Luxury London Magazine December 2018

MAGAZINE

December 2018 £7.00

E M I LY B L U N T ON REINVENTING MARY POPPINS

T E R RY O ’ N E I L L ON HIS LIFE BEHIND THE LENS

G R E AT B R I TA I N ’ S B E S T H OT E L S LUXURIOUS LODGINGS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY STAYCATION

’T I S T H E

SEASON

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS 2018 F E ST I V E FAS H I O N, E SS E NT IAL PART Y T IPS , O N-T RE ND DE CO RAT IO N S & T H E GIFTS T H AT WILL K E E P O N G IVING

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11/12/18 4:11 PM

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CONTENTS

28 26 UP FRONT

42 PRIZE LOTS

70 DECADENT DINING

A unique bottle of The Macallan

How to win at table dressing

goes under the hammer

14 EDITOR’S LETTER 17 OBJECTS OF DESIRE

44 PICTURE THIS

New timekeepers from

Terry O’Neill on photographing Nelson Mandela

Chaumet and Dior 26 ON LONDON TIME Harrods’ Creative Visual

CHRISTMAS

Director Alex Wells-Greco 28 EMILY BLUNT

C U LT U R E

fussiest of oenophiles 74 OUT OF THE BOX Alternative gifts for the person who has everything 76 CHRISTMAS QUIZ

50 THE GHOSTS OF

On why her new role is practically perfect in every way

72 GIVE THE GIFT OF WINE Fine and rare vintages for the

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS The history of festive gift giving 54 TESSA PACKARD

Test your general festive know-how

COUTURE

Shares her top party tips

56 DEAR SANTA

80 THE BIG TIME

36 THE AGENDA

Bulgari’s CEO unveils the brand’s

Sir Quentin Blake as you’ve

68 IT’S A WRAP

newest hotel in Shanghai and

The wrapping paper trends of 2018

discusses the future of luxury

never seen him before

The ultimate Christmas wishlist

56 86 T HE SHOPS OF

90

96

ESCAPE

ST JAMES’S A tour of one of London’s oldest shopping districts 90 BLACK TIE

112 CHECK IN

The UK’s most luxurious lodgings

120 IRISH CHARM

Dapper accessories by Creed

A historic hideaway in Ballyfin

and George Cleverley

122 NORTHERN EXPOSURE

94 WEMPE RENOVATED

Raising a glass to Islay –

The brand reveals its revamped

Scotland’s ‘whisky isle’

Ne w Bond Street boutique 96 S EEING RED

PROPERTY

A sartorial ode to the boldest hue

104 GOLDEN BROWN

130 SPOTLIGHT

Jo Malone’s new scent and

Bella Freud’s stylish apartment

a charitable initiative from Daks 106 INSTANT SELF

135 THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

Savills’ five-year forecast

GRATIFICATION

136 S TREETS AHEAD

How to survive the party season

This month’s hottest homes

COV E R Contrast Button Shirt, £250, dsquared2.com; Tartan Trousers, £640, ermannoscervino.com; Photography by Turi Løvik Kirknes, styling by Tona Stell, page 96

EDITOR Richard Brown

FROM THE EDITOR December 2018 Issue 07

CONTENT DIRECTOR Dawn Alford DEPUTY EDITOR Ellen Millard ONLINE EDITOR Mhairi Graham

Lights, lunches, wish-lists, presents, parties, pantomimes, The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York, concerts, carols, catch-ups, soirées, switch-ons, shindigs, shots, shots, shots, gatherings, get-togethers, booze, Berocca, blow-out. Stop the world, I want to get off.

If the carnival that kicks off way before the opening of advent calendars and reaches its woolly-jumpered climax on Christmas Eve leaves you feeling less warm and fuzzy and more flat and forlorn, there’s a scientific reason for that. Various studies suggest that we’ve created a world in which we’re busier, more connected and more socially active than ever. And all the unhappier for it.

When we’re not fulfilling work commitments (we’re putting in more hours both in and away from the office), we’re glued to our smartphones. The average Brit checks theirs around 28 times a day. We’re spending more than two hours in every 24 posting, liking, tweeting and scrolling. Surveys now prove that social media is addictive – never? – that it reduces attention spans – duh – that it stops us from sleeping, causes anxiety, reduces self-esteem, can lead to depression and, apparently most damaging of all, is harming our relationships.

For the past 80 years, Harvard University has been tracking the physical and emotional well-being of two groups of men; one made up of Harvard graduates (ie. wealthy people); the other, of inner-city Bostonians (ie. considerably less wealthy folk). After eight decades of tests, scans and surveys, the study – the most comprehensive of its kind – drew one simple conclusion: when it comes to contentment, it is not wealth or social status that make us happy – it’s relationships.

Close relationships, more than money or fame or followers, are what keep people satisfied. Real connections with friends and family and colleagues delay physical decline and support mental health. The report confirms what The Beatles already told us – All You Need Is Love.

A toast, then, to a slower pace of life, to stepping off the merry-go-round – until January at least – and to reconnecting with the real world.

To borrow once more from Mr John Lennon, So this is Christmas, we hope you have fun.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Abisha Sritharan CLIENT CONTENT MANAGER Sunna Naseer EDITOR-AT-LARGE Annabel Harrison HEAD OF DESIGN Laddawan Juhong GENERAL MANAGER Fiona Smith PRODUCTION MANAGER Alice Ford COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Andrew Turner BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS Rachel Gilfillan Colin Saunders Madelyn Curnyn MANAGING DIRECTOR Eren Ellwood PUBLISHED BY

RICH ARD B ROWN Ed itor ONE CANADA SQUARE, LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK

CANARY WHARF, LONDON, E14 5AX T: 020 7537 6565 WWW.LUXURYLONDONMEDIA.CO.UK

How to buy a watch online: 1. Go to Wempe.com 2. Get directions to the boutique 3. Meet with our passionate team on New Bond Street

43–44 New Bond Street, London W1S 2SA london�wempe.com +44(0)20 7493 2299

Circa.1965

We weren’t around in 1965, but the C65 Diver is the watch we would have made if we had been.

The best of the 60s, remastered. A classic dive watch enhanced by the very latest technological refinements, sporting a lithe masculine aesthetic but with discreet dress styling, that you can wear anytime, anywhere. A timepiece that can proudly stand with the world’s great contemporary dive watches in every respect - apart from price.

Do your research.

christopherward.co.uk

OBJECTS OF DESIRE THIS MONTH’S MOST WANTED

FINE AND DANDY Chaumet’s latest Dandy watch In a nod to its glittering history, Chaumet has reissued its Dandy watch in three new styles. Originally unveiled in 2003, the model’s cushion-style case was inspired by the Regent diamond, which once graced the pommel of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Chaumet-designed coronation sword (it is now mounted on a diadem, which is in the Louvre). The new models include two rose gold styles with black or cream dials, and a third model in steel with a blue dial.

From £4,600, chaumet.com

A cushion-shaped case inspired by the Regent diamond is associated with the bayadere pattern originating from the 1920s A choice of three fabric straps

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

ROLLING STONE The largest rough diamond found in more than a century joins the Graff collection

The Lesedi La Rona is a whopping 1,109 carats and has been hailed as the largest rough diamond uncovered in more than a century. For more than a year, Graff’s team of master craftsmen and gemmologists have

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been cutting this gem into 60 individual diamonds – ranging from less than a carat to in excess of 100 – which are ready to be made into your choice of jewel. graffdiamonds.com

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F E AT U R E

First drawn to the snake for its symbolism of wisdom, rebirth and vitality, Bulgari unveiled a series of slithering bracelets inspired by the animal in the 1940s. The slinky symbol quickly became a signature motif for the jeweller, which went on to craft its innovative Tubogas watch and Serpenti jewellery collections in homage to the beast. This white and yellow gold interpretation coils around the neck, acting as a dazzling tribute to the most alluring of reptiles. bulgari.com

SNAKE CHARMER Bulgari’s serpent strikes again in a coiled hypnotic necklace

LUXURY LONDON

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

OVER THE MOON Dior ’s horological lunar tribute Three new additions to the Dior VIII Montaigne collection pay homage to the moon. The 36mm Clair de Lune Full Moon models, made from polished gold and set with round- and rose-cut diamonds, come in three iterations, each depicting a different phase of the lunar cycle. The crescent, half and full moon patterns are illustrated with an intricate gold thread and diamond design.

The collection is limited to 88 pieces.

POA, dior.com

Black alligator strap with a yellow gold prong buckle, set with round diamonds Automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve Water resistent to 50 metres

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FAIR AND SQUARE Six artists lend their creative prowess to Turnbull & Asser Shirtmaker Turnbull & Asser put the designs of its silken pocket squares in the hands of half a dozen artists and illustrators, in a bid to bring a creative slant to its signature accessory.

The result is The Artist Collection, a line of six handkerchiefs, each available in a limited edition run of 28 pieces and designed in prints characteristic of their creators. Take your pick from a hypnotic eye design by Toronto-based Yorkshireman Matthew Schofield to a woodland wonderland by printmaker Clare Curtis. ÂŁ75, turnbullandasser.co.uk

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

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LUXURY LONDON

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

With just 50 Fabergé imperial eggs created between 1885 and 1917, and just 43 believed to survive today, the allure of the exquisite objet d’art is as prominent now as it was in the 19 th century. In a new meeting of minds,

the jeweller has created a unique oscillating shell to replace Rolls-Royce’s signature Spirit of Ecstacy, the emblem that balances on the tip of its fleet of motors. The amethyst and 18 carat white and rose gold creation opens to reveal

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SHELL SHOCK Fabergé revamps RollsRoyce’s Spirit of Ecstacy

a frost crystal miniature of the Rolls-Royce emblem.

Originally unveiled at Goodwood, the object can now be seen in Fabergé’s Mayfair store window.

14A Grafton Street, W1S, faberge.com

The Breitling Cinema Squad Brad Pitt Adam Driver Charlize Theron

LAND

PREMIER

AIR

SEA

#SQUADONAMISSION

BREITLING BOUTIQUE 130 NEW BOND STREET

LONDON

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31/10/2018 08:23

O N LO N D O N T I M E

A LE X

W E L L S - G R E CO H A R R O D S ’ C R E AT I V E V I S U A L D I R E C TO R I S T H E MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORE’S COLOURFUL, C R O W D - S TO P P I N G , L A R G E R -T H A N - L I F E C H R I S T M A S W I N D O W C O N C E P T – ‘ FA N TA S T I C A’

Words: Annabel Harrison

B

efore joining the Knightsbridge institution nearly five years ago, Wells-Greco had worked all over the world – from Milan and Venice to New York and Shanghai. His creative education came via luxury fashion houses, including Prada and Ralph Lauren, and arts institutions and auction houses; namely, the Guggenheim and Christie’s.

“From an early age, I was always fascinated with presentation and design, and what better way to express this than at one of the most renowned department stores in the world?” His day job involves “creating visual magic” for its window displays, as well as curating the visual creative treatment inside.

What is luxury to you? Luxury is both atmosphere and a story, something to cherish, remember and aspire to. It is not just a handbag or a new suit; it is also experiences that are out of the ordinary.

For many, and for me included, it is time – I love having time with my friends and family, to sit and watch my favourite movie, and to try and experience something new.

What is most magical about London at Christmas?

Aside from the decorations and lights, which astound me each year, I love the general feeling and the community spirit of Christmas. Everyone smiles, everyone is jolly and everyone has a calmer way about them.

How did Fantastica develop? We wanted to create something that captured the magic and essence of Christmas, in a traditional yet completely contemporary way. We played with size, scale and proportion, across all different creative mediums. I wanted the windows to be totally Instagrammable, of course, as they are the first thing that many people see when they visit us. So we created the 24 hours of Christmas, capturing every emotion, from the mayhem and glamour to the overindulgence and generosity.

What’s on your Christmas wishlist: It might sound like cliché but just time. Taking a moment to pause with friends and family.

What are your top tips for decorating your own home? I think symmetry is really important, and selecting a colour palette that suits your own style but also compliments your interior decor.

Who’s the most stylish Londoner you know: Menswear designer Charlie Casely-Hayford – he has perfected the modern tailoring trend.

Describe your favourite London moment: I was born in Westminster and grew up just off the Northcote Road in Clapham so I have many fond memories of this beautiful city. Most recently it’s showing my two-year-old daughter the Christmas windows and decorations; just seeing her reaction puts all the hard work into perspective.

THE ‘FANTASTICA’ WINDOW DISPLAYS AT HARRODS THIS YEAR

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given: That simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication. harrods.com

LUXURY LONDON

INTERVIEW

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P R A C T I C A L L Y

PERFECT I N

E V E R Y

W AY

S H I N I N G I N T H E N E W M A R Y P O P P I N S M O V I E , B R I T A C T R E S S E M I LY B L U N T TELLS HOW HER NEW ROLE IS SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS

Words: Peter Wallace

E

ver since her scene-stealing turn as the sassed-up Emily in 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, Emily Blunt has captivated audiences the world over in a multitude of genres.

From thriller The Girl on the Train, and sci-fi adventure Edge of Tomorrow, to cartel action flick Sicario and, most recently, the widely acclaimed and uniquely terrifying A Quiet Place, the Wandsworth-born star is widely, and rightly, regarded as one of the nation’s finest contemporary acting exports.

The actress has earned herself something of a track record for choosing characters who battle gangsters, aliens and inner demons – all the while winning plaudits for her work – but her next film is a touch more light-hearted in tone. What the story lacks in scares, however, it certainly makes up for in status. For Blunt has been chosen to step into the sizeable and oft-airborne shoes of the eponymous magical nanny in Mary Poppins Returns.

“I had seen Mary Poppins as a child and I have such beautiful and strong memories of that film,” the 35-year-old enthuses. “I didn’t watch the film again during my preparations because I didn’t want to be swayed by Julie Andrews’s portrayal, which was so iconic. I knew that once I was given the role that it would be impossible to match

“My only choice was to create my own version of [Mary Poppins] – this is my interpretation”

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INTERVIEW

what she did. My only choice was to create my own version of the character – this is my interpretation.”

Thankfully for Blunt, she’s far from alone in her quest to bring to life a contemporary, all-singing, all-dancing sequel to the 1964 film starring Dame Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Indeed, the cast list for Mary Poppins Returns reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood superstars, including Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Dame Julie Walters, Dame Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep and even Van Dyke himself.

Helmed by Rob Marshall, who directed the Academy Award-winning Chicago, Blunt and co were put through their paces when it came to creating a successful follow-up to such a timeless favourite.

“We rehearsed for eight weeks, which is unheard of,” Blunt reveals. “That’s how Rob works. When you show up on the day you feel completely at ease, because he runs it like a play to see if the scenes work and sizzle. We rehearsed the big dance numbers and did two and a half weeks of pre-records and then started shooting. The whole thing took about a year.

“I was very, very nervous but Rob is an incredible director and he is a wonderful friend as well. He created an incredible, emboldening atmosphere on set. He protected me from feeling like I had a boulder to move aside – the iconic character, the iconic Julie Andrews. And he kept it so intimate for me. He was very empowering – he wanted me to completely make Mary Poppins my own.”

Print-to-screen adaptations are becoming second nature to Blunt. With much of her filmography owing itself to the literary world, the Londoner reveals that she has a secret weapon when it comes to bringing popular books to screen.

“I’m fortunate in having a sister who is also a literary agent and I try to follow her every piece of advice in that respect,” she laughs. “We also have very similar tastes and we’re always discussing possible adaptations. She’s also sometimes able to let me read the galleys of new novels before they are printed, which might turn out to be an advantage one day if I find some incredible story that I could buy the rights to or speak to a studio about.”

And Blunt’s sister, Felicity, is an intrinsic part of a Hollywood family that keeps on growing – she is married to Blunt’s The Devil Wears Prada co-star Stanley Tucci. The actress herself previously dated Canadian crooner Michael Bublé, before marrying John Krasinski, who starred in the US version of The Office.

This year’s A Quiet Place, written and directed by Krasinski and featuring both himself and Blunt as the lead couple, proved that the pair were more than able to transfer their real-life chemistry to the screen. And behind the scenes, Blunt credits her decade-long partnership with Krasinski as being the bedrock necessary for her career to have taken off.

OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP EMILY BLUNT AS RACHEL IN GIRL ON A TRAIN (2016); EMILY BLUNT AS KATE MERCER IN SICARIO (2015); THIS PAGE, FROM TOP EMILY BLUNT AS MARY POPPINS IN MARY POPPINS RETURNS (2018); EMILY BLUNT AS EMILY IN THE DEVIL WEAR’S PRADA (2006)

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“We’ve always been able to talk to each other and discuss everything together,” she says. “Being very open and talking and not hiding any worries or concerns is so important I think. It’s an advantage having someone in your life who understands the kind of things you go through in our profession.

“We also try to be very supportive of one another and we know that we always have each other to rely on and make each other feel very loved and appreciated. It’s a beautiful feeling.”

As befits the couple’s current status as cinema’s best-loved husband and wife, the consistently affable Krasinski is evidently just as endearing off-screen.

It’s just as well, as both are reaching the twin peaks of their professional powers – with Blunt’s Poppins providing a slightly more family-friendly counterweight to Krasinski’s current run as Jack Ryan in the Amazon Prime thriller of the same name – at the same time as raising daughters Hazel, four, and Violet, two.

