The City Magazine January 2011 by Runwild Media Group

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Longitude. Latitude. Attitude.

J A N UA R Y 2011

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m a g a z i n e

IN THE PALM

OF YOUR

hand The ATlANTis, DUbAi

In proud assocIatIon wIth

the

Investment

MAke YoUR MoNeY woRk hARD AND plAY hARD foR YoU

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the city

ISSUe

finance gadgets motoring interiors property JANUARY 2011 i s s U e 3 9

how best to

I NV E S T

contents

This New Year, it’s time to decide whether you want your money to work hard or play hard. The traditional way is to invest wisely in stocks, shares and bonds, but our experts are giving advice on more unusual, and tangible, ways to get a run from your money

ew Year rolls in once again, accompanied by a wave of optimistic resolutions to stop drinking, give up smoking and frequent the gym. Often a self-admonishing promise is also made: this year I will devote more time to what I do with my finances. Too often this slips to the bottom of a long to-do list but, in fact, paying attention to how your money is invested can reap well-deserved rewards in the long term. Warren Buffet began investing when he was 11 years old: whether you call it luck or genius, Buffet is now worth more than $55 billion. There is no denying that careful investment pays off. Taking the traditional investment route leads you along well-trodden tracks towards stocks, bonds and financial derivatives. Although ‘investing’ originally meant the act of putting on garments, by 1610, the first use of it in the commercial sense occurred in the finances of the East India Company and, by 1740, the term was in general use as we understand it today: converting money into property in the hope of profit. So, for nearly 300 years, people have been investing ‘in the hope of profit’; whilst sensible and well thought out investments more often than not do result in gains, in the form of interest, income or appreciation in value, there is

feature 10

L’art de vivre Senior executive and spokesperson for Veuve Clicquot Mireille Guillano speaks to us about creating her winning brand

still an element of risk involved. Investment always involves a choice being made by an individual or organisation, after necessary analysis or thought. However, some prefer to shun the standard route and, quite simply, buy things they love: classic cars, vintage wine, exquisite jewellery or pieces of art. Charles Saatchi firmly believes that “there are no rules about investment. Sharks can be good. Artist’s dung can be good. Oil on canvas can be good”. Beauty is in the eye of the investor. If you want to explore a wider range of profitable opportunities, read on for industry expertise on exciting investment: Rob Myers, CEO of RM Auctions, confirms that “unusual assets can be an attractive addition to a welldiversified portfolio, giving an added dimension in terms of interest and the potential to generate long-term wealth appreciation”. Do not delay: art needs to be held for about 35 years to appreciate in value, and wine must also age appropriately before reaching its peak, so take some time to plan your investment strategy. Follow the advice of Warren Buffet, whose tactics have most certainly worked: “Why not invest your assets in the companies you really like?” As Mae West said, ‘Too much of a good thing can be wonderful’ ”. n

New Year, New You Annabel Harrison debates the idea of the New Year’s resolution

travel connoisseur

Investing in... The best advice for investing in alternatives to stocks and shares

comment 35

Coffee Queen

in the

PALM

Sahar Hashemi talks about the creation of Coffee Republic and her new-found talent as a self help author

of your hand

Harry Hepburn escapes to the lost city of Atlantis and discovers it was much easier than Plato might ever have suspected

art of the renowned One and Only group, the origin of the Atlantis Dubai is in many ways no less outlandish than the original Atlantis myth. Where the original spectacularly sank beneath the sea in a matter of hours, its Middle Eastern equivalent sprang forth in 2008, at the top of the Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest artificial island, risen from the seabed of the Persian Gulf in a matter of six years. A curious blend of Islamic influence and the imagined lost world, the Atlantis Dubai maintains much of the look and feel of its Bahamian sister hotel. Marble floors, vaulted ceilings, ocean-themed frescos and Atlantean detail are mingled with Moorish arches and Islamic patterns. New arrivals enter a magnificent, cavernous lobby, dominated by a ten-metre high glass sculpture (created by Dale Chihuly) comprising 3,000 individual pieces of brightly coloured glass. As for everything in the resort, it may be ostentatious. but it is certainly not out of place. As you would expect, we were looked after impeccably well. Privileged enough to be members of the Imperial Club for our stay, we were quickly ushered into a grand office just off the main chamber, where we were checked in within more comfortable surroundings and then quickly escorted to the Imperial Club Lounge, to take tea and breakfast. Our room, while far from the most luxurious available (we had no butler), was incredibly comfortable and fully equipped for hasty travellers. Sitting at the room’s marble desk, I could check my email and look out over the balcony, down through the central line of the palm, towards Dubai’s mainland. When you are staying on a man-made island, everyone can have a sea view. My companion, already relaxed enough to have needed to test the bed out, soon headed off to the spa to enjoy a ‘Jet Lag Recovery treatment’, an aromatherapy massage

designed to do exactly what it said. Impressively, the spa has 27 individual treatment rooms available to you, to indulge yourself in tranquility. At this time of year, the climate is perfect for those in need of a solar-powered battery recharge. Encouraged to let go and relax from the moment you arrive, nothing is too much trouble for any of the many staff on hand. While I was warned before jetting off that Dubai has become expensive over the last year or so, everything on offer seemed very reasonable. Alcohol wasn’t cheap, but it never is in hotels and, given that we were residing in an Islamic state, it was hardly unsurprising. The food was fantastic and, beyond doubt, my highlight. Given that this is a family resort, fine dining comfortably manages to rub shoulders with gourmet buffets, without either feeling at all out of place. Quite serious about our food, my partner and I sampled all we could during our stay and were never remotely disappointed. The space I have here is too little to do any real justice, so I will just relive a few of the highlights. Saffron’s pan-Asian and European breakfast buffet was a marvel. Literally (and without hyperbole) everything I could think of for my breakfast was available, fresh and full of flavour; and if it wasn’t ready, or I needed something particular, chefs were on hand at several cooking stations to cater to you directly. Levantine covered the best of Lebanese cuisine; courses of exquisite meats and salads brought to our table were broken up by the appearance of an unexpected, swordbalancing, belly dancer. Ronda Locatelli is a traditionally Italian restaurant, built around a wood-fired pizza oven. Fine versions of home favourites are the order here; the lasagna and pizzas were recommended, but lobster linguini and Osso Bucco (veal) ravioli won our votes in fine style.

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Matthew Carter gets to grip with the VW Scirocco R

Monsieur Photography:

The ragged edge

Felicity Ingram

Fashion Editor:

Lucie Dodds

Lee Brooks catches up with Britain’s leading hope Matthew Wilson ahead of the 2011 World Rally Championships

concierge 66

Monsieur

White double cuff shirt, £80, grey herringbone tweed waistcoat, £245 and trousers, £275, black spot scarf, £385 all Ralph Lauren, 020 7535 4600. Ultra-Thin Perpetual Calendar watch in white gold with opaline-white dial on black alligator strap, £49,900, Patek Philippe at David M Robinson, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf 020 7538 2332, www.davidmrobinson.co.uk

Gentlemen’s fashion tailored by time

Interiors Long lasting beauty

connoisseur 88

In the Palm of your Hand Harry Hepburn escapes to the lost city of Atlantis

94 Into the wild Annabel Goldie-Morrison heads for Laikipia in the heart of Kenya’s wild Northern Frontier

regulars 8

editor’s letter

interiors

human resources

health & fitness

sport

travel

gadgets

food & drink

fashion

107 property

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16.12.10 17:16

contributors...

RUNWILD M

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Editorial Director Kate Harrison

Editor

Louisa Castle

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 Sunday Times, The Guardian and Harrods magazine. 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.

Deputy Editor Annabel Harrison

Editorial Assistants Oliver Balcazar Penelope M Walsh

Fashion Editor Lucie Dodds

Senior Designers Hiren Chandarana Laddawan Juhong

Designer Ashley Lewis

4. Sim Smith is a freelance journalist and stylist based in London. A frequent contributor to prestigious publications, Sim has worked with ELLE Decoration, The Telegraph and The Financial Times. 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, he is a serial car owner. 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. 7. Chelsey Baker is a business advisor and life coach, she has been featured extensively in the national media as a leading entrepreneurand runs her own consultancy firm Success Media. Chelsey is a freelance journalist and motivational speaker. 8. Clare Murray is founder and managing partner of specialist law firm, CM Murray LLP. Clare and her colleagues advise a wide range of companies, professional firms and senior individuals on employment, partnership and business immigration law issues.

Production Fiona Fenwick Daniel Harris

Advertising Manager Ben Turpitt

Group Publishing Director Eren Ellwood

Project Manager Ella Kilgarriff

Managing Director Giles Ellwood

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.

Investing in supercars See p.18 Runwild Media Group Publishers of: Canary Wharf magazine The City magazine, Vicinitee VENUE – The official magazine of The O2

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from the editor...

January

radition dictates that every 365 days, you should try to kick bad habits and start your life anew. But then that all depends upon whether you are a traditionalist or not…

Our new deputy editor, Annabel Harrison, explores the reasons behind this tradition and questions if it is time to give resolutions a rest. After all we don’t need the dawn of a new year as an excuse to change old habits (p.13). Speaking of old habits, January is our investment issue. With comment from the experts in the areas of art, motoring, jewellery and, obviously from the world of finance, there’s plenty to aid your financial planning decisions for 2011. And even if you don’t agree with the alternatives on offer, it’s the perfect, indulgent way to start the year (p.17). If you’re looking for a charitable return on your investment then turn to page 44 and our pages dedicated to the Square Mile Salute. The culinary highlight of the year offers the finest dining, including a course cooked by the Royal Chef, and raises money for charity in an opulent auction where prizes include a luxurious trip to Richard Branson’s Necker Island or a trip to the most glamorous of all events, the Monaco Grand Prix. What’s more, bidding is open now… Make sure that you look the part with this month’s fashion shoot focusing on tailoring and timepieces for the modern gentleman (p.66).

For when the snow melts, Matthew Carter dismisses the thoughts of his contemporaries as he argues that the new baby Audi A1 is aptly named (p.48) and Lee Brooks interviews British rally hopeful Matthew Wilson who may well be able to give us some handy hints for sticking to the roads until then (p.56). For those wanting to escape to sunnier climes, we visit Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai with its fine-dining, private beach and Dolphin Bay for some ultimate relaxation (p.88). Alternatively, for those looking for sun and adventure, Annabel Goldie-Morrison goes on the safari trail in Kenya to experience ethical luxury (p.94). Traditionalist or not, we’ve plenty to entertain you over this holiday period as you put your feet up, reflect on the year that’s past and plan for the year ahead. I guess I’m somewhat of a traditionalist as this is my last issue at the helm of Canary Wharf magazine; new year, new you indeed. I am leaving you in very capable hands and thank you for all your support in making the magazine such a success to date. From all of the team here at Runwild, we wish you a very happy holiday time and a prosperous 2011.

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T: +44 (0)20 7437 5050 | www.boodles.com

L’art de vivre A When Mireille Guiliano became a senior executive and spokesperson for Veuve Clicquot, she not only took champagne to the top of the luxury market, but also created an inspirational role model for women in business. Beverley Byrne speaks to her about creating her winning brand

s one of a handful of women to break through the glass ceiling that still dominates the world of wine and spirits, she is keen to share her knowledge by working with groups promoting business opportunities and education for women. But if you think this involves a shouty brand of gung-ho feminism, you’d be wrong. Mireille’s message combines business acumen with a personal philosophy involving style, food, clothes, wine and entertaining – in short, ‘l’art de vivre’. Since Mireille wrote her phenomenally successful French Women Don’t Get Fat, the ultimate non-diet book on how to enjoy food and stay slim, her life has changed direction. After the publication of her second book, French Women For All Seasons, she retired as CEO of Clicquot Inc to follow her new passion and become a full-time writer. To discuss how she turned her own life into a winning brand, I met her at the Capital Hotel in Kensington. “What would you like to drink?” she asks, as we settle down in the opulent lounge. A flute of Veuve Clicquot would be lovely, but as it’s far too early, we choose water, the properties of which Mireille praises as highly as the champagne she represents.

interview

She is, of course, effortlessly chic. From her strategically cut hair to the understated make-up and the shell-pink jacket created from gossamer silk, her style is strictly Parisienne. And although she has been in living in New York with her husband Edward, President of the New York Institute of Technology, ‘l’Americaine’ as she is known at home in France, still retains her French accent. She also possesses, dare I say it, a bubbly personality. Like champagne, she is brimming with a sparkling effervescence that generates a buoyant sense of joie de vivre. So when did she enjoy her first taste of champagne? “I was just six,” she recalls. “We were on a visit to my parents’ best friends, an architect and his wife who lived in Reims, the champagne capital of the world. He was a great gourmand and I remember him allowing myself and the other children our first ‘petite goutte’, tiny sip, of champagne. Although my mother and father had introduced us to wine mixed with a little water, I had never tasted champagne before. I remember being mesmerised by the ritual, the drama in the glass, the bubbles, the colour and the excitement. It was probably, looking back, a defining moment.” Mireille had grown up with gourmets. Her grandmother ran a restaurant in Lorraine and her mother was encouraged to help. “My father’s brother also had a restaurant where he specialised in serving game in winter and fish from the river during the summer. Everything was made from scratch, and I grew up in a world where food came seasonally from the best and purest sources.” All this changed when she travelled to America on an exchange programme initiated by her English teacher. “During that year I stayed with six different families, all of whom spoiled me by introducing me to an alternative and very extravagant way of life. Suddenly I was doing things I’d never done before, such as horse riding, skiing and even being flown to Nantucket on a private plane. I was also exposed to a different way of eating. It was lobster and champagne, brownies and ice cream. One family I stayed with enjoyed a glass of champagne prior to every meal and I thought this was great.” Although she loved the life, she did not enjoy the results. “When I returned to France, my father greeted me with the withering observation that I looked like ‘a sack of potatoes’. It was hurtful, but somehow even then I could not stop piling on the weight. I cried myself to sleep and couldn’t understand why none of my French friends were experiencing the same problem. “Then I met Dr Meyer, who I later described as Dr Miracle, and he saved me. Suggesting a common-sense programme of recasting my eating habits, I settled down to a sensible portion-controlled eating plan. Within a short period of time, my waistband became looser and I discovered I could eat and drink what I wanted, whilst maintaining my weight. Since then, this has never changed.” With her teenage weight problem under control, Mireille studied literature at the Sorbonne, as well as training to become an interpreter and translator. After graduation she worked as a translator based in Paris, although her work took her all over France. “I loved it. One day I’d be taking architects to see Corbusier’s buildings and the next I’d be accompanying a group of professors as they toured the

feature

university in Aix-en-Provence. It was incredibly varied and fascinating work.” By this time Mireille had met her husband on a bus in Istanbul. “We independently joined a group which was exploring the city and we just clicked. We sat together from morning to night talking about literature, music and falling in love. I’d just been offered a fabulous job as an interpreter at the Council of Europe, but I turned it down to be with him in New York. We married in l976 and initially I found work as a translator to the UN. Although it sounded glamorous, it couldn’t have been more tedious. I was translating technical data or some convoluted political jargon and, in the end, I had to leave.” As well as being a fluent linguist, the ability to communicate is one of Mireille’s most valuable talents, and she discovered these skills were entirely suited to a career in Public Relations. “One of my main accounts was, amongst others, the Champagne Bureau. One day when the Veuve Clicquot people came for some advice, I told them I had grown up drinking their champagne and was disappointed that it was difficult to find in the US. Although it had been around for 200 years or so, the brand had suffered after prohibition and never really recovered. I suggested a few ideas to improve their customer base, and eventually the Chairman offered me the job of heading up a subsidiary based in New York.” Her brief was to improve the status of Veuve Clicquot as an international brand. So what was her strategy? “During my five years working with the Champagne Bureau, I had developed a good relationship with the press, leading chefs, hotels, restaurants and stores. I enlisted their help in promoting Veuve Clicquot, and within five years the snowball effect was phenomenal.” When asked what advice she would offer to women trying to succeed in business, she responds, “Find and follow your passions, make yourself known for those talents and strengths that make you stand out from your competition, and don’t be afraid to take intelligent risks at moments of opportunity (ask yourself, ‘what’s the worst thing that can happen?’). And take time for yourself every day, even if it’s just a few minutes. It will help you recharge and make you a happier and more effective person.” Mireille has succeeded in being a highly successful business woman and a best-selling author – are there any ambitions she has yet to fulfil? “No. I’m not an ambitious person. I don’t play politics and I was promoted because I delivered. Now, I’m in what I call my ‘third act,’ I fill my days with writing, lecturing, cooking, travel, and spend more time with the people who are important to me. I’m also delighted that Hilary Swank’s production company has bought the film rights to French Women Don’t Get Fat. The plan is to make a romantic comedy, not about me personally, but rather about my French lifestyle message. My goal has always been to help people and if I can continue doing that via a film and with the books and articles I write, then I’m happy.” n Mireille’s books are available at all good bookshops: French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook, Simon & Schuster, £16.99; Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire – Business Sense & Sensibility, Simon & Shuster, £12.99; and French Women Don’t Get Fat – The Secret of Eating for Pleasure, Chatto and Windus, £7.99

12 The Courtyard, Royal Exchange, EC3V 3LR TEL: +44 (0) 20 3405 1437 EMAIL: bachet-jewellery@bachet.co.uk www.bachet-joaillier.com

current affairs

feature

new start

on Old Habits

As the New Year rolls around again with characteristic haste, custom dictates that we make and, more often than not, break resolutions. Annabel Harrison explores the reasons behind this tradition and asks if it’s time to give resolutions a rest

ot on the heels of a joyful, light-hearted ‘Happy New Year!’ is ‘What’s your New Year’s resolution?’, a question laden with unspoken subtext. What do you need to quit? What are you unhappy about? What do you keep meaning to change? How often this question is asked indicates how much of the norm it is to begin a new calendar year with promises to oneself and to others that you will give up bad habits and put in place better ones, which will supposedly reinvigorate all areas of your life. Why do we make resolutions when a new year begins? A secular tradition, this has parallels in religion, as many traditions revolving around annual holidays do: regardless of faith, the concept is to reflect on self-improvement, also explored during the Christian fasting period of Lent. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the aim is similar: to reflect upon one’s wrongdoings over the past year and both seek and offer forgiveness.

feature current affairs

The outcome is clear: success leads not only to reformation, but also to results that reap tangible personal benefits. Exercise more, eat better and drink less: improve your health. Pay off debts, save money and don’t spend more than you earn: improve your finances. Learn new skills, ask for a raise or apply for a better job: improve your career. Be more organised, manage time better and take time to relax: improve yourself. The list goes on. However, despite this optimistic crescendo of the advantages of changes, which sound so easy in theory, there’s a catch: none of these benefits come about unless we personally put the changes into practice. This is where enthusiasm segues seamlessly into effort. The question then becomes: why haven’t these changes happened already? Many believe the new year will galvanise them into action, in the same way we all promise ourselves, ‘I’ll sleep more and eat better when this huge pitch is done at work’ or ‘I don’t have time for exercise now – I will once I’ve moved house’. More often than not, habits continue uninterrupted, leading psychologists to agree that making resolutions is, for most people, a pointless exercise: we usually break them, becoming dispirited in the process and more despondent than we were previously. Just think of last year and how many people spoke of their resolutions past the end of January. It is not encouraging that this annual cycle has an overwhelmingly low success rate. Fewer than a quarter of those asked for a university study managed to stick to their good intentions. Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, asked 700 people about their strategies for achieving resolutions. Of the 78 per cent who failed, many had focused on the downside of not achieving their goals, terminating any change before it had even begun. However, those who kept their resolutions tended to have divided their goal into smaller steps and rewarded themselves for achieving each one. Thus there are, in these cases, benefits of resolutions, as long as they are broken down into measurable, achievable steps and are accompanied with a positive approach, rather than continual self-admonishment. Resolutions should be made in areas of your life where you are ready to make an effort: change your language and refer to your chosen aim as, for example, improving your health rather than giving up junk food. By setting more realistic goals and not limiting yourself to a once-a-year, all-out assault on a mountain of debt, those extra pounds or a nicotine addiction, the finish line may not be so far away. If you still have good intentions of keeping your New Year’s resolutions, consider the following lines Samuel Clemens wrote for the Virginia City Enterprise in 1863: “Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions,” wrote Clemens, under the pen name Mark Twain. “Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” n

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how best to

i nv e s t

the

Drive for Money

investing in... CARS

Making money out of cars can be done but it’s not nearly as easy as it looks. Matthew Carter investigates ack in 1963, a Ferrari 250 GTO left the factory – painted in Rossa Cina, naturally – and then spent the next few years being thrashed around the race circuits of the world. The car cost a little more than £5,000, and while that wouldn’t buy any new car today, it was a small fortune back then. But Ferrari chassis number 4675 GT was a hugely successful car which, in the right hands, won numerous races and invariably finished in the top three in its class, time after time. As with all race cars, it eventually became yesterday’s machine, outpaced by newer machinery and superfluous to requirements. Not exactly worthless, but… If only I had a time machine. That self-same GTO was sold in May 2010 by RM Auctions through private treaty for a figure experts reckon was around £12 million. As the sale was private, no one at RM is saying what it actually went for, but they’re happy with the estimates. By any standards, that’s not a bad return on investment, even if it took damn near 50 years to achieve. Thing is, I don’t have a time machine so the money-making trick now is to identify the modern-day equivalent of the GTO, store it away ready to cash it in for serious dosh in a few years’ time. And that is easier said than done. The trouble with new cars is that they all lose money the moment they are driven out of the showroom. Buy a new Ferrari 458 Italia today for £170k and tomorrow it’ll be worth notably less. As an investment, therefore, that doesn’t make sense, though you are guaranteed to have a great deal more fun in the car than you are watching your cash fester in a savings account. In five or six years time, though, that self-same 458 Italia will be worth perhaps £50k. And provided it’s been looked after and doesn’t have a stellar mileage on the clock, then it might make (a little) more sense as an investment. Just don’t expect to make huge amounts of money. The reason? They are just too common. The thing about the GTO is not just its stunning beauty, nor its racetrack provenance, nor the heritage of the Ferrari brand – though all are important aspects of its make-up. No, the really significant thing about the car is that it was one of just 36 GTOs ever built, and one of very few with Series II bodywork. Rarity, that’s the key. Bringing the story up to date, London Ferrari dealer H R Owen has a six-year-old Enzo with just 6,000 miles on the clock for sale at £850,000 – not bad, considering it was nearer to £300,000 when new. It wasn’t as rare as the GTO – Ferrari made a total of 400 – but getting hold of one was always difficult. Each one was offered to existing owners, especially those who had previously bought the equally exotic F40 or F50 models. Unsurprisingly, they were snapped up. The moral of the story? If you want to own the next Enzo from launch, become a serial Ferrari owner now. And keep your fingers crossed that you become one of the chosen ones. What about the UK’s answer to Ferrari? One of the rarest Aston Martins of recent times is the One-77. Just 77 examples of this 7.3-litre V12-powered carbon fibre supercar will be built, each with a price tag of more than £1.2 million. Is it an investment? Only time will tell, but that’s a heck of a starting price to overcome. Mind you, we said that about the McLaren F1 a few years ago when we whistled at the £600,000 price sticker. But McLaren’s first true road car has turned into a gilt-edged investment. RM sold one at auction last year for £2 million, though admittedly it was an extremely low mileage car that had spent most of its life in McLaren’s Park Lane showroom. But higher mileage examples aren’t far behind that figure. So, does that mean we should all rush out and buy the forthcoming McLaren MP4-12C? Sadly, not. At a mere £168,500, the MP4 will be much more common, relatively speaking, than the F1 and therefore, initially at least, values will fall rather than rise. Once again, the sensible thing would be to wait five years or more, pick one up relatively cheaply and then hope values stop tumbling and harden. But if they don’t, why worry? You will have picked up a highly desirable car, and someone else will have taken the initial depreciation hit. Can’t wait five years? Choose a used supercar from one of the enduring marques – Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, for example – and go for something comparatively rare: a 911 Speedster is always going to be worth more than a 911 convertible. And make sure you use it. Even if it doesn’t make money, it’ll have been a great ride. n

investing in...

