13 minute read
LOCAL LOVE
local love ST. JOHN’S WOOD
With its urban village appeal, and central location, this exclusive enclave has always been popular, but, thanks to its stock of large villas and semi-detached houses with private gardens, its popularity has rocketed in the last year, with the property market outperforming other Prime London locations
FABRIC FAVOURITES Local heroes
AT FEAST, NW8
There’s nothing like a buzzing all-day brasserie when the hunger pangs strike. AT feast, a recent addition to St. John’s Wood High Street, is just that. Think seasonal menus full of feel-good classics, hearty breakfasts, brunches and bigger eats, as well as a comprehensive drinks list complete with creative cocktails. The Americano, SJW Style (sweet vermouth and Campari topped with soda water) is a must for local residents. One such local is Alex Bentley, who tells us: “This is a great place to pop into if you want something wholesome. I love AT feast’s ethos – kid and dog-friendly, and with a focus on sustainability.”
49-51 St. John’s Wood High Street, NW8 (020 3989 7800; atfeast.com)
PANZER’S, NW8
This much-loved establishment, located on the picturesque Circus Road, is known as the picturesque Circus Road, is known as London’s original Jewish deli. Estate agent – and London’s original Jewish deli. Estate agent – and evident local history buff – Ricky Dengel from evident local history buff – Ricky Dengel from Goldschmidt & Howland tells us: “the greengrocer Goldschmidt & Howland tells us: “the greengrocer and delicatessen started in 1943 when a Czech refugee named Walter Vogl joined forces with St. John’s Wood local Mr Panzer. Panzer’s has been St. John’s Wood local Mr Panzer. Panzer’s has been serving smoked salmon bagels (and much more besides) to the local community ever since.” Offering culinary delights from all over the world, this is a one-stop shop for the neighbourhood’s discerning foodies.
13-19 Circus road, NW8 (020 7722 8162; panzers.co.uk)
THE DUKE OF YORK, NW8
You know you’re onto a winner when a pub gets multiple endorsements. Both Steve Kadi from Hamptons and Paul Bennett from Behr & Butchoff have named this neighbourhood tavern as their local hero. Steve says: “It has a very family orientated atmosphere and offers a great Sunday lunch. It’s also the perfect place to relax after seeing the cricket at Lord’s.” For Paul, The Duke of York is very local, right next door to the offi ce, in fact. He tells us it boasts: “a convivial landlord, attentive staff and a great bar… It’s a wonderful place to wind down after a busy working day.”
2 St. Anne’s Terrace, NW8 (020 7722 1933; thedukeofyork.com)
GET IN TOUCH Our Agents
Arlington Residential arlingtonresidential.com Aston Chase astonchase.com Bargets bargets.co.uk Beauchamp Estates beauchamp.com Bective bective.co.uk Behr & Butchoff behrandbutchoff.com Benham & Reeves benhams.com Chancellors chancellors.co.uk Chestertons chestertons.com Day Morris daymorris.co.uk Dexters dexters.co.uk Druce druce.com Glentree glentree.co.uk Godfrey & Barr godfreyandbarr.com Goldschmidt & Howland g-h.co.uk Hamptons hamptons.co.uk Heathgate heathgate.com Jeremy James & Company jeremy-james.co.uk Knight Frank knightfrank.co.uk Litchfi elds litchfi elds.com Parkheath parkheath.com Plaza Estates plazaestates.co.uk Sandfords sandfords.com Savills savills.co.uk TK International t-k.co.uk Vickers vickersestateagents.com Winkworth St. John’s Wood winkworth.co.uk Winkworth West End winkworth.co.uk
Say what?
The latest market research report from Beauchamp Estates reveals that St. John’s Wood has unexpectedly benefi tted from the pandemic pandemonium that has hit many of the world’s prime property markets. House sales in the leafy prime central London market have increased by a staggering 41 per cent in volume and by 12 per cent in price year-on-year.
MEET THE LOCALS
Maggie Bolger
Founder b-together
Starting a new venture in the middle of a
pandemic has certainly been a challenge, but I couldn’t think of a better place to do it than here in St. John’s Wood. We have been welcomed by all the local businesses and the community: it is a treat to be here, even during such turbulent times.
