St Albans Life Magazine November 2013

ST ALBANS LIFE

ST ALBANS LIFE W I T H D E S I R A B L E A R E A S A C R O S S B E A U T I F U L H E RT F O R D S H I R E ISSUE 86

NOVEMBER 2013

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WWW.THELIFEMAGAZINES.COM

Prince of the Airwaves

We meet Jonathan Vernon-Smith from BBC 3 Counties Radio

THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2013

Dracula Therapy Launches at ASC A New Chapter for Auberge du Lac Get Your Skates On LOCAL LIFE | HISTORY | EVENTS | BEAUTY | HOME & GARDEN | PROPERTY

Welcome to our November issue...

This winter marks a new chapter for Auberge du Lac, as emerging chef Marcus McGuinness heads up the kitchen. He has made the move from London and his former position as head chef at two Michelin Star restaurant Hibiscus to develop the menus at Auberge du Lac. Having spent the majority of his career working in Michelin Star restaurants, including Le Champignon Sauvage and Chavignol, and with renowned chefs Claude Bossi and David Everett Matthias, Marcus is looking forward to bringing his expertise, discipline and attention to detail to Auberge du Lac. Jonathan Vernon-Smith from BBC 3 Counties Radio is the Silver winner of the Sony Radio Academy Awards 2013 for ‘Best Speech Programme’ and Gold winner for ‘Best Mid-Morning Show’ at the Gillard Awards 2013. He is a feisty, fun, straight talking radio presenter who’s not afraid to tell it like it is. He is authoritative and is fearless in his approach when it comes to holding decision makers and rogue traders to account, but also has a wicked sense of humour. His show is one of the most popular radio programmes in Hertfordshire. We met up with Jonathan Vernon-Smith at St Albans’ very own hidden gem – St Michael’s Manor Hotel.

It seems that Hollywood can’t get enough of new HydraFacial skin rejuvenation, billed as the new lunchtime beauty ‘pick-me-up’ beauty treatment. It is loved by the likes of Beyonce, Eva Mendes and Kate Winslet. But don’t worry, you wont have to travel to Hollywood to experience it’s magic, as it is now available at the multi-award winning Riverbanks Clinic in Hertfordshire.

The HydraFacial procedure is a non-invasive and non-surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate your skin with immediate results, minimal discomfort and no downtime.

It has been designed to nourish and moisturise the skin, leaving it soft, supple and hydrated. The HydraFacial combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydration all in one quick treatment. With a course lasting just 60 minutes, it is set to become the most popular lunchtime beauty ‘pick me up’ of 2014.

This gives you just a small taste of exciting events & articles featured in this month’s issue...

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Faye Manning Faye Manning Editor

PUBLISHED BY THE FISH MEDIA GROUP LTD, THE RIDINGS, WOODFIELD LANE, ESSENDON, HERTS , AL9 6JJ.

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www.thelifemagazines.com EDITOR Faye Manning EDITOR’S ASSISTANT Katie Miller SUB EDITOR Alex Lux SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Jade Hughes DESIGN & PRODUCTION Toni Perry ACCOUNT MANAGERS Sinead Sheil, Anita Hill SALES James Marshall DIRECTORS Rory Smith, Patrick Smith

A DV E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

Are you running the risk of outliving your savings?

In a world of low interest rates, volatile markets and increasing life expectancy, David Gibson offers some useful guidance on retirement planning.

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lthough the State Pension provides a limited income (currently £5727.80 for a single person, per annum, based on a full NI record), it falls drastically short of what is really needed to fund a comfortable lifestyle. So how do we avoid poverty in retirement?

First, decide how large a fund you will need. One method is to multiply your target retirement income by 25. For example, if you think you’ll need £25,000 a year, aim for a fund of £625,000.

Next, select the most appropriate investment vehicles to achieve your goal. Property, Investment Bonds and ISAs have all proved popular over recent years but don’t offer the same degree of tax breaks or guarantees as a pension. Take advice from a trusted financial professional. If your retirement is imminent you will obviously want to maximise your income from the money available. But be aware – you’ll need to make it last.

Retirement funds are coming under increasing pressure from the simple fact that we’re living longer.

In 1981, a person’s pension was expected to last them for 16 years. With people generally living longer and facing the possibility of funding a retirement that could now last 20 years or more. So what are your best income options? Most people will be familiar with annuities, whereby you exchange pension funds for a guaranteed annual income from a life assurance company. Annuities are fixed for life but they can be linked to inflation and furthermore, can provide your partner with an income when you pass away.

The annuity rate offered by the life assurer is affected by the prevailing yield on gilts and corporate bonds.

Annuity rates have recently been falling. Nevertheless, it is imperative to exercise the Open Market Option – your right to compare annuity rates in the market – before making a decision.

An alternative to an annuity is something called income drawdown. These schemes aim to outperform annuities by investing in assets such as stocks and shares. With recent market volatility they have not performed well. That said, opportunities may exist for those phasing in retirement as markets will, eventually, bounce back. Deciding how you take your pension benefits is complex and necessitates professional advice.

DAVID GIBSON WEALTH MANAGEMENT Associate Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management

Tel: 07769 225982 Email: david.gibson@sjpp.co.uk Web: www.davidgibsonwm.co.uk

David Gibson Wealth Management is based locally and is inviting Harpenden Life readers to discover the simple yet highly effective steps you can take to protect your wealth and stay in control - helping the right amount of it pass to the right people at the right time.

Wealth Preservation Surgeries are being held, strictly by appointment only, on 6th December at the Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa. All surgeries last approximately 40 minutes and are held in the strictest confidence without obligation.

Call 07769 225982 for more information or your complimentary guide to wealth management.

For further information or to request your complimentary guide to retirement planning, please contact David Gibson of St. James’s Place Wealth Management. David can be contacted by phone on 07769 225982 or by email on david.gibson@sjpp.co.uk.

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and the value may fall as well as rise.You may get back less than the amount invested.

The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The title ‘Partner Practice’ is the marketing term used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

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Web: www.kdcuk.co.uk Email. info@kdcuk.co.uk

F E AT U R E

Redbourn Studios R

Redbourn Studios, located in the heart of Redbourn Village, close to Harpenden and St. Albans, offers professional photography with fresh ideas and a unique style. un by Paul Gardner and Zoe C, Redbourn Studios opened in 2012 and provides stunning wedding, family and commercial photography; having a background of fine art, photography and media, we are committed to creating outstanding photography of the highest standard.

Our Photoshoots... We are professional photographers who believe in personal service. We want you to enjoy your photoshoot as much as the pictures you take home and we like to spend a little time getting to know you before your shoot. You are always welcome to call in and meet us, look around the studio, view our work, and have a chat about your photo session. Our style of photography is relaxed and informal so that we can capture beautiful natural images that you will treasure for years to come.

We love to photograph children…. We know that it takes lots of energy and patience to capture forever those magic moments. We want the whole family to feel comfortable, confident and happy, and you will find our studio is large enough for small children to roam around and have fun in.

Our Weddings... To photograph a couple on their Wedding Day is a real privilege and such an important role. We photograph with an informal, friendly approach, and always with passion and professionalism. We have had the pleasure of photographing weddings at some of Hertfordshire’s most stunning venues, and most recently, further afield at the Queens Eyot, Windsor and Santorini.

We offer a large selection of wedding albums from some of the most prestigious companies worldwide, as well as fine quality British manufacturers. Our albums are all available to view at the studio together with a

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beautiful selection of classic frames and contemporary wall products.

Our Commercial Photography... Redbourn Studios also offers a complete solution for any commercial projects. From portfolios, corporate headshots to product photography - we have the skills and knowledge to deliver amazing results and create the right image for your business. We also offer photography at your own premises, for use in website or brochure production, for example, and can attend hospitality events such as a new product launch, award presentations, parties and other special occasions.

Our Studio... our new, custom-built professional studio is situated in a charming grade II listed building, and whilst we use the very latest lighting, photography and post-production technology, the studio is warm and inviting. We can accommodate up to twenty people – perfect for getting the winning shot of the whole family.

Our gift vouchers... make the perfect present for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or to welcome a new baby. These are available either for a photoshoot or for any amount of your choice - for a gift that lasts and is sure to please.

We have the best job. Seeing people’s faces light up when they see their photos for the first time is hugely rewarding – it’s what makes our job special. We love to make sure our clients leave with a huge smile on their face, and photographs they can truly enjoy and treasure. We look forward to welcoming you!

For more information about Rebourn Studios, 78 High Street, Redbourn, Herts AL3 7LN call 01582 966562 or email info@ redbournstudios.co.uk www. redbournstudios.co.uk

LO CA L A RTS

AFTERNOON SHOWERS

BY HARRY BRIOCHE

A Room with a View Autumn is a wonderful season, one where nature embraces the opportunity to display a profusion of complex colours through its foliage. Few activities beat a leisurely stroll in the crisp morning air to blow away the cobwebs! This provides us with an ideal opportunity to appreciate the diverse landscape vistas which abound us, and provide such warmth and energy.

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hat we now commonly refer to as landscape art has some interesting origins though. The word ‘landscape’ entered the modern English language as landskip (spelt various ways), which was an Anglicization of the Dutch word landschap, at around the start of the 17th Century.

Back then, it was purely used as a term for works of art, with its first use as a word for a painting in 1598.

Many an artist has captured the natural world around them in expressing their emotions, notable British artists including Constable and Turner, and it’s little surprise that landscape works continue to enthral many a viewer.

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ILENCE IS GOLDEN S

BY LAWRENCE COULSON

Reviewing the artists represented by Gallery Rouge, we thought we’d share with you the works of just a few landscape painters and their source of inspiration.

Harry Brioche Harry Brioche was born in the Seychelles, famous for pristine white sun kissed beaches. Whilst still a child, Brioche’s family moved to the UK, settling in Manchester. Having been used to life outdoors Harry continued to spend his free time exploring his surroundings and became entranced by the skies he found here, describing them as ‘moody’.

Brioche’s loose impressionism wonderfully captures the softness of the Lake and Peak Districts.

LO CA L A RTS

E TERNITY

BY PHILIP GRAY

Philip Gray Philip Gray combines his love of painting with his second passion, that of the sea. Having enjoyed 17 years in the Navy, Philip had the unique perspective of observing the British and Irish shorelines from the Atlantic Ocean. For a moment his work allows you to remove yourself from the daily chaos around you, and has ensured his position as one of Irelands celebrated living artists.

David Renshaw David Renshaw is an emerging landscape painter whose tight painterly approach is winning global admiration, where his rise can be described as nothing less than meteoric. Renshaw has been particularly applauded for his portrayal of dramatic sky and cloud formations, which form the focus of his works.

Lawrence Coulson Lawrence Coulson must have inherited his painting skills from his hugely successful father, Gerald Coulson. Living on the borders of the Cambridgeshire fens, his work engage the sense of an endless horizon. Rich colours convey the warmth of a setting sun or the rise of a new day.

Peter Wileman Peter Wileman, the current President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, is an accomplished and respected artist. His works convey the spirit of spontaneous creativity, which makes them both compelling and uplifting. Born in Middlesex, Wileman travels the British shores extensively seeking out expressive backdrops.

If you would like to see a wider portfolio of quality artwork, or would like professional help and assistance in identifying art for your home or office, visit the Gallery Rouge studios in both St Albans and Harpenden. Alternatively visit their website at www.galleryrouge.co.uk

ROLLING HILLS

BY DAVID RENSHAW

D ANCING LIGHT

BY PETER WILEMAN

27 Chequer St, St Albans, AL1 3YJ 01727 860401 stalbans@galleryrouge.co.uk

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E DUCAT I O N

Courage, Courtesy and Compassion

St Columba’s College provides a seamless education in an inspiring and challenging environment where boys from the age of four to 18 years old aspire to achieve their own best standard.

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Catholic school, St Columba’s is open to boys of wide variety of religious traditions, with learning underpinned by the Columban code of Courage, Courtesy and Compassion. While striving for academic excellence the College realises that it is whole-person education that best prepares boys for the world, recognising that moral and spiritual qualities are essential in achieving roundness of character.

In addition to the curriculum, there is an extensive Extra and Extended Curriculum ranging from the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Combined Cadet Force to Young Enterprise. These activities develop qualities of selfknowledge, teamwork, leadership and resilience.

The College regularly wins trophies for rugby, athletics, basketball and other sports. There is a strong tradition of music, drama and public speaking with regular concerts and drama productions. Debating is very strong and, in February, the College again won the county final of the ESU Mace.

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The school’s strength lies in the combination of high expectations, a culture of mutual respect and care, creating a stimulating happy environment in which boys thrive and learn, building firm foundations for confident socially-skilled pupils. The community is vibrant and the students are the best evidence of what a Columban education can produce.

Most of the Prep boys progress naturally to the Senior School.

Academic performance is good, with boys winning scholarships every year; all are challenged from the earliest stages to ‘achieve their own best standard’. There is a high teacher to pupil ratio, and teaching assistants help throughout the school.

The College is proud of its strong reputation for pastoral care and both the Prep and Senior Schools have a well-developed house system, forging positive relationships and encouraging healthy competition.

Browse the website and book an individual tour of the College with one of the boys: www.stcolumbascollege.org

F E AT U R E

A new chapter for

Auberge du Lac Set 543 acres of stunning Hertfordshire countryside, within the Brocket Hall estate, Auberge du Lac has long been a destination restaurant for people who enjoy fine-dining in relaxing and peaceful surroundings. With three AA Rosettes, this award-winning restaurant has established a reputation for high standards of cuisine and service.

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his winter marks a new chapter for Auberge du Lac, as emerging chef Marcus McGuinness heads up the kitchen.

He has made the move from London and his former position as head chef at two Michelin Star restaurant Hibiscus to develop the menus at Auberge du Lac. Having spent the majority of his career working in Michelin Star restaurants, including Le Champignon Sauvage and Chavignol, and with renowned chefs Claude Bossi and David Everett Matthias, Marcus is looking forward to bringing his expertise, discipline and attention to detail to Auberge du Lac. Marcus describes himself as a very hands-on chef; he makes an effort to get involved in every aspect of his dishes, working closely with, and helping to train his team. When creating a new menu or dish, Marcus involves his core team of six in the creative process. Once an idea has

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been suggested, the team sources the ingredients and tweaks it until each chef is happy with the final result.

The menus at Auberge du Lac will change both with the seasons and whenever inspiration strikes Marcus to experiment with a new ingredient or taste combination. Having grown up in rural Oxfordshire, Marcus takes most of his inspiration for new dishes from the countryside, by going out walking and discovering new ingredients, or meeting artisan producers. This love of the British countryside contributed to his decision to move from the Capital to Auberge du Lac, which is located in a former hunting lodge, and set in a picturesque landscape. Here, he will focus on the use of seasonal and local produce, including ingredients discovered within the grounds of Brocket Hall through his favourite pastime, foraging.

F E AT U R E

Esteemed chef Anthony Demetre is also joining Auberge du Lac as culinary consultant and will be working with Marcus to help create the new menus and oversee the development of the restaurant.

Anthony is the chef-owner of the Michelinstarred restaurants Wild Honey and Arbutus, as well as Parisian brasserie Les Deux Salons and has been instrumental in changing the perception of dining out, with his philosophy of using inexpensive ingredients to create accomplished cooking, in a relaxed and unpretentious surrounding. Working in partnership with Marcus, the chefs will combine their styles - Marcus’s being a balance of ingredients to create a fresh and robust flavour – to move Auberge du Lac in a new direction, with an exclusive menu offering.

Positioned on the banks of the idyllic Broadwater Lake and only 25 minutes from London by train, Auberge du Lac is the perfect destination for a celebration and has five private dining rooms

to accommodate parties of two to 30 guests. For a unique dining option, the restaurant has taken an unusual spin on the traditional chef’s table with its Cloudy Bay experience, where guests can enjoy a virtual dining concept using state-of-theart technology that lets guests interact with Marcus and watch him create a six-course tasting menu.

To make the most of Auberge du Lac’s scenic surroundings, luxury accommodation is available in the 16-bedroomed Melbourne Lodge, which is located within the grounds of the Brocket Hall estate. The restaurant offers an Auberge Package for £315 per couple, which includes overnight accommodation, a bottle of wine on arrival, dinner for two, a full English breakfast the following morning, and a newspaper.

