WW Insight V1 London 0616

INSIGHT ISSUE 1 | LONDON EDITION WW INSIGHT

INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAGAZINE

HOLLAND & HOLLAND A BENCHMARK OF EXCELLENCE

ACCESS BANK UK INTERVIEW WITH CEO JAMIE SIMMONDS

LONDON INSIGHT WHERE TO LIVE AND WHERE TO GO ACROSS THE CAPITAL

AN INVESTMENT APPROACH DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND

CONTACT US AND DISCOVER WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU ..

Chief Investment Officer, Access Private Bank, 1 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3ND, UK Email: cio@accessprivatebank.com CIO: +44(0)203 178 3727 Deputy CIO: +44(0)203 178 3729 Access Private Bank is a division of The Access Bank UK Limited which is Registered in England. Registration Number: 6365062. Registered Office: 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Way, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7UT. The Access Bank UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

PRA & FCA Registration Number 478415.

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Contents ISSUE 1 | LONDON EDITION

Page 3

Page 41-44

Welcome

Wrothams Windsor Events 2015

Richard Vedelago, GMD Wrothams Windsor

Page 46-47

Page 4-9

Paul Little

The Transformation of Battersea Power Station

MD Wrothams Windsor UK

Page 10-11

Lucian Cook

The Art of Placemaking

Head of Savills Residential Research

Page 14-21

Page 50-53

My London

Jamie Simmonds

Ayo Adeyinka Dumi Oburota Freddie Achom Ronke Phillips

14-15 16-17 18-19 20-21

Page 24-29

Secret Service – The Corinthia Hotel Page 30-31

12 Hay Hill Mayfair

Page 48-49

CEO Access Bank UK Page 55-58

Access Bank Fifth Chukker Polo Day 2015 Page 60-65

Sporting Guns – Holland & Holland Page 66

Zuma

Legal Insight – Paula Abrahamian

Page 34-35

Page 67-69

Going for Gold – Theo Fennell

Diplomatic Insight – Sir Andrew Pocock

Page 36-37

Page 70-76

Spencer Hart

UK Property Listings

Page 38-39

Page 78-79

Bang on Trend – Banke Kuku

Atlantic Challenge

Page 32-33

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“The fundamentals of the London property market remain strong”

WW Insight is the magazine of Wrothams Windsor Abuja Office 1st Floor, Leadway House, Plot 1061, Herbert Macaulay Way, Cadastral Avenue, CBD, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: +234 (0)705 1000 500 Lagos Office 109, Awolowo Road, SW-Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: +234 (0)809 1111 304 London Office 43-45 Portman Square, London, United Kingdom, W1H 6HN Tel: +44 (0)20 7118 8808

Editor: SARAH CARTLEDGE Features Writer: SARAH WOODS Design: TONI BARRINGTON at The Magazine Printing Company www.magazineproduction.com Published by Wrothams Windsor - www.wrothamswindsor.com Contributors: LUCIAN COOK - SAVILLS PAULA ABRAHAMIAN - FLETCHER DAY DAVID MIDDLETON - ATLANTIC LIONS

www.wrothamswindsor.com

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elcome to WW Insight, the new property magazine from Wrothams Windsor. Our quarterly publication will focus on a different city each issue and this maiden edition showcases London, arguably one of the most attractive cities in the world.

This is particularly true for investors from Nigeria, many of whom have a long-standing affinity with the British capital.

With a weak Naira, the majority of buyers from Nigeria are excited not just by the capital appreciation that the city offers, but also the good payment and mortgage plans available from UK banks and increasingly local banks like Access Bank. London is a good prospect for those seeking stable, long-term returns. The fundamentals of the London property market remain strong, due to a recovering economy, the fact that London is still thriving as a top financial centre, and the relatively low supply of new projects in central areas.

With this in mind we have sought opinions from experts in the property market.

Lucian Cook, Head of UK Residential Research, gives an in-depth analysis of the current state of the market, while we have exclusive details of luxury developments from Berkeley Homes along the River Thames. We also have a unique insight into the new Battersea Power Station transformation, showing why it’s setting the standard for 21st century London living.

To assist with your investment Jamie Simmonds, CEO of Access Bank, outlines the facilities on offer from Access Bank, and Paula Abrahamian of Fletcher Day describes the role of the solicitor in a property transaction.

Former British High Commissioner, Sir Andrew Pocock, considers the historical and cultural attachments between Nigeria and the UK, and we examine the Nigerians shaping the scene in London itself. From polo to sailing we look at some of the sporting achievements of Londoners, and discover how to shoot with luxury gunmakers Holland & Holland. We also take a look at the Corinthia Hotel, one of London’s most exclusive venues, and uncover their elegant apartments for sale.

There are hundreds of reasons why you should invest in London, and we hope to have given you many to choose from. London is one of the finest cities we know, so take advantage of all it has to offer.

RICHARD VEDELAGO Group Managing Director, Wrothams Windsor

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Transforming Battersea Power Station

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From featuring on the cover of a Pink Floyd album to appearing in an Alfred Hitchcock film and countless others, Battersea Power Station has a rich and colourful history.

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uilt in 1933, this vast art deco building is one of Europe’s largest brick buildings and was designed by one of Britain’s most famous architects – Sir Giles Gilbert Scott – the man who also designed Britain’s distinctive red telephone box.

For the 30 years after the Power Station ceased operations, the building and its towering four white chimneys enjoyed an iconic status. And now this Grade II listed structure faces a new future as a cool, vibrant and diverse neighbourhood.

The redevelopment of Battersea Power Station will see the 42 acre site transformed into a new riverside destination in central London where people will live, work and spend leisure time. The development will have 3,992 apartments, three hotels, more than 250 shops and restaurants, leisure facilities and a sixacre riverside park. The development is taking place

following the acquisition of the site by a consortium of Malaysian shareholders made up of SP Setia, Sime Darby and Employees’ Provident Fund. Central to the redevelopment of the site is a pioneering funding agreement between the shareholders and the UK Government which means that the development will have its own London Underground station, as well as rail and river bus connections.

Battersea Power Station is the flagship development of the Nine Elms regeneration zone – its purpose to create a major new residential, commercial and cultural quarter at the heart of one of Europe’s biggest regeneration zones. World-renowned architects are working together to help develop and shape the landscape with a clear focus on arts, culture and a sense of community. Public spaces, including a riverside park and town square are being designed with art and public interaction in

Battersea Power Station is the flagship development of the Nine Elms regeneration zone... one of Europe’s biggest regeneration zones

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mind, promoting theatre and dance performances, events, markets and exhibitions.

“I strongly believe that when people live in very special places they develop a strong connection with where they live. They feel proud of it and don’t want to leave” said Rob Tincknell, Chief Executive Officer of Battersea Power Station Development Company, the company tasked with managing the redevelopment. “This is why I believe in creating a community with soul which will draw people to it like a magnet.”

The development is ideally located, situated within a few minutes’ walk of the neighbourhoods of Chelsea, Westminster, Battersea and at the heart of the emerging neighbourhood of Nine Elms, which is home to the new US Embassy.

Each phase of the development has been designed by different world-renowned architects, such as Gehry Partners and Foster + Partners.

The first two phases all but sold out before a single brick was laid. A mix of 2, 3 and 4-bed homes are available, from £1.4m for a 2-bedroom apartment, in Prospect Place which is the Gehry Partners and Foster + Partners collaboration. This part of the development is essentially the High Street of the neighbourhood and will be the location of the new London Underground tube station. Within the historic Power Station building itself, a handful of homes remain with prices starting from £1.975m for a 2-bedroom home.

The apartments within the Power Station reflect the art deco industrial architecture which made the building famous, offering features such as polished concrete floors and worktops, raw brass fittings, copper bathtubs and other industrial features, such as exposed brickwork and floor to ceiling windows.

With increasing interest in properties on the south bank of the River Thames, where Battersea Power Station is located, it is anticipated that in the coming years values will be more closely aligned with those of the neighbouring districts of Chelsea and Westminster on the northern side of the river.

The combination of the new public transport infrastructure, the emerging desirability of the South Bank and the integration of arts and culture as an essential part of the redevelopment is making apartments at Battersea Power Station attractive to buyers from around the world, including those from West Africa.

The major boost to residential values across Battersea will come as a result of the huge infrastructure changes which are taking place in Nine Elms – the introduction of the Northern Line Extension, pedestrian bridges and great existing facilities, such as Battersea Park. Research by the Centre for Economic Business Research (CEBR) concluded that in 2020, when the Northern Line Extension opens, residential values at Battersea Power Station will grow by 9.7 per cent making this area even more attractive to buyers.

With such demand for this “innovative, beautiful place to live” according to the power station’s developer and the opportunity to be part of the rich tapestry of London’s architectural and cultural history, the time to secure one of these unique homes is now.

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THE ART

OF PLACEMAKING

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s London overtakes New York to become the world’s top financial centre, it’s no surprise that London’s property market is booming. And the face of the capital is changing rapidly, particularly in the City of London where iconic buildings such as the Cheesegrater and the Walkie Talkie dwarf the Victorian offices below them.

In many ways the City is a reflection of the changes taking place all over London.

Where once Londoners have had little housing choices, with Victorian terraces still forming the majority of the housing stock, now high rise apartment blocks are taking shape across the skyline. With new residential areas such as the Embassy Quarter in Battersea and the upcoming development of Earls Court, placemaking has become a buzzword in the developers’ lexicon.

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The Berkeley Group, one of the UK’s premier companies, has been a major contributor in this concept which originated out of urban planning. With its four major companies, St James, St George, St Edward and St William, currently developing numerous sites across the capital, it has created beautiful and well-connected neighbourhoods with their own vibrant communities.

“The space between the buildings is where people meet and talk. It’s where you create community,” says Berkeley’s Chairman Tony Pidgley CBE. “So Berkeley invests in the landscaping and the public realm just as much as the integral design of every home.”

In the past 10 years the Group has delivered 48,376 new homes, including 31,330 homes for people to buy. It has also created 436 acres of public space, an area equivalent to 142 full size cricket pitches – and built 5.8 kilometres

of riverside walkway along the Thames, which would reach from Vauxhall to Tower Bridge if you put it together. In the last decade it has also provided 711,975 square foot of community facilities and 2.8 million square foot of commercial space. To bring that alive, think of 237 new community halls and 946 shops on a local high street.

It’s clear that Berkeley intends all its developments to blossom into thriving communities. As one of the most international cities in the world, London is home to a myriad different people and cultures, so creating new neighbourhoods is vital to integrate this variety of inhabitants. With many of them coming from the Middle East, the belief is that all homes should be built with fine attention to detail. It’s not hard to see the influence of major cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where placemaking has been a

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major factor in creating these new desert cities.

Yet Victorian London was also created with placemaking in mind. You only need to take a look at the hundreds of local parks and gardens all over the capital to realise that community was integral to 19th century living. More than 100 years later, the vision is the same but the architecture and the construction methods are vastly different. Designed to enhance the neighbourhoods in which they a re loc ated, t he de velopment s by Berkeley Homes aim to achieve this through excellence in design, sensitive landscaping, sympathetic restoration and impeccable standards of sustainability.

Desirable London residences Within London the Berkeley Group currently has 38 developments with a further eight in the offing. Many of them lie along the River Thames, and the Group has been renowned for revitalising the river and its surroundings. Imperial Wharf in Fulham, for example, was a brownfield site for many years, but is now a thriving community with elegant buildings, restaurants, gardens and a children’s playground. In addition to this, the Group worked with the local council and Transport for London to build a new station that connects the neighbourhood to Shepherds Bush in the north and Clapham Junction in

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the south, enhancing the area not only for the investors, but also for the long-time residents of the area.

Further downstream is One Tower Bridge, situated on one of the last great riverside sites in London. Just moments from the City, it offers the ultimate in 5-star luxury living experiences in the most exciting city in the world. With a 24 hour Harrods concierge, balconies and terraces – some with river views, a luxury spa, pool and gym, virtual golf and a Boutique Lalit Hotel, it’s ideally positioned for both the City and Canary Wharf, as well as the vibrant new areas around Old Street.

