ISSUE 2 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
E1OVE E S S E X
Take me, I’m yours
L O V E
For The Fun Loving… As we shine a light on 2017 and escalade into the New Year
EVENTS
SOCIAL
BUSINESS
ART & CULTURE
FOOD & DRINK
NIGHTLIFE
HEALTH & BEAUTY
INTERIORS
TRAVEL
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Contents p04 Indulge in the Christmas frivolities and festivities p06 Don’t miss the next Funky Dory party!
p17 Making It: The success behind Jamie Oliver’s apprentice
p21 2017 in review
p29 Always in our hearts: George Michael
p39 It’s sweet down on the street
p43 Have a Merry Christmas – dates for your diary!
p45 Baggin’ a punch or two
p56 Escape to sunnier climbs during the wintery months
EDITOR: Rosie Coxshaw SUB-EDITOR: Nancy Larman ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nicola Euesden DESIGN: Total Design Works Ltd BUSINESS WRITER: Eric Woollard-White FOOD & DRINK WRITER: Liam Barker FEATURES WRITER: Alex Larman, Emma Mills Published by RC Publishing Ltd: 020 3011 1194 Contact Essex Love: info@essexlove.co.uk Contact E1 Life: info@e1ife.co.uk While every care is taken, RC Publishing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, omissions or errors. Prices correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved.
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EVENT
The Winter Forest at Broadgate
Broadgate has created a magical escape from the bustle of London in the form of the arrival of The Winter Forest in Exchange Square, just next to Liverpool Street Station. Once immersed in an enchanting snow-covered forest in the heart of London, visitors to Exchange Square can watch films in the Tipi Cinema whilst enjoying mulled wine and Prosecco under the stars at the Bar and Grill. Meanwhile, outside merrymakers will find the Winter Market, five stalls featuring independent artisans including The Amazing Chocolate Workshop and The Somerset Ploughmen, the latter of whom sells chutneys and cheeses. Quite the most fun (and cheese- and wine-fuelled) way to do your Christmas shopping this year. November 9 – January 12 broadgate.co.uk/Winter
ON OUR RADAR Only the hottest and most happening make the grade 4
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
EVENTS: ON OUR RADAR
CHRISTMAS MARKET
The Cheesegrater at The Leadenhall Building
The Leadenhall Building, best known as The Cheesegrater, hosts its inaugural Christmas market – and as market halls go, a stunning 28m high atrium at the foot of a London landmark, is surely unsurpassed. Step inside to discover German-style wooden chalets, where visitors can feast eyes and tastebuds on food as diverse as London itself; from Punjabi street food and French macaroons to German chocolate kisses. Where else can you tuck in while browsing handmade crafts spanning Indian shawls to the traditional Christmas jumper? November 27 – to December 22 @CheesegraterLdn
Alloy at The Hackney Shop
FASHION
Alloy once again brings a selection of the best emergent jewellery designer-makers in London to the Hackney Shop this Christmas. Featuring work from Elsa Tierney, Emma Aitchison, Emma Ware, Mabel Hasell, Megan Collins, Rhiannon Palmer and Victoria Myatt of Promises Promises, the exhibition presents innovative materials and contemporary jewellery making practices. Passionate about supporting local artisans, Alloy offers an insight into the design processes of nine jewellers, and enables east Londoners to shop ethically. With prices from £10, it’d be rude not to. December 5 – 10 99A Morning Lane, E9 6ND
PROPERTY
Our Place at Shoreditch Works
Cooking with home-grown produce is one of life’s simplest pleasures. And that joy is all the greater for knowing that by shopping at your farmers’ market, you are both supporting local business and minimising your food miles. Taste your way around the stalls, gobbling freshly picked fruit and vegetables; locally reared meats; and traditionally baked bread. our.place 020 7247 6760
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SOCIAL: FUNKY DORY
funkydory Good times, party vibes
Funky Town E1 Life joined forces with Funky Dory as it launched its inaugural club night on Saturday 18 November. Some 400 people turned out to get their funk on to a soulful selection of party classics, spanning disco to deep and soulful house grooves. Held at the legendary Hoxton Pony in Shoreditch, the night was a phenomenal success, brimming with fun, love, drinking and dancing into the wee hours. Be sure you don’t miss the next one. Dates to be announced soon. Check out @FunkyDoryLove for more Images: Wein Williams www.foto-genix.net
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SOCIAL: URBAN MYTH
Kitchen confidential Last month, Urban Myth invited guests to ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaaaah’ at its resplendent VIP showroom over in Chingford, east London. To ensure that the food was every bit as beautiful as the kitchens themselves, super successful alumnus of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, Dean McClumpha, was on board to provide delicious canapés for the guests, washed down with an overflowing abundance of delicate Prosecco. As an opportunity to bring together clients, colleagues and friends to celebrate a year of successes, it could not have been a lovelier way to see out 2017.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
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External computer generated image depicts London Square Spitalfields and is indicative only. Internal computer generated images depict Apartment 10 at London Square Spitalfields and are indicative only. Details and price are correct at time of going to press, October2017.
Love is...
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Love takes many myriad and fascinating forms. The E1 Life and Essex Love team lay their hearts bare this Christmas
e may have been an ageing rock legend who dismissed his surprise Christmas number one as a ‘festering turd of a record’ and appeared naked on television, but Billy Mack, played by Bill Nighy in Love, Actually, was wise enough to know that love is, indeed all around us. Whichever way you slice it, this thing called love that is all around us finds expression in many myriad forms. Sometimes
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No emotion acts as a more powerful motivator as love
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we say it almost without thinking, as easily as blinking, occasionally even forgetting the weight and meaning of the four-letter word and all it encompasses. Nothing acts as a more powerful motivator than love. It is the people and things that we cherish most dearly that we will fight the hardest for. If we’re lucky, these varying manifestations of love – familial, romantic, Platonic – exist throughout our lives, sometimes the love of each on its own, and at other times concurrently. At perhaps difficult points in our lives, the love of a dear friend can be more potent than any romance; sisterly or brotherly love can find expression in an understanding exclusive to your family; and a parent’s love for his or her child is the most formidable, unconditional and important of them all, for these formative years can create a blueprint for how we love in later life. In a business sense, we tend to programme our mental state to remove emotion lest it clouds clear judgement. Perhaps that’s why some
people adopt both sides of the Jekyll and Hyde dichotomy, playing a tough card in business but showing devotion outside a work capacity. Romantic love, meanwhile, can turn our world upside down in good ways and bad. A boundless and impassioned love for another person is what so many of us yearn for, motivated by the promise of unbridled bliss, desire and friendship all rolled into one. It can, though, be a double-edged sword, the knife-edge between ecstasy and agony. Despite knowing such crushing despair, we never stop searching and we refuse to give up on the euphoria of love, since to be loved and to give love is at the heart of what it is to be human. It is worth remembering then this Christmas Day that while it is a time that can evoke love, it can also highlight loss and loneliness. But through the joy and the sorrow, know this: you are loved, because love is all around. With peace and love, Rosie, Publisher
FEATURE: LOVE AT CHRISTMAS
‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Alex Larman, writer
Love for me are these 3 girls, nothing comes close to this but the best of all about this picture is we are having a fun family day out at our favourite time of year, Christmas, doing what my 1st love was which was ice skating. Most of all I love we are all smiling. Rob Burgerman, Social Media
Love is when your souls entwin, you can feel that person wherever you are, around the world. They are literally a part of you! Rosie Coxshaw, Publisher & Editor:
“True love. In whatever shape or form it may come. May we all in our dotage be proud to say, I was adored once too.” Eric Woollard-White, Business writer
Love is what I’m looking for. Lee Beetles, Web Developer
Love is giving someone the power to destroy you, but trusting them not to. Liam Barker, Food & Drink writer
Love is: When I am with another and I sense that what they are and what I am, at an innermost level, is the same thing. When the sense of division falls away. Could apply to a person or a flower or to life itself. Emma Mills, Wellbeing writer
Love is being with people who light you up and make you feel warm inside. Nicola Euesden, Business Development Director:
Love is all you need. Stewart Hyde, Designer
“Love is being woken up by my daughter jumping on top of me at five in the morning and not minding. How could anyone object to being slathered with sloppy two-year old kisses, even if it is still dark outside?” Nancy Larman, Sub-Editor:
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o the Listen t at t Podcas dcast o.uk/po e1ife.c
Black beauties London’s iconic black cabs are the envy of the world. We flagged down Steve McNamara of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) to mine The Knowledge. Words: Eric Woollard-White Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw
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BUSINESS: STEVE MCNAMARA
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ondon’s black cab drivers are rightly revered around the world. Who hasn’t, after all, watched in mounting frustration on holiday as a cab driver has smilingly promised to get you from A to B – only to see them rely on a smartphone app and then take a wrong turn? It happened to me three times in New York alone – and one of those times was getting from LaGuardia airport into Manhatten. It should be noted, I’ve only taken three taxi journeys in New York in my entire life. Where, when I needed it, was The Knowledge, one of the toughest workplace entrance assessments known to humankind? Aspirant cabbies take note: the bar for entry for the famous test of London street navigation is set extremely high. And yet despite the obvious dedication of the elite who make it through, life for black cab drivers has, lamentably, got tougher in recent years. As General Secretary of LTDA, Steve McNamara spends much of his time speaking up for one of our most cherished British symbols, not to mention the livelihoods of the drivers his organisation represents. And as he explains, his first months in the job soon became heavily focused on one of his industry’s biggest ever challenges. “I had just got this job when Uber pitched up. Up until then, we had been dealing with licensing issues and taxi ranks and bus lanes. Then, all of a sudden, there I am pitched into the political world,” he recalls. McNamara’s trajectory to the LTDA was, by his own admission, circuitous. He grew up in Hackney, left school with “a couple of
Steve McNamara, General Secretary, LTDA
A-levels” and got his first break working for the local council. From there, his focus turned to more public-spirited ambitions. He recalls: “I got my first job at the council, training to be a civil engineer. That lasted about 18 months until, much to the regret of many of my friends, I joined the police force. Growing up in east London at that time, you couldn’t avoid dealings with the police. There were a lot more run-ins with the police back then, and I thought I could make a difference.” It turns out, alas, that he couldn’t. But, as he shrugs, “I tried.” After the stint as a law-enforcer, McNamara turned to the black cab trade. Following a standard two-year period spent on a moped learning the aforementioned Knowledge, he got his licence in 1986 and then spent 20 years – on and off – behind the wheel. It was a solid grounding for understanding his colleagues and the industry he now represents, but nonetheless, his first days at the LTDA were a challenge. “At that point I had been into
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BUSINESS: STEVE MCNAMARA
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When I first started driving a cab, it hadn’t changed much since the 1950s. In recent years our world has been turned upside down
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the Houses of Parliament twice in my entire life and now I’m down there virtually every day – certainly many times a week – meeting with politicians and trying to educate them as to what’s going on,” he explains incredulously. “When I started driving a cab it hadn’t changed much since the 1950s, but in recent years our world has been turned upside down. We’ve had the launch of digital apps and
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initially, we were a bit behind the curve. But we developed the Halo app long before Uber was around – we just didn’t have the money to properly market it.” According to McNamara, Uber arrived in London with both comprehensive political and public relations awareness, combined with financial and legal resources that put black cabbies on the back foot. He eludicates: “We thought we had a certain amount of respect due to us and a certain amount of entitlement because we’d been told what rules to follow and we’d been given a contract, if you like, with Transport For London and with Londoners themselves. We had faith in the system. We were wrong.” Under McNamara’s leadership, the LTDA has evolved into a campaigning organisation with a strong voice in the media and in parliament. Gratifyingly for him, it has begun to deliver results. In September, TFL deemed Uber unfit to run a taxi service and refused to renew its licence. The company appealed the decision, resulting in a legal challenge that,
in the words of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, “could take years” to satisfactorily conclude. Undeterred, McNamara is firmly fixed on the future – and that future is, he tells me, electric. The plan is to upgrade all current black cabs from the 1950s designed diesel vehicles currently in use to a stateof-the-art fully electric fleet. The LTDA’s current campaigning focus is targeting TFL and local authorities to encourage investment in more electric charging points to support the roll out of the new cabs. Cabbies are also preparing to shoulder some of the initial financial burden as part of London’s biggest transport revolution since horse and carriages gave way to motor vehicles; the new electric cabs cost £63,000, compared to the £45,000 price tag of current vehicles. “We see ourselves at the vanguard of cleaning up London’s air. The future is great,” McNamara enthuses. “No other taxi industry in the world has adopted electric in the way we’re going to. We will have both the cleanest and the best cab service in the world.”
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INTERVIEW: DEAN MCCLUMPHA
The apprentice Dean McClumpha left school at 13 with no plan in life. Thanks to Jamie Oliver he found a path. He tells Rosie Coxshaw about life as the Naked Chef ’s International Development man. Words: Nancy Larman Podcast: Rosie Coxshaw
Liste n Podc to the a e1ife .co.u st at k/po dcas t
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ean McClumpha, International Development Chef at Jamie Oliver’s wildly successful Fifteen, had barely set foot in a kitchen until he was 18. Unlike the man who would become his mentor and meal ticket, there was no family foodie business for him to daily observe and imbibe. And although McClumpha’s mother was a good cook, he professes to have been far more interested in being outside, “causing trouble and scraping my knee and breaking my arms” than harvesting hot cookery tips from her kitchen. “I didn’t really start getting passionate about food until I was about 18,” he recalls over a coffee in London Bridge. “Until then, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I’d left school with no qualifications and I really didn’t have a path. I got into a lot of trouble at school and I left at 13. So I went and got a job at a travelling he t funfair – it was the o t n e List only thing I could t ta Podcas dcast do. Hard labour .uk/po o when you’re 13 c . e f i e1 is different, but it gave me a good work ethic, which I think helped me later in the
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kitchen.” After a spell living with his grandparents in Sunderland, he returned to London with a newly instilled drive and a slice of the more laidback spirit of the north. “Being a trouble maker in London and quite aggressive and angry, I went up there and found out that northern people are really chilled out. When I came back I was a lot more positive,” he reflects. Seeing the change in him, his best friend Brian, who happened to be working as a chef, got him a job as a barman. Then one fateful year, a staff shortage at Christmas saw McClumpha drafted into the kitchen as an emergency. It changed
everything; the lost boy had found his niche. And as it turns out, the discovery of a new-found passion was just the very beginning of his star in the ascendant. Happily for McClumpha, there so happened to be a certain worldfamous chef with something of a social conscience on the look out for apprentices, rough diamonds whose skills he could develop. Enthusiastic young people whose trajectory had not necessarily been, shall we say, smooth were exactly the type that Jamie Oliver wanted to help. In other words, Dean McClumpha was the ideal candidate – yet all that might have passed him by had he not chanced to chat a friend in New York one fateful day in 2005. “We were talking online one day and I told her I was looking at getting into college for cookery. I was 19 at the time and in the UK, after you’re 18 you don’t get any funding. She said, “There’s this guy, Jamie Oliver. He’s doing an apprenticeship programme. You should check it out.” I didn’t really know who he was, but I filled out the form with some help from my then-boss. Forms aren’t my thing!” It turned out he was precisely what the Fifteen programme was after. As he’s at pains to point out, “I would never want to promote leaving school early. It’s not a good thing, but it’s worked out for me and I’ve been lucky; the opportunities
INTERVIEW: DEAN MCCLUMPHA
