Luxury London Magazine June 2018 by Luxury London Media

June 2018 £7.00

MAGAZINE

DAVI D GANDY S UP E R M O D E L , SE X SY MB O L , ST Y L E ICO N

MARCO P I ERRE WH I T E TH E G O D FAT H E R O F M OD E R N G AST R O N O MY

PHILIPP HUMM SWAPPING HIGH FINANCE FOR P H ILOS O P H IC A RT

R AY NAL D A ES C H LI MANN TH E O M E G A C E O O N H IS M ISS IO N IM P OSSIB L E

A CUT ABOVE

SIR PAUL SMITH THE BRITPOP LEGEND IS BACK IN THE DRIVING SEAT “I’ve held my nerve and stuck to what I’m good at”

Discover the FORGET-ME-NOT COLLECTION

#WinstonGarden

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T O U G H N E S S C R A F T E D

W I T H

T U M I

I S

S R P P

L U X U R Y

B A L L I S T I C ™

M A T E R I A L

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CONTENTS

38 Make It New The refurbished Royal Academy opens its doors 42 Philipp Humm The corporate CEO turned sociopolitical artist

CONNOISSEUR 54 The Mellowing of Mr Marco Pierre White Musings from the original rockstar super-chef 58

London’s Best Private Dining Rooms Pull up a chair at the capital’s top tables

REGULARS 12 Editor’s Letter 15 Objects of Desire The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso & Dolce & Gabbana sandals 22 Feature Interview What David Gandy did next C U LT U R E 32 The Agenda Art, antiques & a new gallery for Hanover Square 36 Prize Lots A rare Hermès bag goes under the hammer

84 La Vie Est Belle A sartorial tour around the Côte d’Azur

ESCAPE 98

Out of Africa Four Seasons Seychelles, One&Only’s Gorilla’s Nest and glamping in Kenya

102 A Country of Contrast South Africa’s spectrum of climates, colours and contours 108 Belles and Whistles On-board the world’s most luxurious train journey from Cape Town to Tanzania

COLLECTION 67

Treasure Chest Coveted collectables by HM The Queen’s Royal Warrant Holders

June 2018 £7.00

MAGAZINE

DAVID GA N DY SU P E R M OD E L , SE X SY M BOL , ST Y L E I CON

68 Jewellery Box Jessica McCormack rings & Stephen Webster’s new aquatic-inspired collection

MA R CO PIE R R E W HITE T HE GOD FAT HE R OF M OD E R N GAST R ONOM Y

PHILIPP HUMM SWAPPING HIGH FINANCE FOR P HI LOSOP HI C ART

R AY N A LD A E SCHLIMA N N T HE OM E GA CE O ON HI S M I SSI ON I M P OSSI BL E

A CUT ABOVE

SIR PAUL SMITH THE BRITPOP LEGEND IS BACK IN THE DRIVING SEAT

Rocket Man Omega CEO Raynald Aeschlimann on movements, markets and 007

COUTURE 80 Sir Paul Smith On changing the way people dress

“I’ve held my nerve and stuck to what I’m good at”

COV E R “In the fashion industry, so often designers disappear into an ivory tower and lose touch with the customers for whom they are designing clothes”

– Sir Paul Smith, p.80 (IMAGE COURTESY OF SABINE VILLIARD)

FROM THE EDITOR June 2018 Issue 01

MANAGING EDITOR

Richard Brown

uxury is in a spin. Social media is transforming the reasons we buy things. E-commerce is changing how. Consumers have grown savvy to branding. Brands that went global have become victims of their own success. Big luxury has been blindsided. Smaller, more dexterous start-ups are proving themselves more in-tune with the realities of the contemporary consumer. Sustainability, transparency, authenticity. Experiences not material things. Right here, right now. As luxury returns to the bespoke, the customisable, the individual, and as we consume more of our universe through the screens of our smartphones, we believe there is space for a new, specialist print publication devoted to exploring the loaded notion that is exclusivity. A magazine committed to ethical luxury – printed on wood-free paper – pledging allegiance to the pioneers and protagonists driving the good life in the capital. To that end, we are delighted to launch Luxury London Magazine with Sir Paul Smith as our cover star. Approaching 50 years in fashion, the shirt-making 71-year-old is back in the driving seat, reinstated as creative director of his eponymous label and steering a course for the digital age (p.80). Elsewhere, we treat that poster-boy of modern masculinity, Mr David Gandy, to lunch at Quaglino’s, where, having swapped budgie smugglers for sustainable suits, and spent the previous decade spearheading a return to stoic, selfeffacing gentlemanliness, he holds court on everything from principled fashion to the pitfalls of social media (p.22). You’ll also discover that Marco Pierre White has grown cold to modern Michelin gastronomy (p.54), and learn how digitally-savvy Omega super-CEO Raynald Aeschlimann achieved the impossible by rocketing his company to within touching distance of marketleader Rolex (p.72). Last month, the capital hosted London Craft Week. A celebration of imagination, individuality and skill that saw Rolls-Royce reveal its first off-roader (p.16) and more generally showcased the artistic flair and creative energy that turns materials into masterpieces and makes this city such a culturally rich place to live. It is to this dynamic, ground-breaking vivacity that Luxury London is dedicated. Welcome to your new local rag.

CONTENT DIRECTOR

Dawn Alford DEPUTY EDITOR Ellen Millard JEWELLERY EDITOR Mhairi Graham HEAD OF DESIGN Laddawan Juhong GENERAL MANAGER Fiona Smith PRODUCTION MANAGER Alice Ford COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Turner BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS Rachel Gilfillan Collin Saunders MANAGING DIRECTOR Eren Ellwood

PUBLISHED BY

RICH ARD BROWN Managing Editor ONE CANADA SQUARE, CANARY WHARF, LONDON, E14 5AX T: 020 7537 6565 LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK

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A LIFE IN COLOUR FA B E R G E . C O M

@ O F F I C I A L FA B E R G E

FA B E R G Ã&#x2030; P R O U D LY U S E S G E M F I E L D S C O L O U R E D G E M S T O N E S

OBJECTS OF DESIRE THIS MONTH’S MOST WANTED MINDFUL LUXURY FROM BAG BRAND L.O.N.B One of Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow for 2018, L.O.N.B launched at the beginning of last year with a collection of 1960s-inspired leather goods for both men and women. Its name – Love Or Nothing Baby – reflects the founders’ ethos: everything from the stitching to the hardware must be perfect. With mindfulness at its core, L.O.N.B’s collection is timeless and designed to improve with age; the founders hope that their products will be passed down through generations. lonb.com

The Roma has a detachable shoulder strap and gold chain Available in calfskin, ostrich and crocodile leathers Secret card holder, two open pockets and a zip pocket for extra security From £1,280 for calfskin styles

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

ROLLS-ROYCE REVEALS FIRST OFF-ROADER H.R. Owen Rolls-Royce, Berkeley Square, played host to the global unveiling of the Cullinan in May, the car manufacturer’s first SUV – or as Rolls-Royce prefers, its debut ‘all-terrain highbodied’ vehicle. Named after the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905 – the largest flawless diamond ever found – the luxury off-roader measures a massive 2.2 metres wide and 5.3 metres long, 30 cms more than the Bentley Bentayga. A 6.75-litre, twin-turbocharged, V-12 engine produces 563 horsepower and a top speed of 155 mph. The transmission is an eightspeed automatic, and for the first time in a Rolls, power is transferred to all four wheels. An electronically-controlled active shock absorber system reacts to body and wheel acceleration, steering inputs and camera information in milliseconds, and uses air compression to keep every wheel constantly in contact with the ground – meaning you should glide over potholes. Prices are expected to start from £250,000. hrowen.co.uk

Maximum 850 Nm of torque at engine speeds from 1,600 rpm upwards Maximum power output 420 kW at engine speed of 5000 rpm Combined consumption 2 15 ltr/100 km / 18.8 mpg CO2 emissions (combined) 2 341 g/km

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JAEGER-LECOULTRE’S MINIATURE MASTERPIECES To coincide with an exhibition at Harrods this month, which will see Jaeger-LeCoultre take over the store’s four main Brompton Road windows between 4-27 June, the Swiss watchmaker has released a series of three Reverso watches featuring the work of distinguished symbolist painter Ferdinand Hodler. Commemorating 100 years of Hodler’s death, and created by expert enamellers, the watches detail landscapes and lakes, characteristic of his work. Each watch is part of a limited edition of eight, with enamellers spending more than 50 hours on each piece. There are nine enamellers in the world who can work in the detail required to create these miniature artworks – four of which work for Jaeger-LeCoultre. jaeger-lecoultre.com

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

GLOBE-TROTTER AND PAUL SMITH MAKE A CASE FOR COLOUR To mark its 120th anniversary, GlobeTrotter has partnered with Paul Smith on a commemorative trolley case. Handmade in the label’s Hertfordshire atelier using no less than 98 individual processes, the classic carrier marries meticulous craftsmanship with Smith’s love of colour – a simple navy base is injected with cheery shades from his signature Artist’s Stripe print. A limited-edition run of 120 20-inch trunks have been signed by the designer, and a further five 30-inch cases will be sold exclusively at Harrods. From £1,700, globe-trotter.com; harrods.com

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O B J E CFTESA T OUF R D EE S I R E

DOLCE & GABBANA STEPS UP THE SHOE STAKES It was to Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts that designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana looked when designing their SS18 collection. Glitter reigned champion, no more so than with their footwear range. Get the look with the brand’s signature Bette sandal, revamped for the new season in sparkling lurex and kitsch jewelencrusted styles. From £845, farfetch.com

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DISCOVER THE

BEAUTY

HEALTHCARE . PHARMACY . SKINCARE . WELLBEING

D A V I D G A N D Y REPORTING FOR DUTY

SUPERMODEL, SEX SYMBOL, STYLE ICON. A F T E R A L M O S T T WO D E C A D E S S H A P I N G M E N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S FA S H I O N , B R A N D G A N DY I S R E A DY F O R TA K E O F F

Words: Richard Brown

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he first time I saw David Gandy, in the flesh, as opposed to splashed across a billboard or magazine spread, was on a Saturday afternoon in a spit-andsawdust gym opposite a pickle-jarring factory on a rundown industrial estate in Essex. When it rained, the roof of the gym leaked. Buckets would catch the water. In the winter, it got so cold that dumbbells would freeze to your palms. That Saturday, I took a break from trying to look tough, as you do in gyms full of tattooed bouncers and builders shaped like pizza slices, and there, drop-setting on the bench next to me, was David Gandy. Except, of course, it couldn’t be the real David Gandy. Why would David Gandy have paid five quid – “sorry, mate, cash only” – to pump iron in a place where there was once a sign pinned to the tanning machine that read, and I quote verbatim, ‘Dear members, some **** has been fiddling the sunbed. You will be caught, and you will be dealt with’…? It couldn’t have been Gandy. Must have been a doppelgänger. Then I saw him again. Just a few hours later. In the sticky-floored wine-bar at the end of my road. The sort of commuter-belt gastro-pubcum-wedding-venue that does a thriving trade by hosting ‘Evenings with’ Neil Ruddock and Julian Dicks.

That was eight years ago, almost to the week. I know this because the month before I had persuaded the then-editor of the precursor to this magazine to take a punt and give me a job. If that tall, chisel-jawed, Roman-nosed hunk-of-a-man oozing testosterone at the bar really was David Gandy – and his Caesar-like silhouette was now garnering enough glances to suggest that it just might be – then as an aspiring young journalist surely I was duty bound to go and get the scoop. I reminded David of what happened next last month, over a slap-up lunch at Mayfair’s glitzy nightclub-restaurant Quaglino’s. I’d like to say that the foundations of a budding bromance were formed that night, that these two Billericay boys had become bezzies, and that shooting the breeze over a boozy lunch had become the norm. The truth, alas, was that we had both arrived with an agenda. Me to secure an interview with the most famous face in men’s fashion; David to promote his latest brand collaboration – a vintage-inspired capsule collection with British luxury leather-goods specialist Aspinal. Gandy played it cool, pretending not to remember our first encounter. “Ha! Oh no, mate! I hope I wasn’t rude – was I?” No, mate, actually you were bloody charming. You explained that you grew up in Billericay – news to most people in the town at that time I think – and that you were back visiting your mum. You pointed out your old school mates. Gave me the business card of your PA. Told me to tell her that you’d be delighted to be interviewed and wished me good luck in my new job. What a top bloke, I thought, running out of the bar to text my editor the good news, the obsequious little lapdog that I was. That interview never materialised. David was jet-setting around the world at the behest of Italian megabrands and we were unable to pin him down. I tell the story because a) it’s a story I like telling; and b) because every time I’ve met David since he’s always been the same affable, charming, salt-of-the-earth, butter-wouldn’tmelt, all-round top fella. “I still go to the local pub,” he says, now 38 and having traded suburbia for a townhouse in Fulham (you’ll struggle to find Razor Ruddock giving after-dinner speeches there). “I have conversations with people who recognise me. They offer to buy me drinks, I offer to buy them drinks. I’m hopefully the kind of guy that women can come up to and chat with and who guys don’t feel threatened by. We can have

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“Success means different things to different people. I’ve never thought I was the best-looking model, or even the best at modelling” a couple of pints and talk about cars – or fashion if that’s what you’re into.” The impact that David – along with the world’s other most famous David – has had on men’s fashion is hard to overstate. Having won a modelling competition on ITV’s This Morning in 2001– he’d been entered by a university friend, unbeknown to him – a 21-year-old Gandy was thrust into an industry that put androgyny on a pedestal. Not an aesthetic that’s easy to pull off when you’re a six-foot-three county cricketer and rugby-playing beefcake. “I was never going to be that guy,” explains David, looking all fifties film star in a vintage Omega wristwatch, white open shirt and a widelegged, wide-lapelled, one-of-a-kind Marks & Spencer suit (one of the perks of working with the high street authority). “For me, it was go big or go home.” Committing himself to the gym, David swam against the current. His early work consisted mostly of look books for obscure German designers and campaigns for high-street names including H&M, Hugo Boss, Massimo Dutti, Gant and Zara. Then, in 2006, his dedication to the dumbbells paid off. His sculpted torso caught the attention of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who cast him in a pair of now-legendary bright white budgie-smugglers and commanded him to look brooding while splayed out on an inflatable dinghy in Capri. The resulting shots, captured by Mario Testino, formed the framework for Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue fragrance campaign. The adverts were plastered on bus stops and billboards around the globe, including a 50-foot wrap in New York’s Times Square. Not since Marky Mark went shirtless for Calvin Klein in 1992 had a pair of tighty-whities caused such a sensation. Almost overnight, the blue-eyed boy from Billericay achieved supermodel status. “That Light Blue campaign really was the platform for me. It’s fair to say that things have gone OK since then – we’ve not done too badly.” Which is one way of putting it. The campaign propelled its protagonist to a level of fame not seen in the arena of male modelling before or since. For the rest of us, the

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advert coincided with a step change in the way we viewed masculinity. After the lager-swigging, fart-lighting laddism of the nineties, the musclebound Alpha was back. More pumped, more virile, more unattainable than ever. Thanks for that Dave. In the decade that followed, as footballers, Topman and TOWIE dragged men’s style in one direction – towards carrot-legged jogging tracksuits and ripped-at-the-knee spray-on-skinny jeans – Gandy, along with Redknapp and Becks, those other two stubbly scions of style (not all footballers worship at the altar of athleisure), pulled menswear in the polar opposite, championing classic tailoring and ethical fashion. “Sustainability wasn’t a subject that was even mentioned 10 years ago,” says David. Now brands are being more responsible. We have to look at this world of ‘disposable fashion’ and make sure that if people are buying these really cheap clothes, the sort you dispose of every three months, that they are aware that those clothes are probably not ethically produced. It’s better to buy things that are going to last you a long time. Things that you can get five or six different looks out of – sustainable can still mean affordable.” His hairline may have receded a little – pot, kettle – and wrinkles begun spreading like motorways on a road map around his eyes – “I look after myself, but I could probably do with more sleep” – yet for a man who’s less than two years shy of 40, Gandy is in incredibly good nick. He still works out, up to five times a week. The swimwear stuff takes longer to get in shape for, but that doesn’t stop him ordering a starter, mains and dessert. “I’ve never had to worry too much about what I eat.” He also knows his way around a wine list, which takes the pressure off me. A firm fixture at fashion weeks, now that he’s traded the catwalk for the front row, Gandy’s signature three-piece-suit look has proven catnip to street-style photographers, spawning countless fan pages on social media. Some of the most-liked men’s style posts on Instagram feature David in a double-breasted jacket, contrast-colour shirt and woven-wool tie, often

paired with a newsboy cap or C-Crown fedora hat. The consummate midcentury metropolitan dandy. Accessorising is back in fashion. See the tie bars, pocket squares and lapel pins next time you’re at Ascot. Gandy played a part in that. The Aspinal collaboration, an 18-piece, Spitfire-inspired range of briefcases, weekend bags and suit carriers – “we’re trying to put the glamour back into travel” – follows ambassador roles for Jaguar, Wellman Vitamins and Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co. Away from the camera, David has launched two apps – one for fitness, the other offering style tips – invested in both the London Sock Company and David Preston Shoes, competed in the Mille Miglia classic car rally, raced power boats for Vector Martini, been appointed to the British Fashion Council, and, thus far, directed two style-focused short films. No wonder he turned down roles

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in Fifty Shades of Grey and 300: Rise of an Empire. It’s a CV that’s led to the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home ambassador (omitted that earlier) to be labelled the ‘world’s most successful male model’. Is that a moniker that David allows himself to buy into? “Success means different things to different people. I’ve never thought I was the best-looking model, or even the best at modelling. Hands down, if you walk into Select [Model Agency] today, some of the guys in there will be incredibly good looking, and incredible models. I looked at modelling as a platform, in a business way. That’s what female supermodels were doing and I wanted to rival those models. When I started it was a time where you would be in the same campaign as a female supermodel and you’d get a fraction of what they were paid. I wasn’t saying it was wrong, I was asking myself how do I get to

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“I’ve never understood people who achieve fame and then say no to a picture. The public are the ones buying into you... Shouldn’t it be lovely when they come up to say hello?”

