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contents
52
30 COVER STORIES
F E AT U R E S
14 DO WE KNOW OUR CITY? The things you never knew
18 THE UMPIRE STRIKES BACK The Everest Test Team
30 GLITTERATI GIRL Lara Bohinc talks jewellery
22 BY GEORGE! Adam Wynne examines St. George’s Day
74 INTRODUCING LOTUS Say hello to the Lotus Exige S
28 A DROP OF SHERRY Deana Gershuny discovers all Jerez has to offer 33 LONDON MARATHON Josephine O’Donoghue looks at the world’s most human race 52 EASTER TREATS Our ultimate guide to the best chocolate treats 88 ARTSCENE Carol Cordrey looks at the work of artist Peter Brown
REGULARS 10
EDITOR’S LETTER
64
GADGETS
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MOTORING
104 MOTLEY FOOL 110 CITYLIFE RECOMMENDS 121 PROPERTY
Editor issue 45 It looks like Spring has finally sprung as the skies brighten and the trees bloom, but just in case it doesn’t last, we have plenty to brighten your month anyway. And to take advantage of the sunny aspect we have fabulous wedding fashion to ensure you walk down the aisle in style. (P.44) Keep your eyes peeled because next issue we will have more than elegant threads in our Wedding Supplement. Easter is upon us so we thought it only right to delve into the world of chocolate with a peek at the best Easter related goodies. (P.52) Who says chocolate eggs are just for children?! But if you are still on a mission to get in shape for the summer then you can take a leaf out of Richard Kirtley and Gareth Wesley’s book with a hike up Mount Everest. They will be taking two teams who have spent the last year getting fit, to the highest plateau of the formidable peak, all in the name of cricket. (P.18) Talking of other intrepid travellers and free spirits we have an interview with the extremely likeable motorbike-riding Charley Boorman. Kasha Van Sant got to grips with how it all began. (P.36) But if you want to go on some travels of your own then join Rebecca Walton as she ventures through a very different Amsterdam. (P.26) And on that note I will leave you to peruse!
CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE
Lesley Ellwood
APRIL 2009 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE
APRIL 2009 • ISSUE 45
INTRODUCING LOTUS
Say hello to the lateSt model
DO WE KNOW OUR CITY? the thingS you never knew
GLITTERATI GIRL
CANARY WHARF Image courtesy of Group Lotus plc
I S S U E 45
lara Bohinc talkS jewellery
HOT PROPERTY
uk & international
CITYLIFE MAGAZINES Editor: Lesley Ellwood Editorial Director: Kate Harrison Deputy Editor: Kasha Van Sant Editorial Assistant: Josephine O’Donoghue Arts Editor: Carol Cordrey Motoring Editor: Matthew Carter Beauty Editor: Kate Hughes Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds Finance Executive: Kätlin Maasik Sales Director: Eren Ellwood P.A. to Sales Director: Ella Kilgarriff Graphic Designers: James Britton, Hiren Chandarana, Mandeep Kalsi, Victoria Wren PR & Marketing Manager: Rebecca Walton Managing Director: Giles Ellwood P.A. to Managing Director: Charlotte Evans
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CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Claire Adler is a London based freelance journalist, specialising in jewellery, watches and luxury. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times, Spectator Business, Wallpaper*, Intelligent Life and House & Garden. She also writes for fashion news service WGSN, hotel magazine IN London and magazines published by Bentley, Harrods and Watches of Switzerland, amongst others.
Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist based in Cardiff. Specialising in gadgets and technology, Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites. He writes on flatscreen TVs for What Video and What Plasma magazines and away from technology is also a regular contributor to BBC History and Real Travel magazines.
Martin Bamford is one of the youngest and most successful financial planners in the UK. He runs his own firm of financial advisers – Informed Choice – and regularly contributes to various financial publications. His personal finance book The Money Tree, published in 2006, is a bestseller.
Kate Hughes has an established reputation as one of the UK's leading celebrity hair and make-up artists. A regular guest beauty presenter on television, she has worked with a wide selection of actors, presenters, musicians and models. Kate's hair and make-up consultancy, 'It's All About You', transforms women for weddings, special occasions and red carpet events.
Dr. David Kuo is one of the UK’s leading financial experts, and is head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, the country’s top website for independent financial comparison. As well as providing daily comment and financial news for BBC London, he presents Money Talk – Fool’s weekly podcasts which cover all aspects of personal finance.
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HOW WELL DO WE KNOW OUR CITY?
Josephine O’Donoghue talks to City Planning Officer Peter Rees to uncover the hidden secrets in our streets, unravel the history of the Square Mile, and reveal the direction the City of London is going in next
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ondon is a very unusual city” says Peter the credit boom of the nineties.”When I ask him Business and trading have become more Rees, who has worked in City Planning what his role as City Planner Officer primarily mobile these days, and workers can now operate and Transport in the Square Mile since requires of him, Peter explains that he is tasked from the office, their homes or the millions of 1985. “Historically, it developed out of with helping London to grow and embrace wi-fi enabled coffee-shops and cafés in the City. two cities: the City of London and the City of change, whilst preventing some of the damages “You can go into a coffee shop in the City at Westminster. London was the centre of trade, that can be caused by redevelopment. “There 10am and each table is surrounded by people and Westminster was the centre of the church, is a need to protect the past and the future of with a laptop and a mobile phone, having a the crown and government.” London,” he emphasises. meeting,” explains Peter, “When you think back I like to think that my own knowledge of The street plan of London is roughly 2,000 yrs to the 1700s and realise that the great insurance London is pretty good. I can navigate myself old; it was a Roman settlement and large parts companies and banks of London were born in the almost anywhere within the City, I’ve seen all the of the City are based on it’s original pattern. pubs and coffees bars, you realise the whole thing major landmarks and historical sites several times Alongside the famous landmarks, main roads and has turned in a full circle. over; I’ve visited museums, churches, libraries, office buildings, snake hundreds of tiny passages “The more technology there is available now, theatres, palaces and galleries; and I have known and narrow streets; maybe these aren’t the most the more people want to get together for face-tothe tube map like the back of my hand since the efficient use of City land, but as Peter phrases it, face, eyeball-to-eyeball meetings, as we used to” age of ten. “these streets are the lifeblood of London”. reasons Peter. “After all, if you can’t smell fear, However, it only takes two you can’t do a deal. People want to minutes of chatting to Peter for come together for contact and to I’m not thInkIng years, I’m thInkIng me to realise that my so called finish those deals.” decades. after the Wall street crash, ‘knowledge’ is in reality only a very The City of London is also very It took 20 years to recover very small proportion of London’s much an area of public transport rich history. In actual fact, I am explains Peter, and the network only a little more educated (as a Londoner) than “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in an oasis of streets is used by hundreds of thousands of the thousands of foreign tourists who arrive in in the Sahara, or whether you’re in the centre of pedestrians every day. 90 per cent of the 300,000 London each day, knowing nothing about the the City of London, people come together in the people coming to work in the City travel by destination until their arrival. streets, parks, and cafés, to gossip, to exchange public transport, and within the Square Mile Rather than try to impress Peter with my news, and it’s that kind of information and that over 90 per cent of trips are made on foot, from limited knowledge, I decide to keep quiet and let exchange of news that is good for business. building to building, another great way to meet him educate me properly. London’s communication networks succeed colleagues and pick up gossip (and another good “Although we have 300,000 people working because the original layout of the City is based on reason to maintain the original street layout when in the City of London during the day, only 8,000 social interaction. Communication (essentially planning). live there at night; the textbook definition of a ‘street gossip’) is actually what makes business Today in London, you’ll find more people Central Business District (CBD).This is the area happen.” than ever walking the streets and working from for which I am the chief planner and it runs from So really, the success of London as a social coffee shops – the Starbucks generation – and in the City of Westminster to the west, the southern settlement and a business centre is due to the turn this is reducing the need for office space; a boundaries of the River Thames, the Tower of Roman layout that has been built upon since massive turnaround in City planning from just a London at the eastern end and it runs up as far as around 60 A.D. – and this makes it unique. decade or two ago. the major railroad station at Liverpool Street on “The City has 2,000 years of history and that Peter insists that successful companies no the north-eastern corner and the Barbican in the history invigorates the future, because people longer need huge office spaces of 1.5 million mid-north. can come away from their desk and go into these square feet, “They’re dinosaurs!” he says. “They “It’s been a long job so far,” he says, “I’ve seen communal City areas to communicate,” Peter won’t last long. Don’t put your money into the City change, and the rate of change has been enthuses. “That’s what makes the City tick, it’s people who’ve already grown. Put your money particularly fast in the last twenty years, during the balance between the past and the future.” into people just starting to grow.”
Docklands and Canary Wharf were expanded as satellite developments (as Croydon was twenty years ago), designed to help the City cope with the increasing pressures of business expansion. But as the demand for office space begins to decrease and the economic climate worsens, are these areas set to become ghost towns; a glimpse of what business used to look like? Last month, it was reported by the Investment Property Databank that UK commercial property values fell by a record amount in 2008; the UK Quarterly Property Index illustrated that commercial properties lost 26.4 per cent of their value during 2008 – the most since records began in 1987. The values of office buildings, shops and warehouses are now roughly in line with 1999 and over five and a half years of growth has been lost in just 18 months of successive falls. The IPD’s co-founding director stated that: “In nominal terms, we have never tracked a year with this level of capital decline.” Perhaps now the bulk of trade, industry and business will move back to the
CBD of the Square Mile, moving back around in that full circle described by Peter. So, as both value and demand for property drops and businesses move closer to the centre of town, the fate of the Docklands and Canary Wharf remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. And for Peter: “If a major project has not started in the city already, it is unlikely to start,” he told BDonline – an online architecture magazine – last week, “I’m not thinking years, I’m thinking decades. After the Wall Street crash, it took 20 years to recover.” Predicting that only KPF’s Pinnacle and Heron towers are going ahead as planned, he explains that the city has renewed nearly three quarters of its building stock already. “It doesn’t require more redevelopment, unless there is a need for more floor space. But if companies are downsizing and the trend is ‘do more with less people’, then I don’t envisage that there will be a need.” n For more information on City Planning, visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
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The Umpire STrikeS Back
Or rather a couple of umpires and two opposing teams who are taking on the most imposing peak in the world. Kasha Van Sant finds out more
H
aving the spirit of an explorer takes a little bit more than pitching up a tent in the living room at age eight. Richard Kirtley and Gareth Wesley may have harboured such dreams as children but their current ambitions are far from child’s play. The former an ex financial professional and now marketeer; the latter a strategist, are miles away from the donning the spiked boots of the world’s most well-loved explorers. Or are they? It seems not, as the duo have given birth to a concept that is sure to spawn many a copycat. The countdown is almost over as they take to Everest to play a game of cricket. Gorak Shep, to be precise, is the highest plateau (5165m) where a game of cricket can be officially played. For the Everest Test Team this is no joke; this is a serious expedition that will challenge physical, mental and emotional strength. To put it into perspective FIFA won’t even allow their players to play at half that altitude. Are they mad!? Richard admits that they have different answers to this question, “The challenge itself, isn’t that crazy. To
be honest, taking on and organising something for 50 people over the course of the year in our spare time – that’s a little bit more insane than actually playing the cricket.” Richard and Gareth are the members of opposing squads –Tenzing and Hillary – named appropriately after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s 1953 historic climb to the summit of Mount Everest. As we sit talking they are even tight-lipped about each other’s weekend training regime; this is competitive stuff and neither must give the other the edge. Both are clearly exhausted. Having been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at the conception stage of the project, Gareth is no stranger to this. “I had it right back in February 2007, and I had four months off work. I went undiagnosed for months and was being tested every two days in order to find out what was wrong with me. Eventually I was diagnosed as having the Epstein Barr virus.” Gareth has made the required adjustments to his life to ‘get over’ his illness, including cutting out
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I have never ever taken the easy route In lIfe. I never dId thIngs just because other people were doIng them. when I went travellIng I dId It alone, the same wIth unIversIty
alcohol and caffeine. It seems to be working, but is it an impediment to the challenge? Richard swiftly responds: “Not at all, he’s managed it really well. It has meant that Gareth and I had to fall into our dynamic a little bit quicker. I could see how he was being affected and then I could pick things up.” Clearly they work well together and have different skills to offer. He continues, “There’s very little crossover between us, so it’s very clear cut what Gareth’s best at.” And what is that? “I’m a strategist, I write strategies and plans for companies. I used to work in strategy for the British Horseracing Authority. Now I work in a digital agency advising companies like British Telecom, BA etc on how to use digital properties.” Consultation and then implementation then? “Yeah, exactly. I’m like a strategy perfectionist, whereas Richard’s the type of guy that keeps on going until things get done.” The pair met several years ago through a mutual love of cricket and playing for the same nomadic
team, but Gareth enthuses about how taken by Richard’s notion he was, “It was about two years ago when Rich came back from the Himalayas for the second time. I’ve got to be honest, in my head it was something that I wanted to get involved in. We both knew we wanted to pull it off.” As I sit listening I can see that the success of this trip is already a virtual certainty, and to cement that, the hype has been building around the challenge for some time now. Richard is adamant that he can deliver and “just get it all done” whilst Gareth who will film the entire nine day trek to the plateau and the subsequent cricket match, is excited about what it will lead to. We joke about brains and brawn but in all seriousness there is a real sense of sacrifice about this mission. Aside from the commitment that the guys have had to put in both after-hours and at weekends, there is a clearer message coming through: this is a test on many levels. Richard adds: “I have never ever
Clockwise from left: Richard Kirtley and Gareth Wesley, Himalaya expedition, Richard Kirtley, Gareth Westley in training, Everest test team farm training
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interview
taken the easy route in life. I never did things just because other people were doing them. When I went travelling I did it alone, the same with university. I want to push myself outside of the comfort zone and this will do it for me. And on top of that I want to be able to climb all the major summits, because as a mountaineer it’s what I love doing best.” Indeed, it was this wandering outside the comfort zone that instilled the idea in the first place. So how easy was it to get people on board? Richard replies: “We used a bit of social networking but we also just used our friends too. We put together an application pack with all the details of what we were doing and how much it would cost, the whole ethos of the trip, how it would be a big fundraiser for charity. We got everyone to email out to their friends and tell them that we would be giving a presentation in Clapham one Sunday morning in April last year. When we started we didn’t know how many people we’d get, in the end about 40 people turned up to the presentation and we got near enough 100 applications or so.” I asked him what kinds of people have got involved. “It was a total mix. So many different people from different kind of lifestyles, different parts of the country, but one of the things we knew was that we probably weren’t going to be able to do it alone.” He elaborates on the selection process. “On the applications we asked for specific skill sets and also for useful contacts. We also picked people by merit rather than choosing friends! We knew we needed a lawyer, so we made sure we selected a lawyer. We knew we needed someone with experience in doing corporate sponsorship so we recruited someone who did that and over the
All imAges courtesy of george Powell ©2009 tg-PhotogrAPhy.com (excePt richArd Kirtley/himAlAyA exPedition)
Everest Test Team Launch
recruitment period we managed to get all these amazing people who, for the majority, are serious achievers. People who’ve really got the get-up and go. Now although Gareth and I will be doing most of the work we have now got people we can call on.” Gareth adds, “With a project like this it takes a long time to get sponsors, it’s at least two years before you take it to market and we didn’t want to do that. So we worked it out initially and have made sure that we’re selfsufficient in that everyone pays their own way. As long as we have the 22 players and a couple of umpires that’s the embryo.” Although the pair admit that all they have done is take a “conventional sport and made it really extreme”, it’s clear it might be a little more than that. They’ve taken a leaf out of their predecessors’ books – challenging convention and logic and breaking a few world records along the way! n
www.theeveresttest.com www.lordstaverners.org www.himalayantrust.co.uk www.tg-photography.com
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feature
By GeorGe!
Adam Wynne considers the decline of patriotism in the UK and what it means to be ‘English’
W
hether we’re halting the fire of dragons, or preventing the dramatic explosion of gunpowder, the English seem to revel in a glorious but violent past. And yet Bonfire Night is now celebrated far more widely than St George’s Day; so does our preference for a more indirect form of national ritual hint at a gradually eroding sense of national identity? The Scots may pipe their haggis in on Burns Night, and much of England joins them. The Irish welcome St Patrick’s Day with green ribbons, shamrock and Guinness, and we gladly help with that as well. Yet
when it comes to celebrating our own country we strangely seem to lose voice and appetite. Perhaps basic divisions over patriotism can be traced by the way we follow sport, and the desire to pin oneself to a particular team. Public perceptions of sports fans differ vastly across Britain. Images of Welsh rugby followers surging en-masse into the Millennium Stadium, and hordes of Irish enthusiasts invading Croke Park are understandably considered inspirational, yet the stereotype of an English sporting fan is of tipsy, bearded and feared yob, whose ill-fitting replica shirts match their ill intent. It is certainly possible that the
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The Beardmore Collection
behaviour of England fans during previous decades has fuelled the decline of overt patriotic displays; it is believed by many that to bear the English flag is now to also bear associations with narrow-minded attitudes and xenophobia. st george’s day concerts Clearly there are better ways to express national pride than this. Appreciating cultural greatness is one way – a country can define itself easily through artistic, literary and musical richness, offering us a bite-size definition of ‘Englishness’. It is no surprise then to see that the Royal Albert Hall is presenting a more cultural offering for those wishing to celebrate patriotism this St. George’s Day. The inspiring display will include renditions of Elgar, and performances of Shakespeare and Wordsworth. Music will include Knightsbridge March, On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Jerusalem, proving that any sense of national identity is tied to the beauty of our physical surroundings. ‘England’s pleasant
pastures’ and the iconic City of London landscape have inspired men for centuries, often without us realising we are being patriotic. In this sense patriotism has nothing to do with race or origin. You don’t have to be a Londoner to appreciate the Square Mile. And when we graft ourselves into the artistic vines the country has sprouted, we are not so much celebrating a country as our possession of culture. Look at Danny Vara, who after arriving from India eventually decided to take-over the Beardmore collection: the ultimate name in architectural ironmongery and brass foundry. Their craftsmanship showcases the very best in English tradition and heritage; for Danny the point of Beardmore is that in buying British, you are buying quality, thus leaving it no surprise that he regularly turns down much cheaper manufacturing offers from around the globe. do unto others... There is a saying that, “a man is whatever room he is in”; progressive patriotism is not about considering one’s country to be superior to others, but about appreciating where we are standing in the present. To praise English cultural achievement is not to automatically disparage that of other countries – life is all about difference. To feel a sense of national identity is to lay claim to the unique influences that have helped make us who we are today.
