OCTOBER 2014
PHIL SPENCER Still dreaming of property
THE CITY
Local business news and views
AUCTION ACTION Making a bid
The region’s largest property publication
FREE
INSIDE 11 14 19 23
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News Nash Watson: Open for business in Kemp Town Calendar: What’s going on in October Up My Street: Judy Stevens October Collection: Entertaining spaces Howlett Clarke : Attack bank charges Talk Money : Risk takers
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Auction Action: A buyer’s guide
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Mister Smith: Things of beauty
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Interiors: A fresh coat of paint
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Gardening: Autumn colour For advertising and general enquiries contact Lynne Edwards: 07931 537588 lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk 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. Published by:
Cover: Home Maker image by Nash Watson Supplied by Joe Watson www.nashwatson.com • 01273 733500
Helping you find your perfect Hove property Mishon Welton, 94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2EB
LAWRENCE ROAD, HOVE - GUIDE PRICE £915,000-£930,000 A substantial, 5 bedroom, semi-detached period residence of considerable character providing large proportioned accommodation in a favoured, central location close to all amenities. The property provides light, spacious and generous living space over 3 floors making it a comfortable and versatile family home. A wealth of original features characteristic of the period is evident throughout. The ground floor comprises of a beautiful south facing dining room with stripped wood floors and feature fire place and it simply offers elegance. Continuing on, the large double reception room is immaculately presented and benefits from bi-folding doors onto a good sized well established secluded garden. The generous kitchen breakfast room is attractively fitted and has the advantage of access onto the garden. The first floor provides 4 double bedrooms, two of which are currently configured as a library and a large work space. Worthy of particular mention is the large family bathroom with its original cast iron bath and fitments. The top floor has been superbly converted to create a large master bedroom with adjacent wet room and also enjoys fine, elevated far reaching views to the rear. The property is perfectly situated to enjoy the seafront and the fantastic Richardson Road amenities.
01273 778877 • mishonwelton.com
CLIFTON ROAD, BRIGHTON - GUIDE PRICE £1,100,000-£1,200,000 A truly superb Grade II listed period residence, of considerable character, beautifully and sympathetically updated and restored. As you approach this property, through a wrought iron gate, you are immediately struck by the immaculate white bow fronted facade of the house, relieved by an ornate canopy and balcony at first floor level, together with the landscaped neat gardens, leading to the front door. The appearance and approach to the house, prepare you for the truly stunning interior, which offers a truly immaculate living space, with light and spacious accommodation, spanning three floors. The combination of fine original features result in a comfortable, versatile and easily managed home. To the right of the reception hallway, is a bright, living/dining room, with the bow window at the front, flooding the room with light. The superbly fitted, modern kitchen, is fitted with a host of quality integrated appliances and has underfloor heating, while being complemented with an excellent lower floor, utility room/storage area. A sweeping staircase, leads to the first floor and in turn to the second floor. There are four beautifully appointed bedrooms, complemented by two sumptuously fitted quality bathrooms. The delightful, meticulously planned and landscaped walled rear garden, offer comfortable entertaining and relaxation space and is a particular feature. This is a truly superb period home and must be viewed.
Helping you ďŹ nd your perfect Hove property Mishon Welton, 94 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2EB
ORPEN ROAD, HOVE - ÂŁ1,175,000 A most impressive, detached 5 bedroom, Tudor style residence standing in secluded gardens, within this highly regarded residential location. This is a superb house, which provides light and generously proportioned living accommodation, arranged over three floors, the whole of which is beautifully presented throughout, with quality modern fitments and a clean contemporary theme. Externally, the house has an impressive Tudor style elevation, with a door leading to a spacious reception hallway, with exposed oak floors. There are two good sized reception rooms, either side of the hall, together with a large, well fitted kitchen/dining/family room at the rear, opening onto the delightful lawned rear garden. The first floor, has a spacious landing with 4 double bedrooms, 2 of which have ensuite facilities and a main family bath/shower room. To the second floor, there is a further large bedroom with an ensuite shower room. The property occupies a particularly pleasant and quiet residential setting, yet is very conveniently placed, within close proximity of Hove mainline railway station and the City centre.
01273 778877 • mishonwelton.com
DYKE ROAD, HOVE - GUIDE PRICE £950,000-£975,000 A deceptively spacious, Victorian, semi-detached residence, proudly positioned in this favourable location, providing lovely light and generously proportioned living accommodation over four floors. Boasting over 3,300 square feet you certainly will be spoiled for space. The house itself flows extremely well, with the large through lounge and dining area bathed with sunshine from the southerly facing patio doors leading to the private terrace. Family living is further complimented by the kitchen breakfast room at the rear providing further access to a private southerly facing terrace. The ground floor benefits from a gym and large cloakroom. Each of the five bedrooms span the first and second floors with a master en-suite and family bathroom. The impressive basement level has huge potential for a variety of uses and perfect for professionals working from home as it offers a large cellar, cinema room and the office. Patio doors, from the study, leads you straight into the stunning south facing garden with far reaching views towards the sea and over the central Hove rooftops.
Citywide sales & lettings 01273 565566 www.spencerandleigh.co.uk
OVINGDEAN - £699,950 Stunning detached bungalow with four spacious bedrooms, the master being en-suite and a modern contemporary theme throughout. Features include 33’ open plan living space & kitchen and large private drive with parking, garage & workshop.
WITHDEAN – OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £599,950 Substantial five bedroom family home having a 15’ living room with dark wood floor, 22’ x 22’ kitchen dining room with French doors onto the easy to maintain rear garden. Two first floor bathrooms. Block paved private drive with parking. 10 PORTFOLIO
NEWS
NEWS New website packed with information
Long established local property experts Leaders have unveiled their brand new website this month offering anyone with an interest in property expert information and bespoke search options. The website is the culmination of over 30 years in the industry and comes after a full year of development and investment to make it an industry leading website. Senior branch manager for Brighton & Hove, David Thorne explains: “So many people now look online for expert information on letting and selling and tenants and buyers search online for available property. So we have invested both time and money in creating a website makes both of those things so much easier. With draw a map searching and the ability to create wish lists of properties, an informative blog plus FAQ’s and guides we are confident that our customers will be pleased with the new site.” To find out more visit the brand new website at leaders.co.uk
Brighton eats beautiful at VIP launch of brand new itsu Brighton On Monday 8th September, itsu Brighton drew more than 150 press and VIPs to celebrate its special pre-opening launch party at its brand new shop on North Street, Brighton. Guests enjoyed a sneak preview of the stylishly designed 112-seat itsu shop, whilst enjoying Champagne and delicious low-carb, low-calorie dishes from the itsu menu. Julian Metcalfe, entrepreneur and founder of itsu and Pret a Manger was in attendance, with other well-known faces from the arts and entertainment world including broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, Brighton Festival MD Julian Caddy, Juice FM’s Guy Lloyd, food writer and chef Anjali Pathak, Brighton Fashion Week’s Lizzy Bishop and local artist Julie Ann Gilbert. Julian Metcalfe commented, “We’re hugely excited about the launch of itsu Brighton. The city is a great trend leader in arts, culture and lifestyle, which fits strongly with our brand, and we’ve already had an enormously positive reception from people living and working in the city. Roll on the 10th!” www.itsu.com
Local press produces leads Johnston Press, owns 13 local dailies and 235 weeklies has revealed the results of research into property advertising, finding that advertising in local publications increases the ability of agents to attract vendors. Johnston commissioned independent researchers to speak with three groups throughout the country - active vendors, active buyers and home owners not currently in the market. “The research showed that the decision on which agents to approach is usually informed by the vendor’s perceptions of agents and that these perceptions are shaped over a long period of time before the vendor makes the decision to sell” explains Johnston Press spokeswoman Jane Muirhead. “One of the major influences on the perceptions homeowners have of different estate agents is their presence in local property sections [and] the design and content of their ads. The research also illustrated the extent to which people seek out local newspapers when they get into the property market” Figures showed that 56 per cent of vendors regularly read or looked at local newspapers before entering the market; and the majority of these vendors already had a view on which agent they would use.
Estate Agent Today goes five-days-a-week
Writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe, left, pictured with itsu founder Julian Metcalfe
Managing Director: Lynne Edwards 07931 537 588 • lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk Production Editor: Fiona McTernan portfoliomagazineproduction@gmail.com
Estate Agent Today has gone to a five-days-a-week update, bringing you industry stories every weekday. Previously they have published only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday while on Tuesday and Thursday the sister online publication Letting Agent Today was updated. From now, every weekday will see fresh news stories available from early morning. Plus occasional through-the-day updates, when urgent newsflash stories demand immediate publication. Read more about these stories and more at www.estateageenttoday.co.uk
Business Editor: Maarten Hoffmann 07966 244 046 • maarten@platinumbusinessmagazine.com
Designer: Sally Wynn portfoliopublications@dollydesigns.co.uk
Interiors Editor: Tara de la Motte tara@sussex-homes.co.uk PORTFOLIO 11
Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk
Hove Park Road, Hove £1,300,000 Freehold A lovely detached family home situated in this sought after location close to Hove Park, offering spacious and versatile accommodation, within a short distance to Hove station.
Withdean Road, Brighton £1,750,000 Freehold A lovely family house offering privacy and seclusion in one of the City’s most sought after roads, five+ bedrooms, beautiful gardens and period detailing.
Old Fort Road, Shoreham-By-Sea £1,895,000 Freehold Impressive modern beach front house with direct sea and coastal views. In a contemporary style, offering five bedrooms , five en-suites, two kitchens and a double garage.
Kings Esplanade, Hove £900,000 Leasehold Outstanding sea views! This top floor flat features a south facing balcony overlooking the sea. This flat benefits from spacious living and its own private garage.
Hamptons International Estate Agents Hove Sales. 01273 796 061 | Lettings. 01273 796 063
OVERSEAS property
A FRENCH RETREAT Whether you’re looking to relocate or buy a holiday home in France, Hamptons International can help secure your dream property. We hear from the Brighton and Hove estate and lettings agents about buying in France
Angouleme, France £1,060,000
How much does it cost to buy a property in France? Prices vary throughout France, the average sale price across the country (excluding Paris) is €160,000. The cheapest regions tend to be in the middle of the country while you pay a premium in the Alps and on the Cote d’Azur. As examples, the average property price in the Creuse department of the Limousin is just €75,000 while it is €345,000 in the Haute-Savoie (Alps) and €415,000 in the Alpes Maritimes (South of France). Within our listings you will find barns for renovation and magnificent chateaux we can help a buyer from around €50,000 up to several million. A buyer from the UK though will typically spend around €270,000 - this will buy a lovely family home with pool and gardens in
Vienne France £288,000
most regions. Legalities - should I use a lawyer in France? It is your choice, most buyers don’t as the sale is overseen by a government appointed official called a notaire who makes sure everything is above board. We have an in house contracts team who ensure that each sale passes as smoothly as possible - they are bilingual and you will have a single point of contact throughout the purchase. Settling in - how do I make friends? Easy - you get out as much as you put in! Go and introduce yourself to the mayor straight away and then look for clubs and events that mirror your interests. Even the smallest villages will have associations ranging from hunting to line dancing and from cycling to yoga. Try and learn the language and make sure you at least have
the basics. If you have school age children then strike all the above because you’ll soon have more friends and events to go to than you could possibly want! What is your advice to those looking for a holiday home? If you are looking at renting it as well as staying in it yourself, then you need to make sure it is in a good area for transport links, tourist attractions, in an area with lots of leisure facilities for families and children, this will make it easier to rent. Alternatively you could invest in an apartment in the Alps or the Cote d’Azur, whereby you could leave it with a property management company (there are plenty in these areas) and they will do it for you. Hamptons International, Tel: 01273 230230 Email: hove@hamptons-int.com
Charente, France £41,000 PORTFOLIO 13
COVER feature
FROM HOUSE TO HOME MAKER As their second Estate Agency branch opens in Kemptown and they also launch an exciting new interiors venture, we speak to Lisa Nash-Watson and Joe Watson of Nash Watson about what inspires them.