Berkeley’s vision for the Piazza at nearby Goodman’s Fields north of the river sparked from the opportunity to create a landmark that celebrates British craftsmanship, as well as the history of the local community. Six bronze horses were commissioned to commemorate this historic link representing the animals which worked alongside humans in London’s ascent to prosperity.

Panoramic city views are the key attraction for One Blackfriars, situated on the South Bank and conveniently located for both the City and the West End. With a residents’ wine cellar, 32nd floor executive lounge and a landscaped public piazza, it is set to be one of the new icons of the London skyline.

Riverlight, in the regenerated Nine Elms area

near Vauxhall, has been designed by world renowned architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. An architectural classic of the future with six elegant pavilions, it offers classical and sophisticated city living.

But for those with a passion for the West End, the must have address is 190 Strand.

A range of bespoke apartments, townhouses and penthouses located on the world famous Strand, this new iconic landmark will be closely linked to the richest aspects of London living.

Not far away in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the award-winning 375 Kensington High Street is one of London’s most sought after addresses set around a new interpretation of the traditional London garden square. Nearby Kensington Row offers a magnificent collection of spacious, light filled and carefully designed apartments and penthouses designed for the luxury London lifestyle in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

All these developments offer the best in London living and more. Many have Harrods concierges, gyms and swimming pools, and some even have wine cellars, residents’ lounges and screening rooms. As the way we live and work changes, so too do our homes as they reflect the intermingling of our professional and private lives. www.berkeleygroup.com

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.LONDON. Four prominent Nigerians in London reveal the capital’s hidden secrets

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AYO

ADEYINKA

Ayo Adeyinka is the owner of Tafeta, an art gallery specialising in African art. He was raised in Nigeria and came to London to study finance, working subsequently for several leading European and US banks. He then decided to follow his love of art and began by placing art with global institutions. These days his clients are also wealthy Nigerians who are looking to build art collections. As the value of African art rises, Ayo is also on the look out for new talent among the many artists that are emerging from the continent.

Where do you live in London and why do you live there?

I have been living in Greenwich for ten years now. I was born in Lagos and came to London 16 years ago to study, and started out living in Clapham. When I got married I moved to Chiswick but quickly realised I couldn’t really afford it, so we moved to Greenwich which has a similar village feel. The park is the centre point of the community and it has striking views of Canary Wharf and the City. It has quite a young community as the University of Greenwich attracts many students. As a result the area is very vibrant, with plenty of bars and cafes in the centre along with a covered market. We go to the Picturehouse regularly, as it shows

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great independent films and it has a bar and two restaurants.

We also love Olivers, a jazz bar opposite Greenwich Theatre with incredible music. It has a bar with an open fire and it’s suitable for all ages, so it’s great for a family visit.

It’s only an eight minute commute to London Bridge so you are in the centre of town very quickly. It doesn’t take long for me to get to Margaret Street where Tafeta is based.

Which places do you frequent in the West End? I love The Barnyard in Charlotte Street – it serves 4th July food with a European feel. There are a lot of art galleries around Eastcastle Street and I often wander down there to take a look.

The Gallery of African Art and Tiwani are near Tafeta and I often pop in to have a look. I also love Tate Britain and Tate Modern and I go to all the major exhibitions. Tafeta is well-placed for meeting both clients and artists. I started out as a collector so I love the atmosphere of the art world. I’m particularly keen on Yinka Shonibare’s work and I’m lucky enough to own a limited edition print of just 35 from his Yorkshire Sculpture Park exhibition. Sadly my garden isn’t big enough for one of his sculptures!

Where do you shop?

I have my suits made by my tailor in Hong Kong but I buy shirts in Oscar Milo in Spitalfields Market. My watches are from Bonhams the auctioneers – I love vintage timepieces as they have pedigree.

Which is your favourite place in London?

I have to say I spend more time in the Emirates Stadium than anywhere else. As an Arsenal supporter I have to! I have eaten more fish and chips in the Royal Oak suite than anywhere else in London.

Which areas would you recommend to visitors?

Fitzrovia and Marylebone as there are lots of quaint places and there is a different vibe entirely. With the art in Fitzrovia and the culture and restaurants of Marylebone you have all you need. You don’t have to plan to go to Marylebone as there is so much to see and do. You can hang out in Daunts bookshop or visit the Wallace Collection, home to one of Europe’s finest collections of works of art, paintings, furniture, arms & armour and porcelain, or just have a really good meal in any one of the little restaurants or bars.

It’s close to Oxford Street and worth taking a detour to discover it.

Why do you think Nigerians love London so much?

Aside from the historical connection, it affords them the lifestyle they are looking for, as Nigerians are high consumers and they enjoy spending in London. There is a huge Nigerian community here so they feel at home, but it is also a cosmopolitan city and they meet many different people here. Nigerians like to enjoy themselves and London is very close – they can come for the weekend.

Would you ever leave London?

No, my roots are here now, and I can jump on a plane and go back to Lagos whenever I want.

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AYO’S HAUNTS TAFETA 47-50 Margaret St London W1W 8SB Tel: +44 (0)20 7637 2273 Tiwani Contemporary 16 Little Portland St London W1W 8BP Tel: +44 (0)20 7631 3808 www.tiwani.co.uk Gallery of African Art 45 Albemarle St London W1S 4JL Tel: +44 (0)20 7287 7400 www.gafraart.com Olivers Jazz Bar Spread Eagle Yard, 9 Nevada St, London SE10 9JL Tel: +44 (0)20 8858 3693 www.oliversjazzbar.co.uk Greenwich Picturehouse 180 Greenwich High Rd London SE10 8NN Tel: +44 (0)871 902 573 The Barnyard 18 Charlotte St, London W1T 2LY Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 3842 www.barnyard-london.com Oscar Milo Spitalfields 47 Brushfield St London E1 6AA Tel: +44 (0)20 7655 4811 Bonhams 101 New Bond Street London W1S 1SR Tel: +44 (0)20 7447 7447 www.bonhams.com Emirates Stadium London N5 1BU www.arsenal.com/the-club/emirates-stadium www.events.arsenal.com/event-spaces/royal-oak-suite Wallace Collection Hertford House, Manchester Square London W1U 3BN Tel: +44 (0)20 7563 9500 www.wallacecollection.org Daunt Books 83 Marylebone High St London W1U 4QW Tel: +44 (0)20 7224 2295 www.dauntbooks.co.uk/shops/marylebone/

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DUMI

OBUROTA

Dumi Oburota is the MD of Disturbing London and manager of rapper Tinie Tempah. He grew up in Brockley, south east London and originally studied sports science at the University of Greenwich before concentrating on the music industry. He has known Tinie (real name Patrick Okogwu) from childhood as he was the son of a family friend, and he signed Tinie immediately at just 14 after hearing him rap. He invested his student loans in studio time and restored old cars for profit to reinvest in Tinie’s career.

Following Tinie’s huge success he has gone on to manage such acts as Whizz Kid and Jessie J, as well as running Disturbing London, which he describes as an entertainment and lifestyle company.

He acknowledges the music business is a tough one, but he has carved a successful career that has seen him invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of his contribution to the industry.

Where do you live in London and why do you live there?

I live in Hackney as it’s a cool, young, creative area and I wanted to be around creative people. I moved there when I got married as I needed a house. I grew up in Brockley in South London, which is

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like little Lagos. I went to school at Haberdashers and many of my friends there were Nigerian, so I have always been connected to the Nigerian community in London.

Where do you gravitate to when you go out?

Well, I have a family now so I don’t really go out, but I’m lucky as there are loads of good restaurants in East London. I really recommend The Boundary on Redchurch St, a Victorian warehouse that’s now a hotel with a cafe bakery, a rooftop terrace and three restaurants and bars, Dishoom, a fabulous Indian restaurant on Boundary St, and Lardos, an Italian restaurant on Richmond Road, is the sort of place I really wish I lived next door to. Hackney is like Notting Hill ten years ago, with loads of small boutique restaurants, and it still has that cool vibe going on.

In the evenings I recommend a club called The Beat. It’s a members club which was known as The Speakeasy Club in the 60s and hosted stars like David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

I’m a member of Soho House, Gauchos and the Arts Club which are good for meeting people.

Where do you shop in London?

I’m a big clothes shopper and Liberty is my spot. Selfridges is amazing now and I love Dover Street market.

Which area would you recommend as a good property investment?

London is expanding as a city in general. It depends on how much money you have, but if you see central London as the heartbeat and if you live an hour away from that heartbeat you are in the right area. A maximum of an hour’s travel or 30 minutes by train is my rule of thumb on investment.

If people want to invest wisely they should buy houses in Brixton and Hackney, but these aren’t traditional Nigerian areas. In Nigeria there is still a large space between those that have money and those that don’t. Someone who is a billionaire will probably have a cousin that has come as an illegal immigrant and started their life in Hackney, so in their head Hackney is for the poor immigrant. An uncle who made money will have bought a house in Fulham so that’s a success. That’s why we should inform them they can spread their money about a bit.

I am looking at south London, areas such as New Cross, Peckham, Brockley, and Lewisham. I feel London is going to become like New York with its huge boroughs, so investors should look further out because the city is so condensed. Now you can see the money spreading around every area in London and you can see where the wealth is. I went to a reception at Buckingham Palace in the summer and ended up dropping people back to areas like Clapton and Hackney. So the money is moving and spreading, maybe because of the creative industries.

DUMI’S DIRECTORY The Boundary 2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, London E2 7DD Tel +44 (0)20 7729 1051 info@boundary.london Dishoom 7 Boundary Street London E2 7JE Tel: +44 (0)20 7420 9324 http://www.dishoom.com/shoreditch/ Lardos 197-201 Richmond Road, London E8 3NJ Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 2683 Liberty of London Regent Street London W1B 5AH Dover Street Market 17-18 Dover Street London W1S 4LT Tel : +44 (0)20 7518 0680 www.doverstreetmarket.com Ace Hotel 100 Shoreditch High Street London E1 6JQ Tel: + 44 (0)20 7613 9800 BEAT LONDON 48 Margaret Street London W1 8SE Tel: +44 (0) 772714 1370

Tell us a secret about London Take a weekend out and check into the Hoxton Hotel or the Ace and spend a weekend in Shoreditch. It’s really happening from Friday to Sunday; it’s like a different city. The Curtain Hotel and members club is opening soon with its celebrity clientele. It’s only a 15 minute black cab drive away and you can have two completely different experiences.

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FREDDIE ACHOM

Frederick Achom is a Nigerian-born British businessman and entrepreneur who now calls London, Paris and Rome home.

Throughout his accomplished business career he has shown a keen eye for detail, business and investments, and has proven himself to be a self-motivated go-getter from a very young age.

Freddie Achom’s father is a Nigerian politician and businessman, his mother a housewife. As a child he attended boarding school in the United Kingdom along with his sister and two brothers. Later, he returned to his native Nigeria to pursue a career as a medical doctor, but soon decided his future lay in the business world.

He started modestly, holding positions in financial sales at several London firms, but his business acumen allowed him to progress at a rapid pace. His business career took off with the sale of City Business Partners, his first consultancy and business development agency, to the UK firm EGC. In 2003, he founded a British Virgin Islands-based consumer goods group, the Rosemont Group, and now serves as the privately held group’s chairman.

Rosemont Group, which according to estimates is now worth an excess of $30m, focuses on land and property development

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throughout the United Kingdom, consulting and investment overseas, and luxury goods. Achom also uses his connections and business experience in Western Africa with telecom clients that look to boost sales in the region.

He is a partner and major shareholder in the Bordeaux Wine Company, one of the leading wine investment companies in the UK. He also holds shares in the following companies: Caseflight Ltd., Universal Properties Ltd., Night Management Holdings Ltd., Hanover Bars Ltd. and Property Clinic Ltd. Freddie Achom was also the mastermind behind the Crystal Members Club, which has been launched in Lebanon, Dubai, Beijing, St Tropez and Los Angeles with the cooperation of a Lebanese investment group, the Circle Management Group.

FREDDIE’S FAVOURITES

Where do you live in London and why do you live there?

