THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
JANUARY 2019 £3.90
THE INVESTMENT ISSUE
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOURS?
What VIPs splash out on
BIDS, PLEASE
GEEK CHIC
EMILY MORTIMER
What to buy at auction
How Cambridge got cool
A ROSE IN BLOOM
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The Luxury Destination for Town and Country Living
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C ON T E N T S JANUARY 2019
Columns 18 20
THE GOOD LIFE Alice B-B learns a cardinal rule THE RURBANIST Rosie Fortescue
Up Front 23 24 26 28 30 34 38 40 42 44
LOUNGE LIZARD Party pyjamas WORK IT The new power workwear STYLE NOTEBOOK Vivienne Westwood brings punk chic to Burberry MY STYLE Mireia Llusia-Lindh, founder of DeMellier handbags LUXE WITH LUCIA Eye guru Tom Davies GOLD DIGGER Jewellery news BRIGHT YOUNG THING Nell Hudson BEAUTY TEST Dr Sebagh’s Ultralift BODY & SOUL Don’t juice, broth WELL GROOMED Men’s style news
The Guide 47 50 52 53 54 56
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THE DIARY What to do this month ARTS AGENDA Celebrate the body beautiful HAMMER TIME Kitty Buchanan-Gregory learns how to start an art collection LOTS OF FUN Place your bids, please WELL READ Richard Hopton dives into history THE OLYMPIAN Sebastian Coe starts his new series on sporting game changers ROAD TEST Mercedes Executive Saloon SEEDER’S DIGEST A private garden that is blooming magical in winter CONVERSATIONS AT SCARFES BAR Aston Martin’s CEO, Andy Palmer, on reversing the marque’s good fortune
Fashion & Features 62
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ALL GROWN UP Emily Mortimer talks Mary Poppins and her passion for producing with Davina Catt ON LOCATION Behind the scenes at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel HOW TO SPEND IT A house, a horse, jewellery or a sports car? Jeremy Taylor helps you choose what to invest in
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C ON T E N T S JANUARY 2019
Fashion & Features 77
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LONDON CALLING Christopher Silvester finds that London is still a major power player, deal or no deal CLASS ASSETS Our favourite movers and shakers on their own investments, good and bad
The Insider 89 90 92 94 95
FLOWER SHOW Florals aren’t just for the bedroom DESIGN NOTES News, views and inspiration by Carole Annett BED TIME Ideas for that most important of rooms SHIVER ME TIMBERS Wood is good DESIGN Q&A Guillaume Alan
Food & Travel 97 100 101 102 104
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FOLLOWING IN COOK’S WAKE Caiti Grove discovers Tahiti’s temptations THE HOTEL WIZARD Don’t overlook Tuscany in winter THE WEEKENDER Dubai ADRIATIC ANTICS Head to Croatia for some well-deserved pampering MEET ME IN MONACO Rosalyn Wikeley finds an unlikely cultural hub in the party Principality GASTRO GOSSIP The taste revolution has arrived in Knightsbridge LET THE GAME BEGIN Shaun Rankin’s recipe for a cracking roast pheasant FORK & FIELD Combat January blues with booze and Bob Bob Ricard
On The Move
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ON THE COVER Emily Mortimer wears dress by Ong Oaj Pairam and jewellery by Chopard. Styling by Adele Cany, photography by Rachell Smith. Make up by Polly Osmond using Sisley cosmetics and skincare, hair by Earl Simms, nails by Robbie Tomkins
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PROPERTY OF THE MONTH LET’S MOVE TO... Cambridge MY HOUSE Natasha Kaplinsky FIVE OF THE BEST Investment flats
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EDITOR’S LETTER CONTRIBUTORS HIGH SOCIETY STOCKISTS
Regulars
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EDITOR’S PICKS
READ 2019’s Great British Brands with the lovely Jenna Coleman on the cover. Out now! BOOK Your European minibreak before 29 March
B
oy, does it feel good to step out of your comfort zone on occasion; to test your physical and emotional fascia; to do something unexpected or downright bonkers. This was the thought that occurred to me as I was floating through the air on a flying trapeze in East London. My wonderful friend Jo had taken four families for a three-hour circus training session at the National Centre for Circus Arts in East London (only one of two places in the country where you can get a degree in juggling, in case you’re interested) and I was having an absolute blast. What this has to do with our investment issue may seem oblique but the more we invest in time spent with friends, or doing things that make us feel the wind in our hair (and the crunch in our abdomens), the better in my book. So let’s salute a year of doing more and doing good; buying less but buying well; and just springing out of that box (or flying that trapeze) from time to time. Of course it helps to have a bit of dosh to finance these whimsical indulgences. Rosalyn Wikeley tracked down a few of our interesting friends to find out what had
INVEST IN Cartier’s delicious new Guirlande de Cartier bag. Mary Poppins goes chic!
TAKE UP A new hobby like circus training!
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been their greatest investment in 2018 and what they were looking forward to investing in this year (p82). And if you wondered whether it was more shrewd to put your cash into a horse, a car or a house, turn to Jeremy Taylor’s fun feature on page 72. Have any of you been asking what’s to become of London in this current climate, given the recent property market stagnation, hold on investment and general financial insecurity over our leaving the EU? Well, we thought we’d ask Christopher Silvester to paint a less gloomy picture of our capital city’s resilience (p77). Our cover girl, Emily Mortimer is clearly going to bring joy and happiness to millions this New Year, as she joins a cast of British heavyweights – Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury – in Mary Poppins Returns, when old and young can come together to relive a bit of that Let’s Go Fly A Kite magic on the big screen. I’ve pre-booked our tickets – what a way to start 2019 – brollies at the ready (p62). @countryandtown /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse
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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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The National Gallery
CONTRIBUTORS
CHRISTOPHER SILVESTER
How do you invest in yourself? I belong to three clubs: a traditional gentlemen’s club, a Soho club, and the Porchester Spa steam baths. I find them vital for social interaction, health and wellbeing. If money were no object, you would buy... A small house in Los Feliz, an old district of Los Angeles that I love. What’s been the biggest waste of money in your life so far? Sticking with bad stock market investments in the vain hope that they will come good. My stepfather always said you need to know when to cut your losses. 2019 is the year for… Procrastination... as ever!
JO FERNANDEZ
savoirbeds.com
London
New York
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Paris
Shanghai
Hong Kong
How do you invest in yourself? I invest in shallow and deep ways: a weekly mindfulness course to deal with stress and phobias, and excerise along with regular facials – I’m particularly fond of Japanese Kobido massage. If money were no object, you would buy... An island off the coast of Mexico. I would live there as much as possible, provide a fun-filled holiday for friends and family, run it how I want and avoid the side of life I don’t like. What’s been the biggest waste of money in your life so far? Ill thought out clothing choices. 2019 is the year for… Everything environmental, from beauty products and spas to cars.
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CONTRIBUTORS
DAVINA CATT
How do you invest in yourself? I visit an incredible vortex energy healer, Suzi Morris, and I do a weekly oneon-one boxing session. It’s the best workout. If money were no object, you would buy... I am obsessed with Lara Bohinc’s ‘Solaris Kinetic’ marble and brass tables – the marble plates move like orbits, reminding me how connected we are to the planet. And I would do anything to own one of the original deep blue Jaguar D-Types from the Fifties. What’s been the biggest waste of money in your life so far? Handbags I didn’t need and clocking up far too much on Uber. 2019 is the year for… Positivity, progress and remembering that everything happens for a reason.
ADELE CANY
How do you invest in yourself? I take time to analyse what does and doesn’t work for me. If money were no object, you would buy... Lots of properties for my family. What’s been the biggest waste of money in your life so far? My Starbucks habit. It’s not even good coffee and it’s packed with sugar. Plus, to really enjoy a coffee you need to sit down rather than sipping on the go. 2019 is the year for… New projects!
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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
JANUARY SALES The Finest Country Clothing & Accessories 020 8845 8849 w w w.shopforshoot ing.co.u k Shar vel Lane, West End Road Northolt, UB5 6RA
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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.
Country & Town House is a member of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
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COLUMN
THE GOOD LIFE Rule number one, abide by your own rules. Alice B-B learns the hard way and Pierre Berge’s actual house, before bursting through a back door into the buzzy throng of Les Jardins Majorelle. A trip to cool new Berber Lodge just outside Marrakech. After lunch a walk with girlfriends to the neighbouring village and we stumble across a film-set. Whispers of Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson add a spring in our step, until a security guard with a gun heads our way. We turn on our heel, chased through Martian landscapes, hearts beating, cheeks flushed, thrilled that once more Morocco has delivered. TO THE NEW BAMFORD HAYBARN IN BROMPTON CROSS. A haven of calm scented with candles. A place to explore yoga, sound healing and meditation… maybe this is actual heaven? In which case my angel is Alex – a tattoo’d Spanish therapist tasked with delivering the B-Silent treatment using Roman chamomile-based Bamford body oil to prepare for a peaceful night’s ‘A place for sleep. Floating home, I consider everything and how in this important #metoo era everything in its place’ - getting we don’t lose sight of the mystery of organised at human connection and the healing the new Anya power of touch. Let’s never stop – Hindmarch Labelled appropriately – holding, reaching Concept Store. out and touching each other. anyahindmarch. HEED YOUR OWN ADVICE. com Because right now I’m heading Reaping into the Panama jungle with only the glowing rewards the clothes on my back. American of a facial and Airlines decided Miami was the best acupuncture with place for my suitcase, so I’m wearing Annee de Mamiel demamiel.com. tight jeans, a Bella Freud sweater and pristine white Reeboks… Feeling cheered ideal gear for hiking in 70 per cent by artist humidity and swimming with manta Charlie Mackesy’s rays! I got complacent and didn’t drawings. charliemackesy. adhere to the tip I endlessly pass com on – always pack a bikini, sarong and a spare set of light clothes. So I apologise to those in Panama who may be perturbed by the sight of a girl in bra and knickers wandering the beach, wearing an artfully wrapped and unfortunately tiny cashmere scarf. Happy holidays!
THIS MONTH I’LL BE
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RAZZLE DAZZLE Soiree snazz ganni.com
PREPARE FOR SLEEP Dreamy Bamford B Silent treatment daylesford.com
MYSTIC MOROCCO JASPER’S PLACE Impossibly elegant l-hotelmarrakech.com
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BELT IT Beauteous bum-bag sophieanderson.com
THRILLS IN THE HILLS Magic mountain retreat berberlodge.net
PHOTO: JANE MCLEISH KELSEY. LEOPARD PRINT SLIP BY YOLKE.CO.UK
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O CLOSE AND SO EXOTIC. A long weekend in Marrakech and I’m transported to 1991; I’m 17, driving with a bunch of French cousins from the tip of Tangiers all the way south to the edge of the Sahara. It’s 45 degrees and I’m in a Peugeot 205 with no air-con. Dripping sweat, eyes wide, the adventures keep coming: guest houses where the shower and loo are one, taken in by kind Berber families in mud houses, having my blonde pony tail yanked in the souk. Then the Peugeot gets stuck in the desert. Spinning wheels, no traction. The sun’s setting, we’re running out of water. Thrilling only once we’re saved thanks to our wits, grit and a friend’s Jeep that yanks us out of a hole. Twenty-seven years later and I’m expecting a more sedate jaunt. Spoilt rotten at Jasper Conran’s L’Hotel – a jewel of a riad in the medina, English country house via Arabian nights. We visit Tom Stuart Smith’s secret garden and gain special access to Yves Saint Laurent
NAUGHTY & NICE
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C LA S S I C • CONTEMPORARY • EL EGANT 9 WALTON STREET, LONDON SW3 2JD
TEL: 020 7225 1011
CHE LS E A HARB OUR, G ROUND FLOOR, DESIGN CENTRE EAST SW10 0XF
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INFO@NINAC AMP BELL.COM
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INTERVIEW
THE RURBANIST Rosie Fortescue can’t get enough of Los Angeles and her sister’s Chihuahua
Where’s home to you? Home is London and always has been – although I just got back from LA and am hoping to live there for a few months next year.
Anywhere abroad where I can relax and be inspired.
What’s one of your daily rituals? Checking in on my friends and family. Sometimes I am too busy to have much of a social life so I always make sure to check in.
What never fails to bring a smile to your face? Dogs. I am so desperate for my own but I’m just too busy. My twin sister just got the cutest Chihuahua and I steal her as much as possible!
Best thing a taxi driver has ever said to you? ‘You look like
to do what I love and I’ll love what I do – and it’s true. I work all hours for my jewellery brand, but I love it so much that I hardly notice. What brings out the worst in you? When people are late. I find it so rude.
What was the last song you listened to that made you dance – and in what circumstances? Lightning Crashes by Live. My friends in LA got me hooked and we played it most evenings, dancing around, wine in hand, with their little dogs going wild.
that girl from Made in Chelsea.’
What item in your wardrobe do you wear the most? I recently
What’s your favourite game?
bought an amazing chunky vintage Chanel belt, and I wear it as often as possible over a jumper dress.
Backgammon, because it reminds me of my childhood playing it with family in the South of France every summer.
What are Saturday afternoons made for? Seeing friends
What is the last book you read? Feel
and having a drink somewhere cosy.
The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. It’s about striving for bigger and better things, whether in your personal or work life, and it’s truly inspirational.
more hours in the day!
What has been the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received? My mum always told me
What would really improve your life? Having What’s your signature dish and who in the world would you most like to cook it for? I make a pretty insane slow-cooked beef ragù with pappardelle, and I’d love to cook it for Louis Theroux because I’m obsessed with him and his documentaries.
Where was the last place you ‘discovered’? Favourite secret place in London for a good night out? You can’t beat an intimate dinner party, but if I go out I’ll have dinner at The Wolseley then head to Annabel’s for a drink.
Los Angeles. I went earlier this year with Jo Malone and loved it so much that I just had to go back. I was totally inspired by the way of life, especially in Venice, and the scenery was so fantastic that I decided to shoot my new Rosie Fortescue Jewellery body chains there.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; REX FEATURES
Where do you go to ‘lose’ yourself?
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The Palampore Fabric Collection Anna French is a division of Thibaut, Inc. www.annafrench.co.uk tel: 020 7737 6555
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Curtains: Kalamkari. Cushions: Montecito, La Provence, Tarascon Trellis Applique, Mila, Jules, Palampore. Brighton Settee from Thibaut in Tansman.
C&TH
U P F RON T ST YLE · B E AUT Y · J E WELLERY · PARTIES
LOUNGE LIZARD Punch through the UK’s greyest months with a full-on colour injection, courtesy of F.R.S. For Restless Sleepers, whose silk and crepe slip gowns, pyjamas and kaftans add life to lougewear. forrestlesssleepers.com
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STYLE
WORK IT Sharp tailoring and silky separates: the new workwear
Emilia Wickstead Lucinda silk dress, £1,350. matchesfashion.com Rachel Comey Blazer, £726. rachelcomey.com
Johnstons of Elgin Merino & cashmere coat, £1,475. johnstonsofelgin.com
Julia Davidian Leather skirt, £832. juliadavidian.com
Asprey Steamer 34cm in bluebird crocodile, £22,000. asprey.com
COUNTRY
Serena Bute Silk joggers, £380. serenabutelondon.com
TOWN
Anine Bing Silk skirt, €199. aninebing.com Mugler Ruffled shirt, £560. net-a-porter.com
Fairfax & Favor Regina boot, £345. fairfaxandfavor.com
Dorothee Schumacher Faithful pullover, £410. dorothee-schumacher.com
Sabina Savage Alligator’s Empire scarf, £360. sabinasavage.com
Fendi Earrings, £390. farfetch.com
Racil Audrey blazer, £750. matchesfashion.com
Zara Boots, £39.99. zara.com
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Strengthening bonds beautifully for over 65 years
The Parterre Collection
27 Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LP | www.halcyondays.co.uk | +44(0)203 725 8001
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UP FRONT FA S H I O N N E W S
STYLE NOTEBOOK
TA K E T H R E E
CASHMERE JOGGERS
Luxury loungewear and punky platforms, by Clementina Jackson
PRINTS MEET PUNKS
Willow Cashmere Zoe joggers, £185. willow cashmere.com
Rebellious queen of cool Vivienne Westwood is collaborating with Riccardo Tisci at Burberry for a capsule collection beyond our wildest British fashion dreams. Alarm clocks at the ready for heritage classics injected with a fiery dose of punk – think mini kilts and lace-up platforms in Burberry’s classic check, with proceeds supporting rainforest charity Cool Earth. burberry.com
Madeleine Thompson Eshton pant, £295. madeleinethompson.com
SHE SELLS RESELLS
For when the thought didn’t quite count enough, there’s always online designer resale… Cudoni Marketplace is a post-Christmas girl’s best friend, whether you’re looking to sell or buy. They’ve streamlined the resale process so you don’t have to worry about trawling through items of dubious authenticity or deal with any of the selling admin. New year, new wardrobe, we say. cudoni.com
Chinti & Parker Trapeze pants, £450. chintiandparker.com
Shrimps Antonia Bag, £450. shrimps.co.uk
MICRO TREND
JUST KIDS Maje Plaid Teddy, £220.50. uk.maje.com
Pretty Ballerinas Marilyn Pumps, £159. prettyballerinas.com
Simone Rocha Hair Slide, £125. matches fashion.com
Le Kilt 03 Mix and Match, £440. lekilt.co.uk
Veja Nova Canvas Sneaker, £80. veja-store.com
PHOTO: © COURTESY OF BURBERRY/ BRETT LLOYD
GREEN FOR JEANS
Sustainability is the mot du jour in the fashion world, and if Mother Earth wore jeans, she’d choose New York brand DL1961. Taking green to a whole new level, one pair of DL1961s takes just 10 gallons of water to make (compared to the usual 1,500), using ethically sourced cotton and plant-derived dyes in a factory that’s heavily solar-powered – and they’re now finally available in the UK. dl1961.com
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UP FRONT Country walk: Tall riding boots, thick black leggings and an oversized cashmere jumper from Il Borgo, a small Italian third generation familyrun company that supplies all the big fashion houses. The quality is exceptional.
MY STYLE
MIREIA LLUSIA-LINDH The Creative Designer of DeMellier handbags, Mireia Llusia-Lindh is loving the oversized trend this month
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What event will you be dressing up for this month? I have a wedding in Stockholm and I will be wearing either a short black Lanvin dress or a long embroidered SelfPortrait dress – I haven’t decided yet!
sand colour, a long black wool skirt and wide calf black boots.
Whose style do you really admire? That of smart, determined women who shine without trying too hard.
Trend you’ll be embracing this month? Oversized masculine coats with a feminine touch. The Row has some beautiful ones this season.
What do you find stressful about event dressing? I’m so busy that 1 I never have time to prepare what I am going to wear, so I always end up doing some very last-minute shopping. Wardrobe failsafes: Black coated skinny jeans by Acne or Zara, 12 oversized cotton tops by Arket, a Saint Laurent wool and leather cape and a pair of classic Chanel flats. Everyday uniform: I work in fashion but I have three kids and a business to run, so I need to wear clothes that look good but are also comfortable. My go-tos are a chunky turtle neck in a dark
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Finishing touches:
Favourite online retailers and why? 24 Sèvres, the
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11 Power dressing: High heels and an oversized clutch always make me feel empowered. My favourites are a pair of old Prada stilettos and our new Hoxton mega clutch in smooth black leather.
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As the Creative Designer of a handbag brand, it’s always the bag. I love testing bags from our new collections to make sure they deliver on the vision we have. Under the radar labels? Totême for interesting tops and coats, Aeydē for boots and Cecilie Bahnsen for dresses.
