Chiswick & The West July 2015 by Runwild Media Group

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Tom Hagues Henry Hopwood-Phillips EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lesley Ellwood MANAGING DIRECTOR Eren Ellwood GENERAL MANAGER Fiona Fenwick SENIOR DESIGNER Lisa Wade PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Giles Ellwood EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sophie Roberts CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER Friday Dalrymple

WHAT’S INSIDE An insight into this issue

“…It takes place three years after Mike left the stripping business, but he gets roped into performing with another strip act who want to go out with a bang…” – FILM

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“…He takes elements from R&B, neo soul, funk, soul, jazz fusion and psychedelic rock. If, like us, you’re not sure what some of those are, why not buy a ticket and find out what they all sound like?...” – Music

“…IT’S A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION RATHER THAN TRADITIONAL PAINTED PORTRAITURE, BUT IT’LL ENTHRAL ART FANS AND HEPBURN LOVERS ALIKE…” – ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS

“…And so we wonder, with an imposed innocence, why the world around us implodes whilst we ossify…” – Politics “…AND THWACKED THE BALL WITH SUCH A GOOD LINE, I WAS TOO BUSY BOASTING TO MY SPORTING COMRADES THAT I FORGOT TO WARN OTHER GOLFERS ABOUT MY INCOMING MISSILE…” – LETTERS

AUDREY HEPBURN, 1955 © NORMAN PARKINSON LTD

MANAGING EDITOR Francesca Lee

[editor’s letter and contents]

From the

editor

CONTENTS

or those not jet-setting off anywhere this month, there’s plenty to keep busy with locally. From festivals and funfairs to talks and plays, see What’s On from page four for

inspiration galore. Elsewhere, on page seven, we round up the best places to go for a brisk dip in our comprehensive guide to lidos in London – just don’t forget your sun cream. There’s a lot of exciting development news this month: swot up on what’s happening from page 20. If that whets your appetite for more architectural wonder and building brilliance, flick to page 16 to read why Tom Hagues thinks the Dorsett Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush is a hidden treasure worth talking about.

Villa di Geggiano, see page 14

REGULARS 4

As ever, we’re on hand to keep you in the know with all things entertainment related. This month, from page 10, we list all the hottest

WHAT’S ON IN JULY All the best events to attend this month

HP SOURCE

Our resident philosopher asks: where’s it all going?

WORD ON THE STREET

singles for this summer and review Andrea Faustini’s new album, Kelly.

The most pressing issues from vocal locals

Film and theatre listings appear on pages eight and nine respectively.

FEATURES

Finally, Tom Hagues grills two unsuspecting people: local portrait

artist Sarah Richardson (page 13) and Tom Molnar, founder of GAIL’S

tuscany in west london

Learn about the history of Villa di Geggiano on Chiswick High Road

A splash and a dash London’s lidos are perfect for summertime swimming

artisan bakery on page 24. Thumb through to page 25 for residents’

Hidden treasure

A dose of wow-factor in Shepherd’s Bush

letters and maybe find inspiration to write in for next month – we’d love

kew the music

to hear from you.

Let them entertain you just over the river Baker’s dozen Finding out about artisan bakery GAIL’S from its founder, Tom Molnar

We hope you enjoy the issue.

news, events and reviews 8

Please turn off your mobile phone

standing ovation

Raising the curtain on this month’s theatre productions

sounds of the summer

Films hitting the screen in July

Francesca Lee, Managing Editor

The best of the scene at the moment and album review

ON THE COVER (left to right) London Film and Comic Con ©Nando Machado; Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

Whitehorn ©Elizabeth Moltke-Huitfeldt, Amy Winehouse ©Alex Lake; Dorsett Hotel Shepherd’s Bush lobby; Diamond Head; The Invisible; Andrea Faustini; Lucy Rose

CReativity in west london London’s hottest exhibitions and local artist profile

©David Parry, Royal Academy of Arts; Sarah Richardson painting Katharine 20

finer points Planning and development news to keep you updated

Top picks for

JUly

The best events to attend this month

Throughout July FIT FOR A QUEEN

13 July GOING LOCO DOWN IN POLITCO-CO

14 & 15 July AGE IS but A NUMBER

Her Majesty is familiar with garden parties, but we’re hedging our bets that she’d enjoy the one taking place at the Princess Victoria an awful lot. This month it’s launching its English summer garden, offering fine food and slurpable beverages. The pub’s terrace will house red chequered tablecloths to give the feel of a traditional summer picnic and you can choose from dressed Dorset crab or a cheese and pickle sandwich, as well as a posh ploughman’s served in a wicker hamper to eat. Refreshing cocktails include The Herb Garden and Marmalade Mule: you’d be a fool not to pay the pub a visit and while away a few hours.

The Tabard is about to be home to some of the sharpest minds in political journalism, but for one night only. Peter Oborne, former political editor of The Telegraph and Julia Langdon, former political editor for the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Telegraph and political correspondent for The Guardian, will be giving a joint talk about the government entitled What Do You Think of it so Far. They’ll discuss its strengths and weaknesses and the challenges it’ll face throughout its five-year term. Torin Douglas, a Chiswick resident and former BBC correspondent, will host the talk and keep things in order.

Despite being a decidedly specific exhibition event, The 50+ Show is informative, interactive and offers a full day of things to see and do for people older than 50. The event is split into four different zones: the Health Zone, Travel Zone, Craft Zone and Hobbies Zone. Each area offers all sorts from inspirational hobby ideas to the best ways to kip fit and healthy. For those who aren’t sure whether they want a special interest trip, a group holiday or a European city break, the travel zone presents various options and who knows, you might just get inspired to go on a solo tour of the continent.

£12, concessions £8, 7.30pm, Tabard Theatre, 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW, 020 8995 6035 (tabardtheatre.co.uk)

Free entry – register online, 9.30am-4.30pm, Olympia National, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX (50plusshow.com)

Princess Victoria, 217 Uxbridge Road, W12 9DH, 020 8749 5886 (princessvictoria.co.uk)

fit for a QUEEN

Age is but a number

[EVENTS]

17 July until 2 August FAIR ENOUGH

19 July laugh it off

25 July ON THE STREETS

All that you’d expect from a funfair (the delighted squeals, the shouting and the occasional bout of motion sickness) is coming to Shepherd’s Bush Green for everyone’s enjoyment this month. Irvin Leisure is operating the affair that promises not to ‘beat around the Bush’ (geddit?) so you know you’ll be in for a thrilling day out with all the family as you rocket around the green on various contraptions and brightly-coloured machines. White knuckles, trembling knees and a sense that your fun quota has been satisfied for the month will all follow, but surely you wouldn’t want to spend the summer any other way?

First Creation Productions presents Don’t Boo Me Off Stage: The Live Final for this evening of raucous comedy. The audience plays a considerable role for this menagerie of talent and stand-up comedy: they get to judge who’s good enough to carry on their set. Despite assuming the job of Simon Cowell and his fellow talent-show judges, the audience aren’t expected to come dressed with their trousers pulled up to their chins and they won’t have a red buzzer to press. Instead they’ll have to boo and hiss in order to make the act go away. Over 18s only.

Watch out W12: summer’s arrived and it’s time for a full day of fun to celebrate. The imaginatively-named W12 Summer Festival is a chance for residents of White City to hit their local streets and show the rest of London how to party. This event seems to have everything you could possibly want at a fiesta, from fantastic food and drink to feel-good music accompanied by lashings of dancing. If all this joviality gets the better of you, take a breather and head over to where the film’s being shown. The only obligation you have on this day is that you enjoy yourself for the entire six hours.

Free entry, 1pm-10pm, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8AA, 020 8795 4282 (irvinleisure.co.uk)

Earlybird tickets from £17.50, doors 7pm, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TT, 0844 477 2000 (o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk)

12noon-6pm, White City Community Centre, India Way, W12 7QT, 07788 379 233 (ourbiglocal.org.uk)

fair enough

[EVENTS]

online chatter

Across London

What’s got local tongues wagging recently?

Throughout July MORE LONDON FREE FESTIVAL

On the More London Riverside part of the Southbank, an entirely free festival is taking place until September. While there are plenty of festivals for you to choose from this month, we recommend this one for its wealth of things to see and do: it’s more eclectic than Madonna’s back catalogue. Theatre, fringe, opera, dance and film screenings are all available and it won’t break the bank. No tickets required, all you have to do is turn up. Free, see website for full listing, More London Riverside (between London Bridge and Tower Bridge), SE1 2DB, 020 7403 4866 (morelondon.com)

@aileenballyDhob Anyone know why there is a helicopter hovering so intently over Shepherd’s Bush? #ShepherdsBush #london

@Chiswick_Nikki To u lovely people that have recently followed me, thank u! I look forward to tweeting with you soon! Have a fab Fri!

10-12 July HYPER JAPAN

If you’re feeling brave and decide to venture out to the eastern edge of London, then you’ll likely come across the Hyper Japan Festival taking place in The O2 Arena. Celebrating Japanese culture with traditional and contemporary shows and exhibits on show, it’s big, brash, colourful and frankly rather mad, so by all means buy a ticket if you want to experience an excitingly different culture. From £13, Friday 12noon-8pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, 3.30pm-8.30pm, Sunday 9.30am-6pm, The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX, 0844 824 4824 (hyperjapan.co.uk)

@samuriinbred I’m sat watching Shepherd’s Bush roundabout, it’s mental. More people on bikes than in cars and yet there’s no infra for the cyclists.