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF ASPINAL OF LONDON

that level? And that comes down to branding, giving prestige to a company and the same sort of reach that the Kate Mosses can.” For evidence of the power of Brand Gandy, see Marks & Spencer. In 2014, the retailer launched a line of underwear, lounge wear and swimwear, modelled and part-designed by David himself. It became one of the company’s best selling lines. “I think we sold a pair of swim shorts every minute until they sold out.” Last year, the range expanded to include Orlebar Brown-esque beachwear. Devoted David Gandy fanboy that I am, I bought not one but two towel-cotton polo shirts. My girlfriend suggested that I wear one to the interview. “And remember, if people are looking at your table, they’re not looking at you.” If the Testino-shot white-pants image solidified Gandy’s standing in the rarefied world of high fashion, it was his boxer shorts for Marks & Sparks that caught the attention of your mum – which is to say, made him properly famous. David’s presence in that wine bar eight years ago went relatively unnoticed (save for one hyperventilating wannabe writer). It wouldn’t be the same today. As his public star has risen, how has David’s personal life changed? “I do get recognised but I think I have a nice level of fame. People are very nice, very polite. I’ve never understood people who achieve fame and then say no to a picture. The public are the ones buying into you, following you, buying your products or your music. Shouldn’t it be lovely when they come up to say hello?” See, salt of the earth. What about social media? “It’s 99 per cent positive. My girlfriend [a London-based barrister, who David’s been dating since 2016] and I have a pact where we don’t use it too much. We are very careful to try and avoid the public eye. She’s come off most social media channels. She doesn’t want to be part of that world. She’s into fashion, but that side of my life is very separate from the one we share together.” Gandy arrived on the scene during glossy

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print’s glory days. Times change. Advertising budgets get redirected. Magazines close. Social media now provides the platform that newsstand magazines used to. Does the power to self-promote provide a stepping stone to aspiring young models? “Nowadays you can achieve success by becoming a digital sensation. If you have the right surname, then [clicks fingers] you can have success like that. That has always kind of been the way, but brands are thinking less creatively and more about the reach provided by someone’s daughter or girlfriend.” So it’s become more about connections than creativity? “There’s not much I look at now and think ‘wow, that’s an incredible creative’, not like I used to in the 90s, when you used to see [American fashion photographer] Bruce Webber work with brands like Ralph Lauren. You’d see a campaign and just go ‘wow, that’s insane’. Now brands look at names and what do they do with them? A couple of social posts? “I’m not criticising digital. It’s just not all about numbers, it’s about which demographic you are reaching. How do you connect with people outside the digital world? You still have to create incredible advertising and editorials.” God-like good-looks got Gandy so far. The rest came down to bulldog determination and the sort of single-mindedness that means you’ll find an hour to work out in a leaky gym where people fiddle the sunbed even when you’re back for the weekend visiting your mum. It’s Beckham spending hours firing free kicks through a tyre suspended from a crossbar; Cristiano Ronaldo being the last one left on the training pitch. As Gandy – single-name status came with the M&S gig – continues to mutate from model to brand-building businessman, are there any words of wisdom that he wishes he could whisper to his younger competition-winning self? “Enjoy it,” he says, that megawatt-smile spreading across his face. “Take it all in. Don’t worry so much about what’s happening in the future. “Obviously that’s a very easy thing to say. And if you’re not worrying about what’s coming next, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. I’ve always thought that if you haven’t got both feet on the floor, there’s a chance of toppling off.” Luckily both of Gandy’s are planted firmly on the ground.

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Sir Ian McKellen, Hannah Shergold

Music, museums & masterpieces

Former military helicopter commander Hannah Shergold traded propellers for paintbrushes in March 2018. Three months later and her first solo exhibition is due to open this June. See her technicolour artworks up close at Mayfairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s La Galleria. 25-30 June, 5b Pall Mall, SW1Y, hannahshergold.com

TH E AG E N DA YOUR CURATED GUIDE TO CULTURE IN THE CAPITAL

M AY F A I R GARDEN STATE New Mayfair-based gallery Unit London launches this month with a solo exhibition from South African artist Ryan Hewett. Dubbed The Garden, the show will feature Hewett’s abstract artworks of geometric figures and environments, inspired by both human experience and the natural world. 29 June – 28 July, 3 Hanover Square, W1S, theunitldn.com

ABOVE RYAN HEWETT IN THE STUDIO; RIGHT THE GARDEN, RYAN HEWETT

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KENSINGTON CROWNING GLORY The contents of Queen Victoria’s jewellery box is unveiled in a new exhibition at Kensington Palace. Victoria Revealed looks back at the monarch’s life and the possessions she treasured most. Look out for a rare and spectacular emerald suite commissioned by Prince Albert and comprising a dazzling diadem, necklace, earrings and brooch. Until 16 January 2020, Kensington Palace, W8, hrp.org.uk

BELOW FIFE TIARA, MADE FOR QUEEN VICTORIA’S GRANDDAUGHTER PRINCESS LOUISE, ©HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

HAMMERSMITH FINDER’S KEEPERS Prepare to peruse more than 50,000 objects at The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia, which returns this June for another year of rare collectables, furniture, jewellery and artwork by both contemporary artists and Old Masters. From £16, 20-27 June, Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14, olympia-art-antiques.com

ABOVE NOETON, NIKOLETA SEKULOVIC; RIGHT A 14TH CENTURY CARVING OF JOHN THE EVANGELIST, PETER BUNTING ANTIQUES; BELOW VASE BY PYTHON, ALEXANDER ANCIENT ART

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M AY F A I R IN THE FRAME

ABOVE LONG SHOT, JOE WEBB, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND LIBERTY GALLERY (THE ROYAL OVERSEAS LEAGUE)

The fifth Mayfair Art Weekend will see more than 40 galleries, auction houses and artists unite for three days of free artistic celebration, centred

around the area. The Royal Academy of Arts will be the base of the event, with talks, workshops and demonstrations occuring throughout the weekend. Elsewhere, the likes of Christie’s, Gagosian Gallery and Sophia Contemporary will be hosting special exhibitions and HIX Mayfair, Bonham’s

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Restaurant and Sketch will offer exclusive menus. Get a taste of the action with Gallery HOP!, which will be kicking things off on 29 June with an evening of after-hours gallery viewings and gin cocktails. 29 June – 1 July, mayfairartweekend.com

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SOLD £405,000 DAT E : 24 AP RI L 201 8 E ST I MAT E : £ 6 0,0 0 0 - £ 8 0,0 0 0

An Ottoman Beauty, Cesare Dell’Acqua “The subject – a combination of the girl’s meditative gaze, her sumptuous costume, and striking jewellery – captivated collectors’ imaginations and drew in bids from across continents.”– Claude Piening, head of orientalist art at Sotheby’s London

PRIZE LOTS UPCOMING E ST I M AT E : £2 0,000- £3 0,000

A rare and unique Hermès Kelly Retourné 35 bag customised by Tom Sachs June’s handbags and accessories sale at Christie’s will once again include a number of highly covetable, one-off Hermès pieces, such as this Kelly bag that was painted on by American artist Tom Sachs in 2009. According to Sachs: “NASA is the ultimate fashion brand. Just like with the Chanel logo, I’ve used the NASA logo to help bring authority and power to my sculptures and projects.” Handbags and accessories, 12 June, christies.com

SOLD CESARE DELL’ACQUA, AN OTTOMAN BEAUTY, OIL ON PANEL, 92.5CM X 71CM, THE ORIENTALIST SALE, 24 APRIL, SOTHEBY’S LONDON, IMAGE COURTESY OF SOTHEBY’S, SOTHEBYS.COM UPCOMING L-R A RARE AND UNIQUE PAINTED WHITE & RED ARDENNES LEATHER NASA 1996 HERMÈS KELLY RETOURNÉ 35 WITH GOLD HARDWARE, CUSTOMISED BY TOM SACHS 2009, IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD 2018; JOHN GOULD, THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 7 VOL. PLUS 3 PARTS OF SUPPLEMENT ONLY (OF 5), FIRST EDITION, IMAGES COURTESY OF BONHAMS

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UPCOMING ESTIMATE: £ 100,000-£150,0 0 0

The Birds of Australia, First Edition, John Gould Founded by Pieter W Louwman in 1937, Wassenaar Zoo was famous for its two aviaries, which were the largest freeflight enclosures of the time. Alongside the zoo, the family amassed a huge private library – left untouched from the 70s until now. The collection of beautiful tomes includes John Gould’s intricately illustrated ornithological study, The Birds of Australia, based on his findings when he travelled there in the 19th century. Wassenaar Zoo: A Dutch private library, 30 May, bonhams.com

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www.lanesboroughclubandspa.com Applications for membership are accepted via email and telephone. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7333 7064 Email: membership@lanesboroughclubandspa.com LCS-Luxury-London-217x280-May-2018.indd 1

14/05/2018 13:58:41

Words: Marianne Dick

T H E R O YA L A C A D E M Y O F A R T S H A S J U S T U N V E I L E D I T S H I G H LY - A N T I C I P A T E D

THE ROYAL ACADEMY’S NORTH-FACING ENTRANCE, BURLINGTON GARDENS, RA COLLECTION GALLERY IN 2018 © HAYES DAVIDSON

R E F U R B I S H M E N T. N O W, P R E S I D E N T C H R I S T O P H E R L E B R U N I S O P E N I N G I T S

W DOORS TO EVERYONE

hristopher Le Brun, artist and president of the Royal Academy since 2011, quotes the controversial modernist poet Ezra Pound when contemplating what he hopes the Royal Academy’s new multi-million pound renovation will achieve. Pound used the maxim ‘make it new’ to encourage others to experiment with literary form and take inspiration from untraditional sources. He had even recycled his own expression, having read it in an anecdote about Cheng Tang, the first emperor of the Shang Dynasty (founded circa 1766BC), who had the words inscribed on his washbasin. “Make it new. If you’ve had a place for 250 years, like the Royal Academy, that’s quite a good idea. Of course, you’ve got to keep all that’s good about it, but set it up for the next generation,” says Le Brun. The grand refurbishment by David Chipperfield Architects, which opened on 19 May, has been 10 years

in the making. The project links Burlington House to 6 Burlington Gardens, which was acquired by the Royal Academy in 2001. This building has been restored to its former glory and includes a 260-seat lecture theatre, echoing its original use as part of the University of London. There is a dedicated architecture studio that will hold free displays, the Clore Learning Centre beneath the theatre will host schools and communities, and there is a gallery solely for the work of the Royal Academicians. “The academy is directed and led by artists with no government money,” says Le Brun. “The academicians are our unique factor – and it’s virtually the only place in the world like it.” A trio of naturally lit rooms, the Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries, will house contemporary art and architecture exhibitions. The inaugural show is Tacita Dean: Landscape, a collaborative spectacle with the National Gallery and the

National Portrait Gallery, which are also showing Dean’s work. The Collections Gallery – curated by Le Brun and free to peruse – features masterpieces from the RA Collection, including John Constable, J.M.W. Turner and Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo, which is the only marble sculpture by the artist in a UK collection. “One surprise during the project has been the number of works in the academy collection that have been lent out to other places,” remarks Le Brun. “A huge painting, a copy of The Last Supper, which was done in Leonardo’s lifetime was loaned to Magdalen Chapel in Oxford, so that’s coming back and going into the Collections Gallery. ” In Burlington House, newly unveiled vaults will give visitors an insight into the history of the RA Schools, while a studio will display the work of the students. “I think of Mayfair as a wonderful survival of craftsmanship – the

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tailors, the shirtmakers, the shoemakers, the hatters – and downstairs we’ve got students making things, too,” says Le Brun. The concrete Weston Bridge connects Burlington Gardens to Burlington House, and provides another thoroughfare between Mayfair and Piccadilly, a load previously borne by Burlington Arcade. This also means that a new entrance gives access from Mayfair, an addition that Le Brun hopes will entice those who might be intimidated by the courtyard at Burlington House. “There’s no doubt that our demographic has a certain look about it. But I like to think the academy can look after people when they come to the area. So you can come here to eat, drink, and get information about the commercial galleries.” By increasing facilities, Le Brun hopes to broaden this demographic and shake off any stuffy preconceptions. He wants people to experience art firsthand – “to see and feel it”.

“The academy does exhibitions that have a theatrical, exciting and almost emotional side to them. It was set up to enable the artists to have a bit more freedom in their subject matter and to appeal to a general public,” says Le Brun. “A work of art shouldn’t be trying to persuade you of something, it should be a value in and for itself, of which one can see the attraction and beauty.” In a 1913 document, A Few Don’ts, that Pound penned about poetry, he wrote: “An ‘Image’ is that which presents an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time … It is the presentation of such a ‘complex’ instantaneously which gives that sense of sudden liberation; that sense of freedom from time limits and space limits; that sense of sudden growth, which we experience in the presence of the greatest works of art.” One would imagine Pound would be rather proud to have inspired Le Brun and has team. royalacademy.org.uk

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“A work of art shouldn’t be trying to persuade you of something, it should be a value in and for itself”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: RA COLLECTION GALLERY IN 2018; CROSSSECTION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY’S SITE IN 2018; ARCHITECTURE STUDIO IN 2018, ALL IMAGES © HAYES DAVIDSON

NO FEAR OF FAILURE F O R M E R C E O O F VO DA F O N E , T- M O B I L E A N D MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AMAZON, P H I L I P P H U M M I S N O W C R E AT I N G P L AY F U L M I S E - E N - S C Ã&#x2C6; N E S T H AT E X A M I N E T H E S O C I O P O L I T I C S O F O U R C O N T E M P O R A R Y, D I G I TA L W O R L D

Words: Hannah & Mark Hayes-Westall

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PREVIOUS PAGE PEEPING TOM, 2016 THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT REFUGEES, 2015; BUTTS, 2014; PROMISES, 2016

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ail fast and fail often’ is a term that has gained traction thanks to its adoption by Silicon Valley as a tool to explain the extraordinary rate of innovation in the tech sector. It is a concept that has gained so much in popularity that there is now an annual conference, FailCon, devoted to learning from the experience of failure. With an unparalleled degree of irony, FailCon itself was briefly halted due to being far more successful than its founders anticipated. In its relationship to our feelings about freedom, failure has long been fertile territory for philosophers and psychologists. As we develop technologies that devolve more responsibility for making decisions to artificial intelligence, it is becoming increasingly vital to discuss our own role as instigator-overseer in the decision-making process. Or so believes Philipp Rudolf Humm, a German artist with a unique background as a philosopherturned-tech-leader-turned-artist. Humm’s studio, in a quiet side street bordering Hampstead Heath, is a light, airy room on the first floor of an unassuming house, home to the artist and his partner, the photographer Danielle Mah. It is surprisingly modest for the former CEO of Vodafone, T-Mobile and managing director of Amazon, a tech investor who continues to sit on the boards of investment banks and global technology businesses, yet it is entirely appropriate for the philosopher-artist, a man working through some of the knottiest ethical topics of our age via his creative output. A ground-floor gallery space houses recent paintings and sculptures, with large format figurative paintings in the bright, hard-edged style that one critic has called ‘Pop Expressionist’ lining the walls, with pride of place given to new sculptures in bronze. In the series of three sculptures, The Play (2017), each around two feet in length, an athletic woman whirls a smaller man through the air, sees him fall, and scoops him up. In another sculpture, Balance (2017), a calm, collected woman in contemporary dress stands face on to a charging horse with a dove falcon-like at her wrist, while a young girl urges the horse forwards, tugging on its dressage-plaited mane. The works, completed in London over the course of several months and cast in one of London’s only remaining artisanal foundries, summarise some of the key approaches taken by Humm toward articulating the challenges he sees.

