Belgravia Resident's Journal January 2016 by Runwild Media Group

BELGRAVIA Residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journal J A N U A R Y 201 6

I S S U E 04 4

The Belgravia Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Journal is published independently by Runwild Media Group with regular editorial contributions from Belgravian residents. We would highly value any feedback you wish to email us with: belgravia@residentsjournal.co.uk; or telephone us on 020 7987 4320.

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

Dear Resident

There’s nothing quite like the start to a new year – as Alfred Tennyson once said – it’s a time to ring out the old and ring in the new. This issue we have an abundance of features to give you plenty of inspiration for 2016. The Belgravia Residents’ Journal brings you all the latest news in our Notebook section; from new hotel and coffee shop openings to where to unwind this month, read all from page four. Elsewhere, Francesca Lee speaks to chairman, treasurer and joint proprietor of The Ebury in our Belgravian this month. He’s a charming chap indeed and has quite the career in the wine industry. Turn to page 16 to find out more. The saying that a man’s best friend is a dog couldn’t be more apt for our interview with Dr Marvin Firth, who is running a new canine chiropractic clinic on Elizabeth Street. He tells all on page 18. Finally, don’t forget to flick to our Best of Belgravia page where we announce the winners of our local competition (page six), and last but not least, you’ll see a brand-new look from next month voted for you by the readers. All the best for 2016!

Managing Editor Francesca Lee Editorial Intern Emily Adams

Production Hugo Wheatley Oscar Viney Jamie Steele Alice Ford

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Publishing Director Giles Ellwood

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

General Manager Fiona Fenwick

Senior Designer Daniel Poole

Executive Director Sophie Roberts Client Relationship Manager Friday Dalrymple Sales Executives Joseph Rutherford Kate Emmett

Above / Fritz, the miniature dachshund puppy having a Canine Chiropractic Examination with Dr Marvin Firth. Photography by Lee Searle, turn to page 18 to find out more

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The Notebook

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

Unwind this January

After the flurry and excess of the festive period, The Peak Health Club & Spa is offering a 90-minute Essential or Deep Tissue massage for just £120 throughout January 2016. Spa goers can choose from an invigorating Deep Tissue treatment that works with pressure to release muscle tension and knots, or a more delicate Lymphatic Drainage massage to improve metabolism by helping the body eliminate waste and toxins and provide a boost to the immune system during the cold winter months.

Artistic offerings

Last month the Clarendon Cocktail Cellar opened within the Artist Residence Hotel in Cambridge Street. An unsurprisingly quirky and creative setting unfolds from the oak-clad staircase leading down from the Cambridge Street Café, with bare brick walls, nibbles served on wooden paddles and an elegantly ‘rough around the edges’ feel. The drinks list is suitably inspired by great artists from history, with lavish cocktails dedicated to the likes of Andy Warhol, Edvard Munch and Georges Seurat, to name a few.

Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Cadogan Place, SW1X 9PY, 020 7858 7300, peakhealthclub.com

52 Cambridge Street, SW1V 4QQ, 0203 262 0502, clarendoncocktailcellar.co.uk

Beans of Belgravia

This month, Grosvenor Britain & Ireland opens The Roasting café in Elizabeth Street following the success of its predecessor, based in Pimlico. Owner Giulio Merea is a true expert, advocating fair trade and ethical produce throughout the café. His Italian heritage has enabled him to become an ambassador of perfect coffee and traditional Italian bites.

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The Roasting, 23 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9RP, theroasting.co.uk

The diamond season

Caryl Churchill’s production of Escaped Alone will be showing at the Royal Court Theatre from 21 January to 12 March. The full-length piece focuses on four women drinking tea in a garden, but the play is far from a walk in the park. Starring Linda Bassett, Deborah Findlay, Kika Markham and June Watson, the production reunites Churchill with director James Macdonald, who she worked with on Love and Information in 2012. Tickets from £12, Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS, 020 7565 5000, royalcourttheatre.com

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“A toast to the year ahead!”

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Our inaugural Best of Belgravia celebrates the businesses, brands and residents in the area who are committed to upholding its excellence After tallying up all your votes, we are proud to finally announce the winners of our inaugural Best of Belgravia. Across 15 different categories with 45 nominations you have voted for the brands, businesses and

residents that you love and trust in the local area. From the place you buy your morning coffee to where to enjoy the best afternoon tea, we now know your favourites. So without further ado, drum roll pleaseâ&#x20AC;Ś

YOUR WINNERS Best Neighbourhood Restaurant

Contributor to the Area Best Community Member

The Alfred Tennyson

Sue Liberman Fr Alan Gyle

Best Hotel

Favourite Coffee

Belgraves Thompson

Tomtom Coffee House

Favourite Public Space

Best Resident Best Designer

St Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church

Anton Mosimann Louise Kennedy

Best Concierge Service

Best Afternoon Tea

Ben Malpass

Belgraves Thompson

Head concierge at Belgraves

Best Speciality Food & Beverage

Best Specialist Store Favourite Local Pub

Rococo

Les Senteurs The Alfred Tennyson

Best Hairdresser

Best Breakfast

Neville

No.11 Pimlico Road

Perfume

congratulations!