Holiday essentials: Oversized dresses from Paper London and Asceno, bikinis with interesting details like ruffled Lisa Marie Fernandez pieces, and my favourite ‘Marky’ sunglasses in black by Barcelona-based eyewear designer Alfred Kerbs.
new online store from LVMH, and Nordstrom are both great for their innovative approach and interesting selection. We are launching 6 with both of them this spring. Style cheats: A good haircut, a structured coat and a great bag. demellierlondon.com
1 Self-Portrait Crescent printed dress, £340 (self-portrait-studio.com) 2 Lanvin wrap dress, £1,450 (farfetch.com) 3 Il Borgo cashmere A-line set, ¤1,560 (ilborgo.it) 4 Hermès Jumping boot, £2,310 (hermes.com) 5 The Row Teymon wool coat, £2,600 (net-a-porter.com) 6 Totême shirt, £225 (net-a-porter.com) 7 Aeyde Kate leather boots, £315 (aeyde.com) 8 Lisa Marie Fernandez Leandra bikini, £222 (farfetch.com) 9 Alfred Kerbs Marky sunglasses, ¤200 (alfredkerbs.com) 10 Paper London Bay dress, £385 (farfetch.com) 11 DeMellier Hoxton clutch, £195 (demellierlondoncom) 12 Chanel printed pumps, £585 (chanel.com) 13 Arket cotton top, £35 (arket.com)
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UP FRONT LUXURY
LUCIA LOVES
LIFE’S LITTLE LUXURIES
Lucia van der Post eyes up Tom Davies
T
he days when spectacles were seen merely as an unfortunate necessity are long gone. Almost all the grand designers, from Armani to Tom Ford, have made them Silver 925 such glamorous accessories sunglasses, £1,100 Tom Davies wears that even those with 20:20 his bespoke brand vision long for a pair. But even better than a grand designer name is a pair of pair, created by a bespoke spectacles, created professional with a good not just to help you see instinct for proportion, properly, but also to suit tailored to suit the taste the shape of your face, the and personality of the colour of your eyes, the lie wearer. On top of that of your brows, the he uses only cut of your hair the finest and – crucially – materials, the shape of your from acetate Manhattan frame, £395 nose. This is where to natural Tom Davies comes in. horn, silver He started by working 925 and for one of the big names 18-carat gold. in eyewear, which made frames for He started off selling to private everybody from Tissot to the Swatch customers, then offered his Group. But he soon saw that for services through established Hatty sunglasses, £395 real luxury, for proper opticians until, in 2014, he opened comfort, for real his first standalone Tom Davies panache, there Bespoke Opticians round the was nothing corner from Sloane Square. Today like a he has another four London stores. bespoke It has to be said straight off that the Tom Davies experience doesn’t come cheap (a pair of bespoke spectacles ranges from £495 when made with acetate to £1,200 when buffalo horn is used) but then the eye test he offers is as complete as anything a major eye hospital has to offer (which is why many have taken to sending patients to his vision clinics). From the standard tests on the state of your vision his experts go on to check out the health of the whole eye, looking for everything from glaucoma to the more obscure ailments that eyes are heir to. Meghan sunglasses, £295 each tdtomdavies.com
SLIP INTO SOMETHING Keturah Brown is a tiny boutique in London’s Primrose Hill but if you’re after some seriously glam lingerie or nightwear it is as good a place to start as any. This winter it launched a six-piece capsule collection it calls Merlot, which has some wonderfully luxe pieces all in scarlet silk satin trimmed with black lace. From £25 to £250. keturahbrownlingerie.com
FOR EMILY American Emily Satloff’s jewellery brand, Larkspur & Hawk, makes beautiful, vintage-inspired modern pieces. Her latest idea is the 18-carat gold Lady Emily necklace, which adapts the notion of the charm bracelet to necklaces. Enchanting. larkspurandhawk.com
SISTER ACT Muzungu Sisters, founded by Dana Alikhani and Tatiana Santo Domingo, has a delightful range of ethnically inspired pieces made by artisans working in 16 different communities in four separate countries. They sell slightly hippy-looking clothing and accessories but for keen cyclists their woven Ghana baskets (£80) would certainly cheer up the grey urban cycling scene. muzungusisters.com
30 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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UP FRONT
JEWELLERY
THE GOLD DIGGER
SIMPLY SPARKLING
The latest jewellery news and trends. By Annabel Davidson
PETAL POWER Fiorever 18k white gold and diamond single earring, £8,300 by Bulgari Fiorever 18k rose gold and diamond bracelet, POA, by Bulgari
Diamond, sapphire, ruby, tsavorite, and 18k gold Modern Words earring, £485, by Ruifier
Fiorever 18k white gold and diamond necklace, £25,900, by Bulgari
Roman jeweller Bulgari’s new Fiorever diamond collection is a beautifully simple range of 24 pieces, all featuring a simplified four-petalled flower. In rose and white gold with white diamonds, the new fine collection ranges from adorable single flower rings with highly polished gold petals and a single diamond bud, to double-flower lariat-style necklaces with diamond-flecked tassels – pretty and precious. bulgari.com
MORE THAN WORDS
When Ruifier popped up five years ago, it was the tiny emoji discs strung on brightly coloured string that had people chattering. Now, the London-born brand has grown up, opened a flagship in Hong Kong and is found in some of the world’s most beloved stores including The Conran Shop in the UK and Luisa Via Roma in Italy. The latest collection, Modern Words, includes a fine range using 18k gold and diamonds, and is a playful take on the symbols we dot our written conversations with. The oversized single hoop earrings, strung through the lobe on a super fine chain, are brilliantly long, the ends of the chain grazing the shoulder to make a gorgeously witty statement. ruifier.com
Dancing queen Family-run jeweller Catherine Best now boasts three locations in London, Guernsey and Jersey, and their stock of unique pieces is steadily growing. Take this Dancing in the Moonlight ring sporting a six-carat sapphire and diamonds, hand set in platinum – a conversation starter for sure. catherinebest.com
Drop dead gorgeous The turquoise drop necklace from Azza Fahmy’s new Gypsy collection is a show stopper. Graduating turquoise drops and an intricate arrangement of amethyst, blue topaz and yellow gold are interspersed on a chunky chain of golden orbs – truly worth the journey. azzafahmy.com
TA K E T H R E E
RELIGIOUS PIECES CATHOLIC TASTE Diane Kordas’ Malachite Rosary is the most luxurious take on a timeless design. On a long necklace of forest green malachite beads and set with diamonds, it can be made to order for £2,517. dianekordasjewellery.com
LUCKY SEVEN These incredible one-of-a-kind earrings from Munich brand Hemmerle feature porcelain panels depicting the ‘Seven Gods of Fortune’ from Japanese mythology on one side, and complete diamond pavé on the other. POA. hemmerle.com
SUN WORSHIPPER Dina Kamal’s new RA pinky rings are a tribute to the Egyptian sun god in this Beirutbased designer’s signature super-minimalist style. doverstreetmarket.com
Double diamond In jewellery, white and blue usually mean diamonds and sapphires, but Raliegh Goss has expertly paired a five-carat white diamond with a double halo of white and fancy ‘steel blue’ diamonds – far subtler, but blue enough to make a splash. ralieghgoss.com
34 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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S E N E C A J E W E L R Y. C O M
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PROMOTION
SAY IT WITH SPANGLES Georg Jensen’s jewellery makes a statement with real meaning
Torun bangles in sterling silver, rose and yellow gold, from £295
W
earing your heart on your sleeve is both more stunning and functional than ever with Georg Jensen’s collections. Continuing a tradition of more than 100 years of collaborating with iconic, contemporary designers, this timeless brand has forged creative ties with Nina Koppel, daughter of the legendary Danish designer and master silversmith Henning Koppel and a talented designer in her own right. Able to capture the elusive combination of simplicity and mysticism, Koppel’s ever-popular Fusion collection is both an expression of her trademark tone and at the service of yours. Fusion encourages the wearer to express their own unique personality and style by providing endless possibilities for personalised combinations of rose, yellow and white gold rings, with or without diamonds, which seamlessly interlock. The collection has now evolved to include bangles, pendants and earrings, so that its
Fusion pendant in yellow, white and rose gold, £925
Give the gift of a sentiment that won’t fade away
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Offspring earrings in sterling silver, £175
malleability to your will and imagination is infinite. For the muse that values meaning as highly as matter, the Torun collection is the ultimate symbol of unity. Designed by Vivianna Torun BülowHübe, a graduate from the Academy of Industrial Arts in Stockholm and creator of some of the most recognised designs in the history of Georg Jensen, the Torun bangle conveys love simply with integrity and power, communicating the idea that we are stronger together than we are apart. If a beautiful, romantic gesture is your intention, Georg Jensen’s Offspring jewellery will perform its purpose perfectly. An elegant, egg-shaped oval
LEFT: Offspring pendant in sterling silver and rose gold, £225
Fusion rings can be combined with or without diamonds, from £625
– a universal emblem of love, harmony and evolution – is at the core of this striking 26-piece collection. Moving gracefully but differently on each individual wearer, Offspring, which includes pendants, earrings, elliptical bangles, bracelets and delicate, tapered rings with and without inset diamonds, will fluently speak the distinctive language of each wearer. ‘The natural shapes and curves of the body are essential to everything I design,’ says Jacqueline Rabun who has designed the collection. ‘It is important that each piece complements the human form and becomes an extension of the body and spirit of the wearer, like a talisman providing strength, confidence and protection’. Sometimes, saying what you mean is difficult, nigh impossible. Let these truly individual, thoughtful and poetic pieces dare to communicate what you can’t find the words for. Georg Jensen’s Fusion, Torun and Offspring collections mean that you can give the gift of an evocative sentiment that won’t be forgotten. georgjensen.com
January 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 37
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UP FRONT BEAUT Y
BRIGHT YOUNG THING Nathalie Eleni lets Victoria actor Nell Hudson’s lips do the talking Make up by Nathalie Eleni Hair by Chloe Sandoz Photo by RVDS (ruanvandersande.com) Earrings: MeMe London
Tell us a funny story from the set of Victoria... Tommy Knight, who plays Brodie, was meant to come running into the servants’ quarters to tell us news of the palace thief being arrested. I think the line was meant to be ‘the boy Jones has been arrested!’ but Tommy kept accidentally saying, ‘Boy George has been arrested!’ which we all found hysterical.
What was your favourite scene to shoot from the whole three series? I loved shooting the Christmas ball at the end of series two. All of the upstairs and downstairs characters got to party together: Penge danced with the Queen, Skerrett danced with Prince Ernest. It took about a week to film and we all got very sticky doing waltzes in a small, candlelit set, but it was a lot of fun.
What will be your lasting memory of your time filming Victoria? Definitely the friends I’ve made. It’s an absolute privilege to go to work every day with such a talented bunch of people, who are also my mates. Victoria Series 3 will air in early 2019 on ITV
GET THE LOOK 1 Apply Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation, for a flawless yet ‘breathable’ skin finish. £45. dermacaredirect.co.uk 2 Prep lips with Balmkind Alpine Rose & Lysine Balm, which helps to condition lips ahead of applying a matte lipstick. £13. balmkind.co.uk 3 Apply mascara then add some Ardell individual lashes to the outer corners of your eyes to lift and define. £5.45. lookfantastic.com 4 Blot excess balm from lips and apply PUR Cosmetics Velvet Matte lipstick in Fever. £16. marksandspencer.com 5 For the glossiest lip finish, apply Fenty Gloss Bomb in Diamond Milk. £16. harveynichols.co.uk. 38 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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Invest in your skin.
Discover Dr Sebagh’s secret for smoother, brighter and more radiant skin. Restore your glow
Nourish and brighten
Banish seasonal dullness and 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
BEAUT Y
BEAUTY TEST The Ultralift for eyes at Dr Sebagh Clinic
FIVE OF THE BEST
NEW YEAR, NEW SKIN Renew stressed-out skin this January with these beauties 1 Björk & Berries Rescue Kit For those in need of some serious skin SOS, these are deeply nourishing and hydrating natural balms for face, body and lips. £45. bjorkandberries.com 2 Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment A cult favourite, now reformulated with glycolic acid to purify pores and give the look of brighter and happier skin. £80 for 30ml. cultbeauty.co.uk
a pleasant experience. The Ultralift is the only treatment that can specifically target the deep foundation below the skin that is addressed in cosmetic surgery without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin, so it is a great choice for maintaining a youthful look without the need for needles. Afterwards my eyes looked instantly brighter and lifted, and my forehead smoother. Dr Anne told me the real results would be seen over a couple of months as tired collagen is renewed and replaced with new, stronger collagen – well, that’s something to look forward to! It is recommended that you have the treatment once every three months to maintain results – which is good news when many treatments require lengthy courses of weekly appointments. I prefer the wham bam thank you Dr Anne approach. Speedy beauty maintenance is by far the most realistic to keep up. (Nathalie Eleni) £700 per session. drsebagh.com
4 DCL Detoxifying Clay Mask Mineral rich to penetrate pores and draw out excess sebum. Great for blackhead busting and overall skin rebalancing after a season of excess. £45. spacenk.co.uk 5 Elemis Limited Edition Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm This limited-edition (in aid of Breast Cancer month) luxurious balm is formulated with English rose and mimosa to dissolve make-up, daily grime and pollutants for fresh and peachy skin. £68. elemis.com
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
S
leep deprivation (due to a teething baby) and hurtling at full throttle towards my 41st birthday mean my skin requires help to give me the perky look of a full night’s sleep at aged 30, so an invitation to try Dr Sebagh’s non-surgical Ultralift treatment came at just the right time. Eyes generally show the first signs of ageing and although creams and lymphatic drainage can help to rehydrate fine lines and ease fluid retention, something deeper is needed to help to lift and tone the surrounding skin for a more youthful look. Dr Anne Mendelovici took me kindly in hand. I jumped on to the bed (happy for the lie down) while she massaged an ultrasonic probe around my eyes and forehead – surprisingly relaxing. It felt quite warm in places and Dr Anne’s pressure was firm to really lift and tone, but it was generally
3 Biologique Recherche P50V Lotion Brightens devitalised skin with vitamins and walnut extract to protect from the ageing process and nourishes the epidermis. £61. embassyofbeauty.co.uk
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UP FRONT
HEALTH HOT LIST
WELLNESS
BODY & SOUL Camilla Hewitt on the benefits of broth
WINTER WARMER Forget juicing, start brothing
A RECIPE FOR WELLNESS
Winter is a period when naturopaths promote deep cleansing. Purearth has created a warming cleanse to revive both body and mind. 1 DETOX BROTH: This broth is designed to help you release toxins that are deeply rooted in the body through stress and everyday living. The lemongrass infusion is a gentle diuretic that encourages detoxification. 2 GOLDEN BROTH: This turmeric infused broth uses herbs and spices abundant in anti-inflammatories. It’s an excellent tool for repair and recovery. 2 SUPERFOOD SHOTS: Additional superfood shots and nourishing fermented drinks will help repopulate your gut flora, skyrocket your energy levels and improve your overall health and weight. From £59. purearth.co.uk
Berry Burn Bliss Balls
ESCAPE THE CITY
INGREDIENTS (MAKES 5) » 10g Bodyism Berry Burn Supplement » 30g dates » 20g almonds » 10g hemp seeds » 10g chia seeds » 30g pumpkin puree » 30g dessicated coconut » 20g cashew butter (or any nut butter) » Dessicated coconut for sprinkling » Freeze dried berry powder for sprinkling (optional) METHOD 1 Soak the dates for about an hour (until soft). 2 Place all the ingredients in a blender and whizz. 3 Roll the mixture into balls. 4 Mix the desiccated coconut and freeze dried berry powder, roll the balls in themixture and place in the freezer. bodyism.com/supplements
The Gainsborough Bath Spa For The Gainsborough, wellness is a historical tradition demonstrated by the Romans centuries ago, rooted in the happiness and indulgence of life, rather than a modern-day trend that promotes restriction and gruelling regimes.
By Pariah Man in the Moon Talisman Agate amulets balance energies, creating harmony and clarity for the wearer
Sweaty Betty Power 7/8 Leggings Stand out as you workout in these super stretchy leggings that perform for every sport
Calmer-you.com Home to helpful hints from hypnotherapist, Chloe Brotheridge
Aloe Vera Juice Swallow your supplements with aloe to increase the absorption of vitamins Adidas Women’s Studio Free womenonly workouts and nutritional workshops
Aquasana This power-packed fitness session is not your granny’s water aerobics but a dynamic combination of yoga, tai chi and karate. The water’s fluidity gently demands a grace inherent to tai chi and its resistance builds surprising muscular strength and cardio fitness during the more vigorous karate moves.
Oskia Pure MSM Combats the symptoms of conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis
thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
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F O O D
I S
A R T.
E L E V A T E
I T.
In craftsmanship and technology, Wolf stands alone. Its professional performance helps you make the most of every meal.
www.subzero-wolf.co.uk 251 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010
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UP FRONT PULL YOUR SOCKS UP Backed by David Gandy, London Sock Company is on a mission to revolutionise the City feet first, advocating bright injections of colour which are all available at the click of a mouse. From £14. londonsock company.com
MEN’S STYLE
WELL GROOMED The little things matter, says Matt Thomas
SPEAKE BREEZY
Czech and Speake’s new Villa Ausonia fragrance captures the exhilarating freshness of the Atlantic breezes in South West France and aromatic, distant pine forests. Perfect for spring. £125 for 100ml. czechandspeake.com
SUSTAINABLE STYLE Tumi is launching a Recycled Capsule, with styles from its men’s Alpha Bravo collection remade from postindustrial and postconsumer waste including recycled nylon and plastic bottles. From £265. uk.tumi.com
A ROYAL CONNECTION Luxury watch house Backes & Strauss has announced a special partnership with His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, reflecting HRH’s support of traditional British craftsmanship. He will be working with the brand on a limited-edition collection launching later this year. backesandstrauss.com
THREE OF THE BEST
CUFFLINKS Shine bright in the workplace
RAIN SUPREME
Richard Anderson’s natty raincoats take influence from the 1930s, with their retro Ventile fabric as used by the RAF and NATO and classy detailing. Available in navy and antique bronze, £975. richardandersonltd.com
Aspinal of London Enamel Fabergé style, £180. aspinaloflondon.com
AN EGGSTATIC CREATION Rolls-Royce’s famed mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy, has been cocooned in an exquisite, contemporary Fabergé Egg. The artwork will be premiered at the House of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, before being displayed in Fabergé’s London window. rolls-royce.com
Tateossian Britannia Gear Square, £195. tateossian.com
Deakin and Francis Winter Haze, £250. deakinandfrancis.co.uk
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UP FRONT Yasmin Le Bon, Manolo Blahnik and Anna Murphy Patrick Grant and Laurent Feniou
RACY REDS
European equestrian royalty and film stars alike raced to congratulate John Godsen, the trainer who dominated the 28th annual Cartier Racing Awards with a whopping five wins. The everglorious Dorchester was the perfect backdrop for John Carter’s wall of flowers in signature Cartier red – and extremely Alex Riviäre and popular for selfies. Carmen Jorda
Frankie Herbert and Eliza Cummings
Raymond Blanc
Cressida Bonas and Johnny Coca
BEST OF BRITISH
Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber Alice and Violet Manners
Daisy Knatchbull and Lady Tatiana Mountbatten
SOCIAL SCENE
HIGH SOCIETY
Jodie Kidd and Alice Temperley
People, parties, places
Tallia Storm and Emily Canham
The guestlist of this year’s Walpole British Luxury Awards was enough to make you brim with pride at just how many excellent brands there are in the UK. Belmond, Fortnum’s and Mulberry took home the coveted awards, and host Jason Isaacs, Jodie Kidd and Cressida Bonas showed Natalie and everyone how Ian Livingstone Brits can party.
Orlando Bloom
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; DAVE BENETT; MIKE MARSLAND
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie
Fiona Barratt-Campbell
SERIOUSLY FUN
Only the late Paul Newman’s annual gala in aid of the SeriousFun Children’s Network could pull off a Boy George performance, rousing speech by Orlando Bloom and the first Fry and Laurie comedy double act in almost a decade, all in one night. Watching the stars dance madly away to Karma Chameleon was undoubtedly a highlight of 2018’s party season.
Boy George
Clea Newman
Roja Dove
Jason Isaacs and Emilia Wickstead
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The
HOUSE GUEST
New to Country & Town House, The House Guest podcast – exclusive interviews with the biggest names from the world of design and decoration
House Ads 2016.indd 16
PODCAST
@countryandtown /countryandtownhousemagazine /countryandtownhouse countryandtownhouse.co.uk
THE
30/11/2018 14:49
C&TH
THE GU IDE A R T · C U LT U R E · B O O K S · P E O P L E
ET TU, BRUTE? Caesar and his assassins are dead. But at the fringes of a war-torn Rome, where General Mark Antony now rules, the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra and he have fallen fiercely in love. Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo play the famous fated couple, and Simon Godwin directs this standout National Theatre production. Until 19 January. nationaltheatre.org.uk
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THE GUIDE
EVENTS
COUNTRY LIFE Start the new year right, says Bella Lewis
CHRISTMAS
TWINKLE TWINKLE
The Blenheim Palace winter trail will glimmer with lasers, projections and thousands of pea-lights. From the twinkling to the spectacular, a scented Fire Garden and Singing Trees can be discovered in the Formal Gardens, where glimpses of Santa and his elves might be stolen in lit-up tree canopies drenched in seasonal colour. Until 1 January. blenheimpalace.com The Producers at Manchester Royal Exchange
T H E AT R E
NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOWBUSINESS
Theatre producer Max Bialystock has a string of failures in his wake, but his downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom thinks that could be a good thing. A producer could make more money with a dud than a hit? Manchester Royal Exchange adapts The Producers, the cult comedy film by Mel Brooks. Until 26 Jan. royalexchange.co.uk Get lit at Blenheim Palace
BURNS NIGHT
BURN BABY BURN
The Big Burns Supper is the biggest contemporary celebration of Scotland’s national poet in the town he called home, Dumfries. Over 111 events will transform the historic town with a blistering cultural celebration of comedians, celebrity hosts, theatre and cabaret acts for a Burns Night unlike any other. 24 Jan to 3 Feb. bigburnssupper.com
DAN C E
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
HAUD HOGMANAY
Catch Juliet and Romeo at Nottingham Playhouse for one night only
There are few New Years like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, which kicks off with a torchlight procession and has celebrations wending their way from candlelit concerts in the jawdropping McEwan Hall to street parties and ceilidhs under the castle. Fireworks, bands, plus six of Scotland’s leading writers are on deck for entertainment. 30 Dec to 1 Jan. edinburghshogmanay.com
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NEW YEAR
PHOTOS: © LEE BAXTER; © ZOE MANDERS
Juliet and Romeo at Nottingham playhouse tells a story even more unfortunate than the star crossed lovers’ tragic end: middle age. Lost Dog’s duet is directed by Olivier Award-nominated Ben Duke, blending dance, theatre and comedy to take on our cultural obsession with youth and the inevitable issues with longevity. 25 Jan. nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk
EVENTS
TOWN LIFE Contemporary and cat art
A R T FA I R
CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
Over 100 galleries will exhibit and connect collectors at the London Art Fair, which, in partnership with Eastbourne’s Towner Art Gallery, presents The Living Collection, an exhibition that celebrates the gallery’s rich heritage of championing contemporary art for almost a century. 16 to 20 January. londonartfair.co.uk The Archive’s outdoor display in King’s Cross
ART
QUIRKY KITTY
Cats on the Page brings much-loved feline favourites together in an eclectic celebration of cats that have captured the world’s cultural imagination. Explore the cat’s literary guise in work from the likes of Judith Kerr, Axel Scheffler, Quentin Blake and the T.S. Eliot Foundation at the British Library. Until 17 March. bl.uk
EXHIBITION
An original screenprint of Banksy’s Choose Your Weapon (2010)
NEW YEAR
PHOTO: GORMLEYS FINE ART; SCOTT KERSHAW
PHOTOS: © LEE BAXTER; © ZOE MANDERS
VIEWS AND BOOZE
No craning your neck to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve at The View from The Shard. Start your year on a high point and sip complimentary champagne as the clock strikes midnight. The fizz in your glass will be the perfect complement to the fizz and boom of the firework display over the city. 31 December to 1 January. theviewfromtheshard.com
WASTED ON THE YOUNG
The Archive is an exhibition exploring how the magazine re-defined youth culture. Visit the new Coal Drops Yard to celebrate the legacy of The Face, the publication that transformed the identity of the style magazine. A 75m outdoor display reveals 250 historic covers of the landmark title spanning 1980-2001. Until 31 Jan. kingscross.co.uk
F E S T I VA L
SINGIN’ AND DANCIN’
The View from The Shard looks over London
Get exclusive performance insights from guest performers during the Royal Opera House Cinema Festival. Famous faces include former Royal Ballet Principal Darcey Bussell and Music Director of The Royal Opera Antonio Pappano. The festival includes 11 free opera and ballet performances for children, too. Until 7 Jan. roh.org.uk
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ARTS
ARTS AGENDA The darkest month of the year brightens with vital sparks of originality and colour, says Caiti Grove
1 EXPOSED: THE NAKED PORTRAIT Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle
Vulnerable, erotic, equalising or innocent – the unclothed body takes many forms. Exposed explores the difference between being naked and nude – bare authenticity or idealised figures, be they sculptures from ancient Greece or artful poses on Instagram. Naked individual portraits – free from the markers of time or wealth – include 19th-century actress Nell Gwyn, Naomi Campbell, Gilbert & George and Mick Jagger, alongside Testino photographic shots and work by David Hockney and Tracey Emin. An exhibition to explore identity and grasp its essential humanity. Until 3 March. laingartgallery.org.uk
THE FAVOURITE
Exposed:Johnny Vegas as Demi Moore, by Karl J. Kaul
Released nationwide
This absurdist comedy already has Olivia Colman touted for an Oscar and won 13 nominations in the British Independent Film Awards. Starring as an angry Queen Anne, Colman is doted on by Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), who manipulates her into continuing a war with the French, to glorify Sarah’s ambitious husband. When Sarah’s cousin (Emma Stone) arrives, the women joust for her affections with hilarious – and surreal – consequences. Director Yorgos Lanthimos challenged cinematic conventions with his famously violent The Lobster, now he’s at it again with a comedy to purge the January blues. Irresistible. Released 1 January.
