THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
FEBRUARY 2019 £3.90
BUCKET LIST
Dominic West’s holiday memories
A HUMAN WITH HEART
Meeting novelist William Boyd
CARLOS ACOSTA
ATLANTIC CROSSING The British brands thriving in the USA
SPRINGTIME IN PARIS What’s new in the City of LIghts
INTERVIEWED BY LYNN BARBER
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GREAT MINDS INDU LG E IN THE LU XU RY OF LE I S UR E
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CONTENTS F E B R U A R Y 2 019
COLUMNS 18 20
THE GOOD LIFE The yoga penny finally drops for Alice B-B THE RURBANIST Alistair Petrie
UP FRONT 23 24 26 27
A BIGGER SPLASH A smart three-piece L’UOMO VOGUE Dress like an Italian STYLE NOTEBOOK Doggy style MY STYLE England rugby star Chris Robshaw 28 SMALLS ARE BEAUTIFUL Lingerie 30 LUXE WITH LUCIA Holland Cooper crosses the town/country divide 32 GOLD DIGGER Jewellery news 34 ROMANCING THE STONE It’s V Day! 36 BRIGHT YOUNG THING Olivia Arben 37 BEAUTY TEST Help with hair regrowth 38 BODY & SOUL Magnificent matcha 40 WELL GROOMED Men’s style news 42 AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... Henry Conway on dressing for the red carpet
THE GUIDE 45 48 50 52
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THE DIARY What to do this month ARTS AGENDA French invaders and five new historical films with a modern message WELL READ Books THE OLYMPIAN Sebastian Coe on the man responsible for revolutionising the modern day Olympics ROAD TEST Volvo XC90 T8 R-Design CONVERSATIONS AT SCARFES BAR Most famous for spotting a fake, art dealer Philip Mould chats to Charlotte Metcalf
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LIFE AFTER TIGHTS He may have given up centre stage, but Carlos Acosta’s dance mission is far from over, says Lynn Barber AN ENGLISH BRAND IN NEW YORK Cracking America is the elusive Holy Grail for many a British brand. Charlotte Metcalf salutes those who have achieved it A GOOD MAN IN LITERATURE Alexander Larman meets William Boyd, one of the UK’s best-loved authors and a critical success too
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CONTENTS F E B R U A R Y 2 019
THE INSIDER 71 72 74 76 77
SIGN LANGUAGE Make a grab for graphics THE HOME OFFICE How to make it work DESIGN NOTES News, views and inspiration by Carole Annett MATERIAL CULTURE Get folksy DESIGN Q&A Rose Murray
FOOD & TRAVEL 79
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ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET Caroline Phillips trogs after quadrupeds in Uganda BUCKET LIST Our new series starts with actor Dominic West reminiscing about his holiday memories with Holly Rubenstein THE HOTEL WIZARD Crazy for Corsica THE WEEKENDER Tokyo PARIS, I LOVE YOU From the hottest hotels to the city’s best kept secrets, via the best winter exhibitions and a motherdaughter weekend, the City of Light comes under the spotlight GASTRO GOSSIP Should you give up avocado? CARROT TOP Add spice to your root veg with Tom Kerridge FORK & FIELD A slice of Shoreditch in Somerset and cruising with seafood
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ON THE COVER Carlos Acosta wears T-shirt by Sunspel (sunspel.com) and shorts by Capezio (capezioeurope.com). Photography by Chris Lane. Fashion direction by Nicole Smallwood. Grooming by Sophie Higginson using Kiehl’s
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PROPERTY OF THE MONTH LET’S MOVE TO... Oxford MY HOUSE Anna Garner FIVE OF THE BEST Villas for winter sun
10 12 41
EDITOR’S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS HIGH SOCIETY
REGULARS
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T I M E L E S S I TA L I A N M E N S W E A R F O R T H O S E W H O A P P R E C I AT E C R A F T S M A N S H I P D I R E C T LY F R O M T H E M A K E R S
Shop online at
LUCAFALONI.COM F re e Wo r l d w i d e D e l i v e r y & R e t u r n s
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58 EDITOR’S PICK S
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ho doesn’t love a rags to riches tale? Who doesn’t revel in the feisty underdog who goes on achieve the seemingly impossible? Such is the story of Carlos Acosta, whose inauspicious beginnings in his native Cuba could never have pointed to him becoming one of the world’s most extraordinary dancers. And even though you may have missed your chance to see him take centre stage as a classical ballet dancer, his talent will shine on through his own Cuban dance company that he set up last year. Read Lynn Barber’s interview with him on page 58. Talent, in fact, courses through this issue as Alexander Larman meets literary heavyweight and bestselling author William Boyd, whose prolific output features titles such as A Good Man in Africa, Any Human Heart and Restless – I’d be surprised if
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you didn’t have any of his books on your shelves at home (p68). Stuck in our current Brexit impasse, we thought we should take a look at the British brands who are thriving across the pond. It’s no easy nut to crack and many fail to capture a very different buying audience, so a bit of back slapping for those who do make it is thoroughly deserved (p64). We hope you’ll notice that we’ve had a little freshen up of the magazine, so we stride into the new year with a smart new look. I also want to introduce our brand new regular feature, Bucket List, which sees Holly Rubenstein chat to A-listers about all things travel. First up is Dominic West on page 82. And in future editions, we’ll be welcoming Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin as a food columnist and Alice Lascelles as our new drinks columnist. Finally, have you tuned into our new podcast, House Guest, which sees our interiors editor Carole Annett chat to the great and good in the world of interiors? It makes for wonderful listening. Find it on iTunes or direct from our website.
@countryandtown /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse
WEAR Do V day with attitude thanks to Theo Fennell
WATCH You never had a chance of a ticket so hop on the sofa and watch Spingsteen on Broadway on Netflix instead. Gold standard
SUBSCRIBE Get off your screen and exercise your brain with Puzzlelux’s puzzles delivered to your door
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
EDITOR’S LETTER
GO BACK To the Seventies with Dodo Bar Or’s fab S/S’19 collection
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HANDMADE IN ENGLAND E T T I N G E R .CO.U K +44 (0)20 8877 1616
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Nicole Fuller
CONTRIBUTORS
LYNN BARBER
Who’s been your favourite interviewee? My first ever interview was with Salvador Dalí and that was good fun. More recent favourites include Rupert Everett, Tracey Emin, Courtney Love and Nicky Haslam. On March 29, you will be… Celebrating something, but heaven knows what. Just the fact that it’s over – if it is. Your literary hero is… The Great Gatsby because he is so intriguing. It’s cold, dark February. Make us smile… Oh PLEASE don’t make me tell a joke! The only good thing about February is that it’s short and you know primroses will be coming soon.
HOLLY RUBENSTEIN
STELLA 01
savoirbeds.com
London
New York
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Paris
Shanghai
Hong Kong
Who’s been your favourite interviewee? Tom Hanks is the nicest man in Hollywood. He loves all things British, especially football – he’s a big Aston Villa supporter. On March 29, you will be... I’m not sure that Brexit day will in fact remain Brexit day, but if it does, I’ll be feeling very sombre. Your literary hero is… Unashamedly, Hermione Granger – she’s ambitious, sassy and kind, in equal measure. I was such a fan that I actually auditioned for the movie. When I was told I was too tall to read for Hermione, I was devastated. It’s cold, dark February. Make us smile... I once interviewed Sir David Attenborough and asked him which animal he’d be reincarnated as. His cheeky answer? The leopard slug, because of its erotic mating ritual.
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53 JERMYN STREET, LONDON | 118 HIGH STREET, ETON | 970 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK WWW.NEWANDLINGWOOD.COM
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CONTRIBUTORS
ALEXANDER LARMAN
Who’s been your favourite interviewee? Bill Nighy, because he was warm, friendly, funny, and never afraid to bat back an ill-informed question with wry humour. On March 29, you will be… Either sitting in a corner, sobbing gently into my Rough Guide to Europe, or having a celebratory glass of French, Italian or Spanish wine at the narrowness of the escape we’ve had. Your literary hero is... Lord Rochester, for living a life ten times more decadent, eventful and exciting than any other fictional character, and all before his death at the age of 33. It’s cold, dark February. Make us smile… My favourite saying: ‘Standards in public life are rather like trousers. They should either be up or down. Halfway up, they’re no good to anyone at all.’
ADRIAANE PIELOU
MADE IN ENGLAND | SINCE 1879
Chiltern
in Earth Green suede with our Dainite rubber sole CROCKETTANDJONES.COM
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Who’s been your favourite interviewee? Hitler’s favourite American actress, the late Lina Basquette, who got lured to Berlin in 1937, pushed onto the bearskin on his bed, and of whom I got to ask my all-time favourite question: ‘So did Hitler put his tongue in your mouth?’ Answer: ‘Tried to, the rascal.’ On March 29 you will be… Highly optimistic. Nothing better than a bit of self-determination. Your literary hero is… Nancy Mitford, so skilled at conveying depth of feeling with the lightest of touches. It’s cold, dark February. Make us smile… Easy. Just go on to the wonderful Q&A site quora.com and search for responses to questions about rescue dogs. Admittedly that’ll make you cry, too.
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MADE IN ENGLAND | SINCE 1879 BY APPOINTMENT TO HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER OF FOOTWEAR CROCKETT & JONES LIMITED, NORTHAMPTON
Chiltern A classic Chukka Boot, made in England, using the finest Dark Brown, Snuff and Earth Green Suede CROCKETTANDJONES.COM
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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 FASHION DIRECTOR Nicole Smallwood BEAUTY DIRECTOR Nathalie Eleni FASHION EDITOR Lucy Bond LUXURY EDITOR Lucia van der Post INTERIORS EDITOR Carole Annett JEWELLERY EDITOR Annabel Davidson RETAIL EDITOR Rosalyn Wikeley PROPERTY EDITOR Anna Tyzack EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Clementina Jackson ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Maya Monro-Somerville PROPERTY MARKETING MANAGER Gemma Cowley DIGITAL MANAGER Adam Dean SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Felicity Reid JUNIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Ellie Rix CREATIVE DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Parm Bhamra JUNIOR PRODUCTION DESIGNER Samuel Thomas ONLINE EDITOR Rebecca Cox DIGITAL ASSISTANT Ellie Smith JUNIOR ONLINE WRITER Bella Lewis TECHNICAL MANAGER Hannah Johnson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Mark Pearson DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY Wil Harris DIGITAL INTERN Kerri Stolerman CREDIT CONTROLLER Penny Burles SALES & OFFICE MANAGER Daisy Orr-Ewing ACCOUNTS CONTROLLER Aimi Nicastro FINANCE DIRECTOR Jill Newey PUBLISHER Julia Carrick MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeremy Isaac CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stephen Bayley, Simon de Burton, Fiona Duncan, Daisy Finer, Lydia Gard, Avril Groom, Richard Hopton, Emma Love, Mary Lussiana, Anna Pasternak, Caroline Phillips, Marcus Scriven 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
W in te r S a le NOW ON E n d s 2 n d F e b ru a ry
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.
V is it o u r s h o w ro o m : 6 3 4 -6 3 6 K in g s R o a d , L o n d o n S W 6 2 D U 0 2 0 7 7 3 6 4 1 4 1 ijlb r o w n .c o m Country & Town House is a member of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
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COLUMN found Heartcore in Notting Hill, a beautiful airy, first-floor studio where each teacher is better than the next. And suddenly I don’t know how or why – but this is the time in my life when I finally get it. Probably because I need it. Yoga will be underpinning my life in 2019. And if you want to kick me… I don’t blame you. WINTER IN THE MAGIC COTTAGE. Fires are lit, piles of cashmere blankets, and the smell of a chicken roasting in the Aga. It’s darn cosy. But a peek out the window and… misery! Barren trees, brown borders, crunchy hydrangea heads; the ghosts of summer. I call my friend Piers Beeching (beeching. co.uk), aka Gardener to the Stars, for tips on evergreen structure. ‘A well anchored or indeed repeated yew – both erect or domed – makes for great winter drama, especially when speckled with Alice B-B finally gets down frost,’ he advises. with her downward dog So, rather than simply focusing on summer, this year I’m planning H HOW I WANTED TO for a joyous winter garden. And in KICK THEM! Those the meantime I’ll add colour and om-chanting, green-juice fluttery interest to this desolate drinking yoga bunnies. I longed landscape… by feeding the birds. to boot them in their pert, Spandex‘HELP, I’M BEING HACKED!’ wrapped bums and see what that is the email yelp I send to did to their Zen vibes. I was a pilates girl, you see. I didn’t youneedanITguy.com, the payas-you-go tech management get the yoga thing. But also my fury was borne of jealousy… those dreamy company. I’m in the snowy Bavarian hills, properly panicked toned arms, strong handstands, about the weird shit I’m being unswerving balance. Meanwhile sent: strange texts giving me new I was the newbie in the famous LA codes, dodgy requests to change class (where the teacher – let’s call passwords. ‘Get yourself decent him Dan – has a second career in wifi connection, then call me,’ ‘adult’ movies). So when all those bunnies were hopping and dogging – replies Chris. In an instant Chris has magically taken over my laptop Dan would pick me out as the and locked down all my two-step girl who couldn’t even root her security because, ‘Yep, looks like tree pose. Mortifying. someone’s got your password,’ he But everything changed when says. My bacon is saved. The biggest I went to Yeotown, a detox retreat in Devon, where owner and yoga teacher downside of not working in an office is no computer support at Mercedes Sieff somehow coaxes you your beck and call. But now I have into pretzel-positions and inspires Chris. And together, we can wage the courage to play around with what war on those pesky hackers. your body can do. Back in London I
THE GOOD LIFE
1
Perking up winter skin with a hydrafacial at Waterhouse Young Clinic. waterhouse young.com
2
Greening my fingers at a Kitten Grayson flower arranging workshop. kitten grayson.com
3
Crafting my own non-toxic scent at Goop in Notting Hill with Heretic founder, Douglas Little. goop.com
FELINE GOOD Sleek suits from siloulondon.com
CLASS GLASS Murano tumblers from campbell-rey.com
O
DOGGING DELIGHT Great yoga classes at heartcore.co.uk GREEN AND PLEASANT Perky balls at hedgeworx.co.uk
TECH-TOCK Computer whizz at youneedanitguy.com
PORTRAIT: JANE MCLEISH KELSEY
THIS MONTH I’LL BE
LUXURY & NECESSITY
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INTERVIEW What never fails to bring a smile to your face? The Labrador when
I arrive home. Her entire back end swings and she actually smiles – she’s clearly learnt from observing humans that when you smile, you should show as many teeth as possible.
THE RURBANIST
It’s Labrador love for Alistair Petrie who likes to spend as much time as possible in his dressing gown
What item in your wardrobe do you wear the most? My dressing gown.
Where’s home to you? The Surrey
Hills. I never thought I’d live in Surrey, I thought it was all golf courses and large gated mansions – but we’ve somehow found something closer to rural Scotland, with stunning views and lakes. In the summer, it feels like you’re on holiday.
If I’m not doing the school run, I can be in it for hours – then there’s a certain moment when I think it might be inappropriately late to be channelling my inner Norma Desmond, and I change. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Say ‘yes’ in life more than you say ‘no’.
Where do you go to ‘lose’ yourself?
What brings out the worst in you?
Frensham Little Pond with my Labrador and whippet. Every time, I lose myself, or the dogs, sometimes both. It’s always an adventure and whatever I have rumbling round inside my head tends to get resolved.
DIY: there are far more interesting things to be doing. And political sound bites. Those who sit around a table and invent them then force their people to utter them, illustrating how stupid they think we are.
What’s one of your daily rituals?
What are Saturday afternoons made for? The Royal British
Forty minutes with the UK and US newspapers online and a good cup of tea before anyone else is awake. I also try and make sure the last thing I hear is my wife laughing before we turn the lights out at night. Make of that what you will.
Legion, Beacon Hill, a bunch of dads, loads of teenagers and a mountain of porky scratchings. What would really improve your life? Walton Goggins’ hat collection,
Favourite secret place in London for a good night out? The
What was the last song you listened to that made you dance? Pinball Wizard by The Who, on a boat off the coast of Cape Town with Owen Teale. We barely knew the lyrics but that didn’t deter our dance moves and certainly not our singing.
Best thing a cabbie has said to you? ‘Darling, give
me the bloody keys, there’s no way you’re driving us home after all that wine.’ Context: it was my wife. We used to own a 20-year-old black cab when we lived in London. We eventually sold it on eBay it to a French gentleman who was a huge Anglophile. He turned up with his whole family to collect it and brought a bag of croissants.
What’s your signature dish and who would you cook it for? Slow
Tom Bateman is a fan of rude card games
roasted pork belly sourced from Cowdray Park, cooked for The Isle of Wight W***ers. They know who they are. You know who they are too... all actors. We get together once a year and spend a weekend staying up too late. What was the last place you ‘discovered’? Clifton 3rd
Beach, Cape Town, on a large rock, in the shadow of Table Mountain, staring out to sea as the sun goes down. Humbling. Alistair stars in Sex Education, launching 11 Jan on Netflix
PHOTOS: PORTRAIT BY DAVID REISS; GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES
What is the last book your read and what did you think of it? Who is Michael Ovitz?. He built the most successful talent agency in Hollywood and became one of the most powerful individuals in film. He certainly didn’t, and doesn’t, lack confidence. Plus, it had some juicy gossip.
Number One Dressing Room at the Noël Coward Theatre with Tom Bateman and David Oakes during our run of Shakespeare in Love. It’s hard to describe the nonsense we got up to but it involved poetry, mild violence, a full fridge and a rude card game.
a weekly long lunch with the team of Netflix’s Sex Education, a daily swim in the ocean with Matthew Parkhill and Tom Hudson’s (of Farr Vintners) wine cellar.
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STYLE BEAUTY JEWELLERY PA RT I E S
UP FRONT
A BIGGER SPLASH Swimming with style David Hockney illusions aside, you wouldn’t want to risk getting your linen suit soaked, but a lightweight three piece is certainly taking a refreshing dip in the style pool. chesterbarrie.co.uk
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UP FRONT
Canali Tumbled calfskin duffle bag, POA. canali.com
Bottega Veneta Square frame tortoiseshell sunglasses, £235. bottegaveneta.com Luca Faloni Cashmere roll neck, £260. lucafaloni.com
Brunello Cucinelli brunellocucinelli.com
TOW N
Brunello Cucinelli Suede gilet, £2,690. brunellocucinelli.com
CO U NTRY
Panerai Radiomir 1940 3 Days Acciaio, £7,700. panerai.com
Caruso Sand twill trousers, £245. mrporter.com
Loro Piana Cashmere blend blazer, £2,715. uk.loropiana.com
Mr & Mrs Italy Embroidery parka, £4,780. mmi.it/en
S T Y L E
L’UOMO VOGUE
ISAIA Napoli pocket square, £105. eu.isaia.it
Steal Italian style for a slice of la dolce vita, says Clementina Jackson
Anderson’s Leather belt, from £90. matchesfashion.com
Tod’s Gommino shoes, £420. tods.com
PHOTOS: BRUNELLO CUCINELLI A/W18
Berluti Cashmere and mohair sweater, £1,370. mrporter.com
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UP FRONT MICRO TREND
FA SHION HOU N DS
PLEATS, PLEASE
As fabulous with boots or trainers, woolly tights, bare legs, oversized sweaters and everything in between, the pleated skirt is this season’s hardest working piece – and no one does it better than Beatrice B, the doyenne of silk plissé. A riot of colours and beautiful fabrics, and fully made in Italy, the collections are finally available to purchase online in the UK. Grazie! beatriceb.it
TAKE THREE
PU F F ER JACK ETS
F A S H I O N
N E W S
STYLE NOTEBOOK
Fashion’s future and dapper dogs, by Clementina Jackson FUTURISTIC STYLE
BURBERRY Vintage check reversible puffer jacket, £890. uk.burberry.com
HUNTER Long puffer coat, £295. hunterboots.com
The robots are coming, but don’t panic – they’re helpful, fashionable ones. YOOX has just launched an AI-powered virtual styling suite which is set to revolutionise the way we shop. Mix and match the latest clothes and accessories with help from Daisy, the 3D fashion conscious avatar who will bring your outfits to life. yoox.com
1 Louis Vuitton Baxter dog collar, £200. uk.louisvuitton.com 2 Muzungu Sisters Dog sweater, £85. muzungusisters.com 3 Bone Idol Osborn shearling jacket, from £275. bone-idol.com 4 Moschino x H&M Hooded dog jacket, £59.99. hm.com 5 Mungo & Maud x Mulberry Graduate cashmere pullover, £185, and collar, £95. mulberry.com
FASHION HOUSE
MONCLER Leopard print down jacket, £1,300. net-a-porter.com
What better way to celebrate Clare Waight Keller’s success at Givenchy (including that most important of fashion commissions, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress) than to unveil a spectacular London flagship store? Givenchy’s new Bond Street home beautifully reflects a brand that seamlessly straddles its rich history and cutting-edge design, with period features alongside a glossy red staircase and an ‘optical’ room. The only thing missing is the Duchess herself… givenchy.com
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W IN T ER SU N ESSEN TI A LS
Finishing touches Smelling good is essential, so I always dab on a touch of Chanel Bleu aftershave. I feel naked without my Tag Heuer Monaco watch, and I love to add extra details – cool cufflinks, a tie and pocket square jazz up a suit, and I’ll shop around for the perfect one everywhere from Tie Rack to Hermès. And if I want to look extra professional, I’ll grab my brown leather Aspinal bag.