The

Bourgeoisie Belgravia

Karen Knorr details her book, Belgravia which describes through images and accompanying quotes, class and power among the international and wealthy during the beginning of Thatcherism

orn in 1954 in Frankfurt am Main Germany, and raised in Puerto Rico by courtesy of the US Government, I was too young in the sixties to enjoy the fruits of dissent. Too young to be hippy and too old to be a punk. I came of age in the 1970s and studied art and photography at Franconia College in New Hampshire, a small, experimental, liberal arts college where there were no required courses, no formal academic departments and no grades. Degrees were granted after students demonstrated competence in their fields to a faculty committee. Perhaps I was not yet ready for this freedom and left to study Art and French in Paris, then moved on to London in 1976. My parents had moved to London in 1975. After a long search they found a property in Belgravia, a fashionable area of the capital near Buckingham Palace, in what has recently been described as a “slice of London so exclusive even the owners are visitors”. The property was a two-floor flat facing Lowndes Square, lovingly furnished in Georgian style by my mother. I briefly stayed there when I arrived to visit on 4 July, 1976 during the hottest British summer in living memory. This flat was the location where the Belgravia series

began to take form in the large front sitting room. I photographed my mother and grandmother posing in furs, smoking and drinking wine, accompanied by Pierre Clémenti and Catherine Deneuve kissing in the Buñuel film Belle du Jour. I photographed their friends living in Eaton Square, Lowndes Square and West Belgrave Mews, taking notes of their conversations.

I photographed their friends living in Eaton Square, Lowndes Square and West Belgrave Mews In the process of making this series, the people I photographed became actors and performed their identities in a collaborative fashion with me. We chose clothes together and decided which part of their homes would suit the portrait. The meaning of the work can be found in the space between image and text: neither text nor image illustrate

PHOTOGRAPHY

All images from the series Belgravia, by Karen Knorr

each other, but create a “third meaning” to be completed by the spectator. The text slows down the viewing process. We can study the text and return to re-evaluate the image in light of what we have read. Key words are capitalised, broken up and laid out below the image, emphasising its constructed and ironic nature. I stayed in my parents’ flat for less than three months. I had decided to study photography and enrolled on a part-time professional photography course at Harrow College of Art and Design to build up my portfolio. I was very keen to meet London photographers. In those days I identified with David Hemmings who acted as the Swinging Sixties misogynist photographer in Antonioni’s Blow Up. I met David Bailey in his blue-painted house in Kentish Town whose address I had found in the Yellow Pages. Kind and supportive, his modesty impressed me and I had at last met the myth that inspired my favourite film. Later I began to photograph punks, visiting the Roxy, Vortex and 100 Club, listening to the Slits, Clash and Wayne County. Two years later, now a full-time student at the Polytechnic of Central London, School of Communications, I dropped the idea of being a fashion photographer and was on my way to becoming a conceptual documentary photographer. It was there that my work formed its critical edge responding to the intellectual debates of the 1970s and what was later to be called “the politics of representation”. This climate of enthusiastic debate threw all my preconceived ideas to the winds. It was a small revolution that changed my life forever. Taken from Belgravia by Karen Knorr £45 from stanleybarker.co.uk

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HOTELS

Beyond your wildest dreams Emily Adams discovers how The Goring has been transformed with the help of some curious characters

wo walruses sit side by side, as a monkey rides past on a horse, and a hippo watches atop a rock. It’s not a scene one would usually associate with The Goring, but that’s exactly where you’ll find it, etched across exquisitely hand-painted wall coverings in the new-look front hall. When fourth-generation family member Jeremy Goring teamed up with designer Russell Sage and wallpaper masters Fromental, a whole host of exotic creatures came to life. The Goring’s front hall has been transformed with bespoke wallpaper, which already covers many of the hotel’s suites and guest rooms, but this design is a little bit different. Four artists took eight weeks to paint the masterpiece, which is hand-gilded silver leaf on paper and details a whimsical scene of English parkland,

