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from the editor issue no.

118

Edit o r-i n-Chi e f Lesley Ellwood

Edi tor Richard Brown

a s s is tant Edi tor Bethan REES

Edit o rial a ssi stant

august 2017

david taylor

Six of the 10 tallest residential towers planned for Europe are being built in London. Not surprising in itself, but consider this: all of them are being constructed on, or immediately adjacent to, a single street: Marsh Wall, a once dilapidated, deprived dock-side opposite Canary Wharf. The Landmark Pinnacle (765ft) will become the continent’s tallest residential building when it tops out in 2018, before it is overshadowed by the Spire in 2020 (771ft). Elsewhere, South Quay Plaza (705ft), Newfoundland Quay (722ft), The Madison (604ft) and The Wardian (614ft) will all be taller than Tower 42 in the City (600ft). Forgetting London’s affordable housing crisis for a second, something else that’s difficult to fathom is who, with so many eye-wateringly expensive flats coming to market within the space of a few years, is going to buy these rabbit hutches in the sky? It’s the same question I ask myself whenever Richard Mille announces a £1m watch, or Lamborghini launches a car that’s worth double that price – are there really that many ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the world? The answer, of course, is yes. According to a report published in June by market-researcher Wealth X, in 2016 the world’s UHNW population – individuals with US$30m or more in net worth – grew by 3.5 per cent, to 226,450. Their combined wealth also increased, by 1.5 per cent to $27trn. Where do they live? North America, mostly. The country’s ultra-wealthy population increased to 73,110 – more than the total of the next six largest UHNW countries combined (China, Japan, Germany, the UK, France and Canada). From which asset class does most of their wealth derive? Liquid assets, predominantly. Liquid stock, primarily cash, accounts for the largest share of UHNW holdings, at 35.4 per cent. In an environment of super-low interest rates and elevated equity valuations, cash-flush portfolios offer flexibility to respond quickly to exciting investment opportunities – such as rabbit hutches in London’s sky. And so, an increased number of foreign UHNW individuals, with phenomenal spending power and more money than ever, are eyeing up flats in the capital, which Brexit has made a helluva lot of cheaper. How many ultra-high-net-worth individuals are there? Enough to create a mini-Manhattan at the birthplace of Millwall FC. Who’d have thought? Wardian London by EcoWorld Ballymore

ART E DITOR Chantal Lascelles

j U NIOR DE SI G NE R Paris Fielder

d es i g n i nt e rn Frida Kalsnes

G en eral Mana ge r Fiona Smith

Prod uc ti on Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele

Pro pe rt y Di r ec tor Samantha Ratcliffe

Ex ecu t iv e D i r ec tor Sophie Roberts

M a n a g in g Di r ec tor Eren Ellwood

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contents

issue no.

118

A U G US T 2 0 1 7

Chris Hall Chris is Digital Editor of SalonQP.com, and has covered technology and motoring for the likes of Wired and Esquire.

Josh Sims

city social

29 Summer in the City The Square Mile’s latest restaurants, spas and rooftop bars 38 Matthew Mcconaughey The man who went from cinematic cliff edge to Hollywood Hall of Fame 42 Sharp Shooting Top tips for remaining on target throughout this year’s Game Season 99 Inside Ibiza Savouring the taste of life on the White Isle

59 Magnum Opus A look at Harry Winston’s haute horology 62 Festival of Colour Lily Gabriella’s vibrant new Holi collection

city life

city style

13 Cover On Ferrari’s 70th birthday, the Design Museum announces a major exhibition 14 Edit Stunning drone photography and Singapore’s supercar vending machine 23 Tech Get down to business with a laptop that packs serious professional power 25 FITNESS Wimbledon is over, but tennis season isn’t 27 Living The interior design brand moving the laborious in-home consultation online

30 news Ivy City Garden and Mei Ume are the latest launches to excite City-goers 34 Bon Viveur The City’s trendiest summer terraces

city collection

66 In the Swim How Louis Réard’s bikini revolutionised what women wore to the beach 72 The Style Brief Your monthly sartorial meeting

out of office

78 Ivan Lendl The enigmatic tennis great who propelled Sir Andy Murray to his own place in history 86 Pistons at dawn The Rolls-Royce Dawn is an instant classic 94 chartering a superyacht The best mega-vessels on offer

Jeremy Taylor Jeremy specialises in motoring and travel, and is a regular contributor to the Financial Times and Sunday Times Magazine.

atcha write it” – Jack Kerouac, Are writers made or born?

on the cover

Contributors “It ain’t whatcha write, it’s the way

A falcon perches in the special edition Bentley Bentayga Falconry. Read more on page 82.

Josh is a freelance writer contributing to, among others, the Financial Times, The Times, Wallpaper, The National and The Rake.

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

Over 300 Shops, Bars & Restaurants

Seven Days a Week, 364 Days a Year @yourcanarywharf

CANARYWHARF.COM @canarywharflondon

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09/01/2017 10:54

CITY life The Design Museum has announced a major Ferrari exhibition to commemorate the car manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 70th anniversary. View images like this one, which shows engineers working on a Ferrari 156 F1, and others between15 November 2017 and 15 April 2018. designmuseum.org

City Edit (p.14)

Supercar Vending Machines and sand dune supercars

city tech (p.23)

life on the go with the best portable business laptops

city fitness (p.25)

why the stylish tennis player chooses vintage sports gear

[ city life ]

City edit Zarooq SandRacer 500 GT Zarooq is the Arabic name for the fastest snake in the desert, and it shares its name with a new off-road supercar manufacturer, too. The first producers of cars of this kind in the Emirates, Zarooq’s first release is the SandRacer 500 GT, which is built for both on- and off-road use with adjustable suspension featuring two ride heights: road and sand. It’s essentially a rally-style supercar and has a naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8 engine, pushing out 525 horse power in a car that weighs just 1,300kg – thanks to a body made from carbon fibre. The manufacturer says this car is as comfortable on the track as in the city or on a sand dune. Approximately £345,000, available to purchase now in the UAE. zarooqmotors.com

the car

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

The commodities and consumables raising our interest this month

the watch

You can customise everything from the strap to number batons

The new range of customised watches will be available for purchase from all BWD stockists

Bamford Watch Department X Zenith Bamford Watch Department has become the first customisation brand to be officially authorised by a Swiss watchmaker. In the same way that Brabus modifies Mercedes-Benz motors, and Overfinch transforms Range Rovers, George Bamford, founder of BWD, has been customising watches from Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe for years, but never with the official backing of the brands themselves. In an industry first, Zenith will supply Bamford with its Pilot Type 20 and the Heritage Cronometro Tipo CP-2, while guaranteeing the warranty on its movement and parts after customisation. A huge coup from Bamford and a sign, perhaps, that Swiss watchmakers are now happy to collaborate with companies outside of the Jura Mountains. From ÂŁ8,000, bamfordwatchdepartment.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Singapore’s Supercar Vending Machine A car dealer in the southern region of Singapore is taking the see-it buy-it concept to a whole new level. Autobahn Motors has created a vending machine for supercars. The 150ft showroom holds up to 60 second hand high-end cars – including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys– and dispenses cars to potential buyers just like your favourite chocolate bar. On the ground floor, customers select which car they’d like to view on a touchscreen, the retrieval system cherry-picks the model and brings to the buyer in just two minutes. General manager Gary Hong claims the idea came from creating an efficient use of space in a land-scarce Singapore. Just don’t try shaking this machine to get a freebie. abm.sg

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

The Vending Machine

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

the photography

ÂŠBachrim / Dronestagram

| the | xxxx edit |

2017 International Drone Photography Contest Once the reserve of the military, drones are now synonymous with modern society. Celebrating the unmanned aerial vehicles is the International Drone Photography Contest, which is in its fourth year, run by Paris-based photo community Dronestagram and National Geographic. Professional and amateur photographers around the world in three different categories submitted approximately 8,000 images to the contest in three different categories: nature, urban and people. This incredible image is the winner of the urban class. It’s by Bachir Moukarzel from the United Arab Emirates, and shows and aerial view of Dubai. “This picture was shot at sunset in Dubai at 6pm. It captures an area which was literally a desert 10 years ago and is now a concrete jungle,” Moukarzel said. dronestagr.am

Flight of fancy Marc Sadler, an industrial designer with a penchant for experimenting with materials, has created an exclusive collection of unisex cases for Italian luggage specialist Fabbrica Pelletterie Milano, in eight different sizes. The range mixes retro elements, such as contrasting leather, rounded edges and small studs, with a modern industrial aesthetic. The aluminium shells guarantees security and protection from rough handling, while the handles are covered in soft cognaccoloured leather, for a soft touch. Dual wheels aid stability. Vanity case, ÂŁ575, Spinner 61 case, ÂŁ870, Marc Sadler x FPM, fpm.it

The Luggage

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

the jacket

Automatic pilot Channel your inner aviator with this Valentino A/W17 shearling-trimmed jacket. Crafted from black textured leather with a rust coloured collar and mint shade interior shearling, not only will you look like a young James Dean in next to no time, it’ll also keep you warm in cooler climes. It’s time for you to live out your Top Gun fantasy. Shearling-trimmed, textured-leather blouson jacket, £3,550, Valentino, mrporter.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

City Magazine_Demetra.indd 1

26/04/17 11:48

| TECH |

[ city life ]

city TECH

Essential apparatus for keeping ahead of the curve Words: david taylor

The Pro Touch (£839.98)

ASUS PRO B944OUA

The ASUS PRO only weighs 1kg, making it the lightest 14" notebook around. It also has 10 hours of battery life and charges to 50 per cent in 30 minutes. Slimline and spillresistant, for when lunchtime meetings go awry. ebuyer.com

Cable both charges and transfers data

Chromebook 13 G1 (£590.40) HP partners with Chrome

Business Time

Don’t let its good looks deceive you: this is a serious piece of kit. Underneath the anodised alimunium is a simple and secure cloud hub. The QHD+ display and sound from B&O Play mean the Chromebook packs a punch. store.hp.com

Current laptop giving up the ghost? These are the best portable workstations on the market

Includes the red TrackPoint, used for scrolling

Just 15mm thick when closed

XPS 13 (£1,149)

Dell’s high-end offering

A premium laptop from Dell, the XPS 13 has the world’s first InfinityEdge display, with a miniscule 5.2mm bezel surrounding the QHD+ screen. The battery also lasts for 22 full hours of Word or Excel use. dell.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Thinkpad 13 (£639.99)

Lenovo builds laptops to last

Built to pass 12 military specification tests for durability, the Thinkpad 13 can survive any reckless airport baggage handler. Award-winning ergonomics also make using it a pleasure. lenovo.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLEY JOHNSON

M o n d ay / T u e s d ay / W e d n e s d ay 1 0 a m - 1 0 p m T h u r s d ay / F r i d ay 1 0 a m - 1 1 p m S at u r d ay 1 1 a m - 1 1 p m / S u n d ay 1 1 a m - 9 p m SPONSORED BY

| fitness |

[ city life ]

make a racket

Wimbledon is over, but tennis season isn’t. Ace the competition; take to the court in style Words: David Taylor

3 2

Australian L’Alpina From the late ’50s onwards, Italian brand

Australian l’Alpina was the go-to tennis apparel for wannabe champions everywhere. It peaked in the ’80s, sponsoring players such as Ivan Lendl, Hana Mandlíková and, later, Goran Ivaniševic. Six decades after its inception, the label has modernised its offering while retaining its retro aesthetic, reusing old adverts for its new campaign. australianlalpina.co.uk

1. Q ualifier 5’’ shell tennis shorts, £30, Under Armour, mrporter.com 2. Graphene touch speed MP, £184, HEAD, head.com 3. Technical sport polo, £55, Australian L’Alpina, australianlalpina.co.uk 4. Nikecourt air zoom ultra, £89.95, Nike, store.nike.com 5. Printed piqué polo shirt, £80, Lacoste Tennis, mrporter.com 6. Hampton gravel black shorts, £65, Iffley Road, iffleyroad.com 7. Warrior 100 ESP, £93.47, Prince, sweatband.com 8. Burn 100 countervail, £199, Wilson, wilson.com 9. Adizero ubersonic 2.0, £99.95, Adidas, adidas.co.uk

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

7 25

HIDE AND REVEAL

+MODO We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just look at kitchens, we live and feel them. The kitchen is now a platform for a journey of constant creation and discovery.

Poggenpohl has 21 points of sale throughout the UK & Ireland For your nearest Poggenpohl Studio please go to www.poggenpohl.com/en/find-a-studio info@uk.poggenpohl.com www.poggenpohl.com

| interiors |

[ city life ]

under one’s wing

Homewings is revolutionising interior design. The City Magazine speaks to its founder Cornelia De Ruiter

Hiring an interior designer was once the reserve of ultra highnet-worth individuals. Not any more, thanks to Cornelia De Ruiter, founder of Homewings. Her online company couples customers with interior designers who help the client’s interior fantasies become a reality. Instead of lengthy in-home consultations, Homewings provides clients with design advice, a sketched floorplan, moodboards and essentially a curated shopping list for their appropriate budget. Homewings can also do the shopping for you, at no additional cost.

a statement wall or painting an entire room is so easy to do and if you decide after a month you don’t like it, you can re-paint it. Have you had any backlash from traditional interior design companies? CDR: No, we’ve had no backlash. What we’re doing is we’re tapping in to that segment of the market that isn’t catered for. Let’s not pretend we’re offering the full end-to-end traditional interior design offering. What we offer at this price point is the ability for people to shop great stuff for their home more conveniently. We don’t provide extensive hand-holding between clients and contractors – that’s not what we do.

What inspired you to create Homewings? CDR: Interior design has always been my passion but what always bugged me was the way the industry was positioned at such a high-end level. Particularly because a well-designed home can often benefit those with a small space the most. It’s kind of easy if you have a high budget to create something amazing; creativity really shines through with reasonable budgets. How are you able to offer a more reasonably priced service? CDR: That was the crux of the issue. The traditional interior design model sees its designers earning a big chunk of income on commission of furniture sales. As soon as you start working with less high-end products, many things needed to change in the model. That is where my background as a strategy consultant comes in. We offer a room visualisation, layout, two weeks’ collaboration with the designer, and it doesn’t go beyond that. We’ve really streamlined the design process.

What are the design trends of this year? CDR: The Scandi/hygge trend has been very popular, and working with brass never seems to go out of fashion. How would you describe your design style? CDR: There are two elements to this – there’s your personal style, what you want for your own home but that’s not necessarily the same as the style you’re comfortable designing . Either you have a designer who is good at a signature style, like Kelly Hoppen, who does contemporary chic with a glam hotel feel, or you can work in a lot of different styles dependent on the client. I think I’m one of the latter. What’s the easiest way to transform a living space? CDR: Soft furnishings. A new rug or cushions can completely transform a room. I do that in my own home about once or twice a year. Also, paint. It’s so easy. Adding

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

What’s your favourite architecture style? CDR: I’m a sucker for mid-century design, so any Bauhaus-type buildings. Describe your average weekend? CDR: My husband and I work very hard, and we have two little boys. So a weekend usually consists of a lounge-y Saturday breakfast and then a warm lunch of good pasta and a nice bottle of wine. I always need to make sure I have ‘me’ time. The boys and husband will go and play football, and then I do some DIY projects at home. Finishing a painting or customising a piece of furniture. I’m quite often covered in paint. The bubble bath comes after, obviously. homewings.co.uk

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For more information or to book please call 01273 775432 or email: reservations.brightonmet@hilton.com Hilton Brighton Metropole, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FU Hilton.com/brightonmet facebook.com/hilton.b.metropole twitter.com/brightonmet

CITY SOCIAL Nine Lives is a zero-waste cocktail bar, also serving food, that recently opened in London Bridge, SE1. Find out more on p.31, ninelivesbar.com

the ivy city garden (p.30)

richard caring’s LATEST ENTERPRISE BRINGS A SLICE OF MAYFAIR TO THE CITY

a bitter taste (p.32)

a hard scandal to swallow: the great wine fraud of rudy kurniawan

take it outside (p.34)

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES AT THE SQUARE MILE’S BEST terraces

[ city life ]

City social review

ivy city garden, EC2

the latest place to see and be seen

The Ivy reaches its centenary this year, a milestone it celebrates by spawning a series of sister restaurants. While the eight The Ivy Collection locations launched so far operate as separate companies from The Ivy original (three more are currently under construction), both are owned by Caprice Holdings, controlled by Richard Caring. With its marble floors, leather banquettes and impressive collection of abstract and irreverent artwork, The Ivy City Garden feels more like one of Caring’s other the ivy restaurants; in city garden particular, Scott’s, Sexy Fish or J Sheekey – a slice of Mayfair served in the shadow of Heron Tower without the stuffiness of W1.

A riotous mix of burnt oranges, midnight blues, dazzling whites and canary yellows, the interior is a light, bright, uplifting space where DJs play from Monday to Saturday. It’s a masterpiece from Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. The food is big and British. tempura prawns chased by a fillet steak make for a winner. Groups of four can preorder the truffle beef Wellington sharing platter served with foie gras sauce and dauphinoise potatoes, which is exclusive to Ivy City. A buzzy, sexy, subterranean rabbit hole, the City just got its newest ‘It’ restaurant. RB.

liverpool street

review

Mei ume, EC3

ASIAN PERSUASION AT FOUR SEASONS TEN TRINITY SQUARE

mei ume

All top restaurants trade off one signature dish. Mei Ume, the Chinese-Japanese hybrid that recently opened in Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square, is hoping that the dish to get the City flocking will be its whole Peking duck. It’s up against stiff competition, not least from Hutong, the Chinese restaurant on level 33 of The Shard. Unlike Hutong, Mei Ume can’t rely on its views, which isn’t an issue, because here, it’s the food that does the talking. In imposing, if unemotive surroundings – you can’t shake the feeling that Mei Ume is a side project of what is largely a corporate hotel – Head Chef Tony Truong, formerly of Royal China, and Sushi Chef Mun Seok Choi, from Sake no Hana, have created a menu to rival any of

London’s upmarket Asian fusion eateries. Dishes are kept purposefully simple. Spicy tuna with karashi and parmesan flakes, anyone? How about barbecue wagyu beef with caramelised onions? As for the whole Peking duck, it’s served with pancakes, leeks and cucumber first, and then as crispy duck with salt and pepper. You’d be a fool to miss it. RB.

tower hill station

arthur hooper’s, se1

Named after a Victorian fruit salesman who plied his trade in Borough Market, recently opened Arthur Hooper’s offers a modern European menu, such as mussels with nduja and turnip tops, and pork and fennel ragu fettucine. Ingredients are sourced from the market itself, from suppliers including Neal’s Yard and Bread Ahead. arthurhoopers.co.uk

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| news |

Keeping the epicure nourished with the Square Mile’s latest launches and culinary crazes Words: DAVID TAYLOR

The bar in London Bridge has a no waste ethos, with ‘Loop’ cocktails re-using key ingredients in new ways. ninelivesbar.com

Nine Lives bar

THE EVENT

London craft beer festival, n1 Shoreditch Electric Light Station this month plays host to London Craft Beer Festival’s 5th birthday celebrations. The line-up of 45 breweries from around the world includes Copenhagen’s Mikkeller and Brazil’s Maniba, with US ‘craft beer godfathers’ Sierra Nevada also making the trip. Music is at the heart of the weekend’s festivities, with DJ sets from Hot Chip, Foals and Norman Jay. 4, 5 and 6 August, tickets from £35, londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk

KITTED-OUT COINTREAU, EC3

For those who want Summer to last that little longer, the Cointreau Fizz cocktail kit includes everything you need for the perfect sunny French tipple. It features a 35cl bottle of Cointreau, three Cointreau Fizz cocktail makers, stripy straws, a copper bar spoon and a juicer, as well as Perrier sparkling water and a cocktail booklet. £44.99, available exclusively at Selfridges, selfridges.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

SUNDAY PIG-OUT, n1

Spanish tapas restaurant and bar, Camino, has launched Suckling Pig Sundays. Spain’s answer to the English Roast, the sharing platter combines slow roasted suckling pig leg, seasonal vegetables, sautéed rosemary and garlic potatoes, leek and Torte de Serena cheese gratin and red wine gravy for an indulgent Sunday lunch. £45 for two to share, camino.uk.com

[ city life ]

