The City Magazine March 14 by Runwild Media Group

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MAYFAIR BOUTIQUE 43 Davies Street Mayfair London W1K 4LU 020 7495 6378 davidmarshalllondon.com

17/02/2014 15:43

CONTENTS

MARCH 2014

ÂŠ Andreu Doz Photography

BUSINESS & WEALTH 26 | INTERVIEW: Steward of the City

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Fiona Woolf, talks to RICHARD BROWN about shaping life in the Square Mile

30 | Lex Van Dam on Stocks

The hedge-fund manager and financial advisor talks timing and taking stock

32 | Nick Hungerford on Investments

The CEO of Nutmeg says help must be given to the next generation

34 | KATHLEEN BROOKs ON FX

The research director (UK EMEA) at forex.com discusses the

perils investors face when it comes to emerging markets

35 | richard jeffrey on macroeconomics

The chief investment officer at Cazenove Capital talks about tightening policy and its effect on the City

6 | CONTENTS

ROTTERDAM’S NEVER BEEN CLOSER One minute you’re in London, the next you could be ﬂying to Rotterdam from London City Airport, less than 30 minutes from central London. Book at ba.com/londoncity To Fly. To Serve. To Europe.

CONTENTS

MARCH 2014

LIFESTYLE 50 | STYLE: Back to Back

Spring / Summer style becomes instantly wearable with neutral tones and beautifully cut tailoring

74 | HOME: Timothy Oulton

TIFFANY EASTLAND discovers how the visionary interiors designer continues to achieve international appeal

84 | DRIVE: Shelby Reborn

A legend lives on – the Shelby Cobra celebrates turning 50 with a limited-edition new release

86 | DRINK: It’s Whisky O’clock

Take a trip to Scotland and build on your basic, or extensive, whisky knowledge at one of three recommended schools

94 | TRAVEL: Rum & Coconuts

BEVERLEY BYRNE soaks up some sun on the golden beaches of Barbados

8 | CONTENTS

The Fine Watch Room, Ground Floor

CONTENTS

MARCH 2014

FEATURES 102 | No More Mr Darcy

ADAM O’REILLY meets one of England’s most celebrated actors, Colin Firth, following the release of The Railway Man

106 | The Incredible Hull

ROWENA MARELLA-DAW takes to the high seas to explore the decks of some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts

REGULARS | | | | 74 | 14 46 60 63

10 | CONTENTS

the city briefing his style her style collection Home

76 78 80 91 119

| | | | |

sport play drive escape property

mappinandwebb.com

The english rose, The diamond ring an enduring romance since 1775

regenT sTreeT | old bond sTreeT | Fenchurch sTreeT

M&W_THS_London Stores.indd 1

21/02/2014 12:40

EDITOR'S LETTER

From the

EDITOR "Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots." Victor Hugo After nearly seven years in print, The City Magazine is unveiling a dramatic new look, a bold new approach and a host of new sections and content. The City-based title has gone through its most radical overhaul yet, but – and this is something we’re most proud of – the core of what we're doing hasn't changed. Our mission remains the same – to present the best opportunities for investing your capital and spending your hard-earned money. I’m honoured that the likes of Lex van Dam, Nick Hungerford, Kathleen Brooks and Richard Jeffrey will be bringing in-depth insider opinion, expertise and know-how on trading, investments, funds and FX to our wealth pages, which start on p. 30; while at the other end of the spectrum, experts from across the world of luxury will be advising us on everything from suits and style to shooting brakes and superyachts; get inspired from p. 45. In our monthly City Briefing (p. 14) we bring you the latest info from trading floors and boardrooms across the globe, who said what on Twitter, who’s drinking where in the City and what restaurants they’re booking at, and why head-hunting in the City is far older than you think it might be. Elsewhere, Colin Firth talks about breaking out of the mould of romantic leads (p. 102) and our travel team check out places as diverse as Barbados, Boston, Tahiti, Zanzibar and Costa Rica, as well as rounding-up three of the best ski chalets for big groups (p. 93). So, embrace change, let us know what you think about our new look at: rwmg.co.uk/competition – and for your troubles, we’ll even enter you into our draw to win a day in Paris with three friends and the use of a private jet. The best of luxury life, at your fingertips. See, I told you we hadn’t changed that much...

Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood Managing Editor Emma Johnson Deputy Editor Richard Brown Motoring Editor Matthew Carter Collection Editor Annabel Harrison Editorial Assistant Tiffany Eastland Staff Writer Sian Gardiner Senior Designer Daniel Poole General Manager Fiona Fenwick Production Alexy Powell Hugo Wheatley Oscar Viney Property Director Samantha Ratcliffe Communications Loren Penney Lucy Jones Head of Finance Elton Hopkins Managing Director Eren Ellwood

PUBLISHED BY

Emma Johnson, managing editor

7 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf London, E14 4JB T: 020 7987 4320 F: 020 7005 0045 W: rwmg.co.uk

Members of the Professional Publishers Association 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.

On the cover Not Quite What You Were Expecting...? The new look The City Magazine – start with our City Briefing, p. 14, essential City know-how

12 | FROM THE EDITOR

Subscriptions: A free online subscription service is available for The City Magazine. Visit the subscriptions page on our website: rwmg.co.uk/subscribe



THE CITY BRIEFING 

The facts, stats, movers, mergers & market news affecting the Square Mile this month WORDS: RICHARD BROWN

FINANCE from AFAR China Stabilising

It seems China’s burgeoning economy is showing signs of stabilising. Official data from the country suggests growth in 2013 matched that of 2012. Between October and December, GDP grew at an annual rate of 7.7 per cent, down from 7.8 per cent in the previous quarter, but higher than the government's 7.5 per cent target. These figures have been met with scepticism, however, with many in the City believing that the country’s industrial production levels and power-demand figures suggest a growth rate of closer to four or five per cent.

Reduced working hours on Wall Street

Credit Suisse has become the latest investment bank to introduce new guidelines for junior bankers’ working hours. The Swiss bank is urging all junior staff to stay away from the office on Saturdays. In addition, Goldman Sachs has told junior assistants to avoid working in the office between 9pm on Friday and 9am on Sundays, while Bank of America Merrill Lynch has told interns to take at least four weekend days off each month. Last year in London, Merrill Lynch intern Moritz Erhardt died after reportedly working for three days without sleep.

Finance boosting Dubai

Dubai's financial services sector is going from strength to strength. The sector contributed more than 12 per cent to Dubai’s gross domestic product in 2013, with the number of companies registered with the Dubai International Financial Centre increasing by 55 to 1,039. While Dubai’s GDP grew at an average rate of 3.1 per cent between 2000 and 2013, the financial services sector increased at an average rate of more than 15 per cent.

14 | THE CITY BRIEFING

LORD MAYOR'S OVERSEAS PROGRAMME City firms looking to develop finance interests in foreign countries might like to know that they can join Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf on a series of overseas business visits over the coming months. Each year, the Lord Mayor takes senior business representatives to meet those at the highest levels of international government and industry. Accompanying delegates gain access to influencers and decision-makers during trips that can be used to assess market potential, foster key

relationships and conduct primary research. After visits to Turkey and Kazakhstan this month, May will see the Lord Mayor lead an oil and gas-themed delegation to Uruguay before a venture capital-based visit to Mexico. If you are a member of a City firm and interested in joining an overseas business delegation you can register your interest by emailing LMVisits@cityoflondon. gov.uk. For the full overseas programme, visit cityoflondon.gov.uk

Book Club

GHO$T TRAD€R, by Jeremy Cook

Can’t get enough of finance during the day? Then take it home with you via Gho$t Trad€r, the debut novel from former Lloyd’s underwriter Jeremy Cook. With a plot mirroring Jeremy’s real-life experience of the near-collapse of Lloyd’s during the 1990s, Gho$t Trad€r is a tale of fraud, ruin, romance and murder played out against the backdrop of the credit crunch. Think of it as a role-reversed Crime & Punishment set in the City. Price: £8.99.

NEWS

16.4

corpor ati on

£6.5bn

 TOTAL TAX  CONTRIBUTION OF UK FINANCIAL SERVICES

ipts rece

UK tal to

x ta

Source: City of London Corporation and PwC

Pa id

Corporation Tax paid by the financial services sector

in UK he t in

ear to 31 Marc the y h2 01 3

£65bn

The estimated amount paid by the UK financial services sector (banks, insurance companie and other financial companies) into the public finances in the year to March 2013 was £65 billion. The findings are from a report released in December 2013 by the City of London Corporation

'' a

e pl o y e e o v

ar rt

 QUOTE

people employed in the financial services sector

3.8% of the

1.1m

average employment tax paid

3.2%

higher than in 2012

rce rkfo wo

£26,674

11.7%

of total UK government tax receipts

of the

MONTH 

At a time when he needs every penny of tax he can lay his mitts on, the trend to paying bonuses in shares is not an unmitigated boon for him.”

– The BBC’s business editor Robert Peston on why the move away from cash-paid bonuses isn’t necessarily good news for Chancellor George Osborne

The City takes on Cyber crime

Between April and December last year, the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) provided alerts to banks that led to the identification of 20,000 accounts that were at risk of, or being used, to take money from victims. Having saved banks £173.9 million over those nine months, The City of London Police and the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) have now announced plans to train bankers in how to identify and tackle cyber crime themselves. “The City of London Police is focusing on the rapidly-evolving and expanding threat of fraud and cyber crime,” said commmissioner Adrian Leppard of the City of London Police. Leppard plans to create a “virtual ring of steel” around the Square Mile by “teaming up with City workers and sharing our experience and expertise with the banks that are now the target, or being used as a facilitator for organised crime.” The partnership promises to establish an international centre of excellence that will train banks from around the world on the latest threats and techniques used by online criminals.

click to comment

Livid about litter? Peed-off with public toilets? Register your fury via the free 'Love the Square Mile' app, designed to give City workers the power to report environmental issues direct to the City of London Corporation. Simply take a photo of the problem, select a category, add any other relevant information, and the app will automatically find your location. After submitting your report, you’ll be kept informed on the progress of response via the app, text or email. Problem solved.

THE CITY BRIEFING | 15

Headhunting Romans

It seems headhunting in the City dates back longer than you’d think. New techniques have discovered that a hoard of skulls discovered at London Wall more than 25 years ago actually belong to the victims of a game of Roman brutality – not to the bodies of a burial site washed out by the Square Mile’s lost river, the Walbrook, as originally thought. In the second century AD, when the skulls are thought to have originated from, Romans would remove the heads from enemies’ bodies and use them as trophies. “The level of violence here exceeds the level needed to kill someone,” said Dr Rebecca Redfern of the Centre for Human Bioarchaeology at the Museum of London, where the skulls are now kept.

City Chessboxing

Chessboxing. Yes, it really is a thing: a hybrid of the two sports, where opponents compete in alternating boxing-chessboxing-chess rounds until one player either checkmates the other or makes acquaintance with the canvas. "The sports attract a similar type of mentality," says Tim Wulfgar, president of the World Chess Boxing Association, with popularity of the sport apparently growing within the Square Mile. "People in the City like to think that they're tough and can fight, but they also like to think that they're intelligent as well," he told the BBC. This year’s ‘season opener’ takes place at King Cross’ Scala nightclub on 12 April. Get your tickets at londonchessboxing.com.

 Top Banks in the World 2013  A list of the largest banks in the world ranked by total assets as of 30 September 2013 (data released in January 2014). Four of the top 11 banks are Chinese financial institutions.

RANK BANK COUNTRY

US$bn

TOTAL ASSETS

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)

China

3,067.57

HSBC Holdings

2,723.36

Credit Agricole Group

France

2,623.74

BNP Paribas

France

2,504.25

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Japan

2,476.03

JPMorgan Chase & Co

USA

2,463.31

China Construction Bank Corporation

China

2,454.34

Deutsche Bank

Germany

2,412.95

Agricultural Bank of China

China

2,389.47

Barclays PLC

2,271.47

Bank of China

China

2,229.95

Bank of America

USA

2,126.65

Japan Post Bank

Japan

2,072.12

Citigroup Inc

USA

1,899.51

Mizuho Financial Group

Japan

1,861.95

Royal Bank of Scotland Group

1,826.18

Societe Generale

France

1,692.87

Banco Santander

Spain

1,608.90

Groupe BPCE

France

1,546.27

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Japan

1,526.60

Source: Top 1000 World Banks survey, The Banker, thebanker.com

City fastest-growing part of economy

The latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey shows that optimism within the financial services sector rose at its fastest rate since the survey began in 1989 in the final three months of last year. Profitability rose for the fifth consecutive quarter, during a period in which City firms recruited another 10,000 staff. If the financial services sector grows by the projected 15,000 expected between January and March 2014, it will take the total employed to 1.16 million, just 52,000 below the industry’s peak at the close of 2008.

16 | THE CITY BRIEFING

NEWS

Developing Female Talent

Having set a target of 25 per cent of the FTSE 100 board directors to be made up of women by 2015, the government will welcome Lloyds Banking Group’s new female-based scholarship programme. Delivered through the London Business School, the Lloyds MBA Scholarships for Women programme aims to increase the potential for more women to become future business leaders. Lloyds is providing four scholarships of £30,000 each, for four years starting from 2014. Lloyds has sponsored the First Women Awards for eight years and has been awarded a place in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the last two years. Applications to the MBA Scholarships programme must be made before the end of May. To find out more, visit London.edu/mba.

 BEST EVER UK TRADE SURPLUS in FINANCE  2013 £65bn

£60bn

2008

£58.7bn

UK FINANCIAL AND RELATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TRADE SURPLUS

£61.0bn

2011 2009

£56.8bn

2010

£57.8bn

2012 £55.5bn

£54.7bn £55bn

£50bn

EXPORTS UK FINANCIAL AND RELATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES*

£61bn

IMPORTS NET

ALL OTHER SERVICES INDUSTRIES COMBINED (NET)

£12bn UK'S TRADE IN GOODS DEFICIT

x100

£61 BILLION = COULD PAY FOR BUILDING MORE THAN 100 LARGE HOSPITALS

Related professional services include accounting, legal services and management consulting. Source: TheCityUK estimates based on Office for National Statistics data.

THE CITY BRIEFING | 17



WINE & DINE 

insider info, top tips, hidden gems, new openings, exclusive clubs & the latest news WORDS: EMMA JOHNSON

ZEITGEIST This month everyone is…

Eating…the perfect pasta at Café Murano in Belgravia, the laid-back sister to Angela Harnett’s Murano. Sit at the bar and order the garlic prawns, the spinach tortelli, and wash down with some fiery Grappa. Buon appetito... D cafemurano.co.uk

Drinking…Pisco Sours at

Andina, the recently opened ceviche restaurant from Martin Morales – the drink du jour and not for the fainthearted. Sugar syrup and egg white, anyone? D andinalondon.com

Booking…at the Holborn Dining Room, the hottest new opening this side of the City in the much-praised Rosewood Hotel. Get in if you can; everyone’s talking about it.

 HIDDEN GEM  Le Café du Marché, Clerkenwell A little flavour of France, squirrelled away in the cobbled back streets, just off Charterhouse Square, this old-school eatery has all the charm of that French bistro you happened upon once, a long time ago in the Dordogne, and have been trying to find ever since. Proudly rustic, brickwork dominates the room, while French trinkets and various vintage Gallic paraphernalia complete the look. In the centre of the café, a piano hints at the entertainment laid on most evenings, mostly provided by a jazz trio, a saxophone and a cello filtering lightly into the busy room. Inclusive two and three-course options make it a great option for a weekday lunch, while the almost entirely French wine list offers enough tempting bottles to warrant settling in for an evening. Food is provincial French, rustic and hearty – think fillet steaks, chargrilled quail, leg of lamb and chicken livers – all sourced from nearby Smithfield where possible. The location in a quiet mews means there's barely any passing foot traffic, ensuring a real local feel to the place and a warm welcome for regulars. D Le Café du Marché, 22 Charterhouse Square, EC1M

D rosewoodhotels.com

POWER BREAKFAST Start the day as you mean to go on… Where: Hawksmoor Guildhall Why: This is a serious meat feast for hungry hippos. Facing a board meeting where

the only sign of sustenance forthcoming is a limp, curled-at-the-edges sandwich and some tepid coffee at 12:30pm? Then stock up for the day with the signature Hawksmoor Breakfast which comprises a vast plate of proper man-food, including the likes of smoked bacon chops, sausages (made from pork, beef and mutton), short-rib bubble and squeak, trotter baked beans and grilled bone marrow. It’s £35 and you’re supposed to share it with someone else, but…well…who’s gonna tell?

D 10 Basinghall Street, EC2V

18 | THE CITY BRIEFING

Wine & Dine

WORKING LUNCH

This Month: Giuseppe Dewilde, head of operations at Bleeding Heart, The Don and The Sign of the Don, trades his insider expertise

Favourite hidden City gem...

The Boundary Restaurant.

If you need to send something back…

Inform the staff that whatever you might have chosen is not what you actually expected and would like a suggested replacement. If the maitre d’ is on the ball they won't charge you for this either, and definitely won't enter into a long conversation with you. They will just discreetly make it happen so you can continue your evening at the restaurant.

The best table in the house...

If the restaurant is fully booked…

Table 206 at Bleeding Heart. This is the corner table, so it's away from traffic but allows a full view to simply observe the room, while sipping Champagne or a martini. It is also wonderfully discreet enough to talk business, discuss love or plot mischief...

Tell the maitre d’ you love them and feel ever so hopeless that you couldn’t organise your diary properly. Any good front-of-house team will always find a way to accommodate the faithful and genuine punter.

If you want to impress...

Cocktails at Bassoon in the Corinthia Hotel – ask for Domenico. Then jump in a cab and head for dinner at Aqua Shard. Leave and head for the West End, go to Brasserie Chavot and then finish your evening at the bar in Zuma. For the perfect night in, stay home, invite some friends over and organise a takeaway from The Fish & Chip Shop in Islington, lots of Adnams Dry Hop Beers, some Sandeman Sherry and Krug for the ladies.

Order 1979 Krug, Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Brut.

Best for breakfast...

The Wolseley on Piccadilly.

favourite time of day in the City...

1pm; restaurants are at their peak in terms of guests, service and atmosphere - the show is on!

A classic City eatery; shellfish is sourced from some of the best suppliers around, and the vibe is proudly, and distinctly, old-school. D 81 Old Broad Street, EC2M

Massimo, Corinthia Hotel Impressive surrounds, plenty of Champagne on tap to wash the oysters down with and an unbeatable setting in this renowned Whitehall hotel. D 10 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N

Our pick of the capital’s best tasting menus THIS MONTH:

Angler, South Place Hotel

There are three tasting menus here, but the star turn is the £145 Aquitania menu, which promises not only to showcase the best that head chef Tony Fleming has in his recently Michelin-starred repertoire, but also proves how produce sourced almost entirely from British waters can still have a demonstratively brilliant international appeal. The star dish is the mouth-wateringly good seared Orkney scallops with red winebraised beef, butternut squash and sage brown butter. Sourced from a renowned Scottish supplier, the scallops are hand-dived daily in the crystal-clear ‘Class A’ water off the north west Highland coast by reputable fishermen, and the quality is outstanding. In addition, the grass-fed beef is braised in a red wine sauce for nearly six hours until it melts in your mouth; the velvety butternut squash purée is a sweet, comforting addition, while the crispy sage adds a delicate herb hit. D Angler, 3 South Place, EC2M

Hix Oyster and Chop House Hidden gem a stone’s throw from Smithfield; Mark Hix is renowned for his shellfish and the oysters here are always fresh and expertly-sourced. D 36-37, Greenhill's Rents, Cowcross Street, EC1M

WHERE TO... EAT OYSTERS in the CITY

Gow's

A perfect night out...

DEGUSTATION

THE CITY BRIEFING | 19

wine & dine



BON VIVEUR 

Our man-about-town, Nick Savage, presents his must-visit favourites "Dr Johnson may have been on the money in saying that "there is in London all that life can afford", but affording it is only half the battle in this post-millennial city. Getting in is the other half, and oftentimes the more hard-fought one at that. Mayfair, the Old Smoke’s spiritual home for great wealth, still retains top marks

Dinner – Gymkhana

for boasting the most exclusive, high-concept venues. Three such openings, which became classics within months of their launches, are Gymkhana, Mr Fogg’s and The Arts Club – all of which performed the difficult sleight-of-hand of transforming the Victorian era into what it never was before: cool."

Drinks –

Dancing –

In the past, Indian restaurants haven’t been known to whip up the same hysteria of bookings as have, say, Japanese joints. Gymkhana flipped the script on this situation when it opened on Albemarle Street. It appears to be preordained for a Michelin star and is widely touted as being the pre-eminent opening of late 2013, devouring blogger bandwidth and gulping down broadsheet ink alike. The reasons for this are clear. Chef patron Karam Sethi has taken great pains to recreate the masculine atmosphere of the colonial Raj, with the ground floor replicating the gymkhanas, or polo clubs, of Victorian India, and the lower-ground floor as a modern-day interpretation of a 17th-century Punch House. Sethi hit the mark, creating a setting that is seamlessly clubby, relaxed and elegant. A bar at the far end of the room serves Indian-inspired cocktails; many of which incorporate sub-continental absinthes, arracks and whiskies. The most compelling reason for Gymkhana’s success, however, is the tandoori cuisine. Menu items are imbued with an irresistible kiss of charcoal from the tandoor oven and sigri grill. And it’s this that transports the diner, more than anything, to an idealised India of years gone by.

