Kensington & Chelsea July 2017

JULY 2017 s £5

Helen

OUR PICK OF THE HOTTEST PRE-FALL TRENDS

McCrory On Fearless, feminism and life in London

The World of

Anna Sui

The fashion designer’s inaugural exhibition

Matthew Williamson’s suitcase essentials

The

travel issue

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Exploring hidden Japan, sailing down the Peruvian Amazon & discovering Italy’s top wellness retreat

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contents

31

26

32

72 regulars 10. Contributors

63

84. Japan Exploring the lesser-known side of Japan

12. Editor’s Letter

88. Italy Henri Chenot’s Espace spa

15. Five Minutes With...

Matthew Williamson shares his suitcase essentials

high life

16. Diary Notes 18. Profile Mark Philippoussis prepares for the Aspall Tennis Classic

26. Helen McCrory The actress on her new role in ITV’s Fearless

culture

collection

66. The Wellness Clinic Harrods launches its new super spa

22. Art&Antiques

32. Jewellery Box

interiors

24. Leighton House See the works of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

33. World of Watches

70. Design Notes

34. Parmigiani Fleurier The company’s founder on the changing face of the industry

72. Andrew Martin Martin Waller’s travel inspirations

38. Chanel The brand’s latest timepiece

fashion

63. Beauty Notes

travel 79. Globetrotter

42. Style Notes 44. Fashion Shoot

52

80. Peru Sailing down the Peruvian Amazon

52. Anna Sui The fashion designer on her first exhibition 57. Style File

42

92. Food&Drink 94. Restaurant Review Does Chelsea’s Zheng live up the hype?

96. Bill Granger The Australian chef opens a new restaurant in the area 98. About Town

property 103. Luxury Homes in the Royal Borough

80

1 5 5 R E GE N T S T R E ET

4 7 BROMPT ON ROA D

WATCHES-OF-SWITZERLAND.CO.UK

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contributors

Richard Brown

Rebecca Wallersteiner

Richard Brown is the editor of The City Magazine and a watch enthusiast.

This month, he speaks to Parmigiani Fleurier founder, Michel Parmigiani, about pushing horological boundaries as the brand set about changing the face of the watchmaking industry.

Rebecca Wallersteiner is an arts journalist who has lived in Kensington and collected art and antiques for more than 20 years. She has written for The Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail. On pages 22-23, she rounds up the top art exhibitions opening in the Royal Borough this July.

j u ly 2 01 7 / i ss u e 0 6 5 Editor Olivia Sharpe Contributing Editor Camilla Apcar Assistant Editor Ellen Millard Editorial Assistant Lauren Stevens Senior Designer Daniel Poole Brand Consistency Laddawan Juhong

Laur a French

Angelina Villa-Clarke

Laura French trots around the globe writing about all things travel-related. Alongside her role as features writer at Travel Weekly, she has also written for the likes of GQ, Woman’s Weekly and The Daily Telegraph. This issue she discovers Japan’s lesser-known side.

Angelina Villa-Clarke specialises in style, design and travel. Previously associate editor of High Life magazine, she now writes for titles such as Metro and Forbes. She discovers the practitioners behind Harrods’ new Wellness Clinic on pages 66-67.

Production Hugo Wheatley Alice Ford Jamie Steele Executive Director Sophie Roberts General Manager Fiona Smith Managing Director Eren Ellwood

on the

COVER

Left: Talitha pre-fall 2017, photography: J.R. Mankoff ,​ styling: Alison Edmond​ Right: photography: Mazen Abusrour, styling: Natalie Read

Stay in touch

On the cover of The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine, the latest styles by Celia Gould and Dolce & Gabbana take centre stage, as seen in our fashion shoot on pages 44 to 51. On The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine Talitha’s latest line of Indianinspired designs is sure to get you in the summer spirit (p.41).

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editor’s letter

july issue 065

“At the moment, when reading the news is so depressing, creating someone who is fighting for what she believes is justice... is really refreshing” – Helen McCrory In times of trouble, popular culture often taps into society’s need for escapism. Helen McCrory’s latest role sees her star in ITV’s new political thriller, Fearless.

Light-hearted it is not, but what it captures is our subconscious desire to fight for what we believe is right, no matter what the consequences. We speak to the actress about her bold performance (p.26).

To satisfy our need for escapism further following the dramatic General Election, we have taken the spotlight away from London and dedicated this issue to faraway places.

Laura French explores an undiscovered Japan (p.84), while I journey from Lima to the Peruvian Amazon (p.80).

Of course, we all need to stop daydreaming and return to reality eventually, which is why this issue presents our first redesign. This is a particularly poignant one for me, as it also signals my last as editor. As I move on to pastures new, I know I leave the magazine in very capable hands. It has truly been a pleasure writing for you these past five years.

Olivia Sharpe, editor

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Photography: Richard Allen

regulars Left: Matthew Williamson at the Nivea Black & White Deodorant launch; Below: Deià village, Mallorca, Spain

Nivea approached me earlier this year with the idea of redesigning its classic deodorant. It’s a brand I’m very familiar with. My mum had the little blue tin.

My suitcase is always jampacked. My last case had a French glass chandelier, which my business partner very kindly layered in bubble wrap and then sandwiched in cardboard. I was terrified it would break.

Diversifying into new categories always appeals to me. Whether it’s a deodorant can or a piece of furniture or wallpaper.

I’ve never been a fashion snob. We started our first collaboration with Debenhams 15 years ago. One of my favourite aspects of my job is trying to work to a brief and a price point.

I’m not very ‘designer’. My jackets are by Thom Sweeney, a great tailor and friend of mine.

If I were to buy a designer label, it would be Dries van Noten.

five minutes with

Matthew Williamson The British fashion designer on his new beauty collaboration with Nivea, his love of travel and his take on suitcase essentials

Belvoir DNA Silk Square Scarf, £210, Matthew Williamson, matthewwilliamson.com

I’d love to go into beauty.

My next project is candles.

I’m very low maintenance.

I wear Tom Ford’s fragrance which is lovely, I moisturise with Elemis – and, of course, I use Nivea deodorant.

as told to Olivia Sharpe My favourite place, apart from Spain, is Bali. It’s close to India and so has a similar vibe. I’ve never been to Argentina – I’d go there in a heartbeat.

Daily Moisture Boost, £30, elemis.com Linen Field Jacket, £1,640, Thom Sweeney, thomsweeney.co.uk

I have a house in Spain.

A place called Deià in Mallorca, so I’m back and forth a lot. Going abroad has become not so much an event, but a way of life.

Limited Edition Nivea Black & White by Matthew Williamson, 250ml

Private Blend Neroli Portofino eau de parfum, £155 for 50ml, Tom Ford, johnlewis.com

I walk a lot. My partner Joseph and I have the app on our phones which tells you how many steps you take in a day.

My average is about 4,000.

The job of all these industries – fashion, beauty and interiors – is to make women the best that they can be. It’s about enhancing a woman – her taste, her style, her loves.

I never have an agenda. Especially now, having been in the business for so many years. I think that’s why our brand has such a relaxed vibe. It’s a cliché, but if I love it and it comes from a genuine place, then it just works.

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 015

Secret Garden, Sophie O’Leary

Exhibition

New Wave

Discover new artistic talent at the prestigious Chelsea College of Arts, which will be hosting the fourth annual Flux exhibition – a platform for up-and-coming contemporary artists. Experience works, including performances and street art, from a diverse group of 90 international artists.

12–16 July, Chelsea College of Arts, SW1P, fluxexhibition.com

diary notes words by Lauren Stevens

Event

Paint the Town

King’s Road, Marc Gooderham

See hundreds of creatives take to the streets of London during the Pintar Rapido weekend, for which they will be creating live artwork across the city.

Artists will work in a location of their choice, drawing inspiration from the cityscape with an aim to inspire the public. The finished masterpieces will be exhibited at the Chelsea Old Town Hall, where paintings will start at just £50.

29-30 July, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, SW3, pintarrapido.com

A Worthy Cause

St Mary The Boltons church has kicked off the summer season with its annual charity event, the proceeds of which will go to five charities. Hosted on 17 June, the fair featured live music and food and drink, as well as a host of activities, including a tombola and a raffle.

The Boltons, Kensington, SW10, stmarytheboltons.org.uk

Music

Proms Youth Choir performance, ©Chris Christodoulou

Charity

The Sound of Music

July marks the return of the BBC Proms to the Royal Albert Hall. This year’s shows are set to reach an even wider audience with the introduction of the Relaxed Prom, for those with sensory and communication impairments. If you can’t get to South Kensington, the ‘Proms at...’ series extends the festival to five locations, including Cadogan Hall and the Tate Modern.

14 July – 9 September 2017, from £6, Royal Albert Hall, SW7, royalalberthall.com

From left: Pink Chanel, Grey Rooftop Dance, both

by Rich Simmons, courtesy of: Box Galleries

local book worm From the most popular hotspots to far corners of the world, here’s our pick of the top travel books to inspire you this summer

Ibiza Bohemia Exhibition

King of Pop

With a growing fan base that includes Prince Charles and Leonardo DiCaprio, British artist Rich Simmons is the talk of the town – and you can enjoy his latest exhibition, Pop Provocateur, at Chelsea’s Box Galleries.

The artist is famous for his fusion of pop and street art, which has previously seen the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reimagined as the king and queen of punk.

M aya B oy d Travel writer Maya Boyd explores the beautiful island of Ibiza and how the popular destination has captured the hearts of many – from artists such as Man Ray to models Kate Moss and Jade Jagger. £60, assouline.com

Nostalgic Journeys

21 June – 6 July, 402 King’s Road, SW10, boxgalleries.com The Vessel of Friendship, gifted to HRH The Queen by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China

Travels with Chufy S ofia S anche z de Betak Uncover the earth’s hidden gems with travel and style influencer Sofia Sanchez de Betak as she reveals secret hideaways in the world’s most popular destinations. £30, assouline.com

Exhibition

Chasing Light S tefan F orster Stefan Forster captures the beauty of nature in this colourful book, in which he shares the perfect moments photographed during his travels. £29.95, teneues-books.com

S tefan Bitterle Take a trip down memory lane and explore the changing definition of travel throughout the past two centuries, from fishing villages to golden beach resorts and country walks to mountain treks. £45, amazon.co.uk

The Royal Treatment

More than 250 items gifted to the royal family will go on display at Buckingham Palace this summer. HM The Queen is the most travelled sovereign in British history and has received gifts from all over the world, including a beaded Yoruba throne from the people of Nigeria in 1956 and The Vessel of Friendship, given by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China.

From £21, 22 July – 1 October, The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace, royalcollection.org.uk

Streets of the World: No. II J er oen S wolfs Jeroen Swolfs conveys the history and culture of 200 countries with photographs depicting a single street from each destination. £39.95, waterstones.com

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 017

profile

Holding

Court

Two-time Grand Slam finalist and former world No. 8 Mark Philippoussis makes a welcome return to the sporting world this month at the Aspall Tennis Classic tournament at The Hurlingham Club words by Olivia Sharpe

Clockwise from top: The Hurlingham Club; Mark Philippoussis playing at The Hurlingham Club

regulars

Why do you like playing at The Hurlingham?

I think it’s got to do with the fact that it’s the UK and the grass court season, which both hold a lot of memories for me. It’s also an incredible club. The atmosphere makes it special; the crowd really enjoys tennis and they make it very fun for the players.

Mark’s luxuries

Why is Wimbledon such a special tournament for you?

Wimbledon has always been a dream for me ever since I was a kid. It’s very hard for me to watch in a certain respect because I love it and it’s the only tournament I wish I could still play.

Suitcase essential

Tumi Alpha 2 series. Great design and they can take a beating

Which players are you watching this year?

I’m excited to see Federer, especially after the Australian Open. I’m not going to say he lost interest in the French Open by choosing not to play, but I really feel that, for him, Wimbledon is his tournament to lose. Nadal is playing great tennis. Djokovic has lost the dominance he had and Murray has had some surprise losses too, but what an incredible way for him to finish off last year. Finally, Nick Kyrgios is the dark horse of the competition.

Every day luxury

My phone – an iPhone 7 Plus

Best menswear brand

Bottega Veneta for leather goods

I would say the courts and the conditions.

Everything has slowed down. The courts are a lot slower and the balls are much heavier so people can see more rallies. As a result, players have gotten stronger as the game has become more physically demanding.

Athletes are superstitious so I never want to change anything. I like to have a little bit of time before a match. You have to tell yourself it’s just another day, even when it’s the final.

Getting to the Wimbledon finals in 2003 against Federer. It was bittersweet. It’s incredibly special, but then you come all the way and it’s just one match and no one remembers the runner-up, right? Winning Queen’s one year and my two Davis Cup wins were also very special.

Is it possible to have friends on the circuit?

It’s very difficult to have a best friend on the tour because at some stage it does get competitive and you are going to play each other.

How do you bounce back after losing?

In tennis, you lose a lot. It’s something you get used to; it’s part of the game.

Most prized possession

I collect watches so I have a few, but the one I wear the most is my Rolex Daytona

How do you keep your cool?

Everyone reacts differently to pressure. Some people are more expressive. Look at Andy [Murray] – he’s very vocal towards his box and it works for him. Personally, I was very quiet on court. I didn’t like showing emotion. I played my best tennis when I was relaxed.

What have been the biggest changes in the sport in the past few years?

Fondest memory in tennis?

Earlier this year, you ruled out coaching Kyrgios; do you think you’ll change your mind?

At times he hasn’t done himself any favours, but in the past few months I think he has matured and improved his game so much. That match against Federer was incredible and yes, he broke his racket at the end, but that just shows how much it means to him. So do I see myself working with him at some point? Yes, sure. I see a lot of similarities between his and my game.

Seeing how they’ve grown is incredible. What’s been so impressive recently is Federer. This is the best I’ve seen him move in such a long time. He looks like he’s enjoying himself and it’s beautiful to watch. What’s dangerous for everyone is that he’s got his confidence back, but he’s also made smart adjustments to his game, like using a larger racket head which has added power to his backhand.

How do you prepare for matches?

What’s the future of Australian tennis?

Right now – Nick Kyrgios. We all know he has the game to win Wimbledon. His mentality is his Achilles’ heel, but is it also something that makes him very exciting to watch? Can he conquer that or be mentally stronger? Of course, the kid’s 22 years old.

What’s it like watching Nadal and Federer now, having played them at the start of their careers?

Ultimate getaway resort

What is the key to becoming a champion?

Consistency. It’s waking up and giving it everything on a day-to-day basis. You need to be selfish and say to yourself, ‘This is what I’ve got to do and everything else comes second.’

You’ve got to live, eat and breathe it.

Aspall Tennis Classic, 27-30 June, The Hurlingham Club, Ranelagh Gardens, SW6, 020 8233 5838, hurlinghamtennisclassic.com

Bali. For me, the whole of Bali is a resort; I love that place

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 019

BRONZINO XVI CENTURY

PIETRO LISTA XXI CENTURY

T I M E L E S S N E S S F R O M T H E 2 9 T H O F J U N E TO 2 9 T H O F S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 “Art is the breath of everything that used to be” “When bread used to be baked at home, often once a week, a part of the dough was always put aside and covered by a wet rag before placing in the chest. That bit of living matter continued to ferment in the darkness and formed the necessary yeast for the following week’s dough.

Thus, not only ideally, but also factually, the new loaf contained the DNA of all the bread that was baked before. A germinal and archetypical molecular kin links the present to the past, an element represented as the essential augmentative factor in creating the best result in the latest fresh and daily bread.

This food routine, by now lost in the farmers’ houses too, continues to count as a metaphor for art and life. Memory is the yeast base of our present and, in his inexorable decomposition process too, continues to set essential vital incentives for new actions, for new ideas.

The awareness of this process could be enough to assert that no piece of art blooms without a bulb, without a root,

43 Brook Street, W1K 4HJ Mayfair - LONDON

R.S.V.P. rsvp@rosekinggalleries.com

which keeps it in connection with a genealogy of many other art pieces.

Sometimes this genetic heritage is so evident that it becomes similar, in other occasions histological samples are necessary to understand its belongings, but each artist has a mass of fertile generations behind himself and in some way, he has to gain a heritage that is not taken for granted.

However, art keeps on living, accompanied by a never-ending nostalgia that has always appeared to us as a lack, as a vacuum, that we rather have to interpret as a feeling of belonging.

We belong to a period (not only to a place) which, in its accomplishment, kneads itself with the whole past time.

Maybe it is the contemporary energetic fire that bakes and takes bread out of the oven, which stops that millenary process of matter fermentation, securing the dough in a converted substance and marking an ideal point in space and time”.

Massimo Pulini In collobarotion with: Giorgio Baratti www.giorgiobaratti.com giorgio.baratti@libero.it

Aria Art Gallery www.ariaartgallery.com info@ariaartgallery.com

Halkin www.halkin.com info@halkin.com

Sketchy Business

Snap up a David Downton original at the Fashion Illustration Gallery’s annual art fair, which returns for the second-year running to The Shop at Bluebird this summer.

30 June — 2 July, 350 King’s Road, SW3, fashionillustrationgallery.com

art&antiques

Photography: Roel van Tour

words by Rebecca Wallersteiner

Summer of Love

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, Notting Hill’s Muse gallery unveils pictures by Larry Smart, the ‘60s pop artist whose work is held in the V&A’s permanent collection. Highlights include his portraits of John Lennon, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, which will be available as limited-edition screen prints.

Larry Smart Retro-spective, until 2 July, The Muse at 269, 269 Portobello Road, W11, themuseat269.com

new heights

For more than 20 years, industrial designer Hella Jongerius has scaled new heights by researching the way colour behaves, exploring shapes and reflections. In her new exhibition, a series of textiles have been suspended from the ceiling of the Design Museum, inspired by the way in which the 1930s Bauhaus movement used colour.

John Lennon, courtesy of: The Muse at 269

Breathing Colour, from 28 June, Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8, designmuseum.org

pr ize lots Christie’s

South Kensington

“The Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods were golden ages for glass, revelling in colour, artistry and technical virtuosity,” comments Fiona Baker, senior specialist at Christie’s. Among the prized lots in Christie’s last ever interiors sale at South Ken on 19 July is Baigneuse, a pâtede-cristal figure – whose colour melding and casting of glass is by Gabriel Argy-Rousseau.

Interiors sale no. 14409 (more than 120 lots), Christie’s South Kensington, 19 July, christies.com

From left: A daumcased glass ‘winter’ landscape vase acid-etched and enamelled in relief, c.1900, estimate: £2,500-3,500; a galle cameo glass vase of flattened form double-overlaid and acid-etched with a mountain and lake landscape, c.1910, estimate: £5,0007,000; Baigneuse, Marcel-André Bouraine (18861948) and Gabriel Argy-Rousseau (1885-1953) pâtede-cristal figure, 1928, estimate: £12,000-15,000

culture Space Age

Artist of the

Month

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the epic space film franchise Star Wars, a new show at the Museum of Brands honours the great age of science fiction during the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Displayed is vintage artwork, including film posters, games and toys, depicting characters such as Princess Leia and C-3P0. May the force be with you.