178A Westbourne Grove London W11 2RH Tel: +44 (0)20 7221 4025

I live in Hampstead, like many Nigerians. There is a tendency for families to live in the north west of the city, including St John’s Wood. These areas were really popular in the 80s and 90s with Nigerians and there are still pockets of them there. If a Nigerian moves to London he wants to live in an old Victorian house and blend in to British society; they try to do this in any culture while adding a bit of their own Nigerianness.

Yves St Laurent 32-33 Old Bond St London W1S 4HH Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 1800 Prada 16-18 Old Bond St London W1S 4PS Mr Hare 8 Stafford St London W1S 4RU Tel: +44 (0)20 7495 4200

The Scotch Of St James Mason’s Yard London SW1Y 6BU

Where do you shop when you’re in town?

Scotts 20 Mount St London W1K 2HE Tel: +44 (0)20 7495 7309

I am a boutique person as I feel the service is much more personal than in a department store. So I’ll take a stroll along Bond Street and pop into stores such as Yves St Laurent. I buy shoes at Prada and Mr Hare in Mayfair and Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill.

Le Caprice 20 Arlington St London SW1A 1RJ Tel: +44 (0) 7629 2239

Which are your favourite restaurants?

I eat mainly at Le Caprice, The Wolseley and Scotts in Mayfair. But I love local eateries such as Lemonia and La Collina in Primrose Hill, and The Ripe Tomato and Casa Cruz in Notting Hill.

When you are entertaining guests in the evening, where would you recommend?

I used to own nightclubs in London so I would take them to The Scotch of St James in Mason’s Yard which used to be mine. It’s a nightclub, live music and private event space which first opened its doors on the 14th of July 1965. Renowned as the preferred playground for just about every major music personality of the swinging 60’s, the club famously played host to a then unknown Jimi Hendrix’s first impromptu gig on arrival in England in 1966.

These days it hosts events and personalities in music, fashion, film and the arts. Nigerians love nightclubs and will order bottles of Dom Perignon to see them through the night – only the best!

Tell us why you love London It’s a multi-cultural melting pot so it has an amazing energy that is incredibly addictive. The architecture is stunning, the museums and galleries are fascinating and it has the best parks in the world.

Tell us a secret about London The antiques markets are fabulous and you can pick up some fascinating pieces and good bargains. Portobello Road is great, and also Bermondsey Market over Tower Bridge which is open Fridays 6am to 2pm.

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The Wolseley 160 Piccadilly London W1J 9EB Tel: +44 (0) 7499 6996 Casa Cruz 123 Clarendon Road London W11 4JG Tel: +44 (0)20 3321 5400 The Ripe Tomato 7 All Saints Rd London W11 1HA Tel: +44 (0)20 7565-0525 Lemonia 89 Regent’s Park Road London NW1 8UY Tel: +44 (0)20 7586 7454 La Collina 17 Princess Rd Primrose Hill London NW1 8JR Tel: +44 (0)20 7483 0192 Portobello Road Market London W11 www.portobelloroad.co.uk Bermondsey Market Bermondsey Square London SE1 3UN

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RONKE PHILLIPS

Ronke’s career as a journalist spans 20 years and has included stints in print, radio and television, as a presenter and reporter in both national and regional media, in the UK and abroad. Since 1999 she has been a general reporter at ITV London working on big investigations and breaking stories including the M25 three, and the murders of Stephen Lawrence, Victoria Climbie and Lee Rigby, as well as the July 7th bombings in London.

She received a Royal Television Society Award following the verdicts in the first Damilola Taylor trial and last year won four different awards for her 10 year investigation into the Torso in the Thames murder – including an Amnesty International and a Women in Film and Television (WFTV) award. She also has a second Amnesty Award for a film about children accused of being witches in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ronke is a Fellow of the Dart Centre – an organisation that works with journalists who cover violence and is a Patron of the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, a charity which helps disadvantaged youngsters. She is also a judge on the Women of the Year and a supporter and mentor on the RTS John Schofield Trust Scheme.

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Where do you live in London and why do you live there?

I grew up in Wandsworth and recently returned to live there.

I love it because I’m surrounded by three commons, Tooting Bec, Clapham and Wandsworth Commons. Wimbledon Common is close by too. It has an old windmill, two golf courses and lakes so it’s like being out in the country without having to go there. You can be right out in the middle of the common and you wouldn’t know that the centre of London is just a few miles away.

People are quite snooty about south of the river, but Spencer Park is just up the road from me and you can’t get a house there for less than £3m. Gordon Ramsay is just one of the famous people who live there as you can be in the centre of town in 20 minutes. Another lovely place is Barnes, which has a village green and a duck pond. It’s quintessentially English and again, it’s hard to believe you are in London when you are there.

Which are your favourite haunts Chez Bruce on Wandsworth Common, which is high end modern French dining. It’s run by Bruce Poole who also owns The Glasshouse in Kew and La Trompette in Chiswick. I love the fact we have such a fabulous restaurant in Wandsworth. Wagamama is great as I can nip in and have a bowl of their wonderful chicken ramen quickly. It has a cool app that allows you to order and pay without having to hang around. When I fancy a steak I head for Roxie Steakhouse – there are three in southwest London in Fulham, Putney and Earlsfield. In town I often go to Ev, a Persian restaurant in Waterloo that’s tucked under the arches near the Old Vic theatre so it’s perfect for theatre suppers.

I love Borough Market on the south side of London Bridge.

It’s a great foodie market. Many of the stallholders are producers who grow, rear or bake the food they sell, including organic award-winning meats from Northfield Farm owned by former city banker Jan McCourt.

It’s an amazing colourful, flavourful place and great for weekend breakfasts or lunches.

I’m also a big fan of galleries in Hoxton as I buy a bit of art. They can be open warehouse-style spaces or quirky like Charlie Smith which is set above a pub. You go up the pub stairs, through a secret passageway and up some more stairs before entering a light-filled space. It specialises in emerging to mid-career artists with human and historical themes. There are also great antique shops in Hoxton so it’s well worth exploring. There are loads of great restaurants and the Hoxton Grill in the Hoxton Hotel is always buzzing with media and arty people, so it’s a good meeting place.

Tell us why you love London London is the best city in the world. I’ve worked in many different places including New York, and I love Lagos, but there is something about London that is so cosmopolitan. It’s a real melting pot for different cultures and people. It’s the one city where I feel that people can come, work hard, play hard and mix with a variety of people. Here you can sit round a dinner table and be with people from all different walks of life.

RONKE’S DIRECTORY Chez Bruce 2 Bellevue Road Wandsworth Common SE17 7EG Tel: +44 (0)20 8672 0114 www.chezbruce.co.uk Wagamama Garrett Lane Wandsworth SW18 4DJ Tel: +44 (0)20 8875 0653 www.wagamama.com Roxie Steakhouse 585 Garrett Lane London SW18 4ST Tel: +44 (0)20 8944 9602 www.roxiesteak.co.uk Ev Restaurant 95-99 Isabella St London SE1 8DD Tel: +44 (0)20 7620 6192 www.tasrestaurants.co.uk Borough Market 8 Southwark St London SE1 1TL Tel: +44 (0)20 7407 1002 www.boroughmarket.org.uk www.northfieldfarmatboroughmarket.com Charlie Smith 2nd Floor 336 Old Street London EC1V 9DR www.charliesmithlondon.com Hoxton Hotel 81 Great Eastern St London EC2A 3HU United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7550 1000 Tooting Bec Lido Tooting Bec Rd London SW16 1RU Tel: +44 (0)20 8871 7198 RAC Club 89 Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HS Tel: +44 (0)20 7930 2345

Tell us a secret about London It has some amazing swimming pools such as the Tooting Bec Lido, which has been popular since 1906 when it started life as a bathing lake. It has iconic colourful changing cubicle doors and also has a sauna which is wonderful in winter. But my favourite pool is the RAC Pall Mall swimming pool with Sicilian marble columns, Grecian-inspired features and intricate mosaics. It’s the most inspiring place to swim and I love knowing it’s there behind the imposing and formal facades of Pall Mall.

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375 Kensington High Street LONDON

An exclusive collection of apartments and penthouses Situated in one of London’s most prestigious and sought after addresses 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments & penthouses from £1,077,500.

Call +234 (0)809 1111 304 or email info@wrothamswindsor.com for more information.

Prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Computer generated image depicts 375 Kensington High Street.

www.375kensingtonhighstreet.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

CORINTHIA HOTEL

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Secret SERVICE The Corinthia Hotel was chosen as a film location for Spectre, the new James Bond film, and it’s exceptional, says Sarah Woods

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oyal devotees of the Corinthia Hotel London exchange news in whispers like a secret currency. The building itself shares the secrecy, disclosing little: barely noticeable in daylight as a handsome property wedged between another. Not overshadowed, just unnoticed: a sunset on firework night. Sophisticated, chic yet near invisible, the Corinthia Hotel seamlessly melds into London’s cosmopolitan streets. Pigeons know its roof. Traffic fumes have stained its fine facade. Yet fashion shoots, fund-raising soirees and literary launches all have their place here. London’s publicity-shy philanthropic A-listers can slip in off London’s busy streets unnoticed. Only the dazzle of flashbulbs at glitzy press conferences and photo calls expose the hotel’s highprofile regular guests. Alexa Chung, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lana Del Rey, Minnie Driver, Emily Blunt, British PM David Cameron, Simon Cowell and Angelina Jolie have all settled comfortably into the oversized chairs in Corinthia’s plush lobby bar.

You’ll also find a mix of West End musical stars and TV soap opera actors, as well as top fashion designers and distinguished names with BAFTA connections. A perfect measure of wow and grandeur milling around under an utterly spectacular Baccarat chandelier. Famous faces undoubtedly add to the cache of this oh-so discreet London hotel: a venue chosen as a film location for the twenty-fourth 007 movie in the James Bond film franchise, Spectre – produced by Corinthian regular Sam Mendes. Gorgeous publicity shots of Daniel Craig and Lea Seydoux taken in the Corinthia’s restaurant were beamed across the world in

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mid-October 2015. It drew instant global attention to a hotel cherished by royals – not that you need to have regal blood to get royal treatment at Corinthia. Guests feel like royalty, because the hotel isn’t mimicking 5-star service (no cringeworthy sycophantic gushing here) but has the easy, well-established efficiency of high-pedigree hospitality that is comfortable in its own skin.

It takes a very special touch to create an exceptional atmosphere. Especially in a hotel space. So it feels as if some spell-working wizard with a bubbling brewpot has sprinkled the Corinthia Hotel London with a powerful atmospheric potion. Few hotels manage to emanate with such a permeating ambience. How do they do it? Corinthia’s owners, the Pisani family of Malta, are too modest to say. But after giving this grand Victorian building, dating from 1885, new life in 2011, it has become the company’s flagship. The focus, centered on spirit, warmth, honesty, discretion and timeless family values, has won it a slew of accolades – in September 2015 alone it collected five World Travel Awards in Sardinia, Italy. Staff are loyal, hinting that their happiness stems from working in an environment where competency and authenticity are valued. They are clearly empowered to truly serve. Clever recruitment, or good training, or both, has ensured a good cross-over of skills in frontline roles: ask the waiting staff about the Champagne on the wine list and they’ll respond at ease about the standard of the vintages, throwing in references to the wine-growing terraces of Reims to the east of Paris with a professional and confident air.

Breakfast staff too go that extra mile to please – obliging guests that like their scrambled eggs cooked a certain way or bread baked to their grandmother’s recipe. Every courtesy is extended too by the smiling ladies that serve afternoon tea in beautiful sashed black dresses, while Sarah Barber, the hotel’s talented head pastry chef, patiently signs yet another copy of her sweet-bake bible: Patisserie Perfection. And it is the sort of hotel that, should you forget to pack a shirt for a dinner function, will magic up one – perfectly laundered and meticulously tailored to fit. International check-ins with tales of woe about luggage delayed at the airport have been stunned to discover someone has been dispatched to Heathrow to bring it back in person – saving a wait of several hours. A doorman with impeccable manners takes obvious pride in greeting each arrival personally. While a busy concierge team have their fingers on the pulse of the many must-see London sights a short stroll away (Westminster Abbey, Parliament Hall, Big Ben, 10 Downing St, the London Eye and the River Thames are just a few minute’s walk). More than thirty West End theatres and opera houses are located within a mile radius of the hotel. Yet, despite being right in the thick of it the Corinthia Hotel is blessed with a calm, fussfree genteel elegance – and it is this that strikes you first as you step inside this refined and beautiful building.

