Portfolio Magazine, August 2017

August 2017

Mindfulness and calm Achieve in life and at home Local homes with views to thrill

Perfect bake Candice Brown’s comfort food WIN! Tickets to Mamma Mia!

What’s going on in August Open and shut The case for window shutters

TV’s Big Little Lies The story behind the homes

FREE

HANDCROSS SHOWROOM

Ne w cle arance ite m s now av ailable a n d s otob e d. co.uk 0 14 4 4 4 0 1 78 9

Bed shown: Richmond

PORTFOLIO welcome

“We all need some exposure to sun without protection in order for our bones to stay strong and healthy” Home Truths, page 7

“I’ve always been a designer.

Believe me, spending 20 years designing the perfect bra means that I know a thing or two about design!”

Lady Michelle Mone OBE, page 59

“Guilty secret food?

Domino’s pizza every Sunday evening” Eliott Buchet, Head Chef at Jeremy’s Restaurant, page 88

“All but the most style-blind men will now be aware that the unholy trinity of board shorts, flip-flops and a vest are to be avoided at all costs” Style, page 100

WELCOME

I

t’s probably well known that buying a house is more stressful than bankruptcy and divorce, as anyone who has been involved in a lengthy chain and subsequent fall-through will undoubtedly affirm. Frustratingly, there appears to be little one can do, but on page 52 of this issue we have a few helpful tips for minimising the risk of it happening to you.

If you are also in the maelstrom of the school holiday madness that is August, then it’s a pretty good time for us to look at de-stressing.

The current trend of ‘mindfulness’ is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Easier said than done, right? In this issue, our health experts, Elysium, look at the importance of this subject and discuss techniques to help overcome personal anxiety.

On page 66 we also take a look at adding tranquility and peace into the home and discuss the key elements in creating a meditative space. And while you are contemplating all this, why not pour yourself a cup of tea and do some colouring-in on page 84. No, really.

A big thrill for us this month was speaking to the Production Designer of a recent favourite TV series of ours, Big Little Lies, starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. We found out what his job entails, what it’s like working with the stars, and how he chose those gorgeous locations and homes used in the programme. Turn to page 15 As always, interiors and design feature prominently in this issue, with our guide to buying shutters on 76 plus, wealthy lingerie entrepreneur-turned-interior designer, Lady Michelle Mone, discusses her new business venture.

Our competition this month is a chance to win tickets to the great musical Mamma Mia! at The Brighton Centre. Enter now on page 43 and good luck!

Now, all that should help with the August de-stress!

Lynne Edwards Managing Director

For all advertising, editorial and general enquiries

07931 537588

lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO 3

INSIDE

15

104 The PORTFOLIO team Production Editor: Fiona McTernan portfoliomagazineproduction@gmail.com

Designer: Sally Wynn portfoliopublications@dollydesigns.co.uk

66 7

The Hill House seeks Karma

8

Architecture Adding value

15

Chief Sub-Editor & Features Editor: Daniel Frickelton portfoliomagazineeditorial@gmail.com Contributing Editor: Tara de la Motte tara@sussex-homes.co.uk

Contributor: Kate Hill

Cover credit: Hunting-for-George-Loft-Collection-10 www.huntingforgeorge.com

23

Launch of Hill Brow homes

COVER STORY Exclusive interview and story behind the homes in TV’s Little Big Lies What’s Trending In our world

property 24 Feature The best-kept secret in West Sussex

26

31 New Homes

Property News

35 Calendar

Out and about in August

- Competition 43 WIN! Tickets to see Mamma Mia!

54 Celebrity Home

Natalie Portman’s new villa

57 On the drawing board

Get on the professionals’ map

59 Interior Design

Lady Michelle Mone

Published by:

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

24

90 61 65

66 69 76

August Collection Rooms with a view

Talk Money Navigates the pension maze COVER STORY Home tips - Creating a Zen home Gardening Get planning and planting COVER STORY The open-and-shut case for shutters

80 Escape to the country

Cycling route near Peacehaven

82 Golf Guy

Right on course with Ed Foster

STORY 93 COVER Candice Brown’s favourite summer recipe

96

Motors Beautiful Beaulieu

98

Bigger Picture August TV highlights

85 Health

Add mindfulness to your day

86

Local news from around the city

88 Bite-sized

City’s food & drink news

100

Style Stay cool

review 90 Restaurant 104 Interview Magnifique! Chez Mal Brasserie, TV presenter and author Brighton Marina

Fearne Cotton

PORTFOLIO 5

Sussex’s original wooden flooring centre For friendly advice contact 01273 423600 99 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, BN41 1GU www.woodenflooringcentre.com FREE PARKING AT BACK OF SHOWROOM

EXPERT column

THE HILL HOUSE

D

o houses have karma? I ask because I’ve had cause of late to contemplate our neighbours. We’ve lived here for 16 years this September, and without fail (and despite change) the neighbours on one side have always been delightful - on the other side… not so much.

“To my children’s delight, the current occupants have brought a pair of ostentatiously feathered pet chickens with them” On the ‘nice’ side of the terrace, the house has been rented out for as long as we’ve been here and we’ve got to know a fair few residents.

Initially it was leased for years to a group of students, who stayed on for a while as ‘grownups.’ Highlights of this period included fire juggling displays in the garden and opportunities for my two wide-eyed sons to pet their collection of reptiles. Although I’m not a reptile fan, the kids were enthralled, and we got on well with both human and scaly residents. Since the students left we’ve had three different families live there and (to my children’s delight once more) the current occupants have brought a pair of ostentatiously feathered pet chickens with them. I grew up on a smallholding in rural Kent with all manner of fur and fowl, so I’m enjoying waking up to the gentle cluck-clucking of foraging hens. Number 27 seems to attract happy, laid-back and slightly eccentric residents, as well as some particularly good layers.

The other side, though, is a different story. When we moved in, our estate agent had also just sold next door and was still wincing from his encounters with the retired vendors. Their successors were in residence

WHAT’S THE WEATHER DOING? Remarkably, it’s still sunny. Looks like we’re having another heatwave this summer. Fancy coming to the beach?

Heavens no. What about my complexion? And skin cancer? And that’s not even taking into account the toxic fumes from barbeques and the risks posed by jellyfish..

Whoah, hold up a second, there! You think it’s dangerous to go to the beach? Well, there are some risks associated with it, I suppose.

But there are risks associated with crossing the road. Or worse, staying on the sofa all day...

I’m mostly worried about the sun. Someone as fair as I am should probably wear full sun block and a veil, even on cloudy days.

You’re right that having fair skin, blonde or red hair, and having a history of getting sunburned (especially in childhood) can increase your risk of skin cancer. But did you know that we all need some

for 14 years, but our initial attempts at neighbourly friendliness (housewarming, drinks, BBQs) were rebuffed after initial hellos. As time went on, things got stranger and stranger, with Mrs Other-Side spending a lot of time lurking by her net curtains (popping out scarletfaced to shout at me if she spied something she didn’t approve of), noisy mid-week prayer meetings and an eventual icy war of attrition as we failed to meet their high moral standards. The last year of their occupancy (which was also the first year of our rebuild) was truly horrible, and we breathed a much-needed sigh of relief when they moved on. We could be our heathen selves in peace. Things could only get better.

Or not. The curse of number 29 has struck again. Our friendly overtures have been shunned, but not, this time, because of our tendency to inhabit the moral lowground. I suspect, instead, new neighbour is simply disappointed in us. My one face-to-face meeting with him (when he popped round to tell us he was planning building work – which turned out to be the same as ours, but bigger), though short, enabled me to deduce he likes designer labels and expensive watches, and his front drive is filled with a large Porsche, an Audi and a BMW motorbike that he likes to rev a lot at weekends. Despite coming into my home and being offered coffee (he declined), he now doesn’t recognise me when I walk past him on the pavement and say hello – leaving us in a weird limbo. Our lack of interest in flashy cars, motorbikes, black granite worktops - and my status as a middle-aged mother - has rendered me invisible. Never mind. It beats being shouted at. I can always go and talk to the chickens, instead.

Kate Hill exposure to sun without protection in order for our bones to stay strong and healthy?

I can get all the UV I need through my factor 50..

No, you can’t. We need vitamin D to keep our bones healthy, and between March and September every year our bodies make most of the vitamin D we need through direct exposure to sunlight. Lack of direct sunlight can cause diseases like rickets and osteomalacia.

Sitting indoors by a sunny window doesn’t count, because the UVB light your body needs can’t penetrate glass. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, you can get all the UVB you need to make vitamin D from normal exposure to daylight between 11-3pm. It’s only if you’re planning on sitting around in the sunlight for any length of time (as opposed to walking in sun and shade for a short while as you go about your day) that you need to cover up.

Factor 50?

A minimum of factor 15 is recommended; a higher SPF may help protect you, but doesn’t guarantee you won’t burn. There is no totally ‘safe’ way to tan in direct sunlight. Vitamin D can also support your immune function. We don’t get enough of the right UV light to make it from sunlight between October – March, so a stroll down to the beach and a nice cool drink in the shade afterwards could be just what the doctor ordered.

PORTFOLIO 7

BEAUTIFUL homes

ADDING VALUE WITH AN ARCHITECT ARCH-angels Architects talk us through an open-plan extension with seamless access to the garden via sliding doors

I

n 2014 ARCH-angels Architects were appointed to design a singlestorey, side-return extension to the whole depth of the existing kitchen. The client wished to have an open-plan kitchen/dining space with seamless access to the garden via sliding doors. One of the considerations was the connection to the existing reception room and the new space.

The mid-terrace Victorian property is located on Grantham Road within the constraints of Preston Park Conservation Area. Due to its location, planning permission was needed. This is to ensure the impact of the proposed development has minimal effect on the appearance and character of the building and on the setting of the Preston Park Conservation Area.

The extension aligned with the rear wall of the existing property, so the side return infilled the existing open space between the side elevation and the shared boundary with the neighbour.

8  PORTFOLIO

ARCHITECTURE

Design issues The principal design consideration was maintaining the flow into the extended kitchen space from the hallway and also the rear reception room. In these extension projects, the rear reception room can become a dark corridor between spaces, losing its integrity. We avoided this by changing the room’s existing window into a door and retaining the access into the new, enlarged space from the hallway. The room was to be a child’s play room and had plenty of natural light from the roof windows of the new extension.

“The principal design consideration was maintaining the flow into the extended kitchen space from the hallway and also the rear reception room” On site The main site issues arose from there being no access to the ‘site’ from the road. Everything had to be taken through the house, including the large steel beam(s) supporting the existing side wall of the house. The builder suggested using a crane to take the steel beam over the roof of the house and into position, but in the end the beam was ‘spliced’ (divided) into three sections which were easier to carry and could be taken through the house. The other tricky element to the build was the new wall which had to be built on the shared party line between the client’s house and their neighbour. This was initially built in the wrong place due to difficult site conditions, and the client asked for it to be moved, but reluctantly settled for compensation from the builder.

Result The result is a calm, bright space that the clients love and which suits their lifestyle. They have achieved a good-quality space with lovely materials such as the Engineered Wood Parquet flooring and thin frames on the doors, which bring the garden into the room. Another success was the addition of a small downstairs WC under the stairs, which is functional and surprisingly spacious.

Client Testimonial “Nicola was a pleasure to work with, very patient with my demands and always offering great advice on aspects that neither we nor the builder had picked up on. Without a doubt, the use of an architect caused the project to be more successful than it would have been otherwise.

Our subsequent viewings of similar projects by neighbours and friends, completed without an architect, have clearly confirmed this.”

Create your dream home: Contact ARCH-angels Architects Ltd 3 Dorset Place , Brighton BN2 1ST 01273 267 184 | www.aaarchitects.co.uk | Twitter: @ArchAngelsBton

Photo Credit: Nick ford Photography

PORTFOLIO 9

LOB:FILE:///3A213A94-C3D7-4F30-9CC6-3896CC610746 BLOB:FILE:///02DAC998-02FE-490F-981C-102BB974DC8F

EXCEPTIONAL HOMES Outstanding properties in our beautiful part of the world

4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms 3 receptions

SACKVILLE GARDENS

GUIDE PRICE £1,350,000

A simply stunning and rarely available 4 bedroom Edwardian mellow brick semi detached period residence offering in excess of 2,400 square feet with the benefit of off road parking for 2 cars. Sackville Gardens is a popular family road just moments from both the beach and the buzzing restaurant and cafe culture of Church Road. The property itself has been extensively restored, extended and updated throughout whilst retaining many original features and is now presented in excellent decorative order.

4 bedrooms 1 bathrooms 2 receptions

WOODLAND DRIVE

GUIDE PRICE £900,000 - £925,000

An impressive detached Georgian style residence, offering considerable potential for enlargement and improvement (subject to planning) standing in lovely, good sized and secluded gardens, with a superb deep frontage, set back from the road in this favoured residential location of Hove Park.

FIND MORE PROPERTIES ON MISHONWELTON.COM

F

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE We will help you find your perfect home in East Sussex

4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms 1 reception

HILL DRIVE

POA

A beautifully presented, detached residence of substantial proportions, providing light living accommodation, occupying an enviable location on the south side of Hill Drive, with magnificent, panoramic views over the surrounding area towards the sea. No expense has been spared in the transformation of this home which is is the epitome of contemporary living.

3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms 2 reception

HAMPTON PLACE

GUIDE PRICE ÂŁ600,000 - ÂŁ625,000

An elegant and stylish three bedroom Georgian maisonette situated in the highly sought after and desirable Montpelier and Clifton Hill Conservation area of Brighton. Moments from the sea and the colourful and bustling cafe culture of the city this truly a super spot to live in. Hampton Place lies adjacent to Montpelier Terrace and is but a short stroll from the city centre, seafront and promenade.

Brighton mainline station is to be found in near by.

CALL 01273 778877 FOR A FREE PROPERTY VALUATION ON YOUR HOME

Inspired dĂŠcor accordant with this sublime and eclectic living space. Understated, beautiful and adult.

FROM HOUSE TO HOME

BAGS OF STYLE

OUTDOORS TYPE

Exotic travel plans call for travel accessories to match. This Mose Set of Two Travel Bags contains two cotton drawstring bags marked ‘laundry’ and ‘undies’. In fun palm-leaf and shapes prints with a collage vibe, these travel bags make a vibrant addition to your travel necessities.

Mose Set of Two Travel Bags, £19.50

The ultimate outerwear staple to keep you protected from all weather conditions, the Barbour Gisburne wax jacket is a timeless finishing touch to your outdoor dressing.

With a durable waxed cotton fabrication, this jacket will keep you comfortable and protected, whatever the weather throws at you. Quintessentially Barbour, this versatile jacket has an impressive line-up of functional features.

Barbour Gisburne Jacket, £299.00

www.oliverbonas.com

MUST HAVES

THE WEEKENDER Combining a practical size with a pretty design, the Jardino weekend bag is made from durable leather-look material, it has a pale blue fabric lining with one interior zip-up pocket and one open one for items you need to grab quickly. It comes with a detachable shoulder strap as well as handles which are long enough to fit comfortably over the shoulder. The ideal size for an overnight bag or large everyday grab-bag.

Jardino Luggage, from £15, weekend bag is £36 www.paperchase.co.uk

Planning a getaway?

Whatever your destination, pack smart and look good with these travel essentials

www.barbour.com/uk

ZIP AND FLIP Travel around and sleep in style with this Zip And Flip Elephant Pillow. The clue is in the name: the elephant unzips to become a classic neck pillow to provide excellent neck support in travel situations.

Add a D-Ring to the zipper and attach your pillow or pal to your travel gear.

Zip And Flip Elephant Pillow, £30.00 www.kikkerlandeu.com

FEATURE

BIG LITTLE LIES: Homes and lives

We take a look at the glamorous homes and location featured in the recent, highly acclaimed series Big Little Lies, and PORTFOLIO magazine’s Lynne Edwards speaks exclusively to Production Designer John Paino about his work on the series

P

erhaps you saw the recent series on Channel 4 and wondered who lives in those amazing homes and envied their seemingly perfect lifestyles. Viewers discovered, however, that in the tranquil seaside town of Monterey, California, nothing is quite as it seems. Doting mums, successful husbands, adorable children, beautiful homes: What lies will be told to keep their perfect worlds from unraveling?

Told through the eyes of three mothers – Madeline, Celeste and Jane – Big Little Lies paints a picture of a town fueled by rumours and divided into the haves and have-nots, exposing the conflicts, secrets and betrayals that compromise relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbours.

Based on the New York Times number-one bestseller of the same name by Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies is a subversive, darkly comedic drama that weaves a tale of murder and mischief as it explores society’s myth of perfection and the contradictions that exist beneath our idealized façade of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship. The seven- episode drama series is available on Blu-ray & DVD from 31st July 2017. It’s also available now on Digital Download.

Jean-Marc Vallee (“Dallas Buyers Club,” for which he received an editing Oscar® nomination; “Wild”; “Demolition”) directs all seven episodes of the limited series, which has been written for television and created by David E. Kelley, best known for “LA Law,” “The Practice” and “Ally McBeal”. The stellar cast includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgård, Laura Dern, Adam Scott, Zoë Kravitz, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling. >

PORTFOLIO 15

BEAUTIFUL homes

“Big Little Lies is a subversive, darkly comedic drama that weaves a tale of murder and mischief ”

Photo: www.hillarys.co.uk

16 PORTFOLIO

FEATURE

The work on the glamorous homes and film sets around Monterey, CA of Production Designer John Paino, who also worked on “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wild,” was key to the Big Little Lies success. Lynne wanted to know more and recently spoke to John about his involvement in the show.

Everyone was talking about Big Little Lies. There was a lot of justified hype, and the perceived glamour of the show must have been at least part of the reason for the big audience and the show’s success?

I think that in order to tell any good story properly, you have to create the right atmosphere. Look, vibe, textures, all play into making a “poetic realism” that is not only appropriate for the show but has a specific point of view. I think everyone across the board costumes, cinematography and so on - nailed it.

You created a rather fabulous and luxurious lifestyle backdrop to what was actually quite a dark, and sometimes violent, storyline.

Presumably, that contrast was intentional?

Absolutely. Not all is as it seems in this beautiful seaside town!

The Production Director appears to have a huge responsibility and has to wear a number of different hats: Moodboards, set design, lighting, budgets, research, continuity. Did I leave anything out?

I also work with the Costume Designer and Director of Photography to establish the overall general look of the show, and make the director’s vision corporeal, with the help of a very talented crew of set designers, painters, and carpenters. Also, our Decorator, Amy Wells and her team, brings the characters’ homes, businesses and gathering places to life as well.

Did you also have to ‘dress’ each home and give them all personality?

We always do.

What were some of the challenges of working on the series?

Making a lot of our locations and sets, a good portion of which had to be shot in LA, look like Monterey.

Everyone will want to know if the filming was done in real homes, owned by real people?

Our readers will want to know in 25 words or less how they can put a little glamour into their own homes. Do you have any advice that would translate to their own, more modest, homes?