Beam Me Back, Scotty, until 20 August, Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, 111-117 Lancaster Road, W11, museumofbrands.com

©Star Wars. courtesy of: The Museum of Brands

Jane Wormell a nd Tom Mabon

Take a Seat High Summer, Jane Wormell. courtesy of: Jonathan Cooper

As climate change threatens to affect our seasons, artists are choosing this moment to capture nature as we know it – before it is too late. A case in point is Jane Wormell and Tom Mabon, two contemporary artists inspired by the changing British seasons who will be presenting a joint show at the Jonathan Cooper gallery this month. Mabon’s work on display celebrates the beauty of the Scottish Highlands, while Wormell presents studies of the plants and hedgerows in her London garden in high summer.

Jane Wormell & Tom Mabon: The Seasons, 13-29 July, Jonathan Cooper, 20 Park Walk, SW10, jonathancooper.co.uk

Plywood may not sound like the most riveting of exhibitions, but don’t let the name put you off – the V&A explores the innovative design of objects ranging from aircrafts and boats to furniture, from ancient times to today’s digital age.

Highlights include an elegant plywood chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames (1947) and a 1930s surfboard.

From 15 July, vam.ac.uk

Moulded plywood chair designed by Grete Jalk 1963, courtesy of: the Victoria and Albert Museum

From left: Place de la Concorde, Paris, 1957; West Indian Arrivals, Waterloo Station, 1961; Neil Libbert, courtesy of: Michael Hoppen Gallery

A Moment in Time

Until 21 July, the Michael Hoppen gallery presents the first major solo exhibition of renowned photojournalist Neil Libbert. “Over his 60-year career, Libbert’s selfeffacing charm and modesty have always allowed him to get close to his subjects,” comments Michael Hoppen. Highlights include some of Libbert’s previously unseen prints, such as West Indian Arrivals, Waterloo Station, 1961.

Until 21 July, Michael Hoppen, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3, michaelhoppengallery.com

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 023

exhibition

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Leighton House

The works of Sir Lawrence AlmaTadema – one of the principal artists of the Victorian era – are going on display this July at Leighton House Museum words by Rebecca Wallersteiner

T

his month marks an important moment in the art world, as paintings by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) go on display at Leighton House, the home of his friend, Frederic, Lord Leighton. The touring exhibition, organised by the Fries Museum, began in the Netherlands last year and arrives in London following an exhibition at the Belvedere in Vienna. With more than 130 works being presented, it is the most comprehensive exhibition of Alma-Tadema – widely regarded as one of the principal artists of the Victorian period – to be shown in the capital since 1913.

Lord Leighton’s studio house provides the perfect setting for the exhibition, At Home in Antiquity. AlmaTadema was a close friend of Leighton and a frequent visitor. “Of their generation, they are also the two artists whose reputations were most closely identified with the studio houses that they created,” comments Daniel Robbins, the exhibition’s senior curator.

Leighton’s opulent, Arab-inspired interiors were matched by Alma-Tadema’s magnificent house in St John’s Wood – which he modelled on a Roman villa and was created for his second wife, Laura Epps – and its lavish use of marble and mosaics resembles the many marbled interiors depicted in Alma-Tadema’s work.

Visitors are taken on a journey of the Dutch-born artist’s career, starting from his early historical subjects

Clockwise from top left: Unconscious Rivals, 1893, ©Bristol Museums & Art Gallery; Coign of Vantage, 1895. ©Ann and Gordon Getty; In My Studio, 1893. ©Ann and Gordon Getty; The Finding of Moses, 1904. ©Private Collection; The Roses of Heliogabalus, 1888. ©Perez Simon Collection; Selfportrait of Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1896. ©Gallerie degli Uffizi, Florence

of the 1850s to his famous paintings of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Highlights include The Finding of Moses (1904) and The Roses of Heliogabalus (1888), two of his largest works. The former sold at auction in New York for $35.9m (£22m) in 2010 (making it the most expensive classical Victorian painting ever sold), and the latter is similarly considered to be a Victorian masterpiece. A 1883 portrait of etcher Leopold Löwenstam – which made headlines when it re-emerged on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in 2016 after being lost for many years – is also included in the line-up.

Born in Friesland in 1836, Alma-Tadema settled in London in 1870; unlike some of his contemporaries who would not be given due credit by the art world until after their deaths, he was an instant success and

culture

his paintings were much admired by the Victorian middle classes. He specialised in historical genre scenes, beginning with medieval subjects, before becoming fascinated by ancient Roman life following a visit to Pompeii in 1863. After being knighted by Queen Victoria in 1899, he was known as Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema for the rest of his life.

One of the most intriguing aspects of AlmaTadema’s art, explored for the first time in this exhibition, is its influence on the film industry. His portrayals of life in classical times served as a blueprint for Italian and Hollywood film-makers. “That influence is still visible today, a century after Alma-Tadema died; anyone who has ever seen a film set in antiquity has experienced his vision,” explains Kris Callens,

Alma-Tadema’s portrayals of life in classical times served as a blueprint for film-makers

director of the Fries Museum.

The artist’s paintings are said to have inspired the 1913 epic Quo Vadis and Ridley Scott’s 2000 Oscar-winning film, Gladiator.

At Home with Antiquity explores the interdependence of the painter’s art and life via the unique interiors of his houses, which he and his family designed and decorated together. With the eye of an art director, Alma-Tadema stagemanaged his family’s many social gatherings for friends and clients, and his set designs, costumes and props for theatre productions are presented at Leighton House.

Alma-Tadema died in 1912, three years after the death of Laura, during a holiday in Germany. Despite his meteoric rise, his work fell out of favour and fashion after his death, and his reputation has only recently been revived.

He is now hugely collectible and, judging from his great works and prevailing influence on contemporary culture, it is not hard to see why.

Alma-Tadema: At Home in Antiquity, 7 July – 29 October, Leighton House Museum, 020 7602 3316, rbkc.gov.uk/almatadema

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Helen McCrory in Fearless, all courtesy of: Jonathan Ford/ITV

interview

the real

mccrory Helen McCrory OBE explains why her latest role in ITV’s new prime-time thriller Fearless is the “most refreshing” she has ever played words by Scarlett Russell

culture

T

hat Helen McCrory is starring in a new prime-time thriller called Fearless is rather apt. This is a woman no stranger to playing feisty, fiery, even controversial characters.

Her stage roles range from Lady Macbeth, Medea and, most recently, Hester Collyer in Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea, while on film she has played Cherie Blair and Queen Elizabeth I. She’s perhaps most loved as matriarch Polly Gray in the BBC’s Peaky Blinders or Madame Kali in Penny Dreadful.

Her latest role is the lead in new ITV political drama Fearless. She plays the chain-smoking, vodkaswilling, but brilliant solicitor, Emma Banville, who is known for defending some of society’s most abhorred suspects. The plot follows her as she attempts to free a man she believes was wrongly convicted of killing a schoolgirl in East Anglia. As she delves deeper into the case, she sees that there is much more to it than she first imagined – and that police and intelligence services around the world will do anything to stop her.

Fortunately, there is nothing fierce about McCrory in person. The 48-year-old actress sits poised and elegant in London’s Soho Hotel where she has arrived, right on time, for our interview. It’s midday and so she apologises when, halfway through our chat, a spinach omelette arrives.

“Do you mind?” she asks politely. “I’ve already had a breakfast very early today so I’m having another.” While not intimidating, McCrory certainly knows her mind. Between dainty mouthfuls, she carefully considers questions before answering them in her well-spoken lilt. Sharp and astute, her self-confidence is unwavering and a mark of her successful career playing complex characters.

“I really like Emma,” says McCrory when I ask why the part appealed to her. After all, she must have her pick of scripts. “I hadn’t read a female character for television that doesn’t explain herself. She’s entirely unapologetic. She’s courageous, focused and tenacious, and quietly chips away until she gets to the truth. The show is celebrating people defending and sticking up for each other. I liked that.

“I think particularly at the moment, when reading the news is so depressing, creating someone who is fighting for what she believes is justice, and not trusting anybody but herself, is really refreshing.”

The only time McCrory doesn’t go into as much depth with her answers is when I broach the subject of her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis OBE. Is discussing work at home off-limits?

“Like any other couple we talk about work as far as scheduling is concerned with the kids and where we’re going to be living and filming, but that’s it really.” Who does the bulk of the cooking at home? “Whoever is there.”

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Point taken. Today she is here to discuss her work, not her husband. There is an interesting parallel, however, in that Fearless is written by Patrick Harbinson, one of the scriptwriters and producers of Homeland, in which Lewis starred.

“I didn’t know Patrick before and I’m not sure if he wrote the episodes Damian was in because he came on much later, quite a few series on from when my husband left.

“However, there are clearly similarities,” she continues. “You can tell that Patrick has worked in America. Fearless covers more plot in an hour than most British dramas will cover in six hours. Plot is king in American drama and you see it in this. So much is introduced in the first episode.”

While it may read like an American drama, McCrory is quick to poke fun at the fact that it was made on a very British budget.

“We do it slightly differently,” she laughs. “You’re not going from Hawaii to Lebanon to Berlin. On £7.50 you’re going from Solihull down to Peckham then up to Tufnell Park. But it doesn’t matter in a thriller – what matters is the plot. Most of it is London and Suffolk, but then she crosses continents.”

The cast also includes Sir Michael Gambon – with whom McCrory starred alongside in the Harry Potter film franchise, in which she played Narcissa Malfoy – and the comedian John Bishop as Banville’s policeman boyfriend; “so charming and fantastic”, says McCrory.

In preparing for the role of Emma Banville, McCrory read and listened to interviews with Gareth Peirce (“the obvious one”), a leading solicitor who famously represented the family of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead at Stockwell tube station in a bungled terrorism raid. She also befriended a human rights lawyer whom she happened upon by chance.

“We have proven again and again that people don’t expect women to behave in a certain way; nobody expects anything anymore.

We’re all breaking barriers”

culture

“I was on the tube and heard a man chatting about human rights and I thought, ‘oh Christ, I’m late but I don’t care.’ He got off at Embankment and I ran down the Strand after him, asked him if he was a human rights lawyer and he told me, guarding his wallet closely, that he was.”

“I said, ‘I promise you I’m an actress and please can I just come and talk to you?’” she continues. “I would go and chat to him after rehearsals for The Deep Blue Sea in various cafés by the Strand. It was fascinating.”

The actress is now mid-way through filming the fourth series of Peaky Blinders, the hit set in 1920s Birmingham starring Cillian Murphy as blue-eyed mob boss Tommy Shelby, McCrory as his Aunt Polly and a host of other top British talent including Tom Hardy.

“I love Polly,” says McCrory. “One minute she’s a badass with these great one-liners and shooting a gun with a flick-knife in her garter, and the next she’s got a really beautiful love story or a breakdown, then she’s put through a rape and then a revenge.

The whole season is brilliant, the best season we’re going to do.”

While she may be known for playing tough characters in gritty performances, home life in the Tufnell Park McCrory/Lewis household involves lots of satires and comedies. Her favourite shows to watch are “Catastrophe, Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I mean, I’m still on The Simpsons.” She’s also “a bit of a news junkie, so I listen to and watch a lot of current affairs”.

McCrory has two children with Lewis: Manon, 11, and Gulliver, 10. She tells me, proudly, that her daughter walked in the Women’s March in January.

“I didn’t march because I was working and my son didn’t because he was playing football but, yes, Manon did. She also had to dress up for school and so made a suffragette’s outfit and took the placard she had used for the march, which was great.”

As highlighted by shows such as Big Little Lies and House of Cards, roles for women on TV are getting better and better. “It’s interesting where writers are taking women now,” McCrory muses. “We have proven again and again that people don’t expect women to behave in a certain way; nobody expects anything anymore. We’re all breaking barriers.”

Speaking of her latest role, McCrory is quick to point out that Emma represents so much more than just a solicitor. “She’s a lone warrior, a new type of woman that Patrick is looking at who discovers things for herself and trusts no one. A 21st century heroine.”

A 21st century heroine? Now that sums up McCrory.

Fearless continues Mondays at 9pm on ITV. Catch up with the first episode on the ITV Hub, itv.com

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Photography: Karen Collins

free spirit

Soak up the feel-good vibe of the season with Chaumet’s new jewellery collection, Summer Spirit. Dainty floral earrings and dazzling mini watches bring a touch of glamour to the pool From £2,290, chaumet.com

Necklace, £1,900

Photography: Patrick Demarchelier

Ring, £2,800

jewellery box words by Olivia Sharpe

Sword in the Stone The debut jewellery collaboration by Brazilian jeweller Ara Vartanian and Kate Moss combines the pair’s rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic. Inspired by old English legends, pieces feature medieval emblems, such as the sword of St George, as well as sickle moon symbols and amulets carved into pendants, earrings and rings. From £700, Available at Harvey Nichols

Lily of the valley

“Luxury is meant to be lived” is Indian jeweller Nirav Modi’s motto – which is why the brand’s new campaign sees its spectacular jewels displayed in full glory. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley stars alongside actress Priyanka Chopra and models the Water Lilies necklace and earring set.

Ring, £6,600

From a selection, uk.niravmodi.com

Chopard at Cannes

From top: Earrings, Cuffs, both Chopard Red Carpet Collection 2017

Chopard once again took centre stage at Cannes, where it has been its official jewellery partner since 1998. Celebrating this milestone along with the 70th anniversary of the film festival, co-president Caroline Scheufele went all out with a 70-strong collection featuring coloured gemstones and a selection of pieces set in titanium with an arabesque motif.

POA, chopard.com

Revolutionary English jeweller Grima, founded in the 1960s by Andrew Grima, presents its groundbreaking jewels at this year’s Masterpiece London.

Visit the fair to see the multicoloured necklace (pictured) featuring a kaleidoscope of gemstones. grimajewellery.com

Multicoloured necklace in 18-karat yellow gold with amethysts, citrines, aquamarines, tourmalines and diamonds

by Jojo Grima; Lapis Gherkin ring by Francesca Grima, 2017

world of watches

collection

Edward H. White II becomes the first American to perform a spacewalk on 3 June 1965. An Omega Speedmaster can be seen on his left wrist. ©NASA

©Omega Ltd

a s pace O dy sse y Associated with some of humankind’s greatest extraterrestrial adventures, the Omega Speedmaster has become one of the world’s most recognisable watches, 60 years after its inception

Moonwatch Professional Chronograph 42mm, £4,080

Tracing its DNA to racing chronographs made by Omega prior to WWII, the ‘Speedy’, and its novel tachymeter bezel, first landed in 1957, its name in keeping with a convention set out by the Omega Seamaster and Words by Richard Brown Railmaster.

In October 1962, Wally ick apart a watch press release Schirra, one of the first Americans in and I’ll wager the Schofield space, took his personal Speedmaster on Signalman on my wrist that the board the Mercury-Atlas 8, making it the two words repeated most will first Omega to go stratospheric. be ‘tradition’ and ‘innovation’. Coming in a close third will be the worn-out and ©Omega Ltd. hackneyed ‘icon’.

Of course, since the end of the Second World War, when wristwatches became de rigueur for gentlemen of taste, few timepieces have acquired truly legendary status. One watch that has is the Omega Speedmaster. In July 1969, the sporty chronograph earned its place in the horologic Hall of Fame by becoming the first watch to be worn on the moon. The Speedmaster story, however, begins more than a decade before Apollo 11.

P

Two years later, in search of a timepiece robust enough to survive the rigours of space, NASA requested chronographs from four watchmaking heavyweights – Breitling, Rolex, LonginesWittnauer and Omega.

After testing the watches to destruction, Omega’s entrant was the only timepiece declared “flight-qualified for all manned space missions”, and, in June 1965, was strapped to the wrist of astronaut Edward White II during America’s first spacewalk.

The Speedmaster earned its ‘Moonwatch’ moniker four years later when Buzz Aldrin followed Neil Armstrong onto the moon wearing his. (Armstrong had left his own watch inside the Lunar Module).

Earlier this year, Omega celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Speedmaster with a star-studded event at the Tate Modern.

Joining Buzz Aldrin on stage was ex-NASA engineer James Ragan, the man in charge of certifying the original Moonwatches as space-ready, as well as a presentation of 60 highly significant Speedmasters – surely one of the greatest tool watches ever produced. omegawatches.com

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A meeting with

MR PARMIGIANI Founder of Parmigiani Fleurier, Michael Parmigiani, talks pushing the boundaries as the brand develops a timepiece that could point towards the future of watchmaking words by Richard Brown

T

he 1990s was the decade of the eponymous rock-star watchmaker.

Franck Muller kicked things off when he established the original off-the-wall watch marque in 1991. Industry enfant terrible Roger Dubuis joined the party in 1995, before Richard Mille exploded onto the scene four years later.

In-between, another self-styled, albeit less shouty, watchmaker announced his arrival – Michel Parmigiani launched Parmigiani Fleurier in May 1996. Along with Muller, Dubuis and Mille, Parmigiani would help usher in the age of the avant-garde indie, when, a decade later, brands like De Bethune (2002), Hautlence (2004), Greubel Forsey (2004), Maîtres du Temps (2005) and MB&F (2005) all came to market.

In the ensuing years, horologic discourse has tended to centre around the fevered attempts of watch houses, large and small, to verticalise their production processes in a bid to make as much of a timepiece as possible ‘in house.’ The more of a watch you can manufacture without the assistance of third party suppliers, the notion goes, the more accomplished a watchmaker you are.

Thanks to his proximity to one Monsieur Pierre Landolt, president of the Sandoz Family Foundation, an organisation established in 1964 to promote Swiss entrepreneurship and innovation, Parmigiani achieved autonomy quicker than most.

Having started out as an independent clock restorer, Parmigiani was, by the 1980s, the principle custodian of the Sandoz collection – an assortment of Fabergé eggs, pocket watches, mechanical singing birds and other animal automata amassed by Swiss artist, musician and philanthropist, MauriceYves Sandoz, in the early 20th century.

In 1996, with the Sandoz Foundation as patron, Parmigiani gained the means to create his own company. Over the next six years, largely by acquiring a series of component manufacturers, the brand established a centre capable of producing almost every aspect of a mechanical timepiece by itself – from dials, cases and movements, to screws, pinions and spindles.

It comes as no surprise, then, to hear that Parmigiani considers sovereignty fundamental to serious watchmaking. “If you buy a movement that already exists, you cannot have any influence

Along with Muller, Dubuis and Mille, Parmigiani would help usher in the age of the avantgarde indie

collection

Opposite, from top: Tonda 1950 White Meteorite, £14,900; Tonda Métrographe, £9,600; Tonda 1950 Galaxy, £18,900 This page: The Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370

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collection From top: Tonda Métrographe, £9,600; Bugatti Aerolithe Performance, £18,300; Both Tonda Chronor Anniversaire, £100,000

on the form, the components, the characteristics. When you verticalise, you can do everything your own way; if you want to create a component that’s shaped a unique way, you can. You can create things in a much shorter time frame, too.”

The Kalpa Hebdomadaire, Parmigiani Fleurier’s debut wristwatch, arrived in 1999. Two years later, the brand announced a partnership with one of the world’s most revered supercar manufacturers.

“Bugatti was looking for a new watchmaking partner,” says Parmigiani. “The company it was looking for had to have a verticalised production process, the founder had to be alive, and by looking around, it became obvious we were the right choice.”

The subsequent Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370 featured a pioneering lateral time display, which enabled someone holding a steering wheel to tell the time without tilting their wrist. Inside, a regulating organ, gear train, power reserve and two barrels were set across five different oval-shaped mainplates. Housed in a tubular rose-gold case, the watch resembled a mini engine block. So far, the partnership between Parmigiani and Bugatti has yielded a further five ultra-contemporary, albeit increasingly refrained, timepieces.

The future of watchmaking?

