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CONTENTS 17

Spring Is In The Air

Designing with Flowers

The 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show will impress and delight visitors as much as ever. Annabel Harrison finds out more

Preston Bailey’s latest book, timed perfectly with the arrival of spring, celebrates his latest floral ideas and inspirations

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Pockets of Tranquility

Port in a Storm

Melanie Backe-Hansen goes back in time to revisit the history of some of London’s most peaceful and beautiful spaces

Olivia Sharpe discovers the perfect weekend retreat when she visits the Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca

42 Best of Baselworld Olivia Sharpe and Richard Brown report on the highlights from the watch and jewellery world’s biggest annual event

70 Wedding Dresses at the V&A Curator Edwina Ehrman tells us more about the evolution of the white wedding dress over the past two centuries

Editor’s Letter

Collection

Local News

Art & Antiques

Fashion

Interiors

105

Health & Beauty

110

Motoring

116

Travel

131

Drinking & Dining

136

London Living

143

Property

April / May Cover: CHANEL Mademoiselle Privé white gold and diamond watch with Lesage embroidered silk Coverage of Baselworld highlights can be found on pp. 42-49 chanel.com

May 2014 – 15 March 2015 Wedding Dresses 1775 – 2014 vam.ac.uk

M AY 2 0 1 4 s i s s u e 0 2 7 Editor Annabel Harrison Assistant Editor Olivia Sharpe Contributing Editor Richard Brown Editorial Assistant Nicole Blair Senior Designer Sophie Blain

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Photography: Robert Whitaker

Managing Director Eren Ellwood

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-24 May The Kensington & Chelsea Magazine’s coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in association with Royal Bank of Canada

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Developing a distinctive approach to sustainability, rooted in strength and expertise. The RBC Waterscape Garden relies on experience and expertise in urban water management. As one of the world’s largest banks, Royal Bank of Canada applies this same approach when developing solutions that meet our clients’ objectives.

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From the EDITOR With the month of May, as spring envelops the city and brings with it light, warmth and growth, comes the crown jewel in the Royal Borough’s annual calendar; the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The blooming local area embraces the beautiful event, which is widely deemed the greatest horticultural show in the world, and the grounds of the Royal Hospital once again play host, as they have done every year since 1913, except during the two World Wars. RHS Chelsea was once Britain’s largest flower show (it has now been overtaken by Hampton Court) but it is still certainly the most prestigious. From small beginnings and just 244 exhibitors, it has grown to such an extent that it now boasts 550 exhibitors and a huge variety of Show, Artisan and Fresh Gardens; our coverage, in association with Royal Bank of Canada, shines a spotlight on some of the elements bound to impress, from ancient pleasure spaces to architectural domes and waterscapes (p. 17). Mike Peake lets his imagination run wild as he explores the ambitious green dreams taking root in the aviation, architecture, hospitality and fashion industries (p. 24) while Melanie Backe-Hansen stays closer to home to sing the praises of London’s garden squares (p. 28). I discover how a private estate in Suffolk has been given a new lease of life thanks to the discovery of an unexecuted master plan by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (p. 126) and Carol Cordrey reminds us of the local delights that can be enjoyed even if you don’t have a Flower Show ticket thanks to Chelsea in Bloom (p. 64). Olivia Sharpe finds a wealth of ideas as to how to create impact at your own events courtesy of Preston Bailey’s Designing with Flowers (p. 98). From one of the greatest shows on earth to another, we bring you the best of Baselworld 2014. For the uninitiated it’s the global fashion week of the watch and jewellery world; as such it sets the tone, and trends, for the rest of the year (p. 42). I for one loved the floral watches by Chanel, particularly pertinent for this time of year and a beautifully modern interpretation of nature.

Editor

Annabel Harrison Follow us on Twitter @KandCMagazine or email KCeditor@runwildgroup.co.uk with any comments

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FEATURE

From horticultural veterans to excited newcomers and ancient pleasure gardens to architectural domes, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which will spring up in the heart of the Royal Borough, is bound to impress and delight visitors as much as ever. Annabel Harrison reports

the kensington & chelsea magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coverage of the RHS Chelsea flower show

in association with Royal bank of canada

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or locals, Londoners and lovers of horticulture worldwide, there are five days in the May calendar with which all will be most familiar. Locals can enjoy the floral frenzy that descends upon the area and in particular the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital, where the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been held every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two World Wars. Londoners will notice an increasing amount of press coverage and excitement as details about the Show Gardens emerge and people around the country will be looking forward to their trip to the greatest horticultural show on earth (or, at least, we firmly believe it to be so). It was once Britain’s largest flower show (it has now been overtaken by Hampton Court) but it is certainly still the most prestigious. From smaller beginnings and 244 exhibitors, it has grown to showcase a huge range of gardens and exhibits, both from foreign countries and Britain; now the show, which takes almost a month to put up, boasts 550 exhibitors. Here we shine a spotlight on some of the Show Gardens bound to attract your attention; the WW1 Memorial Gardens are explored in an additional dedicated feature.

Heart of Glass We have high expectations for the Khora Architectural Dome, pitched as a “visionary steel and glass rotunda structure inspired by the iconic Palm House at Kew Gardens”. Classical influence, as also seen in M&G’s garden design, can be uncovered; designer Louis Calmels explains that the ancient Greek word khora is a philosophical term which refers to a space or interval between being and non-being and he feels that his Dome “reflects this ethereal imagery as it encapsulates a light, airy space which is beautiful and calming both in the day and at night”. This is Calmels’ first Flower Show although he has been making custom-built architectural metalwork, garden structures, furniture and lighting for more than 25 years. He has long admired Decimus Burton’s design for the Palm House at Kew, completed by 1848; at the time, it was the largest greenhouse in the world. “Burton’s use of wrought iron arms to span large widths without any intermediate supporting columns and diagonal bracing was pioneering. I set out to create a contemporary domed garden room that incorporates the essence of Burton’s original and yet is totally adapted for modern day living.” The basic Khora Dome, or rotunda, is a fivemetre diameter steel structure of classical proportions, measuring seven metres high, furnished with hardwood doors and windows and featuring curved glass panels

in the domed roof which, designed to achieve the best thermal performance, are manufactured in Germany. The steel frames are made and the final construction is done by skilled craftsmen in Calmels’s workshop in West London, across the river from Chelsea. The completed dome can be attached to a building, located on a terrace or flat roof, or used as a freestanding orangery. The Khora Dome is presented in a garden designed by garden designers Landform to complement its shape, which will also feature sculpture by artist Nathalie Hambro and a steel bench by designer Gareth Devonald Smith, while the weather vane on the top of the cupola is by Karen Green. We look forward to seeing the results of this fusion of related artistic talents and skills. khoraspaces.com

rhs chelsea flower show coverage in association with Royal bank of canada

Space and Pine The May event may be welcoming many old hands but newly qualified Nicole Fischer and Daniel Auderset are hoping to make a splash at their first Flower Show. German-born Fischer is now a local, living and working on Ebury Street in SW1, and her route into garden design is an interesting one; she had a successful career running a German casting agency but after a complete change in direction, she qualified in Garden Design at at the Inchbald School of Design last year, winning a top prize and meeting Auderset in the process. Together they are producing a Main Avenue Show Garden at Chelsea. The Extending Space is a conceptual design which explores the diverse landscapes of the protected Pfyn Forest in the Swiss Valais, an area of outstanding natural beauty, where native pine trees are under threat due to climate change. By exploring the three dimensions of the 10mx10m garden, the duo has created a minimalist design which embraces the differing landscapes of the forest and captures the spatial experience found at the edge where views are framed and enveloped by large pine trees and shrubs. The distinct microclimates of the varied landscapes within the forest result in a diverse range of plant species which are reflected within the planting scheme, from the pine forest shrubs and trees through to the Rhône-flooded wildflower meadows and warm plains. Hard landscaping is used

to heighten the overall spatial experience and the focal point is a striking Pine pergola which emerges organically from the hedging and uses the widening space between its beams to create a feeling of extending space. Fischer and Auderset explain that “the garden highlights how, by playing with dimensions, the spirit of a large and varied landscape can be captured effectively within a contemporary and minimalist design. Within the garden the pines are a focus as we want to highlight their beauty and show how they can be used effectively within a small space. We also want people to be aware that pine species are in decline in warmer areas of Europe. “As newly qualified designers taking on a Show Garden at Chelsea some people think we are brave and others think we are completely mad! But we wanted to aim high from the start and to gain experience alongside some of the world’s best designers, on one of the most prestigious horticultural stages. It will be a fabulous showcase for our work but we have to admit to being both very excited and very nervous too.” audersetfischerdesign.com

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Blue Sky Thinking Bartholomew Landscaping returns to Chelsea again this year with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, aiming to deliver a strong message about the city’s regeneration and regrowth; last year’s effort by the same team resulted in a silver medal for the Transformation Garden. The Positively Stoke Garden concept has been inspired by nature’s re-colonisation of Stoke-on-Trent, where old industrial wastelands have been reclaimed to create wildflower meadows. Barry Burrows and Kate Whitmore are responsible for the plant selection to interpret the Stoke message, which is overwhelmingly positive: the Council proudly declares Stoke-on-Trent (the UK’s 13th largest) a Garden City, with some 40 per cent of it taken up by open spaces; more than £40million is being invested into the revitalisation of a new business friendly city centre and the city’s proposals for a new HS2 station for the city would supercharge its economy. Burrows explains that “during the Centenary show last year, so many people from Stoke and across the Midlands expressed their excitement in seeing the region represented to a global audience through the window of Chelsea... Our team is eager to demonstrate the innovation and potential within Stoke-on-Trent.”

A woodland glade fringes the furthest edge of a pool, mirroring the natural energy that could power the city’s future. Within the woodland dell, a copse of betula utilis Jacquemontii punctuates the carpet of white woodland flowers. The planting sweeps round the side of the water, out from under the trees and in to the sunlight where colours bleed from white to the hazy pinks of Lavender Lass, Patty’s Plum and Rosea through to the darker crimson tones of Iris ‘Red Zinger’, Cosmos ‘Chocamoca and Aquilegia ‘Black Barlow’ representing a vibrant flow of energy. The final floral flourish comes from the inclusion of fragrant David Austin Roses’ Darcey Bussell, Queen of Sweden and Winchester Cathedral. Stoke-on-Trent City Council Chelsea project manager and head of landscape, Annita Gibson, said the planting was deliberately precise. “The Positively Stoke Garden represents a modern, dynamic and ambitious city, one with deep traditions rooted in ceramics, but re-forged in the white heat of modern advanced materials technology and manufacturing. We want the garden to capture the city’s new dynamism as a growth point for the UK. It aims to harness the city’s new dynamism. Moving water is used to symbolise sustainable energy, while polished steel and glass reflect the contemporary nature of the new city centre. Ceramics feature strongly in the garden with new cutting-edge product development centre stage.” bartholomewlandscaping.com

rhs chelsea flower show coverage in association with Royal bank of canada

Paradise Found There is surely greater pressure on the event’s title sponsor to create a show-stopping garden and it seems that M&G Investments, in its fourth year as title sponsor, is set to rise to the challenge, having commissioned award-winning designer Cleve West to bring a contemporary paradise garden to life. West has won seven RHS Gold Medals (four at Chelsea) and three awards for innovative garden design. Sustainability is the cornerstone of his philosophy and this translates into the use of local materials wherever possible and planting schemes are guided by existing flora and local conditions, particularly where bio-diversity is an issue. West is known for combining classic with contemporary within his designs and as such, he was inspired by the idea that the ancient gardens of Persia, Greece and Italy “still influence the way we create gardens today. I wanted to celebrate that in the M&G Garden. I also enjoy weaving a contemporary dynamic within what might be seen as a traditional context, it can bring a great energy to a garden. Paradise to me is any place where you can lose yourself and where, for a moment at least, time stands still; hopefully this garden will allow people the opportunity to do that.” Paradise gardens are spaces for sanctuary and contemplation and in West’s plan for the M&G Garden, he is using elements of water, shade and planting to create a paradise garden fit for the 21st century. Thus the centrepiece is a tall, octagonal fountain within a sunken base, built from traditional British Bath limestone and flint. The water flows into four rills, which are a nod to the four rivers that are said to have flowed through the Garden of Eden (which many might think of as the original paradise garden) through a stone-edged sunken terrace and into an octagonal perimeter. Behind the fountain, flanked by yew hedging, is a limestone relief depicting the Tree of Life, engraved across five panels. Arithmetic and ancient science inform other aspects of the design; the number four is referenced in four trees around the fountain, representing earth, air, fire and water. Each tree sits in a bed of perennials, bulbs and herbs and flora, including the fantastically named Hairy Canary Clover, Bear’s Breeches and Purple Toadflax. mandgchelsea.co.uk

with Anita Foy in the Shows Development team at the RHS Q: Which Show Gardens are you most intrigued to see realised this year? A: We have two gardens designed by Italians, one sponsored by Laurent Perrier and the other the Daily Telegraph garden, and it’ll be interesting to see how they compare. There are also so many designers new to Chelsea this year that it’ll be great to watch their gardens develop. Q: What can you tell us about the 50th anniversary of Britain in Bloom? A: 2014 is the 50th anniversary of Britain in Bloom. Today there are 300,000 Bloom volunteers who look after 200,000 acres of public land and save the UK millions of pounds annually through cleaning up and greening up their neighbourhoods. The enthusiasm and drive of Bloom volunteers helps to create communities that care for each other and better places for them to live. This year Alan Titchmarsh, one of Britain’s best love gardeners is joining forces with another RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winner, Kate Gould, to create ‘From the Moors to the Sea: a celebration of RHS Britain in Bloom’, which will be a garden feature at the Show. Q: By what criteria do you judge the Gardens? A: According to the garden’s design and how it has been realised, as well as the plants within it. Q: What anniversaries are being celebrated in the Great Pavilion this year? A: Enterprise Plants’ 30th anniversary is marked by the Secret Pleasure Garden, which demonstrates the use of Green Wall technology. Royal Leamington Spa is at its 200-year milestone and Grenada’s 40th anniversary of Independence is this year. The Perennial Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society is celebrating 175 years. Q: What’s the best thing about RHS Chelsea? A: It’s a privilege to be involved in the world’s best flower show and I love seeing it come together on site after several months of talking about it!

Artist: Nick Dexter

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rhs chelsea flower show coverage in association with Royal bank of canada

Learning from Nature Hugo Bugg, the RHS Young Designer of the Year 2010 and winner of two RHS Gold Medals, gives a sneak preview of what to expect in his garden for Royal Bank of Canada. The recent flooding in the UK has provided a sobering reminder about the pressure that excess water can place on drainage systems. This is even more startling when we consider that many regions were in a state of drought little more than a year ago. It is in recognition of these extremes and the need to ensure the sustainability of water resources for future generations that is the driving message behind my garden at RHS Chelsea this year. The brief from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) was to create a beautiful garden with a strong and simple message: effectively demonstrating how gardeners – whether they are beginners, green-fingered enthusiasts or established landscapers – can manage the water used in their gardens through simple techniques that replicate processes occurring in nature. In addressing this, my intent was to present a truly creative and innovative response to this important global issue. I was keen to present a concept that was fresh and bold yet practical and pertinent. The RBC Waterscape Garden illustrates sustainable solutions for home gardeners in light of global water issues. In keeping with the goals of the RBC Blue Water Project – a wide-ranging, 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s fresh water resources – the garden highlights the extremes between water abundance and scarcity while challenging visitors to take responsibility for water usage in their own gardens. Mathematical and geometrical forms are central to the garden’s design. It reflects the ‘ratio of thirds’ recognising that two-thirds of the world has insufficient water, while the geometry of the iris and geometric patterns representing water also feature. The cumulative effect is a garden with bold shapes, forms and avenues that expose and conceal different areas as the visitor walks through, enticing them to explore more via a floating walkway. Materials of different textures and motifs will add depth and colour to the garden, while the juxtaposition of the hard man-made structures against

tips for water management 1. Increase permeable surfaces to prevent surface run-off 2. Plant the right plant in the right place: water loving plants in damp areas, dry plants in dry areas. 3. Disconnect downpipes to channel rainwater from rooftops and into the garden

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the softness of the planting and the purposeful movement of water around the garden should make for a unique and eyecatching experience. The garden mimics nature’s way of slowing down water, encouraging infiltration into the ground and taking pressure off urban drainage systems. It demonstrates naturally-occurring water management features that can be replicated as innovative alternatives to lawns and traditional paving, which discourage the natural re-absorption of rain water. Much like the natural watershed, the garden allows water to flow at different gradients and speeds, while attracting and nurturing biodiversity with the help of trees, grasses and herbaceous perennials. Blues, lime-greens and yellows are the predominant colours in the planting scheme, while a variety of plants will play different roles in the garden’s filtration, rain garden, and retention pools inviting unusual combinations and contrasts. As a keen proponent of pushing the boundaries of garden design, I often take artistic inspiration from a wide range of sources – from fashion to interior design to classical sculpture. RHS Chelsea is the perfect platform to showcase innovative gardening principles and I am excited to be exhibiting at the show for the first time. It is the pinnacle of the horticultural calendar and attracts thousands of visitors and millions of viewers across the globe hoping to experience and recapture the magic at home. My hope is that visitors and viewers of the RBC Waterscape Garden will be inspired to improve water retention in their own gardens, and understand that this does not have to be at the expense of style or aesthetics. rbc.com/bluewater The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 20-24 May 2014 Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3 4SL; rhs.org.uk

Green Dreams For budding Amelia Earharts or would-be Indiana Joneses, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global challenges are tinged with a distinctly verdant hue that is adding ever greater kudos to their adventures. Whether you want to cross the Atlantic on a moss-powered plane or drive the planet on a gallon of fuel, green prizes are there for the taking, says Mike Peake

FEATURE

hen Boris Johnson announced last autumn that London’s green sector was worth around £25 billion to the capital’s economy, no one batted an eyelid. In the decade since former US Vice President Al Gore convinced the world that we were drowning in a sea of C02, the environment has never – if you’ll pardon the pun – been hotter and green business has been growing annually at a rate of ten per cent. You don’t have to launch a recycling scheme or triple-glaze your windows to do your bit for the planet; your next holiday could easily be an environmentallyfriendly adventure, such as a skiing trip to the Alpine town of Anzère where hot water is heated by sawdust from local trees, or opt to stay at the ultra-luxurious Soneva Fushi resort in the Maldives (left), whose ecoinitiatives have included using a percentage of guests’ final bills to pay for windfarms in India. However, it’s not just canny hotels who have benefitted from our groaning planet’s sad sigh; adventurers have been reaping the rewards, too. Having opened itself up to a swathe of eco-tinged ‘firsts’, Planet Earth has given explorers a host of new challenges to get their teeth into. Yes, Everest and flying the Channel have long since been done but by applying green-tinted lenses to proceedings, the world is there for the taking, again. “I want to attempt what Charles Lindbergh did in 1927 but without a carbon footprint,” says Raphaël Dinelli, a headline-grabbing French adventurer whose recently-announced plans to hop from France to the US

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FEATURE

Anzère, Switzerland

on a algae-powered plane have bagged him a new wave of column inches. Dinelli is no stranger to the limelight, having once taken part in the Vendée Globe around-the-world sailing race as a “pirate” after his late entry was turned down by officials. When his boat capsized, the adventurer is said to have passed the time drinking champagne in his life-raft as he waited for help. Importantly, it is Dinelli’s personal experience of the seas and their recently-changing nature that has prompted his latest challenge. “I have sailed across all the oceans” he says, “and for sailors global warming is a reality. When I entered my first Vendée Globe race in 1996, the only danger in Antarctica was monitoring small pieces of sea ice. Since 2004, in the same areas, the race organisers have sent us the position of icebergs as large as a football stadium.” Acutely aware that his escapades to date have had more in common with Blackbeard than Biggles, he has spent the last 18 months learning to fly, and aims to be ready for take-off next year. To aid those all-important green credentials, Dinelli’s lightweight, 750 kilogram plane, Eraole, will run on a combination of solar power and a diesel engine that is powered by oil extracted from micro-algae. He says this bio-energy will leave no carbon footprint, and that he hopes to show the aviation industry what might be possible for the future. Stepping outside the aviation arena, there are eco fashion initiatives putting down serious roots, such as the Green Carpet Challenge (in which A-list designers are asked to promote sustainable style); there are green conservation competitions such as the Whitley Awards, nicknamed the Green Oscars; there are eco-friendly buildings, one of the most striking being the new Co-op HQ in Manchester, which has been named the most environmentally-friendly building in the world. Even the famous Welcome To Las Vegas road-sign is going green; once a bright, burning introduction to the city of sin just beyond it, as of this year it will be powered by the sun. One of the biggest names on the eco-block,

though, is the X Prize Organisation, a global leader in big-money contests which have an environmentallyfriendly outlook. Three years ago a US company scooped a million dollars after coming up with a way to burn off spilled oil that hung like a black drape on top of the Gulf Of Mexico; current initiatives in development include a ‘waste to wealth’ prize, which looks at ways to turn trash into reusable energy, as well as a rather unsavoury (if ingenious) one aimed at coming up with a way to purify urine so that it is safe to drink. If you’re sensing an important green first might be yours for the taking, you might, however, have to think a little more laterally than you’d imagine. Crossing the Atlantic by solar-powered boat was first chalked up seven years ago, for example, while getting a car to go one kilometre on a thimbleful of fuel is yesterday’s news. Competitors in The Shell Eco-marathon – one of the largest green competitions on the planet since the mid 1980s – sees the finest minds in engineering battle to get as far as they possibly can on a single litre of petrol (or its equivalent). The current record – set in 2005 in a hydrogen-powered car – stands at a mind-boggling 3,836 kilometres by Swiss Team ETH Zürich. Not too far behind is French team Microjoule – and it uses regular petrol. Having clocked up more than 2,900 kilometres on a single litre on a real street circuit, they make the green credentials of the current crop of so-called ‘eco-friendly’ production cars look rather ridiculous. While it’s not quite up there with winning the British Grand Prix in a bamboo car powered by lawn trimmings, an environmentally-conscious holiday is a start – and who knows where it might lead? As Dinelli himself says, “It’s an amazing feeling to test yourself.” fondationoceanvital.com

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Open Garden Squares Weekend Photography: Sarah Jackson

ofTranquillity Pockets

House historian Melanie Backe-Hansen goes back in time to revisit the history of some of London’s most peaceful and beautiful spaces, as well as looking ahead to Open Garden Squares Weekend

The garden squares of London are indisputably a unique architectural and historic feature of our great city and they evolved due to a combination of events: the Great Fire of London and the plague during the 1660s; changes in building requirements and improvements on governing our streets; and aspirations for architectural symmetry and a desire for ‘pure air’. There are hundreds of garden squares in the UK’s capital, each with a different story, but at their heart is a much savoured green space; today they function as urban havens, from those open to the public and crowded on a sunny

summer’s day through to the quiet private gardens offering seclusion and a safe place for children to play. However, the picturesque garden squares we enjoy today often did not start that way. In fact, the early squares of London were often neglected and used as rubbish tips; in the late 17th and early 18th centuries there were no street cleaners or rubbish collection, let alone a gardener. It was only later in the 18th century that residents acquired private Acts of Parliament to finance the maintenance of a square and for the creation of central gardens.

