CITY FEB 2010 by Runwild Media Group

the city magazine

Lamborghini Sevenoaks

Lamborghini Reading

92 London Road

Bennet Road

Sevenoaks

Reading

Kent

Berkshire

TN13 1BA

RG2 0QX

Tel 01732 430 039

Tel 0118 336 0116

www.lamborghini-sevenoaks.com

www.lamborghini-reading.com

Lamborghini Sevenoaks and Lamborghini Reading, part of Jardine Motors Group.

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FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2010 2010

The best Italian in town.

I S S n U 55 28 E 28

the city m a g a z i n e

THE LORD MAYOR The business of The City

INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE Exert you power in the workplace

spectacular MILESTONE St Paul’s celebrates 300 years

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contents fe a t u r e s 12 Business Profile

Josephine O’Donoghue talks to the new Lord Mayor, Nick Anstee

14 Anniversary Celebrations

Wren’s masterpiece, St. Paul’s Cathedral, celebrates its 300th anniversary

20 Money Tips

Saving advice for 2010

22 Stand Out from the Crowd

Ten different ways to boost your workplace influence

36 It’s a Small World

We look at the phenomenon of international business

26 The Apprentice

How boost your office productivity

SurLa

32 Fall in Love with London

The best Valentine’s treats to enjoy in the city

Plage

50 Fashion

Wrap up against the cold with romantic knits

60 Getting the Once Over

A health MOT could be well overdue

Shearling coat, £1,290, cream knit v-neck jumper, £320, tan leather open-knit vest £650, all Joseph, 020 7590 6200

70 Best of British

The first in a series on luxury homeland travel

Photographer:

Peter Zownir Fashion Editor:

Lucie Dodds

72 Alpine Alternatives

Sarah Collinson travels to uber-cool Laax in

search of stylish skiing

regulars

96 Winter Olympics

A review of this year’s hopefuls

8 editor’s letter

69 travel news

17 motley fool

83 food & drink

18 financial expert

89 motoring

36 royal exchange

95 sport

41 object of desire

98 gadgets

43 out & about

100 entertainment

49 fashion news

103 property

59 health & beauty

123 interiors

sport calibre

THE CHILLY GAMES

The last Olympic party before London 2012 kicks off this month with Vancouver playing host to the XXI Winter Games. Lee Brooks takes a look at Great Britain’s medal hopes

Shelley Rudman BOB SKELETON Four years ago, an unassuming girl from Wiltshire stole the headlines when she won silver in the skeleton bob just three years after switching her running shoes for a glorified tea-tray. That girl was 27 year old Shelley Rudman, Britain’s only 2006 Olympic medallist and now the main hope to go one step further and steal that shiny gold in Vancouver. Her husband and former world champion Kristan Bromley will compete in the men’s event while upand-coming youngsters Amy Williams and Adam Pengilly are in with a shot too, making this Britain’s strongest event.

Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke BOBSLEIGH Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke became the first British bobsleighers to win a gold medal in the sport for a staggering 44 years when they nailed their run in the World Championships in Lake Placid last February. The achievement was made all the more remarkable due to the fact Cooke had only first stepped into a bobsleigh the previous autumn. Though Minichiello’s Olympic record is nothing to shout about (12th in 2002 and ninth in 2006), the new pairing have formed an impressive partnership and are amongst the favourites for gold.

Sinead and John Kerr FIGURE SKATING The nation fell in love with figure skating when Torvill and Dean swept to gold with an awe-inspiring Bolero routine in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia nearly 26 years ago, but since then have had little to cheer about. However, the arrival of Scottish brother and sister duo Sinead and John Kerr could be about to change all that. The seventime British ice dance champions won bronze at the European Championships and this season reached the final for the prestigious Grand Prix final. Gold might be pushing it, but a bronze is well within their grasp.

or a country whose idea of winter sports facilities is dry ski slopes and a few ice-skating rinks, one wouldn’t expect great things when the Winter Games rolls round every four years especially as we lack the key natural resource - snow. But thanks to some innovative technologies and a spot of globetrotting, Team GB has morphed itself into a very respectable unit capable of bringing back the silverware from Vancouver at this month’s XXI Winter Olympic Games. This is the first Canadian-hosted Olympics since Calgary back in 1988, when the infamously inept ski jumper Eddie (The Eagle) Edwards shot to fame alongside the charismatic Jamaican bobsled team in a truly comedic Olympic games. This year, however, the North American country, will

Scotland’s men’s team CURLING want to be taken a little more seriously having invested a cool $2bn in the event taking place in the breathtaking Whistler Olympic Park. Furthermore, such is the Canadian desperation for success on home soil that organisers have restricted rival countries’ access to facilities while ensuring their own athletes have enjoyed maximum use. Though this is within the rules, it has been frowned upon and is sure to be a talking point over the 17 days of competition. There are seven sports and 15 disciplines on the Olympic programme for 2010 of which Great Britain will compete in 11; biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, luge, figure skating, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. With around 50 British athletes travelling across the pond, hopes are high that the squad can return with a hopeful but achievable six medals. So, let’s take a look at our medal contenders.

The three words “hurry, hurry, hurry” brought the 2002 Salt Lake City games to life as Scot Rhona Martin and her crew hurried, slid and curled their way to Olympic gold, the first for Great Britain in 18 years. This time round, though, it’s the men who have a shot at the top spot. Scotland’s men’s team are reigning world champions and will form the Great Britain side for this year’s Games. If they play like they did when they beat Canada to win world gold, there’s no reason why they can’t come back with an Olympic version. n The XXI Winter Olympic Games runs from 12-28 February. For more information see www.vancouver2010.com

David M Robinson, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5NY 020 7538 2332 www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

contributors... 1. Claire Adler

is a London-based freelance journalist specialising in jewellery, watches and luxury brands. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Harrods magazine and Intelligent Life.

2. Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist specialising in gadgets and technology. Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites. 3. David Kuo

is one of the UK’s leading commentators on money matters. He is a director at The Motley Fool as well as providing daily insight and financial news for BBC London’s Breakfast Show. He also presents Money Talk – the Fool’s weekly podcasts where guests from the world of money thrash out financial issues of the day.

4. Sim Smith is a

freelance journalist and stylist based in London. Having originally started out reporting on shows at London Fashion Week, she now specialises in lifestyle and interiors. A frequent contributor to prestigious publications, Sim has worked with ELLE Decoration, The Telegraph and The Financial Times.

the city m a g a z i n e Lambo Canary Wharf ad Oct 09

23/10/09

12:35

5. Matthew Carter is a London-

based freelance journalist who’s been writing about cars for most of his working life. A former editor of Autocar magazine, Matthew has been a regular contributor to Run Wild’s portfolio of magazines since the very beginning. A serial car owner, he currently has five in his stable, including a couple of classic Alfas and an awesome 550hp Ford GT.

6. Martin Bamford

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

7. Josh Sims is a

freelance writer and editor, contributing to the likes of The Financial Times, The Times, Esquire, Wallpaper and CNBC. He lives in east London.

8. Catherine Quinn is a freelance

writer and deputy editor with almost a decade of experience selling features to national publications and now edits online travel magazine www. traverati.com. She also covers employment, food and travel topics for The Times, The Guardian, The Independent and The Telegraph.

Page 1

the city magazine

Lamborghini Reading

92 London Road

Bennet Road

Sevenoaks

Reading

Kent

Berkshire

TN13 1BA

RG2 0QX

Tel 01732 430 039

Tel 0118 336 0116

www.lamborghini-sevenoaks.com

www.lamborghini-reading.com

Lamborghini Sevenoaks and Lamborghini Reading, part of Jardine Motors Group.

Illustration-RunWild Media Group Publishers of: The Canary Wharf Citylife Magazine The City Magazine, Vicinitee VENUE - The official magazine of The O2 British International Motorshow Magazine London Golf Club Magazine Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, now available at Lamborghini Sevenoaks and Lamborghini Reading.

FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2010 2010

The best Italian in town.

Lamborghini Sevenoaks

RUNWILD

I S S n U 55 28 E 28

the city m a g a z i n e

THE LORD MAYOR ThE BUsinEss oF ThE CiTY

INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE ExERT YoU powER in ThE woRkplACE

spectacular MilEsTonE St Paul’S celebrateS 300 yearS

travel gadgets motoring interiors property FEBRUARY 2010 i s s U E 2 8

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Editor

Louisa Castle

Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Deputy Editor Josephine O’Donoghue

Editorial Assistant Ruth Sherrington

Editorial Support Dominique Brady

Motoring Editor Matthew Carter

Fashion Editor Lucie Dodds

Senior Designers Hiren Chandarana Laddawan Juhong Jenisa Patel

Production Manager Dan Hyde

Group Publishing Director Eren Ellwood

P.A. to Group Publishing Director Ella Kilgarriff

Sales Manager Andy Williams

PR & Marketing Manager Rebecca Walton

Managing Director Giles Ellwood

Finance Manager Annette Habel

16 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf, London E14 4JB T: 020 7987 4320 F: 020 7005 0045 www.runwildmedia.com RunWild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and RunWild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscriptions: A free subscription service is available to employees at City offices. E-mail subscribe@runwildmedia.com for further details. For other readers, 6 & 12 month subscriptions are available at £15 & £25 respectively, to cover postage and packaging. For details of subscriptions and advertising, please contact us on 020 7987 4320.

M Editor

ebruary is traditionally the month of love and romance but it is also a month of hope.

The lone snowdrop raises its droopy head this month, widely regarded as a symbol of optimism. According to legend the snowdrop became the symbol of hope when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden – when Eve was about to give up hope that the cold winters would never end and an angel appeared transforming the snowflakes into snowdrops. The moral of the story; winters do eventually give way to spring. And as a group of leading economists has pronounced the end of the recession, it is a fitting story to tell. Possibly a more local symbol to look to is St Paul’s Cathedral, standing the test of time for over 300 years, withstanding World Wars and the Great Fire of London – we take a look back at what makes this City landmark so great and also a peak into the future plans (p.14). We also managed to grab some time with the Lord Mayor of The City of London, Nick Anstee, to talk careers and financial futures, laying out his plans for the next year on p.12.

Life is its own journey...

Returning to romance and present buying for your Adam or Eve, we’ve investigated the best Over past this twoyear years wewith have brought ways tothe impress (p.32) ideas from you all the very b magazine was born andashas and evolved with each i you local boutiques as well ideasgrown to suit all tastes in our our guide to the most romantic to you second birthday issue,things it’s alltoabout change: do in London – bungee-jumping anyone?

From single to couple – this month we spend a lot of our ti need thethough perfectif wedding from planning the stag-do Don’t for despair Valentine’s day; isn’t your doing onmay their lastseen night of freedom thing. We have the last of the snowthese but days? – to counti the slopes stillfrom powdery we’ve of brought you We investigate wh hints andare tips oursopanel experts. some hip suggestions yourspeech ski-break thishow year, to look great on y style, what to say for in the and from Snowbombing to freestyle to chocolate box we try out the latest and greatest treatments – going under chalets (p.67), as well as a review of our Winter make up, oxygen treatments, Tui Na massages and general Olympics hopefuls on p.96. most rewarding) way.

Management gurus us how – to moving increase our From summer totell autumn from what can only be influence in the workplace (p.22) and we discuss into autumn, it is one of my most favourite times of the yea the rise of global living, the effect technology has not just because my hair matches the colours that the leave on that and the effect on business (p.24). that nature throws at us during the fall, of course but most weather givesand us fun to reinvestigate our wardrobes that excite There’s fashion too. We take our shoot profi to theling beachlocal with boutiques, some chunky our knitsfashion in Sur la pages are truly blosso plage on p.50, look at the best in local and ‘must

And from editor to editor – this issue is my last at the helm of be seen at’ events, check out the latest gadgets Iand amgizmos, goingbeauty to testtipsout theory thatour the road to London is andthe bring to a close in theofvery capable team story the Lotus Exigehands – we’reof sadmy to see it goand thank you for yo but we’ve memories to share...the successes that they have b that has fond made the magazines Wishing you good and happiness. Happy Valentine’s Day health, whateverwealth you’re planning

Louisa Castle Editor

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interview the lord mayor current affairs st pauls personal finance tips for 2010 human resources influential global living the working world

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haiti earthquake

ith the Haiti earthquake deathtoll now topping 150,000 (in the Port-au-Prince area alone) and expected to rise well above 200,000 in the coming weeks, the desperate people of the Caribbean nation continue to call upon the western world for aid. In the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake, a 4.7- aftershock rattled Haiti twelve days later, creating further damage and chaos – but although the aftershocks have died down, experts predict that it may take as long as a decade to re-build the country. After the Haiti Telethon and Disasters Emergency Committee raised £35m and £43m respectively last month, the humanitarian effort is now being focused on getting aid to those struggling without water, food, shelter or medical supplies. To make a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Haiti earthquake appeal you can visit www. dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900. You can also donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to “DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal” to PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA

THE LORD MAYOR Josephine O’Donoghue talks to 2009-10 Lord Mayor of London, Nick Anstee, and finds out more about his ideas and goals for the coming year

s head of the City of London Corporation (providing business and local government services to the City), the Lord Mayor of London acts as an ambassador for all UK-based financial and professional services – alongside advising the Government on what is needed to help the financial sector flourish. An extremely demanding role, this year Nick Anstee was chosen to fulfil the many duties of Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor also supports the City of London’s other responsibilities, from providing excellent services to the local community, to maintaining parks, museums and arts spaces around London, and schools in neighbouring boroughs. The Lord Mayor presides over the City of London’s governing bodies – the Court of Aldermen and the Court of Common Council.

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IT’S ALL PART OF THE JOB...

THE LORD MAYOR’S INITIATIVES & CHARITIES

The Lord Mayor’s other roles include Chief Magistrate of the City of London, Admiral of the Port of London, Chancellor of City University, President of the City of London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Trustee of St Paul’s Cathedral and presiding over Her Majesty’s Commission of Lieutenancy for the City of London. The Lord Mayor also has close links with the Livery Companies of London.

The London Symphony Orchestra & The Cricket Foundation

Why did you want to take on the role of Lord Mayor? I first became involved with the City of London Corporation through a residents group and realised that the best way to make a difference was to become a member of the local authority – the City Corporation. Part of me thinks that instead of expecting others to do work for you, you might as well do it yourself. What exactly does the role entail? The City of London is a world leader in international finance and business services and the role has developed to reflect this. As head of the City of London Corporation, the principal role is acting as ambassador for the financial and professional services based in the UK. The job takes me round the world to promote the City as a place to do business, raise capital and gain expert legal or accountancy advice. What is your career background? I qualified as a chartered accountant with Moore Stephens in 1982 and began my career with global professional services firms. My next aspiration was to become a partner in one of these firms, and I was lucky enough to achieve that at Arthur Andersen, which was then the largest professional services firm in the world. I became a corporate finance partner and was responsible for the development of its private equity activity in the UK. I then transferred to Deloitte when it was acquired in 2002, and I am now a senior director at the law firm SJ Berwin. I’ve spent much of my career advising global and domestic companies and working on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and the like. What are your main objectives for the year 2009-10? I hope to take a lead with the whole Mayoral team in support, in pushing for a measured response to industry matters, ensuring that it can learn lessons from the past and can continue to make the huge contribution to the UK economy as it has over the past two decades. Regulation will be the key issue of the future with pressure coming from all political levels both nationally and globally for reform. London is of course the financial hub of Europe and we must recognise that some changes need to be made, with better regulation, rather than necessarily more regulation.

“I’ve always been interested in helping young people – I was deputy chairman of the City’s Education Committee and sat on the board of City of London School for Girls where my daughters have been fortunate to have received an excellent education. I was also on the board of John Cass Foundation Primary School. This year’s Lord Mayor’s Appeal brings together the Cricket Foundation’s “Chance to Shine” and LSO Discovery projects under the banner Pitch Perfect. We’re looking to bring musical and cricketing opportunities to young people in their schools and communities in some of London’s most challenging boroughs. Personal experience has taught me that participation in sport and music has a direct and positive effect on the lives of children and young adults and I hope that money raised this year will engage and inspire many more young people.”

Heart of the City “Keeping companies interested in developing and maintaining a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme is more important now than ever before. Because of the effect the downturn will have on those in poorer areas it is absolutely right that the City of London Corporation as a public body should be using our resources to encourage people and companies to take part in projects aimed at engaging with and helping the community.”

Financial Literacy “There are many school children who cannot use numbers or understand their relevance to their every day life. Tackling this issue is of huge importance and City businesses and other organisations such as livery companies can play their part in helping children understand the issues involved in things like pensions and mortgages.”

Where do you see the financial future of the City in five years time? What are you doing as Lord Mayor to help the current economic problems in the City? We need to ensure that we keep people who operate within the European financial services sector in London and attract even more companies to London in the future. To do that, we need to ensure that appropriate regulations meet the expectations of practitioners so that they can trade effectively. Alongside finance, what other issues are important to you as Lord Mayor? What would you like London to focus on for 2010? As well as ensuring our regulatory environment is attractive to the international market, we must also look at infrastructure, the advent of Crossrail for example, which will pay huge dividends in the long term and provide an environment that people will want to work in. n For more information, visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

LONDON’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK

Reaches a spectacular milestone This year, St. Paul’s Cathedral will mark its 300th anniversary; Josephine O’Donoghue finds out more about the projects and events surrounding the celebration

n instantly recognisable outline on London’s skyline, St Paul’s Cathedral is one of The City’s most beloved landmarks. You may not realise, but although the current cathedral is about to celebrate its 300 th anniversary – it is actually the fourth cathedral building to occupy the space. In fact, a cathedral dedicated to St Paul has stood on this site since 604AD. The current Cathedral, with its majestic dome, was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and was constructed between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. In Wren’s design of St. Paul’s, the architectural and artistic grandeur was seen to reflect the resolve of the five monarchs who oversaw its building: that London’s leading church should be as beautiful, striking, memorable and imposing as their private palaces. And it is this, Wren’s breathtaking creation, which in the last decade has been undergoing an intense £40m restoration; cleaning and repairing the stonework that has endured nearly 300 years of wear and tear. This is the Cathedral’s first full restoration to include both the interior and exterior buildings. Once the full programme of cleaning and repair is finished, the two million visitors and worshippers who come to St Paul’s each year will be able to witness Wren’s original design and monumental vision as he saw it; as fresh as the day it was completed. Since the first service was held here in 1697, the Cathedral (as London’s leading church) has witnessed some of Britain’s most important historical events including the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee

celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the launch of the Festival of Britain; the Service of Remembrance and Commemoration for 11 September 2001: the 80th and 100th birthdays of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer and, most recently, the thanksgiving services for both the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. However, the stunning architecture and historical relevance of St Paul’s is not only an iconic part of the city sights, but also stands tall as a symbol of the hope, resilience and strength of the city and nation. Over time, St Paul’s has changed to reflect shifting attitudes; the interior design and religious decoration has been changed and upgraded, services have been updated to fit within a modern and meaningful context, and different areas of the cathedral have been put to new uses (for example, the new restaurant and café in the Cathedral’s crypt). As part of the tercentenary celebrations, the visitor experience has also undergone improvements; an exciting multimedia exhibition opens this summer, celebrating the history, worship and events behind the iconic building of St Paul’s. Projections will tell the story of St Paul’s through specially commissioned short films (Rise, Rise Again and Life of the Cathedral) as well as two virtual access films. The virtual reality films allow visitors to see places that are closed to the public, or to which they are unable to access – hear whispers around the wall of the Whispering Gallery, climb the narrow stairwell to the Stone Gallery and take in the panoramic views across London.

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Today, the history of London is written in the carved stone of its pillars and arches, and the glory of the cathedral is imprinted in the hearts of worshippers and locals alike. As 2010 marks a celebration of the cathedral’s first 300 years, so St Paul’s moves forward into the next stage of its life with a new and modern outlook and a renewed following of Londoners. n For more information, visit www.stpauls.co.uk

GOLD & CRYSTALS A new set of vestments, made for the 300th anniversary of St. Paul’s Cathedral, have been finished with several thousands of Swarovski crystals and enough gold fringe to stretch across a football pitch. A team of more than twenty people were involved in making the 200+ clerical garments over a period of three years and the vestments include 4,000 Swarovski crystals, 1,442 tassels, nearly 2,800 yards of gold and silver thread, and 110 yards of gold bullion fringe. The vestment designs reflect the four liturgical seasons: white for Christmas, Easter and weddings; purple for funerals and the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent; red for Pentecost; and green for ordinary time services. On one of the more ornate vestments, a phoenix rises from the flames in the jacquard (a fabric with an elaborately woven pattern) as a symbol both of the resurrection of Jesus and that St Paul’s rose from the Great Fire of London in 1666.

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Year of the Tiger – Sharpen your claws Dr David Kuo, finds that the fiery tiger, which is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac, is an animal that you will either love or loathe As undesirable and unwelcome as these events may be, arms makers and defence contractors are likely to benefit. Companies such as BAE Systems may find many a buyer knocking on its doors as they have done during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the last five years, its revenues have doubled, which in turn has helped profits treble. Income-hungry investors may be interested in the 5% yield, too, which is better than leaving your money to idle in a bank account. Other companies that could capitalise on an increase in defence spending may include aero engine maker Rolls-Royce, surveillance specialist Cobham and decoy expert Meggitt.

For the very brave, fortunes can be made during the Year of the Tiger, which begins on 14 February. The day also coincides with Valentines’ Day, but don’t let your heart rule your head. Fortunes can also be easily lost if you are not careful. So, be prepared to expect the unexpected because the tiger is renowned for striking first and asking questions later. Around this time last year, the Ox made its grand entrance on the world stage. During the year, many of us will have felt the yolk of responsibility on our shoulders. It was a year characterised by lots of diligence and plenty of hard work. Out of the window went get-richquick schemes and those that plodded on with regular investing should have reaped the benefit of the upturn in the stock market when shares revived in March.

But what can we expect in the Year of the Tiger? Tigers are by nature suspicious animals. They have a deep mistrust of everything around them and can often charge without thinking. Their rashness may signal an explosive year for international relations where tempers could easily flare without warning in the same way that a tiger may pounce without notice. There is a danger that some political leaders may also act without thinking, and end up regretting their moments of indiscretion. The Chinese Year of the Tiger may therefore be characterised by bouts of cross-border conflicts, spells of international skirmishes and periods of national unrest.

Gold may also benefit in the Year of the Tiger. The precious metal, which has already breached $1,200 an ounce in the Year of the Ox, could climb further as investors seek a safe haven for their wealth. The threat of war may be just one of a number of reasons that could propel the price of gold. Others may include the threat of inflation brought on by low interest rates that artificially reduce the cost of holding gold. There are a number of ways to invest in gold. The easiest, though by far the least cost effective way, is to buy gold jewellery. Another way is to invest directly in gold bars. However, this may involve additional storage and insurance costs. Perhaps the cheapest way to invest in gold is to buy shares in Gold Exchange Traded Funds that track the price of gold. The funds can be held in ISAs and SIPPs, which will avoid Capital Gains Tax. Turning to the tiger’s tender side, the big pussycat is easily touched by anything that can catch his attention from the flight of a bird overhead to the sound of music. It may be hard to believe but the Year of the Tiger could augur well for the music industry. Look to music retailers such as HMV, which has successfully survived the economic downturn and may reap the benefits in the Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Tiger is likely to be a very different one to the Year of the Ox. So, sharpen your claws and be prepared for the unexpected. n Dr David Kuo, Director at the popular financial website The Motley Fool www.Fool.co.uk

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MONEY MATTERS: The return of investor confidence Martin Bamford, chartered financial planner at Informed Choice looks ahead to 2010 to see what the investment market has in store fter a very difficult investment market at the end of 2008, markets performed better than expected in 2009. The FTSE 100 index of leading UK company shares grew by over 22 per cent during the year, with growth in excess of 50 per cent from the market low point in mid-March to the end of the year.

2007 values although we are now seeing positive monthly returns. What could hold this asset class back is the continued reluctance of the banks to finance commercial property deals, restricting lending to between £25m and £50m in the majority of cases. This is likely to mean that a sharp rally does not occur this year.

The outlook for 2010 is mixed. Many analysts are predicting a reasonable first half of the year followed by more challenging conditions in the second half. We continue to have low interest rates, but the markets have priced in a rate rise of 1% to 1.5% by the end of 2010.

It is interesting to note that investor confidence is well ahead of where it was in 2008, yet remains less positive for the year ahead. Confidence is regularly measured by the Investment Management Association (IMA) who published their Investor Confidence Index in January, showing a level of 99. This is down seven points from the high of 106 in May 2009, but significantly ahead of the position a year ago when the index stood at a low of 71.