ART

Dr David Kuo looks at the potential returns of investing in something you can enjoy every day; art

ome investors who have been disillusioned with the disappointing returns from the stock market have turned to art... and who can blame them. At least with a painting you can touch it, you can see it and you can even enjoy it every day. As a result of the interest in art, some pundits reckon that it should be treated as an asset class in the same way that shares, bonds, property and cash are. But if we allow art to be treated as an asset class, then where do we draw the line? Should fine wine, vintage cars, stamps and collectable teddy bears be asset classes too? However, just because something is not an asset class doesn’t mean it cannot be a good investment. For instance, some private banks provide their well-heeled clients with portfolio valuations and market research in the area of art investing. What’s more, some institutions may even lend against a work of art so the owner can splash out and buy even more art. Mind you, investing in art is not something new – it has been around for years. Railpen, the investment management firm that runs the Railway Pension Fund, invested in art as far back as 1970 when inflation was rampant. It reportedly saw returns that beat inflation by some 4 per cent. Interestingly, when Railpen invested in art, it bought a varied collection that spanned Chinese porcelain to African tribal paintings. It was quite an eclectic mix. However, the bulk of the fund’s returns came from just 25 impressionist paintings. So, clearly, the art market can be quite a difficult and complex one to understand. The complexity of the art market has led some experts to suggest that it is not really a single market, but many markets cobbled together. For example, each well-known artist can be a market in his or her own right. Additionally, particular schools of artists and styles can be grouped into separate markets too. Consequently, simply saying that art has done well or badly can be a little misleading, because it is important to be clear about the type of art we are referring to. Some art experts have tried to take subjectivity out

of investing in art by constructing indices to track the performance. They include the Mei/Moses All Art Index and the Zurich/AMR Art & Antiques Index. These indices can be useful for investors to compare the long-term performance of art against other investment benchmarks. They show that over the last 50 years, the returns from art compare quite favourably with the stock market. However, art has done less well over the last 25 years. The indices also reveal that art can be a poor hedge against inflation over short periods. So it is reckoned that to do well, art needs to be held for at least 35 years. This is largely because art prices can be volatile. If you think about it, the price that someone is willing to pay for a piece of art is driven more by sentiment than the state of the economy. Some might say that is a good thing. After all, Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust would never have fetched a record price of £70m at auction if it relied on the health of global economies. Despite the objectivity introduced by art indices, it should be remembered that art has oodles of aesthetic value, but virtually no intrinsic value. In other words, you don’t get any dividends or earn any interest from a piece of art. In fact, holding costs such as storage and insurance will dent your returns. It is also worth bearing in mind that the value of a piece of art is governed almost entirely by what is considered to be hot at the moment. Furthermore, there is very little transparency, as art investments are understood by a handful of experts and professionals. An art expert once gave me a useful tip about investing in art. His advice was to buy only what you like, because you will have to look at it every day. So personally, I’m quite happy to leave my meagre collection of watercolours where it belongs – on my walls. Furthermore, since it is not possible to invest in an art index, I’m quite happy to stick with investing in stock market indices instead, which should deliver a much better return over the long run. n For further information, visit www.Fool.co.uk

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13/12/10 12:59:41

exclusive

Invitation

investing in...

j e w e l l e ry

The Paris Biennale – an event dedicated to the finest art and antiques in the world – has once again wowed jewellery lovers by playing host to an eye-popping abundance of jewels with price tags in the millions, says Claire Adler

Van Cleef & Arpels Les Voyages Extraordinaires Olindias Clip (right) Collier Stromboli (left)

his September, Paris saw jewellery presented to the super-rich and connoisseurs on supremely elaborate exhibition stands. It was all part of the Paris Biennale – the bi-annual invitee-only art and antiques fair – which recently took place for the 25th time, in the palatial setting of the Grand Palais. The Paris Biennale des Antiquaires is the most prestigious fine art and antiques fair in the world. First held in 1962, the exhibition’s original organisers hoped the beauty of the objects on show would rival the beauty of the women who came along to ogle them. French jeweller Cartier has been an exhibitor since the show’s beginnings, while this year Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels showed for the third time, and Dior for the second time. Harry Winston is the only American jeweller at the show, but with a shop in Paris since 1955, it first exhibited at the Paris Biennale in 1974, then again 2000 and has been a regular ever since. “The Paris Biennale is a rendezvous of all the world’s jewellery connoisseurs,” said CEO of Harry Winston, Frederic de Narp, before the show opened. “As a French person, I’m thrilled to be part of it. We have 20 salons round the world, but this is where we’re launching our newest collection, the Royal Garden collection, and we’ll meet with all our important clients here.” When it comes to the rarest, most exquisitely crafted and precious jewellery on the planet, it’s all very much a ‘by appointment, guest list only, price on application’ affair. Behind the scenes information is hard to come by, but at the same event two years ago, jewellery transported by Harry Winston alone was said to be worth £50 million, though it may easily have been more. This year, Chanel’s most expensive piece on show was the intricate Plume necklace, for sale at a cool €1.6 million, along with the matching brooch – yours for €220,000. The Plume, or feather, is a variation on a theme originally dreamed up by Mademoiselle Chanel for the launch of her very first fine jewellery collection in 1932. The brooch might be a tad expensive, but it’s certainly versatile. The experts say it can be worn over a shoulder, as a sparkling headdress, or pinned onto a hat or a (inevitably Chanel) skirt suit. Over at Van Cleef & Arpels, certain individual pieces just skirted the €3 million mark, with some jewels having already been snapped up by July time, based on drawings alone. Dior’s display included pieces designed up to 11 years ago, including delectable, intricate cocktail rings by Dior designer Victoire de Castellane, from her collection Les Incroyables et les Merveilleuses, made in 1999, which went on to spark a trend for enormous, bold and beautiful rings.

investing in...

j e w e l l e ry Chanel upped the ante this year by filling a booth twice the size of the space it took in 2008, and bringing in New York architect Peter Marino to design it. Marino is the man behind Louis Vuitton’s Bond Street flagship store, which opened early this summer. Meanwhile, the display of this year’s Van Cleef & Arpels collection, Les Voyages Extraordinaires, inspired by the books of Jules Verne, bore a far greater resemblance to a fantastical art installation than any display you’d expect to see at an antiques fair. But that was hardly surprising, given that Alfredo Arias – the Argentinian artist, actor and director who had created it – has conceived sets for opera houses from La Scala in Milan to the Opera in Paris, and is the proud owner of a five-page CV enumerating his books, films and fantastical theatre productions, as well as the accolades he has received in Italy, Argentina and France. This includes the multiple French honour of being appointed Chevalier, Officier and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres. “I would not miss this occasion, which is a high-level artistic event, for anything in the world. Jewellery is an art form,” said Arias. “The dreamlike world of Jules Verne resonates with that of a Maison whose artistic heritage is built around the beauty of flora and fauna, the sky and the stars, imaginary creatures,” said Nicolas Bos, creative director of Van Cleef & Arpels. One question remains. Is there a market for this extraordinary and outrageously expensive jewellery? New York-based luxury expert, CEO of the Luxury Institute Milton Pedraza believes there is: “There will always be a market for these products and especially in Greater China, India and the Middle East, where wealth continues to grow. Wealthy people just want the best and they will pay for it. The concept is an old one with new price levels,” he says. n

Above: Chanel Collier Plume Left: Harry Winston Sapphire Tulip ring

investing in...

WINE

Pieter Rosenthal of Love That Wine, offers his expertise in building a wine cellar, whether for return on investment or simply for the pleasure of drinking an exceptional bottle

ere are some ancient words of wisdom: “Want to make a small fortune in wine? Start with a large one.” Recent years have seen superlative upon superlative heaped on successive vintages of Bordeaux, still the prime region for wine investment, and with emerging markets in Asia, China in particular, it has pushed up prices to extraordinary heights. The châteaux, merchants and those who bought early are making some healthy returns. Bordeaux works according to a system called en primeur, a bit like buying futures. You pay the money up front, but the wine may not actually be delivered until many years later. Recent years have seen the ‘blue chip’ wines rise in value, outstripping more traditional ways of investment, but that is not the case for all wines offered as en primeur. Many in the lower ranks make little or no gain, so knowing which wines stand a chance of increasing in value is key. If you are considering buying wine as an investment, remember that there is never a guarantee of profit. As with any investment, values rise and fall but wine does seem a more robust one. One of the main advantages is that over time, wine of older vintages will automatically become scarcer, so for the long term it would seem relatively safe, particularly for the best châteaux in the best vintages. First, determine why you want to invest. If your aim is to build up an interesting cellar, giving you great wines for the long term, buy wines you will enjoy. If the investment doesn’t quite work out financially, at least you will have some nice bottles

to open and drink. If you aim to make money, the picture is more complicated. Either way, get advice from experts and talk to a reputable merchant. If you’re going to give someone your money, you want to make sure it is safe. Traditional wine merchants, such as Berry Brothers & Rudd and Corney & Barrow, among others, will tailor an investment package for you, depending on your budget and your ultimate aims. You can invest a lump sum or make a monthly payment, which will be used to buy wines for your personal portfolio. They can also take care of storage and subsequent resale for you. Over the past few weeks a number of stories have broken of companies cold calling, offering guaranteed returns on investment, sometimes even masquerading as a different company. None of the traditional merchants would cold call like that, and you should exercise extreme care when dealing with unknown companies with no obvious track record. Finally, the value of a wine is very much determined by its provenance. Where you bought the wine and how it was stored is important. Merchants will offer the option to store wine with them in air-conditioned cellars, giving the wine perfect provenance, which is crucial if you’re thinking of reselling. Budget for the fact that you will have to pay for storage (roughly about £10–15 per case per year). And just think, if you’re considering buying on eBay or at auction; the chance of a 30–year-old wine stored in perfect condition still being drinkable is much greater than a wine stored in someone’s garage. Caveat Emptor. n

www.brm-manufacture.com For stockist enquiries please telephone +44 (0)778 011 4987 J U r a LT D 0 8 0 0 0 1 1 2 7 0 4 - T H E WaT C H G a L L E rY 0 2 0 7 5 8 1 3 2 3 9 - F rO S T O F L O n D O n 0 2 0 3 3 7 2 0 1 0 8

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Make your watch

SHOPPING PANDORA’S JEWELLERY BOX Every single day throughout the year, more than 350 kilograms of pure silver and gold go into producing Pandora jewellery. To mark the launch of the Danish jewellery brand’s new Canary Wharf store, the company will unveil a dramatic window display filled with gold jewellery boxes. On Friday 28th January for one day only from 9am-8pm, the Pandora store will be adorned inside and out with beautiful gold jewellery boxes. An exclusive opportunity will also see all customers who make a purchase in the Canary Wharf store receive a Pandora gift from £10,000 worth of jewellery. Prizes include a LovePods ring, Liquid Silver earrings and selected charms and bracelets. PANDORA Cabot Place Canary Wharf 020 7987 9801

Lovepod Rings, from £251

Gold Bracelet, from £1,000. Individual Charms, from £175

arts&events

in the east Start the year as you mean to go on in 2011 and visit Canary Wharf for a wide range of cultural delights: from ice skating and ice sculpting to art exhibitions, there is something for everyone to enjoy this January

Glistening Return for London Ice Sculpting Festival The London Ice Sculpting Festival returns to Canary Wharf from 13–15 January. Over three days Canary Wharf will become the focus of the UK’s unique international ice sculpting competition. Teams of acclaimed sculptors from around the globe will carve dramatic, large-scale works of art against the clock in Canada Square Park. The winning sculpture will be declared by a panel of judges on Saturday 15 January by 4pm. Why not have a go yourself and tackle a small block of ice by signing up for a supervised Masterclass*. Booking is first come, first served; simply sign up when you arrive.

Canada square Park thursday 13 January 3.30-5.30pm Friday 14 January 9am – 7pm saturday 15 8am-4pm Free MasterClasses Jubilee Place & Canada square Park Friday 14 January 11am - 5pm saturday 15 January 11am – 5pm live Carving DeMonstration Canada Place Friday 14 January 11am – 5pm saturday 15 January 11am – 5pm * Children must be 12+ and accompanied by an adult. Workshops take place on the hour, 20 minutes and 40 minutes past. the last masterclass begins at 4.40pm.

Exhibition:

Malcolm Ross-White: Yellow Door Yellow Storm During the course of seven years working periodically at The Pottery Workshop Experimental Factory in Jingdezhen, China, Malcolm Ross-White has made painted and collaged ceramic plates, some individual pieces and many in series. Including recent large-scale pieces made especially for exhibition at Canary Wharf, the selected works trace his experience of China with humour and romance. Ross-White brings to ceramics his abiding interest in working across cultures, and themes are developed from his everyday life there, from Chinese stories and myths. Imagery born of food for the body and spirit, and of human relationships, has been enriched through his acute eye for detail, his economy of means as a painter, and his sheer pleasure in China, which for him has a complex, warm and vibrant society.

Lobby, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf 17th January - 11 March Open daily Tuesday 8 February, 1.15pm FREE Malcolm Ross-White in conversation with curator Ann Elliot. To reserve a place please call 020 7418 2257

CanaRy WhaRf ICe RInk SlIdeS Into the neW yeaR In Style Canary Wharf Ice Rink, sponsored by thomson Reuters, offers some of the best outdoor skating facilities in london, set in a beautiful location beneath the iconic towers. It has drawn large crowds over the Festive season and it remains open until 20 February allowing skaters to exercise off some Christmas excess, have a day out with the children or perhaps impress a date with a meal at one of the superb bars and restaurants overlooking Canada Square Park.

Canada Square Park Until 20 February Monday to Saturday 9.45am-11pm Sunday 9.45am-7.30pm (The last skate session begins one hour prior to closing time) Buy tickets online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call or 0844 847 1556

13 Nov 2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 Feb 2011 Canada Square Park CanarY WHarF www.ticketmaster.co.uk 0844 847 1556 For details and corporate bookings www.canarywharficerink.com

C H A M PA G N E

R E I M S - F R A N C E

interview coffee republic personal finance mind the gap human resources exit strategy .................................

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Britain’s Economy in 2011

The aim was to reduce the deficit through spending cuts and tax rises. According to 2011 forecasts, the coalition’s plan seems to be working

eorge Osborne’s claim that Britain is on the mend is backed up by the International Monetary Fund. According to this organisation, a moderate economic recovery is underway in Britain with GDP expected to expand by 2 per cent in the coming year. These estimates are based on the stabilisation of unemployment, a healthier financial sector and the government’s multi-year fiscal deficit reduction plan. Elsewhere, Ernst & Young highlights the significance of exports and investment to Britain’s economic growth. With the competitive pound

providing the carrot, the weak home market becomes the stick, they say. The prediction is that investment in 2011 will rise by 6.2 per cent and exports by 10.1 per cent. Investec, notes that inflation is more persistent than forecasted and believes that the increase in VAT to 20 per cent on 4 January is likely to keep the consumer price index (CPI) above target for much of this year. With our economy set to grow faster than those of Germany, France, Japan, America and the Eurozone during the next two years, Britain, it seems, is firmly on the road to recovery. n

Embrace life with as many arms as possible.

Happiness, peace of mind, the freedom to live life to the full – whatever you want from your investments, it’s our job to come up with the best way to help you get it. So seize the day – ask your Financial Adviser about Octopus.

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0800 316 2298 octopusinvestments.com

This financial promotion is directed at UK retail investors, and is issued and approved by Octopus Investments Ltd. The value of investments may go down as well as up and an investor may not get back the full amount invested. Octopus Investments Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. FSA Registered Number: 194779. Registered office: 20 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7AN. All information is correct as at 31 December 2010 and therefore may not be current. To make sure we’re giving you the best service possible, we may monitor and record our calls with you. CC902 Octopus - Embrace Life.indd 1

21/12/2010 16:34

interview

comment

COFFEE Queen

tarting out as a lawyer, entrepreneur Sahar Hashemi is now best known as the creator of British coffee house chain, Coffee Republic. With two self-help books to her name, Anyone Can Do It and Switched On, alongside the huge success of Coffee Republic, she has certainly come a long way since leaving her job as a lawyer in the mid-90s. We caught up a few weeks ago to find out more...

Why did you decide to launch a coffee shop chain? I decided to leave law and find something I loved doing and that I was good at. I fell in love with skinny lattes in New York – it was at a coffee bar there called New World Coffee back in 1994 – I couldn’t believe we didn’t have them in London. I wanted them as a customer myself, and that’s why I started the business. My brother and I wanted to make a UK version of the New York coffee bars, so we concentrated on a great coffee experience for the customer. It was easy because we were customers ourselves. Do you think of yourself as an entrepreneur? Yes, now I do, although when I was building Coffee Republic I had no idea that’s what I was! I just

Claire Saunders talks to entrepreneur Sahar Hashemi about the creation of Coffee Republic and her new-found talent as a selfhelp author advising the modern professional wanted the skinny lattes I had seen in New York. I believe anyone can be entrepreneurial, even if they work for someone else. Will you go back to law now that you have set up Coffee Republic and written your books? No, I don’t think being a lawyer plays to my strengths and I’ve learnt in life that you need to choose a career where you are using all of your talents. Work has to come naturally, and being a good lawyer didn’t come naturally to me. I now know what I’m good at and I try to stick to it. Did you encounter any unforseen problems in setting up Coffee Republic as a businesswoman, rather than a businessman? No, of course not. The generation of women before us have paved the way to make it easy for us, and we should take advantage of it. If there are fewer women in boardrooms, then that’s out of choice rather than some male conspiracy. It’s the glass helmet rather than the glass ceiling! Why did you decide to write your two books and what did you hope to achieve from them? My first book, Anyone Can Do It, was to demystify entrepreneurship,

because when I was growing up I thought only swashbuckling extroverts like Richard Branson had entrepreneurial qualities. I wanted to prove that anyone who had the dream could and should go for it. My new book, Switched On, is applying the same entrepreneurial habits but this time for employees – because I discovered the habits that entrepreneurs need to make it happen are exactly the same for employees to survive and thrive in the world of work. Did you learn anything yourself, while writing the books? Yes, by going through my life journey and writing about my experiences, it emphasised to me the lessons I can draw from my successes and my mistakes. Who is your writing aimed at? Switched On is aimed at all those people in larger corporations who have switched off – who take only 60 per cent of themselves to work and feel that they’re on auto-pilot. It’s about changing your mindset and refreshing your approach to work so you come alive at work, rather than see it as a form of punishment. n For more information, visit www.anyonecandoit.co.uk

CITYpromotion

FIRST-CLASS GOLF AND RACING WITH FAIRWAY TO FURLONG Golfers can enjoy a perfect start to one of the country’s biggest sporting events with the Cheltenham Festival Centenary Golf Day The Cheltenham Festival, the Mecca of jump racing, celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, and to mark the occasion Fairwaytofurlong.com is inviting race-goers to the Celtic Manor Resort the day before it all begins, to enjoy some golf as well as receive tips from a host of racing experts. With groups and individuals welcome, attendees can play golf on either the Montgomerie, the Roman Road or the Twenty Ten course, which hosted this year’s Ryder Cup, before enjoying dinner and a special Cheltenham festival preview evening, where a panel of famous faces from the racing world will guide them through the coming week’s major races and supporting races. Packages can be tailored to individual needs and start from just £99 for golf on the Montgomerie Course plus the special preview evening. Other options include 18 holes on the Twenty Ten course, the preview evening, a night in the fivestar Celtic Manor Resort, and a Tuesday Club enclosure ticket to the Cheltenham Festival for £2,000 per team of four players.

