Canary Wharf Magazine February 2015

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CONTENTS

70

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2015

FEATURES

REGULARS

056 | Something’s in the air Why we might soon be swapping Chanel No. 5 for something more unusual

012 | Contributors 014 | Editor’s letter 017 | The agenda

064 | Social media in a luxury world Luxury brands are becoming part of our lives in new ways

FASHION

066 | Men: why it’s time to embrace female breadwinners The expert’s view 070 | The peer-to-peer economy: a new way to live a luxury lifestyle Redefining luxury for the super rich 080 | Taking off: the new toy of choice An introduction to the increasingly popular world of the drone 088 | There’s no taste like home Chef James Martin talks career success and shares his culinary secrets

8 | CANARY WHARF

BEAUTY & GROOMING

037 | Well groomed 053 | Beauty news 054 | Beauty hotlist

44

033 | Don’t be square Dsquared2 re-imagines the slim-fit suit for all occasions

35

034 | Style him 035 | Man handles A guide to the best ways to carry your baggage; the ‘man bag’ becomes a must-have

64

043 | Style her 044 | White out Top-to-toe white is the sartorial clean slate for spring/summer wardrobes 046 | A modern muse How to pull off statement colours, eye-catching materials and sharp silhouettes

56

CONTENTS

CONTENTS FEBUARY 2015 COLLECTION

TRAVEL

MOTORING

021 | Swing into orbit The latest rare gem from Robinson Pelham

099 | Climb every mountain A Belle Epoque romance in Switzerland is on our travel wish list

075 | Join the converted The latest launch from BMW

023 | Jewellery news 101 | Travel news 024 | The new romantic Contemporary Valentine’s Day gift inspiration 030 | Watch news

BUSINESS 061 | Moving to greener pastures Is it time for a change?

102 | Strange beauty Unusual spa practices around the world, from Bloody Mary inspired wraps to hay baths 108 | City break: Chicago The highlights of the windy city 110 | Business traveller Frequent flyers’ checklist

063 | Business digest

077 | Ford springs a Detroit surprise The best-kept secret in motoring

086 | Food and drink news There’s plenty to celebrate this February 093 | Be a Roka-fella Roka’s reputation put to the test

PROPERTY

078 | Aston-ishing A two-door coupé in disguise

114 | Property news The staggering value of London homes and the latest interiors inspiration

FOOD AND DRINK

139 | State of the market Opinions from the experts

085 | Winter spirit Wrap up for this outdoor pop-up

154 | Insider knowledge The best areas to invest in

102

110 101 77

10 | CANARY WHARF

London’s HoME IntErIor spEcIaLIsts

Products

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Living Dining Kitchen Sleeping Bathroom Working Lighting Accessories Garden

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contributors

Contributors ACTING Editor Gabrielle Lane Assistant Editor Aimee Latimer Editorial Assistant Melissa Emerson Editorial Intern Jamie Dave Motoring Editor Matthew Carter

matthew carter

Matthew, motoring expert and former editor of Autocar and Classic and Sports Car, introduces the surprise new Ford GT and the practical but poised Aston Martin Rapide S

Collection Editor Annabel Harrison General Manager Fiona Fenwick Senior Designer Lisa Wade

Angelina Villa Clarke A lifestyle, travel and beauty specialist, Angelina investigates the growth of unusual spa treatments, and the increasing demand for bespoke and niche fragrances

Rachell Smith

With work previously published in Vogue Italia and The Sunday Times, photographer Rachell Smith shoots contemporary and colourful jewellery to gift this Valentine’s Day

Production Hugo Wheatley Alex Powell Oscar Viney Amy Roberts Property Director Samantha Ratcliffe Executive Director Sophie Roberts Editor-in-Chief Lesley Ellwood

Mike Peake

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Mike has written for Esquire, The Guardian and The Sunday Times.

This month, he gives an introduction into the complex world of drones, and explains why they are more than just a toy

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Dr Suzanne Doyle-Morris

Dr Suzanne DoyleMorris, author of Female Breadwinners: How they Make Relationships Work and Why they are the Future of the Modern Workforce, explores the relationship benefits of female empowerment

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Subscriptions: A free online subscription service is available for Canary Wharf magazine. Visit the subscriptions page on our website: rwmg.co.uk/subscribe

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On the Cover

The New Romantic (page 24) Photography by Rachell Smith

M ESUR E ET D ÉMESUR E *

TONDA METROPOLITAINE

Steel Automatic movement Steel bracelet Made in Switzerland www.parmigiani.ch

ATELIER PARMIGIANI 97 MOUNT STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 2TD, TEL. 020 7495 5172 EDINBURGH ROX DIAMONDS AND THRILLS | KENT RIZON JET UK LIMITED LONDON SELFRIDGES, THE WONDER ROOM | ARIJE | HARRODS, MONTREUX JAZZ CAFE WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND | FROST OF LONDON WINDSOR ROBERT GATWARD JEWELLERS

EDITOR’S LETTER

From the

editor

“What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork” – Pearl Bailey

I

t is often said that in an era of social media and digital networks we are, conversely, more disconnected from each other than ever before, forgoing face-to-face communication in favour of tweets, pings, posts and instant messages. Yet technology has gifted us with an invaluable amount of ease and access, with the average UK smartphone user checking their device 110 times a day. In this issue, leading marketing experts explain how luxury brands are proving that combining exclusive appeal with public profiles can work (page 64).

Fortunately, living vicariously through status updates is no longer necessary: the internet is now enabling affluent professionals to share Maseratis, dinner – and even penthouses – with fellow jetsetters at short notice, as well as allowing them to invest directly in exciting start-ups through crowd-funding. On page 70 we borrow a few assets for the weekend and investigate the rise of the peer-to-peer economy.

Of course, Valentine’s Day and its sentiments are best expressed in person. Should you wish to gift jewellery, inspiration starts on page 24, ahead of the best picks of fashion, beauty and grooming, travel and gadgetry from the boutiques of Canary Wharf. We make a date venue suggestion too (page 93), while chef James Martin offers up culinary advice for a night in (page 88).

As for choosing a target of your affections – on page 66 Dr Suzanne Doyle-Morris suggests that relationships in which a female out-earns her live-in partner are most successful. But that’s one for you to decide…

EDITOR’S PICKS

iPad Air 2, £659, Apple, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place

Limited edition Ruby Passion smartphone, POA, Savelli, savelli-geneve.com

Gabrielle Lane Acting Editor

@ Canarywharfmag

14 | CANARY WHARF

Pink Marc de Champagne truffle hearts (500g), £48, Charbonnel et Walker, Cabot Place

CUFF LOVE BANGLE

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regulars

STYLE

Images courtesy of Christopher James, Kensington Leverne, Sam Wilson, BFC

LONDON FASHION WEEK

we spy Our February favourites

One of the hottest tickets in the capital’s social calendar, London Fashion Week, returns this month as some of the world’s best designers showcase their Autumn/Winter 2015 collections. Usually glamorous, often bold, and hopefully shocking, look forward to discovering the trends and pieces we’ll all be wearing and coveting this autumn.

20 – 24 February, Somerset House, londonfashionweek.co.uk

save the date

1

Wool and silk mix jacket, £165, Massimo Dutti, Cabot Place

The agenda What to see, know and do this month

Sneakers, £145, Marc Cain, marc-cain.com

2

WORDS: Jamie Dave

business

3 Bag, £950, Issey Miyake, isseymiyake.com

4 5

Elexus bag, £45, Dune, Cabot Place

 Get to the chopper Taking cues from action espionage films like Kingsman: The Secret Service, DHL has launched London’s first express helicopter delivery service, which will deliver urgent documents from Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf. Hovering above congestion, the helicopter will cut the journey time from Heathrow to Canary Wharf by up to an hour, and guarantee next day delivery of urgent

documents from the US, by collecting them as soon as the plane lands on the runway. The helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, can transport more than 300kg of letters and packages in one go, and hopes to appeal to the financial hub’s ‘time is money’ philosophy. We’re sold – when you’re waiting for an update, wouldn’t it be nice to switch ‘I’ll refresh Gmail’, to ‘let’s check on the chopper’? dpdhl.com

Alex shoe, £159, Reiss, Jubilee Place and Cabot Place

CANARY WHARF | 17

regulars

technology

CHINESE NEW YEAR This month, Chinatown will erupt into colour as it celebrates Chinese New Year and the start of the year of the goat. The streets and stores will be dressed in New Year’s decorations, and its strip of restaurants will serve up special menus while food and craft stalls spill out into the street. Chinese New Year takes place on the 19th but the bulk of the celebrations will take place on Sunday 22 February, with a must-see parade featuring golden dragon dancers weaving down the streets.

Unsuprisingly, the restaurants are expecting to be fully-booked so be sure to make a reservation.

Chinatown, 21 and 22 February, chinatownlondon.org

Cities of the future Canary Wharf Group, in conjunction with tech accelerator space Level39, has shortlisted the first 12 finalists of 36 for its Cognicity Challenge. Start-ups from six fields have entered the competition with a winner from each category in line for £50,000 prize money and the opportunity to trial their technology across the Canary Wharf estate. The initial 12 companies shortlisted work in the two fields of sustainable building and integrated transportation. They include Polysolar, a company that converts solar power directly to current electricity, and Alchera Technologies, which uses computer intelligence to streamline traffic. The chosen companies will now move to a dedicated floor at One Canada Square to refine their technology, before one winner from each of six fields is chosen. cognicity.london/cognicity-challenge

Event

BOOKS

World Food

Silent witness

Motoring on

Irish charm

Bestselling author Rachel Khoo moves away from her background in French cooking to share her varied collection of more than 100 recipes mastered while travelling the world.

Out 12 February, Kitchen Notebook, £20, by Rachel Khoo, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place

M.J. Arlidge’s dark, twisting thriller is the latest in the inspector Helen Grace series, and follows a kidnapped woman who awakes to find herself locked in a cellar, now a part of a twisted game.

Out 12 February, The Doll’s House, £5.59, by M.J. Arlidge, amazon.co.uk

This updated edition explores the history of Formula 1, with striking photography and a narrative that takes you from the first days of racing through to the birth of the World Drivers’ Championship.

Out 3 February, The Treasures of Formula One, £34.89,

by Bruce Jones, amazon.co.uk

Written in the form of a detective story, The Origins of the Irish is the first major study in recent years into the history and factors that have shaped the Irish identity; bridging linguistics, genetics and tradition.

The Origins of the Irish, £14.95,

by J. P. Mallory, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place

18 | CANARY WHARF

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COLLECTION

swing into orbit Flying in as part of the new collections for 2015 is Robinson Pelham’s res new Asteroid ring. Revolving around the concept of the low solar system, the piece has become a staple of the luxury jeweller and every collection sees it reintroduced with a different stone. The Paraiba tourmaline, fast becoming one of the industry’s most fashionable gemstones, takes centre stage this time round with its vivid blue-green hue showcased in all its brilliance. The exceptional rarity of this stone (one Paraiba tourmaline is mined for every 10,000 diamonds) makes it ideal for this particular collection. When it comes to other new pieces launching, this year sees an explosion of kaleidoscopic colour and bold shapes in the Oxygen collections, while the Evoke range brings a more subdued elegance.

Paraiba Asteroid ring, £18,000, Robinson Pelham, 30 Elystan Street, SW3, robinsonpelham.com

C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S

Aurora Inspire romance with this 0.86ct Fancy Intense Australian Argyle Pink Diamond Ring, reflecting the warm, vibrant and fiery hues of its extraordinary and ancient origins.

A highly prized, rare and collectable jewel.

To receive the beautiful Calleija brochure, please contact us The Royal Arcade Old Bond Street London london@calleija.com +44 (0)20 7499 8490

The Westin Martin Place Sydney sydney@calleija.com.au +61 (0)2 9233 6661 calleija.com

Marina Mirage Main Beach Gold Coast mirage@calleija.com.au +61 (0)7 5528 3666

collection

JEWELLERY

Jewels, gems, pearls and diamonds; essential components of any jewellery collection WORDS: OLIVIA SHARPE

Holy Trinity

 Empire of the sun Fashion designers and jewellers alike have been cashing in on the recently resurrected ancient coin trend and the latest to follow suit is newly launched brand Dubini.

Jewellery designer Benedetta Dubini, the founder, looks to her Italian heritage to create her collections, the latest of which – entitled Empires – features coins emblazoned with the faces of some of the greatest Roman and Greek historical and mythical figures, from Artemis to Alexander the Great. The pieces are set in 18-karat yellow gold and feature a multitude of coloured stones, which pay tribute to the rich history of Italian craftsmanship.

POA, dubini.co.uk

Cutting Edge In time for Valentine’s Day, Tiffany & Co. has created the ultimate romantic range of high jewellery pieces, the Tiffany Enchant heart collection:

These romantic designs have been inspired by the intricate patterns of traditional 19th-century gates that border sumptuous gardens and grand estates.

Tiffany designers have contrasted these ornate jewels with a clean-lined bracelet of 18-karat white gold covered with more than nine carats of diamonds and over 55 carats of vibrant spinels.

Above: Enchant hinged bracelet with spinels and diamonds in 18-karat white gold and line bracelet; Key on fine chain.

Both from a selection, Tiffany & Co, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf

There are some high jewellery brands you can always rely on when seeking out that perfect gift for a special occasion, and one of these is Cartier. This year sees the French jeweller adapting its Trinity Ruban Solitaire ring, the ultimate symbol of love that was first popularised in the 1920s by Jean Cocteau, into a pair of earrings and matching necklace, creating the perfect bridal or engagement ring set. cartier.com

Fly me to the moon She may have only come on the radar in 2009 but London-based jewellery designer Noor Fares’ career has already taken off into the stratosphere. Her coveted pieces are currently stocked in Liberty, Matches and Dover Street Market in the UK (to name a few). Her latest collection, Tilsam (meaning talisman in Arabic) revolves around the sphere as its central theme and includes beautifully carved rings and pendants in clear quartz, moonstone, rose quartz and labradorite. The jeweller has also drawn upon astrology with Eclipse, a series of rings complete with gold and diamonds that refer back to astrological instruments used in the past to record the stars. Far from being stargazing nonsense, this is, in our opinion, Fares’ best collection yet. noorfares.com

CANARY WHARF | 23

Asymmetric silk gown, POA, CH Carolina Herrera, carolinaherrera.com; Pre Catelan earrings in pink gold and pink quartz, £5,900, Dior Joaillerie, dior.com; Flora and fauna ring, £9,449, Joubi, joubi.com; Shyne black gold ring, £2,895, Machalka, kabiri.co.uk

collection

The New ROMANTIC Show your affections this Valentine’s Day by gifting contemporary jewellery pieces with quirky design twists and a touch of colour photographer: Rachell Smith stylist: Nisha Grewal

CANARY WHARF | 25

ABOVE

Couture gown, POA, Georges Chakra, georgeschakra.com; White diamond and purple amethyst orchid earrings, £21,400, Shawish Genève, shawish.ch

RIGHT Rose cobweb tulle dress, POA, Burberry Prorsum, uk.burberry.com; Studded talon earrings, £395, Katie Rowland, katie-rowland.com; Fly By Night Crystal Haze rings set in 18-karat white gold with amethyst and black diamonds, £3,500 (small) / £6,950 (large), Stephen Webster, stephenwebster.com; Diamini three rows ring, £945, Lovingstone, kabiri.co.uk; Rhodium cage ring, £125, Joubi, joubi.com; Shyne black gold ring, £2,895, Machalka, kabiri.co.uk

collection

CANARY WHARF | 27

collection

LEFT Beige and black sequin dress, POA, Giorgio Armani, armani.com; Dark Forest dip-dye earrings, £290, Parisian dip-dye knuckle ring, £250, and circle ring, £170, Katie Rowland, katie-rowland.com; Black cuff earring, £65, Joubi, joubi.com; Nico ring, £1,220, Selin Kent, kabiri.co.uk

CREDITS HAIR: Yoshitaka Miyazaki using L’Oreal Professionnel Paris MAKE-UP: Megumi MATSUNO @ Carol Hayes Management using MAC photography assistant: Jessica Ralph stylist’s assistants: Laura Rogliano and Sophia Rousset MODEL: Or Daniel Long rectangular velvet blocks: Raj Tent Club, rajtentclubshop.com

CANARY WHARF | 29

COLLECTION

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

WORDS: richard brown

Saxon Sophistication Like A. Lange & Söhne (right), Glashütte Original embodies all that is beautiful in traditional fine watchmaking. The manufactory is renowned for a number of extraordinary complications, among them exquisitely engineered chronographs. Taking its dedication to measuring time lapses further than ever before, the company’s Calibre 37-01 is the first movement it has conceived and built specifically for a stopwatch. It debuts inside the Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, which is available with either a platinum or red gold case.

Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, £36,800 glashuette-original.com

ONE TO WATCH This month Sandy Madhvani, Showroom Manager at David M Robinson in Canary Wharf, selects his watch of the moment:

“Patek Philippe’s gorgeous 5139G-010 houses an ultra-thin, mechanical self-winding movement and perpetual calendar in a supremely elegant, white gold 38mm case.

Welcome to the world of watchmaking at its finest” 5139G-010 in white gold, £61,440, Patek Philippe. ­­­­­Available at David M Robinson, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf

30 | CANARY WHARF

Living Legend  Few brands have the ability to unite watch enthusiasts in universal adulation. Rolex is one; Patek Philippe the obvious other. A third is A. Lange & Söhne. To discuss the value of a ‘Lange’ is to talk not about popularity or price but, specifically, aesthetics and craftsmanship. Take the Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst for example – an infallibly gorgeous one-minute tourbillon with stop seconds, a blackenamelled dial and artisanal finishes enclosed in a 38.5mm platinum case. It will cost you £140k. You get what you pay for.

Lange 1 Tourbillon Handwerkskunst, £140,000 alange-soehne.com

 If it ain’t broke...

Panerai has given us a look at its new Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica. It features a 44mm case, is water resistant to 100 metres and is made of a material that is lighter than steel but five times as hard.

Luminor 1950 3 Days Chrono Flyback Automatic Ceramica, £9,850, Panerai Available at David M Robinson, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf

Trident_ redefined.

THE NEW

TRIDENT

C60 TRIDENT PRO 600 - Swiss made dive watch with automatic mechanical movement, zirconia ceramic bezel and water resistance to 60 bar/600m.

Available in 38mm and 42mm case sizes, five dial/bezel combinations and four strap styles.

SwISS MOvEMENT

E xc lu S I v E ly ava I l a b l E aT

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ENglISh hEaRT

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19/01/2015 13:14

Don’t be square Dsquared2 has launched a men’s Classic Collection consisting of day suits and tuxedos that sport the brand’s signature slim-fit style and playful details. The range also includes pocket squares and bow ties is intended to serve as a capsule wardrobe for all occasions. While the Classic Collection is available online, its unveiling coincides with the opening of a new Dsquared2 flagship store on Savile Row towards the end of the month, that will house both men’s and women’s collections over four-storeys.

The brand’s two head designers Dena and Dan Caten will base themselves at the new boutique, ready to take inspiration from London’s stylish gents.

Prices from £80, dsquared2.com

FASHION

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF STYLE DON’T’S Bespoke tailor Roberto ‘Bobby’ Revilla of Roberto Revilla London (robertorevillalondon.com) frankly shares his style dont’s, from the shoes that won’t get you hired to the sunglasses that will make you look like a fool.

The thick of it Mr Porter has teamed up with Savile Row’s Richard James for a 15-piece collection that will give you an opportunity to buy stylish cold-weather wear this side of the new year.

Available now, the collection includes knitted jumpers, thick shirts and heavy corduroy jackets: robust, classic staples in a wholesome autumnal palette. Plus, with a varsity jacket and gilet also featured in the collection, there’s a preppy nod to American sportswear gear. from £125, mrporter.com

STYLE HIM Words: Aimee Latimer

Spoke too soon 

As we’re regularly reminded, we’re all unique, which is great news for pep talks – but bad when it comes to finding trousers that fit. SPOKE is a new online menswear line which allows you to type in your waist, thigh and leg length measurements and body type so it can calculate your perfect fit. A brilliant variety of styles and colours also ensures the end product doesn’t scream ‘orthopaedic’ trousers. spoke-london.com

First Timer Montblanc has stepped up as the first luxury brand to combine wearable tech and traditional watchmaking, pairing a mechanical timepiece with an interactive TimeWalker Urban Speed e-Strap featuring an inbuilt touch display. It’s the sleekest way we’ve come across for checking your Facebook likes throughout the day, and the only downside is that you’ll have to wait until June to get your hands on one. from £2,100, Montblanc, Canada Place

1. Don’t wear pointed shoes. Ever.

They are a statement of fashion, not style, and do not work for most men. If you are trying to work your way up the career ladder, your senior leaders will find your penchant for pointy shoes troubling. Trust me, I work for a lot of senior business leaders and it’s their number one bugbear when it comes to appearance.

2. Throw underwear and socks with holes in the bin. Do not attempt to keep recycling them until they completely fall apart.

