CANARY WHARF JULY 09 by Runwild Media Group

contents COVER STORIES 14 SAVING AFRICA The reality of an ideal 18 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Meet the whizz kids 98 DOMESTIC GODDESS Masterclasses with Mich Turner

14 F E AT U R E S 20 FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC The global reaction to Swine flu 23 MEET JIM FITZPATRICK MP East London politics

52 FASHION Eighties hats

28 GOING FOR GOLD 2012 Games and new business opportunities

68 5 OF THE BEST... Modern kitchen designs

31 BIG MOTHER GPS tracking and honey-traps set on cheating husbands

94 ARTSCENE Carol Cordrey checks out the Wildlife Artist of the Year

35 24 HOURS IN... Washington, DC

97 GROW YOUR OWN From allotments to window boxes: the organic lifestyle

38 BETWEEN HEAVEN & HIMALAYA The Land of the Thunder Dragon

46 SCISSOR HAPPY Claire Adler meets the King of celebrity hairdressing

42 BIRTH STONES Kelly Green presents a sparkling selection

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CONTENTS 80

REGULARS 10

EDITOR’S LETTER

BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS

CANARY WHARF COMPANY PROFILE

GADGETS

MOTORING

COMPETITIONS

CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

107

LIFE COACHING

109

MOTLEY FOOL

114

WHAT’S ON

121

PROPERTY

105

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editor’s letter issue 48 Continued sunshine, long evenings and a summer packed full of events and parties mean that July is set to be an exciting time. Summer fashions and outdoor activities fill every weekend, and to help you along, don’t miss the latest trends in our women’s hats fashion shoot (p.52), style update page (p.49) and investment fashion feature (p.48). Claire Adler introduces us to celebrity hairdresser Michael Charalambous, and we highlight some of the hottest coloured stone jewellery for every month of the year. For those in search of real adventure, Sophie Cliffe-Roberts travels to Bhutan (p.38) and explores ‘The Land of the Thunder Dragon’; Alice Tozer finds out more about the Mediterranean island of Malta on page 36; and Beverley Byrne relaxes in Estepona, Spain (p.32). On p.14, in current affairs, we look at the West’s relationship with the continent of Africa; can international aid really help solve the nation’s problems? Josephine O’Donoghue meets the young entrepreneurs who started their company when they were still at school (p. 18), and Helen McInnes draws our attention to the Swine flu pandemic on p.20 as we ask whether the UK is over-reacting? MP Jim Fitzpatrick tells us more about his political responsibilities in East London on p.23, and later on Bridget Caswell attends a Masterclass with the Little Venice Cake Company – is this the return of the domestic goddess? (p.98)

CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE

Lastly, for those taking the summer holidays to re-decorate your home, Kelly Green presents a range of exciting new styles for the cutting edge kitchen and ultra modern bathrooms. JULY 2009 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY

Enjoy!

Lesley Ellwood

CANARY WHARF Image courtesy of Evitavonni, p.70

I S S U E 48

CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE

JULY 2009 • ISSUE 48

SAVING AFRICA

The realiTy of an ideal

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS MeeT The whizz kids

DOMESTIC GODDESS

MasTerclasses wiTh Mich Turner

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CITYLIFE MAGAZINES Editor: Lesley Ellwood Editorial Director: Kate Harrison Deputy Editor: Josephine O’Donoghue Arts Editor: Carol Cordrey Motoring Editor: Matthew Carter Beauty Editor: Kate Hughes Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds Finance Executive: Kätlin Maasik Sales Director: Eren Ellwood P.A. to Sales Director: Ella Kilgarriff Graphic Designers: James Britton, Hiren Chandarana, Victoria Wren PR & Marketing Manager: Rebecca Walton Managing Director: Giles Ellwood P.A. to Managing Director: Charlotte Evans

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CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Claire Adler is a London based freelance journalist, specialising in jewellery, watches and luxury. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times, Spectator Business, Wallpaper*, Intelligent Life and House & Garden. She also writes for fashion news service WGSN, hotel magazine IN London and magazines published by Bentley, Harrods and Watches of Switzerland, amongst others.

Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist based in Cardiff. Specialising in gadgets and technology, Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites. He writes on flatscreen TVs for What Video and What Plasma magazines and away from technology is also a regular contributor to BBC History and Real Travel magazines.

Martin Bamford is one of the youngest and most successful financial planners in the UK. He runs his own firm of financial advisers – Informed Choice – and regularly contributes to various financial publications. His personal finance book The Money Tree, published in 2006, is a best seller.

Kate Hughes has an established reputation as one of the UK's leading celebrity hair and make-up artists. A regular guest beauty presenter on television, she has worked with a wide selection of actors, presenters, musicians and models. Kate's hair and make-up consultancy, 'It's All About You', transforms women for weddings, special occasions and red carpet events.

Dr. David Kuo is one of the UK’s leading commentators on money matters. He is a Director at the popular investing website The Motley Fool – Fool.co.uk. As well as providing daily insight and financial news for BBC London’s (97.4FM) Breakfast Show , he also presents Money Talk – the Fool’s weekly podcasts where guests from the world of money thrash out the financial issues of the day.

The reality of an ideal

Katherine Eriksson looks at the realities of aid and development in Africa, and asks if there ever will be a miracle-solution for this beautiful but troubled continent?

y favourite story about Africa involves a variant on the “why did the chicken cross the road?” story. Why did a chicken cross Zambia on a bus? Probably to get to the other side. Most likely to be eaten for dinner. My second favourite experience was in Malawi where the bus we were on had to have everyone get off the bus before it could make it up the hill; inconvenient to say the least. I still wonder whether the brakes worked very well when going down the hill – something you just don’t ask. Every eighteen-year-old who goes to Africa has these kinds of stories to bring back. Cute kids, chickens, and mosquito bites. Maybe, if you’re ‘lucky’, you’ll have a run-in with a mild tropical disease with which to wow your friends at home. These bright-eyed bushytailed foreigners go home with dreams to “save Africa”. But how? Does Africa need saving from itself? When we were little, we were told “eat everything on your plate, there are starving children in Africa”. Eventually every child catches on that eating everything on one’s plate will not make a difference to Africa – the end of poverty does not come from obeying your parents. This myth about development is obvious, but unfortunately there are many that are not and we are still trying to distinguish fact from fiction. Development experts, economists, politicians, activists – we all think we have the answer. We say to increase aid, improve governance, end war, and send medication. The G8 has continually pledged increased aid to Africa. George Bush started the Millennium Challenge Corporation, aimed at

giving aid to countries with good governance practices. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for some of Africa’s biggest warlords. These are lots of large-scale solutions to a big problem. Jeffrey Sachs, author of The End of Poverty, started a series of Millennium Villages; villages where enormous amounts of money are invested with the theory that Africans just need enough money to escape a poverty trap of malnutrition, bad farming practices, and a failed health system. Bill Easterly, an economist at New York University, disagrees. In a very spirited exchange in theWall Street Journal recently, Easterly argued that to think the end of poverty can be bought, is to oversimplify the problem. Development economists, and policy makers in general, face a tough call. How do we bring enough attention to a problem without appearing condescending, or oversimplifying a complex issue? I’m sure Jeff Sachs wants to bring these people out of poverty – he believes that by getting enough attention to the idea of poverty traps, his theory about how to draw in resources for the fight against poverty will be recognized. A tourism organisation, unendorsed by Sachs, offers tours of the Rwandan Millennium Village. Their brochure asks visitors to avoid eating in public, as some of the villagers are still malnourished. Easterly argues this is condescending – poor Africans are not monkeys in a zoo. The tour operators say that they have generated resources for the villages since they share 70 per cent of revenue, and that they have attracted attention. There are two sides to most development stories.

Sachs favours top-down solutions, but there are thousands of people on the ground all over the world determining what works on a small scale. The new craze in economics is randomised experiments – does randomly giving an anti-malarial bed net to someone reduce the probability of contracting malaria? Can that person pay for half of the net so we can reach twice as many people? Does reducing class size in primary school increase test scores? Does informing the

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community about failures in their health care or education system increase public involvement and therefore service delivery? These projects are wide-spread across every developing and even developed country – and all programs have shown mixed success. There is some evidence that targeting microfinance to women improves the welfare of children, but some evidence says that men are better able to make use of small business credit. Handing out textbooks to students

doesn’t seem to improve test scores, but making school uniforms available to middle-school students can increase school retention. Treating students for intestinal worms in Kenya improves attendance, but the effects fade to zero in the long run. Ultimately, the goal is to answer enough small questions to create a tool-kit for policy-makers. When evaluating such projects, we always ask three questions: Is the project sustainable and do the effects persist in the long-run? Can it be scaled up to a large government programme? Is the institutional framework in place to implement the programme? None of the small projects will work unless the political framework is in place. If every other bed net is stolen and sold on the black market, these projects will never be sustainable. The tension between good governance and aid is growing. Western governments at times have an

incentive to ‘move money’, no matter how efficient it is. Countries such as Uganda and Mozambique have government budgets funded almost as much by aid as by taxes. While this money no doubt helps fund vital health and education services, roads, and agricultural reform, it also insulates the government from democratic processes. The lack of transparency associated with so much money leads to corruption and cover-ups as outlined in Michela Wrong’s new book It’s Our Turn to Eat. The book follows John Githongo, a man who uncovered enough corruption in the Kenyan government to face death threats, and he was forced to leave the country. Anti-corruption programs are common in Africa, but unfortunately they are often without teeth and the people running them are either part of the corrupt party or are discouraged to speak up.

Illustration © Mark Gray (www.bitspikey.com)

Governance in Africa has been steadily improving but obviously has a long way to go. South Africa has now had four peaceful elections. No matter what one thinks of Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution is one of the strongest in the world. South Africa is also surrounded by a group of countries with strong economic growth and stable governments, Zimbabwe excluded of course. The ultimate test of any democracy is a peaceful transition from one party to another. Both Zambia and Malawi have had such transitions in the past five years. Mozambique has managed to pass power from one president to the next, even if it was within the same party. Botswana is known as one of the most boring countries in Africa among my friends, because of its stable political climate and steady growth. For all of the grand schemes to ‘develop Africa’ and the small micro-projects aimed at the most vulnerable, sustainable growth will depend on the private sector – the ability of products to compete on the international market, public-private partnerships which can enhance the public sector’s reach, and, most importantly, the growth of tourism. Until recently, most African countries weren’t able to trade freely with the European Union and the USA. More recently, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) opened up opportunities for trade between the USA and African countries. In 2007, the United States imported $3.4 billion in imports, twice what it did in 2001. The AGOA program is tied to good governance, but 40 countries were eligible for trade in 2007, more than ever. This act also includes a yearly forum for the private sector to discuss marketing and export opportunities. Private provision of public services can also take pressure off governments. In Botswana, the Debswana mining company began providing anti-retroviral drugs for workers afflicted with AIDS. One recent study showed that the company recouped up to 50 per cent of the cost in fewer sick days by its workers, which is evidence that companies could pay part of the cost of medicines which improve productivity. This program has been replicated in Mexico as well.

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South Africa as well as Botswana and other Tourism revenue is a major source of neighboring countries, offer the chance to growth in many African countries. In South see the “Big Five” – the five largest animals Africa, tourism accounts for over eight per cent of GDP, and the country hopes that will in Africa – while staying at a five star hotel. Mozambique has recently also concentrated grow to 12 per cent in the next few years. its tourism investment towards the highWith the Soccer World Cup in 2010, South end traveller. There is Africa will have nothing more relaxing gained 650,000 new Development than a few days staring jobs between building at crystal blue water, new stadiums and experts, economists, soaking up the sun and hiring workers for politicians, activists eating delicious prawns. the World Cup itself. – we all think we have Policy-makers have With the 2010 the answer. many options when it World Cup, the comes to aiding Africa, Southern African but the moral of the story is that there is no Development Community (SADC) is one answer. Ultimately, the private sector planning to require one visa for all visitors is what will drive long-term growth, but to countries neighbouring South Africa. That means fewer restrictions on movement the government capability and will must be there. Small-scale development projects help and therefore more foreign visitors for the people they serve, but ultimately must be these countries. able to be scaled up to a larger population. The World Cup gives tourism industries As long as idealistic young students continue across Southern Africa the chance to to travel around Africa on slightly rickety expand their business and contribute to buses, the West will continue to look for the economy. Luxury game reserves in solutions; hopefully more successful ones than we have tried so far. n Based at UCLA, Katherine Eriksson is currently studying for a PhD in Economics. With an academic background in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Virginia Tech University and Oxford University, she has a keen interest in global economics, politics and third world development.

business&finance

meet the

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS The first in a three part series, Josephine O’Donoghue meets the creators of Firefly Solutions and finds out more about the unusual beginning of their company

oung entrepreneurs Simon Hay and Joe Mathewson were at school when they came up with the concept for Firefly Solutions. Firefly allows organisations or departments to set up an intranet or wiki site so that users can easily create, share and discuss content. It also lets companies maintain their own fresh and up to date websites. Eight years on and rebuilt for Microsoft’s enterprise level ASP.NET platform, Firefly.NET is used by dozens of schools and has a much wider and growing feature set. In 2008, realising the system could be just as useful in a business setting; Firefly took on its first non-academic client. While the team has grown, the two original partners remain – we met up with Simon and Joe to find out more. What was the initial concept/idea behind Firefly Solutions?

Simon: When we were both still at school, we found it very difficult to find revision material on the school’s intranet. Building a website was still strictly for techies only, which meant that very little content was available. Joe: We wanted to make it easy for anyone to post material to a website, and easy for the users to navigate it. We wanted to make things work more like a wiki, so anyone who could write an email could add a page without having to worry about the technical details. When did you realise that your idea might be good enough to turn into a successful business?

Joe: We realised this early on when we were being pulled out of French lessons to fix or improve the software we had written! It had helped the intranet to grow from a few hundred pages to tens of thousands; it was clear that it was very useful for teachers and pupils alike at our school, and that it could equally well be applied to other organisations.

How long after the initial idea was the commercial company launched?

What are future plans for Firefly Solutions?

Joe: It took about two years between starting to write our product and our first external sales.

Joe: I have recently quit my job in the City to run Firefly Solutions full time. We are looking to expand to more schools, and also start to take on more small companies, who can also get a lot out of web based collaboration. I wonder how many readers regularly have to search through messy network drives or long e-mail trails to share and discuss documents with their colleagues? If you are, you should be using our product.

Simon: Once we started out as a commercial entity we found that as a very small business we could stay agile and deliver what our customers wanted faster than our competitors. Our reputation spread mostly through word of mouth and we started to grow quite quickly. How did you turn ideas into a tangible product?

Joe: With a web based product it is a constant process of incremental improvement and feedback from your users. As a small company, we can be close to our users to continue to integrate their feedback. Were you taken seriously as a young entrepreneur or have you encountered difficulties?

Joe: I think early on we actually benefited a bit from the novelty of writing a piece of software at school that worked so well for schools. Of course some prospective buyers are nervous about purchasing from small organisations, regardless of the age of the owners, and we had to make sure we had things in place to reassure them that we were not going to disappear. What is the unique element within Firefly Solutions?

Joe: The web is such a great platform for sharing and discussing information, but too many of the products out there for sharing within organisations are too geeky or complicated to use. Our passion is making it easy for regular people to share content on the web, yet allowing the product to integrate properly within an organisation’s workflow. Think the ease of use of Twitter or Facebook but plugged into your organisation’s corporate data.

Do you plan on running the company yourself, or managing some aspects of the business alongside another job?

Joe: At the start, both of us were part time through school, university and for me, a City job. I have now gone full time and I’m excited about the business. If you have a business idea, you can definitely test the water while you are doing your ‘day job’. Simon: I’m dividing my time between Firefly and studying for a PhD in Computer Science. It is hard work but proving to be a good balance. What would be your advice to other young people who want to turn their new ideas into business ventures?

Joe: Make sure you have a clear plan on how you are going to monetise your idea and ideally some revenue already coming in before leaving another job. Don’t get hung up about secretiveness – ask your friends and colleagues what they think about your idea. Would they buy it?

Content Needs Management

For more information on Firefly Solutions, visit www.fireflysolutions.co.uk Content Needs Management

Variations on ‘tick’

Preferred variation

Variations on paperclip and ‘i’

Content Needs Management

FIGHTING THE

PANDEMIC Helen McInnes examines the global response to the swine flu pandemic and asks whether the world is seriously overreacting?

n 18 March 2009 the first diagnosis of swine flu in humans was made in Mexico City, leading to a five-day shut down of all non-essential activities across the country. As the outbreak spread to the USA and beyond, dramatic containment measures were taken. Mounting hysteria saw entire hotels quarantined, school closures and calls to shut down national borders. As a new strain of influenza, the global population has been exposed to a virus to which we have little or no immunity. Spreading across the globe, the virus has been deemed ‘unstoppable’, reaching Phase 6 of the UN’s World Health Organisation alert level – its highest level, and one not seen since 1968. The global response has been one of panic, seen from the mass distribution of ineffectual face masks, to the ‘aggressive’ approach taken by Britain (contributing to the relatively low rates of infection and mortality rates). Despite assurances from international health officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation

(FAO) that pork is safe to eat China, Russia and more than a dozen other countries were still banning pork imports from the USA. In late April, the Egyptian Government began to kill all 300,000 pigs in Egypt, despite a lack of evidence that the pigs had, or were even suspected of having, the virus. Should the pandemic make a resurgence in the autumn, the Oxford Economics think-tank has forecast that world GDP would be cut by around US$2.5 trillion in that six month period, or 3.5 per cent of 2009.The virus could ‘prolong the rise in inflation, threaten already fragile businesses and put further strain on financial markets and fiscal balances’. The report went on to warn that ‘there is a significant risk that the pandemic might trigger a set of unfavourable behavioural changes that tip the world into deflation’.The outlook for the UK is equally dire. In April, the Federation of Small Businesses claimed that absenteeism from swine flu could cost UK businesses £1.5bn per day should 25 per cent of the UK workforce be affected by the virus, as the Department of Health has predicted.

health

A vaccine doesn’t exist yet, but swine flu can be treated with antiviral medicines oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Currently there are 220 million treatments stockpiled worldwide. With current production capacity standing at 400 million, governments are clamouring for advanced supply guarantees. The UK already has sufficient vaccines to treat half the population, but has placed orders to increase its stockpiles to treat 50 million cases of swine flu. The US has already purchased H1N1 treatments from Novartis to the value of $28m. These antivirals however, can only ease the symptoms, reduce the period of sickness by just one day and diminish the potential for serious complications, such as pneumonia. Certainly, these doomsday scenarios which have triggered a global panic refer to the rather mild symptoms which we experience with normal seasonal flu; fever, cough, headaches, sore throat. Swine flu, or Influenza A (H1N1), mainly affects the 20-60 year age group which is indeed unusual. However, with only 44,000 cases of swine flu documented to date, the frightening scenarios depicted above lack credibility. Most people will be able to remember previous media-induced panics surrounding the alleged danger from first SARS and then from avian flu. According to the Asian Development Bank, the cost of SARS for East and Southeast Asia was approximately $18bn, a blip for countries

such as China, despite predictions of “severe macroeconomic consequences” made by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The WHO has admitted that the pandemic has thus far been measured by its spread and not by its severity, which has to be

swine flu has reinforced one shameful truth; the startling inequity with which the developed world values human life relatively mild. Citing the devastating 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ where 50 million succumbed to a particularity virulent strain of the H1N1 virus, many feel that the emergency lies in the potential severity of swine flu. There is no evidence to suggest that the current strain of H1N1 is likely to mutate into a more virulent strain of the flu, yet pharmaceutical companies race to develop a vaccine while simultaneously arranging ‘sleeper contracts’ with governments. These governments are desperate to appear prepared and in control of a situation of panic, which has been stoked by media attention. Perhaps more worrying is that swine flu has reinforced one shameful truth; the startling inequity with which the developed world values human life. This point goes beyond the cursory attention paid to the inequitable distribution of limited anti-viral swine flu treatments. In the same time that swine flu has tragically claimed over 180 lives across the globe, thousands of lives have been lost to other, more enduring global pandemics. Like swine flu, tuberculosis is contagious and spreads through the air. The current treatment for TB, which killed 1.7 million in 2006, is a product of the best scientific advances of the 1960s. It has been estimated that the need for TB research funding globally amounts to €1.4bn, although only about a fifth of this figure is actually being provided, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. HIV has been classified as a pandemic for more than 30 years and has seen no

substantial breakthroughs, despite the fact that 25 million people have died from AIDS related illness since 1981. Of the two million people that died from HIV/AIDS in 2007, most were under the age of 25. This equates to 5,700 people per day. Malaria is an entirely preventable pandemic, eradicated in America during the 1950s. Increasingly drug resistant mosquito vectors kill more than one million people across 107 countries per year, according to the World Bank who estimates that malaria reduces GDP growth by approximately one per cent per year. Malaria disease management is recognised as an essential component of global health development by the World Bank, yet research and development into vaccinations is chronically underfunded.The UN’s Global Fund to fight malaria,TB and HIV, established to increase resources to treat the three pandemics, is facing severe cut backs from governments this year, leaving a $2.5bn gap for 2009. “Malaria; drug-resistant tuberculosis; they are killing people every day,” said Dr. Sam Zaramba, Uganda’s chief medical officer at the World Health Assembly. “If all the emphasis that has been put on swine flu had been put on malaria and TB, we would have made a bigger impact on health.” WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham admitted that issues focusing on certain diseases had to be dropped from their annual World Health Assembly meeting when the agency’s 193 member nations decided to focus on fighting the swine flu outbreak and efforts to produce a vaccine. Swine flu is significantly less virulent than other global health pandemics. The actuality of the devastating potential of swine flu is still largely unknown and even the how the virus will develop is still ambiguous. As we feel that a clearer picture emerges, we must be cautious; after all, avian flu did not mutate in the way that public health officials had anticipated. There are current global pandemics which are taking millions of lives globally. Surely it is these pandemics which should capture our attention and direct the allocation of our resources? n

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EAST LONDON

POLITICS

Josephine O’Donoghue talks to Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Canning Town What do you do for a living? I am the MP for Poplar and Canning Town and my role covers the full range of MPs’ duties – meeting with and assisting constituents and local organisations, locally and at the House of Commons. Sometimes it’s a problem that needs an MP’s help; sometimes it’s a question of political concern; sometimes it’s something more pleasant, like attending an awards ceremony, or a social event. I pursue larger local, national and international issues of concern, too, on behalf of constituents, on subjects as diverse as the conflict in Gaza, environmental matters, and health issues. I’m also a Minister of State at DEFRA (newly-promoted), so I have all my ministerial duties and responsibilities. Why do you do it? It goes without saying, I should think, that a keen interest in politics motivated me originally, and continues to do so – but when I say ‘politics’, I don’t mean something abstract. I mean a desire to work with others of similar outlook to improve people’s quality of life, and to

create a fairer economy and a cohesive, safe, equitable society of which we can all be proud. What is your career background? Primarily, apart from a couple of post-school jobs, I was a firefighter and a Fire Brigades Union official. What makes your job as MP for East London so different from other London or city MPs? Obviously, I don’t know exactly what other MPs in London or elsewhere do every day, but I should imagine a constituency that covers such diverse cultural, social, economic – and architectural – landscapes as Shadwell, Canary Wharf, Poplar, Limehouse, to name just a few, must make it a job in which I have to not only understand and be sensitive to the specifics of these different communities, but also promote what makes this one community. Being aware of what is shared within the same geographical space is very important, if we are to marry respect for ‘difference’ with social cohesion and inclusion.

What are the main concerns/problems/ questions brought to your attention in the regular surgeries? Housing; immigration issues; anti-social behaviour; employment issues; planning issues; parking problems; school places, to name some of the most prominent!

What do you hope to achieve for the future of your constituency; what are the ambitions that drive you? I think that’s pretty well covered above. I want what’s best in the constituency to be available to all its residents. What are the challenges you are currently working on in the local area? The main challenges are the issues brought to my advice surgery. I’m focused on securing decent new homes for more people in need of them, and generally working with others to improve local safety and local infrastructure. We’ve seen real changes for the better, with housing associations’ work on estates, and with enhanced transport services and health practices, and school refurbishments and new-builds. I’ve lobbied hard for these.

What impact has the CW Group had on the local area? It’s created a hub, a new heart – somewhere people work and play, enjoying the cinema, the eateries, and the lovely waterfront vistas.

