The City Magazine March 2013

the city m a g a z i n e

trust fund

restoring public faith in investment banking

new build

the staggering pace of development in the city

man about town the extraordinary life and times of octogenarian michael caine

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feature

10 MAN ABOUT TOWN

As Michael Caine turns 80, The Museum of London in the City celebrates his extraordinary life with a new exhibition. Jack watkins looks back at his incredible eight decades

14 NEW CITY

Alec Forshaw presents a fascinating look at development and new building in the City over the past 20 years, with images by Alan Ainsworth

INTERVIEW 19 GERARD BUTLER

The charismatic Scot talks about surviving Hollywood and being lucky with Stephen Milton

collection

33 BROWN IN TOWN

This spring, ignore the saying and break the sartorial rules, says Richard Brown

BUSINESS

44 MAINTAINING THE CITY’S TOP SPOT

Richard Brown meets Mark Boleat, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation, a man charged with the task of making sure London remains the world’s leading financial authority

MOTORING

64 GRIPPING STUFF

Now with added four-wheel–drive, the latest Porsche 911 can walk on water, says MATTHEW CARTER

SPORT 68 CASH RICH

TOM SHEEN explores the lucrative world of sponsorship in sport

TRAVEL

96 THERE’S MAGIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

Richard Brown discovers how Megève in the French Alps continues to act as an ambassador for the art of luxury living

Model shown is a Porsche Cayman S at £51,724 including 20-inch SportTechno wheels, Bi-Xenon lighting system with Dynamic Light System (PDLS), 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee.

The Power of Balance.

The new Cayman models are the distillation of a Porsche bloodline 60 years in development.

Illustrious forebears such as the 550 Coupé and 917 Le Mans winner harnessed the benefits of the mid-engined layout to deliver success both on and off the race track. Of course, these icons of the past also help us to engineer our future.

Thanks to powerful Boxer engines and lightweight engineering, a low polar moment of inertia and a low centre of gravity, the new Cayman models deliver a masterclass in poise and precision.

A masterclass that is true to Porsche’s guiding principle of intelligent performance.

Discover more at www.porsche.co.uk/balance

Official fuel economy figures for the Porsche Cayman Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 23.2-24.8 (12.2-11.4), 40.9-44.8 (6.9-6.3), Combined 32.1-34.4 (8.8-8.2), CO2 emissions: 206-192g/km.

RUNWILD M

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Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Editor

emma johnson

Deputy Editor Richard Brown

Motoring Editor Matthew Carter

Collection Editor annabel harrison

Property Editor Gabrielle Lane

Editorial Assistants Aimee latimer daniel engelsman

SENIOR Designer Sarah Connell

Brand Consistency Hiren Chandarana Laddawan Juhong

GENERAL Manager Fiona Fenwick

Production

Hugo Wheatley ALEX POWELL

regulars

Property DIRECTOR Samantha Ratcliffe

23 Watches + Jewellery

71 fashion

43 business

89 Food + Drink

57 motoring

95 travel

66 gadgets

106 The Directory

68 sport

109 Property

Head of Finance Elton Hopkins

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

7 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf London, E14 4JB the city magazine

march 2013

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m a g a z i n e

trust fund

restoring public faith in investment banking

new build

London City to Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Ibiza and Majorca.

the staggering pace of development in the city

Book now at ba.com/ winterbreaks To Fly. To Serve.

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24/10/2012 10:52

the extraordinary life and times of octogenarian michael caine

Man About Town: Michael Caine profile p. 10 Image: Alfie, 1966 (c) Paramount, The Kobal Collection.

Printed by kind permission of Museum of London.

(Michael Caine Exhibition 8 March – 14 July 2013 Admission is free museumoflondon.org.uk)

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.

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editor’s letter

march “I’m an icon – it says so in the papers.”

Michael Caine certainly knew the power of the press. The London boy from extremely humble beginnings, who traversed the ranks of British stage and screen to become a much-loved part of British culture, turns 80 this year, boasting an incredible anthology of work to his name, including The Ipcress File, The Italian Job, Alfie and, most recently, Harry Brown. Our tribute to his life and work on p. 10, in honour of a new exhibition at the Museum of London, charts his incredible life, from being inspired to act by watching cinematic greats such as Humphrey Bogart, to Oscar nominations and lead roles in blockbusters filmed on the very streets where he grew up.

As Caine shot scenes from Harry Brown in the Elephant and Castle, just round the corner from a mural of both him and comedian Charlie Chaplin, he will have been amazed at the pace of development on the streets he used to frequent as a young boy. London is in a continual state of development and building work, and nowhere more so perhaps than the City of London, of which three-quarters has been built or rebuilt in the past two decades. Our feature on p. 14 chronicles the rapid pace of growth in the City and showcases some of the most beautiful and striking new buildings that we are lucky enough to call our place of work.

These days, an increasing number of people are making the choice for their place of work to be a place of change too. Social enterprise and investment businesses, which offer many, if not all, of the benefits of a for-profit organisation, have the added bonus of being able to give back to the community, supporting young people, entrepreneurs and new and innovative business ideas. See how your company, or you, could make a difference on p. 48.

Despite everyone’s hopes that spring has well and truly arrived this month, as I write we are still shivering in just-above-freezing conditions. Make the most of the final weeks of winter and book yourself a last-minute winter snow break. Megéve in the Rhône Alps, near Mont Blanc, makes for a perfect getaway, with designer shops, several exquisite luxury hotels and some wonderful restaurants and bars. And, if you want to ski, that’s pretty amazing too, (p. 96). If you’re all skied out though, a good dose of sunshine is most certainly in order, and Matthew Carter’s recent golfing trip to Barbados, where he stayed in Wayne Rooney’s luxury villa, will most certainly bring about a bad case of holiday fever, (p. 102).

And if you haven’t managed to get away this spring, then live vicariously through our style news (p. 71), our gadgets roundup (p. 66) or our foodie pages (p. 89). Go on, you deserve it.

Emma Johnson Editor

march 2013 THE CITY 9

interview

man about

town

It’s hard to believe it, but Michael Caine is 80 this month. A fine time, then, to take stock of the internationally successful career of the London boy made good, says Jack Watkins

W

hen Sir Michael Caine’s second stab at did it with grace and a twinkle in the eye. Then the new breed writing his autobiography, The Elephant of working class heroes who ushered in the sixties – Alan Bates, in Hollywood, was published in 2010, Terence Stamp, Albert Finney and Sean Connery – generally had The Daily Telegraph declared that it a darkly handsome, matinee idol quality about them. stood comparison with David Niven’s Caine’s face, though, was like a road map with all expected much admired first volume of memoirs, details missing. You looked in vain for anything even mildly The Moon’s A Balloon, from forty years ingratiating or charming. Not only was he blonde and blueearlier. That was stretching it a bit, for Caine’s chatty tome offered eyed – which was pretty unprecedented – but the deadpan relatively little of Niven’s veil-lifting insights into Hollywood voice and impeturbable stare were rounded off by a pair of tinseltown. But you could see the point. Few British actors have deeply unglamorous horn-rimmed specs. He could have been a revelled more obviously in the trappings of being a film star – the bloke you’d encountered in a pub on the Old Kent Road. Yet the girls, the glamour, the parties and the premieres – than Caine, and ordinariness of his image proved strangely seductive. The heavybeen more generous in sharing their enjoyment and success with the public.

And successful he certainly has been. In the ranks He could have been a bloke you’d of great British screen actors, James Mason and encountered in a pub on the Old Kent Stewart Granger may have had more charisma, Dirk Bogarde may have engaged more fully with what it Road. Yet the ordinariness of his image means to act in front of a camera, Alec Guiness been proved strangely seductive more of a master of adaptability and disguise, and Anthony Hopkins tackled more shockingly daring roles, but none of them cracked Hollywood leading man stardom lidded, sleepy-eyed look – actually the result of an incurable to quite the degree Caine managed. And he did it, remarkably, by eye disease, blefora, contracted in childhood – carried both a seemingly not having compromised his cockney roots an inch. sexual charge and an air of menace. Audiences have always A new exhibition at The Museum of London which opens this responded to actors who have a sense of danger, and the mood month, recognises his London credentials, and focuses on the of melancholy created by his underplaying chimed with the spirit actor as an ‘icon’ of the capital. A critic once wrote that Caine of the times. Caine, though he had actually been a jobbing actor sounded like, “a London taxi driver who has seen too many since the late 1940’s, became an overnight star. fares.” But it’s hard for current audiences to imagine what must “I didn’t go on stage to play Hamlet,” he once said, explaining have been his impact when he first burst to prominence in the his motives for his chosen career. “I thought maybe I could do mid-1960’s. English leading men thus far had been, by and large, Cockney coppers and barrow boys better than the actors who well-spoken tweedy types; and even when Bogarde broke the usually played them. I wanted to play them with dignity.” If you extrovert, jolly good chap mould with his gentle vulnerability, he think it funny watching old films today and the attempts of

10 THE CITY march 2013

Alfie, 1966 (c) Paramount, The Kobal Collection

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xxxxxxxx 2013 THE CITY 11

Top: Harry Brown, 2009 (c) Marv Films, The Kobal Collection Left: The Man Who Would Be King, 1975 (c) Canal+ Image UK, BFI Right: The Quiet American, 2002 (c) Miramax, Dimension Films, BFI

interview

RADA-educated actors of the time to do working class or Cockney now assured, was beginning to shape up as a kind of Errol accents, it was just as big a laugh to contemporary cinemagoers Flynn of the 60’s. There would be a regular flow of girlfriends, from that background. To Caine, the son of a Billingsgate fish bachelor pads on the King’s Road and, later, in Grosvenor Square; porter and a charlady, it wasn’t just hilarious, it was insulting. “We a chauffeur-driven Rolls, and an unashamed enjoyment of the were the monosyllabic, kowtowing, forelock-touching oafs,” he high life that made him a gossip-column staple. (The Museum of argued, the social equivalent to the ‘Uncle Sam’ representations of London exhibition features photos by two of the leading fashion black people in American films of the same period. One of Caine’s and celebrity photographers, Terry O’Neill and David Bailey). great achievements was to smash the stereotype for good.

Despite the playboy trappings, Caine remained a hard-working However, the breaks didn’t come easy. His family really did actor. There would be the Harry Palmer sequels, Funeral In Berlin know poverty in his boyhood, from the first family home in and Billion Dollar Brain, and then as the 60’s drew to a close, the Camberwell and then a prefab at the Elephant & Castle, after the cult caper movie The Italian Job. There was criticism, however, devastation of the Second World War. He developed his ambition that in between the gems, came much that was mediocre. On to become an actor by skiving school to watch films at the local several occasions he made at least three films during the course cinema – Humphrey Bogart was a particular favourite – and of the year, perhaps the never forgotten insecurities of his poor honed his talent by practicing ‘posh’ accents down a culvert by a London childhood causing a fear of saying no in case the offers sewer at the Elephant & Castle, into which he slipped to escape stopped coming. In 1975, came the film which Caine regarded the taunts of uncomprehending friends. Too poor to receive RADA as his best performance, the one film which would he felt training, having left school at 16, he made his entry into the profession via the now extinct avenue of a local rep company, and racked up hundreds of parts “I thought maybe I could do Cockney on stage and television before getting his big break coppers and barrow boys better than in Zulu in 1964, aged 31.

Ironically, the breakthrough role in that film the actors who usually played them. I came as a gentleman soldier because, absurdly, wanted to play them with dignity” American director Cy Endfield thought he didn’t sound like a Cockney and that his “horsey” face was more typical of “one of those faggy English officers.”

Next came one of the two parts with which he is synonymous. would last after his death – The Man Who Would Be King. Classic Harry Saltzman, co-producer of the James Bond films, had the Hollywood legend John Huston directed the adaptation of a notion that there would soon be a backlash against 007-style Rudyard Kipling story, and the “dream ticket” casting paired Caine glamorisation of the espionage world, and planned to shoot Len –in a part Huston had long ago intended for Caine’s boyhood Deighton’s more downbeat spy thriller The Ipcress File. Caine was hero Humphrey Bogart – opposite Sean Connery. perfect for the anti-Bond role. Although Sean Connery had given By the late 70’s Caine was a Hollywood A-Lister, with his Bond screen playing a hard edge, it’s worth remembering that a mansion in Beverley Hills, but he remained at heart an the character as imagined by literary creator Ian Fleming was a Englishman. Touchingly, his wife caught him watching an smooth public school type. Fleming had originally wanted David episode of the children’s TV series Black Beauty for the sight of Niven for the role, deeming Connery to be too rough. As Caine the countryside and the trees, and he was back by the mid-80’s, said, the most faithful depiction would have been by a forty-yearbecoming the owner of a string of uptown restaurants, while old Rex Harrison type – “a bit of a toffee-nosed twit.” Caine’s Harry making the transition from leading man to leading character Palmer, by contrast, was a spec-wearing, supermarket-shopping parts. In 2001, an Oscar nomination for The Quiet American Cockney who lived in a dingy flat, where he treated his girlfriend followed up Academy Awards for his acting in Hannah and to an omelette.

Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules. But in 2009, he had the While The Ipcress File made memorable use of locations like title role in Harry Brown, shot in the streets of his youth at the Hyde Park, Alfie was the definition of swinging 60’s London Elephant & Castle, where a mural now depicted him alongside – and defined Caine’s screen image for many years. He was in another native who had gone on to become a big screen hero, his element as the cold-hearted, egotistical womaniser, the Charlie Chaplin. As Caine himself once joked: “I’m an icon – it “swaggering Cockney Don Juan,” in Pauline Kael’s words. A lot of says so in the papers.” people wondered how much the character was based on the real Caine. Not at all, he was at pains to explain, but for a time it did The Michael Caine exhibition runs 8 March-14 July, free entry museumoflondon.org seem as if some loose connection could be made. Caine, stardom

march 2013 THE CITY 13

slicker

city

Nestled among the ancient and iconic architectural wonders of the Square Mile are a raft of new buildings whose dynamism and design are bringing a new lease of life to the City, says Alec Forshaw

feature

F

ollowing the ‘Big Bang’ deregulation of the financial markets in 1986, the City has witnessed redevelopment on an unprecedented scale. In what is now the world’s dominant financial centre, the majority of the City’s office space has been rebuilt to cater for expansion and changing operational requirements, providing ever higher standards of working environment. There is probably no equivalent in the world real estate with so many layers of successive development, not even the nine cities of Troy.

During the Second World War, one-third of the City was destroyed by bombing. Areas around St Paul’s, Holborn, the Barbican and the riverside were totally devastated. Post-war plans for redevelopment were bold, including a ring of dualcarriageway roads (London Wall and Upper/Lower Thames Street) and a raised platform deck across the entire City to segregate pedestrians from vehicles below. The buildings, with the exception of the Barbican, were often bland and nondescript. From the late 1980s the buildings of the post-war period became increasingly unfit for purpose. The massive reconstruction of the City that has happened since then therefore is no surprise, but is remarkable because it has taken place so quickly. Three-quarters of the City, and an even higher percentage of its floorspace, has been rebuilt.

For people who used to know the City but haven’t been back for a while, it can seem unrecognisable. Most of the buildings from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and now some from the 1980’s notably at Broadgate and Bishopsgate, are being replaced.

Twentieth-century sections of the 1997 edition of Pevsner’s The Buildings Of England are alarmingly out of date. The new Ropemaker Place, completed in 2007, is the third development on its site since 1950, such has been the pace of change.

Much of this change is down to financial deregulation which has increased demand for space, while there has been new innovation fuelled by competition from Canary Wharf, and rival cities in Europe, the Far East and America. The City Corporation’s role both as a planning authority and as a major developer in its own right (it owns a quarter of the land in the City) has been crucial, often working in partnership with others. Policies for protecting views of St Paul’s Cathedral and promoting a cluster of high office towers in the east of the City have shaped the skyline.

Architectural style has changed from polished marble and granite post-modernism to minimalist glass and steel, from ground-scrapers to sky-scrapers. Since the late 1990s, developers have taken a more adventurous approach, commissioning leading British architects such as Norman Foster,

The City has reinvented itself many times. Since the 1980’s threequarters of the City, and an even higher percentage of its floorspace, has been rebuilt.

march 2013 THE CITY 15

feature

FIVE OF THE BEST NEW BUILDINGS New Court St Swithin’s Lane Recently completed headquarters for Rothschild’s by Rem Koolhaas. A stunning new building close to the Mansion House, greatly improving the setting of and public access to St Stephen Walbrook churchyard.

Plantation Lane A new public pathway designed by Simon Patterson, running between the two halves of Arup’s mighty Plantation Place, provides a fascinating insight into the City’s rich history, etched into the paving.

60 Queen Victoria Street A uniquely striking, yet delicate, design in metal and glass

by Foggo Associates. It’s worth walking round the back into Pancras Lane to enjoy the exquisite transformation

by Studio Weave of the old churchyard garden.

Angel Lane, Watermark Place and Riverbank House A brilliant ensemble of large offices and small pavilions

by Fletcher Priest and David Walker makes a huge contribution to the riverside path east of Cannon Street Station railway bridge, and a welcome splash of colour.

Double Tree Hilton, Pepys Street Bennetts Associates included planted green walls and a spectacular foyer in one of the best of several new hotels in the City. The Sky Lounge roof terrace has great views.

16 THE CITY march 2013

Richard Rogers and Eric Parry, but also international ‘starchitects’ such as Rem Koolhaas, Jean Nouvel, Raphael Vinoly and Lee Polisano. The City now boasts a spectacular palimpsest of modern design.

It is this contemporary and intriguing cityscape that inspired me to work with photographer Alan Ainsworth on the book New City: Contemporary Architecture in the City of London, published this month by Merrell. Alan’s specially commissioned photographs (shown here) provide a stunning visual record and the book itself offers an account of nearly 400 new buildings constructed in the Square Mile in the last 25 years.

This is the first book to examine in-depth the creation of one of the world’s largest and densest collections of cutting-edge architecture, not just the prestigious office blocks and towers, but also cultural institutions, shops, hotels and new public spaces. The upgrading of the public realm by the Corporation and private developers, and major commissions of public art (Great St Helen’s Sculpture Space and Spitalfields) have made the City a far more attractive and competitive environment in which to work and play.

And change continues. Major developments such as the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ (20 Fenchurch Street) and the ‘Cheesegrater’ in Leadenhall Street are near completion, while other major projects such as ‘The Pinnacle’ are currently on hold, awaiting an economic upturn and growth in demand. This might take some time. Meanwhile, the days of speculation and architectural icons appear to be over. New buildings need to be ‘future-proofed’ – flexible and efficient, with a good address and attractive public realm, pre-let and designed for the occupier rather than the architect’s ego.

Increasingly a more sustainable option is to adapt existing buildings (‘retrofit’) – cheaper, quicker and less wasteful.

Recent examples at 20 Cannon Street and 125 Old Broad Street look as good as a new building.

So far, the City Corporation have resisted any significant increase in residential building within its borders. However, with City office rents now lower than the West End (nearer better shops and smarter residential areas), and an influx of foreign money boosting the central London housing market, that stance may change. Working patterns and technology are shifting. Young, agile workers do business on the move, merging work and play; they prefer offices that have a café culture and campus atmosphere, rather than ranks of desks and battery-hen conditions. Even though the City is wellplaced for public transport, improvements like Crossrail and a closer mix of living and working may become an ever more attractive proposition.

All images copyright Alan Ainsworth 2013, alanainsworthphotography.com

Alec Forshaw is the author of New City: Contemporary Architecture in The City Of London, with photographs by Alan Ainsworth, £19.95 Merrell Publishers, merrellpublishers.com

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interview

Leading man

Olympus Has Fallen

Scottish-born, Bermondsey-resident, Hollywood A-lister – the many facets and faces of Gerard Butler make for a refreshing change from the Tinseltown typecast, says Stephen Milton

march 2013 THE CITY 19

a worryingly dainty coffee table. “That really I haven’t a clue what I’m doing, that I’m just a mouthy Scot who got lucky.”

A relatively late bloomer by Tinseltown standards, his hulking turn as King Leonidas in mythological comic book smash 300 put the actor on the map and he’s since cultivated an action man status with Guy Richie’s RocknRolla, Law Abiding Citizen and a decent turn in last year’s flawed biopic, Machine Gun Preacher.

A recent attempt at gross-out humour as a foul-mouthed leprechaun in Movie 43 didn’t quite hit the mark, while playing a former football pro in Playing For Keeps was a flop; even if it did offer the chance to play for his beloved Celtic, if only in charade.

So Butler’s flexing his ample muscles once again as a Secret Service agent protecting the President and White House from Korean terrorists in Antoine Fuqua’s Olympus Has Fallen alongside an esteemed cast including Angela Bassett, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman.

“Antoine Fuqua, the man who gave us Training Day, he’s a genius,” he dreamily muses. “Coupled with a cast of that calibre, I mean Freeman, Angela Bassett, it’s like, ‘Let me just pretend I’m meant to be sharing a scene with you; that I’m at the same standard. That we’re not on completely different plains.”

Image: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

G

erard Butler’s clearly not one for the Hollywood game. Having ushered his slightly over-zealous publicist out of a suite in the Corinthia Hotel, he pours two glasses of water before settling back in his chair. “I can’t take it when I feel like somebody’s hovering over my shoulder,” he says, throwing his hands behind his head. “Feels like I’m on trial, hate that bullsh*t.”

A dancer to his own tune, Butler definitely plays a game, just not the one we usually experience from his precious A-list ‘compadres’.

All rippling muscle and impossible masculinity, the Paisley-bred actor exercises an affordable arrogance and a low-key charisma, making him one of the industry’s more likeable characters.

By his own admission, he’s not the best actor out there, freely accepting his limitations. More often than not, a reputation as an unrepentant ladies man after several dalliances with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Biel and Cameron Diaz, has eclipsed his performances, not necessarily a bad thing in the case of The Ugly Truth, PS I Love You or The Bounty Hunter.

“Sometimes I think I’m going to be found out,” he snorts with a charming West Scots burr, planting his scuffed boots on the edge of

interview

“Sometimes I think I’m going to be found out. That really I haven’t a clue what I’m doing, that I’m just a mouthy Scot who got lucky.”

Training in weapons artillery and the Israeli fight technique, krav maga, for the gruelling shoot in Louisiana, the 43-year-old admits the physicality of his movies is starting to take its toll.

“I think I can do everything,” he giddily explains, bouncing in his seat. “I can run and hurtle back and land on the ground. And that’s fine if you do it once, but after 20 takes, you’re cut to shreds. At one point my arm went black and blue all the way round because I was doing this same kung-fu move, over and over. I’m no spring chicken any more.”

Butler calms, flashing that twinkly grin. “And you’d think I’d have learned my lesson after Hawaii.”

Working on the set of surf movie, Chasing Mavericks off the coast of Oahu nearly two years ago, Butler suddenly found himself caught out by a series of freak waves. “It’s like you’re in an avalanche and you don’t know if you’re ever coming up and you can’t breathe and there’s nothing you can do about it.

“It was so scary and frightening as I just couldn’t get up to the surface. So for future movies, I’m starting to see the logic in hiring a stunt guy. But it’s hard because you want to be on that chopper, you want to be surfing that wave or you want to be in that fight.

You want to be doing the stuff that boys do.”

After graduating with a law degree from Glasgow University, Butler was hired as a trainee by an Edinburgh law firm, but his partying ways led to his dismissal a week before full qualification as a lawyer.

So he packed his bags and headed south to London to pursue acting, eventually landing a string of minor roles in Tomorrow Never Dies and Oscar-bait, Mrs Brown.

