Belgravia Residents' Journal, August 2014 by Runwild Media Group

BELGRAVIA Resident’s Journal AUGUST 2014

I SSU E 027

The Belgravia Residents’ Journal is published independently by Runwild Media Group with regular editorial contributions from The Belgravia Residents’ Association. To become a member of the BRA, visit www.belgraviaresidents.org.uk. We would highly value any feedback you wish to email us with: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk; or telephone us on 020 7987 4320.

w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k (020) 7987 4320

Dear Resident

As the summer party season that has swept through Belgravia’s streets and gardens draws to a close, August signals a period of winding down. In keeping with the slower tempo, the Journal devotes this issue to summer reading. We quiz Belgravians on their favourite tales and dissect some of the most talked about releases; from Hugh Pym’s behind-the-scenes exploration of the banking crisis to Donna Tartt’s latest doorstop of a novel. Read more from page 10. The area might be a little quieter this month as residents head off in search of sunshine overseas. However, anyone anxious about leaving their abode over the next few weeks can be assured; local policeman Nigel Lewis will be patrolling the streets to make sure nothing is amiss. As Belgravia’s only dedicated ward manager, Nigel has been on the beat here for 11 years. He talks to Henry Hopwood-Phillips about millionaire car racers and his fight against burglaries on page 16. Henry also talks politics and the European Union with Winston Churchill’s grandson, The Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames. Read the full interview on page six. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with all your news and updates, email belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk We hope you enjoy the issue.

Managing Editor Francesca Lee

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Assistant Editor Lauren Romano

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Main Editorial Contributor Henry Hopwood-Phillips

Senior Designer Sophie Blain

Executive Director Sophie Roberts

Editorial Assistant Jennifer Mason

Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Amy Roberts

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Editorial Intern Tom Hagues

Client Relationship Director Felicity Morgan-Harvey

Above / The Motcomb Street Party. Turn to page 20 for more photos from the event.

Proudly published & printed in the UK by

RUNWILD MEDIA GROUP

Member of the Professional Publishers Association / ppa.co.uk

The Notebook

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

Fitness food

Healthy foods tend to be super news for sanctimony levels, but not so great for the taste buds. With this in mind, the newly-launched Buddha-Bar has decided to collaborate with health guru Jacqueline Harvey on a new menu. Harvey is particularly keen to emphasise that ‘the menu is a great alternative to traditional Mediterranean summer food’. Dishes range from steamed fillet of sea bass with Thai basil, red chilli and lemongrass to sashimi (which unusually tastes as good as it looks) and chocolate-coated strawberries. If healthy food always tasted this good, we’d all have to buy some new trousers.

Body beautiful

Hervé Léger has created three new designs this season, each of which has been inspired by body art. In ancient Polynesian culture, tattoos would indicate status in a hierarchical society, and the brand has subsequently weaved this past tradition into its modern-day, signature bandage creations. Similar to its runway collection, the dresses are produced in limited quantities, so get your hands on one of the summer’s essential pieces before they sell out. 29 Lowndes Street, SW1X 9HX, 020 7201 2590 (herveleger.com)

145 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7PA, 020 3667 5222 (buddhabarlondon.com)

A permanent pop-up

The Jessica Carlisle Gallery is Belgravia’s newest art space. The eponymous artists’ agent established her pop-up gallery earlier this year and holds regular shows at 83 Kinnerton Street. The week-long exhibitions are an enjoyable way to discover work by contemporary artists in a relaxed and friendly environment. Jessica is always on hand to introduce an exhibition and, as the gallery is open until late, encourages people to stop by after work to learn more about the art over a glass of wine. With a particular emphasis on painting, the gallery’s aim is to show work that is visually engaging, not just conceptually clever – and with prices ranging from £100 to £5,000, there is something to suit every budget. 83 Kinnerton Street, SW1X 8ED (jessicacarlisle.com)

A new George, a new Georgian

Harrods is delighted to unveil an elegant refurbishment of the Georgian Restaurant on its fourth floor by interior design firm Christopher Guy. Opening to guests from 25 July, the revamp has prompted a reshaping of the restaurant’s famous afternoon-tea menu. Champagne afternoon tea costs £47.50 per person. 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL, 020 7225 6800 (harrods.com)

004

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

JOIN IN AUGUST

FREE JUICER+ PERSONAL

TRAINING

SESSION BASEd ON A 12 mONTh AGREEmENT ANd FULL JOINING FEE.

020 7834 3800

In Conversation with The Rt Hon. Sir Nicholas Soames Henry Hopwood-Phillips talks politics with Churchill’s grandson...

Henry Hopwood-Phillips: Let’s start with Nigel Farage. Sir Nicholas Soames: As far as Nigel Farage is concerned, the devil always sings the best tunes. He has no political responsibility; he can say what he likes. HHP: But isn’t that an argument against the current model of democracy? NS: No not all. Under our first-past-the-post system – the excellent and perfect system that we have in this country – Farage’s party, though perhaps not himself, will struggle to get seats. People want a result. On the continent you have to wait six months to get a government, and even then it’s a coalition.

HHP: Do you acknowledge voter concerns about immigration? NS: We are not against immigration. We have always needed a healthy flow of immigrants, but we are against an immigration system that has gone haywire. We have very few controls on who goes in and out of the country. HHP: Now we’re talking mass immigration. NS: Yes, people are scared about the scale of it all. The fact is that the public is very anxious about the pressure it puts on public services. It’s not something that can be brushed aside – it is a very important issue. Part of the problem for the Government is that we are subject to EU treaty law. If you are an EU citizen you should be able to go anywhere in the EU. Part of the Prime Minister’s renegotiations with the EU is that people who are here for short periods of time will have their ability to claim benefits curtailed. HHP: What is the Conservative Party position on grammar schools? NS: We are not against grammar schools, it is just that we have decided that we need to make the present system work, so we have gone down the academy route. I think grammars are absolutely wonderful; they do marvellous

work for social mobility. Many of my contemporaries who did very well in their lives went to grammar school. HHP: Do you agree that voter apathy has bedevilled elections for a long time? NS: All over the world people’s participation in democracy is going through a rum period. That’s because they harbour such high expectations about impossible problems to which there is no simple yes or no answer. HHP: At the end of the last budget you talked about the ‘erosion of the middle’ in your speech, can you elaborate? NS: I want a small state; a cheap state. I want lower taxes too. The first and most important thing the Chancellor needs to do – and I believe he will do this – will be to announce a radical reform of the tax system. It won’t be popular. There will be winners and losers, but it will allow many more people to keep much more of what they earn. There are a lot of people who shouldn’t be paying tax at all. HHP: In your opinion, what sort of relationship should the UK and Europe have? NS: I have always been staunchly pro-Europe. I do not believe Britain will vote to leave the EU, but I do think the case for remaining in the EU needs to be made; it has not been made since the 1975 referendum. HHP: Could you give me three examples of why Britain should stay in the EU? NS: a) We are a very small country. b) We depend on global trade, and if we had to trade on our own account we would have significantly less clout. c) Our main ally, America, wants and needs Britain to play a proper role in Europe. HHP: What is the best part of your job? NS: I’ve been an MP for 30 years. It’s very different to

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

what it was, but then the politics are too. I’ve just finished a whole afternoon of dictating letters to my constituents about all matters under the sun. Every now and then you can do something really useful and good. The House of Commons is the cockpit of the nation, and I love being in the cockpit. There is not a day when I don’t get up in the morning and think how bloody lucky I am. HHP: And the worst? NS: It can be very demanding on family life. But if you don’t like it, bugger off and do something else! There are

The House of Commons is the cockpit of the nation, and I love being in the cockpit plenty of people to take our places. HHP: Any thoughts on the upcoming elections? NS: This is the most interesting time to be involved in politics that there has ever been. There is a decision being taken in Scotland which is going to affect the shape and size of this country profoundly one way or the other. There will also be a referendum on the European Union in 2017 if the Conservatives win the next general election. HHP: Are you a unionist? NS: I hope and believe the Scots will vote to stay as part of the United Kingdom. HHP: Even though Conservative governments would be voted in more easily if Scotland was lopped off? NS: I dare say I might be unusual, but I think integrity matters more than voting patterns.

007

The Calendar Bringing you the lowdown on local events in August

Getting seriously sake

Proms and philhellenes

The BBC Proms has returned to the Royal Albert Hall, but Belgravia, as usual, plays a large part in the melodic madness by hosting many of its famous concerts at Cadogan Hall. Featuring more than 80 performances over the eight-week run, the first August offering on our patch takes place on Saturday 2 from 3pm to 4.30pm with Matinee 1: Armonia Atenea – the first Greek orchestra ever to perform at the Proms.

Sake has leapt from relative obscurity to one of the most popular drinks of 2014 thanks to some canny marketing and the fact that it tastes exceptional. To mark its move from the shadows to the spotlight, Harrods is hosting the London Sake Challenge. Organised by the Sake Sommelier Association to fall on 18 August, its raison d’être is to recognise and reward the best sake on the market.