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HOTELS

but as you might expect, with a dash of eccentricity. Every aspect of the design tells a story about the hotel and the people behind it, an idea championed by the owner of Fromental, Tim Butcher. Each animal represents a key figure in the family, from Jeremy Goring drawn as a seal splashing in the water, a nod to his love of surfing, to George Goring as a monkey riding in full Goring racing silks. The managing director himself, David Morgan-Hewitt, was surprised to find himself among the collection – having studied law at university, the design sees him portrayed as a gorilla in a barrister’s wig. The charming family of animals captures what the hotel is all about: “We always like to surprise in an eccentric way here at The Goring,” says David, and surprise they most definitely have. Designer Russell Sage sums it up perfectly: “Imagine if all the animals in London Zoo had escaped into Hyde Park. Take a closer look and the scene gets curiouser and curiouser.” Everyone has their favourite feature, but for David there are a few characters that truly stand out: “I love the various monkeys found in the trees above the concierge and reception desks. They

Fromental has an Englishness to its sensibilities, which is its strength look like porters carrying flags, keys and bags.” Russell has worked with The Goring for many years and has played a significant role in the refurbishment of its ground floor. “He really gets The Goring,” David tells us. “The wonderful style of his rooms, hand-crafted furniture and sumptuous Gainsborough silks have become the signature of this great hotel.” But it’s not just Russell who has been instrumental in the refurbishment. Designers Viscount Linley, Nina Campbell and Tim Gosling have all contributed to the stunning makeover. Having redesigned the drawing room, Tim told us more about his involvement. “I included an oil painting of Nelson above the fireplace, two wonderful coats of arms, a unicorn holding the Scottish shield and a horse holding the St George’s Cross.” It may sound like an unusual assortment of items, but as Tim reassures us: “Everything at The Goring has a reason. Sheep in the rooms, for instance. I always ask, ‘what on earth are they there for?’ and Jeremy Goring always replies ‘because I like them!’” And what has been the response to the bespoke designs? “Universal praise!” In fact, David tells us that they have been “utterly amazed” by the reception from their clients. “Many of them wondered why we would change anything as they loved the previous incarnation. However, they all now fully understand our vision and much prefer the new look to the old.” Not only do the loyal clientele

adore the look, Tim Gosling is definitely an admirer: “It works perfectly with the stunning black and white marble here which is original to hotels built in 1910. Fromental has an Englishness to its sensibilities, which is its strength.” The hotel was re-opened in March 2015, on its 105th anniversary, by the Duchess of Cambridge who added her own personal touch to the main picture by painting the mane on the unicorn. These hidden gems and peculiar quirks are what make The Goring a much-loved destination. “Working with The Goring is always a pleasure,” Tim concludes. “It feels more like a home than a hotel.” The Goring Hotel, Beeston Place, SW1W OJW, 020 7396 9000, thegoring.com

All photography / courtesy of The Goring

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A tale of two halves Estiatorio Milos Emily Adams falls hook, line and sinker at this establishment

ehind intimidatingly tall, solid oak doors lies something unexpected, something quite enchanting. A doorman greets me, and without a word, lets me in to the mysterious Grecian Milos. Inside is a scene from a fairytale, hidden behind soft drapes and castle doors. The flowing, sheer material faintly masks the London street lights, enough to make me forget what lies outside. Milos is startlingly white, bright and contemporary in design, a stark contrast to its dark, ominous exterior. White marble sourced from the Pendeli Mountains, just outside Athens (or so I am proudly told) covers the floors and surfaces, and classic Greek music plays in the background. The restaurant is led by two impressive features rather than its Greek heritage. Its very own fish market, laden with the finest, freshest fish (delivered a mere two hours before I arrive) sits beside an impressively stocked bar, where I am later treated to a potent espresso Martini. The evening is spent in the company of a trio of waiters, our ‘captain’ Jason, a master of the Milos menu, and two other waiters, impeccably dressed in yet more white, bright outfits. While the food is outstanding, the service is even more so. Jason talks us through the menu and takes us on a tour around the market to pick our fish. He points out his favourites and carefully selects the best catch of the day. “I just want you to sample everything,” he says. He’s excited about what’s on the menu and rightly so, it turns out. A plate of Mediterranean octopus, a dish of lightly fried courgettes atop some hidden tzatziki and an exotic raw fish seasoned with lemon and chilli arrive at the table. The raw fish is intriguing, not least for the already filleted body that sits on the plate, head and eyes watching as we eat. The main attraction is a much larger grilled catch, served with some simple greens, so as not to detract from the star of the show. Beside us, another table watches as their waiter fillets the fish at their table with immense skill and expertise. For dessert we sample three of Jason’s personal choices: the restaurant’s own strained yoghurt with thyme honey, dough fritters with cinnamon and more honey and homemade baklava as well as, you’ve guessed it, honey and yoghurt ice cream. We are later shown the mezzanine level where private parties can enjoy a slightly more secluded meal, but still with the buzzing atmosphere of the main restaurant around

them. From this level you can see everything: the Greek yoghurt being strained ready for dessert, diners deliberating at the fish market and chefs preparing seafood concoctions. Owner and chef Costas Spiliadis, along with his family, has created something intriguing, filled with Grecian wonders that they can be truly proud of. I have fallen hook, line and sinker for the Milos menu. As I leave, I let the castle doors close behind me, safe in the knowledge that the Milos brand will live happily ever after. 1 Regent Street, SW1Y 4NR, 020 7839 2080, milos.ca/ restaurants/london