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have been there. The only qualification I have is an NVQ in cooking, but when it comes to being a chef, it’s not about qualifications, it’s about where you’ve worked and your motivation. If you want to learn, a good chef will give you a job.” Being one of the very best chefs, Jamie duly took McClumpha onto his apprenticeship, which saw him and fourteen others from the ages of 16 to 24 undertake work-based training. “You do three months at college getting your basic knife skills and kitchen skills, and then you work at Fifteen under different chefs in different parts of the kitchen. You learn butchery, fish mongering, bakery, pastry and every aspect of the kitchen. One day a week you go to college to get your NVQ.” Not only did he learn his craft, but along with his fellow apprentices he got to meet some of the finest producers in the world – an experience that set him up for the role he would grow up to step into: that of International Development Chef. Together, the gaggle of fifteen met the very cream of the producing crop, from the makers of the superlative Maldon sea salt to the Italian fine wine makers at the exquisite Petrolo in Tuscany. Under such dedicated skill and spirit guidance, he developed apace, quickly fostering a particular passion for pastry making. And, since the Jamie Oliver operation is all about development and personal growth, within five years he had risen to the giddy heights of head pastry chef at Fifteen. Did he ever think he’d make it this far? “On my first day I wanted to walk out, so no, I didn’t think I’d make it this far! It’s amazing to think that just 12 years ago I didn’t know a thing and now I’m International Development Chef for the whole group, that’s unreal when you think about. It’s down to Jamie and the other chefs who have supported me – otherwise I wouldn’t be here now.” McClumpha has repaid the dedication to his career with an unswerving loyalty. Aside from
I can only thank Jamie for where I am, so I would protect the brand as if it were my own business three years at Barbecoa, to which he followed fellow Fifteen alumnus Ed Loftus, his whole career has been devoted to Fifteen – and he sees no reason for that to change. “I wouldn’t alter a thing,” he says. “I am very dedicated. I can only thank Jamie for where I am, so I would protect the brand as if it were my own business. I’ve made some mistakes in my life, but I wouldn’t be me or be here without them – and Fifteen has become my life. My colleagues here are godparents to my kids. If I hadn’t done this? I probably would have joined the army or something. I think I’ve always needed that structure.” Day to day life at Fifteen is, he says, gratifyingly varied. “I’m in charge of all new openings, agreeing menus with new partners and procurement, so sourcing all ingredients. We have very strict guidelines on the produce we’re allowed to use. All of our meat has to be higher welfare and free range,
as do our eggs. Everything has to pass the quality and taste test as well as the food standards test – if it’s for Doha, someone has to go out to Doha and taste everything. It makes it harder, but the challenge is fun.” He is, then, dizzyingly busy. Does he ever envisage opening his own restaurant? “I’m happy where I am. Never say never, but it wouldn’t be a restaurant – more like a little bakery. Perhaps one day.” Given his chequered trajectory, does he have any advice for aspirant young chefs? “Get your head down and do as you’re told,” he says, simply. “Never say no to an extra shift. Don’t talk back and take advice. Learn from everything. Even if a commis chef is telling a head chef something, that head chef should be listening because knowledge is key. We should be learning all the time. Anyone who thinks otherwise is arrogant and shouldn’t be in the kitchen.
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2017 A YEAR IN REVIEW
As we bid farewell to this year and prepare to usher in the new, Eric Woollard-White looks back over some of the moments and memories we’re unlikely to forget – ever...
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I
f 2017 had an abiding spirit, it would be one of resilience, compassion and hope. In a year that has brought tears of tragedy and of joy as well as mixed economic and political fortunes, Londoners have, as ever, shown inspirational solidarity against all the odds. It is, after all, what we do. While the capital has been almost constantly in the global spotlight this year, we also offer reflections from our own perspective that are closer to home and our own community of readers.
January TUBE STRIKE... With a tube strike causing travel chaos in London, the shine was soon taken off the post-Christmas glow, courtesy of a stark reminder of the unresolved unrest about pay and conditions among one of the country’s larger unions: the RMT. WOMEN’S MARCH... More upliftingly, the 2017 Women’s March roused thousands of people in London, Belfast, Cardiff, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Shipley, Edinburgh and Bristol – as well as millions more in countries around the world – in protest at Donald Trump’s inauguration as 45th President of the United States.
February CRESSIDA DICK... Rather neatly, in the immediate aftermath of the women’s march, Cressida Dick was appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, making her the first woman to hold this senior position in the force’s 188-year history. Her inaugural year in charge of London’s law enforcement would go on to place her leadership role in the spotlight in the months to follow.
March BREXIT BILL... The UK government passed the socalled Brexit Bill, triggering Article
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2017: A YEAR IN REVIEW 50, which kick-started the planned two-year process towards the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU. WESTMINSTER TERROR ATTACK... Four people (rising to six) were killed and more than 40 injured in what was treated as a terror attack in London, when Khalid Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death at the Palace of Westminster.
April GENERAL ELECTION CALLED... Prime Minister Theresa May called an unexpected snap General Election, setting the date for 8 June. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION... In sport, Anthony Joshua became WBA World Heavyweight Champion after beating Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium. GARDEN BRIDGE... Plans for the proposed Garden Bridge over the River Thames were scrapped after Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, withdrew funding guarantees for the project.
May MANCHESTER ARENA ATTACK... The UK was left stunned and shattered after Manchester Arena was attacked by a suicide bomber during an Ariana Grande concert. Election campaigning by all major parties was put on hold while the country mourned the loss of 22 lives and injuries to over 120 people.
June LONDON BRIDGE TERROR ATTACK... A tragic month began with another terror attack, this time on London Bridge. A hit-and-run vehicle on the bridge was followed by knife attacks in Borough Market. Eight people were reported killed, with 48 injured. The media reported heroic acts by passers-by, who put their own lives at risk to protect others. CONSERVATIVES WIN... The election result was confirmed
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2017: A YEAR IN REVIEW on 9 June. Theresa May and the Conservatives won, but with a reduced majority. GRENFALL TOWER FIRE... Less than a week later, Grenfell Tower in west London, was engulfed by fire. As we were going to press, police confirmed the final death toll had reached 71. Surviving residents and other groups continue to call for justice and accountability for the disaster, citing previous concerns raised about the fire safety of the building. FINSBURY PARK MOSQUE ATTACK... An attack on Finsbury Park Mosque claimed one life, with 10 others injured, when a van was rammed into pedestrians. Police arrested 47-year-old Darren Osborne.
July MARCH THROUGH LONDON... Thousands of people marched through London in the “Not One Day More” protest against the government’s economic policies. LANDMARK RULING... John Walker won a landmark ruling at the Supreme Court, giving his husband the same pension rights as a wife would receive.
August BIG BEN... Big Ben fell silent as work on a fouryear renovation project begins. END OF AN ERA... The Duke of Edinburgh carried out his final public engagement before retiring from public duties at 96.
September NUMBER THREE ON THE WAY... The news broke that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child. THE NEW TENNER... A new £10 ‘plastic’ note was released, featuring Jane Austin. UBER APPEALS... Transport for London announced that
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2017: A YEAR IN REVIEW ride-hailing app, Uber, is ‘not fit and proper’ to operate and will not have its licence renewed. Uber appealed.
October FAREWELL ROUND POUND... The round £1 coin ceases to be legal tender in the UK. HURRICANE OPHELIA... hit the western edge of the British Isles with the loss of three lives.
November INTEREST RISE... The bank of England raised interest rates for the first time in 10 years, from 0.25 to 0.5 per cent. MP SCANDAL Reports of inappropriate behaviour began circulating among MPs in Westminster, leading to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon resigning following allegations. MO MEDALS... British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, received a knighthood from The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Farah, a former Newhambased athlete, won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the London 2012 games – a feat he repeated at the 2016 Rio Olympics. ARRIVEDERCI SIGNOR CARLUCCIO... The passing was announced of 80-year-old Antonio Carluccio, the Italian chef and founder of his eponymous restaurant chain in the UK. Said Rosie Coxshaw, Publisher: It’s sad to hear of Carluccio’s passing. As a team, we’ve worked on many issues of E1 Life at Carluccio’s. It has always been a special place for us and will continue to be.”