Mr Fogg’s, launched by the minds behind Chelsea’s concept bars Bunga Bunga, Barts and Maggie’s, is just as motif-motivated as its predecessors, yet stands apart by offering libations of a higher quality to a distinctly Mayfair crowd. While staff members may be attired in 19th-century livery and the bar has been painstakingly rendered to resemble the Around the World in Eighty Days’ protagonist’s drawing room, my attention was drawn more

Stumbling into Dover Street's The Arts Club can sometimes feel a bit like unearthing Tutankhamun’s tomb – it’s so beautifully recherché that it almost confounds the senses – a testament to good taste that appeals for posterity. However, nobody stands on ceremony downstairs in the basement club, 1863. Whether it’s pretty young things or Ronnie Wood, the dance floor is always

D 42 Albemarle Street, W1S

D 15 Bruton Lane, W1J

20 | THE CITY BRIEFING

Mr Fogg’s

1863 at The Arts Club

the arts club is so beautifully recherché that it almost confounds the senses – a testament to good taste that appeals for posterity to the room’s ambience, with guests sprawling out across plush leather banquettes and lowslung buttonback Chesterfields, drinking strong, expertly mixed cocktails and conversing energetically. Somehow it brought to mind the same boisterous Friday evening ambience I came across in a Singapore speakeasy. The drinks list deserves special attention. With prices ranging from £12 to £25 for a glass, I haven’t experienced a bum note over multiple visits. Perhaps this is why Mr Fogg’s has edged out the competition and become one of Mayfair’s cocktail bars du jour.

populated by members dancing with joie de vivre to live performances from the intimate stage area. The bartenders are all gleaned from top international drinking destinations and exude competency. All of which helped to ensure that 1863 was an instant classic from the moment it launched, and looks poised to continue as one for the foreseeable future. D 40 Dover Street, W1S

Nick Savage is editor of Innerplace, an exclusive London lifestyle concierge, innerplace.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

Win, lose and schmooze Chat-up clients or settle business rivalries once and for all with our pick of the best corporate entertaining packages WORDS: RICHARD BROWN © Max Earey

Shoot ‘em Up

Take it to the track

Swap the boardroom for the inside of a DB9 and your BlackBerry handset for the steering wheel of a V12 Vantage, courtesy of Aston Martin and the Millbrook Proving Ground. Choose either a full or half-day package and find out what these cars can really do away from speed cameras, traffic and speed bumps. Reach speeds of more than 160 mph in a V12 Vantage on the facility’s one-mile straight, learn the essentials of performance racing driving in a V8, before seeing how big your cahones really are on a two-mile, bankedbowl circuit. Prior to departing, you’ll get to grips with the Rapide (Aston’s ‘family car’), before taking on the climbs, dips and hairpins of Millbrook’s hill route circuit – as used by Casino Royale producers to cannon-roll Daniel Craig seven times in his DBS. The Millbrook Proving Ground can accommodate up to 32 guests. Tailor a programme to your company’s requirements and be prepared to have a smile on your face for weeks to come. D Prices for corporate packages are available on application at astonmartin.com/events/corporate 01926 644 285

Steak, cigars and shotguns; indulgences enjoyed by banking bon viveurs for centuries, and in the latter, a chance to prove your sporting prowess and dexterity with a lethal weapon simultaneously. Whisk colleagues, clients or acquaintances just 17 miles from central London and arrive at Holland & Holland’s Northwood clay-pigeon shooting grounds, one of the best in the country. Gain a feel for the sport’s different disciplines by opting for the Multi-Shooting Day package, which gives guests the chance to shoot traditional shotguns, 100-yearold black powder hammer guns, as well as small-bore and full-bore sporting rifles, including those used for big-game hunting. Alternatively, the Multi-Activity Day is an amalgamation of a number of different outdoor activities, including shooting, archery, off-road driving, mini-hovercrafting and quad-biking. Enjoy everything from cold finger-buffets, to silver-service luncheons,

barbecues outside and whole spit-roasts at a facility that can accommodate up to 100 people. Pull! D Multi-Shooting Days start at £210 per head (minimum 10 guests) Multi-Activity Days start at £225 per head (minimum 20 guests) hollandandholland.com / 01923 825349

Ready, Steady, Raft

It’s located just 40 minutes from central London and has been heralded as one of the best of its kind in the world. Opened for the London 2012 Olympics, the Lee Valley White Water Centre gives you and guests the chance to experience adrenalin-pumping rafting in a 300m course designed for the sport’s best athletes. It’s also a good-oldfashioned barrel of laughs. The centre offers full and half-day packages that incorporate raft-building and subsequent rafting, kayaking, hydrospeeding – imagine hurtling down rapids on a bodyboard – and a series of self-explanatory ‘water wipe-out’ challenges. The centre comes equipped with two meeting rooms, each with its own private terrace overlooking the course, and a licensed bar. Catering-wise, choose between everything from breakfast to buffets, and barbecues to hog roasts.

D White water rafting starts from £270 per raft (maximum of nine people per raft) Hydrospeeding costs £50 pp (discounts available for groups of 10 or more) Water Wipe Out challenge costs £22 pp visitleevalley.org.uk 08456 770 606

THE CITY BRIEFING | 21

Fortune Forum Club celebrates ten years of The Climate-Change Group Date: 15 January / Venue: The Dorchester Hotel

ome of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious business personalities, entrepreneurs and philanthropists attended an inspiring evening hosted by the high-powered convening organisation The Fortune Forum. Guests, including His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, congregated at The Dorchester Hotel where The Climate Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO Mark Kenber, addressed the floor on the mission and successes of the charity to date, as well as its exciting tenth anniversary celebrations this month.

From the top: Renu Mehta & Lord Verjee; John & Claire Caudwell; Amanda Holden, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Renu Mehta & Mark Kenber; James Caan; Rupert Adams, Nadja Swarovski & Nick Candy; John & Carrie Hart; The Hon Angad & Michelle Paul; Amanda Holden & Nick Candy; Shanu Hinduja & Mark Kenber

22 | THE CITY BRIEFING

CALENDAR

CITYWEALTH IFC AWARDS, The City Date: 23 JANUARY / Venue: Grange City Hotel

ore than 200 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top wealth advisors and private client experts recently attended The Citywealth International Finance Centre Awards. The Grange City Hotel hosted the evening which recognised excellence in the private wealth sector, presenting 27 awards that were decided by an international panel of highly respected practitioners. Jersey took the best International Finance Centre of the Year for the second year running, while Sheila Dean, MD of Equiom, picked up the coveted Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice award for overall excellence.

From the top: Geoff Melamet, Penny Lovell, Claudia Walker; Joshua Rubenstein, Jonathan Giles & Rory Bremner; Clare Usher-Wilson, Steve Meiklejohn & Rory Bremner; Karen Jones; Karen Jones & Sheila Dean; Rory Bremner, Karen Jones & Will Travers OBE; Gary Hales, Penny Lovell & Rory Bremner; Karen Jones, bagpiper & Rory Bremner. Photos courtesy of Edward Lloyd at Alpha Press

THE CITY BRIEFING | 23

CALENDAR

Save the Children and Bulgari’s Secret Winter Gala, The City Date: 26 November / Venue: Guildhall

ondon’s iconic Guildhall recently underwent a massive transformation for the inaugural Secret Winter Gala hosted by Save The Children and Bulgari. More than 350 guests, including Samantha Cameron, actress Elizabeth McGovern and TV Presenter Natasha Kaplinsky, stepped inside the pages of a children’s book, as E.T.A Hoffman’s Christmas classic The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was brought to life. The elegant evening of fine-dining and fantastical entertainment raised more than £700,000 to support the life-saving work of the charity.

From the top: Amy & Holly Gilliam with Jean-Christophe Babin; Fiona Scarry; Lord Dalmeny; Myleene Klass; Silvio Ursini, Douglas Rouse & Justin Forsyth; Mariella Frostrup & Justin Forsyth; Jean-Christophe Babin & Elizabeth McGovern; Stacey McDougall & Dom Joly; Susan Boyle; Samantha Cameron & Justin Forsyth; Justin Bower & Natasha Kaplinsky; Allie Esiri

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Just a couple of hours from home. And yet a world away.

w w w. a u s t r i a . i n f o

Yo u r p e r s o n a l H o l i d a y I n f o r m a t i o n L i n e : 0845 101 1818 (calls charged at local rates)

PEOPLE

INTERVIEW

STEWARD

CIT Y

OF THE

Fiona Woolf, Lord Mayor of the City of London As only the second female Lord Mayor of the City of London since 1189, Fiona Woolf CBE will spend a quarter of the year on overseas visits, promoting the City as the world leader of international finance and business services. Back in London, she will host visiting heads of state and foreign dignitaries from her base in Mansion House. She talks to The City Magazine about Europe, immigration and shaping life in the Square Mile WORDS: Richard Brown

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 FIONA 

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WOOLF'S CV Education  St Denis School, Edinburgh Keele University  University of Strasbourg  Senior Fellowship Harvard University Business career  1973 qualified as a solicitor  1973-8 Assistant Solicitor Clifford Chance  1978-81 Assistant Solicitor CMS Cameron McKenna  1981 Partner CMS Cameron McKenna

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iona Woolf was elected Alderman for the Ward of Candlewick in the City of London in October 2007 and was the Aldermanic Sheriff for the year 2010/11. On 30 September 2013 she was elected to be the next Lord Mayor, taking office on 8 November for the year 2013 /14. The Lord Mayor also acts as Admiral of the Port of London, Chief Magistrate of the City of London and Chancellor of City University.

Q. What inspired the move to run for Lord Mayor of the City?

I had utilised Lord Mayors’ overseas visits a lot in the 1990s. I was a negotiator on legal services, and Lord Mayors could open doors at EU level that I couldn’t get through myself. I had worked with 28 governments around the world, I had spoken to a lot of energy and finance ministers and I felt I could pick up with those contacts. I was comfortable dealing with people at the highest level, and that’s a big part of the Lord Mayor’s promotional role. Since 2008, and with the enormity and scope of the role, there are so many things to do to help the world – to seize the opportunities of what’s become a new 'normal'.

Q. What are you most enjoying about the role?

The people I meet. I was told the Lord Mayor can do three things: deliver messages, hold events and use convening powers to provide a platform for getting people together to talk about important issues. I find the last of those things a very powerful tool. We can move agendas forward, especially long-term finance agendas. Then there’s the question of diversity. A lot of people said to me before I took office, "it’s fantastic to have a woman in the role after all this time". Two women in 825 years is not a terrific statistic, so you really ought to be using the merits of the platform to promote diversity.

Q. Does being referenced as a business woman, rather than a business person, ever grate on you?

I’m not bothered about what title people use for me. I’m very relaxed about the fact. I think the City of London has provided me with a fantastic springboard to develop a career and the role as Lord Mayor gives me the opportunity to say to women: "Look, everybody wants us to succeed. You can do anything." What’s the secret to success? Get lucky and say yes. Of course, you make your own luck, and saying yes involves taking yourself out of your comfort zone.

Q. Switzerland has recently voted to put a quota on the number of immigrants it accepts. Should Britain do a similar thing?

I would expect anybody in the City to be quite nervous about controls on people who come here, because we are blessed with international talent. That is the reason the City is as successful as it is. It’s not just that it’s a place where you can raise capital and debt and find insurance of incredible sophistication. It’s also about human capital. We are only as good as the talent we have. Anything that makes it difficult for talent to come here is an embarrassment for us [the City of London Corporation].

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Q. Should Britain remain in Europe? What would be the implication on the City if it left the EU?

Eighty-four per cent of businesses surveyed in the City say yes, and they say they’d be worse off without it. The reason is quite simple – not only is Europe our biggest market, particularly for services, but London is the gateway to Europe for the foreign banks that choose to locate here. We have around 250 foreign banks operating in London, they use their operations here as a gateway to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Q. Should Scotland vote to stay in the UK?

Like everything in life, it will be a hearts-and-minds exercise, and my heart’s very fond of Scotland – I was born and brought up in Edinburgh. My mind has got a lot of questions that I would need answers to before I could vote, and I think we have yet to see those questions being laid out and clearly answered.

Q. London has become the FinTech (Financial Technology) capital of the world. How important is the sector to the City’s future?

The Corporation has been on the case for tech innovation start-ups – it’s been funding incubators around the Silicon Roundabout. It’s something that I seek to promote, both tech and media sectors – it’s something that’s really exciting. We’ve got a success on our hands and something that’s looking very sustainable in terms of growth.

Q. Why is FinTech something in which London excels?

Cities attract a great cluster of people who want to be together. Cities are man’s greatest invention of necessity, places of opportunity, and if you want to make a successful entrepreneur, it’s about networks. It’s also about interacting with people who will help you grow the business and finance it, and that’s why they all cluster together. It’s extraordinary that they [FinTech companies] cluster together in such a small space at the edge of the City [the area around Old Street roundabout]. We’ve long regarded it as a child that we want to nurture.

Q. Do you think banks’ attitudes towards bonuses are

changing? Do they now feel under less public pressure to apply caps?

I don’t think I’ve noticed any particular change this year – I think the issue remains one of being in a competitive world for talent, and you’re talking about shareholders’ money really. What I worry about is that because we are a microcosm of the global talent group, and depend upon that talent

people

“London is the gateway to Europe for the foreign banks that choose to locate here”

Q. How do these companies remain important to the fabric of the Square Mile?

By working hard at what they’ve always done. There are new livery companies being created all the time. Just last Friday I gave a patent to the Worshipful Company of Educators – a new company that promotes the highest standards in teaching, encouraging young teachers to do fantastic things. We’ve got worshipful companies of management consultants, information technologists, world traders, international bankers…it’s a fantastically vibrant movement. Four of the ancient livery companies are sponsoring academies; the City of London is sponsoring three academies, including the Hackney Academy. The whole livery movement does a fantastic job.

for our success, we can potentially make ourselves uncompetitive. But if you look at the statistics, the amount paid in bonuses has dropped a lot since 2008, by around 90 per cent in fact. Bonuses are now much more long-term, and can be clawed back if performance isn’t delivered.

Q. And some of them have beautiful, iconic City settings to do it in...

I can’t comment on blame as such, but it did seem that this year the American bonuses were higher than the London bonuses. But then I think London should be proud of that.

Indeed. I love the Fishmongers’ Hall, for instance, because it’s on the river and in the summer it’s just beautiful. At night the Goldsmiths’ is lovely because they have real candles. The Wax Chandlers have a pretty hall with fantastic portraits. The three big ones are the Merchant Taylors’, which has an organ in it, the Drapers’, which has stunning matching portraits that were used in The King’s Speech, and the Plasterers’. If you’re getting married in the City, my recommendation would be to get married in St Lawrence Jewry, then walk down the side of the Guildhall where you’ll see a sign saying Love Lane.

Q. How relevant are livery companies to the 21st-century City?

Q. What would you like to leave as your legacy as Lord Mayor?

Q. How much are the American banks to blame for exporting a short-term, performance-related bonus culture into the City?

They wouldn’t still be here and be so vibrant if they hadn’t continually made themselves relevant. To take just two of the very ancient livery companies – the Plumbers continue to promote the proper regulation of plumbing, while the Wax Chandlers have been researching modern waxes and engendering a debate on the long-term sustainability of everything we do to the environment – what could be more relevant than that?

Two things – I’d like to be remembered as a forward-looking Lord Mayor, looking to the long term for our children and grandchildren. Secondly, I’d like to leave the City in no doubt that there is huge power in capturing the benefits of diversity. As the Archbishop of York recently said to me, he can’t wait for the time when there will be a black Lord Mayor, and a woman Archbishop.

BUSINESS & WEALTH | 29

Lex Van Damm EQUITIES Contact:  lex@lexvandam.com

“Buy when the blood is on the streets and sell when everybody else has bought.”

7000 6426.62 6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000

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t always strikes me that people feel so insecure when it comes to investing that they would rather give their money to a professional than use their own common sense. Financial advisors are often seen as alchemists that can open the doors to infinite wealth, and these advisors are normally very happy to feed this impression as that is what ultimately feeds them – as opposed to clients profiting from the actual advice they give. I have not met many who do not advise that the stock market is the right place to put your money. One of the main reasons the so-called experts will normally give you for investing in the stock market is that stocks go up in the long term. This might well be true in an academic sense – but the fact is that, for a typical small investor, this line of thinking could lead to significant losses. That is because stocks, just like people, go through a life cycle. Very few stocks that were around 50 years ago are still around today, often going the way of their founder or the products they made, neither being able to withstand the test of time. The mega cap stocks that you see quoted on the stock market today are the winners, with the losers normally forgotten – being just another case study for failure and a note in the history books. Facebook, Google and Amazon, for instance, have been recent winners, but who says that in ten or 20 years’ time these stocks will not be trading at significantly lower prices? A lot of good news must surely be priced in at these levels. You must realise that when you buy a stock you invest in a business that is being run by real people, and chances are, at best, that competitors will be imitating its strengths and beating its weaknesses and, at worst, a new product will kill its markets. This means that it is most likely that at some point you

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will have to sell and move on to a stock with a more promising future. And the funny thing is, very few financial advisors really understand this concept until a stock has lost most of its value – that is why it is key to never fall in love with a stock. Most people will say that it is therefore best to invest in a portfolio of stocks, as it is impossible for the average investor or advisor to make a judgement on the business or the management of a company, and by having a portfolio you diversify that risk. Again, this line of thinking, even though valid on many levels, is very dangerous, as it could easily lead to investing in a product that de facto tracks the broad UK FTSE 100 or the US S&P 500. And yet, if you look at a longer-term chart of the FTSE, for example, you can see that the wider stock market basically has made no progress since the year 2000. If your timing was perfect you would have made a lot of money, but if your timing was bad you could have been nursing some significant losses and possibly might have been forced to liquidate at the worst possible moment. If you were to include the dividends you receive on your portfolio, the picture would look much better; but if you then take inflation into account and the costs of managing this portfolio, then I do believe this chart very much reflects reality – which is that it is very hard to make money in stocks. This should make clear what I believe about investing in stocks – the main determinant of making money is being able to get your timing right – not only when it comes to buying but maybe even more so when it comes to selling your individual stocks or perhaps your entire portfolio. Buy when the blood is on the streets and sell when everybody else has bought. D Lex van Dam is a hedge fund manager and financial educator, specialising in trading in equities, currencies and financial derivatives

opinion

BUSINESS & WEALTH | 31

OPINION

Nick Hungerford INVESTMENTS This month's Budget presents a key opportunity to help the next generation

he youth of today have never had it so bad. I’m serious. We may well be in an era of comparative luxury when it comes to global travel, affordable consumer goods and freedom of expression, but the financial future for most people under the age of 40 is decidedly bleak. It’s essential that the Government does all it can as soon as it can to start supporting the younger generations of the UK towards a prosperous and self-sufficient adult life. The Budget is an opportunity waiting to happen. Parents are having to finance their children more than ever before, for longer than ever before. The cost of sending them to university has reached astronomical proportions, it’s nigh on impossible for them to get on the property ladder unaided and state pensions are a pipe dream for anyone under the age of 50. The ever-growing wealth gap between generations is getting seriously out of hand and the Chancellor has a wonderful chance to address this looming crisis with radical action. So how can this be fixed? For a start, the pension cap should remain at £1.2 million and not be subject to a reduction. For people under the age of 50, at the very least, the Chancellor should scrap the current ISA allowance and create a ‘super ISA’ (of either cash or stocks and shares) which is free of inheritance tax and capped at £1 million. I’d like to see a £50,000 annual limit for under-50s and £25,000 for those over the age of 50. The ISA brand is more attractive than pension savings are to younger savers; the value of liquidity and control to people who are planning for multiple life events cannot be overestimated. This would help beleaguered savers plan for their future, encourage them to save instead of spend and might also have the added benefit of seeing people add money to investment accounts rather than chase overvalued property.

Contact  info@nutmeg.com  020 7806 6158

Talking of which, the housing market will no doubt be a hot topic this year too. It is once again becoming a dangerously inflated beast that the buying public are finding hard to wrestle with. The Chancellor will be wary of the property industry becoming a runaway train but it also delivers a big bump to stamp duty receipts. The HMRC received on average £10,750 in stamp duty per residential property sale last year (in 2008 it was £10,520) and we expect 2014/2015 stamp duty receipts to exceed the 2008 all-time peak of £13.9 billion. This certainly gives the Government plenty of room to look at a restructure of the stamp duty ‘slab tax’ and bring in a model that is more progressive and structured, as well as imposing restraints on mortgage lending to help curb the spiralling property prices, particularly in London and the South East. For savers and investors more broadly, low interest rates in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 have seen them endure a torrid time. The Government revealed that average savings rates had hit an all-time low of 2.4 per cent at the end of last year. Given that inflation has been closer to three per cent for much of 2013, this means that anyone choosing to keep their money in a high-street savings account or cash ISA was actually losing money in real terms. Growth in developed markets has been steady for some time now but I can’t see an increase in UK interest rates any time soon as the big central banks will want to ensure the recovery is slow and stable. This makes it even more important that the Government does all it can to help out those who want to make the most of their money and save or invest now for a brighter future. Otherwise, they are in danger of seeing people drive their money out of the UK and into alternative investment opportunities, such as overseas property. D Nick Hungerford is CEO of Nutmeg, the online investment management company that builds and manages portfolios tailored to each customer for a single fee

With investment comes risk. The price and value of investments mentioned and income arising from them may fluctuate and you may get back less than you invest. A stocks and shares ISA may not be right for everyone and tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure if an ISA is the right choice for you, please seek independent financial advice.