For more information and reservations, please visit www.brocket-hall.co.uk/dining/auberge-du-lac/

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F E AT U R E

Jack & Frank Together Again Jack Daniel’s Launches Special Edition Frank Sinatra Whiskey ®

The true and timeless relationship between Frank Sinatra and Jack Daniel’s has received a satisfying salute with the launch of Sinatra Select. Destined to be remembered as one of the finest releases by Jack Daniel’s, this special edition Tennessee Whiskey celebrates a legendary friendship that lasted more than half a century.

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ith a bold oak flavour, rich amber colour and exceptionally smooth vanilla finish, Sinatra Select is crafted from special ‘Sinatra barrels’ – each hand selected by Master Distiller Jeff Arnett – and bottled at 90 proof. The ultra-premium whiskey’s especially full character and dark rich amber colour is achieved by exposing the classic Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey to extra layers of toasted wood on the inner surface of the barrels. This results in a smooth, but bold whiskey, which embodies the smooth, bold character of Frank Sinatra and his impeccable taste.

The classic, black Sinatra Select bottle depicts flashes of orange, said to be Frank Sinatra’s favourite colour as he thought it was the ‘happiest’. Packaged within a sleek, limited edition box, Frank Sinatra’s signature and iconic fedora hat is found on the bottle, along with the Jack Daniel’s Country Club logo, designed by ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself. Also enclosed is a booklet telling the captivating story of the legendary Jack Daniel’s and Frank Sinatra relationship Sinatra Select honours Frank Sinatra’s loyalty - a lifetime fan of Jack Daniel’s.

Look onstage any given night and you would see Frank Sinatra, in his trademark tuxedo, captivating audiences everywhere. Look a little closer and his favourite drink, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, wouldn’t be far away.

The legend was buried with a pack of Camel cigarettes, a dime and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.

Frank Sinatra also developed his own Jack Daniel’s country club, even designing the blazer logo himself – the Daily Mirror on May 31st, 1962 reported Frank flying into the UK early for his tour saying no one recognised him as he strolled around the West End: ‘Perhaps it was his clothes. No “Pal Joey” hat. No snappy suit. Just flannels and blazer. And on the blazer, a badge bearing the letters J.D…The J.D stands for Jack Daniels, an American distiller.” (Jack Daniel’s was small back in the 60s!)

JD was his favourite drink. The Daily Express on Wednesday June 13th, 1962 reported that Sinatra in a London side-street studio “waved a bottle of his favourite Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Sour Mash Sipping Whisky – two bottles supplied by the record company at £3 8s each.” Commenting on Sinatra

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Select, Frank Sinatra Jnr. says “Dad would be very flattered by the association.

This fine Tennessee Whiskey, or Old No. 7 as he referred to it, was a favourite part of my father’s life and he loved both sharing it with his friends and introducing it to new acquaintances. I’m very pleased to continue to be a part of the Jack Daniel’s family and feel the introduction of Sinatra Select is an appropriate tribute as we near my father’s 100th birthday in 2015”.

Independent in character, with an appealing smoothness, it is no surprise Frank Sinatra found a friend in Jack - a relationship that Jack Daniel’s now extends to whiskey lovers worldwide. Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select is available in The Whisky Exchange (www.thewhiskyexchange.com), Selfridges and The Whisky Shop from early November with an RRP of £150.

For more information, visit http://www.jackdaniels.com.

About Jack Daniel’s Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey-Based Ready-to-Drink Beverages.

About Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) is a joint venture between the Sinatra family and Warner Music Group. FSE owns Sinatra recordings from the Reprise era as well as a treasure trove of films, television specials and unreleased footage, photos and audio recordings, which collectively represent one of the foremost bodies of artistic work of the modern era. FSE also owns and manages Sinatra’s name and likeness rights and represents the artist’s rights to Columbia and Capitol catalogues. (www.sinatra.com).

Stockists: The Whisky Exchange, Selfridges and The Whisky Shop RRP: £150 Website: http://www.jackdaniels.com Maturity isn’t just about whiskey. Please enjoy responsibly.

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FO O D & D R I N K

DINNER BY HESTON BLUMENTHAL

The Michelin Guide

Great Britain and Ireland 2014 Restaurant stars revealed

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Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner receives its second Michelin star.

The UK’s four three Michelin star restaurants retain their stars, including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

he Michelin Guide has announced the winners and losers in the 2014 star ratings. The Michelin guide is the Oscars of the foodie world, with stars being dished out to UK restaurants after extensive inspections. The Oscars of the UK and Ireland restaurant world have just been revealed.

The Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2014 has the power to make or break a restaurant as the ‘Michelin stars’ accolade is gifted or taken away.

Always the centre of controversy amid suggestions that the Frenchoriginating Michelin guide is out of step with British cuisine and the average diner, the star system used in the Michelin ‘Red Guide’ remains the key yardstick by which all UK restaurants are judged.

The 2014 Michelin guide reveals that 15 restaurants have gained their first star, including Tom Seller’s Story and Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House.

Heston Blumenthal has come up trumps again with his London restaurant Dinner landing its second Michelin star this year. Meanwhile there were no new three star restaurants. All four of the UK’s existing three-star restaurants, including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck, have retained their elite three-star status.

This year marks another intriguing year for the UK restaurant scene,

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which has shown a surprising resilience to tough economic times.

The latest awards suggest that, while many of us have reined in our spending, there are still enough high-rollers to keep the British dining scene in pretty rude health.

Speaking from Australia, Heston Blumenthal said of winning his second star for Dinner, “Absolutely brilliant – I am overjoyed. It’s great news for Ashley [Palmer-Watts, head chef] and the whole team. It’s been an incredible two and a half years for Dinner and this is just simply the highlight. As a Brit, I am very proud that a restaurant inspired by and celebrating historic British cooking has been recognised today”.

The Michelin Guide 2014 also reflects our changing dining habits. “In the last year we’ve seen the rise of relaxed counter dining but also the opening of some big brasseries” said Michelin guide editor Rebecca Burr. “Dining is becoming a less structured, less formal affair and opening times and menus are more flexible to reflect the way we live our lives. The Michelin guide has always reflected what’s out there and London in particular has never offered so much choice – there really is something for everyone and for every occasion and there appears to be no end to the number of exciting new restaurant openings. With cuisines and culinary influences from all parts of the globe, it’s no surprise that the capital is one of the most exciting cities in the world for food.”

FO O D & D R I N K

HESTON BLUMENTHAL

GORDON RAMSAY ESTAURANT R GORDON RAMSAY

A LAIN DUCASSE AT THE DORCHESTER

ALAIN DUCASSE AT THE DORCHESTER, MAYFAIR

There are 15 new one-stars, bringing the total to 138 UK-Wide. There are three new two-star restaurants, bringing the total to 20 UK-Wide.

Three stars

“Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey” Fat Duck, Bray aterside Inn, Bray W Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair

Two stars

“Excellent cooking, worth a detour” EW Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at N Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park & Knightsbridge NEW Greenhouse, Mayfair Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library), Mayfair L’Enclume, Grange-over-Sands/Cartmel Michael Wignall at The Latymer (at Pennyhill Park Hotel), Bagshot Midsummer House, Cambridge Gidleigh Park, Chagford Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham Whatley Manor (The Dining Room), Malmesbury The Hand and Flowers, Marlow Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons,

Oxford/Great Milton Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Auchterarder Patrick Guilbaud, Dublin The Ledbury, North Kensington Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, Mayfair Le Gavroche, Mayfair Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Mayfair Hibiscus, Mayfair Square, Mayfair

One star

“Very good cooking in its category” EW Story, Bermondsey N NEW Lima, Regent’s Park and Marylebone NEW Social Eating House, Soho NEW HKK, Shoreditch NEW Brasserie Chavot NEW Outlaw’s at the Capital NEW Angler, Islington NEW Ametsa with Arzak Instruction NEW Bo London Alyn Williams at the Westbury Dabbous, Fitzrovia Hedone, Chiswick Medlar, Chelsea Trishna, Marylebone St John, Soho Launceston Place, Kensington Tom Aikens, Chelsea Hakkasan Hanway Place, Bloomsbury Pied à Terre, Bloomsbury Club Gascon, City of London

The paper version of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2014 is now available in bookshops priced at £15.99.

Also published is the Michelin Guide London 2014, priced at £11.99. This

H arwood Arms, Fulham R iver Café, Hammersmith L a Trompette, Chiswick S t John, Clerkenwell R asoi, Chelsea K itchen W8, Kensington The Glasshouse, Kew G alvin La Chapelle, Spitalfields C hez Bruce, Wandsworth A maya, Belgravia A psleys (at Lanesborough Hotel), Belgravia P étrus, Belgravia B enares, Mayfair G alvin at Windows (at London Hilton Hotel), Mayfair H akkasan Mayfair, Mayfair K ai, Mayfair M aze, Mayfair M urano, Mayfair N obu (at The Metropolitan Hotel), Mayfair N obu Berkeley St, Mayfair P ollen Street Social, Mayfair Tamarind, Mayfair U mu, Mayfair Wild Honey, Mayfair L ’Autre Pied, Regent’s Park & Marylebone L ocanda Locatelli, Regent’s Park & Marylebone Texture, Regent’s Park & Marylebone S even Park Place (at St James’s Hotel and Club), St James’s A rbutus, Soho Yauatcha, Soho Q uilon, Victoria

guide provides extended text on London’s restaurants, with additional photographs and information on all starred establishments, as well as a pull-out map. It also includes a selection of London’s best hotels, across all categories of comfort.

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Fishpools has grown over the last 114 years and today we are the largest quality furniture store in the south east.

Our 62,000 square feet of showrooms feature over 200 room sets from classic to contemporary, minimal to vintage and rustic to romantic all designed to help you make your home unique. There are over 200 sofa collections, 150 dining ranges, 100's of beds, 75 bedroom ranges, and a large carpets & rugs department. Choose from a wide range of linens, soft furnishings, pictures, mirrors, lighting, cookware and gifts from our Home Accessories departments.

If it’s big name brands you’re after, we stock Stressless, Natuzzi, Collins & Hayes, Calligaris, Cattelan Italia, Duresta, G Plan, Ercol, Nolte, Vi Spring, Tempur, Brintons, Crucial Trading, Harlequin, Romo, & many more.

As a family-run retailer our commitment to great service begins as soon as you enter the store to be greeted by our well trained, knowledgeable people, who will assist you on all aspects of your purchase until it is safely delivered to your home. So pop in, we have ample customer parking, an in-store coffee shop and we look forward to making your acquaintance.

Start a fine romance with our dreamy crushed velvet Persia bed Just one of 100's of bed styles in our range Visit our website to see all our ranges

High Street Waltham Cross . 01992 63 64 65 . www.fishpools.co.uk

New Showroom Now Open 59 High Street Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 2SL Tel 01582 256008

E DUCAT I O N

Why choose an independent sixth form college?

O

WORDS JAMES WARDROBE

ver recent years independent VI Form colleges have established themselves as very reliable and successful providers of preuniversity education. Most of the best colleges are members of the Council for Independent Education (CIFE). CIFE, founded in 1972, is a national association whose colleges are spread widely over the country, each one offering individual features but all subject to high standards of accreditation.

Details of each college can be found at www.cife.org.uk These colleges offer: a major advantage of independent VI Form colleges over a school’s sixth form lies in the wider range of choice of subjects and much greater flexibility of subject combinations. Most colleges allow you to pick virtually any combination of subjects and there are commonly over forty different AS and A level subjects to choose from. Different types and lengths of A level course are also available. If you want to join a college for the second year of A level, not only will you find many colleges which can provide the right A2 courses, but most will allow you to combine A2 courses with a new AS level or even a subject in which you cover both the AS and A2 during the year. So, apart from the variety of subjects, you will find standard two-year courses, final-year (ie second year) courses, one-year courses (covering AS and A2 modules) and retake courses (both one term and one-year). GCSE courses are also offered at all colleges. Intensive Easter Revision courses at both A level and GCSE are available at many colleges.

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Teaching The best colleges, including all CIFE colleges, have experienced and enthusiastic teachers who are A level subject specialists. They are familiar with all the requirements of the various examination boards and are often examiners for the syllabuses they teach.

They often have the advantage of being able to specialise in their subject at a particular level for a particular exam syllabus throughout their whole teaching timetable, unburdened by any lower school teaching requirements.

Independent VI Form colleges offer small group teaching, usually with a maximum of 8 students per class. The informal, relaxed nature of the smallgroup environment enables the teacher to establish quickly and maintain a very productive and beneficial working relationship with you, with close supervision of your work and plenty of individual attention, encouragement and advice. Entrance Academic and pastoral support is a high priority for these colleges.

Their academic advisors keep up-to-date on the latest requirements of the university admissions departments and will make sure that you receive plenty of support in completing your UCAS form as effectively as possible. Some colleges run very sophisticated and targeted programmes of support for students applying for the most challenging university courses, e.g. Medicine.

For more information, go to www.cife.org.uk or telephone 020 8767 8666.

01727 789416

01442 353088

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Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2013 FRIDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2013 - SUNDAY, 5th JANUARY 2014 (CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY) 10am - 10pm EVERY DAY (ON 22nd NOVEMBER 2013 ONLY - OPENS AT 5pm)

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ickets are now on sale for London’s spectacular Christmas destination - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Returning for six exciting weeks of winter festivities with FREE admission there will be even more entertainment and new attractions than before.

PWR Events and The Royal Parks are thrilled to announce the main attractions that will be making a welcome return to Capital’s most popular and dazzling winter event.

Following its sell-out success last year, The Magical Ice Kingdom will return and double in size with even more breathtaking snow and ice sculptures.

The largest of its kind in the UK and created especially for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, this awe-inspiring sub-zero experience will take you through a fantastical world of real ice and snow. This year there’s even more to explore.

Take a stroll through the Kingdom’s idyllic ice village - ride in the ice swan and spot the frozen jumping fish. Then as danger stirs beware of the ice trolls, and join the knights to slay the giant ogre. Follow your adventure into the ice castle where the scary dungeon awaits... Back by popular demand is the castle’s ice slide – and new this year is the Ice Bar for a quick refreshment to help you on your way.

The UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink stretching over 1,600m2 will once again be located around the picturesque Victorian Bandstand, on which there will be live music played throughout the day and night as skaters take to the ice for a spin. For those who want to gaze at the action from above, the iconic Giant Observation Wheel will illuminate the skyline.

Other favourite attractions making a welcome return include Santa Land, a haven for young visitors with many exciting new rides and attractions as well as Father Christmas, who will be there every day with a sack of gifts. There will also be over 200 chalets in the beautiful Angels Christmas & Yuletide Markets offering unusual and handmade gifts and crafts, including ceramics, candles, jewellery, wooden toys, nativity scenes and Christmas decorations.

Following a sell-out run last year, the UK’s favourite circus, Zippos Circus returns! Zippos will perform two different shows – the ever popular daytime show for all the family, and an evening show for older thrill seekers. Back by popular demand, the Zippos VIP boxes will be available to hire for evening

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shows, where you receive fast-track entry, and watch the show from the comfort of your own private box with a bottle of champagne and delicious chocolates, all included in the price.

Always quick to sell out, Zippos Christmas Circus is a perfect treat for all the family. A mix of colour, comedy and thrills, starring world-class jugglers, clowns and aerialists, the show is fun-packed from start to finish and at 50 minutes is the perfect length for little ones.

For the evening crowd Zippos returns with, Cirque Berserk a very contemporary circus thrill show with strange characters, knife-throwing, fire, ultimate High Wire, sensational Wheel of Death and much much more! Cirque Berserk goes where no circus has gone before. The awe inspiring Wheel of Death, a beyond-thrilling spectacle starring two extraordinary acrobats spinning together in an unbelievably small steel wheel, a death defying knife throwing act, and a daredevil high wire act will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The ever-popular Bavarian Village will be ready to serve even more bratwurst and mulled wine whilst hosting live music throughout the day and evening.

In addition to the many restaurants and bars there will be delicious food available throughout the attraction to help you warm up on a cold crisp winter’s day. And for those thrill-seekers, there will be an array traditional and high energy rides.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a huge hit with the celebrity crowds, those who have been spotted enjoying the festive treats have included: Prince Harry, Kate Moss, One Direction, Amanda Holden, Uma Thurman, Rod Stewart & Penny Lancaster, Russell Brand, Pixie Lott, Claudia Schiffer & Matthew Vaughn, Chris Martin, Tom Cruise, Liam Gallagher and Liz Hurley.

So book early for the Ice Skating, The Magical Ice Kingdom, Giant Observation Wheel and Zippos Circus to avoid disappointment and discover what 12 million visitors have already enjoyed.

