City Magazine October 2017

My name is prince

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE POP SUPERSTAR’S First official exhibition

INSIDE INDIA

the legacy of empire, 70 years after independence

THE GRAND TOURS

Racing classic cars between Tanzania and South Africa

Also in this issue

jOSHUA KANE Tailor, director, raconteur: the fantastical world of fashion’s latest star

Enigmatic visions

Two artists, two minds, two fates.

THE STORY OF jean Dubuffet & recordbreaking protégé Jean-Michel Basquiat

THE BILLIONAIRE CONCIERGE the TWENTY-SOMETHING FIXER catering to the WORLD’S 0.1 PER CENT

HOT RIGHT NOW

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RESTAURANT OPENINGS OF THE PAST SIX MONTHS

60 60 YEARS YEARS OFOF ADVENTURE ADVENTURE AND AND DISCOVERY DISCOVERY

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08/09/2017 08/09/2017 15:01 15:01

| ed’s letter |

from the editor issue no.

120

OCTOBER 2017

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

Edi tor Richard Brown

a s s is tant Edi tor S Bethan REES david taylor

J EWEL LE RY EDITOR MHAIRI GRAHAM

In 1865, the Midland Railway Company invited architects to submit designs for a 150-bedroom hotel that would form part of the soon-to-be-finished St Pancras railway station. Of the 11 proposals submitted, George Gilbert Scott’s was by far the most audacious, comprising 300 rooms, a 270ft clock tower and a curved frontispiece that stretched for 565 feet.

In the run up to Christmas last year, I attended a party in what is now the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. With its fairytale grand staircases, iron-beamed lobby and faithfully-restored function rooms, it is one of the most inspiring settings in which I’ve ever knocked back a Jägerbomb. And yet in 1966 the building was almost bulldozed by a newly-nationalised British Rail, which intended to create a ‘modern’ – read ‘bland’ – terminal by amalgamating St Pancras with King’s Cross. Luckily, following public outcry, both stations were eventually listed.

The world’s great train termini – New York’s Grand Central, Paris’s Gare du Nord, the Milano Centrale – are some of the most moving, miraculous and magical spaces in their respective cities. I remember arriving at an icy cold London Liverpool Street as a fresh-faced 15-year-old about to report for work experience just around the corner. I remember the pain of my new shoes and the itchiness of my shirt, but most of all I remember the station itself. The smell of coffee, the suited crowd, the sharp clinking of Blakey’s on the hard white floor. I remember the ornate, criss-crossed ironwork overhead. It was similar to stepping into a cathedral. And yet Liverpool Street, too, had to be saved from demolition in the 1970s.

Both St Pancras Station and London Liverpool Street feature heavily in Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations (p.48), a fascinating new book by Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times and ex-chairman of the National Trust. One station omitted, owing to the fact that it’s in Mumbai, is the Victoria Terminus, or, since 1996, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Built in 1887 by Frederick William Stevens, and inspired by Scott’s St Pancras, the station is nonetheless considered one of the greats of the Victorian age. In its confines is the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, the first modern art school in India, a place where John Lockwood Kipling, father of Rudyard Kipling, served as director and dean, in the gardens of which you’ll find a decaying bust of The Jungle Book author. As India celebrates its 70th year of independence, we go in search of the country that Kipling and Empire left behind, in a travel special that stretches from Hyderabad to Jaipur to Delhi and starts on page 99.

While on the subject of anniversaries, this issue happens to represent 10 years of The City Magazine, no small feat in a decade marked by the closure of so many print publications. So, enjoy the read – we’re looking St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel forward to having you with us for the next chapter.

ART E DITOR DANIEL POOLE

G e n era l Mana ge r Fiona Smith

Pro du cti on Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele

Pro pe rt y D i rector Samantha Ratcliffe

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

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

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One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AX T: 020 7987 4320 rwmg.co.uk Members of the Professional

Richard brown, editor

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

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We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

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Cover Image

(p.41): Prince at the Brit Awards, as part of the My Name Is Prince exhibition opening at The O2 on 27 October.

See page 41 for more information. © Paisley Park

10

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issue no.

120

Contributors

contents

October 2017

Rob Crossan Rob works regularly for the BBC, and across publications including GQ, The Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph.

On page 84, Rob asks if a man should own up to having a facial – and goes to the spa for one himself.

70

This autumn and winter, it’s all about leather, shearling and cashmere.

Photography by Phillip Waterman

on the cover

39 Hot right now

The most significant restaurant openings of the

past six months 41 My name is Prince Behind the scenes at the pop superstar’s first official exhibition 46 The Billionaire’s Concierge The twenty-something fixer catering to the world’s 0.1 per cent 82 Joshua Kane

The fantastical world of fashion’s latest star 88 The Grand Tours

Racing classic cars in Tanzania and South Africa 94 Enigmatic Visions

The story of Jean Dubuffet and his record-

breaking protégé Jean-Michel Basquiat 99 Inside India

The legacy of Empire, 70 years after independence

city life

16 Edit Motorbikes, superyachts, and the balloon-style rabbit worth thousands of pounds 27 Tech It’s finally here: the iPhone X brings Apple into the big screen club 29 Fitness Meet Laura Crane, surfing’s new leading lady

12

city social

34 The Monthly Digest

Gospel brunch, a decade of whisky and a

new literary festival 38 The spirit of France

The making of a very French gin

Nick Savage Nick is editor of London concierge service Innerplace.

He provides the lowdown on London’s most hedonistic haunts. Nick rounds up the restaurant launches you might have missed (p.39).

city collection

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62

Watch News Seiko’s new standalone Knightsbridge store is a statement of intent Jewellery News Gigi Hadid’s new collaboration with Messika

city style

66 Flick through fashion

The à la mode books to have on your coffee

table this autumn 80 The Style Brief Your monthly sartorial meeting

out of office

100 India Update

The best places to stay across the country 102 Indian Summer

A whistle-stop tour around three of India’s

most exciting cities 110 Eye of the Tiger Tracking elusive tigers in Rajasthan

Jack Watkins Jack’s writing on history and politics has featured in titles such as the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph and The Independent.

Turn to page 48 for Jack’s ode to the architectural marvels otherwise known as train stations.

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CITY LIFE Jaguar is set to make history in 2018 when it launches the I-PACE eTrophy. Planned as the main support championship to FIA Formula E, 20 identical Jaguars will start the season, and travel to ten cities around the world.

The race-standard I-Pace (pictured) has been developed by the Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations team, giving it an extra punch for race day, and meaning this is the first production battery car to take to the track. jaguar.com

city edit (p.16)

superYachts, smart watches and a bicycle made of whisky barrels

city tech (p.27)

It’s here: the iPhone x is a full-display thing of beauty

city Fitness (p.29)

Introducing Laura Crane, fitness model and surfing’s latest it girl

[ city life ]

city edit The Dark Side

Renegade bike builder Bandit9’s most recent creation is ‘The Dark Side’, a Street 750 Harley-Davidson built wheel-to-wheel in reflective black. The 750cc liquid-cooled RevX engine lowers the centre of gravity which, along with the 16-inch spoke wheels, offers better handling at low speeds and higher responsiveness when on the throttle. Any suitors should get a move on – only nine will be made. $32,000 (approx. £23,600), bandit9motors.com

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

The commodities and consumables raising our interest rates this month

Dial up the colour

After Audemars Piguet’s 2016 launch of the vibrant Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph dial colourways, the company has given the nonchronograph model the same lively treatment. It’s available in white, dark blue, acid yellow, lime green and bright orange, and fitted with a matching rubber strap. If this particular strap is too much, each watch also comes with an additional, more restrained, blue rubber option.

POA, audemarspiguet.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

17

On Cloud 9

Delivered in May and presented for the first time during September’s Monaco Yacht Show, the 74-metre CRN CLOUD 9 is the result of a rare collaboration between three big players in superyachts. The technical side of proceedings was looked after by the CRN engineering team in Ancona, on Italy’s Adriatic coast; the yacht’s exterior was designed by Zuccon International Project, based in Rome; while London’s Winch Design was summoned to create the exterior guest areas and interior decoration.

Accommodating up to 16 guests, 22 crew and a further four staff, floor space totals more than 1,000 sq metres. CLOUD 9 is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C-Chd 2000 kW@1600 rpm engines, delivering a maximum speed of 16.5 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. The yacht will be chartering in the Caribbean this winter, represented by Burgess as Worldwide Central Agents, with weekly rates from US$875,000. (approx. £646,000), burgessyachts.com

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

19

Renovo X Glenmorangie

Whisky producer Glenmorangie has teamed up with hardwood bicycle pioneer Renovo for a very special collaboration. Once Glenmorangie’s single malt casks have been used for their second (and final) time, they’re sent over to Renovo’s Oregon workshop to be turned into one of a limited run of bikes. Each Glenmorangie Original bike contains about 15 cask staves, reflecting the original curvature. Just don’t drink and ride. £5,300, renovobikes.com

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

Scandi style

Copenhagen brand Norse Projects creates archetypally Scandinavian garments with minimalist designs out of hardy fabrics. This classic two-pocket raincoat is characteristically efficient; the PVC/ polyester coat containing a hidden zip fastening and buttoned storm flap. Ventilation holes are cut on the inside for breathability; welded-seam finishing, along with a drawstring hood, make it almost impossible for the rain to get in. ÂŁ170, norseprojects.com

silhouette sneakers

Designed by Errolson Hugh, founder of technical streetwear brand ACRONYM, Nike’s Komyuter Premium trainers have dropped just in time for autumn. Intended for all-weather conditions, thanks to a water-repellent fabric and grooved rubber soles, the trainers do away with laces in favour of a magnetic strap and buckle system, and bungee pull tabs at the back. The Komyuter line is also available in Black, Bordeaux, Olive or University Gold. £119, endclothing.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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| the edit |

RED BULL 111 MEGaWATT

The 2017 edition of the Red Bull 111 Megawatt Hard Enduro reached it’s conclusion in Poland on 10 September, with rider Jonny Walker taking top prize. Part of the Hard Enduro World Series, where riders battle mountains, sand traps and all manner of obstacles, the final Kleszczów event is seen as one of the toughest stops on tour, which strecthes from Brazilian jungle to an iron ore quarry in Austria. redbull.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

23

turning tables

Hipster-chic brand of bikes, watches and leather goods, Shinola has launched its first audio product, and it’s as handsome as you’d expect. The Runwell Turntable has been created in tandem with American turntable maker VPI and each component, inside and out, has been carefully sourced for the discriminating audiophile. It has an inbuilt phono pre-amplifier (that which connects the turntable to the amplifier) and a belt-driven pulley with speeds of 33 1/3 rpm and 45rpm.

The Black & Silver Runwell Turntable, £2,500, Shinola, shinola.co.uk

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| the edit |

a very smart Watch

With its rounded corners and glossy black face, you might mistake this for an Apple Watch on standby. You’d be wrong. This is the Swiss Alp Watch Zzzz from H. Moser & Cie. With no logo on its dial, or indices, it is a timepiece for minimalist denizens, the hand-stitched black alligator strap adding an elegant detail. The Swiss Alp Watch Zzzz houses a handwound mechanical movement that provides four days of power. It arrives in a limited edition of 20 pieces. $26,900 (£19,380), h-moser.com

run rabbit

Limited to a run of 999 examples, this porcelain version of Jeff Koons’s original three-ton stainless steel sculpture is 30cm high, making the super reflective, smaller version a little more living room-friendly. It comes in five colourways: red, blue, magenta, violet and yellow.

Balloon Rabbit (Red) £10,350, bernardaud.com, harrods.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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[ city life ]

city TECH

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

The X Factor Apple’s long-awaited full screen model has finally arrived

Two 12MP cameras Face ID uses your features to sign in

5.8 inch Super Retina screen

iphone x

Apple has finally joined the big screen club. For more than a decade, Apple has worked towards creating an all display iPhone, and Jony Ive, Chief Design Officer, has said that the iPhone X “marks a new era for iPhone – one in which the device disappears into the experience.”

Water and dust resistant

all in the detail

It certainly looks the part, and has neat new features such as the TrueDepth camera system, with which you can unlock your phone using Face ID. The cameras are tuned towards the growing augmented reality sector, the phone has wireless charging, and the body boasts the most durable glass ever to be used by a smartphone.

The iPhone X is available to pre-order from 27 October, and is on sale a few days later. Judging by previous Apple launches, you should probably get queuing now.

From £999, apple.com

27

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| FITNESS |

[ city life ]

city Health

How to start surfing, courtesy of the sport’s latest leading lady Words: David Taylor

Q&A with laura crane

Buy the board

H

aving represented Great Britain three times, been crowned British champion four times, and come third in the European Championships, Laura Crane is fast becoming the superstar of women’s surfing.

With 75,000 Instagram followers (@lauraloucrane), the Bristol-born 22-year-old is also a model for brands including Billabong.

Black Beauty surfboard, from £540, Channel Islands Surfboards,

When did you start surfing?

LC: I was born in Bristol but my parents moved us to Devon when I was 14. My Dad starting surfing and took me along with him. I loved it – I knew straight away it was going to be ‘my thing’.

cisurfboards.com

You spent two years in Bali – why did you come back to Europe?

LC: Mainly because I really missed my friends and family, but also because I just love this continent. It’s where I grew up, it’s home for me.

Portugal image courtesy of studio f22 ricardo rocha / shutterstock

Which exercise do you do alongside surfing?

LC: I like to mix it up so I don’t get bored. My favourite thing to do it HIIT training because it’s so varied. I like to run and do weight training, too.

What pressure does surfing put your body under?

LC: The lower back takes a lot of strain from being arched over on the board for so long, so make sure you work on your core strength. The shoulders also have to work really hard when paddling, so be sure to stretch them out really well.

“My favourite surf spot is Ribeira d’Ilhas in Ericeira, Portugal. It’s actually a World Surfing Reserve and is near where I now live”

How important is the modelling to you?

LC: I’m not aiming to walk on the runway. For me, the modelling is all about showing

the girls who look up to me that it’s not about being super skinny, but being healthy and working hard to have a body that can do what you want it to do.

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Where are the best places to surf as the months get colder?

LC: I’m based in Portugal where it doesn’t really get cold until mid-November time. But after Christmas I’m planning to head overseas.

I would love to go and surf somewhere I haven’t been before, like the Philippines.

How can someone get into surfing?

LC: The surfing community is super nice. There’s no hostility, everyone’s just happy to see new people giving it a go. I would advise taking proper lessons right from the start so you don’t pick up any bad habits that are then hard to shake.

What next for Laura Crane?

LC: I’ll be spending the rest of the summer season in Portugal surfing and training, then escaping winter and going somewhere a bit more tropical to make more videos and of course, surf !

Odysea Skipper x Jamie O’Brien Pro softboard, £330, Catch Surf Softboards, secretspot.co.uk

Time Piece bespoke surfboard, price on request, Fourth Surfboards, fourthsurfboards.com

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E Directed accents Narrow spot <10° Flexible lighting design 7 precise light distributions

Uniform wallwashing Wall offset / luminaire spacing ≥ 1:1.25

Optimum colour rendering Warm white Ra ≥90 Individual dimming Continuously from 1% to 100%

Light for art with high standards Displaying art with Oseris Unique concepts of compelling exhibition lighting with high contrast are best achieved using flexible and interchangeable ERCO Spherolit lenses.

Oseris spotlights are extremely versatile lighting tools that lend themselves to the illumination of cultural artefacts of all kinds: compact, precise, flexible and efficient – Oseris evokes character and charm with striking features. www.erco.com/oseris

Light is the fourth dimension of architecture

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| INTERIORS|

[ city life ]

CITY LIVING

Standout homeware, because it’s what’s inside that counts Words: BETHAN REES

NAMBÉ homeware Recently launched in the UK, Nambé is a lifestyle brand founded in New Mexico. With a collection of midcentury design pieces, you’ll be sure to find someting you love, like this curved wine rack and ice bucket.

Wine rack, £150, ice bucket, £85, Nambé, nambe.com

prints charming

tailor-made van Gogh prints on demand

The Van Gogh Museum has made it easier to own a slice of the esteemed Dutch artist’s work, allowing over 600 of his works to be reproduced in print form, on the highest quality canvas or paper.

You can choose the size and a matching frame too, and your print can be delivered to your door, wherever you are in the world.

From £35, printingondemand.vangoghmuseumshop.com

Mo d e rn i c a x St ü ssy F I bregl a ss c h ai r LA-based furniture manufacturer Modernica has teamed up with Californian streetwear brand St Ü ssy to update the timeless Eames-style chair with a bronze-plated base construction.

GS fibreglass arm shell chair, £552, Modernica x St Ü ssy, modernica.net

emotional baggage A vintage-style suitcase, not filled with old wares, but with all the components to fix yourself an Old Fashioned cocktail. It’s what Don Draper would’ve wanted.

Old Fashioned cocktail case, £185, Tipplesworth, harveynichols.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

sweet dreams tal amo l e at h e r be d Meticulous Italian craftsmanship meets sleek minimalist design in Damian Williamson’s Talamo pure aniline leather bed .

Talamo bed, £4,680, Damian Williamson, conranshop.co.uk

getting trollied

Use this Normann Copenhagen piece as a bedside table, display table or a drinks trolley to show off your vintage whiskies.

Block table, £170, Normann Copenhagen, amara.com

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HIDE AND REVEAL

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

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

CITY SOCIAL Dom Pérignon’s latest release is the Plénitude Deuxième 2000. The ‘Plénitudes’ are a succession of peaks in the wine observed by Chef de Cave, or cellarmaster, Richard Geoffroy, who recognised that each vintage presented different expressions of itself over time. Released after 17 years in the cellars, P2 2000 offers a creamy, fruity palate, hay and brioche combining with bergamot orange and stone fruit. £275, domperignon.com

monthly digest (p.34)

Soul food at its most literal at Red Rooster’s Gospel Brunch

city’s best bar snacks (p.36) A round-up of the square mile’s top places for a quick bite

G’Vine Gin (p.38)

An unconventional ingredient makes for a very French gin

[ city social ]

The Monthly Digest review

Gospel Brunch at Red Rooster, EC2 Come for the comfort cooking, stay for the Gospel music: soul food at its most literal

Red Rooster, the chicken-filled, soul food stalwart of Harlem, has made its way across the Atlantic and set up shop in Shoreditch. The venue, in the basement of new(ish) members’ club The Curtain, has been praised across the board for its indulgent and celebratory menu – if Barack Obama is a fan, it must be something special.