FEATURE

St James’s Square, SW1 The first residential square in London was created by Inigo Jones in Covent Garden in the 1630s but the first we’d still recognise today is Bloomsbury Square, created in 1661. This was followed by one of the most prestigious of London’s squares, St. James’s, planned by Henry Jermyn, Duke of St Albans, in 1662, although it was only in 1680 that the 23 palatial townhouses were completed. A number of our most celebrated architects worked on these, such as Sir John Soane, Sir Edwin Lutyens, and Robert Adam; No. 20 is described as one of Adam’s greatest London houses. St. James’s Square was an instant hit with the aristocracy and courtiers scrambling to be close to the Royal Court of St James’s and it has been home to a long list of celebrated residents, including royal mistresses, foreign dignitaries, many from the art and science world, and politicians, including prime ministers Sir Robert Walpole and William Ewart Gladstone. It was also the birthplace of King George III in 1738. St James’s Square is today considered one of London’s finest squares but its gardens were originally an open space and in 1720 it was, rather unbelievably, recorded as a rubbish dump, described as “in a filthy condition”. However, in 1726, the residents acquired a private Act of Parliament to “cleanse, adorn, beautify and maintain” the square and they chose to create a central ornamental basin with a bronze statue of William III as a Roman emperor on horseback (erected in 1808). The gardens were improved several times and the central water basin was only removed after a cholera scare in 1895, when it was covered by the gardens we see today.

Berkeley Square, W1 The first plans for a square in the heart of prestigious Mayfair were laid out in the 1680s but it was only in 1738 that the first houses were being constructed on the former fields. Like St James’s, the building of houses in Berkeley Square was undertaken by different owners and builders, so the final result was houses with a mixture of heights, widths and styles. It has also seen many alterations since that time, but fortunately the west side has been retained and offers a glimpse of the appearance of the entire square as it was originally. Berkeley Square has also been home to a long list of famous residents, including many aristocratic families, politicians, high-ranking military, and writers. No. 50 is believed to be one of the most haunted houses in London and No. 44, designed by William Kent in 1742, has been called “the finest terrace house in London”. The central gardens are a popular spot for 21st century Londoners and feature some of the oldest plane trees in London, planted in 1789. However, the centre was also originally much neglected and in the 1760s was “in a ruinous state”. An Act of Parliament was acquired in 1766 and plans for the gardens included a statue of George III, erected in 1772, featuring the King as Marcus Aurelius on horseback, but the legs of the horse began to buckle under the weight of the king and it was removed in 1827.

Photography: Melanie Backe-Hansen

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Bedford Square, WC1 This is, remarkably, the only Georgian square to have survived in almost its complete original form. Unlike early squares with houses in a variety of designs without a coordinated plan, Bedford Square was constructed as part of an imposed design to create the impression known as a ‘palace-front’, one of the first to be completed this way. It was the inspiration of John Russell, the 4th Duke of Bedford, but it was completed by his widow, Dowager Duchess of Bedford, in 1775-1783. The design has been much debated as doubt over the architect responsible has continued to this day, with top contenders being architect Thomas Leverton, and builders William Scott and Robert Grews. However, it is much praised and as early as 1783 it was reviewed as “…without exception the most perfect square in town... the regularity and symmetry of the sides... render it superior in everything but magnitude to any square in Europe.” The first leases also included a rate to pay for the maintenance and “lighting, cleansing [and] paving…” of the square, including the central gardens and iron railings. The central gardens were first laid out during the 1770s and have continued to function as private gardens, managed by the Bedford Estate, to this day.

Ladbroke Square Gardens, W11 Prior to the 1820s much of Notting Hill was still covered in farmland and was deemed too distant from the centre of London for any development but in 1823 the first plans were drawn up by surveyor Thomas Allason for the Ladbroke Estate. Believed to be inspired by John Nash’s Regent’s Park, they featured a large grand central circus but they were never implemented. Instead, in 1836, entrepreneur John Whyte acquired 140 acres of the estate to create a race course – Kensington Hippodrome. The first race took place in June 1837, but it did not last and closed in 1841. However, by this time there was a growing interest in building development and new plans appeared in 1842. New houses and streets were built during the 1840s and 50s, including Ladbroke Square and Kensington Park Gardens, with a new garden square in

between. The design was particularly noteworthy as instead of the earlier design of terraces facing inwards to a central garden square, the gardens were laid out at the rear of the houses, giving direct access to householders as an extension of their own back gardens. Ladbroke Square Gardens covers more than seven acres and is the largest of the gardens on the Ladbroke Estate, and one of the largest private garden squares in London. No.31 Kensington Park Gardens was the home of the Llewelyn Davies family, including Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, daughter of George Du Maurier (and aunt of author Daphne Du Maurier), but the family are most remembered as the inspiration for the Darling family in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. No. 7 was the home of scientist Sir William Crookes and it is believed it was the first house in England to be lit by electricity.

FEATURE

Belgrave Square, SW1 Belgrave Square was laid out in the 1820s as part of the grand development of the area for the second Earl of Westminster, later Marquess of Westminster. Prior to this time the area had a very different reputation due to the unsuitablility of the marshy land for building; the fields were isolated and a popular haunt for thieves and criminals. The plans for Belgravia, named after Belgrave in Cheshire, the family seat of the Grosvenor family, were agreed in 1821, with much of the building by Thomas Cubitt. However, Belgrave Square was overseen by a group called the Haldimand Syndicate, who managed the unified appearance as well as the quality of building. The architect George Basevi (also responsible for many houses across South Kensington) designed the terraces of the square, while the tenants of the four corner plots commissioned their own architects to design large detached houses. Building of the terraces began in 1825 and when completed it was the most sought-after address in London. It was home to royalty and nobility, high-ranking military, foreign dignitaries, and politicians, and also to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. Basevi was responsible for the design of the central gardens, although the planting was completed by Thomas Cubitt. Covering almost five acres, the central gardens feature a tennis court, as well as a number of statues, including the Vitruvian Man by Italian sculptor Enzo Plazzotta.

Open Garden Squares Weekend For centuries a great number of the residential garden squares of London were closed to anyone except residents living around the square, which is still the case for many today, but since 1998 some of London’s most exclusive squares have opened to the public for the Open Garden Squares Weekend. Founded by Caroline Aldiss with the London Parks and Gardens Trust, the event has continued to grow and this year, on 14-15 June, about 200 gardens will be open to the public, including No. 10 Downing Street and the Roof Gardens on the old Derry & Toms building on Kensington High Street. Included on the list are Belgrave Square, Ladbroke Square Gardens and Bedford Square. Garden squares are now a much loved feature of London, and along with the historic and architectural highlights, they still offer quiet green spaces and the ‘pure air’ first recommended by doctors in the 17th century. In 1789, Johann Wilhelm von Archenholz wrote that “No city is adorned with such fine squares as London. They are all composed of noble and handsome houses... in the centre there is usually a piece of ground laid out in a beautiful manner... those who reside there have the advantage of breathing pure air and are never disturbed by any noise.” More than 200 years later it is reassuring that little has changed. For more information about the Open Garden Squares Weekend on 14-15 June visit opensquares.org Melanie Backe-Hansen is a house historian and author and her latest book Historic Streets and Squares: The Secrets on Your Doorstep (The History Press) features more stories of squares across the country (house-historian.co.uk)

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FEATURE

We Will

Remember

Them Rebecca Wallersteiner meets two very different exhibitors to find out more about their World War One memorial gardens for the 2014 Chelsea Flower Show

his year RHS Chelsea, in the same year as the 100th anniversary of the Great War, will feature two gardens that pay respect to those who fought for our country between 1914 and 1918. Award-winning garden architect Charlotte Rowe, whose grandfather was awarded a Military Medal for bravery, has partnered with ABF The Soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Charity to design a Show Garden remembering the soldiers who were killed or injured, supported by Coutts and Bechtel. An Artisan Garden by Francesca Murrell and Emma Page, their first Chelsea collaboration, sponsored by DialAFlight (Lotus Group Ltd), commemorates the millions of people around Europe whose lives were changed forever by war.

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No Man’s Land It is particularly fitting that Charlotte Rowe’s memorial garden is called No Man’s Land as her own grandfather, Rupert Cary, fought in WW1. “He went over the top at 7.30am on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He got as far as the German front line but was shot in the chest. Luckily he managed to find his way back to safety through the onslaught of German guns and mortars, though 20,000 others were not so lucky that day,” she says. Death or survival often did depend on luck, as well as courage. “The aim of my garden is to mark the centenary of World War One and to reflect how the devastated landscape of the Western Front, particularly in Northern France and Belgium, though changed forever, has regenerated and healed.” Her garden has been allocated a prominent site on the Main Avenue and will include irises, peonies, geraniums, rough grasses, a hedgerow, a waterside feature and woodland. Despite her love for countryside elements, Rowe has always lived locally. “I grew up in Brook Green, studied history of art at university and my office is in West Kensington.” A former PR adviser for Ken Livingstone, Rowe retrained in landscape design and traded the corridors of political intrigue for garden design ten years ago. “My garden, which has taken more than a year to design, was inspired by the haunting images of the 1914-18 conflict depicted by war artists such as John and Paul Nash,” explains Rowe. The No Man’s Land garden reflects how the damaging effects of war scarred not only the soldiers and their families but also the landscape on which the battles were fought. “My garden is a metaphor for the effect of war on the body and spirit and its capacity to recover,” says Rowe. It reminds us of the suffering faced by soldiers, often just in their late teens or early 20s. One of the highlights of Rowe’s garden is a large grassy mound, inspired by the vestiges of trenches, tunnelling and landforms, such as Butte de Warlencourt, an ancient burial mound held for

The flowers left thick at nightfall in the wood This Eastertide call into mind the men, Now far from home, who, with their sweethearts, should Have gathered them and will do never again. An excerpt from In Memorium (Eas

ter 1915) – Edward Thomas, killed 1917

most of the war by the Germans and which came to be seen by the Allied troops as a symbol of the menace of the enemy. “The grass covering the mound was grown on micro-thin mats by Wildflower Turf in Hampshire so it can be moved easily. It was used for the giant mound at the opening of the London Olympics,” says Rowe. Close to the mound an excavated area represents the trench and tunnel networks which ran through miles of the Western Front and can still be seen today. A water basin references the many mine craters which scarred the landscape – now transformed into peaceful havens for plants and wildlife. To choose stones for two plinths and three monumental steps up to the Lost Gardens zone in the centre of her show garden, Rowe visited the Isle of Portland where stone has been quarried for centuries. “As well as being used in many historic London buildings, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Portland Stone was used to produce remembrance headstones for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their cemeteries around the world.” This remembrance is very important to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, which has helped soldiers and their families face the challenges and hardships of war since 1944. Its chief executive, retired Major General Martin Rutledge, commented that “this project offers the opportunity to think about the experience of soldiers during World War One and reminds us of the suffering they endured.” Last year the charity’s oldest beneficiary was 107 and the youngest just a few months old. Rowe is proud to be presenting No Man’s Land to commemorate 1914; although she has worked on many international projects, including an olive estate in Italy and roof terraces in Manhattan, and has designed show gardens for the Urban Gardens Show and at the Daily Telegraph/House and Garden Fair, it is her first Show Garden for the Chelsea Flower Show and it is bound to be a strong contender for a Gold Medal. The Chelsea Flower Show’s site in the grounds of the Royal Hospital is home to the Chelsea Pensioners who are all retired war heroes – so it is likely that they will be visiting the garden, as well as HM The Queen.

FEATURE the poppies blow In Flanders fields s, row on row, Between the crosse ce; and in the sky That mark our pla ly singing, fly The larks, still brave guns below. the id am Scarce heard Flanders’ Fields An excerpt from In – John McRae (1915)

The Potter’s Garden A charming artisan garden designed by Francesca Murrell and Emma Page, and sponsored by DialAFlight (Lotus Group Ltd), remembers the millions of people around Europe whose lives were changed forever by war. “Our garden commemorates both lost agrarian ways and the lives of those who served, but also celebrates the power of gardens to evolve and renew. We felt inspired by the idea of a country potter going to war in 1914, abandoning kiln and garden to fight for his king and country,” Page tells me. The war changed his life and the agrarian landscape of Britain forever – so he never fired his kiln again – but his garden has lovingly been brought back to life for 2014, in his memory. The potter’s garden features an abandoned, bottle-style kiln and workshop set within natural cottagestyle planting. Having left the idyllic Kent or Sussex countryside, the potter, who now found himself in the rat-infested trenches of France or Flanders, could only

The Potter’s Garden is a subtle and poignant memorial for those who left families to go to war dream about his beloved home. Waking up he would find himself amid a nightmarish, bleak landscape instead of his familiar gentle England countryside. “Sculpture, a water feature and artefacts recall the prewar rural potter’s life and the soldier’s war,” says Page, who herself lives in the East Sussex countryside. As well as the 1914-18 war, their garden has been inspired by the restoration of the Victorian Farnham Pottery at Wrecclesham, which in its heyday supplied ceramics to Liberty, Heal’s and the famous landscape gardener Gertrude Jekyll. Props and artefacts have been borrowed from the owners of the Farnham pottery. “For the centrepiece of our garden we have chosen an oak sculpture of a soldier carved by my husband Simon, a water feature fashioned from an old pump and a WW1 soldier’s helmet”. To give the feel of an Edwardian cottage garden they have planted a hawthorn tree and gnarled pear tree beside the kiln. Shrubs associated with the Edwardian

era including (Sambucus Black Lace, Cotinus and Berberis), a habitat wall, native hedging, ferns and ‘wild’ areas create a natural feel while anemones, geraniums and irises will provide colour. “Our garden celebrates the power of nature to evolve and renew,” says Emma. This is the first time that Francesca and Emma have designed a garden together for RHS Chelsea; in 2007 Francesca’s gardens at RHS Hampton Court and Malvern were awarded silver medals. The DialAFlight Potter’s garden provides a fittingly subtle and poignant memorial for the men who left their families to go to war in 1914; around nine million soldiers, around half of those who went to war, were killed, injured or suffered severe psychological damage. Another 80,000 men returned from the conflict shellshocked. Many never recovered from the trauma of seeing friends and fellow officers blown apart in the mud of France and Flanders. If you visit this year’s Flower Show, do make time to see these beautiful displays of remembrance. soldierscharity.org charlotterowe.com naturedesigned.co.uk

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Star

Quality

jack ross meets British belle Imogen Poots, an actor whose star is rapidly ascending within the film industry, following the release of A Long Way Down

FEATURE

Imogen Poots, with her beaming smile and wide-eyed enthusiasm, couldn’t be more en vogue. The 24-year-old is irrepressibly charming and, thanks to the talent that saw her pick up Best Supporting Actress at the British Independent Film Awards for The Look of Love, is on course to becoming a household name. Poots is a Londoner born and bred, despite swapping the leafy suburb of Chiswick for the bright lights of Los Angeles, and daughter of journalist Trevor Poots, a BBC TV producer, and Fiona Goodall, also a journalist. She is intelligent, confident and mediasavvy enough to let her personality shine through in an industry where the first signs of individuality are often discouraged. Privately educated at the Bute House Preparatory School for Girls in Brook Green, then Queen’s Gate School in South Kensington, Poots was later educated at The Latymer School; she conducts herself with a selfassurance that comes from knowing she belongs in the exalted company (Steve Coogan, Colin Firth, James McAvoy) that she now keeps. It is a combination that’s irresistible for producers and directors. Aside from her screenfriendly looks – the term ‘English rose’ springs to mind – and her ability, audiences have fallen for Poots’ charming lack of pretension and allure. Her ability to light up an interview is helping to push her brand to the fore. “I actually wanted to be a vet when I was younger,” she offers as a left-field starter, “but I don’t think I was cut out for it.” Why not? “I did work experience at a veterinary surgery but when I saw a cat have an operation it made me faint. I had such high hopes as well! But it was time to move on to some other wild dream I wouldn’t fulfil – acting.” However, it was fulfilled and Poots is in high demand. From her debut performance in V for Vendetta in 2006 to current project That Awkward Moment, the actor has seven films either in motion or pre-production. “It’s nice to get to the point where I can really sense things happening,” she says. “Latymer was where I first started acting, yet although I always enjoyed it, I never really thought about it as a career. It was something I did in my spare time – it was fun rather than a serious project.” Her perspective altered when an acquaintance inspired a trip to the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. “My brother’s friend was going there for a workshop and I thought it would be a fun, interesting thing to do, that maybe I’d meet some new people. Once I got there, well, that was it. I started acting properly and I loved it so much. It seemed crazy to just dismiss something like that.” The workshop in question, Young Blood Theatre Company, would become Poots’ home from home as a teenager. “I owe so much to that place. I learnt how to be myself.” Poots is adamant she was not one of “those showy children”, always looking to perform whenever there was an audience to impress. “That’s the worst thing ever. I was never like that. I’m still not like that now! I know people might think that, but honestly, my upbringing was as far from that as possible. I feel it has to come naturally and with a sense of humility to really be worthwhile.”

Her first role, in BBC drama Casualty, came when Poots was 14. “My parents were very supportive and the way things materialised, I never had to miss too much school. I guess my mum and dad knew I was a hard worker and that I appreciated the opportunity.” Education and aspiring stardom gathered pace in tandem. Although at 17 she had to miss a large chunk of A-level schooling after being cast in what would prove to be her breakthrough role in 28 Weeks, it didn’t turn the head of the eventempered teen; Poots came away from Latymer with top grades. But she wasn’t able to collect her results herself. “I was filming Miss Austen Regrets in Oxford,” she recalls. “So my mum had to get them for me. Although I didn’t let her tell me until after I’d finished filming that day otherwise I would have been a state on set if I’d received bad results!” Though going back to education is something that remains on the backburner – she has a place on hold at London’s Courtauld Institute of Art – for now, it seems unlikely the offer will ever be accepted. Her versatility on film, from Fright Night to Filth, suggests she needs nothing else in her life at present. The actress now spends most of her time in America. New York, she says, is “the best city in the world” while living in LA is somewhat of a necessity, leaving Poots precious little time to spend in the UK. “I do come back to Chiswick to see my family,” she insists. “I couldn’t get away with not coming home every now and again! I was home at Christmas and it was so great. I’d really missed it.” Her parents still live in the same Chiswick Victorian house where she grew up. “I do miss that homeliness. Family dinners are just the dream. That is something that is great about England actually, the Sunday roasts.” Anything else she misses about home? “I miss the cereal. A good cereal can set you up for the day. And Jaffa Cakes!” The response, delivered with characteristic enthusiasm, is typically Poots. But then, so is her critique of the very craft that is making her a star. “The thing with acting is it can be a bit of an obsession because you get extreme emotions that I don’t think you find in what you might call ‘a normal job’. And that is what I love about it. As long as you keep evolving as an actor, that’s the key, I think. And that is what I plan to do”.

Poots, a Londoner born and bred, has swapped Chiswick for the bright lights of LA

Photography: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

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Catherine Muller Flower School and Flower Boutique is now open on 53 Elizabeth Street and is ready to welcome you. For more information on courses, events, subscriptions and deliveries please call us on +44 (0) 20 72 59 01 96 or visit catherinemuller.com

collection

Royal Blush Since it was discovered in 1979 by a group of geologists exploring north-west Australia, the Argyle pink diamond has captured the imagination of collectors and investors across the globe and among these is luxury jeweller Calleija. Founder John Calleija, a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Australia, developed a passion for this rare and exquisite coloured diamond and is today recognised as one of its leading suppliers, creating the finest pieces as worn by royalty, actresses and loyal clients. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Calleija will be presenting its latest Argyle pink diamond creations, including Antoinette, Aurora and Ava Rose. “These incredible diamonds are one of nature’s rarest creations and one of the world’s sublime wonders,” comments John Calleija. calleija.com

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box

JEWELLERY BY OLIVIA SHARPE

No Smoke without Flowers “There always has to be a story behind it,” explains Tessa Packard. Indeed, no one could doubt the conceptual element behind the jewellery designer’s latest collection, No Smoke without Flowers, which was inspired by the 19th century opium dens of the Chinese Qing dynasty. It follows on from Packard’s debut 2013 collection, Mexicana, which draws upon her love of architecture and the Latin-American country’s ancient temples. The new selection of floral pieces pays tribute to the female courtesans, or ‘flowers’, who worked in the opium dens while being courted by the male clientele. The collection also features strong, geometric pieces with brightly coloured gemstones and one of our personal favourites is the Madam Pistil ring set with square-cut amethysts, garnets and black sapphires. No Smoke without Flowers, from £200 to £20,000; tessapackard.com

Coming Up Roses To celebrate the newly expanded Piaget boutique, this month sees Harrods’ Fine Jewellery Room play host to an exclusive preview of six never-before-seen white gold and diamond pieces from the jewellery house’s Rose Passion collection, launched in January. Pieces include the Rose Elegance high jewellery necklace and bracelet set, and two necklace and earring sets from the Rose Garden. The in-store boutique has now doubled in size and brings with it a comprehensive assortment of Piaget’s fine jewellery and watch collections. Bespoke orders and personalisation services are also available. Piaget Rose Passion collection, presented exclusively from May in the Harrods Fine Jewellery Room harrods.com

The Strongest Link

Cutting Edge Lydia Courteille’s whimsical and surreal creations never fail to charm and amuse us, as shown by the Parisian jeweller’s latest high jewellery collection, Animal Farm:

Taking inspiration from British novelist George Orwell’s classic novel, Courteille’s Animal Farm similarly plays on the political allegory of animals dreaming for equality and features a farmyard full of familiar faces set in rings, including a crown-wearing cow, a golden goat and a diamond-encrusted pig. The collection is made up of 12 rings, with matching earrings in the pipeline for later this spring.