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That and the on-site Harrods. Beautifully styled with impressive decor that boasts a nod to the hotel’s art deco past, you’ll find nothing garish here. All of the Corinthia Hotel’s rooms are larger than the London average and come with a host of complimentary amenities as standard, including mammoth underfloor heated marble bathrooms with separate rain showers and baths with built-in LCD-TVs. Some rooms have a walk-in closet and large soaking tubs. All boast some of the comfiest beds on the planet. Even insomnia sufferers report deep, uninterrupted sleep at the Corinthia Hotel London, which also has an impeccable taste in bed linen – plush textiles and high thread-counts are standard. No need for a lullaby, camomile or a sleeping pill here. Surround sound systems in each room brings intimacy to the airy spaciousness so often lacking in city hotels. While 110 volt plugs on a well-conceived “media hub” will light up the eyes of anyone with high-tech needs. Opt for a suite if you’re staying more than a night or two – those facing Whitehall are the quietest. For spectacular views ask for one of the upper floors – some have a partial view of London Eye and the lovely South Bank, which are illuminated after dark providing a lovely back drop.

Special care has been taken to create a hotel that is as noise-efficient as possible – not easy for a property dating back well over 120 years. Yet, stay here and you’ll rarely feel a door bang, hear a rumbling suitcase or stiletto click from the room above. An incredible feat. Carefully chosen night turndown treats are a lovely touch. Another delight are the bartenders at the Bassoon Bar, each accomplished Mixologists with memories like elephants, who remember each guest’s drink of choice – however bizarre the mix. Is that Jodie Kidd sipping dirty martinis with Renee Zellweger and Agyness Deyn?

Guests looking for some indulgent pampering must first navigate the underground corridors of the Lex Luther-style ESPA spa that is buried beneath the hotel. With marble lounge chairs and a beautifullystyled thermal suite, the Corinthia’s four-storey spa complex is a triumph of design. Heated, jet-pools by a cozy firewall and steam rooms, saunas and sleep pods are all hidden away in this secret spa lair. It certainly ranks up with London’s finest spa facilities: a pampering splurge that tranquility-seeking troglodytes should not miss.

Another aspect of Corinthia’s focus is the hotel’s enviable arts scene, which echoes London’s artistic and literary traditions in a bold, modern style. Over the last four years, the Corinthia has tasked filmmakers, photographers, digital artists, writers and theatre companies to create immersive works set in the hotel.

The quality of the shortlist is high for the role of artistin-residence for a month and the Corinthia has become renowned as a champion of British nurtured talent.

An impressive judging panel has included the Minister for Culture, actor Dan Stevens (best known for his

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starring role in Downton Abbey), Ben Evans, director at London Design Festival, Amanda Nevill, director at British Film Institute, Caroline Rush, CEO at British Fashion Council and Jan Dalley, the Financial Times’ arts editor. In 2016, a new opera installation by artist Emily Hall will run from 25th January to the 3rd March.

Revealing the secret life of a hotel, Hall’s work will take guests on a sonic journey through many of the Corinthia Hotel’s most beautiful spaces where rooms can break into song, and real or imagined dramas are waiting.

Just 12 tickets are available for each performance of this intimate operatic experience: see the dedicated website http://corinthia-air.com for full details. Some tickets include a limited edition print of the libretto, a download code for the music and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne – such notables as Samantha Cameron, Kelly Hoppen and Sienna Miller are rumoured to have snapped up several of these already.

Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place London SW1A 2BD Tel: +44 (0) 020 7930 8181 Email: london@corinthia.com

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HAY HILL M AY FA I R

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eau Brummell was an iconic figure in Regency England. On an early summer’s morning in 1813, Beau was lamenting a run of bad luck which had led him to become almost destitute. Wandering round the corner of Berkeley Square towards Hay Hill, he saw something glistening on the floor. It was a crooked sixpence. He took the coin home, drilled a hole in it, and attached it to his watch chain. The coin, almost overnight, changed his fortunes and became his good luck charm.

Today’s business behaviour has changed; it is now international, connected and continuous.

London, and particularly Mayfair, is noticeably evolving into a global business hub. 12 Hay Hill offers an entirely new class of business environment and has become the luxury business venue for established London-based entrepreneurs and emerging international figures.

Members are able to enjoy a luxurious Club where they can conduct business, meet with likeminded individuals and dine, all under one roof.

12 Hay Hill offers its Resident Members a personal office in Mayfair, London, without a commitment to a long-term lease structure in a beautifully refurbished luxury space, decorated by leading interior designers. With fully-furnished, turn-key offices at competitive prices, it offers access to meeting rooms with high-tech audiovisual conferencing facilities, along with allocation of complimentary Club memberships for business residents, with exercise room & shower facilities.

The Club also offers social memberships with full access to all 12 Hay Hill Club areas and access to boardrooms and meeting rooms with audiovisual facilities. The Dining room, terrace, deli, lounge bar and at-desk dining is run by Michelin-starred chef, Shaun Rankin and there is a beautiful garden terrace overlooking Berkeley Square. 12 Hay Hill is set to become the premium membership club in London and ideal for those flying in and out of the capital on an ad hoc basis.

12 Hay Hill Lond on, W1 J 6 DQ Unite d Kingd om w w w. 1 2 ha y hill. c om 30

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he concept of ZUMA was born as a result of one chef’s obsessive passion with Japanese cuisine and an entrepreneur with integrity and vision. The meeting between Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney not only resulted in the realisation of a vision with Zuma restaurant in London, but was also the beginning of a partnership that successfully expanded the concept worldwide.

Greatly influenced by his time in Japan, chef Rainer Becker has introduced a modern elegant and sophisticated cuisine philosophy, which has been inspired by the more informal Japanese dining style – Izakaya. Essentially it is made up of three different components: the main kitchen – offering a selection of contemporary dishes, the Sushi Bar – with dedicated sushi chefs, and the Robata Grill – a concept which originates from the cooking style of northern Japanese fishermen.

An exciting and innovative range of drinks perfectly complement the cuisine. Indeed ZUMA boasts the first sake sommelier in Europe. Such is Becker’s dedication to sake, that he serves 40 different varieties, including his own Biwa no Choju, which is brewed exclusively for Zuma from the waters of Lake Biwa in the Shiga prefecture. The lake’s natural mineral water was made legendary in Japan by the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshiro, who in the 15th century created the rules that govern Japanese cooking styles and tea ceremonies today.

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In addition to the wines and sakes offered in the restaurant, the award-winning bar at ZUMA is a destination in its own right. This unique and celebrated venue is renowned for its signature cocktails using premium ingredients and select Japanese spirits.

An essential component of ZUMA, is in its surroundings that are inspired by the 4 elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Air. The esteemed Japanese design company “Super Potato” was commissioned to materialise the vision.

Their designer, Noriyoshi Muramatsu, quickly developed an emotional attachment to the project and used his expertise, both spiritually and aesthetically.

Amid his symbolic design, he introduced calming water features and used antique pine, re-cycled from old Japanese houses. He believes the wood to hold the goodwill of the previous owners. Indeed it took over 3 months of travel and research, to locate the exact granite and different woods that were ultimately selected for the project.

Now with his own design firm, Studio Glitt, Noriyoshi Muramatsu is as involved in the creation of the interiors in each Zuma around the world, as he was with the first in 2002.

For Chef Rainer Becker, ZUMA is about a complete dining experience. An experience where each element is of equal importance, yet each element serves the same purpose – to complement the taste and flavour of the food.

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Going for Gold Britain’s leading jewellery designer, Theo Fennell

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Jewellery should be something talismanic and precious, beautifully made to last and not at the ephemeral whim of fashion: it should be truly owned. Jewellery has that power – it is a very romantic, sexy and emotional thing,” says Theo Fennell, owner of the eponymous jewellers in Chelsea and Britain’s leading jewellery designer.

Theo spent his childhood living all over the world, thanks to his father’s army career. Born in Egypt, whose enigmatic Sphinx inspired a lifelong obsession with the beautiful and the mysterious, Theo lived in Penang, Singapore, Pakistan, France and Germany before coming back to be educated and live in England. The influence of these early years remains everpresent in his work, with many of his designs inspired by the landscapes of his childhood.

At Eton in the 1960s Theo surprised his teachers by becoming the first pupil there in living memory to go to art college. He first studied at the York School of Art and then at Byam Shaw (now part of UAL), and began in portraiture. He soon realised he would starve if he continued down this path, and by pure fate was then offered a job at the great silversmiths Edward Barnard where he discovered an aptitude for silver and jewellery design, as well as a huge respect for craftsmanship.

Theo takes great pride in being involved with every phase of creation so that the Theo Fennell vision is realised to the last detail. There is a dialogue and story behind every piece, as he incorporates quirky, beautifully-detailed design with classical and romantic tradition, meaning that every piece is distinctive and inspirational, with a healthy dose of British wit.

It is these high standards of excellence that are the cornerstones of Theo’s philosophy, and to ensure consistent quality, he insists that the majority of his jewellery and silver is made by craftsmen that he has worked with for many years. He stresses the importance of longevity over fashion; the idea that such excellently crafted pieces can outlive us all, and be passed down through generations. “Jewellery should be emotionally engaging and life-enhancing,”

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says Theo. ‘It is the marriage of design and craftsmanship with beautiful and rare materials that gives romance and prominence to proper jewellery and silver.”

His passion for invention, craftsmanship and originality remain the ethos of the business.

Theo Fennell is about more than just jewellery and silver; it is about adding a personal touch,

whether that means including an inherited stone in a new design, hand-enamelling a street sign on one of his witty Railings bangles, or engraving a silver sleeve to match one’s drink of choice. The most important thing is that clients are presented with something of unrivalled originality. Imagination is paramount, and there are almost lengths to which Theo will not go to create something which is totally unique.

As well as his one-offs and masterworks, Fennell also designs jewellery which is inherently wearable and of course, impeccably crafted. He has numerous famous fans including Lady Gaga, Cara Delevingne, David Beckham and Sir Elton John, on whose AIDS Foundation committee he sits. He also creates bespoke trophies and gifts for companies, charities and events such as The Italian Formula One Grand Prix, The Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, The Dubai Championship Stakes, the Man of the Match Trophy for the FA Cup Final and the Nordorff Robbins Silver Clef Awards.

Many of Theo’s pieces are now in private collections and investors are keen to snap up his iconic creations. As Martin Downer, Head, Jewellery International Sotheby’s, says; “Theo Fennell will become one of a handful of names who will be collected in his own right.”

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Theo Fennell, 169 Fulham Rd, London SW3 6SP Tel: +44 (0) 020 7591 5000 www.theofennell.com

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Spencer Hart

THE BRAND 2002-2016

The History Luxury menswear brand taking inspiration from 50’s Hollywood, Jazz & Palm Springs...

Founded in 2002, Spencer Hart was the creation of Design and Visionary Creative, Nick Hart. Having previously owned and operated a sales and marketing firm working with leading fashion brands in the United Kingdom, Nick Hart went on to work with Aquascutum, Kenzo and Timothy Everest, before launching Spencer Hart on Savile Row. The brand which is named after his son and best friend Spencer, created what Hart felt was missing from the ‘Row’ and the world

of tailoring. This was a purist outlook on menswear, no garish prints or excessive fabric usage but simple, tailored pieces in monochrome and dark rich blue fabrics. The brand was about creating a little fun and adding it to what is a very serious fashion purchase. Original suits included a sewn in label citing ‘We sincerely hope you get laid in this’ showcasing the brands raffish and playboy ways, something many other tailors dare not do.