M Y
S T Y L E
CHRIS ROBSHAW
When he’s not in his kit, the Rugby Union star digs a turtle neck and jeans What event will you be dressing up for this month? In February it
is the Six Nations tournament, so all focus will be on England duty for the month. I will probably only be dressing in training or match kit. What do you find stressful about event dressing? I actually find
event dressing relatively simple – a sharp suit or tux goes a long way, and my go-to is a bespoke Dress2Kill tux. Accessories can also make a big difference. Hugo Boss does some great shoes and cufflinks for a black tie evening.
Whose style do you really admire? Ryan Gosling always looks sharp whatever he wears.
Power dressing I feel my best in a fitted navy blue suit from Dress2Kill and dark brown Oliver Sweeney or Church’s shoes. Lounge lizard When I can be as casual as I like, I’ll just throw on a T-shirt from Urban Outfitters, some J Brand jeans and Nike Air Max or Air Force Ones. Simple but always a great outfit. Country walk A look I very rarely get to embrace, so I go all out with the classic Hunter wellies, Barbour jacket and a Jaxon & James hat. Favourite online retailers Mr Porter is a treasure trove of quality products – they stock everything you could possibly want!
When I’m away, I go as relaxed as possible with my looks. Usually that means Orlebar Brown trunks, an open shirt from Farah or All Saints, and some Ray Ban sunglasses.
Trend you’ll be embracing this month Turtle neck and
tux combo. A modern classic. Everyday uniform Being a
sportsman, I spend most of my time in my Nike training kit, tracksuits and Tiempo boots.
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
Wardrobe failsafes
I love a Tommy Hilfiger bomber jacket as an addition to any outfit, while a turtle neck jumper is essential in the colder months and can be dressed up or down. If I need a quick new look, I’ll just pop to Zara – they have everything.
1 Aspinal of London Boston bag, £595 (harveynichols.com). 2 Tag Heuer Monaco watch, £4,750 (tagheuer.co.uk). 3 Bleu de Chanel after-shave balm, £39 (harrods.com). 4 Dress2Kill Bespoke Cerruti jacket, from £1,000 (dress2kill.com). 5 Hugo Boss Cardiff shoes, £220 (mrporter.com). 6 Tommy Hilfiger Tailored bomber, £360 (tommy.com). 7 All Saints Hyogo shirt, £85 (allsaints.com). 8 Orlebar Brown Bulldog swim trunks, £155 (orlebarbrown.com). 9 Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, £120 (mrporter.com). 10 Hunter Field Balmoral boots, £135 (hunterboots.com). 11 Barbour Beaufort wax jacket, £249 (barbour.com). 12 Jaxon & James wool flat cap, £24.95 (hatsandcaps.co.uk). 13 Nike Tiempo Legend 7 Elite boots, £199.95 (nike.com)
ST Y L E CH E AT S 1 Make sure your tie matches your shirt and pocket square. 2 Always have a button done up on your suit jacket when standing. 3 Don’t be afraid to mix things up. February 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 27
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UP FRONT
MELLOW YELLOW Brighten up a dull lingerie collection with Beija’s delicate sunflower yellow Forecast X bra, £65 and Forecast brief, £25. beija. london
RED ALERT The French have a thing or two to teach the world about lingerie. This fresh Parisian brand, Livvy, is no exception. Fall in love with every set, but the Expresso balcony bra, £155, and matching Expresso string, £80, ooze that je ne sais quoi. li-vy.com
TEEN DREAM With the finest fabrics and Swiss nous, Hanro’s soft cup bra, £59.50, and maxi briefs, £37.50, may look spicy but they are in fact comfier than that teenage set outstaying its welcome in your lingerie drawer. hanro.co.uk
FLOUNCE OUT With this Deadly Nightshade non-padded bra, £65, and matching silk & tulle boy short, £34, Mimi Holliday shows how to wear girlish fun beneath the daily sartorial armour. mimiholliday.com
S T Y L E
TWINKLE TWINKLE Stella has always nailed lingerie and continues to excel at the art with this Betty Twinkling body suit. £110. stellamccartney.com
SMALLS ARE BEAUTIFUL Strap in and lace up, says Rosalyn Wikeley
ON A HIGH Before Yamamay, bigger busted women were faced with the drab, desolate corners of department stores. Thankfully, with Kate Upton modelling sets like this reasonably priced balcony bra, £29.95, and high waisted brief, £16.95, those days are long gone. yamamay.com
GET FRUITY The lime and strawberry blend on this Viv bra, £75, and briefs, £55, by Agent Provocateur is a delicious alternative to the customary lacy dish. agentprovocateur.com
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UP FRONT
LIFE’S LIT TLE LU XURIES
L U X U R Y
LUCIA LOVES Lucia van der Post on a brand that crosses the town and country divide
Cortina down bomber jacket, £349 Tweed and fur cape with detachable collar, £599
Kempton tweed coat, £449, and trilby hat, £129
H
olland Cooper was started about ten years ago by Jade Holland Cooper, when she was bemused by the dearth of choice in proper country Jade Holland Cooper clothing. She grew up in the countryside and was studying at the Royal Agricultural College (having turned down offers from London College of Fashion and Central St. Martins) when she discovered there seemed to be only three sorts of jacket to choose from, none of which was either fashionable or inspiring. So, like many an entrepreneur before her, she saw a gap and decided to fill it. She started off with a tweed miniskirt in a Tally Ho check, which immediately took off but which these days appears in her collection in what she calls a ‘more grown-up version, as
a tailored pencil skirt’. ‘As I’ve grown up,’ says Holland Cooper, ‘so too has the brand evolved.’ The whole country collection – Baker boy caps, tweed jackets and coats – is made entirely in Britain using British wools and tweeds. Her key innovation was to take traditional tweed and cut it in a more fitted, feminine way, often combining it with suedes and leathers, which Holland Cooper feels makes them immediately much more cool. The hero product is undoubtedly the cape – which comes in chic steel-grey, caramel, tweed and slimming black (all £299), but for added glamour there is one with a detachable fur collar, £599. These days the brand is much more than a country clothing brand – ‘our customers mostly live dual lives, between town and country,’ says Holland Cooper, and so today she aims to be a complete lifestyle brand, offering knitwear, tees, leggings, and a range of down jackets that, in typical Holland Cooper style, are cut in a more feminine, fitted way. She has several shops, including in White City’s Westfield shopping centre, Edinburgh, and Kildare in Ireland, but for the most luxurious experience of all make an appointment to have a private shopping or styling session at the new Holland Cooper showroom in the Cotswold Business Village in Moreton-inMarsh. (Email for an appointment.) It’s worth keeping an eye on all Holland Cooper does, because clearly there are ambitious plans in the pipeline. hollandcooper.com
PACK SMART If you’re jetting off for some winter sun, pack a couple of print-perfect Tallulah & Hope silk kaftans. Beautifully made, with divine colours and prints, they’re ideal to take you from beach to bar. They also have a great range of dresses, the Gloria kimono dress being the standout. From £150. tallulahandhope.com
A CUT ABOVE Zoë Jordan has some of the coolest knitwear around. From cashmere (30 per cent) and wool (70 per cent) tracksuits in elegant grey-andwhite with go-faster stripes down the side (£365), to a black Laplace sweater with flared, fringed cuffs and cut-outs at the elbow (£285), plus her asymmetrical jumpers, every design has something that lifts it out of the realm of the ordinary into something much more desirable. zoe-jordan.com
SILVER STAR Robert Welch is one of the grandest names in British silverware and mostly his prices match the elevated status of his revered name. It’s worth knowing, though, that he does a collection of just-as-beautifullydesigned pieces in more affordable stainless steel, such as sesame tealights with pierced openings for candlelight to show through (from £22) and elegant salt and pepper mills (£78 for the pair). There’s lots more besides. robertwelch.com
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COMPETITION
TO ENTER
THE OLIVER BROWN BESPOKE GIVEAWAY Fix up, look sharp: one lucky reader will win a two-piece suit worth £3,000 made bespoke by Oliver Brown’s master tailor
O
ne lucky reader will win a two-piece bespoke suit worth £3,000, created by Juan Carlos, Oliver Brown’s third-generation master tailor. The winner will be welcomed to the Oliver Brown tailoring house on Lower Sloane Street to experience the process of their idea being translated from measurements to pattern paper, through a series of skilful handiwork and in-store fittings to a finished garment. The bespoke suit will receive over sixty hours of handwork. With Carlos’ unparalleled knowledge of cut, construction and cloth, he will ensure a personal and expert touch. The pattern will be drafted by hand and constructed using age-old tailoring techniques, resulting in an impeccable fit, precision and a clean-cut finish. In fact, Carlos will cut the pattern with the shears of his great grandfather who first brought them to London many years ago, when
Visit countryand townhouse.co.uk/ competition for instructions and T&Cs. The competition closes on 4 February 2019
he embarked on his six year apprenticeship at Kilgour on Savile Row. Oliver Brown is known for, but not restricted by, their house style – because in the world of bespoke, there is no such thing as a ‘default setting’. Each piece is subtly dramatic, perfectly elegant, and impeccably tailored. A myriad of cutters, coat makers, trouser makers and finishers will take part in crafting the bespoke suit. A passion for tailoring, an eye for detail, and an understanding of cloth and cut underpins everything that the Oliver Brown Bespoke team do. oliverbrown.org.uk
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UP FRONT
SIM PLY SPA R K LING
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
One colossal rough diamond, so many jewels… the whopping 1,109 carats Lesedi La Rona diamond found in Botswana in 2015 is now revealing the treasures found within it. Purchased by London jewellers Graff in 2017, the first jewels hewn from the mother stone (one of which will be over 100 carats) are now ready for their new homes in the form of exquisite, classic rings. All D coloured (the whitest grade a diamond can achieve), each diamond will be invisibly inscribed with the Graff name, and Lesedi La Rona (which means ‘our light’ in Tswana – Botswana’s official language). graffdiamonds.com
FAKE NEWS Stephen Webster’s first foray into labgrown diamonds in conjunction with Atelier Swarovski is the Double Diamond collection of chunky cocktail rings, long necklaces and statement earrings, all featuring recycled gold, lab-grown stones and spheres of baby pink rose quartz. The distinctive octahedron shape is a nod to the natural shape of a rough diamond and makes for a wonderfully cage-like effect. atelierswarovski.com
J E W E L L E R Y
THE GOLD DIGGER
White diamond ring, POA, Graff
LASER LOVE
Fancy sticking your arm in The latest jewellery news and a laser machine? Now you can, trends. By Annabel Davidson with no fear of being burnt. The technology behind Italian fine jewellery brand Atelier VM means a super fine 18kt gold chain can be welded into one continuous bracelet on your wrist with zero Atelier VM’s L’Essenziale 18k physical risk. Clients can select from a number gold bracelet of pretty charms to add to it beforehand, and with diamond and sapphire charms. it can be unwelded to add more at any point. £325, for a single charm bracelet Exclusive to Liberty London. libertylondon.com
CAT’S WHISKERS Not many of us have heard of a Chrysoberyl Cat’s Eye, and for good reason – they’re exceptionally rare – and when one of them is over 100 carats, it’s a treasure indeed. Cindy Chao’s new Black Label Masterpiece is a brooch sporting this extraordinary stone and surrounded by petals set with 2,500 stones ranging from white diamonds to fancy green diamonds, emeralds, alexandrites and more. cindychao.com
THREE OF THE BEST
J E W ELS TO HOL D ST U F F Loquet London’s lockets start at £300, with charms to add starting at £50. Creating your locket online is addictively good fun. loquet london.com
Diane Kordas’ brilliant Amulette collection of perfume vials now comes in a smooth, minimalist tubular design. £4,290. dianekordas jewellery.com
Los Angelesbased Mexican designer Daniela Villegas’ gold pendant is the perfect size for a small lighter. For lighting, you know, candles. POA. justone eye.com
FACE OFF Personalisable jewellery is huge, and these custom Silhouette pendants by Curated by Victoria are a cleverly cute way to make something truly unique. Laser cut from 18kt gold, the flat silhouettes can depict any face you wish – including that of a beloved pet. Available in white, yellow and rose gold. curatedbyvictoria.com
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A different perspective.
We don’t inflate prices just to reduce them later on. We never have, and we never will. Instead, we’d prefer to give you something meaningful – like a way to help make your dream kitchen a reality. So, this January, we’ll give you a free sink cabinet if you spend £8,000 or more on our kitchen cabinetry. Arrange your free kitchen design consultation at your closest Neptune store. For full terms, visit neptune.com/freesinkcabinet
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UP FRONT Catherine Best Spirit of Love pendant, £5,196. catherinebest.com
Graff 4.05 carat cushion cut ruby Swirl ring, and ruby and diamond earrings, POA. graff.com
Cartier Love necklace in 18k pink gold and diamonds, £4,350. cartier.co.uk Annoushka Mythology cherub charm, £1,200. annoushka.com
Lark & Berry Nocturnal diamond wrap ring, £895. larkand berry.com
Georgina Boyce Nexus earrings, £525. georginaboyce.com
Georg Jensen Mercy sterling silver ring, £185. georgjensen.com
ROMANCING THE STONE
David Morris Berry flower bracelet, £2,500. davidmorris.com
Beautiful bijoux to show your love
Raliegh Goss Casino diamond necklace, £1,100. ralieghgoss.com
Adler Alizé earrings, POA. adler.ch
Seneca Jewelry Sanguine heart earrings, £1,174. senecajewelry.com
W&W Jewellery Bespoke charm bracelet, POA. wandwjewellery.com
Simon Wright Pear pink sapphire ring, £2,500. sw-jewellery.com
Isabella Townsley Pink sapphire Disco hoops, £1,050. isabellatownsley.com
PHOTOS: GRAFF © BEN HASETT
J E W E L L E R Y
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Your prescription for brighter skin.
Make a glowing start to the new season with Dr Sebagh’s rejuvenating ritual. Restore your glow
Nourish and brighten
As the days get longer and brighter, give your skin an instant radiance boost with the award-winning Dr Sebagh skin care ritual, created by Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh, world-renowned cosmetic doctor and ‘AgeingMaintenance’ pioneer.
Next, apply one or more of Dr Sebagh’s legendary superserums. The iconic Rose de Vie Serum, with soothing, antioxidant rosehip oil, leaves skin supple and radiant, whilst the highly concentrated Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum contains 95% active ingredients. All Dr Sebagh serums can be used alone or blended, to create a bespoke ritual.
Instantly illuminate and smooth the skin by applying the bestselling Deep Exfoliating Mask. Loved by beauty insiders, this potent formula gets skin glowing whilst increasing cell turnover. For an extra brightening boost, mix your mask with the multiple award-winning, highly concentrated antioxidant Pure Vitamin C Powder Cream.
Mix Pure Vitamin C Powder Cream with any serum or moisturiser for added radiance and to shield skin against the ageing effects of free radical-generating UV rays, environmental pollution and stress.
Available in-store and at drsebagh.com
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UP FRONT B E A U T Y
BRIGHT YOUNG THING International model Olivia Arben tells Nathalie Eleni how she gets Fashion Week ready
What is your Fashion Week beauty routine? Every morning I de-puff
my face using a jade roller by Nurse Jamie which really works and makes my cheekbones pop. During Fashion Week I step it up by double cleansing in the morning and applying an Erborian sheet mask before bed. What are your favourite products for travel and a hectic lifestyle?
I like to refresh my skin with a spritz of Mario Badescu rose water during flights or between shows, and I wear Bobbi Brown face base SPF50 and Erborian CC cream as they are moisturising and light but still provide good coverage. How do you look after your health?
TEAM Make-up: Nathalie Eleni Hair: Paul Edmonds & Lizzie at Paul Edmonds London Photo: RVDS (ruanvandersande.com) Necklace: Dinny Hall
I make a lot of simple meals from scratch in order to avoid the salts and preservatives in ready meals, and I pre-prepare lunches for work. I also often swap out red meat for leaner meats like turkey which contains less fat and is better for cholesterol. And I make sure to always stay hydrated. Olivia is a British Heart Foundation ambassador
GET THE LOOK 1 Massage Lucia Magnani Daily Firming Hydrator into your skin to make it glow. £195. harveynichols.com 2 Apply Charlotte Tilbury Portobello Girl Lip Gloss for a perfect pink pout. £17.50. selfridges.com 3 For skin that looks healthy and fresh apply skin-loving Exuviance Coverblend foundation. £35.50. facethefuture.co.uk 4 Create the easiest 60s style eyes with Sensai Liquid Eyeliner in black along your lashes, tapering into a flick. £31. harrods.com 5 Plump and hydrate lips ahead of lip gloss application with VENeffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment. £68. spacenk.com
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ROSES A R E R ED YES, IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY, GO ON…
TUTTI London Rose Geranium Candle It fills your home with the scent of a beautiful bouquet of rose and citrus scents. £45. tuttilondon.com
TWG Amour DE THE Masterfully blended by TWG Tea, this sensual Darjeeling is a magical union of roses and hints of vanilla. Both decadent and delicious, a real treat for tea lovers. £25. twgtea.com
B E A U T Y
BEAUTY TEST
Nathalie Eleni is in need of some help with hair growth
A
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
BOOK IT A course of three treatments is recommended 1-3 months apart. Prices from £600. Dr Marwa Ali at The Wellness Clinic at Harrods. 020 7225 5678. harrods.com
fter the births of both my sons I developed a small patch of alopecia at the back of my head. I tried all the natural remedies and as none really worked, a dermatologist administered steroid injections, which did thankfully help. However, it was never going to be a long-term solution. After much research, I found the wonderful Dr Marwa Ali. Seeing her very successful case studies of the PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment for hair growth was very inspiring, and after trying most other things for hair loss I was keen to give it a go myself! PRP is a non-surgical and non-invasive treatment, and in a sense it’s a ‘self healing’ treatment. First blood is taken from the patient and spun at a very high speed to isolate the plasma from the rest of the blood. The plasma is a magical liquid containing powerful nutrients, growth factors and stem cells. All this goodness is injected back into the scalp over the thinning areas, or in my case the alopecia patch, to deliver all that potent goodness
to the follicles to help stop, slow or reverse the signs of hair loss. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little uncomfortable, though it was bearable and I have definitely suffered more in the name of beauty previously. Dr Ali was incredibly gentle and meticulous in her approach, and I felt in very safe hands. I left with some slight throbbing in the area, which I didn’t mind as it made me feel like something was happening after endless months of rubbing expensive creams and lotions on that had very little, if any, effect. After weeks of patiently waiting, I started to see hair regrowth in the area (about six weeks in) and by three months I was thrilled to see that my patch had fully grown back! I’m so impressed I now want to try it on my face. Don’t worry, it won’t stimulate facial hair growth. When used on the face it is injected into the dermis (the superficial layer of skin) to regenerate cells and boost collagen – the next treatment to try on my very long beauty ‘to do’ list! Nathalie Eleni
Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil A voluptuous blend of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses... enough said! £45. jomalone.co.uk
Dolcissimo Matte Liquid Lip Colour A selection of stunning rose toned lipsticks from deep burgundy to pale pink. £36. harrods.com
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta A super flattering rosy blush for a soft focus finish and a natural flush of colour. £32. net-a-porter.com
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UP FRONT HEA LTH HOT LIST
W E L L N E S S
BODY & SOUL
The best wellness buys from goop.com
Make February matcha month, says Camilla Hewitt
A RECIPE FOR WELLNESS
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MATCHA
A
delicious, healthy and easy breakfast that you can prepare in the evening and leave to soak in the fridge overnight. This recipe is vegan and can be made gluten and dairy free if you use gluten-free oats and almond milk.
METHOD Sieve the matcha with a fine mesh sieve to avoid any lumps. Whisk the matcha with milk (ideally at room temperature or warm) until smooth. Add the maple syrup and chia seeds and continue to whisk for one minute. Finally add the oats and stir. Cover and leave to stand overnight. In the morning you can add fresh fruit to the oats if INGR EDIENTS you wish, or for an extra boost SERVES 2 of protein and antioxidants, Preparation time 5 minutes (plus why not add toasted pumpkin overnight chilling seeds and goji berries? This time) breakfast is rich in protein » 1tsp of matcha and complex carbohydrates » 150ml of your and makes the perfect preferred milk combination for slow release » ½ to 1tsp of maple energy throughout the day. syrup (according to taste) » 1tsp of chia seeds » 50g of oats
Recipe by Olivia Nottin, Matcha and Beyond
E SC APE TH E O FFIC E
Matcha and Beyond Created by nutritional therapist Olivia Nottin, Matcha and Beyond is a premium matcha bar in the heart of Chelsea. Offering a range of antioxidant rich alternatives to coffee, choose from a cortado, a flat green or a matchachino. Sweet and savoury treats are made on site by the specialist Japanese pastry chef. matchaandbeyond.com
The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Guidebook 63 cards filled with powerful animal archetypes for self-reflection and inspiration Incausa Singing Bowl Set Everything you need to aid your meditation practice, in one beautiful bundle
E SC APE TH E CO U NTRY
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Town Nestled between the mountains and the deep blue sea, this luxurious hotel serves as the dream setting for gently restoring harmony to body, mind and soul. The salt water floatation pool eases jetlag and outdoor gazebos are the perfect place for couples to escape and have a side-by-side massage while the sun goes down. 12apostleshotel.com
TrüFormat Scorpion Mat This practical mat uses visual benchmarks to help guide your movements Goopglow Morning Skin Superpowder Drink your way to glowing skin with a big dose each day
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
M ATCH A CHI A OV ER NIGHT OATS
— Boosts metabolism — Contains off the charts antioxidant levels — Increases focus and alertness without the caffeine jitters you get from coffee — Calms yet energises due to the L-theanine/caffeine combination — Supports the immune system — Aids meditation practice – matcha has been used by Zen monks for centuries
Vitruvi Stone Diffuser A porcelain essential oil diffuser inspired by intentional living and a love of creative spaces
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W in te r S a le NOW ON E n d s 2 n d F e b ru a ry
V is it o u r s h o w ro o m : 6 3 4 -6 3 6 K in g s R o a d , L o n d o n S W 6 2 D U 0 2 0 7 7 3 6 4 1 4 1 ijlb r o w n .c o m
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UP FRONT COUNTRYSIDE CHIC
AND FREEZE!