Those of you who’ve sauntered down the King’s Road of late will not have failed to notice that Links of London has relocated from its Sloane Square location and reopened on the King’s Road. The new concept boutique pays tribute to the jewellery and watch brand’s British heritage, incorporating bespoke furniture and decorative details from established British designers, and offers a more relaxed and informal setting where customers can browse the latest collections, including the new skinny friendship bracelets, precious charms and the Hope collection, all of which are now available in store. 9 King’s Road, SW3 linksoflondon.com

lydiacourteille.com

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RUN WILDbracelet london_UK 13/04/12 09.37 Pagina 2

From the Honeycomb Eternelle Ring Collection

33 Albemarle Street - Mayfair, London WIS 4BP - Tel. 020 7629 5616 MILANO, VENEZIA, FIRENZE, CALA DI VOLPE, CAPRI, PARIS, MONTE CARLO, LONDON, MOSCOW, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, ASPEN, BEVERLY HILLS, TOKYO, OSAKA, HONG KONG, SIDNEY WWW.BUCCELLATI.COM

Bestof

Baselworld

2014 Each spring, Basel hosts the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest watch and jewellery extravaganza, an event that sees 1,500 exhibitors showcase their wares to more than 150,000 international visitors. Here are the pieces which most caught our eye during the eight day bonanza. OLIVIA SHARPE & RICHARD BROWN report

ÂŠ MCH Messe Schweiz (Basel) AG

COLLECTION

From left/ 100.88-carat fancy intense yellow cushion-cut diamond centre and 164.60-carats of emerald and pear shape white diamonds set in platinum, POA Jacob & Co; Emerald earrings from the Red Carpet Collection 2014, POA, Chopard; 100.86-carat ruby earrings with 8.6-carat diamonds, POA, Jacob & Co; Magnipheasant Feathers collar, POA Stephen Webster

Rainbow Wave

Basel stands were awash with colour this year as jewellery houses showed off their stunning collections of coloured diamonds and gemstones, proving how size is no longer the only thing that matters when it comes to stones. Graff demonstrated why it is famous for being the supplier of the largest and rarest Natural Yellow diamonds with a magnificent yellow and white diamond Fringe necklace. When it came to gemstones, brands experimented with various colour combinations. Like purple, Pantone’s ‘colour of the year 2014’, green pervaded the Halls of Baselworld. Chopard presented two new pairs of earrings as part of its Green Carpet Collection, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, and the second of amethysts and diamonds. At Sutra Jewels, the Texan company mesmerised visitors with its vivid display of Paraiba tourmalines. Finally, never one to do things by half measures, Stephen Webster presented his magnificent Magnipheasant collection featuring a rainbow of coloured gemstones, including citrines, amethysts, red garnets, blue topaz and peridots.

Sweet Sundae While the brightly coloured diamonds and gemstones on display certainly packed a punch, the politely pretty pastel pieces which made their debut at Basel were by no means outdone. Pascale Bruni’s reimagined signature Bon Ton collection in rose and milky quartz was well-received, as were Wendy Yue’s feminine and romantic candy coloured designs. This Madame Butterfly necklace is inspired by the 1898 short story turned opera and is a medley of purple sapphires, rhodolite garnets, pink sapphires, opals, tsavorites and brown diamonds.

Clockwise from top/ Madame Butterfly necklace, POA, Wendy Yue; 18-karat rose gold earrings with pink opal and diamonds, $20,000, Sutra Jewels; Delicati rose-cut cushion amethyst and diamond pendant, £705, Marco Bicego; Bon Ton rings in pink gold, milky quartz, smoky quartz, pink quartz and white diamonds, from £2,000, Pascale Bruni

Show-Stopper It was Graff’s first year at Baselworld and the international jeweller certainly made it count. Arguably the most talked-about timepiece of the entire fair, the unveiling of the Hallucination watch not only caused an immediate Twitter sensation but broke the record of the most valuable watch ever created, priced at $55million. The masterpiece features a phantasmagoria of more than 100 carats of rare fancy coloured diamonds and for Chairman Laurence Graff, it has made his “diamond dream a reality”. For many of us without £33million as pocket change, however, owning it shall remain a fantasy.

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The Rites of Spring

A Stitch in Time

Taking a leaf out of the fashion industry’s book, florals were once again a key trend at this year’s fair. Due mention must firstly be given to Chanel, which presented its latest line of Mademoiselle Privé timepieces. Inspired by Mademoiselle Chanel’s favourite flower, the Gold Camellia motif is engraved and polished by hand and features a matte black dial set with five brilliant-cut diamonds and five navette-cut yellow sapphires, while the new ‘Maki-e dial’ is the result of a partnership with Japan-based artists and employs the ancient skill of lacquering dating back to 794 AD. Continuing to look east, Wendy Yue’s much-anticipated new collection did not disappoint. The Tears of the Forbidden Fruit necklace presents a melancholy depiction of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. Italian jeweller Roberto Coin similarly paid homage to nature with his Garden collection rings.

Spanish jeweller Carrera y Carrera’s latest collection, Seda Imperial, is based on an Eastern legend said to have occurred 46 centuries ago and tells the story of a Chinese princess named Liu-Tsu who was forced to marry a barbaric Khan. In revenge, she hid in her shawl the secret of Imperial Silk embroidery and threw it into the ocean. This compelling tale has been reimagined in a series of fine jewellery pieces. Emperatriz is inspired by the shawl’s floral patterns and features a variety of flowers, from the English rose to cherry blossom (reminiscent of China), to illustrate the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. In Sierpes (named after one of Seville’s most iconic streets), delicate lattices imitate the shawl’s silk fringing, while the translucency of the chalcedony (sourced from Brazil) and moonstones creates a crystal ball effect. Garzas, meaning heron, was another typical decorative element and one of the pieces presents two of the birds linked together in an embrace. Finally, Orquideas or ‘orchid’ – a symbol of status in the 19th century – is represented in ruby, yellow gold and diamond pieces.

Above Tears of the Forbidden Fruit necklace, POA, Wendy Yue; Emperatriz Cascada medium necklace in white gold and diamonds, POA, Carrera y Carrera; Mademoiselle Privé Gold Camellia watch, POA, Chanel

Above Sierpes maxi earrings in white gold, onyx and diamonds; Sierpes maxi ring in white gold, chalcedony and diamonds; Garzas maxi ring in white gold and diamonds, all POA, Carrera y Carrera

Time to Shine 2014 marked an impressive year for women’s jewellery watches. There was a collective intake of breath at the Boucheron stand when it unveiled its pièce de résistance; the Cristal de Lune watch. Setting our aspirational sights to new heights, the threedimensional timepiece has been classified as ‘a masterpiece in 3D watch-making’. Chanel may be a relative stripling in comparison to some of Basel’s centuries-old watchmakers but it is by no means inferior; this year saw the release of its first high jewellery J12 Flying Tourbillon. The movement is the result of an exclusive collaboration between Chanel and Renaud & Papi and has been adapted from the Premiere Flying Tourbillon for a round J12 dial. Springtime was reflected in the dials of Dior’s new Plissé Soleil models (part of the Dior VIII Grand Bal collection), while Harry Winston and Bulgari dazzled viewers with their diamond-encrusted timepieces.

COLLECTION

Pearls of Wisdom Pearls in all shapes, sizes and lustres reigned supreme. After setting the bar extremely high last year with its 120th anniversary collection, all eyes were on Mikimoto to see whether the ruler of the pearl industry could live up to its high standards and it certainly did. The ethereal Sun & Clouds necklace got visitors talking with its seamless threecolour graduation (the yellow diamonds placed around each pearl reflect the glowing sun, while the white and grey pearls represent the darkening clouds as they move further away) but for us, the heavenly Angelic creation was the star. The chain of pearls and diamonds designed to adorn the body include a countless number of flawlessly round and lustrously large Akoya cultured pearls. Over in Hall 2, Rocks god Stephen Webster created a considerable amount of noise with his David Bowie-inspired Lady Stardust collection which celebrates the famous lightning bolt motif. The designer’s Lady Stardust ring brought a modern twist to the traditional mineral with the large South Sea pearl embedded within a geometric, v-shaped pattern set in white diamond pavé.

From left ‘Lady Stardust’ South Sea pearl ring set in 18-carat white gold with white diamonds, £13,550, Stephen Webster; Sun & Clouds necklace and Brio necklace, POA, Mikimoto

Heritage Pieces

Right Fringe 18-carat white gold and white diamond tiara by Garrard, POA Tiara can be adjusted by hand to form a Fringe Necklace (as depicted). Earrings part of the Timeless tiara piece

Carrera y Carrera wasn’t the only brand to delve into its the past for inspiration. For Garrard’s latest collection, Albemarle (named after the London flagship store’s location) the royal jeweller based it on the tiara of ‘the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’, commissioned in 1893 at Garrard by the ladies-in-waiting of Princes Victoria Mary of Teck. The tiara has since become one of the most familiar of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s, also appearing on English and Commonwealth banknotes and coinage. Its intricate ‘diamond and dot’ design can be noted throughout the collection, which has been split into two: Albemarle London (fine jewellery) and Albemarle Heritage (high jewellery). Garrard has also released new, one-of-kind high jewellery tiaras. The beautiful Fringe white diamond and white gold tiara can be adjusted by hand to form a necklace, while the Timeless tiara can be taken apart to form a pair of earrings.

From left/ 18-carat white gold rock crystal and diamond ‘Cristal de Lune’ watch with diamond tassel, POA, Boucheron; Dentelle de Monogram watch, POA, Louis Vuitton; Dior VIII Grand Bal Plisse Soleil, £11,100, Dior; Avenue Classic diamond drops in 18-karat white gold, POA, Harry Winston; J12 flying tourbillon watch with black Mississippiensis alligator strap, POA, Chanel; Diva watch with 302 baguette-cut diamonds, 16 round-cut diamonds and 394 brilliant-cut diamonds POA, Bulgari

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Bestof

Baselworld

2014 Symphonic Seduction

From top/ Hublot’s Cathedral

best in show

Tourbillon Minute Repeater; Ulysee Nardin’s Imperial Blue

In complication terms, it’s the holy grail of watchmaking; the pièce de résistance in any watchmaker’s arsenal; proof that a brand has mastered the most complex of horological pursuits. All hail the revered minute repeater. Originally designed as a way of telling the time in the dark – examples chime the hours, quarter-hours and minutes of the day – minute repeaters are the most complicated of all watch complications, requiring between 200 and 300 hours, and decades of experience, to put a single one together (and that’s according to Patek Phillipe). As such, they’re impossible to mass produce and constitute the halo pieces in a brand’s portfolio. Which is why it’s worth shining a light on two beauties debuted at Basel. It may have launched watches with every sports star under the sun, but Hublot’s Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater (£191,700 in titanium / £216,700 in ‘King gold’) is only the second watch from the brand to physically sound the minutes of the day. Housed in a 45mm case, the watch’s hand-winding calibre incorporates a tourbillon escapement and comprises 319 components. Equally hypnotic was Ulysee Nardin’s Imperial Blue. While you might not be the biggest fan of the brand’s brasher creations, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the intricacy and elegance of this minute repeater. With a flying tourbillon ‘floating’ on a transparent mainplate, the watch is a thing of jaw-dropping good looks, even before its silver hammers dance into action to produce an enchanting symphony. It costs £510,000. Revisit the first paragraph for as to why.

A Pilot of Epic Proportions In 2012, Zenith went big; the newly launched Montre D’Aéronef Type 20 came with a preposterous 57.5mm case. Two years later, the company has gone even bigger. Flying in the face of the pragmatic, the Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu measures a monstrous 60mm. Too big for mortal wrists? Then again, this is a watch dedicated to the fantastic rather than the practical. The timepiece’s white-gold crown, bezel and lugs are adorned with an ornate, handengraved, garland pattern, while its beautiful white dial is made from Grand Feu enamel. Arabic numerals, blued-hands, a power-reserve indicator and subsidiary seconds register complete proceedings. Ten of the giant pieces will be made. Expect each to cost £108,400. zenith-watches.com

COLLECTION

Defying Gravity Invented by Breguet, who patented it in 1801, the tourbillon aims to improve a watch’s reliability by countering the effects of gravity. It does so by placing a watch’s escapement and balance wheel (it’s most important time-keeping elements) inside a rotating cage, therefore negating the effects of gravity when a timepiece is left in a fixed position, such as on your bedside table. It is one of the most prized, and difficult to master, components in mechanical watchmaking – commanding a suitably-high price point to boot. So which tourbillons stole the show at Basel? Harry Winston’s Histoire de Tourbillon 5 (POA) was one example. Having been brought into the fold of the Swatch Group less than a year ago, you’d forgive the brand for taking the time to settle themselves under the new boss. Not so. HW has spent the last 10 months perfecting the latest creation in its Historie de Tourbillon line, which, this year, for the first time, laid bare the exceptional mechanism behind its movement. Presenting different levels of components inside an 18-karat red gold case, the piece was a threedimensional tribute to its namesake. Elsewhere, Bulgari gave the world the thinnest tourbillon it had ever seen,

a feat it achieved, in part, by using ball bearings, rather than jewels, for many of the Octo Finissimo’s (£18,000) moving parts. With a mind-blowing movement that’s just 1.95 mm thick, the watch’s case measures a mere 5mm. The prize for Baselworld’s best looking tourbillon, however, surely had to go to the platinum version of Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic (£108,000). Classic in name; not in nature. Inside, you’ll find a silicon balance spring and an escapement made of anti-magnetic steel. The movement itself is only 3mm in height, making this the world’s thinnest automatic tourbillon.

From top/ Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic; Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo

A Welcome Return Omega went old school this year with the De Ville Trésor, a sleek and silky reinvention of a 1949 classic. Boasting a silvery opaline dial with a ‘clous de Paris’ pattern – that’s honeycomb to you and I – the Trésor revisits a line that was distinguished by its thin and classic gold cases. In homage, the 2014 models are smooth, slender pieces that sit 40mm in size. They are available in rose or white gold for £8,730 and £9,490 respectively. Most notable of all, however, is the fact that the pieces are powered by Omega’s newest manual-winding movement, the red-goldbalance-bridge-sporting Master Co-Axial calibre 8511. Who said beauty’s only skin deep? omegawatches.com

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Stopwatch Show-Stoppers While they’re seldom used to time race cars, horses or space shuttles anymore (examples were sent up with Apollo 13), chronographs still provide a sense of interaction and fun between wearer and watch – whether you’re using one to boil an egg or simply passing the time in a queue. Notable examples launched this year included Breilting’s new Chronomat Airbornes (£6,760) and Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960/1A (£36,920). The four varieties of the vintage-inspired Breitlings mark the 30th anniversary of the masculine aviation collection and come with either a 41mm or 44mm diameter. The stainless steel 5960/1A Patek – complete with red accents on its dial – was a seductive exception to the brand’s usual rule of only producing men’s watches in platinum or gold. Expect them to become collectors items almost immediately. For all-out handsomeness, Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronograph Panorama Date has to be one of the prettiest watches of the last few years. The timepiece is powered by the company’s new Calibre 37-01, the first to be conceived and built specifically as a chronograph movement. Among the exquisite mechanical features on view, thanks to a sapphire crystal case back, are the rotor and chronograph bridges mounted on Glashütte’s three-quarter plate; Glashütte’s stripe finish on the automatic bridge; blued-screws and a central skeletonised 21-karat gold rotor complete with double-G logo. Exquisite.

best in show

From top left/ Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronograph Panorama Date; Breilting’s Chronomat Airborne; Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960/1A

Rolex Refined While this year heralded the return of the famous blue and red ‘Pepsi’ bezel on the GMT-Master II, it also marked the launch of three new Cellini models – gorgeous dress watches that prove Rolex is as adept at producing pieces for the boardroom as it is for the deep blue sea. All three models feature a selfwinding movement, a 39mm case and are available only with a shiny black or brown alligator leather strap. The Cellini Date (£11,900) boasts a date function via a hand on a small sub dial, while the Cellini Dual Time (£12,900) features an elegant sun and moon day/night indicator and will show the time in two time zones. Most handsome of all, was the collection’s most understated member, the Cellini Time (£10,150); a pared-back lesson in good taste. rolex.com

COLLECTION

sports watches

Best

Watches

Under

£2,600

Wonders from the Women’s World Depicting the daily dance between the sun and the moon, Breguet’s Reine de Naples Jour/Nuit 8999 Haute Joaillerie shone, sparkled and stunned. As did Patek’s fine-looking, diamond-sporting Calatrava Haute Joaillerie Ref. 4895R. However, with each priced not in the tens but hundreds of thousands of pounds, neither fell within the realm of what you’d call ‘reality’ watches. Zenith and Hermès provided the most exciting women’s watches from a price point you might actually be able to afford. At £5,600, Zenith’s Star Open Steel caters for ladies who appreciate mechanical watchmaking – the piece is powered by the brand’s industry-leading El Primero movement – but for whom ‘ladies’ and ‘watches’ doesn’t automatically marry up to mean sparkling dials and bejewelled bezels – the model is the first Open Star to feature no diamonds at all, and all the better for it. Hermès’ updated Cape Cod collection (from £2,300) now comes with a redesigned dial and interchangeable straps. While they may possess a quartz movement, the cases of the new Tonneau and Nantucket models incorporate a special silver alloy that preserves the way the metal glows. They are available non-set or gem-set with 52 diamonds and come with a choice of 14 colours of strap – for its name alone, you’d have to choose the ‘raspberry mysore goat’, surely?

Clockwise from top left/ Alpnach, £1,350, Victorinox; Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronograph, £2,395, TAG Heuer; Startimer Pilot Black Star Automatic, £2,050, Alpina; Maestro Automatic Date, £1,600, Raymond Weil; Slimline Moonphase Manufacture FC-705, £2,530, Frederique Constant; The Britain Automatic with stainless steel case, £995, Burberry

dress watches

Good Things Come in Threes Jauqet Droz impressed both in terms of technical novelty – its mesmerising Signing Machine is a mechanical, manually-wound camdevice that will duplicate its owner’s signature – and for sheer artistic beauty; it debuted three products dedicated to the art of paillonné enamelling – the process by which azure and gold are married under flame. The dials of each of the three pieces – the 39mm Petite Heure Minute, a 50mm pocket watch and the recently added 43mm Grande Seconde – is decorated with minuscule, floral-inspired gold foil (or paillons) baked onto its enamel. Add white sub-dials, blued-steel hands and red gold casing and behold watch craftsmanship at its most artistic. jaquet-droz.com

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WORLD

of WATCHES BY RICHARD BROWN

Harrods’ History Lesson

Tudor’s UK Launch Tudor lovers rejoice! No longer will you have to catch a plane to procure one of the company’s timepieces. Having been unavailable in the UK since its relaunch in 2009, the Rolexowned marque will be available in Blighty from September. Set up by Rolex-founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1946, the premise of the brand was to offer Rolex quality at more modest prices. To that end, Tudor watches still retain the signature looks of their more celebrated siblings, if not the same movements inside (most are powered by calibres produced by ETA – the firm that makes movements for the Swatch Group). Get the Rolex-look for half the price with the Midnight Blue Heritage Black Bay (£2,120). tudorwatch.com

Latching on to the trend for all things vintage, Harrods has launched the Vintage Watch Collection. Comprising rare and limited-edition Rolex and Omega timepieces, the collection includes GMT Masters from the 40s and 50s, Submariner’s from the 60s and Seamasters straight from the set of Mad Men. A highlight from the ladies offering is an elegant, yellow-gold Bueche-Girod. Pay a visit for a trip to yesteryear. harrods.com

One to Watch Each month we select our timepiece of the moment from the watch world’s most exciting creations

The famous blue and red ‘Pepsi’ bezel is back. 59 years after the colours appeared on the original GMT-Master, the popular hues return on the new GMT-Master II – a watch that highlights Rolex as the master of bi-colour ceramic

Right/ GMT-Master II, £25,600, Rolex, rolex.com

A Shot of Jack Penned by one of the last living legends of Swiss watchmaking, Jack Heuer’s recently published autobiography is a fascinating account of the rise, fall and return of the mechanical watch industry and the company that bears his name. Funny, thorough and fascinating, The Times of My Life is a tale of iconic timepieces and the icons who have worn them. While the hardback version isn’t for general sale, the book can be downloaded for free via the TAG Heuer website. It will enlighten even the most expert of horologists. tagheuer.com

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Swiss movement, English heart

C9 HARRISO N B IG D AY- D AT E A U TOM ATIC Made in Switzerland / Modified ETA 2836-2 automatic movement with Big Day-Date complication by Johannes Jahnke / 38 hour power reserve / 43mm, Hand-polished, 316L stainless steel case / Anti-reflective sapphire crystal / Exhibition case-back / Italian leather strap with Bader deployment

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24/03/2014 17:01

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19/1/12 11:18 AM

spotlight

Inside and Out Fifty years ago Beatlemania swept the globe as the band embarked on its first US tour. That same year marked the Beatles’ first shoot with legendary photographer Robert Whitaker. From May, a powerful exhibition at Proud Chelsea will showcase the iconic and candid shots taken by Whitaker during his time with the Beatles. Part of the group’s entourage on their 1964 tour of Australia, Whitaker became a friend and confidant of the Fab Four, immortalising a range of emotional states, from extreme boredom to happiness. The portraits in the exhibition cover 1964 to 1966 and capture the Beatles during their huge transition from domestic success to unprecedented fame. The Beatles: Inside and Out By Robert Whitaker, 8 May – 8 July; Proud Chelsea, 161 King’s Road, SW3 5XP, proud.co.uk

Photography: Robert Whitaker

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Illustration: Mai Osawa

A Doll’s House

kensington

& chelsea

Step into the world of miniature marvels. One of the world’s most famous, and the UK’s largest, exhibitions of dollshouses and miniature work will take place at Kensington Town Hall on 17 and 18 May. The Kensington Dollshouse Festival will include more than 170 craftsmen from around the world showcasing their diminuative delights, from tiny tea sets to intricately crafted, astoundingly small-scaled homes. The annual show is not only the place to be for gorgeous minute masterpieces but is also a great place for children to have a fun day out, with a Golden Scavenger Hunt and a Gingerbread Craft Club both part of the daily activities. Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX; dollshousefestival.com Kensington House furnished basement & ground floor Photography: Angela Hartnall

In a Flash Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz has teamed up with TASCHEN to create a SUMO-sized book of her iconic work. The portraits, which include actors, writers, politicians, musicians and more, make up an album that is essentially a Who’s Who of our time; the incomparable Leibovitz creates images that are both intimate and immediately recognisable as her own. The SUMO book will be printed in limited quantity and will come with a tripodinspired stand designed by Marc Newson. ‘Annie Leibovitz’, with a supplementary book of essays by Steve Martin, Graydon Carter, Hans Ulrich Obrist and Paul Roth Hardcover, £1,750 TASCHEN, 12 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY taschen.com

Cate Blanchett, Los Angeles, 2004 © Annie Leibovitz. From ”Title TK” (Taschen, 2014)

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT

Get into the Spirit Kick-start your summer with the season’s most stylish shopping event. From eclectic interior pieces to fashion and garden accessories, you’ll find all of your summer needs at the Spirit of Summer Fair: The Event for Stylish Living. The fair is both a celebration of the season and a promotion of hundreds of the UK’s finest small retailers. Running from 14 to 17 May at Olympia, it includes not only a wealth of shopping but also delicious food and drink options, expertled lectures, and workshops to help you discover hidden talents. 14-17 May spiritofsummerfair.co.uk