The brand has evolved with the inspiration of music and 50’s Hollywood in its roots. Hart, who cites the likes of

Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder as some of his musical heroes, explains that this period was so stylish, not so much because of what the clothes were, but how they photographed in Black and White. Often a great ‘grey’ suit was never grey at all, but bright orange, the black and white photo

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showed it in a much more fantastic light and was set in history.

This adds to Hart’s vision that less is more and that the customer should never know why they look so good – an understated cool, an edgy elegance

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The Craft A brand with heritage that has evolved from traditional tailoring methods and manufacturing...

A brand with heritage is hard to create, but over the last 14 years evolving out of traditional craftsmanship,

Spencer Hart has created a world that merges 21st

Century Hollywood and Music with the historical cutting methods that date back to Savile Row origins of the 1700’s.

The Retail A luxury men’s store concept rolled out across Mayfair with concessions at leading retailers...

Launching a flagship store in Brook Street late 2011 the brand cemented its position in Mayfair as a luxury

brand, taking on a store in the prime retail position on Brook Street opposite the iconic Claridges Hotel.

The Talent Working with world class talent from the worlds of film, television, music and entertainment...

The talent list at Spencer Hart grows every month with new additions to the celebrity and influential roster from the worlds of Music, Film, Television and

Entertainment. Just some of the celebrities that have graced the Spencer Hart stores and tailoring products include...

Prince William P.Diddy Orlando Bloom David Beckham Paul McCartney Robbie Williams Dermot O’Leary Kanye West Jay Z Benedict Cumberbatch Damian Lewis Rolling Stones Pierce Brosnan David Bowie Miles Kane Alex Turner John Legend Freddie Ljungberg Rhys Ifans Anna Friel Kate Bosworth Dominic West Matthew McConaughey Usher Simon Le Bon Alexander Skaarsgard Stellan Skaarsgard Daniel Radcliffe Lee Evans Derren Brown

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Bang on

TREND London-based award winning textiles designer Banke Kuku fuses traditional West African and Western-eclectic inspiration

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s African-inspired art and design continues to make waves on the London scene, Lagos-born Banke Kuku is one of the hottest designers on the block. With her unique take on West African and western looks, she creates intricate, unique and luxurious fabrics for interiors, soft furnishings and fashion.

Banke moved to the United Kingdom at the age of eight and this cultural fusion heavily influences her bold patterns, resulting in statement prints with captivating impact.

Nicknamed the ‘Queen of Colour’, Banke’s design aesthetic comes together in a striking kaleidoscope of colour and vibrancy and her designs have been described as ‘exquisite pieces of art’ by one of the world’s most influential trend forecasters, Lidewij Edelkoort.

Banke has extensive experience in the textiles industry. She graduated from Central St Martin’s College and then Chelsea College of Art and Design, having studied textiles, subsequently authoring a book on the Nigerian textiles industry. After interning at a number of international fashion houses, she subsequently launched her brand. In 2014, she was singled out from thousands of applicants to win Triumph’s ‘Women in Making’ competition for female creatives, selected by a judging panel that included such fashion stalwarts as Roksanda Ilincic and Sophia Webster.

She established her company in 2011 and to date her key inspiration has been the

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explosion of life and colour in her native West African tropical rainforest (the Niger Delta). She has woven these designs into luxury fabrics and textures to create a unique, striking aesthetic.

Her pieces are intense, quirky and elegant.

The resultant intrepid designs, through collaborations with fashion houses including Duro Olowu, Jewel by Lisa, Virgos Lounge and Lot78, have been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama, singer Kelis and Cat Sadler.

Each fabric produced by Banke Kuku Textiles in its beauty tells a unique African story ranging from native parables to current issues within the continent. This marriage of cultures come together to create what is seen as modern Africa.

With its interior collections and newly born fashion accessory line, Banke Couleaur which has been worn by the likes of Franca Sozanni, Chief Editor of Vogue Italia, the brand continues to place modern Africa on an international platform. Banke’s pieces are stocked in major stores, such as Selfridges, and many HNW Nigerians are proud owners of Banke Kuku originals.

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Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2000 perfectly combines the character of Chardonnay with the classic style of Lanson. Honouring the generations that gave the House its name, this Champagne is a divine aperitif or complement to any outstanding seafood or poultry dish. It also serves as an ideal accompaniment to your traditional Christmas dinner because of its freshness and subtlety against the dryness of the festive turkey. Its light gold in colour, sweet aromas of white flowers and hints of honey are set off by citrus fruit notes. On the palate, delightful fruity flavours of summer pears and yellow peaches combine for an elegant finish – making it a superb choice throughout the festive period.

Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2000 is a refined Champagne combining mineral, complex and subtle flavours and is a true delight for Champagne and chardonnay enthusiasts. It is synonymous with the Champagne Lanson style and embodies all the excellence of this renowned Champagne House, with its fruity flavour, elegance and freshness, enhanced by the finesse of the Chardonnay grape.

The limited edition Blanc de Blancs 2000 is available by the glass at the Hotel du Vin, The Goring and The Chesterfield Mayfair.

EVENTS 2015 Bringing leading global Real Estate products to local markets through strategic partnerships

Unveiling Worthams Windsor exclusive ‘Private’ property portfolio services and international real estate opportunities in partnership with Vista Jet Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos Wednesday March 4th, 2015

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Unveiling of the Trasacco Group’s exclusive Accra (Ghana) based luxury property collection Trasacco Springs / Villaggio Vista / Aurora / Trasacco Valley Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos Thursday May 14th, 2015

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Unveiling of the Berkeley Homes exclusive property collection of London based properties 375 Kensington High Street / 250 City Road / Royal Arsenal Waterfront Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos Wednesday August 12th, 2015

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INTERVIEW

Interview with Paul Little, Managing Director of Wrothams Windsor UK

Why did you set up Wrothams Windsor?

Prior to setting up Wrothams Windsor with Richard Vedelago, I was involved in a group of companies specialising in interior design and build. I led the group concentrating on offering interior solutions with a truly turn key design and build service to overseas property investors.

This involved working extensively throughout South East Asia and the Middle East furnishing properties ranging from towers in Dubai to boutique hotels in the UK. A number of years ago I met Richard and found that we had the same vision on offering international property to the West African market. That is when we decided to create what has now become one of Africa’s leading property companies specialising not only in domestic real estate, but also cherry picking the very best opportunities from around the world. We now offer prime real estate in Dubai, France, the US and the UK, to name but a few.

What is your role within Wrothams Windsor?

My primary focus is on sourcing the best real estate opportunities available in the UK today. These range from high end houses

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and apartments in some of the most exclusive addresses in London to commercial property acquisitions offering high guaranteed returns.

I liaise with the top UK developers and agents in order to keep abreast of the latest developments and opportunities that may be of interest to our clients. I also personally visit the sites to ensure we have first hand knowledge of the opportunities we are presenting to our clients. This is just part of what makes Wrothams Windsor different from other realty advisors – our clients’ objectives and investment needs are at the heart of everything we do.

The UK office has a number of integral roles within the group, including being the headquarters of client services. In essence our client services team liaises between our clients, developers and solicitors to make any property purchase as straight forward as possible. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our clients and it is due to the diligence and experience of our client services team that we are able to do this as standard.

How attractive is the London property market to overseas investors at present?

London is still the pinnacle for investors looking to purchase overseas and has always had the reputation of being the most stable market for overseas investors. This, coupled with the UK property law, makes the acquisition not only straight forward, but also very safe.

One only has to look at the growth London has undergone over the last 20 years (with some areas, such as Marylebone, experiencing growth of nearly one thousand per cent over that time) to see that London is a globally-unique market.

The growth trend shows no sign of slowing either. The BBC recently reported that over the next 10 years house prices in London are forecast to nearly double.

In addition, the UK economy is forecast to overtake France in 2018 and Germany by 2030, which will only fuel the UK property market over this time and help to make London an attractive proposition for investors.

The city’s population, currently around 8 million, is expected to hit 10 million in

a few years’ time but house building in London is running at half the level needed to meet demand, meaning the supply demand ratio will continue to tilt in the direction of savvy investors.

Where else in the UK would do you think investors should be looking?

The main price increases outside London have been seen in towns where the new Crossrail line will be heading. Crossrail is Europe’s largest infrastructure project with 42 km of tunnels being dug under London along with 10 new stations. This will bring 1.5 million people within a 45-minute commute of London. Areas such as Slough, Maidenhead and Reading have seen large increases over the past 7 years. House prices along the Crossrail line have increased by 52 per cent since construction began in May 2009, outpacing the average house price growth in England during that time of 30 per cent.

Whitechapel, in East London, tops the list for growth though as it is ripe for regeneration and so will experience good growth.

Other cities that have been performing well for our client’s include Liverpool and Manchester which have seen impressive growth over the last couple of years.

Do you think the new 3 per cent rise in Stamp Duty will deter property investors to the UK? Although 3 per cent sounds a large increase in Stamp Duty, when you compare this to the growth experienced over the last 20 years and look forward to the growth expected over the next 10 years, this shouldn’t be cause for concern.

In the short term, I believe the increase could be negotiated off the asking price depending on the acquisition and developer. In the longer term I think investors will get used to the increase and the market will work with it accordingly.

You mentioned Wrothams Windsor offers Commercial Property Investments, what type of investments are these?

We offer a range of yield-based property investments starting from £25,000. These

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investments have proved very successful with clients receiving assured yields and solid growth. We offer student accommodation situated in major UK university cities from Birmingham and Liverpool to Sheffield and Leeds. In addition, we offer investors the chance to purchase airport parking at some of the UK’s busiest airports. We have seen great success for clients at sites such as Glasgow and Gatwick Airports with yields of 8 per cent net guaranteed for the first two years. Yields are then expected to rise to 12 per cent net over the following three years. This investment has been very well received by investors and

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with new parking opportunities soon to become available at Birmingham, Manchester and Heathrow Airports I’m sure it will continue to grow in popularity.

What does the future hold for Wrothams Windsor?

We are already embarking on a significant growth strategy, with new offices planned and new investment opportunities sought. It’s an exciting time in the world of real estate and we couldn’t be more enthused, well-placed or ready to offer our clients the investments they need to drive their portfolios forward.

LONDON T: +44 (0)207 118 8808 ABUJA T: +234 (0)705 1000 500 LAGOS T: +234 (0)809 1111 304 DUBAI T: + 971 4 556 1534

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PRIME LOCATION High Net Worth Individuals are a key source of demand for the prime London residential markets, says Lucian Cook, Head of Savills Residential Research

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he UK is home to some 550,000 high net worth individuals (HNWIs) according to the 2015 CAP Gemini/Royal Bank of Canada World Wealth Report, putting it in the top five globally behind the US, Japan, Germany and China. Many of these individuals, from both the UK and overseas, own a main residence in London as well as investing in property to let out.

Over the past 10 years, the total number of global HNWIs (with net worth of over $1 million) has risen by 77 per cent according to the CAP Gemini/Royal Bank of Canada report. Importantly, this growth has been broadly consistent across various tiers of wealth. Overall, the wealth of HNWIs is forecast to rise by a further 25 per cent over the next three years according to the CAP Gemini/ Royal Bank of Canada report. Meanwhile Wealth-X is forecasting that the number of ultra high net worth individuals will grow by 24 per cent over the next five years.

Mid and upper tier millionaires and ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWIs), with net assets of $5m to $10m, $10m to $30m and $30m+ respectively, have a progressively greater propensity to buy prime London residential property. In the prime London property market, the growth of private wealth across the European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets is the most relevant. With the improving economic forecasts for the Eurozone (concerns around Greece notwithstanding), the emerging markets of Europe and the Middle East & North Africa cast a positive light on future investment in prime London.

in higher value submarkets. In the aftermath of the election prices across prime London rose by 2.3 per cent on average, having fallen by 1.4 per cent in late 2014.

This reflects the increased transaction costs resulting from successive reforms of stamp duty, and, in the more domestic markets, the ongoing impact of the Mortgage Market Review. It will take time for the market to adjust to these additional constraints before the fundamentals of demand for prime property restore growth.

