Belgravia Residents' Journal April 2013 by Runwild Media Group

Dear Resident

IN RESIDENCE:

This month we are equally entertained by a very-much alive resident (Mark Ossowski) and a long-departed one (Felix Mendelssohn). Still rejoicing in the putting-up of Felix's blue plaque in the area, we have dedicated That was then to him. Turn to pages 22-23 to read about his and Queen Victoria’s delightful mutual respect for one another. When Mark Ossowski gave me a tour of his family’s Pimlico Road antiques shop, I had never been so enthused by eighteenth-century furniture. Turn to pages 14-15 to get a taster of what you could experience, should you decide to swing by. Finally, we are in a jazzy mood now we can envisage balmy summer evenings upon Belgravian rooftop terraces. As such, we explore The Wellesley (jazz) hotel on pages 8-10 and complement the theme with news of a jazz series at Cadogan Hall (page 6). We’re confident there’s plenty of sax-loving (perhaps a few cigar-smoking) locals who will appreciate the dedication.

Belgravia Alice

‘I had forgotten until this night how relatively seamlessly Beethoven flows into Liszt; when one deals in epochs it becomes easy to lose hold of the common thread’

Resident’s Journal

- Henry Hopwood-Phillips at the opening night of the Eaton Square Concerts, page 19

Briana Handte Lesesne Local resident Briana spent ten years at Condé Nast New York. She now contributes to our Beauty & Grooming pages and writes a column on the quotidian (p.18).

Sara Oliver

Local resident Sara heads up the Belgravia Residents’ Association’s communications team when she's not penning away for our Residents’ Culture spread.

Mai Osawa

Mai creates luscious watercolours which add a sense of decorum to our main story (p.8-10) and That was then feature.

Above / Oakvest's proposed re-design of Grosvenor Gardens, see page 4

March 2013

Managing Editor Katie Randall

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Editor Alice Tozer

Senior Designer Sophie Blain

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Editorial Assistant Lauren Romano

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Production Hugo Wheatley, Alex Powell

Advertising Manager Hywel Kennedy

Russ Tudor Russ spruces up The Notebook and The Belgravian pages with his punchy illustrations. The Sunday Times, The Wall Street Journal and Pig Farmers’ Gazette pinch him from us on occasion.

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Proudly published by

RUNWILD M

Editor Kate Harrison

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Deputy Editor Elle Blakeman

Production Hugo Wheatley

Project Manager Alice Tozer

Head of Design Hiren Chandarana

Production Manager Fiona Fenwick

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Designer Sophie Blain

Client Relationship Director Kate Oxbrow

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

W W W. R E S I D E N T S J O U R N A L . C O . U K

Dear Resident

IN RESIDENCE:

Alice

‘I had forgotten until this night how relatively seamlessly Beethoven flows into Liszt; when one deals in epochs it becomes easy to lose hold of the common thread’ - Henry Hopwood-Phillips at the opening night of the Eaton Square Concerts, page 19

Briana Handte Lesesne Local resident Briana spent ten years at Condé Nast New York. She now contributes to our Beauty & Grooming pages and writes a column on the quotidian (p.18).

Sara Oliver

Local resident Sara heads up the Belgravia Residents’ Association’s communications team when she's not penning away for our Residents’ Culture spread.

Mai Osawa

Mai creates luscious watercolours which add a sense of decorum to our main story (p.8-10) and That was then feature.

Above / Oakvest's proposed re-design of Grosvenor Gardens, see page 4

Managing Editor Katie Randall

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Editor Alice Tozer

Senior Designer Sophie Blain

Associate Publisher Sophie Roberts

Editorial Assistant Lauren Romano

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Production Hugo Wheatley, Alex Powell

Advertising Manager Hywel Kennedy

Russ Tudor Russ spruces up The Notebook and The Belgravian pages with his punchy illustrations. The Sunday Times, The Wall Street Journal and Pig Farmers’ Gazette pinch him from us on occasion.

The Notebook

Who and what have been moving and shaking in Belgravia recently? We bring you up to date

Grosvenor Gardens spruce-up

Of all of Belgravia’s prestigious patches of greenery, Grosvenor Gardens was letting the side down somewhat. Now, it has emerged, luxury property developer Oakvest has decided to give the place a facelift. In their hands, the two triangular gardens near to Victoria Station will be transformed into an oasis of calm, for the public to enjoy. Oakvest has set aside £1million for the task, which will include the regeneration of the adjoining Eaton Lane. The landscape architects will retain as much of the garden’s original character as possible as can be seen from sketches (right). Healthy trees and the original ironwork railings will stay put, whilst additional touches like lighting dotted among foliage and a stunning new fountain will improve the appeal. Restorations will be granted to the tired-looking statue of World War One military hero Ferdinand Foch (the only Frenchman commemorated with a statue in London) and the Rifle Brigade Memorial. The repair of broken and uneven paving will also be added to the checklist and Oakvest will assume responsibility from Westminster Council for the upkeep of the gardens. Planning approval for the project is pending, with work hopefully due to start imminently and to be completed by spring 2015. Founder of Oakvest, Mark Holyoake has stressed the importance of protecting the capital’s green spaces: ‘In London, home to over 8 million people, green spaces such as Grosvenor Gardens are highly prized. Providing an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, gardens ensure that nature remains present in the urban environment and we believe, as responsible developers, that this balance is essential hence why we have committed to the £1 million regeneration of Grosvenor Gardens and Eaton Lane.

Three’s a good crowd

According to a recent report, the councils of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City look to be on course to save £40 million a year by 2016, thanks to their tri-borough approach. Since June 2011, a tightening of the purse strings has been achieved by sharing children’s services, adult social care and library services across the three boroughs, cutting out costly middle management. The pioneering model means that whilst more than forty percent of local authorities intend to increase council tax by about one percent this month (according to a survey released by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy), Westminster City Council will freeze council tax for the sixth year running. A tri-borough approach will also be adopted for the three councils’ new public health function, when this responsibility returns to local government in April.

Words / Lauren Romano

Passport to Belgravia

It’s time for residents, local schoolchildren and those who work in the vicinity to zoom in on Belgravia, now that the Belgravia Residents’ Association’s photography competition has returned for a third year. Participants have from now until 27 September to register, in order to be able to take part in the competition by uploading their photographs to the relevant Flickr pages. This year’s theme, ‘A Voyage to Belgravia’, reflects the melting pot of multi-cultural residents who reside in the area and it is hoped that the moments captured will reflect these international roots. The creative boundaries are not confined to just the Belgravia enclave however; snappers have been given free reign this year to enter photos taken abroad, as long as they evoke a correlation to the spirit of Belgravia, be what this is in the individual’s mind’s eye. Five photos per entrant can be uploaded to the Flickr Group www.flickr.com/groups/ voyagetobelgravia. Read more in Sara Oliver’s column on page 20.

Listen up

The Belgravia Residents’ Journal is all ears to the news that Victoria Library users can now browse a new audio e-book collection alongside the hardbacks and paperbacks. The collection will be followed by a wider introduction of regular e-books, which will be incorporated into Westminster libraries later this year. Library users can borrow (in the virtual sense of the word) up to eight audio e-books from the lengthy list of 1,037 titles, which has over 600 best-selling novels in the mix. The library will also add five new titles to the collection each month, to keep things fresh and exciting. Once downloaded, the books are playable for twenty-one days and are available for smart phones, iPods and tablets so you can enjoy the latest fiction on the go. Westminster library members can access the collection at: www.westminster.gov.uk/services/libraries

Changing rooms

There has been much shuffling around between Pimlico Road’s businesses of late. From the commotion, a couple of incidents have caught our attention. Long-standing occupier Ross Hamilton Antiques at number 95 closed this year after a forty-year tenure. The Aussie behind the eponymous brand had passed away back in 1992, but the institution lived on. The bells of change have rung now however, and the premises has been bought by Will Fisher of Jamb Limited, who plans to conjoin the newly acquired space with his existing shop next door at number 97 and create a large gallery to display his exemplar collection of antique and reproduction chimney pieces, fire grates and lighting. Meanwhile, renowned interior designer Fiona Barratt and her husband, retired footballer Sol Campbell, have snapped up number 66 at which they intend to create a new showroom outpost (named FBC London) for Fiona’s successful and well-established interior design business. The 1,200 square foot space will be Fiona’s first retail store in London, though she opened her design company in 2006. It will One of Fiona Barratt’s interiors projects open in June. We wish (photographer Ray Main) them both every success.

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Around the clock at No. 11

March saw the installation of the elegant all-day bar and restaurant No. 11 Pimlico Road on the corner spot that was formerly The Ebury. A wonderfully inviting space to burrow away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Victoria and indulge in European cuisine, it features a zinc-topped bar surrounded by cushion-scattered banquettes and statement light fixtures. There was initially some concern from select locals regarding design changes to the windows but residents should now feel proud with their new No. 11, which has emerged with undeniable, subtle elegance. Indeed, early approbation would seem to be reflected in the hugely successful launch party for local residents, with some seventy curious attendees. The company which owns No.11, Darwin & Wallace, is newly formed and currently eyeing up similar projects across London. 11 Pimlico Road, 020 7730 6784, www.no11pimlicoroad.co.uk 005

The Calendar Bringing you the lowdown on local events in April

Make arrangements

The Judith Blacklock Flower School encourages the green-fingered locals to attend one among its fantastic array of courses this spring. They are suitable for all abilities, from the complete beginner to the ardent horticulturist. For a full immersion into the world of flowers, a one-week intensive floral design diploma, priced at £999, will be held on 15-19 April. Over the course of the week, students will learn how to make the most successful of floral decorations and be brought up-to-date with the latest trends and armed with advice on how to go about creating handtied bouquets as well as fragrant decorations for table centrepieces or larger-scale venues like churches and marquees. For a briefer blast of floral arranging know-how, a one-day seasonal flower class on 12 April (10.30am-3.45pm, £240) will use spring bulb flowers, blossom and English foliage to create two designs to take home. 4-5 Kinnerton Place South, 0207 235 6235, www.judithblacklock.com