How do you unite the wealth of CW with local business enterprises? The goodwill of all parties makes this easier. The executives and officers I liaise with at CWG have always made clear to me their desire to reach out, work with, and assist, local enterprises. I’ve always been able to discern a strong community ethos at CWG. What has been the proudest moment in your career? My proudest moment was being ‘presented’ to Her Majesty as her Vice-Chamberlain (with historic connections to the Palace). Which individual do you most admire? My mum. Where do you see yourself in five years time? No idea, but I would like to achieve success as a Minister of State at DEFRA; win the general election; and make my constituents happy. n

BUSINESS&FINANCE

news

BLACKROCK’S OFFER FOR BGI ACCEPTED The Board of Barclays PLC announced last month that it has accepted BlackRock’s offer to purchase the Barclays Global Investors (BGI) business and has resolved to recommend it to shareholders for approval at a general meeting to be called for the purpose, which will be held in early August 2009. In connection with accepting the BlackRock offer, Blue Sparkle (the CVC Capital Partners vehicle formed in relation to the CVC funds’ proposed purchase of the iShares business), has agreed to terminate the transaction without exercising its right to propose an alternative proposal to the BlackRock offer. Barclays will pay Blue Sparkle fees of US$175 million (£106 million) under the agreement with Blue Sparkle signed on 9 April 2009.

HSBC SELL HMS HOLDING TO GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC. HSBC Bank plc has sold its 49% holding in HSBC Merchant Services LLP (HMS), the card processing joint venture that serves its UK business clients, to its partner in the venture, Global Payments Inc., for a consideration of US$307.7 million in cash. The HMS joint venture was created in June 2008 when HSBC sold a 51% stake to Global Payments Inc., a leading processor of electronic transactions. HSBC and Global Payments also have sale-and-referral agreements in the US and Canada along with a joint venture in Asia covering 11 countries and territories. A new 10 year marketing alliance agreement has also been signed, under which HSBC will continue to refer its UK customers to HMS. No staff will be affected by the change of ownership and HMS will continue to be based in Leicester.

business

WOOLWORTHS RETURNS ONLINE The Woolworths brand has begun trading as an online store, over six months after the High Street giant went into administration. Shop Direct reportedly paid administrators between £5m ($8.24m) and £10m for the brand name. Goods available on www.woolworths. co.uk include toys, Ladybird clothing and the firm’s iconic pick ‘n’ mix confectionery. In December 2008, Woolworths’ 807 stores and distribution arm, EUK, went into administration, with £385m of debt. Shop Direct is part of the Littlewoods group which already runs Littlewoods Online, one of the largest UK web retailers. Within hours of the announcement that the brand was to return online, 20,000 customers were said to have registered. “Families wanted us to bring back Woolies as soon as possible, so that’s what we’ve done,” said Shop Direct Chief Executive, Mark Newton-Jones, “From acquiring the brand to launching it has only been 20 weeks; something you could never achieve with a High Street business but can do online”.

JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP REPORTS INCREASE IN RETAIL SPENDING NATURAL RESOURCES TRADE HANDS Russia’s energy giant Gazprom has last month signed a $2.5bn (£1.53bn) deal with Nigeria’s state operated NNPC, to invest in a new joint venture. The new firm, to be called Nigaz, is set to build refineries, pipelines and gas power stations in Nigeria. The agreement comes during a four-day African tour by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. As well as forming Nigaz, Russia is keen on developing a trans-African pipeline to transport Nigerian gas to Europe. This could further reinforce Gazprom’s alreadystrong influence over Europe’s energy supplies. Also last month, Chinese oil refiner Sinopec has made a $7.2bn bid to acquire oil exploration and producing firm Addax, which focuses on Africa and the Middle East. If the deal is approved by regulators it would be the biggest foreign takeover by a Chinese firm.

According to Reuters, John Lewis Partnership recorded their best performance of the first-half so far for the week to 20 June. The group said sales at its department stores increased 2.2 percent to £46.5 million. Fashion sales increased 10%, while sales of electrical products and home technology were up 3.7%. But sales in the home category fell 5.7 percent, handicapped by muted housing market activity. John Lewis also said that weekly sales at its chain of 213 Waitrose supermarkets increased 11.8% to £86.6 million.

NEW TAX RULES HIT THOUSANDS WITH HOLIDAY HOME BUSINESSES The introduction of new tax rules could hit many people who let holiday accommodation, says Helen Demuth, tax partner at accountants and business advisers, Smith & Williamson. However, there is a brief window of opportunity before the rules take effect. If you need to make repairs to your holiday property, decorate it or buy new furniture, try to complete these works by 5 April 2010; this could save you money if the extra costs create or increase a loss. If you let accommodation as short let, 2009/10 is the last year when you will be able to offset losses arising from your business against income from employment or investments. Similarly, if you are considering selling the property, try to exchange contracts by 5 April 2010. If you do, profit on the sale may qualify for a special tax concession so that you pay tax at just 10% on the profit, rather than the standard 18% capital gains tax rate. However, the change in tax rules is good news for people who let holiday property in the EU – while they also only have until 5 April 2010 to benefit from the rules; this is the first time that such properties have qualified for the tax breaks.

business&finance

COMPANY PROFILE We take a look at the latest news from Credit Suisse as it celebrates 150 years of business

redit Suisse boasts a long, 152 year tradition and many years of experience in the banking and finance industry; providing companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients worldwide, Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions, and innovative products. Operating in over 50 countries, the company employs more than 46,000 people from approximately 100 different nations. The overall success of Credit Suisse was achieved through strong organic growth, but was also supplemented by a series of significant mergers and acquisitions. The company is well known for its winning blend of different cultures, philosophies, and spheres of specialist knowledge to create a strong integrated bank. Recent pRomotion In recent news, Credit Suisse Group has announced that Karl Landert (Chief Information Officer, Credit Suisse) has been appointed to the Executive Board. As CIO, Landert is responsible for Credit Suisse’s Information Technology division and will continue to report to Brady W. Dougan (Chief Executive Officer, Credit Suisse) based in Zurich. “This appointment reflects the integral role that IT plays in the bank’s success and recognizes the significant contribution that Karl and his team have made to Credit Suisse by enhancing our IT operations” says Dougan. “In the past year

alone, Karl has streamlined our IT operations, significantly increased the reliability of our IT processes and built an excellent team. Furthermore, this appointment underscores our firm commitment to building an Executive Board composed of members with a wide range of expertise and experience.We are confident that Karl will be an extremely valuable addition to our executive management team.” latest figuRes At the end of April this year, Credit Suisse Group reported net income attributable to shareholders of CHF 2,006 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared with a net loss of CHF 2,148 million in the prior-year period. Core net revenues were CHF 9,557 million in the first quarter of 2009 compared with CHF 2,926 million in the prior-year period. The return on equity attributable to shareholders was 22.6% and diluted earnings per share were CHF 1.60.

ongoing sponsoRship Credit Suisse and the Kunsthaus Zürich have enjoyed a successful partnership since 1991, culminating in Credit Suisse attaining the status of “Partner to the Kunsthaus Zürich” in 2005. Last month Credit Suisse announced that they would maintain their commitment to a long-term sponsorship strategy and has just extended the agreement with the Kunsthaus Zürich until 2011. When the major exhibition of the father of pointillism Georges Seurat – Figure in Space opens at the Kunsthaus on 2 October, the Credit Suisse logo will also be visible at the entrance. The global financial services company with Swiss roots has had a commitment to the Kunsthaus Zürich for many years and supports the museum’s main annual exhibition at Heimplatz, as well as a new addition to the portfolio in the form of two Kunsthaus nights.

financial futuRe According to The Financial Market Test Switzerland, carried out by Credit Suisse in cooperation with the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), economic expectations continued to brighten up further in June. The relevant Credit Suisse ZEW indicator climbed back into positive territory for the first time since September 2006, reaching the 9.7 mark. The indicator for the assessment of the current economic picture remained practically unchanged in June at the -67.7 level (up 0.9 points). Inflation expectations increased noticeably again this month, with the corresponding indicator rising by 30.5 points to the 22.6 threshold. The financial market experts were asked for opinions regarding the timing of interest rate increase cycles; the largest share of respondents (57%) predict that the initial rate hikes will kick off already in the first half of 2010, whereas one-third of the analysts regard the second half of 2010 as the most probable timeframe.

politics

going for

GOLD

Annabel Trew checks out the business opportunities coming to London with the 2012 Olympic Games

he 2012 Olympics has become a bit of a dirty word. After the heady celebration back in 2005 with promises of redevelopment, regeneration and jobs – the resulting financial hangover is still leaving its mark. The facts are pretty bleak. In 2007 the total costs mounted to four times the original budget; Christmas last year MPs were in crisis talks to raise emergency private funds; then the planned Olympic village was cut from 4,600 flats to just 2,800; and this year, failing to gain much needed private investment, the Olympics committee had to turn to contingency funds to bail out two of its already diminished projects. The final blow came in June, when polls carried out by London Councils found that a third of Londoners claimed they have no idea what all this money was being spent on, let alone the positive effects of the regeneration. But if you are fortunate enough

to have a business in one of the surrounding boroughs it’s not all financial doom and gloom. The biggest boost is within the construction industry, just at a time when the industry is flailing. With 4,500 workers already onsite, one in five of those workers is from one of the host boroughs – of those workers, one in ten were previously unemployed. At the height of construction (summer 2010) these numbers will double. The London Development Agency also says that by 2012 there will have been 30,000 people involved in the work (despite the enthusiastic initial predictions being closer to 50,000). None of these jobs would have existed, they insist, if we weren‘t hosting the Games. Again a large number of workers are locally sourced – out of the 500 businesses that have won contracts supplying the LDA, most of them are small and more than one in ten are based around the Olympic Park. Suppliers are

next biggest benefactors; with 9,000 construction workers on site, breakfast bars must being doing well. New business initiatives are also kick-starting the area. In January 2008, the London 2012 Business network launched www.competefor.com – a business dating agency open to both international and local business. Once registered to the website, companies get bulletins informing them of the latest contracts up for grabs. Local businesses win brownie points for their proximity, and there is a helpline and meetings to coach companies through the application process. Competefor was designed to create a level playing field – Hackney Community Transport, a small local non-profit company, won the contract to provide transport for the Olympic Park beating major international competitors. There have also been fears that the regeneration of these areas has dramatically increased house prices and is therefore muscling upstart businesses out of the picture – without the communication network and the contacts of larger companies, smaller businesses fear missing

out on opportunities. Business Link in London admit that “local small companies are yet to fully capitalise on new business opportunities, however more supplier opportunities will emerge as new infrastructure is constructed”. The ODA are in constant talks with the local councils, including providing three daily bus tours of the Olympic Park for locals and newsletters to tens of thousands of homes to keep locals updated. The greatest benefit for local businesses is pitted to be the physical regeneration of the area. With 75 pence of very pound spent put towards the Legacy project, the LDA are hoping to transform the five host boroughs. However, the reality of this ‘help’ is still a hot topic. The debate about the logo may rumble on, Tessa Jowell may struggle with the increasing financial headache – but for some, in an economic downturn, the Olympics and its legacy may be a glimmer of hope on an unsteady horizon. n Visit www.competefor.com for more information and to register your business. For updates on business growth in the area, visit lda.gov.uk or visit your local borough council.

lifestyle

BIG MOTHER Family men beware: here come a new generation of ‘Big Mothers’, resorting to any means possible to catch their husbands in the act, says Annabel Harrison

oured into a short, clingy mini-dress to show off her figure, Claudia sashays over to the suited businessman having a postwork drink, and starts up a conversation by complimenting his shirt. Minutes later, they are exchanging numbers and she leaves, a wide smile on her face. He thinks he’s scored. But unsuspecting male, beware. She’s not interested. She’s a honeytrap; a professional seductress, and she’s out to ensnare you, hired by a partner who wants proof that their other half won’t jump into bed with another woman the moment she’s out of sight. Statistically, this is more likely than not. Recent studies revealed that 55 per cent of married men engage in extramarital sex, so who can blame women for wondering what their partner is up to when they say they’re at the gym or working late? Unfortunately the truth isn’t usually what you want to hear. Google Street View was used as evidence in a divorce case for the first time this year, when a furious wife showed an image in court of her husband’s car outside a female friend’s house, at a time he claimed he was on a business trip. Technology is making it increasingly easy to catch out those living double lives. Google Latitude and GPS tracking can be used innocently enough, but both are popular for spying on spouses. FollowGB’s ‘Smart Track’ device – yours for a mere £200 – locates and monitors a target and reports its location to your mobile (www. followgb.co.uk). Jane, a suspicious City lawyer, bought her husband a top-of-the-range new phone – unbeknown to him, whenever he sent a text or made a call to the honeytrapper she’d hired, the information was copied straight to Jane’s mobile. Questionable though it is, honeytrapping is

growing in popularity. The website www.ukhoneytrap.co.uk has had 70,000 hits and it preys on that nagging voice in women’s heads: “So why do you think your partner is being unfaithful?” It offers reasons which range from the understandable (you know they have lied to you) to the vague (acting differently) to the downright paranoid (new tie). Some women simply want to find out if their husbands will be faithful enough to resist temptation; they don’t mind occasional flirting but they want to know if he will succumb, especially when the temptation in question is a hot, leggy blonde. Distrustful husbands are starting to do the same thing – engaging male honeytrappers to reassure themselves that a wife who goes out with girlfriends or colleagues a lot is doing just that. In any case, honeytrapping does not come cheap. Persuasive phrases, such as “employing a private investigator is always a difficult decision, but not knowing is more difficult”, sugar-coat rates ranging from £180 for four hours of general surveillance to thousands for prolonged and tailored trapping. Even the word ‘honeytrap’ sugar-coats the dubious nature of the business; the target is lured by sweet bait, only to be tricked into making a compromising statement or action. Although morally reprehensible, honeytrapping is not unlawful, even though sites declare openly that “the subject of the investigation will be completely oblivious of our actions”. So the question remains: who’s more morally corrupt? The men who cheat on their wives, or the expert seductresses whose sole aim is to get them to cheat? “Basically, we’re setting a trap for these men to bite,” said one honeytrapper, “and 90 per cent of the time, they will”. n

SPANISH GETAWAY

surrounded by lush sub-tropical gardens

Beverley Byrne heads to southern Spain to experience the luxury (embracing three lagoon like swimming and culture of Estepona pools), I know I’ve found the perfect retreat.

ollowing the washout of last year’s summer, Britain’s descent into financial doom, and the coldest winter for decades, there has never been a more pressing need to find a haven from the storm. But where to go? Drawing up a list of ultimate necessities for my personal escape plan, I write ‘sun’ in bold letters at the top; followed by sea; sand; swimming pools; abject luxury; and finally, plenty of gourmet restaurants with waiters bearing a passing resemblance to Antonio Banderas. To tone down my guilt about damaging the planet, I’d prefer a holiday destination which won’t increase my carbon footprint too much (or

bore me by spending hours in the air). The one place I can be sure of a holiday to remember is the Hotel Kempinski in Estepona on Spain’s Costa Del Sol. The Kempinski chain of hotels has gained a well deserved reputation for opulence and attention to detail, and Estepona is no exception. Located a short cab ride from Estepona, and with ritzy Marbella, Puerto Banus and the atmospheric town of Ronda a mere forty five minutes drive away, the Kempinski is perfect for adventure seekers and culture vultures alike. From the minute I step inside the imposing lobby and take in the Moorish-Andalusian style architecture

Recently refurbished, the hotel has spared no expense in creating a contemporary new look throughout, including each of its 132 elegant rooms and 15 luxury suites. Radiating refinement and luxury, my spacious room features a balcony topped by a window box filled with tropical plants and palm trees overlooking the fabulous pools, the award winning gardens and the glittering Mediterranean beyond. Contemporary yet classical in style, the en-suite room is a graceful combination of creams, dark woods and soft furnishings with a twist of Andalusian elegance and state of the art facilities, including flat screen televisions and high-speed internet. There is even a ‘pillow menu’ offering

travel

FACTBOX Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona Carretera De Cádiz 29680 Estepona, Spain (+34) 952 809 500 www.kempinski-spain.com Beverley Byrne travelled courtesy of Monarch Airlines. Monarch offers year round low cost flights to Malaga from Birmingham, London Luton and Gatwick and Manchester. For more information www.monarch.co.uk

a range of options from ‘hypo allergenic’ to ‘soft feather’ to ensure a great night’s sleep. During my stay at The Kempinski, I methodically tick off the items written on my holiday escape plan list. As far as sunshine, sea, sand and swimming pool is concerned, the hotel remains resolutely on target. It even fits in with my attempt to go ‘green’ by using solar heated water, covering south facing windows with UV foil cover to keep out excessive sunlight thus reducing the energy of the sun and helping to keep rooms cool.There is also a vegetable garden where 100 per cent organic produce is grown for use in the hotel’s restaurants. Which brings me to the ‘gourmet’ item on my list – located near the water’s edge in an extended section of the hotel gardens and surrounded by fruit trees, the produce is tended with environmental sensitivity by gardeners who harvest the vegetables in time for dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, Alminar. Here, Spanish dishes are cooked the old fashioned way, using recipes and methods that have been used in the villages of Andalusia for centuries. Alminar is one of four restaurants offering varied dining opportunities. La Cabana del Mar, located on the beachfront, specialises in dishes bursting with Mediterranean flavours, whilst La Brisa offers romantic alfresco dining Italian style. And yet it’s difficult to think about lunch and dinner having sampled the epic buffet style breakfast on offer in El Mirador. Served with a chilled glass of Cava, the extensive range of fine fare guarantees a day spent supine by the pool. Of course, there are plenty of activities on offer apart from eating and lounging. Families will appreciate the kids club for children aged 4-12 and the water sports area complete with the usual array of toys. A tennis court and

sand volleyball area will keep fitness freaks happy during the day. I indulged in a yoga lesson courtesy of German-born instructor Karen who taught me a series of asanas before returning me to the ‘relaxation pose’. In the evening, the atmosphere throughout the hotel is reassuringly romantic and sedate. To soak up a little local colour, I hop in a taxi and within five minutes I’m in downtown Estepona. Unlike its uber glossy neighbours, Marbella and Puerto Banus, Estepona still thrums with the rhythms of old Spain. Wandering the back streets, I discover

classic white washed houses and flower bedecked squares where families sit round a tinkling fountain enjoying the cool evening air. In El Alberro, a cosy bar on the Calle Real, I order tapas, a plate of ham and slices of manchego cheese, and watch the action. Estepona is not a club destination so the youth seem content to wander in pull up a chair and watch the football on the television in the corner. This restaurant had been recommended to me by a woman who owns a tiny bar on the Calle de Caridad which seems to be a magnet for locals who nod a congenial ‘buenos noches’ in my direction. A native of Estepona, this welcoming woman tells me she called the bar after her daughter who is sitting quietly beneath the ubiquitous blaring television doing her homework. When I leave, she bids me wait; stepping from behind the bar, she gives me a hand crafted bead bracelet – a gift which, in contrast to these dark days of recessional gloom, leaves me with a warm and rosy glow. Escaping to The Kempinski not only ticked all my sybaritic boxes but also rekindled my love affair with Spain and left me with many happy memories. n

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HOURS IN....

WASHINGTON, DC Stephanie Baxter explores the political hub and capital city of the USA in just 24 hours

arack Obama; Forrest Gump; The White House; and the smash hit movie Independence Day. There are many clichés to Washington, some of which just have to be embraced. After all, what would a trip to Washington be without a trip to see the President’s house or Abe Lincoln sitting on his marble throne? Yet despite the clichés, there is something surprising about DC. Welcome to America’s most cultured, beautiful and green city. 9am: UNION STATION AND CAPITOL BUILDING Look no further for a sample of DC’s most impressive architecture. Modelled on the Roman baths of Diocletian, Union Station is a beautiful structure that dates back to 1908, and well worth a look, even if it is only a train station. A short walk away is the Capitol building, the home of the US legislative government. Its façade alone is magnificently impressive, and it is possible to take a tour of the inside too. Queues, however, are almost always very long, so it’s probably not an option for a 24-hour visit to Washington. 10am: MUSEUM After a leisurely morning walk down Independence Avenue, the next stop should be to one of Washington’s numerous museums. And there’s certainly enough choice. The National Air & Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum are among the ones most worth checking out. 12pm: LUNCH A lovely walk up 15th Street towards the White House brings you to Pershing Park, opposite which sits a charming French bistro, Café du Parc (www.cafeduparc. com). Ask for a table outside for a truly

idyllic lunch, enjoying their famous Moules à la Marinière whilst taking in the stunning views of the park. 2pm: THE WHITE HOUSE No visit to Washington would be complete without at least catching a glimpse of the White House from the outside. It’s a pleasant surprise to see that you can get quite close to the President’s home, and a walk around the outside gives you a chance to see it from all angles. It’s a very complicated business getting on a tour of the house itself, which takes months of liaising with the US Embassy here in the UK. If you don’t have the time or the patience, the visitors’ centre is always an option. 3.30pm: AFTERNOON TEA AT THE WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL Your walk around the White House will bring you back to Pershing Park, providing the perfect opportunity for a spot of afternoon tea at Washington’s most famous hotel. The Willard InterContinental (www. washington.intercontinental.com) is where Martin Luther king wrote his ‘I have a dream’ speech, and was favoured by many literary greats such as Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Charles Dickens, as well as every American president since Franklin Pierce.You can almost smell the history. 5pm: LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND WASHINGTON MEMORIAL Going back towards the Mall and turning right on to Constitution Avenue, whilst being surprised just how green the city is, you will come to the most beautiful sight in all of Washington. Nothing can prepare you

for just how awe-inspiring the statue of Lincoln and its spectacular views down the Mall towards Washington Memorial are – no matter how the guidebooks try to describe it. 7pm: DINNER IN GEORGETOWN After all that sightseeing and soaking up the culture, you’ll deserve a chilled evening hanging out in the trendiest part of town. Georgetown is the Chelsea of Washington, and the presence of the university ensures that its frequenters are young and exciting. 1789 is the perfect choice for dinner, as it exudes the class and sophistication of its surroundings. And the food is delicious, of course (www.1789restaurant.com). 9.30pm: AFTER DINNER DRINKS Mie N Yu Lounge is the place to drink in Georgetown, with its sumptuous Asian feel and endless list of wines and cocktails (www. mienyu.com). It’s definitely the best spot to let your hair down after an absolutely packed day. Over a nice Martini you can rest easy in the knowledge that you’ve seen the best Washington has to offer. 

travel

Waterfront

Fields is a popular choice with the younger funkier crowd, who dance all night long under the stars. This year it will be to the tunes of Cream, Creamfields and Moby. Blessed with a fabulous hot climate and a lively nightlife, Malta + Music = a far better time than a rainy UK festival. Malta Music Week adds even more excitement and following last year’s success, the festival welcomes Lady GaGa, alongside the Black Eyed Peas and Roger Sanchez. Performances are held across Malta’s best music venues and culminate in the free Isle of MTV concert in the town of Floriana, just outside the capital Valletta. Finish up with the Malta Chill-out Beach Party at Golden Bay for a totally chilled out musical environment. For a change of scene, head to Paceville with friends, where countless clubs and bars cater for all-night parties and amazing DJs. If a hard night of partying has taken its toll, the new Wellness Rejuvenation Rooms at the five-star Fortina Spa Resort are the

perfect way in which to rejuvenate for the rest of the holiday. The Corinthia San Gorg Hotel is another luxurious option; the hotel is located at the entrance to St George’s Bay, right on the water’s edge and boasts a series of cascading pools that lead down to a private lido – the perfect day time chill out. Also on the golden St Julian coast, the Hilton Malta offers an unparalleled location in the fashionable Portomaso, surrounded by stylish cafes, trendy bars and fantastic restaurants – the best of the Mediterranean joie de vivre. The small but heavily populated island nation (actually consisting of seven islands) has a rare history dating back thousands of years, contributing to today’s Maltese cuisine and natural beauty. From Mediterranean basics, to local seafood, there are many unique and distinctive local dishes on offer. Strong influences from Sicilian cuisine preside, as well as gastronomic legacies from the Spanish and the Moors.This quirky island is brimming with independent character, as seen in the prehistoric temples and baroque architecture which provide such incredible surroundings. Due to Malta’s small size, you are never far away from the sparkling sea and there are copious bays and coves for sunbathing, hanging out with friends, and swimming. Stunning rocky bays sit tucked away at Sliema and St Julian’s, and at the northern most point of the island, the young holiday makers take their pick along cool waterfront hangouts. The origins of the word ‘Malta’ point towards the Greek for ‘honey’ or ‘honey-sweet’, and a sweet island she definitely is, offering the very best of the summer lifestyle.This year’s Maltese medley – from boats to bands, beaches to Bragjoli (that’s beef olives to you and me) – comprise an irresistible attraction for young pretty things in the know. n For more information on Malta, call 020 8877 6990 or visit www.visitmalta.com Flying time from London is around 3 hours and operators include Air Malta, Ryan Air, British Airways and Easy Jet

Rinpung Dzong under a dramatic early evening sky

Between Heaven & the Himalayas Sophie Cliffe-Roberts (Publishing Editor, Condé Nast Johansens) shares moments from her trip to an unforgettable land.

ecreted between India and Tibet, high in the eastern Himalayas, is the world’s last remaining Himalayan Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan. While the tiny kingdom uniquely combines the medieval and the modern, its age-old rituals and traditions remain its dynamic force, underwriting every aspect of the Bhutanese way of life. Bhutan, “Land of the Thunderdragon”, is like nowhere else on earth; from its remote temples and monasteries and its mountain paths zigzagging beneath fluttering prayer flags, to its houses which are all built in the traditional Bhutanese style and its warm and welcoming people who proudly wear the national costume. The country receives fewer than 30,000 tourists a year; and for those lucky few it is a once in a lifetime experience.

