Hotels | Restaurants

Azzy Asghar meets...

Stuart Geddes

GM, The Lanesborough

Luxury is all about the details. This was the thought that was going through my mind as my Editor and I approached the imposing, neoclassical facade of the magnificent The Lanesborough, the five star hotel on Hyde Park Corner which is part of the Oetker Collection.

I had been told to ask for Jo Stevenson who would then call for and introduce me to their GM Stuart Geddes whom we were about to interview. To my great surprise Jo was already in the lobby awaiting our arrival – as was Stuart – it’s all in the details! This small gesture of respect immediately made us feel important and welcome and not just as if we were another appointment in their busy day. We were escorted to the Library bar where coffees were requested. Stuart has a ready smile and once you spend even an hour with him, as we did, you’d realise it’s always ready to flash. This, combined with his easy manner took me quite by surprise. Surely the GM of one of the leading five star hotels in the world, who has previously worked at other stellar hotels including The Ritz and The Goring, would be more formal – perhaps even corporate – not at all!

The hour passed quickly as we exchanged stories of running, cycling, soldiers at the Hyde Park barracks, the Knightsbridge area and, oh yes, the Lanesborough!

www.oetkercollection.com Hi Stuart, So what makes The Lanesborough so unique and special?

The Lanesborough is a real masterpiece among London’s five-star hotels. Grand in its Regency Architecture and style, it is still very intimate in scale, with only 93 rooms and suites all of which are serviced by our elite team of Butlers catering for our guests’ needs.

With its residential-style, imposing fireplaces, it feels like a townhouse of the grandest scale, which is what Lanesborough aficionados love about it. From the Library bar with its intimate members club atmosphere, to a glamorous party in one of our private event spaces, or a cosy dinner in The Lanesborough Grill, our new Modern British concept restaurant, executed by Executive Chef, Shay Cooper to finish with a post-dinner cigar in The Garden Room with its heated cigar terrace, you are guaranteed sophisticated good times.

Our award-winning Lanesborough Club & Spa with its extensive gym, hydrotherapy pool, exclusive treatments with Ila, Tata Harper, Royal Fern, and HydraFacial is the ideal way to spend some down time and our proximity to Hyde Park opposite the hotel or a walk to Knightsbridge or Sloane Street makes it a perfect base to explore the nicest neighbourhood in London.

How is the Knightsbridge location important to The Lanesborough?

The Hotel and our Members Club & Spa are at the heart of the Belgravia/Knightsbridge community. Here we celebrate and support all the interesting characters, inspirational businesses, and the buzzing streets that make up this unique neighbourhood that we hold so dear.

What is your favourite area of the hotel?

The Library Bar to enjoy live music in the evening along with the buzzing club-like atmosphere.

What unusual requests have you had to cater to?

It never fails to impress me how our concierge team, led by Simon Thomas our Head Concierge, manage to make the impossible not only happen, but in great style.

You’ve lived across the world - what are your favourite places?

After living across the world, from the Pacific Islands to Africa, London is the place I truly call home. There’s nothing quite like Old Blighty.

How do you like to spend your free time?

After work I like to visit one of the many restaurants in the local area, and on the weekend, I love a long cycle through the Surrey Hills.

HOTEL

HOTSPOTS

KNIGHTSBRIDGE HAS, ARGUABLY, SOME OF THE FINEST HOTELS IN THE COUNTRY, AND EVEN MORE JUST A ‘GEM’S’ THROW AWAY. The Knightsbridge team check-in to a few, and see what’s new...

THE LALEE - THE CADOGAN

We popped by the charming The Cadogan hotel for a quick lunch. The LaLee pays homage to one of the hotel’s most illustrious past residents, actress and socialite, Lillie Langtry. Reflecting her refined taste in European cuisine, the menu follows her travels around the grand cities of Europe. The menu is curated by Executive Chef, Chris Hill. Our favourite was the Moules Marinière with Frites - very European! We also enjoyed the Caramelised Onion Tart with Fig and Rocket which is a perfect-sized lunch to energise us for a day shopping on Sloane Street.

www.thelalee.co.uk

THE LANESBOROUGH - SUNDAY LUNCH

AFTERNOON TEA BY JESSICA PREALPATO THE CARLTON TOWER JUMEIRAH

Despite spending millions on a recent renovation, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah is always improving to make the guest experience that extra bit special. The latest change is the transformation of the bar adjacent to the lobby into a dedicated Afternoon Tea Salon and wow is it elegant. The wood-panelled room makes the taking of traditional Afternoon Tea even more special. Served on the finest floral china, guests are treated to a fabulous array of treats from one of my favourite pastry chefs, the beautiful, charming, and talented Jessica Préalpato. Jessica was the World’s Best Pastry Chef 2019 and Pastry Chef of the Year 2020 by Gault et Millau. Her very natural teas, sandwiches and pastries are inspired by the botanics and flora of iconic Kew Gardens in West London.