We shot in real homes and built sets as well. Mostly, we would use the exteriors of places and build the interiors. Some places, like the Blue Blues Cafe, were entirely built on a stage, though everyone just assumes it was shot on a pier in Monterey.

Picking one small accent wall in a room (preferably opposite a window) and painting it a slightly bolder colour, closely matching your most glamorous piece of furniture, art, or window treatment is a good way to “luxe up” a room.

In the same way The Night Manager had us all reaching for our passports to jet off to Mallorca, perhaps there will be a spike in visitors to the region, for which you will now be partly responsible.

What are you working on now, John? Oh, and do tell us that Big Little Lies will be back?

Well it was really the producers and show runner/writer David Kelly who decided to take the novel, which is set in Sydney, to Monterey. I think it was a brilliant move.

I’m doing another show for HBO called Sharp Objects, based on a book by Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl. Everyone from Big Little Lies is back together working on it, which is great! I don’t know if there will be a sequel to BLL.

PORTFOLIO 17

SHIRLEY DRIVE, HOVE BN3 6UP PRICE £729,000, FREEHOLD • • • • •

Prominent corner plot Gardens on three sides Rear garden and terrace with South/West aspect Three double bedrooms Bathroom and separate shower room

3 • • • • •

2

2

Signature split level living room Large eat-in size kitchen No ongoing chain Hugely popular Hove Park District Plenty of off road parking

2 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FL

01273 773399

hove@elliottsestateagents.co.uk

& 2 Queens Parade, Hangleton BN3 8JG

01273 322766

hangleton@elliottsestateagents.co.uk www.elliottsestateagents.co.uk

BENFIELD WAY, PORTSLADE PRICE £699,950, FREEHOLD SELLING QUALITY HOMES SINCE 1993

• • • • •

Edwardian detached family home Improved and refurbished by the present owner 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite shower room) Ground floor cloakroom/WC

4 • • • • •

Kitchen with Range style cooker Utility room Integral garage 115’ west facing rear garden Close West Hove Sainsbury’s

2

2

BEAUTIFUL HOME Hove

A

particularly large (c1750 sq.ft) period property, located over the top two floors of this stunning Willett brick building, right at the lower end of Second Avenue and enjoying a side-sea view down Second Avenue itself, across the promenade to the sea.

Colour-coordinated and tastefully decorated with an undoubted eye for detail, the property enjoys high ceilings, spacious rooms, a high level of specification which is also sympathetic to its original character. Just some of the features include high-spec kitchen, including Range cooker, built-in appliances, Butler sink, American fridge freezer, and of course, there is space for a full-size table and chairs, a vast array of LED light fittings and downlighters, school-style radiators in living areas, brushed chrome power point and light switch plates, attractive, panelled internal doors, while the en-suite, main bathroom and additional cloakroom are all fitted with attractive white period-style suites.

An impressive front-facing lounge has a bay window to the front and all three bedrooms are good-sized doubles, with the master having an en-suite shower room and large walk-in storage area. The flat is approached via neat and tidy communal hallways which give an excellent initial first impression.

Second Avenue, Hove BN3 2LH Guide Price: £675,000 Share of Freehold Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Extras: Beautifully decorated: Renovated with a clear eye for detail: Host of features Best Bits: Top two floors; Side-sea views; Famous Hove ‘Avenue’; No ongoing chain Elliotts Estate Agents 2 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2FL 01273 773399 www.elliottsestateagents.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 19

Hurstpierpoint | Guide Price £1,000,000 Unique & contemporary brand new detached house - Sought after & peaceful location - A stone’s throw from the High Street - 5 bedrooms - 3 bathrooms - 2 reception rooms - Underfloor heating throughout - Integral double car port - Landscaped gardens

Ditchling | Guide Price £995,950 Magnificent house arranged over 3 floors - 4/5 bedrooms - 2 reception rooms - 2 bathrooms - Open plan split level kitchen/ dining/sitting room - Central village location - Unique large courtyard garden - Integral garage - Integral brick arch studio

chattestates.co.uk | 01273 844500 34 HIGH STREET, DITCHLING, EAST SUSSEX BN6 8TA

BEAUTIFUL HOME Twineham

A

substantial Georgian Grade II-listed rectory, located in a quiet and idyllic setting, with glorious gardens and grounds of approximately 1.25 acres and with far-reaching views over neighbouring farmland.

The Old Rectory, believed to date back to the early 19th Century, sits beautifully within its garden and grounds of approximately 1.25 acres and retains many of its timeless Georgian features. Space is in abundance with both formal and informal reception rooms, a large double-aspect kitchen/breakfast room and cellars which are currently being used as a games room and gym.

There is a grand sweeping principle staircase to the first floor which provides six well-appointed and light bedrooms serviced by three bathrooms and a shower room. The master bedroom is of particular note along with its equally large en-suite bathroom with central cast-iron roll-top bath which takes full advantage of the fine views across neighbouring farmland and beyond. The beautifully tended and private gardens comprise large areas of well-kept lawns a gravelled carriage driveway, an area of copse and an enticing heated outdoor pool, all being bordered by established hedging and a part-walled garden.

The Old Rectory, Church Lane, Twineham Price: ÂŁ2,150,000 Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 4 Extras: Marvellous private part-walled gardens; Heated outdoor swimming pool; Extensive external lighting; Best Bits: Large double-aspect kitchen/breakfast room; Large cellars; An abundance of open fireplaces; High ceilings and ornate plaster works Chatt Estates 34 High Street, Ditchling, BN6 8TA 01273 844500 www.chattestates.co.uk

PORTFOLIO  21

or ses f nt u o h veme ro imp n io rs t

Commer ci residen al build tial c onv ings f ers or ion

Bui ldin or r gs fo ep r c lac on em ve en

s in en as ard are e g ial rg nt la side e

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fo rm e h rp o us ub es lic

s ing d l nt ui t b pme n a lo nd eve u d red r

major regeneration projects

Barn Conversions

What a development opportunity looks like

re fo

e ll hop en a Wh s gone i

la r g e s ites on ed g e o f tow the n

sJd – developing potential If you think your property could be developed, why not give us a call without obligation and in confidence.

Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of cases, pay our fees saving property owners significant costs.

We are alWays on the lookout for property With developmental potential

WHAT’S trending

what’s trending We take a look at what’s trending in our world right now

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #garden

#visit

#download

Dig For Victory

The Natural History Museum

Lonely Planet

With National Allotment Week fast approaching, get ready to dig for your own victory this summer. From 14th to 20th August, kit yourself out with these vintage gardening-inspired products. Taking inspiration from the Dig For Victory campaign during the Second World War, this classic-style range is fab for home-lovers and historical enthusiasts alike. With these essential products (and crossed fingers for perfect weather), enjoy your allotment indoors and out. Range includes: Allotment Tool and Tuck Box , Garden Tool Cufflinks, Plant Pot Mug, Retro Alarm Clock, Enamel Mug, Plant Pot Scented Candles.

All products available from the Imperial War Museum’s Shop: www.iwmshop.org.uk

The Natural History Museum recently unveiled the new star of its re-imagined Hintze Hall, to mark the start of the biggest transformation in its 136-year history.

A stunning 25.2-metre real blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling has taken centre stage in the spectacular space - giving visitors the opportunity to walk underneath the largest creature ever to have lived. The Museum has named the female blue whale Hope, as a symbol of humanity’s power to shape a sustainable future.

The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. www.nhm.ac.uk

Get to the heart of a destination with Lonely Planet on your mobile device.

Packed with tips and advice from on-theground experts, the city-guides app is the ultimate resource before and during a trip.

Now with 150+ cities, this app is packed with functions, including offline maps, phrasebooks, currency converter and advice from on-the-ground experts. Plus ‘near me’ functionality, essential tips and mustsee sights, Guides is a trustworthy travel companion that will help you make the most of your experience.

Guides, by Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. To download, visit: itunes.apple.com

Image © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London

PORTFOLIO 23

BEAUTIFUL homes

DISCOVER THE BEST-KEPT SECRET OF WEST SUSSEX Located on a little-known, but beautiful, part of the West Sussex coast at West Kingston, an exclusive estate is generating an ever-increasing number of luxurious beachfront properties and now offers stiff competition for the likes of West Wittering, Brighton’s Western Esplanade and even Sandbanks. We talked with the design team from The Pure Group to find out more

W

aterside is located on the premier Coastal Road, within the gated and private sea estate of West Kingston. Like West Wittering, it has a small row of thirty or so exclusive beachfront homes. Not only do these homes open directly to the beach, they are backed by fields and the South Downs, creating a perfect, peaceful retreat that has seen a continuing trend to create luxury new homes as increasing numbers are drawn to beachfront living, the tranquil location and the relatively great value. The seas views were always the primary focus and have created a modern and spacious home with an underlying Art Deco theme, the curves, stepped detailing and crisp finishes combine to make Waterside an architecturally outstanding new home that has been built to exceptionally high standards.

24  PORTFOLIO

Inside, the high-quality finish continues, as does the Deco inspiration, but very much with a modern take, including smart-home technology, German engineering, an abundance of natural stone, walnut, bespoke mouldings, and even specially designed and commissioned furniture.

Together, all these features make Waterside arguably the best beachfront home to be offered for sale in some time and a truly unique opportunity for a lifestyle change. If you love water, you can wander from your garden straight to the beach and launch your canoe, kayak or paddle boat, or just enjoy the ever-changing seascape.

You can have a look at the great video tour, featuring one of the team, using the link below. www.dreamshock.com/waterside

BEAUTIFUL homes

For more information visit: www.waterside.website

West Kingston, West Sussex London 62 miles, Brighton 21 miles, Chichester 17 miles, Arundel 8 miles • • • • • •

Directly on Beachfront Over 4000 Square Foot 5 Bedrooms 5 Luxury Wet Rooms/Bathrooms 2 Reception Rooms with Balconies German Colliers Kitchen

• • • •

Luxury Master Suite with Lounge, Dressing Room, Spacious En-suite and Balcony Dining Room with Balcony Lift, Study, Double Garage, Utility New Home with 10 Year Warranty

CONTACT: Knightfrank.co.uk/country Julia.robotham@knightfrank.com +44 20 7861 5390 Knightfrank.co.uk/Horsham James.nowak@knightfrank.com +44 1403 339184 Hawke & Metcalfe nick@hawkmetcalfe.co.uk +44 1903 850450

PORTFOLIO 25

PROPERTY news

PROPERTY NEWS HOW TO COMBAT ‘FACELESS’ ONLINE COMPETITION One of the industry’s leading trainers and consultants claims there is “a gaping hole” in the way agents use marketing content in local press ads. Richard Rawlings’ survey of 376 agents looked at how agents should be using local property press advertising effectively. “I’m a great believer in the continued use of local press advertising alongside other forms of marketing,” says Rawlings. “It seems to me that agents have not recognised the need to adapt their content in order to attract instructions, not buyers”.

51 per cent of respondents reported that they regularly take out at least one page of local press advertising - but only eight per cent say the main reason for doing so is to attract buyers, with 83 per cent suggesting the main purpose is to attract instructions or promote their brand. “Yet 70 per cent of these agents simply continue to promote their instructions through traditional property ads with no meaningful market comment, no relevant selling advice, no expert opinion. How can you expect to gain instructions if your advertising fails to convey your agency’s expertise, style and personality?” he asks.

He was also critical of the fact that 61 per cent of the survey respondents’ ads did not feature the people involved in the business with their name or photo. “This is completely at odds with agency advertising in other countries and essential at a time when high street agencies need to ramp up their ‘people presence’ alongside their faceless online competitors,” Rawlings says.

Read more about this and other industry stories at www.estateagenttoday.co.uk

“It seems to me that agents have not recognised the need to adapt their content in order to attract instructions, not buyers” NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME BUYERS NEARS ALL-TIME HIGH The latest Halifax First Time Buyer Review reveals the exact number of first-time buyers between January and June was 162,704, only slightly lower than the all-time high of 190,900. In addition, these transactions made up 47 per cent of all property purchases financed by a mortgage during the period. In April 2013, upon the launch of the Help to Buy scheme, this figure was 44 per cent, indicating the extent of growth in the first-time buyer sector in recent years.

Kevin Shaw, National Sales Director at property specialist Leaders, says: “The first-time buyer market is extremely strong, both in terms of the number of purchases and buying prices, which are now higher than ever before.

“A number of factors – including low mortgage rates, high employment levels and schemes such as Help to Buy – have allowed more people to get on the property ladder. First-time buyers now form a major part of the UK housing market and are responsible for almost half of all mortgaged purchases.

“An abundance of first-time buyers is also a huge plus for the market as a whole, as their presence and ability to buy allows many more people who want to sell and move up the ladder the chance to do so by selling to a first-time buyer.” It is the third time in four years that the number of first-time buyers in the UK has exceeded 150,000 in the first six months of the year, figures that have not been seen at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.

For more information or advice on buying or selling a property, contact your local Leaders branch or visit leaders.co.uk.

26 PORTFOLIO

PROPERTY news

FARROW & BALL SEARCHES FOR REAL HOMES British paint and wallpaper company Farrow & Ball is searching for real homes that showcase the unique look its paint and wallpaper brings to properties around the world.

The renowned colour experts are asking décor lovers to come forward and share their homes to be in with a chance to be featured in the Farrow & Ball Top 50 digital book.

Those selected to feature in the digital book will win 10L of paint and a copy of the Farrow & Ball ‘How to Decorate’ book.

Whether they own modern or traditional homes, classic or eclectic, large or small, the Dorset-based paint and wallpaper company is looking to showcase those of its fans who have made the Farrow & Ball look uniquely theirs. Farrow & Ball enthusiasts from across the world are invited to share images of their own homes on social media by using the hashtag #myFaBhome and on the Farrow & Ball dedicated Inspiration website, www. inspiration.farrow-ball.com.

Commenting on the campaign, Head of Creative at Farrow & Ball, Charlotte Cosby, said: “Homes are shared with us every day and we love seeing how others have incorporated our paint and wallpaper into their interiors. Each home is different, and they all have a distinct look that beautifully reflects the customer’s own style. As a result, we decided to create the Unique Look ambassador campaign, which aims to find real people in real homes that we can showcase in our #myFaBhome Top 50 digital book.” www.farrow-ball.com

13 ACRE SITE IN NEWICK FOR SALE TO RAISE £1.25M FOR CHARITY

THE IMPACT OF FRACKING With fracking plans being considered across the country, including in Yorkshire, the North West and South East of England, should solicitors now be reconsidering the environmental reports they use to protect clients? With a variety of reports on the market at competitive prices, including information on a range of environmental issues, it is easy to miss a report that could highlight environmental changes that can have a significant difference a homebuyer’s choice to buy a property. The Residential Premium report from Future Climate Info is the most accurate environmental search that successfully helps professionals to gain an understanding on the issues in relation to Energy and Infrastructure, in addition to Contaminated Land, Flood Risk, and Ground Stability. This FCI report uses Land Registry property boundaries, and uniquely, as a RICS-regulated company, provides a full risk assessment from an experienced Chartered Environmental Surveyor. The report has a turn-around time of 48 hours and is no longer than nine pages, making the essential information your clients requires easier to navigate and digest. The Residential Premium Report from Future Climate Info is available at Searches UK. FCI host a full range of Environmental Reports for you to select from. www.searchesuk.co.uk

Oakley Property are helping Headway East Sussex raise funds from the sale of their Newick site. The Newick based charity Headway East Sussex want to raise a significant amount to remain open to support people living with brain injuries to lead more independent lives. The charity’s 13 acre East Sussex site offers extensive facilities for rehabilitation and reablement of its visitors and their families. The volunteer-led facilities include a gym, a kitchen garden that supplies fresh fruit and veg to the site’s kitchen, a relaxing woodland pond area, a former coach house for socialising and several large therapy rooms for activities such as woodwork. To release £1.25 million value in the property to put back into funding the charity’s activities, the Board of Trustees have voted to sell the site but remain as Leaseholders for a minimum of 5 years.

Oakley property have stepped in to support Headway East Sussex in realising the full value of the property and to find a suitable investor to take on the site.Steven Harvey, Director of the Commercial Team at Oakley comments: “Headway East Sussex are a wonderful charity with fantastic facilities for their clients. Their decision to sell the site shows their commitment to the future by raising considerable funds, without any disruption to their day-to- day services. The Newick location is very attractive, and offers an excellent long term investment opportunity for the right buyer, whom will also benefit from the immediate lease back at £65,000 per annum.”

For more information contact Steven Harvey, Commercial Director at Oakley Property at steven@oakleyproperty.com or 01273 645772.

PORTFOLIO 27

maslen.co.uk

Treetops Close, Woodingdean, Brighton

ÂŁ550,000 FREEHOLD

An immaculate 4 bedroom detached house Situated in a quiet close the property offers a wealth of spacious accommodation.

The 4 bedrooms are served by a family bathroom on the first floor and an en-suite to the master bedroom.

There is also a large double garage situated under the house with a separate workshop. The property benefits from stunning views over Woodingdean to the Downs and sea and a mature private landscaped garden.

Must be viewed to fully appreciate. Energy Rating C71.

Maslen Estate Agents 62-64 Warren Road Woodingdean Brighton BN2 6BA t:01273 278866 e:woodingdean@maslen.co.uk

LEWES ROAD

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WOODINGDEAN

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FIVEWAYS

BEAUTIFUL HOME Brighton

A

stunning re-design to a beautiful four-bedroom Victorian home finished to an exceptionally high standard, situated on a quiet tree-lined road in the heart of the golden triangle, that has a great community feel.

A show-stopping kitchen/living area is this property’s key feature. Bi-folding doors lead onto the southwest-facing garden of decking and lawn. Within a safe neighbourhood, this property offers two commuter stations, many popular schools nearby and parks, all within walking distance. Brighton’s many amenities are a short, ten-minute walk away. Offered to the market with no onward chain. Energy Rating C70.

Waldegrave Road, Brighton, BN1 6GR Guide Price: £850,000 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Extras: Stunning redesign; No onward chain; Finished to an exceptionally high standard Best Bits: Popular location; Semi detached; South-West facing rear garden Maslen Estate Agents 290 Ditchling Road, BN1 6JF 01273 566777 www.maslen.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 29

Hill Brow

Last one remaining

Last unit to be released. Exceptional specification throughout with sweeping views to the sea.

The last of three superlative, individually designed homes offering six bedrooms and four bathrooms alongside a modern, contemporary lifestyle with emphasis upon flowing internal space of over 4000 sq ft.

Price: ÂŁ1,900,000

01273 829300

newhomes@mishonmackay.com www.mishonmackay.com

01273 230230 www.hamptons.co.uk

Photograhs show Hill Brow showhome.

NEW homes

SEA-VIEW LUXURY Mishon Mackay New Homes and Hamptons International are delighted to launch the last of the three superlative new detached homes at Hill Drive, built by boutique developers Sigma Homes

S

et high up on a ridge in a long-established residential area, Hill Drive is surrounded by some of the most desirable property in the city of Brighton & Hove. The views from the living room terrace and some of the bedrooms are therefore breathtaking, sweeping down across the rooftops and treetops to the sea.