Royal Albert Hall, London SW7 The world’s most famous circus team brings its spectacular show to London again. Totem traces the evolution of humankind, from curious primates to adventurers who have the intellectual capacity to reach into outer space. A cast of 46 acrobats, musicians, actors and singers swing between science and legend as they act out this epic journey – jaw-dropping gymnastics, clowning, unicycling and songs, along with an extraordinary set. Wild. 12 Jan to 26 Feb. royalalberthall.com
SHANDIEN LARANCE Hoop dancer from Cirque Du Soleil
2
Emma Stone, Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz in The Favourite
I learnt from my brother and we competed on the Pow Wow Trail, a Native American competition. The dance manipulates hoops into images from nature - I love flying the eagle around the stage. I dance with five hoops. My style is like a fast heartbeat – a strong, quick rhythm. My mother was a ballet dancer. She always says that projection is a rare skill; use the whole stage and everything you have.
3
Unicycles feature in Cirque du Soleil’s Totem
Totem has a spirit. That is the people. Being surrounded by some of the best performers in the world is amazing. Only when they take off their outfits do I remember they are just normal people, and so humble too.
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PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JUDY CHICAGO; © MARVEL COMICS; © NICK WHITE
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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: TOTEM
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PHOTOS: © KARL J KAUL; © CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
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THE GUIDE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Reviews, previews and performances
FIVE O F TH E B E ST
JAZZ & SOUL GIGS LEDISI She has performed eight times at the White House, was a favourite of Prince, and has 12 Grammy nominations. Huge voice and attitude. Can’t wait. Tours 27 Jan to 3 Feb. ledisi.com
PAUL LAMB AND THE KING SNAKES Paul Lamb performed on harmonica with Mark Knopfler, The Who and Rod Stewart. Now the band honours the original artists with a brisk, deep rhythm. 6 Jan. hideawaylive.co.uk
Smoke Bodies, above, and Immolation, below, both by Judy Chicago, 1972, in Still I Rise
R E VI E W
A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ME V&A Museum of Childhood, London E2
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JUDY CHICAGO; © MARVEL COMICS; © NICK WHITE
PHOTOS: © KARL J KAUL; © CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
PR E VI E W
STILL I RISE: FEMINISMS, GENDER, RESISTANCE
There’s a loose dress code at the V&A’s Eastside campus. Neckerchiefs, plastic swords and a striped trouser are de rigueur – role play is central to this exhibition, specifically targeted at two to eight year olds. Arrive with a Johnny Depp-style accent and sit in a seaside tavern to plot your route to the hidden treasure, then board a huge ship equipped with a bell, telescope and helm, so tiny pirates can find exotic islands and steer through rough storms. Major curatorial brownie points for this unisex celebration of the imagination. Love. Until 22 April. vam.ac.uk
Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
Not so much an art show, more a massive coming together of all facets of women’s struggle for equality, Still I Rise shows how architects, activists and civil rights lawyers, as well as artists and publishers, have fought on all fronts across the globe. Developed by f-architecture collaborative, it includes a complex matrix of artists across the spectrum of feminist creativity, from Amina Ahmed to Osias Yanov. They draw on the heroism of women who fought Latin American dictatorships, bullying US bosses, colonial oppression and misrepresentation in the media. Step away from the jargon of equality into its concrete expression. Until 27 January. nottinghamcontemporary.org
Marvel’s 1976 comic book version of Treasure Island at the V & A Museum of Childhood
THE SOUNDS OF 2019 Camden’s jazz destination has a line-up to showcase the best of the next generation. Expect hip-hop, jazz-funk and a saxophonist who has already toured with Courtney Pine. Yes please. 9 Jan. thejazzcafelondon.com
SUGARAY RAYFORD A highlight of London Blues Week. A strong soul voice, hard to find this side of the Atlantic. 17 Jan. londonbluesweek.com
LAURA MVULA AND BLACK VOICES The London A Cappella Festival presents this thrilling collaboration: a quintet that has performed with Nina Simone and Ray Charles, and a star soul singer. 23 Jan. kingsplace.co.uk
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THE GUIDE
AUCTIONS
HAMMER TIME Kittty Buchanan-Gregory learns how to start an art collection
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WALK THROUGH THE DOORS
Maya Markovic, a specialist in Old Masters at Christie’s, tells me and my Jack Russell (it turns out super posh auction houses are also super dog friendly), that, ‘the starting point is to lose the fear of entering the building. Every auction house is open to the public and welcomes anybody who appreciates art.’ The auction catalogue produced for each sale lists the artwork details along with the estimate price range, and if you’d like to speak to someone in person, each preview room has a specialist on hand. ‘They would be delighted to chat to you,’ Maya continues. ‘Don’t feel you have to pretend to be buying – if you want to know who the artwork is by, or what it’s about they’ll happily share their knowledge with you. If you ask nicely they may take the artwork off the wall and show you the labels – something which would never happen in a museum. Think of auction houses as revolving museums so come and enjoy the works on view.’ FROM TOP: Christoffel Lubieniecki, A Merry Band of Travelling Musicians; auction houses allow a closer look at the art; Peter Monamy, Her Majesty’s New Flagship Royal Sovereign at The Nore; Maya Markovic is a Christie’s Old Masters specialist; Pietro Antoniani, Naples Looking towards Castel Sant’Elmo
REGISTER AND BID
If you’ve seen something in the preview that has caught your eye and want to bid on it, you’ll need to register. Along with proof of ID and your address you will be asked if you are buying the artwork as a private sale for yourself, as a trade person on behalf of another person or company, or on behalf of an institution. This is for the auction house’s own records but also to help keep provenance of the work should you be the successful buyer. Bidding can be done in various ways; in person, over the phone, online or by leaving a standing bid. Bidding in person is preferable as you get to gauge the room and enjoy the experience; however, important sales are ticketed, so be aware of this when you register. For those who wish to observe a sale you can stand at the side, and no – you can’t ‘accidentally’ buy art by sneezing – the auctioneers only take bids from those who raise their allocated paddle number. Bidding online is popular as you can do it from wherever you are. If, on the other hand, you want to ensure you stick withIN a budget, or you are away on holiday, you can leave a maximum bid when you register. This will be passed onto the auctioneer who will bid on your behalf up to your maximum.
PAYMENT AND SHIPPING
No matter how you’ve bid, you will be asked for full payment at the cashier’s desk, and funds will need to be cleared before you can collect your artwork. Be aware that on top of the hammer price, you will need to pay a buyer’s premium. This fee covers the upkeep of the building, staff wages, et cetera.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR COLLECTION ‘Buy what you love,’ says Maya. ‘Art to hang in your home should be something that gives you great pleasure every day that you look at it, so buy what makes you happy.’ christies.com
PHOTOS: CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LDT 2018
he world-famous auction houses of London are often perceived as a romantic but inaccessible way to buy art, open only to those with millions to spend on a Monet, or a global institution looking to complete a collection. It turns out that this is not the case at all. With some knowledge and guidance from specialists it is perfectly possible to start a collection of Old Masters for under £10,000, for example. I went along to Christie’s to have a lesson in buying at auction.
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AUCTIONS
LOTS OF FUN Waiting for something worth flexing your bidding muscle for? Here’s our pick for the months ahead
1HOT SMOKE PHOTOS: YVES SAINT LAURENT & CATHERINE DENEUVE CELEBRATING THE 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FASHION HOUSE AT THE LIDO ON 29 JANUARY 1982. © JEAN-LUCE HURÉ
Yves Saint Laurent disciples are in for a smoking sartorial treat with Christie’s sale of Catherine Deneuve’s wardrobe during Paris Haute Couture week. 24 January, Paris. christies.com
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5 PINCH A PRINT 6
Jeff Koons’ Girl with Lobster 2014 archival pigmented inkjet print is dying to spice up someone’s dining room wall. Evening & Day Editions, 24 January, Philips, est. £20,000–30,000. phillips.com
RISING 6PROLETARIAT 1
2INTREPID EXPLORERS An eclectic and deeply personal collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture, English and European Decorative Arts and 20th century design, titled An Adventurous Spirit, the highlight of which is Alfred Munnings’ The Whip, Trevelloe Wood, Cornwall, comes under the hammer at Christie’s. 13 Dec, Paris. christies.com
AFFINITY 3SCANDI
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7PUMPKIN PIE
Yayoi Kusama’s Pumpkin 2000 (Red) on Colourplan paper is the modern paragon of Instagram art (just a tangible slice of the magic). Its estimate is also more than reasonable, so roll up! Evening & Day Editions, 24 Jan, Philips, est. £6,000–£8,000. phillips.com
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This 1902 work, Interior, Strandgade 30, signed with the initials of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi, is part of a series of views that were not so much narratives of domestic life but rather poetic symphonies of light and tone. 12 Dec, Sotheby’s London, est. £400,000-600,000. sothebys.com
4 CLUTCHING JEWELS
After a bag with a difference? Sotheby’s will auction off this rather unique Lacloche Frères evening bag – the clasp modelled as a bat with outstretched wings set in rose diamonds. 11 Dec, Sotheby’s London, est. £5,000-8,000. sothebys.com
Whether exposing revolutionary affinities or simple Bolli Bolshevik pleasures, Andy Warhol’s 1987 Red Lenin screen print in colour, signed by Frederick W. Hughes (executor of his estate) is the sort of provocative work that can make a blank wall sing. Evening & Day Editions, 24 Jan, Philips, est. £40,000–£60,000. phillips.com
TRIO 8PRE-RAPHAELITE 3
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A highlight of Sotheby’s Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite & British Impressionist Art sale is The Three Marys by Edward Burne-Jones which depicts three of their most famous muses, Elizabeth Siddall, Jane Morris and Georgiana BurneJones. 13 Dec, Sotheby’s London, est. £150,000–200,000. sothebys.com
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THE GUIDE
BOOKS
GOOD READS Richard Hopton reviews four books to help you brush up on your history
VIETNAM: AN EPIC TRAGEDY, 1945-1975 Max Hastings
The Vietnam War, from the mid-1960s until 1975, was violently controversial: its protracted agony divided nations and generations, causing political upheaval and civil unrest on an unprecedented scale. It was the Great Event of its time. Yet, in this country certainly, I suspect that the majority of people under the age of 60 know very little about it. There is a miasma of myth, half-truths and downright lies surrounding the war which Sir Max Hastings’ new history dispels utterly. Hastings writes with the benefit of personal experience: he reported on the war, both from the United States and Indo-China itself, and met some of the leading protagonists. He was helicoptered out of the US embassy compound in Saigon in April 1975 as the waters of defeat and humiliation closed over the Americans. He has folded into the narrative the accounts of scores of participants from both sides, giving the book an electifying immediacy. It imparts vividly the terror of the American infantryman – the ‘grunt’ – inching through the jungle or wading through a swamp never knowing where the next trip wire was or when the Vietcong would open fire. Likewise, Hastings brings to life the airborne war: ‘the clatter of rotor blades,’ was, he writes, ‘the struggle’s orchestral music.’ Vietnam begins with the French struggle after 1945, subsidised by the Americans, to defend their colonies in Indo-China against the communists. It charts the gradual enlargement of the American presence in South Vietnam under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy up to the point when President Johnson overtly committed US forces to the theatre. Hastings lays bare the self-deceptions and equivocations which dogged American policy throughout the war as well as exposing the North Vietnamese regime for the brutal totalitarian regime it was. Hastings has a historian’s grasp of narrative and a journalist’s eye for the story and the telling detail. His consistently lively, engaging prose rattles along making light of the book’s 650 pages. This is important, gripping history: read it. William Collins, £30
DEVICES AND DESIRES: Bess of Hardwick and the Building of Elizabethan England Kate Hubbard
Devices and Desires is by no means the first biography of Bess of Hardwick, that formidable Elizabethan matriarch, builder and woman of business, nor the only book about Hardwick Hall, but it is an enjoyable retelling of Bess’s long and remarkable life – she died in 1608 in her mid-eighties – and her astonishing impulse to build. In all she built four houses but her principal memorial is Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, built in the 1590s. Chatto & Windus, £20
THE QUEST FOR QUEEN MARY by James Pope-Hennessy Edited by Hugo Vickers
In 1955 James Pope-Hennessy was commissioned to write the authorised biography of Queen Mary, consort of King George V. This new book contains his notes made of the interviews he conducted with the baubles of minor European royalty and aristocracy while researching the book, edited with hushed reverence by Hugo Vickers. It is, in effect, the out-takes of a royal biography and much of it is very funny. Pope-Hennessy had an acute eye: he interviewed one German princess who was ‘enormously fat, with a huge red face like an old baby’. Zileika, £30
THE BRITISH IN INDIA David Gilmour
The British in India is a dazzling, beautifully written panorama of the lives of Britons in India over more than three centuries. The breadth of Gilmour’s coverage is extraordinary, chronologically, geographically and socially, roaming over the entire subcontinent, taking in the whole of the British experience of India. His cast ranges from squaddies to governors, via planters, railwaymen, boxwallahs and bureaucrats. Nor does he forget the women who, often reluctantly, followed their menfolk to India, or those on the periphery of the Raj, the Eurasians, floating hybrids, not wholly British but not wholly Indian either. Allen Lane, £30
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C&TH ONLINE
DO
It’s your last chance to check out the most fabulous ice rinks for a spot of al fresco London skating, so ensure you’ve visited every single one in our guide before they close. If you’re already thinking about your New Year reset plan, our guide to the newest ways to find zen in the city will prove invaluable.
SEE From Jackson Pollock at the Whitechapel Gallery to Modern Couples at The Barbican, London’s current best exhibitions offer their own form of comfort food for culture vultures. Our guide to 2019’s biggest exhibitions is full of dates for the diary.
THIS MONTH
by COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE
EAT
The cold weather calls for one thing only. Comfort food. Whether it’s the best pizza in London or a world-class roast just around the corner you seek, you’ll find the tastiest options in our round-ups online.
GO
Forgo winter sun in a far-flung land and find beauty closer to home with our guide to the most picturesque places to visit in the UK during winter – from the Roman Baths of Bath to frosty walks in the Cotswolds’ Bibury (and no luggage restrictions in sight).
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THE GUIDE
SPORTS
Sebastian Coe introduces his new series which picks out the biggest game-changers in sport
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he next time you settle down in front of the television for an Olympic Games or a football World Cup, a cricket Test Match or even a hub-to-hub struggle in Formula One, you might like to ponder the journey that modern sport and these events have taken in the last half century. My contention, and the thrust of this column for 2019, is that the single biggest driving force behind the Herculean rate of change witnessed in sport and its exposure to billions of people across the globe, has been the vision (and sometimes predatory, buccaneering spirit) of individuals. And you can pretty much count them on one hand. For sporting purists, this drive has not always seemed virtuous or particularly Corinthian, but few would argue that this intrepid band of frontier breakers has fundamentally changed the face of modern sport. Some have turned niche sports into multimillion dollar businesses, some have built on those sports that reach deep into our communities and our psyche. For the purpose of this column, let’s call them game changers. And many of them I know or have known. When I first visited the headquarters of the Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, I walked through the front door of a modest house on Lake Geneva. The modern Olympic Games had already left indelible marks on our sporting
ABOVE: The first Olympic Games in 1896 BELOW: Creator of the modern Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin
history, but it was still a village industry. Some 40 years after my first visit, the International Olympic Committee is now a multimillion-dollar industry in a new palatial office. We are all taught, with justification, that the creator of the modern Games was Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who was the driving force behind its first appearance in 1896 in Athens, finally returning them to Greece after three millennia. However Juan Antonio Samaranch, a Spaniard whose sport was rollerhockey, was the game changer. Becoming IOC President in 1980, Samaranch single-handedly turned the Games from the domain of the amateur into the commercial extravaganza it has now become. A buccaneer who was also the deftest of politicians and as comfortable in the offices of presidents and heads of state as he was in sport, Samaranch will be the subject of my first column in the next issue. None of the game changers you will read about over the coming year come with unalloyed critical analysis – all to some extent are polarising characters in the global development of sport. Few, I think, would argue about their status – but maybe you want to chance your hand and see if your choices accord with mine. Happy New Year.
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES
THE OLYMPIAN
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THE GUIDE
CARS
ROAD TEST The crème de la crème? Jeremy Taylor acquires a taste for Mercedes’ explosive executive saloon
TOWN
Imagine a sensible-looking five-seat saloon that fits perfectly in the executive car park from Monday to Friday, and transforms into a rip-snorting racer at the weekend. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ sports a clumsy moniker but it is a family car that secretly longs to be tearing around a racetrack. Tweaked to perfection by Mercedes’ performance division AMG, the imperious E 63 features grippy fourwheel drive, a handbuilt 4.0-l V8 engine and performance figures to embarrass a Porsche 911. Its biggest rival is the BMW M5 – but for my money, the E is better. I drove the mighty Merc through Kensington for afternoon tea at The Milestone. The hotel does service the old-fashioned way but even Stephen the doorman was goggle-eyed at the E 63 – and he’s parked a few cars. There’s not much opportunity for supercar-rivalling acceleration in the capital, so as a platter of perfectly baked scones and patisserie sits happily in my stomach the flagship E-class slips along virtually unnoticed. I have multiple driving modes that offer all manner of options for the gearbox, engine mapping and air suspension settings. If the Mercedes feels harsh over the uneven tarmac, it can be adjusted to my personal taste with the turn of a dial. Some of the COMAND infotainment system is finicky but otherwise the interior is sumptuous and sporty in every detail. There’s even a huge amount of space on the back seat, with an even bigger boot. RATING: 5/5 handbags
VITAL STATS Price £89,290 Engine 3982cc V8 petrol Power 612 bhp 0-62mph 3.5 seconds Economy 31 mpg (combined)
COUNTRY
Few cars do the mobile office better than an E-class. And as this is the top specification model, it features a massive 12-inch central display screen, wi-fi hotspot and even wireless phone charging. It’s the best excuse you will find to do your work on the road. The performance seats adjust every which way and most of the main dashboard functions can be voiceoperated. Only the touch controls on the steering wheel are a little too sensitive for my clumsy fingers. With so much power on tap, the E 63 is made for fast, cross-country journeys at speed. It will easily return 24mpg in everyday conditions, and eats up the miles on a drive across Berkshire with consummate ease. And the saloon really is set up for track day use too – if you can afford a new set of 20-inch tyres every few months. AMG has equipped the Merc with an onboard lap timer and a Track Pace app, so you can pretend you are driving Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Mercedes through the corners. It is very difficult to find fault with this E-class, although some might dislike the styling. It does everything you ask of it and more, as you might expect of a car costing almost £90,000 before options. The E 63 isn’t just the perfect scone, it’s the jam and the cream on top. RATING: 5/5 wellies milestonehotel.com January 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 57
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THE GUIDE
GARDENING
SEEDER’S DIGEST Take the first step towards a green 2019, says Clementina Jackson
BOTANICAL HEALING Plants for the body, plants for the mind
Cosy Cottage Hempseed oil soap with CBD, £3.95. cosycottagesoap.co.uk
GARDEN OF THE MONTH
THE BRESSINGHAM GARDENS, Norfolk A life-long passion, passed from father to sons, transformed this stunning private garden from an untended 17 acres to the six distinct and varied gardens they are today. Come the cold season, a riot of colour stuns with Cornus midwinter fire stealing the show. Breathtaking. thebressinghamgardens.com
BAMFORD Botanic lip balm, £14. bamford.com
INSPIRED BY
NO-WASTE KITCHEN GARDENING
Lola’s Apothecary Rosehip bath & shower oil, £40. lolasapothecary.com
TREND
HANGING OUT
Indoor hanging planters are having a moment on a wall, ceiling or Instagram feed near you. A stylish solution for citydwellers with little to no outdoor space or those looking to jazz up their interiors style, they’re also perfect for getting your plants out of the cold in winter. Make your own in macramé for a personal touch.