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The Royal Albert Hall
Forgetting St george’S mythological exploitS For a Second, we are leFt with a Figure who died Fighting For multiculturaliSm, having rebelled againSt the attemptS to perSecute chriStianS made by emperor diocletian. who better to chooSe aS a Symbol oF ‘engliShneSS’? multicultural beliefs However, at this point we perhaps hit a snag, since Englishness has too often been tainted by its past association with Empire. Countries such as the USA and France have national days to celebrate their arrival at liberation and independence, yet protestations of English greatness are sometimes unfairly mistaken for Imperial nostalgia. Recent devolution has confirmed the independence of the other home countries, understandably leading to patriotic outpourings. But it seems England has been on the ‘wrong’ end of many historical struggles, and has thus been denied the more defined sense of identity present within other nations. Yet it is our mixed history that has made England the unique social environment it is now. Perhaps even more than any other country, England has become a society welcoming of all beliefs and backgrounds. Forgetting St
George’s mythological exploits for a second, we are left with a figure who died fighting for multiculturalism, having rebelled against the attempts to persecute Christians made by Emperor Diocletian. Who better to choose as a symbol of ‘Englishness’? Just as the English language has gained power through assimilative progress over the centuries, so too does the country gain its strength today from a sense of social expansion and inclusiveness. So if you find yourself in the Royal Albert Hall this St George’s day in order to extol your ‘Englishness’, perhaps you’ll find friends from other nations helping us celebrate this time... n Royal Albert Hall www.royalalberthall.com Beardmore Collection www.beardmore.co.uk
Clockwise from left: Amsterdam at night, Hotel Arena, The Odeon Restaurant
THE WORLD’S BEST STREET PARTY Rebecca Walton takes a few days break in the cultural hub of Amsterdam, and delivers her guide to the best city hotspots, hotels and eateries
THE CITY April is by far the best time to visit Amsterdam. Spring has well and truly arrived, the flowers are blooming and canallife is in full-swing. Sadly, the city is usually associated with British stag parties rather than romantic or cultural weekends away; but with some of the best tourist attractions in Europe, festivals and celebrations, stunning surroundings and friendly locals, it’s sure to be a hit with everyone. An absolute must, if visiting Amsterdam this month, is the Queen’s Day street
festival (30 April) which celebrates the birthday of the late Queen Juliana. Her daughter, and current Queen Beatrix, celebrates her birthday on 31 January but keeps the original holiday in place as the weather is much more accommodating for outdoor activities. Night-time festivities commence on 29 April, and outdoor concert stages can be found at Nieuwmarkt, Leidseplein, Reguliersdwarsstraat, Westermarkt, Westerstraat, Rembrandtplein and Amstelveld. Often lasting for an entire 24 hours, the Queen’s
Day celebrations include a ‘free market’ (residents have bargain friendly ‘yard sales’), street performances, street discos, outdoor concerts, party boats and lots of beer (the most sensible option being the reduced-alcohol ‘event beer’, which is served in plastic containers that come with a deposit fee). www.iamsterdam.com
WHERE TO STAY In the midst of the greenery of Oosterpark and a short walk from the bustle of the city
travel
The building is TradiTional duTch in sTyle, originally consTrucTed in 1663 as a beer brewery which was laTer Transformed inTo amsTerdam’s firsT real concerT hall in 1830 centre, sits the Hotel Arena complex. This attractive building has been finished to the highest specification and boasts a beautiful terrace lined with trees, complementing the historical features of the building. The hotel offers 4* accommodation in a vast array of suites and rooms, a relaxed and intimate bar, highly-recommended restaurant and a very popular 2,000 capacity nightclub. We stayed in a luxury suite with views of one of Amsterdam’s many beautiful canals; the rooms and halls of the former Saint Elisabeth Orphanage have original features and are divided into 116 rooms of varying sizes and prices. All of the rooms have been fitted with stylish, comfortable furniture alongside all the mod-cons you would expect at a high-end hotel, from plasma televisions through to a fully stocked minibar. Hotel Arena’s latest refurbishment has allowed for a change to its black and white theme, which really brings together all the
elements of design. Black bathrooms are a key feature; with glossy black glass walls and glistening tiles, subtly lit by Dutch Design lamps – it all feels rather decadent. For the business traveller the Hotel Arena provides everything from Wi-Fi internet access to conference rooms, making this an ideal choice for a romantic weekend getaway or a hard-working business trip. Rooms start at €289 with suites starting at €399 (prices per night) www.hotelarena.nl
WHERE TO EAT Nestled in the heart of one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful districts is a hidden gem: the Odeon. The building is traditional Dutch in style, originally constructed in 1663 as a beer brewery which was later transformed into Amsterdam’s first real concert hall in 1830. Today, the Odeon has become a cosmopolitan centre for entertainment, and is a hive of activity both day and night. Friday and Saturday nights see the
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beautiful gold room being opened as an exquisite restaurant; here you can choose from delicious specialities on the a la carte menu, weekly set menu or, my personal favourite, three-course menu with ‘matching’ cocktails (a fun take on the usual wine selection). Unique in not only style but atmosphere, we dined to tunes of a DJ, which, whilst sipping on a Strawberry Balsamico (vodka, fresh strawberries, basil and balsamic vinegar) seemed the perfect accompaniment. The Odeon restaurant provides the opportunity to savour the creations of Edwin Takens, one of Amsterdam’s better known chefs. Takens creates dishes with their origin in traditional French cuisine; highlights include Croustillant of Langoustine on a Compote of Spring Vegetables served with a Shellfish Sauce (€11.50); Skin-fried Cod with Laurel, Pappardelle Pasta, Artichoke, Tomato, Green Asparagus and a Sauce Beurre Blanc (€19); and my favourite, Marinated Strawberries with Verveine Ice-cream and Dutch Orange Cookie (€7.50). Odeon really stands out from the rest. Later in the evening after dinner, grab a cocktail and head up the impressive staircase to one of Amsterdam’s most exclusive nightspots. The grand dance floor is overlooked by a luxuriously decorated balcony and allows guests to dance the night away to “credible chart classics” until the wee early hours! n www.odeontheater.nl
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A DROP OF SHERRY Deana Gershuny shares her taste of the Southern Spanish town of Jerez, the local Sherries and the interesting heritage of the horse-fair and bull-fighting ring
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n the far South of Spain, amongst the rolling Andalusian hills, lies the vibrant town of Jerez de la Frontera. Here, walkways are lined with orange trees and stacks of old oak barrels adorn street corners; a symbol of the rich history of the town where Sherry is as much a part of the age-old culture as flamenco, equestrianism and bull-fighting. Vineyards nestled in the surrounding hills make the most of the chalky, ‘albariza’ soils which, similar to the soils of Champagne, uniquely give birth to the Palomino and the Pedro Ximenez grapes – thus producing the finest Sherry wines in the world. Impressive, high-roofed bodegas – ‘cellars’ – are found in the centre of the town, many concentrating on the top end of the sherry market. Making sales in bottles rather than cases, the emphasis is very much on
quality, not quantity. Visitors are invited to take guided tours inside the cool and quiet rooms, which are stacked high with barrels of many vintages. The process The solera system is a method of ageing and blending, whereby wine taken from the oldest casks at the bottom, is replenished with newer wine from the casks above. The older wine is left to ‘educate’ the new in a process which, having been developed to perfection over hundreds of years of experience, ensures consistent quality. The blend created here cannot be matched by replicas which, like mock top-range champagnes, are never more than poor imitations. Exported since the sixteenth century, authentic Jerez Sherries are available
worldwide; but be careful not to be fooled by imposter varieties. It is only the Bodegas of this particular area whose Sherries have been classified by the Guarantee of Origin Regulatory Board as V.O.S. (very old sherry or vinum optimum signatum) or V.O.R.S. (very old rare sherry or vinum optimum rare signatum). The unfortunate presence of inferior replicas means that many have never had the pleasure of tasting what Master of Wine Jancis Robinson calls “this world’s most neglected wine treasure”. Whether it is the pale, bone-dry yet zesty Fino and Manzanilla Sherries (characterised by their salty taste and aroma) or the darker, more robust and nutty, Olorosos or Amontillados (produced in both dry and sweet varieties), these Jerez wines are not to be missed.
travel
Above and right: Sherry making, The Royal Andalusian Riding School
EquEstrian traditions Jerez is also home to the Royal School of Equestrian Art, La Fundacion Real Escuela Andaluza Del Arte Ecuestre, which not only is a centre of training for dressage riders but also holds courses for saddlers and trains in veterinary science. The stables are home to some of the world’s best Olympic riders and to spectacular Carthusian pure-bred horses that have been bred in the region since the fifteenth century. Visitors are invited to look around and watch spectacular horse dance shows during the twice weekly exhibitions, which culminate in the annual week long festival in mid-May, the Feria del Caballo. The festival includes all kinds of activities showcasing the talents and cultural history of the people of Jerez. During the week there are international show-jumping and dressage competitions. Magnificent carriages parade down the streets and through the González de Hontoria Park, where marquees are erected and decorated on a theme which differs each year. Inside the marquees there are samples of sherry and regional produce to taste and buy. The city comes alive as people dance Sevillanas to the early hours of the morning and fireworks decorate the skies. Cultural tastEs All year round numerous restaurants hold flamenco shows for which the city is famed and bullfights, a staple of Spanish culture, are a regular occurrence, often showcasing some of Spain’s star matadors, such as Enrique Ponce. The racing circuit, which lies on the outskirts of the city, is where the Motorcycle World Championships take place and is also used for Formula One testing, whilst on an adjacent hill lies the extensive Montecastillo golf course. Beautiful cathedrals and museums, such as The Time Palace – Antique Clock and Watch Museum,
and the Bullfight Museum Restaurant are scattered around the city. The tour of the Bodegas Tradicion includes not only a Sherry tasting but also admission to Jaoquin Rivero’s private art collection which includes three hundred of Spain’s finest paintings from the fifteenth century onwards. Jerez is not simply a city of Sherry; it is the embodiment of a uniquely diverse and immensely rich cultural history, set in the picturesque Andalusian landscape. It is well worth a visit, but if you don’t have the chance, the authentic Sherry wines from the region, which pay tribute to generations of experience, can certainly give you a taste of this vibrant city. n For more information on Andalucía, visit www.andalucia.com
Where to Stay Hotel Villa Jerez is a stately restored mansion house, surrounded by lush gardens. Located only a few metres from the Royal Andalusian Riding School, the historic SherryBodegas, the Alcázar, the famous museums and the historic centre of town, the hotel is the perfect choice for a short break. This small luxury hotel has just 18 rooms, all of which are luxuriously furnished and offer a view of the park or pool. Where better to enjoy a glass of local Sherry with tapas? Hotel Villa Jerez Avda. de la Cruz Roja 7 11407 Jerez de la Frontera, Spain +34 956 153 100 www.villajerez.com
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feature
GLitterati GirL Lara Bohinc’s jewellery is so popular, it has spawned cheap imitations available from street stalls just minutes from her hip Hoxton headquarters. Claire Adler discovers more
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ara Bohinc is one of the most dynamic independent jewellery designers in the UK today. Born in Slovenia, she started her own brand just four years ago. At Harrods, her jewels promptly flew off the shelves. More recently, Isla Fisher wore a Lara Bohinc clutch bag and jewellery at the London première of Confessions of a Shopaholic, as well as during her appearance on the David Letterman Show in America. When Cheryl Cole wore Bohinc’s Lunar Eclipse necklace on the X Factor, sales went through the roof the following day. Perhaps all these endorsements are hardly surprising. Bohinc’s designer credentials are impressive. Shortly after leaving the Royal College of Art, she scooped the New Generation Designer Award, sponsored by Marks and
Spencer. This might not be every stylista’s favourite brand but where Bohinc was concerned, it propelled her to great things almost immediately. Contracts to craft catwalk accessories for Gucci, Lanvin, Julien MacDonald, Costume National and Guy Laroche soon followed. And though she can’t reveal the details, she currently consults between two and three days a week for one of the most desirable jewellery brands on the planet – Cartier. This last part really is a coup, because it proves Bohinc has established recognition and a foothold in both the world of high fashion and the world of serious high end jewellery. In the past, jewellery has sometimes been considered fashion’s poor relation. When independent jewellery designers work for fashion houses, they often benefit from sharing the limelight of an established global fashion brand.
This is still the case, but times are changing. Never has it been more fashionable to want to become a jeweller. This is perhaps symptomatic of a time during which expressing an individualistic style, curating your own look and investing in a few statement pieces that will stand the test of time are all very fashionable aspirations. Jewellery answers this brief well. Choosing to buy jewellery from a contemporary designer often requires a degree of discernment and a confidence in your own taste. Lara Bohinc, and other independent designers like her, run relatively small-sized operations – small enough to retain that sense that you are buying something not everyone knows about. When she opened her Sloane Street store in 2007, rather than transport her design studio across London, Bohinc preferred to keep the design operation separate in its original East London location. Sales, distribution and administration are now based in Chelsea, while design, product development and production remain in Hoxton. “Whenever I have something new to show, all the staff get very excited about seeing it and although I want to share it, I have to be careful people don’t get too distracted from their own activities,” she smiles. “When I’m in Hoxton, I have the space to really focus exclusively on the design aspect of my work and I so appreciate keeping that apart from everything else I do.” Bohinc is credited with having been clued into marketing and business from the start. She has a host of celebrity clients and one of London’s top fashion, jewellery and luxury PRs, Shahrzad Moaven, tells me Bohinc has long held a reputation for being a savvy networker. Bohinc managed to befriend Kate Moss and Sienna Miller when
she was starting out and ensured they wore her jewels. When I bring up the issue of knock-offs, asking them how much of a compliment Bohinc and her business partner think these are, both roll their eyes. They clearly have a lawyer on speed dial. Unsurprisingly, they refuse to name names but companies far bigger than them copy Lara Bohinc jewellery far too often, they tell me. Partly as a recession-busting tactic, Bohinc has now ventured into silver jewellery. “Sterling silver jewellery is a bridge between fine and fashion jewellery and so much more affordable than gold,” she says. Despite this, Bohinc has recently been surprised by an overwhelming demand for the statement pieces in her Essential collection, in particular the Lunar Eclipse necklace, one of the boldest pieces of all. So what’s next for Lara Bohinc? Bohinc already makes sumptuous handbags which refreshingly have no visible branding and she now has her sights set on a shoe collection. It seems luck has played a small part in Lara Bohinc’s success too. When her business partner left £100,000 worth of new design proto-types in a London taxi, they were miraculously returned by the driver to a police station the same afternoon. “We wanted to send the police a crate of champagne to thank them as we were so thrilled. At first they wouldn’t accept it, but then they told us one of the crew was getting married. So we sent it to them anyway,” she smiles. n www.larabohinc107.co.uk
Clockwise from top: Coco Choker, Coco Cuff, Lunar Eclipse necklace, Solar Eclipse bracelet
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lifestyle
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THE WORLD’S MOST HUMAN RACE Josephine O’Donoghue takes a closer look at the London Marathon and the species of ‘ultra-runners’ who live for the sport
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ot many people know how the London Marathon began. It’s such a central element of London history now that it seems like it’s always been there. In actual fact, it all started in a pub. Co-founder of the London Marathon, Chris Brasher first discussed the concept in the Dysart Arms, the home of Ranelagh Harriers where, on Wednesday nights, runners drift in from their runs and chat over a friendly pint. “Peter Wilson of the Daily Mirror, one of the greatest sports writers of the 20th century, had taught me that the one event that had to be covered from start to finish was the marathon,” recalls Brasher. “An
event which, he said, was always packed with human drama.” And so Brasher, with Donald Trelford (then the editor of The Observer) met with the relevant authorities – the Greater London Council (GLC), the police and athletics’ governing bodies and in 1980, the London Marathon was officially launched. Soon after finishing his first marathon (in New York City) Brasher wrote an article entitled TheWorld’s Most Human Race: “To believe this story you must believe that the human race can be one joyous family, working together, laughing together, and achieving the impossible. Last Sunday in one of the most trouble-stricken cities in
the world, 11,532 men and women from 40 countries, assisted by over a million black, white and yellow people – laughed, cheered and suffered during the greatest folk festival the world has seen.” He ended the article by asking “whether London could stage such a festival? We have the course, a magnificent course [...] but do we have the heart and hospitality to welcome the world?” Of course, today we know that the London Marathon is one of the biggest sporting events in the world; the City accepted the challenge with enthusiasm, and in recent years the marathon has been oversubscribed by up to 400 per cent.
© one edition neiL MUnnS
Clockwise from left: Flora London Marathon, James Cracknell, Gordon Ramsay, Ronan Keating
Each year, the marathon is made up of a large number of amateur charity runners, but the event also plays host to the ‘ultra-runner’, who trains all year round for this one day. Extreme running is all a question of will-power. Huge painful blisters, extreme heat, chafed nipples, sunburnt shoulders, shredded muscles, faster opponents; the road is certainly tough at the front of the race. So why do people put themselves through such an ordeal? The reality is, running often becomes something of an addiction by those who integrate it into their daily routine. Our most famous marathon champion, Paula Radcliffe, explains that she needs to run seven days out of eight, and will only take a two week holiday after the marathon. “The first week I’m all right, I’m having a lie-in in the morning, doing different things and recovering from the race.” And during the second week? “You suddenly realise that running is your stress release and I’m dying to go for a run.”
“People often ask how I stay motivated – particularly on long runs,” says Paula. “But I actually enjoy running. It makes me feel alive and free. When I’m running along the coast or through beautiful forest, I can’t imagine anything better. Of course there are days when I’m tired – but it’s when you conquer a tough session that you were nervous about that you feel the best.”
Fellow running-addict (though perhaps not quite classed as an ultra-runner) Gordon Ramsay agrees: “Running gives me time to think; no phone or BlackBerry. When I am in serious training I run wearing a weighted jacket. I use an iPod and a Nike chip so that I can track my distance and speed. Richmond Park is my perfect training ground – great hills that make you work!” Great Britain coach Norman Wilson uses the marathon as an audition process to find the finest ultra runners and potential British champion athletes, “After London I contact several athletes to encourage them to step up beyond the marathon. I worked with 130 athletes in 2006 and we had a nucleus capable of jumping up to 100km (62.13 miles) within two years.” Back in 2005, Wilson spotted Lizzy Hawker in a 40-mile track race in Wales; by 2006, the Cheshire runner had become world 100km champion. n For more information on the Flora London Marathon, visit www.london-marathon.co.uk
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Charley Says... Charley Boorman: intrepid explorer, actor or just a motorcycle fanatic? Kasha Van Sant finds out more
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hen I was a kid I used to have three posters on my wall.” “Oh really which ones?” I enquire. “I had Barry Sheen, one of Easy Rider and the other was Farah Fawcett Majors.” I nod, knowing that the boyish Mr Boorman most probably wasn’t alone in his bikes and eyecandy fantasy. The man we all know and love as the creator of the LongWay Round and Long Way Down travel series seems astonishingly down to earth, to the point that I have to restrain the billing and cooing girl in the room listening intently to our phone call. I mentally readjust my questions and decide against the obvious Ewan McGregor references. Blissfully unaware Charley continues. “The funny thing is that later I met Barry Sheen in a restaurant. We were having dinner, there was about eight of us and on the other table there was Barry Sheen,
Murray Walker and a whole bunch of other Formula 1 guys. I went off to the bathroom and by the time I got back, Barry Sheen was sitting beside my wife and chatting her up! Which I thought was a great honour. Luckily she didn’t go off with him!” It appears not, as I hear Ollie (aka Mrs Boorman) milling around in the background. The benevolent and humble Charley is probably most well known for trekking around the world on motorbikes with Ewan McGregor, both growing fabulous facial hair and making people wish they could pick up and do something exciting with their time. Appreciative recipients of their DVDs will testify at wishing they could follow suit. How did Charley feel about that? “Great! If I can inspire someone to travel to somewhere in the world because of me, then great!” Charley meanders, “Someone once told me that the Royal Family had
watched it one Christmas. Just imagining the Queen and the royals watching me and Ewan is hilarious!” I very quickly get the impression that Charley Boorman is particularly unfazed by high profile characters. I imagine him turning up at Balmoral, boundless enthusiasm, squeezing in on the sofa, helping himself to sandwiches and Battenburg. Having grown up the son of actor John Boorman and acted from a young age, he would have had access to the Hollywood elite and I sense that ‘Ma’am’ doesn’t even make a dent on that. It’s all for charity we know, but Charley’s latest endeavour sees him travel without his trusty partner, Ewan. (Who I still haven’t mentioned). “On By Any Means we went from Ireland to Sydney. Next we will start in Sydney and make our way up Pacific Rim, Papua New
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Barry Sheen waS Sitting BeSide my wife and chatting her up! which i thought waS a great honour. LuckiLy She didn’t go off with him! Guinea, Philippines, Japan and Russia.” Being sans Ewan I ask which people (alive or dead) from history and the present he would wish to partner him on his trip? After bemoaning the difficulty of the question, he answers: “If I had to travel with anyone from the past it would have to be Steve McQueen. It’s a bit of an obvious choice, he was a great actor but he was an amazing bike rider. Do you know he rode for Team America in the World Enduro Championships? He was a proper full-on Enduro rider!” I recall that famous McQueen quote, “I’m not sure whether I’m an actor who races or a racer who acts.” I voice my approval. And a woman from history? “Amy Johnson. She flew south from London to Sydney. She was a fantastic British flier.” Now to the present, the answer is instantaneous. “Ewan.” I laugh, “No you can’t choose Ewan!” To which he retorts, “I wouldn’t want to go with anyone else!” I am relentless, “Ewan’s been rejected!” “Okay I would probably go with my mate Roy. Roy is a good laugh, he used to run a
motorcycle shop in London and he helped me buy my first road bike.” I sense the romantic in Charley rear its head. “So he’s sentimentality personified!” He laughs, “Yeah he just a really cool, funny guy. He’s very tall and loud and a fun character!” How about the woman? Sensing that Charley may pull another ‘Ewan’ on me I stipulate that family members or friends aren’t allowed. “I’m trying to think, trying to think. The pressure, the pressure it’s mounting on me!” We pause a while, Charley mutters and mumbles yet again. I wonder if I am putting him on the spot. “It would have to be. It would be an explorer, oh god I can’t remember her name. Oh god! Ah yes Ellen McArthur!” Ellen McArthur I am sure, would breathe
a sigh of relief and perhaps laugh as much as I have listening to Charley as we sashay through everything from his love of bikes – his weapon of choice being “BMWs GS Adventurers, the Land Rover for bikes” – and the fact that he is motivated by the word ‘no’ – the Dakar Rally being a case in point; to his dyslexia, (he is President of Dyslexia Action) and finally the fact that the last time he cried watching was X Factor. I share his pain, but something tells me that the lion-maned softy was shedding tears of joy! n
To find out more about Charley’s adventures or dealing with dyslexia go to: http://byanymeans.bigearth.tv www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk
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step into spring with hugo boss 2009 focuses on clean cuts, surprising details and luxurious materials “The New Perfectionists” is the name of the game and uses simple touches to make every piece extra-special. Suiting is inspired by contemporary architecture, the slimline silhouette dominates in a collection that spotlights body-conscious two-button jackets in new, shorter length, close-fitting, double-breasted suits or refined blazers to be worn with trousers ranging from skinny through wide. Leisure wear features loose-knit cotton cardigans with a shawl collar, designed to go with Bermudas, and outerwear with jackets and parkas in ultralight nylon fabrics. The palette is based on shades of grey and beige along with khaki and black, with accents of cobalt blue or a flash of lemon yellow. It doesn’t stop there, as the BOSS Orange Menswear Spring/ Summer 2009 goes to Africa for inspiration. Take rolled-up denims
or shorts and add fine-gauge knits, jersey tops and organic cotton shirts. Combine with suede boots or shoes, and blend a palette of pastel blues and beiges. Deep v-neck linen sweaters or jersey tops in batik patterns are worn with lightweight two-button jackets and cooling silk scarves. Boyish knotted neck scarves and caps top off the look. Prints and designs recall the cultures of Africa: tees and airy shirts show off Bedouin patterns and prints inspired by carved wooden figures. Light cotton and cool linen are the most important materials, with muted red, blue, orange and earth tones echoing the African steppes. Sturdy boots and summery booties in suede work for safaris on foot or by Jeep. Mesh bags with a fishing-net look join reporters with shoulder straps as the ideal companions for adventurous outings. n
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fashion
Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds
The Rotunda bespoke tailoring suite, Dunhill, Bourdon House, Mayfair, W1, 0845 4580779 www.dunhill.com
STYLE
Groom EZ Cufflinks from £89 to £189, Ermenegildo Zegna, 020 7518 2700, www.zegna.com
Just Married’ Luggage Tags £20 and Honeymoon Recollections £40, Smythson, 0845 873 2435 www.smythson.com
Mother of Pearl and silver cufflinks £75, Thomas Pink, 85 Jermyn St, SW1, 020 7930 6364, www.thomaspink.com
Three-piece suits from a selection, Jasper Conran Groom, Sackville St, W1, 020 7292 9080 www.jasperconran.com
Silk ties £60, Hackett, 020 7939 6865, www.hackett.com White Knightsbridge £170, Mayfair £185 and Savoy £195 dress shirts all Haywards. www.haywardslondon.co.uk
Leather shoes from £140, Ermenegildo Zegna, 020 7518 2700, www.zegna.com
Tahitan pearl and diamond cufflinks £14,800, Harry Winston, 171 New Bond Street, W1, 020 7907 8849 www.harrywinston.com
beauty
Beautiful Fix-its It’s not often that a beauty innovation comes along and promises to take care of a range of ailments – most are fads that come and go without effect, Jack Houston digs deeper
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hat happens if you combine real scientific know how and back it up with a few regular sessions to achieve realistic results? Well that is exactly what Beautytek from the Harley Street Meditech Clinic can do. It’s a mighty claim, but the results seem to speak for themselves. So if you are struggling to drop a dress size for that special occasion or finding it difficult to shed the pounds after pregnancy but don’t want to the pain of going under the surgeon’s knife, then this could be it. The Beautytek treatment is a complex system of artificial intelligence, micro-currents and bio-feedback which calculates the shortfall of energy levels within the body and then delivers the exact amount to kickstart the cells and improve body function. So what can it do? It can treat inch-loss, breast reduction, face-lifting and rejuvenation, and eliminate stretch marks and scarring. The treatment helps enable the body to metabolise fats and eliminate waste and once a full course of treatments has been undertaken there is less possibility of fat and cellulite returning. So how does it work? Before treatment can start a series of tests with a qualified nurse will assess the state of your body and the treatment areas to quantify the best course of action. The painless treatment then involves passage of a low frequency electrical current into the
desired area using specially made hand held wands that monitor the body’s reaction. Following treatment the body’s energy levels are dramatically increased allowing better blood circulation and lymphatic flow, helping to remove waste products and cleanse your body. Beautytek treatments help to tackle obesity by decomposing fatty clusters and readjusting and regulating the water balance in cells. The result is fat buring and the elimination of cellulite. It’s perfect for both men and women of all ages and sizes, regardless of fitness. Results can be visible after a single treatment. Studies have also shown that lifting treatments can last for up to a year. Currently a trend amongst celebrities who want to look great without the scars and the cost of surgery, the treatment is also used on popular television show How To Look Good Naked. Treatments start at £125, but may differ depending on lifestyle factors and the preferences of the client. Sessions are usually an hour long, depending upon treatment area, so easy lunchtime appointments are possible. n www.harleystreetmeditechclinics.co.uk
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AnnA VAlentine ivory taffeta flower dress ÂŁ9,500 made to measure, Anna Valentine, 15 Cross Keys Close, W1, 020 7935 2050
Bride
Monique LhuiLLier Lace cape, corset and taffeta layered skirt |ÂŁ7,200, Monique Lhuillier at Browns Bride, 12 hinde Street, W1, 020 7514 0056, www.brownsfashion.com
Bruce Oldfield Net beaded ribbon Leonora dress, to order, Bruce Oldfield, 27 Beauchamp Place SW3, 020 7584 1363 www.bruceoldfield.com
Alberta Ferretti Beige chiffon one shoulder dress with fringing ÂŁ1,170, Alberta Ferretti, 205-206 Sloane Street, SW1, 020 7235 2349. Gold Jasmin stilettos ÂŁ325, Jimmy Choo, www.jimmychoo.com
Monique Lhuillier Lace cape, corset and taffeta layered skirt, Monique Lhuillier at Browns Bride, as before
Temperley Lara cross-back dress ÂŁ1,500, Temperley London, 020 7229 7957 www.temperleylondon.com. Lace trim veil ÂŁ450, Toni Franci at Browns Brides, as before
Hair: Kate Hughes at www.itsallaboutyou.uk.net using Paul Labrecque Haircare Make-up: Kate Hughes at www.itsallaboutyou.uk.net using Bobbie Brown Fashion Assistant: Georgia Bateman Model: Helen J at Profile Model Management. Thanks to Gemma. With thanks to JJLocations www.jjlocations.co.uk
Ian Stuart Brides Taffeta suede ‘Pasha’ dress £2,697, Ian Stuart Brides at London Bride Couture, 17 Church Street, SW1, 020 7821 0404 www.ianstuart-bride.com
surprise! Find a Kirt Holmes necklace inside Paul A Young’s ultimate Easter egg.
