BELGRAVIA Resident’s Journal O C T O B E R 201 5
I S S U E 04 1
The Belgravia Residents’ Journal is published independently by Runwild Media Group with regular editorial contributions from Belgravian residents. We would highly value any feedback you wish to email us with: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk; or telephone us on 020 7987 4320.
w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k (020) 7987 4320
Dear Resident
,
Autumn is such a beautiful time of year, with rustic golden leaves making an appearance on the streets of Belgravia and crisp, cold days bringing round a shift in seasons. In essence, autumn is nature’s way of preparing for new beginnings. With this in mind, Francesca Lee speaks to Kate Percival, head of Grace Belgravia, about wellbeing from the inside out in this issue’s Belgravia Residents’ Journal; flick to page 16 to find out more. Elsewhere, we take a step back in time with a local history article about how Belgravia has changed from the 11th century to the present day, read on from page 10. And with Halloween at the end of this month, why not go soulsearching with a ghost walk in the area; Emma Rose Russell plots a route around her favourite local haunts on page 14. Finally, don’t miss the latest news (page 4), where to have the best Martini in Belgravia à la James Bond (page 8) and our inaugural Best of Belgravia where you the resident can put forward nominations for 15 categories which celebrate businesses, brands and outstanding residents. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with all your news and updates by emailing belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk. Alternatively, tweet us @thebelgravian. We hope you enjoy the issue.
Managing Editor Francesca Lee
Managing Director Eren Ellwood
Publishing Director Giles Ellwood
Main Editorial Contributor Henry Hopwood-Phillips
Senior Designer Daniel Poole
General Manager Fiona Fenwick
Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood
Production Hugo Wheatley Oscar Viney Jamie Steele Alice Ford
Executive Director Sophie Roberts
Above / The Faraway Tree from The Wonderland Series. Copyright Kirsty Mitchell Photography, kirstymitchellphotography.com. Turn to page 4 for more information
Proudly published & printed in the UK by
RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP
Client Relationship Manager Friday Dalrymple
Member of the Professional Publishers Association / ppa.co.uk
The Notebook
Who and what have been moving and shaking in Belgravia recently? We bring you up-to-date
Steakdown
The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant
Keeping amiable rivalries alive, even when off the pitch, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant has rugby fans eating as patriotically as possible with its limited-season Rugby World Cupinspired menu. Available until 31 October, the menu features themed plates paired with the perfect beer, ranging from an Aussie surf and turf alongside Coopers Pale Ale to an Irish sirloin streak teamed with Guinness. In this sporting season, it’s definitely worth a try.
Down the Rabbit Hole
From top: The Journey Home, archival pigment print, 140x108cm, edition of 5; The Pure Blood Of A Blossom, archival pigment print, 200x137cm, edition of 5
From the beginning of October, Grace Belgravia Members’ Club will be displaying the ethereal work of Kirsty Mitchell, an award-winning fine art photographer. Her exhibition, entitled Wonderland, depicts fantastical scenes inspired by her former career in fashion, all dedicated to her mother who passed away in 2008.
© Alan Kerr
gracebelgravia.com
Boot Heaven
Stivaleria Cavallin, the legendary Italian women’s bootmaker, has now brought her highest expression of style and craft to London. The newly-opened boutique on Elizabeth Street offers a whole wardrobe of women’s boots of unparalleled quality in the most luxurious leathers and exotic skins. 57 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PP, 020 3198 3269 stivaleriacavallin.com 004
theribroom.co.uk
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Tickle the Ivories
In among a series of five classical concerts in Eaton Square (1 October – 5 November) the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio will be performing powerful highlights from their eclectic programme. The critically acclaimed trio will play Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor, Dvoràk’s Piano Trio in E Minor, Op.90 (Dumky) and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Trio No.2, Op.92 as part of Eaton Square Concerts for their Anniversaries at Eaton Square programme. Visit the website for dates and tickets. eatonsquareconcerts.org.uk
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The Thomas Cubitt. Celebrating 10 years and counting... PUBLIC HOUSES & DINING ROOMS • CUBITTHOUSE.CO.UK
‘A must see before you buy boots’
57 Elizabeth Street, London SW1
Stivaleria Cavallin’s craft and heritage in women’s bootmaking is legendary. Since its founding in 1961 in the shoe making district of Venice, the Italian specialised workshop has remained the most revered by industry insiders. The one and dedicated Stivaleria Cavallin boutique just launched in Belgravia and is the go-to for shoe connoisseurs, where the world’s best boot craftsmen are literally at your feet. Here the Company presents only and ever the very best, perfectly designed boots of unparalleled quality and materials, and offers made to order, made to measure and bespoke service. Stivaleria Cavallin creations are available exclusively at 57 Elizabeth Street SW1 020 3198 3269 www.stivaleriacavallin.com
Shaken, not stirred I
t’s well known that the character of James Bond made the Martini his own within the pages of Casino Royale, in the form of the iconic Vesper cocktail. “Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?” (Casino Royale, 1953). Little is known about the recipe’s origin, though Fleming annotated a copy of the book for his friend Ivar Bryce: “For Ivar, who mixed
the first Vesper and said the good word.” Despite the fact that Kina Lillet has been discontinued (modern Vespers are made with Lillet Blanc) and the alcohol content of Gordon’s Gin has been reduced since the novel’s publication, it is still a popular drink, loaded with nostalgia. A large cocktail that’s very strong and very cold and very well made, the Vesper is proof that there’s plenty of room for experimentation with the classic Martini – after all, you only live twice.