18 July-13 September, standing tickets from £5; other tickets from £7.50-£95, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP, 020 7589 8212 (bbc.co.uk/proms)

10am-4pm, Harrods Tasting Room, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL (londonsakechallenge.com)

RAH © BBC Chris Christodoulou

Classes from the masters Our Michelin-starred local restaurant, Ametsa, is laying on a series of masterclasses to celebrate the sunshine. Unsurprisingly given its Spanish background, the restaurant is kicking things off with the traditional sunset thirst-quencher: sangria, accompanied by a selection of tapas dishes. Head chef Sergio Sanz Blanco will be planning future tutorials throughout the autumn months too, so keep your eyes peeled. £30pp, The Halkin, Halkin Street, SW1X 7DJ (comohotels.com)

Do you have an event that you’d like us to cover? Send us an email: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk

37 Pimlico Rd. London SW1W 8NE

We’ve got all day. But we know you haven’t. T HE WE E K DAY E XP RE SS LU N C H

The

Book

Issue

Summer

reads

The Belgravia Residents’ Journal reviews the latest page-turners, while local residents reveal their favourite books

The bookworms: Belgravians pick their favourite books Tom Assheton, founder of Tomtoms ‘One of my favourite books is Perfume by Patrick Süskind. It has a number of things going for it. It educates; it taught me about something I knew nothing about: how perfume is made and some of its history. It is set in interesting times: seething Paris and the gorgeous town of Grasse in the French Riviera. It’s a thriller boasting a killer with magical powers and, most importantly and cleverly, it has you rooting for the bad guy.’

A house of cards Tom Hagues explores the near-death experience of the UK economy in Hugh Pym’s Inside the Banking Crisis: The Untold Story

uring the worldwide banking crisis of 2008 there was fighting across countries’ governments, infighting within countries’ own governments, and a scramble to create the illusion that nothing was going awry. The opening chapter of Hugh Pym’s colourful and gripping account of the disaster depicts financial and political leaders desperately propping sandbags up against the incoming tide of financial terror. Each piece of information is presented within its own paragraph, creating a sense of heightened panic and the appearance of a best-selling thriller. Beginning with Northern Rock, where queues of panicking depositors waited to withdraw their savings, Hugh Pym guides us through the behind-the-scenes work of the Treasury and the Bank of England. Bringing to light much of what lurked in the shadows, he reaps some great

The opening chapter depicts financial and political leaders desperately propping sandbags up against the incoming tide of financial terror facts including the little known instruction by the financial authorities for banks to create more space within their premises to ease the amount of people queuing outside. The worries and stresses of city financiers isn’t the only thing covered in Pym’s account. He is very clear about the competence of the political leaders concerned. Gordon Brown is presented as being thoroughly well-versed financially, and especially so when the President of the US, George Bush, asks Brown: ‘What’s credit?’ Brown’s aptitude is further highlighted when he goes on holiday and takes with him the ‘early writings by the Fed chairman Ben Bernanke on the Great Depression and the US central bank policy known as quantitative easing’. Pym seems to want to make it clear that, despite Brown’s publicised clumsiness in some spheres, finance was not one of them. In the chapter ‘Britain Stands Alone’ sits the

swan metaphor (graceful above water, peddling speedily below) the government and financial authorities tried to use throughout the whole crisis. There was some truth to it. Britain’s financial plan proved more stable than others, and many of the world’s leading economies used it as a template for their own. This quelled some of Brown’s fears that the world would attempt to fix the problem by employing a whole host of different methods. Pym gives the impression that Brown wanted a musketeer approach to the problem – all for one and one for all was the way the crisis would be solved. The author’s inside knowledge and understanding of the political complications of negotiating a worldwide rescue deal is one of the most important features of the book’s narrative. An all-seeing, all-knowing Pym places the reader directly in the midst of the terrifying ordeal that nearly brought the world’s financial guardians to their knees. The factual accuracy of share prices on particular dates, of timing and exact conversations is razor sharp. Such a large (although necessary) amount of figures and numbers could cause the story to stagnate, but Pym’s fast-flowing account remains enthralling throughout. He unravels a subject that is notoriously complex and foreign to anyone outside of the financial world. Presenting the information in a readable, effortless narrative, Pym ensures the reader can grasp the concepts without being patronised. Strewn with insights about the relationships between leaders, financiers and bankers, Inside the Banking Crisis is the layman’s eyes into the secretive world of a financial meltdown. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, hardback £20.00 (bloomsbury.com)

Tessa Packard, founder of Tessa Packard London ‘My favourite book of all time would have to be The Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. The epic series of fantasy novels explores the coming of age of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they wander through a series of parallel universes. Its pages allude to physics, philosophy and theology; rich in metaphor and fable, I always turn to this book when I am searching for my own answers.’

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

011

INVENTING THE INDIVIDUAL Larry Siedentop’s ambitious work amounts to a rebalancing act of the entire Western historical canon, as Henry Hopwood-Phillips discovers

arry Siedentop gets straight to the point. We have ‘lost our moral bearings’, we ‘lack a narrative of ourselves’, indifference and permissiveness characterise a West that has been left bereft, unmoored and dissolute on the tides of history. Complacency is the tenor of an age which has either forgotten or does not care that belief systems must still compete; Islamic fundamentalism and the ‘crass utilitarianism’ of China constitute very real threats today. This is all just in his introduction to Inventing the Individual: The Origins of Western Liberalism. Skipping ahead to the epilogue, the author emphasises how the West rests on shared beliefs, best outlined today as liberalism, and that the greatest peril to its future success lies within our understanding of how its philosophy evolved. Typically abridged and truncated poorly in conventional narratives, this point especially concerns how we understand the Middle Ages and Christianity’s role in establishing individuality, equality and freedom as lodestars of the West’s collective conscience. General audiences forget that the instincts that forged these values were created and honed by the Church in the first place, before they were turned against it. The book between these two trumpet-blasts amounts to no less than a rebalancing act of the entire Western historical canon. What drives this mindbogglingly ambitious project? ‘If we do not understand the moral depth of our own tradition, how can we hope to shape the conversation of mankind?’ Siedentop asks. The hinge this rests upon is the re-acknowledgment of the Middle Ages as a period of serious achievement in furthering the values of individuality, equality and freedom. Too often written off as a black hole defined and illuminated by its bookends of antiquity and modernity; Siedentop works hard to restore it to prominence. Shifting the centre of gravity away from the anticlerical enlightenment of the philosophes in the direction of Christ has serious ramifications. ‘The importance of the Renaissance has been grossly inflated to create a gap between early modern Europe and its preceding centuries – to introduce a discontinuity that is misleading’ Siedentop explains, as he attempts to restore proportion to the historical landscape. He is quite clear that history has been choreographed for too long to appear as though

liberal ideals somehow emerged from nowhere after a senescence of over a millennium. In Siedentop’s re-reading, antiquity is not the secular, tolerant and free lost-land many modern thinkers have anachronistically sought to paint it as. Instead, it was a world in which every possible unit: family, paterfamilias, clan, city and imperial leader operated as a quasi-church, each suffused with the ideas and language of religion. As a result, the individual had no real existence outside these, being entirely defined by them. Even non-personal aspects of society such as law and property, were considered through a religious lens. The intellectual world was infused with the idea that paideia (the rearing and education of the ideal citizen) and pietas (duty, religiosity, loyalty, devotion), were

According to Siedentop, Paul is one of the great underrated revolutionaries of history consubstantial. Reason was a tool that commanded morality and a social hierarchy. This is all set against a Judaism that treated law as ‘Yahweh’s will’, separating truth from society’s demands and channelling it instead as an external command. This type of thinking invades the West at first with Jesus’ incarnation, and second, with Paul, its great expositor. According to Siedentop, Paul is one of the great underrated revolutionaries of history. His key theme, that the incarnation was proof of God’s relationship with humankind on an individual level, effectively bypassed other factors that constituted a person’s corporate identity, and would eventually turn almost every contemporaneous notion of society on its head. ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus,’ Paul said. And this fundamental identity rendered each and every soul to be equal, individual and deserving of a dignity that included liberty. The rest of the book is

The bookworms: Belgravians pick their favourite books Francesca Barrow, founder of Façonner ‘If a rose could speak with its red lips, it would utter the name Lolita. The flower is alluring in its beauty, enticing in its layers, and wicked at the core of its ultimately thorny embrace. And if it told a story, it would certainly be that of a young nymphet and the manipulation of her innocence. Nabokov’s flourished pen, its deceit and culmination in the wayward portrayal of his protagonists preserves Lolita as one of the most affecting works of the Western canon.’

The

Book

Issue

essentially a re-investigation of history once the pivot is placed on Paul’s patch and these ideas take centre stage. Breathless revisionism on such a grand scale deserves high praise. Hugh Trevor-Roper used to compare specialist historians to snipers who would take pot-shots at anybody brave enough to attempt works of synthesis in the noman’s land between each tower. It requires fortitude and insouciance to range so far and wide, skipping where most fear to tread in the minefield that is medieval studies. Siedentop also deserves laurels for rehabilitating the study of history as a place where narratives can incidentally flower as a cause for good as often as they can be dubious and self-serving. For too long the orthodoxy has been that history is where the alternative universe of impenetrable texts from the literature department go to die. The subject’s relevance suffers in such circumstances. Instead Siedentop has sought to give the West its story back, and he will attract many critics for having the temerity to do so. That said, there are three principal shortcomings. First, there are too few pages dedicated to the Byzantine Empire. Eastern Orthodoxy followed a very similar theological trajectory to the West, yet harvested few of its political systems. Siedentop makes some tantalising references as to why, mentioning the longevity of the Constantinian settlement and the impact of Islam for instance, but never develops these sufficiently. Second, platonism is slighted a little too much for comfort. For all the negative social implications of the philosophy it also provided a ladder to the divine, staggering reason in such a way that it joined man to logos, or the principle of divine reason. This is in stark contrast to Islam, a faith that

never inhaled platonism to the same degree, and as a result, retained a greater epistemic distance between God and mankind. Third, it lacks the breadth of A. J. Toynbee’s A Study of History and the force of works that address similar themes to Inventing the Individual such as Ratzinger and Pera’s Without Roots. There are too few references to extra-European experiences to confirm a truly Western story, and too many awkward questions about the West’s future implied by the narrative are left unanswered. Can a deracinated liberalism survive? Does equality squash liberty when the two are left decontextualized by secularism? Questions suggested in the prologue, are shirked in the epilogue. These criticisms are complaints about icing on a cake that has re-written the recipe book, however. In granting liberalism a new genealogy, Siedentop hasn’t merely rebutted the sillier assumptions of Enlightenment histories, he has restored to the West a greater self-understanding. Published by Allen Lane, hardback £20 (penguin.co.uk)

James Wright, Chairman of Belgravia Residents Association ‘I read Great Expectations for the first time aged 11 and it scared the wits out of me when Pip was tackled on the marshes for “wittles” by the convict who later became his mysterious benefactor. Many moons later, and having avidly read nigh on a novel for months since, this singular “first novel” has yet to be bettered in content or intrigue.’