W
e have been fans of Nash Watson since Lisa Nash-Watson and Joe Watson burst onto the market as a fully formed brand 5 years ago with their Hove-based Estate Agency. Uniquely stylish and excitingly different, there was immediately a buzz about their creative marketing and styling. They both clearly have a passion for design and a flair for making homes look beautiful. Above all there was a tangible sense that Lisa, Joe and the team love homes, embrace individuality and, really, genuinely, like people. This is an Agency where people count, whether they are buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, potential customers or other local businesses. A NASH WATSON HOME We have watched and waited hopefully to find out some of the secrets of creating a Nash Watson home – yes it is now an understood shorthand among buyers and vendors in Brighton… And at last we all now have a hope of creating this as Nash Watson open a brand new office in Kemptown, Brighton, and alongside it – literally next door – open their own homewares and interiors resource, Home Maker. NEW KEMPTOWN BRANCH Having settled nicely into Hove, Kemptown was clearly a natural choice for Nash Watson. The creative and eclectic nature of the area and its lively, close community is a perfect fit with the Nash Watson philosophy. But why now? After 5 years of working in Hove, Lisa and Joe say they feel ready for the new challenge. As the team has grown, with Lucy Parry heading up Lettings and Claire Paterson in Sales, so has the ambition and the six-strong team – all female, bar Joe – are clearly excited about the new services they can now offer. Both offices will offer both a Sales and Lettings service but they are now able to blend the selling of homes with the creation of new ones by offering a full design service as well as the individually selected items to buy at Home Maker. Nash Watson have cleverly managed to diversify while always refining and redefining the brand. Having started as a Sales Agency, Lettings is now an integral part of the business and it is clear that Nash Watson love all their properties. As Lisa points out, whether you are renting or buying, it is your home, your sanctuary, the most important place for you. Without obviously marketing it, they have created a desire for more Nash Watson and it was only a matter of time before the next step became an organic reality…
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HOME MAKER: FOR HOMEWARES AND INTERIORS Before the concept of Nash Watson as an Agency was a reality, Lisa and Joe had a passion for interiors and collecting – from small affordable items from car boots and antiques fairs to classic mid-20th Century furniture. Their philosophy is that a choice piece can help make a home, and that quality and attention to detail has a real value. As its name suggests, this will be more than a shop and addition to Nash Watson, it will be a hub for advice and help on interiors and Home Maker will have a network of hand-picked experts to draw upon if clients require professional help in any aspect of interiors, design and furnishing. Home Maker will stock a selected range of unique homewares – ranging from locally sourced pieces to one-off vintage finds, all lovingly sourced by Lisa and Sarah with their impeccable eye. INSPIRED BY CUSTOMERS On Nash Watson’s own individual style and her own talent for making the ordinary look beautiful, Lisa quickly bats the compliment back to their vendors, insisting that they are constantly inspired by customers and pointing out that as Estate Agents they are lucky to see so many different homes that they are able to see first-hand what works and what doesn’t. “We get some great ideas from our clients. We have met some lovely people and seen some beautiful homes, and now we can move onto a new level where we can link people up with stylists and products. Home Maker completes the circle: you find a home and then you have the fun of furnishing it.” HOMES THAT STAND OUT, COSTS THAT DON’T The look and feel of Nash Watson may be all about inspiration and aspiration and they are clearly as passionate about lifestyles as they are about homes. But this philosophy is laced with an integrity which runs through everything Nash Watson do. Alongside all of the creativity and vision, their mantra is ‘Homes that stand out, costs that don’t’. We leave the last word to Joe, who is responsible for the outstanding, trademark photography: “Every home has something special to offer. We try to capture what it is really like to live somewhere. Someone will then be curious enough to see if it might be their next destination.” Tel: 01273 733 500 Web: www.nashwatson.com
Nash Watson, Hove, 69A & B Church Road, Hove Nash Watson, Kemptown, 81 St George’s Road, Kemptown, Brighton Home Maker, Kemptown, 80 St George’s Road, Kemptown, Brighton 01273 733 500 • www.nashwatson.com
BEAUTIFUL homes
maslen.co.uk
Langdale Gardens, Hove
ÂŁ625,000 FREEHOLD
Exclusive to Maslen Estate Agents. A fantastic 4 bedroom semi-detached family home in a sought after residential area Moments from Hove seafront and New Church Road the property offers well-presented and spacious accommodation arranged over 3 floors. Polished floor boards to the ground floor, beautiful lounge fireplace, modern kitchen breakfast room and luxury bathroom with freestanding bath and French doors to the front balcony. The sun room leads to the rear garden and studio workspace/garage which is in turn accessed via the shared driveway. Maslen Estate Agents 174 Church Road Hove BN3 2DJ t:01273 321000 e:churchroad@maslen.co.uk
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LEWES ROAD
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FIVEWAYS
CALENDAR of events
OCTOBER
OUR PICK OF OCTOBER EVENTS. OPERA, COMEDY, MUSIC AND MORE
October 10-25 Brighton Comedy Festival Now in its thirteenth year, the festival has over 70 performances across 16 days with highlights including Jack Dee’s Help Desk (19th October, Corn Exchange). “Got a problem? Need a sympathetic ear? Jack and his panel of experts - Marcus Brigstocke, Katherine Ryan, Angela Barnes and Romesh Ranganathan - are here to help. Whether it’s relationships, career advice, personal worries or something as simple as how to tell your emotionally stunted in-laws you no longer want them in your life. Come along and share your troubles with Jack - and in no way have them ridiculed in front of a live audience.” Brighton Comedy Festival is at Brighton Dome, Komedia and The Old Market. For the full programme visit www.brightoncomedyfestival.com
October 4-25
October 4
Glyndebourne On Tour
James Taylor
This autumn the Glyndebourne Tour 2014 delivers world-class opera to venues around the country starting at Glyndebourne from 4th to 25th October. The season features Verdi’s La Traviata, Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, and Britten’s The Turning of The Screw. Plus special performances for primary schools and families of Songs About Us and Five Deaths and a Happy Ending. Dates, times and prices vary. For full details and programme visit www.glyndebourne.com
It’s an incredible 43 years since influential singersongwriter James Taylor reached number 4 in the UK charts with what is still his best-known song, You’ve Got a Friend (written by his friend Carole King). If there was a dip in his fortunes during the 80s, the late 90s and noughties witnessed awards and renewed sales for the albums Hourglass, October Road and Covers. Now 66, the celebrated guitarist and songwriter’s Fall Tour takes in the UK before reaching Madison Square Gardens in December. Expect a fascinating revisit to his award-winning back catalogue, as well as the latest work from this distinguished and articulate singer-songwriter. Brighton Centre. 7.30pm. www.brightoncentre.co.uk
October 22 Elaine Paige 50th Anniversary Farewell Tour Having performed in concert worldwide from The White House to The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, from the Bolshoi to Sydney Opera House, Elaine Paige stops off in Brighton as part of her 50th Anniversary, and farewell tour. Elaine swept to fame when she created her award winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita, Grizabella in the original production of Cats - the classic song Memory becoming her signature – and Florence in Chess (which featured her record breaking number one hit I Know Him So Well with Barbara Dickson). Dome Concert Hall, Brighton, 7pm. brightondome.org
October 4 Brighton Charity Ball The Brighton Charity Ball raises much-needed funds for Brain Tumour Research. The glamorous event, being held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole is sponsored by Profile Model Management Ltd, London and organised by FunkyLush Events and Michelle De La Motte-Rice. Michelle set up unique company Gifts for Angels in memory of her daughter Lola, who this evening is being held in memory of. Gifts for Angels offer a unique range of bright and colourful grave side ornaments and sympathy gifts. To make a donation please go to: www.justgiving.com/BrightonBallinmemoryofLolaRice, www.hilton.com/Brighton, www.braintumourresearch.org, www.giftsforangels.co.uk
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52 Church Road Hove, BN3 2FN • Tel 01273 778844 113 St. Georges Road, Brighton BN2 1EA • Tel 01273 685111 10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA • Tel 01273 383830
Grand Avenue Mansions, Hove - £395,000
Hove Office 01273 778844
Grand Avenue Mansions is a amongst the very finest and most prestigious of the Victorian Mansion blocks close the sea in central Hove. Its wonderfully located moments from various shopping facilities, restaurants, cafes, bars etc in Church Road. The apartment has recently been the subject of a complete refurbishment to a very high standard. There is a 22’5” x 13’10” open plan living room and kitchen with fitted appliances. There are two double bedrooms, contemporary shower room and useful separate utility room. There is the added benefit of an allocated parking space, lift and a share of freehold. Viewing highly recommended.
The Drive, Hove - O.I.E.O £200,000
Hove Office 01273 778844
Sawyer & Co are delighted to offer this superb beautifully presented first floor flat in central Hove. Just minutes from Church Road and George Street with its various shops, bars and cafes, the property is also just a short walk away from Hove station with regular trains to and from London and the South Coast. The property itself has new carpets throughout a good sized lounge/diner, separate kitchen, double bedroom and modern shower room with feature walk in shower. The property also boasts impressive storage space and plenty of natural light provided by large double glazed windows throughout. Viewing is highly recommended.
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www.sawyerandco.co.uk
Tivoli Crescent North, Brighton - O.I.E.O £550,000
Brighton Office 01273 685111
Spacious three bedroom family home on leafy crescent near Preston Park station. One of three detached 60s built mock Georgian homes, this spacious property comes with large well-proportioned rooms. Recently modernised with just a few well-chosen key period features remaining, it’s located on the curve of the crescent as it rises up to Dyke Road with superb open views over Brighton towards the countryside and the sea. With Preston Park station just a few minutes walk down the hill, it’s an ideal spot for commuters and with a range of excellent schools nearby its a popular neighbourhood for families.
Crown Road, Portslade - O.I.R.O £325,000
Portslade Office 01273 383830
Extended Victorian red brick 4-bedroom family home in South Portslade. From its modest mid terrace frontage this extended home is much more spacious than you’d at first expect with its open plan lounge and dining room and its en suite master bedroom in the former loft space. The kitchen, bathroom, boiler and double-glazing were all updated just a few years ago with the pine floor more recently sanded giving an overall fresh look.
www.sawyerandco.co.uk
Brighton office now open
BEAUTIFUL homes in association with Sawyer & Co
Fine & Country 52 Church Road, Hove BN3 2FN
Bafu House, Brighton Bafu house is set in a quiet and secluded location just off of Rottingdean High Street within walking distance of the village and beach.The property offers privacy and seclusion being set back down a long private driveway behind electric double gates and enjoys wonderful outlooks over its landscaped grounds. As you reach the bottom of the drive you will see Bafu House, a beautiful modern home with a large double garage and outside parking for several vehicles.
Tel: 01273 739911
£1,250,000
Dyke Road, Brighton This comfortable semi-detached red brick house actually has its front entrance on leafy Chatsworth Road. Just up from the bustling neighbourhood of Seven Dials its in a quiet yet fairly central position. Set over four floors its well-proportioned and spacious being approximately 2600 sq ft and includes en suites to all four large bedrooms. Neutrally styled throughout with an occasional flourish of contemporary sheen wallpaper this is a home thats ready to move straight into.
Tel: 01273 739911
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£750,000
Tel: +44 (0)1273 739911
UP MY STREET...
...WE SPEAK TO JUDY STEVENS ABOUT WHERE SHE LIVES AND WHY SHE LOVES IT JUDY STEVENS IS FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF ARTISTS OPEN HOUSES AND HOUSE FESTIVALS. SHE IS ALSO AN ILLUSTRATOR WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I live in Clifton Street, two minutes walk from Brighton Station and close to several excellent restaurants (Sussex Yeoman), pubs (Battle of Trafalgar) and shops. Brighton station now has a great bread stall, pizza van and coffee booth. Clifton Street is very friendly, neighbours swapping catfeeding and garden-watering services when away and generally looking out for each other. HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRIGHTON? My partner, Chris Lord, and I have lived here for just over twenty years. We left London in 1992, when computer development meant that, as freelancers (illustrator and graphic designer) we were able to work from home. Once here, we rather inadvertently set up two visual arts festivals… Artists Open Houses, as a stand alone festival during the Brighton Festival season, and HOUSE, which commissions and curates visual art from internationally regarded artists, as well as from regional artists at varying stages of their careers. We live in an early Victorian, three-story terraced house, with a small patio back garden. The top floor is used as studio areas, and other rooms in the house periodically turn into offices and meeting rooms for the two festivals’ teams. My partner and I were joined by a cat, who moved in seven years ago and controls things. WHERE DO YOU SHOP LOCALLY? The Real Patisserie (station stall) and new Flour Pot bakery in Sydney Street for bread. Grocer and Grain in Surrey Street for homemade snacks, salads and fruit & veg. Bright News in Buckingham Road for newspapers and anything we suddenly find we’ve run out of - Vinod sells everything! DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN? Our garden is very small, but secluded and a sun trap. I don’t have much time for gardening, so it is just the right size for me. It’s great for sitting round the table, in summer, with friends for evening drinks or cup of tea. WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY SINCE LIVING THERE? Our kitchen was extended beneath the garden by previous occupants, which created a damp problem. We have recently had the problem resolved and now have a new and dry kitchen, with a Range
Master oven and American style Servis fridge, both from Carters in London Road. IF YOU WERE MAYOR WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE CITY? I would give Brighton a dedicated, major contemporary art gallery, such as Margate, Hastings, Eastbourne and Bexhilll now have. I’d do that instead of the new £46.2 million i360 development on the sea front. A gallery could draw as many or more visitors, potentially adding even more revenue to the City’s economy. WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO EAT AND DRINK LOCALLY? The Sussex Yeoman (Guildford Street) and Mange Tout (Trafalgar Street) are great for supper. The Battle of Trafalgar and Lord Nelson are brilliant pubs and offer quick, cheap food. Ten Green Bottles in Jubilee Square for drinks and snacks. The new Franco’s restaurant in Hove is good for pasta and pizza etc. I like The Ram in Firle, they also have great bedrooms for staying overnight. Alternatively, walk back in the dark to Glynde for a late train home – the lane back to Glynde has glowworms living in it. Cocktails at the Hotel du Vin are also good for a treat. WHAT SPORT OR LEISURE ACTIVITY DO YOU PURSUE LOCALLY? I’m a Zumba devotee, so very glad that there are two gyms within a five-minute radius of the house – Fitness First and LA Fitness. Federico Bedoya, at Fitness First, is the best Zumba teacher in Brighton and possibly the world. WHERE DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE VISITORS? During the festivals, I take them round the Artists Open Houses and HOUSE commissions. They always enjoy looking at the work, meeting the artists and especially having tea and cakes in the artists’ gardens. Brighton Museum if they happen to have an interesting exhibition on. IF NOT BRIGHTON/HOVE/SUSSEX, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE? I sometimes fantasise about living in the countryside, but in reality I wouldn’t want to leave Clifton Street. Although as an illustrator I could in theory live anywhere, as Director of Artists Open Houses and HOUSE festivals I’ll be staying here in Brighton for the foreseeable future.
Artists Open Houses: www.aoh.org.uk • HOUSE: www.housefestival.org Illustrator: www.nbillustration.co.uk/judy-stevens
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BEAUTIFUL homes
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BEAUTIFUL homes
FAMILY HOME T
his unique double-fronted property, situated in a central yet peaceful location, boasts a great many outstanding features including open fireplaces and stripped wooden floors and doors throughout. There are 5 bedrooms and two reception rooms that may be used as home offices, TV rooms or extra bedrooms, a large double reception room opening into a light and airy kitchen/ dining room conversion which houses a cast iron, gas-fired Rayburn having the capacity to cook large family meals alongside offering an economical solution to providing the heating and hot water for this large property, and leads into a spacious, sun-trap, decked garden. The bathroom houses a large claw-foot, roll-top bath; there is also a shower room and separate lavatory. Storage is no issue as the property has both a large attic and an easily accessible cellar with a further outside door.
Melville Road, Hove BN3 1TH Price: £899,000 Bedrooms: 5/6 Bathrooms: 2 Extras: Wealth of period features. Extended kitchen/breakfast room Best Bits: Spacious accommodation. South-facing garden Austin Gray Estate Agents 123 Dyke Road, Brighton BN3 1TJ Tel: 01273 232232 www.austingray.co.uk PORTFOLIO  25
THE collection
THE OCTOBER COLLECTION As the nights draw in and we settle back indoors, it’s all about homes which are sociable and welcoming... We love a stunning reception room, a fabulous kitchen-diner or a cosy snug with an open fire. This month we are spotlighting houses with great spaces for entertaining
Clean lines Albany Villas, Hove This fabulous six bedroom four storey home offers elegant dining opportunities. The spacious main ground floor living room runs front to back with high ceilings and a beautiful Victorian fireplace. The lower floor boasts a fabulous open plan Roundhouse kitchen/breakfast room with central island, two Siemens, induction hob and an abundance of storage in the sizeable cupboards and larder.
Guide Price: £1,500,000 Hamptons International 01273 230230 www.hamptons.co.uk 26 PORTFOLIO
THE collection
Village Gem Bafu House, Steyning Road, Brighton Fabulous three/four bedroom house set in a secluded location just off of Rottingdean High Street within walking distance to the village and beach. This beautiful modern home has outside parking for several guests. You will just long to entertain in the vast openplan kitchen, which leads through to a living room with elevated garden views and bi-folding doors which in turn lead to a decked area and a garden with mature trees.
Price: £1,250,000 Fine & Country 01273 739911 brightonandhove.fineandcountry.co.uk
Cosy Apartment Palmeira Square, Hove This individually designed fourth floor two bedroom flat in a Grade II* listed building has been beautifully refurbished to include Farrow and Ball muted tones throughout, Fired Earth bathroom fittings, natural (Seagrass) floorcovering and reclaimed wooden flooring. The entrance/dining hall leads to a lovely 17’2 lounge with feature arched windows with views across the square. The hand-finished fitted kitchen adds a personal touch.
Price: OIEO £375,000 Brices Estate Agents / 01273 323000 / www.brices.co.uk
Generous space Chesham Street, Brighton This mid-terraced features generous living space (approximately 45’ in length). The living room and adjoining dining room both have wooden flooring with luxurious under floor heating. Through an archway is the spacious kitchen. The central wooden island provides storage and has a 5 ring gas Neff hob and granite work surfaces. Light is provided by a large skylight, spot lighting and wide oak doors which open to the west facing patio garden with raised flower beds.
Price: £900,000 Fox & Sons 01273 688148 www.fox-and-sons.co.uk
PORTFOLIO 27
BEAUTIFUL homes
STEYNING
A Fascinating Home in a Cluster of Former Farm Buildings on the Rural Edge of the Town Probably of Victorian origin, this delightful home has been the subject of a modernisation programme with enormous attention to detail, taking advantage of modern heating technology to create comfortable living in a charming home. Reception hall, cloakroom, open-plan living space with bespoke, hand-painted kitchen, family room/study, utility room, two ground floor bedrooms and shower room, mezzanine studio, two first floor bedrooms and bathroom. Large, secluded gardens. Garaging for two vehicles. EPC ‘D’.
Price £795,000 Freehold
28 PORTFOLIO
LEGAL matters
“This case has the potential to deliver to consumers a remedy against unfair bank charges”
CHALLENGING UNFAIR BANK CHARGES Howlett Clarke secure first bank charges court victory since 2009
Q
uality Solicitors Howlett Clarke in Brighton has achieved the first outright court victory in a bank charges case since the Office of Fair Trading defeat against the main banks in the Supreme Court in 2009. The test case was brought using relatively new case law established in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) following the ‘Hatóság case’, where the ECJ found that price variation clauses in consumer contracts must be clearly set out. Howlett Clarke’s client, Oliver Foster-Burnell, sued Lloyds TSB for the return of bank charges as Lloyds had simply increased his overdraft charges without reason or method. Howlett Clarke’s specialist Consumer Credit Litigation team, working with Thomas Brennan, an independent barrister, have been consistent in developing new case law for UK consumers. The team monitor new legislation coming from the European Courts and believed strongly that the Hatóság case could add a whole new interpretation to the Supreme Court ruling.