THE VERDICT Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Value for money: 8/10

TOTAL: 36/40

DRINKING & DINING

Emily Adams and Francesa Lee go head to head in the latest battle of the restaurant wars

No.11 Pimlico Road Francesca Lee visits a neighbourhood gastropub

afé culture is certainly a ‘thing’ in Belgravia. Every month a new coffee shop is opening – we Belgravians sure rely on our caffeine. Upon first impressions, No.11 Pimlico Road seems more like a coffee shop than a restaurant, but then again this could be attributed to the fact that I arrive early on a Friday afternoon. Inside, the décor is eclectic: there’s a bit of this and a bit of that. Part of the restaurant reminds me of boarding-school tables and chairs, another of a living room complete with sofas, while the bar stools by the curved bar that runs the length of the restaurant look way too inviting at such an hour. Instead I opt for a table by the church arch-like windows that look out to Pimlico Road and provide the perfect spot for people-watching. After scrutinising the drinks menu, I can’t quite make a decision for myself, so I ask the waiter for his recommendation and he sways me towards one of the house classics: a No.11 Martini, which features Tanqueray gin, Ketel One, Aperol, Somerset Pomona and Cocchi di Torino. Refreshing yet strong, it certainly warms my cockles. By the end of the cocktail, it’s time for some food. For the starter, I opt for a selection of the artisan breads which include breadsticks, soughdough and rye and certainly gives me my fill of carbs, not just for the day but for the week. For the main, I opt for a slow-cooked short rib of beef with swede mash. It’s the perfect wintry dish: the meat is tender and the mash creamy; my only reservation is that accompanied with a glass of red wine or two, I may nod off. As the night wears on, the place is packed. The tables are full complete with waiting list, the bar is buzzing with people waiting to dine, couples enjoying the start of their weekend and there’s

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an abundance of Friday after-work drinkers who were originally just going for ‘one or two’. An observational and food break later (a must, I find), I opt for the maple banana toffee crumble with banana ice cream for dessert, which pretty much makes me want to move to Canada. Or next door to the restaurant. My meal is completed with a large skinny flat white (standard) that’s coffee-shop quality. I conclude that No.11 Pimlico Road is a bit of a chameleon: morning, afternoon or night for that matter. 11 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8NA, 020 7730 6784, no11pimlicoroad.co.uk

THE VERDICT Atmosphere: 10/10 Food: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Value for money: 8/10

TOTAL: 35/40

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The

Belgravian Good things come to those who wait Francesca Lee speaks to The Ebury proprietor Nigel Windridge who is also chair of the Belgravia Traders Association

PROFILE

igel Windridge is a man of many tales. After running The Ebury for more than 40 years (since 1973), it’s astonishing the stories he has to tell (but you’ll have to visit the wine bar if you want to know all the details!). Born in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands in 1949, Nigel is one of five children. From the ages of seven to 13, he attended an independent prep called Birchfield School. Following this, he went to Repton School in Derbyshire. He says of his education: “I was privately educated, which I think is the best gift any parent can give a child.” After leaving school, he got his first job at Mitchells & Butlers Brewery in Cape Hill, Birmingham. “I wasn’t bright enough to go to university and later, while I was working, I suddenly realised that all of my school friends who had gone to university after qualifying were earning considerably more than I was as a wine salesman,” he reflects. So, while he was at Mitchells & Butlers Brewery, Nigel took wine exams to further his career and moved jobs to a fine-wine merchant, Hedges & Butler’s on Regent Street, which was under the Carrington United Brewers group and later merged to become a division of Bass Charrington Vintners. “By the time I came to London in 1971, the Vintners’ Company had awarded me a bursary in 1970 which enabled me to travel round Europe for three months to learn as much as I could about wine,” says Nigel. This was an experience that he very much enjoyed. Travelling in the Champagne region and further on through France into Portugal and Spain and then back into France, he learnt first-hand from the experts. “I was treated like a king and had the red carpet laid out for me wherever I went as I was working for one of the largest drinks companies in the world, although it only lasted for three months unfortunately!” It was while on a skiing holiday that Nigel met one of his co-directors of The Ebury, accountant Richard Exham. “I wasn’t good with numbers and knew I needed an accountant.” Then along with two others, the quartet purchased the business from Jim Callingham and Clifford Martin who were cousins and were both awarded military crosses during World War II. The four directors had a 25 per cent share in the business. “Although The Ebury was trading for 12 years before we bought it, we changed everything – the wine list, the menu, the décor,” says Nigel. It became an instant success. So much was its popularity