ABOVE ©FEATUREFLASH PHOTO AGENCY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“He’s a very good father and that’s been a great source of comfort to me because it’s not always that easy to pursue a Hollywood career when you’re raising young children and have to be working on movie sets for months at a time,” says Blunt. “He’s great at making sure there are always fresh bottles of milk and fresh food in the house; just those little things make such a big difference.”

As for Blunt herself, the arrival of Hazel and Violet “changed her world completely”.

“You become a different person [when you have children] because you look at your choices from a very different perspective. Whenever I’m considering a project I always think of how it’s going to affect the lives of my daughters. I only choose films now that I definitely want to do and even then I have to really love the story and my character, because when your children are so young you have such a strong desire to be with them as much as you possibly can.

“That’s why I nearly passed on Sicario because I was still feeling very vulnerable and so close to my daughter Hazel after her birth that I didn’t want to play in a very violent film about Mexican drug cartels. But once I did, I realised that becoming a mother gives you so much more strength than you thought you had. You learn that you’re actually more capable than ever.”

Matching powerhouse performances from co-stars Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, Blunt’s honest portrayal of FBI agent Kate Macer in the 2015 film smashed any doubt about female stars taking the lead in brutal action flicks.

With her cut-glass tones and upper-class upbringing as a QC’s daughter, Blunt is perhaps more suited to the role of Mary Poppins than any character she has played thus far. She’s certainly got the blessing of Dame Julie Andrews. “I admire her enormously,” said the 83-yearold of her successor.

If Blunt felt a weight of expectation before she accepted the role, she says the film has turned out to be “the greatest gift that I’ve been given”.

“When I saw Cherry Tree Lane for the first time it was overwhelming. However incredible the first film is, I hope this one will be allowed to stand on its own.

It’s magical, but it’s so grounded as well. There’s such a beautiful story running through it.”

And then there’s the kudos the role has given her among her daughters. “Can you imagine my girls being able to say that their mom is Mary Poppins?”

She smiles. “I’m just so thrilled.”

Mary Poppins Returns is out from 19 December

DISCOVER THE PERFECT GIFT The new Purdey collection of clothing and accessories offers key pieces that translate elegantly from town to country.

From stylish cashmeres and silks to unique silver gifts and luxury leather luggage tanned in Britain’s last remaining traditional oak bark tannery, there is a range of gifts for all.

57 - 58 SOUTH AUDLEY STREET LONDON W1K 2ED + 4 4 (0) 20 7499 1801 PURDEY.COM

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.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2018

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com

C U LT U R E MUSIC,

MUSEUMS AND

MASTERPIECES

P.36 DIARY DATES Sir Quentin Blake’s new artwork and the latest book on Jean-Michel Basquiat

P.42 UNDER THE HAMMER A unique bottle of The Macallan and two Caspar David Friedric’s landscapes go up

© TERRY O’NEILL, ICONIC IMAGES

for auction

Terry O’Neill captures Sir Paul McCartney’s starring moment at the wedding of bandmate Ringo Starr in 1981 (p.44)

TH E AG E N DA YOUR CURATED GUIDE TO CULTURE IN THE CAPITAL Words: Ellen Millard

KING’S CROSS THE HOUSE OF ILLUSTRATION Known for his charming sketches of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Willy Wonka and the BFG, Sir Quentin Blake presents an almost unrecognisable series of works for his new exhibition at the House of Illustration.

100 Figures: The Unseen Art of Quentin Blake features the artist’s personal large-scale oil paintings, drawings and prints of human figures painted with broad brush strokes in vivid hues.

Until 27 January, 2 Granary Square, N1C, houseofillustration.org.uk

FROM TOP MONOTYPE ON PAPER, C.1965; OIL PAINT ON CANVAS, C.1980S, BOTH IMAGES ©QUENTIN BLAKE

BOOK JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

BELOW, FROM TOP LEFT UNTITLED (SKULL), 1981; BLACK, 1986; BOTH IMAGES ©THE ESTATE OF JEANMICHEL BASQUIAT. LICENSED BY ARTESTAR, NEW YORK; JEANMICHEL BASQUIAT

BY HANS WERNER HOLZWARTH, ELEANOR NAIRNE

SOUTH KENSINGTON VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM

ABOVE HERBERT PONTING, SCOTT’S LAST EXPEDITION. A DOG TEAM RESTING, 1910, GELATIN SILVER PRINT ©VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON

Following the transfer of the Royal Photographic Society’s archive to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Knightsbridge institution has unveiled the first phase of its new Photography Centre, which more than doubles the museum’s current space dedicated to the medium.

The second phase, due to open in 2022, will establish a photography library and study, two learning and event spaces, a photographer’s studio and a dark room.

Cromwell Road, SW7, vam.ac.uk

Following the success of the Barbican Centre’s Basquiat retrospective, Boom to Real, last year, Taschen has released a comprehensive compendium of the artist’s work. Reproductions of his paintings, drawings and notebook sketches are included alongside an essay by art historian Eleanor Nairne, who discusses Basquiat’s favoured themes and his artistic development. £150, taschen.com

SOHO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS’ GALLERY For his first UK solo exhibition, photographer Vasantha Yogananthan presents A Myth of Two Souls, an ongoing body of work inspired by the Indian legend of The Ramayana, a poem about the Hindu deity Rama rescuing his wife Sita from a demon king. In his pictures, the photographer explores both northern and southern India, showcasing the influence this story has had on Indian culture.

FROM LEFT FATHER AND SONS; SEVEN STEPS; BOTH FROM THE SERIES A MYTH OF TWO SOULS ©VASANTHA YOGANANTHAN

Until 14 January, available for acquisition, 16-18 Ramillies Street, W1F, thephotographersgallery.org.uk

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BOTH SANTIAGO PARRA, UNTITLED, 2018

M AY F A I R JD MALAT GALLERY Colombian artist Santiago Parra’s expressive monochrome paintings have gone on display at Mayfair’s JD Malat Gallery, which was opened by the prolific dealer of the same name earlier this year. In the spirit of Christmas, the gallery will be donating proceeds from 50 out of the 100 limited-edition prints to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Until 15 December, 30 Davies Street, W1K, jdmalat.com

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From motion to peace. If you’re tense during the day, then you really look forward to the evening. Slower steps, freer movements, wider smiles. Your favourite place awaits you. +SEGMENTO Poggenpohl has 21 points of sale throughout the UK & Ireland ¡ uk@poggenpohl.com For your nearest Poggenpohl Studio please go to www.poggenpohl.com/en/find-a-studio poggenpohl.com

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UPCOMING ESTIMATE: £ 2M-£ 3M

Landscape with Mountain Lake, Morning, Caspar David Friedrich Two of Caspar David Friedric’s landscape paintings are due to sell at auction this December. Landscape with Mountain Lake, Morning and Sunburst in the Giant Mountains are the first oil paintings by the artist to sell at Sotheby’s in 12 years. Both boast exceptional provenance; the first is from the collection of the late Dr Erika Pohl-Ströher, and the latter is from the family of art dealer Dr Fritz Nathan.

19th Century European Paintings, 12 December, sothebys.com

PRIZE LOTS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH, LANDSCHAFT MIT GEBIRGSSEE AM MORGEN (LANDSCAPE WITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, MORNING), OIL ON CANVAS, 71.5 BY 93 CM; AMBROSIUS BOSSCHAERT THE ELDER (ANTWERP 1573-1621, THE HAGUE), 36.5 X 25.7 CM (14 3/8 X 10 1/8IN); THE MACALLAN 1926, PAINTED BY ARTIST MICHAEL DILLON

UPCOMING ESTI M ATE : £1 M

The Macallan 1926 A unique The Macallan single malt whisky housed in a bottle painted by artist Michael Dillon is due to go under the hammer. Hand-painted by the Irish artist, this one-off vessel is considered the ‘Holy Grail’ for The Macallan collectors, and is poised to set a new world auction record. Released in 1986 following a 60-year maturation period, the original price for the tipple was £20,000. The brand itself was unsure whether the bottle still existed, having been last seen at Fortnum & Mason in 1999.

Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits, 28-29 November, christies.com

UPCOMING ESTIMATE: £400,000-£ 60 0,0 0 0

Still Life, Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder An oil painting by Dutch artist Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder will go on sale at Bonhams, alongside several other Old Master paintings. One of the first still life specialists, Bosschaert is renowned for his vibrant bouquets. This particular artwork was last sold in Zurich in 2009.

Old Master Paintings, 5 December, bonhams.com LUXURYLONDON.CO.UK

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IT’S NOT A LIFESTYLE HOTEL. IT IS THE HOTEL WHERE STYLE LIVES.

BLESS your hedonism.

MADRID JANUARY 2019

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PICTURE

THIS AS A NEW EXHIBITION OF TERRY O’NEILL’S UNSEEN SNAPS OPENS IN CHELSEA, THE VETERAN PHOTOGRAPHER RECALLS MEETING H I S M O S T FA M O U S S U B J E C T S , F R O M NELSON MANDELA TO HM THE QUEEN

Words: Ellen Millard

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t the start of their careers, Terry O’Neill, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles would head to Leicester Square’s now-closed soul and blues club Ad Lib and discuss what jobs they were going to get next. O’Neill, then a budding jazz drummer who accidently found himself shooting photography, went on to become one of Britain’s seminal shutterbugs. At the time he was more famous than either of the rock groups and the youngest photographer on Fleet Street at just 20. As for what happened to the others – history speaks for itself.

Born in 1938, O’Neill initially trained as a priest before setting his sights on a jazz career in the US.

He applied for a job at British Airways as a steward, with a plan to take advantage of the airline’s New York route, but ended up in the photographic department, wandering around Heathrow snapping emotional Love Actually-style arrivals and goodbyes.

A chance shot of the then-home secretary Rab Butler asleep in the departures lounge had Fleet Street calling, and he found himself working for The Sunday Dispatch and, shortly after, The Daily Sketch.

“I was totally self-taught, and I didn’t know what I was doing,” O’Neill admits. “[The Daily Sketch] took me on because I was a musician, and the editor had an inkling that pop music was going to be big in the 60s. They said: ‘your first job is to go down to Abbey Road and photograph this new group called The Beatles’ – and that was the start of my life.”

Through the 60s and 70s, O’Neill took some of the most famous snaps of the eras: Mick Jagger wrapped in a fur hood, David Bowie lounging in an armchair and Faye Dunaway reflecting on her newly won Academy Award, an image that now graces the walls of the National Portrait Gallery. His subjects flitted from Audrey Hepburn to Muhammad Ali, Sir Roger Moore to Sir Stirling Moss, and Sir Elton John to HM The Queen.

There have been so many snaps, and so many stories, that a new exhibition at the Iconic Images Gallery in Chelsea, Rare & Unseen, has been dedicated to O’Neill’s lesser-known works, which include the likes of Sir Winston Churchill, Diana Ross and Dame Helen Mirren. A book of the same name, published by ACC Art Book, delves into the stories behind some of his most legendary shots.

“I well remember asking The White House to allow The Sunday Times Magazine, which I then edited, to allow us to document George and Barbara Bush’s first 100 days in power,” writes Iconic Images’ CEO Robin Morgan in the book’s introduction, “a request they politely declined. I responded by offering to commission Terry O’Neill to take the photographs, and suddenly the red carpet was laid out.”

Such is the draw of O’Neill. When The Rolling Stones, then an up-and-coming band playing student nights in pubs and clubs, approached Decca Records, they went armed with his photo shoot. The record company had turned down The Beatles. They didn’t make the same mistake twice.

Even notoriously cantankerous Frank Sinatra was a fan; following a written recommendation from his ex-wife Ava Gardner, the swing singer allowed O’Neill to follow him wherever he went, snapping away and capturing some of the most iconic moments in Sinatra’s career.

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Flicking through the book, the photographer laughs as he remembers shooting one particular image of Elton John, perched in an armchair next to one of Allen Jones’s surrealist erotic tables.

“Elton hated being photographed, believe it or not. I know it doesn’t seem possible when you think about all of those outlandish costumes he wore, but he did. I would go there with a list and we’d just work our way through it. I photographed him when he was nothing, so when I was with him at the peak of his career it was very easy.”

He recalls another picture of Nelson Mandela reading a newspaper on his 90th birthday: “I was his present from his foundation. He came to England for a week and I spent every day with him, in his hotel room or just following him wherever he went.

When he was leaving, he gave me a little wave from the car, and I nearly burst into tears; I realised I’d been in the presence of a truly great man.”

Each picture has a back-story, and he recalls them as if they were yesterday. On Stevie Wonder on a climbing frame: “That was taken at a children’s school for the blind in north London. He was fabulous.” On HM The Queen: “She was the only person I’ve ever been nervous about photographing,

THIS PAGE AUDREY HEPBURN ON THE SET OF TWO FOR THE ROAD IN ST. TROPEZ, 1966; OPPOSITE PAGE PAUL MCCARTNEY AT RINGO STARR’S WEDDING, 1981; PREVIOUS SPREAD ELTON JOHN IN HIS OFFICE, 1970S; SEAN CONNERY ON THE SET OF DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, 1971, ALL IMAGES ©TERRY O’NEILL/ICONIC IMAGES

but she put me at ease immediately. I told her a horse racing joke.” On Audrey Hepburn lounging by the pool: “I do remember that she hated water. What you don’t see are all the people surrounding the pool, ready to jump in if she got scared.”

He doesn’t take photographs anymore, mostly due to the fact that he doesn’t think there are any proper stars left to shoot, but if an amazing opportunity did come along – as it did in the case of Mandela – then he would accept. But despite his roll-call of A-list sitters – and a star-studded archive to boot – O’Neill says the walls of his Battersea home are bare, bar a few jazz posters. When it comes to celebrities, he remains refreshingly unfazed.

“I’ve never been star-struck. When I first started working at The Daily Sketch, I seemed to get on well with film stars and musicians, so that’s what they gave me to do,” he shrugs. “It was the world that I got involved in. If you think about it, my first two jobs were The Beatles and The Stones. I started from the top and never looked back.”

Until 30 January, Iconic Images Gallery,13A Park Walk, SW10; Rare & Unseen: A Portfolio of Vintage Prints, published by ACC Art Book, £75, accartbooks.com

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IT’S THE

MOST

Wonderful TIME OF THE

YEAR

FROM LEFT BILLECART-SALMON, CUVÉE LOUIS 2006, £120, UNCORKED.CO.UK; FLEUR NARCOTIQUE CANDLE, £49, EX-NIHILO-PARIS.COM; FLEUR FANTÔME ROOM SPRAY, £85, BYREDO.CO.UK; BLACK AND GOLD METAL EARRINGS, £320, CHANEL.COM; DON GIOVANNI SCENTED CANDLE, £140, FORNASETTI.COM; SNOWFLAKE METAL AND RESIN BROOCH, £470, CHANEL.COM; LES YEUX NOIRS LASH AMPLIFYING LACQUER IN GOLDOMANIA, £55, CHRISTIANLOUBOUTIN.COM; ALESSANDRO DELLA’ACQUA COLLECTION BLACK PATENT LOAFERS, £398, TODS.COM

P.50

P.56

P.72

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LAST CHRISTMAS

GIFT GUIDE

MISTLETOE & WINE

TRIVIA PURSUIT

A history of

Inspired stocking fillers

The rare bottles guaranteeing

How much do you know

festive gift giving

to add to your wishlist

a return on investment

about the traditional yuletide?

THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

D I S C OV E R T H E O R I G I N S O F C H R I S T M A S G I F T- G I V I N G , F R O M T H E PRACTICAL JOKERS OF ANCIENT ROME TO THE FESTIVE FIRS G I V E N T H E R O YA L S E A L O F A P P R O VA L

Words: Julia Zaltzman

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ontrary to popular belief, Christmas presents, and celebrations altogether, existed long before the Victorian era.

Gift-giving is a relic of a pagan custom, namely the winter solstice, which in the Northern Hempishere occurs in December. It was celebrated in ancient Rome with the Saturnalia holiday (a December festival in honour of the god Saturn), which comprised a sacrifice and a public banquet

followed by private gift-giving and continual partying. The presents exchanged were usually practical joke-type gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery. As Christianity became increasingly widespread in Roman lands, the custom of gift-giving became tied to 25 December, the day of Jesus’s birth, and to the story of the three wise men bearing gifts.

The tradition of gift-giving was further cemented through tales of Saint Nicholas, an early Christian

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PREVIOUS PAGE STOCKINGS, £16, HANDMADECHRISTMASCO.COM; THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE STOCKINGS, £16, HANDMADECHRISTMASCO.COM; IMAGE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK.; RETRO CHRISTMAS CALENDAR, LIVELAUGHLOVE.CO.UK; WRAPPING PAPER, PAPER-DESIGN.DE

Then came the Victorians. The first known commercially produced Christmas card was designed

by John Callcott Horsley of London in 1843. With cards and decorations, the Victorians instigated many of our current seasonal traditions. Gifts were usually limited to a single present, which was typically homemade. Among the affluent, manufactured wooden toys were gradually introduced.

By the end of the 19th century, Christmas Eve became the most common date for gift-giving in Western culture. To this day, the British royal family observes this tradition, laying out their presents on Christmas Eve and exchanging them at teatime.

It’s also well known among royal fans that the Windsor family usually focuses on inexpensive offerings for Christmas – in 2011, the Duchess of Cambridge made chutney for HM The Queen. All members of the royal household receive Christmas presents from The Queen, who personally hands out presents at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Continuing a tradition from her father, King George VI and her grandfather, George V, The Queen also gives Christmas puddings to her staff.