The Stableford competition offers a host of fantastic prizes up for grabs, along with everything you would expect from a first-class golf day, including on-course competitions and complimentary buggies and course guides. All packages can be tailored, including for nongolfers who can also enjoy the fun with bespoke spa packages, as well as transfers to and from Cheltenham racecourse. Extra nights in the hotel can be arranged on request. The Cheltenham Festival Centenary Golf Day is the latest offering from Fairway to Furlong, offering exciting and unique horse racing and golfing breaks combining championship golf, along with the opportunity to experience a quintessential British afternoon or evening of horseracing at some of the world’s highest profile horseracing fixtures.

For more information, call 0800 043 1860, email david@fairwaytofurlong.com or visit www.fairwaytofurlong.com

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feature

Together we raised million for charity in one day

ICAP the world’s premier interdealer broker, raised £12.1 million (US$19 million) worldwide on its 18th annual Charity Day. This brings the total amount raised through ICAP’s Charity Day which started in 1993, to £76.6 million In London, ICAP was honored to be joined by Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and Prince William in support of two of The Prince of Wales’ charities; Youth Business International and The Prince’s Teaching Institute as well as SkillForce, of which Prince William is Patron. Prince William executed a €17bn trade which is thought to be the largest voice-brokered, forward foreign exchange trade ever undertaken.

Daniel Craig and Geri Halliwell also visited the London office to work the phones and Sarah Jessica Parker was among the charity patrons to visit the office in New York.

Michael Spencer, Group Chief Executive Officer of ICAP, said: “I would like to thank all our staff, customers and suppliers, as well as our distinguished guests for the huge effort they made in raising this record figure this year.”

This number tops last year’s figure of £11.5 million and brings the total amount raised through ICAP’s Charity Day to £76.6 million. All revenues from ICAP Charity Day will go to 200 charities globally this year. ICAP has supported more than 1,000 charities since Charity Day started in 1993. A full list of the charities ICAP supported this year as well as more information about how ICAP’s donation will make a difference can be found at www.icapcharityday.com

Together we raised million for charity in one day

Celtic Manor Resort and The Cheltenham Festival gives you a two day experience that dreams are made of FairwaytoFurlong.com will be hosting a special golf event on Monday 14th March 2011, with exclusive use of all three courses at The Celtic Manor Resort, site of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Packages start from ÂŁ149 per person Non golfer spa packages are also available

www.fairwaytofurlong.com 0800 043 1860

human resources

Getting

what you want in

comment

2011

Chelsey Baker, business advisor and life coach, discusses the Law of Attraction to help you achieve anything you want and everything you desire in the year ahead

t has often been said that our life experiences are determined by the thoughts and emotions that lie behind them. Usually referred to as the ‘Law of Attraction’, this concept states that if we consistently focus upon the things that we really want, we will eventually attract them and, ultimately, achieve all our desires; conversely, however, it also means that should we focus too much upon negative things we will also attract them. If our present is the manifestation of our past thoughts, then it’s high time to reassess what we really want out of life, and to take active steps to consciously direct our thoughts and desires accordingly. Many people write goal lists and frequently wonder why they never seem to reach them. This can occur for a variety of reasons; being unclear in your thoughts and not visualising what you really want. The ultimate problem stems from the fact that when you wish really hard for something, you invariably find that doubt will follow. When you transmit thoughts of doubt alongside your goals, this is a surefire way to sabotage your aims. So the goal here must be to overcome any negative thoughts or doubts clouding your mind. It’s imperative that you take inspired actions to achieve what you want, not only in your thoughts, but in reality too. Visualisation is a vital tool in achieving your desires. Medical research indicates that our subconscious brain cannot distinguish between an event that takes place in our thoughts, and one that takes place in reality. Most successful sportsmen make use of visualisation techniques in training in order to induce their subconscious mind to both rehearse and precondition their muscles for the activity to come, despite the fact that they may be doing so in the comfort of an armchair.

The following suggestions will help you to manifest your desires into reality: • Decide what it is you actually want; be specific about your desires and set yourself a timeline • Always have a positive attitude. When you are positive you attract positive people and transformations into your life • Focus on what you want and picture the end result with as much detail as possible. Have clear doubt-free vision and project your optimism, and believe that your goal has already happened • Visualise your desires with a mental picture. Imagine where you want to be in your life and picture yourself in this situation. You won’t reach this position unless you maintain a definite idea of your direction, and a positive mental attitude • Commit to your goal and the Law of Attraction will respond to it. Stop pondering over whether or not you will achieve what you want, and strive to be confident that you’re on the right track • Keep focused on your ambitions and take small steps to achieve what you want. Try putting up a photo of your desired goal and take inspired action to achieve it. Listen to your own intuition and pay attention to your own feelings • Don’t give in to negative thoughts or doubt. If you doubt your desire, you are sending negative thoughts out into the universe. Keep every thought positive • Appreciate the evidence as it unfolds around you – look for signs that your desires are manifesting themselves and reinforce your positive actions • Strive to feel good about yourself every single day. Stop resisting and let go of any struggle, believe that everything is unfolding exactly as it should be • Start using affirmations. Write down what you want and say them to yourself repeatedly like a mantra. The more often you say them out loud, the more likely they are to come true. Lasting happiness often comes from the journey rather than the attainment of your goal, so relish that feeling of excitement you experience when you free your mind and believe that you have no limitations. It’s easy to imprint new objectives into your subconscious in order to achieve what you want; you just have to believe in yourself and the power of positivity. The choice is yours; you already have everything you need to achieve your goals, all you need to do is adopt a positive mental attitude and you’ll get everything you want in 2011. n

thE

RISE OF GLOBAL

MOBILItY t tY

New Year Around The World It can be confusing living away from home at New Year. Just how do you find out the different ways of celebrating? Mexico seems to be the most controversial. Depending on whom you believe, there is a ‘tradition’ of women wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve. This is supposed to bring love in the New Year whilst, if you wear yellow underwear, your wealth will increase. However, some sources indicate that this tradition was probably invented by underwear manufacturers. Mexicans also follow a similar tradition to Spain where 12 grapes are eaten, one to each chime of the midnight clock on 1 January. According to Wikipedia, this tradition also has a rather prosaic origin: grape growers invented it in 1909 to rid themselves of a massive surplus of their crop in that particular year. Some Latin American countries such as Colombia celebrate by dressing a man-sized doll in old clothes and burning Mr “Old Year” at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. This seems reminiscent of the burning of Guy Fawkes in the UK on 5 November. In England, as opposed to the UK, New Year’s Day was not recognised until 1752. Until that time, the year began on 25 March, the feast of the Annunciations. Germany also has a refreshingly eccentric aspect to its New Year celebrations. Each year German television broadcasts a classic British cabaret sketch, in English, called “The 90th Birthday” or “Dinner for One”. There is not space to cover the whole plot here, but essentially a butler impersonates a number of (dead) dinner guests for his employer and has to drink multiple toasts at New Year as part of the impersonation. Apparently, if you say to most Germans, “The same procedure as last year, Madam? – The same procedure as every year, James”, they will get all misty eyed about the celebrations.

Geneva Ex-Pats Survey Further to my recent article about the grass not necessarily being greener (or should that be the snow whiter?) in Switzerland, a reader has pointed out to me a recent posting on the website, www.swissinfo.ch. In a survey carried out at the end of 2009 by the Geneva authorities on United Nations staff and diplomats based in the city, 17 per cent of respondents put security as their main concern. However, to put this in proper perspective, 51.8 per cent of expats said that housing was their main priority. Nonetheless swissinfo reported that, “some 12.4 per cent of expats reported having been burgled during the past three years and 11.6 per cent said they had been robbed in the street.” Geneva has the highest crime rates in Switzerland, with burglary being the offence most on the rise. The other side of the story is that temporary foreign residents believe that “Geneva remains an excellent place to live and work”. Approximately 92 per cent of respondents said that they would recommend Geneva to their family and friends, and 77.3 per cent judged the quality of life to be good.

The Forum for Expatriate Management is holding the Totally Expat Show on May 16th 2011 at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London. Lead sponsors include Nat West Global Employee Banking, Xchanging GMS, Rosetta Stone, Fragomen, JAM HR, HSBC International, Interdean, Sterling Relocation, HCR Group and Equus Software. For more information, visit www.totallyexpat.com

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For global living international executives keeping up to date with the latest news is important

Behind the scenes of the

Expatriate Industry Brian Friedman discusses the expatriate industry and those recognised at the recent Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards (EMMAs)

here are unsung heroes and heroines in many industries. They are the people who toil away in comparative obscurity, but do essential work that keeps companies and employees functioning. This is certainly the case in the expatriate management industry. All across the globe there are hundreds, if not thousands, of employees emigrating or relocating for employment every day of the week. Many of those individuals and their families will be supplied with a variety of services that ensure that their move from A to B is seamless. Those services range from tax advice to housing and schooling searches, as well as shipping of personal items. These are all provided by dedicated experts in their field. It is in the nature of the business that most moves are expedited with little or no problem, but occasionally there can be logistical challenges. These are often caused by events unrelated to the operator’s performance. The recent incidence of suspect packages detected en route

from Yemen to the USA has slowed down shipping lanes markedly whilst new security protocols are worked out, and this is but one example. Many of those working with expatriates (for whom we always have the highest regard) quote the axiom: “When I am right, no one remembers; when I am wrong, no one forgets”. To enable credit to be awarded where it was due, earlier this year, via the Forum for Expatriate Management, I introduced the Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards, the EMMAs. There were 13 different categories of awards for which we received more than 240 entries. A distinguished panel of judges drawn from the UK, Europe and the US reviewed entries and made adjudications over the summer. Our first ever EMMAs were awarded at a Gala ball attended by more than 300 people at a prestigious hotel in Grosvenor Square, London in November 2010. The event was covered by our media partners, the Telegraph Group and even by OK!

magazine. Many of the companies who sponsored or won supplier awards are household names in our industry, although they may not yet be so well known outside this milieu. In the relocation categories, honours went to Sterling Relocation and Chiltern Relocation, with Robinsons Relocation picking up the International Movers Award. Mercer was judged to be Benefits Provider of the Year. The Corporate Housing Award went to Go Native, Grant Thornton obtained the Tax/Legal Adviser award and Brookfield GRS the award for “thought leadership”. Awards for Technology went to Move One and Relo Assist. We also felt it important to include awards for representatives of those companies who manage expatriate staff – the customers, if you will. In these categories, NATS and Mars won team awards and Helen Walton of Astra Zenica an individual award. It was also one of my great pleasures to see Siobhan Cummins of Mercer receive our Outstanding Contribution award in recognition of the many years of distinguished service she has given to our industry. That is what sums up the EMMAs; recognising achievements that might otherwise stay behind the scenes. n

Brian Friedman is the contributing editor of Global Life and founder of the Forum for Expatriate Management. Founded in 2008, 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.

Lament for Fallen Heroes, Andrew Vicari

AN ADDED BONUS In the current climate it may seem as if we are all called to talk about bonuses in hushed terms. So what better way to assuage any guilt by putting your hard-earned cash towards a luxurious pleasure that will not only delight, but also support a worthy charitable cause? Jemima Jameson finds out how

quare Mile Salute is a gastronomic extravaganza that will take place on 10 February in the Guildhall. This evening of fine-dining will offer a five-course menu devised by an impressive array of top international chefs (including Albert Roux OBE and Mark Flanagan, The Royal Chef). The event will take place to raise money for three great charities: the Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and ABF, The Soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Charity. Funds raised will be used to build and run Personnel Recovery Centres for troops that have been wounded, and are in need of support when returning from active duty.

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All lies are tomorrow’s truth. Legends created histories. Valour is the only redeeming factor. Andrew Vicari on why he is supporting this great cause.

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BIDDING OPEN NOW Through the advanced auction website, individuals and companies can place bids for the paintings well ahead of the actual auction and, in fact, even if they aren’t attending on the night. —

The evening’s entertainment will also involve an auction, with several luxurious prizes that money ordinarily could not buy, each utterly unique and devastatingly enviable. The grand prize will be a new diptych by the renowned British artist Andrew Vicari. One of the great figurative artists of the 20th century, Vicari was ‘discovered’ at the Slade School of Fine Art by his mentor Francis Bacon, studying under Lucien Freud and Sir William Coldstream. Since then, Vicari’s impact on the art world has become so great, that he has been dubbed “King of Painters, Painter of Kings” by Paris Match, and “Marco Polo II” for his role in bridging the gap between Western and Eastern cultures. The two oil on canvas paintings donated by Vicari have been specially created for the event. Entitled, ‘Lament for Fallen Heroes’, it is fitting that Vicari has chosen war as his subject, not only because the event will raise money to support troops returning from active service, but also because Vicari has already gained a reputation in this field. Vicari was appointed the official Artist of the Gulf War (by all the allied countries involved). His major work is From ‘War to Peace in the Gulf: The Liberation of Kuwait’, a collection of more than 225 oil paintings depicting battle scenes and portraits of world leaders. Vicari sold 125 of his Gulf War paintings to Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz for £14m in 1991. Vicari felt compelled to contribute to this great cause, as a token of respect and gratitude for those who have fallen for our country, commenting: “There is no greater sacrifice or more noble profession than serving one’s country. This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals, the valour and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen.” Vicari strove to record and symbolise the anguish and horror of war, whilst also the potential for freedom and hope for a better world, and the resulting diptych is a key piece of history that will add to an art connoisseur’s collection. Vicari will also be donating a limited edition of 100 signed lithographs of the two paintings, which will be available to buy (priced £1,000 each or £1,750 for the pair) both before and on the night of the auction. n For further information on the artist, visit www.andrew-vicari.com The Square Mile Salute will take place at 6.15pm on Thursday 10 February at the Guildhall. Tables of ten are priced at £3,500 plus VAT. For more information, or to reserve a table, visit www.chamberlainsoflondon. com/squaremilesalute or call 020 7987 3696 or contact Anne Donoghue at anne@chamberlainsoflondon.com

The proud winner of these exclusive paintings will be announced on the night. For more details or to express an interest in the paintings, visit www. chamberlainsoflondon.com/squaremilesalute

… AND THERE’S MORE! Just a small selection of the prizes that will be auctioned on the night!

PRIVATE PARADISE Win a luxurious trip to Sir Richard Branson’s private island in the Caribbean, Necker Island. This idyllic 74 acres in the British Virgin Islands boasts turquoise waters, coral reefs and white sandy beaches, making it an unrivalled place to relax in style. Or if active is more your style, try out the aquatrampoline anchored to the sea floor at Turtle Beach, or follow the trail over the ridge of Necker.

PRESTIGIOUS PLAYGROUND Join the international élite by winning a stay at the exclusive Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel, a luxurious four star resort. You will also have the chance to experience one of the world’s most exclusive sporting events, the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, from a special VIP viewing area, offering the very best views, and transporting you into the heart of the action.

HEART OF THE CITY Win a private, after-hours and behind the scene tour of St Paul’s Cathedral, arguably London’s most iconic landmark. Not to be missed, the exclusive tour will be followed by a dinner for up to eight in the Temple Bar private dining room, a unique structure that has marked the gateway to the City of London for 200 years.

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n 1958 Carlo Abarth teamed up with Fiat to produce the Fiat 500 Abarth. In a driving marathon that lasted seven days and seven nights, the car broke six international records and was hailed a masterpiece. The name Abarth has been synonymous with superlative performance ever since. Some 52 years later, the brand launches its first sports watercraft by converting the Sacs Strider 12S into the Powershore Abarth SP. Propelled by three 350hp Yamaha V8 outboard engines, specially built for the exclusive version, the boat offers thrilling

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If something can be said to be ‘A1’ it’s usually because it’s pretty damn good. And in that case, says Matthew Carter, the latest baby Audi is well named

ore than 30 years ago, Audi made a supermini it called the Audi 50. It was an unremarkable car, made in comparatively small numbers. Indeed, the most significant thing about the 50 was the fact that it was adopted by Volkswagen and rebadged as the first Polo. It was a turning point for the car. After just four years, the Audi 50 was dumped and the company retreated to the top end of the market, where it has done pretty well, thank you. Over the ensuing three-and-a-bit decades, meanwhile, the VW Polo has gone from strength to strength. But now Audi is back in the baby car market and, in a

neat about-turn, the latest VW Polo has been turned into the new Audi A1. Only this time it’s no badge-engineered special, but a genuine Audi that’s been shrunk in the wash. For some curious reason, a few motoring hacks have turned their noses up at the A1 because of its comparatively humble origins. Although everything you can see and touch is Audi, all the oily bits are pure VW and that, they reckon, isn’t good enough. What a load of nonsense. If the running gear works well – and it does – who cares that it’s shared between the Polo and the A1? Besides, there are worse places to start than the Polo… it was the 2010 Car of The Year, after all. Perhaps what they mean is that A1 doesn’t bring much in

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the way of Vorsprung durch Technic to the supermini class. It’s true that there’s no quattro four-wheel drive offered, no hybrid technology or even much in the way of clever electronics; the A1 won’t park itself as some bigger Audis can, nor do you get wi-fi on the move, for example. But what you do get is a beautifully built, distinctive looking car that’s actually not that bad to drive. The trouble with most Audis (R8 aside) is that no matter how good they look in the showroom, on the road there’s something lacking, some almost indefinable joie de vivre. The A1, though not perfect, isn’t like that: it’s a little cracker. It certainly looks different. The corporate Audi nose, complete with distinctive LED running lights, has been

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grafted on to a cute, rounded, two-door body, which can be personalised to suit the owner’s taste. If you want aluminium-coloured roof contrast line – the arch leading from front to rear over the side of the car – then you can have it. When all the other options, trim colours, engines, spec levels and so on are taken into consideration, few A1s will be absolutely identical. And it has a fabulous interior; real Audi class with exceptional build quality and top-line materials. The car’s not cheap, but you do get what you pay for. At launch, there are three engines available, two petrol and one diesel. All are turbocharged and all promise strong fuel economy and low emissions.

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For once, though, I’m going to suggest forgetting the 1.6-litre diesel and concentrate on the petrol options. Nothing wrong with the diesel, it’s just that the nature of the car seems to suit petrol better, somehow. Of the petrol pair, ignore the 1.2, which, frankly, is a little puny. Instead, concentrate on the punchy 1.4 TFSI which develops 122 bhp, enough to give a 0–60mph time of less than 9 seconds with a top speed of 126mph. OK, this is not enough to frighten a Mini Cooper S – the A1’s logical rival – but if it’s speed you’re after, wait until next year, when a fourth engine option arrives. This has a turbocharged and supercharged version of the same engine, producing a heady 185 bhp. But if winning the traffic light grand prix is not your bag, then the ‘ordinary’ 1.4 TSFI is perfectly good enough. It cruises happily with the needle in the middle of the rev band, but the engine spins enthusiastically towards the red line when you want to drive with a little more brio. There’s more good news from the standard six-speed manual shift, which has a delightfully short throw, though it’s worth considering the optional S-tronic, automated manual transmission. S-tronic is Audi-speak for what VW calls DSG and it really does give the best of both worlds: an efficient automatic for town and a clutchless manual shift via paddles on the steering wheels when you’re in the mood for a little more control. Despite a comparatively simple rear suspension system – certainly one that’s less ‘advanced’ than the Mini’s for example – the chassis is eager to please. Show the A1 a tight, twisty, country road and it’ll scamper off like a puppy.

And yet, it’s remarkably poised and sophisticated in town, though the firm ride (and firm seats) do mean motorway driving is a little more tiring than it should be. Still, everything is a compromise and the firm ride is more than offset by the sharp handling on the open road. So we’ve got the best engine version sorted, now let’s look at trim. The 1.4 TFSI can’t be had in entry-level SE trim, so you’ll have to consider Sport or top-of-the-range S line. Sport gives you a few standard goodies (Bluetooth, sports seats and suspension, front fogs and so on, while the S line adds cloth and leather trim – which is good – and 17inch alloys – not so good, as the ride gets even firmer). Best stick to the Sport and add a few extras from the long list of options, such as the excellent Audi MMI communications and entertainment system, perhaps the panoramic roof and the automated gearbox. It’s all too easy to hit £20k… and if you think that’s too much for a supermini, you can always go for a Polo. If you want genuine style, though, the A1 is, well, A1. n

IN BRIEF CaR: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport PRICE: £15,670 ENgINE: 1,390cc four-cylinder petrol turbo PowER: 122 hp DRIvE: Front-wheel drive

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Terms & conditions: Entry is open to residents of the UK except employees (and their families) of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) and RunWild Media Group, its printers and agents, the suppliers of the prizes and any other companies associated with the prize draw. The editor’s decision is final. The winner will be drawn at random on 31 January, 2011 and notified by email. The winner must be aged 18 or over. Proof of identity and age may be required. Use of a false name or address will result in disqualification. All entries must be made directly by the person entering the prize draw. The prizes are as stated, subject to availability at the time of booking (standard Service Provider booking conditions apply) are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. Winners are responsible for expenses and arrangements not specifically included in the prizes, including any necessary travel, travel documents, passports and visas. Prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers’ terms and conditions. The promoters reserve the right to amend or alter the terms of prize draw and reject entries from entrants not entering into the spirit of the prize draw. The winner will be chosen from all correct entries submitted to SLH by email by the closing date stated within the promotional material and the prize must be redeemed before January 31, 2012. Winners will be confirmed in writing. Reasonable efforts will be made to contact a winner. Failure to respond and/or provide an address for delivery, or failure to meet the eligibility requirements may result in forfeiture of the prize. If they cannot be contacted, or are unable comply with these terms and conditions, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant drawn at random. Where applicable, the decision of the judges is final based on the criteria set out in the promotion and no correspondence will be entered into over this decision. Prize draws may be modified or withdrawn at any time. The Service Provider and contact details are specified within the promotional material. Please note we will not share any of your details with any third parties but by subscribing to the E-zine service you agree that we may contact you from time to time with various product and service offers that we feel relevant.

