DECEMBER 2012
contents
Travel 92 UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Feature 11 A-Z OF BESPOKE GIFTS
The Isle of Elba, the largest of the Tuscan Archipelagos, is known for its temperate climate and picturesque hiking trails. Karen Bowerman explores
From accessories to automobiles, gadgets to gastronomy, KARI ROSENBERG rounds up the top bespoke, one of a kind and limited edition gift ideas, sure to make anyone feel special this Christmas
94
Collection 20 THE POWER OF PURPLE
A WORLD AWAY
Munich is a place where the traditional and modern collide to create a city built from the debris of war. Rajdeep Sandhu takes a look behind the beer drinking
In a season where berry shades dominated fashion catwalks, purple reigns supreme. This A/W12, pick the gifts and accessories devoted to the primary colour of luxury and extravagance
regulars
Fashion 44 WINTER WONDERLAND
87 Travel
39 Fashion
97 Food + Drink
Lucie Dodds captures chic velvet coats, outlandish animal prints and warm elegant boots in this glamorous fashion story. Photography by Peter Zownir
51 Health + Beauty
102 The Directory
55 Interiors
105 Property
Calibre 62 TAKING A BOW
60 Sport c athe n a rcity y magazine wharf
17 Watches + Jewellery
HIRSH
Former Formula 1 star Michael Schumacher talks life away from the track with Richard Brown
L O N D O N
december 2012
68 CITY JET-SET
canary wharf
Kari Rosenberg speaks to CityJet CEO Christine Ourmières about aviation trends, new destinations, and keeping in touch with her customers
made to order
an a-Z guIde of the toP besPoke, one of a kInd and lImIted edItIon gIft Ideas
taking a bow
foRmeR foRmula 1 suPeRstaR mIchael schumacheR on lIfe aWay fRom the tRack
Comment 80 YESTERDAY’S WINE
REGAL COLLECTION HANDMADE IN PLATINUM
Bad weather across Europe has left wine investors cautious about the quality of this year’s yield. Peter Shakeshaft, founder of Vin-X fine wine investment brokers assesses the potential fruits of the 2012 harvest
back
Famous For Engagement Rings
with a bang
www.hirshlondon.com
WEST END 56-57 BURLINGTON ARCADE W1J 0QN - T +44 (0)20 7499 6814 - CITY 9 HATTON GARDEN EC1N 8AH - T +44 (0)20 7831 3333
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05/11/2012 11:56
Ice RInk canaRy WhaRf RetuRns to canada squaRe PaRk thIs WInteR In PaRtneRshIP WIth hublot
Skater Girl: p. 101 Photography by David Parry
the
w-list
Deputy Editor Kari Rosenberg highlights the key people, places and events in December. Get your Christmas hat on early and visit Canary Wharf’s very own Santa’s Grotto, dress up to support the Starlight Christmas of Happiness campaign and get choosing your perfect gifts
RUNWILD M
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Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood
Editorial Director Kate Harrison
Deputy Editor
Kari Rosenberg
When?
25 December The tree is fully dressed, the turkey is basting and the pudding is baked. If all you’re missing to complete your Christmas is a perfectly wrapped present for your nearest and dearest, then take a look at our bespoke gift guide, or our top product picks throughout the magazine; from watches and jewellery, fashion and interiors, food and drink to beauty, gadgets and travel, there’s something for everyone.
Fashion Editor Lucie Dodds
Motoring Editor Matthew Carter
Assistant Editors
Richard Brown, Gabrielle Lane
Editorial Assistants
Olivia Sharpe, Rajdeep Sandhu, Aimee latimer
Head of Design
Hiren Chandarana
What? Spice of Life
Eighties babies rejoice: Spice Girls musical Viva Forever opens in the West End on 11 December. Written by comedian Jennifer Saunders and produced by Judy Craymer – who created and produced ABBA musical Mamma Mia – the fictionised production follows a mother, her daughter and a television talent show. Expect chart toppers Wannabe, Who Do You Think You Are and Mama, with a side of girl power.
Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong
Designer
Sarah Connell
Production Manager Fiona Fenwick
Production
Hugo Wheatley
Head of Projects Ella Kilgarriff
Where? Santa’s Grotto
Launching 1 December, Santa’s Grotto in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place returns with a whimsical and magical theme. Open every weekend in December as well as the week before Christmas and on Christmas Eve, excited children (and some adults) can meet Father Christmas and tell him what they want (what they really really want). Sorry.
Who?
The Hobbit Tolkien fans get ready for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first part of Peter Jackson’s new trilogy, who was also at the helm of the multi awardwining three-part adaptation of Lord Of The Rings. The Royal UK Premiere takes place on 12 December, so expect appearances from the all-star cast, including Martin Freeman in the title role, alongside Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Ian Holm, Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry. Phew. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit in print.
What: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Why? Starlight Run
Kickstarting at Ice Rink Canary Wharf, the Starlight 12 Days of Christmas Run will see hundreds of festive runners raise money for the Starlight Christmas of Happiness campaign. Companies are invited to submit teams of up to 12 runners who can choose to dress up as one of the categories from The Twelve Days of Christmas carol, be it two turtle doves, three French hens or a partridge in a pear tree. The 1.2 mile course will be run on 12 December at precisely 12:12pm around the Canary Wharf estate. For more information email: gabbi.ray@starlight.org.uk
Senior Property Manager Samantha Ratcliffe
Head of Finance Elton Hopkins
Managing Director Eren Ellwood
7 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf London, E14 4JB T: 020 7987 4320 F: 020 7005 0045 www.rwmg.co.uk Runwild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Runwild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscriptions: A free online subscription service is available for Canary Wharf Magazine. Visit the subscriptions page on our website. www.rwmg.co.uk/subscribe
editor’s letter
DECEMBER
“Christmas is the day that holds all time together”, so said the great Scottish poet Alexander Smith. Well, we couldn’t agree more. The excitement has been mounting at the Runwild office for months while our email inboxes became increasingly inundated with good tidings galore; present ideas and festive treat suggestions, some discovered as early as August, all carefully filed away until now. Cue glittered baubles and twinkling tinsel as we bring you this fabulously festive issue. From accessories to automobiles, gadgets to gastronomy, don’t miss our five page bespoke gift list. If ‘off the shelf’ makes you sigh and long for the days before mass production, then this is the guide for you. From galactic balloon rides to custom-made Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, personalised accessories to one-of-a-kind yachts, tasty macarons to limited edition make-up; we point you in the direction for a very merry Christmas (p. 11). Add to that dozens of watch, jewellery, fashion, interiors, car, food and drink suggestions across our multiple news pages, and you’ll be sure to find inspiration. Aside from filling stockings and brewing a winning mulled wine, December is the season to party. And party we will. Find dandy suits and dinner jackets as well as Savile Row shirts on our men’s fashion news page (p. 39) paired with smart cufflinks and colourful ties (p. 20). Women take note of our ultimate little (and not so little) black dresses, fur cover ups and glitzy clutch bags (p. 43) – we have every function covered from the cocktail party to the black tie ball. For a touch of frosty glamour, see our beautifully romantic winter wonderland fashion story (p. 44). Elsewhere, we catch up with CityJet CEO Christine Ourmières to chat aviation trends, new destinations and keeping in touch with her customers (p. 68). With more than 20 years in the industry, she’s one top businesswoman not to be messed with. Tue Mantoni took up office as President and CEO at Bang & Olufsen on 1 March last year and has sparked something of a cultural revolution at the Danish gadget house. He talks candidly about appealing to new markets and combatting the recession (p. 78). With bad weather across Europe leaving wine investors cautious about the quality of this year’s yield, Peter Shakeshaft, founder of Vin-X fine wine investment brokers assesses the potential fruits of the 2012 harvest (p. 80). And last, but by no means least, former Formula 1 superstar Michael Schumacher opens up about his career highs and lows and having no regrets (p. 62). Who could blame him? Whether you’re celebrating with friends or family, at home or abroad, enjoy the well-earned time off, whatever you choose to do. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Kate
Kate Harrison Editorial Director
december 2012 CW 9
gift guide
AZGIFTS of Bespoke
to
a
From accessories to automobiles, gadgets to gastronomy, KARI ROSENBERG rounds up the top bespoke, one of a kind and limited edition gift ideas, sure to make anyone feel special this Christmas
c
chanel chic
Get your hands on some limited edition Christmas sparkle. J’adore the Regard Signe De Chanel in Harmonie Du Soir. £43, Boots, Canada Place
ode to audemars
This three piece, limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication doesn’t officially launch until January 2013. Watch out. POA audemarspiguet.com
ELECTRIC AVENUE
The Loewe Individual lives up to its name offering a whole host of customisation options to personalise the TV. On the tech-side of things, it has LED backlighting, full HD 400 Hz motion picture and a 500GB built-in hard drive. £2,100, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place
dear diary
Purveyors of the smartest deskdwelling stationery in town, Smython’s Panama diary comes up trumps for its compact size and fabulous colour range. £42, gold stamping £6.95 per letter, smythson.com
bucket list
Craft a tailor-made visual gift with a professional homevideo. Bucket List can produce a five-minute film of exquisite quality using your personal video footage and pictures. Smile for the camera. POA, bucketlistfilm.com
december 2012 CW 11
fh foodie heaven
Go haute couture with macaron master Pierre Hermé as he assesses what flavours, ingredients and colours best match the lucky receiver. From £8,000, pierreherme.com
galactic travel
hindmarch
The Bloon system uses inert helium gas for a quiet and graceful ascent near space. Choose any takeoff or landing location as well as your favourite Michelin-starred inflight meal. Panoramic views included. From £95,000, givetruly.com
Filled with handwritten messages, pictures and memories, gifts don’t come more personal than Anya’s Ultimate Box. From £1,595, anyahindmarch.com
impact point
Buildings, cars, ships, spacecraft; you name it and designer extraordinaire Ian Stevens will make it. This WWII era Boeing B17 Flying Fortress blew our minds. POA, bespoke-impact.com
jo malone
Mix and match your favourite scented goodies to suit your mother’s, father’s, brother’s, sister’s, friends’ or colleagues’ tastes: talking from experience, one can never have too many Vanilla flavoured candles. Hint hint. POA, dependent on products, Jubilee Place
gift guide
luggage LOVE
kirkwood crush
Meet the fashion icon himself and let him craft your ideal heels. Aye aye Captain Kirk. POA, gift-library.com
Williams British Handmade travelling trunk marries historical craftsmanship with quirky innovation to produce a luggage collection that’s wonderfully twisted, albeit functional. The bespoke service enables you to tailor dimensions, colours and finishes. Pack and go. Travelling trunk, £8,500 quintessentiallygifts.com
m mad for monogram
Head to Bottega Veneta and put your stamp on some super smart accessories. POA, bottegavenetainitials.com
nail it
Choose your colour, cap and any shade name then personalise your luxurious gift box with fun stickers. £20, Nails Inc., Cabot Place
philip treacy
Designed by Philip for Asprey, the cracker contains an elaborate pop-up hat, ribbon shaped confetti, a festive joke and a collector’s silver thimble, engraved with Philip Treacy’s signature. One of the 80 crackers includes a winning ticket for a bespoke Treacy hat. £1,500, asprey.com
oliver goldsmith
Widely renowned as the father of fashion eyewear, Oliver Goldsmith started out in the 60s, rapidly propelling his couture sunglasses to the forefront of style. If they’re good enough for Grace Kelly, they’re good enough for me. From £550, quintessentiallygifts.com
december 2012 CW 13
racer boy
quiet time
Only 888 of these handmade Ultrasone Edition 8 Limited headphones exist, each excellent at delivering quality sound and isolating outside noise. They’re pretty stylish, too. £1,349, harrods.com
McLaren Special Operations can create any super-car you fancy. This particular beauty was inspired by Audrey Hepburn and, erm, an aubergine. Each to their own. POA, mclaren.com
makes scents
Let Lyn Harris, of the fabulous Miller Harris, match your scent to your sensibility. The process can take up to three months but is well worth the wait. £8,000, 020 7221 1545
ed’s pick TANZANITE
This limited edition anniversary tanzanite necklace totals just over 175 carats with a cascade of brilliant cut round diamonds in platinum. There’s a matching ring, too. POA, Tiffany & Co. , Cabot Place © Tiffany & Co.
umbrella, ella ...
Select an oak, ash or chestnut shaft, a nylon or silk canopy, and a plated gold or silver collar engraved with your initials. Just don’t leave it on the tube. POA, swaineadeney.co.uk
gift guide
voyage, Bon!
Take your loved ones on a holiday of a lifetime. Abercrombie & Kent will plan every last detail; what you want and where you want it, while you sit back with a G&T and the in-store bar.
whisky wonder
This Walker Blue Label Private Bar is reserved only for the most discerning game changers. Designed exclusively by Porsche Design Studio, this made to measure bar takes home entertainment to new levels. POA, quintessentiallygifts.com
POA, 82 Cheapside, EC2V
x
s yacht class
= 8 points in scrabble
This set boasts navy and cream leather with zebrano surround but you can customise yours with up to 11 different hues. £3,600, davidlinley.com
Naval architects Dubois Yachts design beautiful bespoke superyachts. Dubois’ largest project so far, code-named design 380, is destined not only to be the world’s largest sloop-rigged sailing yacht, but also one of the most spectacular and technologically advanced vessels ever built. POA, duboisdesign.com
zagliani
Choose your bag size, style, crocodileskin-colour and lining with this new atelier, made to order service. POA, 8 Sloane Street, 0207 235 4124
december 2012 CW 15
W O R L D C L A S S T R AV E L L E R S
David Beckham. A global icon who insists on perfection. Precision and style. A legend forged by accomplishments. On his wrist is the Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime, the ultimate traveller’s watch. Manufacture Breitling Calibre B05, officially chronometer-certified by selfwinding chronograph. Universal time function enabling permanent readings of the time in all 24 timezones thanks to a patented mechanism and a supremely user-friendly crown-operated correction system. Comfort and elegance for first-class travellers. Signed Breitling.
For your nearest stockist in Great Britain and Ireland telephone 020 7637 5167
BREITLING.COM
ÂŁ8460*
*RRP. Subject to change without notice.
the COSC, endorsed by a 5-year Breitling warranty. High-performance
collection
REPORT
a time
I
& a place
Equipped with safes, humidors and MP3 stereos, Buben&Zörweg Objects of Time do much more than monitoring the minutes of the day, writes RICHARD BROWN
f you’re the sort of person who appreciates the intricacies of mechanical timepieces, chances are you’ll value the exquisite craftsmanship that can go into housing them. Driven by the same admiration of exceptional engineering, Germany’s Buben&Zörweg have been exploring the limits of technology and workmanship since 1995. Founded by two childhood friends, Gröbminger Harald Buben and Christian Zörweg, within just a few years the company had become the market leader in the design and manufacture of watch winders and mechanical table and wall clocks. Combining their two areas of expertise – watch winding and timekeeping – in 2006 Buben&Zörweg created their first Objects of Time;
multi-functional models that in addition to winders and clocks boasted cigar humidors, liquor bars, safes and high-performance hi-fi systems. The company’s Grand Collector XL (above left, €76,900) features a high-security safe, 60 watch winders and a Buben&Zörweg signature clock. Elsewhere, its Orbit Tourbillon Connoisseur (above right, € 78,800) comes equipped with a humidor, bar and an optional HiFi system with Bluetooth and iPhone/iPod docking station. More than simply somewhere to store your treasured possessions, Buben&Zörweg’s elegant creations are sure to form the focal point of any interior space. buben-zorweg.com
Swiss movement, English heart
Swiss made / 250 piece limited edition / ETA Valjoux 7750 self-winding chronograph with ĂŠlaborĂŠ finish / Bi-compax, galvanic, sapphire blue dial / 45 hour power reserve 316L stainless steel case / 43mm diameter / Transparent case back / Blue alligator deployment strap
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Out of this World
Unless you’ve been holed up in a cave for the last six weeks, you will have either seen, heard or read that Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner has become the first human to break the speed of sound under gravity alone. In doing so with the all-new El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th chronograph on his wrist, Baumgartner made Zenith the first watch manufacturer to have a timepiece cross the sound barrier in a near space environment, a fitting claim for a watch already equipped with the world’s most accurate automatic chronograph movement. An exact replica of the watch worn by Baumgartner can be purchased from Zenith stockists for £6,100. Zenith, Charles Fish, Cabot Place
watches For treasured timepieces, horological heirlooms and modern masterpieces, watch this space...
A Master Meets a Master
Mechanical Masterpieces
The company produces one of the most complex and revered grand complications in watchmaking so it’s no surprise that when Patek Philippe invited VIP customers and members of the press to view a unique collection of 18 Minute Repeaters, the invitations were snapped up immediately. The exhibition, hosted on 10 and 11 October in London’s Lancaster House, was attended by Patek President Thierry Stern and included the Patek Philippe Ladies First Minute Repeater (Ref. 7000R) and the Patek Philippe Minute Repeater Monopusher Chronograph. Only eclipsed by the grand/petite sonnerie in its complexity, the minute repeater will sound the time to the nearest minute upon demand. Patek Philippe David M Robinson, Jubilee Place
Berlin’s Kraftwerk building formed the backdrop for the international unveiling of the Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher Chronograph in October. The converted ex-power station welcomed journalists from around the world to its disused confines as Audemars Piguet presented its latest horological collaboration. Two blue and five red stars on the watch’s dial symbolise Schumacher’s record seven championship victories, while a black and white scale pattern pays homage to the checkered flags the legendary driver achieved. The 1,600 limited edition watches come in titanium (£31,550), 18-karat pink gold (£55,000) and platinum (£83,590). audemarspiguet.com
DECEMBER 2012 CW 19
2
the power
Purple of
In a season where berry shades dominated fashion catwalks, purple reigns supreme. This A/W12, pick the gifts and accessories devoted to the primary colour of luxury and extravagance
6 1 PAM00496 watch, £28,500, Panerai, available in David M Robinson, Jubilee Place 2 Small and medium Explorer holdall, £399 and £485 respectively, Tusting, tusting.co.uk 3 Leather hip flask, £90, Thomas Lyte, thomaslyte.com 4 Calfskin pocket jotter, £70, Noble Macmillan, noblemacmillan.com 5 Zip-top pouch, £120, Gucci, gucci.com 6 Playing cards, £75, Asprey, www.asprey.com 7 Woven-wool bow tie, £95, Alexander Olch, olch.com 8 Sterling purple cufflinks, £56, Ettinger, ettinger.co.uk
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9 Collection Excellence Platine: Patrimony Contemporaine Automatic, £41,530, Vacheron Constantin, vacheron-constantin.com 10 Bale magenta and navy club stripe tie £24.95, Charles Tyrwhitt, Canada Place 11 London Triple Satchel Bordeaux, £995, Dunhill, Cabot Place 12 Vintage PW1 pocket watch £1,800, Bell & Ross, available at Charles Fish, Cabot Place 13 Elephant daisy printed tie, £65, Thomas Pink, Cabot Place 14 Sunburst lilac cufflinks, £175 Aspinal of London, Cabot Place 15 Travel backgammon set, £250, Aspinal of London, as before
december 2012 CW 21
Precision
SalonQP has taken just four years to cement its place on the international watch event calendar. Taking up residence in the Saatchi Gallery for the second year running, 2012’s event proved that in a sea of economic instability, the watch industry remains as buoyant as ever, writes Richard Brown
A
sk the CEO of any high-end watch manufacturer how the ‘Great Recession’ has affected their business and they’ll tell you it hasn’t. They’ll talk about new ventures in new (eastern) markets and lyricise about innovation and streamlining but words like cut-backs and redundancies aren’t ones you’ll hear in the watch-making world. No; expansion, openings and launches are the words leaving the lips of the industry’s most senior servants. As belts have tightened across other areas of the global economy, there has been no let-up in the demand for Swiss-made timepieces. Despite hiccups in 2009, when Switzerland’s exports slowed for the first time in several recordbreaking years, exports to markets across the world have been swelling ever since. Indeed, according to figures released from
the Swiss Watch Industry Federation last year, of Patek Philippe, Rolex and Omega’s 2010-11 top 30 markets, only Taiwan reported a slump. And of the British watch-making industry? While it may have been slow to capitalise on the sector’s unprecedented growth, Britain now boasts a roster of burgeoning brands. In the year that a George Daniels auction achieved more than £8.2 million at Sotheby’s, Bremont opened its first stand-alone store, Peter Speake-Marin launched no less than four new timepieces and Schofield sold out of both of its debut collections. So this brings us to this year’s SalonQP. As was the case in 2011, the Saatchi Gallery played host as a mix of media, industry moguls and horological fanatics descended on the UK’s only fine watch exhibition. Amongst a programme packed with discussions, workshops and interactive watchmaking activities, 54 brands were present, spanning from industry heavyweights
collection
like Vacheron Constantin and Girard-Perregaux to smaller independent makers including Urwerk and MB&F. What, then, constituted highlights? Worthy of note were those watches making their debuts at the show. When we interviewed TAG Heuer’s Honorary Chairman Jack Heuer back in the summer he spoke extensively about the company’s MikrotourbillonS. Enjoying its first UK outing, the timepiece impressed not only by virtue of being regulated by the world’s fastest tourbillion but also as a result of its sleek styling and split-dial design. The presence of the Meridian Watch Company heralded the entrance of a brand new marque to the watch-making arena, and (by manufacturing their creations on home soil) an English one at that. Indeed, Made-in-England became a recurring theme. In addition to the likes of Bremont, Robert Loomes and Schofield, Speake-Marin was also promoting the best of British. Boasting a new movement, dial and case, yet retaining the sophistication that has come to signify the brand, the company’s Spirit Mark 2 proved particular popular. In 2011, a customised Harley Davidson bejewelled with a Bell & Ross timepiece drew some of the biggest crowds. This time, it was an example of seafaring, rather than road-faring, engineering that attracted attention. For 130 years, Englishman Thomas Mercer was the undisputed leader in marine chronometers. Testament, again, to the current revival of British horology, 2012 saw the welcome relaunch of this venerable brand. The Thomas Mercer Classis chronometer features an ebony body produced by the internationally renowned furniture manufacturer Linley and a façade emblazoned with the silhouettes of the most celebrated ships from the age of discovery. You’d certainly want one in your study. Fresh off the back of winning 00:24 Watch World magazine’s 2012 Readers’ Watch of the Year award with its Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon Ceramic XV, Ball presented its collaborative effort with BMW. Paying homage to the distinctive hallmarks of the German manufacturer’s automobiles, the American watchmaker has produced a range of lightweight, shock-absorbing watches. While they’re unlikely to find as much favour as the Hydrocarbon Ceramic XV, the range’s sharp looks and defined angles will appeal to those with a penchant for the sportier timepiece. Those who ventured up to the Saatchi Gallery’s second floor were treated to a unique collection of one-off timepieces presented by Harrods. Commissioning the likes of Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Franck Muller and more to produce stand-alone pieces,
the department store found a novel way of celebrating the first anniversary of its Fine Watch Room. With a case, bezel, crown and bracelet adorned with 621 brilliant-cut diamonds, Audemars’ 7.45 carat Ladies Tuxedo Automatique gave bling-lovers something over which to salivate, while Roger Dubuis’ intricate Excalibur World Time was reinvented with the substitution of its ‘London’ time zone for a ‘Harrods’ time zone, a quirky twist on an already eccentric piece. In a gallery featuring watches as complicated as Harry Winston’s Opus 12 and as high-tech as the Slyde by HD3, it was fascinating to enter Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie’s enchanting Mastery of Time. Featuring mesmerising artefacts from as far back as the 15th century, the exhibition highlighted the sort of history and passion that has rendered the watch industry seemingly recession-proof. BMW Power Reserve, Ball
Opus 12, Harry Winston
Expansion, openings and launches are the words leaving the lips of the industry’s most senior servants
MikrotourbillonS, TAG Heuer
december 2012 CW 23
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jewellery Jewels, gems, pearls and diamonds; the essential components of any lady’s jewellery collection
A Truly Royal Occasion With 16 years of experience and 7,000 private commissions of fine statement jewellery under its belt, Robinson Pelham was an unsurprising, and perfect, solution for Carole and Michael Middleton when they had to choose a brand to commission to create bespoke earrings for their daughter, Kate Middleton, which she would wear on her wedding day as she became the Duchess of Cambridge. Previously by appointment only, the fine jewellery brand has finally opened its first flagship store on Elystan Street in Kensington, which aims to promote the brand’s ready-to-wear collection. As a result of this, the trio behind the brand – Vanessa Chilton, Zoe Benyon and Kate Pelham Burn – has also launched six new collections, all of which will be available alongside the couture commission service. New season ready-to-wear collections, ranging from £1,000 to £20,000, will include Elystan, in honour of their new home, along with Drusy, Orb, Champagne and Maratea. robinsonpelham.com
Cutting Edge
Imaginary Nature
In celebration of its 175th anniversary, Tiffany & Co presents its Legacy collection, featuring the precious gem stones the jeweller initially introduced to the world. Executive vice president at Tiffany & Co. Jon King comments:
“The story of how these gemstones were discovered and introduced is truly inspiring. Our 175th anniversary is the perfect occasion to celebrate our heritage by showcasing these exquisite stones in one-of-a-kind jewels which so perfectly reflect Tiffany’s brilliant design legacy”
24 CW december 2012
ed’s pick Anniversary Morganite necklace and matching earrings, POA Tiffany & Co., Cabot Place, Canary Wharf
Jewellery designers have often looked to nature to find their inspiration. At the recent Biennale des Antiquaires exhibition in Paris, Wallace Chan’s display of delicate butterfly jewellery pieces was the talk of the show. Although Van Cleef & Arpels’ Palais de la Chance collection mainly drew upon eternal symbols of luck and fortune, the French jewellery house managed to incorporate its signature organic designs with floral patterns and a Coccinelle (ladybird) Mysterieuse clip. Entitled Imaginary Nature, De Beers’ latest seven-piece all-white diamond and platinum jewels aim to capture that moment of metamorphosis in nature; for example, a bird about to draw its wings or a flower on the brink of bloom. debeers.com
Hand mate.
Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month. Ref. 3791: In the days when the Spitfire conquered the skies, there was no shortage of heroes. And where there were heroes, there were bad guys, too. Anyone up there without a wingman could only rely on his instincts – and his IWC. Today, the IWC Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month comes with up to 68 hours power reserve and a glass secured against drops in air pressure, all designed to give pilots a feeling of security. Which thanks to the perpetual calendar will last for centuries to come. Mechanical chronograph movement | Self-winding | 68-hour power reserve when fully wound | Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds | Hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock | Flyback function | Small hacking seconds | Digital perpetual calendar | Leap year display | Screw-in crown | Sapphire glass, convex, antireflective coating on both sides | Water-resistant 6 bar | 18 ct red gold |
IWC. Engineered for men.
Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, London, E14 5NY. Telephone : 020 7538 2332 w w w.davidmrobinson.co.uk
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ed’s pick
2 8
Midnight in
Paris As time turns its hands to darkness with the changing of the clocks, sparkle this winter in ice-white diamonds, glacial crystals and translucent sapphires
6 1 Cabochon Falls necklace, POA, Harry Winston Water Collection, harrywinston.com 2 Ladies vintage watch in 18-karat white gold case with pavé diamond bezel and silver coloured dial £5,250, Asprey, asprey.com 3 Main de Fatma earrings, POA, Van Cleef & Arpels, vancleefarpels.com 4 Cultured South Sea pearl opera length necklace with diamond petal clasp in platinum POA, Tiffany & Co., Cabot Place 5 W900 Belisama diamond automatic watch, £1,150, Christopher Ward, christopherward.co.uk 6 Tonda crystal-embellished leather clutch, £320 Diane Von Furstenberg, NET-A-PORTER.com 7 Art Deco platinum, sapphire and diamond ring, £6,450 Heirlooms, NET-A-PORTER.com
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13 8 Cosmos watch in white gold and diamonds with a black satin strap, POA, Chanel, chanel.com 9 Cape Gooseberry pendant, POA, Mikimoto Regalia, mikimoto.co.uk 10 Magnolia necklace POA, Mikimoto Regalia, as before 11 1920s platinum, diamond and sapphire earrings, £5,300, Heirlooms, NET-A-PORTER.com 12 Dolphin ring in 18-karat white gold, POA, Boodles Wonderland Collection, boodles.com 13 La Mini D de Dior 19mm watch in white gold with falcon eye dial and diamonds, £7,800, Dior, dior.com 14 Rhodium-plated cubic zirconia earrings, £155, Kenneth Jay Lane, NET-A-PORTER.com 15 Fuchsia bracelet, POA, Mikimoto Regalia, as before 16 Crystal butterfly headband, £295, Miu Miu, miumiu.com
december 2012 CW 27
NEWS Canary WHARF Christmas Run will bring happiness to London’s most poorly children This Christmas more than 100,000 children will spend time in hospitals and hospices across the UK. Nearly 20,000 of those children will be undergoing treatment in London. For some of these children, this could be their last Christmas. The Starlight Children’s Foundation is giving companies in the capital a chance to light up these little lives at a time when they need it most. At 12:12pm on 12 December 2012, hundreds of festive runners will complete a 1.2 mile course around the Canary Wharf business and shopping district to help raise funds for Starlight’s Christmas of Happiness Campaign. The campaign aims to restore the magic of Christmas to the thousands of children in hospital, providing festive entertainment to seriously and terminally ill children in London. To register a team for Starlight’s 12 Days of Christmas Run, please email gabbi.ray@starlight.org.uk.
Canary Wharf Appoints ITS First Jewish Chaplain
The expanding Canary Wharf Chaplaincy has appointed Rabbi Dr. Moshe Freedman as its first dedicated Jewish Chaplain. The Canary Wharf Chaplaincy serves the community working and living in the Canary Wharf area, giving pastoral care and spiritual support. Rabbi Freedman will be working with the Chaplaincy Team one day a week work providing an open door and a listening ear to the Canary Wharf working population of all faiths and none. In addition, he will provide support for Canary Wharf’s Jewish community and faith advice for the companies in the area. Rabbi Freedman joins a Chaplaincy team which already includes Anglicans Reverend Dr. Fiona Stewart-Darling, Reverend Evan Jones and Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, a Roman Catholic Priest. The Canary Wharf Chaplaincy is in the process of recruiting a Muslim Chaplain, who they aim to have in place early in the new year.
future london Future London, an event staged by WIRED Consulting, leading business group London First and headline partner Canary Wharf Group, recently took on the challenge of planning the capital’s future following a successful 2012. Staged at the East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, the event featured highprofile guest speakers from the public and private sectors, including London’s burgeoning start-up community, sharing insights into how the capital needs to lead, build and create to secure its future status as a world-leading city. Among the speakers were Sir George Lacobescu, Chairman and Chief Executive of Canary Wharf Group, Rohan Silva, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office and Gavin Starks, CEO of the Open Data Institute. Further details at future-london.com.
Children’s Festive Activities Every weekend from Saturday 1 to Sunday 23 December plus Monday 24 December 11am - 5pm FREE Art & Craft Workshops FREE Festive Face Painting FREE Magical Treasure Trail Visit Santa’s Grotto* plus Monday 17 to Monday 24 December 11am - 5pm Visit Santa’s Grotto* *Visits to Santa’s Grotto cost £2. See below for supported charity.
Canary Wharf
bARS & RESTAuRAnTS • FAShion & STylE • ARTS & EVEnTS canarywharf.com
3 hours
free parking
AT WEEkEndS And bAnk holidAyS WhEn you SPEnd £10 AT CAnARy WhARF TERMS And CondiTionS APPly.
Santa’s Grotto proceeds will be donated to Variety, The Children’s Charity.
weekend Experience something special this season: discover a festive programme full of free events for children, as you shop, eat and skate your way through Canary Wharf’s Christmas offerings
Visit Santa’s Grotto Start the weekend by getting into the festive spirit. Returning from Saturday 1 December to Monday 24 December, Santa’s Grotto is back with a whimsical and magical theme. Children can meet Santa and whisper their wish list for the big day on every weekend in the month as well as the week leading up to Christmas. Visitors to Santa’s Grotto are asked to make a £2 donation to Variety, The Children’s Charity.
Church’s English Shoes, Cabot Place
Shop until you drop Canary Wharf boasts a variety of fabulous shops so use Saturday afternoon to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Alfred Dunhill, Aquascutum and Hackett share a proud British Heritage and each will cater to the needs of any man in need of a ready-to-wear or exquisitely tailored suits. Women in the hunt for cutting edge, fashion-forward pieces need only pay a visit to Hugo Boss, Jaeger London Womenswear, Massimo Dutti or Whistles. Alternatively, for the most fabulous in footwear, ladies can make for either Church’s English Shoes, Kurt Geiger, or L.K.Bennett. For gifts, you’ll find ideas for both him and her at British luxury leather company Aspinal of London. The Cabot Place store carries the brand’s extensive range of bags and accessories and each product comes beautifully gift wrapped.
Jamie’s Italian, Churchill Place
Family Friendly The restaurants of Canary Wharf are embracing the festive season through their Christmas menus. At Iberica Canary Wharf there will be a festive feast of fine Spanish food and wines. The restaurant’s extensive wine list features several wines which are only available at Iberica outside of Spain. Wildwood, where kids eat free every weekend if accompanied by an adult purchasing a main course, offers salads, pizzas, pastas and grills. Over at Jamie’s Italian, the Christmas menu caters for the whole family by including three tantalising courses, home-made mince pies and a glass of Prosecco.
Aquascutum, Cabot Place
L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place
SHOPPING
Stay at the sumptuous Four Seasons As evening turns to night, make for the luxurious confines of Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf. Rest your feet in one of their 142 spacious, renovated guest rooms and suites, and take in stunning views of the Thames from large bay windows and plush leather window seats. Before bed, sample some of the finest and most authentic Italian cuisine in the area at the hotel’s stylish Quadrato Restaurant. Like the food, the atmosphere in the restaurant is all about refined simplicity. The casual yet elegant design is set off by a glass partitioned exhibition kitchen whose chefs consistently turn out imaginative cuisine.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf
Indulge at Roka Start your Sunday leisurely with Brunch at Roka. The renowned restaurant’s brunch menu features suckling pig and a selection of dishes from the main kitchen and Robata grill, including Roka’s acclaimed dessert platters. The £42 Weekend Brunch includes a Bellini or Bloody Mary on arrival and wine throughout. While brunch at Roka is complimentary for children under ten, there’s also the option of letting Iberica Canary Wharf look after the little ones. The restaurant’s menu is overseen by a two Michelin-star chef, and every Sunday will provide children with fun Spanish lessons using play, games and songs between 12 – 3pm. ROKA, Canada Square
Something for the little ones On weekends in December and on Christmas Eve families are invited to enjoy a programme of free children’s festive activities throughout Canary Wharf. Activities include art and craft workshops, face painting, a festive treasure hunt and a magical mirror installation. Children can visit Cabot Place, Canada Place, Churchill Place and Jubilee Place to have their face painted, or alternatively visit Canada Place to decorate a scrumptious cookie or cupcake courtesy of Sweet Couture Cake Boutique.
Skate Ice Rink Canary Wharf Running until 13 January, and nestled under the soaring buildings of Canada Square, Ice Rink Canary Wharf is back with a new team and a sparkling new look for this season with London’s first and only skate path. Surrounded by the shops, bars and restaurants of Canary Wharf, a visit to the ice rink offers a unique skating experience with a spectators area, skate lessons and an exclusive Boisdale On Ice pop up bar. It is a perfect activity for both children and grown-ups, and an ideal way to conclude the weekend before making the journey home. In addition at weekends, you can enjoy 3 hours’ free parking in any of our public car parks when you spend £10 at any shop, café, bar or restaurant in Canary Wharf.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square
www.canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
Studio High-definition Headphones, Beats by Dr Dre, £207, HMV Canada Place
Cambridge Navy Scarf £49, Gant Canada Place
Bohème Arabesque Azur Fountain Pen £855, Montblanc Canada Place
Kontor, Crystal Button Cufflink, £55 Ted Baker, Canada Place
Golf Zip Case, £100 Alfred Dunhill, Cabot Place
Formal Leather Belt £155, Aquascutum Cabot Place
his christmas
wish list fRom watches and wallets to gadgets and
gizmos, Canary wharf provides the one stop shop for the men in your life
London Capital Black Shoe, £275 Church’s English Shoes Cabot Place
Boss Black, £49 Hugo Boss, Cabot Place Billfold Coin Wallet, £79 Aspinal Of London Cabot Place
BeoPlay A8, £949 Bang & Olufsen South Columnade
El Primero 36,000 VPH, £5500 Charles Fish Cabot Place
SHOPPING Snowflake pendant £1,925, Tiffany & Co. Cabot Place
Ladies stainlesssteel watch ‘HB105’ £280, Hugo Boss Cabot Place
Crystal panelled collar £55, Ted Baker Canada Place
Pomegranate Noir Luxury Candle, £38 Jo Malone, Jubilee Place
Enamel Silver Crystal Bracelet, £195 L.K. Bennett Jubilee Place
Diptyque Volutes Eau De Toilette, £50, Space NK Cabot Place
Effervescence Pearl Grey Ring, £175 Links of London Jubilee Place
Beaded Back Detail Dress, £195 Reiss Womanswear, Cabot Place and Reiss, Jubilee Place
she’ll love gorgeous gifts to put a smile on her face, choose from
glittering jewels, shimmering shoes and stunning accessories
Clutch, £199, Jaegar London, Cabot Place Sterling Silver Pocket Ballpoint Pen, £115 Aspinal of London Cabot Place
Lancome Ombre Magnetique Crease Resistant Eyeshadow, £23, Boots The Chemist Canada Place, Jubilee Place
Crystal encrusted peep toe £250, Karen Millen Jubilee Place
Catwick Belt, £45 Hobbs, Canada Place
www.canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
arts & events
festive fun for all WITH SINGING, SKATING AND SPECTACULAR WINTER LIGHTS, YOU’LL BE SURE TO HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS IN CANARY WHARF
ICE RINK CANARY WHARF Nestled under the soaring buildings of Canada Square and bathed in twinkling festive lights, the Ice Rink Canary Wharf is back with a brand new team and a sparkling new look for the 2012/13 season. Surrounded by the shops, bars and restaurants of Canary Wharf, a visit to the ice rink offers a unique skating experience to all. With a fantastic bar and spectators area, skate lessons and, in addition to a brand new rink design, London’s first skate path. It is perfect for children and grown-ups, solo skaters or office parties and is a wonderful location for that special festive romantic date. Until Sunday 13 January Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf Mon-Sat 9.45am – 11pm / Sun 9.45am - 7.30pm Visit skatecanarywharf.com for details of ticket prices and booking session times, skating lessons, party bookings and more
CAROLS & CANDLES SERVICE Enjoy the warmth and community spirit of this special faith service, delivered by Canary Wharf’s Chaplaincy, for those working in and around Canary Wharf and their families. Carols will be led by members of the Canary Wharf Community Choir and several Canary Wharf companies including the FSA, HSBC, KPMG and Rouse International. All proceeds from this year’s service go to support charities ‘It’s your Life’ and ‘Doctors of the World’, both based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Tuesday 11 December 5.30pm (doors open 5pm) & 7.30pm (doors open 7pm) East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street, Canary Wharf FREE (Pre-booking essential) To reserve your place* email: carolsandcandles@canarywharf.com *Maximum 4 per person
SING A LONG A CHRISTMAS SONG Do you love singing and love Christmas? Then the new Sing a Long a Christmas Song concert is the perfect evening for you. Warm up your vocal cords, blow away your singing cobwebs and come along to this feel good concert of much loved seasonal songs. With musical accompaniment from Greenwich’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire and an amateur choir, this concert is sure to get you in the festive mood!
Window Galleries The Art & Design galleries in Canada Place are open daily and showcase up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople.This month the galleries display:
Charlotte Cort-Koppel
The fascination with kinetic performance led Charlotte to explore how static materials can be manipulated to flow and perform around the body. The jewellery she has created moves with the human form instead of hindering its motion. Boasting continually changing elements, her pieces need to be worn in order to be experienced. cortkoppel.com
Tuesday 18 December 6.30pm (doors open 6pm) East Wintergarden, 43 Bank Street Canary Wharf FREE *Space is limited, unreserved, and available on a first come, first served basis. Full bar & cloakroom.
WINTER LIGHTS: ‘Voyage’ by Aether & Hemera: A Journey into Imagination Middle Dock, Canary Wharf Mid December to Mid February
This year’s Winter Lights installation has been specially created for Canary Wharf by Aether and Hemera, a partnership of architect Claudio Benghi and lighting artist Gloria Ronchi. Their company name comes from the ancient Greek god and goddess of brighter upper air and daylight. Enlivening Middle Dock during the dark winter months, ‘Voyage’ consists of 300 floating ‘paper boats’, illuminated from within by coloured dynamic LED lights that come alive at night, putting on a spectacular light show.
Carol Pintus
Carol has developed her exceptional skills in screen printing, often combining print and photography. She depicts the high-rise buildings of our capital as a reflection of today’s social order, giving an interesting personal view back to our modern society, often with a sense of earthly unbalance. carolpintus.co.uk
Chris Stoneman
Chris is an independent designer whose work sits between fine art and design. Drawing mostly from his film background, ‘Yolk’, relates loosely to the visual poetry of such films as ‘Closed Vision’ by Marc’O. The filament of the bulb leaks from its shell while still illuminated by its successor, the LED. cstoneman.com
The etymon of the word ‘voyage’ derives from Latin ’viāticum’, which means ’provision for travelling’. ‘Voyage’ aims to encourage viewers to travel and sail with absolute freedom to all the places they care to imagine. These colourful paper boats invite us all to make a transition from reality to the surreal, to re-live childhood memories and embrace our freedom. Blurring the lines between the real and hyper-real; ‘Voyage’ invites visitors to cross the borders of their imagination. Aether & Hemera’s installation is an interactive experience that people can engage with by mobile phone. aether-hemera.com For more information visit canarywharf.com
@yourcanarywharf
venues
REPORT
white
wedding
KARI ROSENBERG gets her nuptial planning hat on and falls in love with the East Wintergarden
I
f the usual country manors and grand London hotels just won’t do for the big day, venture further East – with as many as 500 guests in tow. The East Wintergarden boasts a stunning and unique exterior and interior, right in the heart of Canary Wharf. Licensed for every celebratory party you could possibly shake a stick at, the magnificent 27 metre high, glass arched ceiling and beautiful Italian marble floor combine to create a spectacular backdrop for any get-together. Situated just opposite Jubilee Park, bride and groom can pose for photos in front of the spectacular ornamental water features –
providing the weather behaves – while ceremonies can be hosted in either the main hall (for up to 500 guests seated), the Gallery, suspended above the main floor, (for up to 120), or the Promenade Room (which can seat in the region of around 40 revellers). And to make the big day even more memorable, why not opt for a horseback mounted groom or aerial gymnasts? Just another day at the East Wintergarden. Visit canarywharf.com/workwithus/theeastwintergarden Telephone 020 7418 2775/2725 or email eastwintergarden@canarywharf.com
We prefer not to be measured by dimensions. Unless it’s a new dimension of accuracy.
No fewer than four exceptional mechanisms enhance the precision of the RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON “Pour le Mérite”: the tiny fusée-and-chain transmission, the delicate tourbillon, the ultra-thin Lange balance spring, and – not least – the patented stop-seconds device for the tourbillon which makes it possible to
set the watch with one-second accuracy in the first place. Never before has an A. Lange & Söhne watch been endowed with so many complications that simultaneously enhance its rate accuracy, settability, and readability. And so, this remarkable timepiece truly deserves the honorary attribute “Pour le Mérite”.
Arije 165, Sloane Street London • George Pragnell 5 and 6, Wood Street, Stratford-upon-Avon Hamilton & Inches 87, George Street, Edinburgh • Harrods 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London Watches of Switzerland 16, New Bond Street, London • Wempe 43-44, New Bond Street, London Lange Uhren GmbH • Tel. +34 91 454 89 82 • www.lange-soehne.com
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news
For the Modern Dandy The last 12 months have seen Duchamp launch three concessions at Harvey Nichols stores, a concession in Bentalls, Kingston-Upon-Thames, as well as its very own online outlet. Now, for A/W12, the British brand introduces its first ‘shoppable’ catalogue. Designed for the city-based showman, the collection is a fusion of bold design and eyecatching colours guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd. For the weekend, there’s a range of designer tweeds; for the office party, dandy’s can opt for an attention-grabbing velvet jacket.