Eaton Square Cocktail Bar Parties & Potions A youthful bar with a modern vibe, the Eaton Square Cocktail Bar treated me to quite an education. I encountered a true alchemist behind the bar who dreams up all sorts of concoctions and different ways to prepare, infuse and present the cocktails. This included a carefully honed Champagne Reduction Martini, a Volt espresso Martini complete with a splash of brandy, and a Negroni which is lavender-smoked beneath a bell jar. I was presented with a frozen glass with two lemon twists, one for the zest and one to garnish. He deftly added Star of Bombay gin to ice he’d previously stirred with a dash of Martini vermouth. A dry Martini that was accomplished, with every element delicately balanced. 17 Hobart Place, SW1W 0HH, 020 7235 9696 (eatonsquarebar.com)
Boisdale of Belgravia Jazz & Pizzazz Boisdale of Belgravia’s low lighting, quirky décor, sultry songstress and mass of tartan make for a cosy clubhouse setting for our Martinis. Despite the tiniest of lemon twists, the Vesper I was served was undeniably delicious. The list of alternative takes on the Martini was extensive and thoughtful, providing flavour combinations that fitted the Boisdale’s old-school style, with a dash of the eccentric. A true favourite of the whole evening had to be the Raspberry Chilli Martini – Reyka vodka, gomme syrup, lemon juice with fresh chilli and raspberries. There was the perfect amount of bite to counteract the sweetness, and the pure flavour of the vodka sang through with as much gusto as the live band. The singer soulfully sang the classic Goody Goody, and I agreed. 15 Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LX, 020 7730 6922 (boisdale.co.uk)
DRINKING & DINING
With famous former residents such as Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Ian Fleming, Belgravia is home to some of the best Martinis in London, as Elizabeth Finney discovers on her own top-secret mission
The Library Bar at The Lanesborough Clean-Cut Classic As one would expect, The Lanesborough made for an elegant and extremely sophisticated drinking environment. The attention to detail couldn’t be rivalled, as the engaging bar staff and manager displayed encyclopaedic knowledge of their spirits, the distilleries behind them, and the true art of garnishing. Not only did they offer a dish of olives, pickled onions and caperberries so I could garnish the cocktail to my taste, but also an imaginative innovation in the form of a lemon-twist vapour (lemon and lemongrass) and a delicate bottle of olive brine (for dirty Martinis) spoke volumes. Additionally, The Lanesborough uses a dry sherry instead of vermouth in its Martinis, which subtly takes the edge off what was an unmatchable Sipsmith gin Martini, stirred with finesse and presented in a frosted glass. Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA, 020 7259 5599 (lanesborough.com)
The bar staff have a seemingly instinctive ability to marry different spirits with the perfect garnishes, herbs and spices – The Botanist
The Botanist Herbal Haven True to its name, The Botanist offered a meticulous and almost horticultural experience. The bar staff have a seemingly instinctive ability to marry different spirits with the perfect garnishes, herbs and spices. Although the glass was not iced, they whipped up an excellent Martini. One perfectly executed classic, made with Grey Goose vodka and Noilly Prat vermouth with an elaborate twist of lemon, and then the signature Naturist Martini. Vodka, cherry liqueur, vanilla, passionfruit, pomegranate molasses and a shot of Prosecco on the side. Although this marvellous symphony of flavours somewhat masked the taste of the spirits, it was an innovative and delicious variation, sampled in a vibrant yet incredibly comfortable setting. 7 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE, 020 7730 0077 (sloanesquare.thebotanistlondon.com)
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From L-R: John Outhett, Laurie’s New Plan of London 1821, The Altea Gallery; LDN5338, Belgravia, The Map House of London
From highwaymen to
high society Elizabeth Finney investigates how an area of grazing livestock, highwaymen and marshland was tamed over the centuries to become modern-day Belgravia
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elgravia, despite its reassuring white-stuccoed uniform and seemingly timeless columns, was not always the pinnacle of luxury and class that it is today. In fact, until the early 11th century, it was an undesirable wasteland of marsh, swamps and pastures, which stretched across much of the SW1 postcode area. The land where Belgravia now stands was originally within the Eia Manor. This was a name that is believed to originate from the Anglo-Saxon ‘eyai’ meaning ‘island’, and its linguistic descendants can be found in current place
names, for example, Ebury Street. Although its boundaries are not clearly defined, the 1977 London County Council Survey of London defines the manor as roughly occupying the territory between the Roman road along the present-day Bayswater Road and Oxford Street on the north, the Thames on the south, the Tyburn to the east, and the Westbourne on the west. The latter two of these rivers now reside underground and connect to the sewer system – you can see the Westbourne flowing through a green pipe at Sloane Square tube station. Prior to the damming of the Westbourne
LOCAL HISTORY
livestock would graze. After the Norman invasion, William the Conqueror gave the plot to Geoffrey de Mandeville, the sheriff of London. He founded Hurley Priory as a cell of Westminster Abbey, and left Eia Manor to the Abbey monks in his will. During this period two areas of the manor became distinguished in their own right, those of Hyde and Neyte, now Hyde Park and Pimlico. The remaining Eia Manor, which evolved into Ebury Manor, stayed with the monks until it was seized by Henry VIII in 1536, shortly before the monastery was dissolved in 1540. The marshy Saxon settlement remained dangerous to travellers throughout the tenure of its various owners. The villages stayed small, although the area was celebrated for its taverns and one could often find Samuel Pepys
Belgravia comes from a small village called Belgrave in Cheshire
in 1730, watercress grew by its banks and it was crossed by a wooden bridge known as Bloody Bridge. The high volume of duels and violent robberies committed there could be a reason for this rather ominous name, along with the fact that it was a popular haunt for highwaymen well into the 18th century. So where did this leave Belgravia? According to the London Encyclopaedia, the area became known as “Five Fields”, for the uncreative reason one might predict that “It was intersected by footpaths cutting it into five”. The volume goes on to say that it was a flat, treeless area where
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sinking a snifter in The World’s End public house in nearby Knightsbridge, as is recorded in his diary dated 31 May 1669. Ebury Manor was passed down through the Tudor royal family and was let out to more wealthy members of society, before the Stuart Ring James I sold the area to Temple barrister Hugh Audley in 1623. Audley’s manor fell into the hands of his grand-niece Mary Davies in 1666 when she was one year old. Mary married Sir Thomas Grosvenor in 1677, adding Ebury’s 500 acres of swamp, pasture and orchards to the Grosvenor’s London Estate, although the Five Fields did not start being built up into Belgravia until the 1820s. Until then, the Five Fields remained predominantly rural and undeveloped aside from a row of “fair houses” built in Grosvenor Place in 1726, one of which was bought for the purpose of the Lock Hospital which opened in 1746. For nearly 100 years the charity hospital gave treatment to those with venereal diseases, also known as “the secret malady”. Londoners would go to the Five Fields for duck shooting in the holidays, and there were garden markets selling succulent vegetables near the fields where the haymakers would work. Still dangerous at night, the London Encyclopaedia documents two more gruesome events in the Five Fields, one in 1728 when a man was found murdered, missing half his face and five fingers, as well as a muffin man who was robbed and blinded in 1749. The area’s main claim to fame during this era was fleeting resident Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who briefly lived at Five Fields Row in 1764, now known as Mozart Terrace on Ebury Street. Belgravia finally started to take a more regal shape in 1826, when Norfolk-born builder Thomas Cubitt was commissioned by Earl Grosvenor to develop the area. The name Belgravia comes from a small village called Belgrave in Cheshire on the Eaton estate of the Grosvenor family. Having already developed Mayfair, Grosvenor constructed Belgravia as a fashionable and expensive rival area, centred around
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LOCAL HISTORY
rary, London ner, Wellcome Lib l, Hyde Park Cor The Lock Hospita
Sir Thomas Grosvenor, 3rd Baronet, 1678, by Peter Lely (1618-1680) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons;
North-east Side of Belgrave Square, Pimlico by Thomas H. Shepherd. Published 1828. [Public domain or No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons
Wellcome Library, London
Pimlico and Belgrave Square, in 1826. The houses were rapidly filled, and even Queen Victoria gave it her seal of approval by renting number 36 for her mother, the Duchess of Kent, for £2,000 a year. Prestigious names from Britain’s history books flooded to the area, notably the poet Lord Alfred Tennyson, author Mary Shelley and anatomist Henry Gray. Although much of Cubitt’s original design of Belgravia has been upheld in its architecture, like the rest of London, it was hit hard by the two world wars. Eaton Square, which was used for vegetable allotments during the Second World War, was hit opposite house numbers 40-48 on May 11 1941. The bomb narrowly missed a trench shelter, where 22 people had taken refuge. No fewer than 331 bombs were dropped in Knightsbridge and Belgravia from 7 October 1940 to 6 June 1941, and many areas, specifically the Ebury Bridge, Hugh Street and Sloane Square, suffered massive destruction from the relentless attacks. In the post-war period, approximately half of the residential homes in Belgravia were turned into various embassies, charity headquarters and prestigious institutions looking for a prestigious location. Aside from forming the centre stage for Upstairs, Downstairs in the 1970s, Belgravia’s more recent history has had its fair share of glamour and intrigue. The infamous Star Tavern in Belgrave Mews whet the whistles of actors Albert Finney, Peter O’Toole and Diana Dors, but is better known for being the pub where much of the planning for the Great Train Robbery of 1963 was done.
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British poultry club Eaton Square, March 1943
Looking around the sleek, white-stuccoed architecture of Belgravia, it’s hard to picture a scene of marshland, highwaymen or grazing donkeys. Over the past millennium, Belgravia has gone from rags to riches, lending itself to an exclusive minority of the wealthy and successful, while retaining that charming archetype of British finery. That said, with London growing at such a rate, who knows what will become of the city’s most sought-after postcode.