Much this year could depend on the timing and outcome of the General Election, which must be held by June. The Government has to tackle a record budget deficit and send a clear signal to world markets that they have a credible plan to deal with our debts, or the UK’s much coveted ‘AAA’ financial strength rating could be downgraded.

What investors must take care to do this year, as always, is to ensure their investment and pension portfolios are structured to reflect their attitude towards investment risk and investment objectives.

One investment asset class to watch carefully this year will be government bonds (gilts). There is scheduled to be a record level of gilt issuance in 2010 and this, at a time when there is so much uncertainty, is likely to spell bad news for investors. When the price of gilts go down, their yields go up, and ten year gilt yields have increased from 3.6% to 3.9% since the Pre-Budget Report.

It used to be fairly acceptable practice to outsource investment decisions to an insurance company or fund management group, by investing in their With Profits or Balanced Managed fund. Where these investment options fail is in the control of risk and the lack of ability to tailor investment strategies to individual objectives.

We are also keeping a close eye on commercial property this year. The average commercial property fund continues to be nearly 40% down on their summer

Investors should view now as the perfect opportunity to pocket any profits from 2009 and position their portfolios properly for the times ahead in 2010. n

Martin Bamford is a Chartered Financial Planner at Informed Choice Ltd www.icl-ifa.co.uk

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2010

TOP TAX FINANCE TIPS FOR Claire Saunders looks at some of the ways you can beat the money blues this year

As the VAT increases back to 17.5% and mortgage costs rise during 2010, consumers across the UK are set to feel the purse strings tighten once again –we look at some of the ways you can help cut costs on your annual budget for 2010...

shop around for insurance

join forces on isa savings

Save costs on your car, travel, life, home and contents insurance by checking deals on internet comparison sites. Remember, younger drivers may save more money by adding an older/experienced driver to their car insurance policy (which can contribute to a saving of around £600 per year).

ISA limits rise by £3,000 to £10,200 (or £20,400 for a couple) from 6 April 2010. To be more tax efficient, shelter bond funds rather than equity funds in an ISA and you can save tax at 40 per cent on the bond income rather than 32.5 per cent on dividends.

investment bonds

Supermarket banks are among the most competitive for personal loans and Tesco and Sainsbury’s have best-buy rates of around 8.8 per cent. Check out the supermarkets, Post Office and A&L for some of the best deals, but remember that acceptance rates are lower so you may be unlucky. Finally, don’t forget that rates quoted by lenders are ‘typical’ so this may not be the deal you get.

Investment Bonds are taxed internally at the corporation tax rate, which is typically less than 20% after expenses are deducted from profits, but any amount up to 5% of the original investment can be withdrawn for the first twenty years without any immediate income tax liability. This tax deferred withdrawal allowance is cumulative so can be carried over to future years if unused. If the chargeable gain when you surrender the investment bond does not make you a higher rate taxpayer, there is no further tax to pay.

gift assets Save money by gifting income-producing assets to your spouse (where he or she is a lower-rate or nontaxpayer). If you gift assets to a spouse who has no other income, the first £6,475 would be tax-free and from then on, taxed at the basic rate of income tax.

pleasurable assets The tax man considers art and wine to be goods that deteriorate in value, so they are not subject to Capital Gains Tax – an ideal alternative investment.

look sharp on savings Banks and building societies have started to pull back on fixed-rate bonds; if you see a good rate, look sharp and act fast. Experts advise fixing for one or two years so you benefit when Bank rates start to rise.

the best deals

top energy offers Experts advise consumers to switch to a low-cost online deal which can be up to £300 cheaper than a standard tariff. Only 5 per cent of UK households are signed to online deals even though the average cost of a standard deal is £1,200-1,300 compared to an online plan of around £900-1,000 (according to uswitch.com).

pension funds To reduce your tax bill, make the maximum pension fund contribution. You can pay in 100 per cent of earnings (maximum £245,000 per year) and in the year before retirement there is no limit. Those earning over £130,000 need to take care not to get caught in the anti-forestalling measures introduced in 2009, which can result in a special annual allowance tax charge on large pension contributions. n

win

Your chanceto

SHARP TAiLORinG FOR THE CiTY Do you link ‘bespoke’ with ‘expense’ and ‘exclusivity’? When it comes to bespoke shirts, this doesn’t have to be the case, says tailor Charles Pinckney “After struggling to find a shirt that actually fitted me properly and hearing similar complaints from almost everybody I spoke to, I decided it was time to give both men and women the choice – make do... or buy a shirt that fits you perfectly and makes you feel really good about yourself” says Charles Pinckney. “Gone are the days of making do. Here are the days of making sure.” In much the same way as suits, off-the-peg shirts are designed to fit the ‘average man or woman’ – but the number of adults who actually fit all the ‘average proportions’ is actually very small. Either way, you are more likely to end up with a shirt that fits well in one place, but may also be too wide, too long, or too short. Hardly ideal, when you’re trying to make a sharp impression in the boardroom. But do we have to sacrifice style for reasonable prices? Not any more, says Charles.

HOw TO win Charles Pinckney is offering one lucky reader the chance to win four bespoke shirts! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your name, address, and telephone number to competition@ runwildgroup.co.uk with CHARLES PINCKNEY in the subject bar. The closing date for entries is 28 February 2010 and the Editor’s decision is final. Terms & conditions: The first correct entry drawn will win our first prize and the next two the runners-up prizes. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into. Subject to availability.

The focus at Charles Pinckney Shirts is to create a garment of exceptional quality and durability, which fits each individual perfectly – but for a reasonable cost. An absolute must-have for any City professional (particularly for those who have invested in a bespoke suit or skirt and jacket) Charles Pinckney shirts are designed to last and create a stylish yet classic impression. Using in-house pattern-making methods and experienced master craftsmanship in a dedicated state-of-the-art production centre, the garments created at Charles Pinckney are truly one of a kind. As the client, all you have to do is choose the preferred fabric and fit of your shirt and fill in your measurements before the specialist tailors handle everything else. Charles Pinckney Shirts Limited Unit B02 Archer Street Studios Archer Street London, W1D 7AZ 020 7352 5825 info@charlespinckney.co.uk www.charlespinckney.co.uk

Increase Your Influence

Every time you work on a problem that’s been around for a while - one that persists in spite of your efforts to fix it you’re taking on human beings and the choices they make. Business experts Kerry Patterson and Richard Pound look at how to influence those choices

o solve problems, or to bring about changes of any kind, you have to know how to affect human choice. It’s your job. And it isn’t something that’ll go away once you “get these people in line.” That means when it comes to affecting improvements of any kind, you have to see yourself as an influencer of human behaviour. If you hold to anything short of this view, you’ll never succeed in overcoming the problem.

So how does one go about the task of getting people—lots of people— to change their existing behaviour ? ?

You can only overcome persistent and resistant problems by combining multiple sources of influence that target personal, social, and environmental factors. Our attempts at influence often fail because they rely on a single-source method to solve a complex problem. What most people don’t realise is that every problem is caused by a whole host of influences that, combined, create the results you experience. In each of these cases, change agents are going into battle armed with a whistle and a stern attitude. But it doesn’t have to be this way. After completing three studies across a variety of industries crippled with massive problems, we’ve learned that the few who succeeded in solving complex issues never relied on a single source of influence. On the other hand, the unsuccessful majority made only one attempt at solving their complex problem. This vast majority either relied on training, redesigned the company, introduced a new bonus scheme, or created some new legislation. And because they only drew on one source of influence, they failed. In contrast, the 5 per cent of those who used four or more influence methods together were ten times more likely to succeed than those who used but one source. Imagine that: you can ten times your ability to bring about systematic and lasting change by realising two things. One, you have to deal with people if you want anything to change as they’re the ones making all the choices. Two, you have to bring at least four different methods of change into play—all at once. Where do you find four different sources of influence? We’ve worked with dozens of companies helping leaders and change agents understand a model that provides six different sources of influence, drawing equally from

psychology, social psychology, and organisation theory. This model breaks human behaviour into two domains: motivation and ability. Each plays a role in human behaviour selection. First, you must discover if people can do what is required. If not, they must be enabled in some way. All of the motivational methods in the world cannot make up for simple inability. Second, do people want to do what’s required of them? If not, they must be motivated in some way. All of the enabling techniques in the world cannot make up for a simple lack of will. First, consider the individual (psychology). Does he or she take pleasure from the task itself? Is the task stimulating, interesting, or personally rewarding? We must realise that many healthy behaviours are boring, uncomfortable, or even painful—and many unhealthy behaviours can be pleasurable. If you want to make a task more pleasurable, link it to the long-term positive consequences it helps achieve. Link it to values. In addition, can he or she do what is required? Does he or she have the requisite information, knowledge, and skills required to perform the requisite behaviours? Often things can be far more intellectually, physically, or emotionally challenging than they appear on the surface, and therefore we need to up-skill people to do the behaviour we want them to do. Second, what role do other people (peers, bosses, friends, customers, family) play in either motivating or enabling? Do others provide help, information, and materials that enable the right behaviour? As adults, we often ridicule teenagers because they are so vulnerable to peer pressure. Then we foolishly suggest that we ourselves have outgrown such childish ways. Rarely is this true. Much of what we do every day, we do because that particular behaviour receives the praise or avoids the criticism of those we care about. Humans are social animals subject to social influence and we must take this important source of influence into consideration in every change project we attempt. Third, what role does the structure or environment play in motivating or enabling the behaviour? The first element of this looks at incentives, rewards or punishments. If you want to understand people’s priorities, look at the formal, or informal, reward systems. If managers talk about quality but reward productivity, staff will notice. Chronic problems such as lack of accountability, poor productivity, and low quality can often be traced to poorly designed incentives

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that reward the wrong behaviours. But take note; use financial incentives as your third motivator, not your first. First, link behaviour to values, second, co-opt opinion leaders, and third, link behaviors to formal rewards. The second element of organisational theory looks at our physical world. Do policies, procedures, the job layout, machines, and other non-human factors enable people to do the right thing? Much of what we do every day is driven by environmental factors. After we take humans out of the change formula, the world around us is often designed to drive us in certain directions. So when faced with a problem, think about how the world that you’ve created can be changed to get people to behave differently—and make the good behaviour easy and the bad behaviour hard. These two domains (motivation and ability) multiplied across three sources of influence (individual, social, and structural) create the six underlying sources of influence that play a fundamental role in any change strategy. So if you want to improve your ability to wield

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influence, first focus on the fact that problems go away only when humans change their behaviour. That means you have to see yourself as a person who can do just that. If not, you won’t focus on one of your main jobs. Second, overwhelm persistent and resistant problems by understanding, identifying, and making use of six different sources of influence. Bring at least four into play and you’ll increase, by tenfold, your chances of creating systematic and lasting changes. n Kerry Patterson is co-author of three immediate New York Times bestsellers—Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. He is also a sought-after speaker and consultant, and co-founder of VitalSmarts, an innovator in corporate training and organisational performance. www.vitalsmarts.com Richard Pound is business development director from Grahame Robb Associates—VitalSmarts’ UK licensee, who consult with business leaders throughout the United Kingdom. www.gra.uk.com

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GLOBAL

MOBILITY Brian Friedman is the founder of the Forum for Expatriate Management and here, begins a series of articles looking at global living for international executives

ith more expatriates working in The City and Canary Wharf than any other location, London is, without doubt, the most cosmopolitan city in the world. Being an expatriate is an adventure: It is in human nature to want to explore. From the day that we first start to walk our first steps are away from our parents and as we grow our desire to explore becomes ever stronger. Global mobility is as old as humankind itself. The ancient migration routes of our earliest ancestors are well documented and the distances travelled by primitive man still continue to amaze. There were even expatriates in the Bible – consider the exodus from Egypt for example. Indeed, the forced expatriation of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden is the starting point for the entire Biblical narrative. Was Eve the very first “trailing spouse”?

Being an expatriate is an adventure.: It is in human nature to want to explore In more recent times entire civilisations have been influenced by the expatriate exploits of such famous names as Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Captain Cook and the Pilgrim Fathers. So global mobility is nothing new but its rise and rise has been underpinned by the drive towards globalisation and this, in turn, has been

enabled by the massive developments in communication technology that took place throughout the 20th century. Enabling technologies such as airplanes, telephones, telex machines and more latterly the internet, have allowed companies to globalise in ways which were simply unimaginable in earlier times. Indeed such is the commitment to globalisation, that many major companies now structure their reporting lines along global delivery lines rather than local geographic control. The growth in globalisation has led to major changes in labour mobility. Global companies will now frequently select the best candidates for a particular role without giving any consideration to physical location. To the contrary, an overseas assignment is often seen as an essential part of an employee’s career development plan. It’s a far cry from the days when the least well regarded employees were shunted off to some remote outpost and kept well away from the high-flyers in head office. By contrast, today’s expats are often the most senior and well-respected executives in any organisation. Nowhere is this more true than in the UK where an extraordinary 30 percent of all CEOs in FTSE 50 companies are non-UK nationals. Truly global mobility has come of age. The next few years may be somewhat tougher for global mobility professionals. Expats are expensive and many companies will doubtless be under intense pressure to control costs. That having been said, it is more likely that a hold will be put on new expatriate assignments rather than curtailing existing ones.

In any event, the current recession is likely to be a hiccup as there is no doubt that the on-going mega-trend is towards increased globalisation and global mobility. The other significant trend affecting international assignees is the nature of the assignment itself. While many assignees are still on traditional three year secondments from head office to some overseas location, the real growth in expatriate numbers is coming from short-term business visitors. These are assignees who are typically sent overseas to work on specific projects lasting for one year or less. We are also seeing a growth in the number of “commuter assignees”, where employees work overseas during the week but return home every weekend. While many of these are intra-Europe there are also a growing number of “NY-Lon” (i.e. New York-London), commuter assignees demonstrating just how easy global living can be. n Brian Friedman is the Contributing Editor of Global Life and founder of The Forum for Expatriate Management. Founded just 12 months ago, the Forum already has over 4,000 members who collectively manage over one million expatriate moves. Members come from the leading blue-chip employers of international assignees both in the UK and globally. The Forum also has extensive databases of useful technical information including country guides to over 100 worldwide locations. Membership is free. For more information, please visit www.totallyexpat.com.

APPRENTICESHIPS GOOD FOR BUSINESS The diversity and size of our capital city has meant there has been particular challenges in increasing Apprenticeships in London, although we are happy to report that London now has more apprentices than ever. The NAS has been established to work with employers in order to encourage many more to take on apprentices. We recognise that raising the number of organisations offering Apprenticeships is critical and we will work with employers to drive up demand and make it easier for businesses to improve the range of Apprenticeships.

At the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) we’ve helped hundreds of businesses increase their productivity through Apprenticeships and we are communicating to other businesses to offer the same support. Whether you already have apprentices within your business and are looking to expand and develop them or are completely new to Apprenticeships, we have a service that can support you in preparing for the economic recovery. Vic Grimes, Regional Director for Apprenticeships explains

In particular we will promote the business case for investing in Apprenticeships; ensure the availability of suitable training frameworks; and make taking on apprentices a simple and rewarding process. We are also dedicated to changing the perception of Apprenticeships. There are some legacy perceptions and they tend to be that they are only really for certain industries, they are only for young people, and they are not widely available. We need to update these myths and to move to the next phase of awareness and development. Apprenticeships exist across the breadth of the economy in all sectors and industries - there are over 190 types available in more than 90 sectors of industry and commerce. NAS in London has been at the forefront of a number of key developments to increase the number of London employers benefiting from Apprenticeships. First, the London Apprenticeship Task Force has delivered a number of focused actions plans in key sectors such as retail, IT, and transport and these are currently being delivered in partnership by employers, National Apprenticeship Service and Sector Skills Councils. Second we’ve also introduced new models such as the Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) model which will support small businesses, such as those in the creative sector, who are not always able to employ apprentices for long periods of time by ‘leasing’ these businesses apprentices on a short term basis – London has four ATAs. By contacting us you will receive a one-to-one consultations with one of our experienced employer services managers who will ensure Apprenticeships suit your specific business model. This service is free and there is no obligation to proceed with training. For further information or if you have any questions about the work of the NAS or about Apprenticeships, please call 08000 150 600 or visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

CWpromotion CASE STUDY : CHANTREY VELLACOTT DFK Chantrey Vellacott DFK is one of the oldest firms of chartered accountants in the United Kingdom, whose roots go back to 1788. However, they believe in taking advantage of modern training methods and opportunities, and have been happy to be involved with Apprenticeships.

“I left school at 16 to join the AAT which introduced me to the apprenticeship scheme. With the help and support from my employer, training providers, and friends and family, I am now well on my way to realising my goal as a fully qualified chartered accountant.

The firm’s trainee intake is predominantly of graduates, but it regularly recruits school leavers for its Business Services Unit in London. Apprentices follow a two year programme to qualify with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), and may then have the opportunity to go on to become chartered or certified accountants.

“Without the aid of the apprenticeship scheme I would not have experienced the practical world of business nor had the opportunity to qualify at a much younger age, or possessed an academic qualification. I would highly recommend this scheme to anyone as it is a great asset and believe it makes you into a better and more effective individual.”

The apprenticeship scheme covers the AAT training programme. David Duvall, training manager at Chantrey Vellacott DFK, says , “We are delighted to be part of the apprenticeship scheme. Not only are there financial benefits, but it is attracting some very high calibre students who choose not to go to university and want to come straight into the profession.

www.cvdfk.com

“Khush Saggu is one of these, and he’s made an excellent start, almost through his AAT exams in well under two years. We are also grateful for the excellent tuition and administrative support provided by our tutors, Kaplan Financial.” “There are two main objectives I have when it comes to my career: To become professionally qualified and to be able to earn while I learn,” contributed Khush. “The AAT apprenticeship scheme gives me both – I am able to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst earning and learning. As well as being guaranteed top quality training, I am able to develop and enhance my skills working with my employer.

Pam Dyson – President of AAT and Khushvinder Saggu from Chantery Vellacott

APPRENTICESHIP FACTS:

80% of those employers who employ apprentices agree they make the workplace more productive. 88% of employers believe that Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce. 83% of employers rely on their Apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future.

APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS Our Apprenticeships Awards for 2010 have just launched and if you would like to nominate anyone you can do so at: www.apprenticeships.org.uk/awards

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Equal pay and opportunities might be a millennial byword for good employment, but male and female working styles are still very different, discovers Catherine Quinn

ut a man and a woman of similar ages and skill-set in the same role, and you might imagine their working progress to be comparable. But whilst the results might be similar it seems the route to achievement would be very different. And if the latest findings are anything to go by, women are likely to be so combative that both sexes would prefer to work on an all-male, rather than all-female team. The research, which was commissioned by IT networking company Cisco, investigated the attitudes of men and women in the workplace to their respective genders. They found that whilst the vast majority of staff would prefer to work in mixed teams, when given the possibility of an all-male or all-female team more than twice as many staff from either sex would prefer to work solely with men. For companies hoping that the gender issues which have dogged the workplace since the seventies are finally being laid to rest, this will come as unpleasant news; although it is not necessarily surprising, according to some employers. “It is disturbing to hear that most people from either sex would prefer to work in an all-male team,” says Susannah Agathangelou, creative director at The Copywriting Company. “But in a way I’m not surprised. To my mind women have done more than prove their value in what was once a male-dominated world, and are undoubtedly part of the usual fabric of the workplace now. No-one would ever question in this day and age that a woman couldn’t be a successful in many high-flying business roles, which in the not-so-distant past were solely held by men. I would cautiously say, however, that women – particularly from the older generations – can bring certain competitive issues to the workplace, which might make them appear more difficult to form good working relationships with.” Whilst many women would disagree there’s no with this statement, it appears the doubt that women research could be against them – at least in part. Cisco’s study shows that are traditional nearly 45 per cent of women in the champions of team- workplace feel they need to be ‘as work, interpersonal good or better’ than men in order to suggesting a level of genderrelations, and succeed, based competition is still rife. multi-tasking Similarly, the study also suggests that women are more likely to bear a grudge in a working environment, or at the very least respond badly to conflict. Some 41 per cent of women claimed it took them over a month to recover from a work debacle, compared with only 21 per cent of men. But can all this really be fair? After all, there’s no doubt that women are traditional champions of team-work, interpersonal relations, and multi-tasking – all skills which have arguably helped them rise rapidly to the top of the career chain in many cases. So perhaps it’s not that women don’t want to work with other women because they are

themselves inherently difficult to work with, but because they perceive their superior advantage in an all-male group. “I think the reason that a man wouldn’t want to work in an all-female group is because they are typically less adept at social skills and are aware that they would be at a disadvantage,” says chartered psychologist Ben Williams. “Men and women tend to have different working styles, with men being more task-focused and women being more relationship-orientated. For this reason they may also be fearful and uncomfortable at the prospect of working in a group which is likely to prioritise relationships and emotions.” “Similarly in an all-female group, if relationships are good then the group will work very well, but if there’s a problem with relationships it could descend into a hell of back-biting, jealously and other issues. And, for this reason, women might want to work with other women. But it could just as easily be due to the fact that women have superior social skills to men, and they see that in an all-male group they would have greater power to manipulate their colleagues advantageously.” Perhaps more pertinently, it might be high time we stopped relying on Neanderthal stereotypes of gender interaction and looked to the more professional aspects of workplace procedure as required by law. And Ben Williams offers a note of caution to employers who might mistakenly try to adopt a blanket approach to managing staff on the basis of gender. “People have different skills when it comes to emotional intelligence, and this isn’t necessarily to do with gender,” says Ben Williams. “In a work environment gender should have nothing to do with it. Staff will need different leadership and working styles based on their individual personalities.” So perhaps the key is in embracing the fact that the workplace is and should be a diverse one, which recognises a healthy range of skills and characters. And rather than focusing on difference, we could instead look to the healthy congruities which unite workplaces – not least because Cisco’s research primarily shows that most staff would prefer to work in mixed teams when given the option. “The good news is that the study also showed that both men and women prefer to work in mixed teams of equal proportions, so we also instinctively understand the power that both parties bring for team success,” agrees Nikki Walker, director of Inclusion & Diversity for European Markets, Cisco. “Celebrating a culture of inclusion and diversity where difference is respected and recognised as a key contributor to success not only enables an organisation to attract and retain the best talent, but also enables them to get the best out of their employees.” So rather than battle over who works better with whom, it seems millennial workplaces might finally have understood the meaning of team-work. Although with this month raising the thorny topic of Valentines’ Day we can only hope the attitude holds firm for February. n

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romantic london luxury love tokens dinner for two

valentine’s day

alentine’s Day usually divides the nation into two groups; those who float on air all day having received the desired card/flowers/chocolates – and those who want to take that box of chocolates and smack the smug ‘married’ over the head. But where does the tradition of red roses, tacky cards and heart-shaped chocolates come from? Opinion on the origin of St. Valentine’s Day is varied – there were, in fact, three saints sharing the name, but most people associate the celebration with a third century bishop called Valentine. The Roman ruler at the time, Emperor Claudius II, decided to outlaw marriage and engagement because he wanted more men for his armies. Reacting against the ban, Valentine carried out a series of secret marriages, before he was finally caught and imprisoned. The story goes that while incarcerated, he fell in love with the gaoler’s daughter. The night before his execution he sent her a romantic note signed ‘from your Valentine’. The oldest known Valentine card still in existence probably dates back to 1415, and was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Valentine’s Day celebrations began to become common in the seventeenth century, and by the end of the eighteenth century, manufactured Valentine’s cards were available.

Love

how many ways do i

Looking for a little inspiration? Ruth Sherrington presents her guide to the most romantic things to do in London

Dinner on the Orient-Express

Imagine being strapped to the one you love on a platform hoisted 160 feet above London, before leaping out together with a bungee rope attached to your ankles. Does this sound like your typical date? Perhaps not, but it's definitely one of the most exciting (and unique!) ways to spend Valentine’s this year. Extreme Element provides tandem jumps for those who fancy a bit of adventure. It's adrenaline fuelled, heart pumping and very daring but, at the end of it, what could be more romantic than experiencing breathtaking views and a truly unforgettable moment wrapped in the arms of your loved one.

Expect no less than comfort, class and ease as you travel aboard one of the most distinguished members of the orientexpress - The British Pullman. Restored to her former 1920s glory, this luxurious steam train is the perfect place to enjoy a romantic evening with that special someone. An exquisite five course menu for you to tuck into will be served along with delicious wine, live musicians and world class service. Best presented as a surprise gift, guests are expected to dress smartly with no jeans or trainers allowed - an excellent excuse to wear your very best!

0845 862 9900 www.exelement.co.uk

0845 077 2222 www.orient-express.com

Cooking Lesson at Home

Horse-riding in Hyde Park

Impress your Valentine and book onto one of these superb home cooking lessons. Chef’s Compliments comes to you with only the best ingredients and ideas to help any budding foody make a range of delicious, top notch dishes. Cooking in the comfort of your own kitchen, the hands-on three hour lesson enables you to work at your own pace meaning, when it comes down to that all important date, you manage to stay on top and cook up a storm. Even more romantic however, is preparing your meal together...