Root & Flower Turmeric & Clove Golden Oil, £20. rootandflower.co.uk
THIS MONTH Sow Radishes now and enjoythe crunch in a few weeks
Order Fruit trees now for planting in spring
Prune Your roses while they’re dormant
Fikkerts Lavender Sleep Gel, £5. shop.kew.org
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; © RICHARD BLOOM
Sustainability starts at home, says horticulturalist Katie Elzer-Peters, who has put together a colourful guide to re-growing your food leftovers. Take the zero-waste trend a step further by turning everything from carrot stumps to apple cores and lettuce stalks into harvestable, edible plants. Go ultra-green for 2019. Cool Springs Press, £11.99
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THE GUIDE
Andy Palmer, Aston Martin’s CEO, has ambitions beyond automobiles, finds Matthew Bell Portrait by ALEXANDRA DAO
Y
negative you pick up, you’re forced to make a counter-measure. ou don’t need to be interested in cars to find Aston It means you can literally see where you’re going wrong.’ Martin’s recent history fascinating. This is a company Palmer was born and raised four miles from Aston’s base in that has gone bankrupt seven times in 105 years, which Warwickshire, and knew he wanted to be an engineer when he was 14. in 2015 and 2016 made losses of £251m. Look at their He didn’t enjoy school – ‘or attend much’ – and nobody suggested he results now, and you find a doubling of year-on-year revenue, with might ever go to university, so he left aged 16 to do an apprenticeship. more than twice as many cars being sold, and pre-tax profits up By the time he had finished, four years later, the automotive industry 899 per cent. In October, it became the first car company to float on the London Stock Exchange in almost 30 years, with a valuation was in one of its lowest moments, plagued by strikes and the ‘winter of of £4.3bn. Not bad for a brand that’s more British than a cucumber discontent’. And it was then, aged 20, that Palmer first had the ambition to run a car company. ‘I just thought, there must be better sandwich, in these uncertain pre-Brexit times. ways to do it than by being in conflict with your workers.’ Indeed, Aston’s position as a newly-floated British He achieved his ambition aged 50, when he took over company is so linked with anxieties around trade Aston Martin in 2014, having worked his way up other car that shares plunged 6.5 per cent the day Theresa May companies. He started at Rover, where he first came into announced her Brexit plan. This happens to be the day I contact with Japanese culture after Honda took a stake. meet Andy Palmer, Aston’s 55-year-old chief executive, and In 2001 he joined Nissan, which required him to move the architect of the company’s turnaround. He is sanguine to Tokyo. ‘If you can get past the first six months, and about the share price and takes little notice of negative Town or therefore the huge differences between our cultures, and press reports that called the flotation ‘disappointing’. country? embrace them, then it’s a place you can easily fall in love ‘Ultimately,’ he says, ‘if you continue to do the right thing It would be with,’ he says. Fall in love he did – with Japan’s people, over a long period of time, the right story will emerge.’ country in general, but if it language, food and culture, and he is married (second And there’s no doubt that without him, Aston Martin were country or time-round) to a Japanese woman, by whom he has a might not exist any more, let alone be tripling profits. So Tokyo, I’d have daughter. He even wrote a PhD thesis on the Japanese what’s the secret to his success? I remember being struck to say Tokyo. practice of Hoshin Kanri, in the development of a ‘Right by Palmer when I first met him two years ago, at the launch Glass of wine First Time’ design model – which is freely available to read of the DB11. Here was a CEO who spoke frankly about or green tea? on the website of Cranfield University. Aston’s financial history, who didn’t shy away from difficult That’s easy. Glass of wine It may be a far cry from the world of James Bond with questions. He had just embarked on a plan which aimed every day. which Aston Martin has historically been associated to launch a new car every year for seven years. The launch (and, Palmer would argue, over-relied upon). But the of the DBS this September was the third, and 2019 will Cat or dog? I’m not a great decision to appoint a CEO with experience in the see Aston launch the first non-sports car in its history, lover of either, Japanese mass-market has clearly paid off, as Aston’s the DBX, an SUV. In 2021, he plans to revive the Lagonda but out of the Italian and Kuwaiti owners are being amply rewarded. brand with an SUV, to be built at an all-new factory two, a dog. And Palmer clearly understands the sector. ‘We’re which is nearing completion in Cardiff. Sharp suits or transitioning from being a provider of sports cars to a His entire business philosophy is based on the Japanese cosy jumpers? luxury goods provider,’ he says. ‘But rather than being system of Hoshin Kanri, which literally translates as ‘policy Cosy jumpers. like Jimmy Choo or Chanel, we want to be like LVMH or management’. It may sound boring, but if you read into Rolling hills Richemont. In other words, a house of luxury brands.’ it you find a planning process by which a company can or seaside? Seaside. So now an Aston Martin doesn’t just mean a car, it could achieve its end goal by demarcating every step of the way, also be a suitcase, or an apartment – even a submarine. and by setting out how every employee can help achieve Power breakfast or Palmer compares the company he took over to a that goal. ‘In our case, the end result is to make the most languorous beaten dog – ‘it had lost its swagger. The people were beautiful cars in the world,’ he says. ‘You then break that lunch? passionate, but rudderless’. Now Aston is building a new down into things like “process” and “quality”, and then Breakfast. It’s factory, employing 3,000 people (up to 5,000 in 2022) break those down into hundreds of tactics, which are the best meal of the day. and selling more cars than ever. Whether the shares all linked. It’s all mapped out on a huge piece of paper, rise or fall, who could ask for more? and is very data-driven and controllable. So for every
IN BRIEF
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Andy Palmer has turned Aston Martin’s fortunes around
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ALL GROWN UP
As cinema audiences eagerly await Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Mortimer tells DAVINA CATT why it took turning to directing and producing for her to find true confidence
‘I
Styling ADELE CANY Photography RACHELL SMITH
wasn’t really thinking,’ says Emily Mortimer, as she recalls the initial casting stages for the role of grown-up Jane Banks in the much-anticipated Mary Poppins Returns film – the first time since Julie Andrew’s Oscar-winning incarnation in 1964 that PL Travers’ magical, imaginationcapturing nanny will descend from the skies to the big screen, holding her umbrella. ‘I just went dutifully along to a meeting with Rob Marshall [director] in New York. I hadn’t read the script, but his commitment to telling the story cast a spell over me and I called up my agent afterwards and said I have to do this role – which is so unlike me,’ she says. One of an early band of English rose ingénues to land on the small screen in the mid-90s – debuting in a TV adaptation of Catherine Cookson’s The Glass Virgin – Mortimer was subjected to the usual British sniping about her success and covetable credentials: St Paul’s Girls’ School, Oxford University and, of course, her late father, the barrister and author of Rumpole of the Bailey, Sir John Mortimer. ‘There’s something about the British habit of pigeonholing someone. For some reason in England we judge people on where they’re from, and I didn’t like it, I had an allergic reaction to it.’ This attitude took her from a slew of chocolate box adaptations in the UK – including the role of Perfect Girl in Notting Hill – to the States, where she looked to carve a varied character trajectory on her own terms. Mortimer is currently speaking to me from Melbourne, where she’s on the set of Relic, a film that is ‘about the horrors of real life’, in which her
character’s mother suffers from dementia. As an independent feature from a young female writer/ director, co-produced by Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s indicative of the unconventional path Mortimer has successfully managed to tread, segueing from bona fide Hollywood – Woody Allen’s Match Point back in 2005, Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island alongside Leonardo Di Caprio (2010) and the recent HBO hit series The Newsroom by ubercreator Aaron Sorkin – to low-budget films like The Bookshop (2017), an adaptation of the 1978 novel by Penelope Fitzgerald. Along the way she met her husband, American actor Alessandro Nivola, on the set of Kenneth Branagh’s Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000). Does she feel that the freedom of leaving England has given her a more fearless approach to life and the roles she takes? ‘Maybe,’ she ponders. ‘Your attitudes to everything change the whole time, as your life changes and you get older. It’s hard because you don’t feel like you ever really learn: with every job you start from the beginning, you come to a new country, don’t know anyone and have never worked with the director before or done a similar role. I’ve been in this industry 30 years but I still don’t feel like a professional – that’s probably what’s appealing about it.’ Despite her modest assertions, Mortimer’s career at ‘mid-age’ seems only to be in the ascendant: Mary Poppins Returns will be her sixth film set for release in 2018. Does she sense a sea change in attitudes to women in film or is she having to fight as hard as ever for nuanced and complex female roles? ‘Yes, I think there’s a major shift in attitudes to the point that it’s a good time to be a woman. Women filmmakers are becoming more supported, with producers willing to take more risks on female stories and telling them from that perspective, rather than seeing it as niche.’ ‘I am producing things too,’ she continues, in
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Dress, Galia Lahav. Artichoke ring set in white gold, with emeralds, pink sapphires, amethysts and tsavorite; necklace set in white gold with diamonds, both Chopard
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Dress and coat, Elie Saab
‘The money-people want to find women writers and directors but I do worry that it could be a fad and that in a year’s time those projects won’t be being green-lit’
reference to King Bee Productions, the company she founded with her husband. ‘We have a first-look deal with eOne studios, and the money-people want to find women writers and directors, but I do worry that it could be a fad and that in a year’s time those projects won’t be being green-lit.’ This recent change in direction has given Mortimer a new-found confidence and grounding, exploring untapped facets of herself. ‘It’s been a good way of combating the perpetual infantalising that happens as an actor. You start to buy into that and believe you are incapable of anything apart from standing on set and saying your lines,’ she says. One of these projects was Doll & Em, the series Mortimer wrote, produced and starred in with her best friend, Dolly Wells, which won a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic and explores the taboo subject of female jealousy between close friends. (‘It’s not autobiographical,’ she quips.) ‘Doing Doll & Em gave me more confidence,’ she agrees. ‘I don’t have a good business head but I love having an idea with other people, taking something from nothing and making something happen from it. I think that’s endlessly cool and creative.’ A second series is looming, and now that Wells has moved close to where Mortimer lives in Brooklyn, ‘my husband says I can’t complain about missing England any more’. So did filming Mary Poppins with an ensemble cast of big British names – Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke (back in cameo) – feel like a homecoming of sorts? ‘Yes! I stayed with
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Silk top, trousers and leather skirt, Valentino. Pendant with chain in rose gold with diamonds; ring from the Happy Diamonds collection in rose gold with diamonds, both Chopard
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Dress, Ralph & Russo Haute Joaillerie ring, Chopard
‘Emily Blunt was wonderful, the sweetest. She is an incredible, effortless singer and used to tease me, standing behind me as my whole body tensed up before having to hit my notes’
my mum in the house I grew up in outside Henley, and went to Shepperton studios each day. Rob [Marshall] was the perfect person to make this film; he just wanted everyone, even the actors on set, to be entertained and to feel the extreme magic, life and laughter of what was going on. We all need escapism from the world outside.’ Mortimer chats easily and her conversation is peppered with anecdotes: ‘I have a tiny duet to sing with Lin-Manuel [Miranda] and I’m so nervous. You find yourself in a rehearsal room with a whole lot of Disney execs and Meryl Streep in the corner and my strangled voice forcing out these notes. Emily [Blunt] was so wonderful though, the sweetest. She is an incredible, effortless singer and used to tease me, standing behind me as my whole body tensed up before having to hit my notes.’ London meant making her usual pilgrimage to the Wolseley – ‘Dad’s favourite place on earth, so I visit it for sentimental reasons’ – and then dragging her young children to the National Portrait Gallery. ‘I do it every year, they know the classical gallery now off by heart.’ While Mortimer seems to have eluded the pigeonholing that once so depressed her, she’s retained a down-to-earth charm. I ask if there’s one role or director she feels is missing in her oeuvre. ‘I would have loved to be in a Truffaut film. And I guess I’ve never played a really nasty piece of work. I’ve played people off their rocker, but not really nasty. I would like to try that!’ n
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Dress, Mary Katrantzou.Shoes, Rupert Sanderson. Emerald-cut aquamarine ring in platinum with diamonds; diamond drop earrings in platinum and 18k rose gold with white and pink diamonds; diamond floral bracelet in platinum, all Tiffany & Co
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Top, shirt and feather scarf, Miu Miu. Artichoke ring set in white gold, featuring emeralds, pink sapphires, amethysts and tsavorite, Chopard
LOCATION With thanks to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel TEAM Stylist’s assistant: Shade Huntley Photographer’s assistants: Oscar Yoosefinejad & Jack Kenyon Hair: Earl Simms @ Caren Makeup: Polly Osmond at Premier Hair and Make-up using Sisley Cosmetics and Skincare Nails: Robbie Tomkins at Premier Hair and Make-up using Armani Beauty and Skincare STOCKISTS: PAGE 112
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ON LOCATION
The grand St Pancras Renaissance Hotel made the perfect backdrop for our January cover shoot
FROM ABOVE: Sleep in style in a Chambers Suite; cover star Emily Mortimer gets shoot ready; the iconic St Pancras International Station is nearby; the famous Grand Staircase; stop for tea in the Hansom Lounge; Sir George Gilbert Scott designed the façade
LOCATION: The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel is situated in the ever-buzzy King’s Cross, just a few minutes’ walk from St Pancras International Station as well as some of London’s best bars, restaurants, museums and galleries – the perfect spot for a weekend city break or a luxurious pre-Paris stopover. INTERIORS: Behind the neo-Gothic façade designed by the legendary Sir George Gilbert Scott lies a wonderland of architecture and interior design. A recent restoration brought the hotel back to all its Gothic glory, with intricate metalwork, gold leaf ceilings and dramatic velvets – and the iconic Victorian staircase (of Spice Girls fame) is as glorious as ever.
JOIN THE CLUB: The hotel has 245 rooms, including 38 historical Chambers Suites which ooze lavish Victorian grandeur and grant guests access to the exclusive Chambers Club. Enquire within to find out more. RESTAURANTS: From creative cocktails in King’s Cross station’s original ticket office to haute cuisine at Marcus Wareing’s Gilbert Scott restaurant, each of the hotel’s four drinking and dining destinations has its own distinct charm. WELLBEING: Escape the hustle and bustle of the big city at the St Pancras Spa, hidden away in the hotel’s original steam kitchens. Traditional Victorian tiling and brick archways set the scene for the ultimate pampering session, starting in the eucalyptus steam room and relaxation pool and followed by an ultra-luxurious treatment to restore harmony and wellbeing. Rooms starting from £249. stpancrasrenaissance.com
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HOW TO What would you buy with £6m? JEREMY TAYLOR
A house, a horse or a sports car – how would you spend your fortune?
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O SPEND IT asks the experts how to have fun with a major windfall Photography JESSICA TALBOT-PONSONBY
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T
he hard work’s been done and the cash is in the bank, so what’s the best way to enjoy that six-figure sum burning a hole in your back pocket? Horses, cars, jewellery or property – when money is no object sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. After the round-the-world cruise, his and hers Rolex watches and a new wardrobe of clothes, what would you do with such a life-changing injection of money? We invite four experts to get together and argue their case. Whatever their personal preference, everyone agrees it should be about having fun rather than just an investment… HORSES: The last of the racegoers has just left the bar at The Swan in Lavenham. It’s a 20-minute flight by helicopter to the headquarters of British horse racing at Newmarket, where a small fortune will be won and lost at the October meetings. The helicopters have been to-and-froing all morning. The 14th-century, black and white timbered hotel in Suffolk is a firm favourite with horsey types. In the 19th century it flourished as a staging post, with stabling for 50 horses. During World War II, it became a popular haunt for bomber and fighter pilots, who no doubt enjoyed a flutter too. Our experts are sat with me around a cosy open fire. Jimmy George is marketing director at Tattersalls, the country’s leading auctioneers of racehorses. A year ago, a four-year-old filly became the highest-priced horse sold at European auction. It changed hands for £6.3m at the company’s Newmarket headquarters. ‘When people are spending that level of money on a horse it is like piecing together a jigsaw,’ says Jimmy. ‘It’s a matter of physical shape and pedigree that determines the final price but there are no guarantees a foal or yearling will go on and perform in a race. ‘Horses are a very inexact science and that’s the beauty of it. We sell horses from £800 upwards, so you don’t have to be a billionaire to feel the excitement. All owners lose more races than they win – which makes each victory all the sweeter.’ Jimmy says buying a horse isn’t for the inexperienced and recommends a bloodstock agent. ‘You really have to know
FROM ABOVE: A racehorse can bring life-changing winnings; McLarens’ first 2013 electricpetrol hypercar is now insured for £4m, and rising; Badgers at Dunmow in Essex is an example of recessionproof property investment, says Knight Frank; Boodles 2020 Year Anniversary necklace has soon-to-beextinct pink diamonds
your stuff but the rewards of bagging a bargain that then goes on to be a champion are immense.’ Hugo Palmer is one of the country’s leading racehorse trainers. Also based in Newmarket, he started training with 11 inexpensive horses in 2011 and has enjoyed a steady stream of success ever since. ‘Buying a racehorse is all about the joy and pleasure of ownership. It’s about the dream of your horse going on to be a champion and making a lot of money,’ says Hugo. ‘It’s also a gamble and I always say that you should never gamble more than you are prepared to lose.’ There’s plenty of money to be made from buying and selling horses – but you need experience and a keen eye to pick a winner. ‘I think that’s why many people buy into syndicates. It spreads the cost and increases your chances of success across several horses.’ Does it work? Hugo trained Covert Love, a filly that cost around £30,000 and was owned by a syndicate. ‘We look after horses for sheiks and royalty but one of that syndicate was a primary school teacher. Covert Love won the Irish Oaks and the Prix de l’Opéra at Longchamp. The prize money paid off at least one of the syndicate’s mortgages.’ SUPERCARS: The P1 supercar registration P100V is one of the best-known McLarens ever built. In 2013, it was the first of the Surrey-based company’s electric-petrol hypercars, unveiled to the public at Goodwood Festival of Speed by former F1 world champion, Jenson Button.