“When I first moved to London, it took a good two, three years of slave labour, doubt and pure ‘what am I doing here’ attitude,” he recalls. “I was working waiter jobs in Soho, as a telemarketer, you name it, I did it while trying to pursue this impossible dream.

“But then I landed a job behind the scenes at the Mermaid Theatre in Blackfriars and that’s where a shift happened, where I suddenly found myself in an environment where I could potentially meet people who could help me.”

Butler was introduced to director and actor, Steven Berkoff, who cast him in a stage adaptation of Coriolanus which eventually led to a theatre reworking of Trainspotting, offering the young actor a platform.

“Those years in London, they gave me a foundation. As much as I love the international lifestyle my career has afforded me and having a base in LA, coming back to London reminds me of what I went through to get where I am today.”

Happily ensconced in what seems like his longest-standing relationship to date with Romanian model Madalina Ghenea, whom he met on the set of a commercial in Dubai, the couple regularly frequent his Bermondsey townhouse and Butler gives the impression he may be finally ready to put down roots.

“Priorities change as you get older,” he says, ponderously gazing the window. “I guess part of me would love to have toddlers running

Playing for Keeps

around, to enter that new stage in my life. But sure, that’s pretty normal for anyone really.”

Gerard seems to be embarking on a new direction in his career, with plans to start shooting on harrowing Holocaust drama, Dynamo, which charts the Ukrainian uprising against the Nazis; and Thunder Run, an Iraqi war epic co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Sam Worthington, in similar vein to The Hurt Locker.

Is he potentially angling towards some awards adulation with these upcoming projects; does the thought ever cross his mind?

“I’d be lying if I said I never held a shampoo bottle in the shower and thanked God and my agent and my mum. But I think I’ve made enough choices in my career to indicate that stuff isn’t too high on my priority list.”

Olympus Has Fallen is in cinemas on 19 April

march 2013 THE CITY 21

www.bachet.fr

collection

REPORT

designers

do time

Olivia Sharpe takes time out to pay homage to those fashion brands which have become part of the watchmaking industry

B

ack in 1945, Hermès was developing its first wrist watches with leading Swiss watchmakers including Jaeger-LeCoultre and Audemars Piguet. At last year’s Baselworld, Hermès presented its new Dressage watches powered by the H1837 caliber, its first in-house caliber developed with Swiss movement manufacturer Vaucher, demonstrating how timepieces have become an integral part of the brand’s identity.

More recently, other French fashion houses have followed in

Hermès’ wake, creating their own luxury timepieces which have been lauded by the industry. In 2005, Dior celebrated the 13th anniversary of its watches and, in April of that year, its Chiffre Rouge collection was similarly recognised at Baselworld.

Chanel established its wristwatch division in 1987 but it was not until the release of the J12 that watches became a recognised Chanel marque.

Finally, Burberry decided to join the watch brigade in 2012 with the launch of The Britain for men and women, proving that it is never too late to enter the industry.

news

Black Swan

An aquamarine and pearl suite belonging to the “black pearl” of the ballet world, Tamara Toumanova, will be one of the star performers at the BADA Fine Art & Antiques Fair, taking place between 13 and 19 March. Her dark eyes and raven black hair provided the perfect backdrop for this exquisite Ruser Suite, designed by jeweller to many of Hollywood’s leading ladies William Ruser, around 1950. The design can be instantly attributable to Ruser, who was well-known for his use of freshwater pearls in the 1950s and 60s. Each piece is entirely mounted with off-set aquamarines and pearls in the form of stylised mimosa flowers.

As well as Toumanova, Ruser also supplied exquisite pieces to Hollywood star and jewellery aficionado Elizabeth Taylor, a pair of whose own Ruser earrings recently fetched an impressive $698,500 at auction ($648,500 over the high estimate). The Suite will be on sale at the Fair through Sandra Cronan.

BADA Fine Art & Antiques Fair, 13-19 March Duke of York Square, by Sloane Square, SW3 bada-antiques-fair.co.uk

jewellery Jewels, gems, pearls and diamonds; the essential components of any lady’s jewellery collection

Cutting Edge Glittering and gorgeous, Leviev has achieved the near impossible for a luxury jeweller; the company produces jewellery that is not only high-end but also possesses innate fashion sensibility. The pieces, while always glamorous and classic, have that added flamboyant edge which make them truly unique

For an engagement ring with personality, look to Leviev for its collection of flower rings, comprising blue and petal-shaped white diamonds, or the cluster rings with a stunning central stone Diamond engagement ring, from a selection at Leviev, leviev.com

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LV Lockit Legend has it that love padlocks first originated in Hungary more than 80 years ago but it was not until recently that their appearance has spread around the world. In the undoubted capital of romance, Paris, thousands of couples have been sealing their love for years by attaching “love locks” to the railings of the Pont des Arts bridge. French fashion house Louis Vuitton has drawn inspiration from these padlocks with its latest Lockit collection. Consisting of 15 pieces in 18-karat yellow, rose and grey gold, including pendants, rings and bracelets, each item features the rendered padlock inscribed with the famous LV logo. This is not the first time the house has been inspired by the love padlocks, which were attached to the original Louis Vuitton steamer trunks. louisvuitton.co.uk

New Ownership Swatch Group recently became the proud owner of luxury jewellery company Harry Winston. 100 per cent of the shares of the American jeweller have been acquired, including 535 employees worldwide and the production company in Geneva.

Although the takeover took the industry slightly by surprise, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Harry Winston Robert A. Gannicott commented that the brand’s new home would “provide the skills and support that it deserves to realise its true potential.” We look forward to seeing what this will mean for the future of Harry Winston watches, an area which has seen increasing growth within the company over the course of the past ten years. harrywinston.com

CONTESSA To own a rare Argyle pink diamond is to own a truly magnificent heirloom.

Contessa, beautifully handcrafted in Platinum and 18ct Rose Gold, features an exquisite combination of stunning craftsmanship and the rarest of Australian Argyle pink diamonds.

Simply, they are the rarest diamonds in the world and are revered for their unique provenance and intrinsic beauty.

UNITED KINGDOM The Royal Arcade, Old Bond St, Mayfair London W1S 4SW AUSTRALIA Sydney Gold Coast calleija.com

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2013

Horolophile Timothy Barber travelled to Geneva in January for the event which kick-starts the watchmaking industry’s action-packed annual calendar; Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie

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very January the cavernous halls of the Palexpo, a huge, brutalist exhibition centre hulking above the motorway next to Geneva Airport, are given over to some of the most delicate, microscopically realised feats of human craftsmanship imaginable. The Salon Internationale de la Haute Horlogerie (or SIHH if you don’t relish Gallic tongue-twisters) is a trade show for those dealing in wristwatches with price tags so lofty they induce nosebleeds. It’s Fashion Week for horolophiles and the first place to spot some of the most important new pieces of wrist candy.

Most of the 16 brands displaying their wares at SIHH belong to luxury behemoth Richemont Group (including Cartier, Panerai and Jaeger-LeCoultre) while a few independent houses come along too, like Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille. Last year it was all about China, since only the Chinese were buying watches. 2012 being the Year of the Dragon, you couldn’t move for bejewelled monsters curling round the dials of collector-edition

26 THE CITY march 2013

timepieces. Then, of course, the Chinese economy put the brakes on and suddenly there isn’t a dragon, snake (2013 is the Year of the Snake) or other Chinese zodiacal beasty to be seen, bejewelled or otherwise.

Instead the watch industry has got cautious. It’s sticking (mostly) to the tried and tested, playing things

Fashion Week for horolophiles, SIHH is the first place to spot some of the most important new pieces down, keeping things sensible. Watches are getting smaller. Those giant wrist carbuncles of a few years ago are becoming rare; even Panerai, the brand that defined the big-watch trend, produced a very fetching 42mm piece, the Radiomir 1940 PAM00512, that sits perfectly snugly on a smaller wrist.

Smaller still, at 40mm, was the entry-level new watch in IWC’s Ingenieur range. The Ingenieur (engineer)

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family is IWC’s tough, industrial-looking tool watch collection that received its look in the 1970s thanks to uber-designer Gérald Genta. The whole range has been rebooted to mark IWC’s partnership with the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team – there are racy chronographs, highly-engineered ceramic pieces, a collectors’ item with a socking great tourbillon in the dial, and a very sporty version made of carbon fibre, the stuff used for the bodywork of F1 cars. But it’s that entry-level 40mm job, a harkening back to the style and easily wearable size of Genta’s original, which really nails the form/ function equation.

Baume & Mercier, Richemont’s junior brand (in price point terms) produced the only entirely new family of watches this year, under the name Clifton. These are rather suave, traditional pieces that will make great allround options for those needing an everyday watch for the office. Collectors can shell out for the gorgeous pink gold model with an exclusive handwound movement.

There’s much to be said for handwound watches, actually, despite the enjoyable frisson of an automatic watch’s rotor swinging around. Handwound pieces bring that little bit of interaction and effort, while their rotor-free, asymmetric movements have their own aesthetic charms. That’s particularly the case when your handwound watch is made by A Lange & Sohne, Germany’s little haute horology specialist that’s fast pulling away from the traditional watchmaking crowd.

Its watches are sensationally handsome, and its new 1815 Up/Down, which gives you the time on the main dial and adds two subdials in the bottom half of the watch for the seconds and a power reserve, was for me easily the most handsome watch of the fair.

Then, of course, there’s that whole other strata of watches where haute horology brands don’t so much throw caution to the wind as fire it out of a cannon and run away laughing hysterically. Take, for example, the new watch from Richard Mille designed for Yohan Blake, the second fastest sprinter in the world. On first sight it’s a green, plastic trinket in an odd shape containing peculiar luminous green bridges that fan out like a claw. But it’s not plastic and it’s no trinket: made from high-tech translucent composite injected with carbon nanotubes, if you please, it’s strong and ultra-light, with an intricate tourbillon movement inside. Those bridges are meant to resemble a claw (Blake’s trademark gesture). It’ll cost you £438,000.

Perhaps the craziest watch of the show came from the reliably eccentric Roger Dubuis stable: the humongous Quatuor comes with four separate, tilted escapement

28 THE CITY march 2013

wheels, which somehow balance each other out to improve accuracy. We say: why stop at four? Perhaps this can become the Gilette razor of insane horology – I want SIX escapements, Roger Dubuis, do you hear me? By the way, there’s a version with a case made of silicon that’ll set you back well over a million pounds.

Lastly, a trend from last year continues into 2013: traveller watches which display either a second time zone or else all 24 time zones at once, are all the rage. Ralph Lauren’s all-blue Sporting World Time is perhaps the brand’s coolest watch yet, while Montblanc produced different worldtimers for different hemispheres. Jaeger-LeCoultre wins the travel watch prize, however, for its Duomètre Unique Travel Time, that elevates the extra time zone function into something rare, collectible and beautiful.

And that, in many ways, is what SIHH is all about.

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Overleaf: A Lange & Sohne, 1815 Up/Down Left: Roger Dubuis, Excalibur Quautuor Silicium This page, clockwise from top left: Panerai, Radiomir 1940 PAM00512; IWC, Ingenieur Automatic 40mm; Jaeger-LeCoultre, Duomètre Unique Travel Time; Montblanc, TimeWalker WorldTime Hemispheres; Richard Mille, RM 59-01 Yohan Blake; A Lange & Sohne - 1815 Up/Down

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A Very English Affair

It seems opening their flagship store in Mayfair last summer has only fuelled the Bremont boys’ commitment to bringing watch manufacturing back to the UK. Cofounders Nick and Giles English have just announced the launch of their brand’s new watchmaking facility in Henley-on-Thames. The company will be assembling and finishing off key movement and case components in the beautiful oak-framed building.

“Britain has an illustrious history of watchmaking and considerable engineering talent for us to utilise; we intend to make the most of it,” said Giles.

Bremont, 29 South Audley Street, W1K 2PE bremont.com

Captured in Complications A grandfather of the watch industry, Girard-Perregaux has been pushing the boundaries of watchmaking since 1791. Testament to the craftsmanship that has seen the brand earn a reputation, alongside the likes of Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe, is the brand’s newest addition to its 1966 Collection. Comprising the three complications from which it takes its name, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar and Equation of Time Watch (£209,000) can’t fail to impress those with an interest in mechanical watchmaking. Just be sure to take a deep breath before you say its name. girard-perregaux.com

watches For treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces, watch this space...

One to Watch

Each month we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting pieces:

Made of liquid metal, water resistant to 600 metres and featuring a decompression system, the Planet Ocean Big Size was built to be taken to the extremes.

It looks handsome in the boardroom too Seamaster Planet Ocean Big Size, £5,460, Omega, omegawatches.com

30 THE CITY MARCH 2013

Through the Looking Glass Greubel Forsey announced the launch of two new novelties at January’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.

As the brand’s first timepiece with a titanium case and rubber strap, the Double Tourbillon Technique Black certainly caught our attention but it was the Art Piece 1 that left us awestruck.

Although still a work in progress, by incorporating a micro-sculpture by British artist Willard Wigan within its case, the timepiece typifies the artistic approach to watchmaking for which Greubel Forsey has become famous. This timepiece will be customised according to the wishes of the collector who can choose the micro sculpture inside. To appreciate the extent of Wigan’s talents, look through the microscope on the left-hand side of the watch. You won’t believe your eyes. greubelforsey.com

Swiss movement, English heart

Made in Switzerland / Worldwide limited edition of only 100 pieces / Sellita SW 200-1 self-winding ĂŠlabore movement / 38 hour power reserve / 43mm 316L surgical-grade, hand-polished stainless steel case / Anti-reflective sapphire crystal / Galvanic blue one-piece metal dial / Premium-grade Louisiana alligator deployment strap

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James Purdey & Sons Ltd. 57 - 58 South Audley Street, London W1K 2ED +44 (0)20 7499 1801 www.purdey.com

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Brown IN 11

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TOWN This spring, ignore the saying and break the sartorial rules

1 Radiomir 1940 3 Days Oro Rosso 42mm, approximately £14,240 Panerai, Watches of Switzerland, 22 The Royal Exchange 2 Burgundy classic Napa glove, £195, Dunhill, dunhill.co.uk 3 Nodding bulldog cufflinks, £69.95, Paul Smith, 13 Park Street 4 Anthony messenger bag, £550, Mulberry, 38 Floral Street 5 Twill spot tie and handkerchief set, £149 Harrods Of London harrods.com 6 Tradition Minute Repeater Tourbillon Chronograph £339,830, Audemars Piguet audemarspiguet.com 7 Croc print belt, £99.95 Harrods Of London, Harrods, as before 8 Black bee cufflinks, £259, Deakin and Francis, deakinandfrancis.co.uk 9 Travel bag, £1,859, Tyler Alexandra, tyleralexandra.com 10 Paisley iPad case, £179, Etro, etro.com 11 Gold knot enamel cufflinks, £4,265, Deakin and Francis, as before

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march 2013 THE CITY 33

trends

1

Wild, Wild West

je T’aime large gunmetal-plated Swarovski crystal collar necklace, £5,250, Erickson Beamon, net-a-porter.com

Be inspired by Django Unchained with multi-tassel earrings and plenty of fringing

Vintage hoop tassel drop earrings, £65, Jamie Jewellery jamiejewellery.co.uk

Tess Necklace, £593 Dannijo, kabiri.co.uk

2

Choked

UP

Sequin chain cuff, £277.65 B*+S, farfetch.com

Alexander McQueen caused a sensation this season with its bee-studded chokers Fringe bracelet, £515 Versace, versace.com

Versace S/S13

faceted glass cluster necklace £58, Butler & Wilson butlerandwilson.co.uk

Alexander McQueen S/S13

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Gold metal Lock Me cuff £605, Louis Vuitton louisvuitton.co.uk

4

Silver cuff, POA, Etro etro.com

Beaded hoop earrings £90, Isabel Marant net-a-porter.com

bigger

is better

Accessories were supersized at Dolce & Gabbana and Etro, both featuring shoulderlength, multi-coloured earrings

Silver-dipped lace cuff £600, Aurélie Bidermann net-a-porter.com

Tribal patchwork palladium-plated Swarovski crystal earrings, £355 Erickson Beamon, net-a-porter.com

3

colossal

cuffs

Dolce & Gabbana S/S13

Flash crystal and horn clip earrings £255, Marni, marni.com

Pair a simple outfit with a stone-studded, metallic cuff for that statement look

Gold-plated quartz and crystal cuff, £660 Emilio Pucci emiliopucci.com

Long crystal double pear shape drop earrings, £58 Butler & Wilson butlerandwilson.co.uk

Versace S/S13

march 2013 THE CITY 35

events

magnificent march enjoy sporting excellence as the squash classic returns to east wintergarden; soak up jazz culture at boisdale of canary wharf; and get your wardrobe ready for spring with a special fashion weekend

Boisdale of Canary Wharf

Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, E14 LIVE JAZZ, BLUES AND SOUL EVERY NIGHT! ULTIMATE BOWIE Saturday 23 March 9.30pm

Last summer Ed Blaney’s stunning performance full of Bowie classics captivated us and so now, on the opening day of the V&A’s “Bowie Is” retrospective, we’ve brought back this superb show.

Tribute to BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB Saturday 30 March 9.30pm

Miguan Ascanio Green and his band, The Viva Allstars, perform the music of this great Cuban institution. Tonight we pay tribute to the multimillion selling album that changed the world.

Boisdale of Canary Wharf Cabot Place Canary Wharf For more information and to buy tickets, please visit: www.boisdale.co.uk or call 020 7715 5818

Canary Wharf Squash Classic This PSA International 50 event is selling out fast – so hurry and book your tickets!

Window Galleries The Art & Design galleries in Canada Place are open daily and showcase up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople. This month the galleries display:

Watch the world’s greatest players compete for the tournament title in the gladiatorial glass court inside the magnificent East Wintergarden.

This major competition is one of three main squash events in London, and presents a week full of unbelievable action, sporting prowess and spirited rivalry with the thrilling grand final on Friday.

Enjoy elite hospitality and spoil your friends, clients or colleagues with fine dining and excellent wines on the gallery or, for a more casual approach, the VIP bar allows further exclusive views of enthralling world class action.

For further details of hospitality packages or the VIP bar, email tgarner@eventis-sports.com

Leonardo Ulian

Canary Wharf Squash Classic Monday18 – Friday 22 March Match times vary East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 From £15 Booking: ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0844 847 2419 (booking fee applies) In person: On the door, subject to availability canarywharfsquash.com

Leonardo Ulian is interested in how systems can be applied in the process of making art, how something can survive within a scheme of convention.

His modus operandi embraces his passion for electronics, music, science and graphic design. He defines himself as a multimedia artist, and his art as playthings similar to childhood toys in that objects can be seen as a series of distorted mirrors of the everyday, a caricature of the real.

Until 29 March

leonardoulian.it

Alkesh Parmar Until 26 April

Alkesh Parmar is a multi-disciplinary designer, artist and inventor who is passionate about sustainable products and systems. He predominantly focuses on the re-use of everyday objects, which are not appreciated and often discarded after use. Alkesh is also the founder and driving force of APeel Materials, a company that up-cycles citrus rind (a by-product from industrial juice processing plants) into a biocomposite material for use in new products. alkeshparmar.com

For more information visit canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

22 - 24 March Exclusive Discounts* Fashion Shows CANARY WHARF

BARS & RESTAURANTS • FASHION & STYLE • ARTS & EVENTS canarywharf.com

*Terms and conditions apply, see overleaf for details.

SHOPPING Reamma Skinny Jeam, £79, Ted Baker Canada Place

Alex Monroe Pearl Ring, £126 Charles Fish Cabot Place

Lily And Lionel Zebra Scarf, £100, Whistles Jubilee Place

Bryony Cropped Leather Jacket, £325 Reiss Womenswear Cabot Place / Reiss Jubilee Place

Organza Floral Top £35, Dorothy Perkins Canada Place

Rika Enamel Bobble Matinee, £75 Ted Baker, Canada Place

Granted Strap Sandal £69, Dune, Cabot Place

step into spring This season, take inspiration from the catwalks at the Canary Wharf Spring / Summer Fashion Weekend. With many stores offering discounts of up to 20% between 22 and 24 March, it’s the perfect excuse to refresh your wardrobe RE3138 Shooter £178, Ray Ban David Clulow Cabot Place and Jubilee Place

Frith Leather Weave Bracelet in Tan, £25 Reiss Womenswear Cabot Place / Reiss Jubilee Place

Cheetah Frill Top, £47 French Connection Jubilee Place

Kensington Mini Shopper £95 Aquascutum Cabot Place

Suki Metallic Leather Flat in Gold, £95 L.K.Bennet, Jubilee Place

Mini Check Shorts, £35 Oasis, Jubilee Place

www.canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

marvellous Mother’s Day

On 10 March, show how much you love your mother by spoiling her to the finer things in life, courtesy of Canary Wharf

Brunch or Lunch

Plateau Canary Wharf

Join Plateau on Mothering Sunday and treat your mother to an exquisite lunch in the main restaurant. Plateau Restaurant will be opening especially on Sunday 10 March and head chef Allan Pickett has created a delicious menu to ensure your mother has a lunch she will always remember.

For starters, pick between dishes that include Beetroot cured Scottish salmon and red wine poached pear salad, and for mains, offerings include Josper baked rump of aged Hereford beef and poached and roast corn fed chicken supreme. Enjoy three delicious courses for £45 with a complimentary glass of champagne. Your mum will thank you!

Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill, Canada Place 020 7715 7100, www.plateau-restaurant.co.uk

Roka

Roka Canary Wharf serves contemporary Japanese robatayaki cuisine in relaxed and elegant surroundings. The Robata Grill itself is located amid the diners and really is the beating heart of Roka, the area from which all energy flows. An energy that offers warmth and enjoyment while guests admire the respect given to the food as each dish is prepared.

Roka, The Park Pavilion 020 7636 5228, www.rokarestaurant.com

The Parlour

Iberica Canary Wharf

This Mothering Sunday, take your mum and her mum to The Parlour and you’ll receive a complimentary bottle of prosecco. If you’ve got children, the restaurant will also have cookie decorating classes. These are free of charge so you can keep the kids entertained. The offer is valid at lunch or dinner. Guests must order a minimum of two-courses each.

The Parlour, The Park Pavilion 0845 468 0100, www.theparlourbar.co.uk

Enjoy Iberica’s famous, traditionally prepared Paellas or a selection of tapas between 12 and 4pm on Mother’s Day. Ole Kids, the restaurant’s qualified childrens Spanish teachers, will entertain the little ones making Mother’s Day cards to give Mum an extra relaxing lunch. On leaving, each Mother will be given an Iberica gift from the Delicatessen.

Iberica Canary Wharf, Cabot Square 020 7636 8650, www.ibericalondon.co.uk

SHOPPING Potions and lotions Canary Wharf provides plenty of opportunities to pamper your mum. Experience the world of Jo Malone London through a collection of couture skin care and inspired, unexpected scents for the bath, body and home. For a range of luxury gift sets, make for Molton Brown where you get a free gift box and tag to personalise. Shop the latest cult beauty products in skincare, hair and fragrance from over 80 of the world’s finest brands courtesy of Space.NK, while if it’s award-winning beauty and toiletry products you’re looking for, head to Crabtree & Evelyn, Kiehl’s and L’Occitane.