Bookworms Looking for a good book to curl up with? Join the rest of London in picking up a copy of My Dear, I Wanted To Tell You by Louisa Young. This year, Cityread London has selected the story of a young soldier’s life on the battlefields of the First World War to commemorate the centenary. The annual celebration of literature aims each year to get Londoners excited about the same book and includes a month-long programme of live theatre performances, book groups and more. In addition to this, for the first time kids can also join in on the fun with the Cityread children’s book selection, Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful. Check out the website for the exciting calendar of events. rbkc.gov.uk / cityreadlondon.org.uk

A Question of Sport Now celebrating its seventh year, the annual St. Regis International Polo Cup at Cowdray Park, taking place on 17 May, will be the first international test match of the season in the UK. Polo superstar Nacho Figueras, St. Regis Connoisseur is down for captaining the South American team against Audi England. Following the match, Figueras will also play with his son Hilario in a fun family match against other polo aficionados at the St Regis. The match is the first of its kind and was developed in the spirit of Family Traditions at St Regis, which offers activities for younger guests and families of hotel patrons, celebrating the art of play. St Regis International Polo Cup, 17 May Cowdray Park stregispolo.com

High Desert Sun The vast desert landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona are the subject of Caroline McAdam Clark’s upcoming exhibit at the Thackeray Gallery. Entitled Moving On, the exhibition features 30 paintings resulting from the artist’s extraordinary journey into the incredible Breaking Bad background. Much of Clark’s work is conceptual, utilising warm colours that invoke the heat of the desert sun, as well as geometric shapes that represent life and the cultural history of the area. While moving through southwest America to create these pieces, Clark also found herself working in Georgia O’Keeffe’s studio at the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu. Moving On will open 6 May at the Thackeray Gallery and the paintings will range in price from £600 to £6,000. thackeraygallery.com

Above/ Charma River & Pedernal New Mexico

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

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Birdland When a high-flying, hard-living rock star at the height of his career takes a step back from the world of celebrity and returns home, it can be a deeply jarring experience. Birdland, the new play which recently opened at the Royal Court, is a poignant look at the relationship between empathy, money and fame. The show stars Andrew Scott, who you will most likely recognise as Moriarty from the BBC’s Sherlock, for which he won the 2012 Best Supporting Actor BAFTA, and is directed by Royal Court director, Carrie Cracknell. Birdland will run until 31 May. Royal Court Theatre Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS royalcourttheatre.com Photography: Kevin Cummins

Raising the Roof Does anything uplift and delight the soul more than the rousing sound of one of the world’s most talented orchestras playing a live score at the Royal Albert Hall? I’d wager not, after a spirit-boosting evening spent in the company of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Having loved their spectacular performances years ago of the epic Lord of the Rings soundtrack (I did indeed attend separate screenings of all three films) in the same venue, I was immediately sold by the idea of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in the same format, and I was not disappointed. The swash-buckling sword-fighting and cacophonous ferocity of the West Indian seas were enhanced to perfection by the orchestra and the audience, which included a not insignificant number of Captain Jack Sparrows, was swept along by the energy of the performance. My advice? Book ahead if a similar event pops up on the RAH calendar. Annabel Harrison royalalberthall.com; rpo.co.uk

Incendiary Blonde ©Bob Carlos Clarke

Living Dolls Photographer Bob Carlos Clarke has been considered “Britain’s answer to Helmut Newton”. His photographs are sexy and dark, comprising provocative images of women undressed or in various forms of latex clothing. While his artwork may appear purely voyeuristic, there is a power behind Clarke’s work that is hard to ignore. From 10 May, the Little Black Gallery is presenting an exhibition on Bob Carlos Clarke entitled Living Dolls. This exhibit marks the 10th anniversary since the photographer’s final exhibition in 2004, two years before his death in 2006. It shall include selection of images from his Love Dolls Never Die series and some of the photographer’s classic black and white photographs. 10 May – 21 June Sponsored by Olympus Bob Carlos Clarke: Living Dolls The Little Black Gallery 13A Park Walk, SW10 0AJ thelittleblackgallery.com

Adult Females Attack Without Provocation ©Bob Carlos Clarke

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

SPOTLIGHT

Ride ‘Em Pony!

Head of the Class

Chesterton Humberts Polo in the Park is coming into its 6th consecutive year at the historic fields of Hurlingham Park this June. The event has become one of the most anticipated in the capital’s summer sports calendar and it’s hardly surprising when one considers that matches include British and international polo players thundering across the fields on some of the world’s finest polo ponies, all competing for the coveted Chesteron Humberts Polo in the Park Trophy. Throughout the tournament, guests will experience a quintessentially British celebration complete with street food, outdoor bars and a luxury shopping village, plus activities for childen.

Whether your children could use practice for upcoming school interviews or need help with coursework, or if you yourself could do with guidance on where to enroll them, My Tutor Club has support to help. An educational consultancy and private tuition company founded by Oxford graduate, Cyrus Afkhami, My Tutor Club consists of a team of tutors teaching both online and locally and offers private in person or online tuition, schools’ advisory consultancy for parents and interview practice to help students to wow recruiters. The Schools Advisory department is run by former Eton College Head of Admissions, William Rees. Both Rees and Afkhami are passionate about using technology to improve the quality and accessibility of education and have the experience to help boost your child’s education.

Chesterton Humberts Polo in the Park, 6-8 June polointheparklondon.com

mytutorclub.com

Left/ Neil Raitt, Untitled (Alpine) 2013, oil on linen Below/ Virgile Ittah, For man would remember each murmur

Create a Spark Every child should look forward to their summer holidays and a new initiative by the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation is aiming to make sure they do. Launching at the end of May, Summer Sparks will raise funds for local youth groups and charities which provide summer activities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether it is allowing a child to discover new skills in sport or to express their creativity through arts and crafts programmes, the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation believes every child deserves the chance, regardless of his or her background. Local residents and businesses are encouraged to get involved and you can find out more about how to help on the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation website. thekandcfoundation.com

Budding Artists For all we know, the next Andy Warhol may be studying at the Royal College of Art as we write. Each year, the Catlin Art Prize recognises new work by recent graduate and postgraduate artists; a curated exhibition features artists selected from the Catlin Guide, an annual survey of the 40 most promising new artists to emerge from UK art schools. This year, the shortlist includes two graduates from the local Royal College of Art, Virgile Ittah and Neil Raitt. Ittah is a sculptor who creates lifelike figures using wax and marble dust, while Raitt’s abstract paintings reflect his love of wallpaper. A panel of judges will award one artist with a prize of £5,000 on 14 May. See the Art Catlin website for more information. 2-24 May artcatlin.com

spotlight on Kensington, Chelsea & knightsbridge: news, events, reviews & local interest stories

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06/02/2014 10:10

ART ANTIQUES BY CAROL CORDREY

Treasure Trove Our Royal College of Art is world famous as a hotbed of international talent so it provides just the right home for the 20/21 International Art Fair, source of some of the world’s best modern and contemporary art. The Fair’s success in providing exactly that is proven by its track record over the past seven years. This time, we can expect a wonderful range of art in oil, original print, watercolour, drawing, collage, photography and sculpture by famous names from across the globe and dating from 1900 to the present day. Some are instantly recognisable (Braque, Cezanne, Matisse, Miro, Picasso, Warhol, Blake and Hirst) but the Fair will unveil work, also, by the RCA’s current students who may be unfamiliar to us now but they could easily become famous in the years ahead, as Blake did. In addition, the Fair provides a launchpad for some less wellknown artists whose talents are deemed worthy enough for this prestigious event. In short, the Fair promises visitors an artistic treasure trove suited to all tastes and budgets and I cannot think of a more exciting day out.

Clockwise from left/ Gillchrest; Rivans; Trevelyan

20/21 International Art Fair, 15-18 May 20-21intartfair.com

with Matthew Childs, designer of the Brewin Dolphin Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Q: What was your main inspiration for this garden? A: The inspiration came from nature, in particular all of the wonders that are present on a fresh spring morning. The idea is that from the darkness of winter and night comes light and emerging possibilities so it was important to capture both a mood of tranquility and a sense of anticipation throughout the garden.

opportunities. The wide, basalt path which takes you through the arches and into new spaces provides a sense of anticipation and forward thinking. Drifts of claret and purple flowering plants symbolise the fulfillment of potential with a social space under the dewdrop pergola reflecting the importance Brewin Dolphin places on investing in relationships.

Q: Have you developed any themes throughout your garden? A: There is a core theme of ‘nurturing potential for the future’ which reflects Brewin Dolphin’s ethos. Their faith in me as a new designer creating their garden at Chelsea this year is testimony to that. This theme of nurturing and potential is one that not only resonates with me but one I feel visitors to the show will be able to connect with. Q: How does the planting and hard landscaping reflect the theme and the garden’s sponsor? A: Nurturing and a considered approach is reflected in the garden with tranquil, reflective

spaces. The first of these is a sunken, floating island surrounded by a rill of still water and fresh planting of white, green and zingy yellows. Two large, patinated, copper arches provide windows to focal points which symbolise new

Q: What kind of sculptural elements can we look forward to and are they symbolic? A: Water is a key element and in addition to actual water features I will be using unique metal, sculptural surfaces which will give the illusion of moving water. Also, I am very excited to have had a sculpture, Tranquility, commissioned especially for the garden and created by Peter Brooke-Ball who has turned stone into a beautiful, sinuous shaped vessel. The pewter which drips from it gives the illusion of a droplet of water; it embodies the essence of everything in the garden. brewin.co.uk/chelsea

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ART ANTIQUES Time to Collect I have never shared the traditional distinction between fine art and craft because I believe that quality and innovation are the proper yardsticks to apply to all facets of art. Brilliant and famous makers of all kinds have been in evidence for centuries so it strikes me as thoroughly good news that the Crafts Council became the catalyst in 2004 for the COLLECT art fair which brings leading makers of contemporary objects to our attention. Indeed, this event will provide us with the chance to admire and buy museum quality pieces created from glass, ceramic, metal, wood, mosaic, leather or jewels by no less than 400 artists from 36 countries ranging from Japan to Sweden, Italy to the UK. We can revel in the knowledge, too, that COLLECT is the leading international art fair of its kind which evolving and established private and institutional collectors travel from all corners of the globe to attend yet for us, it is right here, on our doorstep. COLLECT, 9-12 May collect2014.org.uk Clockwise from top/ Galerie Marzee, Dorothea Pruhl, Vögel (Birds) 2003; Galvanize Sheffield & Harlery, Zoe Robertson, Pixelmania 2012; Galleri Format, Vidar Koksvik

Sculpture & Humour Combine Having survived years of stringent economic times rounded off by the wettest winter on record, it is time to introduce some humour into our lives. So thank goodness for Lesley Taylor whose sculptures are unusual in several ways: small scale and lightweight, they can be hung on any wall; they are predominantly white so sit well in any colour scheme; each has an absorbing, incomplete narrative; and they are guaranteed to raise a smile. Taylor is a very capable figurative artist but she sees humour in just about anything. Her inspiration is transposed to long pieces of brown wrapping paper then combined with layering techniques to achieve 3D effects. Human figures are formed from clay and although they have simple outlines and poses, all burst with character. Her series of what I have termed “kitchen calamities” makes amusing references to a chef (who could be anyone in their kitchen) and his varied experiences of toppling a bottle of wine onto the floor, typified by Pain Le Vin! (above). The comical situation of a careless window cleaner losing his grip whilst cleaning a building is perfectly evoked in Absolutely Rung Out and Taylor references the iconic 1932 photo of workmen relaxing on a beam high above the Manhattan skyline in Shades of New York (also applied to the skylines of Paris and London). Lesley Taylor!, from 29 April and throughout May thompsonscontemporary.co.uk

Explosions of Colour What could be more emotionally uplifting on a spring day in May than looking at Isabelle de Ganay’s paintings, characterised by her love of nature and vibrant colour? Gazing at each one, I am overwhelmed by her technique of letting colour initially explode onto her canvases to create stunning close-ups with nature. I then sense myself gliding gently through fields, flowers, water or woods into the receding distance where detail and colour – appropriately reduced – finally leave me enveloped in a blanket of beauty. De Ganay paints en plein air in the manner of the Impressionists with whom she shares a commitment to presenting changes in light and atmosphere. Her technique suggests, also, the influence of the great Post-Impressionist, Van Gogh, who loved nature and stunned the art world with his emotional way of applying swirling impasto paint that injected remarkable realism into every grass, branch, petal or other figure that he portrayed. De Ganay’s work contains similarly sculptured effects that heighten our emotional responses to the forms, moods and seasonal wardrobes presented by the wonders of the natural world. Isabelle de Ganay, throughout May at Julian Simon Fine Art; 19thcenturypaintings.com

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Blossom

EXHIBITION SPOTLIGHT

William Kent Imagine being the architect-designer on the receiving end of commissions such as Horse Guards Parade, the Treasury building and the Royal Barge; those designs and numerous, prestigious others were all executed by one William Kent, as the V&A now reveals. Carol Cordrey reports he has acquired the title of the leading architect and designer of early Georgian Britain and a major exhibition at the V&A will remind us of his remarkable achievements and fame that spanned four decades. Kent (1685-1748) created vast, elegant buildings, new wings for stately homes and magnificent interiors and gardens that bestowed superior status on his clients in particular and on the nation in general; their continued existence has ensured that Kent’s fame lives on. Equally admired today are his glorious monuments to others who contributed to making us a truly Great Britain, such as those in Westminster Abbey dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton and James Stanhope (1st Earl Stanhope, remarkable soldier and statesman). Kent’s vast array of commissions emerged from his considerable ability in the arenas of painting, sculpting, designing architecture and interiors, furniture and metalwork and, as if that were insufficient to satisfy his creative needs, Kent committed himself, also, to book illustration, landscape gardening and theatrical design that included costumes. In fact, his multifarious achievements reflect not just his ability but his ambition. As was typical of his time, Kent travelled to Italy as a young man and acted as a guide for English noblemen on the Grand Tour. Most notable among those clients was Lord Burlington whose subsequent commissions and connections resulted in Kent returning to Britain and developing here the Italianate style and Palladianism. A string of powerful patrons, including royalty, succeeded Burlington and brought Kent to the forefront of public interest. This will be made clear in the exhibition through his designs for Frederick, Prince of Wales’ Royal Barge (1732), Queen Caroline’s Library at St. James’s Palace (1736-37) and the Hermitage in Richmond Gardens (1730-31), together with exhibits made of silver and commissioned for the Royal Palaces in Hanover. Such glittering works will be among some 200 exhibits of Kent’s oeuvre that will include architectural drawings for some of his most famous buildings such as the Treasury and Horse Guards, the latter representing Kent’s dramatic impact on the appearance and status of London both then and now. They will be joined by Right/ Armchair for Devonshire House ca.1733-40 © Devonshire Collection Chatsworth. Reproduced by permission of Chatsworth Settlement Trustees. Photography: Bruce White

designs for landscape gardens at Rousham (Oxfordshire) and Stowe (Buckinghamshire). The V&A’s Julius Bryant has co-curated this grand exhibition so I asked him how we should perceive Kent’s approach to garden design, considered pioneering in its day. “He was not so much a gardener as a landscape architect – more like today’s theatre set designer driving a JCB. Now he would be an Oscar-winning director of epic movies” was Bryant’s description of the great man. Kent’s interior design works for country houses and stately homes will be represented by pieces of spectacular gilt furniture from Houghton Hall (Norfolk) and Chiswick House. There is a lot to be impressed by so I asked Bryant to pick out one item by which visitors are likely to be particularly surprised. “The largest single object, and the centrepiece of the show, is the eight foot long architectural model for a new royal palace (loaned by HM The Queen) that Kent showed to King George II and Queen Caroline but she died before it could be built,” he revealed. In keeping with the frustrations of all architects, some of Kent’s commissions never left his design board, exemplified by his drawings for a new Houses of Parliament (1733-40) and the House of Lords’ interior plans (1735-6) but the V&A will give us the pleasure of seeing his wonderful ideas through his drawings. Kent had an extremely busy and long career which earned him an enviable reputation in his lifetime as a pioneering architect-designer and, thanks to our profound concern about protecting great buildings, gardens and works of art, his influence on Britain and his creative genius is for all to see. We can admire it through visits to our stately homes, our London streets and now, this exhibition at the V&A which coincides with the tercentenary of the Hanoverian accession to the throne. William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain 22 March – 13 July vam.ac.uk/williamkent

ART

The Gallery, Chiswick House, William Henry Hunt, 1828 ÂŠ Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth. Reproduced by permission of the Chatsworth Settlement Trustees

Floor plan and elevations for the interior of the House of Lords London 1735-6, RIBA Library Drawings & Archives

An assembly at Wanstead House by William Hogarth 1728-31 Philadelphia Museum of Art: The John Howard McFadden Collection, 1928

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Chelsea in Bloom 2014 It is tempting to think that when Alexander Pope penned “Where’er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise”, he was forecasting the beautiful impact that Chelsea in Bloom would have on the streets in and around Sloane Square, says Carol Cordrey

SPOTLIGHT

This event combines the talents of artists who specialise in floral art and window dressing to create the most stylish and awe-inspiring of London occasions. It complements and runs concurrently with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, providing a fabulous reason for everyone to visit both, but for those who have tried and failed to get show tickets, Chelsea in Bloom offers the most spacious, elegant horticultural alternative. Best of all, it is rooted in an area that has first-class retail and restaurant facilities so Chelsea in Bloom has become a must-visit attraction for anybody wanting a special day out that is both relaxing and entertaining. It returns for its ninth year and with yet another well-considered, captivating theme: Creation in Colour – a journey through fashion, food and lifestyle. This has much more of a contemporary feel compared to last year’s theme of Chelsea through the Ages which celebrated the Flower Show’s long history; it attracted a record number of entries and innovative displays with Rag & Bone winning the coveted first prize.

As the “blushing flowers shall rise” for Chelsea in Bloom, the area will be at its stunning best This international retailer of clothing and accessories will be keen to maintain its competitive edge so this time around it may well be aiming for an even more impressive show at its Sloane Square store. Chelsea in Bloom has succeeded because of its enduring high standards, good organisation and the fact that it reacts well to its customers, made up of the public and the retailers. The latter have consistently found that whether restaurant, bar, stationer, fragrance, décor or clothing shop, the event increases their visitor numbers and, in turn, their revenue. As a result, more and more of them want to join in with Chelsea in Bloom. For the public, the event has been developed to suit all ages and types, not just keen gardeners, and it transforms shopping into a joyous occasion. The displays are spread around the streets radiating from Sloane Square, Sloane Street and Duke of York Square. For anybody – youngsters or seniors – who wants to enjoy the entire event but feels unable to walk very far, there are free rickshaw tours that will make Chelsea in Bloom especially exciting. Both children and adults can enjoy the selection of floral themed in-store activities that have been planned and to make sure that all of us are able to celebrate this super show in true Chelsea style, there’ll be champagne and ice-cream bars set up for the duration of the event; you can find the full information on the website.

The judging panel will consist of TV presenter and RHS judge Lesley Watson; internationally renowned florist and garden designer Stephen Woodhams; and editor and award-winning lifestyle blogger Sasha Wilkins. Together, on the morning of Tuesday 20 May at 10am, they will visit all the Chelsea in Bloom entries and assess their designs in terms of creativity, flair, use of fresh flowers and interpretation of the given theme. The judges’ deliberations will take most of the day so check the Chelsea in Bloom website later that afternoon to discover whether Rag & Bone has retained its crown or passed it onto another of the participants. The results are expected to be available in the press the following day and you’ll have the chance to have your say about the best of Chelsea in Bloom by voting for your preferred design on the website. The display that receives the most public votes will pick up the hotly contested People’s Choice Award. There is one further, wonderful reason to visit Chelsea in Bloom which is the Memorial Meadow. It has been made from thousands of poppy seeds planted by a group of Chelsea Pensioners under the guidance of Ric Glenn, Head Gardener of Cadogan Estates, with the aim of commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I. Located at the north end of Cadogan Place Gardens, the meadow is expected to be in fabulous flower during Chelsea in Bloom and although it will not be part of the competition, it will undoubtedly enhance it and be a major public attraction. Chelsea always looks smart but as the “blushing flowers shall rise” for Chelsea in Bloom, we will see the area at its stunning best. Chelsea in Bloom, 20-25 May chelseainbloom.co.uk

All images courtesy of: Chelsea in Bloom 2013

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Pradasphere A world that revolved around Prada? What could be better? A new exhibition at Harrods in May centres on this very concept, tracing the history of one of the most influential Italian fashion houses. Pradasphere will present a broad selection of the brand’s historic collections, special collaborations and projects, as well as a screening room presenting short films from directors such as Wes Anderson and architectural projects from Rem Koolhaas/OMA and Herzog & de Meuron. In addition to this, more than 40 of the department store’s windows will be dedicated to installations featuring the brand’s iconic elements, plus highlights from an exclusive capsule collection which will be available in a special pop-up store. Enter the world of Prada. Throughout May, harrods.com

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Wedding

Dresses 1775 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2014

A new exhibition at the V&A explores the evolution of the white wedding dress over the past two centuries. Olivia Sharpe speaks to curator Edwina Ehrman to find out more

FASHION

When asked in a recent survey what the most important aspect of their day was, 70 per cent of brides gave the same answer: the dress. After all, as milestone moments go, one’s wedding day is up there and it goes without saying that the choice of gown is a crucial element (even more so, one could argue, than the groom himself). This spring, the V&A will chart the development of the white wedding dress and how it has been interpreted by leading couturiers and designers over the past two centuries in a much-anticipated new exhibition. Featuring more than 80 of the most historic and lavish wedding outfits, most of which were worn in Britain, it will investigate the history of this iconic garment from 1775 to the present day, as well as offer a personal insight into the lives of those who wore them. “I wanted the garments to reflect the themes of the exhibition and to tell a chronological story,” explains Edwina Ehrman, the exhibition’s curator and author of its accompanying book, The Wedding Dress: 300 years of Bridal Fashions. “The stories of the brides and grooms are therefore crucial to the displays. They help to bring the garments to life and

Silk brocade gown and petticoat, silk covered straw hat and silk satin shoes, 1780. Worn by Jane Bailey for her marriage to James Wickham. Image reproduced by kind permission of the Olive Matthews Collection, Chertsey Museum. Photography: John Chase

“Wedding garments reflect social, cultural, political and economic change” to explain why they have been so carefully preserved.” The earliest examples of wedding fashion date back to the late 18th century and reflect the mainstream fashions of the period. One of the dresses on display is a 1780 ‘polonaise’ style brocade gown worn by Jane Bailey, a wealthy farmer’s daughter. Made from cream Spitalfields silk with brocaded floral sprays and complete with a straw bergère hat and silk satin shoes, the style of the outfit reflects the typical country wedding attire of the time. Like fashionable dress, Edwina notes how wedding garments similarly reflect social, cultural, political and economic change. “Clothing choices are determined by a range of factors such as access to information about the current fashions, budget, morality, taste, need, and attitudes to dress in the circles in which the wearer moves,” she comments. “All these need to be considered when looking for clues about what a dress can tell us about the wearer.” By looking at the clothing styles up until the middle of the 19th century, she is able to deduce that weddings were small affairs and wealthy couples chose to marry either in private at home or at church. However, by the 1840s, this began to change with the majority of high profile weddings being conducted in church, often with great extravagance. “At a time when the structure of society was changing, with industrialisation bringing wealth This page, right/ Bride c.1926 photograph by Peter North (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London Opposite/ Image courtesy of Temperley Bridal, ‘Jean’ wedding dress 2010. Photograph by Julian Marshal