3. Don’t wear a stripy shirt with a checked suit or jacket. The clash of patterns just gives most people a migraine.

4. Don’t wear ski-style sunglasses with a suit. Wear ski-style sunglasses on ski slopes.

5. Socks with sandals is a no. Stop doing it. Our Mediterranean cousins always tell me they can spot an Englishman when they walk in to a restaurant thanks to the sandals and socks debacle. If not for yourself, stop doing it for the sake of your country.

“Don’t wear pointed shoes.

Ever. They are a statement of fashion, not style” 6. Don’t wear a suit that looks tatty or shiny – throw it in the bin and buy a new one. Nothing says: ‘I don’t really care about my appearance and therefore much else’, than wearing a suit that should have retired a long time ago.

7. Never do the bottom button up on your suit jacket or waistcoat. Doing so stops the coat from draping properly around your waist and makes you look like you’ve gained about a stone.

8. Don’t wear a shirt that has worn collars and/or cuffs. Chuck it out. It makes you look like an unsuccessful loser. Are you noticing a theme running through this top ten yet?

9. Don’t match your socks to your shoes – they should be matched to your trousers. So all those men who tell me they ‘buy black socks by the bucket load’ better have a wardrobe full of black suits. Which they don’t, so they look silly. It’s easy to remember: grey trousers, grey socks and for navy trousers, blue or navy socks. Black trousers need black socks. If you must wear stripes, make sure one of the stripe colours matches your trousers.

10. Don’t wear a different colour belt to your shoes. The number of guys I see walking around with a black belt and brown shoes, particularly at weekends, is ridiculous. Quick tip: when buying a new pair of shoes that aren’t black, ask the shop assistant if they have belts to match.

FASHION Holdall, £945, Dsquared2, dsquared2.com

Bag, £600, Marni, thecorner.com

Have to hand Some men are still put off the thought of carrying a bag because they associate it with looking feminine, instead thinking that real men can fit everything from keys, to an iPad to their gym kit in their back pocket. For men who own belongings there’s plenty of styles like duffel bags, messenger bags and backpacks that’ll fit your needs and lifestyle.

Berluti S/S 15

Man

Dsquared2 S/S 15

1

3

Backpack, £345, Tumi, uk.tumi.com

handles We all have baggage – it’s about how you carry it WORDS: AIMEE LATIMER

Grab & Go The new wave of businessmen are swapping paper and pens for tablets and the cloud, and a new generation of briefcases are accompanying them.

Boxy, heavy briefcase styles have been reinvigorated to be leaner, smarter and laptop-friendly. A leather satchel is an alternative, preppy option for less formal offices.

Satchel, £1,295, Burberry, uk.burberry.com

Away Game The humble holdall is the champion of the short business trip, the overnight stay and a carrier of gym kit. Opt for classic brown leather for a one-bag-suits-allsituations investment, or try lightweight canvas for functionality. And remember, for retro cool when travelling, you cannot beat a 1920s-inspired suitcase by Globe-Trotter.

Bag, £720, Hackett, Cabot Place

Salvatore Ferragamo S/S 15

Safari suitcase, £1,290, Globe-Trotter, globetrotter1897.com

2 Weekender, £499, Tusting, tusting.co.uk

MacBook portfolio, £410, Tärnsjö Garveri, tarnsjogarveri.com

Laptop briefcase, £695, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

CANARY WHARF | 35

grooming

Well GROOMED What’s new, what’s good and what works this month words: AIMEE LATIMER

In hand The greatest bachelor pad can be instantly undermined by the spotting of a bright, fruity hand soap sitting brazenly by the sink. Malin+Goetz’s rum hand wash (which handily doubles up as a body wash) cleans with the pleasingly masculine scent of rum. And don’t let the swashbuckling name fool you – the foaming cleanser uses gel to gently clean and balance skin types, to avoid drying and irritation and ensure handshakeready hands.

Rum hand wash pump, £18, MALIN + GOETZ, Space.Nk, Cabot Place

Scents & sensibility This month, Tom Ford is releasing Grey Vetiver eau de toilette, a twist on its signature scent. A neatly tailored, elegant men’s fragrance, it draws on the freshness of vetiver, with a refreshing edge of crisp winter lemon and Thai basil, before developing into a warm wash of wood notes.

Mixing cool, dry and woody layers, it’s the type of scent you’ll want to make your day-to-day signature.

Grey Vetiver eau de toilette, £50 for 50ml, Tom Ford, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place

One for all It might feel eye-wateringly expensive to spend £47 on a face wash, but if you have the money to spare then this is the product to splash out on. Created by celebrity skincare expert Jamie Sherrill this multitasking cleanser unclogs pores, conditions the skin and tackles the visible signs of ageing. In other words, it does the work of about five lotions and potions at once, saving you time and the hassle of buying multiple products.

Ultra Clean Daily Face Wash, £47, Nurse Jamie, nursejamie.com

Eye opener Kiehl’s has expanded its applauded Facial Fuel grooming line with “Heavy Lifting” Eye Repair. Pumped with caffeine, a dab administers a blast of energy, waking up the eyes and calming post-sleep puffiness. The cream also works to visibly tackle sagging skin, dark circles and crow’s feet – the ageing trilogy.

Facial Fuel “Heavy Lifting” Eye Repair, £26, Kiehl’s, Jubilee Place

Prep school

Buzz on It used be that it was considered poor form to turn up to work smelling of absinthe. But now we’ve learnt that Crabtree & Evelyn is – just in time for Valentine’s – introducing a new scent to its Heritage Collection: Black Absinthe eau de cologne. The strike of aniseed is blended with fennel flower and peppery vetiver for a herbal overtone. Distinct and surprisingly smooth.

Black Absinthe eau de cologne, £45, Crabtree & Evelyn, Cabot Place

Face masks for men never did quite recover their reputation after the opening sequence in American Psycho, but it’s time to welcome them back into the grooming fold. M.E Skin Lab’s Plasma 27 are simple sachets you apply and rinse off after 15 minutes. In that time they pep up your complexion, regenerating the skin’s top cell layer and immediately creating a brighter, more ‘awake’ look. They’re good to have in the arsenal for prepping for special occasions, or if you’re looking particularly haggard one day.

Plasma 27 masks, set of 4 for £65, M.E. Skin Lab, mrporter.com

CANARY WHARF | 37

T.M.Lewin, Canada Place

Make his DAY

Accessories he’ll love Four foolproof gifts for him

Give him the perfect Valentine’s Day gift this year. From small tokens to big gestures, you’ll find a present for every man in Canary Wharf

T

reat the man in your life this Valentine’s Day with a gift he’ll love.

With Canary Wharf home to more than 30 menswear stores alone, you won’t be lacking in inspiration. How about some new luggage to encourage him to take that overdue holiday, a belt to match his favourite shoes, or a luxury timepiece he’ll keep forever? Plus, it really

couldn’t be easier to pick up the perfect gift. With weekend shopping and many of Canary Wharf’s stores open as late as 8pm on Thursdays and Fridays, you can shop around your schedule.

Here’s just hoping, after you’ve handed over a new Aspinal of London bag or leather Hugo Boss wallet, you get something more than some squashed flowers in return.

Brogue Detail Leather Belt, £45, Dune London, Cabot Place

1

Leather Wallet and Card Case Set, £129, Boss, Cabot Place

The ‘A’ Tote, £295, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

3

Herringbone Small Case, £199, Ted Baker, Canada Place

Stark Herringbone Jacket, £199, T.M.Lewin, Canada Place

Aspen eau de Toilette, £45, The White Company, Jubilee Place

Meisterstück Moon Pearl Legrand Fountain Pen, £2,125, Montblanc, Canada Place

DUNE

Ketsby Boot, £445, Church’s English Shoes, Cabot Place

2 Leather Key Fob, £180, dunhill, Cabot Place

4

Portofino Chronograph, £4,250, IWC, David M Robinson, Jubilee Place

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

No time like the present VALENTINE’S DAY Over 300 shops, cafés, bars and restaurants open seven days a week canarywharf.com

CW_CAMPAIGN NAME_000_CAMPAIGN CODE_CW Mag_210x297_V4_AW.indd 1

22/01/2015 11:14

Chandelier Earclips, £276, Oscar de la Renta, Cadenza, Jubilee Place Allira Shopper, £129, Ted Baker, Canada Place

Marylebone Mini Tote, £595, Apsinal of London, Cabot Place

Shanti Shower Oil, £8.50, Rituals…, Jubilee Place

Ettie Bag, £45, Dune London, Cabot Place Wired Chain Earring, £20, Banana Republic, Jubilee Place

Be my

Valentines Pom Pom, £30, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Michael Kors, Jubilee Place

Cave de Lugny NV, £13.99, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place

Valentine

Andrea Dress, £139, Hobbs, Canada Place

Find the perfect Valentine’s Day present in Canary Wharf this year, with thousands of beautiful gift ideas right on your doorstep

S

poil her this Valentine’s Day with a gift to remember.

Whether you treat her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Brown’s London, those shoes she’s had her eye on, or a piece of jewellery to treasure, you’ll find what

Marleen, £75, Dune London, Cabot Place

Baies Candle, £20, Diptyque, Space.NK., Cabot Place

you need in Canary Wharf’s more than a hundred stores. And, with most shops open as late as 8pm on Thursday and Friday, it’s easy to pick up something special. This year there’s no excuse not to make her smile.

12 Red Roses, £80, Brown’s London, Canada Place

Red Velvet Heart Chocolate Selection, £65, Charbonnel et Walker, Cabot Place

Flo Bag, £195, L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place Diva Kiss Open Bracelet, £440, Monica Vinader, Jubilee Place

Pretty, perfect gifts Something stunning for every budget

Under

£50

Patchouli & Saffron Body Wash, £22.50, Molton Brown, Jubilee Place

Under

£100 Red Roses Cologne, £82, Jo Malone, Jubilee Place

Filo Court Shoe, £210, L.K.Bennett, Jubilee Place

Under

£250

canarywharf.com

Under

£550 Tiffany T Ring, £300 – £530, Tiffany & Co., Cabot Place

@yourcanarywharf

The Emilia

Classic, Elegant & Sophisticated

www.icandyworld.com

fashion

something choo If wedding bells are in the air and you’re on the hunt for the perfect shoes, then search no longer.

Jimmy Choo has expanded its exquisite and already extensive bridal collection to offer a made-to-order shoe service. A choice of signature styles with varying heel heights can be customised, and soles can be initialled or numbered to make the perfect memento. To complete the look, Les Trois Soeurs sources and handpicks dresses and accessories from around the world, and has designers from Amanda Wakeley to Matthew Williamson.

Les Trois Soeurs, Canada Place; jimmychoo.com

STYLE hER Words: melissa emerson

 yin and yang

The S/S 15 collection from Tiger of Sweden has a raw, but distinctly minimalist, feel to it. Called Art and Purity, the collection maintains the clean lines and contemporary approach to tailoring that the brand is well known for, although with loose silhouettes and flowing fabrics like silk for an Asianinspired look. There is a harmonious balance between the safe, neutral shades and stand-out graffiti prints in paprika red, jade and ochre.

Tiger of Sweden, Jubilee Place

 make your mark Aspinal of London has added a new symbol to the catalogue of its personalised embossing service. As romance is in the air this month, a heart in gold or silver can now adorn accessories purchased in store, from passport covers and travel wallets to leather journals and key rings.

Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

the fine print 

The jet set The new Jet Set 6 collection from Michael Kors is designed to furnish busy jetsetters with a practical, but ultimately glamorous, shoe collection. The capsule range of essentials offers a choice of flats and heels perfect for all types of holiday, from the Irving sneakers to the Odessa platform sandals, all in multiple colours. A crocodile skin suitcase designed to house the collection will be available at selected stores in the UK. from £85, Michael Kors, Jubilee Place

Escada has employed intricate floral motifs created by German artist Thilo Westermann for a special seven-piece capsule collection, launching this February. Working on glass covered in black paint, Westermann used a needle-like instrument to remove dots of colour before his paintings were then scanned and re-printed on the fabrics to striking effect. escada.com

CANARY WHARF | 43

FASHION

Isla blazer, £225, Reiss, Jubilee Place and Cabot Place

Weria wool blend coat, £279, Ted Baker, Canada Place

Pleated cotton skirt, £220, Carven, mytheresa.com

Michael Kors S/S 15

Brasilia sunglasses, £255, Prism, prismlondon.com

Lauren leather ballet flats, £305, Chloé, net-a-porter.com

White OUT

A flurry of white provides a blank canvas to play with

Mulberry S/S 15

Leather clutch, £115, COS, Jubilee Place

words: melissa emerson If you thought detoxing was all over after January then think again – now it’s your wardrobe’s turn. A pared-back approach from designers saw the S/S 15 catwalks blanketed in white, and since there aren’t quite 50 shades, the focus was on texture. Try a sheer lace blouse and skirt combination as seen at Mulberry, or if all white feels too angelic, you can still raise the white flag by accessorising with a bag or sunglasses.

Overlap skirt, £59, COS, Jubilee Place

Boss S/S 15

Orinoco lace top, £110, Reiss, Jubilee Place and Cabot Place

Mulberry S/S 15 Leather pumps, £445, Gianvito Rossi, net-a-porter.com Alfie small tote, £1,150, Jimmy Choo, jimmychoo.com

44 | CANARY WHARF

www.my-perfect-t.com

fashion

A Modern

MUSE Make a statement by mixing vivid flashes of colour with directional materials in sharp silhouettes photographer: alexander beer stylist: Camille adomakoh

Coral top, £595, Temperley London, temperleylondon.com; Lace pencil skirt, from £320, No 21 at Harvey Nichols, harveynichols.com; Talisman rough and polished diamond hoop earrings in 18-karat pink gold, £7,700, De Beers, 50 Old Bond Street, W1S, debeers.co.uk; Moonlight Lotus band with white diamonds set in 18-karat white gold and black ceramic, £3,225, De Beers, as before; Pochette Mask monogram canvas bag, £1,961, Louis Vuitton, 17-19 New Bond Street, W1S, uk.louisvuitton.com

CANARY WHARF | 47

fashion

Printed silk shirt, from €890 (approximately £681.71), Versace, versace.com; White silk cady skirt with rings, from €1,100 (approximately £842.56), Versace, as before

48 | CANARY WHARF

fashion White embroidered sequin jacket with shearling collar, £1,895, Burberry Prorsum, uk.burberry.com; Light ochre cobweb tulle skirt, £1,095, Burberry Prorsum, as before; Talisman band rings with rough and polished diamonds set in 18-karat pink and yellow gold, £18,600, De Beers, as before

CANARY WHARF | 49

Pisa body, £95, Wolford, Jubilee Place; Colour block long double poplin skirt, €4,500 (approximately £3,446.83), Delpozo, delpozo.com; Aria white diamond and 18-karat white gold ring, £18,600, De Beers, as before

fashion

Graphic circle print cropped top, £765, Alexander McQueen, alexandermcqueen.com; Graphic circle print pencil skirt, £595, Alexander McQueen, as before; So Kate 120 Python Aquarium stilettos, £895, Christian Louboutin, 08432 274 322; Aria white diamond 18-karat white gold ring, as before; Moonlight Lotus band with white diamonds in 18-karat white gold and black ceramic, as before

PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: Ben Duah MODEL: Vanessa Lee @ Elite Model Management HAIR: Daniel Mikhael MAKE UP: Aly Hazlewood

CANARY WHARF | 51

FOXYLASHES CANARY WHARF 25 CANADA SQUARE E14 5LQ

Specialist in beautiful, natural looking eyelash extensions Great for everyday wear and special occasions Individual lashes applied with care and precision in a relaxing environment Receive 20% off your first full set* - you must quote “Canary” at time of booking

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT: CALL: 0207 038 8203 TEXT: 07930 382 871 EMAIL: Enquiries@foxylashes.co.uk *This can not be used in conjunction with any other offer.

beauty

LIGHTNESS OF BEING Guerlain’s spring collection, Les Tendres, is on counters now. The new range is inspired by an angelic vision of beauty and includes Météorites Baby Glow, a foundation with a very light consistency that is enriched with light-reflecting polymers. It is intended to give a radiant, natural finish and as well as the protective qualities of vitamin E and SPF 25, it has a delicate violet fragrance.

Météorites Baby Glow, £35.30, Guerlain, Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home, Canada Place

BEAUTY NEWS Words: GABRIELLE LANE

ULTIMATE LUXURY

This month MAC is launching Ultimate Lipstick, a bold and moisturising lip colour in a futuristic chrome case. The ten modern shades are intended to make a statement with Catharina proving a particularly eye-catching (and longlasting) fuchsia.

Ultimate Lipstick, £20, MAC Cosmetics, Jubilee Place, maccosmetics.co.uk

HAIR OF MYSTERY More than 68 years after couturier Christian Dior unveiled his first fragrance Miss Dior, the brand is releasing a Hair Mist of the same name that is intended to envelop wearers in a discreet halo of scent. Lightly laced with jasmine and patchouli, the perfume includes notes that were chosen for their supposedly seductive powers.

Happy Valentine’s Day. The Miss Dior Hair Mist, £34, Dior, Boots, Canada Place

FRESH FACED BEAUTY

scent-sational Born of her love for travel, the style editor at Jo Malone London, Charlotte Stockdale, has launched a limited edition collection of home and body products named My Wanderlust. Each scent is reminiscent of a place and time in Charlotte’s life. For example, the Cardamom & Moroccan Rose deluxe candle was inspired by days spent styling magazine photo shoots near a reservoir in the hills of the Atlas Mountains. The range also includes soaps, a room spray and a scent diffuser.

If the thought of applying a serum before bed feels unnatural, try the new Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum from Chanel, the brand’s latest skincare launch that is specifically designed to feel like water on contact with skin. The formulation is enriched with camellia oil and blue ginger in microscopic droplets to give the appearance of plump and hydrated skin – and leaves a refreshing, non-oily sensation.

Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum, £66, Chanel, Boots, Canada Place

from £28, Jo Malone, Jubilee Place

CANARY WHARF | 53

BEAUTY

Beauty HOTLIST

nail it

Valentine’s Day reminds us of the uplifting effect of florals and fruits in a beauty regime words: gabrielle lane

THE PROMISE: Feminine and floral nail overlays, perfect for spring.

THE VERDICT: These delicate prints offer a surprisingly chic and subtle way to update your manicure for the new season. Wear them short for best results.

Botanical Bloom Artificial Nails, £8, Boots, Canada Place

rosy glow

little extras THE PROMISE: The purse spray edition of a modern fragrance that includes citrus top notes, intense Italian centifolia rose and a seductive combination of violet, peony and lily.

THE VERDICT: The adorable calfskin and gold case is gift-worthy alone.

Rosa Nobile Leather Purse Spray, £84, Acqua di Parma, Space.NK, Cabot Place

THE PROMISE: Hydrates and colours the skin with rose floral water and vitamin E. THE VERDICT: This works as an ‘eighthour sleep’ complexion in a bottle thanks to its pearlescent finish.

Cellularose Blush Glace, £44.50, By Terry, Space.NK, Cabot Place

pinky promise THE PROMISE: Burberry’s latest nail colour, straight from being trialled on the brand’s spring/summer runway.

THE VERDICT: What’s not to love?

Hydrangea Pink is a polish that’s as fun as it is wearable.

Nail Polish in Hydrangea Pink, £15 uk.burberry.com

sweeter than honey THE PROMISE: A limited edition blend of hazelnut and jojoba oils to soothe dry lips, with a honey tint to enhance the natural lip colour.

THE VERDICT: A sophisticated alternative to lip balm.

Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil, £18, Clarins, Boots, Canada Place

54 | CANARY WHARF

candle de-light THE PROMISE: A scented candle laced with soft Turkish rose absolute sharpened by fresh notes of geranium.

THE VERDICT: Diptyque never lets us (and its army of well-heeled devotees) down. This outdoorsy scent had us dreaming of gardens and crisp summer nights.

Rosafolia Scented Candle, £44, Diptyque, Space.NK, Cabot Place

Jubilee Place

020 7513 2660

Try Before You Buy We would like to invite all new clients to experience a FREE luxury blow-dry service including...

- Professional hair consultation - Luxury shampoo and condition - Famous seanhanna head massage - Full service professional blow-dry

Please visit seanhanna.com/try for further details and to sign up for your Try Before You Buy voucher. This offer is available for a limited time only.

Terms & Conditions Apply Exclusive to first time clients. Must state you are booking a ‘Try Before You Buy’ appointment. Please present your voucher in salon. Bookings are subject to availability.

Image courtesy of Cartier

Something’s

in the air While we once coveted big-impact, big-name scents, there’s now a growing demand for little-known yet luxurious, fragrances.

Angelina Villa-Clarke finds out more

beauty

W

hile there’ll always be a place for a spritz of Chanel No. 5 or a burst of the sensual scent that is Guerlain’s Shalimar, the way we want to smell is changing. Many of us are seeking out more unusual brands in the quest to smell unique and in a decidedly top-end market, many perfume lovers are willing to pay eye-popping prices for scents containing exotic, hard-to-source ingredients.