“The entertaining space is spectacular, with a sun-drenched terrace leading from the living room, with sea views” This magnificent family home in Hove is laid over four floors and offers superb space. With five large double bedrooms, plus a bonus room/bedroom 6, 65 Hill Drive has been carefully designed to offer a modern, contemporary lifestyle with emphasis upon flowing internal space enhanced by future-proof home technology. There is great flexibility of use, ideal for modern families or for those wishing to accommodate visiting family and friends.

The entertaining space is spectacular, with a sun-drenched terrace leading from the living room, with sea views. There is a second living

room, which could make a fabulous home office, while on the garden floor a large kitchen/dining/day room makes a wonderful space for relaxed living and leads out to the garden and another terrace.

The architectural style of this adventurous development is dramatic and unique and features strong diagonals as a theme, with a feature chimney stack providing a visual focal point. The style carefully combines the assured appeal of traditional elements with the excitement of contemporary architecture, resulting in a mature, considered and attractive design.

The integrated, future-proofed cabling and technology platform has been carefully designed to support whatever level of audio/visual system the buyer wishes to install.

Access to the A27/A23 interchange is just a short drive, making commuting by car easy, while Preston Park railway station is a 15-minute walk away, giving a fast service to London and Gatwick.

The area is therefore extremely popular with those who have children at the highly regarded local schools.

There is a 10-Year New Homes Premier Warranty – for peace-ofmind purchase. The guide price is £1,900,000. Call Mishon Mackay New Homes 01273 829300 or Hamptons International 01273 230230 for your appointment.

PORTFOLIO 31

Goldstone Crescent, Hove | from £500,000

Dean Court Road, Rottingdean | £1,295,000

Two bedroom, two bathroom new apartments overlooking Hove Park with outside space.

Five bedroom family home spanning over 4000 sq ft of accommodation within this sought after position in Rottingdean village.

Powis Grove, Brighton | £499,950

Paston Place, Brighton | £550,000

Duplex apartment with three double bedrooms, modern bathroom and open plan kitchen/living area.

A stunning newly refurbished three bedroom seafront apartment with two bathrooms and private patio garden.

Ground Floor, 10 The Drive, Hove, BN3 3JA T 01273 830 919

Old Steine, Brighton | £1,425pcm

Dyke Road, Brighton | £1,295pcm

A superb two bed, two bath apartment; occupying the lower ground floor of this beautiful period building in Brighton city centre.

Recently refurbished two double bedroom flat with openplan reception area, modern fitted kitchen and west-facing balcony.

New Church Road, Hove | £1450pcm

Third Ave, Hove | £1,200pcm

Two bedroom, two bathroom ground floor apartment with attractive front garden and own front door.

One double bedroom and a second smaller guest bedroom, spacious open-plan living area and modern bathroom.

E hove@fosterandcoestateagents.co.uk W www.fosterandcoestateagents.co.uk

EVENT Pet Shop Boys at Pride

Photo Credit: Pelle Crépin

“The Pet Shop Boys headline the UK’s biggest Pride festival” Brash, beautiful and brilliant, Brighton Pride 2017 truly is a Pride with Purpose as the city of Brighton & Hove welcomes visitors from across the world.

4th to 6th August www.brighton-pride.org

CALENDAR of events

August Our pick of August events features musicals, open-air theatre, the Big Screen, NT Live and more Festivals…

5 & 6 August, Russell Howard: Round The World With over 3.2 million Facebook fans and 1.2 million Twitter followers, Russell Howard is one of the UK’s most successful comedians. Russell’s current tour, Round the World, is his biggest tour to date, his performances spanning 11 countries across three continents.

Following his world tour, Russell will host a new comedy entertainment programme for Sky 1, The Russell Howard Hour. Previously, Russell wrote and starred in 96 episodes of BBC Three’s best-performing entertainment show Russell Howard’s Good News, whose success led to a new home on BBC Two for its ninth and tenth seasons, where it averaged over three million viewers per episode week.

Multiple segments of the show have gone viral, amassing over 32 million views.

Brighton Dome, 8pm. www.brightondome.org

15 - 26 August, La Cage Aux Folles Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, otherwise known as Za Za and the star of la Cage aux Folles, live an idyllic existence in the heart of St Tropez. But behind the curtains of this sparkling extravaganza, all may be about to change. Georges’ son Jean-Michel announces his engagement to the daughter of a notorious right-wing politician determined to close down the local colourful night life. Drama and hilarity ensue when a meeting of the parents forces them to cover up their vibrant lifestyle. Will Albin be able to play the role of his life to ensure that Jean-Michel can marry his love?

The cast features West End star John Partridge, Broadway star Adrian Zmed and West End icon, Marti Webb. The show-stopping score includes The Best of Times, With You on My Arm and the iconic I Am What I Am. Theatre Royal, Brighton. Visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton

15 August - 3 September, Mamma Mia! Benny Andersson’s and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ smash-hit musical, based on the songs of Abba.

Join the ultimate feel-good party at Mamma Mia!, the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical. Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face-to-face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget.

This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world, and now the party comes to The Brighton Centre for the first time, so there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical. Whatever your age, you can’t help but have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! Brighton Centre. For times and process visit www.brightoncentre.co.uk

More events continued over the page

CALENDAR of events

29 August - 2 September, The Wedding Singer It’s 1985. Hair is huge, greed is good and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart (Jon Robyns: Avenue Q, Legally Blonde) is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. When his own fiancée dumps him at the altar, a seriously bummed-out Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Can sweet-natured Julia and her best friend Holly lure Robbie out of the dumpster and back into the limelight? Or will he see her head off down the aisle with Wall Street bad boy Glenn? Only Grandma Rosie (Ruth Madoc) seems able to see that Robbie and Julia are a meant-to-be couple. Don’t miss your chance to join the party of the year, with a musical that promises to get you up dancing faster than your Dad at a wedding, packed with songs which capture all the fun and energy of the Adam Sandler smash-hit film.

Theatre Royal, Brighton. Visit www.atgtickets.com/brighton

9 August, RSC Live: Titus Andronicus

11 August - 9 September, The Stepmother

The decay of Rome reaches violent depths in Shakespeare’s bloodiest play.

Titus is a ruler exhausted by war and loss who relinquishes power but leaves Rome in disorder. Rape, cannibalism and severed body parts fill the moral void at the heart of this corrupt society. Shakespeare’s gory revenge tragedy presents us with murder as entertainment, and, as the body count piles up, poses questions about the nature of sexuality, family, class and society.

Blanche McIntyre returns to the RSC to direct Shakespeare’s brutal revenge tragedy after her debut, directing The Two Noble Kinsmen (2016).

We’re married people, aren’t we? What’s yours is mine.

1924. A comfortable house in Surrey. When the orphaned Lois Relph accepts a marriage proposal from an older man, Eustace Gaydon, she believes she’s been rescued from an uncertain future. Establishing a successful business as a dress designer, Lois leaves her fortune in her husband’s hands.

But when one of her devoted step-daughters needs her help, Lois is forced to address what drew Eustace to her in the first place - and, at last, to face the dark truth at the heart of her marriage. This gripping drama is a searing look at manipulation, money and matrimony. What price a woman’s autonomy within a man’s world? Richard Eyre returns to Chichester to direct this rediscovered gem by playwright Githa Sowerby.

Broadcast live onto the big screen in cinemas and theatres nationwide. To check venues in your area, visit www.ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk. 7pm

Minerva Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre. For times and prices visit www.cft.org.uk

26 - 27 August, Jungle Book Following the success of last year’s Summer of Circus festival, Worthing Theatres continue their circus line-up for 2017. Now recognised as one of the three largest contemporary circus festivals in the UK, the new programme promises thrills for the whole family through a myriad of live performances and workshops. The festival runs until Sunday 27 August, when the season closes with the summer family production of the Jungle Book.

Award-winning Metta Theatre’s critically acclaimed family production of Jungle is an urban retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s original story, featuring jaw-dropping tricks from a cast of international performers.

Spectacular street-dance and breathtaking circus combine to bring Kipling’s classic tale crashing into the 21st Century. Mowgli is finding his way in the urban jungle. With a beat-loving bin man Baloo, graffiti artist Bagheera and a skateboarding Wolf crew, this heart-warming coming-of-age story will astonish and amaze.

Connaught Theatre, Worthing.

For times and prices visit www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

36 PORTFOLIO

CALENDAR of events

Throughout August, Alice in Wonderland Croquet Preston Manor’s elegant reception rooms and functional servants’ quarters reveal the ‘upstairs and downstairs’ of life at the manor. The house also comprises picturesque walled gardens and a pets’ cemetery. The splendid gardens, host to summer activities like Alice in Wonderland-themed croquet, are free to visit.

Play croquet, with flamingos for mallets and playing cards for hoops. Collect and return your equipment at Preston Manor front door. Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 2pm-4pm.

Preston Manor, Preston Drove, Brighton For full details and dates, visit www.brightonmuseums.org.uk

Until 28 August, Brighton’s Big Screen Live Sport, Blockbuster, Classic & Family movies on Brighton beach, the UK’s largest cinema.

There’s something about the open-air environment that makes watching live sport and movies an unforgettable experience. Whether it’s the sea air, the gigantic screen, enormous bar, the great food or the Brighton Pier in the background, Brighton Big Screen is back on Brighton Beach with live sport and films and runs until 28 August.

The 2017 programme combines classic and recent box office hits on the gigantic 40sqm screen. Family favourites and classic films include La La Land, Moana, Trainspotting 2, Mean Girls, Beauty and The Beast, Titanic, Love Actually, Kinky Boots and many more.

Beachfront, East of Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton. For more details and full programme visit www.brightonsbigscreen.com

7, 14, 21 & 28 August, The Royal Pavilion Basement and Tunnel Tours A behind-the-scenes glimpse of the basement and tunnel of the Royal Pavilion to discover more about life below-stairs for the servants, from the rat catcher to George’s principal private secretary. The tour ends with a visit to the tunnel, which led to George IV’s royal stables and riding school (now Brighton Dome). Lasting about 45 minutes, the tours offer an unpolished, behind-the-scenes glimpse of areas of the building not normally open to the public. You are able to take photos for personal use on the basement and tunnel tours. Book on 03000 290902.

Please note: due to the service areas covered in this tour it may be subject to last-minute cancellations and alterations.

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton. 4.15pm For full details visit www.brightonmuseums.org.uk.

2 - 6 August, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Brighton Open-Air Theatre in Dyke Road Park continues its superb season of outdoor theatre with Brighton Shakespeare Company present A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

This magical and imaginative production of A Midsummer Nights Dream features swingdancing fairies, hapless lovers and Albion-supporting mechanicals: “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”. This much-loved local company promises a unique and eccentric take on this Shakespearian summer classic, building on last year’s hit Much Ado About Nothing at BOAT, and their tour of 11th-century churches with Macbeth.

Since its opening in 2015 the 425-capacity Open Air Theatre in Dyke Road Park, Hove has gone from strength to strength and is now established as part of Brighton and Hove’s cultural landscape. Now in its third year, BOAT welcomes 40 different local, national and international companies, with over 100 performances in the 2017 Season. Other August highlights include Pride and Prejudice (17 August), The Mikado (9 August), Richard III (13 August), and Cosi Fan Tutte (27 August). BOAT is open annually from 1st May through 30th September.

Brighton Open Air Theatre, Dyke Road Park, Dyke Road, Brighton www.brightonopenairtheatre.co.uk

See you next month for our top picks in September

Life's a beach

with Property Moves

Waterloo Street, Harrington Villas,Hove Hove

£895pcm £1,350pcm

Brand newly apartment in central Modern onerefurbished bedroom flat very close to HoveHove station

Westbourne Street, Hove Harrington Villas, Hove

Greenlands Burgess Hill Harrington Drive, Villas, Hove

£1,000pcm £1,350pcm

Newly refurbished two bed apartment in Hove a period manor style building Modern one bedroom flat very close to station

£1,100pcm £1,350pcm

Hurst Crescent, Portslade Harrington Villas, Hove

£1,295pcm £1,350pcm

Lovely bright floor with patio in central Hove Modern one ground bedroom flatone verybedroom close to flat Hove station

AModern lovely three bedroom flat terraced familytohouse central Portslade one bedroom very close Hoveinstation

Borough Street, Brighton Harrington Villas, Hove

Portland Villas, Hove

Harrington Villas, Hove

£1,500pcm £1,350pcm

AModern recentlyone refurbished bedroom town house in central location bedroomthree flat very close to Hove station

£2,200pcm £1,350pcm

Fantastic and bedroom very spacious newlyclose builtto modern four bedroom house Modern one flat very Hove station

Est.

1993

SEVEN DIALS | PRICE: OIEO £500,000

KEMPTOWN | PRICE: £280,000

Set in Brighton’s popular Seven Dials this stylish home will leave you breathless!

A wow factor home, with high ceilings and almost 1300 square feet of lovely space and a lovely small front garden.

This stylish apartment is situated on the cusp of Kemptown village and just moment from the beach front. Quick and easy move with no onward chain!

EAST BRIGHTON | PRICE: £325,000

KEMPTOWN | PRICE: £325,000

Competitively priced family home in the heart of residential East Brighton with front & rear gardens and parking for 2 cars. A must to see!

Charming second floor one bedroom flat located on the seafront in Kemp Town, with some of the best views Brighton has to offer! Located a short walk away from Kemp Town village, there is an abundance of cafe’s, bars and retro furniture shops. The property also comes with Share of Freehold.

Princetons Property Services, 6 St Georges Road, Brighton, BN2 1EB

Princetons are proud supporters of The Martlets

HOVE | PRICE: £400,000

ROTTINGDEAN | PRICE: OIEO £325,000

Cool summers and cosy nights in! A stylish second floor apartment with a double aspect ensuring a cool breeze on those hot sticky days and cosy open fire to snuggle up to on cold wintry nights.

This picturesque two bedroom cottage is situated in the heart of historical Rottingdean on the main high street just across from the green. Tranquil village life at its best. Not forgetting the beach is minutes away where you can spend your summers evenings relaxing eating fish and chips.

CENTRAL BRIGHTON | PRICE: £375,000

SHOREHAM BEACH | PRICE: £1,400,000

If you fancy some cosmopolitan living then this stylish City centre apartment is for you! Stroll into the North Laine, City centre and beach. Sainsbury’s supermarket on your doorstep.

Worthy of a feature in a glossy magazine, this stylish home will leave you speechless. Offering in excess of 4500 square this wonderful spacious home offers a beachside location within a quiet cul de sac, a swimming pool, wonderful sea views and easy access to local amenities and train station.

www.princetonsps.co.uk | overseas@princetonsps.co.uk | 01273 606326

solicitors Incorporating Johnson McCabe

local & independent

We are local, independent solicitors providing an expert legal service with a personal approach Property

Civil Litigation

• Buying and Selling Property • Re-Mortgages • Freehold Enfranchisement • Lease Extensions • Buying and Selling Investment Properties

• Employment • Debt Recovery • Property • Contentious Probate • Insurance Claims • Fraud Claims to include Defending SOCA Claims • Consumer Law • Neighbour disputes • Dispute Resolution/ Mediation of Claims

Business • Landlord and Tenant and Commercial Property • Buying and Selling Businesses and Shares • Employment Law • Licensing

Wills and Trusts • Wills • Probate and Administration of Estates • Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts • Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection • Elderly Client Care

For more information please contact us at Engleharts Solicitors:

Vallance Hall, Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2DE

Life and Family

info@engleharts.co.uk • 01273 204411

• Family and Matrimonial • Co Habitation Agreements/Disputes • Civil Partnerships • Pre-nuptial Agreements • Divorce

www.engleharts.co.uk

Commercial Litigation • Commercial contract/ Consumer Disputes • Director/Shareholders/ Partnership Disputes • Insurance Claims • Construction and Engineering • Commercial Property Disputes • Professional Negligence Claims • Intellectual Property Disputes

WIN

A FAMILY TICKET TO MAMMA MIA!

T

he sensational feel-good musical Mamma Mia! comes to The Brighton Centre for a two-and-a-half week run from Tuesday, August 15 to Sunday, September 3 as part of its first-ever UK tour.

Benny Andersson’s and Bjorn Ulvaeus’ smash-hit musical based on the songs of Abba stages the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. To date, it has been seen by more than 60 million people in 50 productions in 16 different languages.

From West End to global phenomenon, the London production of Mamma Mia! has now been seen by more than 10% of the entire UK population. It is one of only five musicals to have run for more than 10 years both on Broadway and in the West End, and, in 2011, it became the first Western musical ever to be staged in Mandarin in the People’s Republic of China.

With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast.

Tickets are priced from £15. For more information, or to book tickets, please visit www.brightoncentre.co.uk, or call the box office on 0844 847 1515. www.mamma-mia.com www.facebook.com/mammamiamusical www.twitter.com/MammaMiaMusical

For a chance to win, simply email competitions.portfoliomagazine@gmail.com with MAMMA MIA! in the Subject Box, plus your name, address and a contact number.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Tickets are valid to see Mamma Mia! at The Brighton Centre on Wednesday 16th August 2017 at 7.30pm only. Family ticket can be used by any combination of a total of four adults and children.

At least one adult must be present. No purchase necessary. Tickets are non-exchangeable. Closing date for entries is 7th August 2017.

Winners will be required to collect their tickets from box office on the night of the show. Any travel and accommodation will not be included in the prize.

PROPERTY PROFESSIONALS LUNCH

Julie Frith, Amanda Fearon

eld, Heal, Chris Mansfi Clive Bonny, Ryan Hamilton-Orr et rri Ha , eva uss Izzy Ro

nt Shephard, Richard Wolfstrome, Gra ght Wri e olin Car

Greg Hall, Jan Harris rriet Hamilton-Orr, Sophie Bowen, Ha liams Jacki Hickman-Wil

“What a great event the Property Professionals Lunch was! It was my first networking event for a long time, and my first within the property industry. One of the things I enjoyed most was hearing people speaking so passionately about what they do and that, even though everyone is involved in property, there is such a diverse range of professions there” Jacki Hickman-Williams Business Development Manager The Conveyancing Exchange

T

he July Property Professionals lunch event, held at Pub du Vin Brighton, was, as usual, a great success, with over 70 attendees.

Chris Loaring and his team from Argyll Environmental gave a very interactive talk, and more audience participation was required by Ryan Heal in the fun heads and tales raffle to win some great dining prizes, kindly donated by the Hotel du Vin. Proceeds, as usual, went to the Rockinghorse Children’s charity.

John Smith, Paul Sim monds, Richard Zin zan, Michael Janney

Clive Bonny, Sophie Bowen, Lynne Edwards, Izzy Rousseva

Bailey, ning, Sheila Andrew Stey n Dean Marso

To book into the next event in October contact stephanie@searchesuk.co.uk

Richard Zinzan, Fiona McTernan

Chris Loar ing Argyll En vironmenta l

PORTFOLIO 45

Providing a 21st Century Estate Agency service – Sales, Lettings & Holiday Lets

14 The Waterfront, Palm Drive, Brighton BN2 5WA | 01273 626000 | www.palmsproperties.co.uk

GRAPHIC DESIGN

RETRO PINK

Danish company Rice DK is all about colour and playful design, with pieces to adorn your home, for celebrations or for everyday essentials, but all full of life and fun. These funky vases follow the trend for graphic design in three-dimensional pieces for the home.