Deputy District Judge Stockdale held that despite the Supreme Court judgment, the unarranged overdraft charges levied on Mr Foster-Burnell were contrary to the requirement of good faith in the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and, as such, unfair. Kate Briscoe, the Litigation Executive at Howlett Clarke was contacted by Mr FosterBurnell, through her consumer law forum www.legalbeagles.info, she said: “This case has the potential to deliver to consumers a remedy against unfair bank charges. Though the finding in this case was specific only to Mr Foster-Burnell, it is not that different to thousands of people who struggle daily when the smallest of errors in managing their account triggers an avalanche of bank charges. We have seen many cases where a single charge causes a domino effect from which the customer has no escape.” The bank was ordered to reimburse Mr Foster-Burnell £743 in charges plus interest. The ruling does not effectively overturn the
Supreme Court Judgment made back in 2009, but adds a further dimension to future claims, particularly to customers who have suffered from financial difficulties whilst in an overdraft situation with their current accounts. Oliver Foster-Burnell said: “It is unfair that the banking industry is allowed to profit while anyone suffers financial hardship by applying these charges and allowing them to snowball out of control.”
Kate Briscoe Litigation Executive Quality Solicitors Howlett Clarke 01273 327272 8-9 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AZ. www.qualitysolicitors.com/howlettclarke
PORTFOLIO 29
BEAUTIFUL homes
Saltdean
£475,000
North Laine
£349,950
Central Brighton
£350,000
Kemptown
£500,000
A deceptively spacious four bedroom detached residence. Two good sized reception rooms, a fitted kitchen/ breakfast room, family bathroom and downstairs cloakroom, four double bedrooms with en-suite bathroom to the master. The house benefits from a beautifully landscaped rear garden, off road parking for two cars and a good sized double garage.
A Garden flat forming part of a Grade II listed building. The accommodation is stylishly presented in a modern décor and briefly consists of a spacious lounge/dining room with doors onto a decked terrace garden, a fitted kitchen, two bedrooms with the master having an en-suite bathroom, a separate wet room and an allocated car parking space.
30 PORTFOLIO
A Freehold property on a pedestrianised twitten in the heart of the North Laine. Well presented and comprising of a ground floor office with a sliding door to a stylish two bedroom maisonette, both with an entrance onto the twitten. The property benefits from wooden block flooring throughout and a feature spiral stairs.
LAST REMAINING New Build to be completed 2015 This three bedroom end of terrace house offers modern spacious open plan living, three good sized bedrooms with the master having an en-suite and a separate family bathroom. The property benefits from a private garden and secure off road parking space.
BEAUTIFUL homes
STYLISH TOWNHOUSE
T
his stunning new build house forms part of a new home development at The Cliftons situated in the Clifton conservation area. Completed in 2012, the house is finished in a contemporary design and incorporates a high efficiency heating system that supplies under floor heating, solar energy and rain water harvesting systems. This semi-detached residence is arranged over four floors and consists of three double bedrooms, two en-suites and a family bathroom. A Poggenpohl fitted kitchen and dining room opens on to a southerly terrace. The spacious living area has doors leading on to the decked garden and a further rooftop terrace offers sea views.The property benefits from gated parking.
The Cliftons, Clifton Hill, Brighton BN1 3HR Price: ÂŁ899,950 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 Extras: Patio/garden and top floor terrace. Undercover gated parking space Best Bits: Kitchen/ dining room opening onto courtyard. Stylish contemporary modern design Oakley Residential 3 North Road Brighton East Sussex BN1 1YA Tel: 01273 688881 www.oakleyproperty.com
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9 Offices Covering Brighton & Hove 27 Offices in Sussex 37 Offices in London BURNES VALE, ROTTINGDEAN A rarely available detached house in a picturesque location. Built by Rydon Homes in 2001, Burnes Vale is set back from Falmer Road offering its residents tranquil surroundings and stunning views. The property comprises of 3 bedrooms, one with ensuite shower room, 2 reception rooms, sizeable kitchen, family bathroom, additional downstairs cloakroom, garden area and garage. The property also benefits from a Haven alarm system, offering prospective buyer further security for their new home. EPC rating: Exempt
Price: offers en excess of £650,000
Tom Greet, Rottingdean office: 01273 309968
PRESTON MANSIONS, PRESTON PARK We are delighted to offer to the market this fantastic two bedroom apartment finished to a high standard in the desirable and distinctive Preston Mansions Development. The Apartment comprises hallway, living/dining room, kitchen with integrated AEG appliances, two double bedrooms with one en-suite, family bathroom and private balcony. The home is located a stone’s throw from Preston Park and within a short distance of shops and bars in Preston Circus. EPC rating: C
Price: offers en excess of £450,000
Robert Harding, Preston Park Office: 01273 508761
FISHER STREET, LEWES We are delighted to present this truly superb four bedroom grade II listed Georgian house (TBV) which has been sympathetically renovated to an exacting standard located in the heart of Lewes town centre. Features include original panelling, wood burning stove, spacious kitchen/dining room and a contemporary bathroom with roll top bath and walk in shower. EPC rating: Exempt
Price: offers en excess of £525,000
James Brown, Lewes Office: 01273 476378
SALISBURY ROAD, HOVE A delightful raised ground floor garden apartment held within this beautiful period building in central Hove. Located within close proximity to Hove & Brighton Railway Station, Hove Seafront, Palmeira Square & Church Road. The property benefits from a stunning sitting room with high ceilings and period detailing overlooking the rear garden. The garden is laid mostly to lawn, in excess of 50ft and has plenty of mature growth and seclusion. The apartment has 2 bedrooms, bathroom & en suite, separate kitchen and a share of the freehold. EPC rating: D
Price £500,000
Drew Bailey, Hove Office: 01273 820280
www.rightmove.co.uk www.primelocation.co.uk www.fox-and-sons.co.uk
CHESHAM PLACE, KEMPTOWN VILLAGE This stunning family home can be found in the Kemptown Village area of Brighton, set just inland from the seafront. It is has been extended and offers 45’ of open living space on the ground floor. There are three further floors providing 4 or 5 bedrooms. To the rear is a delightful westerly patio garden. EPC Rating D.
Price: £900,000 Contact Edward Middle, Kemp Town Office Tel: 01273 688148
BEAUTIFUL homes
BRUNSWICK TERRACE, HOVE - Offers in excess of £750,000 Share of Freehold A TRULY STUNNING DOUBLE FRONTED first floor BALCONY flat, 22’5 x 18’10 DRAWING ROOM, SIX CEILING TO FLOOR SOUTH ASPECT SASH WINDOWS with DORECT SEA VIEWS, 21’8 KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM, three DOUBLE BEDROOMS, DINING ROOM/BEDROOM THREE, FULL WIDTH BALCONY, 15’4 EN-SUITE BATHROOM and SHOWER ROOM.
brices sales & lettings 34 PORTFOLIO
SALES & LETTINGS 01273 323000 30C WESTERN ROAD, HOVE BN3 1AF
TALK money
INVESTMENTS ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE A RISK? Claire Cook from Independent Financial Advisors Talk Money, looks at how to make investments work for you.
I
n the current climate many people are struggling to get a return on their investments. For many years people tucked their money away in the building society where they felt safe and were receiving a reasonable rate of interest. As we all know interest rates are extremely low. It has become more and more difficult to get a return from your capital. The tried and tested route no longer gives the required return which has led to problems for many investors, especially retired people who were depending on their capital to provide an income. So, what can be done? The consensus among many people seems to be that you just canšt get a return on your money nowadays, but with some research you may find that there are assets that you can invest in which will still provide a return. One of the first things a financial adviser will do is to find out what level of risk you are willing to take with your capital. It is often a good idea to bring some diversity to your investments, investing in a number of areas, but the key is that you need to feel comfortable with the level of risk you are taking.
What is meant by risk? There are many different types of risk which people often confuse. Mainly, people refer to one of two things: Firstly that the company they are investing in defaults; or secondly that they invest in assets which fall in value because of market conditions, such as shares which could decline in value. We will focus on the second. Unless you select an investment that provides a guaranteed return, or in cash such as the building society where the real value of your money could be eroded by inflation, you will see the value of your investment fluctuate. The level of fluctuation depends on what you are invested in. Generally it is well advised to diversify your money amongst different types of assets, such as property, company shares, fixed interest, gilts and cash, all of which have a different level of fluctuation and which will react differently in differing market conditions. The key is to invest you in the right mix of assets so that you feel comfortable with the level of fluctuation or volatility. Generally the higher the risk, the higher the long term return, but even with
lower risk investments it is still possible to get some return. There are other things to be taken into account. Would you need access to your capital, or can you leave invested for the longer term? Do you need it to provide you with an income? Is this the only capital you have? Would you be able and willing to withstand shorter term losses for longer term gains? It is important to make sure that your investment suits you, and that you feel comfortable with it. If you are concerned with any of the areas above and would like to take some advice, for a free initial consultation, please call me Claire Cook on 01273 224667. I offer independent advice and would be happy to assist.
Talk Money is a trading style of Aspect 8 Ltd, which is an appointed representative 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. PORTFOLIO  35
22 local branches, 150 associated branches in central London and the south east, 1300 branches countrywide
St. Heliers Avenue, Hove King & Chasemore are delighted to offer to the market a stunning 1930’s semi detached house offered for sale in excellent order throughout. Portslade. Mainline Train Station and Aldrington Train Station is approximately a quarter of a mile away giving links to London. The sea front and Hove Lagoon are also approximately 800 yards away. A particular feature of the property is the rear garden measuring approximately 70ft in length.
Guide Price: £625,000 Call: 01273 206107
SALES
Rottingdean A four bedroom, three storey terraced house situated in a private gated exclusive development known as ‘Rottingdean Place’. Formerly the site of a convent which was developed into a luxury development of 14 houses, and 43 apartments in 1986, and offers the benefit of beautifully maintained communal grounds, a tennis court, a swimming pool/gym and sauna complex, guest suite and a security lodge. The house itself requires some modernisation and comprises: entrance hall, dining room, kitchen, separate utility room, downstairs separate WC, first floor main living room, four bedrooms, en-suite bathroom to master bedroom and additional bathroom suite. Outside to the front is a driveway area leading to the integral garage, whilst to the rear is a lawned rear garden with access out onto the rear communal gardens. Rarely available. Vacant possession.
Guide Price: £600,000 to £650,000 Call: 01273 301066 36 PORTFOLIO
York Avenue, Seven Dials King and Chasemore are delighted to offer you this rare opportunity to purchase a five/six bedroom period house in the popular and central location of York Avenue, Hove with period features and lots character in the Seven Dials area. This property boasts space and has vast potential to be a beautiful family home with the added benefits of a private driveway and garage, south westerly aspect rear garden with side access to the front of the house, gas central heating and plenty of storage space.
Guide Price £860,000 to £925,000 Call: 01273 311829
kingandchasemore.co.uk
Surrenden Road, Brighton Double fronted four bedroom three story detached house with four reception rooms, situated in the highly desirable Surrenden Are boasting delightful views over Brighton down towards the sea. South facing lawned rear garden, detached double garage, Pleasantly situated in this attractive tree lined road the property enjoys a convenient location with schools for all ages in the area including the nearby Varndean 6th Form College. Green space at Hollingbury Park and golf is available at Hollingbury Golf Course both within short walking distance.
Guide Price: £800,000 to £835,000 Call: 01273 505141
PORTFOLIO 37
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The Juice Breakfast Show with Dan Gasser & Hanna Neter
Quality
FROM 6AM MON - FRI
JUICEBRIGHTON.COM
Tiles
Huge selection
Competitively priced
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OCTOBER SALE NOW ON
Fine Ceramics, Porcelain, Glass, Mosaics and Natural Stone
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BEAUTIFUL homes
LUXURY APARTMENT
T
his contemporary apartment is located on the second floor of the Avalon Development on West Street in Central Brighton, adjacent to the seafront with its promenade, bars and restaurants. Accessible via a secure entry phone system and passenger lift, the two double bedroom accommodation is perfect for city living by the sea and is offered to the sales market with no onward chain by Leaders Brighton. What’s more, the open plan living space boasts wood flooring and includes a fitted ‘Euro Cucina’ kitchen and access to a balcony. The master bedroom benefits from an en-suite and elsewhere there is a ‘Philipe Starck’ family bathroom. Secure underground parking is available, along with well-kept communal outside areas and the property has an EPC Rating of B.
West Street, Brighton BN1 2RP Price: £435,000 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Extras: Luxury Euro Cucina kitchen. Phillipe Starck bathroom Best Bits: Private balcony. Underground parking Leaders Sales 119-120 Western Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2AD Tel: 01273 720714 www.leaders.co.uk
PORTFOLIO 39
BEAUTIFUL homes
leaders.co.uk
Sussex Square, £1,300 pcm
This Grade 1 Listed apartment has been recently refurbished to a high standard and forms part of Brighton’s famous Regency terraces. The property is close to the seafront and Brighton Marina and features an open courtyard, spacious living area with high ceiling, original sash windows and window seats. Also features a kitchen with modern units, 2 double bedrooms and a bathroom with contemporary fittings.
Norfolk Road, £2,250 pcm
Over Street, £1,850 pcm
Pavilion Mews, £1,800 pcm
Old London Road, £1,395 pcm
Nizells Avenue, £1,200 pcm
Rochester Close, £1,250 pcm
Portland Villas, £950 pcm
Regent Street, £895 pcm
Uniquely presented 4 bedroom Victorian town house across 4 floors with roof terrace. EPC: D
Ground floor garden flat over looking St Ann’s Well Gardens with off street parking. EPC: B
Fiveways
01273 561534 fiveways@leaders.co.uk
Newly renovated 4 storey town house in the heart of the vibrant North Laine. EPC: E
A contemporary 2 bedroom flat in popular mansion block just off Palmeira Square. EPC: D
Brighton Central
01273 720714 western@leaders.co.uk
An impressive 3 bedroom mews house in the North Laines with secure parking. EPC: D
1 bedroom first floor flat with small balcony offering both style and comfort. EPC: D
A bright newly decorated 3 bedroom flat in a unique and substantial period property. EPC: D
A contemporary style 1 bedroom apartment in the heart of the North Laines. EPC: B
Hove
01273 321721 hove@leaders.co.uk
40 quoted PORTFOLIO All rents exclude other charges or fees which may be payable – for more information please contact your local branch or visit the branch page on www.leaders.co.uk
North Laine
01273 675571 northlaine@leaders.co.uk
BEAUTIFUL homes
Have you seen the new leaders.co.uk website? Looking for your next home or letting? For a wide choice of properties, draw a map searching and information for landlords, visit us today at:
leaders.co.uk
PORTFOLIOâ&#x20AC;&#x2021; 41
Ashacre Lane, Worthing - Guide Price: ÂŁ400,000
W Welch Estate Agents offer to the open market this spectacular three bedroom detached character property located in the ever popular Ashacre Lane. Set within its own ground this property offers heaps of original features, making it a truly unique home. As well as three bedrooms this property has two downstairs reception rooms, a kitchen utility room, study, ensuite to the master bedroom, garage and beautiful secluded gardens. This property is truly magnificent and should not be missed out on!
Warwick Gardens, Worthing - ÂŁ499,950
W Welch Estate Agents are proud to present this prestigious five bedroom Edwardian home. Boasting four reception rooms and five bedrooms this character filled property offers a large kitchen, off road parking, private rear garden and a en-suite bathroom to one bedroom. Located in the heart of Worthing town centre within close proximity of shops and the seafront. If you are after a perfect family home that offers character features then this is the property for you!