Online booking: www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com Follow us: www.facebook.com/winterwonderlanduk or @hydeparkwinter

Weddings at Brocket Hall

F E AT U R E

Snake charming with jewels. words Adrian Hailwood, Business Manager at Fellows

As 2013 is the Chinese year of the snake, it is no surprise that the serpent motif is enjoying resurgence in popularity. Both new designers and established houses are finding novel ways to interpret this most ancient of jewellery designs. he snake is, if you pardon the pun, a most flexible design for jewellery; it naturally forms into a hoop, a spiral or a lariat design. The head can be included or not depending whether a naturalistic or figurative approach is required. The texture of snakeskin allows opportunities for goldsmithing, engraving or stone setting as decorative techniques.

In mythology the snake has had a number of different meanings. The image of a snake with its tail in its mouth creating an unbroken circle symbolises eternity while the process of a snake shedding its skin hints at rebirth and immortality.

Snakes can represent lust, temptation, fertility, wisdom and both good and evil so there is rarely an occasion where the correctly presented snake jewellery would not be appropriate.

So strong is this motif that it has become bound up in the identity of several famous jewellery manufacturers, particularly Boucheron in Paris and Bulgari in Rome. Bulgari has used the snake in both its naturalistic and figurative forms since the earliest 2 8 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

days of the company. The development of the distinctively flexible ‘Tubogas’ link lent itself to serpentine forms for rings, necklaces and bracelets. One of Bulgari’s most characteristic and enduring watch designs features a dial set into the head of a snake with the Tubogas coils forming the bracelet. One of Bulgari’s latest collections ‘Serpenti’ revisits these themes in both jewellery and watches using both the Tubogas and more segmented links.

A more stylised Bulgari serpent design is shown in their ‘Spiga’ collection. These ribbed and stone-set coils are unmistakably Bulgari but without heads and tails they merely evoke the spirit of the snake without focus on the details – possibly a more versatile option, especially for the more ophidiophobic jewellery buyer. Two stunning examples of Bulgari’s Spiga collection, illustrated in the pictures opposite, are offered in Fellows Antique & Modern Jewellery auction on 5th December.

With both a ring and bracelet up for grabs, what better way is there to close the year of the snake and prepare for the Christmas party season, all in one go?

An auction of Antique & Modern Jewellery Thursday 5th December at 11am

A selection of items featuring in the upcoming auction Estimates ranging from £400 to £18,000.

Visit www.fellows.co.uk/life for a complimentary catalogue Fellows Auctioneers | 19 Augusta Street | Birmingham B18 6JA | 0121 212 2131 London Office (Valuations By Appointment Only) | 2nd Floor |3 Queen Street | London W1J 5PA | 020 7127 4198

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ENJOY A MAGICAL EVENING AT

The Macmillan Enchanted Ball

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TUESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2013, THE DORCHESTER, LONDON

nter this year’s glamorous party season in style at Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual flagship event The Enchanted Ball, held at London’s legendary Dorchester Hotel. Guests will be treated to a magical evening of glitz and glamour, stellar live entertainment and sumptuous food. The cast of the West End’s Les Miserables are set to enthrall as entertainment for the evening while Lord Archer wields the hammer as auctioneer.

Guests will have the chance to bid for a range of incredible prizes, some of which have been hand-picked by celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Martin and Emma Thompson.

Prizes include a luxury trek up Mount Kilimanjaro with a lavish lodge safari, a sailing trip around the Seychelles and a five-star holiday in Cape Town. In addition racing driver Susie Wolff has donated the race suit she wore for her first official Formula One test drive at Silverstone.

Susie said: “In 2011 I lost both my dear grandmothers to cancer. The support our family received from the Macmillan nurses was invaluable and we will always be thankful. As everyone who has been affected by cancer knows, this is an incredibly tough time.

“Macmillan supports not only people with cancer in their daily lives but also their families and

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carers. I am very proud to be an ambassador and help raise vital funds as I know what a difference they can make and how much the support can significantly improve people’s quality of life.” Last year the event raised an impressive £225,000 which helped Macmillan ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

For tickets (£2,000 - £5,000 per table of 10, or from £200 for individual) please see macmillan.org.uk/enchantedball or call 020 7840 4800.

About Macmillan Cancer Support Cancer is the toughest fight most of us will ever face. But you don’t have to go through it alone. The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way. They are the nurses and therapists helping you through treatment, the experts on the end of the phone, the advisers telling you which benefits you’re entitled to, the volunteers giving you a hand with the everyday things, the campaigners improving cancer care and the fundraisers who make it all possible.

More than one in three of us get cancer.

Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help. We are Macmillan Cancer Support.

For cancer support every step of the way, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 00 00.

F E AT U R E

THE CONNAUGHT LAUNCHES

Limited Edition Martini Experience

Christmas Gift Crackers

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his Christmas, the Connaught, one of London’s most revered and respected hotels in the heart of Mayfair, continues to build on its links with the art world, creating the must-give gift of the year for art lovers with a penchant for martinis: the ultimate martini experience perfectly packaged as a unique Christmas cracker.

Featuring a miniature diver spearing an olive, the cracker is a tribute to the work of Christopher Boffoli, who belongs to a select group of artists who play with scale, magnifying and subverting the everyday to create a world for his meticulously handpainted miniature figures to inhabit. Each of the specially commissioned, limited edition, handmade crackers is not only an artwork in its own right to be cherished, but also entitles the recipient to a specially created martini experience at the hotel’s iconic Connaught.

Hosted at a table reserved exclusively for the recipient and three guests with delicious canapés from the kitchens, the Connaught Bar’s award winning mixology team will take them on a journey of discovery as they craft a bespoke martini (two for each guest) using a range of blended Vermouths and mono-fragrance bitters, exclusive to the Connaught. The recipient will also receive a cocktail book and set of Connaught bar recipe cards to take home with them as a memento of this very special experience.

Commenting on the project Nathalie Seiler-Hayez, General Manager of the Connaught, says: “The Connaught is synonymous with Christmas.

The hotel is a special place throughout the year, but it’s especially magical during the festive season. With this creative and original take on the traditional Christmas cracker, the hotel brings together the ideal

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experience for the ultimate connoisseur, referencing an appreciation of art with impeccable taste for the perfect martini.”

With work from the likes of Julian Opie, Damien Hirst and Sean Scully and photographers Slim Aarons, Horst and Todd Burris, the Connaught has always been at the forefront of championing art in a way that is rarely seen outside the world’s best galleries.

The limited-edition Connaught Christmas cracker costs £250.

Crackers can be purchased by contacting the hotel directly via email to crackers@the-connaught.co.uk About the Connaught In the heart of London’s Mayfair, the Connaught, part of Maybourne Hotel Group, blends contemporary style, classic English character and impeccable service to create the ultimate in sophistication. Rooms and suites to suit every mood, exquisite cuisine from Hélène Darroze, the charm of the Connaught and Coburg Bars, and Europe’s first Aman Spa make this the perfect place to rest, relax and dine in style. www.the-connaught.co.uk About Maybourne Hotel Group Maybourne Hotel Group whose headquarters is in Mayfair, London, owns and manages, Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley three of the world’s most renowned hotels. Maybourne hotels are committed to delivering authentic and unique guest experiences that reflect the individual nature of its hotels, its guests and its people whilst maintaining a timeless elegance and intuitive service style that are the hallmarks of its properties. www.maybourne.com

F E AT U R E

SKATE AT SOMERSET HOUSE CANARY WHARF

LONDON EYE ICE RINK

Get your skates on... this winter A guide to London’s coolest ice rinks Ice Skating at Westfield London From 21st November 2013 - 5th January 2014 This Christmas, Westfield London’s central atrium space will once again be home to a spectacular Christmas ice rink. Made with real ice and situated indoors, it’s the perfect place to go ice skating in London with your friends or family. Take a moment out from gliding through the stores to gliding the ice. Revel in the fashionable surroundings of Westfield London’s indoor rink, in The Atrium. Fun Penguin and Seal stabilisers will keep young skaters looking like professionals and festive tunes will provide the perfect soundtrack for a magical experience. Tickets for the ice rink are on sale - Kids themed sessions, Wednesday 2-for-1 for students and date and disco nights ensure something for everyone. Book now and take advantage of the off peak tickets at uk.westfield.com/london Eyeskate at the London Eye From 27th November 2013 - 5th January 2014 This winter add a little sparkle to your Christmas visit, take to the ice as the iconic London Eye presents it’s very own, open air ice skating rink in 3 4 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

the glorious shadow of the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel right in the heart of the fabulously festival Southbank in London. By day guests can enjoy the breathtaking views of this feat of engineering and by night festive lighting will provide the perfect atmosphere to have some fun with friends, family and colleagues alike. Open 7 days a week.

Book online at www.londoneye.com or at the onsite ticket office.

Ice at the Tower at Tower of London From 16th November 2013 - 5th January 2014 What better way to celebrate the festive season than ice skating in the 1000 year old Tower Moat. Back by popular demand for yet another year. Feel the cold tingle of London’s crisp winter air, listen to the music, and take in the incomparable surroundings as you glide (gracefully or not so) around the rink in the moat of one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you pop along with friends during your lunchtime, plan a romantic date or decide to make a day of it at this world-famous fortification, the Tower of London ice rink is one of the coolest locations for winter fun with a group of friends or a festive family gathering. www.toweroflondonicerink.com

F E AT U R E NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

HAMPTON COURT PALACE

TOWER OF LONDON WESTFIELD LONDON

WINTER WONDERLAND, HYDE PARK

Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park From 23th November 2013 - 5th January 2014 Winter Wonderland celebrates its 7th year! The UK’s largest outdoor Ice Rink will once again be located around the picturesque setting of the historic Victorian bandstand, creating a beautiful centre piece for Winter Wonderland. Stretching over 1,350m2, the outdoor rink will be the biggest of its kind. You can feel the cold tingle of the crisp winter air, listen to the music and take in the festive surroundings as you glide around the rink in London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland provides fun, laughter and excitement for both adults and children. As well as the stunning ice rink and observation wheel, Winter Wonderland includes gentle rides for younger children.Children can meet Santa in his grotto every day from 10am to 6pm. Entry is free but the queue will close at 4pm on busy days. Book online at www. hydeparkwinterwonderland.com Natural History Museum Ice Rink Until 5th January 2014 Embrace winter at their 950-square-metre ice rink, London’s most spectacular winter attraction. Set within the lawns of the Natural History Museum, the Ice Rink will offer an array of entertainment and events for all ages, plus a lovely Café Bar where guests can warm up in the most cosmopolitan and cosy fashion. For those who don’t wish to take to the ice, but want to soak up the festive fun and stunning surroundings, the stylish Café Bar will offer sumptuous food, drinks and entertainment for all to enjoy. Book online at www.nhm.ac.uk or call the 24-hour Ticketmaster hotline on 0844 847 1576.

Skate at Somerset House, The Strand From 14th November 2013 - 5th January 2014 Skate at Somerset House is one of London’s most glamorous ice rinks.

Enhance your experience with Skate Extras and opt for champagne &

chocolate, dinner at Tom’s Kitchen or a luxury stay at The Savoy.After dark, music turns up the tempo as the rink transforms into an ice dance floor as part of the Club Nights sessions. Top live DJs from Europe and the UK’s leading clubs spin the latest soundtracks while you skate. Glad Tidings Tuesdays brings the spirit of Christmas to Skate at Somerset House on Tuesday evenings with festive music, a special late night shopping experience at The Christmas Arcade, and traditional yuletide treats including mince pies, toffee apples and mulled wine served rink-side.The Christmas Arcade is the ice rink’s pop-up mall with stalls from the very best of British brands and independent artisans. Book online at www.somersethouse.org or call Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1520 Ice At the Palace, Hampton Court Palace From 30th November 2013 - 12th January 2014 The Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink returns this festive period for another skating season. Put on your ear muffs, gloves and skates, grab someone’s hand and have some fun this Christmas. The outdoor ice rink at Hampton Court offers spectacular views of the magnificent Palace that Henry VIII once lived in.Book an evening session to see the palace lit up after dark while you skate under the evening stars! The Ice Bar & Café provides a welcome place to warm up after your skate, serving a selection of winter drinks and festive snacks. Book online at www.hamptoncourticerink.com Ice Rink Canary Wharf Until 16th February 2014 Located in the heart of Canary Wharf, and bathed in twinkling festive lights, it is even bigger and better than last year, the rink has a unique skate path which leads skaters under trees lit with fairy lights then back onto the main rink. Their onsite bar is brought to you by Boisdale, offering a range of festive drinks and food. A party package is available for larger bookings. The bar also features an outdoor viewing terrace from which non-skaters can watch the fun. Prices vary, visit www.icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk for more details on party bookings and ticket prices.

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F E AT U R E

The Waiting Room…

‘It was our dream come true’ according to the three friends and owners of the new Vintage Tea Rooms and Home Interiors Store on Totteridge Lane.

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aroline, Lisa and Sophie turned their dream into reality when they spotted the perfect location next to Totteridge Station and came up with the most appropriate name.… The Waiting Room. ‘We were very determined and knew exactly what we wanted the shop to look like’ the customers were told on opening day 8 weeks ago.

On entering The Waiting Room you are inspired by the beautiful, calming atmosphere, with soft music playing in the background, lamps in every corner to create an inviting and cosy style.

You can’t compete with the menu which has simple home cooked food with a personal twist. Only the freshest ingredients are used and all food is lovingly cooked, breakfast with friends, lunch with family and you could never have enough cake.

Home Interiors are a huge part of The Waiting Room. They passionately source beautiful, unique original, pieces for your home. With their own in house interior design team ready to advise and inspire. The vintage pieces are sourced near and far, each one telling a story, a memory attached to them and a tradition carried on.

As well as accessorizing your home, you need search no more for that perfect Christmas gift, one customer commented that ‘Christmas is

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complete with The Waiting Room in Totteridge.’ With lots of gifts to choose from and Christmas decorations to fill your home, there’s no doubt it’s The Waiting Room’s favourite time of year.

For an extra special treat why not indulge yourself to an afternoon tea, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or fancy a special something, The Waiting Room can make it a truly memorable day with no party too small and catering for your every need.

For a truly remarkable experience, The Waiting Room is the one stop shop for Totteridge, bringing something new and inspiring to the area. Definitely worth a visit especially with the Christmas season fast approaching.

Opening Times Closed Mondays | Tuesday – Friday 8:00 – 17:00 | Saturday 9:00 – 17:00 | Sunday 11:00 – 16:00

For more informationa about The Waiting Room, 50-52 Totteridge Lane Whetstone London N20 9QJ call 0208445-0424 or email thewaitingroom3@gmail.com @thewaitingroom3

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HIGHCLERE CASTLE

Enjoy the Downton Abbey Experience

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with the London Shooting Club

he London Shooting Club is an exclusive members club and something a little different, often including the chance to meet leading concierge service that specialises in providing access to the experts, entry into London’s exclusive private member’s clubs, and late finest shooting experiences in the UK and internationally. night revelry.

The London Shooting Club is very pleased to offer a bespoke shooting experience to both members and non-members that The London Shooting Club also offers a concierge service for both private will make you feel as if you have stepped into the cast of Downton Abbey. and corporate members and their guests providing high quality shooting Release your inner Lord & Lady Grantham as you shoot game on the throughout the UK and abroad. The Club uses its extensive network of estates of the finest of Britain’s stately homes contacts and experience to give its members the WEST LONDON SHOOTING SCHOOL including Highclere Castle where Downton best shooting throughout the year.

Abbey is actually filmed.

The London Shooting Club will have four Spend the day with The London Shooting membership levels. Beginner for those looking Club taking aim at everything from pheasant to learn to shoot, Competent for those who are to partridge in the ground of Britain’s most looking to return to the sport or progress from stunning homes and you may even catch a a novice level and Advanced that is ideal for glimpse of the real Lord & Lady Grantham. So if those shots who are of intermediate to advanced you want to relive the golden era what better way level and able to book game shooting days. than a day with The London Shooting Club.

The London Shooting Club finally also offers a corporate membership. To get the most out Based at the prestigious West London Shooting of Shooting Club membership, you need to be School but using various prestigious shooting comfortable and safe handling a firearm - but it grounds around London, The London Shooting is fine if you’re rusty! Shooting Club Membership Stately Homes include Club offers unrivalled access and expertise to is £335 payable annually for Competent and Highclere Castle Ashcombe those interested in shooting, from beginners Advanced memberships whilst the beginner Blenheim Palace Great Tew wishing to take up the sport, to the advanced. membership is £195 annually.