HI Ceramic Vase, £19.50

This toaster is part of the Smeg Retro 50s range of small appliances. With extrawide slots and variable browning control, this stylish toaster adjusts to your chosen bread width and features a separate bagel function, defrost and reheat to ensure perfect results for all bread and pastry types.

Smeg toaster in Pink, £129.00

www.sistersguild.co.uk

MUST

www.smeg.com

HAVES CORKATOO This tropical Corkatoo Corkscrew is this summer’s favourite guest at every garden party. Available in three colours, the softbodied corkscrew also opens your bottles with its beak, making this playful tool as functional as it is colourful. Just pop up the serrated foil cutter for a chirpy afternoon!

Corkatoo Corkscrew, £16 www.shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk

It’s the undisputed colour of the year. From Millenial pink to a pop of hot pink, nothing says fun quite like this versatile colour

HOT SEAT Perfect for the more compact living rooms and bedrooms, this occasional chair is the essential piece of furniture needed for any vintage-style interior. The fluted back and splayed legs are typical of 1950s design; the bold colours and soft touch fabric give a contemporary twist. The curved back creates the perfect shape to comfort tired backs.

Lola Oyster Pink Retro Chair, £99.99 www.my-furniture.co.uk

Norfolk Square, Brighton – £285,000 This pleasant one bedroom flat resides on the first floor of an attractive Grade II List townhouse, on the section of the street leading down from the square to the sea. The property is presented very well throughout and offers spacious living accommodation. There are lovely westerly views from the balcony. The apartment is in a fantastic central city location being within walking distance to Brighton Seafront, Station and Western Road with it’s range of shops.

Gainsborough House, Hove - £1,000,000 Gainsborough House is considered to be one the best purpose built apartments in Hove. This property is positioned on the top floor and provides incredible panoramic views of Brighton and Hove. The flat offers flexible living accommodation with up to 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms along with 2 balconies (South and West facing). The property measures at 1992 sq ft and there are 2 garages available and 3 parking spaces.

20 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1AE | 01273 733334 | www.baron-estates.com

Residential Estate & Letting Agents • Land & New Homes Brighton & Hove City Office Residential Sales & Lettings 3-6 North Road, Brighton East Sussex BN1 1YA Sales 01273 688881 Lettings 01273 688884 E brighton@oakleyproperty.com

Westdene, £725,000

Lewes Town & Country Residential Sales & Lettings 14a High Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 2LN T 01273 487444 E lewes@oakleyproperty.com

London Office 40 St James’s Place London SW1A 1NS T 020 78390888 E enquiries@tlo.co.uk

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2

2

2

A substantial family home situated in an elevated position overlooking Withdean. The property benefits from good size mature gardens, two reception rooms, a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, dressing room. The property has an integral garage.

Central Brighton, £425,000

2

1

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A spacious two bedroom ninth floor apartment in this prestigious landmark building designed by Richard Seifert situated in central Brighton.

The property has stunning westerly sea views, modern kitchen and shower room, gas heating and bright, neutral decoration. The building has lift access, secure entry and a concierge service.

oakleyproperty.com

BEAUTIFUL HOME Hove

T

his well proportioned detached house comprises a bright spacious entrance hall with understair storage and downstairs cloakroom. The open plan living space comprises through lounge/dining room with a double aspect and a feature free-standing wood burner. The property has engineered beech flooring throughout the hall & living areas and sliding patio doors onto the rear garden.

The kitchen area has a breakfast bar and a door leading to a separate utility room with plumbing for a washing machine and further door to garden perfect for the family dog. The first floor has a bright galleried landing and three double bedrooms with wood effect flooring. The bathroom has a modern white suite and has double glazed widows and a velux window. The house benefits from a walled front garden with mature flower beds and a side gate covered bicycle storage. The rear garden has a decked patio area leading to a mature lawned garden with rose borders leading down to a Wisteria covered arbour enjoying sun from the south.

Titian Road, Hove, BN3 5QR Price: ÂŁ775,000 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1 Extras: Walled front garden; Mature rear garden; Utility room Best Bits: Open-plan living space; Wood burner; Engineered beech flooring Oakley Property 3 North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YA 01273 688881 www.oakleyproperty.com

PORTFOLIO  51

BEAUTIFUL homes

CHAIN REACTION We look at why property sales fall through and identify some common issues and how to deal with them

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t’s a wonderful feeling when you find a property you love and your offer is accepted. But it’s important not to get too emotionally attached just yet, because there’s a long way to go before it’s legally your home. With over a quarter of sales failing to complete, sadly, there are a number of things that can go wrong between now and completion.

Here we take a look at some of the issues that can occur and offer some tips to help you increase your purchase prospects.

Gazumping This is when a seller agrees to accept an offer from one buyer, but then goes on to accept a higher offer from someone else. The first buyer is now put in the difficult position of deciding whether to increase their offer further or pull out of the sale and lose the property.

How buyers can reduce the risk of being gazumped: • Ask the seller to take the property off the market • Push the sale through as quickly as possible • Consider a pre-contract deposit arrangement

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HOME tips

Gazundering This is the opposite of gazumping when the buyer reduces their offer at the last minute, often just before contracts are exchanged.

How sellers can reduce the risk of being gazundered: • Set a realistic asking price • Renegotiate with a counter offer Gazanging This is when a seller gets cold feet after accepting an offer by remaining in their property and leaving the buyer hanging.

How buyers can reduce the risk of being gazanged: • Find out if the seller has put in an offer on another property first • Push the sale through as quickly as possible • Keep in regular contact to pre-empt any issues

“The more buyers and sellers there are in a chain, the higher the chance that one of these issues will occur”

Change of heart This is when a buyer suddenly changes their mind and pulls out of the sale. There are many emotional reasons why people change their minds, including a fear of commitment, worries about over-extending themselves or feeling the property isn’t the one.

How sellers can reduce this risk: • Find out as much as you can from your estate agent to help you work out if the buyer is serious before accepting an offer Change of circumstances This can happen on either side when an unexpected personal or financial situation means it is no longer a good time to buy or sell. This can be anything from being made redundant to losing a loved one.

How buyers and sellers can reduce this risk: • Push through the sale as quickly as possible Finance falls through Even if you’ve saved a deposit and you’re confident you can afford the monthly mortgage payments, there’s no guarantee that your mortgage application will be approved.

How buyers can reduce this risk: • Get a mortgage decision-in-principle; there’s still no guarantee your application will be approved, but it’s a good indication Survey results This is when the survey highlights major structural problems with the property that no one may have been aware of before. The surveyor may reduce the value of the property or the buyer may not be happy to pay their original offer price. Your mortgage lender may also not be willing to offer the original loan amount requested.

How buyers and sellers can resolve this situation: • Negotiate on the price and reach a compromise Property chains The more buyers and sellers there are in a chain, the higher the chance that one of these issues will occur.

How buyers and sellers can reduce their risk: • Keep the chain as short as possible or avoid one altogether • Consider moving in with family, friends or renting • Keep in regular contact to pre-empt any issues Thanks to www.hsbc.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 53

BEAUTIFUL homes

“The property has played host to the elite of the music industry and art world as well as numerous Hollywood legends”

54 PORTFOLIO

CELEBRITY homes

NATALIE PORTMAN’S BEACH HOUSE We take a look inside Natalie Portman’s ultra-modern architect-designed home in Santa Barbara

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cademy Award winner Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied have recently purchased this ultra-modern home in Santa Barbara, designed by architect Barton Myers, for a reputed $6.5 million. The 3,991-square-foot home is made of steel, glass, and concrete, and includes a stateof-the-art kitchen, four bedrooms and five bathrooms - plenty of room for the couple and their two children.

The house is tucked among lush green trees, bushes and other foliage, much like a hidden oasis along the Pacific coast.

Perfectly sited on 10.4 acres overlooking a grove of ancient olive trees, this landmark property, from its inception to its current existence, has enjoyed a storied affair with Montecito’s history. Originally built in 1934 by the famed conductor Leopold Stokowski and known as “The Monastery,” the property played host to the elite of the music industry and art world as well as numerous Hollywood legends. Lockwood de Forest-designed gardens further root the incredible estate’s historic pedigree. Fast-forward to 2008: the property is re-imagined as a temple to indoor-outdoor living by renowned modern architect Barton Myers.

Long, uninterrupted sightlines greet you at the front door and extend throughout the home. Three dramatic glass “garage doors” define the south façade and, when raised, blur the indoor spaces and the outside environment, creating a chic, integrated living experience. Public rooms enjoy a front-row seat to the sweeping and ever-evolving vistas. Let your gaze wander from the patio and pool to the lush grounds and on to the Channel Islands on the horizon.

Whether you fancy yourself a homebody or a busy host, the open and clever floor plan can as easily

accommodate a quiet, intimate evening by the fire as a considerable social function. The sleek chef’s kitchen, with extensive wine storage and three prep-sinks, can comfortably host a large catering staff or simply be a place to make popcorn for a weeknight movie. The home effortlessly embraces all of life’s moments, from the everyday to the extraordinary.

A beautiful south-facing guest suite features wide ocean views, while sliding walls enclose the two northfacing, en-suite bedrooms to create flexible spaces.

The sumptuous master bedroom has glass walls on three sides and overlooks the garden and pool as well as ocean and canyon expanses. A cozy library at the other end of the house provides a retreat for quiet contemplation.

The beautiful salt-water pool, completed in early 2016, adds a new dimension to outdoor living. In this incredible setting, it’s as easy to envision vigorous morning laps as a relaxed moonlit dip.

The stone path-laced grounds encompass succulent gardens, a new kitchen garden, avocado and citrus orchards, and several acres of native habitat leading to a promontory with 350-degree views of the coastline, avocado farms, and Santa Ynez mountains.

Rarely does a home effectively balance so many aspirations: strength, poise, intimacy, comfort. This remarkable property, committed to honoring the past, living in the present and gazing to the future, offered the family an incredible opportunity to pen their own chapter in the long and evolving history of the Montecito dream.

For further information contact Village Properties on 020 7467 5330 or visit www.villagesite.com

PORTFOLIO 55

Did you know‌ Over 30,000 people each month read the magazine The magazine is now the best supported publication in the area Thousands have signed up to our newsletter and

read the magazine online before it is published We distribute PORTFOLIO throughout a vast network of outlets across the region Our loyal and avid readers keep PORTFOLIO magazine on their coffee tables for over a month You can NOW subscribe annually to receive copies of the magazine in the post

Everyone working on PORTFOLIO is local and passionate about our City PORTFOLIO Publications Ltd. publishes other magazines for small businesses PORTFOLIO magazine supports and sponsors events throughout the City Our supporters and readers are

affluent business people and families

Want to know more?

Call Lynne Edwards 07931 537588 | lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

Sponsored by:

On the drawing board On The Drawing Board is our platform for Industry professionals and the public to discuss issues and ideas relating to planning On The Drawing Board will showcase planning permissions granted, scheme ideas and ideas for Brighton’s regeneration and future. This month: we look at some of the developments taking place in the city. If you are a property professional, or just have a great idea, get in touch on the channels below.

Off the Drawing Board and Winning Awards We are happy to announce that a previous feature project from On the Drawing Board has now received an award from the Sussex Heritage Trust. It is exciting to see plans and aspirations taking form and finding success.

Trinity Medical Centre and Pharmacy Deacon + Richardson Architects’ work at the Trinity Medical Centre and Pharmacy has won the Sussex Heritage Trust Commercial Award. This project featured the conversion of a grade II-listed church into a medical centre with a new-build pharmacy. The brief was to provide 1100sq/m floor area for two medical practices with as little impact on the building’s original fabric as possible. Now completed, the building will be able to provide modern facilities for the recently merged Sackville Medical Centre and Central Hove Surgery.

The scheme achieved a “very good” environmental rating as assessed under BREEAM. Withdean Road houses After taking home the RIBA South East 2017 Award in July, Boabab Development’s and John Pardey Architects’ Withdean Road houses have now been awarded the Mid-Scale Residential Sussex Heritage Trust Award for the project titled The Traffic Lights. The project delivered three homes of the highest-quality that sit quietly in their context, using modern aesthetic to move the architectural conversation along in Brighton & Hove.

Planning Delays – Lost Opportunities For The City?

Domain’s application for a new-build block of five flats in Brighton was submitted in December 2016 and is currently number eight on the case officers’ list of 50 applications.

At the current work rate, the poor applicants at the end of the list will have to wait another year

until their proposals are dealt with.

The Brighton planning situation continues to cause delays with applications despite a new head at the start of the year. The true picture is being obscured by the Council policy of asking applicants to agree to an extension of time the day before their application is determined. Naturally, almost every applicant is so frustrated, and just relieved to have a decision in sight, that agreement to the extension is almost universal. Refusal consigns the application to an even longer indeterminate date for decision.

The planning department is clearly overstretched and funding cuts manifest. First-hand feedback confirms that banks and funders are shunning development in Brighton due to the lengthy delays in “processing” applications, (quite apart from the difficulties in actually negotiating an approval).

Dealing professionally and promptly with planning applications is essential to encourage the right applicants and developers to work in the city to produce high-quality schemes to enhance the city landscape.

It’s the physical environment that draws people to places.

A change in policy from the council is required to allocate more funds to the planning department. If Domain’s current application had been determined on time, the council tax received from five flats over six months would probably completely cover the wages of the planning officers’ time spent dealing with it. A win-win situation for the Council, the community and the applicant.

Koru Architects Koru Architects have designed three contemporary investment properties, bringing life to a derelict site in west Brighton. Each three-bedroom family home has its own balcony, generous roof terrace and garage. The interiors are light-filled and spacious, with open-plan living areas.

The homes are timber-framed and utilise a range of natural materials throughout. The exterior is clad with light brick, oak timber and zinc to create a contrasting, but warm, aesthetic to the facade. These materials are natural and durable, providing a healthy internal environment. High levels of natural insulation and solar PV panels are specified, making the homes energy-efficient and low-carbon, allowing the occupants to generate their own clean energy and reduce their utility bills, as well as their carbon footprint.

The style of the three properties is contemporary and playful - with large areas of glazing, clean lines, and a bold aesthetic. The glazing and balconies are set back and window reveals are cladded with timber to contrast playfully with the dark zinc.

Do you have more ideas? Submit to #BrightFuture @ZSTaUK or @PortfolioMagUK

FEATURE home

HOME OF THE MONTH

...as selected by PORTFOLIO magazine Two-bedroom apartment to let in Greenlands Drive, Burgess Hill Price: £1000 pcm

Stunning Sussex countryside...

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stunning, newly refurbished two-bedroom apartment in a charming period manor-style building set within the beautiful countryside of West Sussex. Boasting access to impeccably well-maintained communal gardens, off-street parking and an allocated garage, this is a fantastic opportunity to experience a true rural lifestyle. Despite the seemingly secluded location, the apartment is situated only moments from Burgess Hill station.

Split across two levels are two double bedrooms, a vast living area and a quaint white bathroom suite, along with a great-sized kitchen and dining area. Views of the countryside and communal gardens from both the master bedroom and lounge allow for relaxed and peaceful living whilst encouraging plenty of natural light. Viewing is highly recommended, tenant fees apply, further details available on request.

Property Moves 109 Church Road, Hove BN3 2AF 01273 321 333 | www.propertymoves.co.uk

Making Moving a Pleasure If you are buying or selling your property, Healys offers an unrivalled legal service.

In order that your matter proceeds smoothly we offer the following as standard to our clients: • • •

Direct dial to your Solicitor No hidden charges Competitive fees

We would be delighted to provide you with a free personal quotation. Please contact one of our team on: 01273 669139 or email: property@healys.com or visit www.healys.com and complete our online quotation form.

8/9 Old Steine Brighton BN1 1EJ

INTERIORS

INSPIRING INTERIORS Michelle Mone launches her new global business, ‘Michelle Mone Interiors’

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ntrepreneur, author and public speaker, Lady Michelle Mone, OBE recently announced the official launch of her new global business, Michelle Mone Interiors.

Design and interiors have long been a big part of Michelle’s success, from the intricate design process of ‘the perfect bra’ with Ultimo, a best-selling jewellery range with QVC, to personally renovating the interiors of her own homes to an exceptionally high standard.

Michelle’s move into the interiors sector sees a collaboration with leading designer Julie Chapman. This partnership allows Michelle to combine her business attributes and unique design flair with Julie’s unrivaled experience and expertise as Head Designer for Michelle Mone Interiors. As Michelle says,“I’ve always been a designer.

Believe me, spending 20 years designing the perfect bra means that I know a thing or two about design!’

Michelle Mone Interiors create beautifully crafted interiors that make exceptional homes for discerning clients across the globe. The company’s signature is to deliver British-inspired elegance with a twist of contemporary design and functionality that is created from the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship. Michelle’s team are talented, friendly, skilled and driven with passion and creativity to make every project they work on individual and tailored to the client’s distinctive style. Their current projects reflect the team’s

experience in creating luxurious, sophisticated and timeless interiors for private clients, property developers, hoteliers and superyacht owners. Whilst much of their work is currently focused on private residential and commercial properties in London and the UK, they also work internationally – with recent commissions received in the

“I’ve always been a designer. Believe me, spending 20 years designing the perfect bra means that I know a thing or two about design!”

Middle East and the Caribbean. Michelle explains: “Our expertise lies in our clear understanding of how to balance luxurious elegance with intelligent design.”

After the selling of Ultimo, the launch of Michelle’s autobiography, ‘My Fight To The Top,’ and her appointment to the House of Lords in 2015, this is Michelle’s next major business venture, which is set to be another huge success for the world-renowned businesswoman. www.michellemoneinteriors.com | @MichelleMone

PORTFOLIO 59

EVENT Glorious Goodwood

Photo Credit: Chris Ison

“The sporting and social highlight of the flat-racing season�

1st to 5th August Five days of thrilling action set against the magnificent backdrop of the rolling Sussex countryside. www.goodwood.com

THE collection

THE August COLLECTION Sea views, park views, elevated properties, glorious gardens, pretty countryside, Brighton Marina… We love them all, we just dream of a room with a view… Here are six of the best

Terrace with views Arundel Drive East, Saltdean This white-rendered marine-style residence sits in an elevated position directly overlooking Saltdean Park. The four-bed, three-bathroom property provides lovely light and spacious living accommodation, plus a separate guest suite, storage room and security cameras. The property is beautifully presented, and particular features include a lovely, large living room with huge picture windows taking in the southerly vista, superbly fitted kitchen/breakfast room with underfloor heating. The property stands in beautiful landscaped and secluded gardens. Worthy of particular mention is the large front terrace with its retractable awning, which provides fabulous views across the park towards the sea.