The proof? Consider that in October 2014, cosmetics conglomerate Estée Lauder Companies acquired the niche fragrance emporium Le Labo in a deal slated to be worth around $60m. Soon after, it added Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle to its stable, which already includes some of the most well-known beauty brands in the world and its eponymous scents as well as the colognes of Tom Ford.

Coincidentally, the purchasing of Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle was finalised in the same month that Harrods unveiled a 5,000 sq ft Salon de Parfums to showcase an edited selection of the world’s rarest scents in the grand surroundings of a ‘fragrance gallery’, complete with twinkling chandeliers and impressive architectural columns (harrods.com).

Here, you can secure a limited edition bottle of Emerald Stars from the niche Italian brand Xerjoff (£350 for 50ml) or, indeed, invest in the world’s most expensive perfume. The special edition version of Clive Christian’s No 1 fragrance, which was first launched 15 years ago, comes in a 24-carat gold and diamond encrusted crystal bottle and is filled with 30ml of the scent, costing an eyewatering £143,000.

Alexia Inge, co-founder of Cult Beauty (cultbeauty.co.uk), which seeks out lesser-known beauty brands from across the world, agrees that we are shunning generic perfumes.

“No-one wants to smell like everyone else anymore,” she says. “A good perfume is like a fine wine – it always starts with old fashioned artistry and skill and takes at least 12 months to formulate. By comparison, most ‘celebrity’ perfumes are put together in two days. When you wear a niche fragrance people chase you down the street to find out what it is. It’s that elusive quality that we are all after.”

Her tips for unique scents include Molecule 01 by British brand Escentric Molecules (£65 for 100ml). “Its pheromonic effect smells different on everyone and yet is intensely alluring. You will never get as many compliments about your scent as when you’re wearing this,” she says.

“Black Jade by Lubin Paris [£65 for 50ml] is another must-try. It’s based on an ancient composition called Jardin Secret, which was made especially for Marie Antoinette by royal perfumer Jean-Louis Fargeon, to whom Lubin was apprenticed. It has smoky notes yet is very feminine. It’s basically a rose floral, with attitude.”

Renowned for his alternative take on scent is perfumer Francis Kurkdjian (franciskurkdjian.com) a man who is best known as the ‘nose’ behind Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male, one of the world’s bestselling perfumes, not to mention another 40 fragrances he created for major perfume companies. Inspired by the origins of perfume,

“Creating a scent is a way to express myself and create unique emotions” he launched his own luxury fragrance house, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, in Paris in 2009. Customers can visit his fragrance atelier for a bespoke service but as well as perfumes for women and men, his olfactory creations include impregnated papers and perfumed bubbles to scent the home. He has also been called upon to create ‘perfume installations’, including decadently scenting the fountains at the Palace of Versailles.

“Creating a scent is a way to express myself and create unique emotions,” he says. “People look for something new to wear that will make them noticeable and garner comments when they are wearing it. A fragrance is a story. You need a beginning and an end.”

With a cult following already well established, Byredo, a Stockholm-based perfume house, is also gaining momentum in the perfume world, not least because of its enigmatic founder Ben Gorham. Having had no formal training as a ‘nose’, his unusual creations – such as Gypsy Water and Bal D’Afrique – explore the connection between scent and memory, and are meant to take the wearer on a personal journey (byredo.com).

“As a perfumer, having a unique voice is vital,” he

CANARY WHARF | 57

says. “A great fragrance should have something to say, and transport the wearer to another place. Byredo is about the vision – we seek to take the wearer on a journey and to surprise them along the way. It’s nice to use a rare or little-known ingredient to add the element of surprise.

In my Flowerhead scent I used lingonberry, for instance, which achieved this perfectly because it is typically used in Sweden for jam”.

“Fragrances have become ‘bigger’ in the last few years,” he continues. “Customers are more confident and much happier to make a statement with their scent.

The celebration of the individual is another influence – our customers want to smell unique and use a fragrance that says something about them as individuals.”

While mainstream perfume houses focus on glitzy packaging as much as – or sometimes more – than the fragrance, with obscure labels it’s all about the content and artistry. The emphasis is on using higher concentrations of perfume extracts and natural ingredients, which means it can command a premium price. Packaging, by contrast, is often simpler, albeit

sophisticated, in design.

Christa Moreau, the founder of Scent Corner (scentcorner.com), a luxury online emporium that sources unusual scents from around the globe, agrees: “I believe more and more people are prepared to pay a higher price for their perfume as long as it is singular, authentic, while also carrying strong values.

“Only small niche brands have the time to spend several years in the creation of a new fragrance, to use the finest quality of raw materials or to work with craftsmen who can hand craft each bottle,” she explains.

“This freedom makes authentic perfumery a real luxury.

“As an example, I recently discovered the omumbiri, a raw material gathered by the indigenous Himba women from Namibia. We now stock some South African brands, such as Frazer Parfum, that are among the only ones in the world to include omumbiri in their creations.”

Derived from the Latin word meaning ‘to choose the best’, new British perfume brand Electimuss also takes inspiration from further afield. The label’s starting point is the ancient Romans, who used only rare and exotic ingredients in their perfumes sourced from their expansive empire (electimussparfum.com). Its Pure Perfume Series

“It is warm, dark and sensual and smells like nothing else on the market” uses a very high concentration of essential oils – such as that from the Golden Champaca flower found in the Himalayas – making it attractive to perfume aficionados, and giving it unusually long-lasting properties.

Other ‘under-the-radar’ brands – such as Odin New York, Juliette Has A Gun and Thameen – also have their own way of catering for this growing appetite for the unusual. Odin New York’s new White Line scents, for instance, pull together fine, raw materials in pure form and are presented in elegant white-onwhite bottles (odinedt.com).

Juliette Has A Gun, founded by Romano Ricci, approaches perfumery as art and has just launched a new luxury collection, with a first offering called Moon Dance. It features exquisite natural ingredients to create an intense floral blend (approximately £180 for 75ml, juliettehasagun.com).

“Our new range has enabled me to indulge myself as a perfumer but also indulge our clients by using some of the most rare and costly ingredients on the market,” Juliette Has a Gun’s Ricci says. “A sumptuous velvety rose absolute and an incredibly sensual tuberose, the most hypnotic of all the white blossoms, are a joy

beauty

to work with and to wear. I also hunted down the most beautiful saffron. It is very expensive, but it is incredible.”

No expense is spared with Thameen’s limited edition Palace Oud, which costs £2,500 for 30ml due to its precious ingredients. Rare Indian oud, aged for 12 years, wild Egyptian jasmine and Arabian rose from Taif are brought together in a hand-blown crystal decanter. Consumers need to be quick off the mark, though, as only 100 bottles have been made (thameenfragrance.com).

Finally, Nasomatto, the fragrance project of international creative perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri, aims to offer conceptualised scents that are both radical and unique (nasomatto.com). Having composed perfumes for many fragrance houses, the off-shoot label – translated as ‘crazy nose’ in Italian – was formed to allow Gualtieri the freedom to use a tranche of new ingredients, including camel dung from the Arabian Desert and hashish, with the latter being used as the central ingredient in his standout perfume Black Afgano.

“Black Afgano was the first ever ‘black’ fragrance and also the first to feature hashish as its central note,” says industry expert Michael Donovan.

“When it launched a few years ago, this scent caused a major stir with beauty buffs. It sold out at Selfridges,

where it was first stocked, instantly and devotees would queue to get their hands on it once they heard that a new batch had arrived. It’s still very hard to get a bottle unless you’re quick. It became the fragrance to copy – although nobody else has got it quite right. It is warm, dark and sensual and smells like nothing else on the market.”

Of course, the ultimate purchase in luxury perfumery is that of your own bespoke scent and for some, only the work of late Jean-Paul Guerlain’s protégée Mathilde Laurent will do. Since 2005, Laurent has been overseeing personal orders as the in-house perfumer at Cartier (cartier.com), where €52,000 (around £38,000) will procure a gold and crystal fragrance bottle, with the options of adding initials, stencilled drawings – and even diamonds. However, Laurent is adamant that the latest trend in perfumery for niche compositions is not about extravagance. “It’s not always the point,” she says.

“A three-hour appointment with a perfumer, talking about your life and your pleasures, is a very nice conversation, like taking a walk through your mind. It is often the case that people want something that they can be proud of. They can truly say ‘ok it’s mine’; understanding someone so well is something that is at the heart of human communication.”

CANARY WHARF | 59

MIXTE storage & ODESSA dining table. Design: Mauro Lipparini.

VIK carver chair. Design: Thibault Desombre.

HEX HEX rug. Design: Bertjan Pot. TRÉPIED floor lamps. Design: Normal Studio.

Ligne Roset City 37/39 Commercial Road London E1 1LF 0207 426 9670 www.ligne-roset-city.co.uk

BUSINESS Moving to greener pastures More than half of the City would jump ship due to a poor bonus, new research from leading recruitment firm Astbury Marsden has found. At 54 per cent, it’s the highest proportion since the survey began which positively reflects a growing confidence in the City’s job market. For those eyeing up their options, 2014 was a bumper year for bonuses, with most senior City workers surveyed predicting a 21 per cent bonus rise, even in light of regulatory pressure to scale back large payouts. astburymarsden.com

Image courtesy of Graham and Green, grahamandgreen.co.uk

BUSINESS

Business Digest Stats, facts and an eye on the movers and shakers shaping the world of business and finance Words: aimee latimer

£5.7

trillion

‘‘ A word – from –

the wise

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it”

The total value of UK homes, in January 2015 according to research by Savills

 The King’s speech Two leading figures in economics are giving a talk on the global economy in light of the 2008 financial collapse, as part of Jewish Book Week 2015. FT chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf, and former governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, will discuss what lessons we need to learn in the wake of the crisis at 8.30pm on Wednesday 25 February at Kings Place.

Tickets £19.50, book online at kingsplace.co.uk

Out performing  It’s bad news for all our readers who chose hedge funds over clown college. Government statistics have found that the UK’s creative industries are now worth £71.4bn per year to the UK economy, which equates to £8m an hour across the fields of film, television, music and publishing. gov.uk

FOLLOW THE LEADER: Who: Carl Icahn @Carl_C_Icahn Why: Chairman of Icahn Enterprises L.P. and a billionaire investor with the Midas touch.

He knows the industry inside out and can get political.

– Estée Lauder, businesswoman

 ONE TO READ Strategist, spin doctor, ball-buster – call him what you will, Alastair Campbell is the man who advised Tony Blair while the Labour Party were in power for a decade.

His new book is a study of success, with Campbell peeling back the layers of the world’s achievers to

find out why certain people excel, and whether the drive to succeed is innate or a mindset we all can develop. He analyses the different worlds of politics, business and sports to discover what works, who wins and why. And in his dogged style, Campbell draws on the examples of others to help explain how great teams are built and setbacks are overcome, all in the pursuit of a goal. Overall, it’s an ambitious read.

Available 26 February.

Winners: And How They Succeed by Alastair Campbell, £16, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place

CANARY WHARF | 63

Social Media in a

We all like to share details of our newest chronograph with our friends, but how does the accessibility of social media benefit a luxury brand’s image? Gabrielle Lane asks the experts

D

iscretion. Personalisation. Exclusivity.

At first glance, the bywords for luxury aren’t immediately aligned with the concept of social media – an online network that prides itself on enabling its users to say, do and see anything, anywhere – with often more than a dash of ill-thought colloquialism. As Facebook continues to tweak its algorithms and warn business users that their news posts are now competing with an average of 1,500 others to be displayed, the debate about how premium brands should engage with their consumers online has been reignited.

Getting it right is essential. In the past five years, the number of online sales of luxury goods made globally has grown by nearly 25 per cent, according to market research firm, Euromonitor International.

And while “the difference between being a natural part of these circles and over-extending oneself into irrelevant audiences is targeting,” admits Phillip Dyte, social media manager at digital marketing agency iProspect, he explains “the average UK user checks their smartphone 110 times per day, spending about 15 to 20 per cent of all their time on Facebook and eight per cent on Twitter. When it comes to social media, the biggest mistake would be to ignore it.”

Having worked on the digital strategies of brands including Burberry, Mini and Diageo, iProspect has witnessed the growing importance of social media as a marketing strategy, first hand. “Brands are becoming bolder and more confident,” says Dyte. “They understand more than ever that yes, people really do make

decisions and alter behaviour based on social signals from their friends and from advertising, and that they must be a part of that process. We have seen a jacket purchased from China, via Alibaba, following a blog referral, after a Google image search, triggered by Pinterest. That is the kind of user journey we now have to quantify.”

Just being present online isn’t enough for a brand to reinforce its allure though. For Louisa Corben, marketing and communications director for IWC Schaffhausen, all interactions with its estimated 995,000 Facebook fans, 57,000 Twitter followers and 122,000 Instagram subscribers, must be carefully executed. “By ensuring the content is of a luxury nature and of high-quality at all times, it is possible for a luxury brand to use social media platforms to amplify the brand’s luxury positioning,” she tells me. “In the case of IWC Schaffhausen, whose social media channels enable the brand to express its identity and communicate in a dialogue

“The average UK user checks their smartphone 110 times per day” with its customers, luxury content including the use of high-end horology imagery, high-profile events and luxury experiences, ensures that this dialogue exposes IWC’s community to the brand’s luxury universe.”

While a professional brand’s approach is fundamental, in particular to digital activity in the luxury sector, iProspect’s Dyte points out that a company’s digital strategy should be changed for each platform. “At first glance the content seems so transferrable: short copy, images, video, even hashtags are multi-platform these days. Yet the differences are what make these platforms: if Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest were all the same, there would only be one social network that did everything. Likewise you must be supple and fluid between these options. As a business, you must make sure that you really understand why people would want to hear from you at each destination, and how you would then speak to them accordingly.”

The ability to adapt to different platforms and contribute to an overarching brand experience has been exemplified in recent years by Burberry, which

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Luxury World

coincidentally has the highest number of Facebook fans of any luxury fashion brand, with a figure of more than 16.8m. Since August 2013, Burberry has had a presence on Weixin or ‘WeChat’ – China’s largest global messaging and networking tool. With storytelling key to Burberry’s marketing strategy in China, the brand opened its flagship store in Shanghai in the April 2014, with an interactive show featuring

Cara Delevingne flying through the air and musical performances by Paloma Faith. While in itself, the event was a successful spectacle, users of WeChat could unlock extra information about the performances, brand and store by zooming in, swiping or tapping their devices. It was, as chief executive Christopher Bailey explained, about ‘touching people emotionally’. “In China, story-telling stops things from being [just] product and starts to give it life,” he said.

Does social media, intangible and sometimes anonymous, promote emotional engagement? Can it simultaneously do this while making people feel like the treasured friends of luxury brands? Yes, says Dyte.

“Social media is about people. We still befriend the friends we wish to; it is still intrinsically about our networks and our experiences. If I’m a high-net-worth individual, all my best friends are in the room without any unwelcome interlopers crashing the party – so that when I scroll through the news feed, it is filled solely with the elements of life that are relevant to me, from the people I hold most dear. What could be more exclusive?”

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Men:

Why it’s time to embrace female breadwinners

As she explores the work/life balance of female breadwinners for a new book, DR. Suzanne Doyle-Morris explains how their role benefits romantic relationships

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hen asked to list the advantages of a relationship in which a female out-earns her romantic partner, it’s natural to focus on the benefits for her. These might include the professional fulfilment that pursuing a career brings; the financial freedom to leave an unhappy union and the ability to renegotiate the traditional power balance in a relationship. However, these benefits hide a larger truth. The true winners of women’s increasing economic empowerment are men; the men these women love, the

men they live with and the men they support.

As I found when writing Female Breadwinners: How They Make Relationships Work and Why They are the Future of the Modern Workforce, the choice to retrain, take a career break, pursue a less lucrative role or become entrepreneurial is a freedom men who have felt the weight of funding family life have not historically enjoyed. Now, with an estimated 26 per cent of working women out-earning their live-in partner (according to research by University of Cambridge), these opportunities are being offered to men who love

FEATURE

Main image: products sourced by Quintessentially Gifts, quintessentiallygifts.com

independent, working women with the potential to earn well – female breadwinners.

While it’s not exactly plain sailing for the 21st century man whose partner out-earns him – it can lead to resentment, guilt, and stress on both sides – knowing your partner can provide financially has become a recent necessity for many men in the dating world as a result of social and economic conditions. Firstly, most families are

“By the time their daughter, Karen, was born, Elise was a partner and paid a higher salary than Lionel” now made up of two workers, so gender determinism – the unconscious bias that men and women should take certain roles – is less prevalent. Secondly, as we saw during the recession, even the most coveted jobs in the City are unstable. In a world where security nets are scarce, who wouldn’t want to benefit from a higher family income without pressure to earn it oneself? Financially independent women have allowed men a greater sense of freedom and choice than ever before.

Elise and Lionel, who have been married for 16 years, earned the same amount when they first met. She was a trainee architect and he worked in IT for a Canary Wharf-based bank. Lionel enjoyed his job, but Elise loved hers, setting her heart on become a partner at her firm. She explains: “My company started out as a small partnership, and the opportunities for growth were fantastic. I earned several rapid promotions and I was motivated. I knew it would be easier to leverage more freedom to my day if I were senior.”

By the time their daughter Karen was born, Elise was a partner and paid a higher salary than Lionel. On the other hand, Lionel’s interest in his back-office role was waning. Elise recalls: “Before we had children, Lionel was always the favourite uncle to my sister’s kids. I knew he would be great with our own, and he was open to the idea of staying home from the beginning.”

Shortly after Karen was born, Lionel was made redundant from the job he didn’t love. With Elise’s career in the ascendency, they could just about manage on one income. They also knew that even if Lionel got another job, it would be a precarious situation because redundancies were becoming commonplace in banking after the crash. While Lionel’s career break wasn’t planned, Elise’s career trajectory meant that Lionel staying at home was a real option for them – an option that wouldn’t have existed for men a few decades ago.

Admittedly, the arrangement has generated a little masculine angst for Lionel around the issue of childcare.

Elise says: “Not surprisingly, he struggled most when she was a baby – but so did I. I remember it myself from my few weeks of maternity leave. I’d just crave adult stimulation.”

During my research, I found that men who adapted best to the role of homemaker were those for whom their identity was not solely aligned with their career or earnings. While Lionel looks after their daughter, he is also re-training in cabinetry – a hobby he loves, but felt unable to pursue until Elise’s career took off.

In Lionel’s case, the practical implication for lower childcare costs has also reinforced the benefits of choosing a non-traditional role. As have the admiring comments he has received from friends who want to spend more time with their own children.

The most satisfied female breadwinners recognise they can earn well and that it’s their choice to be the main breadwinner. Elise says: “My friends with part-time jobs always seemed pulled in two directions. This allowed me to focus at work and I feel Lionel is far better with Karen than I would be. She is with the best carer we could provide – her dad.”

While some might suggest that women can feel trapped or resentful when becoming the main breadwinner, this is usually in cases where it ceases to be a choice and becomes an expectation – a factor that can affect both partners equally. Ladies, welcome to the Boy’s Club.

Female Breadwinners: How they Make Relationships Work and Why They are the Future of the Modern Workplace is available on Amazon, femalebreadwinners.com

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Chanukah celebrations come to Canary Wharf In celebration of the Jewish festival, Chanukah, a huge Menorah was installed in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Park on Tuesday 16 December 2014, with extra lights switched on to mark each of the eight nights of the festival.

Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire of the 2nd century BC, also known as the Festival of Lights.

KPMG hosted an event in their offices to celebrate the switching on of the first light and the event was widely attended by elderly members of the Jewish community.

The following evening, Citibank staged a communal candle lighting ceremony in Jubilee Park, next to the large Menorah, followed by refreshments at Citi’s offices and songs, sung by the Menorah Grammar School Choir.

Members of the local Jewish community and local elderly people, as well as employees from the Wharf, were invited to the festive occasion.

Canary Wharf Group serves up a festive feast for elderly group

Canary Wharf contractors bring new lease of life to local community centre Canary Wharf Contractors Limited (CWCL) and its partners celebrated the completion of major refurbishment works to the St Matthias Community Centre in Poplar. This much-loved former church and London community centre is the oldest building in the Docklands.

The contractors team, based at the Canary Wharf Crossrail Project, just five minutes’ walk from the centre, delivered more than 750 man hours and all the necessary equipment to renovate the ceilings, walls and lighting at no cost to the venue. Others involved in the philanthropic initiative inlcuded Roseville, Imtech / PBS, Thorn, HSS, and MKS. St Matthias Community Centre, a rare example of mixed gothic and classical architecture, was built by the East India Company in 1654 and was used as a place of worship until the 1970s. Today, it is used by a wide range of groups including Neighbours in Poplar, SPLASH, Tower Hamlets College and East End Community Foundation and is affectionately known as the ‘Village Hall’.