For an all-out experience, relax and unwind at Re:Spa. Situated within Reebok Sports Club in the heart of Canary Wharf, the Spa offers a full range of beauty treatments and therapies to treat your mother to. Alternatively, pay a visit to The Rejuvenation Clinic & MediSpa, which employs only Espa Therapists trained in South-East Asian techniques, whose mantra is to re-balance body, mind and soul. Perfect!

Pamper

Giner Biscuit and Redcurrent & Cream Cologne, £38 each Jo Malone London Jubilee Place

Wish List It’s the special day of the year you get to dedicate to your

Effervescence White Pearl Bracelet, £550, Effervescence White Mini Pearl Ring, £350 Links of London, Jubilee Place

mum. Do it in style with gifts from Canary Wharf

Chavin Filigree Heart Necklace, £150, Charles Fish Cabot Place

Rose Aurore Radiant Hand Cream, £8 L’Occitane Jubilee Place

Yuan Zhi Medio Candle, £36 Molton Brown Jubilee Place

Pink Champagne Truffles Keepsake Heart, £5.50 Hotel Chocolat Canada Place

Or De Rose Baume Precieux

by Terry, £46, Space.NK Cabot Place

Vintage Collection Heart £25, Charbonnel et Walker Cabot Place

Cannes Transparent Tote Bag, £195, L.K.Bennett Jubilee Place

Evelyn Rose Body lotion £18, Crabtree & Evelyn Cabot Place

www.canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

business

Image: Tupungato / Shutterstock.com

REPORT

chinese

cinderellas

No wonder the spending habits of wealthy Chinese tourists are legendary, writes AIMEE LATIMER, they are a generation of fashion Cinderellas stocking up on glass slippers

T

he Chinese middle class have arrived, and in their wake the clacking of Louboutins, the buttoning of Burberry trenches and the ringing of cashiers is drumming out the new rhythm of Oxford Street.

Considering that the shopping tourism company Global Blue found that Chinese shoppers spend an average of £727 per single transaction, it is easy to be shocked by the reams of receipts, yet beyond the accessorised exterior lies an increasingly complex relationship between the Chinese and their cash. Surging personal wealth combined with the nation’s

growing economy has turned the once-flagging country into the home of a million millionaires. Now these means are being ignited with the expensive combination of access and awareness, drawing boutiques in their droves to a country where only a decade ago you would have struggled to purchase luxury goods. Tellingly, Chinese tastes are evolving away from ostentatious brands, as a frenzy for labels is evolving into an infatuation with style. No wonder London holds the greatest draw for those mixing tourism with staggering shopping when unique British style appeals to this increasingly independent community capitalising on a new way to express themselves.

Maintaining The City’s top spot 2012 wasn’t the City’s greatest year.

Against a backdrop of the LIBOR raterigging scandal and rogue trader arrests, the number of financial services jobs in London fell below those in New York*. Yet, despite overseas competition, London remains the world’s leading financial authority. Richard Brown meets a man charged with the task of keeping it that way, Mark Boleat, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation

interview

B

orn in Jersey in 1949, Mark earned a BA in Economics at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University) before completing an MA in European Studies at the University of Reading. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Mark has been a Common Councilman in the City representing the Ward of Cordwainer since 2002.

As chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, Mark is the City of London Corporation’s leading voice on strategy, resource allocation and engagement with legislators and regulators in the UK, Europe and across the world.

What issues do you believe pose the biggest threats to London as the world’s pre-eminent financial capital?

We don’t really look at them in terms of threats but I guess what’s interesting is the growth of China and the Asian economies in general. We don’t see them as taking business away from London, more about taking an increasing share of the growth.

We’re still responding to the banking crisis in terms of regulation. It’s important that the regime we have in Britain takes account of what’s happening in other centres. It has to both serve to protect the public and the taxpayer while not driving business away. That’s a tricky balancing act for the government, which they are very conscious of.

the world, a tax system that recognises that people have choices to where they can locate. If we have all of those things, the markets themselves will continually adapt to provide whatever services are needed. If the demand is for a different type of financial product, London will provide it.

How important was it that America avoided the ‘fiscal cliff’?

It was always going to avoid it. It always does. And there’s another fiscal cliff coming up in March and they will do something dramatic at the last minute, so that was never going to happen. The financial services don’t exist in isolation – they depend on economic activity around the world.

How far behind London are Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai as financial centres?

We’re not competing for business with them. Most of the major financial institutions have bases in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai; they need to be in all of them because there is business to be done in all of them. They can offer lower taxes. What they can’t offer is the depth of history that we have with financial institutions.

If you go back 20 years, London was threatened by major financial centres such as Paris and Frankfurt. Then the big three centres were London, Tokyo and New York.

Now, Tokyo’s disappeared and no one is talking about Paris and Frankfurt.

Are we out of the ‘Eurozone crisis’?

No. We’re having an off period. The crisis is in remission but I think it’s much quieter than anybody could have reasonably expected. Now, besides Greece, we’ve got significant problems in Cyprus and Slovenia. The crisis hasn’t gone away. There is a need to do much more to strengthen institutions in Europe. At the European level we fully support banking union and everything that goes with it, even though Britain won’t be part of it.

How do you ensure that London remains competitive against its rivals?

By doing what we have always done. We need to be open, so anybody can come here, not discriminate against institutions or people from other countries. We need to have a regulatory system that is in tune with the rest of

It’s been announced that there’s going to be a referendum on Europe after the next election.

What will be the effect on Britain if we leave?

I think the general expectation in the markets is firstly that it’s not certain that there’ll be a referendum. It’s being promised by one political party, and to be in

march 2013 THE CITY 45

interview

Most analysts would say it got too big. It’s naturally coming back to where it should be.

Banking has faced some bad PR in the last two years. How do you IMprove the industry’s image?

By dealing with the issues. We have no control over City institutions, obviously, but we have a keen interest in it.

We provide a forum where people can get together and discuss certain issues. It’s not like you can suddenly say, that happened, we’ve dealt with it so now please stop being nasty to us. It takes a period of time. In the case of the LIBOR scandal, the emails that emerged were from 2005 to 2008 and yet we’re still dealing with the bad press.

power that party will need an overall majority. That may not happen. If we did leave, it would take two years to negotiate, and the notion that Britain could then determine the terms on which it is ‘going to visit the club’ is absurd.

To what extent does your job now involve an international role?

You’re actually the first Brit I’ve done an interview with for days. I think it’s a sign of the times that we’ve found the French and German media very interested in how Britain views the EU. They find it difficult to understand.

There are a lot of Chinese journalists conducting interviews, whether by telephone or in person. But most of the international work is not with the media but with key international people.

Do you see Canary Wharf As a rival or an aid in maintaining London’s financial position?

In terms of promoting the UK’s financial services, it’s an aid. In terms of getting a particular business, it’s a rival.

Either way we have very friendly relations. Indeed, we’re making George Iacobescu a Freeman of the City next week. We’re giving him a decent lunch and we won’t charge him for it! Having Canary Wharf is vital for the City. We would not have had enough space to provide for everyone’s needs.

There have been widespread job cuts in investment banking. Do you expect that to continue?

Yes. Some banks have done it, other banks are on the way to doing it, but as you rightly say it’s investment banking. It’s not across the board in financial services and we’re seeing insurance and fund management pick up. But investment banking across the world is shrinking.

46 THE CITY march 2013

How important is it to increase London’s airport capacity and how viable is ‘Boris Island’ [a proposed 24-hour airport on an artificial island in the Thames estuary]?

It’s important, but it’s not too bad. We’ve done a study recently that surprised us how well London is still connected. The problems are two-fold. Firstly, if you run an airport at 98 per cent capacity and you get a bit of snow, it’s no good blaming Heathrow. At 98 per cent capacity, you’ve no scope to do anything.

The other issue is that we haven’t got the number of flights that we’d like to Latin America and to some Chinese cities. It’s a bit chicken-and-egg. You need the flights to encourage the business but until there’s a bit of business, who wants to fly to the middle of China?

What do you find the most frustrating aspect of your job?

The policy we have problems with at the moment is visas and just managing Heathrow on a day-to-day basis.

It’s really important that people can get to Britain. It’s also frustrating the way reputations stick a long time after you’ve dealt with a problem. *According to a report published by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).

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12/02/2013 15:35

The Social

Social enterprise and investment have become quite the buzz words recently. tom cropper asks why more and more business professionals are using their skills to make the world a better place

A

s Britain prepared to assume the presidency of the G8 nations, David Cameron took the opportunity to push for a greater emphasis on impact investing.

Investing for social impact involves putting money into social businesses and enterprises which have a dual role – to make money but also to benefit society.

Investors might be looking for varying levels of return. Some may hope to make a profit, but in a way that is socially beneficial – such as investing in renewable energies. Others might see it as an alternative to charity and be happy with a low or flat return, enabling them to recycle their money for another good cause.

What’s more, this is one area in which Britain leads the world. Projects such as the government’s Big Society Capital and a host of innovative independent organisations mean London is setting an example that the rest of the world can follow.

As this sector grows, it is attracting a growing number of people from the worlds of finance, business and politics looking to use their skills to help this area develop. We spoke to just a few of the people who are leading this peculiarly white-collared revolution.

Image: gagliardifoto / Shutterstock.com

revolution

feature

Rodney Schwartz, CEO ClearlySo Rodney Schwartz enjoyed a successful career in what he jokingly refers to as the dark side of business at companies such as Lehmans Brothers, Paine Webber and Paribas. However, by the late 90s, he had grown tired of a business world which, while it took plenty of value out of society, put little back in.

“With investment banking the house always wins,” he says. “I prefer venture capital in which all three players – entrepreneur, intermediary and investor – can all succeed together. With social venture capital you add a fourth beneficiary: society.”

After spells working with organisations such as Just Giving, the Ethical Property Company and Shelter, he founded ClearlySo in 2007. The company has been helping social entrepreneurs access capital ever since and, in 2012, launched ClearlySocial Angels, a network of high net-worth (or Angel) investors, interested in backing social businesses with real potential. Members of the network receive a pre-screened deal flow, training in the finer points of social investment and access to special social investment events.

Ironically he believes the financial crisis has helped this sector to grow. “While we’re seeing the prospect of relatively low returns in conventional investing, social impact investment becomes much more attractive,” he says. “Here the investor gets to become involved in something entrepreneurial, work with other like-minded angels, and do something they can really feel proud of.”

Find out more: clearlyso.com

Maya Prabhu, Head of UK Family Business Coutts In 2005, Coutts became the first private bank to establish its own philanthropy advisory service. Clients can access information through its online Knowledge Exchange, a variety of special social investment events and expert advice.

Maya Prabhu, who had previously helped the Princes Trust secure funding and run an advisory service at New Philanthropy Capital joined Coutts in 2008 and now leads the philanthropy advice service.

“There are different ways you can finance good causes,” she explains. “Say, for instance, you wanted to support homelessness – you could offer a grant to a charity such as Shelter,” she explains. “Alternatively, you could invest in a company, such as the Big Issue which gives people employment, or loan money to a charity.”

She believes high net worth individuals can be crucial in supporting these growing companies in a way which is more in keeping with their entrepreneurial nature. “Rather than just donating to charity, because they think they should, they can really connect with the entrepreneurial aspect of it and support a growing business,” she adds. “We’re moving into supporting businesses which want to have a charitable or social aspect and charities which want to develop a business aspect.”

Find out more: coutts.com/private-banking/coutts-institute/ philanthropy-and-social-investment/

march 2013 THE CITY 49

feature

Chris White MP With more and more public services being run by the private sector, social enterprises have been hailed as a way of ensuring services are run with the public good, rather than profit, as the main priority.

However, they have often struggled to gain contracts – something which Leamington Spa MP Chris White witnessed first-hand.

“Before being elected as MP,” he explains, “I saw a number of community organisations who were doing great work and they could successfully deliver public services, yet they were overlooked.”

His solution became known as the Social Value bill, which requires public service commissioners to consider social impact rather than just cost. The bill sailed through Parliament with cross-party support, and came into effect on 31 January. He believes it will help social enterprise gain a foothold in the public sector.

“By combining the ethos of the public sector with the innovation of the private sector, I believe social enterprise has the potential to be the paradigm for the future of public service delivery,” he explains.

Find out more: www.chriswhitemp.com/social-value-act/introduction

Aine Kelly, Head of Marketing, Big Society Capital The Big Society has been on the receiving end of plenty of criticism, but in Big Society Capital it has produced the world’s first fully capitalised social investment bank.

Funded with money from dormant bank accounts and from the big four banks, Big Society Capital is supporting the sector by injecting capital through intermediaries who have already been helping to support the social investment marketplace.

Aine Kelly, formerly of Barclays Capital, is one of many financial professionals who were attracted by the prospect of being involved with such a ground breaking organisation.

She believes there is huge potential for growth in the social investment marketplace. “Research we commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group suggests that the market could grow to around £1 billion by 2016,” she explains. “As the opportunity for retail investment into the social market grows, individuals will be able to choose the causes they would most like to help, as with traditional philanthropy, but with the additional benefit of getting back their investment and then being able to recycle their money.”

Find out more: www.bigsocietycapital.com

50 THE CITY march 2013

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19/02/2013 12:05:23

opinion

bonus round At this time of year, one word is on most lips in the City: bonuses. Are we going to be rewarded for all our hard work in 2012, asks The Anonymous Banker

T

he bonus issue has been inflated over the past few years. The government and the media have stoked the fire with ‘average bonus’ statistics and the vilification of bankers taken blindly as gospel by the masses. However, let us strip out the anomalies – the headline-grabbing, multi-million pound bonuses given to top traders and management – and look at what the majority of City workers – the risk managers, the IT developers, the settlement clerks – receive. These people make up a large number of City workers and they may take home a few thousand pounds in bonuses each year (if any in today’s environment).

We must be realistic in our expectations. Gone are the days of mega-bonuses, paid regardless of performance, but just because the industry was growing and everyone was doing it. Maybe management should have taken advice from my mum; if everyone is doing it, and it’s wrong, should you do it? She was talking about smoking (or drinking) and I was a young naive child – perhaps not so different to some bankers then!

We are where we are, and nobody is going to defend us but ourselves. Top bankers, like sportsmen and women, have a short shelf life; the stress, pressure and hours take their toll mentally and physically. If they perform then they should be rewarded. I don’t think anyone will argue about that.

To all you City workers, I hope you get what you deserve and that it makes you happy. And if you get more than you need, please don’t be that idiot spraying Champagne at the bar. Happy bonus season!

man of the moment:

Bruce Daisley, UK Director of Twitter

Mark Bonington presents a series looking at business people at the top of their industry

W

atching Bruce Daisley speak, you immediately get the feeling that, behind the Brummie charm, the UK’s Director of Twitter has to be one of the sharpest minds in modern business.

With his trademark casual air and friendly smile, he so effortlessly surfs the social media wave that you wonder precisely why everybody isn’t doing it (rather than just the 1.06 billion who currently are).

You also get the impression of something akin to a modern David Ogilvy – matching astounding creativity with a shrewd commercial mind.

“Twitter is the second screen,” he boasted proudly at the 2012 Changing Advertising Summit. “It is a bridge which connects different media. It is an interest network...The anchoring of your interests and passions.”

Daisley seems nothing less than boyishly enthused by the whole prospect of modern digital connectivity. Coupled with an exceptional wit and gift for public speaking, it is little wonder his lectures hold audiences enraptured, and leave them inspired.

Part of his brilliance is his ability to bring himself to the level of the everyman. He talks to his audience so casually, and in such a friendly manner, you’d half-expect the camera

52 THE CITY march 2013

to swoop around and find them holding pints.

Yet don’t be fooled- drive and determination have taken him to the top spot in the online marketing world. Graduating from York University in 1992 with a degree in Economics and Economic History, he has worked his way through some of the internet’s biggest names; Google, YouTube and now Twitter all grace his CV. “The essence of good advertising is saying less to mean more,” states Daisley in his lecture. “ Twitter is an incredible home for great copywriting.” He is quick to point out the deceptive power of a few carefully-placed words. Especially when they are released to the eyes of the world on a platform such as Twitter, which can see sales of products increase by over 50 per cent from a single tweet and an artfully-placed hash-tag.

Part of Daisley’s brilliance, aside from a clear animation for his career, is his drive to constantly push his brand to the next level. When at YouTube, he aimed to have it replace traditional television. Now he aims to bring the world closer together through the Twitter phenomenon and its simple ability to “move people”.

Bruce is truly a man who takes success easily in his stride, and does it with a smile.

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18/02/2013 15:52

A matter of

TRUST

Trust will continue to be the most pressing issue for financial services brands in 2013; and in particular for banks, the most tarnished group of all, writes Mike Rocha, Interbrand’s global director of brand valuation

P

ublic distrust makes banks, and potentially other financial services brands, an easy target for government. With regulation and taxation measures threatening returns, independence and business models, rebuilding trust with consumers and customers should be a key priority for most brands in most markets.

At present, many brands have decided to ‘lie low,’ hunkering down as they are buffeted by a seemingly endless stream of bad news stories, LIBOR being the most recent and, potentially, most damaging yet. For those directly involved in LIBOR, it may make sense to wait a little longer for the storms to pass. For the rest, 2013 is the year to draw a line in the sand and say: “We have changed.

We are different now”.

INTEGRITY: WALKING THE WALK Credible? Perhaps not immediately, but over time, and combined with actions not just words, banking brands can take their first steps on the long road to redemption and a restoration of trust.

The “Trust Equation”* suggests that credibility, reliability and intimacy, underpinned by self-orientation, are all key.

This equation was developed in the context of professional service advisors, but can be applied more generally to brands. The Trust Equation also reflects Interbrand’s Brand Strength, the ten factors that we believe are required to build a strong and valuable brand.

ESSENTIAL PILLARS OF A TRUSTWORTHY BRAND Authenticity, as our Brand Strength factors

indicate, is one of the hallmarks of a strong brand. For us, authenticity is about having clear and well-grounded values and delivering on expectations. Authentic brands have a firm identity, communicate their core values and prove through their culture, their day-to-day business practices and their relationships with customers, that they actually put their values into practice.

Making good on promises and staying true to core values, consistently over time, is the only way to be perceived as authentic, credible, reliable: more trustworthy.

Understanding is another important brand strength factor – and it’s a two-way street. Customers want to know they’re being heard and brands have to work to ensure customers have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a brand’s distinctive qualities and characteristics.

Customers who understand what a brand stands for – and feel that a company understands their needs and values their input – are more likely to feel a level of intimacy, and therefore trust, in their service provider.

To foster understanding, the focus must shift from self-orientation to client-orientation. Self-orientation is not selfishness, but a preoccupation with our own needs and goals that prevents us from hearing others. If we cannot hear what others really want and need, we can’t deliver for them. But if we tune into what our customers need, rather than what we need from them, our customers will feel like we care about them and will be more likely to consider us trustworthy.

In brand strength terms, listening is the key to delivering solutions that are relevant (meeting the actual needs of specific

customers) and being genuinely responsive (adapting quickly – and appropriately – to emerging needs and trends). Legitimate client focus, combined with relevance and responsiveness, will minimise the prevailing sense of self-orientation and begin to grow trust.

WHERE TO START As always, start from the top. The effort to rebuild trust must start with the CEO and executive leadership team. There must be clarity about what the brand stands for, what purpose it serves, and a commitment to ensuring that this clarity flows from the leadership to employees, customers and the broader public. There must also be alignment between what the company says and what the company does. It’s wonderful to speak of values like integrity, honesty and superior client service, but it’s even more important to live by them.

Employees are also critical in helping to build the integrity of an organisation.

Their trust is an essential precursor to rebuilding trust with customers. They should be involved in a thorough review of the purpose and values of the organisation and engaged and motivated behind a new promise. Further, their commitment should be tracked over time. Are employees really relating to clients in accordance with the company’s values, or are they cutting corners and promising things they can’t deliver?

In large part, reforming an organisation’s culture alone should lead to improved client outcomes, an improved reputation and, eventually, a restored public image.

Greater support for small to mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in particular can also be a strong catalyst for rebuilding

comment

trust. SMEs are recognised as being the engines of job creation and economic recovery, yet banks have been reluctant to lend to them. Starved of funds, small and medium-sized businesses have been left behind– and that is not helping to turn

for the entire organisation, and that broader social and organisational changes can begin with the actions of one person: you.

Granted, the higher your position in an organisation, the greater your potential impact. But whether you’re a CEO or a sales

to their needs. Financial services brands that put renewed effort into rebuilding strained relationships and tarnished images will differentiate themselves from brands that are still practising business as usual– and further alienating clients (and disappointing

I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you - Friedrich Nietzsche.

around the popular notion that banks are “the bad guys” and “only out for themselves.”

However, supporting SMEs and creating success stories in this area, despite the risks of doing so, will help show that banks are acting for the good of society, not just their own pockets.

With trust at an all-time low, these steps must be taken very carefully: listen to customers, lower self- orientation, be authentic, foster mutual understanding, be relevant and responsive. Realise that leadership sets the tone and the example

representative, start with your own actions and work on improving your own interactions with customers. Live your company’s brand values every day and encourage your colleagues and employees to do the same. You may be surprised to see what a difference small but steady steps in this direction will make.

Ultimately, business is about exchanging things of value. In order to get value from your client relationships, you need to give them something of value first, which involves really hearing them and responding

the public) in the process. In 2013 and beyond, it will be the brands that change voluntarily, transforming cultures of greed into cultures of cooperation and mutual benefit that will survive in the long term, withstand the vicissitudes of our uncertain times and build enduring business and brand value. * From “The Trusted Advisor” by David Maister.

This article originally appeared in Interbrand IQ What’s in Store for 2013 interbrand.com

march 2013 THE CITY 55

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motoring

REPORT

don’t mess with the

bull

This year, Lamborghini honours its 50-year anniversary and demonstrates to the world that it has more than stood the test of time, says DANIEL ENGELSMAN

L

eaving adults slack-jawed, stupefied and in turn dazedly ignoring the nagging child demanding to know ‘what it was’, the illustrious Lamborghini may cause rubbernecking pedestrians to trip over their shoelaces, and drivers to administer the brake pedal that little bit too late, risking kissing that car in front at the traffic lights.

The original Raging Bulls, desirable for their opulence and unmatched performance, were quite unlike their contemporary multi-coloured counterparts. Evolving from the 350 GT, with

highlights such as the Miura, which was deemed a worthy contender to the iconic Jaguar E-Type, they have come a very long way in a little time. Today’s current production models, the Gallardo and Aventador, are to founder Ferruccio, “the perfect embodiment of Lamborghini’s future vision”.

Year-long celebrations held worldwide will culminate in a colourful foray of 1200km of Italy’s roads by hundreds of Lamborghinis from every corner of the globe. A portion of the proceeds will go to the earthquake-affected area of Emilia Romagna, where the legend was first forged.

music to your wheels If you are fortunate enough to be someone who can afford the very top tier of supercars, and your ears are almost as acute as your motoring taste, then the Puccini Sound System in the new topless Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Rafale might pique your curiosity.

Firstly, the statistics: a 7.9-litre, 16-cylinder engine delivers a total of 1,200bhp and 1,106lb/ft of torque, a sprint of 0–60 mph in 2.6 seconds and an impressive top speed of 255mph. All of this

begs the question; who in their right mind would want to listen to anything other than that engine? To which the response is that whatever it is, it has to be the very best. Puccini fully comprehended this and have developed an advanced new sound system which surpasses that of the Coupé, no matter if the roof is open or closed.