@LornaTweet hyper japan

@GAILsBakery Tried your carrot cake for the first time yesterday – best ever! #Chiswick @chiswickbuzz @PiersHD

25 & 26 July BUILDING THE FUTURE

Grab the kids and head to one of these days that’ll get their career senses tingling. This is the third annual event run by ArchiKids and it aims to inspire, entertain and educate young’uns with building and engineering activities. There are more than 30 fun things to do, including workshops, tours and DIY events and the best bit is that it’s all free. Located in exciting parts of London (like at the top of The Gherkin building) the kids will be free to learn in a busy and engaging environment. Free, times and locations vary, see website for details or email ArchiKids at archikids@open-city.org.uk, 020 3006 7008 (archikids.org.uk)

@TimHallac Dorset Dunlin coming alongside the @BellAndCrownW4 at Strand on the Green #thames #chiswick

@TheStage @LyricHammer’s exec director Jessica Hepburn (@JessicaPursuit) is to step down after nine years

@Londonist Way out west: we took a weekend walk from Mortlake to Hammersmith and found good pubs & more

@GreatestCapital In July Cooke’s pie ‘n’ mash shop in Shepherd’s Bush closes, another part of London gone forever #oldlondon

@paullewismoney £15m for full ownership of half an acre of land by Chiswick roundabout as developers plan luxury flats building the future

[SUMMER ACTIVITIES]

A splash and

a dash Where to enjoy the best outdoor swimming spots while the sun’s got its hat on THE obvious HYDE YOUR VALUABLES

The Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is smack bang in the middle of London, so after a quick dip, you can be towelled off and shopping for a new pair of swimming trunks in no time. However, it is in the Serpentine so there’s a fair bit of traffic to avoid in the form of pedalos and ducks. The park makes for a perfect setting to sunbathe when the weather’s ripe for it and there’s a café or two to enjoy a spot of lunch. Adult £4.80, child £1.80, discounts after 4pm, open daily 10am-6pm, Hyde Park, W2 2UH, 020 7706 3422 (royalparks.org.uk)

what’s it all about? The part of the Thames that winds its way through west London isn’t unfamiliar with swimmers when the weather’s nice enough. If the sun’s out and people have plucked up the courage to take a river dip, that is. In fact, Caitlyn Davies, the author of Downstream: A History of Swimming the River Thames, recently visited Chiswick Pier House to give a talk on slipping into the Thames for a bout of breaststroke. She says that the Thames is the cleanest that it’s ever been in living memory, which is great news for Chiswickians and west Londoners who want to ditch the leisure pool for something more invigorating. (It’s worth noting that there are certain restrictions about

the serpentine, hyde park

swimming in the Thames, and details about it can be found at pla.co.uk). Last year saw a marked interest in open-air swimming and from the banks of the river in this part of London, people have been tempted to make a splash. Naturally, river swimming isn’t for everyone, but there is a happy medium between the tidal Thames and chlorine-riddled indoor leisure pools: the lido. There are a few placed around London and they offer a safe place in which to swim, so why not take the plunge this summer?

THE NEAREST BLOOMIN’ HECK…

…Is probably what you’ll cry if you slip into this one a couple of months too early. One of London’s most famous lidos, it’s the largest freshwater open-air pool in England, stretching out at a whopping 90m long and open from May until September. The café is open from 7am until 7pm seven days a week

and there’s a kiddies’ paddling pool and shaded gazebo area. Also, it’s cheaper after 6pm (adult £4.10) but definitely chillier too. Adult £6.70, child £4.10, open daily 6am7.30pm, Tooting Bec Road, SW16 1RU, 020 8871 7198 (placesforpeopleleisure.org)

THE unexpected WORTH THE TRIP

‘Brockwell Park,’ you cry. ‘I’m not going all the way over there!’ Bear with us, because there’s every reason to make the journey. Surrounded by a beautiful Grade II-listed art-deco building that houses a gym and studios, Brockwell Lido is as pretty as a pair of floral swimming trunks. It’s well equipped too: with its Olympic-sized pool and fitness classes on offer, there’s loads on offer. Adult £5.95, child £3.40, Monday-Friday 6.30am-8pm, Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 8am9pm, Brockwell Park, SE24 0PA, 020 7274 3088 ( fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Brockwell_Lido)

[FILM]

Please turn off your

mobile phones

What to watch in the next few weeks

July when a topless Channing Tatum and Matthew Bomer took to the screens for Magic Mike XXL. It takes place three years after Mike left the business, but our topless hero gets roped into performing with another act who want to go out with a bang. On the road to this final show, Mike and the gang learn some new moves but really, this isn’t the kind of film you watch for the plot, the cinematic themes or the quality, as most people will probably agree.

magic mike xxl

who has assumed Finkel’s identity. Finkel’s journalistic investigation then becomes a game of twists and turns which makes for frankly thrilling viewing. The plot for this film is almost as good as its cast – Jonah Hill proved he can play a relatively serious role with his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street and Franco’s been a favourite for years. Expect good things from True Story.

true story

10 July TED 2

31 July HOT PURSUIT

amy

3 July AMY

Directed by Asif Kapadia Starring Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Tony Bennett This moving look at the life of Amy Winehouse features extensive archive footage and previously unheard tracks. It shines a light on the world we live in from a completely different perspective to anything that very few can recognise, giving it multiple layers. Amy Winehouse’s talent and originality struck many in the industry and the public, but her story came to a tragic end all too soon. This film will prove popular with fans of her music and those who want to see what she was like behind-the-scenes.

3 July MAGIC MIKE XXL

Directed by Gregory Jacobs Starring Channing Tatum, Matthew Bomer and Amber Heard Great sighs swept across the world on 3

Directed by Seth MacFarlane Starring Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg and Amanda Seyfried This is the most foul-mouthed bear since Winnie the Pooh stubbed his toe on a coffee table. In the second instalment of the CGI teddy’s life story, he must prove himself to be human in a court of law in order for his carers to be able to have children. Mark Wahlberg returns as Boston accent-heavy John Bennett and Seth MacFarlane voices Ted. This isn’t one for the kids, despite the fact it’s about a relatively cuddly-looking teddy bear.

Directed by Anne Fletcher Starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofía Vergara An uptight and by-the-book police officer tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked officers and murderous gunmen. It’s a comedic take on the classic American road trip story, only this time it’s got Witherspoon and Vergara at the wheel. Think Thelma and Louise meets The Dukes of Hazzard as you sit back and enjoy the easy-watching calamities unfold in front of you.

17 July TRUE STORY

Directed by Rupert Goold Starring James Franco, Jonah Hill and Felicity Jones An exciting cat-and-mouse story sees New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meeting accused killer Christian Longo –

hot pursuit © 2015 WARNER BROS. ENT. INC. AND METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES INC. (THE UNIVERSE EXCLUDING MGM RETAINED TERRITORIES) © 2015 METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES INC. AND WARNER BROS. ENT. INC. (MGM RETAINED TERRITORIES) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[theatre]

Standing

ovation Theatrical masterpieces for your delectation bush theatre

Company is performing Shakespeare’s R&J for the entire month. It’s a refreshing and exciting adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original Romeo and Juliet (no, not the version with Leonardo DiCaprio in it, the actual original from several hundred years ago) and is performed by a cast of talented young actors. The four boys are at a boarding school – as strict and oppressive as imaginable – and once their classes have finished, one of them produces a copy of Romeo and Juliet, from which they all take turns to read passages. As the performance progresses, the boys become deeply emerged in the themes of the play and the lines between reality and fiction become blurred.

15-18 July NAHDA

For something hard-hitting and thoughtprovoking this month, look no further than Nahda at Bush Theatre. It’s a collection of four short stories which tell tales of the confusion of second generation children of refugees, the fate of British-Muslim soldiers, the West’s obsession with food and consumerism, as well as five generations of Arab Spring women using social media for political purposes. Questions about personal freedom and identity are raised and in a world of ever-changing and conflicting forces, these questions have never been more relevant. Nahda is a timely piece that’ll stun you into silence and leave you thinking about the wider world.

the invisible

£12, 7pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm

tabard theatre COMING TO THE WEST END THIS MONTH

Until 15 August THE INVISIBLE

From £15, Monday-Saturday 7.30pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees 2.30pm, Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 8LJ, 020 8743 5050 (bushtheatre.co.uk)

From 30 July DEAR LUPIN This play is based upon the book by Roger Mortimer, which won the coveted Humour Book of the Year award from The Sunday Times. The book comprises hilarious letters to the author’s son Charlie, and are full of sharp observations and comical anecdotes. The play version stars father-and-son duo James and Jack Fox (Jack plays Charlie), and explores the © Christopher Harvey

It seems that John Grisham is about to have his law fiction crown knocked off by the talented playwright behind this performance, Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The plot follows lawyer Gail who is on a date with a man named Ken – but it’s going disastrously. Ken’s out looking for sympathy, but Gail is trying to enjoy herself, have a bottle of rosé and ‘forget it all’. Sadly for Gail, she can’t switch off because injustices are being carried out behind closed doors, and people are being forced to represent themselves in court despite not being fit to do so. Someone has to change this situation and it seems that plucky, charismatic Gail is the only person qualified to do so.