City social

A B ITTE R TASTE

n December 2013, counterfeit expert Rudy Kurniawan became the first person to be convicted of wine fraud, sentenced to 10 years in a California prison. His arrest was hailed as a victory for the wine trade, with many proclaiming that the battle against fraud had turned a corner. Yet Maureen Downey, who runs Chai Consulting – a US business that specialises in wine authentication – claims that the global trade is losing the war against wine fraud, and that since Kurniawan’s arrest, fakes have become far more commonplace in markets such as Hong Kong, New York and London. “The industry knew about Kurniawan’s fakes well before 2008 – so they rushed to dump, and they are still dumping products on the market to recover their losses,” says Downey. However, while the problem of wine fraud is clearly a global one, Downey believes that London is currently one of the European hotspots for fake wine, and that the problem is being ignored. Downey explains that during a visit to London in April 2017, she visited several merchants, and took photographic evidence of suspected fraudulent bottles. For legal reasons,

check my wine If you have one bottle or a whole cellar of wine you’re concerned about, WineFraud can help determine its authenticity, and train you to spot counterfeits yourself winefraud.com

Rudy Kurniawan’s counterfeit wine collection being destroyed in Texas. Photo by Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals

Downey cannot name the businesses in question, but she is adamant that the problem is more widespread than people believe. Moreover, some of the firms in question supply leading London restaurants, meaning that a small percentage of top-end and rare wine on wine lists is potentially fake. She was a harsh critic of the alleged complicity of the wine trade during the Kurniawan trial, suggesting that they are either ignorant about the amount of counterfeit bottles circulating on the market, or in some cases are willfully turning a blind eye to fraudulent practices. It is their supposed complicity that Downey believes is the most pernicious aspect of global wine fraud, rather than the perpetrators themselves. “Behind every counterfeiter, there is a person or group that is helping them – whether it be through funding, buying wines, or connections in the industry. Many auction houses didn’t care to authenticate or learn about authenticating wines, putting millions of dollars of fake wine into the marketplace for decades,” says Downey. “Some choose to feign ignorance – they just want to make money. For example, John Kapon (CEO of wine auctioneer Acker Merrall & Condit) created and funded Kurniawan until he became Maureen Downey a liability. Kapon lied about him in his auction catalogues.” So, how does Downey determine if a bottle of Lafite is potentially fake? Authentication is a complex, scientific process, requiring specialist equipment and Downey’s expertise. One of the most common mistakes fraudsters make is using the wrong font on the label, she reports. Examining the cork is another vital part of the process, as often fraudsters use young or inappropriate cork for supposedly older, more exclusive wines. “There are two main types of fine wine counterfeiting: refilling – made much easier by eBay and restaurants that don’t destroy bottles, and re-labelling – made easier by computers,” says Downey. “Bottle reuse is certainly common, but a counterfeiter must have access to authentic bottles to do this, and these are limited. Recreating bottles is more common to come across

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| feature |

Fake fine wine hunter, Maureen Downey, on the great wine fraudster, Rudy Kurniawan, and how the industry is clamping down on vintage swindling Words: James Lawrence

Rudy Kurniawan’s counterfeit wine collection. Photo by Lynzey Donahue / US Marshals

because it increases the inventory further than refilling, bringing in more money. Counterfeiters recreate labels by photocopies or templates, fill the bottle, put in a cork and cover with a capsule, and voilà! They have a new bottle for sale.” The sophistication of fakes presents the biggest challenge for Downey. For example, according to Downey, Kurniawan had a recipe to replicate one of the world’s most prized wines – the 1945 Mouton Rothschild. He mixed 50 per cent 1988 Pichon Lalande, 25 per cent young Napa Cabernet and 25 per cent oxidised Bordeaux, a formula that would surely dupe even the most experienced of sommeliers.

another hotbed of fakes.” This is not to suggest, however, that all the stakeholders in this enterprise are cursed with apathy. London fine wine broker and merchant FINE+RARE works with Downey to identify suspect bottles that enter its stock, and has invested considerable sums into authentication equipment.“ We’re very aware this problem exists and continue to fight it head-on,” says CEO Patrick O’Connor. In addition, Bordeaux estates such as Château Angelus have been attempting to solve the problem of fake bottles by investing in covert technology. Coded imprints such as electronic ID tags are hidden in the packaging, but can be scanned by something as commonplace as a smartphone to verify authenticity. “Angelus wanted to be proactive, rather than reactive in our battle against wine counterfeiting,” said director Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal. “The most effective way of combatting fraud is layering technology,” adds Downey. “By layering different technologies, and using holograms, serial numbers, high-quality paper, ink and printing of the fine wine consumed processes, recreating bottles worldwide is fake – a becomes more difficult. The figure endorsed by Wine main goal of wine producers Spectator. Meanwhile antishould be to have too many counterfeit lawyer Nick layers that it becomes too Bartman has estimated that expensive for counterfeiters approximately 70 per cent of to try to reproduce.” Patrick O’Connor the imported wine he saw in It all comes down to China was fake, a figure supported the trade’s willingness to start by oenologist Frankie Zhao, who noted that taking wine counterfeiting seriously. 70 per cent of all Château Lafite Rothschild “Today, buyers and sellers still work bottles sold in China were probably with Kurniawan’s friends, as well as counterfeit. merchants/auction house(s) that have Busts of Chinese wine fraudsters a history of selling counterfeits. Until are becoming an annual occurrence everyone cracks down on these parties, and the problem has captured the this business will expand indefinitely.”

Kurniawan had a recipe to replicate one of the world’s most prized wines – the 1945 Mouton Rothschild Listening to Downey, it quickly becomes clear that this is not a small issue, affecting just one or two iconic wines like Château Latour and Margaux. Yet, it’s almost impossible to know how much fake wine is out there, she reveals, because illicit markets are traditionally difficult to analyse and even in a globalised world, there are no international statistics regarding customs seizures of illegal alcohol. Downey believes that up to 20 per cent

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attention of senior politicians. In July 2013, representatives from the EU met with Chinese officials to try and forge a strategy to deal with the ongoing problem. But Downey also implores Europe not to dismiss this as a uniquely Asian problem. “I have seen a large number of bad fakes coming from France from an ‘expert’. He is one the people that is most used by small French auction houses to justify selling counterfeits. Denmark is

| NEWS |

[ city life ]

bon viveur

Man-about-town, Innerplace’s Nick Savage, gives you the insider lowdown on London’s most hedonistic haunts

take it outside The City’s trendiest terraces

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT The Ned; The Curtain; Aviary

decade ago, the City was a veritable no man’s land on the weekends, depopulated and eerily quiet, like Times Square in Vanilla Sky. However, this has begun to change, partly because of the nearby Shoreditch influence. One of the major watershed moments of this change was the construction of The Ned. When the Soho House Group Innerplace is joined hands with the Sydell London’s personal lifestyle concierge. Membership provides Group, claimants to the complimentary access to the finest achingly hip NoMad Hotel nightclubs, the best restaurants and in NYC along with Eleven top private members’ clubs. Innerplace Madison Park (currently top also offers priority bookings, updates on slot in the World’s 50 Best the latest openings and hosts its own regular parties. Membership from Restaurants) and many others, as lounge bars, and the £50 a month. they took it upon themselves to stunning City scenery innerplace.co.uk build one of the most ambitious swoops in from all sides. venues in Britain. Sitting above it is Others are also rising to the one of the country’s most stylish challenge. Enter The Curtain, on the border roof terraces. of the City and Shoreditch, launched by Ned’s Club Upstairs can only be accessed Michael Achenbaum of the Gansevoort by members or guests who have booked Hotel. Like The Ned, The Curtain splices the one of the hotel’s 252 bedrooms. Originally concept of hotel and private members’ club. designed by Sir Edward ‘Ned’ Lutyens, Anyone who takes one of the venue’s 120 the building is truly sui generis, but its rooms and suites will have access to LIDO. crowning achievement is arguably its The rooftop restaurant looks as if it could be rooftop. On a sweltering Friday afternoon transposed from Nantucket, with a trellisthe space is packed with a svelte and like structure spanning the length of the

Guests nurse G&Ts on beach chairs while a lissom pair of women swim desultory laps in the pool sunglassed crowd and the retractable roof at the Canopy restaurant has been drawn back. Guests nurse G&Ts on beach chairs while a lissom pair of women swim desultory laps in the heated swimming pool, inches away from the building’s edge. Two rooftop domes have been repurposed

room and yawning floor-to-ceiling windows and its eponymous swimming pool imbue the space with a feeling of endlessness. Its secret weapon is chef Marcus Samuelsson, who won Aquavit in Manhattan two Michelin stars and gave Harlem its first Ethiopian soul food restaurant, Red Rooster. However, not all terraces are perched on top of tall buildings. Not far from The Curtain, Nobu Hotel Shoreditch has decided to take the opposite tack and submerge their dining area below the famous street art on Blackall Street. Concrete plinths have been artfully arranged and brushed concrete, wooden panel walls and a pocket garden buffer the dining area from the streets, lending the space a sense of serenity. Nobu Matsuhisa’s entire Japanese menu is available for hungry diners, making it altogether more alluring.

The newest branch of The Ivy has been planted between Bishopsgate and Broad Street. The Ivy City Garden offers the same lauded menu in a more bucolic setting, with a retractable roof, a dark onyx bar, a summer water fountain, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and, of course, a private garden that lends itself to tranquil al fresco dining. However, the USPs don’t stop there. Opt to try the site-specific dish of Beef Wellington. Compared to the others it’s almost old news now – a testament to how quickly the Square Mile has been changing – but the Aviary atop the Montcalm offers a grand space and even more grandiose vistas. Similarly, Devonshire Club launched in late 2016 and made a big splash with its covered cigar and dining area. I’ve heard big things about the forthcoming Dorsett City Hotel which is due to launch in September. Situated 13 storeys up, it will offer great views of London and the Docklands, as well as nearby edifices such as St Botolph’s Church. For a long time, the City has been Britain’s powerhouse neighbourhood, but it’s never been cool enough to draw visitors at the weekend. With its fresh arsenal of terraces, the game may have changed.

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| PROMOTION | xxxx |

Hot to Tot The new Tottenham Hotspur stadium is well underway – and the premium offerings on match day are on another level

he project to replace Tottenham Hotspur’s spiritual home, White Hart Lane, is progressing quickly and the club’s new On Four hospitality concept is gaining popularity fast. It’s not just the exciting brand of titlechallenging football the Spurs first team has shown under Mauricio Pochettino, or the promise of a groundbreaking 61,599-seater stadium in the heart of traditional Tottenham territory, but the fact that On Four has the potential to become the most premium match day experience in the country for any fan. It seems the days of stuffy executive boxes with inflexible numbers and a pressure to fill each week are numbered. In a first for the UK, Loge On Four is a series of semi-private booths boasting Michelin-standard dining, a complimentary bar, behind-the-scenes access and almost unrivalled views of the pitch. Designed to deliver the privacy and quality of an executive box with the atmosphere of a vibrant club lounge, the Loge Suites give you the perfect chance for face-to-face time with guests and clients.

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Suites are accessible three hours before and two hours after each match, and there’s valet parking and private drop-off and pick-up through the club-managed limousine service, so there’s no chance an invitation will go unanswered. They’re available with four, six, eight or ten seats, and at £357 per person, per game, offer an exclusive chance to mix with like-minded people and give guests an epic match day experience, while providing more flexibility with guest numbers. Also on offer is access to The H Club, potentially the best experience in world football. Only 180 seats are available directly on the halfway line, and as membership grants access to two of these seats, with only 90 founding members, The H Club is on course to become the most exclusive ‘Club within a Club’ in the world. The hospitality will rival some of London’s most renowned private members clubs, and the level of flexibility promises to outstrip any other Premier League experience of a similar calibre. Dining has been trusted to the Roux

from top Tottenham Hotspur Football Club; a CGI of White Hart Lane

family, the culinary dynasty that brought the UK its first three Michelin-starred restaurants. Michel Roux Jr is eager to get going: “This is the first time we have partnered with a sports stadium and it is marvellous that we will be involved in such an iconic new venue.” Members will also have the chance to enjoy a private dining experience with a member of the Roux family, alongside sporting exclusives such as hosting man of the match presentations and team Q&A sessions. Spurs’ home for the 2017/18 season is Wembley, and in partnership with Runwild Media, the Club is inviting 50 guests to an exclusive complimentary experience at the first match of the Premier League season, against Chelsea. The first ever Premier League game to be played at the home of football, guests will be treated to full hospitality, and will experience SPVRS (Stadium Project Virtual Reality Suite), gaining an insight into the new stadium and the On Four lifestyle.

WIN A VIP HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE TO TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR VS. CHELSEA For the chance to receive a VIP invitation to Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea on Sunday 20 August at Wembley Stadium, register your details with Runwild Media at: luxurylondon.co.uk/article/spurs If you would like to receive more information about the On Four experiences, register your interest by emailing: onfour@tottenhamhotspur.com

TO READ MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS VISIT www.luxurylondon.co.uk

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Don’t worry, be happy Take some time out on Boisdale’s Jamaica Garden Terrace, complete with rum punch cocktails, live reggae music and an all-day jerk chicken BBQ

summer vibes at boisdale

m o u t h - w at e r i n g caribbean food

Make the most of summer evenings at Boisdale’s Jamaica Garden Terrace. We speak to the restaurant’s founder, Ranald Macdonald, about what else the venue has to offer Where does the name ‘Boisdale’ come from? RM: It’s a port on the remote island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. It’s where we source all of our shellfish. What are the main things you’ve learnt from your years on the London restaurant scene? RM: Don’t be obsessed by the bottom line, be obsessed by the quality of what you do. Why was it important for you to have a Boisdale in Canary Wharf ? RM: I saw the movement east, and so I wanted a magnificent premises in what I believed to be the capital of the east

end. There’s nowhere like Boisdale Canary Wharf anywhere else in the world. What does Boisdale bring to Canary Wharf ? RM: Unparalleled atmosphere, exceptional entertainment, weekly music nights, the greatest selection of malt whisky in the world, the best cigar collection in London. I could go on... What can we expect from the Jamaica Garden Terrace? RM: Palm trees, banana trees, jerk chicken BBQ, Saxon Sound DJs, fantastic cocktails and a great view overlooking Cabot Square. What else can we look forward to at Boisdale? RM: On 13 September we’re hosting the Boisdale Music Awards, with the one and only Jools Holland.

canarywharf.com

enjoy tropical rum punch

relax and unwind al fresco

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@canarywharflondon

BACK FROM THE BRINK Once consigned to the Hollywood pigeonhole marked ‘romantic comedies only’, Texan Matthew McConaughey stepped away from the cinematic cliff edge to reinvent himself as one of the silver screen’s most committed – and unpredictable – assets Words: jake taylor

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| INTERVIEW |

round a decade and a half ago, the name Matthew McConaughey meant something very different to Hollywood directors; the McConaughey moniker wasn’t one with particularly positive connotations. Roles in a series of romantic comedies had provided varying results, from the marginally successful How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days to the universally panned Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. The Texas-born star looked at best to be trapped by typecasting, and at worst to be fading into cinematic obscurity. Given the context, it’s almost hard to believe that that same McConaughey is now a perennial name in the who’s who of Hollywood’s leading men. A critically acclaimed turn in 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club led to an Academy Award and a string of high-profile – and even higher grossing – movies. However, the transition from reluctant rom-com regular to the top tier of Tinseltown began in earnest four years prior. “I was tired of doing romantic comedies and films which didn’t really mean much to me anymore,” the 47-year-old explains in his trademark Southern drawl. “It was time to go back to the kinds of stories which inspired me to become an actor in the first place.”

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cConaughey, in his own words, “un-branded”. In taking a two-year-long break from the industry – which in itself coincided neatly with the birth of aughter – the star made sure to distance himself from his previous reputation. After a brief spell of uncertainty, McConaughey’s move proved a master stroke in rebooting his career on-screen. “The offers dried up after a few years and it was like I had fallen off the radar,” he agrees. “But then directors like William Friedkin (Killer Joe), Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike), and Lee Daniels (The Paperboy) got in touch with me and wanted me to be a part of their films. That was a whole new chapter for me. I didn’t chase any of those films and it made me think that I was right to take a chance, say no to the kind of thing I had grown tired of doing, and wait until something good came around…and it did.” This flurry of highly rated roles in a handful of independent films proved beyond doubt that a man of McConaughey’s pedigree had until then been criminally overlooked. This reversal of fortunes was dubbed in journalistic circles as ‘The McConaissance’, but for the man himself it wasn’t quite as clear-cut as the press made out. “I don’t have an answer to fit the narrative of a ‘then and now’ scenario or ‘coming to God moment’ that I had because, simply, I didn’t have one,” he laughs. “This was an evolution in my career, as I

“A lot of people were wondering what the hell I was doing, but those movies had a way of altering people’s expectations about me and it helped re-establish who I was”

Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba in The Dark Tower. Image courtesy of Movie Stills Database, ©Columbia Pictures

have evolved in my own life. I was looking around in my own life, and going, ‘Man, my life is so adventurous, and my heart is so full and this makes me so mad or this makes me so happy or this makes me laugh so hard.’ “I was saying, ‘I want to recalibrate and just look at my career, where I can go have some similar experience to a scale of emotional experiences in my working life as I am having in my own real life’, because my life was giving me stuff that was really turning me on. So I went, ‘Well let’s go find a relationship in your work that can really turn you on, Matt McConaughey’.” In turning his back on Hollywood, McConaughey was walking a tightrope. Having now made the move back into the upper echelons of the on-screen elite, the star’s decision has not only paid dividends in terms of his filmography, but has gone onto influence his approach to every role since. “You’ve got to take risks from time to time,” he enthuses. “A lot of people were wondering what the hell I was doing, but those movies had a way of altering people’s expectations about me and it helped re-establish who I was, not just with audiences but with directors. I would never have been considered for the part in Dallas Buyers Club if

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| Interview |

I hadn’t made those smaller films. “I would hope that people think of me as an actor who makes a lot of courageous choices. The last five years I’ve been much less result-oriented. Now, I am talking process, process, process, and if the people like it, then good. I had people when we were shooting Dallas Buyers Club come up and go, ‘Shoot. We have got to cool this guy down; no one is going to sympathise with him’. But I don’t care if people sympathise with him – that’s not our job because then you start getting moral with your characters and things like that. So forget morality when we are trying to get the truth on somebody.” Morality is certainly a prominent theme in McConaughey’s next project. Though his recent fare has largely been made up of playing the anti-hero – from Dallas Buyers Club’s Ron Woodroof to Gold’s Kenny Wells – this year he’ll be shouldering the mantle of outright antagonist for the first time. And he’s doing it under the watchful eye of Stephen King himself, in the forthcoming screen adaptation The Dark Tower. “I was really looking forward to several months off, but when they offered me a part in a film inspired by Stephen King’s Black Tower, I couldn’t refuse,” McConaughey, who plays the villainous Man in Black, concedes. “I also loved the idea of playing a very, very bad guy. I approached my character as if I were the Devil having a great time, getting turned on by exposing human hypocrisies wherever he finds them.” The star’s upcoming appearance as the Man in Black may well hint at yet another twist in his

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

from top Wolf of Wall Street. Image courtesy of Movie Stills Database, ©Paramount Pictures; Interstellar. Image courtesy of Movie Stills Database, ©Warner Bros. Pictures; McConaughey at The Sea of Trees premiere, ©Andrea Raffin / shutterstock.com; Dallas Buyers Club. Image courtesy of Movie Stills Database, ©Focus Features

career, as reports of a planned Dark Tower franchise continue apace. It’s a rumour that McConaughey himself is in no hurry to refute – “It’s a possibility,” he smiles instead. “There are a lot more stories to be told” – and in this golden age of franchises, a slew of big-budget blockbusters would certainly not look amiss on any Hollywood heavyweight’s résumé. Regardless of the very real possibility that McConaughey will soon be the face of the industry’s next billion-dollar series, it’s unlikely to affect him. After all, the Texan has already escaped his apparent fate in big-screen banality, conquered the independent circuit and risen through the ranks to claim an Oscar – all the while sticking true to his beliefs. “It was a great moment in my career, but it was not a destination and I haven’t looked at it like that,” he says of his 2013 Academy Award triumph. “It’s a great thing to check off, but I have still got to ask the same questions that I have been asking myself about when I go to work, and choosing a script. I have to ask the same basic questions: what does it personally mean to me, what kind of experience do I hope I can get out of this, why does this turn me on, why does this scare me, why can I not get it out of my mind, and why do I have to do it?” As McConaughey approaches the big 5-0, it’s fair to assume that he currently possesses one of the most varied CVs in cinema history; the hype of this last half-decade finally highlighting a talent that lay dormant in Hollywood for far too long. With this recent revelation, however, it’s easy to forget his role as agent to the stars Rick Peck in Ben Stiller’s muchloved 2008 Vietnam War movie spoof Tropic Thunder, or that in 2014 he made the tricky transition to the small screen opposite Woody Harrelson for the rapturously reviewed True Detective. “That was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he crows. “True Detective is one of those opportunities that came along – and I never imagined doing something like that – but I liked the idea right away and I said yes, period.” When The Dark Tower strides into cinemas across the globe on 18 August, it will be an Academy Awardwinning actor in the form of his life that audiences see on-screen.That’s not to say that McConaughey’s early career has been erased – that immortal line from his film debut Dazed and Confused will surely never slip from its cult position in pop culture – but rather that the star has proven time and time again that he has “the courage to write the third act of your life in order to get to the happy ending.” “I’m an optimist who believes it’s better to look forwards rather than backwards and that you should be thankful for what you have in life, and I’ve got a lot of things to be thankful for,” he says with typical eloquent intent. “I like to be excited by a project. I like a good beginning, middle and end to the films I make, but I also like to not be quite sure where a story is going, so that I can be somewhat surprised along the way. “Nothing ever follows a predetermined script. A lot of projects just appear out of nowhere but you immediately know you have to do them. I’ve realised that in life what happens is never what you set out to do. You have to be willing to fight, even though the truth may be hard sometimes, if you want to reach that third act.” The Dark Tower is in cinemas from 18 August

Sharp Sho ting

the great outdoors

Cock your gun, pack your cartridge bag. To coincide with the Glorious Twelfth, the first day of grouse season, The City Magazine asked stalwarts of the shooting industry for their top tips for remaining on target during the season ahead Words: HANNAH LEMON

faSt FACT

SPEED MERCHANTS

Regarded as the king of game birds, red grouse are incredibly sought after and represent the supreme shooting challenge – they can fly at speeds of up to 70 mph

IMAGE ©Purdey

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hether you’re an aficionado or a beginner, shooting etiquette throws up plenty of dilemmas, from your RSVP to what to pack. Top dogs on the hunting scene are here with some tips to ensure you get invited back next season.