In January 2016, Parmigiani announced a timepiece that forced the entire watch world to sit up and take note. The most talked about wristwear from the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, one of the industry’s two major trade shows, may have still been in the concept stage, but if the ‘Sefine’ could make good on the promises Parmigiani was making, it would become one the most significant footnotes in modern horologic history.

Like most timepieces, the Sefine would be powered by a mainspring, gear train and balance wheel. Unlike most timepieces, which typically oscillate at a frequency of either 18,000 or 28,000 vibrations per hour, and measure their power reserves in hours, the Sefine would beat at 115,200, and, said Parmigiani, run independently for a previously-unheard-of 70 days.

The bold claims were the result of a new type of escapement, a mechanism that has remained, for the most part, unchanged since its invention in 1754.

Whereas the balance wheel in most watches swings through an arc of somewhere between 260 to 320 degrees, the arc of the Sefine’s balance wheel is just 16 degrees. Add an escape wheel with extremely small teeth, a lever consisting of extra long and flexible silicon pallets, and other low-friction materials (once the preserve of the aerospace industry), and you get a watch that beats at an incredibly high frequency while using far less energy.

Since its announcement, we’ve heard relatively little about the Sefine’s progress. So where are we now?

“We’re still working on it,” says Parmigiani. “We have completed the fundamental research, the physics, and now we are in the application phase. We’ve mastered the technology, the materials, and are looking at applying this technology to a timepiece. We’re able to deliver it in a large format, and now the idea is to make it smaller.”

At the start of this year, Parmigiani Fleurier lowered its entry level price point by presenting the first ever steel version of its ultrathin (7.97mm) Tonda 1950. It’s now possible to become a Parmigiani punter for £7,950. In the warped world of luxury watches, where a brand of this pedigree is concerned, you can consider that a bargain. parmigiani.com

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06/06/2017 11:39

Clockwise from left: Calibre 1; Working on the intricate bridgework in the Calibre 2

watches

Flower Power This year, Chanel has followed its first-ever inhouse movement with a calibre designed specifically for women. We speak to Nicolas Beau, CEO of the house’s watchmaking division, to find out more

M

ademoiselle Chanel was never one to do what was expected of her. At a time when the fashion was for flounce and excess, she flouted this in favour of masculine lines, minimal decoration and a muted colour palette.

Since her passing, her eponymous house has carried on the tradition of going against current trends and expectations. It certainly did that with aplomb when it launched its Monsieur de Chanel timepiece last year.

The watch itself, with its jumping hour marker at six and enlarged retrograde minute track, would have been newsworthy enough, but when the press discovered it housed Chanel’s first-ever in-house movement, the Calibre 1, everyone was talking about it.

At this year’s Baselworld, Chanel unveiled the follow-up. Admittedly, the name, Calibre 2, doesn’t really sound like much to get excited about, but don’t be deceived, for this is another incredible feat of watchmaking – a skeleton movement in the shape of a camellia, one of the house’s most famous symbols.

While the name also suggests that Calibre 2 will be very similar to its parent watch, it is significantly

words by Laura McCreddie-Doak

collection

different. “We took a completely different approach here,” states Nicolas Beau, CEO of the Chanel watch division. “Calibre 1 was all about style and complexity, while Calibre 2 was much more about beauty and the idea of making a skeleton.”

While Calibre 1 was designed to highlight the components within the timepiece, the intention was completely the opposite the second time round. It was, as Beau states, “all about pure aesthetics”. The intricate, three-level floral pattern of Calibre 2 has been crafted to conceal the watch’s mechanics, with the wheels hidden within bridges that make up the camellia design.

Calibre 2 makes its debut in the Première watch – the case shape of which was originally modelled on the Place Vendôme – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. It is quintessentially Chanel – feminine (the case has been set with diamonds) without being overtly girly and unlike anything else. This isn’t the first time the camellia has featured in the Première – it was previously used to hide a flying tourbillon, created for the house by renowned watch manufacturer Renaud & Papi.

“We wanted to create something mechanical, but with the technical element hidden,” explains Beau. “After a few discussions, Renaud & Papi understood we were not trying to impress with teeth and wheels, but with beauty.

Creativity is king here; we do whatever we think is right and the technicians need to adapt.”

It is this need to futureproof Chanel’s watchmaking arm that has led to setting up an in-house department, which is responsible for Calibres 1 and 2 and now in the midst of working on Calibre 3.

“If it were 1980, I would probably not have invested in movements and continued to work with experts, and been very proud of that fact,” says Beau. “However, in this world where we are surrounded by big groups, you can’t really depend on anyone because they could be bought tomorrow. It has been a massive investment, but if you don’t control your production, you open yourself up to issues in the future.”

The man safeguarding Chanel’s future in the watch industry is none other than Romain Gauthier – the legendary watchmaker and protégé of Philippe Dufour – as well as eight other people who work exclusively for the house on movement conception and construction.

“When I started, I thought it would be hard to convince great watchmakers to work at Chanel,” says Beau. “But I found mavericks who want to be part of a story, not a big machine.” It was these mavericks who

Above: A 3D sketch of an uncased Calibre 2; Below: A fully-assembled Calibre 2 before stone-setting

“I found mavericks who want to be part of a story, not a big machine”

The fully-set version has an incredible 726 diamonds totalling 22.66 carats

embraced what Beau describes as a “crazy” challenge simply to prove that it could be done.

It almost sounds ridiculous when Beau refers to the Calibre 2 as “basic” and a starting point from which Chanel can develop other time-only movements. “We could call it the 2.1 or something,” he says, in what is perhaps a nod to the classic quilted 2.55 handbag.

Whatever does come next, whether that be the Calibre 3 or the hinted-at entirely new women’s watch that will apparently be Chanel’s “vision of the next 30 years of feminine watch design”, you can be sure it will be unexpected. As the house’s founder once said: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different”.

Chanel’s Première Camélia Skeleton watch, from a selection, 272-74 Sloane Avenue, SW3, chanel.com

All the watches are manual wind with a 48-hour power reserve

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INdian SUmmer

Collate the ultimate travel wardrobe with Talitha’s bohemian-inspired designs, printed kaftans and silk jumpsuits that are perfect for warmer climes.

From ÂŁ240, 22 Powis Terrace, W11

fashion Fall in line

Josep Font’s creations for the house of Delpozo invariably blur the lines between fashion and art – and the latest pre-fall collection is no different. Cape cut blouses, voluminous coats and billowing, 3D sleeves defy straight lines and explore structural silhouettes.

From £480, 134 Sloane Street, SW1X, delpozo.com

Bikini, £380, Cover up, £570, photography: Margherita Chiarva

style notes words by Lauren Stevens

Bare All

“Nude is not a colour, it’s a concept,” said Christian Louboutin in an interview with The Telegraph. Last year, the designer revolutionised the nude sandal when he expanded his classic collection to include varying shades to suit different skin tones. Now, two more styles have been added, including the Cherry sandal. It features a PVC back that discreetly secures the foot, creating the illusion of never-ending legs. £595 each, eu.christianlouboutin.com

Truth or Mare

editor’s pick Stand out from the crowd with Dolce & Gabbana’s One of a Kind sunglasses

From left: Black embroidered trunk, £896: Purple harlow, £755

Outside the Box £1,180, dolcegabbana.com

Mayra Fedane’s statement bag designs are ticking all the boxes for pre-fall trends, which include bright colours and geometric prints. Bold yet elegant, the structured leather accessories are the perfect outfit accompaniment.

From £588, mayrafendane.com

Master beach attire with the new Missoni Mare collection.

Even if prints aren’t usually your thing, there’s no denying the brand’s signature designs make for beautiful bold bikinis and beach dresses. Complete the look with one of the ‘70s-inspired headbands.

From £240 for bikinis, missoni.com

ly

ame d a

f

b

t er t u

m

Spread your sartorial wings and embrace this season’s eclectic array of prints and bold colours photogr aphy Mazen Abusrour

stylist Natalie Read

This page Kaftan dress, ÂŁ800, Barrus, barrus.com.tr

this page Dress, POA, Ashley Isham, ashleyisham.co.uk; Bangles, £70 each, Dinosaur Designs, dinosaurdesigns.co.uk; Scarves, £165 each, Celia Gould, celiagould.co.uk; Sandals, £1,275 Aquazzura, aquazzura.com opposite Top, POA, Jonathan Simkhai, jonathansimkhai.com; Earrings, £510, Kalmar, for orders please contact info@kalmar.uk.com

this page Jumpsuit, £1,300, Tim Ryan, timryan-knitwear.com; Belt, £455, Agnona, agnona.com; Shoes, £605, Roberto Cavalli, robertocavalli.com; Bangles, £75 each, Earrings, £145, all Pebble London, pebblelondon.com opposite Silk scarf, £165, Celia Gould, as before; Dress, £2,900, Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com; Choker, £90, Pebble London, as before

this page Scarf, £165, Celia Gould, as before; Shirt, £250, House of Holland, houseofholland.co.uk; Skirt, £1,620, Mary Katrantzou, marykatrantzou.com opposite Dress, £795, Rocky Star, rockystarworld.com; Scarf, POA, Valentino, valentino.com

Hair and make-up Sharon Drugan at Things by People model Angelina Jesson at Premier Model Management Fashion Assistant Remy Farrell location With thanks to The Oberoi, Dubai, from AED 650 (approx. ÂŁ142), oberoihotels.com; Qantas A380 flies twice daily from Heathrow to Dubai, with economy return fares available from ÂŁ318, qantas.com

interview

the world of

anna sui In the first UK retrospective of an American fashion designer, the Fashion and Textile Museum delves into the colourful archive of punk and print maverick Anna Sui

“Steven Meisel introduced me to [hairstylist] Garren and [makeup artist] François Nars, Naomi and Linda helped me get the other models, and I did my first show.”

Rewind another decade and Sui was a budding designer working for a commercial fashion brand; in her spare time, she’d design clothes to sell at rock boutiques and struck gold when her fivepiece collection caught the eye of the words by Ellen Millard fashion director at Macy’s, earning her a spot in the Christmas windows and an aving the supermodel of the moment ad in The New York Times. It was a key moment in her walk in your catwalk show is what every career, but the achievement didn’t go down well with designer strives for, and no mean feat if everybody, least of all her employers. “I got fired!” She achieved. Indeed, in some cases such a laughs. “It was terrifying in the moment.” coup is as important, if not more, than who’s sitting In 1991, Sui hosted her first runway show during New where in the notorious FROW; a Chanel show, for York Fashion Week, aided by her fashionable friendsexample, is never without Karl Lagerfeld’s flavour of in-the-know, and quickly became the designer to watch. the month, from Stella Tennant to Cara Delevingne “It just escalated from there,” she recalls. “Suddenly, and, more recently, Lily-Rose Depp. everybody was interested in New York designers.”

But for Anna Sui – the New York fashion designer Now, she’s celebrating the opening of her first who built her sartorial empire on a love of music, retrospective at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum, print and colour – it was the supermodels who where visitors will see Sui’s eclectic collections together convinced her to do her first show, and they weren’t for the first time. The World of Anna Sui opens with a just any supermodels, either. gallery of images shot by the likes of Steven Meisel and “My friends Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista starring Kate Moss and Sofia Coppola, which leads helped me, and sure enough they pulled it together,” to the main attraction: a complete compendium of the the designer tells me, nonchalantly. “The 1990s were designer’s work. “And just like in The Lion, the Witch the height of Versace and Chanel; they had these huge and the Wardrobe, you’re in the world of Anna Sui,” she productions and money behind them, and I thought announces gleefully as she takes me through the archway there was no way I could compete. into a room brimming with colour and print.

H

fashion Anna Sui, photography: Joshua Jordan

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fashion

Inside, purple plinths support row after row of manikins sporting Sui’s design archive, from the original 1991 tweed ensembles to her more recent S/S16 Tahiti-inspired collection. The show is divided thematically and the collections mixed, but what’s striking about Sui’s work is that a cheerleader jacket from the late ’90s could just as easily have been a part of her latest S/S17 American Pie collection.

“Throughout my career, we’ve overlapped things and repeated things, so you have mod, punk, grunge, fairytale, nomad, Victorian; these are just the things that I linger on and crossover,” she explains. “There are always new discoveries while we’re working on new collections and that’s my favourite part: learning something new, going down a different avenue, or understanding what inspired what.”

Certainly, there’s a diverse mix of motifs scattered throughout the exhibition, from Egyptian-inspired sandals and androgynous tailoring to Mick Jaggerstyle flares and embroidered blazers. Her most iconic look, she says, is a red and white striped dress from her 2007 collection that has an unusual back story.

“This is a collection I was working on when my friend Sofia Coppola was making Marie Antoinette," she explains. “I went to Versaille and watched her film the ballroom scene, but I’d also just seen an exhibition about the pirate Barbarossa, so I decided to do pirate Marie Antoinette!”

It’s these kinds of stories that sum up Sui; every outfit in the exhibition has a story, whether it be a teddy-bear hat that was inspired by a grunge band and designed in collaboration with James Coviello or a dress to match the ones worn by Billy Corgan and James Iha in a Smashing Pumpkins video.

The exhibiton will accompany a book of the same name, in which the designer reveals the inspirations and influences behind her numerous collections, as told to fashion journalist Tim Blanks. Putting the exhibition together, she says, has been the highlight of her career so far.

“Who would have thought? I never imagined I could have an exhibit of my clothes, let alone in the UK; so much of my inspiration was from here.

“Initially, I came here because of the music and saw bands like Bow Wow Wow, but then I got to know all the boutiques and different trends,” Sui continues.

“It was always just fun to come and see what people were wearing on the streets and what was available on Portobello Road.”

It’s no doubt a “pinch me” moment for the designer who set her sights on a career in fashion at the ripe old age of four. It would certainly come as a shock to her younger

054 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK

Clockwise from top left: Gigi Hadid wearing a Zandra Rhodes print for Anna Sui Spring 2016; Pre–Raphaelite–inspired hair and accessories from the Spring 2014 show.

Paper Moon, photography: Sofía Sánchez and Mauro Mongiello for the Spring 2012 Isetan Mitsukoshi ad; Jerry Schwartz’s 3D set for Anna Sui’s Fall 2012 show

self to learn that not only would she become a globally famous fashion designer, but one with whom the world’s stars have and still are clamouring to work: she names Twiggy, Cher and Mick Jagger among her fan base.

But what’s most surprising about Sui is that she still owns and maintains control over her company – a rarity in today’s fashion world. “I don’t have a huge backing and I’ve stayed in business all these years, but maybe that’s part of the reason; I don’t have a boss or a financer that I have to satisfy,” she says. “The losses are mine and the gains are mine.”

She recognises that she’s an anomaly in the industry and worries about the future of fashion, but has high hopes for the next generation who, she says, are striving to remain independent, as she has done all these years. The industry has changed dramatically since she started, but she’s excited to see where it will go next.

“I love fashion and seeing what the new shows and trends there are every season” she tells me. “I always pick my favourite show and focus on what outfit I’m going to buy.”

More than three decades into her career, the designer’s passion is still palpable – but does she ever wonder what she would have been had her four-yearold dreams not come true? She grins: “Rockstar.”

“I don’t have a huge backing and I’ve been able to stay in business all these years”

Until 1 October, £9, Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1, ftmlondon.org

fashion Talk of the Town

Recognising the differing dress codes in today’s working world, Thomas Pink’s new collection aims to cater to a range of industries, whether financial or creative.

Discover the answer to your smart-casual woes with the label’s simple shirts in linen and cotton styles.

From £100, thomaspink.com

style file words by Ellen Millard

Ice cream cone cufflinks, £50

Simon Says

Sail effortlessly from beach to bar with Simon Carter’s new seaside-inspired range. The designer’s classic bold shirts are now available in summery floral and marine motifs, cufflinks in seagull and ice cream designs, and chino trousers in pastel hues.

From £130 for shirts, simoncarter.net

A Nose for Success

Paying tribute to the company’s top olfactory moments, Les Classiques de HJ collection presents 50 bottles of Henry Jacques’ finest fragrances, from the floral Dentelle au Coeur to the woody Fabien Absolute. Each scent is bottled in a striking crystal vessel created by interior designer Christophe Tollemer, and with 50 colours as well as scents, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

From £410 for 15ml, available at Harrods

top t ru n k s

Sea Star Shorts, £70, Hackett London, johnlewis.com

Clipper Shorts, £185, Hemingsworth, hemingsworth.com

Charles Swim Shorts, £153, Onia, matchesfashion.com

Turtle Moorea Swim Shorts, £160, Vilbrequin, harrods.com

Monaco Swim Shorts, £118, Solid & Striped, matchesfashion.com

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Clockwise from left: Copacabana tailored swim shorts in slate and baby blue, £160, Ipanema tailored swim shorts in navy blue and aqua, £160, both from the Underwater collection, photography: Alex Bramwell; Notting Hill store; Frescobol bats; Notting Hill store

men’s style

OFF THE BAT Bats, from £150 each; Balls, £12 for two

Frescobol Carioca’s signature beach bat and ball have swung the brand into the upper echelons of luxury lifestyle, and now it’s opening its third – and largest – store in Notting Hill words by Ellen Millard

I

f there’s one country that tips England to the post when it comes to dedicated football fans, it’s Brazil. From the slums to the sparkling gated communities of the super rich, everyone will own a football – even if they have to use their jumpers as goal posts to play the game.

But when the locals of Rio de Janeiro aren’t practicing their best Neymar impersonation, they’re partaking in a sport of a less competitive nature.

Frescobol is Rio’s answer to ping pong but, unlike its counterpart, the aim of the game is to work together to keep the ball elevated, rather than to catch your opponent out.

For the founders of British lifestyle brand Frescobol Carioca, this simple sport sums up the Rio de Janeiro that they came to know and love as teenagers. Max Leese and Harry Brantly met at school aged 13 and spent many a summer practicing the game on Ipanema beach, near to where Brantly was born and where much of his family still resides.

It was a gaggle of sunseekers in the west coast of France that sparked the idea of bringing frescobol to the masses; while on holiday, the pair spent an afternoon introducing the French locals to the game and, inadvertently, to the city.

fashion

transports you to Brazil with reference after reference to Rio; one wall boasts a rainbow display of frescobol bats, while another features a floor-to-ceiling photograph of the city itself.

The rest of the walls are lined with the label’s swim and resort wear collections, from linen shirts in varying shades of blue to trunks in geometric prints. The latter is where the brand excels; having perfected the style, cut and shape of the shorts, the design team has gone to town on patterns that take inspiration from –you guessed it – Rio. The signature prints mimic the unique patterns on the city’s pavements, while the most recent collection champions the Jardim Botânico.

“Where we really add value is in our prints,” Leese says. “There are so many things that we’re looking at [for future collections]; whether it’s the samba movement, the amazing shapes that are created from all the deckchairs on a busy day at the beach – even the cityscape itself creates an incredible pattern. The inspiration is everything.”

When not building new boutiques in London, the team spends three weeks a year on location in Rio, shooting the campaign imagery and discovering new haunts. Having spent so much time in the Brazilian city, it’s safe to assume that Leese is somewhat of an expert – so, what makes it so great?

“For me, it’s just the vibe and the mood; Rio’s such an exciting city, because you have the beaches and clear blue water, the cityscape with this incredible skyline, and then on top of that you have the jungle encroaching on the city,” he says, passionately. “It’s a place that people aspire to, which is exciting for us.”