£17, £15 concessions, 7.30pm, Tabard Theatre, 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW, 020 8995 6035 (tabardtheatre.co.uk)

tales of Charlie’s life and relationship with his father. For a funny, heart-warming play to see out the summer, there’s nothing better available. shakespeare’s r&j

Until 8 August SHAKESPEARE’S R&J

Fresh from a run in Stratford-upon-Avon, a town famous for being the birthplace of that Elizabethan chap, the Chapel Lane Theatre

From £20, Monday-Saturday 7.45pm, Thursday and Saturday matinee 3pm, Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES 0844 482 9671 (nimaxtheatres.com)

Sounds of the

summer

Key concerts in the area and what’s hot on the scene live shows

singles snippets

18 July Vardis and Diamond Head

Here’s a quick glance at what’s out and about at the moment

This concert might sound remarkably like something out of Star Trek but in fact, it’s two musical acts that have been around for a while. This evening is a celebration of bands who are well-regarded on the British heavy metal scene: Diamond Head and Vardis. £18, 7.30pm, Bush Hall, 310 Uxbridge Road, W12 7LJ, 020 8222 6955 (bushhallmusic.co.uk)

walk the moon

20 July D’Angelo and the Vanguard

After a three-hour impromptu piano recital in front of record label executives in 1993, D’Angelo was signed to his recording contract. This set him up for some great performances throughout his career, using his spontaneity to his advantage. Having been on the scene for a while now, he tackles genres of all nature with gusto and confidence. He takes elements from R&B, neo soul, funk, soul, jazz fusion and psychedelic rock. If, like us, you’re not sure what some of those are, why not buy a ticket and find out what they all sound like? From £51.75, 7pm, Eventim Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, W6 9QH, 0844 249 4300 (eventimapollo.com)

WALK THE MOON SHUT UP AND DANCE

This song is for the summer – there’s no question as to why it was released at this time of year. It’s one of those feel-good songs that, when played around a group of youngsters, will cause mass dancing, singing along and probably a fair bit of screaming too. Walk the Moon are new, fun and we love them.

JASON DERULO WANT TO WANT ME

This one’s been out long enough for you to have heard it on the radio but if you haven’t, then you’re going to have to come out from underneath your rock and face the music (yes, pun very much intended). For those with teens living with them, this is a favourite and goes down well at parties. Parents probably secretly enjoy it in the car

diamond head

jason derulo

[music]

too, but we doubt they’d let their kids know that…

LITTLE MIX BLACK MAGIC

Glorious girl group Little Mix’s new song is more or less identical to what they’ve always been doing. Great if you like that kind of drum-heavy thing with strong vocals as they try and sing over one another, but tiresome if that’s not to your taste. Although saying that, it’s fairly catchy and will undoubtedly ensnare you in its melody if you aren’t too careful.

It’s fairly catchy and will undoubtedly ensnare you in its melody if you aren’t too careful iLL BLU FEAT JAMES MORRISON LONELY PEOPLE

Trumpets, clapping and upbeat tempos: this is what radio DJs mean when they call something ‘a corker’. It’s got a bit of everything and it’s repetitive enough to be classed as on-trend and up-to-date. Whether that’s a good thing or not is entirely up to you.

LUCY ROSE LIKE AN ARROW

A folky and husky voice paired with a lovely guitar-led backing. It’s nice that the lyrics actually mean something too, which is something that’s getting less and less commonplace. She does sound quite a lot like any other young singer out on the folk scene at the moment, but it’s all very good stuff nevertheless.

lucy rose

album review

Kelly by Andrea Faustini Tom Hagues discovers that Kelly is perfect to listen for a fix of gospel music

s a musical ignoramus, I approached this album with trepidation. I knew full well that I wouldn’t be able to do its musical techniques any justice, nor would I be able to comment knowledgably on the scale of Faustini’s vocals. Really, I suggest you stop reading now if you’re looking for something that’s thoughtful and backed with well-informed nuggets of knowledge about the composition. No, this review will come from an innocent listener.

Frankly, he’s all about relying on his voice to impress The first song I approached on the album is entitled Lascia Tutto Cosi, which translates loosely from Italian to ‘leave everything as it is’. It’s a bold opener and offers a shining opportunity for people to find out what Faustini is all about and frankly, he’s all about relying on his voice to impress. In a world of auto-tuned lyrics and computer-generated sounds, this is refreshing to hear. This theme carries on throughout the album and Back to the Sea is completely stripped back, and in the words of almost everyone in the music industry: ‘It’s a raw sound.’ Evaporate is one of those empowering

songs that you often hear on any album. There’s a bit more in the way of instruments here, but the main thing I was left thinking about was what the video would be like if he released the song as a single. I can assure you, there will almost certainly be a lonely Faustini on a windy clifftop at sunset singing out towards the sea with his arms extended. Yes, it’s one of those songs. Give a Little is proof that this album is gospel-inspired. It has the clapping you’d expect and the harmonious ‘oohing’ of choir vocals in the background sounding like tuneful ghosts is enjoyable. The title track, Kelly, has a catchy chorus that’ll get stuck in your head. For something to listen to in order to unwind, I’d recommend What Would Dusty Do and You Pulled Me Through, both of which are smooth, melodic and gentle. In all, Kelly comes across as a standard ‘look at how well I can sing’ album that Faustini manages to pull off. I imagine this success is mostly down to surprise – he was an X Factor contestant and thankfully hasn’t gone down the road of unoriginality like most fallouts from the show do. I doubt very much that Faustini is a flash-in-the-pan one-hitwonder. He’ll be around for a while. £8.99 on iTunes rating

andrea faustini

Big love

vibes

As the reincarnation of iconic reggae band UB40 prepares to play this year’s Kew the Music festival at Kew Gardens, Jennifer Mason chats to Ali Campbell about his success, lessons learned and looking to the future

music, and I loved it. It was only when I ventured out of the area that I realised not everybody felt the same way; other people of my generation were listening to music by others like David Bowie, which went straight over my head. We decided to start a band to promote reggae.

What’s the secret to the band’s phenomenal success?

Reggae. I’ve been in the music business for 30 years, and I truly believe that all over the world, people love reggae. The cliché is that it represents peace, love and unity, and that’s true. It lifts spirits and brings people together.

What was the most challenging part about leaving the original band?

It was really hard for me, because I’d never been a speaker on stage. I’d never introduced numbers or anything – that was always Astro’s job; then my brother Robin did all the chatting, and I did all the singing. So I suddenly found myself having to talk to the audience – and I’m not the most eloquent of people. I’ve got a thick Birmingham accent, which people can’t understand a lot of the time! So that was definitely the most difficult part.

ub40

irmingham, 1978. What began as a group of friends and reggae enthusiasts looking for a way to promote their favourite kind of music, morphed into one of the world’s most popular bands. In its time, the band was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album four times, nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group in 1984, and was responsible for selling more than 70 million records. In 2008, lead singer and founding member Ali Campbell left along

with Mickey Virtue after creative differences split the band apart. Followed in 2013 by Astro, the three, determined to bring reggae music back into public consciousness, took back the name UB40 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Why did you want to be part of the music business?

Where I grew up in south Birmingham, all my mates were predominantly West Indian and Asian, so I grew up listening to reggae

How did the reformation of the band come about?

Mickey and I left the original band in 2008, not to have a solo career, as has been suggested, but because we didn’t like the management. We travelled round the world flying the flag for reggae, as usual, for six years. Then the ‘dark side’ (as we had begun to call the management company) decided very unwisely to make a country album, which was a slap in the face to me and to the fans who had supported the band,

[LIVE MUSIC]

because the whole reason behind UB40 had always been to promote reggae. Astro agreed – so he left them and came and joined us about 18 months ago. The audiences since then have decided that we’re back together again, so we’ve taken back the UB40 name to salvage the legacy, and we’ve been on a smash, sell-out tour ever since!

Has the whole experience changed you?

No. I felt very betrayed about what happened with UB40 for a long time, but it’s old news now. I think the pragmatic way of looking at it is; I’ve made 24 albums, I’d been with the band for 28 years – I started it, so I’ll finish it. The old band had its day, but now it’s time for this new band. We’re back, and we’re better than ever. I feel blessed that I’m still able to do what I do best and what I love; touring round the world promoting reggae with the hottest reggae band on the road at the moment.

If you had to sum up your music in three words, what would they be?

Big Love Vibes.

Are you excited to play Kew the Music?

We added this date to the tour quite recently, because all the other gigs we’d arranged in England had sold out and we wanted to give more people a chance to come and see us. We’ve been adding new ones… and they’re selling out too! The audiences have been really supportive; they’re very emotional at the moment about us getting back together. They’re really

the stage at night

behind us, it’s lovely. We’re getting a lot of love. The gig we did in Birmingham recently sold out to the rafters and when we came out on stage, the roar that greeted us was incredible. We were taken aback!

Why do you think gigs have been selling out so quickly?

We’re the perfect outdoor festival band. In the ’80s and ’90s we had 40 Top 20 hits, so we can rock up anywhere in the world and people will recognise the songs that we’re performing. That’s really important at festivals and outdoor events.

Where will we see UB40 after Kew the Music?

We’ll be all over Europe like a bad rash! We end this year in America with an extensive

tour of 35 dates there. Then we’re off to Australasia to do a Red Red Winery Tour. One of the dates there in New Zealand sold out in record time, so if the rest of that tour goes well, we’d like to take that round the world. Wherever wine is made, you’ll find us!

Anything you’d like to say to the people who are coming to see you play at Kew the Music?

I’d like to say: big love to everybody. I hope they’re coming to party, because we’re coming to party with them and we can’t wait. Ali, Astro and Mickey will perform at Kew the Music on 11 July. As we go to print, the show is almost sold out, but a few last-minute tickets have been released. For more information, visit kewthemusic.org

the stage

Creativity in

west london

A quick look at what’s on offer in the area plenty to do

If Sarah Richardson’s Q&A (opposite) has whetted your appetite for some portraiture, then you’re in for a helping hand. Believe it or not, but the National Portrait Gallery has a great exhibition on that illustrates the life of actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn. It’s a photographic exhibition rather than traditional painted portraiture, but it’ll enthral art fans and Hepburn-lovers alike.