DAY 1: 2300M UMA PARO; AN EXCLUSIVE AND UNIQUELY BHUTANESE RETREAT

Landing in Bhutan is a dramatic experience. The Paro Valley is narrow, edged on all sides by mist-swathed peaks.The plane makes a series of sweeping turns and at times the tips of the wings seem to touch the mountainside. After years of hoping to visit Bhutan and weeks of planning our trip, we cannot believe we are finally here. Set above the Paro Valley amid towering pines, Uma Paro is an intimate retreat, offering panoramic views and an otherworldly calm, combining contemporary luxury with traditional Bhutanese style. My boyfriend Oliver and I are shown to our private villa, set into the hillside above the hotel, with a spacious terrace overlooking the valley. Our butlerYangkit has already lit the bukhari, and its heat warms the inviting living room and our spacious, romantically decorated bedroom beyond. Before dinner, we treat ourselves to a traditional hot stone bath at Uma Paro’s COMO Shambhala spa and bath house and limber up for trekking with a deep tissue massage.

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Uma Paro, the stunning villa bedroom, leading to a palatial bathroom and private spa treatment room

Intricately carved and painted woodwork typifies Bhutan’s dzongs

Day 2: 2400m

the gateway to the dzong in a flash of crimson; one playfully poses with a stray puppy for my Set out from Uma for a moderate acclimatisation camera. Our Uma Paro guide, Kuenzang, talks us trek.The pure Himalayan air is cool and crisp through the intricate didactic paintings adorning and we take short, sharp breaths as our lungs the dzong’s walls in a captivating blaze of colour. adjust to the altitude.We cross the mountainside The Bhutanese are deeply spiritual people and to Ta Dzong, Bhutan’s National Museum, which Kuenzang speaks animatedly and proudly of the provides a fascinating insight into Bhutanese history of Bhutan, its monarchy and Buddhism. culture and history. Just below the museum, on After our first day of trekking, though a rocky outcrop, is the imposing Rinpung Dzong moderate, we feel we have earned the extensive (Temple on a Heap of Jewels), its red roof topped Bhutanese Set Menu at Uma Paro’s beautiful with intricate gold decorations.The resident circular Bukhari Restaurant, set around a roaring monks are preparing for the forthcoming Paro bukhari fireplace. tschechu (festival); the resonating droning of horns and steady drum beats echo from the Day 3: 3800m A cAmpsite Above the clouds courtyards.The younger monks, some as young as 7 or 8, race up the imposing steps and through Our trek begins from the Sang Choekor Buddhist A temple on A heAp of jewels

College, set high above Paro Valley.We set off eagerly at quite a pace, which is soon revised to a brisk walking speed as the effects of altitude and the steep ascent set in. Hiking up through surprisingly familiar woodland, densely set with bracken, fern and towering pines, whose bowers are festooned with prayer flags, we catch only tantalising glimpses of the magnificent heights we are achieving. On a rocky peninsula we pause for a picnic and savour breathtaking views of the valley stretching away beneath us to the soft blue-hued and snow-capped Himalayas beyond. From a tiny wooden hermitage on the site, the sounds of a solitary young woman’s meditations drift to us. After a steep two hour onward climb, in silently falling snow, we reach the Bumdra yak pasture, already enveloped in

Young monks sit enthralled by the colourful display of a local tshechu

SuggeSted reading There is an excellent Lonely Planet Guide to Bhutan. Treasures of the Thunderdragon: A Portrait of Bhutan is a touching personal account of the country’s history and culture by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan. Buddha by Deepak Chopra gives a fascinating overview of the life of Buddha in an autobiographical style; a striking contrast is Hermann Hesse’s renowned work Siddhartha.

travel

cloud.With the snow continuing to fall, we enjoy a candlelit dinner of yak meat, rice and steamed vegetables before huddling around the crackling campfire clutching our hot water bottles and sipping steaming hot chocolate; in the darkness, the ponies’ bells occasionally ring out their movements. Once inside our tent, we pull on additional layers of clothing before hunkering down in two four-season sleeping bags….each. During the night the temperature drops to -10. Day 4: 4300m Building thighs of steel and the aweinspiring tiger’s nest Monastery

The morning brings two rewards: a hearty breakfast al fresco in the crisp mountain air and a spectacular view.The mountain’s thick shroud has melted away to reveal dramatically undulating ridges and snow-capped peaks and, clinging to a sheer rock face above our camp, a tiny weathered monastery. At over 3800m, this humble yak pasture must be one of the most impressive campsites in the world. Frequently looking back to wonder at our little tent’s spectacular setting, we set out on a steep and difficult climb on snow and ice to a sky burial point at 4300m.The rocky pinnacle is barely a few metres across, topped with a simple prayer flag bedecked stupa (simple stone monument). Bereaved parents trek for a full day to this barren summit bearing their child’s body before lashing it to the ground as an offering to the gods.The raptors release the child’s soul. In the overwhelming silence we marvel at the 360 degree views of Bhutan’s highest peaks which, as the domains of the gods, remain unclimbed. Tears sting my cheeks in the icy wind. Following the monks’ zig-zagging trail down and across the mountainside, between rhododendron forests and ancient blue pines strung with tinsel-like moss, we venture upon the secluded Sangtopelri Monasteries (Heaven on Earth) where fluttering prayer flags bring blessings to the Paro Valley

stretched out far below and wet crimson robes draped on fence posts dry in the sunlight. Our guide Kuenzang sings all the way down the mountain and doesn’t even pretend to be puffed out; much to the shame of the two rather tired chilips (foreigners) following behind him. After a two hour descent, the pointed red and gold rooftops of the legendary Taktsang Goemba (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) appear beneath us; clinging to a sheer rock face 900m above the valley floor, it defies gravity and belief. Day 5: 3150m the long and winding road; en route froM thiMphu to punakha.

Driving from Bhutan’s bustling capital, Thimphu, to Punakha we cross the famous Dochu-la Pass. Standing amidst 108 chortens (stone memorials) at the highest point on the pass, we savour a breathtaking panorama of the Himalayan range, forming Bhutan’s border with Tibet. The sky is a crystalline blue and the snowy peaks glisten in the sunlight. We feel as if we are sitting on the roof of the world. Our arrival in the warm, sundrenched Punakha valley is announced by the 17th century Punakha Dzong, standing imposingly at the confluence of two aquamarine glacial rivers. Groups of monks flood across the ornately decorated cantilever bridge and through the inner courtyards to a prayer hall at the dzong’s heart; here, sitting on the hard wood floor in orderly rows before a towering statue of Buddha, rocking gently backwards and forwards, they utter mantras in rhythmic unison. Day 6: 1500m ritual and tradition; a local tshechu in a reMote Mountain village

We are excited to learn that a tshechu (festival) is taking place in a remote village perched above the Punakha valley.Tshechus are timeless Planning your visit to Bhutan, land of the thunderdragon Uma Paro’s specialist team will organise an all-inclusive package offering you a unique opportunity to experience the Bhutanese culture and the kingdom’s spectacular landscapes using Uma Paro as your base. The hotel will also arrange your visas and Druk Air flights into Bhutan. For more information on privately guided individual experiences as well as group adventure retreats, please visit the Uma Paro website www.uma.como.bz or email info.paro@uma.como.bz

exclusive uma Paro offer Book one room at uma Paro and get the second one at half price. This offer is valid for all stays from 1st June to 31st August 2009 and from 1st November to 20th December 2009. Also valid for Jan, Feb, March 2010 if booked by 1st October 2009. Valid for minimum stays of 5 nights. If a package is booked, the 50% reduction will only be applied to the room element of the booking and not to the entire package.Meals, activities, excursions, spa treatments, will be charged at the usual rates. Please note that for groups over and above three people, the FIT of 30 USD per person per day does not apply.

expressions of Buddhist and Bhutanese culture, held on auspicious days and eagerly anticipated by the locals who don their finest kiras and ghos (traditional dress for women and men respectively) for the occasion and arrive early to secure a good picnic spot; many have walked several miles to enjoy the dazzling displays. A cacophony of horns, drums and bells fills the still mountain air as masked dancers stamp, skip and whirl with increasing frenzy. Day 7 2300m uMa paro; our hoMe froM hoMe

Our last day in Bhutan and at Uma Paro.We enjoy ginger tea on our villa terrace and watch the play of the soft early morning light on the mountains across the valley; it is a view and a peacefulness that we will never forget.We sadly say our goodbyes: to our guide Kuenzang, who has taken us to mountain peaks, hidden temples, archery tournaments and tshechus; to our driver Gopal, who patiently pulled over for every photo opportunity and played the BeeGees on long journeys; and to our butlerYangkit who always had a blazing log fire and pot of warm ginger tea ready for us in the villa, and looked terribly concerned when we couldn’t finish the copious Bhutanese Set Menu. As our plane climbs above the Paro valley, we catch final glimpses of tiny temples and homesteads dotted along the ridgelines. And one final spectacular sight; Everest rising majestically above a blanket of soft white cloud. n

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BEAUTIFUL O

ver thousands of years, a tradition has evolved which associates certain gemstones with times of the year. Pagan beliefs associated birth dates with certain characteristics and natural qualities. With the passing of time and fashions, different gemstones have been ascribed to different months and during the eighteenth century the connection between birthstones and particular months experienced a wave of popularity. The lists developed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are today the basis for modern interpretations of the tradition, which give a choice of high and low value gems for each month. Today, rare and expensive coloured stones are experiencing another revival, and we present our twelve favourite items, one for each month of the year.

BIRTH STONES JANUARY

FEBRUARY

GaRNET - thought to improve productivity, intelligence and beauty as well as promoting love and healing

amETHyST - thought to be a healer or cleanser and protector from psychic attack

Garnet occurs in highly metamorphosed rocks, they form under the high temperatures or pressures that these types of rocks endure and therefore garnets are hard, have pretty colours, and are wonderfully transparent.

Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, which the Greeks believed were able to ward off the effects of alcohol, due to their wine-like colour. It comes in a wide range of purple shades and can occur as long prismatic crystals, making a stunning purple sparkling cluster

18ct gold and orange garnet bracelet, £4,165,

www.astleyclarke.com

Amethyst Cocktail Ring with diamonds in 18ct white gold, £3,300,

www.astleyclarke.com

MARCH

APRIL

aquamaRINE - known as “The Sailors Stone” supposed to protect seafarers and promote mental calm and clarity

DIamOND - to absorb all good and bad energies, promotes generosity, boldness & optimism

Aquamarine is made of a bluegreen variety of beryl and the best quality Aquamarine has a sky-blue colour. The name means sea water and it is found most famously in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum. Diamond is not impervious, as a sharp blow in one of its four cleave directions will split it. A skilled jeweller will prevent the chance any of these directions being struck.

Aquamarine and Diamond Ring in 18ct white gold, £5,250,

www.cartier.com

Inde Mysterieuse diamond earrings, £POA,

www.astleyclarke.com

MAY

JUNE

EmERalD - thought to relieve stress and cure diseases

PEaRl - traditionally represents purity, innocence and integrity and supposed to improve fertility and ease the pain of childbirth

Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl. The colour is caused by small amounts of chromium and traces of iron. Emerald stones usually have flaws and inclusions, but these flaws are not seen as negative aspects but more desirable for the character of the stone and assurance of its natural provenance. Emerald ring and earrings, £POA,

Pearl is made from calcium carbonate in an oyster or mussel as a protective layer around an introduced foreign body. The most valuable pearls are natural, although the cultured varieties are by far the most common and reasonably priced. Wear next to the skin to keep in good condition.

www.tiffany.com/uk

Rococo Pearl Necklace, £POA, www.davidmarshalllondon.com

fashion

Kelly Green and Josephine O’Donoghue present a selection of stunning birth stone pieces

JULY

AUGUST

RUBY - the choice in ancient India to improve spiritual creativity, cure illness and protect soldiers, are also supposed to improve the passion of marriage

PERIDOT - believed to protect from the terrors of the night if set in gold or to attract romance or wealth

Rubies are the red variety of corundum, the second hardest natural mineral known to man. Ruby can be any shade of red up to almost pink. Rubies come from all over the world, but the best are from Burma. Due to ethical reasons, many jewellers style pieces from rubelite as an alternative.

Peridot is the gem variety of olivine and it has been mined in Burma and Egypt for around 4,000 years. Pakistan now produces exceptional specimens and legend has it that peridot was the favourite gemstone of Cleopatra. Citrine, peridot and lemon beryl earrings, £2,500, www.astleyclarke.com

Rubelite Bridge Ring, £21,000, www.theofennell.com

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

SAPPHIRE - reputed to protect wears from harm or envy and promote spirituality

OPAL - worn on the left hand or wrist to promote love to others bringing joy

Sapphire is the non-red variety of corundum, and the second hardest natural mineral. The red variety of corundum is Ruby. Sapphires are well known to most for being blue, but can be nearly any colour (although blue is the most popular colour). The best sapphires in the world come from Sri Lanka.

Opals have an unusual mineraloid structure, being not truly crystalline. Random chains of silicon and oxygen are packed into pockets of tiny spheres. Various wavelengths of light are diffracted creating colours and the most precious opal comes from Australia. 24ct Gold and Opal Bracelet, £11,000, www.astleyclarke.com

18ct White Gold Sapphire and Diamond Cradle Ring, £58,000, www.theofennell.com

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

TOPAZ - associated by the ancient Greeks with strength

TANZANITE - thought to aid relaxation and balance while attracting prosperity

Topaz is golden brown to yellow colour with well formed and multifaceted crystals. Blue topaz, often confused with aquamarine, is produced by irradiating and heating clear crystals. Topaz is one of the hardest minerals and can reach several hundred pounds in size. Topaz and diamond pendant, £POA, www.tiffany.com/uk

Tanzanite is an unusual gemstone, found in only one place in the world: the African country of Tanzania. It has a vivid violet-blue colour and some claim that tanzanite was discovered by Masai shepherds after a lightning fire scoured areas of northern Tanzania, transforming the brown zoisite into beautiful gems. 18ct White Gold Cabochon Tanzanite, Diamond and Enamel Orion Ring, £45,000, www.theofennell.com

Mayfair City Hampstead Chelsea

Are you ready for summer? It’s not too late...with the Matt Roberts Summer Package you can be ready for the beach in just one month! Call 020 7626 0888 and quote ‘City Magazine’ for more details The Summer Package includes: • Fitness Assessment • Physiotherapy Screening • Dietary Analysis • 8 Personal Training sessions • 2 Full Body Sports Massages Our team of experts will look after every aspect of your Health and Fitness to make sure you look and feel great this summer.

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retail

2 7

3 5 4

Baby gifts Timeless classics and perfect presents for new arrivals 1. Silver Frame

5. Silver SPooN

For that cherished photograph of mother and baby, Tiffany is well known for stunning silverware and this frame is a classic. www.tiffany.com

For those born into luxury, the Tiffany silver spoon is the ultimate keepsake. £80, www.tiffany.com/uk

2. BUNNY BaNK

6. delUxe BaBY alBUmS

A darling design, the Tiffany bunny bank is the perfect place for baby’s first pennies. £60 , www.tiffany.com/uk

A treasure that will last forever, keep your baby photographs pristine in one of Aspinal of London’s quality leather albums. From £59, www.aspinaloflondon.com

3. Beatrix Potter ChriSteNiNg CUShioN

7. air PlaNe CoiN BaNK aNd raCe Car CoiN BaNK

To mark that special date, Aspen & Brown present the Christening Cushion with a timeless Beatrix Potter animal design. £38.95 , www.aspenandbrown.com

For the boy adventurer, choose from the airplane or race car for starting his savings. www.tiffany.com

4. PerSoNaliSed WaterColoUr

PaiNtiNg

The finishing touch to a stylish baby nursery, why not invest in a personalised painting especially for the new arrival. £49.95, www.aspenandbrown.com

8. Noah’S arK WoodeN KeePSaKe An age old story and a firm favourite with children, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful wooden Noah’s Ark set. £64.95, www.aspenandbrown.com

SCISSOR HAPPY G

TV presenter Claudia Winkleman has called him God and a high-profile psychotherapist routinely sends her clients to him to boost their self-esteem issues; Claire Adler meets Mayfair’s best kept secret, hairdresser to the stars Michael Charalambous

oing to the hairdresser can be an emotional experience. Think no further than Britney Spears who took clipping shears to her own scalp and shaved off all her hair during a visit to a California salon in 2007. Perhaps that’s why hairdressers enjoy a reputation for being good listeners – most don’t dare risk being witness to emotional meltdowns such as these. Not so, according to the vivacious Michael Charalambous. “The best hairdressers aren’t always the ones that listen,” he says frankly. “I’ve told Saffron Aldridge to stop bullying me”. Michael tells me proudly of one of his longest standing clients, the beautiful Ralph Lauren muse and model, who has been loyal to him for a staggering two decades (throughout a marriage and a divorce). “Saffron knows that in me she’s found a

man who supports her and always makes her look great,” he says. And she’s far from the only one it seems. “I have clients who have been married up to five times, but I’ve been their hairdresser throughout it all,” says Michael whose tight roster sees him look after the locks of models, international royalty,TV presenters, barristers and socialites. Regulars include Claudia Schiffer, Kim Hersov, Liz Murdoch, Cheryl Cole, Claudia Winkleman and Shilpa Shetty. He has also styled hair for photo shoots for big name fashion brands Giorgio Armani,Tommy Hilfiger and La Perla, and Mayfair jewellers Graff, Bulgari, Ritz Fine Jewellery and David Morris. Michael believes he is the best hairdresser in the world. Despite this ambitious claim (and the fact his prices are amongst the most expensive in Europe), his salon has defied the recession by remaining busy.

beauty

I first meet Michael in his Mount Street salon, Nyumba, late one evening seeking directions to a reception at a jeweller down the street – the exclusive and well hidden Belmacz. Michael is much more interested in who does my hair, and he is open, warm and full of life. As it turns out Michael later remembers he was actually responsible for the hairstyling in my favourite stunning Belmacz shots of a blonde model – adorned Renaissance style with a necklace worn as a bandeau head band – in a set of photographs designed to look like ageing paintings, taken by his friend, photographer Ram Shergill. All this aside, two weeks later I find myself being ushered into Nyumba by a pair of uniformed doormen and welcomed by Nyumba’s husband and wife duo, Michael and world-class colourist Julia Zuccaroli. During over a decade living in Italy, Julia was hairdresser to Sophia Loren. I’m not a great fan of colouring and highlights, and ask for a look that is more natural than natural. Julia fulfils the brief perfectly. Michael encourages me to grow my hair long. I instinctively trust him. He loves styling hair and gives me natural looking waves and volume just where it’s needed. I leave the salon only feeling sorry I don’t have any super glamorous plans that evening. Michael is fast and focussed as he cuts and shapes my hair, peppering the process with talk of his encounters with colourful clients. There was the wealthy socialite who didn’t want to pay after having her hair done in her suite at The Dorchester. Michael told her that it wasn’t an option and that, what’s more, she needed to do something about her double chin. Some weeks later, she phoned Michael to cancel her appointment saying she wouldn’t be seeing him or anyone till two months were up as she was in Paris having her chin done. He might be the cheekiest hairdresser in town, but his clients just keep on coming back for more. “You know women are getting divorced soon if they start coming in four times a week. It’s a way of upping the maintenance charges,” he quips. Michael may claim listening isn’t a hairdresser’s most important quality, but it’s clear this place is oozing with gossip. As well as offering a choice of green peel or fresh caviar facials, Nyumba has a VIP treatment room and a separate paparazzi-proof entrance. Later that day, Michael is off to do Claudia Schiffer’s hair at home. On my second visit to the salon (I’m now having trouble letting anyone else

touch my hair) I try not to reveal I’ve noticed Saffron Aldridge sitting two seats away. “We sometimes have to switch people into different seats,” Michael tells me with a twinkle in his eye. “I’ve had ladies tell me they have spotted their husband’s ex wife, his mistress or their own former lover, and they’ve asked to be moved.” A survivor of two brain tumours, Michael knows exactly what he wants out of life. “I’m a total professional and I can’t stand negative energy,” he says. “Ever since I was ill, I learned I had to stop being nice to people who weren’t good to me.” All of which probably explains why Michael so values loyalty now. He sees his extremely low turnover of staff as one of his greatest achievements and routinely gives young people the chance to train with him and remain in the fold of this family-like, five-star salon long term. There is an undeniable feel good factor about Nyumba, the Swahili word for home. On balmy summer days, locals sit and drink coffee from the Nyumba bar outdoors, while all year round visitors sit at the salon’s indoor café/bar. A regular psychotherapist client sends her own clients to Michael to boost their self-confidence. It’s easy to see they’re learning inner belief from the master and will leave walking tall and feeling a million dollars. As long as Michael doesn’t have to return the favour by sending clients with a bad hair day off to therapy, all will continue to be just fine at Mayfair’s Nyumba. n For more information, visit www.nyumbasalon.com

retail

INVESTMENT FASHION TANK BANDAGE DRESS, HERVÉ LÉGER, £543.19 www.net-a-porter.com

Kelly Green and Raina Linden go in search of the most lucrative fashion investments

hile most of the nation are tightening their pursestrings and struggling through tough economic times, guilt-free shopping splurges may seem nothing but distant memory. But the credit crunch doesn’t have to mean that your once fashionable wardrobe needs to suffer. Rather than splashing out on the latest high-fashion trends (which will no doubt fall out of fashion again within a season), go back to basics and invest in timeless pieces that can be reworn time and time again. By keeping your wardrobe as timeless as possible with quality wardrobe staples to mix and match, you can maintain a stylish and versatile wardrobe while still being wise with your money. THE ‘LBD’ There is a simple reason why the classic little black dress remains so popular season after season –a good-fitting, high quality black dress is one of the most dependable items in any woman’s wardrobe. Investing in a ‘LBD’ means saying goodbye to last minute panics over what to wear for those special occasions; we love the figure-flattering Tank bandage dress from Hervé Léger’s bandage collection, for an investment piece that will keep turning heads, over and over again. JEANS A pair of flattering jeans is an essential item of any capsule wardrobe. Spending money on a high quality pair of jeans can always be justified, as great-fitting jeans provide endless outfit potential! Go for a boot-cut style to balance the silhouette beautifully, instead of the trendier skinny or boy-style; although they’re not quite so high fashion now, you’ll never be judged for wearing a pair of classic bootcuts. Choose a darker wash of denim, such as the midnight blue Citizens of Humanity Kelly bootcut jeans, as although the faded styles may be popular this summer, they risk falling back out of fashion in seasons to come.