Brushed Velvet Jacket Balmain, £1,995 harveynichols.com
3
of the Best… Dinner Jackets
duchamplondon.com
for him From the boardroom to the bar, stay sharp, stay smart, stay stylish
Satin Trimmed Velvet Jacket VERSACE, £975, versace.com
ed’s pick
Peak Lapel Dinner Jacket, HACKETT, £450, Cabot Place
Chester Barrie’s Gold Label shirts, from £130
Rugby meets The Row Savile Row’s Chester Barrie has decided to launch its new Gold Label shirt collection and a selection of accessories exclusively in Selfridges. As the brand’s premium range, the collection showcases classic British styling and traditional English shirt-making. Accessories include brightly coloured cotton pocket squares, collar bars and bold hound’s-tooth check ties. The launch follows the Q&A session Chester Barrie helped organise to celebrate its sponsorship of Leicester Tigers back in October. chesterbarrie.co.uk
Personal styling. No shopping. Frankly, men don’t like shopping. Realising that, the team behind The Chapar are aiming to change the way we procure our clothes. Join the website, perform a ‘style profiling’ online or over the phone and your personal stylist will put together a trunk full of garments tailored to your size and tastes. The trunk is then delivered to your home or workplace and you have 10 days to try your clothes on before deciding what to send back. Simples. thechapar.com
december 2012 CW 39
feature
Back with a
Big Bang From the race track to the skate track… Ice Rink Canary Wharf returns to Canada Square Park this winter in partnership with FIFA and Formula 1 sponsor Hublot
I
n an industry dominated by century-old heavyweights, where reputation rules and tradition is king, Hublot’s rise to the top has been nothing short of staggering. An infant compared to its watchmaking counterparts, Hublot has gone from purveyor of obscure timepieces to producer of iconic wristwatches in just thirty years – thanks, in no small part, to a world-dominating marketing blitz and the industrious efforts of its ever-animated board chairman Jean Claude Biver. It’s a rise few would have anticipated back in 1980 when the company was founded. Then, when former Breil watchmaker Carlo Crocco made his first Hublot invention – a gold-cased piece featuring a rubber strap – his creative vision was one lost on the industry’s leather-strap-loving purists. Fast-forward a handful of years and Hublot had garnered a royal and celebrity-led clientele that included the King of Greece and the Prince of Monaco. It was a brand now firmly on the radar of watch aficionados. By the mid-90s, rubber straps had become standard kit on sports watches by brands as prestigious as Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. In 2005 Hublot launched the Big Bang, a watch that won the coveted ‘2005 Design Prize’ at the Geneva Grand Prix d’Horlogerie. Today, Hublot is the Official Watch partner of Formula 1, the certified
timekeeper for both FIFA and Manchester United and a headline sponsor of Ice Rink Canary Wharf. Returning for the eighth year but under new management, Ice Rink Canary Wharf will feature a Boisdale on Ice pop-up bar, a sparkling calendar of events – including Sinatra on Ice evenings every Tuesday – and London’s first skate track. “Hublot is delighted to be one of the sponsors of Ice Rink Canary Wharf,” said Grant Hopper, Hublot UK Brand Manager. “Innovation is a key criteria behind the brand. We feel that the link to the UK’s first ice skating track is on the same level as creating a first in watch making.” As the sole retailer for Hublot in the Canary Wharf area, and to celebrate the partnership between the watch manufacturer and Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Charles Fish is offering customers a two night stay in any Small Luxury Hotel of the World when they buy a Hublot watch from the Ice Rink pop-up store or the Cabot Place shop. A family run jeweller with a 180 year heritage, Charles Fish handpicks its watches and jewellery from the world’s top designers and best emerging talent. Look out for a Charles Fish representative and special Hublot watch display at key times on the ice. The Hublot Big Bang Steel Ceramic 44mm (pictured) is available from Charles Fish, Cabot Place, for £11,000. charlesfish.co.uk
Terms & Conditions: Offer available for the first five watches purchased. Watch must be purchased between the 3rd November 2012 and 13th January 2013. Subject to individual hotel’s availability, and does not include ‘black out’ periods i.e. Christmas, New Year’s & Bank Holidays. The booking request must be made at least six weeks in advance of intended stay. This voucher must be redeemed before 13/01/14. No refunds are available, this offer is only redeemable by the purchaser of the watch and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. This offer applies to accommodation only for the purchaser plus one guest (occupying the same room) and the recipient is responsible for any additional expenses and arrangements, including any food, necessary travel documents, passports and visas.
40 CW december 2012
See all offers
DESIGNSALE SAVE UP TO 50%
15% off all dining chairs and beds. Up to 40% off selected accessories. Save up to 50% on Ex-Display furniture. The BoConcept Design Sale is on! Enjoy great savings on beautiful chairs, bedroom furniture and accessories. Visit our store or go to www.boconcept.co.uk
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12/11/12 16:31:33
www.bachet.fr
news
for her This season’s most wearable trends for the chicest woman about town
Alberta Ferretti, £3,065 net-a-porter.com
Cover up from the late-night cold with an elegant fur wrap. From top: Burberry, £595 net-a-porter.com Karl Donoghue, £465 karldonoghue.com Lanvin, £1,520 harrods.com
Hervé Léger, £1,080, 29 Lowndes Street, SW1X 9HX, 020 7201 2590 store@herveleger.co.uk
lbd
No matter the occasion or the season, the right LBD never goes out of style. Choose this foor-length Burberry Prorsum evening gown and show a glimpse of skin with its subtle slashed front and cutaway back. For a more sultry look, Hervé Léger is the go-to brand for cocktail-party attire; the off-the-shoulder cut adding a hint of old-school glamour. Or if whimsical and feminine is more your look, go for the Alberta Ferretti delicate beaded number. Burberry Prorsum, £2,195 uk.burberry.com
“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress”
ed’s pick
— Karl Lagerfeld Add a touch of sparkle with a darling evening bag. From Top: Miss Dea, £3,570 dolcegabbana.com Lily, £595, mulberry.com
december 2012 CW 43
XXXXXX
winter Photography Peter Zownir Fashion Editor Lucie Dodds
Black velvet dress, £3,399 Lanvin at Harrods, harrods.com Grey pearl choker, £195, Merola 020 7351 9338, merola.co.uk Black Fatal tights, £23, Wolford, wolford.com Black patent stilettos, £375, Gina, gina.com Black hat, £169.99, Whiteleys at Fenwick Grey overcoat, £695, black tuxedo jacket, £495 waistcoat, £195, trousers, £255, white wing collar shirt, £110, cufflinks, £110 all Chester Barrie as before. Loafers, £6,950, Tom Ford, tomford.com xxxxxxxx 2012 CW 45
Animal Madelyn coat, £8,950, ivory duchess silk shirt, £1,100, black trousers, £790, black and gold platforms, £795, all Ralph Lauren Collection Black velvet Anthony jacket, £995, black trousers £275, white dress shirt, £225, black brogues, £500 all Ralph Lauren Black Label 020 7535 4600, ralphlauren.com Opposite Navy brocade coat, £1,250, black patent gilt belt, £420, both Temperley London temperleylondon.co.uk Black tuxedo jacket, £495, waistcoat, £195, trousers, £255, white wing collar shirt, £110 cufflinks, £110 all Chester Barrie, 020 7439 6079
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xxxxxxxx 2012 CW 47
Animal coat, £1,590, Joseph, 020 7610 8441 Burgundy twist dress, £1,250, Lanvin at Harrods as before. Brown suede over knee ‘April’ boots £895, Jimmy Choo, jimmychoo.com Black Fatal tights, £23, Wolford as before Opposite Ink jacquard coat, £4,190, georgette shirt £675, velvet skirt, £810, black leather gloves, £315 and black riding boots, £1,080 all Gucci 18 Sloane Street, 020 7235 6707, gucci.com Midnight blue tuxedo, £1,850, white evening shirt £225, studs cufflinks, £170, all Dunhill, Cabot Place Black brogues, £500, Ralph Lauren as before Hair & Make Up Enzo Volpe at HMS Creative using Guerlain A/W12 and Paul Mitchell
news
ed’s pick
Lancôme Petit Trésor in Fil d’Argent, £16.20 Boots, Canada Place
FESTIVE FRESH With the party season soon upon us and the frosty weather taking its toll on our skin and hair, it’s time to get winter-ready. MAC’s Glamour Daze collection has arrived just in time to provide the perfect pastel-pink lip while Chanel’s Rose Blush gives cheeks that just come in from the cold pinch of rosy colour. Complement these soft light shades with glistening gold eyes using Lancôme Ombre Hypnôse Mono; adorned with glitter, it gives a vibrant sparkling eye.
M.A.C Glamour Daze Lipstick in Beauty, £15.50 maccosmetics.co.uk
Chanel, Joues Contraste in Rose Initiale, £31, Boots Canada Place
Tried and tested treatments and products to keep you feeling fabulous
Treatment of the month LBD ready The party season brings with it copious cocktails and canapés, so some help getting into that little black dress can’t be a bad thing. The Rejuvenation Clinic & Medispa promises a ‘Bond girl silhouette’ after its fantastic two and a half hour LBD pamper session. Start with the detox salt body scrub to remove dead skin cells and encourage absorption of the mineral rich warm ESPA oils from the intense lymphatic drainage massage that follows at the hands of in-house expert Marion Le Gall. Finish off with an express facial and a sparkly OPI manicure and pedicure. Ursula eat your heart out.
Nail THE FESTIVE BEAUTY TRENDS WITH glittering VARNISH. CHOOSE butter London’s ‘Fairy Cake’ or ‘Scuppered’ shades for A metallic look that elegantly twinkleS. butter LONDON Holiday 2012 Lacquer Collection, £12 butterlondon.com
£160, The Rejuvenation Clinic & Medispa, Cabot Place
december 2012 CW 51
SKIN DEEP
Murad has become a global skincare phenomenon and a favourite with beauty editors. Rajdeep Sandhu talks to Dr Howard Murad, and his son Jeff, whilst getting a crash course in philosophy
N
ot every fatherson relationship has what it takes to make a family business work; especially when the son had no interest in the business and had spent years pursuing a career as a musician. But it’s clear to see that Dr. Howard Murad and his son Jeff Murad get on well enough to work together on the Murad skincare range. Despite seeing the future of the company in Jeff’s hands, Daddy
Murad is still clearly in charge. Dr Murad has an easy charm about him, that old school American class that leaves you a little in awe. It turns out that as well as leading a revolution in skincare he also fancies himself as a part time philosopher. He informs me in his velvet voice, “While I am telling you, what’s going to happen, I’ll give you some of my philosophy.” He doesn’t hold back either. His favourite saying “don’t let failure spoil your success” has clearly helped him to turn one medical practice in America into a global skincare company whose products are used in spas across the UK. It is a new arrival at the Reebok Spa in Canary Wharf that re-opened only a few months ago. Dr Murad was one of the first to create a skincare range with an in-depth medical knowledge backed by scientific research and clinical trials. He was also the first to use infomercials to sell skincare products and won awards for his innovation. Failure doesn’t seem to have got in his way. His progression into skincare began with a brief flirtation with engineering but in the end opted for medicine. “When I finished [medical school] our government was very nice to me and invited me to go to Vietnam and spend a year there during the war. At the time I thought I wanted to be a surgeon. I became a surgeon in Vietnam and I saw injury and horrible blood and stuff like that and decided maybe that’s not what I really want to do.” After opening up a practice he began creating his own bespoke products that weren’t available on the market, treating each patient individually. He hired beauty therapists
and electrologists to work in his medical office. “In the very early 1980s I had what is now considered a medi spa it’s a different version. From that I ended up opening a spa.” Creating products using Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA), taken from fruit and milk sugars, to tackle common problems of acne, ageing, cellulite and more. But the field has changed dramatically since he started his company in 1989 with just three products. Understanding skincare and the medical benefits has changed along with a greater obsession to stay younger for longer. “In the years that I started [it] was about treating people with psoriasis and eczema and skin cancer. You did not go to a dermatologist for a Botox shot because there was just no such thing and if you did have wrinkles the dermatologist would tell you ‘You know what, you’re just getting old, don’t worry about it’; they won’t tell you that now.” Dr Murad had always wanted his son Jeff to join the business but let him pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. Reminiscing over an Oingo Boingo concert that they went to when Jeff was seven years old, he tells me Jeff’s story from musician to scientist. “He never wanted to work with me and I never pushed it one way or another. I would have loved it but he didn’t. He wasn’t interested and he actually got a scholarship for music at NYU and was a really excellent musician.” After joining his father on a business trip to South East Asia, Jeff was lured into the trade and landed on his feet, with his first career job heading up a whole new department in his father’s skincare company on formulation and testing.
interview
Jeff says: “Initially it was just the globetrotting [that attracted me]. I took time in each department. Starting in customer care, I worked in the warehouse, then I started doing marketing. We didn’t really even have a product development department at that time. But I started working in the lab more and I promised myself I wouldn’t stop playing music. “But eventually I got to a point where I was out playing in clubs until three in the morning and then had to be in the office at nine am. It just wasn’t working anymore so I stopped playing. Once I started really working in the lab and putting all these different ingredients together and testing their effects, it really satisfied all of that
Dr Murad had always wanted his son Jeff to join the business but let him pursue his dreams of becoming a musician creativity I had been missing from not playing music anymore.” Despite a complete reversal in career paths, Jeff immerses himself into creating new products and has embraced his role for the past seven years. “I’ve always found music to be incredibly scientific.
It’s so mathematical the way you put different sounds together and music theory especially. It seems very different but the core concepts are much more similar than you would ever imagine. “I try everything, every raw material, every new product, every prototype [one of my] favourite Murad products [is] probably cleansing shave which is our cleanser shave cream in one and if I don’t have it with me I’ll grow a beard.” Proudly interjecting, Dr Murad says “that was the first product he developed on his own” as Jeff continues to talk in depth about peptides, botanicals and the difficulties in stabilising vitamin C. Dr Murad may be holding the reins for now but he has high hopes for the future of the business and when asked about Jeff’s success outdoing his own he says: “I really would hope so. That would be an excellent dream for me, that he would be more successful than I’ve been. If you can get the next generation to be more successful than you, than you have done your job as a parent.” With big plans for the future, they don’t see themselves as just a skincare range. As they open more inclusive health centres in hospitals, the Murad empire grows stronger and branches out of its current niche. Talking about the availability of these products at the Reebok Spa in Canary Wharf, Dr Murad says:
“The Reebok centre [has] everything that we talk about. It’s a place where you can get treatments for your skin; where we talk about nutrition, about exercise and improving your own self-image and esteem. “That is our inclusive health philosophy and probably if you had to pick one place that would be ideal for us, it would be in a gym, where people understand the benefits of overall health and visible wellbeing as well as emotional wellbeing.” Not just a father-son enterprise, the company is truly a family affair, with a daughter, nephew, brother and sister-inlaws working for the company. I begin to imagine scenes from Brothers and Sisters as Dr Murad states: “The nice thing about it is that it’s grown in a happy way. We get along well because each one has their area and feels comfortable in doing it and is very successful. It’s in a way magical, most family companies aren’t quite like that.” Dr Murad’s philosophical sayings left me with the distinct feeling that I’d had a counselling session with a doctor rather than a chat with a top businessman. So I’ll leave you with this: “have big flexible dreams with no limits so your opportunity will have no limits. When you limit yourself then you limit your opportunity. Reebok Sports Club, 16 - 19 Canada Square 020 7970 0912
5 of the best... dr murad products
4 Age Diffusing Firming Mask, £59.50
AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, £34
Essential-C Cleanser, £34
Essential-C Night Moisture, £57
5
Rejuvenating Lift for Neck & Décolleté, £63.50
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www.vgnewtrend.it
ph. Andrea Pancino C
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VG Studio at
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news
rocking reindeer Graham and Green use real reindeer skins for its rugs to retain the markings and colour of the hide. Either spread in front of the fireplace or beside your bed, or for a quirky take, hang from the living room wall. £165, grahamandgreen.co.uk
Games we play Ralph Lauren has triumphed with a modern twist on a traditional classic: the intuitive minimalist design of blackened nickel pieces against soft leather channels the timeless sophistication of a game best savoured for cold spells with good friends. Ralph Lauren Hammond Chess Set £1,700, amara.co.uk
Bright Lights
INTERIORS
Christmas is a sensory season where sights and tastes are gilded with the scents of festive winter pleasures. Fortuitously, French candlemaker Cire Trudon has taken its handmade, decadent creations to London. With a base of tobacco and leather and a top note of rum, La Grande Bougie in Ernesto, is heady with masculine warmth. £385, united-perfumes.com
Give your abode the attention it deserves with a stylish, seasonal spruce-up
Rustic Revival A log fire offers instant warmth and comfort from the crisp cold weather. Cox and Cox’s log basket complements cracked wood with zinc finished iron, great for storing timber or just for show. Light yet sturdy, the understated rawness of the metal offers practical style with a rustic nod to simple charm. £50, coxandcox.co.uk
ed’s pick
Buffed and waxed by hand, a quality leather armchair is never just for Christmas. £1,100, johnlewis.com
december 2012 CW 55
It’s
ELECTRIC... folding RRP:
£999
For stockist and further details: www.ebco-ebikes.co.uk t: 01926 437700
calibre
REPORT
Speedboat
Seduction
Last month we were at the Paris Motor Show reporting on Jaguar’s new F-type. This month, we present something equalling ogle-worthy; the company’s concept speedboat, writes Richard Brown
W
hile we weren’t in Scotland to witness the revealing of Jaguar’s concept speedboat first-hand, we did get sent the seductive press pictures to gawp at. Sleek, masculine and brawnylooking, the boat was designed by applying the same styling principles Jaguar use in the creation of its land-based machines. We’re told the boat has a gel coat fibreglass hull finished on top with natural teak decking, split by a carbon fibre fin inspired by
the iconic Jaguar D-Type. Jaguar’s heritage is subtly recognised a second time with fuel filler caps, inspired by the Series 1 XJ. The concept speedboat supports the launch of the XF Sportbrake, Jaguar’s answer to Audi’s A6 Avant and the BMW 5 Series. The most versatile derivative of the Jaguar XF, the sportbrake’s rear wheels are driven via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while the 2.2-litre engine helps make the car’s powertrain the most efficient to date. The XF Sportbrake went on sale in the UK and throughout Europe last month. Unfortunately for speedboat lovers, Jaguar has no plans to build a water vessel of any kind.
calibre The what, when and where of sport, motoring, gadgets and grooming
three of the best... iPod Docks
1 ElectroKID, £3,740, Absolute Sounds absolutesounds.com 2 SSB-1 Soundbar, £200, Crystal Acoustics crystalaudiovideo.com 3 i80 dock with f80 sound system, £2,100 meridian-audio.com
ed’s pick Tee-Off Time
Forget denim-phobic dress codes and the snobbery of the clubhouse, at Urban Golf you don’t even need your clubs. The indoor golf operator’s simulators are the most accurate and graphically realistic out there, allowing you to play 60 of the world’s most celebrated courses from the comfort of one of the three London venues. Visit the Smithfield location to play, practise, learn or compete. Alternatively, sit back and enjoy a clubhouse vibe like no other. A player or group of players can hire a simulator after 5pm on a Friday for £25 per hour. For private Christmas parties call 020 7248 8600. urbangolf.co.uk
three of the best... Headphones
1 Urbanears Plattan, £50, Urbanears, urbanears.com 2 MM 450 X Travel Bluetooth Wireless £299.95, Sennheiser, audioaffair.co.uk 3 WeSC Banjo Blanery Green, £49.99 iheadphones, theheadphonecompany.co.uk
news
The Gift of Flight If you thought the pinnacle of virtual reality existed in what your PlayStation can provide, then think again. This Christmas, for the ultimate gift, give the ultimate in gaming. So realistic are British Airways’ flight simulators that once a newly qualified pilot has passed their test in one, the next thing they’ll fly is a fully-boarded commercial aircraft. Not only can the £10 million machines mimic weather conditions, events and real world scenarios, they can be programmed to simulate taking off and landing at any airport BA fly to, at any time of the day. Hour-long sessions in a Boeing 737 simulator start from £399 and in a Boeing 777 from £449. Two or three hour flights are also available. ebaft.com
three of the best... Compact Cameras
ed’s pick
Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V, £350 Sony, sony.co.uk
Lumix DMC-LX7, £450, Panasonic panasonic.co.uk
X10, £529, Fujifilm fujifilm.eu
Steelish Style Its resistance levels work by generating a concentrated magnetic field using a copper ring which is rotated in front of six magnets. How and why exactly? We’re not quite sure. But what we are sure of is that in terms of aesthetics, the new Ciclotte Steelish is about the best looking exercise bike on the market. Designed to reproduce the dynamics and performance of road cycling, the bike is perfect for high intensity aerobic workouts. It makes for a stunning piece of furniture too. The new Ciclotte Steelish retails at £7,400 plus VAT. ciclotte.com
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promotion
the cycle
REVOLUTION
A new generation of electric bikes is fuelling the quiet revolution taking the capital by storm
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athering speed along the cycle lanes and commuter routes of London is a new kind of bicycle that could just be the answer to the prayers of Londoners needing a comfortable, fun and efficient way to get around. Electric bikes have come a long way since the early days of what seemed like a car battery strapped to an ugly and heavy bike. The modern ebike uses state-of-the-art technology from lithium batteries (think laptops and smartphones) to high-torque brushless motors to deliver a smooth, comfortable and enjoyable ride. It’s not just the technology that’s come on. The new generation of ebikes has been developed to look as good as they ride. Worldrenowned designers have been engaged, the likes of Pinifarina (the designers responsible for styling Ferrari and Maserati) for instance, have ensured that the new ebikes have stunning lines, while being comfortable and easy to ride. A great example of the new breed of ebike brands is Solex. The company that sold more than eight million scooters in the cool café-culture of post-war Europe was recently relaunched selling ebikes and escooters. All the models have been designed by Pinifarina and have combined the looks of an Italian sports car with the technology of a Japanese electronics giant. The results speak for themselves with Ebco UCR-30: Winner of ‘Best Buy’, The Sunday Times, September 2012 the ‘Solexity’ recently appearing in the must have section of the FT’s How to Spend It and the ‘Velosolex’ folding ebike singled out by The Sunday Times for its looks.
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Another new ebike brand breaking onto the scene is EBCO. Developed specifically for the UK market, the EBCO range includes models that can be bought through the Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme and include great details such as wet weather kits and ergocomfort riding packs as standard, all of which help cope with both the weather and the often poor quality roads of the UK. With ranges of up to 50 miles, these ebikes make the ideal way to get around. It’s no surprise that the The Sunday Times’ In-Gear gave EBCO’s UC30 a ‘Best Buy’ award when stacked up against four other leading ebike models. They said of the UC30, giving it four stars (out of five): “Priced smartly and well designed for commuters.” It is no accident that there are some great new ebikes appearing on our streets at the moment. Ebikes are a global phenomenon and are fast becoming the preferred mode of transport in many European cities and beyond. This has been proven by sales figures from around the world. In Germany, one in every ten bikes sold is an ebike. By far the single biggest driving force of this revolution is the development of the technology. With more efficient and reliable motors and lighter batteries, the ebike is a great way to travel, but buyers are now faced with more choice and the possibility of more confusion. Now, more than ever, it is really important to make sure that if you’re buying an ebike you’re buying the right one for you. EBC Ltd is the leading UK based specialist distributor focused on nothing but ebikes. With a number of quality brands and a service centre at its Midlands HQ it has become the leader with regards to all things ebikes. Recently nominated for an industry award, there is nowhere better to find out information and discover why ebikes could be the transport solution for Londoners. For more information on ebikes, and where to try and buy, just visit: ebco-ebikes.co.uk Call 01926 437700 or email info@ebco-ebikes.co.uk
Brighten up your Christmas day Exclusive gifts and souvenirs at London Transport Museum shop, Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2 Shop opens daily or buy online
ltmuseumshop.co.uk
Background poster image: Brightest London is best reached by Underground By Horace Taylor, 1924
interview
Taking
a Bow
“As a racing driver it is your job to push things to the absolute limit. And in order to find out what that limit is, you kind of have to overshoot it. That is the principle of racing. To go beyond.” Richard Brown meets Michael Schumacher, a man that spent two decades doing just that
H
is attitude to racing left his contemporaries cold. Willing to run his closest competitors off the track, to sacrifice his individual race mid-meet, to veer into his own brother in order to procure a place on the podium, it was all about victory; victory at all costs, victory in spite of scrutiny, censure and, seemingly, the safety of others. That was then and this is now. And while the characteristic self-assurance remains, the man speaking from the shadows of a disused power station in Berlin – steely eyed, enormously-jawed – is an evolved version of his former self; more humble, more human, more humorous even. Michael has mellowed. At 43, it is, no doubt, an age thing. It is also the product of three years spent familiarising himself with a word, until recently, he never really understood: losing. Ever since he was lured out of retirement by Brawn in 2009, his passion for racing having been reignited the previous year when he was asked by Ferrari to stand in for an injured Felipe Massa, he has found himself routinely at the wrong end of the starting grid. In a triplet of seasons, he notched up only one podium finish (with one race remaining at the time of print). During the
same period, he out-qualified his younger compatriot teammate, Nico Rosberg, only 17 times. In 2012 alone, a year in which he drove his 300th Formula 1 race, the former world champion was forced to retire an indefensible seven times. He had returned to the sport he had dominated for nearly a decade under the guidance of the man who had masterminded his seven world titles. He had intended to pick up where he left off. But talk of an eighth world championship grew muted as he struggled with cars dramatically altered and competitors drastically improved. Despite high-points in Monaco, where he claimed pole position, and Valencia, where he finished third, many suspected 2012 would be Schumacher’s last season, even before Mercedes’ signing of Lewis Hamilton confirmed it as so. The recordbreaker had returned and been thoroughly found out. In his own words, he had failed. It was against this stark reality that I met Formula 1’s Marmite man.