About 1,500 Christmas puddings paid for by The Queen (through the Privy Purse) are distributed, and each pudding is accompanied by a greeting card from The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Queen also gives Christmas trees each year to Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Giles’s Cathedral and Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

Today, of course, Christmas has become a highly commercialised celebration. In 2017, British families spent almost as much on Christmas as they did on holidays. Londoners are the country’s biggest spenders, with an average Christmas budget of £1,302 – half of which is spent on presents. In 2016, 70 per cent of respondents to an online survey of 13,576 people in 14 countries said that too much attention is put on spending during the Christmas period; 42 per cent said they felt forced to spend more at Christmas; and 10 per cent borrowed money to be able to afford the gifts.

In 2018, however, gift-giving seems to have returned to some of the Victorian values. Many consumers are turning to personalised presents.

“The demand for unique gifts is definitely growing,” says Louis Porter, co-founder of The Handmade Christmas Co., which creates more than 100,000 hand-finished products each year. “Not only are personalised presents crafted especially for the recipient, but they become keepsakes. In the case of our Christmas gift sacks and stockings, they become an integral part of a family’s Christmas tradition.”

bishop from the Greek city of Myra, whose legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus.

Some early Christian rulers believed that it was their subjects who should give gifts to their superiors, and insisted on tributes and tithes during that period. This changed around the turn of the first millennium following the popularity of another historical gift-giver, Good King Wenceslas, who braved harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen. Christmas gift-giving to superiors became less common, and around the time of the Protestant Reformation, bestowing presents on children became increasingly widespread in Europe.

A number of midwinter or Christmas traditions in European folklore involve gift bringers, mainly the figure of a bearded old man, whom in Great Britain is now affectionately referred to as Father Christmas.

In Slavic countries the figure is mostly called Father Frost. In Scandinavia, it is an elf-like figure who comes at Yule. In German-speaking Europe and in Latin Europe, the gift bringer became associated with the Saint Nicholas, who, among other incidents, presented three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. In some parts of central Europe, there is a tradition of a young child or fairy-like being, known as Christkindl, bringing presents.

During the Middle Ages, there was a period of celebration that stretched for 12 nights, from Christmas Eve to 6 January, hence The 12 Days of Christmas carol, which first appeared in print in 1780.

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F E AT U R E

BEFORE THE TREE

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort, is usually credited with having introduced the Christmas tree to England in 1840. However, the honour of establishing this tradition in the United Kingdom rightfully belongs to Queen Charlotte, the German wife of George III, who set up the first known English tree at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor, in December, 1800.

The later enthusiasm of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the custom helped spread Christmas tree popularity throughout the country, including the tradition of laying presents underneath it.

Prior to the tree, children would wait for Saint Nicholas to come and put a present under their pillow, provided that they had been good during the year. Those who had behaved badly could expect to find a twig or a piece of coal. In the Netherlands, children put out a clog filled with hay and a carrot for Saint Nicholas’s horse. In other countries, children left shoes or boots by the fireplace on Saint Nicholas Eve in the hope of receiving coins and sweets. These traditions have subsequently combined to create today’s Christmas stocking.

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How to Throw a Fabulous Party, According to

TE S SA PAC K A R D TO C E L E B R AT E H E R N E W C O C K TA I LINSPIRED COLLECTION, THE BRITISH FINE JEWELLER DIVULGES HER TOP TIPS FOR HOSTING A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

Words: Mhairi Graham

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essa Packard knows a thing or two about parties. Whether throwing a soirée in her impeccably curated studio in Chelsea or commanding festivities at 5 Hertford Street (her favourite haunt), the British fine jewellery designer is both an attentive host and sparkling guest.

Her new Hammered & Stoned collection is inspired by the key to any good party – a well-shaken cocktail. “My favourite aesthetic has always been one that fuses timeless elegance together with vivid colour, a sense of wonderment and storytelling and a healthy dose of whimsy,” she says. “From conception to creation, cocktails embody these qualities in spades.”

The playful, party-starting collection spans Highball Earrings, with hanging fruit slices in vivid dyed jade; a shimmering one-of-a-kind Campari necklace, strung with amethyst, pink quartz and garnet; and a gleaming Banana Bender charm in 18-carat solid gold. “I design jewellery for women who prioritise unique, clever design over carat weight; who wear pieces that express individuality and make other people smile.”

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CHRISTMAS

“Getting the ratio right of people to space is crucial. Too much space and the party will fall on its face within an hour”

What are the key components of a good party?

Getting the ratio right of people to space is crucial. Too much space and the party will fall on its face within an hour; too many people and you will be encouraging early departures. Guests must feel comfortable but the space crowded.

If you insist on playing music from the start, make sure there is at least one room which is quiet and easy on the ears. You’ll be surprised how many people find loud music an annoyance at parties.

Mix up the ages. The best parties have an equal mix of younger and older generations.

BYOB EARRINGS,18CT YELLOW GOLD VERMEIL, GARNET, BRASS AND ENAMEL EARRINGS, £285

Worst party faux pas? Overstaying one’s welcome.

What’s on your playlist?

SIA - Cheap Thrills; Bastille - Pompeii; Flo Rida - Right Round

Best advice for blasting the cobwebs the next day? Ibuprofen before bed; eight hours sleep; three Bloody Marys when you wake.

Where do you spend Christmas?

At home in Scotland.

What will you be wearing on Christmas day?

A novelty Christmas jumper and jeans.

COCKTAIL HOUR RING 9CT YELLOW GOLD COCKTAIL UMBRELLA RING, £1,200

What is your go-to party outfit? Flat shoes. The minute your feet start hurting you always start thinking of bed.

Who does your catering? For formal parties, Mustard Catering. For informal parties I chuck a whole bunch of mismatching things together that I know will line the stomach and still taste great at 2am.

What’s your party trick? Eating a whole lemon without wincing. I can also clear a whole room in minutes when it is time to go to bed. I have no qualms about asking people to leave.

Most memorable parties of all time?

There was one on a deserted island in the Canadian Arctic under the Northern Lights; a handful in Africa and a lot at home.

What is your favourite cocktail? When the sun is shining my alliances lie with the Brazilian Caipiroska. When the weather gets colder (especially at Christmas time) I switch to Whisky Sours.

Where is your favourite place in London for cocktails? Mark’s Bar at HIX.

What makes a good guest list? Generally speaking, with larger parties, it’s kind on your guests if everyone there knows at least one or two people; at smaller soirées you can afford to be much braver and invite a mix of guests that have never met before.

KAHLUA NECKLACE 9CT YELLOW GOLD AND MOONSTONE NECKLACE, £985

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Where will you be this New Year’s Eve? Most likely at home, in front of the TV with three snoring dachshunds and a bottle of red wine. I hate any form of a New Year’s party and would much rather go to bed at 10pm.

PHOTOGRAPHER TURI LØVIK KIRKNES STYLIST TONA STELL

D E A R S A N TA . . .

THE HEELS, HANDBAGS AND HAUTE HOROLOGY TO COVET THIS CHRISTMAS

FROM LEFT Pastello Earrings in 18-carat Rose Gold with Brilliant-Cut Sapphires £2,700, Pastello Necklace in 18-carat Rose Gold with Sapphires Totalling 17.66 carats, £11,700, both uk.bucherer.com; Chanel No5 Eau De Parfum Limited Edition, £130, chanel.com; Anya Smells Lollipop Scented Candle, £50, anyahindmmarch.com; Ladies’ Diamond Ribbon Joaillerie in Rose Gold, £52,090, patek.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Clockwise from top: Sipsmith Gin Truffles, £15, charbonnel.co.uk; Arli Medium Shoulder Bag, £1,770, gucci.com; Supernova Heels, £898, stuartweitzman.co.uk; 18ct Yellow Gold Belcher Long Chain, £1,500, 18ct White Gold, Pearl & Diamond Mythology Spinning Moon Pendant, £6,900, 18ct Yellow Gold, Pearl & Green Diamond ‘The Weeping Song’ Charm, £995, 18ct Yellow Gold & Pink Sapphire ‘Wild Rose’ Charm, £2,500, all annoushka.com; Ivory Sugared Almonds, £14.60, laduree.co.uk; Tango Bracelet, £22,500, pomellato.com THIS PAGE Clockwise from top left: Blue Label, £144, johnniewalker.com; Grafton Sandalwood Polished Binder Brogues, £530, church-footwear.com; Classique Extra-Thin Tourbillon 5367 in Rose Gold, £110,000, breguet.com; Men’s Perpetual Calendar in Rose Gold, £66,850, patek.com; Evil Eye Cufflinks, £95, halcyondays.co.uk

OPPOSITE PAGE Clockwise from top: Florentine Finish Small Round Door Knocker Earrings, £700, carolinabucci.com; Officus Stile Diffuser, £58, culti.com; Christmas Brillant GM Golden Eye Bag, POA, delvaux.com; Astrid Shoes, £565, charlotteolympia.com; Christmas Gift Box of Macarons, £21.50, laduree.co.uk THIS PAGE Clockwise from left: Midnight Saffron Eau de Parfum, £155, tomdaxon.com; A Rose For Eau De Parfum, £160, florislondon.com; Original Santal, £215, creedfragrances.co.uk; Cuir Celeste, £210, ex-nihilo-paris.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Orchard White Gold Pavé Diamond Earrings, £9,000, Maymay Single Rose Platinum Ring, £7,00, Orchard Large White Gold Pendant, £6,500, all Boodles; Mara Round Trinket Case, £185, Smythson; Evil Eye Earrings, £49, Halcyon Days; Chicago Burgundy Polished Binder Shoes, £395, Church’s; Silver 925 and Natural Horn Sunglasses, £1,100, Tom Davies; Limited Edition Supersonic Watch in Stainless Steel on Connolly Leather Strap, £9,495, Bremont; Burlington Slim Travel Wallet, £375, Smythson; Sovereign Crest Black Velvet Loafers, £245, Church’s; Enchanted Empressa Collection, £145, Penhaligon’s; all brands available at The Royal Exchange, EC3V, theroyalexchange.co.uk

OPPOSITE PAGE Hampstead Bag, £995, mulberry.com THIS PAGE Clockwise from top: Two Butterfly Between the Finger Ring in White Gold, Tsavorite and Diamond, £19,100, vancleefarpels.com; Bra, £225, eresparis.com; Butterfly Earrings in Yellow Gold, Tsavorite, Diamond £19,100, Two Butterfly Pendant in Yellow Gold, Tsavorite and Diamond, £8,600, both vancleefarpels.com; Teardrop Bracelet, £1,850, azzafahmy.com; Hortensia ‘Eden’ Ring in 18-carat Pink Gold with Brilliant-Cut Diamonds, £23,500, chaumet.com; Knickers, £121, eresparis.com; Jilly Heeled Sandals, £625, charlotteolympia.com; Stargazer Necklace, £7,700, asprey.com; Ajour Crescent and Star Earrings, £3,600, azzafahmy.com

OPPOSITE PAGE From top: Premier Pearly Lace 36mm Automatic, 18K White Gold Timepiece with a Blue Mother of Pearl Dial and a Pearly Alligator Strap, POA, harrywinston.com; 18CT White Gold and Diamond 8mm Drop Earrings, ÂŁ11,560, shamballajewels.com THIS PAGE From left: Winston Candy Mandarin Garnet Ring, POA, Winston Candy Blue Spinel Ring, POA, harrywinston.com

Photography Assistant: Chaemus Macmillan; Set Design: Kathryn Madge Healey

IT’S A WRAP A T H O U G H T F U L LY W R A P P E D G I F T C A N B E T H E I C I N G O N T H E C A K E – F O R A P R E S E N T T H AT W I L L S TA N D O U T U N D E R T H E T R E E T U R N TO T H E TO P W R A P P I N G PA P E R T R E N D S O F 2 0 1 8 F O R I N S P I R AT I O N ( Y E S , I T ’ S A T H I N G )

Words: Julia Zaltzman

B O TA N I C A L S A N D F L O R A L S

This is by far the biggest wrapping paper trend of 2018, and one that shows no sign of abating as we approach the festive season. Take your pick from exotic blooms, such as Australian waratahs and gum leaves, to the gorgeous greenery of palm leaves and olive branches, right through to the perennial favourites: roses, peonies and hydrangeas.

There are many variations on the botanical theme – with neon florals making their presence felt alongside dandelion motifs. Non-traditional colour combinations such as navy, jade and gold are highly effective but, to go the extra mile, try natural elements foraged from outdoors. Tree clippings, pine cones and sprigs of holly serve as stunning gift toppers – fast and free!

N AT U R A L L O O K S A N D ECO CRED

When it comes to the eco approach, kraft paper – plain and patterned – is still popular, and specialist eco papers, such as elephant paper (made from elephant dung – it’s better than it sounds), are also being sought out. An entirely natural product, each sheet of elephant paper is slightly different and that’s a good thing, but natural papers tend to be a little thicker than regular wrap and thus a little harder to fold.

They’re also economic, but more importantly, they offer a vintage and rustic aesthetic. Team this simple approach with sprigs of rosemary and

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT YOU’RE MAGIC WRAPPING PAPER, FLOWER LADY WRAPPING PAPER, BOTH £3 PER 70CM X 50CM SHEET, CHASEANDWONDER.COM; HISTORIC MAP WRAPPING PAPER, £6 PER 70CM X 50CM SHEET, CAVALLINI, LUCKANDLUCK.CO.UK; NATURE POSTCARDS, £3.50 FOR SIX POSTCARDS, PAPERMASH.CO.UK; GUS THE GORILLA WRAPPING PAPER, £3.95 PER 70CM X 50CM SHEET, MAROKKA.COM; DANDELION CHART, £2.99 PER 51 X 71CM POSTER, PRESENTINDICATIVE.COM; PARLOUR MAUVE WRAPPING PAPER, ETSY.COM

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CHRISTMAS

pepperberry to perk up your kraft paperwrapped gift. Alternatively, for the ultimate bespoke option, embrace your inner artist and get creative with black kraft paper and white paint markers. Chalk board creativity does away with the need for gift tags, taps in to the monochrome trend, and looks utterly stunning underneath your tree.

M A R B L I N G M A K E S WAV E S

The marbling effect is having a major moment and comes in many styles – from a subtle natural marble look in dove greys and pastels through to big bold swirls particularly in blues, pinks and purples.

The watercolour marble effect gives a contemporary edge to this choice of design, while a handmade option provides a priceless personal touch. Muslin cloth also has a distinctive texture you can take advantage of – just dip it in any coloured dyes of your choice to create a unique design.

GO THE EXTRA MILE

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

Whatever your choice

This year, all of God’s creatures abound in the wrapping paper world and you can expect to see animal, insect and bird patterns, from the cutest dogs and cats to bears, meerkats, gorillas and sloths. Swans are on the cusp, flamingos are a bit yesterday and the end to the mythical unicorn fad is nowhere in sight as the ubiquitous motif continues to appeal to the little people gift market.

For a little added festive appeal, try mixing woodland creatures with plaid bows, red ribbons and crisp white gift tags.

A choice bauble or tree decoration can create a fantastic embellishment that serves as a gift in itself.

of gift wrap, be sure to always add a little something extra that transforms a wrapped present into a cherished gift. Mix and match tartan prints in festive colours for a stylish and colourful statement.

Bind small and intricate items together to serve as accents on your gift.

Try using items that reflect the recipient’s personality; think of them as pieces of a

LITTLE BIT OF BLING

charm bracelet to truly

Metallics continue to make their presence felt, with 2017’s breakout colour, graphite, still going strong. Rose gold and copper are still to be found but are not as prominent as in years past. The metallic splash or splatter look is popping up and it dresses up a treat.

Metallic touches to a floral pattern also add an element of sophistication.

Large oversized bows, glitzy metallic gift tags and even gold leather string can elevate a pleasingly wrapped gift to elegant stand-out status.

personalise the present.

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Alternatively, turn to the reason for giving the gift – at Christmas candy cane toppers and gingerbread gift tags lend your present an ever popular edible touch. For 2018, it’s all about making the exterior as memorable as the gift itself.

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F O R T H E M O S T F E S T I V E M E A L O F T H E Y E A R , I M PA C T I S A L L - I M P O R TA N T. M I X G L A M O R O U S M E TA L L I C S , A D D S O M E S H O W S TO P P E R P I E C E S A N D D O N ’ T F O R G E T A P L AY F U L T O U C H T O R E F L E C T T H E S P I R I T O F C H R I S T M A S

Words: Julia Zaltzman

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hen it comes to on-trend table dressing, this year the fashionable wintry ideal is, once again, to keep it metallic. Gold is always a winner at Christmas, and now clashing metals are very en vogue, with golden hues and seductive silvers coming together to create one harmonious, eye-catching dinner table. To complete the colour experiment, include the jazzy and glamorous feel of copper, brass and platinum. Mixing different metals gives a specific contemporary appearance to the composition and offers the opportunity for light – from an open fire, for example – to play spectacularly on the surfaces.