A group of four employees from Canary Wharf Group, together with staff and volunteers from St Katherines Over 55s Club, volunteered their time to prepare and serve a Christmas feast for around 34 club members. Held in the church hall at St Mary & St Joseph in Poplar, the lunch was enjoyed by elderly people from the club, which meets every Monday in The Guild Room (church hall) in Canton Street, Poplar, E14.

After lunch was served the volunteers were on hand to help with a raffle draw and a game of bingo was added to the festivities.

As well as rallying willing volunteers from various departments, Canary Wharf Group also made a donation to help cover the cost of the food. The lunch was delicious and the occasion was highly enjoyed by all.

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

Image courtesy of Selfridges, selfridges.com

The Peer-to-Peer economy: A new way to live a luxury lifestyle From borrowing luxury homes to jointly investing in lollipops, imogen finlay discovers how a desire for value and experience is encouraging the super-rich to share

FEATURE

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he high-net-worth individual returns to a four bedroom apartment overlooking Canary Wharf. She parks her ivory Maserati, adjusts the timepiece on her wrist and glances at an iPhone screen that displays a recommendation for a local restaurant, resolving to swipe through a few business pitches later. Then, with a smile, she deletes her numbers from the phone’s SIM card and hands over the keys – to the car, the house and the cornerstones of her London lifestyle. It’s a routine that currently plays out across the world and – if trend analysts are to be believed – one that will continue to do so ever more frequently in 2015. For HNW individual X is not the member of an elaborate espionage plot, but an affluent individual benefitting from the peer-to-peer economy, which has

flourished in an era in which luxury is being redefined.

Conspicuous consumption and its gaudy labels are on the way out; the wealthy consumer wants choice and authenticity. And they’ll get it by sharing services and products with individuals who are just like them.

In simple terms, a peer-to-peer economy revolves around access to a pool of assets rather than ownership of them. Existing users can make money from lending their possessions, time or savings to those looking for short-term benefits. Typically, the process is facilitated by an online platform that highlights the options and safeguards the exchange. Such is the appeal that professional services company PwC estimates that a quarter of adults in the UK already use these digital marketplaces, and predicts that the industry in the UK will be worth £9bn by 2025.

What is interesting is that it’s consumers who can afford to buy their own sports car or luxury holiday home that are increasingly keen to share, shunning the idea of exclusivity that has traditionally gone hand-inhand with wealth. This is particularly true in the travel sector where luxury home rental services such as One Fine Stay are thriving by offering accommodation in £250-£2,000 per night townhouses and apartments while their owners are away, as an alternative to hotel suites. According to Caroline Bremner, head of travel and tourism at research consultancy Euromonitor International, there are various social and economic factors at play.

“Since the recession, people have been looking for non-standardised experiences with added value.

They want unique attributes rather than homogenised brands. The peer-to-peer business model started out as something more mainstream but by facilitating unique opportunities, it has aligned itself with the way that luxury concierge services have been working. The rise of P2P companies is also linked to the presence of social networks, online reviews and mobile communication.

They occupy an intersection between luxury brands, loyalty and payments.”

Indeed, it was in 2009 when co-founder of One Fine Stay, Greg Marsh, felt that he hadn’t ‘cracked the soul’ of a visit to Pisa, that he started to assemble a portfolio of properties around a simple proposition: visitors would have access to home comforts and local knowledge through an online booking service and home owners would benefit financially from their absence.

“He tracked down a restaurant recommended by a friend and it transformed his whole experience so he wanted to open that opportunity up to everyone,” says the company’s head of brand marketing, Miranda Cresswell. “There will always be the high net-worth

CANARY WHARF | 71

consumer who wants to isolate themselves in a fivestar hotel with butler service, but being able to live like you own a home in one of the world’s best cities is the ultimate privilege. The additional value is that One Fine Stay is there for you throughout the experience – we offer bespoke toiletries, provide high-quality linen, check you in and give you an iPhone for the duration of your trip loaded with recommendations and insights into the area.

It’s worth paying more to have a hand-picked collection of homes.”

While Cresswell is decidedly tight-lipped about the expansion plans of One Fine Stay (its current portfolio of members’ properties is valued at £5bn), analysts indicate that the food and drink sector is most likely to see peer-to-peer projects flourishing. Firstly, because food and drink services are considered integral to an authentic destination experience (prompting a level of demand and expenditure closely tied to travel costs). Secondly, because the opportunity to dine with local cooks in their homes (eatwith.com) or enjoy tours and classes with food enthusiasts (bookalokal.com) is free of many of the risks which might plague peer-to-peer fashion or automobile businesses. Just months after 300 members joined luxury car sharing service HiGear in LA in 2012, the company closed following the theft of four cars with a total value of $400,000: subscribers had assumed stolen identities to bypass security checks and pay deposits for the vehicles.

“It’s worth paying more to have a hand-picked collection of homes”

Explaining the closure of the company to its members, CEO Ali Moiz suggested that the level of operational risk increases as peer-to-peer businesses strive to offer access to ever more luxurious goods. “Even by improving security and processes, we are not completely sure we can prevent an incident of this sort happening again, given the peerto-peer nature of the service,” he wrote. “It is difficult to eliminate identity theft completely on the internet… when you compound that with the sum of large losses, it creates an untenable situation. We do not believe other peer-topeer services that focus on economy everyday cars are at the same level of risk of theft. Criminals get a better return for their efforts with more expensive vehicles.”

Aside from guaranteeing the security of their members’ possessions, it is the ability of peer-to-peer businesses to present themselves as a practical lifestyle solution for the corporate audience that is crucial to their success, says Euromonitor’s Bremner. It is, after all, often the time-poor business traveller who has assets in various locations but less time to enjoy them.

“As shown by the World Travel Market Report 2014, peer-to-peer rentals currently constitute six per cent of the accommodation market but this figure is growing. If you target the business market, you have a lead in the luxury market as many of the individuals are executives with a relatively high disposable income. Accordingly, I think we will see peer-to-peer companies partnering with brands

FEATURE

such as American Express in the near future, offering users special benefits if they use a peer-to-peer service in order to connect further with this audience. I predict that there’ll also be increasing price points within the market.”

Peer-to-peer platforms have already introduced new ways for individuals in the business community to work together. Last year, financial regulations were introduced in the UK to support online funding forums, which allow entrepreneurs to pitch directly to investors seeking to buy equity. Again, the concept was born of economic and social conditions. “On the one hand, savers get very low interest rates at the moment as central banks around the world have lowered interest rates in an attempt to boost economic growth, on the other hand, credit for businesses is scarce. This is paradoxical, so borrowers and savers have looked for alternative ways to make the most of credit and savings opportunities,” explains Callum Williams, economics reporter at The Economist.

Enter Crowdcube, one funding platform that last year facilitated more than £12m of investment and this year will oversee transactions to the tune of £30million. “[Cofounder] Darren Westlake and I realised how difficult it was for small to medium enterprises to raise finance and that the options were offline and outdated. We wanted to be able to help entrepreneurs while making investing in businesses accessible and affordable for everyone,” says Luke Lang, chief marketing officer and co-founder, who helped campaign for changes in legislation to make peerto-peer lending possible.

While investments can be made for as little as £10 through Crowdcube, individual shareholders have committed to sums of up to £400,000 in the past and more than 115,000 individuals are currently registered to view the business pitches online. As with lifestyle assets, there is a practical element to the success of peer-to-peer lending – the busiest time for investors to pledge funds is between the convenient lunch hour of 12pm and 1pm – and authenticity remains key to attracting subscribers.

“People are able to invest with their head and heart,” says Lang.

“Typically if you’re investing into FTSE 100 businesses, they are faceless, corporate organisations.

Or if you put money into an ISA it gets invested on your behalf. This way, investors can connect with the people behind an organisation and they’re getting the intangible benefit of having a social and environmental impact.”

Christine Lomax is one personal investor in London, who praises peer-to-peer lending through Crowdcube and has pledged finance of over £26,000 to pitches to date.

“Crowdcube is more personal than other investment options,” she says. “I like the fact that I’m making my own decisions. The openness is exciting – as well as business plans and cash flows you can see exactly how close the founders are to their target, how many people have invested, and who they are.”

The simple nature of the service also attracts a vibrant range of small companies. “We’ve seen huge demand for the service since 2011,” says Lang. “Peer-to-peer business now means you can invest your time and money in anything from lollipop-making to defending ships from pirates in Somalia. There are some really interesting opportunities out there.” Just ask your network. euromonitor.com; onefinestay.com; crowdcube.com; economist.com

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UNCOVER HIDDEN TALENTS WITH GINETTA

From road to race track, call today to find out where Ginetta can take you.

CALL 0113 385 4171 | EMAIL sales@ginetta.com | WEB ginetta.com ginettacars

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Photography by Mike Petch

MOTORING JOIN the converted On 28 February, BMW is launching a new convertible as part of its 2 series in the UK. It follows in the substantial footsteps of BMW’s 2007 1 series soft-top – the world’s most popular open-top premium model in its vehicle class.

It’ll be available in four sub models, ranging from six to four cylinders in petrol and diesel options. All the models have been designed for a flawless drive with sport steering, featuring rear-wheel drive, longitudinally mounted engines and sophisticated balanced axles for load distribution.

Another outstanding edition by BMW – here’s hoping it ever gets warm enough to put the top down. £POA, bmw.co.uk

FROM THE FIRST WHISTLE TO THE LAST Wembley Stadium is home to the most important games in football, from The FA Community Shield and England’s European Qualifiers to The FA Cup Final. To find out how you can guarantee your place at this year’s biggest sport and entertainment events with Club Wembley, call 0800 783 1440 @ClubWembley

motoring

Ford springs

a Detroit surprise GT marks the 50th anniversary of the Blue Oval’s first Le Mans win Words: Matthew Carter

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ou don’t often get surprises at motor shows these days – secrets are just too hard to keep. But Ford managed just that in January as it revealed the new Ford GT to a stunned audience.

Journalists on press day were expecting a hot RS version of the latest Focus, but instead got a swooping 600bhp, mid-engined two-seater. Of the Focus, there was no sign at all.

Due for limited production in 2016, when it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT40’s 1-2-3 win at the 1966 Le Mans, the new GT

is a supercar in the Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren mould.

Using lightweight materials including carbon fibre and aluminium and featuring advanced aerodynamics, the new GT will be powered by a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine to provide an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.

Design features include doors that open upwards while the seats are fixed in the carbon fibre passenger cell: the pedals and steering column are adjustable to ensure the perfect driving position.

And with racing style suspension and a paddle shift transmission, there’s even talk the new GT could mark Ford’s return to Le Mans.

It’s not the first time Ford has evoked the memory of the iconic GT40. In 2004, the company introduced the original GT, which faithfully updated the GT40 styling. Just 4,000 were built and they quickly became a sought after collector’s car. Expect the same to happen with the new GT.

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Aston-ishing!

Need a four seater but want an Aston Martin? The answer is the Rapide S, says MATTHEW CARTER, a car that lives up to its name

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isten, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that and I really shouldn’t be sounding off like this… but if you don’t agree that the Aston Martin Rapide S is anything but drop-dead gorgeous you need your eyes testing.

Creating a great looking four-door, four-seat car that genuinely resembles a two-door coupé isn’t easy to pull off – just look at the gawky Porsche Panamera if you want proof. But with the Rapide, Aston has done just that.

This is a car with presence, with poise. It remains faithful to the overall sports car lines of a typical Aston Martin, but it has genuine practicality to go with it. Some would say it’s the most beautiful four-door car in the world – and I’d have to agree with them.

Mind you, you’d need a large garage to house the thing.

The only problem about building a car with a 6.0-litre V12 engine up front, two rows of seats in the middle and a boot behind, is that it’s a configuration that takes up a lot of space. The Rapide is a long, large and, despite extensive use of aluminium in its make up, heavy car.

Conversely, despite its overall length, the cabin remains – shall we say, snug while the boot needs careful packing if you want to take much more than an overnight bag.

But while the rear seats aren’t big enough to house

anyone from the England Six Nations squad, they will take a couple of young children in relative comfort – relative being the operative word.

“It remains faithful to the overall sports car lines of a typical Aston Martin, but it has genuine practicality to go with it” The Aston Rapide first appeared in 2010 and was built in Austria with a target of 2,000 units a year, a target it missed handsomely. It was launched at the wrong time, bang in the middle of a recession, but it’s also fair to say that the car didn’t quite come up to scratch.

What we have now is a comprehensively revised Rapide, built in Britain, which this time really hits the spot. Although it looks virtually the same as before – new bonnet, wings and huge new grille aside – there are many, many changes that make this, effectively, a brand new car. The entire front-end structure is new, the body has been strengthened, the chassis upgraded and the glorious cabin has been refreshed.

The engine, too, has been given a makeover and is

motoring

mounted lower in the chassis to lower the centre of gravity. The gargantuan 6.0-litre V12 now produces more than 550hp (much the same as a Vanquish, for goodness’ sake) and is mated to an eight-speed automatic, operated by push button switches in the dashboard and paddle shifts behind the steering wheel – there’s no room here for anything as conventional as a gear lever.

It’s enough to propel the beast to 60mph from rest in a fraction more than four seconds and on to a top speed of more than 200mph. Rapide by name and nature and not bad for a family saloon.

And it has the most fabulous sound track, a V12 growl that bellows from the moment you hit the starter button: early morning departures are not in the least neighbour friendly.

Sports car performance, then. And sports car poise, too. The Rapide S might be five metres long, but the changes to the chassis and the steering allow the car to shrink around you. Unlike the anaesthetised steering found in most luxury sports cars, the Aston has an almost old-school weight, feel and accuracy that really allows you to appreciate what the front wheels are doing.

And that’s matched by a ride that’s luxury car smooth, yet somehow remains sports car firm and involving at the same time. It is surprisingly easy to hustle along country roads, yet it also excels as a motorway cruiser. If you’re looking for a car in which to drive across Europe this is it, especially as when driven half sensibly it will return fuel economy in the mid 20s and not the expected low teens.

That luxury car appeal extends to the cabin, which is as fine an example of the craftsman’s art as you’ll find anywhere with fine leather and contrasting stitching covering the ultra supportive sports seats.

It’s not all perfect, though. The thumping great transmission tunnel running through the car turns the interior into four distinct compartments which, when coupled to the high waistline, creates an almost claustrophobic effect inside. This is particularly prevalent in the rear where the problem is compounded by the high backs of the front seats.

Another problem, I was told, concerned the vanity mirror in the front passenger seat visor. Because the front screen is comparatively narrow it follows that the sun visors are small and, as a direct result of this, the vanity mirror is spectacularly useless when required to aid the application of make-up. It’s not an issue as far as I’m concerned as I never apply lipstick when driving.

More of a problem is the dashboard, which is an ergonomic disaster. It’s festooned with fiddly switches and hard-to-read dials while the less said about the dim-witted sat nav the better: tiny screen and clunky controls make it feel as if it’s at least three

generations out of date – which is probably is.

But these are minor quibbles, most of which can attributed to the fact that Aston is a minnow and prefers to concentrate its limited funds where it matters – on the chassis and engine – rather than on peripherals.

And besides, with ties to Mercedes-Benz getting stronger all the time, there may soon be enough cash in the kitty to equip the thing with a decent sat nav and sensible door handles. Or even a vanity mirror worthy of the name.

Beautiful lines, unbelievable performance, glorious engine… what’s not to like about the Rapide S? Well, here’s a thing. Personally I wouldn’t bother with the Rapide. The reason? Simply that if I had a four-seat Aston I just know I’d be obliged to share it with others – and where’s the fun in that? No, as good as the Rapide is, I’d rather have my Aston as a Vantage.

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VEHICLE SPECS 

Car: Aston Martin Rapide S Price: £147,950 Engine: Front-mounted; 5,935cc, V12 petrol Power: 552hp Performance: 203mph max, 0-60mph in 4.2 secs Drive: Rear-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission

CANARY WHARF | 79

Taking off: The new toy of choice

Whether it’s for covert surveillance or to entertain nieces and nephews, thousands of us now own a remote-controlled craft. Bemused? MIKE PEAKE offers an introduction to the world of the drone

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f newspaper reports are to be believed, you can’t leave home these days without being buzzed by a drone or having your 747 into London come perilously close to colliding with one of these glorified mini helicopters. If you’re a celebrity, paparazzi drones are almost guaranteed to be hovering 24/7 over your house; if you’re an entrepreneur, you’re expected to be rubbing your hands with glee at the number of drone-based applications you’re going to invent.

Drones are everywhere.

They were the go-to toy for boys and men this Christmas, and their proliferation shows no signs of slowing down.

Just what, exactly, is all the fuss about? “well, they’re great fun to fly,” says Andrew Griffiths, whose Yorkshire-based company Droneflight (droneflight.co.uk) sells some of the best on the market.

“Droneflight is basically my hobby of the last five years that turned into a business 18 months ago, and there’s been a massive surge of interest from people either being inspired as photographers to want to use them in their work, or from people looking to change their career and start doing aerial work.”

Among those in the latter group are people who now make aerial films of houses for estate agents and people who survey farms and vineyards for signs of trouble. In Africa, drones have been used to keep track of poachers, while Amazon has been trialling them for use as aerial delivery vehicles. Countless more drones, of course, have been bought for as little as £20 by hobbyists to fly at home.

For Griffiths, it all started with an early version of the Parrot, a pioneering name in the field of personal drones

“There’s been a massive surge of interest from people being inspired by photographers’ use of them in their work”

FEATURE

that continues to lead the market. “It was an affordable bit of kit that you could fly around with an iPad for fun, and it really inspired me,” he says.

Everything, if you’ll excuse the pun, took off from there.

A typical drone has four small rotors and can be moved vertically and horizontally by remote control. If there’s an integrated camera, it can usually be rotated as well, with a joystick or via a smartphone or tablet. The ones in the shops can weigh as little as a few hundred grams or as much as 20kg and unsurprisingly it is the drones at the bulkier end of the market that are causing the media so much consternation.

“One big problem is that retailers are not under obligation to provide information about the law to buyers,” explains Andrew. “We have always sent a letter to buyers explaining that they need to operate within the legal framework and that there are certain things to be aware of. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently created a leaflet along the same lines and is asking retailers to give it to buyers, but it’s not mandatory.”

Those legal obligations, explains Richard Taylor at the CAA, include keeping a drone within your “line of sight”, which works out at about 120m vertically and 500m horizontally.

“Once they go outside those limits they become more difficult to control,” he says. “You also can’t fly within 50m of a building, person, vehicle or structure that is not within your control.”

A close-proximity fly-by of your friends at the park is fine if they’re in on it, then, but not if there’s someone walking his dog a short distance away.

The public, by and large, seems to be toeing the line, at least according to Taylor, whose team at the CAA have been quick to remind anyone flouting the law and posting their videos on YouTube that they need to watch out.

“We post messages in the comment sections,” Taylor says, “and in serious cases we will investigate”.

Indeed, two drone fliers were successfully prosecuted by the CAA last year.

But the goal is not to pull the plug on a fast-growing market – it’s more about reminding people to be careful.

And the ‘outraged British public’ isn’t complaining as much as you might think. “We’re getting a few complaints,” says Richard, “but the majority of owners are using them responsibly”.

At the last count, there were more than 350 licensed commercial drone operators in the UK, but the number of amateur ‘hobbyist’ fliers can only be guessed at. The CAA thinks it is in the tens – if not hundreds – of thousands.

If you want to join them, Droneflight’s Griffiths has the solution. “The DJI Phantom with a gimbal that you can clip your GoPro camera to is a dream toy,” he says. “We

sell it for around £1,300, and it comes in a beautiful case with a monitor.” A bit more expensive is the new DJI Inspire which comes with a 4K camera and looks like, “something out of Star Wars”.

A word of caution, however. With a recent near-miss between a jet and a drone over Heathrow – and thoughts of the myriad evil ways in which drones could be used by terrorists never far from the headlines – one serious incident could see the current legislation changed forever.

“It only takes one thing that catches the media’s imagination,” admits Andrew. “And I think it’s the people who fly for fun who will end up the victim of over-regulation. If you wanted someone to do some commercial filming with a drone at Canary Wharf, they’d have to tell the CAA 21 days in advance and jump through hoops to make sure it was safe. What isn’t safe is if someone sends a drone up into the air and doesn’t think about it.”

Clockwise from top left: Parrot Bebop; DJI Phantom; Parrot Jumping Sumo; DJI Inspire



DRONE SPEAK 

Know your Parrot from your gimbal Parrot: a leading name in drone production, established in France in 1994.

GoPro: the rugged HD camera used by adventure types all over the world. According to reports in November 2014, GoPro is currently working on its very own range of drones.

Gimbal: a pivoted support to which drone users attach their cameras. It provides stability and judder-free filming.

DJI: the other big name in drones. This Chinese brand’s Phantom collection is the top seller.