I always start the day in AT feast, my family brasserie, where they serve delicious healthy and sustainable meals all day (but I have a real soft spot for the breakfasts.) My go-to is the collagen oat milk cappuccino – I can’t function without it. It’s such a vibrant high street, and there are some real characters around, so if I have the time I’ll sit outside and people-watch while I eat. There is a gorgeous fl orist just round the corner called Jess Flowers; Ronan there is lovely. They provide us with beautiful fl owers for the restaurant and the members’ club upstairs. I’ll often pop my head in to see what’s new and look at their displays. Flowers can make any day a good day!
Luckily, the local businesses understand the multi-tasking pressures of being a founder, so I am grateful for friends such as the team at Ozzy Hair Design, who squeeze in a manicure and pedicure at the same time as giving me a haircut. They’ll often set me in rollers and then let me skip off for a meeting with the rollers still in place!
At lunchtimes, I like to walk some food down to St. John’s Wood Church Grounds. It’s such a lovely space and gives me a chance to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I love the giant chess board and outdoor table tennis tables, and it’s fun to see the world famous Lord’s Cricket Ground looming in the background.
In the afternoons I’m usually in our family members’ club and nursery space, b_together. Spread over four fl oors (it’s quite special to have all of this space on the high street) we are a total haven for families, where they can truly b_together, which is especially important after nearly two years of so much separation.
If it’s been a long day I’ll stop by Nicolas to pick up some wine and Panzer’s deli for dinner to go. I can’t wait for life to settle down a bit so I can head back to Core Collective for classes and hit up FaceGym for a hell of a facial. There really is no end of choice here on the high street!
47 St. John’s Wood High Street, NW8 (020 3989 7900; b-together.com)
TAKE 3 Streethearts
AVENUE ROAD
One of the most desirable – and expensive – addresses in the whole of London, this tree-lined street runs down to Regent’s Park and offers extravagant mansions on large plots
CAVENDISH ROAD
If homes with historic appeal are your thing, the grand villas here should do the trick, not least because of their location, moments from the heart of the action in St. John’s Wood
ST. JOHN’S WOOD HIGH
STREET Family businesses, chic boutiques and a mouth-watering array of eateries; residents may be close to the centre of town, but whether they have cause to go there is another matter
Dean Whitley, Chancellors
“In many ways, the last 18 months have only added to St. John’s Wood’s reputation as a prime residential location for those seeking a more peaceful way of life without compromising on location. The future remains bright – it will continue to be a destination of choice for the discerning London buyer.”
Nick Foster, Arlington Residential
“Acacia Road is my favourite local street. Wide and tree-lined, it has a mixture of period family homes and newly built modern houses with generous gardens, and is only a short stroll to the High Street. A few of my favourite spots include the Regent’s Canal and Regent’s Park… the amazing local green spaces offer superb walks and cafés for refreshments.”
Scott Sheldon,Winkworth
“St. John’s Wood is renowned for its impressive portered apartments and mansion blocks, a mixture of 1930s, 1960s and 1980s architecture can be found, with more recent developments including 50 St. Edmund’s Terrace, The Compton and Embassy Court, while Number One St. John’s Wood Road is due for completion in 2022 and will offer state of the art residents’ facilities.”
COMMENT From our agents
Schools
WORDS by CLAIRE ATHERTON
THOUGHT The magic of metacognition
Achild getting excited about
something they fi nd hard to learn
may sound counterintuitive. But at King Alfred School in Hampstead, it’s a sign that their teaching strategies are working. “We introduce the characteristics of effective learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage,” says head of lower school Karen Thomas. “So our children are used to describing and embracing what it feels like to be ‘stuck’. And they know that it means they’re learning.”
Learning about learning, or ‘metacognition’, is an important aspect of the school’s layered approach. Its teachers think not only about what they want the children to know, but how they want them to be (curious, resilient, and so on). They then decide the skills they want the children to apply, like enquiry or self-management. The metacognitive part is about bringing the children’s attention to the skills they’re using and the attributes they’re developing. “They become aware of what they’re doing, and can then use those strategies more purposefully when we’re not guiding them,” explains Karen. Children of all ages can benefi t, too: “We talk to children as young as four about executive functioning skills like organisation, in basic terms. We then build on that in all year groups. Using the shared language of transferable skills is extremely powerful.”