Its latest venture is the Gospel Brunch.

Bringing even more soul to proceedings every Sunday, brunch is accompanied by performances from the House Gospel Choir, an electrifying group that merges classic house tunes with gospel influences and traditional hymns.

It was difficult to concentrate on the food, as anyone who has listened to a House Gospel Choir set can attest.

However, Marcus Samuelsson’s brunch menu manages to grab your attention, starting with the cornbread, warm and comforting and served with honey butter and sweet/spicy tomato jam. I went for the steak and eggs after, enough to last me until dinner, and finished off my brunch with a slice of red velvet cake and an Old Fashioned. You could also try the Bird Royale Feast, a big old bird atop waffles, American biscuits, mac and greens, pickles, and signature Rooster sauce. The chicken also comes to the table with a silver Roman Candle flying up into the air. Chicken, whisky and uplifting gospel music.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. thecurtain.com/red-rooster

Private Hire

The Dog House at Bernardi’s, w1

Owned by Australian-Italian brothers Gabriel and Marcello Bernardi, the eponymous restaurant just round the corner from Marble Arch has always had their well-loved dog as its logo. It’s no surprise, then, that the speakeasy-style bar downstairs is called The Dog House in honour of the pooch.

The elegant and comfortable bar serves delicious cicchetti, with the Negroni also not to be missed. It’s available to hire for private dining and events, as is the main restaurant and bar upstairs. Think corporate events and client entertaining in a relaxed, stylish venue, with dishes such as pan fried pumpkin gnocchi, veal Milanese, and buttermilk panna cotta.

For more information, ring 020 3826 7940 or visit bernardis.co.uk

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| NEWS |

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

The self-styled ‘Oldest Chophouse in London’ was founded in 1757. It’s still doing a roaring trade 260 years later. simpsonstavern.com

Simpson’s Tavern

New & noteworthy

Bulleit Bourbon 10-year-old

Sales of Bourbon in Britain topped £1billion for the first time in 2016. This year, Bulleit launches its 10-Year-Old, a rye bourbon aged in charred, American white-oak casks for at least a decade – creating a rich, fruity aroma and tasting notes of caramel and spice. The recipe uses the original ingredients set out by Augustus Bulleit 150 years ago. The City Magazine is also ten years old this month, so we’ll drink to that. £42.83, masterofmalt.com

Cliveden Literary Festival, Cliveden House, Berkshire The heavy hitters of historical and political writing

Half an hour from London, the new Cliveden Literary Festival is bringing together the best writers of factual and fictional historical and political writing at the beautiful Cliveden House. It’s an appropriate venue, having been one of the settings for the Profumo Affair. Confirmed speakers include Sebastian Faulks, Ian McEwan, Dylan Jones and Simon Schama.

14-15 October, £95/85/170 Saturday/Sunday/weekend ticket, clivedenliteraryfestival.com

Sub Cult, EC2

The award-winning streetfood duo Ben Chancellor and Gaz Phillips have opened a pop-up in the City, selling their US delistyle rolls to City workers every weekday.

Sub Cult has gathered a host of accolades, including ‘Best Sandwich’ at the British Street Food Awards, and has worked with Michelin-starred chefs such as Tom Sellers and Tom Aikens. Try ‘The Rodeo’: rare roast beef, truffle mayo, Grana Padano, shallot jam, and pickled serrano chilli.

7am-4pm Mon-Fri, 2 Finsbury Ave, sub-cult.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

35

[ city social ]

spotlight

THE CITY’S BEST BAR SNACKS F

rightening as it may sound, a pub snack a decade or so ago in London usually involved making the following culinary decisions: ‘cheese and onion or ready salted, mate?’

Or possibly, at a push, ‘dry roasted or salted, darlin’?

For reasons of sensitivity and taste we won’t even mention scampi fries in this publication.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Square Mile’s pubs and bars are at the forefront of the fast growing realisation that salt and starch may suffice with a pint of cheap lager. But if you’re imbibing on killer cocktails, craft ales and organic wines then perhaps the concomitant tiffin should be made with a little more effort and love.

Here’s half a dozen superior snacks that may just have the potential to kill off the peanut brigade for good...

Chicken poutine £7, Hawksmoor Spitalfields, E1

The original Commercial St branch of Hawksmoor has, for a decade now, been serving British steaks so juicy, flavourful and pink that it could make even the most avowed Texan carnivore rip off his Stetson and spurs and replace it with a flat cap and tweed combo.

The basement bar has enough brown leather booths, marble tiles and battered copper surfaces to make Don Draper feel at home after a hard day’s drinking at Sterling Cooper. The bar snack menu is short but perfectly

formed, the highlight being a take on the Canadian drunk food classic of poutine. Usually made with cheese curds, gravy and fries, here, tender strips of chicken breast are slathered all over what is, hands down, the messiest, and most more-ish, cocktail accompaniment in the Square Mile. thehawksmoor.com

Grilled sourdough and bone marrow £4, Pitt Cue, Devonshire Square, EC2

IbÉrico pork burgers with pickled cucumber and saffron £10, The Don, EC4

This long-standing City temple to classic French cuisine and vintage port retains its old-school Gaelic credibility but change is afoot at the bar menu at least. Concessions to modernity here could be unpleasant in a ‘Banksy in the Louvre’ way, but the array of bar snacks are surprisingly deft and delicate. The Ibérico pork burgers, here served with pickled cucumber and saffron aioli are a coquettish ensemble of layers and flavours that should enable you to still have room for a couple of its salt cod beignets and its Padrón peppers with Maldon salt. thedonrestaurant.com

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London may have reached ‘peak BBQ’ mania a few years back, but Pitt Cue’s Devonshire Square branch still packs in the crowds, chiefly due to Tom Adam’s and Jamie Berger’s continued adherence to the ‘slow and low’ cooking techniques learned the hard way via their humble beginnings in a food truck. Bar snacks here are brief and to the point, so there’s no threat of appetite wrecking with the bone marrow and grilled sourdough; a pared down offal classic in the St. John mould with a blistered crust and marrow that is at once light and yet bursting with unapologetic blowsy richness. Dude food has seldom grown up as well as this. pittcue.co.uk

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| news |

Hungry, but not starving? Here’s the bar snacks sobering up the Square Mile Words: Rob Crossan

Smithfield Market board £16, Fox and Anchor, EC1

Tucked away down a side street a throwing distance from the cavernous halls of Smithfield Market, the Fox and Anchor is the kind of pub Orwell dreamed of in his Moon Under Water essay, in which he pondered the dream English boozer.

Pewter tankards, jars of pickled onions, slate floors and Edwardian tiles, the only major concession to modernity here is in the food. The Smithfield platter is a handsome beast indeed.

A wooden platter (naturally) festooned with a golden sausage roll, pork pie, scotch egg, pigs in blankets and curried mayo, this is a gargantuan snack that can make even the most metropolitan liberal come across all patriotic. If you can find a better old-school pub than this in the City, then please us know immediately… foxandanchor.com

Kimchi pancakes

£7.50,Threadneedle bar, EC3

Blur your eyes a little from the vantage point of the Threadneedle Bar, perched on the upper level of the Royal Exchange building overlooking the Grand Café, and you could almost be in New York’s Grand Central station. It’s a little less frenetic here, though, with butterscotch-coloured leather seats and stools, amber coloured reading lamps and some seriously gentrified bar snacks. Kimchi pancakes may sound prosaic, but this Korean staple comes in tight, beautifully coarse, spicy discs, the pickled cabbage giving off just the right umami tingle to the taste buds. An honourable mention to its pulled pork tacos too, bursting at the seams of the perfectly brittle tortilla with velvety piggy goodness. royalexchange-grandcafe.co.uk

Clonakilty black pudding scotched quail eggs £7, Silk & Grain, EC3

The gap between bar snacks and a full meal in terms of portion sizes is becoming hard to deduce, nowhere more so than at Silk & Grain where, frankly, ordering more than three bar snacks renders dinner impossible for most appetites. The rams’ heads on the wall and the retro booths give clues to the meaty, masculine direction Silk & Grain takes to the Bank crowd and its bar snacks are as delicious as they are uncompromising. Vegetarians really do need to run for cover when the ‘sausage pan’ of free range bangers with sourdough and mustard hits the table. Yet it’s the scotched quail eggs, served with dollops of plum and apple chutney that really hit home, gamey, sinewy and utterly oblivious to health and restraint. Glorious. silkandgrain.co.uk

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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| feature |

[ city social ]

Spotlight

chin chin!

Both G’Vine bottles feature a bottle top that’s roughly the same size as a 25ml shot glass. À votre santé!

The spirit of France An Unconventional ingredient makes for a very French gin

Words: DAVID TAYLOR

The man behind Cîroc Vodka on creating a game-changing gin

J

ean-Sébastien Robicquet speaks with the confidence of a man who knows his drink. He has good reason to – his family has been in the wine business for 400 years, and without him, the world wouldn’t have the P. Diddy-backed Cîroc Vodka. Having gained masters degrees in Oenology and Business, Jean-Sébastien worked with Hennessy for more than ten years, before founding the Maison Villevert group. Based in a beautifully restored 16th century château in the Charente prefecture of France called – you guessed it – Maison Villevert, Jean-Sébastien’s team created the aforementioned grape vodka, as well as the unconventional gin that’s just celebrated its 10th birthday, G’Vine.

Bringing his expert understanding of grapes to the table, Jean-Sébastien looked at gin from a different angle: “I created G’Vine because I was not fully satisfied, as a Frenchman, by the gin on offer. I wanted to have something elegant and pleasant for my palate.” The use of grapes as the base for a gin might sound odd, but the sweet properties of grape worked beautifully in comparison to the traditional grain.

Ryan Chetiyawardana, owner of Dandelyan, the world’s best bar according to the Spirited Awards, is a big fan of the gin, as is head bartender Alex Kratena.

Both took part in the ‘G’Vine Perspectives’ video series, using the brand’s Floraison expression as a base to their cocktails.

G’Vine’s 10th anniversary was celebrated on the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette in Paris. Gin experts mingled and danced into the night with models wearing green sunglasses – the perfect symbol for a thoroughly French gin.

The G’Vine expressions FLORAISON

Floraison stands for ‘flowering’, and with good reason: it’s the most important time in a vine’s life, when it is distilled, in this case, into a fresh and floral gin that aims to bring to mind the vineyards in springtime, when the scent of the blossoming vine flowers fills the air.

Unsurprisingly for a grape gin, the taste – smooth but full-bodied – is unique, and is surprising in its subtlety and sweetness. The less alcoholic of the two expressions at 40 per cent ABV, it’s best in a classic G&T or a light and breezy summer cocktail.

NOUAISON

Nouaison means ‘setting’, when the flower turns from bloom to berry.

The berry turns a subtle gin into something spicier and more intense, and a good alternative to a traditional dry gin. This version comes in at a heftier 43.9 per cent ABV, offering more punch than Floraison.

It’s perfect for those who like stronger cocktails such as the Negroni.

“Robicquet doesn’t care. He doesn’t hesitate to break the rules, because he is somewhere else, and sees all the dots connecting” Alex Kratena, head bartender at The Langham 38

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| news |

[ city social ]

bon viveur The debrief

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

Nobu

temper

OPENINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

S

ummer in London is often interrupted by a few weeks’ sojourn to sunnier climes and, with all of the comings and goings, it can be easy to miss a trick. This is especially the case with restaurant openings, where people often tune out on what’s been going on, anticipatinga summer lull. This year offered up a bumper crop of great new eateries – with plenty of Michelin-starred chefs, international heavy-hitters and some truly sui generis offerings mixed in for good measure.

One of the most unique restaurants to land in London was Ikoyi, opened by Iré to update west African cuisine as highHassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan, the latter of whom serves as head chef. Situated concept, finessing it with painstaking prep work and Japanese technique into in the heart of St James’s, Ikoyi offers a something altogether more mesmerising. small bar, open-plan kitchen, blonde walls A tad north, in Mayfair, a couple of and banquette seating in minimalist Scandi outer borough mavericks are bringing style. More interestingly, it their laidback approach in fine has some of the most Innerplace is dining to buttoned-up W1. Mark singularly creative London’s personal lifestyle Jarvis (Anglo) and Alex Harper cooking in the concierge. Membership provides (Harwood Arms) joined forces capital. Chan complimentary access to the finest to tag-team Woodstock draws on his nightclubs, the best restaurants and Street with reasonably priced, top private members’ clubs. Innerplace education under also offers priority bookings, updates on delicately prepared dishes and René Redzepi and the latest openings and hosts its own low-intervention wines. With Heston Blumenthal regular parties. its bare brick, blackboards and Membership from £50 a month, Core by Clare beards, it could easily have been innerplace.co.uk Smyth transposed from Hackney.

James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy have done exactly that with their first foray post-Pidgin, as Magpie landed on Heddon Street. The pair have continued to purloin the best flavours and methodology from across the globe and put them on dizzying display for the humble burghers of London. However, they’ve thrown in a curveball on this James Ramsden and occasion with the addition of a dim-sum Sam Herlihy of Magpie style trolley service à la San Fran’s State Bird Provisions.

In Shoreditch, Nobu has chosen to open its first eponymous hotel... it’s nothing short of spectacular

IKOYI

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Clare Smyth, known for captaining the three-star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has followed the footsteps of Angela Hartnett, Jason Atherton and Marcus Wareing and stepped out from underneath the Ramsay aegis – opening her own 54-cover Core restaurant in leafy Notting Hill. The airy, pastel room plays host to a constantly changing tasting menu and deep wine list.

In Shoreditch, Nobu has opened its first eponymous hotel in London, and its dining room channels the raw urbanity of the neighbourhood. In a sentence, it’s nothing short of spectacular. To enter the restaurant, guests pass down a grand staircase and by a five-metre glass wall to enter a space propped up with beams of timber smooth as a santoku knife. Bathed in subtle hues and industrial accents, it’s infused with life from the open-plan sushi counter and, on the opposite side of the room, the cocktail bar, which looks out onto a four-level terrace garden.

Nearby, in the City, Glaswegian barbecue wunderkind Neil Rankin has rolled out the second installation of his flame-kissed concept temper (lowercase intentional), opting for Angel Court, which is swiftly becoming a destination in its own right for the fooderati. While open-fire comes front and centre in the same manner as the Soho original, Rankin has branched out with the menu, favouring the Asian subcontinent over North America. The design situates a large open-plan grill complete with two tandoors and a poultry smoker amongst a lofty room that looks as if it borrowed design inspiration from a luxury Danish ferry. It’s certainly an entertaining place to spend an evening.

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Photography by Levon Biss - www.microsculpture.net

Moooi presents a life extraordinary!

Moooi New York · 36 East 31st Street · New York, NY 10016 Moooi Amsterdam · Westerstraat 187 · 1015 MA Amsterdam Moooi London · 23 Great Titchfield Street · London, W1W 7PA Moooi Tokyo · Three F 6-11-1 Minami Aoyama · Minato-ku, Tokyo www.moooi.com

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exhibition

London welcomes an exhibition honoring the late pop superstar Prince Words: BETHAN REES

Purple reign O

pening 27 October at The O2, My Name Is Prince is the first ever official exhibition about the singer Prince, who passed away in April 2016.

It gives fans a chance to get up close and personal with artefacts from the star’s Minnesota private estate, Paisley Park, many of which have never been seen by the public before. Visitors will also be able to see some of the artist’s most famed possessions, such as his Purple Rain ruffle shirt and diamond-studded cane, along with guitars, awards and hand-written song lyrics.

“I’m so excited to be able to meet the fans and share their Prince stories and give them hugs, and have a cry”

from top, clockwise An earcuff; Prince wearing clothing from the 2007 3121 shows, 21 nights at The O2 shows and many more; Leopard print Gibson guitar; a chainhat worn by Prince; diamond vest worn during his 2013 V magazine shoot; Prince’s jacket worn in the film Graffiti Bridge ALL IMAGES © Paisley Park

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson said of the exhibition: “This is the first time we’ve taken any items out of Paisley Park. When I heard about the idea I was so excited because since he’s passed, people come to the house and things like that. But to actually be able to go where people live that maybe can’t afford to come over to Paisley Park in the States; I’m so excited to be able to meet the fans and share their Prince stories and give them hugs, and have a cry with them if need be.”

The exhibition was originally planned to run for just 21 days, but due to phenomenal demand, it is now running until 7 December. Let’s paint the town purple.

My Name is Prince, tickets from £25, 27 October – 7 December, The O2, SE10, mynameisprince.co.uk

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Welcome to the Club

As the countdown to the opening of Tottenham Hotspur’s formidable stadium begins, interest in On Four – the level that’ll become home to the venue’s most sought-after experiences – is reaching fever pitch. Here’s what makes the The H Club, the jewel in the crown of On Four, the most coveted private membership in sport

I

n the early 1970s, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club allowed a writer exclusive behind-the-scenes access to a sport that had, until then, been largely shielded from the media. Hunter Davies accompanied the team for an entire season: he interviewed players at their homes, witnessed dressing room discussions and was often mistaken for a substitute player at away games.

Despite the huge changes that have taken place in the industry since The Glory Game was first published, a new edition of Davies’ account was printed in 2011, reaffirming society’s constant fascination with what goes into building a successful football club.

Nearly 50 years later, Tottenham Hotspur is still the trailblazer of English football. It is due to open a pioneering members’ club, The H Club, at the new stadium in 2018, which looks set to mark the beginning of an entirely original and elite kind of Premier League experience.