Jazz hands

The Jazz Divas series begins at Cadogan Hall on 16 April at 7.30pm with a performance by Jacqui Dankworth who will be joined by the Cadogan Swing Orchestra for an evening of songs from the stage and silver screen. Recognisable numbers from The Godfather, Les Misérables and The Thomas Crown Affair will be tunefully projected in Dankworth’s powerful and sophisticated register. The following evening, hear the next big thing before the world and his wife do as Orion, the Orchestra of Rising Stars, performs at 7.30pm. Britten’s ‘Violin Concerto’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘Symphony No.6’ (‘Pathétique’) both make the bill, and will be led by one of the UK’s most accomplished young violin soloists, Thomas Gould. 5 Sloane Terrace, 020 7730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com

For the love of money

Baby love

Youthful optimism and boundless ambition underpin the Royal Court’s current production of The Low Road, which runs until 11 May. It was penned by the American playwright Bruce Norris, who struck gold with the Pulitzer and Tony award-winning Clybourne Park which was incidentally also first staged at the Royal Court before transferring to the West End. The Low Road is a tale of cut-throat capitalism which follows a young entrepreneur on a mission to make his fortune. Dominic Cooke directs in his last show as the Royal Court’s Artistic Director. Sloane Square, 020 7565 5000, www.royalcourttheatre.com

Have your cake and eat it Wafts of Devonshire scones with homemade Chantilly cream, French choux puffs with vanilla crème diplomat, cherry Bakewell tartlets and vanilla cookies will gently float through the Peggy Porschen Academy on Friday 12 April between 10am and 4.30pm. During this time, small groups of eight attendees on the Peggy’s Afternoon Tea course will be put through their paces by tutor Marianne Stewart, and instructed on how to craft delicious baked goods in several forms. The results will be worthy of the most particular and decadent of cake stands. And, for the cherry on top – students will be eligible to a ten percent discount off purchases at the Peggy Porschen Cake Boutique and café on the day.

If you are a new mother and want the best start for yourself and your baby, the baby massage and post-natal advice course held at the Light Centre Belgravia is definitely for you. The benefits of the course are countless and the massage techniques used can help improve blood circulation and digestion, sleep patterns and muscle tone whilst simultaneously stimulating the senses to make your little one feel calm and relaxed. The course welcomes mothers, fathers and carers to join them for tea after the baby’s massage, providing an opportunity to speak to the specialists about any queries you may have concerning either you or your baby. It also gives parents and children a wonderful chance to bond in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The techniques used are simple and easy to achieve at home. The course runs on a Friday from 10-11am and costs £60 per session. For more information contact Tracy Ann-Neill on 07958 062283 or by email at neilltracy@hotmail.com. 7-9 Eccleston Street 020 7881 0728 www.lightcentrebelgravia.co.uk

30 Elizabeth Street, 020 7730 1316 www.peggyporschenacademy.com

Up close and personal

BP Portrait Award-winning artist Craig Wylie’s dauntingly large portraits dominate the exhibition space at Plus One Gallery this month. His vague, expressionless subjects transfix with both their ambiguity and the vivid realism of their flawless composition. The collection plays with contrasting mediums and the constraints of time; it juxtaposes oversized paintings with smaller pencil sketches which mimic the larger creations and capture sitters in a sequence of subtly different poses, each moment suspended in time. Painted directly from photographs, the works have a faint holographic or spectral quality which contradicts and softens their immediate physicality and imposing scale. Catch a glimpse of the intriguing collection from 17 April-13 May. 89-91 Pimlico Road, 020 7730 7656, www.plusonegallery.com

Do you have an event that you’d like us to cover? Send us an email: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk Words / Lauren Romano and Caroline Oliver

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Let’s do it

(Let’s check out The Wellesley) Alice Tozer explores the past and present of the area’s latest shrine to jazz – and sleep

recognition that comes with carrying the flag for the smart, elgravians partial to some jazz music of an evening new hotel. He is, in fact, similarly in the foreground around know that Boisdale of Belgravia is their local the corner at The Iron Duke pub in Mayfair. The Iron reference point. However, things were given a little Duke was a nickname Arthur earned when he built iron shake-up in December just gone, when a new townhouse shutters on the windows of his London pad, Apsley House, nestled its way in between The Lanesborough (to its to prevent onslaughts from angry crowds after he opposed right) and The Berkeley (a little further down, to its left). parliamentary reform. Aptly, the Duke had a passion for It’s no mean feat to try and match the reputation of the music and only followed a career which entailed marching aforementioned bedding-down buildings. But, even when to the beats he would have preferred to compose in order it was a mere concept, The Wellesley had its own je ne to please his mother. sais quoi, given the jazz heritage of the building it had The rooms at The Wellesley are light and spacious bought. Wisely, the new owners (Arab Investments’ City with sumptuous finishings. They and Country Hotels) embraced are spread over seven floors and this and, instead of entirely culminate in a four-bedroom reinventing the space, turned The Wellesley takes its name penthouse suite which boasts what was previously a jazz uninterrupted views over Hyde and cabaret venue (the muchfrom Arthur Wellesley, the Park, its own boardroom (just loved Pizza on the Park) into ‘original’ Duke of Wellington in case you fancied doing a spot a jazz-themed hotel. No 11 Knightsbridge was re-born. who – ironically – changed his of work) and even a personal humidor with a handpicked To delve further back into surname from Wesley range of cigars for those as the site’s history, before it was enthusiastic about their puffing Pizza on the Park it was the as their meetings. original entrance to Hyde Park Corner underground until From an aesthetic angle, dark marbles and flecks the 1930s. The closing down of Pizza on the Park didn’t of gold speak ‘all that jazz’ even before the real musical happen quietly. The popular venue had been in operation heritage is made clear. And when it is, it’s far from for over thirty years when it shut in summer 2010. Whilst its name didn’t have much of a glamorous ring to it (really, it could have signified any old pizza joint) behind closed doors the basement of the restaurant had attracted jazz performers of international fame with George Melly, Cleo Laine and Ella Fitzgerald among them. Virginia-born Miss Fitzgerald’s relationship with London saw her record her 1974 album ‘Ella in London’ at that other rather serious affair among jazz joints, Ronnie Scott’s in Soho which opened in 1959. The Wellesley’s building has been beautifully restored by combining its 1920s history with contemporary style. As well as its thirty-six rooms and suites, it boasts The Crystal Bar and The Oval Restaurant. Then come fourteen one-bedroom suites which are named after prominent figures of the twenties who typify the jazz era. There’s the Noel Coward suite and the Cecil Beaton, the Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and Duke Ellington among them. Mr Ellington is not alone in dukedom inside these fine walls, for The Wellesley takes its name from Arthur Wellesley, the ‘original’ Duke of Wellington. Rather ironically, his surname was originally Wesley but his aristocratic family changed their name. The Duke became a leading military and political figure of the nineteenth century. He was twice prime minister under the Tory party and possessed an exemplary battle record, ultimately participating in some sixty tussles throughout his military career. It’s fair to say he did enough to deserve the

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token gesture in nature. The Jazz Room showcases both established and up-and-coming jazz acts in an intimate atmosphere. The cocktail menu in the lavish Crystal Bar offers drinks from the prohibition era in four countries; the UK, the USA, Cuba and Italy. The cocktail lounge, like The Lanesborough’s Library Bar next door, has everything of the ‘open door’ feel to it. The cocktails and nibbles are without fault, and the Cuban theme lights up the walls. If a mounted portrait of Che Guevara with cigar flopping from his mouth is not catching your eye on one wall, then Winston Churchill (with selfsame accessory) will be on another. It was in Havana that Sir Winston began his iconic relationship with the indulgent stick, a city he visited in his early twenties with a view to getting involved in the fighting between government soldiers and guerilla fighters. Churchill’s preference for Cuban culture was lifelong, and also saw him embrace what every human able to should – the siesta. The humidor, caged somewhat ironically within the non-smoking side of the divided bar, is plugged as the largest bespoke hotel humidor in Europe. Apparently, inside sits the biggest collection of cigars available for sale on a stick-by-stick basis, with many limited edition and unique marques. Particularly cleverly done is the outdoor terrace space which blends very well with the interior and exudes, on ground-floor level, the same warmth as Boisdale of Belgravia’s rooftop terrace. Where Boisdale’s got the comforting Scottish theme running through it, The Wellesley has a multi-national vibe that equally suits the area. The joint may be Arab-owned but there is a decisively Italian fleck to affairs too, from the

General Manager (Stefano Lodi) to the Head Chef (Stefano Stecca), and subsequently the Italian restaurant where desserts include tiramisu and diplomatic cake. The hotel does everything you’d expect of one that brands itself the first ever six-star one. In fact, there is no formal body that recognises or awards any rating over five-star deluxe. It’s a shame because The Wellesley gives it a good go with many flash touches you could unlikely guess: a courtesy Rolls Royce offering drop off within 1.5 miles of the hotel; a Samsung tablet in every room; and a Wellesley mobile phone on check-in. Well it would be awful not to be able to make your way back to your suite, when it is flush with Egyptian cotton sheets, handcut Carrara marble (found in the bathroom) and Hermès amenities. Since 2005, nearly 4,000 new luxury hotel rooms have graced London. There are now some thirty percent more such hotels in the city than there were in 2005, and five-star properties account for around twelve percent. You were probably too busy following the progress of the stadium, but there was a particular flurry of luxury hotel openings in time for the London Olympics. The Bulgari and Belgraves were too such local blessings. With boutique hotels no longer a novelty, each such venue now has to really create its own character to stand out from the crowd. The Wellesley couldn’t have done this better. Arthur Wellesley believed in authoritative rule and an isolationist policy. I say that would be no bad philosophy for The Wellesley to follow, to keep its evident quality intact and its novel take on hotel life a secret between lovers of the art of sleep, the cigar and the sax.