“On the beaches in Rio you’ll have millionaires sitting right next to guys who come down from the favela next door”

“People kept coming up to us and saying how beautiful [the bats] were and asking where we had got them from,” Leese recalls. “We told them a little bit about the bats and the game, but actually what we started talking to people about was Rio and the lifestyle. That was the lightbulb moment for us.”

The result is Frescobol Carioca, a luxury lifestyle label that specialises in beachwear and accessories inspired by Brazil and Rio de Janeiro. The name derives from a combination of the game and the colloquial term used to describe Rio natives, whom Leese and Brantly have come to know and love.

“People in Rio are very friendly,” he says. “On the beaches in Rio, you’ll have millionaires sitting right next to guys who come down from the favela [shanty town] next door; it’s that coming together of everyone that creates this really cool vibe.”

It’s this vibe that the brand has brought to Notting Hill, where it has opened its third, and largest, store in London. Located just off Ledbury Road, the space

1 Lonsdale Road, W11, frescobolcarioca.com

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kids’ kingdom words by Lauren Stevens

French Fancy

French childrenswear brand Carrément Beau’s new collection is the perfect go-to for summer essentials, offering clothes and accessories ideal for day-to-day activities. Classic pieces are available for both girls and boys, including summer dresses and swimwear, in subtle blues, nudes and pinks.

From £16, childrensalon.com

Anchor Print Swim Shorts, £29

Peach Windbreaker Coat, £49

fashion That’s My Boy

Vilebrequin started the trend for matching fatherand-son swimming trunks back in 1995, and more than 20 years later it has become a classic. Both boys and girls can mirror their parents’ styles with the Vilebrequin kids’ range, which sees its signature prints reworked in miniature versions. Our top pick this season is the navy turtle print trunks (pictured).

From £50, 56 Fulham Road, SW3, vilebrequin.com

Into the Woods

From Hansel and Gretel to Snow White, Billieblush invites you into the enchanted world of the Brothers Grimm with its new collection of fairytale-inspired clothing. Leaves and mushrooms are woven onto pleated shorts and butterflies embroidered onto T-shirts and knitwear, while skirts and dresses come in sequined and embroidered tulle, perfect for end-of-school parties.

From £18, childrensalon.com

Like a Boss editor’s pick There’s no need to toe the line with these jazzy sandals from Gucci

Statement T-shirts are all the rage this season and they don’t get much cooler than Hugo Boss’ range for boys. Perfect for playing around, the quirky tops are brought to life with nautically inspired prints, fusing photography with graphics and illustrations for an effortless summer look.

From £29, houseoffraser.co.uk

Dress Up

Unlike Peter Pan, La Coqueta kids want to grow up. But it seems no matter how hard they try, they can’t quite hide their innocence – as captured in the brand’s S/S17 campaign. Pretty floral prints and gingham dresses are styled with binoculars and suitcases as children play dress-up, while sporting the latest range of pastel-toned clothes and accessories.

From £26, lacoquetakids.com

£235, available at Harvey Nichols Palm Tree T-shirt, £34

Anchor T-shirt, £45

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It’s never too late...

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

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beauty

Set Sail

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“Relaxed freedom” was how Chanel’s makeup artist Lucia Pica summed up her Cruise collection. The brand’s new range of Rouge Coco Stylo lip pens include a host of desirable shades, from Panorama, a soft beige, to Esquisse, a light coral pink.

beauty notes

£28 each, 020 7408 1557, chanel.com

words by Olivia Sharpe

Seeing Red

Perfumer Ramón Monegal was inspired by the passionate flamenco dance of his native Spain for his latest fragrance. The scent includes a passionate mix of orange blossom, rose and raspberry that sweeten the woody notes.

Flamenco, £180 for 50ml, exclusive to Harrods

Jungle Fever

There was no shortage of boldly painted nails at the S/S17 shows, from distressed metallics to crystal embellishments. YSL’s two new shades have been inspired by nature – take your pick between Jungle Green and Orange. £19.50, yslbeauty.co.uk

In Focus

Peter Philips invites women to play with colour with his Care & Dare summer collection for Dior. Pair a bronzed complexion with a dramatic sweep of yellow or pink eyeshadow across the lids. Complete the look by pressing touches of white shimmer to the inner corners of the eye or beneath the brow.

Focus 5 Colours palette, £45, dior.com

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Cruise Collection 2017, Les Indispensables de l’Eté, courtesy of: Chanel

one s

t

For those who prefer to keep their faces out of the sun, Guerlain has the perfect way to avoid you looking pasty on the beach. For the first time this year, the brand has released a waterproof version of its celebrated bronzing powder, ensuring you a long-lasting glow.

Terracotta Sun Tonic Bronzing Powder, £36.50, available at houseoffraser.co.uk

ed Channel sun-bak

Sun Drenched

beauty Clarins Tangerine Instant Light Lip Comfort

£36.75, skinceuticals.co.uk

SkinCeuticals Sheer Mineral UV Defense,

Oil, £19, clarins.co.uk

Clarins

SOS Hydra Refreshing Mask, £30 for 75ml, available in August, clarins.co.uk

Sensai

Sun Protective Compact SPF 30, £42, available at Harrods, harrods.com

essentials Natura Bissé

C+C Dry Oil Antioxidant Sun Protection SPF 30, £55, spacenk.com

Summer Suncare

Shiseido

UV Protective Liquid Foundation SPF 30, £34 houseoffraser.co.uk

Sun protection is essential, particularly during the summer, but finding the right products can be a daunting task. Here’s our round-up of the best SPFs on the market

Marc Jacobs

Lock Lips Moisture Balm, £18, harrods.com

skin a natural, sun La Prairie

Cellular Swiss UV Protection Veil SPF 50, £131, laprairie.co.uk

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-kissed glo

w

for 100ml, cremedelamer.co.uk

Give

Crème de la Mer Glowing Body Oil, £75

Guerlain

Terracotta Flawless Legs Smoothing & Perfecting Lotion, £45 for 100ml, johnlewis.com

Natura Bissé Diamond Instant Glow, £70, available at Harrods, harrods.com

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wellbeing

In Practice

The arrival of London’s new super spa, the Wellness Clinic at Harrods, has brought some of the world’s most innovative practitioners under one roof words by Angelina Villa-Clarke

Dr Tapan Patel PHI Clinic

Founder and clinical director of Harley Street’s PHI Clinic, Dr Tapan Patel has become the name to go to for the latest in non-surgical procedures. A specialist in the most advanced laser procedures and injectables, his clinic has also become renowned for offering pioneering skin treatments.

“At Harrods, clients can experience our treatments in a world-class setting,” Dr Patel says. “We’ll be offering both face and body therapies – such as facial rejuvenation and body contouring, all subject to a prior in-depth consultation.”

While the aesthetics industry is one that is constantly innovating, explains Dr Patel, newer doesn’t always mean better. “Botox and soft-tissue fillers are still the most popular treatments. When it comes to anything new, it’s about considering the long-term results and safety of the treatments.”

Dr Patel reveals that it is the non-surgical side of the industry that is growing the fastest. “More and more patients want a treatment that ‘refreshes’ without radically altering their appearance. The ability to deliver treatments that consistently preserve natural expression and allow someone to be the best version of themselves is my driving inspiration.”

beauty

Louise Parker The Louise Parker Method

Leading weight-loss expert and bestselling author Louise Parker will be bringing her six-week programme – the Louise Parker Method – to Harrods. Parker’s approach is about offering intelligent weight loss programmes that help rewire bad habits.

“There is no secret to weight loss, but the closest thing I would say is try to aim for consistency. Find a method of eating, moving and living that is attainable for your life. There’s no escaping exercise. But it needn’t be extreme.

“It’s actually a lot simpler than we think to reshape your body once you have a clear plan and have someone to motivate you through the trickier days,” she continues. “Before you know it, you have a lifestyle that keeps you lean, and most of all happy and sane.”

Ross J. Barr Acupuncturist

From making you look ten years younger to helping to heal a broken heart, Ross J. Barr is the acupuncturist called on by the insiders when they need a body or soul reboot. Known for his positive results and warm approach, he specialises in Five Element Acupuncture – the ancient Chinese theory that mind, body and spirit are made up of the five elements and that these energies should be in perfect balance to achieve ultimate wellbeing.

“The acupuncture experience I offer is completely tailored and unique to each individual,” explains Barr.

“No two patients are the same. To hear that a patient has conceived, when they never thought they would have children, is amazing. Or just to hear people tell you that they feel like the best version of themselves continually inspires me.”

Mahi Aramideh The Elixir Clinic

The Elixir Clinic has become a trusted name with athletes, professionals and celebrities alike, due to its range of intravenous vitamin infusions, known as VitaDrips.

Launched in 2013 by cancer research specialist Mahi Aramideh and nurse practitioner Acaena Amoros, the company offers a preventative, insideout approach to health.

“After a full health assessment, we offer a tailored approach based on our range of VitaDrips,” says Aramideh, “They are packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids and target a range of issues – from anti-ageing to hair-growth, jet lag to post-surgery.

“Unlike supplements and creams, where the absorption rate is up to 25 per cent, IV infusions have an absorption rate of 100 per cent, so results are immediate with skin looking more radiant and clients feeling more relaxed.”

The company has launched a Harrods VIP VitaDrip. “Our new launch will be the ultimate elixir – a custom blend of essential vitamins and minerals. It is a kick-start to a new you.”

The Wellness Clinic at Harrods, 020 7225 5678, harrods.com/thewellnessclinic

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In Orbit

Think big with the new Globo collection by Jonathan Adler, whose expansive new range of tables, accessories and lighting offers sleek and modern decor for the home.

From ÂŁ195, 287-289 Westbourne Grove, W11, jonathanadler.com

new f lames

Fior Di Lina, £140, Fornasetti, available at Selfridges

Scandi Style

We’re sad to see the Skandium store on Brompton Road close after ten years in Knightsbridge, but lovers of Scandinavian design need not worry – a new store concept is set to open in South Kensington, and it has an unusual twist. The space will be split across two buildings – one facing the other – with the first specialising in homeware and opening this July. The second, a four-storey furniture haven, will be open to peruse come September.

35-36 Thurloe Place, SW7, skandium.com

design Verdure Soy, £55, Malee, harveynichols.com

notes words by Lauren Stevens

Summer Loving

Baies, £120, Diptyque, diptyqueparis.co.uk

Photograpy: Jake Fitzjones

Update your garden with Lexington’s summer collection – a New Englandinspired range of soft furnishings, crockery and furniture. Our top pick is the Lexington hammock, the ultimate spot for a mid-afternoon snooze. Let’s just hope the London weather upholds its end of the bargain. £98, lexingtoncompany.com

Les Belles Matières, £78 each, Cire Trudon, trudon.com

Finishing Touch

Manou, from £89, Baobab, baobabcollection.com

Courtesy of: Lexington Company

Jennifer Manners’ colourful summer collection offers a range of bright floral and geometric prints that will bring a splash of colour to your home. Each rug is hand-crafted by Manners’ skilled team in India and Nepal and can be tailored to meet your interior needs.

From £715 per square metre, 52 Pembroke Road, W8, jennifermanners.com

interiors

Pillow Talk

Nature was the inspiration behind Brunello Cucinelli’s latest lifestyle collection, a neutral line of soft furnishings, tableware and canvas bags. In keeping with the theme, each piece is made from natural materials – these scatter cushions are produced from 100 per cent cotton and feature delicate gold beading.

From £170, 159 Sloane Street, SW1X, brunellocucinelli.com

Take Note

Fans of Juliet Travers’ luxury fabric and wallpaper will love her debut line of stationery, created following the success of her Albion and Safari collections.

Recall the thrill of finding beautifully decorated notebooks, wrapping paper and note cards with Travers’ range of African- and British-inspired designs.

From a selection, juliettravers.com

Room Divider, £13,550; Chair, £1,450; Star Carpet, £1,175; Mice Bowl, £4,425

Home Sweet Home

The latest fashion house to venture into the interiors world is Loewe, which is launching its first homeware collection this October. This Is Home emulates the brand’s quirky style, with mouse-shaped doorstoppers, star-printed rugs and colourful, knitted cushions.

From £250 for crockery, available to pre-order now, loewe.com Courtesy of: Juliet Travers

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Inset: Sami Pink, ÂŁ55.

Opposite: Museum Wallpaper Gallery, Neutral wallpaper and Rockefeller Stone wallpaper

interiors

o f f t h e wa l l Interior designer Martin Waller reveals his adventurous side – and how his travels from Nagaland to Timbuktu are so central to his work at Andrew Martin words by Camilla Apcar

A

couple of months ago, Martin Waller found himself gazing at El Mirador, the lost city in the middle of Guatemala’s jungle. It had taken two helicopters and a private plane to get there, and the interior designer was alone save for a local guide and a couple of guards.

“This was a city that might once have been the largest in the world, and is now completely deserted, like something out of Ozymandias,” he describes. “It’s poignant, moving, and you become fascinated by the culture. There’s also an astonishingly rich textile heritage in Guatemala, with wonderfully bright colours and beautiful handwoven designs.”

Waller co-founded Andrew Martin in 1978. It was then based in Richmond, selling fabrics and home accessories. A decade later, he had taken full ownership and moved to Walton Street, where the company’s headquarters remain.

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Its distinctions include showrooms across India, the Middle East, Russia, China and the United States; as well as a license with the National Gallery that permits the reproduction of its artworks on textiles or wallpapers. “If you want Michelangelo to design your wallpaper, we can do it.” The designer has also worked on film sets – from James Bond in the 1980s to Harry Potter – and for hotels including the Marbella Club and The Langham.

Yet it is Waller’s passion for travel that has long epitomised Andrew Martin. He has set foot on every continent, travelled to Siberia in search of mammoths, through Nagaland and visited some of the most remote locations on earth. He spends around half the year on the move, but finds that travel is as much about people as the actual place.

“People are endlessly astonishing,” the designer says. On his way to Timbuktu, Waller met Bozo and Dogon communities that live clinging on to the Bandiagara Escarpment in Mali. “They have this culture of carving and ceremonies that is so different from our sculptural history, which is based on the classical Greek style, yet so familiar because it was such an inspiration for Matisse and Picasso through the wars. One is so astonished by man’s endless creativity.”

Almost all Waller’s creations reflect something of these experiences, be it in colour, texture or print. “To translate an experience into a fabric, you either buy vintage artefacts and

“If you want Michelangelo to design your wallpaper, we can do it”

Fa b r i c s

of

Time

India

2000s

dhurries, WOOD CARVINGS AND R AJASTHAN

1980s

Africa

TRIBAL ART AND TEXTILES

1990s China

CALLIGR APHY, CABINETS AND LACQUER TRUNKS

Clockwise from left: National Gallery, Fra Angelico, The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs; National Gallery, Peter Paul Reubens, A Lion Hunt; National Gallery, Canaletto, Venice, The Feast Day of Saint Roch, all £139.90 per sq m

interiors

textiles from that place,” he says, “or you take inspiration from a quintessential motif.”

An Andrew Martin interior isn’t about transplanting cultures or creating themed rooms, however. “We bring an African sculpture into a room that might also have a Chinese wedding cabinet and a comfortable English sofa or a Turkish rug,” he says. “We’re not about direct pastiches of looks. We bring influences from all over.”

Waller has also found that his travels have raised a number of deeper questions about our modern world. He cites people in Timbuktu who take camels and caravans across deserts just by following the stars, walking for days on end. “UNESCO is now putting computers in schools there. Do you try to preserve the culture that does this astonishing thing, or do you let them develop the skills to use GPS?” Waller poses.

“I don’t know the answer. There’s no doubt that cultures and languages all over the world are being lost at an incredible rate.

Even British culture is completely different from 500 or 1,000 years ago – and we think that’s progress, a good thing, that we don’t have ferocious Vikings pillaging churches. But sometimes we think about other cultures being isolated and preserved like that forever.”

Waller’s bags are probably already packed for his next trip. The rainforest in Cameroon has been on his hit list for a long time, but he laughs that his top interiors tip is far closer to home. “The great bargain of our age is English antiques. The next place one should travel to is the Cotswolds.”

Andrew Martin, 190 Walton Street, SW3, andrewmartin.co.uk

... and beyond

Britain

GLOSSIER, GR ANDER AND MORE COLOUR

2010s America

VINTAGE FRIDGES, MOVIE POSTERS AND OLD TRUNKS

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Subscribe to The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine or The Notting Hill & Holland Park Magazine for just ÂŁ45 a year and receive the latest in luxury lifestyle directly to your door each month

To subscribe, please visit rwmg.co.uk/subscribe now

In the Bag

Tumi and Orlebar Brown bring photographer Slim Aarons’ snaps to life with their debut range of beach bags, perfect for sunbathing, shopping or evoking a serious case of wanderlust.

From ÂŁ295, tumi.com

YO U M AY N E V E R M A K E I T BA C K HOME T H E SA M E .

Book your Bermuda holiday with Classic Collection Holidays on 0800 294 9329 or 01903 836643.

travel Crystal Clear

The Luxury Cruise Company and Crystal Cruises have teamed up to create the ultimate retreat. Spanning 256 days, the voyage begins in Los Angeles in January 2018 and will take passengers on a round-the-world trip, exploring the likes of Hawaii, India, Budapest, San Francisco and the Caribbean.

From £449,000 per person, theluxurycruisecompany.com

globetrotter words by Ellen Millard

Sweet as Sugar

In a converted sugar mill hidden in the hills of Yangshuo, you’ll find Alila’s latest property. Its second in China, Alila’s newest resort opens this July and offers an up-close-and-personal discovery of the county’s natural wonders, boasting an unrivalled view of the Li River and the surrounding Green Lotus Peak park.

suitcase essential Keep organised with this travel card holder from Mulberry

Class Act

From £154 per night, alilahotels.com

£195, mulberry.com

Those travelling to Australia needn’t wait for their arrival to discover the nation’s art scene, as leading photographers, artists and designers have partnered with Qantas to create a range of works for the airline’s international business class eye masks and travel pouches. Megan Weston’s Iceland is among the artwork chosen. qantas.com

Trail Blazer

We’re Going to Ibiza

If you’re a fan of Ibiza, but not of its thriving club scene, head to Cala Nova bay where a new restaurant, Aiyanna Ibiza, offers a tranquil escape, with 60 beach beds primed for sunbathing, a daily wellness programme offering morning Pilates and yoga sessions, and a menu of healthy bites and sharing platters. aiyannaibiza.com

Discover the hidden treasures of the Amalfi coast on a guided trek of Italy’s Valle delle Ferriere walking trail, which will take you on a three-hour tour of the coastline’s most picturesque spots.

Post-hike, unwind at Monastero Santa Rosa’s thermal suite, where foot spas are on hand to soothe weary limbs.

From €3,351 for three nights on a B&B basis, including a guided hike, spa treatment and lunch with the chef, monasterosantarosa.com

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long haul

RIVER WILD Journeying inland by boat from Lima to the Peruvian Amazon, South America’s urban and natural jungles present a rich landscape and make for an enticing destination words by Olivia Sharpe

Aria Amazon, courtesy of: 080 | LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK Aqua Expeditions

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Clockwise from top left: Suite, Aria Amazon; Toucan; Observation deck, Aria Amazon; Plaza Mayor, Lima; Macaw; Skiff ride down the Amazon, Aqua Expeditions; Howler monkey; All courtesy of: Aqua Expeditions

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travel

F

or many, visiting Peru sits high on their bucket list. With its ancient sites, diverse topography and thriving capital, it has much to recommend it. With direct BA flights having launched last May from London Gatwick, journeying here is more accessible than ever, as I realise on a seven-day tour of this remarkable South American country.