West Wycombe Estate Chavenage Working with leading experts and top shoots to Belvoir Castle Ashcombe House arrange group trips, tailored experiences and So join the Shooting Club London if you’re game instruction in all disciplines of shooting, whether it be a shooting clinic, a training session, private trips to venues of special interest or a talk from leaders in the field of shooting.

It can be hard for city-bound shooting enthusiasts to find quality places to shoot or even just enjoy the company of other followers of the sport.

The packed diary of social evenings, lectures and parties which each bring

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www.londonshootingclub.com twitter.com/LondonShooting www.facebook.com/TheLondonShootingClub

M OTO R I N G

FIRST DRIVE

PORSCHE 911

TURBO S

WORDS BY MATT JOY

The supercar has been reinvented for the 21st Century. Mention the ‘S’ word to most people and they think of crazy looks and monstrous performance but crucially the other thing that springs to mind is a near-absence of usability. For some people at least it’s not a supercar if you can see out of it and your spinal column is still intact at the end of the journey.

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here’s another element at work here too. The Porsche 911 has been an aspirational sports car for exactly 50 years, since it was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963. And yet for all that love for some reason it hasn’t be regularly regarded as supercar material.

But that might well be about to change.

Turbocharged 911s have always delivered a fearsome amount of performance in a pretty compact package, but the current 991-series of 911 now has a turbo model of its own. Two, to be precise; the Turbo and Turbo S. Both use the same 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat six engine, but the faster S has a mighty 552bhp and 516lb.ft of torque - although there’s an overboost function which serves up 553lb.ft for short bursts.

That sounds like a lot because it is. Squeezing 552bhp into 1,600kg is going to deliver spectacular performance, particularly

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when all that power is harnessed so well. The Turbo S uses the same four-wheel drive system already seen in the 911 Carrera 4, alongside the superlative seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox.

A further refinement to the gearbox includes ‘virtual’ gears - additional ratios created by a degree of clutch slip to boost efficiency.

Efficiency might seem pretty unimportant in a car like this but the fact that the Turbo S is still capable of 29.1mpg when driven with restraint just illustrates its remarkable versatility. Just like any current 911, the Turbo S offers a very civilised drive when required.

The seats are comfortable and very supportive, the PDK gearbox operates seamlessly and that mighty engine is quiet when you want it to be.

That might sound like a recipe for a dull machine, but in truth even a car like this will spend the majority of its time being driven sedately, in town, in traffic or on its way to somewhere possibly more

M OTO R I NG

exciting. When you’re in the mood to just get home with a minimum of fuss, it’s happy to oblige and more than capable too.

That is half the story, however. You get a hint of what’s on offer even when driving normally; give the accelerator a delicate extra squeeze away from the lights and even with plenty left in reserve it pulls away as if it’s being towed by a passing jet plane.

But to really experience what it can do you need to push a few buttons.

Slip the transmission into manual mode, hit the Sport Plus button and get ready. Gear changes are speeded up, the active dynamics system stiffens the suspension and the active aerodynamics are deployed for increased downforce. The results are spectacular. The engine responds instantly to the accelerator and, whatever the revs, delivers a breathtakingly emphatic shove forwards. It never lets up either; the next gears snap in instantaneously to give one long, huge surge of acceleration for as long as you dare flatten the pedal.

You can experience the full force of this by initiating a launch control start; simply squeeze the brake with your left foot, floor the accelerator then release the brake. All four wheels dig down and put all that power to the road in an instant. Such is the force at work it is genuinely dizzying in first gear and 62mph passes in 3.1 seconds, but it feels even faster than that.

Even more amazing is how such terrific performance is so benign

too. Our test route included many laps of a racetrack, and despite its power and expense the 911 Turbo S could be hurled about with virtual abandon. The four-wheel drive, the PDK gearbox and the dynamic stability control combine to allow full use of the immense power, but leave the driver feeling fully in control and bursting with confidence. Few cars could be driven so hard and so quickly by a driver unfamiliar with both the car and the circuit.

It is the duality of its personality that makes the 911 Turbo S so compelling. It is as comfortable and usable every day as many ordinary hatchbacks, yet given the space it is fantastically entertaining, outrageously fast. Sure it’s not cheap, but it’s as good as getting two cars in one.

FACTS AT A GLANCE Porsche 911 Turbo S £140,852 Engine 3.8-litre petrol unit producing

552bhp and 553lb.ft of torque Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch

transmission driving all four wheels Performance Top speed 197mph, 0-62mph 3.1 seconds Economy 29.1mpg Emissions 227g/km of CO2

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• Same day service • Drivein or dropoff • Fullrange of finishes • 12 months Guarantee • Branches Nationwide

Turn your worn, corroded and damaged wheels into something you can be proud of or create a new individual look for a fraction of the price of replacement wheels, with our full specialist refurbishment service.

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F E AT U R E

Prince of the Airwaves

JONATHAN VERNON-SMITH FROM BBC 3 COUNTIES RADIO IS THE SILVER WINNER OF THE SONY RADIO ACADEMY AWARDS 2013 FOR ‘BEST SPEECH PROGRAMME’ AND GOLD WINNER FOR ‘BEST MIDMORNING SHOW’ AT THE GILLARD AWARDS 2013.

N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3 4 5 PHOTOS BY WARREN COOPER PHOTOGRAPHY – WWW.WARRENCOOPERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

F E AT U R E

He is a feisty, fun, straight talking radio presenter who’s not afraid to tell it like it is. He is authoritative and is fearless in his approach when it comes to holding decision makers and rogue traders to account, but also has a wicked sense of humour. His show is one of the most popular radio programmes in Hertfordshire.

Life Magazine’s Patrick Smith met up with Jonathan Vernon-Smith at St Albans’ very own hidden gem – ‘St Michael’s Manor hotel’...

Home is... Leafy Hertfordshire. In my opinion the nicest county in the country. The beautiful countryside combined with the transport links and proximity to the capital make it the best place to live.

my resolve to prove myself. I have also been very lucky to be surrounded by some very loyal friends, colleagues and listeners who believe in me.

Whenever doubt creeps in, I think of them.

What’s your favourite type of debate on radio? I have two favourite types of debate. The first, when everything kicks off and the phones go bonkers with people furious at something that’s been said. Sometimes I’ll have several callers on the air at the same time, debating a subject with passion and skill. The other is when callers demonstrate their trust in me and share their personal experiences, often in a very emotional way. People have admitted stuff to me on the radio, they’ve never even told their closest friends.

Last play you saw? I don’t tend to go and see plays. I generally find them boring and fall asleep. I prefer musicals. Billy Elliot and Hairspray being my favourites.

What’s your most memorable show? There have been many. One of my favourites was a phone in about the Royal Wedding. A man called ‘Melvin’ phoned in absolutely furious that we were even discussing it. Seemingly he wasn’t a Royalist. He became angrier and angrier until he blew his top and had a complete meltdown live on the radio. It was absolutely hilarious and went viral around the world. (It’s available on youtube – just type in Angry Melvin!)

Strangest caller? I did a phone in about food sell by dates. A man phoned me to tell me he’d just eaten a delicious tin of corned beef he’d had since the 2nd World war. Apparently the tin made quite a ‘hiss’ when he opened it. I bet it did!

How disgusting!

Favourite place in Hertfordshire? Ayot St Lawrence. To me it’s a magical place with one of the nicest little pubs in the country.

Why have you succeeded in a field where so many others have failed? Oh Gosh! How do I answer this without sounding like a complete big head. If truth be told, I guess I have a bit of talent, combined with an utter determination to succeed. It’s not an industry for people who don’t believe in themselves. You have to deal with a lot of knocks and metaphorical slaps round the face. Many people can’t get past that and find it hard to cope with. The knocks however always seem to strengthen 4 6 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Tell us more about your typical day? I wake up at 5:45am most days.

My working day starts at 7am with my team when we pore over the papers and decide the topics we’re going to discuss. I go on air at 9am until 12pm and then work for a couple of hours after the show. I normally get home just in time to crack open a bottle of pinot and catch up with the rest of the days news.

What makes you proud to be from Hertfordshire? Most of it is beautiful, even the towns. Very few counties have both nice villages AND towns. We do. The countryside is breathtaking. The people are generally fabulous too. There’s also quite a low percentage of riff-raff which is nice!

Best place for a first date? I would say a meal at Auberge Du Lac at Brocket Hall. It’s classy, impressive and can be very romantic.

What would you be if you weren’t a radio presenter? I always wanted to be a hotel manager. My grandparents were in the hotel business and ran the White Hart Hotel in St Albans. I was always told I’d be good at it. However, I worked at a local hotel (that will remain nameless) for a couple of weeks. It was so awful and unglamorous it put me off for life. All I ‘ll say to you is – NEVER use the glass in the bathroom without pouring boiling water over it.

What were your dreams as a child? To grow up! I didn’t enjoy being a child. I always wanted to be a man. As such, I was probably a rather peculiar little person. I wore a lot of tweed! I can honestly say I still love getting older every year. I’ll probably regret this when I’m nearly dead, but for the time being it makes me happy. Weirdo eh?!

F E AT U R E Favourite Hertfordshire restaurant? I ADORE a restaurant in Old Welwyn called ‘Vita Ristorante’. It’s simple, reasonably priced and the food is utterly delicious. As a BBC employee though I am contractually obliged to add that ‘Other good Hertfordshire restaurants are available’! ;) First thing you do when you arrive back in Hertfordshire from holiday? Normally race to the shop to buy milk so I can have a ‘proper’ cup of tea. You can take your own teabags abroad but it never tastes the same does it? It’s that funny foreign water.

Animal you’d most like to be? My cat. He sleeps for about 22 hours and day and spends the rest of his time being utterly adored.

What do you like to do in your free time? I’ve just bought a gorgeous vintage bike. My friend Annabel says I look like the village vicar on it, but I don’t care. It’s fabulous and I’ve been spending lots of time cycling around on that. I also love entertaining. My candlelit soirees with executive munchiettes are the talk of my chums. I also love going to Frigiliana in Southern Spain. I rent a gorgeous villa in the mountains there. It’s one of the only places in the world where I’m truly relaxed.

Building you’d like to live in? Any of the houses on Marshalls Drive in St Albans or West Common in Harpenden. I’m saving up although it’s not going very well.

Do you have advice for anyone wanting to start in radio? Firstly, be yourself. Secondly, make recordings and play them to utterly honest friends and family. If they don’t think you’re very good then forget it. If you’ve got talent then you need to be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. Get lots of experience and for goodness sake be prepared to make the tea. I get so sick of snooty, media studies degree students who turn up for work experience on my show and think they’re above making the tea. I make my entire team a cuppa every morning – always have, always will!

Earliest local memory? Ending up in what was St Albans City Hospital A&E with alcohol poisoning. I was 6. My parents had dressed me up as a waiter for a cocktail party the night before. I was so impresed with the colourful drinks, I raided their drinks cabinet the following morning and, well the end result became my earliest childhood memory.

That image of that blue pipe will never leave me!

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? Name and shame the local councillors who are utterly useless. Sadly, whilst there are some brilliant people in local government, the dreadful ones are REALLY dreadful.

They couldn’t organise the preverbial in a brewery! Mind you, I don’t really need to be Mayor to do this. I’ve frequently named and shamed them on my radio show. So, scrub that! I’d just spend the day being driven round in the limo with my chains on looking important!

Where do you go to let your hair down? Normally one of my friend’s houses. We tend to have dinner parties more than partying in bars. I certainly never go to clubs, in fact I hate them. I’d far rather get a little squiffy and have a good old laugh in a friend’s house than in some noisy club that smells of BO and cheap perfume.

I needed to go to the supermarket and get some stuff before I did anything.

I’m ashamed to say I didn’t even brush my teeth. Well, as I stood at the checkout, I was tapped on the shoulder by a lovely lady who described herself as my ‘biggest fan’. I spent 5 minutes talking to her with my hand over my mouth. She must have thought I was a right smelly old tramp!

Best advice you’ve been given? There are lots of idiots in the world, but never let them make you behave like an idiot.

Biggest extravagance? My cars. I change them all the time and always spend far more than I should do. My local car dealer sees £ signs every time he sees me walk through the door.

Best place for a nightcap? I love some of our local pubs. The Elephant and Castle at Nomansland, the John Bunyan, The Alford Arms in Frithesden, the Brocket Arms. They’re all places I’d happily have a drinkie poo!

Who do you call when you want to have fun? My friend Ernie. We did a radio show together for years called ‘The Ern and Vern’ Show. He’s one of the funniest people I know. He always makes me laugh and when we get chatting, I often find myself in an uncontrolable fit of the giggles. He’s also been incredibly loyal to me over the years.

Building you’d like to be locked in overnight? Wine Rack.

Who’s your hero? My Dad. He’s a wonderful man. We lost my Mum when she was far too young, but he has been a tower of strength always. He has always set a fine example to me and my brother.

My work ethic comes directly from him.

He’s not only a great Dad, he’s one of my very best friends.

What are you doing for Christmas? I always go to Argentina every Christmas to escape the cold and that very depressing week between Christmas and New Year.

I love the fact that whilst everyone in the UK is sitting inside watching re-runs of old TV shows, I’m lounging round the pool eating too much red meat and drinking far too much Malbec. Sorry!

Favourite local discoveries? I found that there’s a public footpath that runs right through the grounds to Brocket Hall. It’s a beautiful walk that includes the old bridge looking over the lake up to the house. Breathtaking and it doesn’t cost a penny.

Last album you downloaded? Michael Buble ‘To Be Loved’. I love a bit of old Micky Boobs.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Probably a stone heavier with a few more lines on my face, but hopefully just as happy and content with everything I’m doing in my life as I am now.

At the moment you are... Sitting in the luxurious St Michael’s Manor Hotel in St Albans being made to feel like the centre of attention. Rather enjoyable really!

You can hear Jonathan Vernon-Smith every weekday morning between 9am and 12pm on BBC 3 Counties Radio (on FM, on Digital and online) and follow him on twitter @jvsshow.

What do you collect? Empty bottles of wine generally!

Do you get recognised often? Sometimes. Normally at the worst possible time. I returned from a 20 hour trip back from Argentina one year. I decided

Grateful thanks to Warren Cooper for the photography. He is available for weddings, family portraits and corporate commissions. Contact him on 07944 314556 or warren@warrencooperphotography.com N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3 4 7

Celebrity beauty secrets are revealed as Lisa Haynes takes a peek inside the personal cosmetics bags of three very famous faces.

By Lisa Haynes

B

ehind the scenes at any magazine photo shoot you’ll find an army of spritzers, groomers and preeners to make sure the cover star looks picture perfect. But how do the celebrities manage once the make-up artists and hair stylists have packed up their kits? Here three of the most sought-after style icons Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Holmes and Nicole Scherzinger - disclose their personal beauty regime secrets and reveal how they maintain their dazzling A-lister looks.

Gwyneth Paltrow: Creative inspiration for Max Factor What’s your make-up must-have?

A good mascara and a little blush really goes a long way.

How would you describe your signature look?

I love that really cool kind of beachy look - a little bit undone, with a darker, smudgy eye. I like sexy and understated.

Do you like to experiment with your beauty?

I feel very inspired by women who can wear both strong eye and lip make-up at the same time, but it’s not a look that necessarily suits me. I love a simple red lip teamed with an otherwise bare-looking face.

Do you wear make-up every day?

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No, I don’t wear make-up every day, especially if I’m just working from home or picking up the kids. However, if I have a meeting I’ll definitely put on some concealer, mascara and creamy blush.

What’s your best beauty tip?

I try to look after my skin as much as possible by keeping it fresh-looking through exfoliating and moisturising. I exfoliate my skin about four times a week.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest Max Factor ‘The Actress’ campaign celebrates the launch of the new Creme Puff in gold packaging, £5.99, available now (Boots/ Superdrug)

Max Factor Creme Puff in gold packaging, £5.99 (Boots/ Superdrug).

Left: Katie Holmes for Bobbi Brown Rich Chocolate campaign. (Photo: PA Photo/Bobbi Brown)

Get the A-lister look

Far Left: Gwyneth Paltrow for Max Factor ‘The Actress’ campaign. (Photo: PA Photo/Max Factor); Left: Nicole Scherzinger for Herbal Essences. (Photo: PA Photo/Herbal Essences)

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Bobbi & Katie Palette, £50 (0870 034 2566)

tried & tested

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, from £65 (www.harrods.com Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Bobbi & Katie Mini Brush Set, £45 (0870 034 2566)

Nicole Scherzinger:

Katie Holmes: Face of Bobbi Brown What’s your make-up must-have?