Yorkshire-based brand Archie Foal started with socks and has worked up to a range of cool country casual styles, including men’s and unisex ranges, which are all British-made. Lukas sweater in cream, £195 and Astrid wool trousers in navy, £345. archiefoal.com
Vilebrequin’s latest collaboration with photographer Massimo Vitali sees a stylish ski-scape reproduced in glorious technicolour across a capsule range of sweatshirts, gilets, vests and a handy fold-and-roll Packmu bag. Sweatshirt, £210 and T-shirt, £90. vilebrequin.com
GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STEP THIS WAY…
M E N ’ S
S T Y L E
WELL GROOMED Feet first and a vegan scent. By Matt Thomas ABOUT TIME
Masters of time A Lange & Söhne have opened their first London boutique on Old Bond Street, Mayfair. With two storeys to explore, visitors can also learn all about the handmade watches on offer and the history of the brand. alange-soehne.com
ETHICALLY SCENTED
Sandal season is looming, which means it’s time to pay attention to your neglected feet. If you’d rather a discreet treatment ‘behind closed doors’ and the best no-nonsense pedicure around, book in for the male medical pedicure at one of Margaret Dabbs’ clinics. Male therapists available on request. From £85. margaret dabbs.co.uk
The unstoppable vegan wave moves into the world of scent with a debut ethical eau de toilette by British startup Kings Grooming, which is also dedicated to raising awareness around issues of masculinity and male mental wellbeing. Evolution 50ml EDT, £39.99. kings-grooming.com
LIGHTE N U P A light spring jacket is a wardrobe essential. Enter Sunspel with its stylish Lemaire range, including this jacket presented in a light brown, £295. sunspel.com 40 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | February 2019
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UP FRONT S O C I A L
S C E N E
HIGH SOCIETY People, parties, places
Sai Bennet and Zara Martin Kiki McDonough and Sabrina Percy
Tatiana Mountbatten Alice Montgomery
Rosanna Falconer
Amber Le Bon Stephanie Peers
Eliot Sumner and Clara Paget Alexandra Tolstoy
CHELSEA CHICKS
Jemima Cadbury
Lily Worcester, Sabrina Percy and Natalie Salmon
Josephine de la Baume
Kiki McDonough’s store put on a proud display of some of Chelsea’s biggest icons, in both person and portrait form, for the launch of Sabrina Percy’s Chelsea Girl illustration series. Sloaney tales of charmed childhoods were fuelled by fizz and mince pies – and no Made in Chelsea guests in sight. Phew!
Camilla Rutherford
Melissa Hemsley
Candice Lake, Sophie Goodwin and Matilda Goad
PHOTOS: INDIA HARTFORD DAVIS; GETTY; DAVE BENNETT
Clara Paget Toby HuntingtonWhiteley
Alex Eagle
Kim Hersov
Sophie Kennedy Clark
Gemma Chan
FANCY PANTS
It may have been freezing outside, but LoveShackFancy’s intimate dinner at Annabel’s was reminiscent of a warm, whimsical summer soirée as guests donned the New York brand’s ethereal dresses. Thank goodness for copious amounts of hibiscus champagne that kept the chill at bay.
TOTALLY NUTS
Matilda Goad and Jemima Jones
Martha Ward and Rebecca Hassel Cohen
Heida Reed
At Four Seasons Park Lane’s festive party, the star of the show was dressed in 51,490 glistening crystal beads and weighed 165kg – but it wasn’t a celebrity victim of Christmas overindulgence. VIP guests enjoyed a rare moment in the ‘The Nutty Prince’ installation’s shadow, caviar canapés in hand.
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British boys who always dress impeccably, according to Henry, include Ansel Elgort, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne and James Norton
M E N ’ S
S T Y L E
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…
F
Head to New & Lingwood for a trad Marcella white shirt
ormal dressing seems to get some of you in a total tizz. Awards season confuses some of you with a neverending parade of actors strutting in front of the cameras in the hope of a BAFTA or Academy Award, and as the girls get most of the fashion glory on the red carpet, some boys try a little too hard for attention, often abandoning all sense of taste and reason in order to be ‘different’. Well, there are rules, and as long as you know them you can break them gently, formally, and with Oscar-winning results. Brits do black tie the best. Sorry, America. It’s in our genes – we invented it. Henry Poole, on Savile Row, created it as a less formal version of White Tie in 1865 for the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. It was midnight blue, worn with a waistcoat, a wing collar, and a white bow tie, and only ever at home in the company
of men. Members of the American Tuxedo Club, obsessed with British royal dressing (really, nothing changes) adopted and popularised it, hence the ‘Tux’ in the States. The informal formal was born – the waistcoat swapped for the cummerbund, the white tie for black, and the wing collar abandoned in the 1930s. Yes, abandoned – no wing collars EVER, please. If you think the wing is acceptable, you should be in overalls, not black tie. Go trad with a Marcella front white shirt (try New & Lingwood), 1960s with a frill, or 80s with a white wide pleat front and a hidden striped back. If you are old enough to shave, you are old enough to tie your own bow tie. Black only, let’s not encourage ‘jazzy’ – comedy frogs on the silk at your neck, and you’re probably using the word ‘jazzy’ without irony, often. If you want to mix it up then
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
As awards season approaches, Henry Conway advises on how to rock – not ruin – the red carpet
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UP FRONT
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
FROM TOP: Add a dash of colour through your socks from the London Sock Company; Gieves & Hawkes does great off the peg dinner jackets; go for velvet with Favourbrook’s burnt yellow smoking jacket; step into a dazzling pair of Louboutins; Sir Plus does a lovely line in Nehru jackets; for something a little different, why not go for a printed slipper by Duke + Dexter
change the size. I love a big 70s style bow – I can’t find one big enough, so often use a cravat. The original Henry Poole dinner jacket was midnight blue for a reason – it looks a truer black under artificial light and is more flattering on the skin. Go for a classic barathea wool, peaked lapel with satin facings, or for the elegant shawl collared. Good tailoring is all about a little body magic – single breasted if you want to create that deep V shape that gives you a chest and shoulders, or double breasted if you have a little more to hide. Dunhill is a great bet for off the peg, as is Gieves & Hawkes. Peacocking is what dressing up and the red carpet is all about, so once you have the shirt, tie and trousers (always black) then you can begin to experiment. If abroad, or in heat, then white. In the winter, I adore a velvet. A smoking jacket looks so refined, and if you go a little off piste with the colour, deliciously louche – think Hef, one too many martinis and a cab to somewhere you shouldn’t at 2am. Navy or deep green with frogging from Oliver Brown for heavy duty, or Favourbrook’s glam pop colours for a little lounging. A Hollywood trend is for muted yet unsuspecting colours – eau de nil or pale brown velvet. My favourite silver grey Tom Ford wide lapelled velvet jacket
will always win an approving glance from across a crowded room. A shoe will do the same – patent, perhaps with a grosgrain bow, and even a velvet slipper (the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex have fully embraced the pump) – try a tasseled Louboutin or a print Duke + Dexter. Perhaps pack a punch with a coloured sock – I only ever wear turbo-rah red, and occasionally mustard. Still feel too wallflower? Then go for ‘fancy’ patterns. Elaborate heavy silk patterns have really gained ground over the past few years – paisley, optic or textured, just as long as they have black satin facings. Or do away with lapels altogether – Nehru style velvets are a chic alternative – Jeremy Irons wears his beautifully. Remember that you are on display. No unsightly bulges or lumps, so a money clip or slim cardholder so as not to ruin your line, a cigarette case so you are armed to charm party smokers, and if you are really chic, get your tailor to pop in cigar pockets. Keep it simple, and wear with confidence and you will be ready for your close up. And if you are photographed in a wing collar I will hunt you down… n
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PHOTO: PROTESTER, CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, WHITEHALL, LONDON 1962. COURTESY TATE BRITAIN
ART C U LT U R E BOOKS PEOPLE
THE GUIDE
BULLETS AND NIKON CAMERAS Tate Britain will present a major retrospective of the legendary British photographer Sir Don McCullin. Renowned as one of the UK’s greatest living photographers, McCullin has captured images of conflict from around the world including Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Lebanon and Biafra. See the moments the artist captured, often at great personal risk. 5 Feb to 6 May. tate.org.uk
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THE GUIDE
EXHIBITION
KOOKY KOONS
A major exhibition of Jeff Koons’ work will be held at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Curated by Koons himself and Norman Rosenthal, the show will feature 17 works, 14 of which have never exhibited in the UK before. See the famous Equilibrium, Statuary, Banality, and Antiquity in the flesh. 7 February to 9 June. ashmolean.org.
DON’T MISS
E V E N T S
COUNTRY LIFE
Something old, something new and Jeff Koons, too. By Bella Lewis
Jeff Koons’ Antiquity 1 (2009-2012)
THEATRE
LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS
Good dog, set in the noughties, tells the story of growing up in a multi-cultural community and the everyday injustices that drive people to take back control. Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre performance is delicately observed and fearlessly told by writer Arinze Kene (Girl From the North Country, Misty). 7-8 Feb. sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
ART
ANYONE THERE? Searching for Libertalia at New Art Exchange brings together new and existing video, painting and photography by Shiraz Bayjoo. The Mauritian artist draws on personal and public archives to address cultural memory, nationhood, and the challenges of establishing a collective identity within a globalised post-colonial context. 19 January to 17 March. nae.org.uk LITERARY FESTIVAL
AUNTY ANTIQUE
World-class art and antiques will be on show at Blenheim Palace, host to the annual Cotswolds Art and Antiques Dealers’ Association (CADA) Fair. This year’s fair is themed on Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, which also fall in February. Think of all the antique Year of the Pig trinkets, plus cherubs and putti to see! 21–24 February. cotswolds-antiques-art.com
Jenna Burlingham and Jane Skingley carry Ivon Hitchens’ River and Fields
In 1817, William Hone stood trial for ‘impious blasphemy’. The only crime he had committed was being funny. Well, worse actually: he was funny by parodying religious texts and despotic government. Ian Hislop and Nick Newman take inspiration from real life events (go figure) for their new play Trial by Laughter at Chichester Festival Theatre. 4-9 February. cft.org.uk
PHOTOS: © JEFF KOONS; RICHARD CAVE
TRIAL NOT TO LAUGH
FAIR
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SCULPTURE
VA VA VOOM
A new solo exhibition of sculptures by Nicole Farhi will open at Beaux Arts in Mayfair. Folds is a series in which the artist explores the beauty of the human figure, focusing on the shapes and curves formed by folds of flesh on parts of the female body through life-size replicas of women’s curves. 31 January to 2 March. beauxartslondon.uk
E V E N T S
TOWN LIFE Female folds and stories told
Hebe by Nicole Farhi, 2018
DON’T MISS PARTY
THEATRE
TELL ME ABOUT IT
Ivo van Hove directs Gillian Anderson and Lily James in his new adaptation of All About Eve, a razor-sharp, unsettling exposé of the eternal obsession at the heart of show business. Step into a world of jealousy and ambition. Why does our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity never grow old? 2 Feb to 11 May. allabouteveplay.com
GET ON YOUR GLAD RAGS Here’s one to tick off your bucket list. Rivoli Ballroom (one of the last standing in 1950s style) has a monthly jive party that boasts the most authentic nostalgic buzz out there. The magical night is kicked off with a jive lesson before nosediving into a serious blast from the past. 9 February. rivoliballroom.com FESTIVAL
GARDEN
O IS FOR ORCHID
PHOTOS: © JEFF KOONS; RICHARD CAVE
Kew will hold its 24th annual Orchids Festival on the new theme of Colombia, the world’s most biodiverse country for orchids with 4,270 species. From tropical beaches to snowcapped mountains, Colombia’s landscape is as diverse as its flora, fauna and birdlife, all of which will be told through creative orchid displays. 9 February to 10 March. kew.org
YEAR OF THE PIG Chinese New Year will be marked with some of the largest festivities outside Asia throughout Trafalgar and Leicester Square. Marvel at the parade of dancing lion dolls, which bring good luck to houses and shops along their way. Dancing shows, traditional music and Chinese operas will light up stages to the tune of Chinese fireworks. 10 February. lccauk.com
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THE GUIDE
Tartuffe National Theatre, London SE1 Despite power and success, Orgon is dissatisfied with his lot, so when fraudulent Tartuffe arrives, he is ripe to be seduced. Orgon is submissive to Tartuffe’s supposed divine authority, and becomes suspicous of his own family. With caustic wit, Molière satirises religious hypocrites and those duped into following others with cult-like dedication. Perfect for a post-truth, surreal new year. 9 Feb to 30 April. nationaltheatre.org.uk
FIVE MINUTES W ITH...
A R T S
Louise Bourgeois
Your cultural diary for the month ahead by Caiti Grove VIVE LA FRANCE CELEBRATE SOME OF FRANCE’S MOST FAMOUS CULTURAL CREATIONS THIS SEASON
Spider I wall piece, 1995
Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge When Tate Modern opened in 2000, Bourgeois’ 30ft steel and marble spider, Maman, greeted its first visitors. The grande dame of autobiographical art, Bourgeois explored abandonment and sexuality until her death at 98 in 2010. As the conversation around gender and equality evolves, her work is as relevant as ever. 22 Jan to 24 March. kettlesyard.co.uk
Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory Tate Modern, London SE1 Bonnard’s dreamy views of everyday life see beauty in the ordinary; they are nostalgic for the fleeting moment. His vibrant use of colour creates a bridge to abstraction and reportedly influenced Rothko’s palette; now it illuminates the 21st century – fresh, and yet familiar. Expect to crave golden hour in Provence afterwards. 23 Jan to 6 May. tate.org.uk
There’s been a 20-year time lag since his last exhibition here. He needs repositioning in the context of a historical moment. We concentrate on the second half of his career. He could have coasted along, but revised his style to become radical. Drawing from memory, he could step away from the reality that inspired and distracted him. It had a deeper meaning too – the sense to seize the moment, a focus on the human condition and how we experience the passage of time. He had total dedication and painted every day, returning to a work again and again over six years or so.
Coffee (1915) by Pierre Bonnard
After his death, it took a while for his work to be reassessed from comfortable and reassuring. He celebrated life during the turbulent 30s. His most interesting works ask what it was to live then, and make a longer inquiry about existence.
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PHOTOS: GETTY
Tartuffe in a fresh staging by John Donnelly
MATTHEW GALE Curator of Tate Modern’s Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory
PHOTOS: TATE; THE EASTON FOUNDATION
ARTS AGENDA
PREVIEW
POLAROID PHOTOS BY ANDY WARHOL, 1971-1986
Bastian Gallery, London W1 Berlin-based Bastian Gallery is coming to W1. Its launch exhibition shows Andy Warhol was an instagram addict before it became A Thing. ‘My idea of a good picture is one that’s in focus and of a famous person,’ he once quipped. Luckily, he hung out in 70s and 80s New York. Going out every night, he photographed David Bowie, Giorgio Armani, Robert Rauschenberg and Muhammad Ali – sometimes using the resulting prints as the impetus for painted portraits. These intimate shots show stars as their true selves – adventurous and hopeful in a changing metropolis. Lovely. 2 Feb to 13 April. galeriebastian.com
Sara in a Warsaw basement c.1935-37, by Roman Vishniac Jean-Michel Basquiat snapped by Warhol in 1982 Liza Minelli by Andy Warhol, 1977
REVIEW
ROMAN VISHNIAC REDISCOVERED
The Photographer’s Gallery, London W1 and Jewish Museum, London NW1 Vishniac captured the plight of the Jewish community, from pre-war poverty in the 30s to their arrival in New York in the 40s, and became famous for his 1983 book A Vanished World. This duo of exhibitions reconsiders his career, finding it vastly more diverse than the scope of that series alone. When the war ended, he re-discovered a childhood interest in photographic microscopy, and invented a method of using polarised light to penetrate cell structures and improve the detail of an image. Haunting and beautiful pictures, well worth honouring. Until 24 Feb. thephotographersgallery.org.uk; jewishmuseum.org.uk
PHOTOS: GETTY
PHOTOS: TATE; THE EASTON FOUNDATION
Five historical films that raise contemporary issues
GREEN BOOK Peter Farrelly’s new comedy has a serious backbone. A world-class African-American pianist tours the Deep South in 1962. He hires a driver and protector – who’s racist. Alongside the humiliation he suffers, the driver’s attitude changes and the two characters become true friends. A fun ride with a deeper message. 1 Feb
COLETTE Our protagonist’s books become controversial bestsellers, yet her husband takes all the credit. She performs in the Moulin Rouge with her lover, Missy, where they kiss on stage and cause riots in the Parisian streets. It’s a sensory explosion and a celebration of diversity and sexual dissent. 11 Jan
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK Director Barry Jenkins wowed with Oscarwinner Moonlight. His latest film, set in 1970s Harlem, sees Tish and Fonny’s love threatened when Fonny is falsely accused of rape in a system that assumes he is guilty. Great chemistry and delicate composition. 8 Feb
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS House of Cards writer Beau Willimon has segued his political writing into 16thcentury drama. Already criticised for embellishment by historians, Donmar director Josie Rourke brings the tragic queen to dazzling life. Drama dethrones accuracy with stunning results. 18 Jan
ON THE BASIS OF SEX Studying Law in the 50s, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is overlooked by chauvinist lecturers and law firms. She represents a man in a case of gender discrimination, revolutionises the law surrounding equality, and is now a lauded member of the Supreme Court. This will doubtless have a cult following stateside. 8 Feb
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THE GUIDE B O O K S
GOOD READS
Richard Hopton reviews two first novels, a new book by a best-selling French author and a collection of short stories MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE
Blood, they say, is thicker than water – but it is also more difficult to get out of the carpet. Oyinkan Braithwaite’s first novel is a story steeped in the stuff: it opens with the narrator helping her sister, Ayoola, remove all traces of blood from the bathroom in which she has just murdered her boyfriend and is dominated by the visceral strength of the blood ties which, for better or worse, bind families together. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, the central characters, are two sisters, Korede and Ayoola. Korede, the elder, is a nurse at a local hospital while Ayoola is a fashion designer. As siblings, they present a striking contrast: Korede, the guardian angel, is kind, loyal, and altruistic, if perhaps misguided; Ayoola, the femme fatale, is manipulative, selfish, shallow and, repeatedly, murderous. Where Rekede is reserved, mildly self-conscious, and kind, Ayoola is grasping, beautiful and cruel. The sisters come from a comfortable, middle-class Nigerian background overshadowed by their late father, a
JEEVES AND THE KING OF CLUBS Ben Scott Ben Schott, he of the eponymous Miscellany, has published his first novel, ‘an homage to PG Wodehouse’. It succeeds triumphantly, both as light entertainment and as a tribute to the Master. Schott resurrects some of Wodehouse’s best-loved characters: Aunt Dahlia, Madeline Bassett and the sinister Roderick Spode, amongst others, all of whom have a part to play. He captures perfectly Bertie Wooster’s empty-headedness and cheerful philistinism and has a fine Wodehousian turn of phrase. A club bar is described as being ‘so full of boozy congeniality and pink gin that it might have been a Gillray cartoon sprung to life.’ Hutchinson, £16.99
LOYALTIES Delphine de Vigan Delphine de Vigan is a bestselling novelist in her native France; her new novel weaves together four separate stories which deal unsparingly with the effects of divorce, betrayal, child alcoholism and loneliness. The four strands of the narrative, the stories of two 13-year-old boys, Theo and Mathis, their teacher Helene and Mathis’ mother, Cecile, engage and disengage with each other as the book progresses. It’s a deceptively simple novel, an impression enhanced by the unfussy prose, shorn of literary flourish or artifice, but a powerful, thought-provoking one. Bloomsbury, £12.99
domineering, unfaithful and violent man, feared and despised by his family. His behaviour, glimpsed in flashbacks, may, we are invited to conclude, explain if not excuse his younger daughter’s murderous contempt for men. My Sister, The Serial Killer is a darkly comic, highly enjoyable novel. Braithwaite writes with deadpan humour which, combined with a delicious, oblique turn of phrase, prevents the novel from becoming depressing or overly serious. The subject matter may be deadly, but in Braithwaite’s hands it never loses its humour or its sense of mischief. It comes across as a spare, stripped-down story – reflected in the prose – one which concentrates on the murderous and comic essentials. In fact, the novel is more complex, addressing starkly the eternal conflict of Good and Evil and the capacity of family loyalty to corrupt the most scrupulous of consciences. There is no such thing, Braithwaite seems to be saying, as immutable morality, absolute right and absolute wrong: family and blood trumps all. Atlantic Books, £12.99
THE PENGUIN BOOK OF JAPANESE SHORT STORIES Edited by Jay Rubin Japanese literature is not widely read in the West. This anthology reveals a rich mosaic of Japanese life and culture. There is the gory horror of ‘Patriotism’, which describes a hara-kiri in all its fanatical devotion to duty and honour, incongruously wrapped in a shroud of eroticism. There are some affecting stories about the disasters which have struck Japan, including the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 2011 tsunami. But there is humour and beauty, too: ‘The 1962/1982 Girl from Ipanema’ is a whimsical tale of nostalgic memory. Penguin Classics, £25
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C&TH PROMOTION
DIP INTO LUXURY Award-winning five-star Sani Resort in Greece has your holiday sorted, so you can lie back and relax...
