seat people-mover with jacked up ground clearance, off-road ability and enough room in the boot for a nervous dog. In real life, the Lambo is a 190mph monster that vies for the fastest SUV crown.

After ticking off the option boxes it’s unlikely to give much change from £200,000. You could buy a Porsche and a Range Rover for that kind of money – with no need for dog counselling.

Because, although the Lambo is capable of ferrying your little ones on the school run, the twin-turbo V8 engine, remarkable handling and an outrageous exhaust note suggest it’s a fourwheel drive supercar in disguise.

It is arguably the most important model in Lamborghini’s 56-year history. It may not be astoundingly beautiful but with lifestyle credentials it will battle with the likes of the Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and forthcoming Aston Martin DBX. Urus was a sell-out for the first year of production in 2018 and the Italians are looking

to double sales volumes this year to 8,000 cars. The majority of these will now be well-heeled family folk who would never have considered a psychopathic Lamborghini Huracán or Aventador in a million years.

With that SUV practicality and the exclusivity of a £165,000 price tag, the Lambo key fob is suddenly a viable option. After all, what’s not to like about a 4.0-litre twin turbo that throws out 641bhp and can carry the shopping home?

The Urus is a scream to drive – in more ways than one. It will behave itself around town but it’s certainly not tame. The rasping exhaust gave me several fits of the giggles and the Lambo takes off like a startling racehorse when unleashed.

Even driven aggressively there is little body roll. It may not be as good in the rough as a Range Rover or Bentayga but on tarmac it feels every bit as comfortable.

Lamborghinis are traditionally painted in a range of tutti frutti colours. There has been Verde Ithaca (green), Giallo Horus (yellow) and Viola Ophelia (purple). A more sober mix of black, white, blue and grey are also available for Urus.

Overall, it’s difficult not to like the Lambo.

A hybrid and, eventually, a full electric version are planned – but they won’t quite match up to this madcap V8 for thrills.

RATING: 4/5

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THE GUIDE

Testing the Tesla in its native California Climes

THE DRIVE

VITA L STATS Tesla Model S Long Range

Elon Musk may say some ‘ludicrous’ things but when his all-electric Model S launched in 2012 it proved a gamechanger. A fresh version of the svelte America saloon has landed and it raises the bar even higher. The 2020 model is all-new, apart from that familiar aerodynamic bodyshell that has become Tesla’s EV calling card. It’s also silly quick – upgrade to Ludicrous mode and Musk’s top specification S will rocket to 60mph in 2.4 seconds!

The minimalist interior is a techy dream, all controlled from a central touchscreen larger than The Hacienda at legendary La Quinta

PRICE £77,700 POWER 100 kWh battery 0-60MPH 3.7 seconds RANGE 375 miles

most laptops. The sound system is out of this world, while the sat nav is the best I’ve ever experienced.

Range anxiety is also now a thing of the past.

The Long Range version I’m driving can cover 375 miles, more than enough for our real-world test across Musk’s home state, California.

Palm Springs’ hot and forbidding landscape is just the sort of place where Tesla thrives. The city is surrounded by wind farms and a favourite with eco-conscious celebs on a detox vacation.

La Quinta Resort is a stunning Waldorf property and one of the oldest in the Coachella Valley.

Built in the 1920s, it’s known as the original desert hideaway, 45-acres of lush gardens, Spanish-style casita bungalows and the obligatory golf course.

The glitterati have been coming here for decades – Frank Capra wrote It Happened One Night by the pool, while Errol Flynn, Bette Davis and Clark Gable sipped Desert Rose cocktails at the bar.

The Model S glides up to reception and is whisked away to an electric charger before I can say Mojito. California is littered with Tesla Superchargers, plus forward-thinking hotels like La Quinta offer free overnight plug-ins too.

After re-charging myself by the pool, the next day I’m on Interstate 10, heading silently west under battery power to the Pacific Ocean. Hotel Shangri-La is a beacon of Art Deco loveliness, right on the beachfront in Santa Monica. Hooked up to another free changer, I can watch bronzed rollerskaters from a rooftop bar. The dizzily decorated Shangri-La has been a favourite with countless celebrity guests, from Tom Cruise to Bill Clinton.

The Pacific Coast Highway north here clings to the shore and passes the beachfront homes of the rich and famous in Malibu and Ventura before reaching more relaxed Santa Barbara. High in the hills beyond is the Belmond El Encanto, which looks out across the Pacific towards the distant Channel Islands. More like a relaxed country club than a hotel, it’s chic, cool and very relaxing.

Which is the also a perfect description for the latest Tesla. The electric future is very much here and it’s going to be amazing if the Model S is anything to go by.

PACK A N D GO ACE OF SPADES The new Land Rover Defender is coming and Musto has launched an adventurous clothing collection to match. The kit includes jackets, backpacks – and a musthave foldaway spade! shop.landrover.co.uk

GET IN THE BOOT A Liberty hamper is all you need to drive home for Christmas in your Morgan open top sports car. The Lodden is packed into a wicker basket that can be used time and time again. £250. libertylondon.com

GIVE IT SOME WELLY The Briggs & Riley Torq Spinner in Hunter green packs everything you need for a weekend away.

It can be colourmatched to your wellies too. £449. briggs-riley.com

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THE GUIDE

GIFTS FOR GA RDENERS

G A R D E N I N G

SEEDER’S DIGEST

Make your own wreaths by harvesting as much as you can from the garden, says Sarah Raven

G

MAKE A WREATH

YOU WILL NEED: » Any fruit or veg » Sarah Raven Make Your Own Wreath Kit, £14.95 This includes: double ring wire frame (diameter 35cm), which I think makes the perfect size » 6–7 handfuls of sphagnum moss » Florist reel wire » Moss pegs » Green-coated stub wire (to make a loop to hang the wreath.)

DECEMBER IN THE GARDEN

Wire the moss padding generously around the frame.

Add a loop of wire to hang your finished wreath.

Cover the moss with silver birch, Cornus twigs or some sprigs of rosemary – rich and scented.

Make your pomanders by using a fruit zester or potato peeler to cut a spiral into the peel of a small orange. Then poke cloves into the line you’ve cut.

Next, add colour to your base, using whatever you’ve collected from your garden. Add in two ‘zones’. Zone one should be strong and dramatic, with three to four bright ingredients; zone two for a lighter mix of ingredients. This needs to have some colour, but not so much that it will compete with zone one.

THROW Supersoft lambswool throw, £119

JIGSAW Sarah Raven 250-piece jigsaw, £42.95

SOMETHING DIFFERENT Sarah Raven giant flower press, £24.95 All available at sarahraven.com 20 per cent off* for C&TH readers at Sarah Raven.

Visit sarahraven.com and enter offer code CTH19. Terms and conditions: offer ends 18 December 2019. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

For full terms and conditions, see website.

1 There’s lots to harvest in December but very little to plant out or sow, giving you plenty of time to focus on being with family and friends over the festive period. 2 Ensure you have berries for Christmas decorations by netting holly bunches, to protect them from birds.

3 Don’t forget to feed the birds in this colder weather, they’ll appreciate tasty seeds.

PHOTOS: © JONATHAN BUCKLEY

o on a forage and see what’s still looking good outside. Pick anything colourful and decorative to add to your wreath, such as brilliant pink spindle berries, agapanthus seedheads, orange Chinese lanterns (Physalis), mini pumpkin ‘Munchkin’, stillplump rosehips, hydrangeas, intact grass seedheads, catkins and orange-berried Iris foetidissima, Cyperus eragrostis or Lablab bean seedpods. You’ll need to go with the flow a bit, depending on what you have available. Then top-up with a visit to the greengrocer.

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PROMOTION

COUNTRY FILES Le Chameau presents the insider’s guide to Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s captivating scenery isn’t the only reason to pay a visit

Chop to it in Malton

T

he sweeping landscape of the Dales and heather-blanketed moors – it’s no wonder Yorkshire inspired Bröntian heroes Heathcliff and Rochester. But when it comes to winter escapes, they also don’t come more festive than in God’s own country – not least because of York’s 365 cosy pubs.

Wrap up against the nippy northern climes as we set out to discover its best parts.

famous vegetable garden.

Sunday lunch upgraded. blackswanoldstead.co.uk

MASTER CHEF

Dogs are welcome at the Lister Arms

DINING Á DEUX The mantlepiece of the Black Swan in Oldstead has buckled under awards ever since Tommy Banks joined forces with his family to run it in 2006. Feast on raw deer or Isle of Skye scallops at the Michelin-starred 16th-century inn, seasoned with hand-picked herbs from its Michelin-starred pub: the Black Swan in Oldstead

Ready, steady, cook – in Malton, the ‘foodie capital of Yorkshire’. The Cookery School at The Talbot will coach you from preparation to presentation perfection with its genius ‘dinner party masterclass’. talbotmalton.co.uk

ROCK AND ROLL A crisp winter walk is the perfect excuse to soak in the beauty of Malham Cove, once praised by Thomas West for ‘variety that I never before saw so pleasing in a plain rock’. Hike back to the Lister Arms afterwards to warm up by the roaring fire with a pint of Thwaites Original. listerarms.co.uk

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © ANDREW HAYES WATKINS

ELEMENTAL ART Art blends with the elements in Yorkshire’s most famous outdoor gallery. While you might want to check the weather forecast before heading to the sculpture park, scudding clouds and a northern mist will only make the experience more dramatic. Sculpture and culture all in one. ysp.org.uk

Wherever you go and whatever the weather, always be prepared by keeping a pair of Le Chameau in the boot of the car. When you know. Le Chameau. lechameau.com

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PARTICIPATING RETAILERS

CHRISTMAS CHEER IN

Chelsea Rock around the Christmas tree with reindeer, wreath-making and resplendent offers, as well as London’s best grotto and magical Christmas lights

magical surroundings. Horse and carriage rides can trot you to the shops and the Gourmet Gift Market on the Duke of York Square is a treasure trove of culinary treats for foodies.

For a day of gorgeous wreathmaking, make sure to join Chelsea Physic Garden.

SECRET SANTA

W

here better to kick off your Christmas shopping in style than Sloane Street and the King’s Road? From Saturday 23 November the neighbourhood’s iconic streets will be transformed with twinkling starbursts of lights, and on Saturday 7 December the Chelsea Christmas Shopping event gets into full swing.

WINTER DELIGHTS On the 7 December over 80 of the most luxurious stores are putting the fun back into present-hunting – offering special gifts and entertainment to make finding even the most challenging gift pleasurable. Carol singing and cosy market stalls create an enchanting festive atmosphere. As you unwind in-between, restaurants are on hand with mouthwatering seasonal menus to refuel with, while you soak up the

Between 24 November and 23 December, delight little ones with a trip to the North Pole, followed by a story with Father Christmas at the ‘Christmas Grotto’ on Pavilion Road. Tickets are available at sharkyandgeorge.com.

SPARKLING MAGIC The Lights Switch-On on 23 November is not to be missed, with troupes of stilt walkers, singers and dancers, and Father Christmas. LED ballerinas will sparkle on stage, and reindeer contribute to the magic at the Duke of York Square.

For a full list of shops participating in the Chelsea Christmas Shopping Event, see right. For more information on the Lights Switch-On and a full list of Shopping Event activity, visit InChelsea.co.uk

FASHION & ACCESSORIES • Agent Provocateur • Annoushka • Anya Hindmarch • Anya Hindmarch Bespoke • Astrid & Miyu • Boden • Bottega Veneta • Blaiz • Brora • Bulgari • Castore • Calvin Klein • Cartier • Club Monaco • Dubarry • Eileen Fisher • Emilia Wickstead • Ermanno Scervino • Escada • Essentiel Antwerp • Fendi • Free People • Giorgio Armani • Giuseppe Zanotti • Hackett • Heidi Klein • Hugo Boss • JAM Industries • J Crew • Joseph • Kate Spade • Kiki McDonough • LK Bennett • Loro Piana • Lucas Hugh • Mackage • Monica Vinader • Oliver Peoples • Olivia von Halle • Peter Jones • Poetry • Pretty Ballerinas • Rag & Bone • Really Wild • Rigby & Peller • RIXO • Saloni • Slowear • Smythson • Sunspel • Superga • Tabio • Tanner Krolle • Tateossian • T.BA • The Fold • The White Company • Trotters • Twinset • Vilebrequin • Yamamay • Yves Delorme LIFESTYLE • David Mellor • Haines • Moyses Stevens • Taschen FITNESS & BEAUTY • Blink Brow Bar • Cosmetics à la Carte • Nars • Peloton • Penhaligon’s • Richard Ward • Salon Sloane • Sarah Chapman • Urban Retreat at The White House FOOD & DRINK • Artisan du Chocolat • Belmond Cadogan • Bread Ahead • Chelsea General Store • Hans’ Bar & Grill • Ice Cream Union • Natoora • Peggy Porschen • Provenance Butcher • Sticks ‘n’ Sushi • The Big Easy • The Black Penny • The Sea, The Sea

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C&TH PARTNERSHIP

Pop into Annoushka for the chance to win a pair of its sparkling earrings – and an equally sparkly glass of fizz. 41 Cadogan Gardens, 020 7881 5828; annoushka.com

TOP PICKS C&TH chooses its favourite offerings on 7 December

Party season failsafe LK Bennett is getting into the spirit with festive drinks and a gift with purchase. 18-21 King’s Road, 020 7881 0766; lkbennett.com

Magpies, head to Monica Vinader for champagne and in-store treats.

71-72 Duke of York Square, 020 7259 9170; monicavinader. com

Shopping for the discerning gentleman in your life? PINK is your port of call. 11-13 Duke of York Square, 020 7259 0819; thomaspink. com

Browse Saloni with a glass of fizz, and your wish list in hand.

134 Sloane Street, 020 7199 8259; sloanestreet. co.uk Free People have your Christmas dress sorted, and an exclusive gift thrown in.

38-39 Duke of York Square, 020 3973 4744; freepeople.com

Essentiel Antwerp are celebrating its roots with Belgian treats for shoppers.

27A Sloane Square, 020 7730 9393; essentiel-antwerp. com

Find the best de-stressing goodies (a good idea at this time of year) at Aesop.

22-24 King’s Road, 020 7824 8329; aesop.com

Anya Hindmarch are offering chic cards to complement your purchase.

157-158 Sloane Street, 020 7730 0961; anyahindmarch.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS: *Restrictions may apply. Offers only redeemable in store while stocks last. Please see inchelsea.co.uk for further details.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

For more information about Chelsea Christmas Shopping Weekend, please visit inchelsea.co.uk

@SloaneStreetSW1 @DukeOfYorkSquare @PavilionRoad @KingsRoad.London #ChelseaChristmas countryandtownhouse.co.uk @countryandtownhouse

December 2019

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Charlotte Metcalf turns the table on the king of the glossy, Nicholas Coleridge

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THE GUIDE

What does life after magazines mean for the undisputed king of the ‘glossy’?

Charlotte Metcalf meets Nicholas Coleridge to find out about life after Condé Nast Portrait by ALEXANDRA DAO

‘G

lossy’ applies not just to the lush, gold dust jacket of Nicholas Coleridge’s autobiography The Glossy Years but also to the author himself. For the 40 odd years I have known Nicholas, he has invariably been impeccably courteous, as buffed and smooth as a jewel – which is why I am anxious about our forthcoming conversation. I doubt I’ll penetrate his polish and uncover any new or unknown truths when his book has already received so much press.

It’s an immensely enjoyable, rollicking read, full of namedropping and delightfully gossipy anecdotes. It moves from childhood, Eton and Cambridge through his years as head of Condé Nast to his appointment as Chair of the Victoria and Albert Museum. His career trajectory has soared in a continuous upward arc and there is no whiff of failure or regret, professionally or personally – he is very happily married with four children, now embarking upon their own interesting careers.

Nicholas arrives, as perky and burnished as ever, despite having done 17 talks in 23 days.

The night before gave a talk at Daunt’s, having flown in from New York that morning: ‘I was Country pub or very tired but when I saw 120 people who’d Michelin star? turned up to listen to me I felt energised – I’m Country pub by a country mile – always frightened of letting people down.’ He’s I can’t bear fancy a superb mimic so soon has me laughing with food or anything under a cloche. his mischievous tales of talks in girls’ boarding (I love the schools and of being introduced to a country pub Wild Rabbit audience by a woman too drunk to stand up. at Kingham).

For all the triumphs and the fame that’s Sharp suit or followed, few could have coped with Nicholas’s country casuals?

Sharp suit. workload. His rule was never to complain of jetlag or to yawn, an extraordinary achievement Glass of wine or when he was travelling every week and sleeping green tea?

Glass of wine. with a Blackberry under his pillow: ‘I’ve stopped doing that now but when I was working in so Dog or cat?

I prefer living many different time zones I had to stay on top creatures you of things. You can paralyse an organisation if can talk to. you don’t respond quickly to emails and make Theatre or fast decisions. But I do have high energy levels Gardening? and I’m very disciplined and focused. On long Gardening – I find most theatre haul flights out I’d work for three hours and far too long and then have not one but two anaesthetising Bloody want to reach for the remote to fast Marys, put on an audio book and snooze. I’d forward. seldom watch the movie. That way I’d wake up

IN BRIEF

instantly adjusted to the time zone. It was different on the flights back – I’d just collapse in a heap and I’d organise being home by Friday night. I’ve found it easy to blur boundaries between colleagues or celebrities and friends but in the end family are the only ones who are going to be at your deathbed. The rest is just off-stage noise.’

Despite his hard work and undisputed brilliance at taking Condé Nast to global dominance, Nicholas puts much of his success down to fortune: ‘The greatest piece of luck was entering the magazine business when it was becoming turbo-charged. 1980 to 2015 was a period of incredible growth, which gave my career a constant sense of progress.

I’ve been dealt a good set of cards – though you can muck up your lucky card by not picking it up from the table. I always knew when to do that.’

What next? He has built a folly in the walled garden of the Worcestershire home he loves. Here he intends to write, whether fact or fiction he’s not yet certain. He has already written eight novels and four non-fiction books during weekends when he enjoys nothing better than rising early, before the dew and mist have lifted, to sit in his garden and write in longhand. ‘If I write on a computer it becomes a cut and paste technical job, whereas I am more creative, and actually faster, writing non-digitally,’ he says.

‘My nine-year-old self would be astonished to see me today, not because of anything I’ve done or achieved but because of how the world has changed and I’ve tried reflecting that in the book. It’s not just technology but attitudes – things that were acceptable when we were at university would be unthinkable in this woke age.’

I ask what he’s most proud of and he shows me photographs of his dining room, lined with every Condé Nast issue he has overseen, bound in bundles of six – Vogue in red, Tatler in orange, GQ in blue and so on: ‘They represent 25 years and a body of work I’m immensely proud of, full of epic photography and inspirational journalism. They look beautiful and they’ve really brightened up a rather dingy room.

One day I might have to give them to the V&A.’ With exquisite timing, Nicholas left the magazine world just as it was starting to falter. His book tells the story as undisputed king of the magazine world with tremendous humour and flair and such is his love of that world that he’s confident his legacy will prevail: ‘Magazines that sit in the middle of the market will fade out but the ones at the top will survive as it’s almost impossible to replicate the physical gloriousness of a glossy at its best.’