Price: £899,950 Goldin Lemcke 01273 777123 | www.goldinlemcke.com

Overlooking the harbour Victory Mews Brighton Marina This generously proportioned four-bedroom terraced Mews house offers well-laid-out, versatile accommodation in this popular location. The first-floor living room has double-glazed doors leading onto the balcony, with a southerly aspect over the Marina. Two bedrooms and a family bathroom complete this floor. To the second floor there are two master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The property benefits from an integral garage with power and lighting, off-road parking to the front of the property, a rear patio overlooking the harbour and a balcony with a southerly aspect.

Price: £625,000 Oakley 01273 688881 | www.oakleyproperty.com

More properties continued over the page

THE collection

“The master bedroom, with its en-suite bathroom with central cast-iron roll-top bath, has views across neighbouring farmland and beyond”

Glorious gardens Church Lane, Twineham This Georgian Grade II-listed rectory is located in a quiet, idyllic setting with glorious gardens and grounds of approximately 1.25 acres and with far-reaching views over neighbouring farmland. Space is in abundance, with both formal and informal reception rooms, a large double-aspect kitchen/breakfast room and cellars.

Six bedrooms are serviced by three bathrooms and a shower room. The master bedroom, with its en-suite bathroom with central cast-iron roll-top bath, has views across neighbouring farmland and beyond. The gardens comprise large areas of well kept lawns, a gravelled carriage driveway, an area of copse and an enticing heated outdoor pool.

Price: £2,150,000 Chatt Estates 01273 844500 | www.chattestates.co.uk

Loo with a view Second Avenue, Hove In Hove’s famous Second Avenue, and adjacent to the seafront, this property is part of a sumptuously modernised and beautifully presented maisonette fit for a king and comes with a view from the throne… This generous period property, located over the top two floors of this stunning Willett brick period building, features a large front-facing lounge, three big double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Situated at the lower end of Second Avenue and enjoying a side-sea view down Second Avenue itself, across the promenade to the sea, the view and the flat itself need to be seen to be fully appreciated.

Guide Price: £675,000 Elliotts Estate Agents 01273 773399 | www.elliottsestateagents.co.uk

62 PORTFOLIO

THE collection

Price: offers over £1,000,000 Foster & Co 01273 830919 | www.fosterandcoestateagents.co.uk

Luxury living Grand Avenue, Hove

Situated at the top of Grand Avenue, with a stunning outlook, is this three-double-bedroom apartment set within this Victorian building.

Located with central Hove’s amenities on your doorstep, with plenty of shops, boutique cafes, restaurants and more, as well as being a short distance from Hove mainline railway station with direct links to London. Having been recently refurbished to an extremely high standard with style, light and truly luxurious spaces of high importance, this second-floor apartment is the very best example of luxury living with a sea view.

“At the rear, there is a generous dining room opening out to the pretty garden and verdant countryside views beyond”

Village life Rottingdean Place, Rottingdean Situated in a quiet setting close to Rottingdean Village is the gated development of Rottingdean Place. The development has the benefit of an indoor heated swimming pool, gym, sauna complex and tennis court with gazebo for meeting other residents and entertaining guests, BBQ area and golf range for all residents to use. In addition, there are beautiful country walks throughout the well-maintained 17-acre grounds.

The house itself has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, separate living room, off-road parking and integral garage. At the rear, there is a generous dining room opening out to the pretty garden and verdant countryside views beyond. Up on the first floor is a full-width living room with floor-to-ceiling windows affording beautiful views across to The Downs and open countryside.

Price: OIEO £600,000 Mishon Mackay 01273 944800 | www.mishonmackay.com

PORTFOLIO 63

HIT THE BEACH

AHOY THERE

Direct your guests to the beach with this fun sign in the shape of an arrow from this lovely nautical seaside collection. Width: 28cm Height: 6.8cm Depth: 0.5cm This lovely decoration is double-sided and printed both sides with text, so it doesn’t matter which way you hang it! Ideal seaside-style decoration for the beach-style themed room or nautical bathroom!

Gone to the Beach Arrow Sign, £2.95

Bring a splash of colour to your party table with these charming treat tubs, ideal for children who love all things nautical.

Emblazoned with a sailing boat motif in blue and red, these lovely tubs co-ordinate with other pieces in this unusual party ware range. Supplied in pack of eight. Tubs can be used for a range of sweet and savoury foods. Feature a nautical-themed design to delight your little shipmates!

Ahoy There Treat Tub, £2.99 for eight

www.livelaughlove.co.uk

MARITIME TAPAS Just one of the lovely designs in Cream Cornwall’s Maritime range, these dishes are super versatile, from a coaster, soap dish, trinket dish to nibbles dish. A perfect gift or just treat yourself and collect all ten of the beautifully hand-drawn designs. Dress your table with this beautiful bone china and you will be transported straight to the ocean’s edge.

Cream Cornwall Maritime Nibble Tapas Dish, £8.50 www.creamcornwall.co.uk

MUST HAVES Nautical but nice.

Seaside chic is classic and timeless.

We’re off to the beach…

www.neviti.com

DRYING TIME Keep your kitchen ship-shape and Bristolfashion with this pair of jolly nauticalthemed tea towels with retro graphic ship illustrations in fresh blue, yellow and white. Part of a collection of nauticallythemed products from the Natural History Museum which also includes anchor mugs, silver anchor earrings, key rings and purses.

Set of two tea towels, £18 www.nhmshop.co.uk

TALK money

PENSION TALK Claire Cook from Independent Financial Advisors Talk Money on getting the best from your pension fund

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f you have built up a pension fund, or several during your working life there are many options for taking income when the time is right. The whole thing can be quite bewildering and the right choice depends on your circumstances and what you are looking for from your pension income. Some people want absolute guarantees, others require flexibility. Some are single and are not worried about providing an income to a spouse should they die, for others a widow’s pension is essential. If you have a company scheme, the income could be reduced because the scheme provides for a widow’s pension, but you may not be married. It can get quite complicated and choosing the wrong option could potentially reduce what you receive from your pensions.

“How do you know that is the right way of setting up your retirement income and how do you know that the company will provide you with the highest annuity in the marketplace?”

You may have several different pension pots with various providers.

When you reach retirement age they will often write to you offering an annuity, some people just sign the form and obtain the income from their current provider. How do you know that is the right way of setting up your income and how do you know that the company

will provide you with the highest annuity in the marketplace? This can be especially true if you have a history of ill health, you could be eligible for an enhanced annuity. This is because if your life expectancy is less, some providers would be willing to pay a higher income because they calculate this based on the fact that they may not have to pay you for as long.

Below I will briefly explain the main pension income options: Lifetime Annuity: A lifetime annuity is a guaranteed income paid to you for life from an insurance company. The annuity would be purchased using the money you have built up in your pension plans during your working life. The insurance company will assess how long they think you will live and will quote the amount of guaranteed income they are willing to pay in return for your lump sum.

Income Drawdown: Your pension money would remain invested and you can draw the tax free cash, income, or a combination of the two directly from your fund.

Lump Sum options: These differ, depending on which type of scheme you have. Generally, only 25% of the lump sum would be tax-free, with the remaining amount being subject to income tax.

For independent advice on any of the above, or if you are approaching retirement and looking at your options, please call me, Claire Cook, on 01273 224667. I would be very happy to assist. www.talkmoney.co.uk.

Talk Money is a trading style of Aspect8, a member of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.

See more from Talk Money at www.portfoliopublications.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 65

BEAUTIFUL homes

Photo: Tray Tables from www.wharfside.co.uk

THE MINDFUL HOME Claire Bloom, in-house interior designer at Ecora, says that the modern home needs cohesion, sustainability and serenity

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ome people would say that keeping your home clean and tidy is the key to peace and happiness, while some think that it is solely down to the feng shui. Others would argue that even the simplest aspects of a home, like colour schemes, textures and small home accessories, could create the best meditative living space.

Claire Bloom, in-house interior designer at narural Interiors specialists Ecora, says, “The modern home is now being renovated and decorated with a sense of cohesion, sustainability and serenity.” She continues, “One of the most effective ways to find inner peace is to be in an environment that evokes a sense of tranquility and calmness in appealing to the five senses.”

We asked Claire what her key elements are in making a meditative space for your home:

66 PORTFOLIO

DIY

“People who ‘declutter’ are able to organise their minds by removing attachments to physical objects and to focus more on the details of physical life and the beauty of nature around”

Bringing nature in – plants and flowers Having plants in your home is the cheapest, simplest way to improve not only the tranquility of your home, but also the flow of air circulation in your humble abode. Plants are nature’s first air purifier, and the different hues and tones of green bring a feel of freshness and calmness, as well promoting a sense of healing. Hanging planters are a great way to elevate your greenery to all heights of your home, while indoor tree plants can compliment your furniture, and small succulents make gorgeous decorations on your windowsill.

Elemental themes – natural stone, woods, woven products On the idea of bringing nature into your home, materials like stone and natural woods have the ability to create a luxurious natural look while endorsing sustainability and eco-living. For example, having stones and pebbles in your bathroom can give a deeper, earthier dimension to the space while also lowering your stress levels. The same goes for wood: having wood in your home mimics the effect of being in the outdoors with Mother Nature, and usually, in its line of production, the finishing effects of wood tend to reflect natural light very well, giving the illusion of more open space and bringing nature’s glorious appeal indoors.

Evoking your senses – colour and smells It is a known fact that colours can evoke emotions.

For example, red is associated with passion and anger, yellow is mellow and happy, and white is total purity and even coldness in some circumstances. For the best meditative ambiences in your home, violet is a colour known to evoke and increase your spiritual awareness, and it is associated with time, space and the galaxy.

Green, which can easily be decorated by using plants, can evoke feelings of balance, refreshment and peace.

Blue, which is also apparently the world’s favourite colour, is often associated with the sky and the sea,

and can invoke emotions of clearness, calmness and serenity.

Sense of space, flow, circulation – storage options, open spaces The most basic way of creating a more peaceful space is, of course, to make space. Homes that are messy are more than likely to reflect the messy and unorganized mindset in any person, which is why people often feel that they need to clean their homes regularly. In fact, people who ‘declutter’ are able to organise their minds by removing attachments to physical objects and to focus more on the details of physical life and the beauty of nature around. Even if you are finding it hard to get rid of your things, being able to organise your home by putting them neatly into storage, or even ensuring you have a spacious walkway from room to room can encourage structure and control of your own living space. Stressed is the last thing you need to be in your humble abode!

Natural illumination – vases, mirrors, lanterns The rays of the suns are filled with so many benefits, such as giving plants life, powering us with solar energy, and ultimately illuminating a beautiful world through our eyes. Not only does natural light perform better for our eyes in comparison to artificial light, it also improves our concentration levels and stimulates our happy emotions – but the most amazing thing is that natural light apparently has the ability to increase our healing process. To encourage natural light, you could clear obstructions from your windows and place reflective home accessories like glass vases, mirrors and even light-toned floorboards in your home. Candles are another way to create a reflective and peaceful mood in your home, instantly developing a softer light that relaxes and soothes. A candle can also transform a room through its scent, such as lavender or rose.

Thanks to Ecora www.ecora.co.uk

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GARDENING

INTO THE GARDEN Enjoy one of the most beautiful months of the year while summer lasts.

Tara de la Motte, on what to do in the garden this month

Things to do in the garden this month…

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Plant autumn bulbs

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Clip, trim and prune shrubs and hedges to keep them tidy

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Water plants regularly during dry spells

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Keep annuals blooming for longer by removing faded flowers

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Plant a few late-season perennials for autumn colour

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Finally, make time to enjoy one of the most beautiful months of the year while summer lasts.

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ugust is high summer and a time to enjoy the garden even more before the onset of autumn.

Borders should still look vibrant with wonderful nectar-rich plants that bloom this month.

Many annuals, too, will keep flowering for a long period yet if they are fed and watered well.

If you don’t already have nectar-rich plants in your garden, then it is well worth planting a few. These plants will be irresistible to butterflies, bees and other pollinators, and right through midsummer into early autumn the garden will be visited by all manner of insects.

The most beautiful insects to come into our gardens are the butterflies with their wonderful markings and delicate wings. Make a butterfly haven by planting a buddleia bush, which is aptly known as the butterfly bush. Buddleia flowers from mid to late summer, and as they come in white, blue, pink and mauve, you can plant several colours together for a wonderful display that butterflies would find irresistible.

Lilac is another shrub whose flowers attract butterflies. It has highly fragranced flowers and comes in several colours, too. There are many other insect-loving plants that are sources of nectar, including lavender, scabious, verbena, phlox and even thyme.

If you lack space, you can still enjoy these beautiful visitors to your garden by planting nectarproducing plants in large patio pots.

“If you don’t already have nectar-rich plants in your garden, then it is well worth planting a few”

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BEAUTIFUL homes

A KNOTTY PROBLEM Japanese Knotweed: A beauty but beast of a plant

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apanese Knotweed was brought from Japan to the UK in the nineteenth century for its striking beauty. Years on, this red and green plant has invaded many gardens and in some instances affected the sale of properties as well as the value of the property.

Japanese knotweed is a strong and fast growing perennial, with tall, thick annual stems, which are renewed each year from the stout, deeplypenetrating rhizomes (creeping underground stems). The plant is so strong and grows so rapidly that it can seriously damage buildings and constructions sites if left to its own devices.

With extremely wide and deep roots, the plant can grow 10cm a day.

Underground, the rhizomes grow up to 7 metres horizontally and 3 metres deep. Its robustness supported its native Japanese volcanic landscape where unlike many others plants, it’s survived through storing energy in its deep rooted system.

The UK Government has struggled to control this pesky plant and therefore this problem continues to affect homeowners.

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“‘Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive and destructive plant species that can have dramatic impacts on property asset values and suitability as lending security”

GARDENS

Case Study In May 2017, a 70 year old landlord who lives in the Caribbean wanted to sell property she had let for 10 years in Croydon, Surrey due to her tenant not paying rent and leaving her in a difficult financial situation. The two bedroom cottage was valued and subsequently put on the market for £285,000. The transaction was going smoothly until the surveyor reported Japanese Knotweed at grade four through the surveyors’ tier grade system to indicate the level of risk, in the front garden. The homebuyers were notified and pulled out of the purchase with immediate effect due to their mortgage provider refusing the mortgage application on the property based on the results of the survey. The homeowner was informed that the weed could be treated, however the process is complex and it could take several years to fully eradicate the plant. Because the homeowner, who was already suffering financial difficulties due to her tenants failing to pay, needed the property to be sold as soon as possible.

The Croydon based estate agents managing the property recommended that her best option would be to accept an offer received from a cash buyer (a developer) who made a maximum offer of £230,000. The devastated homeowner reluctantly accepted the offer, losing £55,000 on the expected property value.

Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive and destructive plant species that can have dramatic impacts on property asset values and suitability as lending security. RICS have released specialist guidance to assist surveyors in considering Japanese Knotweed in the valuation process.

Protect Your Clients The Groundsure Japanese Knotweed search is designed for surveyors, developers, residential and commercial conveyancers to highlight the lending risks and potential management costs ahead of purchase decisions.

This search is a recommended, cost-effective product used as a way to understand Japanese Knotweed risks ahead of the valuation.

A Search area polygon assesses potential boundary nuisance impacts and helps your clients understand the risks before more costly site investigation works are undertaken. Access to unique data insight and expertise is another one of the benefits associated with this search, along with accurate survey and property valuations and ongoing support from leading treatment experts – a key requirement for many lending decisions.

Groundsure Japanese Knotweed is available at Searches UK with a quick turnaround time of just two working days. The report provides a range of key benefits which include unique remote sensing technique returns data, Ordnance Survey Streetview location map, site boundary polygon with 50m radius buffer, polygon areas of detected Japanese Knotweed location returns for sites greater than 5 m2, indicative buffer showing potential extent of root system, and a detailed quality check by experienced in-house consultants.

For more information, advice or to receive a quote, please contact Searches UK on 0800 043 1815 or email, info@searchesuk.co.uk

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TRAVEL

LITERARY BREAKS The global literary spotlight is on Britain, with the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen this year

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here is a host of celebrations and events lined up across the country to mark the anniversary, from exhibitions to literaryinspired walks and performances commemorating Austens’s life and work. From Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, to Mansfield Park and Emma, Jane Austen’s novels, and the film and TV adaptations, have inspired millions of visitors to explore destinations across England.

Literary fans can visit Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire or enjoy a walking tour and afternoon tea in Bath, the setting of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. They can also explore the majestic Chatsworth House and gardens in Derbyshire, the setting for Mr Darcy’s home ‘Pemberley’ in a big-screen adaption of Pride and Prejudice. The Bank of England unveiled the new £10 note featuring Jane Austen on the 200th anniversary of her death in July.

VisitBritain’s research shows that film and literature are powerful motivators for travel, with more than a third of potential visitors to the UK wanting to see places featured on screen and film backdrops and sets. Visitors drawn by the UK’s culture and heritage, who visit castles and historic houses, spend about £8 billion annually.

VisitBritain Director Patricia Yates said “Jane Austen’s novels have inspired and enthralled audiences for generations, and the sheer scale of attractions and literary-related destinations across England demonstrate her enduring legacy. Britain’s myriad of literary heroes their birthplaces, writing spots and the landscapes that inspired them - motivate readers to explore the country and visit those destinations that bring the stories to life.”

This year is England’s ‘Year of Literary Heroes,’ and to celebrate VisitEngland has created an interactive map to showcase world-famous authors and literary destinations. Last month celebrated the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other milestones include the 125th anniversary of the first Sherlock Holmes short story and the 75th anniversary of Enid Blyton’s first Famous Five book.

Research from VisitEngland into literary tourism shows that more than half of British holidaymakers would visit a literary attraction on holiday in England. These include Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire, which received about 40,000 visitors last year, and the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, which had more than 128,000 visitors.

For events marking the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen, visit www.janeausten200.co.uk/events. To view and download the ‘Year of Literary Heroes’ interactive literary map, visit: www. visitengland.com/short-breaks-england/literary-heroes/ explore-englands-literary-hotspots

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“Research from VisitEngland into literary tourism shows that more than half of British holidaymakers would visit a literary attraction on holiday in England”

Jane Austen by the Sea This exhibition, celebrating the centenary of Jane Austen’s death, runs until 8 January 2018 at the Prince Regent Gallery, Royal Pavilion, Brighton and explores Jane Austen’s relationship with the seaside. The exhibition paints a picture of the fashionable resort of Brighton in the early 1800s, when it was a thriving garrison town featured in novels like Pride and Prejudice.

George IV, who created the Royal Pavilion and spent long periods living there when he was Prince Regent, was a highprofile fan of Austen’s – and although she seemed not to approve of his lifestyle, she was encouraged to dedicate Emma to him in 1815.

Highlights include: The manuscript of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel, Sanditon, set in a seaside town in Sussex, and letters from Jane Austen to the Prince Regent’s librarian, James Stanier Clarke.