OPPOSITE PAGE If you want your Christmas table DOBBIES.COM; THIS PAGE, FROM TOP to have real impact, start with the SET OF FOUR HALO DINNER PLATES IN centrepiece. Begin with a table runner MIDNIGHT BLUE, £44, CLARISSAHULSE.COM; as a base then layer up your look by GOLD OCTOPUS adding carefully curated pieces for WINE HOLDER, £28, AUDENZA.COM; your table setting. For a magical rustic NEWBY GLASS LED CHRISTMAS winter wonderland, add garlands BAUBLE TRIO, £11.99, LIGHTS4FUN.CO.UK; and fairy lights, and, for a little extra SET OF FOUR BERRY TINTED WINE something, Audenza’s gold octopus GLASSES, £39.95, AUDENZA.COM candelabra centrepiece is a multitasking work of art. If table space is limited, however, look up to the ceiling for inspiration. A white hydrangea garland, used as a suspended wreath and decorated with an assortment of spun teardrops, ribbed glitter baubles and glass icicle decorations, makes for a truly stunning showstopper.

The simple geometric forms created by Ferm Living for its new Christmas collection make up a kaleidoscope of twinkling lights, ornaments, candle holders and contemporary shapes that spread light through the dark season. A few sprigs of holly and a couple of artfully placed miniature baubles can add a whimsical festive feel, too. To truly embrace the metallic vibe, however, the delicate form of Audenza’s antique gold leaf feather tealight holder, together with its gold leaf napkin rings, make for the perfect combination when teamed with Annabel James’s solid silver Champagne Cork salt and pepper set, or Bridgman’s matching silver

Henning Koppel Wave bowl and pitcher.

Adding a little playfulness to a sophisticated setting gives it a little kick of modernity, not to mention Christmas spirit, so opt for something light-hearted, too, like some gold and silver glitter-flocked fruit topped with mini sparklers, or glitzy bauble place-card holders.

The key to having a decorative table that doesn’t feel too busy is to rethink and reduce the decor in the rest of the room. A tree with only a few sparkling lights can be just as welcoming as more ornate styles, while a simple vase in clear glass with a few branches of pussy willow will be a perfect background for candles.

If your Christmas decor throughout your home follows a certain theme, don’t be afraid to ramp it up in your dinnerware.

Tartans work well for a traditional table setting, as do subtle florals, while Clarissa Hulse’s range of Halo dinner plates in midnight blue seamlessly blend with the ongoing trend for brooding wall colours.

Along with various shades of purple and green, blue has even been singled out as one of the Christmas 2018 colours of choice, and few tones team up better with gold than inky blues.

One of the main ingredients of quality-style holiday decoration is vintage spirit – if you have old glass decorations from your parents or grandparents, use them, otherwise, look to antique stores – and if you want to add festive edge to simpler or more traditional glassware, tie a piece of ribbon to the bottom of a wine glass or champagne flute. Rainbow glass, such as LSA’s new Pearl collection or berry-tinted goblets, add some welcome colour.

When it comes to the cutlery, lay it out in dramatic detail, with chunky gold forks to the left, knives to the right and a dessert spoon and fork at the top – Annabel James’s set of four pastry forks with geese illustrations also make for a happy addition.

When it comes to finishing touches, homemade name cards are a sure-fire way to impress your guests and, obviously, add a cracker to create some fun festive moments. For any dinner, it’s all in the detail: once your table is set, create a magical atmosphere by lighting some candles and then let the feast begin.

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G I V E

T H E

G I F T

O F

WINE

W H AT D O YO U B U Y F O R T H E P E R S O N W H O H A S E V E R Y T H I N G ? T H E A N S W E R L I E S I N T H E W O R L D O F F I N E A N D R A R E W I N E . L E G E N DA R Y V I N TAG E S F R O M T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T E X A LT E D V I N E YA R D S A R E I N C R E A S I N G LY I N S H O R T S U P P LY, G U A R A N T E E I N G T H E L U C K Y R E C I P I E N T M A J O R B R A G G I N G R I G H T S . L U X U R Y L O N D O N H A S D E LV E D I N T O T H I S EXCLUSIVE WORLD TO OFFER SOME HIGH-CLASS SUGGESTIONS

Words: James Lawrence

C H A M PAG N E

FINE & RARE

ORNELLAIA 2015 Quite possibly the best vintage of Ornellaia to date, this prestigious winery was TAITTINGER COMTES DE

DELAMOTTE BLANC DE

founded by Lodovico Antinori

CHAMPAGNE ROSÉ 2006

BLANCS COLLECTION 1999

in 1981. Exploiting a lucrative

Can you improve upon perfection?

Setting the standard that others

family, he planted Bordeaux

Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne

have attempted to follow since 1760,

varieties in 1982 on what

Rosé answers in the affirmative – the

Delamotte offers a very special

was then an unremarkable,

gorgeous red berry aromas and full-

1999 Blanc de Blancs. Awarded 94

70-hectare patch of scrubby

bodied, multi-faceted palate speaks

points by wine review site Robert

countryside in Bolgheri,

for itself. A memorable gift for the

Parker Wine Advocate, it’s a sparkling

coastal Tuscany. Today it

discerning sybarite.

wine of immaculate texture and

remains one of Tuscany’s

£260, fortnumandmason.com

extreme complexity; imagine Grand

finest wines.

Cru Burgundy laced with honey-

£121.60,

caramelised hazelnuts, freshly baked

armitwines.co.uk

inheritance from his mother’s

baguette and dried herbs. Exquisite. £220, harveynichols.com

LUXURY LONDON

CHRISTMAS

LUXURY WINE TOURS There is a glut of competition in the luxury wine tour market, but Cellar Tours always manages to come out on top. Highly recommended by Condé

SEÑA 2014

Nast Traveller, Forbes Traveller and Time magazine, Cellars Tours’s custom-designed vacations provide

Please don’t let the fact that Seña is from

access to rare vintages and unique experiences.

Chile bias you – this is a blockbuster, and make no mistake. A project initiated by

Experience the culinary creations of Spain’s most innovative chefs in the Basque

Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick

Country; learn about the Port wine region’s 300-year-old history; ride horses through

(Decanter’s Man of the Year 2018), Seña

Chile’s scenic vineyards; or explore the stunning regions of Franschhoek and

was intended to prove that the wines

Stellenbosch on a VIP wine lovers tour of South Africa. Chauffeur-driven tours are also

of Chile could easily rival their more

possible in France, Italy and Ireland.

expensive cousins from Bordeaux. The

cellartours.com

2014 is another standout example: expect an intense nose of black fruits, plum and

WINE HAMPERS

spice, with blackcurrant, blackberry and mocha on the palate. £162 for a magnum, crsfw.com

THE WINE BUYER’S SELECTION, HARRODS Of all the wine hampers currently available, The Wine Buyer’s Selection from Harrods really caught our eye. It’s the depth and quality of the wines on offer

CHATEAU LATOUR 1990

that sets it apart – there’s not one dud It needs no introduction – Chateau Latour

among these 12 bottles of glorious red,

is one of the world’s most magnificent red

white and champagne.

wines. The 1990 is currently at its peak and

£350, harrods.com

this outstandingly complex and elegant wine effortlessly merges force and finesse.

FESTIVE FEAST, HARVEY

It may not have quite the status of Lafite,

NICHOLS

but it is every bit the equal in quality – and even, some would say, superior.

The last word in decadence, this glorious

£1,175, harveynichols.com

hamper from Harvey Nichols has all the bases covered. From the bottles of fine wine to the English sparkling rosé, there is much, if everything, to excite a seasoned oenophile. £550, harveynichols.com

DOMAINE LEFLAIVE CHEVALIER

THE EXPEDITIONS HAMPER,

MONTRACHET 2011

FORTNUM & MASON

While the fine wine world is undoubtedly

Could this be London’s finest Christmas

predominately obsessed with the

hamper? It’s certainly a strong contender.

colour red, the Chardonnay vineyards of

The Expeditions Hamper is an adventure-

Chevalier-Montrachet are virtually priceless

ready wicker style, perfectly appointed

and in massive demand. This is white

with everything one could need for a

wine on another level – strong, perfumed,

memorable Christmas feast, from claret to

intense, luscious and utterly moreish.

champagne and everything in between.

£475, harveynichols.com

£1,000, fortnumandmason.com

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LUXURY LONDON

CHRISTMAS

IKISHO Maki this a Christmas to remember with a traditional sushi feast handmade in your own home. The master cooks at bespoke Japanese chef service, ikisho, will show you the sushi ropes by making and serving a tailor-made menu, while teaching you the art behind this timehonoured craft. A sake sommelier will be on hand to help you pair the perfect tipple with your meal.

To book your ikisho master sushi dining experience call 020 7112 9365 or visit ikisho.com

LONDON ART STUDIES Think you know your Monet from your Matisse? Think again: London Art Studies is an online platform bringing art lectures to your laptop. Choose from more than 100 short films, including clips on modern masters and the unlikely new market for forgeries. £88 for an annual subscription, londonartstudies.com

OUT OF THE BOX GIFT IDEAS FOR THE PERSON WHO R E A L LY D O E S H AV E E V E R Y T H I N G

Words: Ellen Millard

T H E DAU N T B O O KS SUBSCRIPTION The shelves of Daunt Books’ beguiling shops are teeming with tempting reads; discover the cream of the crop with the brand’s annual book subscription, which will see one

LONDON CAKE SCHOOL

paperback whizz through your door each month. There’s even

Treat budding bakers to

the option to tailor-make the

a masterclass at the London Cake

service to suit your personal

School, the studio of sponge

reading tastes and habits.

extraordinaire Rosalind Miller, who £160, dauntbooks.co.uk

will teach you the art of sugar craft in a one-, two- or three-day workshop.

From £215, rosalindmillercakes.com

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CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT: Watches of Switzerland, Fortnum & Mason, Georg Jensen, Smythson, Tiffany & Co., Penhaligon’s

FESTIVE FINDS IN THE CITY NOW OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A FULL LIST OF STORES THEROYALEXCHANGE.CO.UK THE ROYAL EXCHANGE, EXIT 3 BANK, CITY OF LONDON EC3V 3LR

CHRISTMAS QUIZ

AV O I D T H E A N N U A L C H R I S T M A S D AY M O N O P O LY S Q U A B B L E AND INSTEAD PUT YOUR FESTI VE KN OW-HOW TO THE TEST

Compiled by Adam Jacot de Boinod

1st DECEMBER

6th DECEMBER

In which year was the first Christmas card printed in England? a) 1863 b) 1883 c) 1843

Which is the biggest-selling Christmas single of all time? a) Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? b) Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody c) Bing Crosby’s White Christmas 7th DECEMBER

2nd DECEMBER

Who introduced Christmas carols to formal church services? a) Queen Victoria b) The Archbishop of Canterbury c) Saint Francis of Assisi

In which country did baubles, the ornamental balls on a Christmas tree, originate? a) Spain b) Germany c) France 8th DECEMBER

3rd DECEMBER

Which foreign city gives the City of Westminster a Christmas tree every year to adorn Trafalgar Square? a) Stockholm b) Bergen c) Oslo

Which of these famous figures was born on Christmas Day? a) W. C. Fields b) Princess Alexandra c) Charlie Chaplin 9th DECEMBER

Which American president decorated the first White House Christmas tree? a) Franklin Pierce b) Franklin Roosevelt c) Abraham Lincoln

In Scots dialect what is a yule-hole? a) An outdoor privy where a guest threw up to empty his stomach for more feasting b) A man’s mouth when enjoying a wee dram of whisky as part of the Hogmanay traditions c) The last hole to which a man could stretch his belt at a Christmas feast

5th DECEMBER

10th DECEMBER

What do red berries represent at Christmas? a) The brightness of life despite winter’s gloom b) The fruit of our summer harvest c) The drops of Christ’s blood

Including the addition of Rudolph, how many reindeer does Santa have? a) 7 b) 11 c) 9

4th DECEMBER

LUXURY LONDON

CHRISTMAS

Who is thought to have been the first person to add candles to a Christmas tree? a) The Pope b) Queen Victoria c) Martin Luther

12th DECEMBER

20th DECEMBER

What time is the Queen’s Christmas Message first broadcast on British television? a) 3pm b) 1pm c) 2pm

Why was Christmas Day particularly signficant for Conrad Hilton, Humphrey Bogart and Sir Isaac Newton? a) It was the day they died b) It was the date of their respective weddings c) It was the day they were born

13th DECEMBER

In which country do you collect a bolsa de ‘cotillón’ – a kind of party bag containing sweets and whistles – on New Year’s Eve? a) Spain b) France c) Portugal 14th DECEMBER

In the hope of being left coins, in which country did children first begin placing wooden shoes next to the hearth the night before the arrival of St. Nicholas (a custom that evolved into the Christmas stocking)? a) Holland b) Spain c) Germany 15th DECEMBER

In which year was the Queen’s Christas Message first telivised? a) 1967 b) 1962 c) 1957 16th DECEMBER

In which country is your age measured not in years but by how many Christmases you’ve lived through? a) The Philippines b) Mexico c) Papua New Guinea 17th DECEMBER

What does the word ‘hederated’ mean? a) G etting the sack at work just before Christmas b) Adorned with ivy c) Beautifully wrapped 18th DECEMBER

In which country do some priests advise you to say ‘Happy Christmas’ , instead of ‘Merry Christmas’, because the word merry has connotations of getting drunk? a) Australia b) Finland c) Denmark

21st DECEMBER

In which country would you find ‘kiviak’, a gastronomical Christmas treat made from the raw flesh of an auk bird that has been buried under a stone in sealskin for several months until it has achieved an advanced stage of decomposition? a) Iceland b) Greenland c) Canada 22nd DECEMBER

Hanging gifts on trees is supposed to stem from what? a) The worship of trees by druids b) A German custom that started first with baubles c) T he lack of tree decorations for sale during the First World War 23rd DECEMBER

In which country does the ‘consoada’ feast take place at midnight on Christmas Eve? a) Portugal b) Mexico c) Spain 24th DECEMBER

During a traditional Bulgarian Christmas meal, why does the family sit on the floor? a) As an act of humility on this special day b) Because local theology maintains that Jesus and the apostles may have also sat on the floor during the Last Supper c) B ecause the table is traditionally too full of food 25th DECEMBER

Why is X used as an abbreviation for Christ in the word Xmas? a) It is from the Latin for the number 10 which was the original number of apostles minus Judas b) It is derived from the Greek alphabet in which X is letter Chi, the first letter of Christ’s name c) It is the shape of the cross on which Jesus hung

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ANSWERS

19th DECEMBER

Who was the first British monarch to opt for turkey at Christmas rather than goose? a) Queen Victoria b) King George III c) King Henry VIII

1st c) 1843 2nd c) St. Francis of Assisi 3rd c) Oslo 4th a) President Franklin Pierce in 1856 5th c) The drops of Christ’s blood – Roman legend states that holly berries were originally white, but that the blood Christ shed for the sins of humankind stained the berries forever red.

6th c) Bing Crosby’s White Christmas 7th b) Germany 8th b) Princess Alexandra 9th c) The last hole to which a man could stretch his belt at a Christmas feast 10th c) Nine. In the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas there are eight reindeer. Rudolph was created in 1939 by American author Robert L May. 11th c) King Henry VIII – (although it wasn’t until the 1950’s that the turkey became a more popular Christmas meal choice than the goose) 12th a) 3pm 13th a) Spain 14th) Holland 15th c) 1957 16th c) Papua New Guinea 17th b) Adorned with ivy 18th a) Australia 19th c) Martin Luther in 1659 20th c) It was the day they were born 21st b) Greenland 22nd a) The worship of trees by druids 23rd a) Portugal 24th b) Because during the Last Supper Jesus and the apostles also sat on the floor 25th b) It is derived from the Greek alphabet in which X is the letter Chi, the first letter of Christ’s name

11th DECEMBER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK TYDEMAN

P.80 BEHIND BULGARI CEO Jean-Christophe Babin on the future of the famous jeweller

P.86 EXPLORING ST JAMES’S A sartorial saunter through the centuries

P.94 WATCH THIS SPACE Wempe unveils its revamped showroom

COUTURE CUT FROM

A DIFFERENT

CLOTH

Christmas isn’t just about red and green: Hackett makes a case for burnt orange with its opulant velvet blazer, hackett.com

“ BU LG A R I WOU L D N OT HAVE BE E N SU C C E S S F U L W IT H OU T T H E ROMA N E N VI RON ME N T, T H E RO M A N WA R MT H, T HE L I F E ST YL E OF ROMA”

THE BIG TIME A S B U LG A R I L A U N C H E S I T S L AT E S T T E M P L E TO ‘ H I G H H O S P I TA L I T Y ’ I N S H A N G H A I , T H E I TA L I A N JEWELLER’S CEO, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BABIN, D I S C U S S E S L U X U R Y, T H E A L L U R E O F S E R P E N T S , A N D H O W B U LG A R I M A I N TA I N S I T S E XC L U S I V E A U R A

Words: Chris Allsop

LUXURY LONDON

F E AT U R E

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COUTURE

BY BULGARI That “Roman experience by Bulgari” has been nearly 135 years in the making, ever since Greek silversmith Sotirio Georgis Bulgari opened his first shop on Rome’s Via Sistina in 1884. Over that period, as Babin explains, the brand’s aesthetic changed as the place of jewellery within western culture also expanded.

“At the turn of the 20th century, you had one worldwide school of jewellery designed for extraordinary occasions – weddings and engagements, platinum and diamonds – and only for a small segment in the western world,” he says.