The Afternoon Tea offers a non-traditional menu with unexpected pairings. Creative sandwiches including, croissants filled with duck egg and black truffle, home-cured salmon with pine nuts, roasted turkey with stuffing are followed by a selection of 4 different flavoured scones with matching preserves and ends with a beautifully decadent array of pastries and cakes.

www.jumeirah.com

The Lanesborough has launched a decadent new Sunday Lunch at The Lanesborough Grill, the hotel’s recently opened flagship Modern British restaurant with acclaimed British Chef, Shay Cooper at its helm. The Sunday lunch centres around large joints of the finest quality British beef, expertly cooked to perfection, and carved at the table from ornate, antique trolleys alongside a generous selection of all the very best trimmings. The new menu also features a wide selection of Shay’s best loved, modern British dishes, featuring produce that has been lovingly selected from handpicked artisan suppliers from across the country. Signature Sunday Lunch dishes include, Dorset crab with buckwheat pancake, Isle of Wight tomatoes and lovage emulsion; Roast sirloin of Hereford beef with horseradish and apple cream, Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes; Beef Wellington with salt-baked carrots and red wine sauce; and Scottish halibut with courgette blossom, red shrimp, and a light herb emulsion.

HOTSPOTS

ART AT THE BULGARI

Bulgari Hotel London has launched a collaboration with acclaimed multidisciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori. The contemporary Italian hotel commissioned the London-based British-Nigerian artist and designer to re-imagine the afternoon tea stand as a sculptural work of art in celebration of its 10th year in London.

The launch of the Yinka Ilori X Bulgari Hotel London Afternoon Tea last month coincided with the opening of Yinka’s first institutional show at the Design Museum. Yinka’s playful designs enliven the public realm using his signature combination of colour and pattern, and his window façade of geometric designs and bold visual style at Bulgari Hotel London will be instantly recognisable.

Afternoon tea pastries inspired by Yinka’s anniversary design for the hotel are created in collaboration with the artist by awardwinning Italian pastry chef and chocolatier-inresidence, Gianluca Fusto.

Available Monday to Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. Advance bookings only - from £95pp.

www.bulgarihotels.com

CEDRIC GROLET AT THE BERKELEY

One of the world’s best pastry chefs has opened his first patisserie outside of France, Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley. The chef’s worldrenowned creations are available to takeaway, including Grolet’s famous trompe-l’oeil, fruit and flower cakes. The patisserie – which is almost lab-like in its aesthetic with touches of gold – is designed by renowned interior designer Remi Tessier and has a central focal point: The Chef’s Counter which hosts a globally exclusive dining experience inside the lab, is set to wow Londoners and beyond.

The chef has unveiled ‘Goutea’, Grolet’s fusion of goûter (the French tradition of sweet snacking) and best of British afternoon tea. Served daily at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm - £85pp

Azzy Asghar visits THE HARI

It’s amazing to me how many people tell me that their favourite neighbourhood 5-star hotel is The Hari. Could it be its location in the heart of Belgravia, the personal service that only a small boutique hotel can deliver, or the talented and attentive team led by their charming GM Andrew Coney? As welcoming as Andrew may be – the hotel has to stand on its own feet, and it does so admirably.

There’s a cool bar with stylish bookcases – which incidentally inspired the decor of my very own home (Andrew mentioned something about copyright issues but after another glass of champagne, luckily he forgot!). The bar is perfect for getting together with friends or just relaxing with small bites and your favourite cocktail.

Il Pampero, their Italian restaurant, is superb for both business and social events and serves food all day long.

The bedrooms are beautifully appointed with plush upholstery and Arabescato marble – truly decadent! Add to this their innovative and very generous new The Hari Art Prize which discovers and highlights new talent – well if anyone knows talent!

www.thehari.com

The Adria, 88 Queensgate London, SW7 5AB United Kingdom www.theadria.com

So, What’s Cooking?

Azzy Asghar dines at some fabulous neighbourhood restaurants...

AL MARE - THE CARLTON TOWER JUMEIRAH

Of all the numerous establishments that have graced the restaurant at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah – the newest, Al Mare, is probably the most elegant and sophisticated in every manner. The large dining room with a dedicated bar, also accessed via a separate entrance off Cadogan Place, is a sumptuous space, with crisp white linens, plush banquettes and cushions which announce special occasion before you even take your seat to embark on the culinary journey that awaits.

As the Italian name suggests this restaurant is dedicated to the freshest seafood under the expert guidance of chef Marco Calenzo. The service is slick without being overbearing and their team ensures your experience is sublime.

Chef Calenzo adds his touch – very lightly – to maintain the foods natural flavours, to dishes that include: Mediterranean bluefin tuna, oscietra caviar & orange ponzu; rare breed 30-month slow-cured ham & pickled artichokes; pasta of king crab, fusilli with basil pesto, tomato & balsamic vinegar is incredible. Main courses include a show-stopping table-side presented Sea salt crusted wild seabass for two with crushed potato and salmoriglio. For the carnivores, a tender dry-aged Herefordshire beef tenderloin, with spicy rainbow chard is heavenly.

Sadly, we didn’t visit the bar although we saw numerous eye-catching cocktails being skilfully created. The wine, which we did enjoy, was one of many on a carefully-conceived wine list that has both classics and a few great additions.

www.jumeirah.com

THE SUSHI BAR - HARROD’S

The new late-night dining concept at Harrods includes all six restaurants in the Harrods Dining Hall and allows customers to enjoy dinner until 11pm from Tuesday to Saturday. Featuring a mouth-watering selection of the freshest ingredients and produce available, the Dining Hall is made up of six diverse and indulgent restaurants including: The Grill, Pasta Evangelists, Kerridge’s Fish & Chips, Kama by Vineet, and our favourite Caviar House & Prunier.