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Jeremy Clarkson then thrashed it around a racetrack for Top Gear. Jolyon Nash, the company’s executive director of sales, explained P100V’s illustrious driver history had only added to the car’s value. ‘McLaren built just 375 examples of the P1, which created exclusivity. P100V is insured for £4m but there’s no doubt it will top £6m in the course of time.’ That’s not a bad return for a car that originally cost £866,000 in 2013 and has already covered 24,000 miles. So how can you get your hands on a rock solid four-wheeled investment that is also lots of fun to drive? It helps if you are one of the McLaren ‘family’. ‘Our dealers around the world know the customers who are interested in this kind of car. We don’t encourage people who want to keep them locked away just as an investment – we know most owners actually prefer to drive our cars and enjoy them.’ As if to prove the point, the all-new McLaren Speedtail was unveiled in October at a shade over £2m. Just 106 of these 250mph road cars will be built, and they were all sold out before any of the ‘family’ had even seen a photograph. ‘Unlike a horse, even if a car is badly damaged it can usually be re-built,’ says Jolyon. ‘My advice is to buy something that is first and foremost fun. If it also goes up in value then that’s an added bonus.’ PROPERTY: Rupert Sweeting is the first to admit that property sales across the UK have
suffered during 2018, especially in London. But the head of country sales at Knight Frank says the right country house is still a blue-chip investment. ‘There will always be market fluctuations but a beautiful house will hold its value in the long run. No property is ever perfect so it’s crucial a house is realistically priced and vendors understand the market.’ Among Rupert’s prime locations at the moment are regions close to the capital such as Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, all doing well despite the uncertainty over Brexit and the economy. Badgers at Dunmow in Essex is a 12-bedroom country house set in 47 acres of glorious gardens and parkland. Built 15 years ago, it is a ten-mile drive to Bishop’s Stortford railway station and then just 38 minutes by train to central London. The mini estate is on the market for £5.95m. Complete with swimming pool, tennis court, stabling and accommodation for staff, it ticks many boxes. ‘Our international buyers in particular are looking for the perfect package. Properties that have everything are very desirable – Badgers has it all,’ adds Rupert. In the end, our experts all agree to disagree but the fun factor is top of everybody’s list. And with £6m to play with, surely there’s enough to enjoy a little bit of everything? n theswanlavenham.co.uk; hugopalmer.com; tattersalls.com; knightfrank.com; mclaren.com
ALL THAT SPARKLES…
Are diamonds forever? Michael Wainwright likes to think so. The managing director of Boodles believes all jewellery should be worn and not locked away in a safe. ‘Buying jewellery is a very personal thing. ‘People want a store they can trust, they want the relationship – they want the whole experience to be a very lovely thing.’ Boodles was established in 1798 and the Wainwright family first joined the company at the start of the 20th century. Originally based in Liverpool, it has expanded to become a major global brand with a flagship store in New Bond Street. ‘All diamonds are a good asset but pink diamonds are an especially good buy at the moment because the 80 per cent of the world supply comes from mines in Australia and they will be extinct by 2021.’ As with all major investments, Mr Wainwright says there are no guarantees with jewellery. ‘Our pieces are sold to be worn and not locked away in a safe. It’s important to buy a piece you love because that is just adding pleasure. ‘Even the wealthiest people don’t buy jewellery every day, so it’s important to choose something that matches your taste.’ boodles.com
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LONDON CALLING
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Reach beyond the rhetoric and you’ll find canny investors hedging their bets on whether London can still field major power play, deal or no deal, says CHRISTOPHER SILVESTER
London is still attracting global financial investment, contrary to the forecasts of post-Brexit doom-mongers
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more than anything else to cause this. ‘We may have lost a few international bankers due to the uncertainty of the financial services sector,’ said Trevor Abrahmsohn of north London estate agency Glentree Estates in a blog in August, ‘but the changes to non-dom fiscal rules are the real culprit here’. Departing bankers have been victims of ‘the existing draconian residency arrangements imposed by the former Chancellor’. What is more, Osborne’s stamp duty changes introduced in late 2014 mean that buyers paying more than £1m face a huge additional burden when they purchase a property. While prices in the prime residential market in London have fallen back, canny foreign investors are buying into the capital’s property market. I don’t mean individual foreign buyers attracted by the fall in the value of sterling since the EU referendum in June 2016, but
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES
A
nyone opening a newspaper or checking the news online during the past year would be forgiven for thinking that Britain, and London in particular, are going to hell in a handcart, all because of Brexit. Some Europeans, desperately jealous of London’s pre-eminence among European capitals, have been driven to write silly articles that run us down. One such example is Jann Fleischhauer, a columnist for Germany’s Der Spiegel, writing (for a captive audience of Remainers) in the Guardian at the beginning of November: ‘First the trucks will be jammed all the way to Wales, because the borders are back. Then the fuel will run out at filling stations and medicines will run out in pharmacies. And once all the Polish plumbers have gone home, there will be nobody to call when the toilet gets blocked. So there you are: left in your water-damaged homes, without fuel and aspirins, but with extremely bad-tempered Russians as neighbours. And they will realise they have invested far too much money in the English real estate market and will be incensed because their investments are going down the drain.’ No doubt Fleischhauer was exaggerating to make a point, but prognostications of doom like this should not be heeded. I doubt if any Russians living in London will have any difficulty in finding a plumber after Brexit, Polish or otherwise. It’s not just Europeans who have been running London down. In April 2017, the New York Times published an essay by Sarah Lyall, its former London correspondent, under the provocative title ‘Will London Fall?’. It seemed to rely on the opinions of a handful of people she’d interviewed as they stepped off the Eurostar at St Pancras International and it was savaged by several commentators, notably Dr Gerard Lyons, chief economic strategist at Netwealth Investments, who pointed to London’s key strengths: ‘It is the biggest city in Western Europe, with the highest number of skilled jobs of any city in the world. Its diverse vibrant economy includes the City, law and consultancy. Paris or Frankfurt can’t easily steal this business from us as it is hard to replicate the infrastructure, skills, knowledge and experience found here. Indeed, there is a growing acceptance that London will remain Europe’s financial centre even after Brexit’. In point of fact, all that fuss about how many City jobs might be lost to Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin seems to have evaporated. Last year, the estimate was bandied around that 100,000 banking and insurance jobs would migrate to continental Europe. Since then, that number has gradually been whittled down and is now reckoned to be about 5,000, which will be more than compensated by expansion in other areas of financial services. The total number of people employed in the City of London is 483,000 and growing. George Osborne, now editor of the Evening Standard, has been keen to blame Brexit for the fall in prime property prices in central London. But it was Osborne’s 2014 ‘reforms’ that did
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PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES
major strategic players who are looking to to London’s longterm prospects for growth. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is celebrated for investing in solid US brands such as Coca-Cola and Gillette. In the same way, Buffett understands that London will continue to be a powerhouse, regardless of Brexit. In September 2018, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices joined forces with Marylebone-based estate agency Kay & Co and will rebrand its three London branches. (The company made a similar investment in the Berlin property market this year.) Gino Blefari, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, says: ‘London has been among our highest priorities as a key centre for international business and an attractive market for global capital looking to invest in property.’ Major international service businesses have already announced that they are expanding operations in London,
FROM LEFT: Billionaire Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is investing in London by partnering with luxury estate agent Kay & Co; other US magnates treating the capital like a prime Monopoly board are the Stephens and Van Tuyl families, backers of the Firethorn Trust, which invests in UK real estate
in some cases driving regeneration in specific areas. ‘We believe there will be a surge of home buyer interest in areas across central London, driven by the arrival of Twitter in Soho, Instagram and Snap in Fitzrovia, and Google and Facebook in King’s Cross,’ says Martin Bikhit, managing director of Kay & Co. Buffett is not the only US billionaire who favours the prospects of prime London property. The Firethorn Trust is backed by two wealthy US family concerns, the Stephens family, who own an Arkansas-based investment bank, and the Van Tuyl family, who owned the fifth-biggest car dealership in the US until they sold out to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in 2014. ‘Brexit in its current status causes uncertainty,’ Peter Mather, one of the Firethorn Trust’s founding partners, told Bloomberg. ‘The uncertainty causes volatility, and the volatility causes opportunity.’ The trust, with initial capital of £200m, has already made January 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 79
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its first investment, buying for £26m the site of Quay House in Canary Wharf, which it intends to develop as a luxury hotel for business travellers. ‘South Quay is a highly desirable part of London and is a perfect first acquisition for Firethorn Trust as we look to build a longterm and diverse portfolio,’ said Maher at the time of the acquisition in October 2018. Again, Trevor Abrahmsohn wrote in his company blog in August that his agency had sold homes totalling £371m during the past 18 months, ‘and 50 per cent of it is directly associated with our devalued currency’. Given that sterling’s value against other major currencies has dropped between ten and 20 per cent since the EU referendum, Abrahmsohn says that if there were a ‘no deal’ exit from the European Union in 2019 the pound would fall to parity against the euro and dollar, which would ‘render inward investment even cheaper for international purchasers of UK property’. For this reason Abrahmsohn believes that Brexit has had
PHOTO: REX FEATURES
ABOVE: France’s President Emmanuel Macron has tried to lure UK fintech startups to Paris with the promise of ¤50bn in state investment, but investment in UK fintechs actually doubled in the year after the Brexit vote and the country now employs as many people in the industry as Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia combined
a neutral or positive effect on the property market, not a negative one. Immediately after the EU referendum, Traxpay, a leading German payments platform, tweeted: ‘London has committed suicide as a leading fintech [financial technology] centre’. Berlin began promoting itself to London’s fintech startups, urging them to move to the continent. Few have followed the call. Since then, France’s President Macron has taken up the cry, urging fintech startups to head for Paris, dangling the lure of €50bn in state investment before their eyes. Nonetheless, London remains Europe’s pre-eminent fintech centre. ‘With London’s cluster spinning off into cities across the UK, there are now more than 60,000 people employed across a sector worth $16bn, accounting for 40 per cent of the value of all fintechs across Europe,’ says David Duffy, chief executive of CYBG and a UK government fintech envoy. ‘The UK has strengths in many areas vital to creating a thriving fintech ecosystem.’ Not only does it have a supportive regulatory regime, but capital pools run deep here. Venture capital investment in UK fintechs actually more than doubled in the year after the Brexit vote to $1.8bn, versus an 18 per cent decrease outside the UK, according to Innovate Finance. We also have a deep pool of skills. The UK employs as many people in fintech as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia combined.’ Beyond fintech, if you take business startups in general, London continues to lead Europe, ahead of Berlin and Paris. Even if that crown were to be snatched, we would still be generating significant new business. Perhaps it should be of more concern to those of us who live in London to consider what sort of city it will be by 2050. Do we want it to go on growing unchecked? In January 2016, Lord True, the Conservative peer and former leader of Richmond Council, pointed out that upper-end projections foresee London’s population growing from 8.5 million to 13 million and that this would require the building of some 200,000 homes, equivalent to two new boroughs the size of Sutton or Kingston. While the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, opposes limits to the capital’s population, True believes that popular consent should be sought for such a huge enlargement, stating: ‘We need to know if the public wants to see broad limits on the growth of the population and the overall size of London’. n
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CLASS ASSETS
What have some of our favourite movers and shakers invested in recently and what do they have their eye on for 2019? ROSALYN WIKELEY finds out Could Alexandra one day be the proud owner of David Yarrow’s The Good, The Bad & The Ass?
GIOVANNI RASPINI ARCHITECT, SILVERSMITH & JEWELLERY DESIGNER
ALEXANDRA PISANI EVENTS & WEDDING PLANNER
Three things you invested in during 2018? A Dyson Airwrap that curls hair using only air and no heat. My partner and I have just bought a house and both have very demanding jobs so we invested in an interior designer (Icon Architects in Fulham) and have never looked back. Lastly, I’m in avid fan of Baccarat crystal and recently bought a set of their Milles Nuits champagne flutes. Your jammiest investment so far? A Maltese puppy named Coconut Tyson – the cutest little bundle of joy! What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? A David Yarrow image (if I play my cards right): The Good, The Bad & The Ass (2016). While this is one of his staged pieces, the way in which Yarrow mixes the raw beauty of the wilderness with human interaction is compelling. What would you say is a one-to-watch brand/industry? I discovered Equi nutritional supplements earlier this year and they are definitely on my list of companies to watch for 2019.
Alexandra is a big fan of Baccarat’s Milles Nuits flutes
Three things you invested in during 2018? The only real luxury is time. So after a busy month I flew to a Greek island to take full advantage of the Epicurean philosophy. A second investment came in the form of a new Vespa, enabling me to explore, which led me to my third investment – 150 bottles of wine from a vineyard I stumbled upon. Your jammiest investment so far? Some years ago I fell in love with a medieval tower on the verge of collapse. It took me three years to accomplish the job, but when I climb up its six storeys and see Montepulciano, Pienza and Montalcino before me, it’s all worth it. What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? I’m going to invest in my company, which I’ve been running for over 30 years. I’m designing more and more. We’re currently trying to replicate a bronze model of Nautilus, Captain Nemo’s submarine, adorned with jewels, objects and works of art, mirabilia and paraphernalia. You’ll see! What would you say is a one-to-watch brand/industry? An industrialist with an affinity for Greek philosophy, culture and art who restored a small village called Solomeo. His own brand has reached dizzying heights. His name is Brunello Cucinelli.
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LEVISON WOOD EXPLORER & ADVENTURER
Levison bought a Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster in 2018
detoxing. I turn my phone off at 6pm, do yoga in my living room, have an early dinner and a night of bathing and reading before lights out. Your jammiest investment so far? A beautifully crafted bathtub to last a lifetime. It has been on my dream list for years and you’ll find me in it at least three times a week. I do all my thinking in the bath. Veg planters delivered What are you hoping to invest in in a bountiful yield 2019? My boyfriend and I bought for Melissa a decrepit Victorian property in 2016 that we have been doing up. We have used eco materials where we can, including doors and the kitchen island made from recycled paper composite, and we’re hoping to invest in solar panels next year. MELISSA HEMSLEY COOK & AUTHOR What would you say is a one-to-watch brand/ industry? The ‘zero waste’ industry. Three things you invested in during 2018? Growing up Gardening! Including veg planters with an made of recycled army dad milk jugs. I had and Filipino my own tomatoes, Catholic mum, I’ve peppers, chillis, courgettes, absolutely absorbed rocket and herbs galore all their thrifty outlook summer. It was by far my best A beautifully-crafted bathtub like and ability to find investment. I also overhauled this one from Catchpole & Rye is a way to save my make-up bag with natural where Melissa does her thinking and reuse organic beauty brands. And everything. lastly, I invested in digital
Three things you invested in during 2018? I bought a new flat in Battersea Power Station, which is right on the river and has a good vibe with all the local restaurants and bars. I bought some shares in a company called Senseon, which does cyber security. But my finest investment has been a new Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster motorcycle – endless summer joy. Your jammiest investment so far? I’m a big collector of antiques, first edition books and curious objects. I have a library teeming with bits I’ve brought back from my travels, including a sword from the battle of Omdurman, some Megaladon teeth from Panama and ancient coins dating back to the time of Alexander the Great. What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? I’m interested in investing in a bit of land and maybe a cottage in the countryside. It will mean that I’ll finally be able to get a dog. What would you say is a one-towatch brand/industry? Having just established my own production company, called Blackmane Media, I’m a little biased. There are lots of new and exciting platforms out there with the proliferation of SVODs (subscription video on demand) and short form content is continually needed. Tech has really disrupted traditional media, which has ruffled a few feathers, but ultimately, for the entrepreneur, opportunity awaits.
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An African-style rug is on Melissa’s wish list
THEO FENNELL JEWELLER
Three things you invested in during 2018? Drawings, one by Dame Laura Knight. I love English late 19th and 20th century art, and good drawings are pretty much all I can afford – much better than bad paintings. Your jammiest investment so far? Over the years I have bought signed first editions of contemporary writers as they come out. I am now so old that quite a few of these have risen madly in price. What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? More pictures and books, if I can. But anything done with real skill, elegance and passion will always appreciate as there is so little of it being made now. What would you say is a one-to-watch brand/industry? There is a huge move towards really original and beautifully made work – anything brilliant and distinctive that can be commissioned. So I would say, obviously, something of ours or a picture by a great contemporary artist like Jenny Saville, who will always remain sought-after. Jenny Saville, Ruben’s Flap Oil on canvas, 1998-99
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, DAVIDYARROW.PHOTOGRAPHY, SIMON BUXTON; ©JENNY SAVILLE AND GAGOSIAN WITH THANKS TO THE GEORGE ECONOMOU COLLECTION WHOSE JENNY SAVILLE EXHIBITION CONTINUES UNTIL 22 MARCH 2019
MELISSA PERCY FOUNDER OF CLOTHING BRAND MISTAMINA
Three things you invested in during 2018? A Rag & Bone tuxedostyle blazer – a wardrobe staple. A Reiss black jumpsuit that is effortlessly elegant with its flattering cut and looks killer when teamed with heels. But my top investment has to be a suede bomber jacket from Acne Studios. It goes with anything. Your jammiest investment so far? This would have to be a beautiful walnut coffee table that I recently bought at auction in New York. There is a real sense of achievement from successfully bidding on an item at auction, especially at a great price! What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? I’ve recently moved to a new home so I would like to invest in interiors pieces that will bring my own identity to the place. I love finding little trinkets but top of the list is sourcing the ideal Africanprint rug to go with the overall feel of the house. What would you say is a oneto-watch brand/industry? Baar & Bass, a lifestyle boutique on King’s Road. It’s the creation of a good friend of mine, Maddie Chesterton, who has impressive buying skills Melissa has invested in an Acne bomber jacket and a real eye for a good collection. 84 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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LUKE EDWARD HALL ARTIST & DESIGNER OF INTERIORS, FABRICS & CERAMICS
Three things you invested in during 2018? Plates from Richard Ginori. I bought ones with a classic oriental pattern but the colourway (emerald and navy blue) is kind of unusual. And a Venetian wool cape (which I’ll count as two things). It hasn’t arrived yet but I know it’ll make me blissfully happy, being able to swish around the city come the bleak midwinter. Your jammiest investment so far? My boyfriend Duncan bought a Mercedes convertible from the 1980s – we love this particular car and have had a couple in the past. It’s ridiculously expensive to run but there’s nothing better than cruising around in it on a hot summer’s day in the countryside, top down, music blaring... What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? We would love to start renting a small place in the country. We want to grow vegetables and keep chickens. What would you say is a one-towatch brand/industry? It’s not a new idea, but invest in art. I’m an artist and I enjoy collecting from other young artists like my friend Fee Greening, who creates beautiful illustrations of people, plants, insects and jewels.
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES, DAVIDYARROW.PHOTOGRAPHY, SIMON BUXTON; ©JENNY SAVILLE AND GAGOSIAN WITH THANKS TO THE GEORGE ECONOMOU COLLECTION WHOSE JENNY SAVILLE EXHIBITION CONTINUES UNTIL 22 MARCH 2019
The Sugar Plum Fairy, by Fee Greening
TESSA PACKARD JEWELLER
Three things you invested in during 2018? A new Härkila winter coat and matching thermal trousers, an antique architectural model of a castle made from wood and four 1950s pigeon decoys from the Decorative Art Fair. They each come attached to a metal stand and look like bobbing manta rays. Your jammiest investment so far? I found about 300 pieces of marble fruit, from crab apples to perfectly formed peaches, in a tiny shop in Florence. The owner said he’d had the fruit for years but couldn’t sell them and they were taking up too much space in his storeroom. I cut the deal of a century by offering to take the whole job lot off his hands. What are you hoping to invest in in 2019? I still have a few empty walls in my house and am always on the Keep warm in lookout for paintings or prints that might work. a Härkila jacket What would you say is a one-to-watch brand/industry? Adventure holidays, definitely. No one ever regrets those.
PLACE YOUR BETS, PLEASE If you’re after a fast buck, take note as private betting club Fitzdares gives us its informed predictions for the year ahead. ‘When politics are volatile (Brexit, an early election, dissent in the US and Saudi Arabia) people look to sport and entertainment for release and there are plenty of distractions there. For the Oscars, we can’t help but tip Lady Gaga for A Star Is Born and Rami Malek for his standout performance as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. Cheltenham is Cheltenham and the money’s (already) flooding in for Altior. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were lacking form in Vegas but they always bring something special to the Masters – mind you, they’ll have to dodge Koepka and Spieth! For lawn sports, bets are on Serena Williams, who has buckets to prove after the US Open debacle, and Wimbledon is the perfect arena to win hearts and minds. The flat season will start with all eyes on two horses: Enable and Lord Lloyd Webber’s Too Darn Hot. With John Gosden at the top of his game and Frankie Dettori nearing retirement, the 2019 season could be Hollywood through and through… In politics, all bets are off. Needless to say, find the prices on the Fitzdares app. For financial investments, there are three themes: hunker down, be defensive and go green. We have a focus on one of the most exciting market themes of today, that of the green economy, particularly energy and resource efficiency and renewables. For us, now is not the time to be paying up for growth potential, but rather to be hunkering down with as high-quality and defensive a portfolio as possible.’ fitzdares.com n
Fitzdares tips Lady Gaga to take home an Oscar this year
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BEST DRESSER
Take a peek inside Lucy Watson’s bespoke walk-in wardrobe of dreams, and start gathering ideas for your own...
W
ho hasn’t always dreamed of having their very own walk-in wardrobe, neatly brimming with designer clothes, shoes and accessories? We may not be able to help with the latter, but Neatsmith are the go-to for that wardrobe of dreams… Neatsmith is a family-run business specialising in the manufacture, supply and installation of luxury bespoke wardrobes, studies and accompanying furniture. Established over ten years ago, they’ve become the byword for storage excellence in London, renowned for their outstanding quality, design and service. From conception to creation, the team collaborate extensively with each client to match personal needs and ideas with their strong designs, boundless creativity and experience. After various design consultations, the designers will turn your ideas into 3D drawings so you can visualise them in your home, before making each design exactingly by hand using the finest materials available. And they were the top choice for TV personality and fashionista Lucy Watson when she decided her everexpanding wardrobe was in need of its own dedicated,
stylish and organised space. Neatsmith and Lucy Watson worked together to transform her spare room into the walk-in wardrobe of her dreams, complete with smart storage solutions and unique personal touches. All Neatsmith wardrobes are completely bespoke to each client, custom-made to their specifications and tailored to their every need down to the smallest detail. Whether sliding, walk-in or hinged wardrobes, the team of expert designers is known for its innovative solutions to all spaces, whether large or small. In order to best showcase Lucy’s wide collection of clothing and accessories, while also storing them all in a neat and stylish way, the Neatsmith team designed a made-to-measure wardrobe featuring bespoke heights for different garment sizes, glass shelving for handbags and accessories, angled shoe shelves with LED lighting for a spotlight on Lucy’s favourite footwear, as well as custom drawer dividers to fit all of Lucy’s sunglasses (and take it from us, she has a lot!). A white walk-in wardrobe is often the most stylish and best backdrop for making clothes the focus of the room, and the team jazzed up Lucy’s by incorporating coloured decorative
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PROMOTION
‘I really enjoyed the whole process of designing my wardrobe with Neatsmith, from start to finish they were so helpful and had lots of creative input. I couldn’t be happier with the final result, it’s the walk-in wardrobe I always dreamed of having!’ LUCY WATSON glass drawer fronts into the design. Now, she can scan her envy-inducing collection in the blink of an eye, making coordinating that much easier in the morning… Feeling inspired? Head to one of Neatsmith’s five standalone stores in London (Hampstead, Hatch End, Teddington, Brentwood and the newly opened flagship showroom on the King’s Road in Chelsea) to take a look at the vast array of examples on display and chat to the helpful teams as a first step towards designing your dream wardrobe. Leave your brief in their capable hands, and you can focus on the second most exciting part of the process – working on that designer clothing and shoe collection to go inside. neatsmith.co.uk; 0800 1956 595
Lucy Watson called on the experts at Neatsmith to create her dream walk-in wardrobe
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C&TH
THE INSIDER INTERIORS · LIVING · DESIGN
FLOWER SHOW Syringa Vulgaris – the common lilac – looks anything but D-list in full bloom for the Botanica collection at Cole & Son. The wallpaper company, founded in 1875, creates hand-blocked designs which feature in houses around the world, including Buckingham Palace. And don’t let a bold design be a drag anchor on creativity – interior decorator Rita Konig advises not to ‘pigeonhole florals to bedrooms’. Use wherever they please you most. cole-and-son.com
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THE INSIDER SEAT OF YEARNING You can catch the Anni Albers exhibition at Tate Modern until the end of January, or head to Christopher Farr for this interpretation of one of her designs on a Julian Chichester chair. £150 p/m. christopherfarrcloth.com
ROYAL COMPANY This hand-carved mirror frame is a reproduction of a 17th-century style hanging in a gallery at Althorp House. £2,850 in aged wood or choose a gilded option. percevaldesigns.co.uk
INTERIORS
DESIGN NOTES News and inspiration from the world of interiors. By Carole Annett
IN THE FRAME
There’s a hint of Mad Men about this chair – I can see Don Draper lounging back, whisky in hand. Honore Croisette bottle green armchair, £610. smallable.com
FLOOR SHOW
Rugs ground the design scheme of a room. This chunky design, Atlas III, is from Jennifer Manners. 210 x 355cm, £3,193. jennifermanners.co.uk
GLOSSY INLAY Black and white spells elegance, especially in marble. Dama cabinet from Citco Privé collection, POA. citco.it
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
Invest in a good quality oven and it will last longer than most relationships. Everhot 110, from £8,775. everhot.co.uk
GOOD FORTUNY
It doesn’t get much better – sumptuous silk and new shoes. These Fortunycovered slippers are a take on those worn by Venetian gondoliers. Cabana x Papiro mule, £450 a pair. lemondeberyl.com 90 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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WORD UP
GOOD YARN
Say your thank yous
GOLDEN GRAIN When buying a wall light, consider the shadow it throws when on. This will have a burst of sunshine. Wheatsheaf wall light, £625. beaumontandfletcher.com
Carolyn Lindsell and Dylan O’Shea of A Rum Fellow traverse the globe in search of unique textiles. The stories on their website are as engaging as the pieces to buy. Tati flatweave rug, 275 x 185cm, £1,655. arumfellow.com
BRIGHT OUTLOOK
Cushions in Blithfield’s Circles and Squares linen, a Peggy Angus archive design. £98 p/m. blithfield.co.uk
MUG SHOP
I’m a shopaholic when it comes to drinking vessels – can never have enough. Hidden London teal mug, £9.99, London Transport Museum shop. ltmuseumshop.co.uk
ZIG AND ZAG
1 Gold die-stamped card and tissue-lined envelope, £3.50. barnardandwestwood.com 2 Bespoke card, made to order by Naomi and Alice Howarth, POA. kinship-press.com 3 Josie Shenoy card, £2.65. theartfile.com/shop/greeting-cards 4 Peacock notelet and envelope, £26 for ten. smythson.com 5 Rifle notelets, £16.95 for eight. selfridges.com 6 Merci card by Luke Edward Hall, £30 for 20. papier.com
Green squiggles, like fir trees on a hillside – Ranch, from the Mismi collection at Linwood, £79.90 p/m. linwoodfabric.com
DESIGNER’S EYE After a career in menswear for Pierre Cardin, Pierre Yavanovitch turned his talent to interiors. Alice breakfast table from OOPS collection, POA. r-and-company.com
INSPIRED BY TRAVEL The Japan collection from de Le Cuona reminds me of ancient parchment. Handmade felted throw, £830, and cushion, £280, exclusive to the new SW1 showroom. delecuona.com
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THE INSIDER
FOCUS
BED TIME ‘There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep,’ wrote Homer in The Odyssey. Bedroom ideas for when the day’s talking is done
1
2
3
4
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1 Felicity Irons of Rush Matters was commissined to create the natural headboard for this bedroom at Heckfield Place in Hampshire (rushmatters.co.uk). 2 Loaf’s cowbell glass lamp looks pretty in a simple bedroom interior (loaf.com). 3 Romo Wisteria, from Romo’s Gardenia collection, creates an elegant bed frame (romo.com). 4 Osborne and Little wallpaper hand-coloured by Norfolk artist Tony Allen in a scheme by Kelling Designs (kellingdesigns.com). 5 Osmunda frond by Soane, along with the company’s rattan lamp bases and side tables in an elegant country house bedroom (soane.co.uk). 92 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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COMPETITION
THE DENBY GIVEAWAY Country & Town House has partnered with iconic British potters Denby to offer readers the chance to start 2019 with a set of brand new homeware
N
ot just for resolutions, January offers the perfect opportunity to update a home for the year ahead, whether for a full interior refresh, or smaller changes to revamp an uninspiring room. Denby’s ceramics can be enjoyed both in the kitchen and WIN, around the home, from a hand-decorated mug to WIN, WIN! house a plant, a jug that can be used to hold kitchen Two lucky utensils or flowers and hand-glazed serving plates that readers will each look stylish displayed just as they are. win a selection of pieces from Denby’s sophisticated Halo collection complements the Denby Halo existing pieces to create a contemporary table setting, range worth by incorporating two tonal glazes which result in £258, including a striking, speckled finish when fired in the kiln. The a 16-piece tableware set, range is the perfect addition to kitchen and living a beautiful tray spaces for a contemporary look in 2019. and a four-piece Designing beautiful and versatile stoneware in espresso set. England for over 200 years, the iconic British potter offers stunning pieces and collections that are styled TO ENTER by life and made to last for years to come, making Visit countryand them a considered choice for interiors buys in the new townhouse.co.uk/ year. Each piece of Denby pottery is made from local competition Derbyshire clay and touched by at least 20 pairs of and follow instructions. hands during the production process, using artisan The competition skills and knowledge to create unique ceramics. closes on 7 January 2019.