The Glossy Years: Magazines, Museums and Selective Memoirs

by Nicholas Coleridge is published by Penguin, £25. n December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 73

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GREAT SCOT! Actor Karen Gillan’s new career as a horror filmmaker began way back, as a child in Inverness, using a prized camcorder and some ketchup, she tells Benji Wilson Fashion director NICOLE SMALLWOOD Photographer RACHELL SMITH

W

hen she was a child growing up in Scotland, Karen Gillan’s prized possession was a video camera.

‘I would just go around the house making horror films all the time, casting my parents in roles. I’m particularly proud of one in which I play a serial killer with a blonde wig on, where I end up murdering my dad in the film with a knife. There was tomato sauce everywhere.’

There is, Gillan admits, ‘a lot to unpack’ there, but happily she has gone on to become not a demented serial killer but a successful actress and now filmmaker in her own right. From her breakout part as Amy Pond in Doctor Who to a key role in the globe-conquering Marvel Cinematic Universe (as blueskinned, shaven-headed Nebula), she has conquered both the small screen and the multiplex. Away from

mega-franchises like these she has been the lead in a quirky US television series (Selfie) and continues to prosper in indie movies like the forthcoming Gunpowder Milkshake, where she plays a female assassin opposite Lena Headey. And to cap it all she still has that video camera in hand: this year saw the release of The Party’s Just Beginning, a coming of age film she wrote and directed about a girl, not a million miles from herself, growing up on a council estate in Inverness. It is, she says, the hardest thing she’s ever done.

‘It takes a small miracle to get a film made from start to finish,’ says Gillan. ‘Even from having the first idea it takes a lot of discipline to sit down and actually write a feature film script. Then, once you’ve done that and made it better and better and better, you have to embark on this mission to get people to believe in it and actually fund it.’

Gillan did all of that while making the Jumanji movies (the next one is out this Christmas), continuing in the Avengers franchise and recording

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Dress, Ralph & Russo.

Tights, Calzedonia.

Boots, Elie Saab.

Bodysuit, Wolford.

Earrings, Stephen Webster

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‘I INHERITED IT FROM MY MOTHER WHO LOVES ALL THINGS GHOSTRELATED – HAUNTED STORIES, STICKY THINGS, SCARY HORROR FILMS.’

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LEFT: Dress and shoes, Alberta Ferretti. Earrings, Stephen Webster RIGHT: Dress, Elie Saab. Jewellery, Stephen Webster

Call of the Wild (a live action animation) and last year’s indie flick All Creatures Here Below, with Jennifer Morrison. For someone often cast as happy-go-lucky, her work ethic is fierce and her ambition strong. ‘The main thing I’ve learned from making a film [she had made a couple of shorts before The Party’s Just Beginning] is you need to be proactive and you need to be self-generating and that’s what is going to get you there. All the time you’ve been complaining about how hard it is to do?

Maybe stop doing that and turn all of it into actually making something.’

Gillan, 32, is a success already but she still has ‘so many more ambitions to fulfil’. Next, it won’t surprise you to learn, is ‘the horror stuff’. ‘I think

I inherited it from my mother who loves all things ghost-related – haunted stories, sticky things, scary horror films. My first memory of any film was Little Shop of Horrors.

Then I got into cheesy ’90s slasher films like Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, all of those. Then I started to find these great horror films, like The Shining and The Exorcist. I remember being truly terrified, like I couldn’t sleep… and that was really exciting.’

It must have been that frisson born of fear that led Gillan to write The Party’s Just Beginning.

Why else would an actress who’d already cracked Hollywood want to take a further leap into the unknown – and unyielding – world of filmmaking?

‘I wrote that film when I was like, 24. I was still living in the UK then and I remember I had just finished working on Doctor Who, so it felt like a new chapter in my life. I just had all of these ideas in my head. Every time I’d listen to music, they’d just start brewing and I could visualise entire scenes. Then I decided that I wanted to be the person to tell that story as the filmmaker, so I started taking short film classes.’

The film she eventually got made is a requiem for a suicide and it is set in her hometown of Inverness.

The idea came to her, in part, on reading a statistic that suicide rates in the Highlands were significantly higher among young men than anywhere else in Scotland – in fact they are among the highest in the whole of Europe. ‘That really confused me because I was like, I’ve grown up there, it’s idyllic. I mean it is a lovely way to grow up, so why is this happening?’

When I speak to Gillan she is in Los Angeles, her current hometown. It could scarcely be further away, both in miles and culture, from Inverness. ‘It’s hard to call yourself a town girl when your town is Inverness December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 77

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LEFT: Dress, Dior.

Jewellery, Stephen Webster RIGHT: Top and trousers, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini.

Shoes, Rupert Sanderson. Earrings, David Morris

because it’s incredibly rural. But I don’t know if I’d say I’m a city girl or a country girl either. I’m an actress – this year I’ve lived in Atlanta and Berlin for the majority of it – so I’m a bit of a nomad really. I have bases, I guess, in Los Angeles and New York, and of course they’re really, really different. It all makes me miss Inverness a lot, so I try to go back as much as possible.’

Would she move back permanently? ‘There’s a huge part of me that wants to get a castle in Scotland.

I’d just be really dramatic all the time and drink out of goblets, but I think the novelty might wear off.’

Career-wise, it’s most likely she’ll end up somewhere between New York and LA, she says, even though she’ll never stop looking at houses for sale back in Scotland.

With America her current base Gillan finds herself both spectator and participant in the political Punch and Judy show that is the presidency of Donald Trump.

‘I mean, it’s wild. I’ve never seen such a separation sweeping a country, and that goes for both America and the UK at the moment, with Brexit. It’s fascinating but I’m hoping that the pendulum swings back soon and everybody can be a little bit more at peace with one other.’

She concedes that many of these flames have been fanned by the influence of social media, a communication tool she adores.

‘I love Instagram. I love the visuals of it. However, I do try to keep a lid on how much I’m using it because it is addictive. You’ve got to be careful to not become reliant on the validation that comes from posting something and getting an immediate response. But ultimately it’s a good thing and it can be used to bring people together.’ She loves Instagram so much, she says, that if she does ever find those VHS tapes of her early horror films with Dad covered in ketchup, she’d post them straightaway.

Which only leaves the question of where next for Karen Gillan – director, actress, horror Svengali, or all three?

‘It’s a question I’m asking myself at the moment!

Because right now it does feel like I’ve got two careers going and the directing has definitely become even more an option for me now, having made the film.

I made another short film as a filmmaker earlier this year, just to get the practice in, and that’s full horror, so I’m quite excited about that. But what I really want to do is just keep telling stories.’

Jumanji: The Next Level is out 13 Dec; The Party’s Just Beginning out 1 Dec; Spies in Disguise out 26 Dec.

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Dress, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

Boots, Roberto Cavalli.

Tights, Calzedonia.

Earrings, David Morris TEAM Art Director: Fleur Harding Hair: Ken O’Rourke at Premier Hair and Makeup using Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Range Make-up: Nathalie Eleni using Shiseido and Quantum Botanika Fashion Assistants: Dina Nagapetyants & Lidia Spoto Photographer’s Assistants: Oscar Yoosefinejad & Karolina Burlikowaska LOCATION With thanks to Annabel’s. annabels.co.uk STOCKISTS: PAGE 174

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BEHIND THE STORY

Annabel’s was the perfect location to capture the cover story for our December party issue

I

Matteo’s pays homage to the original Annabel’s

f you’re a somebody, where do you go to let your hair down in style, but away from prying eyes? The answer, of course, has always been Annabel’s. First opened

by Mark Birley on Berkeley Square in 1963, it has been just over a year since it reopened, two doors down from the original venue, with an all-singing, all-dancing makeover

by Swedish interior designer du jour, Martin Brudnizki.

And what a year it’s been. If you wait long enough on its illustrious steps, you might see Rod Stewart stumbling out in a school uniform, or Princess Beatrice entering dressed as a unicorn. But what goes on behind that glossy front door?

Annabel’s has hosted everything from glittery fashion parties – Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were at this year’s Vogue Fashion Week party – to postexhibition cocktails for superstar photographer Tim Walker. You might see Rihanna slurping down a ‘Bloody’ cocktail at its infamous Halloween parties, Jimmy Carr hosting a quiz night, or even receive some ill-conceived childcare advice from Charlie Sheen: If you are hiring a nanny, he says, ‘Make sure she is ten times less hot than your wife’. Hmm...

The ladies’ powder room has become a global phenomenon in its own right, thanks to the voracity of the Instagram pack – tagged 20,000 times and counting. (If you haven’t taken a selfie there, have you even been Jess Glynne takes to Annabel’s?) Victoria Beckham was the first to the stage

Crocodile sink carved from a single piece of onyx

VB took the first selfie in the loos

New Italian restaurant Matteo’s

to get in on the action in the new rainforestthemed loos, snapping her inaugural selfie in the ‘Loos in the Mews’, which feature four million mosaic glass tiles and a 500kg onyx crocodile sink in the gents’.

Those of us who haven’t had the invite have at least been able to enjoy Annabel’s OTT decorations, which have included cladding the exterior with 30,000 flowers for the Chelsea Flower Show and building a Christmas tree taller than the building. If you don’t have membership, you can sample a taste of the good life by booking one of its private dining rooms for special occasions.

Country & Town House did, however, get the invite: to shoot our suitably glitzy cover feature for the December issue with Scottish actress Karen Gillan. Given that Annabel’s holds the largest selection of Dom Pérignon champagne of any restaurant globally (in Matteo’s), plus over 500 tequilas in its Mexican restaurant, it couldn’t be a better fit for our party special.

It might be the choice of HM The Queen (she dropped in for a gin martini in 2003) but Annabel’s is anything but staid. It’s not a stuffy old boys’ club (its membership is split 50/50 men and women) – although it does have a world-class cigar salon; and what other club offers a dog-walking service or an ice sculptor on demand? This nightingale in Berkeley Square really does sing.

No holding back on the glitter

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GET THE LOOK Hydration was the key to creating Karen’s pared-down party look, says Nathalie Eleni

Dress, Miu Miu. Earrings, Stephen Webster

T

o begin, I massaged Quantum Botanika Signature Facial Oil O.R.A.C into Karen’s skin.

It’s one of the best face oils I’ve used, it’s fast absorbing and unlike some other oils, it’s a great base for make-up that creates an instant rejuvenated glow to skin while helping to boost skin cell function and immunity. Next, I buffed Cle de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation into Karen’s skin.

It has a luminous finish that emits a multi-dimensional light from the surface of the complexion for party perfect skin. To add a subtle flush of colour to her cheeks I used Shiseido Minimalist Whipped Powder Blush in Momoko, applying it to the apples of the cheeks before blending upwards over her cheekbones. For maximum impact, I enhanced her natural lashes with Code Beautiful Volumising Lengthening Mascara. It thickens and curls without clumping or smudging. I finished her lips with a lick of Guerlain’s KissKiss Roselip Hydrating & Plumping Tinted Lip Balm in Peach Sunrise. n

1 Quantum Botanika Signature Facial Oil O.R.A.C, £55. nataliyarobinson.co.uk 2 Cle de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation, £105. harrods.com 3 Shishedo Minimalist Whipped Powder Blush, £32. feelunique.com 4 Code Beautiful Volumising Lengthening Mascara, £19.95. code-beautiful.com 5 Guerlain KissKiss Lip balm, £29.50. selfridges.com

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31/10/2019 17:11

Tomo Koizumi’s froth frocks attain new heights of super-ness

THE RISE OF THE SUPERGOWN Sustainability may be the S-word du jour, but there’s another sibilant on everyone’s lips – ‘super’. Kinvara Balfour explains all December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 85

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Standout gowns of the year are many, but Villanelle’s bubblegum pink number

by Molly Goddard in Killing Eve was a highlight. Actor Billy Porter’s Christian Siriano tux gown at the Oscars was clever and memorable. Then there were the frocks at the Met Gala: all ‘super’

F

ashion redefines itself every season but once a decade we see a true trend. Enter the era of The Supergown. I, for one, am delighted.

I have nurtured a love of the ballgown since birth, or at least somewhere past my tenth birthday, when my mother dressed my sisters and me in a poufy dress for every party (we lived in London and this was the ’80s – party dresses were proper then, even if they did come from C&A).

The celebration dress is back, boasting couturelevel techniques and intelligent structure, sustainable fabrics sourced from eco-conscious manufacturers, with bold, look-at-me colours. And you don’t have to attend an actual ball to wear it.

Standout gowns of the year are many, but Villanelle’s bubblegum pink number by Molly Goddard in Killing Eve was a highlight. Actor Billy Porter’s Christian Siriano tux gown at the Oscars was clever and memorable. Then there were the frocks at the Met Gala: all ‘super’. The catwalks provided the same visual and technical feast (see Tomo Koizumi’s froth frocks or Richard Quinn for bold, experimental elegance). Check also Rodarte, Giambatista Valli, Dior, Chanel Couture, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Armani Privé, Brock and Galvan.

Unfairly, most of what we see on the catwalk and Instagram is not as readily available as one might wish. These showpieces often act as clickbait – Alexander McQueen being a prime example.

When I started out in fashion, it was easy to buy a ballgown off the peg. My years at Tomasz Starzewski were spent among many: our neighbours Belville Sassoon, Bruce Oldfield, Catherine Walker & Co and Jacques Azagury all sold gowns to go. Nowadays these brands have largely been replaced by the likes of Ralph & Russo, Giles Deacon, Alexander McQueen and Elie Saab. Yet those designers don’t proffer prêt-á-porter gowns as easily as their predecessors. Pre-ordering is the order of the day. Online portal Moda Operandi (modaoperandi.com) leads the way in bringing such masterpieces to the masses but naturally one yearns to try a supergown on before buying it.

My regular go-to is American designer Zac Posen, who excels at sculpting for wearers of all sizes. Helpfully, Posen’s pieces grace the floors of many a department store and can also be found at ON Motcomb, one of the few grab-and-go stores in the UK, which proffers brands like Pamella Roland, Azzi & Osta, Carolina Herrera and Christian Siriano. This is how gown shopping should be done.

‘Our customers look to make a statement at their events,’ says ON Motcomb buyer Jaclyn Auerbach.

‘They want next-level pieces. Crystal-embellished “princess” ballgowns, heavily feathered or overthe-top tulle gowns also sell very well.’ She adds, ‘In many instances, a client will come in, fall in love with a gown, and purchase it on the spot without having any event in mind.’

This is me all over.

It’s de rigueur to dress up, even when dressing down.

‘We have noticed a younger generation taking interest – FROM ABOVE: Making it they appreciate the modern at Galvan; Chanel craftsmanship. What Couture has mastered the differentiates this supergown, while Sarah Burton is revolutionising client, however, it at Alexander McQueen is that they mix and match their couture pieces with

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ready-to-wear – for instance, by pairing a couture top with a pair of jeans or trainers,’ says Tamara Ralph, cofounder and creative director of Ralph & Russo.

For S/S’20, Demna Gvasalia at Balenciaga sent his ‘real-life’ models (artists, architects, engineers, sculptors) down a corporate blue catwalk in supersized metallic gowns; these were heralded as the new everyday ‘uniform’ for the working person.

Celebrity stylist Elizabeth Saltzman cites her top gown go-tos as: ‘Giambattista Valli, Ralph & Russo, Raf Simons, Tom Ford, Armani Privé, Chanel Couture, Donatella Versace for Atelier Versace, Alexander McQueen, Peter Dundas, Celia Kritharioti. But Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino is number one for me today.’

Memorable gowns Saltzman has worked with? ‘Gwyneth’s white Tom Ford cape dress [for the 2012 Oscars] was a supergown because it was a new silhouette for a new kind of superwoman and it marked a super moment of change.’ Another favourite: a perfect pink bow gown in which she dressed Saoirse Ronan for the 2018 Oscars. Made by Raf Simons at Calvin Klein, ‘that was a supergown because it was not only beautifully constructed but a new, timeless classic’.

For Saltzman, a new meaning of ‘super’ is emerging, all to do with credentials. ‘If an A-lister is going to wear something from a designer, these days they want to know that it was made sustainably and that is can be reused, resold, reworked in some way after they have worn it once,’ she says.

British designer Giles Deacon, who made Pippa Middleton’s wedding dress, caters for clients all over the world. ‘They want something that is absolutely bespoke and not going to be replicated,’ says Deacon. His creations are thoughtful in both construction and source. ‘I work with Stephen Walters & Sons silk weavers in Suffolk, for example, which is about to celebrate its 300th year.

My clients want to know that the money they are spending is having the best positive impact.’

FROM ABOVE: Zac Posen’s creations are cleverly designed to sculpt the body; Ralph & Russo’s younger customers aren’t afraid to mix and match couture with ready-to-wear

My overall favourite supergownist – the one who is taking bigger risks than anyone else, and whose gowns are more super than anything I have ever seen – is Belgian-born, Paris-based Iris van Herpen. This bold mistress of the cloth/plastic/glass/Perspex/etc was on the verge of being a low-key artist, whose shows were an inside secret akin to the SpaceX rocket factory. Thankfully, van Herpen has since made her art commercial and taken her social media mainstream; her gowns are now among the most memorable cultural objects of our time, worn by the likes of Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Cara Delevingne, Eva Green and Gwendoline Christie. With her mindbogglingly-intricate folds, bubbled glass, sculpted metal and laser-cut chiffon, van Herpen is one of fashion’s geniuses and her works will grace the rooms of museums in decades to come. It is still hard to find them on the shop floor, but in time perhaps that will change.

What is certain is that while these designers continue to push the boundaries of creativity, experimentation and core sustainability, they will keep inventing supergowns that just get... superer. n December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 87

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FROM ABOVE: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at The Dorchester, London (1974); Richard Young, the man behind the lens

MAN OF THE MOMENT

‘I

would walk out of a party if they were only serving peanuts and chicken vol au vents.’ Richard Young is a man after my own heart. If anyone knows what makes a party swing, it’s the man who has photographed the most iconic shindigs of the last 46 years.

Flicking through the catalogue of his Kensington gallery, I’m taken aback by just how many of his shots I recognise: Sylvester Stallone striding out onto New York’s streets, a fur coat around his shoulders, an ’80s crop-topped Keith Richards gyrating on stage in Aberdeen, Simon and Yasmin Le Bon snogging at New Year’s Eve at Langan’s Brasserie in 1988 (another print shows its patron passed out under the table on Valentine’s Day) and, of course, Liz Taylor landing Richard Burton a big smackeroo at The Ritz at his 50th birthday party.

That particular image shot Young to overnight success.

He started out shooting parties for The Ritz magazine. Owned

by David Bailey, it was a serendipitous appointment that shaped the rest of his career. ‘My instructions were: don’t tell people to pose, landscape pictures are more important than portrait and to create the organic feeling of not disturbing them,’ he says.

To illustrate the point, he gestures to a framed photo of Bianca Jagger wiping Rupert Everett’s mouth as Andy Warhol looks on after dinner in Chelsea. ‘If I told them to look at the camera, it would have lost that magic.

Spontaneity is very important.’

The Savoy, The Embassy Club, Monkberry’s, Legends, Tramp, Annabel’s. You name the place, the date, the party, and he was there. But the best nights, he says, were at the annual Vanity Fair Oscar Party, which he photographed between 2000 and 2010. ‘You’re walking into Morton’s at three o’clock in the afternoon, and you know you’re not going to be out of there until three o’clock the next morning. You’re photographing every conceivable

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PHOTOS: © RICHARD YOUNG

Richard Young can distill the spirit of a party into a split second. Anastasia Bernhardt finds out which big name left the celebrated photographer star-struck

PHOTOS: © RICHARD YOUNG

famous person in the world and not one person is going to tell you not to take their photo. It was one of the best experiences of my career.’