41 Chapel Road, Worthing West Sussex BN11 1EG Tel: 01903 898000, www.w-welchestateagents.co.uk
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
Commercial Litigation
• Wills • Probate and Administration of Estates • Inheritance Tax Planning and Trusts • Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection • Elderly Client Care
• Commercial contract/ Consumer Disputes • Director/Shareholders/ Partnership Disputes • Insurance Claims • Construction and Engineering • Commercial Property Disputes • Professional Negligence Claims • Intellectual Property Disputes
Vallance Hall, Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2DE
Life and Family
Personal Injury
info@engleharts.co.uk • 01273 204411
• Family and Matrimonial • Co Habitation Agreements/Disputes • Civil Partnerships • Pre-nuptial Agreements • Divorce
• Road Traffic Accidents • Medical Negligence • Accident at Work and on Construction Site • Fatal Accidents • Structured Settlements
Wills and Trusts
For more information please contact us at Engleharts Solicitors:
www.engleharts.co.uk
GOING to auction
BAGGING A BARGAIN AT AUCTION
As it becomes more common to see residential buyers looking for homes in Property Auctions, we take advice about how to do this successfully
B
uying at Auction is no longer the preserve of developers as BBC’s Homes Under The Hammer has illustrated, and buying at auction can be attractive to residential buyers for a number of reasons. Obviously, you hope to get a bargain. But you also hope to avoid the conventional – potentially drawn
out - process of house buying. At auction this process is condensed into a matter of minutes, not months. You become the owner of the property the moment the hammer falls. Most auction websites will contain useful information for buyers. Or consult the guide from the BBCs website too before you attend
your first auction: www.bbc.co.uk/homes/property/buying_auction1.shtml
Remember, it is vital to do your research. Make sure you have your finance in place, view properties and details carefully and carry out relevant searches. And finally do remember that buying at auction is a binding commitment.
UPCOMING AUCTION DATES LOCALLY INCLUDE: Austin Gray Auctions
20 November, Hove Town Hall, 1pm. www.austingray.co.uk
Parons Son & Basley Auctions
Date TBC, Hove Town Hall, 3pm. www.psandb.co.uk
Fox & Sons Auctions
30 October, MacDonald Botley Park Hotel, Southampton. www.sequencehome.co.uk
Clive Emson
4 November, The Hilton, Brighton Metropole. www.cliveemson.co.uk
Allsop Residential Auctions
29th & 30th October. www.auction.co.uk
44 PORTFOLIO
We speak to Nick Muston FRICS, Auction Manager at Austin Gray Auctions WHAT TYPES OF PROPERTIES ARE SUITABLE FOR AUCTION? Absolutely all types of property can be sold at auction from lighthouses to public conveniences, houseboats to penthouses and everything in-between. Obviously the majority of lots in an auction are flats, houses, commercial properties and land but the weird and wonderful are never turned away in fact in our September auction we had a former mortuary in Arundel. WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE BUY AT AUCTION? It never ceases to amaze us that every auction throws up a completely different crop of buyers from all walks of life. We sell a lot of investment properties and there are no end of buyers looking for a small investment. This will continue whilst there is such a wide discrepancy between the interest they are earning on their money in a bank as compared to the potential yield from a residential or
commercial rental property. Contrary to popular belief auctioneers also sell the sort of property that an estate agent would normally market and these sell directly to owner-occupiers that have all their funding in place. WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE SELL AT AUCTION? Our instructions come from all sorts of directions and every catalogue will include some entries from Solicitors acting as Executors, Law of Property Act Receivers, Deputies, or Financial Institutions. We also work as joint auctioneers with a lot of residential and commercial agents but the majority of the instructions will come from private individuals or professional landlords. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A FIRST TIME AUCTION BUYER. Register with a firm of auctioneers to receive their email alerts and catalogues so that you get an early heads up on a property that might
interest you. This is vital if you need to arrange a loan to finance the purchase because speed is of the essence due to the time that mortgage companies can take to make a decision to lend. Inspect the property and if it requires work perhaps get some additional advice from a builder or surveyor. We strongly recommend that you download the legal pack and show this to your legal representative. If you intend to bid check with the auctioneers that the lot is still available and that there are no amendments as sometimes the guide price and reserve can be subject to change right up to the moment of the auction. FINALLY, WHAT IS THE DATE OF YOUR NEXT AUCTION? November 20th at 1pm at Hove Town Hall, with most lots completing before Christmas. Austin Gray Auctions 01273 201982 www.austingray.co.uk
Gavin Walmsley, Solicitor, Crosby & Woods on checking the small print SOLICITOR COMMENT We all love a bargain and auctions have become more hugely popular over the last few years as a result of television programmes. The legal process of buying a property at auction is not all that different from normal sales or purchases. All the relevant information will be in a pack produced by the seller’s solicitors in advance for you to read, including deduction of the sellers legal title, searches
and conditions of sale (usually the Common Auction Conditions). It is absolutely essential that you read and digest this and preferably to have have instructed an experienced property solicitor (Law Society CQS accredited is a very good benchmark to look for) to review it all well in advance of auction day so any obvious problems are spotted. You should also, ideally, physically inspect the property and not rely just on photos which could inadvertently be
misleading. Auction day, especially once you’ve entered the bidding on an actual lot, can be frantic so always know what you are legally buying ahead of bidding and don’t forget, when the hammer goes down on your winning bid you are legally bound to complete. Crosby & Woods Solicitors 01273 734600 www.crosbywoods.co.uk PORTFOLIO 45
BEAUTIFUL homes
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46 PORTFOLIO
GOING to auction
Claire Cook, Talk Money on applying for a mortgage MORTGAGE EXPERT COMMENT Unless you are a cash buyer, once you have decided to bid at an auction you will need to consult a mortgage broker in advance to find out the best way to apply for a mortgage. Although most lenders will issue mortgages
on homes bought at auction, the process can be slightly complicated as, obviously, you do not know how much the property will go for. You will need to get your finances in order before day of the auction and you’ll need to make your application in advance in the normal
way. You will also need min 10% deposit and ID at the time of bidding. Make sure you set yourself a limit and stick to it! Have fun. Talk Money 01273 224667 www.talkmoney.co.uk
FEATURE AUCTION PROPERTIES Austin Gray Auctions, November 20th Austin Gray Auctions are selling the freehold interest of the entire building called Arundel Court, Arundel Road, Kemp Town. All the flats and the clinic are sold off on long leases but it includes the two shops and the rent that they provide.
Guide price is £140,000 - £160,000 www.austingray.co.uk
Clive Emson Auctions, November 4th Mill Gap House & Gardener’s Cottage, Mill Gap Road in Eastbourne. A late Victorian substantial detached house and cottage. Situated in a popular residential area, this property currently has C2 use, having been a nursing facility for the past 30 years and prior to that residential accomodation.
Guide price is £650,000 - £700,000 www.cliveemson.co.uk
PORTFOLIO 47
NEW homes
THE WATERFRONT Stunning new show apartment sets the benchmark for life at The Waterfront, Worthing
K
ier Living Eastern is giving house hunters the chance to see what life at The Waterfront, Worthing, would be like after unveiling its stunning new show apartment. Visitors are able to take a tour of the chic two-bedroom, ground floor apartment, which has been finished to the highest specification and features a striking contemporary design. Styled in the shape of a catamaran, the unique The Waterfront development complements its stunning seafront location and consists of 64 one and two-bedroom apartments.
48 PORTFOLIO
Just metres from the sea in Worthing, West Sussex, the development blends sympathetically with the surrounding architecture while its vessel shape directly links the apartments to their nautical habitat. Jane Johnson, regional sales and marketing manager for Kier Living Eastern, said: “We’ve been thrilled by the reaction to our show apartment – buyers just fall in love with The Waterfront when they see it.” With their contemporary design and unrivalled waterside setting, it’s no wonder the apartments at The Waterfront have gone
down so well with house hunters. Combining the many benefits of a brand new home with a relaxed lifestyle by the sea, all the homes released in the first phase were instantly snapped up and the latest phase is proving just as popular with only 50 per cent now available. Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £249,995. For more information or to make an appointment to visit the stunning new show apartment, call 01903 240 362 or visit www.kierhomes.co.uk
Eirene Road, Worthing BN12 4DJ
N ew Sh ow Apartm ent Now Open
Styled in the shape of a catamaran, these striking 1 & 2 bedroom apartments, just metres from Worthing seafront, allow you to enjoy all the benefits of a modern coastal resort and relaxed lifestyle by the sea. Contact us today for further details on our second phase of apartments or to arrange your appointment to view.
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Stunning 2 bedroom apartments available from ÂŁ249,995 01903 240362 kierhomes.co.uk Computer generated image of The Waterfront. Price correct at time of print.
01903 503906
HOME & garden
CREATE ATMOSPHERE EXOTIC TOUCHES Create an air of the exotic with this Moroccan pendant light. Available to buy at Mister Smith Interiors the Rabat Pendant costs £249
SOPHISTICATED STYLE Available in 128 subtle shades, Zoffany’s Flat Emulsion Paint gives an exceptionally chalky finish which emphasises the deep pigments in each colour. A 2.5 litre tin starts from £39.00 – pop to Mister Smith Interiors to see the full range and buy a sample pot.
TAKE A SEAT A timeless classic to suit any interior, this Fawn silk Versailles Library Chair costs £1,015 from Mister Smith Interiors L:750mm W:740mm H:900mm D:750mm
RUNNING TRADITION DRESS UP TIME Why not have curtains or cushions made up using the new Sungadi fabric by Designers Guild - A traditional Uzbek ikat, it’s available in a range of contrasting and tonal colour combinations with prices starting from £60 per metre – all available at Mister Smith Interiors the main stockist for Designers Guild in Brighton. Mister Smith interiors
Give your hall or stairs a smart makeover with a traditional hand loomed flatweave runner – shown here is Masai in indigo. Roger Oates runners start from £115 per linear metre and are available to buy from Mister Smith Interiors who are the authorised supplier and fitter for the South East.
STARRY EYED Darker walls create atmosphere. This starry wallpaper in Gunmetal by Barneby Gates is one of the best. It costs £70 per 10 metre roll and is available through Mister Smith interiors
PLAYFUL TOUCHES
TIMELESS FUN Piccadilly by Cole & Son. A humorous take on the ‘blue and white’ tile. Come and have a look at it displayed in Mister Smith Interiors Brighton shop. £61 per 10 metre roll available to buy at Mister Smith Interiors
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Additional seating, and fun accessories. This Antares Star Pouf is covered in playful starry linen by Tori Murphy it costs £275 and is stocked by Mister Smith Interiors
www.mistersmith.co.uk 01273 605574 info@mistersmith.co.uk
BEAUTIFUL homes
Did you know that as well as providing a full interior design service, our Brighton shop has a huge archive of fabric and wallpaper books for you to look through... We also; Have lighting you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find everywhere else. Make beautiful curtains and blinds, fit carpet, flooring and stair runners. Sell wallpapers and paints. We also make lamp shades to order and we can re-upholster your chairs and sofas... Come in and have a look... Mister Smith Interiors 23 New Road, Brighton BN1 1UF Tel: 01273 605574
www.mistersmith.co.uk
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INTERIORS
FRESHEN UP
Transform your home by focussing on walls and floors. This month we look at how to make a statement with tiles and paint By Tara de la Motte, Editor of Sussex Homes & Gardens www.sussex-homes.co.uk
W
all and floor tiles have become a staple when it comes to decorating our homes today. The choice of tiles available are far greater these days than ever before. There are traditional, decorative and contemporary style tiles which are manufactured to the highest standard and so there is a wall or floor tile to suit every type of home. Todays wall and floor tile designs offer great ways to add colour, interesting pattern and texture to home interiors, particularly bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. Tiles are not only appealing but practical too. Modern tile designs vary dramatically and are available in various types, sizes, colours, textures, styles and prices. Intricately decorative tiles with Moroccan, Cuban, Mexican
and Spanish influenced are a popular choice today. Some of these designs date back to the 13th century and are fully hand-finished in colours ranging from deep jewel hues to soft pastels and sophisticated neutrals. There are more contemporary styles available as todays modern technology allows to experiment with the appearance of floor and wall tiles. Unusual patterns are printed on clay slab, to look like natural stone floor and wall tiles. These can look very elegant in modern homes. Tiles that mimic precious metals are certainly becoming more popular, with exciting new ranges that add a touch of magic to your living space. Metal tiles add a luxurious shimmer, reflecting the light and creating a bright glamorous interior in the home. So for
a truly chic interior choose tiles made from precious metals. Industrial style tiles that look like brick, concrete and stainless steel are one of the modern trends that is popular at the moment, and will be highly suited for contemporary apartments. Mosaic tiles bring an additional element to interior design that mixes an old tradition with new and exciting designs that can enhance your home dramatically. Using Mosaics you can create art work in your living space as they give energy and style to a room. They are also used in decorative borders and swimming pools or around a shower or washbasin. If you want to make a real statement then you can have a pictorial mosaic created on a chosen feature wall or floor within your home.
INTERIORS
Living colour – Paint Using paint can give new life to our interiors and with so many inspiring colours available, decorating our homes has never been more pleasurable. Colour is probably the most personal and dramatic statement you can make in your home as well as making your daily living more uplifting. Seeing how colour appears in nature gives clues to choosing the sorts of colours you might want within your home. Choosing neutral colours can be timeless and easy to live with, while white is unifying, peaceful and simple, whites can come in a plethora of contrasting hues and tones. Greens are versatile ranging from the brightest lime to muted tones, and earthy hues of brown can
be used for a variety of looks. The sea or sky colours in paint can add clarity and freshness to interior settings. The range of pinks available reminds us of our garden borders whilst creams and yellows are cheerful colours and have universal appeal. When it comes to choosing paint, read the labels and try and buy eco-friendly paints that are made from natural raw materials and plant or mineral pigments. Always buy a tester pot so you can check at home how the colour works in different lights — throughout the day. Only choose colours that you are comfortable with and not what fashion dictates. If you are choosing natural colours, they don’t have to be all pale. By adding one deep shade, such as flint grey or a warm heather
on cupboard doors, skirting or architraves the room will feel more dramatic. Colour isn’t just for walls, try experimenting with pale grey, string or olive shades on ceilings or floors. If you would like your ceilings to appear higher than they are, choose a light cool white rather than a bright white as this type of white will be more sympathetic to your chosen wall colour. Using a cool white will lessen the contrast between your walls and the ceiling. Paint can breathe new life to the interior, exteriors as well as furniture. Using colour will make our homes warm and intimate almost instantly. Paint can make a small room appear larger and change the complete mood of a room.
PORTFOLIO 53
HAVE YOUR HOME FEATURED IN PORTFOLIO Would you like your home advertised in the largest local property publication, and read by over 20,000 people? To find out how we can include your property in our Beautiful Homes pages, contact your estate agent today or contact Lynne Edwards Mob: 07931 537588 Email: lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk
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BEAUTIFUL homes
PERFECT POSITION A
beautiful, Arts and Crafts era, detached house, with bags of period detailing, nestled into mature landscaped gardens at both the front and back, this lovely home offers ideal family living. Laid out over two floors in the desirable Withdean area, number thirty-two Withdean Road offers plenty of downstairs living space. Further features include the large open hallway with its attractive herringbone-pattern parquet flooring, brick fireplace and sweeping staircase to the first floor, fireplaces adorn both principal reception rooms, and several rooms benefit from dual-aspect windows, as well as glazed doors and partitions. The front garden slopes down and away from the road with a stone stairway wending its way through and down to the front door and entrance porch. At the rear, the garden is divided into distinct areas with a lawn, patio seating area, charming hidden reading bench and little fish pond. The attractive exterior of the property has been recently decorated so kerb appeal is in abundance
30 PORTFOLIO
30-31 Portfolio AUG14 Beautiful Homes Hamptons.indd All Pages
Withdean Road, Brighton BN1 5BL Price: £1,750,000 Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3 Extras: Landscaped gardens, Timber framed car port, EPC E Best bits: Beautiful detached house, period detailing, desirable area Hamptons International 82 Church Road, Hove BN3 2EB 01273 796061 www.hamptons.co.uk
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21/07/2014 17:21
INTO the garden
Into the Garden
Autumn is definitely here and it feels colder. Regardless of the cold this is a beautiful time of the year with the trees changing colour in a blaze of glory and berries are illuminated. The first frosts touch the garden By Tara de la Motte, Editor of Sussex Homes & Gardens www.sussex-homes.co.uk
Things to do in the garden this month n Your summer containers will now be spent, so replant with new plants to provide colour and interest through autumn and winter. n During October continue planting bulbs for spring. Give special priority to daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, fritillarias and irises. n Plant new shrubs and perennials. n Lightly fork your borders and apply a mulch if needed. n Keep your lawn clean and sweep away any fallen leaves. Finally, sit back and enjoy the dazzling colours of your autumn garden.