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THE SECOND WORLD WAR. 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 7.

Spring, 1943. And for the Allies, there’s none of the optimism associated with the season. The conflict in the North Atlantic has tipped decisively in favour of Germany. Allied convoys are easy prey for the deadly U-boats, hunting in their ‘wolf-packs’. Britain is on the brink of starvation. The situation looks bleak. In Whitehall, even Churchill privately doubts whether his famous powers of oratory will be enough to lift the nation this time. Plans for an Allied invasion of Europe in 1944 have been postponed for a year: the US will not send troops and equipment to Britain with the Atlantic under German control. This delay will give Hitler time to strengthen coastal fortifications in Normandy. German factories have an extra twelve months to build Panzers. And huge tank divisions will now form an iron line of defence along the Rhine, barring the way into Germany. The war looks set to continue until at least 1947, and with no guarantee of an Allied victory. It didn’t happen like that, of course. But it so nearly could have, had it not been for the efforts of a determined band of men and women in a ramshackle country house in Buckinghamshire: Bletchley Park. Some, like Alan Turing, were mathematicians. Others were musicians. Some were crossword experts. Yet working in eight-hour shifts in modest wooden huts, they managed to crack the German Enigma code, widely believed to be unbreakable. An Enigma machine could encrypt letters in more than 159 million million million different ways. (Your odds of winning the lottery look positively generous by comparison.)

It was only one of many instances where intelligence gleaned at Bletchley Park helped influence the outcome of key events in the war. The Bremont Codebreaker commemorates the work of Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman, Tommy Flowers and the 9,000 other men and women who served there. Proceeds from the sale of each watch will go to the Bletchley Park Trust, which is helping preserve the house and its famous huts for the nation. Every watch will feature actual material from Bletchley Park. The movement has an oscillating weight that incorporates original parts from a German Enigma rotor. The crown is inlaid with pinewood from the floorboards of Hut 6, the nerve centre of Bletchley Park. And while the design is inspired by a classic 1940s officers watch, everything else is very definitely 2014. The Codebreaker has a unique chronograph layout with a GMT flyback. (The first we’ve ever built in this configuration.) It’s available in two very limited editions: 240 in stainless steel and 60 in rose gold. We expect demand to be high. The men and women of Bletchley Park maintained absolute secrecy at all times, so word never got around. With the Codebreaker, this is unlikely to be the case.

But with the code cracked, the Allies were able to follow the movements of the U-boats and route the convoys around them. And, in May 1943, Admiral Donitz conceded defeat in the Battle of the Atlantic, leaving the way clear for the D-Day landings.

Bremont Royal Exchange 12 The Courtyard, Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LQ 0207 220 7134

Bremont Boutique 29 South Audley St London W1K 2PE 0207 493 5150

Bremont.com

opinion

Kathleen Brooks FX Emerging markets are volatile, get over it…

t the end of January a funny thing started to happen, the financial press stared talking about an emerging market crisis – this hadn’t been used in earnest since the Asian crisis in 1997; in the interim we had all ploughed our hard-earned dough into the EM miracle. As one would expect, panic ensued and $10 billion was pulled out of emerging market Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) during the first week of February; according to BlackRock, the largest ever monthly withdrawal. But fast-forward a couple of weeks and those people tearing their hair out at the prospect of losing their child’s school fees in Russian markets have calmed down a bit. After swift action from some of the region’s central banks, most notably from Turkey where the central bank hiked interest rates 400 basis points in one go, the markets have stabilised. Currencies have regained some value and equities have found their balance. Was this a near miss with crisis, or is something more sinister going on? I would say this is a timely reminder of the perils that investors face when it comes to emerging markets. For years, emerging markets were only spoken of in the superlative – the middle class miracle, the only region of the world that can grow etc. But this does not erode the chief problem for EM investors: that emerging markets still tend to have more acute economic cycles than the developed world, in other words they are more prone to boom and bust. Let’s look at the recent sell-off in more detail. It was partly down to the prospect of Fed tapering, which had a negligible effect on most developed world currencies like the EUR and GBP. However, even a small pullback from an extraordinary Fed stimulus threatened to

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push the emerging world into chaos. This is partly because emerging market central banks are considered less robust and less independent than their developed world counterparts. Thus, big global shifts can negatively impact EM economies as their central banks are deemed less able to offer a cushion to help them though economic challenges. The problem for emerging economies in 2014 is that, as developed markets move towards normalising monetary policy, sell offs mean the risks of a crisis start to rise. Added to this, there are more than 40 elections in the emerging world this year, which may add to investor uncertainty and nervousness. So what is an investor to do? The most notable thing about the recent sell-off was that equity markets were relatively unscathed, it was emerging market currencies that took the brunt of the selling. For example, the Turkish lira, South African rand and Indonesian rupiah all fell to multi-year, or even record, lows against the USD. This matters even if you don’t trade EM FX. Nearly three-quarters of returns from EM equity investments come from FX, so if the local currency is falling so are your overall returns. This is actually higher if you invest in EM bond funds. So first things first, watch out for the FX market. If we see another drop in currencies so soon after the sell-off in January investors could start deserting other emerging asset classes, causing panic to surface once again. If you think that EM FX looks cheap right now and that now is the time to buy, remember one thing – there are still plenty of other risks out there that no amount of middle class potential can irradiate. This is why I take analyst notes telling me to buy the dip in emerging markets with a large pinch of salt – as we have found out in recent weeks, the love affair with the emerging world can turn very bitter, very quickly. D Kathleen Brooks is a research director at FOREX.com. She is the author of Kathleen Brooks on Forex

opinion

Richard Jeffrey MACROECONOMICS Infinite impossibility: a tightening in policy could spell problems for the economy

Contact  info@cazenovecapital.com

To make the future course of policy so dependent on a single number could only be appropriate if the Bank’s economists had a decent idea of how conditions in the labour market were likely to evolve. Given the Bank’s horrible track record when forecasting inflation and GDP, we should have been prepared for another gaffe. The fact is, that employment has risen and the unemployment rate has fallen substantially more rapidly than Mr Carney and his team envisaged. In fact, what Mr Carney really wanted to say last August was that, come what may, he (‘he’ because it is not clear that he was speaking with the full support of everyone on the MPC) had no intention of raising interest rates for the foreseeable future. But to have phrased his guidance in this fashion would have spooked financial markets – quite rightly. So he established the guidance in the context of an unemployment threshold that he presumed would give him ample room for manoeuvre. Wrong. So, how should we interpret the latest batch of forecasts? Mr Carney and team now believe that the unemployment rate can fall to between six per cent and 6.5 per cent without stresses becoming apparent in the labour market. Furthermore, the Bank’s assessment is that there is between one per cent and 1.5 per cent of spare output capacity. As for the wider economy, the MPC is predicting that if interest rates are left unchanged this year, GDP will increase 3.75 per cent. The only way

embers of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), led by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, mounted a very obvious rear-guard action after the publication of the latest Inflation Report in August 2013, trying to justify their reworked view of the economy and also their previous forward-guidance. On both fronts, markets and commentators were sceptical. In itself, this was noteworthy, since financial markets have a natural predisposition to trust central bankers. Why, is not clear, since the faith placed “The fact is, employment has risen and in our policy-makers to get it right has been massively the unemployment rate has fallen disappointed in recent years. Heralded by a fanfare from the more rapidly than Mr substantially Treasury, Mr Carney was given the keys to the front door Carney and his team envisaged” of the Bank on 1 July 2013, and it was barely moments later that he announced the new policy style of forward-guidance. that these numbers can be reconciled is via an astonishing – and, on At the time, this felt rushed. Had Mr Carney really had enough the basis of recent trends, improbable – surge in productivity. Indeed, time to get to grips with the UK economy and policy environment coming up with a coherent explanation of the MPC’s medium-term before he announced his big plan for the future of UK policy-making? forecasts is quite difficult. It is self-evident that policymakers in the Moving the story on another few months, and we can answer this UK and elsewhere in the West still regard the greater risk as being question very simply – ‘no’. Mr Carney’s forward-guidance was based a premature tightening in policy. My assessment is that we may on a seven per cent threshold for unemployment. While some Bank be approaching the point at which the risk swings around – that a officials are now trying to reinterpret the implicit message that was belated tightening in policy results in a significant deterioration in fed to markets, it seemed pretty clear at the time that the Governor the outlook for inflation. was saying that once the unemployment rate had fallen below seven per cent, it was likely that monetary policy would be tightened. Immediately, the MPC was a hostage to fortune. D Richard Jeffrey is chief investment officer at Cazenove Capital

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alternative investments

sip your way to riches You like to drink wine. You like to make money. Yes, you can combine the two WORDS: ANDY ROSENBAUM

ven better than combining the two loves of your life – wine and money – you can also do it in the form of elegant collecting, not vulgar trading. And you can take your money out of the volatile equity or bond markets where all hell has been breaking loose for some time. Alternative investments – art, jewellery, wine – are not meant for getting rich quick. They are investments that are meant to be kept for a fairly long time, and they appreciate gradually. The wine collector has, for centuries, amassed a cellar full of valuable bottles, and those that did not appear on the table at dinner sometimes made their way to the auction house where they helped to finance future purchases. “But it is possible to invest in wine for a relatively short term,” explains T.K.E. Jainu-Deen, C.E.O. of Canary Wharf Vintners, which manages portfolios for investors as well as purchases wine for cellars. “This is a relatively risky strategy. Generally, wine prices don't go up in a linear fashion but tend to experience fairly short periods of upward activity. Timing is therefore everything when it comes to buying and selling fine wine in the short term. But such speculation will always be a much more risky and volatile endeavour compared to a longer-term investment strategy which has a relatively low level of risk compared with investing, say, stocks and bonds.” According to statistics from Live-ex, the online trading platform for fine wine, in the last 20 years fine wine has done better than most equity and fixed-income indexes, including the FTSE 100. For longterm investors, a well-chosen and balanced wine portfolio should provide annualised returns of around 10-12 per cent per annum. But it is not unusual for investors to do much better than that figure. In fact, since 2001, when Liv-ex began its 1000 Index, wine has significantly outperformed the leading equity indices in western markets with an average annual return of 16 per cent. Fine wine is what wine investment is all about, because such investment is concentrated on a small group of the very best wines for

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which the market is largest or, to use the financial term, the most liquid. “It is the very top group of about 1,000 wines that are considered for professional investment,” comments Steven Langley-Goodman, head broker at the Liverpool-based wine investing firm FCF invesments. “Wines in that group are likely to find another buyer, and they are quoted on the online trading platforms like Live-ex, BBX, and Cavex.” The Bordeaux First Growth vintages are foremost among these, and they have seen a bubble in recent years. Asian investors drove their prices through the roof until 2011, and then the bubble burst and prices have fallen back since then. With that said, those who bought early have enjoyed healthy gains. For example, a bottle of Chateau Latour 2000 could have been had in that year for £1,000. In 2013, it was worth £8,000. Since the bubble burst for First-Growth Bordeaux prices, the wine investment market has become a bit more diversified than it has been traditionally. Of the Live-ex 1000, Burgundies now account for 150, and Champagne 100 (there are even – gasp – 50 from outside Europe). One of the best performers and surest investments are Burgundies Domaine de la Romanée Conti, whose six wines have risen 109 per cent in value in the past six years. To track wines, Jainu-Deen advises starting on wine-searcher.com, a web database available to all where you can find current prices. This is the place to look for opportunities, possibly the Bordeaux 2012, although Mr. Parker tells us that it is not going to be one of the great vintages like the 82, ’90, ’96, ’00, ’05, ’09 and ’10. There is terrific investor interest in the 2005 at the moment, but that has, of course, pushed prices up for the great cru of that year. If you do take delivery of your wines, make sure you have a good place to keep them You can destroy your investment by keeping them in the wrong conditions, and many investors use a bonded cellar. Of course, keeping wine at home means that it is in easy reach, should you choose the dinner table option…

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Android’s weak gravity According to new research, the more smartphones a person has had, the more likely they are to own an iPhone. Welcome to the ‘Android Engagement Paradox’ WORDS: PHILIP MORTON

e didn’t initially set out to investigate this phenomenon. Our study was primarily focused on a subject that has become known as the Android Engagement Paradox: why do Android device owners generally use fewer of the features of their phone compared with iPhone users? And for the features they do use, why do they use them with less frequency? We wanted to check for ourselves if this paradox actually exists. We also wanted to move the discussion further by exploring why this would be happening. A lot of the commentary on this issue so far has been conjecture, and we wanted the qualitative part of our study to illuminate this issue from the user’s perspective.

In the long run, Apple wins

In the graphic below, we summarise the data which relates to how ownership and purchasing intention changes with people’s first, second and third smartphone. Each column represents a separate sample of 150 UK smartphone owners.

The gravitational pull of Apple smartphone penetration is expected to reach 75 per cent of the UK population in 2014, so it’s becoming less likely that demographics are a significant driver of this trend. That leaves the operating system and the overall user experience of the device. Our view is that the more smartphones someone has had, the more they value what it can do. They transition from thinking of it as a phone to thinking of it as a computer in their pocket. Other data in our research supports this: those who have owned more smartphones have higher usage and place greater importance on what a smartphone can do. And as a smartphone becomes more valuable to people, they seek out the best smartphone.

What can Android learn from Apple? I want to experience the device before I buy:

Android phones are primarily sold by resellers who have non-interactive dummy phones in their shops. Compare this to Apple’s stores where you

38 | BUSINESS & WEALTH

can experience the devices and service, and it’s easy to see why someone who values their smartphone might be attracted to them.

Why would I stay?

There is little friction to stop someone switching from their Android phone to another, or to an iPhone. In contrast, Apple’s iCloud service and its larger range of apps give iPhone customers reasons to stay. With Android, what do you lose by switching?

I want the best experience

Apple’s attention to detail and control of hardware, software and services gives it a distinct advantage over Android phones. With Apple's organisational change of putting one person in charge of all design, this will continue to be a strength.

Give me something useful I can use

Many of the features on high-end Android phones, like eye-tracking,

are of marginal benefit, driven by technology rather than user needs. Apple, on the other hand, chose to address tedious PIN-entry with its Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 5s.

I know where to go for support

If you want to get your iPhone fixed or have a question about your phone, you go to an Apple store. And it’s free – up to the point of hardware needing to be fixed or replaced. Where do you go for support for an Android phone? This research points to a movement in the market away from Android. As late adopters become fewer, and more people move to their fourth and fifth phones, this is likely to become more pronounced unless Android responds to the user experience challenges posed by Apple. D Philip Morton is principle consultant at Foolproof, Europe’s largest user experience design agency

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executive education

advance your advantage

“Knowledge is one of the most important investments a professional can make. It is so much more than just letters after your name” WORDS: Kate Lander

espite the volatility in the finance industry, a career in finance retains a strong allure for much of the brightest talent, and competition for a spot on one of those global graduate training programs remains as fierce as ever. And as we emerge from the recession, companies are committed to building and retaining talent, and investors, perhaps more wary after recent market conditions, have now become more active in sourcing the best people in the industry. In today’s tough job market, differentiating factors have become essentials on your CV. Many students, executives and professionals who wish to pursue or develop a career in banking and finance strive to boost their professional credentials, and further study is one way of doing this. A Masters in Finance or a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is certainly helpful, as is the CFA Program, which bridges the gap between academic theory and practice, and includes fundamental elements such as teaching the importance of ethics in the investment industry. Many institutions reported rising interest in postgraduate programs of study through the global crisis, and whilst that may have reflected some taking the opportunity to study while the job market improved, the trend is being reinforced as confidence starts to return to the City. The growth is also being reflected in the developing areas of Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East and greater prominence on developing responsible leadership and ethical standards to shape the future of the finance industry. The benefits of education are much more than just another set of letters after your name and an extra line on your CV. Knowledge is one of the most important investments a professional can make – it is an asset class that is not correlated to any other, its value is rarely impacted by the behaviour of your colleagues and it will remain in your portfolio as you move and change careers. By earning advanced qualifications, practitioners demonstrate to employers, colleagues and clients that they have attained a high level of proficiency in specialist knowledge. However, there are other messages conveyed by obtaining a qualification: commitment to the industry by making personal sacrifices and the art of self-discipline, critical in an industry where motivation and ability to act under pressure are required skills. Another key benefit to advanced study is the ability to gain access to a network of influential contacts and in today’s globalised financial centres, such networks across cities, countries and geographical regions, this has never been more important. Investment industry leaders belong to the alumni groups of their educational institutions, and whether they choose to remain in their country of origin to work, or to relocate to another financial city, they can take advantage of

40 | BUSINESS & WEALTH

their local networks. In addition, CFA members and charterholders are welcome to attend the many informative events and professional education services that local CFA societies offer. Current and prospective investment professionals are well-served to build their network of contacts, enhance their industry reputation and maintain their skills through membership of such organisations. To be an exceptional investment professional, it is also important to stay abreast of current topics, understand what is going on in the marketplace and apply theoretical and technical knowledge in a practical way. One way of doing this is to take advantage of executive education programs offered by many educational institutions, or by utilising the continuing education resources provided by organisations like the CFA Institute. So whether you are an analyst, portfolio manager, hedge fund manager, private wealth adviser, accountant or legal expert, to name a few, if you build your human capital through education and professionalism you have a passport to success in any of the world’s financial centres. D Kate Lander, CFA, is head of education (EMEA) at the CFA Institute

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No content (including ratings, credit-related analyses and data, model, software or other application or output therefrom) or any part thereof (Content) may be modified, reverse engineered, reproduced or distributed in any form by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of S&P. The Content shall not be used for any unlawful or unauthorized purposes. S&P, its affiliates, and any third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively S&P Parties) do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of the Content. S&P Parties are not responsible for any errors or omissions, regardless of the cause, for the results obtained from the use of the Content, or for the security or maintenance of any data input by the user. The Content is provided on an “as is” basis. S&P PARTIES DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, FREEDOM FROM BUGS, SOFTWARE ERRORS OR DEFECTS, THAT THE CONTENT’S FUNCTIONING WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR THAT THE CONTENT WILL OPERATE WITH ANY SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE CONFIGURATION. In no event shall S&P Parties be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of the Content even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Credit-related analyses, including ratings, and statements in the Content are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions. S&P assumes no obligation to update the Content following publication in any form or format. The Content should not be relied on and is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment and other business decisions. S&P’s opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. S&P does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor. While S&P has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, S&P does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. S&P keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of their respective activities. As a result, certain business units of S&P may have information that is not available to other S&P business units. S&P has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. S&P may receive compensation for its ratings and certain creditrelated analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of securities or from obligors. S&P reserves the right to disseminate its opinions and analyses. S&P’s public ratings and analyses are made available on its Web sites, www.standardandpoors.com (free of charge), and www.ratingsdirect.com and www.globalcreditportal.com (subscription), and may be distributed through other means, including via S&P publications and third party redistributors. Additional information about our ratings fees is available at www.standardandpoors.com/usratingsfees. Copyright © 2013 by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P), a subsidiary of The McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. STANDARD & POOR’S, S&P, RatingsDirect, are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.