A close second – you can only have so much sushi and champagne, is the fabulous The Sushi Bar. Here, with Head Chef Eran Low, a sushi master with over 20 years’ experience, at the helm, the restaurant offers a fantastically wide range of fish and seafood served with a few signature twists. As well as specialty nigiri and sashimi, menu highlights include kabayaki of eel with foie gras, tiger-prawn tempura with caviar, and tataki of Wagyu beef.

SETTE AT THE BULGARI

Itry to teach my children that it’s not good to play favourites - but Sette could be my favourite Italian restaurant in London and, (excuse the pun), I’m not kidding! That is quite a statement as, I’m sure you’re aware, the capital has some of the finest restaurants in the world! However, on all counts - Sette delivers.

Located within the sophisticated Bulgari Hotel, although also accessed via a dedicated entrance on Knightsbridge Green, the elegant restaurant ticks every box of: setting, decor, service and especially in its culinary masterpieces.

Sette is the London restaurant from New York City’s Scarpetta restaurant family. It serves authentic Italian food, as it does in Manhattan, with its own inimitable flair. The term Scarpetta is derived from the Italian tradition ‘fare la Scarpetta’ which means to indulge in a meal down to the very last taste!

We were so impressed after our first visit a few months ago that we recently returned to ensure we weren’t in some sort of culinary coma and in fact the food was as special as we had all remembered. Indeed it was! Pasta dishes include the Lobster Tagliolini, acquapazza, fresno chili, tomato, spicy basil breadcrumbs, a delicious Ricotta Cavatelli with oxtail ragu, gremolata, or a Short Rib and Bone Marrow Agnolottti with garlic chip, horseradish and, of course, their renowned Scarpetta classic - Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil. Their main courses include a Black Cod with caramelized fennel, concentrated tomatoes which melts in your mouth, or a Wagyu Strip Steak with smoked mushrooms, roasted Brussels sprouts, cipollini agrodolce and beef jus which is equally as tender and succulent.

Each dish is truly a culinary masterpiece which you will savour - until the very last taste!

www.settelondon.co.uk

MOSIMANN’S

It seems to me that the word fine-dining is almost as over-used and misappropriated as the word luxury. However, there are very few places, outside the five-star hotels, that combine both as well as the legendary, Mosimann’s Club. Located in the heart of Belgravia, within a converted 1830s church, Mosimann’s at The Belfry is a private dining Club unlike any other in the world. The discreet restaurant/club is, named after legendary Swiss chef Anton Mosimann (OBE), who at the age of 28 was Maitre Chef des Cuisines at the Dorchester Hotel and holder of two Michelin Stars.

The club has been a family run business for over 30 years and is the holder of a Royal Warrant by Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales for Catering Services since 2000. It is now run by his two sons, Philip and Mark, who continue to uphold both the traditions and excellence synonymous with the venue. Very fortunately, I have been invited on numerous occasions by member-friends and have relished every opportunity to dine in this very exclusive restaurant.

The food and service, as you would expect, are exemplary. What surprised me most on a recent visit is the labyrinth of exquisite private dining spaces on offer to guests and non-members for private events. Each of the seven rooms is a hidden treasure to explore. Rooms are decorated with elegant fabrics, glass, metals, and artwork. Each are designed by luxury brands which in turn have added their individual mark creating distinctly different vibes to every space. And then, of course, there’s the Silver Animals…visit and discover!

www.mosimann.com

So, What’s New?

Multi-Michelin-Starred Chef Björn Frantzén launches Studio Frantzén at Harrods

Nick Valentine charges his glass at Control Room B in the newly-opened Battersea Power Station

Knightsbridge has long been a magnet to the great and good. To reinforce this, one of the world’s most critically acclaimed chefs and culinary icons, Björn Frantzén, has just launched Studio Frantzén at Harrods. A restaurant, rooftop terrace and bar spanning two floors within the world’s most iconic department store. Studio Frantzén is presented as a neo-Nordic concept infused with Asian influences.

Björn Frantzén is one of the worlds’ most renowned chefs, holding six Michelin stars across a growing empire of restaurants and culinary experiences - Studio Frantzén marks his first foray into the UK market. His eponymous restaurant in Stockholm, Frantzén, holds three Michelin stars, and is No.25 on the World’s 50 Best List 2022.

The 112-seat restaurant is a must-visit culinary destination that offers a curated à la carte menu, with additional seating available on Studio Frantzén’s mezzanine and terrace. Remaining true to his roots, Frantzén has created a menu with influential touches, defined by distinctive modern flavours and texturised yet refined cooking that emphasise the raw flavours, seasonality, and purity of each ingredient. His style is underpinned by an undeniable level of knowledge and an impeccable service and style that is present but never pretentious.

A carefully curated Nordic inspired drinks menu is served inside a bar and restaurant area that has been custom-designed and custom-built within Harrod’s top two floors. The interior design exudes a contemporary yet luxurious interpretation of Scandinavian style. A rooftop terrace – the first to be custom built on the London landmark – provides panoramic views across London.

www.harrods.com

So, What’s Shaking?

The Inception Group’s latest addition to its highly-stylised plethora of bars; which include the Mr Fogg’s collection, Bung Bunga and The London Gin Club, is Control Room B. A 50s-themed cocktail bar with a soundtrack to match, built around the old control room of the recently opened, £9 billion regenerated Battersea Power Station, which in turn towers benevolently above 19 acres of recreational and shopping facilities.