“The fears, the tensions, the dramas… that sort of stuff goes on, and will go on, forever” The majority of the 90 founding member places have already been filled, and the rest are available via application or referral only. The reason for this careful curation is that members will be embraced completely into the club – they’ll be as close as one can get without being considered for substitution at half-time.

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The benefits start way before the referee’s first whistle. The kitchen, overseen by Michel Roux Jr and a host of other renowned London chefs, offers a choice of five dining experiences that you can mix and match throughout the season. On occasions, a three-course meal with a sommelier on hand will be in order – and other times, a burger and a beer at the bar. Dinner alongside club legends and ambassadors will not be unusual, and at least once a season there’ll be a chef’s table experience with the Roux family.

When the time comes to soak up the hair-raising atmosphere of 61,559 football fans, members of The H Club can easily access their halfway line seats – the best in the house – via this exclusive area overlooking the stadium. Outside of the crucial 90 minutes, members will be present at man of the match ceremonies and first team player visits, and have opportunities to visit the club’s state-of-the-art training

| promotion |

centre and attend board member events each season.

“Why has the book continued to sell so well?” Davies ponders in The Glory Game’s updated introduction written in 2011. “I suppose the simple reason is that inside a club, inside a dressing-room, basic things are much the same, despite the externals having changed so drastically. The fears, the tensions, the dramas… that sort of stuff goes on, and will go on, forever.”

Tottenham Hotspur has yet again closed the gap between the players and the spectators, and as other clubs catch up, we have no doubt that Spurs will be working on the next big thing. The key to being a part of the future of football is to get your foot in the door of The H Club sooner rather than later.

To apply for one of the remaining memberships in The H Club, please email: onfour@tottenhamhotspur.com

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speaking volumes French tech brand Devialet will be arriving to Canary Wharf soon, we speak to Victor D’Allancé, UK and Ireland’s general manager about why the brand belongs here

W

ith a vision based on making the best sound in the world and the goal of changing the standard of sound, it’s no wonder game-changing audio company Devialet has earned more than 60 global awards and boasts investors from key industry influencers like carmaker Groupe Renault and music icon Jay Z. The brand, which was founded in 2007 and has headquarters in Paris, is opening its doors in Canary Wharf ’s Cabot Place and it’s here to shake up the world of music and audio technology.

The brand’s UK and Ireland general manager Victor D’Allancé tells us more.

How did the intial concept for Devialet come about?

The company was founded ten years ago, by three French men, all from different backgrounds – PierreEmmanuel Calmel, from an engineering background, Emmanuel Nardin, from a design background and Quentin Sannié, an entrepreneur. Calmel was in his room building amplifiers from the age of 14, while Nardin and Sannié – who are cousins – grew up with the dream of owning a music-based company. Their

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

“We want to bring, for the first time in history, the true emotion of music to a wide audience.” vision came true when they met Calmel, who explained that not only did he share their passion for music, but that he had invented something that would revolutionise music. And thus, Devialet and their joint vision was born.

What is Devialet’s vision?

The vision from the very beginning has been simple. We want to bring, for the first time in history, the true emotion of music to a wide audience.

When the three founders started their

@canarywharflondon

venture, their statement was bold.

They believed they could change the way we listen to music. Reconciling two main methods of amplification, analogue and digital, is any audio company’s dream. While analogue provides excellent quality, digital is much more powerful and together they make a dream team. Calmel did just that. He invented Analogue Digital Hybrid (ADH®), an innovative, patented technology that provided the founders with an exceptional asset.

How did Devialet manage to establish its name globally?

We secured investments from respected names like French mogul Bernard Arnault, and announced our partnership with Sky just this summer. We have a team of 90 audio engineers in Paris, making it the biggest taskforce in Europe for music engineering. And last year, we hit our milestone of raising 100 million euros. Our Canary Wharf branch is the latest in our global expansion within the UK. We have massive ambition in this country, but we don’t want to be everywhere. We want to be in the best places and Canary Wharf is one of those places for us.

Treepod (Phantom’s high fusion stand), £249

best of Devialet The three models that will be available in store; the Phantom, the Silver Phantom and the Gold Phantom, which was released last summer. All the accessories will be avilable in store too.

Devialet Gold Phantom,£2,190; Cocoon (a high-tech carry case for the Phantom), £249

What can Canary Wharf customers expect?

Customers should expect an experience. For us, it’s more than just a store.

You can come in, sit down, have a coffee and experience sound like you never have before.

If you want to take it away on the day, you can.

If you want it delivered, we can do that. If you want it to be sent to Dubai, ready for when you go home in a few days, we can do that too. We try and facilitate everything for our customers. They can also expect something radically different because the product is revolutionary in every way.

The quality of sound is absolutely stunning and the design is modern and stylish. We can’t wait for our customers to experience it for themselves.

Devialet, Cabot Place; devialet.com

Dialog (a wireless intelligent hub, which lets you synchronise all your Phantom systems), £249

Gecko (a wall mount for the Phantom), £169

Remote (which drives volume from a distance with precision and motion sensitivity), £129

Tree (Phantom’s smart stand), £339

Meet Lucas Bitencourt, the 26-year-old concierge catering to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 0.1 per cent Words: Alistair MacQueen

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THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| interview |

H

i Alistair, it’s Lucas Bitencourt. I’ve just stepped off the plane from St Tropez – out there for a couple of weeks for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala, been pretty busy.”

Such is the life of the managing director of Essence, a Belgravia-based family firm that manages the lifestyles and affairs of 36 billionaires and their families. (NB They are only ever billionaires).

Most likely, you’ve never heard of Essence. Loosely conceived by Lucas’s father in Rio de Janeiro, the brand morphed into a concierge company when it was asked to service the US Olympic Team during London 2012. From there, Essence grew organically, taking on the heads of fashion houses and other high-profile clients, largely through word of mouth.

I first interview Bitencourt at 5 Hertford Street, a tucked-away private member's club in Mayfair, during which a disgruntled Robin Birley walks past casting disparaging looks at my dictaphone. Our second meeting takes place on a sofa in an upper antechamber of Mark’s Club, just off Berkeley Square.

Bitencourt is smart, suave, self-assured, not easily identifiable as belonging to one particular nationality (he is in fact Brazilian). When he speaks, you get the impression Bitencourt would be as comfortable around cleaning staff as with world leaders.

“I could set up a meeting with Bill Clinton tomorrow. I have huge power because of my community, as most of my clients are worth £1bn plus, from a cross section of fashion, retail, mining, real estate and various other industries.”

From keeping Cipriani (now C London) open late so Muhammad Ali and his family could have dinner during London 2012 (“It opened after hours, the staff had to stay, but that was organised on the spot”) to chartering a private jet in order to buy a handbag (“that’s something we do on a regular basis”), Bitencourt has the world – and willing helpers – at his fingertips.

“I could set up a meeting with Bill Clinton tomorrow.

I have huge power because of my community” luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

“There are clients who share intimate details with you, like they are divorcing their wives, or things are not going so well in the bedroom,” says Bitencourt.

“You have to react with care, preempting what they might think, because these individuals are people who are used to having things yesterday. You have to talk to them, and eventually they often answer their own questions. And then they go off tangentially and ask for a private jet to somewhere.”

One member called at lunch and asked for a made-to-measure Savile Row suit by evening.

Explaining that made-to-measure Savile Row suits aren’t something that happen in just a few hours – much to the client’s frustration – Lucas eventually mollified him by directing him to Tom Ford.

“I don’t think that we’ve ever had a request so outrageous that it’s impossible to fulfil. We’ve had some very demanding and imaginative situations, but there’s always a solution. It’s all about your network of contacts and having an understanding of who to call, when to call them and which incentives to offer.

“One member wanted a landing slot in Munich for his jet in order to see the Champions League final.

Now this was a pretty special person, a real captain of industry. All the landing slots were reserved for officials and executive FIFA officials, but we were able to get him a slot.”

One of Bitencourt’s most recent requests was for a huge sum of Bitcoin, the crypto currency currently trading at around BTC1: GBP3,500.

The difficulty was that without trading over the course of several months or years, an influx of Bitcoin is notoriously hard to come by. To make matters worse, the traditional banking sector is, understandably, less receptive of its new digital competitor: “The various banks or brokers we have contacts with wouldn’t touch it, but then we happen to have a friend of a member who actually had a fund of Bitcoin, so we were able to trade and purchase through him.”

During both of our meetings, Bitencourt leaves the room to take various phone calls. It’s clear that he never switches off.

“I like to be busy and have things to do, and I think that hunger drives our success. If you’re not willing to put in the work, you stagnate. There might be moments where I’m in the gym and I have to answer the phone, then, yes, it’s an inconvenience, but I understand that it’s all for the greater good.

If I have to add to my output at midnight, at the weekend, on a bank holiday, it’s just the way it is.”

So the schedule can be daunting. How about the clientele? “At one event in the south of France, I looked around and everyone in the room was twice my age. Everyone was either a Victoria’s Secret model, an actor or a billionaire. It felt really gratifying to be in a room with all these magnates, tycoons and people of such great influence.”

Surely, at some point though, Bitencourt has experienced a jolt of panic when he’s realised he’s not going to be able to deliver for a client. He sips his cappuccino, defiantly.

“At my level, you never do.”

47

Inside London St Pancras, which underwent a £800 million renovation between 2001 and 2007, © Railway Heritage Trust

An architectural genre with its own rituals and priests, railway stations often go overlooked in discussions pertaining to Britain’s best buildings. But a new book and a string of recent refurbishments have raised the status of these extraordinary feats of engineering Words: JACK WATKINS

The John McAslan concourse at King’s Cross, courtesy of Historic England, from Steven Parissien’s The English Railway Station

You’d scarcely know it from the government’s lacklustre approach to an industrial dispute they’ve permitted to paralyse services in the southeast for more than a year, but this is a glorious new age for train travel.

Recognised as one of the most environmentally sustainable forms of transport, passenger numbers, along with fares you might wryly add, are at peak post-war levels. High-speed locos link London to the continent, and there are plans for another rail corridor from the capital whizzing up to cities in the north. Stations are being polished, refurbished and redesigned with an energy that is summoning parallels with the 19th century’s Golden Age of Steam.

Simon Jenkins, former editor of The Times and former chairman of the National Trust, founded the Railway Heritage Trust in 1985 and has just published an absorbing new book, Britain’s Best 100 Railway Stations. Its subject matter would surely have been celebrated by the poet and writer, Sir John Betjeman, who played a major part in opening the nation's eyes to the glories of old stations in the 1960s.

Having deplored the demolition of the old Euston station and its famous Arch in 1961, Betjeman was on the warpath again in 1966, damning as 'a criminal folly' the then nationalised British Railway’s plans to knock down George Gilbert Scott’s Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras, and to amalgamate the terminus with King’s Cross to create 'a single modern terminal.'

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The destruction of St Pancras never happened, of course. It was Grade I listed as far back as 1967 but, writes Jenkins, who recalls staging a party on the hotel’s dirt-encrusted grand staircase to draw attention to its plight in the early 1980s, 'this did not stop its dereliction.' It looked a basket case until the new century, when the developer Manhattan Lofts and the Marriott hotel chain joined forces. Aided by the relocating of Eurostar from Waterloo, an astonishing transformation was completed by 2007.

According to Jenkins, 'nothing so defines the rebirth of the British station….as the new St Pancras and the opening of its rightly called Renaissance Hotel.' How appropriate that a beautifully realised statue of Betjeman, gazing up in wonderment at William Barlow’s massive, single-span 1860s trainshed roof, is prominently sited close to the platforms, with a pub in his name near the main entrance.

Jenkins hasn’t written a station history book as such, though for the majority of readers it has all the information you’d need. The author’s fluid style seldom disappoints. If you want to go deeper without entering spotter territory, Steven Parissien’s recent The English Railway Station, published by English Heritage in 2014, can also be recommended.

Over 156 pages, Parissien succinctly traces the genesis of early stations, the early entrepreneurs and engineers of the railway mania, and the building of the cathedrals of steam. Both he and Jenkins note that, although the Victorians are usually credited with creating the railway revolution, the first regular steam passenger railway began in the Georgian period. The oldest surviving railway station building, according to Parissien, is at Mitcham in Surrey and dates back to the reign of George III. Jenkins sketches a similar story in brilliantly economic style in two opening chapters, but the majority of the book is given over to his regional exploration of his favourite stations. These include Glasgow Central, Newcastle Central, Liverpool Lime Street, York and Bristol Temple Meads, the smallerscale provincial stations such as Tynecastle and Eastbourne, and the eccentric charms of country stations like Battle, Boxhill and Westhumble, Ribblehead and Goatland.

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

‘Nothing so defines the rebirth of the British station…as the new St Pancras’

| feature |

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None of the other London stations can compete with the almost spiritual impact of Paddington Yet Jenkins admits he’s unable to 'avoid the generalisation that Britain’s finest stations remain the great London termini.' His list of ten 'five star' stations includes four termini in central London, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Paddington and St Pancras. Those at Marylebone, Victoria and Waterloo make it into the top 100.

St Pancras’s avenue of bistros and boutiques have made it a destination in its own right, even for those blasé about its architecture. Jenkins says it’s the one which gives him the greatest thrill of all, though I’d argue that Paddington has best retained its Victorian atmosphere. As Isambard Kingdon Brunel’s masterpiece, it was the terminus of his Great Western Railway (GWR).

Steven Parissien calls Brunel’s Paddington, designed not long after the opening of the Crystal Palace in 1851, as 'the first real cathedral of the Railway Age: it even had transepts.' Jenkins describes it as 'engineering as architecture, architecture as engineering.'

One of the best ways to experience the special ambience of Paddington station is to walk down the side of Platform 1. You pass beneath the balconied, Moorish windows of the former GWR boardroom

52

clockwise from top left King’s Cross main entrance; JR Scott’s Victory Arch war memorial-cum-station entrance at Waterloo, courtesy of Historic England, from Steven Parissien’s The English Railway Station; Liverpool Street, courtesy of Len Green / Shutterstock; windows of the ornate former GWR boardroom at Paddington

which, as Jenkins says, could double as a stage set for Romeo and Juliet, and the enormous old station clock. At the end, steps lead up to a bridge across the tracks to the Underground. Unfortunately, the elevated position offering a view back along the platforms is harder to enjoy now a glass screen has been erected, but there is something highly atmospheric about this place. You can still imagine steam engines belching smoke, and whistles blowing. A diffused light shimmers through the glass panes of the ribbed roof, and there’s an airy quality similar to the glasshouses at Kew. The slender iron columns with their decorative ornamentation sprout like vigorous plants from the platform floor up into the vaults.

None of the other London stations can compete with the almost spiritual impact of Paddngton, not even Liverpool Street now, though the traceried ironwork of its Victorian designer Edward Wilson has long been celebrated. Liverpool Street is another survivor of a demolition threat, this one surfacing in the 1970s. The plans went to a public enquiry, and when the verdict went in the conservationists’ favour,

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| feature |

it was hailed as a triumph equal to the saving of Piccadilly and Covent Garden.

Although much remodelling was carried out to make space for the now much-enjoyed and admired Broadgate complex, the station as it looks today can be seen as an early example of retro-fitting, a remodelling for the modern era, with a major emphasis on space for retail, that shows due respect to the past. Unlike at Paddington, though, you really need to pass beyond the actual ticket barriers to appreciate the full glory of Wilson’s canopy, and the station no longer fits Betjeman’s old description of it as 'the most interesting and picturesque of the London termini.'

No-one’s ever called King’s Cross picturesque. I suspect it is the most popular among architectural purists, though John McAslan’s swirling, white-tubed concourse fan vault, completed in 2009, seems to have delighted everyone, from traditionalists like Jenkins to lovers of the new. King’s Cross’s façade is the most European, modern-looking of all the capital’s big stations, which is remarkable given it was completed in 1852, two years before Paddington, 15 years before St Pancras and 22 years before Liverpool Street.

King's Cross's streamlined look, appropriate enough in the station where the Flying Scotsman took off on its record-breaking trips north, has slipped in and out of fashion. Originally, it was the plain Jane next to its showy and glamorous sister St Pancras.

But 20th-century Modernists approved of its spartan honesty, when St Pancras’s fussy, Disneyland Gothic towers were deemed OTT. Basically, if you wanted to design a railway station to look like a railway station, this is what it should look like.

Marylebone, by contrast, was mocked for its provincial character, its inoffensive red terracotta

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

frontage disparagingly likened to a Manchester branch library, or council offices. In fact, its 'sleepy, suburban air' may come as a blessed relief to outsiders who have never quite adjusted to the capital’s rush and bustle. There’s plenty of the latter at Waterloo and Victoria, the final pair in Jenkins’s London Big Five, but I wonder if they honestly merit inclusion.

Waterloo is Britain’s biggest and busiest station, hosting 94 million passenger journeys a year. Its concourse seems horribly ill-designed for the number of people passing through it. As Jenkins says 'Waterloo is a conveyor belt.' Few who use it can have the space, let alone the time, to admire its architectural appeal which, in any case, seems largely confined to JR Scott’s elaborately sculpted Victory Arch, which is still the main, un-user-friendly, entrance.

Victoria is not much better, and we are really into art ponce territory when Jenkins quotes railway historian Alan Jackson’s description from 1969, referring to the Brighton side of the station as 'redolent of soft, leisured southern counties, with its theatre and racing type, its ageing nouveau riche, its adulterous couples and its Brighton belles.' Jackson had obviously spent too long in the bar. To be fair, Victoria does have a certain cluttered interest, but better are the entries for some of London’s suburban stations, including a lovely, anecdotal one on Battersea Park, with its theatre atrium-style ticket hall, and gorgeous, modernist Surbiton, which looks like an art deco cinema or, as Jenkins says, as if it came from outer space or Los Angeles. This book will be a classic guide to its subject for decades to come.