SIMPLY THE BEST? The standard VW Scirocco is one of the best coupĂŠs around, reckons Matthew Carter. So that must mean the Scirocco R is something else again

motoring

IN BRIEF CaR: Volkswagen Sirocco R PRICE: £28,505 ENgINE: 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder petrol PowER: 265 hp DRIvE: Front-wheel drive

urrent Volkswagen ads are obsessed with value. The learner driver taking her eyesight test is asked to read the price line on a Polo advert… and the instructor is convinced she’s going blind; the chap putting up a Golf poster looks at the price sticker and just knows it’s a misprint. “Unbelievable value” says the strapline. Well, the same is happening higher up the range. Yes, I know 28 grand is a heck of a lot to spend on a car, but when you get something like the latest VW Scirocco R in exchange for your cash, it’s worth every penny. If the ‘ordinary’ Scirocco is one of the best coupés on the market (and it is), then the R version is the real icing on the cake… even if it is five grand more than the top of the rest of the range. So what do you get for that extra cash? Is it really such good value? In my book it’s worth it for the engine alone. It’s a turbocharged version of VW’s neat little 2.0-litre TSI engine as found in the Golf GTi. Only in the Scirocco R it pumps out a splendid 265 hp – enough to thrust the car to 60 mph from rest in less than 6 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph. But it’s about much more than mere straight-line speed against the stopwatch. The Scirocco R is just so damn tractable throughout the rev range. There’s ample power cutting in from around 2,000rpm and going all the way up to its 6,500rpm red line, meaning it’s the perfect foil for a cross-country dash… and especially so if matched with VW’s fabulous DSG gearbox. The standard six-speeder is OK, if a little notchy, but the automated manual DSG, complete with steering wheel paddles, is quite the best gearbox around… even if it does add a further £1,500 to the bill. The engine makes just the right amount of noise, too – not too much for it to get tiring, not too little to dull the excitement. Together, engine and gearbox make a pretty devastating combination. But it just gets better when the chassis is added into the equation. The car sits lower and wider than the standard offering, thanks to different wheels and springs. And the result? It simply feels

calibre

planted. Unlike the Golf R, which has a four-wheel drive chassis, the Scirocco is a front-driver, yet thanks to the addition of a clever electronic differential, the front wheels don’t spin all that power away. The ride, too, is exceptional for a hot hatch-cum-coupé. The R has VW’s Adaptive Chassis Control technology as standard. This provides a choice of three modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport), which alter the damping, steering map and throttle response. In 99 times out of 100, you’d stick one of these systems in Normal and leave it there, Comfort being too soft and Sport too harsh, albeit perfect for a spot of track day use. This time, however, Sport works pretty well on the open road. Yes, ride quality does deteriorate, but not to the point of serious discomfort – it’s perfect for a burst of fun on a suitable switchback road. In fact, as a car for everyday, the Scirocco is just about perfect. It’s easy to drive and more than happy trickling along in traffic, but show it the open road and it develops horns. It looks the part, too. The standard Scirocco is a good looker, but the R adds a dramatic body kit complete with LED running lights at the front, gloss black door mirrors, fancy wheels and other kit to help it really stand out. Looks great in pure white. And it also gets the R treatment inside with splendid Recaro seats and more gloss black treatment for the flatbottomed steering wheel and dashboard surround. It’s inevitably a little cramped in the back, but the rear seats – just the two – are fine for short journeys. Standard equipment includes a touch-screen radio, bi-xenon lights, automatic lights and wipers and a full complement of electronic stability gizmos, but if you want satnav or the wonderful panoramic sunroof or even rear parking sensors (important as visibility out of that tiny rear window isn’t great), you’ll have to pay more. OK, here’s where my value proposition starts to take a beating. But, you know, I’ll stick by it. Even with £4,000 worth of extra goodies, the Scirocco R offers excellent value alongside something like the Audi TT S or a 3-Series Coupé. It’s my car of the year so far. n

sport

calibre

sports

news

Snow go Whether you’re a gnarly freestyler or a skiing novice, the indoor SNO!zone at Milton Keynes offers something for everyone. Beginners can enjoy dedicated coaching sessions on a slope devoted solely to them, as more seasoned skiers hone their skills on the centre’s 170m long main slope. Original and varied park layouts provide for the truly advanced skier, while thrill seekers make the most of the SNO!academy’s slide box, down rails, and 30ft flat rail. www.Snozoneuk.com/v/milton-keyneS 0871 222 5670

Say what?

When you have the best technical bid, fantastic inspection visits, the best economic report, and the best presentation, it’s quite hard to stomach that all that seemed to count for absolutely nothing.

andy anSon, chieF executive oF england’S 2018 world cup bid, on FiFa’S deciSion to award the tournament to ruSSia

SportSman Style

indoor international The O2 plays host to the Gaucho International Polo event for the first time this February. With an anticipated attendance of more than 12,500 people, guests can expect a festival atmosphere as four world-class teams take to the stage. England challenge Argentina, and Scotland take on South Africa before the ultimate Varsity game is played out between Oxford and Cambridge. Played on a reduced-size pitch with three people per side rather than the usual four, Arena

Every good watch brand needs a solid GMT in their collection. The designers at GRAHAM London must have been thinking the same thing as they announce the launch of the Silverstone Time Zone – automatic movement, hours, minutes, central second, date and GMT function, all in a 42mm case.

Tanner Krolle is one of Britain’s most luxurious leather goods companies. Having supplied bags to Princess Margaret and both Princes William and Harry, this year sees the relaunch of the company’s classic 1950s Sportsman Bag. Illustrating the brand’s desire to return to its iconic design roots, the bag is one of just ten models to be released as part of Tanner Krolle’s SS2011 collection. The bag is offered in vegetable tanned, English bridle leather and soft, supple deer hide. Linings, pocket configurations, handles and hardware can be individually chosen, giving each customer the chance to create a unique piece.

www.graham-london.com

www.tannerkrolle.com

Polo is an up-and-coming sport popular for its excitement and intimacy. Corporate hospitality at the indoor O2 event will be provided by Gaucho, while between games guests can enjoy a host of entertainment, including a celebrity polo match. The unique event will showcase the best polo has to offer, with spectators not even having to worry about the weather. 24 February 2011 www.theo2polo.com

Size matterS

the ragged edge Following a winter of intense testing, Lee Brooks caught up with Britain’s leading hope Matthew Wilson ahead of the 2011 World Rally Championship to find out what life’s really like as an international rally driver

t’s a bitingly cold Saturday morning in November and most people are probably still in bed, enjoying a nice lie-in to kick-start the weekend. But in Radnor, on the Welsh Borders, 42 of the world’s best rally drivers are patiently waiting for their start time for stage eight of Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2010 World Rally Championship. Over the next 9.38 miles, each driver will keep their foot to the floor, braking only if absolutely necessary, as they slide their specialist production rally cars around fast and flowing roads lined with ditches, trees and giant boulders. One of those men is Matthew Wilson, a driver for the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team and veteran of five seasons. Wilson represents Britain’s best hope of a world champion since the late Richard Burns took the spoils in 2001. The Brit finishes seventh fastest in this stage and seventh overall, but no sooner has the last time been clocked that Wilson is already turning his attention to next season. “I’m really looking forwarding to getting stuck into 2011,” beamed Wilson. “The rules are changing and we’ll be driving completely different cars so for me, it’s a really good thing to be happening. Everyone is starting from scratch, so no one knows who will be competitive until we start that first stage in Sweden.” Next year’s calendar features 13 rallies over five continents and involves Wilson being away for nearly 20 weeks of the year, including periods for testing. “I’ve never really thought about how long I’m away each year,” said Wilson. “But looking at it on paper it’s quite scary! This season has been different because I’ve been away a lot, testing the new car out and shaking it down to get the set-up data, but it’s always nice to get some time at home to enjoy the simple things in life!” And while jetting off to a different destination every couple of weeks might sound like an ideal lifestyle, there often isn’t much time to explore the country. “We get there on the Monday night and are up early Tuesday morning to start our preparations. From then on, we’re pretty much flat out until Sunday evening when the last stage happens and the ceremonial finish takes place. Then we jump on the plane and fly home ready to go to the factory the following day.” Though the rally officially runs from Thursday evening to Sunday, the teams and drivers start work on Tuesday morning preparing the car and learning the stages. Each driver is allowed to drive along each stage twice before the rally starts. “The whole point is to get an idea of the route – not to learn it by heart,” said Wilson. “There are too many stages over too many miles, so that’s why we have a co-driver. The first time we go over the stage,

I’ll dictate instructions to my co-driver and then on the second pass, he’ll read them back to me and we can make any necessary changes.” Unlike most motorsports, drivers don’t simply have to turn up in one place and race, but rather navigate their way round the country to the start of each stage, within a certain time limit while sticking to the local speed limits – and there’s not a satnav in sight. “We’ve all got a road book for the rally, which has direction in the form of a series of diagrams with every corner you’ll encounter en route to the stage. All the road sections and speed limits are on there, so it makes sure we don’t get lost!” During a stage, obstacles can cause damage to the cars, from trees and hidden rocks to concrete walls and even a rogue kangaroo, so it’s not uncommon for a driver to have to stop and try to fix his car on the side of the road mid-stage in order to stay in the rally. “You’re never going to be as good as the guys who work on the car so we’re limited to what we can do if something breaks when we’re out on a stage,” said Wilson. “Something that’s quite common is a bent steering arm,” he continued, “so you can take that part off the car and hit it with a rock or whatever you can find to try and straighten it out before putting it back on the car and nursing yourself back to service.” Travelling at speeds of around 140mph with cliff edges, ditches and various other obstructions, doesn’t he ever ask himself what he’s doing? “You can’t think about it really,” he concedes. “I know that sounds daft, but you just have to get on with it and tough it out. Obviously if someone goes down in a big accident it does worry you, but then you see how strong the car is and that they’re able to walk away unharmed and it really reassures you.” n For further information visit www.wrc.com

motoring

calibre

calibre motoring

CONTINENTAL It’s a case of ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’. This, believe it or not, is the all-new Bentley Continental GT, though the casual observer might be hard pushed to tell the difference between old and new

ome seven years after the original was launched comes the new footballer’s favourite. It’s the same length and height as before, but is a little wider. The radiator is more upright and the bonnet marginally longer as a result, while the body’s lines – notably over the rear haunches and the bold strake across the doors – are crisper than before. There are changes to the headlights with LED inserts, in line with the recently launched Mulsanne, and a smart new dashboard. The seats are thinner and lighter with the dual benefits of contributing to the car’s 65kg overall weight loss, as well as offering more knee room for those in the rear. Under the bonnet, the thirsty turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine has been tweaked to give a little more power (it’s up to 575PS) with, claims Bentley, no increase in fuel consumption. But the really big news is that towards the end of 2011, the Conti will be offered with a new 4.0-litre V8 engine with somewhere in the region of 450PS on tap… Bentley is being no more specific at the moment. Performance will suffer a little, but that will be more than offset by lower emissions and much better economy. Not that many of the Premier Division will worry too much about that. n

take two

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gadgets

Jamie Carter tries out this month’s latest and greatest gadgets

Depth charge How big should a 3D television be? Having tried out all kinds of screens ourselves, we know one thing: ideally it should be bigger than Sony’s 40LX903. Forty inches in size makes it easy to house at home, and maybe you’ve got a flat where anything bigger just won’t work, but for a true 3D centrepiece, the bigger the screen the better because 3D is all about immersion. And that’s tricky if there’s a plant pot next to your 40-inch TV, or the cat walks behind it. Next question: do I need a 3D TV? The answer is no, not yet. Unless you’re a huge fan of Open Season, Monster House or Ice Age 3 (if you are, you’re too young to be reading this magazine), 3D TV doesn’t have much for you … yet. And that’s the key. If you’re buying a new TV, you probably plan to keep it for at least three years, possibly five. Seven years is average and the planet’s e-waste dumps are glad of that. And by 2013–14, we have no doubt that there will be a lot of 3D content out there – and we’re talking live TV and live action movies, as well as 3D games. The 40LX903 makes for a good investment in the future. Part of Sony’s ‘Signature’ range, there’s not much this Edge LED-backlit screen can’t do. Away from its 3D capabilities, it can stream BBC iPlayer, Demand Five and YouTube (though sadly not wirelessly, unless you buy a USB dongle), and has a built-in Freeview HD tuner (for BBC One HD, ITV 1 HD, BBC HD and 4HD).

3D without glasses is still a decade or so away, so for now, we have the active-shutter 3D system, which is partially hamstrung by rather heavy, uncomfortable (and circa £100) glasses that sync with a sensor on the TV. Two pairs are included with the 40LX903, which is relatively generous. Strap a 3D Blu-ray player (in this case we used Sony’s 3D-ready BDP-S470) to the 40LX903 and insert a 3D Blu-ray disc for bright and breezy 3D pictures, though we noticed a lot of flicker and intense, headache-inducing blur around moving objects. It may have a 200Hz mode to speed-up the LCD panel, but it’s not quick enough – and certainly not as impressive as Panasonic’s VT20 plasmas. Our main problem, though, is that the glasses restrict how you look at the screen; bolt upright is the only way. Further up the ‘Signature’ range is the delectable 60LX903 which, at 60-inches in diameter, hosts a much more convincing 3D experience – as its £4,499 price tag suggests.

Sony Bravia KDL-40LX903 3D LeD tV, £1,999 Sony BDp-S470 3D Blu-ray player, £229 www.sony.co.uk

new gadgets Griffin Elan slim-fit sleeve for ipad, £30 www.o2.co.uk

Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Edition 58pFL9955 58-inch LeD tV, £3,999 www.philips.co.uk

gadgets

calibre

bROnzE MEDAl A tad deep to be used on a desktop, with an attractive curved edge, these 256mm-deep bookshelf speakers from the company’s Bronze BX Series are available in four vinyl wood finishes: Natural Oak, Walnut, Rosemah and Black Oak. The Bronze BX’s are at their best when used with a decent stereo system; an astonishingly balanced level is achieved, with fine detail the lasting impression – although they perform right across the spectrum. Ideal if you want a touch of quality in the living room – clear out a few paperbacks and make room for a pair on your bookshelf.

pair of Monitor Audio bronze bX2 bookshelf speakers, £250 www.monitoraudio.co.uk

TRAnSFER WinDOW

THE big piCTuRE

NIce gesTure

Taking pictures on phones and uploading them to the internet isn’t new, but direct from a digital camera? Just in case anyone’s still using their compact instead of their iPhone, Samsung has released the ST80, a standard digital camera with Wi-Fi built in. It’s not just a novelty; the ST80 can muster a rather magnificent 14.2 megapixels, though that’s way too much to upload to Facebook. Pocket-sized and with a 27mm wide-angle lens, the ST80 has a rather meagre 3x optical zoom, though the touchscreen interface is a nice touch – and so is the ability to film in high definition.

Spend £2k+ and you’ll get yourself a slice of home cinema perfection, but those big and bulky projectors can often find themselves left in a cupboard. For a quarter of the price, Optoma has come up with an everyday beamer that combines HD Ready resolution with 24p playback – both of which guarantee smooth Blu-ray discs and PS3/ Xbox 360 games. Add some decent contrast and an engine capable of producing exceptionally bright images, which mean it can be used in less than blackout conditions, and this compact and portable 2.3kg projector could have wide appeal.

Shop shelves may have been drained of Microsoft’s latest gadget in December, but Kinect isn’t just for Christmas. Doing away with an Xbox360 controller altogether, the clever sensor sits atop your TV and allows players to control games by movement alone. It responds to kicking, waving and jumping (cue mainly sports games in the first wave of Kinect games) and can even tune in to the sound of your voice during movies. Tell the kids to be quiet or else the movie will be switched off – the Xbox says so!

Optoma ThemeScene HD67 HD Ready home cinema projector, £599 www.optoma.co.uk

Microsoft Kinect Controller for Xbox 360, from £209.85 www.johnlewis.com

Samsung ST80 Wi-Fi digital camera, £199 www.johnlewis.com

Denon Ceol networked micro hi-fi plus speakers, £599 www.denon.co.uk

KEF T Series 5.1 super-flat speaker system for wall-mounting, £1,200 www.kef.com

IDAPT i4, £34.99 www.play.com

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SILVER SOCIETY

T Perrier Jouët has worked with Christofle since 1935, and thanks to their latest efforts we can celebrate the New Year in memorable style

his is the season to be celebrating, and you couldn’t do better than mark the end of the first decade of the 21st century, with this stunning limited edition offering from PerrierJouët. This year, exclusive silversmith Christofle has created an exquisite silver-plated filigree vase to encase a magnum of the signature anemone bottle, Perrier-Jouët’s prestige cuvee, the Belle Epoque 1998. Limited to an edition of 150 pieces, only five of which are available in the UK, each one is hand-worked and a beautiful, contemporary

interpretation of Galle’s original floral creation, showing off the elegance and craftsmanship of Christofle’s silversmiths. Ideal weather conditions in 1998 produced a truly fantastic vintage, giving a high level of maturity and a lot of freshness. Rated as one of the finest vintages of the last millennium, the wine is full bodied, but soft, with floral accents and notes of white, citrus and exotic fruits. n The Christofle vase and Belle Epoque 1998 magnum are being sold exclusively from Harrods for £2,400.

HOT ROX HAND WARMERS It’s that time of year again when we have to prepare ourselves for the cold, dark and miserable mornings. Nobody likes the feeling of de-icing the car, driving with a cold steering wheel or getting on a train and shivering for the entire journey. Controlling the weather is completely out of our hands but with HotRox being cold is now optional. HotRox has designed a unique, new lifestyle product that is designed to make us feel great whatever you’re up to. The stylish new electronic hand warmer fits snugly into the palm of your hand and can be turned on and off at the flick of a switch. The hand warmer lasts for up to six hours and can be recharged through a computer USB port or mains socket. HotRox is not like other hand warmers, there’s no boiling, no matches and no mess and heats up in only 15 seconds. Hot Rox hand warmers are priced at £29.99. For further information, visit www.thehotrox.co.uk

SHORT BREAK SKIING

A DELUXE If you’re longing to HAMPER get on the slopesFROM but don’t have time for a seven-night ski holiday, then Flexiski can tailor-make your perfect ski House of Fraser City is offering you weekend or short break

the chance to win a deluxe hamper worth more than £400, including a luxury assortment of Benefit Cosmetics and the Jett Clutch from womenswear brand, Bastyan, which has just launched in store.

The Jett Clutch is the must-have accessory of the season and encapsulates the brand essence of European ski weekends are a great option for anyone with minimum Bastyan, providing a cool, clean, holiday days, or for those wanting to squeeze in an extra couple of understated vision of urban luxury days on the mountain. New winter flight routes, such as London City to its customer. to Chambery, mean you can jet off on Friday, enjoy a weekend on the Updateand your make-up with cult products slopes still be backwardrobe in the office by award-winning, Monday. from Benefit Cosmetics, the unique, quirky and 100 per cent

Flexiski specialises in tailor-made ski breaks for families, individuals gorgeous beauty brand. Included in the deluxe hamper are the and corporate groups to 15 European resorts. Book accommodation infamous products, High Beam, Posietint and Ultra Shine lip gloss. only or let Flexiski tailor-make your ski break with flights and transfers.

If this isn’t enough, this hamper also includes a £100 House of Fraser gift voucher to spend Hotel Saint louiS, CourCHevel 1850, FranCe at your leisure on the Recently renovated, the hotel offers doorstep skiing and is home to a full range of brands in contemporary new bar and revamped south-facing terrace restaurant. store, including Anya Le ChapiteauChloe, is a lavish, Hindmarch, Karenself-contained apartment occupying the top floor ofand the Biba. hotel, and is perfect for a corporate function or for those Millen Here are some top picks for a ski weekend or short break:

looking for a more exclusive setting. The apartment benefits from a personal chef, private dining room and dedicated Ski Event Manager. CHalet BaliaS, val d’iSère, FranCe Combining style and comfort, this charming catered chalet offers wonderful views of the mountains and is located just a few minutes away from the ski lifts.

how to win

how to win Hot Rox has twenty hand warmers to give away, ensuring your winter is a warm one. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

To be in with a chance of FranCe winning, simply answer the CHalet leonardo, MeriBel, following question: The rustic Chalet Leonardo is classically finished in a combination of wood and stone, and features a beautiful, open-plan living area with Which luxury womenswear brand has just launched traditional log fire and fabulous outdoor Jacuzzi. in House of Fraser City?

aMalien HauS, St anton, auStria a) Benefit Cosmetics

HotRox hand warmers last for up to how many hours? a) Three b) Six c) Ten Send your answer with your name, address and contact details to competitions@runwildgroup.co.uk with HOTROX in the subject field. The closing date for entries is Friday 28 January, 2011 Terms & conditions: The editor’s decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to your details being used by Runwild Media Group for marketing purpose. Please see www.runwildgroup.com/subscriptions for full terms and conditions.