KELLY BOOTCUT JEANS, CITIZENS OF HUMANITY, £160 www.net-a-porter.com

100% COTTON TEES, OSCAR LONDON, £39.50 www.iwearoscar.com

BLACK CHOROZ TUXEDO JACKET, PAUL & JOE, £455 www.my-wardrobe.com

WHITE LONG SLEEVED SHIRT, THEORY, £132 www.my-wardrobe.com

NO. PRIVÉ 120 SLINGBACKS, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, £495 www.net-a-porter.com

LUXURY T-SHIRT The t-shirt is one of those fabulously simple pieces that you find yourself wearing repeatedly. However, with lots of wear comes lots of washing, so a high-quality t-shirt is a must. Invest in high quality fabrics and brands, such as the luxury t-shirts from exciting new British brand Oscar London. Oscar London’s luxury t-shirts are perfectly fitted but not tight to the body, and come in a longer than standard length to flatter any figure. They are made from luxurious lightweight cotton which is both soft to touch and durable, so your t-shirt will happily withstand lots of wearing and washing. Oscar London t-shirts come in two classic neckline styles – the deep V-neck and the scoop neck – which compliment all shapes and sizes. Team your luxury t-shirt with jeans for a more casual look, or with a blazer or a high-waisted skirt for a more formal ensemble. THE BLAZER The blazer is one of those timeless items that transcend the seasons and keep returning to the catwalk. A well-cut blazer, like Paul & Joe’s stylish Black Choroz Tuxedo Jacket, is easily transferable from outfit to outfit – it will look trendy with rolled-up sleeves over a t-shirt and jeans, or is the perfect cover-up worn over a dress. THE CLASSIC WHITE SHIRT A crisp white shirt is an essential investment that will forever look effortless and sophisticated. We like Theory’s Ivy shirt, which is amazingly versatile – perfect as chic officewear, or worn with jeans and chunky accessories for an unfussy summer outfit. HEELS Every fashionista should own at least one pair of sensational heels for the perfect finish to any outfit. Stick with classic black, such as Christian Louboutin’s No. Privé 120 slingbacks, to go with jeans, tailored trousers, or your ‘LBD’ for instant chic, day or night.

beauty

BOOT CAMP BODY Rebecca Walton spends a few days at The Grove, getting into shape for the beach

e all have good intentions once the last Easter egg of spring has been polished off; a new diet, a more rigorous gym regime, and no more afterwork drinks! But no matter how good our intentions, summer always seems to creep up without giving us nearly enough time to perfect our bikini bodies. If you’re one of the thousands of busy professionals in London, eager to get trim, but struggling to find time – we may just have a solution... This summer it’s time to take action – dust off those trainers and head to The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire, where Head of Fitness Mike Kitchen has created The Grove’s Bikini Boot Camp. Combining some serious hard

core fitness and nutrition training with that much needed luxurious twist, this really is the answer for those last minute holidays. Designed to provide a fun, motivational kickstart to the summer months, participants are guaranteed to see results. After a full fitness assessment on arrival, we were led to our West Wing rooms to relax before all the hard work started the next day. Slightly daunted, I soon settled in, and in my room discovered a welcome pack including a fitness ball, protein fitness snacks and supplements, a special gift from ESPA and a new bikini to be enjoyed once the weekend finishes. Later that evening healthy but delicious pre-Boot Camp dinner was served to me and my friends in The Glasshouse

Restaurant – and we retired early, conserving our energy and avoiding the bar! The 6:45am wake-up call was a bit of a shock, but a brisk walk along the picturesque Grand Union Canal and a nutritional breakfast soon had us awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed. In The Grove’s beautiful Walled Garden we started the ‘serious’ exercise with The Beach Blitz, otherwise known as circuit training. Feeling a little like we should be finishing for the day, we moved on to the Dare Dice, a giant dice allocating challenges to participants – these ranged from dancing the Macarena to jumping in the outdoor pool and provided us all with a good giggle! The remainder of the day commences with inner core work using fitness balls, a health fuelled lunch and an hour’s cross country cycling through the surrounding woodland and countryside. The last task was especially taxing, but was an excellent way to tone the legs and buttocks ready for the beach – totally worth the pain! By the time mid-afternoon comes around, it’s time for a more relaxing 45 minute stretch and relaxation class, followed by Hydro Time in Sequoia Spa with free time to relax and unwind in the pool, Jacuzzi and Vitality Pool. At the end of the afternoon, participants can choose between a Detox Algae Wrap, a Detox Massage or a Stimulating Hip & Thigh Massage to brush away body toxins and clarify the skin. Bikini Boot Camp at The Grove is just the beginning stage of a fitness regime designed to give you the perfect bikini body. Guests are joined by their trainer for breakfast on their last day in order to talk through a recommended exercise and dietary routine, before finally checking out. A tough but fun weekend away, the Bikini Boot Camp weekend can be a great getaway with friends; it not only helped improve our health and fitness in the short run but also encouraged us to develop a healthier lifestyle back at home. Priced at £390 per person, The Grove’s Bikini Boot Camp includes two nights’ accommodation, all meals, refreshments, personal fitness training and a 90 minute Spa treatment. Bikini Boot Camp is available for groups of 2-8 people and programmes can be lengthened on request. n The Grove Hotel Chandler’s Cross Hertfordshire, WD3 4TG 01923 294 223 www.thegrove.co.uk

Appointments

020 7513 2660

www.seanhanna.com

In the 80’s…. Photography by: Zownir Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds

Black sleeveless jacket £339 Dice Kayek at Fenwick New Bond St W1 020 7629 9161. Jewelled earrings from a selection Butler & Wilson 20 South Molton St, W1, 020 7409 2955 www.butlerandwilson.co.uk Black velvet headband with netting £185 Karen Henriksen www.karenhenriksen.co.uk

Black and white dress to order ÂŁ1,420 Bruce Oldfield 27 Beauchamp Place SW3 020 7584 1363 www.bruceoldfield.com Yellow gold set with 300 diamonds and onyx earrings price on application Cartier 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com Black heart pillbox with standing velvet bow and net ÂŁ546 Rachel Trevor Morgan 020 7839 8927 www.racheltrevormorgan.com

Cream silk bib-front sleeveless/backless waistcoat and tie and trousers Ralph Lauren 1 New Bond St, W1, 020 7535 4600. Black and cream pleated fan Yangtze hat ÂŁ525 Georgie Carss 07930 288677 www.georgiecarss.com

Grey collared dress Catherine Walker, to order, Catherine Walker 65 Sydney St SW3 020 7352 4626 www.catherinewalker.com Black and white check hat with arrow feathers, ÂŁ299 Justin Smith at Fenwick.

Pink pleated sleeve dress Catherine Walker as before. Pink jewelled earrings, Butler & Wilson as before. Pink sinamay silk organza pleated hat, ÂŁ250, Karen Henriksen as before

Pink and cream ruffle dress and jacket, to order Bruce Oldfield, as before. Black and white beret with feather flower, £594, Rachel Trevor Morgan as before.

Model: Violet Budd at Premier Model Management. With thanks to Sissy. Hair: Choccy at www.onemakeup.com Make-up: Ruth Warrior at www.onemakeup.com using Fake Bake, Faux Glow, Blush Highlighter – Legal Sunburn, Fauxbake – High Gloss, Pure – Black Kajal, Pure Blush – Lilac Rose, Pure Nail – Persion Red, Pure Terracotta Powder.

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health&beauty

Get in shape with our mind, body and soul fitness professionals, says Kate Hughes

WORKIT! HEATHER MASON AT YOGA FOR THE MIND Yoga for the mind is a unique yoga therapy combining yoga and meditation with the support of physiotherapy, helping participants to overcome stress, anxiety and depression. Heather really enriches your quality of life and relaxes you through her fantastic mind and body tuition.

LOMAX BESPOKE HEALTH This bespoke company offers everything from the initial fitness and nutritional consultation through to personal training programmes tailored to the clients’ needs and timeframe. In the home or at the office, this is your one stop fitness, nutrition and wellbeing service.

www.yogaforthemind.info 07988 821 323

www.lomaxpt.com

STEPHANIE MORGAN AT RAW & JUICY Stephanie is London’s top detox guru – she is dedicated to supporting good health by providing a unique home programme including juices, raw food, supplements, and advice personally tailored to your requirements. Your bespoke programme is delivered daily to your door making it easy to follow, and Stephanie offers support 24 hours a day. www.raw-and-juicy.com 07734 396 371

KAREN LARYEA AT KORKOI Karen is a fantastic health and lifestyle coach; she inspires you to lead a healthier and more fulfilled life. She is able to get to the heart of clients’ problems quickly so that they can move forward with confidence, clarity and selfcertainty, therefore learning the way to a happier future. www.korkoi.com 07770 475 794

health&beauty

BODY CONFIDENCE Redefine your silhouette with these cellulite busting products and treatments, says Kate Hughes

SIX STEPS TO REDUCE CELLULITE:  Body brush and exfoliate morning and night  Have regular massages  Reduce caffeine and alcohol  Maintain a balanced diet  Plenty of exercise  Drink two litres of water everyday

TREATMENTS

PRODUCTS

ELEMIS The Body Sculpting Cellulite and Colon Therapy This relaxing treatment reduces the appearance of orange peel skin; it smoothes tones and refines the skin.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Cellulite Gel, £22, www.aromatherapyassociates.com

£90 at the Elemis day spa www.elemis.com/dayspa 08704104210 THE LONDON MEDICAL AND AESTHETIC CLINIC Velashape Treatment Velashape is a new non-surgical treatment which involves infrared energy precisely targeting and heating fatty tissue using vacuum and tissue manipulation which smoothes and tightens the skin. Treatments start at £100 www.lmaclinic.com 0208 342 1100 RICHARD WARD’S METROSPA The Body Luminosity Treatment This is a revitalising, pampering treatment using 100 per cent natural oils to boost your circulation and banish cellulite leaving your skin silky smooth. £100 at Metrospa www.richardward.co.uk 0207 730 1222

Adonia Legtone Serum, £59, www.adonialegtone.com Barefoot Botanicals Rosa Fina Cellulite Massage Cream, £26.95, www.barefootbotanicals.com

famous for business

BAG AvAilABle At RiveR iSlAND

fabulous for fashion

OveR 200 SHOPS, CAFéS, BARS AND ReStAURANtS, ONe iCONiC lOCAtiON www.mycanarywharf.com

SALON STYLE Experience the very best in professional hairstyling at the newly refurbished TONI&GUY salon in Canary Wharf

hic, stylish and sophisticated, the newly refurbished TONI&GUY salon in Canary Wharf is delighted to have created the ultimate salon experience for clients. Recently re-vamped, the salon is one of the very first to take on an exciting new concept in salon design, with the addition of a new retail zone stocking Label.m and Kerastase. In addition, the Canary Wharf salon is the first and only TONI&GUY branch to offer shu uemura Art of Hair Ceremonies. A relaxing environment, the design of the salon is extremely polished; every detail has been considered from the urban slate flooring, to the floor-to-ceiling mirrors which create an amazing feeling of space. The sparkling jewel in the crown however, is the stunning relaxation area, where clients are able to chill out and unwind in a delicious cocoon-like environment. After enjoying a heavenly hair wash, clients can also enjoy a great cup of coffee while reading TONI&GUY’s award winning magazine or watch the latest hair, music, fashion, news and interviews on TONI&GUY.TV. All those visiting TONI&GUY Canary Wharf place themselves in the hands of true style mavericks, including Carl McCaffrey and Nina Beckert (both of whom have won London Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards with Carl additionally being shortlisted for Creative Head’s Most Wanted look).The talented staff constantly keep ahead with the latest cutting and colour techniques, and clients are guaranteed to leave the salon feeling like a groomed A-list celebrity. “Our stunning salon and our team are what make us great”, says Carl McCaffrey, Managing Director of TONI&GUY Canary Wharf. “The combination of the beautiful surroundings coupled with the creativity and passion of our staff make TONI&GUY Canary Wharf the number one fashion destination and the ultimate urban-chic oasis.” Visit the TONI&GUY salon at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, E14 5AX or to book an appointment call 020 7987 6222

SUN SHOP Gear up to summer festivities in style with these on-trend looks! Whether it’s chilling by the pool or ‘giving it large’ at a festival, River Island has got you covered, check out the latest summer collection at Cabot Place now.

WOMEN

MEN

Chill out in style in these hareem crops; perfect for pulling on when lounging about the pool. Tan Gladiator sandals £36.99

Try jersey tees with lightweight linen trousers for summer style that’s comfortable and on-trend. Pocket notch neck tee £14.99

Dip dye hareem pants £24.99

Striped notch neck tee £20.00

Gothic rosary £7.99

Metallic leopard print bikini £9.99

Leopard print playsuit £16.99

Metallic leopard print bikini £14.99 Brown frame sunglasses £12.99

Straw trilby £12.99 Von dutch sandals £16.99

Relaxed fit linen trousers £34.99

River Island Promenade Level Cabot Place West Canary Wharf 020 7719 6476

tep into Summer with a brand new look at seanhanna Canary Wharf. Four lucky readers will be treated like a celebrity with this VIP L’Oreal Professional Colour Competition, with a free L’Oreal Professional colour consultation and L’Oreal Professional Symbio colour, treatment and blow dry plus a goody bag worth £30. You’ll leave the salon feeling totally relaxed and transformed with your refreshing new colour. This exclusive VIP L’Oreal Colour Evening will take place Thursday 30th July at seanhanna, Canary Wharf home of expert stylists and L’Oreal Colourists. Terms and conditions: It is compulsory for competition winners to undergo a skin test 48 hours before any colour is applied. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Manager’s decision is final. Total prize value is £360. The Closing date for entries is the 24th July 2009. Winners must be available to attend the Colour Evening on Thursday 30 July. Simply email your full name, address and day time telephone number to competition@runwildgroup.com, stating “seanhanna” in the subject line.

seanhanna Jubilee Place Canary Wharf 020 7513 2660

Distinctly feminine and sophisticated, the L.K. Bennett Autumn Winter 2009 collection of shoes, clothes and accessories combines elegant detailing and luxury fabrics.

ey pieces include chic structured suiting with fitted pencil skirts, delicate bow blouses and cropped swing jackets. Glamourous silk dresses feature drapery and soft ruffle details, with sweeping necklines and bejewelled hems. Emerald, ruby and sapphire dominate the collection, highlighted with shiny metallics of pewter and gold. The sophisticated shoe collection of pointy stilettos, patent courts, strappy satin peep-toes, classic kitten heels and crystal embellished flats, are effortlessly stylish in this season’s rich jewel shades. Luxurious leather accessories come in a variety of textures such as patent snake and embossed croc, with features such as ruching and chain detailing on day bags. Structured evening bags are available in pleated silk satin with large jewel clasps or adorned with crystals. To complete your wardrobe for the season, visit L.K. Bennett in-store. Lyndsay Mock Snakeskin Bag £395

L.K. Bennett Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf E14 5NY 020 7719 0090 www.lkbennett.com

Jamieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian will be opening early August in Churchill Place, Canary Wharf www.jamiesitalian.com

interiors

A fantastic new concept... Claire Rutter finds out more on BoConcept’s revolutionary free design service

n the industry, we all know BoConcept as one of the leading modern furniture suppliers and distributors in the world, with 240 stores over 45 counties. Already the brand of choice to the discerning home-owner, BoConcept have just launched a unique interior design service, which will accommodate their customers idea's and goals, implemented and co-created with the professionalism and expertise of their renowned consultants. It is attention to the little things that makes a house a home, each individual piece reflects your personality, transforming the home into your own haven of tranquility to unwind after a long, hard day. From the non-stop city worker to the modern family we all have

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE DISCERNING HOME-OWNER CAN CREATE A LOOK THAT IS UNIQUELY DESIGNED BY THEM, WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT OF A FIRST CLASS PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT USING A VARIETY OF BO CONCEPTS BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE. our own idea of how the design of a home should be. Sometimes it can be difficult to get your home looking just the way you want it, often there isn't enough hours in the day. Finding the time to not only search out the furnishings you like, but to implement each individual piece to a common theme or to

serve a particular purpose is a task we have all struggled with. Although an enjoyable and exciting experience, the reality of structuring a design for your interior at home is usually an expensive and daunting task. 'How can I make a trend work throughout the room'. 'How can I create space in the room without compromising the furniture?' 'Why does it never look as good as it does in the magazines!' You know what you want, but you just need a little help to make it perfect. To create that ideal look and desired living area BoConcept has created a revolutionary interior design service that will make it easier than ever for customers to create the perfect look for their home, completely free of charge! Priding themselves on their specialists, BoConcept will assign you a design professional who will come to your home personally by appointment. Whether you wish to revamp your home, (or a particular room) with a new colour scheme, optimize your space or completely transform the look of your home BoConcept’s specialists are there to help. With their fingers firmly on the pulse of what is hot in the world of interiors one would be hard pressed to find a more worthy consultant than a BoConcept designer. After having a good chat about your needs, tastes and budget, your interior design consultant will measure your space and make suggestions that will maximise space and functionality to create your dream look. As well as their professional expertise and lavish variety of functional furniture, BoConcept

uniquely offer a '3d Interior Decorating' software kit. The consultant will draw a complete plan of your home, or particular room and give you complete creative control to plan the home of your dreams. For the first time, the discerning home-owner can create a look that is uniquely designed by them, with the assistance and support of a first class professional consultant using a variety of BoConcept’s beautiful furniture. As well as saving the modern homeowner time, the service will also enable the customer to make informed and effective decisions on the design of their home to add value where it would not have originally been expected. For the first time, you will be able to achieve your dream home designed and provided by industry experts. Like any good investment, new furniture needs careful thought and consideration, so take your time and let BoConcept get it just right.  020 7388 2447 www.boconcept.co.uk

BOLD CHOICE To add an interesting twist to a modern, streamlined kitchen, add a splash of colour with the GM Cucine Alexa range from Molten. Available in seven vibrant colours including indigo blue, green, royal blue, orange, ivory, white and ruby red, as well as four wood finishes; beech, walnut, Daniela walnut, and light oak – you can create a bold and unique kitchen. Combined with matt finish laminate doors and an aluminium edging, this contemporary kitchen is sleek and daring. The image here shows the Alexa range in ruby red combined with Daniela walnut. GM Cucine Alexa range from Molten, prices from £8,000

Molten London 15 Coda Centre 189 Munster Road Fulham, SW6 6AW 020 7835 5454 www.moltenlondon.co.uk

OF THE BEST… KITCHEN INTERIORS

Kelly Green presents the hottest new looks for the home kitchen

CHIC BLACK

This classy modern kitchen, from Go Modern’s collection of sophisticated Italian kitchens, beautifully mixes colours and textures. The chic blacks of the Black Gloss Laminate & Zebrano Kitchen are perfectly complemented by the natural Zebrano laminate and white Corian extending worktop/island; while the high gloss black surfaces contrast with the more natural Zebrano cupboards, creating a look that is both elegant and contemporary. Go Modern is fast becoming one of the UK’s leading contemporary furniture retailers, combining luxury with longevity, and affordability with functionality. Black Gloss Laminate & Zebrano Kitchen, £13,500 Go Modern 132-134 Lots Road London SW10 0RJ 020 73497209 www.gomodern.co.uk

BRIGHT WHITE This striking white kitchen from Halcyon Interiors is the perfect choice for a modern space. Sleek lines flow uninterrupted around the glossy white lacquer kitchen, and white work surfaces, wall cladding, stools and lighting create a timeless look without feeling cold or clinical.The Alno Starline kitchen comes complete with a wealth of storage solutions and hidden appliances, creating a look of minimalistic elegance – the cooker hood retracts into the work surface when not in use and the hob sits flush on the work surface. Halcyon Interiors run the Alno Store – at the heart of kitchen design and with over 25 years of experience in the business, they have a full design and project managed installation service. All Alno kitchens are manufactured-to-order and are available from Alno premier kitchen retailers. Prices from £15,000 for a medium sized kitchen (excluding fitting and appliances) The ALNO Store, 120 Wigmore Street, London W1 3LS Halcyon Interiors, 509 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 4JS 020 7486 3080 www.halcyoninteriors.co.uk

interiors

HIGH-TECH This high-tech kitchen, from luxury bathroom and kitchen retailer Urban Interior, has been designed to provide the perfect living environment within the contemporary domestic kitchen. The ‘S1’ kitchen, designed by leading German manufacturer SieMatic, combines cooking and social areas. The ‘S1’ kitchen uses a unique ‘Smart Board’ device that, using the most advanced technology, controls a complete multimedia system, so the user has total control. The ‘Smart Board’, which is located beneath the wall cabinets, contains touch controls that operate all electronic gadgets within the kitchen. These include the extractor hood, 17” flat screen LCD TV, the iPod docking system, internal and external temperature readings, and an advanced lighting system. As an extra, internet and email can be incorporated into the LCD TV. The ‘S1’ kitchen is available in a Truffle Grey gloss lacquer finish in addition to two wood tones (Velvet Oak and Sukupira Graphite) and Lotus White matt lacquer. ‘S1’ Kitchen from Urban Interior, prices from £100,000 Urban Interior 27-33 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6LA 020 7739 4644 www.urbaninterior.co.uk

BEST OF BRITISH Kitchens are a place to eat, relax and entertain family and friends; so it is essential that your kitchen is somewhere that you enjoy spending time. A traditional style kitchen helps to create a warm, inviting environment, and gives your home a truly British look. The traditional country style can be created with high quality handmade furniture, such as this blue shaker breakfast pantry from Harvey Jones. Harvey Jones celebrates great British quality, creating stunning handmade kitchens here in the UK. The experienced designers and highly skilled craftsmen at Harvey Jones create kitchens to suit your individual needs, that are beautiful, unique and functional. Harvey Jones Kitchens start from £17,000. 0800 389 7365 www.harveyjones.com

interiors WATER LOUNGE A free standing bath and light with glass surround; dispense with your living room, throw away the sofa and discover ultimate modern bathroom luxury with CP Hart’s Waterlounge bath. Prices start from £41,118 and the installation pack (including the power supply) retails at £4,950 0845 600 1950 www.cphart.co.uk

CUTTING EDGE DESIGN

BALANCE BLUELINE WASHBASIN Made from tantalising, smooth blue limestone, finished with a stainless steel Inox tap, this is a sleek classic. Prices start from £1,363 C.P. Hart 0845 600 1950 www.cphart.co.uk

CASCADE BASIN MIXER CHROME EFFECT A stunning contemporary design with a tilt and turn temperature flow control. Sublime, senuous style. £259, B&Q www.diy.com

Kelly Green checks out the latest interior design for the ultimate in bathroom luxury EPOCA BATH This cast iron bath is a modern twist on the traditional freestanding baths, with a high quality white enamel interior and a polished aluminium exterior. £3,678, Aston Matthews 020 7226 7220 www.astonmatthews.co.uk

THE ROMAN SCULPTURES THREESIDED ENCLOSURE Made up of two sidepanels, inline panels and the Roman Sculptures Hinged Door, the minimal framing gives this contemporary shower a bespoke look and feel. Prices start from £1,635 www.roman-showers.com

EVITAVONNI BURG BATHROOM UNITS These modern, elegantly designed washstands create dramatic impact in any statement black bathroom, and fit perfectly with a monochrome trend. Prices start from £997.05 each 0800 130 3180 www.evitavonni.co.uk

U R B A N I N T E R I O R . C O. U K

0207 739 4644

2 7 - 3 3 B E T H N A L G R E E N ROA D L O N D O N E 1 6LA

LUXURIOUS B ATHROOMS | KITCHENS | I N T E R I O R S

O P E N I NG OFFER

2 0 % OFF

K I T C H E N S , B AT H RO O M S & A P P L I A N C E S

Present this advert to redeem. *Terms and Conditions. 1. 20% discount applies to the following brands only SieMatic, Villeroy & Boch, Bisazza, Gaggenau, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Miele. 2. Valid until Monday 31st August 2009. Orders must be made on or before this date to qualify. 3. This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 4. Only one advert voucher per transaction.

G DGETS GADGETS JAMIE CARTER CHECKS OUT THIS MONTH’S TECHNOLOGICAL OFFERINGS

POD PIT STOP

A great accessory for the office if you spend most of your life glued to an iPod or iPhone, GEAR4’s ChargeDock can fuel your obsession and sync it with iTunes. Using mains power or USB, ChargeDock is ‘Made for iPod’ and ‘Works With iPhone’ certified, and while it’s aimed at all office workers, travellers especially will appreciate its optional EU plug. GEAR4 ChargeDock for iPod& iPhone docking station £40 www.gear4store.com

OVER A BARREL

As well as being environmentally unfashionable, using virgin wood to make speakers can cause a harsh sound, something that Pioneer has gone to great lengths to avoid. Crafted from recycled 100-year-old white oak whiskey barrels no less, the hardness of these Pure Malt speakers prevents vibration and creates smooth and rich acoustics.