Who’s the fairest of them all? Alice Tozer meets Blanka Sadilkova to find out what it’s like being a photographer for the area’s residents

babies, children and families and she believes her temperament ocal resident Blanka Sadilkova has been living on Eaton lends itself well to this. ‘I love children and for some reason, when it Square for one year. Czech by birth, she values Belgravia’s central location and greenery, not to mention Peggy Porschen comes to them and babies, I have the patience of a saint; something I completely lack when doing anything else.’ and The Berkeley hotel’s spa, where she spends every free moment Blanka’s had some great gigs. She exhibits regularly around possible afloat the top-floor swimming pool. Other times she is London, one instance being ‘Street Soul’ at coaxed by the magic of Motcomb Street, but Chelsea Gallery, featuring black-and-white first and foremost Blanka enjoys establishing portraits of children from the Himalayas, relationships with local families as part of her China, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. She has also profession as a photographer. After all, let’s be photographed the actors Pierce Brosnan, Liam honest; it is not only the heritage, village-like Neeson and Michael York. She is the official comfort and exquisite shopping opportunities photographer of Coca-Cola and the brand’s that make Belgravia such a catch but also its Public Affairs and Communications Director, terribly healthy-looking people. Maire Campbell, calls her ‘an exceptional Blanka’s grandfather was a painter talent... [who] has a magical ability to capture and photographer, and it was growing up mood, personality and perfect moments... one in such an environment that drew her to of the best in the business.’ the camera as a child. ‘I never wanted to be Blanka’s schedule is, like so many of the a professional photographer, though,’ she area’s residents, a constant juggling of work tells me, ‘because I thought I would lose my and airports. Her family remains her priority, passion for photography. But then my friends however, and she values the way insisted on paying me for the they understand how important portrait photographs I took of her work is to her. She has just them, in spite of me saying no. When it comes to children and babies, returned from Oscar week in The work gradually began to Los Angeles where for the past snowball in, and I started to I have the patience of a saint; something three years she has been the freelance professionally.’ Blanka’s I completely lack when doing anything else photographer for Cinemagic, a company, Infinity Images, was children’s charity that encourages born in 2006. young people inspired by film. She is currently catching her breath in As is often the order of events, as Blanka’s talent became Belgravia, before jetting off to Mozambique, where she will spend a acknowledged, so her passion for photography grew stronger. month teaching photography through the charity Eden Mozambique, Confidence, as they say, breeds success. It is natural for an which was founded by her friend Louise Magill in 2005. ‘It is a outsider to wonder what distinguishes one good photographer fantastic project which helps to educate children in order to secure from the next; isn’t it just a case of having an eye for it? Blanka them jobs as they grow older,’ Blanka explains. ‘I will be arriving in says that, in fact, it is much more personal than people realise Africa armed with dozens of disposable cameras. I really can’t wait.’ and requires an ability to capture emotion and “the moment” with skill, but mainly the ability to relax people. ‘Very few people really like to have their pictures taken,’ she says. ‘I am also a www.infinityimages.co.uk photographer who believes in the beauty of soft natural light and I almost never use flash photography’. Readers quoting the Belgravia Residents’ Journal during April and Apart from travel photography and producing editorial within May will be offered a complimentary mounted, signed and framed the film industry, Blanka’s main speciality is portraying new born photograph alongside any order made with Blanka.

Photographs / A selection of Blanka’s work 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 Outside-in beauty and TLC on our doorsteps, for him and for her

In your

element

This spring’s most attractive make-up ranges have been inspired by nature in her myriad forms, says local resident Briana Handte Lesesne

Apple of our eye

Mary Quant is known for its vibrant patterns and colour combinations, which are always right on trend. For the spring 2013 season, the brand is releasing an eyeshadow line called Vitamin. Featuring such dynamic shades as apple green, plum blue, golden orange and sour pink, each palette is embossed with Mary Quant’s signature daisy motif. There is a palpable, velvety smooth finish to the shadows, and a visible touch of pearl glitter to put that sparkle back in the eye. At £7 each, they are very reasonably priced for such a quality brand. With the spring season comes a limited-edition four-colour palette, dubbed the Eye Opener (left). Awaiting inside are two new spring colours which share the space with two staple colours from the regular collection. This health-oozing vitamin-orange compact costs £34. With shades reminiscent of spring’s first blooms, they offer the feel-good, look-good double bill. Mary Quant: 37 Duke of York Square, 020 7881 9833, www.maryquant.co.uk

Medusa moment

Liz Earle’s colour collection for spring has an emphasis on naturallooking finishes that do not blend into the abyss but intead produce the most flattering of finishes. Her Sheer Lip Gloss (£13.50) in shades such as Honeysuckle, Petal and Cherry (right) glides on smoothly and enhances lips with its luminous shine. Enriched with a blend of avocado and shea butter, it leaves lips feeling soft and lightweight – a rarity in the world of glosses which seem to often be heavy and sticky. To accompany it, the Signature Eye Colour (right, also £13.50) in Sea Spray is easy to blend for a smooth, even finish that maintains its colour longer than the norm. Liz Earle: 38-39 Duke of York Square 020 7881 7750, www.lizearle.com

Herbaceous voracious

Estée Lauder’s granddaughter Aerin Lauder understands that beauty is an essential part of a woman’s life and it should be both easy and fun. The modern-day ambassador of the brand, she has now successfully launched her own line, Aerin Beauty, which begins with the Aerin Essentials collection. Within this, and available since February, lies the limited-edition Garden Colour Collection, which draws its inspiration from spring’s colours. It is the example supreme of how best to mix brightness, prettiness and floral, feminine patterns in the year 2013. The collection takes on the cheeks, lips and eyes and is infused with Aerin’s signature Rose scent. The A Garden in Bloom eye palette (below, £45) is a neutral collection of soft, nearly nude shades showcasing three on-trend eye shadows – Iris, Lily and Dahlia – together with a soft blush, in Nectar. All comes beautifully encased by zip, in a dainty compact sporting the signature Aerin pattern. Add to the indulgence Aerin’s Floral Illuminating Powder (£30), in which six pastels have been swirled into one beautiful shade that offers a soft glow. Finish off the look with this season’s statement lips in Poppy, Cassis or Pink Rose (Aerin Lip Gloss, £22). The collection is one which is sure to add flair and freshness to your vanity this season, or you could gift up the goodies for a deserving other who will be pleaseantly surprised by this new name. Available at Harrods and Peter Jones on Sloane Square www.esteelauder.co.uk

Beauty

in a nutshell

A make-up application session with in-house make-up artist Ahmed El-Ali at Neville Hair & Beauty on Pont Street is one of Belgravia’s brightest tickets. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can expect during an April booking...

Greens, golds and purples

Ahmed takes inspiration this spring from greens (under the eyes to make them appear bigger), golds (on the corners of the eyes to widen them) and purples (for impact). None of this colour, he says, should forsake a natural, clean look. The eyes then need to be defined and he recommends a liquid liner.

Ample tricks of the trade

We all want to make our make-up last, and for this Ahmed stresses the importance of cleansing the skin thoroughly and applying a high-quality moisturiser, thus allowing the primer and the foundation to absorb properly into the skin. Ahemd’s mascara technique is unique and known as the the ‘twist and tissue’ approach. He applies a long piece of tissue which he rolls up above the eyelid. He then applies the mascara at the base of the lid and pulls upward, teasing the lashes up and around the rolled tissue. All this accentuates the lashes, giving them lift off, and allowing you to totter off wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. A forty-minute consultation costs £150 Neville Hair & Beauty: 5 Pont Street, 020 7235 3654 www.nevillehairandbeauty.net

Lip livener

Imagine a lipstick-lipbalm blend that doesn’t compromise on colour nor disregard the moisture element. Enter ByTerry’s new collection of lip colour launched exclusively at Space NK, carrying the name Sheer Inspiration. Created by international make-up artist Terry de Gunzburg and based unashamedly on pure luxury, the unique hydra-balm Fill & Plump lipstick (£31) comes in ten creamy spring shades. Encompassing the new and highly effective hyaluronic acid, the ingredients list has been conceived with the creation of a product prioritising moisture and long-lasting colour in mind; each stick includes revolutionary crystal-colour technology, reflective matte mother-of-pearl and pigments that penetrate the lips more than their predecessors. The moisturisers within not only hydrate and nourish the lips but offer a visible plumping too. The formula glides over the lips, filling in the lines as is goes, and comes in colours which range from natural to boldly flamboyant. Standing out from the crowd is Nudissimo (a plumping and infinitely natural flesh-tone shade) and Berry Boom (an exquisite and delectable red-berry cocktail). Available exclusively at Space NK: 27 Duke of York Square, 020 7730 9841 www.spacenk.co.uk

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The

Belgravian Man in the mirror

Alice Tozer meets Mark Ossowski, one third of the triumvirate brotherhood manning the fort at Ossowski, the eighteenth-century mirror specialists on the Pimlico Road

step inside an emporium of gilded frames behind the doors of Ossowski at 83 Pimlico Road. Mark Ossowski, part-owner, ushers me past them and into the downstairs workshop for tea and excellent chocolate shortbread. No objection here. Few things can distract me from such sweet delights. Gold leaf, however, shortly proves to be one, as Mark places a little foil square of the tissuepaper-thin stuff in my palm and it disintegrates. ‘My brother and I used to play with it and rub it in our hair,’ relates Mark with energy. My brother would say: “I’ve got gold dandruff!”’ I laugh, but am quickly distracted by how much money might just have evaporated from my skin. ‘Oh about a pound,’ Mark nonchalantly replies. I’ve much to learn, and it gets far more technical. I’m soon in the midst of an oddly fascinating ten-step explanation of the gilding process which involves a wooden implement that Mark fondly terms ‘the rod of guilt’. Further tools take us into medieval realms; there’s the badger brush, the dog’s tooth and the boiled-down-bunny glue. Mark is one of three brothers (there’s Matthew and John too but no Luke, as far as I know). They inherited the business from their Polish father, who came to the premises in 1960 following a stint at an antiques restoration workshop on the Fulham Road. Ossowski’s opening was to be a key contribution to the development of the Pimlico Road as an antiquesshop hub, little did he know. Ossowski will sell you an antique mirror, restore yours or make you a bespoke one, as Mark is currently doing for a couple in Alabama. He’s also performing painstaking work on a mirror in a rather sorry state which he bought online. After a little jazzing up over a week, it may have the potential to sell for near £2,000. Others can fetch up to £40,000 depending on rarity and quality. I watch as Mark chips away a touch at the frame he is restoring, trying to rid it of its murky-coloured coating which, as he puts it, ‘is the result of a Victorian obsession with painting things black.’ He looks decidedly unimpressed. Mark’s skills are the result of watching his father for all those years, ushered into Belgravia from the family home in Streatham. Mark also holds a degree in Classical Studies and Drama from Aberystwyth where, in his words, he ‘drank lots of beer and chased girls’. Modest I’m sure; there’s definitely some classical knowledge in there, as is evident when he points out Diana and her greyhound carved into a mirror frame. It is clear that what Mark knows about gilding and the development of mirrors through the Rococo, Neo-Classical and Regency ages, he can match with related anecdotes on social history which, I must say, do wonders for the appeal of the innocent lookingglasses themselves. Gesturing towards a carved pineapple plonked at the pinnacle of one frame, Mark tells me people used to hire this fruit as a display of exoticism and their hospitality. ‘Our modern day