T
he autumn garden still looks vibrant and colourful. Michaelmas daisies are at their best right now alongside other late flowering perennials such as ‘solidago’ (golden rod) and ‘sedums’. This is also the month of autumn bulbs — crocus and cyclamen both commence their flowering season. Reds and golds typify autumn so strong combination of ‘rudbeckia’ and ‘physalis alkekengii’ is in full bloom now, totally in keeping with the season. Physalis alkekengii also known as the Chinese lantern is a striking plant for any garden, it produces these ornamental and edible fruits from cream flowers. This plant will grow in almost any situation and increase
by running roots. It is well worth growing certain trees, shrubs and climbers for autumnal colour. Purple foliage turning to bright red at this time of the year is the small tree — ‘Acer palmatum atropurpureum’ this is a splendid addition to any garden. A shrub commonly known as the smoke tree ‘Cotinus coggygria’ royal purple also provides the garden with bright red, autumn foliage. The Virginia creeper ‘parthenocissus quinquefolia’ turns outstanding colours of brilliant orange, gold, crimson and bronze before the leaves fall. This is a vigerous self-clinging climber good for walls and fences.
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...AND
THE CITY 58
Heston Blumenthal: The Big interview
64
Business news from around the city
71 73 74
Get networked How good is your credit? Ladies who golf
76
Business lunch: At Gars
78
Tourism in the City
82
Motoring: Mercedes, a touch of luxury
88
Phil Spencer on the property bubble For advertising and general enquiries contact Business editor Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinumbusinessmagazine.com 07966 244 046
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“Sussex University did a fascinating study on sensory triggers” 58 PORTFOLIO
CELEBRITY interview
THE CULINARY
ALCHEMIST HESTON BLUMENTHAL OBE, Interview by Maarten Hoffmann
H
eston Blumenthal is a freak of nature in that he views the world of food in a slightly different way to rest of us and certainly to his peer group of superstar chefs. His first major step that propelled him to international prominence was in 1995 when, after two years of searching, he purchased a 450-year-old pub in a small town called Bray in Berkshire. Hardly the smartest business decision one would think as it had a tiny kitchen, only one door, no view, an outside loo and a reputation as the hotspot for every hard drinker banned from all other pubs in the area but it was all he could afford. At this stage, there was no thought of Michelin stars. With its beams sandblasted and a copper bar installed, The Fat Duck opened as a very simple bistro serving French classics such as petit sale of duck, steak and chips, sauce a la moelle and tarte tatin. So far so good until day two, when the oven exploded and Heston spent the rest of service with a bag of frozen peas strapped to his head. Inexperience and very limited funds meant that he was spending twenty hours a day in the kitchen, occasionally snatching fifteen minutes sleep curled up on a pile of dirty tea towels. Despite the utter chaos, the restaurant started to get some good reviews and even the kitchens drawbacks were turned into an
advantage. The gas pipes were domestic rather than commercial and provided insufficient heat to even bring a large pan of water to the boil. Green beans had to be blanched in batches of eight! Attempts to find ways around this tproblem brought Heston into contact with Professor Tony Blake, and these two became the first of a network of scientists and academics that have played a part in the restaurants development, including several from the fragrance company Firmenich, which, with its shelves full of stoppered bottles containing every aroma imaginable, has provided an invaluable source of inspiration ever since. The Fat Duck is now one of the most famous restaurants in the world and currently holds three Michelin stars. Heston has been described as a culinary alchemist for his innovative style of cuisine. His work researches the molecular compounds of dishes so as to enable a greater understanding of taste and flavour and in 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Reading for his dedicated research and commitment to the exploration of culinary science. Can this ringmaster of test-tube theatre really have flunked O-Level chemistry? Well, Heston doesn’t really do failure – these are more like bumps on the road to world domination. Who now worries about the 2009
norovirus outbreak at The Fat Duck, or cares about Little Chef publicly ‘ditching’ the menu he was asked to revamp? Heston does, of course, but he’s too resilient not to bounce back. He’s also incredibly personable. GIVEN ALL YOUR DIFFERENT PROJECTS, DO YOU EVER WORRY ABOUT ONE OF THEM FAILING? Oh, yes. We’ve had some big downs. I thought the whole norovirus thing could have been it for me, and the restaurant might not have reopened. The only thing I’ve changed is that we’ve not served oysters since, which is really sad. You have to look at failure as an opportunity to learn. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO COOK ANYTHING RIDICULOUS THAT’S GONE HORRIBLY WRONG? I spent four years trying to make savoury candyfloss. I know a lot about candyfloss now, but even more about flogging a dead horse. ARE YOU A BIT OF A SHOW-OFF? It’s all a little bit self-indulgent, I’ll give you that. But the bizarre thing is that I really lacked confidence at school. When I started doing TV, I remember filming in a pizzeria in Naples and wanting the floor to open up and swallow me. But doing TV helped me become more confident. And I’m starting to get more confident in my cooking now. It’s taken me about 20 years. PORTFOLIO 59
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YOU HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY RANGE OF JOBS BEFORE YOU FOUND YOUR VOCATION. HOW COULD YOU OF BEEN A DEBT COLLECTOR AND PHOTOCOPIER SALESMAN IF YOU WEREN’T CONFIDENT? Oh God, the photocopier salesman! I was awful at it and I hated it. Who buys a photocopier from a cold caller? It’s weird, given the confidence thing, that I went down the path of multisensory cooking. No one had ever done anything like it, so some people loved me, and other people thought I was the devil. I took some battering and took it really personally. I could have sunk or swum. I swam. YOU SEEM LIKE THE ANTITHESIS OF THE STEREOTYPICAL SHOUTY CHEF. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN THIS CHILLED OUT? Not at all [laughs]. I used to have a real temper on me and did a lot of work on it. It was realising you have to take responsibility as a boss. If you shout at someone for making mistakes, then it’s your fault – either you employed the wrong person, you’re expecting too much of them or you haven’t trained them sufficiently. I haven’t even thought about raising my voice for ten years. WHERE DID THE TEMPER COME FROM? My lack of confidence. Conflict made me uncomfortable, so I’d ignore it or deal with it too aggressively. Since curbing that, my 60 PORTFOLIO
confidence has improved. And I try to exercise eight to ten hours a week, otherwise I’d get jittery as well as being the size of a house. I’m way more relaxed now than ever. NOT CONTENT WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE FAT DUCK, YOU HAVE NOW OPENED DINNER AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL IN LONDON, THE HIND HEAD AND THE CROWN PUBS IN BRAY, A NEW RESTAURANT AT HEATHROW’S TERMINAL 2, YOU RECENTLY APPEARED IN EVERY EPISODE OF MASTERCHEF AUSTRALIA AND ARE ABOUT TO OPEN DINNER IN MELBOURNE . DO YOU WORRY ABOUT SPREADING YOURSELF TOO THINLY? Sometimes. But consistency is the most important thing – it doesn’t matter how many things you have going on, as long as the quality doesn’t dip anywhere along the line. People keep asking me why l am opening a Dinner across the other side of the world and why not New York? We looked at New York really heavily as we wanted to open there. I’ve got some good chef mates in the business in New York and they all said the same thing: If you can’t be union-free, don’t touch it. We looked and we looked and we looked. It’s a nightmare. There’s a reason why both (Joel) Robuchon and (Alain) Ducasse have closed. They’ve just gone. You cannot operate a restaurant under those conditions. It’s impossible.
People used to talk about breaking America, but Asia is where everything is exploding now: Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines. Australia is that stepping stone into Asia. It’s strange because Australia’s a small country population-wise but it bats like a big country because it’s so cosmopolitan. I’d put Melbourne in the top five cities in the world for food, It has a rich mixture of cultures, with a very diverse range of foods. It’s really vibrant, exciting. I’ve never seen a country explode food-wise like Australia has. If you want Zen-like purism in food, you go to Tokyo or Kyoto. If you want three-Michelin-star French, you go to Paris. It you go outside that level, I’d put London as the best city in the world to eat in and then you’ve got New York, and Melbourne’s really up there. The restaurant scene is booming. HEATHROW IS AN ODD LOCATION - DO YOU MIND THE IDEA OF PEOPLE RUSHING THROUGH ONE OF YOUR MEALS TO CATCH A PLANE AT TERMINAL 2? No, I always wanted The Fat Duck to be accessible – I wanted everyone else to be as excited as I was about this new approach to cooking. But the Duck is expensive and hard to get into – the last time l looked the waiting list was just over a year; it’s become a bit elitist, which was the last thing I wanted. That’s why the first book I did was called “Family Food”,
CELEBRITY interview
“Can this ringmaster of test-tube theatre really have flunked O-Level chemistry?”
and why I got involved in Little Chef. T2 already had the smoked salmon-and-champagne side covered, so I wanted to get involved in burgers and pizza. DO YOU EVER INDULGE IN A BURGER OR A KEBAB? I love a wet, sloppy pizza. And a lamb kebab, though the last time I had one was three or four years ago. My son got one from the takeaway and I took a bite: so wrong and so right all at the same time. But I can’t go there now; I have to try and be healthy. YOU HAVE RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED A PASSION FOR HISTORICAL ENGLISH CUISINE. WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? I met two historians that run the kitchen at Hampton Court Palace – it’s the most historically important palace in England, and the kitchen is the oldest part. They found letters from Cardinal Woolsey describing a spit-roasted pig he had seen in Italy, and they tried to recreate it in their kitchen. Speaking with them, I realized that in the 18th century, Britain was one of the leading areas of gastronomy in the world! They cooked with everything they had. Some dishes were really extreme – a pheasant dish, for example, where you roast the pheasant then sew the skin and the feathers back onto the bird and rig up a gear system so it moves when you put it on the
table. No wonder the life expectancy was 25, what with the raw skin on the cooked meat. In another example, the French would pluck a live chicken, brush the skin with saffron, wheat germ and drippings, then put the head under the belly, and rock the chicken to sleep. The live chicken was then placed on a platter with two cooked chickens, carried to the table and the cooked chickens carved as the live one ran wildly around – theatre on the table. The most disturbing recipe I’ve ever seen is for “how to roast a goose alive” from The Cook’s Oracle from the late 1800s. It’s written almost in biblical style, and it’s really disturbing. The idea is that you’ve cooked the goose’s skin but the vital organs are still working, and you carve the goose while it can still scream. You just don’t know if anyone ever actually made that dish – not that it’s one I’d specifically like to see. But I would like to go back to see some of the creativity. There was a lot of stuff going on 300 years ago and that, for me, is really fascinating. ARE YOU OFFENDED WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THE BRITISH CUISINE IS THE WORST IN THE WORLD? Oh yeah, right, the worst in the world, second to Norway. Or is it Finland? Admittedly, in the 70s, it was awful. I remember when I was a kid, you couldn’t buy olive oil – you had to go to the pharmacy to buy it! And there was only
one kind of pasta you could buy, and it was spaghetti. But in the last 10 years, the food of Britain has just rocketed. The really topend restaurants are not as varied, nor are there as many of them, as in New York, but the average restaurant in London has food as good as anywhere. Historically the French bought bread every day; in England they’d buy it once a week, but the mentality is changing. Farmer’s markets are booming outside of London, and of course there’s Borough Market [in the city], which is really good. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN SUCK THE EMOTION OUT OF COOKING BY APPLYING TOO MUCH SCIENCE? What do you call too much science? If you’re being a purist, man would only ever cook over a fire. It’s not the equipment or the science, it’s what you do with it. I just love things that trigger an emotion, smells and flavours you’ve forgotten. That’s the stuff you want to bring into cooking. IS THERE A FOOD YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO REINVENT? C4 would love me to reinvent chocolate, or salt… Nothing I’ve done has been designed to shock. If I can justify why I’m doing something, fine. Some things just work. Although, in the process of saying you can’t do something, you can start to wonder… PORTFOLIO 61
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CELEBRITY interview IS THE PRESSURE GREATER ON YOU WHEN YOU COOK FOR GUESTS, OR ON THEM WHEN THEY COOK FOR YOU? Me. I only realised this last year. Young chefs can be a bit cocky and criticise other people. For me, sitting round a table at someone’s house and having someone cook for you – it’s a real treat. I’m easy to cook for. But what happens if someone comes to my house and I just give them Bolognese? They’ll wonder why they can’t eat the bowl.
“The winner is not the richest, the winner is the best!”
HAVE ANY OF YOUR KIDS SHOWN SIGNS OF FOLLOWING YOU INTO THE KITCHEN? When my oldest son said he wanted to be a chef, I told him the only reason to go into cooking is because you want to cook, not to make money or be famous. He’s in his second year of a culinary arts degree and he’s flying. The teachers just called him “Jack” at first, so people didn’t realise [that he was a Blumenthal]. He’s there on merit. YOU’VE KEPT YOUR FAMILY SEPARATE FROM YOUR WORK. I’ve been asked to film at home with the kids several times, and always said no. As long as people are aware of the boundaries, they stop. ARE YOU COOKING CHRISTMAS DINNER THIS YEAR? Yeah, I love cooking at home. You can be sociable while you do it. It’ll be a traditional roast, although chicken rather than turkey. And it’s the one time of the year that I go decadent, so I’ll have some white truffles as well as all the trimmings. The real downside is that Christmas shopping at Waitrose takes about three hours. People always comment on what I’m putting in my basket: “Ooh, look! He’s bought a pork pie and a prawn cocktail!” WHAT DRIVES YOUR FASCINATION WITH THE ODDITY OF FLAVOURS? You eat with your eyes, ears, nose and mouth – in fact it is one of the few things we humans do that involves all those senses. Take Crab Ice Cream. People had difficulty accepting it yet when we named it Frozen Crab Bisque, not only was it more acceptable but it was considered less sweet. We found that oysters eaten while listening to seaside sounds were considered significantly more pleasant. In another test, people tasted egg-and-bacon ice cream while listening to sounds of bacon sizzling, followed by tasting it while listening to the sound of chickens clucking. The sizzling bacon sound made the bacon flavour appear noticeably more intense. How can you not find that total fascinating? This phenomenon was subsequently researched by Martin Yeomans and Lucy
Chambers of the University of Sussex, who served test subjects a version of Blumenthal’s ice cream flavoured with smoked salmon, but told one group they would be tasting ice cream and the other that they would be tasting a frozen savoury mousse. Although all consumed identical food, those eating what they thought was savoury mousse found the flavour acceptable while those eating what they thought was ice cream found the taste salty and generally disgusting. For Heston, this simply confirmed the potential of an area he was already vigorously exploring. “If something as simple as a name could make a dish appear more or less salty (even though, no matter what form the dish’s presentation took, the salt level remained constant), what effect might other cues have on flavours and our appreciation of them?” Blumenthal is a culinary star in Australia, where his appearances on the MasterChef TV show draw huge audiences. He’s also known for his Heston for Coles supermarket food and for the Sage by Heston Blumenthal range of kitchen appliances. These include the Oracle, an espresso machine that retails in the U.K. for £1,599. While Heston’s empire looks healthy, he is far from the richest chef in the UK. The Sunday Times Rich List awarded this title to Jamie Oliver with £150m, with Gordon Ramsey in second place at £23m and Heston with only £2m. Not only is this obviously complete tosh but reflects the amount of cash re-invested into his burgeoning business empire. A recent deal with Waitrose, new television shows, ready-made food ranges
across the world and the afore-mentioned new restaurants are sure to rocket him up the list. Recently, his company SL6 Ltd paid out their first ever dividend of £750,000 to Heston and other family members. The accounts for SL6 show that turnover grew by 22% to £10.2m and that SL6 is owned by Nevis registered Cape Proprietary Inc, which in turn is controlled by Isle of Man registered Lowethal Corporation. Friends of the 45-year-old chef say he has struggled to make money — unlike celebrity rivals Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay, One said: “He’s got no idea. It ends up costing him so much to do the TV programmes. When he does that programme Feast he puts so much of his own resources into it, it ends up costing him a fortune and he has ploughed hundreds of thousands of pounds into his research laboratories. Sure he’s got a nicer life than ever before but in comparison with some people in his position? You’re having a laugh.” WHY DOES IT APPEAR YOU ARE LAGGING BEHIND OLIVER AND RAMSEY IN THE CASH STAKES: Well, I’m rubbish with money. If l need something, l just buy it and worry about the cost later but they are not personal indulgences as l spend a fortune on new kit for the kitchens and a further fortune of expanding into other continents. Besides, l am not motivated by money – l am motivated by the quality of my food, restaurants and television programmes. The winner is not the richest, the winner is the best! PORTFOLIO 63
CITY news
CITY NEWS Please note these are the personal views of our City Editor Maarten Hoffmann
SUPPORT TOURISM At last, opposing councillors have united in support for a new model for that most vital of our industries, tourism. The recent Tourism Alliance meeting heard that parking costs, congestion and rubbish issues all went to damage brand Brighton. The Green Party failed to attend the meeting and this was put down to someone’s personal circumstances. Soozie Campbell, chair of the Alliance, said: “Both Gill Mitchell and Graham Cox were very much in tune with our concerns about issues facing tourism and the urgent need to put things right and reframe the Brighton brand in a more positive light. It was a great shame no one from the Green Party was able to attend” Personally I think there should be no opposition, petty fighting or point scoring when it comes to tourism. It is by far our largest income at around £1 billion a year and supports thousands of jobs. I believe some things should be removed totally from political control and passed to successful local business leaders. How about privatising local government? Now there’s a thought?