Pioneer Pure Malt Speakers £450 per pair www.pioneer.co.uk

PLUS POINTS

Does Freeview leave you non-plussed? A new system called Freeview+ lets you pause, play and rewind live TV – just like Sky+HD or Virgin Media – and LG’s latest upscaling DVD recorder is a great place to start. The perfect way to soup-up a HDTV, the RHT497H can record up to 477 hours of Freeview on its 160GB hard drive, including series links. In fact, as well as setting a series to record, you can burn it all to a DVD in super-fast time – a one hour show takes just 27 seconds. LG RHT497H Freeview+ DVD recorder £230 www.lge.co.uk

HI-DEF IN YOUR HAND

Further proof that hi-def is outgrowing the living room comes from Samsung’s new i8910 HD mobile phone. As well as being a thoroughly modern smartphone, the i8910 HD can take pictures in six megapixel quality and even shoot video in HD. It can even be attached to a HD Ready TV to watch the pinsharp results. Out now on the Orange network. Samsung i8910 HD mobile phone £500 www.samsung.co.uk

ZONING OUT

Once the reserve of the hugely wealthy, multi-room music and video is creeping down to affordable levels thanks to wireless tech. Highend custom installation brand Kaleidescape has just unleashed its Mini System, a complete multi-zone box that’s as easy to set-up as a DVD player. The Mini System can store around 225 DVDs or 2,500 CDs and makes it possible to watch a film in one room while music is played in two other rooms in the house. Its excellent interface is a joy to browse – it downloads cover art and even cross-references your collection to constantly suggest similar films, actors or bands. Kaleidescape Mini System £6,695 www.kaleidescape.com

gadgets

REMOTE CONTROL

Those of us who travel a lot often find ourselves in hotel rooms pining after our favourite show or a football match taking place in another time zone. Using the World Wide Web to its fullest, SlingboxPRO puts your lounge’s home entertainment set-up in your hand by streaming everything to either your laptop or a Windows Mobile-based smartphone; Freeview, Blu-ray, DVD, whatever. It can even stream near-HD quality video around your home. Slingbox PRO £200 www.slingmedia.com

CALLED TO THE BAR

With myriad wires and often tricky set-up, the masses are turning to more convenient soundbars for the home. Crystal Audio’s SSB-1 can be hooked-up to a TV, DVD player, PC, an iPod or MP3 player, even a games console. Its virtual surround soundfield, which uses eight separate speakers, is designed for movies while iPod owners will love the top’s universal charging dock. Crystal Audio SSB-1 Surround Soundbar £200 www.crystalaudiovideo.com

SEE THE LIGHTS

With flatscreen TVs increasingly sold at discount prices, the availability of truly high-end LCD TVs is on the wane. Philips’ latest 9604 series TVs – which come in 32-inch and 37-inch sizes – changes that. Though hardly expensive, these high-end aluminium, charcoal grey framed Full HD TVs pack in the features; NetTV connects to the internet wirelessly, while Ambilight emits dynamic colours from the sides that match whatever is showing on the screen. With five HDMI inputs and Philips’ impressive Perfect Pixel HD engine, you’ve got one of the most innovative takes on HDTV yet.

BLU-RAY IN MINIATURE

Philips 9604 Series LCD TVs £999-£1299. www.philips.co.uk

It’s all very well having a Blu-ray player in your home, but what if your friends want to sample the delights of high definition? With this portable Blu-ray player – the only one on the market – you can not only take your discs out on the road and watch them on an 8.9-inch LCD screen (for around three hours on a full charge), but you can even hook it up to any HD Ready TV. As well as playing Blu-ray, DVD and CD, there’s an SD card slot for watching digital pictures and a headrest strap for in-car use – and you can even plug it into broadband to watch YouTube videos at home. Panasonic DMP-BD15 portable Blu-ray player £500 www.panasonic.co.uk

SPINNING AROUND

Even vinyl junkies need to face reality – the world is turning to MP3 – but that doesn’t mean those wanting to transfer their LPs to an iPod must sit in front of a PC for weeks converting their entire collection. Denon’s DP-200USB turntable comes with a built-in MP3 encoder, which converts songs to high quality 192 kbps MP3 files before saving them to a USB memory stick. If you do have a PC, all the better; software is included that scans each MP3 and searches for song names from the Internet. Denon DP-200USB turntable £200 www.denon.co.uk

Pleasure is the main attraction. The new E-Class Saloon and Coupé.

The new E-Class rewards both your senses and your sensibilities. The Saloon ± the epitome of luxury, efficiency, safety, comfort and driving pleasure, now with low CO2 emissions, lower tax and greater fuel economy. The CoupŽ ± thrilling, even standing still, a shape that promises excitement and exhilaration with a drive that delivers it all. The cost of so much pleasure? Less than you might think.

To book your test drive text LAKESIDE to 81400 today, or call 0844 818 8980.

Mercedes-Benz of Lakeside Lakeside Estate, Heron Way, West Thurrock RM20 3WJ 0844 818 8980 www.mercedes-benzoflakeside.co.uk Official government fuel consumption figures (in mpg/litres per 100km) for the new E-Class Saloon and CoupŽ : urban: 42.8-16.9/6.6-16.7, extra urban: 64.2-35.3/4.4-8.0, combined: 54.3-25.2/5.2-11.2. CO2 emissions: 137-261 g/km. MODELS FEATURED ARE A MERCEDES-BENZ E 250 CDI BLUEEFFICIENCY AVANTGARDE SALOON AT £31,425 ON THE ROAD AND A MERCEDES-BENZ E 350 CDI BLUEEFFICIENCY COUPƒ SE AT £37,464.15 ON THE ROAD INCLUDING OPTIONAL PANORAMIC SUNROOF AT £1,287.02, 18º ALLOY WHEELS AT £978.72, INTELLIGENT LIGHT SYSTEM AT £1,306.60 AND METALLIC PAINT AT £606.81 (ON THE ROAD PRICE INCLUDES VAT, DELIVERY, 12 MONTHS' ROAD FUND LICENCE, NUMBER PLATES, NEW VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE AND FUEL). PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS.

motoring

THIS IS

SOUL The looks take some getting used to, says Matthew Carter, but beneath the skin Kia’s latest city carry-all ticks most of the right boxes

hen it comes to daft names for cars, Kia has cornered the market. Proof? How about the cee’d, its Ford Focus rival. Or the sporty pro_cee’d (and yes, the lack of capitals, that apostrophe and underscore dash are all part of the naming, er, pro_ces’s). Thing is, names aside, both those cars are pretty conventional to look at: which is not something that could be said of the new Kia Soul. On paper, the Soul is a school-run special, a five-seat squareback mini MPV with ample boot space for clobber. In reality its oddball looks and wild colours make it stand out from the crowd; if you want to make a statement – to bare your soul, so to spe – look no further. With a pugnacious nose, heavy roof line and perpendicular tail, its boxy, blunt styling is far from pretty. In its defence, though, there’s nothing quite like it on the roads… at least, not until the aptly named Nissan Cube gets here later in the year. That box-like shape makes it immensely practical inside. There’s ample room for five plus a fair sized boot and plenty of oddment space in the front. The plusher versions – ‘Originals’ as Kia likes to call them – can be identified by their 18 inch alloy wheels and their exterior colours. The Samba

is bright red, Shaker is a cool metallic white and Burner is metallic black with dashes of gofaster red on the grille. Burner also has a 315-watt stereo system as standard which includes door speakers that pulse red in time with the music. Burner, then, is the ‘yoof-model’. Mechanically there are just two versions: a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre diesel. The petrol is a puny thing, offering little in the

way of punch or panache. The diesel, while a little over-vocal, is altogether more satisfying and gives the Soul brisk performance at the same time as returning respectable fuel economy. It develops 126 bhp and 260Nm of torque for plenty of low down grunt. The official performance figures – 10.7 sec to 60 mph, 113 max – don’t sound fantastic but in practice the diesel Soul thrums along well.

The handling has been fine tuned for UK roads by Lotus. It’s in no way sporting but, given that tall cars such as this usually corner with all the aplomb of a dinghy in a gale, Lotus has done a fine job of taming excess body roll. At the same time Lotus has endowed the car with a reasonably supple ride: it’s not the best in class, but it’s more than competent. Where the Soul is let down, perhaps, is inside. Although build quality is light years ahead of earlier Korean confections, the materials used inside the Soul lag behind the best – the plastics are hard and shiny and are all the same shade of dark grey. But you do get plenty of kit. Soul 2 has air conditioning, alloy wheels and iPod connectivity for the good sounding stereo. Move up to the Originals and as well as the bigger wheels, you get such items as privacy glass, a reversing camera with the display neatly integrated into the rear view mirror, a sunroof and lashings of exterior chrome. Prices start at £10,495 with the diesel Soul 2 at £12,495 and go up to £14,995 for the Burner. After years producing blandmobiles, Kia’s latest offering shows the strides the Korean carmakers have being making. And yes, this urban warrior does have soul. n

motoring

THE THINKING MAN’S

SUPERCAR Borrowing an awesome V10 engine from Lamborghini has moved the Audi R8 up a notch; and it was pretty good to start with, says Matthew Carter

hichever way you look at it, the Audi R8 is an incredible bit of kit. It took Porsche years, nay decades, to turn the 911 into the machine it is today, yet Audi got its midengined sports car pretty much spot-on right from the start. Head-turning looks (yes, I’ve got used to the contrasting ‘sideblade’ panel that splits the cockpit from the engine compartment), a beautiful interior, fabulous chassis and breathtaking performance: the R8 has it all. Well, nearly all. Bigger isn’t necessarily better, but in the case of the new R8 V10 it most certainly is. If there was one thing

‘wrong’ with the original R8 it was that its quattro four-wheel drive chassis could clearly handle more power than the 4.2-litre V8 could deliver. Audi’s answer has been to have a look-see what other engines are to be found in the Volkswagen Group parts bin, choose something suitable and pop it in the back of the R8. Given that the VW group embraces such marques as Skoda and SEAT it comes as something of a relief to reveal that Audi has ‘borrowed’ the 5.2-litre V10 that usually performs sterling service in the back of the Lamborghini Gallardo. And the result is explosive. According the Audi, the R8 V10 has a top speed just 4mph

short of 200mph and it’ll sprint to 60mph in less than 3.9 seconds.Yes, I know, nobody needs that sort of performance in our camera strewn, speed humped island – but who cares? It’s an intoxicating, legal drug that gets into your veins and delivers a real high. Of course, I never took it above 70mph… If the original R8 targeted the 911, the V10 version is aimed squarely at the 911 Turbo. Not only does its performance match that of the Porsche, at a few quid short of £100,000 it’s right on Turbo money, too. But the Audi R8 has something the Porsche will never have: exclusivity. For every ten 911s, SL63 AMG Mercs or even Aston Martin DB9s you see, you’ll be

lucky to spot one R8. In fact it’s probably rarer than its flighty Italian cousin, the Gallardo. And in circles where one-upmanship is key, that gives the Audi a huge advantage. Fortunately the R8 V10 has considerable strength in depth. The chassis might have fourwheel drive but most of the power goes to the rear wheels – the split is 30/70 front to rear. This gives the car a rearward handling bias to keep the enthusiast driver happy, but gives the front wheels enough grip to pull the car through turns, no matter what the weather. Best of all is the steering. Perfectly weighted and gloriously direct, the steering will be a revelation for anyone used to the

xxxxxxx

it too, which is why the R8 V10 over-light systems dulled by too take your breath away. Despite behaves just like an A3 when much power assistance found on the bigger engine and extra conditions demand. The huge most cars these days. The result levels of standard equipment, power output of the V10 engine is flatters even the most cackthe increase in weight over the matched by a great wall of torque handed of drivers into thinking V8-power version is just 31kg, – the engine’s pulling power – they’re something special. meaning that virtually none of meaning the Supercar R8 is happy to handling is Yes, I know, nobodY needs that sort of trickle through matched performance In our camera strewn, speed traffic with the by supercar humped Island – but who cares? best of them. performance. The terms The ordinary R8 is no slouch but the extra 105hp the extra power is wasted hauling ‘usable’ and ‘supercar’ used to be mutually exclusive. The 911 provided by the Lamborghini about extra avoirdupois. changed that, but the Audi takes engine moves performance up That glorious engine will spin driveability to a new level. a level or two. Best of all, this is happily up its 8,700rpm red It doesn’t do too badly on the a naturally aspirated engine so line, providing a real punch in practicality front, either. With there’s no waiting for a turbo the back, and a spine tingling only two seats and a bloody great to spin up before power can be soundtrack as it does so. Mix engine filling the space where unleashed. in exceptional handling and Its performance really does exemplary braking power and the the rear seats and boot would usually go, it’s never going to be R8 V10 makes a mockery of UK as sensible as a Volvo estate. But speed limits: to get close to the new Audi’s potential you either the beautifully appointed cabin need your own race track or does have reasonable oddment should consider a second home in space and while the front luggage Germany close to an unrestricted compartment isn’t huge, it’ll take stretch of Autobahn. a couple of soft bags. Enough for The ride, too, is a revelation. a weekend away, in other words. And then there’s the price. At Audi has fitted its advanced £100k it is nominally £20,000 magnetic ride dampers as more than the V8-powered standard: the system uses version, but around half of magnetic particles in the damper that is accounted for by extra fluid which alters the viscosity of the fluid when a voltage is passed standard equipment including through. This in turn stiffens a premium sound system, or softens the suspension as satellite navigation, electrically heated and adjustable seats, conditions demand. It works! the magnetic ride system, LED Perhaps the only fly in the headlights and a lighting system ointment is the transmission: that illuminates the engine bay. avoid the R-Tronic auto which is Very important that. not only a costly extra but also none too subtle in its shifts. Stick The R8 V8 remains a superb instead to the slick six-speed sports car, but the visually similar V10 version – different wheels, manual and click-clack the lever oval tailpipes and V10 badges is through the exposed gate like a about it – really does move Audi professional. OK, so performance like this into the supercar league. It’s an is not necessary, and Audi knows awesome machine. n

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME Improving the Boxster S is a near impossible task, reckons Matthew Carter, yet Porsche has done just that. But, please, don’t call it new

f there’s an overused word in the motoring world, it’s ‘new’. Every time a manufacturer changes a door handle or offers a different style of alloy wheel on an existing model, they proclaim the result to be new. So it was with a slightly jaundiced eye that I drove the ‘new’ Porsche Boxster S. It’s been around since late 1996, the Boxster, with a mild facelift in 2005. This latest version, frankly, looks much the same as it ever did. Search the 2009 version for changes and if you really know your stuff you’ll spot the different lights front and rear, the LED running lights, larger air intakes at the front and new alloy wheel designs. Not much new there, then. But you’ve got to remember that Porsche is an engineering–led company and the real reason the latest Boxster and Boxster S model can claim ‘new’ status lies under the bonnet… er, bootlid. In both cases, beneath the rear luggage compartments lie new engines. The six-cylinder unit in the Boxster has been increased in size to 2.9-litres, while that in the S grows to 3.4-litres and now features direct fuel injection. In effect, the engine in the S is a scaled down version of the latest unit introduced to the 911 range last year. Power is up over the old S to 310hp, a rise of 15hp. But while it doesn’t deliver much in the way of a performance gain – top speed is still around 170mph and 0-62mph takes 5.3 seconds – the new engine feels smoother, is more economical and

produces fewer emissions; the latter is down by around 16 per cent. One of the other significant changes made to the car is the option of the PDK gearbox (that’s Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetribe to you). PDK is a fast shifting double clutch gearbox that works as an automatic or, via paddle shifts, as a manual. It’s good, but the standard six-speed manual is even better and puts you in total control. Save your money and spend it on the sat nav option instead. But whichever transmission you opt for, it translates into a car that’s even better than it was before. Bury the throttle and the car surges away accompanied by a wild howl from that glorious flat-six engine. The handling and ride are every bit as good as you’d expect from a Porsche and the cabin, while broadly unchanged, remains a model of how it should be done. There’s just the right combination of comfort and purpose, functionality and fashion. Even the hood is near perfect. Unlike rivals who have gone the folding hardtop route, Porsche has stuck with a fabric roof. It weighs less, can be lowered and raised more quickly and it steals less space when stowed away. Any potential loss of refinement over a tin lid is countered by the roof’s construction: it’s a triple-layered affair complete with a proper glass rear window. As an every day car, the Boxster S delivers – unless you need something for the school run, of course. Although it’s only a two seater, in many ways it’s a more practical proposition than a 911. The luggage area in the nose is all but identical in both cars, but the Boxster also has a roomy boot at the rear

while the 911 owner has to turn the (frankly useless) rear seats into a makeshift parcel shelf if more luggage space is needed. As far as I’m concerned the Boxster is a better drive, too. Heresy to some perhaps, but by being smaller and lighter it feels more nimble, more wieldy than its big brother. And it’s cheaper. The basic S costs virtually £40,500 and while you’ll want/ need to plunder the options list for a few desirable extras, you should be able to get away with a well specc’d car for around £45,000. You’ll need another £20k to get into a comparable 911. It might not be new in the strictest sense, but the latest incarnation of the Boxster is the best yet. Now, Porsche, when can we see a really new Boxster? n

motoring

BACK TO THE FUTURE

t’s taken a number of years, but Citroën has finally remembered what it does best: developing interesting cars that don’t follow the herd. Once upon a time Citroën was the most avant-garde car maker of them all. The stunning DS was still ahead of the rest when it died in 1976: when it arrived in 1955 it was like something from outer space. Gradually, though, the need to survive saw the French company sink to badgeengineering Peugeots. But the future is looking brighter. The GTbyCitroën (yes, all one word: blame the marketing people) is a stunning two-seater concept that’s a joint venture between Citroën and Polyphony, creators of the driving simulator game Gran Turismo5. Only this is no digital dream but a real car that works. Nearly five metres long and just over a metre tall, the car is dominated by its huge windscreen and gullwing doors. After winning the prestigious Louis Vuitton Classic Concept Award last year, the GTbyCitroën has taken to the tracks. It completed laps of honour at the Nürburgring and Le Mans 24 Hour races and was one of the stars at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed weekend where it took part in the famed Sunday Times Supercar Run. So far so good. Now Citroën, how about putting the thing into production? n

OUR

LOTUS

POSITION

We love our Lotus Exige but we’d like to get to know its big sister, the new Evora. Eren Ellwood explains why.

lease don’t think we’re getting bored or frustrated by our Lotus Exige S, but we can’t wait to try the brand new Lotus, the Evora. As regular readers will know, we’re running the Exige to see whether it’s possible to spend every day with what is a pretty hardcore machine. The supercharged Exige is a spartan, totally focused track car that can provide equal excitement on our country’s A and B roads.

And, we’ve done a lot of that, as the Exige turns every journey, no matter how mundane, into something of an event. It is not, however, a long distance cruiser so given the choice of a direct motorway run or a longer, winding route across country… well, there’s no contest. The new Lotus, the one we’re dying to try, looks to be equally at home sprinting along a bumpy B-road as it would be crossing France on the A6 autoroute. It’s the Evora, the car launched

motoring

by Lotus to the world at last year’s London International Motor Show and now on sale. Jeremy Clarkson hit the nail on the head when he said on Top Gear that Evora sounded like a ladies dress shop in Harrogate. In fact, Evora is also a Portuguese city, but the name more importantly falls in line with the Lotus tradition in starting with an E… think Elan, Elite, Europa, Elise, Exige, Esprit and so on. Even the car’s development plan was called Project Eagle.

It’s the company’s first all new car since the Elise of 1996 (our Exige is effectively a coupé version of the Elise) and one aimed at a very different audience. For the first time in years, Lotus is targeting Porsche customers… more specifically the Cayman S and Carrera 911. And that’s quite an ask. Can a Lotus really be a viable rival to Porsche? On paper, it most certainly can. The Evora uses traditional Lotus methods of construction, which means it

has an aluminium chassis wearing bonded composite panels for lightness. The engine, like that in the Elise/Exige and, indeed, that in the Cayman, is mid-mounted and drives the rear wheels. But that’s where the Evora and the Elise start to move apart and Evora starts to move closer to the Porsche. The Evora has been designed as a serious long-distance machine, a true GT, and comfort, pace and space were key design elements. The cabin, for example, has been stretched sufficiently to make it a 2+2, and spacewise, while it’s small, fitting two people in the back comfortably isn’t impossible. Alternatively, it also makes for a good sized extra luggage space, Porsche 911 style. The bottom line is that the Evora does at least offer the possibility of carrying four people, which is something the Cayman cannot, no matter what. And the cabin is unlike any Lotus we’ve seen for years. Trimmed in contrasting leather that wraps around swathes of aluminium, the cabin is positively sybaritic when compared with the Elise. It’s a good deal more powerful, too. The 3.5-litre V6 engine from Toyota develops 276hp, a useful 50 or so more than the Exige, though it clearly has a quite different job to do. The supercharged four-cylinder unit in the Exige is all point and squirt, where the Evora’s smooth V6 has to combine urge with refinement. On paper the new Lotus gives away more than 40hp to the Cayman S, however… it’ll be interesting to see what that means in real world conditions. It will also be interesting to see how the Evora handles. Lotus is a byword for race tuned handling and the Exige is just about as good as it gets. But Evora has a similar motor sport-derived chassis with double wishbone suspension front and rear, so we’re expecting great things. Perhaps now you’ll appreciate why we’re getting impatient. We’re most certainly not bored with the Exige, but we can’t wait to try its big sister. 

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sport

DREAM

TEAM Cat Hughes meets a team who are going for gold against the odds

he preparation for the London 2012 Olympics are well underway; billions are being spent on improving the City of London and funding GB athletes. However, for one Olympic team, going for gold will not be as simple. In September this year another Olympic tournament is taking place in Taipei, Taiwan – the Deaf Olympics. Previously known as The International Silent Games, the Deaf Olympics began 1924 in Paris and precedes the Paralympics. In fact, The International Silent Games were seen as the blue

print for the Paralympics. In the first games, nine countries and 148 athletes competed. Since then the tournament has gone from strength to strength and in Melbourne 2005, over sixty countries and 2,045 athletes competed – and even more are expected to participate in this year’s games. As any athlete will tell you, it’s a rocky road to the beacon of sporting achievement, but for GB Deaf Women’s Football team, forget rocks – their obstacles are more like boulders. This team has not just seen its funding slashed, but had it disappear all together.