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L

tastes have a lot in common with those of the eighteenth century; more so than they do with more recent nineteenth-century tastes,’ he says. In the eighteenth century, mirrors came into their own. ‘The idea of looking at yourself became normal,’ Mark continues. ‘It was only from about 1700 that a person of “the middling-sorts” would ordinarily own a mirror.’ As Mark shows me a curious-looking circular convex mirror, he explains how servants would have used it to watch their master’s progression through his courses, and then to choose the apt moment to turn around and swap the courses over. Clearly, the history of dining goes hand in hand with that of mirrors, which starts to give me even more of an appetite for the decorative squares. Mark’s on a roll as he teaches me that ‘we started to eat the Russian way in the late 1700s – that is, the courses came to us, instead of the help yourself sit-down buffet-style than happened before.’ Mark’s father, Albin, will be ninety-one this month and his is a tale as compelling as the social history of the 1700s itself. He met Mark’s mother after they both survived Auschwitz concentration camp where they had been, separately, during the same years. ‘Survivors tend to only properly relate to other survivors,’ Mark explains. His father moved to London where he initially studied sculpture at the Sir John Cass Institute. ‘Work for jobbing sculptors being thin on the ground he ended up in an antiques restoration workshop on the Fulham Road, where during the fifties he was taught a lot of his skills. Then, in 1960, he found the courage to set out on his own, though that courage might have originated in some medication he was temporarily on at the time. When he stopped taking it he found he’d given up a good job and taken on the lease of a shop in a rather dodgy area called Pimlico Road.’ Ultimately, he didn’t regret his savvy move though. The majority of the antique frames are gilded pine and each is utterly distinct. I can see how, armed with the knowledge, a fully flung obsession with them could be born. I coax it out of Mark that he does have the odd chair from the sixties among his collection of antique goodies above the shop, in his abode proper. I doubt there’s much rubbish though, once I’ve heard him assert that ‘the 1830s was the end of quality.’ He continues that, ‘William Morris came out of The Great Exhibition in 1851 and felt sick.’ The techniques of mass production had begun and it has been downhill in terms of craftsmanship ever since, some would argue. As I leave, I can’t help but notice a wirey sculpture made of tree branches in the workshop corner, the sort you might hang Christmas baubles on. ‘My father no longer cuts into wood with the sculptures he has returned to making now, but works with the shapes. He’s either a madman or a genius,’ says Mark fondly of a man whose creative energy as a nonagenarian, I frankly find hugely impressive.

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Food for thought Sweet nuggets of culinary information for the local foodie

Tea back in fashion

We all love an excuse to take tea at The Lanesborough, and also one to try on new clothes. We’re in luck, as The Lanesborough and leading fashion house Beulah London are linking up on Friday 26 April. Beulah will offer fashion inspiration for this summer’s prestigious social events, in the presence of owners Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan. The Lanesborough is delighted to be able to provide topnotch afternoon tea to add a touch of calm to proceedings. It will be served between 4pm and 6pm and costs £38 a head (plus 12.5 percent service charge). For £10 more, you can upgrade to The Belgravia Tea option, which introduces strawberries, cream and a glass of Champers to the equation. Gluten and dairy-free versions are available with twenty-four hours’ notice. Beulah London is an ethical, luxury, British fashion label producing ready-to-wear silk garments for women. It places a heavy emphasis on vintage, billowing sleeves and a jewel-coloured palette and has dressed the likes of The Duchess of Cambridge, sister Pippa, Jessica Alba and Princess Eugenie. Reserve at 020 7333 7254 or www.lanesborough.com

Above / Plates from the Fresco design, ranging from £15-£40

Bone idol

William Edwards, whose fine bone chinawear is regarded as among the best in the industry, has sensed a need for a chic collection of china to compliment the dinner party revolution. Hotels, restaurants and organisations the world over have long welcomed his china through their doors. The Ritz, The Goring and Claridges are just a few examples. But the new Retail Collection is for you to take home. It comprises six designs, contemporary and affordable in nature. They are: Tweed, The Goring, Fresco, Connaught, Orchard and Country Life. The latter sports a particularly striking deep cobalt blue glaze. William Edwards reminds us that you need not be eating out to merit true quality and exceptional beauty during the dining experience. Available at Harrods or at www.williamedwards.co.uk

A Blumen lovely lunch

With the arrival of spring comes an overhaul of the restaurant menu in most locales. At Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, the new spring menu has been inspired by the royal parkland (in this case Hyde Park) which the restaurant overlooks. Three courses can be enjoyed for a very reasonable £36 at this highly acclaimed joint where for every course there is a date of origin and a mini history lesson. This season you can look forward to an example line-up of Dressed Snails as a starter (c.1884 – parsley, beetroot, salty fingers and red wine juice); Salted Ling with Parsnips for main course (c.1954 – confit parsnips, butter milk, monks beard and bergamot) and Orange Buttered Loaf for dessert (c.1630 – mandarin and thyme sorbet). You can safely bet the price of the meal you’ll try something new and learn even more. 020 7201 3833, www.dinnerbyheston.com Words / Alice Tozer

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Residents’ Culture Exploring the minutiae of residents’ explorations and encounters

Belgravian moments Inspired by a trip to Salisbury, local resident Briana Handte Lesesne explored several local churches in celebration of the Easter season, and was bewitched by the multiple layers of history that lay hidden within their pews

n a crisp Saturday morning in February, I did what an American abroad can justifiably do and decided to explore the English countryside. A weekend trip with my husband and two children to Salisbury in Wiltshire ensued. Naturally, we earmarked Salisbury Cathedral, built over an impressive one-hundred years (1220-1320) and a prime example of Early English Gothic architecture. Its famous spire, 404 feet tall, dominates the skyline. On a cathedral roll, we called in at Winchester too. Built in 1093, this cathedral is in fact the largest medieval one in Europe and represents both Norman and English Gothic architecture. Clearly grand in stature, both cathedrals also offer myriad stained-glass windows, mosaics, vaulted ceilings and exquisite choirs. The Chapter House at Salisbury houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta, whilst the cathedral offers shelter to Europe’s oldest working clock. It is a truth under-acknowledged that Winchester Cathedral, complete with her thirteenth-century medieval floor tiles, is the final resting place of Jane Austen. With sacred spires on my mind, I decided to pay attention to the presence of such beauty closer to home. It’s something we often neglect to do and which Alain de Botton in his book The Art of Travel encourages: ‘[try] before taking off for distant hemispheres, to notice what [you have] already seen [in your local environs].’ The first church I came across was Holy Trinity on Sloane Street. Demolished in 1888, the present church – begun by the architect JD Sedding was completed by his pupil Henry Wilson. The former Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman called it ‘the cathedral of the Arts and Crafts Movement’ as it contains treasures by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, most notably the glorious stained-glass East window. On my merry way, I next encountered St Paul’s in Knightsbridge, an Anglican Church on Wilton Place which is also an example of Victorian architecture. The elaborate edifice was consecrated in 1843 and was the first church in London to manifest the ideals of the Oxford Movement, the precursor of Anglo-Catholicism. St Barnabas’ Church in Pimlico was the first church to be built in England in which the ideals and beliefs of what came to be known as the Anglo-Catholic movement were embodied in the architecture and liturgy. Four panels of stained glass respectively feature Saint Edward the Confessor, patron saint

of England St George, Saint Osmond and St David, patron saint of Wales. With George awaiting his special day on 23 April, it is an apt time to appreciate the beautiful churches of England. Perhaps, coming at things from a non-native angle, I am in a good position to remind us all, going about our daily business in humdrum manner, that churches house the heritage of the United Kingdom. Such architecture – whether you are religious or not – must seem worth preserving. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has set up The Architectural Heritage Fund in partnership with English Heritage to do just this. And it is, happily, one worthy cause of which we can all be patrons.