64 110

This modern chalet is situated near St Anton’s bustling main street. The b) Bastyan attractive living area provides the perfect setting to enjoy pre-dinner drinks, and its bedrooms feature smart, contemporary bathrooms.

c) Bertie

Send your answerextra withspecial, your name, address andManagers contact If you need something Flexiski’s Ski Event to competitions@runwildgroup.co.uk with HOF can details help arrange your perfect ski day, from collecting your thereservations subject field. equipment and making in lunch to even arranging a romantic picnic on the piste. Book on a daily basis or for the duration The closing date for entries is Friday 28 January, 2011 of your stay, and enjoy having your own personal assistant and expert skier with you on the mountain. Terms & conditions: The editor’s decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to your details being used by Runwild Media Group for marketing purpose. Please see www.runwildgroup.com/subscriptions for full terms and conditions.

For more information, call 020 8939 0880 or visit www.flexiski.com

fashion

concierge

a Year in FasHion The dates that will have the biggest influence on what we will be wearing in 2011 and beyond;

fashion

news

18–23 February

london FasHion weeK (aUtUmn winter)

Barely before 2011 has even begun, the fashion world will already be looking ahead to what we will be wearing in Autumn Winter 2011/12. 27 February

oscar’s nigHt

Even before the ceremony is over, the needles will be out to copy the best designs from the infamous red carpet. 29 April

tHe roYal wedding

Bets are already on as to what (and more importantly who) the bride will be wearing. 10–15 May

Barcelona Bridal weeK

The Paris of bridal fashion, Barcelona sets the pace for the most fashionable of white weddings. 16 June

a new wardroBe sewn UP For some 20 years Designer Alterations has been breathing new life into tired wardrobes and cherished pieces you just can’t bear to part with. Of the many services on offer, clients can choose to come to the Designer Alteration’s offices to have a consultation with expert and experienced seamstresses, who can do anything such as re-lining Grandma’s old furs (even keeping original embroidered monograms intact), to taking anything up, down, in or out and basic mending. Recently launched is the Cashmere Rehab service. Helping you preserve your cashmere pieces, the process involves invisible mending, de-piling and a special washing process that will remove any potential for moth damage when

ladies daY at roYal ascot they are put away in anticipation of Spring. Those short on time can also call the Seamstress Squad to their home, where they will undertake all those pressing tasks for which you can never find time, such as sewing on buttons or stitching up hems. Perfect for the New Year and a fresh start, Designer Alterations also offers a Wardrobe Detox service, where they will come to your home and help you go through your wardrobe item by item, taking care of anything that needs mending, altering, cleaning or putting away in preparation for the new season. designer alterations 020 7498 4360 www.designeralterations.com

WEbSITE:

TREND:

Contrary to the superstitious adage, it seems good things come in threes, specifically stylish shoes. The Berluti Pierre Triptych is a collection of three new shoes in sleek leather and suede that are a smart twist on the usual workwear wardrobe for dapper city gents.

Route Runway is a new website offering fashion forward pieces from around the world at fairly affordable prices. Included in the online collection are great pieces ranging from clothing, accessories and jewellery from a range of labels. Watch out for the cute, wrap-around watches from La Mer and the edgy LA label Funktional (exclusive in the UK to Route Runway), which counts Rihanna amongst its large celebrity following.

Ladylike bags

www.runwayroute.com

17–22 September

london FasHion weeK (sPring sUmmer)

And back to Somerset House for the final word in next year’s Spring Summer fashions.

QUote oF tHe montH:

I don’t do fashion, I am fashion. coco cHanel

MUST-HAVE ITEM:

www.BerlUti.com

Paraded in hats and heels will be a fashion spotters dream.

Aside from Johnny Depp, the hottest thing to have on your arm this season is one of the terribly ladylike handbags in luscious leather and sleek, boxy shapes paraded proudly on the catwalks of Louis Vuitton, Marni and Marc Jacobs. This cute Besace Retro Sante Fe handbag from Gerard Darel shows off a nostalgic sense of discreet and ladylike chic that is utterly charming, with the unusual edge of this modern colour combination. www.gerarddarel.com

Monsieur Photography:

Felicity Ingram

Fashion Editor:

Lucie Dodds

White collar and cuff stripe shirt, £89, black braces, £49, black silk bowtie, £49, black and grey enamel and silver cufflinks, £59, all Thomas Pink. Glasses, £274, Montblanc, 01635 277299 and Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph Automatic, £5,900, Montblanc, 13a Old Bond Street, 020 7629 5883, www.montblanc.com

Navy jacket from £400, white round collar shirt from, £250, navy knitted tie, £120, all Ermenegildo Zegna, Zegna and Zegna Sport, 37/38 New Bond Street, 020 7518 2700, www.zegna.com. Silver enamel cufflinks, Thomas Pink. Altiplano Watch white gold, £10,700, Piaget, 020 3364 0800

Black and white floral tuxedo, £2,175, white dress shirt, £370, black satin stripe trousers, £1,010 black satin bowtie, £115, black satin cummerbund £250, glasses £250, all Tom Ford at Harrods Knightsbridge, 020 7730 1234

Grey double-cuff shirt, £89, black and white stripe tie, £30, black and grey enamel and silver cufflinks, £59 all Thomas Pink, as before. Grey pinstripe trousers, part of a suit, Ralph Lauren, as before.

Skincare: Yvette Redmond at Tiger Creative using Dermalogica: clean bar, daily clean scrub, antioxidant hydramist, skin hydrating booster, daily defense blocak spf15, Multivitamin power firm, renewal lip complex, clearing mattifier & multivitamin hand and nail treatment.

Hair: Takeshi Katoh using Bumble & Bumble

Grey pinstripe three-piece suit, £1,495, grey and white stripe tie, £70, double cuff shirt, £80 and Sporting Chronograph watch, £7,700, all Ralph Lauren 020 7535 4600, www.ralphlaurenwatches.com

A La Mode

Out of Africa

New for autumn/winter 2011 is Smythson’s chic Amber Fashion Diary, bound in stunning amber leather and detailed with a deep orange enamel slide closure and a useful pocket in the inside back cover. The lightweight and portable diary features extensive city guides and detailed maps for each fashion capital, in addition to fashion council listings, show dates, national holidays and cultural events.

This season Vilebrequin takes us into the thick of a thrilling safari with a spring/summer 2011 collection designed to evoke a voyage through the African bush. Amidst animal shapes are landscapes saturated with a rich palette of colour and lights that range from the paleness of dawn over the still savannah, to the incandescence of the sun setting on the Okavango Delta. It is a journey ripe with sensations, sophisticated simplicity and harmony in the palette of colours: Vilebrequin settles for nothing less than excellence.

Amber Fashion Diary, £200

Hawaii Optique swimming shorts, £110 Smythson 7 Royal Exchange 020 7621 1037 www.smythson.com

Vilebrequin 26 Royal Exchange 020 3206 1022 www.vilebrequin.com

A new year, a new you Visit The Royal Exchange to update your look, your life and yourself in 2011

Raise Your Glass

Make over

An elegant coaster says much about you and the quality of the drink that you’re serving. What better way to present champagne during your New Year’s Eve celebrations than with this stunning hallmarked sterling silver design from Searle & Co.? We’ll drink to that.

Complete your style resolutions and start the New Year with an explosion of elegance and beauty. Reward yourself with a little ‘noir’ from Bachet’s signature black diamond collections: Charismatic, Charmeur, Dynamic, Nordic, Master, Epicurien, Smoking, Cinema. The question is: who do you want to be in 2011?

Sterling silver champagne coaster, £450 Searle & Co. 1 Royal Exchange EC3V 3LL 020 7626 2456 www.searleandco.ltd.uk

Cinema collection, from £1,700 Bachet Ltd. 12 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 3405 1437 www.bachet-joaillier.com

Preen and Pamper

Going For Gold

Vitamin E Gel was the first Jo Malone skin care product to launch, over 20 years ago. Originally only handmixed in small batches, it quickly became a muchheralded skin care essential. The Vitamin E Collection continues to flourish with the introduction of the first body-based treatment, the revitalising Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub, which is fantastic for rubbing away the past year and starting afresh in 2011. For added pampering in January, head to Jo Malone for an indulgent complimentary hand and arm massage.

As part of their new ladies Sphaira collection, Tateossian present this gorgeous pair of gold-plated earrings. Each individual circle features a mesh design, which has become a signature for the brand, and these are available in two sizes; a smaller pair for daytime functions, and the larger for a more dramatic and bold evening look. Perfect for New Year’s Eve, these beauties will update any party dress and give an instant ‘wow’ factor. If gold is not your metal of choice, there is also a sterling silver version.

Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub 600g, £68

Sphaira earrings £225–£595

Jo Malone 24 Royal Exchange 0870 192 5131 www.jomalone.co.uk

Tateossian 1/4 Royal Exchange 020 7283 3434 www.tateossian.com

Elixir of Life Penhaligon’s Elixir scent opens with eucalyptus and the hot spices of cardamom, cinnamon and mace. The heart notes massage the senses with the dark magic of Turkish rose and jasmine, and a twist of orange. Heat and smoke rise from the base and incense and woods mingle with the earthy resins and spices. A touch of vanilla and the hypnotic Tonka bean complete the atmospheric drydown. This elixir is opulent and daring, mysterious and complex.

Beau Clutch The Leona Bow Clutch from Lulu Guinness is the must-have accessory for every occasion. Made from soft leather, with an elegant 3D bow and a touch of sparkle for style, the clutch will add glamour to both day and evening wear. Stand out from the crowd this New Year. Leona Bow clutch, £250 Lulu Guinness 23 Royal Exchange 020 7626 5391 www.luluguinness.com

Elixir cologne, £50 (50ml), £70 (100ml) Penhaligon’s 4 Royal Exchange 020 7623 3131 www.penhaligons.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

PuraVida Phoenix Design

PuraVida. A new sense of lightness in the bathroom.

Sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, bathtubs, shower trays, wellness products and accessories: Duravit has everything you need to make life in the bathroom a little more beautiful. More info at Duravit UK, Milton Keynes, Phone 0845 500 7787, Fax 0845 500 7786, info@uk.duravit.com, www.duravit.co.uk

UK_TheCity_PV_210x297mm.indd 1

14.12.10 13:55:12 Uhr

interiors

concierge

Baccarat Inspired by the ceramic and glass work of the Arts Décoratifs and the natural world, Marcel Wanders has created a beautiful range of coloured crystal vases for Baccarat. Les Rois de la Forêt or The Kings of the Forest are Wanders’ artistic take on a whimsical forest scene, dewdropped leaves and dancing light. Available in different colours and varying degrees of cut crystal, these pieces work equally well as single ornaments or as a collection.

interiors

news John Lewis

Perfect for duvet days when it’s looking a little too grey outside, John Lewis has launched a Moroccan-inspired bed linen range guaranteed to inject a bit of sunshine into your mornings. Designed by the John Lewis Home Design Studio, this collection is right on-trend this

season, coupling vibrant colours and sumptuous textures in one very stylish little package. Why not cure your winter blues with a bit of retail therapy this month and hit the high street?

Kings of the forest vases, £2,050 each 020 7823 7876, www.Baccarat.com

08456 049 049 WWW.JoHnLEWIS.CoM

London art fair Be sure not to miss this year’s instalment of the London Art Fair. Taking place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, this year’s fair will showcase work from more than 1,000 Modern British and Contemporary artists. Exhibitors chosen by the fair’s selection committee include 100 leading international galleries and dealers displaying the highest quality work from paintings and sculptures to installations, photographs and prints. Whether you consider yourself to be a collector or mere enthusiast, this fair is a definite must-see. The fair runs from 19–23 January 2010, tickets from £11. 020 7288 6736 www.Londonartfair.co.uK

Banana Boat by Jacob Dahlstrup Jensen at The Catlin Guide Gallery Alegra bed linen, from £15

the trend

Fed up of fads and must have crazes? This New Year follow Sim Smith’s guide to a long lasting beautiful home. Stick to a neutral colour palette and combine resident furnishings with a few new additions in a striking mix of tradition, innovation and luxury

Brocante tins , £45.95 (set of six), Graham & Green 0845 130 6622, www.grahamandgreen.co.uk

Oak Tate Herringbone flooring, £89 per metre square + VAT, Solid Floor, 020 7221 9166 wwwsolidfloor.co.uk

NCC1011 door knob in solid brass and plated in polished nickel, £282 per pair, J D Beardmore 020 7351 5444, www.beardmore.co.uk

Linen Maxime sofa in grey, £5,032 plus fabric Pierre Frey, 020 7376 5599, www.pierrefrey.com

interiors

concierge

Smoked Plexi glass box Chio light, from £424, Ligne Roset 0870 7777 202, www.ligne-roset.co.uk

Perspex and stainless steel Fall chandelier available to order, Miranda Watkins Design www.mirandawatkins.com

Feu De Bois premium coloured candle, £45, Diptyque 020 7224 4948, www.diptyqueparis.com

Large hand-knitted cashmere throws in cream grey and taupe, £650 each, Rose Uniake 020 7730 7050, www.roseuniacke.com

You Should Have Been With Me hardcover book by Stan Shaffer, £70, www.teneues.com

Welcome to Kohinoor Diamonds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the home of beautiful, bespoke diamond jewellery.

We are diamond specialists and our incredible, made-toorder jewellery is renowned the world over for its stunning design and enduring quality.

Phone: Mob: Email: Web:

0208 422 9971 07545 119 045 info@kohinoordiamonds.com www.kohinoordiamonds.com

health & fitness

concierge

STAY COOL

health & fitness

news

For sporting enthusiasts looking to perfect their power, performance, and pleasure, training is key. Good news, then, that this season sees Helly Hansen introduce its new collection of highperformance clothing. The Pace Series is a collection of technical t-shirts, jerseys, shorts and tights for men and women. The sportswear is made using HH Cool – Helly Hansen’s most advanced fabric for high-intensity workouts. Proven to pull excess heat and moisture away from the skin, HH Cool provides a cooling effect superior to any alternative polyester or natural fibre. www.heLLYhAnSen.COm

How to: Burn FAT FAST While Christmas stole the pounds from your wallet, chances are it added to the pounds around your waist. Here’s some advice on how best to burn the festive flab:

reShApe reVOLuTiOn For those looking to reclaim their fitness and reshape their future, Phoenix Boot Camp offers a series of long-term lifestyle management programmes. Introducing a new format of weight loss and fitness boot camp that help people lose weight and improve their fitness, the courses also provide unique psychological training. By aiding people in their understanding of personal inhibitors and by encouraging a ‘can-do’ attitude, Phoenix aims

to help its clients commit to a healthier and more rewarding lifestyle. Phoenix Boot Camp offers week-long camps in five-star accommodation in idyllic Devon and Herefordshire countryside, or one-day courses throughout the year in London. Open to anyone aged over 18 of any fitness level, the courses are sure to inspire and motivate anyone looking to reclaim their fitness and regenerate their life. www.phOenixBOOTCAmp.CO.uk

BeAuT STrenGTh Beautcamp is Pilates with a difference. Using exercises designed to strengthen, tighten and tone the body, the high-intensity sessions provide the ultimate cardiovascular workout. Brought over from LA in 2005, Beautcamp has since proven a favourite with health-conscious Londoners and celebrities wanting to get fit fast. By adopting various positions on a machine called a reformer, almost every muscle in the body is stretched, flexed and sculpted. As much for men as for women, Beautcamp is great for those who’ve grown tired of the gym. Promoting weight loss and full-body muscle toning, the

Increase your intake of high-fibre foods Fibre aids fat-burning processes by speeding up the excretion of waste and toxins from the body. Salads containing leafy greens are great sources of fibre. Avoid poor-quality carbohydrates Carbs containing high salt and sugar levels result in increased fat deposit and prevent your body from maintaining a sufficient fatburning mode. Build your muscle mass Muscles are more active metabolically than fat and other tissue. Resistance training will add muscle, which in turn will boost your metabolism and burn fat.

classes define abs and increase body flexibility. Beautcamp Pilates (City) is situated between Hoxton and Liverpool Street station, just a tenminute walk from Old Street tube station. www.BeAuTCAmppiLATeS.CO.uk

Increase your cardiovascular Intense exercise triggers afterburn: when your body cools off and repairs muscle micro-trauma. Train hard and fast, choosing shorter, split cardio sessions over drawn out hour-long runs.

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

5 CWpromotion

WAYS TO A

new you

Of The beST As the New Year dawns, it’s time for the resolutions and the lifestyle changes to make you a better person in 2011 LEARN A LANGUAGE Why not make learning a new language your New Year’s resolution? With Paul Noble, it needn’t be a huge effort, in fact, the biggest difficulty you’ll face is choosing whether you’re going to learn French, Spanish or Italian. At the end of the 13-hour audio course, you will be a competent conversationalist, equipped with the building blocks to construct the phrases you are likely to use in natural conversation, rather than endless lists of vocabulary and complex explanations of grammar. If you’re worried about your pronunciation panic not! Paul is accompanied by a native-speaker so you can hear how each word should be pronounced. He also points out that you know thousands

of French, Spanish and Italian words already because you frequently use them in English; you just pronounce them differently. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to sit back, relax and listen to Paul. Just think how impressed your friends, colleagues and clients will be when you wow them with your new language skills! Available from WHSmith, Waterstone’s, www.amazon.co.uk and for download on iTunes. www.collinslanguage.com/paulnoble

REST, RELAx ANd REJUvENATE The Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula, located near Canary Wharf, provides a calm, luxurious haven for those working in and around East London and the docklands to escape hectic lifestyles and recharge. At 7,000 square feet, the spacious spa offers a range of Six Senses signature treatments and Asian-influenced therapies, combined with holistic lifestyle guidance. The urban spa concept caters for guests who have limited time with a circular lounge retreat where express treatments, such as foot and hand acupressure, seated massage and luxury beauty treatments, are offered: these are perfect for fitting in on-the-go pampering. The inner-spa sanctuary comprises eight treatment rooms including a treatment room specifically for couples - ideal for valentine’s day or romantic weekends away - and a luxurious bio-thermal circuit with a chromotherapy steam cabin, crystal laconium, sensory shower and a hydrotherapy pool. www.sixsenses.com

CITYpromotion

INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH Claudia Ferreira knows a thing or two about treating injuries. Having worked in some of London’s most reputable clinics for years, she now brings together an elite team of highly qualified practitioners. At Integrated Physio, practitioners develop plans that work to combine a range of therapies including Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Sports Massage and Acupuncture. Located in the Fruit and Wool Exchange building, just a five minute walk from Liverpool Street station, this health centre provides specialist treatments for all kinds of sports injuries. The team specializes in treating workstation over use injuries, stress related muscle tention, postural correction and re-education. The practice place emphasis on helping clients restore the optimal functioning of their bodies, time and time again. All treatments are set against a backdrop of tranquility in a studio designed to offer quietude and peace. Sessions are proven to improve physical well being by reducing aches and afflictions, perfect if you’re looking to maintain a pain free quality of life this New Year.

Integrated Physio 020 7377 1073 Studio 15, The Fruit and Wool Exchange Building 56 Brushfield Street London, E1 6HB www.integratedphysio.net

SMILE MAKEOVER A smile is your best accessory, so this year why not maximise your potential with a Smile Makeover from Bluebell Dental Practice and Clinic? Choose from a free consultation for Invisalign (invisible tooth straightening) to straighten your teeth and perfect your smile, or opt for tooth whitening or pro-smile stain removal, both of which will give you the perfect confidence-boosting shining smile. Invisalign is a non-invasive aligner treatment for a variety of concerns including teeth which are crooked, crowded or with gaps. Bespoke, clear aligners are tailor made, each one being slightly different, moving your teeth (over a period of weeks, depending upon your individual case) gradually into the desired position. For whiter teeth, your first step is a consultation with the dentist who will advise on your suitability for the treatment and advise as to the type of tooth whitening for the best results. You will then be provided with a custom-made mouth guard, whitening products and comprehensive instructions, for the special price of £295. And for everyday stains (tea, coffee, red wine) the ProSmile Deep Clean is an advanced stain removal system which gives fantastic results, on offer for just £40. Bluebell Dental Practice and Clinic 020 8555 1144 55 Romford Road, Stratford, E15 4LY www.bluebelldp.co.uk

JANUARY HALF PRICE SALE Fitability is the only personal training studio in London where you can train in total privacy. Specialising in body transformations in a safe and effective manner. Trainers educate clients to ensure that you have the tools to maintain what you achieve. They also have a fully-qualified Sports Nutritionist to help get that extra mile out of your performance. Fitability also offers hypnotherapy which can be used in conjunction with your training to help you stay focused and committed, or as a stand-alone treatment for quitting smoking, weight loss, etc. Fitability Personal Trainers are fully-qualified to deal with various medical referral conditions such as cardiac and stroke rehabilitation and diabetes. For those hitting the slopes this season, Fitability’s super “Ski-Fit” programme, focusing on strengthening the major muscle groups used in this sport, is a must! With 30 minute intense sessions and the option to train in pairs to halve the cost, as well as opening times from 5:00am to 9:00pm, Fitability can really help create a new you this New Year.