And that’s saying something when that career includes travelling the world with Queen (his gallery has become an unofficial stop-off on the ‘Freddie Mercury’ tour of London), pop royalty and party princesses, not to mention photographing the Queen on countless occasions.

How does one man get Hollywood to let him in when its guard is down? His winning formula seems to be a mixture of good-humoured cheek and old-fashioned politeness. ‘My dad always told me, if there’s a door, go through it. You might be told to leave, you might not. You never know, they might be happy to see you.’

More often than not they were happy to see him. One night in the late ’70s he walked into Claridge’s Ballroom uninvited, where a postpremiere party was unfolding. ‘I walked straight up to Jack Nicholson and asked if I could take his picture. He said, “Sure, man.” And gave me a lovely pose.’ The trick is, ‘always say please and thank you’.

After a few minutes the PR cottoned onto him. ‘She said, “You can’t do that.” And I said, “This party is probably costing you a fortune. I’m going to make you look really good when it’s in the paper tomorrow, and people are going to say what a great idea it was to have a photographer there.” She thought about it. “You’ve got two minutes to do what you want, and then I’m going to ask you to leave.” I said, “No problem.” ’ At one Vanity Fair party he found himself utterly star-struck by a beautiful blonde woman. ‘I just loved the way she looked at that point in time, with a cigarette in one hand and a glass in the other.’ It was Joni Mitchell. ‘I love her music, I’ve got all her albums. When I asked if I could take her photo, she said, “Just get on with it.”’

When I ask who he would love to photograph that he hasn’t yet, everyone he lists is dead. ‘We don’t have any superstars any more. Not in this country. Sadly they’re all either in LA or New York.’

That being said, he’s looking forward to photographing Harry and Meghan. ‘I think they’re misunderstood. I wish people would stop bullying them. One FROM ABOVE: Young gatecrashed an after-party at of my biggest friendships was with Claridge’s in 1978 and walked his mother, Princess Diana. I never straight up to Jack Nicholson; Madonna and Penelope Cruz in for once believed any of the rubbish 2007; Julia Roberts and Benjamin that they said about her.’

Bratt, 2001; Joni Mitchell left Richard starstruck at a His dream party list would also Vanity Fair Party in 2004 include guests both living and dead: Bob Dylan (so he can find out who his tailor is), Leonard Cohen (whom he met while working in a shop), Marilyn Monroe, Paloma and Pablo Picasso, and Henry Miller. The surprise name here is Theresa May. ‘I think she’d be fun actually. She’d get the dancing going and maybe Picasso would make an abstract drawing of her.’

A word of advice if you’re inviting Richard Young to your Christmas party. Get a good caterer (‘no boiled salmon and no boiled potatoes’), lots of San Pellegrino (he doesn’t drink) and enough warning so he can get a suit made by his tailor, Spencer Hart. He’ll be there on the proviso he can sit between Michelle Pfeiffer and Bob Dylan. richardyounggallery.co.uk n December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 91

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HOUSE OF

CHANEL

Coco’s Riviera retreat was austere but hospitable, says Caroline Young

FROM ABOVE: Chanel in the lavender fields with her dog Gigot; La Pausa, 1930; Living with Coco Chanel

Instead of set meals, lunch and dinner were served buffet-style; the large neo-Gothic oak table was laid without a tablecloth and guests would seat themselves informally once they had filled their plates.

The dishes on offer ranged from hot Italian pasta to English cold cuts, baked potatoes, caviar, fresh chestnut purée and classic French dishes, all washed down with chilled Riesling, Chianti or Beaujolais.

‘At lunch everyone moved around from the table to the buffet, trying new dishes, pouring big glasses of strong red wine, cracking nuts to eat with soft sweet dried figs,’ remembered Ballard. ‘The meal would go on and on, often until four o’clock, like a storytelling scene from Boccaccio.’

Living with Coco Chanel: The Homes and Landscapes that Shaped the Designer, by Caroline Young, published

by White Lion, is out now n

PHOTOS: ALAMY/HERVE LENAIN; © CAROLINE YOUNG; ALAMY/ANDREW RAY; ALAMY/HISTORIC COLLECTION; ALAMY/ GRANGER HISTORICAL PICTURE ARCHIVE

P

aris may have been Coco Chanel’s creative home but her sanctuary in the south of France, which she built from the ground up, was the place where she truly felt at peace. Situated on the rocky coastline of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Chanel’s villa, La Pausa, was dubbed by American Vogue in 1930 as ‘one of the most enchanting villas that ever materialised on the shores of the Mediterranean’.

The Côte D’Azur, traditionally considered too hot to visit in the summer, had been a fashionable winter destination for British and Russian aristocrats. But by the 1920s the jazzloving Lost Generation had drifted into the mix and Chanel, with her bronzed skin and love of sunbathing, helped the Riviera to become a year-round destination.

The austere interior of La Pausa was completely different to Chanel’s baroque apartment on Rue Cambon in Paris.

Instead it referenced her memories of growing up in a convent attached to Aubazine Abbey, in the remote Corrèze region of France, the place where nuns taught her to sew after she was abandoned there by her father when her mother died.

Chanel hired architect Robert Streitz to help realise her vision of monastic simplicity, with white stucco walls set against terracotta roof tiles, and an imposing stone staircase like the one at Aubazine Abbey. As she told Streitz, ‘I remember from my childhood the immense staircase, with its steps worn from use. We used to call it the monks’ staircase. That’s what I want.’

La Pausa was completed in 1929, having costing six million francs to build – more than three times the price of the plot. It was a secret reinvention of her childhood home, a celebration of her immense success.

Many guests came to stay and their comfort was of utmost importance, with the house designed to offer them freedom, while protecting Chanel’s privacy. Vogue’s Paris editor, Bettina Ballard, recalled: ‘The maid could discreetly enter the baths and dressing rooms through the foyer to give efficient, but unseen, service. Breakfast came when you rang, with the coffee and hot milk in thermos jugs so you could go back to sleep and awake to hot coffee again later. The house was blissfully silent in the morning.’

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PARTY GUIDE The

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Everything you need to survive the season of excess

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PARTY GUIDE

Contents 98 FACE VALUE Top make-up tips from Charlotte Tilbury 99 TO THE NINES Party dressing with Isabel Spearman 101 RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT High jinx fashion styled by Karen Munnis 108 FESTIVE FLAIR It’s not just you that needs dressing, your house does too, says Katharine Pooley 109 LET THEM EAT CAKE Food unfit for the waistline 110 YOU’RE ALL INVITED How to make your party swing by Johnny Roxburgh 111 A DRINK WITH...

Nyetimber’s Hannah Heerema 113 COUNTRY HOUSE PARTY You’ll never host at home again once you’ve seen these party piles

ON THE COVER Irina Roshik at Wild Management drinks Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvee (2010 vintage) and wears Galvan dress, Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, Jimmy Choo belt, Graff diamond necklace, earrings and rings, Manolo Blahnik shoes, Christian Louboutin bag. Photographer, Matthew Shave. Fashion editor, Karen Munnis

S

o said Audrey Hepburn, quite possibly the most glamorous woman ever to have graced the silver screen. We’re embracing her mantra this month, tossing other more polemical issues aside (just for now) to do what human beings should be doing and are really good at – getting together, sharing experiences and having fun. We’ve rounded up a whole host of experts to help you make the most of the party season,

from dressing up with a bit of help from super stylist Isabel Spearman to making the most of your makeup with A-list favourite Charlotte Tilbury.

We’ve also got decorating ideas from Katharine Pooley, how to make your party swing tips from ‘the party architect’ Johnny Roxburgh, a drink with Hannah Heerema by Alice Lascelles and perfect party food. We’ll be toasting the party season with world-renowned English Sparkling Wine Nyetimber. Please join us! n

PHOTO: REX FEATURES

116 CLUB TOGETHER Buy something they actually want, say Lohralee Astor and Elizabeth Sieff

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MA D E G LO R I O US A M O M E N T IN H ISTO R Y : I NT RODU C IN G TH E PR E STIG E C U VE E FR O M T HE P I O N E E R S IN E NG LISH SPAR KLING W INE

NYETIMBER.COM E N JO Y R ES P O NS I B L Y

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PARTY GUIDE

FACE VALUE

Makeup artist to the stars Charlotte Tilbury advises on how to sparkle this season

Cleansing properly day and night is really important

How do you decide what makeup to do for a party – does the outfit come first? I always

choose my outfit first. It helps me to envision the overall look I want to create.

How would you encourage women to be more experimental? Darlings, magic happens

when you step outside of your comfort zone! Try a high-shine gloss like my Collagen Lip Bath over your usual matte lipstick; apply a wash of eye-brightening colour with my Eyes to Mesmerise or make lips sparkle with my Pillow Talk Diamonds.

What’s the biggest makeup mistake most people make? Three out

Even skin tones with a colour corrector

of four people wear the wrong colour foundation.

Charlotte Tilbury

If you could only have three products in your makeup bag what would they be? My best-selling

How do we best prep our skin to keep up with the weather and the partying?

Magic Cream is magic skin. I never do makeup without it as it’s deeply hydrating and perfect for priming dry winter skin.

Magic Away concealer is my secret weapon. I’m a mascara and lash obsessive, so lashings of my Legendary Lashes mascara, and my Pillow Talk Matte Revolution lipstick. It’s a sumptuous, perfect nude-pink which gives you a fuller, widerlooking, pout.

Which one makeup tip always makes the biggest difference? Always curl your

lashes. My Life Changing Lashes eyelash curler acts like a push-up bra for the eyes and gives the look of an eye lift in seconds.

What’s the biggest make up no-no?

Too much blush. Always smile when you’re applying blush and just swish and pop high on the apples of the cheeks.

Dark eyes and red lips is a seductive statement

Kohled eyes and scarlet lips – is this always a big no? Not at all! It’s

What do we do with an unfortunate outbreak of spots? The key is to make

seductive, statement beauty at its best.

Magic skin is Charlotte’s Magic Cream

Use So Marilyn for a screen siren red lip

sure you are cleansing thoroughly every morning and evening. Good skincare is so important. You can’t have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas!

How do we cover tired eyes? My new Magic Vanish! Colour correctors can help you cheat the look of a full night’s rest. Apply to the under eyes using your ring finger, then blend and build for your desired coverage.

What’s your morning skin pick me up after a hard night on the tiles?

My Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask is my party season saviour! I pop it on for 15 minutes and take it off to reveal a brighterlooking, hydrated finish.

Step out of your comfort zone Filmstar Bronze & Glow

charlottetilbury.com n 98 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | December 2019

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LK Bennett Mallory dress, £295. lkbennett.com

TO THE NINES Isabel Spearman on dressing for the occasion

I

love any excuse to dress up and the lead up to Christmas is a great time to invest in a new party dress. I only have a few in my wardrobe as there is such a short time to wear them, but it’s worth having a couple of really great ones to pull out.

From sumptuous velvets, sparkly sequins and head-to-toe metallics, there’s so much to choose from. Seasonal colours of gold, greens and reds are obvious choices so look for an interesting detail such as a contrasting frill around the neck, a polka dot print or a lace sleeve. Animal prints worn with gold accessories can also look quite fabulous – choose a blown-up modern print and go for a full-on maxi. You want to be able to feel comfortable and, most importantly, have as much fun as possible in your dress. Happy dancing! n

Olivia Rubin Eveline metallic dress, £445 oliviarubin london.com

Beulah London Yahvi cherry wine velvet dress, £550 beulahlondon.com

Isabel Spearman is founder of @dailydressedit

Valle & Vik The Darling, £465 valleandvik.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Toast Silk velvet dress, £245. toa.st

Cefinn Rosie silk sleeveless maxi dress, £370. cefinn.com

Saloni Isa silk devoré dress, £650. saloniworld.com

Anna Mason Christy gown, £1,400. annamasonlondon.co.uk

Chinti & Parker Spot silk dress, £495. chintiand parker.com

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Tulle dress, Valentino.

Ruby and diamond necklace, bracelet and earrings, and Fifth Avenue sapphire and diamond draperie ring, all Harry Winston.

Paillette dress (hanging against wall) Galvan.

Faux fur coat, Katharine Hamnett. Black velvet clutch bag, Jimmy Choo. Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvee (2010 vintage), ÂŁ150

RHYTHM of the NIGHT From the night before to the morning after Fashion Editor KAREN MUNNIS Photographer MATTHEW SHAVE

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Dawnbreaker necklace and earrings, Candy ring, Diamond Daze bracelet Eternal Love bracelet, all Catherine Best. Velvet blue mules, Manolo Blahnik. Bra, stylist’s own. Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvee (2010 vintage), £150

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Red Carpet necklace and earrings, Chopard

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Silk chiffon dress, cape and satin mules, all Dolce & Gabbana. Manaus earrings, Riviere Poires necklace, Uxmal cuff and Tagliatelle ring (both on right hand), Riviere bracelet and Rose diamond ring (both on left hand), all Cassandra Goad

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Double breasted tuxedo, Paul Smith.

Shirt, Equipment at net-a-porter.com.

Vintage Lace earrings, Boodles. Sunken Garden necklace and ring (on left hand), both Catherine Best. Precious Lace watch and Green Carpet ring (on right hand), all Chopard.

Sweet Pea bracelet and bangle (on right hand), both William and Son

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Glitter muslin top and trousers, both Chanel.

White rose necklace, Garrard. Pluie de Cartier earrings and ring (on left hand), both Cartier. Chalk Stream ring (on right hand), Boodles

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Printed silk top, bottom and eye mask, all Asceno. Les Singulières necklace, pink sapphire necklace and earrings, all Adler. Adonis Rose bracelet, De Beers. Five Line ring (worn on pinkie on right hand) and Adonis Rose ring (worn on ring finger, right hand), both De Beers. Aphrodite ring (on left hand), Catherine Best

TEAM Photographer’s assistants: Chantel King & Harri Gillan Fashion assistant: Hugh William Stewart Hair: Luke Benson at Frank Agency using GHD and Wella Professionals Makeup: Jaimee Rose at Untitled Artists London using Charlotte Tilbury Model: Irina Roshik at Wild Management LOCATION Shot on location at contemporary Mayfair hotel, 45 Park Lane. dorchestercollection.com Thank you to Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvee (2010 vintage). £150. nyetimber.com STOCKISTS: PAGE 174

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PARTY GUIDE

FESTIVE FLAIR

Interior designer Katharine Pooley on how to get your entertaining space party ready

T CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Use a tonal range to prevent your scheme from falling flat; mix materials and textures to create depth; keep it fresh with plenty of foliage; Katharine is ready to welcome guests

here are so many ways to make Christmas personal. When I plan my Christmas scheme, I choose a luxurious mix of textures to give the tree a level of depth. I like to combine reflective glass baubles with matte velvet ribbons, feathered decorations and just the right amount of sparkle – after all it wouldn’t be Christmas without a little sparkle.

When choosing my scheme, I pick a colour, then use a tonal range to add interest.

This year I’m going with rose pink through to claret. Without this variation in tone, your tree/dining table or even gift wrapping will look flat and uninteresting.

I love to take time to pick the perfect gifts for my loved ones, part of this is also wrapping the present in a way that will excite the recipient.

I use foliage from my garden with feathers and ribbons to give each present that personal touch.

Matching your wrapping colours and style into your scheme keeps the colours consistent and makes for a more impactful room. katharinepooley.com n

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Waitrose Partridge, pork and pear chutney canapés, £7. waitrose.com

Farmison & Co Free-range stuffed pork loin rack, £45. farmison.com

Selsley Gourmet mulling syrup, £4.19. wholefoodsmarket.co.uk Harrods Brandy butter, £5. harrods.com

Nyetimber 1086 Rosé Vintage 2010, £175. nyetimber.com

Rubies in the Rubble Spicy tomato relish, £3.50. rubiesintherubble.com

Biscuiteers Biscuit tin, £45. biscuiteers.com

LET THEM EAT CAKE

Ready, steady, feast, says Sofia Tindall Christmas: the spiritual home of the canapé, the figgy pudding and the mulled wine hangover (if you’re not careful).

From vol-au-vents to vegan pudding, here is the best spread to serve, which will have even the trickiest of guests eating out of your hand and reaching for the elasticated waistline. Bon Appétit!

Midnight Blue Jamaica Blue Mountain roast, £80. midnightblue.coffee Paxton & Whitfield Brightwell Ash goat’s cheese, £8.50. paxtonand whitfield.co.uk

Nordur Salt Seaweed salt, £6.95. harveynichols.com

Charbonnel et Walker Chorus line cracker drum, £45. charbonnel.co.uk

Black Mountains Smokery Oak-smoked salmon, £7. smoked-foods.co.uk

Highgrove Organic Christmas pudding, £26.95. highgrovegardens.com

Fortnum & Mason Mince pies, £12.95. fortnumandmason.com

Harvey Nichols After dinner gift box, £60. harveynichols.com

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PARTY GUIDE Johnny’s number one rule is to invite interesting people

YOU’RE ALL INVITED

Johnny Roxburgh has masterminded some of the most extravagant events for the world’s elite. Here are his top ten tips to make your party swing

1 2 3

Choose a venue that is slightly too small – the best parties are always crammed.

Keep the venue intimate

8

Parties should smell wonderful. I am a big fan of Parisian maison Cire Trudon. It has delicious room sprays and scented candles.

I love an open outdoor fire. This summer I surrounded crackling log fires with Adirondack chairs lined with soft chocolate-brown sheepskin. The setting was a ruined cathedral outside Madrid – cool, glamorous, and romantic – but it would work very well on a fine starlit December evening.

Do spend money on your invitations.

Make them from thick, aspirational card and make them fun. I am a big believer in the posted invitation; it makes it all feel much more special.

6

I find that guests love their own individual little bottle of a Martini cocktail – I get the bottles blinged up with glitter at Christmas and then put a short gold paper straw in them.

4

Keep food luxe and simple. A great New York caterer makes canapé finger rings from fine pastry and the ‘stone’ is beluga caviar!

A very chic way to eat a canapé.

5

Never run out of food or drink.

It may sound simple, but it’s a total must. I also never serve drippy food or dips – double dipping is a horror.

liquid fire. These are especially effective if the staff are wearing light-reflecting, frosted costumes!

Cire Trudon candles make your party smell delicious

7

In the colder months, have handsomely dressed staff pass round trays of little gems of

9

Nothing makes a Christmas party go better than a grotto – Santa Claus can take on all kinds of exotic roles with a little imagination! And I do love a Christmas cabaret – think The Merry Marys!

10

The most important thing is to invite fun people. If some friends are a bit heavy weather, take great care to look after them especially well. You can create the most amazing space and experiences, but you need great guests to make it truly memorable. johnnyroxburgh.com n

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A DRINK WITH...

Nyetimber’s Hannah Heerema.

By Alice Lascelles What are you drinking? My current

favourite is our Nyetimber 1086 rosé prestige cuvee.

Who are you drinking it with? French sparkling converts!

Martini: shaken or stirred? Espresso.

Do you have a favourite food and drink match? A dozen

Loch Fyne native oysters with a magnum of our 2003 Blanc de Blancs.