After a few days in Lima, I board a plane to Iquitos, where I will embark on a cruise of the Amazon, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Travel company Aqua Expeditions was the first to launch a luxe river cruise on the Peruvian Amazon in 2007 and it now offers three-, four- and sevennight tours. Next year, it will partner with Jean-Michel Cousteau – son of oceanic explorer Jacques Cousteau – on a new series. The renowned conservationist will take guests on tours of the Amazon and Mekong (starting this year), imparting his knowledge of natural environments.

Iquitos is the largest city in the world that is only accessible by river or air. Yet this has done nothing to prevent it being flooded with Europeans, who were drawn to here for its booming rubber industry in the late 19th century. Their continuing influence can be seen in the city’s architecture, which includes the Iron House, rumoured to have been designed by Gustave Eiffel.

As we board the skiffs to take us aboard our ship, Aria, it begins to rain. Visitors should expect to be drenched daily in a place that sees at least 80 inches of downfall annually, but nothing could quite prepare me for the weather, which is almost biblical in its relentlessness.

Each of Aria’s 16 suites are nearly identical in size and appearance, featuring king-size beds, sitting areas and panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. I love the sense of floating on water every morning when I open my curtains on the lower deck of the three-tier vessel.

Upstairs on the top deck is the lounge, bar and small library, along with a gym and massage room. Outside on the observation deck, a large white awning covers a cluster of sun beds and an outdoor jacuzzi. The decor is simple but stylish, with comfy sofas, coffee tables and polished wooden floors. Aria’s restaurant is its pride and joy, producing five-star Amazon-influenced cuisine courtesy of chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.

The daily itinerary includes morning and afternoon excursions for three hours down the river on motorised skiffs in small groups. The guides really set the trip apart from other tours of the region. Having all grown up here, they are brimming with such a wealth of knowledge that they would put even David Attenborough to shame, and have an inexhaustible passion for their homeland.

Much like us, they cannot contain their excitement when they spot local wildlife, as though they too are seeing it for the first time. On two occasions, our guide Julio pulls a baby anaconda out of the river, while

Our guides are brimming with such a wealth of knowledge that they would put even David Attenborough to shame

another wrestles a caiman into our boat. They appear to know the name of every bird in the sky which, given there are more than 205 species here (along with 2.5 million insect and 40,000 plant species), is quite something.

The guides don’t get to have all the fun, though – we spend a morning fishing for piranhas in Moringa Lake, followed by canoeing at Lake Clavero. We journey into the heart of the rainforest to discover the creatures that live within. Mosquitos seem immune to insect repellant, and our guide warms us not to touch any of the many trees, which are riddled with stinging ants and giant tarantulas. However, we are welcomed by three-toed sloths, rare birds and squirrel monkeys.

Each day presents something new and unforgettable, such as one evening when we sip sundowners in our skiffs, reflecting on all the wonders we have seen as the sun sets – an awe-inspiring sight in itself.

I start and end my trip in Lima, where I stay at the five-star Swissôtel, in the financial district of San Isidro. Peru’s vibrant capital recalls its past as well as its promising future. Just ten minutes by car from our hotel is Huaca Pucllana. The ancient ruins, which once served as an administrative and ceremonial site, date back 1,800 years to pre-Columbian South America.

Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and traces of the city’s 300-year Spanish rule can be found in Plaza Mayor, where the Government Palace and cathedral are situated.

Lima has become famous in the past decade for its diverse culinary scene. Widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world and one of the first in Peru to receive a Michelin star in 2013, Central is a mustvisit. Its inventive menu, devised by renowned head chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz, celebrates the native gastronomy and geographical diversity. Another restaurant I must mention is Maido, which serves a Nikkei menu that fuses Japanese and Peruvian culinary techniques.

Peru’s capital has a burgeoning fashion and art scene. The Miraflores district is home to Love Park which, with its mosaic walls and contemporary artwork – including the El Beso sculpture depicting sculptor Víctor Delfín and his wife kissing – has been compared to Gaudí’s Parc Güell more than 6,000 miles away in Barcelona.Finally, Mate, the not-forprofit centre founded by Mario Testino, showcases the Peruvian photographer’s works as well as that of lesser-known contemporary local artists.

Staring at his collection of photographs dedicated to the festive dress of the Cusco people and the region’s topography, you can see how creatives such as Testino, who have emerged from Peru, will forever draw inspiration from this spectacular country.

A three-night cruise on the Aria Amazon with Aqua Expeditions starts from £2,920, aquaexpeditions.com.

Premier rooms at Swissôtel Lima start from £186 per night, swissotel.com. British Airways flies direct from London Gatwick to Lima, from £657, ba.com

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travel

long haul

h i d d e n

japan Move away from the bright lights of Tokyo and the ancient sites of Kyoto, and you will find a wealth of undiscovered treasures in Japan words by Laura French

W

e turn right down a narrow backstreet and pull back a curtain to reveal an almost empty saloon. The swathes of red velvet hit me first, then the heady scent of aged wood and whisky, followed by the melodic voice of a local man singing.

It might sound a tad seedy – but it’s not. I have in fact just stumbled upon a hidden gem of a whisky bar. I’m in Kanazawa, a small city on the northern coast of Honshu Island and it’s the final stop on my mission to explore Japan’s lesser-known side; it’s this place in particular that has caught my attention.

The capital of the Ishikawa prefecture, the castle city wasn’t really on the map for foreign visitors until an extension to Shinkansen – the world’s first high-speed commercial train line – occurred in 2015. Now accessible by a three-hour train ride from Tokyo, it offers culture to rival that of Kyoto and an intriguing history to boot – it was the seat of the Maeda clan in the 16th century.

It’s not just the bar that intrigues me. Like Kyoto, Kanazawa is one of the few places where geishas are still very much a part of the culture. Among its official entertainment districts is Higashi Chayagai, where I explore the 197-year-old Kaikaro chaya teahouse and partake in a matcha ceremony while learning more about geishas, whose arts – reserved for private, exclusive parties only – span classical music, dancing, games and plenty more.

It’s not all visitors will find here in the way of culture.

There’s also a samurai house from the Edo period,

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once home to the high-ranking Nomura family, who lost their fortune when Japan’s feudal era ended.

It sits beside an array of art and craft shops, which tell of the city’s heritage. At Kureha, I browse exquisitely designed kimonos and learn that a made-to-order one would cost me at least one million yen (£7,000), and decorate my own chopsticks with 24-carat gold leaf at the Hakuza Hikari-zo shop (99 per cent of the country’s gold leaf is produced in the region). If you’re looking to spend, this is the place.

Then there are the temples, all 70 of which are lined up next to one another in the Teramachi district.

But it’s the Kenrokuen Garden which proves to be the city’s crowning glory. Created in the 17th century and considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, it’s a kaleidoscope of colour in autumn with bursts of orange, red and burgundy erupting from the trees.

Since Kanazawa hasn’t yet reached mass tourism levels, luxury hotels aren’t everywhere you look, but Ryokan Asadaya – a boutique hotel with just five rooms that was founded in 1867 – is worth a mention, with its private Japanese tsubo gardens, Kaga-style cuisine and locally brewed sake.

The ultimate Japanese hotel experience needs to involve onsen. For that, I head to Kusatsu Now Resort Hotel, nestled in the forest around 200km north of Tokyo and known for its indoor and outdoor hot springs with private Hinoki cypress and Shigaraki ceramic baths.

It’s one of several resorts in the area surrounding Kusatsu Onsen, a small ski town set in the mountains that has lured in travellers for centuries. In the 1800s, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate reportedly ordered Kusatsu’s water to be sent to the Edo Castle for his use. Almost 200 years later, a German doctor, Erwin Bälz, proclaimed it a worldclass spa resort.

Today, it’s a plaza bordered with quaint wooden chalets that are centred on the key attraction –

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Clockwise from top: Kanazawa Castle, Sakura; Kotoji Lantern at Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa; Onioshidashi Park, an area of volcanic rocks formed following the eruption of Mount Asama

a pool of steaming hot, turquoise spring water. We watch a yumomi performance, whereby cooler water is added to prepare it for bathing as part of a ceremonial song and dance using wooden paddles.

The next day we reach the Sainokawara Park, where cascading rapids descend into aquamarine pools and these hot springs form misty clouds. In the afternoon, I wonder through Onioshidashi Park, where giant boulders – formed from a volcanic eruption from Mount Asama in 1783 – still remain, half concealing a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy.

I visit Gokayama, a village set in a mountain valley in the Toyama prefecture, where 250-year-old gassho-style farmhouses sit beneath Englishlooking thatched roofs. Even with its Unesco status and Lonely Planet stamp of approval, it feels blissfully undiscovered.

It forms a curious contrast to where I had my very first glimpse of Japan – at the Shibuya scramble, Tokyo’s most iconic spot.

This hectic roundabout is surrounded by soaring skyscrapers, huge cat mascots, giant vending machines, and fast-food sushi joints.

As my trip concludes, I wander why more visitors don’t come here; not only to escape the crowds, but to see another side of Japan – one where you’ll stumble on authentic hideaways which you’d never have known existed if you hadn’t pulled back the curtain.

Cascading rapids descend into aquamarine pools and these hot springs form misty clouds

A deluxe double room at Kusatsu Now Resort starts at £213 per night on a half-board basis, kusatsu-now.co.jp

short haul

hoor ay

Discover the antidote to stressful city life at Italy’s L’Albereta, where Henri Chenot’s renowned spa and detox programme draws the crowds words by Sophie Halse

I

f someone told me I’d one day be taking beauty tips from Arsenal's long-standing football manager, Arsène Wenger, I wouldn’t have believed them.

Not your average pin-up, the football icon is more renowned for his penchant for roomy puffa coats than he is an enviable physique – but when researching wellness maverick Henri Chenot’s dedicated fan base, Wenger’s was one of the first names to pop up. And he’s not alone: Elle Macpherson, Salma Hayek and Princess Caroline of Monaco are also rumoured to be among Chenot’s loyal clientele, who flock to his spas in France and Italy for the ultimate detox retreat.

Chenot, a self-proclaimed “biontologist”, founded his health concept in 1999, based on an innovative study that looked into the way we age, both physically and mentally. In 2000, he opened his first wellness centre, Palace Merano Espace Henri Chenot, which quickly became a hotspot for the detoxing celebrity. Three years later and a second Espace spa was launched at Italy’s

Clockwise from left: Vineyards surrounding L’Albereta; Pool at Spa Espace Chenot; Vista Lago Bistro; La Riserva del Leone at LeoneFelice; La Bottega di Mariella boutique; Terrace; All courtesy of: L’Albereta

henri

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osteopaths and beauticians are on hand to prod, scrub and knead away at the bad stuff, with a host of massages and body wraps tailored to suit your individual needs. My schedule involves an energetic massage, in which hot cups are used to drain toxins away, and a body scrub and a mud wrap that work wonders on my skin.

Each treatment is designed to nurture the body to the height of physical and mental wellbeing, and to help alleviate any personal complaints, from stress and weight gain to sleep and skin disorders. The schedule is busy, but there are gaps for free time, which can be spent enjoying the hotel or undertaking one of the Pilates or Aquagym classes. Foodies will be horrified to learn that mealtimes are regimented too, but my bio-light menu is surprisingly tasty and, more to the point, filling, with dishes such as gluten-free risotto and hearty salads.

By the end, I feel rejuvenated; my energy levels are sky high and my troublesome skin and dark circles are looking brighter. Far from the scary “vampire spa” I was expecting, Espace offers a tranquil refuge from the bustle of city life and I leave feeling more relaxed than I have in years. Having had a taste of Chenot’s world, I’m hardly surprised that so many frequent his spas, and those who are yet to discover his tricks are certainly in for a treat. After all, if it’s good enough for Arsène...

“Espace offers a tranquil refuge from the bustle of city life”

Rooms available from €260 per night based on two sharing a double room; Henri Chenot detox programmes start from €1,260 per person, albereta.it/en/hotel L’Albereta resort, and it’s to here that I come to test out my very own bespoke detox programme.

I’d signed myself up with some trepidation – along with a list of celebrity fans, my Google search had unveiled articles dubbing Espace a “vampire spa”, so called for its blood re-oxygenation treatment – but on arrival I’m greeted by a verdant haven boasting 61,000 hectares of park land and its very own botanical garden that instantly puts a city girl at ease. Inside, just 38 rooms (each design different to the others) mean the space has the air of a stately home and never feels overcrowded.

I could happily while away my time exploring the surrounding gardens and lake, but the spa is, of course, the main attraction, and I meet with my therapist to begin planning my programme. Comprising a mix of medical and beauty treatments, the schedule follows a strict agenda from which there’s no deviating; acupuncture sessions and health tests are as important as the massage and body scrubs that follow.

We begin with a questionnaire that charts my family history and diet, before testing my energy levels and analysing my body composition – none of which reveals particularly positive results. But there are no qualms, as Chenot’s 30-strong team of doctors, therapists, dieticians,

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Table Talk

Ryland Peters & Small reveals the secret to a healthy summer diet in its new cookbook, The Mediterranean Table – from patatas bravas to crunchy hazelnut picada (pictured). £19.99, rylandpeters.com

Photography: Tim Atkins

food&drink words by Ellen Millard

All In

Forget bacon and eggs – Obicà’s new brunch menu is changing the breakfast game with Italian-inspired dishes made to share. Hearty salads are on offer for those after something a little lighter, but the crème de la crème comes in the form of the restaurant’s signature creamy mozzarella specials. Have it fried as carrozza (an Italian take on grilled cheese) or smoked and served with grilled vegetables and poached eggs.

96 Draycott Avenue, SW3, obica.com

Wild Thing

Venture to Hampshire’s The Grange this July, when the 19th-century country house will play host to Krug’s summer festival, Into the Wild. The onenight-only event will see chef Francis Mallmann cook up a storm using tenfeet-high fire pits, with Krug, of course, on hand to keep guests hydrated.

29 July, from £395, krugfestival.com

Posh Nosh

If you’ve yet to try out Nosh Detox, the home delivery service that brings juice cleanses and diet plans to your door, pop to La Suite West Hotel in Bayswater, where a new Nosh Garden Kitchen has opened. The restaurant offers a menu of raw and vegan bites curated by chef and founder of Nosh, Geeta Sidhu-Robb. Expect courgette rolls with olive tapenade, beetroot carpaccio and kale tacos.

La Suite West Hotel, 41-51 Inverness Terrace, W2, noshdetox.com

Photography: Noble Studios

Photography: Jack Jones

food&drink Sweet Dreams

On a quest to find the ultimate dessert, Yasmin Newman upped sticks from Australia to New York, where she went on a three-month hunt for the best sweet treat, visiting 169 venues and scoffing 373 desserts in the process.

Her new book, The Desserts of New York, offers an expert’s guide to the sugary sites of the Big Apple, from the best in business to tips on how to make them yourself. Cronut, anyone? £20, hardiegrant.com

Butter & Scotch’s birthday cake, photography: Alicia Taylor

Top of the Chocs

Here’s the scoop: the esquimau ice creams by maverick chocolatier Pierre Marcolini are back for a second summer, this time with new flavours and toppings. The handmade treats come in six flavours – vanilla, chocolate, caramel, mango, raspberry and, new for 2017, white sesame – which can be mixed and matched with four new toppings, including smoked dark chocolate and white chocolate with toasted coconut. It certainly beats a Magnum. £4 each, available at Harrods

Let it Grow

Sprout’s Honour

In a bid to battle the juniper berry shortage, Portobello Road Gin has teamed up with How to Grow Stuff author Alice Vincent, to create a limited-edition bottle of gin. Buyers of the spirit will be sent their very own juniper plant, and, once harvested, the berries can be taken to The Distillery on Portobello Road to be made into your own bespoke drink. £25, available at Waitrose

Duck & Waffle’s top chef Dan Doherty is bringing his love of seasonal ingredients to the Royal Borough with a pop-up at Harvey Nichols. Sprout will offer a menu of simple, fresh sharing plates with a mix of British and pan-European flavours, while the space will be suitably decorated to create a floral haven in the heart of London. Only 40 tickets will be available on each night, so get them before they’re gone.

27-30 June, £40, harveynichols.com

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food&drink

H

aving been blessed with a rare fourstar review from a notoriously tricky London critic, Zheng is riding high on its new credentials. A billboard outside the Chelsea spot displays the glowing testimonial given by Fay Maschler in rainbow chalk. Save for this splash of colour, however, Zheng’s exterior looks much like the neighbouring white townhouses that line Sydney Street – but once over the threshold, it’s a different story.

Designed by ex-Wallpaper* stylist Despina Curtis, banquette benches in an unusual shade – a gold/olive/ mustard hybrid that shouldn’t work, but does – draw the eye, a stark contrast to the black tables and wooden walls. The design is slick and smart, as fitting for a midweek supper spot as it is for a more formal dining affair.

Specialising in Malaysian food with a pan-Asian twist, the menu boasts a selection of dishes that are best ordered in bulk and shared. A starter of satay chicken skewers arrives with a dollop of peanut sauce that would please even the hardiest of Whole Earth snobs, while the chilli salt and pepper squid is crisp and flavoursome.

We devour a main of crispy mango chicken, a sort of fancy nugget dish that arrives in a puddle of zingy relish, and happily tuck into the stir-fried beef and aubergine that come in a rich garlic and soy sauce. The cereal king prawns are unusual and exactly how you would expect cereal The Malaysian restaurant causing a stir proves it’s worthy of a permanent and seafood to taste. It’s less cornflakes and more chilli, curry leaves and oats, but spot on London’s food scene the likeness is there, creating an odd, but not unpleasant, sweet flavour. words by Ellen Millard Dessert is bubur hitam, a creamy, sweet bowl of coconut rice pudding, and a pink jelly coated in a liquid caramel sauce called sagu melaka.

Zheng is busy for a Wednesday evening and I note that my neighbouring diners are, for the most part, locals and regulars. London’s restaurant scene can be turbulent at the best of times, and what’s often tipped as the ‘next big thing’ can be closed within a month. In the case of Zheng, its reputation precedes it, but this is a restaurant where the hype is best believed.

review

Zheng, SW3

4 Sydney Street, SW3, zhengchelsea.co.uk

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D O G H O U S E W E T Y O U R W H I S T L E AT THE DOG HOUSE

B E R N A R D I ’ S C O C K TA I L B A R 6 2 S E Y M O U R S T. W 1 H 5 B N T U E - S AT 5 P M - L AT E BERNARDIS.CO.UK

This page: Bill Granger portrait; Buckwheat bowl, photography: Petrina Tinslay

interview

Sloane Granger

Pavilion Road’s foodie revolution continues as Notting Hill’s favourite brunch spot, Granger & Co, sets up shop in Chelsea words by Ellen Millard

T

he butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker got a rough deal in the evolution of the British high street. With every carboncopy supermarket with a catchy TV slogan and beaming poster-boy chef came the demise of the home-grown independents, who struggled to keep up with London’s rocketing rents. But in 2016, after a consultation with local residents, Cadogan Estates and a handful of foodie fanatics declared a revolution, announcing plans to bring an army of skilled artisans to a small corner of Chelsea.

The result is Pavilion Road which has, in the past six months, become a haven for independent artisans, including fruit and veg specialist Natoora, oenophile Pavilion Wine, family butcher Provenance, bakery Bread Ahead and fromage fanatic London Cheesemongers.