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onfident and quick-witted, Michael Schumacher exudes an aura belying his 5 ft. 8.5 height. He is poised and carries the swagger of a champion, a product of routinely being described as one
of the greatest of all time. When he retired in 2006 this was an accolade few would have disputed. Six years later and many have started to reconsider the circumstances of Michael’s success. So who’s to blame? In October, Michael suggested the car. “Without doubt we did not achieve our goal to develop a world championship fighting car,” he told a conference at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit. When I met him in Berlin a few weeks later, at the launch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher, he paid more reverence to the quality of the field around him. “The new generation are much more prepared. Competition has gone to a higher level. There are lots of drivers now that know it’s not all about talent. It is about working with your team, maximising not just your own potential but the car’s potential, the team’s potential.” With this year’s grid comprising six world champions and a depth of talent comparable to that of any era, making an impression on the leader board was always going to be difficult, especially in a car that proved as unreliable as Mercedes’ W03. Yet rather than ruing the talent of the stable mates that, as of next season, will replace him, Schumacher is happy to have heralded in a new age of motorsport. “I guess I have
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been a pioneer of the generation that is now here. In a way, I should be proud of this.” Indeed, if he was harbouring grudges against his contemporaries, he certainly didn’t show it. Of the 2012 Alonso versus Vettel championship battle, he was lighthearted: “Being still a good friend of the Ferrari family, it’s sad to see him [Alonso] losing his way. But on the other hand I have a good friend that goes by the name of Sebastian. Either way, one of my friends will win.” Of Massa’s improving form towards the end of this season, he was sympathetic: “I’m glad he has been given another opportunity to prove himself. He has had his ups and downs. He has shown he is right to be in Formula 1 and with Ferrari. Next year I hope that times are less difficult for him.” And of a potential move to the brand of the prancing pony for Vettel, he was nostalgic: “Seb talks very highly about Ferrari. There’s no reason why not. At one point everyone likes to find a new orientation. I certainly did.” For Michael, new orientation came most notably in 1996 and in 2009. The first saw the recently crowned two-time world champion leave Benetton for the struggling Ferrari; a move that resurrected the reputation of the Italian brand and one that would, between 2000 and 2004, see Schumacher win more races than any driver in the history of Formula 1. After a retirement that lasted all of three years, the second heralded Michael’s return to the sport. “When I stopped, I was not intending to come back. During that time I enjoyed my freedom and the life I had. But the mission of building up Mercedes attracted me and that is why I came back. It was a mission and there was a timeframe in which I could see us achieving this mission.” Unfortunately, the task of reviving Mercedes proved a mission impossible. Reflecting on three years of failure, does Schumacher regret the comeback? “No. In life you can’t always be successful. It made me more mature, not more relaxed but it taught me how to manage things better, to be more patient. My life in the last three years might not have been as successful as we wanted, but you have to look at the total.
Can you be happy? Can you look into the mirror and say you’ve given it your all? I can. And that’s what’s most important.”
S
tatistically-speaking, Michael Schumacher is the greatest Formula 1 driver there has ever been. In 19 seasons he achieved seven World Championships, 91 Grand Prix wins, 154 podium finishes, 76 fastest laps and 68 pole positions. Five of his seven world titles came in five consecutive years, redefining what was possible in the sport and setting a new standard of racing in the 21st century. Away from the statistics, it will be individual performances and moments of driving brilliance that remain in the minds of many F1 nuts. Races like the 1996 Spanish Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix of 1998 have gone down in Formula 1 folklore as two of the sport’s most exciting spectacles. Others will use the 1995 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, where Schumacher made up a 42-second deficit in 27 laps to pass Jean Alesi on the penultimate lap, as evidence of the German’s genius. There is also the fact that up until 2003, Schumacher had won 17 of the 30 wet races in which he had competed. In a career littered with chequered flags and circuit records, what moments constitute highlights? “After more than 20 years in the sport, it’s not possible to pick one. The biggest achievement, and the one that meant most to me, however, was the one we did in 2000, winning the Championship with Ferrari after they had not done so for so long. Teamwork is very important to me. I’ve never seen myself as a single person in achieving all of these things. I’ve always done so as part of a team.” While the technological benefits Schumacher enjoyed first as part of Benetton, and then as part of Ferrari, make this undoubtedly true, it is for some very individual moments of madness (or should that be mastery?), aside from his driving capabilities, that he is remembered. The role he played in crashes with Damon Hill in 1994 and Jacques Villeneuve in
1997 still trigger debate, while few in F1 will forget the moment he abandoned his car during qualifying at Monaco 2006 to prevent rival Alonso retaining pole position. If it were up to him, though, how would Michael like to be thought of? “The first thing I am is a racing driver. Once a racing driver, always a racing driver. That is what I stand for. [I’d like] To be known for giving 100 per cent and for fighting to the end.” While he may not have set the 2012 leader-board alight, there
“I guess I have been a pioneer of the generation that is now here. In a way, I should be proud of this.” was certainly evidence that he did just that. Despite suffering from Mercedes’ dreary reliability record, Schumacher managed to qualify within the top five on the grid seven times in 2012 (at the time of writing). Had he not been forced to retire the same amount of times, he would almost certainly have finished ahead of teammate Rosberg in the driver standings. In crashes with Bruno Senna and Jean-Eric Vergne we saw glimpses of that unmistakable self-sacrificing, win-atall-costs attitude that had characterised Schumacher’s earlier career. Michael is now retired and questions on where he falls within the annals of F1’s superstars will rumble on. But for the champion himself, what next? “Will I continue in the racing scene? There is a very clear answer: no. And there is a very simple reason: Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. There is nothing better, nothing quicker, nothing, other than gokarting, more individual to your needs. It’s about what you do with your team and how you maximise your machine. That is what is so fascinating about this world: development. No other arena would be able to offer me that.”
interview
Michael Schumacher was speaking at the launch of the Audemars Piguet Royal Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher. Images courtesy of Audemars Piguet. audemarspiguet.com
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All aboard
The Luxury Brand Show Running at the same time as this year’s Tullett Prebon London Boat Show, the 2013 Luxury Brand Show promises to be a Mecca for those who appreciate the finer things in life
F
rom the outset it was designed to be different; a showcase without equal. Now, after a year of planning, the Luxury Brand Show 2013 is set to achieve its aim, opening next month as the most impressive exhibition of its kind in the UK. Set within the auspicious confines of the 2013 Tullett Prebon London Boat Show, and featuring the products of more than 100 luxury lifestyle brands, this year’s Luxury Brand Show breaks the mould from anything that has gone before. Based on the success of a similar show in 2012, from which the exhibition has evolved, this year’s fair returns at nearly twice the size; imagine walking into the largest luxury department store you’ve ever seen, complete with boys’ toys, designer gadgets, home cinemas and much more under one enormous roof. In addition to the world’s latest supercars, high-end road cars and classic automobiles, the Luxury Brand Show 2013 will showcase lavish homeware, exclusive UK and overseas properties, the best
in leisure and holiday pursuits, the International Watch Fair and a collectors’ gallery. Should that not be enough, a ticket to the exposition will grant you access to the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show 2013, a glittering meet of some of the world’s most desirable sailing and motor yachts. Running at ExCeL London at the same time as the Active Travel Show, the Outdoors Show and London Bike Show, a ticket will also grant you entry to these fascinating, adventure-led exhibitions. Keith Kemp and Peter Stow, partners at St. James’s Place Wealth Management, comment: “Following our participation and support of last year’s show, we are again delighted to be sponsoring the next Luxury Brand Show which promises to be even more exciting!” And so it certainly does; visitors will bear witness to a host of exclusive product launches and UK firsts. One of which will be the public debut of Kopi Luwak One, the world’s most exclusive coffee brand, courtesy of Bespoke Beverages Ltd. Known as ‘the Pinnacle of Coffee’, the incredible taste of Kopi Luwak One has, until now, only been available
promotion
by appointment or referral, enjoyed by just a handful of coffee connoisseurs around the globe. Elsewhere, MTECH, the UK’s leading independent Ferrari race specialists, will be offering visitors the chance to hone their driving skills. MTECH offer its clients complete racing packages, including the chance to develop circuit driving skills and obtain an official racing licence. They’ll also fly you out to Scandinavia for some Ice Driving in a Lamborghini, Audi RS4 or Porsche 997. Not a bad way to spend a weekend. To put your driving skills to the test, Ultimate Car Control specialises in empowering drivers of high performance vehicles with an unsurpassed level of car control. Gracing the carpets of ExCeL London this year, the company will teach advanced driving techniques that allow you to remain in control of your vehicle, even in extreme circumstances. Promising to provide experiences to remember, Club Wembley will be on hand to offer the best in food, football, music and sporting events. For premium homeware, Gallery Rouge will be providing contemporary fine art and sculptures while Hydropool displays the most luxurious in self-cleaning hot tubs. Elsewhere, fine watch and jewellery lovers can behold the latest collections from the likes of Chopard and Girard-Perregaux (pictured). Motoring enthusiasts will also be given plenty at which to ogle. As well as the Lightning Car Company and Imperials Cars, a replica of a hand-built 1958 Vanwall will be on show. Vanwall was the first British manufacturer to construct a car that won a Formula 1 World Championship race. The year was 1957 and the driver one Sir Stirling Moss. The car at the show will be the world’s first replica of the famous Vanwall ’58. But perhaps the star of the show will be P&A Wood’s Rolls-
Royce Silver Ghost. Made in 1908, ‘The Silver Dawn’ has been laboriously renovated to feature all of its original parts, including its chassis, engine, gearbox and under seat fuel tank. Worth around £4 million it will no doubt attract as much attention as even the biggest boats across the hall. Showcasing so many eminent brands, from the worlds of motoring, travel, jewellery, interiors, leisure and finance, the Luxury Brand Show 2013 is a Mecca for those with an eye for the exquisite.
The Luxury Brand Show 2013 Dates: 12 – 20 January 2013 Destination: ExCel London Show features include: The Supercar Showcase Gallery and Millionaires Playground – featuring supercars, classic cars and the ultimate car experiences The Luxury Home & Property Show – presenting the latest products and finest UK and international properties International Watch Fair – for the latest pieces and most sought after collectors’ editions The Limited Edition Gallery – a selection of collectable artworks and sculptures Leisure & Wellbeing - from the world’s most amazing holiday destinations to the most luxurious beauty and spa treatments For tickets please visit theluxurybrandshow.com
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CityJet-Set Kari Rosenberg speaks to CityJet CEO Christine Ourmières about aviation trends, new destinations, and keeping in touch with her customers
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ffering almost 1,000 flights a week, more than 500 of them from London City Airport, CityJet is going from strength to strength. Expanding on its European destinations, installing a new user-friendly website and helping to design smart new navy and red uniforms (with a little help from Christian Lacroix), CEO Christine Ourmières is fronting a CityJet turnaround. With more than 20 years in the aviation industry, Ourmières knows in which direction she’s heading. Where do you see the focus of the company in the next five to ten years? We have been through a restructuring to try and optimise head count this year; having the right level of resources for the level of activity. We are capturing new opportunities with our Nuremberg and Münster/Osnabrück flights from London City Airport to Germany as there is a strong business market in Germany which presented a notable opening for us. Münster is at the forefront of hosting conferences and events for the green technologies industry. By starting services to Münster, CityJet is expanding its appeal to the UK MICE industry as well as facilitating a new trade corridor for the rapidly expanding British green technologies and renewable energies market.
interview
There is also strong inbound demand for a direct route to the heart of London from Münster given the large number of SMEs based in the airport’s catchment area. In addition, our new route will open up the cultural and historic heart of the Westphalia region of Germany to families and couples looking for a relaxed weekend break. How have you dealt with the competition from British Airways CityFlyer? The only routes we compete on directly with BA CityFlyer are Amsterdam and Edinburgh. But competition is always good because it challenges you, forcing you to adapt and to be flexible. We are doing great with competition on our Amsterdam flights; we are doing very well, as are British Airways. I think that in any industry it’s always good for the customer to have choices. How has the recession affected THE company? CityJet took quite significant losses in 2009 but now we are improving, giving consumers the opportunity to utilise the cost structures; choosing from our CityValue rate, the CityPremium rate or the CityFlex rate which is aimed at both SME’s and leisure passengers travelling in economy. The fare is fully flexible and fully refundable and can be changed or cancelled at any time up to 15 minutes before departure. CityJet has taken a big hit; not only has our business struggled but the profile of our passengers has changed as well as the number of passengers who are travelling. Everybody has been hurt in some way by the downturn, including people who live and work in the City, which is why we have become more flexible. We need to have a strong core business travel network because it’s all about London City airport, but in addition to that, we have leisure flights during the middle of the day to optimise the use of our aircraft. For example, in the summer we fly those same business travellers who know the quality of our service and the convenience of the airport with their families to their second home or for a weekend away. There is a very ambitious master plan for London City Airport and there is definitely a huge opportunity for growth there, especially when compared to the restrictions in place for other airports on slots expansion plans. What trends have you seen in the aviation industry? The traveller is now a professional traveller and social networks and the arrival of the internet has changed completely their choice awareness level. I think there’s a huge challenge for the airlines to deliver now because there is complete transparency; you are so visible that you can’t hide anything. The relationship with the customer completely changed. We are in the service industry which is something people have to remember; our job is about delivering a service. For me, the relationship with the passenger has completely changed in the last decade.
There is a very ambitious master plan for London City Airport and there is definitely a huge opportunity for growth there I have lots of customers that come right to me directly so I talk to them. You need to stay in contact and be connected to ensure real relationship management today. How are you keeping up with technology? I am on Facebook, Linkedin, all of them. Plus, the new CityJet website has been designed to expedite the booking experience. Signposting is much clearer and cleaner with reduced links making navigation swifter across all pages. A new design will direct traffic more efficiently to the appropriate page whilst a new magazine style panel layout serves highlight offers, routes and promotions. What do you expect to be the biggest changes in the aviation industry over the next five to ten years? We are preparing for the arrival of new technology concerning the environment. But this is a very slow process and you have to make sure that you’re ahead of it. If you weren’t in this job where would you be? Like any woman probably would, I’d love to work in the luxury industry, but that’s partly because it’s always been a dream of mine to work for brands like Chanel or Louis Vuitton, mainly because of the margins. Coming from the aviation industry which has such small margins, you always dream about those sorts of brands because you know they make such a huge profit. But on a general basis I would like to stay in the service industry because your customer is really unique. cityjet.com
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promotion
ONE of a kind
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With access to more than 32 Supercars, P1 International maintains pole position as the largest Supercar Club in the world in simple formats named after the most famous F1 race tracks. Each package is designed to suit the usage of members, and has different payment options. The packages provide members with a block of points and miles for them to use as they wish during their membership year across the fleet of supercars. P1 was the first supercar club to have a branch outside the UK, further pushing the boundaries and possibilities of the true supercar experience. Its latest branch is based in Geneva, the perfect location for any supercar enthusiast. Being in the centre of Europe, members are able to travel to the most luxurious locations without eating into their miles as British members have full access to cars in Genenva. Simply board a plane and two hours later you could be driving out of Geneva airport in a Ferrari 458, three hours away from Milan and five from St Tropez. P1’s fleet is something to marvel at: described by The Financial Times as “God’s toybox”. Stepping into the company’s warehouse you are greeted with several
dozen of the world’s fastest automobiles. Cars include Aston Martins, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Maseratis and
“…P1 brings a little practicality to the mad world of 2ft-high, 200mph supercars”. – Jeremy Clarkson, The Sunday Times
Porsches. The most colourful feather in P1’s plume is the much sought after McLaren MP4-12C which would ordinarily set you back £220,000. Members have commented that P1 is their saving grace when it comes to buying supercars that depreciate quickly. Like many great ideas, P1’s has been copied by others. It has, however, never been bettered. In terms of innovation, creativity, service and fleet size, P1 remains unparalleled. p1international.com 01372 721711
Photographs Nick Williams
t was Oscar Wilde that said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In that case, the owners of P1 International should feel very complimented indeed. Many have tried to replicate the depth of service the motor club offers; few have got anywhere close. Born in 2000, P1 International pioneered the concept of a private members’ car club, offering shared access to a fleet of supercars. Its architect was Michael Breen, the current owner and CEO, who was helped with the set up by former Formula 1 World Champion, Damon Hill. How does the club work? Members pay an annual membership fee and in return, the club will take care of servicing, insurance, maintenance and every supercar owners’ dark cloud - depreciation. The club is also able to coincide purchases of new models of supercars with its official UK launch dates, making the fastest and most demanded supercars available to members at launch or shortly thereafter. It has a variety of memberships available
70 CW december 2012
CHAMPION PERFORMER What do you get when you cross an F1 supercar with an SUV, asks Matthew Carter? Infiniti reckons it has the answer…
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here’s an irony here that cannot be ignored. I’m in Monaco attempting to drive around the Grand Prix circuit. Sadly I’m not in a racing car, nor is this the glamorous Grand Prix weekend. In fact it’s a wet and windy Wednesday at the tail end of October and I’m sharing road space with buses, lorries and pugilistic Peugeots. Parts of the circuit, notably the harbour side piscine section, have been taken over by a giant fun fair… it’s more Margate than Monte Carlo. But there is a Formula 1 connection. I’m at the wheel of an Infiniti FX Vettel Edition, a limited edition version of Infiniti’s top-of-therange FX that’s been (so we are told) created by Sebastian Vettel, driver of the Infinitisponsored Red Bull F1 team. Just 150 will be made, with 50 earmarked for Europe, 50 for Russia and 50 for the Middle East… all of which gives you a clue as
to where the money is these days. And the irony? Simply that the FX’s satellite navigation system, which has been programmed to talk us around the lap, clearly has no idea which way the track goes. I’m assuming that Vettel, who clearly does know his Racasse from his Sainte Devote (two of the famous corners on the circuit), has had nothing to do with the development of that element of the car. What he has done, according to Infiniti, is turn his “company car” – an Infiniti FX50 S Premium – into “an even more rewarding sports crossover with an extra emphasis on performance and handling and with looks that take their cue from the world of Formula 1.” In practice, that means little in the way of mechanical changes, aside from a hike in power from 390hp to 420hp thanks to a different exhaust system, while the car is 20mm lower thanks to revised springs. Instead, the major alterations come in the
form of plenty of aerodynamic tweaks and enough carbon fibre additions to build a complete F1 car. Oh, and the inevitable ‘V’ badges showing the world that your FX is one of the rare Vettel Editions. Inspired by the front wing profile of a Red Bull racer, the Vettel FX has a multi-layer spoiler which is lighter than standard, reduces drag and smoothes the airflow under the car. It’s got carbon side skirts, carbon shells over the door mirrors and, at the rear, an optional carbon-fibre roof wing mounted on drilled aluminium. All this aerodynamic reshaping gives the car 30 per cent more downforce and five per cent less drag. New LED daytime running lights help redefine the nose, while at the rear there’s a new centre fog light, also LED, that apes the rear light on F1 cars… though legislation prevents it from flashing as it does on the Grand Prix track. Other changes are minor. The rather clumsy roof rails of the standard car have
motoring
been removed – and the FX looks much better as a result – while you can have it any colour so long as it’s Moonlight White. The black carbon fibre and 21-inch forged alloy wheels – also black and each 3.5 kilos lighter than the standard wheels – provide the dramatic contrast. Inside there’s yet more carbon fibre while Alcantara replaces leather for the seats. The ‘ordinary’ FX Premium wants for little in the way of goodies, but the Vettel Edition has found something new: a button on the dash which when pushed enhances the exhaust note to ensure the car’s bark is as purposeful as its bite. On the road, Infiniti says the vehicle dynamics have been ‘optimised, not revolutionised’. That means it’s a little quicker than standard – top speed is, as ever, limited to 155 mph – but it handles with more verve yet rides just as well. Probably. To be honest I have no idea if it’s any better than before, as the weather was wild and the streets of Monte Carlo far from the best place to hustle a large four-wheel drive SUV. And it’s even worse up in the mountains behind the Principality where narrow short straights are punctuated by hairpin after hairpin. Even if the weather hadn’t been so dreadful, this was not a route for heroics in a car so wide that slipping past oncoming traffic needed a sharp intake of breath. No, the best place for Seb’s car is in Switzerland – which, with more irony, is where Vettel himself lives, unlike many of his F1 colleagues who inhabit Monaco. Here it would eat up fast motorway miles with ease, while its four-wheel drive grip would bring added security in winter. But then, so would the standard car. Then there’s the price. Each FX Vettel Edition will sell for around £100,800 – with a further £4,800 asked for that rear spoiler. That’s a thumping £47,500 extra for 13 bits of (admittedly expensive) F1-grade carbon fibre and some fancy wheels. Fortunately Infiniti has thought of that and bunged in a few more extras for free, stuff that ‘money can’t buy’ they say. For example, early hand raisers have been treated to a special introductory session at the Le Castellet race circuit in France. Here they were shown pre-production prototypes of their car and
treated to high-speed laps of the circuit, chauffeured by none other than Vettel. Other events could include exclusive visits to the Red Bull factory, the Grands Prix, high performance driver training, sessions in an F1 simulator and even rides in a three-seater F1 car. Buyers are also given bespoke iPads complete with carbon fibre covers on which they can track their car’s production status. So this is the bottom line: if you’re looking for a sporting SUV check out the Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne V8 Turbo or even the standard Infiniti FX50. But if you want genuine rarity and are a mad-keen F1 fan with bottomless pockets, the Vettel Edition has a certain appeal: it’s not so much a car as the entry ticket to an exclusive club. Mind you, for £100k plus, I’d demand a much better sat nav system.