Can you mix a good cocktail? I make a

mean Blood Mary – Chase vodka, Tabasco, Lea & Perrins, lemon juice, celery salt with a killer dash of sherry.

What drinks would we find in your fridge?

Cold-pressed celery juice.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Cantering

along the South Downs.

Is there a drink you collect? I’m a fan of

emerging craft Scotch whisky producers e.g.

Kilchoman on Islay.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES

Most you’ve spent on a bottle of wine or spirits?

I spent a silly amount on a bottle of Ballindalloch whisky at a charity auction – worth every penny as the beneficiary was my favourite charity, Women for Women International.

Do you have a favourite bar and/or bartender? Panda & Sons in Edinburgh,

which is run by Iain McPherson.

Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to drinks? Dirty glasses

with a residue of soap suds.

The wine is corked – do you tell your host? It depends who they are!

Is there a drink you think is really overrated? Fruit juice that’s been

pasteurised to within an inch of its life.

Lay down or drink now? I’ve always been impatient...

What was the last great bar you visited, and what did you have?

The top deck of The Nyetimber – our 1968 Routemaster bus, overlooking the lake and water jumps at Badminton Horse Trials.

What would you drink if it was your last night on earth?

A bottle of our exquisite Tillington Single Vineyard in a (clean) Zalto glass. nyetimber.com n

Favourite hangover cure?

Two cans of Irn-Bru. If you could buy a drink for one person, who would it be? David Hockney –

I’ll have what he’s having.

Most memorable drink?

Toasting Nyetimber’s historic win at IWSC (the Oscar’s of winemaking).

FROM ABOVE: Hannah in Nyetimber’s vineyards; she mixes a wicked bloody Mary; ... and would love to take David Hockney out for a drink; Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvee; Irn Bru for sore heads; and oysters for the ultimate pairing

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PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

PARTY GUIDE Hire a party pad in the country for a good old-fashioned knees-up

COUNTRY HOUSE PARTY

Y

Caroline Phillips scours the country for the best places to throw a bash

ou’re done with turkey basting and Himalayan heaps of washing up, but there’s no time to rest – you need to prep for 2020’s big event. Perhaps you’re looking for a place to deposit teenagers for drunken revels?

Or searching for a tea-and-scones vibe for Auntie Flo’s 80th sleepover? Maybe you’re shooting for the ultimate

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corporate jolly (clay pigeons, anyone?), or seeking a top venue for a big wedding, snug family get-together or festive extravaganza.

We’ve ceilidh-ed in Scottish castles, gotten swept up on Pink Floyd’s beach and nursed sore heads in stately homes to bring you the six best party pads for exclusive hire. If you’re hunting for a house to host the ultimate bash, read on… and party.

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PARTY GUIDE

Aristocratic Antics For an impeccable knees-up, in the suave style of old-school press barons and politicians, bag Beaverbrook, the late Lord Beaverbrook’s Victorian mansion, now country house hotel.

It’s nestled in 470 glorious Surrey acres, just 20 miles from London. After a One Night Stand (cocktail) in Sir Frank’s bar, dine on sublime Japanese food at a sit-down for 50.

Solicitous staff – some in lavender waistcoats – will tend to your every whim. Afterwards, brandy in hand, you’ll loll on plump sofas overlooking the Italianate garden, or snug up for movies in the art deco cinema, where Churchill watched war newsreels. You may even sleep in his erstwhile bedroom.

BOOK IT: Exclusive hire of the main house starts from £500 per person per night (min.

36 guests) including dinner. beaverbrook.co.uk

Medieval Magic Mary Queen of Scots hid from Cromwell at Borthwick Castle (the huge dent left by his cannonballs serves as a reminder), but these days you don’t have to battle your way here – it’s just 30 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh. The dining room has a hearth so large you could roast a whole hog in it, but you won’t need to because the feasts laid on by the first Masterchef winner, Derek Johnstone, are superb. For up to 26 guests – bagsy Mary’s old digs to rest your partied-out head.

BOOK IT: Exclusive use from £8,500 per night, incl breakfast. borthwickcastle.com

PHOTOS: © SIM CANETTY-CLARKE.

Highland Fling Take over the Farr Estate in Inverness for bracing rambles, treasure hunts, paintballing and wild swimming in the loch. Set in 12,000 ancient acres, the star property is Farr House, a converted tenants’ hall incorporating a 19th-century chapel-turned-elegant party space. Chill in front of its roaring log fire playing jigsaws and sipping single malts among wood panelling and book-lined walls.

In the dining room, beneath venerable portraits of the Mackenzie family owners, feast on estate-reared rare breed piggies, venison and just-picked veg. The prize bedroom is the powder blue Victorian Room, with chandelier and freestanding claw bath.

BOOK IT: Exclusive use from £1,000 per night for 24 people in 12 rooms. farrestate.co.uk 114 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | December 2019

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Contemporary Coastal It has the view to beat all views, of sand dunes, cliffs and three golden miles of Saunton Sands beach in North Devon. (It’s that Pink Floyd seashore album cover… but without the chambermaid and 700 beds.) This quirkily dubbed ‘chalet’ has six three-bed apartments plus an airy two-bed penthouse with a living space (picture windows and surroundsound hi fi) big enough for you to dance as if nobody’s looking. After the party, sit on the balcony – as Jodie Kidd did – with a glass of vino and breathe in the salty air. A mere minute down the footpath (overnight pooch guests welcome) an Atlantic surfer’s paradise beckons. If you’re into coasteering, this is the place for your coastal-cool event.

BOOK IT: Twenty doubles, exclusive hire, price on application. chaletsaunton.com

Gardens Galore Calling all garden lovers – this glorious Georgian gem, Bressingham Hall in Norfolk, is perfect for weddings. With its own marquee and barn, your family can stay in the house (seven bedrooms accommodate 18 guests), but what really knocks your socks off is the setting. Planted, designed and tended by the owners (suitably named Bloom), the gardens really are a wonder to behold. Bloom Senior lived in the States and returned with seeds in his knapsack, which have now grown into towering, 100ft-high, 55-year-old redwoods.

BOOK IT: Three nights from £1,360 in low season. mulberrycottages.com

PHOTOS: © SIM CANETTY-CLARKE.

Arty Party This is the hottest, wittiest hotel in Scotland, boasting a Lucian Freud, a Picasso and a stuffed stag with swan’s wings, among other objets d’art. Queen Victoria (of whom there’s a waxwork) would have been amused. Take over all 46 bedrooms and dance ceilidhs in sight of Louise Bourgeois’ Spider. Drink Shocking Pink cocktails (in tribute to Schiaparelli) and sit beneath Subodh Gupta’s stainless steel chandelier to feast on wood fire-seared deer haunch. Sleep in a Victorian suffragist-style bedroom with William Morris wallpaper and theatrical Russell Sage decor.

Even nursing a post-party hangover, don’t miss deer stalking in the Cairngorms.

BOOK IT: Exclusive use for a winter weekend from £47,500, incl. meals. thefifearms.com n December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 115

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PARTY GUIDE

CLUB TOGETHER Lohralee Astor and Elizabeth Sieff suggest sharing the cost to buy something your loved one really, really wants

1 Emilia Wickstead Jill coat £1,995. matchesfashion.com 2 Angela Wickstead Bespoke bed linen, £POA. angelawickstead.com 3 Grace Han Bag, £1,795. gracehan.com 4 Bodyism Membership, from £130 a month. bodyism.com 5 JOBE Rigid stand up paddle surf Vizela 9’4, £799. jobesports.com 6 Tom Dixon Elements candle set, £120. net-a-porter.com 7 Anya Hindmarch Bespoke canvas Walton bag, £950. anyahindmarch. com 8 Focus Paralane2 9.8 Disc electric road bike, £6,399. sigmasports.com

to club together with other ‘gifters’ to produce a present that is of real significance and use.

To help with this we set up Storcx which takes the awkwardness out of asking for financial contributions. With a beautiful invitation page, gentle reminders and contribution tracking there is nothing else like it. Each contribution remains anonymous to other donors but ultimately the end receiver is delighted with a gift of real substance.

So now you have clubbed together, you have the means to buy something really incredible that will definitely not be put in the regifting cupboard. storcx.com n

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

A

round this time of year we must forgive ourselves for feeling panicked and wracked with worry as to what to buy for whom.

We are inundated with beautiful adverts and editorial and everything suddenly looks like it could be the perfect choice. So how do we decide?

Buying a gift not only shows the recipient that we care about putting a smile on their face, but is also about spending the necessary amount of time and thought on the purchase where our budget has been reflected, and our attempt has not been futile.

Recent trends are showing that group gifting is becoming common practice. With sustainability and investing in value becoming part of the agenda, trinkets and disposable items are a thing of the past. People are looking for quality, meaning and something to last. The reality is, however, that not everyone’s budget can lend itself to things of real value and investment gifts, so the natural process is

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MA D E G LO R I O U S A M O M E N T IN H ISTO R Y : I NT RO D U C ING TH E PR E STIG E C U VE E FR O M T HE P I O N E E R S IN E NG LISH SPAR KLING W INE

NYETIMBER.COM EN JO Y R ES PO NS I B L Y

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Friday night and there’s a party. How hard can it be for everyone to get along?

5 Dec – 18 Jan

A KIND OF PEOPLE

BY GURPREET KAUR BHATTI

royalcourttheatre.com Sloane Square, London SW1W 8AS

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Dear Father s a m t s i r Ch Bring me back something from your travels

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Santa Claus The North Pole

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

London

Hamilton and Inches Sterling silver lid, £55. hamiltonandinches.com

Bremont Solo-34 AJ, £3,195. bremont.com

London Undercover Brolly, £65. mrporter.com

Veuve Clicquot Arrow brut champagne, £58.99. selfridges.com

Shrimps River coat, £695. shrimps.com Alex Gore Browne Silk bow, £165. alexgorebrowne.com

Mackintosh Edinburgh coat, £1,095. mackintosh.com

Sophia Webster Minerva boot, £750. sophiawebster.com

Annoushka Double Crown ring stack, £11,700. annoushka.com

Giles x Aspinal of London Silk scarf, £125. aspinaloflondon.com

Daks Transfigured house check dress, £395. daks.com

Lalage Beaumont Sunglasses holder, £89. lalagebeaumont.com

Davidson London Elliott chair, £3,837. davidsonlondon.com Vivienne Westwood Kelly tartan bag, £360. viviennewestwood.com

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Lark & Berry is the first designer jewellery brand in the world to use cultured diamonds and stones exclusively. Cultured diamonds are type II a, the purest diamonds.

Since our diamonds are grown and perfected with science, no mining is necessary; this makes cultured diamonds the cleaner, more environmentally friendly and progressive choice.

CLEAN. COOL. CULTURED.

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

New York Baume et Mercier Classima Lady M0A10490, £1,450. baume-et-mercier.com

Asprey Cocktail shaker, £9,250. asprey.com

Aerin Matchbox, £230. neimanmarcus.com

Hackett Evening jacket, £625. hackett.com

Otis Batterbee Kemplay vanity case, £45. otisbatterbee.com

Harry Winston Central Park mosaic earrings, £POA. harrywinston.com

Aarke Carbonator II, £199.99. selfridges.com

Maison Fragile Plate, six for £357. mad-atelier.com

Brunello Cucinelli Cashmere cable knit, £2,170. brunellocucinelli.com

Neptune Seated sketch, £95. neptune.com Gingerlily Silk pyjamas, £265. gingerlily.co.uk

Tessa Packard Manhattan ring, £6,500. tessapackard.com

Soho Home Sofia footstool, £595. sohohome.com

Alexandra Llewellyn Zodiac board, £18,000. alexandrallewellyn.com

Mulo Backless slippers, £145. muloshoes.com

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When you’ve been making watches for as long as we have, some things just come naturally.

Big Crown ProPilot X Calibre 115

ORIS BOUTIQUE LONDON 41 South Molton Street London W1K 5RP

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Cointreau Vincent Darré edition, £35. harveynichols.com

Paris Anthropologie Lover leather bookmark, £9. anthropologie.com

L’Agence Kenzie doublebreasted blazer, £657. net-a-porter.com Café Kitsuné Travel cup, £25. mrporter.com

Coco de Mer Danae bodysuit, £325. coco-demer.com

Messika Sun Tribe necklace, £POA. messika.com

Mariage Fréres Musical tea box, £65. mariagefreres.com

Van Cleef & Arpels Santal Blanc, £130 for 75ml. harrods.com

Pol Roger Limited Edition Brut Reserve, £45. waitrose.com

Cold Picnic Boob cushion, £75. libertylondon.com

Dior Camp boots, £790. dior.com Loeffler Randall Izzie heart handle tote, £282. revolveclothing.com Chanel Chanel 19 bag, £3,685. chanel.com

Ermanno Scervino Padded headband, £170. ermannoscervino.it

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto, £40. harveynichols.com

Rome Rolex Cellini Dual Time 39mm, £15,000. rolex.com Once Milano Napkins, £43. oncemilano.com Acqua di Parma Notte di Stelle candle, £122. acquadiparma.com

Giovanni Raspini Byzantine bracelet, £340. giovanniraspini.com Giuliva Heritage Collection Dorothea blazer, £1,710; pants, £925. net-a-porter.com

Loretta Caponi Dress coat, £1,590. lorettacaponi.it

Luca Faloni Cashmere roll neck, £260. lucafaloni.com

Yamamay Robe, £49.95. yamamay.com

Ceraudo Skirted vintage cocktail chair, £490. ceraudo.com

Cassandra Goad Seigai Waves cufflinks, £565. cassandragoad.com

Sonia Petroff Manta belt, £775. soniapetroff.com

Jonathan Adler Milano tray, £78. uk.jonathanadler.com

Alexander Wang x Bvlgari Duette crossbody bag, £1,830. bulgari.com

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Marrakech Sep Jordan Keffiyeh scarf, from £69. sepjordan.com

Niquesa Fine Jewellery Starlight earrings, £14,000. niquesafinejewellery.com

Solid & Striped The Vanessa bikini, £140. solidandstriped.eu

Le Kasha Turfan silk dress, £1,100. lekasha.com

Mola Sasa x Le Monde Beryl Mules, £305. lemondeberyl.com

Audemars Piguet Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique, £POA. audemarspiguet.com

Penny Morrison Mussel lamp, £410. pennymorrison.com

Miller Harris Rose Silence perfume, £105. millerharris.com

Zeus + Dione Leia bracelet, £260. zeusndione.com

Ruark x LINLEY Tempo radio, £1,295. ruarkaudio.com

Toast Candle holder, £28. toa.st

Ethical Stories Tatu tray, £34.50. ethicalstoriesethicalme.com

Indian Ocean Scatter cushion, £165. indian-ocean.co.uk

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Nairobi

Laurent-Perrier Safari cuvée rosé, £79.99. selfridges.com

Bucherer Fine Jewellery Variato ring, £2,100. bucherer.com Pippa Small Turquoise Mountain choker, £790. pippasmall.com

Burberry Bucket hat, £POA. burberry.com

Artesan Shirt, £380. shopartesan.com

Sabina Savage Silk twill midi jacket, £735. sabinasavage.com

Nina Campbell Napkins, from £20. ninacampbell.com

Audenza Snake candle holder, £46. audenza.com

Caralarga Coz Gavilan necklace, £93 en.caralarga. com.mx

Marysia Hat, £100. marysia.com Lola & Mawu Khamsin Bolga fan, from £28. akojomarket.com

Baobab Collection Nirvana Spirit candle, £540. baobab collection.com

Penhaligon’s Terrible Teddy, £188. penhaligons.com

Ara Vartanian Earrings, £1,300 each. aravartanian.com

Ganni Hand-knit jumper, £430. ganni.com

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105 HIGH STREET, MARLOW, SL7 1AB 53 SLOANE SQUARE, LONDON, SW1W 8AX

R E A L LY W I L D TIMELESS. MODERN. BRITISH. DESIGN

www.reallywildclothing.com

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Joules Stratford leather crossbody bag, £129. joules.com

Edinburgh

Ncn’ean Botanical spirit, £30. ncnean.com

Longthorne County cap, £37.50. longthorneguns.com

Fairfax & Favor The Elizabeth gilet, £450. fairfaxandfavor.com Holland Cooper Chiltern cape, £599. hollandcooper.com

Noble Isle Fireside bath and shower gel, £21. nobleisle.com

Johnstons Of Elgin Cashmere scarf, £199. johnstonsofelgin.com

Le Chameau Men’s Chedworth breeks, £175. lechameau.com

The Wood Life Project Three Bears porridge bowls, £70. thewoodlifeproject.com

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal, £229. justerinis.com

Hugo Guinness Pheasant silk square, £110. hollandandholland.co.uk

Noble Macmillan Hunter flask, £85. noblemacmillan.com

Farlows Oxhorn beaker, £29.99. farlows.co.uk

Barbour Wax thornproof dressing, £9.95. ejchurchill.com House of Bruar Stag Head lantern, £95. houseofbruar.com Dubarry Brittas holdall, £249. dubarryboots.com

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Gavin Gardiner Limited ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Auctioneers of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns, Ries and Accessories

Forthcoming Auction: 11th December 2019 at Sotheby's 34-35 New Bond Street London Exhibition: Tuesday 10th December 9am to 4.30pm Wednesday 11th December 9am to 1pm Auction at 2pm Catalogue by post ÂŁ17

Tel 01798 875300 www. gavingardiner.com

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Geneva Turnbull & Asser Silk scarf, £155. turnbullandasser.co.uk

Dr Sebagh Signature serum, £475. drsebagh.com

Jaeger-LeCoultre Dazzling Rendez-Vous Red watch set, £POA. jaeger-lecoultre.com

Penelope Chilvers Galaxy boot, £249. penelopechilvers.com

Sebastian Conran x Connolly Car tool kit, £3,200. connollyengland.com

John Smedley Prancer jumper, £550. johnsmedley.com

Tudor Black Bay Dark 41mm, £3,240. tudorwatch.com

Firetree Single-estate chocolate, £8. firetreechocolate.com

Belstaff Glenn jacket, £1,995. belstaff.co.uk

Smythson Briefcase, £1,395. smythson.com Millie Bridget Henry Silk pocket square, £75. milliebridgethenry.com

Oliver Brown Sporting cufflinks, £25. oliverbrown.org.uk

Bi.du.haev MAAN Hand Drip coffee set, £825. mrporter.com

Crockett and Jones Shoe tree, £110. crockettandjones.com New & Lingwood Rococo silk slippers, £350. newandlingwood.com

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We would argue that the bed is the most important piece of furniture in your home. This is why we have spent 70 years putting all of our experience, craftsmanship and innovation in to making the bed of your dreams.