Dynaudio’s use and selection of advanced materials, combined with powerful magnets and amplification with digital signal processing, is what ordains this 300 Watt system as unsurpassable. dynaudio.com

IN THE KNOW Be well-informed on the course, the track, the pitch and the street, with our essential guide

THE HIGH HUNDREDS For the very first time in the history of the iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, a car has appeared on its helipad. Airlifting an Aston Martin Vanquish is no easy feat, but audacity is key if you want to wow eminent dignitaries and celebrate your hundredth birthday with more than just a letter from Her Majesty the Queen. Not unlike Lamborghini, Aston Martin will also be holding an entire year of events to celebrate its centenary. It promises to be quite outstanding, as evidently they don’t intend on doing things by halves. jumeriah.com

IS IT A PLANE? The immaculately restored Douglas DC-6 Cloudmaster is almost too gorgeous to want to share with seven others (as, unfortunately, the ownership papers say you must). Doubtless, there will be at least a handful of discerning romantics whose glowing nostalgia will command they latch on to this icon of a time gone by. Spacious, fully-pressurised and air-conditioned, it can accommodate up to 30 guests. This ‘superyacht of the sky’ boasts interiors from award-winning yacht design studio Bannenberg & Rowell, who eschew the bland functionality of the business jet and delve into its distinguished history. thedc6.com

news

race to the finish Don hats, shine your shoes and grab the binoculars – Royal Ascot fast approaches this June. The stunning British racecourse, synonymous with glamour, high-profile celebrities and a touch of royalty has this year launched new hospitality. As part of their 11 fine dining restaurants, two Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge will be re-working traditional English dishes, while a panel of special racing guests at The Bessborough restaurant will provide racegoers with the inside track on all things Royal Ascot. royalascothospitality.co.uk

REVIVED MUSCLE

a Mega yacht Why have a yacht when you can have a mega yacht? CRN, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, have announced the whopping 80-metre Chopi Chopi. It cost an undisclosed billionaire buyer roughly €1 million per metre, having been customised down to every minute detail, and features a ‘beach club’, retractable door that becomes a 100 sqm swimming platform at sea level, a massage parlour, a sauna and a helicopter pad with special access to the owners private suite. crn-yacht.com

Nearly a decade has eluded us since the last overhaul, but alas, the seventh generation of one of the true American greats, the Corvette, was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show. It is an entirely new machine, although familiar cues surface. A feat of design and engineering, Corvette has proved it is worthy of its exalted Stingray emblem.

Chevrolet.com

on display An atypical collaboration between the Scots and the Italians; fine Scottish whisky label Chivas Regal has paired with design champions Pininfarina. Crafted in three stages, the flawless trio of creations includes two limited edition display cases, themed on ‘the drop’ and a third and final crowning glory, the Chivas 18 Mascherone by Pininfarina, display unit. These rare units are actually made from the original wooden frame used to refine the shape of cars during the design process; ergo only five of these collectors’ pieces will be on display worldwide. We recommend that alcohol and motoring remain divorced but we’re prepared to pardon this combination just this once. chivasregal18.com

march 2013 THE CITY 59

what goes LEE BROOKS speaks to sports PR guru Steve Madincea about how cold, hard cash is vital to securing success and silverware in the Formula 1 World Championship

W

hen the Spanish-run HRT Racing F1 team closed its doors at the end of 2012, just three years after the squad joined the sport, it brought into sharp focus how serious cash greases the wheels of the Formula 1 World Championship.

And with a major regulation change, (a switch from V8 to V6 turbo engines), coming in for 2014 which requires substantial investment in this age of austerity, Formula 1 teams are all too aware that every penny counts, even for the established outfits such as Ferrari, McLaren and reigning world champions Red Bull.

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that Red Bull – who have won the drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the last three years – have recently signed a fouryear title sponsorship deal with luxury car manufacturer Infiniti.

The Japanese company – which comes under the umbrella of the Nissan Motor Company – entered the sport by sponsoring the energy drink-backed team in 2011 but enjoyed very little branding as the iconic Red Bull logo dominated the F1 car’s livery.

That has all changed for 2013, with the team’s logo splattered across the car’s sidepods and rear wing, while Infiniti’s trademark purple has also intruded on Red Bull’s trademark blue, yellow and red.

“No team has enough funding,” says Steve Madincea, managing director of sports PR firm PRISM, who brokered the Infiniti-Red Bull deal. “So I think the key is to capture as much outside revenue as you can because you want to be in a healthy place.

“Making changes to the car’s livery was a big decision which involved

sport

around

“No team has enough funding. I think the key is to capture as much outside revenue as you can because you want to be in a healthy place.�

Mark Webber of Australia and Red Bull Racing drives down the pitlane during day two of Formula One winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez on 8 February, 2012 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

(Photo by Paul Gilham, Getty Images)

march 2013 THE CITY 61

sport

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme after winning the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on 25 September, 2011 in Singapore. (Photo by Ker Robertson, Getty Images)

working with Red Bull to agree how much branding we could have and how much purple paint could go on the car because at the end of the day, it’s a Red Bull car. But in this case, Red Bull wanted to be associated with Infiniti.”

The partnership has worked for Infiniti, too. The company were the fourth most exposed brand in Formula 1 in 2011, seeing a $251 million return of global brand exposure just from the Saturday and Sunday of a race weekend in 2011. That grew to $338 million in 2012.

Madincea has worked in Formula 1 for over 30 years, holding the role of commercial director for the Benetton F1 team in the 90s before setting up his own PR company specialising in sponsorship acquisitions and motorsport PR. “The paddock, Paddock Club [corporate hospitality and even the grid are where deals, which have been previously put on the table, can be accelerated and completed,” says Madincea.

“Being at races makes doing business much easier as talking is faster than sending emails back and forth or trying to set up a meeting in another city. It’s like your office.”

Mobile phone manufacturer BlackBerry have entered the sport with Mercedes this season, signing a deal thought to be worth $12 million [£7.5 million] over three years. The Canadian handset maker was attracted by F1’s global reach, particularly in key markets such as India and South America.

“BlackBerry is a welcome addition to Formula 1,” says Madincea.

“I know the industry has been after them for at least ten years but I wonder if they have made the decision too late. I think they should have entered the sport at least five years earlier so they could stop the decline they have had.”

Meanwhile, airline Emirates, which has a shirt and stadium naming rights deal with Arsenal football club, inked a five-year branding deal, worth around £125 million, with Formula 1 last month. Its brand will appear on trackside signage at 15 of the 19 races this season, starting with the Malaysian Grand Prix.

“It’s a clever deal because travel is such a big part of Formula 1,”

62 THE CITY march 2013

says Madincea. “They have a good relationship with Qantas and I know people are now shifting the way they get down to Australia.

At least six people in our office have changed their flights since and are now flying with Emirates via Dubai to Melbourne for the season opening of the Australian Grand Prix [which takes place on 17 March].”

While the money is flowing in for the people who run the sport and the teams who are at the front of the field, it’s much tougher for the circuits themselves and teams further back on the grid.

The Korean Grand Prix, for example, announced a loss of $36 million last year. The venue has been making losses since 2010 when they signed a contract, while the Nurburgring, which alternates with Hockenheim to host the German Grand Prix, has faced closure.

On the grid, Timo Glock and Marussia parted company before the start of this season because the Russian team said they could not afford him. Instead, they have taken on two drivers – Max Chilton and Luis Razia – who lack the F1 experience of Glock but bring substantial sponsorship with them.

Drivers who bring funding to a team are nothing new in Formula 1. Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio – a five-time world champion – brought backing from his government while three-time world champion Niki Lauda paid the March team for drives.

“Michael Schumacher came to us at Benetton with money,” says Madincea of the deal which saw the German join the team in 1991 before going on to win two of his seven world titles with the outfit.

“The money was one of the reasons [then team boss] Flavio [Briatore] decided to do the deal. “[Former American world champion] Mario Andretti used to have a great association with a lot of people and no matter who he drove for, they would come along for the ride because they liked being associated with this world-class guy.”

Whether you’re an aspiring racing driver or a businessman keen to survive in Formula 1 with your own racing team, talent is important but it might not be enough without financial backing.

GRIPPING STUFF

Now with added four-wheel-drive, the latest Porsche 911 can walk on water, says Mat thew Carter

W

ales on a wet Wednesday. After a night of howling gales and torrential rain, the roads are covered with a layer of mud, dead leaves and standing water. Although the sun is shining weakly, it’s bitterly cold.

Demanding – and treacherously slippery – the roads over the Brecon Beacons beckon, and at times like these the last thing you need is a 400hp out-and-out sports car. Well, apart from this one. The key is the discreet ‘4’ badge on its rump, signifying that this Porsche 911 Carrera has four-wheel-drive. And today that’s going to be needed.

The idea of an all-wheel-drive 911 is not new, of course. The first arrived in 1989 (and the 911 itself celebrates its 50th birthday this year) but although the latest 911’s silhouette remains reassuringly familiar, the current generation – known as Type 991 to the cognoscenti – is the most advanced yet. The C4 is based on the Carrera 2 (two-wheel-drive, damn clever these Germans) introduced last year. Longer, lighter and more aerodynamically proficient, the C2 is pretty hard to criticise: a genuinely usable everyday car that just happens to have supercar performance.

Mind you, in today’s conditions, over-enthusiastic use of that power might cause a few problems for the unwary, hence the arrival of the Carrera 4. There are four versions available – the 350hp 3.4-litre C4 in coupé and convertible forms and the 400hp 3.8-litre C4S, also available open or closed.

There are a few visual differences between two and four-wheeldrive versions. The C4 has new running lights and a slightly different

front bumper while the rear end is wider to accommodate the four-wheel-drive system (take extra care through width restrictions).

There’s also a thin illuminated red strip linking the two rear lights, a small change which gives a totally new look to the car at night.

All have the latest generation of Porsche’s advanced all-wheel-drive system. Porsche loves TLAs (that’s three letter acronyms) so this has been given the fancy title of Porsche Traction Management or PTM. It’s an active system, which means that a series of sensors constantly monitor grip at either end and feed engine torque forwards or backwards as the conditions demand.

In normal use, most of the torque is directed to the back wheels and the car, to all intents and purposes, behaves like a conventional C2. But once more performance is unleashed or the road conditions deteriorate – or both – drive is instantly fed to the front axle to redistribute grip to where it’s needed. At least that’s what Porsche says happens. Trouble is, the transition from two to four-wheel-drive is so subtle that you’re barely aware of what’s going on.

In fact, were it not for a new electronic dial on the dash which displays the front to rear torque split, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d spent an extra £10k on nothing more than the badge.

Except that you’re still on the black stuff and not in the ditch.

It proves itself beyond doubt over the Beacons. The roads up here are windy, narrow and thankfully largely empty of other traffic. Given the prevailing conditions, however, they are treacherous while all that marks the boundary between the edge of the road and oblivion are rows of small rocks.

Now I won’t pretend I treated those roads as if they were a stage

motoring

of the Welsh Rally (not enough talent), but there’s no doubt the extra confidence of the four-wheel-drive meant progress was a little more rapid than it would have been in the C2. The thing just feels so surefooted, so calmly in control, that memories of previous generations of twitchy 911s are quickly forgotten.

The steering, too, is beautifully precise while the brakes are about the best you’ll find on a production car, pulling the 911 up quickly and squarely time after time. And the comfort is exceptional. This is an 180mph sports car and yet it rides as well as a family saloon.

Over the switchback roads of Wales, then, the extra £5k or so Porsche wants for the C4 over the C2 is probably worth it; but the extra £10k it wants for the S Model needs some further thought.

The C4S has 50 more horse power but the bulk of the cash has gone on bigger wheels and extra electronic bits of trickery including Porsche Active Suspension Management and Porsche Torque Vectoring which helps balance the chassis still further. There’s no doubt there’s an extra urgency about its get-up-and-go. It accelerates quicker, has a higher top speed and is a shade more economical, but anything that takes less than five seconds to get to 60mph from rest and has a top speed of 177mph, as the C2 does, is probably fast enough for the real world.

Not that most buyers agree. According to Porsche, the S will take around 70 per cent of C4 sales, with the four-wheel-drive versions accounting for around 40 per cent of total 911 Carrera sales. And an increasing number of customers are also opting for the PDK automated manual gearbox.

This latest generation seven-speed PDK twin clutch transmission is a remarkable piece of engineering that really does provide the best of both worlds. In town it can be left in automatic mode where the gears shift imperceptibly and the car is as docile as a Nissan Micra. Out of town, knock the lever into manual and use the steering wheel paddles to play tunes with the flat six-engine slung out at the back.

Mind you, there’s not much wrong with the manual transmission. It, too, is a seven-speeder and as a result the gate is a little narrow, meaning that you need to be precise with downshifts in particular – sixth to third is all too easy unless you’re careful. But master the shift – and the heavy clutch – and you will feel more at one with the car.

So we’ve established that for the UK’s terrible weather a C4 is a sensible choice and for a car that’s going to be used every day, the PDK option (£2,387) needs to be ticked.

And that’s just the start. The only downside with any 911 is that the list price is really just a starting point on a long journey: you’ll need to budget at least £12,000 for a few extras, some of which really ought to be standard, such as telephone Bluetooth connectivity or rear wipers for example. So while you might think you’re looking at £88k for a C4S, by the time you’ve left the showroom the price will be well over £100k.

But maybe it’s a small price to pay for arguably the greatest all-rounder on the roads today. Come on weather, do your worst.

“There’s no doubt the extra confidence of the four-wheel drive meant progress was a little more rapid than it would have been in the C2”

Car: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Price: £87, 959 Engine: 3,800cc, ‘flat’ 6-cylinder petrol, rear-mounted Power: 400 hp Performance: 184mph max, 0-62mph in 4.3 secs Drive: Four-wheel-drive, seven-speed manual

march 2013 THE CITY 65

RISE OF THE TECHNOSEXUAL According to research from crucial.com, around two-thirds of women say they most admire guys who have the aptitude to improve their technology (dubbed ‘techno-sexuals’), more so than blokes who can tinker under the car bonnet. 81 per cent of women surveyed experienced some issue of poor performance on their computer or laptop, which can only mean one thing: too many men are missing the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise. As we grow increasingly dependent on technology in our everyday lives, only knowledge and adaptability will prevail.

Either these women have paired up with technologically-illiterate spouses, or there really are plenty of fish in the sea.

i-candy

A complete guide to the best in techno wizardry and glorious gadgets

GETTING TACTICAL Tactus’s microfluid technology is some new wizardry that turns flat devices into a dynamic tactile experience. Buttons raise out of the touchscreen and when there is no longer a need for a keyboard, they instantly melt back into the screen. CEO and founder Craig Ciesla states that it can be configured into any design and is not strictly limited to the pictured QWERTY keyboard form. Gaming controls are a safe bet and there is even some speculation about braille technology. Rather than producing Tactus-branded tablets and smartphones itself, the company is establishing partnerships with major companies, ensuring that the world will likely see this technology become available by the end of the year. We can only hope for whack-a-mole and bubble-wrap applications. tactustechnology.com

A TO Z When the iPhone took off in a big way, it pilfered the limelight from its contenders.

Rather than wave the white flag, BlackBerry was quietly innovating new technology. Now their recent efforts are ready to showcase to the world; the new BlackBerry Z10. The question is not whether existing customers will stay faithful – they will. It’s whether or not there will be converts. blackberry.com

gadgets

Three of the best...

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE

home gym equipment

Oregon Scientific’s new watches are even smarter than they appear. They can track, store and manage multiple sports profiles while masquerading as an everyday fashion accessory.

Compatible with a wide range of smartphones through a dedicated sports app, they even afford the ability to show off your personal bests to your colleagues and friends via social media.

York Fitness Excel 310 Rowing Machine £449.99, Yorkfitness.com

oregonscientific.com

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

ProForm PF420 ZLE Elliptical, £349 Proformfitness.co.uk

In recent months, some of the world’s foremost cryptographers have been keeping a closely guarded secret. Tech firm Silent Circle have launched a ground-breaking encrypted data transfer app that will enable people to send files securely from a smartphone or tablet at the touch of a button. That means photographs or videos and in a matter of seconds. Expect controversy though, as snooping government officials will soon express their distaste. silentcircle.com Nordic Track GX 5.1 Aerobic Training Cycle £599, nordictrack.co.uk

GLASS ACT It may appear to be the lovechild of Star Trek and X-Men, but this neat little contraption is the future. Project Glass is Google’s attempt to make a wearable interface that is connected to the entire world. Thanks to a camera and GPS positioning, the glasses are conscious of their location and can deliver tailored information that’s directly relevant to your surroundings. According to Google, it will be possible to navigate by way of Google Maps, find cinema showings, and take and share photographs via social media accounts. Incredible stuff, as long we’re not bombarded by Google advertisements or sneered at by the fashion police. google.com

RENOWNED FOR THEIR OMINOUS-LOOKING ‘ZEPPELIN’ IPOD SPEAKER SYSTEM, BOWERS & WILKINS ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST EVER HEADPHONE. ALMOST FIVE DECADES OF RESEARCH HAve GONE INTO THEIR NEWEST RELEASE. DETAILS SUCH AS SHEEP LEATHER FROM NEW ZEALAND FOR MAXIMUM AURAL COMFORT AND AN IPOD-APPROVED CABLE FOR INTERACTIVE CONTROL SET THESE ‘PHONES ABOVE THE REST. Bowers-wilkins.co.uk

march 2013 THE CITY 67

Cash

Rich

C

ertain names are now synonymous with certain brands – Tiger Woods and Roger Federer with Nike, David Beckham and Lionel Messi with Adidas – and after January’s blockbuster deal, a new name, Rory McIlroy, will become the face of the American sportswear giant after he penned a deal estimated to be worth $250 million (£156 million) over the next ten years.

This deal dwarfed both Wood’s and Beckham’s most recent mega-deals, so why did Nike commit to McIlroy? And why do brands in general commit such huge sums to individuals? “There will be a sound business case behind the numbers: ‘Rory will help us sell x amount of equipment and clothing’,” says David Cushnan, sports business expert and editor of SportsPro magazine, in an interview with BBC Sport. “But as scientific as they make it, there will also be an element of gut feeling about this. Nike didn’t want their direct rivals to get their hands on him.”

A fierce battle is raging between sportswear brands as they vie for a golf market that is worth £15 billion in the US alone. Titleist, Callaway and Adidas-owned TaylorMade, along with Nike, are the main players, and sources close to the deal say TaylorMade offered McIlroy something close to £100 million for his signature.

Nike are also behind in the reputation stakes for their equipment, as many amateur and club golfers tend to back those specialist brands when buying new gear; the McIlroy deal should go some way to changing that reputation.

“As far as sponsors are concerned, the key sports for individual athlete endorsements are golf and tennis,” adds Cushnan. “Golf has always been a leader in the value sponsors can get from their investment.

“There is a perception of a higher-end demographic, of supporters with more disposable income. Golfers don’t tend to be tied into a team, where you can have sponsorship clashes – like Messi wearing Adidas boots but with a Nike swoosh on his Barcelona shirt – that affects the value of your deal.

“You get a golfer 100 per cent. And there are more opportunities for golfers to do promotional work. They are more in control of their own schedules than a team player like a footballer.”

Part of the £156 million will be used to buy McIlroy out of his other existing contracts, such as deals with sunglasses brand Oakley and Santander bank. But Nike also desperately needed this deal, McIlroy’s cleancut, respectable image will be a godsend after recent poor performance and scandals involving marquee names.

Clockwise from left: Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com, Tony Bowler / Shutterstock.com, David W. Leindecker / Shutterstock.com, Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

For the very best athletes, sponsorship deals have been the main source of revenue over salary for a long time – and with recent news of Rory McIlroy’s extraordinary deal with Nike, this trend is set to continue, writes Tom Sheen

sport

He is eloquent and likeable, and should increase the company’s reputation for producing good equipment if he is able to keep on winning – though McIlroy changing back to his old putter on his first round using Nike clubs is likely to stick long in the memory.

Nike suffered a two per cent revenue drop in 2010 and a four per cent drop in 2011, as NFL star Michael Vick was jailed for dog-fighting, Woods’ private life became very public, and the golden boy of cycling, Lance Armstrong, was accused, and later admitted his guilt, of being a drugs cheat. That admission of guilt in an interview with Oprah Winfrey reportedly cost the cyclist up to $75 million in lost sponsorship on a single day.

For a long time Woods was the face of Nike, but the revelation of his affairs and a drastic loss of form in the aftermath meant Nike were in desperate need of a new face. According to Forbes, Woods remains the third most-wealthy athlete in the world, as deals with EA, Rolex and others add to his Nike earnings. In 2011/12, an unsuccessful year on the course, Forbes estimates that $55 million of his $60 million earnings were through sponsors.

The McIlroy deal does not mean that Nike will just dump Woods, as the American market, for a time, is still likely to favour an American over the young Northern Irish man – they will probably market the two players as a pair, pitching the fading star against the next big thing.

This is exactly how the company became the market leader in tennis, pitching the older Federer against Rafa Nadal. Federer remains one of the world’s top earners, and along with his Nike deal, commands huge sums from Gillette, Wilson, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse, as does Nadal, despite his current injury. The competition between these two, Adidas-athlete Andy Murray and world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who wears a mix of Adidas, Uni-Qlo and uses a Head racket, shows the sort of battle that rages in the tennis market.

In football, David Beckham remains one of the game’s most marketable icons, though his star is now fading in the latter stages of his career. The mantle has been taken up by Cristiano Ronaldo ($32.5 million, four-year Nike deal) and Lionel Messi as the two most bankable football stars, and though Messi’s current deal is small, it is expiring, so expect another blockbuster deal when the time comes. Although, in football, as said above, sponsors are unwilling to splash as much cash – bar Beckham – on individuals because of time constraints, kit clashes and the general demographics of football fans.

At the other end of the scale, professional athletes have to battle for the most meagre slices of the sponsorship pie. UK Sport announced a sponsorship deal worth a total of £347 million, a record, of funding for athletes in the build up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, the body was criticised for its ‘no compromise’ approach as it will finance only genuine medal prospects. UK rowing and cycling will each be given more than £30 million, while athletics, sailing and swimming are in the £20 million plus range.

Volleyball saw its funding fall by a massive 88.7 per cent, while a massive £14 million was saved as funding for basketball, handball, table tennis and wrestling was cut completely.

Perhaps McIlroy could spare a few quid for those athletes at the bottom?

march 2013 THE CITY 69

Captivate Your Senses The first internationally-acclaimed Chuan Spa in Europe is now open at The Langham, London.

Rediscover your source with luxurious treatments inspired by the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Langham, London 1c Port land Place, Regent Street, London W1B 1JA T 44 (0) 20 7973 7550

tllon.info@chuanspa.com

www.chuanspa.co.uk

AUCKLAND • BOSTON • HONG KONG • LONDON • LOS ANGELES • MELBOURNE • SHANGHAI

ChuanSpa ExclusiveMag.indd 1

15/3/11 13:35:46

style

REPORT

tunnel

vision

The achingly cool Late Night Chameleon Café in Dalston takes shopping to a whole new level, writes Daniel Engelsman

W

e all have one trendy fashionista friend who prides themselves on their arcane knowledge of little-known underground locales. Test their knowledge by seeing if they are aware of one such place; the effortlessly trendy Late Night Chameleon Café in Dalston, which legitimately is underground. Celebrated set designer Gary Card is responsible for the unusual, angular space that houses not only a mainline and niche fashion men’s and womenswear boutique but also a library of rare

books, a record store and club space with a custom-built vintage sound system. All of this is accessible only by appointment.