Jane Austen by the Sea runs until 28 January 2018. For details visit www.brightonmuseums.org.uk.

ow e sn m t u ho t ac E si nt RE vi Co a F sign r fo de t. 01444 440056 w. www.thewindowshuttercompany.co.uk e. info@thewindowshuttercompany.co.uk

BEAUTIFUL homes

“‘Plantation’ shutter designs give a modern, continental finish – and are very much ‘on trend’ at the moment”

Photo: www.hillarys.co.uk

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INTERIORS

Photo: www.thewindowshuttercompany.co.uk

SHUTTER UP Timeless, practical, stylish and versatile, Shutters offer privacy, protection and light control – and they look great, too

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Seaside summer homes need cool, simple lines and colours. As the south coast basks in our second successive heatwave, we want open windows and light, airy space.

Shutters are the perfect Brighton window dressing. Timeless, practical and stylish, they’re also surprisingly versatile. Depending on the type of shutter you choose, they can be the ideal solution for awkward or hard-to-reach windows.

A history in windows Wooden shutters are an enduring characteristic of many period seaside properties. They’ve been used through the centuries for privacy, protection and light control – and they look great, too. Here in the UK, shutters are usually placed on the inside of windows, but this hasn’t always been the case. >

PORTFOLIO 77

BEAUTIFUL homes

Photo: www.hillarys.co.uk

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INTERIORS

Photo: www.thewindowshuttercompany.co.uk

Shutters have a long history with our homes: Around 500 years ago (approximately the time of Henry VIII’s and Elizabeth I’s reigns), shutters began to be in common use, usually covering just the lower half of window openings. Glass was expensive and hard to come by, so these simple shutters were used on the lower half in place of glass to regulate light and privacy.

Glass became more commonplace in the 1700s, at which point shutters lengthened to full length, although still on the inside walls. The thinner walls and superior construction methods that accompanied the Victorian era meant that shutters could now be affixed externally. The fact that many shutters survive from this era is testament to their durability. Although they are a more expensive window treatment than blinds or curtains, their lifespan is likely to be decades (or even centuries) rather than years.

External fixing remains the norm in most Mediterranean countries for added protection and heat control in the summer months. Here, though, they tend to be placed on the inside, where they provide insulation and privacy, blocking the view of downstairs rooms without cutting all light, and are also an additional barrier to burglars.

Simply beautiful Solid, panelled shutters are a traditional choice for period homes. Originals can still be seen in local town houses around the city, fixed both inside and out. They provide absolute privacy, along with maximum noise and light insulation, but are the least versatile type of shutter. Solid wood shutters and neutral paint finishes

are timeless, providing a simple backdrop to this season’s bold, patterned home textiles and accessories.

And if you want to soften the look, you can use them in conjunction with voile panels or curtains. As well as adding style, they’ll provide extra light exclusion and insulation.

A more flexible choice, ‘plantation’ shutter designs give a modern, continental finish – and are very much ‘on trend’ at the moment. These shutters can have simple, fixed ‘louvers’ or slats, or can be constructed (much like Venetian blinds) with adjustable slats for privacy and light control. ‘Tier-on-tier’ or split designs that allow for top or bottom halves to be opened independently are a versatile option for living space, and half-height ‘café’ styles give privacy in rooms where full-size shutters aren’t needed.

Shaped to fit Shutters can be custom-built to suit your windows: Even velux windows, arched feature windows or roof lights are compatible, as several companies now offer remote-control shutter slats. Providers of bespoke shutters can also tailor their products to accommodate curved, triangular and bay windows. This makes them an ideal choice for quirky or period homes, where regular blinds simply won’t fit.

Shutters also give you control over how much light you let into the room and how much privacy you have: Split shutters allow you to open the slats in one half while keeping the other closed and private – or to open everything up and let the light flood in. Perfect for all-year-round windows.

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CYCLE

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY This month we take another look at one of the many fantastic cycle routes you can take across the South Downs: Egrets Way, Peacehaven...

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rom rolling hills to bustling market towns, the South Downs National Park’s landscapes cover 1,600km² of breathtaking views, hidden gems and quintessentially English scenery. A rich tapestry of wildlife, landscapes, tranquillity and visitor attractions, weave together a story of people and place in harmony.

This month we take a look at the Egrets way cycle route that covers eight miles of chalk downland, picturesque villages, stunning views and the meandering River Ouse. This multiuser path alongside the River Ouse has been formed by a community project, led by the South Downs National Park Authority.

A point of interest along the route is also St Peters Church. Traced back over 1000 years to medieval times this church was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The irregular conical spire is one of only three round towers in Sussex, all of which are located in the Ouse Valley. Like the other two round towers at Piddinghoe and Lewes, this one probably dates back to the first half of the 12th century.

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“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are” Ernest Hemingway

CYCLE MILL HILL

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Distance: 8 miles (13 km) | Time: 1.5 – 2 hours Access: Bridleways, gravel tracks and some quiet lanes. Suitable for mountain bikes with off-road/knobbly tyres.

ROUTE INSTRUCTIONS 1 Start from Gateway Cafe at Centenary Park, passing to theright of the play area.

Proceed down the hill, crossing a small road and continue uphill following the gravel path.

2 Turn left following the uneven bridleway,

then turn left at the concrete road, passing the houses and business units. Take care crossing Pelham Rise road and proceed along Glynn Road for approximately 1/2 mile.

3 Continue through the bollards along Glynn Road West then turn left at the T junction onto Telscombe Road for approximately 200m. Turn right onto a gravel road, note the sign saying ‘No Access to C7’.

Follow the road for 1/2 mile to Telscombe Tye. 4 Proceed through the gate and follow the track uphill. Take care – the surface is quite loose with small gullies.

5 Join the tarmac road, pause and enjoy the view before crossing the cattle grid and

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descending through Telscombe village. Take care on the steep descent. The road climbs steeply from the village for 400m.

6 At the top of the hill, on the left, take the right hand gate and descend the gravel bridleway across farmland.

Take care as the surface can be quite loose and slippery when wet. (Alternative Route – you can follow the road descending to the C7 at Southease and rejoin the route towards point 10.

7 Proceed through the gate and turn right onto the gravel track passing through Cricketing Bottom and South Farm.

Follow the gravel track for 1.5 miles. Beware of farm vehicle movements.

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Continue straight, following the South Downs Way National Trail along the valley.

9 Turn right onto a narrow gravel path,

following the South Downs Way and proceed through the gate to ascend the very steep hill for 50m – most cyclists push their bikes here! Cross farmland for 100m and through a second gate onto Gorham’s Lane.

Turn right onto the C7 and immediately left after 20m onto a narrow lane to Southease village following the South Downs Way.

10 Pass through the gate joining the Egrets Way following the River Ouse, signposted to Piddinghoe and Peacehaven. (Continue for 500m to visit the YHA South Downs café.)

11 Pass through the gate and follow the path adjacent to the ‘C7’ Lewes Road for 100m.

Cross the ‘C7’ and follow the bridleway gravel track, passing to the left of the ornamental gates. Stay on the track for 3/4 mile.

12 Follow the bridleway through Halcombe Farm onto a tarmac surface, ascending a fairly steep hill for 300m. Beware of moving vehicles for 1/2 mile particularly near the buildings.

Join Telscombe Road at the edge of Peacehaven village and follow the road for 400m.

13 Turn left onto Pelham Rise at the T junction and follow the road for 400m.

14 Turn left off Pelham Rise and retrace the earlier route via Lower Hoddern Farm turning right onto a gravel bridleway after the houses to Centenary Park, Peacehaven, to finish at the Gateway Cafe.

For more information about walks in the region, contact South Downs National Park Authority. Tel: 0300 303 1053, or visit www.southdowns.gov.uk

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TV - bigger picture

“Where corporate entities can appear rigid at times in their structure and availability, Ed Foster is unconstrained by any such strictures”

Mid Sussex Golf Club

RIGHT ON COURSE GolfGuy and Lynne Edwards, MD of Portfolio Magazine, team up against “Beef” and “The Big Easy” in a battle of the titans at Mid Sussex Golf Club

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eing a switched-on, hard-networking member of the Brighton & Hove business community and a proud supporter of local charities and sporting events, Ed Foster was in the right place at the right time when he attended the Brighton & Hove Estate Agents Association dinner back in February. His was the winning bid for the charity auction prize that would entitle him to a round of golf and a lunch courtesy of this esteemed publication with GolfGuy at Mid Sussex golf course, near Ditchling.

Ed’s team mate for the day was Paul Taggart, Associate Director at Hamptons-International estate agents and current President of the Association. The dynamic duo had arrived early and were waiting for us in the club restaurant. My inner eye may have been visualising lambs being led to the slaughter, but what actually met the eye were two towers of power who physically resembled professional golfers Ernie Els and Andrew Johnston, and for the rest of the day Paul Taggart was “The Big Easy,” and the handsomely hirsute Ed Foster was “Beef.”

Having spent the past ten years at Hamptons-International, most recently as Assistant Manager, Ed Foster launched his own estate agency business, Foster & Co., in The Drive, Hove just a few months ago. His fledgling business is already getting results. “I’ve got several contracts exchanging this week, from the first few sales when we opened” he confides, with irrepressible pride, over lunch. “It’s nervy at first when you’re starting out, but I’ve been patiently working my

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Paul Taggart, Golf Guy & Ed Foster

GOLF

“The way he managed to extricate himself from a tricky situation on the ninth hole is a case in point” leads and building my contacts, and it’s all starting to happen now.” When I wonder aloud at the sort of relationship that would embrace a golfing partnership with your former boss, having just departed to start your own business in a highly competitive field, Beef and Big Easy just smile. “You do what you can to help people to succeed while they are your colleagues, and you wish them well when they leave to take their next step,” says a generous Paul Taggart. When I ask Ed “Beef” Foster about any lessons learned under the tutelage of the Big Easy, he cheekily replies with “You mean, how to hook a golf ball?”

He must have been thinking of the few, uhm, “practice shots” the pair hit off the first tee before knuckling down to some more serious golf and eventually giving my side a sound thumping. Clearly, Ed learned the nuts and bolts of the trade while at Hamptons-International, and was ready to move away from the corporate concept of estate agency and into what he considers a more hands-on, personal and responsive service for his clients. Where corporate entities can appear rigid at times in their structure and availability, Ed Foster is unconstrained by any such strictures. A lady looking to view a particular flat in Hove, for example, recently pinged an email request around to several agents handling the sale, including Ed, at 9:30pm. Ed’s emails go straight to his mobile phone, 24/7, whereas the corporates would first see the email request the following morning. By then Ed Foster had already arranged the viewing and ultimately did the deal. “Clearly she was delighted that I had responded straight away to her request, and she bought the flat” says Ed. It’s amazing what you can learn about people within the context of playing a round of golf with them. It is said that Bill Clinton and Donald Trump more or less make up their own “scores” for a round, which cannot come as a surprise to anyone even vaguely aware of current affairs. Although “Beef” Foster has a fearless, swashbuckling approach to most situations, he seldom does anything rash or reckless. The way he managed to extricate himself from a tricky situation on the ninth hole is a case in point. Having managed to hack out of the knee-high rough and faced with a tricky chip shot over a large bunker and onto a tiny landing zone on the green, Ed

Paul’s shot into 6th green from 150 yards!

calmly sized up the task before him, made a decision on what type of shot to play, and foregoing practice strokes and other time-wasting exercises, he stepped up and hit a high, floating shot that landed like a butterfly with sore feet about two feet from the hole. The lad is not the timid sort.

Ed’s approach to customer service also differentiates him from competitors. By marketing himself as a property “counsellor,” Ed adds a new dimension to property search for both sales and lettings. He has a number of clients from overseas who are happy to employ him to perform the annoying, time-consuming tasks that searching and securing a Brighton & Hove property entail. He has armies of contacts and relationships, is a very active networker, and nothing is too much trouble for Ed Foster. He has forged valuable relationships with head teachers of local schools, for instance, and is thus in a position to advise the parents of prospective students, often from abroad, about housing and relocation.

Unusually for agents in this region, Ed advertises on Rightmove AND Zoopla, which he believes gives him an advantage over others who do not have the same exposure on the internet. His strong belief in the continuity of relationships (the tenant of today could be tomorrow’s buyer) and the fact that he has done all the ground-work for developing a strong and sustainable property consulting business mean that competitors will need to sharpen their skills, because Ed “Beef” is right on course, especially if he does business the way he plays golf. Did I mention that he is also just a helluva nice guy?

GolfGuy

Foster & Co. 10 The Drive, Hove, BN3 3JA 01273 830919 www.fosterandcoestateagents.co.uk

PORTFOLIO 83

COLOURING PAGE Colour me calm

“Take time out during your stressful day to colour in, or download a free design" www.tescoliving.com

HEALTH

“Mindfulness is a quality of mind. It is an alert, receptive awareness of what is happening in body and mind as it is occurring”

HOW TO LIVE NOW Improve your health and happiness by adding mindfulness to your day. Richard Gilpin explains how mindful meditation increases positive emotion and helps with stress management

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ne of Western healthcare’s big success stories in recent years has also been one of its quietist revolutions: mindfulness. This has come about through a greater understanding of the therapeutic benefits of deliberate, embodied awareness.

Mindfulness has deep roots. Originating in the Buddhist tradition, it is long established on the contemplative fringes of our society. Now, similarly to yoga, it has gone mainstream. A confluence of cutting-edge neuroscientific knowledge and ancient wisdom means that 25-centuryold meditation techniques are getting a new lease of life in health clinics, schools and community centres.

Despite its popularity, mindfulness is often misunderstood as a way of calming down, stopping thinking or ‘spacing out’. It is none of these things and simpler than all of them. Mindfulness is a quality of mind. It is an alert, receptive awareness of what is happening in body and mind as it is occurring. In practice, this means dwelling intimately in your moment-to-moment experience and being alive through your senses.

Mindful awareness is sustained by a warm-hearted, patient and nondiscriminating attitude. To be mindful is to approach life in a spirit of friendly enquiry – being open to what is occurring around you and within you, be that wanted or unwanted, and letting go of urges to achieve, resist and avoid. Mindfulness is not about trying to maintain happy or tranquil states, nor is it about denying what hurts. It is about developing the willingness to bear.

This is a delicate balance to sustain, but it is always within reach.

Because mindfulness is an inherent quality of mind, you don’t need to acquire it. You’ve already got it. Consider all the lucid moments you have – times when you feel awake and fully engaged in whatever you

are doing; when you have clarity of purpose and a sense of connection with life. These are moments of mindfulness.

Formal mindfulness practice is, therefore, the cultivation of your innate capacity to be aware. This is undertaken through various kinds of meditative and body-awareness exercises, which allow you to ground the mind in the body and to recognise more clearly what is going on, inwardly and outwardly.

The benefits of doing so are increasingly understood, hence mindfulness is recognised as a versatile treatment for a range of health issues, including stress, anxiety, depressive relapse and chronic pain through established programmes such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress.

Regimens are now widely available. These combine particular psychotherapeutic techniques with mindfulness practice in ways that are known to work.

What many people discover, even after just a few weeks of formal practice, is that they can relate to themselves and others with greater clarity and kindness. And, when they do, life becomes a smoother ride.

Richard Gilpin is a therapist and author of Mindfulness for Unravelling Anxiety and Mindfulness for Black Dogs and Blue Days (Leaping Hare Press).

For further information and support please contact: Brighton and Hove Clinic, 01273 747464 or email brighton@elysiumhealthcare.co.uk

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LOCAL news

LOCAL NEWS CHARITY’S SOUTH DOWNS FUNDRAISING WALK Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC) have announced that registration to the Arundel to Brighton (A2B) walk is now officially open, and is calling for people to get involved. The Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity provides a specialist service for families of young children with cerebral palsy and other motor learning difficulties. The Charity aims to raise £30,000 from the event, which is now in its fifth year, in order to launch a new Outreach Service to provide support to those families who are unable to attend sessions or need extra help at home.

The fundraising walk begins at 7.30am on Saturday 16th September at Arundel Castle and follows the South Downs to Devil’s Dyke, Brighton over a 35k undulating course of beautiful scenic countryside. The walk brings together people of all abilities and ends with a celebratory meal at the finish line. For those who want to raise money but participate over a shorter distance, there’s also a 12km route which ends at Kithurst Hill.

For more information on the A2B walk or to register to participate visit www.dvlcc.org.uk

SOCCER SUCCESS For one very talented group of 11-year-old boys from Sussex, a once-in-a-lifetime experience has ended in a fairytale finish. A team of 11 elite players from the Pro Direct Soccer Academy West Sussex was selected to play football in the recent prestigious international tournament The Scharr Nations Cup in Stuttgart, Germany against Juventus, FC Nuremberg and other top pro club academies from across Europe.

The novice academy went into the prestige tournament having never entered a team before, and participated in ten very challenging matches, including two nail-biting penalty shoot-outs against FC Gallen and VFL Pfullingen. They progressed through to the semifinals, proving to be great ambassadors for football and also their country.

Pro Direct Soccer Academy was one of only two teams representing England amongst forty teams from as far afield as Dallas, USA. They reached the semi-final and gained the fourth-place trophy. “All the boys worked extremely hard and are a credit to PDSA Sussex and their parents,” said regional director and coach Del Tobias.

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FLOATING CHINESE RESTAURANT TRANSFORMED A businessman is transforming a well-known Chinese restaurant into a community hub for young people. Andrew Goodall, of Brunswick Developments, the company that owns Brighton Marina, took ownership of the Brighton Pagoda in the marina early last year to make the most of the space the boat had to offer.

It is now run by his charity, the Goodall Foundation, and under the new name, The Barge, there will be activities taking place for youngsters to join in for free. Leaders estate agents is also helping to fund the project. Mr Goodall said: “When the Barge stopped operating as a restaurant last year, I felt very strongly that I didn’t want it to be scrapped. He said: “Community and youth organisations are in short supply across the city, and with more than 3,000 square feet right in the marina’s heart, The Barge has the potential to be a remarkable space.” Summer occupants on the boat include Strike a Light, a community arts and heritage organisation, AudioActive, a music organisation that works with young people, Blockbuilders, Tarner Community Project, Onca and Sea PR. The Barge will open on July 26, and programmes for the autumn and 2018 are still being planned.

LOCAL news

BOOM TIME FOR SUSSEX VINEYARDS English wine producers have enjoyed a bumper year, with their highest-ever profits. The nation’s wine industry has boomed in recent years, with Sussex in particular - which benefits from the same chalky soil and climate conditions as the Champagne region of France - producing scores of award-winning bottles. Independent English wine producers saw their turnover rise to a record £132 million last year, a new study has found. The 16 per cent increase from the previous year shows that the industry has enjoyed major growth, online business finance firm Funding Options said. Research revealed that wine producers are benefitting from the growing popularity of boutique British alcohol production, with gin and craft beer enjoying good business as well as wine. Conrad Ford, founder of Funding Options, said: “The English wine industry is not only gaining traction amongst domestic consumers, but is now being ranked with wines from traditional white wine-producing countries such as France and Germany.”

Peter Hall, from Breaky Bottom vineyard in Rodmell, near Lewes, said: “I cannot see anything stopping that upward growth.Smaller vineyards are buying more land and new ones are coming in all the time. It is undeniably down to the quality of the best wines in the UK. I’m half French and my French counterparts fully admit the quality of the best of what we make.”