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Belgravia’s most famous restaurant, brasserie & bar
Open 7 days a week 26 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6382 email: info@motcombs.co.uk w w w.motcombs.co.uk
Soul searching For those entertaining the thought of an eerie, moonlit wander this Halloween on 31 October, Emma Rose Russell plots a route around her favourite Belgravia haunts that is sure to put a spook in your step
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t is no coincidence that this beautiful area of London has a welcoming name for lost souls looking to settle beyond the grave and many residents are all too aware that they share their streets with a plethora of paranormal presences. Ending at one of the most spirited pubs in the city, this 30-minute stroll will unearth some of the busiest nobodies around.
An appeasing apparition
As unearthly beings are thought to have little respect for the limitations of the living, it is fitting that our ghost walk begins just outside the boundaries of Belgravia at Apsley House – fondly known as Number One London. Now open to the public as a museum, this grand Georgian building was purchased by the first Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley in 1817 two years after his glorious victory at the Battle of Waterloo. By 1832, however, the former Tory prime minister
had become deeply unpopular with the people and his opposition to the Reform Act caused an angry mob to congregate outside his home at Hyde Park Corner. It was at this crucial point in British history that the ghost of Oliver Cromwell allegedly appeared to the Iron Duke in a bid to change his mind about the Act. Wearing his distinctive suit of armour and a deeply unimpressed expression, the figure is said to have simply pointed at the seething crowds while fixing his eyes on the person he was so disillusioned with.
A well-connected community
Crossing into Belgravia via Duke of Wellington Place, take Grosvenor Crescent down to Belgrave Square and continue clockwise until you reach number 33. You’re now standing at the site of many a spine-tingling seance, as this smart, white-stuccoed townhouse was the headquarters of the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain for more
GHOST WALK
The uninvited guest
Continue down Chesham Place and on to Pont Street until you reach the red-brick building on the corner with Sloane Street. Now under construction to be reopened as a lavish Belmond Cadogan hotel in 2017, the former Cadogan Hotel was constructed in 1887 and was at the centre of Victorian controversy when Oscar Wilde was arrested in room 118. As the commemorative blue plaque indicates, the Cadogan Hotel was also the home of Lillie Langtry, the charming socialite and entertainer who caught the eye of the future King Edward VII, resulting in a scandalous three-year affair. Although she was a vivacious and free spirit in her lifetime, Lillie is believed to make a rather shy spectre, only appearing in the hotel restaurant at quiet moments. than 50 years. Indeed, until 2011, the property acted first and foremost as a meeting point for grieving or intrigued members of the public and restless spirits who would make contact when beckoned by a medium.
A commanding presence
Moving swiftly on, take a left down Eaton Place and keep an eye out for a naval officer sporting a splendid blue frock coat and an immaculately trimmed beard. Without a shadow of a doubt, if you happen across such a fellow it will be Sir George Tryon, who made a tragic miscalculation while commanding the Mediterranean Fleet close to the coast of Syria in 1893. At the exact moment when his ship went down, his wife was giving a party at their residence in Eaton Place. When baffled guests apparently told the hostess they had just seen the admiral sweep across the room in full military regalia, she explained it wasn’t possible as he was at sea. Upon learning of his death the next day, however, she realised they had seen her husband’s spirit as he passed into the next world.
Unfinished business
Retracing your steps to the top of the street, turn left on to Chesham Place and advance to number 38 – the only semidetached house on this road. Standing proudly today as the Embassy of Finland, the Thomas Cubitt-designed property dates back to the early 1830s and was privately owned by a series of distinguished individuals. Although there is no record of paranormal activity before 1975, embassy employees have had their fair share of spooks, with even the most sceptical admitting to uncanny occurrences. Preceded by a deathly silence and a drop in temperature, the most frequent sightings are of a little girl in an old-fashioned nightgown. Believed to have fallen from her nursery window on the third floor, the girlish ghoul tends to appear on the stairs.
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The pub quivers with supernatural activity The vanishing visage
Commence north up Sloane Street and take a right turn on Harriet Street to arrive at Lowndes Square, where you may be met with a contorted countenance. It belongs to a playful phantom in the form of a white-haired old lady who sits at the kerb in an antique bath-chair and makes faces at passers-by.
A fatal gamble
Leaving Lowndes Square, head north on to Seville Street until you hit the Knightsbridge section of the A4 and walk adjacent to the main road before turning right at Old Barrack Yard. Follow this down to Wilton Row and, at the end of the seven-minute stretch, you can rightly reward yourself with a tipple at The Grenadier pub. Often referred to as London’s most famous haunted pub, this cosy tavern was once the rowdy drinking den of a nearby army barracks. One particularly riotous gambling night, things got out of hand and a young card sharp suffered a deathly punishment when he was caught cheating. Although loyal patrons have since tried to pay off his debt by covering the ceiling in money, the reverberations of the assault are still apparently felt today and the pub quivers with supernatural activity. On your visit, you may see objects mysteriously dart across the room or peculiar puffs of smoke come out of nowhere. On the other hand, even if the poltergeist suffers from stage fright, the pub’s carefully curated selection of gin, vodka and whisky means you are guaranteed to leave in high spirits.
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The
Belgravian Saving grace
Francesca Lee speaks to the woman behind Grace Belgravia, Kate Percival
PROFILE
“I
am unemployable,” Kate Percival, founder of Grave Belgravia tells me. The lady behind the women’s private health club in the heart of Belgravia makes a rather frank admission. Describing herself as a bit of a maverick and looking every inch the power woman, it’s no surprise that Kate couldn’t work for anyone but herself. “I’m very driven and passionate about what I do and it’s sometimes hard to constrain that within someone else’s parameters,” she tells me. Kate, who has owned a string of her own businesses since 1994, likes things to be done correctly. “I really don’t like mediocrity, if someone is going to be mediocre, they’re not for me.” Kate attended a grammar school in the Cotswolds before moving to London in her late teens. She started her working life as a secretary in 1977 in the chairman’s office at Lloyds of London. “I always wanted to go to work and although I slightly regretted not going to university, I was so lucky that I got such an amazing job,” she recounts. She later joined an architecture firm after she realised she “had a big passion for buildings and interior design”, before embarking on a career in advertising and marketing. “We all have creativity in our hearts, it’s just finding the right way to express it,” she says. After starting out as a personal assistant, Kate’s bosses saw her potential and she quickly became an account handler. From there, she set up her own company in property marketing, which she later sold in 1997 to Chime Communications, but continued being the chairman of creative and marketing services for the group for four years. After deciding to do it all again, she quickly realised that “you shouldn’t do the same thing twice” and that her heart was no longer in it. That was the turning point. “I realised I needed a career change and as I was getting older I was becoming more and more interested in health and wellbeing, and how lifestyle affects it. Many of my friends became ill through stress and I wanted to find a way to combat this,” she says. In 2009, Kate decided to study for a master’s degree in luxury brands and services at the International University of Monaco. “As I hadn’t been to university, I needed to get three references to prove that I was capable,” she says. “Yet being a mature student I worked really hard as I felt I had something to prove.” It was during this period that Kate had the idea of bringing wellbeing to women in London on a differential scale. “I wrote my thesis on the convergence of medicine and the global spa industry, which would later transpire into a base for the business plan of Grace Belgravia.” Not many people
can say that. Kate – who has lived in Belgravia for eight years – was on her way to Waitrose when she saw a local estate agent putting up a board on the railings outside of the building that was previously Daylesford & Bamford. “I had a viewing that afternoon and saw what a tardis the building was and decided that it would be the perfect place for Grace Belgravia,” she says. After completing the exchange in February 2012, the interior of the Grade IIlisted building was remodelled and Kate incorporated much of her previous design experience before opening just a few months later in May. Commenting on what a relaxing place it is, she tells me about how it was cleansed by burning sage and that crystals are dotted around the whole building. Maybe a little hocus-pocus for me, but the space is definitely serene. Kate also points out: “Although we’re a health and wellbeing club, we’re so much more than that; a lot of people use Grace Belgravia for business meetings, talks and lectures on everything from art to current affairs – it’s important to encourage discussion.” But what about those who might be of the opinion that the club is anti-men? “That’s certainly not the case,” Kate rectifies. “We’re pro-women but men use the club too and regularly come to weekend brunch – and Grace Medical is available to them too.” With half of its members living in and around Belgravia, the club is very much involved in the local community and has been recently appointed by Grosvenor and the Belgrave Square Garden Committee to run fitness classes in Belgrave Square. “We’ve very excited about it and there is some fantastic equipment too,” says Kate. The club has also set up the Grace Belgravia Foundation which raises money to support causes that are helpful to women and their children. “Last year we had a clothes sale which made £42,000 – people were so generous that we decided to have another one this November.” But what does the future hold for Kate and the club? “I’d like to open more Graces around the world – we’re currently looking at New York as we already have partners over there and we have a lot of American clients, so it’s definitely the next step,” she says. Work aside, Kate must surely find some time to unwind. “My guilty pleasure is an excellent glass of wine,” she says. I probe which one, “biodynamic of course.” It seems that you can take Kate out of Grace Belgravia but you can’t take Grace Belgravia out of Kate.