geT sMArT Step back in to childhood with a Smarties inspired egg.
An eThicAl AffAir This is the first ever Fair Trade Easter egg, so you can indulge yourself and help cocoa farmers too.
Paul A Young £95 www.paulayoung.co.uk www.kirtholmes.com
Thornton’s £6.50 www.thorntons.co.uk
The Chocolate Alchemist £6.50 www.thechocolate alchemist.co.uk www.gift-library.com
chOcOlATe TripTych Celebrate the creation of the Easter egg from flower to bean to its final delicious form. La Maison Du Chocolat £90 www.lamaisonduchocolat. co.uk
ChoCs AwAy! Easter is the best time for guilt-free chocolate indulgence, so celebrate with goodies that aren’t just for children
MMMM, cAke An egg shaped chocolate cake with notes of mango and orange flavours.
La Maison Du Chocolat £37 for six people www.lamaisonduchocolat. co.uk
i WAnT A Bunny This fun bunny comes in an amazing giant size of 1.5 kg.
recessiOn BusTers These delicious assorted milk chocolate animals are perfect for Easter egg hunts. Charbonnel et Walker £4.99 www.charbonnel.co.uk
Thornton’s 250g £6.50 1.5kg £50 www.thorntons.co.uk
The Big One The aptly named Big Bertha is a handmade English chocolate egg that weighs in at 27 lbs. Charbonnel et Walker £650 www.charbonnel.co.uk
righT On TArgeT This organic Belgian chocolate, Target Easter egg, is perfect gift for the chocoholic. The Chocolate Alchemist £13.00 www thechocolate alchemist.co.uk www.gift-library.com
this month’s
Exfoliating Oatmeal & Milk Cleanse Bar Set £15 Molton Brown Jubilee Place 020 7718 8761
Naturals Cocoa Butter and Cardamom Body Wash £11 Crabtree & Evelyn Cabot Place East 020 7719 1762 Champaca Eau de Toilette £40 (50ml) Space NK Cabot Place West 020 7719 1902 Cloud Nine bangle From £2,500 Cloud Nine ring From £950 David M Robinson Jubilee Place 020 7538 2332
easter treats
there’s no need to be stuck for ideas with this selection of favourites
Orange Flower Daily Moisture £18 Neal’s Yard Remedies Jubilee Place 020 7719 0648
Saville £35 Dune Cabot Place West 020 7715 4755
Oval Earrings £75 Brilliant Inc Cabot Place West 020 7519 6699
The Daffodil Range From left to right: Milk & Plain Assortment Egg 450g £35 Milk & Plain Assortment Spring Box 180g £18 Milk & Plain Assortment Egg 908g £60 Milk & Plain Assortment Egg 225g £20 Charbonnel et Walker Cabot Place East 020 7512 9168
Limited Edition Honey & Lemon Shimmering Eau de Toilette £31.30 (100ml) L’Occitane Jubilee Place 020 7516 9171
Nicole padded plunge bra £79, Nicole hipster £39
Myla - Indulge your love for lingerie Evelyn camisole £105, Evelyn shorts £59
If you’re looking to treat yourself or the lady in your life with luxurious lingerie, Myla now offers personal shopping appointments. Simply call, email or drop by the boutique to book yourself in. Plus, receive a free gift with purchase above £75 at your first appointment. Myla also offers a late night collection and same day drop off service. Myla Cabot Place West 020 7715 5374 canarywharf@myla.com www.myla.com
Evelyn balconette bra £105, Evelyn suspender £59, Evelyn thong £40
aUstin ReeD aR ReD RetURns FoR sPRinG
GoinG to see a show at the o2? Plateau’s pre-performance menu means that you can swap the crowds and queues at the O2 eateries for the sophisticated setting of the Bar & Grill with stunning views of Canada Square Park and sensational food. On the 4th floor of Canada Place (above Waitrose Food & Home), Plateau is a minute’s walk from the tube and then just one stop to the O2. Plateau is offering two courses with a glass of wine and coffee for £17 and three for £20, available Monday to Saturday 4pm-7pm. For reservations please contact 020 7715 7100 or book online at www.plateaurestaurant.co.uk. Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill Canada Place E14 5EQ
Spring 09 sees the return of AR Red Collection aimed at the 30+ ‘urban male’. It focuses on design and attention to detail bringing over 100 years of tailoring expertise with a modern twist. Formalwear appears minimal in palettes of grey, black and charcoal. Slimmer blocks, lapels and pocket flaps create a sharper silhouette inspired by the 60’s Mod. Casualwear also benefits from a slimmed down silhouette with dynamic sporty influences. Denim in crisp, dark washes is paired with argyle jacquard knitwear, deep v-neck cotton t-shirts for a sleek casual look. Austin Reed Cabot Place East 020 7513 0146 www.austinreed.co.uk
get running
SIS Marathon Gel Belt £7.99 SIS Go Gels £0.99 Runners Need
Everything you need to get ahead for marathon season
Parallex Capri £55 Sweaty Betty
Aphelion Gillet £70 Sweaty Betty
Ronhill Advance Ronhill Advance Windlite Jacket £39, Long sleeve crew t-shirt £25, DXB Pants £26 Waitrose Food & Home
Timex Ironman Triathlon £49.99 Runners Need
Nike Air Pegasus+ 25 £69.99 JD Sports
Centanni Centanni, Jubilee Place is the exclusive stockist in Canary Wharf of Canali, Brioni, Polo Ralph Lauren and Without Prejudice suits - as well as super colourful La Martina and super elegant Canali and Faconnable casual wear. Centanni’s first summer season will feature a range of pure linen suits, shirts and other casual clothes added onto the superfine wool and cotton clothes which are sold throughout the year. Visit Centanni before April 5 and order a Canali ‘Made to Measure’ suit at ‘Ready to Wear’ prices, saving £200. Buy a Canali, Polo Ralph Lauren, or Birioni suit before May 16 and receive a £250 Voucher to spend as you wish in the shop. Centanni Jubilee Place 020 7516 0311
JD SportS Nike Daybreak Cap £11.99 Runners Need
Nike Run Vest £14.99 JD Sports
Anyone who has done a long distance run will tell you that having comfortable footwear and clothing is half the battle won; that is why JD Sports strives to keep you at your peak with their lightweight running shoes and breathable stylish clothing, for optimum performance and comfort. JD Sports Canada place 020 7715 9644
runnerS neeD In addition to an extensive selection of clothing Runners Need also offer free Dartfish gait analysis to analyse your gait and foot strike as you test different shoes on the treadmill. This sophisticated software is used to assess biomechanics, style and skills, and improve performance. The result is an efficient tailored shoe that will help reduce the risk of injury. runners need Churchill place 020 7512 9107
The Marathon Stick £29.99 Runners Need
Sweaty Betty The Statement Running Collection is perfect for a marathon and has been carefully created to include technical and performance lead features to aid your run. Compression technology, sweat wicking fabrics, antibacterial mesh – this collection really does cater for it all. Sweaty Betty Cabot place east 020 7513 0666
Gore Running Wear Men’s Tonic Shorts £27.99 Runners Need Matt Roberts Women’s running jacket £141, Performance Women’s vest £44, women’s pants £63, men’s running jacket £141, Performance men’s vest £34, men’s running pants £44. Waitrose Food & Home
waitroSe FooD & Home There is a wealth of sporting goods on offer at Waitrose, take for instance the Matt Roberts and Ronhill Advance range of men’s and women’s sportswear or the wide selection of running shoes available on the ground floor. waitrose Food & Home Canada place 020 7719 0300
L.K. BENNETT The L.K. Bennett Spring Summer 2009 womenswear collection of clothes, shoes and accessories combines modern design with luxury fabrics. The elegant daywear collection offers sophisticated suiting with chic shift dresses, large structured day bags and classic patent courts. Glamourous evening wear includes silk dresses, block colour clutches and crystal encrusted party heels. L.K. Bennett Jubilee Place 020 7719 0090 Love £99
Giddy £139
Scene £169
Lizzie2 £249
EDUCOGYM CANARY WHARF LAUNCHES EXECUTIVE FITNESS PROGRAM
EXPERT SUPERVISED TRAINING tailored for the busy executive Educogym is London’s premier supervised training gym with a limited membership of 450 members. What makes us unique is that every single component of the educogym experience is geared solely towards you and your personal goals and aspirations. Educogym guarantees the most timeefficient and effective approach to exercise, as proven scientifically.
Everything at educogym is done with one thing in mind - YOU.
✔ Specialised, tailored workout plans to suit the typical time-poor Canary Wharfer
✔ Personalised natural nutrition programs ✔ One-to-one consultations (goal setting,
assessments and coaching on a regular basis)
✔ Allocated trainer ✔ Supervised training in every single session ✔ Group dynamic environment (max 4 people training at same time in each studio)
✔ Friendly and highly qualified staff that are SPEC
IAL
ER OFF
GET
50U% ITIAL R IN
N YO OFF SULTATIO N TE CO QUO M W C REF.
always focused on your goals
✔ Appointment based - to guarantee maximum attention
✔ Supported by scientific research ✔ Cutting edge training techniques that produce extraordinary results
✔ Unique exercise equipment
educogym Canary Wharf 39-40 Skylines Village Limeharbour, Docklands E14 9TS Tel: 0845 0577 999 www.educogym.com Note: It is educogym policy to request a £95 deposit in order to confirm an initial consultation. This deposit is collected over the phone by credit/debit card. This fee is 100% refundable, if after the initial consultation you decide not to join the gym. However, a 24h cancellation notice is required otherwise the fee is forfeit. Due to our personalised approach we can only take a limited number of members, make sure you don’t end up on a waiting list. Call now to book your consultation.
beauty
xx
Spargo Spargo is a truly great find! Great hairdressing from Ian Marshall and his team of award-winning stylists. Based in Essex this fantastic local salon equals any West End offering. Spargo Hairdressing 115 High St, Brentwood, CM14 0RX 01277 210768 www.spargo-hairdressing.com
best tressed Do you lust after fantastic hair? Kate Hughes shows you where those in the know go Beverley c This talented but approachable ‘A’ List stylist who has twice been awarded British Hairdresser of theYear is now available for cut and colour consultations in a specially designed salon within the Goldwell Academy W1. Beverley and her talented team specialise in making real women look and feel fabulous – whatever their age! Goldwell Academy 22 Sackville Street, London, W1S 3DX 07748 666111
philip KingSley Trichological clinic The ‘hair doctor’ and his team of eight qualified consultants can treat specific medical hair complaints or offer cosmetic treats to give your hair some well needed TLC! The result is hair that is totally revitalised! 54 Green St, London, W1K 6RU 020 7629 4004 www.philipkingsley.com
UnrUly This relaxed uber-cool late night hair and make up venue is owned by Michael Price, the curly hair expert who works with Christopher Walton colourist extraordinaire. Unruly Studio 254 Portobello Rd, London, W11 1LR 020 7727 7444 www.unrulystudio.co.uk
Daniel galvin greaT lengThS These 100% human hair extensions offer an impressive colour spectrum with over 55 shades to choose from that can be mixed strand by strand to achieve your exact shade. They add natural volume and length with completely,untreated and chemical-free hair: gorgeous!! For your nearest salon locator see: www.greatlengthshair.co.uk
Daniel and his expert team offer a unique and personal service with emphasis on beautiful colour.The aftercolour rinse leaves your hair looking and feeling amazing. Daniel Galvin 58 / 60 George St, London, W1U 7ET 020 7486 8601 www.danielgalvin.com
Super Stylin...
Give your hair the luxury treatment you would get in the salon with Kate Hughes’ hero hair products
expert Hair Healing
Knot a proBlem
PHiliP kinGsley elastisizer
BumBle and BumBle PreP
The world’s first pre-shampoo conditioning treatment, it nourishes the cuticle, leaving the hair moisturised and silky soft without weighing it down or coating the hair.
This fantastic lightweight spray preps the hair for your regular styling products. It’s also a great detangler and protects the hair against damage from heat styling.
£23.50 www.philipkingsley.com
£12.50 Stockists-020 7622 5560 www.bumbleandbumble.com
SHine on
Come Clean
Joico’s new desiGn line-Gloss wax
frederic fekkai au natural Gentle sHamPoo
Gloss wax is a lightweight finishing wax that defines the hair with maximum shine and a light hold.
The fantastic new shampoo from this luxury hair care range purifies and leaves the hair ultra clean. Sugar and palm gently cleanse, peppermint leaf stimulates, while Calendula petals strengthen and nourish.
£13.95 Stockist-01282 683100
£18 Space NK www.spacenk.co.uk
Can it!
seBastian wHiPPed crème Sebastian’s new whipped styling crème gives the feather-like hold of a mousse and the nourishing care of a cream. It’s loaded with proteins, yet so light. Use it to create sexy shapes with a silky shiny finish. £16.50 www.sebastianprofessional.com
Blow you away
BaByliss Pro Portofino Hairdryer This new Pro Italian hairdryer features better air flow, and a longer life span to ensure the best ever blow drying experience. £87.99 0870 513 3191
Meridian F80. Listen closely. The Meridian F80, developed in collaboration with Ferrari, represents 30 years of audio research and manufacture condensed into a small and beautiful shell. It’s a complete system: a CD and DVD player with iPod connectivity and AM/FM/DAB digital radio. You’ll be amazed that something so compact allows you to hear more of your music, recovering buried information from the recording and producing a sound full of detail and depth. But then it shares the same technologies as Meridian’s flagship components and loudspeakers: sound systems so advanced that if a microphone can detect it, the system can reproduce it. Hearing really is believing.
www.meridian-audio.com
Produced under license of Ferrari SpA. FERRARI, the PRANCING HORSE device, all associated logos and distinctive designs are trademarks of Ferrari SpA. ‘iPod’ is a trademark of Apple Inc.
To arrange a demonstration of the F80 in the comfort, convenience and – most importantly – the actual acoustic environment of your own home, call 0800 242 5795 or email meridian@thomasfairchild.co.uk
www.thomasfairchild.co.uk • 0800 242 5795
interview
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Finding MR WRight Kasha Van Sant discovers that ex-Arsenal footballer and the man with the biggest smile on television has something up his sleeve to get families moving
W
e can all recall the days when we sulked about PE at school and tried every trick in the book when it came to skiiving. When the closest we got to sport was Dickie Davis on a Saturday afternoon and moreover getting home to the sofa, TV and a fish finger sarnie was the prime motivation. Fast forward a few years some of us are still doing the same, with languishing gym memberships briefly resuscitated at New Year but now hopelessly flat lining. But according to Ian Wright, the man who dominated our screens with his skilful footwork on and off the pitch, it needn’t be that way. With a new book on the shelves urging families to introduce fitness into our lives the easy way, Wright means business. The business of buoying the youth of today and giving them the drive for a successful future. Having never met a Mr Right, nevermind the Mr Wright, I am not sure what to expect. Handshake, firm. Eyes twinkling. The smile, tucked away for later. This is serious Mr Wright and the minute he speaks I know he is passionate about this cause. We have all heard of personalities taking up the pen, but what is Fitter Families all about? “I realised that it’s really hard to keep kids interested in fitness if they haven’t got the whole family unit behind them. Because when they go back home they get back into the old routine, they lose all of their energy. So we really need parents to participate a bit more.” Is it an uphill struggle? “It was an uphill struggle against the teachers and the parents because between them they have the kids for the most amount of time and you would’ve thought that children would get on better in the long run, but they don’t.” So what is the problem? “They just blame each other. But at the end of the day the parents spend the most
time with their kids and they have the most influence. It’s about the whole family unit, the parent or parents need to buy into what it’s all about.” And what is that? “It’s all about living your life normally but knowing that at some stage you’ve got to do some form of exercise. And you have to eat accordingly – that’s a necessity.” Ian’s passion is tangible.; he’s aware this is a problem and like any parent he worries about the future of his children. “Everybody worries about their kids, and in the current climate we’re all worried about what’s going to happen. But being somebody that is in the public eye I can do certain things.” There is no doubt that as a successful exsportsman Wright can wield influence, but isn’t fitness more ingrained into his psyche than it would be in most people’s? “No, because it’s all about will power.When I was a kid I didn’t know I was going to be a professional footballer, I knew that I could go run about in the park or whatever and as it has gone on my life has moved towards fitness. My life is essentially run by it.” Does he practice what he preaches with his own family? It appears so. Stacey 14, and Bobby 10, fluctuate between family bicycle rides, playing rugby and horse riding. “We go on a bike ride or go to Hyde Park,
we go to the pictures, we do things that keep you active without thinking that you’re doing anything in particular. Stacey and I might even play golf and Bobby may go to a ballet class.” Listening to Ian Wright as he talks about his passions and the future, (golf; his “blinding” collection of hats; and his children who are his main focus), I can see how integral he could be to raising awareness and using himself as a role model, albeit a reluctant one. He is a busy man and the fact that he is willing to devote a large amount of time to meeting his public at book signings to promote Fitter Families, to the TalkSport radio show or even to the forthcoming Sky 1 series about juvenile youth offenders, is commendable. I find him straight talking, charming, serious and determined. What more could a girl want from Mr Right? n Copies of the Fitter Families (RRP £9.99) can be purchased from Waterstones, Amazon, Asda and WHSmith stores nationwide, as well as ordered from Fit for Sport directly by emailing booksales@ fitforsport.co.uk
GADGETS JAMIE CARTER presents this month’s technological highlights
BORN FREE With Apple refusing to make its iPod or iPhone wireless, Marantz has stepped in with its own solution. Aimed at those sick of plugging their device into a hi-fi to play songs on repeat, Marantz’s new IS301 is a palm-friendly adaptor equipped with Bluetooth. Simply attach it to your iPod/iPhone – or almost any new mobile phone – and it broadcasts audio to a docking station plugged into any hi-fi or home cinema. Alternatively, attach the adaptor straight to a TV to enjoy video stored on an iPod. Marantz IS301 hand-held mobile phone/iPod dock £219 www.marantz.com
one stop shop Achieve your hi-def and home cinema ambitions in one fell swoop with Samsung’s space-saving all-in-one HT-BD8200. The first soundbar with a Blu-ray player inside, it promises virtual surround sound. Just 2.6-inches deep the HT-BD8200 is fully wireless. The subwoofer invisibly connects with the main unit, while any mobile phone with Bluetooth can send digital photos or music to the system. Add an iPod dock and you’ve a one stop shop for the digital and hi-def age.