December
As another year draws to a close, we remember and pay tribute to all those we have loved and lost in our great city and beyond in 2017. Here’s to a merry Christmas followed by a peaceful and productive 2018. We’ll see you on the other side.
We’d love to hear your own memories of 2017. To share, visit us via Twitter: @e1Lifemag and @essexloveonline
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We are a lifestyle boutique based in East London with an eclectic mix of beautiful gifts, clothing and homeware. Celebrate #INDIEWKND with us from 1st - 3rd December and support local Independent retailers.
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www.sourcelifestyle.com 6 Market Steet, Spitalfields E1 6DT 227 High Road, South Woodford E18 2PB
REMEMBERING: GEORGE MICHAEL
George Gorgeous
Last Christmas, the news broke our hearts. This year, we’re saving our tears to remember someone special: George Michael, singer, song writer, philanthropist and free spirit. By Alex Larman
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REMEMBERING: GEORGE MICHAEL
individual a talent to be held down in a band, especially singing songs made famous by someone else. He followed his own path, never losing sight of himself. As was illustrated in a recent documentary about him, Freedom, Michael made no bones about a clear ambition: to be famous. As he said, “I have a musical ability that as a teenager was powered by this desperate ambition to be famous and be loved and be respected and whatever. All I wanted at that time was success. If I was looking for happiness, this was the wrong road. I still suffered terribly with insecurity
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I have a musical ability that as a teenager was powered by this desperate ambition to be famous and be loved and be respected and whatever. All I wanted at that time was success
about my looks. It goes back to a family background where conceit of any kind was considered an absolute sin, so no one was ever fazed about the way they look.” Success, and fame, were achieved on an almost inconceivable scale. For Michael, this was a mixed blessing. On the one hand, he recalled that, as a solo artist, “I was terribly lonely…I can’t really explain how overwhelming the
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T
he only time I ever saw George Michael in the flesh was at once surprising and entirely typical of the man. It wasn’t at one of his famous gigs, nor was it at some high-profile guest appearance at concerts such as Live 8 or The Freddie Mercury Tribute. No indeed. Far more prosaically, it was at the Côte chain restaurant in Highgate in 2012, near to where he had a house. What surprised me most was that Michael, who arrived quietly with a friend, had precisely none of the airs and graces that most 115-million selling artists would doubtless exhibit. He was warm, unpretentious and just seemed content that nobody bothered him. I mentioned to our waitress how remarkable it was that George Michael, of all people, was in our midsts. “Yes”, she said, nonchalently. ‘He’s been in every day for the past fortnight.’ Michael’s far-too-premature death last Christmas, at the age of 53, robbed pop music of one of its greatest practitioners. It is no exaggeration to say that throughout his career in Wham! and as a solo artist, Michael defined what intelligent, catchy and brilliant song writing could, and should, be. It helped that he possessed one of the great voices in popular music, which could soar, swoop and caress like the fine instrument it was. He possessed a stage presence that was virtually without comparison, and it is no great surprise that Brian May and John Deacon later said, after his barnstorming performance of Somebody To Love at the tribute concert, that he was the only possible singer who could hold a candle to Freddie. Yet it is probably a blessing that he never did become a member of Queen; he was always far too
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PORTRAIT CREATED AND COMMISSIONED BY: LINCOLN TOWNLEY
REMEMBERING: GEORGE MICHAEL
hysteria can be if there’s only one person to absorb it.” His hatred of the attention that he received at the height of his celebrity led none other than Frank Sinatra, who knew something about mass public recognition, to chide him for his perceived e o th ingratitude. In Listen t Lincoln h t i a famous letter, w t Podcas ney at he urged him to Tow t “Loosen up. Swing s a c d o o.uk/p … And no more e1ife.c of that talk about ‘the tragedy of fame.’ The tragedy of fame is
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when no one shows up and you’re singing to the cleaning lady in some empty joint that hasn’t seen a paying customer since Saint Swithin’s Day.” It was typical of Michael that, far from being chastened, he instead commented “I don’t think he wrote the letter. I actually believed that was the work of a publicist, not the work of a genius.” His songs have, of course, supplied the soundtrack to countless people’s lives. From the early pop bliss of Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Careless Whisper, to later, more considered efforts such as Faith and Jesus To A Child, he was a
songwriter who had few serious rivals. Little wonder, then, that, when he was asked in Freedom what he hoped that his artistic legacy would be, he replied simply: “Great songwriter.” Indeed, he would not be disappointed that his reputation has remained constant since his death; you would be hard-pressed to go a day without hearing some of Michael’s music. Yet what was little mentioned during his lifetime but came out in countless stories after his death was his enormous generosity. Contrary to the tabloid image – memorably mocked in his guest appearance in Ricky Gervais’s Extras – of him as a semi-recluse who shut himself off in his mansions with a kebab and a joint, he instead took great interest in helping others. It transpired, for instance, that he had given Childline millions of pounds over the years, including the considerable royalties from Jesus To A Child, and made considerable donations to Macmillan Cancer support and the Terrence Higgins trust. Helping others have families was an issue of particular interest to him; several people came forward after his death to tell of how he – a complete stranger to them – gave them considerable sums of money to pay for their IVF treatment. George Michael was no saint. The tabloid press had a great deal of sport with him over the years, whether it was some of the more bizarre incidents that he was involved in – such as falling out of a car on the M1 and exposing himself to an off-duty policeman – or his straightforward, candid attitude towards his fame, sexuality and music. Yet the amount of pleasure and happiness that Michael brought to millions during his four-decade career is something very rare indeed. He is much missed, and will continue to be as long as people listen to his songs which, thankfully, show no signs of diminishing in popularity. It is they that are his best, and greatest, epitaph.
Pure White Lines specialise in sourcing unique one off finds that our discerning customers can build a whole theme around. Old statuary, vintage antlers, horns, weird and wonderful taxidermy, antiqued mirrors, French hanging lanterns, opulent chandeliers, eye catching objects and distressed painted furniture is just a taster of what you will find. We have contacts throughout Europe and have our own Upholstery and restoration facilities along side top quality furniture refinishers and painters.
Come and visit us: 45 Hackney Road London E2 7NX 020 3222 0137 Monday – Friday: 11am-7pm Saturday: 10am-5.30pm Sunday: 9.30am-4.30pm @purewhitelines
Toss out the turkey
Tur key, your go ose is cooked. Our resident c Liam Barker, p hef, repares some ta n ta li si ng alternatives to the tradition al Christmas fe ast
F
or many of us, the idea of Christmas without a turkey is as unpalatable as Santa minus his sleigh. And yet more and more of us are opting for a poultry-less yuletide – and the sobering statistics more than account for the gradual mood swing. Over ten million turkeys are bought every Christmas in the UK, yet we throw away the equivalent of enough turkey to make four million Christmas dinners every year, all because we’re not sure what to do with the considerable mound of leftovers in the ensuing days. Add into the mix that many more
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of us are consciously cutting back on meat consumption, and it feels like it’s high time for a change in the way that we cook. Designated Christmas cooks: if you feel like switching it up this year, as well as doubtless stirring up some lively debate amongst your guests, our resident chef and food writer, Liam Barker, prepares three alternatives to the poor tired old turkey. And better still, all the recipes use only five ingredients or fewer, saving on your shopping bill and giving you more time to relax and enjoy the big day.
All recipes are designed for around four people...