that the team were then able to buy another wine bar, called Whittington’s Wine Bar in the City. Indeed, little did Nigel know that his career would lead him to meet his future wife while he was working as the manager at Whittington’s. In 1977 he met Elizabeth at The Ebury who was working as a waitress to supplement her income as a full-time florist. I proposed after six weeks and we married the following year,” he describes. After they were married, Elizabeth suggested that Nigel should look into other business ventures as he “was coming back home reeking of cooking oil and cigarette smoke,” so he met with his co-directors and suggested that they start a wine-importing wholesale business. “We had a warehouse at 178 Ebury Street which used to be an old school and serviced not only our establishments (we had eight wine bars and restaurants other than The Ebury), but also private and trade customers, including the Hunan Chinese restaurant on Pimlico Road.” In 2004, Nigel and Elizabeth became joint proprietors of The Ebury after buying out the other directors. However Nigel still keeps in touch with his co-directors and recently organised a reunion lunch party at The Ebury. Richard and his wife Marnie who had emigrated to Perth, Australia joined his co-directors and Elizabeth to celebrate a very special unique occasion. Nigel, who is also chairman and treasurer of Belgravia Traders Association, is very much involved in the local area. Not only does he speak to the residents of Belgravia day in day out, he also campaigns for local businesses. He summarises: “We’re trying to bring more footfall to Elizabeth Street and are having lengthy discussions with Grosvenor about the rising rents, which are putting a strain on local businesses. Generally, we’re trying to improve trading conditions and we also organise events, including the Elizabeth Street Summer Party and Sunday Christmas trading in December.” What will be Nigel’s tipple of choice this year? “In terms of wine, South Africa has some great choices, and the pound is strong against the rand at the moment so it’s very good value for money. I also like Chilean white wine and Argentinian red wine, while the Languedoc area in France has also impressed me recently.” We think we may join you, Nigel, in raising a glass or two.

I was treated like a king and had the red carpet laid out for me wherever I went

ebury.com

Illustration / Russ Tudor

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Barking in

Belgravia Elizabeth Finney speaks with Dr Marvin Firth about the benefits of chiropractic for dogs at his new clinic in Elizabeth Street

How long has Canine Chiropractic been open? The clinic here has only been going for the last month, but I’ve been doing chiropractic from the start of the year. I’m predominately a vet, but the chiropractic and acupuncture treatments have really escalated as people are starting to realise these are available for animals too. The Belgravia clinic focuses on dogs, but do you work with other animals? When I’m coming to and from my home Cornwall, I’ll stop off along the way and do a day with horses before coming here to treat the dogs. How do the dogs react to treatment? They love it – it’s really bizarre. We’ve got quite an elderly dog ourselves, and I check him over every couple of weeks, and he’ll now actually come and lean back into me to have his joints worked on. The amazing thing about acupuncture and chiropractic is that you get an immediate response – people have emailed me a day afterwards to say their dog is now able to get in and out of the car, when they’ve not been able to do that for three years. I’ll see them again because often they’re working against muscle memory, but most issues get resolved within two or three treatments. I’m just amazed that they sit still… Some are more challenging than others. Certainly puppies

INTERVIEW

can be very wriggly because they think you’re playing. But because you’re quite quick and specific with those adjustments, you can do one, let them move around a little, do another and so on – they cope well. Do you see more of particular breeds? Yes, there are certain trends. There are some breeds that have got predispositions to certain conditions – for example, hip dysplasia in labradors. Working dogs, agility dogs, and we’re having a greater proportion of geriatric dogs.

Many pedigree breeds have set problems so we already know what we might be dealing with We see a lot of smaller designer dogs too. For example, pugs, dachshunds and French bulldogs – many pedigree breeds have set problems so we already know what we might be dealing with, and we try to see them from an early age to prevent extra stresses on their joints. Can owners do anything to prevent the need for treatment? Yes and no. Simple day-to-day life can take its toll, the same as with humans. Certain precautions can be taken, such as ramps for cars and steps to prevent jumping but often dogs are their own worst enemy. I try to get a lot of the animals I see to take a joint supplement, because they are known to work better before problems arise. How did you get on to the path of chiropractic? My initial plan was to become an international specialist