These works refer to Humm’s view of our responsibility toward the advances of technology and our societal response to the changes that technology is engendering

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Before studying art in London and Florence, Humm was a student at Germany’s Saarland University where he became interested in the existentialist philosophy of Martin Heidegger, whose idea of ‘thrownness’ (Geworfenheit in German) describes our existence as the result of accident and chance, the outcome of both our past and present. Heidegger’s idea was that this thrownness doesn’t dictate our future, but that it is part of our authentic selves, forming part of the concrete fact of our being (alongside things like our height, our age, etc.), which he called ‘facticity’ – the same consciousness that the French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre later called ‘transcendence’. The big idea, and the idea that informs much of Humm’s work, is that since our existence is a mix of concrete facts and thinking about what’s happened to us, and since no one can control our thinking, the freedom to think and therefore make choices, some terrible and destined to fail, is what defines existence. “It’s about the interplay between absolute power and belief, and the thrill of controlling – or believing that you can control – things that are inherently uncontrollable,” says Humm. He’s explaining a series of bronze sculpture showing tiny acrobats leaping over a charging bull (Minoan Bull Leaping (2017)). Using the language of classical sculpture and painting, taking references from the Old Masters and contemporary society, Humm’s work repeatedly questions our perception of freedom and dwells on the choices we make as a result of these freedoms, often showing symbolically the push and pull of the past and future. The thrownness of the small man whirled by the athletic woman suggests the possibility of failure, her scooping up of him the possibility of recovery and redemption. Perhaps the young girl on the charging horse is the lure of the future, the carefully plaited mane the illusion that our being in the future can be controlled, the calm woman our authentic self. Yet these works can also refer to Humm’s view of our responsibility toward the advances of technology and our societal response to the changes that technology is engendering. “[The acrobats show] the way that modern scientists feel when they look at tech. They feel that they are skilled and can control it but if you make a little mistake…” A quick look at Wikipedia shows that mistakes haven’t been part of Humm’s business life, in a career that has progressed seemingly effortlessly

from business school to management consultancy to C-suite roles. His successes in business gave his artistic career a startling beginning, with his first show covered on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, yet he struggled at first to reconcile the two parts of his life. “At the beginning, I was pushing it away,” he says, now seeming extremely comfortable with the mix. “Now it’s moving together. At the beginning I didn’t want different worlds influencing each other, but after a while, I realised it’s about authenticity, and I needed to bring the two pieces together; they are all part of me and my art should reflect that.” In his work, this drawing together of the two worlds has meant that he is more comfortable drawing on the skilled manipulation of meaning and iconography that he gained leading the marketing and advertising initiatives of the world’s biggest brands. A frequent figure in his painting work is Marengo, a large white horse who was Napoleon’s war charger, taken from an 1805 painting by Jacques Louis David of the Emperor crossing the Alps, and symbolising the eternal, repetitive tragedy of human overambition. Napoleon is an important figure to Humm. “Napoleon won it all and he lost it all. The tragedy is that he was able to conquer so much but not to see that he was going too far. His ambitions destroyed so many lands and people.” Some writers have compared Humm to another businessman-turned-artist, Paul

RIGHT TRUST, 2016 BELOW SHE-HE, 2017

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Gauguin. However, there are some essential differences. While Gauguin removed himself to a pre-industrial Tahitian idyll in a retreat from technological advance, Humm challenges the problems of technology head on. In Alienation (2017), a barefoot worker moves alone through the stages of creating luxury cars, accompanied only by her screen. The alienation and subservience of a robotics-dominated future and the unthinking choice-making that leads to a future where the choices are no longer ours is another execution of the themes of overconfidence and potential failure. “There’s so much discussion by super smart people around ethics and control, but for now everyone is thinking and no one is doing. It’s a reality we will have to find solutions for,

because, like nuclear technology, there is no positive without a negative.” Engaging with the potential of our choices to create technology that will fail us is perhaps an approach that only someone who has embraced a past filled with choices about technology creation can take. In bringing together the two parts of his life, Humm has provided the viewer with a privileged position from which to consider the issues that face us, in the process developing a fearlessness that seems set to take him far. Asked about the risks of pursuing an art career he chuckles. “In Germany, we have a saying, ‘Your last shirt is pocketless’. The cost is high, but you can’t take it with you.” philipprudolfhumm.com

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P O S T E R S C O M PA N Y I S S TAY I N G T R U E T O I T S R O O T S â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A N D I T S C L I E N T E L E

G E O R G I N A K H AC H A D O U R I A N O F P U L L M A N E D I T I O N S O N W H Y T H E V I N TAG E - S T Y L E

PULLING POWER

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PHOTOGRAPHY ©SAREL JANSEN

f you’ve got a winning formula, then you stick with it – that’s the simple maxim that Pullman Editions has adhered to since the business was founded by Georgina and Simon Khachadourian in 2010. The prices of the vintage Art Deco posters haven’t changed since the company’s inception, a notable feature that is a mark of the mutual respect between the brand and its faithful client base. Pullman Editions is the sister company of Mayfair’s renowned Pullman Gallery, which is a leading specialist dealer in first-edition vintage posters. The growth in the vintage market, coupled with the finite number of original posters available, led the duo to set up Pullman Editions, offering affordable, hand-painted new works based on Art Deco first editions. Step into the shop, and you are greeted by soft, sophisticated music and the company’s charming co-founder, Georgina, who reveals that the soundtrack pays homage to musicians such as Frank Sinatra and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. A plethora of posters adorns all four walls, depicting Alpine scenes, beach holidays at luxury resorts and retro road trips. Pullman Editions works exclusively with artist Charles Avalon, who has been collaborating with the Khachadourians for nine years to produce the pieces. The two major facets to the company are a well-stocked, long-standing collection and private commissions. Commissions are priced at £8,800 plus VAT and the brand has worked with a range of clients, including Royal Mail and Agatha Christie Limited. “If somebody wants to commission an artwork, the majority of work occurs before Charles even puts pen to paper,” Georgina explains. “They have lots of ideas – like special holidays, favourite cars or locations – but narrowing it down to a limited number of elements to include is the difficult bit. The tighter the brief at the beginning, the better the final artwork will be.” Once the client has compiled a mood board, supported by media such as photo references, colours and lettering, Avalon composes a pencil sketch. Colour is added after the client has given feedback, with further feedback taken before the final touches begin. Afterwards, the client owns the copyright and can do as they please with it. “If somebody commissions an artwork, they purchase the original artwork and

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the copyright,” Georgina says. “There was a hotel in Bermuda that commissioned an artwork and then did a print run for the hotel. The Mustique Company commissioned an artwork from us and actually sold the original at auction, which paid for the cost of commissioning it. Then they did a print run as well. We sometimes sell prints on behalf of other companies, although the design has to appeal to our customers.” When it comes to the current stock of posters, buyers hail from all over the world, although Georgina notes a strong local following. “We ship the posters internationally, but we do have a really loyal local clientele and we get lots of repeat customers. We have quite a few clients in Hong Kong. Dubai is another one – they like the car posters in particular.” As for weird and wonderful requests, a picture for a corporate headquarters in Switzerland proved to be something of a challenge. “It was literally just a concrete block that we had to make look Art Deco, which was obviously fairly difficult!” Vintage posters are clearly an inspiration for the designs and other ideas come from ski resorts and honeymoon destinations. “Resorts that are luxurious and popular with the Brits informed our choices initially,” she says. “Then we had a lot of feedback from customers as to what they would like to see. For example, we did one of the Route des Grandes Alpes, as a lot of people like to cycle in France.” Both Khachadourians are themselves travel enthusiasts and big fans of Switzerland, so I ask whether skiing holidays are a regular occurrence. “My husband doesn’t ski, he’s more keen on après-ski,” Georgina laughs. “I don’t ski any more, I haven’t done for a few years – every year somebody I know gets injured!” Her favourite piece from the collection is the Route du Soleil poster, which shows a classic Ferrari driving down the famous French A7 Autoroute on a summer’s day. “It’s a feel-good poster, it makes you smile and think of going on holiday,” she says. By popular request, Pullman Editions is about to unveil a new poster depicting Battersea Power Station. When asked what other exciting plans the brand has for the future, Georgina has a succinct reply: “Just carrying on what we’re doing”. 94 Pimlico Road, SW1W, 020 7730 0547, pullmaneditions.com

THE ART OF COLLECTING M A R K I N G I T S N I N T H Y E A R AT T H E R O YA L H O S P I TA L C H E L S E A , M A S T E R P I E C E L O N D O N RETURNS THIS JUNE FOR AN UNMISSABLE WEEK OF CROSS-COLLECTING – BUT WHERE TO BEGIN? THE EVENT’S ART EXPERTS OFFER THEIR TOP TIPS ON FINDING OPULENCE AMONG THE ORDINARY

Words: Ellen Millard

“C

radle an illuminated manuscript in your hands and you are quite literally touching art, literature, language, music and beauty of the European Middle Ages. Slip it into your bookcase and you join the company of the greatest connoisseurs in a line stretching for more than 500 years.” Dr Christopher de Hamel is a leading expert in medieval manuscripts, and an enchanting storyteller. His descriptions of the rare documents are beguiling to say the least, but how to begin sourcing such prized possessions is another tale altogether.

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Cue Masterpiece London. This June, the fair will unite a medley of exhibitors – some new and some returning – specialising in art, design, furniture and jewellery. Rare and beautiful pieces abound and, for the overwhelmed visitor, a new series of talks dedicated to the art of collecting. Part of the Talks and Education Programme, in association with Chopard, the ‘How to Look’ lectures will give guidance on spotting hidden treasures in photography, ceramics and – courtesy of de Hamel – medieval manuscripts. “Illumination manuscripts have always been precious. When new, they often cost more than paintings,” the expert enthuses. “At every moment since the Middle Ages, they have been sought and collected, and they are still among the most beautiful and evocative works of art that could ever be bought.” Martin Barnes, however, may disagree. The senior curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum will be hosting his own discussion at the art fair, detailing the merits of photography collection and the desirable snaps to source. “There is a backlog of photography from the analogue age that, since the 1970s, has become highly collectible for both its financial and its cultural value,” he explains. “Vintage prints – those made within five years of the negative and produced by the photographer themselves – tend to be the most prized.” Former director of the Wallace Collection, Dame Ros Savill, will be leading the ‘How to Look at Ceramics’ discussion, the name of which, she notes, is something of a misnomer. “You need to pick up a ceramic to understand the tactile feel of the paste, or even come closer to the intense detail and visual delights of the decoration,” she says. “Only handling reveals the marks which are so essential to identification, either of the place of manufacture, or of a downright fake.” For a beginner, such an extensive fair can be daunting. Director of research and programming at the Colnaghi Foundation, Dr Nicola Jennings, is hosting a lecture on Old Master paintings, and advises amateur collectors to seek similarities between their favoured works. “Is it the subject, the colours, or the artist’s skill?” She says. “Look up the artist and find out more about them, and where you can see their work.” It’s a recommendation that works for any art form. Put simply: “It is a journey of discovery; once you’re hooked, you’ll have many hours of pleasure ahead.” From £35, Masterpiece London 2018 sponsored by Royal Bank of Canada, 28 June – 4 July (preview 27 June), Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3, masterpiecefair.com

GLOSSERY Jo Baring, director of Ingram Collection, on the definitions to know when reading a gallery label PROVENANCE This refers to the previous ownership of the artwork. If there is no provenance listed, or a gap in the chain, you must ask. Anything made before 1945 may be subject to restitution issues, so knowledge of provenance is paramount. CONCIEVED IN Specific to sculptures, this refers to the year an artist makes an original model for a sculpture – however, artists often make editions of the piece in later years, so be sure to ask when a piece was actually executed. It could make a big difference to the value of the artwork. EDITION This term is used when there is more than one copy of the same artwork, typically a print or sculpture. It is crucial to ask how large an edition the artist intended to make, as this will have a bearing on value. If a print was made in an edition of 500, for example, it will generally be worth less than a print made in an edition of 10.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: BARBARA MULLEN, ESSEX HOUSE, LILLIAN BASSMAN, C.1950, ©ESTATE OF LILLIAN BASSMAN, COURTESY OF PETER FETTERMAN GALLERY; TERESA S., SARAH MOON, 1996, ©SARAH MOON, COURTESY OF PETER FETTERMAN GALLERY; A SÈVRES PORCELAIN TEA SERVICE FROM A VERNIS MARTIN TRAVELLING BOX, C.1764, COURTESY OF W.W. WARNER ANTIQUES

ARTIST’S PROOF Before an edition is made, an artist will create a practice or draft version of the print or sculpture, which can sometimes differ to the rest of the edition. This is called the artist’s proof and is generally numbered ‘0’. These tend to be more valuable than the rest of the edition. C ATA L O G U E R A I S O N N E This is a comprehensive listing of all known artworks by an artist. However, some artists do not have one and others have some which are incomplete. Ask the dealer if there is a catalogue raisonne for the artist you are considering and if the particular piece you like is included.