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19.02.14 15:52

SPOTLIGHT

Harvey is just one of three artists who have ever been allowed to work with Frankel, and his portrait is the first officially-commissioned photographic work of the retired, unbeaten racehorse. The triple-washed C-type prints have been created through traditional methods of exposing paper and then sent through a wet-printing process. Issued in three limited-edition sizes, each comes signed, numbered and embossed with a certificate of authenticity. D Frankel Limited-Edition Prints by Mark Harvey, from ÂŁ280, mark-harvey.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO FINISH

To coincide with the sixth birthday of champion racehorse Frankel, a limited-edition print by award-winning equine photographer Mark Harvey has been released

LIFESTYLE | 45

TAKE YOUR PICK Paul Weller shares three stylish suggestions from DAKS’ S/S 14 collection

SUIT YOURSELF

Navy Double Breasted Suit, £625

BEST OF BRITAIN: DAKS CELEBRATES 120 YEARS SEEING RED

Red Blouson Jacket, £295

COAT OF ARMS Grey Trench Coat, £525

D Available at daks.com

“A man’s clothes say so much about him that few of us can afford the arrogance of dressing badly.” – 1940’s DAKS Simpson campaign

imeon Simpson was just 16 when he opened a bespoke tailoring business on Middlesex Street. This was no amateur operation; it was, in fact, a huge success, right from the beginning. Simpsons, as it was previously known, became the first in the industry to massproduce high-quality suits, and in 1930 went on to provide first-rate military uniforms for officers in the Army, Navy, Royal Airforce and Women’s Service. However, 1932 was the year that the British Heritage brand truly made its mark, when it revolutionised the design of trousers, by inventing the selfsupporting waistband. From here the brand went from strength to strength, notably providing attire to the British Olympic team in 1960. Today, DAKS continues to contribute high-quality suiting and tailoring with the same brand values

that were established 120 years ago: quality, reliability and innovation. To celebrate its success and mark this major milestone, DAKS recently shot a campaign featuring British musician Paul Weller and his daughter Leah. Shot in a townhouse on Brighton beach, the print campaign has also been supported with the release of video footage, featuring the pair in an exclusive performance of Paul’s most iconic songs, You Do Something to Me and Wild Wood. Paul Diamond, deputy chairman, says: “Our 120th anniversary in 2014 is another landmark in DAKS’ rich heritage, which is reflected in our visual archive that tells the brand’s story over the past 120 years. The new campaign featuring Paul and Leah Weller perfectly represents the modern image of our iconic British brand.” D daks.com

 JUST IN: valentino uomo  Valentino is one of the most recent brands to take advantage of the increasingly lucrative business of men’s fragrance. The Italian fashion house launched its inaugural men’s offering Valentino Uomo, a smooth, leathery scent, created by fragrance extraordinaire Olivier Polge. We’re particularly impressed by the flacon, perhaps because it’s reminiscent of a fine bottle of liqueur, but we’re told the surface is, in fact, a nod to the ashlar bricks of a Roman palazzo. When in Rome... D Valentino Uomo 50ml EDT, £46, Valentino, valentino.com

46 | LIFESTYLE

HIs style

 TIE

of the

MONTH 

 Knitted Tie, £65, Simon Carter, simoncarter.net

FIT THE BRIEF

The sharp tailoring, clean lines and bold colours of Jonathan Saunder’s S/S 2014 collection takes us back to Tokyo in the 1980s, and to complement his collection, Saunders has released a range of briefcases and portfolios in collaboration with luxury British accessories brand Smythson. Crafted using the finest leather, each piece in the collection is marked with the signature Smythson lock. D Smythson for Jonathan Saunders From £896 jonathan-saunders.com

Weybridge, £365, Crockett & Jones, crockettandjones.com

It’s not until we deconstruct a suit that we’re really able to appreciate the technical genius and engineering that goes into fine-tailoring. That’s what makes the Museum of London’s The Anatomy of a Suit so interesting; the exhibition literally unpicks the secrets of the suit. Fashion curator Timothy Long takes a selection of historical jackets and dissects each to trace the tailoring and detail underneath its surface. Open until June in the Sackler Hall, The Anatomy of a Suit is a free exhibition, open daily. D museumoflondon.org.uk

THE MAD MONK Phillip II, £940, John Lobb, johnlobbltd.co.uk

BLACK BEAUTY

Dickie, £159, Duggers of London, duggersoflondon.co.uk

OF THE BEST: 3BROGUES

MAN ABOUT BROWN

FOLLOW SUIT

LIFESTYLE | 47

HIs style



INTO THE BLUE 

Despite appearances, this month we’re feeling anything but blue Here at The City Magazine we’re anticipating the return of blue skies by experimenting with a healthy burst of the colour blue. This season, no gentleman’s wardrobe is complete without a seainspired palette, and it seems the world of menswear is just as excited to say good riddance to grey. The S/S 2014 collections of

Burberry Prorsum, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hermès and Tod's all incorporated the season’s choice of colour, and we suggest you do so too. Add accents of the hue to your neutral staples, be it blue brogues, a rich knit or bright belt, but if you dare, why not don the colour from top-to-toe, just be sure to pick a few shades.

BLUE NOTES

MEAN BUSINESS

S/S 2014 Collection, Hermès, uk.hermes.com

Laptop Case 13" in Indigo Ascot Calf, £1,100, Asprey, asprey.com

BUCKLE UP

OFF THE CUFF

Belt in Blue Suede, £175, Tod's, tods.com/UK

Large Square Inlay Sterling Silver Cufflinks, £110, Aspinal of London, aspinaloflondon.com

SPRING IN YOUR STEP Dowton, £285, Church's, church-footwear.com

48 | LIFESTYLE

V-KNIT

Supima Pique Stitch V-Neck Sweater, £85, Brooks Brothers, brooksbrothers.com

ALL WRAPPED UP

Paisley Scarf, £75, Simon Carter, simoncarter.net

SUN SPOT

Wave Dot Sunglasses, £179, Burberry Prorsum, uk.burberry.com

Discover world-class tennis hospitality. 10 mins by tube. The best in men’s tennis and superb food and drink is closer than you think. Discover ‘hybrid hospitality’ in the stunning Roof Garden, or enjoy amazing food from Jamie Oliver’s chefs at Love Fifteen. The Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club, served in style by Keith Prowse.

To book your experience please call

0208 185 7761 or visit keithprowse.co.uk #closertotheaction

YOUR OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY PARTNER

Blue Jacket, £POA, Blue Brocade Print Trousers, £POA, Blue Cashmere Knit, £POA, all Ermenegildo Zegna, zegna.com

Back to

BACK

Simple and subtle is the order of the day with the season's more wearable trends; team jackets and jumpers with linen and cotton for a light spring look FASHION Lucie Dodds PHOTOGRAPHY Glen Burrows

THIS PAGE: Pink Linen and Silk Jacket, £595, Pink Seersucker Shorts, £125, Pink Cashmere Knit, £295, Red Woven Belt, £145, Plum Suede Loafers, £375, all Gieves & Hawkes, gievesandhawkes.com OPPOSITE PAGE: Printed Pajamas Trousers, £815, Jacket £1,530, Ornamental Flower Sport T-shirt, £390, Leather Boots, £410, all Gucci, 020 7235 6707, gucci.com

THIS PAGE: Grey Jacket Waistcoat and Trouser Suit, £795, White Shirt, £95, Silver Grey Tie, £75, Silk Printed Pocket Square, £35, all Chester Barrie, chesterbarrie. co.uk; Date Just II Watch, £6,100, Rolex, thewatchgallery.com; Shoes, £POA, John Lobb, johnlobb.com OPPOSITE PAGE: Cashmere Jumper, £895, Gingham Shirt, £250, Red Tie, £195, Navy Linen Trousers, £595, Blue Suede Loafers, £350, all Burberry, burberry. com; Dressage Watch, £6,850, Hermès, hermes.com

Ombre Jacket, £1,240, Trousers, £800, Button Jumper, £400, all Missoni, missoni.com HAIR Gow Tanaka using Aveda

grooming

KING OF SHAVES While the beard has enjoyed something of a revival recently, 2014’s London Collections: Men saw the world’s best designers ask their models to bid farewell to the face fuzz. Meanwhile, over in Hollywood, Brad Pitt is leading the beard backlash, stepping out during

this year’s awards season with a clean-shaven look for the first time in years. We spoke to expert City barbers Alex Glover and Matthew Hughes, who offered a stepby-step guide for achieving the best possible cut-throat shave at home.

 Pre-shave prep

Start with a warm shower to cleanse your skin, then apply a pre-shave oil – the oil works as an added layer of protection, and paired with the steam from the shower will emulate the hot towel used in a barber shop to soften the beard. If you don't have time for a shower, a product like Murdock Pre-Shave Oil should do the job.

 Lather up

Ideally, you should use a proper shaving soap in a shaving bowl and a badger hair brush that’s been soaking in water. Mix the two for a thick, creamy lather to protect the skin.

 Use the blade correctly

Pull your skin slightly to stretch it and make sure it doesn’t catch. Hold the blade at 30 degrees towards the skin, allowing the blade to sweep across the face smoothly. Make sure you don’t go against the grain – this is a common mistake, which leads to a vicious circle of repetitive razor burn.

 Perform essential post-shave skincare

It’s important to finish your shave with a very cold rinse on the face to get rid of any soap residue, maybe with a flannel, as this will help close the pores. Then use an aftershave balm to help the skin recover, followed by a moisturiser above the shave line. Finish with your favourite cologne. D Murdock London, murdocklondon.com

Pre-Shave Oil, £34, Murdock London, murdocklondon.com

Luxury Badger Hair & Razor Shaving Set, £195, Molton Brown, moltonbrown.co.uk

Heaven Aftershave Balm, £55, by Deborah Mitchell, heavenskincare.com

No.88 Shaving Dish & Soap, Czeche & Speake, £95, czecheandspeake.com

Almond Luxury Lather Shaving Cream, £16.50, D.R. Harris & Co., drharris.co.uk

58 | LIFESTYLE

Naturally Active After-Shaving Moisturiser, £18.25, Liz Earle, uk.lizearle.com

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

SKIN DEEP 

Angela Keen, treatment manager of ESPA Life at Corinthia, a luxury spa, helps us distinguish between a good skincare investment and a bad one WORDS: TIFFANY EASTLAND

arket research indicates that by the end of 2017, the global skincare market will have reached $101.3 billion [source: MarketLine], so it’s safe to say the industry is absolutely thriving. Why? Well anyone who has ever walked through the cosmetics hall of a department store would know too well how easy it is to get carried away and a little lost in the moment. It starts with a miracle cream that promises to hydrate, firm, even and tone, and ends with a cupboard full of products that get used for a week, if that. The reality is, who has time to lather on layers of product? In an attempt to determine the difference between a good skincare investment and a bad one, we went straight to the experts of ESPA Life at Corinthia, Best European Spa 2013.

FOR HYDRATING

24-Hour Replenishing Moisturiser, £41, ESPA, espaskincare.com

60 | LIFESTYLE

According to treatment manager Angela Keen, you don’t need to spend hours each week priming and primping — in fact she says: “Just a simple skincare routine twice a day is sufficient to achieve healthy looking skin. It will not only look better for the effort, it will feel better as well.” So, good news, it’s simply a matter of cleansing, toning and moisturising your way to better skin. She is rather strict on this though — so ladies, be diligent, even after a late night out. “When you decide to skip this important step (removing your makeup), not only does it result in unnecessary exposure to free radicals that makeup holds on to, it can also result in breakouts, as the pores become clogged,” she explains. In addition to your daily routine, Keen stresses the importance of regular exfoliation. If you have oily skin, this step should be incorporated into your regime two to three times a week, and one to two times for those with dry skin. If you have mature skin, you’ll want to be increasing cell turnover, so that means exfoliating two to three times a week. Before you race off and start to scrub and lather, Keen advises having a proper skin analysis to ensure you’re using the right products, otherwise all your hard work could potentially go to waste, not to mention your money. And when it comes to ageing, she offers some further insight. According to Keen, when you reach the age of 25, your skin can start to show the early signs of ageing. This is all dependent on environmental factors, your lifestyle choice, your genetics and how well you look after your skin. So 25 is probably the time when you’ll want to start taking preventative measures. The eye area is the thinnest skin on your body and is one of the first tell-tale signs of age, so keeping the area hydrated and nourished is crucial for reducing lines and preventing premature ageing. For those who have well and truly bypassed their 20s, you’ll be aware that your collagen, elasticity and firmness are decreasing at a much quicker pace. This is the time to opt for products in age-defying ranges, but avoid any with parabens, the preservatives widely used in cosmetics. Look for those brands that use natural preservatives, free of synthetic colour and fragrance, to avoid irritation to the skin. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a selection of our favourite products. D espalifeatcorinthia.com

FOR RADIANCE

Cellumination Aura Essence, £226, SK-II, harrods.com

FOR FIRMING

Tune It: V6.4 Firming Facial Extract, £36, Sepai, selfridges.com

HER style



COME INTO BLOOM 

This season, flower power is a force to be reckoned with The floral trend is in full swing this spring, and we can’t get enough of these ultra-feminine frocks. Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera and Alberta Ferretti embraced flower power this season, presenting a spectacular garden of floaty, floral ensembles. Our favourite S/S 2014 collections

experiment with anything from oversized prints to fine floral appliqués, in a rainbow of bold and pastel colours. Here at The City Magazine, we’re particularly in love with Oscar de la Renta’s ladylike offerings and their intricately detailed floral embroidery.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON ELIE SAAB

MILLY

DOLCE & GABBANA

DIOR

LELA ROSE

ALBERTA FERRETTI

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

GIORGIO ARMANI

DOLCE & GABBANA

LIFESTYLE | 61

SPRING SUMMER 2014

TIGEROFSWEDEN.COM

TIGER OF SWEDEN EST 1903

J U B I LE E P L AC E, CANARY WHAR F

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COLLECTION

JEWELLERY

MOST WANTED Fashion powerhouse Chanel has just released its newest fine jewellery collection, named Camélia Galbé, and it's already causing quite a stir

Camélia Galbé sees Chanel's iconic flower reimagined in edgy, oversized black and white ceramic petals and featured on rings, pendants, earrings and an exquisite head jewel in 18-carat white gold with diamonds. The campaign, entitled WANTED, shows a playful side to the French maison as it presents 13 monochrome pieces in a series of vintage-style mug shots; one image shows the Camélia rings in a Reservoir Dogs spoof line-up, while another has them placed on clenched fists, resembling a knuckle duster. Warning: this collection’s not for the faint-hearted. D chanel.com

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Swiss movement, English heart

Calibre JJ03 modification (Patent pending) of ETA 2893 self-winding movement / Personally assembled by Master Watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke and team at CWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Swiss atelier / 2 x 24 hour time-zone display / 24 airport code identification and simultaneous world map indicator / 43mm, marine-grade, 316L polished steel case with sapphire crystal and transparent case-back / Ethically sourced, midnight blue, Louisiana alligator strap with Bader deployment

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COLLECTION



TIMEPIECES 

For treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces, watch this space... BY RICHARD BROWN

Home-grown Horology

As British as curry, cheese rolling and cucumber sandwiches, Bremont has announced that it will be investing in home-grown horology by supporting the British School of Watchmaking. An independent institution that welcomed its first six students in 2006, the school aims to train and nurture talent hoping to work in the burgeoning domestic watch market. “Right from the outset, a key motivator for Bremont has been the bringing of watch-manufacture on a significant scale back to British shores,” says company co-founder Nick English. Having opened a headquarters at Henley-on-Thames and collaborated with the likes of Bletchley Park, The Royal Navy Museum and Jaguar, Bremont has certainly put the country back on the watchmaking map. For the best of British, visit Bremont’s second standalone London store at The Royal Exchange. D Bremont, 12 The Courtyard, Royal Exchange

King of Diamonds

Hosted in Monaco since 2010, the European edition of WPHH (the World Presentation of Haute Horology) showcases the wares of the brands that full under the parentage of The Franck Muller Group. Stealing the show this January was Backes & Strauss with its Royal Jester. The perfectly round 40mm watch features a dial obscured by two rows of baguette diamonds and a single brilliant diamond weighing 1.01 carats in its centre. Crimson hour markers, mounted on crystal disks, sit underneath, in a mechanical timepiece that has a 36 hour power reserve. How many diamonds does the watch have in total? 202 apparently. D backesandstrauss.com

 CUTTING EDGE  A shot of adrenaline

If you can find a more masculine, testosteroneinfused timepiece than this, we’d like to see it. As manly as Maximus Aurelius and Wolverine rolled into one, Hublot’s new Big Bang Unico All Black is the sort of watch you’d expect the SAS to sport. Totally black, and totally matt, the watch features a skeleton dial, 45.5mm case and automatic flyback chronograph movement. For the first time since the creation of the Big Bang in 2005, the push-buttons are round, each one protected by a push-button guard. The Unico All Black is limited to 500 pieces. Get one, if you think you’re ‘ard enough. D hublot.com

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

The Tank MC features Cartier’s calibre 1904 MC. This exceptional movement is the first automatic movement entirely developed, manufactured and assembled by Cartier. It is a stunning watch D Tank MC, £4,590, Cartier, cartier.com

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IWC Aquatimer

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COLLECTION

Shh, it's

sihh

In contrast to bold and brassy Baselworld, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie watch fair is all about quiet refinement and hushed, reverential awe words: ALEX DOAK

f an envelope from Cartier lands on your doormat in early December, you can forget all about Dry January. With the pre-Christmas party season gearing up and your liver already starting to pack in, all hope of a postNew-Year detox must be put on ice (with a twist) as you succumb once again to the champagne-beige enclaves of Geneva Airport’s vast Palexpo convention centre. For while the location might not exactly scream ‘luxury’, what Cartier has sent you is an invitation to parent group Richemont’s annual showcase of all things ‘haute’ and horological. And though the idea of sharing four vast, windowless halls with 13,999 other watch-industry professionals and connoisseurs for four days, all pumped on complimentary bubbly and the sheer novelty of not having to drink it with office colleagues or family may not seem entirely refined, it really is. SIHH’s studied calm is exactly why Cartier, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth all broke away from the aircraft-hangar jamboree that is Baselworld in 1990, setting up their own trade show at Palexpo. Fastforward 24 years and we’re up to 16 brands, principally thanks to Richemont Group’s booming portfolio of watch houses, including Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC and Panerai, plus several independent brands including Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille and Greubel Forsey. Like an English conservation area, all 16 ‘pavilions’ adhere to the fair’s plain-eggshell façade, but venture inside and many still harbour hankerings for Basel-esque theatrics. For example, the decidedly un-shy-and-retiring Roger Dubuis conjoured a bizarre Dr Who scenario of plain-white steampunk mannequins clutching bell jars of watches; around the corner, IWC swapped last year’s Mercedes-AMG-Petronas F1 pitlane for a dizzying ocean diorama of hammerhead sharks and foreboding depths.

But primarily, we’re here for the watches. Not only is SIHH the only opportunity you’ll ever have to handle or simply gaze upon the world’s rarest creations before they’re all snapped up and squirrelled away into private collections, but it is also a bellwether for the next year; a sign of things to come at Basel in March and an indication of the industry’s health. Which, incidentally, continues to flout the world economy’s general malaise, if the number of big-hitting connoisseur complications is anything to go by. So here are five things that SIHH taught us this year.

The Perpetual Calendar is Big News in 2014

From Montblanc’s amazing-value £8,300 steel Meisterstück Heritage model to Greubel Forsey’s £456,000 QP à Equation, the perpetual calendar complication was rife throughout the halls of Palexpo this year. It tells you the correct date without ever having to adjust for 28 or 30day months or even leap years for that matter, thanks to a component inside that only completes a rotation once every four years. There was also Jaeger-LeCoultre’s catchily named ‘Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Cylindrique à Quantième Perpétuel’, which pairs the QP with a merrygo-round tourbillon carriage suspended on a cylindrical balance spring. Also a bizarre, futuristically Aztec offering from Cartier’s Fine Watchmaking division, the Rotonde Astro, again framing a tourbillon with its date indications, but this time as gaping concentric rings rather than separate dials. But it was a back-on-form IWC which unveiled the most unlikely home to its perpetual calendar: an utterly vast 49mm Aquatimer

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diving watch no less, kitted out with the digital-readout calendar first developed for their Mercedes F1 Ingenieur range last year. There’s no use being pedantic – scuba divers need to know the date as much as racing drivers and the rest of us!

Women are better served than ever before

The stuffier parts of the Swiss watch industry are still notorious for adopting that old kinder, küche, kirche (children, kitchen, church) attitude when it comes to women and their place in horology, stuck in the belief that she will be happy with a scaled-down men’s watch in pink and covered with diamonds (and, for that matter, not in the least bit bothered about whether it’s a quartz or mechanical movement ticking away inside). But while the gemstones tend to persist (stand and be counted, Ralph Lauren), many brands are responding to women’s escalating spending power, and growing watch knowledge, from tabula rasa. Ultra-techy Richard Mille has always led the feminine charge, compounded this year by its RM 19-01, designed with friend-ofthe-brand Natalie Portman. Instead of just forming a pretty face, its central spider motif is an integral part of the movement, with the abdomen of the spider actually supporting the bridges of the tourbillon, its legs supporting the two winding barrels. Adjusting the

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COLLECTION Left: Roger Dubuis stand; Bottom Left: Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Planetarium

Elsewhere, Baume & Mercier’s one-year-old Clifton collection’s Chronograph Day/Date 43mm was perhaps the most accessible complication of SIHH without feeling cheap, and Panerai’s Radiomir 1940 donned the rose-tinted specs with its OP XXV calibre, based on a classic Minerva movement. Just a glance at its beautifully sculpted movement through the caseback, its column-wheel mechanism and central Y-shaped bridge unshrouded by a winding rotor, is enough to make you go weak at the knees.

THE MECHANICS CAN BE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE WATCH

The contents of SIHH are of course all about the mechanics and craftsmanship on display but sometimes a watchmaker turns the functional notion of a component completely on its head, making it the star of the show. The two spinning carriages of Roger Dubuis’s Hommage Double Flying Tourbillon could have rested on their laurels but the laurels themselves take centre stage here, the underlying baseplate decorated with a deeply grooved sunray guilloché pattern, requiring six or seven ‘passes’ with a traditional hand-operated roseengine lathe. Or what about Audemars Piguet’s latest Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon? Its space-age cocktail of ceramic and titanium now extends to the movement’s central upper bridge, painstakingly milled from brittle white ceramic. The coherence of movement and case has never felt more seamless. Should you prefer something more classical, however, trust A. Lange & Söhne to deliver yet another achingly elegant masterpiece. The Richard Lange Perpetual Calendar Terraluna, is as sober as a grandfather clock from the front, but flip it over and the spinning night sky dial is pure poetry. spider’s pivot points micrometre by micrometre, yet still allowing for perfect diamond-setting, is an art form in itself. Across the hall from Mille was Greubel Forsey; its 24 Secondes Tourbillon Contemporain is now set with baguette-cut diamonds of the finest-possible quality (clarity IF, colour D-E), allowing women to buy into not only haute joaillerie but haute horlogerie of the highest order. Meanwhile, Parmigiani is taking the further step of tapping the younger female market with its Tonda Metropolitaine, with ruby-red dial and white strap – the most striking of the new, urbanite Metro collection.

THE CHRONOGRAPH IS STILL KING

While most fans of this original-and-best complication will struggle to think of a single use for their watches’ stopwatch function beyond timing a boiling egg, the chronograph is nevertheless a permanent fixture throughout any watch brand’s collection. This year was notable for plenty of clean, crisp chronograph watches, uncluttered by tourbillons and the like. Most handsome of all was, yet again, Montblanc’s Meisterstück Heritage collection, celebrating 90 years of the Hamburg brand’s eponymous fountain pen. The bespectacled ‘bicompax’ subdials are an exquisite exercise in restraint and the retro stylings just contemporary enough to pull off with a polo shirt and pair of Ray-Bans.