‘Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations’, £25, Simon Jenkins, Viking; ‘The English Railway Station’, £25, Stephen Parissien, Historic England, both amazon.co.uk

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CITY COLLECTION Tudor has announced Lady Gaga as its new ambassador. The brand sees the pop star as the embodiment of its ‘Born to Dare’ campaign. Gaga will front a series of automatics, including the model seen here: the Heritage Black Bay 41mm. £2,410, tudorwatch.com

Watch News (p.57)

Seiko flexes its muscles with a standalone store in knightsbridge

Set in Stone (p.58)

Harry Winston’s collection pays tribute to its founding father

Jewellery News (p.62)

Gigi Hadid’s Rock and Roll collaboration with Messika

| collection |

Anything Switzerland can do…

Seiko flexes its mechanical muscles with a standalone store in the shadow of Harrods Words: RICHARD BROWN

The star attraction is the ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition

C

onsider the opening of Seiko’s new standalone store as a statement of intent. Better known for its sub-£200 timepieces, this Brompton Road launch is Seiko announcing its luxury credentials – which, in the UK at least, go largely undiscussed.

After one of the summer’s more idiosyncratic boutique openings – during which Jonathan Ross joined brand CEO Shinji Hattori in smashing open a ceremonial barrel of sake – Seiko officially opened its doors in one of the world’s most sought-after patches of retail real estate. Shrewdly, the Japanese giant has sandwiched itself between luxury watch meccas Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Watches of Switzerland.

“My intention in the coming years is that Grand Seiko will scale new heights of watchmaking excellence and commercial success,” said Mr Hattori, during Baselworld 2017. With half of the Knightsbridge premises devoted to Grand Seiko – the top tier in Seiko’s league of timepieces – the store will be instrumental in realising that ambition.

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

While Seiko practically owns the quartz watch scene, the brand’s batterypowered empire was built on deeprooted mechanical foundations. Seiko made its first mechanical timepiece in 1913. In 1968, it created Japan’s first ‘hi-beat’ wristwatch – a timepiece that operated at more than six beats per second. In 1968, the brand became the first to put a vertical clutch and column wheel system into an automatic chronograph. Fast forward to 2014, and Seiko’s Hi-Beat 36000 GMT was named the best watch under £6,000 at the Grand

The ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition, £375,000

Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – a highly coveted category in an awards ceremony more commonly referred to as the Oscars of the watch world.

Seiko’s Brompton Road store follows an opening in NYC’s Madison Avenue and pays homage to the brand’s history by displaying premium models from the Astron, Presage and Prestige collections.

The star attraction, however, is the ultra-thin Fugaku Tourbillon Limited Edition, the first tourbillon movement – and the smallest in the world by volume – from Seiko sub-brand Cedar. Limited to just eight pieces, the extraordinary timepiece features a caseband comprising 43 blue sapphires and a dial and caseback depicting yellow and white gold interpretations of Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

The watch is a masterpiece from three Japanese artists, each recognised by the country’s government as Contemporary Master Craftsmen.

57 Brompton Road, SW3, seiko.co.uk

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SET IN STONE Harry Winston’s new high jewellery collection pays tribute to its founding father’s legacy as the King of Diamonds Words: Olivia Sharpe

“I

f you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth writing or do something worth writing,” said Benjamin Franklin. The question of how we will be remembered when we’re gone has preoccupied humans for centuries. Few of us will make it into the history books, but those who do earn their place for having made a significant impact on the world.

In jewellery, many have made their mark, but one jeweller’s groundbreaking contributions led to him being dubbed the ‘King of Diamonds’ in the 20th century, a moniker that has stuck with him ever since. This was the legendary American jeweller Harry Winston and in honour of its late founder’s enduring legacy, the jewellery house recently unveiled a new collection of one-of-a-kind jewels.

ABOVE Legacy Diamond Ring, 12.34 carats, set in platinum RIGHT A Harry Winston craftsman working on a necklace from the Legacy Collection

Each of the 22 pieces within the Legacy collection features a D-colour, internally flawless centre diamond – a fitting tribute to a man who spent his lifetime unearthing some of the world’s most remarkable stones. From the 726-carat Jonker (the first rough diamond ever to be cut in America) to the 45.52-carat blue Hope Diamond, it has been estimated that Winston owned more than a third of the world’s most coveted diamonds.

Born in 1896, Winston’s place in the jewellery business was cemented from an early age, having grown up working in his father’s jewellery shop. As young as 12, he demonstrated his unique talent for sourcing rare gemstones, discovering a two-carat emerald in a pawn shop, which he bought for 25 cents and then sold two days later for $800. From then on, it was

Legacy has taken three years to complete, thus demonstrating an admirable commitment to perfection, quality and tradition

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onwards and upwards for the ambitious jeweller, who started his business in 1920 and by 1932 had fully established his company with the opening of his first eponymous store in New York.

By the late 1930s, Winston’s reputation as a collector of the world’s rarest stones was undeniable and from this moment on he was forbidden from having his photograph taken by his insurers due to having become such a high security risk.

Instead, his jewels passed through the hands of some of the most illustrious figures of the 20th century, including Jackie Kennedy Onassis (her engagement ring was Harry Winston) and Elizabeth Taylor, who was famously gifted the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton diamond by her husband Richard Burton. (It is little wonder that his other well-known moniker is ‘Jeweller to the Stars’.)

After Harry Winston’s death in 1978, the company continued to create exceptional pieces of jewellery, but it wasn’t until an auction at Christie’s in 2013 that it made history once again with the acquirement of an exceptional 101.73-carat D-colour Flawless, pearshaped diamond – a stone so rare that it was dubbed the Winston Legacy.

Described by Christie’s as “the most perfect diamond ever offered for sale at auction”, the stone reawakened the house’s passion and creativity, underscoring its commitment to perfection and quality at the highest level.

“When we acquired the Winston Legacy Diamond in 2013, we instantly knew that we wanted a way to share its beauty with our audiences around the world, and decided that there was no better way than through a collection of jewels that embody its extraordinary traits – pieces with all D-colored

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internally flawless diamond center stones,” comments Nayla Hayek, Harry Winston’s CEO. “I am incredibly proud of this collection and I think Mr Winston would be as well. When we set off on this journey more than three years ago, we had a vision for the collection; we wanted to create a series of one-of-a-kind jewels that really reflected the heart of the brand and spoke to Mr Winston’s true legacy.”

As Harry Winston said himself, “Nature produces so few perfect stones” and to find the quantity and quality of diamonds needed to create the Legacy collection is almost inconceivable. Once sourced, each stone then had to go through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they all met the house’s exacting standards in terms of colour, clarity and proportions. In total, the Legacy has taken three years to complete, thus demonstrating an admirable commitment to perfection, quality and tradition in today’s fastpaced luxury goods world.

Presented as a number of high jewellery suites, many of the pieces draw reference to signature Harry Winston designs as the designers delved into the house’s historic archives.

The famous Harry Winston cluster motif – created by the late Ambaji Shinde (responsible for many of Harry Winston’s iconic designs) in the 1940s, who was inspired by a holly wreath – has cropped up again and again in Harry Winston collections. It is characterised by its clever arrangement of pear- and marquise-shaped diamonds and reappears in Legacy in a pair of exquisite pear-shaped diamond earrings totalling more than six carats.

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left Legacy Diamond PearShaped Drop Earrings, 16.96 carats, set in platinum all other images: Making the Legacy Collection at the Harry Winston workshop on 5th Avenue

Of course, it is the innate simplicity of each piece that makes it quintessentially Harry Winston. Its late founder strongly believed that the stones should always come first when it came to a jewellery piece’s design, as Hayek explains: “Harry Winston believed that the beauty of a diamond should speak for itself. His signature aesthetic was to place diamonds at the forefront of designs in order to create fluid, more graceful jewels that highlighted the innate brilliance of its diamond center stones.” This has been captured in the collection’s 11 necklaces, which have been meticulously sculpted in invisible platinum in order to maximise the diamonds’ brilliance. One of the renowned designers responsible for capturing this fluidity in each piece was the late Maurice Galli, who worked with the house for many years up until his death last year.

Despite there having been much talk about this collection within the luxury jewellery circuit, Harry Winston has remained fairly discreet about its latest high jewellery collection and even forbade all press photography in the run up to its unveiling. While this may be unheard of in the public world of social media, it seems entirely fitting for a house whose founder allowed his pieces to speak for themselves.

The Legacy collection has been designed for a modern woman who truly appreciates quality, craftsmanship and rarity, but who is also not afraid to be noticed. As Harry Winston put it, “People will stare. So make it worth their while.”

Legacy collection, POA, 171 New Bond Street, W1S, harrywinston.com

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

astron. the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first gps solar watch.

As Novak Djokovic travels the world, his Astron GPS Solar keeps him on time, adjusting automatically to his time zone at the touch of a button and using just the power of light.

With dual-time display, Astron is simply the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest GPS Solar watch.

*If there are changes in the region / time zone, manual time zone selection may be required.

For stockists call: 01628 770988 | www.seiko-astron.com

| collection |

Snake charmer

Glitter like Gigi

For her first foray into jewellery, Gigi Hadid has partnered with Messika on a contemporary collection of diamond bracelets, chokers and ear cuffs, reflective of the brand’s signature rock and roll aesthetic. “Gigi is the embodiment of the brand,” says Valérie Messika. “She is spontaneous, sunny and bright.”

The Messika by Gigi Hadid collection from £730, messika.com

Chelsea-based Pia Hallstrom is known for her playful 18-carat gold and diamond motifs, fashioned into whimsical lettering and sapphire-studded necklaces that resemble strings of bunting. Our favourite piece this season is the serpent ring, finished with piercing ruby eyes.

From £585, piahallstrom.com

jewellery Words: mhairi graham

Shades of change

Golden anniversary

This month, Pomellato rings in its 50th anniversary with the Ritratto collection. One-of-a-kind designs demonstrate the Italian jeweller’s innovative knack for crafting unconventional semi-precious stones, such as tiger’s eye, red jasper and vibrant verdite.

POA, pomellato.com

Usher in the new season with Marco Bicego’s collection of vivid jewels in warm autumnal hues.

Exotic gemstones, elegantly strung on an 18-carat gold chain, evoke falling leaves on a crisp October day.

Autumn Paradise by Marco Bicego, from £1,850, marcobicego.com

JEWELS OF JAIPUR

Deck your ears with Amrapali’s glittering baubles, encrusted with gemstones, diamonds and pearls.

Inspired by Jaipur’s exotic flowers, the vibrant new collection beautifully exemplifies the Indian jeweller’s east-meets-west aesthetic.

From £3,000, exclusive to net-a-porter.com

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giovanniraspini.com

5, South Molton Street - London LONDON MILAN ROME FLORENCE VENICE MONTE CARLO

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

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

www.lilouetloic.com

CITY style Collaborating for a third and final collection, Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik unveil So Stoned, a collection of bejewelled sandals. These PVC knee-high gladiator sandals, featuring multi coloured Swarovski crystal detailing, are the star of the show, in our opinion.

Poison Ivy shoes, ÂŁ1,736, manoloblahnik.com

Flick through fashion (p.66)

style bibles for your coffee table, from ysl to barbie to kate spade

away with the fairies (p.68) from sheet to streets: How To pull off Pyjamas As Daywear

joshua kane (p.82)

delve into the mysterious world of the newest dandy in town

flick through fashion The à la mode books to have on your coffee table this autumn Words: BETHAN REES

The Art of @BarbieStyle

With 1.8million Instagram followers, at the time of writing, the @BarbieStyle account was bound to have its own book soon enough.

The Instagram account is a run by Barbie’s director of design Robert Best, and Zlatan Zukanovic, who serves as the creative and photography lead for the account. It showcases Barbie being a modernday social influencer, documenting her trips around the world and the book is a collection of the highlights.

The carefully curated images are a joy to look at, and this book shows that Barbie is the OG of ‘It girls’.

The Art of @BarbieStyle, by Barbie, £38, published by Assouline, out now,

ENGLISH MYTHS & LEGENDS

British designer Alice Temperley MBE is known for her contemporary bohemian-style designs, and a new book is celebrating her muchcoveted clothing, highlighting key moments that have inspired the last decade of work with a focus on personal moments.

With images from photoshoots and fashion editorials, English Myths and Legends gives an in-depth behind her decadent designs which are loved by the masses; from Poppy Delevingne to the Duchess of Cambridge.

English Myths and Legends, by Alice Temperley, £45, published

by Rizzoli New York, out now, rizzoliusa.com

assouline.com

ALL BARBIE IMAGES © Mattel

Yves Saint Laurent and model Amalia backstage at the spring/ summer 2000 haute couture show, Inter-Continental hotel, Paris, January 2000. © Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, Paris/All Rights Reserved

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| STYLE |

Photography by Photofest © 2017 Kate Spade, LLC

Grace Coddington: The American Vogue Years

In January 2016, Grace Coddington stepped down as creative director of American Vogue after a 30 year stretch. This 400page doorstopper book contains images from her work in the magazine, from 2002 until now. The book includes a foreword by actress Saoirse Ronan, an introduction by Annie Leibovitz and an essay from former fashion editor at Vanity Fair and The New Yorker Michael Roberts. The tome chronicles her collaborations with some of the world’s most accomplished photographers such as Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and she provides personal tales from behind the scenes at the shoots, starring models, actors, artists and celebrities.

A visually striking book from a true fashion legend.

Grace Coddington: The American Vogue Years, by Grace Coddington, £125, published by Phaidon, out now, uk.phaidon.com Tim Walker. Kate Moss in Alexander McQueen; headpiece, Julien d’Ys); hair, Julien d’Ys; make-up, Stéphane Marais; set design, Andy Hillman; Paris, April 2012. Courtesy of The Condé Nast Publications

Kate Spade New York: She

The fourth book in the She series from American brand Kate Spade New York, this volume aims to bring readers back to the brand’s style roots, honouring its muses that inspire the designs seen on the rails of over 400 stores worldwide. The creative directors at the label created this book to pay tribute to the most vibrant women of America such as activist Gloria Steinem, national treasure Marilyn Monroe and fictional star Cher Horowitz from Clueless.

With photography, quotes, profiles, amusing anecdotes and personal essays, this book is a coffee table bible for the modern woman.

Kate Spade New York: SHE: muses, visionaries and madcap heroines, by Kate Spade New York, £30, published by Abrams, released 10 October, abramsbooks.com Photography by Luis Monteiro © 2017 Kate Spade, LLC

Yves Saint Laurent Accessories

“One can never overstate the importance of accessories.

They are what turn a dress into something else. I like dresses to be sober and accessories to be wild,” said the esteemed Yves Saint Laurent in 1977. This October, French writer Patrick Mauriès pays homage to the fashion designer’s jewellery, hats, belts, gloves, shoes and handbags in a stunning book published by Phaidon.

From his shoes designed with Roger Vivier for the Mondrian dress to his Braque-inspired bird-shaped earrings alongside less-known designs, this compelling survey is the only book to focus exclusively on Saint Laurent’s rarely documented couture accessories.

Yves Saint Laurent Accessories, by Patrick Mauriès, £39.95, published by Phaidon, released 2 October, uk.phaidon.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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Words: bethan rees

From the sheets to the streets; making pyjamas acceptable outside the house

Away with the fairies

| STYLE |

A. P rinted twill pyjama shirt, £1,150, printed twill pyjama trousers, £975, Valentino, valentino.com onny washed silk shirt, £250, B. S Equipment, net-a-porter.con C. Wool shawl-collar jacket, £1,430, Etro, etro.com D. Floral-print silk satin twill pyjama set, £1,335, Prada, matchesfashion.com E. Lelantos floral-print velvet robe, £1,725, F.R.S For Restless Sleepers, net-a-porter.com

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

Words: bethan rees

CITY SKIN

Build up your skin barrier to daily pollutants with these protective products

| BEAUTY |

1. F lash Defence Anti-Pollution Mist, £24, REN Skincare, renskincare.com 2. City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturiser, £65, Murad, murad.co.uk 3. City Miracle CC Cream, £31.50, Lancôme, lancome.co.uk 4. Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart, £55, Elizabeth Arden, elizabetharden.co.uk 5. Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque, £29, Kiehl’s, kiehls.co.uk 6. Overnight Detox Oil, £30, Caudalie, uk.caudalie.com

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Bomber with quilted body, £2,180, cashmere turtleneck, £1,090, black leather hiking boots, £855, Ermenegildo Zegna Couture, zegna.co.uk; Trousers, £390, Corneliani, corneliani.com; Leather backpack, £1,655, Versace, versace.com

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| xxxx |

Come to the dark side; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about leather, shearling and cashmere this winter Photography: Phillip waterman styling: david hawkins

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Charcoal pinstripe double-breasted suit, £650, black knit jumper, £115, coat £595, Hardy Amies, hardyamies.com; Black leather Oxford shoes, £670, J.M. Weston, jmweston.fr/en

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| xxxx |

Double-breasted black coat, £1,125, blazer, £1,050, cashmere jumper £1,050, Corneliani, as before; Navy wool trousers, £200, Gieves & Hawkes, gievesandhawkes.com

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Charcoal trousers, £265, navy coat, £1,150, Dunhill, dunhill.com; Boots, £450, Corneliani, as before

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Dark green shearling blouson jacket, ÂŁ1,995, dark brown cashmere turtleneck jumper, ÂŁ375, Gieves & Hawkes, as before

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Kent overcoat, £580, Austin shirt, £125, Markus Lupfer, markuslupfer.com; Hat, £135, Corneliani, as before

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Hat, £205, Laird Hatters, lairdlondon.co.uk; Black brushed wool coat, £2,050, camel hair scarf, £320, Helbers, helbers.fr; Navy T-shirt, £160, Dunhill, as before

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| xxxx |

Turtleneck jumper, ÂŁ375, burgundy wool windowpane suit, ÂŁ995, Gieves & Hawkes, as before GROOMING: John Christopher @ Terri Manduca MODEL: Jake Smith @ Models 1 PHOTO ASSISTANT: Richard Parsons

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO: London Museum of Water & Steam in west London.

Housed within the former Grand Junction Waterworks, the Museum tells the story of how London received its water supply throughout the ages. Built in 1838, the site was responsible for providing clean and safe drinking water to millions of Londoners until 1944.