This trend continued up to the 1930s, during which time a renovation of the Bulgari flagship store saw the Latin ‘v’ included in the brand name for the first time. Restrictions on alloys during the Second World War contributed to Bulgari systematically combining yellow gold with gems. The brand also began to experiment with innovative cuts to its stones, eventually defining a style that is all, “volume and colour, reflecting the Roman environment”.

It was during the 1950s and 60s – the Dolce Vita years – that Bulgari began its hugely successful association with cinema (adorning the necks of actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren with its creations) firming up the sense of exclusive glamour that is now emblematic of the brand. More recent Bulgari fans include Naomi Watts and Jessica Chastain.

“Our jewellery continues to evolve,” Babin says, “as demonstrated by the La Festa collection that we disclosed last year. You’ll find in that collection a lot of threads with influences from the high jewellery of the 60s and the 80s; a constant evolution with innovations such as the balloon cut – a new shape of cabochon that we introduced with La Festa.”

“Social networks allow us to recreate a personal connection with potential clients – no longer on a scale that’s in the hundreds, but in the millions”

T

he £120,000 watch is ticking.

It’s 7pm in Shanghai and in just over half-an-hour Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin is hosting the star-studded Shanghai International Film Festival Bulgari party. The celebration is a metaphorical champagne bottle about to be smashed against the gilded hull of the Italian jewellery brand’s new hotel.

The central Shanghai property, positioned at a discreetly exclusive distance from the other luxury hotels of the Bund and Pudong districts, might have been architecturally inspired by Babin. The CEO is tall and elegantly attired; his close-cropped silver-grey hair tones with the titanium skeleton of his Octo Finissimo Skeleton, which is placed between us on the table in his private suite – the watch’s intricate interior a helpful reminder of time, Bulgari’s evolution as a luxury jeweller, and the brand’s journey from a small boutique in Rome to a skyscraper in Shanghai.

The hotel itself – or ‘high hospitality’ as Babin politely corrects the term, in the same way that the maison’s other lines are called ‘high jewellery’, ‘high perfumery’, and ‘high watchmaking’ – is a gilded monolith with 360° views of Shanghai’s endless bristling skyline.

The Bulgari Suite is the largest in the city – 400 square metres, which can be extended to 570 if connected with the adjoining suite. One night in its exquisitely marbled interior will set you back £19,000.

Designed by Italian architecture firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel – responsible for all six of the Bulgari high hospitality properties – the rooms are exemplars of understated, confident luxury, with milky Calacatta marble table tops offset by dark oak flooring. Breaking up the monochrome effect are the framed photographs of Bulgari jewellery on the wall, the decorations treading the line between art and advertisement.

“The hotel is the crowning Bulgari experience,” the French-Italian Babin explains.

“We believe that Bulgari would not have been successful without the Roman environment, the Roman warmth, the lifestyle of Roma – whether that of antique Roman times or the more recent La Dolce Vita. The hotel is the culmination of the Roman experience

by Bulgari.”

MODERN GLAMOUR Of course, Bulgari has always understood that it’s as much about who is wearing its cabochons as it is about the jewellery itself. The maison’s latest choice of brand ambassador is Kitty Spencer, the niece of

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OPPOSITE PAGE BULGARI HOTEL, SHANGHAI; THIS PAGE, FROM TOP ROARING 80S RING; SERPENTI BRACELET

Princess Diana. She’s known for her resemblance to the ill-fated royal and the choice of the beautiful young influencer (459,000 Instagram followers at the time of writing) also co-opts the old school glamour attached to her semimythologised aunt.

“Kitty is one of those young, independent women who like to define their lives and shape their futures, who like to be uncommon,” Babin says. “She is emblematic of, broadly speaking, the equality of the sexes – which is something that, as a jeweller, we very much like to encourage. Primarily because women love us, and we know that they can be influential as to what their partners wear.”

As Babin makes this quip, former brand ambassador Elizabeth Burton springs to mind. The Cleopatra star brought Richard Burton, and other paramours, apparently, to get tastefully blinged out at the flagship Via Condotti boutique. That scenario might go a little differently in the internet age – if Lady Spencer was trying to suggest jewellery to a partner, she might first bring up Bulgari’s Instagram prior to popping down Via Condotti.

For Babin, technology is a boon. “I would define Instagram as back to roots – in that we started our journey in luxury with direct connections with clients. Mr Bulgari was a vendor and friend – he knew his first generation of customers personally… This lasted until the 1950s, when the advent of globalisation meant that the personal connection was lost. One century on, what Instagram and other social networks do is allow us to recreate a personal connection with our clients or potential clients – no longer on a scale that’s in the hundreds, but in the millions.

It’s very important for a brand to evolve to be close to its clients.”

CLOSING THE CIRCLE The perfect symbol of Bulgari’s evolution is the Serpenti line, conceived in the 1940s.

Bulgari began making serpent-inspired pieces by employing an ancient Roman technique called Tubogas, which involves twisting twine to help shape jewellery. The

line has been adapted to the fashions of each passing decade while retaining both its core style and popularity, and now incorporates watches, bags, and perfumes. So central is Serpenti to Bulgari, that the maison organised an exhibition in Rome in 2016 called SerpentiForm that traced how the symbol of the snake has been employed in art and jewellery throughout history.

“It’s an animal that has always been fascinating to human kind, in all cultures, representing rebirth and success,” Babin says. “Bulgari appropriated this symbol that had already come to Roma on the arm of Cleopatra 2,000 years previously. It best exemplifies Bulgari’s audaciousness – not everyone would wear a snake on the chest.

It’s provocative, it’s seductive, it’s unique and rooted in each and every culture, so it’s global and local at the same time. The snake is Bulgari and Bulgari is the snake.”

Back in the room, it’s impossible to avoid the serpentine slinkiness of the ultra-thin Octo Finissimo Skeleton that continues tracking the time before me.

Picking it up, the delicacy of the 3.95mm thick titanium watch is extraordinary, and the craftsmanship watches set a new record for thinness upon its release. It feels like a truly minimalist timepiece, shorn to its essentials, although as with its jewellery, Bulgari high watchmaking maintains a strong stylistic through line – on this watch, seen in the reproduction of a stylised motif of the Via Condotti boutique on the case-back. I wonder, with so many devices keeping track of time for us these days, whether actual time-keeping – bizarre as it may sound – is now a secondary concern in haute horology?

“Time is a commodity, you have it everywhere,” Babin replies. “Now it is not so much about the time a watch delivers, but how it delivers it. People are mesmerised by these hand-engineered micro-parts that give minutes, seconds, hours, that work like no other machine in the world… even the computer relaxes. This doesn’t relax for decades.

The fascination is the craftsmanship, the balance of the design – each time you look at it you rediscover it.”

LUXURY LONDON

With time to the party counting down on the record-breaking timepiece, I ask what’s next for Bulgari? Babin cites plans to extend the “amazing necklace” of hotels from six to nine, with high hospitality landing in Moscow and Paris in 2020 and Tokyo in 2022.

He begins to wrap the watch back onto his wrist. “Obviously we shouldn’t forget we are jewellers – continue to innovate, be daring, to continue on that journey. Nature is providing us with these gems, and our art is to make those gems even more magnificent.”

The interview concludes, and Babin’s assistant shows me out into the plush twilight of the hotel corridor.

Later, outside among the canapés and White Chic dress code carnival of the party, I see Babin in his tux, near the heart of where the stars of Chinese film are processing past tiers of paparazzi,

making their way towards the Bulgari ballroom (located inside the tastefully renovated historic Shanghai Chamber of Commerce that is part of the hotel).

Watching the stars arrive, with the “volume and colour” of the Bulgari pieces vibrant around their slender necks, I’m put in mind of Babin’s comment about the continuing appeal of Italian style, and how “we all have dramas, but in Italian culture there is always this amused way of looking at life. Our culture looks at the positives rather than the negatives. This outlook increases the attractiveness of anything Roman or Italian, because people love that attitude to life, it is very aspirational, it makes life lighter, easier – without giving anything up.”

From £584 for a room, including breakfast, bulgarihotels.com/shanghai

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OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP SERPENTI NECKLACE; SERPENTI BRACELET; ROARING 80S BRACELET; THIS PAGE, FROM TOP THE BULGARI HOTEL, BEIJING; BULGARI RESORT DUBAI; BULGARI HOTEL SHANGHAI

“In Italian culture there is always this amused way of looking at life. Our culture looks at the positives rather than the negatives. This outlook increases the attractiveness of anything”

F E AT U R E

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TRICKER’S; ST JAMES’S, ©WILLY BARTON/ SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; LOCK & CO STORE FRONT; PICCADILLY ARCADE; GRENSON; LINGWOOD; ST JAMES’S, ©WILLY BARTON/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ROWLEY’S; GROSVENOR SHIRTS

T H E

S H O P S

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ST JAMES’S A G R E AT N U M B E R O F LO N D O N ’ S O L D E S T S H O P S A R E LO C AT E D I N A S Q U A R E H A L F - M I L E O F F O R M E R F A R M L A N D S A N D W I C H E D B E T W E E N P I C C A D I L LY A N D T H E M A L L .

T O D AY, M O R E T H A N 3 5 0 Y E A R S A F T E R H E N R Y J E R M Y N W A S G R A N T E D P E R M I S S I O N T O D E V E LO P T H AT L A N D, A R E TA I L TO U R O F S T J A M E S ’ S P R OV I D E S A J O U R N E Y T H R O U G H T I M E

Words: Adam Jacot de Boinod

I

n 1665, Charles II granted Henry Jermyn, the first Earl of St Albans, the right to develop an area of land south of Piccadilly into a grand new residential neighbourhood for London.

The development began with 14 grand houses in what became St James’s Square – named after the 12th-century leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less, which had once occupied the site – with King Street, Charles II Street and Duke of York Street leading from it.

Initially, the area was far more residential than commercial and was dominated by St James’s Church, the delightful construct of Sir Christopher Wren, which opened in 1684.

Among the area’s most impressive historic residences are Clarence House (1827); Marlborough House (1711); Lancaster House (1840); Spencer House (1756), the original London home of Princess Diana’s ancestors; and the Albany (1776), a mansion beside the Royal Academy of Arts built for the first Viscount Melbourne and turned into studio flats for aristocratic bachelors in 1802.

Famous residents at the Albany include Lord Byron, Aldous Huxley, JB Priestley, Bill Nighy and Jacob Rees-Mogg.

With its coffee shops, taverns and tailors, the area quickly developed into a meeting

point for politicians and high society, and some of the country’s most prestigious private members’ clubs began opening in St James’s. White’s, London’s oldest club, was founded in 1693 and counts among its notable members the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cambridge and Conrad Black.

David Cameron was a member for 15 years but resigned in 2008 following the club’s decision to continue to exclude women.

Both Brooks’s and Boodle’s were established in the 1770s, by founders who had been blackballed from White’s, and continue to operate today. In 1990, the Carlton Club, a traditional meeting place for members of the Conservative Party, was the target of an IRA bomb. At 89-91 Pall Mall, the Royal Automobile Club boasts a 228-foot frontage described in the Survey of London as “a polished essay in the late French Renaissance manner”.

At St James’s northern edge, Sackville Street is home to Henry Sotheran’s, the longest-established antiquarian bookseller in the world, founded in York in 1761 and established in London in 1815. Both its floors display ancient maps and first-edition books. Due south of Piccadilly is where the majority of the oldest shops are based, many in their original locations, including

THE HISTORY OF ST JAMES’S 1665 – Henry Jermyn

leases 45 acres of St James’s Fields from Charles II with permission to develop the land 1684 – Sir Christopher

Wren’s St James’s Church opens on Piccadilly 1693 – White’s private

members’ club opens 1707 – Fortnum & Mason is founded 1711 – Marlborough

House is completed 1730 – Floris opens as a barber on Jermyn Street 1750 – Luxury luggage-

maker Swaine Adeney Brigg opens on Jermyn Street

1756 – Spencer House

Fortnum & Mason, one of the most celebrated. In 1707, William Fortnum, a footman to Queen Anne, was given the job of refilling the royal candelabra and collected a modest sum selling the part-used candles to the Queen’s ladies. After leaving St James’s Palace, he went into partnership with his friend and landlord Hugh Mason, selling “hartshorn, gableworm seed, saffron and dirty white candy”. The first British shop to sell Heinz baked beans, in 1886, Fortnum & Mason had, for many years, a separate department that supplied pies, preserves and puddings to the nearby gentlemen’s clubs. One particular feature that continues to draw crowds is the Fortnum clock, with bells made in the same foundry as Big Ben. Every 15 minutes a selection of airs is played on 18 bells and once an hour the figures of Fortnum and Mason themselves appear to check that standards are being maintained.

Nearby, at 187 Piccadilly, is Britain’s oldest bookshop, Hatchards, which has been trading since 1797. Mr Hatchard’s portrait is proudly displayed on the staircase.

Operating on five floors, the shop holds three royal warrants and is still a favoured bookshop among authors, with its annual party attended by literary luminaries. At 7 Piccadilly Arcade, luxury leather goods brand Swaine Adeney Brigg has been trading since 1750 and is a stylish, old-fashioned blend of craftsmanship, bespoke services and restoration. Products range from Papworth luggage to Herbert Johnson hats.

Jermyn Street, arguably St James’s most famous road, was named after Henry Jermyn and built around 1664. At 89 Jermyn Street is Floris, named after founder Juan Famenias Floris, a Spaniard from Menorca who first set up shop as a barber and perfumer in 1730. The beautiful display cases that line the walls here date back to the Great Exhibition of 1851. Paxton & Whitfield is at number 93 and the wellknown Suffolk cheesemonger and provisions merchant moved here in 1797 after almost 60 years of trading at Clare Market – where the London School of Economics now stands. It is Britain’s oldest cheese shop.

On the perpendicular St James’s Street is Lock & Co Hatters, thought to be the oldest hat shop in the world, which dates back to the reign of Charles II and is still family-run. Hatter Robert Davis opened the

shop in 1676 and James Lock became the apprentice to Robert’s son Charles in 1747.

Lock married Mary Davis, Charles Davis’s daughter, and in 1765 their family and the business moved to the current location.

Admiral Lord Nelson visited just before leaving for the Battle of Trafalgar to pay a bill for a hat that had a special built-in eye-shade, while Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, wore one of the shop’s plumed hats at the Battle of Waterloo. Lock & Co also sold the first ever bowler hats in 1849 – although shop staff insist the hats are called ‘Cokes’ after the Norfolk man who ordered them for his gamekeepers.

Next door, wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd is an 18th-century, eighth-generation family-run firm. Its many distinguished customers have included Lord Byron, George IV, King Louis-Philippe of France and Napoleon III, who used the cellars to hold secret meetings while in exile between 1836-40 – the store’s Napoleon Cellar venue is named after him. Berry Bros & Rudd holds two royal warrants from HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales, and is just a stone’s throw from Prince Charles’s London residence, Clarence House.

In 1885 hosier John Arthur Turnbull and salesman Ernest Asser opened a shop that, 10 years later, would become Turnbull & Asser. During the First World War, the company developed a raincoat that doubled as a sleeping bag for the British Army. Over time, as dress codes relaxed and clothing became less formal, men’s dress shirts evolved as noticeable articles of clothing.

“There are few experiences,” the shop’s website states, “more satisfying than pulling on a crisply laundered shirt that’s been made for you and you alone.” The shop kitted out many notable protagonists of the Swinging Sixties and, in 1962, provided the outfits for Sean Connery when he played James Bond.

Connery’s dress shirts had turnback cuffs fastened with buttons that became known as cocktail or James Bond cuffs.

Now, more than 350 years since Jermyn’s grand plan came to fruition, St James’s is a hub for shoppers, culture vultures and tourists alike. The district’s mastermind would barely recognise his once humble neighbourhood today – but, after a stroll around the shops, he would no doubt doff his hat to what has been achieved.

is finished 1762 – Boodle’s private members’ club opens 1764 – Brooks’s private members’ club opens 1765 – Lock & Co Hatters

moves to St James’s Street 1698 – Berry Bros & Rudd,

Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, opens at 3 St James’s Street 1776 – The Albany Mansion is completed 1797 – Britain’s oldest bookshop, Hatchards, opens at 187 Piccadilly 1797 – Paxton & Whitfield cheesemonger established on Jermyn Street 1815 – Henry Sotheran’s bookseller established 1827 – Clarence House is finished 1840 – Lancaster House is completed 1885 – John Arthur Turnbull and Ernest Asser open a hosiery shop which later becomes Turnbull & Asser 1956 – Quaglino’s becomes the first restaurant in Britain to be frequented by a reigning British monarch 1990 – The IRA detonates a bomb at the Carlton Club, a meeting place for members of the Conservative Party on St James’s Street 2007 – The launch of retail

and dining destination St James Market

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT WILLIAM III STATUE; PAXTON & WHITFIELD; ST JAMES’ MARKET; MILDITCH & KEY ©HADRIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; CROCKETT & JONES; ST JAMES’S MARKET PAVILION; BERRY BRO’S; FORTNUM & MASON CLOCK; EMMA WILLIS ©HADRIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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THE CUFFLINKS Part of Montblanc’s Meisterstück (Masterpiece) collection, these cufflinks have been inlaid with glossy mother-of-pearl and feature the brand’s star and alpine emblem. £200, montblanc.com

T H E B O W -T I E An essential item for any black tie event, this handmade Armani velvet bow tie is fitted with an adjustable hook fastening for secure wear. £90, selfridges.com

T H E T UX E D O JAC K E T Brunello Cucinelli’s brown tuxedo jacket is a dapper twist on a timeless classic. Made in Italy using supple cotton velvet, the blazer is finished with a black satin trim and elegant mother-of-pearl buttons. £2, 520, brunellocucinelli.com

THE SCENT Creed’s Aventus fragrance is made for the bold, spirited and confident, with notes of blackcurrant, pineapple, jasmine blossom, patchouli oak moss, and a touch of vanilla to create a sweet yet woody scent. £250 for 100ml, creedfragrances.co.uk

LUXURY LONDON

COUTURE

BOTTLE OPENER Quack open a bottle: Aspery’s sterling silver duck bottle opener, handmade in the brand’s London workshop, makes a fine – and quirky – addition to any drinks cabinet. £800, mrporter.com

THE BESPOKE SUIT Founded in 1976, family-owned Raj Mirpuri Bespoke has tailors in Geneva, Zurich and London’s Mayfair. The luxury clothier company uses only the highest-quality materials and experienced tailors to create every bespoke item and ensures that all of its garments meet the standard set by the Savile Row Bespoke Association. Pop in for suits, shirts and swimwear tailored to you.