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to a whole new group of society from diverse and often humble backgrounds, weddings and their trappings played a very important role in reinforcing the exclusivity and privilege of the upper classes.” Edwina draws on technology as having been an instrumental factor in the wedding dress’s evolving style. While the exhibition will present some of the earliest British and French bridal fashion illustrations dating back to 1813, it will also highlight how it was not until the 1840s with the development of the printing press that newspapers began to report high-profile weddings. As a result, bridal gowns became more and more elaborate. For socialite Baba (Barbara) Beaton’s special day on 6 November 1934, she commissioned America’s first couturier Charles James to design her dress. The designer used his cutting and draping skills to create one of the first modern interpretations of the traditional white wedding dress, featuring a bias-cut and a new style of train. Today the public’s craze for society weddings has hit fever pitch. For instance, who can forget the royal wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William and, in particular, her celebrated Sarah Burton gown? The growth of the industry and media focus is presented in correlation with improvements in photography in the early 20th century; Norman Hartnell’s dress for the society wedding of Margaret Whigham to Charles Sweeney and Anna Valentine’s silk coat for the Duchess of Cornwall’s marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales will be on display. The mezzanine level of the exhibition will be dedicated to contemporary bridalwear, paying particular attention to more unconventional designs by leading designers, including Christian Lacroix, Jenny Packham and Vera Wang. “I wanted to work in some surprises to get people talking so there are some very innovative and revealing pieces alongside more classic styles,” says Edwina. This will include the Pam Hogg satin and layered tulle dress for socialite Mary Charteris and the memorable Vivienne Westwood purple design for Dita Von Teese. Edwina finds it impossible to choose a favourite dress but mentions two designs she believes will be a hit: “I love the drama of John Galliano’s 2002 pink and white dress for Gwen Stefani and the subtle, sensual elegance of the Ian & Marcel’s pleated dress and coat, made for an unknown bride in 1989, which was paired with a veil decorated with roses drawn in silicone rubber.” So how does Edwina predict weddings will evolve? “We live in such a rapidly changing world that I find it impossible to imagine what it might be like in 100 years. All I will say is that the institution of marriage will survive!” 3 May 2014 – 15 March 2015, vam.ac.uk Travel Partner Kuoni, supported by Waterford Crystal, supported by Monsoon Bridal This page, from top/ Embroidered silk satin wedding dress designed by Norman Hartnell, 1933. Worn by Margaret Whigham for her marriage to Charles Sweeny, Given and worn by Margaret, Duchess of Argyll © Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans; Wedding dress sketch by Worth, pencil, ink and body colour, London c.1922. Given by the House of Worth © Victoria and Albert Museum, London The Wedding Dress: 300 years of Bridal Fashions by Edwina Ehrman

100% natural fibres clothing for children

www.cashmirino.com 020 7495 0708

31 Burlington Arcade, West Central London, W1J 0PY

FASHION

Floral-print cotton poplin skirt £525, Dolce & Gabbana net-a-porter.com

Dolce & Gabbana S/S14

Floral cotton-blend open jacket £335, Vanessa Bruno Athé matchesfashion.com

Almond blossom slingback heels, £430 Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com

Floral-print silk chiffon maxi skirt, £1,494, Giambattista Valli, giambattistavalli.com

Nipped in the Bud Florals embraced a more sombre mood at the S/S14 shows of Alberta Ferretti, Giambattista Valli and Dolce & Gabbana

Bruno floral-print silk tapered pants, £210 Elizabeth and James, net-a-porter.com

Floral-print silk maxi dress, £585 Paul & Joe, paulandjoe.com

Alberta Ferretti S/S14

Blanche pewter Swarovski crystal necklace, £1,115 Lanvin, harrods.com

Lucrezia medium flower tote, £1275, Givenchy harrods.com

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Another Wet Summer In true British tongue-in-cheek fashion, Hunter Boots has played on our characteristically dismal summer for its S/S14 campaign, entitled Another Wet Summer. The campaign, shot by Viviane Sassen and under the direction of the brand’s recently-appointed creative director Alasdhair Willis, showcases the company’s new line of outerwear: a semi-transparent, water-resistant Original Clear Smock which comes in a variety of colours, from desert white to blue lily. The S/S14 collection also includes a new interpretation of the classic Hunter Original boot, first introduced in 1856. Original Nightfall is available on either a black or white base and each pair has been handcrafted from 28 individual parts. With festival season about to get under way, never was there a better time to invest in a pair of Hunter’s. hunter-boot.com

HER STYLE By olivia sharpe

An Eye for an Eye New Arrivals Following its spring clean, Browns Sloane Street is now home to fashion house Dries Van Noten and jewellery brands Jagga and Gaydamak. The Dries Van Noten’s S/S14 collection, now in store, is an opulent mix of black ruffle pleated tops, crocodile embossed leather brogues and romantic floral printed silk dresses. Jagga was founded by Radha Mehta and the brand has gained a cult following for its stacking and interlocking rings that sit at the top of the finger, while Gaydamak was created by sisters Katia and Sonia Gaydamak in 2009 and looks to the work of Cartier at the turn of the 20th century as its main source of inspiration. Visit the store now. Browns, 160 Sloane Street, SW1X brownsfashion.com

It’s rare that you’ll find a pair of sunglasses to suit all but this can be said for Isabel Marant’s new collection in collaboration with Oliver Peoples. The two styles, Matt and Daria, embrace both brands’ effortlessly chic approach to style and are available in five custom colours, from classic silver and grey to peach mirror and rose gold. Isabel Marant for Oliver Peoples Sunglasses £226 oliverpeoples.com

Garden of Gucci This May sees fashion house Gucci bring its signature Flora motif, first debuted in 1966 in homage to Princess Grace of Monaco, to life with its tribute garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The Flora Garden presents a horticultural realisation of the famous symbol and has been designed by award-winning garden designer Sarah Eberle. To celebrate its participation with the show, Gucci is also introducing two exclusive Lady Lock handbags; available in two sizes and featuring a bambootop handle and Flora canvas, both styles will be available exclusively at the Sloane Street boutique as of May. Gucci, 18 Sloane Street gucci.com

The Perfect Match As we enter summer, thoughts turn to our wardrobes and, in particular, the right footwear. Thankfully, French shoe brand Robert Clergerie has laid our minds to rest with the launch of its exclusive mini collection for Matches Fashion. Drawing upon the brand’s classic raffia platforms which first launched in the 90s, the four unique styles epitomise casual elegance and can be paired with cropped trousers or a midi skirt. Available from 30 April, from £265 matchesfashion.com

In Brief Three years ago saw French lingerie and swimwear brand Eres land its first UK store on Motcomb Street and, ever since then, we have coveted its exquisite collection of lingerie and swimwear. The new S/S14 collection stays true to the label’s emphasis on the woman’s body with its natural curves and lines, featuring the Edun Brina bra and high-waisted brief set which have been specifically designed to add support and come in a beautiful pale blue. Eres, 24 Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JU eresparis.com

Royal Ascot Hat Competition 2014 The Royal Ascot Hat Competition in collaboration with esteemed milliner Stephen Jones OBE, Ascot Racecourse and British Airways has now launched. This offers entrants the chance to attend Royal Ascot 2014 with their own hat design being personally made in the milliner’s couture atelier. The winner also receives hospitality tickets to attend Royal Ascot on Thursday 19 June 2014 plus a two night stay in a luxurious suite at Coworth Park. Each design will be judged by Stephen Jones on originality and individuality but it must abide by Royal Enclosure guidelines. Visit the Dorchester Collection website for more details and the downloadable application form. Competition closes 10 May 2014 dorchestercollection.com

Body Beautiful Hervé Léger has created three new designs this season, each of which have been inspired by body art. In ancient Polynesian culture, tattoos would indicate status in a hierarchal society and the brand has subsequently weaved this past tradition into its modern day, signature bandage creations. Similar to its Runway collection, the dresses are produced in limited quantities so get your hands on one of the holiday essential pieces before they run out.

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Store of the Month: Ottoline London

During her lifetime, English aristocrat Lady Ottoline’s dress sense was a subject of much speculation and admiration, especially her ostentatious hats, skyscraper heels and bright silk scarves. It was her elaborate neckwear in particular which, more than a century later, sparked the imagination of budding designer Hayley Menzies who decided to create a luxury brand for scarf lovers everywhere; so Ottoline was born. Arriving with Menzies’ debut S/S14 collection vibrant silk printed scarves featuring contemporary animal prints finished with the brand’s signature gold chain trim - is the creative director’s first store on Portobello Road. From £80 to £230; Shop 5 Portobello Green Arcade, 281 Portobello Road, W10, ottolinelondon.com

Hervé Léger London 020 7201 2590 29 Lowndes Street, SW1X 9HX, store@herveleger.co.uk

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Darling Buds

of May

Inject pretty florals with some life (and colour) this spring by pairing them with graphic flower prints, bold citrus palettes and appliquéd 3D designs Photographer:

Dominic Nicholls

Stylist:

Pip Edwards

Wetlook linen jacket, £1,695, Matthew Williamson, matthewwilliamson.com; Diamond flower ring in 18-karat yellow gold, rose quartz and pink sapphire, £6,300, Roya Noebashari at Talisman Gallery, talismangallery.co.uk

Yellow floral patchwork top, £495, Michael van der Ham at Harvey Nichols, harveynichols.com; Pale blue structured skirt, £1,774, Peter Pilotto at Matches, matchesfashion.com; Green flower necklace, £355, Oscar De La Renta, outnet.com; Erika sky blue and silver leather strappy sandals, £485, Bionda Castana, biondacastana.com

Cotton mesh bomber with cotton and silk floral embellishment, £2,410, Marni, 020 7245 9520; Floral brocade tapered leg trousers, £625, Dolce & Gabbana at Matches, as before; Cascade silk top in tunnel green, £645, Peter Pilotto, lanecrawford.com; Apostrophe S in 100 Suede heels, £435, Christian Louboutin, 0843 227 4322; Ring, Mawi, stylist’s own

Sleeveless top in yellow bird print, £2,965, Mary Katrantzou, mytheresa.com; Taffy trouser in white petal embroidery, £980, Erdem, erdem.com; Iguala Earrings, £80, John & Pearl at Boticca, boticca.com

Green sweater with yellow flowers, £550, Sister by Sibling, net-a-porter.com; Orchid embroidered A-line skirt, £1,774, Peter Pilotto, theoutnet.com; Vibrant pink rubber sandals, £450, Burberry Prorsum, burberry.com; Statement ring, £16,800, Amrapali, 020 7584 4433

STYLIST: Pip Edwards @ Frank Agency MAKE-UP: Bobbie Ross at LHA Represents using Bobbi Brown and Bumble and bumble hair: Timothy David using Joico Hair Care MODEL: Vika @ Elite Model Management PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT: Sam Thirgood illustration: Scott Woolston With thanks to McQueens florist mcqueens.co.uk

promotion

Style

The Substance of

The majority of people’s wardrobes in the Royal Borough are undervalued so, as you tot up your Jimmy Choo collection, think about how much your most prized possessions are really worth and how you’d set about replacing them if they were ever lost

Think about every piece of clothing and every accessory in your wardrobe. The McQueen gown, the Hermès Birkin, a lifetime’s worth of designer shoes and even the simple wardrobe essentials – how much would they be worth if you added them all up? Let us not forget the items that you may have acquired on sale – the value of which may still cost the full price to replace. If you invest in fashion, having to replace one-off pieces is a daunting thought, not to mention bespoke suits, should anything happen to them. Insuring your sartorial assets is just as important as protecting your timepieces and jewellery. But if you look at your belongings as a library of pieces, rather than individually, you may be surprised at how quickly it adds up. Investing in the right insurance is just as important as investing in your clothes and accessories but many companies will eventually end up discounting clothes and undervaluing your precious collection. Quantum Underwriting Solutions offers something unique to solve this predicament; a bespoke service for high-net-worth individuals. “As a specialist in Kensington, Chelsea and Mayfair, it is not unusual to have a customer’s wardrobe valued at more than £150,000.” says Quantum’s founder James Wasdell. “There is almost a perfect correlation between ladies undervaluing their handbag and shoe collections and gentlemen undervaluing their watches and suits. There is definitely

some human psychology at work here, where women will generally have purchased a few more pairs of designer shoes or handbags than they have declared to their partner.” The company is Europe’s number one broker for Chubb, the leading insurer-of-thewealthy. Quantum’s service ensures your entire wardrobe is correctly valued, and once this is done it is also index-

“As a specialist in central London, it is not unusual to have a customer’s wardrobe valued at more than £150,000” linked, as iconic pieces will often appreciate in value. “We have seen examples where items have been as much as 75 per cent under-insured, meaning that in the event of a claim, they would only receive a fraction of the true value of any lost or damaged pieces,” says Wasdell. Quite simply, ‘off the peg’ insurance will not fully cover your belongings in the event of a fire, burglary or total loss of your purchases. “Insurance is essentially a promise and the only time that it is tested is in the event of a claim. Arranging that cover with a specialist provider such as Quantum provides total peace of mind.” Quantum Underwriting Solutions Plc, Berkeley Square 020 3384 1725; bsq@quantumplc.com From top/ Dress, £1,175, Alexander McQueen and shoes, £415, Gianvito Rossi Both available from net-a-porter.com

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FASHION

Gentlemen Only Intense

Off the Rails While luxury French trunk-maker Moynat may not be as illustrious as its counterpart Louis Vuitton, it is just as historic, having begun its journey in 1849 when it was founded to facilitate the needs of the first rail travellers (five years before the launch of Louis Vuitton). More than a century later, the LVMH brand has finally landed in the UK with its first store in London’s Mayfair and we feel certain this move will make Moynat’s mark on the international accessories map. The Parisian luggage label is situated across the road from The Connaught and inside you’ll find the complete collection of men’s and women’s leather goods, accessories, trunks and textiles, along with an in-store atelier dedicated to personalisation. Jaguar owners should also visit the store now to test-drive its exclusive Limousine trunk, geared to fit into the boot of an F-Type convertible.

Hubert de Givenchy’s original men’s fragrance created in 1975 has returned with added intensity, comprising a medley of woody notes, such as green mandarin oil, leather, patchouli and cedarwood oil, and pepper and birch leaf. Sophisticated and refined, the new cologne is ideal for men who harbour a taste for the great outdoors. Gentlemen Only Intense £64 (100ml); givenchy.com

112 Mount Street, Mayfair moynat.com

HIS STYLE By olivia sharpe

Return of the Jedi Four years after resigning from Kilgour as creative director where he worked tirelessly to revolutionise the concept of the modern suit, we’re delighted to announce the comeback of Carlo Brandelli who returns with his S/S14 collection exclusively for MR PORTER. Brandelli’s signature designs and silhouettes, including the Classic No.5 suiting, the one-button unstructured jacket with slim trousers and a ‘lounge’ suit with hidden front and cuff buttons, will be presented, as well as more casual styles such as a blue zip bomber jacket, two V-neck tees and a selection of ties and pocket squares. This collection marks a series of initiatives by Brandelli to signal his return to the brand, including a new store set to open this summer and his A/W14 ready-to-wear collection. Welcome back, Mr. Brandelli.

Hats Off From Winston Churchill to Napolean Bonaparte, some of the greatest men in history have sported the Panama hat and its enduring popularity continues to this day. Of Ecuadorian origin, the headgear slowly wove its way over toAmerica and Europe in the 19th and 20th is of little The price centuries and soon became known as importance: What people Legendary Hats the “aristocrat of the straw look for is fineness,hat”. A new rity— , regula book detailing theeness hat’s fascinating suppl tone. by Assouline. the ivory history is being released

reissue of one of its Assouline is proud to announce the Panama hat. A symbol earliest titles, the fascinating tale of the the 19th century, the of classic gentlemanly elegance since greats as Roosevelt, Panama has topped the heads of such Windsor. This volume of Duke the and Churchill, Napoleon, production process, delves into the hat’s remarkable history, the grace of living and variety of shapes, while celebrating Legendary Hats of its country of origin: Ecuador. Panama: of the straw hats.” pays fitting tribute to the “aristocrat

La Colombe d’Or: Martine Buchet, author of Assouline’s to research and Saint Paul de Vence, traveled to Ecuador discover the origins of the Panama hat.

Hamani has produced Over the last fifteen years, Laziz luxury names, and work for the world’s most prestigious as Cartier and Dior. he is regularly sought by brands such studio techniques Although his talent for lighting and finds it has been acknowledged, he still appreciates—and spontaneous style. necessary—to work outdoors in a more books on lifestyle, thirty This has brought him to publish over more than twenty including themes, luxury and artistic, several exhibitions of Assouline titles, as well as producing his personal work.

This kind of panama cannot go out of fashion.

Panama: Legendary Hats by Martine Buchet and Laziz Hamani, hardcover with jacket, £55; available from May assouline.com ISBN: 9781614282259

assouline.com

Kilgour S/S14 Exclusively at MRPORTER.com

Detail of the Carlos Elías Barberan storefront Hamani. in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Photo © Laziz

cover:

9 781614 282259

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ANNA CASA MAYFAIR SHOWROOM 2 HAY HILL LONDON W1J 6AS | 020 7629 0045 | INFO@ANNACASA.NET ANNAWWW.ANNACASA.NET CASA MAYFAIR SHOWROOM 2 HAY HILL LONDON W1J 6AS | 020 7629 0045 | INFO@ANNACASA.NET WWW.ANNACASA.NET Anna Casa.indd 1

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lifestyle Enchanted Gardens The inspiration and setting for the colourful, whimsical and utterly adorable S/S14 Baby Dior collection comes from the prettily-pink Rhumbs villa in Normandy. It was here that, with his mother, the young Dior grew roses and lilies of the valley, which would later serve as inspiration for brilliantly coloured dresses. A passion for fancy dress was also born in the local area, where he dressed as a sailor boy for his first carnival. Thus the collection tells the stories of Dior’s childhood: Wild Garden’s pink and yellow tones recall flowers that bloomed in Rhumbs villa’s gardens; Granville Bord de Mer comes in smart, sailinginspired white, blue and red; and Granville Champêtre features a delicate daisy and lily of the valley palette. dior.com

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In craftsmanship and technology, Wolf stands alone. Its professional performance helps you make the most of every cup.

www.subzero-wolf.co.uk 251 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010

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HOME

BY nicole blair

Well-Dressed SW3

Living Life Beautifully

Christina Strutt, founder of British fashion and home brand Cabbages & Roses, has published an interiors book showcasing her centuries-old family home in the country in a bid to offer advice and inspiration on how best to create a beautiful and inviting home. Living Life Beautifully: In a Simple Sort of Way also features the homes and offices of other artists and companies that have inspired the author on her way to creating her global lifestyle brand. The release of the book coincides with the launch of Cabbages & Roses’ new flagship store in Sydney Street. With its beautiful imagery and helpful hints, it deserves prime position on your coffee table.

Luxury interior fabric company Lelievre has once again teamed up with fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier for a second collection of home fabrics and accessories, bringing the world of haute couture straight into your home. The range utilises photographic landscapes featuring crushed metal, angelic medallions and patchwork, plus images taken by French photographers Pierre & Giles. Encompassing cushions, curtains, throws, quilts and rugs adorned with crystals, tulle, lace and metallic splashes, it is safe to say that the duo has surpassed itself yet again. lelievre.eu

121 Sydney Street, Chelsea, SW3 cabbagesandroses.com

A Pot of Gold A scented candle can make all the difference when it comes to transforming the ambience of a room. New to the fragrance scene are three beautiful vessels from Feu de Beaumont; one is covered in frosted glass, while the other two – the Golden Goblet and the Porringer – are encased in 22-karat gold-plated designs, which can also be engraved. The trio is available in three flagship fragrances; (oudh, jasmine and wild fig), and unlike most candles, are completely refillable. After all, sustainable investments don’t burn out. feudebeaumont.com

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HOME

Create a Buzz

Dark Romance Are conventional spring floral prints just a bit too cheery for you? If this is the case, never fear as House of Hackney may have just what you’re looking for. As part of its S/S14 range, the fashion and homeware brand has released its Midnight Garden collection. The new floral pattern, which can be used to adorn either sofas, lamps or shades, takes its inspiration from a painterly English garden at night and features rich shades of black, green and orange as well as sumptuous fabrics such as velvet. The Oriel, a rounded lampshade embellished with long black fringe and matching tassels, calls to mind an interior setting of a Romantic Gothic novel.

Brighten up your cooking crockery with Emma Bridgewater’s new spring selection. The well-loved English pottery company has a number of new patterns available this season to provide that country kitchen feel in your home, including the Rose & Bee Collection which features a nostalgic rose design, a pale blue Persian border and drowsy little bees. Each piece of pottery the company creates and sells is designed by the eponymous founder Emma Bridgewater or by her husband Matthew Rice. Each collection reflects a vintage style and a hand-crafted sense of quality. emmabridgewater.co.uk

houseofhackney.com

New Kid on the Block

A Rose By Any Other Name... One of the best ways to make an impact in any home and, indeed, any hotel reception space is by using the fruits of nature. London florist McQueens was invited to create the displays and installations for the Rosewood London, which is one of the city’s newer luxury hotel openings, drawing diners and partygoers out of Knightsbridge and (relatively) further east; recently it hosted the prestigious Olivier Awards and Harvey Weinstein’s post-BAFTA party. The brief for Kally Ellis, MD and founder of McQueens, was for the displays to be dramatic yet simple, lush but cleanly designed and monochromatic. The Holborn Dining room – the Rosewood’s all-day dining Brasserie – drew inspiration from Provence; it’s rustic and eclectic, with old urns, crates and terracotta pots, herbs and seasonal blooms. Ellis said: “It’s wonderful to be seen at this beautiful hotel; it’s the old Pearl Insurance building and celebrates its centenary this year. The hotel vibe is cool, sophisticated and beautiful – there is something for everyone.” mcqueens.co.uk

Lacaze bespoke interiors is opening its first showroom on the King’s Road. Founded by industry design duo Hanaa and Kay Chattun, sisters who came to London in 2005, Lacaze offers a tailor-made service to suit all tastes and design specifications. From beds and bespoke sofas to armchairs and coffee tables, each piece is handmade and the finest materials, fabrics, woods and fillings are used to create a suitably chic style for your home. Hanaa and Kay discovered their passion for design as children when watching their father create furniture in his home workshop. They began by carving chairs for their dolls and this expanded into larger projects. With the option of woodwork for girls dismissed within their school, both Hanaa and Kay continued to take lessons from their father, a design and woodwork lecturer. We have high hopes. Lacaze, 558 King’s Road, SW6 2DZ 020 3659 2234; lacaze.co.uk

First Impressions Rose Dale, a garden designer at Dale & Heybrook Landscape Design, follows her outdoor advice from the April issue with easy ways to improve the approach to one’s home • Paint your front door a beautiful colour. Be bold. A black front door is not obligatory! Papers and Paints (4 Park Walk, SW10) have wonderful colours and are very helpful. •

Ugly lighting really lets the show down. Lights set either side of the door, with the beam washing up and down the wall, create a dramatic and welcoming effect; we like the Hunza pillar light that comes in a range of attractive finishes suitable for modern or traditional schemes. Alternatively, a beautiful lantern might strike the right tone. The Georgian Porch Lantern by Vaughan is suitable for a covered porch and can be found in the showroom at Chelsea Harbour. Do always check any lights are suitable for exterior use.