I always apply blush in the morning, because I have dark hair and I really need it.

How does your look differ for evening?

When I’m going out, I apply eye liner on the inside of both the top and bottom lid.

What’s your hero beauty product?

I love the new Bobbi & Katie palette. It complements different skin tones and the colours go from morning to evening, so it’s everything you need in a day.

What’s in your make-up bag?

I used to carry huge tote bags with dry shampoo, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, and a blush brush but realised I had to cut back.

Now I carry a smaller bag with just a makeup palette.

What’s your best beauty tip?

Bobbi has taught me the importance of blending techniques. You don’t look like you have a lot of make-up on, no matter how many products you use - it never looks cakey.

Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Bobbi & Katie Palette, £50, available now (0870 034 2566)

Global ambassador for Herbal Essences What’s your daily beauty routine?

Every morning I wash my face with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, followed by eye cream and moisturiser. The SK-II eye cream is one of my favourite beauty products - it’s just so good.

What’s your make-up must-have?

All I need is some eyeliner and lip gloss.

What’s in your make-up bag?

Max Factor Colour Elixir Giant Pen Stick, Diorshow Black Out Waterproof Mascara, Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder, Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Spray and SUQQU nail polish.

Do you like to experiment with your beauty?

I love to experiment with different looks.

The other day I wore turquoise blue eyeliner underneath my eyes. At the moment I’m also really into bright coral lips.

How do you look after your long hair?

I use the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Conditioner on a daily basis, and Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask as a weekly treat if my hair is in need of some TLC. Special edition Nicole ScherzingHair bottles of Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Conditioner, from £2.25, available now (Boots/ Superdrug)

Buy it now Forget the trench coats.

Burberry’s latest musthave is the designer brand’s debut collection of nail polish. Inspired by the autumn/winter 13 colour palette, the Trench Kisses collection includes oxblood, black and, of course, a trademark trench-inspired shade.

Available now, priced £15 each (uk.burberry.com).

Stephanie Cockroft discovers out her bespoke skincare needs in a session with a high-tech analyser Hands up. I confess I can be a bit slack on the skincare front. So when the chance came to have an in-depth ‘facial assessment’ to show exactly what my skin needs and why, I jumped at it.

Mobile Visia is a scan brought to the UK by American company MyChelle, which detects everything the naked eye can’t. The results give ‘scores’ on each person’s skin: spot level, wrinkles, pores, sun damage, texture and redness.

MyChelle then recommend products which could improve the results and offers free samples to try. There are two quick flashes, then I’m presented with my report, showing my skin in terrifying detail. Among the results, I’ve got 64 ‘spots’ (including freckles) which I’m told could be reduced with Clear Skin Spot Treatment (£13.50). Despite not being a sun worshipper, I’ve got high sun damage and I’m urged to use Apple Brightening Peel (£23), as well as a moisturiser containing minimum SPF30 to help. For my high level of redness, I’m advised to use Deep Repair Cream (£24) and Apple Brightening Mist (£14).

And for my blemish-prone skin, the Fruit Enzyme Scrub (£15.90), followed by a Fruit Enzyme Cleanser (£15.90), should work wonders. My saving grace is that I only have 14 slight wrinkles on my face (I’m still young). The team is so convinced the products will sort out my woes that I’m invited back for a comparative free follow-up scan. The MyChelle advisers explain my results in layman’s terms and also dish out useful tips about general skincare. The cardinal sins include sleeping with make-up, not using an SPF-based moisturiser and using products that don’t match your skin type - which is where Mobile Visia comes in. Granted, I can’t promise I’ll use all these products forever, but at least I’ve got picture-led evidence to show why I should, even though £80 feels quite steep for the analysis. I’ve only been using the products for a couple of weeks and my skin already feels rejuvenated. :: Mychelle Skin Analyser, £80, available at Nutri Centre stores nationwide (020 8752 8450/www.nutricentre.com) :: MyChelle Dermaceuticals range is available from selected Nutri Centre stores and online at www.nutricentre.com

Above: Burberry Trench Kisses Nail Polish, £15 each (uk.burberry.com; All images: PA Photo/Handout.

NN OO VV EE MMBBEERR 22 00 11 33 5 49

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Dracula Therapy Bespoke Anti Ageing Facials just got taken to the next level at the Aesthetic Skin Centre

T

his is one of THE most talked about anti-ageing injectable treatments of the year, and rightly so! PRP Therapy may sound gruesome, giving rise to the names ‘Vampire Facial’ or ‘Dracula Therapy’, but world-renowned anti-ageing and hormone specialists have seen amazing results, from improving fine lines, wrinkles and skin texture, to reducing the signs of scars and stretch marks.

PRP Therapy is truly the way forward; an accomplished 100 percent natural procedure as it uses your body’s own tissue material, eliminating reactions and allergies for that coveted natural look. Simply put, PRP makes sense. It uses your own blood plasma (which is rich in restorative enzymes and growth factors) to accelerate tissue and wound repair. A small amount of your own blood is processed through a centrifuge to separate out the platelet-rich plasma. This bespoke serum is concentrated far beyond the normal levels the body produces.

When PRP is injected back into the skin, the platelets are activated to do what they do best – boost the skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate and repair the tissue in the affected area. It basically kick-starts your own anti-ageing ‘smart-switch’, using your body’s naturally super-charged anti-ageing capabilities.

BEFORE TREATMENT

Trudy Friedman, Owner/Director of ASC and a qualified registered nurse explains why she has bought Dracula Therapy into her portfolio of treatments. “I wanted to be able to offer patients a natural option that is both preventative and restorative, and PRP Dracula Therapy is clinically proven to deliver measurable, safe results. I am very excited to offer it as part of our anti-ageing programme at the Aesthetic Skin Centre and continue to deliver amazing results for my clients.”

Research and clinical data shows that PRP obtained from patient’s own blood is safe with very minimal risk of adverse reactions or complications. 2- 3 treatments one month apart are usually required, with documented effects lasting between 12 – 24 months. As the ageing process is ongoing, support treatments every 6 months are recommended.

Platelet Rich Plasma is your passport to youthful, naturally beautiful looking skin. Form an orderly queue and call us for a personal consultation!

AFTER TREATMENT

For more information visit us at 34 Hendon Lane, London, N3 1 TT or call 020 8346 6567.

Alternatively you can email info@aestheticskincentre.co.uk AestheticSkinCentre 5 0 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

@ASkinCentre

shop online at www.aestheticskincentre.co.uk

The Platinum standard of Aesthetic Care Experience the highest level of professional qualified care from the moment you walk through our door.

We offer a range of treatments from dermal fillers to body contouring, skin tightening and rejuvenation to fat reduction. With over 15 years experience and using the latest technology, the Aesthetic Skin Centre ensures you look your youthful best, both now and in years to come.

We are proud to be the UK’s Centre of Excellence for the FDA approved i-LipoXcell body contouring system.

Contact us to book a consultation

Dermal Fillers . Skin Tightening . Body Fat Reduction . Body Contouring . Scar Treatments . Skin Rejuvenation Frown Reduction . Obagi System . Jan Marini Skin Care . Sesha Skin Therapy

T: 0208 346 6567 W: aestheticskincentre.co.uk E: info@aestheticskincentre.co.uk

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

How to look your best

THE BARE FACED TRUTH

Renowned skincare & beauty expert, Jane Lewis, reveals how to get the best out of your skin & how she & her team of experts at The Skin Shop and Clinic can transform you with their state-of-the-art treatments & sought-after products.

A

s tempting as it is to stick to the same products & treatments that you’ve used since the dawn of time, are they giving your skin what it really needs? Like many things, our skin changes as we get older; treating it in the same way you did ten years ago, in all likeliness, is not going to cater for what you really need to keep you looking your best or help correct the bits you don’t like.

Sir Winston Churchill once so wisely said: “There is nothing wrong in change, if it is in the right direction. To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to change often.” It’s highly doubtful that Sir Winston was talking about skincare regimes, however the same point applies; how can one expect to achieve perfect skin if you are unable to adapt to its changing needs?

Owner of The Skin Shop and Clinic & qualified nurse, Jane, who has been called a “skincare Sensai” & made regular appearances on popular programs such as Ten Years Younger, Bang goes the Theory & Embarrassing Bodies comments: “A lot of people are very product & treatment savvy & take time research what is available out there to them; however it is incredibly easy to buy something off the shelf that isn’t right for you because it’s been marketed well or you’ve mistaken what your skin actually needs”.

So it should come as no surprise that a recent study revealed that the average British woman’s beauty cabinet is worth £1,964.30, with only £327 worth of these products being used regularly; it seems like an awful lot of time & money, not to mention shelf space, has been sacrificed through buying products that have been made redundant & exiled to a life at the back of an overcrowded bathroom cabinet. Manager of The Skin Shop and Clinic, Kerri, suggests: “These statistics indicate that people may have stopped using products after a while because they’ve seen no results from the products they’ve selected, or they simply have too many to choose

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from. It’s often misunderstood that you only need to have a few select products that work & are right for you to achieve great results.”

“Where do we go from here with our rapidly changing skin & nobody but a sales advisor to turn to?” we hear the masses cry. “My advice would be to go & have a consultation with an expert. You only have one skin, you must look after it correctly.” says Jane, “It’s important to find out what’s really going on with your skin & therefore how to improve it, from somebody who is trusted & has a great amount of experience & knowledge so that you can deal with your skin in the most safe & effective way”.

The Skin Shop and Clinic has an extensive range of professional products & revolutionary treatments to help you look & feel your best; not to mention well over 100 years of collective knowledge & experience between their dermatologists, nurses & skin experts. The Skin Shop and Clinic are currently offering free consultations with their experts & a Visia skin analysis, worth £35, which will allow you to see what’s happening with your skin not just on the surface, but sub-topically too.

The Skin Shop and Clinic have solutions to help with...

Fine lines & wrinkles Loose & sagging skin Blemishes Scarring, including acne scars Sun damage, sun spots & pigmentation Enlarged pores Stubborn pockets of fat Unwanted hair on the face & body General skin concerns To book your free consultation & Visia skin analysis call 01727 837429. Find them at 13-15 Chequer Street, St. Albans, AL1 3YP www.theskinshopandclinic.co.uk

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

sleeping beauty Banish eye bags and tired skin with a restful night. Lisa Haynes reveals how to reap the benefits of beauty sleep.

W

ith the clocks going back to signal winter’s imminent arrival, we’re entering a new phase of sleep. Darker mornings are creeping in, making groggy wake-up calls the norm until spring. “Sleep is affected by melatonin levels, which in turn is affected by light and darkness, so the seasonal change causes all sorts of disruption to the body,” explains Dick Middleton, technical director for Schwabe herbal remedies. But if you can get your optimum amount of sleep, you’ll set yourself up for a recharged and revived new dawn. With the restorative beauty sleep fairies getting to work overnight, there’s more to pillow time than meets the eye.

Drift off If you’re a sleep under-achiever, stress and anxiety are often to blame when it comes to disturbed nights. One in five people experience difficulty sleeping, according to Patient.co.uk, and 70% of those are women.

“Sleep is not a passive process - you need to respect it and learn how to do it as a skill,” says sleep expert Kathleen McGrath. Besides bulging eye bags, a bad night’s sleep can also start to manifest itself through a tired-out complexion. “A decline in skin quality can be evident if you’re deprived of sleep for more than one or two nights,” explains McGrath.

“People who do shift work often tend to have more problems with skin and weight gain due to sporadic sleep.” Don’t clock-watch and panic. “You may not necessarily need eight hours sleep a night - it’s really what

64 0 NOV VE EM M BBEERR2 02 10 31 3 5

works for you,” McGrath assures. Herbal supplements can help but need to be taken daily for between two and four weeks before you really see the sleep-inducing effects.

Divine dreamland Forget internet shopping and playing games on your iPad in bed. Create the ideal sleep environment so that your bedroom is fit for purpose - many experts advise that it should be reserved for sex and sleep only. “Start by lighting an aromatherapy candle in your bedroom two hours before you are planning on going to bed to give the essential oils a chance to be released into the air,” advises Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM Organics and qualified aromatherapist. A calming routine combined with pure essential oils is a dreamy double act when it comes to promoting deep sleep. Go to bed with lavender for its proven sedative qualities. “Run a warm, foamy bath with a lavender essential oil and breathe it in while relaxing in the tub. Spritz Tranquillity Bath Foam, your pillow with Organics £20 (www.neomorganics.com) a lavender-based mist, snuff out the candle, and close your eyes while the final layer of essential oils on your skin keep working into the night, keeping you relaxed and in deep sleep.”

Bed buddies Transform beauty nightmares into the stuff of dreams with nocturnal rechargers that work hard while you’re sleeping. The skin’s natural repair process peaks overnight so invest in a catalyst to help boost the process and wake up to a beautiful morning.

Stressed skin: Quench the thirst of dehydrated winter skin with a rich mask you leave on all night long. Try Clinique’s Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, £29 (www. clinique.co.uk), or Aromatherapy Associates’ Anti-Age Overnight Repair Mask, £51 (www. aromatherapyassociates.com).

Flat hair: Give your locks an overnight treatment boost and wake up with recharged tresses. Try TIGI’s Hair Reborn Reparative Nocturnal Therapy, £26.95 (0844 844 0944), or Charles Worthington’s Salon at Home Secrets Collection Moisture Seal Overnight Ultimate Hair Healer, £14.99 (Boots).

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night, £37 (www.philosophyskincare.co.uk) This Works No Wrinkles Tired Eyes, £42 (www.thisworks.com)

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

Tried & tested Make visible pores an open and shut case with a minimiser. Our testers try three contenders: :: The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser, £7.50 (www.thebodyshop.co.uk) Ideal for blemished and acne-ridden skins. While the tea tree oil gets to work on pesky spots, the serum glides on smoothly, leaving skin silky soft with a matte finish. The only drawback is the lingering smell of tea tree, which can be a bit off-putting for those not used to it.

3/5

:: Benefit The POREfessional, £24.50 (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk) This balm is lightweight and easy to apply. It made large pores around my nose and cheeks noticeably less visible. Its matte finish minimised my shiny T-zone, doubling up as a primer too.

4/5

:: DHC Pore Essence, £28 (www.dhcuk.co.uk) This goes on smoothly, doesn’t clog with foundation and takes shine off on first application. Despite the promise of microcapsules of silica vessels minimising pores, I felt that they were reduced but still visible, even after foundation.

3/5

Left: PA Photo/thinkstockphotos; All images A Photo/Handout; * Photo: PA Photo/Richard Pierce

Tired eyes: Pep up peepers and reduce the tell-tale signs of fatigue with an eye-focused product. Try This Works’ No Wrinkles Tired Eyes, £42 (www.thisworks.com), or No7’s Beautiful Skin Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm, £12 (Boots).

Dull complexion: Use a night serum to assist the skin’s natural nightly cell renewal process. Try Estee Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, from £48 (www.esteelauder.co.uk), or bareMinerals’ Active Cell Renewal Night Serum, £38 (www.bareminerals.co.uk).

Languishing limbs: Don’t neglect your hands and feet in the overnight SOS pamper.

Try Ragdale Hall’s Relax Intense Overnight Hand Cream, £6 (www.marksandspencer. com), and Avon’s Foot Works Beautiful Overnight Renewing Foot Cream, £4.75 (avonshop.co.uk).

TIGI Hair Reborn Reparative Nocturnal Therapy, £26.95 (0844 844 0944)

Charles Worthington Salon at Home Secrets Collection Moisture Seal Overnight Ultimate Hair Healer, £14.99 (Boots) Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, from £48 (www.esteelauder.co.uk)*

Beauty bulletin :: Cosmetics clutter Downsize your bathroom cabinet, pronto. The average UK woman uses just a quarter of her £450 beauty collection, according to a new survey by hair and beauty retailer www.Xtras.co.uk. The top five most expensive items in a lady’s beauty haul included: perfume, foundation, mascara, face cream and blusher. When asked why they failed to use the majority of their beauty collection, 41% admitted they regularly bought items they didn’t really need, 22% claimed it was because they had been bought items by people as gifts, while 52% admitted that they probably had products in their beauty collection that were past their use-by dates. :: Recessionista alert Give your skin a double overnight recharge. Buy Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Beauty Sleep Concentrate, £31.50, and get a free 50g Beauty Sleep Body Butter. Offer available now, while stocks last (www.nealsyardremedies.com).