Fitability Limited 020 7987 0480 118 Westferry Studios, Milligan Street, Docklands, E14 8AS www.fitability.co.uk

Gaucho brinGs you a slice of life ExpEriEncE thE bEst of ArgEntinE EntErtAinmEnt At thE o2 ArEnA with ‘gAucho intErnAtionAl polo’, london’s first intErnAtionAl polo tEst mAtch EmbrAcE thE ultimAtE polo ExpEriEncE with onE of our ExclusiVE hospitAlitY pAcKAgEs The o2 arena thursday 24th february 2011 www.gauchoo2polo.com

Gaucho_Polo_A4_Ad_AW3.indd 1

for more information on any of the hospitality events please contact marketing manager lulie murray on E: lulie.murray@gauchorestaurants.com t: 0208 858 7711

21/12/10 14:44:27

travel destination food & drink

dubai luxembourg .......................................... grand cafe

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THE CREAM OF CANTONESE

O London’s foremost modern Cantonese restaurant spreads the word with the opening of the new Hakkasan Mayfair

pened in 2001 by Alan Yau, Hakkasan has received a host of awards and accolades, not least of which is the 2003 Michelin star, which it still retains. Now arguably London’s best-known Cantonese restaurant, Hakkasan is in the first stages of a global expansion, with last year’s opening in Abu Dhabi and the recent opening of Hakkasan Mayfair. With a kitchen twice the size of that in Hanway Place, executive head chef Tong Chee Hwee (the talent behind Hakkasan’s menus from the beginning) will be offering a selection

of dishes unique to Hakksan Mayfair, such as steamed New Zealand mini lobster, black truffle roast duck, and blue abalone in Hakka sauce – not to mention the signature dishes that have made Hakksan’s name what it is. Sink back into Hakkasan Mayfair’s rich and deeply decadent décor, hide away amongst the intimate maze of dark wood latticework and enjoy a delicately flavoured cocktail, creative dim sum and a fantastic fusion of European and Asian food. www.hakkasan.com

Noble City Mag ad_Layout 1 20/12/2010 13:50 Page 1

Want return on investment? Looking to optimize your competitive advantage? speaks your language. Impress your international clients by learning to communicate comfortably in French, Spanish or Italian with Paul Nobleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new audio courses. At school Paul Noble failed at languages because he was baffled by grammar. By 30 he had devised a language-learning method that enables learners to achieve conversational French, Spanish and Italian by relaxing, listening to the course and trying not to remember, in just 13 hours.

Minimum input, maximum output. new

For more information go to www.collinslanguage.com/paulnoble Buy from amazon.co.uk and Waterstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or download from iTunes.

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travel

connoisseur

travel

news

SOHO-SHARM CHARM SOHO Square™ Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, brings a complete entertainment centre to White Knights Bay, housing restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs and catering for tastes both young and old. Indulge in some fabulous highend shopping before sampling the international cuisine from one of four themed à la carte restaurants. In the British house, enjoy a pint at the Queen Vic pub, before moving upstairs to the sushi and Tepanyaki bar, or the steak house. To combat the heat, try out the ice rink or chill out in the Middle East’s very first Ice Bar. The Pangaea nightclub has been popular from its opening night: British resident and guest DJs supply the music, whilst British flair barmen create amazing cocktails.

bARRAdORO'S SeveN HeAveN Barradoro aims to stretch the boundaries of its members’ imagination. That’s why membership to the exclusive club includes a private jet trip around the world. Visiting seven cities in seven days, guests of the World Tour will bear witness to some of the biggest events in music, art, food and fashion. Commencing with a music spectacular at the foothills of Mount Fuji, Tokyo, the trip progresses across the globe. An exclusive private dinner in

Shanghai is followed by a star-studded musical line-up in Abu Dhabi, before a heady mix of ancient and modern art is displayed in Istanbul. London, and a world-class fashion show, is next, preceded by an invitation-only ball in the Big Apple. Los Angeles hosts the finale of the World Tour, where a live music and A-list talent extravaganza is followed by a fireworks display like no other. This year, the deadline for application to Barradoro is 31 January.

www.SOHO-SHARM.COM

TRAvel FACT When hotel.info asked, “Who would you most like to spend a night in a hotel with?” 24 per cent of women said George Clooney; 19 per cent of men named Julia Roberts.

www.bARRAdORO.COM

Website of the month: www.luxecityguides.com

ClASSiCAl MUSiC COMeS TO vAl d’iSÈRe Classical music returns to Val d’Isère this winter as internationally acclaimed artists perform a series of emotive and inspiring compositions at the church of Saint Bernard de Menthon. Classicaval Festival runs from 18–20 January and 15–17 March and promises to attract music lovers from far and wide. The January opus will be performed under the direction of Anne-Lise Gastaldi in partnership with Palazzetto Bru Zane of Venice, whose aim is to bring classical French composers and music into the spotlight. Michel Lethiec, one of the world’s greatest clarinettists, will play at the festival’s March close in a performance overseen by Frederic Lagarde.

Luxe City Guides provide cheap, snappy, up-to-date guides to destinations across the world. Avoiding the unnecessary padding, photos, and graphics of other handbooks, the pocket-sized guides offer strong, informed opinion from people who truly know the places they’re writing about. Updated every year and with monthly updates available online, Luxe City Guides contain everything you need to know and nothing you don’t.

www.FeSTivAl-ClASSiCAvAl.COM

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.

in the

Palm

of your hand

Harry Hepburn escapes to the lost city of Atlantis and discovers it was much easier than Plato might ever have suspected

travel

connoisseur

connoisseur travel

I even tried the decadent Wagyu beefburger at the Nasimi Beach restaurant (it really does make a difference). Finally, we made it to the Dubai Nobu. My companion, a veteran of this establishment’s worldwide counterparts, has not always been left satisfied. On this occasion, however, she left feeling a little dizzy (in a good way, of course). Of particular note was the signature tiradito scallop, with Peruvian chili paste and lemon yuzu dressing and, best of all, a twist on a Nobu favourite, black peppered cod with balsamic teriyaki. Absolutely wonderful. For a resort built of the sea it should be no surprise that aquatic activities abound. If all you desire is to bask in the sun and sea, head to either one of the hotel’s two outdoor pools, or aim for Nasimi beach, a private beach for guests to enjoy the sand and wade out into the warm Persian waters. There are, however, some serious alternatives. The Ambassador Lagoon, an enormous fish tank at the foot of one of the hotel’s towers, offers a glimpse into the Lost Chambers, the hotel’s own aquarium. Reportedly built from salvaged remnants of the original Atlantis, atmospheric lighting guides you thorough a series of passageways, where conger eels and inquisitive fishes poke their faces through ancient ironwork and Atlantean artefacts sit proudly on display. The Chambers house around 65,00 fish; sharks, barracuda, angel fish and giant puffers mingle with other varieties too numerous to mention. Marine fun continues with an on-site water park, Aquaventure, the largest in the Middle East and Europe. Free to guests and open to the public, the whole area is a network of pools, rapids and waterslides formed around a central pyramid (the Ziggurat). With enough space for everyone, you can relax by the pool on a sun lounger or climb to the top to take the Leap of Faith, (a 27m slide from the peak of the pyramid down to the base, through a shark-tank), or enjoy more than 2km of rapids criss-crossing the whole area. If this isn’t enough, head to Dolphin Bay where, under a trainer’s supervision, you can meet one of the resort’s resident dolphins in a saltwater lagoon habitat specially created for them. Different degrees of ‘interaction’ are available and non-swimmers can join in with shallow water shows. Getting up close to one of these aquatic mammals is an experience I am unlikely to forget. My only gripe about this holiday would be that we didn’t have enough time to do everything, but I suppose that is the point of a resort like this. We never ate at the underwater Ossiano restaurant, or checked out Sanctuary, the nightclub. I’m not sure I even managed to get on every one of the slides out of Zigurrat. We never managed to leave the resort; between relaxing, eating and swimming we did little else. A monorail connects you to the mainland (and its famous malls), but we never felt any desire to leave. We slept our way there and, since the time difference isn’t so great, we never felt out of kilter with our surroundings. At worst, a nap to escape the mid-afternoon Arabian heat hardly seemed uncalled for and, by the time we had to leave, we felt fantastic. Leaving a place where everything has been for your comfort, it was marvellous to find our return flights left early enough in the morning for me to make a late-afternoon appointment, fully recharged and refreshed. Wonderful. n For further information, visit www.atlantisthepalm.com

Opposite clockwise from top: The Lost Chambers Nobu Signature Dish - Black Cod Leap of Faith

connoisseur travel

Destination...

Luxembourg

A financial capital, The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is home to several EU agencies and institutions. It is also a great destination away for a relaxing city break What to see::

Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City is a storybook beauty. A thousand years old and World Heritage listed, this charming city – often described as Europe‘s most dramatically sited – radiates a composed air of old and new. Take the glossy art gallery and Philharmonie – stunning new structures that launched the city as European Capital of Culture in 2007. Add to these state-of-theart museums, chic boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. And top it off with a striking location – high on a promontory overlooking deep valleys and sheersided gorges. For centuries, these gorges were the key to the city’s defence. Nowadays they provide visitors with spectacular vistas over parklands and atmospheric old neighbourhoods like Grund and Clausen. The best way to take in the city is on one of the tours; there’s guided two-hour walking tours or the hop-on-hopoff bus. www.lcto.lu

CityJet offers three direct flights a day from Monday to Friday and up to two on the weekend to Luxembourg from London City Airport.

i 92

For more information, schedules and to book your flight visit www.cityjet.com or www.londoncityairport.com

Don’’t miss:

Vianden

Vianden is one of Luxembourg’s main tourist centres with large numbers of holidaymakers and local visitors at all times of the year. In particular, the recently restored castle set spectacularly on the rocks above the town has become a museum which traces its history and its links with the royal families of Europe back to the middle ages. Then there are links with Victor Hugo who visited Luxembourg in 1862 and 1865 and spent a longer period in Vianden in 1871. His sketches and letters can be seen in the museum located in the house where he stayed next to the bridge over the Our. There is also a museum of arts and crafts (Musée d’Art Rustique) and a doll and toy museum (Musée de la Poupée et du Jouet). But many people just visit Vianden to wander through its hilly, historic streets or as a centre for walking, camping or cycling in the north of Luxembourg. During the summer months, a chairlift operates from the banks of the river in the lower part of the town, taking you high above the castle with magnificent views over the landscape. Vianden also has a number of annual events and celebrations. The most famous of these is the nut market in October, when the local walnuts are on sale together with everything else walnut. www.vianden-info.lu

Where to stay:

Le Royal Luxembourg A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Le Royal offers 210 elegant rooms, which cater perfectly for the international business and tourist clientéle. But this five star hotel offers a further level, the Royal Club wing with superior rooms and suites. Make the most of the exclusive terrace in summer and watch the city life roll by. www.leroyalluxembourg.com

Where to eat:

Clairefontaine

If you’re in Luxembourg and you are looking for an impressive meal in an impressive restaurant, the only choice is Michelinstarred Clairefontaine. Just a few minutes walk from Place d’Arms, this restaurant offers excellent food, unbeatable service and, whilst not the cheapest, is worth every penny. Try the eight course ‘Discovery Menu’, which includes dishes such as Frog legs and fillet of poultry prepared like a fricassée, salad of potatoes and a chilled leak cream or Tartare of tuna on gazpacho, served with foam potatoes and a garlic and celery ice-cream. Such dishes have caused many reviewers to suggest that the complexity of the dishes is more consistent with a two-star Michelin rating. www.restaurantclairefontaine.lu

Where to play::

Plâteau Du Kirchberg

Head for the modern district on the Plâteau du Kirchberg (reached via the Pont Grand Duchesse Charlotte – the capital’s most impressive bridge); it’s home to a thriving international finance centre, many European institutions and Luxembourg’s biggest cinema complex and shopping mall.

into the

WILD Annabel Goldie-Morrison heads for Laikipia in the heart of Kenya’s wild Northern Frontier, a hot and dusty drive from Nairobi through lush valleys, arid plains, and the dramatic foothills of Mount Kenya

ith a holiday like this, there’s no gentle way to start, so we threw ourselves in at the deep end and spent the first four nights camping with Karisia Camel Safaris. Each morning we were woken at 6.30am with a gentle ‘hodi’ from our Samburu guides, and after a hearty breakfast we walked for five or six hours, accompanied by our surprisingly amenable camels, before reaching our next camp in time for lunch. The skilful guides could spot animals that were several valleys away, and with their superb tracking skills got us as close as possible to some amazing creatures. My particular favourite was the endangered Grévy’s zebra, beautifully pinstriped with huge fluffy ears. Elephant encounters were a daily occurrence and, when on foot, this is both a wonderful and somewhat scary experience. We also spotted gerenuk (a long-necked species of antelope), common zebra, giraffe, impala, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, and a plethora of birdlife, including some beautiful eagles – and on our last day, caught a glimpse of leopard and lion. Laikipia does not have the sheer numbers of wildlife found in the Masai Mara, but it has the richest ecosystem in terms of endangered species, and it is a privileged experience to see these rare animals in their natural habitat. True, in a park such as the Mara or Serengeti, you are more or less guaranteed a close-up of all the great animals, but it seemed so much more real to bump into game wherever it happened to be, rather than to inspect it in a park, sharing every sighting with six other wagonloads of gawping tourists. A few hours drive from Karisia was our main destination, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille on the far northern escarpment of the Laikipia Plateau. Perched on top of a rocky hill, The Sanctuary is a pioneering eco-retreat in the heart of the private 14,500-acre Ol Lentille conservancy, within the community-owned Kijabe Group Ranch. Run by English couple, John and Gill Elias, the lodge provides luxury accommodation alongside ambitious

conservation and community development programmes. A percentage of the revenue from guests helps finance local schools, mobile clinics and businesses, and it was great to see this in action all around the local community. The Sanctuary is romantic and incredibly chic, with four private houses, each with its own unique style and breathtaking views, taking in the surrounding grassy hills and deep valleys, heavily wooded with acacia trees, and in the distance looms the craggy peak of Mount Kenya. We stayed in the two-bedroomed Colonel’s House, where the décor was very reminiscent of the house of a well-travelled military man, with a very English backdrop, interspersed with artefacts and furnishings from across the British Empire. From the house we had a view over the recently constructed wildlife dam in the valley below, and there were nearly always elephants in sight. It was delightful to watch the babies playing in the mud and the adults greeting each other, their social behaviour extremely human and fascinating to observe. Aside from the four houses, The Sanctuary has a communal club room, known as ‘The Library’, a wonderfully friendly room built into the rocks, filled with interesting books and comfy sofas, on top of which is a viewing deck looking out over the waterhole. Right on top of the hill there is a serene horizon pool surrounded by loungers, cushions and secluded pods, where my family was frequently found after lunch, sprawled around like a wellfed pride of lions. Active guests can indulge in horse and camel riding, quad biking, mountain biking and archery, and for the real fanatics there’s a parcours jogging trail. When you feel a bit over-exerted, there’s a spa on the property and shaded croquet and boules pitches where you can while away the hours, gin and tonic in hand. Our dedicated Masai guide, Solomon, was always on hand to take us for a game drive or walk, and escorted us on various activities. At The Sanctuary you are fooled into thinking you’re the only person around, but the impeccable service and constant supply of delicious food reminded us otherwise.

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Kudu on a daily basis within the conservancy, and were lucky enough to see the elusive African Wild Dogs out on a hunt, one of Africa’s most threatened species. The birdlife is also thriving, and amongst others we spotted hornbill, the comical Go-Away bird and the majestic Verreaux’s eagle. The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is an island of comfort in the midst of a great wilderness – a taste of what life once was for the English in Africa. Kenya has long been synonymous with breathtaking landscapes, fascinating people and abundant wildlife, but after decades of poaching, drought and overgrazing it has become more important than ever for tourism to run in synergy with nature and local communities, and where better to experience this than Ol Lentille, where the motto is ‘Having Fun, Doing Good’. n For further information, visit www.karisia.com and www.ol-lentille.com

Our ever-efficient butler, Chris, was always on hand with an ice-cold Tusker, or to book a spa treatment when the fancy took us. A ‘wherever, whenever, whatever’ policy operates at The Sanctuary when it comes to meals, and we did our best to test it out. For breakfast we basked in the sun on our terrace, planning our day and listening to the lone bull elephants pushing trees down in their frustration; lunches were in the shade by the pool, or picnicking at the top of Ol Lentille hill after a leisurely hike up; and in the evenings, dinner was served in our house, the library, any of the other houses if they were empty, and even in the middle of the bush. The picnics were truly spectacular. On one day we toured around the local community and visited one of the schools, and afterwards drove to a sandy lugha (dry riverbed). After a short stroll to look at Vervet monkeys, we returned to the Landrover near which Chris had laid out lunch, complete with crisp white linen and a fully stocked bar. Only a few years ago, the conservancy was pretty barren and overgrazed, and now it’s wonderful to see how the wildlife, including many endangered species, has moved back into the area. We The elephant and rhino orphans at spotted elephant, baboon, dik dik, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust rock hyrax, impala, klipspringer, www.davidsheldrickwildlifetrust.org Grant’s gazelle and the rare Greater

Above: Room with a view, The Sanctuary Left: Ol Lentille rock

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GLowInG terMS Recently opened in the heart of Shoreditch, Glos Glos is the first standalone bar from restaurateur Will Ricker (E&O, Eight Over Eight and XO). The Japanese-style robata grill is the focal point of the bar, and guests can enjoy succulent yakitori and black salmon with sweet miso, washed down by a selection of classic and Asian-inspired cocktails. Try a Yokohama Sour or Bullet Train (with smoked Chase vodka and pancettastuffed smoked olive) for an evening of relaxed and unrivalled pleasure in one of London’s hottest nightspots. www.GLoGLoS.co.uk

SouL Food

from Miller Harris, such as the Thé Violette (with violet, blackcurrant bud and green mulberry leaf), or Thé Bigarade (with Ceylon vanilla and Sinharaja Rainforest tea). The afternoon tea is made complete with a delicious selection of sandwiches and cakes, skilfully created by the Firmdale chefs to bring out the white peach and citrus notes in the Ruinart champagne.

If you love Indian food, London is awash with fast and easy options, but how many work with your New Year’s resolutions? Beat the cravings and the guilt with Holyfood, a new brand of Indian food that is authentic, healthy, ethical and yet still convenient. The dishes use fresh (and where possible organic) ingredients, and are free from additives and preservatives. Many also boast ayurvedic and nutritional benefits, all ready to heat up and packaged in recyclable containers. Holyfood also offers a home delivery service for the height of healthy convenience food. Available from Selfridges.

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FoLLow your noSe

NEWS: Hotly anticipated this month is the opening of Heston Blumenthal’s first ever London restaurant, Dinner. Due to open on 31 January at the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, Dinner will be headed up by Ashley PalmerWatts (executive chef at The Fat Duck for some 11 years), serving dishes celebrating Britain’s gastronomic past, inspired by work with food historians and the British Library. The name is inspired by the historic and etymological concept of “dinner” as the main meal of the day.

Food liNgo:

QuotE: Cruciferous vegetables

Cruciferous is the name given to a group of vegetables containing properties thought to be effective in protecting against cancer, commonly referred to as Antioxidants. The word cruciferous comes from the family name cruciferae, which means “cross-bearing”, and refers to the shape of the vegetable’s flowers, which is thought to resemble a cross. Amongst the many cruciferous vegetables are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

WEbSitE: New Year, new diet? How dull…

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

GeorGe Bernard Shaw IrISh wrIter

www.gdesserts.com

The Ruinart and Miller Harris Sensory Tea sees experts in the field of sensory delight come together to create an exquisite experience of taste, scent and appearance. Available at the West End Firmdale Hotels, the tea includes a glass of the superb Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, a fine, fresh and full champagne with a luminous gold colour. Guests can also enjoy a choice of delicate and expertly blended teas

Break the mould, and continue the festive indulgence with Gdesserts’ delicious new cupcakes in a jar, dreamed up by a mother of three, who wanted to give her children a treat without filling them with junk. These cute and uniquely packaged cupcakes come in six delicious flavours, but use fresh, locally sourced produce and are free from additives and preservatives. They even come in a taster version (which is a little lighter on the icing), crucially counterbalancing the calorieinduced feelings of guilt.

the Wine and food pairing has become a hot topic in foodie circles, but while journalists and sommeliers alike praise the matching potential of almost every wine, one major style is often overlooked – champagne. The experts at G. H. Mumm tantalise the taste buds with their recommendations

pair

hampagnes of all kinds are frequently relegated to the niche position of ‘apéritif wines’. But while it’s true that a glass of champagne is a fine way of getting your evening off to a sparkling start, it’s a shame to ignore its capacity for combining with all kinds of foods. Even though most of us are most familiar with nonvintage champagne, it’s important to remember that champagne doesn’t just come in one style. As well as non-vintage – whose style, thanks to the expertise that goes into blending across different vintages, remains true to that of the champagne house that makes it – there’s vintage champagne (made only in the best years and designed to evolve and develop over many years), rosé champagne (alive with the flavours of ripe red fruits), and demi-sec champagne (with extra sweetness to complement desserts). In addition, many champagne houses ring the changes by focusing on just one of the grape varieties that can be blended together to create champagne. A champagne made from Pinot Noir alone is called a Blanc de Noirs, literally a ‘white made from blacks’, while one made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes is a Blanc de Blancs, a ‘white made from whites’. The diversity of wines in G. H. Mumm’s range is a prime example of how the Champenois create variations on the champagne theme – and all of them can make great food matches.

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Non-vintage The Cordon Rouge non-vintage champagne is the most widely available of G. H. Mumm’s wines, but that doesn’t mean that there’s anything ordinary about it. Instead, Pinot Noir (for power and structure), Chardonnay (for a touch of delicate finesse) and Pinot Meunier (which adds fresh, fruity flavours) combine to create a zesty, rich wine with a long finish. Cordon Rouge’s power gives it the body to stand up to rich flavours such as duck and scallops – but it has enough restraint and elegance to ensure a harmonious marriage between wine and food.

Blanc de Blancs Made from 100 per cent Chardonnay grapes, Blancs de Blancs tend to be lighter and more delicate in nature than blended champagnes – and G. H. Mumm de Cramant is no exception to the rule. What makes it particularly special, however, is the fact that it is made exclusively from grapes grown in Mumm’s grand cru vineyards in Cramant, and that it is made from the grapes grown in a single vintage. Its zingy, zesty citrus flavours and elegant texture make it the perfect accompaniment to seafood of all kinds, although it is at its best with simple, clean flavours that don’t overwhelm its delicate aromas – a plate of langoustines with citrus butter sauce is simply perfect.