2 July until 18 October AUDREY HEPBURN: PORTRAITS OF AN ICON

£9, concessions £7.50, 10am-6pm, Thursday and Friday late nights until 9pm, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE 020 7766 7344 (npg.org.uk)

mixes movie stars with fans in an intimate way (which is sometimes terrifying for the stars, but always life-affirming for the fans). This year, guests include Michael J. Fox, Michael Gambon and Michael Traynor. Other actors in attendance who aren’t called Michael include Charles Dance and Lea Thompson.

royal academy summer exhibition

entries from artists who submit paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures to name but a few. With so much going on and plenty to look at, it’s unsurprising that it’s lasted 247 years.

audrey hepburn: portrait of an icon

£12, 10am-4.30pm, Friday late nights open until 8.30pm, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, W1J 0BD, 020 7300 8000 (royalacademy.org.uk)

From £12, see website for pricing details, Friday 1pm-8pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am6pm, Olympia National, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX (londonfilmandcomiccon.com)

Until 19 July ALL OF THIS BELONGS TO YOU

This is your last chance to see this exhibition, which explores what it means to be responsible for a nation and is inspired by our democratic voting system. According to the museum, the exhibition will ‘act as a laboratory for public life and explore the role of design and architecture in defining civic identity, technology, security, citizenship, democracy, the public realm and urban experience’. If that doesn’t raise your level of intrigue, I don’t know what will.

Throughout July ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER EXHIBITION

It would be rude, inconceivable almost, not to include the Summer Exhibition taking place at the Royal Academy in any arts and exhibitions round-up. Touted as the world’s largest open exhibition, it gets flooded with

Free admission, daily opening 10am-5.45pm, Friday 10am-10pm, Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000 (vam.ac.uk)

london film and comic con

17-19 July LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON

Film and television lovers rejoice: your three-day fill of excitement happens this month. An annual (and greatly popular affair), the London Film and Comic Con

all of this belongs to you © Peter Kelleher/Victoria & Albert Museum, London 2015

[arts and exhibitions]

Q&A

Sarah Richardson Painter and portrait artist Sarah Richardson has lived in west London for many years. Here, she tells us a little bit about herself and her work How did your love of painting and portraiture come about?

complete something with their own eyes is important. These are all things that I’m constantly trying to achieve in my own pieces of work.

My earliest memories are of watching my father painting murals. He wasn’t a professional painter, but did it as a hobby for friends and often took me with him, so my interest sparked from there. Life after art school at Central Saint Martins resulted in the struggle of trying to pay the rent and so my freelance illustration work was sacrificed for a series of ‘nine-to-five jobs’ in the museum and cultural exhibition world in London, where my administration skills rescued me both financially and professionally. After my children became less dependent on me, I felt free to spend time under the tutelage of a marvellous man and a very gifted painter – Jason Bowyer (ex-president of the New English Art Club). We painted together for several years until he suggested that I enrol at The Heatherley Art School and concentrate on portraiture. His suggestion led to me completing the diploma and post diploma courses in portraiture.

Have you ever attempted a self-portrait? Yes, I’ve tried several self-portraits but have never been happy enough with any of them to submit for exhibition. However, I’m working on this at the moment because I’d really like to enter something that I’ve checked into The Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition in King’s Cross, which is a wonderful display that shows every two years.

If you could paint anyone in the world who would it be?

At the moment, I’m working on a painting of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It’s very much in the early stages, because opportunities for him being able to sit for me are limited. He suggested that it might be easier for me to paint him in his home in South Africa and I may well have to complete it there, but he’s certainly someone who I’d like to paint above many others. You can read more about Sarah Richardson, as well as the The Lots Road Group (16 artists supporting each other) at thelotsroadgroup. wordpress.com, sarahrichardsonportraits.com

Who or what inspires you?

This is always such a difficult question to answer as it changes as I discover and understand more. There are the usual suspects like Rembrandt, Velasquez, Piero della Francesca, Lucian Freud, Diebenkorn and Euan Uglow whose work is hugely inspirational to me. For direct influence, I’d choose the artists working and teaching me every day. At Heatherley, we’ve been fortunate enough to be taught in the atelier system, meaning tutors teach by example. Some of the people who’ve taught me in this way include Jason Bowyer, Andy James, Tim Benson, Miriam Escofet, Atul Vohora and Alan Ramsey.

What makes a good portrait?

This is also a very difficult question, because so many things make a good portrait and they’re not always the same. For instance, styles differ enormously over time and it’s not always easy to compare like with like, but essentially, every good portrait has to speak to you on an emotional level; the economy of brushstroke, capturing the person with a confident mark and not overworking it. Also, leaving the viewer to

Sarah painting Katharine Whitehorn

Hidden

treasure

The Dorsett Hotel in Shepherd’s Bush is jam-packed with beautiful architectural features. Self-proclaimed interiors expert Tom Hagues takes it upon himself to go and explore

[above] the main lobby

The road outside the hotel is busy. It’s bustling, loud, packed with traffic and the antithesis of a claming, relaxed atmosphere. Bizarre, then, that this lobby should be so tranquil (save for heels clip-clopping self-importantly across the marble floor).

It’s bright, airy and full of little elements of splendour (the extremely well-polished reception desk and pillars which reflect the light coming in from the door). The best thing about this part of the hotel is the concave circle in the roof. Backlit with orangey-yellow lights, it’s like a well-placed UFO. Top marks for first impressions.

[left] lobby seating area

I’ve never understood the point of seating areas in lobbies. Surely if you’re waiting around it’s better to do it in the bar (provided there is one). Nevertheless, this lobby has a great seating area. It looks like a movie set and the uplighting on the wall gives it a secluded, almost comforting feel. Maybe not the best place for a date, but not far off.

[loCAL SPOTLIGHT]

[right] pictures restaurant

There are other places to eat in this hotel but Pictures is (in my opinion) the loveliest to look at. Its regimented, French-style layout and cornflower-blue walls offer a sense of sophistication. There’s another orb-like lighting fixture at the entrance to it, but this one provides a good orange contrast to the blue of the walls. The Japanese-style dividers separating the restaurant from the hall is a continuation of the Asian-themed bars elsewhere in the building. Plenty of natural light pours into Pictures, which is handy because the entrance is moodily-lit and dark. The design here is a mix of different inspirations: Asian, European and a bit of contemporary influence all play a key part in making it what it is. The menu’s good too.

dorsett hotel Having recently had a design award slapped on it, the building housing the Dorsett in Shepherds Bush has plenty of industrial history under its belt. It now stands proud and imposing with an interior that is not only crisp and modern, but also perfectly understated. After having a quick snoop, I’ve decided that it might be one of the best lesser-known treasures on offer in wonderful west London. (dorsetthotels.com)

[below] the atrium

Dangerously close to being shopping centre-like, the thing that saves this part of the building is the sleek windows running around the balustrades. The glass roof provides the much-needed lighting and the wooden façades are in keeping with the Jin bar’s Asian theme on the ground floor. There’s something ship-like about this part – maybe it’s the regimented levels or sliding windows. Either way, it works surprisingly well and looking down onto the bar is a nice touch. The chinking of glasses and gentle music wafts up to the higher floors, but this bit’s really not for those terrified of heights.

playhouses • castles • treehouses T: 01544 387100 www.theplayhousecompany.co.uk

[POLITICS]

hp source:

henry hopwood-phillips reports on local issues

HIGH STAKES Henry Hopwood-Phillips wonders where it’s all going

roman amphitheater of hierapolis pamukkale in turkey, an early feature of democracy

’m often asked why I don’t own a mobile phone, a TV or the internet and my pat answer usually revolves around a spectacularly unfunny joke about Amish or Luddite ancestry. Even this painful patter is usually better than giving the real reason, which outs me as a bit of a pessimist (and therefore a heretic in many eyes). The bones of an honest reply would run thus: ‘inward detachment is becoming difficult.’ I sense ‘undemocratic forces are, in a barely democratic guise, stealing our liberties and, more importantly, eroding individuals’ sense of self.’ But, this is hardly light-hearted table-talk, and would doubtless endear me to few audiences. Here I have no table, however, just an audience and so an explanation is in order. There were plenty of warnings about the process I’ve outlined, running from Marx

to Adorno, from Marcuse through to Baudrillard, but all have been ignored. In short, the argument is that hated art, music or views needn’t be destroyed; people merely need to be placed under cultural pressures so immense and attritional that they choose

And yet, and yet, is the notion of ‘decline’ a lazy hermeneutic? to reject high culture in toto. Mozart’s music will therefore not die when burnt; it will die when the last ear accessible to his message has gone. In the vacuum left, certain fads hover. Without a high culture to make us feel (civilised and demonised) emotions such as

guilt, we feel free to laud our guts (and call it health), comfort (and call it leisure) and insecurities. This is Nietzsche’s ‘Last Man’: the victim of money corroding the intellect on one side and a therapeutic attack – one that treats reason as an imposition on feelings – demoralising it on the other. This therapeutic thinking reaches fever pitch in our foreign policy where Locarno (1925) still lurks. Here we insist, as an infant might, on seeing the world as we would like it to be (pacifistic), rather than how it is (as evidenced by history). This has meant history must be wished away as one long prelude to a permanent march of progress (pace Butterfield). And so we wonder, with an imposed innocence, why the world around us implodes whilst we ossify. We marvel at how our coin fails to buy off the sword; we stand in consternation as ironism folds before fundamentalism. We speculate as to why others have stopped respecting our words when we have stopped respecting ourselves. And yet, is the notion of ‘decline’ a lazy hermeneutic? Is it teleological thinking at its worst? Are we actually spinning on a very classical cycle of time, which operates like the seasons – a world in which we follow truths right through to their crazy conclusions before starting all over again like blinking babes? Perhaps the sign of a mature civilisation is the capacity to recognise these processes occurring – to be alive to these things, yet inert like a plant, because so few can make history. A friend touched on a similar line of thought recently when he claimed there must have been a reason why the Romans revived Stoicism during the imperial period. He noted it was ‘probably due’ to the fact they had ‘recognised that all their wealth and feats of arms had gained them greater competence for human stupidity, vanity etc. and little else.’ Perhaps a little humility is in order – the curse of the historian is to describe, not influence, affairs.