FOOD & DRINK: CHRISTMAS DINNER
ients
Ingred
From the land
icken, nge ch free-ra le o h can • 1 w nd 1.5kg r (you y cide and fill r arou d f o er can all can • 1 t ys use a be alwa ) r e sprigs id with c f rosemary alade o m h r c a n m u • B sp orange ise b • 2 t dful star an n • Ha
Upstanding Christmas chicken
Cooking chicken this way will give you some results you’ve never seen before. It infuses the bird with Christmas flavours from the inside. What’s more, chicken is half the price of turkey and will cook in less than half the time like this. Plus you’ll get twice as much flavour from this tender juicy bird.
the heat so that you almost have a syrup consistency. You will use this to baste the chicken every 20 minutes, using a few sprigs of rosemary as the basting brush • Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage in
• Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees / gas mark 6
• Put a star anise along with some sprigs of rosemary in the can with the cider. Sit the chicken halfway down the can
• Pour out a third of the cider into a saucepan. Add to a few sprigs of rosemary and two star anise to the pan. Place the pan over a medium heat and bring to the boil
• Roast the chicken in the oven standing up for around one hour. Remove and baste with the cider and marmalade mixture every 20 minutes
• Turn the heat down and add the marmalade. Continue to stir over
• Rest for half an hour once cooked
Method
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Salt-crusted sea bass This is my absolute favourite way to cook a whole fish. The failsafe end result is simply stunning and the recipe is so simple that you really cannot overcook the fish. Since the salt crust doesn’t allow any moisture to escape, all the flavour remains locked inside the tender fish. No need to worry about all that salt, either. It will lightly season the fish during the cooking process, but then you will lose that crust at the end once its done is job.
From the ground
Method • Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees/gas mark 6.
Cauliflower Wellington with crunchy leaf wedges
• Start by making the meringue mix using an electric
whisk. To do this, add the egg whites and lemon zest to a bowl. Ensure your bowl is super dry, as any moisture will contribute to a bad meringue.
It’s time to stop the whole cauliflower cheese or boiled cauliflower madness. There’s so much more you can do with this versatile vegetable. A whole roasted whole a cauliflower has a great texture, as it retains that satisfying crunch. I first saw whole roasted cauliflower on a trip to Tel Aviv, and was blown away by how simple and beautiful it was. I’ve pimped it up for the Christmas table here.
Method • Pre-heat the oven to 180/gas mark 6
• Start to whisk egg whites gently until they start to
foam then add a steady stream of salt whilst mixing. Keep mixing until you see it forming stiff peaks. The set it aside.
ients
• Stuff the fish cavity with the lemon slices and thyme
Ingred
wer auliflo • Remove the leaves from the cauliflower hole c hly • 1 w sp tahini s, roug b hroom and reserve for later. Cut off the thick • 3 t grams mus ed chopp • 100 ped woody stalk. oughly chop nion, r shortcrust o le o h d • Coat the cauliflower in the tahini, massaging • 1 w ack pre-rolle • 1 p ry it all over with your hands. past
• Add a dollop of the whites to the roasting tray, as the
fish should not have contact with direct heat at any point. • Lay the fish on top on the whites, then proceed to
• Bake the whole cauliflower for 15 mins and remove.
totally cover the fish in the meringue mixture, so that it is in its own little igloo.
• Whilst the cauliflower is baking, add some olive oil and sweat the onion and mushrooms in a frying pan over a low-to-medium heat for around 10-15 minutes. Don’t allow them to colour. Season with sea salt and pepper. • Take your pastry out the fridge and give it a roll over with the rolling pin a few times to make it a bit thinner. You want it to be around the same thickness as a pound coin. • Spread the onion and mushroom mixture over the pastry in a thin layer, again to the thickness of a pound coin. • Place the cauliflower top-side down on the mixture. Bring all the corners up and wrap as if you’re wrapping a football for someone’s Christmas present. • Then place the cauliflower Wellington with the good side facing up on a tray. Roast in the oven for 45-50 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.
• Bake for 45- 50 minutes. To test if it is ready, poke a
knife through all the way. If it is hot, then it is good. • Rest for 20 minutes. Then break away the salt crust
and peel back the skin to reveal the meltingly tender flesh.
Ingre
dient
s • Lin e-caug h t kg (cle sea ba fish aned and s ss, approx . caled • 4 e monger) by yo 1.5 g ur • 1 le gs, separa te mon z ested d 0.5 and th • A cm slices en sli fe ced to • 50 w sprigs t hyme 0 g se a salt
• After half an hour, give the leaves you saved a quick wash and trim the really thick stalks off. You should have three quarters of the leaf left. Toss them in some olive oil and sea salt and add to the oven to roast for the last 15 minutes. Finish them like you would chip shop chips, with a dash of salt and vinegar when they’re cooked.
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From the sea
Cafe_caribbean Front 12x3inch Red & Orange 2+3 of 3
Old for Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EW We cater Weddings, Parties and Funerals 020 7377 6443 info@cafe-caribbean.co.uk Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EW Catering020 enquiry: 73770800 6443 858 858 info@cafe-caribbean.co.uk times 858 858 Catering Opening enquiry: 0800 Every day 10am - 7.30pm Opening times Every day 10am - 7.30pm
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FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS
EatStreets WORDS: LIAM BARKER
Five gold rings! Or pink, or cinnamon, or chocolate – anything just so long as they’re the baked and sugary variety
You Doughnut There aren’t many things better than those fairground-fresh fried doughnuts, dusted in icing sugar. You know the ones. You used to get ten for a quid. Well, You Doughnut has seen those old classics of yonder youth and raised them. Come in to watch the dough being rolled out and pressed into doughnut bites for the fryer, all made fresh to order. Instead of icing sugar, pick from cinnamon-sugar with salted caramel; popcorn and peanut brittle crumb; or vanilla-sugar with malted milk chocolate sauce. Since they’re only bite-size, you can legitimately order a hot chocolate complete with marshmallow fluff and doughnut pop. Tastes of our youth – but better. youdoughnut.co.uk Dinerama, 19 Great Eastern St, Shoreditch, EC2A 3EJ
Crosstown Doughnuts What do you get if you cross a doughnut with a loaf of sourdough? That’s exactly the burning question that plagued the good folk at Crosstown, who stopped at nothing until they found their answer. Using the science behind the sourdough to create a signature collection of doughnuts, they came up with the ‘hybrid’, which has a stronger crumb and more of a bready texture, making the doughnut lighter and more delightful to eat. Yep, we feel better for having the answer to that one of life’s imponderables too. Choose from a dizzying selection of flavours, all influenced by farflung places across the globe. Go American with a peanut butter glaze and blackcurrant compote combination, or plump for an ode to Japan with vanilla bean glaze, matcha and white chocolate ganache filling. One sure-fire hit for the holidays is Crosstown’s Christmas mince pie doughnut. Doughnut bites are filled with home-made fruit mince, before being dipped in a brandy butter glaze and finished with a vanilla pie crust crumble. crosstowndoughnuts.com 157 Brick Lane, Aldgate East, E1 6SB
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FOOD & DRINK: EAT STREETS
Dough Society Serving up vegan doughnuts takes more than a little ingenuity. Luckily for us then, Dough Society has genius in spades, neatly expressed through its lighter and animal product-free renditions of the humble doughnut. Applying a brioche recipe for its indulgent doughnut collection, they are fluffy as air and deliver the feel-good factor for your conscience too. Find Dough Society at the new vegan market in the schoolyard beside Broadway market and sample the imaginative menu. Favourites include chocolate cookie dough, peanut pretzel, vanilla cinnamon and spiced apple crumble (we may have tried a few). These babies sell out daily, so don’t hang around. doughsocietyldn.com Broadway Vegan Market, London Fields Primary School, Westgate St, E8 3RU
Rinkoff Bakery
Is there any such thing as a healthy doughnut? Come now, don’t be a dum dum. That said, this temple to excess does, at least, make one small concession to health: everything is baked rather than deep-fried. All of which means that you can feel slightly less guilty about trying its renowned Zebra doughnut. Dum Dum’s signature sugary ring contains layer-upon-layer of croissant dough and chocolate croissant dough, all filled with chocolate buttercream and topped off with ganache. Even the most rabid sugar fiend will, surely, be sated by the concoction, which also comes in a ten-inch version as an absurdly indulgent alternative to a birthday cake (10-inch versions of all classic doughnuts are available).