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CONNOISSEUR Tasting notes for the urbane epicurean

Mexico via Mayfair: Martha Ortizâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dainty dishes at Ella Canta, such as this Red snapper aguachile with a crispy maize pancake, are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. ellacanta.com

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“ W O R K WA S A PA I N K I L L E R ; I T WA S W H E R E I H I D ”

T HE M E L LOW I N G O F M R

M A R C O P I E R R E W H I T E

FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH OF MR WHITE’S ENGLISH CHOPHOUSE IN WHITECHAPEL, L U X U R Y LO N D O N S P E A K S TO B R I TA I N ’ S O R I G I N A L R O C K- S TA R S U P E R - C H E F A B O U T G A M E - C H A N G I N G G A S T R O N O M Y A N D T H E L E G AC Y O F W H I T E H E AT

Words: James Lawrence

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WHITE HEAT 25: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, BY MARCO PIERRE WHITE. THE ORIGINAL BOOK, PUBLISHED IN 1990, WON PLAUDITS FOR ITS UNIQUE BLEND OF OUTSPOKEN OPINION, RECIPES AND DRAMATIC PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE LATE LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER BOB CARLOS CLARKE

itting in Marco Pierre White’s plush country hotel, the Rudloe Arms, I wonder if the chef can sense my unease. Not because he’s particularly intimidating – that expectation proves totally unfounded – but because it has all been said before. White’s arrival with £7.36 in his pocket at gastronomic legend Le Gavroche (he was 16), training under Pierre Koffman at La Tante Claire, winning three Michelin stars at the age of 33, and then giving them back when he hung up his chef’s whites in 1999 to become a restaurateur – how one can possibly broach new territory with someone who has already been cross-examined so many times? White, however, makes it surprisingly easy. His opening speech presents a reality that is at stark odds with the ingrained media image of the bad-boy chef, aggressively ejecting patrons from his restaurants and prone to hammy tantrums. Marco Pierre White, it seems, is here to set the record straight. “This popular image of the enfant terrible chef is entertaining, but inaccurate,” says White. “I’m actually quite a boring person. Moreover, do you think I could have survived in this business for so long if I was that unstable and tempestuous?” Ironically, he blames his seminal cookbook and memoir, White Heat, for keeping the myth alive. Nevertheless, White admits he did eject patrons on occasion, “but only because they were either being obnoxious to the staff or other diners.” Which is quite reasonable. As for the legendary

incident involving cutting the jacket and trousers of a young chef who had complained about the heat in the kitchen, White retorts: “Yes, that happened, but after all these years the person in question still works for me. So it clearly wasn’t as traumatic for him as people like to believe.” I’m almost disappointed. I wanted to meet the man of legend, not this reflective, courteous person sitting before me. “The truth is I rarely venture out in public unless I’m working,” he says. Today he abstains from tobacco, alcohol and most other worldly pleasures – White reborn as a virtuous agoraphobe? That may be overstating the case, although White rarely eats out for pleasure and “won’t be seen at your local theatre or cinema,” he points out. We could go on like this all day, but I’m keen to return to the glory days of the first edition of White Heat, and running some of London’s most celebrated eateries – including his eponymous restaurant, first at the Hyde Park Hotel, then at the Oak Room at Le Meridien Piccadilly. Does he regret his decision to give it all up in 1999? “Not for one second,” comes the quick reply. “I was sick of being judged by people with less knowledge than me, it was ludicrous. And, the truth is that winning three stars is intensely exciting, but maintaining them is the most boring thing in the world.” He remembers with great fondness, however, Michael Lawson of the Box Tree in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, whom he cites as having the most important influence on his culinary style. Initially opened as a tea room in 1962, the Box Tree went on to become

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“I was sick of being judged by people with less knowledge than me, it was ludicrous” one of the first four British restaurants to win two Michelin stars in 1977, when Lawson was head chef. Surely White misses some aspects of those days? After all, at the height of his gastronomic career, Oak Room Marco Pierre White was considered London’s best restaurant. “It doesn’t mean much to me,” he says. “It’s not important. It’s a part of my life that’s been and gone.” I’m hoping for more, though. Particularly after White concedes that he was “monstrously unhappy” during his younger days, still mourning the death of his Italian mother, Maria-Rosa Gallina, who died of a brain haemorrhage when he was six. “When I see those pictures [in White Heat], I just see that I was very unhappy and in great pain. That’s the only emotional impact it has on me today. Work was a painkiller; it was where I hid.” He continues: “Pain, though, can also be a source of strength. All great artists – chefs, musicians, painters – are idealists, and idealists usually carry great pain around with them. But properly managed, that pain can lead to great things.” Today, multiple ventures place demands on his time – restaurateur, ambassador for Knorr stock, author, television personality, White is also a familiar

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face on the P&O cruise line. “My work for P&O is actually something I look forward to the most,” he says. “It allows me to interact with people who are genuinely interested in learning more about food, in the most pleasant of settings.” But if all this sounds just a bit too anodyne for the UK’s most charismatic chef, don’t worry. White may play down the enfant terrible persona, but he clearly hasn’t lost his infamous bite. On Gordon Ramsay, who studied under White and whom he once made cry: “Technically accomplished cooking that lacks any soul. He’s the Darcey Bussell of the culinary world.” White’s take on the Michelin guide: “In my day you had to prove consistency, whereas today chefs are awarded stars almost immediately after the restaurant opens. Singapore, for example, has far too many Michelin stars – I’ve lost all respect for the guide.” White also upset members of England’s wine community recently when he opined that English sparkling wine is ridiculously overpriced, adding that he couldn’t justify selling it at his restaurants, especially when the quality doesn’t rival that of champagne. Time passes all too quickly during our conversation, but I snatch a final question before we wrap things up – what does he think about the Roux family’s decision to ban diners taking from taking photographs at the three-Michelin-starred Waterside Inn? “Dining out should not be like going to church. If people are celebrating a special occasion, to deny them a photograph is ludicrous – I think Michel’s going to have to rethink this one.” But if you feel so liberal about phone usage in public spaces, Marco, why do you continue to resist the allure of a smartphone? White still proudly owns an ancient Nokia. And he admits that he threw people out of his own restaurant for what he felt was “rude behaviour”. “I guess photos can be intrusive,” he concedes thoughtfully. “In the end, it’s all about context. Does your behaviour adversely affect other diners? If that happens, then, yes, any restaurant owner should take action.” This dilemma is largely irrelevant to White, who rarely ventures into any restaurant, never mind Michelin-starred venues, for fun. “Contemporary Michelin food is a conveyor belt of bite-size courses, usually served cold,” he says. “Family, music and my work give me all the satisfaction I crave now. All else is window dressing.”

LONDON’S BEST P R I VAT E D I N I N G R O O M S WHETHER THEY’RE SEQUESTERED FROM THE REST OF THE R E S TA U R A N T O R F E E D I N G O F F I T S E N E R G Y F R O M T H E M E Z Z A N I N E , THERE’S A FRISSON OF EXCITEMENT TO BE GAINED FROM THE E X C L U S I V I T Y O F A P R I VAT E D I N I N G R O O M

new breed of private dining room is taking over the capital: the test kitchen. Chefs, usually of the celebrated variety, are bringing in punters at ground level to witness and occasionally participate in the creative culinary process. Britain’s Simon Rogan often garners comparisons with Denmark’s René Redzepi for his locavore (local food) sensibilities and penetrating interest in the history of British gastronomy. In the same vein, he’s cultivated a community of obsessive chefs who have made the

pilgrimage to his two Michelin-starred l’Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria. It was here that he launched the first iteration of Aulis, where he gave guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with insights into how his kitchen operates. Following the end of Rogan’s tenure at Fera at Claridge’s and in conjunction with the launch of Roganic in Marylebone, he launched the second iteration of Aulis: an eight-seater restaurant now at a secret Soho location which is revealed to the

FROM LEFT HAWKSMOOR; AULIS AT FERA; THE MULWRAY LANDSCAPE AT THE BLUE POST; THE BLUE POST; EVELYN’S TABLE

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CONNOISSEUR

visitor upon booking. Guests can sample new dishes before they are included on Rogan’s menus, at £195 per person. Nuno Mendes has made his mark on London with a career that has ranged from fabled pop-up The Loft Project to his Michelin-starred restaurant Viajante to the celebrity-heavy Chiltern Firehouse and his Portuguese bistro Taberna do Mercado. As he prepares for the next leap forward, he’s launched a 14-seater secret kitchen, table and wine room above high-end clothing boutique Hostem’s former premises on

Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street. Named Mãos, which translates from Portuguese as “hands”, the three-hour dinner will run diners £150 per person and will presumably offer a window into Mendes’ culinary soul. The three-floored The Blue Posts was recently taken over by Layo and Zoë Paskin, the sibling power pair that reshaped central London’s attitude toward Jerusaleminspired cooking with The Palomar and The Barbary. One of the hottest seats in Soho this Spring can be found in the basement level of The Blue Posts, where

you’ll find Evelyn’s Table. There’s counter seating for 11 with two satellite tables of two. Chef Luke Robinson (Corner Room, Bonnie Gull) has put together a southern European-inspired seasonal menu with a changing selection of dayboat fish brought to the restaurant from Looe, Cornwall, in the mornings. Hawksmoor is arguably one of Britain’s most feted high-end restaurant groups, having reinvented the traditional steakhouse for a contemporary audience. The latest jewel in its crown is Hawksmoor

Borough, which plays host to the Cooks’ Room. The 16-seater PDR features its very own open-plan kitchen. The executive chef team have put a lot of thought into what would comprise the ultimate Hawksmoor meal and planned a feasting menu accordingly. There’s also a sharing menu available, as well as a schedule of special dates for menu previews and guest chefs. Remarkably, all of these test kitchens have launched in the past year, and there are plenty more PDRs popping up across the capital…

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Man-about-town, Innerplace’s Nick Savage, gives you the insider lowdown on London’s most hedonistic haunts

Innerplace is London’s personal lifestyle concierge. Membership provides complimentary access to the finest nightclubs, the best restaurants and top private members’ clubs. Innerplace also offers priority bookings, updates on the latest openings and hosts its own regular parties. Membership starts from £75 a month, innerplace.co.uk

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TEMPER CITY Neil Rankin’s second restaurant offers a contemporary slant on subcontinental grilling and a semi-private balcony that can accommodate up to 60 guests. It has its own private bar, service team and a secret wine room. temperrestaurant.com RED ROOSTER NY chef Marcus Samuelsson caused a stir when he arrived at Shoreditch’s The Curtain hotel. The private room for Red Rooster seats 20 with wooden flooring, brick walls and striking circular lighting. redroosterldn.com BRIGADIERS Helmed by JKS Restaurants, this brand new Indian grill offers three separately themed PDRs: The Pot Luck Room seats 16 and features its own ‘help yourself’ beer station; The Bidi Room seats 14 guests; while The Kukri Room seats eight and is replete with Gurkha memorabilia. brigadierslondon.com THE IVY CITY GARDEN The Garden Room offers charming views of Bishopsgate Gardens and St Botolph’s Church and seats 24 guests on one long table, or 32 over four round tables of eight, or 50 at a standing reception. theivycitygarden.com F R O G BY A DA M HANDLING The young chef made his mark on casual fine dining this year with his second spot in Covent Garden. His 20-seater PDR shows him at his most grown-up. thefrogrestaurant.com

SERGE ET LE PHOQUE

CITY HOTSPOTS T H E B E S T P R I VAT E D I N I N G R O O M S T O H AV E L A U N C H E D I N AND AROUND THE SQUARE MILE I N T H E PAST 1 2 M O N T H S

The Mandrake’s flagship French resto offers a high-spec red-lacquered PDR that underwent 28 individual paint processes to arrive at its current shiny state. It can seat up to 18 and sommelier extraordinaire Bert Blaize will be on hand for wine recommendations. themandrake.com

T H E COA L S H E D

The sister restaurant to the Brighton big-hitter, The Coal Shed has plenty of space to cater to Citygoers, with a private dining room in its mezzanine. Book out the PDR for 20 or the entire floor for 50 diners. coalshed-restaurant.co.uk

DUDDELL’S

The exceptional Hong Kong import boasts a semi-private mezzanine with a capacity of 44 for those who prefer to enjoy Cantonese cuisine in style. duddells.co/london

THE SQUARE The revamped Michelin-starred Mayfair fine dining operation boasts a PDR that can seat up to 18 guests, with striking artwork from Oscar Murillo and David Altmejd. squarerestaurant.com

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MAT TERS OF SPEED

PRESENTED BY OCTANE

On 7th – 8th June, the gardens of the Honourable Artillery Company, in the heart of the City, will host a selection of the rarest and fastest cars from 1898 to the present day, each an icon of its era. A unique automotive garden party with the perfect combination of concours cars from the UK’s leading private collectors, luxury retailers, fine watches, art, gourmet food and champagne; an occasion of pure indulgence. Hospitality and general enquiries 020 3725 4044

1995 V12 MCLAREN F1, CHASSIS NO. 28. 0–60 MPH IN 3.1 SECONDS AND 240.1 MPH FLAT OUT

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IMAGE COURTESY OF PHILLIPS

In 1970, Rolex created the only known white gold vintage Rolex Daytona. Nicknamed ‘the Unicorn’, the timepiece sold last month at Phillips Geneva for CHF 5.9 million (£4.4 million) – making it the second most expensive Rolex ever sold at auction (Paul Newman’s ‘Paul Newman’ Rolex Daytona sold for £13.2 million in October 2017). Proceeds from the sale went to Children Action, resulting in one of the largest charitable contributions in the field of watches. phillips.com

COLLECTION Celebrating the delightful and the divine from the world of fine jewellery & haute horology

ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

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TREASURE CHEST M a k e a s t a t e m e n t i n s i l ve r with the help of Her Majesty The Queen’s R oy a l Wa r r a n t H o l d e r s

Be limited by numbers no longer: Mappin & Webb’s bespoke cutlery service now allows shoppers to choose the style, metal, and quantity of pieces in a set. La Regence cutlery, from £875 for one standard set, mappinandwebb.com

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ROCK SOLID Jessica McCormackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye-catching diamond rings have long lent themselves to weddings but only now has the designer debuted an official Signature Bridal Collection. New designs bear the unorthodox, inimitable stamp of McCormack, the Mayfair fine jeweller renowned for vivacious jewellery with an antiqueinspried aesthetic. To be a Jessica McCormack bride is to be stylish, individual and informed; bold yet timeless; to flout convention, but joyfully honour the past. jessicamccormack.com

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Bring good luck with a Bijoux beetle by Annoushka, bedecked with gemstones and black diamonds From £2,800, annoushka.com

Wistful gold and diamond alphabet charms by Stephen Webster are playfully entangled with spirited sea creatures, from turtles and newts to angel fish. Fish Tales, from £875, stephenwebster.com

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TORANJ LONDON; AFRICA CONSTALLATION NECKLACE, MARCO BICEGO; JAIPUR LONDON RING, MARCO BICEGO; THE MAGNIFICANT RING, SARAH ZHUANG; EMPIRE RING, TORANJ LONDON

NOW IN ITS third year, Couture London returns to Old Bond Street this June to celebrate all things fine jewellery. Aimed at the luxury press and buyers, the event will give industry moguls a sneak peek at new collections and one-of-akind pieces from eight leading jewellery brands. Italian goldsmith Marco Bicego, pearl specialist Yoko London Pearl and Persian-inspired Toranj London will be among the exhibitors. “The brands chosen to exhibit this year include a number of new, exciting fine jewellery brands and designers, who are looking specifically at the London market,” says Sarah Carpin, director of event organiser FACETS. “The event is invitation only. All the brands on show have something new and different to show to buyers, from the fluid, en tremblant settings of Aenea, through to some magnificent fine jewellery set with exceptional stones and inspired by the varied cultural backgrounds of their designers, which range across Africa, India, Persia, Italy and China.” To apply for a ticket, please email tickets@luxurylondon.co.uk by 10 June, quoting ‘Couture London’.

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THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE BRAND OF THE M O O N - WATC H I S A I M I N G F O R T H E S TA R S

T H E C EO I N T E RV I E W

ROCKET MAN

L O YA L T O T H E S WAT C H G R O U P F O R M O R E T H A N 2 0 Y E A R S , R AY N A L D A E S C H L I M A N N S E RV E D LO N G I N E S A N D B L A N C PA I N B E FO R E B E CO M I N G C E O O F O M E G A I N 2 0 1 6 . SINCE THEN, THE SWISS CITIZEN HAS EMBRACED ECOMMERCE, MASTERMINDED A M U LT I - G E N E R AT I O N A L M A R K E T I N G C A M PA I G N W I T H M O T H E R - D A U G H T E R M O D E L S K A I A G E R B E R A N D C I N DY C R AW F O R D, AND BECAME THE FIRST CEO TO LAUNCH A S P E C I A L - E D I T I O N WAT C H T H R O U G H S O C I A L M E D I A . F O R H I S N E X T T R I C K , A E S C H L I M A N H A S S E T H I S S I G H T S O N S E L L I N G M O R E T I M E P I E C E S T H A N M A R K E T- L E A D E R R O L E X

Words: Josh Sims

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F E AT U R E

“Contrary to the perception that the Swiss watchmaking business likes to foster, these watches are not all made by an old man in an Alpine chalet”

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SEAMASTER 1948 CENTRAL SECOND

f you happen to be in Biel, Switzerland, and spot a man in a sharp suit on what appears to be a very small bicycle, that’s going to be Raynald Aeschlimann. “Ah, yes that bike’s great,” he says, of what is, in fact, a futuristic, compact, matt black electric bike that he keeps next to his desk in his office. “I use it to get between our various buildings. It saves a bit of time.” Time is Aeschlimann’s business – he is the CEO of Swiss watch brand Omega, and has big plans to transform the company in a way that will give its arch rival, Rolex, a run for its money. That transformation is embodied by Omega’s new headquarters, designed by ‘starchitect’ Shigeru Ban; the first phase has seen the revamping of an established building to create a cavernous hotel-style reception, dazzlingly white rooms filled with watchmakers in dazzling white dust jackets, and a 40m high giant warehouse space in which a robot claws whiz about co-ordinating parts. A further biomorphic timberframed building is still under construction. That Aeschlimann has a vision is no surprise. He’s been with Swatch Group-owned Omega for more than 20 years, joining the company almost by accident while taking a break from his PhD studies. He worked his way up, being part of the dramatic revitalisation for the brand over that period, bringing it to a place where Omega watches are often considered on a mechanical par with those of Rolex, if perhaps lacking the cultural clout. “Before [becoming CEO] I was trying to make my voice loud, to be heard, which wasn’t difficult,” Aeschlimann