The finer

points

Chiswick Point has got something special up its sleeve for residents

a chiswick point apartment

adly, it’s difficult to find the oldfashioned charm of a doorman or concierge in a lot of modern apartment blocks. Gone are the days when a friendly face would open the door for you, carry your bags or keep a parcel for you if you were out. It’s a romantic idea – someone in white gloves and a bowler hat letting you in and out of your building – but sadly it’s now usually reserved for the mansion blocks of Belgravia and Mayfair. However, the tide is turning and at

Chiswick Point, there’s always a friendly face to meet residents. Concierge James McNally is on hand for those who have moved into Bellway’s development and he’s bringing back the charm of sophisticated apartment block living of yesteryear. His tasks range from taking deliveries, greeting and directing visitors to taking messages for residents who are out and about. McNally is experienced and knows how to look after a development, which you’ll agree is a good thing. ‘Before coming to Chiswick Point, I

worked as a concierge at Grosvenor Estates on Eaton Square,’ McNally says. ‘Security was a major part of my role there and at times it was quite challenging. Chiswick Point is actually quite a lot larger, but it means I’m kept busy assisting residents from all 91 of the apartments.’ It’s not just a friendly face and someone to keep an eye on the potential burglars tiptoeing around in black-and-white striped T-shirts that McNally offers, though. ‘As a key holder, I can accept parcels on residents’

[PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT]

development diary

the lobby at chiswick point

behalf and either hold or deliver them to their apartment,’ McNally says. It’s very much a case of making life easier for the people who live in the building and, in the hustle and bustle of this world, most people find that a welcome service. Plus, with a Security Industry Authority approval, McNally is a qualified security guard so offers residents piece of mind. The only thing separating McNally and the title of ‘superhero’ is the lack of sidekick – and cape.

A popular choice for people looking for smart living in a haven away from the smog and smoke of central London

hammersmith grove

Coming to a road near you, right around the corner in fact, is 10 and 12 Hammersmith Grove. They are two monstrously large glass buildings, but are thankfully more or less perfectly camouflaged into the buzzing metropolis of Hammersmith. They’ll house many an office worker in the very near future and with balconies overlooking handsome Hammersmith and sitting only a stone’s throw away from Shepherd’s Bush, this office location is both desirable and enviable. Business people will relish the opportunity to ask clients and customers: ‘Perhaps we can discuss this further out on the balcony? Please, after you.’ Hammersmith has gone through bouts of regeneration in recent years, particularly around Lyric Square. Thankfully, despite 10 and 12 Hammersmith Grove being business-use buildings, they’re not boring to look at, nor do they cause flowers to wilt and clouds to form, cartoon-style, at the thought of them. Instead, they’re properly Hammersmith-esque – they’re fun, not overly corporate

As for Chiswick Point itself, it’s a popular choice for anyone looking for smart living in a haven away from the smog and smoke of central London. It’s only seven miles from all of that however, so it’s perfectly positioned – as is much of Chiswick – for people to nip in and out to enjoy the bright lights and wonders that the capital has to offer. All the usual mod-cons are built into the properties and each one has a balcony for people to enjoy and perhaps wave hello from as McNally does his rounds. Chiswick has plenty to boast about and the fact it’s home to an apartment block with a proper, old-fashioned concierge is one more box that it can tick.

and they look perfectly swish. Saying that, set against the red brickwork of nearby Hammersmith Tube station (Hammersmith and City terminal) they stand out like the classmates who were taller than everyone else and looked odd in school photos. Naturally, that’s always deemed as being rather charming and it does actually work here. (‘They’re deliberately juxtaposing!’ cries the architect.) The plan is to get these twin builds open and in use by 2016. Number 10 Hammersmith Grove (the one that’ll house three new restaurants) has had all of its units let already, so popularity is proven already. Well, either they’re popular builds or people know that they don’t want to work any more than a lift-ride away from a good lunch. We’d say keep an eye out, but you’ll hardly be able to miss this newest development. (1012hg.com)

(chiswickpoint.com)

concierge james mcnally

Tuscany in

west london

The history behind Villa di Geggiano holds some big claims and fascinating stories. Tom Hagues dives into it all with vim and vigour

stride into Villa di Geggiano on Chiswick High Road with my curiosity at an all-time high. What, I ask myself, am I about to discover? From the outside, the place is fairly inconspicuous – you probably wouldn’t pay much attention to it unless you were on the top deck of the bus that stops outside, or if you were sitting in traffic. There’s a courtyard at the front with tables and umbrellas which make it obvious that it’s a restaurant, but apart from that, it could easily be any independent eatery. Imagine my surprise then, when I walk in to find myself in the middle of Tuscany and, save for the electricity and modern touches,

The villa di geggiano interior

the middle of another century. It’s based on the real Villa di Geggiano in Tuscany – a house six kilometres from Siena that’s famed for being the home of the Bianchi Bandinelli family since 1527 – and this is obvious from its elegant style. The beautiful tiling on the floor, the white-washed walls and sumptuous day room are all straight out of a traditional Italian stately home. I sit on the sofa in the day room with Ilona Pacia, the brains behind the London villa and my teacher for the day. ‘It’s an extensive history’, she tells me, while pointing to the many paintings and photographs hanging on the wall. These pictures are of the family, the Tuscan villa and the gardens surrounding

it – it’s the perfect setting to be immersed in the history of it all. The original villa in Italy was given to the Bianchi Bandinelli family as the dowry of Girolama Santi when she married Girolamo Bandinelli in 1527. The family and the villa is credited with being one of the very first wineries to export Chianti to England, and documents showing Niccolò Bandinelli making wine from as early as 1725. Ilona insists that I try some of the famous red, an offer I make sure to take her up on before she’s even finished asking me. It’s brought in an odd glass – there’s no stem and the rim is in a perplexing oval shape. The idea behind this shape of glass, I’m told, is that it’s

[local interest]

terrace table

supposed to be the perfect vessel for tasting wine. The oval shape breaks the wine’s flow around the glass when it’s being swilled, which allows it to react with the air thus giving you a full, punch-in-the-face sample of this ancient wine. I swirl it, sip it and, because I don’t want to ruin the lovely sofa I’m sitting on, swallow it. It’s good. In fact it’s very good, which makes perfect sense because the villa has had several hundred years of practice making it. Back to Italy now, specifically Siena, which sits snugly in the south-west of the Chianti Classico production area in Tuscany. The surroundings of the villa are the sort you see in advertisements for wine tours in Italy: rustic stone buildings, rolling hills with regimented vineyards running down them and a healthy dose of blue sky and sunshine.

front of house team at the chiswick site

back a display cabinet door. ‘And here is our full selection!’ she smiles, revealing several bottles of wine; five red and one rosé (or rather, rosato). The Bandinello 2012 IGT Toscana is regarded as the house red and is actually attractively priced (£21 for a bottle) and I make enquiries as to why it costs this little. ‘We want to appeal to a broad audience here,’ Ilona begins. ‘We’re trying to get younger people to come and sit outside with a bottle of Bandinello on a summer evening and have some nibbles on the terrace.’ I nod enthusiastically at her. ‘That’s brilliant,’ I tell her. I begin to get the impression that she suspects I like Villa di Geggiano. We meander to the back of the restaurant, to a slightly more secluded area with various pieces of art on the wall. She gestures towards one of them and tells me: ‘I love this one. It’s by

The surroundings of the villa are the sort you see in advertisements for wine tours in Italy This region stretches between Siena and Florence, the former being the closest town to Villa di Geggiano. Unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of history (and wine museums) in the towns surrounding the villa, but really, the place is a monument in itself. For west London residents, hosting the UK version of this place should be considered an honour. After some more historical nuggets have been thrown my way and I’ve ooh-ed and aah-ed with deep interest, Ilona shows me around the Chiswick site. ‘These are the original bottles that the Chianti would have been brought over in,’ she says as she pulls

a New York artist who’s been earmarked as being the next Andy Warhol.’ I rub my chin in the way that I imagine art critics do and nod, concealing the fact I know nothing about contemporary art (or any, for that matter). Next, I’m taken towards the front of the site where the terrace is. Ilona leads me down into an extension of the building that looks like an upmarket delicatessen. ‘It’s not a normal deli,’ Ilona quickly informs me. ‘There are so many delis up and down the High Road, we decided that we wanted to do something a bit different, so we only offer really good meat, cheese and bread.’ There are a few other bits and bobs on offer (again, all of the highest calibre) in this little artisan deli and it’s decorated with beautiful flagstone flooring and small terrace tables. I leave before I try and claim squatters’ rights and prepare myself for a lot of reading up on the Bianchi Bandinelli family. Villa di Geggiano in Chiswick could have been nothing more than an Italian restaurant designed to look like a beautiful Tuscan villa but in reality it’s so much more than that. Also, rather than cramming the history down your throat, the entire place subtly hints at a time gone by and of a well-cared for heritage. The Bianchi Bandinellis and their historical standing, with fine wine, relaxed dining and outstanding hospitality have arrived in Chiswick and there’s nothing bad about that whatsoever. 66-68 Chiswick High Road, W4 1SY, 020 3384 9442 (villadigeggiano.co.uk)

[INTERVIEW]

Baker’s

dozen

We speak to the founder of GAIL’S Tom Molnar to find out what it’s like running an artisan bakery, without having to get our hands all floury

Do you get to be very handson with GAIL’S or is it mostly behind-the-scenes work?