The good bakers at Rinkoff Bakery have been kneading traditional challah bread, sourdoughs and croissants for over 100 years. Consequently, they are virtuosos of the baked good, skills that – as GBBO enlightens us – take time and talent. One of the keys to its longevity is surely its willingness to join in with the latest crazes – and then do them better. To prove it comes its crodough, or cronut. Oreos blended with soft cream cheese are injected through the flaky layers of the crodough, and finished off with crushed Oreos on top. Normal Oreos will seem basic forevermore.
dumdums.co.uk Unit 31, Box Park, Shoreditch, E1 6GY
rinkoffbakery.co.uk 224 Jubilee St, Stepney E1 3BS
Dum Dum Donutterie
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MARINA MEZE GRILL The marina is an authentic, independently-run mediterranean ‘oasis’ in the heart of woodford green, serving a versatile menu of traditional home-cooking and contemporary seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
352 High Road Woodford Green London IG8 0XQ 020 8505 8999 marinamezegrill.com Marina Meze Grill Turkish Restaurant
Quality food, service and atmosphere Wood Oven BBQ has a charcoal grill that provides freshly grilled meat and fish dishes. We have a team of chefs with a combined cooking experience of over 20 years. We have an open grill approach to cooking where our customers can see their meal being cooked
during each visit. We are very popular in and around South Woodford, East London. Our take away service is unique providing exquisite cuisines like our dining experiences. We also offer stone baked pizzas cooked fresh in our custom made wood oven.
126 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AD 020 8989 3083 woodovenbbq.co.uk
NIGHTLIFE: OUT OUT
Winterville
Out Out
WORDS: LIAM BARKER
Winterville started out in Victoria Park, so technically it’s an east London thing. It may have moved south for the winter, but this behemoth is too big for us to miss. The ultimate Christmas destination this year includes the festive gamut. Expect Backyard Cinema’s winter night garden, Plonk crazy golf, a fairground, a roller disco and a makers’ market filled. And since Street Feast is curating all the food and drink, you can safely assume that you’ll get your chops around some exemplary grub too. Spiegeltent will host cabaret, club nights, kids’ raves, brass bands and Mexican wrestling. Christmas excess, just the way we like it.
winterville.co.uk
Let the fun and games commence
Skylight London’s first roof top ice rink is well positioned above Tobacco Dock for a dazzling view of London’s ever-expanding selection of skycrapers. The more competitive can take it to the next level with a spot of ice hockey shooting, after which do head down to the cosy lower-level bar, complete fur-lined seating, to warm up with a mulled cider, or a cheese or chocolate fondue. Sky-high indulgence.
Queen of Hoxton’s Moroccan Medina
As the 2018 Winter Olympics looms, we’re doing our bit by taking up the one sport the UK is any good at: curling. Social Fun and Games Club is home to ‘Sliders’, London’s first neon-lit rooftop curling club. When the competition on its lofty six curling lanes gets a bit much, retire to the retro alpine ski lodge for some winter warmers and ski shots.
It may be cold outside but the Queen of Hoxton is busy bringing the heat of the Moroccan medina to its rooftop. As the mercury plummets, transport yourself to the splendour of Marrakesh and climb into its secret snug hidden inside a giant Moroccan lamp (what else?). Here you can enjoy spiced hot buttered rum or a shimmering gold pomegranate Bellini whilst relaxing – even full-on reclining – on giant luxurious cushions. Alternatively, grab a spiced coffee and head outside for a shisha and to pay homage its own version of the iconic Jardin Majorelle, Yves Saint Laurent’s cobalt blue garden in the Moroccan capital.
sfgclub.com
queenofhoxton.com
skylightlondon.com
Sliders at Social Fun and Games Club
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2017
Be A Contender at 12x3gym.co.uk
FITNESS: 12 X 3 GYM
BackintheRing Rosie Coxshaw steps into the ring at 12 X 3 Gym and leaves annihilated yet thirsty for more
I
love everything about keeping fit – or at least attempting to – from ensuring that my physique is in its optimum shape to the rush of endorphins that keep me upbeat, even through the dark winter months. And for me, one of the most compelling reasons to make exercise a staple in my life is its positive effects on my mental attitude. Fellow frequent exercisers will understand the enormous benefits of a good work out, whatever the level that works for you. Not only is it a way to let your endorphins run free, making you feel good, but it’s an aid to managing body weight. And if you have ever experienced depression, you’ll know that exercise is key to keeping you mentally focused and strong. Since boxing is one of the best exercises for maintaining mental health, I jumped at 12 x 3 Gym’s invitation to come and try its one-to-one fitness session; I couldn’t get in the ring quick enough. The last time I did any serious boxing, I was in training for the London marathon. That was a few years ago now, and my memory of it was of grimy boxing gyms, where the order of the day was to get in, get the gloves on and get down to the nitty gritty. By stark contrast, walking into 12 x 3 Gym, I felt entirely comfortable, like I was entering a slick and
professional boxing studio, as opposed to a standard male-dominated boxing gym. 12 x 3 demonstrates just how a boxing club should be. It welcomes both men and women; its staff is unfailingly friendly; and it offers a fresh and clean environment. Despite its more-than-palatable appearance, it still offers a hardcore training session with real coaching and conditioning methods. What else would you expect from its co-owner, professional boxer Darren Barker, who holds a number of titles under his belt? I was put in the ring with co-founder Ryan ‘The Lion’ Pickard. Don’t be fooled by his reassuring smile; after I’d completed 12 x 3 minute rounds in the ring, I had sort of expected a rest. No chance. Within seconds, I was smashed by floor work including burpees, squat jumps, push-ups and crunches. Suffice to say I walked like Charlie Chaplin the next day. But despite my moaning, it’s an excellent and intense work out, leaving you – somehow – craving more. One-to-one offers value for money but if you want to train with some friends, do check out the 5-on-1 sessions. I’ll be back – with only slightly smaller guns than Arnie. 76 Alie Street, Aldgate, London, E1 8PZ 0208 032 4067 www.12x3gym.co.uk
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ADVERTISING PROMOTION: QUEEN’S MEWS CLINIC
Fit Queen a
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for
Dr Annie McGarrity of Queen’s Mews Clinic brings out the beautiful in every woman – inside and out in place, Dr McGarrity knew that in order to propagate her holistic brand of aesthetic medicine, she would need to open her own clinic. To that end, the boutique and friendly Queen’s Mews Clinic in Buckhurst Hill opened its doors three years ago, to offer women the gamut of treatments, from chemical peels to treatments for excessive sweating; Botox to dermal fillers (these last two differ from one another in that whilst the former works to relax the muscles, the latter actively fills the area of skin). One treatment currently gathering popularity apace is the new Silhouette Soft Lift, which uses cutting edge technology to offer facelifts to those not ready or not keen to go under the knife – and since Dr McGarrity’s clientbase spans women from the age of 25 looking for natural-look lip plumps right through to those over 45 and beyond, a non-surgical option is vastly appealing across the board. This minimally invasive treatment has the power to re-shape your face and restore volume, via stateof-the-art suspension suture. To administer the treatment, Dr Annie McGarrity has been fully and officially trained by Sinclair Pharma, regularly attending meetings at the Royal Society of Medicine in London and the World Expert Meeting in Barcelona to ensure that she is up-tothe-minute on every new development in this ground-breaking, era-changing new medicine. So how does it work? Using Polyactic acid, a well-known polymer that has been successfully used for years in many medical applications, including as a resorbable suture, Silohouette Soft has been developed by scientists in
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This minimally invasive treatment has the power to re-shape your face and restore volume, via state-of-the-art suspension suture the USA who created a Poly L-Lactic acid monofilament. The threads then support the skin under the surface and lift sagging soft tissue, also stimulating the natural production of collagen. And all this with just a single, minimally invasive stitch. Dr Annie McGarrity’s prices remain competitive, while she offers a bespoke and discreet service, as such providing the complete package. Because as few people know better than Dr McGarrity, to feel whole is to feel beautiful.