Whatever event you are planning, the Museum offers itself as a venue unlike any other.

For more information, call 020 3728 4971 or email hire@waterandsteam.org.uk

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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Words: David Taylor

Your monthly sartorial meeting

The Style Brief

Scotch & Soda A/W17 Scotch & Soda’s latest collection takes its inspiration from hometown Amsterdam’s Shipping House, an archetypal piece of ‘Amsterdam School’ architecture. The design of the building, and the characters within, go through the collection, including the Explorer’s coat, with technical detailing, quilted fabric inspired by the explorer’s blanket, and insideout, double layering. scotch-soda.com

Z i mme rl i Luxury Swiss underwear brand Zimmerli has released its A/W17 collection for men and women. Since 1871, the brand has handmade all of its products in Switzerland, but the new collection cuts a more contemporary figure, and has launched in Harrods, Selfridges and online at Mr Porter and Zimmerli’s own website. zimmerli.com

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Boss made to measure

To extend its made-to-measure offering, Boss now supplies the service for shoes and belts, for the complete look. It rolls out in the flagship Regent Street store this month. hugoboss.com

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| style |

Tale of two coats The sportswear brands taking on the tailored world

Colour inspired by the Bavarian flag

COLMAR originals jacket Colmar was founded in Monza in February 1923, making felt hats, but moved to sportswear post-WWII. This collection adds a tailored element to sport fabrics, making it perfect for the urban environment. £725, colmar.it

Adidas X Henry Poole

Lightweight and waterproof fabric

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Savile Row stalwart Henry Poole and German sportswear giant Adidas have collaborated on an exclusive fabric. The fabric has been made by Fox Brothers, the originator of Prince of Wales check and the first cricket whites. Only 50 bespoke suits will be made from the ‘bluebird blue’ fabric at Henry Poole HQ: 15 Savile Row. henrypoole.com

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MR

Joshua Kane

Joshua Kane

He’s the ex-footballing tailor who sells out fashion events at the London Palladium. Meet Joshua Kane – designer, director and all-round raconteur Words: DAVID TAYLOR

J

oshua Kane dreams big. His two boyhood passions were football and clothes. Having played in goal for Fulham FC until the age of 20, his pursuit of a career in the Premier League went further than most. Last month, during London Fashion Week, Kane sold out a show at the London Palladium, his footballing past now eclipsed by a career in tailoring.

After retiring from football, Kane won the chance to work at Brooks Brothers’ design studio in New York before moving on to be assistant designer at Jaeger, Porsum designer at Burberry and senior designer at Paul Smith. He then started his own studio in the sitting room of his flat.

In less than three years, his brand has morphed from a front room via LFW into a standalone store in Fitzrovia.

This is the rise of Joshua Kane, in his own words...

The fashion world

“I was never a fashion person. I hate that exclusive, fashionista-style world.

The further I entered it, the more I fell in love with the design aspect. I was always taught that tailoring is like sculpture.

Anyone can access it – it doesn’t mean you’re going to buy that sculpture for £250,000, or that suit for £1,500, but you should still be able to enjoy it on a level other than just retail.

It’s only fucking clothes. We’re only making clothes, for people to buy, and people to enjoy. It’s enjoyment out of

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physical things – nothing more than that.

What I’ve always wanted to do is create stories, in the same way that you watch a film and the next morning still have flashbacks. I wanted to create something you can build on rather than a collection being over; the story of my characters evolve – there’s something to keep going back to.

The idea of trends in fashion is bollocks. Absolute bollocks. People like different things; famous people are maybe wearing more tracksuits, but that’s just what’s being thrown at your face in pictures. You’ve still got people who love tailoring, who buy four or five suits at a time.”

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| STYLE |

Risk Taking

“I’ve been super lucky to work with the likes of Sir Paul Smith and Christopher Bailey, which was really inspiring.

However, while I was at Paul Smith, I had a really bad day and quit my job as senior designer. I panicked – I didn’t know how I was going to pay my mortgage. I called a couple of interns and said I had a job.

They thought it was at Paul Smith, and I said, ‘well, come to this address’.

I gutted my house overnight. I cleared out my living room, set up my mannequins and machines, and said, ‘We’re going to start Joshua Kane Bespoke. We’re going to make suits. I’m a trained tailor: I can make a suit in a month, but now I’m going to have to make one every nine days.’

I had a bunch of business cards from three years of parties, where I’d be dressed in my own suits and be asked where I get them. I made up an assistant’s name, sent out loads of emails, booked in appointments, and within about 12 days Russell Brand turned up and said, ‘I’ve heard about your suits. I really want one for the stage.’ We did loads for him, and this August we finished his wedding suit.”

“Russell Brand turned up and said, ‘I’ve heard about your suits. I really want one for the stage.’

Kane as director

In the run up to September’s spectacle at the Palladium, Kane directed three short films, setting the agenda for both his show and the new collection. The shorts, starring Asa Butterfield [ from the film Hugo], served as a dramatic teaser in the weeks preceding the show.

“I’ve caught the bug. It’s a creative outlet.

It’s a fresh perspective. People don’t know how clothes move when they direct, but I do. I understand proportion, silhouette, movement of fabric, and how you can create dramatic, beautiful moments. I would love to do a feature-length version.

It was all filmed here [in his studio] in six hours. We green-screened the back wall, and built battlements to interact with. Asa [Butterfield] is a friend of mine, and an amazing actor. His last film was the lead in a Tim Burton movie, and he stepped into my basement to be directed by an absolute first-timer. It couldn’t be any more rogue! But that’s why he did it.

He loved how crazy my ideas were.”

Maverick Encounters

As part of Charles Heidsieck Champagne’s Maverick Encounters series – which sees the Champagne house identify a series of modernday mavericks who embody the spirit of its founder – Kane is inviting 20 people into his store to learn what it takes to be a top tailor.

For the chance of joining Joshua Kane, or to find out more about other future Encounters, visit maverickencounters.com

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Words: ROB CROSSAN

Is a facial treatment something a man should ever own up to having?

THE ACE FACE

review

COWSHED AT THE NED, EC2R

S

o what is your current skincare regime?” asks Justina at the Cowshed spa, located in the lower echelons of the vastness of The Ned, the members’ club, restaurant, hotel and spa so vast that a trail of breadcrumbs ( from fresh Poilâne bread, of course) is needed to find one’s way around.

I stumble for a response, thinking only of my shower at home and the bar of Imperial Leather sitting on the shelf.

“Does soap and water count?” I ask, feeling every inch like a Victorian dad being quizzed about the new Kendrick Lamar album.

“Well, it’s a start,” Justina replies diplomatically.

Much as the post metrosexual age has filtered down to male City-dwellers to the point where saunas and massages no longer hold any fears in terms of masculine threats, the facial is still regarded slightly differently.

There’s the stigma of something suspiciously New Age, and pseudospiritual about it. Or perhaps the negative potency still lingers of that hackneyed image of cucumbers over the

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eyes and creams that smell of jasmine and nettles slathered across your face.

Either way, add stubble into the mix and you have an experience that makes many men (including me) recoil.

Hence why, at The Ned, the Fire and Ice treatment has been created with the emphasis on fast-acting, visible results rather than too much ‘healing’ mumbo jumbo. Over the course of 50 awesomely soporific minutes, my skin was ‘resurfaced’, though with more subtlety than the usual concrete A-road overhaul.

Starting with a cleansing complex, the second step is a tingle-inducing, intensive resurfacing mask (the fire part), which includes glycolic acid and retinol. This is followed by a cooling mask, which hydrates the skin.

Then a moisturising serum is

applied before my grateful and glowing face is treated with iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30.

Cowshed claims that this facial reduces fine lines, address problematic skin and encourages cellular renewal.

And, 48 hours on, I’m inclined to agree.

My pores feel and look smaller, my skin feels tighter and the burgeoning bags under my eyes genuinely do seem to have substantially beaten back.

But perhaps the best thing about Cowshed at The Ned is that, like an increasing number of spas in the Square Mile, the environs of these places are becoming distinctly more gender neutral. Robes are grey and hooded, rather than skimpy, white and barely knee length. The décor is flock wallpaper and wood, more gastropub than hotel spa in tone.

But most importantly of all, my presence in there as a man with stubble who doesn’t look like a pumped-up gym buff is, very clearly, nothing out of the ordinary.

My face is feeling the benefits. And, crucially, my innate sense of ‘bloke’ is still, for better or worse, fully intact.

Fire and Ice facial, £160, Cowshed at The Ned, 27 Poultry, EC2R, 020 3828 2000, thened.com

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Words: David Taylor

Brush it off

1. Chatsworth barley silver tip shaving brush, £124, Edwin Jagger, edwinjagger.co.uk 2. Traditional safety razor in gold, €50 (approx. £44), Mühle, muehle-shaving.com 3. Beard comb, £30, Tom Ford, tomford.com 4. Arlington shaving bowl and soap, £23.50, D R Harris, mrporter.com 5. Aventus aftershave moisturiser, £85, Creed, creedfragrances.co.uk

A good shave can be a real treat, as long as you have the right tools for the job

| GROOMING |

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THE LATEST ISSUE OF

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out of office Roland Hagenberg photographs Jean-Michel Basquiat painting in 1983. This month, go beyond the Basquiat you thought you knew at the Barbican Art Gallery, for the first large-scale exhibition in the UK, titled Boom For Real.

Until 28 January 2018, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, barbican.org.uk.

Photo: ŠRoland Hagenberg

Grand TOurs (p.88)

classic car Rallying between the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most dramatic destinations

enigmatic visions (p.94)

jean dubuffet and jean-michel basquiat exhibit in london

inside india (p.99)

the legacy of empire, 70 years after independence

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Photo by Martin Crosta on the Rally Round South American Challenge 2013

| motoring |

A new breed of touring company is allowing classic car owners the chance of rallying between the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exhilarating destinations Words: David Williams

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BOTH IMAGES Photo by Martin Crosta on the Rally Round South American Challenge 2013

In 2018, Rally Round Africa will see participants rumble through the beautiful landscapes, cultures and wildlife of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa 90

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| motoring |

When Liz Wenman flew to a remote region of Japan to lead a glittering expedition of 50 priceless automobiles – and 100 demanding veteran car buffs – her packing list may well have raised an eyebrow or two at Customs.

As well as the usual hats, shoes, sunscreen and camera gear – and reading more like a garage inventory than the typical 50-something lady’s travel essentials – it included a fuel siphon pump, grease gun, axle stands ( folding), ratchet straps, sacking ( for traction) and ground sheets ( for fluid leaks). She expected each of her guests to follow suit.

Liz is the founder of Rally Round, one of a number of little-known organisations vying to offer the ultimate dream for classic car enthusiasts: hours of unadulterated driving pleasure in thrilling locations while enjoying the finer things in life with like-minded enthusiasts. And all of it meticulously organised – by someone else.

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Search online and you’ll find motorised adventures to suit most pockets, as organisers struggle to keep up with rising demand from classic car owners no longer happy simply to gaze at their valuable acquisitions in air-conditioned garages or secure lock-ups, but ‘campaign’ them around the world.

At the top of the market are once-in-a-lifetime trips such as Rally Round’s £32,000, four-week spectacular for 35 cars and 70 guests in Africa, catering to the whims of captains of industry, Lotto winners and the plain wealthy. In 2018, Rally Round Africa will see participants rumble through the beautiful landscapes, cultures and wildlife of Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland and South Africa, on a 4,160-mile route from Dar es Salaam to Cape Town that – say the organisers – “features everything from lush forests to awesome deserts, fertile vineyards, vibrant cities, legendary coastlines and fabulous game reserves”.

There will even be ‘regularity’ sections and the occasional autotest to keep participants on their toes as they drive, against the clock, around cones, away from public roads. With the emphasis on ‘experiences money can’t buy’, participants will enjoy safari stays in ‘fabulous lodges and hotels’ and dine in high style, too.

Rival organisation The Endurance Rally Association offers similar levels of luxury but with the added edge of competitive, hard-driving rally sections that, on occasion, have pushed man, woman and machine close to the limits, in locations stretching from the empty plains of South Africa, the sands of the Sahara Desert to Dakar, across America and from London to China.

The feather in ERA’s cap is the legendary, exotic Peking to Paris run that takes to the roads again in 2019, costing £53,000 for two people (excluding flights and car shipping fees but including accommodation, food and support both before and during the rally). It will attract the owners of some of the finest historic cars worldwide as they follow in the tracks of the original pioneers of 1907 who – against all the odds – battled

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LEFT Photo by Peter Hall on the Rally Round Road to Mandalay 2014 BOTTOM RIGHT Photo by Alberto Cosi on the Rally Round Tiger Rally 2012 ALL OTHER IMAGES Photos by Martin Crosta on the Rally Round South American Challenge 2013

9,317 miles, following a challenge thrown down by Paris newspaper Le Matin.

Claimed to be the ‘longest and toughest driving challenge for vintage and classic cars’, the 2019 event will attract 100 competitors who will – in vehicles including a 1926 Bentley Tourer and 1956 Porsche 356A – drive an average of 250 miles a day over sand, gravel and stunning roads, staying variously in top hotels and under canvas in the deserts of Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

“The ability to carry out regular maintenance on your own car is essential,” warn the organisers, who have arranged more than 60 similar events in over 50 different countries since the 1980s, giving birth to the historic rally movement.

The exciting world of classic touring, or rallying, isn’t just for the super-wealthy, however. There are now a number of firms offering more accessible adventures.

Even at the more modest end of the market, on the £1,285-per-head ‘Classic Days’ six-day tour, for instance, participants head to the atmospheric

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| motoring |

racing circuit of Magny-Cours, 160 miles south of Paris, under the stewardship of ‘Classic Grand Touring’. Other tours lined up by the firm, based at East Horsley in Surrey, are the £2,595-per-head, 11-night ‘Driving tour to the Mille Miglia’ run, taking participants through France and Switzerland to Italy, where they will take in “the very best bits of the dramatic Mille Miglia”.

Another company arranging tours – some closer to home and without the need for ferries, a passport or transportation fees (it costs around £6,500 to ship a car from England to Japan) – is Classic Travelling, which offers groups of 15-20 cars three-night escorted tours of the ‘Classic Cotswolds’ from £795 per head, and four-day tours of the ‘Yorkshire Moors and Dales’ from £960 per person.

Based in Monxton, Hampshire, Classic Travelling’s founder, Sarah Dowding, has extensive experience of touring, having driven more than 400,000 miles over what she says are “the finest roads in Europe, North America, and southern Africa”.

Like most firms selling dreams in this arena, planning is key. Even UK packages include detailed route maps, hotels, meals and attractions en route, taking weeks or months to set up. Grander trips, such as Rally Round’s £26,500, 22-day 2017 adventure to the exotic Wakayama region of Japan took two years of assiduous preparation.

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“That’s what it takes when you’re arranging money-can’t-buy experiences, like joining monks for morning prayers on holy Mount Koya, sleeping in sacred temples, or enjoying exclusive, little-seen geisha performances,” says Liz Wenman.

It’s also about creating memories.

Each of Liz’s clients will return home with a professionally produced film and photo album, commemorating highlights along the way.

So, why are these trips flourishing?

“It’s wonderful to own a cherished car,” explains Classic Grand Touring’s Thomas Brimblecombe who, this year, is planning a Goldfinger-themed experience in the Swiss Alps, complete with attendance by Bond Girl Tilly Masterton – aka actress Tania Mallet – and a sensational drive along the famous Furka Pass that starred in the film.

“When you’ve polished the car and shown it off at the club, what next?

How better to enjoy it than to head off into the unknown, with similarly minded enthusiasts?”

According to Thomas, 36, his tours are proving popular with retired enthusiasts as well as younger classic car owners and couples seeking a holiday with a difference – with all the mind-numbing arrangements made for them.

All comers, however, have one thing in common: a taste for motorised adventure and friendship.

“We love it when we have a broad sweep of people and cars,” says Thomas. “That’s when, most of all, it prompts questions, conversation, and even rivalry, late into the night. It’s great fun.”

Adds Liz: “The cars, the excitement and the adventure are, of course, central, but there’s more to it than that. We have a very high return rate from people who previously enjoyed a trip with us, because it’s also highly sociable.

“People make lasting friendships all around the world. Our clients often keep in touch and reunite on future adventures. In what other walk of life could something this special ever occur?” rallyround.co.uk; endurorally.com; classicgt.co.uk; classictravelling.com

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Enigmatic n mid-century New York an artist obsessed with expressing authentic truth becomes celebrated in part for the authenticity he himself represents. It makes him a star and he goes on to create a lifetime of important work.

And then it happens again. This time, however, the artist has set out to become celebrated for his authenticity, and when in due course he is placed on a pedestal, the experience is so overwhelming that it kills him.

For Jean Dubuffet, the experience came at the right time, and his authenticity set him on a path to worldwide fame. For Jean-Michel Basquiat, the pressures of representing the authentic artist figure seem likely to have contributed to his untimely death. Now in a rare occurrence, two London exhibitions of the work of these artists are on show simultaneously, and they provide a window to understand the concerns, and the lives, of two extraordinary men.

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| art |

visions

Two artists, two minds, two fates. This month London plays host to exhibitions of two cherished artists – Jean Dubuffet and Jean-Michel Basquiat – the latter who is often credited as the protégé of the former Words: HANNAH AND MARK HAYES-WESTALL

Jean Dubuffet Jean Dubuffet was an artist obsessed with authentic expression. Born in 1901, he lived through some of the most traumatic scenes in Europe’s history, by the time of his arrival at art school in Paris. He dropped out, spending time hanging out with a crowd of artists who went on to be known as the School of Paris (a movement including Henri Matisse and Pierre Bonnard.

The sudden death of his father meant he was obliged to return to his hometown, the port city of Le Havre, and manage the family business – Dubuffet was born into a bourgeois family of wine merchants. By the time he was able to return to art, World War Two was in full swing. He was determined to create meaningful art that expressed directly and purely the depth of a person.