I love to be on the floor selling bread, pulling coffees and talking to people. We have a great group of people who work with us and we have premises in some of the greatest neighbourhoods in London – so who really wants to stay ‘behind the scenes’? As my mother said: ‘life is on the road, not the inn’.

How did you come up with the idea for GAIL’S? Did you find it simply a case of filling a gap in the market?

a Gail’s chocolate pecan brownie

What goes into the day-to-day running of GAIL’S?

We’re all about amazing food and coffee, so every day we have new ideas to work on. We try really hard to make sure we have a tight baking schedule so that every 20-30 minutes something delicious is coming fresh out of the oven – like what the world’s best grandma cooks. We also think a lot about how it should be displayed – it’s worth taking the extra time to make something beautiful. There’s not enough beauty in the world, so we try to change that. We also spend a lot of time communicating internally about what’s going on and where we’re going. People join GAIL’s because they believe that we can materially improve the food scene in London, so we want to nurture this interest in our vision. Roy, our head chef, and the rest of the food team, are crucial in order to get everyone excited and focused on quality and beauty.

How much tasting goes on? Be honest…

Tons of it. We’ll do lots of salads for a few weeks and then change our focus to breads, then sweets, then drinks or summer cakes.

How do you decide which products go out? Do you do mass tasting days?

We had a fun time doing a few bread tests where we closed the bakery early and had a popular vote for the new loaves we were thinking of making. We had a lot of wine and ate a lot of bread and in the end we voted on two new products – spelt sunflower and a fruit bread. Mostly, we do the tastings internally. They can last all day and into the night. When we were doing the menu for our restaurant, GAIL’s Kitchen in Bloomsbury, we would meet at 7pm on a Wednesday and eat ourselves silly until 1am trying new things. It’s a fun job…

Gail Mejia was our inspiration and is a great food pioneer and she and her team were making some of the world’s best bread for the world’s best chefs. We still serve these chefs and many more who have worked hard to make London one of the world’s best food destinations. My friend Ran Avidan and I were desperate to find world-class bread more widely available and GAIL’s just came out of the idea that everyone prefers to eat chef-quality bread and food, even if they don’t want to leave their communities. We think that a neighbourhood bakery is an important part of the high street and that good food needs to be more widely available and accessible. We really just wanted to contribute something worthwhile; bread and food was our way of doing it. GAIL’S Chiswick, 282 Chiswick High Road, W4 1PA, 020 8995 2266 (gailsbread.co.uk)

gails’ window display

[LETTERS]

Word on

THE STREET The latest from west London’s vocal locals

SO NEAR, YET SOFA I was driving along the High Road the other day (at a crawling pace since it was that time of day – I’m sure everyone knows what I’m talking about) and saw a lovely sofa being delivered to somewhere – a flat above one of the shops, I think. I’ve scoured the internet for something similar ever since, typing in various phrases with no results being thrown up. Does anyone know of someone who can point me in the direction of a good furniture shop, either online or on the street, but failing that, someone who might be able to reupholster my current sofa? - Mrs Phillips

the people whose day I ruined. I hope your leg isn’t too bruised. - Mr Fraser

COLD-BLOODED VILLA

will you bar-be-quiet?

ridiculous. Luckily, they’ve calmed it down a bit since I went round at 2am during the last one and said my piece. I know that I’m not the only person in the street who’s suffered from this – please be considerate, my fellow residents of Chiswick! - Ms Saltzer

A LITTLE SLIP-UP so near, yet sofa

WILL YOU BAR-BE-QUIET? I recently had a bit of trouble with a neighbour who kept hosting ridiculously loud barbecues in his garden, which is fine during the day and early evening – we do it ourselves – but to continue them into the small hours of the morning almost every weekend is just

Thank you to everyone who helped my elderly mother after she ‘took a tumble’ on Shepherd’s Bush Road last month. She was very concerned that people might think she hadn’t thanked them in her confusion, so I said that I’d write in for her. She said that everyone was very caring and someone sat with her for a few moments while she gathered herself. Thank you to whoever that was, and I’m so glad that there are people out there who are kind

hearted enough to do something like that. How refreshing. - Mr Wildman

FORE-GIVE ME I’m a keen golfer, but I owe a group of people a very heartfelt apology. I was playing at Dukes Meadows last month and thwacked the ball with such a good line, I was too busy boasting to my sporting comrades that I forgot to warn other golfers about my incoming missile. While I’m sad it resulted in my drive being skewed off course, I would like to wholeheartedly apologise to

fore-give me

The Victorian villas in and around Paddenswick Road in W6 are so beautiful and I’m in the process of trying to move into one. However, the only one I’ve seen seemed a bit chilly, despite the fact it’s the summer. I don’t know if this is because it had had all of its windows open during the day or something like that, but can anyone assure me on the reliability of these properties’ heat retention? It might be me being silly, but it’s good to get advice before diving into something as big as a move. - Ms Jansen

THE FAR FEAST I’m looking for great Asian cuisine in west London (I would like to avoid the centre of town) and want to go on recommendations rather than online reviews etc. I’m looking for authenticity and excellent flavour. Answers on a postcard (or here), please! - Mr Salmon

the far feast

If you have anything you’d like to share, ask or say, email us at chiswick.bg@residentsjournal.co.uk, write to us at Runwild Media Group, 6th Floor, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AX or tweet us @ChiswickWestJ

Your neighbourly

estate agent

Meet Philip Wooller, west London’s community agency

Philip wooller

t’s a Monday afternoon at Philip Wooller’s shop on Askew Road. The street outside is buzzing with activity and I’ve come to speak to a man who knows the area – and its market – like the back of his hand. ‘I came to London in 1993 and started working in Brook Green,’ Philip begins. ‘Very soon after that, I bought a flat in Shepherd’s Bush. Living there and working in Brook Green, I noticed that a lot of people had started moving west. I worked in Brook Green for 13 years and then worked in Hammersmith for five.’ It was during this time spent living and working in the area that he witnessed the positive effects of this westerly migration and, at the end of 2012, the doors opened for business at Philip Wooller’s estate agency. Philip remarks on the changes that he’s seen take place in the area, particularly along and around Askew Road. ‘When The Ginger Pig butcher arrived, it was a big step for the area,’ he says. ‘Here, at the weekends, the place is full of people going to the shops and hanging out – it’s incredible.’ Askew Road has become a destination, it seems,

for people looking for the independent coffee and gift shops that are commonplace in other areas of west London. ‘People are drawn in by the artisan bread shops and coffee places,’ Philip says assuredly. ‘The fact that this has happened during the last three years or so makes me feel very lucky to be here. I think that, in terms of the change in the area, we can feel rightly proud to have been part of it all.’ The area’s changes are cemented by the addition of high street supermarkets and the arrival of a Costa coffee shop. ‘These companies do their research,’ Philip explains. Philip tells me that he was one of the first agents to open in the area for many years, and after he did so, others followed suit. ‘We’re established here now and we’re seeing repeat business after three years. We rely on word of mouth and reputation – we don’t put advertising through letterboxes or anything,’ he tells me. Philip Wooller is very much a community-minded business and this is made very clear by the fact that there’s a noticeboard by the office door with community notices, posters for local

fairs and other leaflets and information. ‘We’re a small agency offering a individual service. The benefit of being this size is that we can make very speedy decisions and tailor things to what people want. I think the flexibility we offer is what people like,’ he says. It’s evident from the small team – the members of which all live and send children to schools in the area – that the business can offer personal, intelligent property advice and an efficient service. ‘We’re all intimately involved with the community,’ Philip affirms. ‘We’ve just been ourselves in that way, and by doing so, the business has ended up being a bit different.’ A mixture of the area’s amenities beginning to attract people and the fact that it’s now an extremely desirable location means that Phillip can really engage with his customers and focus on the transactions and quality of his service. ‘The area’s starting to sell itself,’ he nods. ‘Another great thing about a small agent is that the buyer and the seller get the feeling that the whole process is more likely to come to fruition and that they won’t be throwing money down the drain, which sometimes happens with a bigger agency. If we take on a property, we tend to sell it, or let, it with very low risk of fall-through – there’s no time-wasting in our process and it’s beneficial to all parties, which ultimately means that we can be competitive.’ In short, business is booming; mostly thanks to the small, trustworthy team at Philip Wooller. In fact, it’s coming along leaps and bounds – so much so that Philip tells me: ‘I think we’re going to have to get a bigger table to work at!’ It’s refreshing to see a business so deeply rooted in the local community; very few estate agencies – if any – can boast that all of its staff live in the area they’re selling houses in. For that friendly-face-next-door way of business, Philip Wooller is just the ticket. (philipwooller.com)

[PROPERTY]

Philip wooller

[PROPERTY]

Property

the view from savills

news

Head of west London residential Christopher Bramwell explains the west London property market to those in the dark

There is a slight hangover from the election, but the effects are not uniform. As a general trend, more property is coming

are particularly exciting times for Hounslow and Chiswick. There is an ongoing demand for new homes in the capital and so we are looking at devising plans that will meet local needs and assist with the regeneration that is occurring across the whole area.’

on to the market (mostly as a result of pent up demand before the election) but there hasn’t been the exponential rise in prices some agents were predicting. In fact, I’d describe the situation as one of stabilisation. Above £2.5million, there is still a reaction