denbypottery.com
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THE INSIDER
John Lewis Yoko sideboard, £699. johnlewis.com
Ochre Surya pendant with pulley, £3,528. ochre.net
TREND
SHIVER ME TIMBERS Natural, organic and earthy – why we love wood Atmos Twisting staircase at Hide restaurant. atmosstudio.com
Front Rugs Ur Na 2 rug in beare teal green, £3,200 per sq/m. frontrugs.com
Amy Somerville Axial bookcase, £3,348. amysomerville.com
Anya Hindmarch Pencil shaving diffuser, £99. anyahindmarch.com
Angus Clyne Burr elm vase, £650. houseofbruar.com
Lapicida Perthshire porcelain panelling, £46.80 per sq/m. lapicida.com
Gemini Tiles Inwood 3D beige porcelain tiles, £49.99 per sq/m. ctdtiles.co.uk Donghia Furniture Collins table, £4,515. rubelli.com
Barn in the City Guillaume coffee table, POA. barninthecity.com Haute Déco Driftwood V lever handle, £345. hautedeco.com
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THE INSIDER
DESIGN Q&A
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
GUILLAUME ALAN
Steal Guillaume’s contacts
The Parisian designer prefers restraint to ostentation
Guillaume Alan
PRESENTS Floris. florislondon.com
What was your most recent find? On one of our recent projects in Paris, we found an old mosaic floor under the existing one. It was very beautiful with grey, bronze and old gold colours, so we kept it. It brings an incredible touch of the past to the home.
Most extravagant thing you’ve bought for your home? An impressive old olive tree I saw in Tuscany. I had it shipped to me so that I could have a part of Italy at home.
Candles Mad Et Len. farfetch.com
House warming present?
Where do you find inspiration? Walking
Beautiful art books. At the moment my favourite is Raphael (Phaidon).
my Alaskan Malamute dog in Hyde Park, because it’s peaceful and beautiful in any season.
Unsung design hero?
GLASSWARE Richard Brendon. richardbrendon.com
What’s the last piece of art you bought?
I admire Jean-Michel Frank’s work. He created the tradition of ‘décorateurs ensembliers’ by approaching spaces as a whole.
A 15th-century medieval stone head. Its shape is fascinating and the colour of the stone is magnificent, all in beige and light grey shades.
What should never see the light of day? Ostentation. I hate it. I’m all about restraint in architecture and opulence in spirit.
What would you never throw away? Photographs. They immortalise a moment, a feeling, an atmosphere, a sensation and they reawaken the senses.
Alan’s aesthetic in a recent Hyde Park townhouse project
Which designers do you have your eye on? Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and John Pawson. What do you collect? Books. I love them, particularly Taschen’s beautiful art books. A recent addition was Savile Row, with a foreword by Tom Ford. What’s beside your bed? My dog.
Little Luxuries Lalique. lalique.com
What are you currently working on? I’m particularly excited about
Walking the dog provides inspiration Classicism meets minimalism in this Parisian residence
two house projects that include the outside architecture, a new South of France hotel and a restaurant in Paris.
Furniture Guillaume Alan bespoke. guillaume-alan.com
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30/11/2018 17:41
C&TH
FOOD & TRAVEL E AT · D R I N K · E S C A P E Tahiti is more than just palm trees and coconuts – though it does those pretty well, too
ESCAPE
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
FOLLOWING IN COOK’S WAKE It’s 250 years since Captain Cook first docked the Endeavour on Tahiti’s powder-soft shores and 150 since Gauguin captured its dazzling colours. Caiti Grove discovers the island for herself
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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The green landscape of Huahine; a local fish market in Huahine; relaxing in the clear crystal waters of Taha’a island; a surfer tackles the Teahupoo Break; a guest hut overlooking the bay at Les Relais de Joséphine in Rangiroa
I
have just plunged off a surfboard onto a shoreline of black sand strewn with volcanic rocks. ‘The trick,’ my instructor Pascal Luciani tells me, ‘is to jump before you reach the beach.’ Why didn’t I think of that? Around me, children as young as four ride the breakers before neatly hopping into the swell below. ‘Tahitian children are very brave,’ says Pascal, who organises the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, gesturing at a little girl, who (like me) has waited too long to abandon her surfboard. Unlike me, she jumps up, runs back into the waves and starts paddling out for more action. Behind the beach, a mountain rises up out of the mist. A rainbow arches over the shoreline. This is the dreamy paradise discovered by Captain Cook, the first Westerner to explore the archipelago. Today, 150 years since Gauguin painted its dazzling colours, Tahiti is famous for its beauty and palm tree-strewn beaches. Once a French colony and now part of the ‘overseas collectivity’ of French Polynesia, Tahiti is ruled by its own president and assembly but still subsidised by France, which controls its justice, university education, security and defence. City dwellers in the capital Papeete tuck baguettes under their arms with an undefinable island chill, more relaxed than the most laid-back Frenchman. A few miles from our surfing destination, Papeete is a knot of enormous roads teeming with rickshaws and scooters – more urban jungle than idyllic paradise. We stay in a passable Meridien (now renamed Tahiti la Ora Beach Resort, managed by Sofitel) overlooking
the city beach. To reach the turquoise waters of a genuine idyll, a short plane hop is required to one of the smaller islands. At Huahine, the magic that overwhelmed Captain Cook finally reveals itself. The name derives from vahine, meaning woman, because of the huge mountain range that resembles a recumbent pregnant female, which is worshipped as a symbol of the island’s famed fecundity. With a population of 6,000 across eight villages, the centre, Fare, is simply a few fruit stalls set around a tiny marina. In Lake Fauna Nui, the dam provides fish using a method that’s hundreds of years old. Only descendants of Tahitian royalty can remove it. This is authentic and unspoilt Tahiti. Le Mahana Hotel sits at the foot of a mountain in Huahine, where the ruins of ancient temples lie beneath lush undergrowth. The rooms are little pavilions with roofs of thick straw and shuttered windows. Palm trees bow towards the sea and guests relax on sun loungers or paddleboard around sailing boats that bob next to a forest at the water’s edge. Guides from Poe Island Tour take us for a 4x4 circuit of the mostly deserted island – in two hours we pass just one truck transporting coconuts. Stilted waterside resort hotels abound on most of the islands but for a truly authentic stay, pensions are the Tahitian equivalent of a bed and breakfast. A pre-hotel invention of the 60s, they hosted French tourists when visitors first came to Tahiti. The good ones are great – hospitable, cosy and exclusive. Vanira Lodge is a little nook of Frenchness owned
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FOOD & TRAVEL
‘We dock at a jetty and walk down the rocky forest path, where the sea splashes us with white spray, tree roots snake across our path and lizards blend into the bosky backdrop’
by a Parisienne you’d be unsurprised to see shopping on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Her eco-lodge is near the Teahupoo break – the incredible wave that curls into a tube of water, famously used in a 2009 Red Bull advert. Chalked up in its little dining room is the evening’s menu: boeuf bourguignon, confit de canard and chocolate soufflé. Why try to beat French cuisine? Our host gives yoga lessons in a wooden shuttered studio across the lawn from the guest huts. Each one is made by local craftsmen out of coral, rock and silky tree trunks that prop up grassy roofs over hot tubs; these overlook a bay where dolphins and whales make their daily commute. In the morning a Ford Fiesta pulls up in the driveway. Our guide Michael Vautor looks not unlike Tom Hanks in the final scenes of Castaway. In his speedboat we bounce down the coast over plumes of white surf, past miles of forest and little houses with no road access. We dock at a jetty and walk down the rocky forest path, where the sea splashes us with white spray, tree roots snake across our path and lizards blend into their bosky backdrop for camouflage. We crawl through a rocky tunnel and emerge at a pool, where a waterfall cascades with such force it’s hard to stay upright. Next stop is an island estuary of tropical wilderness where a tempting rope swing hangs; now become true islanders, we grab it and hurl ourselves into the river below. Back in the boat, we zoom out to see the magnificent Teahupoo wave, to which surfers travel from all over the world, just to attempt a high-risk roll through its barrel.
For our last short haul, we make for Rangiroa, one of the biggest atolls in the world, 200 miles north-east of the mainland. Its slow-pace village is surrounded by a bright blue lagoon where teenagers line-catch snappers and the Milky Way seems to shine especially brightly in the raven-black sky. In the morning a crowd of young Tahitian men arrives for the expedition to Reef Island, an hour’s bumpy boat trip away. Snorkels on, we drift in a calm channel between two small islands, over red and yellow corals and enormous clams that snap shut when they sense predators (us). In the evening, travellers assemble at Les Relais de Joséphine, a pension run by another Paris escapee and grande dame of the island. The open air restaurant faces the Tiputa Pass, where sharks circle in the moonlight and tourists dive by day to see hammerheads and manta rays. Glasses clink with Vin de Tahiti from the coral reef vineyard – the only one in the world – and you can eat local mango and chantilly cream, a delicious metaphor for a country where old-style France meets the unique, exotic charms of Tahiti. BOOK IT: Fly from Paris to Papeete via Los Angeles, from £1,689 (airtahitinui.co.uk). Vanira Lodge, doubles from £107 (vaniralodge.com). Tahiti la Ora Beach Resort, doubles from £183 (accorhotels.com). Les Relais de Joséphine, two-course meal plus wine from £31 (relais-josephinerangiroa.com/en). Hotel le Mahana, doubles from £217 (lemahanahotel. com). Teahupoo Excursion: Half day: £52 pp (+689 89 75 11 98). January 2019 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | 99
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FOOD & TRAVEL
T R AV E L N E W S
TEN REASONS WHY I LOVE
THE HOTEL WIZARD
Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Tuscany
Italy away from the crowds. By Fiona Duncan
TUSCANY IN WINTER
Can you imagine hotels in, say, the Lake District closing between October and March? People happily take to the British countryside for winter weekends, so why does a rural region like Tuscany, with the same delights on offer and a great deal more, all but close down? Davide Bertilaccio, GM of the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, is determined to attract guests year-round, so the 11 gloriously restored 17th and 18th-century houses on the estate, each with heated infinity pool and many with tennis courts, remain open. They are lovingly furnished and equipped, and a smiling, aproned ‘mamma’, a local village lady, is on hand as housekeeper, plus a chef. Tour the winery, play golf, eat in local restaurants and visit beautiful, art-filled towns. From €2,500 per night for a three-bed villa. rosewoodhotels.com 1
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The privilege of a truly luxurious enclave, one that feels authentic, natural and properly Tuscan. No bling…
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... Instead a romantic ruined castle and a private medieval hilltop village turned hotel…
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… That was abandoned until 2003 when Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo bought the estate and renovated the borgo and the stunningly located houses scattered around it…
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… Planting new vineyards and a championship golf course for good measure.
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The mini piazza and tiny jewellike church, with frescoes by Pietro Lorenzetti, all yours.
AFFORDABLE HOTELS IN THE VAL D’ORCIA
If the Castiglion del Bosco is a dream too far, try these instead. 1 Hotel Adler, Bagno Vignoni (adler-thermae.com) 2 B&B Palazzolo La Foce, Castelluccio (lafoce.com) 3 Casa Moricciani, Castelmuzio (casamoricciani.com) 4 Tenuta San Pietro, near Pienza (tenutasanpietro.com) 5 Fonte Bertusi, near Pienza (fontebertusi.it)
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The views of Montalcino and the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia, the loveliest part of Tuscany.
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The hotel’s sober, classic, antique-filled interiors by Chiara Ferragamo.
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The two Italian restaurants, especially the Osteria di Canonica for its Tuscan specialties.
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The activities on offer: wine tours and tasting, hiking, truffle hunting, cooking, painting, stargazing, all admirably relaxed.
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The 11 restored estate villas, all spacious, some huge, where all the pampering of a hotel guest and all the privacy of a luxury holiday home merge together. Double rooms from €700. rosewoodhotels.com
ON THE TRAVEL RADAR
PIGGY PIGGY All hail the new PIG. Yes, the newest in the litter will be born in Kent in the former Bridge Place Country Club near Canterbury, to be known as The PIG at Bridge Place. Led Zeppelin among others played there in the past. Rock ’n runt. thepighotel.com
IN THE MIX Shake up an exotic cocktail with the aid of Helen McGinn’s fun new book Homemade Cocktails, full of recipes, hints and tips. £10.99, Robinson
COSY CORNWALL Rick Stein is offering two-night Cosy Coastal Breaks in Padstow this winter, from £277, with lots of extras including a lambswool hottie. rickstein.com
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FOOD & TRAVEL
THE ESSENTIALS
STAY The Bulgari, with its decorative theme of white coral courtesy of designers Antonio Citterio and Patrica Viel, is a brilliant new addition to the city. Excellent service and the rooms are vast and luxurious. bulgarihotels.com
ABOVE: Views from your sunlounger to the Dubai Marina BELOW: The man-made Palm Islands
THE WEEKENDER
DUBAI
DO Don’t miss the Dubai Frame. Made from glass, steel, aluminium and reinforced concrete, it’s hardly likely as it is an architectural landmark 150 metres tall and 105 metres wide, but once there, snap away.
Give it a chance and you’ll be surprised, says Mary Lussiana
S
ome might sneer at Dubai for its man-made marvels; others seek it out for the guaranteed sunshine, the luxurious hotels, the malls, the restaurants and the accessibility from London. Best is to take a weekend there as you fly through en route to somewhere far-flung and enjoy a city which is all about, not the C of culture, but the C of convenience; not the S of sights, but the S of shopping. For those who want to dally longer, a visit to the desert for lunch and an afternoon of falconry is a pleasingly exotic side trip with sightings of Arabian oryx and gazelles guaranteed as well, of
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
Head to the Dubai Opera for a dose of culture
course, as camels. If you choose to stay in town, make the most of the private beach at Dubai’s latest, sleekest, most seductive hotel, the Bulgari, and when dusk comes head over to Dubai’s extraordinary fountain. The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain, shooting water 500ft into the air, illuminated by 6,600 lights and accompanied by classical, contemporary Arab or world music. For music of an operatic kind, check the programme at the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera (dubaiopera. com) which has performances throughout the year. But in between the other diversions make sure to leave enough time to dip into the vibrant food scene. Most of the heavyweight chefs have an outpost here, creating a dazzling range of culinary possibilities. BOOK IT: Scott Dunn offers a seven-night stay at Bulgari Resort, from £2,100pp B&B, based on two people sharing a Superior Room, and includes flights and private transfers throughout. 020 8682 5070; scottdunn.com
EAT Nathan Outlaw at Al Mahara in the Burj Al Arab delivers sublime dishes from wild turbot with seaweed mashed potato to Cornish scallops with mushroom risotto in the setting of the aquarium. nathan-outlaw.com
BUY The Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest, encompassing an aquarium and underwater zoo alongside the designer shops. Alternatively, head to the Gold Mall where watches and jewellery are yours for the picking.
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ESCAPE
ADRIATIC ANTICS Spring is the time to visit Croatia’s pampering hotels – they’re perfectly designed for wellbeing and warming sun, says Jo Fernandez
HOTEL MONTE MULINI, Rovinj
HOTEL BELLEVUE, Mali Lošinj
Across the bay from Opatija, Hotel Bellevue is a gleaming white edifice fringed by ancient pine forest on Cikat Bay, on the western side of bijou Lošinj, an island with a reputation for health and wellness since the 19th century. Neutral-hued, understated rooms let in that clear sea air via sliding balcony doors. The glamorous all-white Spa Clinic offers treatments drawing on both medical aesthetic and holistic wellness services, geared around a ‘slow ageing’ concept; both indoor and outdoor pools are filled with filtered seawater. ‘Locally sourced’ is a genuine brag here with Mediterranean and Japanese dishes in the hotel’s two restaurants whipped up using herbs picked from the gardens and seafood fresh from the Adriatic. Neighbouring islands such as Rab, with its dreamy architecture and secluded coves, are easily reached using either the hotel’s skippered speedboat or its traditional sailboat, with the bonus of spotting dolphins. There’s also a private jet service in a six-seater plane linking all major Croatian and European cities to Lošinj airport. BOOK IT: Doubles from £155 B&B. losinj-hotels.com
Surrounded by lush forest and a skip and a hop from the pebbly beach (no need for Croc-style footwear as these stones are smooth), Hotel Monte Mulini is a 15-minute walk from the picture-perfect Italianate old town, crowded with Venetian-style houses and elegant piazzas. With its dreamy location, set into the Istrian hillside on one side of a bay, the focus on wellness and relaxation includes the light-filled lobby featuring a panoramic glass wall that frames a heady view of the Adriatic. There are no less than four equally blue outdoor swimming pools, the work of WATG architects, whose CV includes Mandarin Oriental and One & Only. The spa succeeds in splashing a lot of gold around without it being tacky, despite glittering gold floors, a slender slice of indoor pool crowned by a large gold mosaic and treatments based on, naturally, gold (the 24-carat gold facial features gold leaf placed on the skin), although the less glitzy elements of water, stone and wood also feature in the design. Retox at the cellar-like Wine Vault restaurant among over 300 bottles of wine, with creative seasonal tasting menus including delicate spring dishes such as lightly poached oysters with fava beans and watercress. BOOK IT: Doubles from £144 B&B. maistra.com
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FOOD & TRAVEL
D-RESORT, Šibenik
Rubbing glamorous shoulders with the Mandalina superyacht marina, the D-Resort in Šibenik, Dalmatia, has brought a 21st-century edge to one of Croatia’s oldest port towns. The dramatic concrete and timber design by Nikola Bašić (the Croatian architect also conjured up Zadar’s innovative and playful ‘Sea Organ’ and ‘Greeting to the Sun’ waterfront sound and light installations), juts out over the channel, much like a ship at sea. Highly contemporary rooms are dressed with bright modern art while raw concrete walls with big balconies and well-thought-out sofa beds make them family friendly. Choose from locally sourced Croatian, Mediterranean and Asian dishes, then work it all off on the rooftop running track or stroll to the cobblestoned medieval town centre, a good 40 minutes’ walk. Hours can be whiled away at the super-sleek D-Spa, which continues the luxe relaxation vibe with an angular indoor swimming pool (outside, an infinity pool overlooks the marina), and a hammam that cleanses pampered guests with eucalyptus black soap, then douses them with fragrant orange blossom and rose water. Heaven. BOOK IT: Doubles from £122 B&B. dresortsibenik.com
BEVANDA, Opatija
The first five-star hotel and restaurant in the northern Adriatic, the Relais & Châteaux-listed Bevanda thrives on its waterfront location. Set on the scenic Kvarner Gulf, squeezed between the Istrian peninsula and Dalmatia, views of Rijeka and the islands of Cres and Krk are framed by picture windows and large terraces. Masterfully created by Croatian architects and designers, its ten light-filled, design-led rooms all have balconies and bear the names of the many artists and notable visitors to the town in its former heyday, from James Joyce to Gustav Mahler. Built on the site of a regionally renowned restaurant that was founded decades ago, the current eaterie serves ingredients fished from the sea, such as scampi tartare with citrus granita and scampi powder. There’s an outdoor pool overlooking the bay, and a Lido beach resort next door. The hotel’s Albatro 45 speedboat can be skippered for excursions. Walk off dinner along one of Opatija’s most prominent landmarks, the famous Lungomare seafront promenade, which stretches along the Riviera and passes right under the hotel’s terrace. BOOK IT: Doubles from £186 B&B. bevanda.hr For more on Croatia, visit croatia.hr
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Arrive by helicopter and catch your first aerial glimpse of Monaco
INTERIORS
Billionaire’s playground or cultural hub? Both, says Rosalyn Wikeley
O
nly once through Nice Airport’s Monacair gates and into a shiny blue chopper (the most efficient way to zoom into the Principality) can you fully digest the bracket of wealth in the Monegasque slipstream, unperturbed by excess. As you hover along the fringes of the Côte d’Azur, a calm Mediterranean lies below you, a sun-soaked, busy scene beckons ahead. Preconceptions of Monaco can be unforgiving: where money comes to roost and taste comes to perish – a riot of red Ferraris, a fake-tanned limb and gazillionaire ghetto, rolling out to form a wealthy country no larger than New York’s Central Park, fuelled by gambling revenues. To rule out spicy tax haven antics would be foolish. But to overlook Monaco’s rich history, cultural booty and sustainability effort would be even more so. Monaco has, after all, operated as historic short-hand for European glamour. Amid a backdrop of Grand Prix, casinos and superyachts, not only does the government dedicate five per cent of its budget to culture, treating residents and visitors to fairly priced tickets for opera, ballet, exhibitions and theatre, but curiously, a burgeoning artisanal, ethical movement is vying for space in the second smallest country in the world.