Car: Infiniti FX Vettel Edition Price: £100,800 Engine: 5,026, V8 petrol, front-mounted Power: 420 hp
Performance: 155 mph max, 0-62 mph in 5.6 secs Drive: Four-wheel drive, seven-speed automatic
DECEMBER 2012 CW 73
Duravit brings the bathroom to life.
Sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, bathtubs, shower trays, wellness products and accessories: Duravit has everything you need to make life in the bathroom a little more beautiful. More info at Duravit UK, Milton Keynes, Phone 0845 500 7787, Fax 0845 500 7786, info@uk.duravit.com, www.duravit.co.uk
motoring
Slip, slidin’ away Dancing on ice? Forget it. This is how you want to spend the winter: power sliding on ice. And the great news is that you can do it from the comfort of a Bentley Continental GT, writes Matthew Carter
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entley is running a series of ice driving programmes in February, open to anyone – not just owners – keen to sample the extreme limits of the GT on the frozen lakes of northern Finland. Even better, you’ll be offered expert tuition from instructors who really know how to drive on ice: leading the team will be Finnish national hero and four-time World Rally champion Juha Kankkunen. “The huge power combined with all-wheel-drive and the new eight-speed gearbox makes the GT the perfect car for such exciting and engaging driving. Our customers are always amazed that their cars are so rewarding to drive at the limit of grip, and it’s my pleasure to teach them how to do it,” said Kankkunen. With prices starting at a shade under ¤10,000, the three-
night/four-day programme includes a private charter from Helsinki to the town of Kuusamo before heading to the exclusive ski resort of Ruka, some 60km from the edge of the Arctic Circle, and the event base at the Chalet Ruka Peak boutique hotel. The programme includes two full days driving on ice with full tuition and there’s ample opportunity to enjoy other Nordic pursuits including snowmobiling, a husky sled ride to a reindeer farm, smoke saunas, Jacuzzis and even a local shaman ceremony. There are six groups available with dates running from Thursday 7 February to Thursday 28 February and places, as they say, are limited. For more information head to bentleydriving.com
DECEMBER 2012 CW 75
vision with tradition
Feeling Secure and Happy
Healthy Eating
Endless Opportunities to Explore
Welcome to My Nursery
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e aim to encourage the children in our care to enjoy coming here and to foster a love of learning that will stay with them for life. We value each child as an individual encouraging them to recognise their potential in all areas of their learning and development. Our approach embodies a positive attitude to life particularly in the children’s early years development stage, as they prepare to start a journey through school life. At My Nursery we believe that diversity is a strength, which should be respected and celebrated by all those who learn in, and visit the Nursery.
DAY NURSERY 3 months - 5 years 3 Newport Avenue Virginia Quay Docklands London E14 2ED t: 0207 515 8333 e: info@my-nursery.org w: www.my-nursery.org
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Greece: tovovan / Shutterstock.com Obama: spirit of america / Shutterstock.com, Jubilee: dutourdumonde / Shutterstock.com, Olympic Stadium: © Populous Frankfurt: Jorg Hackemann / Shutterstock.com, Apple: Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com
REPORT
2012
review
Aimee Latimer looks back at this year’s standout economic events 4 January Countries within the EU embargo Iranian oil to pressurise the country into ending its nuclear weapon efforts. 3 February US unemployment falls to its lowest in three years – to 8.3 per cent – after the creation of 243,000 jobs. 13 March After a second Greek bailout deal worth £109million, Eurozone finance ministers negotiate a landmark deal with its private sectors’ lenders to swap £77billion of debt for new bonds at a 75 per cent financial loss in the largest default in history. 13 April China sparks economic fears after its renminbi-denominated lending falls by ¥329.6 billion – 8.2 per cent from March. 19 May 20,000 demonstrators take to Frankfurt, Germany, for the fourth day of an anti-capitalist protest labelled Blockupy.
25 June Cyprus becomes the fifth Eurozone member to apply for financial assistance from the EU. 27 July The London 2012 Olympics leaves the country with an estimated bill of around £11 billion. 24 August Apple receives a $1 billion payout from rival Samsung over stolen intellectual property. 28 September Newly appointed Socialist French President François Hollande unveils a 75 per cent super tax on France’s highest earners. 29 October New York Stock Exchange closes for the highest number of consecutive days since 1985 because of Hurricane Sandy. 5 November HMRC start sending letters to those about to lose child benefits if earning more than £50,000 a year.
Bang On KARI ROSENBERG catches up with Bang & Olufsen CEO Tue Mantoni at the launch of the brand’s latest product, the BeoVision11
interview
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Founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, Bang & Olufsen is world renowned for its distinctive range of quality electronic products; beautifully designed, with top of the range technology and a suave sophistication that sets it apart. Tue Mantoni took up his office as President and CEO at Bang & Olufsen on 1 March last year after an eight year stint at iconic British brand, Triumph Motorcycles. As a Dane and former member of the Board of Directors of Bang & Olufsen, Mantoni has sparked something of a cultural revolution at the Danish gadget house. How has the recession affected your loyal customer base? Back in 2008, the company was hit quite hard by the recession, mainly because about 70 per cent of our sales were in Europe. We had very little sales overseas in places like the US and China. This year, we’ve had the best year we’ve had for five years and we’re starting to see a turnaround in the business. I think what really drives this business, especially in a recession, are two things. Firstly the product: I still believe that in a tough financial environment there are enough people out there who appreciate high quality and will pay for that if you give them something special. The second is the retail experience and the way you take care of the customer. Have you seen specific growth on certain products? Yes. Last year we saw an overall growth of five per cent. We’ve seen an increase in particular in our automotive division, where we install speakers in Aston Martins, Mercedes, Audis and BMWs. And then we have the newly launched B&O PLAY where we have seen a very big increase in the last quarter, of 92 per cent. The automotive side saw 37 per cent growth, and that’s been good for us. These are two, what I call, growth engines; they’re relatively small but together make up maybe 25 per cent of our business.
Which products do you see selling well abroad? It’s interesting. In the US, China, Russia and the Middle East, big screens are very popular; the 65” TV or the 85” TV. We have an 85” TV which sells for about £80,000, so it’s a fairly expensive TV, but it’s actually selling well in those countries. Bigger screens and full installations where you have speakers, the TV and audio systems working together, integrated with your lights and curtains and so on, are selling very well in those countries. I don’t think the financial situation in Europe is going to improve any time soon but I still think that Bang & Olufsen has a good opportunity to build on what was a traditionally strong European customer base. Do you think TODAY’S consumer has a GREATER value of money? I think what happens during a financial crisis – and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – is that the consumer becomes more demanding. So the consumer will say to a larger extent ‘I want to make sure that what I buy is high quality, that its gives me something the competition cannot give me and that it keeps its value over time, so if I buy it today and I pay £5,000, I can trust that I’m not going to see it in a year for £3,000’. So I think that commitment to stability, pricing and value becomes even more important and that’s what we try to focus on. So yes, I think that’s changed in the consumers’ minds. HOW WOULD YOU VALUE Bang & Olufsen AS a small company with high quality products? Obviously it’s important for businesses to be agile so you react to what’s happening in the world but it’s also important to be confident about who you are and then have a long term strategy and work towards that. So in everything we do, we try to think about the long-term; where we’re going, what kind of brand we want to build, what is it we want to provide our customers with, and every single day work towards that. But at the same time, you
keep your eyes on the short term and you react to what’s happening in the market. We believe in having a full range of products; TVs, speakers and audio systems that are working well together, where the sight and sound are the two core elements, where the convenience of using them and integrating them is truly important. So overall, you have what we call ‘magical experiences.’ most people have access to a laptop or tablet. could tvs become obsolete? What we try to do with our TVs is reflect that the living room is changing a lot; the TV should not command the living room, but adapt to its many purposes, for the adults, the children, the whole family. What we have tried to do here is create something beautiful even if it’s turned off. I think overall the luxury part of our business will always represent the majority of what we do but we’re working on an evolution of the business to continue to improve. It’s a little bit of a revolution to try to get out and appeal to a younger, digital generation; people who stream the music from their iPhones to the products, and take everything we’ve learnt from the core business in design and sound. Are you worried that lower priced products may steer you from a luxury to a high street brand? The way to think about it is like Donna Karan and DKNY or Giorgio Armani and Armani Exchange; what we try to do is make B&O PLAY the DKNY where Bang & Olufsen is the Donna Karan. But a Chanel bag is for life. What do you say to that? I think our products are meant to be kept for a long time; we do free software upgrades. I think previously people would keep their TVs for ten or 15 years, whereas today they keep them for five years. But then they may keep some of our competitors’ TVs for just one year. Bang & Olufsen, 2 South Colonnade
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feature
Yesterday’s Bad weather across Europe has left wine investors cautious about the quality of this year’s yield. Peter Shakeshaft, founder of Vin-X fine wine investment brokers assesses the potential fruits of the 2012 harvest
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he news this month that we can expect a world wine drought on the back of 2012’s inclement weather could have brought an initial feeling of dismay to many who like a glass or two of good Bordeaux. According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine output is predicted to fall from 264.2 million hectolitres in 2011 to 248.2 million this year, with France particularly affected by both a winter drought and an arid summer. However, some quarters have been quick to highlight the opportunity that this could provide for investors. Should the harvest be small but of great quality, then there could be a chance for savvy investors to capitalise. The wine investment market is dominated by the Bordeaux Chateaus and France has been most severely affected by the weather conditions. It is expected that their output could fall 19 per cent this year to 40.5 million hectolitres, which is particularly dramatic given that Italy is expected to post a drop of just 3.4 per cent. So why could this potentially be a good thing from an investment point of view? Wine is a finite investment, which in simple terms means: the more that is drunk, the rarer it becomes and the more valuable it is as a result. It is basic supply and demand economics. The key, however, is quality. If the quality is good and the stocks low, then you are onto a winner, as it is sure to be in high demand. The difficulty is predicting the quality. Many large estates in Bordeaux are reporting cautiously optimistic results on the output that has managed to survive the turbulent weather of the last year, with Chateaus claiming that grapes appeared on sorting tables in particularly good shape: thick skinned, healthy and ripe, and with minimal rot. Other rumours are that alcohol levels are spot on and for the wine enthusiast, this year’s vintage is looking
to have good fruit flavours with low, soft and ripe tannins emerging. It has been far from easy, though, and among the Chateaus that have suffered in the difficult season is Hourtin-Ducasse in the Northern Medoc, which has announced it will not be making a 2012 wine. Minimum quality requirements were not met, but it has been stressed that this has in no way affected nearby vineyards. Chateaus have indeed had an expensive season; the need for faster picking has necessitated hiring more workers among other things. Mildew problems meant that spraying increased dramatically, particularly among organic and biodynamic producers. Having said this, toward the end of the season there were fears that supply levels could get even worse for France. A heatwave during the summer caused water stress, particularly in the younger vines. However, a month’s worth of rainfall in the last week of September should have reversed much of the original damage. With bad news for Chateaus such as Hourtin-Ducasse and indicators from earlier in the year that the harvest will struggle, there is still a cloud of uncertainty about the 2012 harvest and one should exercise caution. However, it has been well documented that 2012 has thus far provided some excellent opportunities for wine investment; the 2009 vintage was bottled and proved to be the greatest vintage in modern history as an unprecedented 19 wines received the ultimate accolade of a rating of 100 from wine critic Robert Parker. The 2012 vintage appears to be more of an enigma and should be approached with a touch more caution. Despite the smaller yield, should the quality turn out to be poor, then you could be stuck with a wine that is difficult to shift. Keep an ear out for tastings carried out around April next year; if it does turn out to be a good year in terms of quality, with a more limited harvest, expect a much sought after en primeur investment.
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STRESS
and the city In the eight years since she joined Legal & General as Benefits & Medical Underwriting Director for Group Protection, Vanessa Sallows has changed the way employees are rehabilitated and looked after. Here she talks about a common issue affecting workers in the financial sector: stress
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aul is a senior executive in a big company. He is married, has three children and is a longhours worker. When the recession hit, Paul’s finances came under pressure and he started to suffer from depression. There are many people working in financial services who feel like Paul at the moment, but many of them are afraid to speak out. Household economics are far from the only reason people working in financial services feel stressed: long hours; performance targets; commuting; a tough regulatory and economic climate – all of these factors and more are behind the high level of stress in financial services. Stress is now one of the leading causes of long-term absence in the UK. For example, for a company in the financial sector
with more than 1,000 staff, every year 12 will go off sick for more than four weeks and five of these cases will be due to stress. Work related stress is the most common reason for calling the Government’s pilot Occupational Health Advice Line, yet only 17 per cent of employers from all sectors have any form of stress management advice and support in place. This is most evident in the financial services sector. An analysis of Legal & General’s Group Income Protection claims data has shown that stress-related absences in the financial services sector account for 42.2 per cent of all absences, compared to 25 per cent in manufacturing industries. Jenny Edwards, the Chair of the International Stress Management Association, commented at Legal & General’s recent event on Stress in the City: “Managing stress in the workplace is not just a nice-
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to-have policy, but a necessary requirement to reducing the current rise in mental health problems, particularly within the financial services sector. The effects of stress on the individual will also affect morale and teamwork within an organisation frequently resulting in presenteeism, which is 1.5 times more costly than absenteeism”. Many employers are working hard to try and tackle stress in the workplace. For example, Paul called the number of his Employee Assistance Programme, who helped him to deal with his financial problems. The Government is alive to the problems of sickness absence in the workplace and is currently considering its response to Dame Carol Black and David Frost CBE’s review into sickness absence, carried out in November 2011. The report acknowledged the importance of early intervention in handling workplace sickness and absence. Expected over the next few months, the Government’s response will be an important milestone in the sickness and absence debate. In the meantime, however, Legal & General is working with employers in the financial services sector to try and raise awareness of mental health issues and the sickness and absence in the workplace that can stem from a failure to tackle the issue. Its philosophy is simple: quickly assessing a person’s condition and providing relevant rehabilitation treatment is the best way to help them return to work. Statistics show absences are 50 per cent shorter when notified early (within four weeks of the start of the absence), so we reward customers who tell us early with a bonus. We have so far paid more than £1.5m since 2006 in Early Notification Bonuses to customers as a reward. Legal & General use specialist providers and modern biopsychosocial techniques, and have an exclusive agreement with CBT Services Ltd who offer effective cognitive behavioural therapy treatment quickly, by-passing NHS waiting lists. Its support is vocationally based so professional therapists actually help reintroduce employees back into the workplace. Last year it funded 1,900 sessions of CBT which helped policyholders get 74 per cent of employees back to work before the end of the deferred period (this is the period of time between the date a person was first absent and the date Legal & General start paying benefit). Where this support matters most, though, is for the employees who need help and support back to work. For obvious reasons, these example case studies give an insight into the importance of managing sickness and absence in the workplace well. Mr E, a project team coach, became ill with stress and panic attacks. He had depression following the sudden death of his mother and diagnosis of his father’s dementia. Legal & General put in place CBT and a gradual return to work support programme. Within six months he was able to work again, partly at home and part time at the office, which allowed him to take
The Government is alive to the problems of sickness absence in the workplace and is currently considering its response care of his father. The employer in this case felt that every party had benefitted and was grateful for Legal & General’s support. Where a person can’t go back to work, Group Income Protection can provide a safety net so if absent long-term, and they meet the definition of long-term absence, Legal & General can pay a monthly benefit until they are able to return to work. Mrs C was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed Legal & General’s support. Within days a specialist cancer nurse called, talked her through the condition and likely treatment and then provided her with information about local national support organisations. Even though the payment of the benefit did not start for six months, the nurse maintained regular contact with her until she was able to return to work, providing support and advice for her and her family. legalandgeneral.com
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photography
REPORT
Frosty Sunflowers, The Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, England. Photographer: Paul Keene
A View To A
Thrill
KARI ROSENBERG admires the UK’s greatest young landscape photographers
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ist-covered woodlands, abstract London landmarks and local wildlife was the order of the day at this year’s Take A View - Landscape Photographer of the Year competition, held in association with Network Rail. While Staffordshire-based photographer, David Byrne’s dramatic black and white image of brooding Lindisfarne Castle, surrounded by unusual fishing
boat sheds, won top prize this year, a range of cloud-topped mountains, mystical stone circles and crashing waves came close. More than 100 of the very best images will premiere in a stunning, free exhibition at the National Theatre until 19 February; while the Awards book, Landscape Photographer of the Year Collection 6, by AA Publishing, featuring more than 170 winning and commended entries from this year’s competition, is also available to buy. take-a-view.co.uk
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ed’s pick YveS saint Laurent leather travel bag, £1,475, matchesfashion.com
From Russia with love Overlooking the Kryukov Canal, the Alexander House Boutique Hotel is an intimate family run place, where most of the rooms look out onto the beautiful Nikolsky and Troitsky cathedrals. Themed rooms allow visitors to come to Russia and stay in a bed that reminds them of home whether that’s London, Beijing or Paris. Mixing old world comfort with modern service, it’s located in the historic bohemian district five minutes away from the Mariinsky theatre. a-house.ru/en
Private retreat If you are a proud Christmas Grinch, then getting away from the tinsel and turkey will be a priority. Azura resorts can provide you with the Christmas antidote; civilisation will seem like a distant memory. The islands off the coast of Mozambique provide secluded pure white beaches with sparkling turquoise waters. Only 16 villas are nestled along the stretch of sand, completely surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Explore the marine world by snorkelling and diving in some of the most beautiful reefs; see turtles, dolphins and migrating whales. When all of that is too much, unwind in the spa on the beach. End the day by literally, sailing into the sunset. azura-retreats.com
TRAVEL
From long-haul retreats to weekend escapes, chic city stopovers to rural hideaways, these are some of the world’s top haunts
Festive Florence An elegant 15th century villa which sits atop the hills, Il Salviantino is a real Italian mansion. With the Tuscan landscape and grand décor it provides a Christmas getaway like no other. Spend an afternoon winding through the streets of Florence and then retire to your oak panelled boudoir with silver candelabra and renaissance painted walls. Doors are covered in padded red velvet and dark heavy wood runs throughout. Relax in the library filled with vintage books and then visit the spa for aroma full treatments. salviatino.com
Gramercy Park hotel This limestone building, just a few steps from Broadway, is home to the Gramercy Park Hotel, away from the hustle and bustle of New York City, but not too tucked away to be missed. This eclectic bohemian hotel offers a private roof club and garden reminiscent of a gentlemen’s club. Renaissance inspired decor with handstitched leather, tapestry chairs and rich hues takes you far from Manhattan. The velvet bedheads are stitched with gold, the floors are covered in Moroccan tiles and floors laid with handwoven French rugs. gramercyparkhotel.com
december 2012 CW 87
The City in the sea
Annabel Harrison visits Venice for the first time, finding it as magical as expected but rather wetter. Coinciding with the acqua alta, it’s a spectacle that must be seen to be believed
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must confess; despite falling in love with Venice, I just couldn’t get my head around the fact it is, quite literally, a city in the sea. Not next to it, not even just close; it is IN the sea. Even after a lengthy explanation as to the piecemeal construction of the city over centuries, it seemed truly miraculous to me. Whereas in Rome or Paris, comparably romantic city break destinations, one expects walls to meet solid ground and for rivers to be contained within their banks, Venice defies such mundane practices and its walls plunge straight down into the canals, lending the city an other-worldly, almost make-believe quality. Let me set this watery scene; Venice comprises a maze-like myriad 118 islands, 150 waterways and 400 bridges. Its (colossal) brick and stone buildings are constructed on closely-spaced wooden piles made from alder (noted for its water resistance). Foundations rest on the piles and buildings sit above these footings. Submerged by water, in oxygen-poor conditions, wood does not decay as rapidly as on the surface and is petrified as a result of the constant flow of mineral-rich water around and through it, so that it becomes a stone-like structure; I am assured that “most” of the piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. I am seriously impressed by the ingenuity and vision of the Venetian architects of yore and keep this in mind as I explore the beautiful city. For a long weekend, the timings are perfect; fly at the most civilised time of 11am on a Friday from London City (my favourite airport due to its friendly size and super-speedy check-in) into Marco Polo airport in Venice. Travel into the city, as we did, by water taxi; in my opinion it’s the most glamorous way to travel (although not the cheapest; €110 for between one and four people for a half hour journey). In the most cinematic of styles, we arrive at our hotel, the beautiful Westin Europa & Regina, by water and disembark into the Venetian hotel of my
imagination, replete with marble floors, polished wooden doors, ornate furniture and sparkling chandeliers. The charming general manager Guiseppe de Martino greets us and we enjoy a refreshingly welcome chilled glass of Champagne, accompanied by the largest, juiciest olives I’ve ever seen (which disappear in about two minutes). I recommend the local favourite, the neon-orange Aperol Spritz. Supper on our first evening is, quite simply, exceptional. Because of the rain (my visit is in October), we splash out on the luxury of taking a water taxi just 50 metres across the water, rather than walking the water-circumnavigating 15 minute alternative – our destination is, quite literally, on the other side of the canal outside the hotel. Antinoo’s Lounge appears to have a classic Venetian facade from the water but inside it is supermodern; expanses of mirrors, a quirky chandelier and angled walls lend the place a space-age feel. We wonder as we eat if the hotel was allowed to remove the original decor and conclude that perhaps it’s hidden behind fake walls, in order to preserve it. So to the food; it is amazing and served in generously large portions. I enjoy a veritable Roman feast of meaty scallops, tomato and aubergine pasta (my favourite dish), sea bass with leeks (although the lamb also receives rave reviews) and finish with the chilli chocolate trilogy. I return to my high-ceilinged, spacious bedroom in the Westin Europa and take advantage of the expansive bed, stretching out as I recover from this culinary treat. At breakfast the next morning, I notice not only that the breakfast room on a lower level by the water is out of use but also that it is submerged in a few inches of water, realising with excitement that the acqua alta must be on its way. Guiseppe had explained to us that the acqua alta (‘high water’) is the term used for the exceptional tide peaks that occur periodically in the northern Adriatic Sea, causing the partial flooding of Venice and
Chioggia. The phenomenon occurs mainly between autumn and spring, when the astronomical tides are reinforced by the prevailing seasonal winds which hamper the usual reflux. As the hotel thoughtfully provides wellies for intrepid guests, we head out to explore the city. As Venice welcomes about 24 million tourists a year, the city is very busy, high water or not, and while some visitors have been lucky enough to procure appropriate footwear, others have resorted to the rather soggier options of tying bin bags over their shoes or using them as galoshes. The flood reaches 1.35 metres above city level and as it does so, we take a tour of the Doge’s Palace and the Museum of St Mark’s Square. A doge was a military leader, which led to the term being used for president, or chief – it’s worth getting a guide as they can provide fascinating insights into Venetian ruling history. One of the most amazing facts I learn during supper at the Danieli Hotel, is that Venice is host to about 350 gondoliers and astoundingly, according to hotel staff, each earns a yearly six figure salary. For a while the songs they sang had to be Venetian not Neapolitan (ruling out romantic favourite That’s Amore) but as there are “only about three famous Venetian songs”, the rule was overturned. The Danieli has delicious food, served in rather smaller portions than Antinoo’s (for which I am quite grateful), a fantastic wine selection and a panoramic terrace with the most spectacular views. There is a wedding taking place in the rooms adjacent to the restaurant and I can see why the couple chose Venice; it’s a truly magical place.
more INFORMATION London City Airport-Venice operates daily (except for Saturday) with prices from £75 per person one way, which includes a free 23kg baggage allowance, complimentary onboard drinks and snacks and your choice of seating as standard. ba.com
december 2012 CW 89
TRavel
Destination...
amsterdam Rajdeep Sandhu discovers authentic Amsterdam away from the red light district and special brownie shops Where to stay... Canal House
TonyV3112 / Shutterstock.com
The striking large oak doors of Canal House set the gothic tone of the waterfront hotel. The 17th century merchant’s house has been tastefully redesigned with dramatic lighting and rich fabrics to make a bold statement, mixing heritage and modernity. Bedrooms are seductively decorated with draped silk and velvet. The ecclectic art collection is a strong part of the house’s appeal, with contemporary paintings covering the walls and antique ceiling mouldings high above. There is also a beautifully kept garden which beckons romance. Breakfast is a delight with poached eggs, fresh fruit and soft creamy cheeses.