The key trend will be varied patterns of growth across the different tiers of the prime London market, a broad swathe stretching from Ealing in the west to Canary Wharf in the east and from Highgate in the north to Wimbledon in the south, dictated as much by price band as by location.

As such, the higher value markets of prime central London – where the average house price in the Savills index is around £5 million – are expected to remain flat next year, but record five year growth of 21.5 per cent given the medium term is forecasted for international and domestic economic growth and wealth generation. Prime central London values are currently showing annual price falls of -4.6 per cent, but are expected to have largely absorbed the impact of higher stamp duty charges by the end of 2015, to close 2015 -2.0 per cent down year on year.

Other prime London markets are less impacted by higher stamp duty charges and are expected to see moderate price growth through next year, rising two per cent. However, tighter lending criteria will continue to be a constraining factor for these more domestic markets, capping fiveyear growth at lower than 18.2 per cent.

Market Update

Depth of the market

A decisive election was expected to boost confidence in the prime London market, but it remains relatively price sensitive, particularly

Our own assessment is that there are 399,000 homes worth over £1m in the UK, of which some 70 per cent, or 275,200, are located

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in London. Land Registry records indicate that 20 per cent of all £1m+ homes in the UK are located in the two central London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.

A further 24 per cent are located across the five boroughs of Wandsworth, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, R ichmond and Islington, where the markets are predominantly domestic.

Sales of homes worth £1m+ reached a new peak of 19,000 in 2014 according to HMRC figures, having tripled in number over 10 years and exceeded their 2007 level for the first time since the credit crunch. These statistics reflect both the level of wealth generated globally and domestically over the past 10 years.

Some of the tax changes implemented in the past 12 months probably mean that, for the moment at least, 2014 will represent a high watermark for £1m+ transactions. However, underlying indicators suggest that demand for such property in London is likely to continue to grow, thereby underpinning prices and transaction levels over the medium term.

This will moderate price growth. As such, we have pushed out our five year forecasts by a year to 18 months, with the expectation that price growth to the end of 2020 will average a total of 21.5 per cent in the prime central London market. Over the medium term we expect to see the area defined as prime grow and evolve, particularly in line with the changing nature of wealth generation in the capital. Regeneration and infrastructure improvements are likely to continue this trend over the longer term.

In brief, the fundamentals of wealth generation support medium term price growth.

However, this is likely to be muted in the short term as the market, which currently looks fully valued and fully taxed, adjusts to a new fiscal and regulatory backdrop.

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Financial

INSIGHT Access Bank is the bank of choice for Nigerians looking to invest in the London property market, says CEO Jamie Simmonds

Access Bank Nigeria has seen great growth over the last 10 years and is now firmly positioned as one of Nigeria’s leading banks. When did you expand in the UK and what was the rationale behind setting up the UK office?

We started the work to obtain the licence in the UK at the beginning of 2008. We were authorised by the UK Regulators in August 2008 and we opened our doors for operations in October 2008. The creation of the OECD hub at this stage was important to the Group as they continued their rapid but sustainable expansion. Prior to The Access Bank UK there was a lot of value leaving the Group because of the amount of transactions such as letters of credit that needed to be dealt with from an OECD perspective and these were being given to competitors, including other Nigerian banks. Whilst our Trade Finance business is the largest element of our UK operations our

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Commercial Banking and Asset Management units are also key to the business.

The first five-year plan was built on a gradual increase in revenues as awareness and recognition of The Access Bank UK was established.

We are regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and we operate as any other bank in the UK environment. We are independent within the Group with our own capital and regulatory requirements.

If someone asks us to confirm a letter of credit, it is the equivalent of asking any other OECD approved bank.

Towards the end of the first five-year plan we extended our offering to include discretionary wealth management solutions in-house.

We are managing bespoke portfolios for our ultra high net worth and high net worth clients while investing in stocks, shares and bonds on a global basis. We also met a growing need for our customer base, which is predominantly Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria, that wanted to invest primarily in the London property market. This recognised that we are a natural provider of this type of finance.

We have continued to expand that and in the last two years our book has grown and is now in the range of ÂŁ50-100 million either drawn or waiting to be drawn. We are competitive in the market place lending on investment properties up to 65 per cent of their value and up to age 70 for both buy-to-let purposes as well as owner occupation. We offer competitive fees and interest rates and work with a number of firms that know the market well.

We are selective with the firms that we work with in order to provide an end-to-end service for our customers looking at the London market. We are able to put them in touch with professionals with whom we have a long standing relationship and we have a panel of

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solicitors who know the market very well and who can help customers through some of the legal requirements. We also access valuers that can provide customers true market prices when it comes to the property in question. We will look at properties outside of London but it tends to be the exception to the rule.

Where do the Nigerians like to buy in general?

There is a focus on prime and super prime properties in the north of London, such as St John’s Wood and Edgware. At the moment it is mainly buy-to-let investments with advances ranging from £100,000 up to £9m. We have now expanded our services to provide owner-occupied mortgages.

Many of our Nigerian customers use their property in London as a base for themselves and their family. In addition they are also building a property investment portfolio on buy-to-let terms.

Do people ask your advice about where to invest in the property market?

No as we tend to find that most customers either already have a clear view on where they want to invest or are using the services of a professional search company.

What about the lengths of mortgages?

Our buy-to-let property loans are available on a repayment or interest only basis of typically up to 15 years, whilst our residential mortgages loans are available for a term typically up to 25 years. We will lend to the age of 70.

Are your customers exclusively Nigerian?

Can you lend to anybody within the UK? No they are not exclusively Nigerians but we are a wholly-owned Nigerian bank and that is our natural market. The key thing for us is that we are not a transactional bank.

Our relationship-based approach focuses on understanding our customers personal and business financial needs and developing products and services in response to meet those needs by leveraging our knowledge of businesses in the Nigerian and Sub-Saharan African marketplace to inform and tailor our approach.

How important is transparency?

Transparency is critical to us and we will not deal other than on that basis. The regulations are rightly strict – this is why

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our approach is relationship-based and not transactional. We will not entertain a customer unless we are absolutely certain that they met our ‘know your customer’ requirements and there are no money laundering issues.

This is how we have built our credibility in the market place as a respectable bank and a responsible partner for our customers.

We take our customers’ privacy very seriously, we operate under the UK Data Protection Act and as such do not share customer data with any other parties not even our own parent company.

Is the market cooling slightly at the moment?

There is some evidence that the rate of increases are slowing. However it very much depends on the purpose for acquisition, i.e. rental or for residential ownership and also the location.

What is your advice to potential Nigerians looking to invest in the London property market?

Come and see us! We will work with you to give you the right solution. We have a team of dedicated relationship managers who will help guide you through the whole process from property search to application and finally completion.

What does the future hold for The Access Bank UK and what are the keys areas of growth?

2014 was the most successful year since the formation of the Bank in 2008. We grew profits year-on-year by 137 per cent, the fastest rate of growth that we have achieved to date. It was a transformational year and what we are intent on doing is building on the range of solutions that we have in place for customers and that very much includes the property market.

In addition to our Lagos representative office situated on the Osborne Estate, Ikoy, we have also established a Dubai marketing representative office located in The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). We have worked hard to build a sound reputation and we enjoy a good relationship with all of our key stakeholders. The next challenge will be to build on this through sustainable, controlled growth. This will ensure that The Access Bank UK will continue to deliver valued goods, services and support to our customers.

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Access Private Bank Chief Investment Officer (CIO) +44 (0) 20 3178 3727 Deputy CIO + 44 (0) 20 3178 3729 Please email us at: contact@accessprivatebank.com Or visit our website: www.accessprivatebank.com

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AFRICA NOW: MODERN AFRICA Wednesday 25 May 2016 New Bond Street, London

BEN ENWONWU, M.B.E (NIGERIAN, 1917-1994) Anyanwu 91cm (35 13/16in) high £100,000 - £150,000

Modern & Contemporary African Art is one of the fastest growing and most exciting fields in today’s art market.

The ‘Africa Now’ auctions at Bonhams are entering their eighth year and as the market leader in the category we hold the world records for many top artists such as Ben Enwonwu, Yusuf Grillo and El Anatsui.

bonhams.com/africanow

ENQUIRIES africanow@bonhams.com +44 (0) 20 7468 8551

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Herbert Wigwe – CEO Access Bank Plc, Adolfito Cambiaso – Most Valuable Player, Gbenga Oyebode Chairman of Access Bank Plc, HRH Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede former Access Bank Plc CEO.

2015 ACCESS BANK FIFTH CHUKKER POLO DAY As part of its continued support of UNICEF, Access Bank Group, along with Fifth Chukker, The Access Bank UK and Access Private Bank hosted the Access Bank Polo Day at the Guards Polo Club, Windsor on Saturday June 13.

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Under the wonderful sunshine at the spectacular location of Guards Polo Club more than 300 esteemed guests of Access Bank and Fifth Chukker were in attendance. The distinguished dignitaries included HRH, Emir of Kano – Muhammadu Sanusi II, Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe, Chairman of Access Bank Gbenga Oyebode, former Access Bank CEO Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Forte Oil – Femi Otedola, MD Yinka Folawiyo Group – Tunde Folawiyo, Senator Daisy Danjuma and Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu.

During the lunch guests were formally welcomed by Jamie Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of The Access Bank UK Limited.

Access Bank Plc Group’s Managing Director Herbert Wigwe highlighted that the objective of the event was to raise further awareness around the issues and support required to continue the development and initiatives to help orphaned and vulnerable Children in Nigeria. Mr Wigwe explained: “Our support for the Fifth Chukker UNICEF initiative comes from the fact that we are conscious of our role as a change agent in Nigeria that can help support socioeconomic development through responsible business practice and environmental

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considerations. In addition, we are continually seeking ways through which more resources can be pooled towards supporting the children. We are part of the community and as such should support its well-being�.

The polo match was watched with interest and excitement. The High Goal polo match for The Access Bank Cup was won by Fifth Chukker/ Access Bank team represented by Ali Saeed Albwardy, Pablo MacDonough, Guillermo Caset and Adamu Atta against Kangimi Resort. World number one Adolfo Cambiaso was sadly injured, but spectators were delighted to see him replaced by his 10 year son Adolfito, who played with both Fifth Chukker / Access Bank and Kangimi Resorts and was named the Most Valuable Player of the day.

For the UNICEF Charity Shield, Damian Duncan teamed up with Juan Cruz Merlos, Agustin Merlos and Mat Lodder in Delaney colours and won against the Power Horse team featuring Walter Scherb, Ahmed Wadada, Ezequiel Martinez Ferrario and Michel Del Carril. After the prize giving, guests adjourned to Dukes Pavilion for an enjoyable celebration featuring a live performance by The Compozers.

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SPORTING GUNS Holland & Holland has a Tradition of Style, Adventure and Exclusivity, says John Stevenson, Head of VIP Client Relations

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olland & Holland guns are celebrated throughout the world as the perfect combination of artistry and craftsmanship. To understand why, you need simply pick one up, balance it in your hands, and allow your eyes to take in every detail of its lines. It displays a purity of design and a functional simplicity that is found more frequently in nature than in the creations of man.

Swing and mount the gun to your shoulder and, immediately, your visual sensation is matched by such perfect handling that you know the gun is ideally suited to its purpose. Such an achievement does not come into being by evolution alone, even though Holland & Holland guns and rifles trace their lineage

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back to the year 1835. Its other parent is curiosity, the desire of the craftsman and gunmaker to see whether an improvement can be made on accepted methods.

The company was founded by Harris Holland in London in 1835 and by the turn of the 19th century had become one of the best known and highly regarded London gun and rifle makers.

Taken forward by his nephew, Henry, who became a partner in 1867 (from then on the company was known as Holland & Holland), the company built a gun factory in Kensal Green in 1898 which has since been in continuous use, and which today combines all the wonders of modern component making technology, with the same care and craftsmanship in

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the gunmaking and finishing operations that Harris and Henry Holland inspired in all their craftsmen all those years ago.

Since 1835, the name of Holland & Holland has been recognised as the benchmark of excellence throughout the world. This quintessentia lly British company’s heritage of superb craftsmanship has formed the basis of its transformation into a global luxury goods brand that focuses on authenticity, heritage and style.