Proportion of cash buyers hits all-time high

tricorn tower

Galliard swoops on Chiswick Octopus site with new residential designs

Galliard Homes, Cain Hoy and ARV Investments have paid more than £15million to buy up the half acre London Octopus site near the Chiswick Roundabout in Hounslow, with ideas to create a residentialled development. Previous owner, commercial developer London & Bath Estates, had planned a rather controversial £120million 50m tall office tower, festooned with media screens to make it the biggest electronic billboard in Britain, which became known as The London Octopus. L&B’s idea didn’t come off, though, despite some interest from overseas corporations in the office building solution, due to competition from existing office provision locally. Galliard is now eyeing up a residentialled project – the Tricorn Tower – to help out with West London’s short supply of new housing, and will be putting in detailed plans to Hounslow council this autumn. Stephen Conway, Chairman & Chief Executive of Galliard Homes: ‘We believe that a premium residential-led project on this gateway site in west London will be commercially viable due to the continuing lack of new housing being provided across Greater London. The west London economy has emerged from the recession so these

The proportion of UK property purchases made in cold hard cash hit a record high during the first quarter, according to new figures that have been released. Nationwide, one of largest lenders in the business, said today that a record 38 per cent of buyers were able to proceed without a mortgage in the first three months of the year, which is two per cent up on the average recorded during the whole of 2014. The research team is putting it down to a combination of low interest rates and not a lot of lending. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist says: ‘We estimate that the share of cash purchases in the housing market reached an all-time high of 38 per cent in Q1 2015. Continued healthy demand from cash buyers has helped to support transaction levels in recent quarters, since mortgage lending has remained relatively subdued.’ Releasing its monthly house price findings, the firm recorded a further slowing in annual growth across the UK, to 4.6 per cent in May.

to the stamp duty. I suspect the slower movement in this market will be a permanent state of affairs. Perhaps the stepping-stone house between city and country will disappear. I have noticed many buyers will now only move on their own time scale and when every box is ticked. Most of us thought we’d get a coalition government with protracted negotiations. The fact this didn’t happen gave the market a welcome extra two weeks of trading. The status quo that’s emerged is neither a buyer’s nor a seller’s; it’s actually very balanced. An interesting trend is the aggressive price growth in the country. Many in west London end up there. I’m referring to the commuterbelt, perhaps more accurately called the cathedral-belt, because it now encompasses Cambridge, Oxford, Winchester and the like. So it’s a good time to sell in London where there’s still good prices and then buy in the country where there is much better value in a market that is rising faster.

In the event that you require more advice, do not hesitate to get in contact with Christopher Bramwell. Savills, 020 8987 5555, cbramwell@savills.com (savills.co.uk)

Christopher bramwell

savills.co.uk

IMPRESSIVE LATERAL ENTERTAINING SPACE IN A SECLUDED CENTRAL CHISWICK LOCATION chiswick lane, w4 3 reception rooms ø games/billiard room ø kitchen ø 4/5 bedrooms (2 en suite) ø further bathroom ø garden ø gated off-street parking ø double garage ø swimming pool ø hot tub ø 503 sq m (5,414 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Guide £5.5 million Freehold

Savills Chiswick Christopher Bramwell cbramwell@savills.com

020 8987 5550

AN UNMODERNISED HOUSE WITH WONDERFUL VIEWS OF THE RIVER THAMES strand on the green, w4 Double reception room ø kitchen ø 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø cloakroom ø 2 south-facing riverside terraces ø communal garden ø garage ø 121 sq m (1,302 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Guide £1.375 million Freehold

Savills Chiswick Christopher Bramwell cbramwell@savills.com

020 8987 5550

savills.co.uk

UNIQUE FREEHOLD OPPORTUNITY WITH PARKING, GARAGE AND SEPARATE STUDIO mill hill road, w3 Arranged as 3 self-contained units ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 shower rooms ø 2 cloakrooms ø walled gardens ø detached studio ø garage ø off-street parking ø 299 sq m (3,218 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £2.2 million Freehold

Savills Ealing Christopher Bramwell cbramwell@savills.com

020 8018 7100

A STRIKING NEW DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH EALING abelard place, w5 2 houses remaining ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen/living room ø 4 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø garden ø 2 roof terraces ø off-street parking ø 10 year structural warranty ø 163 sq m (1,760 sq ft) ø EPC=B

Guide £1.1 million Freehold

Savills Ealing Christopher Bramwell cbramwell@savills.com

020 8018 7100

savills.co.uk

REFURBISHED FAMILY HOME WITH A CONTEMPORARY FINISH AND PERIOD FEATURES addison gardens, w14 Double reception room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 shower rooms ø utility room ø roof terrace ø garden ø 239 sq m (2,573 sq ft) ø EPC=F

Guide £2.9 million Freehold

Savills Brook Green and Shepherd's Bush Natalie Sims nsims@savills.com

020 3618 3777

STUNNING THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH EXCELLENT ENTERTAINING SPACE maclise road, w14 Reception room/kitchen ø study ø 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø bathroom ø utility room ø garden ø 115 sq m (1,238 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Guide £1.4 million Share of Freehold

Savills Brook Green and Shepherd's Bush Dean Moriarty dmoriarty@savills.com

020 3618 3777

savills.co.uk

STUNNING DUPLEX GARDEN FLAT WITH SECURE PARKING chiswick green studios, w4 Reception room/dining room ø open plan kitchen ø 3/4 bedrooms (2 en suite) ø family bathroom ø private and communal gardens ø communal gym ø secure underground parking ø concierge ø 166 sq m (1,787 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £1.75 million Share of Freehold

Savills Chiswick Joe Williams jwilliams@savills.com

020 8987 5550

CONTEMPORARY AND STYLISH HOUSE WITH ROOF TERRACE AND PARKING sutton court road, w4 Reception room ø dining room/kitchen ø study ø 3 bedrooms ø bathroom ø shower room ø gym/utility room ø garden ø roof terrace ø off-street parking for two cars ø 127 sq m (1,367 sq ft) ø EPC=E

Guide £1.375 million Freehold

Savills Chiswick Christopher Bramwell cbramwell@savills.com

020 8987 5550

LE LA O

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

DELIGHTFUL GEORGIAN HOUSE WITH CHARMING GARDEN goldhawk road, w12 4/5 bedrooms ø 3 reception rooms ø kitchen/dining room ø 2 bathrooms ø shower room ø garden ø 186 sq m (2,002 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

Unfurnished £1,295 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Chiswick Joanna Read jgread@savills.com

020 8987 5550

FAMILY HOUSE WITH PERIOD EXTERIOR AND CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR thornton avenue, w4 5 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø 2 reception rooms ø open plan kitchen ø 2 bathrooms ø garden ø 227 sq m (2,500 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

Unfurnished £1,385 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Chiswick Joanna Read jgread@savills.com

020 8987 5550 *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/ guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

LUXURY APARTMENT WITH BALCONY AND IMPRESSIVE VIEWS skyline house, w5 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø open-plan reception room ø kitchen ø bathroom ø onsite gym & spa ø 24 hour concierge ø underground parking ø 113.45 sq m (1,221 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=B

Unfurnished £1,150 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Ealing Mark Hoskin mhoskin@savills.com

020 8018 7090

CHARMING COTTAGE OPPOSITE EALING COMMON st. matthews road, w5 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø double reception room ø kitchen ø further bathroom ø courtyard garden ø period features ø 89.71 sq m (966 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=E

Furnished £675 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Ealing Hannah Woodley hwoodley@savills.com

L L O

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

VICTORIAN FAMILY HOME SITUATED IN THE VIBRANT SHEPHERD'S BUSH ingersoll road, w12 5 bedrooms ø double reception room ø open plan kitchen/dining room ø 3 bathrooms ø rear patio garden ø 195 sq m (2,103 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

Unfurnished £995 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Brook Green and Shepherd's Bush Ben Charlsey bcharlsley@savills.com

020 3618 3785

FABULOUS HOUSE OFFERING FANTASTIC LIVING AND ENTERTAINING SPACE elsham road, w14 6 bedrooms ø double reception room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bathrooms ø patio garden ø 367.85 sq m (3,960 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Unfurnished £2,950 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply*

Savills Brook Green and Shepherd's Bush Ben Charlsey bcharlsley@savills.com

020 3618 3785 *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/ guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

Barrowgate Road, Chiswick W4  This impressive three story, Edwardian home is located on a highly desirable and sought after residential road in Chiswick. 7 double bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, WC, bespoke kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, large reception room, family room, utility room, study, gym, landscaped rear garden with garden store, off street parking, CCTV. Approximately 500 sq m (5,382 sq ft). EPC: C.  Freehold

Guide price: £4,500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/chiswick chiswick@knightfrank.com 0203757 6230  

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/CWK140019

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  A delightful and substantial property. 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, loft conversion, reception room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, sizable entrance hall, ample storage space, rear garden, garden store, roof terrace, gated off street parking. EPC: D. Approximately 324 sq m (3,489 sq ft).  Freehold

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KnightFrank.co.uk/chiswick chiswick@knightfrank.com     

 

KnightFrank.co.uk/CWK140371

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  A substantial Edwardian detached house in Grove Park, which has been sympathetically maintained retaining many period features, whilst incorporating beautiful bespoke fitted carpentry. 6 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/family room, study, utility room, office, cellar, loft, cloakroom, courtyard, balcony, 70 ft garden, off street parking.  Freehold

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KnightFrank.co.uk/chiswick chiswick@knightfrank.com     