Stay HOTEL METROPOLE
There’s something gloriously refined about Monte Carlo’s Pool-side dining at Hotel Metropole’s Odyssey Belle Époque Metropole. Jacques Garcia has filled its palatial bones with a warm contemporary finish, calling on a soft, yesteryear glamour rather than chasing a fleeting and uncomfortable modern one. Its grand lobby hosts a roster of contemporary installations amid Venetian tapestries and marble floors while sumptuous, pillar-clad suites celebrate Monaco’s golden era. Gluttony gets an elegant seal of approval for breakfast and a Riviera-ready spa serves up Givenchy treatments and a pool area designed by Karl Lagerfeld. Add to the mix the Golden Square location and fashionable haunts, Odyssey and Joël Robuchon restaurants, and this Belle Epoque beauty really is the most culturally astute, lavish spot to park your Goyard trunks at. Superior Rooms from €340. metropole.com
PHOTOS: VISIT MONACO; GETTY IMAGES; STUDIO PHENIX
MEET ME IN MONACO
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Make time to visit the Oceanographic Institute
EAT
A ROCA A ROCA has been serving up a no-frills, fresh Mediterranean approach to gourmet snacking for over 25 years.
Visit OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
Get your art fix at Villa Paloma
VILLA PALOMA
One of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco buildings, Villa Paloma – once the villa of a well-heeled Monegasque – is now home to rotating contemporary art exhibitions (currently Tom Wesselman’s provocative American prints until 6 January 2019).
Built by Albert I, a passionate marine scientist and explorer, this exquisite early 20th-century building beautifully presents the Principality’s relationship with the marine world over the decades with an impressive, curiosity cabinet-style exhibition Monaco & The Ocean: from exploration to protection. The building itself, dramatically positioned over the cliff, is something to behold.
For lavish Indian cuisine in a moody, refined setting. The cocktails taste as good as the theatre accompanying them.
Monaco’s Cathedral
COVA A new, informal haunt (which for Monaco means Burberry loafers), COVA serves fresh pasta, real Italian coffee and their signature panettone to be decadently enjoyed dipped into vanilla and chocolate sauce.
The legendary Monte Carlo Casino lights up at night
PHOTOS: VISIT MONACO; GETTY IMAGES; STUDIO PHENIX
MAYA JAH
THE PALACE AND CATHEDRAL
MONTE-CARLO CASINO
Integral to Monaco’s history, Charles Garnier’s magnificent casino remains Europe’s most opulent playground – the risky, beating heart of the Principality, dripping in Fleming-inspired glamour. Place your bets and indulge in Monegasque, international culture at its finest.
Wind through the toytown that is MonacoVille until you reach the Grimaldi marvel with a regal, candy-coloured flamboyance that only Monaco can pull off. The State Apartments fulfil all opulent expectation, opening from April to October. The tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace lie in the cathedral nearby, by St Martin Gardens.
JIMMY’Z
For a flavour of Monaco’s party culture, head to its original HQ.
YOSHI For healthy and exquisite Japanese cuisine (chef Takéo Yamazaki embodies that native precision), head to the Metropole’s YOSHI with its fresh sashimi, maki, nigiri and a delicious Japanese garden for le digestif.
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2019’S CULTURE LIST
Opera Otello, Giuseppe Verdi, 21-30 April, Salle Garnier, Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
Contemporary Dance
GARDENS
Despite its urban jungle-on-sea reputation, Monaco boasts eight meticulously preened parks to take the edge off life in the fast lane. The renowned Princess Grace Rose Garden blooms with over 300 varieties of roses, Le Jardin Exotique is a cliffside labyrinth of tropical plants, mostly from South America, South Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and Le Jardin Japonais is a welcome oasis of zen, waterfalls and bamboo in the touristy Principality.
TERRE DE MONACO
Unbeknown to many, Monaco is embracing the sustainable zeitgeist with green gusto. Take Terre de Monaco, a company on a mission to establish urban agriculture throughout the Principality, creating ecological vegetable gardens, fruit and herbs and selling products from these plots to owners and tenants of the buildings or local restaurants. Workshops available, too.
BRASSERIE DE MONACO
It’s far from Monegasque chic and falls short of hipster approval, but Brasserie de Monaco on Port Hercule is the Principality’s only brewery, with craft beer fermenting away behind an enormous, industrial bar. Even Monaco has yielded to the craft beer movement.
Brewing Culture
Ballet The Nutcracker by the Moscow Classical Ballet, 2830 December 2018, Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo (a host of music and artistic performances), March to April (5 weekends), across a series of locations.
Theatre Two performances by the Comédie Française: Racine’s Bajazet on 5 March, directed and designed by Eric Ruf, and Ce que j’appelle oubli (What I Call Forgotten) with Denis Podalydès on 2 April, Théâtre Princesse Grace.
Art Show Artmonte-carlo, 26-28 April, Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
Sport Formula 1 Grand Prix, 23-26 May, Monte-Carlo.
L’ORANGERIE
Monegasque Philip Culazzo, a Dubliner with Italian and French heritage, found a way to salvage a relic of Monaco’s agricultural past – bitter fruits from its orange trees, too bitter even for charity. In 2015, he founded Monaco’s first liqueur distillery, l’Orangerie, peeling, distilling and fermenting these bitter oranges manually. This is 2019 artisanal Monaco at its best.
Monaco Yacht Show, 25-28 September, Port Hercules.
PHOTOS: VISIT MONACO; GETTY IMAGES
Going Green
Variety Show, Contemporary Dance, 12-16 December 2018, Monaco Dance Forum.
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T IM E T O C H A N G E Y O U R V IE W S C o m e o n a JC Jo u rn e y
PILGRIMAGES SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA HOLY LAND ASSISI PATMOS CORINTH ROME MEDJUGORJE NORTHERN LIGHTS MALTA AND MANY MORE…
V IL L A S
BATTLEFIELDS WATERLOO SOMME MONTE CASSINO ANZIO NORMANDY PALESTINE BOSNIA ARNHEM OP MARKET GARDEN AND MANY MORE…
H O T E L S
0 1 8 8 6 8 1 2 8 6 2 JC Journeys.indd 1
C H A L E T S
W IN T E R S U N
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FOOD & TRAVEL
BURN BABY BURN
NEWS
GASTRO GOSSIP Ultra luxe food halls and festivals. By Clementina Jackson
Raise a dram (or ten) to Robert Burns under the starry sky of the Scottish Highlands – or the very similar Glenlivet Glade courtyard at Rosewood London, where for one night only the tables will be piled high with traditional Scottish fare and paired with the finest whiskys. Haggis sceptics may even be converted trying it served inside a succulent venison Wellington… £145pp. 25 January, rosewoodhotels.com
THIS MONTH
OBSESSION SESSIONS
Food obsessives will be making the annual pilgrimage to Nigel Haworth’s Northcote in Lancashire for Obsession 19, the culinary festival where chefs, with 16 Michelin stars between them, dazzle diners. 18 Jan to 3 Feb. northcote.com
THE TASTE REVOLUTION
Truffles on silk cushions, a cabinet for aging your meat, the largest selection of oysters in the UK and even a dedicated ‘vegetable butcher’ who can julienne, spiralise and dice on demand… Where else but Harrods? This second phase of the Food Halls transformation is the Fresh Market Hall of the future. harrods.com 1 DRINK Seedlip Grove 42 has all the flavour without the alcohol content for when you’re feeling saintly. £27.99. seedlipdrinks.com
FARM TO FORK Great British chef Lee Westcott is the latest to make the smart move from town to country, opening a new restaurant within the vast, green grounds of the Netherwood Estate. His aim? To make even the most hardened city-folk fall in love with the beautiful Marches countryside and its excellent produce – just as he did. pensons.co.uk
2 READ Well, if everyone else is doing it… Bong Appétit: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Weed (Pavilion Books, £20) 3 DOWN A turmeric shot a day to keep the sniffles at bay. From £3.50. theturmeric.co 4 RECEIVE Fresh handmade pasta through your letterbox. Scatter flour and pretend it’s your own. From £13.90 per week. pastaevangelists.com
WASTE NOT WANT NOT After all that seasonal overindulgence, it’s time to redress the balance. Start the year as you mean to go on and buy the brands tackling food waste head on. Gail’s Bakery ingeniously uses surplus bread to make its new ‘Waste Bread’ sourdough (gailsbread.co.uk), while a group of Essex farmers is busy making gin from otherwise un-sellable fruit (reliquum.uk). Take heed! 108 | COUNTRYANDTOWNHOUSE.CO.UK | January 2019
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FOOD & TRAVEL RECIPE
LET THE GAME BEGIN Take a shot at recreating Shaun Rankin’s favourite pheasant dish
FOODIE TALES Turbot traumas and bar hopping in San Sebastián
What’s your food philosophy? My food is all about combination, flavour and texture using seasonal ingredients which are sourced as locally as possible. What was the first dish you learnt to cook? Oxtails braised in red wine with root vegetables and creamed potatoes. I still love cooking them. Favourite ingredient that is in season now and how are you using it? Jerusalem artichokes are fabulous this time of year. I salt bake them then scoop out the flesh and serve with roast scallop, chicken and truffle soup. Biggest mistake you’ve made in the kitchen? I tried to prep a turbot when I was 17 without supervision because I thought I could. A big mistake and the chef de partie was not a happy man!
ROAST PHEASANT WITH ORANGE & ONION MARMALADE
Game season is always a highlight of the year for me and a perfect winter warmer. My recipe below has the sweetness from caramelised marmalade with a richness of the pheasant. You can make the orange and onion marmalade in advance and it will keep in the fridge for up to four weeks. INGREDIENTS
» 1 large orange » 1 large onion peeled and » » » » » » » » » » » » »
roughly chopped 4 tbsp white wine vinegar 100g (31/2oz) demerara sugar 2 tbsp Cointreau ½ cinnamon stick 1 blade of mace 1 tsp coriander seeds 5 all-spice berries, crushed 2 bacon rashers, sliced 1 sprig thyme 1 sprig rosemary 1 bay leaf 1 oven ready pheasant 250ml (8fl oz) chicken stock
Most memorable meal out? With friends in San Sabastián, going from bar to bar in the old town to eat different pintxos (Basque tapas). It’s an amazing experience.
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 140°C (275°F/Gas 1). Cut the orange into quarters, deseed and slice thinly. Transfer into a roasting tin and add onions, mix together. Put the vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, mace, coriander seeds, spice berries and half of the Cointreau, into a saucepan. Bring to the boil, continue to boil for 3 minutes. Sieve the liquid over the onions and oranges, discarding the spices. Cover with foil and cook for 3½ hours, stirring occasionally. The oranges and onions will caramelise. Be careful not to overcook as this will cause the mixture to turn solid. Remove from the oven. Turn up the oven to 170°C (340°F/Gas 4). Lay the bacon, thyme, rosemary over the pheasant and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the pheasant upside down, allowing the juices to flow back through the breasts. Rest for 8 minutes. Add the remaining Cointreau and chicken stock to the roasting tray and bring to the boil on the hob. Pass through a sieve. Serve on the side with the roasted pheasant.
When was the last time you sent something back to the kitchen? I never do. Even if there is a big problem, I would make a quiet comment to the manager – if at all! When you’re not in the kitchen, where are you? With my two children, Ethan, 10, and Harry, six. Do you have any unusual rules in your kitchen? No shouting at all! Zero toleration for hot heads with egos. What’s in your fridge right now? Eggs and avocados – I’m really trying to watch what I eat at the moment. And there’s always a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Who would you most like to take out for dinner and where would you take them? I would love to take my two boys to Le Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. The views are so amazing that I wouldn’t even need iPads to occupy them for once!
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FOOD & TRAVEL R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W S
FORK & FIELD January is for pure escapism, says Clementina Jackson
BOOZY BRUNCHES Dry January? It’s a firm no from us
COUNTRY
COWORTH PARK, Ascot, Berkshire
There are few places that can make you completely detach from life’s stresses quite like Coworth Park. A world away from London (but only 45 minutes by train), it’s a whopper of an 18thcentury country house set in 240 acres of bucolic beauty. No dry ice, bells and whistles won Adam Smith (Roux Scholar, previously sous chef at The Ritz) the restaurant’s first Michelin star – his menu is all about simplicity, local produce and genuine respect for ingredients. It was he who finally installed a kitchen garden on the estate, reflecting his firm belief that the closer you are to the food you are eating, the better it is for you. And so even after all eight plus dishes of his Best of British tasting menu, you’re sated but not stuffed – though a post-prandial snooze in the plush rooms upstairs is just as satisfying. Tasting menu £110pp without wine. dorchestercollection.com
JINJUU Top marks to Jinjuu for offering bottomless Veuve Clicquot as part of its new brunch menu. A very strong start, only made better by brunch dishes with that inimitable Judy Joo Seoul twist. Sticky Korean Fried Chicken tops spring onion waffles, there’s a Kimchi Madame and even a fry-up version of bibimbap. jinjuu.com
TOWN
BOB BOB RICARD, W1
As soon as you step inside, impending Brexit doom magically melts away. Here, the good times are still rolling. Champagne flows (just press that famous button), waiters hoik oysters to and fro, truffle is shaved liberally. The interiors hark back to that ever further away golden age of glamour, with plush blue and gold fittings. As much as you’d want to hate it for its ostentatiousness, the fantasy world created here feels more necessary today than ever – and the food is excellent. Eric Chavot’s kitchen churns out plate after decadent plate of ‘oligarch comfort food’. Oysters baked with parmesan and black truffle incite profound glee, lobster mac & cheese requires no further comment and you can never go wrong with beef Wellington, but don’t overlook the ‘simple’ pleasure of fluffy blinis topped with Oscietra caviar and crème fraiche before hitting that button one more time. Mains from £21.50. bobbobricard.com
THIS MONTH I’M… 1 Hotfooting it to Rastella at Merchants Manor for their awardwinning Cornish food. merchantsmanor.com. 2 Ashamed at how often I go to Albert Adrià’s Cakes & Bubbles. cakesandbubbles. co.uk. 3 Dying to try Chris Harrod’s winning Great British Menu 2018 at The Whitebrook on 24 January. thewhitebrook.co.uk
CHOTTO MATTE Nikkei is always a good idea – especially as a first meal of the day. This always-buzzy, uber-hip spot serves what is possibly the best ceviche in town, exciting sushi variations and Peruvian meat classics jazzed up Japanese style. Don your neon light-friendly garms and hit the pisco sours hard. chotto-matte.com
NOBU HOTEL SHOREDITCH Brunch is an alarmingly affordable way to get your fill of Nobu’s worldfamous dishes. There’s a bar heaped with fresh oysters, sushi, sashimi and hot dishes where you can help yourself to as much as you want. nobuhotelshoreditch.com
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PROMOTION
FIND PEACE OF MIND IN PARADISE
The Resort Villa is sumptuously selfless when it comes to sustainability
S
erving your soul a healthy dose of self-love and luxury by booking a spectacular trip to the sun, sea and spa-filled lands of Thailand doesn’t mean that the environment will pay the biggest price. The Resort Villa is one plush paradise that you can enjoy without a guilty conscience. Exploring its jaw-droppingly lavish 14,000 sq/m property, dipping into cool infinity pools and whimsically eyeing the on-site aquarium not only makes for an unforgettable holiday, but an eye-opener into The Resort
Villa’s environmental endeavour to build solar power into the bones of the luxury travel industry. During daylight hours the resort’s own solar farm generates enough energy to support all of its services and facilities, most of which fall dormant throughout the night to conserve usage further. The luscious grounds also provide the foundation for another of The Resort Villa’s sustainable efforts; an expansive garden of herbs, fruits and vegetables means that the farmto-fork philosophy you follow at home won’t suffer as soon as you’re hit by those first golden rays. You can even enjoy all this organic, fresh produce aboard the resort’s 60-foot private motor yacht without harming the coral reef or your conscience. An initiative to invest in purpose-built anchoring points enables The Resort Villa to protect their portion of the tropical underwater ecosystem, which other boats destroy by anchoring onto it, with the utmost care and attention. Co-existing alongside nature is key to both the world’s future welfare and the clear head you will gain when you come to stay at one of the most luxurious properties in Thailand. theresortvilla.com
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STOCKISTS
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CHOPARD chopard.com
ONG OAJ PAIRAM ong-oajpairam.com
ELIE SAAB eliesaab.com
RALPH & RUSSO ralphandrusso.com
GALIA LAHAV galialahav.com
RUPERT SANDERSON rupertsanderson.com
MARY KATRANTZOU marykatrantzou.com
TIFFANY & CO. tiffany.co.uk
MIU MIU miumiu.com
VALENTINO valentino.com
30/11/2018 15:29
C&TH EDITED BY ANNA TYZACK
PROPERTY
HOUSE OF THE MONTH What is unique about it? This is no ordinary family home – you walk away feeling like you’ve seen something really special. How would you describe its design? The design is of the highest calibre, with a lovely flow to the house that makes the most of the natural light. Every last detail has been considered and the striking staircase forms the centre piece, connecting each floor of the house beautifully. In what style has it been decorated? The interior style is classic with a contemporary edge, which really complements the existing Italianate Victorian architecture. Best room in the house? The master bedroom, which has a spacious walk-in wardrobe and a huge ensuite bathroom with floor and wall marble tiling. It’s grand without being remotely ostentatious. What will keep us entertained? The gym, pool and spa provide an opportunity to unwind at the end of a long day – as will the contents of the hefty wine cellar.
Upper Phillimore Gardens, London W8 Price: £28.5m 4 reception rooms 7 bedrooms 6 bathrooms 8,200 sq/ft
Perks of the area? The house is located in the heart of Kensington and benefits from a real sense of community as well as excellent transport links. What about the gadgets? It has all the toys – no expense has been spared. Where can we send the kids to school? Gardens Montessori is a lovely little nursery with a wonderful ethos, while Fox Primary School is also very popular and many people have moved nearby just to be in the catchment area. The agent says… ‘This house is an absolute gem; it is the ultimate family home in one of London’s finest addresses. Mike Fisher is one of the very best architect/designers operating in London and an absolute master of his craft.’ Knight Frank, 020 7938 4311 Savills, 020 7535 3300
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A sunny afternoon’s punting on the glorious River Cam
L E T ’ S M O V E T O . ..