Rumour has it that a series of boutique shops and a vegan café are being prepped to join the fleet too, but before then a well-known brunch spot with an Aussie twist will be opening its doors to the masses.

food&drink

Clockwise from left: Chicken schnitzel, photography: Petrina Tinslay; Avocado toast, photography: Anson Smart; Smoothies, photography: Kristin Perers; Sweetcorn fritters; photography: Petrina Tinslay

Those who’ve frequented Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove will know of the notoriously long queues Granger & Co attracts and, if you’ve been lucky enough to get a table, you’ll no doubt have sampled its famous scrambled egg dishes or the Instagram-worthy ricotta hotcakes. The man behind the menu is cheery Australian Bill Granger, a Notting Hill local who has lived in the capital for the past seven years, and who has just opened his fourth London-based restaurant on Pavilion Road.

“Before I moved [to London], I looked at a site in Chelsea and I always really liked it, especially that part of Pavilion Road – I love its everyday nature,” he tells me over coffee at The Laslett. “It has a really nice local feel, off one of the busiest parts of London: Sloane Square.”

Beginning his career with a stint in art school, Granger quickly swapped swatches for saucepans after a part-time job as a waiter gave him a buzz for the kitchen. He opened his first restaurant, Bills, in Sydney in 1993, and it was quickly followed by two more. In 2008, he ventured overseas to Japan, and in 2011 he brought his ricotta hotcakes to the UK with the launch of Granger & Co in Westbourne Grove and later Clerkenwell. The concept is simple: all-day dining with an emphasis on health.

“People want fresh, healthy food; a lot of our customers eat out four, five, maybe even ten times a week,” says Granger. “Eating out used to be a special occasion thing but now I think there’s room for a more balanced diet, with the way we all eat out.”

It’s this that Chelsea’s foodies can expect from the new branch, along with its classic eggs and burger dishes. The design, however, will differ from its Notting Hill and Clerkenwell siblings, taking on a more “luxe”

“London is the most dynamic, changing, creative city in the world, and to live here is an honour”

vibe to match the locale. “Restaurants always reflect the area that they’re in and Chelsea is a little more grown-up and polished than Notting Hill,” he laughs.

This will be Granger’s fourth restaurant in the capital, a city he was drawn to, he tells me, for “adventure”. “London is the most dynamic, changing, creative city in the world, and to live here is an honour, and that’s why it attracts people from all over the world,” he says. “And the food scene is just great; I cannot go to all the restaurants I want to go to – there are just so many, and they’re all so good.”

His top picks are River Café for special occasions, Skye Gyngell’s Spring, Hereford Road for its lunch deal, Falafel King on Portobello Road “for the best falafel this side of Tel Aviv” and Casa Cruz “for feeling like you’ve landed in another country”.

Travel is a huge source of inspiration for the cook, and he has a particular soft spot for Japan, where he now has four restaurants and another opening imminently. His top destinations are Florence, Kyoto and Melbourne, which has “some of the best food in the world”.

Where’s next on the bucket list? “Peru – for the food. Everyone says how amazing it is. And India too – I haven’t been since I was 19 and backpacking, and I’d love to go on an ayurvedic health retreat for a week.” Something tells me ricotta hotcakes won't be on the menu...

237-239 Pavilion Road, SW1X, grangerandco.com

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Virginia Bates

Photography: Dave Benett

David Downton

Wallis Day

Daisy Lewis Molly Goddard

Front Row

Suzy Menkes Sandra Choi

Jess Glynne

WHAT: Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion preview WHEN: 24 May WHERE: Victoria and Albert Museum, SW7 WHO: Jess Glynne, Molly Goddard, Gareth Pugh, Wallis Day and Sandra Choi WHY: The opening of the much-anticipated Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion exhibition at the V&A was celebrated by the fashion elite, who were given a private view. Gin cocktails were served along with roasted padrón peppers filled with olive oil-poached tuna, Manchego croquettes and sweet treats inspired by Balenciaga’s native city, San Sebastián.

about town words by Lauren Stevens

Andrew Cooper Rick Edwards

Rosanna Falconer

Tom Stubbs

Alistair Guy

Henry Conway

Fat Tony

Happy People Ben Nordberg

Rowan Lewis

WHAT: Oliver Peoples’ 30th anniversary WHEN: 23 May WHERE: 151 Sloane Street, SW1X WHO: Andrew Cooper, Rosanna Falconer, Rick Edwards, Alistair Guy and Christian Vit WHY: All eyes are on Oliver Peoples as the luxury eyewear brand celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Guests were invited to its flagship store on Sloane Street to partake in the festivities and certainly didn’t go hungry or thirsty, as a seafood-rich dinner was served, washed down with salty dog cocktails and Nicolas Feuillatte champagne. No doubt the sunglasses proved a welcome accessory come morning.

Harriet Rose

Christian Vit

high life Photography: Nick Hopper

Tessa Packard

Edward Taylor

Jasmine Hemsley

Kathryn Parsons

Michael Wainwright

Nicholas Wainwright

Lady Bonas

Tilly Wood

Phoebe Hitchcox

Think Pink Charlie Astor Lord March

WHAT: Boodles’ Sloane Street store launch WHEN: 24 May WHERE: 6 Sloane Street, SW1X WHO: Jasmine Hemsley, Kathryn Parsons, Lord March, Tessa Packard, Charlie Astor and Lady Bonas WHY: Guests were immersed in Boodles’ signature pink shade as the luxury jeweller opened the doors of its new boutique at 6 Sloane Street. Inspired by the brand’s favoured hue, a selection of pink cocktails – including a grapefruit-infused gin and tonic, and a rhubarb and strawberry cosmopolitan – were served alongside Britishinspired canapés, such as mini Yorkshire puddings and cheddar tartlets. The London Balloon Lady topped off the pink-themed party with a candygloss-coloured display.

Eric Watson Lisa Henrekson

The lowdown on the latest events held in and around the Royal Borough Photography: Nick Harvey Lady Kitty Spencer

Fine Designs Viscountess Weymouth

Tamara Kalinic

Caroline Issa

Sandra Hagelstam

Luke Shields

Alexander Brusic Jim Chapman

Cyrille Vigneron

WHAT: Cartier in Motion opening party WHEN: 24 May WHERE: Design Museum, W8 WHO: Lord Norman Foster, Martha Hunt, Jim Chapman, Roksanda Illinčić, Caroline Issa and Lady Spencer WHY: It was highly unlikely that Cartier was going to launch an exhibition without having a VIP party to celebrate first and – as expected – the guest list included some of fashion’s biggest names.

The opening of Cartier in Motion was positively humming with activity, as fashion columnist Suzy Menkes OBE and designer Roksanda Illinčić sipped champagne while strolling around the exhibition, which showcases 170 timeless Cartier designs. Definitely worth a visit, champagne or no champagne.

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W10 5TG

020 7792 9090

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theledbury.com

Nina’s House

020 7727 2754

portobelloclinic.com

281 King’s Road

stripwaxbar.com

hawkesandson.com WATCH REPAIR

The Ledbury Restaurant The Portobello Clinic

SW3 5EW

Haute Cuisine

127 Ledbury Road

The Mitre 40 Holland Park Avenue

Cartier

020 7751 5827

Urban Retreat at Harrods

143-144 Sloane Street

ninashouse.com

87-135 Brompton Road SW1X 7XL

Bar Boulud

020 7312 6930

Sub-Zero & Wolf

020 7893 8333

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

cartier.co.uk

251 Brompton Road

urbanretreat.co.uk

66 Knightsbridge

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

SW1X 7LA

68 Royal Hospital Road

SW1X 9BL

SW3 2EP

DINING

W11 3QY 020 7727 6332 themitrew11.co.uk

The Watch Gallery

0845 250 0010

MEDICAL & DENTAL

020 7201 3899

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129 Fulham Road

subzero-wolf.co.uk

SERVICES

barboulud.com

020 7352 4441

Cadogan Street Dental Office

Bibendum

47 Cadogan Street

81 Fulham Road

Scalini

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1-3 Walton Street

SW3 6RT 020 7952 2730 thewatchgallery.co.uk

Pampering & Wellbeing HAIRDRESSERS

gordonramsay.com

020 7581 0811

VINTAGE WATCH SELLERS

Hari’s Watches of Knightsbridge

305 Brompton Road

Chelsea Consulting Rooms

64 Knightsbridge

SW3 2DY

2 Lower Sloane Street

SW1X 7JF

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020 7590 3034

harissalon.com

020 7763 9100

watchesofknightsbridge.com

chelseaconsultingrooms.com

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bibendum.co.uk

020 7225 2301 scalinilondon.co.uk

directory WA N T T O S E E YOU R BUS I N E S S L I S T E D H E R E ?

If you are interested in promoting a service on these useful pages, please contact Sophie Roberts for more information Email: s.roberts@runwildgroup.co.uk / Tel: 07725 753 058

Umami

DRINKING

100 Cromwell Road

Lifestyle Service

Little Luxuries

LONDON LIFESTYLE

FLOWERS

PRIVATE HOME SERVICES

SW7 4ER

The Botanist

020 7341 2320

7 Sloane Square

umamilondon.co.uk

SW1W 8EE

White Circle Collection

P13-14 New Covent Garden

SW7 1EX

020 7730 0077

71 Walton Street

Flower Market

020 7591 0288 londonland.co.uk

DELICATESSENS

thebotanistlondon.com

La Bottega

Boujis

65 Lower Sloane Street

43 Thurloe Street

London Land Management

SERVICE

Roses Only

1 Montpelier Street

SW3 2HT

SW8 5NA

020 7989 9890

020 7622 1622

whitecirclecollection.com

rosesonly.co.uk

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

CHILDCARE

Specialist Services

Suzanne Thomas

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020 7730 8844

020 7584 2000

labottega.co.uk

boujis.com

Kensington Nannies 3 Hornton Place

Lethbridge London Ltd

suzannethomas.co.uk

Ottolenghi Delicatessen

MEMBERS’ CLUBS

Kensington High Street

Building & Decorating

suzannethomas.co.uk

W8 4LZ

Specialist

63 Ledbury Road

BUILDERS & DECORATORS

07770 378791 suzannethomas@

W11 2AD

Chelsea Arts Club

020 7937 2333

020 3609 1918

020 7727 1121

143 Old Church Street

kensington-nannies.co.uk

lethbridgelondon.co.uk

CLEANERS

William Gaze Ltd Basement, Loft &

SW1W 0RH

Hillside Clothes Care

Extension Specialist

020 7123 4544 /

ottolenghi.co.uk Partridges

Westminster Security Ltd

SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com

2-5 Duke of York Square

SECURITY SERVICES

34 Buckingham Palace Road

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The Sloane Club

118 Kensington Park Road

020 7078 8874

0755 4000 300

020 7730 7102

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W11 2PW

williamgazeltd.com

westminstersecurity.co.uk SHORT-LET RENTAL

partridges.co.uk CHOCOLATIERS

SW1W 8BS

020 7243 6900

020 7730 9131

hillsidedryclean.co.uk

MOVING SERVICES

Infusion Haberdashery

Abels Moving Services

sloaneclub.co.uk

Melt Chocolates

Business Affairs

59 Ledbury Road

COMPUTER &

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TECHNOLOGY HELP

020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com

Richard Darsa

MANAGEMENT

and Dry Cleaners

UK Residential, European

Easy Rental Services

3 Chepstow Road

and International Removals

aurelie@easy-rental-services.com

W2 5BL

& Storage

020 3567 0604

020 7243 8735

01842 816600

easy-rental-services.com

infusion-haberdashery.co.uk

info@abels.co.uk, abels.co.uk

PETS

PICTURE FRAMER

78 Cadogan Place William Curley

SW1X 9RP

198 Ebury Street

07768 200 551

SW1W 8UN

richard@darsa.net

020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk

COURIERS

Selena Courier Service

Purple Bone

Frame Set & Match

95 Notting Hill Gate

111 Old Brompton Road

W11 3JZ

SW7 3LE

020 7985 0903

020 7589 7635

purplebone.com

framesetandmatch.com

Suite 86, 235 Earls Court Road SW5 9FE 020 3643 5410 selenacourier.co.uk

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 101

1817-2017.

200 YEARS DURAVIT. RE YOUR FUTUR BATHROOM.

Luv. Nordic elegance.

The design of Cecilie Manz‘ bathroom series Luv combines Nordic purism and timeless, emotional elegance. Soft shapes follow a stringent geometry. The result is a new unique design language with precise, clear and ďŹ ne edges. For more information please visit www.duravit.co.uk or contact info@uk.duravit.com

UK_MayFairMagazine_Luv_001_210x297.indd 1

03.03.17 14:40

showcasing the finest homes & property from the best estate agents

london calling

Why the capital is the greatest city in the world to live

Featured Estate Agents KENSINGTON 8 Hornton Street century21uk.com

W8 4NW

henryandjames.co.uk

jll.co.uk

020 7937 9371

BELGRAVIA

CHELSEA

1 Motcomb Street

2 Cale Street

1stasset.co.uk

NOTTING HILL

CHELSEA

10 Clarendon Road

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

SW1X 8JX

SW3 3QU

7–9 Tryon Street

W11 3AA

168 Brompton Road

020 7235 8861

020 7399 5010

SW3 3LG

020 7229 1414

SW3 1HW

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KENSINGTON

020 7584 2044

375 Kensington High Street W14 8QH

NOTTING HILL chestertons.com

301 Westbourne Grove

hlrlets.com

aylesford.com

CHELSEA

W11 2QA

CHELSEA

CHELSEA

60 Sloane Avenue

020 7717 5311

117 Sydney Street

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

440 King’s Road

SW3 3DD

SW3 6NR

174 Brompton Road

SW10 0LH

020 7594 4740

020 7351 7822

SW3 1HP

020 7351 2383

PADDINGTON

020 7306 1610

4c Praed Street KENSINGTON

W2 1JX

116 Kensington High Street

020 7717 5313

020 7087 5696

W8 7RW beauchamp.com

020 7937 7244

MAYFAIR

PIMLICO &

hutchison-whampoa.com

kfh.co.uk

WESTMINSTER

CHELSEA

EARLS COURT

24 Curzon Street

NOTTING HILL

50 Belgrave Road

5 Hester Road

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W1J 7TF

30 Ledbury Road

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020 7740 2020

020 3040 8585

beauchamp.com

SLOANE SQUARE

FULHAM

7 Lower Sloane Street

825-827 Fulham Road SW6 5HG

SW1W 8AH

MAYFAIR

crayson.com

29 Curzon Street

NOTTING HILL

MAYFAIR

W1J 7TL

10 Lambton Place

48 Berkeley Square

FULHAM AND CHELSEA

020 7408 0007

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W1J 5AX

29 Effie Road

020 3284 1888

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020 7221 1117

020 7717 5317

harrodsestates.com

john-taylor.com

CHELSEA

020 3486 2280

020 7731 0051

58 Fulham Road carterjonas.co.uk

SW3 6HH

HOLLAND PARK &

hamptons.co.uk

NOTTING HILL

CHELSEA

8 Addison Avenue

134 Fulham Road

W11 4QR 020 7371 1111

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020 7225 6700

128 Holland Park Avenue johnwilcox.co.uk

W11 4UE

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

HOLLAND PARK

020 3542 2111

SW10 9PY

82 Brompton Road

13 Addison Avenue

020 7717 5291

SW3 1ER

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SOUTH KENSINGTON

020 7225 6506

020 7602 2352

29 Harrington Road

KNIGHTSBRIDGE &

HAMPTONS

SW7 3HD

CHELSEA

COUNTRY HOUSE

020 3040 6370

47 Beauchamp Place

8 Chertsey Street, Surrey

SW3 1NX

GU1 4HD

020 7584 7020

01483 339740

property

Notting Hill

WEST CHELSEA

2-6 Kensington Park Road

140 Fulham Road

knightfrank.co.uk

W11 3BU

BELGRAVIA

020 7313 2890

SW10 9PY savills.co.uk

020 7373 1010

82-83 Chester Square

londonland.co.uk

SW1W 9JH

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

South Kensington

196-200 Fulham Road

KENSINGTON

020 7881 7722

1 Montpelier Street

29 Harrington Road

SW10 9PN

103 Kensington Church Street

SW7 1EX

SW7 3HD

020 7578 9000

W8 7LN

020 7591 0288

020 7590 0800

CHELSEA

CHELSEA

020 7938 3666

352a King’s Road

KENSINGTON

SW3 5UU

145 Kensington

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

020 7349 4300

Church Street

66 Sloane Street

W8 7LP

SW1X 9SH

020 7535 3300

020 7235 9959

malverns.co.uk FULHAM

KENSINGTON

miltonstone.com

203 New King’s Road

Malvern Court

KENSINGTON

SW6 4SR

Onslow Square

18 Astwood Mews

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

NOTTING HILL

020 7751 2400

SW7 3HU

SW7 4DE

188 Brompton Road

303 Westbourne Grove

020 7589 8122

020 7835 2888

SW3 1HQ

W11 2QA

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Hyde Park 1 Craven Terrace

Notting Hill

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nicolasvanpatrick.com

168 Westbourne Grove

90 Old Brompton Road

marshandparsons.co.uk

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

W11 2RW

SW7 3LQ

KENSINGTON

Chelsea

20 Montpelier Mews

020 7727 5750

020 7581 7000

54-56 Kensington

Rawlings House

SW7 1HD

Church Street

2a Milner Street

020 3770 3474

W8 4DB

SW3 2PU

139 Sloane Street

020 7938 4311

020 7591 5570

SW1X 9AY

winkworth.co.uk

020 7730 0822

Kensington

W2 3QD 020 7871 5060

SLOANE STREET

118 Kensington Church Street

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Earls Court

60 Sloane Avenue

246 Old Brompton Road

pegasi.co.uk

SW3 3DD

SW5 ODE

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

020 7591 8600

020 7835 0620

207 Sloane Street

sothebysrealty.co.uk

SW1X 9QX

BELGRAVIA

Knightsbridge

NOTTING HILL

Holland Park

020 7245 4500

77-79 Ebury Street

& Chelsea

298 Westbourne Grove

57 Norland Square

SW1W 0NZ

289 Brompton Road

W11 2PS

W11 4QJ

020 3714 0749

SW3 2DY

020 7229 0229

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SOUTH KENSINGTON

Kensington

russellsimpson.co.uk

Notting Hill

157 Gloucester Road

9 Kensington Church Street

Chelsea

178 Westbourne Grove

SW7 4TH

W8 4LF

5 Anderson Street

020 7871 4111

020 7368 4450

SW3 3LU

struttandparker.com

020 7225 0277

CHELSEA

W8 4BH 020 7727 1500

020 7589 6616

W11 2RH 020 7727 3227

North Kensington

43 Cadogan Street

South Kensington

136 Lancaster Road

SW3 2PR

123a Gloucester Road

W11 1QU

020 7225 3866

SW7 4TE

020 7313 8350

020 7373 5052

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 105

Hot Property

Portobello Road, W11 Before Portobello Road became synonymous with the world-famous antiques, fashion and food markets that today line the street, it was known as Green’s Lane, an arterial country path that led to the Kensington Gravel Pits. During the 18th century, its name changed to match that of Portobello Farm, which was built near the now Golborne Road in 1740.

However, the street didn’t find its true calling until the 19th century, when the surrounding areas of Paddington and Notting Hill became progressively more residential – Portobello Road, as a result,

thrived as a shopping destination for those living close by, and two centuries later it remains a cultural hub for antiques, art and fashion.