Enjoy sleep comfort like never before this Christmas, with Jensen.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FR OM J EN S EN

VISIT US:

Design Centre East, Third Floor, Chelsea Harbour, London, SW10 0XF Harrods, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL

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jensen-beds.com/uk

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Votary Cleansing oil, £45. harrods.com

Los Angeles Philip B Forever Shine conditioner, £93. selfridges.com Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX80 camera, £379.99. johnlewis.com Mori London Essential oil lamp, £245. mori.london

Sleep Siren Catkin silk turban, £90. sleepsiren.com

Mad Millie Kombucha kit, £24.99. madmillie.com Alexis Amor Forde sunglasses, £195. alexisamor.com

Anthropologie Yoga bauble, £8. anthropologie.com Lost in Los Angeles Travel guide, £12. anothercountry.com

S’well Celeste bottle, £35. selfridges.com

William & Son Skipping rope, £530. williamandson.com

Initially London Charlton tote, from £60. initiallylondon.com

Waterdrop Carry kit, £17. waterdrop.com

Lacoste Carnaby Evo, £78. lacoste.com

By Terry Starlight Rose CC powder, £61. byterry.com

Rimowa Original cabin, £820. rimowa.com

Clean Reserve Velvet Flora Eau de Parfum, £82. spacenk.com

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Artistry in Craftsmanship

NEW Gold Series Monitor Audio’s decades of experience in producing groundbreaking, class-leading loudspeakers for music and movies has resulted in this, the latest Gold Series. Uncompromised in concept, construction and sound, the award-winning Gold Series has been designed to deliver performance to savour for a lifetime.

monitoraudio.com/gold

MA GoldAudio.indd 5G Country&Townhouse Dec19 Ad.indd 1 Monitor 1

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Moscow Fabergé Diamond and ruby pendant, £5,040. faberge.com Garrard Starlight diamond studs, £9,000. garrard.com

Olivia von Halle Missy Moscow, £995. oliviavonhalle.com

Really Wild Rabbit fur mittens, £25. reallywildclothing.com

Burberry Leather trench coat, £4,490. harrods.com

William & Son Beneath The Rose necklace, £126,000. williamandson.com Givenchy Icarus shoulder bag, £1,650. harrods.com

Buccellati Bluebell watch in white gold with diamonds, £115,000. buccellati.com

Rituals Imperial Rose candle, £29.90. rituals.com

Theo Fennell Caviar set, £8,200. theofennell.com

Moynat Minaudiére limousine, £10,200. moynat.com

Chapel Down Chardonnay vodka, £32. majestic.co.uk

Ienki Ienki Michlin vest, £998. ienki-ienki.com

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L O N D O N

0333 011 3333

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

MexicoCity Kiki McDonough Drop earrings, £3,500. kiki.co.uk

Casamigos Añejo agave tequila, £64.95. thewhiskyexchange.com Bordallo Pinheiro Pitcher, £54. bordallopinheiro.com

Asceno Silk shirt, £235. asceno.com

Begg & Co Arran stole, £270. beggandcompany.com

Louise Sinclair Emerald ring, £13,000. louisesinclair.com

Garrard Serpent necklace, £POA. garrard.com

Assouline Tulum Gypset, £65. assouline.com Annie Costello Brown Pom pom earrings, £230. net-a-porter.com

Maison Fabre Shearling glove, £155. theplacelondon.co.uk

Maryjane Claverol Tijuana clip earrings, £120. matchesfashion.com

Matilda Goad Beeswax candles, £42 for six. matildagoad.com

Acne Studios Suede ankle boots, £490. acnestudios.com

Sophie Conran Cornflower soap dispenser, £34. sophieconran.com

Bottega Veneta Hobo bag, £2,050. bottegaveneta.com

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w e n a r e v o c s Di t i r i p s d e r d n i k

Luxury English gin made in Surrey with 24 botanicals. Full bodied with delicate florals, fresh citrus and velvety local honey.

Smooth, refined, refreshingly individual.

AVAIL ABLE

AT

#forthespirited @silentpoolgin Selected Stores. While stocks last.

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Tokyo Andrew GN Trousers, £890; jacket, £1,945. net-a-porter.com Kilian Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi Eau de Parfum, £215. net-a-porter.com

Favourbrook Nehru cashmere jacket, £960. favourbrook.com

Fern Fans Fan, £55. fernfans.com

Red Valentino Dress, £865. redvalentino.com

Pierre Marcolini Rare whiskies and rums box, £25. eu.marcolini.com

Charabanc Car pomander, £145. harrods.com

Tasaki Nacreous bracelet, £11,700. tasaki.co.uk

Kahler Hammershoi teapot, £90. heals.com

Casa Cubista Striped jug, £25. libertylondon.com

Kokoro Gin, £30 for 70cl. kokorogin.com

Comme des Garçons Play Converse, £110. london. doverstreetmarket.com Jing Ceremonial Matcha set, £75. jingtea.com

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COMPETITION

SLEEPING BEAUTY Win a designer bedroom makeover courtesy of Yves Delorme

W

ith Christmas party season upon us, even dance-all-nighton-the-table types will find themselves ready to kick off their party heels by the end of it. As the last music fades and the champagne runs dry, what better way to wind down than by sinking into a bed draped in Yves Delorme linens?

The cream of the crop when it comes to creating a sumptuous place to snooze (as a 174-year heritage attests), the Parisian design house weaves the finest, high-threadcount materials with thoughtful embroidered details, elegant couching and piping to elevate luxury to new levels.

The Bel Ami collection perfectly captures the Yves Delorme spirit; feminine and ultra-refined, blending luscious damask with and 300 thread count. Patterns of the collection are inspired by dreamscapes, far-flung corners of the globe and delicate florals, while amber bronze and classic russet palettes pull you into a (cotton sateen) embrace at the end of the evening.

If that isn’t a reason to duck out early, we don’t know what is….

WIN, WIN, WIN! One lucky C&TH reader will win a Bel Ami Thé bedroom makeover with Yves Delorme. Enter for your chance to win two standard pillow cases worth £85 each, a king-size duvet cover worth £399 and cushion cover worth £99.

TO ENTER Visit countryandtownhouse. co.uk/competitions and follow instructions. The competition closes on 1 December 2019, terms and conditions apply.

uk.yvesdelorme.com

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C H R IST M A S GIF T G UIDE

Copenhagen Georg Jensen Fusion earrings, £925. georgjensen.com Oris Big Crown Pointer Date, £1,300. oris.ch

Monitor Audio Pair of Monitor 50 speakers, £160. monitoraudio.com

Maison Deux x Smallable Rocking moon, £445. smallable.com

Moncler Hiroshi Fujiwara jacket, £1,345. moncler.com

Bang & Olufsen Headphones, £450. bang-olufsen.com Stella McCartney We Are The Weather shirt, £425. stellamccartney.com

Tom Davies Glasses, £295. tdtomdavies.com Hunter Original Play short wellington boot, £75. hunterboots.com

Rains Rucksack, £89. rains.com

Aigle Skilon high, £130. aigle.com

Happier Toothpaste, £12. happierbeauty.com

Ottoline x Host Tulip side plate, £12.95. hosthome.co.uk Microscooter Micro Sprite silver, £94.95. micro-scooters.co.uk

Liberty x Banwood Betsy print bike, £175. libertylondon.com

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COMPETITION

BEST OF BRITISH GIVEAWAY

Enter for the chance to win a selection of the finest British goodies worth over £1,300

W

hether you’re spending Christmas in the country or in town this year, C&TH has arranged the ultimate giveaway to make the festive season that little bit more special.

Step out in style with Guinea London’s Motcomb velvet coat. Made from 100 per cent Italian velvet, we love the secret purple lining and that it’s classic design will always be on trend.

Whatever your schedule over the festive season, Guinea London organise yourself properly while Motcomb velvet looking stylish with Smith & coat, £485 Canova’s chic Cambridge leather holdall (£177) and matching purse (£36). This classic yet practical bag is just as handy slung over your shoulder out and about as it is to carry your laptop up to London on the train – the inbuilt protected tech pocket means any tablets and laptops will be safe and secure.

No festive winter outfit is complete without a stunning piece from London’s most exciting new milliner. Camilla Rose Millinery specialises in beautiful hats handmade using the finest materials, like its beautiful Gilded Fedora in burgundy.

Whether rushing around town or enjoying the great British countryside, hard-working make-up is a must, which is where Smith & Canova Sports HAI steps in. holdall, £177 Created for athletes, the beauty brand’s products are made to perform and will not fail you. Included in the giveaway is over £200 worth of its products including the hair cleanser, lip treatment, SPF moisturiser, lip crayon, bronzer eyeliner and mascara.

Whoever the lucky winner is, they can

celebrate in style with a case of England’s very first pink charmat method sparkling wine. From multiaward winning Sussex winery Fitz. There is also a case of its crisp sparkling white too. Fitz wine is available at exclusive retailers, including DeVere Hotels, Benugo and Curzon Cinemas and is among the most highly rated wines in England. So we will Camilla Rose fedora, £245 raise a glass to that!

All products in the competition can be purchased online at guinea london.com; smithandcanova. co.uk; camillarose. co.uk; sportshai. com; fitz.wine

TO ENTER Visit countryandtown house.co.uk/competition and follow instructions.

Terms and conditions can be found online.

Competition ends 13 December

Two cases of Fitz sparkling wine

£200 of Sports HAI make-up

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FOR THE VERY BEST OF COUNTRY & TOWN

12

PRINT ISSUES OF C&TH, SEVEN SUPPLEMENTS & INSTANT ACCESS TO EVERY DIGITAL EDITION FOR ONLY £20

PLUS

FREE GIFT WORTH £67 Elemis’ soothing Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil is formulated with English Rose Oleo extract, rosehip seed oil, roaring water kelp and padina pavonica. It intensely nourishes the skin, while smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For all skin types, including sensitive skin, this lightweight base is easily absorbed by the skin to hydrate and seal in moisture. elemis.com

@countryandtown

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TERMS & CONDITIONS: Offer valid for UK subscriptions only. Free gift is available while stocks last. The free gift will arrive under separate cover to your subscription. Subscriptions may be cancelled by providing 28 days’ notice. Subscriptions may not include supplements packaged with the magazine. This offer closes on 1 December 2019. For UK subscription enquiries, please call 020 7384 9011 or visit www.countryandtownhouse.co.uk

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LIVING INTERIORS DESIGN

THE INSIDER

STAR OF WONDER Lapis lazuli was once more expensive than gold. But we say hang the expense and lavish your home with both. Luckily Annie Sloan’s chalk paint version won’t set you back as much as the real thing. From £5.95 for 120ml. anniesloane.com

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How do you live yours?

Here at Life, we create kitchens to be lived in.

So, come and explore our beautiful showroom and tell us how you live yours.

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Railway Arch 213, Newham Terrace, Hercules Road, Lambeth, London SE1 7DR

www.life-kitchens.co.uk

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THE INSIDER ADDED SPICE Heal’s Bloomsbury two-seater sofa is upholstered in velvet reminiscent of the colour of Colman’s mustard. £2,249. heals.com

IN FINE FEATHER Buy a £15 raffle ticket to win one of ten fabulous wreaths hand-made by interior designers, including Taylor Howes (pictured) and Kit Kemp, for charity Place2Be. justgiving.com

I N T E R I O R S

DESIGN NOTES

BRONZE BEAUTY Ring the changes with books and baubles on a console shelf. Julian Chichester Bay console, bronze, £3,230. julianchichester.com

These boxes think outside of themselves, says Carole Annett AT EASE

A good armchair is an investment piece.

This one, Oaksey by Robert Kime is upholstered in the studio’s own Frensham Weave (£260p/m). £6,156. robertkime.com BLACK AND CHIC Farnworth wall light, a new design from Vaughan.

Lovely idea for a bedroom wall.

Lamp, £990; linen box shade, £98. vaughandesigns.com

LOVE ALL

Print Pattern Archive is a Manchester-based studio with a private collection of original prints, a go-to for inspiration by fashionistas, including Alexander McQueen. Hainan mural, £315. printpatternarchive.com 150 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | December 2019

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BOX CLE V ER

VEG OUT The Botanicals collection from Luke Irwin uses organic vegetable, plant and mineral dyes such as turmeric, tomato and pomegranate. Natural ingredients and a chemical-free process, ensures each rug is unique.

From £940 p/sqm. lukeirwin.com

CHARMING CHAP Luke Edward Hall’s collaboration with Habitat features a joyful parade of texture and colour.

Spencer velvet circusstripe sofa, £1,800; cushions, £60 each; print £110, all Luke Edward Hall for Habitat. habitat.co.uk

TIP TOP TROUSSEAU

HOLD ON Love Handles vase

by Anissa Kermiche perfectly captures a female shape du jour. Just add a Kardashian head. Exclusive to The Conran Shop, £340. conranshop. com

Sabyasachi, India’s most sought-after bridal designers, has a new collection at Thomas Goode, including bespoke dinner service designs. thomasgoode.com

SEA MIST

Ochre’s Aquarelles oval chandelier has a horsehair rim decorated with celadon-colour porcelain drops. ochre.net

1 Linley Alphabet box, £195. davidlinley.com 2 Posh Sliver leaf gold coasters and box, £150. poshtradingcompany.com 3 Wicklewood Pink star inlay box, £165. wicklewood.com 4 Tom Aylwin Contour box, £1,580. williamandson.com 5 Giovanni Raspini Butterfly iron box, £195. giovanniraspini.com

IN THE COUNTRY

Norfolk-based designer Rufus Normanton draws or paints ideas for all his designs. The Navigator’s Garden, antique pink, £72 p/m. normantondesigns.com December 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 151

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THE INSIDER F O C U S

CLOSE DOOR, LIGHT FIRE

1 Bergman Design chose a bio-ethanol wood burner for an open-plan sitting area

in a London project. The antique chair is by Pierre Paulin. bergmaninteriors.com 2 Chesneys’ Soane reproduction fireplace is one of several pieces designed by the

great architect for Viscount Bridport at his Somerset home. £4,550. chesneys.co.uk 3 Reflected light from mirrors and fire surround create a bright ambience in a sitting room interior by Jane Churchill. janechurchill.com 4 A family sitting room by th2designs features its own sofa and stool designs with a neat recess under a wood stove for logs. th2studio.co.uk 5 A chalet in Courchevel with interior by Sybille de Margerie, inspired by the Alpine stone, wood and slate. sybilledemargerie.com

PHOTOS: © F RAMBERT; © ED SHEPHERD PHOTOGRAPHY

Create a focal point with an eye-catching fireplace

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THE INSIDER Burleigh Pottery Black Regal Peacock place setting, £172. burleigh.co.uk

Cox London Wall light, £4,320. coxlondon.com Daylesford Olive carafe, £19. daylesford.com

House of Bruar Feather coaster, £7.95. houseofbruar.com

T R E N D

THE HOLLY & THE IVY

William & Son Forge De Laguiole cheese knife & fork set, £330. williamandson.com

Forage for festive foliage

LSA International Champagne saucers, £75. lsa-international.com Rose Uniacke Small milk jug, £39. roseuniacke.com

Deck the halls with boughs of holly… and pine, fir cones, berries, and anything else you can find in the garden. Escape laboriously ‘try hard’ festive decorating by bringing the outdoors in and offsetting delicate serveware with some cleverly placed fresh greenery. While we’re at it – why should the halls have all the fun? Pop it on the table, too.

Nina Campbell Napkin and placemat, from £10.95. ninacampbell.com

Astier De Villatte Campanula leaf plate, £120. summerillandbishop.com

Neptune Madeleine chair, £455. neptune.com The Wolseley Collection Afternoon tea stand, £300. matchesfashion.com

Papier Holly Leaf by Fee Greening, from £19.50. papier.com

Meri Meri Festive foliage medium crackers, £21.50. merimeri.co.uk

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THE INSIDER

C A S E

S T U D Y

THE ITALIAN JOB

Tricia Guild uses clever colour and architectural tricks to update a traditional Umbrian home, finds Sofia Tindall

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ny Italian worth their salt will tell you the kitchen is the centre of the home, but when Tricia Guild approached a new incarnation of an Italian country house, she wasn’t afraid to play with the rules. ‘My last house in Italy was a smaller, more rustic farmhouse, whereas this project focused on a vision of modernity,’ the designer explains.

Transforming a cluster of traditional Umbrian outbuildings into a modern glass-and-stone dream may seem a daunting task, but Tricia’s not one to shy from a challenge. It’s characteristic for the founder of Designers Guild, scooping an OBE for her (ubiquitously stylish) mantlepiece in the process. Opening its doors on the King’s Road in the 1970s, her store is also testament to her ability to breathe life into traditional bricks and mortar.

A little of that magic was key in transforming a ‘modest collection of buildings’ into what stands today: sprawling, open, contemporary spaces, and a sense of winding continuity blending the indoors and outdoors. In addition to ‘almost every tradesman and artisan for miles around’ in local Umbria, instrumental to the end product were architect Stephen Marshall, and landscape architect Arne Maynard. Together, they raised the entire ceiling throughout the ground floor and replaced every window and door. No small task; but it achieved the desired effect – refracted light, endless space and a sense of the surrounding countryside unfurling indoors.

The glass box, installed in the entrance hall, was a groundbreaking feat: ‘Its walls allow the vivid green of the landscape into the space and the glass ceiling admits the endless sky above,’ Tricia explains. Bringing the outdoors indoors, she’s used ‘a strict language of materials throughout: concrete, stone, glass, metal and wood, and juxtaposed the severity of such materials with native indigenous plants, planted in an entirely new and modern way’.

While the kitchen may be the heart and hearth of the traditional Italian home, the perfect example of Tricia’s vision of marrying local, authentic Italian vernacular to modernity is the open-plan sitting room (seen left). Wide open doors, light-mellowing concrete floors blended with colours and pattern palettes echo the shapes and colours you meet when you step out into the garden. Designers Guild paint, in Borage Flower blue, weaves tonally through the entire space, offset with natural wickers and woods. For Tricia, the end project ‘is a lifelong dream realised’.

In My View by Tricia Guild (Merrell, £45) n

Tricia’s Umbrian home is a triumph of colour, pattern and texture

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It’s time to tackle the climate crisis Nature must be defended What our planet needs is a lawyer ClientEarth’s lawyers aren’t focused on mergers and acquisitions.

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24/10/2019 17:35 14:10 31/10/2019

EAT DRINK ESCAPE

FOOD & TRAVEL C A L I F O R N I A

DREAM OF CALIFORNICATION

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Holly Rubenstein hits the highway to bring you the ultimate guide to the sunshine state

It doesn’t get much better than the glorious California coast

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LA’s reputation precedes itself

SLICE OF LA LOS ANGELES

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A room with a view: Nobu Malibu

Luxurious bedrooms, artisan cocktails, and a chic poolside: The Peninsula has it all

MINIBREAK IN MALIBU Take a leaf from Hollywood’s A-list and head to the beaches of Malibu for a sun-soaked weekend getaway. The ultra-exclusive Nobu Ryokan Hotel is the ultimate surfside base. A 16-bedroom Japanese beach house, it has waterfront rooms looking onto expansive views of the Pacific and the romantic California coastline, with dolphins regularly swimming past. Nobu restaurant, a Hollywood hotspot for Japanese cuisine, is right next door, along with Soho House’s Little Beach House. Nearby Malibu Village is home to an array of pretty individual boutique shops along with top designer names. Stroll down Malibu Pier to watch surfers bobbing in the ocean, ready to catch a perfect wave towards the iconic Surfrider Beach.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

he City of Angels has it all, and then some. It may be a place of excess, but LA basks in a sense of luxury, and heightened experiences are as easy to come by as the cosmetic enhancements of its residents.

Beverly Hills, and its recognisable zip code 90210, is the ideal base for an indulgent Californian adventure, with the elegant Peninsula Hotel at its epicentre.