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KnightFrank.co.uk/CWK140033

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  Situated in the highly sought after riverside location on Chiswick Mall.4 double bedroom, 2 bathrooms, large double reception room, kitchen/family room, utility room, garage, garden to the rear and private riverside garden to the front. EPC: E. Approximately 194.5 q m (2,094 sq ft).  Freehold

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KnightFrank.co.uk/chiswick chiswick@knightfrank.com     

 

KnightFrank.co.uk/RVR100030

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 Two bedroom top floorapartment for sale in Chiswick This fantastic apartment offers stylish living space throughout. Heathfield Court is ideally located just by Turnham Green and the delights of the shops, bars and restaurants of Chiswick High Road. 2 double bedrooms, bathroom, reception room, kitchen/breakfast room, garage, lift, porter, 24 hour CCTV. EPC: C. Approximately 66 sq m (710 sq ft).  Share of leasehold

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KnightFrank.co.uk/chiswick chiswick@knightfrank.com     

 

KnightFrank.co.uk/CWK150111

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St Albans Avenue, Chiswick W4 A beautiful four bedroom family home in the heart of Chiswick Convenitently situated only a short walk from Turnham Green tube station this delightful property has been finished to a high standard and is well presented throughout. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), double reception, eat in kitchen/conservatory, WC, private garden and garden room. EPC: E. Approximately 176 sq m (1,894 sq ft). Available unfurnished Guide price: £1,050 per week Knightfrank.co.uk/CHQ220539

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings chiswicklettings@knightfrank.com 020 3757 6230

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

CBG 156 SSA Lettings PH 3

25/06/2015 11:59:43

FOR SALE

GREENSIDE AS H C H U RROAD C H T E RW12 R AC/EFreehold W12 £ 1 2 0 0 £1,000,000 PW / 5200 PCM • • • • • • • • • •

high quality maisonette over 3family floorshouse AAsuperbly designed and finished doublebedrooms bedrooms 4 3double 2 Bathroom bathrooms (1 en suite to master) Shower room en suite Further shower room en suite Double reception room Cloakroom

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Kitchen room Reception Established SW facingspace garden Modern kitchen / dining Ownstorage entrance Good Close to Ravenscourt Park and W6 schools Good sized garden 1216sqsqftft/ 181 / 113sqsq approx. EPC 1948 mm approx. EPC - E- D

AS H C H U R C H T E R R AC E W 1 2 £1200 PW / 5200 PCM • • • • •

A superbly designed and finished family house 4 double bedrooms 2 bathrooms (1 en suite to master) Further shower room en suite Cloakroom

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Reception room Modern kitchen / dining space Good storage Good sized garden 1948 sq ft / 181 sq m approx. EPC - E

Roxwell Road W12 £1,695,000 Freehold Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Sales 020 8563 7100 | hammsales@dng.co.uk

South North

Balham Chelsea

Battersea Fulham Fulham

A newly refurbished and substantial family home situated off the popular Askew Road. Beautifully designed, this property offers good living space and natural light throughout.

5 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, Shower room, Reception room, Kitchen/dining room, Cloakroom, Garden, EPC: D

Battersea Park Clapham East Putney Southfields & Earlsfield West Putney Hammersmith Kensington Kensington South Hammersmith & & Shepherd’s Shepherd’s Bush Bush Kensington KensingtonGate Gate SouthKensington Kensington

Notting NottingHill Hill

Pimlico Pimlico&&Westminster Westminster

douglasandgordon.com

Macfarlane Road W12 £510 per week + admin fees* Unfurnished Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Lettings 020 8563 4422 | hammlets@dng.co.uk

A split level, two double bedroom, flat spread over 990 sq ft. The property has been carefully looked after by the Landlords and would be perfect for a professional couple or a young family.

2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite), Reception room, Kitchen, Cloakroom, Balcony, EPC: C

Good to know... *An initial one-off tenancy agreement fee of £240 (inc VAT) per property and a £45 (inc VAT) referencing charge per person will apply. At the end of the tenancy an inventory check-out fee will be charged, this amount will depend on the size of the property and whether it is furnished/unfurnished. For more details visit www.douglasandgordon.com/tenants/infoandcharges

St Albans Avenue, W4 £1,795,000 Freehold StBeaumont Albans Avenue, £1,795,000 Road, W4 W4 £1,295,000Freehold Freehold St Albans Avenue, W4 £1,795,000 Freehold Stsuperbly Albans presented Avenue, W4 A and recently renovated four bedroom two bathroom home in this sought after£1,795,000 location only Freehold a short A presented and recently renovated fourHigh bedroom two bathroom home in gated this sought after location a short Asuperbly well presented three bedroom three house forming part of this small development built inonly 2012 and walk from Turnham Green tube and the bathroom Chiswick Road. A superbly presented and recently fourHigh bedroom two bathroom home in this sought after location only a short walk from Turnham Green tube andrenovated the Chiswick Road. recognised for its “green” construction. A superbly presented and recently fourHigh bedroom two bathroom home in this sought after location only a short walk from Turnham Green tube andrenovated the Chiswick Road. walk from Turnham Green tube and the Chiswick High Road. • Sought after location • 25’ Double reception room • Two bathrooms • • Sought location • 25’bedrooms Double reception room • Two bathrooms Popularafter residential • Three • 27’ rear garden • Walking distance ofroad the high road • Large kitchen/dining room • Landscaped garden •• • Sought after location • 25’ Double reception room • Two bathrooms Walking distance of the high road • Large kitchen/dining room • Landscaped garden Small gated development • Three bathrooms • Secure • Contemporary style • Four doublereception bedrooms • EPC = D off street parking Sought after location 25’ Double room Two bathrooms •• • Walking distance of the high road • Large kitchen/dining room • Landscaped garden Contemporary style • Four double bedrooms • EPC = D Sustainable homesofcode level 3 • Exacting finish • No upward chain •• Walking distance •• Large kitchen/dining room •• Landscaped garden Contemporary style the high road Four double bedrooms EPC = D • Contemporary style • Four double bedrooms • EPC = D

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Dukes Avenue, W4St Albans Avenue, W4 £2,500,000 Freehold £1,795,000 Dukes Avenue, W4 £2,500,000 Freehold Parkside Place, W12 Prices from £765,000 Dukes Avenue, W4 £2,500,000 Freehold Dukes Avenue, W4 to acquire this family house in Dukes Avenue with a west facing rear garden £2,500,000 A wonderful opportunity enjoying Freehold

A superbly presented and recently renovated fourwith bedroom two bathroom homeenjoying in this sought after location only A wonderful opportunity to acquire this family house inLocated Dukes Avenue athe west facing rear garden Parkside Place, locatedwalk directly opposite beautiful Ravenscourt Park, vibrant fashionable West High London uninterrupted aspects over gardens towards the west. in thisbrings sought after roadand running off Chiswick Road. from Turnham Green tube and the Chiswick High Road. A wonderful opportunity to acquire this family house in Dukes Avenue with a west facing rear garden enjoying uninterrupted aspects over gardens towards the west. Located in this sought after road running off Chiswick Road. lifestyle to your doorstep in a collection of high specification 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and one 2 bedroomHigh house. A wonderful opportunity to acquire this family house in Dukes Avenue with a west facing rear garden enjoying uninterrupted aspects over gardens towards the west. Located in this sought after road running off Chiswick High Road. uninterrupted aspects over gardens towards the west. Located in this sought after road running off Chiswick High Road. • Prime central location bedrooms • Off street parking • Two bathrooms • Sought after location •• Six • 25’ Double reception room Prime central location Six bedrooms Park •• Show Off street parking • • development by Linden Homes • Close to Ravenscourt station home now open •New Semi-detached family house • high Two reception rooms • Freehold • Walking distance of the road • Large kitchen/dining room • Landscaped garden • Prime central location • Six bedrooms • Off street parking • Semi-detached family house • Two reception rooms • Freehold • •Vibrant central location • 10year NHBC warranty • Limited secure parking Wonderful west facing garden • Vaulted kitchen • EPC = E parking Prime central location Six bedrooms Off street • Contemporary style • Four double bedrooms • EPC = D • Semi-detached house •• Two reception rooms ••• Balconies/Terraces Freehold Wonderful westinfamily facing garden Vaulted kitchen EPC = E • •Excellent access and out of london • Build Completion 2015 •• Semi-detached family house • Two reception rooms • Freehold Wonderful west facing garden • Vaulted kitchen • EPC = E • Wonderful west facing garden • Vaulted kitchen • EPC = E

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Cobbold Road W12 ÂŁ1,450,000 A fabulous four-bedroom family home that has been thoughtfully extended and presented in excellent condition, located close to Wendall Park and Askew Road. Freehold. EPC=E

Askew Road: 020 8102 0123 sales.ask@marshandparsons.co.uk

Aldensley Road W6 ÂŁ1,300,000 A charming three-bedroom un-moderised terraced house, with a mature south facing garden in the highly sought after Brackenbury Village. Freehold. EPC=F

Brook Green: 020 7605 7760 sales.bkg@marshandparsons.co.uk

Sinclair Road W14 ÂŁ1,100 per week Arranged over two floors, this unique split-level three-bedroom apartment has been finished to an exceptional standard, located moments from Holland Park and Shepherds Bush. EPC=C

Brook Green: 020 7605 7760 lets.bkg@marshandparsons.co.uk

Immaculate plot with South-facing patio Matching people and property in London for over 150 years.

K IC EN W P IS O CH W E NO UN RE PT TO NE W S NE

W E L O V E ... The sleek contrast of our Suffolk kitchen painted in Charcoal with Elcot tiles in Salt, and our Littleton wicker basket

305 - 307 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4HH, 0203 814 1220, neptune.com/chiswick

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