A re-launch last month saw two completely new areas open; a dedicated accessory and footwear emporium and a hospitality area with a private bar. This shop-come-bar-come-library-come-disco really raises the bar on the phrase ‘retail therapy’. Additionally, the slanted mirrors and ambient lighting are enough to make Tim Burton’s goatee curl. The clothes may not be for everyone, but it’s indubitably something to see. ln-cc.com

NO SCHOOL LIKE THE OLD SCHOOL

style: hIM This season’s most wearable trends for the stylish man about town

LIFELONG LEATHERHEADS A duo of leather specialists named Mr. William Daines and Mr. Charles Hathaway joined forces back in 1922 to produce premium leather goods for their discerning clientele. Due to the lofty time span, Daines & Hathaway has a long-established and rich heritage for supreme quality, handmade products which throughout the years have adapted with fashion trends but maintained their superior quality. Popular demand calls for iPad, iPhone and Kindle cases, which are available in various hues. Classic staples such as the hip flask and the military wet pack are of course immaculate, elegant and timeless. dainesandhathaway.com

Neatly sequestered in the Piccadilly Arcade is Budd Shirtmakers, who for over 100 years have maintained a fine tradition of traditional finery. Celebrating quality and individual taste, everything in the shop is sourced and made within the borders of the UK. Primarily renowned for their handmade shirts, there is also an extensive range of dresswear, nightwear, ties and bow ties, braces, and even bespoke socks. Tricky items that are usually cumbersome to source such as waistcoat slips, stiff-bibbed shirts, detachable collars and soft chamois gloves are something of a specialty. Then again, it would be fatuous to label anything in the store as ordinary. buddshirts.co.uk

HERE TO SAVE YOUR SOLE The first boutique hotel of the City of London, Threadneedles has partnered up with British shoemaker Harrys of London to grant business travellers and style connoisseurs with refined footwear. At maximum convenience to guests, it is now offering bespoke step-bystep shoe fittings to customers, without the need to leave the confines of their room or suite. The store across the road proffers a nearinfinite combination of leathers, suedes and animal skins. For those who do not require a new purchase, a traditional shoe care service is available for a little spruce and shine. theetoncollection.co.uk / harrysoflondon.com

news

rags to riches Having grown up in the countryside with a family of horse breeders, founder of fashion brand Vicomte A, Arthur de Soultrait drew much inspiration from energetic hues and racing silks. As a student his very first contract was designing and supplying silk ties for the Paris bid to host the 2012 Olympics Games. Today, his brand is a key player on the global fashion stage with an eclectic range for men, women and children. Loyal customers include the French prime minister François Fillon and our very own Pippa Middleton. The brand’s cool style and Euro chic means it is frequently assigned sponsorship deals with prestigious sporting events including polo matches and regattas. vicomte-a.com

YOU CAN’T BREAK THE MOULD GENTLEMAN’S CHOICE If fortune really does favour the brave then you’re going to want to be wearing at least one item of Duchamp this season. Following other luxury brands, deep blues and burnt oranges are utilised this season to combat the traditional, muted winter look. Accessories such as pocket squares, ties and bow ties feature a blend of pastel and deep colours, whether your selection is the familiar signature paisley patterning or one of the new floral designs. Though the company may take their name from surrealist Marcel Duchamp who is famed for his ‘Fountain’ urinal, it really is a case of apples and oranges. duchamplondon.com

Crocs shoes are appropriate and comfortable for trekking across aqueous terrain but they are hardly a sight for sore eyes. Mocks, however, are capable of such dexterity and versatility without the aesthetic compromise.

Based on the traditional Native American moccasin style with a 21st century twist, they are crafted from water-resistant rubber, making them ideal for outdoor activities. Regardless of maltreatment (within reason), they can be washed back to ‘new’, looking and smelling great. This masculine cut is available in 16 different colours, allowing you to stay stylish and flexible in any location or weather. mocksonline.com

march 2013 THE CITY 73

Light &Dark STYLIST Tarra Chong PHOTOGRAPHy Antony Nobilo Studio Art director & Producer Wendy Tee

XXXXXX Leather jacket, £2,750, Bally bally.com.Sweater £325, Pringle of Scotland pringlescotland.com Jeans, £160, Zadig & Voltaire zadig-et-voltaire.com

xxxxxxxx 2013 THE CITY 75

Cardigan,Blazer, £539, from Lanvin a selection, from Harrods, and Jeans, £160, 0207 both 730 Zadig 1234. & Long sleeve Voltaire, tee, £POA, zadig-et-voltaire.com American Vintage Farhi trousers, Shirt, £ . Brixton £125,cap, Paul£34.95, Smith paulsmith.co.uk. www.hatsandcaps.co.uk.

Tie, £95 Dolce & Gabbana, mrporter.com

Shirt, £119, Incotex Glenshirt Harrods, 020 7730 1234 Tie, £49, Harrods, as before Leather jacket, £650, Zadig & Voltaire 020 7629 9018 zadig-et-voltaire.com

Leather jacket, £2,750, Bally, bally.com Sweater, £325, Pringle of Scotland pringlescotland.com. Jeans, £160 Zadig & Voltaire, zadig-et-voltaire.com Model: James Sorrentino at Premier Model Management Photographer assistants: Steve Turvey and Katrine Gode Hair: Stephen Lacey Location: with thanks to Dimi Pantazi at Beach Blanket Babylon, Notting Hill, beachblanket.co.uk

XXXXXX Blazer, £700, Vivienne Westwood, 020 7478 2060 Shirt, £205, Pringle of Scotland pringlescotlandcom. Sweater, £99 Micheal Kors, www.michaelkors.com Jeans, from a selection J Brand, jbrandjeans.com

xxxxxxxx 2013 THE CITY 79

news

IF YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED GLASSES ARE IN style YOU NEED A STRONGER PRESCRIPTION. MAKING SPECS COOL SINCE 1986, OLIVER PEOPLES’ RETRO FRAMES TURN being SHORT-SIGHTED INTO A Style STATEMENT. XXV-RX ANNIVERSARY FRAME, £216, ADAM SIMMONDS, 02078131234

catwalk to credit card After patiently waiting, our favourite designers’ Spring/Summer 2013 collections are now finally available to buy. If Spring’s typical barrage of stinging neons and sunshine florals seems a little too garish for you, Altuzarra’s multi-award-winning line is the perfect middle-ground for professional women wanting the latest fashion with a consideration for practicality.

Altuzzara’s runway saw figure-hugging pencil skirts layered with lapelled jackets softened with muted blues, greys and slouched pockets. The looks were then topped off with pairs of knee-high boots for a final sexy kick. josephaltuzarra.com

style: her

Three of the best... clutch bags

This season’s most wearable trends for the chicest woman about town

where de la renta rents Oscar de la Renta, king of the evening gown and red-carpet perfectionist, has opened the brand’s first boutique in London. Located in Mount Street, across its 3,000 square feet and three floors is housed an array of beauty, accessories, home décor, childrenswear and the signature ready-to-wear collection. For any blushing brides, more exciting still is the store’s bridal section, brimming with enough white tulle, lace and designer credentials to ensure even the pickiest shopper can find that perfect dress.

Diane Von Furstenberg Coral Clutch, £130, yoox.com

130 Mount Street, W1, 020 7493 0422, oscardelarenta.com

ITA Collection Farah Clutch £840.39, ahalife.com

Stark Panther Swarovski Clutch £2621, luisaviaroma.com

march 2013 THE CITY 81

Design by Philippe Starck

STARCK. A CLASSIC REVIVED.

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

interiors

STATUS

sYMBOL

Baccarat chandeliers epitomise luxurious lighting par excellence, writes emma johnson

THE the CHESTERFIELD... baccarat chandelier Lighting has symbolised Baccarat perfection for nearly two centuries, and their chandeliers are at the heart of their offering. Regardless of scale, every Baccarat chandelier has a central column of cut crystal that resourcefully masks all functional cables, while chiselled prisms and sparkling pendants create a majestic splendour.

The iconic octagonal red-ruby crystal ornament (pampille) – which features in every Baccarat chandelier produced since 1997 – sparkles amid a cascade of clear crystal light, uniquely indicating each chandelier’s authenticity. baccarat.com

march 2013 THE CITY 83

the designer:

DAVID LINLEY

David Linley is renowned for using a balance of traditional and modern techniques in his interior design, and his bespoke furniture and accessories range is second to none

O

ver the years, LINLEY has developed an international reputation for creating furniture and accessories that represent British craftsmanship at its very best. Fusing contemporary design with exquisite cabinet-making, and showing a special penchant for using wood, from traditional walnut and sycamore, to bold and exotic Macassar ebony, his domestic pieces range from dining and games tables and jewellery boxes to entire interior design projects, including private residences.

LINLEY has also made furniture for yachts, private jets and worked

on corporate projects for businesses, including Credit Suisse, Polygram and EMI. His clients include Oprah Winfrey, Carolina Herrera, Jo Malone, David Tang, Ralph Lauren and Nina Campbell.

LINLEY has also worked on a number of exciting brand partnerships. These have ranged from a collection of high-end kitchen accessories with celebrity chef Tom Aikens, to designing a marquetry panel in the grand lobby of the latest Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth. davidlinley.com

interiors

Ligne Roset Flax Armchair, £1,927 Harrods, harrods.com

Imola Chair in Light Brown Salvador Leather and Brushed Steel, £3,144 BoConcept, boconcept.co.uk Diamond Easy Chair with Black Frame & Charcoal Velvet, £925 Heal’s, heals.co.uk

the big

5: ARMCHAIRs

Contrasting materials of linen and leather, cotton and cowhide and wood and wool coupled with bold colours and smooth, curving shapes makes for statement pieces with comfort at the forefront

Vintage Pair of Cow Hide Armchairs and Side Table (Italy 1980), £6,950 Antonio Citterio, Decoratum decoratum.com

Thomas In Hound Armchair Dachshund Red, £899 John Lewis, johnlewis.com

March 2013 THE CITY 85

finders Of keepers This one-of-a-kind IWC Portuguese Chrono, with a white-gold and diamond case, is the sort of rarity Watchfinder & Co. specialises in

Visage visionary ↑

watch this space WATCHFInDER & CO. HAS BECOME THE LEADInG OnLInE RESOURCE FOR RARE WATCHES. nOW IT HAS ITS FIRST STORE – AT THE ROyAL ExCHAnGE In just 10 years, Watchfinder & Co. has gone from an internet start-up with just four staff members to an online timepiece powerhouse that turns over tens of millions of pounds in revenue a year. And now, WF&Co. has arrived at The Royal Exchange.

Visited by over four million people every year, Watchfinder.co.uk is the UK’s largest online collection of pre-owned watches.

The website was founded to solve the problem of a lack of fine timepieces available online.

With a business based on trust, WF&Co. delivers the ultimate customer experience, offering buyers a superior way to purchase watches from brands such as Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer and Cartier.

Taking pride of place within The Royal Exchange’s main courtyard, WF&Co. has over 500 watches on display, some vintage, some contemporary and some of extreme rarity. Every timepiece that WF&Co. sells has been subjected to rigorous authenticity checks, ensuring that each item is of the highest possible standard. What’s more, every watch is sold with a 12-month

warranty, which is certainly not something that most second-hand watch dealers offer.

Of course, all of the watches available at the WF&Co. boutique are pretty special, but perhaps some are a little more special than others. If you stop by The Royal Exchange today, you’ll be able to view the one-of-a-kind IWC Portuguese Chrono. Heralded by watch aficionados as one of the most beautiful timepieces ever designed, this Portuguese Chrono has been adapted so that the 40mm case is formed of white gold and set with diamonds. The IWC comes with a presentation box, full documentation and the peace of mind of a year’s warranty.

“The WF&Co. boutique is a reflection of the expansion and direction that Watchfinder is moving in,” says co-founder and brand director Lloyd Amsdon. “The company is no longer just an online retailer, but a multi-channel retailer, service centre and publisher. The Co. reflects a coming together of people and the creation of new areas to the business.” Exciting times for WF&Co, and a great coup for The Royal Exchange.

www.theroyAlexchAnge.com

Kiehl’s is famous for creating products that use cutting-edge technology and stand the test of time. Drawing on its historic skincare expertise, it has created a BB (‘blemish balm’) cream that’s like no other on the market. Based on the original German formula from the 50s, the new product corrects skin-tone irregularities, evens coverage, hydrates and even has built-in SPF 50 UVA protection. This really is a do-it-all skin cream, so be sure to pick some up when it hits the shops this March.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting and Beautifying BB Cream, £23.50

Great coverage ↑ Handmade in fine calf leather in a smooth, full-grain or crocodile-skin texture, this iPad case from Sage Brown is one of the prettiest ways to keep your tablet safe. It’s ultra-slim and, as with all Sage Brown products, can be monogrammed. The case features a secure Velcro strap and rich suede lining, and it’s available in 12 colours.

promotion

JeweLs in the crown MARTIn DEAKInS OF THE ROyAL ExCHAnGE JEWELLERS HAS BEEn PROVIDInG GEMS TO THE CITy FOR OVER 25 yEARS. HE DISCUSSES LIFE AT THE ROyAL ExCHAnGE

I first started in the jewellery industry 26 years ago. I began working in Threadneedle Street when I was 16 and progressed through the ranks, learning my trade.

Our shop has been here at The Royal Exchange for eight years. I set it up with my business partner John Wyatt, and we’ve been steadily growing ever since. We specialise in pre-owned watches, larger stones and certificated diamonds. I’d say it’s about 50/50 between watches and engagement rings. We sell antique pieces, too, but they’re obviously harder to find.

Many of our customers come to us for a special gift for their loved one, and if I had

to recommend one item for a man to buy, it would be a diamond line necklace.

Being here at The Royal Exchange is perfect for us because we can offer better value on larger stones and the full range of pieces all the way up to the top end, but at sensible prices.

In terms of shopping elsewhere at The Royal Exchange, I’ll sometimes buy a gift from Gucci for my wife – not nearly often enough, though, she might say! If we didn’t have quite so many children to look after, I’d love for us to enjoy a drink together more often in the evenings in one of the fantastic bars here…

in bloom Described as the essence of modern romance, Jo Malone London’s new Red Roses collection blends the scents of seven of the world’s most exquisite roses.

With top notes of lemon and a base of honeycomb, the collection unfolds like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers, creating a surprisingly clean and sheer fragrance.

The scent experts at Jo Malone London recommend you layer the Red Roses Collection with White Jasmine & Mint to add a cool, crisp edge, or layer it with Wild Fig & Cassis to create a green, earthy tone.

Jo Malone London Red Roses Collection, from £12

Time immemorial ↑ If you’re looking for accessories that will set off a slightly more refined look, this pocket watch from Searle & Co Jewellers is perfect.

Made in the late 1800s, the French Full Hunter Chronograph’s case is 18ct gold and its face is white enamel. What’s more, the hour, minute and chrono hands are set with diamond end stones.

Searle & Co Jewellers, French pocket watch, £10,000

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food & drink

REPORT

New York to London

It seems now more than ever that renowned and loved New York restaurants are migrating across the pond and finding new homes in London, says Emma Johnson

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n the last few years we have welcomed to London from New York the likes of the effortlessly cool Sushisamba (Heron Tower views); Bar Boloud at the Mandarin Oriental (a Manhattan import from NY darling Daniel Boloud); Cucina Asellina (trendy, urban Italian) and the best of them all, the much-heralded STK. Like its New York, LA, Vegas and Miami sisters, STK is bold, brazen and achingly hip, boasting a menu with vast steaks, lobster mac & cheese and truffle chips, a DJ set every night and the promise of the entire restaurant dancing on the tables – the Yanks sure know how to party. A good thing then,

that another NY favourite and absolute classic, Balthazar, opened in February. Promising late-night opening, and with a firm Manhattan following, this is tipped to be one of the hottest openings this year.

Not to be outdone, the first London outpost of Shake Shack comes to Covent Garden in the summer, and Mexican favourite La Esquina is also rumoured to be opening later in the year. Even more exciting though is whispers of a London restaurant from André Balazs, responsible for A-listers’ favourite, the Standard Grill in the Meatpacking District. Finally it’s getting easier and easier to get a taste of the Big Apple in London.

FOOD

DRINK

The best fine dining has to offer, right on your doorstep

Style with substance Curry in Britain has undergone an overhaul in recent years with more and more restaurants playing on the depth and varieties of its colours and tastes to create innovative fine dining experiences. Raise a fork to the revolution at the Mint Leaf Lounge situated next to the iconic Bank of England. Enjoy beautiful food in a stylish and inviting space where the shelves creak with over 500 spirits and Champagnes behind river-washed pebble bars and subdued lighting. For friends or employees, why not call up bar manager Lara Zanzarin for a Cocktail Master Class where small groups can enjoy making and sampling Mint Leaf’s classic and exotic cocktails, only a stone’s throw from the office? mintleaflounge.com, 020 7600 0992

Paddle Power As one of London’s coolest hotels, the Hoxton Hotel knows how to spot something unique and make it unmissable. Always with a sense of humour, they’re now hosting monthly Ping Pong nights for competing companies in association with Tsingtao, China’s number one beer. To enter your team in the HOX Ping Pong League and take home the glory, and a case of free Tsingtao beer, simply tweet @ thehoxtonhotel #PingPongAtTheHox and get some practice swings in whilst they’ll sort out the details. So #whynot? hoxtonhotels.com

Renaissance Railway Launching in March, new venue Beagle is set within three beautifully renovated railway arches on Geffrye Street next to Hoxton Station. Interiors draw inspiration from Victorian railway carriages and the history of the rail industry to create a look that complements the structure’s original aesthetic. Housing a restaurant, bar and plentiful outdoor seating, Beagle stands to be an architectural gem in Shoreditch.

Geffrye Street, E2

Toys For Trading

Threadneedles, Square Mile’s original five star boutique hotel, are offering tired City workers some light relief with Market Meltdown and Martini Mondays. Market Meltdown is a brand new board game where players need skill as well as luck to try and score billions by trading millions on behalf of a bank. Games will be available for bar guests every Monday evening complete with a menu of bar snacks and cocktails. For a true taste of the City try an eponymous Threadneedle Street cocktail for the special price of £8, available only on Monday’s. hotelthreadneedles.co.uk

FOOD&DRINK

Stainless Meal Opposites Attract DANIEL ENGELSMAN jumps back through time to indulge in some carnivorous tomfoolery

Emma Johnson welcomes the latest trend in fusion food, Brazilian-Japanese Sushinho

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10 Lime Street, EC3M, thefactoryhouse.co.uk

Devonshire Square, EC2M , sushinho.com

fter a lugubrious drudge through the unforgiving rain, my friend and I finally stumbled upon our subterranean dining location, The Factory House. I had formed some preconceived notions in my perusal of some unkind reviews and am now wholly glad to explain why I think they got it all wrong.

Given that it has a Victorian working-class theme, I expected to see cold, industrial interiors, but was relieved at the soft music and welcoming ambience of a sensible business crowd in a spacious, warm and inviting setting.

After being led to our booth, the maître d’ deployed the head cocktail bartender to our table to tailor us some drinks. I had a masculine, subtly complex whisky-based concoction with a bitter orange twist that courageously juxtaposed the sugary Martini of my companion, which was adorned with a sizeable starfruit that he insisted on eating. Aptly conforming to the Victorian theme, the menus, printed on Financial Times style paper, were good fun, sporting a hearty multitude of British meat and fish dishes with a twist.

After munching our way through spicy ‘beer sticks’, we received our starters. My mixed charcuterie with pickle was good, especially the Parma ham, and my comrade’s potted pheasant and partridge with plum pickle was particularly moreish when combined with the pickle. I profess to be a connoisseur in very few things, but having lived months in Northern Spain, my only inkling of a criticism was the chorizo could have been tastier.

I continued with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with roasted quince and gratinated potato, which was cooked to perfection. Though my food was great, my pal’s steak was better- in fact one of the best cuts of meat I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting in London. We washed these down with a light, French Pinot Noir.

For dessert, I had a brown sugar pavlova with clementine curd that was refreshing but didn’t hold a candle to my Auntie’s. Satisfied but with room for a little more, I helped finish off the delicious remainder of my friend’s sticky toffee pudding while it was still warm. We accompanied this final hurdle with a dock of Californian pudding wine.

I will gleefully sneer at the naysayers because I, for one, love a themed restaurant, especially when the details are consistent, the food quality is high and the wine selection leaves you spoilt for choice.

am not too sure when the various components of Brazilian and Japanese cuisine decided they’d be a marriage made in heaven, but I am glad they did. While it might seem a little strange, in actual fact the two countries have more in common than you might think. Not only is Brazil home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan – numbering 1.8 million and growing – but the country also has a strong martial arts tradition, with judo, karate and taekwondo widely practised. The influence of the Brazilian-born Japanese extends still further into art, design, architecture, business, music and food, so it seems to make sense for Sushinho to showcase what the Japanese community in Brazil has brought to the cuisine.

The core effect of this fusion is that the sweet, smoky, meatier flavours of Brazil expertly complement the fresh, crisp, tangy tastes found in Japanese food. Hot sushi, for instance, is an incredible revelation, the warm fish and rice giving a new depth of flavour and texture to a familiar dish; while blackened butterfish has a sharp wasabi tang coupled with a charcoal musk and the warm paprika kick of fresh guacamole. Where this food works, is that the glorious boldness and big flavours of Brazilian cooking are served in moderation with typical Japanese attention-to-detail and beautiful presentation – pan-fried sea bass, for instance, is served in squares on a bed of vegetables and sweetcorn, the skin crisp and salty, the vegetables warm and exotic.

Even the cocktail list fuses two distinct drinking cultures, with sake and gin working hand in hand to make a delicious aperitif. However, don’t just stop at the cocktails; one of the surprising delights of our evening was the wine, served by expert sommelier Joris Beijn.

Friendly and knowledgeable, he has a real passion for wine, and has worked hard to match a range of world wines to the varied and obviously eclectic menu. He took us through everything from a South African chenin blanc to a delicious Austrian tipple, pouring us generous glasses and topping up whenever we needed, (a rarity when having a matched wines menu). Joris is a real credit to the restaurant, warm, funny and attentive, he certainly made our night.

With a successful and much-loved outpost already on the Kings Road, there is no doubt that this City venue will attract a considerable following of admirers both old and new.

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drink

Ken Hanley Hanley, Glenlivet Distillery

the tasty

Dave Waddell journeys to bonnie Scotland to discover a wealth of flavour and history at the Glenlivet Distillery

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on’t mind if I do!” We are seated briefly in the hallowed Guardian’s Library – The Glenlivet Distillery’s inner sanctum. I have no idea whether our guide, Ken Hanley, is an actual ‘Guardian’, a proper, signed up member of The Glenlivet’s committee of diehard single malt fans. Nor do I know how deeply, in the past, and aided by our host, Ian Logan, globetrotting ambassador to the Glenlivet, he has had the opportunity to get stuck into the distillery’s collection of the rare and the special.

However, I can tell, by the alacrity of his be-kilted legs, the beatific look on his face as he prepares to drink, that this highly knowledgeable man of all things Scottish has yet to put his seasoned lips to a dram of The Glenlivet 50 year old, limited edition.

As Hanley raises the glass to examine the whisky’s almost pale colouring – eyes narrow, the light on his upturned face, a glimpse of Speyside green through the library’s window – I am struck by how this, the image of a Scotsman, dressed to the (traditional) nines, whisky in hand, might look: like the work of a stock piece of 1970s tourist office branding. Nothing, though, could be further from the truth. Sure, we’ve been to Loch Ness, taken the Jacobite Temptation Cruise, visited castles, stayed in a typical highlands hotel, stood on the old windswept site of the country’s earliest legal single malt distillery. Hell, this afternoon we’re off to stand in the middle of the fields of Culloden, scene of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat, Scotland’s biggest tragedy. So what? It’s the year of Natural Scotland, Glenlivet’s just launched its Local Legacies campaign, and it’s been bloody good fun. No one’s saying this is the

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whole of Scotland – just that it’s a piece of the country, one that is beautiful and historic and wild.