Horse-riding has long been associated with picturesque countryside walks, old fashioned romance and knights in shining armour. Hyde Park stables can bring you just that, with their private couples lessons available for beginners all the way up to the very experienced. Each lesson is accompanied by an escort however the more experienced you are the more freedom you have to roam the park and soak up the natural world with that special someone. Staff can even get involved in helping pop the question with past proposals including brave young men dressing up or hiding behind a tree as they wait for ‘the one’ to take a brisk morning stroll.

020 8769 3361 www.chefscompliments.co.uk

0207 723 2813 www.hydeparkstables.com

Ryan Davies

Lover’s leap bungee

thee?

valentine’s

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Late at the Tate

Borough Market

On the first Friday of each month the Tate Britain opens it’s doors until late, allowing art enthusiasts to explore the galleries after hours. A limited treat, there is something deeply romantic about visiting the Tate outside of it’s typical daily routine with this month’s evening, titled Afrodizzia, including music from talented The Speaker’s Corner Quartet, poetry from Charlie Dark and a fashion show put together by 50 young Londoners from University of the Arts London. Although a week before Valentines, Late at Tate Britain is definitely one way in which you can build up to the big day, with exhibitions and the rest open until 10pm.

For some lively shopping and a bit of history, head to Borough market and make your way through its maze of colourful streets and walkways. This vibrant market accommodates for all kinds of food traders as well as several restaurants and cafes where you can pause for some afternoon tea before exploring even further. This romantic cultural world has roots that lead as far back as the 13th Century when the first market pitched up on Borough High Street. Today, the market is at it’s peak with a rich variety of goods ranging from Italian Olive Oils to Irish smoked Salmon to handmade sweet and savoury biscuits. After dabbling in this romantic setting, why not embark on a riverside walk along the bank or across London Bridge, enjoying the sites while you do.

www.tate.org/britain

020 7407 1002 www.boroughmarket.org

London Aquarium

Kew Gardens - Treetop Walkway

The SEA LIFE London Aquarium, tranquil and awe-inspiring, is the perfect setting for any loved up couple to spend Cupid’s busiest day of the year. Not only will you be able to see turtles, sharks, seahorses and seals, the tropical glass tunnel walkway is ideal for watching the aquariums array of exotic fish as you’ll be surrounded by the water they swim in. If you’re really lucky, one of the experienced on site divers may pop up amongst this magical underwater world, clutching a personalised “will you marry me sign?” - the ultimate surprise. This service costs £60 which includes a glass of bubbly and a photo capturing the special moment. For a bit of the fear factor, why not visit the sharks which will give you every excuse to hold on to each other.

Home to an abundance of plants, both exotic and typically British, as well as 18th Century trees and Grade I listed buildings, Kew Gardens is perfectly suited to a romantic day out. Stretching over 300 acres of land there is so much natural beauty and history to see here, all of which can be shared with that someone you love. Perhaps take a crisp winter walk through the trees or explore the Princess of Wales conservatory, filled to the brim with thousands of orchids and tropical plants as part of February’s Tropical Extravaganza festival. Alternatively, head to the Treetop Walkway where you will stand 18 metres above the ground with stunning 360 views that will leave you and your Valentine speechless.

020 7967 8000 www.sealife.co.uk/london

020 8332 5000 www.kew.org

3 hours free parking at weekends and bank holidays when you spend ÂŁ10 at any shop, cafĹ˝ , bar or restaurant in Canary Wharf. Ask at point of purchase for a parking token. Terms and conditions apply. For further information on car, motorcycle and bicycle parking, call 020 7418 2752.

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valentine’s

feature

luxury The top tokens to show your love this Valentine’s Day

PEN A LOVE LETTER For him a homage to the activist Mahatma Ghandi and for her style from Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman, reflected in the latest luxury writing implements from Mont Blanc

www.montblanc.com

LONDON LUXURY These travel accessory cases are a must-have for every discerning lady and gentleman, so make sure that you’re special someone is all set for their romantic break away. Gents accessory case, £245 and ladies’ jewellery rolls, £59-69 www.aspinaloflondon.com

SEXY IN SATIN The art of seduction is made a little easier this Valentine’s Day with a range of stunning luxurious red silk satin lingerie from luxury brand Myla. www.myla.com

3 4

A DOZEN STOLEN KISSES Nothing says ‘I love you’ more than a bouquet of velvety red roses – the ultimate symbol of romantic love. www.brownslondon.co.uk

ROMANTIC ADVENTURE Spend 16 stunning days in Africa and the Indian Ocean, starting with viewing game at Tortilis Camp in the shadows of Mt Kilimanjaro and unrivalled wildlife viewing at Elephant Pepper Camp, in the Masai Mara, followed by total beach relaxation in Mauritius.

Available from Imagine Africa, from £2,950 (inc. flights) www.imagineafrica.co.uk

A PRECIOUS GIFT Celebrating 20 years of innovation, Tateossian launched into the New Year with the season’s boldest collections. Each piece has a distinctive signature, reflecting and reinterpreting trends in fashion. Designs are contemporary, fashion-forward and timeless; we love the Precious Skin collection, which features stunning ebony wood designs and includes rings, cuffs, necklaces and earrings. Precious Skin Cuff, £395 Tateossian 1/4 Royal Exchange 020 7283 3434 www.tateossian.com

Love

All you need is

If you’re looking for the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day, don’t go anywhere until you’ve checked out the stunning selection of luxury treats on offer at the Royal Exchange

VINTAGE STYLE

MADE WITH LOVE

HEAVEN SCENT

Boodles’ vintage sapphire and diamond heart earrings are a popular design with a Valentine’s Day twist. Heart-shaped fine quality sapphires and diamonds set in platinum are a stunning finishing touch to any outfit; a treasure to be cherished forever.

Molton Brown’s in-store experts will help find the most suitable Valentine’s gifts to wow or woo your loved one. Nothing creates a more romantic setting than dimly lit flames, and Molton Brown’s heavenly gingerlily candela is brimming with the alluring aromas of gingerlily, turberose and cardamom. Combine with heavenly gingerlily shimmer oil and shimmer fragrance for a truly romantic gift.

Penhaligon’s Love Potion No. 9 is back by popular demand! Originally released in 1999 the minty black and warm Love Potion No. 9 casts a spell of powdered darkness from its complex heart of jasmine, spices and geranium.The aromatic mix of clove, vanilla and earthy patchouli add a sweetened ginger-ale touch to heady layers that open and smooth into a mysterious scented delight.

Vintage sapphire and diamond heart earrings, £32,000 Boodles 2 & 3 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7283 7284 www.boodles.com

Heavenly Gingerlily Candela, £49 Molton Brown 27 Royal Exchange 020 7621 0021 www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Eau de Toilette, £50 (50ml) and £70 (100ml) Penhaligon’s 4 Royal Exchange 0207 623 3131 www.penhaligons.com

KEY TO MY HEART As the first choice jeweller for gifts that celebrate every occasion in life, Tiffany & Co. captures Valentine’s Day romance with the brilliance of its acclaimed designers and the beauty of its iconic collections. Win the heart of a loved one with their stunning collection of bangles, necklaces, and earrings. We love the collection of Tiffany Keys, the perfect way to unlock the heart of your girl.

CHOCOLATE ROSES Paul’s now famous, unique chocolate roses make a welcome return for Valentine’s Day. This year, Paul has also created a limited edition 23 carat gold leaf chocolate rose in 66 per cent pure trinitario single origin dark chocolate (£19.95 each)

Tiffany Keys Heart Locket in 14 carat yellow gold, £425 Tiffany & Co. 9 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7409 2790 www.tiffany.com/uk

PUCKER UP!

Chocolate roses in dark chocolate infused with oil of English rose and white chocolate with vanilla, £12.95

The Lulu Guinness Spring/Summer 2010 collection features a range of bolder and more fashion forward pieces. Show your girl that you are thinking of her with these cute and quirky satin purses, each one embroidered with Lulu’s handwriting and lip blot.The stylish designs are available in three bold colours: midnight black, show-stopping pink and scarlet red.

Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates 20 Royal Exchange 020 7929 7007 www.paulayoung.co.uk

‘With Love’ purse, £55 Lulu Guinness 23 Royal Exchange 020 7626 5391 www.luluguinness.com

ONE MOMENT IN TIME Time stands still in awe of De Beer’s ‘The Lady Diamonds Watch’; round, brilliant and baguette diamonds set in white gold with either a mother of pearl or white gilt face ensure this Art Deco inspired, Swiss-made watch is a truly timeless piece. Available with four straps; plain black satin, bright red satin, a striking black sari calfskin with printed metallic effect or a pretty pink snakeskin strap. De Beers Lady Diamonds Watch, £9,800

KISS MY ‘ART Theo Fennell has shown he’s all ‘Art once again by extending the hugely successful ‘Arts collection with the addition of ‘Kiss My ‘Art’, ‘Lightning ‘Art’, ‘Locked ‘Art’ and ‘Hand on ‘Art’. All are a unique and flirtatious way of expressing your love and can be worn for a glamorous look, both day and night. Kiss My ‘Art comes in a range of sizes, starting with the charm at £1,900 Theo Fennell 4 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7623 4380 www.theofennell.com

De Beers 13 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7929 2777 www.debeers.com

AGENT PROVOCATEUR || ARTISAN | BOODLES || BULGARI || CARTIER || CHURCH’S || CROCKETT & JONES || DE BEERS || GRAND CAFÉ AND BAR || GUCCI || HERMÈS || IMPERIAL CITY || JO MALONE || L’OCCITANE || LORO PIANA || LULU GUINNESS || MILLEPERLE || MOLTON BROWN || MONT BLANC || NAPKET || OMEGA || PAUL A. YOUNG FINE CHOCOLATES || PAUL SMITH || PAVAROTTI’S || PENHALIGON’S || PRETTY BALLERINAS || ROYAL EXCHANGE JEWELLERS || SAUTERELLE || SEARLE & CO || SMOKER’S PARADISE || SMYTHSON || TATEOSSIAN || THEO FENNELL || TIFFFANY & CO || Vilebrequin || WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND || WINT & KIDD

Royal Exchange, Bank, City of London, EC3V 3LR

www.theroyalexchange.co.uk

Finding the perfect venue for a romantic meal can be hard, particularly if it’s for a first date. We’ve chosen a selection of our favourite London restaurants with the right atmosphere, setting and menu to ensure your Valentine’s night ends a success ALL CHARGED UP The views at Battery are quite amazing, with floor to ceiling glass windows on three sides of the restaurant; looking out onto the twinkling London horizon this is an impressive location for a Valentine’s date with wow-factor. Service is slick and friendly, the wine list is extensive, and the knowledgeable staff are happy to made recommendations to match menu choices. British gourmet with a modern twist is the overriding theme of Battery and the ambitious venue is well matched by the rich menu by Chef Minesh Patel. Big sauces, big flavours, an admirable attention to texture and premium ingredients make Battery stand out from the crowd.

Romantic

OF THE BEST

020 8305 3089 www.battery.uk.com or call

OUT OF THIS WORLD After 16 successful years at the Trocadero, Planet Hollywood, the world famous dining experience has re-branded and relocated to the fashionable London district of Haymarket. This Valentine’s Day, the restaurant is offering a special menu for all those lovebirds out there, at just £25 per person (three courses). And for those with no interest in hearts and flowers, there is of course the usual array of Planet Hollywood favourites to be had. Located just minutes from Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross Planet Hollywood is well connected to transport links; easy to get home in a hurry, should the mood so take you… 020 7287 1000 www.planethollywoodlondon.com

FRENCH DELIGHTS Located within the Chelsea Football Club Complex at Stamford Bridge, Marco is an exciting new restaurant created by Chef Marco Pierre White and Roman Abramovich, fusing culinary delights from both sides of the Channel. Building on the success of his previous restaurants the Marco Pierre White name has become synonymous with a superior culinary experience and Marco, as the newest addition, does not disappoint. Don’t miss the chance to dine out at Marco this Valentine’s Day, with a special romantic menu featuring such treats as ½ Dozen Colchester Rock Oysters, Grilled Yellow Tail Tuna, and Chocolaté Souffle among the selection. Three courses are priced at £45.00 per head, and in the intimate, stylish atmosphere of the restaurant you’re bound to find the perfect Valentine’s date. www.marcorestaurant.co.uk

OYSTERS & CHAMPAGNE Green’s on Duke Street offers the perfect haven in which to relax over a plate of oysters and a glass of Champagne (among a wider selection of delicious British gourmet dishes) – what could be more romantic? Choose a table in the main restaurant or one of the very popular booths (some of the most sought after tables in London) and treat your loved one to a winning Valentine’s formula of friendly service, fine wines, and the finest ingredients carefully prepared. You’ll feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the City outside! Valentine’s dinner runs from 5.30pm to 11pm; booking essential for a romantic table visit www.greens.org.uk

A CLASS ACT Situated in the heart of London’s legal business district in Tudor Street, the Class Rooms is a fresh contribution to the world of sophisticated and elegant dining. The decor is ultra-modern chic in slick silvers, gold and black, and low modern lighting enhances the relaxed, romantic mood – perfect for intimate couples’ dining. The restaurant not only offers a superb venue for business lunches and corporate events (with a team-building corporate cookery course!) but also a relaxed atmosphere for evening dates and romantic meetings. With exquisite modern European cuisine, a playful array of cocktails, and a glamorous setting, the Class Rooms has everything covered for your perfect Valentine’s meal. 020 8222 330 www.theclass-rooms.co.uk

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reated and built by motorsport specialists, BERU f1systems, the Factor 001 bicycle is a ground-breaking training tool combining innovative design and advanced electronics to provide real time human performance data. Custom-built to the exact dimensions of the buyer, the Factor 001 is manufactured to fit the rider perfectly. Clients will also be offered an optional comprehensive cycling and fitness assessment including technique, posture and performance. Weighing a mere 7.4kg, the bike has a carbon composite frame and wheels, Shimanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultra precise Di2 electric shift, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated LED lights and a novel front fork arrangement. A comprehensive range of complementing accessories will also be available for the British built bike including carbon discs, transit cases and an infinite array of colour options. A further option is an electronic training and monitoring system. This transforms the Factor 001 from highly efficient road transport into a scientific training tool. The system consists of an on-board computer, various motorsportgrade sensors, a GPS and a radio transmitter and enables the measurement of 15 parameters including crank force, core body temperature, chest expansion, speed and riding position. The Factor 001 starts at ÂŁ21,995 and is available exclusively from Harrods.

Major specialties include: - Acute Neuro Rehabilitation - Bariatric Surgery - Cardiac Surgery - Critical Care - Dermatology - Interventional Cardiology - ENT - Gastroenterology - General Surgery - Gynaecology - Liver and Hepatobiliary Medicine

The Wellington Hospital is one of the world’s leading private

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hospitals with an international reputation for the excellence

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• a range of minimally invasive surgical procedures that are performed through one incision in the belly button, which is virtually scarless surgery • a 45-bedroom Acute Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, which is the best equipped and most extensive in the UK • the largest Critical Care facility in the private sector The hospital has a dedicated GP Liaison service giving GPs and patients easy, fast access to the hospital’s extensive services & facilities. For further information please contact the Helpline:

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Email: wellington.enquiryhelpline@hcahealthcare.co.uk www.thewellingtonhospital.com Wellington Place, St Johns Wood, London NW8 9LE

5266 HCA Well Canary Wharf advert.indd 1

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THE SCHOOL OF LIFE The School of Life returns for its second year with a new programme for 2010 including a new evening ‘class’ format. Drawing on the big themes in life such as love, work, politics, self, family and play, their new evening classes are devised by leading academics, authors and artists. Combining the experiences of their remarkable faculty with ideas from the great thinkers of the past, the classes offer intelligent and playful ways to tackle age-old concerns within a modern context.

out about

Full class details are available online at www.theschooloflife.com/classes

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Visit the Unicorn Theatre for a special Valentine’s evening performance on 13 February, at 8pm. A performance for adults (and children aged 14+), the acclaimed performance by storyteller Ben Haggarty and musician-composer Sherry Robinson takes the audience on a journey into the unfathomable mysteries of the heart to ask ‘do we choose love, or does love choose us?’ In an unashamedly romantic exploration of the intoxication and brutality of love, lust and betrayal, it draws together comedic games in paradise, a broken vow of chastity, a reunion in death, and culminates in an extraordinary retelling of a seemingly familiar fairytale for grownups, which will creep into your waking dream and haunt you with its beauty. All tickets £10.Visit www.unicorntheatre.com/valentinesstorytelling for more information

ASIAN BRIDAL FASHION SHOW For one night only, the spectacular East Wintergarden will host an exclusive Asian Bridal Fashion Show complete with entertainment and an authentic three-course dinner. On Saturday 20 February (from 7pm until midnight) join in the fun at the ultimate Asian Wedding experience that will include a Designer Bridal Catwalk Show, dinner created and served by Silk Events (Vama), the world’s fastest henna artist, a selection of Bollywood dancers and DJ sensation PowerBass Roadshow. This evening promises to showcase the best of what every Asian dream wedding can offer! This stunning event will be held at Canary Wharf’s Premier venue, the East Wintergarden. With its unique 27 metre high arched ceiling, beech wood walls, Italian marble floor and amazing views of Jubilee Park and Docklands riverside, you will agree this is the perfect setting for all your wedding needs. Ceremonies, receptions, wedding breakfasts can be held for up to 500 guests. For more information on the venue, contact the East Wintergarden team on 020 7418 2775 or email eastwintergarden@canarywharf.com For further information on the show (including directions, ticket sales and fashion show line-up) visit www.yourdreamshaadi.co.uk Amander Crowther

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ACOUSTIC AFTER HOURS A much loved figure of the British music scene, Eddi Reader makes a welcome return to Canary Wharf for what promises to be a superb evening of entertainment at the East Wintergarden on Wednesday 17 February. She will be joined by special guest Boo Hewerdine, an accomplished singersongwriter, renowned for his unique style with overtones of folk, pop and Nashville. 17 February 2010 at 7.45pm Tickets are £20 and can be booked online at www.ticketweb.co.uk

3LONDON SEEN: A CAPITAL EXHIBITION Until 10 February, visitors can enjoy this London-themed exhibition, which contains a collection of work depicting the familiar and the not so familiar scenes of our dynamic capital city. Theatres, restaurants, the London Eye, the Gherkin, Trafalgar Square and even the red London bus are included. The bustle of café life, spectacular City landmarks, a riverside stroll along the Embankment and London parks in the spring are all painted with the vitality of artists who know and love such a diverse city. The artists’ style reveal a personal interpretation of the mood and atmosphere of one of the greatest cities in the world. Llewellyn Alexander (Fine Paintings) Ltd. Gallery Open 10am to 7:30pm Monday to Saturday 124 -126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LN UK (Opposite the Old Vic Theatre) www.llewellynalexander.com

The Roof Gardens Launches Live Music Nights Live music comes to The Roof Gardens in Kensington with the launch of ‘Jack Daniels Live’ – a new, weekly pre-club night where some of the hottest new bands on the music scene will perform exclusive sets every Friday evening at the award-winning venue. Set in the heart of the stunning themed gardens, six floors high above Kensington High Street, London’s stylish new music enthusiasts can enjoy a JD-inspired cocktail and sample the culinary winter BBQ delights whilst listening to some of 2010’s leading musical talent. ‘Jack Daniels Live’ will start each Friday at 7pm-10pm and will run until the end of March. Entry fees apply and the normal club night starts from 10pm. For further details, please call The Roof Gardens Club team on 020 7368 3960 or visit www.roofgardens.virgin.com

A NIGHT OF SECRET DRINKING Shake out your tassels and unfurl your feathers - prohibition is back and determined as ever to elude the beady eye of the law. London’s illustrious Prohibition night is being revived in magnificent fashion at another secret location on Saturday 20 February. Harking back to the hedonistic antics of the 1920s, the venue, to be revealed two weeks prior to the event, will be an apt setting for prohibition’s bootlegged alcohol, flamboyant floorshows and lively gambling tables. Sip cocktails from teacups and dance to live bands and gramophone DJs, at what has become one of the most sensational parties in London. At Prohibition, guests step back in time and don 1920s style costumes - flapper dresses, smoking jackets, headbands and moustache wax. Whether they’re hunting out banned booze hidden in tea pots, watching 1920s films in the silent cinema room, or trying their hand at the roulette tables, retrophiles and partygoers alike love this regular fixture. www.prohibition1920s.com

PRIVATE DINING The perfect place to meet for a conference or client dinner, the Mercer Restaurant in the City has opened a private dining room. Having been open only for two weeks the room has already attracted attention of the press and City AM quickly selected it as one of the best private dining rooms in London. The dining room is equipped with latest audiovisual technology; a 55” LCD display, full 7.2 cinema surround system, Wi-Fi, DVD and conference telephone. Seating up to 30 people the room is open for reservations throughout the day from early in the morning to midnight. Decorated with LED lights the atmosphere of the room can be changed to suit any event and due to movable set up, the room is extremely versatile, lending itself to breakfast or lunch meetings as well as presentations, screenings, board meetings and road shows. www.themercer.co.uk

decadence for a new decade

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120 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 3LS 509 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 4JS Telephone: 020 7486 3080 http://www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk *offer runs 04.01.10 to 28.02.10 email: info.@halcyon-interiors.co.uk

A L L

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london’s most powerful network as featured in

Vicinitee VIP members gain access to an exciting world of exclusive concessions and privileges. We provide the perfect opportunities to relax and spend time with other like-minded people and our events provide the ideal platform for this with regular invitations to exclusive parties and events - ranging from the simple & elegant, to the wild & extreme. Our parties are by invitation only and take place in stylish London locations or at famous sporting and social events. Our association with The Renaissance Club, means Vicinitee VIP members enjoy access to hundreds of exclusive deals, brokered with London’s leading bars, restaurants, retailers, nightclubs and essential services - enhancing your lifestyle whilst saving you time & money. We only form partnerships with companies that members have requested, or that we would use ourselves. Now the legwork has been done – all you have to do is go out and enjoy the afﬁliations and the privileges arranged on your behalf.

To view our event calendar, see our forthcoming VIP parties or simply browse through our exclusive deals and concessions, visit www.viciniteevip.com

28/01/2010 19:52:35

Southend delegates A4 ad 18/12/2009 16:03 Page 1

Take your delegates out of the city and sample the seaside.

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• It is perfect for a wide range of special functions from a boardroom meeting for 10, a dinner dance for 600 or a conference for 1630. • Your event will be personally catered for by our own creative and innovative team of chefs, sample menus reﬂect our passion for food and use only the freshest local ingredients. Colchester 2

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fashion

news GUCCI GOLD

If you are lucky enough to have been left a Gucci heirloom, you now have a simple way to find out if it’s worth anything since the label, in association with auction house Christies, has launched Gucci Collector - a new webbased service which appraises your vintage Gucci items for free. “I feel it is a noble, appropriate and modern way to provide access to original Gucci vintage products to a relevant and well-targeted audience,” Gucci president and ceo Patrizio di Marco explained. “This collaboration with Christie’s is indeed fully consistent with our ongoing objective of reinforcing Gucci’s reputation for luxury, quality and craftsmanship in our products. This new service will provide a ‘trusted’ venue for transactions of vintage Gucci items thereby avoiding recourse to ‘uncontrolled’ auction sites such as eBay.” The service, which is now live via both www.gucci. com and www.christies.com, will also inform the collectors whether their item would be of interest to either Gucci or Christie’s from a historical perspective and will reassure prospective buyers of its authenticity. The launch coincides with Gucci’s plans to open a Gucci museum in Florence, the birthplace of the Italian brand, in time for its 90th anniversary in 2011.

MUST-HAVE ITEM

TUX AWARDS Armani reigned supreme at the recent Golden Globe Awards, fitting the likes of George Clooney, Robert Downey Jnr, Harrison Ford, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Samuel L Jackson and Robert de Niro. Tom Ford dressed the Brits though, with Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan at the helm.

QUOTE:

Fashions fade, style is eternal. YVES SAINT LAURENT

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:

After the huge success of the inaugural Clothes Show London, the event returns in June 2010 to treat the capital’s fashionistas to a sumptuous fashion extravaganza. Featuring an unrivalled range of leading fashion and beauty brands; an impressive 2,500 seat Fashion Theatre combining show-stopping dance and fashion performances, and a host of celebrity and expert appearances – tickets are a must. 25 – 27 JUNE 2010 EARL’S COURT WWW.CLOTHESSHOWLONDON.COM

www.sartorialab.co.uk

TICKETS TO CLOTHES SHOW LIVE

The contemporary man wants to look good but more than that, the look needs to both reflect his lifestyle and be perceived as effortless. A paradox in itself. Sartoria Lab offers the facility of personal stylist and shopper Sarah Gilfillan, which was conceived and created to fill a gap in the men’s grooming market. An absolute necessity for any man compromised for time.