SHOOTING GROUNDS It was realised many years ago that it was no good producing an extensive range of shotguns and rifles if you had no means of adequately testing and regulating them.

So in 1880 the first Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds were established at Kensal Rise, adjacent to the gun-making factory. The Grounds provided facilities for not only testing and regulating both rifles and shotguns, but also for customers to have a shooting session with their own guns, or to be fitted for their new gun using the “try gun”. Over the intervening years the Grounds have moved several times, but since 1932 has established permanent residence at its current home on a 60 acre site in Northwood, Middlesex, a mere 17 miles from central London.

Today’s Shooting Grounds offer unrivalled facilities for the sporting gun. Set in 60 acres of rolling woodland and open countryside, the Grounds combine rural tranquility with superb access to main transport routes such as the M40, M25, Heathrow and the London Underground system. Whether you just want a few practice shots before the season starts, to solve a problem with your shooting style or simply learn from scratch, the experienced instructors at the Shooting Grounds will be able to assist you.

Clay pigeon shooting recently came top in a newspaper poll as the most popular and successful form of corporate entertainment and the extensive facilities available to companies at the Shooting Grounds are quite simply unsurpassed.

With a professional organising team and experienced instructors available, hosts can relax in the knowledge that their guests are in very capable hands.

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The ever present need for gun/rif le regulating and testing carries on unabated and the demand for high quality private, individual and group instruction and gun fitting continues to grow, with customers travelling from far and wide to avail themselves of the expertise of the famous Holland & Holland shooting instructors.

The Shooting Grounds are also the home to the corporate entertainment element of Holland & Holland’s overall business. For most clients, clay pigeon shooting forms the major element of the day and the Ground offers an almost unlimited variety of targets, some catering for the absolute novice with others testing even the most experienced shot.

The instructors are able to coax the very best from guests, ensuring maximum enjoyment on the day. For the even more adventurous, a range of driving activities can be arranged, from off-road Land Rover driving, to quad bikes, pilot cars, mini-hovercraft and many more. Archery and Falconry can also be arranged. Whatever your requirements the experienced team at the Shooting Grounds are happy to accommodate your needs.

In addition, the Shooting Grounds run tailor-made programmes for ladies and children. It was recognised some time ago the importance of lady shooters to our sport and therefore Holland & Holland introduced the Green and Silver Feathers Programme to encourage ladies to experience the pleasures of shotgun shooting. Similarly the The Young Shot programme was introduced as it is with the younger generation that Holland & Holland’s future, and the future of shooting lies.

“It is our policy at Holland & Holland to promote shooting in all its forms to the widest possible audience in the overall interest of the sport”.

For any further information, please contact Holland & Holland on: Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7499 4411 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7499 4544 gunroomuk@hollandandholland.com www.hollandandholland.com Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds: Tel: +44 (0) 01923 825349 Fax: +44 (0) 01923 836266 shooting.grounds@hollandandholland.com

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Ahead of the Curve The Range Rover Holland & Holland sets new heights of elegance and style behind the wheel

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he purity and strength of two iconic British brands, Land Rover and Holland & Holland, have come together in a celebration of British craftsmanship: the Range Rover Holland & Holland. Land Rover’s most luxurious and desirable vehicle, it offers an effortless, elegant and sophisticated driving experience, coupled with sure-footed off road capabilities. It has been created by the Special Vehicle Operations team whose purpose is to produce the finest bespoke vehicles and this is a striking and superbly appointed realisation of that aim.

Craft, precision engineering, distinctive design and decades of expertise in producing Range Rovers are now ingrained in each of these new vehicles.

Unique Holland & Holland engraving is featured throughout, including the rotary gear selector.

This also incorporates sustainably sourced French walnut veneer from a single piece of wood, a reference to the oil-finished gunstocks for which Holland & Holland craftsmen have become famous.

The Range Rover Holland & Holland incorporates several inimitable design features including a spacious leather-trimmed loadspace cabinet with a gun case, with Holland & Holland debossing.

Engineered from aluminium and carbon fibre and finished with leather and wood veneer, 150 individual floor components are used to create a unique platform that slides out effortlessly to ensure the cabinet is easily accessible.

Acanthus scroll engraving on the door handles epitomises the detail found throughout Range Rover Holland & Holland: functional and beautifully built, art and craft are of paramount importance.

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LEGAL INSIGHT Paula Abrahamian from Fletcher Day explains the role of the solicitor in an off-plan property purchase

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he London residential market is still very much “on the up”.

It has been for many years.

“Traditionally”, says Paula Abrahamian, a Partner at the Mayfair-based property firm Fletcher Day, “the London residential market was dominated by the local investor. These days the overseas buyer has taken over. Investing into this buoyant market sees far greater returns than cash deposited into a savings account, so you can understand why so many non-domestic buyers are enticed.”

For most people a property purchase will be one of their biggest investments. For those new to the off-plan property market, the legal requirements can be complex and sometimes confusing, particularly in a jurisdiction unknown to them.

In the UK, the buyer’s solicitor is involved from the moment the reservation fee is paid and the sales memorandum issued. “With the overseas client the first task is to carry out the anti-money laundering checks,” says Paula. “This will include obtaining, at the very least, certified copies of the client’s passport and proof of their current residential address (for instance, a utility bill, bank or credit card statement) which must be no more than 3 months old. These documents must be certified by a solicitor as being true copies of the originals. Proof of funds also needs to be established as it is important to have an understanding of where the funds to finance the transaction are coming from.”

The contract and sales pack are issued by the developer’s law firm and will contain most of the documents needed to set the legal process in motion. The pack will invariably include the usual property searches (local authority, water and drainage, environmental). If not, these will be carried out by the buyer’s solicitor.

Once all the paperwork has been reviewed, enquiries raised and the draft contract agreed,

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the buyer’s solicitor will summarise his or her findings in a ‘report on title’. The buyer is usually given a period of 28 days in which to exchange, but this can be negotiated depending on circumstances.

Most contracts for sale will allow a purchaser to ‘flip’ or ‘transfer’ a property, according to Paula. Usually, a property can be transferred at least once between the date of exchange and the date the buyer is served with a notice of ‘practical completion’ (a notice served by the developer’s contractor once the building is ready and fit for occupation). The original buyer can agree any price with the incoming buyer. “The price will reflect the market value of the property at the time the contract is transferred. To ultimately secure a profit, buyers usually wait at least six months before transferring the contract by which time

there has hopefully been a favourable shift in the market,” explains Paula.

The new-build legal process moves fast so buyers should have their deposits ready from the outset. A 10 per cent deposit will be required on exchange with the balance payable on completion. The construction of a residential development will take anything between 18 to 24 months to complete. Once the notice of practical completion has been served, the buyer will have approximately 10 working days in which to complete the purchase. “So if you’re not a cash buyer be sure to have your funding arrangements in place in good time!”

For further information, please contact Paula Abrahamian +44 (0) 020 7632 1443 or at paula@fletcherday.co.uk.

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Diplomatic INSIGHT Former British High Commissioner Sir Andrew Pocock on the relationship between Nigeria and Great Britain

As a former colony, the connection between the UK and Nigeria is highly embedded within the nation’s history.

When you arrived in Nigeria back in 2012, how would you describe the relationship between the two countries and what were the key directives in your mandate?

The links between the UK and Nigeria do go back a long time. It was fascinating to see Nigeria celebrate its 100th Anniversary of Amalgamation in 2014 (it became a single entity in 1914). There was no chip, no recrimination. The sub-text was that despite all its on-going difficulties, Nigeria was big enough, old enough and confident enough to celebrate the first step towards its emergence as an independent nation state. There was lively debate as to whether, with all its ethnic, cultural and religious differences, Nigeria was better off as a single country. The current consensus is positive. Nigeria as a whole is greater than the sum of its constituent parts, particularly in terms of its political and economic weight, in Africa and beyond.

This background is directly relevant to how Nigeria approaches all its bilateral relationships. In the case of the UK, both sides can credibly see their modern connections, which are multifarious and at every level, as a partnership. Each needs the help and cooperation of the other if business is to be done, from security relationships to the Security Council, and from commercial to cultural activity.

I went to Abuja with one simple but fundamental premise: Nigeria mattered to the UK. Its security, stability, prosperity and development were central to British interests in Africa. And beyond Africa. Given the continent’s growing importance, in an age of global economic impacts, exported terrorism, illegal migration and threats to biodiversity, the fortunes of Africa’s most populous country had broad implications for UK policy, both internationally and here at home in Britain.

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think, about the world’s 21st largest economy, and Africa’s biggest. But given its resource base, and the number of high quality people it possesses, there has been no linear progression in terms of its development, of infrastructure, output or amenity.

There should, simply, not be the deficits in quality of life that one sees everywhere, nor the grotesque inequalities in wealth and opportunity between the tiny elite and the vast body of Nigeria’s people – “the masses”, as the local media inevitably describe them.

Much needs to be done to address this, to help Nigeria move sustainably towards achieving its full potential. The latter could be off the scale. The country could be not just the largest economy in Africa, but as large as all the economies of sub-Saharan Africa combined. Why it isn’t is something I touch on below.

How difficult was it to get to grips with the differences in cultures and, in some respects, languages?

I want to be clear. The pursuit of one’s country’s national interests is the job of any diplomat. But lest this sound like some selfish and narrow mandate, the three main areas of UK concern – security, prosperity and development – are and remain central to Nigeria’s own national project. Economic development and national stability are seriously retarded by an Islamist insurgency in the North, and by organised crime and industrial-scale oil theft in the Delta.

The UK is able and willing to help in both these areas, and Nigeria’s new government is increasingly open to this. So our countries are more and more in a relationship of mutual benefit, which is another definition of partnership.

What surprised you most about the country?

I think it is the disconnect between potential and achievement. An odd remark, one might

My initial reaction is, less that one would think. This is partly because my time as High Commissioner, from 2012 to 2015, was my second coming, as it were. My first posting, in the 1980s, was to Lagos, then the political as well as commercial capital.

I managed to travel widely, within Yorubaland, to Kaduna and Kano, and to Eastern Nigeria. On return, I still had a strong sense of the country’s complexity.

But part of the answer is also that so many Nigerians speak English so well, so distinctively, and have such an unquenchable impulse to communicate, that it always feels possible to get to the heart of the matter.

I insert a necessary health warning here.

While real contact is possible everywhere, without Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani or one of the many other languages of amalgamated Nigeria, the outsider will always lose something in the translation. But there’s plenty to be getting on with!

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Entrance to the Presidential House in Abuja with the iconic Zuma Rock in the background.

Nigeria has the fastest growing economy in Africa at the moment.

In your opinion, what are the country’s strengths and weaknesses, and how can it realise its potential?

My second health warning. Nigerian growth has slowed from between 6-7 per cent a year in recent times to 4 per cent or less. This is the result of the oil price fall in the last quarter of 2014, exacerbated by difficulties in the Eurozone and China. Given its population growth and much embedded poverty, unevenly distributed growth of even 4 per cent is less good that it might appear.

But there are other, serious, structural problems. The U.S. once imported 30 per cent of Nigeria’s oil production. Since the

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fracking revolution, it now imports nothing.

Finding new markets in a glut is hard. Brazil and India are taking some product, but distances are greater, and cost and competition higher. Nigeria’s management of its hydrocarbon industry has also been woeful. The major producers have not been accommodated, marketing remains opaque, and revenue diversion defrauds the treasury. The Niger Delta also remains the largest crime scene in the world, with communities ignored, the environment polluted and the Federation Account denied perhaps $1 billion a month, on top of the revenue diversion above.

This goes directly to Nigeria’s two greatest economic weaknesses: first, over-

dependence on and mismanagement of a single commodity – a double whammy and a crippling blow to government, which depends on hydrocarbon exports for about 80 per cent of its revenue and foreign exchange; and, second, pervasive corruption.

But strengths remain. Nigeria won’t dry up and blow away. It retains huge reserves of oil and gas. Its services sector is expanding, in the finance, telecoms and creative arts sectors.