Where to eat... With Patience If you’re used to prompt service, you’ll have to take a deep breath and get on board with the relaxed Dutch way of life. Amsterdam has some intriguing places to eat like the renovated Cinema Paradiso which serves Italian food, but get there early as there are no reservations. For a room with a view, try the café on the sixth floor of the Metz department store and enjoy a quick coffee or a light lunch. For something more impressive there is the Michelinstarred Posthoorn; an elegant contemporary eatery serving French cuisine and fresh seafood in a room of chandeliers and honey coloured furnishings.
What to do... Spend
From top to bottom: Old Turfmarkt, Anne Frank’s house, ice skating on the canals, bicycles parked on a bridge at night, Canal House © Amy Murrell 2011-24
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British Airways flies to Amsterdam up to six times daily from London City Airport, with fares available from £73. Fares include a 23kg luggage allowance and onboard drinks and snacks as standard. Book now at ba.com
90 CW DECEMBER 2012
Amsterdam feels like a village masquerading as a city with its easy-going way of life and picturesque streets. There are some historical attractions first timers must tick off their lists, such as the Anne Frank museum, but once you do, you’ll have earned some retail therapy time. Hop over to the Nine Streets, which is packed with boutiques and quaint shops along the web of canals; pick up a few antiques in Spiegelstraat, and for all things retro, Spmrkt is a warehouse full of clothing, furniture and art. Away from the touristy Waterlooplein market, visit the Noordermarkt to browse the bric-a-brac, 60s and 70s interiors gems and organic food, including some of the best apple pie around: you’ll easily spot it from the forming queue.
Don’t miss... Exploring In one of the most cycle friendly cities on earth, there is no excuse for not grabbing a bike and exploring the surrounding streets. Or if you’re too busy recovering from the city’s night life to navigate the 17th century streets, take a canal tour, where you can sit back and be gently rocked while admiring the architecture. Some winters are cold enough to freeze the canals, so if that’s the case, then become a true Amsterdammer and skate your way around.
18 kilos? Warm. 20 kilos? Warmer. 21 kilos? Warmer still. Actually, our luggage allowance is 23 kilos. It really does stack up to fly British Airways from London City Airport to Zurich, Geneva, Chambery and more. Book now at ba.com/ londoncityski To Fly. To Serve.
Services operated by BA CityFlyer.
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15/11/2012 11:48
Under the
Tuscan Sun
The Isle of Elba, the largest of the Tuscan Archipelagos, is known for its temperate climate and picturesque hiking trails. Karen Bowerman explores
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umpity, bump. The car seemed to be handling the terrain well. Being squashed in the back suddenly had its advantages; I was pinned between shoulders and hips with a row of fleshy thighs cushioning the impact. My friends and I were jolting down a cascade of enormously wide 16th century stone steps in Portoferraio, the capital of the Tuscan island of Elba, doing an impromptu Italian Job – albeit in an estate. I glanced out of the window to catch, at an angle, a church’s grand façade, a wooden door in a crumbling stone building and an alleyway strung with diagonal lines of washing. “Should we really be doing this?” I asked, as the jolting went on and on. “It’s fine!” our taxi driver exclaimed. He lifted his hand off the steering wheel with a flourish, to demonstrate (I presume) that he was still in control. I decided to ask no more questions. If he was being economical with the truth, no one in Portoferraio seemed
to mind our mid-morning antics. In fact, nobody batted an eyelid: two old ladies in headscarves heaved open the door of the church and stepped into the darkness inside. A moped swung round the corner. An old man wheeled his bicycle down an alleyway, bumping over cobbles as he hobbled in and out of the shade. At the foot of the steps we spun round, reversed into a passageway (no room for three point turns) and sped out again – for the full experience of the alternative route from the historic Villa dei Mulini (Napolean’s residence-in-exile, 1814-1815) to the town’s medieval gates. I could have spent longer in Portoferraio, although given the spiritedness of our driver it may not have been wise. Besides, our destination was the tiny, less touristy village of Sant’Andrea, about 16 miles west. Set on a promontory covered in woodland, whitewashed houses are dotted among lemon groves, poppies and wild broom, on a hill sloping down to the sea.
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Our hotel, Hotel Ilio, was just a minute’s walk to the beach (I could hear the waves from my room) and a couple of minutes’ drive to Marciana, a popular base for hiking and home to one of the island’s National Park Visitor Centres (the whole of Elba is national parkland). We set off along an ancient mule track that led into hills once covered in vines. “Mule trails were once the only link between local farms and villages,” our park guide Pat said. The owner of our hotel, Maurizio Testa chipped in. “When I was a child, more than 35 years ago, my parents were still using donkeys. Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it?” We haven’t hiked far up Mt Giove when in a small clearing we come across a pile of large, hewn stones and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Apparently this was where locals planned to build a church, until some of the stones mysteriously moved to the top of the mount. Villagers took this as a sign that the Virgin wanted her sanctuary at the summit. The hill grows steeper; its slopes covered with Mediterranean maquis: tall shrubland characterised by the glossy-leaved strawberry or cane apple tree, the holm oak with its drooping, knobbly catkins and the invasive buckthorn. At the top, amid the cool of tall pine trees, we visit the Virgin’s preferred dwelling place: the 16th century church of Madonna del Monte, one of the island’s most sacred sites. Messages from pilgrims are pinned to its walls. It was the perfect place too for a picnic of ham, vine ripened tomato and soft cheese sandwiches. When it was time to set off again; I got to my feet feeling a little lightheaded. I refilled
my water bottle from a natural spring after hearing Napolean thought it did wonders for his liver, and followed a light-footed Maurizio (his backpack now empty) along a narrow trail overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The papery, silvery leaves of helichrysum brushed against our feet as we made our way downhill. We paused to admire the delicate pink flowers of the rock rose, a riot
Apparently this was where locals planned to build a church, until some of the stones mysteriously moved to the top of the mount of yellow broom and an almost fluorescent green gecko, darting over a rock. The trail cut through a shady chestnut wood where fallen leaves made it soft underfoot. Minutes later it was nothing but upturned earth where wild boar had been digging for roots. Finally, it joined another mule track whose stony path, smoothed over the centuries by the passage of feet, took us to the village of Zanca and back to the sea. Then it was just a mile or so to Sant’Andrea cove where rows of yellow and orange beach huts and a quirky shack decorated with driftwood stands. We threw down our towels and sprawled across the sand. The cliffs, potholed with erosion, were draped with the succulent Sally-myhandsome plant. Postcards showed its summer flowers cascading like a bright pink
waterfall. At the edge of the bay, the rocks, smoothed into soft pleats by the constant pounding of the waves, looked as if they were studded with large crystals. That evening we dined at Hotel Ilio, where Maurizio’s wife served ravioli with truffles and octopus. In the distance, on the slopes of Mt Capanne, hilltop villages were studded with tiny orange lights. Directly below us, beyond the hotel’s terrace and the rooftops of Sant’Andrea, I could hear the sea, now calm, break gently against the shore through my open shutters. hotelilio.com is a small, family-run hotel, 150 metres from the sea at Sant’Andrea, Isle of Elba
december 2012 CW 93
A world
AWAY
Munich is a place where the traditional and modern collide to create a city built from the debris of war. Rajdeep Sandhu takes a look behind the beer drinking…
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ou could be forgiven for instantly thinking of the famed Oktoberfest when I say: “I’m off to Munich this weekend” because often this German city is overlooked for the cool streets of Berlin or the romance of Frankfurt. But savvy travellers and weekend citybreakers take note: you’re missing a trick. Munich is both a financial and publishing hub, built on the remnants of the wartime bombings. And unlike most other German cities, the pre-war street plans are still intact. This is a city that surprised me; it is full of contradictions and contrasts, where ancient shops sit next to designer boutiques and BMW’s glide past age old architectural landmarks. Despite the economic doom and gloom, this seems to be a city of prosperity thanks to its high powered industry. Perhaps most surprisingly of
all, the weather was scorching hot. I had the pleasure of staying in the iconic hotel Bayerischer Hof; as the taxi whisked me off of the pretty Munich streets and dropped me at the hotel, I gladly pushed my weight against the revolving doors, eyelids heavy with sleep. A weekend away from the usual is what I needed, but somehow it didn’t seem as though I had swapped one bustling city for another. This Munich that I find myself in has a quaint charm lurking between its sleek skyscrapers that maybe I am too worn down to appreciate in London. The lobby feels completely welcoming, with its luxurious grand foyer and large glass dome which filters and scatters natural light throughout. I catch a glimpse of the Falk’s Bar and overhear a conversation that it was the only room to survive the Second World War unscathed. I decide to have one drink only but with the superb cocktail offerings from the Münchner Caipirinhas to
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the Black Lemon Drop Martinis one turned into a few. It’s no surprise that it feels like a mini metropolitan held in the walls of the grand hotel. Led up the stately sweeping staircase to my abode I was taken aback by the beauty. It’s rare to be able to keep coming back to a hotel and still being offered something new, but Bayerischer Hof can do just that as its rooms are all uniquely decorated; stay in Pilati , Cosmopolitan or Colonial, it’s up to you. This time I opted for a standard room furnished in warm colours and comforting fabrics. It feels like the home I always wanted but have never had time enough to create. High above the rooftops of Munich you can gaze at life in the Old Town district below. Just a short walk away is the city centre where there are pavements full of street entertainers and cafes, perfect to people watch as they pass by the Neues Rathaus. I had the pleasure of visiting the National Theatre (home to the Bavarian State Opera and the Bavarian State Ballet) and enjoyed a stunning performance of Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. It’s no surprise that this is one of the most famed and frequently performed operas of all time; the moving music, dramatically charged story line and exceptional use of 3D combined to make it a rendition like no other. The next morning after a deep sleep on marshmallow pillows, I made my way to the rooftop terrace for a delightful Champagne breakfast buffet. Not a bad way to start the day at all. The view of the Frauenkirche Towers felt like the preview of the next twelve hours, packed full of cathedral, museum and architecture spotting. Munich may not be the capital of Germany, but there’s no doubt that it’s the capital for arts, culture and science. I had the rare privilege of meeting the legendary German product designer Ingo Maurer in his showroom, where famed for his exquisite lamps and light installations, he spoke candidly about his inspirations and upcoming projects. Swapping cutting edge design with contemporary I then headed to pop-up exhibition Image Counter Image at the Haus der Kunst (literally, House of Art), where the renowned international Nigerian curator, Okwui Enwezor (whose predecessor Chris Dercon is now Director of the Tate Modern) talked me through each fascinating piece. It is unavoidable to leave without drinking copious amounts of beer so a visit to Munich’s oldest Augustiner Brau brewery only seemed fitting. Augustiner is a beer for true Münchners: it doesn’t bother with advertising, as it doesn’t need to, and in the last 20 years it has barely changed its bottle. Safe to say that from the moment I lifted the bottle to my lips, I was a proud German; it could have tasted foul and I would have nodded in appreciation, but it didn’t. My nod was entirely sincere. Dinner meant an agonising decision between five restaurants inside the Bayerischer Hof hotel. I was spoilt for choice from Polynesian in Trader Vic’s to a seasonal Michelin menu at Atelier. Eventually I chose to dine in the Garden Restaurant, which serves
From top: Hotel Bayerischer Hof; Blue Spa pool, Atrium, Blue Spa Left: Town hall at the Marienplatz
Munich may not be the capital of Germany, but there’s no doubt that it’s the capital for arts, culture and science Mediterranean and South German cuisine, with a choice of oysters and rotisserie cuts of beef. Had I stayed longer, I would have had all five under my belt, but weekends away are always fleeting. Munich is an underrated city that provides surprises at every turn and shatters your preconceptions of a place full of beer drinking men and women (although, maybe those are just mine). It is a place made for long weekends when you just can’t choose between city break and traditional charm; here you can have both. I could easily go again tomorrow.
more information Hotel Bayerischer Hof; bayerischerhof.de, +49 89 21 20-0 Double rooms start from ¤350 for two people sharing, excluding breakfast. Flights depart daily from London Heathrow to Munich with British Airways, Lufthansa and Air Berlin. National Theatre; bayerische.staatsoper.de Ingo Maurer Showroom; ingo-maurer.com/munich_en.html Haus der Kunst; hausderkunst.de
december 2012 CW 95
Harrods Corporate Service offers your business a wealth of gifting ideas to suit all budgets and tastes, this festive season and beyond. For more details, call +44 (0) 20 7225 5994 or email corporate.service@harrods.com
11925_CorpHamperAd_CanaryWharf.indd 1
19/09/2012 10:48
news
NO BULL Overlooking West India Quay, Manhattan Grill does its steak without any fuss. Choose your cut, sides, sauces and that’s it; quick and simple meaty heaven. It’s so easy that if you opt for the special lunch menu, Manhaattan Grill guarantees that “you’ll be fed and watered within 45 minutes”. On top of that, if you book in for more than eight people for lunch, you can have Santa pop down for a visit and hand out your presents (although this Santa will need the presents provided by you) all accompanied by live music. Ho ho ho. 22 Hertsmere Road, E14 manhattangrill.co.uk
The best fine dining has to offer, right on your doorstep
OLD GETS OLDER
JUST INN TIME The Holiday Inn London Commercial Road’s Traders Restaurant is open daily for every meal of the day. For business or leisurely lunches and dinners the à la carte menus offer Best of British fresh seasonal dishes, as well as snacks and drinks if you don’t have time to stay for longer. For a limited period only, guests that book using the code LONUK-002 will receive 20 per cent off any food and beverage ordered at the hotel. 261 Commercial Road, E1, 0800 40 50 60 Email info.hicommercialroad@ihg.com or visit hilondoncommercialroadhotel.co.uk
Old Pulteney has launched its oldest 40 year old malt whisky, encased in a gorgeous deep indigo bottle. The content is just as divine as its packaging, matured in Spanish ex-sherry and American oak ex-bourbon casks; the unique malt is undeniably Pulteney with a rich amber hue. Made in the most northern distillery in the British mainland, the 40 year old’s nose is fragrantly fruity with pears and cloves, the taste sweet and spicy with notes of sherry. £1,500, old-pulteney.myshopify.com
CITY ANGLER Having visited the South Place Hotel when it was a mere building site, our excitement to return to its top floor Angler restaurant had been building week on week. Start with the compact lobster and scallop ravioli, a single light parcel packed with chunky fresh seafood, or the foie gras and chicken liver parfait, ordered by our dining partner and tried in the name of journalistic research. A simply cooked Dover sole accompanied by sautéed spinach and heritage tomatoes was elegant, tasty and simple. 3 South Place, EC2M
december 2012 CW 97
review
surf & turf Skater Girl Kari Rosenberg gets a wee taste of Scotland in Canary Wharf
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ecked out in tartan with trademark red walls, battered Chesterfields and enough whisky on show to sample a different tipple every night of the week, Boisdale of Canary Wharf is both classy and cosy. As the wind and rain smashed against the window panes outside, I held my helping of vintage Jameson close, warming me through. Seated close to the stage, the atmosphere was both relaxed and romantic, a setting my dining partner and I couldn’t help but notice would be ideal for a first date, as we glanced around the room guessing which guests had had the same idea as the guitarist strummed his first melody on stage. With its very bonnie heritage, I was determined to try something ‘native’ and opted for the West Coast Scottish langoustines, cold poached and served with homemade mayonnaise. With just a squeeze of lemon and a generous dip needed, the meat was sweet, cold and fresh, just as seafood at its very best should be. My colleague went for the Atlantic prawn cocktail served with green harissa mayonnaise and Marie-rose sauce, which was like a generous and comforting hug in a bowl. Tempted by the number of steaks on offer we were hard pushed to choose the best cut; the sirloin on the bone, tournedo fillet and rib-eye each vying for our attention. After some toing and froing, we both settled on the 10oz rib-eye; Aberdeenshire grass fed and dry aged for 40 days. I went for medium cooked, with a béarnaise on the side, while my companion opted for hers smothered in a green peppercorn emulsion. For sides we shared the chunky cut chips and creamed spinach with truffle. The meat was tender and tasty, chargrilled to perfection on the outside and rosy pink on the inside, and despite the portions being relatively large, we left only a bite (and that was only to be polite). The spinach was aromatic and creamy, the perfect accompaniment to the irony, mineral richness of the steak, while the fries were golden brown and fluffy. We washed it down with a 2006 Bordeaux (Château de Ricaud), a deep Cabernet Sauvignon blend. We finished with the exceedingly rich chocolate tart and some Baileys on the rocks, just as the jazz band were getting going and the room was filling up around us. Suitably full, we sat back and enjoyed the music, vowing to come back for the Christmas special, and perhaps a merry puff of a cigar or two.
Louise Rose enjoys a festive office skate at Ice Rink Canary Wharf
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ll eyes were on me. Yes, I had skated before, perhaps five or six times, but that’s not to say I am any good. Granted, I may be able to let go of the surrounding fence, freestyle, (hope to not free-fall), and make it back to the lockerroom with all my teeth intact, but I’m no Torvill or Dean, by any stretch of the imagination. Why hadn’t I just kept quiet? Boots fastened tight? Check. Appropriately festive woolly hat? Check. Scarf tucked in, gloves on, extra thick socks pulled up to the knees; check, check, check. I was ready to head out onto the ice. Lights sparkling in every direction, my breath casting smoky plumes in the frosty air in front of me, it was starting to feel a lot like Christmas. Hand in hand, my colleagues and I glided out onto the rink, and made our way, slowly at first, along the beautiful skate path, lined with tress and twinkling lights, as young children, gooey eyed couples and other office groups zipped past us, with varying degrees of expertise. As the main rink unfolded in front of us, we all felt brave enough to go at it alone, testing out our moves in the vast open space, before coming together again to loop back around the skate path. And I wasn’t too bad at all. Despite it being a fully booked session, there was still plenty of space to spread your wings, should you find, after a few minutes warming up, that you’re actually pretty good after all. For younger participants who have never skated before, and are a little nervous, trusty ‘polar bears’ are on hand to help balance, as well as lessons from the fullyqualified and certified National Ice Skating Association coaches. With experience competing in numerous British championships and passing on tips to the celebs on ITV’s Dancing on Ice you’ll be in safe hands and on your way to becoming a seasoned skater. Rosy cheeked but slightly chilly, we headed to the pop-up Boisdale on Ice bar for a warming post-skate tipple and toasted to our hidden talents and the exciting new offering just minutes from the office. Talk soon turned to upcoming Christmas parties, and when we could next (having gained a little confidence) return to the ice, each keen to improve, or perhaps show their newly acquired moves. If Phillip Schofield comes looking, that’s where he’ll find me. For bookings at Ice Rink Canary Wharf contact events@icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk
Boisdale of Canary Wharf, Cabot Square, 020 7715 5818
visit skatecanarywharf.com or call 020 7536 8400
DECEMBER 2012 CW 101
THE Directory Whether you want to dine or to drink, to purchase gorgeous gifts and stylish outfits, to keep fit or to be pampered, Canary Wharf is home to a wealth of services and amenities
HEALTH & BEAUTY
ICE RINK CANARY WHARF
Nestled under the soaring buildings of Canada Square and bathed in twinkling festive lights, the Ice Rink Canary Wharf is back with a new team and a sparkling new look for the 2012/13 season. skatecanarywharf.com
COLLECTION Aspinal of London Cabot Place 020 7719 0727 Carat* Cabot Place 020 7516 0347 Charles Fish Cabot Place 020 7512 9595 David M Robinson Jubilee Place 020 7538 2332 Goldsmiths Canada Place 020 7512 9779 Links of London Jubilee Place 020 7519 1767 Montblanc Canada Place 020 7719 1919 Pandora Cabot Place 020 7987 9801 Tiffany & Co. Cabot Place 020 7409 2790 Tumi Cabot Place 020 7513 2456
David Clulow Opticians Cabot Place 020 7345 9181 Jubilee Place 020 7519 6284 Dove Spa @ Virgin Active Westferry Circus 020 7519 6657 Reebok sports club Canada Place 0844 558 1329 Sean Hanna Jubilee Place 020 7513 2660 SK:N Canada Place 020 7516 0106 The Gentry Hair & Spa Canada Place 020 7519 6660 treatment suite; Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf Westferry Circus 020 7510 1999 The Rejuvenation Clinic & Medispa Cabot Place 020 7519 6950
retail
FASHION
Artisan Fine Art Canada Place 020 3229 0172
Accessorize Canada Place 020 7512 9352
Brown’s London Canada Place 020 7513 2757
Alfred Dunhill Cabot Place 020 7519 6326
Carphone Warehouse Cabot Place 020 7513 0811
Aquascutum Cabot Place 020 3069 8790
Charbonnel et Walker Cabot Place 020 7512 9168
cecil gee Canada Place 020 7993 1318
Currys Digital Cabot Place 020 7513 0330
Charles Tyrwhitt Canada Place 020 7513 2988
Evans Cycles 30 South Colonnade 020 7516 0094
Choice Jubilee Place 0845 271 9909
Frontispiece the Gallery One Canada Square 020 7363 6336
Church’s English Shoes Cabot Place 020 7538 9730
HMV Canada Place 020 7512 9222 Hotel Chocolat Canada Place 08444 93 13 13 Jessops Cabot Place 020 7719 1999
Toni & Guy One Canada Square 0844 445 7722
Reebok Sports Shop Canada Place 02079700900
Urban Beach Tanning & Beauty Jubilee Place 020 3200 2000
Runners Need Churchill Place 020 7512 9107
Vision Express Optical Lab Canada Place 020 7513 2408
Waterstones Cabot Place 020 7513 0060 Jubilee Place 020 7719 0688
Dorothy Perkins Canada Place 020 7512 9707 Dune Cabot Place 020 7715 4755 English Tailoring 14 South Colannade 020 7512 9991 Fat Face Canada Place 020 7719 1836 French Connection Jubilee Place 020 7512 9110 Gant Canada Place 020 7715 7470 Gap Canada Place 020 7512 1335
L.K. Bennett, Jubilee Place
Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill, Canada Place
Rocket Restaurant & Bar, Churchill Place
Church’s English Shoes, Cabot Place
Hackett 10 Cabot Place 020 7513 0400
food & drink ALL BAR ONE Reuters Plaza 020 7516 0191
Gourmet Burger Kitchen Jubilee Place 020 7719 6408 gbk.co.uk
Roka The Park Pavilion 020 7636 5228 rokarestaurant.com
AMERIGO VESPUCCI Cabot Square 020 7513 0288
HENRY ADDINGTON Mackenzie walk 020 7719 1114
BATTERY CLUB Westferry Circus 020 8305 3089
IBERICA CANARY WHARF Cabot Square 020 7636 8650 ibericalondon.co.uk
Boisdale of Canary Wharf Cabot Place 020 7715 5818 boisdale.co.uk
Jamie’s Italian Churchill Place 020 3002 5252 jamieoliver.com/italian
BYRON Cabot Place 020 7715 9360 byronhamburgers.com
Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte 18-20 Mackenzie Walk 020 3475 3331 relaisdevenise.com
Hobbs Canada Place 020 7513 2763 Hugo Boss Cabot Place 020 7715 5302 Jaeger Menswear, Cabot Place 020 3589 2948 Womenswear, Cabot Place 020 3328 9440 Karen Millen Jubilee Place 020 7519 6153 Kurt Geiger Cabot Place 020 7673 9869 L.K. Bennett Jubilee Place 020 7719 0090 Massimo Dutti Cabot Place 020 7718 5030 Monsoon Canada Place 020 7512 9543
Café Brera Cabot Place 020 7512 9191 Jubilee Place 020 7516 9090 CARLUCCIO’S Reuters Plaza 020 7719 1749 carluccios.com
Ted Baker Canada Place 020 7519 6588
Canteen The Park Pavillion 020 7513 0406 canteen.co.uk
Thomas Pink Cabot Place 020 7513 0303
CORNEY AND BARROW Cabot Square 020 7512 0397
TM Lewin Canada Place 020 7519 6292 Jubliee Place 020 7519 6292
DAVY’S WINE BAR Fisherman’s Walk 020 7363 6633
Topshop Canada Place 020 7512 1996 Zara Cabot Place 020 7715 1970
Royal China Westferry Circus 020 7719 0888 royalchinagroup.biz
Smollensky’s Reuters Plaza 020 7719 0101 smollensky’s.co.uk Sri nam 1 North Colannade 020 7715 9515 Sweet Couture Canada Place sweetcouture.co.uk
NICOLAS WINE MERCHANT One Canada Square 020 7512 9092
The Cat and Canary 25-28 Fisherman’s Walk 0207 512 9187
Obikà Mozzarella Bar West Wintergarden 020 7719 1532 Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill Canada Place 020 7715 7100 plateaurestaurant.co.uk
REEBOK BAR & RESTAURANT Canada Place 020 7970 0920
Gaucho Canary Canary Riverside 020 7987 9494 gauchorestaurants.co.uk
ROCKET RESTAURANT & BAR Churchill Place 020 3200 2022
The Parlour The Park Pavilion 0845 468 0100 theparlourbar.co.uk Wahaca The Park Pavilion 020 7516 9145 wahaca.com
Quadrato Restaurant Four Seasons Hotel London at Canary Wharf Westferry Circus 020 7510 1857 fourseasons.com/canarywharf
First Edition Cabot Square 020 7513 0300 firsteditionrestaurant.co.uk
SLUG AND LETTUCE Reuters Plaza 020 7519 1612
GIFTS FOR HIM & HER
From watches and wallets to gadgets and gizmos for him and glittering jewels, shimmering shoes and stunning accessories, for her, Canary Wharf provides the one stop shop for all your Christmas needs. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, after all.