JANUARY TREND: LATEX Having dressed Kelly Brook and Lady Gaga and appeared on most of the national covers, could Atsuko Kudo’s designs in latex catch on for the bold and the beautiful this month?

SurLa

Plage Photographer:

Peter Zownir Fashion Editor:

Lucie Dodds

Shearling coat, £1,290, cream knit v-neck jumper, £320, tan leather open-knit vest £650, all Joseph, 020 7590 6200

White cotton shirt, £125 and cream cotton cardigan, £295 both Dunhill, 0845 458 0779 www.dunhill.com Cream cashmere v-neck jumper £235, Joseph as before

Black bra, £34, Calvin Klein, 020 3100 2880 Cream boyfriend-wide rib slouch jumper, £65, Celtic Sheepskin 01637 871605, www.celtic-sheepskin.co.uk

Cream hooded cardigan, chocolate cable cardigan cream cable arm-warmers, ÂŁ35, all from a collection at The White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com Shorts, ÂŁ7.50, Sloggi, 01793 720300

Black bra, £34 and briefs, £21, both Calvin Klein as before Grey cashmere textured knit cardigan, £485 and cashmere scarf £145, both Lisa T, www.lisat-cashmere.com

Pale grey poloneck tunic dress, ÂŁ172, John Smedley, 020 7495 2222 Grey cardigan, from a collection at The White Company White Apollo belt, ÂŁ310, Lara Bohinc, 149F Sloane Street, SW1 020 7730 8194, www.larabohinc.com

Grey ribbed collared cardigan, £365 and white bib cotton shirt £145, Joseph, as before White cotton brief, £10.50, Sloggi, as before

With Thanks to: Captains Club Hotel, Wick Ferry, Wick Lane, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 1HU, 01202 475111, enquiries@captainsclubhotel.com Sleek, smooth and ultra-modern, Captain’s Club is a testament to designer flair. This striking contemporary, 4 star boutique hotel resides on the banks of the River Stour, an interesting short walk from Christchurch. Mention Citylife and receive a Complimentary ½ bottle of chilled champagne in your room.

Hair: Yvette Redmond at Tiger Creative using Kiehl’s: Super Thick Volumiser, Weightless Curl-Defining Spray, Climate Proof Shine Enhancing Non-Aerosol Spray and Malleable Molding Paste. Make-up: Yvette Redmond at Tiger Creative using Givenchy: Hydra Sparkling Velvet Luminescence Moisturising Cream, Magic Lip and Cheek Balm, Prisme Foundation, Mister Llght, Eye and Brow Prisme, Mister Eyebrow, Le Prisme Mono Yeux in Showy Black, Phenomen ‘Eyes Effet Extension and Ange ou Demon Le Secret

Model: Verena at Premier Model Management. Thanks to Jon and Subreena

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health & beauty

concierge

Must have item:

health&beauty

news

ELEMIS Fight against the cold weather and re-energise your skin with Visible Brilliance serum by Elemis, a lightweight serum that will brighten and perk up your skin. A cocktail of minerals and marine extracts feed the skin and boost circulation. Multi-minerals copper, zinc and magnesium treat dark circles while Dew Bean smooths and brightens, instantly making the skin look fresh and youthful. Use morning and evening on clean dry skin and under eyes before applying your moisturiser. The serum is also perfect to use as a base for make-up.

MINERALIZE FOUNDATION The winter season is a hard time for your skin and keeping it in a healthy condition can become a difficult battle. MAC’s solution takes the form of loose Mineralize Foundation SPF15, which provides even coverage, resulting in a smooth and finished look as well as everyday protection from the sun. £22.50 www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Must have colour: RICH

Visible Brilliance serum, £40 www.elemis.com

salon of the month: O Spa If your skin has been feeling like it has lost its radiant glow and has been suffering from the extreme cold weather conditions that we have all been experiencing then you need to book yourself in for an ‘exotic multi-sensorial journey of rejuvenation and relaxation’ at the newly opened O SPA in Cabot Place East, Canary Wharf. O SPA is a naturally organic spa VERDICT: experience, which is designed for both face and body. We tried the 60 minute Feel indulged, re-hydrating facial as I felt like my relaxed and skin needed a moisture boost. rejuvenated within To help relax into the experience skin which helped to relax a haven of calm in the therapist began by massaging my pores so that they didn’t Canary Wharf some essential oils into my pressure feel tight and dry. Whilst the points. This really helped me to unwind essential glow masque was working and this would be great if you were having a the therapist gave me a hand and arm quick treatment in between work hours. The massage which was so great I actually kept therapist then cleansed my skin to remove drifting off - the sign of a very good massage! any make up and used an invigorating facial Then to finish off I was given an intensive scrub on my face, neck and upper torso. eye masque experience with a head massage Every product was removed using heated which made me feel incredibly indulged. mittens which felt glorious. The lavender O SPA London, Cabot Place East, Canary Wharf and rose geranium in the products worked 020 7519 6589 together to help retain the moisture in the www.ospalondon.com

The Transitions collection launched by Nails Inc this month is a must if you want to be up to date in the beauty world. Their Duchess Street regal deep purple and Clarges Street raspberry crème are enticingly rich and will compliment any outfit. £20 www.nailsinc.com

Must have trend: Undone updos have been seen repeatedly amongst catwalk fashionistas such as this season. The style takes on a natural but sophisticated feel, with wispy flyaway’s and loose buns making you look elegant and chic. Effortless, this style can be achieved in numerous ways - easy for you, quick to do and original everytime.

Brought to you in association with The Wellington Hospital, one of the world’s leading private hospitals. www.thewellingtonhospital.com

all patched up You may be up to date with all the breakdowns and repairs of your motor car, but what about repairs needed on a more important vehicle? Many are turning to health practitioners for a full-body MoT to keep worries at bay and fix flaws before they develop into full blown health problems, says Josephine O’Donoghue

ow long has that twinge in your knee been bothering you? Should you be worried about a family history of heart disease or diabetes? Could that pain in your leg be a hidden DVT? Everyone has experienced worry over the state of their health at one time or another, and with so many news stories about newly discovered diseases, viruses and vaccinations it can sometimes be confusing to know what you should look out for. Without rushing to the doctor’s surgery every time a possible symptom occurs, how do we know if there is cause for concern? In response to this, many modern health practitioners are now offering a full-body health MoT. An industry now worth around £65m per year in the UK, Britons

are increasingly anxious to get themselves checked over – particularly as the NHS is not widely acknowledged for its preventative medicine and the average GP appointment lasts little more than six minutes. Ranging from full-body scans to blood tests, if you have a health concern there is a private test available to tell you more about it. Basic assessments include weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and a range of blood analyses but patients can also choose from a detailed menu of checks including cardio-respiratory fitness tests, X-rays or state-of-the-art electron beam tomography (which is a highly detailed scan that can check heart function). The private health insurer BUPA performs around 10,000 health assessments each year. “People come to us because they

want reassurance about their state of health,” explains Peter Smythe (BUPA Wellness) back in 2005 when the health MoT concept began to take off. “They have nagging concerns, maybe because there’s a family history of heart disease, or a friend has suddenly suffered a stroke at a very young age. They want to get themselves checked out, but they don’t feel they can go to their GP.” Although there is no medical check-up or health MoT which can offer a 100 per cent ‘all-clear’ there are many checks which may pick

health

concierge comment

Some of the checks on offer include: Full-body CT scan can detect tumours or heart disease before symptoms become obvious

MRI scan can detect tumours or heart disease before symptoms become obvious with no radiation exposure involved Prostate specific antigen test can reveal a bio-marker that is sometimes raised among men with prostate cancer, and can give an early warning of the disease

Liver function test is a fingerprick blood test, easily available via the internet for about £150 Cholesterol test is a blood test

up internal signs which the NHS would mostlikely not test for without external symptoms. Writing for The Guardian in 2007, David Bodanis recalls: “A while ago I heard a researcher talking about a new full-body scanner he had tested on a seemingly healthy female colleague in her early 30s. It revealed a precariously thin bulge – an aneurysm – in one of the main arteries leading to her brain. She had experienced no symptoms whatsoever, but it could have burst at any moment: the scan’s locating of it allowed a relatively easy surgical fix. “These tests were good,” said

Bodanis after a round of checks including an MRI scan and an ‘ultra-fast’ CAT scan. “Almost 15 per cent of British men my age are going to get heart attacks within a decade. I was lucky enough to be doing a lot better than that: my chances were just one per cent or less. It feels good to be reassured.” For many, the aim of the health MoT is to reveal any potential hidden health problems, so that they may be treated before an illness develops – particularly those in high-risk categories where specific illness runs in the family. So, for those who find themselves awake at night worrying about a re-occurring symptom or anyone over 50 with a family history of illness, a health MoT could be long overdue. After all, you certainly wouldn’t leave your car that long without repair – so don’t wait for your body to breakdown before giving it the once over. n

that examines levels of LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, linked to hypertension and heart disease. NHS Direct suggests you should get your cholesterol checked if you’re over the age of 40, or if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease or other risk factors for heart disease and stroke. It can be clinically valuable to know cholesterol level is high if otherwise at risk of heart disease, as it can be lowered with drugs or lifestyle changes

Blood pressure check should be done at least every five years after the age of 40. Closely linked to risk of heart disease and stroke, it can be lowered through diet and lifestyle changes and/or medication

Urine test can help detect kidney disease and diabetes Glucose (sugar) fasting blood test is a definitive test for diabetes, which can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes and/or medication.

Bowel cancer screening is recommended for men and women aged over 60 (Source: BBC and Sense About Science, The Times database)

SCARRED FOR LIFE? NOT ANY MORE... There was a time when medical surgery resulted in noticeable and permanent scarring; but as Josephine O’Donoghue discovers, surgery can be virtually scarless

For doctors all over the world, carrying out surgery on a patient is a last resort and an experience that the medical world is constantly striving to make both less invasive and less traumatic. Many people find the thought of major surgery to be extremely stressful and frightening – and it has long been the hope that a simpler method could be developed. While keyhole or laparoscopic surgery has been a popular alternative in recent years (involving 3-4 smaller cuts), Mr Barry Paraskeva (based at The Wellington Hospital in London) has been pioneering a new and very effective method of scarless single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for over two years. “I have been using and developing an almost scarless and innovative option, using a single incision in the belly button to access the body, since early 2008,” he says. “The beauty of this kind of surgery is that it uses an existing hole in the body. Furthermore, the patient takes the same time to heal and the scar is buried, so surgery is virtually scarless, which they love.” Mr Paraskeva was the first surgeon in the UK to perform a gallbladder removal and appendix removal using the SILS approach. He is also regularly performing removal of the colon through the belly button alone. “I recently removed 40 centimetres of colon containing an 8cm tumour through a 3cm hole in the belly button,” Mr Paraskeva said last month. This is especially revolutionary for cancer patients as this method means that people can have major surgery for a colon cancer through one cut and stay in hospital for only a few days. The SILS method of surgery can be used to remove the appendix, gallbladder, kidney and ovaries, repair hernias and remove cancers in the colon. Over 100 SILS procedures were carried out by Mr Paraskeva in 2009 alone, all of which were very well accepted by patients and he hopes to complete many more in 2010. Single port laparoscopic surgery is certainly the next big step in less invasive surgery, and signifies a positive change in modern surgical medicine. Presenting a new and exciting set of options for patients, Mr Paraskeva and his team expect a rapid increase in demand for this type of treatment. For more information or appointments, visit www.thewellingtonhospital.com or call 020 7483 5148

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Talking to The Daily Mail last month, one of Mr Paraskeva’s patients said: “I had the operation under general anaesthetic last year and [it] took an hour-and-ahalf. When I came round, I was very tender round the belly button area, but I was still able to leave the hospital by 6pm that day. The bruising lasted a few weeks, although I could move around OK. Even after a week, it was difficult to see the scar on my belly button. We’d had to postpone a holiday, so three weeks after the operation we went to Majorca. It was so wonderful to lie on the beach in a bikini and no one could tell I’d had an operation. Five months on, I feel fantastic!”

THE FACTS Can surgery be performed with no scar? Over the last few years, doctors have started to consider using patients own orifices to access the inside of the body and this method is called NOTES (natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery). However, this approach is controversial and as yet, untested. Single port surgery offers an alternative to traditional keyhole surgery, which leaves no scar and is available now. The umbilicus or belly button area can be used as a point of access for surgery for many common conditions of the abdomen and the procedures can be safely executed through these areas. After the wound has healed, there will be no visible scar. Common procedures performed with regular keyhole surgery can be performed through the belly button such as gallbladder removal for gallstones, appendix removal, ovarian cyst treatment and even removal of portions of the colon for both benign and malignant conditions such as colon cancer. How is the surgery performed? The patient preparation for a single port/SILS laparoscopic procedure is the same as for the regular laparoscopic equivalent. A special port device is inserted into the belly button; through this long instruments (which have the ability to bend and carry specialised heads) can grab, dissect, cut and clip tissues. The operation is performed completely internally, and the gallbladder or appendix can then be relieved in a purpose designed bag so it can be removed. The belly button is repaired using dissolvable stitches and heals with no scar visible. Many patients can have their procedures as day cases.

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Walk in, walk out surgery for varicose veins Suitable for women and men of all ages Our state of the art, specialist medical clinic offers the ultimate personal treatment plan. Led by Mark Whiteley MS FRCS (Gen) consultant surgeon and Harley Street practitioner, the clinic has been a leading innovator of vein treatment over the last decade. The first in the UK to introduce walk in walk out minimally invasive keyhole surgery, treatments in our clinic allow you to avoid hospital stays and lengthy convalescence. Our surgical and non-surgical procedures include EVLA (laser treatment), VNUS Closure¨ , RFiTT, Foam Sclerotherapy, Ambulatory Phlebectomy and Thread Vein Sclerotherapy, providing the optimum chance of blemish free results and the alleviation of aching legs. And by using ultrasound to discover problem veins and guide surgery, the recurrence of varicose veins is greatly reduced.

Other advanced treatments at our clinic include: • Laser Sweat Ablation, a life transforming procedure to eliminate excess underarm sweating • Liposonix ª fat reduction using ultrasound, a very safe method to dissolve fat away without surgery • Thermage ¨ to tighten and lift loose skin non-surgically

HARLEY STREET

To make an appointment or find out more call

+44 (0)1483 477 180 www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk

T HE HOME OF KEYHOLE VA RICOSE V EIN SURGERY

GUILDFORD

Introducing Frame’s new

30 MINUTE FITNESS QUICKIE

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MAKING A DECISION

Are you in search of the perfect ski holiday but don’t want to spend hours looking at identical chalet websites? Holiday experts, FlexiSki give us their top tips and recommendations for luxury alpine breaks This season Europe is top of the pops for the annual ski and snowboarding holiday and with destinations only a short plane ride away you can understand why; whether you’re looking for a longweekend, a mid-week break or more traditional seven-night holiday you can escape from the bustle of business in only a few hours. FRANCE: If you’re looking for style and comfort, then Chalet Balias could be for you. Located in the heart of Val d’Isère and just a few minutes’ walk to the Olympic and the Solaise lifts and close to the main street with its stylish boutiques, bars and restaurants, the chalet is contemporary and comfortably furnished throughout with breathtaking views. The open-plan living and dining area has been lovingly restored using local wood and tiles and the development features a shared wellness area on the lower ground floor with a sauna and relaxation area. Alternatively, the rustic Chalet Leonardo in Méribel is classically finished with a combination of wood and stone alpine inspired interior, including a beautiful open-plan living and dining area and traditional open log fire. The chalet also boasts a large south facing terrace and a fabulous eight person outdoor Jacuzzi – perfect for those aching limbs are a hard day on the slopes. AUSTRIA: We can also offer the perfectly situated Amalien Haus in the bustling centre of St Anton, just 500 metres from the slopes and less than a five minute walk from the main ski lifts. The charming village is best known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and the lively and dynamic après-ski culture along with the abundance of shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars. All the Amalien Haus bedrooms are decorated with attractive furniture and spacious contemporary bathrooms. And if a chalet doesn’t suit your style, try a hand-picked hotel, we have 100 of them, all with their own individual style, character, attractive interiors, first-class sport and leisure facilities and exceptional service.

FITNESS FOR 2010 AND BEYOND Now that the Christmas hangover is a distant memory and your New Year health and fitness resolutions are in full flow, it is a great time to map out a plan of action for the rest of the year. After the excesses of December you may have been inspired to join a gym, improve your diet and generally start working to condition your body for a fitter, healthier future. While this is a fantastic idea that should be encouraged every step of the way, what happens when the initial motivation disappears under a sea of work deadlines, business lunches and social commitments? Furthermore, at this time of year the media is awash with various exercise recommendations and diet tips. How can you be sure that what you are doing is the most effective course of action for you? At Matt Roberts, our team of skilled personal trainers, physiotherapists and dietitians have the knowledge and experience to help you map out your fitness plan for the remainder of 2010 and beyond. Our initial screening process will highlight how balanced you are from a muscular and joint mobility point of view. We will also assess your risk of underlying injuries that could be further aggravated by the use of the wrong types of exercise. You will spend a week completing a food diary for our dietitian to analyse and feed back to you with information regarding where your diet is and where it needs to go in order to complement the work you are doing in the gym. All of your training sessions will be conducted by one of our highly qualified Personal Trainers who will be responsible for programming the most effective workouts for you to reach your goals. We will make sure your sessions are motivating and effective so you can start planning for a healthier 2010!

For more information or to make a booking, visit www.flexiski.com Flexiski specialises in tailor-made ski breaks (catering for individuals, families and corporate groups) to thirteen of the most prestigious resorts in Europe.

Matt Roberts has Personal Training centres in Mayfair, Chelsea, Hampstead and the City. For more information or to visit, please contact 020 7626 0888 or go to www.mattroberts.co.uk

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corporate breaks

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weekend chalets

short ski breaks

Flexiski specialise in tailor-made ski breaks to fit your individual requirements to 13 of the most prestigious resorts in Europe. Contact your personal travel consultant on 020 8939 0868 or visit www.flexiski.com

Directors & Senior Executives A DIRECT LINE TO THE HIDDEN SHORTLIST InterExecÊ isÊ veryÊ successfulÊ inÊ maximisingÊ theÊ careersÊ of topÊ executivesÊ withÊ anÊ unrivalledÊ reputationÊ forÊ results. 30Ê yearsÊ ofÊ globalÊ networkingÊ withÊ HeadhuntersÊ and CityÊ Institutions,Ê throughÊ aÊ uniqueÊ market-interactiveÊ team, providesÊ in-depthÊ knowledgeÊ andÊ confidentialÊ access toÊ currentÊ unpublishedÊ opportunitiesÊ acrossÊ allÊ industries. ToÊ discussÊ yourÊ prospectsÊ callÊ forÊ anÊ exploratoryÊ meeting.

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hand-picked hotels

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bali spa the goring food & drink battery

the greatest show on snow

nowbombing is an exhilarating week-long whirlwind of momentous moments in mythical fairytale venues, delivered by a blizzard of brilliant bands and awesome avalanche of artists. The event has been run since 2000 and has evolved into Europe’s biggest snow and music festival, principally a DJ and electronic dance music-themed event with a format designed to combine winter sports (primarily snowboarding) with on-piste and après-ski music performances and parties. Host to the week is the Austrian town of Mayrhofen which looks like it’s been lifted straight from a chocolate box lid but with 625km of piste; the snow-sure Hintertux-Glacier; the world famous Vans board park and 177 lifts looks can be deceiving. Welcome to Glastonbury on snow! SNOWBOMBING 2010 5-10 April, Mayrhofen, Austria www.snowbombing.com

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HARLEY STREET

To make an appointment or find out more call

+44 (0)1483 477 180 www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk

T HE HOME OF KEYHOLE VA RICOSE V EIN SURGERY

GUILDFORD

travel

connoisseur

GOURMET JADE

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There are not many places more romantic than Jade Mountain, St Lucia, with rooms offering near 180 degree views of the Caribbean Sea and the Pitons in the distance. Also renowned for its culinary sanctuary, chef Allen Susser is now offering cookery courses for gourmet travellers. Choose from Caribbean basics, cooking with mangoes, spices or chocolate. For further information, please contact Kuoni on 01306 747008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk

LOVER’S DAY

Catalunya in Spain celebrates its own version of Valentine’s Day; ‘Lover’s Day’ on 23 April: A perfect excuse to explore the region’s wildly romantic capital, Barcelona. Sant Jordi (St George) is patron saint of the region and is strongly associated with the notion of chivalry. Here, he is the equivalent of St Valentine and he presides over a day of romance and the exchange of gifts between sweethearts. Traditionally, girls are given white roses while the boys get a book. And on Lover’s Day, Las Ramblas - the vibrant promenade which cuts through the heart of the city, filled with musicians, street theatres, artists, and cafés – teems with row upon row of pop-up bookstalls and rose-sellers. So popular is this tradition that by the end of the day, some four million roses and 800,000 books will have been sold. The deeply stylish Hotel Miramar, Barcelona is offering a special package, available throughout April from €374 per couple. The price includes one night in a deluxe room with fabulous views across the city and the Mediterranean Sea; a romantic bubble bath with aromatic candles, rose petals, bath salts and champagne, strawberries and chocolates on arrival a candle lit dinner for two with views of the romantic Montjuïc Gardens and breakfast the following morning. For further information, please call +34 932 811 600 or visit www.hotelmiramarbarcelona.com

HAPPY BUS

For those jetting off to catch the last of the snow, Happy Bus offers bespoke transfers from the main Swiss airports with oodles of space for you, your family and your kit. www.happybus.ch

Travel fact:

66% of people think that airport

scanners are a good idea as they speed up checks and improve security, whilst 30 per cent said that they disapproved, largely on health and privacy grounds

www.skyscanner.net

www.chicretreats.com

Website of the month: After eight years Chic Retreats, the boutique hotel specialist, has a brand new website. Customer reviews are now included along with bigger and better hotel pictures and some personal tips from owner, Lulu.

Brought to you in association with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an unsurpassable collection of over 500 hotels spanning 70 countries, which offer an infinite variety of experiences.

BEST OF BRITISH

England

As international travel becomes faster and cheaper, it’s easy to forget what beautiful destinations we have in the UK says Josephine O’Donoghue. In search of the best of British, she travels across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in a four part series on homeland luxury travel

olidays are very important to a lot of people; many of us only get to take a holiday once or twice a year and consequently, we end up planning and looking forward to these special breaks for the remaining 48 weeks. With the terrible snowfall we’ve already had this year and the ongoing doom and gloom of the recession, many Britons have been tempted to jump on a plane and leave it all behind. But perhaps this is when we should stop and ask: how much of the UK have you actually visited?