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D
r Annie McGarrity understands better than most that beauty is more than skin deep. Her sagacity in this department is, after all, founded in 20 years’ experience in the health, beauty and aesthetic industry, during which time she has developed more than just her considerable clinical skills: she has also built a profound empathy with the women she treats. With a post-graduate qualification in aesthetic medicine under her starstudded belt, Dr McGarrity – who is also a fully trained Pilates instructor, part-time model and an advanced practitioner in Facial Augmentation and an Obagi trained practitioner – cut her teeth in cosmetic dentistry before expanding her expertise into the more fulfilling wider arena of aesthetic medicine. And although she is covered in qualifications, Dr McGarrity never rests on her laurels; as such, she ensures that she is constantly educating herself in the very latest developments in the industry. Through the accrual of her vast reservoirs of experience, Dr McGarrity has never deviated from one central guiding and passionately held belief: that working with clients to achieve physical augmentation must always be an exercise in growing women’s confidence, self-esteem and self-worth, the physical expression of which is allowing them to look and feel their very best while being attentive of their emotions. To work with Dr McGarrity is, after all, to make the most worthwhile of investments: in yourself. With this founding principle firmly
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WELLNESS: EMMA MILLS
Dreammy Christmasdream
O
Amongst the festivities, it can be a good time to take stock of your biggest dreams and set yourself up for a happy new year, says Emma Mills
n the surface, it may seem that our collective output slows to a shuffle over the course of an average London winter. Just as the trees are denuded and the same flower boxes outside pubs that give such a riot of colour in the summer are suddenly bare, we too scuttle from A to B, mostly sheltering indoors. The crowds who bathed in the sunshine in parks and green spaces are inside keeping toasty. But despite appearances, winter can still be a deeply creative time. The festive season is a good time to regather and consider your intentions as you set goals and sew new ideas, ready to be reaped in the year to follow. Here below is a little explorative game I wanted to share with you. It’s good fun and it encourages a sense of patience. Here’s how to start. Grab a piece of paper and note down the things you’d like to explore this year. Think of your goals, dreams, understanding and your personal qualities. Pop it in a sealed envelope and tidy it away in a drawer, like a time capsule for your dreams. Then vow to revisit your dream capsule next year during spring clean time to see how things
or, conversely, you don’t have any goals per se and are just happy to let life unfold, taking a moment to remember your own deepest wish is a lovely thing to do. Whilst our personal goals are likely to be unique to us, our deepest wish is something, I suspect, that many of us share. I wish you all the best in the new year as those reveries of now take root and grow. I hope all your dreams come true, and that you shine brightly as you enjoy the fullest most wonderful expression of your care and capabilities. have flowered since. Setting a goal can be like throwing an anchor out ahead of you. Once you set your target, life will often help you out by pulling you towards it. It is worth reminding ourselves that life in the wider sense is not separate from the self; everything is connected in one big whole, and the creative urge that gives rise to your dream is the same creative urge that will see it fulfilled. Whether you have got a vision board and a goal list as long as your arm
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An exclusive collection of premium specification 5 bedroom homes adjacent to collection ChelmsfordofGolf Course and close to city centre. An exclusive premium specification 5 the bedroom homes adjacent to collection ChelmsfordofGolf Course and close to city centre. An exclusive premium specification 5 the bedroom homes adjacent Marketing Suite open daily 10am - 5pm (Thursdays 11am - 6pm) to collection ChelmsfordofGolf Course and close to city centre. An exclusive premium specification 5 the bedroom homes adjacent Marketing Suite open daily 10am - 5pm (Thursdays 11am - 6pm) to Chelmsford Golf Course andstjohns@inlandplc.com close to the city centre. Call 01245 259657 or email Marketing Suite open daily 10am - 5pm (Thursdays 11am - 6pm) Call 01245 259657 or email stjohns@inlandplc.com Marketing Suite open daily 10am - 5pm (Thursdays 11am - 6pm) Call 01245 259657 or email stjohns@inlandplc.com Call 01245 259657 or email stjohns@inlandplc.com www.inlandhomes.co.uk www.inlandhomes.co.uk www.inlandhomes.co.uk
ADVERTISING PROMOTION: BELLWAY HOMES
First-time buyers popularising Poplar Emma Denton, for Bellway Homes Thames Gateway division explains why Poplar is fast becoming an attractive area for first-time buyers
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or young professionals wanting to make the most out of the Chancellor, MP Philip Hammond’s announcement to abolish stamp duty up to £300,000 – homebuyers in E14 can now take a more realistic approach to getting on the property ladder. First-time buyers looking to get onto the property ladder in a convenient East London location are being drawn to Poplar, where property prices are 10% lower than nearby Canary Wharf, according to Zoopla data. Poplar is an attractive location for those looking to get on the property ladder, for example, our Lansbury Square development that has seen over three quarters of purchasers, who are first-time buyers, drawn in by the high specification apartments that also offer concierge and a residents’ gym. Those young professionals looking to buy in Poplar can save not only
because of the new abolishment of Stamp Duty up to £300,000, but can also take advantage of Help to Buy and free furniture packs too. The Government backed scheme is available on all apartments at our Rifle Street development, giving further assistance to those wanting to get onto the property ladder. With an extra £10bn promised in the recent Budget, firsttime buyers in particular are set to continue to benefit from the support the scheme offers. Nationally over 80% of homes purchased through Help to Buy were first-time buyers and at Lansbury Square more than 75% of purchasers are buying their first home. Since the Government upped their assistance to London buyers early last year, offering an interest free equity loan of up to 40% of the property value, there has been a surge in the number of London purchasers using the scheme, putting home ownership within reach of those who could not otherwise afford to buy. Combining
the relative affordability of Poplar with the added assistance from Help to Buy, the one and two-bedroom apartments at Lansbury Square are selling fast and also offer a fantastically convenient location to live. The one-bedroom apartments have been particularly sought after and a new release is now available with prices starting at £387,995. Our apartments are carefully designed with contemporary architecture and a high quality interior specification. So, for those worried about how to make their first property purchase we will reduce stress and minimise outgoings by overseeing the process of your new apartment. For further information and to register your interest call 01689 886431 or visit www.bellway.co.uk
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PROPERTY: DE BEAUVOIR BLOCK
BLOCK PARTY
A three-storey Edwardian industrial building has been transformed into a thriving hub for Hackney’s creative businesses to work, network and play. If it’s good enough for Alexa Chung…
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t’s good to talk, as Bob Hoskins once advised in an effort to get us to pick up the phone a bit more. In an increasingly digitised world, that advice holds truer still today – and an even better substitute for shooting the breeze down the blower is, surely, actual face-to-face human contact. That’s where the newly unveiled De Beauvoir Block in Hackney has got things so right. The sensitive refurbishment and renaissance of the three-storey Edwardian industrial building in De Beauvoir Road has created studio and office space conducive for some 33 creative businesses both to work and, yes, to talk. Marking its inauguration with a commemorative plaque, MP for Hackney and South and Shoreditch Meg Hillier cut the proverbial ribbon to unveil the new creative space, which features much of the building’s original features, from Edwardian pipework and brickwork to beautiful old timber floors. Owned and managed by the Benyon Estate, the collective objective was clear in the creation of the building: to allow creative people not only to network for business purposes, but to really exchange ideas. In the interest