While today the surrounding streets of Notting Hill offer plentiful housing opportunities, the structure of the Victorian street and market means a spot on Portobello Road is becoming increasingly hard to come by – until now. In a rare opportunity to live above one of London’s most prestigious market streets, Knight Frank presents a trendy two-bedroom maisonette to rent in the heart of the Royal Borough.

property

Available to rent for £800 per week Available both furnished or unfurnished, the recently refurbished apartment features a contemporary design, with a sleek wooden floor in the main reception area and modern fittings in the kitchen.

Spread across the first and second floor, the space benefits from two double bedrooms and ample storage – most notably in the master bedroom, where a sizeable built-in wardrobe can be found.

The property is home to two en-suite bathrooms, both of which feature a modern, minimalist design, with slick grey tiling and simple fixtures in white. Downstairs, a large study overlooks

the property’s private terrace, a suntrap with wooden decking and plenty of sunbathing opportunities.

The location is ideal, with Portobello Road Market on the doorstep and Notting Hill Gate station just a short walk away. But should you wish to escape from the hustle and bustle, this property makes for the ultimate retreat in the heart of one of London’s busiest districts.

Knight Frank Notting Hill Lettings, 298 Westbourne Grove, W11 2PS, 020 3544 0644, knightfrank.co.uk/nottinghill

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 107

Holland Park, Holland Park W11 An impressive five bedroom apartment This beautiful white stucco fronted building was formerly The Halcyon Hotel and this exceptional apartment encompasses the entire second floor. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, guest cloakroom, porter, private lift entrance. EPC:C. Approximately 358 sq m (3,861 sq ft).

Share of freehold

Guide price: £9,750,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/kensington kens@knightfrank.com 020 3551 5156

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/KEN170013

K&C - 5,81 HP cm

05/06/2017 16:30:06

Ke

06

Ennismore Gardens, Knightsbridge SW7 An elegant three bedroom maisonette with porter and lift Located on one of Knightsbridge’s most sought after garden squares, this substantial second and third floor maisonette has direct lift access with elegant entertaining and living spaces including a large eat in family kitchen and grand drawing room. Master bedroom suite, 2 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms, drawing room, study, eat in kitchen, entrance hall, lift, porter, communal garden access. EPC: E. Approximately 242 sq m (2,608 sq ft).

Leasehold: approximately 99 years remaining

Guide price: £7,950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/SLA150211

Kensington and Chelsea July Ennismore Gardens

06/06/2017 16:21:59

K & C July edition

06/06/2017 11:02:49

348

49

MOVE

FASTER. SELL WITH KNIGHT FRANK. SOLD Queen’s Gate, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £3,250,000

SOLD Stanhope Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,675,000

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

Call us today on 020 3641 6122 to arrange your free market appraisal.

KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington southkensington@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6122

SOLD Brechin Place, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £2,850,000

FOR SALE Queen’s Gate Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £2,500,000

FOR SALE Clareville Street, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £5,750,000

348473_KF Ken&Chelseamag_July17.indd 1

SOLD

@CentralLondonKF KnightFrank.co.uk

Cranley Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,895,000

FOR SALE Queen’s Gate Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £2,800,000

FOR SALE Onslow Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,550,000

FOR SALE Southwell Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £1,600,000

FOR SALE Bramham Gardens, South Kensington SW7 Guide price: £3,950,000

01/06/2017 14:02

CT2181 - South Ken mag AD_V3.indd 1

30/05/2017 10:41

property

Property News

PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property

PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market Buckingham Gate, courtesy of: Tai United

CPC’s Holland Park scheme up for sale

Tai United unveils super-prime scheme opposite Buckingham Palace

Last year saw Hong Kong-based firm Tai United buy the Grade II-listed 6-9 Buckingham Gate for £112m. The main section (7-9) has now been launched as The Buckingham, comprising six lateral two and three beds offering views right across the palace.

Billed as “London’s most distinguished address”, it possesses ample provenance, with original architecture by Sir James Pennethorne (a protégé of John Nash who also designed the south wing of Buckingham Palace, including its famous ballroom), and construction by George Trollope & Sons, who also worked on the Palace.

After housing some of the capital’s most prestigious individuals during the 18th and 19th centuries, the mansions served as offices and government premises until 2008, when they hit the market for refurbishment and restoration. The three-year project has delivered AAA-spec units with floor plates ranging from 1,718 sq ft to 5,189 sq ft, all served by secure underground parking and 24-hour concierge and security.

Apartment One has designed the interiors, which are unique to each unit and make the most of the Regency proportions and original features. Prices start at £4.35m for a two-bed and go all the way up to £18m for a three-bed duplex penthouse with two private terraces. Beauchamp Estates has been instructed and reportedly someone has already bought in at £11m.

And it would appear that Number 6, part of the same scheme, is being set to launch later this year as a 16,000 sq ft mega-mansion, with six bedroom suites, a leisure complex, and fully stocked wine cellar, for a rumoured £70m.

Christian Candy’s CPC Group has put its Duke’s Lodge scheme in Holland Park up for sale. The grand plan to turn a seven-storey mansion block into five villas housing 24 high-spec apartments was formally approved by the Royal Borough in March, and Knight Frank and Savills have now put it on the open market, with offers in excess of £75m.

Elegant designs by architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands envisage the demolition of the existing 35,550 sq ft, seven-storey building (which CPC acquired for a reported £50m in 2013), and installation of a residential apartment building formed by a terrace of five interlinked villas to provide 24 apartments.

Measuring a gross internal area (GIA) of 91,605 sq ft, the new scheme will rise just five storeys above ground floor level – plus a two-storey basement – with leisure amenities and 23 underground car parking spaces.

There’s already been some “strong interest” in the freehold site from “several domestic and overseas buyers”, according to Knight Frank’s Ian Marris.

The sale of such a significant project in the middle of prime W11 will most likely be taken as a big vote of confidence in London’s luxury residential market, which has been battling through some turbulent times over the past few years.

Duke’s Lodge, Holland Park. photography: Philippa Ronald LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 113

SUPER PRIME TIME for London lettings

We spoke to Tom Smith, Partner and Head of Super Prime Lettings, to find out what’s driving the 33% jump in transactions in the last year

Tom Smith Head of Super Prime Lettings London tom.smith@knightfrank.com

Significant changes in the highest reaches of the London property market in recent years have seen a fundamental shift between the sales and lettings activity. One of the results has been a 33% jump in transactions in the last year for Knight Frank super prime lettings – the team focused entirely on clients with property interests upwards of £5,000 per week across prime central London. We spoke to Tom Smith, Head of Super Prime Lettings to find out what’s driving this growth and how the balance between the two sides of the market have been playing out.

RENTING VS BUYING “Stamp duty has been a really significant factor in the expansion of the super prime rental market,” he notes. “The recent tax rises on buying a primary residence or second home are making renting a sensible alternative for many. At the £15m level, for example, stamp duty will be at least £1.8m, which equates to three years’ rent in a property of a similar standard, without the attendant responsibility of ownership. There’s also the advantage of handing it back after two years and trading it in for the very latest version of what you had before.”

At the same time, the corresponding fall in super prime sales prices has also encouraged many owners – whether developers, investment funds or families – to decide to let their property while waiting for some clarity on the direction of the market.

“Recognising these trends, we have

CT2189-350x248mm-SP-ADVETORIAL-V1.indd 2-3

Jemma Scott Head of Super Prime Lettings Home Counties jemma.scott@knightfrank.com

made it simple for ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients to access Knight Frank’s super prime sales and lettings advice as their circumstances and property needs change,” says Smith.

A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH Smith’s team of consultants each specialise in one of the capital’s prime areas as well as covering the Home Counties. This means they are very well positioned to help UHNW clients with any requirements.

“Increasingly the top-end of the market has become product-led,” Smith says.

“It’s not a forever choice, after all. If a client is looking for a super-luxury family home in St John’s Wood, for example, they could be equally happy to consider the right property in Notting Hill or Kensington. Our collaborative approach is key. It enables us to spread the net wider, working with colleagues in both lettings and sales to source and offer homes that satisfy the most demanding wishlists.”

THE HOTSPOTS The net effect of slowing super prime sales prices and increasing rental stock has been a sharp rise in the number of Knight Frank super prime lets, with hotspots in Kensington, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, St Johns Wood and Holland Park.

“Our recent lets range from luxury apartments to 20,000 square foot, staffed family homes,” says Smith. Turnkey properties are in great demand as they offer the easiest way to enjoy a high specification home.

FIVE STAR SERVICE A recurring theme at this level of the market is access to five star amenities such as on-site spas, gyms, 24 hour concierge and in some instances even room service. At One Hyde Park, for example, for most the benchmark in luxury, not only do residents have exclusive run of the exceptional facilities they are also able to tap in to the neighbouring Mandarin Oriental.

“For UHNW individuals who pass through London regularly, but that prefer their own private space, these type of developments offer the best-of-both-worlds scenario for some,” says Smith. “They can have the kind of service ordinarily associated with a £5,000 a night hotel suite, but for a significantly lower amount.”

THE OUTLOOK Looking ahead, Smith says there is still a degree of uncertainty – from Brexit to London property sales prices – and he feels that this is likely to maintain the status quo in this rarefied corner of the lettings world.

“For those with property interests at the super prime level, the rental market feels like a safe place to be right now and offers real flexibility. It provides the opportunity to observe the political and financial landscape and make a move – whether that’s buying or selling – at just the right time.”

For more information, please contact t h e s u p e r p r im e l et t in g s te a m o n +44 20 8022 7468

“ I think our team’s Pan-London approach to letting is hugely important ” Tom Smith Head of Super Prime Lettings London

08/06/2017 13:25

KNIGHT FRANK LET

Heath Hall

Upper Grosvenor Street 15

HAMPSTEAD, N2

GUIDE: £25,000 PER WEEK Knight Frank Hampstead

EPC: LISTED

Holland Green KENSINGTON, W8

Knight Frank Kensington

EPC: B +44 20 7938 4311

CT2189-350x248mm-SP-ADVETORIAL-V1.indd 4-5

EPC: LISTED

+44 20 7499 1012

Eaton Square 4

GUIDE: £11,950 PER WEEK

GUIDE: £27,500 PER WEEK Knight Frank Mayfair

+44 20 7431 8686

12

MAYFAIR, W1

BELGRAVIA, SW1W

4

EPC: C

GUIDE: £20,000 Knight Frank Belgravia

+44 20 7881 7730

KNIGHT FRANK TO LET

Avenue Road

Kensington Park Gardens 7

ST JOHN’S WOOD, NW8

EPC: D

GUIDE: £20,000 PER WEEK Knight Frank St John’s Wood

Elm Park Road

GUIDE: £10,500 PER WEEK Knight Frank Chelsea

+44 20 7349 4300

+44 20 7985 9990

Egerton Crescent 6

CHELSEA, SW3

EPC: D

GUIDE: £15,950 PER WEEK Knight Frank Notting Hill

+44 20 7586 2777

7

NOTTING HILL, W11

EPC: E

6

KNIGHTSBRIDGE, SW3

GUIDE: £12,950 PER WEEK Knight Frank Knightsbridge

EPC: D +44 20 7591 8600

08/06/2017 13:25

Deia, Mallorca, Spain Palma de Mallorca 30 km, Palma de Mallorca Airport 35 km Beautiful villa ideally located on the outskirts of the well-known artist village of Deia, boasting spectacular sea and mountain views. The villa is presented in excellent condition and is set in landscaped Mediterranean garden with heated swimming pool and several terraces. Reception room, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Several parking spaces.

Guide price: €3,950,000

KnightFrank.com mark.harvey@knightfrank.com 020 7861 5034

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.com

KnightFrnak.com/MLG86932

Kensington&Chelsea - Mallorca - July 2017

06/06/2017 10:22:39

K

39

La Garde Freinet, Var, France La Garde Freinet 5 km, St Tropez 21 km

This charming hamlet is located near the village of La Garde Freinet and comprises of a main house surrounded by a further group of six cottages, some inter-connected. The hamlet is nestled in the hills behind St Tropez offering privacy and tranquillity. 12 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms in total. The hamlet is set in approximately 11.9 hectares of land with a large swimming pool and several terraces.

Guide price: €3,490,000

KnightFrank.com mark.harvey@knightfrank.com 020 7861 5034

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.com

KnightFrank.com/RSI161070

Kensington&Chelsea - La Garde Freinet - July 2017

06/06/2017 10:24:05

No. 7-9 BUCKINGHAM GATE ST JAMES’S PARK, LONDON SW1 The Buckingham is a collection of six impressive grand two and three bedroom apartments, crafted out of three 19thcentury Grade II Listed townhouses.

Offering views over the grounds of the Royal Palace, each meticulously designed apartment has been painstakingly renovated for 21st-century living and is serviced by a range of private amenities, including secure underground parking and 24-hour concierge and security.

Prices starting from ÂŁ4,350,000 999 Year leasehold plus share of freehold

Marcus O’Brien +44 (0) 20 7205 2297 marcus@beauchamp.com thebuckinghamsw1.com

GROSVENOR SQUARE MAYFAIR W1 A MODERN SLEEK PENTHOUSE APARTMENT This well-presented two bedroom apartment has an open plan kitchen, living and dining space benefitting from four large windows and French doors which lead out onto a large private roof terrace. The master bedroom suite has built in wardrobes and a modern bathroom with shower and there is a further double bedroom with ensuite shower room. This stunning apartment also comes with a private underground parking space.

Accommodation: Reception room, Kitchen, Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, Bedroom 2 with ensuite shower room, Guest WC. Amenities: Terrace, Private underground parking space.

£2,750 / Week

karolina@beauchamp.com

No tenant fees

+44 (0)20 7205 2864

www.beauchamp.com

·

24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF

·

+44 (0)20 7205 2864

A stylishly presented mews house with a beautiful private garden.

Matching people and property in London for over 160 years.

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

St. Lawrence Terrace, London, W10 £4,950,000 An immaculate and exceptionally spacious five-bedroom townhouse, with a private patio garden and large roof terrace, located moments from Portobello Road. Freehold. EPC=D

• Five bedrooms • Private patio garden • Large roof terrace • Prime location North Kensington Sales : 020 8033 9028 sales.nkn@marshandparsons.co.uk

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

Duchess of Bedford House, W8 £2,999,999 A charming three-bedroom first floor property, with lift access and secure off-street parking, situated on a prestigious residential street close to Holland Park. EPC=C

• Three bedrooms • Lift access • Off-street parking • Moments from Holland Park Kensington Sales : 020 8033 9025 sales.kns@marshandparsons.co.uk

www.marshandparsons.co.uk

MALLORD STREET, CHELSEA SW3 ● ● ● ●

5/6 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms Guest cloakroom 2 Reception rooms

● ● ● ●

Fully fitted kitchen Study Paved garden EPC: current (D) potential (C)

£9,500 per week Unfurnished For more information, call Andrew Keelan 020 7399 5010 or email andrew.keelan@eu.jll.com

2 Cale Street Chelsea London SW3 3QU

jll.co.uk/residential

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

JLL_

jll.co.uk/residential

Where do you want to be?

Success comes when you have a truly inspirational place to live. A home with the headspace to think, the energy to inspire.

Because to really make it, you don’t just need a new pad. You need a launchpad.

Whether you want to rent, buy or invest, we can help you achieve your ambitions.

JLL Chelsea 2 Cale Street Chelsea SW3 3QU T: 020 7399 5010

JLL Kensington 387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA T: 020 7087 5696

Sales | Lettings | Property Management | New Homes

JLL_Spring_Campaign_Ad_Chelsea/Kensington_210x297mm_AW_5.6.17.indd 1

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Chelsea Manor Street SW3 Guide Price ÂŁ1,495,000

Fully renovated 2 bedroom duplex with a long lease in a secure building close to the Kings Road Chelsea. Fabulous Carrara marble kitchen and bathroom. 24 hour porterage. Sloane Square is the nearest underground. Approx. 802 sqft. EPC: C

020 3284 1888 mayfair@humberts.com

48 Berkeley Square, Mayfair London W1J 5AX

Jubilee Place Chelsea SW3 Guide Price ÂŁ6,500,000 Freehold

A period freehold Chelsea Townhouse with great street appeal.

Fully modernised, with a front garden and garage. The property mixes a traditional style, with up to date conveniences. Quiet location yet close to the Kings Road. Approx. 3140 sqft. EPC: C

Stay in touch with us

IF MURRAY OR KONTA WIN WIMBLEDON WE’LL SELL YOUR PROPERTY FOR FREE Instruct us to sell your property between 8th June and 8th July, and if British favourites Andy Murray or Johanna Konta win Wimbledon 2017, we will sell your property for free* inclusive of all marketing and advertising costs.

We have experts situated across London with exceptional local knowledge, proven track record and an ethos built on honest advice.

If you are considering selling your property, contact us today to arrange a free market appraisal: 020 3504 8603 murrayorkonta@carterjonas.co.uk

carterjonas.co.uk *Our only condition is that your property must have an agreed sale within 12 weeks of instruction. Please note this promotion celebrates all that is brilliant about British tennis but is in no way connected to The Wimbledon Tournament or endorsed by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Andy Murray or Johanna Konta. This offer is applicable to all London offices except Mayfair & St James’s.

Established 1897

A generously proportioned three-bedroom maisonette Eardley Crescent, Earls Court SW5 • Three-bedroom maisonette • Ground and lower ground • In excess of 1,500sq ft

GUIDE PRICE

£2,195,000 TENURE

Leasehold approximately 994 years

• Private patio garden • Ample storage • High ceilings throughout

EPC RATING

D

CONTACT

CHELSEA OFFICE +44 (0)20 7225 5752 francis.burca@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

Established 1897

Five-bedroom duplex in a premier Notting Hill address Prince Edward Mansions, Notting Hill W2 • Master suite • Bespoke kitchen and dining room • Historic building

GUIDE PRICE

£6,550,000 TENURE

Share of Freehold

• Resident 24-hour porter • 2,739sq ft / 254.5sq m • Newly renovated by Northacre

EPC RATING

C

CONTACT

CHELSEA OFFICE +44 (0)20 3650 4600 nicholas.shaw@harrodsestates.com

H A R R O D S E S TAT E S . C O M

.

MELBURY ROAD HOLLAND PARK W14

ÂŁ3,150,000 freehold

3 bedrooms | reception | kitchen | dining area | 3 bathrooms | garden | off-street parking | garage | Epc D

www.century21uk.com/nottinghill

nottinghill@century21uk.com

TROY COURT KENSINGTON W8

£1,750,000 leasehold

2 bedrooms | reception | kitchen | 2 bathrooms | fourth floor | lift | porter | storage | park views | Epc C

10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

Hot Property

Queen’s Gate Gardens, SW7 “Walking down Queen’s Gate Gardens is rather like taking a time machine back to Victorian England,” muses Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena.

The garden square was originally developed to cater to the needs of larger families during this era and had many notable residents, including the Earl of Strathmore. The father of the late Queen Mother, he resided at what is now the Grange Strathmore Hotel at 41 Queen’s Gate Gardens. During WWII, two bomb shelters were built in the middle of the gardens, the rings of which are

still visible in the lawn; fortunately, this appears to be the only remaining trace you will find of the war and the Victorian buildings that line the square thankfully survived.