OXFORDSHIRE: Less than 90 minutes from London, Oxford is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the UK and a popular tourist destination. Although it should definitely be on everyone’s list of British destinations (don’t miss the Bodleian Library, afternoon tea at the Grand Café and a traditional college tour) staying outside the city itself is a much better way to turn Oxford into a short break – the centre of town can be crowded with students, bicycles, tourists and traffic and a day can sometimes be enough! Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons (Raymond Blanc’s famous two Michelin starred hotel and restaurant) is located in Great Milton and is an ideal base for exploring the Oxfordshire countryside, enjoying day-trips to the dreaming spires and the majestic Blenheim Palace, and relaxing in traditional English luxury. We stayed in the beautiful Lavande Suite (one of 32 individually designed bedrooms) which, as the largest room in the original house and with views over the exquisitely manicured lavender garden and Croquet Lawn, was the epitome of English elegance. After a glass of Le Manoir’s own champagne on the lavish silk velvet sofa and a long soak in the glorious marble bathtub (look out for the tempting bath menu), we enjoyed a pre-dinner G&T in the lounge. Raymond approves every aspect of the hotel’s interior design himself, paying particular attention to the art work. Indeed, Sir Terence Conran

even commented that: “Raymond has transformed his Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons into a hymn of contemporary style. Gone are the heavy chintzes, billowing swags and over-gilded ornamentation, and in their place is light and comfortable modernity.” Although the luxury is discernable, it really does feel like Raymond’s own home rather than a gallery, showcase or formal hotel. Moving into the main dining room, we sampled Raymond’s Menu Decouverte; a ‘discovery menu’ which offers ten fine-dining taster courses (£130 per person including coffee and Petits Fours). Whilst every dish was truly excellent, highlights included Tartare of langoustine with Japanese savoury custard; New season sweetcorn agnolotti with garden greens (from the grounds of Le Manoir) and toasted hazelnuts; the pinkest, most tender Roasted Goosnargh duck breast with fresh figs; and a sweet Apricot ‘ravioli’ with almond jelly, peach and lavender. Each course was paired with a wine from the 1,000-strong winelist and our young but extremely knowledgeable sommelier talked us through each one; the Riesling Grand Cru Saering 2005 Domaine Dirler-Cadé and ChassagneMontrachet Vieilles Vignes 2006 Domaine Bernard Morey stood out in particular. Le Manoir is the only country house hotel in the UK which has achieved two Michelin Stars for a total of 25 years and as we enjoyed

course after course of delicious food, it wasn’t hard to see why. Before we left the idyllic haven of Le Manoir, we spent the morning slowly exploring the herb garden and beautiful Japanese tea garden. The two acres belonging to the house produce over 90 types of vegetables and 70 types of herb, supplying the restaurant’s kitchen with its daily needs for roughly eight months of the year (and if you’re lucky, one of the gardeners will stop and show you what’s growing). A relaxing walk around the ponds of the Tea Garden of Fugetsu-an and a few moments of rest in the tea house, and we were ready to face our journey onwards. For more information, visit www.manoir.com

travel

“I do not indeed know any tract of country in which, within so narrow a compass, may be found an equal variety in the influence of light and shadow upon the sublime or beautiful features of landscape” William Wordsworth, Guide to the Lakes

THE LAKE DISTRICT The home of the Romantic Poets, the Lake District is the most beautiful natural setting in England; a big claim to make, but if you’ve been there, you’ll know what I’m talking about. With landscapes that take your breath away (from purple mountains and dramatic skies, to deep blue lakes and rich woodland) every turn in the road reveals a view more majestic than the one before. For anyone in search of escapism, there is truly no place better to put your worries aside and embrace the sublime surroundings of England’s finest countryside. Although there is a wide choice of accommodation in the Lakes, we were drawn to the charm of Linthwaite

House; a luxurious yet homely hotel located close to England’s largest lake, Windermere, with a backdrop of the dramatic Langdale fells. The special thing about Linthwaite, we found, was the atmosphere. Although every room, fitting and meal is luxurious in every way, the staff are friendly and ‘un-stuffy’ – and given the deeply relaxing effect the Lakes have on daily life, it makes enjoying a break here even easier. We spent a lovely afternoon sipping tea, eating freshly baked scones and reading in the conservatory on the afternoon we arrived, chatting to staff and soaking up the stunning lakeside views. Several of the guests

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recommended local walks, and there is a collection of maps and walking guides available in the front hall – starting from Linthwaite House, we went on two walks taking us around the grounds and out into the surrounding country. The rooms at Linthwaite are extremely comfortable and decorated in a modern yet classic style. For those looking for an extra special stay, book the Loft Suite which, as the hotel’s newest refurbishment, boasts gorgeous duck-egg blue design in Designer’s Guild fabrics, double walk-in shower, double bath, separate lounge with 32” television and Bose sound system, sliding glass roof and fresh flowers to name but a few features. Linthwaite House is known across the Lake District as serving some of the best fine dining in the region; the stunning Mirror Room offers a relaxing and elegant environment in which to enjoy dinner and we enjoyed a delicious three-course menu devised by Head Chef Richard Kearsley. Using local, fresh ingredients the menu offers modern British cuisine and is complemented by an extensive wine list. Leaving Linthwaite House was hard, and we could have quite happily stayed on for another week, exploring more of the local area and spending more time with fellow guests. With such beautiful scenery, friendly people, local attractions (don’t miss Dove Cottage or the Bowness galleries) and a slower, more meaningful pace of life, the Lake District and Linthwaite House offer another lifestyle completely – one we will definitely be re-visiting soon. For more information, visit www.linthwaite.com

alternative

ALPINE

Tired of the usual ski haunts? Sarah Collinson finds some Swiss charm with a hint of hip

ave you ever had skiing déjà-vu? You know, that feeling when you arrive at yet another Alpine resort, look around at the wooden fronted chalets, fondue restaurants and snowbooted mothers herding ski-wielding enfants that, not only have you been here before, you had a Vin Chaud in that very bar and can definitely remember falling off that T-bar. You may never have stepped foot in the country before let alone visited the resort but, if you have ever been skiing in Europe, its pretty likely the experience is going to be the same. You can almost predict what you’re going to do and how

the chalet is going to look before you get off the plane, and you can guarantee that the group on the next table at lunch will be the same upper-middle class twits you encountered on the chair lift last year. Don’t get me wrong, holidays in these resorts are still as fantastic as always. It would be completely understandable to never want to step out of this cookie-cutter model but, if you are tiring of the traditional alpine merry-go-round, there is an alternative. In the past anyone who wanted to escape the fluted balconies and heavy food for a more modern and young skiing scene would have to go across the Atlantic. Unlike the French and Swiss, the new American

and Canadian resorts seemed to grasp that skiing wasn’t just the preserve of middle class families, with destinations like Whistler dominating the market for young holiday makers with cool bars, relaxed cafes and a generally more modern feel. But a particular destination in Switzerland seems to have spotted this gap in the European market. Laax resort, located just 90 minutes drive from Zurich, has given itself a face-lift for the new decade and is now arguably a rival to the cooler resorts across the pond. At first glance it doesn’t seem any different to all of the other small bijoux Swiss ski haunts. Based in a beautiful valley at the start of the

Above clockwise: Rocksresort Exterior BEO 08 Hannah Teter © Stadler CUt

Waldhaus Spa La Vacca Restaurant

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impressive Ruinaulta (the Swiss Grand Canyon) the area is made up of three small villages - Falera, Flims and Laax - that all link in to the same 220 kilometres of slopes. Falera has a sleepy feel with mainly family accommodation and a few quiet restaurants, and Flims, although slightly busier, maintains the tranquil tone with traditional Swiss architecture and a subdued apres-ski scene. The main part of Laax is the same with the usual accommodation, shops and alpine eateries based around a picturesque lake where you can skate after your day’s skiing. However, if you look slightly up the hill you’ll be confronted with a very different scene. About 15 years ago the infamous Riders Palace hotel opened with the aim of catering to a hip young crowd whose holiday aims were to ski and play hard, rather than just sit and eat raclette in wooden restaurants. With rooms equipped with X-boxes, a lounge playing music from 7am-4am and a club showcasing top bands and DJ sets, the Riders Palace quickly became the place to go for the young crowd in the know, and Laax soon became infamous as the snowboard capital of Europe. The resort capitalised on this momentum and groomed the slopes to accommodate this new clientele, building snow parks and halfpipes and dedicating a mountain to purely off-piste skiing. The effort worked and the up-and-coming ski and snowboard crowd kept returning with top industry events clamouring to be held in Laax. Today the Burton European Open, European Freestyle Open, National British Snowboarding and Freeski Championships and the BRITS are all held in the resort, with the slopes including four immaculate snowparks and the largest half-pipe in Europe. This year the resort has cemented its position as the alternative-alpine experience with the opening of the Rocksresort - a self-contained ski village built a few moments walk from both the Riders Palace and the ski base station. The apartments are as different to the usual European self-catering holes as Canary Wharf is to Brixton. Sleek and modern with flat screen TVs, the latest hi-fi equipment and a bathroom that

doubles as a micro-spa these are design havens of wood, chrome and granite with enormous windows to fully appreciate the Alpine view. They are all based around a small plaza that also accommodates a selection of bars and eateries specifically designed for the cool Laax crowd. Every taste is covered from the burger snack bar and relaxed pan-asian Nooba, to culinary Grandis – that serves the best steak I’ve ever had skiing – and Mulania whose head chef is 15 Gault Millau-point winner Michi Bauer. For an après-ski drink there’s the same variety of options with the chilled out atmosphere of Il Pub or the elegantly designed (and, to us British, hilariously named) Crapbar and, if you want to keep going ‘til dawn, there are two impressive capacity clubs that are starting to attract top international acts. The key point about this modern Laax is that it caters for the young, but for the stylish young; those who want to ski, eat and drink well but want a contemporary alternative to the staid same-ish resorts. This is no budget location but its facilities and clientele give it the energy and trendy atmosphere that is so often lacking from the usual Alpine environment. My one warning is make sure your ski kit is up to scratch. You may not be planning to hurtle down the half pipe but you can at least keep up on the outfit front and believe me, the Laax crowd are a stylish bunch! n

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r e: e t t h e ily g o t w da Ho operate us Aer Ling don om Lon fr ts h flig h c ri to Zu Gatwick om .c s u g in rl www.ae

Where to

ay: Signinaho tel: From CHF 120 (£ per person 71) per night in cl. breakfa Rocksres st ort: From CHF 1029 (£ per apartm 610) ent (2-bed room) (sle to 5 people ep up ) per week. From CHF (£974) per 1645 apartment (4-bedroom (sleep up to ) 9 people) p er week Book throu gh www.ro cksresort.c www.laax.c om / om or call +41 (0)81 92 7 77 77

CITYpromotion

CHOCOLATE BOX CHARM Le Chardon Mountain Lodges: the most sought after address in Val d’Isère

Chardon Dunvegan

Kilimanjaro Twilight

With its mixture of modern and traditional

this season, with dishes including roast sea bass

architecture, the famous skiing village of Val

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suckling pig with smoked garlic mash, and milk

amenities – and as a result, is one of the most popular

chocolate with black olive and popping candy.

destinations in the Alps. Nestled in one of the most

Overlooking the mountains, guests may also

sought after locations, Le Chardon Mountain Lodges has a portfolio of five luxurious ski-in/ski-out chalets.

indulge in a hot tub on the chalet terrace after a hard day on the slopes. And for those looking

Every property boasts its own personality and

for a little more indulgence, the resort concierge

size – the largest, Le Chardon, sleeps up to

can arrange for a beauty therapist to visit the

twenty guests, so it is the perfect choice for

chalet offering treatments and massages.

groups or extended families, whilst the smallest

For families, Le Chardon Mountain Lodges has

(Le Kilimanjaro) is suitable for up to eight guests.

a number of qualified nannies and enthusiastic

Run by a specialist team, the staff have been

staff on hand, keeping the children amused

hand-picked from some of Europe’s finest hotels

with games, hide and seek, jigsaws and outdoor

and restaurants. The chalet hosts take care of

activities such as walks, dodging snowballs and

every detail – from making sure the fridge is full

making snowmen in the powdery snow.

of special treats and making lunch reservations at the most popular mountain restaurants, to providing a private chauffeur service and returning ski equipment at the end of the holiday.

Prices for a week at a chalet in the Le Chardon Mountain Lodge portfolio early March start from £1,745 per person (based on full occupancy). This includes Champagne and canapés every evening,

A private chef looks after guests in each chalet

gourmet five-course dinner and breakfast cooked

- breakfast is prepared every morning, cakes

to order each day, a wide selection of fine wines and

and treats made daily, canapés and champagne

complimentary bar and a private chauffeur in resort.

before dinner and indulgent gourmet meals using the freshest local ingredients are served in the

For information and reservations, visit

evening. Then head chef Oliver Clarke (trained by

www.lechardonvaldisere.com or telephone

Gordon Ramsay) has created a fantastic menu for

0845 092 0350

THE CHALET PORTFOLIO LE CHARDON Sleeping 20, the ten en-suite bedrooms have uninterrupted views of the Manchet Valley and Vanoise National Park and there are three separate living areas, perfect for a big group or a few families holidaying together. There is a large private terrace, alongside two hot tubs and an 18ft swim spa. CHALET MISTRAL Sleeping 14, six of the seven en-suite bedrooms either have access to a sunny south facing terrace or a balcony. There is a comfortable TV room with large sofas, games, satellite TV and a DVD player and acres of outside space for snowball fights and sledging. CHALET LAFITENIA Sleeping 12 with uninterrupted views down the Manchet Valley, the house has a huge fireplace, fabulous living space and is a perfect winter retreat. LA BERGERIE Sleeping ten, the chalet sits on the site of an old Shepherd’s Hut, dating back to the tenth century. It also sports additional features such as a private massage room and a state-of-the-art cinema room complete with a Nintendo Wii.

SPECIAL OFFER: 10% discount on brochure price for any 2010/11 season bookings confirmed before 28 Feb 2010 (excluding peak weeks Christmas, New Year, Half Term and Easter).

CHALET KILIMANJARO Sleeping eight, this is an exquisite winter retreat. There is a private terrace and hot tub and the open plan living area has a high vaulted ceiling.

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TELEGRAM FROM THE QUEEN:

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100 years

The Goring celebrates

Kate Harrison visits this quintessentially English hotel

he English are famed for many things; The Royal Family, cups of tea, fish and chips, Shakespeare, and consistently bad weather to name but a few. But, perhaps most famously, the English are known for their modest etiquette and a reputation for excellent service. In this respect, The Goring Hotel certainly lives up to the stereotype. This charming, privately-owned hotel offers tourists and Londoners alike the chance to return to real old-school tastes in the heart of Belgravia, just a few minutes’ walk from Victoria Station, the Royal Parks and Buckingham Palace. The doors opened in 1910 and four generations of Gorings have run the hotel since then, making it the oldest family run hotel in the city. The hotel’s central location is perfect for access to a number of London attractions as well as a host of theatres and galleries – and yet it occupies a space and time away from the modern world, tucked away on a side street in an oasis of tranquillity. This year The Goring is celebrating its first hundred years. Fitting, then, that the lavish re-design of the hotels interiors should coincide with the hotel’s centenary. Seventy-one well-equipped bedrooms and suites

have been individually designed by the likes of Nina Campbell, Lord Linley, Tim Gosling and Russell Sage. The rooms ooze elegance with personalised furnishings, sumptuous fabrics and elaborate furniture. Whilst The Goring reflects a sense of tradition, the new rooms enjoy a contemporary twist. Luxurious and elegant, silk lined walls and plumped beds are complemented with a faux sheep in every room and state of the art lighting can be mood set to ‘calm’ or ‘Oooo’ for a more romantic ambiance. Even the luxurious en-suite bathrooms come complete with family of rubber ducks to ensure that bath time is never a lonely affair. These quirks give The Goring a sense of fun whilst remaining tasteful and true to the hotel’s heritage of pure opulence. Dinner at The Goring Hotel is a most civilized affair. The Dining Room, designed by the world-famous David Linley, offers truly exquisite food with an impressive wine list from the Goring family’s extensive wine cellar. The menu changes with the seasons and presents the very best of British country house cooking from carefully sourced British produce. The magnificent Swarovski chandeliers glow and adapts to the amount of light entering the room to ensure a mood of intimacy.

The hotel truly reflects a family’s passion for quality and attentive service, passed down through the generations. In fact, a statue of O.R. Goring, who first opened the hotel almost 100 years ago, stands proud in the lobby as a reminder of the hotels heritage – and a fresh flower is placed in his buttonhole every morning of the year. With the glamorous re-fresh complete in time for its birthday celebrations, The Goring is set to be a haven of luxury for many years to come. n The Goring received the award of ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the Catey Awards 2009 The Goring Hotel Beeston Place, SW1 0JW 020 7396 9000 www.thegoring.com

The Goring Birthday treat In celebration of its 100th birthday, The Goring will be inviting guests to join them and celebrate their own birthday at the hotel. Priced from £395 for two, the package includes: Balloons, chocolates and Centenary Ayala Champagne on arrival

Dinner for two in The Dining Room Overnight accommodation in a double room English breakfast And a personalised forecast prepared by a consultant astrologer! Available from 2 March 2010

STARTING from

SCRATCH

Sometimes you want someone to take over for a bit. To tell you to relax, put down the biscuits and do all the things you promise yourself youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do regularly, like yoga and meditation, and drinking plenty of water. Kate Hughes goes in search of that someone

fter working myself into the ground for a few months, rebalancing was needed. But it was going to take more than a massage and some panpipe music to get my equilibrium back; I wanted a reboot that would leave me not only more relaxed, but healthier, wiser and with the kind of well-being that I could take home afterwards. The answer lay on the Indonesian island of Bali, at COMO Shambhala (Sanskrit for peace and lifelong learning). Who needs New Year resolutions when you have Asianinspired therapies, yoga, Pilates, energy healing and organic cuisine on tap? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long journey (a 20-hour flight via Hong Kong) but then no one said there was a quick route to Nirvana. However, there definitely is a quick route out of Denpasar airport; the

A-list treatment starts immediately, as we are rushed through passport control and into a waiting limousine. I am already feeling soothed when we emerge from the limousine an hour and a half later at the magnificent front entrance of the estate, to reception staff who welcome us, tying fragrant corsages to our wrists. This level of personal attention is a cornerstone of the philosophy behind COMO Shambhala: the retreat has a nutritionist, naturopath, reflexologist, chiropractor and physiotherapist and hands-on healing is recommended according to guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs, whether for muscular pains, stress and emotional difficulties, with techniques that include Thai, Indonesian, Shiatsu, deep tissue and hot stone massage. My stay starts with a consultation with Ayurvedic doctor, Dr Deepak Deginal, who probes my health, lifestyle and aims and prescribes

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a stress management programme including diet, yoga and natural treatments to fold into my hurried lifestyle and change it for the better. Whether you’re new to the various healing traditions, or have a working knowledge, COMO Shambhala aims to help you help yourself. For me, the consultation helps refresh what I already know, and find new ways to put it into practice. If you forget anything you can always return to the basic tenet, that what we eat and how we sleep is the best medicine for wellbeing. Fortunately both are fabulously attended to here. Our Tejasuara (sound of fire) villa is sumptuous and decorated in rich Balinese style, the only sounds being the river and the light breeze through the trees, rippling across the private pool. Food is organic, and locally sourced raw fruit and vegetables are integral to nutritional supercharging here, with an extensive juice and vegetable extract menu for detoxification. Other tastes on offer range from Indian to Italian and Balinese, served in two restaurants, Glow and Kudus House. Following my consultation and a short time to relax, my personal assistant Johnson takes me through my tailor-made programme. He offers me the COMO Shambhala signature massage to alleviate my jetlag, and with personal yoga, meditation sessions and treatments scheduled in each day, I’m in heaven. I awake the next morning from a wonderfully deep sleep and, after a tea and fruit breakfast, I already feel healthier - and thinner! Best of all there is nothing to do but take things at a poised pace and get in touch with my inner harmony in the sun. Lunch is Mai Mai fish and

Kryptonite juice, (a potion of apple, celery, fennel, cucumber, spinach, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts and spirulina that protects the heart and boosts energy) lighting up my senses with clean, mouth-watering tastes. It’s the perfect way to set me up for a meditation session with yoga master, Christina Curry, followed by my treatment of the day, Shirodhara, where warm oil is poured in a rhythmic stream over the aina (eyebrow) chakra to clear the mind. By day three I’ve achieved an amazing calmness; my meditation with Christina feels like a deep five- hour sleep, and she’s prepared me a programme to follow at home to keep up the good work. And there’s a lot of good work to keep up with, including daily open-air yoga, head massages and

what we eat and how we sleep is the best medicine for wellbeing

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aqua therapy at the salt water, chlorine-free vitality pool. Lifestyle coaching with Fiona Paton focuses on making informed choices in my life, while a talk on emotional healing sets me up for a more peaceful life when I’m back home. It’s hard to pull yourself away, but there is a lot to explore in the surrounding area too and the estate organises hikes through villages, temples, rice paddies and jungle gorges, as well as treks to the Tjampuhan Ridge and Pucak Payogan Temple. COMO Shambhala is divine. After five days of nurturing attention, my mind feels free and relaxed, and I’m ready for anything. I’ve decided that my body is definitely a temple and I intend to keep it that way. n

top: COMO Shambhala Reception top left: Yoga Pavillion

For more information, please visit cse.comoshambhala.bz

Discover Africa...

What does Africa mean to you? Do you long to go on safari; to stay in luxury tented camps and spot sleepy lions, gangly giraﬀes and playful baby elephants? How about a beach holiday in a chilledout hotel with blissful spa treatments and fantastic diving? Or maybe you’d like to discover Cape Town, the Garden Route and South Africa’s winelands? Come and meet our Personal Travel Experts in Bishopsgate, who have specialist Africa knowledge and experience, and are ready to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Book an unforgettable Africa adventure with Kuoni, the World’s Leading Tour Operator.

Call into our luxury travel store at 84 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AU or call us on 020 7374 6601. Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

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DESTINATION

MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambique is one of Africa’s up and coming hot-spots, with stunning beaches, excellent diving and magical offshore islands WHERE IS IT? The Republic of Mozambique is located on the southeast coast of Africa and covers an area three times the size of Great Britain. Bordered by Tanzania to the north and South Africa to the south, the country has stunning natural attractions including some outstanding beaches and a string of sub-tropical Indian Ocean islands dotted along its 2,500 kilometre coastline.

HISTORY LESSON

WHEN TO GO

As with much of the east African coastline, Arabian traders first landed on Mozambique’s shores over 1,500 years ago. However, it was the arrival of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498 that established the link between the Portuguese and Mozambique that was to continue for over four centuries. When this ended in 1974, independence from Portugal was unfortunately followed by a civil war that ravaged the country until 1992 - when a peace treaty was signed. Since then Mozambique has been a stable and democratic country and, thanks to its late entry into tourism, development is being responsibly managed to safeguard the environment and benefit local communities. Developments like Guludo Lodge and Nuarro Lodge are excellent examples.

MOTHER NATURE

FOREIGN CULTURE

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Culturally Mozambique provides an interesting contrast to other countries in southern and east Africa, with strong European, Arabian and Latin influences. Maputo, the vibrant capital feels more Latin American than African, and in its heyday it was considered to be as beautiful as Cape Town or Rio.

All visitors require a visa to enter Mozambique. These can be obtained at border entry points or from the Mozambique Embassy or High Commission before you travel. For visitors staying in South Africa beforehand, Imagine Africa can arrange your Mozambique visa for you.

Most visitors to Mozambique are attracted to its spectacular beaches and offshore island archipelagos. Two of these – the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Quirimbas Archipelago – have attracted a small number of exclusive beach lodges offering spectacular barefoot luxury amidst the sandy beaches and coral lagoons.

Mozambique has a tropical climate with coastal temperatures high for much of the year. The rainy season is from late November through to early April and is usually hot and humid with temperatures in the mid 30s. The cooler dry season runs from May to October and daytime temperatures fluctuate around the mid 20s. Most days are sunny and rainfall is usually in brief, intense showers.

GETTING THERE The best way to get to Mozambique is flying via Johannesburg. British Airways, South African Airways and Virgin all have daily flights from London to Johannesburg. From there it is a two hour flight to either Maputo or Vilanculos (for the Bazaruto Archipelago). Once in Mozambique, the national airline operates regular domestic flights, although these can sometimes be unreliable. For further information on Mozambique contact Imagine Africa and ask for Ben, their Mozambique specialist at www.imagineafrica.co.uk or call 0207 6225114

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Lifetime

TRIP OF A ISLAND PARADISE:

We look at three different types of holiday which each offer a different take on the beautiful country of Mozambique

Azura is situated on an unspoilt island within a Mozambique National Park; think deserted beaches of pure white sand, sparkling turquoise seas, swaying palms, sunny days and star studded nights. This is Mozambique’s first luxury eco-boutique retreat built and operated in partnership with the local community, it has just 15 villas, each with their own infinity pool and designed for the ultimate in pampering and privacy. Guests can lounge on the beach whilst being served by a private butler, cool down in their very own plunge pool or enjoy cocktails

AZURA RETREAT

and dinner on their own deck. In addition, guests can snorkel or dive, fly fish, swim with dolphins or even help protect and release the turtles from their nests. The spa, which is nestled into the dunes, and whose signature treatments are based on local ingredients and traditions is the perfect way to unwind and forget the stresses of home. With unsurpassed levels of cuisine and service, a vast range of activities and experiences, and a unique African spa, you have the perfect island getaway. From £360 / £454pp

BEACH BEAUTY: NUARRO LODGE Nestled beside the glittering clear sea of Nanatha Bay, Nuarro Lodge comprises 12 luxury beachfront chalets on the coast of northern Mozambique. On the main beachfront, take advantage of large decked restaurant, bar area and fully equipped PADI dive centre. At the other end of the beach, a stunning restaurant has been built atop the coral rocks directly over the sea; and after dining you can walk across a rope bridge onto a coral rock island to chill out on day beds hidden amongst the rocks.