for horses, but due to family matters I returned to Cornwall and went into general practice, but I realised that wasn’t for me, so I looked into other options. I went to Germany to train as an internationally approved chiropractor. It’s rare to find a vet in the UK that specialises in both. I trained in acupuncture while I was in general practice, because people do look for alternatives now to conventional medicine. More and more people are having chiropractic and acupuncture themselves, so as a consequence they want it for their animals. What are the biggest challenges in your line of work? At the moment, it’s educating vets about chiropractic. Initially they have to understand that there is a place for both acupuncture and chiropractic alongside their normal work rather than instead of it and that it’s a useful and effective service. So, you also teach? I started teaching while I was at the Royal Veterinary College. I love teaching – being able to pass on knowledge and skills to students, it’s brilliant. What’s the response from students? It’s good, it’s actually younger vets who are easier to talk to about chiropractic because it’s more well-known in general medicine nowadays. At one stage in the past X-rays seemed quite “out there” and I think once you’ve got past that kind of mentality and got good case results, everyone can see the benefits. Where do you see the practice in 10-20 years? It will be interesting to see how sustainable it is – even in the last couple of months it’s really escalated. Eventually I’d hope that we’re in London more and more, working with older dogs to make them comfortable and just really providing a great service. Canine Chiropractic, Elizabeth Street Veterinary Clinic, 55 Elizabeth Street, SW1W 9PP, 0773 826 7822, countycaninechiropractic.co.uk

All photography / Lee Searle

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THEATRE

welcome

retelling

A well-known story that’s often overworked has life breathed into it by a new adaptation and an eight-strong cast

round the World in 80 Days is Jules Verne’s lasting masterpiece. It’s seen countless adaptations of it produced, from theatre performances to moving film and really, once you know the story, the surprise, suspense and overall enjoyment are more or less obliterated. In fact, the story has become so familiar and expected, it’s now almost unenjoyable – sorry, Jules. However, the eight-cast version at the St James Theatre is just different enough to stop it being dry, repetitive and uninteresting. Robert Portal plays Phileas Fogg and is as every bit as unflappable as he should be – in fact, sometimes he comes across as being slightly too worry-free, especially when on stage with Simon Gregor’s Passepartout (a panicked, frenzied individual who is very loud, very French and highly energetic).

The cast is tiny, playing 50 characters between them, with disembodied hands handing them props from the floor. It works well and is charming enough, but bizarrely it might have worked even better with fewer than eight cast members. The actors do well to fill their extra roles, with each of them showcasing their various accents (some wobbly, some excellent) and one man who is best at this is Tim Steed, who plays Colonel Proctor (and a handful of other characters). His comic timing is effortless and he steals the scene where he portrays a messenger who shuffles across the stage, out of breath and knackered for a seemingly endless amount of time. He knows how to play his parts and each time he walks on stage as a brand-new person, you can’t help but admire just how good he is. Tony Gardner is a perfectly dry Inspector Fix, the man who chases Fogg around the world, believing him to be the culprit who recently robbed the Bank of England. An unsuspecting Fogg comically welcomes him warmly every time they ‘bump’ into each other (Inspector Fix is notoriously bad

The stage becomes an elephant at one point, with the help of some plastic tubing (the trunk) and some bed sheets at staying incognito) and an amusing exchange between Fix and Passepartout results in a delicious slapstick fight. The play’s stage is bare, save for a treadmill in the centre that’s used for the opening scene of Fogg walking to and from his social club to play cards. Fogg’s fellow socialites are often set in spot-lit out coves off stage, where they sit in armchairs betting on Fogg’s journey and guffawing at one another. The stage becomes an elephant at one point, with the help of some plastic tubing (the trunk) and some bed sheets (the ears) and this level of physical performance makes all the difference. After all of the buffoonery, the fighting, dancing, train journeys, ship sailing and dog-sled chases, the ending is a happy one – Fogg marries the lovely Mrs Aouda (Shanaya Rafaat), who he rescues while in India – and he wins his bet. But of course, everyone knows that that’s how it would turn out, but in this version, the journey there is a pleasure. From £15, until 17 January, St. James Theatre, 12 Palace Street, SW1E 5JA, 0844 264 2140, stjamestheatre.co.uk All images: Simon Annand

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Great British Escape

The king of the

castle

Henry Hopwood-Phillips swaps town for country at Bovey Castle – here’s how he got on…

ovey Castle doesn’t look like a castle. But in an age when Apple phone shops resemble science labs, and frozen yoghurt shops look like iPods, who cares? It is only one tier lower than a castle on the filthylucre scale: it’s a massive manor house, which found its current form in 1907. And it used to be just one of many when WH Smith (of the chain) bought 5,000 acres of land and the house off the Earl of Devon, who clearly had too much land to begin with. Let’s put ‘too much’ in context: the original estate contained almost 30 farms, not to mention fishing rights on the rivers Bovey and Teign. Bovey (pronounced ‘Buvie’) only boasts 368 sq miles of very rolling Dartmoor countryside. But it’s still so in the middle of nowhere that it took a Jaguar, driven by chaffeur Laurence whose bearing and wit remind one of James Bond’s ‘M’, more than 40 minutes to get there from Exeter St David’s train station. It’s a kerfuffle that many guests avoid by taking a chopper. Of course it is. Walking is one of the best and cheapest activities around and there are rows of hotel Wellington boots at the entrance for the unprepared. It’s fine, my Crocketts

are built for nuclear warfare, so the brunette and I dash in and out of forests, over little stone bridges and through mists and mud in bouts of almost picturesqueness. My only gripe is that there are a tad too many golfers in between the house and the deep winter countryside. The tartaned ones