Salisbury Cathedral

Sounds from our streets Sultry tones

Local resident Karen Ruimy this month launches a CD, ‘Come with Me’ – her first in England. We met her for tea at her muse-house office... Karen, now a seasoned professional flamenco singer and dancer, has already launched a CD in France. Formerly a high-flying finance guru, she decided to take seriously her hobby of performing arts when she realised her financial career was leaving her wanting in terms of inner fulfilment: ‘I was twenty-eight and becoming increasingly anxious, which was not my style. So I made the sudden decision to leave my job. I kept a foot in the door as a consultant for a Russian bank but also began writing.’ Thus began a path which saw Karen reconnect with her dance teachers from Spain, who had taught her on a casual basis a decade before. Karen, who moved to Belgravia from Paris seven years ago, worked with Craig Revel Horwood on the Flamenco Flamen’ka show at the Lyric Theatre in 2008. Her latest CD builds on written works which she has published – The Voice of the Angel and The Angel’s Metamorphosis. Proud to have designed her own range of jewellery too, creative Karen says of her CD: ‘I wanted my writing to translate into songs.’ The lyrics dance between French, English and Spanish and the tracks range from chill-out to energising in mood. The CD has an audible North-African influence; Karen was born in Casablanca and returns frequently to Morocco. When in Belgravia, her favourite local haunts are Baker & Spice and all things Olivo. ‘Come with Me’ is available on iTunes. Readers can meet Karen on her stand at the ‘Mind, Body, Spirit Festival’ at Earl’s Court (24-27 May)

Piano prowess

The Eaton Square Concerts series got underway on Thursday 7 March with a Leslie Howard special. Henry Hopwood-Phillips was there to survey the scene... St Peter’s Church was over three-quarters full with ears in anticipation. Kicking off the proceedings was Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ alongside its lesserknown, less-popular older brother, ‘Sonata no.13’. But neither stole the show; that proved to be the task of Schubert’s ‘Wanderer’, a piece famous for its lack of final cadences and a theme that reveals itself in such tricky combinations that even Schubert himself suggested ‘the devil may play it’. The performance was an inspired demonstration of how Romantic music broke free of its classical moorings, and this itself made the occasion special. I had forgotten until this night how relatively seamlessly Beethoven flows into Liszt; when one deals in epochs it becomes easy to lose hold of the common thread. This point reminds me of F. W. Maitland’s quote about history being ‘but a seamless web; and he who endeavours to tell but a piece of it must feel that his first sentence tears the fabric’. That no tear, division, or partition was conspicuous is testimony to the refinement of Leslie Howard, a man whose avuncular disposition betrayed an almost insouciant technical brilliance. Liszt’s ‘Sonata in B’ pushed the idea further; it is an exercise in form itself. Composed at the height of Liszt’s powers, the piece works in Beethoven’s fractions but lacks any strict regimentation. Abruptness, spontaneity and countless recapitulations were captured with commensurate ease. Indeed, it seemed as though Leslie had the composer’s mind arrested in his hands, and thanks to his performance, it might be said that he had many Belgravians’ hearts there too. www.eatonsquareconcerts.org.uk

What is concerning you about living or trading in Belgravia? Write to us at: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk

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Residents’ Culture Ideas about how to invest your time and money, as a resident of Belgravia

The Residents’ Association’s

April round-up ‘

Oh, to be in England now that April’s there...’ These are William Wordsworth’s words but I’m sure they resontate with many of us. Spring has arrived and so too has the BRA’s annual Black Book. As you leaf through its pages you will notice a theme unfolding; this year’s edition focuses on Belgravia’s status on the international stage, reflecting our campaign for 2013 – Local/Global Belgravia, the place where globetrotters and jetsetters abound.

by Sara Oliver where Peggy Porschen provided the coffee and the BADA Antiques Fair where we headed for a lecture given by House & Garden magazine, called ‘Subtle Sophistication’. Both events were a delightful way of taking a break from the pressures of daily life.

Save the date for 17 June. We are making preparations for our Summer Garden Party in Wilton Crescent Gardens (pictured) at 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing as Garden Party will be The BRA’s Summer e Jun cent Gardens on 17 held in Wilton Cres many members as possible on what should be a glorious summer evening. The event is for members only and if you are currently a non-member but an interested party, be sure to join up in time! Then, on 3 July we will be combining a visit to Danson House and Hall Place. Danson Our photography competition ‘Voyage To Belgravia’ is now open. House is a beautiful Palladian villa with sumptuous interiors, built Members, Belgravia Residents’ Journal readers, residents, schools and for pleasure, relaxation and entertaining. Hall Place is a stunning simply those interested in taking photographs of Belgravia can all enter. Tudor house with magnificent gardens. Then, on 9 October we If you are travelling by air, rail, road or water to or from Belgravia will be touring Syon House, the London home of the Duke of and you see a sight that reminds you of the area, please email it to us. Northumberland. Bookings are open for both tours. Please visit the We are looking for images that show Belgravia as a global destination. events page on our website for more details and to reserve your place. Search ‘Perfectly Belgravia’ on the Pinterest website for inspiration, too. The competition closes on 30 September 2013 and the winners will If you love your car and are interested in joining an international car be announced in this column in October. A presentation will follow rally later on in the summer then email the communications team and in November at the BRA’s AGM. The winning photographs will be we will send you more information. featured in the local press and we are also finalising some great prizes. Thanks goes once again to Ayrton Wylie for their continued support of In March, the City of Westminster held a South West Forum this exciting contest. where local residents, businesses and associates of St James’s and Westminster were invited to talk with their local ward councillors. On a similar note, we are launching a writing competition in 2013. Let Presentations focussed on The Crown Estate, the leader of the your imagination run free and write a short story based in Belgravia Council and a strategy for rough sleeping. Those who live or work – up to 3,000 words. Further details will be announced in the next locally are actively encouraged to attend these Area Forums. As column and on our website. The competition will be open to both always, we suggest to any residents who are new to the area to get in adults and young people and the winners will enjoy a smattering of touch with us with any queries or information regarding planning, fame, with their short story published locally. parking, the environment or any other local concerns. It costs just £30 to become a member (£60 for corporate), for which you can, On 7 March, we enjoyed a very informative tour of Hertford House and the wonderful Wallace Collection in Manchester Square. Morning among many other things, take advantage of our expertise. We are here to help. tea followed in the light and airy covered courtyard. It was a great way for members to interact and to get to know each other amidst the beauty of Canaletto, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, Madame de Pompadour and Franz Hal’s ‘The Laughing Cavalier’. On 14 March, the BRA was involved in two fabulous events; a Floris perfume one www.belgraviaresidents.org.uk

Until next month...

Monetary

matters

from Duncan Lawrie, Belgravia’s local bank since 1971 James Humphreys explains why using cash as a security blanket is inadvisable as a long-term investment

‘

Today, people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value.’ So said Warren Buffett in 2008. We’ve been through a lot since then, but the motto remains true. The dot-com bubble and the financial crisis have taken their toll on investor confidence during the last decade. As a result, many people are still clinging to the shortterm security of cash, despite historically low interest rates. Unfortunately, those who use cash as a longterm investment risk its gradual erosion by inflation. Of course cash should play an important role in the overall allocation of your assets. Its security is very useful if you are shortly expecting a major expense, such as buying a house. It is also sensible to have a rainy-day fund to draw on in an emergency. Even within portfolio management, cash can be a handy short-term tactical asset if you are concerned that the market may fall. However, this security comes at a cost. Interest rates have been at unprecedentedly low levels for some time. UK base rates reached their current level of 0.5 percent in March 2009 and are unlikely to rise in the foreseeable future. Indeed, market interest rates have recently fallen further. The Bank of England’s Funding for Lending scheme and looser liquidity requirements have meant that competition for deposits amongst the banks has eased. As a result, cash rates have fallen. Most commentators have been surprised at how long interest rates have had to remain on hold. To begin with, many experts predicted that rates would normalise when an economic recovery began. Alas, no recovery has turned up and UK GDP growth continues to tick along at next to nothing. To make matters worse, UK householders are still paying off the debt accumulated in the boom years, making the economy very

Prime time to enfranchise?

Yes, says Claire Allan of leading Belgravia law firm Child & Child In this life there are three types of leaseholders: those who extend their lease, those who purchase the freehold of their house, and those who, collectively with their neighbours, purchase the freehold to the building within which they own a flat. I am, in case you hadn’t guessed, talking about the highly specific but never-more-crucial world of enfranchisement. This year marks twenty years since the introduction of legislation permitting leaseholders to extend their lease by an additional ninety years, or collectively purchase their freehold.

sensitive to any increase in interest rates. The new Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, will take up his position in June, but he is unlikely to tighten monetary policy. If anything, he may loosen it further, following his musings about altering the Bank’s inflation target approach. Whilst interest rates remain anchored at their current very low level, inflation has stayed stubbornly above the Bank of England’s target of 2 percent. In fact, the Government’s favourite measure, the Consumer Prices Index, has averaged 3.5 percent since the start of 2010, whilst the average Retail Prices Index is even higher at 4.2 percent. Unfortunately, we see little reason at the moment for inflation to ease. Part of the problem is that our economy relies on imported goods and commodities and the devaluation of sterling in recent years has meant that these imports have continued to place upward pressure on inflation. Month on month, year on year, while inflation is higher than cash returns, it erodes value. If you have earmarked cash for shortterm or unexpected liabilities, you can afford to be philosophical, but over the long term cash offers poor returns. This is borne out by history; if you had invested £100 in cash in 1945 and reinvested the income, after adjusting for inflation your £100 would now be worth £190. In contrast, if you had invested in equities, it would be worth £4,027 in real terms (or so says ‘UK Asset Returns since 1899’, from Barclays Equity Gilt Study 2012). We believe it is better to diversify your assets. Cash has its attractions, but longer-term savings should offer exposure to other asset classes, including equities. Equities are riskier and more volatile, but they offer the potential of growth. In these uncertain times, the long-term attractions of equities have been overlooked by many, but to ignore them for too long could be costly. To find out more, contact us (mentioning the Residents’ Journal) on 0845 680 8778, at www.duncanlawrie.com/bank or by popping in to see us at 1 Hobart Place.