Dubuffet’s interest in authentic expression led him to embrace the world of art created by the untrained, non-professional artist, the work of psychiatric patients, criminals and children. He labelled this Art Brut (now often referred to as Outsider Art), and amassed a huge collection, now resident within the Art Brut Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

He felt that the simple life of the human being encompassed more art than did academic art. He found the latter to be isolating, dull and pretentious. This captured the attitude to art making that this represented to him and his work, and he summed this up in his 1946 book Prospectus Aux Amateurs De Tout Genre.

“It is the man in the street whom I feel closest to, with whom I want to make friends and enter into confidence, and he is the one I want to please and enchant by means of my work.”

He began to mix paint with a wide range of materials – mud, sand, pebbles, pieces of glass, string, straw and tar, waiting for the mixture to dry before scratching marks into the dried paste. The resulting images,

both childlike and psychologically intense, attracted divided reactions, but when the influential art dealer Pierre Matisse (son of the artist of the same name) included Dubuffet in a show of work in New York alongside world-famous artists including Picasso and Braque, he became an immediate success.

To an American modern art world still finding its feet, a member of the Parisian art world establishment (the School of Paris no less) presenting anti-establishment work in some ways validated the homegrown Abstract Expressionism movement, with its focus on authentic self-expression of the psyche. Dubuffet’s work acted as a connector between the compositions of artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning and the European tradition.

Dubuffet’s works were acclaimed, and he developed a very active collector base in the US, enabling him to move to a large studio and home in Vence in the south of France, and later a large home in Paris, where he continued to work until his death aged 86.

In the late 1970s, Dubuffet’s New York gallerist, Arne Glimcher of Pace Gallery would regularly receive new works from the artist, and every time he did, a skinny young club kid would come into the gallery for a closer look.

“It is the man in the street whom I feel closest to, with whom I want to make friends”

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FROM L-R Les données de I’instant (1977) by Jean Dubuffet . Acrylic on glued paper mounted on canvas (31 sections), 140 cm x 195 cm; Passants pressés (1979) by Jean Dubuffet. Acrylic on canvasbacked paper (12 sections) , 50.5 cm x 26.5 cm; Localisation (1975) by Jean Dubuffet. Acrylic on glued paper mounted on canvas (11 sections), 249 cm x 102 cm; Les commentaires (1978), by Jean Dubuffet. Acrylic on glued paper mounted on canvas (30 sections), 140 cm x 204 cm ALL IMAGES © ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2017

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Jean-Michel Basquiat Jean-Michel Basquiat is now arguably more famous than the artist who inspired him so much (and indeed one of his works was sold this May for $110.5 million (setting a new record high for any US artist at auction and also the sixth-highest auction price for any painting in world history). It seems likely that a good part of the success he enjoyed in his short life was achieved with an eye on the strategy that served Dubuffet so well.

By the time of his death in 1988 aged just 27, Basquiat was one of the most famous artists in the world, a creative partner and close friend of Andy Warhol who had become a sensation at the tender age of 20.

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Basquiat is now arguably more famous than the artist who inspired him

A wild, creative child from a solidly middleclass background in Brooklyn, the young Basquiat had attended private schools and arts-focused high schools before leaving school, and home, aged just 17 and immersing himself in the broiling creative tumult of New York’s Lower East Side, telling anyone who wanted to hear that he would become a famous artist.

A regular at legendary clubs like Mudd and MK, Basquiat graffitied, DJ’d, played in bands, presented cable TV shows, produced albums and starred in films about himself, all the while hanging out with a group of fellow creatives including performer Patti Astor, musicians Debbie Harry and Chris Stein from the band Blondie, artist Keith Haring, and rising hip-hop star Fab 5 Freddy.

With an artistic style now referred to as Neo-Expressionist, Basquiat’s art used the quest for authentic expression of the self as a springboard to engage in social commentary around subjects including

power structures, systems of racism and class struggle, and in its simplicity the work stood apart from the style of art then dominating New York’s art scene.

By the late ’70s, the Big Apple art world had become hugely successful, with ‘white cube’ galleries in SoHo full of Conceptual and Minimalist art and people whom Astor referred to as “just these horrible, horrible SoHo people”. Basquiat’s work, along with that of artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Francesco Clemente and Georg Baselitz, was read as a reaction against Conceptual art, rigidly abstract art, and the lack of imagery from either natural or art historical sources that typified both styles.

It was something new, and something radical, and Basquiat was soon selling works for huge sums, a bona fide celebrity appearing on the covers of magazines wearing his trademark paint-splattered Armani suits and no shoes.

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| art |

example of a new kind of artist. Made a celebrity by acting as the avatar for the aspirations of a whole subculture, he found himself in a role that took a huge emotional toll to play.

By the end of his life he was a serious heroin addict who was starting to freebase (injecting a mix of heroin and cocaine) and spending more than £2,000 a week on cocaine and pot. A high school friend speaking after his death recalled him ‘nodding out’, high on heroin at smart restaurants, while sycophants explained it away as Basquiat being a real artist, and few seeing beyond the ‘authenticity’ they wanted to see an artist show, to the desperation of the young man at the centre of the social whirl.

The skill and power of Basquiat’s work is undeniable, as is that of Dubuffet. Both artists provoke thought using a powerful emotional appeal, engaging with the OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP Untitled (1982), by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Courtesy Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Photo: Studio Tromp, Rotterdam; Untitled (Pablo Picasso) (1984)

by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Private collection, Italy; Self Portrait (1984) by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Private collection THIS PAGE, FROM TOP Jean-Michel Basquiat dancing at the Mudd Club, 1979. © Nicholas Taylor ‘LIKE AN IGNORANT EASTER SUIT’, Jean-Michel Basquiat on the set of Downtown 81. © New York Beat Film LLC. By permission of The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Photo: Edo Bertoglio; Glenn (1984) by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Private collection; Rammellzee vs. K-Rob Beat Bo’ vinyl record, 1983, with cover artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Courtesy Jennifer Von Holstein. Photo: Justin Piperger ALL ARTWORK IMAGES © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Licensed by Artestar, New York

the two artists Dubuffet was 42 when he decided to re-engage with the art world, 46 when he first became celebrated, and as his subsequent work shows, a devoted explorer of his ideas. A new exhibition at Pace London shows one of the artist’s last works. It’s a thrilling piece that explores the internal world of perception, and through it our ability to perceive the truth of any image, on a scale so large that, in his eighties and suffering from osteoporosis and unable to work from a ladder for hours at a time, he completed it in hundreds of paper sections, collaging them together onto canvas.

At almost the same time Dubuffet was experiencing a last creative surge, Basquiat, the champion of the crowd just out of his teens, was being held up as the

SEE THE WORKs Jean Dubuffet: Théâtres de mémoire (1975-1979) Until 21 October 2017 Pace London 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S pacegallery.com

viewer on an essential level, but providing space for intellectual reflection beyond simple feelings. Whilst the Pace London gallery will show Dubuffet, celebrating a 50-year relationship with the artist that has continued with his estate, the Barbican Art Gallery is hosting one of the largest retrospectives of Basquiat’s work.

With most Basquiats in private hands, it’s a rare opportunity for Londoners to see the parallels between these artists’ work and their approaches, and to consider the value of ‘authenticity’.

Basquiat: Boom for Real Untill 28 Jan 2018 Barbican Art Gallery Barbican Centre Silk Street, EC2Y barbican.org.uk

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travel special

inside india “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the greatgrandmother of tradition.”

– Mark Twain, American writer

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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INDIA UPDATE The latest and greatest news from hotels in the Asain subcontinent, from spas to renovated beachfront villas Words: BETHAN REES

a balancing act

Amanbagh, the Aman outpost in Rajasthan, is offering four- to 21-night Ayurvedic Immersion programmes for guests to find balance in their lives. The programme is tailored to the guest depending on what dosha type (mind-body type) they are, working in Ayurvedic spa therapies, meals, expert yoga and meditation classes.

From £2,653 for one person for four nights, aman.com

did you know?

India was once an island, over than 100 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It had broken off from an ancient supercontinent referred to as Gondwanaland

The revamp Delhi’s Shangri-La hotel is just about to complete its renovation, which started in 2014. The threeyear project will bring the hotel a revamped spa and 320 new rooms and suites, a split-level horizon club lounge and five new food and beverage facilities.

Among these five will be Shang Palace, specialising in Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine, Sorrento, offering family-style Italian specialities, and Tamra, serving Asian, Japanese, international and Indian fare from its five interactive kitchens. You certainly won’t be stuck for options. shangri-la.com

The spa at the oberoi sukhvilas

The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa in New Chandigarh, at the foothills of the outer Himalayas, is launching its spa this month. The 12,000 sq ft lightfilled space, adjacent to the Siswan Forest Range, is embellished with glass, fire and water features, creating a truly relaxing and interesting environment. Enjoy an unusual treatment such as a warming rice and turmeric scrub to reveal silkysmooth skin. oberoihotels.com

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Six Senses comes to india

Six Senses, the widely-acclaimed hotel brand, is opening its first Indian property in 2018. Situated 68 miles southeast of Jaipur, the hotel is located in the village of Chauth Ka Barwara on the site of a 700-year-old fort which was owned by the Rajasthani Royal Family and sits directly opposite the temple, Chauth ka Barwara Mandir. Due to open late next year, Six Senses Fort Barwara will feature 48 suites, two restaurants, a bar and lounge, a 30,000 sq ft spa and fitness centre, two swimming pools, and a boutique. sixsenses.com

when in mumbai Four Seasons Mumbai has just launched its Lunch Like a Local experience, which allows guests to witness a side of Mumbai’s everyday life. Guests will meet the city’s dabbawalas – members of the highly regarded lunch-box delivery trade that has been an part of the culture for 125 years. At the end, guests get to have their own dabba, filled with a delicious lunch prepared by Four Seasons chefs. fourseasons.com/mumbai/

Goa with the flow

The newly rebranded Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa in Goa, has just launched its new Hermitage Villas. There are 17 of the villas, and all take prime position on top of a hillock overlooking the Arabian Sea. Designs have been inspired by the traditional Azulejo blue and white ceramic work and vibrant colour palette associated with Goa. taj.tajhotels.com

Alila Fort BishangarH

Perched upon a granite hill, the striking architecture of Alila Fort Bishangarh appears seamlessly sculpted from the surrounding rustic terrain, overlooking 360-degree views of the impressive Rajasthani landscape. The 230-year-old warrior fortress opened as a luxury resort in northern India earlier this year.

It has 59 suites, all custom designed to make the most of the striking view.

Located near Jaipur, this is the perfect base to explore the Pink City, from the grandeur of a heritage hotel.

From £205 per night, alilahotels.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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It has been 70 years since India gained its independence from the British Empire. In that time, the nation has risen to become one of the most dynamic and successful countries on the planet. However, the last seven decades is only a small chapter of a much larger narrative

BELOW The Jama Masjid Delhi has a capacity of 25,000

Words: DAVID TAYLOR

I

met my old school friend Soumithri outside THE Park Hotel Hyderabad, immediately sweating from the tenstep journey from the comfortable, airconditioned hallways of Hyderabad’s most recent luxury hotel to his car. The 43-degree heat was “unusually warm” for the time of year, according to most people I met who had noticed the internal struggle written in my eyes and across my shirt.

I’d been in Hyderabad, and India, for ten hours, arriving on the 6am red-eye flight. As we effortlessly weaved between seven-door Mercedes, chai hawkers on frail bicycles, nippy auto rickshaws with Miles Davis playing through their speakers, it almost became too much for my British sensibilities. Already paranoid about the notorious stomach problems everyone said I would inevitably develop, I stuck to water and wine when we finally arrived at 10 Downing Street, a pub plucked directly

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New Delhi

India

Hyderabad Jaipur

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from Victorian England and plonked into a shopping mall in India’s sixth largest metropolis. Soumithri immediately ordered a plate of nachos.

The effortless hybridity of my first morning in India goes some way towards characterising a country that is still three decades shy of celebrating the centenary of its independence, but has developed at a rate almost unseen in human history.

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

Britain’s role in this, for better or worse, cannot be overlooked. Through the struggle for independence, the various regions on the Indian subcontinent found a common goal, and the normalisation of a dual culture arguably made it easier, and almost natural, for the Indian population to embrace difference in order to develop. This has filtered down into everyday life to an inescapable extent. Hence the Italian wine,

the Mexican nachos and the English local.

After an afternoon catching-up, we said goodbye and I returned to the hotel.

THE Park Hotels chain is headed by Priya Paul, of the family-run Apeejay Surrendra Group, which owns companies as varied as shipyards, boutique hotels and Typhoo. I would be staying in its hotels in Hyderabad, New Delhi and Jaipur, and bowing to the staff ’s local expertise.

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Hyderabad

Hyderabad is an oddly placed city in the scheme of India. Not much is known about it on the international stage, with Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore bearing most of the attention. However, from the ancient Golkonda Fort to Hyderabad’s technology quarter, aptly called Cyberabad, the city has carved the fate of Telangana state, and central India in general, since its founding in 1591.

For all its forward-looking, Hyderabad’s treasures lie in its past. Charminar, an English amalgamation of the Urdu Chār and Minar (literally ‘Four Pillars’), is possibly the most widely-known of all Hyderabad’s buildings (Lindt created a scale model from 50kg of chocolate, which is any level-headed person’s litmus test for iconography). Hyderabad was designed with Charminar at the centre, as it lies at the intersection of historical trade routes between Golkonda and the port city of Machilipatnam. The interior, especially as you climb the stairs for a closer look at the ceiling, is stuccoed to the nines, the lavish ornamentation of the Qutb Shahi dynasty at its very best. It was, however, a struggle to absorb, due to the number of

locals requesting photographs with the tourists that had jumped the line, of which I was one. Not that this wasn’t met with enthusiasm – the unearned feeling of stardom was most welcome.

Speaking of which, while in Hyderabad, it would have been remiss not to visit India’s answer to Universal Film Studios, Ramoji Film City. For any Bollywood enthusiast, Ramoji is a dream – at 2,000 acres, it’s the world’s largest studio complex, where streets of three-storey houses neighbour a fully reproduced train station, complete with stationary train (the back of which is kindly open for the perfect picture). A palace with its own gardens lies close to rides for visitors who have paid the Rs.1050 (approx. £12) entry fee, and the day tour takes in a park full to the brim with exotic birds, a maze of caves with an underground Buddhist temple, and a series of wedding sets, each more resplendent than the last.

Ramoji serves as a handy symbol for the Indian approach to life. The show is in technicolour, the atmosphere intoxicating, each human interaction permeated with a poetic quality. Even the ruckus of practically any road larger than a pavement sometimes, almost abruptly, gives way to a serene hum.

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New Delhi

This serenity was experienced more than anywhere in India’s capital, New Delhi, a city of extremes. The 25,000-capacity Jama Masjid of Delhi is one of India’s largest mosques, and was built between 1644 and 1656 as one of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s final contributions during his rule. It almost went the same way as the Mughal Empire, when the British considered destroying it in retaliation for the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Widespread opposition from all sides thankfully stopped that idea in its tracks, as walking into the courtyard as worshippers file out from afternoon prayers is a deeply calming experience.

The noise and traffic give way to a comforting buzz, as if a blanket has been placed over the city. Time seems to slow as thousands of people mill around the yard, praying or chatting with fellow devotees, but before long it’s time for the next round of prayers, at which point I leave the peace for the bustle of the streets below. I pass a gang of eight-or-so-year-olds on the way out, hitting each other with sticks and kicking a bottle across the steps; I suppose God wouldn’t want to stifle the enthusiasm of youth.

Green City Delhi is one of the world’s greenest cities – 20 per cent of the city is parkland, and the entire bus system runs on compressed natural gas

from LEFT Charminar, Hyderabad, image courtesy of SNEHIT / Shutterstock; Peacock Gate at the City Palace, Jaipur; Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, image courtesy of DR Travel Photo and Video / Shutterstock

From here, I was driven around the political centres of New Delhi, taking in Rashtrapati Bhavan, the 320-acre Presidential Estate, and Parliament House, both designed by British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens. It was here that the contrast between rich and poor was starkest. We left the cars behind for half an hour to take in India Gate, New Delhi’s monument to the fallen of World War I (and again designed by Lutyens). The Romanesque arch was lit up, and set behind fencing and armed guards.

Even at 10pm, the street was bloated and hectic, scores of homeless vendors vying for trade from tourists and the middle class meandering through the portable stoves and rickshaws. A five-minute drive from here is a suburban idyll, lush gardens and nice cars; the economic distance is almost insurmountable.

The atmosphere in New Delhi, however, is still one of deep-seated ambition; the city crackles with dynamism. There is no doubt that it is a major city, ready to take the next step on the world stage.

Hopefully, the poorest and most vulnerable of its citizens will not get left behind.

The height of Jaipur’s grandness is undoubtedly the City Palace Jaipur

The Pink City would never have gained its distinctive colour scheme were it not for King Edward VII’s visit as the Prince of Wales in 1876. Maharaja Ram Singh, ruler of Jaipur, had sided with the British Raj in the uprising of 1857, and it was he that redecorated the town in honour of its esteemed guest. The colour stuck, and the city had a new name.

The height of Jaipur’s grandness is undoubtedly the City Palace, a substantial complex of richly hued royal reception rooms, museums, and private residences still used by the Maharaja’s lineage.

However, even more impressive is the fascinating Jantar Mantar, a collection of nineteen huge astronomical instruments, including the world’s largest sundial. Completed in 1734 on the orders of Sawai Jai Singh II – after whom Jaipur is named – the instruments help track the movements of celestial positions using just the naked eye. The Samrat Yantra (meaning ‘Supreme Instrument’), the aforementioned sundial, is 90ft high and measures time to an accuracy of two seconds, and is commonly believed to have been designed by Jai Singh himself.