In 2005, Team GB were given funding to participate in the 20th Deaf Olympics in Melbourne, but this year their funding has gone to the London Olympics, despite the team winning bronze by beating Denmark 2-1 in their first ever Olympic games and being awarded Team of the Year at the London Awards. The team now have the daunting prospect of raising £3000 each so they can compete in the event. Esther Maycock, who you may have seen on TV as an invision signer for countless BBC programmes, is a defender for GB Deaf ladies Football team. She says, “I feel very disappointed. We are playing for our country and we should be respected.” “We have been pushed aside, seen as second rate,” added Lydia Docker (another defender for GB Deaf Ladies football team and BBC in-vision signer) “They (UK Sport) should respect the Deaf Olympics and not put the Paralympics before the Deaf Olympics. We are not provided for; why is that?” Maycock and Docker also play for the Fulham Deaf Ladies Team, who recently came at the

top of their league and won two trophies; the Russell Cup and Sue Sharples cup. Several players from Fulham’s deaf ladies and men’s team will be making the journey to Taipei, and Fulham football club Chairman, Mohamed Al-Fayed has donated £10,000 to the Fulham team members competing in the Deaf Olympics. But this is not enough to send all the players out to achieve their dream. There is no doubt that the London 2012 Olympics will have a positive effect on the UK and the local population, but it is equally important that the UK sporting authorities recognise the equality of all the GB teams competing in international games. The Olympic Games do, and should, inspire explains Docker, “I know children look up to me and they know I’m deaf. One deaf child who wanted to play football said “I’m deaf, I can’t”. But you can; you just have to work hard”. n If you would like to help GB deaf ladies team achieve their dreams please go to www.britishdeaffootball.com

Feeling Scouring a cocktail menu list might seem like hard work for some. For others, a menu is surplus to requirements. But, if you are looking for something that is a little different, Claire Rutter says try a floral cocktail

aniele Umoette and Karolis Silkauskas from the Mint Leaf Lounge restaurant have created an exciting array of floral concoctions which are certain to get taste buds tingling. They rack up 10 years of experience behind the bar and with names such as Total Spring, Sweet Shanghai and Eden using elderflower, orchid guava liqueur and Wyborowa rose vodka, these cocktails cater for even fastidious connoisseurs. The selection includes long and short drinks, cocktails that are delicate and ones with a kick, but they all include floral essence. For a light, refreshing delight Total Spring is a perfect choice; served in a wine glass, it is garnished with beautiful rose and orangette. But, if you fancy a drink with a kick, then Eden is an unusual blend of chilli vodka and Tuaca. With a refreshing zing, this is a winner on a summer's day. Aphrodite is Umoette and Silkauskas' floral interpretation of a champagne Bellini. Presented in a champagne flute, it consists of an orchid guava liqueur and is topped up with rosĂŠ Champagne. The twist on a classic is divine. The Sweet Shanghai uses lychee and the mixologists believe this one will be popular with the ladies. Served in a Martini glass, a frozen rose petal is balanced delicately on the surface. But, if you want a bespoke cocktail, try our favourite, Flamenco. This cocktail is served in

a frozen Martini glass and its exquisiteness is enhanced by the dainty glass. The concoction is made up of Finlandia vodka, Coquelicot liqueur and elderflower cordial is harnessed by a dash of cranberry juice with a hint of chocolate. The stunning cocktail harbours 5ml of caramel milk chocolate which sits at the bottom of the glass. In searching for the perfect ingredients, Umoette chose a distinct chocolate heart decorated with flowers. The sweet Coquelicot liqueur originates from Dijon and is made from the flowers of poppies. As the cocktail is served in a frozen

Flamenco Glass: Martini Method: Stirred Garnish: Chocolate Heart Ingredients 40ml Finlandia 20ml Coquelicot 10ml Elderflower cordial 15ml Cranberry juice 5ml caramel milk chocolate Method Pour all ingredients into a martini glass and stir Garnish with chocolate heart. Mint Leaf Lounge, Angel Court Lothbury, Bank, London EC2R 7HB 020 7600 0992 www.mintleafrestaurant.com

Martini glass it is supposed to be devoured in 10-15 minutes, as this gives the optimum flavour before the temperature increases. There is no bite to each sip but just an understated sense of chocolate. Earlier this year, the award winning mixologist, Gustavo Bertolucci, concocted an exquisite cocktail in honour of the Chelsea Flower Show. The Royal Horticultural Society gave the seal of approval for The RHS Chelsea Flower Show Cocktail to grace the bar of one of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most luxurious dining venues, Pearl Restaurant and Bar. n

food&drink

the royal chelsea flower show cocktail Ingredients 25 ml Tanqueray Gin 25 ml Kwai Feh lychee liqueur 25 ml cranberry juice 10 ml cranberry syrup Dash orange bitters Ruinart Rosé Champagne Method Shake the gin, lychee liqueur, cranberry juice, cranberry syrup and orange bitters in a Boston Shaker Double strain into a cocktail glass Top up with Ruinart Rosé Champagne Garnish with a Singapore Orchid Pearl Restaurant & Bar, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN 020 7829 7000 www.pearl-restaurant.com

the light bar

If you fancied impressing your friends and family with a floral delight try this easy recipe from one of London’s Light Bar lavender and rose cobbler

Ingredients 1 Rose flower 15ml Lavender syrup (or 4 lavender leaves & 2 teaspoons white sugar) 5ml Rose syrup 50ml Fino Sherry (or even Oloroso) Method Bash flower into base of a Collins glass, add rest of ingredients & crushed ice, mix thoroughly. Garnish with lavender and rose petal. The Light Restaurant and Bar, 233 Shoreditch High Street, London 020 7247 8989 www.thelighte1.com

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culture

Screen

Cat Hughes and Chris Ellis previews the latest films

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS 3D By Cat Hughes

dvdreview

This is the latest edition of the Ice Age franchise, but this time it’s in 3D, and they’ve done it again – it is a fantastic film! It mixes a perfect cocktail of comedy and wit, which makes the film popular with both big kids and actual kids. This time around, our ancient heroes find themselves in a lush underground world inhabited by dinosaurs. Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo) lands himself in trouble with a mummy T-rex and is taken down to the world of the dinosaurs. The others – Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary), Elle (Queen Latifah) and possums Crash and Eddie all band together to rescue Sid. Along the way, the team meet up with Buck, a swashbuckling weasel voiced by Simon Pegg, who helps them recover Sid. Of course, we cannot forget to mention Scrat; the hapless squirrel on a relentless quest for his acorn. But this time, the loveable

creature finds something more than his nut – he finds Scratte, a female flying squirrel, who also wants the illusive acorn. Will Scrat find love and will he ever get his nut? Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a fun and enjoyable film; whether or not it’s better than the first two is a matter of debate, and I defnitely heard a couple of arguments at the end of the screening. I thought it was the

best – but then that might have been because it was in 3D, which made the experience all the more real and colourful. This is the kind of film that makes it a joy to go to the cinema with your little ones – even if they do spill the popcorn everywhere.

OUT 1 JULY

balance between the official rules and what must be done, the Atlantis team encounters another season of thrilling life threatening adventures, including By Chris Ellis the Wraith, multiple dimensions, the Wraith, deadly infections, the Wraith, Replicators, alien attacks, a Series five of Stargate Atlantis leaps into action gripping romance and did I mention the Wraith? But why buy the DVD? After all, with sky and from where the fourth the sci-fi channel repeating it every few hours, series left off, and it what’s the point? The wonderful behind-thelooks to be a promising scenes features and interviews with the cast give one. Good viewing for any sci-fi fan, as we see Jewel Staite (‘Kaylee’, from the cult series Firefly) the viewer more than just a box of episodes. And this season holds no bounds – commentary for continue her role as Dr Jenifer Keller and the sad most of the better episodes, extended versions departure of Amanda Tapping (‘Carter’, from the original series Stargate SG1) only to be replaced by of the final episodes, deleted scenes, special Robert Picardo as the unbearably rule abiding ‘Mr footage of behind the scenes – in particular the Woolsey’, (again from the original series of Stargate episode ‘Vegas’ – and much more will keep you entertained for what seems much longer than SG1). Star-Trek fans will remember him as the watching the episodes themselves. sarcastic and much loved, holographic ‘Dr’ (from This is an excellent buy. It holds good value for Star-Trek Voyager) who is now in place to lead the the amount of extras you receive and its one of the Atlantis team. better written series yet. As Mr Woolsey takes command and finds a STARGATE ATLANTIS: SERIES 5

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Also on this month Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale tells the story of John Dillinger (1 July). Daniel Radcliffe, EmmaWatson and Rupert Grint are back as Harry, Hermione and Ron in the eagerly awaited Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (17 July). Based on the 1970s show, Land of the Lost tells the story of a man and his children who are trapped on an alien planet inhabited by dinosaurs; staring Will Ferrell and Anna Friel (31 July). Imagine That stars Eddie Murphy as a ﬁnancial exec with ‘money-maker’s block’, and he ﬁnds the only way to lift it is to enter into the imaginary world of his daughter (31 July).

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C ANARY WHA RF NE W S CANARY WHARF SHOWS ITS GREEN CREDS Canary Wharf Group has been named in the top 60 green companies in the UK by The Sunday Times. CWG was judged the second most environmentally-friendly property developer in the UK and placed 30 out of the 60 companies on the list from all business sectors. The news came as CWG published its Corporate Responsibility report for 2008. The report shows the company achieved 80 per cent of corporate responsibility targets last year, up from 77 per cent in 2007 and 59 per cent in 2006. George Iacobescu, Chief Executive of Canary Wharf Group plc said, “We are delighted to see our efforts to lessen environmental impacts rewarded. We’ll continue to work with all our stakeholders, including Canary Wharf-based companies, to make an even bigger difference in the coming years.” Canary Wharf Group plc Corporate Responsibility Report 2008 can be downloaded at www.greencanarywharf.com

FOOTBALL MAGIC FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN 100 year five students from schools around Tower Hamlets were recently treated to a footballing masterclass by the coaches at the David Beckham Academy. The visit, sponsored by Canary Wharf Group, saw the children participate in a range of activities and drills led by the Academy coaches, aiming to encourage participation, boost skill levels and give an increased awareness of the benefits of sport. Dale Pile, Community Affairs Officer, said, “Sport is such a great way to engage young people. The best thing is that everyone gets a go – girls and boys. “Also, this initiative isn’t just about playing the game; for example the children learn about nutrition or the many job opportunities in football other than as a player, such as coaching or physiotherapy.” Schools interested in participating in the programme can contact Dale Pile on 0207 418 2431.

BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH FOOTBALL Children representing London's rich diversity recently joined former professional footballers at Upton Park to enhance community cohesion and help increase minority participation in football. The second "One Ball, One Game, One Community" event, co-organised by Canary Wharf Group, saw 260 children from all backgrounds come together to play football, learn new skills and meet police officers, community leaders, FA coaches, and former England and West Ham United star Sir Trevor Brooking. Zakir Khan, Head of Community Affairs at Canary Wharf Group said, "Sport is a fantastic way to create aspiration and inspiration, especially amongst young people. We are proud that projects like this, in conjunction with many other community initiatives we are involved with, will have a lasting, positive impact." Helping CWG to organise the event were the Metropolitan Police Service, West Ham United FC, the FA, London FA, National Association of Muslim Police and the Jewish Committee for London. The day also included a match between an Asian Select XI and a Metropolitan Police XI, which finished in a 2-2 draw.

Summer in the City When the temperatures rise, Londoners flock outside â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to the parks, to the lidos, to the funfairs. Keeping cool becomes a priority â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even for penguins! All images available to purchase from Getty Images Gallery, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf 020 7719 1457

C A NARY WHA RF art sculpture in CommuniTy GAllery the workplace The Situated in Canada Place Mall, the community gallery is devoted to work produced One15

by local art projects.

Work by MA in Fine Art students at the University of East London 29 June – 21 August Lobby, One Canada Square

Every two years Canary Wharf’s Sculpture in the Workplace programme engages with one of London’s art schools. This year our focus is on MA in Fine Art students at the University of East London. 15 aspiring artists from many different cultural backgrounds have taken up the challenge to exhibit at One Canada Square. Some have brought the strong individuality of their own cultures to the work shown, others have responded to Canary Wharf and its location, history and purpose, while others have worked further on issues that are their direct concerns.This is an exhibition of diversity in all areas, from artistic vision to realisation, and of course, the artists themselves.

windOw galleries A showcase for up-and-coming artists, designers and crafts people in Cabot Place East and Canada Place Retail Malls.

1 June – 26 June The House of Fairy Tales This arts-based education project uses the narrative of fairy tales past, present and future to provide transformational learning experiences for children and their families. Nikki Ahmetogiu Nikki Ahmetogiu recreates the opulence and mystique of the Ottoman and European eras and brings it to the British High Street. Muslim and European culture is united through wearable art.

1 July – 31 August Stitches in Time Stitches in Time is a voluntary charity based in Limehouse that works with the local community through textiles. It produces fine art works using contemporary textile techniques; in the past year it has produced over 500 garments in 13 projects involving over 600 local residents.

ArtScene by CAROL CORDREY - carol@artalone.com

WILDLIFE ARTIST OF THE YEAR Animal interpretations cause a stir at the Mall Galleries

Chimpanzees, Reflections on Ageing

espite being one of London’s largest and smartest art spaces, the Mall Galleries could barely cope with the number of hungry buyers that were squeezing through its doors in early June to see the results of David Shepherd’s second international competition, Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009. It was a glorious summer’s evening so the heat and excitement seemed all the more intense as the crowd of celebrities, artists and guests hovered around the winners and best entries of paintings, collages, ceramics and sculptures that crammed the walls and peppered the floor space. In all my trips to this gallery over the years I have never seen it quite so full, and as one of the competition’s judges, that was particularly pleasing. It was also very good news for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation who organises this annual competition, as the frantic sales that night and since contributed heavily to funds for its marvellous work both saving and protecting wildlife. While the competition may still be in its infancy – only launched by David Shepherd CBE last year – such is his passion for wildlife and his status within the art world that over 500 artists felt inspired to take part. From all corners of the globe work poured in, ranging across a wide variety of media, including discarded African cable wire. The originality and quality of many of the entries caused much lively debate amongst the judging panel but after a long and thorough process, the category winners and overall winner were decided on. The overall winner of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 and winner of the Endangered Wildlife category is Australian artist, author and naturalist, Pamela Conder, for her striking, mixed-media portrait, Chimpanzees,

culture

Clockwise from above: Sir Michael Parkinson, David Shepherd, David Gower, courtesy Becky Thomas, Paul Bartlett, Fading Out, Wild Places winner and Overall runner-up Fiona Campbell, Dung Beetle and Ball, 3D winner Wildlife Artist of the Year Gallery 2009

Reflections on Ageing. As the top prize winner she received £10,000 for this sensitive depiction of a group of chimpanzees that she observed in Sydney’s Toronga Zoo. The richly toned and detailed full-face portrait in the bottom left is mesmerising. It is a face with life’s experiences etched across it and those sparse, wiry hairs picked out in white draw attention to the slumped head, wrinkled cheeks and sad eyes which silently say, “I’m weary of life”. It is a top quality, unforgettable image. Pamela is an ideal example of the extraordinary success that talented artists can achieve, having added this international title to nine Australian awards for painting, drawing and sculpting wildlife. In addition, she has three Royal Zoological Society of New SouthWalesWhitley Awards; the Wildnerness

Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature; and she is the recipient of the Thomas Ramsay Science and Humanities Fellowship of the Museum of Victoria for her research on flying-foxes. “It’s wonderful to know that my involvement in this competition will support endangered wildlife, it’s something very close to my heart”, said a delighted Pamela in response to becoming Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009. Pamela has travelled extensively in her quest to study wildlife and to encourage its conservation – although, quite rightly, none of this information was made available to the judges – and it constitutes the perfect podium for a fitting winner of David Shepherd’s competition. The other awards went to Britain’s Paul Bartlett, overall

runner-up and winner of Wild Places category (prize £1,000); Britain’s Fiona Campbell for Wildlife in 3D (prize £500), Britain’s Darren Rees for Wildlife in Action (prize £500) and Singapore’s Limei Shimmen for the Open category (prize £500). Celebrity cricketer, David Gower OBE, spoke of his longstanding support of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation before inviting Sir Michael Parkinson to present the awards. Afterwards, I asked for their reactions to the whole exhibition. “It’s amazing…it’s a great tribute to David. Certain people you like because of what they do or who they are, and with David I like both,” said ‘Parky’ with characteristic directness. “I love coming to this, it’s so uplifting!” beamed David Gower, “It started with David asking, ‘what can I do to help the profile of wildlife conservation?’ and adding, ‘let’s inspire others to carry on’. And so you have the perfect concept in this competition.” As the evening wore on and ‘red dots’ denoting sold artwork peppered the exhibits, David Shepherd expressed his elation: “I think this evening proves that we have gained international credibility as an organisation for raising awareness and funds for wildlife”. And feeling equally delighted to have played my small part in it all, I headed home with a happy heart and excited anticipation about the excellent, innovative work that I’ll be judging next year. n

Entries are being accepted now from professional and amateur artists over 17 yrs for Wildlife Artist of the Year 2010. For more information, visit www.wildlifeartistoftheyear.org The Mall Galleries exhibition ended on June 6 but all the sold and unsold art can be viewed or purchased from www.davidshepherd.org (01483 272 323)

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lifestyle

GROW

YOUR

OWN

National Trust Director General, Dame Fiona Reynolds with Chairman Simon Jenkins and Monty Don at the start of the Food Glorious Food campaign.

Kelly Green gets into the garden to find out more about organic living

s the UK found itself in the midst of a Second World War, the famous ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign encouraged families to grow their own food, in order to supplement rations and save shipping needed for war materials. Seventy years on, as supermarket prices of fruit and vegetables are on the rise and the recession is hitting the UK hard, we are once again being encouraged to live selfsufficiently in the search for cheap, healthy, sustainable alternatives to supermarket food. This year the National Trust launched its grow-your-own food campaign ‘Food Glorious Food’ (www.foodgloriousfood.org. uk), seeking to equip the nation with the food knowledge and skills necessary to become self-sufficient food growers, while the mayor of London Boris Johnson announced plans to create public vegetable gardens on and around some of London’s most famous landmarks. Even the Queen ordered an area of her gardens at Buckingham Palace to be transformed into an environmentally friendly vegetable patch. It seems that nationwide, people are jumping on the grow-your-own bandwagon. But while those lucky ones with gardens or allotments can merrily embark on ‘The Good Life’ style living, city dwellers may be at a loss as to how they can benefit from some home-grown veggies in their more limited spaces. Those hoping to acquire an allotment may be disappointed, especially in central London

where waiting lists are excessively long; however, there are still some sites around the perimeter of Greater London with vacant plots to let. The London Allotments Network (www.londonallotments.net) may be able to help in finding a plot, but as many allotment sites let only to residents of a specific Borough, neighbourhood or geographical area, you should start by contacting your Borough Council. Without an allotment, and with limited outdoor space, you can still profit from growing your own food – and there are many profits to be had! Buying seeds and plants which will produce fruit or vegetables for an entire season is substantially more economical than buying fruit and vegetables from the supermarket (and also more convenient as they can be picked or dug up as and when you want them). Growing and eating seasonal food is also a way of avoiding food miles and dramatically reduces your carbon footprint. By growing organically you do not expel pesticides or herbicides into the atmosphere whilst preserving vitamins and minerals, thus maintaining the nutritive value of your food. And if all this still hasn’t convinced you to join the movement, home-grown fruit and vegetables taste stronger, fresher and keep longer than shop-bought equivalents. There are an abundance of fruits, vegetables, salads and herbs that can be grown indoors on sunny window sills – or

outside in window boxes, on patios, balconies and roof terraces in pots, grow bags and hanging baskets. These include lots of British favourites such as strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, peas and salad.You could grow herbs such as parsley, basil or coriander indoors on a windowsill and strawberries can be grown in pots just about anywhere. For potatoes use grow bags or even an empty bin, and tomatoes can be grown inside or out in pots or hanging baskets, as long as they’re in the sun. Seeds and starter plants can be bought from local garden centres or farm shops, or ordered online, and most will come with instructions. n For hints, tips and guides for growing your own food visit www.foodgloriousfood.org.uk and www.thebiglunch.com.

STARTING OFF The JME Collection has some great starter packs for those wanting to get growing. The packs include packets of seeds and grow bags for growing herbs, and a selection of vouchers which can be redeemed for boxes brimming with baby organic vegetable plants. www.jamieoliver.com

RETURN DOMESTIC GODDESS OF THE

Bridget Caswell heads to The Langham Hotel for a master class in cake decoration from Little Venice Cake Company expert, Mich Turner

he return of the domestic goddess has been championed by many; the sensual Nigella Lawson, the ever-practical Delia Smith, etiquette master Martha Stewart, and even the Two Fat Ladies (obviously we use the term ‘goddess’ liberally).This is not a new concept either; ever since women upped the anty in the boardroom and started to spend

less time in the kitchen, there has been a general feeling that women must prove themselves in both areas – demonstrating to their adoring husbands and children that Mummy can still bake a delicious Victoria sponge whilst making partner at a major law firm. Of course, in reality the Nigellas, Delias and Marthas of this world have made their fortunes from the art of home-

making because the roles have doubled up – it becomes much easier to demonstrate your flawless baking/cleaning/decorating skills when you’re paid to carry these tasks out in front of a television camera on a daily basis. As any working woman knows, it’s impossible to achieve perfection in both areas without a good deal of either hired help or time off work. However, despite logic letting

Cakes by Bridget at the LVCC Masterclass

me off the hook, there was still a part of my mind niggling away and asking why I shouldn’t be able to make a beautiful selection of cupcakes for a birthday party this weekend, or a special wedding cake for a friend. Even though we no longer function as an old fashioned society with unrealistic expectations of women, I still felt I ought to have the traditional baking and cake decorating skills possessed by my mother, and my grandmother before her. It’s definitely true that there is something uplifting about beautiful cakes. They’re

food&drink

reminiscent of a more civilised time complete with afternoon tea; careful hand-piping and tiny sugar-paste flowers indicate a precise skill honed simply to make a cake more enjoyable for the recipient; the variety of colours and textures make decorated cakes more like pieces of art; and the swirl of coloured icing saying ‘Happy Birthday’ reminds everyone of happy occasions. In fact, we use a cake to mark every significant event, milestone and celebration we experience – so perhaps it’s not so strange that I should want to develop my home baking and decorating skills, even as a modern woman. With this in mind, I signed up to the prestigious Little Venice Cake Company Masterclass in hand-piping. Held at The Langham Hotel just off Regent Street, the surroundings were beautiful, all marble and chandeliers. I thought I was early but I was quickly ushered through to a small waiting area that was already filled with the other ‘pupils’, stunning iced creations by Mich Turner (‘Queen of Couture Cakes’ and the head of Little Venice Cake Company), and a rather excited atmosphere. There were about twentyfour of us in total, with a surprising age range; many of the participants were younger than I had expected. There was a 16 year old girl, who attended with her Mum, most were in their late 20s or 30s and oldest was probably around 50. Perhaps the most surprising however, (or not when you consider Mich Turner’s reputation) was how far people had come; I spoke to somebody who had come all the way from Scotland, and there was even a woman who’d made the pilgrimage from Holland! The conference room we used was impeccably set up, two students to a table, with every tool, piping bag and template you could possibly need for icing a cake – all we had to do was

bring the skills! I found the class to be a mix of professional and amateur bakers, some specialising in wedding cakes and wanting to hone their skills, or working on a particular cake based project and needing icing tips. A few were nervous, like myself, and it took us a while to get to grips with it all – comfortingly, there were a couple of older ladies who thought they knew best, but were soon put in their place when they saw the professionals at work!

on three prepared cakes we were given; one large chocolate truffle torte with chocolate ganache buttercream, and two smaller rich fruit celebration cakes with finest brandy. The techniques themselves seemed quite straight forward during the demonstrations and I couldn’t wait to get going for myself. However, they weren’t as easy as I thought – everything needed a special knack to it, but once I got going the results

It’s defInItely true that there Is somethIng uplIftIng about beautIful cakes; we use a cake to mark every sIgnIfIcant event, mIlestone and celebratIon we experIence. The class wasn’t particularly high pressure; it was very much a beginner’s lesson, but most informative and interesting nonetheless. Despite the range of abilities of the class, everyone there learnt a great deal from Mich, so although we were taken through it with baby steps, I still felt like I was learning an awful lot. Mich demonstrated three different techniques for icing

were really pleasing. I have never been so proud to pipe a straight line in all my life! There were so many handy hints and tips, and it was interesting to see how Mich had made up and adapted techniques over the years (for example, making sugar flowers with the aid of A4 plastic wallets and tracing letters on to icing). It did help that I had a bit of an arty background (with

an art foundation and art degree) as essentially, we were drawing onto cakes – but what you really need is patience, especially at the beginning. I really enjoyed learning to make sugar roses, and it is something I’ll definitely do again. Mich and her assistants were really attentive and gave lots of one-on-one tuition. Towards the end of the class, afternoon tea was served – and my word, it was fancy! Seated in a beautiful dining room with gorgeous lighting and music played live on a grand piano, it was such a treat. We were each given a flute of champagne, but as I’m not a drinker I set up a deal with the lovely lady from Holland to swap it for a piece of delicious cake. A variety of teas were served, followed by tiny delicate sandwiches on a three tier stand, scones (with clotted cream, naturally) mini cakes (rich fruit cake, lemon meringue and chocolate truffle), shortbread and finally, éclairs. I knew I should have worn something with bigger pockets – or at least an elasticised waistband! Basically, I want all my meals to be afternoon tea from now on. Back in the room all our iced cakes had been packed up for us; we said our goodbyes, and walked tentatively home with the boxes, carrying them gently like newborn children. After the Masterclass, I left The Langham Hotel with a renewed love of beautiful cakes. There is something extraordinary not only in the taste, but in the love, detail and skill that goes into decorating a special occasion cake; and thanks to Mich, I can’t wait to get started on my next one. n

The LVCC Masterclasses are priced at £185 per person including VAT, all cakes and materials, and afternoon tea. Gift vouchers are available. For more information, visit www.lvcc.co.uk

LONDON’S BEST

CORPORATE VENUES Kelly Green showcases the top corporate venues across the capital, for every event from client cocktails to annual conferences

East Wintergarden

Alexandra Palace Alexandra Palace is one of the most elegant and unique venues in London; a beautiful historic building with an unrivalled setting of 196 acres of delightful parkland, offering breath-taking panoramic views of the City. The range of impressive halls and distinctive function rooms, totalling 13,000sq metres, can accommodate a range of party sizes from 10–8,250. Offering stylish and flexible facilities for major conferences, luxurious banquets, large-scale exhibitions, product launches, presentations, concerts, themed hospitality events, meetings and corporate fun-days it is a very versatile space. Alexandra Palace is able to comfortably seat 5,000 in one of London’s largest banqueting halls and is easily accessible to all forms of transport with free on-site parking for up to 2,000 cars. For more information call 020 8365 2121, email sales@ alexandrapalace.com or visit www.alexandrapalace.com

East Wintergarden is a stunning events venue in the heart of Canary Wharf. The spectacular glass covered atrium is a unique event space boasting a light and elegant atmosphere – perfect for hosting exhibitions, cocktail parties, launches, receptions, fashion shows, dinners and press events. East Wintergarden features a 27 metre high arched glass roof structure, 682 sq metres of uninterrupted Italian marbl e floor, and steamed beech wooden wall panelling. The venue includes the Gallery, suspended above the main floor, which can accommodate up to 250 for receptions, and the Promenade Room, which is a multimedia, theatre style meeting room, large enough for 40 people. Whether your event is for 50 or 1,000, East Wintergarden provides the solution with flair, expertise and imagination. For more information call 020 7418 2725/ 2782, fax 020 7512 9117, email eastwintergarden@canarywharf.com or visit www.eastwintergarden.com