All the same, while the 50 year old is limited, a rarity, and ticks another sought after item on what I like to imagine is a rather spectacular Hanley whiskies-to-drink-before-I-die wishlist, it is not, in my humble opinion, the taste of the day. That honour, experienced not in the library, but rather in the distillery’s main tasting room, goes to one of its core expressions, The Glenlivet XXV. Given that the competition includes the award-winning 18 – “One of the world’s best whiskies,” says Logan – the Archive (21 year old), an absolute whopper, and the very fine 16 year old Nadurra, this is some accolade, and one that perhaps places me at odds with many a more experienced Glenlivet fan. Thing is, for me, the XXV’s a special, a one off. Aged in ex-bourbon oak, and finished in first-fill sherry casks, young and old, straight and deep, it’s Patti Smith to a T: an old and beautiful punk, still saying the same beautiful things, only less the bite, the shin kick.

A drink fit for poets.

Anyway, enough. Here’s the gen: if, poor thing, you can’t get there yourself, may I suggest a nip of the 18 (to kill the blues), a bottle of the XXV to keep you going, and one of the vintage Cellar Collections (1964, 1969 or a 1973) for something that is almost a hen’s tooth? However, if you’d like all of this, plus a Hanley-style whip about God’s country, then Scotland awaits, kilt and all.

The Visit Scotland year of Natural Scotland visitscotland.com/natural The Glenlivet Local Legacies theglenlivet.com/guardians/legacies

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C View, St Jean Cap Ferrat

Got it covered

Glamour Pad Hotels are all well and good if you’re away with just your better half, but if there are lots of you, be it family or friends, you can’t beat the flexibility of a private villa, and Firefly Collection boasts some of the most luxurious options available. We can’t choose between Villa Pearl in St Tropez, a charming blue-shuttered Provençal villa, boasting an expansive terrace for al fresco dining and dedicated playroom for little holiday makers; and the more modern C View in St Jean Cap Ferrat. A striking retreat, with sea views flooding in through the glass walls, there are outdoor and indoor pools and a sumptuous spa with Hammam. Private chefs, housekeeping, childcare, butlers, concierges and chauffeurs are available for both villas for the duration of your stay, making sure your time away really is a holiday. firefly-collection.com

TRAVEL

From long-haul retreats to weekend escapes, chic city stopovers to tropical hideaways, these are some of the world’s top haunts

Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has recently launched the A&K Lifestyle Club, an individually tailored service for travellers which offers members a personal private travel consultant, who can not only create custom-made holidays but ensure you are treated as VIPs at every stage of your travels. While you’re away, a personal lifestyle manager will act as your local font of knowledge, advising and helping everything from organising restaurant reservations to guest lists for exclusive clubs. Members will also have instant access worldwide to logistical, medical and security advice around the clock, and are always just a phonecall away from a team of professionals, including a doctor or nurse available 24 hours a day. aklifestyleclub.com

Carry-On Style

This divine travel bag comes in hand-dyed alligator leather and makes the ultimate travel style statement. The stitching on the bags is inspired by vintage luggage pieces from the Burberry archives, while the shoulder strap, equestrian belt detail and vintage padlock closure nods to the Burberry equestrian heritage.

Travel bag, £28,000, Harrods, harrods.com

Watery Wonder One of the most beautiful hotels in Venice will relaunch this March. Set on Venice’s Giudecca Island and designed by Andrea Palladio, it features a three acre garden – unique in the city – and an all-natural organic spa. Part of The Bauers Hotel Group, all properties offer a unique insight into living as a Venetian, with concierge teams offering an unrivalled ‘inside track’ to the gems of Venice, encouraging guests to live as a Venetian rather than as a tourist. For artistic types, March is a perfect time to visit, as an exhibition of French impressionist Édouard Manet will be taking place at the nearby Museo Correr. bauerhotels.com

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A Junior Suite at Hotel Mont Blanc

Beef Lodge at Le Lodge Park

There’s Magic in the

Mountains Nestled in the French Alps, Megève has provided a playground for the country’s aristocracy for over half a century. With designer-shops, stunning tree-lined slopes and Michelin-starred restaurants, Richard Brown discovers how Megève continues to act as an ambassador for the art of luxury living

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A room at Les Fermes de Marie

e don’t usually do this sort of thing,” says a worse-forwear Johnny, nodding at the cluster of Audemars Piguetsporting business associates he’s waiting to lavish with the next round of shots. “But it’s been a good year and we

thought ‘why ever not?’”

A plum-spoken hedge-funder from Mayfair, Johnny is indicative of one of the sorts of people you’ll find in Megève; here on business – if only in the loosest sense of the word – the trilingual-speaking assembly of early thirtysomethings he’s invited to join him, symbolic of one type of group. While you don’t need the monetary means of the international jet-set to enjoy Megève’s wonders, if your year has been as good as Johnny’s, it’s certainly a suitable place to enjoy your spoils.

Conceived by the Rothschilds in the 1920s as an alternative to Switzerland’s uber-lux Saint-Moritz, Megève became the first purpose-built ski resort in France, finding immediate favour among Europe’s moneyed classes. Today, it continues to cater for those with a penchant for the finer things in life, as a brief bout of window shopping in the local estate agents will testify.

Despite its magnetic appeal to the glamouriti – mink fur, Moncler and French bulldogs abound – Megève retains a cosy, largely unpretentious charm. It’s a smallish, picturepostcard sort of town based around the medieval church of Saint Jean Baptiste; a village whose cobbled streets just happen to be lined by shops from the likes of Longchamp, Zilli and Galliano.

You also get the impression that behind the scenes Megève remains a traditionally-run, family-owned operation – and there’s a reason for that. They’re called the Sibuets. Having acquired their first hotel in 1981, the Sibuets have spent the last three decades amassing something of a mini-Megève empire. Their portfolio now includes four of its top hotels – including the one in which I’m staying – three of its most famous restaurants – all of which I’ve had the pleasure of visiting since my arrival – a string of award-winning spas, a host of luxury chalets,

The church of Saint Jean Baptiste

and, fittingly, the bar in which I sit talking to Johnny (for the record, I’ve just left family patriarch, Jean-Louis Sibuet, swaying to the sounds of swing at Megève’s Jazz Club 50 paces down the road).

I awake next morning in Hotel Mont Blanc; arguably Megève’s most famous, owing to the illustrious guest-list it attracts. Of the lobby, think light woods, checked fabrics, wing chairs, stag’s antlers and throws on the sofas – everything you’d expect of a five-star slope-side residence.

Upstairs, while each is totally unique, cosy bedrooms boast antique furniture, wood panelling, rich fabrics and enormous beds that’ll send you to sleep as soon your head hits the pillow.

Of the slopes? Well, with three main ski areas and 445km of pistes accessible from the town, there’s a vast amount of them to choose from. As the resort sits relatively low, most are lined by trees, making for scenic routes across the mountains and stunning views of Mont Blanc over the forests tops. While Megève won’t challenge the most experienced of skiers, the resort’s extensive range of green, blue and red runs will more than cater for most. Personally, in keeping with the blissfully laidback nature of the town, we were happy to take our skiing leisurely, honing our offpiste skills wherever the opportunity allowed.

To promote Megève purely as a ski resort, though, would

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travel Les Fermes de Marie hotel

L'Alpette Mountain restaurant

be to do the town a disservice. Indeed, testament to the town’s appeal to non-skiers, is the fact that 50 per cent of those who visit won’t touch a pair of ski-boots. For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s a special lift pass for pedestrians that can be used to meet skiers on the mountains, a vast range of walks to explore and, for more arduous trails, the chance to rent snow-shoes.

Now, these are all things you could do. But if all that sounds a little too much like hard work, fear not; there are plenty of ways to enjoy Megève without breaking a sweat.

A spa session is one, and I thoroughly recommend spending a couple of hours at the glacier-inspired Pure Altitude Spa within Hotel Mont Blanc. If you’re struggling to switch from work mode to holiday mode, the ‘Pure Altitude Ritual’ can’t fail to do the trick.

As well as shops, the other thing Megève does better than most is restaurants. Numbering over 80 eateries, the town’s gastronomic offerings rank it as the culinary capital of the Alps. During the day, make for Megève’s largest mountain restaurant, L’Alpette. Opened in 1935 in the shadows of Mont Blanc, the venue has become a lunchtime institution. If they’re serving the black pudding when you visit, order it, I urge you. Back in town, Beef Lodge, within the Lodge Park hotel, and Les Enfants Terribles (both Sibuet owned) showcase a devotion to avant-garde aesthetics as

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well as a commitment to treating carnivorous taste buds.

Something of a Gaucho in the snow, the monochromed, meat-centric Beef Lodge caters for a young, fashion-focused crowd, while the arty, open-kitchen nature of the smaller Les Enfants Terribles makes for a more intimate affair.

If there’s one thing you need to do before leaving Megève, it’s to see it by air. Four kilometres from the centre of town, Megève Altiport puts on three-seater planes that will take you on a tour of some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Europe, including panoramic views of the Vallée Blanche and the glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif. With a 30 minute flight costing just €96 per person, and a 40 minute excursion just €128, it’ll be the best hundred bob you’ve ever spent.

Megève has forged a unique reputation within the French Alps. An absence of large-scale hotels and a refusal to pander to the mass market means it retains the aura of luxury on which it thrives. The resort isn’t very well-known in the UK and, having visited, it’s easy to see why the French might want to keep it that way. By all means book a trip and discover Megève’s wonders; just keep the secret to yourself!

more information Ski Independence offer three nights at Hotel Mont Blanc from £679 per person (seven nights from £1,292) inclusive of flights from Heathrow or London City to Geneva with Swiss, return private transfers and accommodation on a B&B basis in a Classic Room. (Based on travel from 17 March 2013). ski-i.com/megeve or call 0131 243 8097 for a tailor made quotation

Ski Independence offer three nights at Le Lodge Park from £733 per person (seven nights from £1,310) inclusive of flights from Heathrow or London City to Geneva with Swiss, return private transfers and accommodation on a B&B basis in a Classic Room.

(Based on travel from 17 March 2013). ski-i.com/megeve or call 0131 243 8097 for a tailor made quotation

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Destination...

angers If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in the Loire Valley, take an extra day or two and explore a medieval escape beyond the urban bustle. DANIEL ENGELSMAN testifies that it’s all in the details WHERE TO STAY – Château de Noirieux The Loire Valley is teeming with vineyards, rustic hotels and lush greenery. To do it justice, I can recommend a Relais & Châteaux hotel. Set in 16 acres of gardens and parkland, the 19-bedroom Château de Noirieux hotel is constructed from stone native to the region. Its various 15th to 17th-century buildings have been meticulously restored, yet still echo the past, with details such as slate floors, stone fireplaces, antiques and rich tapestries. The locale’s gourmet restaurant was awarded its Michelin star in 2000.

Acclaimed chef Gérard Côme and his team offer an imaginative menu with authentic flavours that vary through the seasons. chateaudenoirieux.com

WHERE TO EAT – Une Île You would struggle to find an inadequate restaurant in France and that is especially true in this region. Another Michelin star-earner that supports this theme is Une île. In the modern dining room with highlights of Japanese furnishings and under the elegiac cloud lamps designed by Lucie Lom, is an intricate menu that pays homage to the finest of seasonal produce. Former pupil of chef Jacky Dallais, masterful chef Gérard Bossé is celebrated for his fish dishes. A deliberately restricted number of dishes assures superior quality. une-ile.fr

WHAT TO DO – Cointreau Museum Tour Renowned for having invented orange liqueur, the French are responsible for triple sec, Grand Marnier and of course Cointreau, which is native to the region of Angers. The Cointreau Museum tour lasts around two hours and, sadly, won’t reveal to visitors their secret recipe, but will take them through the history of the manufacture, advertising and labelling of the famed beverage. The reward at the end is an interactive lesson in the art of making a Cointreau From top to bottom: Château d’Angers Fortress; Angers Cathedral; Hotel Noirieux; Gardens at Château d’Angers Fortress; Coquille Saint Jacques at Hotel Noirieux

cocktail in their cocktail bar, where tasting of the concoctions is heartily encouraged. This is an especially favourable option on rainy days, which are frequent in the region. cointreau.com

DON’T MISS – Château d’Angers Fortress With its 17 towers, King Henry II’s fort rests on a rocky ridge overhanging the River Maine and was once among the most powerful citadels in France. Concealed within the colossal, shadowy walls is a 78 ft-wide series of 90 scenes of the Apocalypse. This

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British Airways operate flights twice weekly between London City Airport and Angers (Loire) between May and October. Customers benefit from a quick and easy service at London City Airport, with transfer from kerbside to airside just 15 minutes.Book at ba.com.

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tapestry of the Book of Revelation was commissioned by Louis I, Duke of Anjou, as a piece of 14th-century propaganda. The immaculate green surround of the gardens against the stone walls elegantly juxtaposes the brutality in the art pieces of the interior exhibition. loire-chateaux.co.uk

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22/02/2013 15:05

This

SPORTING LIFE

“

You can go to Barbados and do nothing more than lie on the beach but, as MAT THEW CARTER discovered, there’s ample opportunity for exercise, too

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hen I was growing up, there were 14 sugar plantations on the island. I’m 55 now, and there are just two left,” says Tyron Sandiford matter-of-factly. It’s true. The island in question is Barbados and while sugar was indeed once the mainstay of the local economy, it is now virtually consigned to history: why, even Mount Gay – the oldest rum in the world which has been distilled on the island since 1703 – now imports the sugar it needs.

Not that taxi driver Tyron seems unduly bothered. Today the biggest industry on Barbados is tourism, which is how he makes his money. To prove the point, he’s taking us on a guided tour having just picked us up from one of the island’s former sugar plantations. Today it’s better known as Royal Westmoreland, a 750 acre gated luxury estate, offering the ultimate sybaritic lifestyle.

Fabulous homes sit in lush grounds surrounding a par 72-championship golf course designed by noted golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. Missed a putt? Never mind, just drink in the fabulous views of the Caribbean, less than a mile away. Either that or

Royal Westmoreland Course

take some lessons from the club pro, Roger Beale. He knows what he’s doing: he was 2011 Canadian PGA champion.

Homes? That’s the point. As a holiday haven, Barbados has many top quality hotels – especially on the south and west coasts that are framed by mile after mile of golden sand – but sometimes you don’t want the regimented life that a hotel delivers. And that’s where the Royal Westmoreland alternative comes into play.

Dotted around the huge estate are apartments, townhouses and exclusive villas with private pools each offering privacy, freedom and great luxury at prices to suit different pockets.

Many of the villas have famous owners – often sportsmen from the worlds of football, cricket and golf – who have bought them not just for holidays but also as an investment and rent them out to mere mortals like you and me. So if you want to sleep in Wayne Rooney’s bed without incurring the wrath of the lovely Coleen, now you can.

The Rooney residence (inevitably known locally as Wayne’s World) is a huge six-bedroom villa with a separate cottage for the nanny: you’d be looking at around £2,150 a night in the high season, which runs from the beginning of January to the end of April.

But that price does include tee fees, access to the Sanctuary with

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The Cliff Restaurant

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English settlers arriving in 1627. Although independence was declared as recently as 1966, the island still has a strong British feel. They drive on the left and place names include Hastings, Worthing and Dover. The capital Bridgetown even has a Nelson’s Column. The local currency has an American flavour, though, as the Barbados dollar is directly linked

Top & Bottom: Ocean Drive Villa

its pools and gym, and use of an exclusive beach club with free shuttle to and from the sea. Those on a smaller budget could opt for a one-bedroom Royal Apartment, which is just £245 a night in the summer season (May to December).

I stayed in the rather more affordable (£1,275 a night, high season) four-bedroom villa owned by former player and now football manager Stuart Pearce, though you’d be hard pressed to identify the owner’s background from its stylish boutique hotel décor.

In fact, only one celebrity owner seems happy to leave something of himself at his property: you’ll at least find a signed bat and other sporting memorabilia at the home of cricketer Michael Vaughan.

This lack of identity probably confused one premiership footballer on a villa holiday. According to the (possibly apocryphal) story he so enjoyed his stay on the estate that he enquired about buying his own villa. His request confused the staff who asked whether he was after another villa – he actually owned the villa he was staying at, but clearly ‘his people’ had omitted to advise him of the fact...

One of the reasons for staying in a hotel, of course, if that you’ll never need to lift a finger at mealtimes. But the same can be said of a Royal Westmoreland villa. As well as a daily maid service provided with all villa rentals, it’s possible to hire a top quality chef to prepare meals in the spacious and well-equipped kitchen.

But you won’t want to spend every evening eating in. Barbados is tiny – it’s just 21 miles long and 14 miles wide, and has a local population of less than 300,000 – but it has some of the best cuisine in the world. Restaurants like The Cliff – so-named, as it’s perched on a rock above the Caribbean – serve the finest international cuisine with a Bajan twist. And, while it has been the top island dining spot for decades, it can never afford to rest on its laurels; contemporary newcomer, the chic Cin Cin By The Sea (dress code: elegantly casual), offers divine food and is threatening to take over as number one.

But Barbados offers much more than eating and drinking. It also has a rich history, being claimed for Britain in 1624 with the first

104 THE CITY march 2013

to the US dollar – US$1 is equivalent to Bds$2, regardless of what other world currencies are doing.

And it’s an island of contrasts. The south and west of the island are the most populated and life revolves around the golden sands and the deep turquoise Caribbean. The east coast borders the Atlantic and is rugged and wild: great if you’re a surfer, but it’s not made for tranquil sun worshipping.

When to go? Well, that’s the best bit of all. The tropical climate averages 75-85°F (24-29°C) all year round so pick your date. June to November is known as the rainy season, but that tends to mean a short sharp shower at 3pm each day, after which the sun shines again.

Barbados is also off the hurricane path, with the last major hit being Hurricane Janet in 1955, though 2010’s Hurricane Tomas did cause some minor damage.

That said, it’s best to avoid the Christmas season, unless you really want to share a beach towel with Simon Cowell. Even the locals agree that Barbados starts to lose its relaxed atmosphere as the island fills up with celebrity after celebrity keen to spend the festive season under the sun. Turn up to a restaurant booking 30 minutes late during most of the year and you’ll be greeted by a shrug of the shoulders and told not to worry, the booking was made in Bajan time. Try the same trick at Christmas and you’ll be eating elsewhere.

How about going right now? It’s cold and miserable in the UK, and the sun’s shining in Barbados. To tempt you further, Royal Westmoreland has a special ‘luxury for less’ offer. Book now and you’ll save 40 per cent on a booking in a three-bedroom Royal Villa for up to six people. Seven nights inclusive of ten rounds of golf, as well as 25 per cent off the Indulgence Spa at the Beach Club and 20 per cent off food and drink, can be yours for £1,925.

With both British Airways and Virgin operating daily flights to the island, paradise is only a click away.

more information DO … go to the Oistins Fish Fry, every Friday night on the south coast, for a slice of local life … go snorkelling with wild turtles on the west coast … get married there: is there a more romantic place to exchange vows than on the beach?

DON’T … go over Christmas … drink too many rum punches Matthew Carter was a guest of Royal Westmoreland. For more details on exclusive holidays or villa sales visit royalwestmoreland.com. And for more on the island itself, visit the Barbados Tourism Authority at visitbarbados.org

A PERSONAL TRAINING PRACTICE THAT PULLS NO PUNCHES WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR DEVELOPMENT

41-44 GREAT QUEEN STREET COVENT GARDEN LONDON : WC2B 5AD [ENTRANCE ON DRURY LANE]

T: 020 : 7242 : 0060 INFO@SIX3NINE.COM WWW.SIX3NINE.COM

Six3Nine Advert.indd 1

10/10/2012 10:37

THE Directory Whether you want to dine or to drink, to purchase gorgeous gifts and stylish outfits, to keep fit or to be pampered, the City is home to a wealth of services and amenities

Collection

Health & Beauty

Bachet

Ajala Spa

12 The Courtyard

10 Godliman Street

020 3405 1437

020 7074 1010

bachet.fr

www.ajalaspa.com

Virgin Active 5 Old Broad Street, 0845 270 4080 virginactive.co.uk Barber Express Ltd

artisangalleries.com

14 Devonshire Row Chequers Beauty

2 & 3 The Courtyard

020 7377 5485

Salon

Royal Exchange

barberexpress.co.uk

53-54 Leadenhall Market

020 7283 7284

020 7283 3047

City Health & Fitness

boodles.com

chequersbeauty.co.uk

Club London

Bulgari Royal Exchange 020 7283 4580 bulgari.com Ernest Jones Unit 3, Plantation Place 020 7929 4491 ernestjones.co.uk Goldsmiths 186-190 Bishopsgate 020 7283 6622 goldsmiths.co.uk

Grange City Hotel, Elysium Spa

8-10 Cooper’s Row

21 Old Broad Street

cityhealthclub.co.uk

020 7256 8624 elysiumfortytwo.co.uk

Kiehls Unit 14/15, Royal Exchange 020 7283 6661 kiehls.co.uk Jo Malone 24 Royal Exchange 08701 925131 jomalone.co.uk L’Occitane

144 Fetter Lane Essential Therapy

29 Royal Exchange

020 7702 3553

39 Whitefriars Street

020 7929 7722

fetterbarbers.com

loccitane.co.uk

F Flit tner

Paul A Young Fine

020 7353 1895 essential-therapie.co.uk

86 Moorgate

Chocolates

Optix

020 7606 4750

20 Royal Exchange

175 Bishopsgate

fflittner.com

020 7929 7007

020 7628 0330 optixuk.com

paulayoung.co.uk London City Runner 10 Ludgate Broadway

Smilepod bank studio

9 Royal Exchange

Leadenhall Market

020 7623 3626

off Fenchurch Street

gucci.com

18-20 Cullum Street

Nicholson & Griffin

020 7836 6866

74 Cannon Street, EC4N 6AE

smilepod.co.uk

020 7489 8551

Hermes

020 7929 5656

Fet ter Barbers Ltd

Gucci

12-13 Royal Exchange

Artisan Fine Art 35 Royal Exchange

Boodles

15 The Courtyard

Retail

020 7329 1955 londoncityrunner.com

nicholsonandgriffin.com

Penhaligon’s 4 Royal Exchange 020 7623 3131 penhaligons.com Smoker’s Paradise 33 Royal Exchange 020 7626 6078 smokersparadise.8m.com