THE SHOES George Cleverley has teamed up with Mr Porter to launch an exclusive line of patent-leather Oxford Shoes designed for the hit movie, Kingsman. The smart brogues have been made in England from sleek patent-leather and include supple linings and ribbon laces. £595, mrporter.com

110 New Bond St, W1S, mirpuri.com

T H E B OA R D G A M E Show off your competitive streak with Smythson’s all-in-one games compendium.

Crafted from fine-grain leather and harbouring a supple light blue leather lining, this box is the ultimate accessory for a festive night in. £1,995, smythson.com

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DISCOVER THE

BEAUTY

HEALTHCARE . PHARMACY . SKINCARE . WELLBEING

LUXURY LONDON

PROMOTION

THE EDIT

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE, EC3V THEROYALEXCHANGE.CO.UK

N O W O P E N O N S AT U R D AY S , T H E R O YA L E X C H A N G E W E L C O M E S O N E O F L O N D O N ’ S M O S T FA M O U S N A M E S T O I T S M O N U M E N TA L C O U R T YA R D

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Visit Christian Louboutin’s pop-up to get your hands on its new Marie Jane Bucket bag. The leather tote is embellished with a dazzling red and black logo for maximum impact. £1,295, until 31 December, The Royal Exchange, EC3V

TIFFANY & CO. Part of Tiffany & Co.’s Paper Flowers collection, this platinum and round brilliant-cut diamond necklace is a blooming – and glittering – tribute to nature. £7,475, Central Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, EC3V

WATCHES OF FORTNUM & MASON SETS UP SHOP IN THE ROYAL EXCHANGE Save yourself a trip to Piccadilly and head to Fortnum & Mason’s new outpost in The Royal Exchange, where the

brand’s signature teas, preserves and hampers are all available. In the Central Courtyard, a new Fortnum & Mason restaurant and bar has also opened, serving caviar, Dover sole and ribeye steaks. Book

yourself in for a mid-week bite, or take advantage of The Royal Exchange’s new Saturday opening times to enjoy a feast without the lunch break limit.

4-7 Central Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, EC3V

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SWITZERLAND Inspired by the 1968 Memovox Polaris, JaegerLeCoultre’s automatic Polaris Date watch boasts a dapper black dial and elongated numerals.

21-22 The Royal Exchange, EC3V

WEMPE R E VA M P E D THE HAMBURG-BASED JEWELLER REVEALS I T S R E N O VAT E D L O N D O N S H O W R O O M

LUXURY LONDON

COUTURE

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ollowing a £1.5 million revamp, family-owned German jeweller Wempe recently welcomed customers to its redesigned New Bond Street showroom. First landing in London in 1997, Wempe moved into its current premises at 43–44 New Bond Street in 2007 before expanding the boutique considerably in 2011.

The latest makeover adopts a new, neutral colour concept that matches the character of the building’s sandstone façade. The two-storey boutique has been opened up so that the display area is now twice as large as previously.

“Our goal was to adapt ourselves to our customers’ changing needs and to optimise our internal work processes,” explains Lynn Schroeder, Managing Director of the London showroom since 2005.

“Our international customers want to have a better overview, and they like to take a casual look around before they sit down for a consultation.”

Watch brands, including Patek Philippe, Rolex, A Lange & Söhne and Jaeger-LeCoultre remain downstairs, while jewellery, along with Wempe’s team of watchmakers, are located in the large space upstairs.

Founded in 1878 and based in Hamburg, the jeweller has 34 showrooms across the world and operates the largest independent watch workshop in Europe.

43–44 New Bond Street, wempe.com

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Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, IWC

Tribute to Pallweber Edition 150 Years, IWC

Lange 1 Moonphase, A. Lange & Söhne

Ellipse – 5738R, Patek Philippe

Révélation d’une Panthère, Cartier

Reverso One Duetto Moon, Jaeger-LeCoultre

SEEING RED

THIS PAGE Contrast Button Shirt, £250, dsquared2.com; Tartan Trousers, £640, ermannoscervino.com OPPOSITE PAGE Him: Asymmetric Wrap Tunic, £2,020, rosettagetty.com; Her: Camp Collar Overshirt, £215, amiparis.com; Houndstooth Trousers, £805, dsquared2.com

PHOTOGRAPHER TURI LØVIK KIRKNES STYLIST TONA STELL

THIS PAGE Transparent Dress, £434, nadyadzyak.com; Shoes, £600, tibi.com; Tights, £20, falke.com; Elipse Earrings, £530 (left) and £580 (right), sophiebillebrahe.com OPPOSITE PAGE Her: Dress, £6,500, Knitted Bra, £910, Knitted Shorts, £880, Diorage Boots, £2,790, dior.com; Him: Turtle Neck Jumper, £150, daks.com; Trousers, £520, dsquared2.com; Socks, £11, falke.com; Shoes, £450, paulsmith.com

THIS PAGE Dress, £4,400, delpozo.com OPPOSITE PAGE Golden Fleece Camel Hair Topcoat, £1,580, brooksbrothers.com; Turtle Neck Jumper, £150, daks.com; Trousers, £640, ermannoscervino.com

THIS PAGE Top, £1,160, Skirt, £1,420, marni.com; Jolie Antique Rose Shoes, £685, tabithasimmons.com OPPOSITE PAGE Her: Silk Blazer, £2,300, Silk Dress, £3,690, valentino.com; Him: Shirt, £365, dsquared2.com

MAKE-UP & HAIR Mario Brooksbank PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Chaemus Macmillan STYLIST ASSISTANT Bo Dube MODELS Bimpe @ Premier Model Management and Dixon @ Elite London SET DESIGN Kathryn Madge Healey

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THE TIDE COLLAR AND BANGLE Boodles’ The Tide collection is inspired by the impressions waves leave on a sandy beach.

The collar, bangle and drop earrings (pictured) comprise brilliant-cut and Ashoka diamonds set on a platinum base.

POA, boodles.com

LANGTON SCARF Nab yourself a Daks scarf before the 12 December and the brand will donate 10 per cent of its profits to The Big Issue charity. £150, daks.com

ORANGE BITTERS CO LO G N E Jo Malone’s orange, mandarin, sandalwood and amber scent has been given the Midas touch for Christmas. £96, jomalone.co.uk

LUXURY LONDON

COUTURE

B U C K E T B AG Pick up Givenchy’s latest tote at its debut London flagship store on New Bond Street, the first of the brand’s boutiques to be designed by Clare Waight Keller. £1,190, 165 New Bond Street, W1S, givenchy.com LE LION DE CHANEL This limited edition illuminating powder calls on one of Coco Chanel’s favourite motifs: the lion.

Brush on your cheeks for an iridescent glow. £50, chanel.com

SHEARLING BIKER So good she named it twice, Posh Spice’s Victoria, Victoria Beckham line is the more “playful” version of her main collection.

Get involved with this mega cosy shearling and suede biker jacket. £1,995, harrods.com

PYTHON POUCH Aspinal of London’s series of essential pouches comes in a handy miniature size and, new for AW18, an on-trend mustard and python print style. £60, aspinaloflondon.com

B OW B R O O C H This delicate gold and white crystal ribbon brooch from Oscar de la Renta has suspended ends for natural movement. £250, matchesfashion.com

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CABLE KNIT The cosy way to wear a crop top this winter, Joseph’s 100 per cent merino wool jumper features a kitsch cable knit. £375, joseph-fashion.com

AV O I D B U R N I N G O U T T H I S CHRISTMAS BY INDULGING IN A LITTLE SELF-LOVE - WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE A N D P L AC E S D E D I C AT E D TO KE EP ING YO U FIT AND FA B U LO U S A S T H E PA R T Y SEASON ROLLS ON

Words: Liz Stout

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T H E T R E AT M E N T MICROBLADING BY SIAN DELLAR When you arrive for your microblading appointment with Sian Dellar, be prepared to describe your ‘dream brows’. Dellar gets to the bottom of every client’s deepest eyebrow desires before she sets to work on creating the ideal personalised pair.

Meticulously inserting pigment under the skin with a handheld tool, she draws tiny hair-like strokes that mimic the natural hair. An initial consultation is followed by the actual treatment, which lasts up to 90 minutes. A complimentary appointment four-to-six weeks later includes making any final tweaks, and your finely coiffed brows should then stay that way for up to a year. Dellar also specialises in supremely natural-looking semi permanent eye and lip liner – she’s one of the best therapists in town, so, whichever treatment you choose, be sure to book early.

1 Harley Street, W1, permanentmakeup-specialist.com

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THE SCENT PERFUMES BY COMMODITY When two London-based entrepreneurs, Ash Huzenlaub and Konstantin Glasmacher, got together and gave a group of artisan perfumers free rein to create their favourite scents, they came up with Commodity. Created online, this collection of 18 unique, gender-neutral fragrances can be worn individually or

THE GURU

layered for a fully customised olfactory

SKIN SPECIALIST

experience. Stylish, fuss-free packaging

TARIQ KARIM

makes them instantly Instagrammable (#StyleYourCommodity is the hash tag

A highly respected expert in the

to use if you want to join the movement)

use of laser and light therapies,

and reassuringly simple names, such

Tariq Karim specialises in acne,

as Book, Wool and Gin add to the cool,

pigmentation, stretch marks,

minimalist feel. The collection also

scarring and sun damage. With

includes a set of scented candles, so your home can smell as gorgeous as you do.

3

over 17 years’ experience in the aesthetic industry, he’s also a fount of knowledge on some of the best and most effective

commodity.co.uk

ways to battle ageing with cosmeceutical products, and can carry out comprehensive facial scans that reveal the real state of your skin. Scary but brilliantly revealing, they scan everything from hydration levels and elasticity to wrinkle depth and collagen production.

Consultations take place at Santi Spa, South Kensington, a veritable oasis of calm, set back from the bustle of Thurloe Street.

33 Thurloe Street, SW7, santilondon.com

LUXURY LONDON

COUTURE

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THE GYM

Oppenheim have created

BLOK LONDON,

a boutique fitness hub

SHOREDITCH

in the corner of Norman Foster’s Principal Place.

Fierce fitness meets

The multidisciplinary

sharp design and high

space boasts natural

fashion at Blok London,

light in abundance, a 60-

where each industrial-

seat cafe and a floating

style workout space feels

staircase that connects

more art gallery than gym.

to minimalist exercise

Clapton, E5, was the first

studios, offering more

Blok London destination,

than 180 classes a week

followed by Shoreditch,

and flexible memberships.

5

where founders Reema Stanbury, Ed Stanbury and

2 Hearn Street, EC2A,

fashion photographer Max

bloklondon.com

THE ESCAPE ALEXANDER HOUSE HOTEL & UTOPIA SPA, WEST SUSSEX Little more than an hour’s drive from London, Alexander House Hotel & Utopia Spa is a boutique weekend hideaway for pleasureseeking city dwellers. Finest five-star comfort and head-clearing countryside views are delivered alongside award-winning spa facilities. Combining 17th-century country house charm with quirky interiors, this luxurious Sussex retreat is refreshingly unpretentious and includes a particularly tempting spa menu, silky soft sheets and pillows you could lose your head in. A relaxing soak in the hotel’s bubbling Zen Garden hot tub is a must. alexanderhotels.co.uk

THE ONE TO FOLLOW

a very healthy following of 1.5m.

@NIOMISMART

When she’s not writing recipe books and posting about her day, Smart

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One of the very first lifestyle

is a front-row feature at catwalk

vloggers to start her own YouTube

shows and A-list events. Most

channel, Niomi Smart gathered

recently she collaborated with high

some 2m subscribers almost

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overnight when she launched in

exclusive AW18 collection and has

2014. A dedicated foodie, and

launched her own wellbeing range

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at Boots. Oh, and did we mention

multi-talented 25-year-old fast

she’s also stunningly beautiful?

extended her digital empire to Instagram, where she entertains

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THE LUXURY OF A BRAND

I BE ROSTAR GRAND PACKARD The splendid Havana is about to celebrate its 500th anniversary and Iberostar Hotels & Resorts is sharing in the celebration by opening a singular hotel, the Iberostar Grand Packard.

Witness the years of history and remarkable literature, where guests can feel the rhythms and flavours of this mystical city.

INMMERSE IN THE HISTORY

UNIQUE SPACES

IN HAVANA, TASTE IS GREAT

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PAMPERING IN EVERYWAY

NETWORKING TIME

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IBEROSTAR.COM

ESCAPE TO ST R I V E , TO S E E K , TO F I N D. . .

P.112 HOME FROM HOME How to plan your perfect staycation

P.118 LUCK OF THE IRISH A historic bolthole in charming Ballyfin

P.120 SCOT FREE Touring Islay, Scotland’s whisky heartland

It may not be the North Pole, but you’ll struggle to find somewhere as festive as Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Resort & Hotel in Lake Lucerne this Christmas, from around £770 pn, buergenstock.ch

CHECK IN L U X U R I O U S L O D G I N G S F O R A N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y S TAY C AT I O N – E N G L A N D ’ S B E S T B O LT H O L E S

T H E R O YA L C R E S C E N T H O T E L & S P A , B AT H Set in Bath’s famous Georgian Royal crescent, this hotel is carved out of two 251-year-old townhouses, each with their own private gardens and original period details. As you’d expect, the hotel is evocative of a bygone era, with its roaring fire in the genteel drawing room to the elaborate chandeliers, oil paintings and curvaceous staircases. Choose from 45 suites and rooms, each of which has been individually designed to complement the Georgian architecture. Venture outside to peruse its quaint English garden.

From £330 per night in a double deluxe room, including breakfast, royalcrescent.co.uk

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, HAMPSHIRE A multi-million pound renovation has turned this 18th century manor in the heart of Dogmersfield Park into a Four Seasons-worthy bolthole, complete with 133 guestrooms, a spa (located in the house’s converted stable) and a recently renovated restaurant, Wild Carrot. The latter is located in a Martin Brudnizkidesigned space with chef Adam Fargin serving up modern British dishes. Not just for relaxation, the hotel offers a series of activities, including clay shooting, yoga and croquet, as well as a Highwire Adventure obstacle course complete with zip wires, tree-canopy bungee jumps and high ropes.

From £325 per night, fourseasons.com

BURLEY MANOR, NEW FOREST The New Forest Hotels group snapped up this charming 18th century manor in 2015 and, following a £1.8m refurbishment, it relaunched as a restaurant with rooms.

Perched on the edge of a local red deer sanctuary, the hotel has an almost safari-like feel to the place – albeit one with roaming ruminants rather than the Big Five. Inside, two roaring fires and a 164-year-old staircase decorate the grand entrance hall. Rooms ranging from Snug to Suite are individually embellished with antique furniture, plush armchairs and floral headboards.

Nab a Burley Suite for a balcony with views over the New Forest’s picturesque heath land.

Naturally, the hotel’s food offering draws the crowds. The menu has an unusually Mediterranean inflection, having been inspired by one of the house’s former owners, Mrs ListerKay, who is believed to have had an impressive Italian herb garden. Today, the kitchen cooks up a series of tapas dishes – including mushroom arancini and salt fish croquettes – as well as sharing plates of Moroccan spiced lamb, roasted belly of pork and Cypriot-style guinea fowl.

The Mediterranean theme continues in the spa, where Temple Spa has taken over the two treatment rooms. Book yourself in for a Power Breakfast Facial, an oat, honey and fruit juicebased treatment designed to revitalise the skin.

Outside, a swimming pool is open from June through to September.

Children under 13 aren’t allowed in this adults only retreat, but guests staying in the Classic and Deluxe rooms, or the Garden and Burley suites, are welcome to bring along their dogs at a cost of £30 per night. Canine visitors will be treated to their own dog mat, a welcome bag of treats and special bowls to eat and drink from.

From £129 per night, including breakfast, burleymanor.com

P E N N Y H I L L PA R K , S U R R E Y Located in 123 acres of Surrey countryside, this handsome 19th century house has scooped up gongs for both its spa and restaurants, and it’s for these amenities that visitors flock.

Michelin-starred Matt Worswick heads up the main restaurant, The Latymer, and he’s used his experience on Masterchef: The Professionals to curate a series of tasting menus themed around seasonal ingredients. A second, more casual restaurant, The Brasserie, serves tasty beef carpaccio, roasted lamb rump and ribeye steaks, as well as a comprehensive kids’ menu with

crispy fish goujons and a crowd-pleasing macaroni and cheese.