The Birds

At least 600,000 people in the UK shoot live quarry, clay pigeons or targets, according to a 2014 survey by Cambridge-based Public and Corporate Economic Consultants. “Pheasant and partridge are my normal quarry,” says James Horne, CEO of James Purdey & Sons, the gun and rifle makers. “However, I enjoy grouse shooting as it is the most exciting. The beauty of the surrounding countryside, the silence and the adrenaline all contribute to the thrill of the occasion. Grouse are the fastest game birds you’ll ever shoot.” One month on from the Glorious 12th, the shooting season widens to include partridge, duck and goose. From October, pheasant and woodcock, too. “I love the January days, because birds are strong and wily then,” says Will Hogan, assistant retail manager at Farlows, the shooting and country clothing specialist. “It is always satisfying catching those birds that break out of the drives on beater’s days.” No matter what happened last year, though, always check what you’re allowed to snipe, where and when (more information is available through the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust). And remember, no shooting on Sundays – ever. While some years have seen low stock levels (2015 due to bad weather), trends for bird don’t seem to have changed that much, although “there is far more high-bird shooting available and there is much more information about ballistics and what cartridges to use”, says Horne. He remembers shooting nearly 80 days during one season with his father. “We travelled all over the country and were occasionally joined by my son. Having three generations together with everyone of equal shooting ability is a truly special event.” It’s this familial attitude that keeps the industry alive. Collectively, shoot providers help manage an area the size of Wales, investing their time and money into preserving the countryside. Nearly two million hectares are actively managed for conservation. Many locations across the UK hold events just for women, beginners or businesses. “The commercial world has really kicked off and more estates are doing lots of days,” says Hogan. “It means our sport is attracting more people, which can only be a good thing. We need to stick together despite what some may think about commercial shooting.” Further afield, companies such as Farlows, GunsOnPegs and Scott Dunn offer trips around the world to experience the best in hunting, shooting and fishing. “Rathmoy Lodge in New Zealand is one of the greatest settings for spectacular scenery and a great shoot,” says Hogan. During the summer months, clay shooting is the UK’s field sport of choice. It’s the ideal time for a dab hand to oil any rusty hinges before the season gets underway, or for beginners to learn how to hit the target. “I would always advise getting some lessons beforehand,” remarks Hogan on the latter. “Driven shooting is not as easy as some may think; there is a lot of sky around the birds!”

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

the great outdoors

The Guns

Gunmakers are willing to direct newbies towards their first rifle purchase. Alastair Phillips, general manager at William Evans in Bisley, recommends an over-and-under as a failsafe; Daryl Greatrex, managing director at Holland & Holland, suggests a modestly-priced model from either Belgium or Italy; while Karl Waktare, managing director at Beretta, recommends the brand’s Silver Pigeon: “It is outstanding value for money and retains its secondhand value really well.” Really, it’s down to individual taste. Horne opts for a rebuilt 1896 side-by-side Purdey shotgun, while William Asprey opts for one of his own, a William & Son 12 bore side-by-side, double trigger with 28-inch barrels. Waktare uses SO10 Beretta; Hogan, a Boss & Co over-and-under; Greatrex, a Holland & Holland ‘Royal’ model game gun. Off-the-peg is obviously cheaper and quicker than bespoke and most guns can be made to fit with minor adaptations. If you’re opting for this tack, stock fit is by far the most important thing to get right, says Waktare, who recommends the Beretta 687 EELL at around £6,500. Good stock fit coupled with great trigger pull in a bespoke gun, says Greatrex, and you’ll be laughing all the way back to the lodge. If you are willing to invest in engraving, a Purdey gun can cost you from £110,000, or a William & Son from £150,000 for two. All in all, there’s a strong demand for guns by well-known makers, and they don’t have to be new. “I like an old William Evans gun that is still in good condition,” says Phillips. “I currently own a boxlock 12 bore with 30-inch barrels that was made in 1924. I can see in the records that it is still the same spec as the original and has the initials of the first owner on the case.” While you may want to expand your collection, Phillips recommends picking one gun and sticking with it. “Beware the man with one gun. Practice is so important.”

Off-the-peg is obviously cheaper and quicker than bespoke and most guns can be made to fit with minor adaptations The Clothes

TOP LEFT Purdey above Farlows

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Regarding fashion in the field, it’s down to personal preference – there are endless options for tweeds, shooting cases and all the gadgets. Firearms owners are fussy: they contribute around £2 billion to the UK economy. So when you’re ready to fill your trolley, head to Purdey for well-fitting tweeds, Farlows for a waterproof Swazi Wapiti jacket or Le Chameau for rubber boots. While you’re at it, you might as well add a gift for your host to the list: a sterling silver flask shaped like a cartridge for £2,100 can be found at William & Son if you’re feeling generous. Then it’s all about the actual day and indulging in a plate of partridge Wellington and a glass of King’s Ginger. Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring a cash tip for the keeper, never pick off low birds and refrain from poaching the next peg’s flying fowl. Although, Hogan cheekily adds, “it can be great fun shooting your mate’s bird before he has a chance”. farlows.co.uk; purdey.com; williamevans.com; hollandandholland.com; beretta.com

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The tail of the receiver has been lowered allowing the wood to separate the receiver and the safety, like a wooden bridge over the steel

A Family Affair Now in its 15th generation, the Beretta story begins in the 1500s with Mastro Bartolomeo Beretta of Gardone Val Trompia, northern Italy, who received 298 gold coins in return for the 195 long-gun barrels he sold to the Arsenal of Venice. Four centuries later, in 1915 Beretta produced the Model 1915, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first pistol. By the end of World War II, Beretta was making 4,000 of the models a month. In 1986, the Beretta Model 82 became the US Armed Forcesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; number one handgun.

The fixing of the trigger guard to the receiver is distinctive, inserting it into a milled guide

The Beretta OptimaBore barrels are built to be tough and to last for generations

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

the great outdoors

World’s leading barrel The receiver is edgeless and the lines flow through the entire surface of the shotgun with no sharp edges or breaks

The forend is leaner and more streamlined, while the coupling point between the receiver and the forend iron has been reduced to a minimum

The engraving is a homage to Asia as the homeland of the pheasant, made possible by the hightech laser technology

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

hat happens when you cross 500 years of Italian gun making history with a British designer who helped create the Apple Watch? A delicately reworked and streamlined version of the Beretta 486, that’s what. With pieces in the permanent collections of more than 20 museums, Newson is considered one of the most important industrial designers of his generation. In 2015, his Lockheed Lounge – a self-built, aluminium-clad chaise longue – sold for US$3.7m, becoming the most expensive design piece sold at auction by a living designer. Newson’s respectful reinterpretation of the 486 includes some technological innovations. The safety catch, for example, is no longer a remote mechanism on the end of the receiver, but seamlessly incorporated into the high-grade walnut bridge. Newson says: “The main focus for my design of the 486 was to simplify and rationalise all the surfaces, specifically streamlining the area of the action.” He observed the mix of traditional skills employed by Beretta’s craftsmen in harmony with state-of-the-art engineering processes such as X-ray equipment, laser technology and robotics. “My initial source of inspiration came from the idea that pheasants are native to Asia, before being widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. For me, it was important to pay homage to this and incorporate a subtle Asian influence into the design… I started to look at Japanese tattoos and the craftsmanship involved in creating complex engravings as a means to compliment the surfacing of the action.” 486 by Marc Newson, £18,950, The Beretta Gallery, 36 St James St, SW1, beretta.com

Around the world in 80 chukkas

A civilised afternoon of sporting pleasure, mixed with a little meet and greet; The City Magazine discovers the only way to do business is by the side of a polo field Words: Nick Hammond

ritish Polo Day has become one of the country’s most welcomed exports, bringing as it does a little English summertime glamour to more than 60 venues across the world. It’s a masterclass in high-end relationship building; multinational CEOs, luxury brands, aristocrats and entrepreneurs mingle freely in a convivial atmosphere. Today’s ‘home fixture’ in Henley-onThames is blessed with the Cristiano Ronaldo of polo; the mysterious Adolfo Cambiaso has flown in his family (as well as a few of his favourite horses) for a run in the Oxfordshire sunshine. He cuts quite a dash. “All I ever wanted to do is play polo,” the Argentinian shrugs laconically. He is perhaps the finest player ever to pick up a stick, being awarded a 10-goal handicap at 19 – there are fewer than two dozen such handicaps in the world. He owns a horse

breeding operation and a property enterprise. And he’s devilishly handsome to boot. Today, Adolfo, Adolfo Jr and daughter Mia are nonchalantly thundering across the ground in terrifying fashion. Dad looks on proudly – and occasionally demonstrates why he’s regarded as a living legend. To watch him charge past at great speed, horse loosely reined in one hand, while playing keepy-uppy with the ball and polo stick with the other, is to surely see one of the most exhilarating sights in world sport. Despite Argentina’s dominance of the game,

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the great outdoors

RULES OF PLAY

The aim of the game (originally a training exercise for the king’s guard) is to get a ball into the opposing team’s goal using the side of the long-handled mallet head. A polo match is either four, six or eight chukkas depending on the match – a chukka is a period of seven minutes; the interval between each is three minutes. In a match you have four players in a team, playing on a grass field up to 270m x 150m, and one or two umpires. Riders may make contact and push each other off the line of the ball, as long as elbows are not involved. Any time the ball crosses, at any height, the line between the goal posts, it is considered a goal regardless of who knocks it through, including the pony.

Despite Argentina’s dominance of the game, there’s still something eccentric and, somehow, very British about polo there’s still something eccentric and, somehow, very British about polo. Under billowing canopies we dine at Henley, British Polo Day MD Ben Vestey our amiable host. He runs the impressive franchise alongside co-founder and director Tom Hudson and it points to the military background of both that the entire day breezes past in delightful fashion without a hitch. Nina Clarkin, the British women’s No.1 player, is also here, playing alongside Adolfo in the charity exhibition. “I’ve witnessed things get better and better for women as my career has progressed,” she says. “Now there is a defined path to a professional career, whereas in my day I had to find my own way a bit.” How one find’s one’s way in polo, Lord only knows. But as Nina readily admits, it does help to be married to a professional polo player from New Zealand who can lend you a horse when emergencies arise. They now have a young child to consider, but this is another family hooked on the adrenaline rush that polo provides. “I’m not sure how I’d feel if my children wanted to do it,” she says. “It can be very dangerous if you’re not fully switched on. But I never worry about that side of things when it comes to my career. If you start to worry, you couldn’t possibly play the game properly.” Clarkin and Cambiaso both assure me that these exhibition games are half as fast as a professional fixture. It it all seems hazardous in the extreme

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to me; jostling of sticks and horses, great swings of the arms, sudden changes of BPD China 3 September 2017 direction and thunderous SUMBA ISLAND, INDONESIA cavalcades up and down 24-29 October 2017 the length of the pitch. JAIPUR, india 9-12 December 2017 Horses are changed JODHPUR, india 13-15 December 2017 several times during the ABU DHABI TBC March 2018 exhausting eight chukkas DUBAI TBC March 2018 but the riders sweat on, GREAT BRITAIN utterly absorbed in the TBC JUNE 2018 ferocious contest that is still played and held in high esteem in scores of countries. Nothing illustrates this better than British Polo Day. Once the last reveller from tonight’s afterparty is finally persuaded to leave and the stands, marquees, statues, drinks vehicles, caterers, staff, horse boxes and players have left the field, this travelling roadshow begins work on the next event – their 62nd – in the United States. Sponsors, patrons, business partners and invited guests will be back in harness, so to speak, in places as evocative as India, Dubai, China, Morocco, Singapore, Mexico, Russia and Thailand to name but a few. A British afternoon at the polo – in far-flung, exotic locations. Sounds like the way to do business to me. britishpoloday.com

fIXTURE LIST

ALL IMAGES ©Sam Churchill

The Fly Fisher’s Bucket List

Farlows travel manager, Roddy Hall, selects his favourite fly fishing destinations, from Iceland’s Queen of Rivers to Argentina’s Rio Grande

1. The Atlantic Salmon Reserve (ASR), Russia Roddy says: Russia’s magical Northern Rivers on the northern coast of the Kola Peninsula within the Atlantic Salmon Reserve are considered some of the very best Atlantic salmon rivers in the world today. Remote tundra, unspoiled by human intervention, with large, silver salmon on the run from early June through September – the Kharlovka, Rynda, Eastern Litza and Zolotaya rivers are a dream adventure for anglers. farlowstravel.com/destination/atlantic-salmon-reserve

2. Grimsa River, Iceland

Roddy says: Frequented by British nobility and notable foreign visitors from as early as the late nineteenth century, Grimsa is referred to as the ‘Queen of Rivers’ and has a large, strong run of fish. A medium-sized river in Iceland’s most prolific salmon region, Borgarfjörður, the real charm of the Grimsa is that the water is so clear that it is possible to see fish in many pools and watch them as they react to your fly. farlowstravel.com/destination/grimsa-iceland

The ultimate fly-fishing experience is being surrounded by spectacular scenery and casting over a crystal clear stream 50

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the great outdoors

fishing fact

DID YOU KNOW? Catfish have a whopping 27,000 taste buds compared to just 7,000 in humans.

3. Alphonse Island, Seychelles

Roddy says: The Alphonse group of islands comprise Alphonse, Bijoutier and St Francois and offer some of the most exciting and varied saltwater flats fishing in the world. Coupled with superb accommodation, facilities and food it is a dream fishing destination. Alphonse is one of the most prolific bonefish fisheries in the world and, in addition, there are over 60 other species to target on the fly including: triggerfish, milkfish and awesome giant trevally on the flats, with species such as sailfish and yellowfin tuna offshore. farlowstravel.com/destination/alphonse-island

4. Trout fishing, New Zealand

Roddy says: The ultimate fly-fishing experience is being surrounded by spectacular scenery and casting a dry fly over a big, wild trout in a crystal clear stream. In New Zealand, you can experience that every day. Both islands offer some of the most legendary and challenging fly fishing in the world, with trophy waters where huge trout cruise in deep, clear pools. The angling can sometimes be technically difficult â&#x20AC;&#x201C; demanding stealth and an accurate cast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but get it right and the reward is likely to be the catch of a lifetime. farlowstravel.com/destination/owen-river-lodge farlowstravel.com/destination/poronui-lodge-new-zealand

The most biologically diverse aquatic environments you are ever likely to fish 5. Kau Tapen, Argentina

Roddy says: Kau Tapen on the Rio Grande has a place in the history of fly fishing and for more than 30 years fishers have travelled from all over the world to target the amazing sea-run brown trout, which average between 7 to 8lb but can regularly top the 30lb mark. farlowstravel.com/destination/kau-taupen

6. Saltwater flats fishing, Cuba

Roddy says: An enormous, and largely untouched, system of saltwater flats, estuaries and marine parks combine to create the most biologically diverse aquatic environments you are ever likely to fish, with superb bonefish, big permit and some huge tarpon the possible rewards. farlowstravel.com/destination/cayo-cruz-cuba farlowstravel.com/destination/cayo-largo-cuba

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06/04/2017 21:04

great xxxx outdoors the

Pursuits of happiness

Upon a stretch of hallowed turf in the country’s lowlands, fabled Gleneagles has had a makeover. The City Magazine eats, shoots and leaves Scotland’s most celebrated estate Words: BETHAN REES

ome to three championship golf courses, including the PGA Centenary Course, which played host to the 2014 Ryder Cup, Gleneagles in Perthshire is world-famous in the land of argyle jumpers, flat caps and putting greens. However, I’m not at the five-star hotel to pick up a golf club, as sacrilegious as that might be. The hotel’s 850-acre grounds are a playground for adults (and children). A Disneyland with more whisky. With more than 20 outdoor activities, from falconry to gundog training, clay pigeon shooting to ferret racing, Gleneagles is a place to acquire new skills and refine old ones. In the early 1900s, general manager of Scotland’s Caledonian Railway Company, Donald Matheson, was holidaying in the Highlands when he became enamoured by its natural beauty and envisioned a large country-house hotel for people to enjoy the great outdoors. When Gleneagles opened in 1924, it aimed to be the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. The hotel was closed during World War Two, becoming a military hospital, and then a miners’ rehabilitation centre. It reopened in 1947. Ennismore, the private investment group behind the Hoxton hotels in London and Amsterdam, acquired Gleneagles from drinks giant Diageo in 2015. With help from esteemed interior designers, including David Collins Studio and Timorous Beasties, Ennismore has subsequently millions of pounds refurbishing rooms, renovating restaurants, adding new ones and creating a brand new spa.