Marine activities include all levels of scuba-diving, snorkelling, whale and dolphin watching at the right times of year, kayaking and dhow trips exploring the interesting coastline. On the land, visits to the stunning lagoon at nearby Baixo do Pinda are an absolute must. If you are looking for complete isolation, stunning beaches, world class diving, and a thoroughly spoiling stay, then this is the place for you. From £178pp

WILD LIFE: GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK

Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique was once the jewel in the crown of colonial Mozambique, and now after decades of neglect is the focus of a large scale eco conservation effort led by American philanthropist Greg Carr, that has seen wildlife return in remarkable numbers. Explore Gorongosa Camp is a simple bush-camp in the heart of this exciting and wonderfully diverse national park. Owned and managed by the cheerful, organized and inspiring Rob and Jos Janisch, the camp has four spacious and surprisingly cosy safari tents (four poster beds with Egyptian

cotton duvets) and a communal mess tent for dining and relaxing. A typical three-night stay includes guided walks, night drives, brunches on sandy riverbanks, visits to the local village, whilst game drives will explore remote areas of the park; a safari enthusiasts dream.  From £242pp fully inclusive For further information on Mozambique contact Imagine Africa and ask for Ben, their Mozambique specialist at www.imagineafrica.co.uk or call 0207 6225114

BROWN’S LONDON

We have a stunning selection of flowers and decorations for all seasons Take a look at our new and improved website:

WWW.BROWNSLONDON.CO.UK Easy ordering Callback ordering service Free express delivery to Canary Wharf (within two hours) C O R P O R AT E - FUNERAL

FL O R A L A R R A N G E M E NT S WEDDINGS

G I FT S

Mon to Fri | 7:30am - 7:30pm Sat | 9:00am - 5.00pm Sun | 12:00am - 6:00pm Brown’s London, Canada Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5AH DLR Station Concourse, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB

Visit the shop or call us on

020 7512 9275

food & drink

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH:

food & drink

Harrods Couverture Easter Eggs

news

These stunning chocolate eggs are handmade in an exclusive chocolate mould in Harrods new Couverture milk, plain or white chocolate, and filled with Harrods’ very own recipe Champagne truffles. Each egg is beautifully foiled and presented in a stunning gift box. Delicious!

A recipe for success: •

All recipes must be original and include pasta

•

Enter via www.kitchenitalia.com/members or by post to Kitchen Italia, Walmar House, 288 Regent Street, London W1B 3AL

•

Applicants can enter as many recipes as they wish

•

The competition closes: 10am, 28 February 2010

•

The winner will be selected from all valid entries by Chef Director, Managing Director, Operations Director and Marketing Director of Kitchen Italia

•

The winner will be contacted by Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Full terms and conditions at www.kitchen-italia.com

www.harrods.com

DON’T MISS:

ANTONY MAKES IT EASY A must-have for any budding chef, Antony Worrall Thompson’s new book Antony Makes it Easy (published 18 February 2010 by Mitchell Beazley) makes the perfect addition to any recipe book collection. This new book presents over 120 recipes which offer stress-free ways of creating simple, healthy, home cooked food.

Restaurant NEWS:

Food lingo:

Quote:

THE AVENUE

CARPACCIO

DELIA SMITH

D&D London announced last month that the Avenue (7-9 St James’s Street, SW1A 1EE) is to re-open under the leadership of newly appointed head chef, Mikko Kataja. The menu will also benefit from a complete overhaul where modern British cooking will take pride of place. “I am very excited to be offered the role as head chef at the Avenue,” said Mikko Kataja. “I want my menu to combine clean and complementary flavours in a way that is approachable and appetising.”

Carpaccio is thinly sliced raw beef, veal, venison, salmon or tuna, often drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. According to Arrigo Cipriani (the present-day owner of Harry’s Bar), Carpaccio was invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice, where it was first served to the countess Amalia Nani Mocenigo in 1950 when she informed the bar’s owner that her doctor had recommended she eat only raw meat. The dish was named Carpaccio in reference to the Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio, because the colours of the dish reminded him of paintings by the artist.

There are people who claim to be instinctive cooks, who never follow recipes or weigh anything at all. All I can say is they’re not very fussy about what they eat. For me, cooking is an exact art and not some casual game.

Website of the month:

www.theworldin202meals.com

ARE YOU A PASTA MASTER?

Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a chef? Think you can cook up a seriously good bowl of pasta? This could be your chance to prove yourself, so why not enter the Kitchen Italia Recipe Challenge? Judges are looking for a pasta recipe that excites the taste buds through its originality, or offers an interesting twist on old classics. The talented winner could see their pasta recipe on the Kitchen Italia Spring 2010 menu and win a delicious meal at the new Kitchen Italia in Covent Garden every day for an entire year! The Kitchen Italia menu specialises in the many varieties of pasta native to specific Italian regions, each paired with the perfect sauce from light and zingy to rich and robust. Taking you on a journey across Italy, the menu showcases tasty dishes such as Tiger Prawn, Chilli & Garlic Tagliolini and Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter – so the competition is tough. Good luck!

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As any native Londoner will know, the capital is a hub of multi-cultural diversity. This fantastic website takes visitors on a guided tour of the city, proving you can eat food from all around the world without ever leaving London. Log-on for great restaurant tips and honest reviews from a wide range of international eateries.

Skiing next week? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what bonuses were made for 020 7401 1101 www.skiverbier.com

xxxxx

connoisseur

THE BATTERY If you want to sit back and dine with stunning panoramic views of the Thames, then Battery might be the place for you. Dominique Brady discovers if the food can live up to the extraordinary location

etting up in the former premises of Ubon in Canary Wharf is a brave move. Whilst diners get stunning panoramic views of the Thames once seated, they also have to navigate through a security gate and up a lift to find the restaurant. Without being able to pick up on passing trade, Battery will have to rely on word of mouth so standards need to be as high as the sky it is nestled in. I must confess that I had visited Battery before on the first week of opening. I left having consumed some very good beef carpaccio, a wonderfully rare squab pigeon and a sublime cheese board of French and English cheeses. So when I was asked to return to Battery to review it with my critical hat on I barely hesitated. First, those views – have I mentioned them enough? Well, they are quite amazing with floor to ceiling glass windows on three sides of the restaurant and the planet-like pendulum light fittings the only reflection on the London horizon. The rest of the décor is low key with green leather seats and chestnut fittings designed to help river and restaurant blend together. Service is slick, friendly and well-informed and the wine list is impressively extensive. After a teaser of deep fried risotto balls and a lively amuse-bouche of celery velouté with apple froth it was time for our starters. Their King Scallops starter is a superb dish. Plump scallops are served with grated cauliflower, fried black pudding and an Asian-inspired

sauce. All ingredients work well separately and even better together, with the flavour combinations enhancing the delicate scallop. Meanwhile the salt and pepper squid was cooked well with a visually stunning but subtle squid ink alioli. For mains I veered for the sea bass accompanied by a delicate langoustine ravioli and a slightly too enthusiastic serving of artichoke purée. A well put together dish but not quite as epic as that afore-mentioned squab pigeon. Meanwhile my friend raved about her impressive slab of rare sirloin beef with foie gras and caramelised onions. I’m not normally a desert gal but on a winter’s day I was drawn to their warm prune frangipani with a moreish, light amaretto cream. My friend opted for the more ambitious panacotta submerged in a milky blend of thai spices and which she described as “the most exciting desert” she’s had of late. We didn’t have room for the cheese board but from memory it’s worth a visit alone. So does the food live up the location? In my humble opinion such an ambitious venue has been well matched by its rich, robust and dare I say it, masculine menu by chef Minesh Patel. Big sauces, big flavours, an admirable attention to texture and premium ingredients make Battery stand out from its Canary Wharf rivals. Go à la carte, book a table next to a window and you can’t go far wrong. n 34 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 8RR 0208 305 3089 www.battery.uk.com

SHOPPING

Izakaya, Robatayaki …….. It’s all japanese to me!! Canary Wharf’s recently opened restaurant and bar, ROKA describes its cuisine as contemporary Japanese - Izakaya style, serving Robatayaki cuisine. But what does it all mean? First things first, the term Izakaya evolved from sake shops that served food so their customers could drink on the premises: ‘I’ means sit and ‘Sakaya’ Sake shop. Japanese restaurants are strictly segmented into specialist styles of cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura etc. At an Izakaya however many styles are embraced and served and diners order a selection of dishes to share. Drinks are also served including Sake and Shochu - Japan’s other national spirit that ROKA infuses with herbs and fruits and serves at the bar. ROKA was the brainchild of chef Rainer Becker who spent six years as a chef in Tokyo immersing himself in the gastronomic culture of Japan. On his return to London in 2002 Becker wanted to bring his own personal vision of Izakaya dining to London and opened ZUMA in Knightsbridge. Comprising of three different cooking styles from the main kitchen, the sushi and sashimi counter and also the Robata grill, ZUMA received huge acclaim and his concept of ROKA grew organically from this first eponymous restaurant. “ROKA is my interpretation of Izakaya dining,” says Becker. “The Izakaya style of dining really inspires me, the food is created to share so that you can enjoy many small plates of different tastes, flavours and textures, which is exactly what the menu at ROKA is all about. It also has an energy, a buzz, as it’s not a formal restaurant, it’s about relaxing and having fun.” But of course there are some differences to Becker’s take on Izakaya. Whereas Izakaya restaurants in Tokyo are more like pubs with food, ROKA, although informal, is design led. Indeed ROKA Canary Wharf has sophistication about it that starts from the detailed design of the

interior, through to the crockery that the dishes are served on. The Robata Grill, that forms the central feature of ROKA is found in the “heart” of the restaurant from where all the energy flows. Robatayaki is the name of the cuisine that comes from the grill and at ROKA Canary Wharf this includes delicious dishes such as ‘Ise ebi no sumibiyaki’ which is robata grilled whole lobster, lemon, chilli and white miso. ROKA’s food is a modern and contemporary interpretation of Japanese cuisine, when asked, head chef Yoshi Muranaka, explains that Japanese cuisine has many subtle levels of flavour, temperature and texture within its cooking culture. “The dishes are certainly more flavourful and bolder in their style than can be found in Japan however the ingredients and quality of the produce is the same,” explains Yoshi, assuring us that the success of Japanese Robatayaki cuisine is in its simplicity. Well it may be simple for him but it is certainly delicious for us.

ROKA Canary Wharf The Park Pavilion Canada Square 020 7636 5228 www.rokarestaurant.com Monday – Saturday: 12noon- 2.30pm and 5.30pm- 11pm Sundays: 12noon -2.30 and 5.30 – 10.30pm (as of 7 Feb ) Bar Opening Hours: Mon to Sat: 12noon - 11pm Sunday: 12noon - 10.30pm

Rainer Becker

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motoring lotus position speed for the sybarite

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sport the chilly games gadgets latest and greatest entertainment time out

beach bum

“Is this a Mini too far?” asks Matthew Carter

MW, owners of the iconic brand, has clearly been looking through the history books and stumbled on a thing called the Mini Moke. This doorless, roof-less, tea-tray on wheels was what all the hip young things drove in the sixties… or so the history books would have us believe. In fact the Moke was conceived as a military vehicle, but proved so feeble over rough ground – two-wheel-drive only and no ground clearance – that it was turned into a trendy car for Swinging London. Fine when the sun shone, but not so good for most of the year. Sales were indeed mini. Now BMW has decided to resurrect the Moke idea with the Beachcomber Concept. Despite its clear heritage, BMW has heralded the Beachcomber – first shown at this year’s Detroit Motorshow – as a ‘brand new type of car’.

OUR

N O S I T U O SI P

Our time with the Lotus Exige is coming to an end. We’ve taken it on track, we’ve taken it on road trips, we’ve even introduced you to its big sister. But, above everything else, we’ve grown rather attached

icking up the Exige S from Lotus HQ last year was the start of what can only be termed a ‘beautiful relationship’ and the beginning of a new motoring experience. Having been distracted by the bright yellows and reds of the supercars for quite some time, it was a refreshing change for our commercial director, Eren Ellwood and I’m starting to worry about getting the keys back. If you’re looking for pedigree, Lotus has it in abundance. And before you even get behind the wheel it is worth taking a trip down memory lane: A Lotus Formula One car, driven by Stirling Moss, won the marque’s first Grand Prix in 1960 at Monaco; in 1963, with Jim Clark driving, Lotus won the F1 World Constructors Championship for the first time and the list goes on including names such as Ayrton Senna, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti and Emerson Fitipaldi, not to mention that the Lotus name will they will be taking up the 13th spot on the grid in the 2010 Formula One Championship. Why the history lesson? It’s important to understand the history to understand the car. The provenance is in racing, and very successful racing at that.

motoring

The Lotus founder, Colin Chapman, believed that reducing the weight was key to performance and today the principle remains. The Lotus is no poseur special, although you will feel you can beat all of the above names when sitting behind the wheel. It was built for racing and that is what it does. In the city it is at ease – it doesn’t like traffic jams but who does? – but it sticks to roundabouts like glue, even if you do miss your turning on purpose and go round again just to see. The handling is magic; it’s as if it shapes itself into every bend in a different way, and even when pushed hard returns enough workable feedback to write a book about every corner. However, it is on the A-roads and the tracks that it excels. Think of it as the family dog; it will trot along gently on the way to the park, doing what it is asked to do, running off a little mischievously but always coming back at your command, that’s the city driving. But all pooch really wants to do is be let off the lead and show you exactly how fast she can run round the park, how she can out run the other pooches and how, still she just wants to please you. That’s what we’re really talking about. Phrases like ‘it handles like it’s on rails’, ‘more cornering ability than a greyhound on steroids’ and ‘explosive acceleration’ abound in our office and the car has been put through its paces; we’ve been to Thorpe Park, Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Beaulieu, The Valleys, The City, the shops, the go-kart track – we think we’re pretty qualified to comment and VITAL STATISTICS we’ve earned petrol head respect wherever we go. It’s charms, which make it one of the quickest-ever road going Lotus include a 0-60mph time of 4.51 seconds but, unlike the megapower supercars that have thundered into these pages, the Exige mixes pace potential with sensible fuel economy; the official average is 31mpg. It weighs a mere 935kg, which is lighter than any modern super-mini, yet it has 2420bhp, and at least 80 per cent of its maximum torque on tap from 2,000rpm (even though the engine can power up to 8,000rpm or 8,500rpm for two second bursts) - it’s power-to-weight ratio is extraordinary. Acceleration is not its sole appeal though. More alluring is the agility that comes with the small size and weight. You can flick it through corners and dart through gaps with an easy, effortless immediacy which is utterly addictive, always in the dynamic, always intimately involved with your machine. There’s no powersteering because the mid-engined Exige’s light nose renders it unnecessary, so you feel every force, every grip change and cornering load. It inspires great confidence. n

Model: Lotus Exige S Engine: In-line four-cylinder, 1796cc, supercharged Max power: 240bhp @ 8,000rpm Max torque: 170lbft @ 5,500rpm 0-60mph: 4.51 seconds Top speed: 150mph Fuel capacity:

calibre

Verdict: This is a car of complete functionality and fun; it has everything you could reasonably want and excellent looks without a hint of extravagance, excess or creative laziness. There’s even a half sensible boot.

THE EVORA: For the first time in ten years, Lotus is targeting Porsche customers... more specifically the Cayman S and Carrera 911 with the Exige’s big sister, the Evora. It has been designed as a serious long-distance machine, a true GT with comfort space and pace. The cabin has been sufficiently stretched to make it 2+2 and is positively sybarite compared to the Exige. It’s more powerful too with a useful 50bhp extra and it’s V6 engine is all about urge and refinement. We can’t wait to try it out...

43.5litres Insurance group: 20 Length/width/

height: 3,797mm/1,727mm (excl. Mirrors)/ 1,163mm

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E T I R A B Y S e h t for

motoring

eople will think you’re a chauffeur.” That’s all a mate said when I told him I was spending a week with a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. What nonsense, I thought. This was no ordinary Flying Spur, if such a thing exists, but a Flying Spur Speed. In other words, this was a seriously quick bolide with more power, more roadholding, more presence… well, more of everything, in fact. Its name tells the story. The Continental bit means it’s a Bentley from Volkswagen rather than a tradBrit V8 Bentley. I mean, it’s still built in Britain and to the highest possible standards, but was developed by Volkswagen when the German firm took over the venerable company. That means it has a state of the art twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine, air suspension and enough electronics to put man on the moon. Literally. The Flying Spur bit means it’s the four-door saloon brother to the Continental GT Coupe so beloved of premier division footballers and their WAGS. And the Speed badge means more power – up to, gulp, 600 horsepower from a mere 560 – a lowered stiffened chassis, 20-inch wheels and bespoke Pirelli PZero tyres, revised steering and brakes and a host of go-faster elements including drilled pedals and a sports exhaust. You can also tell a Speed apart from a standard Spur by its dark chrome radiator and lower grille. This is a saloon with attitude. And a price. The standard Speed weighs in at £137,000 but by the time the options list has been plundered that can rise dramatically. ‘My’ Speed had nearly ten grand of ceramic brakes, £5k’s worth of rear seat entertainment with DVD player and space stealing rear centre console while another £5k has been spent on a Naim sound system.

Designed exclusively for the car, it features a 1,100 watt amplifier – the most powerful fitted to any car apparently – a Digital Signal Processor and no fewer than 15 speakers. It’s fully equipped to deal with music on iPods, MP3s and USB sticks and can even be remotely controlled by those in the rear. Sounded fabulous, as indeed it should have done.

calibre

The only time size becomes an issue is when you’re parking the thing. Squeezing into London parking bays is an art while multi-story car parks are best avoided: all the bays seem to have been designed around a modest hatchback. Park the Bentley in a multi-story and the front (or rear) will stick out into the path of oncoming traffic… not for the fainthearted. It goes without saying that the cabin, the workmanship and the quality of the car are beyond reproach. Doors close with a solid thunk, the carpets are obscenely thick and the leather and woodwork sumptuous to look at, to touch and to smell. Goodness, I even grew to love the quilted leather seats. So was my mate right? Did people assume I was a chauffeur? I’d like to think not, but the truth is probably different. Especially towards the end of my time with the car. My wife and I had been down to Cardiff for the weekend and were about to head back up the M4 to the city on Sunday evening. The weather was foul and it was dark. My wife ignored the front seat saying that with nothing to see but spray from other cars she might as well stretch out in the rear and perhaps have a cat nap. She didn’t of course, but instead took full advantage of the rear seat entertainment package. Anyone I passed on that trip back would have seen a driver up front (me) with his ‘employer’ in the back bathed in the ghostly glow from the DVD screen. All that was missing was my cap. 

WHO’D HAVE THOUGHT SOMETHING SO BIG COULD MOVE SO DAMN GRACEFULLY… OR SO DAMN QUICKLY? All the extra bits added another £31,000 to the bill… enough to buy a new Mercedes E-Class with a few goodies of its own. So in absolute terms it’s costly, yes – thirsty, too with fuel consumption struggling to reach 17 mpg. But, dare I say it, it’s cheap for a Bentley. It might not be hand-built in the way the Mulsanne is lovingly assembled and the engine is an off-the-shelf number from Volkswagen that has also found its way into the VW Phaeton. But the Continental, any Continental, is more than just a car. Who’d have thought that something more than 17ft long and weighing almost 2.5 tons could move so damn gracefully… or so damn quickly? According to Bentley, the CFSS has a top speed of 200mph and a sub 5-second time to break 60 mph from rest. I’ll believe them. I need my licence too much to put that to the test on public roads. But what really surprises is how quickly the silky smooth engine and transmission react to driver inputs while the grip, poise and nimbleness of the car are remarkable. The ride, despite those big wheels and tyres, is exceptionally refined, though it’s not perhaps as quiet on the move as you’d expect a Bentley to be. Maybe that’s deliberate, to enhance the sport/speed aspects of the beast. Despite its bulk, it wraps itself around the driver and seems to shrink to fit the roads. There’s certainly no problem placing the car on the road and it can be hustled with disarming ease along winding country roads thanks both to those wide tyres and the four-wheel drive chassis

IN BRIEF CAR: Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed PRICE: £137,000 ENGINE: 4.7-litre V8 petrol POWER: 600bhp DRIVE: Four-wheel drive

sports

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Buy it:

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what to watch:

BLING PUTTER

Described as “Savile Row treatment for putting” Kramski’s high performance putters allow fitting for length, lie angle, head weighting and more. Available exclusively at Premium Golf in Surrey, you can get your hands on these customized clubs from £695 with a gold version for £6,500. www.premiumgolf.co.uk

AMERICAN SUPERBOWL The 44th American Super Bowl will see the might of the champions of the American Football Conference (New York Jets or Indianapolis Colts) take on the champions of the National Football Conference (Minnesota Vikings or New Orleans Saints) in what promises to be a bone crushing, high-adrenalin, passion charged event that will bring the USA to a standstill. A show stopping sporting event, made even better by a half time performance from The Who. Viewers in the UK will be able to view it on BBC One.

Say what?

Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.

Muhammad Ali

Five things you didn’t know...

COLIN MONTGOMERIE

He carries a Swiss Army knife, bananas and KitKats in his golf bag

His interview for a client manager job at IMG took place at Turnberry, but after nine holes he was seven under par leaving them asking to work for him

He grew up in Yorkshire where his father was MD of Fox’s Biscuits

He is a loyal supporter of Glasgow Rangers

He attended Houston Baptist University, making him one of the first British golfers to go to a United States college

10pm (GMT), 7 February, 2010

Sport relief This year’s Sports Relief is fast approaching and if you haven’t already, now is the time to start that all important fund-raising. One way for us Londoners to get involved is the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile event on Sunday 21 March. Participants have the choice of completing one, three or six miles meaning no matter what your age or level of fitness, you can take part and help raise money for those less fortunate in the UK and world’s poorest countries. C elebrities such Claudia Winkleman (who is said to be running in heels!) will also be doing their bit on the day - even more of an excuse to head over to the starting line at Victoria Embankment! www.sportrelief.com

THE CHILLY GAMES

The last Olympic party before London 2012 kicks off this month with Vancouver playing host to the XXI Winter Games. Lee Brooks takes a look at Great Britain’s medal hopes

want to be taken a little more seriously having invested a cool $2bn in the event taking place in the breathtaking Whistler Olympic Park. Furthermore, such is the Canadian desperation for success on home soil that organisers have restricted rival countries’ access to facilities while ensuring their own athletes have enjoyed maximum use. Though this is within the rules, it has been frowned upon and is sure to be a talking point over the 17 days of competition. There are seven sports and 15 disciplines on the Olympic programme for 2010 of which Great Britain will compete in 11; biathlon, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, luge, figure skating, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding. With around 50 British athletes travelling across the pond, hopes are high that the squad can return with a hopeful but achievable six medals. So, let’s take a look at our medal contenders.

sport

calibre

Scotland’s men’s team CURLING The three words “hurry, hurry, hurry” brought the 2002 Salt Lake City games to life as Scot Rhona Martin and her crew hurried, slid and curled their way to Olympic gold, the first for Great Britain in 18 years. This time round, though, it’s the men who have a shot at the top spot. Scotland’s men’s team are reigning world champions and will form the Great Britain side for this year’s Games. If they play like they did when they beat Canada to win world gold, there’s no reason why they can’t come back with an Olympic version. n The XXI Winter Olympic Games runs from 12-28 February. For more information see www.vancouver2010.com

gadgets

Jamie Carter presents the month’s hottest gadgets

SAFETY VALVE Digital music is everywhere, but if you yearn for the warm, lush sounds of analogue music, this valve amp-cum-iPod dock could be just the ticket. A sleek, mirrored amplifier holds a steel cradle for an iPod or iPhone, with two gloss black speakers also provided. The star attraction, though is atop the amplifier; a vacuum valve that pulses in time to music. It’s impressively easy to use – a basic remote control lets you operate the iPod menus, select playlists, chose songs, shuffle tracks and tweak bass, treble and volume levels. It also charges an iPod or iPhone while it plays music, and though it’s possible to attach any MP3 player using some basic stereo jacks on the Valve80’s rear, you don’t then get any kind of menu control. Even with an iPod, the Valve 80 has to be in your line of sight if you’re to operate the menus easily.

This high-end iPod dock even deals in video. Connect the amplifier to a TV using an S-video or composite video cable and you can watch music videos, films or vodcasts stored on an iPod; though if you’re after decent picture quality we’d recommended you only use S-video. Sound quality is hardly benchmark, though it does add a warmth to MP3 files that are a world away from the sound in iPod headphones or PC speakers, with just enough bass available and vocals, in particular, enjoying a lot of clarity. The heights the Valve80 can achieve largely depends on the compression of the MP3 files on your iPod; files ripped from a CD at 320kbps sound far better than 128kbps songs purchased from iTunes, which contain a lot less information. However, any kind of music is lent significant power that’s more than enough to fill a living room, and it behaves particularly well with songs recorded with the same valve technology – in our tests the opening salvo of The Beatles’ I Feel Fine and the bass line of Taxman were given a new depth and fullness. The small bookshelf speakers are easy to home, too; tweeters are mounted on top of the cabinets to give an unusual look, which you can add to by peeling away the speaker grilles, revealing the main drivers. If you’re after an eye-catching – and iPod-friendly hi-fi – a valve amp is an excellent, albeit unusual, choice; the Valve80 does just enough to impress.