SEAMASTER 1948 SMALL SECONDS

laughs, “but now of course I need to think of the whole rather than my part. I have to be conscious of everyone’s else’s job. In my opinion, retail is all about your brand, so being in charge of retail for so long [Aeschlimann was vice president and international director of sales, retail and distribution from 2001 to 2013] was ideal preparation. But I can’t say I was aiming to get the CEO job. If you’re only interested in getting up to a certain position you don’t stay with the same company for two decades.” He’s on record saying that he wants Omega to surpass Rolex’s estimated sales of 800,000 watches a year – Omega currently makes around 700,000 through a process that blends the hand-crafted with the high-tech industrial. As Aeschlimann jokingly puts it, “contrary to the perception that the Swiss watchmaking business likes to foster, these watches are not all made by an old man in an Alpine chalet.” Overtaking Rolex is not necessarily his goal in itself, he says, but more an indication that Omega has grown. “The fact is that we have such incredible stories, we could be bigger than the number one – not just in sales, but as a brand. We are where we are because we spent so much getting the watches right, and not just the image.” Not that it’s a competition, mind, but Omega has gone into overdrive with the technical advances over recent years: co-axial escapement, for example, is a term that now appears regularly on the dials of Omega watches. The escapement is the key component in a watch mechanism. It’s what makes the watch tick, letting the energy stored in the spring escape

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– hence escapement – in a controlled manner, maintaining the oscillations of the balance wheel, too. This involves a lot of friction between parts and in a mechanical timepiece, friction is the enemy of precision, requiring regular lubrication to minimise its impact. Not so with Omega’s proprietary co-axial version. By reducing the surfaces that make contact with each other and introducing a pushing rather than a sliding motion, friction is greatly reduced. Since a co-axial escapement also has fewer parts than a more traditional lever escapement, there is greater mechanical efficiency. The company is also rapidly moving towards a point where all of its watches will get the Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) seal of approval – this elite, independent certification system for master chronometers sets performance standards much higher than industry average, across a wider range of criteria. “Talking about precision is one thing, but opening up certification to a wider definition – covering waterproofing, anti-magnetism and the like – raises standards further,” says Aeschlimann. “Admittedly these are sometimes difficult stories to sell. How do you transmit what can be very technical information about a product, and sell it in a traditional commercial way? All the same, they complete the spirit of the product. Most people would understand that co-axial is an added value, even if they don’t quite understand how it actually works.” Both moves represent a further overhaul of the Omega brand which, by Aeschlimann’s admission, has, historically, not been in a good place. “Back in the 1970s and 1980s Omega made some watches that destroyed its image. They were crap – not in the sense of being bad watches, per se, but in the sense that they weren’t at the Omega standard level. You have to remember that in the 1960s, the decade before, Omega was one of the top brands in the world – and I don’t mean just in watches. We’ve suffered from what people have thought about us in the past.” If all that is ancient history to younger customers, the new challenge in the smartphone age might be to get them interested in wearing a watch at all – especially one that only tells the time or, anachronistically perhaps, does such essential things as timing events to fractions of a second (a function, it seems, only ever used in helping boil eggs). “Actually millennials [loosely described as people born between the early 1980s and late 90s] are a generation that likes to consume as much as older generations do, maybe more, but their focus is more on ‘real’ goods,” Aeschlimann suggests. “Speak to them and it’s not as though they see a quartz or smartwatch as replacing a mechanical watch. Rather, they see them as entirely different things. The mechanical watch is something that expresses them – you see that in the demand for vintage watches.” To meet this younger consumer part way, Omega is moving into the brave new world of e-commerce – brave, at least, for the traditionally tardy Swiss watch industry. It has

also cut its ties with motor sport, which, for a company that does its good works through the GoodPlanet Foundation, obviously feels like an environmentally unfriendly mismatch. Omega is a brand of incredible stories. If Rolex, among a select group of Swiss watch brands, has its icons – the Daytona, the GMT-Master, the Submariner – what the brand doesn’t have is a long association with the Olympic Games: Omega has been responsible for the timing of all events at both summer and winter Olympics since 1932. More pertinently to many men, Rolex doesn’t have the Omega Speedmaster, the only watch to be worn on the moon and NASA’s go-to timepiece for its astronauts since the 1960s. Nor does the rival watchmaker have the Omega Seamaster, which since 1995 has been the watch of choice for James Bond (at least in the movies – in Fleming’s novels Bond wears a Rolex). Some will recall the excruciating scene in Casino Royale in which 007’s love interest makes an analysis of his sartorial choices, only to be corrected by him: no, he’s not wearing a Rolex, he explains, but, in fact, an Omega. “Beautiful,” she says. And the tills went ker-ching. “The Olympics is a huge part of our history and integral to what we do. It’s something that makes the brand different – we hear stories of people buying Omega watches just because it reminds them of a certain moment during the Olympics,” says Aeschlimann. “But Bond is a unique property – it’s become as much part of Omega, as Omega has become part of Bond. And I don’t really like to think about whether it would be a bad thing if those ties were broken. Thankfully, that is not an issue right now...” Yes, with or without Daniel Craig, James Bond will return. And he’ll be wearing an Omega again. That a brand like Omega is able to play on these moments of myth and magic may prove all the more important in years to come, as Aeschlimann seeks to ratchet up those additional 100,000 sales. By his own admission, nobody – millennial or not – really needs a mechanical watch any more. The watch left the world of utility and entered the world of items desired for their own sake, and that’s a world that thrives on sentiment. “It’s very interesting to see what will happen with similar brands that also sell things nobody really needs but which people buy anyway,” says Aeschlimann. “For me a luxury product is, by definition, one that’s emotional. Luxury shopping is when the emotional overcomes the rational. Of course people want precision in watches. And, yes, the industry still needs to be investing in even better standards. A mechanical watch is a piece of engineering, as well as a piece of art, that you can wear on your wrist. “Clearly there are other ways of getting the time. Yet it’s the same with cars. If you drive a Bentley you still get stuck in the same traffic as everyone else. But at least, you’ll be in a Bentley.” omegawatches.com

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BOOK YOUR TICKETS 28 JUNE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 JULY masterpiecefair.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOWL COLLECTIVE

The beguiling ballgowns of Chinese couturier Guo Pei shine in a new monograph by publishers Rizzoli Â£45, rizzoliusa.com

COUTURE Cut from a different cloth

HELLO,

MY NAME IS

PAU L S M I T H

S I R PA U L S M I T H O N C R E AT I O N , I N S P I R AT I O N A N D C H A N G I N G T H E FAC E O F FA S H I O N

Words: Daniel Pembrey

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ead to the Paul Smith store on Albemarle Street on a Saturday afternoon and you will find a certain septuagenarian thumbing the fabric swatches found there. He isn’t here to shop. Recently reinstated as the creative director of his eponymous, almost-50-year-old label, Sir Paul Smith is a busy man. Not too busy, mind, to miss his Saturday shift in his flagship boutique. It’s a work ethic that has defined a career; a determination that has taken a fledgling shirt business from a tiny, windowless room in a Nottingham back alley to the four corners of the globe, with products ranging from shoes to wash bags to cycling helmets – and everything in between. Smith’s fans include the head of the Bank of England, Paul Weller and Tom Cruise. In Japan – where he has become something of a Britpop icon – he gets stopped in the street for selfies. Despite the success – some 300 stores worldwide, 20 in the UK – Smith remains level-headed when considering his achievements. “I grew my business very gradually, so there was never a break-through moment when it went off like a rocket,” he says. “I’ve held my nerve, and that’s why we’ve had such steady growth over the past five decades. I stick to what I know and what I’m good at.” What he’s good at, very good at, is classic suiting with contemporary, kooky twists; jaunty socks in hypnotic hues; shirts, shoes and leather accessories in signature rainbow stripes. The designs are as playful as the man himself. In Smith’s Covent Garden office, there is an inspiration room of curious objects dubbed the Stockroom of Silly Things. Sir Paul has been known to produce a comedy rubber duck during gloomy boardroom meetings. After temporarily passing the creative director reins to his then head of design Simon Homes in 2015, Smith is back in the creative driving seat. Here he discusses his plans for the future, his top British designers and his enduring love affair with London.

IMAGE COURTESY OF SABINE VILLIARD

Growing up as a kid in Nottingham, music was initially the reason I’d visit London – for gigs. I remember crashing on the floor of a mate’s house when the Notting Hill Carnival first started in 1966. At that time London was so full of creative energy – musically, fashionably and artistically. I’d come down for a few days and we’d just go out to different gigs every night. Sometimes I’d print a few T-shirts back home in Nottingham and bring them with me to sell to people in the audience. Any money I’d make would go towards paying for the petrol to get me there in the first place. I love the creative confidence that Londoners have. The idea of clashing different styles is really central to Paul Smith; taking something classic and familiar and twisting it with the unconventional. For example, pairing a suit with a white

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T-shirt and tennis shoes. At the risk of sounding swell-headed, I really did pioneer that softer, more casual approach to formal tailoring. London has always been an exceptionally creative and cosmopolitan place. With the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate Modern, we have three of the most popular museums in the whole world. There’s just an endless flow of inspiration. There are more than 300 languages spoken here, more than anywhere else in the world. It is a fantastic goldmine of ideas. I don’t find that inspiration really works in a very A-to-B way. When people ask how I find inspiration, I always say ‘inspiration is everywhere; if you can’t see it, look again.’ Sometimes you just have to look up from your phones when you’re walking down the street and you’ll notice a clash of textures on the façade of a building, or a particular combination of colours. I wear a suit more or less every day. It’s like a uniform. I feel my most comfortable and confident in a suit. Day-to-day, I wear a classic navy two-piece, but on a particularly special occasion I might wear something bolder – a dark green wool with a white check, for example. I have a pair of handmade leather shoes from Paul Smith that I’ve owned for 35 years. In today’s world of fast fashion they’d be considered fossils, but I find they just get better with age. They’re a simple Derby in brown leather, handmade in Tuscany. I don’t get too attached to clothing, but I would hate to lose these. I don’t spend a great deal of time thinking about the future. There’s so much noise going on in the world today, the main thing is to stay focused on today and tomorrow and maintain a clear point of view. There’s a lot of change taking place in the industry now but I try not to get too preoccupied with what’s going on around me. The speed with which everything is happening can sometimes be a little scary. It’s great to still be so involved with the brand. In the fashion industry, so often designers disappear into an ivory tower and lose touch with the customers they’re designing clothes for. I always try to maintain awareness. There is such an amazing pool of creative people in Britain. John Booth is a young London-based ceramic artist whose work is great; it’s colourful and playful, two things that Paul Smith is famous

“London has always been an exceptionally creative and cosmopolitan place. It is a fantastic goldmine of ideas” for. We sell his pots in our Westbourne Grove and Albemarle Street stores. Holland Park is where I’ve called home for many years now. It often feels like a little village within London, which is very special. There are great parks right on the doorstep and we’re close to Portobello Road market, which is one of my favourite markets in the whole world. I also love the Lacy Gallery on Westbourne Grove. It’s stumbling distance from my shop and is a very special little place. If I’m looking to get something extra-special framed, I’ll always pay a visit to Lacy. paulsmith.co.uk

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Jessica: Dress, £2,940, versace.com; Earrings, £230, robertocavalli.com; Robert: Jacket, £995, Trousers, £350, Kingsman, mrporter.com; T-shirt, £79, Private White VC, studiobritish.com

LA VIE EST BELLE A SARTORIAL TOUR A R O U N D T H E C Ô T E D ’A Z U R PHOTOGRAPHER – MIKE RUIZ @ MIKERUIZ.COM S T Y L I S T – K R I S T I N E K I LT Y

THIS PAGE: Sweater, £525, dunhill.com; Shirt, £225, stellamccartney.com; Trousers, £345, Joseph, mrporter.com OPPOSITE PAGE: Robert: Polo Shirt, £250, Trainers, £380, dunhill.com; Trousers, £230, Canali, harrods.com Jessica: Jacket, £745, Max Mara, selfridges.com; Swimsuit, POA, versace.com; Necklace, £770, robertocavalli.com; Shoes, £720, armani.com

Jessica: Playsuit, POA, armani.com; Shoes, £675, stellamccartney.com; Bracelet, £1,080, Sunglasses, £295, robertocavalli.com Robert: Suit, £1,500, chesterbarrie.co.uk; T-shirt, £95, Theory, mrporter.com; Loafers, £535, stellamccartney.com; Sunglasses, £520, Gucci, mrporter.com

THIS PAGE: Shorts, £55, Ralph Lauren, harrods.com; Shirt, £210, Armani, harrods.com; Sunglasses, £520, Gucci, mrporter.com OPPOSITE PAGE: Jessica: Playsuit, £990, Shoes, £895, bottegaveneta.com; Bracelet, £1,350, celine.com Robert: Jacket, £985, Trousers, £445, Loafers, £535, stellamccartney.com; Shirt, £325, Dries Van Noten, selfridges.com

THIS PAGE: Sweater, £295, newandlingwood.com; Trousers, £255, Paul Smith, harrods.com; Loafers, £535, stellamccartney.com OPPOSITE PAGE: Dress, £370, brooksbrothers.com; Shoes, £625, jimmychoo.com; Bag, POA, armani.com; Earrings, £230, Bracelet, £1,080, robertocavalli.com

Models: Jessica Clements @ New York Model Management and Robert Reider @ Nevs Hair & Make-up: Evan Huang using Mac, Carol Joy Skincare & American Crew Boat: Rivamare, Riva Yachts, a Ferretti Group Brand. Courtesy of Monaco Boat Service, Riva Exclusive Dealer With special thanks to Style Lab, luxury brand management and communications, the-style-lab.com

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O N YOU R MAR QU ES S O M E O F T H E W O R L D ’ S FA S T E S T, R A R E S T A N D M O S T D E S I R A B L E CARS WILL ROAR INTO THE SQUARE MILE THIS SUMMER

he London Concours is returning to the Honourable Artillery Company’s garden in the City this summer, following the huge success of last year’s event. The exclusive gathering is designed to appeal to all those with an appreciation of quality and craftsmanship, as well as collectors and all-round car lovers. The five acres of beautifully presented gardens and manicured lawns – used for cricket from April to September – will host around 80 of the world’s finest classic and performance cars. This year’s theme is speed

and all vehicles, from early 20th-century racers to modern hypercars, will be grouped into the following classes: Fast, Faster, Very Fast, Superfast, and Hyperfast. With breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea being served, and champagne from Taittinger, it earns its reputation as the City’s ‘automotive garden party’. Bespoke hospitality packages for client entertainment can also be arranged. After browsing the motors, visitors can shop at boutiques from the likes of Swiss watch specialist Breguet and art house Collier Dobson, while automotive

specialists including Stratstone of Mayfair and Nicholas Mee & Co will be in attendance for those inspired by what’s on show. All of the cars on display – most of which have been entered by the general public – have been carefully curated by the London Concours Steering Committee – a group of motoring experts from a variety of fields including journalism, finance, law and classic car restoration. 7-8 June, Honourable Artillery Company. To claim £10 off a £35 entry ticket, quote the discount code RWMGVIP at londonconcours.co.uk

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PROMOTION

BEST IN SHOW T H E S U P E R C A R S TO S P OT AT T H E H O N O U R A B L E A R T I L L E R Y C O M PA N Y

LANCIA AURELIA B 2 0 G T ‘ O U T L AW ’

MCLAREN F1

ASTON MARTIN ONE-77

Speed factor: More than 125mph

Speed factor: Fastest car in the world for 13 years

Speed factor: Can hit a speed of 220mph

A bespoke creation by specialist Thornley Kelham Ltd, this 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT ‘Outlaw’ is the result of over 5,000 hours of restoration and customisation, including a lowered roofline and 2.6-litre fuel-injected V6.

The F1 was the fastest car in the world from 1992 to 2005, setting a record of 240.1mph. It implemented a number of firsts for a road car, including a chassis made completely of strong, lightweight carbon fibre reinforced polymer. It also features an engine bay lined with gold leaf for heat management.

Only 77 of this model were ever built, making it one of the rarest Aston Martins ever produced. Its 7.3-litre V12 engine justified its price tag of just over £1 million.