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’m staying in one of the hotel’s ‘Whisky’ suites – the Talisker room – home to leather armchairs, vintage wooden cabinets, an antique trunk with an old-fashioned egg timer on top. After a good night’s sleep, it was time to experience what Gleneagles is really about; the outdoor pursuits. The British School of Falconry is located at Gleneagles. Originally opened in 1982, it was the first of its kind in the world. The ancient ‘sport of kings’ is available to guests from group demonstrations to full-day hunts – I was here for an introduction session. Gleneagles has a wide range of birds, from peregrine falcons to golden eagles (with an 8ft wingspan). Duncan Eade, my instructor/falconer, introduces me to Angus the Harris hawk. The hawk perches on my gloved hand (the left hand for right-handed people, so as to leave the right hand free to hold a sword), then flies away. Raw meat is put on the glove, the hawk returns. Falconry is, first and foremost, about hunting. Birds are essentially lazy, so when you see them flying, it is in search of their next meal. Eade explains how to differentiate a hunting bird from a scavenger. If their feet seem big in comparison to the body, then it’s a hunting breed; a scavenger has a larger beak and smaller feet. Next on the agenda is gundog training. As Eade leads me to the kennels, the black and golden Labradors stir into a frenzy, barking, running around in circles, standing on top of their kennels upright. They’re wondering who is the lucky hound to be selected to be taken out for a training lesson. I was paired up with Ferne the black Labrador and I was taught how to maintain control of the hound via voice and tone, and movements; the dog would sit and stay,

mark prey (dummy pheasants) and retrieve. As fun as it was hanging around with animals, it was time for something a little more precarious – off-road driving. Just five minutes away from the hotel itself, the private land is covered in bright yellow gorse flowers that have a coconut-type smell. Sat in a Land Rover Defender 110, hands at the wheel, the car clambers over rocky terrain slowly but confidently. Totally convinced that the vehicle is going to fall on its side and not be able to get back up like a woodlouse on its back, then I remember, this is what these cars are made for. Going through water, ditches, escalating ridges and up steep hills, the Defender trundles along until we reach a herd of cows, with calves, refusing to move out of our path. After a couple of toots on the horn, they eventually, and sluggishly, do. The shooting school at Gleneagles is worldfamous, and offers clay pigeon (or target, as it’s known), archery and air rifle practice. In the safe hands of head instructor John Dickson, I head to the clay targets, of which there are 13 different shooting

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the great outdoors

The smell of gunpowder in the air is addictive and the feel of the gun recoiling becomes exhilarating stands, named and directed by different animals you can hunt. As a 5ft 4ins woman, on previous shoots, I’d been given the same gun as my 6ft 8ins partner. Alas to say I struggled to handle its weight. Here, I went from a 12-gauge shotgun, to a 20-gauge. Just by looking at me, Dickson could tell my left eye was the dominant one. “Left-handed?” he asks. “Righthanded,” I reply. “Ah, this is going to be interesting,” he says. Unbeknownst to me, I have what is known as a cross-dominance aim – where my dominant eye and hand preference are the opposite, not the usual. There are two options here: I can shoot with my left hand, or wear a pair of sunglasses, with the left lens blocked out by masking tape. I choose the latter. We try out a few of the stands, including The Bolting Rabbit (a running ground target from left to right), The Partridge (straight over, incoming target) and The Woodcock (an outgoing, oblique, ‘floating’ target). Every time I hit something – which, for a novice, I’m told is quite a lot – the thrill heightens. The smell of gunpowder in the air is addictive, and the feel of the gun recoiling on my shoulder starts off as uncomfortable but the more I do, the more exhilarating it becomes.

must. What used to be a luggage room is now a decadent space with plush interiors and a bar headed up by Ludovica Fedi, who has reached back in time for her curated menu. Swedish Punsch, for example, was a commonplace ingredient in American cocktails until the Prohibition but then disappeared. Fedi has created her own version of the sugar-cane-based liqueur. The American Bar is also the only bar in the world to house the full set of the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Ultra whiskies. To eat, there’s something for all tastes and formality. Andrew Fairlie, the chef ’s eponymous restaurant, is the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in Scotland, and this year joined Les Grandes Tables du Monde, a prestigious guide to the best restaurants in the world – one of just seven UK restaurants to be included. Expect formal and exceptionally beautiful dishes that use local and seasonal ingredients. The Strathearn is the second most formal option. The lilac-and-cream-clad restaurant has two AA Rosettes and some dishes are cooked (or finished) at the table, such as the langoustines flambéed in Pernod. Seeing your food go up in flames never gets old. The Strathearn is far from stuffy, though. During our visit, the resident pianist went from Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune, straight into the theme from Harry Potter. Elsewhere, Birnam Brasserie is one Gleneagles’ newest restaurants, a grand Parisian-style café with beautiful mosaic flooring that serves locally sourced favourites, such as hand-dived scallops with crispy pancetta, four cheese macaroni and moules marinière. Polished yet playful, Gleneagles is the perfect Highland getaway. Heading home on the short flight from Edinburgh, I kick back, close my eyes and promise I’ll revisit this most sacred of playgrounds. Rates start from £265 per night based on two people sharing on a bed and breakfast basis. For more information, visit gleneagles.com

Food and drink

Gleneagles has a massive variety of bars and restaurants. At the heart of the hotel is The Century Bar, it’s the first space you encounter upon entering. Refurbished by David Collins Studio, it’s the perfect cocktail-sipping spot with its Gatsby-style décor. I recommend trying the Three Martini Lunch – one with Lillet Blanc, one with vermouth and one with lime and syrup. The newly opened American Bar is another

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

CITY collection Launched at baselworld 2017, tudorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heritage black bay is now available in steel and yellow gold, ÂŁ3,400, Tudor, tudorwatch.com

magnum opus (p.59)

how harry winston went from jeweller to serious watchmaker

flower power (p.60)

chanel creates a calibre specifically for women

catch the sun (p.62)

Piaget unveils new Sunlight Journey high jewellery collection

| collection |

WATCH world

News in brief Panerai to open London boutique

Panerai has announced the opening of its first UK standalone store. The boutique will be the brand's second-largest in Europe after its flagship in Florence. It will open at 30 New Bond Street in November 2017.

Magnum Opus

How the King of Diamonds became one of the leading names in haute horology

New name for British watch industry

Words: RICHARD BROWN s perhaps the 20thcentury’s primary purveyor of exceptional gemstones, it was always going to be a challenge for Harry Winston to unshackle itself from an image that revolved solely around spectacular sparklers. When the brand entered the watch world in 1989, it was, therefore, a shrewd move to set course for the most serious end of watchmaking. Two series of watches came to embody the ambition, and the sincerity, with which Harry Winston diversified into haute horology. The first, project Opus, launched in 2001, under the stewardship of thenmanaging director of rare timepieces Max Büsser (now of MB&F fame). Each year, said Harry Winston, an independent rock-star watchmaker would be given carte blanche to collaborate on a supercomplicated, ultra-contemporary game changer of a timepiece. Each spring, for 13 consecutive years – during which time Harry Winston established a state-of-the-art workshop in Geneva – journalists and watchmakers awaited the unveiling of Harry Winston’s latest piece of wizardry. Aesthetically, the results were varied and polarising. Mechanically, they were always astounding. On the dial of Opus 11, for example, four rotating jigsaw pieces would spring to life every hour, meeting at the centre of the dial to reveal the time. Elsewhere, Opus 8 displayed hours and minutes through a complex system of 59 pivoting hands and 11 rotating triangles. In 2013, Harry Winston was acquired by Swatch Group, and mission Opus

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Z11, £17,200

It is now possible to purchase a home-grown mechanical timepiece for less than £250. New British brand the Marloe Watch Company has unveiled the Cherwell – a hand-wound three-hander with a 50-hour power reserve and exhibition case-back. Yours for £249.

A bumper year for UK watch sales was suspended until 2015, when the jukebox-inspired Opus 14 was revealed by new CEO Nayla Hayek. Hayek has subsequently said that the Opus family will continue to be updated, but will follow no particular schedule. Project Z, Harry Winston’s second series of world-first wristwatches, launched in 2004. The collection took its name from Zalium, a zirconium-based alloy developed by Ronald Winston, the son of Harry Winston and a talented chemical engineer more used to working with rocket propellers. Ronald realised that Zalium’s properties – it is extremely hard, strong, and corrosion resistant – made the material perfect for watchmaking. He presented Zalium to the brand his father had founded, which chose to use it exclusively in a line of space-age sports watches, aka Project Z, the latest of which is this year’s Z11 (above). A skeletonised, matte-finish, twin-barrelled automatic, the openwork dial of the Z11 is intended to mirror the steel beams and superstructures of Harry Winston’s hometown, New York City. From Manhattan, Harry Winston grew an empire that saw him become the ‘King of Diamonds’. From its watchmaking base in Geneva, the brand has become a leading light in the world of fine horology. harrywinston.com

LVMH, parent group of TAG Heuer, Hublot, Zenith and Bulgari, has announced that UK watch and jewellery sales were up 30 per cent in 2016, with the turnover rising from £71.6m in 2015 to £93m last year. Patek Philippe reported a 14.5 per cent rise in 2016 to £142.3m.

TAG Heuer sees its future online

“We need to be where our customers are, which means we need to be online,” said TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver at the launch of the Kingsman Special Edition smartwatch. From one month from 6 July, the timepiece will be available exclusively through mrporter.com.

Swiss watch sales make a recovery

After almost two and a half years of contraction, the Swiss watch industry posted positive results in May. The country exported watches worth 1.7 billion francs – 9.0 per cent more than in May 2016.

Flower Power

This year, Chanel has followed its first ever in-house movement with a calibre designed specifically for women. We speak to Nicolas Beau, CEO of the house’s watchmaking division, to find out more Words: Laura McCreddie-Doak

Opposite Chanel’s Première Camélia Skeleton This page The front and back of Calibre 1

ademoiselle Chanel was never one to do what was expected of her. At a time when the fashion was for flounce and excess, she flouted this in favour of masculine lines, minimal decoration and a muted colour palette. Since her passing, her eponymous house has carried on the tradition of going against current trends and expectations. It certainly did that with aplomb when it launched its Monsieur de Chanel timepiece last year. The watch itself, with its jumping hour marker at six and enlarged retrograde minute track, would have been newsworthy enough, but when the press discovered it housed Chanel’s first ever inhouse movement, the Calibre 1, everyone was talking about it. At this year’s Baselworld, Chanel unveiled the follow-up. Admittedly, the name, Calibre 2, doesn’t really sound like much to get excited about, but don’t be deceived, for this is another

Calibre 2 is an incredible feat of watchmaking – a skeleton movement in the shape of a camellia incredible feat of watchmaking – a skeleton movement in the shape of a camellia, one of the house’s most famous symbols. While the name also suggests that Calibre 2 will be very similar to its parent watch, it is significantly different. “We took a completely different approach here,” states Nicolas Beau, CEO of the Chanel watch division. “Calibre 1 was all about style and complexity, while Calibre 2 was much more about

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| COLLECTION |

beauty and the idea of making a skeleton.” While Calibre 1 was designed to highlight the components within the timepiece, the intention was completely the opposite the second time round. It was, as Beau states, “all about pure aesthetics”. The intricate, three-level floral pattern of Calibre 2 has been crafted to conceal the watch’s mechanics, with the wheels hidden within bridges that make up the camellia design. Calibre 2 makes its debut in the Première watch – the case shape which was originally modelled on the Place Vendôme – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It is quintessentially Chanel – feminine (the case has been set with diamonds) without being overtly girly, and unlike anything else. This isn’t the first time the camellia has featured in the Première – it was previously used to hide a flying tourbillon, created for the house by renowned watch manufacturer Renaud & Papi. “We wanted to create something mechanical, but with the technical element hidden,” explains Beau. “After a few discussions, Renaud & Papi understood we were not trying to impress with teeth and wheels, but with beauty. Creativity is king here; we do whatever we think is right and the technicians need to adapt.” It is this need to future-proof Chanel’s watchmaking arm that has led to setting up an inhouse department, which is responsible for Calibres 1 and 2 and now in the midst of working on Calibre 3. “If it were 1980, I would probably not have invested in movements and continued to work with experts,”

left Calibre 2 Skeleton – the manual wind has a 48-hour power reserve Below The Camélia Skeleton

says Beau. “However, in this world where we are surrounded by big groups, you can’t really depend on anyone because they could be bought tomorrow. It has been a massive investment, but if you don’t control your production, you open yourself up to issues in the future.” The man safeguarding Chanel’s future in the watch

“We were not trying to impress with teeth and wheels, but with beauty. Creativity is king here” industry is none other than Romain Gauthier – the legendary watchmaker and protégé of Philippe Dufour – as well as eight other people who work exclusively for the house on movement conception and construction. “When I started, I thought it would be hard to convince great watchmakers to work at Chanel,” says Beau. “But I found mavericks who wanted to be part of a story, not a big machine.” It was these mavericks who embraced what Beau describes as a “crazy” challenge simply to prove that it could be done. It almost sounds ridiculous when Beau refers to the Calibre 2 as “basic” and a starting point from which Chanel can develop other time-only movements. “We could call it the 2.1 or something,” he says, in what is perhaps a nod to the classic quilted 2.55 handbag. Whatever does come next, whether that be the Calibre 3 or the hinted-at entirely new women’s watch that will apparently be Chanel’s “vision of the next 30 years of feminine watch design”, you can be sure it will be unexpected. As the house’s founder once said: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” Chanel’s Première Camélia Skeleton watch, from £111,000, chanel.com

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jewellery

A Diamond Den

Words: Mhairi Graham

Samer Halimeh NY is renowned for its unrivalled diamond jewellery, favoured by sultans and A-listers alike. For a closer look at the collection, head to its multi-storey diamond mecca in Knightsbridge – a bedazzling, bomb-proof boutique, complete with James Bond-style diamond vaults below the ground. From £5,000, samerhalimeh.com

Jessica Chastain in the Piaget Sunlight Journey collection

Catch the sun

Unveiled at Paris Haute Couture Week, Piaget’s scintillating new Sunlight Journey high jewellery collection brings together fine marquetry and rare, sun-kissed gemstones that capture the spirit of summer, modelled by brand ambassador Jessica Chastain. POA, piaget.com

Diamond necklace, POA

Piaget diamond Viva l’Arte ring in 18K pink gold, set with red spinels, purple sapphires and diamonds

Time to be Charmed Bracelet: £3,200; Earrings: £17,000

A Festival of Colour

Lily Gabriella’s vibrant new Holi collection is inspired by the Hindu festival of colour and love. Handcrafted, intricate designs are resplendent with diamonds and vivid gemstones, including gloriously green peridots – the birthstone of August. Each piece can be customised with the gemstone and gold tone of your choice. From £1,800, lilygabriella.com

Mary Ching’s talismanic Treasured Amulet collection is now available at Frost of London in Mayfair, offering bespoke fine jewellery for watches. Customise your watch cuff with precious gems and curious charms, from ornate angel wings and playful creatures to the all-seeing Eye of Protection.

From £750, frostoflondon.co.uk

Charms from left: £6,500; £7,600; £11,600

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CITY style Cillian Murphy stars in Stella McCartneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A/W17 menswear film, shot by Sean Ellis, watch it at stellamccartney.com

IN THE SWIM (p.66)

after a three-decade hiatus, the original bikini brand is back

for all seasons (p.69)

falling in love with The spa at four seasons ten trinity square

city dress code (p.72)

debrettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rupert wesson on how to nail smart casual

IN THE SWIM Just over 70 years ago, Louis Réard invented the bikini. After a threedecade hiatus, the brand he created is reborn this year, but can the team create demand for $650 bikinis?

Words:: Josh Sims

Louis Réard with two swimwear models

ichard Emanuel swears that it wasn’t the barely dressed model that drew his attention to the cafe poster. “It was a beautiful vintage art print for some brand called Réard, which I’d never heard of,” says the entrepreneur. “I looked it up, and found it has this incredible history. And that got me thinking.” Some detective work uncovered that the brand name had been passed around various owners since the company ceased trading in the late 1960s, but had never been revived. So Emanuel bought it – and subsequently found himself in the swimwear business. It was not an obvious thing to do. Emanuel made his money in the mobile phone trade, selling his company to BT in the late 1990s, dabbling with other businesses and finally relocating to Monaco in 2000. “But I’d always been interested in brands, and their development, so I was still looking for opportunities,” he says. And that chance encounter with some cafe art was the start of a big opportunity. Réard may be a forgotten name now, but it was Louis Réard – the Frenchman who inherited a small swimwear manufacturing company from his mother in the 1930s – who would go on to revolutionise women’s beach attire. It was the summer of 1946 and society was trying to get back on its feet after World War Two. Businesses had to make an impression – and fast. So Réard devised the first two-piece

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| style |

swimsuit and named it after Bikini Atoll, a collection of islands in the South Pacific where the atomic bomb was tested. He created the bikini. All 30 inches of it. Réard’s invention debuted at the trendy Piscine Molitor swimming baths in Paris, worn by one Micheline Bernardini, a nude dancer – because no professional model would go near the job. There was outrage. Catholic countries – and Australia, surprisingly – banned it. The Miss World pageant barred it, too. “It is inconceivable that any girl with tact and decency would even wear such a thing,” opined Modern Girl magazine. The French, naturally, loved it. Some 50,000 of them wrote letters of support to Réard. As an early poster for the brand had it, any woman wearing one, well, elle fera l’effet d’une bombe! (would be a bombshell). “This was when the idea of a woman exposing her mid riff was something scandalous,” says Emanuel. “Since then, of course, swimwear has gone through trends of being so skimpy that it’s hard to imagine the bikini was ever shocking. But Réard was quite the marketeer. That first bikini was made from a newsprint fabric. He knew it was going to have an impact.” But what could Réard of the 21st century do to garner

“The demand is there, too. There are more than 100 resorts around the world where the room rate is considerably higher than the cost of one of our swimsuits” quite the same attention? How about making your starting price around £200 and work rapidly upwards? Emanuel concedes that these days there are few ways of radically re-designing the look of swimwear, but that, by focusing on fit, functionality and fabrication – using the most advanced materials, for example – Réard, which relaunched for S/S17, can carve itself a niche again. “We’re aiming for the luxury end of the market in part because the quality of our garments puts it there – design is subjective, of course, but fabric technology, comfort, finish, is more objective and we think it’s the

best available,” says Emanuel. “The demand is there, too. There are more than 100 resorts around the world where the room rate is considerably higher than the cost of one of our swimsuits. And as your positioning gets higher, history becomes more important, especially in the social media age – so that’s playing to our strengths. The story behind Réard is amazing.” Were it not for the fact that, come the late ’60s, bank lending was less buoyant and Louis Réard had no successors, one can imagine that this family business might have continued manufacturing for many more decades. Even more so since,

| style |

thanks to relaxed social mores and some notable film appearances, including Ursula Andress in Dr. No, it was during the ’60s that the bikini really started going mainstream. This was the decade of Annette Funicello in Beach Party, the first of a new wave of movies based around a youth trend for surf-and-swim culture. Raquel Welch appeared to suggest that, in fact, Réard was not the first – prehistoric woman, it seemed, also wore fur-trimmed bikinis, or at least in One Million Years B.C they did. And Brian Hyland was on hand to sing about the craze in 1960 in Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Bikinis were getting teenie: if Réard had claimed in one ad that it “wasn’t a bikini unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring”, competitor Jacques Heim was pushing his Atome, named for being, at the time, not only the skimpiest two-piece swimsuit yet devised, but also for being something akin to a weapon of mass flirtation. Emanuel concedes that the story alone is not enough to make for success this time around, no matter how captivating that story is. “We knew that from the outset the products had to be beautiful, otherwise you have a story but no business,” he stresses. And certainly the first collection – made at specialist facilities in France, Italy, Portugal and Tunisia – is decidedly more classy than flashy, more classic than fast fashion. There’s an Art Deco feel to the pieces, with architectural insets, graphic cut-outs and more modest shapes than Louis Réard might have appreciated. Colours

“We knew that from the outset the products had to be beautiful, otherwise you have a story but no business. And certainly the first collection is decidedly more classy than flashy, more classic than fast fashion”

LEFT Micheline Bernardini modeling Réard’s Newspaper bikini at Paris’ Piscine Molitor. It was small enough to fit into a 5x5 x5 cm box like the one she is holding. 5 July 1946. Images courtesy of Réard

are sophisticated: black and white, navy, olive, aqua blue. Intriguingly, given the standard procedure to launch a high-end brand with bricks and mortar retail, Réard has made itself available online before it moves into wholesaling, opening its own shops or, in the longer run, extending its lines into resortwear, as is the plan. “We’re going with e-commerce because we want the customer to be able to have direct contact with us, both so we can get as much feedback as possible, to perfect the products, and because it gives us more reach,” Emanuel explains. “They were slow on the uptake but attitudes to e-commerce among luxury brands is changing. We want to be there, selling around the world from the off.” Emanuel knows that selling luxury swimwear is a far cry from selling mobile phones. But it’s an industry that he’s keen to get to grips with, not least because the sector is predicted to increase by 35 per cent to US$28.3bn by the end of this decade. For anyone doubting the social standing of the bikini, it’s even been consecrated with its own day of celebration – every year, 5 July is World Bikini Day. reard.com

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Words: bETHAN rEES

For all seasons

To feel like a goddess, head to the newly opened spa at Ten Trinity Square

| xxxx |

t’s not often I feel like a Roman empress on a Monday morning. Then again, I’d never visited the spa at Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square on a Monday morning. Located near Tower Bridge, almost 50 years after the Four Seasons launched its first London outpost on Park Lane, Ten Trinity Square opened its doors in January 2017, and in June unveiled its spa sanctuary. The connection between the area now known as Tower Hill and Roman Britain has inspired many aspects of Ten Trinity’s interior. The hotel’s colour scheme relies heavily on reds, greys, golds and silvers, with granite and marble contributing to a stately texture palette. While strengthening the hotel’s foundations, archaeologists discovered a number of Roman finds, including cellars, a well and a cesspit. Slightly more glamorous, the modern spa was designed by Joseph Caspari, who has succeeded in making you feel as if you should be wearing a toga. With fluid lines, curved walls, an

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

oval-shaped reception with gold mosaics and domed ceilings, the spa feels ultraluxurious and elegant. As it’s located in the basement of the hotel, I was a worried it might feel a bit cold and dark, as submerged spas often do. Not the case here. Warm and welcoming, the spa has eight treatment rooms, one spa suite and a luxury hammam, where you can indulge in the ritual bathing experience with a deep cleanse, body scrub, full body massage, body mask and hair and scalp treatment. I opted for a one-hour ESPA Personalised Massage. After having a consultation with the therapist, she selected an appropriate oil for my sore

shoulders (with sweet orange and rose geranium) and got to work, relieving the tight knots, while treating the rest of my body to a lighter, more relaxing touch. The massage table was more comfortable than my bed at home, and the ultra-soft blanket almost left the spa with me. Before, or after, a treatment, make sure you leave enough time to enjoy the rest of the 1,700sq m spa – which includes a vitality pool and a relaxation room. When in Ten Trinity Square, do as the Romans do. ESPA Personalised Massage (60 minutes), £140, 10 Trinity Square, EC3N, 020 3297 9300, tentrinitysquare.com

The spa was designed by Joseph Caspari, who has succeeded in making you feel as if you should be wearing a toga

Whistable Panama, £345, Lock & Co Hatters, lockhatters.co.uk

Words: Bethan rees

the hat trick

Keep cool in warmer climes

| style |

Crafted from bleached toquilla palm, native to Ecuador

Distressed Panama, £160, Rae Feather, raefeather.com

This comes in three colourways: navy, orange and black

The wide brim screams of old-school Hollywood glamour

Woven straw hat, £240, Sophie Anderson, sophieanderson.net

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late...