SECRET PLANS Campaigners have reacted with fury at West Sussex County Council, over controversial plans to build 500 new homes between Copthorne and Crawley. They state that the Council kept quiet about plans to close the local village school and that it was only after the scheme was given outline planning permission by Mid Sussex District Council that they found out about the closure. On closer inspection of the application, a clue might have been found in the details that they also plan a new primary school within the development. With the inevitable housing shortage and a guaranteed protest over just about every new application for new homes, it must be a great time to be a law firm.
64 PORTFOLIO
CITY news
“A meeting is an event where the minutes are kept and the hours are lost”
WINE EDUCATION Following a pioneering partnership with the Sussex Wine School in April 2013, Hotel du Vin Brighton has seen a significant increase in average wine spend, growing by nearly £3.50 per person in the last financial year. The partnership allowed the Sussex Wine School to make use of the multi-functional facilities at the hotel, in exchange for training all hotel staff with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certification. The complimentary certification has also found success with the hotel’s staff retention, with many valuing the certification as a vital component of their professional development. The courses have been offered to staff across all departments, maintaining the wine-centric focus that the esteemed group is proud to preserve. Thus far, over 21 of the hotel’s staff have achieved Level 1, and the majority of staff have progressed to Level 2 or 3 out of 4 stages. Of these staff, says General Manager Simon Maguire, not a single one has left their position at Hotel du Vin Brighton, and one member of staff was promoted to a management position. The hotel’s sommelier, Ziggy, who holds a level 4, is no longer the only member of staff with expert knowledge, and the result is a hotel with a passion for wine at the heart of its ethos.
LEGAL AWARD Leading law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter are in the running for a prestigious award. The firm, which has eight offices across Sussex, has been shortlisted for the 2014 Lexcel Award in Practice Management by the Law Society. The company recently won another award for CSR earlier in the year at the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards and Chairman Dean Orgill was recently voted Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership. A clean sweep of the board, one might say
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CITY news
BRIGHTON SHORT-LISTED FOR CURRY CAPITAL Curry Capital of Britain 2013 was a victim of its own success in that not only is Bradford City determined to win for a record smashing fourth time in a row but more and more restaurants want to join to represent their city. Said Peter Grove, organiser of Curry Capital of Britain for National Curry Week in October, “The voting public really seem to have the idea of what we are looking for. In the past they may have given their vote frivolously, but now they are curry connoisseurs with the result that the City teams are stronger than ever”. With the team details only just hot off the press, Bradford council is already actively promoting the city, but they need not think they will have it all their own way with Leicester, Birmingham, Cardiff, parts of London and even relative newcomer Brighton showing great enthusiasm. “With Glasgow side-lined due to a really fantastic Commonwealth Games,” continued Grove, “the possibilities are really open for Bradford to win yet again or a totally unsuspected city to receive the title for 2014”. “It is all down to the judges and those valuable public votes”. Brighton Team for 2014: Indian Summer, Chili Pickles, Bombay India and Ashoka. The restaurants will now be visited by one of the team of national judges to submit a report contributing to that cities aspirations of winning the title for 2014. The public can still show their support by voting for their city on vote@fedrest.com
BACKDOOR TAX Small companies face a ‘backdoor tax’ from insurance companies looking to recoup the cost of complying with a government cap on pension charges. The head of Royal London, Phil Loney, has launched a withering attack on the Government for grossly underestimating the cost to the industry of reducing charges on company pensions. It is estimated that the industry could be hit with a £1 billion bill over the next decade, five times the Governments £200m forecast. It is thought that insurers would look to claw back these costs by imposing charges on small companies as the Government crack down on rip-off pension charges which affect millions of savers, particularly those in older pension schemes. From next April, company pensions have to impose a maximum annual charge of 0.75%. Loney said smaller firms would bear the brunt of these new costs incurred by insurance companies. A threat if ever I’ve heard one!
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CITY news
“We generate fears while we sit. We overcome fear by action. Fear is natures way of warning us to get busy”
A PRICEY GHERKIN The iconic piece of London real estate is on the market for around £650m and has attracted huge interest from around the world. More than 200 prospective buyers have signed up to bid for the Gherkin after one of London’s most distinctive landmarks was put up for sale. The winning bidder is expected to pay at least £650m to secure the building in the capital’s Square Mile. The Norman Foster-designed tower is being sold for the second time in its 10-year history after its current owners, private equity firm Evans Randall and German property investor IVG, defaulted on a loan. Savills and Deloitte Real Estate were appointed to conduct the sale after the building went into receivership in April. Around 40% of the registered potential bidders are from Asia, according to Julian Stocks, head of UK markets at Deloitte Real Estate. He said: “Over 200 interested parties registered from all around the world. We will now be undertaking inspections and looking to move towards bidding in mid-September. I suspect there could be at least 100 institutions and ultra-high net worth investors who could bid.”
TOP TOURIST BUSINESS The historic Palace Pier in Brighton has been revealed as the top tourist destination outside of London. The seaside attraction boasted 4 million visitors in 2013 with only the Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, National Gallery and the British Museum attracting more nonpaying guests. The Grade ll listed Palace Pier, which was put up for sale in 2011 by owners The Noble Group but withdrawn after failing to attract a bidder, was the only attraction outside of the capital to appear in the top 12 most visited free attractions. One might then wonder why it didn’t sell. A mixture of an unrealistic asking price and the word ‘free’ attraction might have done it.
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HOW SECURE is your IT system? T
he world is under threat from a plague of computer viruses. A recent report by one internet security firm found that 160,000 types of virus are being developed daily. Another put the figure as high as 250,000…every day! Like hurricanes, the worst ones are often given names. And, again like hurricanes, they cause a huge amount of disruption and cost. Only a few months ago we had GameOver Zeus, which is believed to have infected thousands of computers in Britain, potentially costing companies and individuals in this country millions of pounds. GameOver Zeus followed another serious internet security flaw, dubbed ‘Heartbleed’ because of its potential to bleed protected data such as user names, passwords and banking
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information from encrypted systems. One estimate reckoned that half a million websites and two-thirds of all internet users were vulnerable to Heartbleed. No wonder it caused a bit of a panic! It shows how important cyber security management has become in a world increasingly reliant on digital technology to function. As individuals and business people, we all appreciate digital technology for the huge benefits it brings. But most of us are also aware of its vulnerability to being compromised either deliberately or accidentally. THE 2013 INFORMATION SECURITY BREACHES SURVEY REPORTED SOME STARTLING FACTS: • 87% of small businesses and 93% of large
organisations had suffered a security breach during the year. • The total cost of security breaches to UK businesses had roughly tripled in the last 12 months, with several individual breaches costing more than £1m and an overall bill running into billions. • 63% of small businesses had been attacked by an unauthorised outsider; 23% hit by denialof-service attacks; and 15% had detected that outsiders had penetrated their network. • 9% of small businesses had their intellectual property or confidential data stolen. • 57% of small businesses suffered staff-related security breaches. • The average cost to a small business of its worst security breach was between £35,000 and £65,000.
IT security
“Implementing a few basic steps can make a big difference in helping to protect your information assets and reduce the risks to your business and customers” THE RISKS COME IN MANY FORMS, FROM THE PROFESSIONAL CYBER-HACKER TO DATA THEFT BY A DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE. HOWEVER, THE BULK OF INFORMATION SECURITY ISSUES, WHILE EQUALLY DAMAGING, ARE FAR MORE MUNDANE. FOR EXAMPLE: • Hardware failure causing outages for missioncritical systems or corruption of invaluable business data. • Misuse of the company email and internet wasting valuable time. • Expensive litigation because inappropriate content is circulating in the office. Grappling with the technicalities of improving information security can be daunting for business leaders whose main expertise may lie outside IT. Consequently most SMEs only tackle the issue after suffering a costly security breach. The following are typical manifestations of the problem: “IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO US.” That’s probably what Nationwide thought just before a laptop containing 11 million unencrypted customer records was stolen from a manager’s house in a domestic burglary. What was this data doing offsite? And it’s not just the big corporates that suffer. As the Security Breaches survey shows, SMEs are just as likely to have their defences breached. “ALL OUR DATA IS BACKED UP.” Back-up and recovery of data and systems can be complex
and local IT may not readily admit weaknesses to senior leadership. Some businesses don’t back-up at all. Others use inadequate methods. Many back-ups exclude the business critical applications and user settings required to meaningfully access recovered data. Less than 50% even conduct regular documented recovery tests. Ignorance is not bliss. “WE HAVE AN INFORMATION SECURITY POLICY.” This didn’t stop a government report marked “Terrorist assessment of Iraq, Al-Quaeda Vulnerabilities, CLASSIFIED UK TOP SECRET” being left on a train seat in Waterloo Station. To be useful, a policy must be strictly followed and regularly updated. “OUR COMPUTERS ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED.” THE TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY USED PASSWORDS INCLUDE “PASSWORD” “LETMEIN” AND “123456”. Others, such as family names and birthdays are easily guessed. Telecoms and IT equipment normally ships with standard manufacturer’s passwords; often the default is not changed. Modern techniques require only a couple of minutes to break weak passwords. “ALL OUR IT IS IN ‘THE CLOUD’.” Outsourcing IT to a third party provider can offer real benefits. But PWC research found that 58% of small businesses simply assume their third party partners’ security measures are adequate without ever actually checking. This is a real concern given the increasing use of externallyhosted systems and data.
CONTACT: EMC Management Consultants Ltd, Rochester House, 48 Rochester Gardens, Hove BN3 3AW
So, having said all that, how sure are you that you are doing enough to keep the cyber thieves at bay? The old adage that ‘prevention is better than cure’ has never been more relevant. That’s one of the reasons why EMC has introduced a Cyber Security Review service designed to help local businesses to identify any weak spots in their defences and recommend how they can best be shored up. Implementing a few basic steps can make a big difference in helping to protect your information assets. We visit your premises to test how well your current practises measure up. Once we’ve analysed all the findings, we return to present our report to your directors and senior managers. AMONG THE THINGS THE REVIEW COVERS ARE: • Loss of data through systems failure and/or data corruption • Infection by viruses or malicious software • Theft and fraud involving computers • Other computer misuse by staff • Unauthorised access by outsiders including hackers • Issues with home and remote working You shouldn’t need any further incentive to do something about ensuring your data is fully protected, but just in case you’re still not convinced, the first five people who book a review, quoting ‘Platinum Business’ when making the appointment by phone or email, will get it at half the normal price - £850+VAT instead of the usual £1,695+VAT, give me a call today.
Jon Green, Technology Team Tel: 01273 945984 • Mob: 07582 737870. Email: jon.green@emcltd.co.uk Web: www.emcltd.co.uk
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BEAUTIFUL homes We believe that effective networking is all about relationship building in a relaxed and informal environment and The Platinum Club provides the ideal platform for companies both large and small, to come together for an enjoyable evening in the luxurious surroundings of The Grand Hotel Brighton.
“ ”
Don’t just take our word for it, here is what some of our members have to say
Let me tell you that the Platinum Club “ is no ordinary networking club. For anyone who is tired of run-of-the-mill networking events I would suggest you try the Platinum Club. John Healy – Healy’s LLP
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The Platinum Club is all that networking should be, but so “ rarely is. Newcomers need never feel nervous as the evenings are hosted in impeccable style and all are made welcome with effortless introductions to useful new contacts. If you attend only one networking event, make sure it’s the Platinum Club! Sophia Lee-Spencer, CEO, Callisto Associates
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The platinum club has proved an excellent forum to network “ with good calibre business contacts, many of which have led to both opportunities and friendships. It’s always an enjoyable and high quality event. This is down to the rigour with which it is managed, run and hosted. It’s one of the highlights of my Amanda Menahem - Hastings Direct business calendar!
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We have recently become members of The Platinum Club “ where we have met great people and even gained new clients already. I would highly recommend The Platinum Club if you are looking to meet new businesses, in a relaxed and friendly environment. Becky Sharp – Harvey John Recruitment
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I would recommend the Platinum Club “ as a fantastic way to meet new contacts in a relaxed evening of networking with a great location! Good spread of Companies and make you feel at home! Tony Rice – Coulsdon Audi
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The Platinum Club is undoubtedly one “ of the most prestigious networking groups I have attended. The meetings are vibrant and positive and we leave the events with a spring in our step, pleased we made the commitment to attend. Denise Buchan – Classic Consulting
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Platinum events are always so well “ organised and attended by the right people.” Keith Jackman – Mercedes-Benz
Call: 07966 244046 • e-mail: info@theplatinumclubbrighton.co.uk • web: www.theplatinumclubbrighton.co.uk
NETWORKING
“Running a business without networking is a bit like winking at someone in the dark. You know you are doing it but no one else does”
NETWORKING
Pain or Pleasure
Some folk see networking as a chore that is not really required in business whilst others see it a vital component to the health and wealth of their firm. If you are in the first camp, then I have to say that you are utterly wrong and will pay the price in the long term
N
etworking is as important as breathing to any business but even more so to young, start-up firms that need all the friends they can get. A smart Alex once said that running a business without networking is a bit like winking at someone in the dark. You know you are doing it but no one else does. There is little point in creating a great product or service if no one knows about it. Sure, you can do some marketing but that can be expensive and who knows if you are reaching the right audience. Choose the right networking group and you hit all the right people, every month, for a tenth of the cost of marketing or PR. But the key here is choosing the right group. So many people become disillusioned by networking as they fail to do their homework to ensure that the group is right for their business and, just as importantly, ensure that they will enjoy the group. Of course its business but so many people underestimate the importance of being personally comfortable in the group, as it is only then that people get to see the real you and you feel comfortable enough to tell
your ‘business story’ to the best of your ability. Another major fault is the perceived need to sell. Networking is most certainly not about selling. It is about meeting people, taking time to get to know each other and over time becoming a part of their business network whereby they might use or recommend your service. It is about long-term relationship building and enjoyment. We all have ridiculously busy lives these days and if you are going to carve out time in the evening to network make it enjoyable or it becomes a chore. And there’s another thing – timing. Personally, and l am fully aware that some will disagree, networking breakfasts are a nightmare and l will never attend. Who on earth is ready to relax and casually extol their company merits at 8 o’clock in the morning before running off to the office to start the day. The best networking events takes place in the evening, just after work and are a joy to attend and meet up with old friends and relax after a busy day. My own story started with the frustration that l couldn’t find an existing group where l
felt comfortable, for a myriad of reasons, and felt the only way forward was to create my own group. The Platinum Club was born, in association with the Grand Hotel, four years ago and is still the premier networking group in the City and, with a 98% member renewal rate, it would appear that many agree. It is essentially a relaxed cocktail party attended by an eclectic array of diverse business leaders at a beautiful location. Over the years, members have become firm friends, conducted an extraordinary amount of business and we even have a few relationships that were born from PC events. There are countless networking events throughout the City and next month l will attempt the Herculean task of listing them but do your homework, commit to attending every meeting possible and don’t try to sell your business – you might be surprised at the results. Maarten Hoffmann, CEO, The Platinum Club. info@theplatinumclubbrighton.co.uk
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BEAUTIFUL homes
Platinum Business Magazine is a new business publication for Sussex. Highly informative, totally relevant and a jolly good read – if you are in business in the county, you cannot be without THE voice of business in Sussex. The latest digital issue can be found here: http://issuu.com/platinumbusiness/docs/platinum-business-magazine-issue-5/0 And if you would like to receive a print copy, contact ian@platinumbusinessmagazine.com
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Plus: NatWest Funding Guide Personal Finance Guide International Trade Legal Issues Accountancy Marketing Commercial Property Business Travel Editorial Opinion Expert Panel Networking Motoring
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CREDIT score
TOP 10 CREDIT MYTHS
Experian have published the top ten myths about credit agencies: MYTH 1: PREVIOUS OCCUPANTS OF YOUR ADDRESS AFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING It makes no difference if the previous occupant of your home was a millionaire or bankrupt. You will not find their name on your credit report unless you share a financial connection with them, such as a joint account. Lenders are only interested in your financial details, plus those of anyone you’re financially linked to. They do like to see stability, though, so they will want to know your previous addresses.
could count against you as lenders may think that you will miss payments with them too.