A
s February rolls around, thoughts turn to seeking some much-needed sunshine. The Aegean coast never disappoints, and when the palm-fringed waters of Sani Resort’s private Bousoulas Beach resemble those of the Caribbean, the lack of long haul is all the more blissful. Stunning beachscapes aside, we all know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Sani Club has a stunning selection of spacious double rooms, featuring redesigned open-plan interiors and extra large bathrooms. Sleeping up to three guests, each room has either an intimate private garden or balcony with knock-out views. For a totally personalised sanctuary, the new and exclusive Sani Suite Collection allows you to level up and enjoy tailored in-room amenities and first pick of their services, whether it be pre-booking the perfect table for a romantic meal, a sumptuous spa treatment or well-deserved crèche
session. It’s the ideal solution for the most discerning guests. This peaceful retreat is restful for all involved with the launch of a new bespoke baby and toddler advice programme in partnership with renowned baby whisperer, Carole Mae Consulting. Free for all Sani Suite Collection guests, there is no reason to fear your first trip abroad with the children in tow. A personalised guide will help adapt their sleep and behavioural routines, and any worries will soon melt away. If your children are growing up and becoming restless while you relax, or you just like a bit of healthy competition yourself, Sani Resort also has a unique and comprehensive portfolio of sports facilities for all to enjoy. Developed by the Grand Slam-winning tennis legend himself, the newest addition is the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, so your fitness regime won’t take a hit while you’re away. When holidays are as seamless and stress-free as this, you can’t fail but to return home with a new lease of life. Take the plunge: Porto Sani is offering a complimentary upgrade to full board for stays between 3 June to 27 Oct. Two children up to age 12 stay free, and airport transfers are included when booked online at saniresort.com. 0800 949 6809
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THE GUIDE
Juan Antonio Samaranch – a legend in Olympic history
THE OLYMPIAN
Sebastian Coe on how Juan Antonio Samaranch revolutionised the Olympic Games
I
f the Olympic headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, was a modest property by a lake when I first visited them nearly 40 years ago, its cash reserves of $200,000 were even thinner gruel. When the seventh president of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch, began his tenure, politically the movement had lost its way. It was dealing with its second boycott in a row, a handful of low-grade Olympic sponsorships and the real risk that the world of Olympic sport would divide East and West, not simply as a hostage of the Cold War, but also because of the eroding ethos of the worthy amateur. Among the rather tedious airport books on leadership, there is one question that abounds: ‘Are leaders shaped by the times or do they shape the future?’ In reality, the answer is both. Samaranch, a proud Catalan from a bourgeois background, his family prospering through textiles, served Spanish sport in an escalating set of responsibilities from the early 1950s. Some controversially
flag his presence in the Franco regime as a sports minister. As early as 1951, he created a world championship for roller-hockey (his sport) and was made an International Olympic Committee member in 1966. His elevation was rapid. His friendship with King Carlos (once Spain regained its democracy) served him well. He was made Spanish ambassador to the Soviet Union and Mongolia in 1977. But this was not just another notch on his CV. To win the presidency of the IOC in 1980 at the forthcoming games in Moscow, he would need unfettered access to IOC members and the political leadership of the Soviet sphere of influence. He won clearly after the first ballot. Although physically slight, his appetite for reforming the slothful metabolism of the Olympic movement was energetic. By 1981, he had gained national governmental and international organisational status, and was also prescient enough to recognise that sport itself could not prevent the boycotts
that had tragically affected the ambitions of so many athletes. He needed global political leadership. He also allowed women to become IOC members in the same year, driving gender equality across the field of play and, fitfully, through its governance structures. Before he appeared on the scene, most Olympic sponsorship was confined to the local level. Within a few years of his presidency, some of the biggest hitting global corporates were fighting for space at the table. From a village industry he had created a multi-billion dollar operation in an improbably short time. He split the winter from the summer games allowing TV and sponsorship monies to be spread over the Olympic quadrennial. He also created the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency and, probably his single proudest moment, asked the Spanish king to formally open the 1992 Olympic Games in his beloved Barcelona. It should not be overlooked that the Salt Lake City scandal saw a number of IOC members removed, nor the escalating concerns expressed around the insidious growth of doping in sport. I have little doubt, however, that Samaranch is a worthy recipient of our first nomination to the Game Changers Club.
PHOTO: REX FEATURES
S P O R T S
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THE GUIDE C A R S
ROAD TEST
The Volvo XC90 T8 R-Design impresses Jeremy Taylor so much he’s hung up his elasticated trousers
VITA L STATS PRICE £64,365 ENGINE 320hp petrol & 87hp electric motor POWER 407bhp 0-62MPH 5.3 seconds ECONOMY 134.5mpg (combined)
TOWN
COUNTRY
Volvo and SUV – two little words on the slippery path towards elasticated trousers and impending middle age. Before long there will be a labrador in the boot and regular visits to a garden centre. Thankfully, Volvo has changed all that with the brilliant XC90. The Swedes have ingeniously created a plug-in hybrid family car that you don’t just buy for practical reasons – this is an SUV that’s as quick as a hot hatchback. Burdened with the task of building a seven-seater, most manufacturers seem incapable of designing a desirable car. The XC90, however, stands as muscular as a Range Rover, with a Scandi cool interior to match. There’s a lovely palate of colours to choose from, daytime running lights designed in the shape of Thor’s hammer, plus subtle body trim that emphasises the go-anywhere ability of Volvo’s most expensive model. Our test car is the top-of-the-range T8 model with a petrol-electric engine that makes it perfect for city commutes. Around town, it can travel roughly 27 miles on electric power, and then switches to petrol on longer runs. Air suspension irons out the potholes and while noise from the 2.0-litre petrol engine can be intrusive when pushed hard, inside all is relaxed and calm. Even little passengers in the third row of seats will find the big Volvo a fun place. USB sockets, great all-round visibility and a surprising amount of legroom are a bonus. The fact their mum’s Volvo can race to 60mph in under six seconds will give them street cred in the playground too. RATING: 5/5 HANDBAGS
Let’s be honest: like most hybrid cars, the XC90 will not average the 134.5mpg claimed in the brochure. Unless you are making a short city commute under pure electric power, owners will be lucky to achieve 30mpg. And if you live in the countryside that figure could drop still further because once the electric battery runs flat, that petrol engine is a thirsty little beast. If this is you, buy the excellent D5 diesel model instead. The T8 gobbles up motorway miles at a surprising rate – it’s also the most enjoyable drive on a fast country A-road. A high riding position means there is some wallow on the corners but nothing excessive. Inside, the attention to detail is admirable. The central command screen is the size of an iPad and controls everything from heating to the brilliant sound system. It will have your family squabbling over who has control of the Bluetooth phone link. There’s a starter button that’s been diamond cut, an equally swish crystal glass gear lever and, well, not much else. The minimalist approach has been designed around that powerful command screen to create a relaxing environment. If you do have to visit a garden centre or, heaven forbid, an antiques shop, the Volvo’s humungous boot will swallow up whatever you can throw at it. Both the middle and back row of seats fold completely flat. The XC90 is quite possibly the best SUV out there – the T8 makes it even better if you are an urban dweller. It could even mark the end of elasticated trousers for ever. RATING: 4/5 WELLIES February 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 53
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THE GUIDE
Charlotte Metcalf talks to London’s leading art dealer Philip Mould about survival in a hugely competitve world Portrait by ALEXANDRA DAO
T
here’s a chill in the air and Philip Mould arrives wearing his signature scarf. He’s just been named by ES Magazine as ‘Scarf Wearer of 2018’ and described as ‘the dapper Philip Mould.’ ‘It’s my greatest triumph,’ Philip laughs, ‘though everyone’s taking the piss remorselessly.’ Dapper he is though, wearing a coat with silk lining patterned with miniature portraits and his signature. Philip’s fame is built on his television career, formerly as a regular expert on Antiques Roadshow and now as the stylish, suave art sleuth alongside Fiona Bruce in BBC1’s Fake or Fortune, which is about to start filming its eighth series. With five million British viewers and now a growing international audience, it is the most watched art television programme globally. ‘It is hugely satisfying to see the programme’s outreach and I am forever bumping into people who want to share their story,’ says Philip. ‘The show plugs into that mystical idea that you can retrieve the lost and found, like finding a unicorn in the attic.’ Philip started dealing in ‘bits and bobs’ when he was 12 and went on to build a reputation as one of Britain’s most charismatic, Country cottage canny and successful art dealers. or penthouse? His first television appearance was on Magpie A bit of each – I have a house in with his collection of antique shoe buckles. He Kensington and was 15 and wore a cravat and bellbottoms. Was a little manor house in West he the 16-year-old William Hague of the art Oxfordshire. world? ‘Absolutely!’ he laughs, ‘and I still cringe Country pub or when I see Hague doing that speech.’ Michelin star? Philip’s father had a printing factory on the That depends – these things Wirrall where Philip grew up. ‘I describe it to aren’t binary. southerners as posh Liverpool,’ he says, ‘but it Smart suit or was really a suburbia that you moved to from the country tweeds? city if you’d made a few bucks. We had a cottage As soon as I get in north Wales, which gave us our green fix and to Exit 6 on the M40 and go sparked my interest in conservation.’ Philip used through the cut I to go antique collecting with his mother, who start abandoning my town persona. was confined to a wheelchair by polio. ‘In the days when antiques shops weren’t coffee shops Dog or cat? I have a whippet and you could park, I went into the shops to called Cedric, bring stuff out to her,’ remembers Philip. after Cedric Morris, but he has Philip went to boarding school at Worth and the insouciant to University of East Anglia to read History of Art. spirit of a cat. ‘It was a rare course in those days so I was steeped Wine or green in women and gender fluids,’ Philip jokes. He tea? I don’t drink, so tea. started dealing in watercolours and drawings at
IN BRIEF
university then joined his older brother Anthony, who had a gallery selling British paintings and Old Masters in Piccadilly Arcade. Philip soon discovered the opportunity that portraits presented – ‘think of how many people are searching for representations of Jane Austen and then think laterally’ – and left Anthony to start dealing in historical portraits from a first floor on Bond Street, ‘before the days of the handbag wave.’ Soon after he found the only existing portrait of Prince Arthur, Henry VIII’s older brother who died aged 15 and who’d been married to Katherine of Aragon. It was painted in 1499 as a tiny marriage portrait and was hidden inside a larger panel. Its value and identity had been miscalculated at a Sotheby’s sale but Philip had done the sleuthing and snapped it up. He sold it to a bodybuilding Californian bond dealer and bought his Kensington house with the proceeds. ‘Learning to read the potential of a dirty picture covered in varnish or later paint has underpinned my survival in the hugely competitive art world,’ he says. Philip was soon London’s leading portrait dealer and moved to his Dover Street gallery in 2005. In 2017 he moved into 6,000 sq/ft over three floors in Pall Mall. ‘I feel I’ve moved up on the Monopoly board of life and have a spring in my step,’ he says. ‘Dover Street is another handbag street now whereas Pall Mall is weighty with history and is architecturally uplifting.’ At the time of our conversation, Philip has just unearthed a portrait of Charles Dickens, painted in 1843 by suffragette Margaret Gillies and missing for 175 years. ‘He looks like a spaniel with his raven-haired locks and those dark eyes,’ enthuses Philip. ‘It’s the most charismatic, psychological portrait with a whiff of hagiography as Gillies was clearly in thrall to him. But there’s also a sense of doleful compassion as it was painted when Dickens was writing A Christmas Carol, a period of huge self-doubt. It’s like looking at the man in the iron mask but without the man inside. A collector found it in a box of trinkets in a sale and contacted us. It’s very small, painted on ivory and was complicated to restore as it was covered in fungus.’ With his gallery’s relocation has come a change of direction. ‘My heart still lies in the 17th century but our world has changed beyond recognition so anything pre-War has mystical resonance for me now,’ says Philip. ‘Just look at the countryside. Wild flowers are such a symbol of the richness and diversity we’ve lost. A meadow used to look like a beautiful, faded Persian rug but all that’s been decimated. What I’d really love is to fuse my love of the English countryside with art like an electric current.’ But for now it’s time to wrap his scarf round his neck again and return to Pall Mall where a potential buyer is waiting. philipmould.com
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Philip Mould, voted 2018 scarf wearer of the year by ES Magazine
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LIFE AFTER TIGHTS You’ll never see Carlos Acosta in Swan Lake again, but thankfully he hasn’t hung up his dancing shoes for good. Lynn Barber meets the dancer whose rags to riches story is a modern-day fairytale Fashion director NICOLE SMALLWOOD Photographer CHRIS LANE
C
arlos Acosta’s famous smile really does light up the room, or in this case a rather dark brasserie in Soho. He orders a mojito, though it is only teatime. ‘I suppose you can drink what you like now you’re retired,’ I remark, and he pulls me up sharply. ‘I’m not retired – let me correct you on that. I’ve retired from classical dancing, I don’t do Nutcracker or Swan Lake in tights any more, but I’m still dancing.’ He has his own dance company, Acosta Danza, based in Cuba, and is also a ballet master with the Royal Ballet, coaching younger dancers in his famous roles – he will be rehearsing them in Carmen in the New Year. ‘It is only the tights that have retired,’ he laughs.
He has had an extraordinary rags to riches career. Born in Havana in l973, his father a lorry driver, his mother a housewife, often ill, he was the youngest of 11 children. They were so poor that his mother once cooked the children’s pet rabbits because there was nothing else to eat. Carlos ran wild with the other street kids and at age nine got into breakdancing – he was crazy about Michael Jackson – and was so good that crowds would gather on street corners to watch him. But his father was worried that the older boys in his gang were leading him into petty crime, and decided that he needed to go to ballet school to learn some discipline. There was also the incentive of a free lunch every day.
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Carlos Acosta is a ballet master at the Royal Ballet
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LEFT: Carlos coaches Matthew Bell and Mayara Magri at the Royal Opera House rehearsal studios RIGHT: Carlos wears track pants by Helmut Lang and top by 2XU at matchesfashion. com
Wasn’t it a bit weird for a lorry driver to want his son to go to ballet school? ‘Yes. It’s very atypical because Cuban fathers want their sons to be macho – to do football, boxing or whatever. So yes, it was unusual. But actually my father really liked ballet, and he loved the music of Chopin and Schubert. He once told me he would have liked to do ballet himself but he never had the chance because during his youth – and he was born in l918 – there was a lot of racism in Cuba and you could not do ballet as a black man.’ His father was very black, of African slave heritage, but Carlos’ mother was white Spanish – ‘which is why I’m cappuccino and it’s worked out well’. When he went to ballet school he had never even seen a ballet, he didn’t know what it was. ‘At the audition, I went to some classes and saw
boys in tights, so it was very strange – and very boring.’ What did he do for his audition? ‘I did some breakdancing and they all said, “What the hell is that?”’ Still, they accepted him because of his physique and flexibility. (Perhaps they were secretly impressed by his breakdancing too.) He hated ballet school at first – he thought ballet was effeminate – and behaved so badly that he was eventually expelled. But his father – who had meanwhile spent time in prison for a traffic offence – managed to get him into another school and he suddenly blossomed. He won the school’s gold medal aged 16 and was sent on a student exchange to Turin. ‘And while I was there I was recommended to enter the Prix de Lausanne, and I won it in l990 at the age of 16, against 127 competitors. The prize was a year’s scholarship to any ballet school in the world, or money. I chose money because my family really needed it but also because my Cuban school was very strong – I didn’t need another school.’ Cuba, he adds, has been an exporter of top male dancers since the 1990s – before that they tended to be Russian. At l8 he was invited to join the English National Ballet as their youngest principal dancer, and was soon dancing all the leading roles. But he found England depressing because it was cold and he couldn’t speak English. Luckily there were two Cuban dancers in the company, so he moved in with them and was just settling down when, after eight months, he suffered a bad ankle injury and needed surgery. Afterwards, ‘The pain was still too much and I didn’t want to carry on performing so I went back to Cuba, and spent a
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‘MY FATHER ONCE TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO DO BALLET HIMSELF, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF RACISM IN CUBA AND YOU COULD NOT DO BALLET AS A BLACK MAN’
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Carlos wears track pants by Acne and white longsleeved T-shirt by 120% Lino, at matchesfashion. com TEAM Fashion assistant: Kerri Stolerman Photographer’s assistant: Tom Farmer Grooming: Sophie Higginson using Kiehl’s
year without dancing.’ That must have been hard? ‘No. I had a pain-free life, I could sleep till 12, I could do whatever I wanted. But I had no other career and my teachers said, “better get back to the barre”. So I did, and went touring with the [Cuban] National Ballet. And then I received a letter inviting me to join the Houston Ballet and spent a whole five years with them. That was a big change because it was a very important company, and I was well-paid – I’d been earning one dollar a month in Cuba – it was the so-called “special period” when everybody was on $1 a month.’ He loved Houston: ‘I was so young, I was a machine, I could jump, twist in the air every night without tiring. I even danced in the street!’ But then he was invited to join the Royal Ballet and came to London in l998. He thinks his peak was around 2000. ‘You have one season where
you think you’re the top of the world. There was a Royal Ballet gala I remember, commemorating the history of the Royal Ballet, and I was representing Nureyev in Le Corsaire, and I was really good.’ As good as Nureyev? ‘You would have to judge that, but people were shouting and shouting in the audience.’ (You can see the recording on YouTube. It is thrilling.) In 2004 he met his wife, Charlotte, then a model, now a writer, at a barbecue. ‘I saw this pretty girl and I kept calling her and asking her out but she would never come and she disappeared for one year. But then we met again.’ Did he invite her to the ballet? ‘No, I didn’t. She wasn’t interested in ballet. She is now – she’s an expert now!’ They had their first daughter, Aila, in 2011 and identical twins Maya and Luna in 2016. They live near Frome, Somerset, because he wanted the children to grow up in the country, though he takes the whole family to Cuba for two months every year. He meanwhile commutes between England and Cuba – an odd sort of life but one he finds deeply fulfilling. It’s extraordinary to think how touch and go his early years were and how easily he might have dropped out of ballet entirely. In fact, he acknowledges, ballet has given him everything – fame, fortune, and a chance to give something back by training the next generation of Cuban dancers at Acosta Danza. Long may it flourish. n Carlos Acosta’s production of Don Quixote returns to the Royal Opera House from 15 Feb to 4 April
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I’M AN ENGLISH BRAND IN... Are British brands legal aliens or are they making the Big Apple their home city? asks Charlotte Metcalf
PHOTO: GETTY IAMGES
W
hen the shirt maker Charles Tyrwhitt opened its first American store on Madison Avenue in 2002, the shopfront was emblazoned with a Union Jack announcing, ‘The Brits are Coming’. Charles Tyrwhitt was following Thomas Pink’s lead, which had opened ‘the largest shirt shop in the world’ on 52nd Street a few years earlier, selling shirts at around $140, over twice the British price. Thomas Pink’s gamble paid off as LVMH later bought the company for millions. With Brexit looming, British brands feel under more pressure than ever to have an international presence if they are to attract this kind of lucrative sale. It’s why so many are eager to enter the American market. For a while the Brits were apparently storming America. Take British members’ club Soho House, which opened in Manhattan’s meatpacking district in 2003. It was so achingly hip that it featured in Sex and the City. Today the brand has clubs in Miami, Malibu, West Hollywood, Chicago and Brooklyn, plus the new Ludlow House on Manhattan’s lower east side. Birmingham chef April Bloomfield earned a James Beard award (the American restaurant world’s equivalent to the Oscars) for Best New York Chef and two Michelin stars – one for her West Village gastropub The Spotted Pig and the other for The Breslin at the Ace Hotel. D&D London opened its first US outpost, Bluebird – the landmark Chelsea café and restaurant formerly on Kings Road – on Columbus Circle last September, serving traditional British food like fish and chips, beef Wellington and 64 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | February 2019
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Brexit means British brands are more eager than ever to enter the American market
...NEW YORK
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full English breakfast with black pudding and baked beans. And it was recently announced that Robin Birley, of legendary members’ club 5 Hertford Street, is to open on Union Square. Yet for every success story there is a string of failures. Justin Metcalf, a consultant who specialises in launching British brands in America, says: ‘What people forget is Tom Wolfe’s famous line about Manhattan being an offshore boutique and not the real America. Brits have very little grasp of American geography. To fly from LA to New York is further than London to Moscow. It’s fantastically tough to run a string of shops in such an enormous country. Sixty shops in Britain is the equivalent of 800 in America – that needs a serious amount of cash’. Conquering America is less about establishing a bricks-and-mortar presence than building up a customer database to sell online. Justin was the man who built on Charles Tyrwhitt’s initial success in New York to expand the business – it now has seven stores across America and a big online presence. Justin also took Boden into America. Founded by Johnnie Boden, his eponymous store sells colourful, quirky clothes for men, women and children via a catalogue famous for using photographs of Johnnie’s own family. Starting with zero US customers in 2002, Boden now sells more women’s clothes online than any other British brand in America, with over a million customers. How did Boden do it? ‘We learnt to respect our American customer and understand how very different she is from a British one,’ says Justin. ‘She is spoilt for choice with Walmart and Old