LUXURY BODY BUTTER IN WHITE CASHMERE FROM THE BATH & BODY COLLECTION

www.lilouetloic.com

Words: David Taylor

Your monthly sartorial meeting

The Style Brief

Simon Carter The A/W17 collection from Simon Carter sticks to the designer’s tried and tested values, with print coming to the fore, while more muted colours make sure you don’t look out of place on a wintry London morning. Look out for The City Magazine’s September style issue for an interview with the man himself. simoncarter.net

Debrett’s: Mastering Smart Casual style advice from Rupert Wesson, Debrett’s Academy Director

“Smart casual can be the hardest dress code to pull off. Generally, the more formal the invitation (a printed one, as opposed to a text or email for example), the smarter the dress requirement. For men, ‘smarter’ smart casual means a jacket and tie with flannels, cords or chinos. Slip-ons may be swapped for lace-ups, and a sweater may be worn. At less formal events, it’s acceptable to wear polo shirts and possibly even jeans (darker are better, and they should always be clean and unfaded). “If you’re unsure about the level of formality for a particular event, be prepared to be flexible, for example by swapping a jacket for a cardigan, to dress down.” Debrett’s Academy helps businesses by provide coaching in confidence, image, building client relationships, pitching and sales. debretts.com Beaufort & Blake, beaufortandblake.com

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| style |

Fairfield Chronograph The new Fairfield Chronograph Collection from Timex encapsulates six fresh designs, available with a white, black or cream dial. All movements within the watches are made in-house, and hark back to Timex’s heritage styles. From £84.99, timex.co.uk

Alfa Romeo X Hawes & Curtis Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta has inspired Hawes & Curtis to create a one-off ‘all-weather high-performance’ concept suit. The suit features Italian fabric from the tailor’s premium 1913 collection, with an Alfa-inspired honeycomb grille mesh lining, improving breathability and water resistance. alfaromeo.co.uk/hawes-and-curtis

A Day’s March Founded in 2014, clean-cut Swedish fashion house A Day’s March is onto its seventh season, offering quality, minimalist clothes direct to the consumer. The mission statement reads “to help you get through the day with style and dignity – whether it’s a hectic day at the office, at the beach with a gelato in your hand, or at your mother’s fifth wedding.” Covering all the bases, then. adaysmarch.com

Royally good shoes After more than 137 years specialising in Goodyear welted shoes, Crockett & Jones has been awarded a Royal Warrant by HRH The Prince of Wales, meaning it won’t be long before we see the Prince sporting a pair at his next formal event. crockettandjones.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

| grooming |

Words: david taylor

the grooming kit

The brands and products every man needs in his bathroom cabinet

1. teeth

2. HAIR

3. SCENT

4. FACE

Georganics natural toothpaste cleans teeth naturally, thanks to being high in calcium, potassium, magnesium and natural silica. This variety is blended with English peppermint and active charcoal, and acts as a cleansing and whitening agent. All ingredients are organic and food grade certified, with no fluoride in sight. Toothpaste, £6.90, Georganics, georganics.co.uk

Created by Paris-based hair stylist to the stars David Mallett (who counts Karl Lagerfeld and Naomi Campbell among his clients), the eponymous hair care collection has reached the UK. The City Magazine is currently trying out his second shampoo, Le Volume, and it does exactly what it says on the tin (or bottle, to be more precise). Le Volume shampoo, £30, David Mallett, satindays.com

Gallivant is a new indie perfume brand from London. Founded by Nick Steward, working in collaboration with perfumers in Venice and Paris, the four fragrances take inspiration from London, Brooklyn, Istanbul and Tel Aviv. The scents also come in handy 30ml bottles, for easy carrying to wherever your feet next take you. £65, Gallivant, gallivant-perfumes.com

There’s a new shaving pretender to the throne. Harry’s Truman razors have all the goods: five German blades, flex hinge, lubricating strip, and precision trimmer – for your sideburns and that annoying bit under your nose. The Truman has a weighted core, texturised grip, and rubberised body for extra control. It looks great, too. Truman razors, £8, Harry’s, harrys.com

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Sunrise Yoga A SERIES OF UNIQUE OUTDOOR YOGA SESSIONS, AVAILABLE TO ALL.

Enjoy a series of complimentary Sunrise Hatha Yoga Classes 7.15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8am, every Tuesday in August, in collaboration with Zeo Drinks. To sign up, please visit Event Brite and search Third Space x Zeo. Classes will take place in Canada Square park

#trainingforlife 16-19 CANADA SQUARE, CANARY WHARF, LONDON, E14 5ER THIRDSPACE.LONDON | 020 7970 0900

headline to go here

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Mike horn

the greatest living adventurer on what’s left

Col. John Blashford-snell

documenting the undiscovered with the scientific exploration society

Martin hartley

through the lens of the world’s leading expedition photographer

THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE CITY MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR DESK FOR FREE EMAIL YOUR NAME, ADDRESS & the company you work for to citydesk@rwmg.co.uk

out of office Ushuaïa Ibiza is an open air club on the White Isle where some of the biggest DJs in the world have graced its stage such as David Guetta and Kygo. Open now until the end of September. Find out more of the latest news in Ibiza from page 100

Watch the Birdie (p.82) Bentley’s new luxury SUV – designed for falconers

Pistons at dawn (p.86)

The Rolls-Royce Dawn could possibly be the best Rolls ever

Disturbing Dreams (p.90)

Michael Armitage’s paintings weave Kenyan reality with myth

“Once you’re

satisfied with what you have,

it’s hard to

achieve

more” Considered one of tennis’s all-time greats, Ivan Lendl won a record 22 Grand Prix Super Series titles and is credited as creating the ‘power baseline’ style. Now coach to Andy Murray, Lendl doesn’t teach tennis, so much as victory Words: josh sims

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van Lendl is the master of the two-line answer. He doesn’t smile that much. He is still. It all fits with the media image of the man who has re-entered the limelight as the coach who coaxed Andy Murray into top form, and, for those who remember the 1980s, as the man some have labelled the greatest tennis player of all time. He’s the guy that was the world number one for 270 weeks, who won 94 singles titles, including eight of the majors, who was, at one point, the highest paid tennis player in history. Lendl was the straightfaced destroyer whose forearm tore the tennis court apart. “But you’re in the media industry – you should know not to believe everything you read in the papers,” he warns. The comment is in reference to a tale told by his nemesis John McEnroe – that before an exhibition match not long ago, McEnroe and Lendl bet on who would first need to leave the court to avail themselves of the facilities. According to McEnroe, it’s a bet he won. According to Lendl, it never happened. “It’s a funny story but unfortunately not true. I’ve done plenty of practical jokes though. And I’m proud of most of them,” says Lendl, who, contrary to his public image, has a reputation on the pro circuit as something of a prankster once off court – though he denies ever having shredded Pat Cash’s shoes after a match. “The best ones are payback, when someone has picked on me first and I get the chance to get back at them,” explains the 57-year-old, whose resurgent profile has seen the Italian sports shoe company Superga launch a Lendlbranded line of tennis shoes just like the ones he wore when still a junior. “One of the better ones was with Jez Green [the senior physical conditioner for the Lawn Tennis Association]. He was making fun of me while I was on a Versa climber, so we made a bet as to who would be best on the machine in six months’ time. And he lost. He was made to interrupt Andy’s press conference on Melbourne to read a statement – written by me.” Lendl does not like to lose, as befits a man who didn’t often do so. In fact, the Wimbledon trophy Andy Murray practices with Lendl was the one major gong for US Open 2016 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, that slipped his grasp. It’s 28 August 2016 why he is often credited

| feature |

with having invented the modern game – something he takes as a compliment. “I tried to look at every single avenue where I might get better and came up with some things that people hadn’t thought of at the time. And hopefully that helped me somewhat,” he explains. “It made sense. I don’t know why people weren’t doing it. But then I never worried too much about what other people were doing.” It was Lendl who, for example, used nutritionists and weight trainers – both then largely unheard of in pro tennis; it was Lendl who hired a man to string all of his racquets exactly the same, and then, during play, peeled the cellophane off a new one not when a string broke but any time there were new balls; it was Lendl who hired the company that laid the clay court at Madison Square Garden to lay an identical one at his home for him to practise on; when the rules stipulated that players could take up to 35 seconds between serves, Lendl took 35 seconds if it gave any psychological advantage. It was because of him that they had to change the rules, reducing the time allowed. It’s this that explains his sour game face. “During play you have about 20 seconds between points to figure out what just happened, why it happened, do I like what happened and, if so, how do I keep it happening, how do I make sure it doesn’t change, and, if I didn’t like it, what do I do to change it,” he says. “Twenty seconds really isn’t much time for all that. You have to keep it straight. You have to get to the task right away. You can’t think about anything else.” Lendl’s commitment to winning borders on the scary – not uncommon among professional athletes of his calibre. He reckons, maybe, it was part of his programming, something he, in turn, has passed on. The son of two pro players in his native Czechoslovakia, two of his daughters are now pro golfers. “I don’t think sporting talent is genetic but you do see a lot of children of athletes go into sport as well, and that’s because they come from a certain way of life,” he says. “I see it with the juniors I work with – you can see which of them come

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o a Sp from tennis players and which don’t, er g up because the ones that do, understand S , the court better. The reason for that is because they talk about it at home. They pick the ideas up faster. The kids who have parents who are, say, doctors, don’t get that. Is that important to success? It helps. Did it help me? Absolutely. I see it in my daughters. My daughters don’t like losing either.” Small wonder there. Be it board games or 18 holes – he was, and is, the epitome of the competitive dad. “I’m competitive in all things – I tell my kids that if they beat me in something then they’ve earned it. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to let them win – what can I say? I’m a competitive person,” he shrugs. Then there’s Lendl’s personal philosophy: that it’s harder to be a winner if you’re already happy. “A better way to put that might be that [if you’re happy] you’re satisfied with less, and so it’s hard to achieve more,” Lendl volleys. “You can look at tournaments and sometimes there’s that qualifier or ‘lucky loser’ who gets to the final. And they usually never win the final because they’re

RIGHT US Open 1986 poster

It’s revealing that, when Lendl decided to step down from the coaching job in order to play more golf, Murray’s game fell apart – until he persuaded Lendl back into his camp already happy to be where they are. They’ve already over-achieved and, OK, so they’re up against a better player, but when things start to go badly for them in the match, they quickly start to fizzle out. Once you’re satisfied with what you have it’s hard to achieve more. You have to have higher goals.” Does Murray have the motivation? Lendl isn’t being drawn on the specifics of his charge’s chances this summer. But it’s been said that Lendl doesn’t teach tennis, so much as victory. It’s certainly revealing that, when Lendl decided to step down from the coaching job in order to play more golf, Murray’s game fell apart – until he persuaded Lendl back into his camp. “I don’t know how you teach tennis to someone who’s already a great tennis player. All you can do is try to implement what you know. Is that about pushing for victory? Maybe. I’m not a psychologist but attitude and the mental side of the game is positively affected by the right preparation. And you can see who’s about to lose it [on court]. You can see it in their facial expressions, in the change of rhythm between points. You can see that player is about to snap. Every player is emotional. It’s a question of how they choose to express it – or not.” Largely, Lendl chose not to. For some – those expecting big personality rather than spectacular play – that made him something of an anti-hero. It’s interesting to see how Murray, too, suffers from the expectation that he should be a laugh-a-minute rather than just a really top-flight athlete. For others, Lendl was, and is, just a hero, plain and simple – the antidote to sport’s co-opting by entertainment. Lendl wanted it all. He still does.

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watch 82

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| MOTORING |

the

birdie A luxury SUV just for falconers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has Bentley gone too far with its latest special edition? Words: jeremy taylor

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

he Bentley Bentayga has won plenty of plaudits for being the ultimate SUV. A serious challenger to the imperious Range Rover, the 6.0-litre W12 has everything on board to travel in five-star luxury. Everything if you are human, that is – but what about birds? That’s not a question Bentley dealers in the Home Counties are asked very often, although soon they could have something perfectly suitable in the showroom. Bentley revealed a special-edition Bentayga for fly fishermen last year – now it has done the same for the exclusive sport of falconry. The latest bespoke SUV is equipped with everything a fledgling flyer needs to get their sporting pastime off the ground. The Crewe-based luxury brand doesn’t expect to sell many examples of the Bentagya Falconry in the UK. It’s mainly aimed at the Middle East instead. In the UAE, falconry is hugely popular and has UNESCO cultural status for its historic origins. The region is one of Bentley’s company’s best markets, behind the USA, China and Europe. Falconry is revered as the sport of kings in the desert, especially among the super-wealthy who, presumably, would be in the market for a performance SUV with bird-pulling abilities. Handcrafted by Mulliner, Bentley’s personal commissioning division, it’s the ultimate in feathered transportation. “The Falconry showcases what’s possible with our skilled crafts people. They can actually devise beautiful solutions to complement any lifestyle or hobby,” says Geoff Dowding, director of Mulliner. I’ve travelled to Abu Dhabi to see the Bentayga Falconry in action, together with a pampered peregrine falcon called F16 – appropriately named after the fighter jet. The bird belongs to falconer Kyhal Khan, who was taught hunting skills by his father back home in Pakistan. Khan has been working with his own falcons for 15 years and used to hunt with members of the UAE royal family. He has 15 birds – each of them is in peak physical shape and more than worthy of a perch in a Bentley. We’ve driven the Bentayga two hours from the capital to the Empty Quarter, the world’s largest uninterruped sand desert, once only occupied by Bedouins. Oil and tourism have changed that but the region remains one of the hottest and driest places on the planet.

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| MOTORING |

Taking up a fifth of the Arabian Peninsula, it’s the main centre for falconry in the UAE. Enthusiasts drive into the desert in giant 4x4s to put their falcons to the test. Here, walking into a restaurant with a champion falcon on your arm will turn more heads than any blonde. Bentley spokesman, Uday Senapati, is based in the Middle East. “In the past, using a falcon to catch prey was one way desert people could supplement a meagre diet. They were also used by sheiks in hunting expeditions, to show off the skill of their birds.” Nowadays, birds are still used for hunting, while falcon racing is one of the most popular sports in the Middle East. Contests see birds timed over 400 metres, with the best flyers managing the distance in 20 seconds. “Exceptional race or hunting birds can fetch up to $1 million, so it was crucial we made the Bentayga Falconry as luxurious as practical, to appeal to our wealthy customers involved in the sport,” says Uday. At the heart of the Bentayga Falconry’s £80,000 kit are two cork-trimmed storage units that slide fore and aft in the boot. One contains a luxurious refreshment set for humans – the other features everything required by a well-tended bird. That includes a GPS tracking system to monitor its flight path, plus hand-stitched leather bird hoods. A matching falconry gauntlet has been cut from the same hide as the car interior. To prevent little accidents, a cork covering protects the boot floor, with the cork theme continued for the transit perch. This slots neatly between the front seats, so the falcon has a bird’s eye view of the road ahead. The only feature missing is a bird-sized safety belt. The interior of a ‘standard’ £162,000 Bentayga W12 is already a masterclass in design and luxury – with the option of a £110,000 Breitling clock too. However, the Hotspur hide cabin of the Falconry is dominated by a desert scene, crafted exquisitely into the dashboard. It depicts a Sakar falcon in flight, created from 430 individual cuts of wood and pieced together over nine days. Each piece of inlay has undergone four separate processes of cutting, sand shading, pressing and double cutting. Customers can even create their own, personalised bird mural to match their prized pet. Woods from around the world have been used to create the piece, including chestnut, eucalyptus, holly, maple and sycamore. Mulliner boss Geoff Dowding adds: “We’re constantly looking for new, luxurious materials to use in our cars. “Natural cork fabric was selected for the trim because of its luxurious feel and sustainable qualities. It’s extremely durable and perfectly suited to the harsh conditions of the desert.” With temperatures touching 400°C in the midday sun, I’m not certain F16 will want to perform as Mr Khan hopes. Perched on an Astroturf stand that slots neartly into the luggage compartment floor – the fake grass is perfect for delicate talons – the boot lid also acts as a shade.

F16 is a hunting bird and once the hood is removed, it doesn’t take long to tempt her into flight. Khan swings a lure around his head and the falcon performs an aerial combat routine worthy of her name. She puts on a ten-minute display of swoops and turns that even has Khan diving for cover. Bird back on her Bentley perch, Khan reverts to a cheap garden spray to cool F16 down – one item not included in the Falconry package. “Owners will go to extraordinary lengths to keep their birds in good shape,” explains Dr Margit Muller, who runs the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, the largest of its kind in the world. “We admitted almost 12,000 birds last year. I’ve seen human hospitals with less equipment and our doors are open 24 hours a day, every day. There’s barely a night goes by when I’m not called out on an emergency.” She says it’s surprising a special edition vehicle for falconry hasn’t been developed before. “It’s a great idea and the price won’t put off wealthy sheiks who want the best for their birds.” One problem that might challenge Bentley owners is where to store prey. Falcons are capable of downing small gazelles…

“Exceptional race or hunting birds can fetch up to $1 million, so it was crucial we made the Bentayga Falconry as luxurious as it is practical”

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Pistons at

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| motoring |

dawn

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Chris Hall cringes as he approaches oncoming traffic in the new Rolls-Royce Dawn, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put him off, in the slightest. Could this be the best Rolls ever?

etting acquainted with a Rolls-Royce is a ceremonial experience. It’s a cross between touring a show home in an upmarket development – “here, sir, is the transmission lever; through the alcove on your right you have the wing mirrors and just behind you is the sun terrace” – and being introduced to a minor royal. I almost feel I should offer a deferential nod when the Spirit of Ecstasy rises from the prow. I certainly should be wearing something smarter than a hoodie and trainers. Comparisons to architecture are never far from a Rolls-Royce. For years they were described as “stately homes on wheels” (addressing the handling as much as the size) and, cliché notwithstanding, when one pitches up on my driveway I do feel like I should have got planning permission first. The Dawn, though, is more urban boutique hotel than country pile. Mine ( for now, at least) is Savile Row sharp, in midnight blue with fiery orange leather and Canadel rosewood trim. It’s Ozwald Boateng in automotive form. It is big, yes, and for the asking price of £268,130 with options you could just about get on the property ladder in a London postcode, but it’s not too big. It’s barely longer and no wider than a Bentley Continental GT that recently sat in the same spot, but it dwarfs it for presence, from the colonnade of the grille to the cavernous wheel arches. Inside, the controls are almost apologetic, as if to say what a frightful shame it is that there have to be levers, buttons and screens in such a nice place like this. The seat is by an immeasurable distance the most comfortable thing I’ve sat on in years, let alone in a car. The doors, though, are my favourite thing about this car – not just for their well-documented suicidal tendencies, but for their sheer bulk. I’m pretty sure the designer’s previous work was in a bank vault. Once you’re strapped in, you can’t reach to close them, so there’s a little button that softly draws them into place. Do both at once and it’s as if the car is firmly, reassuringly, clasping its hands together and saying “ready when you are”. I did, of course, drive the Dawn as well as just look at it. Leaving south London wasn’t as hairraising as I’d feared; the ride is – naturally – superbly comfortable and cares not a whiff for potholes or speed bumps. The steering ratio, especially if you’re

used to anything vaguely sporty, is surprisingly high, and coupled with the width and – I keep coming back to this word – presence, of the car, lead me to adopt a different driving style. More chauffeurly, more sedate; smoothly wafting my way around. It helped that we left on time and had no urgent need to arrive, but I defy anyone to feel stressed out, by traffic or anything else, in this car. That’s not to say the Dawn has no sense of urgency. With 563 horsepower coming from the 6.6 litre V12 it can summon plenty of speed, and on the rare occasion that I pulled briskly away from the lights, there is a rich exhaust noise to discover. On the motorway it’s unruffled cruising at high speed – you’d be worried if it was – but you do start to feel every ounce of the car’s weight when you’re braking or changing lanes. I wouldn’t hesitate to cross continents in the Dawn (if someone else stumped up for the petrol) but I’d take A-roads all the way. It just feels more at home between 30mph and 60mph, not because it’s a car for pootling old folks, but because it doesn’t need to rush. There is even a sport mode, but you’re not here for hooning about. Laudably, Rolls is eager to position