GOING DEEP
Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-ray home cinema soundbar £TBC www.samsung.co.uk
Getting a bass-heavy sound requires big headphones, but Sony’s latest invention claims to overcome the laws of physics. Its five-strong new XB – or ‘eXtra Bass’ – range of cans use all-new tech to reproduce ultra-low frequencies. Headlining the range is the MDR-XB700, a closed-type design that features king-sized ear cushions. Sony MDR-XB700 closed headphones £100 www.sony.co.uk
lOOkING tO thE hORIzON
best of both worlds If you’re feeling increasingly marginalised by new technology but are wooed by the prospect of pin-sharp high definition movies, Panasonic’s upcoming VHS-Blu-ray player should appeal. Able to play not just VHS tapes and latest-gen Blu-ray discs but also CD and DVD, the brand’s DMP-BD70V can make even poor quality recordings look good enough for a big screen TV. Panasonic DMP-BD70V Dual VHS-Blu-ray player £TBC www.panasonic.co.uk
Room-filling sound and a choice of colours is what Boston Acoustics is promising for its latest iPod hi-fi system. The Horizon i-DS3 can manage 100W of power while playing – and recharging – an iPhone or iPod. All-important bass rumble comes courtesy of a wireless subwoofer that just needs to be attached to the mains. The metal grille fronting the unit is available in myriad colours. Boston Acoustics Horizon i-DS3 Soundbar and wireless subwoofer £450 www.bostona.eu
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GIVE YOUR IPOD A DAB HAND If digital radio and music from your iPod is fast becoming your daily dose of entertainment, Arcam’s latest DAB tuner-cum-iPod machine can act as a de facto hi-fi. As well as top-notch sound quality that surpasses most iPod docks, its advanced interface gives full control of an iPod’s contents via a remote control, while a DAB and AM/FM tuner completes the picture. Available in black or silver. Arcam FMJ-T32 DAB tuner and iPod dock £550 www.arcam.co.uk
cLUTTer BUsTer If you’re yet to invest in either a Blu-ray player or a big screen TV, it might be worth waiting for Sharp’s AQUOS BD series of LCD TVs. Look out for this 52-incher, a monster screen whose side deftly hides a disc drive capable of spinning a CD, DVD or Blu-ray disc. Sharp AQUOS BD Series 52-inch Blu-ray LCD TV £2,000 www.sharp.co.uk
FISTFUL OF TUNES oscar winner The final flourish on a home entertainment set-up for any film fanatic is surely some comfy seats worthy of any A-lister. Cue Oscar’s black leather seating available in single or three-seater variations. Complete with motorised incliner, massage system, footrest and fridge, it’s the ultimate way to dodge your local multiplex. Oscar Home Cinema Seating £1,100-£3,150 www.drinkstuff.com
STRETCH MARKS Ever wondered why most DVD films have black bars above and below the action? Your TV is the wrong shape, that’s why. First off the blocks for new ‘cinema’ shaped TVs is Philips, whose 56-inch Cinema 21:9 is the exact dimensions of 90% of films available on DVD and Blu-ray disc. As well as being of ultra-wide dimensions, the Cinema 21:9 is Full HD Ready. Philips Cinema 21:9 56-inch LCD TV £4,000 (estimated) www.philips.co.uk
An alternative to the Marantz wireless dock featured here, Roth’s take on getting tunes from an iPod or mobile to a hi-fi uses WiFi instead of Bluetooth. The RothDock works in a similar fashion to the Marantz effort and can broadcast music around 10 metres. A nice extra touch is that if your iPhone receives a call, the music automatically fades out and the ringtone sounds through the hi-fi. RothDock iPod/MP3/mobile phone WiFi dock £99 www.rothaudio.co.uk
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interiors
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VALUE ADDED Josephine O’Donoghue looks at the ways you can add value to your home in the heart of the house: the kitchen
thE ELEctronic AgE Urban Interior is pleased to announce the much anticipated arrival of S1, the latest high-tech kitchen design from SieMatic. Designed with the social kitchen in mind, the S kitchen creates the perfect living space within the contemporary domestic kitchen.Using the most advanced technology, the unique ‘Smart Board’ device controls a complete multimedia system. Located beneath the wall cabinets, it contains touch controls that operate all electronic gadgets within the kitchen including, the extractor hood and the built in 17” flat screen LCD TV. Starting from around £100,000 there is a bespoke service offered to each individual customer.
cooL cUBE Responding to the market trend for white glass, the Cube’s white facings are coordinated with stainless steel to give a striking focal point within the kitchen. Featuring electronic controls in addition to a handy remote control, this unusual and innovative design is able to adapt to a variety of kitchens, with options for both wall and island fixtures, and the choice of a recirculation kit. The wallmounted version can be further adapted to be fitted with or without the chimney flu. The Cube retails from around £883 Call 0117 938 1900 or visit www.caple.co.uk
www.urbaninterior.co.uk
inDUstry sEcrEt Although you may not guess from the name, Goodwood Bathrooms are the insider’s industry secret for high-quality kitchens. Guaranteeing quality and individuality, the kitchens are designed and fitted bespoke, with a personalised design and installation service using a huge choice of both traditional and contemporary ranges. Call 01243 532121 or visit www.goodwoodbathrooms.co.uk
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interiors
Sleek & ChiC Adding to SieMatic’s detailed portfolio, the new SL101 brings an air of simple sophistication to the kitchen. Light oak doors are combined with feature fog grey, creating an effortless style with a Scandinavian-style edge. In fitting with the rest of the SL range, the 101 design embraces clean lines and sleek glossy colours. SieMatic’s innovative interior storage system, MultiMatic, is hidden
within the units to keep clutter out of sight, whilst at the same time increasing capacity by over a third. Surpassing all expectations, the new design creates an unprecedented elegance perfect for the modern home. The SL101 kitchens start from £20,000. Call 01438 369 251 or visit www.siematic.co.uk
Smart move
StyliSh Storage
Since February, nearly all stainless steel cooling appliances manufactured by Liebherr have made use in the newest superproduct: SmartSteel. The leading German cooling appliance manufacturer is has once again established itself as one of the leading manufacturers in product innovation. Because stainless steel in kitchens can often end up looking tired and worn, Liebherr has created the specially treated SmartSteel to be scratch-resistant and a durable sealing is applied to the front wall of appliances, ensuring that the machine looks as good as new for years to come.
Refrigeration specialist Liebherr present their latest integrated wine storage cabinet; the perfect solution for home-owners who appreciate the benefits of correctly stored wine. Large enough to store eighteen bottles, it features a ‘finger touch’ electronic temperature control, on an adjustable scale from 5 to 20°C. Humidity can also be controlled, and all air entering the cabinet passes through a carbon filter to ensure purity.
The SmartSteel appliances retail from £499. Call 08444 122 655 or visit www.liebherr.co.uk
The WKEes553 has an approximate retail price of £950. Call 08444 122 655 or visit www.liebherr.co.uk
Amtico Brintons Crucial Trading Dalsouple Karndean Luxaflex Pergo Porcelanosa Vincent Sheppard
Japanese Panel
Amtico and Wood
Stripes
Blinds and flooring We’ve got it all covered
Est. 1881
470-480 Roman Road London E3 5LU 0800 716 783 www.abbottsflooring.co.uk
Why move?
The space you need is under your feet... • Family Room • Gymnasium • Bedroom • Bathroom • Utility Room • Playroom • Cinema • Swimming Pool • Kitchen • Wine Cellar • Study
Leaders in complete design and build services creating your basement living space.
020 8847 9449 e. sales@londonbasement.co.uk www.londonbasement.co.uk
200 Jamaica Rd SE16
020 7237 2624
Spring Hair OfferS www.theloungehairsalon.co.uk
Cut & Style package Ladies Cut £40 Mens Cut £23 • Cut & style • Intensive conditioning treatment (including scalp massage) • Consultation & advice
Colour, Cut & Style £80 • full head highlights • Cut & style • Intensive conditioning treatment (including scalp massage) • Consultation & advice • Valid until 31st April 2009 • Promotions valid Monday to Friday only • Dedicated customer car park available • 2 mins from Bermondsey station (Jubilee line) • Please mention Canary Wharf magazine upon booking
Top Ten
Things To see
at Grand Designs Live, London 2009
T
he credit crunch and tightening purses means that the stay-athome generation has arrived, and consumers are making the most of their space as well as finding costeffective ways to make their homes more cost and energy efficient. Based on the hugely successful Channel 4 TV series, presented by design guru Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs Live, London brings
sponsored by British Gas together over 500 exhibitors and six separate shows from Design, Interiors, Building, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Gardens and our awe-inspiring GrandVillage, offering visitors the chance to see the latest in design, self build, and sustainable living - all under one roof. With so much to see follow our guide to the ‘Must See’ things to do at Grand Designs Live, London 2009.
lifestyle
ways in which domestic homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint. Make your house a home with the Design Arcade Shopaholics must visit this year’s brand new Design Arcade where a selection of top UK designers will bring unique hand-crafted and bespoke furniture and interior accessories, including mirrors, lamps, art and crafts that cannot be found on the high street. ‘House of the Future’ sponsored by Samsung The BRAND NEW House of the Future, sponsored by Samsung, will showcase some of the latest and best stylish home entertainment gadgetry, as well as domestic appliances, and demonstrate the best new gadgets and innovations of today and tomorrow. LIVE Kitchen Experience, sponsored by Miele A series of LIVE cookery demonstrations sees top British chefs such as John Burton-Race, Michael Caines, Jun Tanaka, Jane Asher and Atul Kochar, road test our stunning show kitchens supplied by Peggenpohl and Stoneham, with appliances by Miele.
ECO Dwellings FROM THE GRAND Village Sponsored By first direct Explore a series of new build dwellings that demonstrate the ways in which architects and designers are pushing the boundaries of design and construction to create and build the most advanced, energy efficient homes. Green Your Home Showcasing the latest in insulation, under floor heating, rainwater harvesting systems and solar energy from market leading brands. Our one-stop-shop of award-winning products and services in the Grand Build Section, sponsored by Velux, offers ideas and advice on the
Make the most of your outdoor space With more people looking to add additional space to their existing homes rather than move, this year’s Grand Gardens takes a look at the alternative ways of creating a functional and relaxing outdoor environment with New Grand Gardens. ‘Al Fresco’ dining from Grand Gardens Some of the UK’s most coveted chefs including Izu Ani of Vanilla, Ian Pengelly of Gilgamesh,Vivek Singh of London’s Cinnamon Club, Patrick Williams of the Terrace restaurant among others, will be hosting outdoor cooking demonstrations to show how to create new flavours, using products such as the Orchard Oven, as used by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
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Unique Weather station provided by the Met Office The Grand Village, sponsored by first direct, will host the Weather station provided by the Met Office, one of the world’s leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. Visitors will be given information on the changing climate as well as the threats and opportunities for gardeners and home builders. The VELUX Design Pod It has been well-documented that space and natural light has positive psychological, health and energy-saving benefits and visitors have the chance to book a free expert 30-minute consultation on the Design Pod to see how it plays a vital role in the design of our homes. Expert Advice RIBA architect and Grand Designs Magazine experts will be on hand to offer one-to-one consultations in the Expert Advice Centre. Brand New for 2009, our dedicated Grand Seminar Theatre, sponsored by the Electric Safety Council, and the ‘How To...’ theatre, will offer practical and informal workshops, as well as celebrity master classes, from the likes of Kevin McCloud, George Clarke and Diarmuid Gavin. British Gas will demonstrate their latest Green Streets initiative, showing homeowners how to reduce their carbon footprint.Take the opportunity to speak to experts about the current energy rating of your home, by filling in an ‘Energy Savers Report’ which has already saved two million people over £175 a year off their energy bills.
Grand Designs Live, London is the UK’s No.1 consumer show for design, innovation and inspiration for your home. It returns to London from 25th April to 4th May, 2009. See www.granddesignslive.com. To book your tickets now and save £5, log on to www.granddesignslive.com or call the 24 hour box office on 0871 230 5577 + Kids go free.
lotus position The Lotus Exige S gets put through its paces in Canary Wharf
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hey call it Exige. We call it Exciting. Make that damn exciting. Runwild Media will be spending the next 12 months behind the wheel of an exhilarating Lotus Exige S, the hand-built supercharged supercar that redefines the terms handling, agility and fun. We’ve teamed up with Lotus, one of the most revered names in motoring, to see how the Exige performs day to day. It’s early days in our relationship but it started in the best possible way: a trip up to the Lotus HQ in
Hethel, Norfolk, to pick up the black beast (the one pictured here isn’t ours by the way!) and then a rapid run back to Canary Wharf. Over the coming weeks and months we’ll use the new-look Exige S to commute to the city and even to do the supermarket shop. But we’ll also be enjoying track days in the UK and longer trips to Europe: visits to the famous Nurburgring and a haul down to the Italian Riviera are already planned. And there’s also a chance for you to get involved. We will be offering a few lucky readers the chance to visit Lotus to meet
the team behind the Exige and to test their driving skills behind the wheel of a Lotus at some of the UK’s best known tracks. If you want to find out more, register your interest by email at: lotus@ runwildgroup.co.uk Oh and just in case you didn’t notice we have the Lotus Evora on our front cover we will be featuring it next issue. And in the meantime, if you see the Runwild Exige out and about, whip out your phone, take a snap and e-mail the result to us: you could win some Lotus goodies. n
motoring
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The conTenTs of The Touring Package for The exige s includes: Full leather or Microfibre suede-effect interior. Leather trimmed centre control Leather handbrake gaiter Sound system iPod connection Full carpets, with embroidered logo Auxillery driving lights (in markets where legally allowed) Sound installation kit Cup Holder
loTus exige s viTal sTaTisTics engine: In-line 4-cylinder, 1796cc, supercharged Max Power: 240bhp @ 8000rpm Max Torque: 170lb ft @ 5500rpm 0-60mph: 4.0 seconds Top speed: 150mph fuel capacity: 43.5 Litres / 9.6 Gallons car insurance group: 20 length: 3797mm – 12’5 Width: 1727mm – 5’8 – excl. Mirrors height: 1163mm - 3’10
Poverty the rolls royce Way Matthew Carter checks out the latest arrival from the British icon
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t’s somehow good to know that the current economic doom and gloom is affecting all of us. How else do you explain the arrival of a smaller, cheaper Rolls-Royce? Revealed to the world at March’s Geneva Motor Show, officially the 200EX is only a concept… but you can restassured this is pretty much how a new baby Roller will look when it appears in showrooms next year. Although Rolls themselves don’t refer
directly to the size or price of the new car (vulgar to talk money after all) there’s no denying that the production version of 200EX will be more affordable, more practical and less, well, ostentatious than the imposing Phantom, which will continue alongside the new car. It’s a little bigger than a BMW 7-series – and uses some of that car’s underpinnings – it should cost around £170,000. It’ll be powered by a new V12, and although lower, sleeker and lighter than
the Phantom, it retains the rear hinged ‘coach’ rear doors of the bigger car to ease access to the voluminous passenger compartment. That said, it’ll be a car for the owner driver rather than the chauffeur. So how will the car sell given today’s gloomy financial news? R-R expects to shift around 1,000 a year. That might not sound like many, but it will double the number of cars currently produced at the company’s Goodwood HQ. n
a legend reborn Take a Fiat 500, breathe on the engine, lower the suspension, stick on a few gofaster stripes and you’ve got a cult car says Matthew Carter
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little over half a century ago, an Italian tuning wizard got hold of a Fiat 500 and created a legend. Carlo Abarth (actually he was an Austrian but changed his first name from Karl when he changed nationalities) took the most popular bread and butter car in Italy and turned it into a racer. The original Abarth 500, its boot-lid permanently open to provide extra cooling for the rear-mounted engine, was a hoot to drive and a giant killer on the race tracks. And now it’s all happening again. A couple of years ago Fiat ‘did a Mini’ by resurrecting its most famous small car, the cheeky 500. The new 500 updated the famous shape, placing it on a thoroughly modern chassis. An Abarth version was inevitable. Today’s 500 Abarth is significant not least because it marks a resurgence of the hot hatch, small performance cars that are perfectly in tune with these straitened times. At the heart of the Abarth is a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine delivering 135bhp. That might not sound much, but these things are relative. Frankly it’s more than enough to provide genuine fun behind the wheel without losing your licence. The 0-60mph dash takes under 8 seconds, with claimed top speed of 128mph. No, where the 500 Abarth really scores is in its ability to duck and dive through traffic, to turn every mundane journey into a rally special stage and to generate a grin each time you slip behind the wheel. Part of that is down to the way Fiat has loaded the car with go-faster goodies. As well as comprehensive bodywork and suspension changes, everything from the flat-bottomed steering wheel via the profusion of (optional) racing stickers to
the Sport button on the dash is geared towards performance. Of these, the latter is arguably the most important addition. Pressing the Sport button effectively remaps the engine’s brain, so it delivers full turbo boost when required. It also adds much needed weight to the steering and lets the turbo boost gauge, mounted in a special pod on the dashboard, do its job properly. Thankfully once in Sport it stays there and doesn’t default to normal each time the car is started. Despite the changes to the suspension – stiffer springs and dampers – the Abarth rides better than the standard car which gets choppy over poor surfaces. It also offers a better driving position: you sit high in the standard car but lower in the Abarth. Although the car has full electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard, it also has something called Torque Transfer Control
(TTC) which controls understeer – when the front of the car wants to plough straight on during hard cornering – by braking the spinning wheel but without cutting power, a feature of ESP. It works, keeping the little tearaway on line even when I was being deliberately clumsy behind the wheel. In standard form, then, the 500 Abarth is a fun machine. It’s not the most sophisticated or quickest thing out there, but has charm in spades. And that’s really where the story should end. But it doesn’t thanks to Abarth’s decision to develop an upgrade kit. For an additional £2,500 on top of the standard £13,600 price tag, the essesse kit adds 25 extra horses, more powerful brakes and much stiffer springs. It’s also the starting point for a new one-make motor racing championship, neatly bringing the Abarth 500 story full circle. n
worth waiting for The Focus RS could have been here years ago, says Matthew Carter, but Ford wanted to get it right
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he hills above Nice in the South of France offer some of the greatest driving roads in Europe. Not for nothing do the switchback, hairpin strewn mountain passes form the backbone of the Monte Carlo Rally. Ford knows the roads well: its Focus WRC rally car is a past winner here. Little wonder, then, that Ford has chosen these self same roads for the launch of the new Focus RS. Anyone with an ounce of 95 octane in their veins would appreciate the morning I’ve just had.The roads are largely traffic free and although Europe is still struggling to make the transition from winter to spring, the sun is shining and the roads are dry even though snow still lines the banks. It would be a good morning to go for a thrash in just about any car, but in the latest Focus RS roads such as the Col de Vence turn it into a genuine experience. The route is demanding, but the surface is smooth and visibility excellent.To the left
there’s a sturdy mountain and to the right a drop of several hundred feet but between them is a snaking ribbon of tarmac. Get it wrong and the result will be expensive. Get it right and you’ll be smiling for the rest of the day. It’s been a long time coming, the Focus RS. There have been many false starts and technical blind alleys but after a starring role at last year’s ExCel British Motor Show, the RS is finally here. The only irony is that it’s got a life span of just two years – by 2011 there’ll be a brand new Focus on offer. Still, better late than never.The delay has been caused by Ford’s desire not just to produce another stunning RS model – the top of the Ford performance tree, there have been just 22 RS models over the past 40 years – but to do so while sticking with front-wheel drive. Ford’s performance goal for the turbocharged five-cylinder engine was a power output of 300bhp, but no-one has successfully put that much power through the front wheels before.