LAMBORGHINI MIURA S Speed factor: Regularly described as ‘the world’s first supercar’

LAMBORGHINI MURCIELAGO

The Lamborghini Miura debuted in 1966. Thanks to its 4.0-litre V12 engine mounted just behind the driver, it easily beat its rival Ferrari to become the fastest car in the world, with a top speed of 170mph.

Speed factor: Top speed 200mph+

The Murcielago was the first new model from Lamborghini under Audi ownership, but it still had the character of an Italian supercar. Wild looks were paired with a raucous 6.2-litre V12 engine for a top speed of more than 200mph.

JAG UA R X K 1 2 0 OTS Speed factor: Fastest car of its day

The Jaguar XK120 OTS was where Jaguar’s sports car history began. It set 24-hour and seven-day, seven-night speed records of more than 100 mph.

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WBS London, The Shard

The Warwick MBA in London

Transform yourself with a part-time MBA at The Shard. Visit our website to register for one of our Open Events. W wbs.ac.uk/go/canary

For the Change Makers

ESCAPE

IMAGE COURTESY OF ALEXANDER BEER, ALEXANDERBEERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

To strive, to seek, to find...

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy” – ERNEST HEMINGWAY

OUT OF AFRICA THE LATEST IN LUXURY TRAVEL S OUTH OF THE S AHARA Words: Abi Sritharan

FOUR SEASONS LOCATION: SEYCHELLES OPENED: MARCH 2018 USP: The only hotel on Desroches Island

Surrounded by pristine powder-white sand, tropical foliage and beautiful blue sea, it is no surprise that this Four Seasons Resort has been described as “beach-side

perfection”. The hotel is the second resort from the brand in Seychelles, and currently the only hotel on Desroches Island. The hotel consists of more than 70 rooms, which include bungalows, suites and villas. The entire resort has been designed with tranquillity in mind. Approx £810 per night for two, fourseasons.com

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SANCTUARY OLONANA LOCATION: Kenya OPENING: June 2018 USP: Glass-fronted suites bring the outdoors inside

In the heart of Kenya’s most famous game reserve, Masai Mara, a tented safari camp will be built on a private stretch of the banks of the Mara River. The luxury lodge will consist of 14 glass-sided, spacious suites. The rooms, like the rest of the lodge, see contemporary architecture and modern design juxtapose with traditional African finishes. The hotel is part of Sanctuary Retreats, known for its exceptional customer service. The resort will also be gold eco-rated and is investing in various conservation and community projects. Guests can expect game drives, picnics, safari activities and the chance to see the Big Five. Abercrombie & Kent offers an 11-night trip to Kenya, including a stay at Sanctuary Olonana, from £5,575pp, abercrombiekent.co.uk

& B E YO N D B AT E L E U R C A M P LOCATION: Kenya RE-OPENED: March 2018 USP: Situated below the spot where the famous last scene of Oscar-winning Out of Africa was filmed

This luxury tented camp is tucked away in a stunning location. Amid the reserve’s high concentration of plentiful and diverse wildlife, guests can enjoy an unbeatable animal experience, including safari tours, bush walks, and day and night drives. The romantic and private camp reflects the ambiance of Kenyan safaris of the ’20s and ’30s and is situated below the scenic location where the final scene of the movie Out of Africa was filmed. The perfect place for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, and movie buffs to enjoy an unforgettable African experience. From $680 per person per night, andbeyond.com

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ZURI ZANZIBAR HOTEL AND RESORT LOCATION: TANZANIA OPENING: MAY 2018

O N E & O N LY G O R I L L A ’ S NEST

USP: 32-METRE INFINITY POOL OVERLOOKING THE INDIAN OCEAN

Opening in May, Zuri Zanzibar Hotel and Resort is situated on a pristine beach facing west, meaning gorgeous African sunsets. The hotel combines contemporary design with sustainable construction and authentic African interiors. A stay at Zuri Zanzibar provides a choice of more than 50 villas, bungalows and suites as well as views of the breathtakingly beautiful Indian Ocean. Guests can enjoy access to a private beach, unspoilt coral reefs and tropical plants – some of Africa’s finest natural assets in one oasis. From USD 345 per night for a Garden Bungalow, zurizanzibar.com

LOCATION: RWANDA OPENING: EARLY 2019 USP: THE LAST MOUNTAIN GORILLAS RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP

The foothills of the awesome Virunga volcano range will be the location of One&Only’s newest hotel. One&Only Gorilla’s Nest will provide guests with face-to-face encounters with the last mountain gorillas left in the wild. Spend days watching these majestic animals roam their natural habitat before unwinding in your en-suite room, the hotel’s pool or spa, or its nine-hole golf course. A stay at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest gives guests the chance to spend time with a rare species many people will never be able to encounter. Prices TBC, oneandonlyresorts.com

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Building with distinction

New Build Loft conversion Basement Refurbishment Search IMKO Belgravia Email contact@imko.co.uk Call 0207 584 2745

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A COUNTRY OF CONTRAST S O U T H A F R I C Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S S P E C T R U M O F C L I M AT E S , C O LO U R S AND CONTOURS IMBUE THE COUNTRY WITH T R A N S F O R M AT I V E P O W E R S

Words: Alice Jones

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here are three stages of holiday withdrawal. The first is Googling the place from which you’ve just returned. The second is phoning your travelling companion to partake in some joint Googling. The third, in my case, was emailing my 24-year-old safari guide, Jacques. I was not romantically interested in Jacques, you understand, but he provided a link to a place I now truly adore – South Africa. In March, my friend and I had the opportunity to experience the contrasts of a country as wild as it is artistic, as untamed as it is cosmopolitan, and which is accessible by an 11-hour flight from London, without changing time zone. We started on safari. The Madikwe Game Reserve is an hour northwest of Johannesburg by plane, not withstanding there being rhinos on the runway at the landing site. The 750km expanse is dramatic and red and picture-perfect. The iron oxide in the soil gives the landscape its rich colour, punctuated by a surprising amount of lush green vegetation – minus the flat-topped trees you might associate with Africa. These are umbrella thorns but a high population of elephants at this reserve mean they barely stand 3ft tall, having been either eaten or crushed. Of course, such a healthy population means that you’re more likely to see an elephant when you check in to Sanctuary Retreats Makanyane – a luxurious lodge that comprises just eight bedrooms. Here, two game drives are planned per day, one at sunrise, the other at sunset, making for a gorgeous ski trip-esque routine of coffee laced with local Amarula spirit at dawn, group brunches, days spent by the infinity pool at leisure, before life-changing conversations at sunset. By which time you’ve abandoned the open-top jeep and written your name in the earth with a stick while waiting for the stars to come out. The Sanctuary Retreats experience is blissfully personalised. My friend and I were partnered with Jacques for our whole visit; enabling him to tailor our expeditions based on which animals we had yet to see. We covered hundreds of miles of ground, and raced across the tracks and rivers on an endorphin high, the radio crackling into life with sightings. And within three days of soaking up sun, and space, and peace, we had seen almost everything.

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Elephants, dozing lions, grazing rhinos, curious giraffes, playful zebra, formidable wildebeests that staked out the trucks, nervous cheetahs that stalked impalas, and crocodiles that slinked into murky waters as we headed home for supper. Each time we returned to the lodge we would tell the staff of our sightings, and sit by the fire while dinner was prepared; typically game steaks, fresh vegetables and sweet desserts that fuelled us for sleep and adventure. Bedtime came early, in glass-walled suites grouped around a watering hole for added photo opportunities. Open-air showers and thatched roofs lent them an outdoorsy quality, while comfy beds, free-standing bath tubs and candles added to the comfort factor. Michelle Obama is said to have stayed here. All too soon it was time to see another side of the country, and as the 12-seater propeller plane hopped from the airstrip, we waved goodbye to Jacques, who had remarked how bizarre it was that there was “a whole world beyond the fence”. He emailed back, by the way, Jacques. ‘Missing you two for sure,’ he said. ‘We should do it again sometime.’

More than 1,085m up, you can see South Africa’s twisted rock formations and sun-soaked colours in all their glory CAPE TOWN Facebook tells lies. According to my friend’s profile, on arrival in Cape Town we undertook a happy abseil down the dramatic Table Mountain. Dramatic it was; happy, not so much. Halfway down, crippled with nerves, we begged to be hoisted back up. Thankfully, a prevailing mist meant we couldn’t see the drop below, something for which we were very grateful. For people braver than us, the adventure is one of the most exhilarating ways to appreciate Cape Town. South Africa’s natural landscape is its greatest asset, and, 1,085m up, while tethered to ropes manned by Abseil Africa, you can see its twisted rock formations and sun-soaked colours in all of their glory. Surprisingly affordable, the

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CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT SANCTUARY RETREATS MAKANYANE; SANCTUARY RETREATS MAKANYANE; THE SILO, CAPE TOWN; THE SILO, CAPE TOWN

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excursion requires no training (although we could have done with some) and takes about half an hour. Table Mountain is one of the new ‘Seven Wonders of Nature’ (a Swiss-based foundation polled more than 100 million people)and proves an achievable summit for those who want to climb and hike its peak. Though there’s also an open-air cable car, remember that. Mercifully, Table Mountain National Park is just 15 minutes from the chic V&A Waterfront, meaning you can recover quickly from your thrill-seeking at altitude. After our terror, we retreated to the bells and whistles of The Silo, a boutique hotel with members’ club vibes that opened in 2017.

striking feature is its glass façade that gives each of its 28 rooms geometric, industrial-style windows. They overlook the art installations of the neighbouring Zeitz MOCAA – a gallery which houses the continent’s largest collection of contemporary African art – as well as the mountains or coast depending on which room you choose. The hotel’s one-bed penthouse measures 211m and includes a private spa treatment room and a 25m wrap-around terrace. Other than the generous layout, Biden’s fabled decadence is evident in the tribal-inspired crocskin dressers, leopard-print banquettes flanking bath tubs, sequined artworks and antique furniture as well as the vivid flashes of colour that really help make your Instagram pop. The effect is inimitable; don’t approach interior design like this at home. In the hotel’s basement is The Vault, which houses custom paintings on loan from local creatives. It is touches like this consignment that give the hotel its point of difference. And also the service, with staff more than happy to arrange last-minute in-room hairdressing appointments for you at the press of a button (yep, that happened). When the sun, views and local wine mean you don’t want to party anywhere else, make yourself comfortable at The Silo Rooftop – a bar and restaurant complete with glass-sided pool.

THE SILO The Royal Portfolio hotel group is a family affair, founded and run by husband and wife team Phil and Liz Biden. Liz, CEO, personally oversees the extravagant interiors of the five properties the group owns in Africa, of which The Silo is the newest. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, of London-based Heatherwick Studio, its most

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has a wine gallery of 7,500 bottles mounted in an impressive entertaining space in its grounds. But what makes this property so special is its warren of libraries, snugs and brandy lounges – two centuries of artwork line the walls – and the atmosphere is as mysterious as it is cosy. Ellerman House is a hideaway for the elusive and has been so for 25 years. All guests are invited to a reception each evening but you’ll not hear a peep from the suites. If you do tear yourself from your own terrace, there is a house pool complete with butler service, as well as a contemporary art gallery and spa, but the best spot is the house’s veranda for dinner – where finally you might just meet your neighbours as they dine while watching the waves roll in. We spent our last night watching a thunderstorm from this terrace as the rain finally came. If South Africa isn’t already on your bucket list, consider adding it now.

WINE TASTING This being winemaking country, a trip to the valleys of Franschhoek or Stellenbosch for a full tasting is a must. We chose the latter, as guests of Delaire Graff (founded by jeweller, Laurence Graff), where a main homestead with indoor water features, two restaurants, a spa and 10 lodges are tucked into the hillside, complete with terraces and plunge pools. This is marriage proposal territory: the olive groves and grape vines do something spectacular to the view – especially at sunset – and privacy is assured. You’ll not see a soul in the gym or at the main pool, however slick and beautiful the spaces, with their muted colour palettes, sleek stonework and enormous artworks. Both wine tasting and tours of the vineyard are complimentary for those staying in the property. The Sunrise Brut is the estate’s own sparkling wine, but most people talk about its red: the Laurence Graff Reserve is a ripe, full-bodied claret. There’s also an award-winning semillon/ sauvignon blend, which the tasting notes flag for its tropical, citrus taste from the local grapes. The wine tasting is taken at the estate’s eponymous restaurant, which has genuinely inspiring views of the valley – all golden earth and purple and green flora. At night, book into Indochine. The Pan-Asian restaurant is the founder’s favourite, and after a few days of traditionally hearty African game, the fine dining twist on a vindaloo – complete with fresh langoustines and prawns – provides the spicy pickme-up your taste buds need. The food is exquisite, the dining room moody and romantic and the cocktails deadly. We still talk about them.

HOW TO BOOK Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge From £260 per person per night for a minimum 4 night stay on selected dates. Park fees and flights not included, sanctuaryretreats.com The Silo From £790 per night in low season, theroyalportfolio.com Delaire Graff From approx. £850 per night in low season, delaire.co.za Ellerman House From £525 per night, ellerman.co.za

ELLERMAN HOUSE

ABOVE DELAIRE GRAFF ESTATES ALL OTHER IMAGES ELLERMAN HOUSE

Back in the city, guests of Delaire Graff frequently take advantage of its partnership with Ellerman House, and book to stay the night at the Cape Edwardian mansion in one of the most exclusive areas of Cape Town – Bantry Bay. The hotel itself

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BELLES & WHISTLES F R O M C A P E TO W N TO TA N Z A N I A , T H E W O R L D ’ S MOST LUXURIOUS TRAIN JOURNEY IS A 3,500-MILE RIDE TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH

Words: Kevin Pilley

he walkie-talkie crackled. Nothing was happening yet at Ishukudu Dam or much down Bushwillow Road. Nothing was going on down Cat’s Alley or Impala Road either. Hustler’s Alley was empty. Tree Squirrel Road was quiet too. It was still early. The sun rose over the Dwarsberg mountains spilling over the inselbergs, lighting up the termite mounds. The rangers talked. Iggy Bogatsu was following the Old Fence Road. Kylie was on Rusty’s Jungle Lane. Steph had drawn a blank at Python Pool. The radio squawked again. A prayer bird lifted off from a jacket plum tree. A herd of kudu stared at us incuriously. Jack went into code, speaking Tswana –

sometimes poachers listen in. Something had been spotted at Adolf’s View heading in the direction of the Pofadder pan. Jack put his foot down and we bumped and jounced along the clay and Dolomite dirt tracks following the Northern Fence Line. A few moments later we stopped on Mistral Road. A pack of rare wild dogs were feasting on their kill. They fought for its tongue. They fought over its ears. Western Cape Province’s malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve on the South AfricaBotswana border, 25 miles south-east of Botswana’s capital Gaborone and three hours’ drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, is one of South Africa’s prime safari destinations.

What do you get on what proclaims itself to be the world’s most luxurious train journey? The very best of everything that is operationally possible and logistically feasible when you’re travelling through Africa for a fortnight

Stretching 75,000 hectares, it is the fourth largest game reserve in the country. The two-night, four-drive stay in the park is the highlight of Rovos Rail’s epic 15-day, 3,568-mile, £11,000 Pride of Africa train trip up the spine of Africa. A journey that stretches from Cape Town through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and ending in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Rovos runs five-star rail-hotel trips throughout southern Africa and into Namibia, recapturing the romance of train travel. So what do you get for £11,000 on what proclaims itself to be the world’s most luxurious train journey? A wealth of memories. And the very best of everything that is operationally possible and logistically feasible when you’re travelling through Africa for a fortnight. By numbers, the trip includes: five countries, interminable savannah, lots of waving children, four chauffeurs, three chefs, 10 waiters, countless discreet bodyguards, select company, an on-board doctor, hair stylist and social secretary, a resident encyclopaedic historian, hostesses providing 24/7 laundry and room service, air conditioning, shaver plugs, a stand-up perfect-temperature en-suite shower with optional clawfoot Victorian bathtub, a minibar with Méthode Cap Classique champagne, sparkling wine, top-of-range non-abrasive toilet paper and complimentary grooming products. There’s also plastic goggles, so you can stick your head out of the train, tunnels permitting.