You can see what’s been aimed at here, a sort of Art Deco on steroids love it here because the course, designed in 1926 by J. F. Abercromby, runs around the entire estate and is suitable for any level of golfer. After an impromptu piano performance at the local church, it’s time for a full-body massage at the spa. This leaves me feeling far too smug and holy, and I immediately sign up for the cider and sloe gin-making course in the hope that it has a free bar with a lecturer you can ignore. As the heavens open, a dozen of us hop into Landrovers to take us

TRAVEL

A little R&R Helena Tepley goes into greater detail on the spa experience at Bovey Castle The welcoming and calming surroundings of the Elan Spa is a pleasant prelude to an hour of bliss to follow. The Age-Defyer Facial I choose starts with a skin vision lamp, which shows any dehydrated areas that need more attention, so that the beautician’s work can be more targeted and precise. The facial is designed to have regenerating properties that restore the youthfulness of the skin, especially around the eyes, neck, lips and jawline. Accompanied by the heavenly scent of Espa skincare, the scalp and shoulder massage during the treatment is just what I need after many busy months. Debbie the therapist is giving me her full attention, and her gentle and joyful presence is making the whole experience feel special. At the end of the treatment, the Pro Serum Body Spray is applied to my arms in order to smooth and hydrate the skin, which is a lovely note to finish on. Having forcefully suppressed the urge to buy the entire range of Espa skincare (I loved it so much, I would get it all if I could), I walked out of the salon completely refreshed and rejuvenated, ready for a wonderful day ahead.

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

down to a barn. Inside is a candlelit, free bar with homemade booze and a hilarious lecture thrown in. However, if you do learn anything, you’ll be sure to have forgotten it by the time you leave, and rightly so. It’s now dinner time and, more to the point, time to sober up. Passing the oak-panelled Cathedral Room and Oak Bar with its library of whiskies and encyclopaedia of 150 cocktails, we enter the Great Western Restaurant. Its name comes from its 1930s owners, the Great Western Railway, who were the first to open up the castle as a golfing hotel. You can see what’s been aimed at here, a sort of Art Deco on steroids. The result, however, is a form of chintzy overstatement. Not that it should put you off the food or the service, which easily compete with the best in London. Breakfast is all very normal or would be, were owls, eagles, a dog and a man with a glove not prowling the corridors and grounds. With varying amounts of success but buckets of character, they go waddling, flying, catching and shrieking around the place, leaving an excited gaggle of kids and parents in their wake. What stands out here is balance. It’s easy to pull off hauteur or informality, fun or earnestness, families or golfers, silver-service or pub service, romantic or stolid virtues, old-school or modern attributes; but what distinguishes Bovey from its competitors is that it mysteriously seems to pull out all these cards all at once, and with aplomb.

MORE INFORMATION Henry Hopwood-Phillips was hosted by Bovey Castle, a member of Pride of Britain Hotels – a collection of 48 privately-owned independent British hotels. Situated in the spectacular Dartmoor National Park, the luxurious hotel has 63 uniquelyappointed bedrooms, 22 stylish lodges, an impressive Elan Spa, an 18-hole championship golf course and a busy programme of activities including falconry, tennis and cider and sloe gin-making. The first phase of an ambitious five-year renovation project to restore Bovey Castle to its former glory has been completed with the transformation of the Great Western fine-dining restaurant and Smith’s Brasserie. Rooms start from £160 per night (two sharing, on a room-only basis). Contact Pride of Britain Hotels (0808 163 9207, prideofbritainhotels.com) to book.

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

January roundup by Sue Liberman

It’s hard to believe we’re now entering another New Year. Belgravia hosted numerous events in 2015, and year upon year each one surpasses those of previous years. December was a magical month with carol singing on Motcomb Street, Christmas stalls and entertainment in Pimlico’s Orange Square, plus Elizabeth Street’s famous Christmas market with boutique and craft stalls. December also saw numerous carol services. I attended five and all were special and uniquely different. A lovely start on 1 December was the lighting of the Christmas tree in Wilton Crescent Gardens with Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), which was generously hosted by Grosvenor and Wilton Crescent Gardens with mince pies and mulled wine. This was followed by the Foundation Carol Service at St Paul’s (Wilton Place). Carol singing with the St Paul’s Choir, the pupils of both Francis Holland and the Knightsbridge School. Readings by celebrities; Alexander Armstrong, Mel Giedroyc, Griff Rhys Jones, Allen Leech and Imogen Stubbs. Following the service refreshments were kindly provided by The Berkeley, Laurent-Perrier and Sipsmith. A huge thankyou to Jo Malone who generously gave a bottle of her fabulous Jo Loves perfume to every lady who attended the evening. “Cavalry Carols” at the Royal Military Chapel (Guards Chapel, Birdcage Walk) was on 8 December. Hosted by the Household Cavalry and attended by the Princess Royal. Music from the Band of the Household Cavalry, the Choir of the Royal Military Chapel, Windsor Military Wives Choir and Classical Brit Award nominee Camilla Kerslake. Readings were by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Household Cavalry Regiment. Followed by a reception of Champagne and