DHC Pore Essence, £28 (www.dhcuk.co.uk)

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H Eo A LT h uHs &e B E AU T Y g ard en

T

he UK has an ageing population but doesn’t have the money or resources needed to care for it’s elderly. Time, distance and other practicalities often mean that despite the best intentions, family members are unable to provide the care needed and have to look at the other care options available.

3 options have long existed as the ‘staple’ elderly care solutions; a basic panic button personal home care or a care home. Each has its benefits and its limitations but none seem able to strike the right balance between the level of care with affordability.

Step forward Alert My Carer, a new local company who might just have come up with the answer. A care system that finally offers a different approach to elderly care and allows family and carers to be fully involved without giving up their own lives, time or savings.

The company is committed to helping elderly people maintain their independence in their own home for longer. Friendships, routines and communities all play an important part in a person’s wellbeing and happiness, yet these are usually destroyed when a person has to make the often undesirable move to a care home.

Alert My Carer has come up with a hi-tech solution to help keep people in their own homes and offer a range of care packages designed to suit all types of requirements and budgets.

The benefits of their system 62

NOVEMBER2013

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For peace of mind show that technology - which plays such an important role in every aspect of our lives - clearly has a useful place in elderly care.

Sensors are installed around the elderly person’s home, monitor their well-being and activity and then send a text message alert when something seems wrong.

Their system monitors movement & temperature within the home, fridge usage and eating habits, whether front and back doors have been left open, bathroom visits, sleep and activity patterns and even if a panic button has been pressed, a smoke detector set off or whether medication has been taken.

The data recorded can be viewed in charts helping behavioural patterns to be

understood, deterioration tracked and care needs to be proactively managed.

The Alert My Carer system is easily integrated with personal home care, to offer the complete home care solution, and the company are about to introduce packages based around panic buttons, medication dispensers and text message emergency alerts.

They rate highly in the affordability stakes too - confident they can save their customers at least £50,000 over two years compared with the cost of a care home. In the last five years over 1 million homes across the UK have been sold to fund elderly care, so a care solution that actually helps people stay in their home and not have to sell that home is a real

positive.

Amit Chadda is a teacher whose grandmother has been using an Alert My Carer system: “The difference Alert My Carer has made to the whole family in just 2 months has been amazing. My mum and I feel totally reassured that we can go about our day as normal knowing we’ll get a text message immediately if something is wrong in Nani’s house. Nani is much happier that we can keep a discreet eye on her and make sure she is ok without it interrupting her life and routines. It really is a win-win solution and it doesn’t cost the earth”.

If you’d like to know more please visit www.alertmycarer.co.uk

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

BEFORE TREATMENT

AFTER TREATMENT

Hollywood’s HydraFacial Arrives At Riverbanks Clinic ™

(If it’s good enough for Beyonce, it’s good enough for us!)

It seems that Hollywood can’t get enough of new HydraFacial skin rejuvenation, billed as the new lunchtime beauty ‘pick-me-up’ beauty treatment. It is loved by the likes of Beyonce, Eva Mendes and Kate Winslet. But don’t worry, you wont have to travel to Hollywood to experience it’s magic, as it is now available at the multi-award winning Riverbanks Clinic in Hertfordshire.

R

anked above the popular IPL, The HydraFacial procedure is a non-invasive and non-surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate your skin with immediate results, minimal discomfort and no downtime. It has been designed to nourish and moisturise the skin, leaving it soft, supple and hydrated.

The HydraFacial combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydration all in one quick treatment. With a course lasting just 60 minutes, it is set to become the most popular lunchtime beauty ‘pick me up’ of 2014.

It is beneficial for every skin type, with serums that specifically target skin issues including sun damage, blackheads, white heads, enlarged pores, brown spots, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles.

The best part is that it’s not just a quick-fix-it procedure either. The HydraFacial improves the quality of your skin, actually helping to make it healthier. The HydraFacial procedure is a two-step process: the in-clinic procedure supported by the daily care treatment. Your HydraFacial results can be extended through the use of the daily care solutions which use the same ingredients found in the clinic serums.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it’s a totally bespoke treatment too! The HydraFacial is tailored to your individual skincare needs, meaning you will get a treatment that is perfectly suited to your skin’s unique requirements.

The recommended course is an initial treatment once a week for six weeks followed by an ongoing maintenance treatment once every two months.

Dr Ravi Jain, founder of Riverbanks Clinic, decided to introduce the treatment after being blown away by the results.

Dr Jain explains, “Anyone who knows about Riverbanks Clinic will be aware that we are rigorous in our selection of treatments and only ever offer procedures that we know are proven to deliver results. The HydraFacial is a fantastic treatment, which combined with the right daily care treatment, can make really noticeable improvements to skin appearance, texture and tone, without the need for invasive procedures, discomfort or downtime.

About Dr Ravi Jain Dr Jain’s expertise and ethical approach to all of the treatments he provides, has resulted in being highly sought after not only by patients but also by several of the aesthetic pharmacological & device companies.

Dr Jain’s passion for excellence extends developing the speciality of aesthetic medicine and as such he is a faculty member for the Masters degree in Cosmetic Medicine at Greenwich University. In 2011, he was invited to become the President for The Society of Cosmetic Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr Jain continues to work extensively with the media, being featured in Elle, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Daily Express, Company Magazine, Top Sante, Red, Glamour, BBC Radio, Living TV, Channel 4’s “Embarrassing Bodies”, Best Magazine, Woman’s Own, Slim at Home, Saga and MSN Style.

For more information visit www.riverbanksclinic.co.uk or call 01582 762877.

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H OUS E & GA R D E N

HERALD

JURASSIC

MULBERRY

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WINGS

JOHN BLY ANTIQUES

Wood

J

ohn Makepeace is the undisputed master craftsman in the world of furniture design and manufacture, recognised internationally as such for the last half century. He is a delight to share a platform with and he spoke of contemporary design and manufacture while I talked about the social background to the development of furniture through the ages. One of the hidden beauties of wood is revealed when you cut into the trunk or branch of the tree. Then you can see its medullar rays or ‘fan’. When in the 17th century furniture makers began to decorate chests and cupboards with thin slices of timber cut in this way it was known as ‘faneer’ cutting and the application of it was called ‘faneering’. But the word soon became corrupted to the easier-tosay ‘veneer’ cutting and ‘veneering’. If you cut where the branch joins the trunk you get a ‘flame’ cut, and a slice of a growth on the trunk will give you a ‘burr’ veneer.

To know more we need to look at a piece of furniture in a number of ways; What sort of timber is it made of? What was – or is – it’s function? How was it made?

Most of the household furniture made in England during the last 300 years was made of local woods, from elm and ash, yew and pine, birch and beech to any of the fruitwoods such as pear and apple but the best quality pieces were made of four main timbers which including oak were all imported and they fall into four main periods:- The Age of Oak, up to and including much of the 17th century, The Age of Walnut, from the mid-17th century to the early 18th century, The Age of Mahogany from the early 18th century to the 19th century and The Age of Satinwood from the late 18th century to the mid-19th century. This included

6 2 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

I recently had the great pleasure of taking part in a presentation to The Inchbald School of Design with John Makepeace. The subject was the hidden Beauties of Wood in relation to furniture. other exotic timbers such as Rosewood, and Coramandel. As an example of function as a guide to social behaviour, in the 1780’s we had a spell of global warming while the latest fashion for women was the diaphanous and simple Empire line which enabled young women to recline on a sofa – you couldn’t recline in a huge hooped skirt – and a table which would pull up to the sofa was designed and for the first time we had a Sofa Table.

There was no such thing in 1750.

Then we come to manufacture. Before the middle of the 17th century furniture was joined with frames and panels or just plain boards, being made by joiners. Hence ‘joined’ or ‘joint’ stools. Although some were sufficiently adept to make cabinets there was no such nominated craft until later in the 17th century. Developments in glass production combined people collecting fine porcelain from China, cabinets with windows were required, and so the distinction between cabinet maker and joiner was born. The craft of furniture making really turned to industry in the last quarter of the 18th century but the great change came after 1847 when T.B. Jordan patented his wood-carving machine which enabled multiple production by one operative. We then had machine made furniture with hitherto unsurpassed degrees of accuracy. Today we have new technology, and when people say conspiratorially “ They don’t make furniture like they used to” and I answer “No they don’t….they make it better than ever”. Which brings me back to John Makepeace and his masterpieces of the 20th and 21st centuries. They must be seen to be believed for their sheer stunning originality and unrivalled quality.

Just go to www.johnmakepeacefurniture.com I am grateful to John Makepeace for the use of his illustrations.

H OUS E & GA R D E N

Simple and elegant...

shutters are the perfect focal point for any room

I

t may be the simplicity of shutters that makes them so effortlessly stunning – it’s almost certainly what makes them fit beautifully with so many design schemes. Whatever trend or look you’re going for in your home, you’re sure to find a shutter in a style and colour to complement your room perfectly – whether you’re looking for natural wood or a clean and contemporary painted finish.

But it’s not all about looks, shutters are incredibly practical too. As you’d expect, they provide excellent control over light and privacy, but there’s more to them than you might think. They also give fantastic insulation to windows – perfect for draughty homes – they’re easy to keep clean and they’re extremely hardwearing, so it’s not just their classic style that will stand the test of time.

Spoilt for choice If you’re sold on shutters but you’re not sure whether they’re within your budget, think again. There are so many ranges, from hardwood through to LDF, which make shutters an achievable option for most.

What’s more, there are a variety of shutter styles and finishes to choose from – you can even get bespoke shutters for shaped

6 4 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

windows, and waterproof shutters for bathrooms. The options really are endless.

Local expertise Premier Shutters, based in Basildon, pride themselves on providing unrivalled experience for anyone looking for shutters for their home. Their staff live and breathe shutters, so you can be confident that you’ll not only get sound advice, you’ll also be absolutely delighted with the finished product.

Their specialist surveyors bring their knowledge – not to mention their wide range of samples – to you in your home. They’ll take precise measurements, offer simple guidance and leave a competitive quote – all without the pressure of a hard sell. You’ll be surprised just how many options there are when choosing shutters, so having a friendly expert on hand to answer questions and provide honest advice really is invaluable.

You can book a no-obligation home survey or simply request a brochure by calling FREE on 0808 250 2581 or visiting their website at www.premiershutters.co.uk

H OUS E & GA R D E N

Make an entrance!

How to create a welcoming hallway E

The hallway is the first room guests see in a house. Make yours warm and welcoming with our inspirational design tips and advice…

ntrance ways tend to be dark and narrow but painting them white isn’t necessarily the best option. “Hallways, especially busy family ones, can take a lot of wear of tear and white be very unforgiving, as well as cold, so a better option, is to choose a light, bright colour in a warm tone. Choose a colour that is a shade or two lighter than the main room the hallway leads to, and it will help create continuity between the two spaces. As this room is primarily a walk-through, you can afford to make a strong design statement and be bold with colour and pattern. Patterned wallpaper with a slight shine will help reflect the light, while vertical stripes can create the illusion of height. If you’re concerned about knocks and scratches, a practical option is to have painted wood panelling on the bottom of the wall, with statement wallpaper above.

Feature flooring Flooring in a hallway needs to be durable but choose wisely and you can create impact while being practical too. If you have a particularly long and narrow hallway, a chequerboard effect on the floor will create the impression of width - the wider the tiles, the wider it will look.

Hallway runners are a great way to inject colour, while colourful striped carpet will instantly enliven a stairway. If you have bare wooden stairs, consider painting each step a different shade of the same colour or have fun with stencils to create patterns or words.

Let the light in Hallways can often be dark, so getting the lighting right is essential. If you

6 6 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

have a high ceiling, a large pendant light will act as a beautiful centrepiece and be the first thing that people see when they enter your home. If the ceiling is low, pendant lights will have the effect of making the room feel smaller, so wall lights are the better option.

Mirrors are a good way to reflect natural light and give the illusion of more space. A large mirror placed at the end of a hallway instantly provides depth, making a hallway feel larger.

Storage solutions Hallways can easily become cluttered so finding a space for coats, keys and shoes is a must. A wooden bench with storage If you have room, offers storage as well as a useful seating area. The more floor space you can see, the larger your hallway will seem and there are lots of great wall-hung cupboards available.

Make a feature Hallways may be small but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a stunning focal point. A narrow console table with a pair of lamps and mirror above makes a pretty focal point - while a vase of fresh flowers or a scented cinnamon candle will create an inviting aroma. A group of family portraits is another great way to add interest and personalise the space. Generally, it’s best to hang fewer, larger pictures as opposed to several smaller ones, as it can make the space seem more confined and cluttered. With a little imagination and the right colours, storage and lighting, you can create an inviting entrance you’ll love coming home to and will want to show off.

H OUS E & GA R D E N

Inspirational Backcare at FineBack R elax Back and enjoy the sheer pleasure of the Varier Gravity Recliner. Inspired by the neutral and balanced posture adopted by astronauts at launch, this zero gravity chair reduces the downward pressures of gravity on the spine. This encourages decompression of the discs and can help to alleviate back pain and the tension it creates. Whether you suffer from back pain or not, the Varier Gravity is wonderful to relax and is a visually stunning item of furniture.

Special Offer Order your Varier Gravity in November or December from FineBack and receive a beautiful Roros Tweed Luxury Blanket free of charge.

This blanket features Classic Norwegian Design and would be a great way to get cosy this Christmas.

Sit Well - Sit Comfortably FineBack are skilled in the art of ergonomic seating. The comprehensive range of office chairs is designed to meet the needs of the individual; fully adjustable and selected to complement the style of working. ‘Active Sitting’ is encouraged in all the chairs, ensuring the chair moves with you as you work, effortlessly following your every movement and giving excellent back support at all times.

6 8 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Height adjustable desks are now becoming more popular as people choose to sit and stand at their workstation. Varying your posture is key to backcare and a variable height desk improves flexibility and alertness, contributing to a more comfortable and productive work environment.

If you would like to investigate how an ergonomic office desk or chair can transform your comfort and posture at work, then speak to Fineback who will assess your workstation and recommend any necessary changes.

Teach Your Children Well Good posture and caring for your back, starts from an early age. It becomes natural, habitual and will benefit you throughout life. Moll from Germany have produced an innovative range of desk and chair furniture designed for children that will adjust as they grow and develop. Height adjustment, tilting desktops and a full range of storage possibilities create a fun environment, that will promote learning whilst ensuring that their posture is adequately protected.

If you would like to discover a new approach to sitting comfort, then speak to the experts at FineBack Furniture on 01727 827744 or view their seating range at www.fineback.co.uk

Your local shutters specialist Request your free home survey for measuring and a EMO One Glassexpert Wharf, Bristol advice, BS2 OEL 0117 311 9000 File name: 12114336_135x95_F-TYPE Y our T urn Bespoke_Hadl e yGreen Client: Jaguar no-obligation quote.

Size: Mod. date: Route: Creative: Production:

135x95

Studio:

9 October 2013 11:28 AM

Version:

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Account:

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Call FREE on 0808 250 12575 or visit premiershutters.co.uk Notes: Dave H

Offline:Jaguar_Offline:Press_Masters_Jaguar:Bespoke:12114336_135x95_F-TYPE Your Turn Bespoke_HadleyG

N/A

the new f-type. your turn.

The new F-TYPE is here. Its lean, muscular lines hint at the driving experience that awaits. Its supercharged powertrain, lightweight aluminium construction and an agile, balanced chassis deliver absolute exhilaration. Now, you can experience the stunning new Jaguar sports car for yourself. Contact us today to take your turn.

Hadley Green JaGuar HadleyGreen.barnet.JaGuar.co.uk 0843 178 0946 how ALIVe Are you?

Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar F-TYPE range mpg (l/100km): Urban 17.8-22.4 (15.9-12.6); Extra Urban 34.0-40.9 (8.3-6.9); Combined 25.5-31.4 (11.1-9.0). CO2 emissions from 259 to 209 (g/km). The Jaguar F-TYPE range from £58,520 on the road.

The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation.

A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENT AT HANBURY MANOR rd

3 December 2013

Treat yourself to some retail therapy this December and join us for our annual Christmas Shopping Event in The Spa at Hanbury Manor.

Relax and unwind with a glass of mulled wine whilst you shop for your friends and family with your favourite product ranges including Decleor, Aromatherapy Associates, Carita, Jessica Nails and more. In addition, enjoy reduced priced treatments as well as a raffle to win some fantastic prizes.

This complimentary event will begin at 12.30pm and will run until 8pm. We advise that you book your treatments in advance to avoid disappointment.