Legislation giving the right to purchase the freehold of one’s house has been around even longer, approaching fifty years. The legislation has only improved from the leaseholder’s point of view. The biggest changes include the fact that there is now no requirement for the leaseholder to actually reside in the flat; instead, two years’ ownership suffices. Prime central London market supremos have given broadly unanimous verdicts in terms of optimistic growth levels for 2013 and some lenders have their appetite for lending back. As a lease is a diminishing asset, the premium payable for a lease extension or a share in the freehold increases daily. Enfranchising should therefore be on the ‘to do’ list of the financially astute Belgravian who would do well to be aware of their preservation options in relation to their lease which is, quite probably, their main investment. Claire won Enfranchisement Solicitor of the Year 2012-13 Child & Child: 14 Grosvenor Crescent, 020 7235 8000

What is concerning you about life in Belgravia? Write to us at: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk

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London, 11th May, 1832 [To Family] I must describe to you one very delightful morning last week. It was the pleasantest and most touching instance of public recognition that has ever yet happened to me, and I perpetually recur to it with satisfaction. On Saturday morning there was a rehearsal at the Philharmonic, at which, however, noting of my own was performed, for my overture was not yet completed. I was in a box during Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and then went down to the floor of the hall to speak to some old acquaintances. Just as I got down, some one in the orchestra exclaimed: “There is Mendelssohn!” and on that they all began to shout and clap with such vehemence that for a time I was at a loss what to do; then as they were leaving off, some one else cried out: “Welcome to him!” and then the uproar began over again, and I was obliged to make my way down the hall and climb up into the orchestra, whence I conveyed my thanks to them. I shall never forget it, for that pleased me more than any distinction. It shows that the musical people like me, and are glad of my coming; altogether it was a greater joy than I can tell you.

[To Mother] “If today’s letter seems rather tired and creaky, then it reflects my feelings. They really have been driving me a little too hard here. When I was playing the organ the other day in Christ Church in Newgate Street, I thought for a moment I was going to suffocate, so great was the commotion and pressing of the crowd around the organ bench. And a few days after that, when I had to play before an audience of 3,000 in Exeter Hall, they cheered me with “Hurrahs” and waved their handkerchiefs and stamped their feet until the whole place rang with it. I didn’t notice any problems at the time, but the next morning my head felt dizzy, as though I had not slept. And then there is the pretty and charming Queen Victoria, who is so girlishly and shyly friendly and polite, who speaks German so well, and who knows all my things so well—the four books of Songs without Words, and those with words, and the Symphony,

and the Song of Praise. Yesterday evening I was at the Palace, where the Queen and Prince Albert were almost entirely alone by themselves. She sat down beside the piano while I played to her seven Songs without Words, then the Serenade, then two fantasias on Rule Britannia and on Lützow’s wilde Jagd and Gaudeamus igitur. The last was a bit difficult, but I could hardly decline, and because she had given me these themes I could therefore play them. There is also a beautiful, magnificent gallery in Buckingham Palace, where she drank tea and where there is a picture of two pigs by Paul Potter, and several others that struck me as not bad at all. Also, the people here like my A-minor Symphony [the Italian] very much. They welcomed us with a pleasant friendliness and thoughtfulness that surpassed anything I have ever experienced in the way of hospitality. At times all this makes my head spin and makes me a bit giddy, and I have to take myself firmly in hand so as not to lose my composure.”

DIARY ENTRY from HRH Victoria 16/06/1842, BUCKINGHAM PALACE After dinner came Mendelssohn Bartholdy, whose acquaintance I was so anxious to make. Albert had already seen him the other morning. He is short, dark, & Jewish looking, delicate, with a fine intellectual forehead. I should say he must be about 35 or 6. He is very pleasing & modest, & is greatly protected by the King of Prussia. He played first of all some of his “lieder ohne Worte”, after which his Serenade & then, he asked us to give him a theme upon which he could improvise. We gave him him 2, “Rule Britannia”, & the Austrian National Anthem. He began Immediately, & really I have never heard anything so beautiful, the way in which he blended them both together & changed over from one to the other, was quite wonderful as well as the exquisite harmony & feeling he puts into the variations, & the powerful rich chords, & modulations, which reminded me of all his beautiful compositions. At one moment he played the ANA with his RH, he played ‘Rule Britannia’ as the bass, with his left! He made some further improvisations on well known tunes & songs. We were all filled with the greatest admiration. Poor Mendelssohn was quite exhausted, when he had done playing.

Extracts from ‘Selected Letters of Mendelssohn’ (1894) by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and ‘Mendelssohn Remembered’ (1997) by R. Nichols

Compiled by Henry Hopwood-Phillips

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Planning &Development Keeping you in the know about important street plans affecting Belgravia

Local planning applications being processed APPLICATION RECEIVED

ADDRESS

PROPOSAL

2 January

40A Elizabeth Street

Internal alterations on all floors and replacement of an existing roof light to the rear of the property.

1 February

Belgrave Place (opposite 103 Eaton Square)

Installation of a Openreach broadband cabinet measuring 1.6m(h) by 1.2m(w) by 0.45m(d) on the public highway.

11 February

31 Wilton Crescent

One-storey extension at roof level and internal alterations to the existing residential dwelling.

PLANNED ROAD WORKS AND CLOSURES IN AND AROUND APRIL STREET

PLANNED WORK

DATES

WORKS OWNER

Chester Square

Disconnecting mains

28 March -5 April

National Grid Gas

Eccleston Street

Laying mains in conjunction with works on Eccleston Place

29 April -13 May

National Grid Gas

Halkin Mews (from junction of Motcomb Street to no. 14)

Laying mains

15-29 April

National Grid Gas

Lowndes Street (opposite 13 Lowndes Street)

Installing polyduct in causeway

1-8 May

British Telecommunications

Motcomb Street, (junction with Halkin Mews)

Laying mains

15-19 April

National Grid Gas

Wilton Place (outside St Paul’s Church)

Changing access to underground structure and cabling for new customer connection

8-10 April

British Telecommunications

Bressenden Place (between Buckingham Palace Road and Allington Street)

Expanding kerb, relocating bus stand

18 February -4 November

Transport for London

Council not paving the way A group of residents who have been lobbying the Council for four years about the state of the pavements in Ebury Street has been left disappointed by the Council’s reaction to their cause. The residents have recently been told that, as the works needed are only cosmetic, they will not be carried out. The condition of the pavements between the east side of Elizabeth Street and Eccleston Street is deemed by the group to be shabby and outof-keeping with the nearby improved realm of Elizabeth Street proper. Happily, the western side of Elizabeth Street is also shortly to undergo refurbishment. One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘The number of politicians not listening to voters seems to have reached epidemic proportions. Just over a year ago Colin Barrow resigned as leader of the Council because he didn’t listen to locals, regarding his unpopular night-time parking measures.’ Those dissatisfied with the state of their pavements (especially on Ebury and Wilton Streets) should contact the local ward councillors (Tony Devenish, Rachael Robathan and Philippa Roe) via the Westminster Council website.

Do you wish to comment on any local planning stories? Send us an email: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk Words / Lucie Elven

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VOYAGE TO BELGRAVIA

Annual Photography Competition Annual Photography Competition 1st March â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30th September 2013 1st March â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 30th September 2013 Sponsored by Ayrton Wylie

Directory

A compendium of the area’s key establishments

Estate Agents Andrew Reeves 77-79 Ebury Street 020 7881 1366

Harrods Estates 82 Brompton Road 020 7225 6506

Savills 139 Sloane Street 020 7730 0822

Ayrton Wylie 16 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 4628

Henry & James 1 Motcomb Street 020 7235 8861

Sotheby’s International Realty 26A Conduit Street 020 7717 5131

Best Gapp & Cassells 81 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 9253

John D Wood 48 Elizabeth Street 020 7824 7900

Strutt & Parker 66 Sloane Street 020 7235 9959

Cluttons 84 Bourne Street 030 3773 0020

Knight Frank 82-83 Chester Square 020 7881 7722

W A Ellis 174 Brompton Road 020 7306 1600

Tiles Restaurant and Wine Bar 36 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7834 7761

PUBS

Wellbelove Quested 160 Ebury Street 020 7881 0880

Food & Drink BARS Amaya Halkin Arcade, Motcomb Street 020 7823 1166 The Garden Room (cigar) The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599 The Library Bar (wine) The Lanesborough Hyde Park Corner 020 7259 5599

CAFÉS Bella Maria 4 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7976 6280 Caffe Reale 23 Grosvenor Gardens 020 7592 9322 The Green Café 16 Eccleston Street 020 7730 5304

The Antelope (classic) 22-24 Eaton Terrace 020 7824 8512

Motcombs 26 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6382

The Nag’s Head (classic) 53 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 1135

Olivo (Italian & Sardinian) 21 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2505

RESTAURANTS Como Lario (Italian) 18-22 Holbein Place 020 7730 9046

Mango Tree Manager: Chai Cuisine: Thai; Capacity: 150 46 Grosvenor Place 020 7823 1888

Health & Beauty BARBER

DOCTORS

GYM/ FITNESS

Giuseppe D’Amico 20 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2968

The Belgrave Medical Centre 13 Pimlico Road 020 7730 5171

The Light Centre Belgravia 9 Eccleston Street 020 7881 0728

The Belgravia Surgery 26 Eccleston Street 020 7590 8000

Colin & Karen Hair Design 39 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 7440

DENTIST The Beresford Clinic 2 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7821 9411

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L

HAIR SALONS

The Daniel Galvin Jr. Salon 4a West Halkin Street 020 3416 3116

MEDISPA

Bijoux Medi-Spa 149 Ebury Street 020 7730 0765

027

Home ANTIQUES Bennison 16 Holbein Place 020 7730 8076 Turkmen Gallery 8 Eccleston Street 020 7730 8848 Patrick Jefferson 69 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6161

ARCHITECTS/ DESIGN Marston & Langinger 194 Ebury Street 020 7881 5700 Paul Davis + Partners 178 Ebury Street 020 7730 1178

ARTEFACTS Odyssey Fine Arts 24 Holbein Place 020 7730 9942

BUILDER Capital Projects Ltd Gillingham Street (off Eccelestone Square) 07793 777 043

FINISHING TOUCHES

FURNITURE Ciancimino 85 Pimlico Place 020 7730 9959 Humphrey-Carrasco 43 Pimlico Road 020 7730 9911

Soane 50-52 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6400 Westenholz 80-82 Pimlico Road 020 7824 8090

GALLERIES

Jamb 107a Pimlico Road 020 7730 2122

88 Gallery 86-88 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2728

Lamberty 46 Pimlico Road 020 7823 5115

Gauntlett Gallery 90-92 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7516