Logic3 Valve80 iPod speaker system www.logic3.com

new gadgets

Panasonic DMC-GF1 Micro Four Thirds digital camera, £650 www.panasonic.co.uk

Sony HT-IS100 ‘golf ball’ home cinema system, £400 www.sony.co.uk

gadgets

calibre

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Head to the high street and you are unlikely to find a flatpanel TV that provides any kind of 21st century style. But in this commodity market dominated by low prices, you do have options; spend twice as much and you can get your hands on this delectable LED TV from Philips. The brand’s flagship set, this 46-inch screen is fitted with myriad features you just don’t find on most TVs. The most important is LED backlighting behind the entire screen (most so-called LED TVs only have LED lights around the edges), which helps create stunning contrast-heavy pictures. Add Philips’ signature Ambilight – which covers your walls in

constantly changing coloured lights that match the dominant hue on the screen – and you’ve something quite unique.

Philips 46PFL9704 LED TV, £1,800 www.philips.co.uk

COMEBACK KID Before most of us had even heard of Blu-ray, there was another hi-def disc format called HD-DVD. Developed by Toshiba, it’s now gone the way of Betamax – and its maker has since swallowed its pride and issued its first Blu-ray player. And it’s a decent first effort. Clocking-in at under £200, if you look online, the BDX2000 is as slim as any DVD player and even connects to the online BD Live service for downloading extras like directors commentaries,

trailers and interviews. Unfortunately there’s no WiFi so the BDX2000 will have to sit near your broadband router, while a SD card has to be inserted into the machine’s front to take BD Live downloads. Inconvenience aside, this is one of the best budget Blu-ray decks around, playing hi-def movies, DVDs and CDs in spectacular quality.

Toshiba BDX2000 Blu-ray player £200 www.toshiba.co.uk

PAGE TURNER

THIN END OF THE WEDGE

There’s something familiar about the iRiver Story. Unlike the unique Amazon Kindle, which wirelessly links to a website and downloads books and newspapers in seconds, all other ebook readers rely on you buying books on a computer and transferring them to the device. But aside from the lack of a 3G module, the Story apes the Kindle; its Qwerty keyboard and slim white design being the main similarities. A shade cheaper, this is still a high-end ebook reader that’s well-made and easy to use. Able to display PDF, TXT and RTF files, as well as the dedicated EPUB e-book format you can buy online from almost any

If you’re after a small laptop for the communte and a Mac just isn’t for you, how about Dell’s latest – and the world’s thinnest? Available exclusively from John Lewis, the Adamo XPS is just 9.9mm slim, despite including a proper aluminiumcapped keyboard, touchpad and a 13.4-inch widescreen display. Able to show high definition movies, the Adamo XPS has all the usual laptop features; a two-megapixel web camera, WiFi and Bluetooth. At £1,750 it’s not a purchase to be taken lightly, although its 1.4GHz Intel ULV processor and 128GB hard drive are reassuring.

book shop’s website, the Story also displays JPEG, BMP and GIF images, and even plays MP3 files out loud while you read.

iRiver Story ebook reader £229 www.advancedmp3players.co.uk

Humax HD-FOX-T2 Freeview HD set-top box, around £170 www.humaxdigital.com

As always with super-slim laptops, battery life could hamstring its practicality – on the Adamo XPS it stretches to 2.5 hours, though an optional battery pack does double its life.

Dell Adamo XPS laptop, £1,750 www.johnlewis.com

Sennheiser PXC 210 BT Bluetooth headphones, £120 www.sennheiser.co.uk

Pure Sensia DAB, FM & Internet audio system, £249 www.pure.com

Cat Hughes previews Ponyo

dvd

film

entertainment Adam

A quirky and awkward romantic comedy starring Hugh Dancy as Adam, a handsome young man with Asperger’s Syndrome. When teacher, Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into Adam’s apartment building she finds herself attracted to this rather odd, awkward guy who lives downstairs. Adam who is socially inept and a staunch avoider of eye contact is devoid of intuitive facilities that are required to the subtleties of flirtation. What follows is a quiet, subtle romantic comedy, which actually manages to be unique Adam is billed as the first film to feature Asperger’s Syndrome and, according to experts, Adam’s behaviour is spot on. It will doubt be in the running for the Oscars. The special features include commentary with the director Max Mayer and producer Leslie Urdang, an alternative ending, the making of and deleted scenes. The perfect alternative romantic comedy.

Out 15 February

he Academy Awardwinning Hayao Miyazaki is back with his latest creation Ponyo. Inspired somewhat by Hans Christen Anderson’s classic mermaid tale, Ponyo (voiced by Noah Cyrus) is an over eager goldfish who is on a quest to be come human. One day a little boy called Sosuke (Frankie Jonas) finds the little goldfish on a beach and takes her in as a pet and Ponyo takes Sosuke into her heart. But Ponyo’s father (Liam Neeson) is desperate for his daughter to return to their undersea home and uses all his magical powers to bring her back. This leads to a series of adventures. The Hollywood big names have

Sponsored by

0871 200 2000

www.cineworld.co.uk 11 Hertsmere Rd, West India Quay

100

come out in force to voice this magical and imaginative film: Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus (Miley Cyrus’ younger sister) and Frankie Jonas (the Jonas Bothers’ younger brother) as well as those mentioned before. This is not one of Miyazaki’s best films but it is still worth watching – it’s colourful, rich, imaginative and engaging. Miyazaki has even thrown in an environmental message into the mix. It’s gentler than his other films, suited to a younger audience, but kids and big kids alike won’t fail to enjoy – it’s just too cute.

Out 12 February

It took teen band of the moment N Dubz eight years before they were signed by Polydor

music

entertainment

calibre

Disco Balls 01•02

Chris Baraniuk suffers the Italo disco phenomenon

Usher

Raymond V Raymond Ringo Starr

Y Not

Peter Andre

Unconditional - Peter Andre Love Songs

08•02 H.I.M

Screamworks – Love in Theory and Practice Freeway

This is My Life Fear Factory

Machanize

15•02 Natalie Imbruglia

Come to Life

Marina and the Diamonds

Family Jewels

22•02 Jonny Cash

American VI Ain’t no Grave Groove Armada

Black Light

Andrew W.K

Close to Calls with Brick Walls Saxon

Rock the Nations Cobra Starship

Hot Mess

TOP GAMES first person shooters

1 Bioshock 2: Xbox, PS3 & PC 2 Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2: Xbox, PS3 & PC 3 Half Life 2: The Orange Box: Xbox, PS3 & PC 4 Left 4 dead 2: PS3 5 Borderlands: Xbox, PS3 & PC 6 Halo 3: Xbox 7 Resistance: Fall of Man 2: Xbox, PS3 & PC 8 Far Cry 2: Xbox, PS3 & PC 9 Dead space Extraction: Wii 10 Crysis; PC

his month I have been punishing my ears with a phenomenon known as Italo disco. Essentially an excuse for torturously poor synthesised ‘dance’ music churned out of Europe during the 1980s, Italo disco sums up pretty much everything that went wrong in the age of plastic and moustaches. Wikipedia tells me that, “along with love, Italo disco themes deal with robots and space, sometimes combining all three.” So we’re not working with a particularly promising genre, then. Or are we? It seems, friends, that there are some select diamonds rolling around in heaps of rotten old rough. When Miami Horror released their superior single ‘Don’t be on with her’ last year, they decided to play on the past with gusto. The track was released with a press statement fallaciously announcing that the band had ‘reformed’ after their 80s break-up and the video, adored by YouTubers, is an eye-blinkingly authentic attempt to recreate the 1980s in the 21st century. But contemporary references aren’t always satirical. Clio is largely considered to be one of the Italo disco artists who has best stood the ruthless test of time – a claim which has been more or less verified by the recent cover of his track ‘Faces’ by Canadian newcomers, Electric Youth. So you want to show off some vintage Italo disco knowledge to synth-loving friends? First up, try Kano’s ‘She’s a Star.’ It’s from an

album titled ‘New York Cake’ and the release’s bespoke graphic design presents you with a beaming neon gateaux. Alternatively, fresh out of 1983 is ‘Inside you’ by Giak which is genuinely very, very close to the work of many contemporary uber-cool electro acts like College who might as well represent a rip in the space-time continuum. All of these floor-fillers are available on YouTube and a precious few can be acquired via iTunes (which also offers one or two decent compilations) but most of Italo disco has remained in largely merciful obscurity. If it’s not your thing but you want to have a cheeky chuckle at the worst of the genre, try ‘italovideo’ music videos like the one for Scotch’s ‘Disco band’ or Eddy Huntingdon’s ‘U.S.S.R.’ And people say we haven’t learned anything from the past…

A LE

Princess and the Pea sees the return of traditional animation with this twist the frog prince. (5 February)

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is the adaptation of the popular children’s book of the same name. A teenager named Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) discovers that he is the demigod son of the Greek god, Poseidon. (12 February)

The Wolfman: A man returns home to Victorian England only to be bitten by a werewolf.

(12 February)

Lovely bones centres around a girl who is murdered and watches over her family and her killer from heaven.

(19 February)

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! E DA C I NCING ON This winter, Broadgate has been transformed into the perfect venue for sharing a special Valentine’s date, entertaining friends, family or colleagues. Ice-skating is the perfect night time activity to enjoy in the cold weather, before the ice melts into spring. Located in the heart of the City Open until the end of March Turn up and skate – No booking required Now London’s only outdoor ice-rink Close to a selection of London’s finest restaurants and most popular bars If you’re hopeless on skates don’t panic – call the Arena office to book lessons with professional instructors on the spacious 22m rink. The rink may be booked by the hour for either skating or broomball on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6-9pm (£450 per hour) and is a fantastic treat for special occasions, a night out with friends or fun corporate bonding. Located next to Liverpool Street Station, the rink is open until 7 March and has a 100 person capacity.

’s Valentineffer special o ink – the ice r n o 1 r fo 2 par tner bring your skate and they free*

* subject to availability and session times

For further details please contact: Broadgate Ice, Ice Rink Office, Broadgate Circle, London EC2M 2QS T: 020 7505 4082 (answerphone) E: arena@broadgateestates.co.uk www.broadgateinfo.net

LONDON HOMES&

PROPERTY SHOWCASING THE FINEST HOMES IN YOUR AREA

COVERING THE CITY, CANARY WHARF, DOCKLANDS & SOUTH EAST

QUALITY STREET

B A L LY M O R E ’ S A D D I T I O N T O THE DOCKLANDS SKYLINE

H O T P R O P E RT I E S CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST HOMES

KnightFrank.co.uk/Sales

Oliver’s Wharf, Wapping E1W

Gun Place, Wapping E1W

Oliver’s Wharf is a listed Victorian warehouse in the Venetian Gothic style and one of the first buildings in Docklands to be converted to residential use. The 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom flat benefits from many original features such as exposed brickwork and beams.183 sq m (1962 sq ft).

3 bedroom penthouse with panoramic views. On the 7th and 8th floors of a well known building in the heart of Wapping, a 3 bedroom penthouse with panoramic views. The accommodation offers flexible living areas and the benefit of a terrace off the kitchen dining room. 212 sq m (2288 sq ft).

Share of Freehold

Leasehold: 101 years

Guide price: £1.1m

Guide price: £1.325m

Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

Keepier Wharf, Limehouse E14 Superb riverside penthouse with excellent reception space. Fantastic 3/4 bedroom riverside apartment situated on the top two floors of a well maintained portered, purpose built development. Excellent reception space throughout including terrace overlooking the river. 219 sq m (2364 sq ft). Share of Freehold Guide price: £1.925m Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

Thomas More Street, Wapping E1W 2 bedroom flat in good order with delightful water and river views. Just to the east of St Katharine’s Dock facing onto the Hermitage Basin, a light and bright flat with a southwest aspect. The flat has been refurbished to a very high standard with much attention paid to the detail. Garage parking. 71sq m (769 sq ft). Leasehold: 115 years Guide price: £529,000 Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

St Pancras Chambers, Euston Road NW1 Magnificent Grade 1 Listed development

Amazing top floor triplex 1896 sq ft three bedroom apartment located in the beautiful newly refurbished Grade I listed St Pancras Chambers development above the station. This spacious apartment has been finished to a very high standard boasting two reception rooms, three bathrooms, excellent 24 hour porterage and a lovely interior designed furniture package. Available now. ÂŁ1,400 per week

Knight Frank City Lettings gary.hall@knightfrank.com 020 7606 1560

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

Capstan Court, Wapping Wall EW1 Modern two double bedroom 3rd floor apartment set in this smart warehouse conversion on Wapping Wall. This furnished flat has a good size reception room with exposed brick work and lovely wooden floors, a fully fitted kitchen, two bathrooms, a nice terrace and secure parking. £450 per week Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Christopher’s Court, City Quarter E1

Theobalds Road, Bloomsbury WC1 Beautifully presented two double bedroom two bathroom apartments set on the 3rd floor in this newly converted block in Bloomsbury, close to Holborn and Chancery Lane underground stations. This stylish flat has been fitted to a very high standard boasting a modern open plan kitchen, good size reception room, lovely bathroom suites, wooden flooring and interior designed furnishings. £625 per week Knight Frank City Lettings 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

New Crane Wharf, New Crane Place EW1

Modern and spacious 2nd floor one bedroom apartment set in this new portered development close to Aldgate and Tower Hill underground stations and a short walk in to The City. This bright apartment has a lovely reception room with a semi open plan fully fitted kitchen, bathroom with shower, balcony, nice wooden floors and a contemporary furniture pack.

Spacious two bedroom two bathroom apartment in popular warehouse conversion in Wapping. The property boasts two large bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom, good size reception room, wooden floors, semi open plan kitchen, 24 hour concierge and underground parking.

£350 per week

Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank City Lettings 020 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

£550 per week

Gallery Lofts, Hopton Street SE1

Stylish split level loft apartment with river views Stylish split level loft apartment located in this outstanding 24 hour portered development next to The Tate Modern and River Thames with easy access to London Bridge station or a short walk in to The City. This beautiful 1450 sq ft apartment has been finished to a high standard boasting a lovely open plan reception room with double height ceilings, modern fully fitted kitchen and a additional mezzanine level. Also offering two double bedrooms, two contemporary bathroom suites, multiple terraces and impressive views. ÂŁ1,850 per week

Knight Frank City Lettings gary.hall@knightfrank.com 020 7606 1560

City Ofﬁce 020 7236 8398 city@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk

St Andrew’s Hill, EC4V Cliffords Inn, EC4

£560,000 Leasehold £595,000 Leasehold A superb warehouse apartment in one of the City’s prime A superb 2 bedroom apartment in this popular block on the locations south of St Paul’s Cathedral. The property is well laid western edge of the City, with a southerly aspect and beautiful out and comes with a number of period features. views over St Dunstan’s Church.

Fournier Street, E1 Mitre Street, EC3

£2,000,000 Freehold £399,950 Leasehold Dating from 1726, this stunning property on Spitalfields’ most desirable A stunning two bedroom apartment with an abundance of natural street offers beautifully appointed accommodation throughout together light on the third floor of this converted tea warehouse, away from with a separate studio house. busy traffic and adjacent to the Gherkin.

Trinity Square, EC3N £625,000 Share of Freehold Puma Court, E1 £1,195,000 Freeehold Featherstone Street, EC1 £395,000 Leasehold Garden Walk, EC2 £390,000 Leasehold Hamptons are delighted to present this extremely charming Hamptons are delighted to present this wonderful 2 bedroom 2 An impressive apartment popular development bathroom flat on the first within floor ofthis a converted period building, offering stylish contemporary accommodation on one floor offering outstanding views of the Tower of London. with its own street entrance and private car parking.

perty address

A smart contemporary the1800’s, heart of and characterful houseapartment dating backlocated to the in early Shoreditch. Finished to a high standard the property enjoys access offering flexible accomodation and a wonderful roof terrace. to a private balcony and a communal roof terrace.

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Crane Court, EC4A Upper Thames Street, EC4 Firstname Surname

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Greatorex Street, E1 Barbican, EC2 Price on application

£299,950 Leasehold £565,000 Leasehold A bright and airy two bedroom top floor apartment with spectacular Pricea on application This duplex offers lovely view over the garden and the lake. The views towards the City yet within easy reach of fashionable Brick Freehold interior remains true to the Grade II listed heritage, with a smart Freehold Lane. modern kitchen and 60’s bathroom suite.

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Tower Bridge Ofﬁce 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

RotherhitheSquare, Street, SE16 Providence SE1

Empire Square West, SE1 Axis Court, SE16

Long Lane, SE1 Cayenne Court, SE1

The Cooperage, SE1 Butlers & Colonial Wharf, SE1

£699,000 Leasehold £585,000 Share of Freehold A river front 1238 sq ft apartment nestled ideally in the heart of A waterfront two bedroom apartment within the popular Rotherhithe Village. Offering 2 beds, 2 baths, exposed beams, solid Providence Square development, having a terrace directly oak flooring and secure parking. overlooking the Japanese style water garden.

£299,950 Leasehold £585,000 Leasehold A second floor one bedroom apartment, completed by Galliard A two bedroom 1st floor apartment within the popular Cayenne Homes at the end of 2006, with West facing balcony. Court development, having a Westerly courtyard facing balcony from the reception. Leisure complex and parking.

£550,000 Leasehold £695,000 Leasehold 21st floor penthouse with spectacular panoramic views, from A beautifully presented 951 sq ft two bedroom penthouse apartment Canary Wharf to the London Eye through floor to ceiling glass. built in 2005 by Berkeley Homes with balcony, spacious terrace and Exquisite specification, and immaculately presented. underground parking.

£965,000 Leasehold £389,000 Leasehold A superbly presented 3 bedroom apartment in the heart of Shad A stylish one bedroom apartment on the 1st floor of a gated & thames, having partial views of Tower Bridge. This top floor portered development, with re-fitted kitchen and bathroom, located apartment has an en-suite, porterage and parking. in the heart of Shad Thames.

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Trinity Street, SE1SE16 Windsor Court,

Prices from £599,000-£1,000,000 £395,000 Leasehold A new boutique development in the centre of Borough – three 2 An upgraded, 4th floor, 880 sq ft, dual aspect, two bedroom bedroom apartments, one unique penthouse and a four storey apartment in a gated, portered development, with river views from modern townhouse. Reserve off plan with the chance to customise. the balcony and parking.

Reeds Wharf, SE1 Bridgewalk Heights, SE1

£1,950,000 Leasehold £465,000 Leasehold A superb 3rd floor, 2 bedroom warehouse conversion set along the banks A top (3rd) floor two double bedroom duplex apartment, with of the River Thames. Over 2,000 sq ft, 2 balconies and underground en-suite to master and two receptions, within 200m of London parking. Bridge station.

A network of offi ces - local, national An expanding network of over 70 offices - local, nationaland and international. international

City Ofﬁce 020 7236 8399 citylettings@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

Lambs Passage, EC1EC2A Tabernacle Street,

£350 per week £450 per week A large studio apartment with private terrace in this brand new A one bedroom apartment with plenty of character, contemporary development between Clerkenwell and Shoreditch. kitchen and private terrace located in a former warehouse.

Cornhill, EC4 EC2M London Wall,

£330 per week £430 per week A central City apartment just a stones throw from Bank underground A two bedroom apartment in the heart of the City only moments station with wood floors and high ceilings. Perfect City apartment! to Liverpool Street and Bank stations. The apartment benefits from air conditioning and contemporary decor.

Commercial Street, E1 £370 per week Folgate Street, E1 £400 per week St Marks Street, E1 £585 per week Trinity Square, EC3N £590 per week A larger one bedroom apartment with eat in Kitchen and A two double bedroom apartment in this popular Spitalfields A three Terrace. double bedroom apartment private 24 hour penthouse concierge and parkingarranged availableover by two levels providing a bright living area with two balconies. Parking is separate negotiation. available by separate negotiation.

A stunning two bedroom bathroom duplex apartment with development with 24 hourtwo concierge, communal gardens and panoramic views over the Tower of London and the River Thames. underground parking.

Property address Property Property address address

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High Timber Street, EC4V

£330 per week Firstname Surname A stunning two bedroom apartment in a converted tea warehouse,

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Street, EC2 £1,800 per week Little Britain, EC1A £430 per week A rare opportunity to rent this brand new three bedroom town Price on application A superfisplit level bedroom apartment thelocated historical house, nished totwo anonimpeccable standard in and within the Price Freehold Price on application application Smithfield area, overlooking pleasant gardens, situated in a Square Mile. Freehold Freehold portered mansion block between St Paul’s and Barbican.

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Tower Bridge Ofﬁce 020 7407 3172 towerbridgelettings@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

Wheat Wharf, SE1 SE16 Riverview Heights,

£675 per week £725 per week This stunning two bedroom apartment features a large open plan An outstanding riverside duplex apartment within close proximity kitchen, living & dining area as well as boasting two recently to Shad Thames, boasting three roof terraces with river views, refurbished bathrooms. Furnished. contemporary decor featuring a stylish glass staircase leading to spacious reception room and kitchen dining room. Allocated parking. Furnished.

Tea Trade Trade Wharf, Wharf, SE1 SE1 Tea

£950 per week £800 per week A fantastic two double bedroom duplex penthouse apartment A spacious two double bedroom two bathroom apartment boasting a 32’ reception room, two balconies, HD Home Cinema with balcony offered in excellent order and arranged within a System & Underground Car Park Space. prestigious warehouse development. The apartment benefits from 24 hour concierge and allocated secure parking. Furnished.

Spice Quay, SE1 £765 per week Vanilla & Sesame Court, SE1 £525 per week Tempus Wharf, SE16 £575 per week Caraway Apartments, SE1 £550 A beautifully presented two bedroom apartment set within this A immaculately presented two double bedroom apartment per week A beautiful two bedroom two bathroom apartment offered inoffers a prestigious portered riverside development. The apartment excellent order androom boasting floors, exposed brick, small spacious reception andwood a balcony with views of Tower Bridge. balcony with river views and communal terrace. Furnished.

An exceptionally spacious two double bedroom apartment arranged on the 5th floor of a popular warehouse conversion with two wood ensuite bathrooms and a guest Offered boasting floors, two bathrooms andcloakroom. stylish furnishings in excellent order throughout and boasting two balconies, allocated parking and communal lesuire complex. Furnished.

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Butlers Wharf, SE1 £750 per week Montague Close, SE1 £465 per week The SE1 week Merganser Court, E1W Stylish Circle, two bedroom apartment ideally located for the £380 array per of bars A stunning one bedroom apartment boasting a spacious£475 openper planweek

and restaurants Shad Thames has to reception offer. The property boasts A one bedroom apartment boasting room with wood exposed brick work,overlooking wood floorspretty and 24communal hour concierge. floors and balcony garden. Situated in the heart of Shad Thames. Furnished.

kitchen reception room with wood floors and amazing views of the A beautiful one bedroom apartment boasting spacious river Thames. ts from a large balcony. bedroom and Benefi reception room bothprivate with direct access to balcony overlooking St Katharine’s Dock, parking and porter. Furnished.

A network of offices - local, national and international.