...BUT SIMPLICITY IS STIL A VIRTUE

The global recession may have caused little more than a blip on the Swiss watch industry’s steadily escalating export stats, but the lasting, welcome legacy of those austere times is a return to simplicity and watches you can actually wear in the evening without ruining your cuffs (or getting mugged). As masters of the ultra-thin, Piaget has truly upped its game with the thinnest mechanical watch ever made. Cleverly, just as the placky, plucky Swatch watch did in 1983, the 900P does away with a traditional baseplate, instead mounting its components on the caseback itself, bringing its wafer-thin geartrain flush with the dial. The result is slick beyond words. Thankfully this was far from being the only time-only, slimline dress watch at SIHH, but more impressive were the clean and slim numbers that still managed to squeeze in some hardcore mechanics; Vacheron Constantin and its Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 (world’s thinnest minute repeater) and Van Cleef & Arpels, which produced perhaps the finest watch of the whole show. The Midnight Planetarium stopped everyone dead in their tracks, its mesmerising blue dial setting the stage for seven daintily poised celestial bodies: a pink gold sun, Earth in turquoise, Jupiter in blue agate, Venus in chloromelanite, Mars in red jasper, Mercury in serpentine and Saturn in sugilite. If you fail to be utterly beguiled, check your pulse.

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5 4

3 6

The Colour

Purple

With Radiant Orchid having succeeded Emerald Green as Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2014, we present our pick of the best purple jewellery

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D 1. Murano 18-karat yellow gold necklace, POA, Marco Bicego, marcobicego.com D 2. Emilia ring, £6,000, Emily H London, emilyhlondon.co.uk D 3. Silver and amethyst swallows brooch, £4,000, Jordan Askill for Gemfields, giftlab.com D 4. Loris necklace, £85, Violet Darkling, violetdarkling.com D 5. Amethyst Opera pendant, £1,950, Astley Clarke, astleyclarke.com D 6. Amethyst Guardian ring, £28,500, Jessica McCormack, jessicamccormack.com D 7. 1850s 9-karat gold amethyst rivière necklace, £12,000, Olivia Collings, net-a-porter.com D 8. Diamond and amethyst fringed earrings, £48,000, Jessica McCormack, as before D 9. 18-carat rose gold and amethyst ring, POA, Faraone Mennella, faraonemennella.com D 10. Never Too Light ring, £1,250, Delfina Delettrez, delfinadelettrez. com D 11. Amethyst Bubble ring, £3,795, Heming Jewels, hemingjewels.com D 12. Morganite large Fao drop earrings, £5,250, Astley Clarke, as before D 13. Eternal purple amethyst and peridot bangle, £1,400, Kiki McDonough, kiki.co.uk D 14. Sea Flower 18-karat gold, amethyst and tsavorite ring, £4,620, Ileana Makri, net-a-porter.com D 15. Riva amethyst stick ring, £130, Monica Vinader, monicavinader. com D 16. Emilia short pendant earrings, £7,900, Emily H London, as before D 17. Amethyst pendant, POA, Heming Jewels, as before

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COLLECTION



JEWELLERY BOX 

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

with jewellery designer, Bao Bao Wan

Worth its Weight in Gold

To complement his Middle Eastern-inspired S/S14 collection, designer Matthew Williamson called upon jeweller Azza Fahmy to create a line of jewellery. Long necklaces and bracelets weighted with coins drew reference from ancient talismen, while structural rings featured motifs from Egypt and Persia and cage-like cuffs, inspired by an antique Omani belt, perfectly contrasted with Williamson’s feminine, floating fabrics. Fahmy is

Beijing-born Bao Bao Wan has made a name for herself not just as a jeweller but as a true fashionista, constantly pictured at fashion weeks thanks to her unique style and being a personal friend of the House of Dior. Her eponymous jewellery collection makes its exclusive European debut at Harrods this spring. well-known on the fashion circuit, having previously created collections for Julien Macdonald and Preen, and we predict this won’t be the last collection she creates for Williamson. The ninepiece capsule collection is now available in stores and online and includes neckpieces, earrings, oversized rings and bracelets in sterling silver, gold-plated, or the Azza Fahmy trademarked 18-karat gold on sterling silver. D matthewwilliamson.com

 CUTTING EDGE  For its new fine watch and jewellery collection, Emprise, fashion house Louis Vuitton revisited its heritage and took inspiration from its luxury line of trunks, first created in 1854:

The trunk’s material elements have been metamorphosed into precious creations, octagonal pendants, rings, bracelets, earrings, a seductive lady’s watch... In the place of beech wood, brass nails or canvas, we find gold, amethysts, lemon or smoky quartz, diamonds and, for certain unique pieces, exceptionally large and vivid stones

WHY JEWELLERY DESIGN?

After studying gemology, I developed this natural instinct for gemstones. At the time I was trained in photography and French literature, never design, but I had an innate passion for it.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR PIECES?

Truly anything can spark my imagination. For instance, I designed one of my fine jewellery pieces, The Goddess, when I was visiting Florence. I happened to spot the Duomo lit up by moonlight one evening and I was inspired to sketch my own interpretation of this scene.

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE

I create two types of jewellery: the first, Little Ones, is a collection of tiny charms, (cameras, bicycles, teapots etc) which I refer to as ‘24-hour’ jewellery. The trick is to make pieces which are impossible to take off. Li Na won this year’s Australian Open wearing one of my charms which she incidentally wore at every single match. The second is my fine jewellery collection which is extravagant and feminine at the same time.

HOW DO YOUR PIECES BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EAST AND WEST IN YOUR COLLECTIONS?

The Fan brooch from La Brise de La Danse’ for example, references the 18th century Chinoiserie movement. This was a key moment when Western art was directly influenced by Chinese culture. D Fine Jewellery collection from £4,000; Little Ones collection from £700 Luxury Jewellery, Ground Floor, harrods.com

D louisvuitton.com

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L U X U RY S H O P P I N G & D I N I N G

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER The Royal Exchange invites brides-tobe to join them for an exclusive event on Wednesday 2 April between 6:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:30pm. The evening will involve a Champagne reception, expert wedding advice and displays by leading bridal services, not to mention sample menus and table settings by the team at D&D London. Encouraging couples to step outside those predictable hotel ballrooms, the luxury shopping and fine-dining destination offers

a unique and grand setting, for that special day. Licensed for both ceremonies and receptions, The Royal Exchange has teamed up with D&D London to create bespoke and personalised weddings. At the event, D&D London will offer couples a menu design service with their talented chefs, while other partners of The Royal Exchange will help inspire all other aspects of your wedding. Resident jewellers, Boodles, Bulgari and

Tiffany & Co. will keep their doors open, to help you select the all-important wedding bands, while top florist Nikki Tibbles at Wild at Heart, will be on hand to discuss your floral arrangements. Send your groom off to Paul Smith to sort his tux, while you try on gowns with the team at Blackburn Bridal. RSVP to eleanorl@idpr.co.uk for your free ticket to this guest list only event. theroyalexchange.co.uk

THE PERSONAL TOUCH Personalised wedding stationery has always carried the ability to create a beautiful lasting impression. With over 125 years of expertise in personalised stationery, Smythson believes these moments should be represented with the finest, most distinct quality of British craftsmanship, from their range of delicate hand tissue-lined envelopes to an elegant

selection invitations and co-ordinating wedding stationery. Discover an array of options, or, if you have something more specific in mind, visit their stationery specialist at The Royal Exchange Wedding Show to see how your stationery can be tailored to make your wedding truly unique and memorable. smythson.com

T H E R O YA L E X C H A N G E . C O . U K

Smythson, Engraved wedding invitation with silver seahorse motif and tissue-lined envelope, ÂŁPOA

SIX OF THE BEST

Something Special 

A Moment In Time 

Prince Charming 

This incredible antique masterpiece is something old and something blue, and perhaps to you, something new. Dating back to circa 1890, this Oriental Pearl and Turquoise Locket, hangs from a beautiful Oriental Pearl Necklet. This timeless piece will no doubt become a treasured heirloom.

Bremont’s new ALTI-C Rose Gold, Classic Chronograph is the perfect gift for your groom, especially if the wedding planning has brought out the worst in you. Despite being the brand’s first non-limited edition 43mm gold watch, only a very limited number will be produced each year.

You’ve found your Mr Right and you’re tying the knot, what better way to mark the special occasion, than with this gorgeous charm from Links of London? The Tie The Knot Heart Charm, has been designed as a single knotted heart in sterling silver, a lovely symbol of a forthcoming marriage.

Searle & Co Jewellers, Oriental Pearl and

Bremont, ALTI-C Rose Gold Classic Chronograph,

Links of London, Tie The Knot Heart Charm, £35

Turquoise Locket on Oriental Pearl Necklet, £2,175

from £13,950

Set in Platinum, from £13,000

Diamonds and Pearls 

Pamper Prep 

The One 

You’ve found the dress but now you need the jewels to complement it. You’re looking for an elegant statement but you don’t want anything that will distract from that special gown. These stunning pearl and diamond drop earrings from Kojis are just enough of a statement. Set in 18 carat gold, they’re the perfect addition to your wedding ensemble.

There’s no denying, planning a wedding is stressful, but you certainly don’t want that to show on your special day. This new Powerful Winkle Reducing Cream and Eye Cream, promises to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkle and pores, leaving you with a flawless complexion on your wedding day.

Neither you nor anyone else will be able to take their eyes off this dazzling Boodles’ creation. Featuring its distinctive Ashoka cut, exclusive to Boodles in Britain, this incredible diamond boasts 60 scissor facets, clean lines, and an angular yet modern feel. It’s a ring anyone would struggle to refuse.

Kiehl’s since 1851, Powerful Wrinkle Reducing

Boodles, Ashoka Diamond Engagement Ring,

Kojis, Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings, £1,500

Cream, £42

£POA

AGENT PROVOCATEUR • ARTISAN FINE ART GALLERY • BOODLES • Bremont • BVLGARI • CHURCH’S • CROCKETT & JONES • GRAND CAFÉ • GUCCI • HARRYS OF LONDON HERMÈS • IMPERIAL CITY • JO MALONE LONDON • JONES LANG LASALLE• KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 • KOJIS • LINKS OF LONDON • LORO PIANA • L’OCCITANE • LULU GUINNESS MEZZANINE LOUNGE • MOLTON BROWN • MONTBLANC • OMEGA • PAUL A. YOUNG FINE CHOCOLATES • PAUL SMITH • PENHALIGON’S • PRETTY BALLERINAS ROYAL EXCHANGE JEWELLERS • SAGE BROWN FINE LEATHER • SAUTERELLE RESTAURANT • SEARLE & CO JEWELLERS • SMOKER’S PARADISE SMYTHSON • TATEOSSIAN • THEO FENNELL • TIFFANY & CO. • WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND • WATCHFINDER & CO.

THE ROYAL EXCHANGE, BANK, CITY OF LONDON, EC3V 3LR. STORE TRADING HOURS 10AM - 6PM. RESTAURANTS & BARS 8AM - 11PM

The Designer:

TIMOTHY OULTON

The visionary designer reinvents history with collections that can only be described as modern legacies WORDS: TIFFANY EASTLAND

homewares in the US, before he and his brother decided to expand the ou only need to glance at Timothy Oulton’s year-old Harrods business to the UK, where it achieved sales of more than £1 million in its gallery to note the presence of daringly innovative design, yet first year. At that time, Oulton took the helm at Haloand repositioned on closer observation it’s the meticulous attention to timethe company and focus on blending traditional craftsmanship with a honoured handcraftsmanship that truly impresses. You almost can’t modern viewpoint. Oulton says: “We have a point of view. There is decide whether you’ve stepped back in time, or been transported to character and soul to what we do. The materials we use, the link to the the future, it’s somewhere in between, but certainly distinguished heritage, the designs we create – that combination is unique.” Unique from what you’d call present-day design. It therefore wouldn’t surprise indeed and highly sought-after too. you to discover that its founder and creative director grew up in Today, Timothy Oulton has more than 40 stores across the globe, Manchester surrounded by artefacts, as the son of an antiques dealer. in some of the world’s leading cities, including London, New York, When Oulton left school at 18, he had no clear plans, so he wound Los Angeles, Moscow, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and up working with his father in the family business, Halo Sydney, with plenty more in the pipeline. Antiques, where he had little intention of remaining. This year alone Oulton has introduced four However, over time he became captivated by the new collections: jet, adventurer, coastal drift and beautiful designs and traditional craftsmanship that age of elegance, each of which tells an inspiring passed through their hands, and it was these years story. Using the finest materials, including leather spent working with his father that would go on to from South America and century-old wood influence his own creations. Oulton says: “Being Globetrekker Orbit Lamp Table, £975, Timothy reclaimed from English distilleries, Oulton’s surrounded by great handcrafted productsmost Oulton, timothyoulton.com furniture lines continue to reinvent and add of my life has definitely impacted on how I history to the rooms they occupy. produce furniture.” Oulton spent five successful years restoring D timothyoulton.com

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home



THE LION'S DEN 

Masculinity meets luxury in the modern gentleman’s lair

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D 1. Harlow Armchair, £POA, Bentley Home, clubhouseitalia.com D 2. Classic Four Drawer Filing Cabinet, £3,495, Heal’s, heals.co.uk D 3. Adnet Circulaire Mirror in tan, £474, Gubi, nest.co.uk D 4. Pure Business Card Holder, £71, Moser, lewiswarkinternational.co.uk D 5. Olimpic coffee table, £POA , Fendi Casa, luxuryliving.it D 6. Comet Easy Chair, £1,250, Lammhults, forza.co.uk D 7. Montauk Search Light Table Lamp, £1,000, Ralph Lauren Home, ralphlaurenhome.com D 8. Open Shaw Desk, £7,495, Louise Bradley, luxdeco.com

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

FITNESS CLASSES 

Convenient keep-fit classes for the time-strapped City type

Aegis Training

The team at Aegis Training bill themselves as the City’s ‘leading specialists in fat-loss for the busy professional’, and they know just how to get the best results, even alongside the demands of a busy schedule. In addition to the group boot camp on offer, Aegis also provides ‘Elite personal training’, a bespoke service at its spacious Liverpool Street location. With times tailored to suit your schedule and an easily accessible location, this is the perfect solution for time-strapped City professionals. D aegistraining.co.uk

Speed Flex

Developed in the US in 2009, Speedflex is a circuitbased training concept new to Lombard Street, catering for all ages and levels of ability. Different from anything you would expect to find in a conventional gym, this unique 45-minute programme is a combination of intense cardiovascular and resistance training, but one which luckily results in little muscle soreness or fatigue the next day. Long term, you can expect to say good riddance to the beer belly, as the benefits include accelerated fat-loss, improved muscle tone, strength and bone density, and enhanced power and speed.

iPhone image © Ingvar Bjork / Shutterstock.com

D speedflex.com

Less bang for your buck

Frame London

‘Move your frame’ is the motto at this Shoreditch fitness studio, and there are plenty of classes on offer to make sure you’re doing just that. One of the latest additions is Pure Cardio, which, you’ve guessed it, means 30 minutes of all-out cardio work. This class is fast and furious, comprising 15 minutes of sprint and hill intervals on the treadmill, followed by 15 minutes of sprint and hill intervals on a bike. This cardiooverload will be ideal for anyone looking to shed a few pounds from their waistline, or minutes from their race time. D moveyourframe.com

If you're a field-sports enthusiast, aside from the more obvious dangers of using firearms, there’s also the potential long-term damage to your hearing to think about. While there are plenty of protectors on the market to help keep your ears from harm, even the most advanced of varieties mean shooters are left not being able to hear a thing. Luckily though, a new iPhone app from British developers GunSonics means that a pair of everyday headphones can

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be automatically converted into highly-effective ear defenders. Users simply wear their Apple headphones beneath a pair of passive ear protectors, and tap a preset on the app to match the firearm. While the dangerous sound of gun blasts will be muffled to a harmless pop, the sounds that you would like to hear are still able to filter through – be this birdsong, a congratulatory shout or, more importantly, a warning one. D gunsonics.com

sport

Le Coq Sportif: SPRING/SUMMER 2014 Tour de France technicality for the everyday cyclist

The inside track

een cyclists can take to the track in style this spring with the help of a new range from Le Coq Sportif, this year’s official Tour de France sponsors. Inspired by the clean lines and high technicality of the styles sported by the likes of Tour leaders Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, the new range meets all the technical specifications

to satisfy the more serious cyclist, but slight modifications also ensure comfort for everyday wear. Claiming the yellow jersey might be the ultimate dream, but in the meantime, choose from the equally cheering spearmint and ocean-blue shades, or keep things simple with an array of smart monochrome designs.

For all of the successes of London’s 2012 Olympics, the question of its legacy remained a contentious issue. Happily though, one place in which the Olympic spirit looks set to live on is at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a venue that played host to some of the games’ most memorable moments. Centred on the iconic 6,000-seat Olympic Velodrome where Sir Chris Hoy and co. pedalled to Olympic glory, the Lee Valley VeloPark, opening this March, is the first venue in the world where you can enjoy track cycling, road racing, BMX and mountain biking in one place. A brand new one-mile, floodlit road cycle circuit, the remodelled Olympic BMX track and 8km of mountain bike trails will all be open to the public, with the option to ‘pay and ride’ at different sessions.

D lecoqsportif.com

D visitleevalley.org.uk

Old Tom’s new tricks The name Old Tom Morris is one steeped in golfing tradition; both he and his son ‘Young Tom’ were four-time Open Championship winners in the 19th century and helped to pioneer the game as we know it today. Now, thanks to a new golf-wear collection bearing his name, the Tom Morris brand is even more relevant than ever. As an expert player and innovative golf-course designer, the cohesion of practicality and stylish

design in Morris’s eponymous collection seems apt. Quality wool from his native Scotland and cottonpadded gilets are ideal when there’s a chill in the air, while the casual shirts and Killermont chinos will work well from spring through to summer. The official Tom Morris shop overlooks the 18th green at St Andrews, where Morris based his own golf brand nearly 150 years ago, but you can now just as easily order a piece of golfing history online. D tommorris.com

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DESKTOP DELIGHTS Lose the post-its and upgrade your home office with these luxury desktop accessories

 LaCie Christofle Sphere Hard Drive Christofle Sphère, £370, LaCie, lacie.com

30 YEARS OF MAC This year, Apple celebrates the 30th anniversary of the PC that kick-started the home-computing revolution Gramovox

Bluetooth Gramophone, from £212, Gramovox, gramovox.com

Orée Wireless Power Pebble Charger

MAC THROUGH THE AGES

Wireless Power Pebble, from £90, Orée, oreedesign.com

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hree decades ago, a young Steve Jobs unveiled the all-new Macintosh in a California auditorium. The Macintosh 128k was the first of its kind. Featuring a small nine-inch screen, floppy disk drive and an all-in-one sealed box design, the Macintosh 128k’s aim was to make the computer as commonplace as a household appliance. Certainly, by today’s standards of lightweight Macbook Airs and touch-screen tablets, the 1984 model’s boxy design appears quaintly old-fashioned; it did, however, set a precedent for Apple’s innovative approach to consumer electronics. In their quest for world domination, Jobs and his team placed their focus upon making the original Macintosh as user-friendly as

1984

Macintosh 128k

The original Macintosh featured the first user-friendly interface.

possible. The Mac designers favoured a nowfamiliar point and click-controlled mouse, as well as a friendly graphical user interface – starting from the smiley face that greeted you. Ironically enough, it was this simplistic approach that led to a lukewarm reception from programmers, with many viewing it as nothing but a toy. And with just two programs, MacWrite and MacPaint, it’s true that word processing was about the sum total of the early Mac’s capabilities. This user-friendly interface represented a real vision for the future of home-computing, and it is perhaps this early ambition of Jobs and co for a computer-for-all which has ensured not just the Mac’s ubiquity, but homecomputing in general.

1993

Macintosh LC 520

A popular home model, the LC 520 was Apple's attempt to create a viable all-in-one computer.

1998

iMAC G3

This computer started the ‘i’ revolution.

play

Volkswagen XL1 Super-Efficient Vehicle

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Maserati Edition headphones

D Volkswagen XL1 (SEV), volkswagen.co.uk

D P5 Maseratu Edition, £329.99, Bowers & Wilkins, bowers-wilkins.co.uk

Billed as the world’s most fuel-efficient car, the Volkswagen XL1 has been confirmed for an initial production run of 250 examples in Europe. A plug-in hybrid powertrain with a low weight and sleek aerodynamic shape will be used to achieve a startling target fuel efficiency rating of 261 miles per gallon. The XL1 is said to travel at an unparalleled 32 all-electric miles, getting close to six miles to the kilowatt-hour, and its ultra-slim nose and low drag sports car-style design don’t hurt either. The German automaker isn’t talking RRPs yet, but you can expect this car of the future to come at a price.

British sound specialists Bowers & Wilkins has joined forces with Maserati to create a luxury listening experience. Crafted from fine-grain natural leather in Maserati’s iconic deep racing blue, a closed back design and sealed leather ear pads ensure a quality sound to match.