MYTH 2: CREDIT REFERENCE AGENCIES MAKE LENDING DECISIONS Credit reference agencies compile and hold your credit report securely - Experian is the UK’s largest. They don’t make decisions; that’s up to lenders, who check the information in your report along with other information such as items from your application. Most will then use this information to calculate your credit score, to help them decide whether to offer credit.
MYTH 5: YOU COULD BE ON A CREDIT BLACKLIST Blacklists don’t exist and your credit rating doesn’t take account of your race, ethnic origin, religion or gender. Some factors that lenders do consider include your repayment history and how much you already owe. They want to be sure that you aren’t taking on more credit than you can comfortably manage.
MYTH 8: IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY CREDIT ACCOUNTS YOU HAVE Lenders want to be sure that you can afford more credit, so they prefer it if you don’t already owe large amounts on multiple accounts. They can also favour customers who aren’t heavily reliant on the credit they already have. So, try to keep your regular borrowing on cards to less than 25% of your credit limits if you can.
MYTH 6: FRIENDS AND FAMILY LIVING IN YOUR HOME AFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING Unless you share a financial connection with any of them — for example, a joint mortgage — friends and family have no direct impact on your credit rating. Just living with someone doesn’t create a financial connection. If you do have a financial connection with someone, lenders may look at their credit report as well as yours when you apply for new credit, as their circumstances could affect
MYTH 9: YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CREDIT SCORE Each lender uses a unique method to calculate credit scores and some use a different formula for different products, such as loans and credit cards. So you could get three different credit scores if you made three applications in a single day, even to the same lender. Your credit history and score also change as your circumstances change; missing a few repayments could lower your score, while paying off a debt could give it a boost.
MYTH 3: PAST DEBTS DON’T COUNT Unfortunately past debts do count. Court judgments for non-payment of debts, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and bankruptcies stay on your credit report for at least six years. Even a missed repayment on something like a credit card is recorded on your report for at least six years. Any of these
MYTH 4: IF YOU’VE NEVER BORROWED, YOU’LL GET THE BEST DEALS If you’ve never borrowed, lenders have no way of predicting how reliable you’ll be in the future and may even reject you. Most of them would rather see a credit report showing a few well-managed loans or cards and regular repayments.
your ability to make repayments. MYTH 7: REPAYING YOUR CREDIT CARDS IN FULL LOWERS YOUR CREDIT SCORE This is nonsense - in fact, you’re likely to get a better credit score, because it shows you can afford your borrowing. You’re more likely to get a lower score if you miss payments, make just minimum repayments on your cards or borrow right up to your credit limits.
MYTH 10: ITEMS IN YOUR CREDIT HISTORY STAY ON FILE FOREVER Your credit report is designed to give lenders a decent picture of your recent and current financial position — they’re not interested in seeing that a 40 year old missed a few repayments when they were 21 because it has no relevance to their likely behaviour today. Most information about your credit history is therefore held for around six years. www.experian.co.uk
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SOCIAL event
LADIES WHO GOLF
Portfolio publisher Lynne Edwards joins three other businesswomen at Mid Sussex Golf Course
I
t is unusual to encounter many women who play golf, so it was surprising to find 3 like-minded businesswomen at the recent Platinum Club. Members Sarah Hopwood, Business Consultant and international speaker, Fiona Anderson, Nat West, Senior Relationship Manager and Natalie Page of Page Marketing and I got chatting about our passion for golf and suddenly the Portfolio ladies Fourball was born. At the end of this first meeting in the summer we had already planned our first game. Our chosen venue was Mid Sussex Golf Course, where I knew we would get a warm welcome. Indeed the Pro, Lee Andrews has introduced some great corporate offers and other initiatives to tempt us to use the club and also companies to use for guests and staff incentives. Although we ventured out the day following a prolonged wet period, the course was in great condition, with only a few wet bunkers. We were of fairly mixed abilities with handicaps ranging from 23 – 32, so the course was ideal for our group as it is easy to walk, scenic, but
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definitely poses some interesting challenges. There are some great par 4 holes, several with strategically placed water hazards, like the 14th which to my mind is the hardest on the course, and some tricky par 3s. Oh, and bunkers – lots of bunkers! It’s fair to say we left some of our favourite yellow and pink balls in various lesser seen parts of the course and Sarah in particular earned her nickname ‘Bunker Babe’ after she eventually lost count of the sand traps she found. At the end of the day her right arm apparently hurt more from the raking than from her enviable golf swing. Fiona, who is a member of a local golf course plays more than the rest of us, squeezing in a quick 9 holes after work most weeks, but it was Natalie who, as the least experienced member of the group, finished on a high with a 5 on the last, and is now a true convert to the game. The Mid Sussex clubhouse offers some of the best post-golf food in Sussex with an extensive menu of hearty but beautifully prepared meals delivered quickly and efficiently - which is a
priority after 4 hours on the course. The club itself has undergone major refurbishment in recent years, particularly improving the pro shop and restaurant which now offers a comfortable dining experience. There is also a lovely sun terrace with Downland views. Lee and his team are always on hand to help with individual tips and lessons, and with a club fitting service, great driving range and practice facilities it all adds up to a great golfing experience. As with most lady golfers, for me the day was more about getting to know each other, doing business, having a great game of golf and lovely lunch, and less about who won, so we happily tore up the score cards. Maybe next time it will all be very different, however! If you or your company would like to be featured in our on course golf interview please contact Lynne lynne@portfoliopublications.co.uk
SOCIAL event
“It’s fair to say we left some of our favourite yellow and pink balls in various lesser seen parts of the course!” Mid Sussex Golf course is an 18 hole golf course. Par 72 for Ladies at 5404 yards and Par 71 for Men at 6045 yards They also have a ‘short course’ which is a great way of getting more beginners, ladies and juniors onto the golf course. This is now branching out into ‘footgolf’ a cross between golf and football. Contact the club for more information at www.midsussexgolfclub.co.uk
WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF MID SUSSEX GOLF CLUB? They have introduced some great initiatives to join the club in a variety of packages to suit all players Including a Green Fee cheque book which allows you to give your customers, clients and staff a free round of golf. Each cheque book allows 20 round of golf (face value £600) and will only cost you £400, making each round only £20 each. Vouchers are valid for a year from purchase and further discounts may apply. For more options contact Lee Andrews at lee@midsussexgolfclub.co.uk
SPECIAL OFFER FOR ALL PORTFOLIO READERS 1 x hour computerised golf lesson 1 x hour short game lesson 1 x two hour playing lesson This is usually £170; from now until the end of the year they are offering this at £120 and this can also be bought as a voucher as a gift. This offer is from Lee Andrews – PGA Professional and General manager
SARAH HOPWOOD EQ (emotional intelligence) is about managing the relationship we have with others and ourselves. In business leadership IQ is well established. The significance of EQ (Emotional Quotient) is also a key component of both great leadership and sustainable business results, yet not as well recognised in many organisations. Sarah works with organisations wishing to harness the power of EQ in developing the potential of their leaders. She now also has a regular column in Platinum Business Magazine. www.sarahhopwood.com
NATALIE PAGE Page Marketing was established in 2005 providing Marketing services to businesses in Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Director, Natalie Page has worked with over 150 businesses, from start ups to companies with up to 250 employees, in a wide range of industries, including building and construction, professional services, retail, IT and manufacturing. Natalie has helped them to grow and take advantage of the fantastic benefits that well-planned and properly implemented strategic marketing campaigns both online and offiline, can bring. www.page-marketing.co.uk
FIONA ANDERSON Fiona has over 12 years experience with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in Invoice Finance and Commercial Banking. Having worked on a project in London for the past 2 years, fiona has recently returned to the Commercial banking team in Brighton where her role includes managing a small portfolio of SME customers, developing strong relationships with professionals and looking for new business prospects around Brighton and Hove. Contact Fiona on 01273 545145
PORTFOLIO 75
BUSINESS lunch
GARS CHINESE RESTAURANT City Editor Maarten Hoffmann samples the Chinese delights at Gars in Brighton
C
hinese food is one of my all-time favourites and having had a sublime Chinese meal in Hong Kong some years back, l felt l was probably spoiled for life. Therefore, when l decided to review a Chinese restaurant, a certain amount of trepidation set in. Gars has been part of the Brighton landscape for over 30 years and is as bigger part of Brighton living as the Pavilion, the Pier and guys in frocks. The owner, surprisingly enough called Gar, known to all as Porky for some odd reason as he is not the slighted bit porky, is a superb host who welcomes every guest personally and knows all his regulars by their first name, and their kids, and their business and their likes and dislikes. This will be a major reason why he has been around for so long and why so many of the City’s great and good still go there. We started with a selection of appetisers that included Salt & Chilli fried Squid, Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay and steamed Pork Dumplings and looking at my notes, l can see l just wrote ahhhh! This was due to the fact that l was very busy devouring the food with indecent haste and to be frank, my only response was ahhhh. It was all fabulous – light, tasty and beautifully presented and at £26 for three, it was damn fine value too and set off with a selection of dipping sauces.
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BUSINESS lunch
“My motor was running now and l was keen for more. And more is exactly what l got”
My motor was running now and l was keen for more. And more is exactly what l got – it just kept coming and each dish outdid the last. The sizzling Fillet steak with black pepper and soy sauce (£13) needed no knife, as it was succulent and tender, the roast Pork Belly served with pak choi (£10) was crispy and full of flavour and the fillet of Seabass steamed in ginger and spring onion (£14) was a triumph (for me if not for the poor Seabass). This was followed by an oddity – Lamb Hotpot (£12). Aromatic Lamb shank hotpot in star anise and ginger – it was very good indeed but l am not sure l have ever had Hotpot in a Chinese restaurant before – maybe l should get out more! This was all topped with excellent Singapore Noodles (£7). The restaurant itself looks tiny from the outside but over the years, Gar has expanded over the shops next door and now it is a large three story site with great service and pleasing décor. Most people have a tendency to eat so much Chinese takeaway that it is easy to forget what ‘real’ Chinese cuisine is all about but a visit to Gars will set you straight. It is as it should be – light, full of flavour with constant little surprises, and dish descriptions that make you want to eat far more than you should. I waddled out of the front door with a very satisfied grin on my face and know that there is only one ‘real’ Chinese restaurant in Brighton. I think l need a lie down.
GARS CHINESE RESTAURANT 19 Prince Albert Street Brighton BN1 1HF 01273 321321 www.gars.co.uk
BEAUTIFUL homes
HORIZON BRIGHTER for the south’s tourism & leisure industry
By Nathan Keeley Head of the Tourism & Leisure sector at Carpenter Box
A
round one third of staff working in guest houses, hotels, restaurants and pubs are now employed on zero hours contracts, according to the latest Travel & Tourism Survey conducted by West Sussex-based chartered accountants and tax advisers, Carpenter Box, in conjunction with MHA, the UK-wide association of chartered accountants and business advisory firms. Yet, despite the flexibility that this arrangement offers employers, well over 60% of these staff regularly work 20 hours or more – with more than three quarters of these routinely employed for 40 hours per week. The survey paints a picture of the industry in the South starting to benefit from an upturn in trading conditions, with 56% reporting improved profitability in the last 12 months and 58% predicting that 2014 will be better still. However, 50% cited turnover either stagnant or growing by less than 5% over the last 12 months. The travel and tourism sector is emerging from a sustained period of low growth, but with discretionary spending improving across the economy as a whole, the hope is that – weather
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permitting – the year ahead will see the return of profitability capable of supporting future investment plans. One indicator of this growing confidence is the number of employees working extended hours on zero hours contracts – this sector was always going to be an adopter of this employment option, but the numbers working what might be considered a ‘standard’ working week suggest that this arrangement is working for both parties. In line with other regions across the UK, almost a quarter of the operators in the South covered by the survey look set to increase
“One indicator of the growing confidence is the number of employees working extended hours on zero hours contracts” investment this year in premises refurbishment, while 16% will be spending more on marketing – particularly social media – to support business development. Online bookings increased for 62% of respondents in the last 12 months, although 46% still say they see little or
no benefit in engagement with Facebook and Twitter etc. Those that are active use social networks for loyalty schemes, responding to customer queries and brand building. For a sector so reliant upon personal service and positive communication, there is perhaps a surprising reluctance among a significant minority to embrace the social media era, particularly when the volume of bookings being made online is increasing year-on-year. This sector is also focused on the green agenda, with 82% having environmental policies in place. That said, the vast majority said they had no plans to introduce energy efficiency measures such as solar arrays or biomass boilers – and 40% were not even aware of the tax breaks offered for such investments. Perhaps the recent challenging economic environment has pushed investment in this area down the agenda, but it is certainly worth operators noting that with the increased Annual Investment Allowance now standing at £500,000 until December 2015, this could be a good time for companies to think seriously about capital expenditure. Not only will this provide financial benefit – it will also enhance the brand appeal to consumers who are becoming increasingly conscious of environmental issues. The 2014 Travel & Tourism Survey findings are based on the detailed responses of 153 hotels, pubs, restaurants, B&Bs and guest houses operating across the UK.
Hotels are missing out on thousands of tax relief! Hotels are just one of many UK businesses which often have unclaimed capital allowances. As a result, many hotels could be owed hundreds or even thousands of pounds by the tax man. Owners or leaseholders of a hotel could be entitled to claim tax relief for the cost of its fixtures and fittings; kitchen and bathroom fittings, central heating and lifts are all areas where this can apply. Going forward it is important to involve a tax adviser prior to purchase; for those with existing properties, retrospective claims can still be made. At Carpenter Box we have a complete understanding of the tax system which allows us to maximise the tax relief for your individual circumstances. You could enjoy a tax refund, a reduction in your future liability, or both. We have been able to identify over ÂŁ1m of expenditure that qualified for Capital Allowance tax relief in the last two years. The largest amount claimed for one of our clients in the hospitality business amounted to over ÂŁ182,000 of expenditure across their sites that qualified for capital allowances. Many hotels are simply not aware of what they could be claiming for and Carpenter Box is, therefore, happy to undertake a free initial consultation and assess whether or not they can make a claim. In addition, any fees charged are contingent on a successful claim being made so there is no risk to clients in pursuing a potential claim.
For further information please contact Carpenter Box on 01903 234094 or e-mail tax@carpenterbox.com.
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Dreams can come true... BEAUTIFUL homes
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Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Mercedes-Benz range: urban 13.0(21.7) - 68.9(4.1), extra urban 23.9(11.8)-85.6(3.3), combined 19.8(14.3)-74.3(3.8). CO2 emissions 334-98 g/km.
*Business Users only. Advance payment applies. All payments subject to VAT: Finance based on a Contract Hire agreement, 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges may apply. Rental includes Road Fund Licence for the contract duration (6 months+35 months for all models shown, excluding the E-Class E-Class Saloon and Estate which are based on a 1+35 agreement). Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Lookers Mercedes-Benz 80 broker. PORTFOLIO act as a credit Please be aware that failure to meet payments may affect your credit rating. Orders/credit approved between 1 July and 30 September 2014 and registered by 30 September 2014. Subject to availability, offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Credit provided subject to status by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited, MK15 8BA.