Onenetwork address.ofThousands of properties. www.hamptons.co.uk An expanding over 70 offices - local, national and international

QUALITY STREET In 2006 demolition began at the London Arena, three years after it closed for development. Over the past three years the phoenix that has risen from the ashes is Ballymore’s Baltimore Wharf. Before the development launches to the public in February of next year, Louisa Castle takes a closer look at the skyline

ounded in Ireland in 1982 by chairman, Sean Mulryan, Ballymore has expanded to become one of Ireland’s most successful property developers based on the ethos of building high quality homes for people who know what they want out of life. Constantly evolving and looking to the future has kept the company going forwards through the tough times in the marketplace and there’s a definite company-wide pride in their achievements. Busy revelling in the towering limelight of Pan Peninsula you would have thought the developers would be having a short break before embarking on new projects. But no, set across the water from this striking addition to the skyline has risen Baltimore Wharf. Once complete the development will offer 972 apartments, 26,500 sq m of offices, 4,800 sq m of shops, cafes and restaurants, a 180-bedroom hotel, not to mention the Baltimore Club – an in-the-city country club style leisure facility and health club complete with virtual golf and claypigeon shooting – all providing the basis for a new community. Designed by skyscraper specialists Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the first phase of the

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development will offer 473 apartments for sale around the landscaped courtyard and with views to the water. Sales and marketing director, Michael Meanley is keen to explain the quality and pride that are at the core of the company’s success in light of many others taking the path of cutting corners: “We work by the three Ds – design, detail and deliver. And the only way to ensure that all three are met to a quality and standard that we are happy with is to have ownership of all the elements. We are the only developer I know of who manages their own assets and everything about Baltimore Wharf is under the Ballymore name to ensure we deliver our promises. “Quality is the key. The orange/red stone is handmade in Hampshire, the sets in the courtyard are granite, there is a true representation of the constellations on the ceiling of the archway and it is these touches and quality marks that make a development. Quality leads to good investors and investments and a good reputation which, in turn, saves money.” High quality design runs throughout the development, of that there is no doubt, from the architecture and balconies (all of which are angled for maximum privacy yet add to the art of the building) to the exterior to the leading-edge interiors with Bianco Assoluto stone flooring, Miele kitchen appliances and fixtures and fittings of style. The duplex penthouses have floor-to-ceiling glass with large terraces to welcome the outside in. Currently shells, there will be a selection of designs for owners to choose from, responding to the nation’s desire to be interior designers. The second phase of Baltimore Wharf will be a striking 45-storey twisting tower that will be only 10 centimetres short of skyscraper status. The structure is actually a straight up ellipse but the distortion of the building is, in reality, caused by rotating the balconies that wrap around the tower on each floor. It is a trademark of architects SOM who comment on their inspiration: “Baltimore Wharf gave an opportunity to design a landmark building which matches the

homes & property

strong massing and robustness of historical dockside architecture whilst maintaining a contemporary expression and details. “The traditional handmade bricks are contrasted with fine anodised aluminium window surrounds and crisply detailed glazed balconies. The random pattern of windows and balconies across the facade expresses the variety of apartment types and layouts within. “The centre of the dockside building is pierced by a dramatic seven storey high opening which leads through from the water’s edge to the boulevard at the centre of the development and the two more private courtyards beyond. This series of new landscaped public spaces knits the new buildings tightly into the existing urban context.” Michael Meanley concludes; “We are very proud of all that we have achieved with Baltimore Wharf and look forward to showing people around the development. We’ve retained the high quality standard we are renowned for and look forward to being at the centre of a new community in the Docklands.” Ballymore will be releasing Phase One to the public over the weekend of 20 and 21 February, 2010. Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start at £199,950. n For further information, please call 0800 404 8855, visit www.baltimorewharf.com or visit the sales and marketing suite at 76 Marsh Wall, E14 9SL

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Crans Montana - Traditional Luxury Luxurious 3 bedroom apartments built in traditional Alpine style with old wood. All apartments have large south facing balconies, large open plan living area s with fireplaces, many feature Jacuzzis. Purchase Price from SFr. 1,440,000

Grindelwald - 5 Star Penthouse Luxury 3 Bedroom Penthouse set on two levels with 200m2 of living space in the centre of Grindelwald. Enjoy the luxury and privacy of your own residence with all the amenities of a top class hotel. Purchase Price from SFr. 2,475,000

Villars - Ski in Ski out! Bespoke 4 bedroom chalets located on the slopes. These chalets are built to your requirements in the highest quality materials by a local Swiss c halet builder and include open plan living area with fire place, fully fitted kitchen, sauna, jacuzzi, home cinema and garage. Prices from SFr. 2.75 Million

Lake Geneva - Secluded and spacious On the shores of Lake Geneva in a private setting overlooking the lake and the Alps. This property consists of beautiful beach style villa, a staff house and apartment on 3000m2 and has 7 bedrooms and private mooring for 2 boats. Price on request

For more information call +44 (0) 1845 597 795 and ask for Beat Hartmann www.hartmannsingleton.com

Riverside living in the heart of Greenwich London & Regional Properties and King Sturge will shortly be launching Lovell’s Wharf, a low-rise and light-filled development within walking distance of Maritime Greenwich and with exclusive access to the Thames. The completed development consists of 29 spacious apartments, from 1 to 3 bedrooms and including penthouses, Lovell’s provides unique views of the river, high-specification contemporary interior finishes and up-to-date environmental credentials. A village in the City If you’ve been dreaming of a riverfront apartment with stunning panoramic views and a genuine Greenwich address, then you will not be disappointed at Lovell’s. On weekdays, the unique location gives you easy access to Canary Wharf, the City and the West End thanks to DLR, rail and Riverbus connections close by. At the weekend a short walk along the Thames Path brings you to Greenwich Village, its Royal Park, historic buildings, markets, traditional pubs, modern bars and many restaurants. In addition to stunning uninterrupted river views Lovell’s gives the feel of a residence designed for outside living. Tidal gardens, a central square, large balconies and terraces mean residents can live in harmony with their surroundings; and the development’s environmental credentials include green roofs and ground source heat pump heating. Once inside you quickly realize that the apartments are 20 to 30% more spacious than the other developments that have been on the market in the area over the last 3 years. Geoff Springer, Development Director with London and Regional said: “We build homes for people to actually live in so we make sure that they are all substantially more spacious than the average new build flat size. The fantastic outlook over the river from all the apartments, coupled with the facilities on its doorstep such as Greenwich park and the village, will make Lovell’s such a superb place to live that we’d be happy to live there ourselves”. History and heritage Lovell’s is the latest example of the regeneration of former industrial wharves. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the names of Lovell’s, Granite, Badcock’s and Pipers Wharves would have been familiar to river travellers and the residents of Greenwich. However, the line of wharves excluded direct access from the local streets to the river itself. Today Lovell’s opens up the river to its own residents and neighbours in the East Greenwich Conservation Area. An extension to the Thames Path at Lovell’s has been designed to link Greenwich Peninsula (including the O2 entertainment centre) with the historic buildings of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. • • • •

Bright and spacious 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments Stunning 2 and 3 bedroom penthouses High standard of interior finish Excellent eco-homes rating

The apartments are marketed by King Sturge and Max Wilkinson, Partner at their Canary Wharf office, added: “Lovell’s Wharf represents an opportunity to acquire a stunning new home that one can truly enjoy living in. Lovell’s is located on a historic part of the Thames and gives panoramic views of the River Thames and Canary Wharf skyline. Lovell’s is respectful of its location’s heritage, yet built for the future”.

For more information please contact: Max Wilkinson, King Sturge 020 7715 9700 www.liveatlovells.com

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Introducing

at Royal Arsenal Riverside, London SE18 Launching Saturday 30th and Sunday 31St January

priceS from £395,000

Seamlessly blending heritage façade with cutting edge interior design and architecture, The Target Living Collection truly embodies Royal Arsenal Riverside’s promise of Historic Heart - Dynamic Future, at this landmark destination on the banks of the River Thames.

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If there’s one topic guaranteed to raise the temperature on these biting winter days, it’s asking an estate agent or homeowner about the good old Home Information Pack. Almost all of us, it seems, are dying for a HIP replacement. Zoe Dare Hall delves deeper

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or those who have stayed put for the last two years and haven’t yet encountered the pleasure, HIPs – also known as Hopeless Information Packs by many a bitter vendor were launched in 2007 as a set of documents designed to provide the buyer with key information on the property and to speed up the buying and selling of property. Initially designed for properties with four-plus bedrooms, then three, now every property must have a HIP before it can legally be marketed for sale. Inside are several documents, including an Energy Performance Certificate (the element most routinely disregarded by buyers), a Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), local authority searches, evidence of title, leasehold information and (if a new-build home) sustainability information, to be compiled by the vendor, an estate agent, solicitor or HIP provider. The idea is to provide all the information a buyer needs at the start of the process, so that fewer sales fall through. So where does it go wrong? And are the HIP’s days already numbered? For many, the big problem is one of unnecessary cost. “HIPs have acted as a mechanism to generate money for the government and for agents and other providers to charge a hefty premium on the service,” says TV presenter Sarah Beeny of this half a billion pound-a-year industry. “I’ve seen HIP providers charge up to £800 when you can get one through Tepilo.com for £186.” One disgruntled vendor, 35-year-old commercial consultant John Weston, thinks his HIP was a pointless expense. “We paid £380, which seemed like a lot of money for searches that will be out of date before the end of the sale purchase and for information that the buyer would have paid for in the past,” says Weston, who has just sold up in Surrey to buy a family home in East Sussex. “Our buyer didn’t use the HIP anyway,” he adds. “They relied upon the information received through searches conducted by their solicitor and the full structural survey they carried out. The surveyor, our own solicitor and the buyer’s solicitors all asked questions that we had already answered in the HIP. And, as buyers, we were amazed how estate agents didn’t actively share the HIPs for properties we viewed. In short, a total waste of time and money.” It certainly seems pointless when much of the information is available to buyers online or through the Land Registry. “And I would still probably get my own buyer’s survey done. In many cases, you’d need to for your mortgage provider anyway,” says Sarah Beeny. The information contained within a HIP isn’t always to be relied on either. “I bought a flat in December 2008 and as an exercise requested a copy of the HIP,” says Penelope Court from Beauchamp Estates. “My solicitor couldn’t use it as it was inaccurate even to the point of lacking the correct lease. And it failed totally to uncover

the fact that works had been carried out without the landlord’s consent, which meant I had to enter into a conditional contract.” Don’t expect energy assessors to be quite up to speed with aesthetics either, says Douglas Kent from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, who says HIPs may actually be harming our old homes. He recently bought a Grade I listed, 15th century house in Essex and, after an unflattering EPC, was told by the assessor that he could improve the property’s energy rating by adding some new external cladding – despite the property’s elaborate external plasterwork being one of the reasons it is Grade 1 listed. “He even said it would improve the appearance of the building,” says Kent. “In another case where a house had a thatched roof, the energy assessor ignored the thatch as insulation because he said it wasn’t on his software – even though thatch can be one of the best insulators.” So what is the alternative? “An in-depth conveyancing pack which was really ready to go and held some weight with solicitors and mortgage lenders,” suggests buying agent Tracey Kellett from BDI Home Finders, echoing the Tories’ plans. Or something like the Scottish Home Report, says Barbara Pentecost from Smiths Gore chartered surveyors in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. “I see both the Scottish Home Report and the HIP in action and I have to say, NO ONE looks at the HIP,” she says. “At least the Home Report has a single survey element, which gives the buyer a reason to be interested and can be used as a mortgage valuation. Some buyers still get surveys, but not until their offer has been accepted in principle.” Or we could just return to how we used to do it before. It sort of worked after all, with the buyer and vendor each represented by a solicitor who is legally responsible for the advice they give. Amid all the dissent, there is one lone voice in favour of the HIP. “If we scrap HIPs, we are still likely to need the Energy Performance Certificate, so sellers’ costs won’t really be reduced. They will just have less information to give buyers,” says Kate Faulkner, director of the independent advisory Designs on Property, whose First-Time Buyers Pack highlights the benefits of a HIP, particularly for those just entering the property market. “A HIP can help you to budget more precisely, for example gas, water and electricity bills, ground rent or service charges. You can see what might affect your decision to buy the property, such as it’s too expensive to heat or is prone to flooding, and what might affect how long it takes to buy, if the Title isn’t fully registered, for example, or there is missing planning consent,” says Faulkner. “HIPs are being used as a political football,” she adds. “While they are a legal requirement, we should be arguing how to make them effective for the industry and consumers, rather than whether to have them or not.” n

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London's Finest Properties

Baquba Building, Lewisham SE13

• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 5th Floor • Balcony • 10 Mins Walk to Blackheath Common. • Nr. Elverson Road DLR

£220 PW

Arizona Building, Deals Gateway SE13

• Two Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • Balcony • 3rd Floor • On-Site Gym & Swimming Pool • Nr. Deptford Bridge DLR

£255 PW

Ontario Tower, Canary Wharf E14

• Studio Apartment • Fully Furnished • 18th Floor • On-Site Health and Fitness Ctr • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. Blackwall DLR

£285 PW

Michigan Building, Canary Wharf E14

• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Balcony • On-Site Health and Fitness Ctr • 24hr Concierge Service

£295 PW

LANDLORDS Marina Heights, Basin Approach E14

• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • Large South Facing Balcony • Stunning Marina Views • Secure Allocated Parking • 24hr Concierge Service

£345 PW

Gainsborough House, Canary Central, E14

• 9th floor • 2 bedroom/2bathroom • Enviable location next to South Quay DLR • Balcony with views to Canada Square • Excellent condition throughout • On site swimming pool, sauna and steam room

Subject to an exceptional fourth quarter of trading we urgently require more 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for awaiting, company and professional tenants. For all new managed instructions we will take our fees on a monthly basis.

Ontario Tower, Fairmont Avenue, E14

• 4th floor studio suite • Stunning contemporary development • Exceptional specification throughout • On-site gym/pool, health spa facilities • 24 hr concierge

£249,999

£395,000

Westminster Bridge Park Plaza

• Incredible investment opportunity • 6% rental guarantee for first 5 years • Stunning state of the art Apart hotel development • Located on river banks in view of houses of parliament • 4th floor unit due for completion Spring

Western Beach, Hanover Avenue E16

• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Balcony • Secure Underground Parking • Nr.West Silvertown DLR

£355 PW

41 Millharbour, E14

• 1 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment • South aspect with balcony and courtyard views • Excellent condition • Outstanding marina location next to • South Quay DLR • 24 hr concierge

£265,000

£202,500

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

Central London 020 7582 7989

West London 020 8896 9990

Docklands 020 7476 0125

Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244

homes & property

Must have: Cuisipro batter dispenser

interiors

If you see yourself as a bit of a culinary god or goddess then you will be pleased to know that Cuisipro has all you could ever need for a fullyequipped session of pancake tossing this Shrove Tuesday. And if you’re not so gifted in the kitchen, you should invest in some pieces anyway, just so you look like you know what you’re doing!

news

0151 647 1748; www.cuisipro.com

Hotel Chocolat

Let your loved ones know they’re special this Valentines with a little help from Hotel Chocolat. In a fun twist on the traditional box of chocolates, this year the company have come up trumps with a great selection of special gifts. From Caramel Sweethearts to Mini Chocolate Dipping Adventures For Two, this Valentines could prove rather entertaining. My favourite is the Selection of Heart Shaped Licks, little heart shaped lollies in mouth watering blends of chocolate and strawberry. Priced at a mere £10, anyone can afford to be romantic! 0844 4 93 1313; www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

CustomWest Shutters

CustomWest shutters is now offering a great new custom coloured service on all plantation shutters. The UK’s leading supplier of timber shutters will specially formulate long lasting lacquers with UV inhibitors to match any Dulux or Farrow & Ball shade. From striking brights to muted pastels and natural tones, you can now perfectly match your window and door shutters to any existing or new found colour scheme. Genius!

Must see: 20/21 International Art Fair

Prices start from £240 per m² plus a one off colour charge of £100. 0845 166 7604; www.customwest.co.uk

Must Visit: Lots Road Auctions

The very best in traditional, contemporary and modern design furniture and fittings dating from the 1950s to the 21st Century. There are two sales a day, with the second specialising in selected antiques, works of art, carpets and textiles and other decorative items. The special sale of the month will be held on the 28 January and will see the auction of fine antiques and continental furniture and paintings. So, if you’re after something truly unique, be sure to put this one in your dairy. 020 7376 6800; www.lotsroad.com

Be sure to head to the Royal College of Art this month for the fourth instalment of the 20/21 International Art Fair. Modern British and contemporary work by intentionally acclaimed artists from as far afield as China, Russia and Australia will be exhibited by 50, mainly UK based, dealers under one historic roof . Works by lesser known artists dating from the 1900s to the present day will be on show encouraging the discovery of new works and names that otherwise may be left unseen. The fair runs from the 18 to the 21 February and tickets cost £5. 020 8742 1611; www.20-21intartfair.com

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the trend

Folk is a funny word that conjures up a multitude of negative and exaggerated stereotypes but Sim Smith discovers that it is, however, is not stuck in the past nor is it reserved for country dwellers, its philosophy is proving to be very much part of modern city life Lightweight woven 100% cashmere throw with hand screen printed design in soft grey, £569, Oyuna at Harrods 020 7730 1234; www.harrods.com

Blue agate large mug, £22, Toast 0844 557 0460; www.toast.co.uk

Bute tweed, leather and cleft oak stool, £1,600, made to order, Simon Hasan 07989 381 146; www.simonhasan.com

Stag bench, 9,500 Euros, by Rick Owens, Jousse Entreprise 0033 153 82 10 18; www.jousse-entreprise.com

Ash with Mongolian fur JJ rocking chair, from £2,340, by Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia 020 7591 8111; www.london.bebitalia.com

100% cashmere marl wrist warmers, £49, Brora 0845 659 9944; www.brora.co.uk

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Collette wallpaper, £41 per roll, from the Nora collection by Sandberg 0845 880 5855; www.sandbergab.en Marble heart chopping boards, from £50, Daylesford Organic 01608 731 700; www.daylesfordorganic.com

Natural leather and canvas Safari luggage in ivory, from £260, Globe-Trotter 020 7529 5950; www.globe-trotterltd.com

Green tomato and pear chutney, £4.95 0844 557 0460; www.toast.co.uk

Original wellington boots, £60, Hunter 0131 240 3672; www.hunter-boot.com

Solid timber Frey armoire, £4,240, Pinch 020 7501 9262; www.pinchdesign.com

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the address book Sim Smith samples some boutique shopping Notting Hill style

Aesop

A cult stop-off on any beauty connoisseur’s trail, Aesop has been providing unrivalled botanically based skin care since the 1980s. Relatively new to our shores, this Australian brand encompasses a healthy, balanced lifestyle in a bottle. Exquisitely scented, their skin, hair and body products are recommended to customers based on individual skin requirements and environmental specifics. The store in Westbourne Grove sits on a small corner plot but is evidence that good things come in small packages. I’m offered a cup of tea on entering which is much appreciated after trudging in and out of shops all morning. It’s delicious, herbal and very refreshing. The shop’s interior is uncomplicated and all fixtures and fittings have been sourced at the local Portobello Road Market . There is a long wooden table that runs the length of the store with products lined up dutifully along its surface and a large white sink at end where I’m offered a hand wash, which is again much appreciated and the moisturiser smells lovely. Needless to say, I left with one of their little brown paper bags under my arm. 227A Westbourne Grove www.aesop.net.au

Brissi

THEMES & Variations

An impressive bright white space filled with super cool quirky interiors, THEMES & Variations has been specialising in post-war and contemporary design since opening its doors in 1984. The company focuses on Scandinavian and Italian decorative arts and furniture, but also showcases collections by a wide range of designers including Tom Dixon, Christian Astuguevieille, Mark BrazierJones and the Fornasetti Atelier. On first impression I thought this was a design consultancy but was pulled in by a striking black and white leather sofa by Archizoom for Poltronova dating back to the 1960’s and an extraordinary LED photographic panel of Jimmy Hendrix by Gered Mankovitz. On walking through the store what strikes you is an amazing sense of attention to detail and the unusual, enticing mix of pieces on show. THEMES & Variations inspires you to think differently about your interiors and encourages a sense of creativity within the home. A great place to gather inspiration or to invest in a truly amazing piece of design, be sure not to walk past this one! 231 Westbourne Grove www.themesandvariations.com

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This was Brissi’s first London store, having started life in the beautiful Wiltshire town of Marlborough a few years earlier. It was lovingly renovated and restored by Arianna Brissi and Siobhan McKeating, in keeping with original features that contribute so much to this lovely space. The store works on three levels showcasing different rooms on each floor. The lower tier focuses on the bathroom and dressing space charming Venetian mirrors stand over pale grey marble wash basins and palely painted dressers with globular bell jars and fine white and grey linens folded neatly on their surfaces. The ground floor and entrance acts as a hallway, a welcoming space filled with individual pieces of clothing and home accessories. Upstairs is more of a living space, and there’s an eclectic mix of contemporary and antique finds which are all handsourced, making the overall look very personal. I feel very at home here, it feels as if I’m sitting in my mother’s house in France. It’s comfortable, beautiful and understatedly luxurious. 196 Westbourne Grove www.brissi.com

Wapping’s first new development in over a decade

7 minutes

the City

Liverpool Street

West End

CAnAry WhArf

StudioS from £215,000 1 Bed from £275,000 2 Bed from £450,000

2012 Olympic Village

Regents Park

9 minutes

THE CITY

Waterloo

CANARY WHARF

2 Arena A O2

London Bridge

RI V

T H A M ES

A Ballymore Development

Contact: Max Wilkinson at KING STURGE

www.21wappinglane.co.uk

CALL 0800 096 7777

ON TOP OF THE WORLD A spectacular ceremony in Dubai marked the official opening of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, Chelsey Baker reports

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owering high above the Dubai skyline sits the tallest man-made structure on earth which, after six years in the making, truly stretched the limits of architectural endeavour to recordbreaking levels. The Burj Dubai, as it was formerly known, was renamed the Burj Khalifa at the opening ceremony in honour of the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa who came to Dubai’s rescue during its financial crisis. Measuring a staggering 828 metres (the official height kept quiet until the launch) from its base to the tip of its spire, the Burj Khalifa is home to more than 1,000 apartments, 37 floors of office space and a hotel designed by Georgio Armani which includes a nightclub, two restaurants and a spa. With more than 200 floors, of which 160 are inhabitable, the concrete, steel and glass structure is officially the world’s tallest building, having beaten the previous title holder, Taipei 101 in Taiwan by some 1,000 feet. To put it into perspective, the Burj Khalifa is the height of Taipei 101 plus the Eiffel Tower. The tower was kept shrouded in darkness until his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum put a new spotlight on the world map. To launch the illumination of the tower skydivers carrying UAE flags landed directly in front of Sheikh Mohammed, who was also celebrating his fourth anniversary of becoming the Ruler of Dubai on that very day. The first act drew prominence to the rare Hymenocalis desert flower, the architect’s inspiration for the design of the tower. After projecting the birth of the flower on to a large 1,000sqm screen, a water show from The Dubai Fountain accelerated the event with water shooting 150 metres into the sky. The second act, ‘Heart Beat,’ captured the construction of the tower in a dynamic light show with an astonishing example of technological innovation; the display recreated the effect of a beating heart and used 320 space canon projectors to generate a shadow effect on the tower reaching 10km into the sky. The finale featuring an impressive show of 10,000 firework effects estimated to be the highest ever, reaching 850m.

Tickets to the ‘At the Top’ Observation deck are now on sale and access to the triumphant tower begins at ground level in the nearby Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping centre. Television screens chronicle the history of Dubai and the story of the Burj, whilst high-speed elevators transport tourists to the observation deck on the 124th floor. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), the Chicago based architects, have long paved the way for modern glass box skyscrapers. SOM has already designed five of the world’s tallest buildings including the Sears Tower (a previous holder of World’s tallest for over twenty years), a little closer to home they designed the Broadgate Development as well as the master plan for Canary Wharf and many other leading developments in London. Is it possible that there will be a successor to the Burj Khalifa? Of course, in the UAE anything is possible. n www.atthetopburjdubai.com

Towering Facts •

The amount of steel used for the tower is 31,400 metric tons; laid end to end this would extend over a quarter of the way around the world

•

The cladding contains over 24,000 individually cut glass panels

•

The curtain wall area of the building is equivalent to 17 football fields

•

The concrete used is the equivalent to the weight of 100,000 elephants

•

At the peak of construction 12,000 workers were on site every day

•

It is the tallest building and freestanding structure in the world

•

It has the highest outdoor observation deck in the world

•

The tip of the spire can be seen 95 km away

•

The 160th floor is the highest occupied floor of any building in the world

•

The elevator reaches the observation deck in less than 60 seconds

•

It will take a team of 36 window cleaners three months to wash all the windows

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next issue...

pring will, hopefully, have sprung next month so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bringing you a host of golden things to brighten your day.

March

We delve into the epitome of British style and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pastel fashion to liven your wardrobe; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss business interviews with the MD of The Society; a peek into the battle of the sexes at work; top financial tips; and an abundance of tempting treats to spend it on, from holidays at home to long haul tranquillity in Brazil and Cape Town. Most of all, March is our time to focus on weddings; from dresses to rings and from hen-dos in Vegas to the best venues, our minimagazine within a magazine could help you with your choices. For this and much more, be sure to pick up a copy

A B a l l y m o re D eve l o p m e n t

Live Life

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There’s room wAter’s in eDge your life for a loTus.

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the city magazine

Lamborghini Sevenoaks

Lamborghini Reading

92 London Road

Bennet Road

Sevenoaks

Reading

Kent

Berkshire

TN13 1BA

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Tel 01732 430 039

Tel 0118 336 0116

www.lamborghini-sevenoaks.com

www.lamborghini-reading.com

Lamborghini Sevenoaks and Lamborghini Reading, part of Jardine Motors Group.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni, now available at Lamborghini Sevenoaks and Lamborghini Reading.

FEBRUARY 2010 FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2010 2010

The best Italian in town.

I S S n U 55 28 E 28

the city m a g a z i n e

THE LORD MAYOR The business of The City

INCREASE YOUR INFLUENCE Exert you power in the workplace

spectacular MILESTONE St Paul’s celebrates 300 years

travel gadgets motoring interiors property FEBRUARY 2010 i s s ue 2 8