of promoting conversation, the architecturally sympathetic building has been cleverly configured to include a hot desking area, an on-site café and shared courtyard, all providing a creative hub for likeminded professionals to work and socialise. We’re not talking water cooler gossip either, but inspiring debate that may even lead to productive symbiotic collaborations. A coffee and an initial hello can take you a powerfully long way. The De Beauvoir Block’s new resident creatives turned out in force to celebrate the arrival of their new work and play environment, along with encouraging local businesspeople and councillors alike. Amongst the revellers were De Beauvoir’s very own talent, including The Grid creative agency; Alexa Chung’s eponymous fashion label; as well as super design creatives Carl Nas Associates. Meg Hillier enthused, “I believe that we have more creative people in Hackney than in any other local authority area so it’s great to see our industrial heritage repurposed for modern use to provide workspace; whether it’s for a single person renting desk space or a business growing into a bigger office.” www.debeauvoirblock.com
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ADVERTISING PROMOTION: URBAN MYTH
Believe the myth Urban Myth supports Jamie Oliver graduates at VIP showroom event
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rban Myth has supported the Jamie Oliver foundation for over ten years. Our first project was to donate a training kitchen for the Fifteen apprentices; from that moment forward and throughout all our work together, we have always felt privileged to be involved in such a worthwhile cause that enables young unemployed people to get involved in all aspects of the hospitality industry. This apprentice scheme is no walk in the park. The hours are long and the apprentices have to adjust to working in a team, learning about food and its origins. And on top of all this, each graduate studies for a governmentrecognised qualification, all within the restaurants of The Jamie Oliver Group. Many of Urban Myth’s core company values are echoed within the Jamie Oliver apprenticeship scheme. Our own directors have a very ‘handson’ approach and over the years have put a huge emphasis on developing our
people. A good number of our staff have been with the company since the beginning of their careers and those who started with Urban Myth as part of an apprenticeship scheme with the local college are now an integral part of our talented team. This October, we once again partnered with Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen when we invited apprentice graduate Dean McClumpha to join us at a corporate event in our showroom. Dean showcased his extensive skills using one of our working display kitchens, and providing delicious canapes for our guests and an insight into his journey – as well as a few tricks of the trade. Our guests were also able to admire our showroom, which has recently been updated to include new displays from our Urban Life range, which is manufactured in our factory in Essex. If you are planning a new kitchen, a visit to our showroom is a great place to start. With over 15 different displays and even more accessories and
appliances on show, you can be inspired and feel the quality of our kitchen ranges for yourself. To book an appointment to view our showroom call 020 8531 3413 or visit urbanmyth.net
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RocktheKasbah La Sultana is set within Marrakech’s imperial walls, yet is removed from the bustle of the souk. Time for you to check in for their new Style package, an homage to one of the city’s most all-time glamorous adopted residents, Yves Saint Laurent
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a Sultana is one of the most impressive hotels in Morocco, located in Marrakech and on the coast at Oualidia. Right in the heart of the Kasbah area, its enviable position enables guests to get an overview of the city from on high, courtesy of its incredible roof terrace which has sensational views over Marrakech and beyond to the Atlas Mountains. Like a box of delights, it offers welcome surprises at every turn, not least of which is the remarkable, hidden indoor swimming pool. Set within the old Imperial
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city walls, La Sultana oozes quintessential Moroccan charm, not to mention glamour. Comprising of five separate raids, it is an oasis of serenity; there are 28 bedrooms and suites, each individually designed to showcase Moroccan craftsmanship. And when relaxing in your room all gets too much, simply retreat to the heated swimming pool surrounded by palm, banana and sica trees, or to the resident restaurant, which serves western and local dishes.
The Spa Befitting of Marrakech’s ultimate boutique hotel, La Sultana’s awardwinning spa is something of a
TRAVEL: SPA BREAKS
Heavenly Herbs
Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest is a sublime articulation of the country house blended with the boutique city hotel. Their sensational garden spa epitomises relaxation secret hideaway offering traditional Moroccan treatments. For the authentic experience, do submit to the famous Royal Hammam, which uses black soap made from pressed olives. Massages, meanwhile, use only locally sourced essential oils and all treatments are tailor-made for your health and relaxation needs. The spa’s interiors are pleasingly sensuous, with crimson marble walls set off by wrought-iron lanterns and an irresistible glistening turquoise pool. Divide your time between two amazing hammams, plus a jacuzzi, sauna, beauty centre and balneotherapy baths. Honeymooners should book into one of the massage cabins in the open air for a spot of rejuvenating aromatherapy, balneotherapy or chromotherapy. La Sultana recently unveiled a ‘Style Package’ to mark the opening of the spectacular new Yves Saint Laurent Museum. It was here in Marrakech that he felt most prolific and creative, his sketchbook groaning with ideas for ingenious haute couture pieces. The museum, which will house thousands of his designs as chosen by his late partner Pierre Berg, is just yards from the iconic Jardin Majorelle, which Saint Laurent lovingly created during his stays in Marrakech. www.lasultanahotels.com
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ime Wood’s Herb House and Spa, set in the heart of the New Forest, 1.5 miles from the small town of Lyndhurst and only an hour and a half’s drive from London, is in principle, a country hotel. However, in truth, Lime Wood is a charming, sophisticated and slickly run boutique bolthole, radiating laidback luxury to all of its guests. Just like a refined city hotel, Lime Wood offers the highest standard of luxury. Yet, it is luxury with a difference. The hotel has kept its traditional structure but lovingly renovated it. Hidden within the shelter of the vast surrounding trees and stunning nature, Lime Wood mixes the spirit of its past whilst adding the odd contemporary twist
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TRAVEL: SPA BREAKS
to arouse within us a kind of magic. Renowned for its exceptional food, Lime Wood’s Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant opened in 2013. Angela Hartnett and Lime Wood’s Luke Holder have together created this culinary treasure and along with their team, create locally sourced Italian dishes. Exceptional food, immaculate service and superb facilities ensure Lime Wood is the only 5-star luxury hotel in the New Forest National Park.
The Spa Lime Wood has its own luxurious spa called the Herb House; a threestorey destination spa dedicated to
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natural wellbeing that has, without question, significantly raised the bar for destination spas. Inspired by its forest surroundings, the Herb House naturally invites a sense of serenity, bringing clients the ultimate rejuvenating retreat. The spa has ten spacious treatment rooms including two double signature rooms – the Bath House with an indoor double bath and private steam room, and the Bath Garden with an outdoor double bath and private steam room. The treat in store continues with hot pools, thermal rooms including the Forest Sauna, the Hands and Feet Room for manicures and pedicures, and private soak baths in changing rooms that feel like decadent bedroom suites fit for royalty. Beyond its state-of-the-art roof top gym with forest views is the Herbary, a beautiful roof garden that consolidates the forest experience. Filled with fragrant herbs, including a mintarium, these herbs and their fragrances are incorporated into as many of the spa treatments as possible. The Herbary provides the ultimate dream setting for meditation and reflection. In May 2018 two of the world’s most desirable wellness destinations; Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary &
Holistic Spa in Koh Samui, Thailand and Lime Wood’s Herb House Spa are set to join forces. Both inspired by their ancient forest surroundings and dedicated to natural wellbeing, they share a passion for authentic, holistic treatments and ideologies that take inspiration from centuries of wellbeing tradition. John and Karina Stewart, founders of Kamalaya will take up a residency at Herb House for a series of 2-day wellness retreats, designed to give guests ‘A taste of Kamalaya’. There are two, two-day ‘Taste of Kamalaya’ retreats, from 20 –22 May 2018 and 23 – 25 May 2018. www.kamalaya.com www.limewoodhotel.co.uk
PURVEYORS OF FINE TRADITIONAL PUNJABI CUISINE SINCE 1972
Much-loved Punjabi restaurant serving aromatic, spicy dishes in a no-frills, contemporary interior. OPEN ALL DAY 12AM – 11:30pm Seven Days a week 83-89 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 1JU 020 7247 6400 www.tayyabs.co.uk @1tayyabs