This turbine-inspired, all-day venue features, all the station’s original switchgear racks and dials, which previously powered vast swathes of London, including: Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, surrounding a slick central bar with ample seating.

Boiler-suited staff serve an array of ‘high-voltage’ cocktails, champagnes, spirits, and stomach-lining light snacks and pastries, which all pay homage to the space’s electrical heritage. Private hire is available for 50 to 180 guests.

Upon our visit, I was immediately drawn to the ‘Existential Rebel’, excited to channel my inner Camus before realising it was actually a non-alcoholic cocktail, this posed an existential crisis in itself. The ‘Synchroscope’ came to my rescue however, with its combination of gin, ginger and lemongrass cordial, pear puree, lemon verbena liqueur and cloudy apple juice, a far more fitting drink for the angst-ridden, authentic Outsider I conclude.

My colleagues went for the ‘Gas Wash’, a tropical tasting, vodka, passion fruit and bergamot liqueur-based comforter and a ‘Battery Licker’, a rum, Disaronno liqueur, coffee and orgeat syrup sharpener, served with a chocolate teaspoon. So a neat side-step into surrealism there.

The sharing signature, ‘Battersea Power Station’ a gin, cherry liqueur, pomegranate and pineapple juice concoction, topped with spumante, hydrates three to four ‘engineers’ or as I suggested one ‘bright spark’ in a hurry. Roll over Benjamin Franklin.

ZUMA

LONDON

“I am very proud to be celebrating Zuma’s 20th Anniversary this year. I chose London as the home for Zuma as it was and is, in my opinion, the most cosmopolitan and culinary-diverse city in Europe.”

Rainer Becker

Christina Raptis meets Chef, Restaurateur, Visionary... MR RAINER BECKER

Zuma is hot in London, Zuma is hot in Dubai, Zuma is hot in Ibiza, Zuma is hot in Las Vegas, actually Zuma isn’t so much hot as it is Cool! No matter which of Zuma’s 20 restaurants you visit across the globe – there is a common factor – absolutely fabulous cuisine, a party atmosphere, and a crowd... a very big crowd!

And at the centre of it all, replicating and maintaining that level of success for 20 years has been down to the vision of one man – Rainer Becker. Starting with the first restaurant in Knightsbridge, the Zuma brand continues to grow at an incredible pace.

I first met Rainer at the opening of their newest outpost in the Maldives! He is bronzed and relaxed, with an easy manner and a big ever-present smile.

As we sit on the glorious, white sand beach of the Waldorf Astoria resort on the island of Ithaafushi, Rainer is beaming with pride on the group’s latest opening. Devoted fans (and the press) have flown in from across the globe to witness the opening which naturally turns into the biggest party the island has ever seen!

Back in London, we meet at Zuma for our interview. Rainer, of course, attributes his success to his team and staff. We meet Natalia, the General Manager of Zuma London who has been at that restaurant for 18 years – now that’s either incredible loyalty to a boss you love working for or she just loves sushi so damn much! Rainer is a trained chef and began life at some of Germany’s top Michelin-starred restaurants, including the Königshof in Munich.

He was named Harpers and Moet Chef of the Year in 2004, the Guild of Chefs Awards named him Best Newcomer in 2003 and he achieved 45th place in The Caterer’s top 100 list of the most powerful people in hospitality in 2012.

Rainer had always wanted to become a chef. “I think it was always a dream and I really love to cook. I remember telling my parents I wanted to cook but my father didn’t see it as a career option. After a summer working at a relative’s restaurant, I was hooked. Seeing that, my father gave me his full support.” Rainer mastered his trade in Sydney and Tokyo before moving to London in 1998. He worked as executive chef at the Hyatt Carlton Tower and was a consultant at the uber-stylish Hakkasan restaurant. Eventually, he launched Zuma in Knightsbridge in 2002 with his business partner Arjun Waney. Zuma celebrates the informal izakaya style where dishes are continuously brought to the table throughout the meal – something he learned from the casual dining experiences he witnessed in Australia and combined it with the fabulous food and beautiful design elements of Japan. Rainer is also behind the Roka restaurants and Oblix at The Shard.

It seems all my travel plans are based on the fabulous locations of Zuma restaurants across the world and with plans for numerous Zuma restaurants to open in the next few years, I better ensure my passport is handy!

A taste of Japan in the heart of Knightsbridge THE AUBREY

Now this might sound more like an introduction to a Japanese language class than a review of a fine-dining restaurant but before we begin there are two Japanese concepts that one needs to be familiar with if you’re not already. The first is my favourite – and something I have engaged in at restaurants for most of my adult life before I even knew the word existed – and that is the tradition of Omakase.

Omakase is a form of Japanese dining in which you leave your food selection to the chef – thus allowing him to showcase his culinary skills and also serve the best and freshest seasonal ingredients.

The second is izakaya. The Japanese word izakaya is made up of three kanji with the meaning, in order – stay-drink-place – a venue to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable and believe me there are few places that are as elegant, stunning and welcoming to stay, get a drink and relax in as The Aubrey. To simplify things, izakaya is perhaps better described as a Japanese tapas bar.

Located in the heart of Knightsbridge within the fabulous Mandarin Oriental hotel – The Aubrey occupies the site once home to the much-vaulted Bar Boulud. As sad as I was to see the genius of NYC chef Daniel Boulud and his burgers leave London, The Aubrey is a more than stellar replacement and luxe Japanese food and cocktails are hard to come by and few do it as well as it is done here.