The Pebble Steel smart watch is about the most wearable example of wearable tech to date. When synced with your smartphone, the Pebble Steel lets you check texts and emails and consult apps or social networking sites. Its waterproof design and seven-day battery life tick the remaining practicality boxes, but the square steel face and matte black leather strap seal its status as the latest must-have in wrist wear and technology.

According to a recent announcement by Sony, the familiar PlayStation hand console could soon be a thing of the past. The planned release of PlayStation Now, a cloud-based gaming service, will allow gamers to stream PlayStation titles not only on the Sony PS4 and PS3, but also on smartphones, tablets and smart TVs – relying only on an internet connection. Think of it as Netflix for the gaming world, and expect to see it come to the UK in 2015.

D Pebble Steel, £153, Pebble, getpebble.com

D us.playstation.com/playstationnow

Pebble Steel smart watch

1999

Power Mac G4

Heralded by Apple as the world’s first ‘supercomputer’, featuring the first dual processors to ensure they lived up to the name.

2002

iMAC G4

Replaced its translucent, multi-coloured predecessor with a distinctive, sleek, white colour and LCD flat panel display.

2007

iMAC

This iMac featured a striking new aluminium case design, which made clear reference to the recently released iPhone.

LIFESTYLE | 79

Photos courtesy of Jonathon Zufi, author of Iconic: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation

Playstation Now

TRIDENT TESTED At last, Maserati has a mainstream contender that can pass muster with the best sports saloons WORDS: Matthew Carter

emember those I-Spy books, clearly aimed at kids who hoped to become trainspotters when they grew up? Page after page of pictures of interesting things to see with points on offer when you’d seen them… and the more obscure the object, the more points to ‘win.’ Well, they’re still around and although I’ve not seen the current edition of I-Spy Cars, I’ve got a fairly strong hunch that there’ll be a bundle of points up for anyone clocking a Maserati. You see, Maserati sold just 319 cars in the UK last year and a mere 304 in 2012. They are not two a penny. But that could be about to change. The company aims to sell rather more this year… and it’s largely down to one car: the new Maserati Ghibli. If any Maserati could be called mainstream, this Ghibli is it. Unlike the original Ghibli (a 1960s V8 two-seater GT) or the second to wear the name (a two-door coupé from the 1990s) this one is a four-door, five-seat saloon. Whisper it, there’s even a diesel version in the line-up. This, then, is the car that Maserati wants us to regard as a serious rival to cars like the BMW 5-series, the Jaguar XF, Audi A6 and Merc CLS. If sales were dependent solely on dinner party kudos, the Maser would win every time – a trident is always going to look cooler than a three-pointed star or four interlocking rings on a key fob – but at this level it needs to do more than merely look good: every one of those rivals is a fine driving machine. Looks, of course, are always subjective, but the Ghibli doesn’t do badly on the design front, I reckon. The sloping roofline just about allows it to pass as a four-door coupé, while the styling heritage cues, such as the shape of the (hefty) grille and the three air extractor vents on the rear of the front wings, help to give the Ghibli its own identity. That’s important when every Merc, Audi and BMW could be any Merc, Audi or BMW, so strong are the respective brand identities. Although shorter than the Quattroporte, with which it shares much of its basic architecture, the Ghibli still has plenty of room for four (it will carry five, but it’s a bit of a squeeze). There’s plenty of legroom front and rear and the boot is vast.

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So far so good then. What about engines? Well, there are three choices, all 3.0-litre V6s. The entry model is the aforementioned diesel with 275hp, Stop/Start technology, average performance but good economy. But despite an Active Sound System that makes the oil burner sound at times like a V8 petrol engine, who buys a Maserati to save fuel? Petrol then, and the choice lies between the 330hp Ghibli and the bi-turbo 410hp Ghibli S. No contest really. If you’re going to have a Maserati, you’ll need the 177 mph max and the 0-62 mph in 5.0 secs offered by the S. It’s fast and feels it. Coupled to the brilliant ZF 8-speed automatic as used by everyone, the Ghibli stirs the soul in a way that only an Italian car can. The only downside is the economy (and yes, I know I’m contradicting what I said earlier) but, really, 16 mpg around our admittedly busy urban test route will take some getting used to… and that’s despite judicious use of a new ICE (Increased Control and Efficiency) gearbox mode which uses electronics to dial out much of the pleasure of 410hp in the name of economy. Ride comfort will take some getting used to, as

drive

VEHICLE SPEC MODEL: Maserati Ghibli S ENGINE: Front-mounted, 2,979 cc, V6-cylinder petrol, twin turbo POWER: 410 hp PERFORMANCE: 177 mph max, 0-62 mph in 5.0 secs DRIVE: Rear-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic PRICE: £63,415

well. The test car had fancy 20-inch wheels in place of the standard 18-inchers and they helped transmit every bump, pothole and ridge from our pockmarked roads into the cabin. The standard wheels will no doubt be better, but there’s no denying that the rivals – notably the Jag – understand how to make a sports saloon comfortable without detracting from the handling. At least Maserati knows how to make the Ghibli go around corners. The steering is well-weighted and accurate, while the chassis isn’t dulled by too many big-brother electronic aids. A few laps of a test track, admittedly in streaming rain, showed the Ghibli was more than willing to slip and slide a bit if the driver so desired. This is a car with spirit. And it is a pleasant place to be, too. There’s plenty of sumptuous leather, a good sound system – plus an exceptional one on the options list, courtesy Bowers & Wilkins, if you’re prepared to stump up a further threeand-half grand for the privilege – and a general feel of

wellbeing coming from sitting behind the large trident badge on the steering wheel. The only feature that looks as if it comes out of a £10k Fiat (and probably does) is the sat nav/control screen which not only has terrible graphics but is also housed in an ugly chrome surround. It’s not a patch on the screens and displays found in Audis or BMWs. And that somehow sums up the Maserati. It’s not as good as a 5-series Bee Emm, but then precious little else is. So if you’re looking for a consummate performer that is economical, holds its value and simply gets on with the job without fuss, then find yourself a BMW 535d and tick a few option boxes along the way. But if you want a car with character – and are prepared to put up with a few foibles – then pay the Maserati some attention. And don’t be too worried that Ghibli is the car that Maserati hopes will raise that paltry sales figure. For 2014, the company plans to sell just 1,500 cars, of which 1,000 will be Ghiblis. It’s still going to have exclusivity as standard.

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BECOME A RACING DRIVER WITH GINETTA

From £27,250+VAT Take the race out of the City, show your competitive edge by joining the Ginetta Racing Drivers Club. Once a Ginetta Racing Drivers Club member, you will be supported through getting your race licence before you embark on an action packed year of track days, four race weekends and Ginetta lifestyle events, including a road trip to the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. Think you have what it takes? Test drive Ginetta’s race car for the road at one of the UK’s most prestigious circuits. Contact us on 0113 385 4171 or email GRDC@ginetta.com to book.

CALL 0113 385 4171 | EMAIL GRDC@ginetta.com | WEB ginetta.com/runwild ginettacars

ginettacars

Photography by Chris Wallbank

In association with

drive

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Daddy, I’ve shrunk the Aston Martin... WORDS: matthew carter

on’t know what to buy little Johnny for his tenth birthday? How about a car... a new Aston Martin in fact? If £16,500 isn’t too much to spend on the lad, get in touch with West London-based Aston Martin heritage dealer Nicholas Mee & Co and make some enquiries about the DB Convertible Junior. As the name implies, this opentopped child-size sports car has been inspired by the famous Aston DB cars of the 1960s. It has a composite body, leather or vinyl seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel and hydraulic disc brakes. It has lights and indicators and a fully-adjustable pedal box so that little drivers can still continue to drive the car as he (or she) grows. In fact, claims Mee, adults can even drive it. But this is no pedal car… it has an engine. It’s powered by a 110cc four-stroke petrol engine – like the sort you find in karts – linked to a semi-automatic three-speed gearbox. There’s a key-operated electric starter and it has a top speed of 46 mph, though this can be restricted downwards if you don’t want your son and heir driving too quickly in a car without airbags or seatbelts. Best of all is that for those with deep pockets, the DB Junior can be finished in any shade from the Aston Martin palette and hides can also match anything the works provide, so Junior’s Junior can be twinned with Dad’s full-size Aston. D Nicholas Mee & Co, Brackenbury Garage, 12 Wellesley Avenue, W6 0UP, 020 8741 8822, nicholasmee.co.uk

LIFESTYLE | 83

Shelby REBORN Just 50 of these official recreations of the iconic 1964 FIA-approved Shelby Cobras will be built. History never looked so gorgeous WORDS: Neil Briscoe

o you know how they used to sell Shelby Cobras? Simple. The salesman would invite a prospective customer to get comfy in the passenger seat and would then tape a $100 bill to the dashboard in front of them. The punter would then be invited to try and lean forward and pluck the Ben Franklin from the dash. If they could, they could keep it. The catch? They had to try and do this against the force of full acceleration as the salesman planted the loud pedal and the light, lithe V8 machine surged forward. A 289 Cobra (using Ford’s lightweight 4.7-litre engine) could beat 5.7 secs from 0-60 mph. Hardly a slouch for the time, but the later, harrier 427 Cobra, with the monster 7.0-litre V8 could do 4.5 secs, a time that would embarrass more than a few modern highperformance cars. And the $100? No one ever managed to snatch it, apparently… Apocryphal or not, that’s the kind of story, a mixture of fact, legend and wishful thinking, that has grown up around the Shelby Cobra since it was first created in 1962. It was created by Le Mans winner (and former chicken farmer) Carroll Shelby who saw the potential in the delicate little Ace sports car produced by oh-so-British AC Cars in Thames Ditton. The Ace’s regular power plants

84 | LIFESTYLE

(either a 2.6-litre six cylinder from a Ford Zephyr or an ancient Bristol straight-six) were hardly taxing the chassis, and Shelby reckoned that with a little American muscle, a transatlantic high-performance thoroughbred could be created. Rebuffed by Chevrolet, which didn’t want to create competition for its own Corvette, Shelby managed to get a supply of Ford’s new V8, initially in 4.3-litre form, later in classic 289-cubic inch, or 4.7-litre size. Married to the Ace chassis and body, it became the heart of a new car; the Cobra. A car that would become legendary for its power, its poise and its ability to put the willies up drivers of everything from Ferraris to Corvettes to Porsches, both on track and off. It was clear right from the get-go that the Cobra’s combination of American grunt and British chassis knowhow would make it a natural racer, so in 1964 that’s exactly what it became, when the Cobra was homologated by the Federation Internationale de l’Auto mobile (FIA) for

DRIVE

international sports car racing. And so the legend was born… Cobras would often sweep all before them, whether under the sun at Riverside or Laguna Seca, under the stars at Le Mans or under the rain clouds at the Nürburgring or Brands Hatch. Drivers as famous and varied as Ken Miles (the original Cobra racer and the man who knew the car best, apparently), Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant and Graham Hill raced and won with the Cobra and it has gone on to be an enduring icon of the motoring world. Sadly, in 2012, at the age of 89, the Cobra’s creator Carroll Shelby passed away. While the tributes rightly flowed in from those who knew and admired him, there were also cars to mark the moment, including a Ford Mustang with more than 600hp. This though is the most fitting tribute – not a replica, not a reproduction, but a genuine Shelby-built recreation of the original FIA-approved 289ci Cobra. Not a panel out of place. Not a modern gadget in sight. Each will be painted 'Viking Blue' with FIA stripes and roundels, feature a black FIA interior, special billet anniversary badges, original-style wheels and a variety of additional options. "The 289 FIA Shelby Cobras were

among the most important cars in American racing history," said John Luft, president of Shelby American. "The FIA Cobras built during that period were driven by some of the most revered drivers in the sport and they put the 289 FIA Cobra into the winners circle. Combining a robust, powerful American engine with a lightweight chassis was sheer brilliance. Shelbys formula still resonates today and is followed by automakers worldwide.” You’ll be able to buy a 1964 289 Cobra in either fibreglass (the most affordable version at £56,995) or handrolled and beaten aluminium (more expensive but surely more authentic at £95,989) but you’ll have to budget for an engine on top of that. Clearly, this is not for the casual or uninformed sports car fan — this is for the truest, dyed-inthe-wool Cobra buff, the ones who recite chassis numbers in their dreams and think a car is not a proper car unless it has a snake badge on the bonnet. It’s also a glorious, gorgeous tribute to an era when racers didn’t have traction control, telemetry or push-topass buttons – just a monster V8 in a light, agile body and their right foot to decide between death or glory.



 WRONGLY 



BLAMED

Thinking that it’s the Cobra you should blame for the 70 mph motorway speed limit? Well, you’re wrong. It’s true that the Cobra hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 1964 when the newspapers got hold of the fact that a Cobra Le Mans Coupé had hit 186 mph on the then-unrestricted M1 during a pre-race shakedown. The fact that the government later that year imposed the 70 mph limit often gets blamed on the Cobra’s high-speed run, but it was never quoted in Parliament or official papers, and besides, Aston Martin and Jaguar too had been doing similarly silly speeds in shakedowns on the outside lane at that time.

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LIFESTYLE | 85

it's Whisky o'clock Check your gold watch: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whisky time WORDS: Chris Allsop

86 | LIFESTYLE

DRINK

n 'education in whisky' sounds like a euphemism for ten years on the street. However, in the more literal sense, an education in whisky can provide you with a deeper appreciation for your cabinet of single malts, bring out hitherto unidentified flavours and aromas in your favourite tipple and pump oxygen to your inner drinks snob. Of course, to Scotland you must go. North of Hadrian’s Wall (vodka drinker), there are a number of courses available to educate you in the difference between a robust mouthfeel and a Ballindalloch in Moray. Some of the schools suit the serious hobbyist distiller, while others take you for romantic strolls through heather and glen. We’ve done the less sublime legwork and profiled the best options below.

 Beginner

 Edinburgh Whisky School, Hotel du Vin  28 June  Places available: 15  Cost: £90 (includes whisky, two-course  lunch, souvenir tasting glass and certificate) The Whisky Lounge, the company that runs this school, hosts similar one-day courses at Hotel du Vin and Malmaison hotels throughout Great Britain. Aimed at the less experienced enthusiast, these informal courses aim to cover a lot of ground in a single day. “We keep the groups fairly small to give each individual as much attention as they need,” says Eddie Ludlow, school host and owner of The Whisky Lounge. The 'syllabus' includes an overview of Scottish whisky regions; discussion of sniggerworthy 'wood management' technique; the different styles produced abroad in countries such as Japan, Taiwan and India; and a practical blending workshop where you’ll get a chance to blend your own to take away. Concluding the day is a final exam, after which you’ll receive a token certificate and a graduation dram, or, alternatively, undying shame. For those whisky lovers who find Rab C. Nesbitt more threatening than funny, this same one-day course is available in London on 19 July, held at the Malmaison in Charterhouse Square.

 Intermediate

 Glenlivet Whisky School, Ballindalloch  28 April - 1 May  16 places available  Cost: £700 (all inclusive) Established in spring 2007, the Glenlivet Whisky School is less school and more a really great history field trip. Ian Logan, the school’s host, describes the three-day course as, “not a geeky whisky school – it’s for fans who want to take that extra step, learn more and have fun.” Expect walks along smuggler trails in the Crown Estate land surrounding the distillery; hands-on distilling with the Glenlivet The Speyside Festival is Sma’ (small) Still; four also kicking off Whisky Month in Scotland, one of the key separate tastings tutoring events in the 2014 Homecoming you in the effects of ageing; Scotland programme. For more and a Scottish dinner information, go to the Visit Scotland website complete with loaned runs a whisky school for up kilts and bagpipe players. to 16 “passionate enthusiasts”. visitscotland.com Virtually all of the sessions take Set up in 2009, the school place at the Glenlivet Distillery in intends to deliver a thorough Ballindalloch, Moray, or at nearby Linn House examination of the production of malt whisky. – the 1879 manor house were you’ll be staying. To this end, the itinerary involves a series The fee is all-inclusive, covering of lectures at the Knockando Distillery and accommodation, sustenance and transport to Conference Centre interspersed with offother locations such as Speyside Cooperage – site technical visits where you’ll examine the the only working cooperage in the UK. The malting, mashing, brewing, distilling and emphasis at this school is on mixing education maturation of whisky in depth. The lectures are with enjoyment, with a bias towards the latter. presented by experienced speakers from both “Before we even get to the whisky, attendees the industry and the Institute of Brewing and smell ten or so aromatherapy oils,” Logan Distilling. Yes, this is the geeky whisky school. explains. “It gets the grey matter moving, and In addition to more whisky wisdom than if they can identify those aromas and flavours you’ll probably ever have use for, attendees ahead of moving onto the whisky, they’re also graduate at the end of the three days much more comfortable as we progress and receive a diploma. As a rite of passage, through the course.” these 16 newly-anointed connoisseurs are then put to the test by tasting and voting on the six whiskies which progress to the  Expert final of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky  Spirit of Speyside Whisky School, Festival awards.  Knockando “The Whisky School is a unique  29 April – 1 May educational workshop for whisky lovers the  16 places available world over,” says Ed Dodson, a retired master  Cost: £500 (school only) distiller and founder member of the school. “With just 16 places each year, we are always In the run-up to this year’s Spirit of Speyside oversubscribed and already have bookings for Whisky Festival, an annual celebration of the the 2015 school.” 'water of life' taking place 1–5 May, the festival

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LIFESTYLE | 87

promotion

A very modern interpretation

Steakhouses in London are pretty plentiful, with most of them taking their inspiration from old-school America, but at MASH the vibe is unapologetically modern Located in the heart of Soho, MASH opened to much fanfare in 2013, boasting steak, liquor and serious good times. It was a steak restaurant with a difference. The difference it seems can be found not in gimmicks or on-trend themes but a commitment to good produce, an excellent range of bourbon and an extensive wine list. The menu features premium steaks from renowned Danish beef, the sought-after Wagyu, tender corn-fed American beef and specially-selected Uruguay Hereford. The Danish dry-aged steaks are tenderised by hanging for 70 days, but if that sounds a little too strong, opt for the corn-fed Uruguay Hereford beef – this entirely unique flavour is a must-try. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s all about the steak at MASH, but this is a restaurant that also takes its liquor seriously. MASH stocks the largest bourbon collection in London; an unrivalled selection of American spirits that form the basis of many of the steakhouse’s impressive cocktails. In addition, the wine list here is something to enjoy too. Its sommeliers often compete at international level, and in 2013 MASH’s Arvid Rosengren picked up the top prize at the European Championships for Sommeliers, while fourth place went to another MASH sommelier and general manager of MASH London, Christian Jacobsen. Design-wise, art deco style has informed the vibrant red interior, a striking space featuring scarlet banquettes, leather seats and dark wood tables. A bold and impressive spot for some capital dining. D mashsteak.co.uk 77 Brewer Street, London W1F

 WIN DINNER FOR FOUR AT MASH  Prize includes: A table of four people can enjoy a maximum of three courses with side dishes to the value of £400, inc service  Can be used for lunch or dinner.  Claim your prize up to two months from the end of this competition.  Cannot be exchanged for a monetary value.  Wine to be chosen by the head sommelier.  Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.  Dependent on availability. Reservation is essential and booked through MASH reservations on 020 7734 2608. Winner will be notified by the publication and booked via the publication.

food

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RESTAURANT REVIEW 

TWO WORLDS COLLIDE The City gets hipster as Devonshire Square welcomes Shoreditch-inspired Hixter WORDS: Richard Brown

estament to the transformation that has turned the Square Mile from the watering-hole of the barrow-boy-come-broker into one of London’s most dynamic dining districts, is the breadth of top-quality joints that now surround Liverpool Street. From Heron Tower’s Duck & Waffle and Sushi Samba, to South Place’s Angler and Worship Street’s HKK, you can walk your way from Bishopsgate to some of the finest fusion, fish, Japanese and Brazilian food in the capital – and that’s to ignore the über-chic confines of Italian L’Anima, the French mastery of Galvin la Chapelle and the classic British fare of Merchants Tavern. Having made his mark first with Hix Soho and more recently in Shoreditch with Tramshed, Mark Hix is the latest name in restaurateur royalty to set up shop in EC2. Like Tramshed, Hixter is a no-nonsense steak and chicken affair, with a menu that encourages sharing and unapologetically fails to reach out to vegetarians. So, why choose Hixter over elsewhere? Well, if you’re a fan of Mark Hix, the brand for one. Boasting a sculpture by Gary Webb and pieces by eminent artists Tim Noble, Sue Webster and Tracey Emin, Hixter mirrors Tramshed in more than its exposed brickwork and meat-centric menu. Fans of Mark’s Bar in Soho will also be pleased to learn that it has been replicated downstairs at Hixter – a cosy, somehow-old-school-yet-modern den of bookshelves, wooden beams and leather booths. Then there’s the food; simple stuff done exceedingly well. To start, the hearty Yorkshire pudding with whipped chicken livers, and cock ‘n’ bull croquettes, sounded playful and hearty. And were. For mains, the Indian rock chicken with stuffing and chips, and the sirloin steak,

sounded stripped-back and delicious. And proved to be. For dessert, apple pie and lemon curd cheesecake were reliable choices. Belonging to ‘Mark Hix Inc’, Hixter had gained an elevated status before it had even opened. Fortunately, the restaurant does more than rely on the success of its namesake. Prices are reasonable for this part of town, and sharing plates make for a social experience. If you don’t go for the food, do go for the Strangehill-created cocktails in Mark’s Bar below. D Hixter, 9a Devonshire Square, EC2M, hixter.co.uk

THREE of a KIND Hipster hangouts without the hang ups…

Café a Vin

The Clove Club

Casa Negra

A cosier, more casual offshoot of next door’s architecturally and gastronomically aweinspiring Galvin la Chapelle, this great little French-style bistro serves exactly what you’d expect – great food from a continental menu and an endless supply of grapey goodness from an impressive and varied wine list, all served without an ounce of hipster attitude from the (surprisingly) friendly French staff.