Among the experiments Ford undertook was a Focus RS with four-wheel drive, but it was rejected on the grounds of cost, excess weight and a dulling of the driving experience. Instead their boffins came up with a patented front suspension based around something called the RevoKnuckle, which is linked to a highly efficient mechanical differential. I could try to explain how it eliminates torque steer by reducing the kingpin offset. Shove the gear lever into second, stamp on the throttle and where most high performance front drivers would have you torque steering into the mountain the RS simply puts the power down on the road and sets off at warp speed. It’s uncanny, extraordinary and utterly brilliant. It’s equally good when it comes to corners, the specially developed low profile tyres on their 19in alloy rims finding unbelievable levels of grip. It just goes round corners with no
wander from the front or back end. Scrub that. Maybe there is some under- or oversteer at the limit… but that limit is so high that I never found it even when trying pretty hard over the Col de Vence. The steering is quick and direct and the brakes reassuringly powerful. It’s all matched by a jewel of an engine. Based on the 2.5-litre unit found in the Focus ST, the RS has a bigger turbo and comprehensively redesigned top end to produce that 300bhp. As well as delivering prodigious performance (under 6 seconds to 60mph, 163mph top speed) it has a soundtrack to match: the glorious exhaust note echoing off the mountain should be recorded and put on iTunes. While it’s seriously impressive at speed, the RS is equally astounding at a more normal pace; the ride is firm but it is always compliant and never jars. And being a Focus it’s a thoroughly practical proposition, too. Inside the only major changes between this and a cooking version are the body hugging high-backed colour coded Recaro seats, a few extra instruments and a smattering of carbonfibre lookalike trim. Outside things are a little less subtle.
It’s only available in three door form, and is immediately distinguishable from lesser Focus models by air intakes, venturi, deep diffusers and a huge rear wing mounted on top of the tailgate. And then there are the colours. There’s a choice of three: white, RS blue and, erm, Ultimate Green, a shade that would make Kermit jealous. White is free, blue is a £395 option and the ‘nick me, I’m speeding’ green is an extra £695. It’s about the only element of the Focus RS that doesn’t offer value for money, given that the car itself is a steal at £24,995. Save money by going for white (looks good against the standard darkened privacy glass), but add £750 for a luxury pack with automatic wipers and lights, parking sensors and duel zone air conditioning. A further £200 will give you Bluetooth for the phone and a USB port for music. Ford’s making just 8000 examples over the next two years, with around half of those destined for the UK.They’ve already had 1,100 firm orders here and a further 1,000 are ‘interested’, so if you want to experience the best car of 2009 you’d better get a move on. n
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90 Mercedes-Benz Stratford Unit 4, Rick Roberts Way, Stratford, London E15 2NF 0845 128 1149 www.mercedes-benzstratford.co.uk Part of the UK’s largest official Mercedes-Benz retailer ^OFFER ENDS 01/06/2009. OFFER ONLY AVAILABLE ON A-CLASS, B-CLASS AND C-CLASS MODELS, EXCLUDES AMG OR BRABUS. ONLY AVAILABLE TO REGISTERED KEEPERS OF VEHICLES. THE VEHICLES FIRST SET OF BRAKE PADS AND FITTING REQUIRED MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY CUSTOMER. PLEASE NOTE THAT FITTING OF COMPLIMENTARY BRAKE PADS MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE CUSTOMER. *AVERAGE BASED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE FEEDBACK FROM SERVICE EVENTS HELD AT MERCEDES-BENZ STRATFORD BETWEEN 1 JANUARY 2008 AND 31 DECEMBER 2008.
WIN A UNIQUE 3D WIRELESS SPEAKER AND TICKETS TO GRAND DESIGNS LIVE* Grand Designs Live are pleased to offer one lucky reader of Canary Wharf Magazine, the brand new Xounts, (combined speaker and light) courtesy of Concept Smart Homes worth £899 and tickets to the event. Ten runners up will receive a pair of tickets to this year’s Grand Designs Live, London show from April 25th - 4th May, at London’s ExCeL Centre. The XoUnTs is a mobile 360°stereo loudspeaker, a stunningly designed object and an atmospheric multi-colour light. XoUnTs is as versatile as you are and contains a multi-audio system featuring an iPod docking station, UsB port and fm radio as well as wireless streaming from up to 4 audio channels. The XoUnTs WIRELEss also comes with XoUnTs sTREAMInG enabling you to send your favourite music via wireless to your XoUnTs. The receiver is perfectly placed inside your XoUnTs and with the transmitter you send your music from any source, whether it’s a mp3-player, mobile phone, your stereo or your TV. To top it all off the changeable design means it will fit perfectly into any surroundings. To find out more about Concept smart Homes and Xounts call 01983 864440, visit wwwconceptsmarthomes.com or visit us on our stand at Grand Designs LIVE (stand L360)
To be in with a chance to WIN, email the answer to the following question: Who is Grand Designs event presenter? To competition@runwildgroup.com Tickets to this year’s grand designs live are available in advance for £13 or on the door price of £18. To book call 0871 230 5577 or visit www.granddesignslive.com to book. Kids go free. *Terms and conditions 1. This offer is only open to UK residents 2. Complimentary tickets are valid for one day only, on any one day of the show between the 25th April and the 4th May 2009, to Grand Designs Live at Excel London 3. Tickets are non transferable 4. Complimentary tickets obtained through this offer may not be duplicated. 5. All tickets will be scanned on entry to the show 6. The closing date for this offer is 20th April 2009
C ANARY WHA RF ne w s Crossrail to deliver £1.2 billion a year in eConomiC benefits A major economic study confirms that Crossrail will deliver substantial economic benefits for the whole of London and the South East after the new railway opens in 2017. Faster journey times, reduced road and train congestion and higher earnings are among the benefits provided by the new railway. The study, conducted on behalf of Crossrail by consultants Colin Buchanan, found that when results are modelled for just one year (2026) the annual economic benefit across all London’s boroughs is estimated at £1.24 billion at 2008 prices. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “The scheme will be hugely advantageous for each of the capital’s boroughs.”
thesis trust makes Plans for bangladesh ProjeCt A new initiative to foster educational links between the UK and Bangladesh to fund community projects such as a women’s hostel at Madan Mohan College, Sylhet, Bangladesh, has been announced. It coincided with the visit to London of Madan Mohan College Principal Lt Col (BTFO) Professor Ataur Rahman Pir and his colleague Professor G Q M Alamgir.
seCurity offiCer honoured Canary Wharf security officer Shaun Cassidy recently received the inaugural Canary Wharf Management Limited (CWML) employee of the year award for his heroic efforts to save the life of a drowning woman in Middle Dock at Canary Wharf last August. The reportedly inebriated woman was below the surface and unconscious when security officers arrived at the scene. Cassidy, 25, jumped in the water, fitted a life preserver and helped other security officers pull her to safety.
money from urban sounds benefits mudChute farm Money collected at the Urban Sounds series at Canary Wharf was recently presented to Mudchute Park and Farm by Lucie Moore, Arts and Events Manager at Canary Wharf Group. Urban Sounds, held in Canary Wharf parks and retail malls in Spring and Autumn, raises money for local charities every year. The next series runs during March, April and May.
loCal jewish Community Celebrates Purim Canary Wharf Group held its annual celebration for the Jewish festival of Purim, complete with buffet lunch and live music, in the East Wintergarden on 4 March. The 400-strong gathering included members of Jewish community groups from around London.
Daniel Shaw, Director of Market Risk Management, HSBC celebrates Tu B’Shvat
tree Planting marks the emergenCe of sPring Canary Wharf Group has marked the Jewish Festival of Tu B’Shvat by planting a tree in Jubilee Park on 9 February. It marks the beginning of the ‘new year’ for trees, occurring on the 15th day of the month of Shvat. Scholars believe the festival is also used for calculating the correct time of the year for tithing. Danny Seliger, Associate Director – Administration at Canary Wharf Group said: “The Canary Wharf community includes a very diverse range of religious faiths. Maintaining traditional religious festivals such as Tu B’Shvat emphasises that Canary Wharf is not just a place to work, it helps to sustain the diverse range of cultures and activities in the local community.”
CAN A RY WHAR F art
sculpture in the workplace
PhilliP King SculPture lobby, One canada Square and Jubilee Park
Phillip King is one of Britain’s most significant artists who came to prominence in the 1960s, an influential teacher and former President of the Royal Academy of Arts. Known for his innovation, Phillip has continually searched for new modes of expression and materials. The sculptures selected for this exhibition show dramatic transitions from work made in concrete and fibreglass to abstract pieces in painted steel, figurative bronzes, and work in ceramic.
The CommuniTy Gallery Canary Wharf Group has launched a Community Window Gallery devoted to arts projects in the neighbouring area, situated in the walkway between Canada Place mall and the Jubilee line underground station.
PoeTry in Wood 6 marCh – 5 may This exhibition features works from Poetry in Wood, an art and woodwork, training and employment project for adults with learning disabilities based in Spitalfields. The project was formed in 1996 to teach basic woodwork skills and it provides accredited training and employment in a creative and supportive environment.
From left: Sarah Colson, Alison Willoughby, James Faure Walker
window galleries The three Window Galleries in the retail malls at Canary Wharf provide a monthly showcase for new work by artists, designers and craftspeople 2 - 28 March Johanna Basford With Canary in the Blossoms, Johanna Basford creates an inky black and white wonderland of blossoms and botanicals for Canary Wharf. Hidden amidst intertwining foliage is a single canary, inviting passers-by to pause and try to spot the elusive bird. www.johannabasford.com
29 March – 24 april Alison Willoughby ‘Skirt Girl’ constructs multi-layered, chaotic and beautiful upcycled threedimensional skirts. She draws her inspiration from photographs, layers, colours and textures taken from domestic urban photography in numerous places around the world. www.alisonwilloughby.com
Sunday and Rex Sunday and Rex is a new gallery format that focuses on presenting highly crafted affordable art, furniture, objects and jewellery from across the globe. www.sundayandrex.com
Clare Willard In her striking modernist panels Clare Willard uses plywood and laminate as an intriguing palette employing both hand-crafted techniques and cutting-edge technology. www.clarewillard.co.uk
Sarah Colson Sarah Colson blends the boundaries of art and design. Her current works are generated from donated descriptions of the functioning world. In turn they are translated into intricate miniature objects, which juxtapose value in the combination of materials used. James Faure Walker James Faure Walker has been exhibiting since the late 1960s. He is also a writer, co-
founding Artscribe Magazine in 1976. His ‘Painting the Digital River’ (Prentice Hall) was published in 2006. Since 1988 he has been integrating computer graphics with painting. He has exhibited widely in Europe and the USA – of his works are in the V&A Museum’s collection. www.dam.org/faure-walker
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culture
On
Screen
dragonball Anyone who has children or is just a big kid themselves will have heard of Dragonball – a series of graphic novels created by Akira Toriyama. His work has spawned video games, a hugely popular TV series and has generated more than £4bn worth of merchandise sales. Goku (Justin Chatwin) must save the world from an evil force. When he turns 18 his grandfather gives him a dragonball, one of seven. The seven Dragonballs together will grant the holder one perfect wish. A tragedy sparks the arrival of a dark force lead by the film’s villain Lord Piccolo, played by Buffy theVampire Slayer’s James Marsters. Chow Yun-Fat plays Goku’s mentor and sage, Roshi; Bulma (Emmy Rossum), is a beautiful sparky woman who knows what she wants; and Yamcha (Joon Park) and Goku’s love interest Chi Chi
Cat Hughes takes a look at this month’s releases
(Jamie Chung) also join in the quest to seek all seven Dragonballs. Not ever having watched the show I went in with out any expectations or preconceptions. From what I have been told by dedicated fans one or two of the characters have been changed, for example in the cartoon Bulma has a blue bob and Roshi is suppose to be a little more sagelike, and not strapping and handsome like
Chow Yun-fat! Director James Wong has had the hard task of bringing the rich myths of Dragonball alive and had to adapt a well loved animated series into flesh and blood, but he seems to have done it with some success. All in all, a great family film. 3/5 Out 3rd April directOr: JAmes WOng 20th century fOx
Also on this month Race to Witch Mountain is Disney’s remake of the classic children’s film, Escape to Witch Mountain. A brother and sister who possess paranormal powers are being pursued by a group of men who want to exploit them. (10 April). Staring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, Julie and Julia follows the story of a frustrated secretary who decides to cook all 524 recipes in legendary chef Julia Child’s book, ‘Mastering the art of French Cooking.’ (17 April). 17 Again is
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everyone’s dream or nightmare, a guy’s wish is granted when he gets to be 17 again and is given a chance to restart his life. (17 April). A must for any Iron Maiden fan. Iron Maiden: Flight 666, will follow the first leg of the legendary band’s ‘Somewhere Back in Time Tour’. (24 April). A Brit returns to his home in Victorian England from America only to be bitten by a werewolf, in Wolfman. (1 May).
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Wall of Sound Goldie talks to Kasha Van Sant about hot-footing between the nozzle and the stylus “I listen to classical music, I play with the huskies. That’s all I really do.” I doubt very much that is all, as I listen to the man who pioneered drum and bass and the Metalheadz label - defining the music of a generation. Goldie is in fact an incredibly busy man and he has more feathers in his cap than most. Upon his own admission his one day off sees him itching to create. “I just think from an artist’s perspective you have to do as much as you can. I find that I get really bored if I’m not doing anything and so I conceptualise what I’ll be doing next. I think it’s when you get to an age when you feel purposeful.” At 42 Goldie is rather youthful. Having found the “boy inside” could be partly to blame, and the rest could be reclamation of the spray can that brought him to prominence. The return to his roots as a graffiti writer means an impending exhibition at the Maverik Showroom in London, which sees that ‘The Kids Are
All Riot’ and a culmination of 15 years of work. Old and new working in tandem, but this duality is not unintentional and it pops up frequently in his work. There is heavy symbolism at play here, the paintings are not just pictures that tell a story - their cathartic leanings depict the state of their creator. Pointing to the wall he even admits that his children can interpret this. “See that one there, my daughter said to me, ‘Daddy that looks like your mind’. Yes it’s a kaleidoscope of colours and I thought, ‘Yeah you’re right’. She was only seven years old at the time.” I see complexity, turmoil, sparking synapses and constant states of flux – and the aforementioned duality. But unlike most dualities that work in parallel or simultaneously never to coincide, Goldie’s work and thoughts collide explosively onto the canvas and meet somewhere in the middle. Cerebral snapshots, unexpected and surprising. At the very time when Goldie became a massive name
interview
From clockwise: Apocalypse Angel, That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore, The Kids Are All Rio
in the music scene his work as a visual artist was left behind and he could only watch his, mentor grafitti legend,Brim Fuentes of Universal Zulu Nation fame, go on to make art his lifeblood. Goldie went down a different path, joining the likes of Portishead, Tricky and Massive Attack in the musical hall of fame. He ponders the inextricable links between the two media. “Once you’ve aurally explored stuff you need to visually explore stuff and with me it was always having the puritan aspiration that most grafitti writers have, which is not just engrossing yourself in the letter form as the main subject matter and in terms of the entire wall as a piece of work.” And thus music has morphed into visual art and vice versa in audible protest: from the wildstyle grafitti pieces that most will recognise from the safety of train carriages to the graphic bubble-written reverse victory ‘V’s that challenge the art world. Having painted prolifically in the last three years, its rediscovery being catalysed by a car accident and a divorce – all served with a large does of humility. Being master of an art form that insists upon this, that comes as no surprise. He adds: “Thinking in the mentality of a young graffiti writer you want your piece to last forever but then you know that it won’t and that someone will go over it and change it.”
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This mass deconstruction of pride and ego, is possibly an acceptance of the transient, but is a staple for the graffiti writer. Incredibly self aware he adds: “When people look at me as an artist they think of me walking in a straight line, but if they look closely they will see that I am actually walking at a left curvature, which means I am walking in a very large circle.” I see the cyclical pattern reappear, flux, rebirth, deconstruction all metaphors for the man, all suggestions of being at peace. He explains: “I fought East Midlands council to get commissions and I did my first Wolverhampton art gallery show when I was 19 and that was 22 years ago. It’s kind of weird that it’s come full circle - now it’s kind of trendy to paint, anyone can be an artist.” It’s not about the council estates and painful childhood, the “egotistical trap” in the guise of the Ferraris of his youth. It’s not about coming the Hoffman Process, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. It’s about not being “ready to give up the ghost”, and celebration. Thus Goldie concludes on a poignant note: “I’ve had such a painful life that in a sense that I want to spend the rest of my life celebrating it.” n The Kids Are All Riot 10 – 26 April www.maverikshowroom.com
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interview
ArtScene by CAROL CORDREY - carol@artalone.com
‘PETE THE STREET’ Peter Brown’s description of his daily routine reminded me of Alan Bennett’s autobiographical play, The Lady in The Van
L
ike the main character, Peter uses his van as something of a mobile home which he drives to one of many favourite areas of London then parks in a street. Canvas and easel are removed from the back and he wanders around until he finds a nearby vantage point from which he can paint his chosen surroundings. Dressed in paint encrusted clothing, officials sometimes look on him as a vagrant and move him on but he returns persistently day after day until a painting is finished. If this van appears outside your house, do not move Peter Brown on for he is one of Britain’s finest painters. His favourite locations range from Putney to Oxford
Circus, Highgate to Clapham and most places in between. Peter is a very down to earth character who likes to find a view that “tickles” him, then take time to soak up its atmosphere before even picking up a brush: the light, the wind, the temperature, the smells, the noise of traffic and pouring rain and, of course, the people are all mentally and emotionally absorbed. They are essential elements for creating his version of realism, portrayed not in a crystal clear, graphic way, but in an Impressionist style that evokes a “here and now” response. Indeed, Peter eschews preparatory sketches or photographs preferring to work spontaneously with paint en plein air – in the Monet manner. He only uses his home studio in Bath for the odd correction, highlighting
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Clockwise: Albert Bridge, Midday, Oxford Circus Rain, 9am Earls Court, Marylebone High Street
or touching up. So successful is he at painting urban scenes that Peter has acquired the sobriquet, “Pete the Street”. Despite being produced at speed, there is nothing rough and ready about a Peter Brown painting. Each brushstroke is deftly applied as in Afternoon, From Battersea Park where broad patches of paint produce convincing, dark shadows and leaf laden trees on the left of this composition.Cleverly, the artist leads our eyes along the Thames and into the distance using whites and creams that he has dotted along the river and as the impasto increases to chunk size, it produces an almost magical interpretation of squint inducing, reflected sunlight. Also glistening in the sunshine is Albert Bridge, Midday, the elegant structure that was originally built to Rowland Ordish’s design in 1870. Peter has presented it centre stage in contemporary guise yet the road signs and bollards do nothing to diminish its striking impression of a series of triumphal arches used and loved by Londoners. Not many artists who are skilful at painting static architecture are good at painting people in a crowd but Peter Brown has a talent for both. Note how Marylebone High Street focuses our gaze on gleaming window details, turrets and gables but the human figures walking to work, shopping, crossing roads, etc are imbued with life. Oxford Circus, Rain provides a receding view of majestic architecture culminating in that pointed church spire but the foreground and middle distance teem with buses, cyclists, and people with tense
they are part and parcel of the experience of being on a street faces.The pale, grey sky, umbrellas and shiny pavements provide the finishing touches to a perceptibly, damp scene. In contrast to petty officials who sometimes consider Peter’s easel more of a threat to pedestrians than a car, the public welcome his presence on the pavements. They stop… watch …comment on his choice of viewpoint and often praise what he is doing. Although Peter likes to become absorbed in his painting, he delights in their reactions for “they are part and parcel of the experience of being on a street”. He portrays that total sense of life in such a unique and convincing way that he has won numerous awards, gained election to prestigious art societies and been artist-in-residence at London’s Savoy Hotel. So, if you come across Peter Brown I recommend you do what Alan Bennett did in the play and suggest he parks his van in your garden. If he agrees – as The Lady in the Van did – rejoice! It will give you the rare chance to see wonderful paintings emerging on your doorstep. n Peter Brown, NEAC, ROI, PS Messum’s, 8 Cork Street London W1S 3LJ 13-30 May 020 7437 5545 www.messums.com
Jazz up 2009
Docklands Bar & Grill is an evolutionary new local brasserie offering live jazz and a sumptuous Menu. Enjoy panoramic views of historic Royal Victoria Dock, the O2 and Canary Wharf, while brunching in style to the soothing sound of live jazz every Sunday.
Throughout 2009, a delicious menu will be available with both two and three course set menu options available. Sit back, relax and enjoy London cure smoked salmon, steamed mussels, and pear & blueberry crumble with custard, all washed down with a glass of Prosecco.
Docklands Bar & Grill | Royal Victoria Dock | Western Gateway | London | E16 1AL T: +44 (0)207 055 2119 | F: +44 (0)870 990 9693 | www.docklandsbarandgrill.co.uk
how animation grew up William Tooke examines the development of film animation and asks whether it will ever really be considered a serious film medium?
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y earliest film memory is Beauty and the Beast – the first film I ever saw at the cinema. Perhaps more importantly, it was the first film to ever use computer animation, rendering the breathtaking dance scene into three dimensions. It was a great first film; and I suspect that most film memories start with colourful outings to see the latest Disney film. Thinking back, the films that I most vividly remember from my childhood (those that really captured my imagination) were animated. I’m certain I wasn’t the only child who willed the cutlery to dance and the teapots to sing after seeing Beauty and the Beast. Yes, it was truly a great film – though an obvious choice for parents (ever since Mickey Mouse whistled his way up the Mississippi in1928, animation has had a core audience of pre teens).