For further information, please contact the The Spa on: 01920 885 010 We will serve Christmas Afternoon Tea throughout the month of December. Golf and Leisure Memberships are also currently available. Please contact the Membership Manager on +44 (0) 1920 885 015 for further details.)

Hanbury Manor, A Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0SD. Telephone: 01920 487 722; Website: MarriottHanburyManor.co.uk

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FA M I LY L AW

What does the future hold for divorcing couples?

One of the questions most frequently asked of family lawyers by clients facing separation or divorce is “What am I entitled to?” The answer to this question will depend entirely on the particular circumstances of the case. Sue Woods, a Family Lawyer at Taylor Walton solicitors looks at how finances are resolved upon the breakdown of a marriage.

W

hen considering how the assets should be divided, there is a general principle of equality. However, in many cases, to divide the assets equally would produce an unfair or totally impractical result. Following a full consideration of all the circumstances, in most cases it will be necessary to depart from equality and for the assets to be divided in some other way. The factors to be considered are:-

to run two households than one. Where there has been a very comfortable standard of living, needs will be assessed more generously than in cases where the parties have always had to manage on a tight budget.

What are the resources available to the parties both in terms of income and assets?

All types of assets and income can be taken into account including potential future assets such as inheritances. Inheritances will often be regarded differently to other assets even where the inheritance has already been received. Likewise, assets acquired before the marriage or after the parties separate can be treated differently to those acquired during their relationship. How such assets are treated will depend on the circumstances of the case and, in particular, the parties’ needs.

What contributions have each of the parties made?

Exceptional contributions may affect the way the assets are divided. There are different types of contribution and the main breadwinner will not be considered to have made a greater contribution than the party remaining at home to look after the children.

What are the parties’ needs, responsibilities and liabilities?

These will vary from one family to another. Although we all have the same basic need for food, clothing and shelter, what is considered reasonable will vary from case to case depending on the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage and the resources available. The children’s main carer will arguably have a more pressing housing need. If one party has remarried or is with a new partner, this new relationship might impose additional responsibilities or alternatively provide more available resources.

The age of the parties and the length of the marriage.

These factors can have an important bearing on the terms of any settlement. In the case of young spouses, particularly if there are no children involved, a clean break is likely to be appropriate with each party going their separate ways. On the other hand, in the case of a long marriage, a party who has effectively given up their career to look after the children cannot necessarily be expected to immediately go out to work and support themselves. The length of the marriage will be less significant where there are children of the marriage as they will represent a continuing responsibility.

The standard of living during the marriage In most cases it will not be possible for the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage to be sustained after separation, it being far more expensive 7 2 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Any physical or mental disability of either party This will be a factor insofar as a disability has a bearing on earning capacity, needs or life expectancy.

Is conduct taken into account?

In most cases conduct or behaviour will not be taken into account and will only be relevant if it is exceptional or has had a direct effect on the resources available, particularly if one party has spent excessively or deliberately disposed of assets in an attempt to defeat the other party’s financial claims.

Financial misconduct, including failure to disclose assets within court proceedings, is more likely to be taken into account than matrimonial misconduct e.g. adultery.

Will loss of benefits be considered?

If either party is likely to lose any benefit, for example pension entitlement, as a result of the dissolution of the marriage, this loss of benefits is a factor that should be taken into account when considering terms of settlement.

In addition to these factors, recent case law has put an added “gloss” on how Judges apply the law, to take into account the principles of “compensation” and “sharing”. However, what the law is trying to achieve in every case is a result that is fair, reasonable and practical, with the needs of any children being the first consideration. At the end of the day, the majority of cases will be driven by needs and practicalities.

Taylor Walton’s Family Law team is recommended as a leading practice for Beds., Bucks., Herts. & Middlesex by The Legal 500, an independent directory identifying the UK’s best law firms. If you would like further information relating to this article, or require advice on your own particular circumstances, please contact Sue Woods on 01582 765111 or email sue.woods@taylorwalton.co.uk

Harpenden Life 1/2 Page

Your family matters

Expert advice for difficult times Effective Solutions for Individuals Call 01727 845245 or visit www.taylorwalton.co.uk Offices at: Luton, Harpenden & St Albans

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newhomes@glentree.com T: 020 8731 9500 MILL HILL EAST

newhomes@prestonbennett.co.uk T: 020 8954 8626

From Cottages to Country Estates

FOR OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PROPERTIES FOR SALE, PLEASE VISIT WWW.STATONS.COM

HADLEY WOOD

£3,750,000

Stunning Re-Built Detached Home in Excess of 7000 Sq. Ft Finished to a Very High Standard 6 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Receptions Carriage Sweep Driveway Electric Gates

HADLEY WOOD OFFICE 020 8440 9797

ARKLEY

£1,685,000

Window of Opportunity – Priced for a Pre-Christmas Exchange 5 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 4 Receptions, Heated Outdoor Pool Detached Gymnasium Extensive Gated Driveway

BARNET OFFICE 020 8449 3383

NEW BARNET

OIEO £995,000

Victorian Family Home 4 Bedrooms 3 Receptions 2 Bathrooms Original Period Features Approx. 100ft Rear Garden Garage Off Street Parking

BARNET OFFICE 020 8449 3383

TOTTERIDGE

£1,800,000

5 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 Receptions Secluded and Private Location Landscaped Gardens and Grounds Detached Garage Off Street Parking

TOTTERIDGE OFFICE 020 8445 3694

ESSENDON

£1,125,000

3 Bedroom Apartment Arranged Over 3 Floors 2 Receptions 3 Bathrooms (All En-Suites) Lift Access, Private Gated Entrance.

BROOKMANS PARK OFFICE 01707 661144

WHETSTONE £675,000 Bay Fronted Semi Detached Family Home 4 Bedrooms 2 Receptions 2 Bathrooms Walking Distance to Underground Station Garage Off Street Parking

TOTTERIDGE OFFICE 020 8445 3694

NORTHAW

£1,795,000

5 Bedrooms 4 Receptions 3 Bathrooms Potential to Extend STPP Detached Studio 118 ft Wide with the Rear Garden being nearly 100 ft deep Double Attached Garage

BROOKMANS PARK OFFICE 01707 661144

HADLEY WOOD

£1,095,000

5 Bedrooms 4 Receptions 2 Bathrooms Large Loft Space with Scope to Convert STPP Delightful Landscaped Rear Garden Extends to Approx. 98ft ‘Secret’ Garden Area

HADLEY WOOD OFFICE 020 8440 9797

RADLETT

£595,000

3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Receptions Courtyard Development 2 Dedicated Parking Spaces Architecturally Designed and Landscaped Rear Garden

RADLETT OFFICE 01923 604 321

SALES OFFICES AT: BARNET 020 8449 3383 TOTTERIDGE 020 8445 3694 HADLEY WOOD 020 8440 9797 BROOKMANS PARK 01707 661144 RADLETT 01923 604321 NEW HOMES SHOWCASE HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9555 PREMIER LETTINGS HADLEY GREEN 020 8441 9796

www.statons.com

Associated Offices in Mayfair, Moscow, China, USA & Monaco

P R O P E RT Y

WAGGON ROAD HADLEY WOOD, HERTFORDSHIRE

A

beautifully presented four bedroom detached family home benefitting from a beautiful south facing rear garden, with views to the front of the property across green belt countryside. The property has a block paved driveway leading to the garage with ample parking for guests.

The property comprises of...

Two reception rooms ‘L’ shaped kitchen/breakfast room conservatory four bedrooms three bathrooms (two en suite)

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guest cloakroom landscaped garden off-street parking garage

summerhouse

Guide Price £1,495,000 Freehold For further details please contact Savills Barnet on 020 8447 4400 or email barnet@savills.com savills.co.uk

Savills Barnet 143 High Street Barnet EN5 5UZ

020 8447 4400 barnet@savills.com

savills.co.uk

SOUTH MIMMS, hertfordshire

HADLEY WOOD, hertfordshire

Two receptions ø conservatory ø utility room ø four bedrooms ø two bath/shower rooms ø integral garage/office ø EPC Rating = D

Three receptions ø three bedrooms ø two bath/shower rooms ø integral garage ø off road parking ø store ø gardens ø EPC Rating = F

Guide £695,000 Freehold

Guide £1.2 million Freehold

HADLEY COMMON, hertfordshire

NORTHAW, hertfordshire

Four receptions ø kitchen/breakfast room ø five bedrooms ø three bath/ Three reception rooms ø five bedrooms ø three bath/shower rooms shower rooms ø utility room ø terrace ø garaging ø gardens (one en suite) ø office & garaging ø swimming pool ø gardens ø EPC rating = E ø EPC Rating = D Guide £1.45 million Freehold

Guide £1.775 million Freehold

Buying or selling this autumn? Talk to Savills.

Land for development?

Are you wondering how to make the most of your LAND? If you have a home with development potential like the one below, you will probably have received letters from builders, developers and estate agents.

You probably know that you can choose how to sell the land: • Sell the site subject to planning • Get planning yourself then sell it • Build the new home and sell that • Do a joint venture with a reputable builder

Before – 1 house and garden

Site sold subject to planning

After – 2 large detached houses

If you are wondering how to maximise your land value – give us a call, we’re able to help with any of the four methods of sale and can work with you to maximise the land value.

In many cases, landowners prefer our developer contacts to seek planning at their own expense so you can remain free from costs and planning expenses.

Please call quickly, we have builders chasing us for land and we recommend acting now before the CIL (tax) is introduced which can seriously reduce the value of your land.

Lance Trendall

THE LAND OFFICE

lance@thelandoffice.co.uk

EXPERIENCE • INTEGRITY • ENTHUSIASM

www.thelandoffice.co.uk

01582 461581

Satisfied Customers The Land Office has made the effort to understand our requirements and regularly introduce relevant land opportunities.

I have known Lance Trendall at The Land Office for over 10 years and have always been impressed by his enthusiasm for his work. His manner is always professional – an approach that not only inspires confidence but also generates finding the right site for our development projects.

Because of his many years in the business – both as a developer and land agent – his experience enables negotiations to proceed through to successful conclusions. We even consult him when we’re buying land through other agents.

The Land Office offers by far the best service for developers – from finding the right sites suitable for my style of development through to successful negotiations with the seller. I particularly appreciate Lance Trendall’s talent for listening to my ideas and talking these through, turning them into effective propositions.

You offer far more than a land buying service, working hard with the developers and landowners alike to maximise the return for all.

Thanks to The Land Office, we sold off the extra garden as a site for a bungalow, paid off our mortgage and had money left for other things.

The Land Office has an established niche in the land market. They have a detailed understanding of planning values and the market place, with an excellent ability to identify opportunities. We are always prepared to go the extra mile with proposals they introduce to us, hopefully reading this, yours is one of them.

Using The Land Office was the best decision we ever made in disposing of a family property. Not only did we have the benefit of a strong negotiator and true market knowledge, but we were able to distance ourselves from potential neighbour concerns and direct negotiations leaving it to the professionals who presented plans and options only when planning considerations had been taken into account. We maximised our return and were frankly delighted. We will be using their services again for other family members in similar situations.

We’ve only just one on the market and you’ve already got offers coming in, thanks for working so fast.

The Land Office: tenacious, knowledgeable, patient and courteous – Thanks.

THE LAND OFFICE

lance@thelandoffice.co.uk

EXPERIENCE • INTEGRITY • ENTHUSIASM

www.thelandoffice.co.uk

01582 461581

TOTTERIDGE. N20

ASKING PRICE ÂŁ1,100,000 FREEHOLD

Real Estates are delighted to offer for sale this detached family home situated off Totteridge Lane and within a stone’s throw of south Herts golf club. The property comprises 2 separate reception rooms, kitchen, guest cloakroom, 4 bedrooms, bathroom/wc, garage, off street parking and approx 76 ft rear garden. Offered chain free, this rarely available home should be viewed to avoid disappointment.

Please contact Real Estates Totteridge Office on 020 8445 3132 or email totteridge@realestates-wsp.co.uk O F F I C E S 74 Totteridge Lane, London N20 8QG

020 8445 3132

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14/14a Sussex Ring, Woodside Park, N12 7HX

020 8445 6387

www.realestates-wsp.co.uk

020 8954 0060 finehomes@prestonbennett.co.uk FINE HOMES S LO EC C LU AT D IO ED N

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HARTSBOURNE AVENUE, BUSHEY HEATH

£2,950,000

This family home's greatest appeal is its location which sees it backing onto the 10th green of the Hartsbourne Country Club.This 6,100 sq ft, 5 bedroom property was designed and built by the current owners six years ago and they have painstakingly created an inviting and warm family home that has stunningly designed interiors. Features include a spacious entrance hall; wide staircases and landings; study;TV room; large reception rooms; contemporary kitchen/breakfast room; superb master bedroom suite with dressing rooms and make-up room; steam room, games room and cinema room. EPC Rating C.

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HARTSBOURNE AVENUE, BUSHEY HEATH £1,350,000 This Tudor-style 4/5 bedroom detached house was built 30 years ago for the current owners.

Situated in one of Bushey Heath's most prestigious turnings, Hartsbourne Road, this home features 3 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, double garage, and gorgeous garden. EPC Rating D.

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HARTSBOURNE PARK, BUSHEY HEATH £1,575,000 The largest penthouse apartment in this development is now available to view! With 2 large terraces, a concierge and 3 parking spaces (2 of which are underground), this luxury flat is a must see. Features include 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms and 2 passenger lifts. EPC Rating C.

PROWSE AVENUE, BUSHEY HEATH £1,550,000 Backing onto the Hartsbourne Country Club, in the most delightful of settings, this character residence has the potential to extend subject to Planning Permission. Features include 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, stunning garden, off-street parking and a garage.

EPC Rating E.

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COLDHARBOUR LANE, BUSHEY £1,250,000 This substantial 5 bedroom detached property has approximately 3,000 sq ft of accommodation.

The home is ready to move into as the current owners have modernised it in such a way that it feels comfortable and spacious whilst maintaining a practical layout. EPC Rating D.

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PRIVATE ROAD, STANMORE £1,950,000 Located in a secluded setting in a private enclave off Gordon Avenue in Stanmore, this beautifully presented 7 bedroom, 5 receptions family home provides larger than average accommodation.

Benefitting from a substantial garden, and offstreet parking for several cars. EPC Rating D.

£1,595,000

This stunning Victorian residence is located in a secluded setting off the prestigious Gordon Avenue.

Boasting a long gated drive and large forecourt allowing parking for several vehicles, the home benefits from a multitude of charming features including a custom-built country-style kitchen/breakfast room, a Victorian-style orangery leading from the ground floor family room, beautiful reception areas, and on the second floor a custom built vaulted Victorian artist's studio with the benefit of large north facing windows. Features include a double garage, five bedrooms, and two bathrooms. EPC Rating D.

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PRIORY DRIVE, STANMORE, £4,950,000 This substantial detached family home occupies a South-West facing plot of just over 1.5 acres and is located on one of Stanmore’s most exclusive private roads. Perfect for comfortable family living, features include 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 5 reception rooms. EPC Rating D.

GORDON AVENUE, STANMORE

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BEN HALE CLOSE, STANMORE £1,225,000 This detached residence is perfectly located in Ben Hale Close in a sought-after cul-de-sac off Green Lane in Stanmore. Features include 5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 2 bathrooms, and a generously sized manicured garden.

EPC Rating D.

HARTSBOURNE PARK, BUSHEY HEATH £925,000 This luxurious 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom duplex apartment is located in a prestigious development close to Hartsbourne Country Club, local shopping amenities and places of worship. The property offers many additional extras. EPC Rating C.

www.prestonbennett.co.uk RESIDENTIAL

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NEW HOMES

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FINE HOMES

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LETTINGS & MANAGEMENT

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PLANNING

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LAND & DEVELOPMENT

P R O P E RT Y

Features ntrance Hall E Reception Room Kitchen/Dining Room Pantry Dining Room Guest Cloakroom Study Utility Room Guest Cloakroom First Floor Landing Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Family Bathroom Bedroom 4 Bedroom 5 Bedroom 6 Bathroom Second Floor Landing Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom and Dressing Room Exterior Garden Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool Summer House/Games Room Garage Off Street Parking

S

TOTTERIDGE LONDON N20

tunning, recently completed contemporary detached residence set in landscaped gardens and grounds of approximately 1 acre with heated swimming pool. This home, which extends to 4,651 sq. ft., has been completed to exacting standards and affords many individual features.