Vintage Voted as the finest of all of the prestige cuvées on the market, G. H. Mumm Cuvée R. Lalou (Tom Stevenson’s No 1 rated quality champagne 2008) is only made in exceptional vintages from a range of 12 Grand Cru vineyards. Crafted from 50 per cent Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes and 50 per cent Grand Cru Pinot Noir wines, this is an extremely rich and powerful wine requiring complex dishes. This champagne should be treated like a fine white Burgundy, and accordingly would be perfect with white truffles, meaty fish in sauce, poultry and some game (partridge/grouse). A suggested dish would be Bressé chicken leg Kiev with truffle and foie gras butter.

Rosé There’s something about pink wine, whether still or sparkling, that makes it appear to be quite frivolous; but G. H. Mumm’s Rosé NV is a serious wine and deserves to be matched with serious food. We flirted with the idea of pairing this wine with a picnic dish, because rosé fizz is the ideal drink for alfresco eating. In the end, however, we decided that it was just as important to show how its ripe red fruits and vanilla create a perfect counterpoint to mildly spiced dishes and exotic flavours. A dish that would pair perfectly is a salad of scallops and prawns in a grape and ginger dressing.

Demi-Sec Although, historically, champagnes were often sweet wines, these days most consumers are used to drinking their fizz bone dry. As a result, not many of the big champagne houses still release wines with any residual sugar. G. H. Mumm is one of the exceptions, and its demi-sec is honeyed, ripe and rich. It’s a great wine for anyone wanting to finish off a dinner party in style. The gentle spices in a dish of poached pears with Almond Tuille will pick up on a hint of spice in the wine itself, creating a harmonious marriage of flavours. n For further information, visit www.mumm.com

restaurants American

Dollar Grills anD Martinis

2 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, EC1R 020 7278 0077

bars Italian lena

66 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 020 7739 5714 refettorio

HawksMoor

19 New Bridge Street, EC4V 020 7438 8052

British

9 Norwich Street, EC4A 020 7831 1622 or 020 7831 1677

157 Commercial Street, E1 020 7247 7392 Canteen

2 Crispin Place, E1 08456 861 122

VoluPté

Oriental

royal CHina CluB

BeaCH Blanket BaBylon

19-23 Bethnal Green Road, E1 020 7749 3540 Greens

14 Cornhill, EC3V 020 7220 6300

French BonDs

5 Threadneedle Street, EC2R 020 7657 8088 Coq D’arGent

59 West Smithfield, EC1A 020 7796 0600

4 West Smithfield, EC1A 020 7489 7033

Mexican

Duke of CaMBriDGe

30 St Peter’s Street, N1 020 7359 3066 tHe Peasant

Middle Eastern

Andaz Hotel, Liverpool Street, EC2M 020 7618 7215

kenza

one loMBarD street

1 Lombard Street, EC3V 020 7929 6611 rHoDes twenty four

CatCH & CHaMPaGne Bar

tHe GHerkin Bar & restaurant

Levels 39 & 40, 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 020 7071 5009 GranD Café & Bar

The Courtyard, Royal Exchange, EC3V 020 7618 2480 Harry’s Bar

Tower 42 Old Broad Street, EC2N 020 7877 7703

5 Abchurch Yard, EC4N 020 7623 2355

sMitHs of sMitHfielD

233 Shoreditch High Street, E1 020 7247 8989

67-77 Charterhouse Street, EC1M 020 7251 7950

Spanish

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3 Varnishers Yard, N1 9FD 020 7841 7331

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Green & reD

51 Bethnal Green Road, E1 020 7749 9670

240 St. John Street, EC1V 020 7336 7726

14 Hoxton Market, N1 020 7739 8212

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132-136 St John Street, EC1V 020 7608 1550

Modern European

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BonDs

saki

les trois GarCons

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tHe BiG CHill Bar

Dray Walk, E1 020 7392 9180

5 Threadneedle Street, EC2R 020 7657 8088

10 Devonshire Square, EC2M 020 7929 5533

Royal Exchange, EC3V 020 7618 2483

Bar PePito

Varnishers Yard Regents Quarter, N1 9FD 020 7841 7331

40-42 Baker Street, W1U 020 7486 3898

No.1 Poultry, EC2R 020 7395 5000 1 Club Row, E1 020 7613 1924

Balls BrotHers

5-6 Carey Lane, EC2V 020 7600 2720

CaMino

Moro

34-36 Exmouth Street, EC1R 020 7833 8336

liGHt Bar

MatCH eC1

45-47 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 020 7250 4002 orteGa

27 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 020 7623 1818 VertiGo 42

Tower 42, 25 Old Broad St, EC2N 020 7877 7842 tHe worsHiP

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Triton Court, 14 Finsbury Square, EC2A 020 7330 0920

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GRAND ambitions

The Royal Exchange is well known for the array of high-end shopping options, as well as the high-end cuisine. Penelope M Walsh checks out one of its overlooked charms with dinner at the Grand Café The waitress helped us to choose a wine to accompany the food, and suggested the Sauvignon Blanc, Hunters, Malborough, 2008 from New Zealand. This was a great wine with a fresh, fruity, clean and almost aromatic complexity of flavours, which went well with the lighter dishes. It is, however, worth noting that, with the house wines priced at £17.50 and jumping straight to £21, there is not much by way of an inexpensive choice. Nevertheless, in addition to the great wine recommendation from our waitress, the staff had a good understanding of the menu and were able to make some good suggestions. Furthermore, throughout our meal, service was friendly, attentive and pretty swift. Although the langoustines cannelloni special sounded very tempting, we opted for the risotto nero with chargrilled squid and gremolata (as a starter) and the cauliflower tarte fine with shaved Perigord truffle. The risotto came with one giant curl of squid, complete with a few stray tentacles, which had a smooth, silken texture, whilst the risotto itself comprised sizeable puffs of rice, with a rich, creamy consistency. The tarte fine was effectively a puff pastry sandwich, which was a little difficult to eat, and not as refined a dish as expected for the price (£10). Despite this, the filling was subtle, delicate and creamy, which was offset well by the rich earthiness of the generous garnish of truffle. It is worth noting that there isn’t much choice for dedicated carnivores, but lots of variety for vegetarians (and pescetarians) to choose from. For our main course, we opted for the poached river trout, vegetable spaghetti, saffron broth, tiger prawns, tomato and basil and the roast corn-fed chicken breast, butternut squash purée, wild mushrooms, salsify and thyme. In both cases, the dishes were well cooked, well seasoned and tasty. However, in the case of the river trout, the richness of the prawns seemed to jar a little with the fresh, delicate

flavours on the rest of the plate. Moreover, in both cases, it seemed there was a little too much going on and, while the varying components were all well conceived in isolation, they seemed to detract (rather than draw) attention to one another. The desserts were a different question, with the two that we tried (the bay leaf crème brûlée and chocolate trio) sticking to the fine-dining holy trinity. The chocolate trio is apparently a bestseller, and it was a real delight, with different chocolate delights (fondant, mousse and parfait) to tantalise. Each of the three components was sensuously rich, with a deep chocolatey flavour, but unique in texture and taste, with different ingredients (such as cherry in the fondant) adding to the balance. The bay leaf crème brûlée was not (as the waiter had warned me) a traditional crème brûlée, but was nevertheless a delightful creation, with a smooth, airy texture and a subtle, sophisticated but still distinct taste of bay leaf. My only criticism would be that the rich and heavy honey roast figs didn’t really work with the plate as a whole. One thing that rather lets the side down at the Grand Café is the atmosphere. To some extent, sitting in the courtyard is a little like being in a grand piazza, with the imposing and ornate ceiling above. Despite this, the dynamics of the space make it seem rather vast, empty and draughty (I barely took off a layer when I came in from the cold), making it a little devoid of character, and like eating in a warehouse (ok, albeit one that is Grade I listed). Also, with designer branding at your eye level wherever you look, and the endless comings and goings of shopping-laden consumers, it is a little like eating in a shopping mall, because it is, which makes dinner at the Grand Café feel a little like a rushed pit stop rather than the leisurely, well-earned treat it is. n www.royalexchange-grandcafe.co.uk

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of fer REDUCED PRICE TICKETS TO THE LONDON BOAT SHOW

SHORT BREAK SKIING If you’re longing to get on the slopes but don’t have time for a seven-night ski holiday, then Flexiski can tailor-make your perfect ski weekend or short break

Running from 7–16 January, the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show at London’s ExCeL will bring the best of boating to the capital. We’ve teamed up with Show organisers to brighten your January, offering £7 off tickets to London’s leading and most established annual boating event. The Show will see hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the marine industry’s finest products, services and equipment, and around 1,000 boats ranging from kayaks and dinghies to sail boats and motor yachts will be on show to climb aboard, explore and trial. New features for 2011: Used Boats in association with Yachtworld.com An exciting new watersports zone, with Watersports Action Pool, managed by Neilson Active Holidays and Rockley Watersports and measuring 70m x 24m, visitors can try a diverse range of activities and see live demos by watersports experts, including a canoe polo championship. A New Crew – The Show’s new look has been shaped by an impressive line-up of the marine world’s high flyers. Each day at the Show, visitors will have the chance to see sports stars such as wakeboard legend Matt Crowhurst, and Olympic medallist Mark Covell, in action and pick their brains for tips and advice in the new Knowledge Box. Have A Go – The Show is packed with activities to keep visitors of all ages entertained. Race model boats on the Model Boat Pool, learn how to use a cruising chute, try your hand at Brush Boarding and see some classic boats including Swallow, the original boat from Swallows and Amazons.

European ski weekends are a great option for anyone with minimum holiday days, or for those wanting to squeeze in an extra couple of days on the mountain. New winter flight routes, such as London City to Chambery, mean you can jet off on Friday, enjoy a weekend on the slopes and still be back in the office by Monday. Flexiski specialises in tailor-made ski breaks for families, individuals and corporate groups to 15 European resorts. Book accommodation only or let Flexiski tailor-make your ski break with flights and transfers. Here are some top picks for a ski weekend or short break: Hotel Saint louiS, CourCHevel 1850, FranCe Recently renovated, the hotel offers doorstep skiing and is home to a contemporary new bar and revamped south-facing terrace restaurant. Le Chapiteau is a lavish, self-contained apartment occupying the top floor of the hotel, and is perfect for a corporate function or for those looking for a more exclusive setting. The apartment benefits from a personal chef, private dining room and dedicated Ski Event Manager. CHalet BaliaS, val d’iSère, FranCe Combining style and comfort, this charming catered chalet offers wonderful views of the mountains and is located just a few minutes away from the ski lifts. CHalet leonardo, MeriBel, FranCe

how to claim To get £7 off your Show ticket (full ticket price £18), simply log on to www.londonboatshow.com and quote P46 or call the ticket hotline on 0871 230 7140. For added value, two children aged 15 and under will be admitted free for every adult ticket purchased. Offer excludes Public Preview Day on 7 January. Tickets are valid from 8–16 January.

tHe oUtdoors sHow Visitors to the 2011 Show on the final four days (13–16 January) will be able to enjoy two shows for the price of one. The Outdoors Show will take place in the new, larger ExCeL London and boat show tickets will allow visitors entry into both shows.

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The rustic Chalet Leonardo is classically finished in a combination of wood and stone, and features a beautiful, open-plan living area with traditional log fire and fabulous outdoor Jacuzzi. aMalien HauS, St anton, auStria This modern chalet is situated near St Anton’s bustling main street. The attractive living area provides the perfect setting to enjoy pre-dinner drinks, and its bedrooms feature smart, contemporary bathrooms. If you need something extra special, Flexiski’s Ski Event Managers can help arrange your perfect ski day, from collecting your equipment and making lunch reservations to even arranging a romantic picnic on the piste. Book on a daily basis or for the duration of your stay, and enjoy having your own personal assistant and expert skier with you on the mountain. For more information, call 020 8939 0880 or visit www.flexiski.com

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out & about

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GET THE ROYAL TREATMENT

Gain a special insight into the history of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace this January with an exclusive Evening Tour. Used by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions, the State Rooms form the heart of the working palace. In the company of an expert guide, you will view paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture. The tour lasts approximately two hours and includes a copy of the official guidebook, a twenty percent discount in the Royal shop, and a glass of champagne served in the Bow Room. To April 2011 www.royalcollection.org.uk

TIME FOR HEROES

SET SAIL FOR SUPER SHOW This January for the first time, The Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show has teamed up with both The Outdoors Show and The London Bike Show to create the ultimate event for outdoor enthusiasts in London’s ExCeL. With more than 150,000 visitors predicted to attend, the UK’s first ever ‘Super Show’ will showcase the best from the worlds of boating, biking, hiking and climbing. The Boat Show sees more than 500 exhibitors display products from across the marine industry. With roughly 1,000 boats on show, expect to see everything from kayaks and dinghies to sail boats and motor yachts. Visitors of The Outdoors Show can listen to talks from expedition expert Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, survival specialist Ray Mears or, if feeling adventurous, have a go at climbing themselves on a number of challenging walls. Grab a bike at The Bike Show and choose to test it on either the Pump Track, Test Strip, Dirt Track or Timber Trail. If that’s not your thing, simply sit back and enjoy the thrills and spills of trial biking as the pros take to the stage. The Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show, 7–16 January 2011 www.londonboatshow.com The Outdoors Show, 13–16 January 2011, www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk The London Bike Show, 13–16 January 2011, www.thelondonbikeshow.co.uk

The Lord Ashcroft Gallery is the first major permanent gallery to open at the Imperial War Museum for ten years. Paid for by a £5million donation, the gallery houses the Extraordinary Heroes exhibition – the world’s largest collection of the highest medals given for bravery in the face of an enemy: the Victoria Cross. Visitors discover the personal stories behind each medal on display in a state-of-the-art space filled with interactive touch-screens, multimedia platforms and original interpretation. Examining the concept of bravery, the gallery exhibits many objects for the first time as well as newly commissioned artwork, film and photography. www.iwm.org.uk

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connoisseur out & about

WORK HARD, PLAY HARDER When the original London Playboy Club opened in 1966 it attracted clientèle like Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Joan Collins, George Best, Jack Nicholson and Muhammad Ali. Mirroring those times, the venue is sure to attract the biggest names in entertainment, sports and business when it returns to London later this year. Located in Mayfair, the new gaming and entertainment club will feature a restaurant, members’ lounge, table games and high-limit salon privé gaming rooms. In addition, world-renowned mixologist Salvatore ‘Maestro’ Calabrese will be launching Salvatore’s, a bespoke state-of-the-art cocktail bar, on the ground floor of the exclusive club. Incorporating influences from the original Playboy London, the new venue will integrate gaming with contemporary nightlife in a club that combines the sexiness of Playboy with the sophistication of London. “The club is one of our most anticipated, must-visit locations,” says Scott Flanders, CEO, Playboy Enterprises Inc. www.playboyclublondon.com

SECRET CITY GARDEN The botanically inspired The Folly Bar opened in November last year to critical acclaim. Combining restaurant, bar, deli, wine cellar, florist and library, Drake & Morgan’s fourth bar is a truly unique venue. Both the food and drink served highlight seasonal produce and with Borough Market just around the corner, all ingredients are of prime quality and organically sourced where possible. Comprising two floors, two bars, an inside terrace, a lounge garden and a series of concealed vaults, The Folly Bar is an oasis of delight hidden within the City. The Folly, 41 Gracechurch Street www.thefollybar.co.uk

GUIDED ART WALKS

FAIRYTALE WITH A TWIST Created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Blitz, Matthew Bourne’s reworking of Prokofiev’s Cinderella pays tribute to the spirit of those who lived during that fearful time. Set in the capital during the middle of the Second World War, the classic fairytale is given a modern twist when a chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot. Bourne’s vivid reworking of the beloved fable is both heart-stopping and touching. As well as design by Lez Brotherston, it features lighting by Neil Austin and is performed in Surround Sound as configured by Paul Groothius. To 23 January 2011 Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue www.sadlerswells.com

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See a different side of East London with the Hookedblog Street Art Walking Tour. Journeying the streets of Shoreditch, Old Street and Brick Lane with a seasoned guide, you will cover an area regarded as the epicentre of Street Art, not just in London but the UK. Expect to see work from Banksy, Invader, D*Face, Roa, Conor Harrington and many more. Each tour lasts two hours and, with the ever-changing nature of East London’s street art, no two tours will be the same. Running until 31 Jan 2011 Tours begin at Old Street Tube Station www.hookedblog.co.uk

Banksy Hoodie with Knife

MORE THAN JUST BEEF Gaucho is renowned for serving London’s best Argentinian steak. By the end of the year, we’re sure the restaurant will be known for much more than its first-rate meat It’s going to be a busy year for Gaucho. The coming months will see the company play host to a series of unique and exciting events that promise to take dining experiences to the next level. Festivities kick off on 24 January with the ‘Divine Bovine’ evening at Gaucho Piccadilly: a night dedicated to the celebration of what the restaurant grew famous for its steak. Featuring an indulgent five-course dinner, showcasing the versatility of Argentina’s Aberdeen Angus beef, the event allows guests to join Gaucho’s group head chef Mike Reid for a series of masterclasses that explain how the meat is prepared, and why. Exactly one month later on 24 February, the arena plays host to the first ever Gaucho International Polo event, expected to be attended by over 12,500 people, and Gaucho will provide the event’s corporate hospitality. Packages in the restaurant include a champagne reception with Team Argentina Captain, Nachos Figueras, a five-course meal and access to the arena’s VIP seating, Champagne Lounge and after-party. “We have always embraced polo as it’s the national sport of Argentina, where the restaurant’s steaks and wines come from,” says Martin Williams, Gaucho Restaurants operations director. “So for us to have our name to what will be the biggest indoor polo event ever, with the greatest players from the UK and Argentina in the world’s most popular venue, is going to be amazing.” ‘Gaucho of London’ is the third event: a 65 foot Sunseeker (the stunning Predator 62 model) will be moored on the River Thames and available for private chartering. “We have had a huge demand for our ‘Meet

the Winemaker’ and ‘Divine Bovine’ dinners,” says Martin, “so we thought, what would be more fun than a Gaucho personal dining experience with your own chef and sommelier, or a cocktail and canapé party on board our beautiful boat?” The answer was not a lot and they decided to offer exclusive charters that included dining for up to eight guests. The experience begins with a Champagne Reception and starters served in Gaucho Tower Bridge. The yacht then moves on to Gaucho Canary for the main course before dessert is served in Gaucho’s private box at The O2. The night culminates with a concert held at the arena. And for the ultimate Valentine’s Day extravagance, ‘One hour Valentine’s charters’ are currently available, starting at £1,000. In addition, 2011 also witnesses Gaucho create a pop-up restaurant at the Snow Polo in Sweden and devise a bespoke one week Argentinian break in Mendoza. Visitors of the polo event will enjoy the best that the sport and Gaucho has to offer, while guests holidaying in Argentina are taken to visit vineyards, watch the harvest and meet top-end wine makers, all while staying in stunning boutique hotels. As Martin explains, “our guests really embrace unique dining experiences.” For anyone set to attend one of Gaucho’s several forthcoming events, a unique dining experience is exactly what they can expect. For all polo hospitality enquiries contact lulie.murray@ gauchorestaurants.com and for One hour Valentine’s Charters contact matt.ford@gauchorestaurants.com www.gauchorestaurants.com

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KnightFrank

Lime Kiln Wharf, E14

Unique penthouse in the heart of Limehouse Village A beautifully presented three bedroom apartment located on the third floor a purpose built development close to Canary Wharf. The property benefits from a wealth of outside space with both a private balcony and terrace. ÂŁ950,000, Share of Freehold

(CNW100142)

Canary Wharf Sales KnightFrank.co.uk cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 7512 9966

Eaton House, E14

Excellent outside space within luxury development This wonderful apartment comprises spacious (in excess of 1200 sq ft) well proportioned accommodation and is located within the much sought after development that is Canary Riverside. ÂŁ795,000 Leasehold

(CNW080096)

Canary Wharf Sales KnightFrank.co.uk cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 7512 9966

KnightFrank

Matlock Street, London E14 We are delighted to offer this three bedroom unfurnished house. Set on four levels, this period house is full of character. The property benefits from a conservatory and a small garden. Available early January. £425 per week Canary Wharf Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

The Grainstore, London E16

Hallmark Court, London E14 We are delighted to offer this new apartment. This duplex apartment comes complete with open plan reception and modern kitchen. Off the reception is a terrace offering uninterrupted far reaching views. Upstairs is two double bedrooms and two bathrooms. £365 per week Canary Wharf Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Port East Apartments, London E14

Modern apartment available for rent and fully furnished. Accommodation comprises of fully fitted kitchen leading into the reception area. This modern offers clean living in the sought after location of the Royal Docks.

We are delighted to offer this two bedroom apartment within this Grade I Listed building. This apartment is full of character, exposed brick, wood beams and solid oak wood flooring all running through this property.

£250 per week

£595 per week

Canary Wharf Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Vanguard Building, London E14

Undine Road, London E14

A three double bedroom penthouse apartment offering views of the River Thames, City and Canary Wharf Skyline. This apartment boasts excellent living/entertaining space. The apartment benefits from parking, concierge and gym facilities.

Two double bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, fitted kitchen, large reception/dining room with wood floors, balcony with dock and garden views and off street parking.