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

013

The

Book

TARTT AND SOUL

Issue

Critics are divided over whether Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer prize-winning third novel, The Goldfinch, is worthy of the accolade. Jennifer Mason delves into the 800-page adventure to see what all the fuss is about

uring my novel-devouring teenage years, I read Donna Tartt’s first novel, The Secret History. I came away with no strong feelings about it, so it was with some trepidation that I approached The Goldfinch, Tartt’s latest offering. In this new bildungsroman, Tartt returns to the first-person narrative style that proved so popular in her first book. The hero (or anti-hero), Theo Decker, is an emotionally-troubled, drug-riddled art and antiques aficionado who has endured a difficult upbringing. The reader is quickly absorbed into the world of Theo and discovers the source of his trauma – a disturbance that leaves the impressionable youngster with a darker legacy. A chance encounter soon draws the protagonist from a path of academia and petty teenage rebellion into the seedy underbelly of the criminal world, with the Carel Fabritius painting The Goldfinch serving as his talisman. The tale jumps between New York and Las Vegas as Theo is shipped across the United States to live with his drunk, absentee father. Here in the arid and uninspiring desert of Nevada, Theo meets Boris, a streetwise, light-fingered Ukranian artful dodger. An unlikely friendship endures, and even after Theo’s return to New York separates the two for a time, their connection triggers the climax of the novel. Although riveting, the final pages, with their musings on the longevity of art, friendship and love detracts from the otherwise compelling drift. The fluidity of the concluding segment clashes with the staccato narratives that constitute Theo’s story. Others too have noticed the incongruity between the book and its epilogue. James Wood of The New Yorker pointed out that, ‘Tartt’s consoling message, blared in the book’s final pages, is that what will survive of us is great art; but this seems an anxious compensation, as if [she] were unconsciously acknowledging that the 2013 Goldfinch might not survive the way the 1654 Goldfinch has.’ It has been 11 years since Tartt last published a

novel (The Little Friend, in 2003) and almost twice that since she emerged at the forefront of the literary scene with her acclaimed debut. Clearly, crafting these hefty so-called ‘paperweight paperbacks’ is more than a hurried scribble, each is years in the making. In this way, Tartt’s novel somehow becomes the painting her protagonist so admires and obsesses over. A description in the novel of the painter’s struggle to produce such a great work is a reflection of Tartt’s own toil and reward: ‘They build up the illusion, the trick – but, step closer? It falls apart into brushstrokes. Abstract, unearthly. A different and much deeper sort of beauty’. I found that even the most chaotic and unpunctuated phrases that Tartt uses to illustrate Theo’s angst took on deeper significance for me, just as Fabritius’ brushstrokes make the difference between viewing the painting from far away, and up close. The big picture shows you the beauty of the thing; the small flaws in its creation allow you to fully engage with it. Published by Little Brown Book Group, paperback £8.99 (littlebrown.co.uk)

The bookworms: Belgravians pick their favourite books Kate Gordon, founder of London Art Studies ‘This is a Solomon-like decision, but Loving Frank has remained in my top five favourite books since its publication in 2007. By Nancy Horan, it is the story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his love for Mamah Cheney, which rocked Chicago society in the early 1900s. A true tale, it reads like fiction; a story of passion, architecture and feminism – this yarn will stay with you long after the last page. And the ending will surely have you throwing the book across the room… or the beach.’

014

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

CHELSEA

25 - 29 SEPTEMBER 2014

www.strarta.com

ART FAIR

Rabarama | Trans-posizione - Painted Bronze

The

Belgravian FRIENDLY GIANT

Henry Hopwood-Phillips goes on the beat with Belgraviaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bobby

s that Nigel? Several single men are swanning through L’ETO’s doors. I can’t ask every one of them if their name is Nigel, it would look odd. What will he be wearing? A parallel universe of rules and regulations enters my head. How should I address him? ‘Sir’ would be too quaint. Perhaps he’d prefer a more private room? Oh, that’s obviously him. He’s bald, built like a balrog and wearing the black gear that cops wear under the fluorescent uniform that marks them out as only slightly less inconspicuous than flashing traffic cones. Before we start he has a call. It’s all ‘delta, whisky, bravo, level two and chopstick gravy’ – OK I may have made the last one up – but it’s a different language and I feel left out. He apologises, explaining that he’s an ‘acting sergeant’ today for some reason, and I accept because let’s face it, if I ever get in trouble around here, Nigel is most likely the first face I’ll see. And that’s because Nigel Lewis is Belgravia’s one and only dedicated ward manager. If that makes him sound like he works in a hospital, well blame the police lingo again. ‘I’ve been on the beat in Belgravia for 11 years now, and dedicated ward manager for five,’ the friendly giant explains. You might find other officers, indeed he lists them: ‘We’ve got cluster officers, about four of them, assigned to issues rather than places. Then there are the PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers), we have two of them as well.’ Nigel is also a bit of a big thing in the UAE. Residents from that part of the world even put up posters of him sometimes. ‘The general tone of them is: “don’t let this man on his crummy little bike catch you in your supercar – it’s humiliating!”’ Nigel laughs. That’s because Nigel has been using Section 59 of the 2002 Police Reform Act. ‘The law says anybody who drives in a manner that may cause alarm or distress gets effectively yellow-carded. If we see you do that again, it’s a red and we’ll seize the car. ‘I’d say a good 20 per cent of those speeding are British joy racers. But it’s not on to terrorise residents and jeopardise safety. We had someone killed when they were hit at more than 100mph.’ Nigel’s countenance goes from jolly to stern remarkably quickly. ‘It’s mostly 18 to 22-year-olds. They don’t take the roads seriously enough,’ he continues. I wonder whether it’s because money is no option and they often see the roads as one might in a video game, as little more than a

backdrop. ‘Yes, something like that,’ he agrees. ‘It’s like a parade, centred on Harrods during the day that turns into a racetrack that winds its way round Lowndes Square and Sloane Street at night. ‘We have pulled in at least £54million worth of vehicles in the last five years from seizing cars,’ Nigel claims. I assume that we are talking about Ferraris and the like but Nigel corrects me. ‘Of course you have your Bugatti Veyrons, but the cars we pull in go right down to Ford Escorts with everything in between.’ His efforts have not gone unnoticed at home. Last year he starred on Channel 4’s Millionaire Boy Racers and this summer he will feature in the BBC’s The Met. This is all very far from the bread-and-butter of Nigel’s work, which at the moment is burglary. ‘We’ve got a big challenge on our hands here; people aren’t keeping their homes safe. We’re talking flimsy locks and the like. Also, the elderly often fall prey to fraud – it’s hard to do things about this – our focus is on distributing preventative information.’ It all comes so naturally to Nigel you would think he had been born to uphold law and order, but it was not always so. ‘I did have a 30-year career as a lighting designer. It was my brother who was a superintendent in the Met,’ he tells me. But the past tense is misplaced here; he is still immersed in the theatre business when he has the time. I tease him that the job must be quite a comfortable one when nothing is going on: lots of respect, a cycle in the sun and a local beat. He agrees for the most part, but reminds me that ‘there are some sorts who are very nasty, can be abrasive and wantonly abusive’. I guess it’s something to do with the politicisation of the police. He isn’t sure and points out he must keep to police standards not civil ones. I ask what he means. ‘Well we’re not allowed to be alarmed or distressed by words the public would use. We are expected to be more robust.’ Not that Nigel strikes me as too sensitive. I tell him he looks as though he’s built like the proverbial brick house. Laughing, he admits, ‘I’m like the Michelin Man. It’s all just fat – I string it up at the joints to look like muscle!’ There must be off-days though. I put it to him that he must be growing tired of it all. ‘Oh no! It’s a great honour. I’ve always been chuffed to wear this uniform.’ And I think most of Belgravia is proud to have the gentle giant from Norwich keeping its streets safe.