NIGEL LEVINE LAUNCHES GOODGYM IN BRIGHTON Former European athletics champion Nigel Levine visited the Goodgym Brighton Launch evening in July, to mark the 34th Goodgym session in the UK. Levine, 28, met Goodgym leaders and experienced GoodGym’s unique approach to building community cohesion, promoting fitness and reducing social isolation. GoodGym members stop off on their runs to do physical tasks for community organisations and to support isolated older people with one-off tasks they can’t do on their own.

GoodGym Brighton will be led by trainer Tara Shanahan, a local running enthusiast. In addition to the weekly group run led by Tara, GoodGym runners will also be paired with an isolated older person and commit to a weekly social visit and/or help with oneoff household tasks. The GoodGym befriending scheme has been proven to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing.

The Gym was launched in line with Team Personal Best’s official inspiration programme for the London 2017 Summer of World Athletics, created to develop and increase capacity in grassroots athletics and running. www.goodgym.org. www.teampersonalbest.org

SPORTING LUNCH PROVES A WINNER FOR CHILDREN’S CHARITY A sporting lunch held in aid of Sussex children’s charity Rockinghorse, has raised £35,550 for its 50th year appeal. Held at The Grand Hotel in Brighton in June, the Best of British event welcomed special guest speaker Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards. The charity sporting lunch has become a consistently sold-out event and is sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter.

Rockinghorse is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and aims to raise £500,000 during its Golden Jubilee, to be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services in Sussex. The ‘Sussex Giving for Sussex Children’ initiative will help improve, refurbish and develop the environment for the young people benefiting from the supported projects. One of the projects receiving support is Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, based in Haywards Heath. It is Sussex’s only dedicated unit to help young people suffering from mental health illnesses. The rest of the money raised will be donated towards the charity’s nine other projects supported by the Sussex Giving for Sussex Children appeal.

Next year’s Best of British promises to be even bigger and better as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary. To reserve your table, email ryan.heal@rockinghorse.org.uk.

BID FOR COMMUNITY LIVE-MUSIC PUB LAUNCHED Another bid to save a community pub in Brighton has been launched by residents who want to turn it into the first live-music community pub in the country. The Greys in Southover Street has been put up for sale by owners, Enterprise Inns. Since the pub had already been designated an asset of community value by the city council following an application, when it goes on sale the community has six months to raise enough money to bid for it. Friends of the Greys is now setting up a limited company so it can inform the council of its intention to do this by the deadline of 2nd August. Group member Tamara Carlier said: “To many of us it’s more than just a pub. It’s an asset of community value, a live venue and a second living room, where friends meet every day. “The pub is on the market for £450K, so it’ll be no mean feat. But we’re determined, and all ready to muck in and do whatever it takes.” The group have met up with Warren Carter – chair of the Bevendean co-operative pub (‘The Bevy’) and have also been in touch with Plunkett Foundation to get details on how to proceed. “We’re really going full steam ahead with this,” said Tamara. “We’re hopeful that with the right amount of community backing The Greys can be the UK’s first co-operative live-music pub.”

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BITE SIZED

Nick Mosley, Managing Director of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival CIC, rounds up the month’s food news

Sussex Gin Week Running alongside the food festival at the end of this month is Sussex Gin Week. Sponsored by Sussex’s Blackdown Distillery and Regency Tonic, thirty of the city’s bars and restaurants will each be showcasing three gin cocktails or gin cocktails all priced between £5-7.

Alongside the citywide drinks promotion, there’s a host of gin-focussed events, including a Gin Makers Dinner at The Salt Room, gin and cheese matching event at La Cave à Fromage, Sussex Gin Festival at Hotel du Vin with Brighton Gin Club, and a gin foraging night at the Queen Victoria in Rottingdean.

For complete information about all of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival events running 24 August - 3 September, visit the festival website at www.brightonfoodfestival.com.

60 seconds with...

Eliott Buchet, Head Chef at Jeremy’s Restaurant

Guilty secret food?

Domino’s pizza every Sunday evening.

First kitchen job?

Chef Dave Mothersill, GM Olivia Reid and proprietor Raz Helalat at The Salt Room

Work experience at Olivier Roellinger at the age of 15.

All change for The Salt Room

Seafood or meat?

Seafood.

Favourite restaurant?

Jeremy’s, of course!

Chef you most admire?

Pierre Gagnaire.

Essential ingredient?

Ginger.

Favourite international cuisine?

Nordic.

Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill, Haywards Heath RH16 1XP. 01444 441102 www.jeremysrestaurant.co.uk

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Photo: Julia Claxton

This month sees Olivia Reid join the expanding restaurant group The Coal Shed and The Salt Room, assuming the position of General Manager at The Salt Room on Kings Road, Brighton. Olivia previously worked at Brighton’s Terre à Terre as Commercial Manager, with responsibility for revenue development and delivering Terre à Terre’s renowned excellent service standard and customer engagement. Through her role as vice-chair of the city’s Tourism Advisory Board, she’s been integral to Brighton’s food and drink development for over a decade.

In recent years, she has received both ‘outstanding recognition’ at the Brighton and Hove Food & Drink awards and the Brighton & Hove Mayor’s Tourism & Hospitality Special Recognition Award 2017. Olivia’s understanding of the city and what its audience needs, combined with her eye for detail, will be a perfect fit in an already celebrated team including Head Chef Dave Mothersill.

The Salt Room, 106 King’s Road, Brighton BN1 2FU. 01273 929488. www.saltroom-restaurant.co.uk

FOOD

“My favourite dish was definitely one of the desserts: I have to admit that the lavender curd with blueberry and parma violet was the first time this year that I actually smiled whilst spooning it in” PASCERE MAKES WAVES

Photos: Julia Claxton

Pascere makes waves One of the big news stories for Brighton this year is the opening of Pascere, a new restaurant venture headed up by Amanda Menahem and chef Johnny Stamford, formerly of South Lodge. Located in Duke Street, Brighton, behind a smart, understated facade, the eathery offers two floors of elegant dining. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, in a nod to current trends, there’s a combination of small plate or a la carte.

There’s also a tasting menu featuring ten courses.

We dived into the small plates, and each dish proved to be superb, perfectly balancing creativity, style and taste. The English pea custard was a delight, and I even managed to get over my acquired aversion to truffle to sample the rarebit. My favourite dish was definitely one of the desserts: I have to admit that the lavender curd with blueberry and parma violet was the first time this year that I actually smiled whilst spooning it in. It is absolutely divine.

Owner Amanda is rightly proud of the wine list, featuring many of her own personal favourites. With a large number of wines by the glass, its the perfect way to sample some lesser known varieties and growing regions. Pascere is without doubt a significant addition to Brighton’s dining scene, and definitely one to watch over the coming months.

Pascere, 8 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AH. 01273 917949. www.pascere.co.uk

Chefs and producers showcase the best of Sussex Each year the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival hosts an annual trade day to bring chefs, restaurateurs and producers together for a fun day of tasting and networking. This year, we headed to Townings Farm and Ridgeview Wine Estate for tours and tastings, alongside a three-hour Producers Showcase and BBQ lunch at Jeremy’s Restaurant at Borde Hill.

Around 75 colleagues from the food and drink and hospitality industry Photo: Julia Claxton attended, sampling produce, including Trenchmore farm beef, Dingley Dell pork, Premier cheese, South Downs Water, beers from The Beer Collective and Bedlam Brewery, Wobblegate juice and cider, Metrodeco and OMG teas, plus Sussex wines from Stopham, Bolney, Ridgeview and Wiston estates.

This year’s tour was sponsored by Alastair McAloon and Matt Baker of NFU Mutual Pulborough. “We’re delighted to support the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival trade tour”, says Alastair. “It’s a great opportunity for us to strengthen the connections we have with the best of the hospitality industry in Brighton and Hove, and food and drink producers across the county”.

“The standard of produce and the passion of attendees for quality and provenance are what helps maintain the incredibly high standards we have in our region and ensures our place as a culinary capital.”

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BEAUTIFUL homes

CHEZ MAL BRASSERIE There’s a buzz pulsating through the foodie community about the new brasserie at the Malmaison, Brighton Marina. Daniel Frickelton and friend shuffle along to find out what all the fuss is about...

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ight, then. Here’s a fun little mental game to help get your synapses snapping: close your eyes, take a deep breath, relax your shoulders and describe the first thing that pops into your head when I say... hotel restaurant. Although we have been to some memorable ones around Britain and the world, too many are staggeringly forgettable, right? We have mixed feelings about them. So... the first thing you need to grasp about Chez Mal Brasserie at Brighton Marina is that it is so obviously NOT a “hotel restaurant.” Yes, I know it shares a roof and marina location with another Mal house, but that’s another story and another experience.

I have enjoyed many a working lunch or weekend drinks with friends, indoors or on Malmaison’s deck overlooking the marina basin, for years. Although the Malmaison has changed names a couple of times over the years, the food has always been of a reasonably high standard and the ambience pleasant. We were nevertheless unprepared for what awaited us on this warm, silky summer evening.

You notice it instantly as you arrive: lush lounges and semi-private relaxation spaces everywhere; a cocktail lounge, oozing class and comfort, where previously there was just a bar. The comfortable size of the rooms gets you wondering where all the space has come from, and then it hits you: there used to be long hallways, wide as Wimbledon’s Centre Court, a profligate waste of space, in Malmaison’s older guise. The brasserie, Chez Mal, continues the theme. Although the room is spacious, its very expert interior design succeeds in tricking you into thinking you are in a more intimate, private space. This is achieved through clever use of opaque room dividers, the use of rich, dark colours and well-considered use of lighting.

The result is chic, modern, smoky and sexy, and quite breathtaking, particularly if you had experienced the previous version. The chairs are texile-upholstered replicas of early-to-mid-20th-C Danish modern design, minus the teak, and are by a wide margin the most comfortable restaurant chairs we have ever enjoyed, anywhere.

Considering the fact that a proper eatery is asking patrons to put their bums on

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RESTAURANT review

“The result is chic, modern, smoky and sexy, and quite breathtaking” seats for at least a couple of hours, it amazes me that so many otherwise fine dining establishments still seat their customers on devices that could have been invented by the Jesuits during the Inquisition.

Once greeted and seated, we were in the very capable, friendly custody of Colm and Julia. Colm hails from a place near Donegal and has done ten or twelve years with Malmaison Belfast, N Ireland. He has assumed the mantle of Brasserie Manager in his new role, so we had a lively chat about the profound changes to Chez Mal Brighton. We also discovered his deep knowledge of the wine list and took advantage of same, eventually deciding on a NZ Sauvignon Blanc - “Manaku,” in case you’re interested - to see us through what was looking like a delightfully fishy evening. This was a bottleful of dense, ripe tropical fruit flavours and aromas, laced with a citrussy bite and unique dryness that made it perfect for seafood and soft summer evenings.

“They were so good that we were shamelessly greedy” Essential as it is to a satisfying dining experience, a restaurant cannot survive on ambience alone. We knuckled down to the difficult task of choosing starters and mains from the mouthwatering array of favourites on offer. In addition to the a la carte, Chez Mal offer a seasonal Summer Prix Fixe menu, which they describe as a “contemporary collection of dishes showcasing this season’s finest, celebrating artistry at its best, all in unique Chez Mal style.” My companion very quickly found her starter and main courses on this imaginative menu, which fairly crackles with seasonal freshness. She started with a goat’s cheese, apple and pear salad with toasted walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. The presentation was French-inspired and easy on the eye, while the generous size of the apple and pear chunks leant more towards America and provided loads of crunchy summer freshness. The vinaigrette assured a tangy zestiness that primed the taste buds for immanent pleasures.

Altogether a successful start to a summer meal.

My companion’s main course, also from the Prix Fixe menu, was poached salmon Hollandaise, with buttered Anya new potatoes, cress and shallot onion. Succulent flakes of perfectly poached salmon seemed to float magically onto her fork and the hollandaise added the richness needed to balance the boiled and poached flavours of these fresh ingredients.

She said very little, perhaps because she was taught not to speak with a full mouth. Whatever you choose, from crunchy Thai salad and char-grilled chicken to slow-roasted brisket

with blackened sweet potatoes, Chez Mal’s super Summer Prix Fixe Menu is packed full of colour and bold flavour. One of the best things about the items on this summer seasonal menu is the value for money. Chez Mal are offering two courses for £19.95 and three for £24.95.

Choosing my starter from the a la carte menu was a rather agonising experience. Seldom have I encountered so tempting a collection of dishes, any of which I would happily have expedited with pleasure. Maybe Chez should consider a taster collection of six starters in smaller portions for two to share. A little bit of (almost) everything, from hand-made Vietnamese tuna rolls to Cornish pan-seared scallops, buttermilk-fried buffalo wings, beef or beetroot carpaccio, to more traditional favs like chicken liver pate and prawn cocktail, is available, reflecting the global/fusion acumen of Chez’s kitchen and the depth of their culinary imagination. I plumped for the tempura of calamari and tiger prawns, accompanied by a chilli jam and crème fraiche. Tempuras are a good way for good kitchens to show off their attention to detail: the tempura batter has to be thin and crisp, and the food inside must be piping hot. Chez Mal scored well on both counts.

Choose a main from Chez’s a la carte menu and see the world. The tempting dishes on offer take you all the way from Cumbria (grilled catch of the day) to Kerala, on India’s southwestern coast, via America (Mal burger, mushroom burger), Italy (tortellini of tomatoes et al) and France (steak frites), with a swing back to Cornwall (scallops) and the Yorkshire Dales (lamb cutlet) and whichever northern region has given us our cherished smoked haddock fish cakes. I fancied a trip to India and ordered the Keralan monkfish curry. The presence of chillies, ginger and other spices in this creamy coconutbased curry requires a deft hand to avoid overwhelming the relatively mild flavours in the meaty monkfish. This dish was made with great skill and was very satisfying.

Desserts were banoffi cheesecake (hers), which evoked recurring waves of soft cooing sounds and blissful expressions, and sticky toffee pudding, with pecan toffee sauce (his). We were meant to be sharing these delights, but they were so good that we were shamelessly greedy. We chased this all down with a nutty, cakey glass of 10-year-old tawny port and counted ourselves lucky to have discovered this wonderful eatery a mere two months after re-opening following refurbishment and before it is besieged, as it soon will be, by the hungry madding crowds of Brighton.

Chez Mal Brasserie Malmaison 11 Mermaid Walk, Brighton BN2 5WA www.malmaison.com/locations/brighton

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EVENT Chilli Fiesta!

“The UK’s biggest chilli festival” Live Latin music, cookery and gardening demonstrations, spicy food, and lots of chillis.

Or make the most of the family-friendly festival atmosphere and camp onsite.

Chilli Fiesta, West Dean Gardens. 11th to 13th August 2017 www.westdean.org.uk

BEAUTIFUL homes

CANDICE BAKES ON Candice Brown is the glamorous and effortlessly down-to-earth winner of last year’s Great British Bake-Off. Her debut book, Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Family Treats, was number one on Amazon in the opening week of its release

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econdary school teacher and pub landlord’s daughter Candice Brown stole the show with her amazing bakes and weekly lipstick change in The Great British Bake-Off tent of 2016.

The Sunday Times columnist has now launched her first cookbook - all about home comforts. These are the recipes Candice learned to bake from her nan and mum, recipes close to her heart, that should be served up as a big, generous slice - and preferably on a vintage plate, if you have one.

Candice’s recipes are easy-to-make, no-nonsense and hearty. She has a recipe up her sleeve for every occasion - for baking with kids, birthday parties for all ages, Christmas, afternoon tea, quick savoury bakes for weeknights and fancier recipes for weekends.

Winner of The Great British Bake-Off 2016, Candice Brown was born in North London and grew up in the pubs that her parents ran – and that she famously immortalised in gingerbread for her most talked-about show-stopper.

With her degree in Sport, PE and Community Studies, Candice was a secondary school teacher when she applied for GBBO and managed to juggle planning her fabulous bakes and filming the show with teaching lively teenagers. Candice is currently taking a break from teaching to explore new adventures in flour.

Over the page, she reveals a favourite recipe: wild salmon and asparagus quiche.

Candice’s debut cookery book, Comfort: Delicious Bakes and Family Treats, is out now, published by Ebury Press.

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BEAUTIFUL homes

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RECIPE

WILD SALMON AND ASPARAGUS QUICHE INGREDIENTS

METHOD

For the pastry • 500g/1lb 2oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting • Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper • 2 tsp dried parsley • 250g/9oz cold butter, cut into cubes • 4 medium free-range egg yolks • 100ml/3½fl oz ice-cold water • 1 free-range egg, beaten, for egg wash

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper and dried parsley. Add the cold, cubed butter and rub in with your fingertips until it is the texture of breadcrumbs (you can also do this in a food processor). Add the egg yolks and mix together with your hands, then slowly mix in the water, little by little, until it just comes together.

For the filling • Drizzle olive oil • 3 x 110g/4oz boneless wild salmon fillets • 3 sprigs fresh dill • ½ tsp chilli flakes • 2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed • ½ lemon, sliced • 220g/8oz fine asparagus • Large bowl ice-cold water, for refreshing • 8 large free-range eggs • 160ml/5¾oz double cream • 200g/7oz Parmesan, finely grated • 100g/3½oz gruyère, finely grated • Small bunch fresh chives

Turn the pastry out onto the work surface and knead a few times very lightly to form into a ball. Try not to handle the pastry too much. Then divide the pastry in half, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for half an hour.

For the filling, preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Lay out a large sheet of aluminium foil and drizzle with olive oil. Lay the salmon fillets on the foil and top with the fresh dill, chilli flakes and garlic cloves, adding a generous amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Squeeze the lemon slices over the fish and lay them on top.

Fold the foil over to make a loose pouch and seal the edges with double folds. Place the pouch onto a baking tray and bake the salmon for 10–15 minutes, depending on their thickness. Unwrap the fish, discard the herbs, garlic and lemon and set the fish aside to cool. Refrigerate until needed.

Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the asparagus and blanch for 1 minute. Plunge the asparagus into the bowl of icecold water and drain when cool. Set aside 2 spears of asparagus, cut to 10cm/4in, per tart. Cut the rest into 1cm/½in pieces.

Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.

Roll the pastry to 4mm thick and cut into 11cm/4¼in circles, re-rolling as needed, to line the mini pastry tins. Put the tins onto a baking tray and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes. (If you don’t have enough tins and are baking the pastry in batches, divide the pastry in half and chill the second batch while the others are baking.)

Cut a square of baking paper slightly larger than the tart tins and scrunch them up to soften the paper. Put one square onto each pastry case and add a pile of baking beans.

Bake the pastry cases for 15 minutes. Remove the paper squares and the baking beans, and brush the pastry cases with the egg wash. Return to the oven for a further 6 minutes.

“Perfect for large parties, this recipe is also easily halved for smaller gatherings”

Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the eggs and double cream, adding a pinch of salt and a good grind of black pepper. Set aside 30g/1oz of the grated Parmesan, then mix the remaining cheeses into the egg mixture. Snip in the fresh chives and mix to combine.