An A-list favourite, its spacious, pastel-toned, French country chic rooms are famed for their sumptuous beds and personally monogrammed pillowcases. Fancy a Biologique facial with placenta serum? Head to the world-class spa – a destination in itself. The rooftop pool, lined with royal blue parasols, harks back to the Hollywood of yesteryear. With big dogs of the entertainment industry taking serious-looking meetings in its poolside cabanas, it’s a prime spot for people watching.

Beverly Hills’ pristine avenues lead to some of the city’s top retail and dining spots. Glitzy Rodeo Drive, with its famed designer stores, is just a 12-minute walk away, but this is LA after all, so the hotel’s chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce is on hand to lighten the load.

For a spot of beach chic, Santa Monica is a must – away from the Hills, its palm-lined stretches of golden sand make for an alternative city. Wander the waterfront, past the original Muscle Beach, where locals practise acro-yoga. Watch the sun set behind the technicolour lights of Santa Monica pier, with its slowly-turning Ferris wheel, from the haven of another LA landmark – Shutters on the Beach. This creamy clapboard hotel is home to 1 Pico, a fine dining restaurant with Cali-style local food like pan-roasted dayboat scallops and California sea bass, accompanied by a gentle Pacific breeze.

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FOOD & TRAVEL

The much-anticipated Rosewood Miramar Beach is now open

RIVIERA REVIVAL SANTA BARBARA

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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

olden palm-fringed beaches, celebrated vineyards and gleaming Spanish colonial architecture are just some of the reasons why Santa Barbara and neighbouring town Montecito have long drawn Hollywood’s glamorous set, who call it America’s Riviera. Its proximity to Los Angeles – just 100 miles north – along the scenic Pacific Highway Route One makes it an even more appealing prospect.

For locals it’s been a tough few years. Natural disasters have caused widespread devastation. Yet the region’s biggest revitalisation project has raised it back from the ashes, and while its heritage has been preserved and embraced in the process, a renewed sense of excitement is felt too – nowhere more so than at the Rosewood Miramar Beach, one of the most anticipated new openings on the west coast in years. Framed by the verdant Santa Ynez mountains, it’s pretty as a postcard – a luxury oceanfront resort based around a spectacular country house, all white clapboard, abundant blooms and manicured lawns stretching straight to the beach.

Overlooking the turquoise and white pin-striped parasols dotted along the sand is Caruso’s beachfront restaurant, a glamorous Italian fine dining spot, with a smart dress code and a seriously sophisticated wine list. While the old school are wholeheartedly embraced in this new hotspot, the resort also contains Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness store, Goop, and an outcrop of Malibu Farm, the uber-cool, farm-to-fork eatery whose original home is on Malibu Pier. Without a doubt, this hot newbie already feels like a classic.

Up the road, old meets new once more at San Ysidro Ranch. The 500 sprawling acres of lush gardens, with cottages discreetly hidden among the trees, are steeped in Hollywood history. It’s where JFK and Jackie O honeymooned, Laurence Olivier and Vivienne Leigh married, and Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn holidayed.

Its restaurant, The Stonehouse, is an institution beloved by celebrities and locals for generations. With immaculately presented fresh ingredients, it serves fine dining on a terrace beneath the stars.

While last year’s mudslides unfortunately meant the ranch’s cottages had to undergo extensive renovation, they’ve now reopened and are sparkling with their fresh lick of paint. And though its famous gardens were also flattened, 18 months on they are resplendent once again. The lemon trees, jasmine, orange blossom and roses greet guests with a heady scent. The scorched land has been quenched by heavier rainfall than usual this year and the gardeners say they’ve never seen growth like it. It’s another welcome sign of new beginnings for an all-time classic.

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FOOD & TRAVEL

CITY BEAT SAN FRANCISCO

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The Battery’s hip spaces are a perfect resting place after a drive along the Golden Gate Bridge

DESTINATION DRINKING For killer cocktails and farstretching views over the hills to the bay, try Charmaine’s Rooftop Bar & Lounge at the top of the Instagrammable San Francisco Proper Hotel. Perchaed over Market Street, with a huge wraparound terrace and sizzling firepits, it’s the perfect spot from which to watch the sunset.

DAY TRIP Take the scenic ferry ride across the bay to the picturesque seaside village of Sausalito.

Colourful houses spill down the lush green hills to the waterfront, which is dotted with crab shacks, ice cream parlours and quirky galleries. For delicious seafood, with views towards the city skyline, try Salito’s Crab House.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © DOUGLAS_FRIEDMAN, COURTESY OF THE BATTERY

here’s a simple formula to a perfectly lovely city break in San Francisco. First, a drive over the Golden Gate bridge and a breezy bay cruise beneath it, perhaps stopping at the imposing island prison of Alcatraz.

Then an ice cream at Pier 39, where chubby sea lions bark and jostle comedically, lounging in heaped piles on the dock. Finally, drive up the city’s notoriously steep hills to see the Painted Ladies, the much-photographed row of ascending Victorian houses in pretty pastel shades, backed by the modern city skyline.

The sea fog blows in frequently and unexpectedly, enshrouding the city in a mysterious veil. Beneath, there are secrets to uncover. One of these is The Battery. Housed in a former sweet factory and founded by the tech couple behind the social media platform Bebo (remember Bebo?!), it’s a super-hip members’ club, with a decadent spa, spacious garden terrace, and exclusive special events with A-list music and comedy performances. The best part? Upstairs is a handful of suites, each oozing personality and style, with warm exposed brickwork, timber beams, caramel leather, gleaming marble and splashes of colourful, humorous artwork. Hotel guests are considered resident members, with access to all the club’s facilities.

A short walk away is the Oakland Bay Bridge. Overshadowed by the Golden Gate in the day, this bridge takes centre stage at night, an unlikely canvas for the Bay Lights, a remarkable light sculpture that illuminates 25,000 vertiginous bulbs, rippling up and down and reflecting in the bay like jewels in ink.

And there are more artistic gems to uncover, here on the waterfront. Perched at the end of a land spit in the marina, The Wave Organ, designed by sculptor George Gonzalez and artist Peter Richards, is a musical instrument that is actually played by the San Francisco Bay itself. As the tide changes, so do its sounds, at times a haunting wail, and at others a gentle hum.

A lifetime could be spent uncovering the city’s culinary secrets. But a good place to start is Z & Y Bistro, a tiny Asian fusion spot, in the heart of Chinatown. Its menu focusses primarily on syrupy yakitori skewers with a surprising number of frog-based options – but the star is an explosive bowl of sweet and spicy tender beef in flaming chilli oil.

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GRAPE EXPECTATIONS SONOMA

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © DOUGLAS_FRIEDMAN, COURTESY OF THE BATTERY

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THREE VINEYARDS TO TRY: Sonoma’s Russian River Valley is home to about 100 wineries and produces some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the world. Three places to try are:

Neighbouring Napa Valley’s vineyards, The Farmhouse Inn manages to feel both homely and luxurious

ust 45 minutes’ drive north from San Francisco, the rolling vineyards of California’s world-renowned wine country begin to appear. For wine lovers looking for something more casual and down to earth than glossy Napa Valley, neighbouring Sonoma County, wedged between two dramatic mountain ranges, has in recent years established itself as an equally formidable wine and gastronomic destination.

The Farmhouse Inn, in the lush Russian River Valley, is the perfect spot to end a busy day of wine tasting, just a few minutes’ drive from hundreds of vineyards. Here, an 1873 weatherboard farmhouse and surrounding outbuildings are home to 18 boutique rooms. They come with the warmth and generous hospitality of a family-run bed and breakfast (personal touches include welcome messages on your chalk board and hot-from-the-oven cookies before bed), along with a pervading sense of luxury, matched in its sensational spa and Michelin-starred restaurant. Dishes are superfresh, with ingredients grown steps from the kitchen, and much of the wine list from nearby vineyards. Look out for its signature dish, ‘Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit’ (yep, rabbit prepared three ways).

A short drive leads to nearby Healdsburg, a must-see while staying in the area. Once a farm town, it has evolved into one of Sonoma’s most sophisticated spots, with its pretty town plaza packed with award-winning restaurants and wine-tasting rooms, alongside smart boutiques and antique shops. Family-run Valette is at the forefront of the culinary scene, offering scrumptious farm-to-fork dishes with a fine dining twist (and dishing out piles of emergency sandwiches to refugees from last month’s fires). Go with the ‘trust me’ tasting menu – and don’t miss their legendary scallop en croute. n

The 50-acre, family-owned Schug Winery estate – known for its silky Pinot Noir and its series of underground tasting caves. schugwinery.com The MacRostie Winery is frequently named the best winery in Sonoma, with views stretching to the Mayacamas Mountains. macrostiewinery.com Beautiful gardens and a sumptuous snack menu make Lynmar Estate Winery the ideal spot to while away an afternoon. lynmarestate.com

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FOOD & TRAVEL

The ultimate tasting menu at Eleven Madison Park

EAT W E E K E N D E R

NEW YORK

There’s nowhere quite like New York at Christmas, says Caiti Grove

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t is hard to fasten your superlatives to the ground in this city – great theatre, ground-breaking fashion, beautiful parks – and you want to do it all. But Christmas is a time to feel that sparkly, filmic It’s a Wonderful Life thrill.

The Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center first appeared in 1933. Today an in-house gardener hoists a 100ft-tall Norway spruce every year. You can skate on the ice rink nearby, but for a slightly quieter rink, head for the Wollman Rink in Central Park.

Have a spiced cider at the Tavern on the Green to warm up, where they often have live jazz (tavernonthegreen.com).

A trip to see the New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center will plunge the most stubborn Scrooges into a magical universe (nycballet.com).

Afterwards, go to Dizzy’s Jazz club for a late-night session (jazz.org), and a visit to Bluebird London in between for a cardamom daiquiri (bluebirdlondon.nyc).

If you have youngsters to amuse, consider a trip to the eighth floor in Macy’s, where Father Christmas greets children in a 13,000 sq/ft North Pole display. Don’t be afraid if it’s a wanton recreation of Christmas clichés or Yultide commercialism. Baby, it’s cold outside and this is where New York excels.

You can’t beat The Peninsula for location, rooms and views

STAY

A mainstay of ’80s Christmas classics, Fifth Avenue buzzes with feverish energy. The Peninsula was built in neoclassical style in 1905, it is grandly nostalgic, complete with white-gloved valets to relieve you of your shopping at the brass swivel doors. The rooms are all white and cream with dark oak furniture topped with vases of roses, looking out onto the city’s iconic skyline.

On the 21st floor, a low-lit spa offers a pool, personal trainers who sculpt celebrities into Netflix-ready shape, plus, of course, treatments. Two-hour programmes to scrub and tone, drain the lymphatics or an Ayurvedic massage to stimulate the pineal gland to release melatonin for guests on the red eye from London.

Doubles from $695 per night. peninsula.com

PHOTOS: GETTY ;© EVAN SUNG; REX FEATURES; © ALL GOOD NYC; © NICOLE FRANZEN

T H E

Novelty is everything on the Big Apple’s peerless food scene. For a super-special meal booked months in advance, Eleven Madison Park is lauded for its elegant Art Deco design and eight-to-ten courses of slow-cooked venison and custard dessert with bee pollen (elevenmadisonpark.com).

Or, seek out something in the West Village: The Leroy House is an elegant bistro in a grand redbrick townhouse serving a ‘New American’ menu – classics like braised short ribs and burgers alongside scallops and duck confit borrowed from Europe and Asia (theleroyhouse.com).

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Walk the High Line

SHOP

Anna Wintour and Lady Gaga go to New York Vintage (in Chelsea) to supplement their wardrobes with museum-worthy silk dresses and Chanel designs. Upstairs there is an archive to inspire extravagant style and shows the best of every era (newyorkvintage. com). Afterwards, take a stroll down the High Line – a former tramline and now a planted-raised walkway that stretches from Manhattan to the city’s newest high-rise development, Hudson Yards. Make for Thomas Heatherwick’s sculptural public space Vessel. Stop at C.O. Bigelow, apparently America’s oldest Shop like Anna Wintour pharmacy, for its lemon body cream. It’s where fashion editors and celebrities stock up on their in-house products (bigelowchemists.com).

Relive the ’80s at Mister Paradise

SEE

On a weekend evening, go to the East Village, which has retained its vintage shops and cocktail bars – and a cadre of veteran beatnik artists who acquired their flats 60 years ago. Head to Mister Paradise for a Party Lobster – tequila, garlic and Campari. The clientele are mostly in their early thirties and it has an ’80s song list to match, which occasionally causes the bar to breakout into spontaneous singing (misterparadisenyc.com). You must also walk over the Brooklyn Bridge (about 40 minutes) to see the brownstone houses. Go on a weekend for the Brooklyn Flea, where Manhattanites mine for vintage brooches (Saturdays in Williamsburg, Sundays in Dumbo. brooklynflea. com). Don your vintage treasures and find Maison Premiere for happy hour between 4 and 7pm (maisonpremiere.com).

PHOTOS: GETTY ;© EVAN SUNG; REX FEATURES; © ALL GOOD NYC; © NICOLE FRANZEN

Cross over into Brooklyn for flea market finds

Gothic St Patrick’s

DO

Swing by the Museum of Modern Art, which has just reopened after a £356m refurbishment, and promises performances, film and 30 per cent more space. The museum covets the crème of the world’s modern painting and sculpture – Dalí’s melting watches, Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Oppenheim’s surrealist fur teacup – it’s all here. Fridays 4-8pm are free, which makes earlier that afternoon the gallery’s quietest time (moma.org). When the gallery starts to fill up, go round the corner to St. Patrick’s Cathedral – a huge Gothic landmark of the city. Try and inveigle yourself into their annual Christmas concert (19 Dec, 7pm). It is a New York institution, and everyone joins in with the choir for traditional and modern carols. n

Hello happy hour at Maison Premiere

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FOOD & TRAVEL T R A V E L

N E W S

THE HOTEL WIZARD

THE PICK OF PORTO

Fiona Duncan is full steam ahead to the Douro Valley

H

A PORT IN PORTO

Where better to stay than in the Yeatman, owned

by Taylor’s port, with a world-class cellar of Portuguese wines, a fabulous two-Michelin star restaurant and views of the Douro and historic Porto beyond from every spacious room.

From €225. the-yeatmanhotel.com

LUNCH A tour and tasting of Graham’s 1890 port Lodge, followed by lunch overlooking the city. grahams-port.com.

walls as they balance trays of fine Portuguese wine and plates of food produced by top chefs. The whole trip is a miracle of logistics, enormously indulgent and great fun.

The train’s destination, before it heads back to Porto, is Quinta do Vesuvio in the Douro Valley. The lovely old house and its estate belong to the Symington family, owners of Graham’s port and inextricably linked with the port business since 1888. Just like Gonçalo, they understand that authenticity is a rare and valuable thing. In the stone troughs at Vesuvio, the grapes are still trampled by foot.

From €650pp. baileyrobinson.com

SIGHT Beaux Arts São Bento Station with its stucco ceilings and walls of ceramic tiles depicting the history of Portugal.

SHOP Livraria Lello, One of the world’s oldest and most beautiful bookstores on Rua das Carmelitas.

EAT Lunch or dinner at good-natured Adega São Nicolau, where the home cooking keeps rolling despite the squash (Rua de São Nicolau; +351 22 200 8232).

ON THE TR AVEL R A DA R CHIC CHALETS Luxury chalet operators Bramble Ski and Haute Montagne have announced two more extraordinary chalets in Méribel for this season. Expect absolutely everything, from cinema rooms to concierges, at Chalet Les Brames and Mont Tremblant.

Don’t enquire unless you don’t need to ask the price. brambleski.com; hautemontagne.com

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

ow is it possible to visit both Porto and the Douro Valley in one short but unforgettable weekend? Make use of a train: a 129-year-old one that carried presidents, heads of state, popes, kings and queens (including our own) until the day in 1970 that it carried the coffin of austere dictator António Salazar and was retired.

Built in 1890 for King Dom Luís I and lovingly restored in 2010, its home is Portugal’s National Railway Museum, but for 16 days a year, charismatic impresario Gonçalo Castel-Branco works his magic as the five original carriages trundle along the stunning Duoro river.

A hard-working team constantly flatten themselves against carriage

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PROMOTION

FIESTA THEN SIESTA The ultimate party needs a spectacular location. Leave it in the hands of The Thinking Traveller and you can’t go wrong

A

sk most people what they’d do first if they won the lottery and they’ll answer, ‘throw an enormous party’. The Thinking Traveller chooses the most prestigious one per cent of properties for its books, from modern glass-and-steel pads to sun-soaked villas to fit any bucket list wish. So you can dance, doze, rinse and repeat.

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VILLA ELIA, Puglia

Magnificent Villa Elia has had a makeover just in time for the party season, with ethnic and contemporary pieces, many of which are originals sourced from Brown’s hotel in London. Just add an Aperol to the acres of garden, fruit and olive trees; made for warm, sultry evenings.

MADRETERRA, THE IONIAN ISLANDS, Lefkada

If a villa could come Gatsbyapproved, it would be Madreterra. A party playground you’ll never want to leave – the vast wraparound terraces have hammocks to sink into, outdoor kitchen and an infinity pool overlooking the rugged coastline.

Views of the azure waters of the stunning Ionian Sea come at no extra cost.

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DON ARCANGELO ALL’OLMO, Sicily

With a ‘Garden of Eden’ setting, at Don Arcangelo all’Olmo you also have the option of throwing the wedding to end all weddings.

Far-flung views of the sea and Mount Etna blend with verdant gardens (complete with jacuzzi). Breakfast preparation on-site is a must after an evening celebrating.

ALATI BAY, THE IONIAN ISLANDS, Paxos

The designers behind Alati Bay knew how to do ‘contemporary beach villa’ with all of the trimmings.

Think: LA-cool interiors with vast stone showers, even vaster settings for dining under the stars and a sea-view Jacuzzi hideaway thrown in. thethinkingtraveller.com

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FOOD & TRAVEL

Imogen Heap

Q & A

THE BUCKET LIST

Singer-songwriter Imogen Heap loved cycling the Thames. By Holly Rubenstein Lake Natron, Tanzania

Where have you learnt the most about yourself? Lake Natron in Tanzania, researching the sounds

Scenery in Switzerland

Imogen’s favourite trip was taking in the Thames by bike and B&B

How about the best hotel you’ve stayed in? My favourite

trip was actually when I was finishing up my second solo album and I took a bike ride from the source of the River Thames in Kemble to the Thames barrier, staying at local B&Bs along the way.

Long before Air BnB, I’d always get great recommendations and have a good evening meal at a local pub.

What is your favourite city?

I’m sorry, I know it’s boring but it has to be London.

If you had to recommend one place to visit, where would it be? Beautiful Bern in Switzerland, where I

often spend time. Go in the summer. Swim in the River Aare, there’s great shopping, countless cute restaurants, experience the lively local music scene, see the view of Jungfrau mountain region from the courtyard of Parliament and say hi to the bears.

You just can’t beat London

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES. IMOGEN HEAP’S MYCELIA WORLD TOUR COMES TO THE UK IN NOVEMBER. IMOGENHEAP.COM

for a potential score. It made me realise that any sound can be musical. It sounds daft now, but before that trip I had never considered the sounds around me as a musical input.

I had been limiting myself to traditional instruments.