I’ve been on the beat in Belgravia for 11 years now

Words / Henry Hopwood-Phillips Illustration / Russ Tudor

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

017

Raising the steaks In this month’s bovine battle, Henry Hopwood-Phillips goes to see if Hawksmoor is out of its league or in one of its own, while Tiffany Heskia chews the fat at The Rib Room

Grazing on the grazers

big slab of fat and salt, charred on the outside and soft as butter on the inside does not constitute a hard sell, especially if you wash it down with a glass of Malbec. Let’s be honest, it’s the comfort food of a carnivore; it doesn’t require culinary gymnastics. So what more, if anything, does Hawksmoor bring to the table? The young company must be doing something right. The latest Knightsbridge branch is its fifth restaurant, having previously set up in Piccadilly, Covent Garden, Bank and Spitalfields. Hawksmoor also knows that if anything has been elevated above the cult of the chef, it is the provenance of our food. ‘There are no middlemen, no warehouses,’ the firm boasts. ‘We buy the best ingredients.’ And it is not lying. The beef here is sourced from grass-fed Longhorn cattle in Yorkshire that has been aged for 35 days. I opt for the Tamworth belly ribs. Warning: this is not a starter unless you’re a body-builder or can’t get off a sofa in less than five minutes. The dish consists of two large duvets of fat dripping in a brown, aromatic sauce. If everybody in the restaurant shut up for just one moment, they would probably be able to hear my heart arguing with my belly about my priorities in life. Nicely accompanied by sharply pickled cabbage, it leaves me nursing what the youth call ‘a food baby’. Next is the beef. As easy as steak sounds, there is a lot that can go wrong. I’ve lost count of the number of times meat has come out beiger than the 1970s, tougher than biltong or as flaccid as a married man. Hawksmoor avoids all these pitfalls and pirouettes at the end. In a menu that boasts many statement dishes,

I go for the two fireworks: sirloin with the bone and a ribeye. These come in various sizes: too big (huge even if sharing) and death on a plate. Sides usually complete a meal; here they are irrelevant satellites orbiting planet cow. I feel like one of those truckers in the US who only get to have their 1kg steak gratis if they can eat the whole damn thing. The pink pearlescence of the steak, thick with blood, is all very caveman. Or it would be if we weren’t sitting in a room that looks like a continental terminus. It’s got an Art Deco thing going on, but it’s merely an architectural manifestation of the fact that Hawksmoor has nailed the “brasserie informality” meets “restaurant quality” so many places have tried (and failed) to pin their flag to. Less continental but ultimately more refined is the wine, which comes courtesy of the Pulenta estate in the Mendoza region of Argentina. It’s a high-altitude fruit that packs more tannins than your average Malbec; it has also got a smoky liquorice thing going on, preventing the sipping from descending into slurping. It’s not an easy-drinker – it’s one for the more mature sot. Overall, although the tables here are a little too close for comfort and the mark-up on the meat is a tad steep (perhaps one could argue not for the parallel universe that is central London), these are a handful of incorrect footnotes on a stonkingly good essay.

As easy as steak sounds, there is a lot that can go wrong

3 Yeoman’s Row, SW3 2AL, 020 7590 9290 (thehawksmoor.com)

Rib tickler

he Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel in Cadogan Place was the tallest hotel in London when it was built in 1961. The Rib Room opened its doors that same year and, with a revamp in 2011, not much has changed since. An open space balancing Art Deco and traditional wood panelling, it possesses an understated elegance that mixes a clubby atmosphere with the sort of culinary excellence that attracts a line of AA rosettes. The restaurant has always been on my doorstep. Initially a venue reserved for special family occasions, later on, when I became a member of the Peak (the Jumeirah’s gym), it became the go-to place with friends after a workout for a steak and glass of red. The atmosphere is glamorous yet unpretentious and the staff are friendly. This combination continues to draw a mix of locals, businessmen, hotel guests, politicians, actors, royals, sportsmen and entrepreneurs. Head chef Ian Rudge showcases the best of British classic fine dining: rib of beef, the usual steak selection, calf’s liver, steak tartare and lamb cutlets as well as the fruits of the sea. The emphasis is on the quality of the cuts and ingredients, which are served in generous portions: these are traditional dishes that refuse to be bashful. First up is a prawn cocktail, a starter famous for being badly made in the 1970s. Small brown shrimps swim in a Marie Rose sauce that comes in a very large glass dish. But despite its size, it’s merely an appetite-whetter for the

225g fillet steak that follows. I decide to quiz the waiters about the Lancashire beef. What’s the science behind a steak? The first part of the equation is the breed, I learn; Aberdeen Angus has a reputation as the best beef in the world due to its high ratio of lean meat to fat and bone. Second is the feed. Cows should be outside free to eat grass, which produces tastier yet leaner beef. The fat then produced creates marbling that contains higher levels of Omega 3 – something that lessens the impact of the meat on one’s cholesterol levels. Third is the art of dry ageing. Hanging the meat for a period of time, ideally for at least 28 days, allows the enzyme activity to tenderise the beef and strengthen the flavour. The science lesson over and done with, I tuck in with gusto. Prices don’t seem high at all at The Rib Room if you understand where you are and what you are eating.

It possesses an understated elegance that mixes a clubby atmosphere with the sort of culinary excellence that attracts a line of AA rosettes

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

2 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9PY, 020 7858 7250 (theribroom.co.uk)

019

Motcomb Street Party

Summer

Madness Belgravia has embraced the party spirit this season, with soirĂŠes and celebrations aplenty

Elizabeth Street Party

Photography by Sam Churchill

British Polo Day

B.R.A. Summer Garden Party

B E L G R AV I A R E S I D E N T S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; J O U R N A L

021

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

Belgravian

Moments

Briana Handte Lesesne reflects on the edification a book can provide

he buzz and excitement of summer parties in Belgravia can leave one feeling drained and exhausted. August therefore comes as a relaxing treat for the mind and body. It is a time to recharge one’s batteries. Schools and universities are out of session and Belgravia’s residents look forward to calmer days and quieter nights. Whether they travel by plane, train, boat or car; stay in their second home, a grand hotel, at a resort or with friends, a good book can transform the mind in the reflection of the waves; a good book can teach a lesson. Those colleagues and friends I have spoken to all agree that the one item they all take on their summer vacation is a book, or in many cases, the plural. It can be a book for the plane, a book for the beach or a book as a gift for the host or hostess with whom they are staying. There are few things more enticing than a good summer read and a quiet moment to escape from the world around you. Books provide hours of mystery and intrigue, adventure and fantasy, history and discovery; a moment wherein you can escape from reality and open a whole new world. They rest proudly on a coffee table, are tucked away

in a bookcase or lay spine open on a bedside cabinet. Back at home, Belgravia has its share of books and literary history. From noted author Ian Fleming who resided on Ebury Street, to contemporaries such as Harry BallWeber, we are blessed as an area with great penmanship. So who better to recommend a summer reading list than Phoebe Bentinck owner of H.R.Stokes on Elizabeth Street? The store has recently launched a book club for those looking for an intellectual way to spend their beach holiday. First up for discussion is Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. Some of the reads Phoebe recommends are by local authors. Brian Girling’s Belgravia & Knightsbridge Through Time uses photographs to capture the development and history of these two areas since the 1820s. Clive Aslet’s first fiction work The Birdcage is set during the First World War, a theme that holds special significance this year, while Under a Croatian Sun by Anthony Stancomb is a humorous glimpse at what happens when a couple leaves the grey skies of London to set up home on the sunny Croatian island of Vis. In the words of George Washington, ‘I conceive that a knowledge of books is the basis on which all other knowledge rests.’ What will your summer read be?

The views expressed on this page are not held by the Residents’ Journal. The page offers a platform for the voices of our local residents to discuss topics they feel relevant and important.

The Residents’ Association’s

August round-up August round-up by Head of Social & Communications – Sue Liberman

he annual Grosvenor Dragon Boat Regatta took place in Marlow on Friday 4 July. Along with 27 other teams, consisting of various property companies, surveyors and professional firms who act for Grosvenor, the Chestertons team, Pearl Thorn, went into battle. After winning the first three races, the team was through to the semi-finals. Out of the eight other contenders, once again Pearl Thorn achieved the overall best time and made it to the final race. Given that the team is comprised of a mixed bunch of ages, sizes and abilities, on face value it was not considered as a strong contender to even qualify for the semi-finals, especially when compared to many of the more athletic teams who looked as though they had been in training for months beforehand. However, after an extremely close final, Pearl Thorn won by a whisker. A huge congratulations to Chestertons who have already booked for next year’s race!

On 13 July you may have noticed some filming in Belgravia. The scenes involved the film’s main character being followed by undercover police from outside 27 Chapel Street towards 35 Belgrave Square. As the story is set in the 60s, the vehicles were all of that period. The team responsible was Working Title Films, which is currently shooting a new feature film. Entitled Legend, the crime thriller will chart the tortured and unique relationship between the Kray twins as they embarked on their reign of terror in 1960s gangland London. Based on John Pearson’s book, The Profession Of Violence, the film is thought to focus on the attempts of marginally-older twin Reggie to keep his younger brother Ronnie’s psychotic tendencies in check. The role will be challenging for Tom Hardy as he plays both Ronnie and Reggie Kray. The cast also features Emily Browning, David Thewlis, Christopher Eccleston, Chazz Palminteri and Tara Fitzgerald. The previous Kray Twins film The Krays starred brothers Gary and Martin Kemp as the gangsters. Legend is expected to open in the UK in 2015.

accessories) and toys. There is also a permanent recycling centre on Ebury Square that will take paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, tins, cans, aerosols, plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, waste electricals and (coming very soon) textiles.

Other issues…

As previously reported, in March 2014 Westminster Council finally approved the B.R.A. application for a zebra crossing to improve safety in Orange Square. Sadly the installation of this zebra crossing has somehow stalled, which Westminster Council has informed us is due to a lack of funds. A 14-year-old schoolgirl en route to Francis Holland School where she is a pupil, was hit by a bus at 8.43am on 23 June outside 41 Pimlico Road. She suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital where she was found to have a graze to her left elbow and was not detained. Fortunately the schoolgirl was not seriously injured. However the incident once again highlights the urgency of installing this zebra crossing. The B.R.A. is strongly pushing Westminster Council to get this zebra crossing installed as soon as possible.