Navy for basics and Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel for home furnishings. These are gigantic companies. Unless we’re providing something unique or quirky we’re arrogant to think they’d buy from us. Quirk is the thing. Look at Soho House, it’s not the Hilton or Marriott – it’s edgy.’ Boden also did travelling trunk shows. Katherine Hooker, supplier of bespoke tweed tailoring to celebrities and the Duchess of Cambridge, had considerable success with her trunk shows, just as many Savile Row tailors like Huntsman and Henry Poole do. Instead of approaching iconic Manhattan stores like Saks or Bloomingdales, Justin took Mini Boden kids’ clothing into the retail giant Nordstrom, with 380 stores in America. ‘We created an aspirational lifestyle brand around the illusion of Johnnie having a great time with his kids,’ he says. ‘We hit the sweet spot. There was nothing like Mini Boden on the market and it became Nordstrom’s fastest selling kids’ line.’ Post the economic crash of 2008, British brands were slow to discount when even premium and luxury American brands were starting to do so. Then along came Amazon. ‘It was a perfect storm,’ says Justin. ‘British brands floundered. It’s one thing to say you have an American presence – and plenty of British brands like Brora or Links of London do have lovely New York shops – but it’s the giants, Burberry being the notable one, that have the
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Bluebird serves up traditional fish and chips to a New York clientele; Sunspel has just opened on Mercer Street; Penhaligon’s and Smythson are making waves in America; fast fashion brand Boohoo was endorsed by Kylie Jenner; British watch brand Bremont opened in New York in 2015; the Duchess of Cambridge supports English designer Katherine Hooker, who successfully takes trunk shows to the States
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PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
‘FOR A LONG TIME, BRITAIN WAS PERCEIVED AS THE OLD COUNTRY BUT THAT’S NO BAD THING BECAUSE AMERICANS LIKE A SOLID BRAND. THEY LIKE THINGS TO BE CLASSIC’
staying power.’ Dunhill has a firm presence. The US is watchmaker Bremont’s second biggest market. Jo Malone has thrived under the enormous umbrella of Estée Lauder. Fast fashion brand Boohoo was endorsed by Kylie Jenner, perfect for its teenage demographic. Yet British optimism is not to be dampened by a cautionary tale. Simon Gregory, group executive chef at Bluebird, says, ‘I’ve noticed an influx of British brands recently. In the Time Warner Building alone there are LK Bennett, Ted Baker and Links of London, apart from us. For a long time Britain was perceived as the Old Country but that’s no bad thing because Americans like a solid brand. They like things to be classic, beautiful, elegant. They also appreciate brands that are not just some celebrityendorsed flash-in-the-pan but have stood the test of time and are almost a bit of an institution. After all, Bluebird’s been in London for over 20 years, so it’s sustainable luxury if you like’. Bluebird is also providing those quirky ingredients that, according to Justin, Americans like. ‘When we started doing tastings here Americans didn’t know what sticky toffee pudding was but now we can’t make enough of it,’ says Simon. ‘People also love our Cornish hand-raised chicken pie and pâté en croûte, which is really our version of a pork pie served with piccalilli. There is fantastic produce here – fruit and vegetables from California, wonderful cheeses and fish from upstate New York, flavours from Mexico – so we try to do food that is recognisably British but without being Union Jack-waving Brits abroad.’ The heritage clothing brand Sunspel has opened its first American store on Mercer Street in SoHo. Ed Vaizey, Britain’s culture minister from 2014 to 2016, confesses to wearing Sunspel’s clothes almost exclusively and says, ‘I think Americans will love the fact they’re all traditionally made and authentically British. Yet the clothes also have a modern twist to make any man feel elegant and sophisticated’. CEO Nicholas Brooke notes, ‘From our famed development of the T-shirt over the last 150 years to equipping James Bond with our signature Riviera Polo, our meticulous attention to detail and craft is globally recognised as a badge of quality and uniqueness’. Today the brands making waves in America are those with quintessentially British hearts like Turnbull & Asser, Thom Sweeney, Smythson, Penhaligon’s and Emma Bridgewater. Meanwhile, Justin is contemplating which brand to launch there next now that Charles Tyrwhitt and Boden have proved their staying power. But it’s the staying that’s the hard part. As Justin says, ‘It’s a long, long road and nowadays a retail foothold in New York is just the very beginning’. n February 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 67
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A GOOD MAN IN LITERATURE
PHOTO: TREVOR LEIGHTON
Alexander Larman meets William Boyd, the writer who has won both literary and commercial success
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PHOTO: TREVOR LEIGHTON
A
sk any well-read man or woman which authors they actually enjoy reading – as opposed to dutifully keeping their books on the shelves – and the answer that often comes back is William Boyd. Author of 15 novels, several short stories, non-fiction works and film and television adaptations, Boyd’s prolific output is only matched by the excellence of its quality. It’s hard to think of a duff book written by him, which certainly cannot be said of some of his contemporaries, and his stories manage the rare hat trick of being highly readable, imbued with deep intelligence and selling in very considerable numbers. No wonder that the house where I meet Boyd is a particularly lovely example of a 19th-century Chelsea residence, where the trappings of literary success – countless books, many rare; a David Hockney collection – are on full display. Many writers of Boyd’s reputation exhibit a certain degree of self-awareness about their standing in the world of literature, but the friendly, open and witty man sitting opposite me doesn’t display any grandness of manner or approach. Little wonder that, when we meet, he’s just received a pile of manuscripts from hopeful writers wanting his much-prized endorsement. ‘I get sent five or six proof copies a week, asking for quotes, which I do tend to give. Not routinely, but often. I think publishers file me under: “He gives quotes, let’s wing one off to him and keep our fingers crossed”,’ he says. Boyd’s most recent book, Love is Blind, is one of his best. Dealing with the young Scottish musician Brodie Moncur and his travels in the late 19th century through Scotland, France and Russia, among other places, it is a masterly achievement, simultaneously succeeding as a ripping yarn and a clever, metatextual commentary on itself. As he says, ‘I do believe in as compelling a narrative as possible – which has its own challenges and its own systems – but at the same time you can allude to “the grand plan” and leave clues and hope that people pick them up. I often hope that a reader will head to their reference books if there’s something they don’t quite understand, as it’s certainly something that I do. It’s a good thing to do, but it doesn’t impair the surface enjoyment factor.’ As usual, not all the critics quite got it.
‘I’M AN OLD GUNSLINGER WHEN IT COMES TO BEING REVIEWED, AND I ALWAYS GET A MIXED BAG. TYPICALLY IT’S THREE GREAT ONES, A LOT OF PERFECTLY DECENT NOTICES, AND THREE STINKERS’ ‘I’m an old gunslinger when it comes to being reviewed, and I always get a mixed bag. Typically it’s three great ones, a lot of perfectly decent notices, and three stinkers. I’m used to it, but with Love Is Blind, which did get 80 per cent glowing reviews, it was frustrating because writers didn’t seem to get what was going on. I’ve been covered by some of the same people since 1981, and they’re almost schoolmasterly – “tut tut, pull up your socks”, and all that sort of thing. But I’m thick-skinned; I don’t curl up in a foetal position and ruin family life for the next fortnight.’ He’s well known for both his ‘serious’ and ‘funny’ novels, but doesn’t see a particular division between the two. ‘I began my career as a “serious comic novelist”, because I think that my view of the world is essentially comic. When you look at the human condition, you have a choice, whether to weep or laugh, and writers I like – Chekhov, Nabokov, Muriel Spark and Waugh – all have that angle on the world. But life is a fraught and serious business, and so I find myself instinctively leaning towards dark comedy.’ Although Boyd has worked in a vast number of genres and styles – including a well-received James Bond novel, Solo – the book which is probably most loved is his 2002 masterpiece, Any Human Heart, the fictionalised journal of the writer Logan Mountstuart. When asked to explain why it’s been so popular since its initial publication, Boyd replies: ‘I genuinely don’t know what book I’ll be remembered for, but I do get three times the letters about Any Human Heart as I do about my other novels. There is something about it that appeals to people; it’s probably my bestselling, or at least my most consistently selling, book and there’s something about it that people respond to. It’s interesting that a lot of very young readers enjoy it; I think it’s because it’s written as a journal. Interestingly, the first letter I got about it was from a 16-year-old girl from Amsterdam, who said, “It made me think about my life to come”. It makes them think about what’s going to
happen in their lives, but also to think about older people in their lives anew’. He has a wide variety of projects on the go at the moment – a TV series, a play, another novel and a second volume of non-fiction, More Bamboo, but one thing that you won’t be seeing from him ‘unless I’m broke’ is either an autobiography or an authorised biography. ‘It must be very strange to read the facts of your own life: how much money you earned, who you slept with and so on. And you can end up with a proper demolition job, even in an authorised biography, as in Patrick French’s account of VS Naipaul, where one ends by thinking “what a shockingly awful man he was”. Still, as a friend of mine put it, “all biography is fiction, which has to be kept in public facts”. I won’t write a biography, nor authorise mine – but then to be fair, unless you’re Ernest Hemingway and have led a gloriously rackety life, writers’ lives are often dull.’ It’s hard to think that someone as civilised, erudite and engaging as Boyd – whose wide social circle famously included David Bowie, with whose help he published a spoof memoir of a fictitious painter, Nat Tate: An American Artist – has led a remotely dull life. Still, as he reflects, ‘I work in a wide variety of areas – films, television, literature, theatre – but it’s always the novel I come back to. It has utter freedom and flexibility, and you can do anything that you want within it’. As his legion of devoted readers knows, the way he’s taken advantage of this freedom has had the most splendid consequences – both for him and us. n Love is Blind is out now in hardback
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LIVING INTERIORS DESIGN
THE INSIDER
SIGN LANGUAGE Give it some graphics The Tribu collection from Pierre Frey is inspired by graphic art of the N’débélé people from South Africa who paint the outside of their houses with strong geometric motifs to express individuality. How refreshing that we’re all so similar – whether we live in a cluster of huts, terrace or hillside, we want a home that’s uniquely ours and unlike anyone else’s. pierrefrey.com
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THE INSIDER Margo Selby Woven cushions, from £60, and Kelim large rug, £495. margoselby.com
Modern Folk Transylvanian wardrobe, £1,450. modernfolkshop.com
Baker Lifestyle Castelo embroidery, £89 p/m. gpjbaker.com
Covelli Tennant Edwardian armchair, £1,300. covellitennant.com
T R E N D
Jonathan Adler Puli pouf, £495. uk.jonathanadler.com
MATERIAL CULTURE
Eclectic, ornate and full of personality – bohemian folk style is here to stay Tara Calatei Transylvanian chair, £325. vinterior.co
Club Matters Iznik platter, £28. clubmatters.com
Day Birger et Mikkelsen Magic carpet, £625. amara.com
FRONT by Jan Kath Sofianka rug, £2,330 per sq/m. frontrugs.com
Taika Coffee cup, £15. iittala.com
A Rum Fellow Ashbourne sofa, £5,500. arumfellow.com
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THE INSIDER FABRIC OF LIFE Simple stripes never fail to please. Sofa upholstered in Stanton Indigo, £79 p/m. Other fabrics from £69, all by Threads at GP & J Baker. gpjbaker.com
EASY BREEZY Cotton inspired by rippling light on a fountain, £110 p/m, at Fermoie. fermoie.com
I N T E R I O R S
DESIGN NOTES
News and inspiration from the world of interiors. By Carole Annett
GEOMETRIC MOVES Perfect lines emphasise the beauty of beech grain in boards by Gareth Neal for Case Furniture, from £24. casefurniture.com
DOODLEDO KITTED OUT
Take tea at Kit Kemp’s Ham Yard, Soho, a Firmdale collection hotel, and you will be served with her charming Sailor’s Farewell design for Wedgwood. Tea cup, £40 and saucer, £29. wedgwood.co.uk
GOOD INTENTION
‘Simplicity is key and I try to be honest in the design process,’ says Steven Owens of &Bespoke. Oak Bure settle in traditional ebonised finish, £1,245. andbespoke.com
Brighten up a playroom or kitchen interior with a fun braid on a curtain, blind or chair edge. Sari braid, £27.50 p/m. villanova.co.uk
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HOLD ME CLOSE
BIT ON THE SIDE
A teeny table to sit by the side of a chair. £1,100 at Katharine Pooley. katharinepooley.com
FINE PLUMAGE Go bold underfoot. Golden Pheasant rug from £840 per sq/m, available in silk or wool. deirdredyson.com
THE SMART SET
I see this seven-drawer desk as a dressing table in an elegant bedroom interior. Hugo desk with lacquered walnut, mother of pearl and bronze, £5,295 at Louise Bradley. louisebradley.co.uk
TAP ME UP
1 Pamela Print Uccle block throw by Made+Good, £295. madeandgood.com
Brass brings warmth to a cement or stone backdrop. Perrin & Rowe 4192 deck mounted Ionian mixer in aged brass, £591.12. perrinandrowe.co.uk
TWIN GLOW
Aquiline is the first lighting collection from designer Christopher Jenner, crafted in brass and crystal. Twin stem table lamp, £399. gestaltlighting.com
2 Plain broadcloth wool throw in French navy by Lounging Hound, £180. thelounginghound.com 3 Hattie Magnus throw by Melanie Porter, £420. melanieporter.co.uk 4 Cotton Perle throw in peacock by Wallace Cotton, £69. wallacecotton.co.uk 5 Wool throw with William Morris inspired embroidery by Anlaby, £870.25. anlaby.life 6 Cashmere Chevron throws by Liaigre, £1,480 each. liaigre.com
FRENCH FANCY Caravane furniture devotees will love the new flagship showroom at Coal Drops Yard, the Thomas Heatherwick-designed mall in King’s Cross, N1. Mira sofa, £3,600. caravane.co.uk
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THE INSIDER F O C U S
THE HOME OFFICE
A well-crafted desk, plentiful storage and thoughtful planning make working from home a pleasure
1 The Victor writing desk by artist Mario Airò for Adele-C has tapered maple legs and a bamboo veneer top (artemest.com). 2 Shoreditch carver chair, Carter desk and bookcase and Brompton desk lamp, all by Neptune (neptune.com). 3 A traditional office interior with a nod to modernity from London studio Albion Nord (albion-nord.com). 4 String system shelving with fold-down table (skandium.com).
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D E S I G N
LIT T L E BL ACK BOOK
Q & A
ROSE MURRAY
ART Unit Gallery London. theunitldn.com
Likes to get offline
Rose Murray
life is so much more accessible as a result.
LITTLE LUXURIES Smythson. smythson.com
What should never have seen the light of day? What’s the last piece of art you bought? Oil on linen study by Clare Bonnet – I’m always intrigued by her female figures.
What was your most recent find?
PHOTOS: COURTESY CLARE BONNET AND SARAH WISEMAN GALLERY; COURTESY UNIT LONDON
Tishhome, a duo from Wales who are making contemporary ceramic pendant lights. A new decorative favourite. Most extravagant thing you’ve bought for your home? An
antique Chinese dresser, the top half of which was used to house chickens. It is far too large for my kitchen but I bought it instead to use as storage in my bedroom. Unsung design hero? Susan Kare, the graphic designer who worked with Steve Jobs and created the visual icons for the Mac interface. Laptop
Single-use plastics. Where do you find inspiration? Life offline –
and everything in it. Are you green-fingered? I can’t live without plants but as I travel a lot, my plants have to live without me! I’m a fan of decorative palms that require minimal attention for maximum effect. What would you never throw away? My English longbow, gifted from a dear friend. Living in London offers little opportunity to use it, but it reminds me of rogue adventures. Whose home would you most like to have a nose around? Ricardo Bofill’s cement
factory in Catalonia, Spain. It is such a monumental residence. What do you collect? Design magazines. They are an addiction – I have so many that I build side tables out of them!
TILES Bert & May. bertandmay.com
ETHICAL HOMEWARE Nkuku. nkuku.com
FABRICS Osborne and Little. osborneandlittle.com
How can we live more self-sufficiently? Which designers do you have your eye on? Maija Leskela for her anthropological approach to objects, and Hollis+Morris for their striking lighting collection.
Buy less but buy better. You’ll soon realise how much is superfluous. House warming present? You can’t go wrong with the right scented candle – Lipsius’ Mandarin Rosemary and Cedarwood is a wonderful winter warmer. What are you currently working on? Private residential,
and a boutique hotel in northern Italy. thesewhitewalls.com
RUGS Jennifer Manners. jennifer manners.co.uk
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WINTER
SALE
andsotobed.co.uk | 0808 144 4343 Bridport ︱ Bristol ︱ Bury St Edmunds ︱ Chelmsford ︱ Cheltenham ︱ Glasgow Handcross ︱ Harrogate ︱ Hartley Wintney ︱ London, Chelsea ︱ London, Richmond London, West End ︱ Manchester ︱ Nottingham ︱ Oxford ︱ Tunbridge Wells ︱ Weybridge
Untitled-2 1
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EAT DRINK ESCAPE
FOOD & TRAVEL
E S C A P E
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET Caroline Phillips heads to Uganda to hike Mount Elgon and learns some fascinating quadruped facts along the way The longed-for sight of a herd of elephants makes the toughest trek worthwhile
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FOOD & TRAVEL
W
BOOK IT Exceptional Travel offers bespoke safaris to Kenya and Uganda, tailor-made to a client’s requirements (exceptionaltravel.com) Fares from London Heathrow to Uganda (via Nairobi), from £390 including tax (kenyaairways.com)
e’re going to search for cave elephants – the elusive quadruped Babars found ‘tusking’ salt off cave walls. There’s just basic camping on offer. And malaria and yellow fever aren’t a lure either. But I’m a mahout manqué and will do (almost) anything to see elephants. Even hike for four days from a little-explored part of Uganda to Kenya. That’s why my 22-year-old daughter Anya and I are being driven 165 miles from Entebbe to Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. Past Lake Victoria, egrets and bamboo forests. When we reach Mbale our driver, Innocent, takes us to the town’s supermarket. Here, among shoppers in tribal prints and a security guard fiddling with an old rifle, we find expedition snacks of plantain crisps and fried corn. Next we head to nearby Mount Elgon Hotel. I want to stay here forever – not only for its panoramic view of the extinct shield volcano, Mount Elgon, but also because it’s our final comfy night. Yet we’re still up as early as mountain buzzards (5am) to drive 45 minutes to the Mount Elgon National Park office to sign in for our Sasa Trail hike. Here we learn some elephantastic facts. ‘If you annoy an elephant, out of 100 people it will single you out 30 years later,’ explains Peter, the warden. ‘Elephants can smell from a mile away. They’ll break into a bar. They love anything that ferments.’ Oh and we learn (boring but important) that the National Park covers 494 square miles, 65 in Kenya; that Mount Elgon: a) is circa 24 million years old, b) last erupted around 12 million years ago, c) is vast, with a crater five miles in diameter, d) that Wagagai Peak is 14,177ft above sea level, e) before millennia of erosion, Elgon was once Africa’s highest mountain, and f) that the Sasa Trail is the most popular route but still attracts less than 1,000 hikers a year. Soon we’re driving to the Bumasola trailhead to meet our two (mandatory) ranger-cum-guides, plus cook and porters (recommended). Our guides boast army fatigues, rifles and Wellingtons. (We’re wearing yoga pants.) Our three porters bear mega sacks on their heads: our food, water, rental tent,
Karibu Guest House in Entebbe is close to the airport
One of the three Sipi Falls in stunning Mount Elgon Park
sleeping bags and pad (but no pillows, it transpires). Plus there’s a live chicken, as there’s no refrigeration and she’s destined for dinner. Cockerels crow as we clamber up the slippery path, fringed by sloping plots of maize, sweet potato and cassava. There are men and kids, some with bare feet, clambering down the slippery, rocky track, laden with potato sacks on their heads. (Be warned: don’t visit during the heavy rains in April and May.) ‘Mulembe,’ they greet us (‘hi’ in the local lingo, Lugisu). We stop at a church where they’re ululating and drumming. ‘The Bagisu tribe also use this drum for their circumcision ceremonies,’ explains Alex, our guide. ‘The young men are first smeared with sorghum [cereal] paste then wear monkey-skin “shirts”.’ Outside, five men in a makeshift bar are drinking maize and millet firewater. Three miles from Bumasola there are ‘ladders’ ascending the 984-ft high Mudange Cliffs. ‘It’s known,’ explains Alex, ‘as the Wall of Death.’ Thankfully the ‘ladders’ turn out to be a heaven-high iron staircase. Overall the terrain is so steep (a climb of 5,249 feet) that we take five hours to walk 3.4 miles on the first day. At Sasa River Camp there’s no internet, no electricity, no mirrors, no running water – just water from the river and squat loos. The biggest market for this experience is 45 to 50-year-old Germans, and then Brits, generally aged 14 to 18. Go figure. The six men start calling me (58 years old and British) ‘Mama’, a sign of respect. The chef, Xavier, makes beans and rice for dinner – over a fire made with massive Cape beech logs inside the
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hut. Nothing ever tasted this good. Afterwards he boils water from the stream for tea. On day two we hike to Mude Cave Camp at 11,483 feet: three miles in four hours. It’s set among old pines with a never-ending view over the valley. The porters set up our tent inside a wooden hut (again), but a cloud still floats through it. At night I shiver in three degrees and three pairs of trousers, four T-shirts, damp socks and an anorak in the lightweight rental sleeping bag. Day three, the hike to Wagagai Peak is 5.5 miles, circa four hours. Or so I’m told. The air’s thinner. I get altitude sickness and conquer only my sleeping mat. But Anya scales the peak, the mountain’s highest, and declares it unmissable. There are 275 tree species, 296 bird species and 27 kinds of animal in the park. ‘Some visitors spot leopard, buffalo, velvet baboons…’ reveals Alex. And us? We see a chameleon. Oh and some hyena droppings (white), and wildcat poo (brown). Over the days – and 32 strenuous miles – we pass through subsistence farming to the tropical montane zone, then mixed bamboo, heath and moorland. We encounter just two tourists and a magical wilderness of grand cliff faces, cascading waterfalls (we take a side walk to the Dirigani Falls, the closest we get to a shower), glacial tarns, incredible ridges, rock sculptures, mist-wreathed hills, valleys, moorlands and volcanic foothills. There’s that tropical Spanish moss dangling from jungle trees and the mist peeping through. And the majestic Suam Gorge dotted with coffee smugglers’ caves (‘during Idi Amin’s regime there was an embargo on exporting coffee to Kenya,’ explains Alex). Plus the awe-inspiring caldera with its weird giant groundsel, Jurassic Park-style landscape and brilliant pink and yellow wildflowers. On day four we reach Kenya drenched from rain and exhausted from walking 14 miles. And guess what? The elephants have gone AWOL. Deep inside Kitum Cave we discover only the tusk markings – where they’ve scratched the cave walls for salt. The rangers locate them about an hour’s drive away, near the park’s border. There we clamber atop a rocky hillock with some 40 locals, a large number of them also climbing a tree for prime viewing. And suddenly… suddenly… ahhhhh… the elephants amble into view. Well worth the trek? Yes. n
How to carry a banana cluster with style
IF YOU ANNOY AN ELEPHANT, OUT OF A HUNDRED PEOPLE, IT WILL SINGLE YOU OUT 30 YEARS LATER. THEY CAN ALSO SMELL FROM A MILE AWAY. THEY’LL BREAK INTO A BAR. THEY LOVE ANYTHING THAT FERMENTS
ABOVE: Traditional boat tours, propelled by tall punt poles RIGHT: Engagi Lodge in Bwindi, Uganda, has views over the dense forest canopy
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FOOD & TRAVEL
T R A V E L
THE BUCKET LIST Dominic West, who stars in Colette with Keira Knightley, shares holiday memories with Holly Rubenstein
What is your earliest holiday memory? I’m one of seven kids, and we used to go on cheap flights to Mallorca. We loved it there and stayed on the east coast in a town called Canyamel. I still love Mallorca and went there for my honeymoon, too.