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WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST? I WOULD LOVE TO SPEND SOME FAMILY TIME EXPLORING SOUTH AMERICA. CHILE WOULD BE OUR FIRST STOPPING OFF POINT.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES. IMOGEN HEAP’S MYCELIA WORLD TOUR COMES TO THE UK IN NOVEMBER. IMOGENHEAP.COM

Happy memories of Iceland

Where was your happiest holiday? I spent a few days in Iceland back in 2014 with my new man at the time. It was a very happy holiday because I brought home the best souvenir – I’d fallen pregnant with our daughter. We went back there last year as part of my European tour and swam with her in the geothermal pools and watched the Northern Lights. together. So many happy memories.

When you need to unwind where do you escape to? My studio or simply a piano. Making

music has always levelled me out. Otherwise, just a walk in nature, anywhere.

What destination most reminds you of childhood holidays? A big family holiday we

went on for two weeks in the States. Racing up some sand dunes to catch the sunset near Salt Lake City and meeting Native American activist and artist Fortunate Eagle in Nevada. We stopped off to see his Roundhouse gallery in Fallon and it made a huge impact on the nine-year-old me.

Chile is on Imogen’s bucket list

Which performance location was the most memorable? Haines, Alaska when

I was 19, in the Chilkat Center for Arts.

This was my introduction to solar and wind power, seeing so many stars, eating freshly caught salmon and being chased by a moose!

However, The Roundhouse in London holds Imogen was chased a very special place in my heart as it’s here by a moose in Alaska that I’ve done some of my most ambitious concerts and technically had my biggest failures and successes.

I’m really looking forward to finishing up my most ambitious tour to date there, wearing my MI.MU gloves system (the world’s Touring Alaska was an most advanced wearable unforgettable experience musical instrument).

Where do you keep going back to? We’ve recently found

Salt Lake City left a big impression on nine-year-old Imogen

The Cotswolds is a family haven

a perfect spot in the Cotswolds, which is close enough to London to be very reachable for a weekend. There are lakes and lots of fun activities for the daytime and cosy lodges for family evenings together.

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FOOD & TRAVEL

R E C I P E

ROAST WITH THE MOST

FOODIE TA L ES

How to cook the perfect grouse

G

rouse would be Theo Randall’s last supper main course: ‘There is nothing like the flavour of a wellhung, rare, juicy grouse.

The best way to cook it is by wrapping the bird with a few slices of fatty pancetta and filling the cavity with fresh thyme.’

ROASTED SCOTTISH GROUSE INGREDIENTS SERVES ONE » » » » » » » » » » » »

1 young grouse 3 slices of pancetta 1 sprig of fresh thyme Unsalted butter 1 slice of sourdough bread 3 fresh porcini mushrooms 1 pinch of fresh parsley, chopped ½ clove of garlic, sliced Salt & pepper 1 tbsp port or sweet red wine 3 tbsp of chicken stock 100g fresh watercress

Wrap the pancetta around the grouse and fill the cavity of the bird with thyme. Roast in an oven for ten minutes at 200°C with lots of butter, basting the breasts a couple of times during the cooking.

After five minutes add a slice of sourdough bread, sitting the grouse on top. This will make the bread crisp on one side and soggy on the other as it absorbs all the juices.

Take the grouse and bread out of the pan and leave in a warm place for five minutes, then remove the string. The residual heat will carry on cooking the grouse so it will be rare and juicy with pink legs.

Slice two to three fresh porcini no thinner than 1cm. Add them to the pan the grouse was cooked in with a pinch of chopped parsley, half a clove of sliced garlic, salt and pepper.

Cook gently for a few minutes.

Remove from the pan and place the porcini on the bread. Add a tablespoon of port or sweet red wine to the pan and reduce with three tablespoons of chicken stock.

Reduce until syrupy, add a knob of chilled butter and stir well.

To serve, place the cooked grouse on a plate next to the bread and porcini mushrooms and pour over the sauce to cover the grouse. Serve with fresh watercress on the side and a glass of very good red wine. n

BEN TISH HAS CURATED A SELECTION OF THE BEST GAME RECIPES FROM HIS FELLOW CHEFS Food philosophy? Produce led, simple and flavoursome.

First dish you learned to cook? Macaroni and cheese out of a box.

Most vivid childhood food memory?

Flambéing steak on Friday nights with my dad.

Biggest mistake you’ve made in the kitchen? I accidentally turned off the electrics to my kitchen on a hot, summer Saturday evening. The team arrived on Monday to a war zone, everything was completely off.

I’m not sure I admitted it was me!

Most memorable meal out? It was at a bistro called Le Chardenoux in Paris for my wife’s birthday. The food was simple, but incredibly tasty and it was the most beautiful place.

Favourite ingredient that is in season right now? Pumpkin – either puréed, in risotto, stuffed or roasted.

Do you have any unusual rules in your kitchen? I can’t bear whistling. Usually it signifies a happy chef, but I think I had I drilled into me at an early stage in my career not to do it.

What’s in your fridge right now?

It’s completey packed with vegetables and fruit, yogurt, feta, halloumi, coffee, wholemeal pitta and wine. There’s also sparkling water and a chicken.

Last time you sent something back to the kitchen? Last night – I had a pasta dish that was too wet.

Who would you most like to take out for dinner? I’d take my wife to Scott’s in Mayfair.

Least favourite ingredient?

Sweet potato.

RECIPE EXTRACTED FROM GLORIOUS GAME, COMPILED BY BEN TISH (FACE PUBLICATIONS, £40)

METHOD

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FOOD & TRAVEL R E S T A U R A N T

R E V I E W S

FORK & FIELD

Clementina Jackson contrasts a full blow-out in Oxfordshire with a satisfyingly simple supper on The Strand

COUNTRY

BELMOND LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, Oxfordshire

TOWN

PHOTOS: © TIM GREEN

YEN, WC2

If, like me, you start to feel fatigued by London’s overzealous festivities almost as soon as they begin, supper at Yen is a welcome and necessary respite from it all. Pared back without a hint of bells and whistles, this elegant restaurant serves some of the finest, and most authentic, Japanese food in town. From its minimalist interiors to a menu of beautifully executed classics, simplicity is the name of the game here. In that spirit, take heed from my shamelessly numerous trips there and order the following: freshly home-made tofu, served with dashi, soy, ginger and scallions (trust me, it’s brilliant); the chef’s assorted omakase sushi, lightly brushed with soy; soba noodles, hand-made on site and the best in London, served hot or cold (if they have uni, get it on top); and finally, the freshest chargrilled eel, au naturel for the hardcore or with teriyaki sauce for hesitant newbies – all washed down with specially-imported sakes and shochu.

Utter perfection amid all the noise.

Set lunch, £27. yen-london.co.uk

Turn off the M40 and along a lavender-lined path and you’ll find yourself down the rabbit hole that is Le Manoir. Croquet on the lawn, birds chirping in colourful gardens, fancy aperitifs and cigars in the sun – a nirvana of pre-Brexit Britain.

This little corner of Oxfordshire seems to have remained untouched by it all, so why not exploit this limited window where spending vast amounts on one evening of pure, escapist joy can be put down to gloom-busting necessity and festive cheer? From the intricate amuse-bouches to the greatest cheese trolley in all the land, Raymond Blanc does fine dining like no other: chic but never stuffy, exclusive yet intimate, with a menu full of killer ingredients picked metres away from your table. In these dark times, his restaurant is a sparkling celebration – and reminder – of the great, inalienable joy of sharing epic food and wine with loved ones in a magical setting.

Tasting menu from £190. belmond.com

ROAST BATTLE THE BEST JOINTS ON A SUNDAY

ADAM HANDLING CHELSEA, SW1 This might be the most decadent Sunday lunch out there. The only problem is overindulging on the freeflowing bellinis and seafood buffet – all you can eat crab claws, six types of smoked salmon – before you even get to the main event: perfectly pink beef Wellington with clotted cream mash. adamhandlingchelsea.co.uk

CORA PEARL, WC2 This is a jolly place to while away a Sunday afternoon, with a handily central location. We didn’t think we needed it, but it turns out that a cheese and ham toastie before a roast is actually essential. Top marks for the soundtrack and the Yorkshire pudding apple crumble. corapearl.co.uk

GUNPOWDER, SE1 Bored of the same old thing?

Gunpowder’s beef rib braised in Kerala pepper sauce will shake you out of your ennui. Instead of the usual roast potatoes and gravy, it is served with pickled madras onions, aloo chaat, egg curry masala and mustard broccoli. The other curve ball is that this roast happens every Saturday. gunpowderlondon.com

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FOOD & DRINK D R I N K

HAPPY HOUR ’Tis the season to learn the art of the perfect toast, says Alice Lascelles

A DR IN K W ITH...

A GOOD YEAR

W

hat happened to the art of toasting? No one seems to know what to say, whether to stand up, cheer or clink glasses.

‘Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends,’ is a favourite toast of mine. It does, of course, require some really tip-top champagne to go with it, or you risk making enemies.

IN THE PINK

Billecart-Salmon is renowned for its rosé and this, the house’s prestige cuvée, is the pinnacle: copper-pink, with pure aromas of wet flower petals and stone fruits and more mature rhubarb, orange zest and musky rose on the palate. £169.95. thefinestbubble.com

IN OR OUT? STAYING IN

LOST DISTILLERIES WHISKY TASTING SET All six drams in this unique tasting set hail from distilleries that are no longer in production, which means they’re all vanishingly rare. Savour these whiskies and weep. £340. thewhiskyexchange.com

The new 2012 vintage – currently being released by many houses – is shaping up to be another excellent year: exuberantly fruity, fresh and rather more approachable now than many of the slower-maturing 2008s.

Taittinger’s bright, delicate style really shines here, in exotic, tangy notes of pineapple, honeyed citrus and a very poised finish. It could go several more years in the cellar, but I find it irresistible now. £40.75. thechampagne company.com

IN THE KNOW

Charles Heidsieck is an insider favourite: blended from ten crus, it’s famously luxurious and rich. The characteristic acidity of 2008 – a vintage hailed by many as the best in living memory – gives this wine’s creamy, nuttiness a wonderful lift. A really opulent champagne that will just go on getting better. £125. fortnumandmason.com

RICHARD BRENDON, TABLEWARE DESIGNER

1

What are you drinking? A glass of Les Cailloux 2015 from Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey.

2 3 4

Who are you drinking it with? My lovely fiancée Lulu.

Guilty pleasure? Champagne with ready-salted crisps.

Can you mix a cocktail? My house special is an Old Fashioned with Griottines cherries and Jack Rudy aromatic bitters from Colorado.

5

Most you’ve spent on a bottle of wine? $100 on a bottle of Corison. I would like to try it again in 15 years’ time.

6

Who would you like to buy a drink for? A cup of Jing tea, for Josiah Wedgwood at a lovely London tearoom.

7 8 9

Favourite bartender? Ryan Chetiyawardana at Lyaness.

Any pet peeves?

Crap glasses!

What would you drink if it was your last night on earth?

1945 Mouton Rothschild.

10

The wine is corked – do you tell your host? Yes, in a charming way, of course.

One Glass for Every Wine, the Jancis Robinson collection by Richard Brendon is out now. richardbrendon.com

GOING OUT

KWANT

Soak up some unseasonal Tiki vibes – and superlative cocktails – at this decadent Mayfair hideaway from the former head bartender of The Savoy, Erik Lorincz.

If you’re convening Christmas drinkies, the palm-lined nook is the place to be. momo.london

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PROPERTY

PHOTOS: © ALEXANDER JAMES FOR QATARI DIAR; © RAY MAIN ON BEHALF OF ELICYON; © JACK HOBHOUSE FOR SQUIRE & PARTNERS

HOUSE OF THE MONTH Sell it to us in a sentence… Set within London’s most coveted neighbourhood in Belgravia, this residence has unbelievable views across Royal Hospital Chelsea and Whistler Square.

Whistler Square, Chelsea Barracks, Belgravia

Does it have any juicy history? It was the iconic former British Army Barracks for 150 years.

The Victorian Garrison chapel, built in 1859 by architect George Morgan, was a focal point of the original military barracks.

Price: £24m

Who is behind the design? Elicyon, which has woven delicate military details into the design and clever rivet detailing inspired by the nearby Chelsea Bridge.

4 bedrooms 5 bathrooms 399 m/2

Most unusual feature? From one side of the apartment you can see across Whistler Square and the London skyline, including The London Eye and the Shard, and from the other side, out across the Royal Hospital Chelsea and its gardens.

What would parties be like here? At the Garrison Club downstairs, guests can reatreat to the residents lounge for after-dinner drinks, or the billiards room for games and drams from the whisky store.

Perks of the area? Garrison Square will be the hub of the new community with smart shops, a gallery (within the original Garrison Chapel) and a pop-up restaurant

by Michelin-starred chef Ollie Dabbous.

What are the neighbours like? They are the Chelsea Pensioners at Royal Hospital Chelsea just across the road.

We like its style but want somewhere bigger – are there more like this? There are 13 townhouses, which preserve the architectural integrity of the traditional townhouse. You’ll need to dig deep though as townhouses start from £38m.

020 7408 9710; chelseabarracks.com n

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L E T ’ S

M O V E

T O

BROCKENHURST All the fun of the New Forest. By Anna Tyzack

Well-heeled weekenders hoof it to The Pig

When in Brockenhurst Drinks after work The Sett has an extensive wine list and local cheese and charcuterie plates. thesett brockenhurst. co.uk Spa day The Herb House Spa at Lime Wood has inspiring forest views. limewood.co.uk

P

igs, ponies and sheep roam Brockenhurst in the New Forest, yet the cafés sell good coffee and there’s a fast train service to London. This juxtaposition of two worlds is why the village makes perfect sense for those fleeing the capital for a more rural way of life.

‘You’re deep in the forest with its walking trails and bridleways but there are also good pubs and restaurants and cultural events throughout the year,’ says Rob Batten of Spencers New Forest, ‘plus the coast is just four miles away.’ This is why Brockenhurst and the wider New Forest market have remained buoyant. Earlier this year a £4m property sold within a week, according to property finder Ben Horne of Middleton Advisors, and Drivers learn to be patient for ponies another, with a guide

price of £10m, sold for considerably more. Ed Cunningham of Knight Frank believes the arrival of trendy hotels such as Lime Wood, the Montagu Arms and The Pig has helped put the area on the map for prime buyers.

‘Gloucestershire has Soho Farmhouse and Hampshire has the area around Brockenhurst,’ he says. ‘If you have guests coming down for the weekend from London, you can enjoy the New Forest as well as an afternoon’s pampering.’

This new raft of visitors is discovering what New Forest locals know already: that the area has stunning natural scenery and a weekend here is not enough. Indeed, according to Batten, many who were born in the area are now returning.

‘It’s amazing how many people are coming back here when their children come up to school age,’ he says. ‘It’s popular with a growing number of commuters: the area works well for people who can work from home a couple of days a week.’

It was William the Conqueror who first

Something new Learn to identify mushrooms on a foraging expedition starting at The Red Shoot Inn. redshoot.co.uk Hire a bike You can cycle straight into the forest from Brockenhurst.

For hire shops see thenewforest. co.uk Pub lunch The dog friendly Royal Oak at Fritham is a proper forest pub with a thatched roof and beer garden. royaloakfritham. co.uk

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © JAKE EASTHAM; ©AMY MURRELL

Stunning scenery on your doorstep is the main attraction for buyers

Blow-out lunch The Elderflower is run by former Club Gascon head chef Andrew Du Bourg. elderflower restaurant.co.uk

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PROPERTY proclaimed the area a new royal forest and hunting ground in 1079. Today the New Forest National Park is one of southern England’s largest remaining swathes of unenclosed pasture, heath and forest, spanning 219 square miles. Yet it’s by no means a rural backwater – trains from Brockenhurst to London Waterloo take an hour and a half, and the journey from Southampton Airport Parkway is even faster.

London leavers appreciate the fact that Brockenhurst’s streets are lined with independent grocers, butchers and cafés.

‘Unlike in many parts of the countryside, you don’t need to get in your car,’ Batten explains.

There is also a lively village market every Saturday and an annual beer festival.

Pretty cottages in Brockenhurst and smallholdings in the surrounding countryside sell for a premium, from around £500,000 for a weekend house, according to Cunningham, and from £1.3m for a country house with

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © JAKE EASTHAM; ©AMY MURRELL

Sailing is popular at Lymington

a pony paddock. ‘There is a huge variety of properties within the forest, from Victorian and Edwardian to old farmhouses and some trendy new builds,’ he explains.

For those wanting an even more rural existence, the smaller villages of Beaulieu, Sway and Blissford are popular, while the most expensive properties in the area tend to be on the coast at Lymington – houses on Dock Lane on the Beaulieu River fetch some of the highest prices in the West Country. Milford-on-Sea, on the other hand, offers some of the best value in the area, as do the northern fringes of the forest.

The state primaries in the area are all rated at least ‘good’ by Ofsted. There are also a number of impressive state secondary schools within easy reach: Arnewood Academy at New Milton, and Bournemouth School and King Edward VI in Southampton, for example. In the private sector, Walhampton, Durlston Court and Forres Sandle Manor are popular prep schools, while Ballard takes pupils from nursery to GCSE. It’s the extra-curricular opportunities that make Brockenhurst so enticing, from sailing and water sports at Lymington to riding, cycling and walking in the New Forest. ‘You can also visit the Isle of Wight for lunch,’ adds Cunningham.

Due to its lively community there are events throughout the year, such as Milfordon-Sea Food Week, Lymington Seafood Festival, the New Forest Film Festival and Smoked & Uncut at Lime Wood.

True, New Forest motorists can get frustrated when held up by a herd of cattle or a free-roaming pony. But it’s a small price to pay for this unique part of the world, says Batten. ‘Where else do you find a beautiful coastline, an ancient forest and a train line – it knocks spots off everywhere else,’ he says. n

Lime Wood has an excellent day spa and hosts a summer music festival

FOR SA L E

LYMINGTON, £3.5m A substantial family house within the New Forest National Park near Lymington, with a well-appointed kitchen, dining room, sitting room and family room, plus seven bedrooms.

Outside are manicured gardens and grounds extending to seven acres, with a swimming pool. knightfrank.com

LYNDHURST, £4m Bartley Manor is a rare example of a Georgian manor in the New Forest.