If you would like to help protect and/or shape the future of Belgravia, please join us by becoming a member. Simply go online and click on the appropriate membership box. In addition, if there’s anything you would like to let us know about, I can be contacted on sue@belgraviaresidents.org.uk

Recycling update…

There is a mobile recycling centre at Pimlico Academy for residents’ use, which is open from 11am to 3pm every Sunday. You can collect your supply of blue recycling bags from a member of the recycling team to recycle the following products: batteries, books, cartons, cassettes, videos, CDs and DVDs, energy-saving light bulbs, mobile phones, printer cartridges and toners, small electrical appliances, textiles (clothes, shoes,

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

Until next month... belgraviaresidents.org.uk

023

Securing the perimeter Former soldiers of the historic and celebrated British Army Gurkha Regiment stand ready to protect our neighborhood

‘S

ecurity is now less about brawn and more a question of intelligent responses to the challenges facing local communities,’ says Ian Lyons, commercial director of Belgravia-based security firm Vigilance Properties. ‘Naturally, chief among these is crime.’ Small surprise then that local residents and businesses are looking for local solutions to countering crime, and Vigilance is well-placed at its Eccleston Street base to assist. Belgravia has always been well-heeled, but compared to days past, residents are now more multinational than ever, with many out of the country as much as they are at home. The area’s affluence and absent owners are widely publicised and this paradigm shift is not lost on organised crime, Lyons explains. ‘Organised elements seem intent on highly targeted attacks on affluent residential and commercial areas alike.’ Ian quotes the latest statistics for 2014 that reveal that Belgravia and the wider London

boroughs experienced 2,925 robberies and 8,404 burglaries on a rolling yearly figure. Fortunately, our community is facing up to the challenges presented by these bare statistics. Organisations like the Belgravia Traders’ Association and Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum are more proactive in their efforts to address the problem. Part of the solution is enhanced liaison with the Metropolitan Police, whose ward officer Nigel Lewis is a supporter of self help and initiatives that align with the met’s. ‘We welcome local firms like Vigilance working beside us to help enhance the security of the area. More experienced eyes and ears operating in a neighbourhood, especially with that additional professional training, can only be beneficial,’ the local policeman explains. I challenge Lyons on why his company’s claims are any more credible than others; why does he believe his

respectful staff are a more compelling security solution than the more traditional man mountain working the door? He answers frankly: ‘Private security is changing, following a broader trend from corporate security. Clients want customer service by a better skilled and presentable individual; concierge security, rather than classic guarding. Customers place a significant portion of their lives in a relative stranger’s hands so we have to be acutely aware of that trust.’ Many Vigilance staff are former British Army Gurkha soldiers, a fighting force respected globally, and not just for its formidable martial reputation, but also for the innate courteousness and integrity of its people. ‘In tense situations these attributes can be as effective and diffuse the scenario far better than brute force,’ Ian says. The fact that Belgravia is home to lots of families who spend some or much of the year elsewhere means that increasingly Vigilance’s resident services are in demand. If property owners are away for an extended period they need greater certainty that their prized property is safe. I wonder out loud if sourcing staff with the requisite skill is not seriously challenging. ‘We are a nationwide company with significant resources of screened and vetted manpower to draw on. Our management team is still very tapped into its former lives as

around. The stats certainly suggest that this has played out in Belgravia in recent months,’ he responds. The fact that several local traders have suffered significant losses of stock in the past weeks as a result of undetected theft suggests that Ian’s view is not merely empty spin. The point is endorsed by Nigel Lewis: ‘Policing is of course complex, but visible presence and awareness of risks always help. Strengthening support on the ground for well-considered initiatives can be a cause for celebration.’

Private security is changing ... clients want customer service by a better skilled and presentable individual

He also worked as a medical orderly in the first Gulf War of 1991. He was awarded a Gulf Medal (1990-1991) with Gulf clasp and a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LSGC). He retired in 1998 obtaining an exemplary reference.

armed forces officers and we have a very active corporate social responsibility agenda too. Recruitment benefits from this, and we get to cherry pick staff who best fit our model.’ Add to this that Vigilance has a strict commitment to ethical business and is dedicated to the principle of a living wage in an industry traditionally dominated by minimum wage workers and zero hours contracts, and it is not hard to see why finding and keeping staff of the right calibre is less of an issue than I first thought. I have seen several smartly attired Gurkhas in the area before and summon memories of the Belgrave Square Garden Party as evidence. Ian nods, ‘Yes, our presence has been a great success for the organisers and the local community. And we have loved being a small part of it. Any assistance we can give in the form of keeping squares and gardens here safer is rewarding.’ Ian tells me that this month the company is mounting a patrol for a client looking to target the issue of rough sleepers in local public spaces; a problem more apparent in summertime. This chimes with a view I have, on which I challenge Lyons. Surely rough sleeping and poor door locks must be a far larger part of the local problem than the organised gangs he refers to? ‘Actually, I believe that the one feeds off the other. Regardless who the perpetrator is, it only takes an attempted burglary or two to be successful for word to get

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

Ian Lyons and Vigilance Properties can be contacted directly on 020 3416 5340 or at vigilanceproperties.co.uk

Pushpa Burja Pushpa Burja began his career with Regiment 2/2 Gurkha Rifles of the British Army in 1984. He was deployed in Hong Kong, Brunei, Canada, Australia, Germany, UK, South Korea, Holland, France and Cyprus. He served as a member of the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. He played the tuba at numerous events across the globe including the Annual Royal Military Tattoo in Edinburgh and at the Royal Tournament at Earls Court.

Pushpa works at Eaton Square, Belgravia as a concierge and security officer.

Debi Kumar Rai Corporal Debi Kumar Rai is a highly competent security officer who started his military career with the 30 Signal Regiment of the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army in 1986. In his 18-year career, he worked as a telegraphist and was responsible for data and voice communications. He also worked as a heavy vehicle driver and was responsible for transferring communications equipment through the conflict zones. He was deployed in the Kosovo War and received a NATO medal in 1999 for his services during the war. He also worked in the second Gulf War with the 30 Signal Regiment. He was awarded a LSGC Medal in 2001 and a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Debi works at the London Fire Brigade, Knightsbridge as a Caretaker. Vigilance Properties, 20A Eccleston Street, SW1W 9LT, 020 3416 5340 (vigilanceproperties.co.uk)

025

Beauty &Grooming Beauty from the outside in and TLC on our doorstep

The beauty

Lynne Sanders, co-founder of Cosmetics à la Carte, shares her make-up secrets with Briana Handte Lesesne

Tell me about the concept of Cosmetics à la Carte and how it works. Everyone who works for us is a trained make-up artist; most have worked here for more than 10 years. Usually our customers don’t want to look like they are wearing make-up and are searching for subtle solutions. Cosmetics à la Carte appeals to all generations; teenagers come in for make-up lessons, godmothers give gift cards to their goddaughters after completing their exams or in preparation for their school prom. The brand also prides itself on a customcreated experience, and our consultants can produce a bespoke foundation based on a client’s age, lifestyle and the tone and texture of her skin. What common mistakes do women make when choosing a shade of eyeshadow, blusher or lipstick? Women are afraid to change their look and many will have been wearing the same shades for the last 20 years. Make-up is changeable and you should experiment and have fun with it. Don’t get stuck in a colour rut. Too much make-up around the eyes sets in the tiny wrinkles and exacerbates them. Focus on your good features and bring attention to them. All you need to do is change one thing and it can make all the difference. What tips would you give to women when it comes to picking the perfect make-up for their skin? There are three things I advise them to consider. The first is good lighting; examine your make-up in all lights. Secondly, it sounds obvious but, when you are browsing, apply make-

up to the part of your face that you will use it on, not the back of your hand. Lastly, remember that make-up can be easily removed, so be more open to what you’ll wear. Be brave – you can look 10 years younger if you choose the right foundation and colours for your skin tone. Tell me about the inspiration behind your Bare Beauty Summer Colour Collection. We saw a few looks on the catwalk that caught our eye, which we then made more wearable. Valentino and Chloé both captured flawless skin, groomed brows and simple neutral shades. We adapted those features and added some contouring, highlighting and a golden-pink wash of colour. Do you have any seasonal recommendations? Summer and winter lighting are different. Winter is grey light, so silver, purples and pinks are more flattering. The colder months also require slightly more coverage and oil-based products that are comfortable on the skin. In summertime, the light is more yellow, so we recommend peaches, oranges and golds. Lastly, what are your make-up bag saviours? Skin Veil Skin Perfector & Primer, which prevents reflections on wrinkles is a godsend. I also swear by Rose Dew, a liquid silk moisturiser. Cover Tint Matte Mineral Base is a miracle product for covering any break-outs. 19b Motcomb Street, SWIX 8LB, 020 7235 0596 (alacartelondon.com)

Après sea Sun shield

Sisley’s Sunleÿa G.E. anti-ageing suncare for the face is a new generation of sun cream treatment that fights skin-slackening, age spots and provides broad spectrum protection from the sun. Enriched with a special formula that tightens collagen and elastin in the skin, it improves skin’s ability to help protect itself against wrinkles. £158, available at Sisley counters and sisley-paris.co.uk

Whether you are looking to escape, brighten up your day or take sanctuary, Liz Earle on Duke of York Square offers a range of pampering and restorative bespoke facials and massages, as well as skincare and cosmetic consultations. As part of your summer beauty routine, Liz Earle Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial is tailored to your skincare needs by an expert therapist who balances holistic massage techniques with naturally active ingredients. The Instant Boost Skin Tonic refreshes, soothes and brightens the skin while adding a fine layer of moisture, which makes it the perfect addition to your beach bag. The Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask has an uplifting fragrance of rose-scented geranium that is ideal for après sand, sea and salt as it soothes parched skin with West African shea and borage seed oil. Liz Earle Healthy Beautiful Skin Facial, £70 for 60 minutes, 38-39 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY, 020 7881 7750 (lizearle.com/ treatments)