The Dawn is everything the Rolls-Royce name has ever stood for – luxurious, prestigious and refined its “smaller” models – Ghost, Wraith, Dawn – as “driver’s cars”, and this was undoubtedly that (although I’d love to recline in the back seats, one arm on the Riva-yacht-esque decking with the roof down). But for me, driving a Rolls-Royce should be about the experience, not 0-60 times. My destination was the peerlessly lovely Bailiffscourt Hotel& Spa in West Sussex, and this meant we took our fair share of B-roads and even single-track routes. The Dawn wasn’t fazed, but I came out in a sweat every time we met oncoming traffic. A word to those who make sat-nav systems

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| motoring |

The numbers

Engine: 6.6 litre Power: 563bhp 0-60: 4.8 seconds fuel economy: 19mpg length: 5.3m

for luxury cars – you need to install an option that keeps you on Rolls-Royce-sized roads. Bailiffscourt is a fascinating place. To the uncurious it would appear simply to be another very nice English country hotel, good to cosy up in over the winter and perfect for G&T among the peacocks in the summer. And it is all those things – with a top-rate spa attached, to boot. But why it interests me is its history; it’s not early medieval, as it looks, but dates from the 1920s, when the evidently single-minded Lord Moyne of Guinness brewing fame, decided that what Climping beach needed was a 13th century manor house hotel. The fact that it didn’t have one was a perfectly surmountable obstacle. The period-correct materials were sourced, from stonemasonry to reclaimed oak panelling, and expert architects set to work creating something that balanced authenticity with modern needs (such as underfloor and wall-chambered heating). The result is a trompe l’oeil – a glorious, well-judged piece of work that cossets you in the best of British luxury without compromise. I think you can see where I’m going with this. The Dawn is everything the Rolls-Royce name has ever stood for – luxurious, prestigious, refined, and steeped in history that has the potential to really weigh it down. But it’s a modern car to drive, and with the wealth of customisation options – in truth, there is no such thing as a non-bespoke Rolls-Royce – you can make it as edgy (or as oldschool) as you like. An outstanding car that really has no equal anywhere. rolls-roycemotorcars.com

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Disturbing Dreams Michael Armitageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paintings, executed on barkcloth, weave memories with multiple narratives drawn from historical and current events, often with poignant results Words: Mark & Hannah Hayes-Westall

| xxxx |

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hen Kendrick Lamar’s breakthrough album To Pimp A Butterfly launched in 2015, it broke Spotify records, with 9.6 million streams on its first day of release and debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 324,000 copies in its first week. Whilst Lamar had undoubtedly produced an extraordinary piece of work presenting an unvarnished view of life as a young black man in Los Angeles, the album also represented a progression in the way the rest of the world understood California’s capital. It was a far cry from the ‘Let’s go surfin’ now’ aesthetic of the Beach Boys, and showed a nuanced picture of LA society that resonated with both a local and global audience ready to listen. This same progression in representation is at the core of the work of Kenyan artist Michael Armitage. Attracting a global audience almost incidentally, Armitage, who lives between London and Nairobi, has deployed a classic tactic for anyone wishing to make their voice heard locally; employing the allure of abroad. Studying at the Slade School of Fine Art, and then the prestigious Royal Academy Schools in London, he absorbed the canon of Western art history and

Armitage’s work is at once unique yet emblematic 92

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| ART |

technique, developing a vernacular that is all his own, mixing the subject matter of home with an aesthetic that has proven appealing to a global audience. Working on Ugandan Lubugo barkcloth, Armitage paints dreamy figurative scenes, often with an underlying darkness, which blend his own story with local myth. In Hornbill (21st-24th September 2013), (2014), a gunman stalks through an empty mall, whilst a pattern of a hornbill repeats across tiling in the foreground. The piece refers to the terrorist attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall in which 67 people were killed, connecting it with the role of hornbills in African mythology – powerful creatures often related to death and misfortune. In Nyali Beach Boys (2016), a group of naked young men stand awkwardly, heads down or defiantly staring, in a grouping that calls to mind imagery of slave markets. The boys are prostitutes, making a living sleeping with wealthy western women who they find on the beaches, and the viewer is forced to adopt the gaze of these sex tourists by Armitage’s paintwork, with the overall palette of dark blues and greens interrupted by patches of colour around the boys’ genitalia. Imagery from Armitage’s own recollection forms another strand of his work with Accident (2014) capturing the traumatic aftermath of a plane crash he experienced as a teenager, with his father and uncle, deep in the Kenyan bush, the memories of which had been triggered by photographs of a more recent bus crash. Whilst Armitage has broached the ideas of violence towards both women and the LGBTQ community in Kenya, he resists the label of political activist, saying “I try to find a way for the paintings to have a place within society at home. I am not a politically motivated artist but my paintings consider different social and cultural issues that I come across”. #Mydressmychoice (2015) takes a news event as its starting point, a series of violent and sexual attacks on women in Nairobi by groups of men claiming that

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FIND the work

Michael Armitage Peace Coma at Turner Contemporary, Margate, is on until

the women were inappropriately dressed. The layered paint, lush vegetation and dreamlike visual language add a startling edge to these images, as the brain takes time to catch up with the eye, and the reclining nude is seen to be a stripped woman at the feet of a crowd of men, with even the local wildlife staring. In Kampala Suburb (2014), two men are shown in an embrace that references the structure of a hieroglyph from ancient Egypt; in the background is a frieze taken from an image of an execution in Somalia that addresses the way that hostility towards LGBTQ people extends into their private space, with neighbours acting as informers for a still criminalised activity (a bill introduced to Kenya’s parliament may change this later this year). Armitage, who was born in 1984, quickly gained international recognition for his work. Solo shows in Hong Kong and London have been followed this summer with his first institutional show at Turner Contemporary in Margate. Entitled Peace Coma, the show includes his painting of the same name completed in 2012, in which he started to develop his characteristic style of layering, removing and reapplying paint. This painting evolved from Armitage’s concern with how “the Western press represents and dumbs down African politics” and will be shown alongside new works including a series based on Kenyan music star Diamond Platnumz, and Slight of Hand (2016) in which a devious monkey emerges from the side of a man’s face. Poetic, moving, universal and yet rooted in the events and myth of his native Nairobi, Armitage’s work is at once unique yet emblematic of a generation of African artists whose work addresses a local audience first and foremost, and, in doing so, shares an intimate glimpse of Kenyan life with the world.

24 September 2017. Michael Armitage is represented by White Cube, whitecube.com

Previous page The Octopus’s Veil, 2016, oil on Lubugo bark cloth, 220 x 170cm. ©Michael Armitage. Photo: ©White Cube (George Darrell) THIS page, LEFT TO RIGHT Diamond Platnumz, 2016, oil on Lubugo bark cloth, 170 x 300cm. ©Michael Armitage. Photo: ©White Cube (Ben Westoby); Baikoko at the mouth of the Mwachema River, 2016, oil on Lubugo bark cloth, 220 x 330cm. ©Michael Armitage. Photo: ©White Cube (Ben Westoby); Strange Fruit, 2016, oil on Lubugo bark cloth, 300 x 170cm. ©Michael Armitage. Photo: ©White Cube (Ben Westoby)

BUILT 2009, Benetti, Italy LENGTH 59.3m (194.6ft) GUESTS 12 (4 x Double, 2 x Twin) CRUISING SPEED 12 knots

Meamina

Meamina was designed to serve as a luxurious background to its scenery. That said, there is much to enjoy on-board. In addition to six perfectly appointed cabins, there is a Jacuzzi, gym, sundeck, lounge bar and on-board masseuse. Service is, as you’d expect, superlative – attentive, intuitive, gracious and pampering, it puts most high-end hotels to shame. Meamina can reach ports larger ships can only dream of – the chic Croatian resort of Hvar, Norway’s majestic fjords and the idyllic atolls of French Polynesia are all waiting to be explored. Summer rates (high/low) €350,000/315,000 pw*, winter rates (high/low) $408,000/371,000 pw*, burgessyachts.com

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WHO WANTS TO BE

A BILLIONAIRE?

As technical as warships and as luxurious as five-star hotels, for any self-respecting sybarite the superyacht is still the ultimate object of desire. The City Magazine considers the best mega-vessels currently available for charter, whatever the size of your entourage WORDS: JAMES LAWRENCE

Silver Dream, Burgess Yachts, burgessyachts.com

MAIA FAIR

Custom-built to sail the waters of the Spanish Mediterranean, Maia Fair provides an effortless method of exploring the coastline of Spain’s most glamorous resorts. A high-performance, high-speed, 72ft yacht, Maia Fair is dedicated to mercilessly pampering its guests, with two crew catering for a maximum of six overnight visitors (12 during the day). Indeed, Maia Fair is renowned for its hospitality. Watersport options include hi-powered jet ski, paddleboards, water skiing, and a rib. From €40,000 for one week + 21 per cent IVA, marbellaluxuryboatcharter.com

BUILT 2016 LENGTH 22M (72FT) GUESTS 6 (2 X DOUBLE, 1 X TWIN) CRUISING SPEED 24 KNOTS

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Crystal Esprit

Built 1991

Built in 1991, the Esprit was converted into a luxury yacht of the highest order by cruise-specialist Crystal in 2015 and has, in a relatively short space of time, earned a formidable reputation for its exceptional service and cuisine. Charming staff greet every passenger by name and soon learn their drink preferences. The amenities are similarly impressive, particularly as the Esprit is a relatively small cruise yacht. A beautiful pool area is complemented by the sunset and cove bar, gymnasium and the yacht club restaurant. Best of all is a retractable aft marina, where guests can try their hand at windsurfing, kayaking, jet skiing, diving or paddleboarding, at no extra charge. The more adventurous will want to experience Esprit’s most tantalising feature, a three-person submersible. It offers a chance to descend 300 metres (almost 1,000 feet). The food at the signature Yacht Club Restaurant, presided over by chef Adam Jenkins, is outstanding.

Length 82m (269ft) Guests 62-71

Having cut his teeth at The Ritz and the Sloane Club, Jenkins transforms every evening into a memorable banquet. There emphasis is on service and fine dining, accompanied, of course, by never-ending selection complimentary fine wines and spirits. Nights are long, headaches almost obligatory. A full seven-night charter of Crystal Esprit costs from $420,000. Price is subject to change depending on date and location. This rate is all inclusive of meals, beverages, land excursions, gratuities, port taxes and fees if based on the already programmed itinerary. If the itinerary changes then the rate quoted may change. Call Mundy Cruising on 020 7399 7670 or visit mundycruising.co.uk

Burgess yachts

BUILT 2014, Moonen Shipyard, The Netherlands LENGTH 36.9m (121.2ft)

Founded in 1975

GUESTS 10 (3 x Double, 2 x Twin)

renowned sailor and

CRUISING SPEED 16 knots

handed ocean racer,

by Nigel Burgess, a worldwide singleBurgess has grown from its humble beginnings into the

Crystal

foremost expert in

The appropriately-named Crystal is the spectacular creation of master yacht designer Bill Dixon. The styling is utterly captivating, with an extensive use of marble, dark wood and glass contrasting with the sculpted shapes of the superstructure. In the end, though, Crystal is a yacht designed primarily for lovers of watersports: jet skiing, diving, kayaking and more are easily accessible from the yacht’s bathing platform. Five luxurious cabins, a glorious dining room and sun deck/bar round things off in suitable style. Summer rates (high/low): €165,000 pw/€150,000 pw*, winter rates (high/low): €150,000 pw/€150,000 pw*, princessyachtcharter.com

luxury yacht hire, with offices in every corner of the globe.

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| TRAVEL |

Built 2016, christensen shipyards, united states of america Length 48.8M (160.1Ft) Guests 12 (6 x double, 1 x additional berths)

Chasseur

The Chasseur is the epitome of elegance, boasting a gorgeous sky lounge and sun deck – composed of backlit crystal agate – and top-of-the-line entertainment spaces, including the Armani custom table and main salon. The staterooms are no less grandiose – luxurious accommodation is arranged across six cabins, including one master suite and a VIP area with a Hermès Jean X Michel Frank club chair. Suffice to say, Chasseur’s furnishings and fittings are of the highest quality, as is the service onboard. Summer rates (high/low) €273,000/231,000 pw*, winter rates (high/low) $294,000/224,000 pw*, burgessyachts.com

PRINCESS CHARTER Princess Charter is the charter division of Princess Motor Yacht Sales, a unique company with a world-class heritage dating back more than 50 years. As well as selling new and pre-owned yachts from a diverse portfolio, it is the

BUILT 2006 (refit 2012), Lurssen-Werft, Germany

largest distributor for Princess Motor Yachts in the world.

LENGTH 72m (236.5ft) GUESTS 12 (7 double cabins)

*All rates exclude operating costs (food & beverage, port taxes, fuel, crew gratuities, which are in addition to the weekly rate). Full pricing on application.

CRUISING SPEED 13 knots

Titania Designed by maestro FranÇois Zuretti, and refitted in 2012, Titania’s furnishings and fittings are simply exquisite, invoking the grandeur and timeless elegance of a Claridge’s hotel suite. A beautiful outdoor pool is surrounded by wooden decking and complements vast entertainment spaces, including the beach club incorporating a sauna, bar, sofa and a state-of-theart gymnasium. Accommodation-wise, you’re spoilt for choice, with seven cabins, including two master suites and a VIP cabin. Summer rates (high/low): €600,000 pw/€490,000 pw*, winter rates (high/low): €530,000 pw/€370,000 pw*, princessyachtcharter.com

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WELLNESS

as an Art

Oasis gives you a moment to stop and take a breath. Feel the freedom and relaxation in your body and mind. Let your senses be inspired in a private paradise. It is all waiting for you. The art of wellbeing.

The Oasis by Don Carlos Resort · Boutique Hotel Experience · Marbella T (+34) 933 271 455 · dcreservas@expogrupo.com · www.doncarlosresort.expohotels.com/en/the-oasis · www.expohotels.com

EIVISSA

eXPLORE

The white isle Ibiza is an island of two halves; one rooted in hedonism, the other in spirituality. In this issue, we consider both types of escape, from hotel openings and Champagne-popping pool parties, to agritourism, home-grown wine and performing the downward-facing dog on a paddleboard. Turn the page, Eivissa is waiting for you.

ISLAND UPDATE

The latest news from the Isle of Eivissa

new restaurant: el portalon

Anne Sijmonsbergen is already a household name in Ibiza, following the release of her debut book Eivissa: The Ibiza Cookbook in June 2016. Sijmonsbergen is a chef and organic farmer who prides herself on producing the only organic tomatoes on the island and has recently opened her first restaurant called El Portalon, located in the historical Ibiza Old Town. With an alfresco courtyard, surrounded by flora and fauna, when night falls, and

candles are put on the table, it makes one of the most picturesque spots to have dinner. The menu is seasonalityled, using produce from Anne’s farm in Sant Llorenç valley and is a modern take on classic Spanish food, such as cava and saffron risotto, clams with jamón de bellota and uber-creamy Ibizan burrata with sautéed fava beans, asparagus and toasted cumin. All the breads, ketchups and pickle are made in-house, too. Rustic romance at its finest. elportalonibiza.com

YES TO NOBU

Following its recent Shoreditch opening, Nobu Hotel has landed in Ibiza. Located on the white sand shores of Cala Talamanca, the five-star Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay has 152 rooms and suites (the latter including whirlpool hot tubs and inroom cocktail cabinets), four restaurants (including a Nobu, of course), a spa by Six Senses, a yoga pavilion and a John Frieda hair studio. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s affinity for fusion translates well, mixing wellness and indulgence, including the on-demand mixologist. The vibe is contemporary, calm and cool, with lots of white and blue themes running through the hotel, with tie-dye throws and natural wood features. From £430 per night, nobuhotelibizabay.com

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eXPLORE

EIVISSA

made in spain

Owned by Enrique Iglesias and Rafael Nadal, TATEL Ibiza is a restaurant serving high-end cuisine in a 1920s-inspired space. Within the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza in Playa d’en Bossa, head chef Nacho Chicharro whips up a creative storm in the kitchen, fusing together traditional Spanish gastronomy with a contemporary twist, think Spanish omelette with truffle, pan-seared Ibizan prawns and duck wellington. The Art Deco restaurant harks back to the days of Gatsby, with rich turquoise walls, pale pink chairs, rose gold accents and mirrored ceilings, and you can enjoy your meal to the sound of live music. tatelrestaurants.com

SCREEN BY THE SEA

SUITE LIFE

Summer started with a bang for club-meets-hotel Ushuaïa, which has redesigned all of its rooms. It has also introduced a presidential suite, with a 91 sq m terrace, a chill-out area and Jacuzzi. In addition, the hotel has announced another type of suite, the Suite Swim-up, which has direct access to the river-style swimming pool. With a jam-packed DJ calendar, the suites are the perfect place to find a bit of semi-solitude after a long day/night. ushuaiaibiza.com

BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU

Located in Cala Sol d’en Serra, Amante beach club is transforming into a open-air cinema for the summer. The picturesque club perches on a cliff, overlooking the sea and by night the floodlit rocks, star-filled sky and lapping waves create a stunning atmosphere for film watching. Enjoy lying on a full-length beanbag, with a blanket if it gets a little chilly, sip cava and snack on popcorn. This summer, the film schedule includes Lost in Translation (8 August), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (6 September), La La Land (12 September) and Moonlight (19 September). amanteibiza.com

From the team behind the muchloved Amante beach club, comes its sister venue Aiyanna. Opened in June 2017, this beachfront restaurant is the epitome of of the laid-back lunch, with a healthy menu of fresh and bold dishes with a nod to influences from the eastern Med such as spiced lamb brochettes with tzatziki and grilled octopus with red pepper muhammara dip. The restaurant in Cala Nova boasts its own garden from where it harvests organic ingredients. The vibe is barefoot and bohemian – with a hint of Ibizan glamour. aiyannaibiza.com

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eXPLORE

EIVISSA NO PLACE LIKE JOAN

Sir hotels has chosen to open its fifth hotel in Ibiza. The Sir Joan Hotel follows the opening of Sir Adam in Amsterdam earlier this year. Part of Design Hotels, a curated portfolio of independent hotels, the Sir Joan Hotel is in the centre of Ibiza, with views over the port and Old Town. Designed by Baranowitz + Kronenberg architects, responsible for projects including W Amsterdam, the hotel draws on the two sides of Ibiza – the luxury and party elements, plus its maritime surroundings. The hotel has 38 rooms and suites, featuring stripped wooden yacht flooring and polished stainless steel wall panels, giving the effect of sunlight bouncing off water. The two penthouse suites have private wraparound balconies, while the two restaurant offerings are diverse; Izakaya is a Japeruvian restaurant, whereas The Butcher is a gourmet burger joint, which is open all day, catering for the late-night crowd. sirhotels.com / designhotels.com

They tried to make me go to Rehab

Overlooking Talamanca beach with an Asian fusion menu, Rehab is the epitome of a smart-casual, lounge-type destination, and there are double day beds for you to relax on. There’s a full-kitchen and sushi bar – I recommend heading for the latter first; try the California maki topped with roe salmon sashimi and spicy tuna maki. Moving on to the kitchen delights, expect dishes such as

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charcoal grilled squid with soy beans, beef carpaccio with roasted hazelnuts and king crab salad with a yellow curry dressing. For a reasonably priced treat, Rehab hosts Lobster Mondays, where you can have a whole lobster (choose from three different serves, Catalan, barbecue and classic thermidor) for €25. Next time you’re in Ibiza, check in to Rehab. rehab-ibiza.com

IBIZAN EXPERIMENT

The Ibizan outpost of Soho’s Experimental Cocktail Club, Experimental Beach Ibiza has already earned an esteemed reputation with the Balearic jet set. Bright white, pale blues and waiters in Breton striped tops, it’s laid-back, rustic but chic. Quite isolated in location in Salinas, near the airport, the drive on the way to the beach club is unusual – you’ll see the famed Ibizan salt flats. Always reinventing itself, EBI has updated its cocktail list and food menu for this summer. Revive yourself with a fiery La Dolores (Ocho tequila, Ancho Reyes, passion fruit, lemon juice, and agave syrup) or if the spice isn’t for you, go for a refreshing Sanlùcar (Beefeater Gin, Lustau fino sherry, lemongrass, basil, lemon cordial, lemon juice and vanilla syrup). If you’re not in the mood for alcohol, Experimental Beach Ibiza has a detox menu which includes mocktails and smoothies. New highlights to the food menu include sea bream tartare, black quid risotto and grilled octopus. EBI also has one of the island’s best vantage points for ocean viewing. eccbeach.com