Linley 60 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7300

The Osborne Studio Gallery 2 Motcomb Street 020 7235 9667

Ossowski 83 Pimlico Road 020 7730 3256

INTERIOR DESIGN

Christian Louboutin 23 Motcomb Street 020 7245 6510

Patricia Roberts 60 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 474

Philip Treacy 69 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3992

Lord Milner Hotel 111 Ebury Street 020 7881 9880

Westminster House Hotel 96 Ebury Street 020 7730 4302

The Diplomat Hotel 2 Chesham Street 020 7235 1544

Lynton Hotel 113 Ebury Street 020 7730 4032

BOUTIQUE

Lime Tree Hotel 135-137 Ebury Street 020 7730 8191

Paint Services Company 19 Eccleston Street 020 7730 6408 Rachel Vosper (candles) 69 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 9666 Ramsay (prints) 69 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6776 Zuber 42 Pimlico Road 020 7824 8265

Chester Designs 9 Chester Square Mews 020 7730 4333

Fashion BOUTIQUES Le Spose Di GiĂ˛ (wedding dresses) 81 Ebury Street 020 7901 9020

Hotels B&Bs B+B Belgravia & Studios@82 64-66 Ebury Street 020 7259 8570 Belgravia Hotel 118 Ebury Street 020 7259 0050 Cartref House 129 Ebury Street 020 7730 6176

Morgan Guest House 120 Ebury Street 020 7730 2384

Astors Hotel 110-112 Ebury Street 020 7730 0158 The Belgravia Mews Hotel 50 Ebury Street 020 7730 5434

The Rubens at the Palace 39 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7834 6600

Services BANKS Duncan Lawrie Private Banking 1 Hobart Place 020 7245 1234 Royal Bank of Scotland 24 Grosvenor Place 020 7235 1882

BOOKMAKERS Coral Racing 67 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6516

EDUCATION Cameron House School 4 The Vale 020 7352 4040 Eaton House School 3-5 Eaton Gate 020 7924 6000 Francis Holland School 39 Graham Terrace 020 7730 2971 Garden House School Turks Row 020 7730 1652

William Hill 12 Buckingham Palace Road 08705 181 715

GEMS Hampshire School 15 Manresa Road 020 7352 7077

CHARITIES

Glendower Preparatory School 86-87 Queen’s Gate 020 7370 1927

British Red Cross 85 Ebury Street 020 7730 2235

SOLICITORS Child & Child 14 Grosvenor Crescent 020 7235 8000

Miss Daisy’s Nursery Ebury Square 020 7730 5797 More House School 22-24 Pont Street 020 7235 2855 Queen’s Gate School 133 Queen’s Gate 020 7589 3587 Sussex House School 68 Cadogan Square 020 7584 1741

Neill Strain Floral Couture 11 West Halkin Street 020 7235 6469

LIBRARY Victoria Library 160 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7641 1300

MOTORING Belgravia Garage 1 Eaton Mews West 020 7235 9900

POST OFFICE

Thomas’s Kindergarten 14 Ranelagh Grove 020 7730 3596

Post Office 6 Eccleston Street 0845 722 3344

EXCLUSIVE

PRINTING & COPYING

The Caledonian Club 9 Halkin Street 020 7235 5162

Hill House International Junior School Hans Place 020 7584 1331

FLORISTS

Knightsbridge School 67 Pont Street 020 7590 9000

Judith Blacklock Flower School 4-5 Kinnerton Place South 020 7235 6235

Printus 115a Ebury Street 020 7730 7799

TRAVEL Bravo Travel 6 Lower Grosvenor Place 0870 121 3411

Speciality Shops BAKERIES

CONFECTIONERS

JEWELLERS

Pet accessories

Baker & Spice 54-56 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3033

Peggy Porschen 116 Ebury Street 020 7730 1316

David Thomas Master Goldsmith 65 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7710

Mungo & Maud 79 Elizabeth Street 020 7022 1207

Ottolenghi 13 Motcomb Street 020 7823 2707

Rococo Chocolates 5 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0993

CIGAR SPECIALIST

DELI

Tomtom Cigars 63 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1790

BOOKS Belgravia Books 59 Ebury Street 020 7259 9336

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S ’ J O U R N A L

La Bottega 25 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2730

GREENGROCERS Charles of Belgravia 27 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 5210 The Market Quarter 36 Elizabeth Street 020 7824 8470

NEWSAGENT Mayhew Newsagents 15 Motcomb Street 020 7235 5770

PharmacY A. Moore Chemist & Belgravia Health Foods 25e Lowndes Street 020 7235 5887

PERFUMERIES Annick Goutal 20 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0248

Floris 147 Ebury Street 020 7730 0304

029

WILTON ROW, LONDON. SW1X LEASEHOLD THREE BEDROOMS GROSS INTERNAL AREA: 2,336 SQ FT/ 217 SQ M

OIEO £4,000,000 stc Two reception rooms, Three bedrooms, Bedroom 4/Study, Terrace, Garage. Hidden away in one of Belgravia’s most sought after mews this home offers generous entertaining space, three/four bedrooms, garage and terrace. The accommodation on the ground floor includes dining room, kitchen, utility room and bedroom three with en suite. On the first floor you have a large reception with inter connecting study/bedroom four.

The top floor offers master bedroom with en suite bathroom/ dressing area and second bedroom with en suite. Features in the reception room include windows front to back, cornicing and built in cupboards. In addition there is a lovely roof terrace quietly situated to the rear of the property and garage. EPC rating G.

BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861

belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

WILTON TERRACE, LONDON. SW1X LEASEHOLD TWO BEDROOMS GROSS INTERNAL AREA: 987 SQ FT/ 92 SQ M

ÂŁ2,480,000 stc Entrance hall, Reception/dining room, Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, Further double bedroom, Resident caretaker. Perfectly arranged two bedroom lateral apartment on the second floor (with lift) of this attractive white-stucco fronted period conversion ideally located between Wilton Crescent and Belgrave Square. The apartment offers a wealth of light throughout, as well as having the added benefit of wood floors in the east facing reception room, high ceilings and a

resident caretaker. The accomodation includes entrance hall with coat cupboard, east facing drawing room with three large windows, kitchen, master bedroom with good storage & en suite bathroom with separate shower unit, further double bedroom and further bathroom. EPC rating D

BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861

belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

CHESTER MEWS, LONDON. SW1X TWO BEDROOMS FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

ÂŁ800

PER WEEK Stc Two double bedrooms, Two bathrooms, Open plan living/dining area, Eat in kitchen, Patio, Profesionally managed. A charming two bedroom house located in a quiet gated mews in the heart of Belgravia. Accomodation comprises of a large master bedroom with vaulted ceilings and modern en suite bathroom, a further double bedroom with en suite bathroom, open plan living/dining area, fully equipped kitchen/breakfast room, Juliette balcony and a patio garden.

The property is available on a furnished or unfurnished basis for a long term let. Chapel Street is situated within easy reach of the shops, bars and restaurants of Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Sloane Square and also located very close to the greenery of Hyde Park. EPC rating D.

BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861

belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

CADOGAN SQUARE, LONDON. SW1X TWO BEDROOMS FURNISHED

ÂŁ1,850

PER WEEK stc Reception room, Two double bedroom suites, Cloakroom, Communal gardens with tennis courts, Housekeeper. This lateral apartment is located in a prime position on Cadogan Square overlooking the communal gardens. The apartment has high ceilings throughout and has been decorated and furnished in a modern contemporary style with parquet wood flooring in the reception area. The accomodation comprises semi open plan kitchen/reception

room, two double bedroom suites and a guest cloakroom. The property is professionally managed and is available from the middle of April for a long term let. Cadogan Square is one of Knightsbridgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought after locations, situated within a short walking distance to Harrods, as well as Knightsbridge and Sloane Square tube stations. EPC rating E.

BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861

belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

savills.co.uk

1 A MAGNIFICENT DOUBLE FRONTED GRADE II LISTED FAMILY HOUSE belgravia, sw1 First floor drawing room with study ø family room ø study ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 2nd kitchen ø 7 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø 3 further bathrooms ø guest cloakroom ø utility room ø lift ø wine cellar ø 483 sq m (5,196 sq ft) ø EPC=F Guide £12 million Freehold

Savills Sloane Street

Savills Knightsbridge

Richard Gutteridge rgutteridge@savills.com

Barbara Allen baallen@savills.com

020 7730 0822

020 7581 5234

savills.co.uk

1 GRADE II LISTED HOUSE WITH PLANNING CONSENT TO DEVELOP belgravia, sw1 5 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 10/11 bedrooms ø 10 bath/shower rooms ø staff accommodation ø utility room ø terrace, patio and 2 roof terraces ø garage ø currently 819 sq m (8,816 sq ft) potential 1,301 sq m (14,000 sq ft) Guide £35 million Freehold

Savills Sloane Street

Savills Knightsbridge

Noel De Keyzer ndekeyzer@savills.com

Barbara Allen baallen@savills.com

020 7730 0822

020 7581 5234

savills.co.uk

1 IMPRESSIVE RAISED GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT eaton square, sw1 Reception room ø dining room ø kitchen ø master bedroom suite ø 2nd bedroom ø shower room ø 159 sq m (1,708 sq ft) ø EPC = C

Savills Sloane Street Richard Dalton rdalton@savills.com

020 7730 0822 Guide £5.3 million Leasehold, approximately 65 years remaining

savills.co.uk

1 A STUNNING APARTMENT FINISHED TO AN EXACTING STANDARD eaton terrace, sw1 2 double bedroom suites ø reception room ø eat-in kitchen ø roof terrace ø private entrance ø 140 sq m (1,502 sq ft) ø EPC=E

Savills Sloane Street Georgina Bartlett gbartlett@savills.com

020 7824 9005 £2,250 per week Furnished

ESTATE AGENTS, SURVEYORS AND PROPERTY CONSULTANTS 81 Elizabeth Street, Eaton Square, London SW1W 9PG Tel: 020 7730 9253 Fax: 020 7730 8212 Email: reception@bestgapp.co.uk www.bestgapp.co.uk Over 100 years experience in Belgravia

Eaton Square, SW1 A most impressive and well presented ground and garden floor maisonette on the south side of this most prestigious Square in Belgravia. The apartment has high ceilings and a south facing reception room opening on to a patio garden.