CAMBRIDGE Forget geek, this town is where the smart money’s going, says Anna Tyzack
King’s College Chapel is at the heart of this university town
rat race but still feel connected – a great first step before moving to proper countryside,’ says Michael Houlden of Strutt & Parker. For all its snazzy developments and fast connections, however, quality of life is still Cambridge’s major selling point, according to Freshwater. ‘The city offers a fantastic lifestyle – it buzzes with life throughout the year and it is a joy to punt on the Cam or walk along the Backs with Kings College as a backdrop,’ he says. According to the city council, one in four Cambridge residents cycles to work; there are 80 miles of largely cycle paths on flat fenland terrain around the city. ‘Cambridge has a busy city vibe, yet it is just ten minutes from beautiful countryside, ensuring you can have the best of both worlds,’ agrees Houlden. It is also blessed with some of the best schools in the country, both state and private. There is a generous number of excellent state primaries and prep schools such as King’s College, St John’s College and the Perse Prep. At secondary level, St Bede’s, Parkside and Hills Road Sixth Form are highly regarded state schools in the city centre, while Comberton Village College and Swavesey College are a few miles outside it. The Perse School, the Leys and the Stephen Perse Foundation senior school are competitive, league-topping privates. Such is the migration to Cambridge that average house prices here are now only about £20,000 less than in London. According to Freshwater, the city’s housing stock is comparatively small, ensuring there is always competition for family homes within walking distance
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
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here is nothing fusty or old-fashioned about Cambridge these days. The university town, renowned for its stunning architecture, bookish cafés and bicycles, has thrown off its geeky reputation to become one of the most desirable commuter destinations in the country. ‘Not only does it have some of the best educational facilities in the country but some of the largest corporations have moved to the area,’ says Richard Freshwater, a director of local estate agent Cheffins. ‘The city’s housing market is now underpinned by a thriving jobs market, making it great for families.’ All the big names are now in Cambridge, keen to profit from the globally-renowned academic talent. There are biotech and tech companies such as Microsoft and Huawei, global brands AstraZeneca, Amazon, Spotify, Google and Apple and, as of next year, Samsung. Their arrival has inspired a wave of shiny new developments around Cambridge station and a new train terminus near the Science Park, Cambridge North. The science and tech hubs cannot expand fast enough and 68,000 new homes are to be built within a 20-mile radius of the city. ‘It used to be fairly sleepy, with buyers predominantly from the university or the hospital but these days it is considered a cosmopolitan place to live,’ explains Freshwater. Meanwhile, many of the city’s historic pubs and hotels are being spruced up: the 1834 University Arms Hotel has reopened earlier this year after an £80m refurbishment. One of the main reasons global corporations have set up here is the city’s proximity to London; trains to Kings Cross take from just 47 minutes and there are around 76 trains to the capital each day. These short journey times also make it a great place for London commuters, particularly if they’re based within walking distance of the station. ‘Cambridge holds huge appeal to buyers looking to escape the
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PROPERTY of the centre. As a result, Cambridge saw Britain’s biggest house price increases in 2017. Research by Savills shows that prime house prices have increased by 48.8 per cent over the past decade, compared to 22 per cent in Oxford. WHEN IN According to property finder Richard Trimbee of Coast and CAMBRIDGE Counties (coastandcounties.com), five-bedroom family houses with gardens rarely cost less than £750,000, with houses on prime streets A bed for the night in the south of the city, such as Barrow Road, Bentley Road, Latham Rest your head at Road and Chaucer Road, commanding up to £5m. the just reopened University Arms, after For London leavers, Newnham is one of the most desirable a two-year renovation. areas, according to Houlden, just one mile to the west of the city universityarms.com centre and close to Grantchester Meadows. The streets here are Afternoon tea quiet and there are large properties with generous gardens. ‘They Fitzbillies on have a village feel and a close-knit community,’ he says. Storey’s Trumpington Street is a Cambridge Way and De Freville to the north of the River Cam are also coveted institution. neighbourhoods, with Arts and Crafts and Victorian houses within fitzbillies.com walking distance of Midsummer Common and the River Cam. ‘In A cocktail the past two years prices have risen by between 20 to 25 per cent in with a view Six at The Varsity these prime areas and even now, in times of economic uncertainty, looks out over the the market is as strong as it has ever been,’ Freshwater says. city’s church and The best value is to be found in Chesterton, Cambridge’s college spires. sixcambridge.co.uk most up-and-coming area, close to Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, the Science Park and the new Cambridge North A culture trip The Fitzwilliam for station. Prices in Chesterton and the surrounding areas of antique artefacts Orchard Park and King’s Hedges are currently 15 to 20 per cent (fitzmuseum.cam. less than in more central parts of the city but they are set to ac.uk) and Kettle’s Yard for 20thincrease, according Freshwater. ‘It’s a forgotten corner of the city century paintings that is regenerating fast with new bars, a smart gastro pub and a and sculpture. farm shop,’ he says. kettlesyard.co.uk Outside the city, desirable villages include Coton to the west, Take a punt What could be better Grantchester, Barrington, Foxton, and Fowlmere to the south and than a leisurely punt Fen Ditton to the north. ‘These are all picture perfect with just the to Grantchester for a right ingredients – fabulous pubs, community feel, pretty greens, pint? scholarspunting cambridge.co.uk historic churches and period houses,’ says Houlden. He predicts that prices in Cambridge Reopened, the University Arms will continue to grow over the next few years as London recovers from it’s temporary slowdown. ‘With a very reliable rental market and a stream of eager buyers, properties here are always a good investment,’ he says. That is, of course, if you can get your hands on one.
FOR SALE
Central, £2.3m An enormous Edwardian house on De Freville Avenue with large gardens, garage and driveway. De Freville Avenue is one of the most sought-after roads in Cambridge, close to Jesus Green. 01223 214214. cheffins.co.uk
Central, £1.375m An elegant Grade II-listed, five-storey Regency townhouse in a popular central location near the River Cam. There are large living spaces with sash windows, stripped wooden floors and a pretty garden. 01223 459501. struttandparker.com
Newnham, £925,000 An immaculate four-bedroom house with open-plan living space on Marlowe Road in Newnham, one of Cambridge’s most fashionable areas. There is a detached studio in the garden. 01223 214214. cheffins.co.uk
Bourn, £1.295m PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
A farmhouse in the desirable village of Bourn, surrounded by 7.4 acres of paddocks. Accommodation includes a generous kitchen, a sitting room with inglenook, four bedrooms and plenty of useful rooms for dogs and laundry. 01223 459501. struttandparker.com Drink with a view at Six
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PROPERTY
HOMES SWEET HOMES... MY PROPERTY LIFE
NATASHA KAPLINSKY The newsreader summers in Corfu and likes a roaring fire in winter THE STARTER HOME
Where was the first home you bought? I managed to scrape together a deposit for a tiny flat near Gloucester Road in London soon after I left university. If I had managed to hold onto it, I would probably be Island life on Corfu able to retire now!
Natasha Kaplinksy
Best thing about it? It was mine. I liked to tell myself that the long flight of stairs meant that I had the most beautiful view of the London skyline, even though I really didn’t.
in 1435 and there is not a straight line in sight.
Favourite room in the house? The cosy living room at the back of the house. It has a massive open fire, and there’s nothing more romantic than snuggling up in front of it on a winter’s night.
in East Sussex with 47 pets including alpacas, sheep, goats and Highland cows for company.
Why did you choose this particular location?
Where do you spend your summers? At the villa we built on Corfu ten years ago. It’s very easy to get to and the views over to Albania are second to none. What advice would you give a first time buyer? Stretch yourself – it will be worth it in the end. But then brace yourself – when you buy a house you literally hemorrhage money.
THE FOREVER HOME East Sussex, £1.65m A 17th-century farmhouse with views over the Tillingham Valley in East Sussex with mature gardens, woodland and 109 acres of pasture. There are large entertaining rooms, a cosy kitchen, five bedrooms and a range of workshops, barns and garages. 01444 446066. savills.com
What do you look for when you’re house hunting? A house that feels like a home and features a view of some sort. It’s like falling in love – when it’s genuine, it happens very quickly.
What compromises are you prepared to make when buying a house? Décor. Everything can be changed but I wouldn’t compromise on the bones of a building.
Describe your interior design style... Farmhouse bling.
What has been your most extravagant interiors purchase? A lamp. My husband nearly divorced me over it. I then went and bought a second one.
THE DREAM HOME Corfu, € 2.4m A stone-built house on a quiet hilltop on Corfu with staggering sea and mountain views. There is open-plan accommodation including a circular living room that opens onto an inner garden, a handmade kitchen and six bedrooms. Sundecks, terraces and an infinity pool surround the house and there’s also a separate cottage, a children’s play area and olive groves. +30 210 968 1070. sothebysrealty.gr
PHOTOS: REX FEATURES; GETTY IMAGES
Where do you live now? On a farm
We fell in love with the property from the floorplans, and my husband made an offer before we had even looked around. I spent a large part of my childhood in Sussex and we were keen for the kids to grow up outside of London. The house was built
Gloucester Road, £550,000 A one-bedroom flat on the top floor (with lift) of this elegant terrace, on a wide street linking Gloucester Road to Queen’s Gate. The flat has a small outside terrace with far-reaching views and the shops of Hyde Park and Gloucester Road nearby. 020 3151 9474. johndwood.co.uk
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PROPERTY
1 TEDDINGTON
Teddington Riverside is a new development overlooking Teddington Lock and the river, with one, two and threebedroom apartments that will be popular with renters. Each apartment has under-floor heating, Siemens appliances and oak flooring. Teddington itself has excellent independent shops and restaurants, good schools and is well served by cycle paths and footpaths. From £670,000. 020 7349 0091. teddingtonriverside.co.uk
3BELGRAVIA
2NEW CROSS FIVE OF THE BEST
INVESTMENT FLATS
What could be better than your own front door in prime central London? This four-bedroom maisonette in a beautiful redbrick townhouse has high ceilings and an abundance of light. There is flexible living space plus a study and a private terrace. The surrounding area is benefiting from significant investment by the Grosvenor Estate at the moment, with Eccleston Yards and Elizabeth Street both nearby. £2.95m. 020 7352 0535. tedworth.co.uk
With the London market at a fiveyear low – and quiet for winter – now could be a good time to pick up an investment property, says Anna Tyzack
4 CHELSEA
When the market was more buoyant, this sixth-floor studio flat on Sloane Avenue would have been on for £725,000. It is cleverly designed with the feel of a one-bedroom apartment, with a contemporary kitchen and bathroom. The block itself is portered with a lift, and just moments from the restaurants, shops and transport links of Knightsbridge, Chelsea and South Kensington. £595,000. 020 7584 1771. cluttons.com
Opposite Goldsmiths University, Bond House was previously a gallery space and is now a development of luxury flats, which look out over a central courtyard and have open-plan living spaces, private balconies and use of a bike shed. There is also an art gallery and art studios inside. New Cross is an up and coming destination with independent coffee shops, music venues and galleries. From £469,950. 020 3437 1663. crestnicholson.com
5 CLAPHAM
A two-bedroom apartment within an iconic building on Clapham High Street. Potential tenants will love the triple aspect, open-plan living room and kitchen large enough for a dining table. The double bedrooms have plenty of cupboard space and there is a big family bathroom. There are also two large communal roof terraces. The development is a short walk from Clapham Common underground and Clapham High Street overground. £650,000. 020 3667 6752. knightfrank.com
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The house with the roof terrace.
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Gloucester Square, Hyde Park Estate W2 • Located on one of London's finest garden squares • Also benefiting from a self-contained apartment • Approximately 5,335 sq ft Gloucester Square is conveniently located close to Lancaster Gate Underground (Central Line) and Paddington mainline and underground station.
Our Bayswater expert, John White, looks forward to helping you. john.white@knightfrank.com 020 3544 2488 07776 769745
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £6,950,000 Freehold
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The house with a time capsule.
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Clapham Common North Side, SW4 • An exceptional early 18th century house • Seven bays wide and over 7,400 sq ft • 99ft garden with an outhouse and double garage The property is enviably located opposite Clapham Common with the charming Clapham Old Town moments away offering an abundance of boutique shops, cafes and delicatessens.
Our Clapham expert, Rebecca Higgins, looks forward to helping you. rebecca.higgins@knightfrank.com 020 8033 4699
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £6,950,000 Freehold
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The flat on Sloane Square.
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Wyndham House, Chelsea SW1W • Grade II listed building with porter • Lateral apartment with lift • Approximately 2,709 sq ft The many international amenities of Chelsea and Knightsbridge are in the immediate vicinity. The nearest underground station is Sloane Square (Circle and District Line).
Our Knightsbridge expert, Annabelle Karageorgis, look forward to helping you. annabelle.karageorgis@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5930 07789 398507
knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly. Guide price £5,300,000 Leasehold: approximately 53 years remaining
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Connecting people & property, perfectly. Grenville Place, South Kensington SW7 1
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• Bright and light reception room • High ceilings and large windows • Approximately 665 sq ft Conveniently located in a period building close to the amenities of South Kensington. Guide price £995,000 Share of freehold
giles.barrett@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6173
Cromwell Road, Earl's Court SW5 1
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• Period features • Redesigned with modern appliances • Approximately 862 sq ft A newly refurbished flat with period features close to great transport links. Guide price £1,100,000 Share of freehold
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Notable Listed Village House Chiddingfold, Surrey Haslemere: 5.7 miles, Godalming: 6.8 miles, Guildford: 13.5 miles Part Georgian Grade II listed village house, in the heart of Chiddingfold, 7 double bedrooms, beautiful landscaped gardens, separate 2 bedroom cottage and garage flat, swimming pool and orangery, garaging for 6 cars. About 5 acres I Guide ÂŁ5.85 million Lottie Geaves Savills London Country Department 020 7409 8869 lgeaves@savills.com
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Clive Moon Savills Guildford 01483 796820 cmoon@savills.com
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Oxfordshire, Bampton
Guide Price ÂŁ975,000
A Grade II listed Georgian house in a wonderful village setting and mature gardens Reception hall | Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Conservatory | 5 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms | Lovely south facing walled garden | Detached coach house About 0.5 acre Mark Smith Oxford Office | 01865 366 660
Greg Thomson Oxford Office | 01865 366 660
mark.smith@struttandparker.com
greg.thomson@struttandparker.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
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Amazing double height artist studioapartment space A well-presented three-bedroom in in thethis heart of Chelsea exclusive Knightsbridge block TrevorStudios, Square, Knightsbrigdge SW73 Avenue Chelsea, SW
• Spacious reception room • Amazing double height reception/studio room • Three bedrooms • Open plan kitchen • Separate bedroom • Twodouble en-suite bathrooms
GUIDE PRICE GUIDE PRICE £2,000,000 £5,950,000 LEASEHOLD LEASEHOLD APPROXIMATELY YEARS APPROXIMATELY81 984 YEARS EPC Rating EPC RATING DE
• Car parking space • Separate large bathroom • 24-hour concierge • Discreet location in theand heartsecurity of Chelsea • Approximately 1359 sq 126.3 sq • Approx. 1,575sq ft /ft/146sq mm
CONTACT Knightsbridge Office CONTACT + 44 (0)20 7225 8044 KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE jake.irwin-brown@harrodsestates.com +44 (0)20 7893 8343 leila.dyominova@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
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AA beautifully refurbished three-bedroom well-presented three-bedroom apartment apartment in this Knightsbridge portered blockblock in this exclusive Trevor Square, Knightsbrigdge SW7 SW1 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, • Spacious room • Large receptionreception room • Three kitchen bedrooms • Open-plan (concealed) • Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom • Two en-suite bathrooms
• • •
GUIDE PRICE GUIDE PRICE £2,950,000 £5,950,000 LEASEHOLD LEASEHOLD APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY124 984YEARS YEARS EPC Rating EPC RATING DE
• Carfurther parking space Two double bedrooms (en-suite) • 24-hour and security Two furtherconcierge shower rooms 24hour porter and security • Approx. 1,575sq ft / 146sq m
CONTACT Knightsbridge Office CONTACT + 44 (0)20 7225 6797 KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE reem.dougramaji@harrodsestates.com +44 (0)20 7893 8343 leila.dyominova@harrodsestates.com
H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M
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3 & 4 BEDROOM HOMES DRESSED FOR CHRISTMAS
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Exclusive luxury development of unique 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments with balconies, terraces, residents’ gym, parking, communal gardens and outstanding views
Viewing available January 2019 Rosary Manor, Mill Hill, NW7 1EH
Prices from ÂŁ1.7m
To register your interest please contact Glentree Estates 0208 731 9500 | newhomes@glentree.com
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JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS
CULTURE OF SAFETY AND PRIVACY I OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY I TOP CLASS EDUCATION I GIGABIT ISLAND CONNECTIVITY THRIVING INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE I NON EU I STABLE GOVERNMENT AND INDEPENDENT FISCAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS TAX ADVANTAGES INCLUDING NO CAPITAL GAINS OR INHERITANCE TAX I QUALITY HEALTH AND LEISURE FACILITIES EXCELLENT CONNECTIONS WITH DAILY FLIGHTS TO INTERNATIONAL HUB AIRPORTS
QUITE SIMPLY, JERSEY HAS A PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE WHERE PEOPLE AND BUSINESS CAN FLOURISH
MON BEL, ST. PETER £8,950,000
CENTURY HOUSE, ST. JOHN £4,995,000
BEAU DESERT, ST. SAVIOUR £3,495,000
Livingroom combines internationally recognised world-class marketing, a focus on client service and more than 150 years of group knowledge to best present its properties locally, nationally and internationally. We are not just another estate agent; we are an ethical, award-winning company bringing an inspired customer experience to the Channel Island property market. CALL LIVINGROOM IN JERSEY TODAY ON +44 1534 717100 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
WWW.LIVINGROOM.JE JERSEY T (0) 1534 717100 E INFO@LIVINGROOM.JE W WWW.LIVINGROOM.JE A GROUND FLOOR, CHANNEL HOUSE, GREEN STREET, ST. HELIER, JERSEY, JE2 4UH. GUERNSEY T (0) 1481 715555 E INFO@LIVINGROOM.GG W WWW.LIVINGROOM.GG A LIVINGROOM HOUSE, NORTH CLIFTON, ST. PETER PORT, GUERNSEY, GY1 1JR.
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01223 214214
cheffins.co.uk
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De Freville Avenue, Cambridge – Station 1.6 miles
ÂŁ2,300,000
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
CAMBRIDGE ELY HAVERHILL NEWMARKET SAFFRON WALDEN LONDON
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CAMBRIDGE ELY HAVERHILL NEWMARKET SAFFRON WALDEN LONDON
Newnham, Cambridge – Station 1.6 miles
£975,000
A beautifully presented and well-proportioned bay fronted Victorian residence with versatile accommodation arranged over three floors and extending to about 1,575 sq. ft., in this sought after location within the ever popular Newnham Croft district of the city. Accommodation comprising: Entrance hall, reception hall, cloakroom, living room, kitchen/breakfast/family room, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Outside: front and rear gardens. EER:D
Contact: Richard Freshwater / Cambridge Office: 01223 214214 / richard.freshwater@cheffins.co.uk
Warkworth Street, Cambridge – Station 1 mile
£1,200,000
A rather special opportunity to purchase this elegant and substantial 4 storey Victorian townhouse in this prime central city location close to Parkers Piece and a vast range of local amenities. The property is currently an 8 bed house in multiple occupancy plus a self-contained flat in the basement as well as gardens and garage. This fine home offers scope for sympathetic improvement and updating and could be converted to create a most wonderful family home. EER:C Contact: Richard Freshwater / Cambridge Office: 01223 214214 / richard.freshwater@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
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Beautiful, Unspoilt, Grade II Listed Village Residence In Mature Parkland Setting. Totalling Around 13.25 Acres.
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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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Fryerning Essex Maldon, Essex CM9 Fryerning Essex
Guide Price £3,850,000 Guide Price £3,850,000 Guide price: POA striking five double bedroom, four reception Grade II AAstriking double bedroom, four reception II Situated on five the renowned London Road is this Grade listed property to date back 500 impressive former courtthought house. Built 1858back the years. listedperiod period property thought toindate 500 years. This residence is Magistrates originally thought tountil beto 3 be 3 property was utilised as the Court Thischarming charming residence is originally thought providing a fantastic of interesting itscottages, closure innow 1992. Since having beenflow renovated the cottages, now providing a fantastic flow of interesting property has been transformed into aover grand and and family living space over two two floors. The The andextensive extensive family living space floors. impressive family residence combining modern living 7.5 plot comprises formal grounds mixed 7.5acre acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed whilst still retaining many of the (benefitting original features sympathetically with paddocks fromfrom a sympathetically with paddocks (benefitting a that boastseparate of high ceilings, sasha windows and second access),sizable ponds and substantial lake. second separate access), ponds and a substantial lake. character throughout. EPCtennis Exempt. Numerous outbuildings, court, double garage Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian potential. EPC Exempt potential. EPC Exempt Country VillageOffi Office 01245397475 397475 Country && Village ce 01245
Country & Village Office 01245 397475
Fryerning Essex Essex CB10 Great Sampford, Guide Price £3,850,000
Guide price: POA Fryerning Essex A striking five double bedroom, four reception Grade II A beautiful Grade II listed home, offering an Guide Price £3,850,000 listed period property thought to date back 500 years. outstanding fusion of period features and
This charming residence is originally thought to be 3
contemporary living. Set onfour a mature plot in the II A striking five double bedroom, reception Grade cottages, now providing a fantastic flow of interesting centre of this sought after to village, this outstanding listedand period property thought date back 500 years. extensive living space two floors. The home offers fifamily ve bedrooms, twoover bathrooms, four This charming residence is originally thought to be 3 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds mixed reception rooms, a cellar and mature and private cottages, now providing apaddocks fantastic(benefitting flow of interesting sympathetically with from a gardens, along with driveway parking and a tandem and extensive family living space over two floors. Thelake. second access), ponds and a substantial garage.separate EPC Exempt. 7.5 acre plot comprises formal grounds Numerous outbuildings, tennis court,mixed double garage sympathetically with paddocks from a and detached one bedroom(benefitting annexe. Equestrian potential. EPCaccess), Exemptponds and a substantial lake. second separate Numerous outbuildings, tennis court, double garage and detached one bedroom annexe. Equestrian Country &&Village Country VillageOffice Office01245 01245397475 397475 potential. EPC Exempt
Country Village Office 01245 397475 Sales •&Lettings • Mortgages Beresfords.indd 210 Sales • Lettings • Mortgages
26/11/2018 16:33
7 Rutland Square | Edinburgh City Centre Luxurious apartments in a category A listed, 19th Century town house. Featuring a mix of studios, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments in an exceptional city centre location High specification | City centre location | Parking available*
Call now on 0131 624 9086 or email rutlandsquare@rettie.co.uk for more information. Please note: Images are of the show apartment. *Parking available by separate negotiation
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