020 7626 7794

The Harley

hermes.com

Medical Group

Ted’s Grooming Room

Links of London

Marc House

120 Cheapside

27 Royal Exchange

Great Street

020 7367 9932

020 7621 0021

0800 022 3385

tedsgroomingroom.com

moltonbrown.com

27 Broadgate Circle 020 7628 9668

Molton Brown

linksoflondon.com

harleymedical.co.uk

Tower Bridge Health &

Paul Smith

Montblanc

The Private Clinic

Fitness Club

Unit 7, The Courtyard

10-11 Royal Exchange

107 Cheapside

47 Prescot Street

Royal Exchange

020 7929 4200

0800 599 9911

020 7959 5050

020 7626 4778

montblanc.com

theprivateclinic.co.uk

grangehealthclubs.com

paulsmith.co.uk

Boodles

SushiSamba

High Timber Restaurant

Madison Restaurant

Fashion

Bars and Pubs

Restaurants

Agent Provocateur

1 Lombard Street

1901 at andaz hotel

5 Royal Exchange

1 Lombard Street

40 Liverpool Street

020 7623 0229

020 7929 6611

020 7618 7000

agentprovocateur.com

1lombardstreet.com

andazdining.com

Grand Café

Grappolo 1 Plough Place 020 7842 0510 grappololondon.com

Bulgari

Anise Bar

Anohka Indian

The Courtyard, Royal Exchange

15 The Courtyard, Royal Exchange

9 Devonshire Square

Restaurant St. Pauls

020 7618 2480

020 7283 4580

020 3642 8679

4 Burgon Street

royalexchange-grandcafe.co.uk

bulgari.com

Anthologist

020 7236 3999 anokha-indian.com

Haz Restaurant Plantation Place

Church’s

58 Gresham Street

28 Royal Exchange

0845 468 0101

Brasserie Blanc

6 Mincing Lane

020 7929 7015

theanthologistbar.co.uk

60 Threadneedle Street

020 7929 3173

020 7710 9440

hazrestaurant.co.uk

church-footwear.com

Balls Brothers

Crockett & Jones

11 Blomfield Street

25 Royal Exchange

020 7588 4643

0207 929 2111 crockettandjones.com Harrys of London 18 Royal Exchange 020 7283 4643

brasserieblanc.com

High Timber Restaurant

Caffé Concerto

8 High Timber Street

One New Change

020 7248 1777

Bar Bat tu

020 7494 6857

hightimber.com

48 Gresham Street

caffeconcerto.co.uk

020 7036 6100 barbattu.com

Madison Restaurant

Chamberlain’s

2 New Change

Restaurants

020 8305 3088

Prism

23-25 Leadenhall Market

madisonlondon.net

147 Leadenhall Street

020 7648 8690

020 7256 3888

chamberlains.org

Vertigo 42

Chez Gerard

020 7600 0992

Tower 42, Old Broad Street

14 Trinity Square

mintleaflounge.com

Hugo Boss

020 7877 7842

020 7213 0540

One New Change

vertigo42.co.uk

chezgerard.co.uk

020 7332 0573

Hawksmoor Guildhall

Cinnamon Kitchen

020 7375 2568

10-12 Basinghall Street

9 Devonshire Square

individualrestaurantcompanyplc.co.uk

020 7397 8120

020 7626 5000

thehawksmoor.com

cinnamon-kitchen.com

020 7236 3635

Counting House

Fora Restaurant

Royal Exchange

1-2 Royal Exchange Buildings

50 Cornhill

34-36 Houndsditch

020 7618 2483

020 7626 2782

020 7283 7123

020 7626 2222

sauterelle-restaurant.co.uk

karenmillen.com

fullers.co.uk

forarestaurants.co.uk

harrysoflondon.com Loro Piana 2-3 Royal Exchange 020 7398 0000 loropiana.com

hugoboss.com Karen Millen One New Change

Mint Leaf Lounge 12 Angel Court

Piccolino Restaurant 11 Exchange Square

Restaurant Sauterelle The Courtyard

Sushisamba

L.K. Bennett

Searcys Champagne Bar

Gat tis Restaurant

Floors 38 and 39

One New Change

One New Change

1 Finsbury Avenue

Heron Tower

020 7236 4711

020 7871 1213

020 7247 1051

020 3640 7330

searcyschampagnebars.co.uk

gattisrestaurant.co.uk

sushisamba.com

lkbennett.com

MARCH 2013 THE CITY 107

LONDON Homes&

PROPERTY Showcasing the finest homes in your area

C o v e r i n g Wa p p i n g , S h a d T h a m e s , S h o r e d i t c h , Is l i n g t o n & T h e C i t y

Rent or Buy? Our agents’ advice

Ride the wave

The best properties ON THE WATER

City collection, leather wallcoverings

by Studioart at Fameed Khalique £355 per square metre www.fameedkhalique.com

Ockendon Road, Islington N1 Three bedroom extended family home

A beautifully presented family house over four floors on the south side of this tree lined street. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, shower room, double reception room, kitchen, dining room, guest WC, glazed extension and garden with patio. EPC rating C Approximately 211sq m (2,271 sq ft).

Freehold Guide Price: £1,650,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Islington Islington@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6138

L

Lonsdale Square, Barnsbury N1

An impressive period house in this Victorian square Set over five floors and overlooking beautiful square gardens, this attractive period house, offers a glazed extension to the rear of the house opening onto a west facing garden. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen, dining room, guest WC, conservatory, garden and wine cellar. EPC rating E Approximately 247.81sq m (2,664 sq ft).

Freehold Guide Price: £2,650,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Islington Islington@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6138

Cinnabar Wharf, Wapping E1W

Tower Bridge views

An outstanding sixth floor apartment in this modern development on Wapping High Street. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second bedroom, bathroom, reception room opening onto a private wrap around balcony with spectacular views to Tower Bridge and the Shard, kitchen, porterage and parking. EPC rating D.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £925 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP163173)

Capstan Court, Wapping E1W

Modern apartment

A well presented apartment to rent in this development on Wapping Wall close to Wapping Overground Station. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception room with wooden floors and and open plan kitchen, private terrace and an underground car parking space. EPC rating B.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £395 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP86312)

CITY HP 1 March 2013 - 19 February 2013 - 31220

19/02/2013 16:16:40

CIT

0

Capital Wharf, Wapping E1W

Riverside apartment A riverside apartment to rent on the second floor of this popular development on Wapping High Street. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second en suite bedroom, reception room opening onto a private balcony, separate kitchen, guest cloakroom, lovely River Thames views, porterage and parking. EPC rating C.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £635 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP106376)

Cormorant Lodge, City Quay E1W

Lovely Dock views

A beautifully presented apartment to rent in this extremely sought after development overlooking the magnificent St Katharine Docks. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second bedroom, bathroom, reception room opening onto a private balcony, kitchen, lift access, wooden floors, porterage and parking. EPC rating B.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £725 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP86339)

CITY HP 2 March 2013 LETTINGS - 19 February 2013 - 31230

19/02/2013 16:57:47

Telfords Yard, Wapping E1W

Spectacular penthouse A superb apartment finished to the highest of standards situated in this warehouse conversion. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, 2 further bedrooms, shower room, reception room, open plan kitchen, media room, study, entrance hall, lift and porter. EPC rating B. Approximately 244 sq m (2,634 sq ft).

Available Furnished Guide Price: £1,300 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP175102)

Hermitage Court, Wapping E1W

Split level apartment

An attractive apartment to rent on the second floor of this popular development on Wapping High Street. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with a shower, 2 reception rooms, modern fitted kitchen, large roof terrace, porterage and an underground car parking space. EPC rating C.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £455 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5366 (ASP144864)

Pier Head, Wapping High Street E1W Elegant Grade II Listed Georgian house

A double fronted house with a charming bow front on the garden side, sensitively refurbished to a high standard. Built in the early 19th century between 1811 and 1813 with private communal gardens, the Pier Head formed the lock entrance to the London Docks. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, drawing room, dining room/library, kitchen/breakfast room with access to a communal courtyard. Approximately 220 sq m (2,368 sq ft).

KnightFrank.co.uk/Wapping wapping@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5372

Freehold Guide Price: £2,350,000 (WAP120148)

SALES LPM FP 1 March 2013 - 19 February 2013 - 31179

19/02/2013 12:46:03

Millers Wharf, Wapping E1W

Newly refurbished

An immaculate newly refurbished apartment to rent in this lovely riverside development.

Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second bedroom, bathroom, reception room with semi open plan kitchen, wooden floors, porterage and a balcony with views to Tower Bridge. EPC rating C. Approximately 115 sq m (1,232 sq ft).

Available Furnished Guide Price: £795 per week

Pan Peninsula, Isle of Dogs E14 KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

wappinglettings@knightfrank.com A 12th floor studio suite located in the West Tower in one of 020 8166Wharf's 5369 finest residential developments.

Canary

Boardwalk Place, Canary Wharf E14

Bedroom, bathroom, reception room, open plan kitchen, balcony. EPC rating B. Approximately 28.5 sq m (307 sq ft)

Guide price: £279,995

A well proportioned two bedroom apartment located on the fifth floor of this very popular development. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, concierge, private parking. EPC rating C. Approximately 81.3 sq m (876 sq ft)

Guide price: £500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

(ASP173041)

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Bridewell Place, Wapping E1W

Attractive development A lovely apartment to rent in this attractive gated development in the heart of Wapping.

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with a shower, reception room, open plan kitchen, wooden floors throughout and a car parking space.

Public transport available at Wapping Overground Station and there are also many local amenities. EPC rating D.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £365 per week

Ability Place, Isle of Dogs E14

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings A spacious two bedroom apartment on the 15th floor with a wappinglettings@knightfrank.com large balcony offering far reaching views. 2 bedrooms, 2 020 8166 5369 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, concierge, parking. EPC

Old Sun Wharf, Limehouse E14

rating D. Approximately 86 sq m (920 sq ft)

Guide price: £600,000

A well presented two bedrom duplex apartment offering far reaching views of the River Thames and City. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony, concierge. EPC rating C. Approximately 93 sq m (1,001 sq ft)

Guide price: £620,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

(ASP109819)

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

CW & City mag Mar 2013 - 13 February 2013 - 30974

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

14/02/2013 16:27:06

CW

6

Millers Wharf, Wapping E1W

Newly refurbished

An immaculate newly refurbished apartment to rent in this lovely riverside development.

Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, second bedroom, bathroom, reception room with semi open plan kitchen, wooden floors, porterage and a balcony with views to Tower Bridge. EPC rating C. Approximately 115 sq m (1,232 sq ft).

Available Furnished Guide Price: £795 per week

Landmark East, Isle of Dogs E14 KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

wappinglettings@knightfrank.com A two bedroom apartment located on the 21st floor of this 020 8166 5369 iconic development in Canary Wharf. 2 bedrooms, 2

Belgrave Court, Canary Wharf E14

bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony. EPC rating (ASP173041) B. Approximately 75 sq m (807 sq ft)

Guide price: £625,000

A well presented two bedroom apartment located on the fifth floor with side river views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, concierge, private parking. EPC rating C. Approximately 114 sq m (1,227 sq ft)

Guide price: £835,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

Bridewell Place, Wapping E1W

Attractive development A lovely apartment to rent in this attractive gated development in the heart of Wapping.

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with a shower, reception room, open plan kitchen, wooden floors throughout and a car parking space.

Public transport available at Wapping Overground Station and there are also many local amenities. EPC rating D.

Available Furnished Guide Price: £365 per week

West India Quay, Canary Wharf E14

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings Spacious two bedroom duplex apartment on the 17th and wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 18th floors of a sought after portered development. 2 020 8166 5369 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, parking.

Pan Peninsula, Isle of Dogs E14

EPC rating C. Approximately 201.8 sq m (2,172 sq ft) (ASP109819)

Guide price: £1,425,000

Immaculate penthouse apartment occupying the 39th and 40th floors with two large terraces. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, concierge. EPC rating C. Approximately 371.4 sq m (3,998 sq ft)

Guide price: £4,500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

KnightFrank.co.uk/Canary-Wharf

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

CW & City mag March 2013 - 14 February 2013 - 31065

020 7512 9966 cwharf@knightfrank.com

14/02/2013 16:28:29

WE ARe kn ght frank Let’s face it, with over 48 property agents in Islington to choose from, you need to know who is going to make your search for a buyer, tenant, or new home the easiest and most efficient. We have best in class property throughout N1, N1C, N5, N7, WC1 and EC1, rentals starting from £350 per week, and sales from £350,000.

Our expertise are second to none. Passionate, professional and personal service, from start to finish. Simple.

Visit our office at 353 Upper Street to find out more or call 020 8166 5293.

KnightFrank.co.uk/Islington

homes & property

Property Showcase On Top of The World

A

beautiful duplex penthouse has become available within the vibrant South Bank area of London. The 1,567 sqft, two bedroom property offers panoramic views of the city skyline and River Thames, which can also be enjoyed from two sweeping terraces.

Accessed by a secure penthouse elevator, leading direct to the sixth floor, the duplex has been professionally interior designed and boasts a contemporary style with double height ceilings to the living area and touches such as automated lighting control, under floor heating and TV entertainment systems to bathrooms. A stunning living area and attractive, fully-fitted kitchen make this the ideal space to gather before enjoying the bars and restaurants of London Bridge and the surrounding area. The property benefits from 24/7 security and CCTV coverage. n

Park Street, SE1 ÂŁ1,695 PER WEEK FURNISHED Knight Frank Wapping www.knightfrank.co.uk/wapping

020 7480 6848 119

1 2

savills.co.uk

SHEARWATER COURT, e1w

TOWER WALK, e1w

2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 4 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø 7 terraces ø 3 balconies ø 2 parking spaces ø concierge ø 368 sq m (3,960 sq ft) ø EPC = C

3 reception rooms ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 5 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø balcony ø patio ø 359 sq m (3,874 sq ft) ø EPC = C

Guide £4,999,995 Share of Freehold

Guide £3.5 million Leasehold

3 4

Savills Docklands zjames@savills.com 020 7456 6800

Savills Docklands nefthymiou@savills.com 020 7456 6800

NORFOLK HOUSE, ec4v

JACKSON & JOSEPH, e1

Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 double bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 balconies ø porter ø 149 sq m (1,605 sq ft) ø EPC = C

Reception room ø kitchen ø 4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø guest cloakroom ø patio garden ø 232 sq m (2,500 sq ft) ø EPC = C

Guide £2.4 million Share of Freehold

Guide £1.8 million Leasehold

Savills Docklands nefthymiou@savills.com 020 7456 6800

Savills Docklands zjames@savills.com 020 7456 6800

1 2

savills.co.uk

ST. PETERS ROAD, tw1

RIVERSIDE QUARTER, sw18

4 reception rooms ø conservatory ø 5 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø garden ø garage & off-street parking ø park & river views ø 376 sq m (4,066 sq ft) ø EPC = F

Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø 2 bedrooms (originally 3) ø 3 bathrooms ø 2 balconies ø 2 parking spaces ø 150 sq m (1,615 sq ft) ø EPC = B

Guide £3.2 million Freehold

Guide £1.5 million Leasehold

3 4

Savills Richmond mabernethy@savills.com 020 8614 9100

Savills Putney mheard@savills.com 020 8780 9900

CHELSEA HARBOUR, sw10

FAIRMONT AVENUE, e14

Reception/dining room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 terraces ø underground parking space ø concierge ø 108 sq m (1,159 sq ft) ø EPC = C

Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø terrace ø parking space ø concierge ø 151 sq m (1,623 sq ft) ø EPC = E

Guide £1.245 million Leasehold

Guide £975,000 Leasehold

Savills Chelsea nridley@savills.com 020 7578 9000

Savills Canary Wharf wdickenson@savills.com 020 7531 2500

❖ Savills Fact No.5

96% of our clients would recommend us to a friend*.

Knowing Islington.

Knowing the finest establishments is just part of what it takes to truly know Islington.

Angel is alive, nowhere more so than on Upper Street, and that’s why after discussing a young couple’s needs we suggested Vincent Square - we knew it would suit the lifestyle they were after, and consequently their alternative choice Hampstead was no more.

For a deeper local knowledge contact Libbi Hattersley, Lettings Negotiator, on 020 7354 6701. *Source: The Savills Client Care Questionnaire 2010

Savills Islington 94-96 Upper Street London N1 0NP

savills.co.uk

Libbi Hattersley MARLA Lettings lhattersley@savills.com

savills.co.uk

1 MAGNIFICENTLY RESTORED HOUSE IN BLOOMSBURY CONSERVATION AREA bloomsbury, wc1n 5 bedrooms ø 6 bathrooms ø 3 reception rooms ø garden ø roof terrace ø 605 m (6,516 sq ft) ø EPC = D

Savills Islington Libbi Hattersley lhattersley@savills.com

020 7354 6701 £5,500 per week Flexible furnishings

1 2

savills.co.uk

PAN PENINSULA, e14

NEO BANKSIDE, se1

3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø river views ø 24hr porterage ø communal gardens ø communal leisure facilities ø EPC = C

3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony with river views ø 24hr porterage ø residents leisure facilities ø EPC = C

£1,550 per week Furnished

£1,325 per week Furnished

3 4

Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500

Savills Docklands brodgers@savills.com 020 7456 6800

NEW PROVIDENCE, wharf

HERMITAGE WATERSIDE,

1 reception room ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) ø 24hr porterage ø allocated parking ø residents gym ø EPC = C

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø allocated parking ø EPC = C

£525 per week Furnished

£495 per week Furnished

Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500

Savills Docklands brodgers@savills.com 020 7456 6800

UNIQUE HOMES, UNIQUE SERVICE, UNIQUE PEOPLE A tailored service from Langford Russell for distinctive and exclusive homes

CLEVE, CAMDEN PARK ROAD, CHISLEHURST BR7 Cleve is located at one of the finest addresses in the Bromley Borough. A home of grand proportions filled with natural light and clean symmetrical lines of design. This spectacular six bedroom designer home offers over 7000 square feet of accommodation with all principal rooms arranged at the rear of the house having uninterrupted views over the South Westerly facing garden. This is a stunning property and a sensational achievement of contemporary architectural vision. Energy Efficiency Rating D.

ÂŁ3,250,000 F/H Please contact our Chislehurst office for more information: Tel: 020 8295 4900 Email: chislehurst@langfordrussell.co.uk

OLD ORCHARD, HILLBROw, BICKLEY BR2 Stunning six bedroom detached house on an exclusive private road within walking distance of Elmstead Woods and Bickley stations offering direct links into central London. Arranged over three floors, accommodation comprises three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, six bedrooms and five bathrooms. Further benefits include rear garden and integral garage. Energy Efficiency Rating C.

ÂŁ1,695,000 F/H Please contact our Bromley office for more information: Tel: 020 8315 5544 Email: bromley@langfordrussell.co.uk

Offices Across South East London & Kent www.uniquepropertiesuk.com

www.langfordrussell.co.uk

UNIQUE is a Specialist Division of Langford Russell

LEFT-HAND

Hamptons City Office Sales. 020 7717 5435 city@hamptons-int.com

Mountford House, EC1M £450,000 Leasehold

Chandlery House, E1 £549,950 Leasehold

Set on the first floor of Mountford House, Britton Street, this beautifully presented 1 bedroom split-level apartment has recently been refurbished to a high standard.

This stunningly refurbished 2 bedroom offers a wealth of warehouse features including exposed brickwork and comes with a secure underground parking space.

Martha’s Buildings, EC1V £649,500 Leasehold

Queens Quay, EC4V £415,000 - Leasehold

This exceptionally bright and well presented 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment offers superb living space and easy City access.

This beautifully presented river-facing 1 bedroom apartment is on the 2nd floor in the highly popular Queens Quay building on the north bank of the Thames.

Bishopsgate - EC2M £425,000 Leasehold

Alie Street, E1 £425,000 Leasehold

This well-presented 1 bedroom flat is set on the 4th floor of an extremely popular lift-serviced building opposite Liverpool Street.

Set on the first floor of a new building completed in 2012, this 1 bedroom apartment is receiving a weekly rent of £350pw on a 10 year fixed tenancy.

RIGHT-HAND

Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5489 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

Cinnamon Wharf, SE1 £799,950 Leasehold

Trinity Church Square, SE1 £1,000,000 Leasehold

A two bedroom apartment on the fifth floor of this popular Shad Thames development benefitting from a communal roof terrace and 24 hour porter.

Character filled duplex penthouse within a listed Georgian property, roof terrace and galleried study, set at the heart of the Trinity Conservation Area.

Cardamom Building, SE1 £1,295,000 Leasehold

Bankside Lofts, SE1 £675,000 Leasehold

A beautifully presented two bedroom warehouse conversion in the heart of Shad Thames overlooking a courtyard with porter services and protected parking.

A unique studio/one bedroom loft apt in this landmark development adjacent to the Tate Modern. The apartment benefits from open views.

Marshalsea Road, SE1 £825,000 Leasehold

Grange Road, SE1 £399,950 Leasehold

A two bedroom, two bathroom converted warehouse apartment, within walking A one bedroom mews house in a gated development, conveniently located for distance to Borough, London Bridge and Southwark Underground Stations. the shops and amenities of Bermondsey Square and Tower Bridge Road, and access to The City.

LEFT-HAND

Hamptons City Office Lettings. 020 7717 5437 citylettings@hamptons-int.com

Ludgate Square, EC4 £1,100 per week

St Katharine Docks, E1 £725 per week

An impressive three bedroom penthouse apartment with a private roof terrace facing St Paul’s Cathedral.

A well presented two bedroom apartment in this popular dockside development benefitting from a terrace overlooking the dock.

Bartholomew Close, EC1 £600 per week.

Folgate Street, E1 £495 per week

Beautifully decorated two double bedroom apartment quietly located in the historical area of Farringdon with Church views.

Two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on the third floor in the popular Folgate Street development, benefiting from 24 hour concierge.

Upper Thames Street, EC4 £420 per week

Wapping High Street, E1W £390 per week

Modern one bedroom apartment with direct river views in this superb location in the heart of the City, close to St Pauls and Bank.

Newly refurbished one bedroom apartment in this excellent riverside location in Wapping, benefiting from a balcony overlooking the River Thames.

RIGHT-HAND

Hamptons Tower Bridge Office Lettings. 020 7717 5491 towerbridgelettings@hamptons-int.com

Benbow House, SE1 £1,700 per week

New Concordia Wharf, SE1 £900 per week

Fantastic three double bedroom apartment with three en suite bathrooms and two receptions, boasting superb wrap around balcony offering spectacular views .

Superb warehouse conversion with refurbished kitchen and en suite bathrooms.

Boasting exposed brick, beams, wood flooring and guest cloakroom with balcony.

Butlers Wharf, SE1

St Georges Wharf, SE1 £535 per week

£795 per week

Fabulous one bedroom warehouse conversion with dressing room and wood flooring in the prestigious Butlers Wharf Building with balcony.

A beautiful two bedroom warehouse apartment situated in the heart of Shad Thames boasting exposed brickwork, wood floors and balcony.

Merganser Court, E1W £525 per week

Dragonfly Apartments, SE16 £440 per week

A beautiful one bedroom apartment boasting spacious bedroom and reception room both with direct access to balcony overlooking St Katharine’s Dock, parking and porter.

Fabulous Duplex apartment with the master suite on the top level with balcony and spiral staircase down to the kitchen/reception room with terrace and utility room and guest WC.

Hamptons Islington

Sales. 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

Lloyd Baker Street, WC1 ÂŁ1,795,000 Freehold This charming period property which offers flexible accommodation over three floors, a large rear garden, period features.

Hamptons Islington 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

Huntingdon Street, N1 ÂŁ2,550,000 Freehold A magnificent and remodelled four bedroom, 2700 sq ft, period house backing onto Barnsbury Wood, with a wonderful combination of contemporary fittings and period detail, featuring a breath-taking master suite on the top floor with a retractable roof.

Hamptons Islington 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

The right buyers and tenants delivered fast since 1869.

For more information go to www.hamptons.co.uk

Hamptons Islington

Sales. 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

Albany Mews, N1 ÂŁ595,000 Leasehold An extremely well presented two bedroom ground floor apartment with a lovely rear garden and off street parking.