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Install a single or pair of handsome planters by the door. Most people choose planters that are far too small. These are harder to keep watered (they dry out fast) and look out of proportion. Go for something generous, perhaps 60-70 cm wide. Gaze Burvill make high quality, timber planters that will last a lifetime or find a giant glazed jar or urn at The Brooke Pottery. These large planters can usually be watered thoroughly just once a week. Another option is a painted planter; this could be painted the same colour as the front door to tie it all together.

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Containers can be planted up afresh each season with a mass of spring bulbs and flowers such as violas and primulas in spring; exuberant summer bedding in summer and heathers, heucheras and skimmias in autumn and winter.

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For those with less time, plant something permanent. A magnificent evergreen specimen such as a box topiary or a mature camellia or, for seasonal variety, a deciduous Japanese maple underplanted with winter-flowering cyclamen.

Finally, do check that any planned external work is permitted with RBKC, particularly if you live in a conservation area. daleandheybrook.com

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HOME Bed of Roses

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show promises to be as spectacular (if not more so) as previous years, debuting beautiful new additions which are bound to leave you spellbound. Among these is David Austin Roses, which is introducing three new English Rose Varieties for the 2014/15 season. Being well-thought of in the industry as the absolute authority on this particular perennial, the company continues to impress with unmatched blooms which combine beauty, health and fragrance. The varieties include Olivia Rose Austin, a soft pink rose named after the great-granddaughter of the founder; The Lady of the Lake, a climbing rose with a delicate blush hue, and finally The Poet’s Wife, the first yellow rose to be introduced by the company in over ten years.

All of a Flutter Everything’s a flutter at the Natural History Museum; to coincide with this season’s array of events and exhibitions focused on the museum’s tropical outdoor butterfly house, the in-house gift shop is offering a gorgeous, butterfly-embellished chest of drawers. Created by Bryonie Porter, a company wellknown for its carefully crafted hand-finished papered furniture, the chest is made from Victorian pine and covered in a beautiful vintage Cavallini Butterfly print. High-gloss lacquer and sparkling glass handles complete the eye-catching piece. The chest of drawers is available this summer, priced at £755, and is certain to cause quite a stir.

The new roses can be purchased for £18.95 each, plus P&P davidaustinroses.com

The Lady of the Lake (Ausherbert)

How Does your Garden Grow? The proof is in the planting. The Chelsea Gardener is celebrating 30 years of providing an all-inclusive garden shop for its West London customers with a brand new collection for the season. This includes an assortment of weather-proof rugs, fire pits, water features and all-year upholstered furniture that you will not have to move inside on those rainy London days. If you are looking to make a splash in your neighbourhood, the store offers a wide range of unusual plants sourced from Holland and Tuscany, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in London. 125 Sydney Street, SW3 6NR chelseagardener.com

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PROMOTION

Culinary Masterpiece Boasting touchscreens, intelligent sensors and a host of gastronomic innovation, Gemma Knight investigates the new cutting-edge kitchen There’s certainly no replacement for pure, unadulterated culinary talent – but even the world’s Michelin-starred chefs would be hard pressed to create the award-winning delicacies upon which their reputations depend without the right tools. Enter Electrolux Grand Cuisine, the first ever professional cooking system designed to be used in the home and destined to release your inner gourmand. Just imagine the thrill of sautéing, steaming and stir-frying like the pros with the help of the nine state-of-the-art devices now installed in your kitchen, presenting your next dinner party guests with perfectlyseared scallops, impeccably braised beef and flawlessly chilled martinis thanks to the trade secrets now laid at your fingertips. Indeed, chefs the world over are (when pushed) more than happy to admit that their abilities have been heavily bolstered by such gastronomic innovation as the Blast Chiller (which allows hot dishes to be prepared ahead of time, chilled, then returned to the perfect serving temperature – not to mention taking 10 champagne bottles from room temperature to an ideal 8°C in just 30 minutes), the Induction Zone (a vast cooking surface with specialist power levels) and the Precision Vacuum Sealer.

When coupled with the Combination Oven, this intuitive device allows for the use of a technique known as sous-vide (literally ‘under-vacuum’), a method that cooks food in a vacuum-seal at low temperatures for a long period, meaning that it holds on to all its natural flavours, colours and juices. Indeed, even London’s hottest chef Nuno Mendes swears by it. “I think that the systems really propose a change in the approach to cooking at home -- it’s really pushing things forward,” he says. “I mean the kit, what it offers, the units themselves open a whole different range of possibilities for the home cook. “These days there are a lot of cooking aficionados and this is their passion. I think having something like this in their kitchen is amazing because they can really do the things that are happening in a restaurant,” he says. Praise indeed. So, domestic chefs, the truth is finally out – it is your gadgets that have been letting down your culinary prowess all this time – and, with the tricks of the trade finally available to us mere mortals, dinner parties will never be the same again. grandcuisine.com

Clockwise from main/ the simplistic design of the modern kitchen; Precision Vacuum Sealer; Blast Chiller; Induction Zone

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Designing

with

Flowers This spring sees the release of Preston Bailey’s book Designing with Flowers, which celebrates his latest ideas and inspirations, says OLIVIA SHARPe Master New York event planner Preston Bailey has been saying it with flowers for the past 30 years, creating exquisite and unforgettable floral designs for the most lavish events. “When I started in this business 33 years ago, I never imagined that what was then a newfound love of flowers would lead to career that is, in every way, my dream job. To spend my days creating one-of-a-kind events that serve as the backdrop of some of the most memorable moments of my clients’ lives is an honour,” begins Preston Bailey in the introduction of his latest book, Designing with Flowers. The esteemed event designer and floral couturier has become famous for his elaborate and ostentatious designs which have incidentally provided the setting for some of the most high-profile celebrity, royal and society weddings, including the likes of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. A true visionary, Bailey has been credited for being able to transform a client’s vision into a reality but for myself, I believe the designer goes further than this, creating a vision which far surpasses the client’s wildest dreams. In his sixth book, Bailey takes the reader through his most up-to-date floral designs (undeniably a key aspect of his events); ranging from bouquets and centrepieces to ceremony spaces and reception environments, he demonstrates his love of flowers and their ability to bring an occasion to life. “Flowers are a feast for the senses: vivid colors, unique textures, and signature scents all work together to transform a moment.” From giant floral elephants to a life-sized working carousel, there appears to be no end to the designer’s genius.

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Did you always want to be an event planner? In a way, I grew into it. I first began as a florist but when a friend’s daughter was getting married, she asked me to design the wedding and from then on I progressed into events. Which was your first celebrity wedding? When Joan Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, was getting married, Joan hired me to do the wedding. This naturally opened many doors for me and was a big turning point in my career [Bailey and Rivers remain close friends to this day]. Where did your love of flowers spring from? It came to life the moment I started designing with them. Working with flowers is like working with perfection and what I love most is that I have the opportunity to be creative with one of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts. Why do you think flowers are such an essential element to an event? They are a perfect way to create joy. They put most guests in a good mood. Do you have a favourite flower and, if so, what? My favourite flowers have always been orchids. After so many years of working with flowers, I still discover new species to this day which is very exciting. What do you say to people who argue that the wedding industry has become too over-the-top? I say, so what! Weddings are about creating a life-long memory. If the couple prefers to be over the top, that’s their choice. What’s been the most memorable bridezilla moment? I hate to say it but I think the idea of bridezillas is a notion that has been created by reality TV. Of course I do have brides that are under a lot of pressure, but again why not? Planning a wedding can be very stressful. Do you ever find that you’re as nervous as the bride and groom when the wedding day finally arrives? There is always a bit of nervousness that day, especially considering that we are also seeing our designs come to life for the first time. However, part of my job is to remain calm for the sake of the couple. What’s been the most challenging event you’ve ever had to design? We had to design a wedding and build a bubble tent the size of a football field in the middle of the dessert. I spent many sleepless nights going over the details!

What’s the favourite part of your job? Seeing the element of surprise on my clients’ and their guests’ faces when entering one of my events for the first time. Preston Bailey: Designing with Flowers Written by Preston Bailey, photographed by John Labbe rizzoliusa.com

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Kids KINGDOM BY nicole blair

Spring Chicks Freshen up your little one’s wardrobe this season with boats, blossoms, peacocks and aeroplanes, the new collection by Olivier Baby. The playful S/S14 junior collection features spring flowers and vibrant ice-cream shades and new this season is a range of cosy knitwear available for boys and girls up to 10 years old. Made from 100 per cent cashmere wool, the age of the scratchy jumper has now thankfully come to an end. olivierbaby.com

SW3

Sweet Dreams

Sheridan’s luxury bed linen, which has been enjoyed by adults the world over since 1967, can now be embraced by the next generation thanks to its new baby line. The collection includes hooded towels, cashmere blankets, fitted cot sheets and swaddle wraps in gender-friendly colours, such as Marshmallow and Marl (a denim blue hue), and in luxuriously soft fabrics, making each piece from the range ideal for snuggling. One of the star pieces is Quinn; the 100 per cent cotton baby towel is light and absorbent and features a delicate lace and cross stitch embellished hood. The baby range is currently available in the Sheridan King’s Road store.

Giddy Up For pony-crazed children (and adults) lucky enough to have a horse of their own, Monnington Equestrian Livery Yard in West Sussex provides the perfect home for the equine members of your family. Located just 15 minutes from the sea, ideal for getting out of the city and enjoying some fresh air, the livery offers good grazing, a horse walker with rubber matting and a large, well-ventilated barn to keep your horse happy and healthy. Full, part time and temporary livery is available. monningtonequestrian.co.uk

Sheridan, 362 King’s Road, SW3; sheridanuk.com

Dress to Impress

A Refined Palate

New and exclusive to the fancy dress department in Harrods’ Toy Kingdom is luxury children’s clothing brand Ivoy Paris. Based in Saint Germain des Près, owner Elisabeth de la Poype takes her inspiration from her favourite fairy-tale stories from childhood. Each of her enchanting dress designs have been made from premium fabrics and finishes and are certain to ensure your little girl is the belle of the ball this season.

For a healthy and sophisticated alternative to lunch-time dining, Nobu Berkeley Street has recently introduced London’s first children’s Bento Box. Comprising two levels, the first includes child-friendly savoury tasters, such as chicken yasai zuke and sautéed vegetables and teriyaki, and the second level is made up of fresh fruit skewers, vanilla ice cream and chocolate lollies for those with a sweet tooth. The miniature dishes are based on signature Nobu favourites and are certain to cause quite a stir in the school playground. 15 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DY noburestaurants.com

harrods.com

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Darling Dos

Notting Hill has a new salon to take your shaggy-haired tots. Founded by cricketer Kevin Pietersen and his wife Jessica, the Bella & Beau salon was designed with luxury in mind and seeks to provide a fun and relaxing experience for both child and parent. Hair cutting stations include fairground ride style chairs, such as a New York yellow cab, a fire truck and a bright pink piano, and if your little one needs further distraction, iPads with games are on hand. The salon’s interior features bright murals, hand-painted by British artist Stephen Williams.

Of Mice and Men Brambly Hedge, a tale of a community of self-sufficient mice in the countryside, was created by Jill Barklem in 1980 and quickly became adored by fans across the globe. However, due to the author’s illness, the books went under the radar for almost a decade. Until now, that is. Thanks to the author’s children, Lizzie and Pete, and nursery specialist Dragons of Walton Street, the books are being revived with a collection of handmade and hand-painted pieces inspired by the stories’ most popular characters. Commenting on the collaboration, managing director of Dragons Lucinda Croft said: “I was a fan of the original Brambly Hedge series. As someone who is also carrying on the work my mother started I also feel a very close connection with Lizzie and admiration for what they are doing to ensure these most wonderful creations are preserved and brought to life for another generation.” The collection is taking centre stage in the Knightsbridge store and is also available online. dragonsofwaltonstreet.com

56 Ledbury Road W11 2AJ bellaandbeau.com

Curioser & Curioser For your child’s next ‘unbirthday’ celebration, why not lose your head and consider investing in one of Steiff’s new limited edition Alice in Wonderland bears? The latest collection takes its inspiration from the beloved children’s novel which was first published in 1865, just 15 years before Steiff was officially founded. Dressed to impress in their character’s outfits, it includes the Mad Hatter bear complete with a decorated top hat, a dapper White Rabbit with a fully functional pocket watch and, of course, the heroine Alice herself. Prices start at £125 steiff.com

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PROMOTION

Moves

Smart

New You Boot Camp provides the ideal residential bootcamp for ensuring your kids step away from the television this summer and out into the fresh air; it can guarantee they’ll have fun while doing so Today, the greatest health risk to our children is an unhealthy diet and lack of physical exercise; they play video games while sitting for hour upon hour, watch television without getting up for exercise breaks and laze in bed until lunchtime if allowed. These are just a few examples related to “couch potato syndrome” and interestingly enough, a recent survey by the University of Michigan (U-M) Health System found that “not enough exercise” is listed as the top parents’ health concern for children. With the summer holidays fast approaching, New You Boot Camp has launched a residential camp for teenagers in beautiful North Somerset, England. It’s the perfect place for exercise-averse teens to embrace getting fit, getting dirty and eating clean. The Director of New You Boot Camp, Jacqui Cleaver, and her team believe that it’s time “to empower our teens to truly take care of their health and fitness. We offer a fantastic summer camp to make sure our children feel and look great!” New You Boot Camp’s Teen Summer Challenge has been developed by specialist trainers, nutritionists, chefs, activity planners and parents. Throughout this course the team concentrates on motivating and educating campers through good food and challenging activities. Whether parents are keen for their kids to lose weight, improve fitness or just have a great summer with new friends, the highly experienced, specialist team will work with every camper to make sure that he or she learns about good food, diet and lifestyle choices. Children also discover which activities, sports or team events they enjoy the most, will learn to cook, and most importantly, have a lot of fun while doing so. “Campers will leave their stay with us feeling great and ready to take on the world,” Jacqui promises. “They will absolutely face challenges that will exceed any expectations.” All of the Boot Camp teens are different so many different exciting exercises

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and fun activities are tested to see which suits each teen best: “we might be teaching you how to be healthy and to be the best that you can be but your stay with New You Boot Camp is a teen challenge and a great summer”. Jacqui explains that two of the main questions asked by New You Boot Campers are as follows: Why is it good for me? “Everyone likes new adventures! Don’t you? You will be outside in the fresh air, having fun, being active, enjoying yourselves and learn to understand what food and drink is and how it works inside your body. We help you to understand how to look after yourself and be healthy.” How fit do you have to be? “We welcome all fitness levels. Some of you may find exercise tough or even boring and some of you may find it easy and just want new challenges. By the end of your time with us you will be surprised how fit you will be. We work with all of you daily to improve your fitness. You can do it!”

MORE INFORMATION The New You Boot Camp in north Somerset aims to accommodate an equal mix of boys or girls between 12 and 17 and takes a maximum of 30 campers so that the team is able to give one-toone care and attention to all of campers to change their lives in the time they are with us. Courses range from one to six weeks and prices range from £699 (one week) to £3,000 (six weeks). For more information call 01202 559336 or email enquiries@newyoubootcamp.com newyoubootcamp.com/teen-boot-camp

HEALTH BEAUTY BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Come What May Blossom into spring with this month’s top beauty treats 1 To avoid the panda eye effect, try out Clinique’s new Lash Power Feathering Mascara. The advanced formula prevents flaking and smudging and is available in black onyx and dark chocolate shades. Available in stores from 25 April, £18, clinique.co.uk 2 After proclaiming its healthy glow manifesto in 2013, Chanel returns this year with a new chapter to the story, entitled Les Beiges. The Healthy Glow Multi-Colour comes in three shades, each of which has been designed to illuminate skin tone and embellish cheeks. The key to natural-looking make-up has finally been unlocked. Available from 5 May, £39, Chanel, chanel.com

3 It has been proven that during your sleep cycle, your body repairs its systems and one of these is the skin, which is why night creams are an essential part of your skin routine. La Prairie has formulated a new product, Cellular Radiance Night Cream, designed to take advantage of the skin’s ‘resting status’ during sleep, restoring radiance and texture. Available from May, £430, La Prairie, harrods.com

4 Like the fashion label, the new spring perfume by Salvatore Ferragamo, Signorina Eleganza, epitomises elegance, refinement and femininity. Created by perfumer Sophie Labbè, the fruity head notes of grapefruit and pear are combined with delicate almond powder and golden osmanthus and finished with patchouli and white leather. £60 for 50ml, Salvatore Ferragamo, ferragamo.com

5 This month sees Dior reveal its first ever moisturiser. The brand’s own unique innovation, the Hydra Life Close Up targets the three sources of visible pores, while the flower complex extracted from the Dior Gardens works to tighten and smooth skin. The end result? Invisible pores, even close-up. Available from May, £54, Dior, dior.com 6 In tribute to the flower of longevity, Guerlain has extended its Orchidee Imperiale skincare line to include a body cream so now the anti-aging, firming and hydrating powers of Gold Orchid Technology can benefit the entire body. Available from 2 May, £275, Guerlain, guerlain.com

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Kiss, Kiss The first, all-in-one lip hybrid by Dior is arriving at UK beauty counters this May, much to our excitement. The new, one-of-a-kind Fluid Stick brings together all of the qualities of a gloss, lacquer and a lipstick to achieve the ultimate, long-lasting colour impact and glossy shine without the sticky, weighted down texture of a normal lip product (the innovative formula uses water as opposed to wax). Available in 16 show-stopping shades, it’s time to say hello to irresistible lips. Dior Addict Fluid Stick, £26 Available from May dior.com

Here Comes the Sun Guerlain’s legendary Terracotta bronzing powder has been illuminating women’s skin across the globe for the past three decades. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the beauty industry’s pioneering products, Guerlain has introduced Terracotta Sun Celebration. The star powder carries three shades, fiery orange, burnt brown and sunset pink, all of which work together to create a universal bronzer that will brighten all skin tones. The emblematic Terracotta Sun symbol has been engraved in the centre for the final golden touch. The launch coincides with Sun Awareness Week between 5 and 11 May. Terracotta Sun Celebration bronzing powder Available from May, guerlain.com

Ring a Ring O’ Roses Chantecaille’s signature Rose de Mai extract, first discovered by founder Sylvie Chantecaille 15 years ago in Provence, has become the very essence of the brand and can be found within all of its skincare products. To honour this year’s anniversary, Chantecaille is releasing La Crème a la Rose de Mai. Infused with one of the world’s rarest roses that blossom for three weeks only during the month of May, it can even be forgiven for its hefty price tag. The Chantecaille La Crème a la Rose, £175 Available at Harrods harrods.com

Treatment

Garden Party Nails Inc. invites us all to celebrate the start of the summer social season with its Garden Party collection. The three shades may have been inspired by the English countryside but they have in fact all been named after well-known gardens in London, specifically the Royal Borough: Portobello Gardens, Westbourne Gardens and Princes Gardens, a fitting tribute, in our minds, to the Chelsea Flower Show. Each dazzling pastel shade contains a blend of matte and metallic glitters to create full coverage and to give nails that extra sparkle.

of the Month Crème de la Crème

£12 each nailsinc.com

Mix & Match YSL has brought something new to the beauty table with its latest Baby Doll product line, Kiss & Blush. The dual colour play product has been designed to give colour to both cheeks and lips and has the added effect of slimming down our bulging make-up bags. The air-whipped formula fuses technologies found in foundation and lipstick to create a blend of colour pigments which can subsequently be applied to both lips and cheeks. A light diffusing gel creates a matte and luminous finish. To add further confusion, the products are housed in what appears to be nail polish bottles but inside you’ll find a lip gloss brush applicator.