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EXPLORE

EIVISSA

IBIZA’S BEST POOL PARTIES THE DAY VENUES TO SEE AND BE SEEN IN

WORDS: RICHARD BROWN

OCEAN BEACH IBIZA

THE POOL PARTY WHERE EVERYONE’S A VIP

Times were when you wouldn’t step foot in San Antonio. The package-holiday party town had long struggled to shake its reputation as the Magaluf of Ibiza. True, packs of 19-year-old nu-lads do still roam the area’s less salubrious streets, but nowhere has done more to raise the reputation of San Antonio than Ocean Beach Ibiza, the premium pool party that’s hosted the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tinie Tempah, Jack Whitehall and Ed Sheeran. Opened in 2012 – a year after Ushuaïa Beach Club opened in Playa d’en Bossa (Ibiza’s other party resort) – Ocean Beach Ibiza is part managed by Foxhole Holdings, an investment company whose other interests include London’s Toy Room nightclub and STK restaurants. As you’d expect, Ocean Beach caters for a young, new money crowd. Away from the day beds that surround the 600sq m pool, there’s a fusion food restaurant and a sunset terrace with Jacuzzis – but the pool is where it’s at. The vibe here is TOWIE on tour. Think Champagne-filled water pistols and high heels around the pool. A calendar of spray parties and events by HedKandi and Kisstory have secured Ocean Beach a place on the Ibiza dance calendar, alongside institutions like Pacha and Amnesia. Water jets, aerial acrobats and airborne dancers mean the theatrics at this day-into-evening party are just as dramatic, too. Leave your inhibitions at the door. Prepare to party like a celeb. oceanbeachibiza.com

BLUE MARLIN

THE MOVIE STAR’S FAVOURITE

Sitting at number one spot, at the top of the beach club pyramid, Blue Marlin, in Cala Jondal Bay, even offers a water taxi service to ferry clientele to and from their private superyachts. Clients have included Lewis Hamilton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sylvester Stallone, and half the players in La Liga. Since opening in 2004, Blue Marlin has evolved from a straight-up beach club into a lifestyle concept, with fine food, a chic boutique and open-air parties where music doesn’t stop until 4am. bluemarlinibiza.com

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NIKKI BEACH IBIZA THE CHIC CHOICE

Since 1998, Nikki Beach has been a name synonymous with the glamorous pool party scene. More about its trademark all-white double sunbeds than raving in the pool, its Ibizan outpost opened in 2013 on the island’s east coast. Graze on sushi served on the signature NB wooden dragon. Throughout the season, the beach club hosts a number of parties with great DJs – Idris Elba, Fatboy Slim and Pete Tong have all graced the decks. On Sundays, the Champagne Brunch gives you freeflowing Taittinger all afternoon for €75 per person. nikkibeach.com

USHUAÏA BEACH CLUB THE FUN HOUSE

When The Ushuaïa Beach Hotel opened in 2011, it revolutionised the way people partied in Ibiza. Set around a main stage and large swimming pool, the hotel was more an outdoor day-club that happened to be surrounded by bedrooms. From around 3pm onwards, hundreds of revellers slowly descend on the hotel to dance around the hotel’s lagoon pool to DJs that have included Luciano, Fatboy Slim and Swedish House Mafia. This summer, David Guetta, Martin Garrix and Kygo are just some of the resident DJs. ushuaiaibiza.com

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GRAN SLAM A raft of new glitzy hotels may have stamped their mark on the island, but when it comes to luxury, the Ibiza Gran remains the A-lister’s hotel of choice Words: BETHAN REES

n the 1960s, Ibiza was a bohemian’s Mecca, a funloving, free-thinking place where hippies gathered in circles around fires to watch sunsets from the beach. Over four decades, the outdoor party scene evolved, went mainstream and created the type of mega-clubs that the island is more associated with today. Recently, a spate of luxury hotel openings – The Ushuaïa Tower, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, Sir Joan, Aguas de Ibiza, Hard Rock Hotel, ME Hotel, et al – has meant that Eivissa, to give the island its Catalanname, has gone upmarket. Between May and September, nowadays, the White Isle is a hub for the super rich. Despite this, Ibiza still boasts only one five-star ‘grand luxe’ hotel – the highest rank of hotel in Spain. Located in Ibiza Town, opposite Marina Botafoch, where multi-million pound superyachts bob to and fro, Ibiza Gran was for years the only option for someone looking to enjoy the island’s hedonistic opportunities while staying somewhere that was truly luxurious. Let’s start with the lobby. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve entered a museum of modern art. On top of polished white

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CLOCKWISE from above Dalt Vila Suite; Terrace Suite; oysters at La Gaia; Dalt Vila Suite; Open Spa; the terrace at La Gaia

floors, marble columns extend six storeys up. The space is open and bright and there is artwork everywhere. From a white stone boulder by the cigarette dispenser, to a floating woollen installation hanging from the middle of the ceiling. Clean lines, dark woods, minimal use of colour – the hotel has a Japanese feel to it. There are 157 suites and no ‘standard’ rooms. Starting from a Junior Suite (which has a whirlpool bath next to the king-size bed), the rooms extend up to the Gran Suites (three variations). The Gran Suite Isla Blanca and Dalt Vila are the largest at 150m², with their own pools, private terraces, solariums and exceptional vantage points across the island. I’m staying in the Suite – a 60m² room with a comfortable living room, a round indoor Jacuzzi, a large terrace with day beds and impressive views of the city and port of Ibiza. Lots of pale wood and a white colour scheme create a feeling of Zen, especially when laying in the Jacuzzi with the terrace doors open

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

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EIVISSA looking out to sea. Rather than traditional dressing gowns, the hotel provides kimonos – another Japanese-inspired theme. Where Ibiza Gran led the way in luxury accommodation on the island, it continues to do so in its culinary offering. Breakfast is served buffet-style – if that buffet had been put together by Willy Wonka. Across multiple stations, staff prepare made-to-order omelettes, pancakes and waffles, with a team carving the finest Jamón Ibérico into shiny, fatty wafers. To top it all off, a chocolate fountain cascades its silky-smooth wares. Each morning, my plate is a smorgasbord of different types of cuisine. One morning I spy former Formula One boss Bernie Eccleston looking at my plate (and glass of Champagne). Was he impressed? Was he disgusted? I guess we’ll never know. Poolside, Ibiza Gran serves things like grilled octopus salad and tuna tartar – a perfect complement to the hot weather. (There’s also a sunglass-cleaning service.) The showstopper restaurant, however, is the Japeruvian La Gaia. Headed up by Óscar Molina, La Gaia, with its wasabi martinis, is mind-blowing from the off. Peru and Japan collide on Molina’s menu – which comes with a helpful glossary

Where Ibiza Gran led the way in luxury accommodation on the island, it continues to do so in its culinary offering of terms: Zapallo, a term to designate pumpkin in ancient Inca; Shoyu, Japanese for soy sauce. I start the meal with a Hamachi ceviche, followed by John Dory with ají chilli pepper crumble and kumquat. Next up is the shrimp tempura – with batter so light it dissolves as it touches my tongue – followed by octopus with sweet potato dices flavoured with lemon verbena honey and an olive mousse. I’m much more of a savoury person, but the desserts hit a sweet spot for me. A sweet caramel mousse, a foam of Iberian herbs, a chocolate moulded into the shape of a carob tree and a minty, fennel jelly finish off the meal. It’s no surprise that, at the time of writing, La Gaia was reportedly on the verge of gaining its first Michelin star. The next day I pay a visit to the Open Spa for an After Party Detox (a mineral mud treatment and an orange and mimosa oil massage). Such therapy would have many a partygoer reenergised and ready to hit the night spots. I, however, will be by Ibiza Gran’s top deck swimming pool, sipping on a frosted glass of Rosé, wondering which celebrity I’m going to spot next. Rooms start from £310 for a Junior Suite in the low season. ibizagranhotel.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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THE OTHER IBIZA

The languid soul hidden underneath the most bombastic of the Balearics will make even the most hardened hedonist want to put down their glow stick. The City Magazine hits upon the White Isle’s still-alive beatnik spirit Words: Rob Crossan

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Ibizan vineyard; grapes from an Ibizan vineyard; Plaza de Los Desamparados, Ibiza; Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell at sunset; the pool at Cas Gasi

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t doesn’t take Alex long to describe, in full, the staff roster at the Can MaymÓ vineyard in the north of Ibiza. “It’s me or my wife’s Dad,” he admits while ruffling his thick, black hair. A flock of geese start up a hoarse claxon of noise as, on a rough-hewn wooden bench, we sit in the shimmering late morning sun and open up a bottle of rosé. Alex, alongside his father-in-law, vineyard founder Antonio Costa, seems to hail from an earlier Ibiza, one that may well believe that deep house is a cottage at the bottom of a lake and that strobes are

something that can be remedied with bed rest and milk of magnesia. So atavistic is the atmosphere that I almost expected Paco de Lucía to stroll in from the back yard with his flamenco guitar. For this diminutive island, which can be driven from top to bottom in an hour, has another side to it which doesn’t involve DJ superstars, overpriced champagne bars and sweating hordes in shorts and strapless bras. Can MaymÓ is just one of a tiny array of vineyards which, despite the intense heat, are producing surprisingly subtle and satisfying blends. Its white varietal in particular, made from Malvasia and Moscatel grapes has a puppy-ish, untamed zing and pep with a taste redolent of ripe melons and fresh straw. “High season or low season, it doesn’t matter,” remarks Alex as he places a platter of charcuterie on the table. “Any time of year, you can always get away from the crowds on Ibiza.” The last remnants of the original hippy culture that, back in the days, when Janis and Jimi were still with us, manifested in glorious freeform technicolour on Ibiza, are still (just about) extant in the form of numerous tiny boutique stores selling flowing white dresses, leather belts and candles in the shaded alleys of Ibiza Old Town. Here, also, is the culinary antidote to the oft-eyewateringly high prices of the restaurants catering to the marina crowd. Comidas Bar San Juan is a no-nonsense cantina where waitresses sprint around the wooden beamed dining room, taking orders for gargantuan plates of octopus, grilled calamari, mushroom croquettes and icy tumblers of house vinho branco.nho

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

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EIVISSA Spending more than £20 here for lunch for two people would require the kind of Herculean determination that the Phoenicians embarked upon when they built the original city walls, the updated Renaissance version of which lies a mere throw of a paella dish from San Juan. Inside the old town walls lies an altogether more ancient Ibiza; one of palm and pine trees, deserted squares, yawning cats on narrow balconies and some surprisingly absorbing art museums. The MACE Gallery is a haven for 20th-century art in a sunken white cube of a building, designed by Victor Beltran Roca, that avoids looking incongruous in this ancient ’hood. The defiantly contemporary video and poster art inside, which until very recently included a 30-ft high tower of mattresses by installation artist Susy Gómez, feels like an unapologetic retort to the nearby Museo Puget. Located inside a Gothic manor, the rooms here showcase the work of Narcís Puget Viñas, an Ibizan who, in the first half of the 20th century, painted scenes of rural island life. Village bakeries, almond trees, harbours, coves and markets were the subject matter of his provincial scenes which have a tendency to veer towards Norman Rockwell territory in the kitsch romanticism stakes. More durable perhaps is the work on display by his son Narcís Puget Riquer who, until his death in 1983, used watercolours to paint some exquisitely Hogarthian portraits of islanders, faces ruddy and worn from the sun and the toil that made life on Ibiza a battle against the elements for many in the years before big beats and bigger pay cheques. Come late afternoons, the island’s remote coves, surrounded by navy waters on one side and stout cliffs peppered with whitewashed cottages and citrus trees on the other, are where you might find Paulo Agnolo and Shankara Santos, two island-based entrepreneurs who teach stand-up paddleboard yoga and kayaking, respectively. Doing the downward facing dog on a paddleboard is, for a beginner, every bit as difficult as it sounds. Shankara’s endless patience and commendable ability not to laugh at my urban lack of flexibility was nearly as impressive as Paulo’s dexterity with his oar as he guided me around the El Torrente cove and out onto the crest of the open sea. The next stop from here is the chaos of Algeria yet, in these parts, the diamond sparkle of the water and the aching clarity of the sky, pockmarked by the odd almond-shaped cloud, exude cerulean tranquillity. Scooping his hand into the shallow water, Paulo brings up a small sea urchin resting on his palm. It’s barely perceptible breathing tickles the flesh and the spikes, as soft as cotton buds, flex and contract until, gently, Paulo returns it to its liquid habitat, now turning hues of purple and green as the sun glides ever downward. Come evening and, in the centre of the island, lie two retreats that make the term ‘hippie chic’ sound not nearly so nauseating. Can Lluc is a rustic chic hideaway with

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

where to book Go to supyogapilates. com for yoga lessons with Shankara and kayak-ibiza.com for kayak trips with Paulo. For more details on the hotels mentioned go to canlluc.com and casgasi.com. If you’re on the Spanish mainland you can travel to Ibiza by foot or car ferry with Balearia, balearia.com/en. Ryanair flies to Ibiza from London Stanstead, ryanair.com. The Radisson Blu is directly opposite the terminal with rooms from £91, radissonblu.com

stone-clad rooms topped with honey and goldcoloured Sabina wood beams. Balinese-style day beds and a newly built wing with radically contrasting contemporary Scandi-minimal aesthetics makes for a haven hugely popular with burnt-out dot.com startup execs from London. But it was at nearby Cas Gasi that I felt more at home. With an Andalusian Water Dog called Viz given the freedom of the house and a scuffed white grand piano in the lobby laden with magazines, this is a home from home that counts Richard Gere, Jade Jagger and Kate Moss among its previous guests. Reclining by the pool and watching the wind caress and flirt with the leaves of the carob, jasmine and orange trees, it felt almost absurd to think that, barely ten miles away, the likes of Amnesia, Pacha and Privilege would be seething hubs of drum and bass. For now, the rhythm of this side of Ibiza is no faster than the sound of tonic water tumbling gently over ice cubes as blossom falls like confetti onto the russet-coloured soil. The Balearics may love a party, but, for an invitation with real staying power, the warmest welcome would appear to be far away from a nightclub entrance.

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A LB E RT E M B A N K M E N T

Enjoy a lifestyle thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ahead of the curve Show Apartment now launched The Corniche, is an exclusive riverside address with panoramic views over the most iconic stretch of the River Thames. With a 19th floor Skyline Club lounge and terrace above a beautifully landscaped piazza, The Corniche, with completions from Winter 2017, features a wealth of luxury amenities including an infinity pool, spa, cinema, gym and a 24-hour concierge. Luxurious three bedroom apartments and penthouses, within the exclusive Skyline Collection, are now available on the 16th floor and above.

Prices from ÂŁ3,600,000 To register your interest please call +44 (0)20 3883 5246 or email corniche.london@stjames.co.uk To discover more visit www.cornichelondon.co.uk or visit the marketing suite at 21 Albert Embankment Sales & Marketing Suite open daily 10am to 6pm. Prices and details correct at time of going to press. Computer generated image is indicative only.

www.cornichelondon.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

LONDON HOMES &

PROPERTY Covering: THE CITY, WAPPING, SHAD THAMES, SHOREDITCH & ISLINGTON

SUNSHINE IN THE CITY

expectations of buyers and sellers are becoming more aligned, as we enter peak rental season in london

Berkeley Homesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kidbrooke Village development. Find out more on page 124

Five minutes with…

Each month, an expert agent gives us the lowdown on the market and a local view of a specific neighbourhood

Aviary

ADAM DOCKLEY Director at Dockleys

ased on vibrant Brick Lane, Adam Dockley heads up the eponymous estate agency, Dockleys. Formed in 2016, he created the independent agency after working in the industry for over two decades. His office doesn’t have strict boundaries – but deals mostly with east and south-east London. However, he has also sold and let properties in Mayfair, Islington and Vauxhall. Is Dockley a jack of all trades, and a master of one too? The City Magazine finds out...

When and why was Dockleys created? AD: The reason I started Dockleys was to do something different in the estate agency world. I wanted to bridge the us and them gap between buyers and sellers. I feel that you need both the buyer and seller to work in tandem with one another and so I want to give my time and my expertise to both. My main goal is always to fulfil my client’s needs in terms of getting best price and with minimal stress, but on the buyer’s side, I have tried to make their lives as easy as possible as well working with them in finding

Aviary

the best fit for their property requirements. I have made a lot of friends with fellow agents and developers across London and so if I do not have the right property on the market myself I will endeavour to locate it via my network Moving into the Autumn market, are you expecting to get busier? AD: Lettings will always gets more active after the summer. What we are seeing is a lack of good quality properties coming to the market, as many tenants are now staying longer in their properties and extending the leases. In relation to sales, we are seeing a real influx of local buyers now due to the low interest rates and speaking to our finance broker, they have some banks offering six times income which also helps. How do you see the market going in the run up to leaving the EU? AD: I think personally we will see a steady flow of transactions

Dockleys, 162 Brick Lane, E1, 0793 908 7131, dockleys.com 110

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| property |

until after Brexit. People that need to move will always do so, those that just speculate on the market will hold off to see what happens in the coming years and a lot of overseas buyers want to take advantage of the exchange rates.

Did you find London quite resilient to the EU referendum? AD: Yes. We are a world capital and I can’t see that ever changing, people will always want to come to London to do business and for pleasure so we are very lucky in that respect. What are the most pressing issues buyers/sellers are facing at the moment? AD: Stamp duty and capital gains tax. The changes in recent times have been quite severe and I think that has put a lot of people off buying. This is not so much of a factor for first time buyers, who can now take advantage in not having as much competition in the market. What advice would you give to a buyer in the current market? How should they behave and act? AD: The best advice I can give is do your research make sure you know exactly what you can afford, set out all the costs involved in buying before you start making offers. I would also encourage buyers to make offers, the worst a seller can say is no but at least if you make an offer even a relatively low one you and your agent can start negotiations. I read an article recently that said in 2016, 51% of first time buyers did not make an offer when buying their property, that’s a big number! Does being an independent agent give you an edge? AD: Yes, it does, as an independent I have the freedom to deal in any way we chose, there are very few restraints from boards etc., we are able to offer fee structures that we feel are relative to the property and can change our marketing tact to suit a particular property. I have not worked for a big corporate company and I am sure there are many benefits such as training and support but my personal opinion is that every agent is different and work differently so why would you want to restrain someone in their ability to offer their clients the best possible service? How did you get involved in property? AD: My work experience at School was with a country house Sunset Ashram, Ibiza

agent in Hertfordshire and I just fell in love with it from day one, so much so I asked for a Saturday job and then joined full time when I left school. What’s your favourite thing about your job? AD: The people I get to meet. I love speaking to new people and the enormous buzz still I get from agreeing a deal no matter how big or small; it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning. The only thing I can relate that feeling to is how I can image footballers feel when they score a goal, though I haven’t ripped my shirt off yet! Where is your favourite restaurant in London? AD: A very good friend of mine opened a bar and restaurant in Finsbury Circus called the Aviary, which has the most incredible terrace overlooking the City. How would you spend your perfect weekend? AD: My friends will all laugh at me, but I hashtag ‘weekendsman’ on Instagram. I work extremely hard to enjoy my weekends, when I am not working, so I try to fill them with as much as possible. I am not one for sitting around doing nothing. I love spending time out in Hertfordshire with friends and family, but my perfect weekend would be in my favourite place in the world, Ibiza. It’s just such as beautiful place and you can be involved in the nightlife or just chill out having a wonderful meal at somewhere like Sunset Ashram watching the sun set listening to those Balearic beats, I love the contrast. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? AD: Stop, Look and Listen from when I was at school learning the green cross code. I am 100 mile an hour and I have trained myself now to stop, look at a situation and listen to others before jumping into something and that has held me in good stead so far in life. If you could host a dinner party with three guests, who would they be? AD: The Queen as I would just love to chat to her about the country and her time as the monarch. Thierry Henry so we could discuss my top 10 of his goals. Jay-Z, I’m a big fan and think he has been very clever in business, in his own words he’s “not a businessman” he’s “a business, man”.