At first glance, this pared-back, zeitgeist-ey space with its tiled walls, no-choice menu and open-plan kitchen screams ‘hipster cool’ – but luckily there’s some substance to the style too. Great-value lunch menus make the staggeringly good food seem all the more worth it. Air-dried tuna with heritage tomatoes, and British pork with anchovy and mint are particular highlights.

La Bodega Negra was a bona-fide hip Soho hit when it opened in 2012. The migration to Shoreditch a year later was only natural, and its EC2 outpost is clearly reflective of its hipster surrounds. Yet the laid-back Mexican vibe is so welcoming, the food and cocktails so easy to order and enjoy, and the service so friendly, that you'll come away feeling like a local; whether you’re 'hip' or not.

D 35 Spital Square, E1

D Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, EC1V

D 54-56 Great Eastern Stret, EC2A LIFESTYLE | 89

Enjoy adrenalin days in the Lee Valley Be inspired at the world class Lee Valley VeloPark or experience the ultimate adrenalin adventure at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

START YOUR ADVENTURE AT visitleevalley.org.uk

TheCity_WWC&VP_Feb2014.indd 1

26/02/2014 10:15:23

SPOTLIGHT

travel

WORLDWIDE WARDROBE Gantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s S/S 14 collection boasts an air of relaxed luxury, suitable for everything from a weekend escape to the country, to a beach-side dinner date

Breathable shirts and chinos in pastel hues are ideal for informal resort wear, while the tailored but worn-in madras shirts, casual cotton blazers and textured pocket squares make for a smarter evening look. This classic leather weekend bag is certainly enough to make us want to pack up and get away, but if you need a little more convincing, read on for our pick of the best holiday holdalls. D gant.co.uk

LIFESTYLE | 91

HOLDALL HEROES Have everything in the bag with these quality holdalls

Warm chestnut Chestnut Stripe Boskar, £1,250, Bally, bally.com

new openings  Nayara Springs Hotel, Costa Rica

Nayara Springs, the new adult-only extension to the Nayara Hotel, shares the same spectacular location near Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park, making it the ideal destination for a romantic getaway. The 16 spacious villas each come with a private plunge pool fed by natural mineral springs, but guests can also enjoy access to an oversized lap pool, yoga pavilion, restaurant and bar. D nayarasprings.com

 Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas

Situated on the beachfront of the idyllic Paje beach, the Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas and Spa boast unparalleled views of the crystalclear Indian Ocean. With just 11 villas in total, each with a private swimming pool and outdoor bathtub, guests can be assured of a peaceful stay. For anyone finding themselves all relaxed out, Zanzibar Kite Paradise offers kite-surfing classes and water sports equipment to rent.

Smooth black

Brodie City Webbing, £599, Paul Smith, paulsmith.co.uk

D whitesandvillas.com

 The Brando Resort, Tahiti Dusty brown Gladstone Tourer, £660, Tusting, tusting.co.uk

If you’re looking for a luxury escape, Marlon Brando’s private island could very well be a contender. Brando first fell in love with Teti'aroa in the 60s while filming Mutiny on the Bounty, and now you can too. Stay in one of 35 all-inclusive villas to enjoy stunning sea views from your private plunge pool, plus access to restaurants, a beach bar, tennis courts, organic garden and much more. D thebrando.com

Cool grey

Travel Bag, £1,250, William & Son, williamandson.co.uk

Smart navy

Escape Navy 24 Hour Bag, £645, Alfred Dunhill, dunhill.co.uk

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Peace and quiet

Quiet Comfort 20 Noise Cancelling Headphones, £259.95, Bose, bose.co.uk

Wearable tech

Airwave 1.5 Heads-Up Display Ski Goggles, £520, Oakley, oakley.com

escape

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SUPER CHALETS 

the après ski scene has reached new levels of luxury While the start of springtime, and the chance of some elusive sunshine is typically welcomed with open arms, for the keen skiers amongst us, the ski season drawing to a close means considerably less seasonal good cheer. Yet fear not, ski lovers, for while you may be bidding adieu to the slopes for now, this also means plenty of time to soothe your aching limbs – and more

importantly, time to book your next Alpine adventure. With the recent rise in ‘super chalets’ at ski resorts across the world, you might find yourself spoilt for choice. But whether you’re looking to find a luxury chalet of your own, or simply to ensure that your next break sees you après-skiing in style, we have accommodation covered with these exclusive Alpine retreats.

Chalet Husky

Chalet Edelweiss

This spacious seven-bedroom chalet in Val d’Isère, on sale for £10 million, offers the very best in modern luxury and technology, while still retaining the charm of a traditional Alpine chalet. The property is kitted out with iPads in every room, controlling everything from lighting to heating; an indoor atrium garden; a spectacular glass-walled swimming pool, and a climbing wall which doubles up as a shooting range – all in addition to the spa area and gym you’d expect to see. With this level of comfort and entertainment on offer, you might find skiing has slipped further down your list of things to do.

This palatial chalet occupies a prime location in the exclusive Courchevel village and features a ski room that opens directly onto the Bellecote piste. Lavishly appointed with eight en-suite bedrooms equipped with plasma TVs, rainforest showers and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, it certainly has the interior credentials to match its location. The chalet also boasts a heated swimming pool and spa facilities; its own cinema room; library and housekeeping team, and, if you can muster the energy after a day out on the slopes, a bar and dance floor.

Val d’Isère, France

D Chalet Husky, £10 million, Athena Advisors, athenaadvisors.co.uk

Pure Lavender Hydrolate Toner, £25, 001, doublezeroone.com

D Chalet Edelweiss, from £82,000, per week, courchevelprestigechalets.com

Après-ski essential

Men’s Leather Wash Bag in Smooth Black, £150, Aspinal of London, aspinaloflondon.com

Chalet Zermatt PeaK Zermatt, Switzerland

Nestled in the mountainside of one of the Swiss Alps’ most sought-after skiing destinations, the well-furnished Zermatt Peak delivers the optimum in rest and relaxation. The chalet’s private tunnel entrance denotes the air of exclusivity it provides, and with five spacious en-suite bedrooms; open-plan living and dining area; library; ski room; and walk-in wine cellar, in addition to a full luxury wellness spa, you can expect to be enjoying the panoramic views – courtesy of its stunning location – in considerable comfort. D Chalet Zermatt Peak, from £5,500 per person, per week, chaletzermattpeak.com

ski style

Caden Jacket, £520, Arc’teryx, arcteryx.com

WHAT to PACK

Post-slopes skincare

Courchevel, France

LIFESTYLE | 93

explore

RUM COCONUTS Barbados might not be the most zeitgeist-ey of Caribbean holiday destinations, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a paradise of golden beaches, tropical island life and charm aplenty WORDS: Beverley Byrne

easuring out tots of Old Brigand rum in the Nigel Benn Auntie Bar, Barbadian national treasure Auntie Lucille is entertaining her customers. “You ask what keeps me looking so young?” laughs the gap-toothed septuagenarian. “Rum, goat’s milk and loving everybody – white, black or blue!” Auntie has worked behind the well-worn counter of this rum shop (a Bajan bar) in the sleepy village of Shorney since it was established by her father in l956. The boxing glove hanging alongside shelves lined with bottles of rum belongs to her nephew, former British world champion boxer Nigel Benn. “What Nigel doing now? He give up boxing for the Bible and living in Australia,” says his Auntie. “But I’m happy here in Barbados picking fruit from the tree and serving up rum.” Auntie’s legendary hostelry is one stop on a bespoke Rum Tour excursion organised by my hotel, the Colony Club. Our tour began at the Mount Gay Visitor Centre where chirpy guide Darrio revealed: “Two things you’ll find in every village in Barbados; a church and a rum shop – and both have spirit!” Known as ‘the rum that invented rum’, Barbados rum began production on the island in 1703 by the inappropriately named Sober family, and now Mount Gay’s history is so inextricably linked with that of the island that its coat of arms features on the Barbados flag. Naturally, the tour culminates in an extensive rum tasting – the first of many. After lining our stomachs at Lemon Arbour, a restaurant serving barbecued pork and – yes, you’ve guessed it – rum cocktails, we’re in buoyant mood as Justin, our driver, takes us via the wild Eastern coast towards St Nicholas Abbey. One of the island’s oldest surviving plantations, it comprises 400 acres of rolling sugar cane fields and a well-preserved Jacobean mansion built by the original owners in

94 | LIFESTYLE

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 CIT Y 



NOTES

 Seven nights in Barbados £1,867pp

Seven nights in Barbados with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick direct to Barbados, accommodation at the 4V+ Colony Club by Elegant Hotels on a B&B basis with airport transfers included starts from £1,867. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a luxury poolside room, including all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Virgin Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. virginholidays.co.uk 0844 557 3859 eleganthotels.com colonyclubhotel.com

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Images: Colony Club Hotel

explore

The same attention to detail has been lavished on the cuisine, 1658. In the museum, an 1822 valuation lists the names of the slave served at either the beachside Sunset Bar or the redesigned Laguna population: Lucretia, Isaac, Benjy – a few among so many poignantly restaurant, which offers great local cuisine, plus a new wellness menu chronicled in a copperplate hand. Saving this slice of Barbadian history, and established favourites such as the extensive Sunday brunch. For the new owners have not only restored the buildings but started a change of scene, a complimentary water taxi takes Colony Club producing a pure, unblended rum created in the boutique distillery guests to experience the other four properties comprising the Elegant using original equipment. Smoky, pure and insidiously strong, it’s a Hotel group, so there’s always an opportunity to sample an alternative grand cru in the world of rum. dining setting. Driving back, we pass a group of men hacking towering fronds of Thankfully, to counteract increased waistlines and to stimulate sugar cane by hand using machetes. It could be a scene from centuries mind, body and soul, the Colony Club past except for the cool-looking dude has devised a range of complimentary wearing long dreadlocks, shades and a Sun loungers set in activities. Vacating my sun lounger cigarette dangling from his lips who is secluded corners (except when enjoying a relaxing plein air nonchalantly splicing cane into lengths ensure privacy and massage) and staying away from the rum at potentially finger-lopping speed. Justin ‘beach ambassadors’ (well, before happy hour anyway), I vow explains these cuttings will propagate are constantly on to try everything on the wellness menu. more cane and, inevitably, more of the hand to provide Every day offers a packed schedule from liquid gold which we’ve been sampling everything from yoga, pilates and zumba to hiking and throughout the day. The Rum Tour is just one of the Colony sunscreen to cocktails walking tours – and that’s not counting the raft of water activities available at the Club’s multiple attractions. Located on beachside Aqua School. For me, paddleboarding and water-skiing turn the West coast of Barbados, near Hole Town and some of the best out to be more comedy routine than water sport so I settle for a snorkel restaurants and shopping on the island, this tranquil resort, originally safari with Captain Ron who glamorously whisks us away in the hotel built in l948, has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment. speed boat to catch a glimpse of the local turtles. Retaining the original colonial atmosphere, the lovely rooms have been And it’s our lucky day; an entire family of turtles turn out to updated using what interior designers might call ‘natural earthy tones’ greet us during a day excursion on the Cool Running Catamaran. but now look to me like various shades of rum. During an idyllic cruise down the island’s beach-lined West Coast, Some rooms overlook the beach, but this is one hotel where the we snorkel in the pristine sea alongside massive leather backs and a sea view option isn’t necessarily the most prestigious. Like mine, many host of kaleidoscopic tropical fish. After a delicious on-board buffet, of the 96 bedrooms enjoy secluded private access, via the balcony or we dive straight from the deck into the sea and swim to a classic terrace, to one of the four meandering, ingeniously designed lagoonpicture-postcard Bajan beach. Fringed by gently waving palm trees, it style swimming pools embraced by carefully-tended tropical gardens is deserted. Sitting on sable sand, the sun on my skin, my toes lapped featuring tumbling waterfalls and exotic birdlife. Sun loungers set in by warm, clear water, I understand why Nigel Benn’s Auntie wouldn’t secluded corners ensure privacy and ‘beach ambassadors’ are constantly want to be anywhere else. on hand to provide everything from sunscreen to cocktails.

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International markets never sleep & neither does Connecting you to the world by private jet 24/7 from an exclusive location less than one hour from the City Where you want to go, when you want to go... Fly from London Southend Airport to 900 airports across Europe and 5000 worldwide. Unlike most London airports, we are open 24 hours a day for private jets - so you set the schedule. No problem if your meeting runs over or you need a bit longer to seal the deal, your plane will wait.

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Making things simply easier for you That’s the name of our game at London Southend Airport – so it’s no surprise we were voted the UK’s Best Airport in the latest Which? survey.

Want to find out more? We will be happy to put together a quote or give you further details about private jets at London Southend Airport – just get in touch Email: Flymeprivate@stobartair.com Call: +44 1702 538 595

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16/12/2013 15:22

CITY BREAK: BOSTON

Boston in the fall is classic. But Boston in the spring is beautiful. Known for the distinct accent of its locals, Harvard and the oldest park in America, revel in the history of Massachusetts's capital WORDS: Kate Racovolis

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 CIT Y 



RECOMMENDS  Where to stay

Take a break from the big brands and opt for a stay at the equally glamorous fivestar Boston Harbor Hotel. The hotel is ideally located on the historic Rowes Wharf Harbor, so that guests can arrive by sea or land, and take a front row seat to the stunning views of Boston and the waterfront. D bhh.com

 FOOD & drink

Once you’ve had your fix of American fare, you may be craving some more European flavours and Aquitaine’s French bistro will certainly satisfy your craving. Its refined menu, which includes Parisian classics – from onion soup to a mean steak frites – is set in leather and mahogany-accented interiors, making for an altogether effortlessly glamorous haunt. D aquitaineboston.com

 hidden gems

Spend an afternoon strolling the length of Newbury Street which runs west, away from Boston Common. Inside its stunning 19th-century brownstone buildings you will find the likes of Chanel and Marc Jacobs alongside American favourites such as Brooks Brothers. The street is teeming with independent boutiques and a chic cafe and restaurant culture.

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98 | LIFESTYLE

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weekend

Clockwise from Left: Aerial view of Boston; Boston Common; Deluxe Suite at the Boston Harbor Hotel

he great American writer Mark Twain once said: "In New York, how much is he worth? In Philadelphia, who were his parents? In Boston they ask, how much does he know?" He was, of course, referring to the prestigious array of academic offerings in this picturesque New England city, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University at its pinnacle, sitting proudly in the leafy student-dominated suburb of Cambridge. The fact is, that even if you are not a student, or seeking a much-coveted acceptance to the Ivy League institution, its campus alone is an attraction in itself as an everlasting symbol of the American Dream, in all of its early Georgian red-brick architecture. But education aside, Boston has a natural charm of its own – one that is often overlooked in favour of its more jazzy siblings, like New York and Washington D.C., dotted along the east coast of the United States. The city dates back to the early 1600s with the settlement of Puritans who arrived from England, making it one of the oldest in the country today. It abounds in historical milestones; the vast, green Boston Common – one of the most stunning public parks you may ever encounter – is also America’s oldest park, founded in 1634. This sprawling inner-city prairie was not just a playground offering respite to busy workers, but since its inception, it has stood for free speech and has been the site of many important political and civil rights movements, including Civil War recruitment and antislavery meetings in the 1860s. And despite

SOFT TOUCH

Sweater, £955, Michael Kors, net-a-porter.com

Boston’s extremely cold winters, it remains beautiful, no matter what the temperature (a Moncler is a necessity here). Revel in its architectural landmarks, including one of Frank Gehry’s famed abstract buildings, the Ray and Maria Stata Center, or sports-buff or not, visit one of Boston’s proudest monuments – Fenway Park, which is home to the city’s baseball team, the Red Sox. You will be surprised at how indulgent an overpriced Budweiser and an order of cheese fries can feel, all while you experience the great American pastime (this is as authentic as it gets). Meanwhile, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is an unmissable tribute to the former President in an impressively designed building that overlooks the sea.

SUN SHIELD

Eva Hat, £105, Melissa Odabash, odabash.com

SUITCASE ESSENTIALS

PICK ME UP

Soft Tote with Shoulder Strap, £1,695, Victoria Beckham, victoriabeckham.com

Boston has a natural charm of its own – one that is often overlooked in favour of its more jazzy siblings

LIFESTYLE | 99

BODRUM

102 | FEATURES

INTERVIEW

No More

MR DARCY From The King’s Speech to A Single Man, it seems Colin Firth has firmly put his rom-com days behind him. We meet one of England’s most-celebrated actors to find out why he is much happier with what he is doing now, and his experiences on new film The Railway Man WORDS: ADAM O’REILLY

FEATURES | 103

H e’s Mr Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, a leading light in Shakespeare in Love and The English Patient, the football fanatic in Fever Pitch, the softly-spoken Brit-abroad teacher in A Single Man and, of course, George VI in The King’s Speech. There are few who can lay claim to so many iconic British roles as this 53-year-old from Hampshire, who now resides in Chiswick. Hugh Grant? Not a chance. But from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to his latest, The Railway Man, Firth has done it with suave accomplishment and sophistication: he’s all stiff upper lip and side parting, and it has served him well. In the recently released The Railway Man, he plays Eric Lomax, a WWII British soldier who was tortured by the Japanese at the notorious Changi camp and, later, together with his fellow POWs, forced to work on the ‘Railway of Death’ between Burma and Siam. Shortly before Lomax’s death, Firth got to know the man behind the character. "It’s funny how you warm to some people, and Eric and I definitely built up a rapport. [We] became good friends and it became a matter of personal pride to be able to tell his story and those of so many soldiers who weren’t able to speak out or recount their experiences, and whose voices still have yet to be heard. "That was why I wasn’t sure I wanted to play the part, because it became deeply personal and you want to be so truthful to the life of someone who you have come to know. It became a matter of honour and personal responsibility and, sadly, Eric died before he could see the film. "But his whole story is a triumph," says Firth. "This is a man who believed that he was going to die in 1942 and yet he survived to tell his story and share it with later generations on behalf of himself and all the other soldiers whose stories have largely been forgotten." Indeed, Lomax’s pledge was to help other soldiers whose lives were affected by the torture and suffering they endured – it’s a battle that goes on today, away from the ‘big screen’, the red carpets and the paparazzi. Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and co-starring Nicole Kidman, The Railway Man is an adaptation of Lomax’s autobiography of the same name. Firth believes his story still resonates today. "One of the things that Eric endured was a form of waterboarding. It’s not some gruesome torture technique of the past, it’s become part of how we do business in the West and all the revelations that have emerged in recent years. These are very alive issues. It’s not just about a forgotten moment in history." Filmed in rural Australia, the filming process, according to Firth,

104 | FEATURES

was "bliss", but he adds it was hard to put himself in a position of feeling like a tortured person when he was in a paradisiacal location, surrounded by very relaxed and chilled people… not that you’d know it from the final cut. For Firth, it’s the latest step in a prolific career. He was born in Grayshott, Hampshire in 1960, to two teachers, and became part of the ‘Brit Pack’ of young British actors in the late 1980s – made up of Gary Oldman, Paul McGann, Rupert Everett – but found fame far later than many of his stablemates. It wasn’t until his famous portrayal of Mr Darcy that the much-clichéd ‘household name’ status was assured. His appearance in Pride and Prejudice and Bridget Jones’ Diary perhaps left him unfairly characterised as a lightweight actor. Now, following his Oscar-winning performance in The King’s Speech and his tender and tragic turn as a mourning, devastated teacher in A Single Man, he has risen to become one of the most celebrated British actors in the world. He has said that he tries to avoid romantic leads nowadays, admitting he enjoys roles that subvert expectations. His recent run of script choices certainly seems to support this, and backs the suspicion that he’s wary of being typecast. "You run the risk of having those roles define you and prevent you from doing anything else," he offers. "I’m glad I’m able to play many different kinds of characters and that audiences don’t just think of me as Darcy. Even though actors can be vain, most of us want to be appreciated for the substance of our work rather than how dashing we can look on screen." His portrayal of Eric Lomax is the latest in a long line of ‘tortured’ and conflicted characters that have helped put the heartthrob image to