Our evening began with a cocktail in the bar which includes a maze of intimate rooms adorned in velvet, marble, and wood. Comfortable spaces to relax with ambient lighting include a library, the salon and curio lounge, each has been designed to suit a variety of moods and occasions with music until the late hours. Bar Director Pietro Rizzo took us on an omakase cocktail experience with inventive creations akin to those that feature in traditional restaurants in Japan – not a bog-standard Bloody Mary or Whiskey Sour in sight!

We were then escorted into the dining room which has been transformed into an elegant space with original gold-framed Ukiyo-e print artwork adorning the walls and a sense of calm, elegance, and sophistication permeating throughout.

The food menu draws on the classical techniques of Edomae sushi, tempura and robata – an interpretation of the philosophy of a traditional izakaya. The concept – my favourite – is one of communal small dishes for all to enjoy. Share, share that’s fair!

We began with the sushi and sashimi selection which was superb and as good as any served anywhere in London and beyond.

This was followed by the most succulent oysters with classic chili daikon & ponzu, however, the very, very tempting caviar selection was overlooked in favour of paying my mortgage this month! The tempura offering is beautifully delicate and, for our main course, as an epicurean I am always drawn to the robata grill and, of course, wagyu. Their wagyu oxtail and bone marrow fried rice is an exercise in indulgence and excess that has to be savoured.

While the Alaskan King Crab Leg with kimuchi from the robata is so decadent that it should be saved for your deathbed final wish. As you would expect the wine list is internationally-sourced and exceptional. For oenophiles wine pairings are offered to match the food exquisitely.

The exceptional food was enhanced by service which is rarefied in London and I’m extremely grateful to Jaime, Christian and the fabulous Leo for making our evening so very special. Our Aubrey experience was truly Subarashii – which is the Japanese word for amazing/wonderful – and thus concludes your Japanese lesson!

The Aubrey Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1 T: 020 7201 3899

STARS IN THEIR CARS

Azzy Asghar visits legendary photographer Richard Young’s gallery

Ihave an old maxim where I tell my friends who try to namedrop that I’m not that impressed when they let me know that they ‘met/had dinner with Tom Cruise, Madonna or Brad Pitt’, etc. I always say it’s only truly impressive when Tom, Madonna, or Brad say they ‘met/had dinner with you’! And thus it is with ‘paparazzi’ photographers – the fact that they meet some of the world’s biggest stars might give them some stock – but what sets Richard Young apart from the throng is that the stars actually all know him! Not to be said lightly, but he truly is both a pioneer and legend in his own time!

I first met Richard in the early 90s. I was with a PR guru who was escorting one of her many illustrious clients, in this case, Adnan Khashoggi, to a remote theatre in Camden where his truly-beautiful daughter, Nabila, was performing in a onewoman play. Where the elite of the world go, so does Richard Young – camera in hand! Capturing a glimpse of their lives and creating a living portfolio of them on film – both candid and uncontrived.

A career that has spanned almost 40 years began through a fortuitous accident when he was given a Nikon camera to take photographs which would illustrate a book by Welsh author John Cowper-Powys. A few months later and, again very fortuitously, Richard met the grandson of the oil magnate and America’s richest man, John Paul Getty.

Infamously, Getty’s grandson, Paul Getty Jr was kidnapped by the ‘Ndrangheta in Rome. Upon his release and back in London – Getty, who was missing an ear thanks to the kidnappers, was in incredibly high demand by the world’s press for an interview about his ordeal. Paul asked Richard to take pictures of him and his girlfriend around London and the subsequent photos were sold to the Evening Standard newspaper. Thus, his lifetime passion and glittering career came to fruition.

Richard’s work has appeared in almost all of the world’s media and in 2013 his ‘Freddie Mercury at home’ portrait was inducted into the National Portrait Gallery. Numerous exhibitions,

several best-selling books, and an international reputation have cemented Richard’s status as the world’s pre-eminent celebrity photographer.

Quite frankly, when we’re asked to attend an event and Richard is not present with his camera, we quickly realise that, sadly, we’re not at the best party in town!

And so today, almost 25 years later, we are sitting in his wonderful gallery on Holland Street in exclusive Kensington and reminiscing about his illustrious career. Richard is joined by his lovely wife Susan who has the very unenviable task of running the empire behind the scenes and managing and cataloguing his literally thousands upon thousands of photographs. As Richard tells stories of various people and events he has shot, it truly is hard to concentrate on what he is saying. I try to focus but my attention is continually drawn away by the incredible framed photographs that grace the walls of the gallery. Princess Diana in the Royal carriage, Mick Jagger puffing on a cigarette, Freddie Mercury on stage at Wembley, Princess Margaret at Annabel’s, or Jack Nicholson with Faye Dunaway – everywhere I look is an iconic image that captures history, a fleeting moment that may seem innocuous but thanks to the skill of the photographer – capturing both the mood and scene – it becomes an iconic piece that will live on forever!

The following pages – ‘Stars in their Cars’ is just a minuscule selection from his truly amazing archives which span many decades. All these pictures and so many more are available to purchase at the gallery below or online.

Richard Young Gallery 4 Holland Street, Kensington, London W8

T: 020 7937 8911 www.richardyounggallery.co.uk @richardyoung110

Harrison Ford, London 1980

Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother and Paul Burrell - Derby Day, Epsom 1987

Faye Dunaway, London 1981

Dolly Parton, London 1983 Jack Nicholson, Langan’s Brasserie, London 1981

Richard Burton, London 1982 Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, London 1987

THE FABULOUS WORLD OF DIOR...