What is your happiest holiday memory? Well, I find that the penalty for finding ‘paradise’ is that I’ve always been bitten to death by mosquitoes. But recently I had an amazing time in Jordan. I spent some time near Amman, then went south to Petra and Wadi Rum. The Lawrence of Arabia places. Jordan is small enough to drive around in a few days and Petra is one of the world’s most astonishing sights. What’s great is that after the tourist buses leave, you can have the whole place to yourself. I was there amid these red stone temples carved out of the mountain, pretty much on my own, as the sun was setting. Magical.
Ad Deir, The Monastery in the spectacular Petra
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES
Sunrise on Mount Kanchenjugha in the Himalayas
WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF YOUR BUCKET LIST? I want to climb Deo Tibba mountain in India, with a friend of mine. It’s pretty high – about 6,000 metres – but it’s not difficult to climb. We plan to climb up it with paragliders, and then jump off the top for an hour and a half’s descent, flying down through the Himalayas. No one has ever done that before. I do like climbing mountains but normally you get to the top and think, oh goodness, I have to climb all the way back down again.
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Dominic West and Keira Knightley star in Colette, set in 20th century Paris
Dominic loves his quiet escapes in Transylvania
When you need to unwind, where do you escape to? One of the places I like to go, particularly to write, is Transylvania. There you can be completely undisturbed, looked after extremely well, live in a beautiful place and pay very little money. The Mihai Eminescu Trust is trying to save Saxon houses in lovely rural Transylvanian villages, and I stay in those. It’s like stepping back into the Middle Ages. The most amazing place I’ve been is… The South Pole. I walked there with wounded soldiers for charity. We flew from Cape Town to Antarctica, and I think it was the most interesting flight I’ve ever caught. It was particularly great when I looked up to the departures board and it said, Antarctica. That’s your flight!
Beautiful Budapest was the backdrop for most of the filming of Colette
Colette is set in Paris and rural France. Can you tell me about your experiences filming?
Can you recommend us a hidden gem? Co. Limerick, in the west of Ireland. Particularly this wonderful place called Glin – a town perched on the Shannon estuary. It’s a non-touristy part on the Wild Atlantic Way, and there’s a succession of really pretty little towns.
Do you have a favourite city?
Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest religious gathering
Where have you learnt something new about yourself? At the Kumbh Mela festival in India, when around 60 million people come together for a month. No one eats meat, no one eats onions and no one drinks. With the simple prohibition of those three things, it changes your life more quickly than anything else.
Montreal is one of my favourites. The best cities are about a million people, and Montreal is the perfect size – a bit like Dublin. You can have a sense of the whole place, rather than, say, London, which is more a collection of villages. I really like the French-Canadians. They have all the civilised attributes of the French – cooking, wine, attitude to life – as well as the excitement of being not very far from America.
The majority of the film was shot in Budapest, which is a pretty cool city. I went there the year after the Berlin wall came down, when I hitchhiked from Holland to Romania. Back then it was pretty gloomy, with horrible food and rather dour people. When I asked whether my 19-year-old daughter would come and visit me while filming Colette, she was like, ‘Yeah!’ as I realise it’s now the destination for youngsters who want to go revelling. It’s also full of 19th-century Belle Époque architecture, which is why we were there with Colette. Gustave Eiffel designed a lot of the buildings, so in many ways it looks like Paris in the Belle Époque.
The bright lights of downtown Montreal
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES
Little beats the beauty of the Peak District
COUNTRY OR TOWN HOUSE? COUNTRY. I GREW UP IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF THE PEAK DISTRICT AND I NEED TO BE AMONG HILLS OR FIELDS OR I GO SLIGHTLY STIR CRAZY. I JUST LOVE BEING SURROUNDED BY PLANTS AND TREES. HOME FOR ME NOW IS RURAL WILTSHIRE. February 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 83
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FOOD & TRAVEL
TEN REASONS WHY I LOVE...
OF COURSE, IT’S CORSE
Corsica is wonderful, but it’s always been a bit of a schlepp to get there. The choice so far has been by ferry from the mainland or direct flights that mean a full week’s stay. Now, however, you can nip to Ajaccio, Bastia and Figari for a short break of a few days thanks to the introduction of new twice-weekly low cost routes to all three airports from London Stansted with Air Corsica (aircorsica.com). I simply couldn’t think of a better short break than Corsica; it’s not on most people’s radar for a few nights away, but it should be.
T R A V E L
N E W S
THE HOTEL WIZARD New game-changing British hotels and Corsica is easier to get to than you think, says Fiona Duncan
CASADELMAR, PORTO-VECCHIO, CORSICA
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The sleek, striking, cedarwood building that stretches innocuously along the rocky shoreline.
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The dark, opulent, marble Espa spa, a nice contrast to the clean-lined, airy hotel.
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The bay views from every room, each with huge terrace and loungers. Have your nails done, keep fit in the gym: the views are there, through walls of glass.
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The two dolphins that play in the bay all summer: spot them if you can.
HOT NEW UK HOTELS
They keep coming: luxury, game-changing new hotels right here on our doorstep Gorgeous Heckfield Place (1) in Hampshire (heckfieldplace.com) opened in September and equally outstanding Fife Arms (2) in Braemar from Hauser & Wirth in December (thefifearms.com). Now comes Monkey Island on the Thames at Bray (monkeyislandestate.co.uk) and the Belmond Cadogan in Knightsbridge (belmond.com), as well as the amazing new spa at Beaverbrook (3) in Surrey (beaverbrook.co.uk). Welcome!
ON THE T R AV EL R A DA R WOOD TALES Trees are all around us, taken for granted, marking the seasons and forming the backdrop to our daily lives. Who hasn’t got a favourite tree? Slip Treelines, a delightful new anthology of poems about trees, into your luggage when you next travel; you will be entranced. Lautus Press, £10
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The gardens: even in high season you can be alone in them.
The minis and 4x4s for hire at the hotel for day trips into Corsica’s wild and beautiful interior and to brilliant Bonifacio, 30 minutes away.
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The food from grounded chef Fabio Bragagnolo. Imagine typically generous Corsican cooking, plus two Michelin stars for brilliance and inventiveness. Corsica’s best restaurant.
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The outdoor Grill restaurant, its tables hidden among the trees.
The string of perfect scallopshaped beaches that fan out from Porto-Vecchio.
SUSTAINABLE SCARF Away to Mars is a new label co-run by beautiful Brazilian Marilia Biasi that uses sustainably and ethically sourced alpaca wool and silk from Peru. Her soft, lightweight scarves (£145) make perfect travel companions. awaytomars.com
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And the private beach at the hotel’s sister property La Plage Casadelmar, a boat ride away, whenever you want to go. Doubles from €480. casadelmar.fr
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THE ESSENTIALS
Bright lights and games galore in Tokyo’s Akihabara district
STAY High above the city at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, in a Mount Fuji-facing room for luck. Slick, sexy and grown up, it boasts one of the finest spas in the world, Michelin starred dining and ‘room fairies’ who leave gifts in your room. Heaven.
T H E
W E E K E N D E R
TOKYO
A weekend is ample time to develop a lifelong obsession, says Clementina Jackson
DO As the locals do and head to the affectionately named ‘Piss Alley’ for excellent yakitori, endless sake and hordes of ‘salarymen’. Once sufficiently merry, seek out the closest karaoke joint and go full Lost in Translation.
‘E BOOK IT Rates for Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo start from 67,000 JPY per room per night (approx. £460). mandarin oriental. com/tokyo
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
For visitor information, visit tokyotokyo.jp
xplore the back streets and get lost’ is not the advice you expect to receive when visiting one of the world’s biggest metropoles for the first time, but it’s just the trick in Tokyo. The city is a fascinating contradiction of neon lights, skyscrapers and cuttingedge technology (heated public toilets, hello), alongside ancient shrines and Shinto traditions that pervade everyday life, all underpinned by a meticulous, ruthless efficiency that makes Tokyo both astonishing and extremely safe. Split your visit into ‘old’ and ‘new’. A tour of the oft-overlooked Nihonbashi district is a crash course in history and ancient crafts from washi paper making to Noh performing arts.
The spectacular Meiji Jingu shrine in Shibuya
Traditional dress meets modern design
Suigian brilliantly combines the latter with lunch, and Mandarin Oriental will organise the lot. Then onto Shibuya to visit the Meiji Jingu shrine before a full immersion into Tokyo’s mad and overwhelmingly pink district of Harajuku. A stroll down Takeshita Street with its cat cafés, beautifying photo booths, swarms of dressed-up teenagers and all manner of ‘kawaii’ (cute) paraphernalia, will likely take up a whole afternoon – and a second suitcase. And the food? Don’t be put off by unappetising plastic food ‘samples’ that front the restaurants, and don’t just stick to the better-known places. Because it’s when you find yourself totally lost, in a random izakaya, and find that it serves the most delicious, authentic dishes, that you’ll fully appreciate that initial advice – and a lifelong obsession begins.
BUY Embrace Japan’s gift culture. Get fans from Ibasen, knives from Kiya, stationery from Ginza Itoya, bath salts and beauty products from Tokyu Hands and all the colourful, crazy tat you can carry from the shops lining Takeshita Street.
EAT Forget Jiro, choose Tapas Molecular Bar at Mandarin Oriental for an intimate Michelin-starred dining experience where the chef actually interacts with guests. Head to Kawakami An for fresh soba and tempura, and eat sushi and tonkatsu sandos at every opportunity.
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The French capital makes for a wonderful spring weekend
FRANCE
PARIS, I LOVE YOU
The City of Light always deserves our attention. It’s had a tough time recently but its revolutionary spirit lives on. Edited by Daisy Finer Le Royal Monceau, Raffles 8th arrondissement
Even before you’ve clapped eyes on Russian artist Nikolay Polissky’s installation of life-size wooden elk and deer on the first floor landing, it’s hard to miss the fact there’s a serious art thread running through this heavenly hotel near the Champs-Élysées. Rooms are adorned with works from the hotel’s impressive private collection (book in with the art curator for a tour) alongside coffee table art books from the in-house book store (there’s an art gallery on site too) and handcrafted furniture by Philippe Starck. There’s a cinema for watching art house flicks, where you can munch on caramelised popcorn by Pierre Hermé; a pure white Spa My Blend by Clarins, with the longest (23m) pool in any Parisian hotel; and a fresco of hand-glued shells decorating the Michelinstarred Italian restaurant, Il Carpaccio. BOOK IT: Doubles from £800. raffles.com/paris
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. BEST FOR GLAMOUR
The Ritz 1st arrondissement
Fresh from a four-year overhaul, this beloved grande dame emerged last year all subtly spruced up and singing, with as much old-fashioned glamour as before. Rooms are still a cocooning vision of cream with antique furniture, period oil paintings and glass chandeliers, while new suites are named after the literary and artistic characters who once stayed here: Marcel Proust, F Scott Fitzgerald and Coco Chanel. The world’s first Chanel spa has opened as part of the Ritz Club with specially created facials that leave skin glowing; the Salon Proust has been added for French afternoon tea; and Bar Hemingway is the spot for cocktails – full of memorabilia, including the author’s original letters to his wife. A legendary hotel with five-star service that feels like stepping back in time. BOOK IT: Doubles from around £840. ritzparis.com
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. BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD HANGOUT
Le Pigalle 9th arrondissement
Le Pigalle, located near the Moulin Rouge in an area historically renowned for its seductive mix of seedy and sensational, assumes the character of a private members’ club for a fashionable crowd – bashed-up leather chairs, low-slung sofas and phone-gazing hip young things. The reception morphs into dining space and a marble-topped island serves as bar and eaterie. It’s hard to distinguish staff from guests. Inside, designers Charlotte De Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay have blended vintage and contemporary; bedrooms are cosseting pods with marshmallow beds, books, souvenirs and saucy snapshots of neighbourhood life – some have cocktail bars, turntables and a stack of vinyls. It’s like staying at a friend’s stylish Parisian pad, albeit one who makes a fine home-made terrine, sprinkles tomato dust on burrata and sources the best local croissants for breakfast. BOOK IT: Doubles from £127. lepigalle.paris
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES
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. BEST FOR ART
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FOOD & TRAVEL 2 1
FOUR SEASONS GEORGE V IS RIVE DROITE AT ITS BEST. NO WONDER GWYNETH PALTROW JUST SPENT HER HONEYMOON HERE
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES
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. BEST FOR SPA
3
Four Seasons George V 8th arrondissement
As poised and polished as the day it opened in 1928, the George V is Rive Droite at its best: 17th-century Flemish tapestries, marble mosaic floors, crystal chandeliers, wildly extravagant flower displays and spectacular artworks. It’s no wonder Gwyneth Paltrow (right) just spent her honeymoon here. The 244 rooms are quintessentially French in classical Louis XV style – and huge by Parisian standards, more like a pied-àterre. Wake up in the morning and head downstairs for a suitably extravagant breakfast, including quite possibly the best hot chocolate on the planet. The three restaurants have a galaxy of Michelin stars and the spanking new marble-clad spa is incredibly elegant, bringing with it a splash of contemporary. There’s an enormous pool plus two hammams and a Technogym-equipped fitness centre. BOOK IT: Doubles from £873 for a Superior Room. fourseasons.com/paris
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. BEST FOR HISTORY
Hotel Lutetia Saint-Germain-des-Prés
After a £177m four-year revamp, all eyes were on this Paris icon when it reopened its doors in July 2018. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte was the man in charge – and he has done a sensational job, injecting cool contemporary features while keeping the spirit of the historic building intact. For this is a place with a storied past. Built on the Left Bank by the founders of Le Bon Marché department store, the hotel was loved by the likes of Picasso, Matisse and James Joyce. Following occupation by the Nazis, the Taittinger champagne family bought the Lutetia in the 1950s, soon counting Serge Gainsbourg and César as regulars. The buzz is now back. Bar Joséphine is packed every night with a glamorous crowd (Brigitte Macron is a regular). The 184 rooms are understated, in shades of beige and blue with Murano glass wall lights, brushed oak floors and allmarble bathrooms. The swathes of marble continue in the super-slick new Akasha spa. BOOK IT: Doubles from £750. hotellutetia.com
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. BEST NEWCOMER
Nolinski 1st arrondissement
Sandwiched between the Garnier Opera House and the Rue Saint-Honoré, the Nolinski oozes a contemporary Parisian cool typical of architect Jean-Louis Deniot, who has flawlessly blended avant-garde design with the old bones of a grand Haussmannian building. It’s as though you’ve been hauled off one of the city’s busiest streets into a silkier dimension, with blue and green hues,
smooth lobby music and provocative art, such is Deniot’s intention in creating a space more reminiscent of a fictional traveller’s plush home (Nolinski's) than a hotel. Jagged geometric mirrors, standalone cube minibars and zigzag cornicing arrest the eyes, while lavishly-sized beds, marble bathrooms and Juliet balconies remind guests of the first arrondissement postcode. Dare to break the serene mirage as you dip into the pristine pool, reflected on the mirrored ceiling. BOOK IT: Doubles from £373. nolinskiparis.com
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All dressed up
FIRST PERSON
HAND IN HAND ALONG THE SEINE
DOS & DON’TS
A promise made at birth had finally come true, as Lucy Cleland took her daughter to Paris for the first time
The shimmering beauty of Les Ambassadeurs Bar at Le Crillon
H
ow do eight years pass so quickly? One moment it’s nappies and vomit, the next glitter boots and disco parties. I had promised my daughter, Romilly, that for her eighth birthday I’d whisk her off to Paris – just us. We’d stay in a fabulous hotel (thank you, Le Crillon, dubbed the grandest of the grandes dames), drink hot chocolate at Angelina, climb the Eiffel Tower and chomp Nutella-filled crêpes as we walked along the banks of the Seine, me regaling her with my dreadful Parisian history in a silly French accent – mostly nuggets like, ‘Place de la Concorde, right in front of our hotel, was where Louis XVI and his morally corrupt wife, Marie Antoinette, had their heads chopped off, all in the name of cake.’ The perfect mother-and-daughter 24 hours. And the time had come. We were off on the Eurostar – a thrill in itself for a wide-eyed child who can’t believe that a train can go under water.