CANARY WHARF | 81

Seasoned Pros

meets Sarfraaz Patel of Season Car Hire, a company offering access to an exquisite range of luxury supercars alongside personalised service

George Chapman

PROMOTION

T

ravelling in style and comfort on a special occasion is a luxury that has experienced a surge in demand, according to Sarfraaz Patel, founder of Season Car Hire – London’s premier super and luxury car hire provider. Since 2006, Sarfraaz has made the most of his team’s vast knowledge of the luxury and supercar market, building up a diverse portfolio of clients who want access to exquisite cars at a moment’s notice.

“The majority of clients are not just our customers, we’ve become friends. We like to think of ourselves as a professional one-stop shop for our customers. Our services include car rental, chauffeur services, vehicle detailing and vehicle transportation,” he explains.

Avoiding complicated hire contracts wherever possible, Sarfraaz champions a straightforward approach with clients, helping to ensure repeat custom and the upmost customer satisfaction.

“In this frenetic day and age, time is always of the essence. Therefore our main aim is to make every hire as simple as possible, with access to the most sought-after vehicles available at the other end of the phone.”

Season Car Hire offers three hire concepts, all available with or without a driver: Luxury Car Rental, Prestige Car Rental and Super Car Rental. And, after just a few clicks on the seasoncars.com website, the fleet of available cars includes the Lamborghini Aventador and Huracán, BMW i8, Rolls-Royce Wraith and Mercedes-Benz S-Class – plus many more.

“Due to the type of clients that we deal with, we need

to think ahead on their behalf. We will do our best to provide whatever our client wants. We are always on hand to fulfil unique requests, regardless of the time of day or day of the week. Many of our clients are from overseas, so as you can imagine they can arrive at all hours. Quite literally going the extra mile, we have travelled hundreds of extra miles to deliver cars to Monaco, Paris and Belfast, to name a few destinations.”

“Our services can be used for a number of occasions including weddings, a business meeting or for holidaymakers who expect the very best,” he continues.

Unique requests are commonplace in the luxury world, and the premium car hire industry is no different.

According to Sarfraaz, one of the most recent requests came courtesy of a client who specifically asked for a Ferrari 458 Spider in red, which they only stocked in black at the time. The team at Season arranged for the vehicle to receive a special wrap, in his chosen colour, at short notice. But there are greater challenges still.

“The most extravagant request that we have received was for a party at the Indigo club at the O2 – the client requested a Ferrari to be parked inside the nightclub.

A few stressful days and sleepless nights later, we managed to arrange for the vehicle to be showcased inside and it was placed just by the dance floor.

It was quite an achievement as I don’t think it had been done before.”

To find out how Sarfraaz and the team at Season Car Hire can help you or to enquire about availability, visit seasoncars.com or call 020 8507 1951

CANARY WHARF | 83

200 years crafting a cognac with the perfect blend of aromas, so you can enjoy this moment.

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24/11/2014 12:46

FOOD & DRINK Winter Spirit CÎROC Vodka is celebrating the final months of winter with a pop-up bar at The Parlour. A limited edition menu (printed on scarves) consists of four exclusive cocktails – CÎROC Coconut and Peach vodkas add freshness, while its Amaretto and Red Berry flavours mixed with gingerbread syrup and cinnamon make for a delicious winter warmer, served in a thermos mug. The menu is available indoors, but with outdoor heaters, cosy furs and blankets on the terrace, there’s something romantic about braving the open air.

Wednesday-Friday, 4pm-8pm until end of February, The Parlour, Canada Square

FOOD & DRINK

Spoon-Fed Marley Spoon has now arrived in the UK and is encouraging people to get back into the kitchen, with its gourmet recipe kit delivery service. Seven dishes per week will be available to order for multiples of two people, including meat, fish and vegetarian options, which will only use seasonal produce. The ingredients and step-by-step instructions are then delivered to your door. Recipes such as lamb and sweet potato tagine and sesame salmon with ginger-potato mash aim to add variety, and if you just want to impress for one night don’t worry – no subscription is required. from £10pp, marleyspoon.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK Words: Melissa Emerson

Heart-to-Heart

Godiva’s creative partnerships with designers result in beautiful boxes for Valentine gifts, and this year’s editions follow a kaleidoscope theme using traditional symbols of love. A plush red fabric box with flowers and butterflies is a keep-sake option, containing Godiva classics and a selection from the chef chocolatiers’ Valentine specials – using quality Costa Rican and Peruvian cocoa beans, chocolate swirled bites are filled with fondant centres in five flavours. from £15, Godiva, Jubilee Place

First-Class Wine

 Strike it Rich Royal China in Canary Wharf is renowned for its traditional Cantonese and dim sum dishes, and will be celebrating Chinese New Year on 19 February, the date which marks the beginning of the Year of the Goat. In celebration of the day, all diners will have a red envelope delivered to their table. The red colour supposedly fends off evil spirits, and in Royal China’s take on the tradition, the finder of one lucky envelope can return for a complimentary meal up to the value of £100.

Royal China, Westferry Circus

86 | CANARY WHARF

Vinoa is a new wine tasting subscription service. Fine handcrafted wines are sourced from celebrated independent growers in classic wine regions like Mendoza in Argentina, and four miniature 50ml samples of them are delivered to your door each month, complete with an interactive tasting guide. You can also order full-size bottles of your favourites. from £9.99 monthly, vinoa.co.uk

Fashion Foodie To celebrate London Fashion Week hitting the capital this month, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has partnered with Maison Chloé for an exclusive guest experience for two. You can call the sumptuous Knightsbridge Turret suite home for a night, be wined and dined at a limited edition afternoon tea at The Rosebery with Chloé Fizz champagne cocktails, and wake to an à la carte breakfast, all before being whisked to the Chloé store to receive the brand new Drew bag. from £1,722, 12 February – 9 March, mandarinoriental.com

bbq & raw bar cocktails, wines & beers Launches Saturday 1st November Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park Open daily www.q-grill.co.uk #QonIce

There’s no taste

like home As James Martin releases his latest book, Home Comforts, he talks to Kari Colmans about autocue slip ups and surprising breakfast staples

All Photography by Yuki Sugiura

I

t’s hard not to feel like you already know a man with whom you’ve shared Saturday morning breakfasts, while poring over The Times, for more than a decade. But while I’ve been deciding between scrambled eggs and avocado or mashed banana on toast – and whether or not having three cups of tea before midday is excessive – James Martin’s been opting for the very un-gastro pairing of Red Bull and Twix. “That’s all I ask for in my dressing room,” he says. “Other people come up with all sorts of lists but I don’t have any requests before filming apart from eye drops, a Red Bull and a Twix. You know it’s bad when you’re going into work and there are people queuing to get into nightclubs.

It’s just a stupid o’clock time. But everyone’s all ‘give him a can and kick him out on set’.”

I’m talking to the born-and-bred Yorkshireman ahead of a second BBC series of Home Comforts and the official tie-in book, but most people will know him from Saturday Kitchen, a food centred talk show that has seen Martin juggling hot sauces and prickly celebs for the past 13 years.

“It’s multi-tasking – all women can do it can’t they?” he

laughs, and I’m relieved to find he’s as nice in real life as he is on the television. “You gain so much experience but it never gets any easier and so I never take it for granted.

Every Saturday I still try as hard as I did the first time.

You’ve got people shouting in your ear telling you how long you’ve got left, but the hard part is the autocue because I’m dyslexic. Then, you’re cooking while interviewing and you’ve also got somebody yapping in your ear.”

One of the funniest faux pas saw Martin “giving Rick Stein a great compliment” when he fluffed the last two consonants of the word “dish” to utter something rather insalubrious for a pre-watershed audience (the clip has currently pulled in more than 22,000 views on YouTube). “When you meet an A-lister you are always a bit scared but they are the ones who really get into it,” he says. “In recent times I was nervous with Michael Parkinson – he was pretty amazing. He is just a fantastic guy. I would love to have someone like David Attenborough on – he’s a great character.” But such is the nature of live TV that the gaffes aren’t limited to getting tongue-tied. “I think a big mistake that we once made was when we had birdwatcher and ornithologist Bill Oddie on the show. I presented him with a plate of mallard. Nobody realised through rehearsals all week but the penny dropped live on air that it probably wasn’t the greatest thing to do. Everyone else found it hilarious but he didn’t see the funny side.”

Martin has been surrounded by food for as long as he can remember. He started by working on his parents’ pig farm but at eight years old he was taken to his first ever restaurant kitchen and “fell in love”. He managed to work in “several really good Michelin-star restaurants” before he was 16 and then he had to choose between being a chef or going back to the farm to bring home the bacon quite literally. “It was bloody hard work our pig farm, so I chose the route that was slightly warmer rather than the one outdoors. But I think by working on a farm, you gain

FEATURE

respect for other people who make the food and that same ethos still applies [for me] now.” His first TV appearance came in the mid-1990s when he became a household chef name with his own show, championing local northern fare, as well as through Ready Steady Cook and The Big Breakfast: “It’s all a bit of a blur.” But ‘celebrity chef’ was never the end goal, he says, and I believe him – “It found me, I didn’t find it.” He’s been around long enough to laugh at the fads and to know that essentially, what we all want is a simple home-cooked meal.

“Nouvelle cuisine was always quite a funny one,” he sighs. “I remember working in one restaurant where we put four strawberries on the plate, covered one in gold leaf and charged 32 quid for it. How can anybody get away with charging 30 odd quid for four strawberries – bloody hell. We spent an hour painting that strawberry with gold leaf.

“I’m not really into the molecular sort of stuff either which is the way food was going for a while, but now it’s come back round to the simple form of cooking, which is always key. There is only one person that can really do [molecular gastronomy] in the UK and that is Heston, and we should leave him to it.”

Martin’s go-to ingredients for the ideal home-cooked meal are lamb chops and roast chicken, but when he’s really taking a step back, there’s only one place you’ll find him. “I’m getting older so I’ve got to have a nice chair to sit on. I invested in a proper big leather one. That’s my space when the dogs don’t steal it, but they like it as much as what I do, so you’ve got to kick them off. It’s by Ralph Lauren Home, the sort you sit in rather than on.”

For dinner parties, he’d recommend something like beef stew and dumplings, which you can put in the oven and forget about. “Too many people try and invent things and end up in a disaster because they are trying to do two things at once. You can do lamb particularly well at this time of year, it’s so inexpensive, especially this amazing thing called hogget – it’s from a year old lamb, in-between lamb and mutton really.” True to form, I see him serve up some hogget to an impressed Pixie Lott the following morning.

While Martin’s life revolves around eating – and feeding others – he says he hasn’t made any New Year’s resolutions – “I do drink a lot of water, about three or four litres a day, but I’m too old to be messing around with all that [diet] stuff. I’ve got a gym at home but I haven’t really used it much. However, I got a pedometer the other day and it showed that I had walked 15 miles yesterday, just in the restaurant.”

When he’s not running marathons around the hob,

Martin loves to travel, guided by his taste buds. “One of my favourite places is America. I went on a foodie trip to New York recently and had a fantastic time seeing the amazing restaurants. The service in America is often so good because it’s a service culture. I don’t like this tipping sort of scenario, but in terms of restaurant design, America’s quite forward thinking. But I also think people can learn a lot of stuff from us in the UK. “As a country we’ve got amazing respect for food.

You’ve got to go back to when your grandmother was brought up when there was a high regard for simple produce. They never wasted anything. The issue we have now is that food is readily available all year round and we are wasteful. Yes, we are more knowledgeable than we were and the restaurants have got miles better, but we take food for granted a lot more than we used to.”

Although home is now in Hampshire, Martin spends enough time in London to know its foodie hangouts like the back of his hand, choosing hearty burgers, steaks and charcuterie for supper. And for a breakfast to see you through until tea, you can’t beat a good oldfashioned vending machine.

James Martin: Home Comforts is on BBC Two now.

Home Comforts, £20, by James Martin, Waterstones, Cabot Place and Jubilee Place

“I got a pedometer the other day and it showed that I had walked 15 miles yesterday, just in the restaurant ”

CANARY WHARF | 89

Table

for two

Whether your dream date is a cosy, candle-lit table for two or something out of the ordinary, book the perfect table this Valentine’s Day in Canary Wharf

Ibérica Canary Wharf Enjoy the informality of tapas in an upmarket setting at Ibérica Canary Wharf. From sharing platters of cheese and slices of Ibérico ham, to light dishes of fried fresh squid and chickpea puree with chorizo, the menu of regional Spanish dishes has been created by executive chef Nacho Manzano, whose two restaurants in Spain have three Michelin Stars between them. And Ibérica’s extensive wine list, featuring bottles hand-selected from around the world, means there’s the perfect pairing for each dish.

D Cabot Square, 020 7636 8650

tapas twist

Roka

Time to impress

If you are looking for an experience that’s extra special, why not visit Roka? Its glowing reputation, earnt for its fantastic Japanese robatayaki cuisine, is well-known throughout London, making it one of the best places to dine in Canary Wharf – if not the capital. To really experience the chefs’ skills, try the tasting menu and enjoy an evening of Japanese delicacies, which range from sashimi to black cod marinated in yuzu miso. Or, there’s the excellent à la carte menu to choose from, which spans salads to wagyu sushi. Fine dining in an intimate setting, how can you go wrong?

D The Park Pavilion, 020 7636 5228

Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill It’s an exciting time to visit Plateau Restaurant, Bar & Grill, with the French restaurant having just welcomed a new head chef, Daniel McGarey.

McGarey’s impressive restaurant background includes working at two Michelin-starred restaurants: as the executive sous-chef at the Galvin at Windows restaurant, and having worked at Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. In addition to introducing a new contemporary and seasonal French menu to Plateau, McGarey has created

an exclusive menu for Valentine’s Day. For the 14th, diners have a choice between a table in the main fine-dining restaurant for £75 per person, or in the less-formal bar and grill for £35 per person. Both menus span five decadent courses, beginning with canapés and featuring a pre-dessert course – ideal if you or your date has a new sweet tooth.

D Canada Place,

chef

020 7715 7100

ICE RINK CANARY WHARF For a date with a difference, why not get your skates on? Ice Rink Canary Wharf is one of the few London ice rinks still open in February.

Plus, its location in the middle of four shopping centres means you can easily pick up any last minute gifts or flowers.

After lapping the ice, warm up with some mulled wine and dinner at the onsite Q on Ice bar.

Open until 28 February, book tickets at icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk, Q on Ice, Canada Square Park, 0203 8183 889

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Boisdale of Canary Wharf is known for its live music, so for Valentine’s Day it has gone all out inviting former London Community Gospel Choir singer Wayne Hernandez to perform a velvety mix of romantic soul, with songs from Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder to John Legend. The tunes will be accompanied by a

live music

special four-course Valentine’s Day menu followed by coffee and petit fours, with highlights including red wine risotto with chargrilled radicchio, and baked Bourbon vanilla cheesecake. Tickets for the meal and performance start from £80.

D Cabot Place, 020 7715 5818

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

2014/15 CoolBrands.uk.com

1936 Bière Brewed by the Locher family at the foot of the Swiss Alps using only the purest water, 1936 Bière has a unique, fresh and ultra clean taste.

The water used to brew 1936 Bière filters through the Swiss Alps, taking up to 25 years to reach the source. This unique water is combined with raw ingredients – Swiss hops and golden barley grown at high altitude on the mountains – to create a beer totally free from artificial preservatives or additives. Long famous for its innovative prowess in the development of new beers, the 1936 Bière brewery also leads in the field of climate protection.

B REWED

IN

S WIT Z ERLA ND

1936biere.com #1936biere icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk 1936biere.com

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28/10/2014 14:02

Food & drink

Be a Roka-fella Living up to expectations, theatrical presentation meets great taste at Canary Wharf’s Roka, writes AIMEE LATIMER

W

hen a restaurant has the kind of reputation Roka has – capital-wide regard and instant ‘oohing’ from envious peers when you say you’ve got a table – it runs the risk of bending to its own hype, a phenomenon where the more build-up the food has, the more rigid you can expect the atmosphere to be.

However, there was none of this pretentiousness when we arrived for dinner on a Wednesday evening. By then the restaurant was filled with business people erupting into roaring laughter as the sake was tossed back, and with couples nimbly picking up sushi with chopsticks as they dissected their day. Roka’s modus operandi is to serve its contemporary Japanese robatayaki cuisine in a relaxed setting, and for this it gets full marks: its warm, wood-pannelled walls and cushioned chairs invite you to stay a while.

In the centre of the restaurant stands the signature robata grill, an open square busied with chefs creating dishes in plain sight with an almost hypnotic level of fluidity and skill, but the theatre doesn’t stop there. Indeed, when we sat down to an array of tasting dishes our food was on occasion shipped to our table in stone boats filled with ice; both of the crushed and iceberg-sized variety.

Dishes such as the sashimi platter came beautifully arranged on glistening plates, with thick cuts of tuna, bundles of sea urchin and slithers of octopus matching quality with elegance.

The service was flawless, with each course being placed then swept away in neat succession. Twice we were asked if we would like to take a break to digest, which came as more than welcome. For at Roka you want to order lots of dishes and enjoy the variety: servings are small and neat and – keep in mind for a date night or when booking that all-important Valentine’s Day meal – ideal for sharing.

Once you try the spiced Korean lamb cutlets or the rock shrimp tempura, you’ll want to explore the whole menu.

Although there’s not a dish I tried that I wouldn’t recommend, what must you order? There’s the wagyu gunkan sushi for one. Topped with oscietra caviar, the texture is very soft and complements the slight sharpness of the caviar. Also the gindara no saikyo-yaki – black cod marinated in yuzo miso.

Sticky on the outside, yet flaking apart with the slightest prod of a chopstick on the inside, it has a sweetness and buttery taste that is truly exquisite.

To go out with a bang, our dessert platter came in another canoe of ice. There were three tiers of scooped sorbet, fruit and a green tea chocolate soufflé so rich and delicate, I could have eaten two.

If you’re opting for the tasting menu or a mix of dishes, you should also enlist the expertise of the sommelier who guided us through rounds of palette-cleansing sake, the purest I’ve tasted, to red wine which, to our surprise, paired fantastically with the array of seafood and rounded off a fantastic evening.

Roka, The Park Pavilion, London E14, rokarestaurant.com, 020 7636 5228

“The sashimi platter came beautifully arranged on glistening plates”

CANARY WHARF | 93

VISUAL ARTS Katharine Morling, Poison Pen, 2010; Below: Katharine Morling, Shifting Diamonds, 2013

Take a break to explore and enjoy Canary Wharf’s temporary exhibitions and permanent art collection around the estate

Drawing on Life: Sculptural Ceramics by Katharine Morling 2 February – 20 March

Lobby, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf FREE

Exhibition tour:

Tuesday 17 February, 6.30 to 7.15 pm FREE Curator Ann Elliott tours the exhibition with Katharine Morling.

Contact Canary Wharf Public Art Office at visualart@canarywharf.com to reserve a place.

WINDOW GALLERIES The Art and Design Window Galleries showcase up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople and are located in Canada Place. Showing this month are:

The subject matter of Katharine Morling’s sculptural ceramics is derived from ordinary, even mundane, objects that surround us every day. However, through her acute observation they become surreal, imbued with characteristics beyond their ordinary physicality. Her preferred medium is porcelain, defined by black line drawing, in which she creates one-off objects, limited editions, collections and installations on a range of scales. In this exhibition at One Canada Square the aim is to show some of this range and also to demonstrate Katharine’s sense of fun, her acute observation of everyday things, her sense of how strange things can be, and how obsessive human activity sometimes is.

Included in the exhibition is a new commission Katharine has created for the Balman Gallery. Garden’s Edge 2013-15 is an extensive installation in which she has built up a full narrative, a virtual novel of mystery and intrigue. The scenario of players and objects is open to many interpretations so that viewers may make of it what they will, although the artist says the installation is about disconnectedness and innocence within an idyllic landscape or garden.

For further information see katharinemorling.co.uk

Maryam Mottaghi

Jubilee Walk For her final jewellery collection at the Royal College of Art, Maryam focused on the concept of beauty surgery and rhinoplasty in particular.

She investigates issues such as beauty, power and pain as well as bringing innovation and a different perspective into the concept of jewellery. maryammottaghi.co.uk

Sculpture at  Canary Wharf: A Permanent Collection 

A new fully illustrated book documenting Canary Wharf Group’s collection of more than 65 permanent works of art located throughout the estate is to be released this month.

Acquired by the company from the late 1980s onwards, the works encompass a wide range of media and form, from bronze to light, and from free-standing sculpture to artist-designed functional object. Along with the temporary exhibitions and an events programme, these permanent works of art aim to enrich the public’s experience of the estate.

Sculpture at Canary Wharf: A Permanent Collection is a companion volume to Sculpture at Canary Wharf: A Decade of Exhibitions, published in 2011.

For further information please contact Canary Wharf Public Art Office visualart@canarywharf.com

COMMUNITY

WINDOW

GALLERY: The Community Window Gallery in Canada Place is devoted to exhibiting work by local arts projects.