£1495 per week

£365 per week

Canary Wharf Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Pan Peninsula, London E14

Belgrave Court, London E14

A stunning three bedroom apartment located on the 24th floor. This apartment has been furnished to the highest of standards. This development also includes a gym, pool, cinema room and a 24 concierge.

A one bedroom fully furnished apartment. En-suite bathroom with separate shower. Balcony with river views and separate cloakroom. This property benefits from 24 hour security and parking. Available in January.

£1450 per week

£400 per week

Canary Wharf Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk 020 7512 9955 cwharf@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank Telfords Yard, Wapping E1W

2 bedroom warehouse conversion with attractive original features On the 3rd floor of a substantial warehouse conversion a striking flat in good order. It’s semi-open kitchen and large reception create an excellent space for entertaining. 2 double beds, 1 bathroom, parking & porter. 98 sq m (1064 sq ft) £575,000 Share of Freehold

Wapping Sales KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping wapping@knightfrankcom 020 7480 6848

(WAP100169)

New Crane Wharf, Wapping E1W 1 bedroom warehouse flat in excellent order

A super one bedroom flat, on the third floor of one of Wapping’s most popular warehouse conversions. New semi open plan kitchen, a good double bedroom, bathroom, storage, parking and 24 concierge. 55 sq m (601 sq ft) £335,000 Leasehold 102 years

Wapping Sales KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping wapping@knightfrankcom 020 7480 6848 (Wap100194)

Christopher’s Court, City Quarter E1

Cinnabar Wharf, Wapping High Street E1W

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.

Beautifully presented three double bedroom penthouse set in this luxury 24 hour portered development on Wapping High Street. This spacious flat has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two ensuite, large reception room with fantastic views of Tower Bridge and the river. Also boasting wooden floors, air conditioning, underground parking and stylish furnishings

£365 per week

£895 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Tea Trade Wharf, Shad Thames SE1

New Crane Wharf, Wapping High Street E1W

Great 1755 sq ft two double bedroom two bathroom 5th floor apartment set in this beautiful 24 hour portered development. This bright and spacious newly decorated unit has a fully fitted stylish kitchen, air cooling, parking, communal leisure facilities and a swimming pool, and two large terraces with fantastic views of The River Thames and across London.

Great one bedroom apartment to rent in the popular 24 hour portered development. This lovely flat has a large double bedroom also with river views, underground parking and smart new furnishings. New Crane Wharf is located on Wapping High Street next to the underground station and also close to the 100 and D3 bus routes for easy access in to Canary Wharf and The City.

£1400 per week

£485 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank

The Bezier, City Road EC1 Stylish City pad

Large 7th floor one bedroom apartment to rent in the outstanding Bezier development moments from Old Street underground station and a short walk in to the City. This modern 750 sq ft apartment faces the front of the building and boasts stone flooring, contemporary bathroom suite, under floor heating, air conditioning, 24 hour concierge and 13th floor south facing roof terrace. Furnished ÂŁ575 per week

City Lettings knightfrank.co.uk/lettings gary.hall@knightfrank.com 020 7606 1560

“The most exciting waterfront in the world” The Daily Telegraph

Knight Frank are delighted to offer a stunning collection of luxury high speciﬁcation apartments to let in NEO Bankside. This striking development, designed by the international, award-winning architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, offers world-class luxury accommodation with contemporary interiors and spectacular winter gardens.

Situated on the South Bank, adjacent to Tate Modern and a short walk from The City, NEO Bankside offers an opportunity to live at the very heart of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter.

Please Contact

Knight Frank 020 7480 6848 riversidelettings@knightfrank.com

www.knightfrank.com/neobankside

Monument Street, EC3 £385,000 Leasehold Hamptons are delighted to offer this well presented 1 bedroom apartment in an extremely popular building with concierge in a central City location, containing a study/storage area.

Commercial Street, E1 £399,950 Leasehold Set on the second floor of a highly sought-after building with lift and concierge, this unusually large one bedroom apartment comes with a secure underground parking space.

Prescot Street, E1 £425,000 Leasehold This spacious 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment is situated on the 3rd floor of a popular art deco building with concierge to the east of the City, and comes with secure parking.

High Timber Street, EC4 £435,000 Leasehold Hamptons are delighted to offer this superb one bedroom duplex penthouse apartment in arguably one of the City’s most popular developments, on the north bank of the Thames.

From their first steps to the first visit of the grandchildren, Hamptons International know what makes a family home. The comfort it will provide. The memories it will hold. We see beyond the bricks and mortar to help you find somewhere that’s, well, home.

City Office

Sales. 020 7236 8398 city@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Prospero House, EC3 £450,000 Leasehold

Alie Street, E1 £630,000 Leasehold

This delightful 2 bedroom apartment set on the 3rd floor of a popular block at the edge of the City has been recently redecorated so feels wonderfully bright and fresh.

This brand new, stunning development is being offered off-plan with completion planned for March 2012. This unit has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, courtyard and private entrance.

Tea Trade Wharf, SE1 £1,975,000 Leasehold A stunning 1755 sq ft, two bedroom sub-penthouse apartment within this popular warehouse conversion on the bank of the Thames, with views of Tower Bridge from both balconies.

Gullivers Wharf, E1W £750,000 Leasehold An exceptionally spacious, 1813 sq ft, 3 bedroom apartment with car parking within this converted warehouse building just off historic Wapping High Street.

Horseshoe Wharf Apartments, SE1 £2,500,000 Share of Freehold A spacious three bedroom sub penthouse apartment in the heart of Borough Market, with views of the Thames, St Pauls and across the City of London.

Alaska Buildings, SE1 £375,000 Share of Freehold A bright and spacious one bedroom apartment on the 4th floor of a portered warehouse conversion, overlooking communal gardens and having underground parking.

It’s important to make time for the things you love. At Hamptons International we take all the strain out of managing your move. Leaving you free to enjoy the finer things in life, safe in the knowledge that everything’s being taken care of.

Bankside Lofts, SE1 £599,000 Leasehold

Tower Bridge Office

Sales. 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Benbow House, SE1 £895,000 Leasehold A well presented c.800 sq ft one bedroom apartment with high ceilings, within this popu- A two bedroom penthouse apartment, with direct lift access, two terraces and two enlar Manhattan Loft development, in the heart of Bankside, having concierge and no chain. suite bathrooms. Set within a riverside development with concierge services.

Christina Street, EC2 £450 per week A bright warehouse conversion with exposed brickwork, high ceilings and hard wood floors situated between the Square Mile and Shoreditch triangle. Available furnished.

High Timber Street, EC4 £500 per week

Commercial Street, E1 £675 per week

Dock Street, E1 £700 per week A stunning penthouse apartment in this small development with direct lift access and large private roof terrace. Available furnished, unfurnished or part furnished.

A superb penthouse apartment with an abundance of natural light, private terrace and far reaching views. Parking is available by separate negotiation. Available furnished

A spacious two bedroom two bathroom apartment with a balcony overlooking the stunning atrium with water features and palms. Available furnished.

Renting a property is no reason to accept anything less than the perfect home. It’s still your personal oasis. Albeit for a shorter timeframe. That said nearly all our tenants renew their contracts. Proof that we know how to make people feel right at home.

City Office

Lettings. 020 7236 8399 citylettings@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Portsoken Street, E1 £370 per week

Leyden Street, E1 £425 per week

A duplex apartment in this small development only minutes from Tower Hill and the Thames. The apartment benefits from wood floors. Available furnished

Well presented one bedroom apartment benefiting from contemporary furnishings and a bright outlook. Parking is available by separate negotiation. Available furnished

Little London Court, SE1 £595 per week A spacious two bedroom two bathroom apartment with balcony. Furnished

Fennel Apartments, SE1 £675 per week A large two bedroom apartment in portered block with roof terrace. Furnished

Evans Granary, SE1 £475 per week

The Jam Factory, SE1 £550 per week

A beautifully presented one bedroom apartment situated in the heart of Borough Market. Furnished

A two bedroom 6th floor apartment boasting floor to ceiling windows, balcony and porter. Furnished

The Hamptons International team always go further to meet your personal property needs, whatever they may be. Over 97% of our clients say they would use us again or recommend us to others. Let us show you why.

Pickfords Wharf, SE1 £425 per week A modern one bedroom apartment in London Bridge with views of the river. Furnished

Tower Bridge Office

Lettings. 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Butlers Wharf, SE1 £475 per week A one bedroom river fronted apartment situated in prestigious Shad Thames development. Furnished

Oakfield, Knockholt £2,500,000

UniqUe Service, UniqUe PeoPle... Unique Homes Personal ProPerty ConsultanCy for Buyers and sellers of distinCtive Homes

NIQUE is a privately owned and specialist estate agency designed to provide personal property consultancy for selling or buying exclusive and exemplary homes. Robert Sargent, founder of the Acorn Estate Agency Group, recognised that the needs of the most affluent vendors and purchasers had always posed a problem to typical high street estate agents. His solution was to create Unique: a specialist team of experienced and proactive property professionals whose sole focus is to service the needs of high net worth clients and manage their multi-million pound property transactions. “Whether you own a property that needs to be managed in a way that your local high street agency can’t handle, or you are looking for a home and have

exacting requirements that need an agent who has the time and ability to search on your behalf, we are a company that can deliver.” If you are wishing to sell a Unique home the company offer a one to one marketing and consultancy service, providing a tailor-made marketing programme for each individual property. “By targeting precisely the right audience we can deliver a successful sale at the right price in a timescale that fits each client’s specific requirements,” explains Robert. Unique puts its success down to its innovative marketing techniques, constantly evolving to challenge people’s expectations of the estate agency industry. “We don’t deal in volume; we leave that to other people. We prefer to deliver a bespoke service to each client and each individual property.”

homes & property

Like the homes they market and the approach they take, their staff are also unique. “Passionate, attentive and focused, our people realise that it’s the human touch that forms the basis of great working relationships. That’s why it’s the foundation we build our business on. “UNIQUE isn’t just a property consultancy, it’s a complete ethos: a way of conducting business that allows us to give our clients the options and tailored service they desire.”

DO YOU HAVE A UNIQUE PROPERTY TO SELL?

Orchard Cottage, Farnborough Park £2,850,000

From the moment you contact UNIQUE you will be assigned a personal consultant. This person will act as your point of contact throughout the selling process. Available around the clock, they will coordinate everything from the initial visit to your home to the completion of the sale. The first step is to arrange an appointment between you and your consultant. Karen Hedges, property consultant for Unique, explains that the initial appointment is designed to establish your aims, intentions and aspirations. “With precise knowledge of your requirements we can then move on to stage two: providing you with a pricing guide and recommendation.” Following this, the team at Unique will plan a marketing strategy to maximise the exposure of your property. Karen adds: “We take into account the client’s target market, then discuss and agree the most appropriate media in which to reach it.” A representative from the Unique PR Team will liaise with the consultant to advise you on the best possible route to market. An individually designed multi-page brochure will be devoted to each property. Brochures will include professional photography and stylised narrative, detailed floor plans and local information. The company are proud of the tailor-made approach they take to this part of the selling process. “As a collaboration between the consultant, the PR advisor, those in design and the client themselves, the property profile brochures are bespoke creations crafted around the unique selling points of the homes they advertise,” explains Karen. If you are seeking a property to buy then UNIQUE can also help you find it. Whatever is on your wish list, with their extensive experience and well affiliated contacts in the luxury homes market, they are perfectly positioned to source you a house to make a home. Searching on your behalf, with your exact requirements in mind, they will present a range of suitable properties for you to view at a convenient time. “Our aim at Unique is to set new standards in the sale and purchase of top-end residential property. By providing a bespoke consultancy agency tailored to our clients’ specific ambitions, it is a goal we constantly achieve.” n If you own a property that deserves the Unique approach to selling the team are waiting to help. www.uniquepropertiesuk.com

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merchant square paddington

A collection of beautifully designed apartments to let To register interest please call Knight Frank on 020 7861 5522 or email erin.vantuil@knightfrank.com www.knightfrank.com

Knight Frank are delighted to offer a selection of brand new, high specification apartments to let at the newly developed Merchant Square. Located in an outstanding and striking waterside location in the heart of Central London with the West End’s world-class shopping, theatres and restaurants are on its doorstep.

1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments Furnished or unfurnished High specification finish Excellent transport links via Paddington Mainline & underground • 20 minutes to Heathrow via Heathrow Express • • • •

Sensitive conversions. Sound investments. City & Country Group offer a selection of unique conversion homes that not only make a statement but also offer a sound long term investment. the Galleries Brentwood duplex and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in a Victorian Grade ii listed building set in tranquil courtyard gardens. from £190,000 to £510,000. call 01277 202122

Balls Park Hertfordshire a landmark development of luxurious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom conversion apartments, set within 63 acres of picturesque parkland. from £237,500 to £420,000. call 01992 551777

Show homeS open daily from 10am to 5pm www.cityandcountry.co.uk

old Saint Michaels Braintree 1 & 2 bedroom apartments and houses converted from a collection of Grade ii listed Victorian buildings set in landscaped courtyards. from £152,500 to £325,000. call 01376 335800

London's Finest Properties

LETTINGS

SALES

Baquba Building, Conington Road, SE13

The Landmark, Canary Wharf, E14

Lanterns Court

Sugar House, E1

• One Bedroom Apartment • Balcony • Fully Furnished • 8th Floor • On-Site Gymnasium • 24hr Concierge Service

• A selection of one and two bedroom units • Brand new development • High specification throughout • Superb location • Moments from South Quay DLR and Canada Square

£235.00 per week

£330.00 per week

£250,000 - £425,000

£465,000

Westgate Apartments, E16

Turner House, Canary Central, E14

Ontario Tower, E14

Westgate Apartments, E16

£355.00 per week

£385.00 per week

£475,000

£330,000

Ontario Tower, E14

Mount Pleasant Road, Lewisham, SE13

New Providence Wharf, E14

City Quarter, E1

• Three Bedroom House • Three Bathrooms • Two Large Receptions • Large Garden • Close to Hither Green Station

• Two bed/two bath 6th floor riverside apartment • Highly desirable layout with two entrances • Excellent condition throughout • Contemporary fixtures and fittings • Impressive river views

£575.00 per week

£495,000

£549,950

• One Bedroom Apartment • Balcony • Part Furnished • 4th Floor • On-Site Gymnasium • Nr. Lewisham DLR

• Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Apartment • Balcony • Fully Furnished • 10th Floor • Including Parking • Nr. Custom House DLR

• Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Exclusive use of The Hotel Radisson Amenities • Including Parking • 24hr Concierge Service

£495.00 per week

• Two Bedroom Two Bathroom Apartment • Balcony • Fully Furnished • 10th Floor • Including Parking • Nr. South Quay DLR

• 2 bedroom 2 bathroom (en suite) • Striking architecture • Highly prestigious landmark development • Approx 1,000 sq ft of living space • 24 hr porterage, security and excellent on-site facilities

• 3rd floor • One bedroom/one bathroom • Stunning warehouse restoration • Elegant period features/ contemporary design • Moments from DLR and underground • Within short walking distance of the City

• 11th floor two bedroom apartment • Large balcony • Stunning views • On site gym facility • Minutes from Canary Wharf

• Two bed/two bath corner unit • Exceptional level of specification • Highly desirable development • Moments from DLR/Tube and City

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

Central London 020 7582 7989

West London 020 8896 9990

Finchley 020 8446 9524

Docklands 020 7476 0125

Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244

UNIQUE HOMES, UNIQUE SERVICE, UNIQUE PEOPLE P e r s o n a l P r o p e r t y C o n s u l t a n c y f o r B u ye r s a n d S e l l e r s o f D i s t i n c t i ve H o m e s

PARKGATE - BLACKHEATH SE3

Stunning four bedroom, four bathroom home offering exciting, luxurious accommodation located on the exclusive Cator Estate. Superb balance of stylish entertaining and impressive family space. Finished to an extremely high standard with bespoke ‘Mowlem & Co of Chelsea’ kitchen, state of the art lighting, security and multi room music systems.

£3,250,000 F/H

Joint agents with

johnpayne.co.uk

WICKHAM WAy - PARK LANGLEy BR3 Beautifully equipped six bedroom, five bathroom home with enormous attention to detail and renovation of Period features. Luxurious kitchen by Smallbone. Prime position within coveted Park Langley area.

£1,750,000 F/H

London Office 116-118 Bermondsey Street, London Bridge, London SE1 3TX Tel 020 7089 6500 Email enquiries@uniquepropertiesuk.com

Kent Office

Incorporating

First Floor, 13 High Street, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5AB Tel 020 8378 1222 Email enquiries@uniquepropertiesuk.com

www.uniqueproper tiesuk.com

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*Terms and conditions apply. Offer available on selected plots only. Prices correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may vary.

GAR25328 Swaylands 210x297 AD:Layout 1 21/12/2010 12:18 Page 1

The view from Swaylands

A million miles away from it all...

...under an hour from the City Perched high on the Kentish Weald in 40 acres of private, gated grounds and with far reaching views over some of southern England’s most beautiful landscapes, Swaylands offers a tranquil escape from the pressures of modern life. With a selection of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, each individually designed to maximise the advantages of this elegant setting, these magnificent homes provide impressive living spaces of up to 3055 sq ft. Whether you choose historic A AM

Swaylands House, dating from the mid 1800s, or newly built Woodgate Manor, PL

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SWAYLANDS PENSHURST . KENT

each benefits from the same high quality finishes and exceptional levels of specification throughout. There is also a tennis court and gym for the exclusive use of residents. Idyllic Penshurst village is under half a mile away and Swaylands is just 6 miles from the sophisticated charms of Royal Tunbridge Wells with its comprehensive shopping, restaurants and entertainment.

Our new showhome is open daily from 10am to 5pm, telephone 01892 871529, or email us at sales@swaylands-penshurst.co.uk Prices from £495,000 to £1.5m www.swaylands-penshurst.co.uk

homes & property promotion

Invest in atlanta Since the housing crash of 2007 and the stock market crash of 2008, investors have been left with one pervasive question. Where should I put my money? Girasol Homes suggests one option Unscrupulous, unrealistic, and unregulated investment practices on Wall Street have nearly decimated the world economy, and are now delivering returns of only 1.5 per cent to 5 per cent. This is hardly an exciting proposition, especially since those same practices go on today and the probability of another meltdown is almost certain.

A booming city, Atlanta has a vibrant nightlife, colourful history, numerous shopping options, and excellent education facilities. Not only is it ranked third in US economic rankings for job growth, it is home to a large percentage of Fortune500 companies’ headquarters, and has great job retention figures.

Certainly cheap money and lax mortgage qualifications contributed to the downfall, with speculators buying up real estate and inflating house prices to an unsustainable level, pushing us over the brink – the result being three years of freefalling values. This is what economists call “market correction”. Millions of foreclosures bring a glut of inventory.

As a result of this, and from a property investment perspective, Forbes Magazine has ranked Atlanta as the Number 1 rental market, CNNMoney.com says Atlanta is the fourth best city in America to invest in, and it is ranked as the second best city to relocate to. Since July 2009 we saw buying start to increase, and many market makers see market stability taking shape and confidence re-emerging. Now is the time to invest.

But that leaves the investor with an amazing opportunity. More inventory means lower prices. Some say that we are at a 25-year low in purchase pricing. It also means a higher percentage of renters. So it should be said again, “an amazing opportunity for investors”. Imagine being able to buy a completely remodelled single family home for $49,900 with a guaranteed renter and generate at 14.75 per cent return on investment; or a brand new town house or single family home with a guaranteed renter and generate an 11–12 per cent return on investment. You are buying at $45–$60 per square foot, which is half of what it costs to build a house. Unheard of? Maybe not. These opportunities exist today in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Atlanta is one of the fasting growing, stable metropolitan centres in America.

Girasol Homes works with WRI Capital Group, a recognised leader in acquasition and development of real estate for international clients, and has a grand selection of condominiums, town houses and single family homes. All of our homes are offered “like new,” with high-end finishes to bring you strong tenants, in highly desirable neighbourhoods. Your investment comes with guaranteed tenant placement, managed by local property managers for stress-free ownership. Sit back, collect rents, and watch the value of your real estate grow. For further information, visit www.girasolhomes.co.uk/ usa-investment-properties

A Ballymore Development

Stunning. Inside and out ‘ The Premier Collection’ London’s most sophisticated waterside apartments, overlooking Canary Wharf. Ultra glamorous apartments supported by the widest range of world-class facilities available in London. Penthouse Level Cocktail Bar · Dockside Restaurant and Bar Hydro-therapy Suite · Premier Level Sky Lobby Concierge and Valet Parking · Business Centre Health Club · Private Cinema · Swimming Pool · Cardio Suite Britain’s only ‘Six Senses Spa’ · Residents Zen Garden

Prices from £1,700,000 – £4,400,000

Tel. +44 (0) 844 704 8731 premier@panpeninsula.com

www.panpeninsula.com

Premier ColleCtion

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the city magazine

Longitude. Latitude. Attitude.

J A N UA R Y 2011

Portuguese Automatic. Ref. 5001: Where you go is entirely up to you. After

Mechanical IWC-manufactured movement | Pellaton

all, it’s your boat. So if you’re in the mood for sailing around the world, away

automatic winding system (figure) |

you go. The pocket watch movement of your Portuguese Automatic with

7-day power reserve with display |

its seven-day power reserve and Pellaton winding will be only too happy to

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Land ahoy!

Date display | Antireflective

oblige. Because its precision will always navigate you reliably to your desti-

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back cover | Water-resistant 3 bar | Stainless steel

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21.10.10 16:38

m a g a z i n e

IN THE PALM

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MAke YoUR MoNeY woRk hARD AND plAY hARD foR YoU

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finance gadgets motoring interiors property JANUARY 2011 i s s U e 3 9