DECEMBER 2012 CW 103
LONDON Homes&
PROPERTY Showcasing the finest homes in your area
C o v e r i n g CANARY WHARF, D OC K L AN D S , WA P P ING & T h e C i t y
Find
new homes for the holidays
a favourite
Reflections
on 2012 the agents tell all
Mah-Jong Modular Sofa Roche Bobois www.roche-bobois.com
Cinnabar Cinnabar Wharf, Wharf, Wapping E1W Wapping E1W Lovely penthouse Lovely penthouse
A beautifully presented penthouse in this A beautifully presented penthouse in this luxury development on Wapping High luxury Wapping High Street. development 3 bedrooms, 3onbathrooms (2 enStreet. large 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 ensuite), open-plan kitchen reception suite), large open-plan views of kitchen reception room with spectacular Tower room with views offloors, Tower Bridge andspectacular the River, wooden Bridge and wooden floors, parking andthe 24 River, hour porterage. parking and 24 hour Approximately 128 sqporterage. m (1,375 sq ft). Approximately 128 sq m (1,375 sq ft). Furnished Furnished £925 per week £925 per week
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 7480 6848 020 7480 6848
Telfords Telfords Yard, Yard, Wapping E1W Wapping E1W
Popular conversion Popular conversion
A recently redecorated second floor A recently redecorated floor apartment to rent in thissecond popular warehouse apartment to rent in this popular warehouse conversion. 2 bedrooms, bathroom with conversion. 2 bedrooms, bathroom shower, dual aspect reception room,with fully shower, dual aspect reception room,ceilings, fully fitted semi open-plan kitchen, high fitted semi open-plan kitchen, high ceilings, exposed brickwork, dark wooden floors, 24 exposed brickwork, dark wooden floors, 24 hour porterage and parking. hour porterage and parking. Approximately 99 sq m (1,064 sq ft). Approximately 99 sq m (1,064 sq ft). Furnished Furnished £595 per week £595 per week
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 7480 6848 020 7480 6848
CW HP p1 December 2012 - 16 November 2012 - 28030
16/11/2012 16:39:38
Trafalgar Court, Wapping E1W
Jacana Court, St Katharine Docks E1W
A lovely apartment to rent in a popular gated block in Wapping. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception room, fitted kithen, fantastic river views, lift access, porterage, easy access to Canary Wharf and the City and a car parking space.
A lovely apartment to rent in the popular City Quay development. 2 bedrooms, 2 newly refurbished bathrooms (1 en-suite), reception room opening onto a private balcony, kitchen, 24 hour porterage and a car parking space.
Furnished
Furnished
Guide Price: £375 per week
Guide Price: £775 per week
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings
020 7480 6848 wappinglettings@knightfrank.com
Dundee Wharf, Limehouse E14
020 7480 6848 wappinglettings@knightfrank.com
Vogans Mill, Shad Thames SE1
A smart riverside apartment set in this protered development in Limshouse. 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception room, semi open-plan kitchen, wooden floors, attractive furnishings and a private balcony with fantastic river views.
A spectacular triplex penthouse. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (all en-suite), large reception room with two additional rooms on a mezzanine level and floor to ceiling windows, open-plan kitchen, porterage, parking and far reaching views.
Furnished
Furnished
Guide Price: £450 per week
Guide Price: £2,500 per week
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings
KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings
020 7480 6848 wappinglettings@knightfrank.com
020 7480 6848 wappinglettings@knightfrank.com
Season’s greetings from all at Knight Frank With another busy year drawing to a close, our team would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and happy new year. If you would like to find out more about why our clients choose Knight Frank, whatever the season, call Wapping 020 7480 6848, Canary Wharf 020 7512 9955 or visit
KnightFrank.co.uk
2280 Christmas ad for London_Canary Wharf.indd 1
19/11/2012 14:43
homes & property
HOMEs OF THE MONTH king’s cross, N1C from £865,000, LEASEHOLD
Knight Frank Islington www.knightfrank.co.uk/islington
0203 641 6138
A selection of two bedroom apartments within the Arthouse is now available. The first residential building in the landmark King’s Cross regeneration project, Arthouse sits just beside Kings Place, which houses two galleries and two concert halls. The location offers contemporary city living with excellent transport links. Designed by architect dRMM, the building’s façade is dressed in terracotta tiles and polished stainless steel. Sliding louvres animate the Arthouse face to meet residents’ shade and privacy needs. On the western elevation, private courtyards look towards Handyside Park. With light-filled interiors and relaxed open spaces the property comprises two double bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en-suite) and an open-plan fitted kitchen/reception area with south facing balcony. The property has natural oak wooden flooring and integrated under floor heating and is available to be purchased off-plan with practical completion due in 2013.
Fitzroy Place, W1 from £800,000, Leasehold
Savills www.savills.co.uk
CBRE www.cbre.co.uk
020 7323 1077
020 7323 1077
Exemplar, the privately-owned property development company, launched Fitzroy Place on 26 September. This collection of private residences is one of the most eagerly anticipated in central London, centred around the first new square in London’s West End for more than a century. The development is five minutes’ walk from Regent Street, providing international investors the opportunity to acquire a luxury residence in the very heart of London. Combining more than 230 private residences with a restaurant, shops and office space, Fitzroy Place is set to become a new landmark in this vibrant neighbourhood. Homes include generously appointed suites, duplexes and a select number of prestigious penthouses. Residents are automatically made members of The Fitzroy Club, of which extensive facilities and amenities include a five-star 24/7 concierge service, 20-seat private cinema, the Club Room residents’ lounge, private dining room, personal training room and fully equipped gym, business lounge, children’s play area and secure underground parking.
Oaklands, IG1O From £2.25M, FREEHOLD
Warren Hill www.oaklands-whdc.co.uk
01480 484 022
Oaklands is a new gated development of three exceptional fivebedroom family homes on Warren Hill in the heart of Loughton, Essex. Situated in a leafy location on the edge of Epping Forest, Oaklands blends countryside living with the convenience of fast transport links into central London and a wealth of amenities on the doorstep. Each of the houses — Oaklands House, Maple House and The Chestnuts — has been individually designed by the established Warren Hill Development company to have its own unique style. All three houses have been furnished to a high specification and include luxury kitchens designed by Richard Baker, featuring curved island units, granite work surfaces and the latest Miele appliances. Loughton High Street, a haven for glamorous boutiques, salons and restaurants is within walking distance, while nearby Epping Forest provides 6,000 acres of woodland ideal for leisure activities. Loughton underground station offers transport to Liverpool Street in under 30 minutes. 109
1 2
savills.co.uk
QUEENS COURT, e14
WEST INDIA QUAY, e14
Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 double bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø w.c ø parking ø rooftop terrace ø 152 sq m (1,641 sq ft)
Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø porter ø 145 sq m (1,561 sq ft)
Guide £1.1 million Share of Freehold
Guide £850,000 Leasehold
3 4
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
BALTIMORE WHARF, e14
CITY TOWER, e14
Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø bedroom ø bathroom ø balcony ø 46 sq m (493 sq ft)
Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø parking ø concierge ø 18 sq m (835 sq ft)
Guide £450,000 Leasehold
Guide £375,000 Leasehold
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
1 2
savills.co.uk
DISCOVERY DOCK, e14
BERKELEY TOWER, e14
2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 shower rooms ø parking space ø concierge ø 224 sq m (2,415 sq ft)
Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø 2 parking spaces ø balcony ø w.c ø storage room ø concierge ø 156 sq m (1,680 sq ft)
Guide £1.6 million Leasehold
Guide £1,299,950 Leasehold
3 4
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
APOLLO BUILDING, e14
THE FORGE, e14
Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø parking space ø concierge ø gym ø 97 sq m (1,047 sq ft)
Reception room ø open plan kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø concierge ø 63 m (684 sq ft)
Guide £464,950 Leasehold
Guide £359,000 Leasehold
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
Savills Canary Wharf juprowse@savills.com 020 7456 6800
1 2
savills.co.uk
PORT EAST, e14
DISCOVERY DOCK, e14
Reception room ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø open plan kitchen ø 24 hour porterage ø allocated parking
Reception room ø 2 bedroom ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony ø allocated parking ø 24 hour porterage
£465 per week Furnished
£625 per week Furnished
3 4
Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500
Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500
CANARY SOUTH, e14
HANOVER HOUSE, e14
Reception ø 1 bedroom ø 1 bathroom ø open plan kitchen ø balcony ø roof terrace
Reception room ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø balcony with river views ø 24 hour porterage ø allocated parking ø communal gardens
£435 per week Furnished
£645 per week Furnished
Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500
Savills Canary Wharf ssaul@savills.com 020 7531 2500
savills.co.uk
1 A SENSATIONAL GEORGIAN HOUSE STEEPED IN HISTORY blackheath, se3 5 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 5 bedrooms ø 4 bathrooms ø 1/3 of an acre landscaped garden ø separate 2 bedroom annexe ø garage ø off-street parking ø close to the Heath ø 580 sq m (6,253 sq ft)
Asking £3.5 million Freehold
Savills Wandsworth Robin Chatwin rchatwin@savills.com
020 8877 1222
Landmark East, E14 - £460,000 - Leasehold
Baltimore Wharf, E14 - £450,000 - Leasehold
• One bedroom apartment • 42nd floor West London views • Secure parking • Gym & Concierge
• One bedroom apartment • 8th floor dock facing • Popular luxury development • Concierge, gym & pool
Ability Place, E14 - £525,000 - Leasehold
Landmark East, E14 - £649,000 - Leasehold
• Two beds, two bath • 12th floor apartment • Wrap around balcony • Beautifully presented
• Two beds, two bath • 20th floor apartment • 807sq ft, large balcony • Dual aspect views
11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4HE
020 7715 9700 joneslanglasalle.co.uk
Cordage House, E1W - £295pw
SpacE1, E1 - £310pw
Binnacle House, E1W - £350pw
• Studio Apartment • Balcony • 24 Hour Concierge • Wapping Lane Overground
• 5th floor apartment • One bedrooms • Brand new development • Brick Lane Area
• Brand new development • One bedroom • Balcony and Concierge • Wapping Overground
Landmark East, E14 - £370pw
Hamilton House, E14 - £430pw
Dundee Wharf, E14 - £475pw
• One bed apartment • Gym and 24 Hour Concierge • Luxury development • Heron Quays DLR
• Two Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms • Balcony • Westferry DLR • Concierge & Parking
• Two bed, two bath • Gated riverside development • Parking available • Dual aspect views
Binnacle House, E14 - £495pw
Boardwalk, E14 - £595pw
Landmark West, E14 - £1,100pw
• Brand New Apartment • Two bed, Two bath • Allocated Parking • Wapping Overground
• Two Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms • Allocated Parking • Wrap Around Balcony • Blackwall DLR
• Three bed, two bath • 29th floor apartment • Dual aspect views • 24hr concierge, Gym
dockland.sales@eu.jll.co.uk
homes & property
State of the market Docklands Property Market Remains Buoyant During The Usually Quiet Festive Period ALASDAIR CARPENTER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LOURDES ESTATE AGENTS, COMMENTS ON THE STATE OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKET The winter months normally usher in a period of inactivity in the property market that lasts until early spring when the market normally comes to life again. This year however, the market seems very active for both sales and lettings, well in to the usually quiet winter period. Transaction levels have remained high and been underpinned by demand from both prospective buyers and tenants alike. As the year closes and the focus turns to festive holidays and celebrations, historically many people put their home-moving aspirations on hold. This year it would seem the public perception of the market is one of further future recovery. Therefore it makes sense for prospective tenants and purchasers to capitalise on the healthy activity levels in the housing market that are buoying both prices and rental yields. By happy coincidence this renewed interest, in turn, fuels market further confidence.
Q&A
In common with residential property transactions, many potential landlords and buy-to-let vendors also normally avoid this time of year and hold off marketing their properties until the early spring period. This compounds the normal lull in activity further with less stock for those looking to move. But given the above average transactions levels this year, landlords and vendors would be well advised to take advantage of the festive period as an ideal time to beat the rush of new instructions early next year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. n
Lourdes Estate Agents 020 7538 9250 www.lourdes-estates.com
with JAMES BEARRYMAN, DIRECTOR AT FRANKLYN JAMES What are your predictions for the 2013 London property market? Growth in London during 2011 was up by 2.71 per cent, by the end of 2012 it will reach five per cent and is set to more than double in 2013 to 11 per cent. This equates to an annualised figure of eight per cent in the next five years and means that in the decade from 2007 to 2016, growth in London is expected to reach 52 per cent. The housing market has drifted sideways for the last year but demand for housing, whether to rent or buy, has continued to rise despite the recession. An increase in employment and recovery in the economic backdrop, teamed with signs of an increase in mortgage provisions and the return of first-time buyers, will help demand into 2013 and onwards. In addition, the on-going housing supply shortage will continue to drive rental growth in core city locations, underpinning house prices and preventing decline further. According to CBRE, London has led the way in
residential house prices for the last five years; over the next five, growth in London is predicted to be much grander and so will its outperformance of the rest of the UK. The Central London market as a whole has strengthened in 2012. Average prices in the City are now £579,400, up one per cent on the previous quarter; on the Southbank they are £551,000, up five per cent; and in the Docklands, they are now £385,000, up 14 per cent on the previous quarter. Indeed, the growth of the ‘prime’ market itself is evident in the new-build market; the volume of sales on new units over £1,000 per square foot has doubled over the course of the year while certain developments are breaking local price ceilings in the City, Canary Wharf and the Southbank, a trend which is expected to continue. n
Franklyn James Estate Agents, Docklands, Limehouse & Bow 020 7005 6080 www.franklynjames.co.uk
117
homes & property
expert comment LETTINGS:
SALES:
London rents fall, but market remains healthy
Avoid market saturation
VANESSA EVETT-BEESLEY, PARTNER AT KNIGHT
ANDREW GROOCOCK, ASSOCIATE AT KNIGHT FRANK
FRANK IN CANARY WHARF, COMMENTS ON THE
IN CANARY WHARF, COMMENTS ON THE TRENDS IN THE
TRENDS IN THE RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS MARKET
RESIDENTIAL SALES MARKET
Once again the Knight Frank Prime London Rental Index confirms another month of falling rents. While not especially dramatic, a 2.3 per cent annual fall does weigh on income returns for landlords. With gross yields falling to a new low of 3.2 per cent in September, new entrants in the investment market are having to work their portfolios hard to minimise costs, especially voids. While some locations are bucking the wider trend — rents have risen marginally over the past quarter in the City and Notting Hill — the general trend is for weaker rents across all price brackets. As we commented last month, weaker rents relate to London’s weaker than expected economic recovery, with employment levels in the financial and business services sector in particular, contracting. However while rents are slipping, activity levels confirm a healthier picture. While the volume of new rental instructions has risen by 20 per cent over the past nine months, compared to the same period last year, this rise has been largely met by a rise in the number of new tenancies, which have risen by 18 per cent over the same period. The volume of new tenancy starts so far this year has outpaced the level seen in each of the last five years, confirming that there are healthy levels of demand for rental property. The slightly higher rate of growth in new instructions compared to new tenancy starts does mean that landlords will want to keep an eye on rising stock volumes as we move towards the year end. A significant upward movement in this measure will constrain their ability to increase rents, even if the economy recovers. The need for caution from landlords is confirmed by the ratio between the volume of new tenant registrations and the volume of newly available properties. This ratio has slipped, averaging 3.4 in the first nine months of 2012, compared to 4.1 in 2011. The fact that activity is rising while rents are receding points to the underlying strength of demand in the London lettings market. The ability for rental increases to stick in 2013 will ultimately be determined by the direction taken by London’s economy. n
2012 has continued to be a record breaking year around Docklands with Knight Frank experiencing our busiest first six months ever. The market is awash with both enduser buyers, and the all important investors, which has meant that we have experienced healthy competition between potential purchasers on many properties. This has enabled us to achieve or exceed our asking prices in many instances. Whilst this is all very positive, a word of warning is required. The number of properties for sale has gradually increased throughout the year and whilst this has enabled us to agree a huge number of deals, there is a danger that the market can become saturated. This then means that buyers have too much choice which leads to properties, on occasion, going stale. The best advice that we can provide to prevent this happening to your property, if you are thinking of selling, is to ensure you use the best agents out there. Make sure that your agent uses professional photographers and floor planners; ensure they have a visible office presence within Canary Wharf; make sure they have in-depth knowledge of the local and wider property market and, most importantly, make sure you take their advice with regards to a marketing price. Being too punchy with an initial marketing figure can do untold damage to the sale of a property. Choose your agent carefully; they are going to be handling what is probably your most valuable asset. n
Knight Frank Canary Wharf 020 7512 9955 www.knightfrank.co.uk/canary-wharf
Knight Frank Canary Wharf 020 7512 9966 www.knightfrank.co.uk/canary-wharf
116
homes & property
a voice from the country There are very few things in life that appear to be quite such great value as property purchases – but all too often only with the benefit of hindsight, explains Mark Parkinson
O
f course, the passage of time will always, sooner or later, ensure a good return on property investment. But making the meaningful returns that once seemed almost a given, nowadays requires at least a medium-term, and possibly a long-term view. It’s not just the flat-lining of the economy as a whole, but also the fact that virtually everyone is wise to the relative security of property as an investment. There are very few bargains out there, just waiting for someone with a nose for property to sniff out. One of the last remaining ways of digging out a hidden gem is really thorough research and some future planning. Take the Crossrail project, as one example of this line of thought. Europe’s biggest engineering project isn’t scheduled for completion until 2018 but if you wait until then, the premiums will already be built into the thousands of properties which suddenly find themselves inside the magic circle — the border-line marking the difference between daily commute and weekend escape. 118
Currently, Maidenhead to Canary Wharf — or vice versa — is a 1 hour 40 minute journey involving three changes. By the time Crossrail is finished — with 37 existing stations connected, 21 kilometres of new twin-bore tunnels and eight new sub-surface stations — the same journey will be a no-stop 54 minutes. That changes the equation for those living in the country and working in Canary Wharf. Likewise for those living in Canary Wharf and looking to get away to the country, or even to another country, at weekends, Heathrow will be a very straightforward 40 minute journey away. My advice? Start looking now. Start buying soon. Now is the time to do your research, so that in ten years’ time, you can sit back and listen to other people being wise with the benefit of hindsight. n ‘A Voice From the Country’ is a series of articles by Middleton Advisors who act on behalf of private clients looking to purchase country houses and estates in the UK (01235 436 277; www.middletonadvisors.com)
quality
not quantity
Operating independently from his Mayfair base – and never actively acting for more than four or five clients at one time – Simon Barnes is able to provide a personal level of service far beyond the average buying agent or property consultant. His service will be committed, impartial and utterly discreet
work smarter, not harder. T: 020 7499 3434 M: 078 3146 5414 E: simon@simonbarnes.com
www.simonbarnes.com
Belgrave Court, Westferry Circus, E14
Lime Kiln Wharf, Limehouse, E14
• Two double bedrooms • Breathtaking views
• Penthouse apartment • Three double bedrooms
• Outstanding location • Immaculately presented
• Secure parking • Excellent location
£1,250,000
£925,000
Dundee Wharf, Limehouse, E14
St David’s Square, Westferry, E14
• Two double bedrooms • Close to Canary Wharf
• Two double bedrooms • Direct river view
• River views • Secure parking
£550,000 96 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London, E14 8AP
• Leisure facilities • Secure parking
£500,000
lourdes-estates.com 020 7538 9250
St David’s Sq, Westferry Road, E14
Franklin Building, Westferry Road,
• One bedroom • Fully furnished
• Two double bedrooms • Two bathrooms
• Beautifully presented • Residents leisure facilities
Furnished
• Allocated parking • Residents leisure facilities
£375 per week
£315 per week
Dunbar Wharf, Limehouse, E14
Brightlingsea Place, Limehouse, E14
• Two double bedrooms • Two bathrooms
• Townhouse • Three/four Bedrooms
• Private balcony • Secure parking
£475 per week
Furnished
• Secure Parking • Close to Canary Wharf
£945 per week enquiries@lourdes-estates.com
Estate Agents | Land & Development Consultants D CE U D RE
Featured Property New Providence Wharf E14 ■ £745,995
■ 24hr
■ Two
■ Secure
bedroom premier apartment ■ Wraparound balcony
concierge underground parking ■ Panoramic views of 02 and river
Millennium Harbour, E14
Mercator Place E14
Located in the ever popular Millennium Harbour development on the riverside is this large two double bedroom apartment. Boasting fantastic views of the London skyline and river from the balcony, along with a high finish throughout. The development itself offers a 24 hour porter, gymnasium and spa and is situated with 400 metres of the Canary Wharf estate which offers an array of shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities as well as DLR and Jubilee line rail connections, this property is offered to the market chain free and with secure parking. £530,000
■ £565,000
■ Stunning
■ Two/Three
■ Decked
bedrooms ■ Secure parking
Pumping House E14 ■ £489,995
■ Unique
■ Two
■ Secure
bedrooms ■ Five floors
020 7519 5900 info@alanselby.co.uk www.alanselby.co.uk
condition garden ■ Quiet location
listed property parking ■ Chain free
New Providence Wharf, E14 ■ £335
■ Balcony
■ Modern
per week one bedroom ■ Fully furnished
■ Wood
flooring facilities
■ Leisure
Streamlight Tower, E14 ■ £325
■ Fully
■ Brand
per week new one bedroom ■ 18th floor
■ Large
furnished balcony ■ Partial river views
Naxos Building, E14 per week Two bedroom apartment ■ Fifth floor
Two bathrooms
■ £450
■
■
■ Balcony ■ Direct
river / City views
Waterman Building, E14
Taylor House, E14
■ £465
■ Fifth
■
■ Two
■
■ Direct
■
■ Canary Wharf
per week Two bedroom apartment ■ Fully furnished
floor river / City views ■ Secured parking
£375 per week Two double bedrooms ■ Fully furnished
balconies
■ Contemporary
views fitted kitchen
Franklyn James
Malting House, Limehouse, E14
£249,995
Millharbour, Canary Wharf, E14
Sales
£305,000
Ringwood Gardens, Isle of Dogs, E14 £325,000
Extremely well presented three double bedroom second floor apartment. This property is in excellent decorative order and has a separate lounge, modern fitted kitchen and a family bathroom suite. A very attractive investment buy with extremely high returns!