Arnhem wharf Primary School – Hear Us Roar!  Until 11 March Inspired by their own research and by a visit to the Natural History Museum, Year 3 pupils at Arnhem Wharf Primary School created miniature dinosaur sculptures in clay as well as designing large-scale willow dinosaurs for their school garden. The willow sculptures were made with Jane Rogers, a community artist based at Bow Arts. The display also includes a selection of the children’s well-observed and imaginative drawings. arnhemwharfprimaryschool.com

Ivor Diosi

Canada Walk Ivor’s work is a fusion of art and technology.

His main obsessions are identity and the existence of space-time, organic life and consciousness. He works in the fields of virtual reality, augmented reality, human-computer interfaces, game-engine modifications and artificial life. monoskop.org/Ivor_Diosi

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

EVENTS There’s more happening than Valentine’s Day this February to get your heart racing

Ice RInk 2014, photography by Peter Matthews

CANARY WHARF COMEDY CLUB A talented line up of comedy genius returns to the Canary Wharf Comedy Club stage this spring with The Noise Next Door, Marlon Davies, Joel Dommett and Tom Wrigglesworth* performing. With food concessions from some of Canary Wharf’s popular restaurants and a pay bar, it’ll be a night to remember. Book now to avoid disappointment. *The line-up is correct at time of press but may be subject to change.

BOOKING: Book tickets at seetickets.com or on 0871 220 0260. Booking fee applies.

Tickets available on the door, subject to availability. Unreserved cabaret style seating. Full bar, food and cloakroom. Only items purchased on the premises may be consumed.

FEELING FUNNY

Monday 23 February 7.15pm (doors 6.30pm), East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf, £12

THE LUNCH MARKET The delectable Lunch Market returns to Canary Wharf, offering delicious street food in an al fresco setting making it a perfect alternative lunchtime. Discover local and international cuisine with over 30 stalls of delicious savoury and sweet dishes, all ready to eat. On throughout the year, the Lunch Market will be open Wednesday 29 April, 27 May, 24 June, 29 July, 26 August and 23 September.

For more information visit canarywharf.com

ICE RINK CANARY WHARF Ice Rink Canary Wharf closes at the end of the February, so don’t miss your opportunity to skate against the striking architectural backdrop of Canary Wharf, which includes the famous One Canada Square building. And, with the Q on Ice bar on site, warm up afterwards with the excellent menu and cocktails.

BOOKING: Book tickets at icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk.

Booking fee applies for telephone and LAST online bookings



Get active this year  - read on!

CYCLE CHALLENGE

Thursday 14 May, Canary Wharf, Register now ROYAL BANK OF CANADA V SERIES AT CANARY WHARF Royal Bank of Canada V Series at Canary Wharf is an exciting and unique new inter-company team cycling challenge. Based on Team Pursuit format, corporate teams made up of eight riders will compete against the clock on a 1km closed-road circuit in the heart of Canary Wharf.

Register your team now at RBCVLondon.com

CHANCE

Until 28 February, All day, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf

SAVE THE DATE

Multiple Dates 11am – 3pm Canary Wharf Free to visit

CHARITY JOG Wednesday 17 June, Canary Wharf, Register now CANARY WHARF JOG IN AID OF BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION Sign up for this unique street jog and do your bit to raise vital funds that will help save lives. The jog is a great way to share an evening with friends, colleagues or family where you can run or jog as many laps as you like, up to 10k within Canary Wharf.

Sign up now at bhf.org.uk/get-involved.

canarywharf.com

@yourcanarywharf

Open Now

Wednesdays 7.30-6.00

0203 306 0758

Introductory

offer

ÂŁ10

Baby Salon - Children’s Hairdressing My Nursery is pleased to announce the opening of our Baby Hair Salon, situated in our bright nursery building. Our exquisite hair salon facility with an experienced hairdresser comes complete with racing car seats and TV screens showing a selection of DVDs, your little one receives star treatment.

An ideal setting for your childs first haircut and beyond!

For terms and conditions please inquire at time of booking.

20 Landmark Square, Docklands E14 9AB www.my-nursery.org

TRAVEL Climb Every Mountain Château Gütsch, the five-star boutique hotel towering above Lucerne in Switzerland, has reopened its doors following extensive refurbishment.

Each of the 27 rooms and suites have a different design, but most have either a view of the Vierwaldstätter Lake or surrounding mountains. If the white fairytale-like building, based on a Bavarian Belle Epoque palace, isn’t quite romantic enough, the hotel can arrange a mountain visit complete with luxurious picnic – and the surrounding forest is perfect to get lost in. from CH 330 (approximately £243) per night, chateau-guetsch.ch

not just a hotel,

a way of life

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travel TRAVEL

Arabian Nights Blending traditional Qatari culture with the feel of a luxury retreat, the new Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara has just opened to excellent reviews. Just 20 minutes by ferry from Doha, it is located on a peaceful, crescent-shaped island amid calm, clear waters. There is Arabian influence to the room and suite designs, and its spacious over-water villas are unique to the region. The resort has its own marina, fully outfitted dive centre, and a two-lane surf pool with adjustable waves, while a botanical garden and hydro pool are part of its health and wellbeing offering. from £223 per night, anantara.com

travel News Words: melissa emerson

 BodyScience

 To the Manor Born

The all-inclusive BodyHoliday resort in idyllic St Lucia recently launched its new BodyScience program, which offers guests DNA testing. The idea is that the results can be used to better understand guests’ body types and closely tailor the wellness, fitness and nutrition package to their needs. By understanding stress at a physiological level, evaluating hormones and more, the BodyHoliday can determine the most effective ways to de-stress, exercise and eat healthily. from £1,900 excluding stay, thebodyholiday.com

Sant Francesc Hotel Singular, a former manor house of the nobility, has been refurbished and opened as a boutique hotel in a historic square of Palma de Mallorca’s old town. In keeping with its history, lavish fabric, antiques and ceiling frescos line the rooms, and the once horse-filled courtyard and stables have been transformed into a restaurant and charming bar with both indoor and alfresco seating areas for cocktails and tapas. from £145 per night, hotelsantfrancesc.com

Long haul

Short haul

5 luxury add-ons

1

Cashmere pillow and eye mask, £180, Theory, net-a-porter.com

Marylebone iPad case, £295, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

2

3

Watch case, £625, Globe-Trotter, globetrotter1897.com

4

Marylebone compact mirror, £45, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

Bed socks, £19, Lizard Orchid, lizardorchid.com

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Strange BEAUTY

From being wrapped in tomatoes to harnessing the energy of the ancient Andeans, according to the world’s leading retreats there’s a growing demand for the unusual when it comes to modern-day spa practices.

Angelina Villa-Clarke does the research

MOUNTAIN PINE PEEL AND HAY BATH Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy If getting away from it all is your thing, then head up to the scenic mountain resort that is Vigilius.

Based 1,500m high in the Italian Dolomites, the hotel can only be reached by cable car from the nearby village of Lana, near Merano. Suffice to say, this is a remote spot. It’s also an enchanted Heidi-like setting. But don’t let the revitalizing fresh air, breathtaking views and chirruping birds fool you – Vigilius is super-sophisticated. Ultramodern architecture, a well-stocked wine cellar and stellar cuisine give it an urban edge that belies

its picturesque setting. At its heart is the Mountain Spa. While there’s a good mix of Asian-inspired treatments, the gems are really the Tyrolean influenced ones, such as the Mountain Pine Peel.

An exfoliating massage, the peel sloughs off dead skin and flaky patches with finely ground pine cone particles. Limbs are left smooth and silky while the herbal aroma clears the mind. Finish up with the signature Hay Bath, which combines a soak in local hay and herbs with a concentrated massage. The result? Circulation is enhanced, skin is glowing and tension is released. Sublime. vigilius.it

“Limbs are left smooth and silky while the herbal aroma clears the mind”

TRAVEL

BLOOD TYPE THERAPY Sri Panwa, Phuket, Thailand Perched atop Cape Panwa with breathtaking views of the southeastern tip of Phuket, Sri Panwa is regarded as one of the world’s most luxurious hotels, with A-listers flocking to the state-of-the-art Cool Spa with its rooftop infinity pool. Its latest range of treatments is based on the characteristics of the four different blood types – A, B, AB and O – and the personality traits of each. Once your blood type has been identified, a bespoke treatment plan is suggested to cater to different ailments you may display. For instance,

BLOODY MARY TREATMENT The St Regis Bali Resort, Bali, Indonesia Order a Bloody Mary at the gloriously glam St Regis hotel in Bali and you may get more than you bargained for. The signature cocktail of the St Regis brand (it was supposedly invented by the bartender at the New York outpost in 1934) is the inspiration behind this reviving treatment. The two-hour session at the sprawling Remède Spa includes a skin-purifying vodka and tomato clay wrap, a detoxifying tomato and parsley infused oil massage, and an invigorating tomato, vermouth and mineral salt bath, leaving you recharged and revived. If you still have an appetite for the red stuff after all of that, then decamp to the magical koi pond found at the heart of the spa and order

“Sri Panwa is regarded as one of the world’s most luxurious hotels” those with Blood Type A are said to be perfectionists, patient and reserved. Suggested treatments include a green tea body mask to detoxify and a stress-busting massage to target underlying tensions. For an enhanced approach to the therapies, all products used are by the renowned Immunetra, which specialises in products relating to blood type wellness. sripanwa.com

its speciality of freshly shucked oysters in coriander tomato water accompanied by a ‘Bali Mary’. How refreshing. stregisbali.com

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AZUKI RITUAL

MAORI ROMIROMI MASSAGE

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan Much of the Japanese beauty regime is based around the ritual of cleansing. Offering a luxurious take on this is the urban oasis that is The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo. If the views over the sprawling metropolis below won’t cause you to draw breath – the spa is based on the 37th floor overlooking the city – its slick approach to traditional customs surely will. Take the Azuki Ritual, for instance. The ingredients used in the age-old treatment may sound more suited to the kitchen, but they are chosen for their highly effective anti-oxidising effect. Here azuki beans are combined with sea salt, sesame seeds and ginger to make a softening and conditioning body scrub before a relaxing patchouli and geranium oil massage follows. mandarinoriental.com/tokyo

Treetops Lodge, New Zealand If travel for you means getting under the skin of a place, then take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Treetops Lodge & Estate in Rotorua, New Zealand. Tucked away in 2,500 acres of ancient native forest, the retreat offers a chance to experience a pristine landscape within the setting of a luxury lodge.

Specialising in natural treatments and wellness – based on Maori culture – is the Treetops Spa. Its Romiromi massage is the highlight. A traditional holistic Maori body treatment, it combines body alignment, a deep tissue massage and stimulation to pressure points. Toxins and blockages are released leaving you feeling light and balanced with a positive state of mind. Ideal for a new generation of spa visitor, it marries ancient wisdom with a stress-busting modern technique. treetops.co.nz/spa

MOONLIGHT REMEDY Alila Ubud, Bali, Indonesia Perched on the hillside by the Ayung River in Bali’s central foothills, Alila Ubud is the ultimate tropical escape. Its contemporary design, inspired by a traditional Balinese village, encompasses secluded courtyards, spacious terraces and private gardens, which give way to its design-savvy spa.

Make sure your stay here is a timely one so you can experience the new alfresco moonlight remedies, only given when there is a full or new moon. The ritual takes place in a custom-made spa tent lit by moonlight. Once settled you’ll drink a warm cup of herbal tea during a recitation of the healing secrets of the full moon, a prayer to relieve stress, and a Reiki healing process that that draws upon the energy of the night sky to rejuvenate the body and spirit. No laughing now. alilahotels.com/ubud

TRAVEL

“The Dream Time Journey helps promote deep sleep, which in turn aids the skin”

THE DREAM TIME JOURNEY Song Saa, Cambodia One of the most idyllic resorts in Asia, Song Saa, a private island resort based in the Koh Rong Archipelago, off the coast of Cambodia, offers a luxury ‘castaway’ experience. Its dreamy, remote location – think shimmering waters against a backdrop of age-old rainforest – is just the start of its appeal. An eco-sensibility, 27 all-private pool villas, stunning interiors and a destination spa are all part of the package. Newly introduced is the Night Spa, which offers a selection of treatments

taking place under the stars. The Dream Time Journey helps promote deep sleep, which in turn aids the skin as it is based on the fact that cellular growth and repair is faster during sleep. It begins with a slow, rhythmic scrub, a back and body treatment and a soothing face therapy to promote the deepest relaxation. Ingredients renowned for cellular rejuvenation – such as fresh royal jelly and orange blossom – are used, leaving you ready to slumber the rest of the night away in one of the most peaceful places on earth. songsaa.com

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COOL AQUASTONES AND ALOE THERAPY Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean There’s nowhere quite like the pristine surroundings of the British Virgin Islands for basking in the sun. Check in to the ultra-luxe resort that is Rosewood Little Dix Bay (founded by Laurance Rockefeller no less, more than 50 years ago) and you’ll be forgiven for overdoing it.

Don’t worry if you do, for the dramatic cliff-side

Sense spa has the perfect remedy. Aimed at sun-damaged skin, the Cool Aquastones and Aloe Therapy begins with an application of freshly chilled aloe vera gel from the spa gardens combined with cucumber, lavender and chamomile. Saturated cool towels are then applied to reduce heat and inflammation. A gentle cold ‘aqua’ stone massage follows to further reduce fluid and soothe redness and swelling, leaving you at one with the world again. rosewoodhotels.com

TRAVEL

“Here the act of simply having a facial turns into a thrilling event”

CHAMPAGNE AND TRUFFLES FACIAL Huvafen Fushi, North Male Atoll, Maldives Huvafen Fushi, the 43-villa resort in the Maldives, is not short on wow factor. Famous for having the world’s first underwater spa, here the act of simply having a facial turns into a thrilling event – guests are surrounded by aquamarine waters and tropical fish. From its spectacular infinity pool to its seven bars and restaurants, not to mention its gorgeous location, this indulgent hotel is the perfect place

WHITE MUD BATH Les Pres D’Eugenie, Gascony, France If wellness means a glamorous location, epicurean delights and a decadent approach to beauty then you’ll no doubt adore the little-known gem that is Les Prés D’Eugénie estate. Owned by the iconic three-Michelin starred chef Michel Guérard, you can forget the ‘salad and seeds’ approach to spa breaks and instead expect lavish meals that will be the highlight of your stay (although, for those who are weight-watching, there are inventive slimming

to try the decadent Champagne and Truffles Facial. Said to be a unique cure for jet lag, your complexion is soothed with a sumptuous mask made from a cocktail of Champagne, silk, diamonds and gold. A massage follows to lift and tone skin before an icy concoction is applied to reduce puffiness. Lastly, the complexion is left glowing by the application of a moisturiser containing black truffles. Priceless. huvafenfushi.peraquum.com

menus on offer which are just as delicious). Expect classic French interiors, aromatic gardens and a hot spring spa where you should try the White Mud Bath, which will see you reclining in a bath full of delicate, white thermal mud. Its properties give the impression of weightlessness, which allows total relaxation and is meant to aid rheumatism, stress and intestinal problems. The bath is followed by a deep back massage with more jets of mud and a torrential thermal shower. Messy but effective. michelguerard.com

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[City Break]

Chicago Top-flight restaurants, an epic skyline and a lakeside location make Chicago a must-visit city this year WORDS: melissa emerson

T

he Big Apple might grab tourists’ attention, but if Chicago’s good enough for the President (it was Obama’s adopted hometown before he got the top job) then we’re willing to give it a whirl. Its location on the south-west shore of Lake Michigan, the 5th largest body of fresh water in the world, gives it a combination of an urban buzz and sprawling shorelines – perhaps it isn’t the ultimate beach destination, but being able to escape the metropolis on occasion is a bonus.

“Chicago is acknowledged as the birthplace of the skyscraper” Thanks to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the majority of the city’s buildings aren’t more than 100 years old. The fire’s destruction of the city prompted ambitious and inventive young architects to make their mark, and Chicago is acknowledged as the birthplace of the skyscraper. Its first, the Home Insurance Building, was completed in 1885. Standing at – a now insignificant – ten storeys high, it nonetheless paved the way for the development of future designs like the Willis Tower. With 110 floors it is the tallest building in America, so taking in the view from the Skydeck – and straight down through its glass floor – is a must. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, and why wouldn’t you, the Chicago Architecture Foundation gives comprehensive walking tours of the city while its boat trip allows visitors to fully appreciate the scale of the glinting skyline from another vantage point.

WHERE TO PLAY Chicago’s three million citizens socialise in neighbourhoods with distinct personalities. Lincoln Park is renowned for its theatres and live music clubs – improvisation-based comedy sketch troupe The Second City counts Tina Fey and Steve Carrell among its alumni, so if you take an hour or two to watch one of its shows you might see a star in the making.

travel

Alternatively, the financial and business district of the city is known as the Chicago Loop, which is a hub of fine dining. The area also plays host to free concerts and public art exhibitions within Millennium Park, which is also home to Anish Kapoor’s famous ‘Cloud Gate’ structure.

The Art Institute of Chicago, voted Number 1 Museum in the World in 2014 by TripAdvisor, is nearby. It houses a staggering 300,000 works of art including everything from Degas’ impressionist paintings to Lichtenstein’s Pop Art. Affluent Northern suburb Highland Park is the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and hosts the Ravinia open-air Festival, a series of classical, pop and jazz concerts from June until September.

Shopaholics meanwhile should hit the aptly named Magnificent Mile – the city’s major upscale shopping district where the likes of Cartier, Chanel and Louis Vuitton have set up shop. Having worked up an appetite it’s worth bearing in mind that the 2015 Michelin Guide awarded two of its restaurants with three stars (Alinea and Grace) among other one and two star establishments.

WHERE TO STAY

“The rooms here are sprawling and loft-style – think mini apartments rather than hotel rooms”

The Windy City gets its fair share of visitors, so hotels here are constantly trying to outdo each other, which is good news for you. The James opened in 2006, and the 297-room hotel just off Magnificent Mile focuses on bringing a cool, Soho style of living to the Midwest.

The rooms here are sprawling and loft-style – think mini apartments rather than hotel rooms – with a spacious bedroom and living room, minimalist bathroom and chic media alcove, complete with a double bed and projector for those art-house films you’ll be watching (or, let’s face it, Batman reruns as you’re here). The colours are neutral – all browns and whites – and there is even a fully stocked bar, so you could have a drinks party predinner. You’re basically in FRIENDS. If you wish you can throw a party at The Spa by Asha, or opt for the Road Warrior massage – just because you like the name.

In the evening, head for a glass of bubbly at Pops for Champagne – walking distance from The James. For dinner you can try one of Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizzas – a must while you’re here – or head to the hotel’s excellent steak restaurant Primehouse, where executive chef Rick Gresh serves up everything from a ‘short rib breakfast bagel’ to award-winning burgers.

There is never a lack of entertainment in the city and as Mark Twain once said: “she is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time”.

From £165 per room per night (excluding taxes) on a bed and breakfast basis. jameshotels.com/chicago

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executive shopping If you’ve passed through Heathrow Terminal 5 since late December, you may already have noted that Burberry has capitalised on the trade of the estimated 30 million passengers who travel through the terminal each year, by opening another outpost. Its newest boutique (following its store openings in Terminals 2, 3 and 4) offers a selection of leather goods, scarves and eyewear as well as beauty products.

While the store is ideal for buying any last minute corporate gifts, it’ll also stream live events and fashion shows from Burberry HQ for those with even more time to kill, as it strengthens its position as a full-scale lifestyle brand. uk.burberry.com

BUSINESSTraveller Essential information for frequent flyers WORDS: JAMIE DAVE

24 HOURS TO CURE JET LAG  According to the National Sleep Foundation, around half of all business travellers experience jet lag. With this in mind, the London Marriott Grosvenor Square has designed an overnight stay for weary executives who have flown in for meetings in London. The Sleep Well Experience includes accommodation in a Balcony Suite and a Philip Stein sleep bracelet which uses so-called natural frequency technology to harness positive energy that is said to surround the Earth (those who have tried it, swear by it). The hotel will also provide The Sleep Book – a guide to mindfulness by sleep expert Dr Guy Meadows. from £499 including VAT, marriottgrosvenorsquare.co.uk

travel

sky high standards  Etihad continues to add to the perks offered to its First and Business class passengers. In Business, expect cotton lounge wear, slippers, a mattress, comforter and full-size pillow when flying long-haul – and rest assured its hearty All Day Dining menu has been rolled out across more of its routes (the airline has upgraded its cutlery and glassware too). If you can travel First Class, our main advice is not to eat beforehand. Etihad has introduced new canapés, a pre-dessert course and a Café Gourmand coffee break complete with pastries and cakes on Nikko chinaware. etihad.com

APP of the month

pack like a pro Consider PackPoint your personal PA when it comes to remembering essentials for forthcoming work trips.