Pucker up

In the radiant summer light, pink is even more cheerful and orange tones explode with vibrancy. Chanel’s summer collection for the lips, Lèvres Scintillantes, comprises an array of transparent glosses in pastel and pop tones. Pure, translucent colour without pearlescent pigments, these easy-towear glosses will make your pout shimmer in summer’s evening glow. £22, available at Chanel counters nationwide and chanel.com

Summer hair tips from Errol Douglas ‘For tropical and humid destinations, there are lots of products that can prevent hair from frizzing and add extra weight. Pack them – they are your passport to evening glamour and better holiday snaps,’ scissorsmith Errol Douglas insists. He recommends the Moroccanoil Treatment as the go-to holiday multi-tasker as it hydrates and helps prevents frizz. Available at his salon, the handy Moroccanoil Travel Kit includes miniatures of the Moroccanoil Treatment, as well as shampoo, conditioner and an intensive mask. Moroccanoil kits from £35, available at Errol Douglas, 18 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8LB, 020 7235 0110 (erroldouglas.com)

An exclusive scent

Clive Christian completes his trilogy of fine perfumes with the launch of its latest fragrance ‘L’. The women’s scent blends damask rose and jasmine that is subtly spiced with pink, black and white pepper notes. A base of vanilla and cedar adds sweetness to the woody whiff of vetiver and musk. The men’s fragrance is a spicy counterpart, with the smoky green aromas of vetiver, cedar atlas and fir balsam running through. Top notes of citrussy grapefruit combined with oud and rose give this scent a distinctive, modern edge. £225 for 50ml, available exclusively at Harrods and harrods.com from 17 August Words / Briana Handte Lesesne

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

027

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

The nature of London property prices Jonathan Hudson of Hudsons Property comments on the current state of the market

he health of the London property market is constantly in the news. There are so many different factors that can affect prices, not least buyers’ confidence. At the end of the first half of 2014, the market was still short of sales stock for the most part, which helped to fuel prices. However, due to tightening up on mortgage-lending criteria and the news that interest rates will rise, more stock has finally hit the market as property holders have decided now is the time to cash in on their assets. Bank of England initiatives to curb mortgage lending in April by capping the amount that lenders can loan against their customers’ incomes or the value of their property is a measured approach to help slow the market. It is to be commended as it will help sustain growth at a more gradual level and maintain the health of the market. Statistics released by Rightmove in June indicate that house prices in the capital fell by 0.5 per cent on the previous month. This added another twist to the ongoing debate surrounding the booming and subsequent cooling of the London housing market. You can only really start to see a pattern after monitoring the market over a three-month period, however, so we await further data on this. Commentators also suggested that London asking prices had hit an ‘affordability cap’. In July, a report by Nationwide was released, stating that UK property prices had risen above their peak of 2007. The average value of a UK property is £188,903, but in London it has surpassed an average of £400,000 for the first time. So what are the implications of these revelations and how should those entering the London market minefield navigate the ever-changing speculation from

the media? The first thing to note is people react quickly to fear. Much like in the event of a potential petrol strike, sudden changes in the property market are a catalyst for panicked decisions. As soon as the Government urges people not to panic, an hour later there are queues half a mile down the street with people wanting to fill up their tanks. The same applies to selling homes and this goes some way to explaining the recent influx of supply by sellers who perhaps think that the market has peaked. Depending on the morning’s headlines, vendors may think that they have already missed the boat or decide that they need to get on the bandwagon. To put it in perspective, Hudsons Property has recently experienced an average of 21 interested parties per property on our books, which is an astonishing figure. That number has now dropped as buyers wait to see what will happen next. Many consider this to be a great opportunity to buy in a more controlled and measured manner by being able to view more properties before committing to a decision. The condition of London property is still in fine shape and we expect the market to remain firm with smaller increases rather than the huge surges we’ve witnessed in the last few years. Overall, this is a better prescription for the capital’s property market, one that will help to preserve prices and avoid price falls. (hudsonsproperty.com)

PLANNING APPLICATIONS DATE RECEIVED

ADDRESS

PROPOSAL

16 June

St Barnabas Street

Use of first and second floor as a threebedroom residential flat and installation of new entrance door

18 June

Chester Row

Excavation of new basement level, construction of rear extension

24 June

Eaton Terrace

Replacement of existing timber stair with new stair with stone finish

30 June

Eaton Place

Installation of replacement flooring in hall and cloakroom

2 July

Eaton Square

Installation of secondary glazing to three sash windows

Birds-eye view planned road works

STREET

PLANNED WORK

DATES

WORKS OWNER

Bourne Street

Disconnect main in carriageway

1-8 August

National Grid Gas Plc (0845 605 6677)

Eccleston Place

Installation of telecomms chamber

1-14 August

City of London Telecoms (0808 129 6000)

Hobart Place

Junction modernisation

1-22 August

Transport for London (0845 305 1234)

Grosvenor Gardens

Installation of telecom ducts and chambers

Until 3 August

City of London Telecoms

Land Securities has announced the building of four penthouses at Kings Gate. Each will comprise four bedrooms and start at 3,337 sq ft. Promising to blend both traditional British architectural design influences with a nod to the Italian renaissance, Tom Eshelby, residential director at Land Securities, commented: ‘Built at 15 floors above street level, with high-quality interiors and 920 sq ft roof gardens, the penthouses will provide investors with a spacious, peaceful oasis in one of London’s most exciting new districts’. Kings Gate is the second significant residential building within Land Securities’ £2.2billion regeneration of this historic area. Designed by award-winning British architect Patrick Lynch, the development takes inspiration from iconic London landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Set to be completed in mid2015, investors at Kings Gate can expect to pay upwards of £3.4million for a pied-à-terre. (kingsgatesw1.co.uk)

New highway into Belgravia

Transport for London is proposing a continuous, largely segregated two-way cycle track between the Oval and Pimlico. The proposed track would allow cyclists and drivers to avoid each other and would offer major improvements to safety and comfort for cyclists. There are three options for the route between Pimlico and Belgravia (see map). Vauxhall is difficult to avoid for many cycle journeys between southwest and central London. Around 3,000 cyclists use Vauxhall Bridge in the rush hour alone, but it can be an intimidating location for bike riders, requiring multiple manoeuvres in the middle of often fast-moving traffic. Those interested in influencing the proposed route can add their voice to the consultations held by TfL, which will run until 14 September. Submit your views online at consultations.tfl.gov.uk

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

029

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

Here comes

the sun

Residents congregated in Belgrave Square to toast the summer with neighbours and friends at the Belgrave Square Garden Party Photography by Wilde Fry

Film corner Hannah Kate Davies visits the new Victoria Curzon to see Cold in July

old in July has my brain working on overdrive from the off. Part thriller, part gore fest, but with a level of maturity not usually associated with either, the producer Jim Mickle presents an unnerving cocktail of suspense and frustration. Two unlikely characters are flung

together in unpromising circumstances to form a plot that brings out unexpected sides in both. Amongst the twists and turns, a flint-hard point is being made, and it’s not a popular one. Here the violence is righteous, it is welcomed, sometimes it is even funny – morality, we are conventionally taught, should sit uncomfortably with violence, as violence is always a serious thing. But this guff is banished in Cold in July. There is a scene at the end where a building is torched after witnessing so much evil, and it reminded me of an excerpt: ‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,’ in the Bhagavad Gita. Violence, like sacrifice, can be redemptive. (curzoncinemas.com)

The views expressed on this page are not held by the Residents’ Journal. The page offers a platform for the voices of our local residents to discuss topics they feel relevant and important.

Must-haves

Don’t miss out on the most sought-after products and services from around the area

The jewel in the crown

UK-based Crown Pavilions specialises in the design and installation of the very finest garden rooms – from wooden gazebos to luxury bespoke outdoor buildings. Every Crown Pavilion garden room is hand-made to order in Oxfordshire by the company’s own craftsmen using the finest materials and time-honoured techniques. Crown Pavilions prides itself on its levels of craftsmanship – every garden room is meticulously hand-checked before leaving the company’s workshop. 6B Lys Mill Farm, Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5EP, 01491 612820, enquiries@crownpavilions.com (crownpavilions.com)

Lethal beauty

Tessa Packard’s latest collection, Predator/Prey, explores the interaction between jewellery and wearer, with a series of pieces that are both animate and inanimate. Whilst worn, the wasp is the predator, alive and active; when removed it becomes the prey, beholden to the wearer, for without human contact the wasp is nothing but inanimate metal. Tessa is a fervent believer in the home-made and all her jewellery is manufactured and hand finished by workshops in the UK. (tessapackard.com)

The Midas touch

Golden Ivory is a lifestyle management and concierge based in Mayfair. Founded by Miranda, the company works on behalf of its clients to plan and manage special occasions, events, properties, travel, finances and diaries, with style consultancy and errand running options. Golden Ivory offers a bespoke service tailor-made to suit the individual client, whether residing in London or abroad. 25 North Row, WIK 6DJ, 020 7030 3813, enquiries@goldenivory.com (goldenivory.com)

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

031

The Belgravia

Directory

A compendium of the area’s key establishments

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

Douglas Lyons & Lyons 33 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 7933

Knight Frank 82-83 Chester Square 020 7881 7722

W A Ellis 174 Brompton Road 020 7306 1600

Ayrton Wylie 16 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 4628

Harrods Estates 82 Brompton Road 020 7225 6506

Marler & Marler 6 Sloane Street 020 7235 9641

Wellbelove Quested 160 Ebury Street

Best Gapp & Cassells 81 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 9253