We all have creativity in our hearts
(gracebelgravia.com)
Illustration / Russ Tudor
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Say
cheese
Bethan Rees finds out what La Cave à Fromage has to offer the residents of Belgravia, from the weird to the wonderful
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heese brings everyone together. Whether it’s a brimming board at Christmas time to satiate family and friends in front of a roaring fire, or a cheese and wine soirée at home, these dairy goodies initiate a spark of excitement and conversation in most people (even if it’s a discussion of disdain). One institution that is keeping Belgravia, its residents and restaurants including Petrus, The Orange and The Belgrave Hotel stocked full of the finest cheeses is La Cave à Fromage. Its first shop opened in South Kensington in 2007 was a triumph from its very inception and was recently named the third best cheese shop in the world by The Telegraph. But it’s not just SW7 that is blessed with its presence; there are also branches in Hove and Notting Hill. However, its history dates back to 1999 when Eric Charriaux and Amnon Paldi founded Premier Cheese. The duo would drive to France in a little blue van and visit cheesemakers, filling their van with the best cheese they could find and bringing it all back to the UK, where Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons was one of the company’s first customers. Fast-forward to 2015 and David Deaves is running the show at all three shops as he has been made the regional manager for La Cave à Fromage. “I’ve eaten cheese all my life. I’m from Lancashire and was brought up on traditional Lancashire cheese,” says David says. “I used to be sent up to the farm on Saturday mornings to collect milk and get some cheese.” He originally trained to be a chef but didn’t follow this path through. Instead he went to work in hotels, and from there he moved to events. “I was made redundant in the middle of the last financial crisis, and because I
David Deaves
lived in Brighton and had commuted to London for 14 years, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to look for something nearer home, but there was not a lot on offer on the Brighton food scene,” he explains. “But, La Cave (à Fromage) had opened in nearby Hove and I decided that was the only place I wanted to work.” He went on to the shop’s website to seek out its next cheese and wine tasting, but coincidentally saw a position advertised for a manager’s role, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
Our ethos is about sharing our passion and giving advice With the cheese world at David’s feet, La Cave à Fromage has access to more than 400 cheeses. But how does the company make its selection? “There are always a few staples, Comté and Roquefort, for example, and then you build around that with some more unusual cheeses that you might not find in all supermarkets, like Mimolette and Brie de Meaux which is produced by the Rothschild family,” he tells me. What does David think the aim of the company is? “Our ethos is about sharing our passion and giving advice. We get lots of people who sometimes feel intimidated by the shop, because they might not know a lot about cheese but we want to help,” he says. Visiting any one of the shops, your eyes will be met by a counter of some favourites and classics, from brie to goats’ cheese. However, there are some more curious offerings too. “We have a Brie Noir,” he begins to explain. “The Brie de Meaux is an AOC cheese (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, translating to: Controlled Name of Origin) so the makers have very strict regulations that they have to follow in order to give it that title. But, if it doesn’t meet those criteria, the cheesemaker has two options: throw it away, or do something with it. So this product is aged for 12 months and becomes a hard, brittle brie with a distinctive flavour; it’s a cheese you love or hate.” There’s truly something for everyone at La Cave à Fromage. la-cave.co.uk
DRINKING & DINING
A good
catch
Francesca Lee reviews Michelin-starred restaurant Outlaw’s at The Capital hotel
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In anticipation of my main, I was served a top-up of ince opening in 2012, Outlaw’s at The Capital has the house red wine, while being educated by one of the received much praise for its British seafood, which very attentive and dutiful waiting staff about its origins is predominately caught off the coast of Cornwall, from The Capital owner David Levin’s very own vineyards where chef Nathan Outlaw also runs his eponymous in the Loire Valley. The wine was rich but easy on the restaurant in the village of Port Isaac. Normally more palate, and paired perfectly with a more heavyweight of a carnivore than a pescetarian, I was keen to try out plate of lamb rump, served with creamy anchovy potato, its offerings. Along with previous critics, I found the aubergine and courgettes, which offered a intimate dining space to be a slight mismatch gorgeously smooth texture while sating my between the room and Nathan’s style of Breaded Hake, Asparagus, Leeks & Wild Garlic appetite from the starter. cooking, which is executed on a daily In a slight quirk to the usual basis by head chef Pete Biggs. The restaurant experience, the dessert atmosphere also seemed lacking of raspberry and treacle tart with and appeared to cater to older clotted cream and elderflower ice generations, but then again cream was, in fact, ordered at the understandable as I dined on the beginning of the meal, owing to its last Friday of August, when there lengthy preparation time. However, is always a mass exodus in this diners are certainly rewarded for their part of town. commitment through the enjoyment of a After a short introduction to the pudding in which the super-sweetness of the restaurant and its offerings, I was greeted treacle is tempered just enough by the cream and with a pre-starter of rosemary bread which was tartness of the fruit to make this a truly delightful creation. faultless, especially when accompanied with lashings of I washed this down with a smooth, flat white (so good that salted butter. This was followed by a small but perfectly I ordered another), which provided the ultimate finale, and formed starter of seaweed and cider-cured salmon with more than enough caffeine to fuel a brisk walk home. cucumber chutney and horseradish yogurt. The dish was light and refreshing, but left me wanting more. Much more, in fact – a testament to the high quality but also the 22-24 Basil Street, SW3 1AT, haute cuisine portion size. 020 7591 1202 (capitalhotel.co.uk)
Restaurant interior
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
Nathan Outlaw
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Residents’ Culture Exploring the minutiae of residents’ concerns and encounters
Dear
Auntie
Issues ranging from etiquette to depression afflict every area of the world, but not all places have a person as sage as our agony aunt to solve them… If you’d like any of your problems answered, email belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk and we’ll forward your concerns to Auntie.
Dear Auntie,
Dear Auntie,
I had a make-up trial for my wedding the other day, which I took my mother-in-law to. Although I liked the make-up I wasn’t over the moon with it and thought I could potentially do it myself. However, before coming to any decision, unbeknown to me, a week later I found out that she had booked the make-up artist for herself and a guest for the morning of the wedding. I feel this is bad etiquette and am rather annoyed. Am I right to be?