And this was how it was for a very long time. Of course, films for children frequently crossed over into live action, but for some reason, animation wasn’t allowed the other way. It was an unwritten rule – demanding The Snowman be shown every Christmas Eve – that animation was for kids. But then, at the end of the nineties the so-called Disney renaissance came to an end, and a new kind of animation was on the up. Upon releasing Toy Story in 1996, Pixar studios gave the world the first feature length computer animated film. Not only was this an entirely new medium, (how many times can you say that in film history?) but it also signalled the start of a huge shift in the viweing demographic. Due to the painstaking and time-consuming process of computer animation, each film takes about four years to make, meaning that when production starts, many of Pixar’s target
audience aren’t actually born yet. A great anecdote – but Pixar films have become so popular that it doesn’t really make sense to talk of a target audience; a large proportion of those who went to see one of the best and most successful of last year’s films, Wall·E, were adults without children, suggesting that animation has at last started to shake off the preconception that ‘it is for children’. These animations have become as entertaining for adults as films specifically aimed at them, if not more so: I know I’m not the only one who would much rather have seen Wall·E twice than the disappointing Quantum of Solace once. However, not only has ‘children’s’ animation grown in recent years to attract a far wider audience than was one could ever have imaged, but animated films aimed specifically at adults have started to come into production, although the genre is still
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in its infancy. The cartoon South Park, for instance, attracted a slew of tabloid bluster because of its ‘adult humour’; content that was ironically quite juvenile. This along with obscure Japanese offerings that tended to get impenetrably lost in translation, helped to embed in the cultural consciousness that adult animation was at best a fringe genre for students and anoraks; the medium was initially looked down on in a similar way to the graphic novels, because they smack of the comic book. Yet, adult animations, just like graphic novels should not be written off – consider the dystopian epic Watchmen, a graphic novel that rubbed literary shoulders in Time Magazines Top 100 Modern Novels with the likes of Hemingway and Orwell. It is perhaps fitting then, that one of the best animated films for adults, 2007’s Oscar winning Persepolis, was originally a French language graphic novel in two parts. Largely in black and white, it tells of the author’s struggle during her childhood in the Iranian revolution of the late seventies. The cartoonishly simple style forms an engrossing contrast to the tale of revolution, oppression and national identity.
I’m certaIn I wasn’t the only chIld who wIlled the cutlery to dance and the teapots to sIng after seeIng Beauty and the Beast Then last autumn came Waltz with Bashir. If not the best film of 2008, it was certainly the most important. The autobiographical account of writer/director Ari Folman discovering his forgotten past in the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the film is a beguiling and original mixture of traditional, flash and 3D animation. Whereas Persepolis used a stripped down, simplistic style, Waltz with Bashir is visually far more complex in a way that you’d expect from a swirling, nightmarish and ambiguous recollection of one of the greatest atrocities in recent conflicts. It has already won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, and a similar accolade at the BAFTAs, as well as other numerous awards outside of Best Animation categories, which suggests that as a genre animation is being taken more seriously than ever.
But just how serious can animations ever be? A perhaps justified criticism of Waltz with Bashir is that at the end of the picture, the animated documentary reverts to using newsreel video of the aftermath of the massacre at the Shatila refugee camp. Whilst it violently jerks the audience out of the surreal, animated world with a haunting reminder of the reality of the conflict, the implication is that animation as a medium is limited: to appreciate the terrible gravity of the event, real footage is what is needed. After raving to a friend about Waltz with Bashir and its Oscar potential, he paused, then admitted “I’m not sure I think an animation should ever be able to win a Best Film award.” For him, and I suspect for a lot of cinema goers, no matter how good an animation might be it is ultimately unable to seem as authentic as a live action film; instead it can only offer an impression of realism. But then is realism what we expect when we go the cinema? In my opinion, all films are inherently artificial, but the best ones are no less entertaining for it, including animations, be they for adults or for children. n
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THE FINEST INDIAN CUISINE Enjoy a new fine dining experience in Canary Wharf: Dockmaster’s House, located in a stunning listed three-storey Georgian building, provides a vitality and charm to london’s financial district.
020 7345 0345 | reservations@dockmastershouse.com 1 hertsmere road | london e14 8jj | www.dockmastershouse.com THE IDEAL VENUE FOR
PRIVATE DINING, RECEPTIONS AND CORPORATE EVENTS Dockmaster’s House offers flexible accommodation for entertaining in an exclusive environment.
• THE STrovEr room is ideal for product launches, meetings and private entertainment (60 capacity) • THE CubE combines the elegance of natural stone and a generous glass frontage (30 capacity) • THE LounGE offers innovative cocktails, premium spirits and divine snacks in a sophisticated setting (35 capacity)
CELLAR BAR NOW OPEN
the latest addition to the vibrant bar scene in London Private areas are available for hire unwind with DJs playing great music until 2am award-winning mixologists will create drinks to match your mood
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In The DOck O
Kasha Van Sant dines in the stylish and sophisticated surrounds of Dockmasters House
verhauling a grand dame of a building is often no small undertaking and, with its Georgian credentials, Dockmasters House is every bit as imposing as it ever was. But with the input from Cinnamon Kitchen’s Iqbal Wahab, there is no doubt that this Indian restaurant and bar will become a key player in West India Quay. Upon entry, Dockmasters House is certainly a grandiose affair so I was keen to see if its menu would be equally as impressive. I should know the answer to this question having already sampled the culinary hand of Head Chef Navin Bhatia, formerly of Cafe Lazeez. My guest and I were seated in the conservatory with its large cuboid windows nestling harmoniously amongst the original features of this building. Dark wood, deep plums and cafe au lait colours dressed the interior. The attentive waiter Casper, elegantly attired, was on hand with all menu queries as was Navin Bhatia who would emerge sporadically to explain his creations to eager diners. The amuse bouche comprising a Vegetable Kofta (£14.50) – a soft and delicate potato and vegetable concoction rolled in chickpea flour served with a tangy coriander and green chilli sauce, was a tasty prelude to the chosen appetisers. Being utterly spoiled for choice, upon Navin’s advice we opted for platters. He created a bespoke one for me based upon the Mumbai Chaat Platter (£7.50) and added Chilli Dill Salmon Tikka (£7.50), Charcoal Grilled Saffron Prawns (£9.50), Potato and Pea Tikki (£6.50) and Crisp Wheat Shells with Chickpeas, tamarind sauce and pomegranate. All were explosions of taste or texture, be
it the popping of pomegranate seeds or the supremely spiced, succulent and perfectly cooked prawns and salmon. My companion sampled a Kebab Platter (£11.50) comprising Lamb Burrah Kebab with coriander and chilli chutney, Tandoori Green Chicken Drumsticks, Ginger Lamb Chop and Charcoal Grilled Saffron Prawns. All were succulent and tender, and in both cases gentle swathes of yoghurt, apricot, chilli and coriander sauces decorated the plate beautifully. In addition to this Navin insisted upon our sampling the melt in the mouth Baked Tamarind Halibut with Cumin Potatoes and Sweet Spicy Apricot (£20.50). The fish was milky and succulent, and perfectly matched with the soft and elegantly spiced potatoes.
For my main course I chose the Kerala Seafood Stew (£18.50) with mussels, scallops, king prawns, clams and fish. Light and aromatic it was not overpowered by the coconut and worked brilliantly with the basmati rice accompaniment. My companion chose the awe-inspiring Lamb Shank Nehari with Masala mashed potatoes and crispy okra (£18.50). After 6 hours of cooking, unsurprisingly the meat simply fell off the bone, onto the tangy potatoes – simply delicious. It was looking increasingly obvious that dessert would have to put on a very impressive show, but it was not to disappoint. The Mango Pannacotta with Mango Sorbet (£6.50) was dreamily creamy and delicately flavoured, while the selection of sorbets, of which I chose the fabulously tart lemon and raspberry (£6.50) were right on cue to cleanse the palate. As suspected, the Dockmasters House menu was elegant and sophisticated. Like the venue, which is sympathetic to its historical roots, so too is the menu. Traditional Indian cuisine with a very modern and grown up attitude. n Hertsmere Rd, Canary Wharf, London, E14 8JJ Tel: 020 7345 0345 www.dockmastershouse.com
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Butter me up! Try this delicious way to use one of the finest vegetables around buTTErnuT squasH risOTTO This is one of our favourite recipes as it’s got a great feel-good factor about it. Make it for dinner or as an easy lunchtime dish for friends.
METHOD 1
Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion and cook over a low heat until soft and lightly coloured, now add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2
Add the rice and cook for 1 minute, stirring all the time.
3
Add the wine, bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer until the wine is absorbed, about 3 mins.
4 Start to add the hot chicken stock to the rice a little at a time, stirring gently, allow the stock to become absorbed after each addition until the rice is cooked, approx 25 mins. 5 Add in the roasted butternut squash, stir and add salt and pepper, stirring until you have a rich orange risotto.
IENTS
INGRED 85g 1 1 400g 150ml 1.7 l 1
225g
x x x x x x x
x
Butter y chopped ion, finel Large on ushed garlic, cr Clove of ce Arborio ri wine e it h w Dry n stock ke ped in Hot Chic ash, chop ernut squ and tt u B d m n l a salt Mediu h olive oi it w d le zz ins cubes, dri for 25 m nd roasted pepper a d te gra n cheese, er Parmesa ack pepp bl d n u ro Freshly g Salt
6 Finally add the Parmesan cheese, stir gently and serve. 7
To make it look really great, scatter a few pumpkin seeds and shavings of Parmesan to finish.
We hope you enjoy trying out this recipe but alternatively, if you would prefer to book some delicious food, catered for by delightful people, then give deWintons a call on 020 7627 5550 or email us on info@dewintons.co.uk
Restaurant listings
RECOMMENDATION: Wagamama Wagamama serves delicious and freshly ‘cooked to order’ noodle and rice dishes, along with fresh juices, japanese beer, sake and hot drinks. all served by friendly staff in a sleek, well-designed, canteen-style restaurant. check out wagamama.com for more information
Argentinian GAUCHO CANARY 29 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf, E14 020 7987 9494 GAUCHO O2 The O2 Peninsula Square, SE10 020 8858 7711
European INSIDE RESTAURANT 19 Greenwich South Street Greenwich, SE10 020 8265 5060
French PLATEAU Canada Place, E14 020 7715 7100
Gastro Pub THE GUN 27 Coldharbour Lane, E14 020 7515 5222 THE NARROW 44 Narrow Street, E14 020 7592 7950
Indian DOCkmASTERS 1 Hertsmere Road London E14 8JJ 020 7345 0345
Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, London, E14 5NY +44 (0) 207 516 9009
Signature Dish yaki soba Set Menu Children’s and Take Away menus available Recommended Wine Sake Opening Times mon - sat: 11.30am-10pm sun: 12-9pm Average price per head £15
THE CLIfTON 1 Whitechapel Road, E1 020 7377 5533 mEmSAHEB 65-67 Amsterdam Road Docklands, E14 020 7538 3008 THE ROGUE TRADER 25 Westferry Road, E14 020 7517 9233
Italian/Pizza AmERIGO VESPUCCI 25 Cabot Square MacKenzie Walk, E14 020 7513 0288
Japanese ITSU Level 2, Cabot Place East Canary Wharf, E14 020 7512 5790
Mexican CHILI’S GRILL & BAR 2nd Floor, Cabot Place Canary Wharf, E14 020 7363 5678
Middle Eastern mEZ RESTAURANT 571 Manchester Road, E14 020 7005 0421
CARLUCCIO’S 2 Reuters Plaza, E14 020 7719 1749
NINA’S TAZA EXPRESS 322 Burdett Road, E14 020 7093 3552
LA fIGA 45 Narrow Street, E14 020 7790 0077
Seafood
QUADRATO The Four Seasons Hotel 46 Westferry Circus, E14 020 7510 1857 ZERO SETTE 2 Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock, E16 020 7476 6564
CURVE Marriott Hotel, West India Quay 22 Hertsmere Road, E14 020 7517 2808 fIRST EDITION 25 Cabot Square Canary Wharf, E14 020 7513 0300
Spanish EL fARO Turnberry Quay, E14 020 7987 5511
BLUES, BEBOP & BALLADS Josephine O’Donoghue gets into the groove ready for the Budvar Cheltenham Jazz09 Festival in association with BBC Radio 2
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he Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival has become something of a British spring time institution. An absolutely unmissable date in the jazz calendar the festival is proud to showcase a truly unique fusion of British legends, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations and the freshest new sounds in jazz. This year, there is a big focus on new up-and-coming performers – and quite rightly so. Audiences will be granted the opportunity to hear bright stars of the future courtesy of the Jerwood Jazz Generation; a showcase opportunity for the very best young talent in the UK. James Allsop’s new trio ‘The Golden Age of Steam’ promises to create a multi-coloured world of improvised sound as James builds on his association with drummer
Tim Giles (his co-leader of the quintet Fraud) and keyboard virtuoso Kit Downes (BBC Jazz Awards Rising Star 2008). Jack DeJohnette returns to Cheltenham for a unique performance with a band featuring the finest UK’s talent from the Jerwood Jazz Generation and Take 5 schemes. Especially for the festival, pianist Nikki Yeoh performs with her excellent ‘Trio Infinitum’ in a spinetingling association, presenting a number of specially commissioned pieces, featuring guest John Surman. The Jerwood Jazz Generation also presents BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Tom Arthurs, as he debuts his new quintet and sets out to prove that jazz can be as contemporary and relevant as modern music. Perhaps the most hotly anticipated act, and
performing as the head of this year’s star-studded programme, is world famous virtuoso violinist Nigel Kennedy, who will celebrate the festival with a dramatic finale. Certainly one of the most important and gifted violinists Britain has ever produced, Kennedy’s obvious passion for jazz is plain to see; this year he brings his Polish Jazz Quintet to Cheltenham to perform exciting quickpaced compositions which range from blues and bebop, to ballads and bossa-nova. This is a rare opportunity to see this icon of British music, so make sure to bag a prime spot. International super-starlet Madeleine Peyroux also returns to Cheltenham following her sell-out performance in 2007. In the intimate setting of the Everyman this will be Peyroux at her jazz club best. South African
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Clockwise: Nigel Kennedy, Hugh Masekela, Lizzy Parks, Imelda May
trumpeter Hugh Masekela will also be headlining at the festival and his performance in Cheltenham promises a gloriously uplifting combination of jazz and township jive to fabulous effect. Cheltenham’s close relationship with BBC Radio 2 will continue to grow with the Friday Night Is Music Night (BBC Concert Orchestra) and the Guy Barker Big Band, who tell the story of Billy Strayhorn and his controversial relationship with Duke Ellington. Artist in Residence Dave Liebman will perform with the BBC Big Band, and also
share the secrets of his success in a liverecording of BBC Radio 3 Jazz Library with jazz guru Alyn Shipton. If, like me, you enjoy the party atmosphere of music festivals, Cheltenham can offer several days of fabulous music, dancing, and a few cheeky cocktails for good measure! With her infectious and energetic style Imelda May’s unique fusion of rockabilly, blues and jazz is bound to be a toe-tapping festival highlight. For international grooves, join Alex Wilson’s Salsa Orchestra as they inspire their audience with a combination of fiery
afro-Latin tunes, soaring jazz licks, unique R&B influences and powerful vocals. And if you’re attending the festival ‘en famille’, don’t miss out on the very popular family breakfast slot; The Homemade Orchestra and poet Michael Rosen form a unique combination and a lively addition to the festival. “The Family Breakfast can provide parents with a few treasured minutes to read the Sunday Papers whilst their offspring are either entranced by the musicians or dancing happily to the rhythm,” says Donna Renney, Together they will perform a piece which combines Rosen’s poetry with music to create a surreal and unexpected medium. With more opportunities for dancing, wining and dining than ever before, this year’s festival is a whistle-stop tour of the world’s finest jazz, set to a stunning regency backdrop. n The Cheltenham Jazz09 Festival runs from 28 April – 4 May. Tickets are available now on 0844 576 7979 or online at www.cheltenhamfestivals. com/jazz
HOME OF THE EUROPEAN OPEN Play at The London Golf Club from ÂŁ95
T 01474 879899 E info@londongolf.co.uk W www.londongolf.co.uk
WORKING NOTICE PERIODS
DEaR ClaRE I have just resigned from my current job and my new employer wants me to start straight away - do I have to work my notice?
Regards, Sally
Dear Sally,
In short, the answer is almost certainly yes, unless your employer agrees otherwise.You will need to look at your contract to determine exactly how much notice you need to give your current employer. Depending on your position and business sector, contractual notice can range from as little as one week, to 12 months for senior employees. Your employer may also have the right to place you on garden leave during your notice period.You would still receive salary and benefits but would not be able to work or contact clients or colleagues for work reasons during that period. You would normally owe all other duties to your employer, including the duty of fidelity; this would prevent you starting a new job with a competitor during your notice.You should
Martin’$ Money Matter$
The wealTh ‘Triple whammy’ Martin Bamford, Chartered Financial Planner, Informed Choice
T
hings continue to be tough out there. The economy is in recession, redundancies are on the rise, investment markets remain volatile and further interest rate cuts look unlikely to have much more impact. It would be easy to be despondent. Yet we know that these things occur in cycles. When Gordon Brown made his now regrettable statement about bringing an end to ‘boom and bust’, I’m sure that economists around the globe were spilling their cups of tea. Good times are usually followed by bad
times. Fortunately, bad times are usually followed by good times. But will things be any different this time round? There has been much talk about the current ‘credit crunch’ changing attitudes towards debt and spending. Whilst it would be nice to think that our experiences last year and throughout the rest of this year will result in a sea change when it comes to our personal financial behaviour, I remain less confident that this will be the case over the longer term. Banks may take several years to return to lending at
therefore check what your contract says about notice, garden leave and also whether there are any post-termination covenants, which may in certain circumstances also prevent you from joining a competitor for a period of time after you leave. If you were to leave immediately without working your notice period or remaining on garden leave, you could be in breach of your employment contract.Your current employer could, in theory, threaten you with legal proceedings. If it were successful in obtaining an injunction, you could be liable for your employer’s costs, as well as your own in defending such proceedings.Your employer could also claim compensation for any losses it sustains as a result of your breach. For example, if it had to employ a temporary employee to cover your work load, you could be liable for those costs. If you hold a senior position and owe what is called fiduciary duties (the highest level of trust owed) to your employer, you could also be liable to account for any profits you make for your new employer as a result of joining them early. If you are leaving because you think your employer has fundamentally breached your employment contract, you may be able to claim constructive dismissal, entitling you to leave straight away.This is however a very uncertain and risky route on which you should take careful advice first. Depending on your circumstances, your best option may be to speak to your line manager.They might welcome this as an easy way to cut costs quickly. Good luck!
Clare Clare Murray is managing partner at employment law firm, CM Murray LLP, based in CanaryWharf. To submit a query, email clare.murray@cm-murray.com The contents of this column are for general purposes only. Specialist legal advice should be taken regarding specific circumstances.
historical levels. They will take even longer to restore their now tarnished reputations, if they ever manage this at all. For all of the talk of a more responsible approach to debt, we know that people have short memories. For one segment of society, the events of the current credit crunch could have a more lasting impact. The high net worth – typically defined as people within excess of US$1 million in financial assets – have been hit with a triple whammy. New research from JP Morgan Asset Management has identified three factors hitting levels of wealth and income. Firstly, stock market declines have been steep and fast. When compared with the dot.com crash of 200203, equity investments have generally fallen faster. The wealthier individuals are, the
more exposed they are likely to be to the stock market within their investment portfolios. Secondly, property is not providing insulation from falling investment values this time round. The nature of the credit crunch has resulted in property falling in value as well. Because property is usually relied upon to have a low correlation with equities, this has meant more damage to personal wealth. Thirdly, the wealthy are more likely to be employed in the banking or property sectors. These are the two sectors hit the earliest and hardest by the credit crunch. Whilst this all sounds like a recipe for bad news, it is also important to note that the very wealthy are usually the first to recover when economic conditions improve. It is a simple case of first in, first out.