A triumph of 18th-century sensibility and modern chic
Paris is the perfect city for such a seminal sojourn. Children are already in its thrall from reading Madeline classics and watching the Paris-based animation, Ballerina. And the ease of navigating the Métro, the proximity of major landmarks and the Haussmannian beauty of the City of Light seduces old and young alike. Plus, when you’re staying at the bristlingly beautiful Crillon, like Jackie Onassis, Andy Warhol and Sophia Loren before you, your status is immediately elevated. This Louis XV-commissioned palatial splendour reopened in 2017 after a four-year, multi-million pound revamp (rumoured to be one of Look! The Eiffel Tower the most expensive in history). It is a triumph of 18th -century sensibility combined with meticulously detailed elements (too many to mention here), suffusing everything with a modern brushstroke so that it pays homage to its historic roots while also being the chicest place in town – with superlative service to boot. Karl Lagerfeld himself was charged with designing the hotel’s two most expensive apartments, overseeing each and every exquisite triviality, right down to the white roses. While my daughter may not have appreciated these intricate details, she did love our suite, filled with birthday balloons, colouring books and dainty macarons. What could be better than watching Strictly in a marble bathtub, perhaps even more thrilling than running across the Pont de la Concorde to get away from the confrontation between the police and the Gilets Jaunes. She loved even more her mocktail (mother was on suitably harder stuff) in the glittering, frescoed, chandelier-lit Les Ambassadeurs bar emitting its golden glow over the Parisian beau monde, who didn’t bat an eyelid at the little English girl in the cocktail bar. Childhood is made of memories. Le Crillon helped make them magical. BOOK IT: Deluxe doubles from about £1,266 (rosewoodhotels.com/ en/hotel-de-crillon); Eurostar return fares from £58 (eurostar.com)
DO BOOK your Eiffel Tower tour in advance. eiffeltickets.com DO WALK. There’s so much to see and always a café to dive into when spirits wane
DO SHOP. Bonton is a très chic kids’ clothes shop in the Marais (though expensive; bonton.fr), while Monoprix does great quality, well-priced children’s clothes like crew neck cashmere jumpers. monoprix.fr
DON’T TRY AND CONQUER the Louvre. Head for more child-friendly places like the Natural History Museum (mnhn.fr/ en) or the spooky, fun and theatrical Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (chassenature.org) DON’T TAKE them to the Catacombs if they’re of a sensitive disposition. catacombes. paris.fr DON’T SKIP a swim in Le Crillon’s glorious underground pool
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Enjoy culture-filled days and then return to the bliss of The Peninsula
DON’T MISS
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L’ATELIER DES LUMIÈRES Launched in April, this ground-breaking immersive digital art experience in an empty former factory makes Paris feel fresh and new and exciting again. Push the heavy door open and you step into a dark, discombobulating world of wraparound art, where images emerge and dissolve and you find yourself grinning as you gaze, utterly enchanted. As Google’s Art & Culture department launched its first augmented-reality virtual museum with an exhibition on Vermeer, this feels like the herald of a new era in art. An exhibition of Van Gogh opens on 22 February. atelier-lumieres.com
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JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Louis Vuitton Foundation Includes several unseen works at Frank Gehry’s masterpiece. Until 14 Jan. fondationlouisvuitton.fr
CIT Y CULTURE
THE ART OF PARIS
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Adriaane Pielou recommends an art-filled weekend in wintry Paris
S
o here’s a prescription for de-glooming the coming weeks. Create the perfect wintry weekend in Paris, seeing great art in the world’s art capital without having to peer over the heads of hordes of other visitors. Paris is never empty. The brilliant thing about prancing off in January or February, however, is that it’s nowhere as rammed as from March to November. Don’t wait until it’s warmer, because worldwide zillions of others will be doing just that. Booking Eurostar seats means the bliss of avoiding airport hell, packing whatever you want, going via St Pancras, which always feels so energising and fun, and – if you book Business Premiere – being able to arrive, panting, for check-in up to ten minutes before departure. At new-gen palaces of Parisian deluxeishness such as The Peninsula – so cossettingly comfortable that it’s a shock to sit on
an unheated loo seat after a stay here – there are puffy down duvets so light they almost float around you, perfect facials from Bérénice in the sumptuous little spa, and giddily romantic booths in the Chinese restaurant; rates remain wince-making but include bonuses such as a 9am check-in and 7pm checkout, room upgrades and free breakfasts. But the mega-treat is browsing the city's marvellous permanent collections – at the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin and so on – without queuing or crowds. And, if you pack right now this minute, catching this winter’s best exhibitions before galleries close to hang their spring shows. Total heaven. BOOK IT: Doubles at The Peninsula, from £762. (peninsula.com). Return fares on Eurostar, from £58 (eurostar.com)
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A DREAM OF THE ORIENT Yves St Laurent 50 designs inspired by the East, in the designer’s former home. Until 27 Jan. museeyslparis.com
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GRAYSON PERRY, VANITY, IDENTITY, SEXUALITY Monnaie de Paris Vases, tapestries, ironwork: genius. Until 3 Feb. monnaiedeparis.fr
A ND IF YOU’V E STILL GOT TIME…
6 7 8 9 10
MIRO RETROSPECTIVE Until 4 Feb. grandpalais.fr
CARAVAGGIO IN ROME Until 28 Jan. musee-jacquemart-andre.com ALPHONSE MUCHA Until 27 Jan. museeduluxembourg.fr MICHAEL JACKSON ON THE WALL Until 14 Feb. grandpalais.fr RENOIR, FATHER AND SON Until 27 Jan. musee-dorsay.fr
PHOTO: JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT UNTITLED DETAIL 1982-1; CHIYOGAMI, PAPIER DÉCORÉ, JAPON, 19TH CENTURY (© MAD PARIS); THE ADORATION OF THE CAGE FIGHTERS. 2012. PERRY, GRAYSON
JAPON-JAPONISMES Musée des Arts Decoratifs Fill your boots with 150 years of Japanese art and design in Paris, then head to supercool lunch spot Loulou (+ 33 1 42 60 41 96), referencing the exhibitions that opened French eyes to Oriental art. Until 3 March. madparis.fr
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FOOD & TRAVEL IN THE KNOW
SHHHH… SECRET PARIS
Like the ‘bobo’ Parisians themselves, who love nothing more than a secret boutique or undiscovered café, Rosalyn Wikeley unearths a few hidden Paris gems
PHOTO: JEAN MICHEL BASQUIAT UNTITLED DETAIL 1982-1; CHIYOGAMI, PAPIER DÉCORÉ, JAPON, 19TH CENTURY (© MAD PARIS); THE ADORATION OF THE CAGE FIGHTERS. 2012. PERRY, GRAYSON
COFFEE
Café Oberkamp is a Middle Easterncum-French café tucked down a side street in the Marais. What it lacks in space, it makes up for in piccolo lattes and shakshuka breakfasts. cafeoberkampf.com The Hood is a hipster sanctuary for those after more than a coffee and croissant with its various talks, exhibitions and live music. thehoodparis.com
Le Fumoir’s jazz age spirit and moody interiors serve up cappuccinos and kir royales with as much yesteryear elegance as the white tablecloth dinners. lefumoir.com
MUSEUMS
‘Musée Bourdelle is a true undiscovered gem,’ says Parisian Marion Rabate, founder of athleisure brand, Ernest Leoty. The house and workshop of sculptor and Rodin pupil, Antoine Bourdelle, typifies the artistic spirit of early 20th century Montparnasse. bourdelle.paris.fr/en Musée de la Vie Romantique, once home to Dutch artist Ary Scheffer, now houses artefacts and exhibitions celebrating the Romantic period. Few know about this charming villa with its rose- and wisteria-clad gardens. museevieromantique. paris.fr The Pagoda Paris, a six-storey, bright red pagoda, awash with Sanxi lacquer panels and glass art deco ceilings, is worlds away from 19th-century Haussmann Paris. pagodaparis.com
SHOPS
Merci is a concept store typifying Paris’ new groove with three storeys of books, fashion, design, a florist and café. merci-merci.com/en
La Boutique de Cara pulls in finest pre-loved Hermès belts, Chanel coats and Yves Saint Laurent clutches. facebook.com/ laboutiquedecara Le Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. Head to the 18th arrondisement for what is considered to be the world’s largest flea market, selling everything from enchanting antiques to contemporary lighting. marcheauxpucessaintouen.com
RESTAURANTS
Bellota-Bellota may be a chain but its authentic Spanish tiles, unassuming entrance and Iberian tapas would suggest otherwise. Locals gossip over fine Rioja and a kaleidoscopic table of smoked cuts and fresh seafood. bellota-bellota.com Beefbar’s growing herd of restaurants has just arrived in Paris, satisfying carnivorous desires in its art nouveau interiors, restored under the scrupulous gaze of architects Humbert & Poyet. beefbar.com
BARS
Hôtel Particulier Montmartre is a typically Parisian mansion wrapped in a secret garden, awash with quirky interiors that would make Wes Anderson blush. en.hotel-particuliermontmartre.com
Hôtel La Réserve’s ornate but cosy library promises exquisite cocktails, soft piano music and a hidden cigar room for afters. lareserve-paris.com
‘La Closerie des Lilas is one of my authentic favourites,’ says Laurence Coste, jewellery designer. This brasserie and literary landmark is old world Paris at its best. closeriedeslilas.fr
Little Red Door is the brainchild of Experimental Cocktail Club protégé Timothée Prangé with Dotan Shalev, serving up cocktails that test the bandwidth of all its fans’ imaginations. lrdparis.com n
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FOOD & TRAVEL AVO NO MORE
Are avocados toast? They may be the millennial breakfast/ brunch/any hour of the day staple, but cafés everywhere are scrapping them from menus over fears that our avocado obsession is fuelling Mexican drug cartels and deforestation – not to mention the food miles they rack up! Save the environment and your wallet, and get behind the movement.
THIS MON TH ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST Chelsea has never looked better. The recently completed Duke of York Restaurant stands elegantly in front of the Saatchi Gallery, a masterpiece of modern design featuring the UK’s first fully retractable glass wall and a roof garden for shameless King’s Road people watching. Now to eagerly await the unveiling of the culinary concept, which will undoubtedly be just as impressive. cadogan.co.uk WAKE UP To the smell of freshly brewed coffee with a Barisieur alarm clock. £345. barisieur.com
N E W S
GASTRO GOSSIP
This just in: avocados are toast, says Clementina Jackson VA VA ZOOM
EAT FOR CHARITY Take Action Against Hunger into your own hands (and stomach) by securing a ticket to the most hotly anticipated feast of the year. The Hawksmoor Dream Team Charity Dinner sees top chefs including Jackson Boxer cook up a charitable storm on 23 March. Foodies, get booking! £150pp, hawksmoordreamteam2019. eventbrite.com
‘Beef from the carving trolley, roast potatoes and a side of political satire, please.’ Guests of Simpson’s in the Strand can now admire acclaimed satirical cartoonist Zoom Rockman’s artwork alongside British culinary classics. The illustrations depict the restaurant’s most eminent patron, Sir Winston Churchill – just be sure to swallow your mouthful first! simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk
GA ME ON Go wild with your game consumption as the season draws to a close. Pheasant, partridge and grouse each contain more protein, less fat and lower cholesterol than the average chicken, and the British Game Alliance will ensure it’s high welfare and sustainable, too. eatwild.co
ADD A colourful dollop of Wild Ketchups to any dish. Delicious and made from foraged British ingredients. £3.95. peardroplondon.com
SIP A blend of turmeric, fennel and cardamom instead of your usual cuppa. £2.99. pukkaherbs.com
PIMP Your daily dose of apple cider vinegar with fruit and herb infusions. £3.75. nonsuchshrubs.com
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FOODIE TA L ES
R E C I P E
CARROT TOP
Let vegetables take centre stage for your New Year’s resolution. Tom Kerridge’s recipes will help
N
orth African spices are more subtle and aromatic than fiery and hot, so in this dish they bring out the natural sweetness of the carrots. This warm salad is great on its own as a light lunch or dinner, but it will also work well as a side with some simply cooked chicken or fish.
METHOD Preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas 7. Line two baking trays with baking parchment. If any of the baby carrots are bigger than the others, cut them so that they are all an even size, then place all the carrots on the lined baking trays. Sprinkle the carrots with the crushed cumin and pepper flakes and drizzle with the honey and 2 tbsp of the extravirgin olive oil, sharing equally between the trays. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes, giving the carrots a good stir halfway through cooking. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil in a sauté pan. Add the onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until it starts to turn brown. Add the celery and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in the ras el hanout and cook for 1 minute, then add the cooked lentils with the water and warm through. Remove from the heat and stir in half the chopped herbs. Divide the lentils between warmed bowls and pile the roasted carrots on top. Scatter over the remaining herbs and crumbled feta, then zest over the lemon. Cut the lemon into wedges and serve on the side.
ROASTED MOROCCAN CARROTS WITH LENTILS INGREDIENTS SERVES 4 495 calories per serving » 800g baby carrots (assorted colours, ideally), scrubbed » 1 tbsp cumin seeds, lightly crushed » 1 tbsp aleppo pepper flakes » 3 tbsp blossom honey » 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil » 1 onion, finely chopped » 3 celery sticks, finely diced » 3 garlic cloves, sliced » 1 tbsp ras el hanout » 2 x 250g packs cooked puy lentils » 2 tbsp water » A handful each of parsley and mint, roughly chopped » 150g feta cheese, crumbled » Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper » 1 lemon, to serve
Fresh Start by Tom Kerridge is published on 26 December 2018 (Bloomsbury Absolute, £26)
TOM KERRIDGE Radio rules and a foie gras disaster What’s your food philosophy? I’m a firm believer in the idea that if you buy lovely ingredients and treat them simply, they will look after you. What was the first dish you learnt to cook? Fish fingers, crispy pancakes and potato waffles – but the first real bit of cooking was probably spaghetti Bolognese. Most vivid childhood food memory? Corned beef sandwiches in warm crusty rolls with English mustard on a Saturday night while watching Pink Panther. Favourite ingredient that is in season now and how are you using it? Root vegetables. Salt baked and rotisserie roasted beetroots or celeriacs are on the menu at both Kerridge’s Bar & Grill and The Coach because I love them so much! Biggest mistake you’ve made in the kitchen? I once put a load of foie gras on a low heat in the oven to make terrine, forgot about it and went on a break, then came back an hour later to a tray of liquid fat. That was one of the worst ever telling offs I’ve ever had! Most memorable meal out and what made it so special? A backstreet alley at three am in Singapore. The food was outstanding and the setting phenomenal. I was constantly reordering brilliant dishes with all the chefs for their amazing flavours and the fantastic atmosphere. When you’re not in the kitchen, where are you? At the gym, or in my car on the way to another kitchen... It never ends! Do you have any unusual rules in your kitchen? Whoever is in first is allowed to choose the radio station and staff food always has to be delicious. What’s in your fridge right now? Cheese, grapes, yoghurt and oat milk as my son, Acey, doesn’t get on with cow’s milk too well. Who would you most like to take out for dinner and where? My family. I’d take them to a cool beach shack somewhere warm, where they are cooking fresh fish on an open fire.
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FOOD & TRAVEL COUNTRY
R E S T A U R A N T
R E V I E W S
FORK & FIELD
This seafood restaurant will float your boat, says Clementina Jackson
THE SHEPPEY INN Godney, Somerset
Who said democracy was dead? When the inhabitants of the Godney demanded their pub back, that’s exactly what they got – along with weekly live music, field to fork food, a bucolic riverside setting and killer Bloody Marys. Enter this unprepossessing building and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d landed in Shoreditch. Kitsch doesn’t quite cut it – it’s got more soul than that, but the curios, retro plastic toys and stuffed animals are not your typical gastropub style. Food is top notch, from the oat crumbed chicken burger to the coconut milk pannacotta with sesame & pumpkin seed brittle. Even better, you can head upstairs for a lie down in one of the lickety-split bedrooms or tramp across a field to one of the two new cottages. A delight. Starters from £5.75, mains from £13.50. thesheppey.co.uk
T RU F F L E TIM E WE’VE HUNTED DOWN THE BEST PLACES TO GET YOUR FUNGI FIX
BOCCA DI LUPO, W1 This Soho favourite is renowned for its unfussy regional Italian food and buzzy atmosphere. But as with the addition of truffle to any dish, everything goes up a notch this season. All hail the introduction of BYOT (bring your own truffle), which means endless shavings on your favourite dishes without the accompanying broken bank account. boccadilupo.com
TOWN
LONDON SHELL CO Paddington Central
An unlikely city adventure awaits aboard the bright blue Prince Regent canal barge, but banish all mental images of shoddy cruise cuisine – London Shell Co is a charming floating restaurant that takes its seafood seriously. The menu changes daily, but start getting excited for staples such as angel hair fries and Dorset estuary oysters that emerge stern-side as you glide past iconic landmarks including Regent’s Park and punky youths smoking on Camden Lock. Don’t be put off by the frightful proximity to strangers, instead embracing the convivial atmosphere that comes with the shared tables. The impeccably cooked, creative plates are fodder enough for conversation, as is the question of how two chefs manage to dish up five courses for 30 guests with practically no elbow room. £50 per person. londonshellco.com
THEO RANDALL AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL, W1 As much as it begrudges me to admit that one of London’s best Italian restaurants is run by, alas, an Englishman, I simply cannot find fault with a single one of Theo Randall’s dishes. Thankfully he’s undoubtedly Italian in his portion sizes, especially with his fabulous white truffle menu – each dish comes with loaded with 5g of Umbrian heaven. theorandall.com
T H I S MON T H I’M ...
1 Eating my way around the newly opened Victoria Market Halls for breakfast, lunch and supper (markethalls.co.uk). 2 Only accepting Valentine’s Day invites to Carlo Scotto’s new restaurant (xierlondon.com). 3 Hotfooting it to Kingham to eat at The Wild Rabbit now that Alyn Williams is at the kitchen’s helm (thewildrabbit.co.uk).
DININGS SW3 This is the best time of year to visit the exceptionally talented Masaki Sugisaki at Dinings SW3, where the ex-Nobu chef experiments with new dishes for his ever-changing omakase menus – heavily featuring black and white Alba truffles, of course. Unexpected flavours and lashings of sake and charisma make for one of the best meals in town. dinings.co.uk
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The Purdey Ladies Course Hone your skills with 3 one hour private lessons, from the 1st February, culminating in a friendly competition on the 12th June with a champagne reception and luxury prizes. ÂŁ298 all inclusive
countryandtownhouse.co.uk
AD Pages.indd 1
020 8845 1377 w w w.shoot ingschool.co.u k Sharvel Lane, Northolt, UB5 6RA
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Pantone 5395
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arty style, smarty prices decorative lighting from pooky.com
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EDITED BY A N NA T Y Z AC K
HOUSE OF THE MONTH Sell it to us in a sentence… A remarkable new mansion of huge proportions finished to the highest of standards, located on Sunningdale’s most sought-after private road. In what style has it been decorated? The aspirational interiors have been meticulously designed by Kim Harvey, with bespoke artwork and lighting perfectly complementing the high quality finishes. Best room in the house? The vast entrance hall with overlooking galleried landing and cascading chandelier.
PROPERTY
Titlarks House, Titlarks Hill, Sunningdale, Berkshire Price: £15m 5 bedrooms 8 bathrooms 17,000 sq/ft
What will keep us entertained? The cinema room complete with bespoke joinery and padded walls. Best place to unwind? With a sauna, steam room and treatment room, there’s plenty of choice. There’s space for lounging beside the 10m x 5m indoor pool, too. What about the gadgets? Underfloor heating throughout, KNX home management systems and a Control4 media system make it easy to manage heating, lighting and video entry at the touch of a button. Where can we send the kids to school? Highly rated schools close by include St Mary’s School and Charters High School, as well as nearby independent schools Sunningdale School, St. George’s School and The Marist School. The developer says… Set across just two floors, Titlarks House is a home of grandiose proportions, finished to the impeccably high standards that have become synonymous with the Octagon name. This is a truly modern manor house. octagon.co.uk; knightfrank.co.uk
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Tradition and progress: Oxford is fast becoming a tech hub, like Cambridge
WHEN IN OX FOR D A decent cup of coffee Jericho Cafe is the quintessential neighbourhood bistro, serving great coffee and delicious brunch. jerichocafe.co.uk
M O V E
T O
OXFORD
While property is still at a premium in this dazzling university town, agents say buyers have the upper hand. Anna Tyzack reports
W
hen it comes to commuter towns, Oxford is not your average provincial outpost. The city of dreaming spires rivals the capital itself in terms of culture, employment and fine family houses. ‘It is a very similar environment to London with a vibrant social scene, excellent schools and shops and a choice of village-like neighbourhoods,’ confirms Adam Buxton of property finders Middleton Advisors (middletonadvisors.com). ‘It attracts those who want to leave London without leaving the buzz.’ Yet for all its big city credentials, Oxford has its own unique identity as one of Britain’s original seats of learning. (A total of 26 – out of 76 – British prime ministers have been Oxford graduates.) The city, which was a film/TV location for Harry Potter, Brideshead Revisited and The History Boys, is awash with honey-coloured university colleges and faculty buildings, games pitches and students rushing about on bicycles. ‘Everything is within walking or cycling distance, which makes it much easier to navigate than London,’ Buxton says. ‘And there are trains to the capital in under an hour.’ At weekends Oxford families can enjoy trips to museums such as the Ashmolean, Christ Church Picture Gallery or Modern Art Oxford, brunch in bookish neighbourhood cafés and river walks along the Cherwell, or venture out into the Cotswolds for a pub lunch. Claire Knot, who moved with her husband and three children from Streatham in south London to Summertown
Brideshead Revisited, starring Anthony Andrews, was set in Oxford
in Oxford last year, often drives out to the countryside at weekends. ‘You get the best of city and country living here,’ she says. ‘In London we felt much more hemmed in.’ It is also a city in the throes of modernisation, evolving into an increasingly important tech hub that supports a new generation of computing and health startups – in 2018 the city came second in an economic ranking of fastest-growing UK cities. To cope with the growing population, Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership has set targets to build 100,000 new homes by 2031 and there is regeneration afoot across the city, which the council are determined should not be treated like an ‘artefact’. Last year the remodelled Westgate Shopping Centre reopened in the city centre, with 125 shops, cafés and restaurants. Transport links to London have also been improved, with a new station, Oxford Parkway (opened 2016), connecting residents to London Marylebone. It is the juxtaposition of tradition and progress that makes the city a firm favourite for families fleeing the capital, along with its excellent state and independent schools. ‘The schools in Oxford are one of the main selling points for a move to
A weekend away The 17th-century Old Parsonage Hotel has the feel of an ultra-chic, country house hotel yet in central Oxford. oldparsonagehotel.co.uk A day out with the children Cutteslowe Park spans 42 acres and features a miniature railway. freeparks.co.uk Date night The Ashmolean Rooftop restaurant has stunning views over the city and live jazz on Thursdays. ashmolean.org Shopping spree The 18th-century Covered Market is one of Britain’s best. oxfordcoveredmarket. co.uk Girls’ lunch Cherwell Boathouse is an award-winning restaurant and punt station, just outside the city centre. cherwell boathouse.co.uk
PHOTOS: REX
L E T ’ S
A pub lunch The Trout on the banks of the Thames at Lower Wolvercote has stylish decor, delicious food and links to Lewis Carroll and Inspector Morse. thetroutoxford. co.uk
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PROPERTY
FOR SA L E
PARK TOWN, £4.95M This palatial residence on Woodstock Road was built in 1892 and has been completely restored to provide flexible accommodation over three floors, plus a large basement and substantial attic. 01865 339700. savills.co.uk The River Cherwell in winter is wonderful for bracing walks
PHOTOS: REX
the city and surrounding villages,’ confirms Harry Gladwin, partner at property finders The Buying Solution. Renowned state schools include St Philip & St James, an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-rated primary school, and Cherwell, a league-topping secondary school. In the independent sector the popular preps are The Dragon School (co-ed) and Summerfields (boys). Highly-regarded senior schools are Magdalen College School (boys), Oxford High School for Girls and co-ed St Edward’s. Oxford’s family housing stock includes Victorian townhouses and period cottages and substantial country houses in nearby villages. So intense is the demand, though, that prices are little different from London. Last year Oxford was once again named Britain’s least affordable city, with an average house costing £509.656 according to Zoopla. That said, according to PropCast, an online tool recording the temperature of the market, Oxford is less frenetic than it was last year. ‘Buyer demand is down 11 per cent, moving the city from a sellers’ market into a cooler one. With less competition, buyers have the upper hand,’ says Gavin Brazg, PropCast’s founder. Data from Knight Frank backs this up – prices fell by 1.7 per cent in the year up to January 2018.