canapés, generously provided by Laurent-Perrier and the Household Cavalry Foundation at Wellington Barracks. The Lullaby Trust hosted Carols by Candlelight at St Columba’s Church of Scotland (Pont Street) on 10 December. Its Royal Patron HRH The Duchess of Gloucester attended this very special evening. Celebrity readings by Harry Hadden-Paton (Downton Abbey) Henry Lloyd-Hughes (Madame Bovary), Sarah Montague and Rachel Johnson. Wonderful music by the Classical Babies Quartet, Medici Choir, John Baird, Jamie Lonsdale and Alexandra Kennedy. Jamie Lonsdale had composed a new carol A Child is Born specially for this evening. Quilter Cheviot generously sponsored a reception of mulled wine and mince pies for all following the service. Duncan Lawrie hosted a candlelight Christmas Carol Service at St Mary’s (Bourne Street) on 15 December. The evening included readings by Duncan Lawrie staff, choral anthems and audience carols. Followed by a reception with Champagne and wondeful festive canapés. St Paul’s Parish Carol Service was on 17 December with carol singing with St Paul’s Choir and readings by Father Alan Gyle, Simon Elmer (Grosvenor), Errol Douglas MBE and Andrew Coney (GM at The Belgraves Hotel). Mulled wine and mince pies generously provided by The Belgraves Hotel followed the service. January is fairly quiet in Belgravia as many people are still out of town… Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland will be open until 3 January, so do pop by to say hello to Mosimann’s Christmas-style “Swiss Chalet”. Swiss delicacies, fondues and sharing platters. It’s very popular, so for table bookings please email booking@mosimann.com The 96 Club has a classic car event in Chesham Place Gardens on Sunday morning on 10 January. Free admission and open to all. 2016 will see the Queen’s 90th birthday and Belgravia has extra-special celebrations planned. More details to follow next month...

Until next month...

If there’s anything you would like me to know about, I can be contacted on 07957 420 911 or on sue@sueliberman.com

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

Standing out among the crowd The Belgravia Residents’ Journal outlines the proposals for a new project on Hyde Park Corner Westminster City Council’s planning committee has granted planning consent for a new 190-room hotel, to be known as The Peninsula London, at 1-5 Grosvenor Place, Hyde Park Corner. The planned building will replace existing 1950s and 1960s offices and is being designed by UK-based Hopkins Architects. The design is inspired by the area’s heritage, celebrating one of London’s most famous addresses, and in addition to guest rooms and a luxurious spa, the building will include shops, bars, restaurants and a ballroom. A particularly grand pedestrian entrance on Grosvenor Place will be accessed from a colonnade

ROAD WORKS

linking to an internal palazzo-style courtyard, and the plans also include 24-28 residential apartments with their own leisure and spa facility and a separate entrance on Halkin Street. Summer 2017 is set to be the start date for construction, with completion planned for some time in 2021. The work will also see the improvement and development of the public spaces in the surrounding streets and areas, with wider footpaths and new trees planted along both Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent. Working alongside Westminster City Council and Transport for London, the scheme also hopes to improve pedestrian access across Grosvenor Crescent and Grosvenor Place. The Peninsula London is set to become a big personality on the Belgravian skyline, so watch this space. peninsula.com

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

STREET

PLANNED WORK

DATES

WORKS OWNER

DATE RECEIVED

ADDRESS

PROPOSAL

Chesham Place

Works in carriageway

11-13 Jan

National Grid Gas (0845 605 6677)

24 November

Chester Square

Installation of airconditioning unit

Eaton Square

Disconnection

4-7 Jan

Thames Water (0845 9200 800)

24 November

Eaton Place

New glass conservatory in courtyard

26 November

Grosvenor Crescent

Bricking up a door and window on the western elevation

26 November

Elizabeth Street

Installation of airconditioning unit

underneath carriageway and footway

Grosvenor Garden

Rectify barholes in carriageway and slabs in footway

9-10 Jan

National Grid Gas (0845 605 6677)

Kinnerton Street

Install new service

5-11 Jan

UKPN East & London (0800 028 4587)

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

Original, limited-edition Art Deco posters by leading artists

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com PullmanEd-Belgravia.indd 1

09/12/2015 13:03

The Belgravia