Enter the date, destination and activities involved in your trip and the app will customise a packing list within seconds, based on the itinerary, length of stay and forecasted weather. packpnt.com

3 travel essentials

1

Rosario ballerina pump, £149, Pretty Ballerinas, Jubilee Place

Harrison weekender, £595, Aspinal of London, Cabot Place

2

H8 Noise cancellation on-ear earphones, £399, Bang & Olufsen, South Colonnade

3

premium lounging  Following the success of the Plaza Premium Lounge in the departures area of London Heathrow Terminal 2 – as well as the brand’s other airport lounges in destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong – the arrivals hall of the newest terminal has just opened its own Plaza Premium area. Irrespective of airline, passengers arriving in London can now enjoy comfort, privacy and complimentary refreshments after a flight. The lounges’ facilities include showers, a fully-stocked bar and relaxing treatment rooms where visitors can schedule a range of massages and facials from beauty brand Ila. The shoulder, scalp and head massage is particularly recommended as a remedy for jet lag.

Access from £25 per person per hour plaza-network.com

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Fall in love with hand-crafted furniture New designs released daily

THE LILLE

THE EVA

The Lille armchair exudes French grace with its cabriole legs, hand-carved detailing and lavish Duck Egg Blue upholstery.

Just £299.

Working an understated glamour, the Eva’s simple lines, solid poplar base and gentle white finish add elegance to any hallway.

Just £199.

THE JULIETTE

THE CLAUDE

A piece of timeless beauty, the Juliette reworks the classic Gustavian bench, perfect at the foot of the bed.

Just £199, usually £326 in high-end retailers.

Pairing brass handles and elegantly turned feet with a rustic lime-washed effect finish, the Claude is wonderfully versatile.

Just £299, usually £630 in high-end retailers.

SAVE £25

With voucher code canarywharf5 Visit www.swooneditions.com/canarywharf5 or call 020 3137 2464 Save £25 on a £250 minimum spend. Does not include delivery and cannot be used alongside any other offers or promotions – ends at midnight on 25.02.15.

LONDON Homes&

PROPERTY Showcasing the finest homes in your area

Covering Canary Wharf, The Royal Docks, Stratford, Bow & Wapping

London’s hot spots the surprise boroughs to invest in

Travelling east grey tiles, £72 per mt2 Imagery courtesy of Minoli, minoli.co.uk

 SALES NICK MOORE, associate at Knight Frank

Islington, comments on the trends in the residential sales market Looking back, 2014 wasn’t without its surprises, none more so than the wholesale overhaul of the stamp duty system which seemed to take everyone by surprise in early December. The reform in stamp duty came about after years of debate as to the fairness of the old system, which was often criticised as a ‘slab tax’ with sudden increases in the duty payable as the purchase price rose.

The new system, which came in to effect on 4 December following George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, did away with the old tiered structure and instead replaced it with a more progressive tax, much like income tax, meaning each part of the value of the house is taxed at the appropriate rate. Under the new system, according to Mr Osborne, 98 per cent of homeowners in England and Wales now pay less following the changes than they did under the old system. Only people who pay more than £937,000 for a property will pay more in tax.

Over the past few years, there has been much discussion surrounding the possibility of the introduction of a so-called ‘mansion tax’ for properties priced in excess of £2,000,000, in the event that the Labour Party are elected in some form in the forthcoming General Election. It is perhaps no surprise that the chancellor chose to announce the changes to the system when he did. With an election due, it would be difficult for the opposition parties to argue that buyers of the most expensive properties aren’t now being taxed highly enough, which if anything is likely to bring more stability to this part of the market.

The market in the latter part of 2014 was certainly more settled. However, agents in the most popular parts of central London have had a busy start to the year and while the property market in general is likely to pause for breath in the late spring as Britain goes to the polls, I think we have a lot to look forward to in 2015.

Knight Frank islington 020 3657 7340 knightfrank.co.uk/islington

Old meets new Victoria + Albert Baths has paired heritage designs with a very modern invention, introducing the resin Quarrycast to its new Traditional Collection.

Quarrycast is a unique white material made from a special blend of volcanic limestone. It is lightweight and strong, scratch resistant and warm to the touch, promising both comfort and durability during those long soaks. The Traditional Collection is inspired by both Victorian and Edwardian bath designs, yet can be updated and personalised with a range of metal feet finishes and personalised paint jobs. So assured are Victoria + Albert Baths with the quality of Quarrycast, that the brand is offering a 25-year guarantee for peace of mind.

From £1,525, vandabaths.com

DID YOU KNOW? The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) is predicting that London house prices will drop by 3.3 per cent this year, based on properties taking more time to sell and fewer new buyers making enquiries. (cebr.com)

PROPERTY

property

NEWS  THE TRILLION POUND MARKET  Although recent studies may have indicated that house prices could drop this year, research conducted by Savills has found that the average London home costs £428,988. This means that homes in London and the South East of England now account for £2.5 trillion of the total value of UK housing, Overall last year, the cost of homes in the capital increased by £247 billion, or 20 per cent. savills.co.uk

SUBSTANCE AND EXTRAVAGANCE Renowned for producing expressive fabrics and furnishings, the Venetian company Rubelli has launched its fabric collection for 2015, called Substance and Extravagance.

The collection of fabrics and accompanying wall coverings tap into the brand’s interest in different artistic movements, while honouring the extraordinary capabilities of Italian craftsmanship. Encompassing strong contrasts in palette and texture, the collection creates a simple sophistication with each piece unveiling its own influences.

Notably, Rubelli’s Gran Canal Wall covering is a dynamic black and white digital print, inspired by an 18th century etching by Luca Carlevarijs, the father of Venetian landscape painting. rubelli.com

LETTINGS NICOLA WILLIAMS, lettings manager at

Knight Frank Islington, comments on the trends in the residential lettings market For many years the monthly rental market in Islington has been predictable. However, 2014 did not fit this trend, and months that were historically successful did not deliver. Many factors led to this imbalance, ranging from a large amount of new build apartments coming to the market at the beginning of the year, which outstripped demand, to record low mortgage rates enticing tenants to the sales market.

Last year was still successful, mainly down to the large amount of high-end relocations and the increasing budgets of overseas students. The summer months were record months for Knight Frank Islington and other agents in the area.

November was a surprising month, which usually has a high level of activity especially with corporate relocation. In contrast, we found this to be one of the quietest months of the year which continued into the historically quiet month of December.

The new year kicked off with a substantial increase in relocations with budgets ranging across the market.

January, February and March are notoriously busy months with blue-chip companies relocating employees before the end of the financial year, so we are hopeful that history will repeat itself.

While homeowners consider their options and wait for the results of the election, the number of rental properties stays steady. If the levels of applicants registering continues to increase, there will be a lack of supply, which in turn should increase rents which will be the first in Islington for many months and will be in contrast to last January.

Overall, we are incredibly positive for 2015, and as always, landlords will need to present their properties to a high standard and choose their agent wisely, as applicants’ and tenants’ level of expectations towards presentation, decoration and professionalism have risen significantly and will continue to do so.

Knight Frank islington 020 3657 7340 knightfrank.co.uk/islington

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KnightFrank.co.uk

Lime Kiln Wharf, Limehouse E14 Three bedroom apartment

A spacious three bedroom apartment with large roof terrace located in a sought after area off of Narrow Street. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, open plan kitchen, parking. EPC rating C. Approximately 138 sq m ﴾1,490 sq ft﴿ Furnished or unfurnished

£875 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 9294

﴾CWQ89256﴿

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

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

CW Feb 2015 - Lettings 2-crop

19/01/2015 15:43:20

CW

20

KnightFrank.co.uk

West India Quay, Hertsmere Road E14

Old Sun Wharf, Narrow Street E14

One bedroom apartment located on the 27th floor featuring floor to ceiling windows. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room, open plan kitchen, parking.

EPC rating B.

Light and spacious duplex apartment with beautiful river views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, furnished, concierge.

EPC rating C.

Guide price: £515 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

Guide price: £550 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

Landmark East, Hertsmere Road E14

Discovery Dock, Nr Canary Wharf E14

Two bedroom apartment featuring floor to ceiling windows and river views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, reception room, open plan kitchen, concierge.

EPC rating B.

Two bedroom apartment with a spacious balcony offering dock views. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, parking.

EPC rating C.

Guide price: £575 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

Guide price: £630 per week KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings

020 3641 9294 cwharf@knightfrank.com

020 3641 9294 cwharf@knightfrank.com

020 3641 9294 cwharf@knightfrank.com

020 3641 9294 cwharf@knightfrank.com

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

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

CW Mag lettings Feb 2015-crop

19/01/2015 15:45:08

KnightFrank.co.uk Discovery Dock, Nr Canary Wharf E14 Two bedroom apartment

A well presented two bedroom apartment situated on the fifth floor of a popular portered development. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, balcony, concierge, leisure facilities private parking. EPC rating B. Approximately 88 sq m ﴾947 sq ft﴿ Leasehold Guide Price: £720,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112 ﴾CNW140257﴿

West India Quay, Nr Canary Wharf E14 Two bedroom apartment

A 19th floor two bedroom apartment situated in one of Canary Wharf's most prestigious developments. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, open plan kitchen, concierge. EPC rating C. Approximately 139 sq m ﴾1,496 sq ft﴿ Leasehold Guide Price: £1,075,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112 ﴾CNW140015﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk Berkeley Tower, Westferry Road E14

Two bedroom apartment A two bedroom apartment situated on the 19th floor of this iconic building close to Canary Wharf. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, 2 balconies, concierge, private parking. EPC rating D. Approximately 112 sq m ﴾1,206 sq ft﴿ Leasehold Guide price: £950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112 ﴾CNW140264﴿

Landmark West, Isle of Dogs E14

One bedroom apartment Bright and well presented one bedroom apartment located on the 13th floor with far reaching views towards the river and City skyline. Bedroom, bathroom, reception room, open plan kitchen, concierge, parking. EPC rating B. Approximately 52.4 sq m ﴾564 sq ft﴿

Leasehold Guide price: £440,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/canarywharf cwharf@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6112 ﴾CNW140268﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk Carthusian Court, The City EC1 Newly refurbished one bedroom flat

Centrally located and spacious flat with private roof terrace. Accommodation comprises 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, reception room, kitchen, private terrace EPC rating C. Measuring approximately 89 sq m ﴾951 sq ft﴿.

Available Furnished Guide price: £475 per week

Wapping Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369 ﴾WAQ156386﴿

Crawford Building, Aldgate E1 Luxury new build

Impressive and contemporary apartment to rent in a luxury development in Aldgate. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dual aspect reception room, kitchen, terrace and 24 hour concierge.

EPC rating B. Approximately 92 sq m ﴾987 sq ft﴿

Available furnished Guide Price: £895 per week

Wapping Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369 ﴾WAQ201194﴿

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

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

ab - lhp full page 2 property page

20/01/2015 10:14:01

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1

KnightFrank.co.uk Park Street, Southbank SE1

Duplex penthouse with huge terrace Modern flat with double height ceilings and unrivalled panoramic terrace views of London skyline and River Thames. Accommodation comprises 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, reception room, terrace, parking space and 24 hour security. EPC rating C. Approximately 146 sq m ﴾1,573 sq ft﴿

Available furnished Guide price: £1,750 per week

Wapping Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369 ﴾WAQ195480﴿

NEO Bankside, Southbank SE1 Luxury development

An outstanding apartment with panoramic views of London's iconic skyline overlooking the river Thames. 3 bedrooms, 3 en suite bathrooms, open plan kitchen and reception room, winter garden, 24 hour concierge, underground car parking, private residents' gymnasium and business centre. EPC rating C. Approximately 256 sq m ﴾2,750 sq ft﴿

Available furnished Guide price: £2,950 per week

Wapping Lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings wappinglettings@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5369 ﴾WAQ208329﴿

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

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

ab - rhp - full page 2 property page

15/01/2015 14:15:48

savills.co.uk

for sale

for sale

Lytton grove, SW15

BUcKingHam Street, WC2N

4 bedrooms u garden u garage u EPC=C

3 bedrooms u boutique new development u EPC=C

Guide £1.425 million

Guide £2.6 million

Putney – 020 8780 9900

Mayfair – 020 7578 5100

for sale

31 offices in London, 80 offices in the UK and 600 offices globally.

BatterSea HigH Street, SW11 2 bedrooms u patio u off-street parking u EPC=C Guide £965,000 Battersea Park – 020 3402 1900

for sale

for sale

eLizaBetH meWS, NW3

aSpLey road, SW18

4 bedrooms u patio u terrace u EPC=C

2 bedrooms u cellar with study u garden u EPC=E

Guide £2.5 million

Guide £875,000

Hampstead – 020 7472 5000

Wandsworth – 020 8877 1222

to let

to let

neW atLaS WHarf, e14

marryat pLace, sw19

3 bedrooms u allocated parking u EPC=D

5 bedrooms u off-street parking u EPC=B

Guide £800 per week + admin fees apply*

Guide £2,077 per week + admin fees apply*

Canary Wharf – 020 7531 2500

Wimbledon – 020 8971 8191

Wherever you are, whatever your dream home, talk to Savills.

thinking of renting? there are some important things you need to know. *Admin fees to include drawing up the tenancy agreement and reference charge for one tenant - £276 inc VAT one-off fee. £36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependant on the property size and whether furnished/ unfurnished.

For more details visit www.savills.co.uk/fees

to let

to let

SHeffieLd terrace, w8

rUtLand gate, sw7

2 bedrooms u decked balcony u EPC=C

Bedroom u mezzanine storage u balcony u EPC=C

Guide £625 per week + admin fees apply*

Guide £1,125 per week + admin fees apply*

Kensington – 020 7535 3300

Knightsbridge – 020 7581 5234

savills.co.uk Computer Generated Image

Compute

1 Computer Generated Image

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TWO ICONIC TOWERS OVERLOOKING ROYAL VICTORIA DOCKS hoola london, e16 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments ø gym, residents lounge and concierge ø rippling glass balconies ø Royal Victoria DLR station 0.2 miles, 7 minutes to Canary Wharf ø Custom House Crossrail 0.6 miles ø due to complete Q4 2016 ø PEA=B Prices from £399,000 Leasehold, approximately 999 years remaining

Savills Canary Wharf Stefan Saul ssaul@savills.com

020 7531 2500

Compute

savills.co.uk Computer Generated Image

1 Computer Generated Image

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THREE STOREY TOWNHOUSES greenwich square, se10 4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø Italian designer kitchen with stone worktops and Siemens integrated appliances ø engineered timber flooring ø underfloor heating throughout ø south-facing garden ø parking available ø 122 sq m (1,350 sq ft) ø PEA=B Prices from £799,950 Leasehold, approximately 996 years remaining

Savills Canary Wharf Neil Wilson nmwilson@savills.com

0207 531 2500

1 2

savills.co.uk

FREE TRADE WHARF, e1w

HERMITAGE COURT, e1w

Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø guest w.c. ø balcony ø underground parking ø 24 hour concierge ø swimming pool ø 98 sq m (1,058 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Reception room ø 2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø daytime porter ø allocated parking ø 98 sq m (1,050 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £600,000 Leasehold

Guide £740,000 Share of Freehold

Savills Wapping mmacfarlane@savills.com 020 7456 6800

Savills Wapping twadhwani@savills.com 020 7456 6800

WATERMAN WAY, e1w

GULLIVERS WHARF, e1w

Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø bathroom ø ground floor w.c. ø garden ø gated driveway ø 84 sq m (909 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Reception room ø kitchen ø 3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø off-street parking ø 184 sq m (1,980 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Guide £795,000 Freehold

Guide £1.75 million Share of Freehold

Savills Wapping twadhwani@savills.com 020 7456 6800

Savills Wapping twadhwani@savills.com 020 7456 6800

3 4

Awarded 5 stars for customer satisfaction

Hampton Grange | Plaistow Lane | Bromley | Kent | Sat Nav: BR1 3JE

Just 16 minutes from the City, yet a whole world away.

At over 3,400 square feet, our luxury five bedroom detached family homes are set in 10.5 acres of gated private grounds on the edge of picturesque Sundridge Park.

At Hampton Grange you’ll find traditional, elegant houses of rare quality and craftsmanship, close to nature, yet just 16 minutes from the City. Plus, with our Express Mover we'll help you sell your home when you buy one of ours.

Stunning Showhome available to view. Prices from £1.45m.

Call: 0845 548 8124 Click: www.bellway.co.uk Visit: Open daily 10am - 5pm and late night Monday until 7pm Price correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may differ. Pictures for illustrative purposes only.

Travel times are approximate only by train from Bromley South to London Victoria.

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Landmark East Tower, E14 ÂŁ540,000 Leasehold Beautiful 1 bedroom apartment located on the 42nd floor of this prestigious block with views facing directly onto the iconic Canary Wharf skyline. The complex offers numerous facilities including concierge and gymnasium. The flat is also being sold with its own private parking. EPC: B

Patent House, Morris Road, E14 ÂŁ1,295,000 A rare opportunity to acquire this unique 4 bedroom apartment which occupies the top 2 floors of this factory conversion and has been refurbished by the current owner to the very highest standard throughout. The property itself encapsulates open plan living and is available with no chain. EPC: C

Hamptons Canary Wharf Office Sales. 020 7346 5801 | Lettings. 020 7346 5802

Maze Hill, SE10 £1,250 per week (charges apply)* A simply magnificent Georgian Town house located in a fabulous location opposite Greenwich Park. EPC: E

St Davids Square, E14 £650 per week (charges apply)* A spacious and modern 3 bedroom apartment with stunning direct river views and the Cutty Sark. EPC: C

Boardwalk Place, E14 £480 per week (charges apply)* A wonderful two bedroom apartment with a lovely view across the water and towards Canary Wharf. EPC: C

Port East, E14 4AY £1,500 per week (charges apply)* A wonderful penthouse duplex apartment within this exclusive warehouse conversion located on the fringe of Canary Wharf. EPC: E

*Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

Landmark East, E14 • 3 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Balcony • City and river views

• Gym and 24 Hour concierge • Allocated parking • Approx 1,366 sq ft (127 sq m) • EPC B

“A breath-taking view from the 36th floor in one of Canary Wharf’s most sought after towers.”

Price £1,450,000 Leasehold For more information please call 020 3355 0953 or email salesdocklands@eu.jll.com

11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE

JLL.co.uk/residential

PRINCE GATEQuay, MEWS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW3 West India E14 • Bullet 1 Bedroom • point 1 • Bullet 1 Bathroom • point 2 • Bullet 27th Floor • point 3 • Bullet Canarypoint Wharf • 4 views

• Concierge • Bullet point 5 • West India Quay station • Bullet point DLR 6 • EPC• -Bullet B point 7 • Bullet point 8

one apartment, bedroom “ An “Luxury exceptional in this prestigious withapartment excellent ceiling heights docksidemaximum development.” throughout, quote is four lines.”

From £515 Per Week PRICE £1,650 PER WEEK 11 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf E14 4HE

furnished FURNISHED For more call 020 3355 0953 For more information information,please call Simon Godson or email 020 7306lettingsdocklands@eu.jll.com 1630 or email sgodson@waellis.com

JLL.co.uk/residential JLL.CO.UK/RESIDENTIAL

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

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Sales

Naxos Building, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom penthouse

Breath-taking 1,500 sq ft two bedroom penthouse apartment with additional 800 sq ft roof terrace offering unparalleled river views towards the city and rear views to Canary Wharf.

Comprising an exceptionally large living area, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, luxury fully fitted kitchen and additional large roof terrace, apartments of this scale are rarely offered to the market.

ÂŁ1,450,000 +44 (0)20 7519 5900

residential.canarywharf@cbre.com

www.cbre.co.uk/residential

Sales

Wards Wharf, Docklands, E14 Three bedroom apartment

A stunning three bedroom 1,227 sq ft 7th floor apartment, situated in a modern gated development, within the Royal Docks.

The apartment offers a large reception area, bathed in natural light from floor to ceiling windows, a separate kitchen, three double bedrooms, the master with an ensuite and one further family bathroom. The property also boasts a large terrace area with spectacular views of the river Thames and Thames Barrier.

+44 (0)20 7519 5900

Royal Docks has recently benefitted from substantial re-development and is generally regarded as one of London’s ‘hotspots’. Additional benefits within the development include 24 hour concierge, secure allocated parking and a modern gymnasium and sauna.

residential.canarywharf@cbre.com

£625,000 www.cbre.co.uk/residential

Av ai la bl e

Lettings

New Providence Wharf, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom apartment

This superb two bedroom bright and well-presented apartment has now come to market in New Providence Wharf, E14. This 15th floor river facing apartment offers a large open plan living and dining area, modern fully fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms, one with ensuite bathroom and both with stunning river views and one further family bathroom.

The apartment is situated just minutes from Canary Wharf which boasts excellent amenities and direct transport links. The New Providence Wharf development also has 24 hour concierge, swimming pool, gymnasium and health spa.

ÂŁ700 per week +44 (0)20 7519 5900

residential.canarywharf@cbre.com

www.cbre.co.uk/residential

Av ai la bl e

Lettings

New Atlas Wharf, Docklands, E14 Two bedroom apartment

This superb 2 bedroom apartment with stunning views of the river Thames has now come to market in this desirable residential development. The apartment offers a large reception area, fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, two double bedrooms (the master with a balcony and ensuite shower room) and one further family bathroom.