Henry & James 1 Motcomb Street 020 7235 8861

Savills 139 Sloane Street 020 7730 0822

Cluttons 84 Bourne Street 020 7730 0303

John D Wood 48 Elizabeth Street 020 7824 7900

Strutt & Parker 66 Sloane Street 020 7235 9959

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

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 ll Corriere 6 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 2087 The Old English Coffee House 1 Montrose Place 020 7235 3643 Patisserie Valerie 17 Motcomb Street 020 7245 6161 Tomtom Coffee House 114 Ebury Street 020 7730 1771 Valerie Victoria 38 Buckingham Palace Road 020 7630 9781

PUBLIC HOUSES/ DINING ROOMS The Antelope 22-24 Eaton Terrace 020 7824 8512

The Orange 37 Pimlico Road 020 7881 9844 theorange.co.uk

The Pantechnicon 10 Motcomb Street 020 7730 6074 thepantechnicon.com

The Thomas Cubitt 44 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 6060 thethomascubitt.co.uk

RESTAURANTS Como Lario 18-22 Holbein Place 020 7730 9046 Il Convivio 143 Ebury Street 020 7730 4099

Olivo (Italian & Sardinian) 21 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2505 Zafferano (Italian) 15 Lowndes Street 020 7235 5800

Motcombs 26 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6382 motcombs.co.uk

Mango Tree 46 Grosvenor Place 020 7823 1888 Pétrus 1 Kinnerton Street 020 7592 1609

Uni 18a Ebury Street 020 7730 9267 restaurantuni.com

Health & Beauty BARBER

DOCTORS

Giuseppe D’Amico 20 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2968

The Belgrave Medical Centre 13 Pimlico Road 020 7730 5171

DENTISTS

The Belgravia Surgery 26 Eccleston Street 020 7590 8000

The Beresford Clinic 2 Lower Grosvenor Place 020 7821 9411 Motcomb Street Dentist 3 Motcomb Street 020 7235 6531 The Wilton Place Practice 31 Wilton Place 020 7235 3824

Michael Garry Personal Training 54b Ebury Street 020 7730 6255

Motcomb Green 61 Ebury Street 020 7235 2228

Yogoji (Yoga) 54a Ebury Street 020 7730 7473

Stephen Casali 161 Ebury Street 020 7730 2196

HAIR SALONS

MEDISPA

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

Bijoux Medi-Spa 149 Ebury Street 020 7730 0765

The Light Centre Belgravia 9 Eccleston Street 020 7881 0728

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

earthspa 4 Eccleston Street 020 7823 6226

CLEANING

FURNITURE

Promemoria UK 99 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2514

Dr Kalina 109 Ebury Street 020 7730 4805

GYM/ FITNESS

SPA

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

Weldon Walshe 20 Grosvenor Place 020 7235 4100

ARTEFACTS Odyssey Fine Arts 24 Holbein Place 020 7730 9942

Kudu Services Discreet, confidential cleaning services for offices and homes of distinction 27 Mortimer Street 020 8704 5988 kuduservices.co.uk

FINISHING TOUCHES 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 Sebastian D’Orsai (framer) 77 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 8366 Zuber 42 Pimlico Road 020 7824 8265

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

Ciancimino 85 Pimlico Place 020 7730 9959 The Dining Chair Company 4 St Barnabas Street 020 7259 0422 Hemisphere 97 Lower Sloane Street 020 7730 9810 Humphrey-Carrasco 43 Pimlico Road 020 7730 9911 Jamb 107a Pimlico Road 020 7730 2122 Lamberty 46 Pimlico Road 020 7823 5115 Linley 60 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7300 Mark Wilkinson Kitchens 10 West Halkin Street 020 7235 1845 Ossowski 83 Pimlico Road 020 7730 3256

Soane 50-52 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6400 Talisman 190-192 Ebury Street 020 7730 7800 Westenholz 80-82 Pimlico Road 020 7824 8090

GALLERIES 88 Gallery 86-88 Pimlico Road 020 7730 2728 Ahuan Gallery 17 Eccleston Street 020 7730 9382 Gallery 25 26 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7516 Gauntlett Gallery 90-92 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7516 Gordon Watson 28 Pimlico Road 020 7259 0555

033

The Belgravia

Directory Fashion BOUTIQUES Philip Treacy 69 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3992

Christian Louboutin 23 Motcomb Street 020 7245 6510

Herve Leger 29 Lowndes Street 020 7201 2590

Patricia Roberts 60 Kinnerton Street 020 7235 474

Nevena Couture (clients by appointment only)

Lowndes Street 020 3539 8738 nevena.co.uk

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 Lord Milner Hotel 111 Ebury Street 020 7881 9880

Lynton Hotel 113 Ebury Street 020 7730 4032

The Belgravia Mews Hotel 50 Ebury Street 020 7730 5434

The Sloane Club 52 Lower Sloane Street 020 7730 9131

Morgan Guest House 120 Ebury Street 020 7730 2384

The Diplomat Hotel 2 Chesham Street 020 7235 1544

Tophams Hotel 24-32 Ebury Street 020 7730 3313

Westminster House Hotel 96 Ebury Street 020 7730 4302

Lime Tree Hotel 135-137 Ebury Street 020 7730 8191

LUXURY

BOUTIQUE Astors Hotel 110-112 Ebury Street 020 7730 0158

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

BOOKMAKERS

SOLICITORS

The Berkeley Wilton Place 020 7235 6000 The Goring 15 Beeston Place 020 7396 9000

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

Coral Racing 67 Pimlico Road 020 7730 6516 William Hill 12 Buckingham Palace Road 08705 181 715

Child & Child 14 Grosvenor Crescent 020 7235 8000 childandchild.co.uk

Eaton Square School 79 Eccleston Square 020 7931 9469 Francis Holland School 39 Graham Terrace 020 7730 2971

CHARITIES

EDUCATION

British Red Cross 85 Ebury Street 020 7730 2235

Cameron House School 4 The Vale 020 7352 4040

Garden House School Turks Row 020 7730 1652

Eaton House School 3-5 Eaton Gate 020 7924 6000

GEMS Hampshire School 15 Manresa Road 020 7352 7077

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

Sussex House School 68 Cadogan Square 020 7584 1741

Hill House International Junior School Hans Place 020 7584 1331

Thomas’s Kindergarten 14 Ranelagh Grove 020 7730 3596

Knightsbridge School 67 Pont Street 020 7590 9000 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

EXCLUSIVE The Caledonian Club 9 Halkin Street 020 7235 5162 caledonianclub.com

FLORISTS Catherine Muller 53 Elizabeth Street 020 7259 0196 catherinemuller.com

Neill Strain Floral Couture 11 West Halkin Street 020 7235 6469 Judith Blacklock Flower School 4-5 Kinnerton Place South 020 7235 6235

IT SUPPORT Dashwood Solutions Contact Jonny Hyam for all your IT needs 07787 507 407

POST OFFICE

Psychotherapy Suzanne Thomas DHC MRes, Hypnotherapist / Psychotherapist 07770 378791 suzannethomas@ suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk

TRAVEL Passepartout Homes Ltd 020 7513 2876 passepartout-homes.com info@passepartout-homes.com

Post Office 6 Eccleston Street 0845 722 3344

Speciality Shops BAKERIES Baker & Spice 54-56 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 3033

Rococo Chocolates 5 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0993

DELI

Elizabeth Gage 5 West Halkin Street 020 7823 0100 eg@elizabeth-gage.com elizabeth-gage.com

Ottolenghi 13 Motcomb Street 020 7823 2707

La Bottega 25 Eccleston Street 020 7730 2730

CIGAR SPECIALIST

GREENGROCERS

Polisher

Charles of Belgravia 27 Lower Belgrave Street 020 7730 5210

F Bennett and Son 9 Chester Square Mews 020 7730 6546

JEWELLERS

NEWSAGENT

Carolina Bucci 4 Motcomb Street 020 7838 9977

Mayhew Newsagents 15 Motcomb Street 020 7235 5770

Tomtom Cigars 63 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1790

BOOKS Belgravia Books 59 Ebury Street 020 7259 9336 belgraviabooks.com

CONFECTIONERS Peggy Porschen 116 Ebury Street 020 7730 1316 Pierre Hermé Paris 13 Lowndes Street 020 7245 0317

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

David Thomas Master Goldsmith 65 Pimlico Road 020 7730 7710 De Vroomen 59 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 1901

Floris 147 Ebury Street 020 7730 0304 florislondon.com

Pet accessories Mungo & Maud 79 Elizabeth Street 020 7022 1207

PERFUMERIES Annick Goutal 20 Motcomb Street 020 7245 0248 Les Senteurs 71 Elizabeth Street 020 7730 2322

VICKISARGE 38 Elizabeth Street 020 7259 0202

035

KnightFrank.co.uk

Eaton Place, Belgravia SW1

A well proportioned two bedroom duplex flat A stunning two bedroom Belgravia flat with large floor to ceiling French windows letting in an abundance of light. Master bedroom with dressing area and en suite bathroom, double bedroom, family bathroom, reception room with balcony, kitchen with balcony, cloakroom. EPC rating D. Approximately 1,504 sq ft ﴾139 sq m﴿.