Top: Madame Massigli, wife of French Ambassador in England, inaugurates the Dior Room at Harrods, 1954. THE FAIRYTALE WORLD OF

CHRISTIAN DIOR

Words: Josie Goodbody

The French fashion titan that is Dior, is turning the great British institution that is Harrods, into a spectacular mise-en-scène of its world. The Fabulous World of Dior is a magnificent celebration of the 70-year bond between the two establishments.

In 1926, aged 21, Christian Dior spent a year in Britain to learn English, he promptly became an ardent Anglophile and subsequently embellished his new love affair with the English into his couture.

In 1950, not long after the establishment of his eponymous fashion house, Monsieur Dior held a secret presentation of his Spring/Summer Collection at the French Embassy in Knightsbridge; several distinguished guests attended, including Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Only three years later, the Christian Dior corner opened in Harrods and Monsieur Dior chose the prestigious store to present his 1954 Spring collection. Up until his death in 1957, Monsieur Dior named many of his designs after well-known British icons: for example, the Dior ‘Dickens’ coats in 1949. Even long after his death his Anglomania penetrated the hallowed haute couture brand when, in 1996, John Galliano became Creative Director of women’s fashion and milliner Stephen Jones, head of Dior hat creations and later, another British designer, Kim Jones, became head of Dior Homme.

In 2019, only a stone’s throw from Harrods, the Victoria & Albert Museum held a ravishing retrospective of the maison which included 200 items from the archives.

Dior and Britain is a love affair that I can perfectly understand. As part of my French degree, I spent a year in Paris and three months of that working in the Dior press office at 30 Avenue Montaigne. During those months I discovered a dreamy and whimsical paradise like nothing I had ever experienced before. The press office ‘wardrobe’ was a world in itself, samples of the latest prêt a porter collections waiting to be sent around the world for magazine photoshoots, displaying Galliano’s fantasy fashion: asymmetrical dresses and skirts emblazoned with over-the-top prints; provocative denim; lace-up logo boots; saddle bags and saddle skirts; furs, leathers and silks. I discovered the Lady Dior – a handbag beloved by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. I tried on Victoire de Castellane’s early collections of Dior Joaillerie, learning that jewels weren’t just two strands of pearls and a sapphire engagement ring (some my mother’s) – they could be as wonderful as anything seen on the catwalk – oh yes, and I attended my first, haute couture show.

When I finally left to go home to the English countryside, my brilliant boss gave me a bottle of J’Adore (which perfectly summed up my Parisian sabbatical!) and as I so ‘adored’ the golden choker and bracelet worn by Carmen Kass in the first few campaigns, I was gifted those too. It was the summer of the new millennium, and I had fallen in love.

This is not the first time Dior has had a prominent position in Harrods. In 2013, there was a pop-up store, a tearoom, and an exhibition about the historic brand. Pietro Beccari, CEO of Christian Dior commented on the store’s legendary end-of-year events, “We have never led a collaboration of this scale with a department store”.

Arriving in Knightsbridge, Harrods’ famous façade is impossible to miss, emblazoned with a monumental installation of the compass rose – in homage to Monsieur Dior himself, who so treasured the symbol. Other Dior emblems include the Dior gold star, the Bar jacket and the Medallion.

Each of Harrods’ 44 famous windows is dressed for a journey through the world of Dior, from fashion to fragrance, to fine jewellery as though made from gingerbreads, candied fruit and caramels. 30 Avenue Montaigne, opened in 1946 by Monsieur Dior as the home of the House of Dior and recently redesigned by legendary designer Peter Marino, is there for all to see – resplendently recreated in gingerbread. A Baby Dior window has a giant polar bear teddy pushing a wagon, another has miniature models of the famous New Look dresses in re-imagined dressing rooms. More models of dresses are seen in a spectacular display which includes handbags and shoes. There is also a gingerbread house with each window presenting an iconic bottle of fragrance.

Inside there is an outstanding exhibition tracing the history of the brand; an installation showing how the famous Lady Dior handbag is crafted; the Dior Spectacular Beauty Pop-up on the ground floor includes the Dior Advent Calendar; from December 15th on the second floor there will be a personalisation pop-up with the embroidery and engraving of gifts. There are also exclusive collections created for the event – a new design of the Dior Book Tote, Lady Dior Bag, and garments. And once you have exhausted yourself, the Dior Café will refresh and replenish you.

The Fabulous World of Dior at Harrods 10th November 2022 - 3rd January 2023 © James Robjant

Christina Raptis proclaims I Can’t Live Stylishly Without...

having just the right outfit, no matter the occasion, whether getting ready to attend another glamorous launch party or rushing around Knightsbridge!