In the spa, swimmers are spoiled for choice with eight indoor and outdoor pools, including the ethereal Ballroom Pool, which has underwater music for a submarine show. Take advantage of the seemingly endless list of Jacuzzis, herbal saunas, steam rooms and a bohemian-sounding sensory room complete with “stars in the sky” lighting. There is even a series of “experience showers” ranging from highland mist to tropical rain. To ensure optimum relaxation, the spa is adults only; this does mean that mini swimmers are sadly confined to the pool outside.

The rest of the hotel is charmingly quaint, with individually-designed rooms and suites with decadent four-poster beds and a pillow menu complete with pregnancy poufs. Each room has a different name and complementing theme: the Snowdrop Room is decorated with a kitsch green and purple floral print, sink-in armchairs and plush velvet upholstery. The highlight is the ensuite YinYan bathroom, which has its own giant Jacuzzi tub – just in case the mega spa hasn’t provided you with enough opportunity to relax.

It’s not all about winding down, however, and there’s the chance to try your hand at a plethora of activities. Sign yourself up for pistol shooting, archery, tennis, golf and croquet, or explore the neighbouring Swinley Forest by bike.

From £296 per night including breakfast, exclusive.co.uk

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HOUND LODGE, CHICHESTER Originally christened The Kennels by the first Duke of Richmond, who gave his pampered pooches the run of the place, Hound Lodge has been recently restored for the enjoyment of both man and his best friend. Each of the 10 bedrooms in the country retreat is named after a dog from the Glorious Twenty-Three hunting pack of 1738 and is decorated with pictures, ornaments and antiques that reflect the founding family’s sporting heritage. A private butler and chef are on hand to cater for Lodge guests, who also have access to Goodwood Estate for the duration of their stay.

POA, goodwood.com

C OWO R T H PA R K , A S C O T You don’t need to go to the races to enjoy horse riding at Ascot. Coworth Park’s onsite equestrian centre offers lessons on its 240-acre estate, with the ivory country house providing a picturesque backdrop.

The theme continues indoors, with equine artwork on the walls and horse shoe motifs embroidered into the bedlinen. Elsewhere, an eco-friendly spa boasts a rooftop herb garden and a ‘Spatisserie’ for healthy treats and afternoon tea. For dinner, there are three restaurants to choose from. Don’t miss Restaurant Coworth Park, where Michelin-starred chef Adam Smith serves his indulgent caviar tart.

From £415, dorchestercollection.com

H E C K F I E L D P L AC E , H A M P S H I R E Billionaire Gerald Chan’s passion project may have taken more than a decade to complete, but it was certainly worth the wait. Designed by Ben Thompson, the 38 rooms and six signature suites are designed in a rustic-meets-chic style with bespoke mini bars and firepits adding a homely touch. In the restaurant, Skye Gyngell oversees the kitchen as culinary director and former Lime Wood sommelier Louise Gordon is in charge of the wine list. The bijou spa – currently just three treatment rooms – is set to expand in 2019, with an infinity pool on the cards. Until then, guests can enjoy a Bodyism gym and wild swimming in the lake.

From £350 including breakfast, heckfieldplace.com

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UNIVERSITY ARMS, CAMBRIDGE The oldest hotel in Cambridge reopened its doors in August following an £80m renovation and redesign by classical architect John Simpson and interior designer du jour Martin Brudnizki. Rebranded

BROCKET HALL, HERTFORDSHIRE An architectural ode to Who’s Who, Brocket Hall has been the stomping ground of many a historical figure, including King George IV and prime ministers Lords Melbourne and Palmerston. Each of estate’s 46 bedrooms bears the name of a notable resident who either lived in or was associated with the house. Book yourself into the Prince Regent suite to ogle the chinoiserie-style hand-painted wallpaper commissioned by the royal himself, or dine in the 60ft ballroom, where Lady Caroline Lamb introduced the waltz to England. Outside, two championship golf courses are available for those who wish to practice their putt.

From £165 for a single room, including breakfast, brocket-hall.co.uk

as the University Arms, it boasts 192 rooms, each named after a Cambridge-associated figure, such as Stephen Hawking and Charles Darwin. Miniature libraries inspired by the rooms’ namesakes have been curated by London bookshop Heywood Hill, which also had a hand in the books that line the walls of The Library. The restaurant, Parker’s Tavern, is headed up by Gordon Ramsay protégé Tristan Welch.

From £205, universityarms.com

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GILPIN HOTEL & LAKE HOUSE, LAKE DISTRICT The main house at Gilpin Hotel & Lake House in Windermere feels more like a country home than a hotel, charmingly cluttered with knick-knacks, mismatched armchairs and the type of squidgy, all-eveloping sofas that are impossible to sit on without being swallowed up.

There’s a wing of junior suites and master bedrooms, as well as six separate garden rooms, but if relaxation is on the cards, opt for a Spa Lodge.

These five detached cedar-clad cabins sit on stilts, surveying the landscape.

Inside, the calming, neutral décor provides an uncluttered backdrop to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which frame panoramic views of the rolling, russettoned moors. Soak up the scenery in your en-suite spa, complete with steam room and an oversized stone bath, as well as an outdoor sauna and hydrotherapy hot tub in the private garden.

After all that pampering you won’t want to venture far for dinner, so it’s just as well that there are two excellent restaurants on site. Michelin-starred Hrishi celebrates Cumbria’s historic associations with the spice trade – home-

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smoked Loch Duart salmon belly is flecked with piccalilli and cubes of luminous green cucumber jelly; and spiced quail sits on a bed of sweet and sour sultanas – while over at Gilpin Spice, the white tablecloths and tasting menus are replaced with striped orange banquettes and pan-Asian tapas. End the evening with a nightcap at Après Spice Dome, a transparent pop-up snug installed in the garden until February – and listen to the melodic pitter-patter of the rain with a chocolate grappa in hand.

Spa Lodge, from £625 per room including breakfast, thegilpin.co.uk

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Don’t just discover the world.

Discover YOU.

A curated edit of luxury holidays that transcend just the destination.

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IRISH S E T AT T H E F O OT O F THE SLIEVE BLOOM M O U N TA I N S , B E A U T I F U L B A L LY F I N B R I N G S HISTORY TO LIFE

Words: Lily Devan

CHARM

G

uided hotel tours are generally aggrandising affairs. Choose not to meet beneath the soaring marble columns of Ballyfin’s saloon just before cocktail hour, however, and by foregoing a tour of your historic surroundings you’ll miss out on a fascinating insight into the intricacies of this imposing estate.

Here is a sensitively and painstakingly restored Regency mansion, designed by Irish father-and-son architects Sir Richard and William Morrison during the 1820s, and set in 614 acres of the greenest parkland. The country house has been so finely furnished that it’s difficult not to run a finger over every on-site antique, or pepper staff with a plethora of questions pertaining to the house’s opulent furniture and rich paintings. There’s a suit of armour on the inverted staircase, trompe l’oeil wallpaper and damasked upholstery at every turn. A protected Roman mosaic lies on the entrance hall floor.

Passionate members of the small staff bring the stories of these pieces to life. But Ballyfin is no museum. A tour merely sets the scene for your stay, taking you into the hotel’s 20 inividually decorated bedrooms – if unoccupied. A French bed with drapes hanging from a circular canopy might dominate the space in one room, while the walls of another have been transformed into a miniature library.

This property feels lived in and yet somehow still in its prime. The golden Colonial-style drawing room glimmers in morning sunlight (best appreciated by the fireside with a glass of local apple juice and a broadsheet newspaper) and a chandelier from the Parisian townhouse of Napoleon’s sister comes into its own at night. Cocktail hour is well and truly alive – a social occasion retained from days gone by.

The dining room offers dishes that are as grand or humble as your desires, as well as a distant view of a landscaped waterfall.

Outside, a more independent sense of

This property feels lived in and yet somehow still in its prime curiosity is justly rewarded. The manor’s demesne has evolved over 400 years to include walled, rock and rose gardens, a grotto and a tower overlooking the countryside. A formidable lake is also revealed as travellers first wind their way up the drive, having journeyed the 80 minutes from Dublin or perhaps through the nearby Slieve Bloom Mountains. The crispest air swirls in these hills at Ireland’s heart.

With so few rooms and an emphasis on hospitality, Ballyfin’s strength is to conjure the romance of a horse-drawn past and proffer it – renovated and revised – for the 21st-century. The era of the Irish country house is not yet done.

From €570 per night, ballyfin.com

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N O R T H E R N E X P O S U R E

E X P L O R I N G I S L AY, S C O T L A N D ’ S ‘ W H I S K Y I S L E ’ , R E V E A L S B O T H M Y S T E R Y A N D M O D E R N I T Y A M I D S O M E S P E C TA C U L A R S I N G L E M A LT S

Words: Rob Crossan

T

he Holy Grail isn’t much to look at.

A smeared glass bottle, filled with liquid that roughly approximates the colour of an extremely tepid soda and lime, it is sealed with a filthy-looking lump of congealed, russet red wax. Its label, little more than a rectangle of lined paper, seemingly cut from a school exercise book, reads “Malt Mill.

Last Filling. June 1962”, scrawled in clunky block capitals with a ballpoint pen.

The bottle is displayed in a glass cabinet in the creaking, clapboard-walled tasting room of the Lagavulin Distillery, and it is revered by whisky lovers as the unicorn of drams. With director Ken Loach basing an entire movie, The Angel’s Share, on it in 2012, this is a whisky with a legacy that’s literally cinematic in scale.

OPPOSITE PAGE LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY, ©MARTIN M303; THIS PAGE, FROM TOP ARDBEG DISTILLERY ON ISLAY; ©JAIME PHARR; LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY, ©TYLER W. STIPP; BUNNAHABHAIN DISTILLERY, ISLAY, ©NIALL MACTAGGART; KILDALTON CHURCHYARD, ©ALISTAIR MCDONALD, ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTUCK.COM

Malt Mill whisky was only produced between 1908 and 1962, and the grubby container I’m looking at is believed to be the last bottle in existence.

“I’m not even sure you could really call it Scotch,” admits my guide Colin. “It actually hasn’t spent any time aged in a wood barrel. This stuff came straight from the still. So it’s worth nothing in some ways. But it’s absolutely priceless, almost beyond value, in others.”

Such are the vicissitudes of whisky and its worshippers. This is an oft-impenetrable world where true understanding seems to slip away in a Scotch mist, or wriggle away from you into a depthless peat bog.

Islay, however, is a place in possession of all the secret histories, clan feuds and acres of peatlands needed to create truly great whisky. Turning water, malt barley and yeast into some of the finest spirits on the planet is what this island has been doing – sometimes legally, often not – for centuries.

ALL IMAGES ©THE MACHRIE

Nine distilleries currently function on the island.

Lagavulin, as one of the most famous, is not only home to the last bottle of Malt Mill, but also to an immensely peaty, smoky selection of its own single malts and blends.

The complexity of turning three basic ingredients into whisky is astonishing – akin to creating all nine volumes of Tristram Shandy out of a haiku. From wort to wash to low wines to spirit, the process I was shown as Colin guided me around the Heath Robinson-esque vats, barrels, pipes and tubes inside the distillery left me baffled and, in all honesty, in need of a drink.

The Islay whisky industry is currently in rude health after a collapse in the early 1980s, which resulted in many distilleries closing for good. Now with major markets in Taiwan and Singapore as well as in India and the US, Islay whiskies are widely admired for their fulsome flavours and they have a devoted, worldwide fan base.

Lagavulin’s 25 Year Single Malt, currently retailing for around £800 a bottle, has a quite astonishing narrative of notes; one moment a taste of over-ripe bananas, the next of nougat, as a dram of it slips like velvet down my throat at barely eleven in the morning.

Roughly twice the size of Malta yet with a population of less than 4,000, Isaly is classic four-wheel-drive country. Leaving Lagavulin, we set off through a land of single-track lanes, short blind glens, tipsy stone walls and white-washed houses with Presbyterianly tiny windows.

The rattling rivers, tiny lochs and glutinously bellied hills are one minute huddled under bowed and saggy skies, the next gleaming and resplendent in soft, liquid sunshine.

It’s a luminescence that only the Scottish Highlands and Islands can deliver; a kind of toffee and amber gleam that casts votive puddles of light on to the peatlands. The landscape has a faint smell of single malt, which is like a soft, lyrical hum of wet bonfires, scuffed shoes, damp bracken and forgotten clothes in airing cupboards.

One of the main problems of a trip to the Hebridean islands is a dearth of decent accommodation. Frugal bed and breakfasts and draughty, semi-mothballed baronial piles are easy to find. Accommodations that embrace or even tolerate the idea of the 21st century are much rarer.

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FIVE OF THE BEST

To this end, The Machrie is a genuine game-changer for Islay. A former farmhouse, the hotel became a rundown bolthole serving the nearby air field and adjoining golf course, and was subsequently closed for almost a decade while renovations took place.

The result, opened in August this year, is a breezy, modish, two-floor charmer which, bravely, has eschewed the usual top-to-toe tartan and stag heads aesthetic of most mid- to high-end accommodation in these parts.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the hotel’s immaculate golf course and the vanilla sands of the bay beyond. There are the exposed beams, and there’s a menu rich in robust, local produce (haddock chowder, Scottish cheeses, Highland salmon and mussels). All of these combine to create a slightly Nordic feel – ‘McScandi’, if you will.

To watch incoming ‘dreich’ (rainy weather) from a fireside armchair was tempting, but, before leaving Islay, I felt compelled to visit the Lords of the Isles.

Islay was once part of a Celtic kingdom that stretched on to the Scottish mainland and into what is now Ayrshire and Ross-shire.

It was controlled by the Donald clan whose main residence was here on Islay, in a castle called Finlaggan.

Now no more than a ruin, located on an islet in a loch with water the colour of ink and beetroot, this was where the Donald territories were run from the 13th to the 15th century.

It’s still possible to imagine the sound of visiting chieftains being welcomed to this unassuming hub.

Whisky might just have formed part of the meetings, and banquets too – the art of distillation having probably been learnt from visiting Irish missionaries.

Now, as the wind whips and eddies around the crumbling stones, the rain falls like shellfire on to the loch. An armada of clouds gathers above and the light dims to a sepulchral grey.

The lords may be gone. But the peaty soil in which they rest lives on; its sodden prescence fusing the past, the future, the taste, the smell and the essence of Islay together.

I S L AY S C O T C H W H I S K I E S UNDER £75

CAOL ILA 2006 DISTILLERS EDITION £73, thewhiskyexchange.com Tasting notes: smoky and ashy but with a fruity sweetness

KILCHOMAN MACHIR BAY, £45, laithwaites.co.uk

It’s still possible to imagine the sound of visiting cheiftans being welcomed to this unassuming hub

Tasting notes: a fruity attack gives way to a warming smoky finish

LAGAVULIN 16-YEAR-OLD, £58.45, thewhiskyexchange.com Tasting notes: a deep, dry and exceptionally peaty bruiser. Probably the most pungent of all Islay malts

ARDBEG UIGEADAIL, £56.95, masterofmalt.com Tasting notes: notes of peat and little flourishes of dark sugar, freshly ground espresso beans, cereal notes and a sophisticated hint of tar

PORT CHARLOTTE 2008, £45.50, thebottleclub.com Tasting notes: black pepper and heavy smoke with a sweet, smooth and

Winter rates at The Machrie start from £145 per room, per night; summer rates from £235 per room, per night, including breakfast, campbellgrayhotels.com

slightly warming palate of toffee and vanilla

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PROMOTION

A LWAY S A P L E A S U R E W H Y M A D R I D, A N D T H E S O O N -TO - O P E N B L E S S C O L L E C T I O N H OT E L , A R E T H E U LT I M AT E H E D O N I S T I C H AV E N S

top singers, directors and dancers.

Its new season includes Wagner’s Das Rheingold and Verdi’s Falstaff.

ART

Spain’s main national art gallery, the Prado Museum, is home to some of the best Spanish artwork by the likes of Francisco Goya and Diego Velázquez.

Ogle at more than 1,300 works, including Velázquez’s Las Meninas and The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens.

FA S H I O N

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ue to open its doors on Madrid’s Calle de Velázquez in January 2019, the first BLESS Collection Hotel will mark the beginning of a series of outposts designed with hedonists in mind. Part of the Palladium Group, the new luxury hotel brand fuses elements of both business and leisure, with state-of-the-art spa facilities, a rooftop pool and expert gastronomy.

Every element of the hotel’s design, from the breadth of its services right down to the upholstery, has been selected with pleasure seekers in mind.

In line with the brand’s hedonistic approach, there will also be a series of exclusive sensory experiences on offer, including a unique bathing

experience designed in partnership with BATHOLOGY, for which a butler will draw a bespoke bath tailored to your physical and mental wellbeing.

BLESS Hotel Madrid is ideally located in the heart of the city, where more thrills can be found. From operatic performances to architectural masterpieces, there’s plenty to see and do in this hedonistic hub.

MUSIC

One of the most important cultural institutions in Spain, the 19th-century Teatro Real opera house has been serving the city with dramatic recitals since 1997, when it reopened following a 70-year closure. Today, it is an industry leader, showcasing the genre’s

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Credit cards at the ready: luxury boutiques abound in Madrid. Be sure to make a beeline for the Salamanca district, the city’s most exclusive area.