Our cosmopolitan company for the trip included American doctors, CEOs, a nougat mogul, an Australian timber mill magnate and an ex-scaffolder and Brussels sprout picker from Bedford who, with his wife having surprised him with the trip, was leaving their only son nothing except a DVD of them enjoying the high life. Another major plus is that all the visas and border formalities are taken care of for you. You get a tour of the Kimberley diamond mines; a stay at the $1,000-a-night, 1904-Empire-kitsch Victoria Falls Hotel, limitless fine wines and three meals a day. You must dress up for the bygone days and golden age of rail travel. Cummerbunds and penguin suits are not compulsory. But jackets and ties are. Tiaras and national costumes are optional. If you only see 20,000 out of 23,000 flamingos at Kamfers Dam in South Africa, you can hardly cavil. You are guaranteed to get up close and personal with a crash of rhinos, a tower of giraffes and a committee of vultures. There is also a one-day visit to the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania. The only thing you have to pay for is French champagne. And throwing yourself off a bridge – bungee jumping is not included. The Pride of Africa, which can carry a maximum of 70 guests, is more sedate and unhurried than Australia’s The Ghan or The Blue Train between Pretoria and Cape Town. Its windows may not be as opaque as India’s Palace on Wheels. The scenery is not as

spectacular as on the Trans-Canadian railway, or as breathtaking as in Peru. But this is all-out adventure. Even if the Pullman cabins are small, the royal suites have a clawfoot bathtub. There is no radio or television onboard. No WiFi or laptop or casino or gym or wellness centre. Although the doctor’s cabin has an exercise bike. Mainly for himself. ‘Elegant conversation’ is encouraged. And your fellow passengers are the on-board entertainment when the low and high veldt and baobab forests pall. In the smoking cabin, and openbalconied observation car, conversation flows and stories are swapped as you cross rivers and travel through the Miombo, heartwoods and zebrawood thickets. Ostriches stare incuriously. Kudus barely raise their heads. Friendships are forged. A trip of a lifetime is shared. You must be prepared to pay for the late nights and cocktail parties, which

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RATES & DATES

2018 CAPE TOWN TO DAR ES SALAAM: June 30 / September 29 DAR ES SALAAM TO CAPE TOWN: July 17 / September 4 / October 16 Royal suite: US$21,550 pp (single supplement upon request) Deluxe suite: US$16,500 pp (single supplement US$7,130) Pullman suite: US$12,450 pp (single supplement US$5,530)

2019 CAPE TOWN TO DAR ES SALAAM: June 29 / September 28 DAR ES SALAAM TO CAPE TOWN: January 24 / October 15 Royal suite: US$22,190 pp (single supplement upon request) Deluxe suite: US$16,995 pp (single supplement US$7,385) Pullman suite: US$12,820 pp (single supplement US$5,695)

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tend to feature a lot of Amarula and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur. You must suffer sore elbows and bruised hips from walking down the half-mile long corridors. And be resigned to weight gain. Otto Hank is the executive chef sending out four-course meals into the Pride of Africa’s cherry-panelled, teakwood-pillared Belle Époque restaurant with its singing cut-crystal wine glasses, bone china, starched linen napery, solid silver cutlery, tassel-tied curtains and romantic low lighting. Ineffably delightful staff like Heinrich will save you unconscionable amounts of exertion by not only reading the menus out loud but also placing the napkin in your lap. Hank works closely with Anthea Vos, wife of founder Rohan who started his auto parts business by selling a rebuilt car and then buying old British train carriages and steam trains to restore. He founded Rovos in 1989 and, after near-bankruptcy, it has rightfully become one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading luxury brands. The centre of operations is Capital Park, Pretoria. You can visit the workshops and a museum. The original steam locomotives were named after family members. Running out of names, Vos named one Zog, after his pet Dalmatian. Steam power is no longer employed but ‘Tiffany’ and ‘Marjorie’ – built in Scotland in 1953 – do make occasional cameo appearances. It’s a luxury to eat your way up Africa. To be shown the high points of the continent in safety, security and exceptional comfort. To go through the continent first class. And travel a route rarely travelled. Passengers are hailed nightly by a mini-xylophone and proceed to the restored, almost 100-year-old dining car. Menus include traditional South African bobotie – spiced beef mince oven-baked with a layer of savoury egg custard served with Peppadew pepper, kiwi and banana chutney. Pecorino (ewe’s milk cheese soaked in a wine must) precedes a

It’s a luxury to eat your way up Africa. To be shown the continent in safety, security and exceptional comfort. To go through the continent first class. And travel a route rarely travelled dessert of melktert – a sweet pastry crust with a dusting of cinnamon served with fruit coulis, and a small syrup-coated South African doughnut known as a koeksister. There are also ostrich and crocodile tails. All paired with the best Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek fine wines. At the end of the extraordinary trip, guests are presented with a certificate signed by Mr Vos: ‘Be it known that the prerogative to ride on board on the Greatest Train On Earth has been exercised. By this action, persistent thirst has been slaked on the rail-bound watering holes that

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bear the names of Modder, Nile and Nyanza and that culinary delights have been savoured in the dining cars Shangani, Pafuri or Letaba and that you have been lulled to sleep in the easy confines of a luxurious suite.’ An air-conditioned one, too.

rovos.com; wexas.com; Emirates flies to Cape Town via Dubai, from £869, emirates.com; British Airways flies from London to Cape Town, from £725 return. Return flights from London to Johannesburg, from £642 return, ba.com

NO ONE NEEDS PERSUADING AS TO WHY THEY SERVICE THEIR CAR, YACHT OR PLANE. BUT THERE HASNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BEEN AN EQUIVALENT FOR THEIR HOME UNTIL BOLD & REEVES

CONVENIENCE. PEACE OF MIND. VALUE. INFO@BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK | 020 7408 7590 | BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK

PROPERTY The finest homes in the capital

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STUCCO-FRONTED PERIOD BUILDING, KENSINGTON

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INSIDER KNOWLEDGE FROM LUXURY PROPERTY JOURNAL PRIMERESI.COM

POSTCODE LOTTERY “GROSVENOR SQUARE COULD BECOME THE MOST DESIRABLE ADDRESS IN THE WORLD”

HOLD COURT JUDGES RULE AGAINST SOLICITORS IN HIGH-STAKES PROPERTY FRAUD CASE

Conveyancers on both sides should share responsibility for duped buyers and their losses resulting from property fraud, High Court judges have ruled. The landmark appeal cases – Dreamvar vs Mishcon de Reya and P&P Property Limited vs Owen White & Carlin LLP – were partially upheld in May. In both cases, the buyers were looking to acquire London properties for c. £1m each – but it subsequently emerged that vendors did not actually own the properties.

Both parties in both cases instructed solicitors, but the fraud only came to light after money had exchanged hands – leaving buyers out of pocket. The decision in the Dreamvar case means that both Mishcon and Mary Monson Solicitors – which acted for different parties in fraudulent transactions – should make financial contributions to cover the buyer’s losses. This means that, in the future, solicitors representing vendors should bear responsibility for ensuring that their clients are legitimate; buyer’s lawyers should not bear sole responsibility.

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The Mayfair and St James’s area is returning to its residential roots, declares property firm JLL, as it predicts that property prices in the area will rise by nine per cent by 2022 with “a new era underway”. Another year of no growth is forecast, followed by a return to positive action in 2020; new-builds are likely to be ahead of the curve. Residential price inflation is being driven by demand for large luxury lateral homes, says the team. Such units have been pretty scarce outside of Knightsbridge, but a glut of top-end developments in Mayfair is now rising to meet the demand. Local estate agency Wetherell has been reporting a similar trend for the past few years. The firm totted up Mayfair’s newdevelopment pipeline at the end of last year, finding that 501-units are on the way across 15 schemes, worth a combined £5.4bn, from just 12 luxury property developers. That pipeline could boost Mayfair’s in-residence population by some 25 per cent. Major residential projects on Grosvenor Square, such as Finchatton’s conversion of the former US Navy HQ (No.20) and Lodha’s development of the former Canadian High Commission (No.1) – together with the creation of a new five star hotel in the old US Embassy – allow JLL to argue that “Grosvenor Square could well become the most desirable residential address in the world”.

Relax

If you have plans to make a move this Summer, let Knight Frank Notting Hill find your perfect buyer or tenant and get back to the things you love, sooner.

Knight Frank Notting Hill 294 Westbourne Grove London W11 2PS Sales: 020 8115 2414 Lettings: 020 8115 2415 nottinghill@knightfrank.com Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to help you. KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

KNIGHTS OF THE HILL P U T T I N G T H E P E R S O N A L B AC K I N TO P R O P E R T Y M ATC H M A K I N G W I T H T H E T E A M AT K N I G H T F R A N K N OT T I N G H I L L

Words: Ellen Millard

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT SAREL JANSEN

Image taken at Clarendon Lodge, W11, currently on the market at a guide price of Â£19,250,000. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Arthur Lintell, Caroline Foord, Marsha Andreeva, Lupita Garcia, Jessica Richards, Emily Ramsay, Kim Hart

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t has been 18 years since Caroline Foord opened Knight Frank’s first Notting Hill office on Westbourne Grove. Since then, the team has set many records, including the highest pound-per-square-foot in the area* and being involved in some of the highest value sales (in excess of £30m). When you witness the agents at work, such achievements come as little surprise. “Teamwork is at the very heart of what we do,” says Caroline, who has lived in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea for more than 30 years. “We believe that personal interaction is crucial to ensure every buyer is matched to the property that suits their needs. We are an inspired team that naturally provides excellent and dedicated service to our clients.” You’ll be hard pressed to find a group more knowledgeable on the quirks and qualities of Notting Hill than Caroline’s dedicated team – “Look out for the gorilla hidden in one of the area’s communal gardens,” is just one of Caroline’s nuggets of wisdom. This multi lingual team incorporates a mountaineer, a chocolatier, a glass maker, a marathon runner, a dolphin trainer and a professional singer. Caroline, who loves travelling (having been to Bhutan trekking in the Himalayas and just back from a sabbatical travelling around South America) joined the industry in the mid1980s, and has been with Knight Frank since 1991. “When we first opened the Notting Hill office in 2000, there were less than a handful of estate agents on Westbourne Grove; now there are more than a dozen,” she explains, having opened a second Notting Hill office in 2013. “The area has changed and evolved considerably over the past 18 years, but

NOTTING HILL BY NUMBERS** Over the past 18 years, the Knight Frank Notting Hill index has risen by approximately 214% Meaning that a £1m property then, is worth £3.14m now And a £2m property then, is now worth £6.28m

the wonderful thing is that it has kept its vibrant mix of home-grown heart and international spirit.” As well as championing a personal approach to property, philanthropy has long been integral to the Knight Frank philosophy. For the 16th consecutive year Caroline’s office will be the main sponsor of the W11 Opera for Young People – an inspiring local charity. In the Autumn of 2017, the firm raised £220,000 through its bi-annual Day of Giving charity initiative. “Our office cycled and rowed from London to Paris,” explains Foord. “Thanks to the generous support of our clients, friends and contacts, we raised a significant amount towards the £220,000 the firm raised in the UK.” “The only permanent thing in life is change,” says Caroline, and Notting Hill has certainly changed considerably over the past 18 years. So how has Caroline and her team managed to adapt with the times? “Knight Frank has been a partnership since 1897 and this, I believe, is one of our greatest strengths – allowing us to give long term and the very best advice to our clients,” says Caroline. “We advise our clients the same way we would advise our family and friends – and when it comes to property searches, personal recommendations are like gold dust. We have a genuine passion for property and a sincere love of Notting Hill, where a bohemian spirit meets contemporary cool.” Reflecting on the changes in the market, Caroline and her team have just completed their first ‘face time’ sale where the eventual buyer offered from an initial ‘face time’ viewing of the property while they were in the United States. “We have always endeavoured to provide a very personable and discreet approach, and fostered a collaborative and collegiate spirit within our office which I know resonates with our clients. It all comes down to building relationships and trust and I would like to thank all of our clients for their loyalty and support.”

THE HUMAN TOUCH

“A neighbour asked me which agent she should contact to sell her house. I replied, ‘You won’t do better than Caroline Foord for honesty, integrity and quiet calm.’ My neighbour proceeded to ‘interview’ seven other prospective local agents. And picked Knight Frank above the rest. Why? Caroline Foord and the rest of the Knight Frank team.” Ms. D “I have bought and sold many properties in London, France and New York in recent years and Arthur Lintell really stands out as perhaps the very best among all the agents I have worked with. He is focused, intense and deal-oriented in a balanced and positive way and retains a very polite and diplomatic manner.” Mr. M “We have recently purchased a beautiful flat through Marsha at Knight Frank Notting Hill and from first contact to actual completion, Marsha has been extremely helpful and responsive. She was there was for us late in the evenings and on the weekends to answer any queries and help negotiate with the seller.” Mr. P “We are delighted we chose Knight Frank to sell our property in Notting Hill. Emily Ramsay was particularly good at keeping us informed on the progress of the sale and ensured that exchange and completion date targets were met. Not having sold a house for 30 years, or more Emily constantly reassured when we got a bit stressed.” Ms. C * To the best of our knowledge

294 Westbourne Grove, knightfrank.co.uk, nottinghill@knightfrank.com, @KnightFrank LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK

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** Source: Knight Frank Research Department (March 2010 - March 2018)

Connecting people & property, perfectly. Addison Avenue, Holland Park W11 4

• Offering sensational living space • Award-winning garden • Approximately 3,470 sq ft An magnificent low built house located in a highly sought after and wide tree-lined residential avenue. Guide price £8,750,000

caroline.foord@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

Clarendon Road, Notting Hill W11 6

• Extensively rebuilt family house • Located in a popular residential address • Approximately 5,670 sq ft An exceptional house with off street parking and a wonderful east west orientation. Guide price £19,250,000

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caroline.foord@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

23/05/2018 15:01

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

Elgin Crescent, W11 A quintessential raised ground floor Notting Hill garden flat.

• Private garden • Communal gardens

Chepstow Road, W11

• Communal gardens • Porter

020 3551 5156

• Full of character • Approximately 2,241 sq ft

Guide price £1,150,000 emily.ramsay@knightfrank.com

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An elegant Grade II listed family house.

• Private patio garden • Conservatory

Third floor mansion block apartment.

• Period features • Approximately 590 sq ft

Guide price £975,000 emily.ramsay@knightfrank.com

Kensington Park Gardens, W11

020 3551 5156

• Lift • Approximately 729 sq ft

Guide price £1,150,000 emily.ramsay@knightfrank.com

Linden Gardens, W2 Split level flat arranged over the ground and lower ground floors.

• Impressive ceiling height • Period features

020 3551 5156

• Private patio garden • Approximately 1,603 sq ft

Guide price £1,150,000 emily.ramsay@knightfrank.com

020 3551 5156

23/05/2018 15:00

Connecting people & property, perfectly. In the current climate, there has never been a more important time to have an agent with a global database of buyers and tenants. With our network of offices across London, the UK and further afield, we are well placed to find you the perfect buyer.

Recently sold homes.

Beaufort Gardens, Knightsbridge SW3 Guide price: £1,495,000

Neville Street, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £5,250,000

Carlyle Square, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £8,250,000

Sold to a buyer registered with our Belgravia office

Sold to a buyer registered with our Chelsea office

Sold to a buyer registered with our Knightsbridge office

Bourdon Street, Mayfair W1K Guide price: £16,750,000

Horsley Court, Westminster SW1 Guide price: £1,000,000

Chesham Place, Belgravia SW1X Guide price: £12,950,000

Sold to a buyer registered with our Knightsbridge office

Sold to a buyer registered with our Hong Kong office

Sold to a buyer registered with our International Residential team

knightsbridge@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3463 0355

southkensington@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3544 0620

chelsea@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3463 2651

mayfair@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3641 6231

victoriasales@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3544 0622

belgravia@knightfrank.com +44 (0) 20 3544 0132

@KnightFrank

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knightfrank.co.uk

23/05/2018 16:00

Connecting people & property, perfectly.

Ebury Street SW1

A bright, spacious maisonette located in a beautiful Victorian conversion.

• Wood floors • Large patio garden

• With abundance of light • Approximately 1,432 sq ft

Guide price £1,595 per week Available furnished wendy.gilchrist@knightfrank.com

020 3641 6004

Cliveden Place SW1 A contemporary lateral mansion flat positioned on the third floor with lift access.