SOCIAL event
Andrew Cheesman and Justin Williams
Dean Orgill, Andy Cheeseman, Maarten Hoffmann and Ian Trevett
The Brighton Visitor Magazine Launch
Dean Orgill and Gemma King
Karen Miles and Clarence Mitchell
Julia Claxton and Justin Williams
Simon Maguire of Hotel du Vin hosted a great party for the re-launch of the Brighton Visitor Magazine recently. Now in the capable hands of Andy Cheesman and Justin Williams, the new look magazine contains everything visitors to Brighton could possibly need and with the print run of 50,000, there is sure to be no shortage of copies. We wish good luck to Andy and Justin in their exciting new venture. www.brightonvistor.com
Jessica Ramy, Steve Darby, Millie Lang and Olivia Asicen
Steve Darby, Sarah Hopwood and Maarten Hoffmann
Tim and Sue Cobb
PORTFOLIOâ&#x20AC;&#x2021; 81
MERCEDES SL65 AMG motoring
THE BEHEMOTH AWAITS Mercedes Benz is a word synonymous with quality, style and performance and having owned many of them in my time, I approve of Stuttgart’s efforts. I had a glorious 250SE and an SL500 from the 70’s of which l have fond memories – not quite so of the hugely collectable 540K that l once parked in a Paris underground car park that flooded – that car now would be worth £8 million – l think l feel a little faint!
T
hen, be still my beating heart, Mercedes call and ask if l would like to join them at Mercedes Benz World and try out their new jet fighter – the SL65 AMG. I thought about this for 1.2 seconds and then made my way out of the door like a scalded cat and left considerable rubber on the driveway. I arrive in Weybridge to the home of the old Brooklands Track, now replaced with Mercs own
much smaller track, and after the customary effuse greeting from their professional staff along with endless tables of food and drink, before l know it Charles has tossed me the keys and casually mentioned that when l got tired of the roads l could take to the track! I think l might of have died and gone to heaven. The SL has always been a beautiful car right from its birth in 1954 and derives from the
“It looks beautiful, smells beautiful and you just know that this twin turbo 6.0 litre V12 is about to try and rip your face off”
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German Sport Leicht or Sport Lightweight and the moniker was first applied to the gorgeous 300SL Gullwing. AMG is Mercedes tuning division and it’s always a good sign when you see that badge but in this instance they have excelled. It looks beautiful, smells beautiful and you just know that this twin turbo 6.0 litre V12 is about to try and rip your face off. Pulling out onto the A3, l
MERCEDES SL65 AMG motoring
am enamoured by the superb leather seats, the air scarf that wafts warm air on my neck and the quiet threat that emanates from the burbling hunk of metal under the bonnet. To be honest, the A3 went past in a blur, as all 621bhp was unleashed by my right foot and the smooth rapidity of the 7-speed auto is astonishing. 60mph came in less than 4 seconds, 125mph in 11 seconds and warp speed a second or two later. This is a very dangerous car as the speed comes on so fast and so smoothly that by the time you’ve noticed, you’re in front of the beak and facing 6 months! I think I’m in love. It purrs along at traffic speed in total silence and with the manners of an 18th Courtesan, ensuring that you are lured into a false sense of security. But one irreverent blip of the pedal and your world turns upside down. The traction control dashboard light can easily be made to introduce itself at 80mph. In the dry! With little effort! And an insane smirk. The profile and huge rubber at each corner means that there is zero roll in corners and just
to ensure you feel tip top to push on, the seat bolsters electronically squeeze you into the seat as you put the power on. Not sure l like that, as it is very disconcerting but it certainly works to fix you to the seat back. It seems churlish to mention fuel economy but you will struggle to better 20mpg in real world driving but honestly, if you have just forked out £168,285 in cold blood, l doubt you give a monkeys about the cost of the fuel but at full Autobahn chat, the number of refuelling stops would get old quite quickly. The folding roof is a piece of engineering art in itself and there is very little wind noise and although the stowed roof limits the luggage space, it’ll do an overnight for two quite comfortably. I sat there for a few minutes pressing the roof up and down and watched in awe at what is an engineering ballet performance like no other. Enough said, now back through the gates and into the track control area awaiting my clearance to wring the neck out of it. The waved hand appears and l let it rip and l have to say that to a petrol head, this is about as much fun
as you can have with your clothes on. Doesn’t matter what speed you arrive at the corner, it refuses to over steer and has such incredible grip that it seems to defy physics. The balance and sheer devastating brute force is a thing to behold and just goes to prove that decade after decade, the Germans are the finest automobile manufacturers on the planet and by this example, they will remain aloft for many years to come. Now becalmed with the behemoth powered down in the car park, l must say that as awesome as this thing is, it would be difficult to justify an increase of £84,000 over the ‘standard’ excellent 4.7 V8 SL500 that offers almost everything you get in the 65, bar the top end acceleration and a bit of grunt – that’s 50% more and it will be a rare breed that parts with that wad, but whichever one you choose, sell the kids, rent out the wife, flog a kidney or mortgage your granny, but BUY one of these or at the very least, drive one of these before you die. You’ll thank me! Motoring Review: Maarten Hoffmann
TECHNICAL STUFF: Price: £168.250.00 Speed: 0-60 4.0 secs Top: 155mph (limited) Power: 621bhp Economy: 24.4mpg
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BEAUTIFUL homes
Want to shake things up? Visit rixandkay.co.uk/careers or follow us @RixandKayLaw #timetomakeyourmark
84â&#x20AC;&#x2021; PORTFOLIO
GRADUATE skills gap
IS THERE A GRADUtATE SKILLS GAP?
With such a broad range of recruiters and graduates in the UK it is impossible to give a definitive yes or no to this question. Every situation is different By Dan Hawes
T
he skills for a Computer Programmer will be vastly different to one for a Sales Executive and the candidates available for these roles will vary greatly and not appreciating this basic premise is where many recruiters slip up. It is only upon closer inspection that you can start to identify why employers are struggling to find the graduates they need. For technical roles there is indeed a shortage of people studying STEM subjects (only 7% of the student population) whereas in Law there is an oversupply of able talent. This first step of identifying the likely market for your vacancies is only the start of a long list of other factors you need to consider. This can inevitably compound the problem for recruiters seeking a limited supply of graduate talent and paralyse their attempts. Careful consideration therefore needs to be made when recruiting graduates taking in the following factors; The competition from other employers – Competition is fierce especially for this season. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), representing 700 traditional graduate recruiters, they are planning on hiring 22,076 graduates this year. Remember competition may not just be from your sector but also from other countries. Low awareness of company and roles –
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Many companies can go under the radar for graduates if they are not advertised widely on campus. Timing of their recruitment campaigns – Many recruiters have rolling recruitment campaigns to catch graduates before, during and after their time at University. Leaving your campaign until the summer can seriously reduce your talent pool. Many recruiters underestimate the time and cost to do this. Perceptions and reputation of their industry – Banking and finance have found this particularly challenging whereas Charities have ridden a wave of good publicity. What are the positive aspects about your sector? Influences from friends, family, lecturers and parents – Do not underestimate the complexity of how the career decision making process works. Peer pressure, parental pressure and financial pressure make graduates act in mysterious ways when choosing their first job! Location of the role – For the majority of graduates all roads lead to London making it extremely hard for recruiters to hire outside the capital. What can you “sell” about your location? Salary and benefits – According to the AGR the average graduate salary is £27,000. This varies by sector with Investment Banking
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at £43,500 and Public Sector at £23,700. Think carefully how you pitch your salary to graduates. Training offered – With the right training an employer can not only attract good candidates but increase the chances of retention. If you can showcase graduates who have gone through the training this will resonate with potential applicants. Career progression – Gen Y are an ambitious lot who want to succeed in their careers. Give them room to grow. Without proper research employers may be under the illusion it is straightforward to hire a graduate from the 400,000 entering the market every summer but you’d be wrong. It is far more complex than meets the eye. It is easy to blame Universities for not producing work ready graduates but that isn’t the case. Over the last 17 years working closely with the UKs top Universities GRB see many exceptional students and graduates. “Why can’t I find them then?!” may be the response I hear you say but recruiting graduates can be challenging. With a better understanding of the student and graduate market place you can identify talent and the investment will be well worth it.
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E: d.hawes@grb.uk.com T: 01273 200411 W: www.grb.uk.com PORTFOLIO 85
EDUCATION news
EDUCATION NEWS A CRATE OF FUN Year 9 pupils at Hurstpierpoint College visited Broadstone Warren as part of their induction to the Senior School. The pupils took part in ten outdoor activities and team building exercises at the Scout Site and Activity Centre in the Ashdown Forest on Friday 5th September. The activities included archery, climbing and abseiling down a 10 metre high tower, navigating their way around a rope assault course and balancing on the ‘cube course’. They also took on a challenge which involved building a tower of crates whilst standing on them. Some pupils navigated their way through a series of underground pipes in the dark, the widest of which is only 18 inches in diameter. Others took part in the Leap of Faith, where they were required to climb up a 10 metre pole before jumping from the top to reach a suspended trapeze bar. Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator, Fred Simkins, said “The day was designed to help the pupils get to know one another, build their team working skills and improve their confidence. All the Shell pupils took part and I am pleased that everyone took to the tasks with such determination and enthusiasm.”
WILD ABOUT JUNG CHANG
Photo credit: Jon Halliday
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International best-selling author Jung Chang is to give a talk about her latest book when she visits Brighton College on October 30. The Chinese author made her name with her novel Wild Swans which sold 10 million copies worldwide, despite being banned in her homeland, and exposed the brutal hardships endured by women in China over the last century. Dr Chang followed up that book with the publication of a biography of Chairman Mao and last year published Empress Dowager Cixi, the story of a 16-year-old concubine who went on to become absolute ruler of China until her death in 1908, her reign a compelling mix of reform and violent suppression. Tickets for Dr Chang’s talk, in which she will discuss Empress Dowager Cixi, are on sale to
the public through Brighton Prep School office (email prepoffice@brightoncollege.net or 01273 704210) priced £10 for adults and £5 for children. All proceeds from the event, which will be staged in Brighton College’s Great Hall at 7pm, will go to the four organisations that Brighton College Prep School supports: children’s charities Rockinghorse, Whoopsadaisy and The Garden Route Children’s Trust as well as Facial Palsy UK. Brighton College headmaster Richard Cairns said: “It is a great honour to welcome Dr Chang to the school. Our boys and girls start learning Mandarin from the age of 5 including the study of the rich culture and history of China. Her visit here could thus not be more apt. ” www.brightoncollege.org.uk
EDUCATION news
LONG HAUL HOCKEY Students from Hurstpierpoint College went on a Hockey tour to Singapore, Australia and Malaysia where they played against local schools, took part in an International Hockey Festival and visited world famous attractions. The thirty-three students started their tour in Singapore where they played in the Delta Stadium and won all their games. Whilst on tour in Singapore the students had the opportunity to visit the world’s most expensive building, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel which has a ship on the roof, Merlion Park and the Buda Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Over the border in Malaysia the teams played at the Jahor Daya National Stadium against the Bandar Penanwar School U21 Academy teams. The students then travelled to Melbourne, Australia where they took part in the EDST International Hockey Festival at Melbourne Grammar School. The boys won 4-3 against the top school in Perth for hockey, Wesley College, which included three players in the Australian Junior squads. The girls played against Geelong Grammar School and won
5-0 and played Haileybury High School in an exciting match where conditions were cold and rainy and they narrowly lost by one goal. A highlight for the boys was meeting Ric Charlesworth, former Hockey player and coach for the Australian men’s national hockey team the Kookaburras. Mr Charlesworth gave the boys the opportunity to hold the Hockey ockey HoWorld Cup trophy which had been presented to his team that fortnight. In Kuala Lumpur the students visited the Batu caves where there are monkeys running freely and the Petronas Twin Towers which boasts the world’s highest two-story bridge. They also took a tour of the Olympic Park in Melbourne, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sports museum, Melbourne Zoo and watched an AFL game at the Etihad stadium. The tour ended with a surfing lesson on the best white sand surf beach in the world, Scarborough beach in Perth. Mrs Towler commented, “It was a highly successful tour with all players developing in both ability and confidence. The camaraderie between the boys and girls was evident
throughout. They were a credit to the College and it was a privilege to be with them on the tour.” www.hppc.co.uk
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BEAUTIFUL homes
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CELEBRITY interview
PHIL SPENCER’S PROPERTY DREAMS Location, Location, Location presenter Phil Spencer talks to Portfolio Magazine about the state of the property market and his own dream home
L
ike many of TV’s top double acts, Phil and Kirsty are so familiar to us that they don’t even need second names. Their property search show Location, Location, Location is now on its twentieth series and most of us trust their house buying advice more than our own estate agent’s. Whereas Kirsty can be a whirlwind presence both on and off screen, Phil is the measured voice of reason that is often the calm in the middle of the storm. Ever since he set himself up as a property finder in 1996, carefully considered property investment has been the name of his game.
PORTFOLIO 89
CELEBRITY interview
“The only way of adding value to a house is making it bigger or better”
Underneath the easy-going personality and immaculate clobber that make Spencer such a perfect fit for light entertainment - not to mention a favourite with the ladies - lurks a ruthless edge. You don’t become a prominent property expert just by being nice, and Spencer has firm views on the state of the housing market. There aren’t many people who believe that the ‘property bubble’ is “an urban myth”, but Spencer is the exception to the rule. “The use of the world ‘bubble’ implies that it could pop and I don’t agree,” he says. “Arguably, the price rises that were taking place earlier in the summer cannot continue. The market was as busy as I’ve ever seen it but that doesn’t mean it’s all going to come crumbling down. The spring is traditionally the busiest time of the year and it happened this year. Then the statistics revealed that the market slowed down in the summer, but that was bound to happen. What he will admit, is that “there’s a real housing shortage, with total numbers of people in relation to total numbers of properties not matching up. We are not building enough houses.” It concerns him that “ever since I followed these statistics I don’t remember a single year where enough houses have been built to meet the government target” but says that there isn’t a simple solution. “We do need to build more, but it doesn’t happen overnight. And we also need to build more of what we want, precisely where we need properties. There has been a tendency in the past just to
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build units and put them up. But if you don’t have the jobs, the schools, the sewage and the rest of a community infrastructure, then that’s not a clever thing to do.” As Spencer sees it, there are wider social issues that need to be considered when thinking about property. “What troubles me is that we are all living longer, leaving home earlier, divorcing more often and we’ve got immigration to factor in. All those things point to an increase in demand for housing, but we’re dealing with things like the time delay between developments getting planning permission to go ahead and actually arriving on the market to satisfy demand. Sometimes that can take years.” Spencer himself has been a victim of the vagaries of the housing market and its intrinsic link with economic circumstance: his company, Garrington Home Finders Ltd, went into liquidation in 2009 as the financial crash took its toll. But he still believes that getting on the housing ladder is beneficial to all and that he “would encourage anyone to do whatever they can to get on the ladder; I’m a firm believer in home ownership. Rents are rising and you’re better off being in your own home and paying off your own mortgage rather than paying off someone else’s through rent.” For those already with mortgages, Spencer also has some guidance on how to make some cash back. “I’d encourage them to look for opportunities to add value to their properties. Don’t rely on the market doing that for you. I believe the market will rise in the long term,
but in order to generate equity and to help fund a second move you need to beat the market, to outperform the market and the only way of adding value to a house is making it bigger or better.” With houses in south London and his hometown of Kent, Spencer is also looking to add to his own personal portfolio. “I do holiday in Cornwall in Polzeath in May and I adore that. I love visiting Scotland, too. I’m an outdoorsy person so I love being in the fresh air.” And as someone who has dedicated his life to finding other people their dream home, Spencer has an exact vision of his own fantasy property. “My dream house would be very symmetrical, Queen Anne style house. It wouldn’t be massive and there wouldn’t be lots of room but the rooms would be big, with high ceilings with lots of light and windows. It would be architecturally a period house but I would renovate it in a fairly modern, contemporary way maintaining the period features. That’s quite a delicate balance to find between the old and the new.” Phil Spencer supported The Great British Switch campaign by comparethemarket.com. Newcastle charity North East Hearts with Goals has been awarded a £50,000 charitable donation from one of the UK’s leading price comparison websites comparethemarket. com following the campaign.
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