Tucked away on Harrods’ fifth floor, Urban Retreat is, as the name would suggest, a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of Knightsbridge. Like so many city-dwellers, I find my skin often becomes congested, particularly in the troublesome T-zone area, and so I opt for the spa’s Crème de la Mer facial, designed to refine skin and remove impurities. My therapist Nancy begins by cleansing the skin with a gel formulated for drawing out excess oil and pollutants. She then proceeds to exfoliate and moisturise, using plenty of massaging techniques to get the blood flowing and to plump the skin. The most memorable part is the customised eye massage, during which a cooling cream is applied with a magnesium metal wand to drain and de-puff the eye area. This is followed by the brand’s signature Miracle Broth, which instantly feels soothing on the skin when applied, before a final layer of Radiant Serum. Leaving with a polished and glowing complexion, this is the perfect pre-party radiance boost. Rachel Mulrenan Crème de la Mer The Facial, 50mins, £100 urbanretreat.co.uk

Baby Doll Kiss & Blush, £27 each Available 30 April ysl.com

Garden State Gardens have been at the heart of Jo Malone London’s charity work since the company’s beginning. Having already built two charity gardens in London and New York, this year sees the fragrance brand flourish with two new gardens opening in Liverpool and Edinburgh. To mark the occasion, Jo Malone has also brought out a limited edition Silk Blossom collection encompassing cologne and a home candle, launching this May in due time for the Chelsea Flower Shower. The fruity and enticing scent, composed by perfumer Marie Salamagne, features a top note of white pepper and a moss base, while at the heart lies the irresistible silk blossom fragrance. Silk Blossom cologne, 100ml for £82, available from May; jomalone.co.uk

Cruise Control Givenchy has unveiled its new makeup collection, Croisière. Themed around summers spent languishing on a boat abroad, the collection features a range of sun-drenched products, including a bronzing powder and a talc-free powder, which is used to deliver a sheer natural tan and is available in four shades. The range also includes a subtle gloss which has been infused with shea butter and hyaluronic acid spheres to help keep lips hydrated while out at sea, as well as a turquoise waterproof mascara, a matte lipstick and a creamy matte formula which can be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner. Get on board. givenchy.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

State of Mind Annabel Harrison attempts to find peace of mind when she visits Isabella Trimble, a Chelsea-based hypnotherapist

Chances are you’ll be in one of two camps about the idea of hypnotherapy; if in the first, you might dismiss it as a practice rather too hippie for your liking, and if in the second, you’d be fascinated and prepared to embrace it, as I am. So off I went, in the name of research, to Isabella Trimble’s office just off the King’s Road in Chelsea. A clinical and holistic hypnotherapist living and working in the Royal Borough, Isabella has practised hypnotherapy for eight years. So, I ask, who does hypnotherapy work for and for what? A lot of people, and a lot of things, it seems. Health and stress related issues can be tackled and Isabella explains that because she “works in a holistic way that

If there are any ‘blocks’ in your life, hypnotherapy may work when traditional avenues haven’t addresses all levels of the person’s makeup, the mind/ body connection is a very large part of this.” In the past clients have “conquered and recovered” from a wide range of life-affecting behaviour and issues, such as eating and anxiety disorders, insomnia and phobias, as well as smoking cessation. It seems that almost anything can be tackled; a friend of mine is seeking hypnotherapy help to prepare for the experience of giving birth for the first time. The work with Isabella can take anywhere from one session to a series of sessions, depending on how long the presenting issue has been in place, its degree of impact and other relevant factors. Isabella sees the work of a hypnotherapist as “akin to midwifery”, in that it is “a guiding process that frequently gives ‘birth’ to revelation and releases inner obstacles, making way for healing, discovery and constructive ways of thinking, feeling and behaving”

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and this is an example of a moment when I wonder whether this type of approach really is for me. However, I do seem to manage to move past this enough for Isabella to delve with me into my subconscious and my two-hour ‘past-life regression’ session is very intriguing. I use quote marks because Isabella stresses that “one cannot absolutely say that what someone is going to witness or experience was a past life, even if all the particulars check out”. Prior to the session I had filled in a thought-provoking, probing and sometimes puzzling set of questions, the answers to which Isabella then used to tailor my session appropriately. My advice regarding filling these in is not to overthink it; just put down whatever comes to mind. I am surprised to find myself in floods of tears at several points during the session and also by some of the vivid memories I access, having not thought of them for decades; a childhood nightmare resurfaces, for example. Isabella’s follow-up email describes my experience as a “hypnotic exploration into subconscious mind and spiritual consciousness to gain deeper understanding and awareness in an open non-issue specific way” and this seems fair enough. If you’re open minded about trying something different and you have anything negative in your life (let’s face it – we all do to a point), a spell of hypnotherapy may work when more traditional avenues (doctors, diet, exercise, medication) haven’t. Price on application. The address in Chelsea is provided upon booking; 07933 240664; hypnotherapybook.com

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15/3/11 13:35:46

A True IMAGINARIUM Jennifer Mason explores the magical world of Rolls-Royce as it announces the launch of its latest creation, the Ghost Series II

nvesting in a Rolls-Royce is an invitation to let your imagination run wild. In fact, with all the astonishing creations that come out of the innovative R-R factory in Goodwood, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this is what the designers are doing on a regular basis. Tales of Rolls’ bespoke services (paint mixed to match any colour sample you provide, hand-cut embellishments on the interior wooden panels, family crests stitched into the headrests – to name but a few) are legendary, whispered about in hushed tones by motoring enthusiasts, but the intimate details have remained a secret to almost all but the privileged few for whom purchasing one of these beautiful cars is a real possibility. To describe any Rolls-Royce as merely a ‘car’ seems inadequate. I think perhaps the Sherman Brothers’ description of the miraculous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang would be more appropriate in this situation; these truly are fantasmagorical machines, and the Ghost Series II,

“The Ghost Series II’s design harmony lends the car a more dynamic, purposeful stance” the latest edition to the R-R family, is no exception. Named in honour of the Silver Ghost (which was produced by R-R in 1906) the modern Ghost, first developed in 2009, has always had one foot placed firmly in the luxury and elegance of the past, and the other hovering futuristically over some truly mesmerising modern developments. Giles Taylor, Director of Design for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, told me: “As a design statement, the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II continues to transcend time. I am very pleased with the overall sense All images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

MOTORING

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of design harmony… that lends the car a more dynamic, purposeful stance and hints at the cutting-edge technology inside.” And what technology. The most noticeable change to the GSII’s exterior concerns the re-sculpted LED headlights – a vibrant update that gives the car an alert air, as though it’s constantly standing to attention, ready to give you the drive of your life. This sense of readiness is clear on the inside too; the interior certainly delivers. On-board WiFi keeps driver and passengers connected from the comfort of R-R’s plush, bespoke leather seats, whilst Satellite Aided Transmission (which made its debut in the Wraith last year) ensures the car automatically adapts to its surroundings. Optional extras such as Bespoke Audio (described by R-R as “the most exhaustively engineered and finest audio system in automotive history”) and Rolls’ famously smooth, quiet ride offer GSII owners one of the most comprehensive (and comfortable) driving experiences available. Last year the brand caused a sensation with the launch of its new coupé, the Wraith. Epitomising the more playful and mysterious side of Rolls-Royce, the Wraith was one of the most eagerly-anticipated cars of the decade, with the waiting list meaning that even now getting your hands on one of these beauties is not as simple as walking into the showroom, whipping out your Black Amex and walking out with the keys. I had the knee-trembling pleasure of driving

a Wraith when I visited the home of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and I can say for certain that it lived up to every ounce of expectation. Despite the immense power of the potent 6.6 litre, twin turbo-charged V12 engine under the bonnet, the ride was incredibly smooth and quiet. For me, this proved without question the pinnacle of Rolls’ success; the ability to harness that kind of raw power and from it produce something calm and sophisticated with an undercurrent of hidden strength – akin to taming the proverbial bull in an extremely expensive china shop. But Rolls-Royce is about so much more than engineering new models. Part of delivering the most luxurious vehicular experience out there is consistently upping the stakes. The current incarnation of the Phantom has been around since 2003 but R-R goes to great lengths to ensure it remains a talking point for potential customers the world over. Last year, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Phantom and showcase the far-reaching capabilities of the R-R bespoke services, the team at Goodwood decided to create the most

To celebrate the Phantom’s 10th anniversary, the team created the one-of-a-kind Celestial

MOTORING

exclusive, expensive and luxurious automobile in history. Christened the Celestial, it was a one-of-a-kind Phantom designed around the theme of the night sky over the Rolls’ factory on the night of 1 January 2003 – the day the first Phantom rolled off the production line. Fine glass particles in the paint gave a depth and subtle twinkle to the midnight blue finish; LED lights in the headlining were meticulously configured to represent the star-filled sky exactly as it was that night; and stunning representations of the constellations have been created from white gold and diamonds on the ceramic interior plates. This breathtaking creation epitomised Rolls’ “desire for perfection” and had already been bought by an anonymous customer in the Far East by the time the car was unveiled at the Dubai Motor Show. Such is the lure of the Rolls-Royce brand; the knowledge that each car (regardless of the model) is entirely unique – tailored to the individual needs and desires of its purchaser. Stepping onto the factory floor I feel like a kid in a sweetshop (or would do, had I the funds to back up my sudden and visceral need to call one of these stunning cars my own). Due to the size of the factory and the sheer extent of the personalisation options for each car, Rolls-Royce only produce three models – the Phantom (including the drop-head coupé and extended wheelbase editions), the Ghost Series II and the Wraith; each with its own distinct personality. That’s not to say the brand is in any way limited by this decision; rather, I leave with the feeling that producing only three models of car helps to keep the wild imaginations of the Rolls-Royce designers in check – that is, until their next creation is unleashed upon the world. rolls-roycemotorcars.com

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high life

On the Marc The doors of Marcus, formerly Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, have been reopened. The reason for the restaurant’s brief closure was a £1.4 million revamp, in order to evolve with the changing face of fine-dining and to create a more casual feel. A David Collins protégé (Collins designed the original decor) by the name of Robert Angell is behind the brand new bespoke interior but traditionalists need not despair; white tablecloths are still firmly in place and the menu has been updated rather than completely discarded. Comfy leather banquettes accompany many of the spacious tables and contemporary art handpicked by Wareing and Angell helps to reflect this new era. Marcus, The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge 020 7235 1200; reservations@marcuswareing.com

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Travel

THE WORLD By nicole blair

The Secret Gardens Some of the most beautiful private Venetian gardens have been nursed back to life by the Bauer Hotel group and are now available for hotel guest tours. Attached to the Palladio Hotel & SPA is one of Venice’s largest gardens; taking up three acres, the Bauer’s gardens reflect the original heritage of historic Venice with classic Italian design and feature traditional English flowers, including the city’s oldest magnolia tree. The gardens are also now producing fruit and vegetables which can be found within dishes served at the Ulivo restaurant of the Palladio Hotel and De Pisis restaurant of the Hotel Bauer. A picnic hamper can also be arranged by the hotel for nibbles during your secret garden tour. A three hour garden tour starts from €180 bauerhotels.com

Island Perch

VIP Treatment

Mini Break The Residence Tunis, a luxurious North African hotel, has partnered up with ESPA to provide holidaymakers with an extensive spa menu. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful Roman ruins and historic Arab-Andalusian architecture, the hotel is an ideal place to seek authentic, indigenous treatments. As well as having 30 treatment rooms and Romaninspired thermal baths, spa facilities include an Oriental hammam, sauna, seawater swimming pool, a fitness room with yoga, pilates and aqua aerobics classes offered daily. Just under a three hour flight away, this makes for the perfect weekend away. theresidence.com/tunis

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You may not be Cate Blanchett or Bradley Cooper but everyone’s a star at the Art Deco Hôtel Majestic Barriére. Built in 1923 on La Croisette, it is widely considered the place to be during Cannes Film Festival, taking place this year between 14 and 25 May. The hotel recently underwent a multi-million pound facelift and brand new restaurant, La Petite Maison de Nicole, is now open for business. However, if it’s celeb-spotting you’re after, there’s no better place than the Majestic’s Le Fouquet’s Brasserie at lunchtime. Before getting ready for your red carpet moment, you must pay a visit to the spa which, along with having direct views of the Palais des Festivals, also has your own personal Spa Coach on hand to create a personalised state-of-the-art beauty programme. MK Rooms and suites range from €210 to €39,000 lucienbarriere.com

Suspended high above the dramatic coastline sits one of Ibiza’s most iconic hotels, Hacienda Na Xamena. Originally opened in 1971, this spring sees it reopen with a fresh new look, including rooms featuring white-washed walls and perfectly positioned Jacuzzi tubs for soaking up panoramic views. However, previous guests at the hotel will be pleased to learn that Hacienda Na Xamena continues to recall the authentic and unspoilt version of Ibiza before the invasion of party-going tourists. The hotel recently joined the ranks of other luxury establishments, coming under management of Pablo Carrington’s Marugal Distinctive Hotel Management portfolio and new for 2014 is a private fleet of boats exclusively for guests, plus a range of yoga classes to suit all levels. hotelhacienda-ibiza.com

PROMOTION

Leave London

Behind

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of London. But a change of scenery can be equally energising. So why not let Celebrity Cruises take you far, far away from the ordinary, on a seven-night ‘Italian Renaissance’ cruise to seven refreshingly different destinations? While the multi-award-winning cruise line can transport you to a choice of more than 270 destinations across seven continents, this short seven-night escape will give you a flavour for its famed ‘Modern LuxurySM’; a combination of first-class accommodation, live entertainment, exceptional cuisine and warm, intuitive service. You set sail from Barcelona for the glamour of Cannes, where your first exclusive shore excursion of the week awaits. With a local expert as your guide, you’ll explore the colourful arched streets and gleaming marble corridors of Old Monaco before arriving at the iconic Monte Carlo Casino. Back on board, you’ve plenty of time to rejuvenate mind, body and soul at the world-famous Canyon Ranch SpaClub®. When it’s time to retire for the night – after an evening of fine dining followed by the quirky, sultry entertainment genius of Sin City Comedy™ – there’s nowhere more blissful to unwind than your suite, where a personal butler will indulge your every whim. You’re bound for the charm of Genoa’s pastelcoloured buildings, nestled in the dramatic cliff sides; followed by Rome, where your shore excursion – a visit to a local farmhouse for an Italian feast – turns into an epicurean adventure. You’ll visit

Kotor in Montenegro on the sixth day, Zadar on the seventh and finally Venice on day eight – before returning to London, fully refreshed and fabulously revitalised. Seven-night Italian Renaissance cruise. Sky Suite from £3,439 per person. Find out more at celebritycruises.co.uk/kensington, call 0844 493 2031 or contact your travel agent.

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A Passage to

India Annabel Harrison goes off the beaten track in Maharashtra, travelling out of bustling, dusty Mumbai into the fresh air of the Western Ghats and the expansively lush Shillim Estate

TRAVEL

fter just three seconds, I decide that no villa is truly complete without its own pool. I have stayed in some rather decadent rooms in recent years – boasting unnecessary luxuries such as outdoor Jacuzzis, fireplaces and chromotherapy lighting – but none can lay claim to a private pool. It’s a generous size too, twinned with bed-soft sun-loungers and an umbrella to shade my fair skin from the intense Indian sun. Our cheery butler Kiran beams as he shows us around our not-sohumble abode (repeating several times that if we need anything at all to “Just call 0!”) and our smiles stretch as wide as his as we take in the length and breadth of our Spa Pool Villa. It’s worthy of retaining its capital letters here because of its wow factor; it’s the kind of place that would serve as perfectly as a chic, pared-down party pad in Ibiza as it would, and does, a romantic, rural retreat in India. We enter into our huge living room, flooded with light thanks to two floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls which are given a pretty, whimsical touch by expanses of sheer, gauzy drapes that float around in the breeze. Both the palette and materials used are neutral and entirely sympathetic to the natural surroundings; it’s rustic luxury at its best. The bedroom takes my breath away – with its

The retreat, amid rice fields, bamboo plantations and virgin forest, is the most unusual place exquisite four poster bed dressed in pristine white linen – and then the bathroom does the same; space is no issue and there is a bath the size of a Jacuzzi perfectly placed so that its glass walls allow a view that seems to stretch for miles. And there’s also a massage bed and private dining area... I could go on but, essentially, we decide that we could happily stay put for three days straight. However, there is a great deal to explore and out we go, having arrived so weary we didn’t take much in, after enduring what can only be described as an initiation to Indian roads en route to Shillim. It’s quite a journey from Mumbai but worth the three hours it takes to do 60 miles (even the very bumpy ones near the end; an air-conditioned, juice and biscuit-stocked car goes some way towards alleviating such conditions). Happily, for those accustomed to travelling in rather more comfort, guests can now hop in a seaplane and reach Shillim in just 30 minutes. The retreat is the most unusual place we’ve ever stayed at. Our car turns up at a chic, neutral space, open air but covered, with welcoming sofas and an incredible view of rice fields, bamboo plantations and virgin forest,

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as well as working villages and agricultural land. However this Gate House, with a smiling platoon of staff offering ginger iced tea and mini muesli bites, is just the welcome portal; the ‘hotel’ is actually a sprawling complex of individual villas and its accompanying restaurants and facilities. Villa options include Valley View, Forest and Spa, as well as Presidential Suites, but I’d opt for one of the pool villas every time. What could be more indulgent than languishing in one’s personal pool, safe in the knowledge that no-one will encroach upon your aquatic space? Well, it turns out that the delightful team at the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa (to give it its full, fivestar title) can suggest plenty of ways to indulge and my fiancé and I are truly spoilt in its efforts to ensure we do. And yes, it is part of the Hilton portfolio, although it’s unlike any Hilton you’ll have stayed in before. For starters, it’s not the slightest bit space-starved, as city and beach hotels can be; it luxuriates in taking up one tenth of the 3,500 acres on the pristine, privately-owned Shillim Estate. Discussions started 15 years ago, genial German general manager Andreas, who lives here with his wife and son, tells me; the vision was to create a world-class sanctuary to preserve this small but increasingly vulnerable area of the Western Ghats. Building work started in 2008 and Shillim opened last year; we visit in October, just before it becomes fully operational. What’s immediately clear is that the site is huge. With 200 plus staff working here, 99 villas and two Zones (Lifestyle & Spa) all interspersed with wild vegetation and interconnected by winding, narrow roads, guests (and staff) travel around by buggy. This means Kiran is our new best friend and we have to ensure that we remember to call ahead to be picked up in good time for supper,

for example, or breakfast, or any culinary experience in between. There are many of these and we meander happily from meal to meal. Westerners who visit India seem to fall into two camps; those who gorge on all the delights of local cuisine and return home tanned and glowing with health, and those who suffer from variations of the notorious ‘Delhi belly’ and for whom every meal becomes a challenge. My fiancé Zain has fallen into the first camp and I firmly into the second, prior to arriving at Shillim; my head says ‘take it easy’ but Shillim’s offerings prove overwhelmingly tempting and thus I indulge. Our first meal at the Chef’s Table at the multicuisine Terrazzo Restaurant is spectacular. Atmospheric lighting (candles and blazing braziers) and delicious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc are forgotten as soon as we debate whether the Chingri Malai prawn curry and Karawari Macchi (melt in the mouth fish with pineapple, tomato and lemon relish) is better. Shillim has its own organic vegetable allotment and our Terrazzo lunch the next day shows its goods off; spicy chicken salad and fish cakes are accompanied by a simple, fresh green salad (a delight after a lack of trustworthy salad options elsewhere in India.) If you’re keen on organic food, try the spa’s Green Table restaurant and its Oriental offering. I recommend that one day you forego lunch in order to visit the Tea House, though. It’s a beautifully relaxed space, well ventilated with louvered shutters and kitted out in dark wood and low Japanese-style seating with bright cushions. ‘Hi-Tea’ for couples is only 1500 rupees (£15) and this is served immaculately. And it’s India, so of course they take their tea very seriously. Zain tries Himalayan First Flush, Lemongrass and Lavender and I opt for Sri Lankan natural Ceylon and Ginger, dutifully testing all five types of local honey. The reason I suggest skipping lunch is because of the extensive selection of appetising little treats – apple scone, cheesecake, brownie, fruit kebab; eating this after a full lunch is challenging and we leave, vowing to do something other than eat with the next

Guests travel between villa and the Lifestyle & Spa Zones by buggy on narrow, winding roads

TRAVEL

morning; Shillim’s solution does involve a trek (but we’re happy about the fact it ends with breakfast). Provided you’re in possession of a good pair of lungs and knees not past their sell-by date, this is an absolute must-do; I can guarantee you’ll never have experienced a meal quite like this. The correct kit is a light top (no sleeves), shorts and long socks (or very lightweight trousers) plus sturdy shoes; trainers are fine. Don’t be fooled by the leisurely start to the 40-minute uphill trek, which makes it feel more like a jungle walk. Soon you’ll be perspiring profusely as you scramble up, and up, and up, a rocky pathway. Keep your eyes peeled, if you feel confident enough in your sureness of step; you won’t see anything as exciting (or terrifying) as a tiger but you might spot a crab, a large, colourful spider and various bugs that wouldn’t look out of place in an Attenborough documentary. However, the exertion does end and as you reach the peak, the greenery falls away and the panorama expands as far as the eye can see. Cushions have been laid out by smiling staff, as has a breakfast picnic in which we, once again, indulge to our heart (and stomachs’) content; there’s piping hot tea and coffee, fresh juice, warm croissants, banana bread, pastries and a vividly bright fruit selection. It is heavenly, and so peaceful, to dine like royalty, gazing over the Ghats and feeling the warmth of the morning sun on our skin. This experience bolsters our enthusiasm for activities and Shillim’s extensive programme is, I’m told, going to increase further. Kids can enjoy complimentary movie time or meditation (no prizes for guessing which will prove more popular) and also on offer are Get Close To Nature walks, cycling tours of the estate and Thai cooking or cocktail making lessons. We head spa-ward to explore the 70-acre Spa Zone, with its 17 treatment rooms (its size makes it one of the most extensive in Asia) and for our Ayurvedic consultation with the lively Dr Kumar. The Couples Shillim Signature Oil Massage is so wonderfully relaxing that I fall asleep; however, we’re not taken to any kind of relaxation room afterwards (to which I’m accustomed) but straight back to our villa, which seems a rather abrupt end to such a blissful treatment. Shillim’s resident Masters offer 150 treatments in total, which range from the eclectic to the exotic; Chakra Cleansing, Shamanism, Fire Healing, Dance Therapy, Ozone Therapy and Reiki are just some of these but the water-based Watsu is the one I try, and the less said about this, the better. It’s a Marmite therapy and while I know others find it a wonderful experience I do not enjoy the hot pool or being submerged underwater. We also attempt yoga and meditation with much greater success. Kiran makes us smile when he chirps helpfully that “the man in the white dress is your yoga

teacher!” The yoga pavilion is basic – it’s essentially a covered cement platform on stilts – but basic works. There are no distractions and we spend a lovely hour in the fresh air stretching and breathing. The meditation cave is similarly simple and fit for purpose; this time it’s Zain who falls asleep as we breathe in sync with our teacher. As we relax at the Spa Pool to the sounds of a flautist, we reflect. Shillim is indeed an unusual offering but one that will suit those looking for something different; if you want to escape from the real world, immersing yourself in spirit-enhancing practices, energising activities and the freshest, most organic food, this is the place for you. Just don’t forget your camera to capture the views when you go to lunch or you’ll need to call Kiran and whizz back in your buggy to get it. Rates for a King Valley view villa start from £240 per villa per night, including breakfast Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa Pune 412108, Maharashtra, India +91 2114 712 468; shillimretreatandspa.hilton.com

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Port in a

Storm

Olivia Sharpe discovers the perfect weekend retreat when she visits the Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca

Opened in 2012, Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca was the international hotel group’s first European resort and, like the rest of its portfolio, promises the ultimate luxury experience. With 23 hotels and resorts in 11 different locations around the world, the more suspicious among us might suppose that the Jumeirah Group was on a quest for world domination. And if any hotel could help them in this uphill fight, it would be Port Soller. High up upon a cliff overlooking the dizzying heights of the Mediterranean and Serra de Tramuntana mountains on Mallorca’s northwest coast is where the five-star resort is situated. The location – 45 minutes away from Palma airport (roughly a £60 cab ride each way) – does not lend itself to exploring the largest of the Balearic islands but instead offers a secluded retreat away from the stresses of everyday life; a port in a storm, if you will. Fortunately, everything you could ever possibly need for a relaxing holiday away lies within this vast and impressive new structure. Covering almost 18,000 square metres of land, the formidable site bears closer resemblance to a fortress than a hotel and comprises 120 rooms, two restaurants, four bars with lounges, a spa and two swimming pools. My guest and I were greeted on arrival by two friendly-looking members of staff and led into the grand reception area. Having always favoured small and quaint establishments over soulless monstrosities, initially I was sceptical but this soon changed as I took in the interior.