My husband and I are good friends with a couple who live just down the road from us. We regularly go out to dinner with them and sometimes their children. However, every time they let their children play on every technical device known to man, including an iPad, mobile phone and games console. We find this rude and have resisted saying anything to them, but should we?
Best wishes, Sarah
All the best, Gabriella
Dear Sarah,
Dear Gabriella,
Thank you for sending through your dilemma regarding your forthcoming wedding. I have no doubt you see this as meddling; I imagine such a feeling is justified. However, I do not see it as a big problem as surely you could find another one so that they can work in parallel to ensure everyone is made up ready for the occasion. If the make-up artistry includes you and you are not overly happy with his or her work, I think you should find someone else anyway. Mothers and mothers-in-law do tend to regard the weddings of their children as ‘their’ big day and I would suggest that anything the lady in question has done was more to enhance, rather than detract, from the big day.
Thank you for highlighting the modern-day conundrum about technical devices and their place in our daily lives. I think it’s rude if people play, read or use their phones, iPad or other gadgets while engaging in tea, breakfast, dinner or lunch. How people bring up their children is entirely a matter for them, but if you are good friends, a quiet word on the side is called for. It is possible, however, that the kids are technically obsessed due to a lack of conversation or interest in others. Perhaps invite these people to your home and, in doing so, say all technical gadgets are to be left at home – set a trend and act by example.
Yours sincerely, Auntie
Yours sincerely, Auntie
The views expressed on this page are not held by the Residents’ Journal. The page offers a platform for the voices of our local residents to discuss topics they feel relevant and important.
October roundup by Sue Liberman
One of Belgravia’s best-kept secrets is that on the second Sunday of every month there’s a fabulous classiccar event in Chesham Place. Well, actually it’s not really a secret but is only known by word-of-mouth and I didn’t know about it until my lovely neighbours Bill and Hazel Collins said “Do come on Sunday”. So on the morning of Sunday 13 September, I went to the private gardens in Chesham Place where the 96 Club hosts this thoroughly enjoyable classic-car morning, together with a great breakfast. Hazel had told me they did the best bacon “butties”…. which they do! Rosie and her sons ensured that everyone was “well-fed and watered” with tea, coffee, bacon baps, croissants and cupcakes. The story of the formation of the 96 Club is the stuff of legend When sportscar driver Ray Bellm was “done” for speeding on the public highway back in 1976, his Ferrari was clocked at 96mph. The resulting ban left Ray with the dilemma of how to enjoy the performance of his new steed. His friend, Michael Scott, had the bright idea of forming a “track club” for circuit driving – the first of its kind. The subsequent name “96 Club” followed as a matter of course. Membership of the 96 Club was exclusive, as it was passed on by wordof-mouth by those “in the know”. However, it was never driven by status in any way. If you were mad about cars and driving and were introduced by an enthusiastic member, you were in. As a member, the delights of the track were yours to enjoy – as was the camaraderie and warm welcome afforded to all who turned up. Members were privy to the magic of an early-morning blast on a track followed by coffee and a bacon buttie with like-minded pilots of all kinds of exotica – old, new, expensive or rare. In time, the concept of track club circuit days was copied but the style and panache could never be reproduced. Where else could you chat about the secret of attaining greater corner exit speed through Church, Madgewick, Hawthorns or Woodcote with a world-famous rock star or movie star? Even better, a champion track driver would jump in your car and show you precisely how to do it. Bliss it was, never to be repeated elsewhere. Sadly Michael Scott had a heart attack, and during his recuperation the 96 Club was put on the back burner. Fortunately, he made a magnificent recovery, and with it, he has revived the 96 Club. Its events will always be different not just because of the cars, but because of the people. Michael Scott Who does Scottie not know? Who doesn’t know Scottie? Michael is first and foremost a passionate car enthusiast with a particular soft spot for the prancing horse of Ferrari. Of course, he is the founder of the 96 Club.
Bill Collins Bill is a genuine bona-fide classic-car expert with an eye for detail that is second to none. At 25 he bought the Ferrari 250 Lusso that he still owns and runs today. His tremendous depth of knowledge and enthusiasm is an asset to the 96 Club. Suzi Grant-Fernyhough Suzi has worked closely with Michael for many years, from the fabled Club Soixante-Douze du Mans to the birth of the 96 Club. She takes care of the details and ensures that everything runs smoothly. Graham Glen Graham is the photographer for the 96 Club and has taken all of the fabulous photographs. Sir Stirling Moss OBE and Derek Bell MBE – patrons of the 96 Club Stirling really needs no introduction to anyone with an interest in driving and his illustrious racing career – his name is a byword for speed. Derek started his Formula 1 career with Ferrari and went on to become a legend of endurance car racing, particularly with Porsche at Le Mans, where he won the great race five times. The next event in Chesham Place Gardens is Sunday morning 11 October. All are welcome and I look forward to seeing you there. Admission free. For more information, please visit 96club.co.uk.
Until next month...
If there’s anything you would like me to know about, I can be contacted on 07957 420 911 or on sue@sueliberman.com
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
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Beauty &Grooming Look your most radiant with the latest luxury beauty products
A good egg
Enriched with a nourishing, firming complex that helps stimulate the production of collagen so as to prevent further loss, La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream lifts and firms as it re-contours and re-defines. If you’re a fan of caviar, then this is the product for you as it uses a concentration of the superfood.
Time is of the essence If you’re looking for an instant fix, then Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion has the answer. Aimed to be fast-acting, line-fighting and collagen-building, it gives dehydrated skin a boost to help reduce a wrinkle-depth appearance.
£292 for 50ml (laprairie.co.uk) £65 for 30ml (murad.co.uk)
Autumn is in the air The Belgravia Residents’ Journal has collated some of the most new, exciting and indulgent product ranges this month, perfect for the changing seasons
Go with the glow
Honey, I’m home
£155 for 30ml (cremedelamer.co.uk)
Duo Moisturiser, £230 for 50ml (skinchemists.com)
Oils are all the rage at the moment, but Crème de la Mer is at the top of its game with the launch of its Renewal Oil. Delivering cellrenewing energy for the face, it gives tired and dehydrated skin a much-needed boost.
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
With the Duchess of Cambridge allegedly using its products, skinChemists has launched a new advanced Bee Venom range. Using a cocktail of essential daily vitamins, anti-oxidants and moisturisers, it aims to instantly plump and help smooth skin.
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Suppliers of quality bespoke doors and ironmongery to some of the UK’s finest homes. Showrooms: Esher, Surrey & Chelsea Harbour 01932 851 081 or 0207 376 7000 info@solidwoodendoors.com www.solidwoodendoors.com
Planning &Development Keeping you in the know about important street plans affecting Belgravia
A Rare Bloom
We have an early contender for Instruction Of The Year in the shape of a majestic Grade-II listed Eaton Square mansion. This mid-terrace beauty, on the preferred northern flank ticks that and all the other boxes, hence the £55million price tag. We’re talking more than 10,700 square feet of internal space, including reception rooms, plus seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, a massive winter garden complete with retractable roof, passenger lift, separate mews house with double garage and an indoor swimming pool. The condition throughout is, as you would expect, immaculate.
Balancing the Books The UK CEO of Credit Suisse is causing a stir throughout the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Garrett Curran has proposed the amalgamation of three flats at 34-38 Pont Street, to create a six-bedroom home atop the Grade II-listed terrace. This would be in exchange for the formation of four flats in a dilapidated house in Holland Road, as Kensington & Chelsea council is under pressure to produce more homes in the area. The target date for a decision on the application is 5 October, so The Journal will keep you posted on its findings in the coming months.