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business&finance
The Dangers Of emerging frOm a recessiOn If you think the recession will be over soon, the signs are it won’t
by DR. DAVID KUO Head of Personal finance at money website fool.co.uk
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he downturn is expected to last for some time, yet. Naturally opinions differ over how long the downturn could go on for. That’s because economists seldom see eye to eye on anything. In fact, if a room full of economists are laid end to end they would still manage to point in all directions. In a nutshell, a recession is formally defined as a drop in real gross domestic product for two consecutive quarters. It simply means that when an economy shrinks for six months then it is officially in recession. Some slumps last a bit longer than others - just ask the Japanese. But in general recessions generally fade away after about eighteen months. Problem for us is that economists have different ideas about how to cope with recessions. For instance, followers of John Maynard Keynes believe that governments should step in and spend money where private enterprise fears to tread. So, Keynesian economists want to build more roads and bridges, more hospitals and schools during a recession to keep people busy. Meanwhile, fans of Milton Friedman reckon that raw money should be pumped into the ailing economy to loosen purse strings that have been pulled tauter than a weightlifter’s belt. They advocate that central banks slash interest rates and cut taxes to boost the supply of money. If that doesn’t do the trick, they may even go so far as to shower consumers with money thrown out of helicopter. Hence, the aptly named “helicopter” theory of money. And those who subscribe to laid-back
economics say market forces should always be allowed to prevail. Doris Day economics or Que Sera, Sera… Whatever Will Be, Will Be believes that an ailing economy should be allowed to sort itself out. And if that means some businesses may go to the wall, then so be it. But regardless of your personal taste in economics, recessions inevitably take time to run their course. There are no easy solutions. Now you would intuitively think that as the economy emerges from recession the
process of belt-tightening to trim output in line with reduced demand for their products and services. The retrenchment will result in companies slashing stock levels and shedding staff. We will see this in the form of price cuts in shops and higher unemployment numbers. Businesses will also downsize their operations and cut back on both capital investment and daily spend. Some may even dispose of underperforming businesses and other assets to replenish their fast-emptying
ThIng Is, a recessIon Is an InevITable parT of The busInesses cycle. They reflecT The way ThaT companIes respond To expansIon and conTracTIon of The economy outlook for businesses will immediately improve. After all, shouldn’t revenues start to rise, profits begin to grow and cash roll in when companies start to grow again? Unfortunately, things are never that simple in the world of commerce. As companies emerge from recession, the outlook can be even more fraught than when they entered the economic slowdown. Thing is, a recession is an inevitable part of the business cycle. It reflects the way that companies respond to expansion and contraction of the economy. And as economies grow and shrink, then so too do businesses because they are using scarce resources such as raw materials, labour and money. Consequently, boom and bust cycles are unavoidable – the only issue is how long the boom and how deep the bust. Normally, when businesses enter a recession, the well-managed ones will quickly go through a
bank accounts. But that is the easy part. As slimmed-down and more efficient operators, these companies are able to cope with the shrunken market. But as the economy starts to expand again, it is questionable as to whether they can cope with the ensuing increase in demand. Some of these companies will find that as a result of their prudence they will be faced with the twin problem of not enough capacity and not enough working capital. They will also find that their betterpositioned and better-financed competitors will start to gain a greater share of the market. For investors, the period that follows a downturn is a good opportunity to pick up strong businesses at bargain-basement prices provided extra care is paid to the fundamentals of the Seriously good with money business. n
Fool.co.uk
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lifestyle
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IS WISHFUL THINKING STOPPING YOU GETTING YOUR WISHES? Is there a link between whether you buy a lottery ticket or not and whether you will lose weight? by Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist
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he two events seem totally unrelated but the latest thinking in academic psychology suggests they may actually be very closely linked. These are two arbitrary examples but are signifiers of practically all our behaviour! This is because both are now thought to hinge on your view of the future. When you buy a lottery ticket you do so because of a judgment you are making about how likely it is you are to scoop a big prize. Those who don’t buy a ticket tend to assume the chances of winning are so remote, that it makes no sense to invest their money in the purchase of such a slim prospect. Indeed much of what we do from moment to moment turns on our prediction of the future.We send our children to school because we believe that an education is likely to prove more useful to them in the future than otherwise. Our children frequently don’t study as hard as we would like them to because they are unable to share our view of the importance of education for their future. It is differing predictions about the future that is driving contrasting behaviour. We endeavour to lose weight because our prediction of the future is that we will be more attractive and get more dates. It’s often more difficult to be successful in ventures like these if we are not clear about what the future holds for us depending on our efforts. People who tend to achieve their personal targets, as a general rule to be clearer about these goals, and about the consequences of failure. The future is, in a very real sense, now. What you do now determines the future that beckons. So it’s possible that those who struggle to achieve their goals, do so because their predictions of the future are hopelessly unrealistic. This form of thinking is commonly referred to as ‘wishful thinking’ and is emerging as a previously underrated force for bad in the human predicament. Researchers Zlatan Krizan and Paul Windschitl from the Department of Psychology, University of Iowa recently published a review of this form
of reasoning in the prestigious academic journal Psychological Bulletin. They argued that ‘wishful thinking’ could explain many hitherto perplexing conundrums, like why we don’t achieve our goals despite fervent wishes to do so. One of the earliest ways that ‘wishful thinking’ was scientifically measured according to the duo was in a famous psychological study investigating the 1932 US presidential election. 93 per cent of Roosevelt supporters when asked to anticipate the eventual result predicted Roosevelt would win. Whilst 73 per cent of Hoover supporters predicted their man would emerge the victor.
terribly dangerous to us it makes us feel good in the short term but conspires to trip us up and prevent us achieving our goals. To guard against ‘wishful thinking’ start by becoming more aware of just what range of possible futures really are out there awaiting you. Then consider what factors determine whether they happen. Now here is perhaps the most tricky bit, estimate what probability is attached to each. This doesn’t require a degree in calculus, just a rough sense of whether something is remotely unlikely compared to very likely. In particular, focus on how much control you have over your future. It’s perhaps
Indeed In order To aTTaIn a goal, IT’s ofTen beTTer To have a more realIsTIc appraIsal of The fuTure In order To ensure we geT whaT we wanT One interpretation of this result suggests that a voter’s preference for a candidate was heavily biasing their prediction of the future. Because they wanted their man to win voters also believed this would be the eventual result. Just because we would prefer something to happen in the future, we need to become more aware that this preference may be biasing us to shape our anticipation. Sure, we strongly desire to become thinner, but that doesn’t mean this will actually happen. Indeed in order to attain a goal, it’s often better to have a more realistic appraisal of the future in order to ensure we get what we want. There is a lot of research evidence that whether we buy a lottery ticket or not has much less to do with our actual statistical chances of winning, and much more to do with the size of the prize available. It makes much less rational sense to make a lottery ticket purchasing decision on this basis.Yet this famous finding from psychological research reveals that what is going on here is ‘wishful thinking’ in full force and its being exploited by the lottery companies ruthlessly. Because we want to win that desirable prize, this biases our evaluation of the likelihood of our number coming up. ‘Wishful Thinking’ therefore is
best to err on the side of assigning a higher probability to a bad outcome that you want to avoid. This may at first seem unduly pessimistic, but the key is that it drives you to take the necessary corrective action to ensure you are not unduly prone to ‘wishful thinking’ given how prevalent this is. The darkest danger of wishful thinking is that it leads to complacency. We also know from previous psychological research that when we experience setbacks believing that we can still produce an eventual good outcome if we redouble our personal efforts is indeed what tends to separate eventual winners from losers. The optimism about the future turns on a view that we can make a difference if we work hard enough. This is not the same as ‘wishful thinking’. n Raj Persaud FRCPsych MSc MPhil Consultant Psychiatrist Gresham Professor for Public Understanding of Psychiatry REFERENCE The Influence of Outcome Desirability on Optimism Psychological Bulletin, Volume 133, Issue 1, Pages 95-121 Zlatan Krizan, Paul D. Windschitl
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feature
CARE 24 Peaks Challenge 27-28 June 2009
L
eading overseas development agency CARE International is looking for intrepid City professionals to take on an epic challenge: 24 peaks in 24 hours. Billed as the ultimate UK mountain challenge, this is an opportunity for participants to challenge themselves, and challenge poverty. All funds raised by the event will support CARE’s valuable work helping over 65 million people in 70 countries to find a route out of poverty. ExchangE suits for boots and briEfcasE for backpack This is a far cry from the office - the CARE 24 Peaks Challenge is set amid some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK. The route will take teams of 4-6 walkers up 24 mountain
peaks around the Lake District, taking in mountains such as Scafell Pike, Hellvellyn and Great Dodd along the way. Afterwards, teams will have the chance to celebrate at a wellearned dinner, awards and party. case study Matthew Lindsey-Clark, managing director of Lexicon Partners, took part in the event last year. He found solid team-building and networking was a valuable aspect of his company’s participation. “Our involvement with the Challenge Series started in an effort to find an outdoor event for a worthy cause which we could use as an opportunity for internal team building. Once we got to know CARE, Lexicon were very happy to continue to support
the charity…. The 24 Peaks Challenge was a successful and heart-warming event that most, if not all, of the participants look back on with some pride and pleasure. “The event had an excellent impact on staff morale at Lexicon. There was a real sense of satisfaction in the individual and team performance and, I think, a bit of corporate pride. “The networking and corporate hospitality elements of the event knitted the whole thing together. “The fact that the challenge was for a good cause was very much a factor in Lexicon’s involvement in the event. CARE is a fabulous cause with a committed team of staff. CARE’s approach resonates with us and we felt that it worked well with those of our clients.” CARE Challenge Manager Michele Evans urges teams to get involved. “This is a fantastic opportunity for corporate teams to put themselves and their colleagues to the test in a very enjoyable way. It’s great for teambuilding across companies and networking across The City, in a truly inspirational setting. This is a rare chance to harness the masses of goodwill The City has to offer. By challenging themselves, our participants will be helping families and communities for whom every single day is an uphill struggle.” n If you and your colleagues have what it takes, visit the CARE Challenge website, where you can register your team: www.carechallenge.org.uk/24peaks or call the CARE Challenge Team on 020 7934 9470.
business&finance
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SPREAD BETTING: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE Financial Spread Betting also known as Financial Spread Trading has seen a massive growth over the last decade in the UK and is a flexible and tax-efficient way to back anything from shares, currencies, commodities, bonds, stock indices and even house prices
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inancial spread betting lets you gain exposure to the performance of key markets, without having to put up the full value of the transaction as you’re trading on margin, so you can profit from market moves while only putting forward a margin deposit as collateral, this can be as low as 10 per cent of the contract value. As your transaction is a bet, your profits are free from UK capital gains tax and income tax, and trades on individual shares are free from stamp duty. Those living outside the UK may also be able to Spread Bet, however, the same tax advantages do not apply. One of the major advantages of financial spread betting over conventional share trading is that it’s just as easy to go short as it is to go long. That is, you can profit even when a particular market is falling, you simply open a SELL / DOWN bet rather than a BUY / UP bet. Other methods of shorting shares are often expensive and not easily available to smaller private traders. Financial spread betting can be used to trade from less than one minute up to 12 months and can be used to cover a range of different investment strategies. For instance, you could use spread bets to hedge the value of your existing holdings, hedge against a currency exchange movement or to speculate on market volatility. You also have the flexibility to respond quickly to any changes in market conditions as most Financial Spread Betting companies are open 24 hours a day. As the popularity of Financial Spread
Betting has grown so have the number of Financial Spread Betting Brokers – as traders this is good news as the competition has led to better products, lower spreads and smaller bet sizes available. Another advantage is the ability to trade in your base currency, for instance Sterling; even though the market may be traded in US Dollars on Gold or Oil for example, it means you don’t have to worry about exchange rates. ExamplE of a financial SprEad BEt on Gold Let’s look at placing a trade on Gold. You can trade via phone, Internet and in many
One OF the majOr advantages OF Financial spread betting Over cOnventiOnal share trading is that it’s just as easy tO gO shOrt as it is tO gO lOng cases you can now trade with a mobile phone such as an Iphone. All spread bets have an expiry date; we don’t have to hold the bet until this date. In this case April Gold which is currently quoted at 945.0/946.0.The first price is the price we sell at and the second is the price we buy at. We think Gold will go up so we buy £100 per point at 946.0. One important factor in trading is to always protect your downside; however sure you are you need to have a safety
net, in this case a Guaranteed Stop loss. We will place our stop 20 points away, so if Gold hits $926 then the bet will be automatically closed out. This means that our downside is known ahead of time, our profit is unlimited but our risk is strictly limited to 20 X £100 so £2,000. A few weeks in to the trade we see Gold is now trading at 1075/1076, so we decide to take our profits and close the bet, so we now sell at 1075. So to recap we Bought £100 at 946.0 and Sold £100 at 1075 the difference is 129 points X £100 = £12,900 profit. We could have easily done the reverse and profited from a down move. Also notice whilst Gold is traded in US$ we are using £ as our betting currency. Summary Financial Spread Betting can be used to profit from rising or falling markets. It’s possible to trade a diverse range of markets from one account. Bet sizes can be smaller than traditional futures brokers. Traders can use guaranteed stop loses to protect against unlimited losses, yet profits can be unlimited. It is still important to realise that Spread Betting is a higher risk investment and it is advisable to learn and practice before placing real trades, also only trade with risk capital. n
Vince Stanzione has produced a home study course to teach private investors how to benefit from trading financial Spread Bets and Fixed Odds. For more information please visit www.fintrader.info
citylife
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Hike, Bike, Run, Swim It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what you do anyone can get involved! We have a whole range of events for 2009. Challenge yourself and help support the children and young people with life-limiting and complex health conditions at Richard House. Please contact events on events@richardhouse.org.uk quoting CWM Registered Charity No. 1059029
Dower & Hall say it with flowers Inspired by the exotic form of the Orchid flower, this stunning hand-crafted Orchid cuff from the Spring Summer 2009 collection features an intricate beaten solid silver orchid, launching what is set to become the next Dower & Hall classic. Orchid cuff £195 Dower & Hall 020 7377 5544 www.dowerandhall.com
Roll Up with Enzo Ever wanted to melt away your stubborn bits? Well now you can with Lipomassage. The technique increases fluid exchange and release of fat from adipocytes and the result is smooth dimple free skin and increased tone. All in 10 30-45 minute sessions costing £450. 110 Churchfield Rd, Ealing, London W3 020 8896 0362
Cake time! The Little Venice Cake Company has designed a stunning collection of cakes; three designs, each inspired by one of Mich Turner’s best seller cake books and each available in two flavours: rich fruit or decadent chocolate. The 6”cakes will serve 16-20 portions and are competitively priced at £45 (plus p&p). 15 Manchester Mews, Marylebone, W1U 2DX 020 7486 5252 www.lvcc.co.uk
Lyte up your life! Thomas Lyte are an English luxury brand that create exquisite luxury leather goods and accessories. Their collection ranges from cufflinks, to traditional game sets as well as travel and desk accessories. the silver-plated Rosetti Dual Clock features the signature Thomas Lyte flower motif in mustard and fuchsia. (£159) www.thomaslyte.co.uk
The Langham Hotel The Langham, London was not only the capital’s first purpose built Grand Hotel, but also one of the largest public buildings in London, boasting seven floors and 600 rooms. Commanding a prime spot on Portland Place, it is soon to be re-born after an £80m refurbishment. So watch this space... 1c Portland Place, Regent Street W1B 1JA 020 7636 1000
cityliferecommends
NESPRESSO CitiZ is here
Dressing in style!
Style conscious city dwellers can enjoy portioned coffee with the recently launched CitiZ which is inspired by iconic skylines of London, New York and Chicago and comes in three minimalist and sleek designs, CitiZ, CitiZ&Milk and CitiZ&Co which can make two coffees at a time.
The exclusive Nokka Oil and Vinegar set from Caroline McGrath combines great looks with a unique non-drip feature. Both bottles sit on an eye-catching and elegant bentwood walnut tray ensuring that they look great on the table and the design ensures that they are easy to tell apart.
0800 442 442 www.nespresso.com
01869 340479 www.carolinemcgrath.co.uk
Watch it! The must-have fashion accessory for the trend conscious this spring is a watch from the luxury brand, Benney. Sleek, refined and elegant, Benney watches epitomise this season’s understated style, combining a distinctive look with quality craftsmanship, thanks to the vision of designer Simon Benney. 73 Walton Street, Knightsbridge, SW3 2HT 020 7589 7002/3 www.benney.co.uk
X marks the spot If you have been stuck at your desk too long and need a well earned massage then look no further than the practitioners at Xhilarate. The team work without oil, through clothes using gentle manipulations. Enjoy a 25% discount by contacting Nicky Weston at Xhilarate. Email nicky@xhilarate. co.uk or call 08444 822888 quoting ‘Xhilarate Canary Wharf' www.xhilarate.co.uk
Laurent-Perrier Celebrates Spring Get into the mood for spring with the freshness of Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose and limited edition vases. The elegant Gilded Vase in pink and gold is presented with a 75cl bottle of the said bubbly. (£150) Or the dual purpose Baccarat Vase also doubles as a champagne bucket. (£1000). Available in Selfridges from May. www.laurent-perrier.co.uk
Lodger Footwear Lodger offers a new approach to traditional mens shoe making. Cutting-edge technology provides a 3D model of the foot which is then interpreted by skilled shoemakers in Italy and the UK. Details are then digitally stored to simplify additional orders, which are delivered in approximately eight weeks! 15C Clifford Street, W1S 4JZ 020 7287 5455 www.lodgerfootwear.com
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CAN A RY WHAR F EV E NTS vaisakhi celebration 25 April 2009 2-5pm Cabot Square FREE
Canary Wharf and the Sikh Community come together every year to celebrate one of India’s most important festivals and everyone’s invited to the party! This fun, vibrant celebration features music, dance, Sikh martial arts and delicious food.
brief encounters 16 April - Adagio Statues’ 23 April - Flame Oz 12.30-1pm, 1.30-2pm & 5.30-6pm Jubilee Place Mall FREE
urban sounds Monday 30 March and 6, 20, 13, 27 April 12.30-1pm & 1.30-2pm Throughout Canary Wharf FREE
Enjoy a free series of live music events from emerging artists as London’s best up and coming talent performs during Monday lunchtimes in March, and April. All donations collected during the concerts will benefit a local charity. For listings of artists and locations visit mycanarywharf.com
Two of the UK’s top performers appear live in the Canary Wharf shopping malls in April.On 16 April Adagio Statues’ slowly come to life with strength, grace and fluidity. On 23 April Flame Oz perform their juggling act, Calvos Dos, as they glide, float and dance with crystal balls.
canary Wharf comedy club Monday 30 March 2009 7.15pm (Doors 6.15pm) East Wintergarden, Bank Street Tickets £10 visit ticketweb.co.uk or call 08700 600 100
Canary Wharf’s next Comedy Club brings Dan Antopolski, who has built a reputation as one of the most intelligent, edgy and unusual comics in the UK, along with Stefano Paolini, Paul Tonkinson and Tiernan Douieb. Tickets have sold out.
easter entertainment 11 April 2009 10am - 6pm Shopping Malls, Canary Wharf FREE
Celebrate Easter with a range of activities to suit children of all ages. Special Easter characters will be greeting kids in the malls, and arts and crafts workshops, competitions, free Easter giveaways, face painting promise hours of entertainment.
canary Wharf secures World class sports event until 2011 23 – 27 March 2009 ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic Match times vary (Doors 5pm daily) East Wintergarden, Bank Street
Canary Wharf has secured the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic, featuring the world’s best squash players, for at least another two years. The tournament returned to the East Wintergarden on 23-27 March,and featured Egyptian three time world champion Amr Shabana and three time Canary Wharf Classic winner and British number one, James Willstrop. Tim Garner, Event Director, said, “During a period when many events of this nature are struggling, it is fantastic news that our tournament is maintaining its strong position. “Our unique location and integration with local community and business has been a major factor in maintaining momentum.” Visit canarywharfsquash.com for more details.
acoustic after hours With…. JosÉ González 29 April 2009 7.45pm (Doors 7pm) East Wintergarden, Bank Street Tickets £17 Book early to avoid disappointment Visit ticketweb.co.uk or call 08700 600 100 (Booking fee applies) subject to availability
Sweden’s captivating and mysterious José González will play an exclusive London concert at Canary Wharf’s East Wintergarden. Armed with an acoustic guitar, an ultra-sensitive soul and a host of low-key tunes, González won international acclaim for his 2005 platinum selling debut album Veneer.
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events
PAbLO PICASSO LES fEmmES d’ALGEr, 1955 EUrOPEAN PrIvATE COLLECTION © PHOTO COUrTESy Of LIbby HOwIE / SUCCESSION PICASSO / dACS 2009
Review PICASSO: CHALLENGING THE PAST
Until 7 June ART & EXHIBITIONS
inexorably drawn towards. The elegant model (Picasso’s first wife) sits serenely in a rust coloured dress. Illuminated by soft light, the painting is effortlessly naturalistic and could easily be by one of the great old masters. But immediately to the right hangs NudeWoman in a Red Armchair from 1932, much more in the tradition of how we think of Picasso. This model (his new 17-year old mistress MarieThérèse) is rendered in wild voluptuous curves; the colours are bold; the face presented from two perspectives; the overall effect one of lustful sensuality. Although perfectly balanced in form and colour it is uncompromisingly modern. Picasso painted in a wide
variety of styles, and what we learn from this exhibition is that he deeply respected and studied those who had gone before. We see his indebtedness to Goya, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rousseau, Cezanne amongst many others. He also used humour: In the first room Man with a Straw Hat and an Ice-Cream Cone is an affectionate homage towards Van Gogh, and a little mischievous, as facial hair is picked out in bright red flecks. Whilst always drawing on the traditions of the past, in the 1950’s and 60’s Picasso concentrated on re-interpreting certain specific paintings by some of his artistic heroes. The final large room, entitled ‘Variations’, features some of these works. Truly brilliant. © Graham Buchan 2009
You’ve heard the old adage: In order to break the rules you need first to understand them. Nowhere is that better exemplified than in the paintings of Picasso, who continually broke the rules but who created countless masterpieces whilst
re-writing the language of painting. Look, for instance, at two paintings hung next to each other in Room 4 of this exhibition. One is Portrait of Olga from 1923. It is classically beautiful – the kind of picture you see from afar and are
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Clockwise from left: The Mako Shark by Alastair Gibson, Angel Fish by Guy Portelli, Dutch Still Life by Valery Koroshilov, Girl III, by Attasit Pokpong
Outswim the sharks
The 14th Annual Chelsea Art Fair is set to create a stir, with a life-size shark sculpture made from an old F1 car amongst the many treasures. Holly Willis dips a toe in the water
O
scar Wilde’s famous aphorism states that ‘life imitates art far more than art imitates life,’ and it is true that many looking at a tin of Campbell’s Tomato Soup, can’t help but be reminded of Andy Warhol’s iconic Pop Art painting. Even graffiti, once considered the scourge of urban landscapes is now often viewed, in this post-Banksy world, as a means of enlivening our grey cities, and making political comments frequently more in-tune with the man on the street than any politician’s spin. Few things in life have only one layer of meaning, take the life-size Mako shark sculpture that will be seen at the upcoming Chelsea Art Fair. Made from a recovered Formula 1 Grand Prix racing car and exhibited by The Russell Gallery, it is one of the many pieces for sale. It was created by sculptor Alastair Gibson, who was formerly Honda’s chief mechanic with responsibility for Jensen Button’s car. So why make a shark in Formula 1 metal? Alastair explains: “A shark is a Grand Prix car in nature. It has nothing on its body that shouldn’t be there. Everything on a Grand Prix car is made to get it first over the line”. Among the many other highlights will be the stunning sculptures of Guy Portelli, alongside
more traditional paintings from the 20th Century.There will also be 3-dimensional works in glass, bronze, wood, stone and ceramics, with acclaimed artists available alongside fresh talent. So whether you’re looking for a canny purchase by the latestYBA or something that simply pulls you in at first sight, destined to hang above your fireplace forever, this is the fair to see. Penman’s have been holding the fair since 1996 and because exhibitors have to be approved by a selection committee, the standards are high and prices accurate. Set in the Chelsea Old Town Hall, this annual event has become a fixture on the social calendar but the new layout this year looks set to provide a few surprises for seasoned visitors. n 23 - 26 April 2009 Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Rd, SW3 Open: Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday & Saturday: 11am - 6pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm. Artwork prices range from approximately £50 - £50,000 Ticket Price: £6 pp – for complimentary tickets for two to The Chelsea Art Fair, just present your copy of this magazine at the entrance for free admission.
what'son
Our guide to this month’s top events
1-25 April
4 & 9 April
EVENT CAROLYN MASSEY: FASHION DESIGNER
EVENT CORNELIUS LONG: LONDON DOCKER
Get a sneaky peek at the latest collection of fashion’s newest darling. Inspired by the Museum of London and the National Army Museum Archives, Massey revives the forgotten details and silhouettes of ‘a gentleman of the very first house.’