While the concept of metacognition can be a little hard to grasp, the results aren’t. The researcher John Hattie ranks metacognitive strategies as among the most effective teaching interventions. And according to the Education Endowment Foundation, getting children to think about how they learn can accelerate their progress by seven months. King Alfred’s own results bear this out: after a diffi cult period post-lockdown, its end-of-year assessments have exceeded expectations.
So how can parents support this approach? Karen advises not getting fi xed on the product of the learning, but asking about the process instead. For example: “Who did you notice listened well today in school? How creative were you? And what was the most important learning for you?” If they reply, “I understand where I am now and what I could do next,” then you know metacognition is working its magic.
(020 8457 5200; kingalfred.org.uk)
St John’s Wood PrePreparatory School Co-ed independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 7 (020 7722 7149; stjohnswoodprep.org.uk)
THE SHORTLIST: ST. JOHN’S WOOD
Arnold House Independent day school for boys aged 3 to 13 (020 7266 4840; arnoldhouse.co.uk) Saint Christina’s School Co-ed independent Catholic day school for pupils aged 3 to 11 (020 7722 8784; saintchristinas.org.uk) Co-ed independent day school for pupils aged 4 to 18 (020 7449 1200; asl.org) MEET THE HEAD
Adrian Ellis
St John’s Wood Pre-Preparatory School
What makes your school different?
We’re small, so everyone knows one another – making us an extension of home and family. We also understand that for parents, the last time you were in school, you were the pupil. We’re here to hold your hands, too.
How do you make sure your pupils realise their academic potential?
Our classes are small, so pupils experience a high level of individual attention. We also monitor academic progress through ongoing assessments, and tailor individual learning plans to reinforce, practice and challenge. Our leavers’ lists are testament to the success of our approach.
What’s your personal educational
ethos? When I was in my primary education in the early 70s, I remember not particularly enjoying myself. So, happiness is at the heart of St John’s Wood Pre-Prep. The classrooms are full of laughter and a joyous curiosity to learn.
How have you helped your pupils and parents to cope during the
pandemic? The teaching team have been simply amazing throughout this terrible period. When teaching moved online, they went beyond the call of duty to ensure the children (and parents) were fully supported and not over-burdened by Zoom. We listened to what the parents wanted, and delivered – our 7+ results were among the best we’ve ever had.
What advice would you give to parents looking for a school?
Always visit on a normal day. On a tour, focus on observing the children: do they look happy? And trust your instincts. What did it ‘feel’ like being there?
St John’s Hall, Lord’s Roundabout, NW8 (020 7722 7149; sjwpre-prep.org.uk)
On the market
This month’s hottest properties
FOR SALE CLIFTON HILL, NW8
With its pale painted exterior, this magnificent period property really pops out against its stone bricked neighbours. The Grade II listed detached house offers sprawling and luxurious accommodation, set over four floors. With seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a chic and contemporary restaurant grade kitchen on offer, this one’s got dream family home written all over it. In an elegant mix of old and new, original features are met with clean lines and bright open spaces. Best is the double volume reception room that leads directly onto the manicured south facing garden.
£7.25 million, Aston Chase (020 7724 4724; astonchase.com)
FOR SALE QUEEN’S GROVE, NW8
Boasting one of St. John’s Wood’s finest addresses is this beautifully appointed four bedroomed red brick house. Luxurious accommodation includes a principal bedroom complete with a glamorous en suite bathroom and dressing room; a smart modern kitchen/diner; and a wonderfully bright and commodious conservatory that leads out onto a sprawling mature and secluded garden. And with a summer house at the end of the manicured lawn, there’s versatile living space aplenty here.
£7.5 million, Beauchamp Estates (020 7722 9793; beauchamp.com)
FOR SALE SPRINGFIELD ROAD, NW8
Situated in the heart of St. John’s Wood is this impressive red brick abode that’s has seen a comprehensive refurbishment. Doll’s house pretty, the detached family residence features six bedrooms, three bathrooms and oodles of entertaining space, including a newly excavated lower ground floor that’s been built to sympathetically blend with the period architecture. Light, bright and seriously spacious, the property boasts luxurious extras including a cinema room, split level gym, utility room, and not one, but two guest cloakrooms.
Guide price £10 million, Knight Frank (020 7483 8343; knightfrank.com)