ISABELL KRISTENSEN COUTURE

Grace Dress £6,900 www.isabellkristensen.com

DITA LXN-EVO Sunglasses £845 www.dita.com

DIOR Thebe Magugu and CTAOP Pleated Skirt £4,400 www.dior.com

FREYA ROSE Cher Noir Limited Edition Jewelled Heels £895 www.harveynichols.com

NADINE MERABI Lottie Champagne Dress £495 www.nadinemerabi.com

And, Of Course, Doing It With Bags Of Style

MULBERRY

Amberley Clutch Two-Tone Croc £710 www.mulberry.com

BURBERRY

Quilted Metallic Leather Mini Lola Bag £1,150 uk.burberry.com

LALAGE BEAUMONT

Dulcie Cashmere Wool Mix Coat £1,450, Phoebein Ivory Trousers 100% wool £599, Fonteyn Large Bag in Stone Orinoco Printed Calf Leather £850

www.lalagebeaumont.com

AQUAZZURA Black - Crystal-Embellished Plexi Tequila Sandals 105 £950 www.harrods.com

LALAGE BEAUMONT

Fonteyn Mignon - Orinoco Croc Print £650 www.lalagebeaumont.com

adaMo

a World of luxury fashion

My favourite thing about being the Editor of KNIGHTSBRIDGE magazine is that strolling around Knightsbridge and browsing its fabulous boutiques is part of my job! It was on such a ‘work’ outing that I discovered the gorgeous boutique ADAMO - which is located just opposite the new Apple store on Brompton Road. This fabulous boutique is wall-to-wall of luxury items created in a variety of natural fabrics with beautiful craftsmanship.

ADAMO was established in 1989 in Istanbul, Turkey and is the brainchild of Celal Ayyildiz, a renowned businessman and entrepreneur based in Istanbul. The ADAMO brand specialises in outwear and uses all the best quality fabrics including, cashmere, merino wool, fur-trimmed and leather apparel, though they also offer a sophisticated range of Ready-to-wear and accessories for men and women to complement their products.

When choosing the best Cashmere and merino wools and leather, ADAMO work with local producers and small family businesses across Europe. With these close relationships, they have been able to grow their business and maintain the craftsmanship of the highest quality. ADAMO London opened its first store in the UK in the Autumn of 2021 and is an inspired contemporary lifestyle brand with a strong sense of luxury that draws inspiration from the contrast between structure and spontaneity.

So, back to my shopping - the staff were amazingly nice and welcoming. They were attentive but not overbearing and helped me find products that were exactly what I was looking for - particularly a gorgeous jacket ready for the winter months ahead.

The brand embraces effortless dressing with design-led sophistication. ADAMO is about delivering an experience of indulgence and desirability using luxury materials and timeless design, and conceptual construction with a focus on quality. Each piece is carefully designed around wardrobe essentials with the ability to carry over from day to evening, creating a complete look through collections of shoes, bags, and accessories.

ADAMO’s Customer Service is beyond exceptional and they offer several luxury services from, private appointments in store, to visiting customers at their homes or hotel.

They offer a wide range of men’s and ladies’ apparel, and a bespoke, custom manufacturing service in their outerwear range. They also have an atelier service on-site in the Knightsbridge store that can complete alterations and are supported by an international team of apparel experts and associates in the store to help with the customer’s every need.

ADAMO London delivers a timeless collection with a true sense of luxury, introducing new silhouettes and exclusive designs for men and women for every season. ADAMO identifies with craftsmanship and creativity; which are essential to their work and true to their ideals. They design easy-to-wear, effortlessly elegant pieces that will make anyone feel confident sophisticated and gracious.

This is a store I have been telling all my friends about and I’m already planning my next visit!

Adamo London 20-22 Brompton Road Knightsbridge www.adamoonline.com

FESTIVE fancy

After two years of low-key winter holidays we are celebrating our launch issue with some spectacular and sparkling festive jewels... so splurge and get ready to celebrate! Words: Josie Goodbody

TIFFANY & CO Schlumberger Bird On a Rock Brooch

The American jewellery powerhouse took London by storm this summer, with an astonishing retrospective at Sloane Square’s Saatchi Gallery, of its 185 year old history. Here, Jean Schlumberger’s iconic 1956 Bird on a Rock, rendered in gold and platinum, is re-imagined sitting on an oval tsavorite. White Diamonds & Yellow Diamonds over 47 carats, £POA. www.tiffany.co.uk

De Beers Aura fancy yellow-green cushion-cut diamond ring

DE BEERS JEWELLERS

Aura Rings

Few do diamonds like De Beers and these two exceptional rings are what diamond dreams are made of. To the left an incomparable cushioncut 2.15ct green diamond; and to the right a 3.08ct oval-cut pink, both surrounded by white diamonds. It just goes to show – diamonds really are forever, and in every colour! £POA

www.debeers.co.uk De Beers Aura fancy colour oval-shaped diamond ring

BOUCHERON Yellow Gold, Malachite and Diamond Serpent Bohème Ring

Boucheron – for the ring. This might be one of the longest running French jewellery maisons, but you’d never think of it as ‘old’. Their trailblazing styles have created a furore. Set with malachite and diamonds in yellow gold, the Serpent Bohème Ring displays a modern design, with traditional gemstones, £7,450.

www.boucheron.com

DAVID MORRIS

Ruby and Diamond Feather Chandelier Earrings (rubies 29.15cts, diamonds 8.29cts), set in white gold

David Morris – the London jeweller never ceases to excel. His jewels at PAD in London were superlative. This majestic pair of ruby and diamond feather chandelier earrings, set with marquise cut rubies, peardrop rubies, trillion diamonds and pave set diamonds – encapsulate the glamour, gregariousness and glisten of the festive season, £POA.

www.davidmorris.com

KIKI MCDONOUGH

Kiki Unique 18ct Yellow Gold Green Tourmaline Oval Drop with Fire Opal with Diamond Surround