Come down to the docklands Museum and meet Cornelius Long, he will tell you all about working life in the docks as the area begins to decline.
33-35 St John’s Square EC1M 4DS 020 7251 0276 www.craftcentral.org.uk
Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN 020 7001 9844 www.museumoflondon.org.uk
6-18 April
7 April
THEATRE GREENWICH CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL
ART & EXHIBITIONS ETHELBURGA TOWER: AT HOME IN A HIGH RISE
Two fun packed weeks of workshops and free events. Highlights include Rainbow Fish, Little Red Riding Hood and Babe: the Sheep Pig.
Photographer Mark Cowper took photos of his own home and that of his fellow residents in Ethelburga tower in Battersea. Taken from the same position in same room, these photographs provide a life affirming view into the way we live today.
Greenwich Theatre Crooms Hill SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Geffrye Museum Kingsland Road E2 8EA 020 7739 9893 www.geffrye-museum.org.uk
8 -19 April
9 April
ART & EXHIBITIONS MONSTERS INKED
MUSIC WHAT IS OUR LIFE?
An incredible exhibition which explores the development of monster drawings, from the deepest darkest depths of the artist imagination, to the sketchpad or the gallery wall.
A mix of poetry and music, this evening will feature Lamentations for five voices by Robert White, an elegy for Thomas Tallis by his friend William Byrd and Sir Walter Raleigh’s wry musings on the human condition.
Idea Generation Gallery 11 Chance St E2 7JB 020 7749 6850
Kings Place 90 York Way N1 9AG 020 7520 1490 www.kingsplace.co.uk
Until 12 April
14 April
ART & EXHIBITIONS GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS
MUSIC THE LORD OF THE RINGS LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Extreme sports brand Roxy have teamed up with Jaguar Shoes to present two exciting photography exhibitions that celebrate the fairer sex. The Old Shoreditch Station’s walls will be bejewelled by the work of Gemma Booth. Old Shoreditch Station 1 Kingsland Road E2 8DA 020 7729 7605
The Royal Albert Hall will be turned into Europe’s largest and most exciting cinema for the live UK premiere of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Howard Shore’s award-winning score will be performed by the original soundtrack orchestra. Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore SW7 2AP 020 7589 8212 www.royalalberthall.com
Email: info@hypepartyplanning.co.uk Website: www.hypepartyplanning.co.uk
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Hype offers refreshing and imaginative ideas delivered by Marcus Rendle and his team, whose experience, dedication and enthusiasm is second to none. With fourteen years experience Hype is one of the UK’s leading event management companies designing, producing and managing live events to both the private and corporate sector. Hype is well known for large scale events, such as the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Chinawhite ‘Rock The Polo’ marquee at The Cartier International Polo and the UK’s largest annual corporate party for the last three years, the Carphone Warehouse Ball. On a smaller scale Hype also arrange more intimate and private events both in the UK and abroad, including a number of well known celebrity weddings covered by OK and Hello Magazine. Hype is pleased to have secured an exclusive deal with the David Beckham Academy to host a number of Christmas events and will be constructing a luxuriously-themed marquee for everything from football-based team-building to conferences, awards ceremonies to sit-down dinners.
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feature
DiamonDs are forever Or as Marilyn Monroe memorably sang, diamonds are a girl’s best friend
win
One completely trustworthy choice is the diamond and gemstone specialist Hofer & Co, a family-owned enterprise where personal referrals have allowed this London company to enjoy 13 years of continuous growth. Peter Hofer, a qualified gemmologist, founded the company that bears his name in 1995. Bringing almost 30 years of experience to his chosen field, Hofer is involved on a daily basis with the creation of fine jewellery for discerning clients, maintaining a close working relationship with customers during the design, stone selection
and production processes. However, this is certainly not a one-man operation and a team of expert craftspeople works alongside artists and designers, drawing on an impressive portfolio of previous designs. Just as couture gown should fit any figure perfectly, so should a bespoke piece of jewellery suit it’s wearer perfectly. And for the client with limited time to commission their own unique order, Hofer recently launched a range of stock products including bracelets, rings, pendants and earrings. So think Hofer, think quality, luxury and beauty. n www.hoferandco.com 020 7404 7899
...a night's stay in a luxury riverfront one bedroom suite including champagne breakfast for two courtesy of... A breathtaking riverfront location in London’s ultramodern financial centre, Four Seasons provides intuitive service against a backdrop of sweeping views of the River Thames and is only 15 minutes away from the O2, by river or car transfer.The flexible accommodation benefits from an abundance of natural daylight with floor to ceiling windows. In addition, the location on the banks of the Thames offers an alternative to the more traditional modes of transportation as well as the unique possibility of experiencing an evening on the river for entertainment. With 142 generously sized rooms and suites, Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf combines the finest of all that is contemporary with the traditions that are Four Seasons. The lucky winner will be staying in a beautifully appointed One-Bedroom Suite featuring a king-sized bedroom and a large living room with dining area.The luxury bedroom and parlour each feature a large bay window with a window seat, which looks out over the River Thames from the hotel's top level floors. Equipped for business with a two-line speaker phone, wired or wireless broadband internet access and an in-room safe large enough to hold a laptop computer this hotel is the perfect retreat for both business and pleasure. For relaxation, the living room of each suite also features a fully stocked bar and the marble bathroom has a deep soaking tub, separate shower stall, large vanity and water closet; as well as a guest powder room adjacent to the living room. Four Seasons Hotel 46 Westferry Circus, London E14 8RS Tel: 020 7510 1999 Fax: 020 7510 1998 www.fourseasons.com/canarywharf
COMPETITION
J
ust as a Rolls-Royce is a regular sight at Royal Ascot and caviar is often found on a table beside a bottle of fine champagne, so a stylish woman will often be seen wearing the most stunning bespoke jewellery. Finding the right company to design and create such perfect jewellery can be tricky – clients need the reassurance of knowing that the jeweller they choose, especially for the creation of an engagement ring, will be the one that represents the pinnacle of the industry.
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To be in with a chance of winning please email your name and full contact details to: competition@runwildgroup.com Please put Four Seasons competition in the subject line.
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CANARY CANA RY WHARF CITYLIFE CITY LIFE
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009 • ISSUE 44
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RARE NATURAL FANCY COLOURED DIAMOND EARRINGS SHADES OF YELLOW THROUGH TO INTENSE ORANGE 8.71CT PLATINUM AND GOLD
where every piece is a work of art 56–57 BURLINGTON ARCADE PICCADILLY LONDON W1J 0QN TEL 020 7499 6814 www.hirsh.co.uk
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JANUARY 2009 • ISSUE 43
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where every piece is a work of art
56–57 BURLINGTON ARCADE PICCADILLY LONDON W1J 0QN TEL 020 7499 6814 www.hirsh.co.uk
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I S S U E
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NOVEMBER 2008 ISSUE 14
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WHARF
THE CITY MAGAZINE
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15/10/08
NOVEMBER 2008 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
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JANUARY 2009 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
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JANUARY 2009 ART • INTERIORS • FASHION • MOTORING • BEAUTY • SHOPPING • BUSINESS • TECHNOLOGY • FOOD & DRINK • UK & INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY
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THE CITY MAGAZINE
CANARY WHARF CITYLIFE
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11/11/08
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savills.co.uk
Canary Riverside, E14
£550 per week
Boardwalk Place, E14
£450 per week
A 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 4th floor apartment enjoying westerly views towards communal gardens and the River Thames. The apartment further benefits from private underground parking and 24hr security. Furnished.
A 3 bedroom townhouse arranged over 3 floors with a small garden, off street parking and a garage. The development benefits from 24hr security and is well located adjacent to Poplar Dock. The closest DLR is Millwall. Furnished.
Pan Peninsula, E14
Riviera Court, E1W
£350 per week
£650 per week
A 7th floor, 1 bedroom apartment with balcony situated in this recently completed landmark building. The development features a range of facilities including private cinema, gym & spa, business centre, exclusive residents roof-top bar and 24hr security. Well located adjacent to South Quay DLR. Furnished.
A 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment located in West Wapping, close to Tower Bridge, St. Katherine's Dock and Tower Hill. The apartment boasts a south facing terrace with river views and private parking. Furnished.
Butlers & Colonial Wharf, SE1
Hermitage Court, E1W
£360 per week
A bright 4th floor, 1 bedroom apartment featuring a large terrace to the reception and bedroom. Set in a portered development with parking in the heart of Shad Thames, the property is moments from all the bars and amenities. There are excellent transport facilities to the City and West End via London Bridge, Tower Hill and Bermondsey. Furnished.
Savills Docklands, Execution Dock 80 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE
£600 per week
A spacious 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment recently refurbished to exacting standards, featuring a terrace with pleasant courtyard views, porterage and private parking. To be furnished.
020 7456 6800 docklands@savills.com
savills.co.uk
Meridian Place, E14
Reduced to £425,000
Berkeley Tower, E14
Reduced to £670,000
A 6th floor 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom penthouse situated in a quiet development just off Marsh Wall. Featuring a large south facing terrace this property has been slashed in price from £530K. Includes secure underground parking.
A 2 bedroom 2 bathroom south west facing apartment in the Canary Riverside development. One of few with sweeping views of Canary Wharf over the Thames. Including protected parking, porterage, landscaped communal gardens and 24 hour security.
Dunbar Wharf, E14
Hanover House, E14
£750,000
£810,000
A 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom sub-penthouse situated with Dunbar Wharf. Offering spectacular river views with span Canary Wharf over the city, includes share of freehold, car parking space and 2 usable balconies, development benefits from gym and porter.
A very large 2 bedroom apartment in Canary Riverside. This property features river views from lounge and both bedrooms, 3 balconies and car parking space. Canary Riverside benefits from porterage, landscaped communal gardens and 24 hour security.
Eaton House, E14
Empire Square West, SE1
£2,500,000
A superb 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom penthouse in the prestigious Canary Riverside. This property benefits from 2 large terrace areas and sweeping views of Canary Wharf, the river and City - definitely must be seen!
Savills Canary Wharf 4 Westferry Circus, E14 4HD
docklands@savills.com
£2,300,000 020 7456 6800
A 2 bedroom duplex penthouse with views over London from Battersea Power Station to the Gherkin. Entrance hall, reception room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open-plan kitchen/dining room, 2 balconies, roof terrace, 2 protected parking spaces, 24 hour concierge.
020 7531 2500 canarywharf@savills.com
London's Finest Properties
Atlanta, SE13
Ellison Building, E3
Ontario Tower, E14
Indiana Building, SE13
£215 PW
£235 PW
£265 PW
£265 PW
• One Bedroom Apartment • Unfurnished • 2nd Floor • On-site Gymnasium & Swimming Pool • 24hr Concierge Services • Nr. Deptford Bridge DLR
• One Bedroom Apartment • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • Balcony • Available Now • Nr. Mile End Tube St
• A Studio Suite • Fully Furnished • 4th Floor • On-site Gymnasium & Therapy room • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. Blackwall DLR
• Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom Apartment • Furnishing Negotiable • 3rd Floor • Balcony • On-Site Gymnasium & Swimming Pool • Nr. Deptford Bridge DLR
LANDLORDS
Warehouse W, E16
• One Massive Bedroom/Two Bath Apartment • Furnishing Optional • 1st Floor • Stunning Dockside Views • Parking Included • Nr. Custom House DLR
We urgently require 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for awaiting, company and professional tenants. For all management properties we will take our fees on a monthly basis.
£330 PW
New Providence Wharf, E14 • Two Bedroom/Two Bathroom • Fully Furnished • 16th Floor • Balcony • 24hr Concierge Service • Nr. Blackwall DLR
£350 PW
Seacon Tower, Hutchings Street, E14
Marina Heights, Limehouse, E14
£359,999
£380,000
• 2 Bed/2 bath with spectacular river views • Light and airy apartment • Contemporary fixtures and fittings • Secure underground parking • Balcony over river
• Fantastic 2nd floor marina apartment • 2 bedroom/2 bathroom • Good–sized balcony over marina • Well proportioned rooms • Secure allocated parking • DLR under a minute away
Horseshoe Court, St. John’s Street, Clerkenwell, EC1
New Providence Wharf, E14
£485,000
£490,000
• 4th floor • 2 bedroom/2 bathroom • Enviable central London location • Excellent condition throughout • Farringdon and Barbican tube stations minutes away • Perfect London Crash pad
• 2 bedroom/2 bathroom • 6th floor riverside apartment • All rooms river facing • 900 sq ft of living space • Two separate entrances to apartment • Very high specification • On-site facilities include swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gym
Sales | Lettings | Corporate Services | Property Management www.liferesidential.co.uk
Central London 020 7582 7989
West London 020 8896 9990
Docklands 020 7476 0125
Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244
Connect with London Living… …Showhome and Sales Office now open
BETHNAL GREEN
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DEVONS ROAD LANGDON PARK
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CANNING TOWN
Dock Road
WESTFERRY
ALL SAINTS
WAPPING
LONDON BRIDGE
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CASPIAN WHARF MARKETING SUITE
Violet
A11
ALDGATE EAST
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BOW CHURCH
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WHITECHAPEL
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MILE END
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OLD STREET
CANARY WHARF
RIVER THAMES
O2
SOUTH QUAY
NORTH GREENWICH
CROSSHARBOUR & LONDON ARENA
Viewings strictly by appointment only. Call: 0844 800 1152 • Stunning studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with superb specifications including underfloor heating, designer kitchens and stone worktops • The first phase of the regeneration of the area by Berkeley Homes which is set to include bars, restaurants and shops • An easy commute to work; 11 mins** to Canary Wharf, 13 minutes** to the Olympic Village and 23 minutes** to The City
• Easy access to transport network with Langdon Park (DLR) and Bow Road (District and Hammersmith & City Line) only a short walk away. Nearby A11, A12, A13, A406 and the M11 ensure excellent road connections
Prices from £210,000*
• Stunning views over Limehouse Cut and Canary Wharf
Caspian Wharf Showhome and Sales Office 1 Yeo Street, Bow E3 3AE
• Rare outside space with balconies and terraces of up to 1,426 sq ft.
Open Thursday-Monday 9.30am to 5.30pm Nearest station: Langdon Park
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London Stone
Properties
23 mins to Canary Wharf by DLR 20 mins by River Boat
Smart, Modern, Bright 1 Bed
Top Floor Flat with Floor to Ceiling Windows
Good sized, clean and modern 1 bed, overlooking a courtyard with large rooms throughout and heaps of storage. Furnished
Great 2 bed flat with a large balcony running the length of the property overlooking the internal lagoon and fountains. Furnished
SE18 £196pw
SE18 £242pw
Beautiful Furnished Loft Style Apartment
Fabulous Loft with Amazing Roof Skylights
Fantastic 2 bed flat with a huge living room with double height ceilings throughout and a great modern kitchen. Furnished
A truly unique 2 bed flat in the Royal Arsenal, with a huge living area that has a vaulted ceiling and loads of roof skylights. Furnished
SE18 £273pw
SE18 £335pw
Fantastic 3 bed Penthouse on two Floors
Gorgeous Warehouse Conversion
A really great penthouse offering 3 genuine double bedrooms, 2 smart bathrooms and an ultra modern kitchen. Furnished
A beautiful flat set over two levels with 2 double bedrooms, two smart bathrooms and a large study area. Furnished/Unfurnished
SE18 £358pw
SE18 £345pw
Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich SE18 A beautiful, gated development nestling along the River Thames the Royal Arsenal is composed of gorgeous old warehouses and ultra chic modern buildings, many with splendid river views. • Onsite gym and 24 hr concierge • Onsite delicatessen and café • Tranquil r iverside setting • Gated Buildings • Onsite dry cleaners • Neighbours that become friends
www.LondonStoneProperties.com enquiries@LondonStoneProperties.com Thames Clipper
020 8855 2155 - 07747 865 383 9 Gunnery Terrace, Cornwallis Road, The Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SW
property
127
FIVE grEat PrOPErtY PUrCHaSES IN 2009 There’s no better time to take advantage of property bargains
1
Paris Paris was voted for several years the best risk adjusted investment location in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Urban Land Institute Survey. Additionally, it is the most visited city in the world and is very well-placed to suffer less from the current recession than most other countries. Location is everything and the performance of an investment will vary from street to street. The third and fourth arrondissement are good areas to look in, there is very heavy rental demand and prices here are lower than high demand areas such as the sixth arrondissement.
2
MiaMi Miami was heavily hit by the property crash and you can now buy new, good quality, well-located property at less than half the price it was a year ago. Property is being sold at less than the cost of construction. The bottom of the Miami property market is very close. So this is a good time to buy for capital growth over the medium term. Buyers will need to select and buy well in order to find a property which gives a sensible rate of rental return, 4 or 5% should be achievable.
3
london Riverside apartments are being sold for half their original value and less than the cost of construction. These are likely to be properties which will let well until a capital gain is taken. Buy-to-let mortgages are available, although they are more difficult to obtain than they once were. The choice you make between Miami and London depends very much upon the likely movement in value between the Dollar, the Euro and Sterling. Some people are very positive about the possibility for appreciation of the Dollar against the Pound, which makes Miami a good choice.
4
Berlin Berlin was a top destination for investment for both 2007 and 2008. Property prices had been falling sharply on the back of a struggling economy following the reunification of East and West Germany. Back in 2007, the first glimmer of economic recovery was seen and, Berlin was identified as a place where property prices were not remarkably low by European standards. It was, and still is, a city where the local population still predominantly rent. Property prices did rise and people who
bought in Berlin were able to let. At present, the recession is affecting Germany badly and there has been a downturn in prices. However, if you take a five or a ten-year view, Berlin is going to be one of the great investment destinations. Refurbished properties are generally more comfortable, fetch higher rent and have better capital growth potential than prewar developments.
5
sPain Spain has always been a popular destination for British lifestyle buyers and investors. It will remain the nearest destination where you can, more or less, guarantee good weather for most of the year and where infrastructure is sufficient to support large numbers of British retirees. It is also easy and cheap to get to and involves less of a carbon footprint than long haul destinations. n
John Howell is a Senior Partner at The International Law Partnership LLP Tel: + 44 (0)20 7061 6700 Email: info@lawoverseas.com Web: www.lawoverseas.com
Combo_60209_AW.indd 1
25/03/2009 12:28:18 p.m.
Contemporary living in Marylebone London, W1 • Established private landlord with over 600 properties ranging from studios to mews houses • Wide selection of properties to rent, with prices from £300 to £3,500 per week • Unfurnished as standard or furnished by separate negotiation • Flexible leasing terms with a minimum six month letting period • 24 hour in-house property management service Located moments from Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent’s Park. Excellent transport links to the City, Canary Wharf, Heathrow Airport and the Eurostar terminal.
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Final ad.indd 1
15/12/2008 14:40:49
Next issue...
May
S
ummer is on the way and we bring sunny news. Next issue we will be featuring our first LOTUS COLUMN: in each issue we’ll discuss the virtues of our recently forged alliance with Lotus GB. And speaking of chic, we have the kings of cool with us next month. Firstly the man at the helm of the British fashion institution that is Jaeger, HAROLD TILLMAN. He speaks the language of fashion like no other, and he’s an authority on it too as Chairman of the British Fashion Council. Then we catch up with Mister Hip himself, HERBERT YPMA the creator of the HIP guides – the must have travel guide. For this and much more be sure to pick up a copy!
GRANDDESIGNS GRANDINTERIORS GRANDGARDENS GRANDKITCHENS GRANDBATHROOMS GRANDBUILD GRANDVILLAGE 10 exciting days of ideas and inspiration for your home
25 April - 4 May • ExCeL London BOOK TICKETS NOW & SAVE £5
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Call the 24 hour box office on 0871 230 5577 or book online www.granddesignslive.com *£5 Saving is off door price + kids go free **Showguide collectable at the show
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