INTERVIEW

Previous page & far left: The Railway Man Below: Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy Bottom: The King's Speech

reconnect with the more permanent aspects of my life." He now seems to have a marked preference for smaller films, as opposed to big studio projects, but he tells us that it’s often his family life that dictates which roles he chooses. "I don’t really enjoy the idea of spending five or six months away from my wife and children, which is often the commitment you have to make if you’re working on a studio film. "Work is not the driving force in my life and I would rather spend more time at home than constantly living out of hotel rooms," he says. "I’m very bed and establish Firth as a more serious actor. comfortable with the kind of work rhythm I have now and I don’t "I suppose I’m more drawn to these kinds of roles now," he says. "It’s want to work back-to-back on films, because that wouldn’t be fair also that a lot of projects are being developed that have sadder themes to my family and I wouldn’t enjoy being away from them. I enjoy and which deal with loss or dislocation. I prefer those kinds of characters being able to lead a normal life and taking an active part in raising my where you can explore many different layers and subtle things. children. That’s my real world." "I like films that subvert expectations... those rom-com roles often Firth splits his home life between Chiswick, west London and his aren’t that interesting to me. You paint those characters more in broad wife Livia’s native Italy. They live with their strokes and it doesn’t always leave room to two children, Luca (born March 2001) and add more substance and complications. I’m “Those rom-com Matteo (born August 2003) and have been much more inclined towards looking for roles often aren’t married for 17 years. emotionally complex roles, because that’s that interesting to The old romantic in him may not be as what fascinates me about human nature, and me. You paint those present in his films these days, but appears as how men and women interact," he says. He says he now prefers roles that characters more in soon as I mention Livia: "You want to be able to indulge in the romance and adventure of capture the ‘ordinariness’ of life: the tales of broad strokes and being together. It’s vital to grow together and everyday people whose lives may seem like it doesn’t always experience different things as well as enjoy disappointments, but offer huge potential leave room to add time together without getting bogged for drama. "I’m very attracted to heroism not more substance and your down by daily aggravations. We’re also very written on a big superhero stage," he puts it. complications” fortunate in that we just enjoy each other’s While his Oscar-winning performance company – we’ve always valued that so much in The King’s Speech is regarded as a sort of that we don’t allow stupid things to get in the way." ‘second breakthrough’ role, it was actually his turn in A Single Man that Next up, Firth will be seen in the thriller Before I Go to Sleep, also moved Firth towards more considered and complicated roles. This role co-starring Nicole Kidman, and the latest Woody Allen comedy Magic in Tom Ford’s film debut has allowed Firth to pick and choose roles as in the Moonlight. he pleases: he’s under no pressure to work and is fond of sabbaticals. In keeping romance off the big screen, Firth seems to have found "The first thing I did after The King’s Speech was to take quite a lot his position in Hollywood. of time off. I thought it would be kind of nice to take six months off not doing anything. In the end I took almost a year out. It was time to D The Railway Man is currently showing at cinemas nationwide

FEATURES | 105

THE INCREDIBLE HULL The race is on for the biggest, flashiest pleasure motor yacht on the high seas. We take a look at the groundbreaking projects causing a stir in the world of superyachts WORDS: Rowena Marella-Daw

106 | FEATURES

SuperYachts

Left: Oceanco Dana

‘P

ushing the boat out’, in a manner of speaking, becomes an understatement in the realm of superyachts. The last few years have witnessed a resurgence in an industry where ideas have no boundaries and innovations are conceived, catapulting all aspects of superyachtbuilding-architecture, engineering, technology and interior design to their highest levels to make dreamsand visions a reality. The superyacht industry has been showing signs of steady recovery since the credit crisis of 2008, buoyed by a new breed of clients driven by a desire to extend their lavish lifestyles across the oceans. According to the 2014 Global Order Book, an annual report published by ShowBoats International magazine: “For the first time since the global finance crisis and the record year of 2009 (when 1,008 new orders were recorded), the number of new-build projects is higher than that of the previous year.” The report reveals there are 735 new yachts in build or on order for 2014, 43 more than last year’s 692 projects. This 6.2 per cent increase, fuelled by a demand for larger, more sophisticated motor yachts, is a good reason for shipbuilders to feel optimistic for years to come. So, does size really matter? Indeed it does, if only to validate the owner’s status and wealth – although a yacht measuring more than 100m is not an entirely new concept. The 145.72m El Horriya was built by Samuda Bros in London in 1865 for Ismail Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt, making it the world’s oldest surviving yacht. Even today, megayachts exceeding the 100m mark are still the domain of multi-billionaires and dominated by the Middle Eastern, Russian and American markets. At a recent event sponsored by yacht brokers Y.CO, the world’s leading builders and designers welcomed the much-anticipated announcement of 2014’s Top 100 Superyachts, an annual forecast by superyachts.com. This year’s spotlight is on Azzam, a 180m colossus launched by Lürssen in October 2013. Owned by the Emirati royal family, the £390 million vessel is officially the world’s largest private yacht, upstaging Roman Abramovich's Eclipse (162.5m) by 17.5m, while the 149 year-old El Horriya (145.72m) still remains in no. 7 position. In an industry that generates a worldwide turnover of €24 billion, competition is fierce, and projects in progress are a highly-guarded secret – at least until they launch. All eyes will be on Italian shipyard Fincantieri’s 140m Victory, the first superyacht scheduled to launch this year.

FEATURES | 107

Clockwise from Left: Oceanco E-Motion interior; Oceanco E-Motion; Philippe Starck yacht exterior; Blohm & Voss Project Jazz; Oceanco E-Motion

108 | FEATURES

superyachts

From concept to launch, building a superyacht is a gargantuan undertaking, and even the largest, most experienced shipyards in the world are constantly presented with new technical and creative challenges. Each vessel is as individual as its owner – an extension of their personality, a reflection of their vision. To quote Peter Lürssen, owner and CEO of Lürssen Yachts, during an interview with superyachts.com: “Clients are making knowledgeable decisions, taking the time to carefully evaluate what they need and want… The biggest pressure on us is always the client’s expectation.” These are indeed exciting times, particularly for fully-customised builds, giving architects and designers carte blanche to develop bespoke concepts compatible with clients’ lifestyles and expectations. It is that close collaboration between builder, designer and client that could ultimately give birth to groundbreaking projects. Bigger, more sophisticated and technologically-advanced vessels are leading the evolution in the superyacht industry. We take a look at some innovations influencing future trends.

SHIP SHAPE

There is a lot of emphasis on shape and structure. Leading the way in cutting-edge design is the 119m ‘A’, launched in 2008 by Blohm+Voss, the same shipyard that built Abramovich’s Eclipse. Designed by Philippe Starck, ‘A’ is shaped like a submarine and its bow resembles an upsidedown hull, and according to Dr. Herbert Aly, CEO and managing partner of Blohm+Voss, “Building this vessel has been the biggest challenge for us.” A’s imposing, minimalist exterior belies a sumptuous interior, also designed by Starck. Features include three swimming pools that create currents, two 11m tenders, a hidden helicopter hangar and advanced stabilisers.

SEXY CURVES

Curves are back in vogue, adding a touch of elegance to superyachts – from rounded deck corners and fluid hull features to curved glass. An example that blends ultra-modern design with grace is the 141m Yas, launched by ADM Shipyards in November 2011. Concepts such as Zaha Hadid’s Project Jazz and Fincantieri’s Armonia are also set to redefine the future of superyacht style.

TAKE A BOW

In sharp contrast to traditionally flared bows, vertical bows are becoming fashionable, and not just for aesthetic reasons. “One of the yachts I designed has a vertical bow, which increases speed and waterline length,” explains designer Espen Øino, whose impressive portfolio includes the 134m Serene and the recently-launched 85.10m Solandge. A vertical bow is said to require less power and fuel consumption when driving into head seas.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Large windows are becoming increasing popular, allowing more natural light to come through. They also enable owners and their

FEATURES | 109

Superyachts

Below: Nauta Yachts Project Light Bottom: Oceanco Dana

“having a great captain and crew can make all the difference to the time onboard” – Charlie Birkett

guests to appreciate the beautiful ocean vistas and landscapes, while also helping to alleviate motion sickness.

EXTENDING THE LIFESTYLE

The exhilaration of swimming in the Mediterranean or Caribbean waters is simply not enough. Being able to do laps in the safety of a decent size pool is a luxury, but also a great idea for owners with children.

BEACH CLUB

A beach club in the aft is de rigueur these days, and some are designed as an extension to the indoor lounge. Indoor beach club pools, as well as glass pools, are also setting the trend.

MORE (GROWN-UP) TOYS ON BOARD

Submersibles such as the U-Boat Worx model showcased at last year’s Monaco Yacht Show are just some of the toys that justify the need for bigger yachts. Who needs to go to a water park when you can have endless fun with your own inflatable toys, such as Aquaglide’s slide (Freefall 6), a floating trampoline (SuperTramp) and a floating sunbed (Airport)?

LOVE ME TENDER

Even tenders are getting more attention. They can be custom-made to match the yacht’s style, such as those designed by Philippe Starck for superyacht A.

HIGH TECH

There is no end to a client’s expectations, such as a screening room or a master cabin that’s fully sound-proofed. To meet these demands, technology and design teams need to be up-to-speed with the latest innovations, such as the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) system installed by CRN in Darlings Danama, which launched in 2012.

110 | FEATURES

 CHARTER OR OWN? 

Charlie Birkett, founding partner and CEO of Y.CO, offers his advice: “There are a number of factors to take into consideration, ranging from the basics. Does the client prefer the idea of a motor yacht or a sailing yacht – right through to whether they are keen divers and would like a full dive centre on board, for example. Once the broker has a clear idea of what they want to use the yacht for, they will guide them on size, style, configuration and amenities. Crew is also key for any charter and having a great captain and crew can make all the difference to the time onboard. Whether it’s cruising to a secret beach in the Caribbean, diving with a PADI-qualified crew member or enjoying Michelin-star food – the team are key to the experience.”

REISS

BANANA REPUBLIC

JAEGER

S/S14 Collection Cabot Place & Jubilee Place

S/S14 Collection Jubilee Place

S/S14 Collection Cabot Place

Spring / Summer

fashion weekend Kick-start this season’s wardrobe with the return of Canary Wharf’s annual Spring/Summer Fashion Weekend. From blazers to bags, and summer dresses to swimwear, Canary Wharf has it covered; and with discounts of up to 20 per cent, you’ll be sure to find the perfect outfit to get you looking and feeling great for spring

rom Friday 28 until Sunday 30 March, Canary Wharf’s leading fashion and accessory stores will be celebrating the start of spring by offering great deals on some of the season’s must-have items. Jaeger, L.K.Bennett and and Ted Baker will be amongst some of the brands offering up to 20 per cent discounts, while shoppers can expect to receive 10 to 15 per cent off at Orlebar Brown, Reiss and Wolford. For those in need of further inspiration, there will be live music and fashion shows running throughout the weekend showcasing the best buys from some of the biggest brands in fashion. With that in mind, we’ve selected our pick of some of the hottest items available this Spring/Summer to whet your appetite and get you kitted-out in time for a much-needed dose of sun.

Suits You, Miss 20% off

20% off

Compact Cotton Tux Jacket, £250, Jaeger Womenswear, Cabot Place

Alisya Curved Hem Blazer, £165, Ted Baker, Canada Place

10% off

Latino Quilted Blazer, £169, Reiss, Cabot Place & Jubilee Place

SHOPPING BAGS OF BEAUTY

20% off

Stepping Out

Make a statement this season by teaming your outfit with a pretty pastel handbag. Oversized, shoulder or clutch, these bags will have you standing out from the crowd for all the right reasons.

Rosario Turquoise Patent, £119, Pretty Ballerinas, Jubilee Place

10% off

20% off 10% off

Adilina Gladiator Heel Sandals, £110, Ted Baker, Canada Place

The Marylebone Mini, £495, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place Harrison Large Top Handle Bag, £285, Reiss, Cabot Place & Jubilee Place

Tahara Sugar Sweetpea Tote Bag, £109, Ted Baker, Canada Place

PACK YOUR BAGS Keep all your travel essentials in one place this spring with Aspinal of London’s W.2. Holdall. Crafted from the finest Italian calf leather, the semi-structured men’s carry bag is ideal for an impulsive weekend away or a rather more premeditated trip to the gym. Leather top carry handles and a detachable shoulder strap make for easy carrying, and classic colours are certain to suit all styles.

20% off

20% off LLydia T-Bar Strap Wedge, £245, L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

W.2. Holdall, £495, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

Swim Style Stay stylish even underwater with our pick of the summer’s best swim shorts for bathing and basking. Be seduced by Orlebar Brown’s S/S 14 Monaco collection which oozes with all the sensuality and romance of the French Riviera, drawing inspiration from 1930s travel posters and the world-renowned Grand Prix. Elsewhere, Ted Baker builds on his signature style, playing with prints and patterns, while Tessuti keep it simple with their collection of this season’s pastel palette.

Bulldog Board Meeting, £225, Orlebar Brown, Jubilee Place

15% off

20% off

Monaco 81/2” Swim Trunk, £85, Ralph Lauren, available at Tessuti, Canada Place

Gatley Geo Print Swim Short, £60, Ted Baker, Canada Place

20% off

www.canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

art WINDOW GALLERIES

VISUAL ARTS

jubilee walk

The Art & Design window galleries in Canada Place Mall at Canary Wharf are free, open daily and showcase up-andcoming artists, designers and craftspeople. In March the galleries exhibit:

Yuka Kikumoto Yuka is a designer and maker of functional tableware products using ceramics and glass. Exploring combinations of these two materials, she works mainly in slipcast ceramics and blown or slumped glass. All her works are concerned with how the people Yuka grew up with in Japan use objects. She currently lives in England where she is studying for an MA in contemporary craft ceramics and glass. D kikuno087.wix.com/yuka-kikumoto

Kate Malone: A Celebration of Clay

Until 14 March Lobby, One Canada square, canary wharf

Kate Malone’s work is distinctive, decorative and highly complex, reflecting her generosity of spirit, with all manner of natural phenomena informing her exuberant pieces: fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds and nuts. This exhibition will feature pairs of ceramics from themes that recur time and again in her repertoire: pumpkins, fennels, gourds and atomics. Malone found her metier in creating vases of the most exotic kind, redolent of Art Nouveau, Victorian majolica, Minton and Palissy. Nowadays, her work encompasses studio pieces, short-run editions and large-scale public art works often made in collaboration with architects and designers.

canada walk

D katemaloneceramics.com

Scale Appropriate: Sculpture by Michael Lyons Maria Arceo

Maria perceives time as memory, a liquid wave that transfers energy as it travels through matter and space leaving traces along the way. She sees the Thames as time’s tumbling-barrel cutting through accumulated layers of the city’s past, present and future. Collected over a few days from one beach, undisturbed these items might have joined one of the Plastic Garbage Islands in the remote parts of our oceans. D mariajosearceo.com

31 March – 23 May Lobby, One Canada Square and Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf

A sculptor who works predominantly in metals, Michael Lyons reveals an essential sense of place in his sculpture, which comes through his travels and his visual and emotional response to his surroundings. His subject matter includes mythological themes, influenced by works of art from ancient cultures, landscape and the forces of nature. The sculptures are largely abstract renditions of these themes, developed through drawing, which he considers essential in advancing concepts in his work. Some pieces are painted or patinated, while others show steel or

29 April 6.30–7.15pm FREE Curator Ann Elliott tours the exhibition with the artist – meeting place at One Canada Square. Please email: visualart@canarywharf.com to reserve a place.

bronze in its natural form. Interestingly, Lyons also writes poetry that may be seen as a creative entity, but which like photography, also contributes to developing his sculpture. D michaellyonssculptor.com

THE NEW CANARY WHARF ARTS & EVENTS BROCHURE IS OUT NOW – IT SHOWCASES ALL THE ARTS AND EVENTS IN CANARY WHARF FROM FEBRUARY TO MARCH Join our free mailing list by sending your details to arts&events@canarywharf.com to receive monthly newsletters

events

CANARY WHARF SQUASH CLASSIC COUNTRY COLLECTIVE AT CANARY WHARF With Raintown supported by Gary Quinn and Hannah Jane Lewis Bringing a taste of Nashville to Canary Wharf, Country Collective celebrates the best rising British country music stars of the moment. The headliners are Raintown, the hottest new duo on the British Country/Americana scene. Raintown will be performing with their full band in this special concert of country music. Supporting Raintown is Irish born, award-winning singersongwriter Gary Quinn – an expert at tugging the heartstrings – and emerging singer-songwriter Hannah Jane Lewis.

Thursday 13 March 7.30pm (doors 6.45pm) East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 TICKETS: £15* Booking: visit www.seetickets.com* or call 0871 220 0260**

Tickets available on the door subject to availability. Unreserved cabaret style seating. Full bar and cloakroom. Only items purchased on the premises may be consumed. *maximum 6 tickets per order **Booking fee applies. If you do not require TicketPlan Refund Protection please untick the box when booking online

AFTER HOURS WITH… FINLEY QUAYE With new music out and his band on the road again, 2014 looks set for the rise and return of the BRIT and MOBO awardwinning Finley Quaye. Finley Quaye’s musical reputation was firmly established with his worldwide-hit album Maverick A Strike, which included the hit singles Love Gets Sweeter, Even After All and Sunday Shining. He has played and recorded with many great artists, including Paul Weller, Amy Winehouse and Lee Scratch Perry, and collaborated with William Orbit on the 2004 hit Dice, featuring Beth Orton. Quaye is the half-brother of noted guitarist Caleb Quaye, afro-jazz musician Terri Quaye, the youngest son of jazz musician Cab Kaye and his godfather is Duke Ellington, so music is well and truly in his blood! Canary Wharf is delighted to welcome him on stage at the East Wintergarden.

The world’s best players, including World Champion & World number one Nick Matthew, compete for the tournament title in a gladiatorial glass court in a full week of closeup, unbelievable dramatic sporting action. This popular annual event is sold out, but there may be returns available on the day. Monday 24 – Friday 28 March East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 Doors: 4.30pm Monday – Wednesday 5pm Thursday and Friday tickets: from £17.50 Match times vary. Returns may be available so check the website regularly for further details and updates. Email cw@eventis-sports.com to be placed on the waiting list. canarywharfsquash.com

CELEBRATE SPORT RELIEF at Canary Wharf

Wednesday 12 March 7.45pm (doors 7pm) East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, E14 TICKETS: £20* Booking: visit www.seetickets.com** or call 0871 220 0260**

This year, Canary Wharf is pulling out all the stops to raise money for this worthy charity! There will be numerous sporting challenges and fun activities for all to enjoy – including mini golf, Padel Tennis, Batak, Tango workouts, Dragon Boat racing and outdoor exercise classes from Reebok Sports Club London plus much more! Learn some new skills on the way whilst helping to celebrate Sport Relief and raising those essential funds!

Monday 17 – Sunday 23 March Throughout Canary Wharf FREE to visit - donations required. All proceeds to Sport Relief. Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief

www.canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

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DIRECTORY 

Wining and dining, shopping and splurging, the City is home to a wealth of amenities

COLLECTION BACHET 12 The Courtyard 020 3405 1437 bachet.fr BOODLES 2 & 3 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7283 7284 boodles.com BULGARI 15 The Courtyard Royal Exchange 020 7283 4580 bulgari.com

HEALTH & GROOMING AJALA SPA 10 Godliman Street 020 7074 1010 www.ajalaspa.com BARBER EXPRESS LTD 14 Devonshire Row 020 7377 5485 barberexpress.co.uk CHEQUERS BEAUTY SALON 53-54 Leadenhall Market 020 7283 3047 chequersbeauty.co.uk

NICHOLSON & GRIFFIN 74 Cannon Street, 020 7489 8551 nicholsonandgriffin.com OPTIX 175 Bishopsgate 020 7628 0330 optixuk.com SMILEPOD BANK STUDIO Leadenhall Market off Fenchurch Street 18-20 Cullum Street 020 7836 6866 smilepod.co.uk

ERNEST JONES Unit 3, Plantation Place 020 7929 4491 ernestjones.co.uk

CITY HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB LONDON Grange City Hotel, 8-10 Cooper’s Row cityhealthclub.co.uk

GOLDSMITHS 186-190 Bishopsgate 020 7283 6622 goldsmiths.co.uk

ELYSIUM SPA 21 Old Broad Street 020 7256 8624 elysiumfortytwo.co.uk

GUCCI 9 Royal Exchange 020 7623 3626 gucci.com

ESSENTIAL THERAPY 39 Whitefriars Street 020 7353 1895 essential-therapie.co.uk

HERMÈS 12-13 Royal Exchange 020 7626 7794 hermes.com

FETTER BARBERS LTD 144 Fetter Lane 020 7702 3553 fetterbarbers.com

LINKS OF LONDON 27 Broadgate Circle 020 7628 9668 linksoflondon.com

F FLITTNER 86 Moorgate 020 7606 4750 fflittner.com

TOWER BRIDGE HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB 47 Prescot Street 020 7959 5050 grangehealthclubs.com

LONDON CITY RUNNER 10 Ludgate Broadway 020 7329 1955 londoncityrunner.com

VIRGIN ACTIVE 5 Old Broad Street, 0845 270 4080 virginactive.co.uk

MONTBLANC 10-11 Royal Exchange 020 7929 4200 montblanc.com

116 | LISTINGS

TED’S GROOMING ROOM 120 Cheapside 020 7367 9932 tedsgroomingroom.com THE HARLEY MEDICAL GROUP Marc House Great Street 0800 022 3385 harleymedical.co.uk THE PRIVATE CLINIC 107 Cheapside 0800 599 9911 theprivateclinic.co.uk

HOME & BEAUTY ARTISAN FINE ART 35 Royal Exchange 020 7929 5656 artisangalleries.com DERMALOGICA One New Change 013 7222 5537 dermalogica.com JO MALONE 24 Royal Exchange 08701 925131 jomalone.co.uk KIEHLS Unit 14/15, Royal Exchange 020 7283 6661 kiehls.co.uk LIGNE ROSSET 7-39 Commercial Road 020 7426 9670 ligne-roset-city.co.uk MOLTON BROWN 27 Royal Exchange 020 7621 0021 moltonbrown.com OLIVER BONAS One New Change 020 7248 3152 oliverbonas.com PAUL A YOUNG FINE CHOCOLATES 20 Royal Exchange 020 7929 7007 paulayoung.co.uk PENHALIGON’S 4 Royal Exchange 020 7623 3131 penhaligons.com