Travel companies laud the markets in Jaipur. They are a swirl of dust, colour, over-eager merchants and riches of admittedly varying quality, including jewellery and traditional Jaipur blue pottery. Perhaps

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Where to Stay THE Park Hotel group pioneered the boutique hotel experience in India. The chain turned 50 this year, offering the height of luxury, local knowledge, and inventive restaurants and nightclubs theparkhotels.com

from top City Palace, Jaipur; Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Hy d e r ab ad The flagship hotel in the group, THE Park Hyderabad is a modern interpretation of the opulent palaces of the city’s former rulers.

It’s also a certified LEED Gold ‘green’ building, setting the new standard for Indian hotel design Rooms from £63

Jaipur seemed the busiest of the three cities, although it has the smallest population it was because the markets were in full swing, or perhaps because it forms part of the Golden Triangle of tourism with Agra and Delhi, but Jaipur seemed the busiest of the three cities I visited, although it has the smallest population at a ‘mere’ 3.5 million. It also does a very good job of

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trading off its past, having conserved its architecture almost faultlessly – it’s the perfect place for a taste of the India you see on television, but take time to delve deeper and you’ll find a place steeped in the history of Rajasthan.

The connecting flight from Jaipur back to Delhi for the journey home gave me some time to re-centre after the clamour.

As I sat on the bumpiest flight I’ve ever been on, and my arm became closely acquainted with that of the young woman sitting next to me, my thoughts turned to trying to describe the three cities I’d been lucky enough to visit, albeit rather briefly. All three were busy. They were also overpowering. They mainly, however, made me impatient. I had scratched the surface of only a trio of India’s 4,000 cities and towns, yet the experience felt like it would take months to process; it was simultaneously too much and not enough. I would go back tomorrow, however, without hesitation, such is the uncontrollable desire India encourages, to uncover a little more of the country of contradictions, of rich and poor, of Empire and independence. Though this time, I’d probably take a portable fan with me.

N ew D e l h i Designed by Conran & Partners, THE Park New Delhi is inspired by a fun mix of the five elements of nature and the Miami pool party scene. It’s home to the multiple award-winning Fire restaurant and Aqua outdoor pool area (pictured) Rooms from £100

T h e Zo n e Jai pur Zone by THE Park is a new series of design-led hotels for the midmarket Indian sector. The hotels emphasise interaction, with bazaar-style public areas, and are based in cities fast becoming popular new travel destinations Rooms from £50

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

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| PROMOTION |

Clockwise from far left Tiger at Bandhavgarh; Sanchi; Khajuraho; Leopard at Pench Tiger Reserve; Gwalior Fort; Bhimbetka

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t the heart of India lies the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a microcosm of all that India has to offer: from ancient forests teeming with wildlife, to imposing forts, palaces, temples and stupas, Madhya Pradesh is full of history, heritage, religion and natural beauty.

Madhya Pradesh’s biggest attraction is its wildlife. Its forests cover about 25 per cent of the land mass here and are home to 25 sanctuaries and nine national parks covering an area of 10,000 sq km.

The vast tracts of forested land are home to more than 20 per cent of India’s tiger population with six popular tiger reserves (Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Satpura, Pench and Sanjay Dubri National Parks).

These woodlands also provide a refuge for barking deer, leopards, chital, wild boars, blackbucks, nilgais and crocodiles.

Barasingha (literally translated to ’one with 12 horns’) is a swamp deer, the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. The Kanha tiger reserve is the only place in the world where the species exists.

The Pench Tiger Reserve and its neigbourhood provided inspiration for the setting of Rudyard Kipling’s novel, The Jungle Book. The character of Mowgli was inspired by Sir William Henry Sleeman’s pamphlet An Account of Wolves Nurturing Children in Their Dens, a true story about a wolf-boy captured in a village called Seoni.

Many of The Jungle Book’s locations can still be found in the vicinity.

The state boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Khajuraho temples – a display of scintillating architectural skill and exquisite sculptural art.

The fine sculptures date back 1,000 years and depict meditation, spiritual teachings, kinship, royalty and most significantly, erotic art. Some of India’s oldest Buddhist

Madhya Pradesh:

the heart of India Explore ancient temples and abundant tiger reserves in the historic central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh

relics can be found at Sanchi, northeast of the capital city, Bhopal. Most notable is the Great Stupa, built by Emperor Ashoka in 262 BC after he embraced Buddhism. There are a number of other stupas, temples and monasteries here, along with an archeological museum. Bhimbetka, meanwhile, is known for its caves and rock shelters which are believed to have been home to one of the earliest human settlements dating back to the Paleolithic Age. Madhya Pradesh has something to offer every traveller. Gwalior will be of interest to music buffs (it also boasts a magnificent fort); Orchha and Mandu are a must-visit for those interested in exploring the palaces of ancient India. Places of natural scenic beauty

(Bhedaghat, Tawa) abound, as do sites of religious interest (Ujjain, Amarkantak).

Finally, special mention needs to be given to the state’s varied culinary delights, which range from Mughal-inspired meat dishes to local street food (bhutte ka kees) and desserts such as malpua and jalebis.

For further information, please visit: mptourism.com

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Words: Laura French

I

’m in the African savannah. Or so it seems. Spindly trees soar up from a mass of dusty, gold-speckled plains.

Giant rocks and lunar landscapes lead the way as we bump across the sandy tracks in an open-top, jeep-style canter, battling with overhanging branches along the way.

“Tiger footprints!” yells our guide.

We follow them, eyes intently focused on the ground.

I’m actually on a morning safari drive in India. So far I’ve seen bright blue peacocks, pink-beaked storks, sleeping owls and glaring yellow ‘golden warrior’ birds. I’ve craned my neck to watch baboon-like langur monkeys piggybacking their babies, and spied elegant spotted deer and Sambar antelopes prancing through the trees – the only patches of green on the otherwise desert-like landscape. But still no tigers.

I guess that’s the magic of it. Instead, I make do with browsing their habitat – the lakes next to which they sit, camouflaged, waiting for their prey; the great fiery ball of a sun under which they lie, now glowing bright red in the 6am light.

Then the engine stops, and our guide points. It’s utterly silent. In the distance, I think I see stripes. We amble over, tense with anticipation, cameras poised. But by the time we reach the spot, it’s gone.

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I’m at Ranthambore National Park, a 17,000-square-kilometre stretch of protected land in the district of Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Once a hunting ground for Maharajas, it’s now one of around 50 protected tiger reserves in the country, created under the government’s Project Tiger in 1973 to help conserve the species (numbers had fallen dramatically from the early 20th century; from an estimated 2040,000 to just 1,800 by the 1970s).

“The tigers here are completely wild so we can’t promise sightings,” says our guide Vipul, although he recommends coming in the spring months, when he assures me visitors have an 80 per cent chance

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

clockwise from top left Royal Bengal tiger; Ranthambhore National Park; arched temple at Ranthambore Fort; Ranthambor peacock; chital deer; jeep safari in Ranthambore National Park ©Don Mammoser / Shutterstock

India has 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population, so what better reason to visit the country than to track some in Ranthambore National Park?

of seeing them. “Protecting them is our priority; tigers are the kings of the jungle, at the top of the food chain. The whole ecosystem depends on the tiger.”

We might not get up close to any big cats, but the experience is an evocative introduction to India’s vast abundance of untamed nature.

It’s a side that doesn’t get all that much attention. Everyone’s heard of the madness of Mumbai, the magic of the Taj Mahal.

But Ranthambore? Not so much.

Somehow it all feels pleasingly cut-off, kept apart from mainstream tourism despite the fact it’s a regular on touring itineraries. Staying at the nearby Regency Hotel, a jungle-lodge with a luxury edge, we meet wildlife enthusiasts who have come from far and wide to learn more about these wonderful creatures.

Keen to explore the wilderness further we travel to the remote Vanaashrya tented camp, set among the foothills of the Aravalli Mountains, around a four-hour drive north. Along the way, tiny villages give us a glimpse of local life: camels, donkeys, pigs and cows wander along the

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

It’s all a far cry from the first half of my trip, which took me from hectic Delhi to hassling Jaipur. But they held a different kind of charm – one of ancient history and long-standing cultural heritage, shown in exuberant palaces, iconic architecture and centuries-old walled cities.

Among the latter is the UNESCOlisted, 16th-century Amer Fort, set just outside the pink city of Jaipur and built as the imperial home of the Mughal dynasty, which ruled much of the region for more than 200 years. A yellow-pink stretch of sandstone and marble courtyards, the fort is set on the hillside overlooking a shimmering jade lake, and is an opulent reminder of the region’s multi-layered, pre-colonial past.

The fort is also a reminder of its ancient craft heritage thanks to the Mubarak Mahal (or Auspicious Palace), which displays royal textiles, including embroidered shawls and sparkling saris

Somehow it all feels pleasingly cut-off, kept apart from mainstream tourism despite the fact it’s a regular on touring itineraries road and locals wave and stare as if we’re the world’s hottest new band.

On arrival, we take a camel-andcart ride to explore the area, trotting our way along dusty, yellow-sand roads interspersed with giant pine trees.

Back at the camp I take it all in – and it’s pure serenity. There’s total silence bar the faint hum of birds flitting around outside my door. We might be in the middle of nowhere, but that doesn’t mean compromising on creature comforts. The tents here house king-size beds and warm en-suite showers. The pool is beautiful and the food – paneer tikka, rich, flavoursome vegetable curries and cardamom-infused sweets – is delicious. We dance the night away to a backdrop of live drumming with our local hosts, who whirl and spin around like it’s second nature, colourful saris swishing elegantly in the wind.

once worn by the Maharaja’s family. Ten minutes away in the town of Amer itself lies the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where intricate works are elegantly displayed, giving a nod to the region’s longstanding reputation as a hub for the arts.

It’s something I decide to explore further in Jaipur, visiting a local craft cooperative, where an elderly, whitehaired local gives us a block printing demonstration. I browse printed silk bed sheets and exquisite, hand-made woollen carpets, and learn they take up to a month and a half to complete ( John Lewis is one of their buyers).

It takes me back to the Taj Mahal and its astonishing level of detail: the jade, turquoise and amethyst stones laid into the marble-work, the intricate inscriptions and incomprehensibly perfect symmetry. Our time sightseeing is the antithesis of the tiger sighting, but both trigger the same feeling: awe.

I’m frequently moved throughout my visit to India; whether by the country’s vibrant, celebratory people, its imposing mosques and extravagant palaces, or its rugged wilderness. India truly is a land of striking contrasts.

Newmarket Holidays’ ten-day India: Tigers and the Taj Mahal tour costs from £1,199 per person, based on a departure on May 22 2018, including return flights, newmarketholidays.co.uk

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09/08/2017 21:54

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

UP AND AWAY

the DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY KEEPING LONDON rising

Centrum Court, Kidbrooke Village.

All images are CGI and indicative only. © Berkeley Homes

Five minutes with…

THIS IMAGE Kalmars building BELOW St Saviour’s Wharf in Bermondsey OPPOSITE Shad Thames ©I Wei Huang / Shutterstock; Morfa Nefyn, North Wales

Adam Rosan residential and new home Developments at Kalmars

A

dam Rosan hasn’t always worked in property – he used to be a dab hand at golf. However, his father showed him the ropes in the property development world and he hasn’t looked back since. He talks to us about his favourite pubs in the SE1 area, his dog and his advice for buyers in the current market.

Moving into the autumn and winter market, are you expecting to get busier?

AR: Yes in a nutshell, now the summer holiday period has come to an end and schools are back we have, as predicted, seen a surge in activity from buyers. This typically means that there will be a great deal of activity particularly by buyers looking to move into their new homes by Christmas.

What advice would you give to a renter or buyer in the current market?

AR: Think hard about your criteria. Too often, I meet clients who have made the effort to start viewing properties but are unsure about what they want. The market has become ever more competitive and it’s therefore paramount to be confident about the area you are looking in. Once you have ironed out all the variables then your decision-making process will become much quicker.

What advice would you give about presenting a property?

AR: I always say to my vendors, stand outside, would you buy this house from the outside alone? Be critical, first impressions are everything. Your goal should be to entice buyers in, if the bins are overflowing and the path is cracked or dirty then the

KALMARS, 2 Shad Thames, SE1, 020 7403 0600, kalmars.com 114

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

| property |

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

expectation is that the inside is the same. Giving your exterior a facelift won’t necessarily increase the value of your home but it will increase the chance of your home being sold. It does not cost the earth.

Tell me something interesting about your office.

AR: Our principal office has been located in Shad Thames since 1986 and, as a result, we are the most experienced estate agent in this vibrant market. We have, over those years, been integral to the redevelopment of south London and are proud of the fact that many of the wharfs and developments have been sold by us at some point. We have a unique knowledge of who owns what and that’s why developers and sellers alike seek out our expertise.

However due to the nature of our clients’ needs we service the entire southeast corridor and have an in depth knowledge and understanding of the distinct, individual local areas.

Do the residential and commercial departments work together?

AR: The communication between the two departments is a constant open dialogue. In an open plan environment, you know what everyone is doing and we often work on mixed use schemes together, discussing issues and challenges and sharing ideas.

How have the areas you deal with changed?

AR: Places that were once dominated by industrial activities are now residential neighbourhoods with manufacturing jobs being replaced by those in the service industries. South London has attracted many businesses in the creative and technology sectors and the area has become a hotbed for start-ups and entrepreneurs, many of which have identified the area as somewhere that offers good work/life opportunities.

“Fake it until you make it. I have always liked this idiom, not because I need to fake it to be successful but actually because it taught me to be myself ” Is working in property something you have always wanted to do?

AR: Before I started working in the industry I was, and still am in my dreams, a fairly decent golfer. After many years of unsuccessfully winning the Open, my dad, who was a part time developer himself, got me hooked on intricacies of property.

I then ventured out by starting at an agency, as we all do, in lettings and then worked my way up to sales and I am now heading up the firm’s development activities. The type of work we do is so varied and integral to the local communities that I never work on the same type of project– so the cliché is true, every day is different.

Where is your favourite bar/pub near Shad Thames?

AR: For me there are many, and if I had time, I would visit every bar and pub possible as they are great networking spots.

My favourite at the moment is the Woolpack on Bermondsey Street. It’s close to my office but it’s an industry who’s who of property professionals and creatives. Failing that, if you fancy losing to me at table tennis then pop into The Doodle Bar on Druid Street.

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

What are your top three luxury items?

AR: My wife, my daughter and Volcan my West Highland Terrier.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

AR: Fake it until you make it. I have always liked this idiom, not because I need to fake it to be successful but actually because it taught me to be myself. I always tried to be someone I wasn’t until I realised that clients just wanted to know who I was.

Where’s your favourite place in the world?

AR: Morfa Nefyn near Snowdonia in North Wales. It was the first place my wife and I went after first getting together. We stayed at one of my dad’s friend’s house that was slug-infested; no heating in the bleak mid-winter and the shower was in a spider-patrolled outhouse. Not the most glamorous first holiday but it gave me a chance to show off my rock pooling skills.

You’re hosting a dinner party. Who are your three guests?

AR: Jamie Oliver, so he can cook it, Andy Zaltzman, so he can satirise the entire evening, and Maximilien Robespierre, because I have a fascination with French revolutionary history.

115

Crawford Building, Aldgate E1 A 17th floor two bedroom apartment right next to Aldgate East station Completed in 2014 by Redrow, this 21 storey development has 207 apartments and 110,000 sq ft of office and retail space. This two bedroom apartment has exceptional west and south facing views along with a large balcony. Both bedrooms are a great size and there are two bathrooms. The kitchen is open plan to the reception room. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room/kitchen, balcony, concierge.

EPC: B. Approximately 91.04 sq m (980 sq ft).

Leasehold: approximately 129 years remaining

Guide price: £1,250,000

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

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/ALD170546

City Magazine September 2017 1 page (1708 Crawford Building)

11/09/2017 17:19:17

Cit

17

Neo Bankside, Southbank SE1 Four bedroom apartment in a riverside development A superb four bedroom apartment in NEO Bankside, located on London's Southbank and cultural quarter. With very generous living accommodation, including a bright and sunny open plan kitchen and reception space, this modern, contemporary flat is presented in excellent condition. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen/reception room, winter garden, porter/concierge, private parking, leisure facilities. EPC: B. Approximately 249 sq m (2,680 sq ft).

Leasehold: approximately 989 years remaining

Guide price: £4,400,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/riverside riverside@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5932

@KF_EastLondon KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/RVR160227

City Mag October 2017 Sales

11/09/2017 17:49:27

MOVE Faster. Sell with Knight Frank

Our understanding of the everchanging market enables us to price your property accurately, so you can rely on Knight Frank to get you moving.

Call us today on 020 8166 5375 to arrange your free market appraisal.

KnightFrank.co.uk/wapping wapping@knightfrank.com

Guide price: £725,000

Halcyon Wharf, Wapping E1W A bright two bedroom apartment in this popular West Wapping development with partial views of the River Thames. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, reception room with open plan kitchen, porterage, parking. Approximately 63 sq m (680 sq ft). EPC: B. Leasehold with approximately 981 years remaining.

Office: 020 8166 5375 wappingsales@knightfrank.com

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £8,000,000

Cinnabar Wharf, Wapping E1W A bespoke penthouse apartment set on the banks of the Thames with far reaching views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, gym area, roof terrace, porter, parking.

EPC: C. Approximately 311 sq m (3,357 sq ft). Leasehold approximately 981 years remaining.

020 8166 5375 wappingsales@knightfrank.com

City Mag September 2016

14/09/2017 12:44:18

Cit

18

Cable Street, Aldgate E1 A four bedroom Grade II listed Georgian house with garden A beautifully presented four bedroom house arranged over four floors that has access to a garden with a characterful greenhouse. 4 bedrooms situated over the upper two floors, 2 bathrooms, spacious reception room that stretches across the whole depth of the house, good-sized kitchen.

EPC: E. Approximately 129 sq m (1,392 sq ft).

Available furnished.

KnightFrank.co.uk/aldgate aldgatelettings@knightfrank.com 020 3823 9930

Guide price: £795 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/ALQ148506 All potential tenants should be advised that as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 and referencing fees of £48 per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

City Magazine October 2017

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

21/09/2017 17:24:30

FOUND. Your perfect tenant.