There is also a summer house/games room of approximately 1,600 sq. ft. which is under construction and will be completed by March 2014. (This will then provide a total sq. ft. of 6,251) The property is set at the top of this highly desirable cul-de-sac within close proximity of the open spaces of Totteridge Common and Totteridge Green making both Totteridge underground station, and Whetstone shopping centre accessible. The historical Orange Tree

8 4 N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 3

public house and restaurant is also close by as is access to all the best local state and private schools.

Please visit our website www.statons.com to view a video tour of this property.

Asking Price ÂŁ3,800,000 Freehold

For more information about this property please contact Statons Totteridge office on 020 8445 3694 or email totteridge@statons.com.

P R O P E RT Y

HADLEY GREEN HERTFORDSHIRE EN5

H

andsome late 18th Century Grade II listed Georgian residence with views across Hadley Green. This elegant and highly regarded house is approached via twin electronically operated wrought iron gates with a sweeping gravel carriage drive and is set within extensive manicured secluded landscaped gardens. The grounds feature twin lawn areas and a delightful outdoor heated swimming pool area with twin pavilions and an extensive Yorkshire terrace. Grandon has been extremely well maintained by the present owners and has a host of period and character features.

Features eception Hallway R Cloakroom Drawing Room Study/Sitting Room Family Room Conservatory Kitchen/Breakfast Room

tility/Boot Room U Landing Master Bedroom En Suite Bathroom Bedroom 2 En Suite Bathroom Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4

edroom 5 B Shower Room/WC Family Bathroom Bedroom 6 Gardens & Grounds Heated Swimming Pool 2 Garages

Located in this stunning setting with spectacular views across Hadley Green, close to the picturesque Monken Hadley church and within walking distance to Barnet town centre and The Spires shopping mall.

Within easy commuting distance to central London, Hadley Wood mainline station offers a 30 minute journey time to Moorgate and Kings Cross with Barnet underground station (Northern Line) within walking distance and junction 24 of the M25 is a short drive away.

Recreational facilities include Old Fold Manor golf course, which is also within walking distance and Hadley Wood golf club and tennis club. Educational facilities in the area include Stormont, Lochinver, St John’s, Haberdashers’Aske’s for Boys and girls, Mill Hill School, Aldenham, Belmont, Dame Alice Owen, Haileybury, Queenswood and Queen Elizabeth’s girls and boys schools.

An Historical Note:The property features a blue plaque denoting ‘Fanny Trollope author and her son Anthony lived in the house 1836-1838’. One of the most elegant houses on Hadley Green with a literary tradition. Fanny Trollope and her son Anthony (author of Barchester Towers) lived in the house before Queen Victoria came to the throne. It was formally called Hadley Grove. Originally built on the site of a farmhouse believed to have burnt down in 1710. The present house was completed in the mid 18th century in the Queen Anne style. The house was extended in the early 19th century by the addition of coach houses, an orangery and a grand drawing room. The walled gardens were extended in 1780 by the addition of the gardens formally belonging to the Wilbrahams’ Almshouses and which now contain a swimming pool complex and two pavilions. Grandon was Grade II listed in the 1940’s.

Asking Price £4,900,000 Freehold

For more information about this property please contact Statons Hadley Wood office on 020 8440 9797 or email hadley@statons.com.

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Few Finer Things...

To walk the halls, the rooms. To touch.

To feel the detail. Detail that is all yours.

A home created by you. Your imagination.

Your dreams. Built to your every want, hand in hand with Octagon Bespoke.

There really are few finer things.

To find out more about how Octagon can help to build the home of your dreams, please contact John Pope on 020 8481 7500 or email johnp@octagon.co.uk

www.octagonbespoke.com

godfreyandbarr.com

HORSESHOE LANE TOTTERIDGE COMMON N20

£5,995,000 FREEHOLD A magnificent detached family home, with a huge frontage discreetly set behind security gates, in a desirable cul-de-sac located just off Totteridge Common. This stunning house sits in mature grounds extending to about 1.67 acres and in addition also offers a separate detached staff cottage/studio room. With internal floor space extending to approx 8544 sq ft including outbuildings, the house and grounds have been totally modernised and refurbished by the current owners and affords many individual features including a stunning, huge bespoke 35’/27’ kitchen/family room with sliding doors which enable the whole back of the house to be opened to the large terrace with steps down to a magnificent heated outdoor pool and terracing.

Further features include an indoor resistance training pool, a gym, 44’ formal reception rooms, snooker room, about 1.67 acres of mature grounds and gardens, multiple outbuildings, garaging for 3 cars as well as off street parking for many more.

Hampstead Mill Hill Office Garden Suburb Office 59 Daws 20 MarketLane,Mill Place, Hampstead Hill Garden Suburb London NW7 NW114SE 6JJ

T +44 (0) 20 8959 8458 9000 9119

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

THE ATRIUM, THE RIDGEWAY MILL HILL NW7

ÂŁ1,895,000 FREEHOLD A magnificent large 3 bedroom 3 bathroom unique flat/house in this converted chapel built in 1888 in the heart of Mill Hill. Set back from the road and accessed through security gates this amazing home features a wealth of original features including stained glass windows, barrel vaulted ceilings and a number of stone arches. From the kitchen is a staircase which lead down to the garden level out onto a private terrace and garden overlooking the stunning acres of communal gardens.

Located close to greenbelt open space yet within easy access to the shops, restaurants and transport facilities of Mill Hill as well as an excellent choice of local schooling.

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

THE RISE MILL HILL NW7

MARION ROAD MILL HILL NW7

£499,950 FREEHOLD

£595,000 FREEHOLD

Occupying the entire top floor of this small modern block located just off Parkside, a fantastic large 2 double bedroom, 2 bathroom (both en suite) 1st floor apartment offering fantastic living space including a huge 34’1” x 24’1” open plan reception opening to Modern kitchen and access to rear facing balcony. Further benefits include a very large Master bedroom and reserved parking space.

A spacious four bedroom extended terraced family house with attractive garden and off street parking. Situated in the sought after Poets Corner area of Mill Hill, opposite Mill Hill Park and walking distance to Mill Hill Broadway and Mill Hill station. The property has 2 Reception Rooms, Modern Fitted kitchen, Four Bedrooms, Modern family bathroom and can be further extended (STPP).

FIELD END ARKLEY EN5

WEYMOUTH AVENUE MILL HILL NW7

£725,000 FREEHOLD

£1,200,000 FREEHOLD

Situated in a delightful cul-de-sac just off Barnet Road, Arkley a detached bungalow with enormous potential to extend and refurbish. Located on a wide plot with a good frontage and secluded landscaped gardens, this property offers spacious reception rooms, a double garage and three bedrooms. Sensibly priced to allow complete renovation.

An attractive extended 4/5 bedroom, 3 bathroom (2263 sq ft ) detached family house in this popular turning within half a mile of the shopping & transport facilities of Mill Hill Broadway.

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

godfreyandbarr.com

WILLS GROVE MILL HILL NW7

A delightful arts and crafts style linked property, situated in a prestigious private road, off Hammers Lane and adjacent to Mill Hill Park. This property was modernised in recent years to a high standard and incorporates large lounge/dining room, fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), lovely gardens, driveway and off street covered parking.

ÂŁ1,250,000 freehold ÂŁ750pw to let Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

CROWN CLOSE MILL HILL NW7

ÂŁ3,495,000 freehold

Mill Hill Office

59 Daws Lane,Mill Hill London NW7 4SE

T +44 (0) 20 8959 9000

enquire@godfreyandbarr.com godfreyandbarr.com

An imposing grand newly built 7 bedroom 7 bathroom ( all en suite )”Arts & Crafts “ style detached family house having been completed in 2012. Set in grounds of approximately half an acre offering 4643 square ft of spacious accommodation over three floors, “ Lime Wood “ is set back from the road discretely located behind security gates in a prestigious cul de sac of only 3 houses on the borders of Mill & Totteridge located just off Highwood Hill with incredible views from the rear towards green belt land.

Built around a magnificent bespoke Limestone and Wrought iron grand sweeping staircase opening to a triple height reception hall this gorgeous luxury home boasts a stylish & exceptionally well presented interior offering numerous features including a sumptuous Master suite with his and hers dressing rooms and bathrooms, 3/4 separate reception rooms, a huge Kitchen family room , underfloor heating, multi room sound, Lutron Lighting, partial air conditioning ,detached garage with store room and off street secure parking for numerous vehicles.

Bedrooms with 7 en suite bathrooms 7 Lounge Dining Room Study / den Huge kitchen breakfast room opening to morning room / den Utility room Stunning large entrance hall with triple volume ceiling and sweeping Limestone staircase Garage Front and rear gardens Rear garden with views towards green belt land Huge frontage with off street parking for numerous cars Underfloor heating Air conditioning Lutron lighting Multi room sound

The award-winning agency . . . where integrity counts. www.martyngerrard.co.uk

SALES

FLOWER LANE, MILL HILL, NW7

£1,775,000

A recently refurbished double fronted, five bed, four bath detached family home situated within close proximity to Mill Hill Broadway’s shops and Thames Link Station.

THE OWNERS LOVE...

“The bright and spacious open plan living is ideal for dinner parties and entertaining family and friends” “We are walking distance to our GP, Mathilda Marks, shops, cafes and transport, the location really is ideal” “Our patio area, we enjoy relaxing in the sunshine and are not overlooked by anybody” WE’VE NOTICED...

The property has a separate self contained annex to the rear of the property with modern fitted kitchen and bathroom.

The property benefits from having under floor heating in every room including the self contained annex.

EPC Rating: C Please contact Jamie McIver at MILL HILL OFFICE on 020 8906 0660

eriod family home P 5 Double bedrooms 2 Receptions Kitchen open to rear reception 2 Bath/shower rooms Downstairs WC South-facing garden Period features

We love helping you

the best price achieve

for your property.

We make selling homes a pleasure.

W

inners of the Silver Award for Best Website Nationally at the 2013 Negotiator Awards.

Winners of the Bronze Award for Best Medium Estate Agency in the UK.

www.martyngerrard.co.uk

The award-winning agency . . . . . . where integrity counts.

BARNET • cRouch ENd • EAsT fiNchlEy • fiNchlEy cENTRAl • NoRTh fiNchlEy • hENdoN • kENTish ToWN • mill hill • musWEll hill • WhETsToNE

P R O P E RT Y

Fusion Residential’s award winning Murano House, your chance to fall in love Those very creative people at Fusion Residential are positively fizzing with excitement after collecting two accolades at the 2013 UK International Property Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

T

he Fusion team were honoured at a black tie dinner after their exquisite Murano House apartments in Cockfosters Road, Hadley Wood, caught the eyes of the judges and was highly commended in the best Multiple Units development category. The team was also highly commended in the best developer website category. Stuart Shield, President of the awards committee said Fusion “stood out from the crowd by creating unique and innovative properties”.He also stated that Fusion’s inspired work “elevated the character and appearance of our city”.

It is the second time Fusion has been honoured in this, the most prestigious of international property awards competitions. Their Amara Lodge project, just along the road from Murano House, was the winner of the same Multiple Units award in 2011. Clearly, winning, and making dream homes come true, is an intrinsic part of the Fusion DNA. No wonder the judges were impressed with the mouth-watering Murano House. Inspired by the design brief of Amara Lodge, from the moment you step into the jaw-droppingly elegant development, you sense the unmistakeable and tangible Fusion insistence feel for perfection.

The property is finished with a meticulous attention to detail. The six luxurious apartments all benefit from a concierge service and boast everything from waterproof flat screen TVs, bespoke kitchen, touch control air conditioning, state of the art entertainment systems and iPad-controlled home management system. However it is Fusion Residential’s infinite attention to detail which really places the team in the higher echelons of exotic home-designers.

Murano House has six stunning apartments although only two remain available - including the fully furnished and quite breath-taking penthouse price at £2.65 million.

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The penthouse entrance hall is beautifully bathed in natural light, courtesy of huge feature skylights. There are three double bedrooms, a substantial living room, study, expansive kitchen diner, utility room, and a wide open terrace commanding magnificent views across Hadley Wood Golf Course beyond the rear of the garden.

The master bedroom is of particularly substantial proportions. It too has direct access to the rear terrace and that same incredible panoramic view.

The master bedroom en-suite has been finished with a statement-making free-standing oval bath with an overhead skylight, walk in shower, hand crafted seamless his’n’hers basins and a waterproof flat screen TV. Two further fantastically furnished bedrooms are adjoined by another unique en suite. Fusion Residential opulence is evident in every detail.

The kitchen, overlooking farmland within Trent Park to the front, has Poggenpohl fixtures throughout and is fitted with a range of Miele integrated appliances including multifunction ovens, combination microwave, coffee machine, dishwasher and induction hob. All you need to add is the chef de cuisine.

And helping keep you in control is Fusion Residential’s trademark “Smart Home” technology managed via wall inset iPads. These allow remote programming of lighting, heating, air-con, audio, vision and security.

At Fusion Residential superlative luxury comes as standard and Fusion Residential’s standards are extremely high – an opinion shared by judges at the UK International Property Awards. They fell in love with Murano House, now it’s your chance.

For further details contact Statons on 0208 440 9797.

Residential sales and acquisitions

Prowse Avenue, Bushey Heath £1,895,000

Brockley Avenue, Stanmore

standing on nearly one third of an acre, a fabulous 5/6 bedroom family home (4,300 sq ft), traditionally styled on the outside but with a homely and contemporary interior. ePc Rating: d.

Exclusive to Breslauer

adjacent to green belt and situated at the far end of a desirable enclave, a wide-fronted 6 bedroom family home with carriage driveway and garage. ePc Rating: e.

Favourably positioned at the back of this exclusive close, this 5 bedroom property presents beautifully, but is now priced for a family to stamp their own personality within. ePc Rating: d.

Laurimel Close, Stanmore

Florida Close, Bushey Heath

Wren Crescent, Bushey Heath

£1,000,000

this 4 bedroom split level property with its exposed internal brickwork and galleried living space, provides 3,000 sq ft of accommodation, with a 36 ft south facing reception. ePc Rating: c.

Exclusive to Breslauer

£1,250,000

£949,950

in addition to a self-contained annex, this well presented family home has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a wonderful kitchen/breakfast room with inter-communicating reception space. ePc Rating: e.

Exclusive to Breslauer

Hive Close, Bushey Heath

£1,085,000

£865,000

this wide-fronted 4/5 bedroom, 2 bathroom family home provides impressive living accommodation over 2 floors. the proud owners have maintained this home to a high standard. ePc Rating: d.

Exclusive to Breslauer

020 8954 2200 sales@breslauer.co.uk breslauer.co.uk

Buckingham House West the Broadway, stanmore Ha7 4eB

PRIVATE LAUNCH EVENING

Thursday 5th & Friday 6th December - 4:30pm - 7:00pm By exclusive invitation only - register now

In excess of 4,000 sq ft, a unique home combining understated elegance with warmth and sophistication Karma House is a hidden gem in Stanmore, designed and built by Amara Property (winner of the UK Property Awards 2013). Exciting features within this stunning property include gym, sauna, cinema and games room, private sunken and rear gardens. All bedroom suites have private bathrooms. Price On Application.

• German bespoke kitchen with Miele appliances • Bathrooms by C P Hart to include Villeroy & Bosch sanitary ware, Hansgrohe taps and Aquavision TVs • Underfloor heating throughout • KNX home automation system • Private sunken and rear gardens • Parking for several cars • Electronic gated entrance with video entry system

www.amaraproperty.co.uk

All images are computer generated

To register please contact selling agent, Breslauer

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The new MacBook Air features fourth-generation Intel Core processors with faster graphics, all-day battery life and even faster flash storage.* It’s thin, light and durable enough to take everywhere you go — and powerful enough to do everything once you get there.

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Your local Apple expert. www.solutions-inc.co.uk | T 01727 894849 | E info@solutions-inc.co.uk | The Maltings Shopping Centre, St Albans, AL1 3NL *Battery life varies by use and configuration. See www.apple.com/uk/batteries for more information. Faster flash storage compared with the previous-generation MacBook Air. TM and © 2013 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

'I love Hydrafacial™...it tightens the skin and stimulates collegen to make your face look more toned!'

Marie Osmond

Cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and hydration, including Vortex-Fusion® of antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid.

The HydraFacial™ is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that delivers instant results with no discomfort or downtime.

The procedure is immediately effective.

Special offer of 10% discount Offer ends 30/11/14

Exclusively Available at Riverbanks Clinic voted Best Cosmetic Clinic in UK 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 Call 01582 762877

Lower Harpenden Road, East Hyde Bedfordshire LU2 9QS • 100 Harley Street, London W1G 7JA