Elsewhere on Calle de Serrano, Loewe, Prada and Saint Laurent have all set up shop.

C U LT U R E

In a city as architecturally rich as Madrid, the simple act of pounding the pavement can unveil a plethora of ocular delights. Take yourself on a tour of the capital’s mythological monuments, including the Cibeles and Neptune fountains, both of which were created by architect Ventura Rodriguez.

Prices for BLESS Hotel Madrid start from £328 per room, based on a deluxe room, blesscollectionhotels.com

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P R O P E R T Y T H E F I N E S T H O M E S I N T H E C A P I TA L

INSIDER KNOWLEDGE Property news from prime central London

P.135 THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT Savills unveils its five-year forecast

The Grande House in St James’s has an impressive five bedrooms and seven bathrooms (p.136) ©SAVILLS MAYFAIR

Celebrate We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

If you’re looking to move in 2019 or would simply like some property advice, we’d love to help you.

Knight Frank Victoria & Westminster 51 Victoria Street London SW1H 0EU 020 8115 3161 knightfrank.co.uk Connecting people & property, perfectly.

Recently sold and let.

Wilton Mews SW1X An immaculate triple aspect mews house situated in a desirable location in the heart of Belgravia.

Guide price £4,750,000

Eaton Place SW1X

Ranelagh Grove SW1W A delightful family house with wider than average ground and lower ground floors and a charming south facing spacious garden.

Guide price £3,500,000

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3

3

A three bedroom apartment benefiting from lots of natural light and direct lift access.

Guide price £6,150,000

Studio Place SW1X A well presented and charming period three bedroom house close to popular Motcomb Street.

Guide price £1,650 per week

Halkin Street SW1X

Chester Square SW1W

A refurbished third floor two bedroom apartment with modern fixtures and fittings.

This recently refurbished house benefits from large reception areas perfect for entertaining, AV system throughout and wooden flooring in the reception areas.

Guide price £2,950 per week

Guide price £750 per week

Call the Belgravia team on 020 3641 5911, we'd love to help you.

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LUXURY LONDON

PROPERTY

SPOTLIGHT A STYLISH MAKEOVER FOR THE TELEVISION CENTRE

HAUTE HOUSE BELLA FREUD GIVES THE BBC TELEVISION CENTRE A STYLISH MAKEOVER

Fashion designer Bella Freud has partnered with Maria Speake, co-founder of interior design mecca Retrouvius, to design a three-bedroom penthouse in the former BBC headquarters in White City. The Television Centre apartment mirrors Freud’s 1970s design aesthetic, with vibrant block colours, vintage furniture and special edition rugs featuring the designer’s signature scrawl. The duplex apartment is one of five premium flats located in The Helios, a circular Grade-II listed building in the heart of the Television Centre. £3.925m fully furnished, struttandparker.com ALL IMAGES © MICHAEL SINCLAIR

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LUXURY

AWA R D - W I N N I N G A PA R T M E N T S I N A N I C O N I C S E T T I N G F R O M £ 8 2 5 , 0 0 0 * AVA I L A B L E N O W. V I S I T O U R N E W S H OW A PA R T M E N T S

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

Star & Garter House, TW10 £2,600,000 Situated next to Richmond Park Gate in the historic, Grade II listed Star & Garter, this luxurious two-bedroom apartment benefits from iconic views and top class facilities. Leasehold. EPC=D • Swimming pool • Gym • Home cinema Richmond office: 020 8033 9032

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Bright.

And ‘airy.

Matching people and property in London for over 160 years.

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Grosvenor Square, Mayfair The Grosvenor Square Apartments are located in desirable Mayfair, between the wonderful, green, open spaces of Hyde Park and the vibrant, cosmopolitan bustle of the West End. Luxury retailers are a five minute walk away as are many of London’s finest dining experiences.

Pegasi Management Company Limited 207 Sloane Street London SW1X 9QX E: enquiries@pegasi.co.uk | T: +44 (0)207 245 4500 pegasi.co.uk

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THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT S AV I L L S P R E D I C T S A B O U N C E I N P R I M E H O U S I N G M A R K E T S I N I T S N E W F I V E -Y E A R F O R E C A S T

S

avills Research has predicted a rise in the value of prime central London properties in its new five-year forecast*.

Initially, the firm expects continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit to prevent market recovery for a further year to 18 months.

Until the negotiations are complete, the report states, the market will remain price sensitive and needs-driven. A proposed additional stamp duty level of between one and three per cent on international buyers who do not pay tax in the UK (as discussed at the Conservative party conference in October) is also expected to add to buyer caution in the short term.

“Historically, any recovery in prime housing markets has been sparked in central London with a strong bounce in values” However, once the Brexit air has cleared, the Savills team expects property values to increase, reaching a six per cent hike in 2021 and an overall 12.4 per cent rise over the full five year period.

“Historically, any recovery in the prime housing markets has been sparked in central London with a strong bounce in values, with double digit annual growth not unusual,” says Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills. “The catalyst has often been a currency advantage, though prime central London residential property also has to look identifiably good value on a world stage.

“This time around we’ll also need a backdrop of greater certainty, which we expect by the end of 2020, clearing the way for values to rise. However, a number of constraints – rising borrowing costs, increased taxation, higher investment returns on competing assets and a general election in 2022 – point to a slower rate of recovery than in previous cycles.”

The team also predicts that the number of global “ultra-wealthy individuals” that live and work in the capital will increase by more than 40 per cent during the next five years, having noted that office uptake by international businesses has remained stable since the EU referendum.

*Forecast assumptions: A Conservative minority government remains throughout the period to 2023. The general election in 2022 is close run, assuming the main political parties maintain the same broad policy agendas currently adopted.

The London economy grows by 11 per cent over the period of the forecast. Employment in the financial and insurance sectors is retained at circa 350,000 over the forecast period and job losses are contained to no more than 20,000. Bank base rates increase to 2.6 per cent by the end of the forecast period. The UK’s trading relationship with the EU remains largely as it is today. The only change to stamp duty is the proposed introduction of an overseas buyer.

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STREETS AHEAD G O I N G U P : D I S T I N C T I V E H O M E S W I T H E L E G A N T S TA I R C A S E S

PA R K P L AC E , S W 1

Dubbed The Grande House, this new-build townhouse is impressive from the offset, with a black brick and granite façade. Inside, a marble staircase runs through the heart of the property, which spans eight floors (including two basement levels) and comprises five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and three reception rooms. There’s also a clubroom, a cinema, a spa, a sky lounge and a fiveperson lift to all floors. £30m, 020 7674 6605, knightfrank.co.uk

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D R AY C O T T P L A C E , S W 3

This period property in Chelsea has recently been rebuilt, incorporating a cinema, spa and gym in the new basement extension, as well as a lift to all floors – but it’s the staircase that steals the show. The four-storey elliptical flight is made from marble and features a handmade cast iron balustrade decorated with a 22-carat gold leaf design. Elsewhere, there are five bedroom suites, four reception rooms, a patio garden, cinema room, gym, steam room and Jacuzzi. £14m, 020 7594 4740, chestertons.com

LO N S DA L E R OA D, W 1 1

Handily located near to Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove, this six-storey house boasts five bedrooms, five bathrooms and three reception rooms accessed via a grand twisting staircase. Four of the floors boast terraces and a subterranean wellness area features a large swimming pool, gym and sauna. £14.95m, 020 7727 5750, savills.com

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Beautifully refurbished penthouse Warwick Square, SW1V Pimlico Station: 0.4 miles, Victoria Station: 0.5 miles 2 reception rooms, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom with en suite and dressing room, 4 further bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, balcony terrace and communal gardens. EPC = C

Share of Freehold | 3,721 sq ft I Guide ÂŁ7 million Matthew Morton-Smith Savills Westminster 020 3430 6860 mmsmith@savills.com

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Leo Russell Russell Simpson 020 7225 0277 lrussell@russellsimpson.co.uk

12/11/2018 11:52

Recently constructed family house Wilton Mews, SW1X Victoria: 0.3 miles, Sloane Square: 0.6 miles, Knightsbridge: 0.7 miles This impressive house has been interior designed and project managed by the renowned prime central London firm, Finchatton. 3 reception rooms, 6 en suite bedrooms, wine cellar, roof terrace, cinema, gymnasium, passenger lift and 3 garages. EPC = C

Freehold | 9,803 sq ft I Guide ÂŁ24.75 million Richard Gutteridge Savills Sloane Street 020 7730 0822 rgutteridge@savills.com

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Wonderful modernised house Ensor Mews, SW7

Gloucester Road station: 0.4 miles, South Kensington station: 0.4 miles

Entrance hall, reception room, dining area, private patio garden, kitchen, separate dining room, guest w.c, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, loft storage space. EPC = E

Freehold | 1,724 sq ft I Guide £2.95 million Dan Carrington Savills South Kensington & Earl’s Court 020 7578 6901 dan.carrington@savills.com

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Nicola Ridley Savills Knightsbridge 020 7578 9002 nridley@savills.com

12/11/2018 11:54

Beautifully designed lateral apartment Curzon, W1

Green Park: 0.3 miles, Hyde Park Corner 0.4 miles

Reception room with dining area, kitchen, master bedroom suite, 2 further bedroom suites, guest cloakroom, utility room and underground parking. EPC = B

Leasehold 999 years remaining | 2,722 sq ft | Guide ÂŁ8.95 million Charles Lloyd Savills Mayfair & St James 020 7578 5100 clloyd@savills.com

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Grosvenor Road, Pimlico SW1V £2,300 per week

Furnished

Addison Avenue, Holland Park W11 £1,600 per week Unfurnished

A beautifully presented riverside penthouse on the 7th floor and covering the entire north crescent of an award winning development.

A wonderful three-bedroom family home with a roof terrace.

2,536 sq ft (235.6 sq m) Reception room | Three bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Roof terrace | Balcony | River view | Underground parking | Concierge | Lift | EPC rating D

2,051 sq ft (190.5 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen/dining room | Utility | Three bedrooms | Walk-in wardrobe | Two bathrooms | Roof terrace | EPC rating D

Chelsea 020 3504 5588 | chelsea.lettings@struttandparker.com

Notting Hill 020 3773 4114 | nottinghill@struttandparker.com

Duchess of Bedford House, Kensington W8 £1,500 per week Furnished

Rutland Gate, Knightsbridge SW7 £1,350 per week

An incredibly stylish apartment in the heart of Kensington with extensive entertaining space, lift and porter.

An exceptionally light two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse (direct lift access) duplex with stunning views.

1,437 sq ft (133.48 sq m) Drawing room | Dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom | Second double bedroom | Bathroom | Shower room | Lift | Porter | EPC rating D

1,387 sq ft (128.82 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen | Two double bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Study | Cloakroom | Utility room | Balcony | Direct lift access | EPC rating D

Kensington 020 3813 9477 | kensington@struttandparker.com

Knightsbridge 020 3504 8796 | knightsbridgelettings@struttandparker.com

Furnished

*After an offer is accepted by the Landlord, which is subject to contract and acceptable references, the following charges and fees will be payable before the commencement of the tenancy: Preparation of Tenancy Agreement £222 (Inc VAT),

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

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Ashington Road, Fulham SW6 £975 per week

Furnished

A superb and recently refurbished three-bedroom, three-bathroom Victorian terraced house with a West facing garden, moments from Hurlingham Park.

1,959 sq ft (182 sq m) Kitchen/dining room | Drawing room | Three bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Cloakroom | Garden | EPC rating D Fulham 020 8023 6671 | fulham@struttandparker.com

St. George Street, Mayfair W1 £1,475 per week

Tregunter Road, London SW10 £1,150 per week

Unfurnished

Recently refurbished three-bedroom duplex apartment boasts high ceilings and wooden floors throughout.

1,204 sq ft (111.86 sq m) Reception room | Eat-in kitchen | Three bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Separate shower room | EPC rating C Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9185 | chelseaSW10@struttandparker.com

Furnished

Onslow Mews East, South Kensington SW7 £3,500 per week Unfurnished

A very well presented, and furnished, duplex situated in a central Mayfair location.

A bright, spacious and modern four-bedroom house with garage set in a quiet, private mews.

1,355 sq ft (125.9 sq m) Entrance hall | Open plan kitchen/reception room | Double bedroom with en suite bathroom | Further bedroom | Shower room | Lift | EPC rating C

2,650 sq ft (246.2 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen/dining room | Four bedrooms | Four bathrooms | Roof terrace | Double garage | EPC rating C

Knightsbridge 020 3504 8796 | knightsbridgelettings@struttandparker.com

South Kensington 020 3504 5901 | southken@struttandparker.com

References per Tenant £54 (Inc VAT), a deposit – usually between 6-10 weeks of the agreed rent. Any rent advertised is pure rent and does not include any additional services such as council tax, water or utility charges.

Strutt & Parker is a trading style of BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, which provides a full range of services across the residential, commercial and the rural property sectors.

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Ormonde Gate, Chelsea SW3 £8,750,000

Freehold

Lansdowne Road, Notting Hill W11 £6,850,000

Freehold

A wide seven-bedroom family house with open views from the front and back and direct access onto communal gardens.

A wonderful five-bedroom family house in an ever popular address with direct communal garden access.

4,467 sq ft (415 sq m) Three reception rooms | Seven bedrooms | Six bathrooms | Dressing room | Utility room | Direct access to private communal gardens | Ample storage rooms | EPC rating E

3,002 sq ft (278.89 sq m) Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen | Dining/family room | Five bedrooms | Three bath/shower rooms | Two dressing rooms | Utility | Cloakroom | Garden | Access to communal gardens | EPC rating D

Chelsea 020 3504 5588 | chelsea@struttandparker.com

Notting Hill 020 3773 4114 | nottinghill@struttandparker.com

Pont Street, Knightsbridge SW1X Price on Application

Leasehold

Abingdon Road, Kensington W8 £4,150,000

Freehold

An immaculately restructured and re-built 1st floor lateral apartment.

An impressive five-bedroom family house occupying 2,411 sq ft with excellent living space and garden.

1,403 sq ft (130.3 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception room | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | Second double bedroom | Shower room | Lift | Two balconies | Porter | EPC rating C

2,411 sq ft (224 sq m) Drawing room | Kitchen/family room | Master bedroom suite | Four further bedrooms | Two further bathrooms | Utility room | Cloakroom | Garden | EPC rating D

Knightsbridge 020 3504 8796 | knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

Kensington 020 3813 9477 | kensington@struttandparker.com

*After an offer is accepted by the Landlord, which is subject to contract and acceptable references, the following charges and fees will be payable before the commencement of the tenancy: Preparation of Tenancy Agreement £222 (Inc VAT),

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

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Bishops Row, Fulham SW6 Prices from £3,750,000

Freehold

Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge SW1X £4,950,000 Share of Freehold

Nine luxury new townhouses by Octagon Developments offering views towards the River Thames and beyond.

An immaculate and generously proportioned two-bedroom flat on the fourth floor, with lift.

Between 4,375 sq ft and 6,150 sq ft Kitchen/breakfast/family room | Drawing room | Dining room | Four/ five bedrooms | Gym | Cinema room | Pantry | Study | Two cloakrooms | Laundry room | Lower courtyard garden | Rear garden | Lift to plot 9

1,805 sq ft (167.7 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom suite | Further bedroom with en suite | Cloakroom | Lift | Porter | Access to communal gardens (by separate arrangement) | EPC rating C

Fulham 020 8023 6671 | fulham@struttandparker.com

Knightsbridge 020 3504 8796 | knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

Barkston Gardens, South Kensington SW5 £5,450,000 Share of Freehold

Roland Gardens, South Kensington SW7 £2,650,000 Share of Freehold

An impressive double-lateral Penthouse apartment, with lift, in a beautiful red-brick mansion block.

Top floor maisonette, three-bedrooms, three-bathrooms, fantastic roof terrace with far reaching views, renovated to a very high standard and presented in excellent condition throughout.

2,501 sq ft (232.4 sq m) Reception room | Dining room | Kitchen | Five bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Loft space | Balcony | Lift | Award winning communal gardens | EPC rating F South Kensington 020 3504 5901 | southken@struttandparker.com

1,437 sq ft (134 sq m) Reception room | Family room | Kitchen | Master bedroom suite | Two further bedrooms | Three bathrooms | Terrace | Study | EPC rating E Chelsea SW10 020 3813 9185 | chelseaSW10@struttandparker.com

References per Tenant £54 (Inc VAT), a deposit – usually between 6-10 weeks of the agreed rent. Any rent advertised is pure rent and does not include any additional services such as council tax, water or utility charges.

Strutt & Parker is a trading style of BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, which provides a full range of services across the residential, commercial and the rural property sectors.

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Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington W8

ÂŁ8,250,000 Freehold

An outstanding five-bedroom family house occupying 3,525 sq ft with a stunning 46 ft long garden.

3,525 sq ft (327.5 sq m) Entrance hall | Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining room | Drawing room | Sitting room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Four further bedrooms | Two en suite shower rooms | Further shower room | Further bathroom | Two cloakrooms | Two studies | Kitchenette | Utility area | EPC rating D

Kensington 020 3813 9477 | kensington@struttandparker.com Strutt & Parker is a trading style of BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, which provides a full range of services across the residential, commercial and the rural property sectors.

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

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To be one of the first 1,000 clients to benefit from a free Virtual Viewing of your property, contact your local office today.

020 3582 2009 | struttandparker.com

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