One of these rare Grade II-listed buildings in this historic square has recently become available to buy through CENTURY 21. The 2,815 sq ft, first floor apartment has been designed in a classic yet contemporary style, and includes a large reception room boasting floor-to-ceiling French windows leading out onto a west-facing balcony overlooking the gardens. Two additional reception rooms

property

For sale at £6,250,000 with share of freehold serve as a separate formal dining area, ideal for entertaining, and a casual, conservatory-style room for the family to enjoy.

Keeping in touch with modern times, state-of-the-art appliances

by Gaggenau and Wolf as well as a EuroCave wine cellar cabinet have been installed in the modern kitchen. Meanwhile, the master bedroom features a walk-in wardrobe and a steam room in the en-suite bathroom. There are three further generous double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sauna, utility room and storeroom. There is also plenty of extra storage throughout the property.

Outside, the Royal Borough is your oyster. The property is within easy distance of Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, South Kensington and Knightsbridge. Walk down to the museum quarter, otherwise known as ‘Albertopolis’ because of its association with Prince Albert, and discover more about our Victorian ancestors, who left such an enduring mark on the London property landscape.

CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, 10 Clarendon Road, W11 3AA, 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 139

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Brunswick Gardens Kensington, W8 An elegant and modern freehold house located on Brunswick Gardens, one of Kensington’s most prestigious streets. The property has a superb finish, with an abundance of natural light throughout, featuring four double bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, a perfectly arranged formal reception/dining room, a spacious bespoke kitchen with an open plan dinning and sitting area that accesses a small garden and patio on either side, and exceptional views over the London skyline from the rooftop terrace. Brunswick Gardens is ideally located moments from the amenities of Notting Hill Gate and High Street Kensington and is also within walk distance of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The area is particularly well served by several excellent schools and is considered one of London`s most exclusive addressees.

020 7580 2030 WWW.ROKSTONE.COM 5 Dorset Street, London, W1U 6QJ enquiries@rokstone.com

Price: £12,500,000 »»Freehold House »»Approximately 3790 ft2 (352.10 m2) »»Large Rooftop Terrace »»Exceptional views over Kensington Palace

=AG GINNY TIARKS HICKS SOPHIE

SYDNEY STREET,LONDON, LONDON SW3 020 7351 7822 FAX:M: 020 7351 2274 117117 SYDNEY STREET, SW3 6NR 6NR TEL: TEL: 020 7351 7822 07530 689536 e-mail: ginny@hlrlets.com website: e-mail: sophie@hlrlets.com website:www.hlrlets.com www.hlrlets.com

Chester Row, SW1W

Chester Row, SW1W

Fabulous family house which has been refurbished and is located in Belgravia close to popular Elizabeth Street, Sloane Square and all the amenities they have to offer. The house is extremely light and has excellent well planned accommodation which is spacious and well-proportioned being ideal for both entertaining and family living. This property is presented in excellent condition.

A delightful and newly renovated 5 bedroom house to rent in Belgravia. It is beautifully decorated throughout with neutral colours and has an excellent first floor drawing room with juliet balconies. Accommodation comprises master bedroom with en suite bathroom, a further 4 bedrooms with en suite bath/shower rooms, reception room, dining room, media room, kitchen with breakfast area, guest cloakroom, utility room, patio garden.

- FIVE BEDROOMS - DRAWING ROOM - DINING ROOM - FAMILY ROOM - KITCHEN/BREAKFAST ROOM - FOUR BATHROOMS - GUEST CLOAKROOM - GARDEN - EPC RATING E - FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

- FIVE BEDROOMS - FIVE BATHROOMS - DOUBLE RECEPTION ROOM - DINING ROOM - GARDEN FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

£5,500 per week

FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

£6,250 per week

FURNISHED/UNFURNISHED

Chester Square, SW1W

Redcliffe Road, SW10

A stunning interior designed three bedroom lateral 1st floor apartment, with parking forming part of this prestigious block in the heart of Belgravia. The property has been refurbished to an extremely high standard and comprises of large drawing room, modern fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room including range cooker, separate dining room, master bedroom with en-suite, further double bedroom and single bedroom both benefitting from en-suite and secure underground parking.

This contemporary and recently refurbished, two bedroom flat is situated on the ground floor of this purpose built block. The property is located in a pretty tree lined street just off the Fulham Road close to shops and restaurants. The property is light and has a kitchen / breakfast room as well as two double bedrooms and a bathroom with shower.

- THREE BEDROOMS - TWO BATHROOMS - SHOWER ROOM - TWO RECEPTION ROOMS - KITCHEN - DINING ROOM UNDERGROUND PARKING - FURNISHED

- TWO BEDROOMS - BATHROOM - RECEPTION ROOM - KITCHEN - ACCESS TO GARDEN - UNFURNISHED

£2,450 per week

FURNISHED

117 Sydney Street London SW3 6NR Lettings: 0207 351 7822 or info@hlrlets.com

£525 per week

Unfurnished

Stafford Court, Kensington High Street Stafford Court is situated on Kensington High Street in close proximity to a diverse mix of shopping experiences, restaurants and bars. Holland Park and Kensington Gardens are within easy reach.

Pegasi Managment Company Limited 207 Sloane Street London SW1X 9QX E: enquiries@pegasi.co.uk | T: +44 (0)207 245 4500 pegasi.co.uk

20 Montpelier Street Knightsbridge London SW7 1HD

LOWER BELGRAVE CRANLEY GARDENS, SW7 LYALL MEWS, SW1XSTREET, Entrance Hall 2 Bedrooms |2 | 4 Bedrooms | 4| En Suite Bathrooms SW1W

Bathrooms | Kitchen/Reception Guest Cloakroom | 2 Reception Rooms| Flat A | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms Room | 718 sqRoom ft | Lift | EPC ERoom | Kitchen/Dining | Laundry (1 En Suite) | Guest WC | Double 2,418 sq ft | Integral Garage | Reception | Kitchen | Patio Garden Additional off-street Parking | Access to Flat B | Bedroom | Bathroom | Belgrave Square Gardens | EPC C An excellentlyRoom proportioned and bright two Reception | Kitchen | Balcony double bedroom apartment, within the Flat C | Bedroom | Bathroom | An end-of-terrace freehold mews house heart ofinSouth Kensington.

Positioned Reception Room | on EPC D situated arguably one|of Kitchen Belgravia’ s most

the second floor (with thishouse attractive desirable locations.

This lift) lowofbuilt A rare opportunity to acquire 3 separate flats period building, the flat benefits from was disassembled; comprehensively rebuilt on the lower ground, ground, first and second wooden floors in this stunning semi open and fully modernised benefitting from the floors, in addition to the freehold, of plan living room with fully-fitted kitchen. latest technology advances including air- this wide-set endLutron of terrace Georgian conversion, The apartment further comprises a master conditioning, lighting, motorised blinds, situated within the heart of Belgravia. bedroom with modern en suite bathroom, a built in entertainment system, underfloor The three properties communal parts extend to second bedroom and additional heating and a fully and fitted kitchen withshower Miele approximately 3,474 sqft over 4 levels. room.

The property is flooded with natural and Gaggenau appliances. The property also The apartments are presently arranged as light, offering an east-west exposure and enjoys private use of an integral garage as a ground and lower ground three bedroom dualas views over Evelyn Gardens well additional off-street parking inalongside themaisonette mews with garden, a first floor one bedroom Chelsea’s roof tops. and access to the prestigious Belgrave Squareflat with balcony and atosecond one bedroom flat. gardens, subject separatefloor negotiations.

£5,950,000 £1,550,000,STC STC £6,750,000

Freehold, Leaseholds Leasehold plus (1213years remaining) Freehold

PAULTONS SQUARE, SW3 CLAREVILLE GROVE EATON PLACE, SW1X MEWS, 4 Bedrooms Dressing|Room Entrance HallSW7 | |2 Bedrooms 2

4 Bathrooms Hall Reception Bathrooms (1 en|Suite) || Kitchen/Dining/ Two Bedrooms En Suite Bathroom | Dining Room Kitchen/Breakfast Reception Room||Guest 855 sq ft | Basement Shower Room Cloakroom | Room |Room Utility |Room Plant Storage | Shared Terrace | Access Reception/Dining |Room Kitchen | 2,797 SQFT | Patio RoofE Terrace to Belgrave Square Gardens Utility Room | 915 sq ft || EPC Square Gardens Access | EPC E

An elegant flat with plentiful charm, occupying A distinguished charming mewsend-of-terrace house idyllically A house approximately 855 sq ft of lateral space onsituated the positioned in this quiet on cornercobbled ofhandsome this cul-de-sac, highly desirable thirdthe floorsouthern of this well-located period within the heart ofHaving South Kensington.

London been meticulously building. square.

Arranged over the full width of the The property is presented in immaculate refurbished by the owners building, the principal receptionand roomprominent is flooded interior condition and hasCampbell; been carefully designed designer, incoming with naturalNina light from its south-facing aspectstenants throughout withfrom Italianthe solid wood floors advances would modern over thebenefit street. In addition tolatest the expansive and contemporary furnishings.

This attractive alongside theroom highest quality finishes.

With sitting area, the boasts a bespoke house additionally benefits from south impeccable wooden floors, a Sonos stereo integrated kitchen and space for dining; perfect westerlyand aspects and plentiful natural light. the system air conditioning throughout, for open-plan entertaining.

The apartment Clareville Grove Mews is a secure gated property provides proportioned living awards admission to beautifully a superb shared terrace, lane, located at theand north end of Clareville accommodation comprises anfloor, entrance positioned to the peaceful rear of the first Street,capacious moments from thekitchen bountifuland amenitiesaspect hall, eat-in overlooking Belgrave Mews.

Occupiers’dual can and restaurants, the area is famous for. reception room, with additional also enjoy exclusive access to Belgravedining Squarespace and direct access the consents. attractive patio garden gardens, subject to thetousual

£3,950 £1,250 Per PerWeek Week £1,900,000 STC STC

Part Furnished Furnished Leasehold (174 years remaining)

T: +44 +44 (0)20 (0)20 3770 3770 3474 3474 T:

info@nicolasvanpatrick.com info@nicolasvanpatrick.com

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A world famous view only a few will call home Discover London’s new riverfront address The Dumont is the centre-piece of Albert Embankment Plaza, London’s most prestigious new riverfront quarter. Soaring 30 storeys it affords unparalleled views over the most famous stretch of the River Thames and a lifestyle without equal. Facilities include ten-pin bowling, games room, cinema, 12th floor lounge, dining room and roof gardens. Along with a state-of-the-art gym, infinity pool, spa and 24-hour concierge service. A collection of suites, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with a selection of elegant interiors are available.

Prices from £655,000 Show Apartment now launched – to register your interest please call +44 (0)20 3740 1946 or email dumont.london@stjames.co.uk To discover more visit www.thedumont.co.uk or the Marketing Suite at 21 Albert Embankment.

Sales & Marketing Suite open daily 10am to 6pm.

Prices and details correct at time of going to press. Computer generated image is indicative only.

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

Property News London Calling Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, argues that London remains the greatest city in which to live On a sunny summer’s day, it is not difficult to see why living in London is so appealing. Not many cities in the world can offer so much green space along with world-class shopping, restaurants, theatres and museums.

As Londoners, we probably walk past beautiful Victorian architecture every day and may never give it a second glance. For someone coming from a younger city, their eyes will be drawn to the opulent historic buildings that we often take for granted.

However, the reasons for buying London property are not singular. For many, the choices are more complex and the motivations for investing in London even more compelling.

Sterling is currently trading very close to a 30-year-low versus the US dollar; this makes overseas investment in London an easier decision for buyers with US-dollar-pegged currencies. For those living in regions shaken by instability, or even war, their families’ future and the protection of their wealth are of the highest priority.

The perceived safe-haven status of London property is more important in these instances than the level of yield, current tax rates or any potential fluctuations of sentiment in the short term. These buyers see London property as a versatile investment that can not only provide potential future capital appreciation and yield in the form of rental income, but can also serve as a base if they should decide to move here. This is the type of versatility that not many asset classes can match and one of the reasons why London property is such an attractive proposition.

And if you’re really lucky, you have the opportunity to live in the greatest city on the planet.

CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena 10 Clarendon Road W11 3AA 020 7229 1414, century21uk.com

Plans go in for £200m ‘super-penthouse’ at The Knightsbridge

We could be about to see the creation of one of London’s great penthouses at The Knightsbridge. Proposals submitted to Westminster Council detail the amalgamation of two units on the 11th floor, comprising 15,263 sq ft of internal space. The layout includes ten bedrooms, two kitchens, a cinema, playroom and beauty salon.

They’ve been submitted by real estate advisory firm Gerald Eve on behalf of radio tycoon Ashley Tabor, founder of Global Radio. According to certain press, Tabor bought his first unit in the development in 2006 for £15.2m, and has just dropped £90m on the six-bed next door to turn the scheme into a reality.

A deal at that level would make it one of the biggest residential splashes of 2017 by some distance, and attract a terrifying stamp duty bill in the region of £13.5m. The designs have been drawn up by topend interior architecture firm Rients Ltd., with the purpose of creating a “large, modern home where the family could live separately from guest accommodation and other more public areas of the house”.

The game-changing Squire & Partners scheme at 199 Knightsbridge was granted planning permission in 2001 and went on to deliver 205 top-spec units in 2005, with amenities of a higher standard than most five-star hotels.

Resales command some of the highest prices in PCL and penthouses can add a significant premium on top; there’s already talk of a potential end value in the region of £180m-£200m for the top-floor property, which would effectively make it the most valuable apartment in London.

One in three properties in PCL sells with a price cut

Out of the properties sold in prime central London during Q1, 45% took a price cut before finding a buyer, according to fresh statistics from LonRes. That’s a hefty proportion, but not as high as the 51% seen in both Q4 and Q1 of last year.

The lettings market, conversely, saw that same measure rise to hit 47% in Q1, driven in the main by an influx of new stock forcing landlords to rethink their pricing.

Back on the sales front, the research team notes a narrowing in the gap between initial asking prices and prices achieved, but predicts some correction to come, given that discounts are still up on pre-2016 levels.

Interestingly, a third of properties sold in Q1 went for less than 90% of their initial asking price, compared with a significantly lower proportion of 21% a year ago. That would suggest vendors are still being too punchy on initial pricing, but also that they’re increasingly willing to accept lower offers, says the firm.

property

PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property

The Future’s Bright Hugo James, head of lettings at Strutt & Parker in South Kensington, predicts what lies ahead for prime lettings market in SW7 this summer

©pxl store / shutterstock

Luxury design practice to launch a flagship retail store in South Kensington

Luxury architecture and interior design firm, Oro Bianco, has revealed some ambitious plans for its first retail outing: a five-storey, 5,600 sq ft “lifestyle design store and interior and architectural design studios” in a prime corner building in South Kensington.

The firm is taking over the Grade II-listed former HSBC branch at 1 Sydney Place, and plans to open the doors next spring. The building was originally built for residential use, but was converted to commercial use and ended up as a bank.

Top floors will be occupied

by Oro Bianco’s design team, while the ground floor is being reworked into some very high-spec retail space to house the firm’s all-new enterprise as a luxury homewares producer. It will be creating handmade furniture and lighting pieces “using a combination of rare artisanal techniques and exquisite materials to create truly luxurious pieces with unique finishes and detailing”.

This is a first foray into retail for Oro Bianco, which has an established architectural and interior design business working with the likes of Fenton Whelan; past projects have included turn-key townhouses, a Park Lane penthouse, a Thames-side apartment, a Knightsbridge duplex, and a country house in Hertfordshire.

The summer is traditionally the strongest time of year for prime London rentals. With the end of the school year approaching, we tend to see an increase in both family and student registrations.

May to June is family-house season. Those coming from abroad will typically rent, snapping up properties in time for the start of the new school term in September.

South Kensington is home to many French families due to the Lycée school on Cromwell Road. In our recent Housing Futures: Urban Renters research, we identified family-based renters as one of the growing demographics in the UK’s cities. So called ‘catchment chasers’ choose to rent as a way of giving their children access to the best schools. Our survey found that 25% would rent a property to ensure their children could go to a good school. This also means that they can move homes as their children progress through education.

There is a lot of choice for tenants currently, thanks to the slowdown in the sales market, stamp duty changes and a flood of ‘accidental’ landlords coming to the market over the past couple of years. Nevertheless, landlords who present their properties in the best condition and price sensibly are achieving good results.

We recently agreed two penthouse lets, which is a great sign that the upper end of the market is going from strength to strength. Brexit is still the word on a number of tenants’ lips and six- and 12-month break clauses are now the norm for tenants in the financial sector.

It will be interesting to see what the next two years bring before we officially leave the EU in March 2019.

Having said this, I think the short-term outlook is a positive one for the South Kensington rental market.

Strutt & Parker 90 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LQ struttandparker.com

LU X URY LONDON.CO.UK | 149

Coulson Street, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ1,900 per week* Unfurnished

The house has a lovely reception room on the raised ground floor which is complimented by a smart modern kitchen.

Reception room | Kitchen | Four bedrooms | Two bathrooms EPC Rating D 1,423 sq ft (132 sq m)

Chelsea 020 3813 9547 chelsea@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Earls Terrace, Kensington W8

ÂŁ7,500 per week* Unfurnished

An outstanding five bedroom Grade II Listed family house, with a wonderful 93 ft long south-facing garden and access to the stunning gardens of Edwards Square.

Drawing room | Sitting room | Dining room | Study | Kitchen/breakfast room | Playroom/studio Five bedrooms | Five bathrooms | Cloakroom | Utility room | Swimming pool | Steam room | Garden Terrace | Access to garden square | Underground parking 4,786 sq ft (444 sq m)

Kensington 020 3813 9411 kensington@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Cheyne Gardens, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ3,275,000 Freehold

A beautifully presented three bedroom duplex situated on the second and third floors (with lift) of an impressive redbrick building.

Entrance hall | Reception room | Kitchen/dining room | Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom Two further double bedrooms | Family bathroom | Terrace | Storage rooms | Resident porter EPC Rating D 1,725 sq ft (160 sq m)

Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Hans Place, Knightsbridge SW1

ÂŁ5,450,000 Leasehold

A meticulously refurbished duplex penthouse, with direct lift access.

Entrance hall | Reception room | Dining area | Open plan kitchen and television room Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room | Two further bedroom suites Guest WC | Direct lift access | Communal gardens EPC rating E 2,149 sq ft (199 sq m) Knightsbridge 020 3813 9270 knightsbridge@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

JSA Alex Stroud 07584 038 000

Oakley Street, Chelsea SW3

ÂŁ5,500,000 share of freehold

An attractive five bedroom Victorian family house in the heart of Chelsea.

Entrance hall | First floor double reception room | Dining room | Kitchen breakfast room | TV room Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom | Three further bedrooms with ensuites | Fifth bedroom | Two studies Two further shower rooms | Two cloakrooms | First floor balcony | Gym | Steam room Excellent storage throughout | EPC rating E 3,810 sq ft (354 sq m) Chelsea 020 3813 9448 chelsea@struttandparker.com

60 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

JSA: John D Wood 020 3369 1343

Cambridge Place, Kensington W8

ÂŁ6,500,000 Freehold

An impressive five bedroom house with a garage in the highly regarded De Vere Conservation Area.

Entrance hall | Drawing room | Kitchen/breakfast room | Dining area | Family room | Two studies Master bedroom with ensuite shower room and dressing room | Four further bedrooms Two further shower rooms | Bathroom | Cloakroom | Utility room | Wine Cellar | Terrace | Garage EPC rating F 3,712 sq ft (344 sq m) Kensington 020 3813 9477 kensington@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com