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

Available furnished or unfurnished Guide price: £2,000 per week ﴾BEQ197816﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk

Chester Square, Belgravia SW1

Newly refurbished house in sought after position Master bedroom suite, 4 further bedroom suites, drawing room, dining room, reception/media room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, cinema, gym, steam room, sauna, shower room, wine cellar, laundry room, 2 staff rooms, 3 cloakrooms, lift, 2 terraces, garage. Grade II listed. Approximately 585 sq m ﴾6,291 sq ft﴿

Freehold Guide price: £25,500,000 ﴾BGV130060﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/belgravia belgravia@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5910

BRJ August - 74 Chester Square-crops

04/07/2014 10:16:16

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

LATERAL APRTMENT ON THE THIRD FLOOR WITH LIFT cliveden place, sw1 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø double reception room ø kitchen ø off-street car parking ø porter ø 143 sq m (1,541 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=C

Savills Sloane Street Stevie Walmesley swalmesley@savills.com

020 7824 9005 Unfurnished £1,995 pcm + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

savills.co.uk

1 PENTHOUSE WITH VAULTED CEILINGS AND VIEWS OVER EATON SQUARE eaton square, sw1 Reception room ø dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø master bedroom ø 2nd bedroom suite ø shower room ø guest cloakroom ø balcony ø 155 sq m (1,673 sq ft)

Savills Sloane Street Richard Dalton rdalton@savills.com

020 7730 0822 Guide £1.6 million Leasehold, approximately 10 years remaining

XX 1W 1W S S,A,A IVIA VA RR GG LELB EB,T,T EER ER TSTS ESD ED NN WW OO LL CADOGAN PLACE, BELGRAVIA, SW1X X1WS ,AIVARGLEB ,TEERTS SEDNWOL X1WD SD ,L AL IO VO AH RE GE EA BEE ,T S,E5 H SLSA LELE0R0T0S0,5 9D9N9£W £ OL

£850 PER WEEK stc D L O H E S A E L 0 0 0 , 5 DLOHESAEL 000,59999££

NE NH EH CT CITKIKNR NE RD EO DM OM• •MM OOR ORNO NIOTIP TE PC EE CR EREG ER GA RL AL• •MM OOR OD RE DB EBEN EO NO• • • FURNISHED • ONE BEDROOM • FIRST FLOOR • HIGH CEILINGS •T•DID CP C P NMIOT•IA TM C AO C O TA T AOR EIT G RP G•E•M O OR O R T T B A EM ITU IS U N E •B• ENO • N•EH C K NE RE E•D•NOO OL OL R NE CM ER EH GH R•A ABALCONY LBE•T O OSN RE D E WOOD •M VIEWS OVER GARDENS •B EPC C• NEH CTI•KDNFLOORS R E D O M • O O R N O I T P E C E R E G R A L • M O O R D E CPE • NOITACOL TAERG • MOORHTAB ETIUS NE E • NO • • D CPE • NOITACOL TAERG • MOORHTAB ETIUS NE • EC EICFIFFO FO AIAVIA VR AG RL GE LB EB BELGRAVIA OFFICE XJX8JX 8 1XW 1EW SCn SIF ondF onO donLoAL ,ItV e,etA erteR SrtG b Sm mcB otocM toM 11 LboE 1 Motcomb London SW1X 8JX Ce@IhFe@cFefiStreet, O kuk.ouc.o.sce.m seamjdan jdanyarynE renh cffi oafA oivIaV aivrA agrlR egbG lebL1E6B 186885 83523720 720)20)(04(44+4+ XJ8 X1WS nodnoL ,teertS bmoctoM 1 +44 (0)20X7235 J8 X18861 WS nodbelgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk noL ,teertS bmoctoM 1 ku.oc.semajdnayrneh@ecfifoaivargleb 1688 5327 02)0( 44+ k uoe.coc.ficsfe.osm d ku.oc.semajdnayrnkeu h.@ aeim vaaja rdgjn lean byaryn 1re 6nh 8e8h5327 02)0( 44+

henryandjames.co.uk ku.oc.semajdnayrneh ku.oc.semajdnayrneh

LOWNDES LOWNDESSTREET, STREET,BELGRAVIA, BELGRAVIA,SW1X SW1X LOWNDES STREET, BELGRAVIA, SW1X LOWNDES STREET, BELGRAVIA, SW1X LOWNDES STREET, BELGRAVIA, SW1X £995,000 £995,000 LEASEHOLD LEASEHOLD

£995,000 LEASEHOLD £995,000 £995,000LEASEHOLD LEASEHOLD

• •ONE ONEBEDROOM BEDROOM• •LARGE LARGERECEPTION RECEPTIONROOM ROOM• •MODERN MODERNKITCHEN KITCHEN • ONE •BEDROOM • LARGE RECEPTION ROOM • MODERN KITCHEN •EN ENSUITE SUITEBATHROOM BATHROOM • •GREAT GREATLOCATION LOCATION • •EPC EPCDD• • • ONE •BEDROOM LARGE RECEPTION • MODERN EN SUITE•BATHROOM • GREAT ROOM LOCATION • EPC KITCHEN D• • ONE BEDROOM • LARGE RECEPTION ROOM • MODERN • EN SUITE BATHROOM • GREAT LOCATION • EPC DKITCHEN • • EN SUITE BATHROOM • GREAT LOCATION • EPC D • BELGRAVIA BELGRAVIA OFFICE OFFICE BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb 1 Motcomb Street, Street, London London SW1X SW1X 8JX 8JX BELGRAVIA OFFICE 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX BELGRAVIA OFFICE +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 7235 7235 8861 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk 1 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8JX +44 (0)20 7235 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk henryandjames.co.uk +44 (0)20 7235henryandjames.co.uk 8861 belgraviaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk henryandjames.co.uk henryandjames.co.uk

HOMES TO VIEW ST JAMES’S CHAMBERS SW1Y A magnificent, three bedroom lateral apartment in this stunning mansion block in the heart of St James’s St James’s Chambers is well located for links into the City and Canary Wharf being moments from Green Park for the Jubilee line and Piccadilly Circus for the Piccadilly line. ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Resident caretaker Lift 29 ft reception room Beautiful communal areas

ST JAMES’S CHAMBERS SW1Y – FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED £1,895 pw – 3 bedrooms EPC rating: D | Ref: 55054

cluttons.com

BELGRAVIA

020 7768 1189 belgravia@cluttons.com

SLOANE GATE MANSIONS SW1W A contemporary split–level four bedroom apartment, in this well maintained portered mansion block in the heart of Sloane Square

Located on D’oyley Street, Sloane Gate Mansions is conveniently situated for both Sloane Square and Knightsbridge, whilst remaining quiet and secluded. ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡

Porter Wood floors Large reception room Eat–in kitchen

SLOANE GATE MANSIONS SW1W – UNFURNISHED £2,800 pw – 4 bedrooms EPC rating: C | Ref: 21325

Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge, SW1X A beautifully finished ground floor flat, of 736 sq. ft., furnished to a very high standard overlooking the communal gardens to which the tenant will also have access. Accommodation comprises reception / dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and guest cloakroom. Available immediately, for long term lets on furnished basis. Parking is available on a first come first served basis. In addition the building also benefits from the added security of cctv. EPC rating C.

£995 per week Plus property Fees: £180 Admin & £162 Checkout. References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/ten ants

0207 225 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 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

William Mews, Knightsbridge, SW1X A stunning three bedroom, furnished apartment situated on William Mews, quiet, private street with restricted access just off Lowndes Square, moments away from Harrods and all amenities of Hyde Park and Knightsbridge. Accommodation comprises of large reception / dining room, kitchen, two double bedrooms, third bedroom/ study, bathroom, south facing terrace, guest cloakroom and one underground parking space. Available now, for long term lets on furnished basis. EPC rating D.

£1,475 per week Plus property Fees: £180 Admin & £220 Checkout. References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants

0207 225 6602 karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

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

BURTON MEWS, SW1 A beautiful and quiet mews development set just moments off the prestigious Eaton Square and only a short walk from both Victoria and Sloane Square. Newly repainted throughout with brand new Crown quality wood flooring across the ground floor; property available immediately. EPC Rating: E

Offered unfurnished

ÂŁ700 per week

* * * * * *

Large Reception Room Separate Kitchen One Double Bedroom One Single Bedroom 2 En Suite Bathrooms Exceptional Storage Space

BASiL STREET SW3 Gimmaculately room P lthree ac e SflatW 1 beautifully maintained mansion building in the heart of Knightsbridge. An presented bedroom in this The building is ideally located for Harrods and restaurants theoff area, and moments Knightsbridge A recently modernised one bedroom house in the thisshops pretty and Belgravia mews,ofjust Chester Street. Thefrom house benefits underground station. from a large decked roof terrace and an elegant first floor reception room. Bedrooms • Three Double Bedroom • Kitchen Two Bathrooms • Bathroom • Large Decked Reception Room Roof Terrace ■• Reception • Dining Room • Council Tax Band G ■ Kitchen/Breakfast Room

Entrance • EEHall/Dining Rating E Area Loft Storage Area • Furnished • 945 sq ft ■ Porter ■ Lift

■

£1,200 per week £3,300,000 Subject to Contract

sq ft • Available for■a1397 long let ■

EE rating E

Share of Freehold

facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Eaton Mews South, Belgravia SW1

An exceptional Belgravia Mews house boasting spacious living rooms, three double bedroom suites, an integral garage, additional off street parking and a large landscaped roof terrace.

Knightsbridge 0207 235 9959 casper.tham@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ5,950,000, Freehold

South Eaton Place, Belgravia SW1

A sensational freehold stucco fronted six bedroom house with a garage and off-street parking on one of the best streets in Belgravia.

Knightsbridge 0207 235 9959 charlie.willis@struttandparker.com

ÂŁ16,000,000, Freehold

facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge SW1

Two adjacent flats with potential to create a superb third floor lateral apartment in one of Lowndes Squareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best buildings in the heart of Knightsbridge.

ÂŁ6,950,000, Share of Freehold

Knightsbridge 0207 235 9959 james.forbes@struttandparker.com

BELGRAVIA Resident’s Journal J U N E 201 4

I S S U E 02 5

w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k (020) 7987 4320

BELGRAVIA Resident’s Journal w w w. R e s i d e n t s J o u r n a l . c o . u k 020 7987 4320

may 2014 • Issue 24