A stunning selection of 5 one bedroom apartments set within this desirable development. Each property consists of an open-plan kitchen/lounge, balcony, en-suite and a guest bathroom. These properties make an ideal investment for a sole buyer or developer.
Extremely well presented two bedroom top floor (3rd floor) apartment with amazing dock views. The apartment itself consists of a generously sized lounge with dining space, fully fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms, three piece bathroom suite and a private balcony.
Gray Court, Stepney Green, E1
Queens Court, Limehouse, E14
Scotia Building, Wapping, E1W
£345,000
£349,995
Beautifully presented two double bedroom, two bathroom apartment boasts generously proportioned rooms, a modern fitted kitchen and a large balcony with views of Canary Wharf. This property is ideally located for the London Underground and the DLR for easy City access.
Beautiful one bedroom apartment set within this highly desirable development. The apartment is set on the ground floor facing the communal landscaped gardens. The property offers plenty of space and natural light and is in perfect decorative order throughout.
Berglen Court, Limehouse, E14
Brightlingsea Place, Limehouse, E14 £1,250,000 Theba House, Clerkenwell, EC1N
£489,500
Generously sized 780sqft two bedroom, two bathroom apartment set within a riverside development. The property has a private balcony with marina views, communal landscaped gardens, allocated parking space and floor to ceiling windows in lounge for maximum light.
Presented in pristine condition is this idyllic three bedroom townhouse set over four floors. This property comprises of a stylish fitted kitchen, three luxury bathroom suites, additional study, balcony to master bedroom and beautifully maintained communal gardens.
Canary Wharf 020 7005 6080
Bow 020 8983 2930
www.franklynjames.co.uk
£369,995
Fresh to the market is this well-proportioned two bedroom apartment situated on the raised ground floor level of this sought after riverside development. The apartment has a fitted kitchen and bathroom, lounge with balcony and access to pretty communal Japanese style gardens.
£1,990,000
Fabulous three bedroom penthouse sprawled over two floors offering magnificent views of iconic London landmarks. Boasting two balconies and a 640sqft roof terrace this property is perfect for hosting and alfresco dining. Looking for the wow factor? Look no further.
Limehouse 020 7791 1777
enquiries@franklynjames.co.uk
Sales • New Homes • Lettings • Property Management • Valuations
Franklyn James
Pan Peninsula, Canary Wharf, E14
£315 pw
Lettings
Ionian Building, Limehouse, E14
£325 pw
Luxury 10th floor studio apartment in one of Canary Wharf’s most prestigious developments containing a pool, gym, spa & 50th floor cocktail bar. The apartment itself has floor to ceiling windows, marble shower room, dock views and high specification interior.
Beautiful one double bedroom apartment set within the desirable Mosaic development. This apartment has an attractive interior, a stylish open-plan kitchen/lounge, a modern bathroom suite and has the benefit of a secure allocated underground parking.
Lumina Building, Canary Wharf, E14
Nova Building, Isle of Dogs, E14
£390 pw
Incredibly spacious two bedroom, two bathroom apartment benefits from a large lounge with a sizeable balcony, modern fitted kitchen and high quality furnishings throughout. This property is comes with an allocated parking space and is within easy reach to Canary Wharf.
Ocean Wharf, Isle of Dogs, E14
£470 pw
A fantastic two double bedroom apartment in this sought after riverside development. This property has a large open-plan kitchen/ reception, two bathrooms with one being en-suite, allocated parking and a balcony with breath taking direct river views.
Canary Wharf 020 7005 6080
£435 pw
New Providence Wharf, Canary Wharf, E14 £370 pw An impressive one bedroom apartment set within the popular New Providence Wharf. Set on the 13th floor, this apartment benefits from a spacious lounge, integrated kitchen, modern bathroom and stunning views. The development has access to a gym and pool.
Baltimore Wharf, Canary Wharf, E14
£460 pw
Stunning two double bedroom apartment comprises of a generously sized lounge, designer fitted kitchen, two luxury bathrooms one of which is en-suite and a delightful balcony overlooking the River Thames. The development includes a gym, concierge and allocated parking.
Luxurious two bedroom apartment situated in the highly desirable Baltimore Wharf. This property has been finished to a high standard with a stylish fitted kitchen, two marble bathroom suites and quality furnishings throughout. Located close to South Quay DLR and Canary Wharf.
The Landmark, Canary Wharf, E14
Discovery Dock, Canary Wharf, E14 £2,500 pw
£1,250 pw
Flooded with glorious natural light is this truly amazing three double bedroom, two bathroom apartment set high up within the prestigious Landmark East Tower. This property boasts floor to ceiling windows throughout, high spec interior and a balcony overlooking The Thames.
Simply remarkable 2700sqft penthouse apartment consisting of three double bedrooms, three luxurious bathrooms, two receptions and two private balconies. Set on the 13th floor and this elegant apartment really is one of the most luxurious accommodations in the Docklands.
Bow 020 8983 2930
Limehouse 020 7791 1777
www.franklynjames.co.uk
enquiries@franklynjames.co.uk
Sales • New Homes • Lettings • Property Management • Valuations
Tradewinds Court, Wapping E1W 2JB
The Highway, Wapping E1W 3DH
Price: £375,000 Leasehold
Price: £379,995
Towerside,Wapping, E1W 3PB
Spirit Quay, Wapping E1w 2ut
Rental Price: £520 PW
Rental Price: £240 PW
Modern 1 double bedroom apartment with reception room, kitchen & Bathroom. Situated in West Wapping within very popular secure development with parking. Short stroll to vibrant St Katherine’s Dock and City amenities and within easy access to Canary Wharf. Good condition throughout. Porterage on site. Must be viewed.
2 double bedroom apartment to rent in this popular purpose built development next to Wapping station. Open plan kitchen reception room, wooden floors, bathroom and a terrace with views of the River Thames. Located in central Wapping very close to Wapping station.
2 Double bedroom house. Offering reception, fitted kitchen, first floor bathroom with separate wc. Wood flooring. ‘Walk in’ storage room. Garden. Close to Tower Hill and within easy access to the City and Docklands.
Situated within this sought after Canal side location is this modern studio with Fitted kitchen & bathroom. Close to the City and within easy access to Canary Wharf. Liverpool Street station is approx 15 mins via the 100 bus route. ‘Waitrose’ supermarket is nearby.
ea2 Estate Agency Heritage Court | 8-10 Sampson Street | Wapping | London E1W 1NA t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
Gullivers Wharf , Wapping, E1W 2RR
Dunbar Wharf, Limehouse E14 8BB
Rental Price: £550 PW
Rental Price: £600 PW
Park East, Bow E3 2UT
Queen of the Isle, Docklands E14 3NY
Characterful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom 2nd floor warehouse conversion. Large reception room open plan to the fully fitted kitchen. Wood floors. Secure underground parking space. The apartment is centrally located, close to Wapping station, local bus routes and amenities.
1 bedroom apartment within the sought after historic Bow Quarter development. Benefiting from 24 hour security, an on site convenience store, bar and restaurant and access to the leisure centre with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gym.
Rental Price: £290 PW
Superb 2 double bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment situated in the heart of Limehouse. The property has a reception room with balcony and views along Limehouse Cut towards the river. The property features wooden floors and has a secure parking space. Situated within easy access to Canary Wharf or the City.
This modern, bright and spacious 2 bedroom, 2 bath third floor flat benefits from a fabulous open-plan reception room with fitted kitchen and balcony. Bathroom.
Rental Price: £375 PW
ea2 Estate Agency Heritage Court | 8-10 Sampson Street | Wapping | London E1W 1NA t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com
enquiries@henrywiltshire.co.uk www.henrywiltshire.co.uk 020 7001 9160
LETTINGS
Chapel House Street, E14 • Three bedroom • Recently refurbished
£495 per week
• Brand new furnishing • Close to transport
New Providence Wharf, E14
• Parking • Available now
From £435 per week
A selection of modern and stylish two bedroom apartments set within this private residential complex with 24 hour concierge and leisure facilities on site.
Henry Wiltshire Estate Agents 1 – 2 Laybourne House, Admirals Way, London, E14 9UH
LETTINGS | SALES | M A N A G E M E N T | V A L U A T I O N S
SALES
Pan Peninsula, Canary Wharf, E14 • Two bedroom • Two bathroom
• 22nd Floor • Balcony
£ 649,995 • 24 Hour concierge • Close to transport
Fine Country Properties If you are considering a move to the countryside please contact our Sales Manager Adam Dockley for the full list of properties available.
Henry Wiltshire Estate Agents 1 – 2 Laybourne House, Admirals Way, London, E14 9UH
LETTINGS | SALE S | M A N A G E M E N T | V A L U A T I O N S
River Habitat RiverHabitat.co.uk
Property Brokers
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• One bedroom apartment • Second floor with balcony • Free gym, pool and sauna • Secure parking available • Available Now
Hesperus Crescent, London, E14
£320 pw
• Two bedroom cottage • Front and rear garden • Close to Mudchute DLR • Fully furnished • Available Now
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£310 p/w
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D CE DU RE
D CE DU RE
Ares Court, Homer Drive, E14
Newell House, Newell Street, E14
£330 pw
• Fully refurbished two bed apartment • Fully furnished with wooden flooring • Car parking available • Excellent transport links • Too Late - Let
D CE DU RE
Latitude Court, Albert Basin Way, E16
£325 pw
• Two bed, two bath apartment • Open plan living space • Fully furnished with balcony • Secure parking • Available Now
Belgrave Court, Canary Riverside, E14
£425 pw
• One bedroom apartment • Situated on the 5th Floor • Balcony with direct river views • Secure underground parking • Available Now
Brady Street, London, E1
£650 pw
• Two bed penthouse apartment • Large open plan living space • Terrace with City of London views • Fully furnished • Available Now
Eaton House, Canary Riverside, E14
Belgrave court, Canary Riverside, E14
£600 pw
• Two bed, two bath apartment • First floor with Juliet balcony • Close to Westferry DLR • Secure underground parking • Available Now
£950 pw
• Three bed, three bath apartment • 1,692 sq ft with breakfast room • Direct river views from reception • Secure underground parking • Available Now
Landmark East, Marsh Wall, E14
£1350 pw
• Three bed two bath apartment • Set on the 37th Floor • Stunning panoramic views of London • Fully furnished with parking • Available Now
www.RIVERHABITAT.co.uk The Suite LG, 655 Commercial Road, Limehouse, London, E14 7LW Tel: 020 7791 9830 Email: info@riverhabitat.co.uk
London's Finest Properties
LETTINGS
SALES
Vermillion, Canning Town, E16
Latitude Court, Albert Basin Way, E16 • One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Balcony • Parking Included • Galleons Reach DLR
Alaska Building, Deals Gateway, SE13
• 3rd floor one bed • Generous living space • Close to Deptford Bridge DLR • Secure allocated parking • Private balcony
Westgate Apartments, Western Gateway, E16
• Brand New Apartment • One Bedroom • Fully Furnished • Balcony • 16th Floor • Nr. Canning Town St
£290 per week
£310 per week
£215,000
£299,950
Cobalt Point, Canary Wharf, E14 • One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 1st Floor • Parking Included • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. South Quay DLR
Ceram Court, Bow, E3
• Two Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 3rd Floor • Balcony • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. Multiple Transport Links
Cobalt Point, Lanterns Court, E14
• 24 hour concierge • Luxury specification • Close to South Quay DLR • 7th floor one bed • Exceptional condition
Pan Peninsula, Marsh Wall, E14
• High specification development • 8th floor dual aspect • Six senses spa centre • Close to South Quay DLR • Luxury kitchen & bathroom
£315 per week
£350 per week
£369,999
£434,999
Denison House, Canary Wharf, E14
Wharfside Point South, Prestons Road, E14
• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 2nd Floor • Balcony • 24hr Concierge Service • Walking Distance to Canary Wharf
• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 21st Floor • Balcony • 24hr Concierge Service • Walking Distance to Canary Wharf
Lowry House, Canary Central, E14
New Providence Wharf, Fairmont Avenue, E14
£485,000
£495,000
£355 per week
• Spacious three bed • Two balconies • Masses of storage • Large kitchen / breakfast room • Luxury leisure complex
£360 per week
• Two bed, two bath • 9th floor with views • Modern fixtures/fittings • Close to new Emirates rail • Residents Gymnasium
• Two bed, two bath • 6th floor River views • State of the art health centre • 24 hour concierge • Close to Blackwall DLR
Sales | Lettings | Corporate Services | Property Management | Short Term Worldwide www.liferesidential.co.uk
Central London 020 7582 7989
Docklands 020 7476 0125
North London 020 8446 9524
South London 020 8692 2244
West London 020 8896 9990
VA N E T P R O P E R T Y A S S E T M A N A G E M E N T 3 7 b M i l l h ar b o u r , A b i l i ty P l a c e Canary W h ar f, Lon d on , E 1 4 9 T X “The first thing we build is trust”
sa l es
N O N SUCH H O U SE , S W 1 9 - £ 2 9 8 , 5 0 0 2 Bed, 2 Bath Recently Refurbished 3rd Floor Apartment Parking Space Unfurnished Spacious Balcony Wimbledon
Re du ce d
· · · · · · ·
HOPTON ROAD, SE18 - £189,995
TURNER HOUSE, E14 - £280,000
MILLHARBOUR, E14 - £335,000
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Secure Development • 24-Hour Concierge • Unfurnished • Gym Facilities • Royal Arsenal Riverside • Woolwich
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Canary Central • Development • 24-Hour Concierge • Fully Furnished • On-site Leisure Facilities • Secure Parking • Canary Wharf
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Prestigious Development • Balcony with Docks Views • Integrated Kitchen Appliances • 24-Hour Concierge • Parking Space • Canary Wharf
LIMEHOUSE COURT, E14 - £380,000
HONOR OAK, SE22 - £269,000
NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF - £440,000
2 Bed, 2 Bath • Fully Furnished • Balcony & Canal Aspect • Parking Space • 1st Floor • Integrated Kitchen Appliances • Limehouse
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Off-street Parking • Integrated Kitchen Appliances • Very Spacious • Excellent Transport Links • Near to Peckham Rye Park
2 Bed, 2 Bath • On-site Gym & Health Facilities • 5th Floor – Lift Service • 24Hour Concierge • Integrated Appliances • Canary Wharf
Tel: +44 (0) 207 042 0032 fa x : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 6 8 1 3 3 6 8 info@vanet.uk.com w w w. v a n e t . u k . c o m
LE T T I N G S
OCEAN WHARF, E14 - £370pw
ONTARIO TOWER , E14 - £320pw
ZENITH BUILDING, E14 - £400pw
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Fully Furnished • Large Balcony • Stunning River Views • Separate Shower and Bath • Concierge Service • Canary Wharf
Studio Apartment • On-site Leisure Facilities • 24-Hour Security & Concierge • Kitchen with Built-in Appliances • Fully Furnished • Canary Wharf
2 Bed, 2 Bath • Stunning Marina Views • Large Terrace • Fully Furnished • Very Spacious Unit • Great Transport Links • Limehouse
CONSTABLE HOUSE, E14 - £340pw
MILLHARBOUR, E14 – £460pw
NEW PROVIDENCE WHARF - £360pw
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Canary Central - Gated Development • On-site Leisure Facilities • Private Balcony • Fully Furnished • 24-Hour Concierge • Canary Wharf
2 Bed, 2 Bath • Parking Space • 24-Hour Concierge • Fully Furnished • Spacious Balcony • 5th Floor • Canary Wharf
1 Bed, 1 Bath • Spacious Terrace Facing the River • Leisure Facilities • 24-Hour Concierge • Fully Furnished • Canary Wharf
M e r r y C h r i s t m a s & H a p p y N e w Ye a r ! - Va n e t Te a m
Royal Arsenal Riverside is a 76 acre mixed use regeneration scheme on the banks of the River Thames in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, just a short distance from Overground and DLR stations. On-site benefits include 24 hour concierge, residents’ gym, Young’s pub and dining, Tesco Express, a proposed forthcoming Crossrail station, health and wellbeing studio and Zipcar car share club.
2 and 3 bedroom apartments available from £299,950. For more information call 020 8331 7130. Sales and Marketing Suite and Show Apartments open daily 10am to 6pm (until 8pm on Thursdays).
www.royalarsenalriverside.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Our vision for your future
Prices and details correct at time of going to press. Photography depicts Royal Arsenal Riverside.
Heritage location and a whole new lifestyle
homes & property
DEVELOPMENT FOCUS Built to last
N
ew Crane Wharf was designed and converted in the 1980’s by Conran Roach in conjunction with Heron Homes and retains a modern and contemporary feel which sits well with its historical charm. The building is centred around a pretty cobbled courtyard which gives access to the porter’s lodge and the majority of flats. A committed team of employees, headed up by a dedicated building manager, Dave Cork, who has been at New Crane Wharf for over 22 years, provide security 24 hours a day. New Crane Wharf is one of the most sought after buildings in the area and some of the residents who originally bought off plan are indeed still owners. Many flat owners also choose to become landlords while many tenants go on to buy in New Crane Wharf. Sarah Shelley, Partner at Knight Frank Wapping, who has been involved in the sale of many of the flats in the block comments: “New Crane Wharf is an aspirational building fulfilling many people’s ideal of a warehouse conversion. It’s on the wish list of many prospective purchasers.” Over time, of the 143 flats in the building, Knight Frank has dealt with over 50 per cent of the properties in New Crane Wharf 138
which vary considerably in style, size, shape and outlook. These include well-appointed studio flats off the river (one currently for rent for £295 per week and one for sale at £295,000) as well as huge, 2938 sqft barn-like penthouses with brick walls and wooden beams. Short let opportunities also exist here in the form of a top floor, two bedroom flat with a terrace, available for £800 per week. A one bedroom flat on the river extending to approx. 814 sqft with brick walls and wooden floors is currently for sale at £545,000. n
NEW CRANE PLACE, E1W £VARIOUS, LEASEHOLD Knight Frank Wapping www.knightfrank.co.uk
020 7480 6848
How will you invest your bonus? New penthouses launching 24 January 5-8 pm
Whether you are looking to buy to live, or buy to let, the apartments and penthouses at Ixia offer the perfect solution, as well as the ideal London location currently ensuring capital growth over time. • Photograph taken from the 8th floor* • Located on the edge of the City near Shoreditch & Hoxton, minutes from Old Street • Highly specified apartments each with a balcony or terrace
Ixia | East Road | Shoreditch | London | N1 6AA Marketing Suite & Show Apartment Mon-Fri 11-7 & Sat-Sun 11-4
www.ixialondon.co.uk
2 bedroom apartments from £620,000 3 bedroom penthouses from £795,000 – £1,250,000
020 7101 0214
*Photography of view taken from 8th floor of Ixia looking south east towards Canary Wharf, situated 4 miles away. Show Apartment interior. Prices correct at time of printing.
HIRSH L O N D O N
REGAL COLLECTION HANDMADE IN PLATINUM
Famous For Engagement Rings www.hirshlondon.com
WEST END 56-57 BURLINGTON ARCADE W1J 0QN - T +44 (0)20 7499 6814 - CITY 9 HATTON GARDEN EC1N 8AH - T +44 (0)20 7831 3333
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