The property is located just a short walk away from Canary Wharf and Crossharbour DLR station, Millwall Docks and Mudchute Park.

Other features include 24 hour concierge and a well equipped gym with spectacular river views.

ÂŁ460 per week +44 (0)20 7519 5900

residential.canarywharf@cbre.com

www.cbre.co.uk/residential

Franklyn James

E14 Orion Point, Isle of Dogs

£340 PW

E14 Gainsborough House

£365 PW

A bright one bedroom apartment set within the Odyssey development that has been repainted throughout and comes furnished to a good standard. The property offers a spacious reception with private balcony, a modern fitted kitchen, a blue bathroom suite and on-site gym access.

A large and well proportioned one bedroom apartment set within Gainsborough house offering gym and pool access on-site as well as 24hr concierge. The property has a bright reception room, a modern integrated kitchen, communal courtyard and comes with allocated parking.

E14 New Providence Wharf

E14 Basin Approach, Limehouse

£415 PW

An exception one bedroom 11th floor apartment set within the ever popular New Providence Wharf. The property boasts fantastic river views, a private balcony, wood flooring with underfloor heating, a modern fitted kitchen and there is gym and pool access on-sit.

£508 PW

A remarkable two double bedroom duplex apartment arranged over the 5th and 6th floor of the popular Basin Approach. The property boasts a large kitchen/living area with a separate dining space, two bathroom suites and two private balconies overlooking the Limehouse Marina.

www.franklynjames.co.uk enquiries@franklynjames.co.uk

E14 Flamborough Street, Limehouse

ÂŁ749,000

A charming three bedroom freehold house set within a desirable conservation area. This property comprises three bedrooms, a tiled two piece bathroom suite, a large through lounge with dining space, a separate utility area and a private rear garden.

E14 Orion Point, Isle of Dogs

ÂŁ990,000

An exceptional two bedroom, two bathroom duplex penthouse apartment offering some of the most spectacular views of the London skyline. This property really does have it all, a large wrap around terrace, Thames views, a stunning spiral staircase, double height ceilings and excellent onsite facilities.

Canary Wharf 020 7005 6080

Bow 020 8983 2930

Limehouse 020 7791 1777

O NT

MODEST TO MAGNIFICENT Whatever your style of home, we’ll be pleased to provide you with a free market appraisal.

Take a seat and we’ll do the rest

29 NARROW ST, E14

60 WESTFERRY RD, E14

53 BOW RD, E3

020 7791 1777

020 7005 6080

020 8983 2930

ased sal.

BOW RD, E3

8983 2930

www.franklynjames.co.uk

property

STATE OF THE MARKET The market changes make 2015 the year to buy

Docklands and The City out performs most of London

JASON TAYLOR,

sales director at Franklyn James Estate Agents, comments on the state of the residential property market

ALASDAIR CARPENTER,

Buyers far outnumbering property listings, low interest rates and major changes to stamp duty are just some of the factors currently driving the sales market.

We have seen a very positive start to the year, with the recent RICS report indicating that house prices are expected to rise by as much as five per cent in 2015. Help to Buy is being enthusiastically promoted, enabling first-time buyers with lower deposits to get a foot on the property ladder. Barrett Homes has also reported that it will be developing a record number of sites, offering homes in all parts of the UK, which will cater for both the affordable and luxury ends of the market.

The Mortgage Market Review is tightening up the rules of engagement. Lending should have seen a related slowdown, but East London continues to prove that it is a micromarket within the wider market. The majority of property offered for sale in the Docklands has been built within the last few decades, with long leases enabling transactions to run fairly smoothly and few major problems being highlighted on survey reports. This in turn makes the buying process relatively straightforward compared to in other areas of London where leases can be much shorter and structural problems arise in period conversations. To sum up, 2015 looks bright – very bright indeed.

Recent data released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is suggesting a marked slump in the rate in which house prices are rising. It also suggests that 45 per cent more estate agents in the capital reported a drop in potential buyers than those who recorded a rise. Lourdes Estate Agents has found this not to be the case in either of its two offices, with both the City and Docklands branches noticing a sharp increase since the start of the year in the amount of new buyers registering their details. The recent stamp duty reforms seem to have stimulated the market further and it is still very much a case of demand outstripping supply. Prices probably won’t increase at the same rate as the previous two years, but that should be welcomed as a stable and moderately increasing sales market will see transaction levels increase. This more sustainable model will benefit the wider economy and hopefully decrease the chances of boom and bust style market spikes.

The supply issues in the sales market has boosted the private rental sector, where both prices and demand are growing steadily.

This will provide a strong foundation for further growth in buy-to-let. While many estate agents in London feel very pessimistic about the prospects of 2015, I for one, feel those on the East side of town have nothing to fear.

Franklyn James Estate Agents

Lourdes Estate Agents

Docklands, Limehouse & Bow 020 7005 6080 franklynjames.co.uk

Docklands Office 020 7538 9250 City Office 020 7377 5788 lourdes-estates.com

managing director of Lourdes Estate Agents, comments on the state of the residential property market

CANARY WHARF | 139

www.lourdes-estates.com

Cobalt Point, London, E14

Zenith Building, Limehouse, E14

Presenting this modern one bedroom apartment situated in the sought after Lanterns Court development. Featuring a bright and spacious open plan reception with high specification kitchen, double bedroom, luxury bathroom, secure parking, gym and concierge. The property is close to South Quay DLR Station and Canary Wharf for all it amenities

A two bedroom apartment located on the third floor of this popular Limehouse development. The property features a large reception room, two private balconies, open plan fitted kitchen, two bathrooms and allocated parking space. Zenith Building is located a short walk from Limehouse DLR station and Canary Wharf.

EPC = E

£385 per week

EPC = C

£425 per week

Horizon Building, London, E14

Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14

This modern three bedroom duplex sub-penthouse situated within a short walk to Canary Wharf. Offering a spacious main reception, mezzanine second reception area, fully integrated kitchen and three bathrooms. The property further benefits from a private balcony with views over Canary Wharf, two parking spaces and concierge service.

This stunning three bedroom warehouse conversion is situated in the heart of Limehouse and offers an amazing 3380 sq ft of accommodation.

The property is arranged over three floors, featuring a main reception and high specification kitchen with dining area, two bathrooms, a spacious garage and is well located for Westferry DLR Station.

EPC = D

EPC = F

£615 per week

Docklands office: 96 Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London, E14 8AP docklands@lourdes-estates.com I 020 7538 9250

£1,500 per week

Docklands office 020 7538 9250 docklands@lourdes-estates.com

Berglen Court, E14

Dunbar Wharf, E14

This luxury south facing apartment comprises of three double bedrooms & two bathrooms with a total space of approximately 1300 square feet. The property also boasts a large balcony with incredible views, climate control & secure parking space. Berglen Court is within close proximity to Bank & Canary Wharf stations.

Lourdes are pleased to present this modern two bedroom two bathroom apartment situated within the extremely desirable Dunbar Wharf development. This apartment benefits from a large living space with direct water views, fitted kitchen, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, secure underground parking space and is share of freehold.

£985,000

EPC = C

EPC = C

Guide Price £699,995-£724,995

Rosebay House, E3

Pengelly Apartments, E14

Lourdes are pleased to present this charming newly refurbished two double bedroom, two bathroom apartment. Within close proximity to Bow Road underground station, Devons Road and Langdon Park DLR stations, offering transport links into the City, Canary Wharf and West End.

Lourdes are pleased to present this contemporary one bedroom apartment. Located within easy access to Island Gardens & Mudchute DLR, park & farm. This apartment comprises of a modern open plan kitchen/living area with far reaching views towards Canary Wharf, modern three piece bathroom suite & double bedroom.

EPC = C

Guide price £360,000-£370,000

EPC = B

£299,995

City office: 20 White Church Lane, Aldgate, London, E1 7QR city@lourdes-estates.com I 020 7377 5788

CANARY WHARF DPS JANUARY 15.qxp_Layout 1 19/01/2015 09:08 Page 1

Canary Wharf E14

Limehouse E14

Two bedroom apartment I Stunning views Parking I Concierge Furnished I EPC B

One bedoom apartment I Marina views Parking I Concierge Furnished I EPC D

Limehouse E14

Limehouse E14

Penthouse I One bedoom I 200 sq ft balcony Fantastic Specification I Contemporary finish Unfurnished I EPC C

Warehouse conversion I Two bedroom apartment Direct river views I Concierge I Secure parking Furnished I EPC C

£595 per week

£340 per week

Sales 020 7791 7000

Lettings 020 7791 7011

£360 per week

£525 per week

The Only Estate Agent @ Limehouse Basin HURFORD

SALVI

CARR

Narrow Street E14

New Providence Wharf E14

One bedroom apartment I Balcony I Secure parking 3rd floor I 24 hour concierge I Mile End/Bow tube 484sqft/45m2 I EPC D

One bedroom apartment I Thames views towards O2 Balcony I 12th floor I 24 hour concierge I On-site leisure facilities 514sqft/48m2 I EPC C

Bow Quarter E3

Bow E3

£385,000

£395,000

Factory conversion I Two bedroom apartment On-site leisure facilities I 24hr concierge I Bow Road DLR 589sqft/55m2 I EPC C

£445,000

£420,000

Two bedroom apartment I South facing balcony 4th floor I Secure development I Mile End/Bow tube 678sqft/63m2 I EPC B

hurford-salvi-carr.co.uk

Leeward Court, West Wapping E1W Ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1 Bedroom 4th floor modern built apartment. Lounge. Fitted kitchen. 3 Piece bathroom suite. Double width balcony. Secure parking space.

On-site caretaker.

Close to St Katharine’ s DockE1W and Tower Hill Stations.

Wellington Terrace, Wapping

£695,000

2 double bedroom, 2 storey house set within this gated CCTV development. The property has been fully modernised to include double glazing, replacement ceilings, wood floors, , alarm, central heating system operated via remote control, smart phone or internet. Lounge. Fully fitted kitchen. Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. Garden. Secure Underground parking space.

Potential to extend into the loft subject to planning permission. Close to Wapping station and local amenities.

£495,000

Capital Wharf, West Wapping E1W Ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, top floor duplex apartment within this sort after riverside development. Lounge with double height ceiling. Fitted kitchen. Balcony with views of River Thames and Tower Bridge. Secure underground parking space. 24 Hour Conceirge. Residents gymnasium. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tudor House,Tower Bridge, SE1 £1,595,000 Tower Hill stations.

6th floor luxury 2 Double Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Open Plan Reception Room, large balcony. Master bedroom with en-suite and walk in wardrobe. Modern Integrated Kitchen, Balcony, 24 Hour Porter by Harrods Estates, Residents Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Lifts to all floors. Close to Local Shopping Facilities, Walking Distance to London Bridge.

£1,700,000

ea2 Agency Estate Agency | 35a Wapping StreetStreet | Wapping | London E1W E1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage Court | 8-10High Sampson | Wapping | London t: 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com

Dundee Court, West Wapping E1W Ea2 are pleased to offer to let this 4th floor 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom warehouse conversion. Lounge. Fitted kitchen. Character features. Secure underground parking space.

Daytime porterage.

Close to St Katharine’ s Dock and Tower Hill stations.

Roding Mews, Wapping E1W

ea2 are pleased to be able to show you this 6 bedroom 4 bathroom house for rental with a garden. This property is a very unique property and has views over the canal. Would suit 6 professional people. Close to Tower Hill and Wapping Overground and close to Waitrose.

£1,300 per week

£500 Per Week

Merchant Court, Wapping E1W Ea2 are pleased to offer to let this 1st floor 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom warehouse style apartment. Open plan lounge and fitted kitchen. Character features. Secure parking space.

Porterage. Close to Wapping station and local bus routes.

Cascades Tower, Docklands E14

2 double bedroom, 2 bathroom 11th floor apartment within this secure modern development. Comprising a reception room with water/ City views, fitted kitchen, master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe & en suite bathroom, additional shower room. Balcony. Swimming pool, Gymnasium & Tennis court. Concierge.

£500 per week

£550 Per Week

ea2Agency Estate Agency Wapping Street | Wapping | London E1WE1W 2PL 1NA ea2 Estate Heritage| 35a Court | 8-10 High Sampson Street | Wapping | London 020 7702 3456 t: 020 7702t: 3456 | f: 020 7702 9168 www.ea2group.com | enquiries@ea2group.com www.ea2.co.uk | property@ea2group.com

London’s Finest Properties Lettings

Cobalt Point E14

£375 p/w

Indescon Square E14

£455 p/w

One bedroom apartment | Availablenow | Fully furnished

Two bedrooms, Two bathrooms | 6th Floor with lift access | on-site Concierge

Walking distance to Canary Wharf

Walking distance to Canary Wharf

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£370 p/w

Two bedroom apartment | Fully furnished | Available now | Balcony

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£325 p/w

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Sales

Torrent Lodge SE10

£349,950

A spaciously designed one bedroom apartment within this sought after development on Greenwich High Road. Furnished to a high interior specification, the property comprises approximately 529 sq ft of stylish living space, to include a bright reception room, open-plan kitchen benefiting integrated appliances and ample storage.

LETTINGS

MANAGEMENT

SALES

City Peninsular SE10

£425,000

A stunning apartment within the City Peninsula development located in North Greenwich. This two bedroom, two bathroom apartment is situated on the 7th floor, enjoys fantastic river views from its private balcony and comes with allocated parking space.

SERVICED APARTMENTS

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Specialists in lettings, sales, and property LIFE have dealt with over18,000 tenancies.

LIFE currently manage over 3,000 properties in over 75% of London’s postcodes.

LIFE currently operate from 12 London based ofďŹ ces.

LIFE deal with Landlords from over 85 countries, over all 5 continents.

020 3668 1030

LIFE have sold over

ÂŁ1.6 Billion

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LIFE let on average one property every

120 minutes.

liferesidential.co.uk

364 Upland Road - SE22 0dp

Now Available To View By Appointment This bespoke architect designed, detached four bedroom house sits proudly on Upland Road in the popular location of East dulwich. The property provides versatile living accommodation arranged over three floors, with each room offering unique design features enhanced by high quality finishes.

ÂŁ925,000 F/H

Selling agent

T: 020 8516 3666 W: acornnewhomes.co.uk

Beckenham 020 8663 4433 Bromley 020 8315 5544

Chislehurst 020 8295 4900 Locksbottom 01689 882 988

Orpington 01689 661 400 West Wickham 020 8432 7373

A member of

Overbury Avenue, Beckenham BR3

£699,995 F/H

This four double bedroom Regency style townhouse is located in the heart of Beckenham and offers 1,933 sq ft of living accommodation arranged over four floors. Comprising four double bedrooms, kitchen/breakfast room, living room with balcony, study and three fully tiled bathrooms.

Contact Beckenham 020 8663 4433

Orpington BR6

OIEO £600,000 F/H

Stunning three bedroom detached family home located in a much sought after one way residential road.

• Three bedrooms • Off street parking

Contact Orpington 01689 661 400

The Acorn Group, incorporating:

• 100ft garden • Energy Efficiency Rating D

• • • •

Four double bedroom townhouse Three bathrooms 1,933 sq ft of living accommodation Off street parking and private garden

Orpington BR6

Guide Price £2,495,000 F/H

Beautifully appointed six bedroom, six bathroom executive home in the private ‘Chelsfield Park’ estate.

• Six bedrooms • Integrated double garage

• Automated gates • Energy Efficiency Rating B

Contact Locksbottom 01689 882 988

langfordrussell.co.uk

Leathwell Road, London SE8 Price £1,950 per calendar month

Weyman Road, Blackheath SE3 Price £1,695 per calendar month

Spacious three double bedroom Victorian terrace house.

Located very conveniently for Elverson Road DLR and Lewisham Station. Comprising through lounge, kitchen/dining room, first floor three piece white bathroom suite, ground floor WC and sunny South West facing garden.

Beautifully presented 1930’s three bedroom semi-detached house located within a short walk to the Blackheath Standard shops and amenities. Comprises open plan lounge diner, kitchen with integrated appliances, two double bedrooms, single bedroom and modern bathroom.

Bedrooms: 3 Receptions: 2 Bathrooms: 1 EPC: D

Bedrooms: 3 Receptions: 2 Bathrooms: 1 EPC: E

Contact Greenwich Office on 020 8858 9911

Contact Blackheath Standard Office on 020 8858 6101

California House, Blackheath SE3 Price £8,500 per calendar month

Upwood Road, Lee SE12 Price £1,650 per calendar month

Occupying a private corner in Blackheath’s Cator Estate, is this ultra-modern, architecturally designed home. This is a superb opportunity to impress your guests with 4,000 sqft of contemporary luxury living & entertaining space. Finished to the highest of standards.

Deceptively spacious three bedroom detached home with extensive rear garden. Reception room to the front of the property plus morning room to the rear with french doors to the garden, modern kitchen and separate breakfast room.

Upstairs are three bedrooms plus family bathroom.

Bedrooms: 6 Receptions: 3 Bathrooms: 4 EPC: B Contact Blackheath Village Office on 020 8318 1311

Bedrooms: 3 Receptions: 2 Bathrooms: 1 EPC: E Contact Lee Office on 020 8852 8633

Our standard tenant charges are: £90 agreement fee & £75 per person reference fee. Other fees may apply, visit http://johnpayne.com/tenantfees for more information.

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CELEBRATING

40 YEARS

The Property Experts

1975-2015

johnpayne.com

Heathway, Blackheath SE3 Guide Price £1,650,000 and £1,750,000 Freehold Two newly built and architecturally designed detached houses on a private road. Braeburn House and Cottenham House have been finished to the highest standards with engineered oak boards, under floor heating, aluminium framed windows and doors.

Contact Blackheath Village Office on 020 8318 1311

Egerton Drive, West Greenwich SE10 Guide Price £1,750,000 Freehold Rare opportunity to acquire this imposing three storey double fronted detached Grade II Listed Georgian Villa c1830, one of only seven. Retaining many period features, it is beautifully decorated and lovingly restored by the current owners to a very high specification.

Contact Greenwich Office on 020 8858 9911

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Four bedrooms Two reception rooms Three bathrooms Stunning design Sought after location EPC rating: C

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Five bedrooms Three reception rooms Two bathrooms Spacious accommodation One of only seven properties West facing garden

CELEBRATING

40 YEARS

The Property Experts

1975-2015

@johnpayne

johnpayne.com

Blackheath Park, Blackheath SE3 Guide Price £3,950,000 Freehold This fine georgian double fronted house is situated on the premier road in the Cator Estate. Offering over 7,000 sqft of luxurious accommodation arranged over four floors with an impressive indoor pool and a stunning landscaped 300 ft rear garden.

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Five bedrooms Three reception rooms Three bathrooms Luxury accommodation Indoor pool EPC rating: E

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Three bedrooms Two reception rooms One bathroom Conservation area Fully refurbished EPC rating: D

Contact Blackheath Village Office on 020 8318 1311

Lampmead Road, Lee SE12 Price £799,950 Freehold Recently renovated to a high standard is this stunning three double bedroom Victorian end of terrace house offering spacious accommodation throughout.

Situated within the Lee Manor Conservation Area, this superb family home has been extended to the rear.

Contact Lee Office on 020 8852 8633

Blackheath Village Blackheath Standard Greenwich Lee Property Management

020 8318 1311 020 8858 6101 020 8858 9911 020 8852 8633 020 8318 0243

1 Montpelier Vale, SE3 0TA 11 Stratheden Parade, SE3 7SX 227 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8NB 119 Burnt Ash Road, SE12 8RA 39 Montpelier Vale, SE3 0TJ

PROPERTY

Insider Knowledge

The investment properties you need to know about Diana Alam,

Head of Residential Development Sales, JLL

What new launches can we look forward to this year and are there any particular areas to watch?

There are a number of schemes coming to the market in 2015, giving buyers a diverse range of product in terms of location and price. We saw sizeable growth in the residential market in 2014 and although it is predicted that the pace will be slower this year, it is still a very good time to buy. London is an extremely attractive proposition and developers have adjusted to market conditions accordingly, meaning we have already had a very strong start to the year. Smithfield Square N8, one of our most recent instructions, has seen an extremely positive start with a location in a Zone Two growth area on the borders of Crouch End. We also have prime central London developments launching soon such as Westminster Quarter in SW1, which – with its 91 apartments and penthouses – will offer a perfect investment opportunity in the capital. This scheme is located in Victoria – one of the prime Central

London locations that we believe has not achieved its real value for a central London hotspot. In 2015, investors will have a variety of choice, which is great news indeed.

City bonuses are on the horizon, what do you think will prove popular in terms of London real estate for those that are keen to invest?

Investors need to see a real return on their investment, so looking at buy-to-let properties is ideal in today’s market, and with lending becoming so competitive it is a great time to lock into the attractive mortgage products available if you can. Off-plan properties are often ideal due to the small initial investment required for purchase and if you buy well, the return can be substantial. In today’s market, the best advice I can give to all my investors is when you are looking, consider whether the property will be an attractive investment for a long time to come, so choose carefully and think long term.

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