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
Images courtesy of Knight Frank
Lucky old Knight Frank has been appointed sole agent, so let’s hear from Stuart Bailey, head of the firm’s Belgravia office: “This is a genuinely rare opportunity to own a freehold house in Eaton Square. The property is one of only 15 houses remaining out of 118 buildings in Eaton Square. With the shortage of houses of this calibre currently available for sale, our client considers it an opportune moment to sell.” primeresi.com
PLANNING APPLICATIONS DATE RECEIVED
ADDRESS
PROPOSAL
24 August
Brompton Road
Replacement of entrance doors and internal lobby doors
24 August
Cadogan Lane
Creation of basement and living space
26 August
Chelsea Barracks
Internal and external alterations including creation of basement level pool and conversion of building into two dwellings
2 October
Pont Street
Internal alterations (listed building consent only)
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The Belgravia
Directory
A compendium of the area’s key establishments
Estate Agents Ayrton Wylie 16 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 4628
Douglas Lyons & Lyons 33 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 7933
Knight Frank Lettings 82-83 Chester Square 020 7881 7730
Best Gapp & Cassells 81 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 9253
Harrods Estates 82 Brompton Road 020 7225 6506
Knight Frank Sales 47 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7881 7722
Chesterton Belgravia 31 Lowndes Street 020 7235 3530
Henry & James 1 Motcomb Street 020 7235 8861
Marler & Marler 6 Sloane Street 020 7235 9641
Savills 139 Sloane Street 020 7730 0822
Strutt & Parker 66 Sloane Street 020 7235 9959
Food & Drink BARS
CAFÉS
Amaya Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street 020 7823 1166
Tomtom Coffee House 114 Ebury Street 020 7730 1771
The Garden Room (cigar) The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599
PUBLIC HOUSES/ DINING ROOMS
RESTAURANTS The Pantechnicon 10 Motcomb Street 020 7730 6074 thepantechnicon.com
Motcombs 26 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6382 motcombs.co.uk
The Orange 37 Pimlico Road 020 7881 9844 theorange.co.uk
The Thomas Cubitt 44 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 6060 thethomascubitt.co.uk
Uni 18a Ebury Street 020 7730 9267 restaurantuni.com
DENTIST
DOCTOR
HAIR SALONS
WELLBEING CLUB
The Beresford Clinic 2 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7821 9411
The Belgrave Medical Centre 13 Pimlico Road 020 7730 5171
The Daniel Galvin Jr. Salon 4a West Halkin Street 020 7245 1050
ARCHITECTS/ DESIGN
CLEANING
GALLERIES
Kudu Services
88 Gallery 86-88 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2728
The Library Bar (wine) The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599
Health & Wellbeing
Grace Belgravia 11c West Halkin Street 020 7235 8900 gracebelgravia.com
Home ANTIQUES Bennison 16 Holbein Place 020 7730 8076 Patrick Jefferson 69 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6161
Weldon Walshe 20 Grosvenor Place 020 7235 4100
Discreet, confidential cleaning services for offices and homes of distinction
27 Mortimer Street 020 8704 5988 kuduservices.co.uk
Gallery 25 26 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7516
Fashion BOUTIQUES Philip Treacy 69 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3992
Herve Leger 29 Lowndes Street 020 7201 2590
Christian Louboutin 23 Motcomb Street 020 7245 6510
EXCLUSIVE
IT SUPPORT
Nevena Couture (clients by appointment only)
Lowndes Street 020 3539 8738 nevena.co.uk
Services BANKS Duncan Lawrie Private Banking 1 Hobart Place 020 7245 1234 duncanlawrie.com
The Caledonian Club 9 Halkin Street 020 7235 5162 caledonianclub.com
SOLICITORS
Dashwood Solutions Contact Jonny Hyam for all your IT needs 07787 507 407
POST OFFICE Post Office 6 Eccleston Street 0845 722 3344
Child & Child 14 Grosvenor Crescent 020 7235 8000 childandchild.co.uk
Psychotherapy Suzanne Thomas DHC MRes, Hypnotherapist / Psychotherapist 07770 378791 suzannethomas@ suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk
TRAVEL Passepartout Homes Ltd 020 7513 2876 passepartout-homes.com info@passepartout-homes.com
Speciality Shops CIGAR SPECIALIST Tomtom Cigars 63 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1790
CONFECTIONERS Peggy Porschen 116 Ebury Street 020 7730 1316 Pierre Hermé Paris 13 Lowndes Street 020 7245 0317 Rococo Chocolates 5 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0993
DELI La Bottega 25 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2730
JEWELLERS De Vroomen 59 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1901
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
VICKISARGE 38 Elizabeth Street 020 7259 0202
Elizabeth Gage 5 West Halkin Street 020 7823 0100 eg@elizabeth-gage.com elizabeth-gage.com
PERFUMERIES Floris 147 Ebury Street 020 7730 0304 florislondon.com
NEWSAGENT
Mayhew Newsagents 15 Motcomb Street 020 7235 5770 Mayhew Newsagents is a local Belgravian institution. As well as supplying the area with national and international newspapers and magazines, it provides an extensive range of stationery, computer supplies and postal services. Opening times: Monday to Friday 7am-6pm, Saturday 8am-2pm, Sunday 8am-1pm
Local delivery service available
BOOTMAKERS Stivaleria Cavallin 57 Elizabeth Street 020 3198 3269 stivaleriacavallin.com
027
Eaton Square, Belgravia SW1 Chesham Place, Belgravia SW1 Bright three bedroomwhite lateralstucco apartment A newly refurbished fronted house with a lift An immaculate and spacious apartmentstandard, located inthis thisextremely well maintained conversion in prestigious Eaton Square, Recently refurbished to an impeccable spacious south facing house is positioned on the Belgravia. Master bedroom withwindows en suite on bathroom andand dressing room, furtherfrom good double bedroom with en corner of Chesham Place with two sides therefore benefits natural light. Thesuite bathroom, bedroom, bathroom, reception room, fully diningdistance. Master room, juliet balcony, lift access, internationally renowned shops on Knightsbridge are fitted withinkitchen, easy walking bedroom with enporter suite services. EPC: C. Approximately 148 m (1,595 sq ft). dining room, kitchen, staff bedroom, cinema room, gym, bathroom, 3 further bedroom suites, 3sq reception rooms, massage room, steam room, lift. Grade II listed. Approximately 614.1 sq m (6,610 sq ft). Available furnished Freehold Guide price: £2,400 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/BEQ137187 Guide price: £22,000,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/belgravia belgravialettings@knightfrank.com belgravia@knightfrank.com 00220 33664411 65090150 Napierwatt.co.uk info@napierwatt.co.uk 0 2 0 7 9 3 5 0 0 1 1
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges KnightFrank.co.uk/BGV150125
Belgravia Residents Journal - Residents Oct editionJournal - October Edition '15 - FINAL 8 Chesham Place - Belgravia
15/09/2015 15/09/2015 15:42:25 14:49:01
8C
25 01
Chesham Place, Belgravia SW1 A newly refurbished white stucco fronted house with a lift Recently refurbished to an impeccable standard, this extremely spacious south facing house is positioned on the corner of Chesham Place with windows on two sides and therefore benefits from good natural light. The internationally renowned shops on Knightsbridge are within easy walking distance. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 3 further bedroom suites, 3 reception rooms, dining room, kitchen, staff bedroom, cinema room, gym, massage room, steam room, lift. Grade II listed. Approximately 614.1 sq m (6,610 sq ft). Freehold Guide price: £22,000,000
KnightFrank.co.uk/belgravia belgravia@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5910 Napierwatt.co.uk info@napierwatt.co.uk 020 7935 0011
@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk
KnightFrank.co.uk/BGV150125
8 Chesham Place - Belgravia Residents Journal - October Edition '15 - FINAL
15/09/2015 14:49:01
Introducing
Super Prime Lettings
Left to right – Georgina Rusling, Clare Foster, Tacita Rolls, Stevie Walmesley, Tom Smith, Emily Englander, Louise Sergeant, John Humphris, Rahim Najak, Isobel Pickering, Sophie Woolfenden (absent)
Q: How have you put the team together?