Hamptons Islington 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

Hoxton Square, N1 ÂŁ550,000 Leasehold A well presented apartment located on Hoxton Square. The property offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen, underground parking, lift service & day porter.

Hamptons Islington 020 7717 5303 islington@hamptons-int.co.uk

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REGENT S COURTYARD

LONDON NW1 An exclusive gated development of five contemporary houses bordering Regent’s Park, each featuring an abundance of living space and private patio gardens.

The houses provide an entire floor dedicated to a luxurious dual aspect reception room, perfect for relaxing or entertaining and further benefit from luxurious principal bedroom suites and indulgent home cinemas.

Residents can move from car to house securely and comfortably with direct access from the underground car park to each house. The development is secured with CCTV throughout and benefits from an onsite 24 hour uniformed concierge.

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L/H 993 YEARS

JOINT SOLE AGENTS

FROM £3.4M

Shearwater Court, Star Place, Wapping E1W

Bridgeport Place, Wapping E1W

Price: £4,950,000

£510,000 Leasehold

City Quay, Sanderling Lodge,Wapping E1W

Tradewinds Court, Wapping E1W

Price: £1,495,000

Price: £375,000 Leasehold

This spectacular duplex penthouse, located in the prestigious City Quay development boasts superb views over St. Katherine’s Dock. Refurbished to a high standard, with a cinema room, concierge, multiple balconies and 2 parking spaces. Moments from Tower bridge, bars and restaurants and within walking distance to the city

Wapping’s most prestigious St Katharine’s Dock location. 2 double bedroom apartment offers fantastic water views from this 4th floor luxurious modern development. Boasting a south facing balcony (3 balconies in total) and a bright reception. Fitted kitchen and 2 bathrooms.

24 Hour security/ concierge and secure underground parking.

This good sized 2 bedroom/ 2 bathroom split level apartment is ideally situated only moments away from St. Katherine’s dock. This property boasts a private garden, porter, garage and additional parking space.

Close to all amenities and within walking distance to the city and an easy commute to canary wharf. Please call now to view.

Modern 1 double bedroom apartment with reception room, kitchen & Bathroom. Situated in West Wapping within very popular secure development with parking. Short stroll to vibrant St Katherine’s Dock and City amenities and within easy access to Canary Wharf. Good condition throughout. Porterage on site. Must be viewed.

ea2 Estate Agency Heritage Court | 8-10 Sampson Street | Wapping | London E1W 1NA t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com

Queen of the Isle, Docklands E14

Lime Close, Wapping E1W

Rental Price: £360 PW

Rental Price: £385 PW

Swan Court Star Place,Wapping E1W

Teal Court Star Place, Wapping E1W 1AB

Rental Price: £1,650 PW

Rental Price: £800 PW

This modern, bright and spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath third floor flat benefits from a fabulous open-plan reception room with fitted kitchen and balcony. Bathroom. East Ferry Road offers a variety of local amenities as well as Marsh Wall and for a wider range of shops, bar and restaurants Canary Wharf is nearby.

Unique opportunity to rent this 6th & 7th floor penthouse apartment within the most prestigious location of the historic St Katherine’s Dock, West Wapping. 3 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception, fitted kitchen. All rooms have a terrace or balcony. Superb views over the Yacht marina.

24 hour concierge. Secure parking.

2 bedroom house which has been completely re furbished throughout to include a new kitchen and bathroom. The property offers a fitted kitchen, reception, bathroom & own garden. Allocated parking space.

Situated within easy access to the City & Canary Wharf.

Situated within St Katherine’s Docks, this 2 double bedroom, 2 bathroom, apartment which has been recently refurbished to a high standard. A double aspect reception room, marina views and an open plan kitchen 24 Hour Concierge. Situated within easy access to the City and Canary Wharf.

ea2 Estate Agency Heritage Court | 8-10 Sampson Street | Wapping | London E1W 1NA t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com

Tea Trade Wharf, Shad Thames, SE1 £515 pw A large one bedroom apartment measuring 678 sq ft within an impressive modern development located on Shad Thames.

Underground parking and access to a private gym included.

The ColdFlagstore, Harbour, Queen E14 £350 Elizabeth per weekStreet, SE1 £520 Butlers pwWharf, SE1 £550 pw

A lovely modernone apartment located just a stroll One bedroom in one of the most prestigious An outstanding bedroom, warehouse loft apartment with privateapartment roof terrace.

Recently refurbished therefore from Canary Wharf.shape and offered furnished. blocks in Shad Thames offering a great view of Tower Bridge. presented in great

Curlew Street, SE1 £2,200,000 Freehold A superb freehold property of great quality which combines the edgy, urban style of a warehouse conversion with the practicality of a five bedroom house.

Recently refurbished to an exacting standard, a beautifully presented one bedroom apartment with views over the Thames and Tower Bridge.

Butlers &Cold Colonial Harbour, Wharf, E14Shad £350Thames, per weekSE1 £725,000 Butlers Leasehold Wharf, SE1 £550 pw

A lovely modern apartment located just a stroll One bedroomlocated apartment in oneThames. of the most prestigious A 904 sq ft, two bedroom apartment within a popular warehouse development on Shad from Canary Wharf. blocks in Shad Thames offering a great view of Tower Bridge.

Hays Galleria Apartments Battlebridge Lane London SE1 A rare opportunity to live in one of London’s most historic addresses.

Located adjacent to London Bridge Station and on the banks of the River Thames, Hays Galleria is one of London’s most impressive and vibrant mixed use developments. The apartments benefit from a host of retail outlets, restaurants and café’s on their doorstep. The development, along with 24 hour security and a Day Concierge service, has easy access to The City, Canary Wharf, The West End as well as the restaurants, bars, café’s and shops of London Bridge, Bermondsey Street, Borough High Street and Shad Thames.

Available now on a furnished basis.

1 bedroom apartments from £450 per week 2 bedroom apartments & 2 bedroom duplexes from £715 per week

112 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TX Tel 020 7378 0644 info@madleyproperty.com www.madleyproperty.com

P R O P E R TY S E R V I C E S

CurrellResidential

£1,595,000 Freehold Theberton Street, N1 • Attractive Grade II listed family house • Four bedrooms • Double reception room • South facing garden

£925,000 Share of freehold Highbury Court, N5 • Spacious mansion flat • Communal garden with direct access • Opposite Highbury Fields • Three Bedrooms

£799,950 Leasehold Royle Building, N1 • Fabulous 1230 sqft loft • Private balcony & parking • Modern featured kitchen & bathroom • Portered iconic building

£399,950 Share of Freehold Ardleigh Road, N1 • Raised ground floor flat • 40 ft private South West facing garden • Separate kitchen / spacious reception • Plenty of period features

020 7226 4200

islington@currell.com

www.currell.com

homes & property

Company Profile DANIEL BLOOM, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF new york PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY CITYWISE REAL ESTATE, SHARES HIS BUSINESS INSIGHT

specialises in managing New York property for ‘distant’ owners.

That means helping explain the differences in New York taxation, landlord responsibilities and being available in a European time zone for real-time discussion as well as taking on individual apartments.

Is the time right for investing in New York property and becoming a landlord?

The US housing market increasingly shows real signs of stabilising.

Indeed, the National Association of Realtors has just reported that for the sixth consecutive month, property prices are consistent or have increased. Mortgage markets are also recovering, but increasingly stringent lending criteria mean that many households remain in New York City’s substantial private rented sector. This means upward pressure on rental values for good stock in the most desirable locations.

Just like for the UK market, investors in New York need to think strategically. For example, a new subway station is going to open up areas of the city that have previously been unfashionable but which will become valuable to owners and landlords.

What inspired you to set up Citywise Real Estate?

I have been buying property in New York since 1996 and am very familiar with property issues as an owner and landlord.

As I had trained as a chartered surveyor in the UK I thought that I could bring a fresh approach to the agency so I took the exams to become a New York State Licensed broker. And then I bought Citywise Real Estate in 2005.

What was the fresh approach?

As an investor in apartments I found that agents were reluctant to manage anything other than whole blocks. I saw this as a great opportunity. Also, as an owner thousands of miles away, I had to be able to trust my property manager to act swiftly for my tenants but I was often frustrated by time zones. Citywise Real Estate therefore

Citywise Real Estate 020 7034 7011 www.citywiserealestate.com

142

What’s the advantage to Citywise Real Estate having a London hub?

UK based owners clearly find it a huge benefit to be able to pick up the phone at 8am and talk to someone who understands and can resolve any concerns in real time.

Apart from the convenience aspect, we provide comparable advice about the London and New York areas. We offer frank assessments of different areas – what is the NY equivalent of Canary Wharf or Clapham – whether the area’s schools make it good for families or if transport links make it attractive for city workers (like the impact of Crossrail).

Our genuine knowledge of the two cities is greatly appreciated by those investing or relocating. And our extensive experience of property management helps to make being a landlord a profitable pleasure. n

In the city that never sleeps, does your agent?

Unlike many, we offer landlords 24-hour on-call response, protecting your New York property and caring for your tenants. But then Citywise Property Management is different: we also welcome individual apartments (not just blocks). And we even have an office here in London so you can meet us face to face. So sleep well, because we don’t.

London Office: Citywise Real Estate 83 Baker Street, London W1U 6AG T: 020 70347011 E: enquiries@citywiserealestate.com

citywiserealestate.com

Your reward for all the lonely dinners at your desk.

Feeling priced out of the London property market?

Get

...AND WIN A GYM MEMBERSHIP

The City Mills, E8

Own your own home from £870 pcm* Yes that’s right! If you earn less than £77,200 a year and live or work in London, then you could own your own place for as little as £870pcm* through L&Q’s shared ownership scheme.

Register with us today - to find out how you can afford a place of your own and be in with a chance to win a 12 month gym membership to all London UK Fitness Network Gyms.

To get PricedIn register at

www.lqgroup.co.uk/pricedin

or text

‘pricedin’ to 60123

*Industrial and Provident Society 30441R exempt charity. Details correct at time of going to print 01/13. Your home is at risk if you fail to keep up repayments on a mortgage, rent or other loan secured on it. Please make sure you can afford the repayments before you take out a mortgage. Competition Terms & Conditions apply: Register to be entered into the prize draw to win a Gym Membership. *The figure quoted is a percentage share and is a guideline and may vary according to individual incomes and circumstances. FOR FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS please see www.lqgroup.org.uk/pricedin for details. Imagery depicts a CGI representation of the development/s.

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22/02/2013 11:45

homes & property

PROPERTY news A Home For All Seasons London developer L&Q aims to combat the confusion of shared-ownership schemes, SAYS SAM JONES

E

ach month in these pages, our agents and property experts largely applaud the capital’s thriving housing market and signal great investment potential in the regenerated areas of the east. However, a recent report by the GLA* shows that a quarter of London households remain privately rented, with residents either unwilling or unable to take the first steps towards home ownership.

For those people, ‘shared ownership’ buying schemes represent an alternative to paying high rents without gaining equity. However, there remains a lack of awareness about how the system works, which is why one London-based developer has resolved to simplify the process.

L&Q specialises in providing affordable homes and has committed to promoting the ‘shared ownership’ system with its new PricedIn campaign. Olivia Scrimshaw, senior marketing manager at L&Q, tells us: “L&Q have been responding to housing needs for 50 years. We are using our expertise to provide a solution to a growing problem; the misunderstanding surrounding shared ownership and the lack of awareness of it. So many Londoners are paying monthly rents which are higher than the cost of owning a home under a shared ownership scheme. All that is left to do is encourage shared ownership as a viable solution to getting onto the property ladder.”

Part-rent, part-buy opportunities are not just limited to first-time buyers. While one and two bedroom apartments in great locations are available, there is also a selection of three and four bedroom family homes on offer which means many potential buyers are finding themselves eligible on closer examination.

Interested buyers should visit the PricedIn website and register their details. n www.lqgroup.org.uk/pricedin *Greater

London Authority Report, December 2012

DEVELOPMENT SPOTLIGHT RECULVER ROAD, SE16 Fast approaching the last stage of regeneration, South Bermondsey is one of London’s most exciting zones. The area has benefitted from vast investment over a 12 year period and the final phase of shared ownership homes is now available.

Highlights of the two and three bedroom homes at Bermondsey South include fully-fitted kitchens and outdoor space with either a private balcony or patio and all have access to a communal garden and multi-use games area.

A cycle store is available to all residents and unrestricted parking is available on the surrounding streets, but the vibrancy of popular London attractions such as Borough Market and the Tate Modern are all within walking distance.

Apartments start from £56,250 for a 25% share of a full price value of £225,000 with monthly starting prices from £878pcm*. *Applicants require a minimum income of £31,800 and minimum savings of £4,300 to buy a home at Bermondsey South and will be open to those living or working in the boroughs of Southwark Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley or Bexley.

L&Q www.lqgroup.org.uk/bermondsey

0844 406 9800 147

1&2 Bedroom apartments

tired of renting? own your own home in 2013 Millennium Horizon apartments are a collection of contemporary one and two bedroom apartments in the heart of Canning Town. The apartments offer modern specifications, a host of ‘eco’ features, with some apartments benefiting from views

of the City including the Millennium Dome.

Owning your own home in 2013 at this stunning development is now possible with the help of the Government’s part-buy, part-rent Shared Ownership scheme. Prices start from as little as £47,500 for a 25% share.*

Viewing now!

T: 020 8357 4444 E: sales@nhhg.org.uk www.nhhg.org.uk/millennium

t

*= £47,500 for a 25% share of full market value property of £190,000 for a 1 bedroom home.

Images of Millennium Horizon exterior and of the show apartment.

Scan me for more information

MillenniumCity&CanaryWharf2013

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22/02/2013 09:48

homes & property

PROPERTY FOCUS Shared Ownership Shared ownership schemes are allowing buyers to make sensible investments and acquire modern homes, here are some of London’s finest, SAYS SAM JONES Two bedroom apartments start at £72,000 based on a 30 per cent share of the full market value of £240,000.

A LIFESTYLE CHOICE Barking Road, E16 Notting Hill Home Ownership’s Millennium Horizon, a new development of affordable homes at the regenerated Rathbone Market, includes one and two bedroom properties. It is just minutes away from Canning Town underground station and features striking architecture, modern specifications, and a host of eco-friendly features, as well as superb transport links.

Many homes benefit from a balcony or terrace. Residents have exclusive access to a landscaped garden podium which includes a water feature, and the development even offers rooftop allotments.

Furthermore, some apartments showcase stunning views of the city, including the Millennium Dome.

The development is part of a long-awaited regeneration of the historic Rathbone Market. The major redevelopment scheme includes around 650 new homes and One approximately 35,000 sqft of new shops and bedroom cafés wrapped around the ground floors of apartments start the site, bordering a new, central market at £49,375 based square. A new library, local service centre on a 25 per cent and other community facilities will also be share of the full market value of available. Millennium Horizon has introduced £197,500. a £1000 incentive for buyers who exchange within four weeks. n

Notting Hill Home Ownership www.nhhg.org.uk/millennium

020 8357 4444 LOOK AHEAD isobel place, n15

Newlon Housing Trust www.isobelplace.co.uk

0800 058 2544

Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Tottenham High Road lies Isobel Place, a new development by Newlon Housing Trust.

These modern one and two bedroom apartments come with either a terrace or balcony and are within easy walking distance of Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale underground stations, each giving excellent access to the surrounding areas.

Built within the grounds of the beautiful Grade II Listed Tottenham Town Hall, on the edge of Tottenham Green, these attractive homes provide light and spacious living space, ideal for the today’s modern, energy conscious lifestyle.

Isobel Place is well placed to take advantage of the wide One variety of shops and restaurants that the area has to offer. bedroom and two The wealth of local facilities close by include the Bernie Grant bedroom apartments Arts Centre, a purpose built multi-arts centre which includes will be available from a 274 seat auditorium, studio/rehearsal space, café/ bar and £64,000 based on a 40 multimedia studios. per cent share of a full market value of Haringey Council is currently planning a regeneration of £160,000.

Tottenham Green that will see it becoming a cultural hub for the local community. n

Computer Generated Images. Finished appearance may differ from images shown. Parking is not available at the development.

149

Place

Available to reserve from March 2013

London N15

Visit us at the First Time Buyer Home Show - Saturday 2nd March 2013 at Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London. Register at www.ftbhomeshow.com

Find a place to call your own 68 stylish one and two bedroom apartments coming soon for Shared Ownership (Part Buy, Part Rent) Hidden away from all of the hustle and bustle of Tottenham High Road lies Isobel Place, a new development by Newlon Home Ownership. Imagine a home from home where you can escape from city life, for Shared Ownership sale (Part Buy, Part Rent).

Computer generated image of Isobel Place.

For further information please contact us on

0800 058 2544 or visit our website

www.isobelplace.com Newlon welcomes interest from all first time buyers earning up to ÂŁ64,300 for all of our properties.

homes & property

HOMEs OF THE MONTH KINGSLAND ROAD, n1 FROM £495,000 leasehold

Kingsland Wharves www.kingslandwharves.co.uk

0844 406 9299

A fashionable neighbourhood feel and excellent transport links facilitated by new rail connections have made East London a current investment hotspot: buyers at Kingsland Wharves are well-placed to benefit.

Its three bedroom apartments and last remaining penthouse are particularly sought after, owing to their spacious layouts, option of personal balconies/patios and very high specification finishes including individual fitted kitchens with Neff appliances and spacious white bathrooms with chrome accessories.

The development curves around the historic Kingsland basin, a setting complemented by landscaped grounds, offering waterside living for many residents. The peaceful haven of the nearby Regents Canal is home to vibrant cafés, bars and warehouse conversions while Hoxton, Shoreditch and Angel are accessible within 15 minutes, contributing even more culture and entertainment to the area. Haggerston Overground is also two minutes’ walk away providing links to Canary Wharf and the West End.

ST JOHN STREET, EC1V £1,999,999 LEASEHOLD

Currell Residential www.currell.com

020 7253 2533

With direct lift access and stunning views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Shard, Currell Residential is proud to present this beautifully designed duplex penthouse located in the heart of Clerkenwell.

On entrance level, the accommodation comprises a spacious dining room area with balcony access and a modern open-plan kitchen with a separate utility area and guest W.C. There are also three attractive bedrooms, one of which houses a beautifully designed en-suite bathroom and there is an additional family bathroom with a bath and separate shower. Both the main bedroom and the second bedroom also enjoy balcony access.

The top floor boasts an amazing living room which occupies the whole of the level and has access to two terraces. An additional shower-room on this floor is ideal if residents have extra guests, or for those who might desire a shower after relaxing in the summer sun. This property would suit a professional couple who want ease of access to the City and the West End. The nearest train station is Farringdon.

PAYNES & BORTHWICK WHARVES, SE8 FROM £275,000 LEASEHOLD

Jones Lang LaSalle www.paynesandborthwick.com

020 087 5000 152

United House Developments, in conjunction with La Salle Investment Management and Lane Castle, is transforming a forgotten stretch of London’s riverside with the launch of Paynes & Borthwick in West Greenwich this month. The exciting £120m development involves the sensitive restoration of the listed warehouse buildings and their original facades, a new landmark residential tower, private landscaped gardens, underground car parking and 38,000 sqft of art gallery, restaurant, commercial and retail space. Paynes & Borthwick will comprise 247 high specification one, two and three bedroom apartments and ten live/ work units in a landscaped setting, with outstanding views across the river towards Canary Wharf and the City. It will include a new parade of waterfront bars and restaurants and a pedestrian boulevard which will link the Deptford riverside with vibrant Greenwich town centre for the first time. The newly upgraded Deptford train station is ten minutes’ walk away providing an overground rail link to London Bridge in just seven minutes.

now open

Sales & Lettings

Royal Exchange 020 7337 4000 Sales royalsales@eu.jll.com Lettings royallettings@eu.jll.com 16-17 Royal Exchange | London EC3V 3LL West End 020 7993 7395 Canary Wharf 020 7715 9700 Blackheath 020 8852 8855 Greenwich 020 8858 9944 Finsbury Park 020 7870 6667

joneslanglasalle.co.uk

homes & property

Company Profile RICHARD PINE-COFFIN, director of residential AT JONES LANG LASALLE, SHARES HIS BUSINESS INSIGHT

Can you please tell us a bit about what Jones Lang LaSalle does, in your own words?

Jones Lang LaSalle is a financial and professional services firm specialising in real estate and investment management.

The network covers in excess of 1,000 locations in 70 countries with more than 40,000 employees providing disciplines from all aspects of the property market.

Each team provides a deep understanding of their market sector be that from real estate management, investment, planning acquisition or disposal through the commercial, residential or professional departments.

How did the company start?

The company was started in 1783 as a London auction house becoming Jones Lang Wootton in 1939 and Jones Lang LaSalle in 1999, and is now one of the leading global commercial real estate services and investment management firms. In 2011 the acquisition of the national and international residential agents King Sturge completed the offering to clients by securing a holistic understanding of the property market.

What do you think it is that makes you stand out from your competitors?

Jones Lang LaSalle has a significant share of the international markets through the office networks in South East Asia, the Middle East and India generating a truly global reach. We advise on some of the Capital’s greatest development projects and provide an unquestionable market knowledge with a global network of advisers and agents – the exposure for our clients is unparalleled. The City residential team has close ties with the Jones Lang LaSalle commercial City office providing direct access to off market opportunities and the influential decision makers in many of the City firms. Located within the Royal Exchange, an iconic landmark building in Central London, our exposure to the market is significant and our

Jones Lang LaSalle 020 7337 4000 www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk

154

experience in this market is vast with the majority of the team having in excess of five to ten years of experience in residential real estate.

Are there any particularly interesting projects the company has worked on?

We have acted for many landmark schemes within London, both within the City and wider London market. These include The Heron EC2, Goodmans Fields E1 and Canaletto EC1 through to 21 Wapping Lane E1, Merchant Square W2, The Hat Factory W1, Marconi House WC2, St. Dunstan’s House, Fetter Lane and Battersea Power Station.

What’s the biggest tip you would give those looking to buy a new home?

The old adage of location, location, location is still as relevant as ever. Seek good transport hubs both current and future, understand your market and be sure of your funding position.

Places to watch include anything within the Square Mile, Bermondsey and areas along the new Cross Rail link especially those close to the TechCity zone of Old Street through into Whitechapel. Crossrail will have also have a huge impact on some areas of London that until now have lacked good transport links into the city centre.

The prestigious City residential scheme The Heron, EC2 For more information please contact the marketing suite on 0845 533 8000 www.theheron.co.uk

What do you think the future holds for the property industry?

Residential property continues to provide a strong mid to long term investment opportunity for both investors and home owners. A significant proportion of the tenants within the market are seeking to acquire homes but are unable to do so with the current lending restrictions. Jones Lang LaSalle research suggests there are 300,000 more tenants in the market today than ten years ago (25.4 per cent vs. 15.3 per cent) and many are expected to enter into the market upon easing of mortgage lending. We are falling short of the London Plan to create a minimum of 32,000 new homes per annum by 12,000 homes this year and are currently circa 170,000 short of where we need to be to supply enough homes in the market, so the deficit of new stock requirement is significant. The government is seeking ways to ease the pressure, however this issue of stock shortage will continue to be a very real problem. n

Sales & Lettings Royal Exchange 020 7337 4000 Sales royalsales@eu.jll.com Lettings royallettings@eu.jll.com 16-17 Royal Exchange | London EC3V 3LL West End 020 7993 7395 Canary Wharf 020 7715 9700 Blackheath 020 8852 8855 Greenwich 020 8858 9944 Finsbury Park 020 7870 6667

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24/10/2012 10:52