Gently flake the cooked salmon in chunks into the baked pastry cases and with some asparagus pieces. Spoon over the egg mixture so that it fills the tart to the top (you may need to push the filling down into the gaps). Lay two crossed spears of asparagus on the top, and sprinkle over some reserved grated Parmesan.

Bake the tarts for 15 minutes until golden-brown but with a slight wobble on top. Allow to cool for a few minutes before carefully turning out onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or cold with a crisp green salad.

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BEAUTIFUL homes

BEAUTIFUL BEAULIEU There’s nothing like Beaulieu for a fun-packed summer with crazy creations in the National Motor Museum’s Wacky Record Breakers exhibition, a new-look World of Top Gear, supercars to watch, plus falconry and photo opportunities for all the family

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tep back in time at the newly opened Victorian Kitchen in Palace House, where Lord Montagu’s cook will prepare traditional dishes on the range. While Victorian entertainers play the grand piano, sing and play games on the lawn outside. Here are the exciting top-ten tips below: A new-look World of Top Gear In an exciting summer launch, a refreshed World of Top Gear will reflect changes to the new-look BBC Top Gear. Amazing new exhibits from the world’s biggest motoring show include the impressive Ssangyacht, built from the world’s ugliest people carrier, the longest limousine selfie opportunity ever and a marine feature displaying boat challenge vehicles. While the Enormodrome boasts a brand-new studio, in keeping with the style of the latest series with presenters Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid. In homage to the past, there will still be plenty of vehicles and memorabilia from the show’s 40-year history.

Victorian Kitchen Newly opened Victorian Kitchen, an exciting project for 2017 Beaulieu, has opened the newly restored Victorian Kitchen at Palace House, where Lord Montagu’s cook will wear her Victorian cook’s

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costume as she prepares authentic dishes on the range throughout the summer holiday. Her homemade cakes, biscuits and preserves are also on sale in the kitchen shop. The original kitchen from the Victorian era was gutted to make way for a motorcycle display in the early 1950s and has been fully restored to working order for visitors to Beaulieu this summer.

Falconry at the Abbey For a chance to see birds of prey in flight this summer, head to the Cloisters of the 13thcentury Beaulieu Abbey. Watch as these magnificent birds take to the sky in falconry demonstrations by our expert falconer and learn about the remarkable history of these ancient skills.

Wacky Record Breakers Experience the crazier side of motoring with Wacky Record Breakers, the brand-new summer exhibition in the museum. This awesome collection of off-the-wall automotive oddities brings together unbelievable creations by TV presenter Edd China and YouTuber and inventor Colin Furze. Wonder at the motorised bathroom suite, roadlegal garden shed and double bed, and prepare to be amazed by the world’s fastest fairground dodgem, pram and mobility scooter.

MOTORING

Beaulieu’s past comes to life Take a step back in time as Living History characters bring Beaulieu to life with the sights and sounds of the past. Meet the costumed monk to find out what life was like in the abbey’s monastic heyday, then see veteran cars bring driven in the grounds and grab a photo opportunity next to Beaulieu’s Penny Farthing. Join a game of croquet on the lawn at Palace House or head inside to meet Victorian house staff and sing along with the house guests.

Awesome Supercar Weekend More than 450 of the most impressive supercars on the planet will gather at Beaulieu’s Supercar Weekend on August 5th and 6th for an unmissable twoday showdown that every performance motoring enthusiast will love. Highoctane demonstration runs, amazing displays and a Battle of the Brands around Beaulieu’s giant globe will showcase the greatest supercar-building nations of the world.

“Step back in time at the newly opened Victorian Kitchen in Palace House, where Lord Montagu’s cook will prepare traditional dishes on the range”

Life-size LEGO Caravan A LEGO caravan which holds the Guinness World Record as ‘the largest caravan built with interlocking plastic bricks’ is now on show at Beaulieu.

Built by 12 model-makers using 215,158 LEGO bricks, this astonishing creation may use plastic components from the toy box but, with electric lights, running water and even seats that fold into a bed, does almost everything a real caravan can do. There are even LEGO eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes cooking in a frying pan on the two-hob burner, a vase full of flowers on the table, a chess set and toothbrushes by the sink.

Muscle Mustang ‘Art car’ Get creative with our felt-tip pens and colour a real-life Ford Mustang car, to customise it with the designs of your choice. Newly arrived at Beaulieu, the Mustang will be a blank canvas for visitors to colour in its bodywork and create an eye-catching masterpiece. Can you come up with a colour scheme fit for this legendary American muscle car on the Beaulieu Events Arena?

Automotive Steampunk Creative Fun Explore the imaginative world of automotive steampunk with Creative Fun sessions in the museum throughout August. Inspired by the Keep CALM and STEAM Ahead project, supported by the Arts Council England Designation Development Fund, families can explore magical mechanisms at drop-in sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from August 1st-24th from 11am-3pm. Look out for the imaginative steampunk costumes created by Arts University Bournemouth students to reflect some of the most iconic vehicles in the museum.

Mythical Tree Carvings and Fairy Doors New for the summer will be a legendary Green Man tree carving, a manyheaded serpent stretching out across the Beaulieu River and a tree-top griffin, the mythical creature which supports the Montagu family coat of arms.

Enter the realms of magic with a stroll along Mill Pond Walk and find fairy doors in woodland trees along the pathway. What magical creatures might be living behind each of the miniature door creations?

All summer activities are included in the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entry to the National Motor Museum and its collection of more than 250 vehicles, the World of Top Gear, On-Screen Cars, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the picturesque grounds and gardens.

Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire, SO42 7ZN. 01590 612345 | www.beaulieu.co.uk Find Beaulieu on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants on Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or on Instagram @national_motor_museum

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TV - bigger picture

STRIKE The Detective series based on J.K. Rowling’s crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, comes to BBC One

I

f you liked Morse, Columbo and good old-fashioned characterisation, then you’ll love this!

The central character, Cormoran Strike, is one of the most memorable and distinctive detectives in crime fiction today, and Robert Galbraith, shortlisted for the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger in 2015 and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016, is among the genre’s most celebrated writers.

British actor Holliday Grainger has been cast as Robin Ellacott opposite Tom Burke’s Cormoran Strike in a major new TV series for BBC One. The Strike Series is based on J.K. Rowling’s bestselling crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The Cuckoo’s Calling (3 x 60 minutes), The Silkworm (2 x 60 minutes) and Career of Evil (2 x 60 minutes) are set to begin shooting in November across London.

The casting announcement was made last month by BBC One and J.K. Rowling’s production company Brontë Film & TV. Grainger, who most recently starred in BBC’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover as Lady Constance Chatterley, will play Robin, assistant to Strike, a private detective operating out of a tiny office in London’s Denmark Street. Though she begins as a temporary secretary managing Strike’s chaotic life, she soon becomes involved with his case load and

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“I couldn’t be more delighted about the casting of Holliday Grainger, who brought my Robin to perfect onscreen life during her audition. We’ve now secured two superb actors in the lead roles and I think they will create something very special together” J.K. ROWLING

TV - bigger picture

begins to see her true potential.

Holliday Grainger says: “I’m thrilled to be joining the talented creative team behind The Strike Series, especially with the role of Robin Ellacott. Her grounded strength and intelligence will be a joy to explore. I can’t wait to dive straight into the wit and grit of Strike’s cannily well-observed London.”

J.K. Rowling says: “I couldn’t be more delighted about the casting of Holliday Grainger, who brought my Robin to perfect onscreen life during her audition. We’ve now secured two superb actors in the lead roles and I think they will create something very special together.”

J.K. Rowling (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Casual Vacancy), Neil Blair (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Casual Vacancy), Ruth Kenley-Letts (The Casual Vacancy, The Hour) and Elizabeth Kilgarriff (for the BBC) will executive produce based on scripts by Ben Richards (The Tunnel: Sabotage, Spooks) who will write The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm, and Tom Edge (The Last Dragon Slayer, Lovesick) who will write Career of Evil. Michael Keillor (Line of Duty, Critical) will direct The Cuckoo’s Calling, and Jackie Larkin (Stella Days, Kings) will produce.

The Cuckoo’s Calling was published to critical acclaim in 2013 and went on to be a global bestseller, followed in 2014 by The Silkworm and Career of Evil in 2015. All three books were number-one Sunday Times bestsellers in both hardback and paperback, and Little, Brown has sold over four million copies in total worldwide across all editions.

BBC One, August J.K Rowling, with her book, Silkworm

TV SNIPPETTS: we look at what is hot to watch in August

I’M DYING UP HERE

TOP OF THE LAKE

VALKYRIEN

This new series is a comedy/drama about the inspired and damaged psyches that take on the challenge of making an audience laugh, and explores the struggles of “making it big” in the 1970s LA comedy scene. Every night, a group of up-and-coming comedians wait to perform at Goldie’s, the hottest stand-up club in town. But first, they’ll have to win over Goldie, who rules the Sunset Strip with an iron fist. Stand-up is a drug for these comedians, and they’re willing to sacrifice anything to get their fix. They share their innermost thoughts and darkest secrets, hoping that someone, anyone, will laugh.

Fans of the critically acclaimed crime drama Top of the Lake will be eagerly awaiting its return at the end of this month.

Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss) is back in Sydney, searching for the daughter she gave up for adoption 17 years ago. When the body of a young woman washes up on Bondi beach, Robin and her new partner Miranda (Gwendoline Christie) begin an investigation which will lead them into the dark side of Sydney’s sex industry, with reverberations they could never have imagined.

A new eight-part Norwegian thriller Valkyrien, about an illegal hospital hidden in an Oslo underground station. Doctor Ravn (Sven Nordin) is a surgeon desperate to find a cure for his dying wife Vilma (Pia Halvorsen). The hospital had given up on her, so Ravn enters into an alliance with Oslo’s underworld and opens a clinic in a disused underground station for those in need, who either have no GP or cannot use public hospitals.

Ravn’s endeavours to build a clinic and get patients are made possible by the corrupt Leif (Pål Sverre Valheim Hagen).

SKY ATLANTIC, August

BBC2, August

CHANNEL 4, August

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BEAUTIFUL homes

STAY COOL Dressing for the heat and looking smart – and staying cool – is easy if you follow simple simple style rules

M

en who live in parts of the world which do not enjoy continuously fine weather know just how tricky it is to dress well during the summer months. Yes, summer may (more or less) arrive at the same time each year, but for those accustomed to preparing for the worst year round, the sudden increase in temperature can lead to a proportionate decrease in ability to dress well. Hot, bothered and in-the-dark dressing: not a good look.

All but the most style-blind men will now be aware that the unholy trinity of board shorts, flip-flops and a vest are to be avoided at all costs. However, what to wear in their place is a little trickier to get a handle on. It’s ironic. The season that touts itself as easy, laid-back and effortless is in reality a hot and sticky minefield of mismatched fabrics and lengths. The trouble is, most men just aren’t well-equipped enough for basking (or baking) in the sun.

We have five SS17 essentials which should form the backbone of your wardrobe. Just let the rest fall into place.

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STYLE

“The Cuban-collar shirt should be your first port of call for classic summer style. Even better, you can wear one under a suit”

1. LEATHER ESPADRILLES Espadrilles have a bit of a chequered history. Once gracing the feet of movie stars on yachts in the Riviera, espadrilles are now more likely to be seen looking slightly worse for wear on the feet of those looking for a smarter alternative to flip flops in the city.

Espadrilles are a summer essential, however; unlike sneakers, they’re pure, unadulterated summer in character and are surprisingly versatile.

Find more ideas in our collection of men’s casual shoes, but make sure that you get off on the right foot by avoiding traditional woven designs in favour of suede or leather for a more upmarket take on an old favourite.

2. TAILORED SWIM SHORTS Ever since Daniel Craig’s Bond arose from the water in Casino Royale, menswear aficionados everywhere knew that for swim shorts the ante had well and truly been upped. No longer were baggy board shorts which ballooned upon impact with water acceptable; tailored swim shorts were the new standard-bearer.

And so it remains. Swim shorts which are cut slimline are preferable to masses of fabric. For those who are less body confident, shorts which sit mid-thigh are a more flattering alternative. Whatever you do, just don’t go below the knee.

3. ROUND-LENS SUNGLASSES Whether you take your cue from Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch or John Lennon’s signature shades, round glasses for SS17 are the styleconscious man’s go-to. A word of warning: round sunglasses are more suited to those with angular, square or oval shaped faces, so if you have a rounder face, look away now.

Whether you go vintage (tortoiseshell), modern (crystal clear) or classic (black) is up to you.

4. CUBAN-COLLAR SHIRT For those men attuned to the whims of menswear, the Cuban-collar shirt is nothing new, having enjoyed pride of place in men’s summer wardrobes for the past few years. That doesn’t mean that the Cubancollar shirt is passé, however. Quite the opposite. While many men seem wedded to their polo shirt, the Cuban-collar shirt continues to be the style-savvy choice in men’s shirts.

Whether you wear with chinos or shorts, go block coloured or printed, the Cuban-collar shirt should be your first port of call for classic summer style. Even better, you can wear one under a suit.

5. BUGGY-LINED BLAZER When summer hits, tailoring gets pushed to the back of the wardrobe in favour of more relaxed pieces, left to the mercy of moths. However, there is a place for tailoring in the stylish man’s summer wardrobe; you’ll just need to switch up your approach.

To state the obvious, linen-blend tailoring will serve you well, but for those who are wrinkle averse, a buggy-lined (part-lined) blazer is an essential. With enough lining to retain its shape, but enough ventilation to keep you cool, the buggy-lined blazer should become your best friend for summer events and the office.

Thanks to Reiss, for content and images.

Reiss, 67 East St, Brighton BN1 1HQ. 01273 770702 www.reiss.com

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CHANGING TIME

COT BED

This French children’s furniture brand is inspired by minimalist Scandic design. The team work with up-and-coming designers to create innovative contemporary children’s furniture solutions. Founded

by Parisian designers Erick Demeyer and Steven Leprizé, their designs use natural materials and ergonomically sound craftsmanship to create the best in designer children’s furniture.

Charlie Crane Noga Changing Table, £359.00

This traditional English nursery collection is handcrafted in solid oak with beautiful detailing to last a lifetime. The furniture is designed to grow with your child, and the elegant details complete the feeling of timeless quality. The cot bed easily converts from a cot into a day bed and then a toddler bed. With three base height positions, the cot is suitable from to four years.

Canterbury Cot Bed, £695

www.houseology.com

MONKEY AROUND Matchstick Monkey is a teething toy and teething gel applicator in soft non-toxic silicone which gets teething gels or granules right to the source of the pain. Each toy is made from high-quality, eco-friendly materials and is dishwasher safe and freezer friendly. Its bendy, curly tail works as a hook for buggies and car seats.

Matchstick Monkey, £9.99 www.matchstickmonkey.com

MUST HAVES Surely the most fun room to decorate is a nursery. And with these items, there is no need to compromise on taste

www.silvercrossbaby.com

TREE TOP Wonderful big tree for your child’s room which comes complete with a stack of leaves to paste wherever you wish. The trees come in spring, summer, and fall palettes - each sporting colorful vintage-wallpaper leaves appropriate to the season, and each with several choices for a patterned or solid-colored trunk. Width 200 x height 260 cm.

Vintage Tree Wall Decoration, £195.00 www.babatude.com

BEAUTIFUL homes

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CELEBRITY interview

COTTONING ON She’s enjoyed a lengthy career in entertainment across both television and radio, and Fearne Cotton has also created a prolific back catalogue of books

F

rom children’s programmes to reality TV and raucous gameshows, Fearne Cotton has lived her whole life in show business. But the star of Celebrity Juice and former Radio 1 presenter has, in recent years, been expanding her portfolio of published works exponentially – and she’s determined to help people discover happiness in the simple things in life.

This year there’s definitely no hint of writer’s block about the 35-year-old, who was born and raised in north London, with the presenter still finding time in a seemingly impossibly tight schedule to pen three new books. As a parent to two young children, along with husband Jesse Wood – he’s the son of Rolling Stones axeman Ronnie – Cotton certainly knows a thing or two about juggling maternal responsibilities with a hectic work schedule, and her fans are regularly given an insight into the affable star’s personal life.

As you would expect of someone who has, in recent years, put aside a proportion of radio work in pursuit of more homely tasks, there are strong family and parenting themes at play in each of the books.

Though her motherly instincts may clash at times with the occasionally innuendo-filled antics seen on Celebrity Juice, this nevertheless comes as no surprise when you consider Cotton’s dedication to a whole host of philanthropic endeavours. From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Children in Need, to regularly partaking in Red Nose Day tomfoolery, Cotton has consistently been at the forefront of the industry’s charitable activities – and her fresh-faced and enthusiastic take on life is seen in no clearer detail than her aptly titled Happy: Finding Joy in Everyday Life and Letting Go of Perfect.

In Happy: Finding Joy in Every Day and Letting Go of Perfect, which was published in February, Fearne guides the reader around pursuing the stable, safe things in life, embracing positivity and simplicity as a means of finding contentment. >

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CELEBRITY interview

“The book came from quite a deep place within myself,” she says.

“I got to the point in life where I realised, unless I started looking around me and being grateful, I’d always be chasing something. You sometimes have you ask yourself if chasing that ‘thing’ is worth it, because by focusing so much on that, you’re actually ignoring the key element of your life that really matters - the present.”

Cook. Eat. Love. followed in June, with the committed pescatarian again leaning on family values in utilising the kitchen as a shared space for meaningful experiences. This September, her foray into fiction moves up another step with the publication of Yoga Babies.

“It’s a gentle kids’ book that has fantastic illustrations and is something I’m very proud of,” she says. “Its uses yoga, something that is very ‘of the moment’ in terms of really opening up people’s minds; and with such a strong accompanying health benefit, it seemed like the perfect book to write.”

With an update of ‘Happy’ landing in October, you get the sense that Fearne clearly intends to continue this literature-based synergy of mental and physical contentment. “Writing still feels like a very new medium to me,” she says. “On radio or TV you broadcast, and it is gone in a second. With books it’s there for a lifetime and is obviously a very different skill. I have to be very careful about every word, and that’s not something I’m used to!”

Still with so much to offer the presenting world, the permanently youthful Cotton has come a long way since her days as a teenager in ITV’s Disney Club. She was once known during her twenties as something of tomboy, a move away from what she once described as ‘identikit blonde’ TV presenters. While her eleven-strong collection of tattoos and famous father-in-law represent a lasting reminder of these more rock-n’-roll persuasions, Cotton’s new public persona is much more about comfort than non-conformity.

“I think when I turned 30 it was time to think about adding another string or two to my bow. To be doing this is a dream, but to be contributing to experiences and ideas of others means infinitely more.”

Cook Happy Eat Healthy by Fearne Cotton is available now. Published

by Orion Happy: Finding joy in every day and letting go of perfect by Fearne Cotton is available now. Published by Orion Cook. Eat. Love. by Fearne Cotton is available now. Published by Orion Yoga Babies is published on 7 September 2017 by Andersen Press

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“With an update of ‘Happy’ landing in October, you get the sense that Fearne intends to continue this literature-based synergy of mental and physical contentment”

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