The Science Museum The Science Museum, which celebrated its one hundredth anniversary as an independent organisation on 26 June, is a multi award-winning, unique London venue. It provides a variety of spaces for all events including conferences, award ceremonies, gala dinners, product launches, trade exhibitions, fashion shows, film screenings and music concerts. Eight core galleries are available for hire before 10am or after 6pm daily, ranging from the ambient and traditional to the contemporary and highly interactive, covering a broad spectrum of subject matter. In addition, there are two dedicated and completely contrasting daytime venues for up to 100 people, a 416-seat IMAX cinema and a selection of blank-canvas spaces ranging from 666-950 sq metres. A rolling programme of special exhibitions and specialist subject galleries of varying size are also available. For more information call 020 7942 4340, email science.eventsoffice@ nmsi.ac.uk or visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/functions

The Tower of London

The Barbican Located in the heart of the City of London, the Barbican is Europe’s largest Arts and Conference Centre, offering a range of event spaces for between 10 to 2,000 people. Its flagship concert hall, Barbican Hall, plays host to events ranging from graduations to AGM’s, whilst Barbican Theatre, with its excellent acoustics and production facilities, makes an ideal venue for corporate showcases and product launches. The Barbican also offers three smaller auditoriums and seven conference suites. Entertaining is something that the Barbican does rather well. The arts programme supports a diverse repertoire of theatre, concert and dance performances, cinema screenings and art exhibitions and offers a unique opportunity to combine a visit to a performance or exhibition with private dining or drinks in the Conservatory. For more information contact the corporate sales team on 020 73827043 or email conference@barbican.org.uk

The British Museum The British Museum is the only conference venue where business needs are complimented by examples of the greatest civilisations, cultures and stories of human achievement that the world has ever seen. The museum houses one of the greatest collections of human cultural history in the world, from the beginnings of culture in Africa two million years ago, through ancient civilizations right up to the present day. The unique Grade I listed galleries are complemented with a suite of conference facilities in the Clore Education Centre. Designed by Lord Foster, the space provides the perfect environment for everything from presentations and AGMs, to product launches and award ceremonies. Surrounded by extraordinary examples of culture and history, your delegates and guests will not only enjoy state-of-the-art facilities but also, during gallery opening hours, will get access to the permanent collections and special exhibitions for inspiration, distraction and relaxation. At the British Museum you will receive outstanding personal service that delivers exactly what clients want, right down to the very last detail. Whether you need a 320 or 140 seat theatre, large open exhibition areas or smaller breakout spaces, the events team will handle the logistics at every stage. From site visit, and pre-planning through to managing the event itself, the Museum has dedicated staff on hand to assist with all your requirements. For more information call 0207 323 8136 or email corporate@britihsmuseum.org quoting code M1

For over 900 years, the mighty Tower of London has shaped the City’s skyline. To this day it remains one of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, and one of its most fascinating event venues. 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne and so to celebrate Historic Royal Palaces have bought together the largest collection of surviving armour and weapons of the infamous King. Guests can host an event in the spectacular White Tower, the oldest medieval building at the Tower of London, and marvel at the world’s greatest collection of objects personally owned by the King. Throughout its long history, the Tower has served as a royal residence, fortress, menagerie, jewel house and, most notoriously, as a place of execution for several of its more prominent ‘guests’. Whether you are dining in the King’s Great Hall, holding a conference in the New Armouries or hosting a drinks reception in one of the many iconic rooms, the Tower of London offers unique and unforgettable venues. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk or call 020 3166 6226

Restaurant listings

RECOMMENDATION: Wagamama Wagamama serves delicious and freshly ‘cooked to order’ noodle and rice dishes, along with fresh juices, japanese beer, sake and hot drinks. All served by friendly staff in a sleek, well-designed, canteen-style restaurant. Check out wagamama.com for more information

Argentinian GAUCHO CANARY 29 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf, E14 020 7987 9494 GAUCHO O2 The O2 Peninsula Square, SE10 020 8858 7711

European INSIDE RESTAURANT 19 Greenwich South Street Greenwich, SE10 020 8265 5060

French PLATEAU Canada Place, E14 020 7715 7100

Gastro Pub THE GUN 27 Coldharbour Lane, E14 020 7515 5222 THE NARROW 44 Narrow Street, E14 020 7592 7950

Indian Dockmasters 1 Hertsmere Road London E14 8JJ 020 7345 0345

Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, London, E14 5NY +44 (0) 20 7516 9009

Signature Dish Yaki soba Set Menu Children’s and Take Away menus available Recommended Wine Sake Opening Times Mon – Sat 11.30am-10pm; Sun: 12-9pm Average price per head £15

The Clifton 1 Whitechapel Road, E1 020 7377 5533 MEMSAHEB 65-67 Amsterdam Road Docklands, E14 020 7538 3008 The Rogue Trader 25 Westferry Road, E14 020 7517 9233

Italian/Pizza

Japanese ITSU Level 2, Cabot Place East Canary Wharf, E14 020 7512 5790

Mexican CHILI’S GRILL & BAR 2nd Floor, Cabot Place Canary Wharf, E14 020 7363 5678

Middle Eastern

AMERIGO VESPUCCI 25 Cabot Square MacKenzie Walk, E14 020 7513 0288

MEZ RESTAURANT 571 Manchester Road, E14 020 7005 0421

CARLUCCIO’S 2 Reuters Plaza, E14 020 7719 1749

NiNA’S TAZA EXPRESS 322 Burdett Road, E14 020 7093 3552

Gourmet Pizza

Seafood

18-20 Cabot Square, E14 4PH 020 7345 9192 LA FIGA 45 Narrow Street, E14 020 7790 0077 QUADRATO The Four Seasons Hotel 46 Westferry Circus, E14 020 7510 1857 ZERO SETTE 2 Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock, E16 020 7476 6564

CURVE Marriott Hotel, West India Quay 22 Hertsmere Road, E14 020 7517 2808 FIRST EDITION 25 Cabot Square Canary Wharf, E14 020 7513 0300

Spanish EL FARO Turnberry Quay, E14 020 7987 5511

S P O T C O L O U R PA N T O N E 2 6 2 3

CMYK VERSION 2623

THE FINEST INDIAN CUISINE Enjoy a new fine dining experience in Canary Wharf: Dockmaster’s House, located in a stunning listed three-storey Georgian building, provides a vitality and charm to london’s financial district.

020 7345 0345 | reservations@dockmastershouse.com 1 hertsmere road | london e14 8jj | www.dockmastershouse.com • THE CUBE combines the elegance of natural stone and a generous glass frontage (30 capacity)

THE IDEAL VENUE FOR

PRIVATE DINING, RECEPTIONS AND CORPORATE EVENTS

CELLAR BAR SUMMER PARTIES CELLAR BAR AND GARDEN NOW AVAILABLE FOR BOOKINGS WEDDING PACKAGES, BUFFETS, BBQ’S AND SNACKS CATERING FOR 50 TO 300 GUESTS

Dockmaster’s House offers flexible accommodation for entertaining in an exclusive environment.

• THE STROVER ROOM is ideal for product launches, meetings and private entertainment (60 capacity)

Contact Mishalle on 020 7345 0345 or email mishalle@dockmastershouse.com Bespoke packages available on request

A Quality Traditional Local at Crossharbour

QUALITY ALES

HOME FROM HOME COOKING

BEER GARDEN

DINING ROOM

Take a rest & enjoy a ‘cracking’ Sunday roast with us 114 Glengall Grove, London E14 4ND To reserve a table please call 020 7987 4433

New Su m Menu a mer vailable from 1s t July

Dine al fresco at the award-winning Dockland’s Bar & Grill overlooking Royal Victoria Dock

2 course lunch for only £9.95 Enjoy Docklands Seafood platter and fresh strawberries in mint honey wine plus a complimentary glass of Prosecco

To book a table call 020 7055 21119 or visit docklandsbarandgrill.co.uk Received its first AA Rosette Award for culinary excellence in June 2009 Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, London, E16 1AL

food&drink

105

A PLACE FOR ALL

SEASONS Sarah Collinson dines at Quadrato at the Four Seasons and discovers a beautiful waterside location with a superb menu

f you were a hotel restaurant in the Four Seasons family, it would be pretty hard to live up to the reputation of your overseas siblings. The dining rooms in Budapest are based in one of the grandest palaces in Eastern Europe; the Paris branch serves doubly Michelin starred food; and the Tokyo destination is set in a 17-acre Japanese garden. It would be even harder if you were based in out-of-centre Canary Wharf and depended on the city elite for your daily custom – the same elite who are infamously cutting their spending to deal with the recession. It looked good on paper – a contemporary Italian restaurant with a waterfront setting and a chic, modern design – but, when I went to review the Four

Seasons dining area Quadrato I was slightly nervous about what I’d find. My uncertainty increased as we entered the bar area and I could see only two other drinkers – but as soon as the exceptional staff welcomed us with a Bellini and a canapé bowl filled with fresh cut strawberries, and we were settled into armchairs overlooking the garden and pool area, any concerns about the lack of atmosphere faded away. The restaurant itself was an intimate environment that remained stylish while keeping the trappings simple. It was too windy to eat outside (even though the staff offered a range of pashminas to combat the cold) but the floor to ceiling windows kept the setting light well into the evening. Although the concept

of Quadrato was based on Italian cooking, the menu was surprisingly varied with options ranging from classic pasta dishes, to roasted confit of duck leg with pak choi, or an English fore-rib of roast beef.Where possible the ingredients are locally sourced with basics from Borough Market, herbs from Kent and fresh fish caught daily.We started with an Antipasto Misto of parma ham, air dried beef, pecorino and artichoke hearts that came served on a heavy wooden board. I then chose the mixed fish grill while my dining partner opted for the traditional lasagne - the best test of any Italian chef! The salmon was ever so slightly overcooked, but the rest of the fish was absolutely delicious and the lasagne was simply superb.We finished with

desserts that looked more like pieces of carefully constructed art than food, and digestives from the extensive drink menu that includes 47 types of whisky and cognac ranging from the usual (Hennessy Vs) to the sublime (Remy Martin Louis XII). The food and location lived up to the Four Seasons reputation, but it was the little extras that made this dining experience truly special – the pashminas for the garden, the attentive staff, the help with the wine selection, and the miniature chocolates served with coffee. The Four Seasons are famously not a ‘cookie-cutter mould’ type of hotel chain, but if the others are anything like this I’ll certainly be paying another visit very soon. n www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf

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lifestyle

107

CHAOS IS GOOD FOR YOU How chaos theory can help your career by Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist

obert Pryor and Jim Bright (researchers based at the School of Education, Australian Catholic University) have recently published a fascinating paper entitled Applying Chaos Theory to Careers in the prestigious academic journal, The Journal of Vocational Behaviour. This is a journal specialising in publishing rigorous academic research into all aspects of careers and work life. These Australian authors argue that an understanding of Chaos Theory might be particularly helpful when dealing with a career crisis like unemployment. Chaos Theory asserts that the world around us is both complex and interconnected. One example, given by Pryor and Bright is that an outbreak of SARS in China eventually resulted in Australian career counsellors being inundated with flight attendant clients made redundant by the subsequent downturn in Australia’s tourism industry. The credit crunch is also a harsh and brutal reminder of the twin pillars on which Chaos Theory rests – complexity combined with interconnection. It follows on from these basic foundations that small, apparently innocuous, changes can eventually produce catastrophic or enormous outcomes. An end result can be massive and not expected from a small change at the source. Perhaps the most famous example in Chaos Theory is the argument that a butterfly fluttering its wings in one part of the world could lead to a hurricane in another. One of the essential aspects of this example, often repeated in Hollywood movies with pretensions to intellectual credibility, is that it is about the weather, which is (a) a complex system and (b) massively interconnected. However, no matter how much we may grumble that the weather forecast has got it wrong yet again, it is also true there are general discernable patterns to the weather. For example there are individual seasons and specific climates in different areas. Pryor and Bright argue that the weather is a good example of a system where it is

useful to consider not that it is truly chaotic and random, or that it is entirely ordered and predictable; but rather that it lies in-between. It is what is termed mathematically, ‘On the Edge of Chaos’. The job market and your career is also ‘On the Edge of Chaos, rather than entirely predictable or random. The trouble is that our brains tend to either try hard to see pattern in the chaos (in which case we erroneously assume it’s much more ordered and predictable than it really is), or we do the opposite and assume it is much more random than genuinely reflects reality. So if we lose a job because of events remote to our performance (as will be common in this recession), this knock-back with its massive emotional fallout means we can become disheartened. This is when it becomes easy to fall into the trap of deciding that given life is random anyway, why bother making an effort to get our careers back on track? Conversely, those who tend to believe they have much more control over their destiny than they really do, are likely to overly castigate themselves for their perceived failure. They will take personal responsibility for their predicament, and are more likely to wrestle with the idea that if they took the credit for their career success before; then they should beat themselves up for the curret career failure. Pryor and Bright argue that due to the multitude of interacting factors, the precise prediction of your career is unreliable; however, in time, emergent patterns of order can become discernible, just like the weather. They contend that the best psychological approach to thinking about your career, particularly in the face of a setback like job loss, is to adopt a particular style of thinking and perception that is borrowed from mathematics around Chaos Theory. Therefore, the choices open to you when faced with the predicament of an unexpected event in your career are wide ranging. Those who think in closed-system terms (likely to be generally successful people

because of their aligned perfectionism), tend to seek to gain almost total control over the functioning of the system. This is driven by the expectation that their careers, the job market and the work place all function in ways that are predictable and stable. The alternative is referred to as ‘opensystem’ thinking and this accepts the limitations of our attempts to control the world around us and our futures. Opensystem thinking accepts the unexpected can and sometimes will happen. As a result we are frequently vulnerable to change over which we have no control. While we desire life to be fair, open-system thinking recognizes life came with no guarantees inside the box. While we should indeed endeavor to control as much as we can around us, it’s also vital to grasp (according to open-system thinking) our limitations. Just because we may have experienced order, pattern and stability previously in a successful career, the reality of major transformation in our lives is forever present, according to Chaos Theory. It follows, then, that the past does not guarantee the present – or the present the future. Since a small difference may result in very (non-linear) major reconfiguration of the system, it follows the unplanned and the unexpected are not simply exceptions to the stability and order we experienced before, but are in fact part of its nature. Once this is accepted, Pryor and Bright conclude, instead of being seen as a perpetual threat to be warded off or a spectre to be fled from, change can be seen instead as a reality to be created and influenced at best – and accepted and submitted to, at worst. REFERENCE Robert G.L. Pryor, Jim E.H. Bright Applying Chaos Theory to Careers: Attraction and attractors Journal of Vocational Behavior 71 375–400 Dr Raj Persaud is a Harley St Consultant Psychiatrist who also works in the NHS www.drrajpersaud.com

employee xxxxxxxxxx rights

Dear Clare For the last year I have been doing short term contracts through a temp agency, but what rights do I have as a temporary worker?

Yours Chris

Dear Chris,

The rights of agency workers are notoriously unclear. Different employment protections apply to different categories of individual (e.g. ‘employee’, ‘worker’ or ‘in employment’, and it is not always clear whether you will fall within the relevant protected category). Given the confusion, it is of little wonder that you aren’t sure of your rights! As you might guess, the most extensive entitlements to employment protection (e.g. unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy rights, maternity rights and the right to request flexible working) are afforded to individuals who have clear employee status. The question of whether you have employee status (either with the agency or any client for whom you have been working) will be

Martin’$ Money Matter$

Forget about pensIons Martin Bamford, Chartered Financial Planner, Informed Choice

t’s not good news for retirement plans at the moment. A recent study looking at the ‘perfect storm’ of demographic, individual and financial elements on plans for retirement just about concluded that avoiding abject poverty in retirement is nearly impossible; unless you do something about it right now. The recession has hit a lot of people hard and many of you are feeling the pinch. However, short term survival tactics to keep afloat could have a serious impact on your income in retirement. What retirement planning really boils down to is a need to

forget about pensions, at least for the time-being. Before you start thinking about the retirement planning vehicle – and pensions really are only an investment tax-wrapper – you need to make some more fundamental decisions.These decisions start with deciding how much income you need in retirement and then work your way back to decisions about your lifestyle today. Many of the people I work with need to make tough decisions about their spending habits and lifestyle before they can consider retirement planning.We work

determined by reference to the contract under which you work and the reality of your individual employment situation (your integration into the workforce, the extent of your direction or supervision, whether and by whom you are appraised or disciplined and so on). It isn’t possible for me to say for sure if you might be regarded as an employee; however, case law has shown a general unwillingness to imply contracts of employment between an agency worker and either the temping agency or client company. Unfortunately, since your email indicates that you have been working on a number of short contracts during the last year, it seems unlikely that a contract of employment would be implied. There are certain other protections that may however apply to you, such as the Working Time Regulations, National Minimum Wage Regulations and Part-time Workers Regulations.These apply to ‘workers’ rather than just employees; the hurdle to be met for ‘worker’ status is not as stringent as that of ‘employee’ and it is likely that you could be afforded these protections. The good news is that there are presently a number of initiatives that will benefit agency workers, the most positive of which is the Temporary Workers Directive, which promises a commitment to equal treatment of agency workers after they have worked for 12 weeks in a given job. This could include benefits for your pay, working hours, overtime, maternity and anti-discrimination provisions (though not unfair dismissal protection). More information can be found at www.berr.gov.uk.

Best wishes Clare

Clare Murray is managing partner at employment law firm, CM Murray LLP, based in CanaryWharf. To submit a query, email clare.murray@cm-murray.com The contents of this column are for general purposes only. Specialist legal advice should be taken regarding specific circumstances

predominantly with high earners. On the face of it they would seem to be comfortable from a financial perspective.Their salary and bonus are enough to live a fairly opulent lifestyle as well as maintaining financial commitments such as large mortgages and private school fees. But that is often as far as the money will stretch. We find that many people are guilty of allowing their expenditure to rise to meet their income. Regardless of the level of that income, it is human-nature to spend more when you earn more. At one level this feels like making progress. At another it is incredibly short-sighted because it can only last for as long as you are in gainful employment. The budget which balances perfectly each month but makes little or no provision for the long-term future is a budget destined to drive you off the edge of a cliff one day.You might enjoy

that lifestyle now, but once your power to earn comes to an end you are left with a huge gap between income and desired expenditure. Remember also that current longer life expectancy requires a big pot of money when you retire. A recent male client aiming to retire at 65 discovered that he requires a capital fund of over £1m to produce the net retirement income he needs of £60,000 a year. And women typically live for longer so need an even larger retirement fund. For the time being, I suggest that you forget about pensions and work out the bigger picture. Where are you today and where would you like to be in the future? Then you can start looking at the details of retirement planning, but don’t leave it for too long.You might just find that your own retirement planning cliff is arriving sooner than you thought n

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109

InvestIng Lessons from monopoLy by DR. DAVID KUO at the financial website the Motley fool – fool.co.uk

ave you ever played Monopoly? Most of us have at some time or other. It’s one of those games you love to hate. You love it because it beats going outdoors on a wet winter’s day. But then, any enthusiasm you may have had for the game starts to wear a little thin after a few hours. Some people do take Monopoly quite seriously, though. It seems that the players in one game took it so seriously that it lasted for 70 straight days or 1,680 hours. Legendary investor Jim Slater even took time to analyse which of the properties on the Monopoly board produces the highest returns. As an occasional player, I’ve noticed some remarkable similarities between Monopoly and investing. That’s not to say that picking shares should ever be decided by the throw of a dice, but merely that the similarities are noteworthy. Here are some of them. Playing To Win

The primary object of Monopoly is to drive your opponents into the ground by bankrupting them. So, each decision you make should move you a step closer towards your goal of wiping out your opponents. For example, if you own low-rent colour groups, it’s a good idea to build as many properties that you can comfortably afford. This will restrict the availability of houses and hotels to owners of high-rent colour groups. So contrary to popular beliefs, Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road do serve a purpose after all.

When you invest in shares it’s a good idea to set clear objectives too. Of course, you’re not out to grind other stock market investors to dust. Nevertheless you should still set achievable targets for yourself. A useful target may be to beat the market averages, which is the very least that you should be doing. If you can’t do that, then you are better off investing through an index tracker that will mimic the performance of a particular index. a STraTegy iS imPorTanT

It’s important to have a strategy from the outset if you are to achieve any objective. In the case of Monopoly, I’ve noticed some players like to buy up-market properties while others may prefer the less-expensive “orange” ones. I have a soft spot for the railway stations, which I think represent good value for money. Interestingly, the stations have some of the highest hits, which mean they get landed on most. They may not deliver the highest paybacks, but they are slow and steady earners! Successful stock pickers have clear investing strategies too. This helps them identify what shares to buy and which ones to avoid. Like Monopoly strategies, there are many investing strategies to choose from, and you have to find one that suits your personality best. For instance, you might have a fondness for dividends, in which case a high-yield portfolio may be appropriate. This strategy involves picking a portfolio of shares that pays a dividend that is higher than the market average from a wide variety of different industries. The aim is to produce an annual

income from the fifteen or so shares that rises at more than the rate of inflation. Others may be on the lookout for value shares. In other words, they are only interested in shares that have been undervalued by the market. The ideas behind value investing were first proposed by Benjamin Graham at 1928. One of the greatest proponents of value investing is Warren Buffett who has successfully adapted Graham’s original idea to help him identify companies with long-term sustainable growth. Skill vS. luck

Every Monopoly player knows that luck can play a big part in any game. But playing the percentages can improve your chances considerably. For example, it may be worth staying in ‘Jail’ when most of the properties between ‘Jail’ and the ‘Go to Jail’ space are fully developed. By staying in ‘Jail’ you avoid landing on these properties before an opponent lands on yours! Luck also plays a part when picking shares. However, skill wins out in the end because luck will desert you one day. Sadly, it can take several years to discover whether you are any good. But don’t forget you can still make good long-term return from shares by just opting for an index tracker instead. That should leave you plenty of time to improve your Monopoly skills. n For further information on investing, visit The Motley Fool website at Fool.co.uk

CAN A RY WHAR F EV E NTS Soothsayers horn section with saxophonist Idris Rahman, trumpeter Robin Hopcroft, pianist sister Zoe Rahman and sublime chanteuse Julia Biel.

City of London festivaL @ Canary Wharf 6 – 11 July Various times All events take place in Canada Square Park unless shown otherwise

Saturday 11 July

www.colf.org www.mycanarywharf.com

PLUCK! 12.30 – 7.30 pm

FREE

A celebration of stringed instruments from around the world including live performances in Canada Square Park, a big strings jam session and children’s ukulele workshops and demonstrations, suitable for eight years and older, of balalaika and berimbau in West Wintergarden.

Folk, jazz, classical, experimental and gypsy music come together for The City of London Festival @ Canary Wharf. Thursday 9 July

Pete Churchill London vocal Project 12.30 – 2pm

Festival favourites return with more choral arrangements of popular soul, gospel and jazz, sung by a talented choir of emerging young vocalists, led by Pete Churchill on piano. soneando 5.30 – 7pm

Salsa and Cuban Son with funk and groove featuring top musicians from Latin America and Europe, combining their own modern influences with traditional styles.

rattle on the stovepipe 12.30 – 2pm

A mix of traditional songs, ballads and dance tunes from the British Isles and the Appalachian Mountains. Les Colporteurs 2 – 2.40pm / 4 – 4.40pm

Balancing on a structure made of pipes and wires, four tightrope walkers perform two poetic tales of predictable encounters in an unpredictable ballet.

Friday 10 July

Bicycle Ballet

el andaluz

12 – 12.30pm / 2 – 2.30pm / 5 – 5.30pm

3 – 4pm

(Montgomery Square)

Choreography collides with humorous affection, in a visual spectacle that celebrates the playful, chaotic and sometimes treacherous world of cycling. Bodega 12.30 – 2pm Monday 6 July

duo Milla viljamaa & Johanna Juhola 12.30 – 2pm

Special guests from Helsinki present a concert of Finnish tango nuevo with the attitude of urban folk music. Tuesday 7 July

adriano adewale Group 12.30 – 2pm

Music traditions of Nigeria, Angola and Brazil are infused with contemporary European classical and jazz styles. Wednesday 8 July

southern tenant folk Union

A remarkable Scottish band combines instrumental dexterity and traditional influences, singing in both English and Gaelic. Recent winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musicians of the Year.