Knight Frank launches their new look Super Prime Lettings Team Knight Frank has unveiled the line-up of their new, dedicated Super Prime Lettings Team led by Tom Smith. After a detailed review of both their existing business model and those of their competitors they have launched what they believe will provide the optimum level of service to both their clients and applicants alike. We spoke to Tom to try and understand more about their new initiative and the wider team.
CT432_Spread_London_Mag_RUNWILD-2.indd All Pages
A: Whilst this is a “new team” we haven’t needed to externally recruit. It’s more a re-structuring of what we already have. “The right people in the right seats” to quote from Good to Great. We have understood the importance of local knowledge; so the team consists of one designated super prime expert from the 11 offices and then myself overseeing the initiative. Combined, this team has the ability to draw upon 130 years’ worth of experience. We have identified the key offices that are most regularly involved in super prime searches (what we mean by super prime internally is transactions at or property listings of £5,000 per week or above). Typically those offices located around the Parks namely Belgravia, Knightsbridge, South Kensington, Chelsea, Kensington, Notting Hill, Hyde Park, Marylebone, Mayfair, St John’s Wood and Hampstead, although of course some searches will take us to areas outside this remit where Knight Frank still has excellent coverage and market share.
Property Lettings Q: And what will your role be within the team? A: My role will be to oversee this team and most importantly to combine the local knowledge with the wider mechanics of the overall super prime market. This is a market that is essentially product led so it is important when giving advice to both clients and applicants to be in a position to offer this combination. It is this combination that will differentiate us from other agencies in the market. Alongside this I will be acting as a single point of contact and conducting all searches for applicants with rents of £500,000 per annum and above. We recognise that a single point of contact is vitally important both externally in the market for applicants or their retained search agents but also internally bringing together the extensive Knight Frank service lines, for example, our International Desks (Russian, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern), Luxury residential developments, Prime Central London Sales and those involved in our wider Global wealth strategy.
2
Grosvenor Crescent, Belgravia SW1 Guide price: £5,000 per week
Q: Why the new initiative? A: We have seen a 182% increase in applicant registrations over £5,000 per week in the second quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year. With the right team and the right initiative we feel we are well placed to take advantage of this increase in activity for the benefit of our clients. This builds on the work that we have already been doing at super prime level. Last year was our best yet but we are always looking at ways we can improve.
6
Holland Villas Road, Kensington W14 Guide price: £12,000 per week
Q: Have you seen any changes in the Super Prime Lettings market over the last 12 months? A: There has always been demand from tenants for properties at this level of rent but the biggest hurdle has previously been finding properties on the rental market of the right calibre matching these tenants’ uncompromising expectations. Over the last 12 – 18 months, in what has been perceived to be a slower sales market, some sellers have changed direction and have looked at the possibility of becoming a Landlord. This has greatly improved the supply of quality super prime properties available to rent. This shows that if the product is there and more akin to a sale finish then there are super prime applicants more than happy to rent as a lifestyle choice. Over the last five years or so we have certainly seen the profile of a super prime tenant moving away from the Corporate in favour of the International high net worth individual. Tom Smith Head of Super Prime Lettings tom.smith@knightfrank.com 020 7881 7730
8
Avenue Road, St John’s Wood NW8 Guide price: £20,000 per week
6
Mulberry Walk, Chelsea SW3 Guide price: £9,500 per week
KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings @KnightFrank
21/09/2015 13:17
THE PENTHOUSE, EATON SQUARE, BELGRAVIA SW1
90 Eaton Square is a key building in the square and benefits from the best position on the north side of this highly regarded and internationally famous address in the heart of Belgravia.
An exceptional lateral penthouse arranged over four substantial townhouses. The apartment benefits from 100 ft frontage to the
garden square and has three wonderful reception rooms leading to deep balconies or terraces. The entertaining area and master
bedroom benefit from a southerly aspect over the garden square. Leasehold: approximately 241 years remaining
GUIDE PRICE: £33,000,000 SUBJECT TO CONTRACT
ACCOMMODATION Entrance hall • Drawing room • Sitting room Dining room • Study • Kitchen • Laundry room Wine cellar • Master bedroom suite with his and hers dressing rooms and bathroom en-suite • 4 Further bedroom suites • Terrace • Lift • Porter • Access to square garden • EPC: C
328893_LondMag_KF_Oct15.indd 1
Belgravia
020 7881 7722
Knightsbridge
020 7591 8600
KnightFrank.co.uk
07/09/2015 10:25
motoring
Start your
engines
Ahead of the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, Gabriella Dyson finds out from Abels what it takes to handle the mountain of luggage involved in the world’s longestrunning motoring celebration
I
f you happen to be in Hyde Park in the early hours of Sunday 1 November, you’ll no doubt run into hundreds of veteran-car enthusiasts and their cherished vehicles. Braving the anticipated showers and crisp winter air, these seasoned aficionados are united in their passion for one of the biggest and longest-running motoring events in the world. “The annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the biggest veteran-car event in the calendar,” John Watson, managing director of Abel’s UK residential sector, tells me. “Several thousand people gather together to see the drivers off and to soak up the sights and sounds of yesteryear.” Hundreds of beautifully maintained automobiles line up at the starting point, while thousands of eager spectators gather along the run’s 60-mile route. However, Watson explains that many of these pre-1905 vehicles, of which there are more than 500, were not built with luggage in mind. “Our role is to make life easier for everyone involved,” he says. “We collect their baggage in London and transport it down to Brighton where participants can collect it from us at the sea front or choose to have it delivered directly to their hotel.” It’s no mean feat, but Abels has always risen to the occasion. As experts in logistics and moving services, collating all that luggage at the start of the run is something of a walk in the park. Its signature cornflowerblue lorries work like clockwork from sunrise to sunset in order to provide the sort of quality service that its clients have come to expect over the years. Having been a proud sponsor of the Veteran Car Run since 2010, it was only natural that Abels would gradually come to play a more significant role in the organisation of the event. Each year, the Royal Automobile Club hosts an upscale cocktail party on
B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L
the Saturday at its headquarters on Pall Mall, prior to the main event, providing the perfect opportunity for participants to celebrate their mutual passion in a relaxed yet formal setting. Abels has been quick to adapt to its new organisational role by getting this venue primed and ready to go, proving its worth not only as a skilled moving service but also as a master of the art of event management. The whole affair promises to be a roaring good time, but for a busy moving company such as Abels, October and November offers two highlights in the motoring calendar. While the company won’t be entering any automobiles into the Bonhams Run itself, the annual Regent Street Motor Show provides the ideal opportunity to display its own veteran vehicles. Taking over one of London’s busiest shopping streets for an entire day, this year you can expect to find an authentic horse-drawn pantechnicon dating back to 1896 (the same year as the Emancipation Run to London to Brighton) alongside some of Abels’ other unique and exciting motors. abels.co.uk; veterancarrun.com
033
savills.co.uk
1 AN ELEGANT GRADE II LISTED HOUSE eaton terrace, sw1w 2 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø study ø 5 bedroom suites ø 46 ft garden ø roof terrace ø 274 sq m (2,950 sq ft)
Savills Sloane Street Richard Gutteridge rgutteridge@savills.com
020 7730 0822 Asking £6.95 million Freehold
savills.co.uk
1 BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED LATERAL SPACE OVERLOOKING GARDEN SQUARE lowndes square, sw1 Reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø master bedroom suite ø 3 further bedrooms suites ø air conditioning ø crestron home entertainment system ø private parking space ø 24 hour porter ø 286 sq m (3,086 sq ft ø EPC=C Guide £13.5 million Leasehold, approximately 133 years remaining
Savills Knightsbridge Ben Morris bmorris@savills.com
020 7581 5234
savills.co.uk
1 STUNNING WEST-FACING APARTMENT WITH HIGH CEILINGS upper belgrave street, sw1 Reception room ø kitchen ø master bedroom suite ø further bedroom suite ø guest cloakroom ø lift ø caretaker ø 127 sq m (1,362 sq ft) ø EPC=C
Savills Sloane Street Tom Wilson twilson@savills.com
020 7730 0822 Guide £3.95 million Leasehold, approximately 113 years remaining
savills.co.uk
LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY
1
BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED HOUSE SITUATED IN SOUTH BELGRAVIA ebury street, sw1 3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø guest cloakroom ø 172 sq m (1,859 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D
Savills Sloane Street Guy Bradshaw gbradshaw@savills.com
020 7824 9005 Furnished £2,495 per week + £276 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* *£36inc incVAT VATfor foreach each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor whereInventory required. Inventory out fee end – charged at termination the end of or early termination *£36 additional tenant/occupant/guarantor referencereference where required. check out fee -check charged at the of or early of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees. of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details including example inventory fee, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.