The grand and spacious house is surrounded by 30 acres of gardens and parkland, within which are a threebedroom coach house, games room, stables and barn. knightfrank.com

SHIRLEY HOLMS, £1.175m This five-bedroom former farmhouse near Sway has significant potential for enlargement. An imposing entrance hall with wood-burning stove leads to a drawing room and sitting room. The kitchen has an Aga and there’s a boot room. The mature gardens are laid to lawn and there’s a terrace to enjoy the evening sun. spencersnewforest.com

EAST BOLDRE, £675,000 A Grade II-listed thatched cottage with substantial outbuildings near Brockenhurst. It has a large reception room with space for a dining table and a handmade kitchen with ceramic hob, plus three bedrooms upstairs. The garden has a workshop and direct forest access. spencersnewforest.com

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STOCKISTS ADLER adler.ch ALBERTA FERRETTI albertaferretti.com ALEXANDER MCQUEEN at harrods.com ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS ancient-greeksandals.com ASCENO asceno.com AWAY awaytravel.com AXEL ARIGATO axelarigato.com BAMFORD bamford.com BOODLES boodles.com CALZEDONIA uk.calzedonia.com CARTIER cartier.com

CASSANDRA GOAD cassandragoad.com CATHERINE BEST catherinebest.com CHANEL chanel.com CHINTI & PARKER chintiandparker.com CHOPARD chopard.com CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Christian Louboutin pop-up at burlington arcade.com

DOLCE & GABBANA dolceandgabbana.com DUNDAS at net-a-porter.com ELIE SAAB eliesaab.com EQUIPMENT at net-a-porter.com GALVAN galvanlondon.com GARRARD garrard.com GRAFF graff.com HARRY WINSTON harrywinston.com JENNIFER CHAMANDI at net-a-porter.com

DAVID MORRIS davidmorris.com

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DIOR dior.com DL1961 dl1961.com

KAVANT & SHARART kavantand sharart.com

LOEWE loewe.com MANOLO BLAHNIK manoloblahnik.com

ROBERTO CAVALLI robertocavalli.com ROSANTICA at harveynichols.com

MIU MIU at harrods.com; miumiu.com

RUPERT SANDERSON rupertsanderson.com

MOLLY GODDARD at net-a-porter.com

SABINA SAVAGE sabinasavage.com

OLYMPIA LE-TAN at net-a-porter.com

SHRIMPS at matchesfashion.com

PAUL SMITH paulsmith.com PHILOSOPHY DI LORENZO SERAFINI philosophyofficial.com PIPPA HOLT pippaholt.com PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI preenbythornton bregazzi.com

STEPHEN WEBSTER stephenwebster.com THE EXTREME COLLECTION at wolfandbadger.com VALENTINO valentino.com WILLIAM AND SON williamandson.com WOLFORD wolfordshop.co.uk

RALPH AND RUSSO at net-a-porter.com

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PROPERTY

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PARTY PADS

It’s not a proper party without your own private bowling alley, says Sofia Tindall TOWER BRIDGE, SE1, £10.75m

A sprawling private roof terrace and panoramic views of the river Thames make this property the king of all penthouses. Indoors (remove your shoes), there’s an open-plan living area and grandly-appointed bedrooms and bathrooms.

Barratt London developed each penthouse of the collection for ‘hotel-style living’, with access to a 24-hour concierge, residents’ lounge, wellness spa, swimming pool, gym and business suite. The City of London is on your doorstep, and there is a cinema room which can be booked for private screenings. knightfrank.com; barratthomes.co.uk

SURREY, £30m

In the breathtaking countryside of Godalming, this tenbedroom house captures the spirit of Marie Antoinette.

Arranged over three levels in addition to a gym and indoor swimming pool (with steam room), you’ll find a party room, indoor bowling alley, games room and home cinema – with a staff annexe and teenage dormitory for unexpected house guests. Continuing into the garden and acres of parkland, there is a summer pavilion, ornamental fountain, lake and tennis court. Eighteenth-century decadence to rival Versailles. knightfrank.com; housepartnership.co.uk

TYWARDALE, £1.39m Overlooking the beach at Polzeath, this Cornish property’s sleek open-plan living spaces spill onto the large terraces, with breathtaking views of the sunset. State-ofthe-art touches include a smart wood burner, four bedrooms and bathrooms, and there is planning permission for a one-bedroom annexe. Just a hop, skip and jump away in Rock and Daymer Bay, sports enthusiasts will find an 18-hole golf course and leisure club. johnbraysales.co.uk

STOKE NEWINGTON, N16, £3.25m Dating from 1890, The Depository sports original crittal windows, cast iron pillars and a revamped loading bay and internal courtyard. No wonder the former industrial warehouse was used for countless film and photographic shoots, as well as the location for the original Dragons’ Den. With five sprawling reception rooms and two WCs (handily, ‘ladies’ and ‘gents’) – just add a hyper-trendy East London guestlist. fyfemcdade.com

REGENT’S PARK, NW1, £16.95m This regal six-bedroom and bathroom home has stunning panoramic views of Regent’s Park, and recently underwent a full makeover.

Over its six floors, it boasts two kitchens, a separate mews house, family room and dressing room en-suites. There is also a gym, media room, lift and spectacular west-facing garden. Within walking distance are the boating lake, open-air theatre and grounds of Queen Mary’s Garden. beauchamp.com

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A classic Chelsea house just off the King's Road.

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Bywater Street, Chelsea SW3 A classic terraced house quietly situated in this charming cul de sac close to Sloane Square.

Located in close proximity to all of the international amenities of the area and ideally located for access to the District and Circle line at Sloane Square Underground Station.

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Popular Chelsea location Balcony and private patio Spacious and bright Approximately 1,604 sq ft

Roly Ingleby-MacKenzie looks forward to helping you. roly.im@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5930 078 3340 0415

Guide price

£3,250,000

Freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A fantastic Grade II listed mews house.

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Holland Park Mews, Holland Park W11 Holland Park Mews has good access to the City via Holland Park underground station (Central line) whilst also benefiting from the cafes, restaurants and shops both on Holland Park Avenue and at Westfield. The open spaces of Holland Park itself are close by.

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Michael Sands looks forward to helping you. michael.sands@knightfrank.com 020 3589 2698

Stylish interior with exposed brickwork High ceilings reaching up to 3.93m Integral garage and a balcony Approximately 1,340 sq ft (124.5 sq m)

Guide price

£2,000,000

Freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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The ambassadorial mansion with a carriage driveway.

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Avenue Road, St John's Wood NW8 A newly developed detached ambassadorial mansion over three floors. This extremely wide detached home is set behind electric gates and a carriage driveway with a beautiful west facing rear garden.

James Simpson looks forward to helping you.

James.Simpson@knightfrank.com 020 7586 2777

• Garden • Gym • Private parking • Approximately 10,000 sq ft

Guide price available on request knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A spacious apartment in a traditional building.

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South Audley Street, Mayfair W1K A spacious lateral apartment set on the third floor of a period, Victorian building. The apartment benefits from authentic fireplaces, underground storage, multi channel light dimming system and air conditioning throughout.

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Alastair Nicholson looks forward to helping you. alastair.nicholson@knightfrank.com 020 3589 0899

Excellent ceiling heights extending to 2.5 metres Separate office that could be used as a fourth bedroom A fantastic array of five star restaurants on its doorstep Approximately 1,933 sq ft (179.6 sq m)

Guide price

£5,950,000

Leasehold: approximately 146 years remaining knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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Drayton Gardens, Chelsea SW10 An excellent house in a prime Chelsea location between Fulham and Old Brompton Road. The house is presented in immaculate order and the accommodation works brilliantly for a family.

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sarah.rose@knightfrank.com 020 7349 4304

Superb proportions throughout West-facing garden Approximately 2,927 sq ft

Asking Price

£5,500,000 knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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Lamont Road, Chelsea SW10 A well presented house with generous volume and a fabulous living space.

The house is situated within the preferred western side of the road.

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james.pace@knightfrank.com 020 7349 4302

South-facing first floor drawing room Mature rear garden Approximately 2,428 sq ft

Asking Price

£3,900,000 knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A stylish and contemporary family home in Notting Hill.

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2 Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill W2 A charming and immaculately presented house showcasing vast volumes, lateral living space and superb decoration throughout. This is the perfect mix of traditional and modern living.

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Caroline Foord looks forward to helping you. caroline.foord@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5451

Spacious private garden Abundance of natural light Gated off-street parking Approximately 2,730 sq ft

Guide price

£4,995,000

Freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A stunning mews house in Belgravia.

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Eaton Mews North, Belgravia SW1 A newly built mews house which has been refurbished to an exceptional standard, offering an occupier the chance to reside in a home not previously lived in. The Mews House is designed to a traditional external appearance with a spacious and contemporary internal layout.

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Matthew Armstrong looks forward to helping you. matthew.armstrong@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5908

Air conditioning throughout Private Parking Approximately 2,461 sq ft

Guide price

£6,850,000 knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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An exceptional townhouse in the heart of Soho.

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D'Arblay Street, Soho W1F An impressive 18th century listed townhouse in trendy Soho, that offers a private roof terrace providing views over the London rooftops, as well as being located close to a vast array of shopping and entertainment facilities.

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Jonathan Fieldman looks forward to helping you. jonathan.fieldman@knightfrank.com 020 3589 0899

Comprising plentiful entertaining space Retains a wealth of period and historical features Benefitting from spa facilities including a sauna Approximately 3,272 sq ft (304 sq m)

Guide price

£4,950,000

Freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A period townhouse with original features.

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Marlborough Place, St. John's Wood NW8 A stunning, period freehold house with a beautiful private garden.

Marlborough Place is a secluded street, located on the West Side of St John's Wood.

Declan Selbo looks forward to helping you. declan.selbo@knightfrank.com 020 7586 2777

• Terrace • Garden • Gym • Approximately 4,430 sq ft Guide price available on request

knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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An exceptional first floor lateral apartment.

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Warwick Square, Pimlico SW1 An elegant apartment with impressive proportions throughout arranged over two white stucco fronted buildings and located in arguably the best address in Pimlico.

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Matthew Armstrong looks forward to helping you. matthew.armstrong@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5908

Communal garden Grade II listed Approximately 1,962 sq ft Close to shops and amenities

Guide price

£4,100,000

Share of freehold and approximately 994 years remaining lease knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A lateral penthouse in a prime Knightsbridge address.

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2 Egerton Place, Knightsbridge SW3 The apartment is situated in one of the most sought-after addresses in Knightsbridge.

Located south of the Brompton Road, within close proximity to Harrods and many of the international amenities that the surrounding area has to offer.

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South-facing reception room Abundance of natural light Balcony with panoramic views Approximately 1,786 sq ft

Charles Olver looks forward to helping you. charles.olver@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5930 077 1743 0275

Guide price

£4,500,000

Leasehold: approximately 986 years remaining knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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A duplex situated close to Kensington Gardens.

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2 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington W8 Palace Gardens Terrace is an elegant cherry tree lined street located just off Kensington Church Street, which offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants, whilst Kensington High Street, Notting Hill and the green spaces of Holland Park are very close by.

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Michael Sands looks forward to helping you. michael.sands@knightfrank.com 020 3589 2698

An attractive white stucco-fronted period conversion Stylishly redeveloped Occupies the entire second and third floor Approximately 924 sq ft (86 sq m)

Guide price

£1,900,000

Share of freehold knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

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Immaculately presented properties in Notting Hill.

Artesian Road, Notting Hill W2 Lateral and interior designed apartment situated in one of the most desired locations in the heart of Notting Hill.

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Abundance of natural light and high ceilings Immaculately presented Sky light above the dining area Approximately 500 sq ft

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Chelsea Whelan looks forward to helping you.

chelsea.whelan@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5451

Guide price £875,000

Lancaster Road, Notting Hill W11 Spacious and beautifully interior designed apartment in a charming period building.

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Presented in excellent condition Well-proportioned rooms Dual aspect Approximately 1,242 sq ft

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chelsea.whelan@knightfrank.com

Guide price £1,695,000

020 8166 5451

knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent and the deposit, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property (if not an AST). (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) If the landlord agrees to you having a pet, you may be required to pay a higher deposit (if not an AST) or higher weekly rent (if an AST). Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees.

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Stunning Victorian Townhouse Waterford Road, SW6 Fulham Broadway Underground Station: 0.2 miles This superb family home has been cleverly designed, benefiting from intelligent storage solutions and vast amounts of light. Double reception room, kitchen/dining room, master bedroom (en suite) with dressing area, 4 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms, balcony, garden. EPC=C Freehold | 2,486 sq ft | Guide ÂŁ3.15 million Emma Stead Savills Fulham 020 3925 9885 estead@savills.com

COUNTRY Savills.indd &1TOWN HOUSE_FP_ DECEMBER EDITION_ 64 WATERFORD ROAD.indd 58

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Immaculate Family Home Kersley Street, SW11 Clapham Junction Station: 0.8 miles, Battersea Park Station: 0.8 miles Beautifully refurbished and situated close to the wonderful amenities of Battersea Park. Double reception room, kitchen/dining room, 5 bedrooms (3 en suite), further bathroom, cinema/family room, guest cloakroom, paved garden. EPC=C Freehold | 2,809 sq ft | Guide £3.4 million Mayow Short Savills Battersea Park 020 3925 9661 mshort@savills.com

Camilla Harris Savills Battersea Park 020 3944 6094 charris@savills.com

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Queensberry Mews West, SW7 £3,450,000 This beautiful period maisonette is arranged over two floors and is impeccably presented throughout.

The property benefits from three en suite bedrooms, including a master suite with walk-in wardrobe, an outstanding open-plan entertaining space, and a separate dining hall. Freehold. EPC=D • Designed by Finchatton • Private entrance • Cinema room South Kensington sales: 020 8033 9034 sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

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T H E U LT I M AT E DESIGN

BUILD

At Octagon, we have over 40 years experience and an unrivalled reputation for building spectacular, one-of-a kind homes to the highest standard of luxury. Our discreet bespoke service takes clients on a journey from planning stages through to handing over the keys, with our in-house experts on hand every step of the way.

Whether an Arts and Crafts country home, inner-city apartment or Georgian inspired townhouse, our team of architects, interior designers and project managers help clients realise their dream homes. Whether you have a piece of land already secured, wish to replace an existing property or completely renovate your current home, Octagon Bespoke can help you transform your vision into something truly unique. Bespoke projects start from ÂŁ1m.

020 8481 7500 | OCTAGONBESPOKE.CO.UK

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Substantial country house with tennis court, swimming pool and stabling, all in 11 acres - Drinkstone, Suffolk An elegant 6-bedroom Victorian farmhouse which has been totally remodelled, incorporating a stylish contemporary ‘wing’ which encompasses the main living and dining areas as well as a vaulted Aga kitchen, all overlooking the grounds through 30’ sliding doors. Within the grounds are garaging, manege and stabling, heated pool and all-weather tennis court.

Guide: £2.15m Bury St Edmunds 01284 769 999

Award-winning contemporary house in rural Norfolk

Cottage with studio, overlooking a Suffolk village green

RIBA 2019 Suffolk ‘Design Award’-winning barn extending to 2,300ft2 of open-plan living space, mezzanine/study, 4 double bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Peaceful rural setting but just 15 minutes to a mainline train station.

Guide: £749,000 Bury St Edmunds 01284 769 999

A beautifully presented and restored thatched cottage situated in an enviable village setting, convenient for Stowmarket mainline train station (Liverpool Street 90 minutes) and the historic town of Bury St Edmunds.

Guide: £425,000 Bury St Edmunds 01284 769 999

bedfords.co.uk Bedford.indd 1

SPECIALISTS IN THE SALE OF CHARACTER HOUSES | NORFOLK & SUFFOLK

24/10/2019 16:03

TORQUAY SOUTH DEVON A beacon of architectural design, this iconic cliff top home is designed for luxury living and remarkable entertaining, sublime views capturing a breathtaking panorama of the sea and coastline

£3,300,000 Freehold

• Open plan living area with kitchen, • dining and sitting room • West wing with bar and entertainment room • East wing with formal sitting room • and cloakroom • Laundry room, catering kitchen, walk in pantry, cloakroom, plant and service room • First floor with 3 bedrooms, all en-suite, • study/bedroom 5, shower room • Top floor suite with master bedroom, • en-suite bathroom, en-suite shower room, • custom designed closets and gym • Lift access to all floors • Landscaped gardens, garaging, car port

01803 296500 mail@johncouch.co.uk www.johncouch.co.uk 43 llsham Road Wellswood Torquay TQ1 2JG

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Hamptons Amersham

AMERSHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Guide Price ÂŁ1,950,000 Freehold Honeywood is an exceptionally striking and unique modern family home that was completed in 2017, to a meticulous standard with great attention to detail.

5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 1 reception room, EPC: C

hamptons.co.uk |

2327 HAM C&TH12pp Advert Dec 2019 v2.indd 1 Hamptons.indd

@hamptonsint

Kraig Butler | 01494 355 279 | butlerk@hamptons-int.com

24/10/2019 16:00 14:37 24/10/2019

Hamptons Reigate

REIGATE, SURREY Guide Price ÂŁ2,295,000 Freehold A handsome detached residence with lots of character that was constructed in 1901. The property combines period detailing with contemporary styling.

6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms, EPC: D

hamptons.co.uk |

2327 HAM C&TH22pp Advert Dec 2019 v2.indd 2 Hamptons.indd

@hamptonsint

Jonathan Higginson | 01737 400 258 | higginsonj@hamptons-int.com

24/10/2019 17:17 14:37 31/10/2019

FryerningOngar, EssexEssex Greenstead, Fryerning Essex Guide Price £2,495,000 Guide Price £3,850,000 Guide Price £3,850,000

A stunning detached residence circa 10,000 sq. ft., striking five double bedroom, reception Grade II AAstriking five double bedroom, fourfour reception Grade II offering a high specification, five en-suite bedrooms listed period property thought to date backback 500 years. listed period property thought to date 500 years. on a plot of approx. 3 acres with separate Annexe, This residence is originally thought to beto 3 be 3 Thischarming charming residence is originally thought stunning formal gardens and pasture/paddock cottages, now providing a fantastic flow of interesting cottages, now providing a fantastic flow of interesting land. Located in a private setting yet within striking and family living space overover two floors.

The The andextensive extensive living two floors. distance of Eppingfamily Central Linespace Station offering 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed commutability with the M11 and M25. EPC C.

sympathetically with paddocks (benefitting fromfrom a sympathetically with paddocks (benefitting a second separate access), ponds and a substantial lake. second separate access), ponds and a substantial lake.

Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian potential.

EPC Exempt

potential. EPC Exempt

Country && Village ce 01277 Country VillageOffi Office 01245350614 397475

Country & Village Office 01245 397475

Fryerning Essex Essex Matching Green, Guide GuidePrice Price £3,850,000 £2,250,000

Fryerning Essex An imposing c.15th Century Grade II Listed Grade II A striking five double bedroom, four reception residence onproperty a plot ofthought approx.to1.85 acres Guide Price £3,850,000 listed period date backwith 500 years. swimming pool, tennis court and stunning This charming residence is originally thought to be 3

A striking five double bedroom, four reception Grade II landscaped garden areas, located within cottages, now providing a fantastic flow of interesting listedand period property thought to date back 500 years. the picturesque village ofspace Matching extensive family living over Green, two floors.

The This charming residence is originally thought to be 3 surrounded by Essex countryside, well placed 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed for cottages, providing apaddocks fantastic(benefitting flow ofAirport) interesting road now and rail links (M11/M25/Stansted sympathetically with from a and Epping mainliving line station.

EPC exempt. and extensive family space over two floors. Thelake. second separate access), ponds and a substantial 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds Numerous outbuildings, tennis court,mixed double garage sympathetically with paddocks from a and detached one bedroom(benefitting annexe. Equestrian potential.

EPCaccess), Exemptponds and a substantial lake. second separate Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian Country&&Village VillageOffice Office01245 01277397475 350614 Country potential. EPC Exempt

Country Village Office 01245 397475 Sales •&Lettings • Mortgages Beresford.indd 157 Sales • Lettings • Mortgages

30/10/2019 16:48

The

HOUSE GUEST

New to Country & Town House, The House Guest podcast – exclusive interviews with the biggest names from the world of design and decoration THE

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

PODCAST House Ads 2016.indd 14

@countryandtown /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse countryandtownhouse.co.uk

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