Let with Knight Frank

Our local expertise and global network mean that we can find a reliable tenant for your property; and with an average tenancy of nearly two years, Knight Frank not only helps you find them – but keep them as well.

If you are considering letting a property this year, please contact us on 020 8166 5366 or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

Guide price: £475 per week

Capstan Court, Wapping E1W

-->

A modern warehouse conversion on Wapping Wall. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room with exposed brickwork, modern kitchen, wooden flooring and terrace. EPC: B. Approximately 91 sq m (986 sq ft). Available furnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366

All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property.

Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £1,850 per week

Metropolitan Wharf, Wapping E1W An exceptional riverside penthouse apartment in Wapping. 2 bedrooms, 2 luxurious bathrooms, large open plan kitchen and reception room, terrace with river views and 24 hour security. EPC: C. Approximately 250 sq m (2,701 sq ft). Available unfurnished. wappinglettings@knightfrank.com Office: 020 8166 5366

City magazine Lettings October

14/09/2017 17:08:49

| property |

HOT PROPERTY

A spotlight on one of the finest homes on the market

ST LAWRENCE BAY, SOUTHMINSTER, CM0 Grand living by the water’s edge

C

ruising down the shingle driveway of The Old Rectory in St Lawrence Bay, there is an open lawn with mature trees, and a restored orchard of plum, apple, almond and cherry trees with a bounty of blossom – imagine being able to make a crumble on a drizzly day from your own garden produce. Is there anything more British?

An exciting opportunity has arisen with an outstanding example of Georgian architecture coming to market. The recently renovated seven-bedroom property is located in the beautiful village of St Lawrence Bay in southeast Essex, and it’s the perfect place to escape from the hustle of London life with sandy beaches, a sailing club, a watersports club and two pubs within walking distance. Although, it’s not too far removed – it’s less than 10 minutes to a mainline station with a direct train to London Liverpool Street in just over an hour. The locale is the owner’s favourite aspect of the property, saying: “The unique location is one of the things we will miss most about this house. Living in style with such beautiful views of the estuary and the surrounding countryside

has been absolutely lovely.”

The house offers panoramic vistas across to the twinkling Blackwater Estuary, where you can watch the Thames Barges sail by, from almost every room in the house.

The Old Rectory is the ideal purchase for an established or growing family, with well-proportioned reception rooms and a self-contained annexe, with its own kitchen, sitting room, a bathroom and two bedrooms. Ideal for teenagers, an au pair or the overflow of family members at Christmas, it also has its own courtyard and parking space. The property as a whole comes in at 4,842 sq ft, so it’s large enough for every family member to have

their own space and privacy.

The family room is a place to relax on the weekend after a long bracing walk along the Estuary, with a wood-burning stove and soft grey and purple hues.

There’s a more formal sitting room also, with high ceilings, a central fireplace and large sash windows that flood the room with light.

The sumptuous interiors continue throughout the house, with the master suite decorated in duck egg blue – a particularly calming shade for a bedroom. It’s also has an en suite with his and hers sinks and a large walk-in shower and tub.

As cosy as the house is for the colder climes, it also serves well for the brief British summer, with south-facing terraces, and an ornamental lake with a jetty and lake house within its 2.8 acres.

With no chain, this is a rare opportunity to own a slice of tranquillity, just an hour outside of London.

PRICE: £1.3m

01621 779 809 theoldrectorystlawrence@gmail.com

luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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AVANTGARDE TOWER, SHOREDITCH E1 ● ● ● ●

1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Balcony Open plan kitchen

● ● ● ●

24 Hour concierge 0.1 mile from Shoreditch station Approx. 532 sq ft (49.4 sq m) EPC: B

£525.00 per week Furnished For more information, call Neil Short 0207 337 4005 or email Neil.Short@eu.jll.com

Potential tenants are advised that administration fees may be payable when renting a property. Please ask for details of our charges.

16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL

jll.co.uk/residential

WREN HOUSE, 190 THE STRAND WC2R ● ● ● ●

4 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms Parking Balcony

● ● ● ●

24 Hour concierge 0.1 mile from Temple station Approx. 2343 Sq ft (217.7 sq m) EPC: B

£5,750,000 Leasehold For more information, call Bernard Cully 0207 337 4009 or email Bernard.Cully@eu.jll.com

16-17 Royal Exchange London EC3V 3LL

jll.co.uk/residential

Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544

Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988

Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373

Bickley BR1 Completed in 1904 and Grade II listed, ‘Crosshand House’ is one of Bickley’s most iconic houses.

£2,995,000 F/H Nine bedrooms

Five bathrooms

Six receptions

EER N/A

Contact Chislehurst 020 8295 4900

Beckenham BR3

West Wickham BR4

This beautiful six bedroom family home is a striking example of Victorian Gothic architecture.

Attractive five bedroom semi-detached home on a desirable road in West Wickham, offered chain free.

£1,995,000 F/H

OIEO £780,000 F/H

Six bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Five bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Three receptions

EER F

Two receptions

EER E

Contact Beckenham 020 8663 4433

The Acorn Group, incorporating:

Contact West Wickham 020 8432 7373

langfordrussell.co.uk

Fenman House completing in November

Wake up to Parkside Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cross A collection of new apartments designed with flair, set amongst manicured parks and gardens. Just a few minutes walk to the most well connected train stations in London.

Prices from ÂŁ1,425,000*.

Marketing suite now open.

14-15 Stable Street, London N1C 4AB. Show apartment coming soon.

Contact us to find out more: 020 7205 4962 fenmanhouse.co.uk

*Price correct at the time of going to press.

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18/09/2017 16:20

We’ve landed.

To celebrate opening in Islington, we’ll sell your home for FREE. Think of it as a ‘welcome to the neighbourhood’ gift, from us, to you.

T 020 7123 4960 marshandparsons.co.uk/zero-percent *See website for details, terms and conditions.

SOUTH LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL AGENTS 0207 403 0600 | Jamaica Wharf, 2 Shad Thames London, SE1 2YU

It takes more time to make a cup of tea than it does to get an online property valuation

Instant online property valuations at kalmars.com

Celebrating 50 years of award winning service in South London

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

Canonbury Road, N1 ÂŁ1,950,000

A centrally located, three double bedroom Victorian terrace house with a large double reception room, an open plan kitchen/dining room and two bathrooms. The property further benefits from a garden, gated off street parking and a separate home office, energy rating d.

Dexters Islington 020 7483 6373

Monck Street, SW1P ÂŁ1,900,000

Situated in the brand new Westminster Quarter, a modern two bedroom apartment finished to a high specification. The property has an open plan reception room with a bespoke kitchen, two bathrooms and two winter gardens, one in the master bedroom and one in the reception room, energy b.

Dexters Westminster 020 7590 9570

dexters.co.uk

Lower Thames Street, EC3R £1,695 per week

A luxurious two double bedroom apartment in the exclusive Three Quays development overlooking the world famous Tower of London. The property has a large open plan kitchen/ reception room, two bathrooms and a private balcony, energy rating c.

Dexters City 020 7392 9111

Luxborough Street, W1U £2,950 per week

This three bedroom luxury penthouse is on the fifth floor of a Grade II Listed building in the heart of Marylebone Village. The property has an open plan reception room, eat-in kitchen and three bathrooms.

Furthermore, the property has air conditioning, a utility room, and a separate cloakroom, energy rating c.

Dexters Marylebone 020 7224 5545

dexters.co.uk

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

| property |

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO Offering an abundance of opportunities for outdoor living, 65 per cent of Quebec Quarter is dedicated to outdoor activities and features, including communal grassy spaces, play areas and a path leading directly into the adjacent, locally renowned parkland, Russia Dock Woodland.

For residents who want to take advantage of the development’s positioning on a Southwark Cycle Quietway route, Quebec Quarter offers impressive cycle storage in many of its apartments, and additional cycle storage is also available in the underground car park.

Quebec Quarter is situated equidistant from Canada Water and Surrey Quays stations. Jubilee Line services from Canada Water offer easy access to the City and the West End, reaching Canary Wharf in two minutes, Waterloo in six minutes and Bond Street

quebec quarter, se16

Q

uebec Quarter, located in the heart of Canada Water, is made up of 151 properties. Homes are available with one-, two- or threebedrooms, perfect for couples, singles or families of all sizes.

All the apartments have contemporary kitchens, complete with smooth lacquered units and a plethora of integrated topof-the-range AEG appliances. Pristine bathrooms have smart white sanitaryware

by Roca, and porcelain floor and wall tiles.

Underfoot, floor finishes include quality engineered flooring in Oak Animoso in living areas and entrance halls, with luxurious carpets in soothing soapstone in the bedrooms. The light-filled apartments,

the majority of which are dual aspect, come with floor-to-ceiling windows, and each has an outside terrace or balcony.

Upper level properties have spectacular views of the surrounding woodland and nearby Canary Wharf.

in 12, with the night tube running on Fridays and Saturdays. The area is set to become even better connected following the completion of the proposed Brunel Bridge in 2020 – a foot and cycle bridge connecting Canada Water with Canary Wharf, which has now gained support from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Vibrant Canada Water offers a number of popular independent shops, restaurant and cafes, as well as the iconic bronze aluminium-clad Canada Water Library. A short walk from Quebec Quarter is the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, part of British Land’s Canada Water Masterplan, which will be undergoing a £34 million redevelopment over the next five years.

PRICE: £525,000 for a one-bedroom apartment / £600,000 for a two-bedroom apartment / £760,000 for a three-bedroom apartment 03330 033 663 quebecquarter.co.uk

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3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN SE16 FROM £760,000 READY TO MOVE INTO NOW LAST REMAINING 3 BED HOMES IN THE SYLVANS, FROM £760,000 INCLUDING A 12 MONTH SERVICE CHARGE HOLIDAY AND STAMP DUTY PAID* A collection of stunning new homes located in a landscaped setting only minutes away from Canada Water station in Zone 2.

FIND OUT MORE

0333 0033 663 QUEBECQUARTER.CO.UK

*Terms and conditions apply, please visit our website for further details. CGI representation of Quebec Quarter is indicative only.

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INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

greenwich millennium village, se10

A

n exciting new phase of three- and four-bedroom homes is launching soon at the hugely popular Greenwich Millennium Village, a joint venture between Countryside and Taylor Wimpey, supported by the Mayor of London.

The four-bedroom townhouses are elegantly designed over three floors, with a garden and private terrace accessed from the master bedroom. Living areas are spacious, and large windows ensure that the entire home is filled with natural light.

The three-bedroom courtyard houses have a courtyard patio area and a firstfloor terrace. The first floor also boasts a spacious master bedroom complete with a luxurious en-suite bathroom, dressing area with fitted wardrobes, and a large terrace – an ideal space to relax and unwind.

All of the homes in this collection benefit from high-quality interiors.

The kitchens are contemporary, with individually designed grey units, stone worktops and a range of integrated appliances, exuding modern city living.

Bathrooms are fitted with modern white sanitaryware, chrome accessories and warm walnut detailing throughout.

A central village square is home to a range of shops and other amenities. On-site facilities include an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Primary School and just a short walk away is the world-famous O2 arena, which has all the leisure and entertainment facilities one could ever want.

Residents at Greenwich Millennium Village are also able to enjoy a large amount of green space, with 50 acres of parkland spread across the Peninsula. The four-acre on-site ecology park features an inner and outer pond, where residents can enjoy spending time relaxing and watching the diverse variety of wildlife that lives in this urban oasis.

Commuters will be thrilled, as Greenwich Millennium Village is just one stop away from Canary Wharf and nine minutes from Westfield Stratford City via the Jubilee Line from North Greenwich underground station, which also benefits from night tube services. For a more leisurely commute, the Thames Clippers ferry service departs from North Greenwich Pier, while the cable car line provides frequent connections to the Royal Docks. For travel further afield, London City Airport is a ten-minute journey via public transport.

PRICE: From £799,995 for a courtyard house / From £899,995 for a townhouse 020 8305 2712 gmv.london

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COMING SOON!

TOWN & COURTYARD HOUSE COLLECTION gmv.london | 020 8305 2712

A superb collection of just 23 Town and Courtyard Houses, in a great location, together with a new release of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments.

• A mixture of 4 bedroom Townhouses & 3 bedroom Courtyard Houses • Incredibly high specification as standard • Outdoor space including terraces and either a garden or courtyard • The Village has everything you need – excellent transport links, an Ofsted outstanding school, health centre, shops, leisure facilities and open green spaces – ideal for family life • Less than a mile from the O2 and North Greenwich tube station

Greenwich Millennium Village, The Village Square, West Parkside, Greenwich, London, SE10 0BD

CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER YOUR DETAILS

Marketing Suite & Show Apartments open daily 10am-5pm

Information correct at time of going to print. September 2017.

6852 CPUK GMV ad 297x210.indd 1

18/09/2017 12:56

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO centrum court at kidbrooke village, SE3

G

ood news for prospective buyers: one-, two-, and threebedroom apartments at Centrum Court, at the heart of Berkeley Homes’ Kidbrooke Village, are now available.

The contemporary apartments are central to village life and the vibrant community at Kidbrooke Village, which is situated in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Apartments at Centrum Court are of the highest possible standard. Kitchen layouts are individually designed and finished with composite stone worktops for a modern and chic feel; engineered timber-effect floors cover the kitchen, living area and hallway, while bedrooms are carpeted, allowing for a luxurious feel.

Shower rooms and en suites have exposed chrome fittings for a chic, modern look. Outdoor space is in abundance, with individual balconies with glass balustrades overlooking the surrounding parks and the beautifully landscaped private residents’ podium, which offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy the greenery which characterises Kidbrooke Village.

The apartments boast a 24-hour concierge and a residents’-only gym, while car share clubs and bicycle storage make travelling locally and further afield easier than ever – Kidbrooke Village is just 16 minutes from London Bridge, and is also close to Blackheath.

The building has been designed to seamlessly unify the natural elements with the built environment. Thoughtfully designed open areas make way to tree-lined avenues that surround Centrum Court, while landscaped walkways meandering from the Village Centre provide an excellent means to explore the surrounding wetlands of Sutcliffe Park. The openness of Cator Park and Sutcliffe Park provide the ideal settings for relaxation, exercise or simply enjoying the fresh air.

Kidbrooke Village has a host of on-site facilities and community spaces, some of which will form part of Centrum Court’s ground floors. A Sainsbury’s supermarket, coffee shop, pharmacy, dentist and doctor’s surgeries are all located within the existing Village Centre, with a crèche, Young’s pub and further retail and leisure spaces soon to join the emerging permanent Village Centre.

Centrum Court’s central piazza provides a focal point for residents, and adds to the cosmopolitan and vibrant village lifestyle.

Kidbrooke Village’s sales and marketing suite is open from 10am to 6pm daily and until 8pm on Thursdays and is located at Wallace Court, 40 Tizzard Grove, Greenwich, SE3

PRICE: from £410,000 020 8150 5151 kidbrookevillage.co.uk

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luxurylondon.co.uk | THE CITY Magazine

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Insider Knowledge diana alam, head of residential development sales, jll

Encouraging signs of growth in the central London residential development market

T

he central London residential development market has proved remarkably robust during the course of 2017 and has even staged a mini recovery.

SALES MARKET

■ The number of sales in the first half of 2017 was 17 per cent greater than the second half of 2016, boding well for the remainder of the year and into 2018 ■ Activity in core markets has remained firm, accounting for 49 per cent of all central London sales ■ Pricing has stabilised during 2017 with no further price falls recorded since the discounting in 2016 ■ Demand for central London apartments has remained solid during the course of the year as the number of unit launches continues to slow, down 18 per cent in the year to Q2 2017 compared with a year earlier

■ A tale of two halves as new unit starts, units under construction and new completions are at record levels while the planning pipeline is shrinking, especially in core markets ■ New unit starts rebound to 3,280 in Q2 2017, on a par with levels witnessed in 2013, 2014 and 2015, an encouraging sign that developers are happy to maintain this higher volume of delivery ■ There are more than 36,000 units under construction, almost four times the number in 2011 following the boost in starts, coupled with fewer completions in Q2 ■ The number of completions exceeded 3,000 units per quarter and 10,000 units per year during the first half of 2017, which is the highest level of completions in the past six years ■ Planning applications have slowed over the past two years but a rebound in Q2 has led to an uptick in the annual total. However, planning data highlights a growing divide between core and outer core markets, raising serious questions about the level of core development activity in the years ahead.

Diana Alam, head of residential sales at JLL, concludes: “The outlook for the central London development market

138

“We expect the next two to three years to be unremarkable in terms of sales activity. Set against expectations, market participants will be happy to accept a relatively subdued but robust marketplace, with the potential for sustained growth as we enter 2018"

Source: JLL

DEVELOPMENT MARKET

is more positive than we might have expected given the economic and political headwinds. This bodes well for the next few years as these uncertainties begin to fade. It is encouraging that developers are continuing to build, albeit with caution.

Pressures in the land market will weigh on activity in central core locations.

“We expect the next two to three years to be unremarkable in terms of sales activity. Set against expectations, market participants will be happy to accept a relatively subdued but robust marketplace, with the potential for sustained growth as we enter 2018.”

020 7337 4004 jll.co.uk

THE CITY Magazine | luxurylondon.co.uk

DESIGNED TO BE DIFFERENT CENTRUM COURT: 1, 2 AND 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE

At the heart of The Village Centre and bordering the stunning Cator Park, Centrum Court offers exciting new choices in contemporary connected living. The buildings enclose a beautifully landscaped podium garden, your private peaceful oasis. At the same time, the amenities of the Village Centre, including the gym, 24 hour concierge, convenient shops and station, are all around you. The Capital is only minutes away with trains to London Bridge in just 16 mins*

Prices from ÂŁ410,000 Contact us to register your interest call 020 3733 7214

Computer generated images and showhome photography are indicative only.

Price and information correct at time of sending to press. *Journey times are approximate only and do not include walking distances. Source: www.tfl.gov.uk

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