THORBURN HOUSE, BELGRAVIA, SW1X
£2,150,000
SHARE OF FREEHOLD • TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS • TWO BATHROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • SEPARATE KITCHEN • PORTERED• GREEN VIEWS • EPC D
BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk
henryandjames.co.uk
HANS PLACE, BELGRAVIA, SW1X
£4,500 PER WEEK • SIX BEDROOMS • FOUR BATHROOMS AND GUEST CLOAKROOM • BEAUTIFUL PERIOD FAMILY HOME • LIFT • COMMUNAL GARDENS • EPC E PLUS £240 ADMINISTRATION FEE AND £60 REFERENCING FEE PER PERSON
BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk
henryandjames.co.uk
Wiliam WiliamMews Mews
Knightsbridge KnightsbridgeSW1X SW1X
AAbright, bright,totally totallyrefurbished refurbished33bedroom bedroomapartment apartmentwith withbalcony balconyon onthe the4th 4thfloor floorof ofthis thismodern modern building buildingwith withporter, porter,lift lift&&underground undergroundparking parkingspace. space.Whaddon WhaddonHouse Houseisislocated locatedininaaprivate private mews mewsadjacent adjacentto toLowndes LowndesSquare Square&&close closeto toSloane SloaneStreet, Street,Brompton BromptonRoad Road&&the therecreational recreational facilities facilitiesof ofHyde HydePark. Park. EPC EPCrating ratingDD
ÂŁ3,575,000 ÂŁ3,575,000long longlease lease
Knightsbridge Knightsbridge&&Belgravia Belgravia
020 0207235 72358090 8090
sales.knightsbridge@chestertons.com sales.knightsbridge@chestertons.com
chestertons.com chestertons.com
Kinnerton Street
Knightsbridge SW1X
ÂŁ2,750,000 share of freehold
Originally a 3 bedroom apartment of approx. 1,145 sq ft now beautifully converted into a spacious, contemporary 1/2 bedroom with bright open plan living space located on the 1st floor of this purpose built block. The apartment further benefits from 2 large lifts & porterage. EPC rating D
Knightsbridge & Belgravia
020 7235 8090
sales.knightsbridge@chestertons.com
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Applies to sellers and landlords. Terms and conditions apply see www.chestertons.com/avios for details. Avios are issued and redeemed in accordance with Avios terms and conditions.
Harrods Estates brings
LONDON property to the world
5191 HE 297x420 Bel Res Journal ad.indd All Pages
LONDON RESIDENTIAL SALES AND LETTINGS • ACQUISITIONS • NEW DEVELOPMENTS • ASSET MANAGEMENT • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: 020 7225 6700 KENSINGTON OFFICE: 48-50 KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET LONDON W8 4DG T: 020 3650 4600
HARRODSESTATES.COM @HarrodsEstates
04/09/2015 12:20
UK RESIDENTIAL, EUROPEAN & INTERNATIONAL REMOVALS Import, Export & Storage by Air, Road & Sea
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Number One, London.
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Certificate No. FS23942
Number One 297x210mm.indd 2
21/09/2015 13:46
Eaton Place, SW1 A light and spacious three bedroom ground and lower ground floor maisonette which has been refurbished to an exceptional standard to create fabulous reception and entertaining areas with four seperate terraces.
Share of Freehold
ÂŁ8,500,000
* * * * * * *
Drawing Room Dining Room Kitchen/Breakfast Room Media Room Master Bedroom Suite Two Further Bedroom Suites Four Terraces
BASiL STREET SW3 B immaculately A S I L presented S T R Ethree E bedroom T, S flat Win3this beautifully maintained mansion building in the heart of Knightsbridge. An The building ideally located Harrods the inshops and of Harrods the area, andheart moments from Knightsbridge Spacious and is elegant second floorfor mansion flatand located this well runrestaurants block close to in the of Knightsbridge. Furnished. underground station. 1440 sq ft ■
Three Bedrooms
• Three Double Bedrooms Two Bathrooms • Drawing Room
■
• Dining Room • Kitchen
Reception Room Kitchen/Breakfast Room £2000 per week + fees
■
■
■
■
■
£3,300,000 Subject to Contract
Entrance Hall/Dining Area
• En Suite Bathroom ■ Loft Storage Area • Two Shower Rooms
Porter Lift
• Porter • Lift
■
1397 sq ft
• H & HW included ■ EE rating E • EE Rating D
Share of Freehold
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Eaton Place, Belgravia SW1
An immaculately presented one bedroom flat on the first floor of a white stucco building in a premier Belgravia address.
838 sq ft (78 sq m) Reception room | Kitchen/ breakfast room | Master bedroom suite | Lift | EPC E
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 bertie.hare@struttandparker.com
ÂŁ1,950,000 Leasehold
Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW1
A well appointed and newly modernised Belgravia house with a 32 ft living/dining room and a 27 ft garden.
2,921 sq ft (271 sq m) Entrance hall | Reception room | Sitting room | 32 ft Living/dining room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Master bedroom suite | Four further double bedrooms | Three further bathrooms | Study | Terrace | Utility room | Cloakroom | Dumb waiter | 27 ft garden
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959
james.gilbert-green@struttandparker.com JSA Savills 020 7581 5234
ÂŁ8,250,000 Leasehold
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Eaton Square, Belgravia SW1
A beautifully refurbished two bedroom apartment, situated on the second floor with excellent views of Eaton Square.
987 sq ft (91 sq m) Reception room/dining area | Kitchen | Two bedrooms | Two bathrooms | Balcony | Lift | Porter
Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 bertie.hare@struttandparker.com JSA Savills 0207 881 7722
ÂŁ3,950,000 Leasehold
If this is your village high street, we’re your number one estate agent. As market leaders in Knightsbridge and Belgravia for three years running, we’ve come to know a thing or two about the area, and we hold the record for sales in many local streets. So if you’re looking to buy or sell your property, talk to our team of experts.
66 Sloane St, London SW1X 9SH 020 7235 9959 | struttandparker.com 52 Strutt & Parker offices nationwide | 1,350 Christie’s offices worldwide
BELGRAVIA Resident’s Journal w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k 020 7987 4320
OCTOBER 2015 • Issue 41