12.30 – 2pm

Formed by banjo player Pat McGarvey, this outfit play a lively blend of old-time, bluegrass, Celtic folk and union songs.

soothsayers & the red earth Collective 5.30-7pm

Afro-jazz supergroup led by

London’s leading exponent of classical Arabic and Andalusian music, led by oud (Arab lute) player Yazid Fentazi Balalaika London 5 – 6pm

Balalaika London plays traditional acoustic instruments through a repertoire of gypsy and village dances, tangos, waltzes and traditional Russian folk. hopkele house string Band 6 – 7.30pm

A 21st century klezmer Céilidh. Barn dancing Jewish-style, fun for all ages and abilities. A hopkele is the familiar Céilidh/ barn dance format with one essential difference – the music and steps are old-style Jewish!

BP SUMMER BIG SCREENS Wednesday 15 July Barber of Seville 7.30pm (Running time approx. 3hrs) Canada Square Park FREE

Opera is beamed live to Canary Wharf on 15 July. Canary Wharf Arts and Events and the Royal Opera House, in association with BP, present Barber of Seville relayed from Covent Garden to Canada Square Park; a perfect spot for an evening picnic. The opera isn’t the only thing on the Big Screen over the summer. A number of major sporting events including Wimbledon, the British Golf Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix, along with BBC news and entertainment, will keep Canary Wharf crowds regularly entertained.

PARK SOUNDS 20-24 July Mon – Thurs 12.30-2pm Friday 6-9.30pm Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf FREE

A week of live music with 20 emerging artists bidding to become Park Sounds champion for 2009. An Epiphone guitar and £1000 are among the prizes for the winner and, on Friday night, acts will be judged by a panel including radio star Emma B,The Wharf editor Giles Broadbent and Julia Jones representing Epiphone. Canary Wharf is proud to be supporting Teenage Cancer Trust at this event. See www.parksounds.co.uk for line up and to vote for your favourite artist.

TWILIGHT DELIGHTS – THE MAGIC OF ABBA Thursday 30 July 7.30pm Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf FREE

Many consider The Magic of Abba the best Abba tribute show, capturing all the energy, costume changes and unbelievable talent that made the Swedish super group one of the most popular music acts ever. This is the first in a series of four Twilight Delight acts lined up for Canada Square Park over the summer.

citylife

recommends

Science Centenary The Science Museum will celebrate its one hundredth anniversary as an independent organisation on 26 June. To commemorate this milestone for London’s most flexible and constantly evolving unique venue, three exciting new corporate event options will be launched.

The Casting Suite If you’ve ever wanted quality photographs of you looking your natural best, The Casting Suite, is a great choice. For headshots and portraits for personal or business use, choose from a large 8” x 10” print to a full photo package including a CD of images, copyright, prints and display book. All the prints include professional retouching

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/ functions

To book please call Caroline on 0207 534 5757 or email caroline@thecastingsuite.com

Number Ten

Suite Dreams

Lara Bohinc has teamed up with Tanqueray No.TEN to design a luxurious set of hand-crafted martini glasses made from the finest crystal, with a white-gold plated cuff fitted around the body of the glass. Echoing the dynamics of Lara’s own designs whilst incorporating the sophistication of the Tanqueray No.TEN bottle, this martini boasts effortless style. £100, available exclusively from Harvey Nichols from 1 July

Gold & Peacock Havianas

Sample the luxury and comfort of the St James’s Hotel and Club. This special package includes a trip to the theatre, a private chauffeur driven car, a delicious English breakfast and champagne afternoon tea for two, and complimentary access to The Mayfair Gym nearby. £1,800 per room per night www.stjamesclubandhotel.co.uk

The Big Lunch

The summer must-have flip flops are back in a beautifully elegant limited edition Gold and Peacock design. These iconic rubber Havianas are comfortable, bouncy and flexible, whilst being tough and versatile too; perfect for the city or the beach.

Sit down and have lunch with your neighbours on 19 July as the UK embarks on a nationwide street party. The project promotes getting to know your community and neighbours by sharing food, entertainment and decorations which you have either grown, cooked, or created yourself.

£19

www.thebiglunch.com

www.kuati.com

what'son

Our guide to this month’s top events

4 July

5 July

THEATRE

EVENT

Her Story

ANDY HAMILTON’S HAT OF DOOM

Her Story portrays the lives of four women in Indian mythology and literature – Kaikeyi, Devaki, Kannagi, and Andal. Recounting pivotal moments in the lives of these women, the dancers explore how these characters transformed the worlds they lived in through their ability to love unconditionally.

Comedian Andy Hamilton (Have I got News For You and QI) is in Greenwich to perform his one man show brimming jokes, stories, gossip and trampolining. Greenwich Theatre Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 4a Castletown Road West Kensington, W14 9HE 07899 844 869

7-19 July

9-18 July

DANCE

MUSIC

MATTHEW BOURNE’S DORIAN GRAY

TOSCA Puccini’s Tosca is the ultimate role for a soprano. American diva Deborah Voigt takes on the part in The Royal Opera’s stunning production. There will be a pre-performance talk on the 14 June at 6pm.

Matthew Bourne’s dance theatre retelling of Oscar Wilde’s gothic fable is set in the image-obsessed world of contemporary art and politics. This ‘black fairy tale’ tells the story of an exceptionally alluring young man who makes a pact with the devil. © Catherine Ashmore

Sadler’s Wells Theatre Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN www.sadlerswells.com 0844 412 4300

Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD 020 7304 4000 www.roh.org.uk

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what'son

Our guide to this month’s top events

11 July

17 July-12 September

COMEDY

EVENT

RED HOT EAST END COMEDY

BBC PROMS 2009

Celebrating the new wave of East End Comedy; hosted by Shazia Mirza; and featuring Paul Chowdhry, Imran Yusuf, Isma Almas and Ahir Shah.

Now in it’s 115th year the world greatest classical music festival returns to the Royal Albert Hall. With tickets costing as little as £5 you have no excuse not to join the fun!

Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP 020 7589 8212 www.bbc.co.uk/proms www.royalalberthall.com

12 July

25-26 July

ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

EVENT

SHUT UP CHILD THIS AIN’T BINGO 2009

KING PLACE FAMILY WEEKEND Kings Place is opening its doors and inviting families to come and do something creative. Workshops include African hand drumming and Turkish folk dancing, or you can learn to create a comic strip or you can travel back in time with Barefaced Productions.

Lars Laumann presents his first Solo exhibition at Maureen Paley Gallery. Shut up Child, This Ain’t Bingo 2009 is a video installation that tells the true story of the relationship between Norwegian artist Kjersti Andvig and her collaborative partner Carlton Turner a Texan death row inmate. Herald Street, London E2 6JT 020 7729 4112

courtesy Maureen Paley, London

Hackney Empire 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ 02089852424

EZ version 13x2 171208.qxd

08/01/2009

16:08

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www.chameleondesigns.org

Emile Azan

“expressing your space”

We create inspired interiors that add genuine value Contact Emile for a free consultation T 020 8473 1363 M 07956 020 273 E emile@chameleondesigns.org

W_May Jackie Midgen.qxp

05/05/2009

12:46

Page 1

Until 16 August ART & EXHIBITIONS ROYAL ACADEMY’S SUMMER EXHIBITION Now in its 241st year the royal Academy Summer Exhibition continues the tradition of displaying a wide range of new work by both established and unknown artist in all media including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and architecture. 020 7300 5995 www.royalacademy.org.uk

29 July EVENT HIDDEN GARDENS OF THE CITY Explore the oldest City park (dating from 1606), a rooftop garden, hidden courtyards and fountains on this walk that includes restricted areas and a ‘wormhole’ route across the City in elevated tunnel passageways. Meet by Boots outside Moorgate station. www.greencitywalks.com

Artistic Flare Affordable art for home and office Telephone: 020 7736 7921 Mobile: 07854 734 290 Email: jackiemidgen@hotmail.com www.artisticflare.com Visits to home and studio by appointment only

Until 27 September EVENT BUTTERFLY JUNGLE

Take a magical journey this summer, as the Natural History Museum comes alive with the brand new Butterfly Jungle. Travel from the dark depths of the forest floor, to the heady heights of the tree canopy, and experience the magic and beauty of live butterflies and other rainforest creatures. National History Museum Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD 020 7942 5000 www.nhm.ac.uk

Until August 31 ART & EXHIBITIONS ETHELBURGA TOWER: AT HOME IN A HIGH RISE Photographer Mark Cowper took photos of his own home and that of his neighbours in Ethelburga tower in Battersea. Taken from the same position in same room, these photographs provide a life affirming view into the way we live today. Geffrye Museum 020 7739 9893 www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

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25 Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5LQ

July

Property

savills.co.uk

Halcyon Wharf, E1W 1 bedroom apartment situated in West Wapping featuring direct river views from full length terrace, floor to ceiling windows, air con, private parking and day porterage. Furnished.

E1 Waterside, E1W 3 bedroom 3 bathroom (all en suite) split level penthouse, occupying the top two floors of this modern West Wapping development boasting a large terrace, panoramic views towards Tower Bridge and 2 parking spaces. Furnished.

Limekiln Wharf, E14 2 bedroom 2 bathroom top floor apartment located within close proximity to Canary Wharf and Narrow Street. The property further benefits from a balcony with views over the cut and private parking. Furnished.

£450 per week Docklands

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020 7456 6800

£2,200 per week Docklands

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020 7456 6800

£350 per week

City Quay, E1W 2 bedroom 2 bathroom stylish apartment situated this sought after St Katherine's Dock development featuring marina views, from the balcony, private parking and 24 hour porterage. Furnished.

Canary Riverside, E14

£725 per week Docklands

docklands@savills.com

020 7456 6800

£345 per week

1 bedroom apartment set in this prestigious Canary Wharf landmark in the heart of Canary Wharf with canarywharf@savills.com balcony, private parking, 24 hr security, day 020 7531 2500 porter, communal gardens, access to leisure facilities (subject to subscription) and river front. Furnished.

Discovery Dock East, E14

£425 per week

2 bedroom 2 bathroom 10th floor dual aspect Canary Wharf Canary Wharf canarywharf@savills.com apartment situated within a new development canarywharf@savills.com adjacent to South Quay. The Property further 020 7531 2500 020 7531 2500 benefits from private parking, 24 hour porterage and on site leisure facilities including a pool.

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New Providence Wharf, E14

£280,000

23 Old Sun Wharf, E14

An Impressive and Immaculately Presented Canary Wharf Penthouse Apartment. Located in the canarywharf@savills.com popular New Providence Wharf development 020 7531 2500 this spacious penthouse occupies the premier position on the 18th floor.

A amazing two double bedroom, two bathroom duplex apartment on Narrow Street overlooking the river Thames with views towards Canary Wharf and the City, and offering a balcony, porter and parking.

3106 West India Quay, E14

Empire Square West, E14

£3,400,000

£599,999 Canary Wharf

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020 7531 2500

£700,000

A superb 31st floor three bedroom, three Canary Wharf bathroom duplex penthouse with underground canarywharf@savills.com parking, porter, a large rooftop terrace and 020 7531 2500 arguably the best views in London.

An immaculately presented two bedroom, Canary Wharf two bathroom apartment on the 14th floor canarywharf@savills.com of this impressive development, offering a 020 7531 2500 balcony, 24 hour porterage, and protected parking.

New Crane Wharf, E1W

Sanctuary Court, E1W

An immaculately presented two bedroom, two bathroom warehouse conversion in a popular central Wapping warehouse, boasting porterage, protected parking and original warehouse features.

£535,000 Docklands

docklands@savills.com

020 7456 6800

A well presented 1 bedroom listed warehouse conversion apartment, with a wet room style bathroom, balcony with park views, daytime porterage and private residents gym.

£389,500 Docklands

docklands@savills.com

020 7456 6800

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not business as usual... itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better Stratford@MadisonBrook.com

020 8522 7100

Docklands office 57 Amsterdam Road, London E14 3UU e docklands@hollandproperties.co.uk t 020 7538 5554

Surrey Quays office 192 Lower Road, Surrey Quays, London SE16 2UN e surreyquays@hollandproperties.co.uk t 020 7231 8160

LockesfieLd PLace, e14 3aH

ÂŁ450,000

Superb three bedroom house located in this popular development. Maintained to high standard with dining room and reception, fully fitted kitchen, two bathrooms and separate w.c. Large lawned garden and garage. Viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate this property.

tivoLi court, se16 5ud

ÂŁ260,000

Spacious and light raised ground floor one bedroom apartment in this popular secure gated development. Approx 560 sq ft, wood flooring, fully fitted kitchen and balcony offering side river and park views. Secure parking ad use of communal tennis court. Close to transport and amenities.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS

www.hollandproperties.co.uk

London Stone

Properties

23 mins to Canary Wharf by DLR 20 mins by River Boat

Top FloorModern, 1,450 sq ftBright 3 Bed River View Penthouse Smart, 1 Bed

Huge, 3 Bed Top Floor FlatWarehouse with Floor toConversion Ceiling Windows

Fabulous flat with reaching views across the Thames Good sized, cleanfarand modern 1 bed, overlooking a and the London skyline. penthouse is over 2 levels 3 double courtyard withThis large rooms throughout andwith heaps of storage. beds, 2 bathrooms, utility room, floor to ceiling windows and Furnished private terrace. Furnishe d SE18roof £196pw

Perhaps prefer exposed exposed Great 2 you bed would flat with a large balconybrickwork, running the length of beams, 20ft high ceilings and sash windows? There are the property overlooking thebig internal lagoon and fountains. 3Furnished double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lovely kitchen, study area and glorious living room. SE18 £242pw

Great Corner 1 Bed Flat Beautiful Furnished Loft Style Apartment

1,000 sq ftLoft 2 Bed Warehouse Conversion Fabulous with Amazing Roof Skylights

A pretty south new,a well andwith welldouble furnished Fantastic 2 bedfacing, flat with hugedecorated living room flheight at. Nicely priced, this flat also a great kitchen and ceilings throughout andhas a great modern kitchen. bathroom Furnished and great storage.

IfA you looking forflat biginbedrooms, big living room, quality trulyare unique 2 bed the Royal Arsenal, with a huge bathrooms (2)has anda kitchen this one Theskylights. exposed living area that vaulted ceiling andcould loadssuit. of roof brickwork, Furnished cast iron beams and huge windows all add to the charm. Unfurnished SE18 £335pw

SE18 £392pw

SE18 £386pw

Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich SE18 A beautiful, gated development nestling along the River Thames the Royal Arsenal is composed of gorgeous old warehouses and ultra chic modern buildings, many with splendid river views. • Onsite gym and 24 hr concierge • Onsite delicatessen and café • Tranquil r iverside setting • Gated Buildings • Onsite dry cleaners • Neighbours that become friends

SE18 £192pw £273pw

SE18 £277pw

Gorgeous to Rent on two Floors Fantastic 13Bed bedLoft Penthouse

Brand NewWarehouse Luxury 2 Bed with Private Balcony Gorgeous Conversion

This is a great flat that would make anyone feel happy to come A really penthouse offering 3 genuine double back to at the end ofbathrooms the day. It and has an all the of akitchen. loft bedrooms, 2 smart ultracharm modern with the grace of modern furniture, kitchen and bathrooms. Furnished Furnished SE18 £358pw

This one willflat suit likes clean, sleek, A beautiful setsomeone over twowho levels with 2 double contemporary and an ultra modern setting. Thearea. flat bedrooms, twolines smart bathrooms and a large study has never been lived in and over looks a peaceful lagoon Furnished/Unfurnished from the£345pw large balcony. Furnished/Unfurnished SE18

SE18 £208pw

SE18 £265pw

www.LondonStoneProperties.com enquiries@LondonStoneProperties.com

Thames Clipper

020 020 8855 8855 2155 2155 -- 07747 07747 865 865 383 383

9 Gunnery Terrace, Cornwallis Road, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SW

April 09 Final ad OL.indd 1

28/04/2009 14:31:52

Style in the city A rare opportunity to purchase close to London’s Square Mile. City Quarter offers a stunning collection of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and 2 and 3 bedroom penthouses. • Superb location – within a 15 minute walk of Bank and Liverpool Street Stations • Excellent connections – choice of underground, DLR and rail. Close to City Airport

Marketing Suite open daily from 10am to 6pm (late night Tuesday until 8pm) and weekends 10am to 5pm

For more information please call 020 3217 1000 or Email cityquarter@berkeleyhomes.co.uk

• Excellent location for The City, Tower Bridge, Tower of London and St Katharine Docks • All apartments benefit from their own private patio, balcony and/or terrace overlooking a landscaped courtyard or stunning water lagoon

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• Superb specification with individually designed kitchens and fully integrated appliances • Limited parking available by separate negotiation

Prices from £385,000 Prices correct at time of going to press, map is not to scale and is for reference only. Images are taken at City Quarter showhome.

Square Mile Boundary

www.cityquarter.co.uk

8683_037_CQ AD Canary Wharf 29_01 1

28/4/09 17:27:26

property

127

JULY Hot ProPerties

A. Chandlers Mews, E14

B. New Atlas Wharf, E14

C. Tivoli Court, SE16

Stunning four storey town house, comprising three bedrooms, two bathrooms, four balconies, secured undercover parking and swimming pool & gym.

This large, two bedroom apartment offers beautiful park and river views, 24 hour porter, underground parking, leisure facilities and a fabulous contemporary interior.

Spacious and light raised ground floor one bedroom apartment in this popular secure gated development offering a balcony and side river and park views.

£625,000 Leasehold – Alan Selby 020 7519 5900

Prices from £429,999 Leasehold – F J Lord 020 7987 6776

£260,000 – Holland Properties 020 7231 8160

D. One West India Quay, E14

E. One West India Quay, E14

F. The Royal Arsenal, SE18

This fantastically spacious one bedroom apartment is located on the 18th floor of one of the most prestigous developments in Canary Wharf.

A spectacular 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment finished to a superior specification, offering unparalleled views of Canary Wharf, and located next to the DLR and shopping malls.

A brand new luxury 2 bedroom apartment with a private balcony, offering clean, sleek, contemporary lines and an ultra modern setting. Furnished/Unfurnished

£565,000 Leasehold – F J Lord 020 7987 6776

£565,000 - Life Residential 020 7476 0125

£265 per week - London Stone Properties 020 8855 2155

London's Finest Properties

Ontario Tower, E14

£260,000

• Stunning 23rd floor Suite • Unparalleled views to the river & Canary Wharf • Exceptional specification • Ultra contemporary riverside landmark building • 24 hr concierge/Spa centre/leisure facilities and room service available

The Watergardens, Canada Water SE16

£375,000

• 2 double bedroom/2 bathroom apartment • Beautiful ‘continental’ style development • Set within secluded courtyard around tranquil water gardens • Located right next to Canada Water tube and shopping mall • Due south aspect with panoramic views

LANDLORDS

We urgently require 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for awaiting, company and professional tenants. For all management properties we will take our fees on a monthly basis.

One West India Quay, Canary Wharf E14 £565,000 • Spectacular 1 bedroom/2 bathroom • Arguably Canary Wharf’s most prestigious development • Superior specification and highly contemporary fittings • Unparalleled views of Canary Wharf • Located next to DLR and shopping malls

New Providence Wharf, Canary Wharf E14

£210,000

• Great 8th floor studio apartment • Stunning development • Quality fixtures and fittings • Excellent condition • Close to tube and DLR

Sales | Lettings | Corporate Services | Property Management www.liferesidential.co.uk

Central London 020 7582 7989

West London 020 8896 9990

Docklands 020 7476 0125

Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244

London's Finest Properties

Dakota Building, Deals Gateway SE13

£213 PW

• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 3rd Floor • Balcony • On-Site Leisure Centre • 24hr Concierge Service

Ontario Tower, Canary Wharf E14

£265 PW

• Studio Apartment • Fully Furnished • 12th Floor • Use of the Radisson Hotel Amenities • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. Blackwall (DLR)

Ontario Tower, Canary Wharf E14

£440 PW

• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Stunning Riverside Views • Car Parking • 24hr Concierge Service

Alaska Building, Deals Gateway SE13

£277 PW

• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 5th Floor • Balcony • Allocated parking • Nr. Deptford Bridge DLR

Warehouse W, Excel E16

£295 PW

• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 3rd Floor • Dock Views • Car Parking • Nr. Custom House DLR

New Providence Wharf, E14

£450 PW

• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Car Parking • On-Site Leisure Facilities • 24hr Concierge

Sales | Lettings | Corporate Services | Property Management www.liferesidential.co.uk

Central London 020 7582 7989

West London 020 8896 9990

Docklands 020 7476 0125

Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244

Next issue... August

n August, don’t miss our feature article on the ‘Eurosceptic’, looking at British attitudes towards the continent, the prospect of working abroad and the implications of a united Europe. We will also be meeting a group of young entrepreneurs to find out more about their cutting edge ideas; looking at the trend for nostalgic retro design; and talking to talented photographer Annette Habel about her recent exhibitions and stunning artwork. In addition to business and finance, international travel, interiors and fashion, we are also profiling Cuban watchmaker Cuervo y sobrinos, examining the decline of penmanship, checking out the latest film releases, and burning rubber with our Lotus column. For this and much more be sure to pick up a copy!

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10:37:02 pm 15/2/05

10:37:02 pm

Smart Contractors Choose Smarter Solutions

waterfront waterfront waterfront .biz .biz studios studios contemporary riverside office space .biz studios

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Royal Victoria Dock

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Fantastic Only five minutes Canary Fantastic office/studio space a new away Business Fantasticoffice/studio office/studio space space Only fivewithin minutes Centre overlooking the western end of thetransport Royal Docks. Fantastic office/studio space Only five minutes away Canary That’s because Equip Management Solutions is an alternative umbrellaoverlooking company. western end ofofoffice/studio the Wharf with great links overlooking the the western end thespace Fantastic Fantastic office/studio space Wharf with great Only five Only minutes five away minutes Canary away Canary overlooking the of western end of thewith Wharf with great transport royal overlooking the western the126 end western theend of the via the DLR. Wharf Wharf great with transport links linkslinks As a professional contractor you’ll want rewards that are balanced against risk, plus the highest returns royaldocks. docks. overlooking via the DLR. Each of the studios offers superb working space ingreat a transport But when it comes to choosing smarter salary solutions maybe it’s time to consider an alternative.

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docks. via the royal docks. royalroyal docks. the DLR. via the DLR.DLR. tranquil location inclusive of allvia amenities at competitive

prices. Studios space AA range of Light Studiosoffer offer superb superb working working space range of self self contained Studios offer superb working space A range of self contained Light Studios offer Studios superb offer working superb space working space A range of A self range contained of self contained Light Light ininaatranquil location inclusive of all Industrial/Workshops with ancillary tranquil location inclusive of all in a tranquil location inclusive of all Industrial/Workshops Industrial/Workshops with ancillary Cafe restaurant onsite with a waterfront terrace boasting Would you like to retain up to 85% of your gross earnings, and more? in a tranquil in alocation tranquilinclusive location inclusive of all ofIndustrial/Workshops all Industrial/Workshops with ancillary with ancillary views of Royal Victoria Dock. amenities at competitive prices. amenities prices. office are available. office are available. amenities atat competitive competitive prices. office are available. amenitiesamenities at competitive at competitive prices. prices. office areoffice available. are available. Contact Equip Management Solutions now. Only five minutes away Canary Wharf with great

Café on site with a Storage Units Available from Café on site with aa restaurant Storage Available from Caférestaurant restaurant onrestaurant siteCafé with Storage Units transport links viaasite the DLR. a Units Café restaurant on site with on with Storage Units Storage Available Units from from waterfront terrace. 1,000 sq ftAvailable flexible terms. Call: + 44 (0)1483 230426 waterfront ftft flexible terms. waterfrontwaterfront terrace. terrace. 1,000 waterfront terrace. terrace. sq1,000 ft flexible sq ftterms. flexible terms. 1,000 sq sq1,000 flexible

Management Solutions

Email: enquiries@equip-ms.com www.equip-ms.com

24 hour access • Parking available • Flexible Terms • 60% of units now let • Canary Wharf in 5 mins

24 hour access Parking available Flexible Terms 33% of units now let Canary Wharf in 5 m 24 hour 24 access houravailable access Parking Parking available available Flexible Terms 33% Terms of units 33% ofletunits letCanary now Canary letWharf Wharf Canary 5mins minsin 5 mins 24 hour access Parking Flexible Terms Flexible 33% of units nownow inin5Wharf

020 7476 9703

24 24 hour hour access access Parking Parking available available Flexible Flexible Terms 33% of units now let Canary Wharf in 5 mins Minimise Your Tax. Maximise Your Earnings. Business centre now open www.waterfrontstudios.biz Business centre now open Business Business centre centre now open now open

CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE JULY 2009 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY

I S S U E 48

CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE

JUly 2009 • ISSUE 48

SAVING AFRICA

The reality of an ideal

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Meet the whizz kids

DOMESTIC GODDESS

Masterclasses with Mich Turner

HOT PROPERTY

UK & international