• Wood floors • Porter

• Large reception room • Approximately 2,745 sq ft

Guide price £3,300 per week Available unfurnished wendy.gilchrist@knightfrank.com

020 3641 6004

Eaton Place SW1 A newly refurbished, pied-a-terre, one bed apartment situated in this sought after location.

• Fully furnished • Modern and neutral décor • Large storage cupboard • Approximately 390 sq ft Guide price £495 per week Available furnished ryan.stokes@knightfrank.com

Kinnerton Street SW1 A recently refurbished mews house in a popular corner of Belgravia.

• Turn key • Garage

020 3641 6004

• Close to amenities • Approximately 2,089 sq ft

Guide price £2,400 per week Available furnished ryan.stokes@knightfrank.com

020 3641 6004

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £288 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. There will also be a £48 charge to register your deposit with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme if applicable. (All fees shown are inclusive of VAT.) Please ask us for more information about other fees that will apply or visit www.knightfrank.co.uk/tenantfees. Knight Frank is a member of the ARLA Client Money Protection Scheme and our redress scheme for consumers is Ombudsman Services: Property.

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INSIDER KNOWLEDGE FROM LUXURY PROPERTY JOURNAL PRIMERESI.COM

DESIGN RIGHT FORM BEATS FUNCTION IN PRIME CENTRAL LONDON

THIS GRADE II LISTED PROPERTY ON QUEENSBRIDGE ROAD, E8 FEATURES A STRIKING MODERN EXTENSION BY 51 ARCHITECTURE, AND WON A RIBA AWARD IN 2008. IT SOLD VIA THE MODERN HOUSE IN JULY 2017 FOR £1.9M – ACHIEVING 23 PER CENT MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PER SQUARE FOOT PRICE IN THE AREA

A well-designed home in London attracts a 12 per cent price premium per square foot over a more run-of-the-mill residence, according to new research by estate agency The Modern House and Dataloft. The study also found that form plays a greater role in the prime market: the average design premium for a London property worth more than £1m is 19 per cent, while good-looking homes under seven figures command an average PSF price 10 per cent

above a prosaic comparable. “Design is a real differentiator for today’s home buyers and they are prepared to dig deep if they can see design having a tangible affect on their lifestyle,” says Albert Hill, co-founder of The Modern House. More than 14,000 residential property sales were looked at across the capital, with 212 identified as having a good design. All of the deals took place between 2014 and 2017, and were benchmarked by Dataloft by year of sale and postcode sector. The results indicate that there is a price premium associated with high design values.

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M O N E Y M AT T E R S INVESTMENT FIRM MOOTS “THE DEATH OF PROPERTY AS AN INVESTMENT”

More than half of UK investors no longer view property as a good investment, according to a recent survey of investors and HNWI. Rathbone Investment Management quizzed 1,000 UK investors and 500 HNWI before concluding that recent changes to the tax treatment of buy-to-let investments, as well as the introduction of new regulations by the Prudential Regulation Authority affecting portfolio landlords, have led to many investors “re-evaluating the cost-effectiveness of property as an investment”. It has led to the firm questioning whether this is the “death of property as an investment”. Just under a third of surveyed investors saw property as one of their main investments, while 25 per cent of the HNW segment currently own buy-to-let properties – but just seven per cent plan to increase portfolios. Thirty-eight per cent of those with £100k or more in investable assets told Rathbones that they “don’t view [property] as a good investment”. However, that leaves 62 per cent who think that property is either a good or adequate punt.

GOING UNDERGROUND STUDY UNEARTHS SCALE OF THE CAPITAL’S SUBTERRANEAN DEVELOPMENT SCENE ABOVE SUPER-PRIME CONSTRUCTION FIRM LONDON PROJECTS CREATED A TWO-STOREY BASEMENT UNDERNEATH AN END-OF-TERRACE HOUSE ON TREGUNTER ROAD – FEATURING THIS HIGH-SPEC POOL COMPLEX – AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE REIMAGINING OF THE CHELSEA MANSION BY CELEBRATED ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER RABIH HAGE. BELOW COURTESY OF ADOBE STOCK

A recent report has looked into the scale of subterranean development in central London, finding that 4,650 residential basements were green-lighted in RBKC, Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, Camden, Haringey, Wandsworth and Islington between 2008 and 2017. The Newcastle University study analysed a decade’s worth of council-approved planning applications, unearthing some fascinating statistics on the spread of features. In all, the schemes provided for (at least): 376 swimming pools; 456 cinemas; 996 gyms; 381 wine stores and cellars; 340 games and recreation rooms; 241 saunas or steam rooms; 115 staff quarters (including bedrooms for nannies and au pairs); 65 garages; 40 libraries; two gun stores; a car museum; a banquet hall and an artificial beach. Tregunter Road in Chelsea was picked out by the researchers as a hotspot for super-sized underground forays, with 22 approved basements including 12 pools and five cinemas. Five of these were classified as ‘standard-sized’, 11 as ‘large’ and six as ‘mega’. One of the report’s authors, the aptly-named Professor Roger Burrows, linked the profusion of subterranean schemes with a rise in the number of UHNWI in the capital (up 28 per cent in the last decade, according to Knight Frank): “In the past 10 years, we’ve had this very visible change to London’s property market, with all the high rises going up. But the replacement of the nearly and merely wealthy by the uber-wealthy isn’t as physically present because a lot of it has been happening underground. These basements are an architectural marker of the transnational elite moving in to London either to live or as an investment.”

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MELBURY ROAD HOLLAND PARK W14

ÂŁ3,050,000 freehold

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

QUEEN’S GATE GARDENS SOUTH KENSINGTON SW7

£6,250,000 share of freehold

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

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BRIDGING THE GAPP G I L E S C O O K , H E A D O F R E S I D E N T I A L A G E N C Y AT B E S T G A P P, O N B R I N G I N G T H E 1 1 8 -Y E A R - O L D C O M P A N Y I N T O T H E 2 1 ST C E N T U R Y

“In today’s market, there’s a real case for independent businesses like ours”

WHEN GILES COOK joined Belgravia’s Best Gapp at the tail end of last year, he had a mission: give the company a fresher, more modern look. Founded in 1900, the agency has long been serving the residents of prime central London – but, says Cook, it was high time for a makeover. “I saw an opportunity to give the business a bit of a lift – move it forward to the 21st century, if you like,” he explains. “Our clients are hugely important to us and we’re very fortunate that we have a lot of repeat business, but I wanted to tap into a different marketplace. Belgravia has changed so much in the past 10 years, and I wanted to ensure we weren’t forgotten.” Aware that Best Gapp was at risk of being swallowed up in a market full of corporate firms, Cook called for a rebranding, creating a new contemporary logo that helps the bijou agency stand out from the oversaturated

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crowd. Plans are in place to tap into a younger, more international market and to expand the agency’s reach to the likes of Victoria, Chelsea and Mayfair. Its position as a boutique agency, however, will remain. “We’ve only ever been a one-office outlet and I think that, in today’s market, there’s a real case for independent businesses like ours, which can offer that personal service,” he says. “We are very proud of our history and our heritage and that goes hand-in-hand with our integrity, honesty and discretion. We can provide a level of exclusivity and anonymity that a lot of larger firms might not be able to.” It certainly hasn’t held the team back; earlier in the year, Best Gapp set the record for the highest pound-per-square-foot achieved in Cliveden Place, a Grade-II listed newly refurbished townhouse that sold for more than £2,000 per square foot. Cook’s mission to span markets may be under way, but the firm’s roots remain, faithfully, to Belgravia. “We’ve got a fantastic depth of knowledge within Best Gapp, so I can certainly see us becoming the go-to specialist in the area,” he says. “There’s a real sense of community here. There are a lot of ghost towns in London where homeowners buy properties and leave them empty, but people genuinely do live in this area; it has never lost its exclusivity and it never will. Belgravia is in a class of its own.” 81 Elizabeth Street, SW1W, bestgapp.co.uk

E N TE RTAI N I N A PI EC E OF H I S TORY T H E P R I VAT E D I N I N G R O O M AT G A S H O L D E R S LO N D O N

EX T RAO RD INARY H O M ES W I T H A MENIT IES THAT IN S P I R E FROM Â£810,000* READY TO MOVE IN TODAY

Photograph of private dining room by Tina Hillier, January 2018 *Price correct at time of going to press.

VISIT OUR NEW SHOW APARTMENTS, business lounge, gym, spa and entertainment suite including private dining room and screening room.

+44 (0)20 7205 2392 | gasholderslondon.co.uk Gasholders, 1 Lewis Cubitt Square, London N1C 4BY

Every nook. Every cranny. Every Grade I listed cast iron drainpipe. Belgravia is our home territory. Indeed, our office has been here, in the same spot, for nearly 65 years. So while others shuffle staff around branch networks, our deep local knowledge is concentrated into one place. Simply put, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re selling or letting here in Belgravia, talk to a Belgravian.

bestgapp.co.uk 81 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9PG T: +44 (0)20 7730 9253 E: reception@bestgapp.co.uk

Estate agents, property managers and surveyors to prime London.

With little to differentiate so many new developments, Battersea Power Station has built on an iconic history to create safe, secure and future-proof living; explore new energy at Battersea from investment guarantees to vibrant community living. Last month Battersea Power Station hosted over 200 people for a screening of the Royal Wedding, taking place only 20 miles upstream at Windsor and only a mile from Buckingham Palace. Look right and the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Shard and the City’s spectacular skyline appears within striking distance as the majestic River Thames winds towards its estuary. But geography, events and entertainment are just the beginning of what makes this extraordinary new neighbourhood so popular. A £9bn regeneration delivers state-of-the-art office space, thousands of new homes, hundreds of restaurants and shops, a hotel, cultural venues and over 18 acres of public space. Completed in June 2017 Circus West Village, the first chapter, is already a thriving community with fun, fitness and food central to residents and visitors alike. Utterances of ‘I had no idea’ ripple around the terraces as more people discover all that’s on offer. Go and see for yourself; everyone’s so friendly. Residential apartments in Circus West Village are fully sold, save a handful of beautifully-dressed penthouses, but the best is yet to come with future phases due to complete in just a few years. Two Zone 1 Tube stations MBNA Thames Clipper River Bus – 20 mins to the City & 15 mins to the West End 88 buses every hour across five routes Elizabeth line & four mainline stations within 10 mins travel 36 mins to Gatwick Airport & 45 mins to Heathrow 15 min walk to Sloane Square, 5 min walk to Battersea Park & 800m from the new US Embassy

Foster + Partners’ Battersea Roof Gardens includes a stunning 2.5-acre sky garden designed by James Corner of High Line Park, New York fame. Meanwhile Prospect Place, the only residential building in the UK from the legendary Frank Gehry, comprises apartments regarded as works of art in their own right. All this is now available to purchase off-plan as are just a few remaining apartments in the iconic Power Station itself. Since its creation in 1927 this dramatic industrial cathedral and globally recognised landmark has been a cultural icon, appearing in an array of world-famous artistic works from Superman III to The King’s Speech and Apple, icon of Think Different, has already pre-let half a million sq ft of office space for its future UK Campus. Creativity is at the heart of the living concept at Battersea Power Station too. The Power Club delivers, through app simplicity, life-enhancing services to residents and owners alike. Concierge plus will see dry-cleaning delivered back to the wardrobe as well as access to top restaurants and hotels around the world, not to mention over 150 private chalets and villas. Live a life less ordinary at

BATTERSEA POWER STATION - Exclusive private members’ club - Concierge Plus - Invitations & travel - Residents’ bars & private dining - The Spring - spa & wellbeing

For information on sales and the investment guarantee scheme call +44 (0) 20 3797 1883 batterseapowerstation.co.uk/sales

Harley Street –

M ARY LEBONE W1G

A Stunning Four Bedroom Penthouse on Harley Street £3,750,000

–

LEASEHOLD

Perched atop the top two floors of this period building is a stunning penthouse that features a fantastic open plan living area together with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, Lutron lighting and a built in sound system. Penthouses of this calibre are extremely rare in Marylebone and this one has the added benefit of a lift. EPC rating: C

MARYLEBONE & FITZROVIA 020 3394 0027 K AYA N D C O . C O M

Montagu Square –

MARYLEBONE W1

A Magnificent Marylebone Triplex £3,295,000

–

LEASEHOLD

A newly refurbished three bedroom triplex situated in the mews of a stunning Georgian town house. The property is accessed via Montagu Square and benefits from access to its private gardens, while the property itself overlooks Montagu Mews West which is a pretty cobbled mews to the rear of the square. The property benefits from a westerly aspect and has a large open plan living space, spacious master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and two further bedrooms and bathrooms. EPC rating: D

£1,950

–

PER WEEK

Tenancy Agreement £300 (inc VAT) Credit References £50 (inc VAT) for each person named on the Tenancy. All advertised prices are exclusive of utility and other associated services unless otherwise stated.

MARYLEBONE & FITZROVIA 020 3394 0027 K AYA N D C O . C O M

STREETS AHEAD DISTINCTIVE HOMES ON THE MARKET THIS MONTH

B E LV E D E R E G A R D E N S , S E 1

Snap up the last spots at Southbank Place, which has sold almost 90 per cent of its apartments since launching at the end of 2015. The latest in a series of developments on the estate, Belvedere Gardens, has one-, two- and three-bedroom residences available. The interior has been designed by Goddard Littlefair, which took care to ensure that the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural light and unrivalled views of the River Thames went uncompromised. The development boasts its own exclusive health centre and spa, comprising a gym, relaxation lounge, sauna and steam rooms. From ÂŁ2.14m, 020 7001 3600, southbank-place.com

The development boasts its own exclusive health centre and spa

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Q U E E N S G AT E G A R D E N S , S W 7

E AG L E H O U S E , SW 1 9

Octagon Developments has unveiled Eagle House, a series of luxury apartments located in the coveted Wimbledon Village area. The Grade II-listed Jacobean building was built in the early 1600s for Robert Bell, director of the British East India Company. It later went on to become the site of the Wimbledon School for Young Gentleman and Noblemen, the home of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and the base of a military academy. Now it has been converted into eight properties, of which seven will be offered for sale. A mixture of two- and three-bedroom apartments is available, each with lift access, private parking and access to the landscaped communal garden.

An unusual opportunity to own not one but five South Kensington apartments has come to market. One of the area’s most attractive garden squares, Queens Gate Terrace, is home to a stucco-fronted building harbouring five apartments. The period property boasts a ground and lower-ground floor maisonette, apartments on the first, second and third floors and a fourth- and fifth-floor penthouse. There is lift access to all floors, including direct access to the penthouse. All of the properties are currently let and producing income. £16,000,000, 020 7288 0330, chestertons.com

From £2.75m, 020 8481 7500, octagon.co.uk

LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK

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Pa r k P l ac e R e s i d e n c e s St James’s SW1 In the heart of Royal St James’s, nestled between Palaces and learned Institutions, The Park Place Residences are home to Six Brand New Apartments. Each property is superbly equipped and immaculately finished, benefiting from Uniformed Porter and Quiet Cul-de-Sac location.

From £2,000 per week Long Let

102 Mount Street, London W1K 2TH T: 020 7529 5588 E: rentals@wetherell.co.uk

wetherell.co.uk Tenant Fees Apply - £240.00 inclusive of VAT is payable by the Tenant for Wetherell conducting tenant checks, credit checks and drawing up a tenancy agreement. Cost is payable per unit dwelling.

South Audley Street

Bourdon Street

High Ceiling Two Bedroom Lateral £4,000,000

Park Lane

Elegant Dual Aspect Two Bedroom with Porter £3,995,000

Two Bedroom Hyde Park View Lateral with Porter £3,750,000

Green Street

Three Bedroom Garden Duplex £2,500,000

Upper Brook Street

Four Bedroom Duplex with Terrace £3,500,000

Park Street

Bright Refurbished Corner Two Bedroom £1,995,999

Summer

Sub-£4 Million

102 Mount Street, London W1K 2TH T: 020 7529 5566 E: sales@wetherell.co.uk

wetherell.co.uk

Wetherell have the ﬁnest selection of Mayfair Properties from Pied-à-Terres to Grand Townhouses

no-one knows mayfair better than wetherell

GREYBROOK HOUSE M AY FAIR

A ﬁve bedroom duplex penthouse with stunning private roof garden in a Grade II Listed Art Deco building opposite Claridge’s. Joint Sole Agents

020 7499 1012

020 7529 5566

mayfair@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.com

sales@wetherell.co.uk Wetherell.co.uk