With forty years of formidable jewellery collections and Catherine, Princess of Wales a firm fan – it is not surprising that these exquisite earrings, set with green tourmalines and fabulous fire opals, encapsulate the festive season, £10,500.

www.kiki.co.uk

ANNOUSHKA Flight Josephine Malachite Earrings

The new Art Deco inspired collection, Flight, sees the eponymous jeweller steer away from her usual organic forms and go linear. Arrow motifs, which promote protection and peace, are incorporated into clean forms, whilst featherheads encourage freedom. This pair of earrings are gold set with diamonds and enamel, £9,900.

www.annoushka.com

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

Perlée Ring

The fabulous French maison recently held a spectacular exhibition at Kensington’s Design Museum. While bracelets from the Alhambra Collection, a long-time favourite of the Queen Consort, were often worn during the signing of innumerable important documents. This ruby and rose gold ring is part of a new collection – Perlée, recently launched at Harrods, £11,600.

www.vancleefarpels.com

FABERGE

White Gold, Diamond and Emerald Fabergé Imperial Zenya Pendant

Nothing is more Imperial or indeed iconic than a Fabergé egg. Egg pendant necklaces were given to a girl just before Easter from her first birthday onwards, secured to a little bracelet chain – this tradition evolved into the charm bracelet. Fabergé still creates exquisite eggs, both Imperial and Pendant sized! Above is a diamond and emerald egg pendant, which looks perfect no matter the season, £44,160.

www.faberge.com

FESTIVE fancy

HARRY WINSTON Majestic Escapes Rainforest Ring

Winter in NYC is like nowhere else, and Manhattan’s King of diamonds is a dab hand at holiday jewels. This ring, part of the Rainforest Suite, is set with a sumptuous central tsavorite (5.49cts), surrounded by further tsavorites and diamonds set on the showstopping ring’s shoulders, £POA.

www.harrywinston.com

LE VIAN

The Geneva, Oval Ruby Ring

Once a guardian of royal jewels in 18th century Persia, the fine jewellery house of Le Vian unites two luxury worlds – glamorous high style jewels and hand-made high jewellery pieces incorporating rare, precious diamonds and gemstones. This beautiful, 2.79ct oval ruby ring is surrounded by diamonds and set in white gold, £POA.

www.levian.com

pearls In Memory of Her Late Majesty The Queen Queen Elizabeth II wore pearls almost every day, if not a necklace then earrings – often both. In the tradition of his great grandmother Queen Victoria, her father George VI gifted his two daughters two pearls every birthday since birth – and when they reached 18 years old, these pearls were strung into a necklace. The three strand necklace from her father was perhaps her most sentimental piece of jewellery and worn, intermittent with two replicas, up until her recent death. The original necklace was inherited by her daughter, the Princess Royal.

Words: Josie Goodbody

MIKIMOTO (Main photo and right) After years of unsuccessful attempts to recreate real pearls, Kokichi Mikimoto, finally succeeded in 1893. Six years later he opened the first Mikimoto boutique and then in 1913 a boutique in London. Mikimoto made lustrous pearls affordable, at a time when Queen Alexandra and her daughter-inlaw Queen Mary were seen with strands of pearl necklaces wound around their necks. 4This particular strand of creamy white Akoya perfect pearls is a breathtakingly long 100 inches with an 18ct white gold clasp. It can be worn in a multitude of ways – but I’d channel Queen Elizabeth’s great grandmother and swirl them several times around my neck, £POA.

www.mikimoto.com

YOKO LONDON With a fab new flagship store on Sloane Street, this fifty year old, born and bred London brand puts pearls first. To celebrate Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, Yoko created the Jubilee Masterpiece – a tiara that cleverly transforms into an equally sumptuous necklace. Set in white gold with 181 Japanese Akoya and Australian South Sea pearls with 31 carats of diamonds, this piece is pearlticularly spectacular, £POA.

www.yokolondon.com

BONHAMS

This stunning, three strand cultured pearl bracelet, with a mid-20th century floral clasp, set with brilliant and baguette diamonds, is up for auction on December 7th at Bonhams Knightsbridge. Estimate of £2,000-3,000.

www.bonhams.com

BOODLES

Another iconic British brand, Boodles began in Liverpool in 1798 and have recently celebrated 225 years with an exhibition at the city’s Lady Lever Art Gallery. Here South Sea cultured pearls set in platinum are suspended from double diamond (1.34ct) set kite shaped drops, £11,000.

www.boodles.com

GARRARD

No jewellery maison is more regal than Garrard. From 1843 to 2007, this 300 year old British institution was the Crown Jeweller and many of the pieces that we see today on members of the Royal Family were created, or indeed altered, by the brand; including the crowns. They probably know more about the late monarch’s pearls than anyone else. The Rose Garden High Jewellery Pearl and Diamond Necklace is set with 817 round diamonds and 190 cultured freshwater pearls, is as majestic as anything in the Royal Collection! Set in white gold, £230,000.

www.garrard.com

TASAKI

Shunsaku Tasaki began farming pearls on Kyushu Island, Japan in 1933 and twenty years later he established his eponymous production, as one of the principal suppliers of cultured pearls. Today TASAKI is one of the largest producers of Akoya pearls. The business created its first jewellery designs in 1967 and is now known for its contemporary vision of unique pearl and diamond creations. This lovely pair of Chorus Valley earrings in platinum plated white gold is set with Akoya pearls and diamonds, £69,600.

www.tasaki.co.uk