Leasehold

ÂŁ2,775,000

* Reception Room * Kitchen * Study * Master Bedroom suite * Second Bedroom * Shower Room * Porter

CHESTER ROW, SW1 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY A charming period terraced house that has been in the same family since 1953, with planning consent and a Grosvenor licence to extend the property to the rear and add a mansard roof extension to create a three/four bedroom family house.

Leasehold 125 Years

Price on Application

* Reception Room * Dining Room * Kitchen * Two Bedrooms * Bathroom * South Facing Garden

2013-03-18 12:23:16

RESIDENTIAL

cluttons.com/london

Clarendon Street London SW1V 2 reception rooms I 3 double bedrooms I 2 bathrooms I kitchen guest cloakroom | EPC rating D A recently refurbished house with substantial built-in storage, located in the Pimlico grid close to Pimlico Green and Victoria station

Furnished/unfurnished ÂŁ1,500 per week Belgravia office

belgravia@cluttons.com

020 7730 0303

2013-03-18 12:19:58

RESIDENTIAL

cluttons.com/london

Bourne Street London SW1W 2 reception rooms I 6 bedrooms I 4 bathrooms I kitchen I integral garage garden I EPC rating D A prestigious double fronted Belgravia house, presented in good condition throughout with enormous potential to modernise to your own requirements

Guide price ÂŁ8,500,000 freehold Belgravia office

belgravia@cluttons.com

020 7730 0303

Lincoln House, Basil Street, SW3 An excellent two bedroom apartment in this popular portered mansion block next to Harrods in Knightsbridge and conveniently located within walking distance to designer shops of Sloane Street.The apartment is finished to a very high standard and being on the 5th floor the flat has fantastic views over Basil Street. Comprises large and spacious reception room/dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, amazing en suite bathroom with both bath tub and shower cubicle, second bedroom and guest shower room. Available immediately for long term let on a furnished basis.

ÂŁ1,500 pw 020 7225 6602 Karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001

HARRODSESTATES.COM

East Mews, the Knightsbridge Apartments, SW7 One of the mews houses within this premier Knightsbridge development, offering complete privacy whilst also benefiting from all the amenities of the building; swimming pool, gym, spa, 24 hour concierge, and underground parking. The house has been interior designed by Joanna Wood, and comprises open plan kitchen / reception room, guest cloakroom, double bedroom and ensuite bathroom. Available immediately for long term let on a furnished basis. One parking space plus a storage cage is included in the rent, and a second parking space may also be available by separate negotiation. ÂŁ1,700 pw 020 7225 6602 Karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001

HARRODSESTATES.COM

www.ayrtonwylie.com +44 (0) 20 7730 4628 (sales)

EATON SQUARE, SW1

A quite beautifully refurbished two bedroom apartment with wonderful views over Eaton Square.

964 sq ft / 90 sq m

LEASE: 127 YEARS £3,750,000 16 Lower Belgrave Street, Belgravia, London SW1W 0LN

AYW_XXX_BelgraviaResiMag_EatonSqaure_210x297mm.indd 1-2

ACCOMMODATION AND AMENITIES

Master Bedroom with En Suite Bathroom • Double Bedroom • Shower Room / WC • Reception Room • Kitchen • Lift • Porter • Access to Square Gardens and use of Tennis Courts (subject to annual fee)

JSA Savills Sloane Street rdalton@savills.com | 020 7730 0822

www.ayrtonwylie.com +44 (0) 20 7730 4628 (sales)

Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Chelsea

EATON SQUARE, SW1

An incredibly rare opportunity to buy a large un-modernised raised A C C O M M O D A T I O N A N D A M E N I T I E S ground floor and garden flat on the north side of Eaton Square. Own Front Door • Large Elegant Entrance Hall • 3 Reception Rooms • Study

4371 sq ft / 406.1 sq m

LEASE: 70 YEARS £16,000,000

Kitchen/Breakfast Room • Master Bedroom Suite • 3 further Bedrooms 2 further bathrooms (1 En Suite) • Conservatory • Large Private Garden Secondary Staff Flat • Caretaker • Use of Square Gardens and Tennis Court (subject to annual fee) JSA Savills Sloane Street rdalton@savills.com | 020 7730 0822

sales@ayrtonwylie.com

12/03/2013 15:28

SIR Belgravia Res_Apr 13.indd 1-2

Upper Belgrave Street, Belgravia SW1

A wonderfully stylish penthouse full of natural light, with south facing roof terrace.

Three bedrooms • Three bathrooms • Two reception rooms • Kitchen South facing roof terrace • Lift • Study • Caretaker Approximately 2,000 sq ft / 186 sq m • Energy Rating: C

020 7293 0874

casper.tham@sothebysrealty.co.uk

Guide Price: £7,250,000 Leasehold with approximately 115 years remaining

Over 650 Offices in 47 Countries

sothebysrealty.co.uk

12/03/2013 11:46

KnightFrank.co.uk

Chester Square, Belgravia SW1W

Immaculate seven bedroom corner house in the heart of Belgravia An exquisite Grade II listed house. Master bedroom with en suite and dressing room, 4 further double bedrooms all with en suite (1 with dressing room), 3 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, preparation kitchen, reception hall, library, 2 staff rooms/bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, gym, bar, utility room, guest cloakrooms, lift, 2 terraces, 2 balconies, double garage. Approximately 686 sq m (7,384 sq ft) Available unfurnished Guide price: ÂŁ13,000 per week (BEQ133997)

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings belgravialettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6006

KnightFrank.co.uk

Wilton Place, Belgravia SW1 Immaculate five bedroom town house

A comprehensively refurbished five bedroom family home. Master bedroom with dressing room and en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms (3 with en suite bath/shower rooms), reception hall, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, media/family room, study, laundry room, wine cellar, sauna with wet room, guest cloakroom, roof terrace. Approximately 428 sq m (4,600 sq ft) Freehold Guide price: ÂŁ12,950,000 (BGV130042)

KnightFrank.co.uk/Belgravia belgravia@knightfrank.com 020 641 5907

Eaton Mews South, Belgravia SW1 • 3 Bedrooms

• Kitchen

• 2 Bathrooms (en suite)

• Study

• Shower room (en suite)

• Private parking

• Reception room

• Approx. 2,109 sq ft (196 sq m)

• Media room

• EPC rating: current (D) potential (D)

£4,150,000 Freehold £3,250 per week Furnished or unfurnished For more information call, Giles Cook on 020 7306 1620 or email gcook@waellis.co.uk

“ A recently refurbished mews house with a good balance of living and entertaining space in the heart of Belgravia” W.A.Ellis LLP 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

waellis.co.uk

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), en suite shower room, 2 reception rooms, patio garden, mews parking (by permit). Lease to 2045 Guide Price ÂŁ1,995,000

BELGRAVIA 020 7824 7900 belgravia@johndwood.co.uk

Belgravia Residents Journal Apr13.indd 1

R GEN E FO

IONS AT R

A charming Belgravia mews house with a private patio garden. Energy Rating: D.

TRUSTE

EBURY MEWS, SW1

141 Years of Property

72 - 2013

www.johndwood.co.uk

08/03/2013 17:54

77-79 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 0NZ lettings@andrewreeves.net www.andrewreeves.net

Lennox Gardens, Knightsbridge, SW1

ÂŁ1,950 per week Fully Furnished A light and spacious first floor apartment in an elegant 1880s-built Queen Anne-style building. Large reception room with high ceiling and broad bay window overlooking the tranquil garden square. This fully-refurbished property is in excellent condition throughout with a ceramic-tiled reception hall, brand new fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which is en-suite.

Lettings Office: +44 (0)20 7881 1366

Sales Office: +44 (0)20 7881 1333

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

struttandparker.com

Chalfont House | Belgravia | SW1 1,755 sq ft (163 sq m), EPC rating D

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 bertie.hare@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property. Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Eaton Terrace | Belgravia | SW1 1,972 sq ft (183.20 sq m)

Knightsbridge 020 235 9959 james.forbes@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property. Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

Chelsea Fulham & Parsons Green Kensington & Holland Park Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair Notting Hill & Bayswater West Chelsea & South Kensington

Sales 020 7225 3866 Sales 020 7731 7100 Sales 020 7938 3666 Sales 020 7235 9959 Sales 020 7221 1111 Sales 020 7373 1010

Lettings 020 7589 9966 Lettings 020 7731 7100 Lettings 020 7938 3866 Lettings 020 7235 9959 Lettings 020 7221 1111 Lettings 020 7373 1010

City Office Professional Valuations UK Commercial & Residential Residential Investment Property Management

020 7600 3456 020 7318 5039 020 7629 7282 020 7318 5196 020 7052 9417

struttandparker.com

One Hyde Park | Knightsbridge | SW1 989 sq ft (91.88 sq m), EPC rating C

Knightsbridge 020 7235 9959 james.gilbert-green@struttandparker.com

Scan this QR code with your camera phone to read more about this property. Free QR code readers are available to download from our website at struttandparker.com/qrcode

struttandparker.com

Year after year, we deliver excellent results for our clients. We take pride in knowing that our philosophy, approach and passion for selling and letting property in London has achieved extraordinary results for our clients. Our attention to detail, coupled with excellent customer service and expertise in the marketplace unveils a track record of delivering on promise every time. So much so that 97% of our clients said they would use again. We are proud to count amongst our clients many of the property industries leading professionals who choose to use us above their own agency. So, if you wish to get the most out of your property, whether you are considering selling or letting, contact: Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Mayfair

3895 London 2012 Belgravia.indd 4

020 7235 9959

09/01/2013 17:18

Belgravia Residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journal