The Ashmolean – most famous of the must-see museums in Oxford
One of the most popular areas for London leavers is Summertown, which is well placed for Oxford Parkway station. Four-bedroom houses with gardens on the prime streets east of the Banbury Road cost upwards of £1m, according to Buxton. Perhaps the most desirable, however, are the listed Victorian Gothic villas of Park Town, Oxford’s original suburban development. The fanciest are found on Crick Road, where the average price is more than £4m, according to Hamptons International. For those on a smaller budget, Cowley, Grandpont and New Hinksey offer some beautiful Victorian and Edwardian terraced homes, as do Florence Park and the village of Iffley. The suburbs of Headington and Old Headington, to the east of Oxford, are also becoming increasingly popular, says Gladwin. The most accessible villages – Noke, Bletchingdon and Elsfield – are similarly expensive. Buyers can expect to pay upwards of £2m for a detached family house with a pony paddock, says Buxton. Prices in villages such as Wolvercote, Crawley, Hailey and Minster Lovell, the latter three close to the market town of Witney, offer more value – although the downside is that traffic on the roads into Oxford can be heavy. Indeed, the Knots know of several families who have swapped their country pads for an Oxford townhouse to avoid rush hour once their children start school. Knot is in no hurry to swap her city existence for the Cotswolds. Their children walk to school, her husband has an easy commute to London and she feels connected culturally and socially. ‘I craved the rural idyll but in hindsight I think I’d have suffered from FOMO,’ she says. ‘Here we aren’t missing out on anything – in fact our lives are richer than they were before.’
SUMMERTOWN, £1.85M A newly-refurbished townhouse on Banbury Road with numerous original features and an open plan kitchen with bi-folding doors onto a generous lawned garden. Summertown is a short walk away. 01865 366661. struttandparker.com
HEADINGTON, £1M A fully-extended, double-fronted, fivebedroom Victorian house with off-street parking on one of Headington’s most desirable roads. The garden is delightful, with fruit trees, lawn and borders. 01865 759500. scottfraser.co.uk
WITNEY, £700,000 The Old Bakehouse is a Grade II-listed house in the heart of this popular town, 25 minutes from Oxford. There are high ceilings, open-plan living spaces and four generous bedrooms over three floors. 01865 366663. struttandparker.com
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PROPERTY
HOM ES SW EET HOM ES
Where do you live now? An Edwardian house in the South Downs in Sussex, built by the rector of our hamlet in 1905. What do you love most about it? The 300-year-old copper beech tree in the garden. Its canopy is visible from the Downs and it’s the first thing people comment on when they visit.
M Y
P R O P E R T Y
THE STARTER HOME
Belsize Park, £425,000 A stylish and newly refurbished onebedroom apartment on the ground floor of a Victorian white stucco fronted house on Belsize Park Gardens. The open plan kitchen, bedroom and en suite have been finished to a high standard and have wood flooring and garden views. The open spaces of Primrose Hill park and Hampstead Heath are also close by. 020 7722 9799. hadleigh.co.uk
L I F E
ANNA GARNER The creative entrepreneur puts light and location ahead of size
THE FOREVER HOME
What was the first property you owned? A flat in a stucco-fronted
tended to bin any particulars of properties that have faced ‘the wrong way’.
Victorian building in Belsize Park Gardens, London.
Where do you see yourself living in the future? I think living in France is in my
Favourite room in the house?
future. Ideally I’d have a farmhouse near to Uzès in Languedoc Roussillon – still the South of France but without the flashiness.
Our kitchen. It’s so light, with sun streaming in and doors out to the garden all around – as well as a roaring fire for winter months. It’s the perfect hangout.
What compromises are you prepared to make when buying a home? Square
footage. I think location and light are more important than size.
What is your criteria when buying a house? My mother
If money was no object where would you live? Belsize Park
always used to be obsessed with the direction a house faced, which rubbed off on me. I always like south westerly facing houses and have
would still be high on the list for London. I love the village feel and the fact that Primrose Hill is on the doorstep. Or I’d get away from it all at an estancia in Argentina.
Sussex, £2.75m A Grade II* listed manor house on the edge of the South Downs with views of the coast and 10 acres of formal gardens and paddocks. There is an impressive hall with an oak staircase rising to a galleried landing, a chapel, a Poggenpohl kitchen and a dining room plus seven bedrooms. 01903 850850. michaeljones.co.uk THE DREAM HOME
Dame Vivienne Westwood’s. I love her anarchy! It would be fascinating to see how this is reflected in her home. Vivienne Westwood
If you had to invest in a bolthole somewhere, where would it be? I’d love a pied à terre in New York City. I lived in Greenwich Village in the early noughties and when I go back for work it always feels like home.
Any advice for first time buyers? Go with your gut
instinct. I really believe you can feel the aura of a home the moment you step foot in the door. It has to feel ‘right’. thegarnered.com
The Languedoc, France, ¤1.57m Just 15 minutes from the charming French market town of Uzès in Languedoc Roussillon, this farmhousestyle property is surrounded by fruit trees and luscious lawns. There are modern entertaining spaces, six bedrooms and a stylish pool plus a cinema and games room. Avignon TGV station is 20 minutes away. +33 (0) 4 66 034171. lux-residence.com
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
Whose house would you most like to see inside?
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PROPERTY F I V E
O F
T H E
B E S T
VILLAS FOR WINTER SUN
Just when the British winter becomes all too much, jet off to one of these paradisiacal retreats for some rejuvenating sunshine, says Anna Tyzack TENERIFE
Just four hours from London, Abama is a 400-acre residential destination which enjoys a springtime climate throughout the year. The estate comprises apartments and villas plus an owners’ club, shops, bars and restaurants. Also on site are a spa, Dave Thomas golf course and Annabel Croft tennis academy, plus a newly opened kids’ club. Michelin starred Melvin’s restaurant is close by, too. The beach can be accessed exclusively by foot or via the hotel’s private funicular. From €700,000. abamahotelresort.com
THAILAND
Samujana is a luxurious beach resort with individually designed residences in the tropical paradise of Koh Samui. There is something for everyone nearby, with water sports, sandy beaches, quiet coves and stunning wildlife and landscapes. Currently on the market is Villa 7, perched on a hillside overlooking the sea, with four bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, and enormous open-plan living spaces. There is a rooftop pool and separate pool around the house, plus private access to the beach. $2.3m. samujana.com
SICILY On the sunny island of Favignana, this 19thcentury Sicilian farmhouse has stunning views to the neighbouring island of Marettimo. There are four detached buildings, each of which has been meticulously converted into state of the art accommodation. The largest has a hall with open fireplace, dining room, kitchen and huge master bedroom with panoramic views plus an internal courtyard garden. There are 12 other bedrooms across the other buildings, and an unspoilt and uncrowded beach is just 1km away. €1.6m. italy-sothebysrealty.com
MALLORCA A newly built, five-bedroom villa with glorious sea views, positioned adjacent to the exclusive Bendinat golf course. On the ground floor is an open-plan kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, wine cellar and separate pantry, and access to the spacious terrace with covered outdoor dining room. The living room and dining room also lead on the garden, where there is a beautiful pool with Jacuzzi. All bedrooms have private terraces with breathtaking views over the golf course, towards the Bendinat castle and the Mediterranean. €7.5m. mallorca-sothebysrealty.com
BAHAMAS Enjoy the white sand beaches and spectacular sunsets of Santa Maria beach from your own picturesque villa, surrounded by 5.9 acres of palm fringed privacy with shady sitting areas. There is a spacious kitchen, light, breezy living areas with sea views, a master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and three further bedrooms. The property is just a four minute drive away from the Cape Santa Maria Resort with a bar and restaurant, and walking distance from fly fishing and water sports. $2.35m. sirbahamas.com
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A restored listed townhouse.
8
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Upper Wimpole Street, Marylebone W1 • Grade II listed Georgian six storey house • Beautifully restored and with the latest modern technology • Approximately 7,912 sq ft
Our Marylebone expert, Craig Draper, would love to help you. craig.draper@knightfrank.com 020 8128 0978 07823 416354
Situated in the heart of the Marylebone Village with Oxford Street and Regent's Park close by. Transport links include Baker Street underground station.
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £16,500,000 Freehold
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The house with iconic views.
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Brompton Square, SW3 • Grade II listed, beautifully refurbished and in the heart of Knightsbridge • It has the finest views towards the Brompton Oratory and V&A Museum • Approximately 5,304 sq ft A prestigious garden square situated off the Brompton Road, close to Harrods, equidistant between Knightsbridge and South Kensington underground stations and access to the A4 for the M4 and Heathrow.
Our Knightsbridge expert, Harry Dawes, looks forward to helping you. harry.dawes@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5930 07436 154808
knightfrank.co.uk
Guide price £13,750,000 Freehold
Connecting people & property, perfectly.
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Property Redress Scheme.
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A rare house with a private garden.
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Chesham Street, London SW1 • Discreet, private location • Fantastic entertaining space • Approximately 4,442 sq ft Knightsbridge underground station (Piccadilly line) and the world famous Hyde Park is 0.5 miles away. Sloane Square underground station (District/Circle line) is 0.3 miles from the property (all distances are approximate).
Our Belgravia expert, Stuart Bailey, looks forward to helping you. stuart.bailey@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5910 07789 956931
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £11,500,000 Freehold
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A beautifully presented house.
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Culross Street, London W1K • Features a spectacular custom-built glass conservatory • The house benefits from a private balcony • Approximately 3,555 sq ft
Our Mayfair expert, Simon Burgoyne, looks forward to helping you. simon.burgoyne@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5898 07467 915293
Culross Street is a quiet, secure, traffic free enclave close to Hyde Park. The street is perfectly located to enjoy all Mayfair has to offer, including the globally renowned Mount Street.
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £9,500,000 Freehold
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The house with modern elegance.
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Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill W11 • An exceptionally designed home • A sophisticated combination of open spaces and light throughout • Approximately (286 sq m) 3,080 sq ft Chepstow Villas is a glorious street of stucco fronted Victorian villas and terraced houses. Close by is the ever vibrant Westbourne Grove and excellent transport links.
Our Notting Hill expert, Caroline Foord, looks forward to helping you. caroline.foord@knightfrank.com 020 8115 3620 07831 576613
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £7,850,000 Freehold
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The house with a west facing garden.
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Drayton Gardens SW10 • A further addition of a spectacular mews house and a double garage • A fantastic space for a family • Approximately 8,600 sq ft
Our Chelsea expert, James Pace, looks forward to helping you. james.pace@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6172 07867 800449
There are good transport links within close proximity with Gloucester Road tube station approximately 0.5 miles away and South Kensington tube station approximately 0.8 miles away (all distances and times given are approximate).
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £7,450,000 Freehold
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The private maisonette.
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Gore Street, South Kensington SW7 • Modern appliances in a period building • Bright, double aspect reception room • Approximately 1,827 sq ft Conveniently located in a period building, close to Hyde Park and South Kensington tube station.
Our South Kensington expert, Giles Barrett, looks forward to helping you. giles.barrett@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6173 07824 302085
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £3,950,000 Share of freehold
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At Octagon, we have 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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Fryerning Essex Orsett, GraysEssex RM16 Fryerning
Guide Price £3,850,000 Guide Price £3,850,000 Guide price: £895,000 striking five double bedroom, reception Grade II AAstriking five double bedroom, fourfour reception Grade II This deceptively spacious four bedroom, four reception listed period property thought toresidence date backback years. room, three en-suite Grade II listed is500 nestled listed period property thought to date 500 years. This charming residence is originally thought to betravel 3 be 3 in the heart Orsett and is superbly located for both This charming residence is originally thought to cottages, now providing fantastic flowflow of interesting links and local amenities to aprovide a charming taste of cottages, now providing a fantastic of interesting village life to the family London commuter whist still providing and living space over two floors. The The andextensive extensive family living space over two floors. in excess ofplot 3500sq ft of living accommodation. Situated 7.5 comprises formal grounds mixed 7.5acre acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed towards the heart of thepaddocks with the viewsfrom over athe sympathetically with (benefitting sympathetically withvillage paddocks (benefitting from a local church and being only aponds few moments’ walk to both second separate access), and a substantial lake. second separate access), ponds and a substantial lake. theNumerous local post outbuildings, office and ‘The Whitmore Arms’ makes tennis court, double garagethis Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage theand a superb opportunity for a prospective purchaser to detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian and and detached one bedroom Equestrian acquire historic property with annexe. the modern touches in potential. EPC Exempt EPC Exempt the potential. heart of Orsett. EPC Exempt. Country VillageOffi Office 01245397475 397475 Country && Village ce 01245
Country & Village Office 01245 397475
Fryerning Essex Great Totham, Maldon CM9 Guide Price £3,850,000
Guide price: POA Fryerning Essex A striking five double bedroom, four reception Grade II
Located in a private and peaceful location on a beautiful Guide Price £3,850,000 listed period property thought to date back 500 years. plot of circa one acre (stls) is this picturesque, five
This charming residence is originally thought to be 3
bedroom grade II listed barn conversion, believed A striking five double bedroom, four reception Grade II cottages, nowtoproviding a fantasticExternally flow of interesting to date back the 18th century. the listedand period property thought to date back 500 years. extensive family living space offer over two floors. The charming landscaped gardens fantastic This charming residence is originally thought to be 3 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed entertaining space, idyllic topiary garden and cottages, now providing apaddocks fantastic(benefitting flow of interesting sympathetically with from a separate orchard with a range of established fruit and extensive family living space over two floors. Thelake. second separate ponds and a substantial trees. The doubleaccess), cart lodge and private shingle 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double driveway provide plenty of parking for bothgarage sympathetically with paddocks from a and detached one bedroom annexe. residents and guests. EPC(benefitting Exempt.Equestrian potential. EPCaccess), Exemptponds and a substantial lake. second separate Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian Country &&Village Country VillageOffice Office01245 01245397475 397475 potential. EPC Exempt
Country Village Office 01245 397475 Sales •&Lettings • Mortgages Beresfords.indd 210 Sales • Lettings • Mortgages
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01223 214214
cheffins.co.uk
UNRIVALLED COVERAGE AROUND CAMBRIDGE
De Freville Avenue, Cambridge – Station 1.6 Miles
£2,300,000
A most elegant and substantial detached Edwardian residence located within this highly sought after and prestigious location so convenient for access to the City Centre, Midsummer Common, River Cam and the Railway Station. The spacious accommodation is arranged over three floors and boasts a number of fine architectural features and extends in all to approximately 3,900 sq. ft. standing comfortably within its own established gardens with garage and driveway. Accommodation comprising: Reception hall, 3 generous reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, utility/boot room, cloakroom, 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 shower rooms. Outside: Delightful mature gardens including driveway parking and garage. EER:E Contact: Richard Freshwater / Cambridge Office: 01223 214214 / richard.freshwater@cheffins.co.uk
Belvoir Road, Cambridge – Station 2.5 Miles
£1,250,000
A most thoughtfully renovated and extended detached Victorian residence with generous accommodation over three floors including a most superb open plan kitchen/dining/sitting room with luxury handmade Neptune kitchen. The property is located just off De Freville Avenue, close to Midsummer Common and the River Cam. Accommodation comprising: entrance hallway, living room, kitchen/dining/sitting room, utility room, cloakroom. First floor: 3 bedrooms – 1 with en suite shower room, family bathroom. Second floor: bedrooms with en suite shower room. Outside: paved front garden, block paved driveway parking, enclosed rear garden. EER:D Contact: Richard Freshwater / Cambridge Office: 01223 214214 / richard.freshwater@cheffins.co.uk
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CAMBRIDGE ELY HAVERHILL NEWMARKET SAFFRON WALDEN LONDON
Chipping – Station 4 Miles
£765,000
A most impressive and rather special period former barn, which has been sympathetically converted into a most attractive country residence of charm and character. The property provides well-proportioned and versatile living accommodation including 5 bedrooms. In addition the property has the benefit of a landscaped courtyard garden as well as double garage and extensive parking. Accommodation comprising: reception hall, cloakroom, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast/family room, utility room, self-contained ground floor suite comprising bedroom with en suite shower room. First floor: 3 further bedrooms – 1 with en suite shower room, family bathroom, bedroom 5/study. Outside: driveway with parking area, double garage, landscaped garden. EER:C Contact: Martin Walshe / Cambridge Office: 01223 214214 / martin.walshe@cheffins.co.uk
Thaxted – Station 7 Miles
£1,300,000
Swallowfields is an impressive and substantial barn conversion set in 4 acres adjoining open countryside on the outskirts of the market town of Thaxted. The property has been recently finished to the highest of standards offering beautifully presented and contemporary living accommodation throughout. Accommodation comprising: entrance hall, kitchen/dining room with adjoining pantry cupboard, utility/boot room, study, sitting room, family room with stairs leading to mezzanine room, shower room. First floor: master bedroom with en suite shower room and walk-in wardrobe, 4 further bedrooms – 1 with en suite, family bathroom. Outside: double garage, gardens and grounds. EER:D Contact: Max Cutsforth / Saffron Walden Office: 01799 523656 / max.cutsforth@cheffins.co.uk
Passionate about property since 1825
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01905 734735
hello@andrew-grant.co.uk
View our current properties: agllp.co/cath
Llanwrda, Sir Gaerfyrddin, Camarthenshire SA19 8AN
4,497 Sq.Ft.
ÂŁ795,000 Guide Price
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Wonderful Period Farmhouse In Stunning Elevated Setting With Fantastic Views And Barns With Potential For Conversion. Around 11.1 Acres. Llanwrda village 1 mile, Llandovery 6, Llandeilo 9, Carmarthen 25, Brecon 27, Swansea 36 (all mileages are approximate). This fine period farmhouse provides excellent facilities whilst retaining its inherent charm and character. The house has seven bedroom accommodation set over three floors with particularly impressive, south facing principal rooms on the ground floor. It stands within just over 11 acres of land, has a range of traditional stone farm buildings with considerable conversion possibilities, and a detached double garage block with a spacious office/studio over.
Contact: Andrew Grant Country Homes 01905 734735
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01905 734735
hello@andrew-grant.co.uk
View our current properties: agllp.co/cath
Take a look at the video: https://agllp.co/ripplehallvid
Ripple, Tewkesbury, GL20 6EY
10,140 Sq.Ft.
ÂŁ2,250,000 Guide Price
94
6
Beautiful, Unspoilt, Grade II Listed Village Residence In Mature Parkland Setting. Totalling Around 13.25 Acres.
85
Malvern 10 miles, Cheltenham 16, Birmingham 42, London 110 (all mileages are approximate). Ripple Hall is situated in a conservation area within the small hamlet of Ripple. The property is of such significance that it is noted in Pevsner’s The Buildings of England. The accommodation offers great flexibility to meet the needs of the modern family, with five reception rooms, nine bedrooms and six bathrooms, and sits within fine, mature gardens and grounds, with paddocks and stabling and a range of traditional outbuildings with the possibility of conversion STPP. Contact: Andrew Grant Country Homes 01905 734735
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hamptons.co.uk
Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
£4,250,000 Freehold
An impressive six-bedroom house in one of Beaconsfield’s most prestigious streets, close to the town centre and 26 minuets from London Marylebone station. The design and construction combine contemporary features with high quality materials in luxurious warm colours. EPC: C
• • • •
Grounds of almost half an acre High decorative standard Four reception rooms Six bathrooms
Hamptons Beaconsfield 01494 355 528 | beaconsfield@hamptons-int.com
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Celebrating 150 years of shared moments #movingtogether
0203 369 4829 | sales@hamptons-int.com | hamptons150.co.uk
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