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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Newark Street, Aldgate E1 End of Terrace four storey Victorian house for sale close to The City. A rarely available 4 bedroom townhouse amongst gorgeous Victorian architecture on a quiet street in London's famous East End. EPC: E Approximately 165.4 sq m (1,780 sq ft). Freehold

Guide price: £1,325,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/aldgate aldgate@knightfrank.com 020 3544 0712

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/ALD170368

City Magazine August 2017 1 page (112 Newark Street)

17/07/2017 17:36:38

Cit

MOVE FASTER SELL WITH KNIGHT FRANK

We pride ourselves on exceptional serviceand unrivalled market knowledge, with a global network of 417 offices across 58 countries that can showcase your property to the widest possible audience. KnightFrank.co.uk/Riverside Riverside@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5932

Guide price: £4,350,000

Neo Bankside, Southwark SE1 A very desirable apartment in NEO Bankside with 3 generous bedrooms and stunning views of St Pauls Cathedral, Tate Modern gallery and the River Thames. A very beautiful interior in all rooms offering contemporary stylish living. Set in the heart of the vibrant South Bank cultural quarter, close to the City. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception, kitchen, winter garden, leisure facilities, parking, concierge. Approximately 255 sq m (2,745 sq ft) Riverside@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5932

@KF_SWLondon KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £1,950,000

County Hall, Southbank SE1 A beautifully renovated and well-presented 3 bedroom flat in County Hall with views of both the inner courtyard and Forum Magnum Square. The flat has high ceilings and wooden flooring, as well as a separate kitchen. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, reception room, parking, leisure facilities, concierge. Approximately 138 sq m (1,485 sq ft) Riverside@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3641 5932

City Mag Aug'17 Issue Sales

13/07/2017 11:05:52

MOVE Faster. Sell with Knight Frank

Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving. Call us today on +44 20 8166 5375 to arrange your free market appraisal. KnightFrank.co.uk/wapping wapping@knightfrank.com

Guide price: £1,400,000

Great Jubilee Wharf, Wapping E1W 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen. Set on the fourth floor of this bespoke converted warehouse is this bright apartment offering a large roof terrace with picturesque views over the River Thames. Approximately 132 sq m (1,430 sq ft). Share of Freehold. Office: 020 8166 5375

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £865,000

Gun Place, Wapping E1W 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, reception room with open plan kitchen. Set on the sixth floor of this converted warehouse in the heart of Wapping is this bright apartment with access to large South easterly facing balcony. EPC:E Approximately 90 sq m (972 sq ft). Leasehold Office: 020 8166 5375

City Mag August 2017

13/07/2017 09:40:48

Cit

FOUND YOUR PERFECT TENANT. LET WITH KNIGHT RANK

To find out how we can help you please contact us KnightFrank.co.uk/aldgate aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3823 9930

Guide price: £475 per week

Mariana Court, Whitechapel

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This property is new and comprises a large open plan lounge/kitchen with access to a private balcony, two spacious bedrooms, master with en-suite and brand new white goods, etc. throughout. The property is fully furnished via Knight Frank Interiors to a very high standard and is viewable immediately. EPC: B. aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930

All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £850 per week

Cable Street, Aldgate A beautiful Grade II Listed Georgian House. The large reception room stretches across the whole depth of the house. The lower ground floor is occupied by a kitchen diner. The terraced garden is accessed by a door between the 2 storeys. The upper 2 floors feature 4 bedrooms. EPC:E aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 3823 9930

City mag lettings

19/07/2017 12:33:24

WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE? We pride ourselves on exceptional service and unrivalled market knowledge, with a global network of 417 offices across 58 countries that can showcase your property to the widest possible audience. Call us today on 020 8166 5366 to arrange your free market valuation.

Guide price: £725 per week

Cinnabar Wharf, Wapping E1W

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A beautifully presented fourth floor, two double bedroom apartment located in this modern portered development in Wapping. Furnished to a high standard this lovely apartment has a newly fitted open plan kitchen, great reception room, oak flooring, a stunning en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom, underground parking a views of the river. EPC: C. Approximately 103 sq m (1,110 sq ft). Available furnished.

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £395 per week

Chimney Court, Wapping E1W A light and bright warehouse style apartment set in this portered block in central Wapping. This modern unit has wooden floors throughout, high ceilings, sleeping platform, dining area, a fitted kitchen, secure parking and is situated moments from Wapping tube station. EPC: C. Approximately 70 sq m (749 sq ft). Available furnished.

City Magazine Lettings July 2017

18/07/2017 19:12:43

| property |

EXPERT VIEWS

The Knight Frank Islington office gives us its perspective on the current market and the months ahead

Nick Moore associate at Knight Frank Islington Following the General Election at the beginning of June and the unexpected result that followed, a feeling of uncertainty has returned to the market, something that had abated earlier in the year. While the Conservatives have scrabbled to shore up their majority with the support of the DUP, we were encouraged to see the financial markets reacting modestly amid hopes that the country could be heading for a softer Brexit because of the election. Meanwhile, house price growth continued to slow in May, although the market remains highly localised and affordability remains a key concern in many markets. Average prices in prime central London were flat in May and are down 6.6 per cent on the year. However, average prices slipped by only 0.2 per cent in the three months to the end of May, compared to a 4.1 per cent decline in the final quarter of this year, which paints a far rosier picture of the market. There are also early signs that the expectations of buyers and sellers are becoming more closely aligned as the number of homes sold in London increased by three per cent compared to May 2016. The pick-up in buyer activity suggests that some sellers are setting asking prices that are more realistic in order to secure a quicker sale. Mortgage rates remain exceptionally low, although there are signs that this may change sooner than we had expected as it was reported that three members of the Bank of Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rate-setting committee voted for a rise in the base rate, which caused a sharp rise in sterling. However, while policy makers remain keen to maintain a stable rate environment as the UK prepares to leave the EU, economists predict that a rate rise may be on the cards earlier than 2019 when it was widely expected that rates would rise.

Daniel Fox Head of lettings at Knight Frank Islington Considering we have had such a surprise election result, the lettings market has remained strong and we have not witnessed the unsettling impact that we were expecting. This is because when there is heightened uncertainty, this feeds through to increased tenant demand as prospective buyers decide to wait for more clarity before buying. Due to the increased stock levels over the last year because of the tax hikes and EU referendum, we came into a market where rental prices were at the lowest that they had been in a number of years, declining 0.3 per cent in May, which contributed to an annual fall of 4.8 per cent. This is now settling, and supply and demand has equalised. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t likely to

stay this way now that the pound has fallen against the dollar, though and we expect a hike in properties over the next year as foreign investors take advantage of the cheap pound come autumn. For now, we are in the busiest time of the rental year, where summer in lettings across London peaks with a cross-section of applicants moving at the same time, from corporate relocations from overseas (particularly the USA and Australia, currently) to families, students and graduates. It is the most optimal time of the year for landlords to market their investments and secure tenants who now look for longer rentals in the capital that remains strong in the financial services and property sectors.

KNIGHT FRANK ISLINGTON 353 Upper Street, N1, 020 3657 7340, knightfrank.co.uk luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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Mayfair Showroom 66 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JL 28 offices in Central London and over 60 across London

Northchurch Road, N1 ÂŁ1,450 per week

A stucco fronted semi detached villa perfectly located in De Beauvoir. This property has three reception rooms with an open plan kitchen, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Further benefits include a conservatory and a south facing garden, energy rating e. Dexters Islington 020 7483 6374

Palace Gardens Terrace, W8 ÂŁ3,950,000

This three bedroom property spread over three floors is located in the heart of Kensington. There are two reception rooms, a large open plan kitchen and three bathrooms. The property also has a first floor balcony and rear garden, energy rating e. Dexters Notting Hill 020 7243 4500

dexters.co.uk

Upper Ground, SE1 £1,440 per week

A two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on the 21st floor of the newly completed South Bank Tower. The flat has an open plan reception room/kitchen with city views, 24 hour concierge and on site leisure facilities, energy rating b. Dexters London Bridge 020 7483 6390

Great Titchfield Street, W1W £1,800 per week

A unique two double bedroom apartment arranged over the top two floors of this newly renovated former printworks, in the heart of Fitzrovia. There is a large reception room, separate kitchen/breakfast room, two bathrooms and an impressive private decked roof garden with stunning views over London, energy rating c. Dexters Fitzrovia 020 7067 2402

dexters.co.uk

Tenants fees apply: £180 per tenancy towards administration, £60 reference fee per tenant and £144 towards the end of tenancy check out report (all inc VAT).

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999 year leases on all apartments!

NOW COMPLETE AND READY TO MOVE IN - BOOK TO VIEW NOW

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A selection of brand new luxury two & three bedroom apartments in the heart of one of South London’s most desirable locations, Crystal Palace. Positioned on the corner of Westow Hill and the Crystal Palace Parade, Zola House is perfectly placed for all the local amenities including bars and restaurants, that the vibrant triangle has to offer. Outdoor space to each apartment 999 year leases Video entry system

5 mins walk from Crystal Palace Station Perfectly placed for local amenities Ready to move in

Prices from £494,995 Developed by:

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Sat Nav Ref: SE19 1UA

Selling agent:

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C O N T E M P O R A RY ZO N E 2 L I V I N G I S H E R E A stunning collection of brand new 4/5 bedroom houses located in vibrant New Cross, SE14. These ultra-modern homes offer spacious and versatile accommodation set over three floors. Thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of modern living, each property offers light and generously proportioned rooms finished to an exacting standard. Ideally located for local schools and transport links (Zone 2) providing regular services into Central London.

Prices from ÂŁ875,000

2 M INS

5 MIN S

5 M I NS

1 0 M I NS

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Greenwich

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Selling agent:

Developed by:

020 8315 6996 | acornnewhomes.co.uk Florence Road, New Cross, SE14 6TY Train times are from either New Cross or Deptford Bridge stations and are correct at the time of print. Source TFL.

LIVE IN THE CENTRE, RUN IN THE PARK Birch House â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2 and 3 bedroom apartments A village lifestyle. A quick commute. A landscape full of greenery. A tasty cup of coffee in the morning. An easy ride into the city for an evening in the West End. Only 16 minutes to London Bridge*. Call a member of the sales team on 020 3733 7214 to arrange a viewing. Sales & Marketing Suite open daily 10am to 6pm (Thursdays until 8pm). Wallace Court, 40 Tizzard Grove, London SE3 9FD. Computer generated images of Birch House and the interior at Kidbrooke Village are indicative only. * Timing is approximate only. Source: www.tfl.co.uk. Information correct at time of sending to press.

www.kidbrookevillage.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Development:

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INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO A village vibe close to the city: Kidbrooke village, se3

f you like the hustle and bustle of working in the capital but at the same time crave countryside tranquility, then look no further than Berkeley Homes’ Kidbrooke Village – a leafy, green oasis of calm, just 16 minutes from London Bridge. Kidbrooke Village is also only a stone’s throw from Blackheath in south east London, offering residents a slice of village life with a range of stylishly-designed townhouses and apartments, perfect for everyone from first-time buyers and growing families, to downsizers. Homes are set in 136-acres of parkland and open space, including the newly designed Cator Park and also Sutcliffe Park, which enjoys areas of grassland, meadow and wetland; rich in plant and wildlife and ensuring a natural countryside feel. For more information about Kidbrooke Village please visit kidbrookevillage.co.uk or call 020 8150 5151. Kidbrooke Village’s sales and marketing suite is open from 10am to 6pm daily and until 8pm on Thursdays and is located at Wallace Court, 40 Tizzard Grove, Greenwich, SE3.

A thriving Village Centre Next to Kidbrooke train station, the emerging Village Centre currently offers a wealth of amenities for residents, including a Sainsbury’s Local, shops, an independent café and a health centre. A Young’s Pub, as well as a larger Sainsbury’s, have already been secured for the permanent Village Centre and are expected to open in 2018. With other dining and retail options forthcoming, Kidbrooke Village Centre will be a thriving hub for local people. With Blackheath only a short walk away offering further retail and dining options, there is a plethora of independent boutiques, family-run butchers and cafés, as well as high street names to choose from. A monthly Kidbrooke farmers’ market is held during the summer on the first Saturday of the month in the Village Square. The market showcases local produce and visitors can pick up delicious artisan foodstuffs, with a range of hot food ‘grab and go’ options also available. Other community events are often held around the development, including a summer country fête with lots of family-friendly activities such as a carousel, mini farm and fun face painting for kids. There are also ‘Wild about Kidbrooke Village’ events – these are free and run by the London Wildlife Trust to encourage people to discover the local wildlife. These have included craft events and pond dipping.

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This year’s Kidbrooke summer country fête

Green space and wildlife Once the development is complete, 65 per cent of the overall site will be green space, including children’s play spaces, beautifully landscaped public and private spaces and natural areas for relaxation. The 136-acres of parkland and open space encompasses the newly designed Cator Park and also Sutcliffe Park with areas of grassland, meadow, and wetland rich in plant and wildlife. The park has been declared a local nature reserve and is a Green Flag site. It also includes an athletics track run by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) and an outdoor gym. Craig is a Kidbrooke Village resident. He says, “what I really liked about Kidbrooke Village was that it reminded me a bit of home, because it does feel like a village: it’s landscaped and very green, with lakes and wildlife. Finding somewhere that

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had lots of green space and less of an urban feel to it was really important to me. The Berkeley development at Kidbrooke fit the bill perfectly – I can drive to work or get the train to London, both in around a quarter of an hour.” He goes on, “I’m really looking forward to the Village Centre being complete because this will provide a focal point and bring the community together. Berkeley have actually thought about what residents will want.”

Well-connected: direct links to London The onsite Kidbrooke train station provides direct links to Central London, making this the perfect option for busy commuters and those who enjoy London’s shops, restaurants, nightclubs and bars. London Bridge can be reached in just over 15 minutes, Canary Wharf in 22 minutes and Victoria in 28 minutes. The development also benefits from extensive pedestrian and cycle routes, which connect into the wider London Cycle Network, enabling residents to explore the local area in the fresh air, while getting some exercise. It doesn’t get easier than this.

How to live: The choice is yours Birch House is the focal point of the Kidbrooke Village development and is an exclusive collection of apartments designed by the award-winning Studio Egret West. One of its most exciting features is the Sky Lounge, exclusive to Birch House residents. This relaxing space enjoys stunning views towards

Canary Wharf, perfect for an Instagram-worthy early morning yoga session or simply a catch up and coffee with friends. Buyers have access to a state-of-the-art, residents-only gym, a 24-hour concierge service and the Kidbrooke Village Zipcar car share club. Available properties start at £540,000 for a two-bedroom, onebathroom home with a spacious winter garden, and £665,000 for a three-bedroom apartment. Then there’s The Crescent. There is only a limited collection of these contemporary new townhouses available. Homes are nestled between leafy Cator Park and Sutcliffe Park, offering the ideal blend of luxury and space, ranging in size to 1,366 sq ft – perfect for spacious family living. Each home has its own front garden leading onto a tree-lined avenue, cycle lanes and wide pedestrian areas, as well as a rear garden, making them perfect for families. Available properties start at £810,000 for a three-bedroom home with three bathrooms, two of which are en-suite. A stunning threebedroom showhome is open daily for viewings. Berkeley’s Urban Houses are located in the exclusive Blackheath Quarter neighbourhood and are designed for modern living. The Urban House is a three- or four-bedroom home which is adaptable in line with changing lifestyles and ranges in size up to 1,467 sq ft. Generous roof terraces offer 360-degree views and outdoor private space, while each property comes with off-street parking, electric car charging points and covered cycle storage. Homes are efficient to run, saving residents over 80 per cent on gas and 30 per cent on water bills. A limited selection of these homes is available. A three-bedroom house with private roof terrace and allocated off-street parking is available from £915,000. Visit the beautiful three-bedroom showhome, which is open daily for viewings.

The Crescent showhome

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DON’T BUY IN E14 UNTIL YOU’VE SPOKEN TO GALLIARD!

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INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

CGI of the living area of a show home at Aberfeldy Village

Aberfeldy Village, E14

stunning new collection of apartments at Aberfeldy Village in London E14 has been released for sale by developer Be. These smart contemporary homes, designed by award-winning architects Levitt Bernstein, offer a superb lifestyle and are brilliantly located for swift access to Canary Wharf and the City. Inspired by East India’s past and designed to inspire its future, the next chapter of this thriving new community offers a choice of stylish studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Homes at Aberfeldy Village are a great investment in this up-and-coming area of east London. Housed in striking buildings designed in a modern warehouse style, each home has its own private balcony or terrace and is finished to a high specification. An impressive hotel-style lobby sets the scene for the quality of these homes. Adding to the great lifestyle are an on-site concierge, private residents’ gym and a media lounge, where you can relax watching films on a big screen. Residents will also benefit from on-site shopping, healthcare and community facilities. The homes offer the best in modern city living with highquality design and meticulous attention to detail. Higher than usual ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow plenty of sunlight to flood in create light and airy living spaces. A spacious open-plan living area opens on to a large balcony or terrace. Designer kitchens offer a full range of integrated appliances and luxurious bathrooms, and en suite shower rooms are tiled with a contrasting feature wall.

aberfeldy village, e14, 020 8168 0020, 128

The linear park at Aberfeldy Village

The landscaping at Aberfeldy Village includes architecturally designed private courtyards and a tree-lined linear park that runs through the heart of the development, with open lawns and a profusion of shrubs and flowers. E14 is one of the best-connected areas of the capital. Canning Town station, less than ten minutes’ walk away, connects to the Jubilee Line and DLR, as well as many bus routes across London. By tube it’s only six minutes to Canary Wharf, seven minutes to London City Airport and less than 20 minutes to Bond Street. The arrival of Crossrail at Canary Wharf in 2018 will further boost the area’s connectivity. Residents can enjoy a wonderful variety of dining opportunities between Canary Wharf and Stratford and, for retail therapy, Westfield Stratford City, one of London’s best shopping destinations, is just six minutes away by tube. Prices at Aberfeldy Village start from £314,950 for a studio apartment

be.co.uk

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INSPIRED BY EAST INDIA’S PAST. DESIGNED TO INSPIRE ITS FUTURE.

ABERFELDY VILL AGE, E14 Studio, 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments

From £314,950 ●

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Canary Wharf 4 mins* Bank 12 mins** Gym

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24-Hour Concierge Media Lounge Landscaped Park

Get in touch to experience the next chapter of Aberfeldy Village.

020 8168 0021 | hello@be.co.uk

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Fastest journey time from Canning Town station, source: tfl.gov.uk Fastest journey time from East India station, source: tfl.gov.uk

Insider Knowledge

Residential market update for Greenwich and Blackheath

diana alam, head of residential development sales, jll

hat is the outlook for sales and lettings in the Greenwich, Blackheath and City residential markets and how have they performed in Q2? Over the past six months, JLL’s flagship south east London office, located in the heart of Greenwich, has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme demonstrating our ongoing and future commitment to the area. We worked hard to ensure that our clients did not experience any disruption while works were underway, and we are excited to show you our new agency offering.

Sales

Greenwich and Blackheath’s agents recorded impressive successes in the first half of this year, selling and completing on some of the south east’s most desirable properties. Diamond Terrace and Georgette Place in the centre of Greenwich proved perfect examples – from pitch, strategy and sourcing the right buyer, through to exchange and completion. While applicant enquiries and registrations have fallen back in the run up to June, mainly due to political and economic uncertainty, our agents have benefited from strong links to a core of highly motivated buyers and sellers. These individuals have helped to create a less frantic atmosphere within the south east’s sales market. This mini-market is also very diverse and includes a broad mix of upsizers, downsizers and first-time buyers. We believe that sales values in Greenwich and Blackheath will hold steady throughout summer. The market remains cyclical

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and increased interest from buyers in September will make for a strong end to 2017, as chains will need to be completed before the festive period begins. The office’s refurbishment emphasises our commitment to the local market and our ambition to continue growing our presence in south east London.

Lettings

The second quarter of 2017 has treated Greenwich and Blackheath well. The local lettings market has proved to be buoyant and active, and shows no signs of slowing down in the near-term. The high end of the market is in particular demand, with interest from patient applicants who are planning to buy, but choosing to rent whilst keeping an eye out for their ideal property. Q1 saw an oversupply of rental properties throughout London, especially houses and flats with two or fewer bedrooms. Stock levels are now returning to normal, which means that there will be more pressure on potential tenants to commit to properties quickly. The majority of applicants who approach JLL Greenwich and Blackheath work in the City and Canary Wharf, where uncertainty around the effects of Brexit is more acutely felt than in other markets. More and more applicants are now insisting that their tenancies include a break clause, to give them piece of mind following the result of the general election and the start of negotiations with the EU. All of these factors add up to a price-sensitive market. However, as long as landlords are flexible on price, properties will let quickly with little or no void period. jll.co.uk; 020 7337 4004

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Amazing split level three bedroom Überhaus, in a superb location with breath-taking City views – only one stop from Canary Wharf! • • • •

Higher than average ceilings and impressive feature glazing creates an open and airy feel Multiple balconies and terraces, offering plenty of outdoor space Acres of open space to enjoy including an Ecology Park Great transport connections with Canary Wharf only one stop away and the Jubilee Line late night service running from North Greenwich† • Superb 2 and 3 bedroom apartments also available • Parking included‡

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gmv.london | 020 8305 2712 | gmv@cpplc.com VISIT OUR MARKETING SUITE AND SHOW HOMES NOW! Marketing Suite & Show Apartments open daily 10am-5pm The Village Square, West Parkside, London SE10 0BD

*Available on selected plots only and will be made as an allowance upon legal completion, please ask a Sales Consultant for more details. †Jubilee Line night service offers a 24 hour service on Fridays and Saturdays. ‡ Parking is a right to park on the development. Prices and information correct at time of going to print. July 2017.

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