Agriculture, at 30 per cent plus, is a substantial contributor to GDP, and remains the only feasible large-scale provider of employment in the near future.

There is vast potential in the health and education sectors for providers with the nous and intestinal fortitude to approach

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them. And the pent-up demand of a growing population will keep it a serious market.

But to realise potential, two areas need immediate attention: governance and infrastructure. The first is important for many reasons. The Federal Government needs to set the tone and direction; address corruption and organised crime; tackle Boko Haram and the economic and social conditions that encourage radicalisation; and review Nigeria’s economic, commercial and monetary governance, to ensure that it is sufficiently reformed to make a credible, modern offer to potential investors, local and foreign.

Nigeria needs, right now, to begin a targeted, sustained and effective investment in infrastructure, over many years, to put in the underpinning for a modern economy. The chief need is power, but roads, working health and water systems, and improved telecoms and aviation facilities are all important.

Government of itself cannot do this. But it can send the right signals and show genuine intent. This will open broad opportunities for the private sector, which with international partners will be able to help Nigeria begin the long march to a competitive economic environment, and decent living standards for its population.

Many Nigerians have second homes in London and they have strong ties to the UK. Are these ties strengthening?

Some people claim the Nigerian diaspora in the UK is a million strong. The truth is probably about 250,000, but no one really knows.

Why it might seem larger is because of the increasing integration of Nigerians into the UK’s national life. We’re all familiar with their contribution to sport, but many are now prominent in business and the professions, as religious leaders, in the Commons and Lords, in the media and show business.

This trend will continue and is a good thing.

There is rightly concern about immigration fraud from Nigeria. But our governments are working ever more closely on this, and President Buhari has publicly recognised the damage that illegal immigration and people trafficking inflicts on targeted countries and Nigeria’s image. But the balancing story is the overwhelming proportion of Nigerian visitors and returning UK residents who proceed on their lawful occasions, to study, trade, visit family and build the network of

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personal and business relations on which any truly productive relationship between nations must rest.

What are your views on Nigeria’s new President, Muhammadu Buhari, and how do you see the immediate and long-term future of the country under his rule?

The President has already done something remarkable. In a political system where rigging is both expected and an art form, he did the unprecedented by achieving the first change of a ruling party through peaceful electoral means. He has also articulated not just what Nigerians want, but what Nigeria needs – an end to the Boko Haram insurgency, to corruption, and to economic stagnation. To put it positively, security, probity and prosperity.

Brave things to say, and much easier said than done. Appointing a government has been much delayed by the search for Ministers without a compromised past. The depths the President has had to mine give perspective on the scale of the problem. His long-term legacy will depend to a large extent on the success of his immediate appointments and actions, and the momentum or otherwise they generate. So the stakes, like the expectations, are high.

After 3 years in office, how would you describe the relationship between the UK and the Nigeria you left behind, and what advice would you give to your successor?

I would rest on my earlier assertion that the

UK and Nigeria have a long-established partnership. We can and must build on this, in the security, commercial/economic and migration fields. And Nigeria’s friends would like to see it assert its considerable influence, in Africa and beyond, on the side of a rulesbased international order.

I have refrained from offering advice to my successor. The new High Commissioner will make up his own mind. But he has two things to build on. I’ve not in my career seen as much genuine interest from the British Government in helping and working with an incoming Administration. There’s real commitment there. All we need is for the Nigerian Government to meet us half-way.

And it’s worth noting again how closely UK interests and efforts align with President Buhari’s priorities above.

While now retired from your Post, do you have any plans to re-engage with Nigeria from a more business perspective?

I have no immediate plans, except to effect social re-entry into the United Kingdom!

But I have friends in Nigeria and an abiding interest in the progress and success of the country. So, never say never.

Andrew Pocock was High Commissioner in Nigeria from December 2012 to August 2015.

Before that, he had been Head of Mission in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Canada, and served 34 years in the British Diplomatic Service.

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UK PROPERTY LISTINGS

250 City Road Islington, EC1 – By Berkeley Homes Located just eight minutes’ walk from Old Street, 250 City Road is a landmark development designed by world renowned architects Foster + Partners. These spectacular apartments and penthouses offer stunning City views as well as residents’ facilities including a gym and terrace, luxurious 20 meter swimming pool and spa, concierge facilities and residents’ lounge.

Amenities • • • • •

24-hour Conceirge • Luxurious 20m pool and spa with Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room Gym • Residents’ lounge • Just under 2 acres of beautifully landscaped public realm Secure underground parking • 2 floors of Grade ‘A’ office space and studio space for tech start-ups 190 bedroom 4* hotel • 40,000 sq ft of retail space to include shops, bars and restaurants 360* views from both towers (10th floor and upwards)

Availability 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses.

Prices from £865,000 Contact 0207 118 8808 www.wrothamswindsor.com

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250 City Road: Ideally placed for work or leisure Register your interest 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses available from ÂŁ865,000 to ÂŁ4 million Call +234 (0)809 1111 304 or email info@wrothamswindsor.com for more information.

Details correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Computer Generated Image of 250 City Road is indicative only.

www.250cityroad.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

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190 Strand Westminster, WC2 – By St Edward, Berkeley Group

190 Strand is a flagship development by St Edward, offering a range of bespoke apartments, townhouses and penthouses. Located in the world famous Strand, this new iconic landmark will be closely linked to the richest aspects of London living.

Amenities • • • • •

24 Hour Concierge World famous location Stylish business suite Luxurious swimming pool & Spa Allocated valet parking included

Availability A collection of bespoke apartments, townhouses and penthouses.

Prices from £1,465,000 Contact London: 0207 118 8808 Lagos: 0809111304 Abuja: 07051000500 Dubai: +971 4 5561534 www.wrothamswindsor.com

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Kidbrooke Village Kidbrooke, SE3 – By Berkeley Homes

Merlin Court is a stunning collection of apartments within a highly desirable location in London. Residents also have an impressive range of facilities for their exclusive enjoyment within the Clubhouse.

Amenities • • • •

Convenient transport links, such as on-site buses and train station Plenty of green open spaces, bigger than Green Park On-site supermarket, doctor, dentist, chemist with more to arrive E xclusive access to the resident only Clubhouses, to include first class gym, bespoke swimming pool, executive business suite, cinema room and more • 24 hour Concierge • Close proximity to Blackheath Village and Greenwich Availability 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.

Prices from £505,000 Contact 0207 118 8808 www.wrothamswindsor.com

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Beaufort Park Hendon, NW9 – By St George, Berkeley Group

Beaufort Park is North-West London’s most exciting new destination, offering a range of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments overlooking beautifully landscaped courtyards and central parkland.

Amenities • Range of shops, bars and restaurants •T he spa, a superb health and fitness suite featuring a swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna and steam room • Less than 30 minutes to Central London Availability Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses.

Prices from £264,950 Contact London: 0207 118 8808 Lagos: 0809111304 Abuja: 07051000500 Dubai: +971 4 5561534 www.wrothamswindsor.com

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Waterfront at Royal Arsenal Riverside Woolwich, SE18 – By Berkeley Homes

Introducing a new London waterfront destination at Royal Arsenal Riverside, a stunning new neighbourhood with over 1km of river frontage. Forthcoming on-site Crossrail station.

Amenities • • • • •

Established community with on-site facilities such as doctor, dentist, café, supermarket with more to arrive Forthcoming 4-acre park designed by Gillespies Exclusive access to the first class gymnasium, spa featuring bespoke swimming pool and treatment rooms Unrivalled travel connections to the Capital by rail, air, river and bus.

Many apartments with exceptional far reaching views over the River Thames and towards Canary Wharf.

Availability 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses.

Prices from £367,500 Contact London: 0207 118 8808 Lagos: 0809111304 Abuja: 07051000500 Dubai: +971 4 5561534 www.wrothamswindsor.com

Waterfront II - Now available Ideally located for the forthcoming on-site Crossrail station

F L T T OW EE EE AR NA HR ES TR TR S S H SE WH TES AT T L S UTE ARY AR LWIC D S UTE U O HE INU N L N N N O I I N YA OO P BO MI M CA 8 M ER 14 M W RO V 22 50 I L

Manhattan Suites, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available from ÂŁ367,500.

Call +234 (0)809 1111 304 or email info@wrothamswindsor.com for more information.

Approximate travel times for Crossrail taken from Royal Arsenal Woolwich. Source: www.crossrail.co.uk Computer generated image of Waterfront is indicative only. Price and information correct at time of going to press.

www.royalarsenalriverside.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

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ATLANTIC CHALLENGE Extreme seas and weather conditions are just some of the adverse conditions the Atlantic Lions face as they take on the toughest race on earth

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0ft waves. Hallucinations. Isolation.

Dehydration. Exhaustion. These are just some of the things that four young men faced when they embarked from the Canary Islands in an attempt to row nonstop and unsupported for over 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Antigua.

Charlie Hayward, David Middleton, Joseph Mile and Matthew Townsend are four friends who met at the University of Birmingham. The University crest provided the inspiration for the team name – the Atlantic Lions. For the past two years, they have been planning, training and fundraising for this epic challenge.

On 15th December 2015 they departed from San Sebastián, La Gomera, as competitors in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which has been dubbed the toughest race on earth. They raced against other crews from the UK and around the world in a bid to join an elite club of rowers to have crossed an ocean. Indeed, more people have climbed Everest or been into space. In addition to the personal motivation for taking on this perilous challenge, the lads are aiming to raise £100,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Trust. This is a charity particularly close to the boys’ heart, as sadly David’s uncle, Gary Mayrick, died from the disease in 2009. In order to prepare themselves for this unique and intense race, the Lions had undergone a rigorous routine of physical and mental preparation, ranging from team psychology sessions, strength & conditioning and nutritional advice. Before the race, Joe comments, “We train as often as we

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possibly can, though it can be very hard as we all have full time jobs. We fit it in at all times of the day, I prefer training after work but I know David goes in the morning. The main area we are training in is what I like to refer to as posture training – quads and lower back. We are going to be sitting down for 50 days, so the core muscles need to be very strong.”

The Lions rowed for two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours a day, every day for the duration of the trip, which they hoped to take them around 50 days, weather dependent. When they finally crossed the finish line, the Lions had taken 51 days, 16 hours and 6 minutes.

The race is extremely vulnerable to the weather of the mid-Atlantic; a large storm could easily delay the team by a week. Charlie reveals: “Storms are a big part of the race, we expected that we will hit one large storm and we did.

I was personally looking forward to it, to see how I cope in that environment, to really push myself and see if I am as strong as I think I am.

It didn’t disappoint, we were all pushed to the limit but are stronger for it.”

You can see that the lads are very close when you meet them, and have a relaxed yet focused dynamic. David says, “We all get on really well.

It’s inevitable that we’ll argue at some stage, but we are close enough to be brutally honest with each other, which is incredibly important especially when we are stuck on a 29 ft rowing boat in the middle of the Atlantic with no one around us for 1000s of miles and no escape!”

The reason why these four young men are risked their lives and took on such an incredible

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challenge is to raise money for the MS Trust, a fantastic charity that does incredible work for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers and their families.

The trust provides health professionals that can really make a difference to everyone affected by this incurable disease. Matthew comments, “The MS Trust is such a brilliant charity.

Not many people really know about the disease, but it affects over 100,000 people in the UK alone. When David told us the story about how his uncle, who lived his dream every day climbing in Scotland and then was tragically struck down by MS, it really inspired us and we now have our hearts set on doing everything in our power to raise money and awareness for the Trust.”

One thing that comes across incredibly strongly when you talk to the team is their passion, drive and dedication. They took on an unbelievable challenge that not only tested them physically but also mentally. The mental capacity that is needed to keep getting up, to keep rowing and to keep positive for 50 days at sea is something that most of us struggle to even comprehend.

Wrothams Windsor is extremely proud to be part of such an epic challenge. If you would like to learn more about the team and the race please take a look at their website: www. atlanticlions.com. Here you can read their blogs, learn more about their time at sea, and view the photos from onboard during the race.

There is also a link to their Virgin Money Giving page where you can donate to help the team reach their £100,000 target.

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