Featuring marble floors, an iron-wrought chandelier and a water feature with exposed brickwork and sconces, it looks like a modern day castle. However, it has to be said that what the hotel makes up for in space and grandeur it also slightly lacks in character and personality. The journey from the reception to our room was more like an expedition to the North Pole, involving numerous steps, passages and multiple lifts in order to reach our destination (guests are shown a map to help them navigate their way but being completely without a sense of direction, I found myself getting lost every time I ventured from my room). Walking through the grounds, you get a sense of how the hotel has been arranged more like a series of apartment blocks than a single building, resulting in a lack of unity and togetherness. Although it was in some ways welcome not to be living in the pockets of our fellow guests, after a while the lack of contact became slightly disconcerting. On the other hand, once we eventually reached our sea-view suite, it was well worth the journey. There is a choice of sea, mountain or sea and mountain rooms and, as to be expected, the sea-view rooms may be the most expensive but are also worth

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every penny. The vertigo-inducing view from our private balcony conveys how the hotel is quite literally dangling upon a cliff’s edge. The room itself, one of the Junior Suites, has a cabin-like feel, with wood-panelled wardrobes, telescopic light stands and a natural colour palette of reds, yellows and browns. Extra additions which you’d never even have thought of but which distinguishes the room as belonging to a luxury hotel include a Nespresso machine and a welcome wicker basket filled with complimentary treats. The inviting bed is as comfortable as it looks and has only the best goose down and goose feather pillows and duvets. However, the real star feature is the bathroom. Separated off by sliding wooden doors, it almost equals the size of the bedroom in terms of length and has a separate bath and shower next to a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the breath-taking view, making you feel as though you are washing in the great outdoors. After the epic journey from the room to the bar, my guest and I were in need of sustenance and ordered

ourselves two replenishing cocktails. The Sunset Lounge Bar is located on top of the main floor and has been aptly named because of its 360 degree views of the Tramuntana mountain range, making it the ideal place to watch the sun go down. The interior with a neon lit-up bar and Moroccan-style tables is bordering on pretentious and so, I’m afraid to say, was the attitude of its staff who were, on the whole, unfriendly. Fortunately, dinner was a very enjoyable experience. The hotel has two restaurants: Cap Roig, the more formal dining option, and Es Fanals, the more casual poolside lunchtime bistro which also offers a dinner menu. While the food at Cap Roig cannot be faulted (the restaurant’s Balearic cuisine has made it a must-visit restaurant of the region), I found myself favouring the simpler affair on offer at Es Fanals. The menu of authentic Spanish tapas includes must-have dishes such as potato and ham croquettes, fresh tuna ceviche (locally-sourced), perfectly cooked mini burgers and well-seasoned bravas potatoes served piping hot. Alternatively, you can opt

It is worth paying a visit to the quaint town of Soller if you get bored of lounging by the pool

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for paella which is superb. There were a couple of disappointments, such as the chicken satay served with peanut sauce which would have been excellent if the meat hadn’t been underdone and the fried fish with aioli which was a tad unexciting. Dessert, too, was let down by the fact that we were recommended to try the region’s speciality, a Mallorcan almond cake by our enthusiastic waiter but found it to be somewhat of an anti-climax. Rather than coming with layers of cream, the cake was instead served with an unappetising side of foam and the sponge was conspicuous by its absence. Another point worth noting is that, while I welcomed the relaxed and casual ambience, this restaurant is the preferred choice for families with children so if you’d rather avoid this, I’d recommend Cap Roig. The restaurant has a good wine list and I’d suggest trying one of the Mallorcan wines which perfectly complement the food. While I may be able to nitpick at other aspects of the hotel, I could not possibly criticise breakfast at Jumeirah Port Soller. Served in the Cap Roig restaurant or on the adjoining open terrace, you will find yourself spoilt for choice by the extensive menu which caters to its international clientele, with a buffet of fruits, fresh pastries and cereals alongside the hot menu option. The same goes for the hotel’s pool and spa facilities. There are two outdoor pools on site, which in my opinion is a necessity for a five-star resort, leaving one of the pools free for adults to enjoy some quality downtime away from children or, if you’re anything like me, partake in some essential holiday people-watching. A short stroll from the pool in its own separate building is the Talise spa where I had booked myself in for the olive-based scrub. The spa’s setting could not be more conducive to relaxation, immersed in Mallorca’s stunning and tranquil natural surroundings. The spa itself has all

the essential facilities including ten treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and Hydropool. The treatment begins with an exfoliating scrub whereby olive stones and olive oil are gently massaged into each section of the body before being washed off in the shower. My therapist then completed the treatment with a soothing olive body wrap and hydrating body massage. My skin was left feeling smoother than silk and visibly firmer. During your stay, it is worth paying a visit to the town of Soller, a ten minute walk down a steep hill away from the hotel. Here you will find an assortment of quaint restaurants and boutique shops which will help you pass the time if you get bored of lounging by the pool. There’s also a market on Saturdays selling fine artisanal produce which is well worth a visit. In between the hotel and the town is Restaurant Nautilus which is not only very reasonably-priced but also serves up excellent Mediterranean classics next to romantic views of the sea. If like myself, you are a particularly restless person (no doubt a by-product of growing up in London), then a three-night stay at the Jumeirah Port Soller is an ample amount of time to spend there. However, if serious rest, relaxation and luxury pampering is what you’re after, then a few extra days will certainly do you no harm. Rates from €400 in April and from €550 in May (per room per night inclusive of breakfast for two and VAT); jumeirah.com

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Where the

Wild

Things Are

Annabel Harrison swaps London town for rural Suffolk and thousands of acres of woodland wilderness, complete with unpolluted air, star-speckled skies and hearty servings of wholesomeness

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SMOKE PLUMES INTO the air, white against the blue sky and acrid in the crisp fresh air. Water sloshes around the tyres, rising perilously close to pedals and wellies, while mud splashes the sides of the buggy. However, it’s not mine, safe on (relatively) dry land, but the one behind me, which is enduring an unfortunate run-in with the soggy, boggy ground, a consequence of the biblical rains that battered the UK earlier this year. What has been a lovely, albeit chilly, drive across rolling fields and woodlands (in the 4,500-acres of private country estate that comprise Wilderness Reserve) has turned into a rather comical sketch as buggy after buggy attempts to negotiate a particularly squelchy, uneven stretch of land. Gallantly, Jon and Clive leap out of our buggy and wade through water up to their knees (thank goodness for galoshes and suitable countryside attire) to push the stranded vehicle out of trouble. However, despite this hairy half an hour, during which every passenger in the six-strong buggy contingent piles into two to escape the water, there is a happy ending. We’re met at a bonfire by the welcome sight and smell of steaming coffee, sausage rolls, freshly-baked brownies and shots of sloe gin to warm us up. All’s well that ends well. Even more warming, though, is kicking off our wellies and curling up with tea in our home for the weekend. Wilderness Reserve has a collection of serviced holiday cottages and manor houses, and we’re staying in the Clockhouse and the Barn, both part of the Rural Collection and which have been interconnected for our group. If there’s a bigger group (24 people as opposed to our ten), opt for five-star Sibton Park in the Manor Collection and if you and your partner can live ‘without electricity’, stay in the Reserve’s first Lost Collection property, Hex Cottage. For now, I’m perfectly happy in the (WiFi-enabled) cosiness of the Clockhouse.

It was only 24 hours ago that we pulled out of Liverpool Street but it feels like much longer; deep breaths have been drawn and city stresses shrugged off. The estate is deep in the Yox Valley, close to the east coast and nestled between the pretty Suffolk villages of Peasenhall, Walpole and Yoxford, which translates as local pubs aplenty (we visit The Westleston Crown which is great and rumoured to have been frequented by a certain royal couple recently). If you drive from London, it takes less than two and a half hours but if you’re leaving during rush hour, train is best; the journey is less than two hours to Darsham, which is one mile from the Reserve. It’s surely because of the incredible air quality in this patch of England that we find ourselves ravenous by the time tea-time arrives (despite lunch having been demolished quite recently). We crowd into the big kitchen of the grandly Georgian, Grade II listed Sibton Park, which dates from 1827, we’re told over oven-warm homemade scones and Victoria sponge cake. I love the

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colossal bullock illustration by Jason Gaythorne-Hardy. A fascinating talk by knowledgeable estate architect Argus Hardy follows, in Sibton’s subterranean and thoroughly modern cinema room, in which the bones of the estate’s century-spanning story are fleshed out. The most recent chapter was started in 1994 by Foxtons’ founder Jon Hunt, who bought Heveningham Hall and its grounds. Now, the 2,000-acre core of the estate – the

An unexecuted master plan for the estate by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was found newly named Wilderness Reserve, pieced together as one contiguous piece of land after dozens of property deals over the past 19 years – is for the first time open to the public with houses to rent. This restoration came about thanks to what must have felt like the most extraordinary and fortuitous turn of events; Hunt came across an unexecuted master plan for Heveningham shortly after purchasing it and this nine foot long document, depicting every tree, its species and placement across 600 acres, had been designed by none other than famed English landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Incredibly, Hunt and his team have faithfully realised 98 per cent of Brown’s original idea; hundreds

of acres of arable land have been returned to parkland, more than 800,000 trees have been planted and countless “inappropriate structures” have been “removed” from the land. Conservation efforts mean the Estate is home to more than 100 different bird species; there are significant breeding populations of raptors, including a dozen pairs of barn owls and eight pairs of buzzards, as well as many other at risk species. There are also thriving mammal, amphibian, moth and butterfly populations developing through the planting

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of fields, trees and hedgerows and the introduction of ponds, lakes and meadows. Hunt’s own definition of ‘wilderness’ centres around the pleasure grounds, the Arcadian landscape of pasture, woods and serpentine lakes imagined by Capability Brown. Landscape architect Kim Wilkie explains that the rest of the estate is being developed along the same Arcadian principles: lakes, parkland and woods with different historic manor houses (Hunt has purchased five) functioning as focal points to the landscape’s design. I am particularly enchanted by the Walled Garden; created in 1848, it’s derelict but because all the labels for plants are intact, scrawled on the walls between 1900 and 1953, it can be recreated. We head out to explore; some of the group undertakes a clay-pigeon shooting lesson and others decline in favour of rising early the next day for a Morning Chorus birdsong tour. Food is, as always, next on the agenda and, although we’d dined in comfort at the Clockhouse the previous evening, we wander over to Sibton for champagne and canapés in the drawing room. The subsequent supper is simply delicious – fresh, hearty and as wholesome as one could hope for in such rural surroundings – and has been created for us by the talented in-house chef, Mathew Appleton. Full of high spirits and merry chatter, we amble back to the Clockhouse for bed and are stunned into almost silence by the truth of Argus’ earlier words about the incredible visibility here; an inky-black canopy arcs over us, studded with countless twinkling stars.

MORE INFORMATION Fully serviced Sibton Park (sleeps 24) from £4,000 Hex Cottage (sleeps two) from £200 The Gate Lodge (sleeps four) from £200 The Barn (sleeps six) from £450 The Clockhouse (sleeps eight) from £600 (Prices per property per night) Wilderness Reserve, Sibton Park, Sibton Suffolk, IP17 2LZ wildernessreserve.com

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DRINKING

BY nicole blair

The Last Night at Chelsea The world’s most prestigious flower show promises to close in style this year. Fortnum & Mason Events will be providing the delicious canapés and chef’s tables for The Last Night at Chelsea, marking the end of the show in the most fabulous of fashions. The night begins with the chance to explore the show at your leisure and ends in an elegant reception in the catered Fortnum & Mason Chelsea Oasis. Visitors to the Last Night at Chelsea will also enjoy an open bar with Laurent-Perrier Champagne, and excellent service, while members of the Royal Opera House Chorus serenade the event. The party will take place at the Royal Hospital on 23 May, with tickets at £195. The wonderfully calm Fortnum & Mason Chelsea Oasis provides a real break from the hustle and bustle of the show, as well as much-needed sustenance. Consider booking space at the Oasis all week for great food and a relaxing respite. Visit the Fortnum & Mason website for details on all offerings throughout the week of the show, and for your tickets to The Last Night at Chelsea. But hurry, before they sell out! For more information or to book tickets call 0845 602 5699 or email flowershow@fortnumandmason.co.uk fortnumandmason.com

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DRINKING Uni-Fied

The Japanese-Peruvian sensation that is Nikkei cuisine has proved a mouth-watering hit among London diners over the past few years, as proven by the number of Nikkei restaurants to have sprung up. The latest restaurant specialising in this particular cuisine has unsurprisingly opened up in one of the city’s most fashionable locations; Ebury Street in Belgravia. In terms of style and decor, South Kensington designer Andrew Martin was called upon to create an upmarket, contemporary feel and this he has most certainly done, incorporating a marble top bar, trendy white stools, lowhanging red lights and an open-plan kitchen so diners can sit and watch their meals being prepared for them by the expert chefs. Downstairs has a slightly cosier feel, made up of intimate little corners with banquette seating for a more private dining experience. The menu has been created by former Nobu chef Rolando Ongcoy and has been split into sushi & sashimi, ceviche, a selection of tempura and maki, grilled meats and fish, and caviar. To start, I’d highly recommend the salmon tartare tacos. The original, bitesize morsels are fresh and full of flavour and my only criticism would be that there weren’t nearly enough of them. Flying the flag for Peru are the ceviche and tiraditos sections of the menu. I would personally forgo the tiraditos in favour of the ceviche which is superb and then opt for a generous portion of sashimi. There were a couple of disappointments, such as the rock shrimp tempura which was somewhat lacking in crispness, and the Wagyu beef which was severely underdone. However, these were made up for by star dishes such as the black cod in miso which is served with Peruvian anticucho sauce, creating the perfect fusion of Eastern and Western flavours. Dishes, on the whole, are not on the plentiful side but our helpful and attentive waiter was spot on in recommending the correct number to ensure we left satisfyingly full. As to be expected, there is a page dedicated to the restaurant’s selection of saké but if, like myself, you’re not a fan then there’s also an excellent wine list to choose from. With its stylish decor and altogether good food, Uni is undoubtedly a welcome addition to Belgravia’s restaurant scene. Olivia Sharpe 18a Ebury Street, SW1W; restaurantuni.com

Talking Tables As part of a series of round-table discussions taking place at The Rib Room in Knightsbridge, 12 May sees celebrity photographer Richard Young, who this year celebrates 40 years in the industry, discussing his illustrious career and his iconic images which have been featured in publications throughout the world. Tickets are available for £45 per person To reserve a place for one of the Salon Series events call 020 7858 7250; theribroom.co.uk

Our Cup of Tea

A Fact of Life

What better way to enjoy a fresh spring day than by taking tea outdoors? In celebration of the Flower Show and in partnership with Laurent-Perrier, the Dorchester will be launching a Rooftop Afternoon Tea Series (£75 pp) with a week of specialist talks, as well as a floral-inspired tea in The Dorchester’s Promenade. Its outdoor terrace boasts gorgeous views of the London skyline and will feature a garden especially created by florist Phil Hammond. Enjoy talks given by the likes of Thomas Messel (nephew of renowned theatre designer Oliver Messel) and Mich Turner MBE, founder of the Little Venice Cake Company. Treats include apricot lavender tart and rhubarb and acacia honey financier with rose flower cream, complemented by Grand Siècle by Laurent-Perrier.

According to Cary Grant, “life should be gay and bright and bubbly, like champagne”. With a bottle of the new Belle Epoque Edition Premiére 2007 released by Perrier-Jouët, we think you will happily agree with him. This spring, a Cuvée has been launched in celebration of the upcoming season; delicate, pale pink, and floral, it is ideal for a garden party or accompanying a light seasonal meal. Belle Epoque is hallmarked by the finest Chardonnays and comes from two centuries of luxury winemaking expertise. This Edition Premiére is available now at Harvey Nichols Bar & Wine Shop.

dorchestercollection.com

perrier-jouët.com harveynichols.com

Dining at The Gore The immediate vicinity of the Royal Albert Hall is rather lacking in drinking and dining options – although South Ken isn’t too far a walk – but if you’re keen to eat very close by before taking in an opera or show at the famed venue, Bistro One Ninety at The Gore Hotel is a good option. Its decor is cosy and traditionally English – wooden floors, gilded frames, chandelier lighting and accents of deep red and bottle green – and the ambience improves as the restaurant fills up. A La Carte is available until 11.30pm but pre-show, the Market Menu is very reasonable; enjoy three courses for £26.95 and choose from dishes such as smoked duck terrine, pan fried sea bream and stuffed lamb breast (or risotto for the vegetarians). My duck breast dish with mushrooms, celeriac and fondant potato easily trumps my guest’s lobster thermidor, while we agree that salted cod and olive croquettes are the best starter. For good food at top-end gastropub prices, The Gore is a great choice in this neck of the woods. Annabel Harrison Bistro One Ninety at The Gore, 190 Queen’s Gate, SW7 5EX 020 7584 6601; gorehotel.com

The Perfect Match There are few things better in life than good wine and food. Created by Sylvia Kontek and Vittorio Monge, Bar Margaux was born of its founders’ passions for both. Being touted as a gastro wine bar with a focus on freshly sourced ingredients and carefully selected wines, the menu features European classics in a trendy, urban setting. The menu, created by head chef Xavier Castella Vilamajo, is inspired by French and Italian cuisine and stand out options include seared foie gras, house made pork terrine, porcini risotto and Barolo braised beef. The impressive wine list matches the menu, with an emphasis on Old World vintages. For those just after drinks and nibbles, a decadent cheese board is on offer, for what is wine without cheese? Bar Margaux, 152 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0BE barmargaux.co.uk

A Complex Bouquet Garden innovators from Wilson McWilliam Studio are, for the second year running, taking on the challenge of uniting garden design and wine tasting in the Cloudy Bay Sensory Garden, set to appear at the Chelsea Flower Show. Andrew Wilson and Gavin McWilliam’s team will be bringing the essence of the popular New Zealand wine brand to life, immersing visitors in a vinological sensory experience. The garden will focus on three signature Cloudy Bay wines – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – and will incorporate layered structures, textures, sounds, light and scents.

The Chelsea Insider Good food alone is not enough. In fact, it has been said that food contributes barely 50 per cent to the pleasure of eating in a restaurant (or indeed, the lack of it). We can all think of places which may not serve the best food in the world but which we go back to time and again because we enjoy them and they make us feel good. Conversely we may have the most gastronomically exquisite experience in a restaurant but never return because the lack of ambience, drab decor or complete absence of ‘buzz’ – even perhaps all three – leaves us distinctly underwhelmed. However, there is one haunt in London which delivers on all three in my book and that is Amaya. The sister restaurant to Chutney Mary and Veeraswamy, which has been going since 1926, Amaya serves highend, in fact Michelin-starred, Indian ‘street food’ cooked on a theatrical open charcoal grill, in a tandoor or Sigri style cover a coal flame. Its perfect ‘nouvelle Indian’ to share tapas style in extremely stylish surroundings and it’s always packed, always noisy and always fun. If I had to pick out a couple of dishes I’d go for the lollipop chicken and the blue swimmer crab kebab. Each dish is served as soon as it’s cooked so don’t expect everything to come at once. Whatever I’ve ordered on numerous visits has always been delicious. It’s not cheap but worth every penny. Richard Temple Amaya, Halkin Arcade Motcomb Street, SW1X 8JT 020 7823 1166; amaya.biz

wmstudio.co.uk

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Down To a

Tea

Rebecca Wallersteiner takes time for tea at Whittard’s new Portobello Road flagship store Forget G&Ts and experimental cocktails; the rather more wholesome pursuit of tea drinking is undergoing a revival. Ultra trendy restaurants like London’s Hix and Berkshire’s The Fat Duck offer extensive tea menus alongside their wine lists and it’s not just the older generation embracing a brew; twentysomethings seem just as keen, but happily there’s something for everyone. From jasmine to white peony, tea comes in countless varieties, a fact well known by specialist tea company Whittard. With 55 stores around the UK, including a new flagship on the Portobello Road, Whittard sells an astounding 270 different varieties of tea from some of the most renowned gardens around the world. To celebrate the Flower Show, Whittard will be presenting its aptly named and delicately scented Chelsea Garden Blend tea, made with white tea and rose buds. Entrepreneur Walter Whittard opened his first shop selling high quality teas on Fleet Street in 1886. His first special blend was Barrister’s Refresher, created to tempt the be-wigged worthies of the Inns of Court into his newly opened shop. In the depth of the Depression in the 1930s, the inventive Whittard launched his Opportunity Blend, enticing customers with the promise of hope. It proved so popular that an entire floor of the warehouse had to be allotted to the tea to cope with demand. Later

Whittard developed Russian Caravan and Whittard Original blends, both still popular today. After his shop was bombed during World War Two, Whittard moved his business to Chelsea, where it continues to flourish today. In Whittard stores, staff encourage customers to try rare and unusually blended teas, traditional black teas, and high quality coffee and hot chocolate. “We spend a lot of time blending and always pick natural flavours,” explains Whittard’s tea buyer Bethan Thomas. Of the 270 teas available, seven are Darjeeling and this blend has a

“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea” Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, 1880 fascinating history. Grown at the foot of the Himalayas, in North East India, in a landscape which inspired Rudyard Kipling’s stories, Darjeeling tea is vital for local economies. Picked in four distinct seasons throughout the year, it comes in three main types; white, black and green. With ten per cent less rain than usual this year tea growers have been waiting anxiously for the first harvest of tea-leaves which produces the best tea between February and April, dependent on the weather. For the

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finest ‘first flush’ tea, which is most prized by buyers and international tea cognoscenti, the bud and the first two leaves are picked by hand. Best savoured without milk its incomparable quality is the result of climate, altitude and the cool Himalayan breeze. Second flush, which also produces excellent tea, is picked between May and June; Summer flush between July and September; and the Autumnal flush around November. No doubt Darjeeling is amidst the delicious wafts that greet visitors when one enters the new Whittard flagship store, at 182 Portobello Road, within an enclave of speciality shops including an organic butcher and high quality cheese shop. Its vintage-influenced interior creates a timeless ambience. “Our 1st Flush Darjeeling teas come from two plantations; Margaret’s Hope and Okayti, which grow the choicest of teas, beloved by connoisseurs around the world,”’ says Thomas. Okayti fans have historically included Queen Elizabeth I, Khrushchev and Nehru. Established in 1888, the Okayti tea garden, managed by the Kumbhat family, produces the finest organic Darjeeling tea. Minerals in the soil and climatic conditions give the tea its distinctive flavour. Every stage of production is carefully controlled and only the finest leaves are selected. The romantic-sounding name Margaret’s Hope was given to the garden in 1927, by the owner Mr Cruikshank after his young daughter. Enchanted by the beauty of this garden, Margaret was deeply attached to the place. Before leaving for England, she promised to return. Tragically she died of a lethal tropical disease on board the ship, never to return. Thus, her dream remained unfulfilled and her father christened the garden in her memory. Margaret’s Hope is as romantic a place as its name suggests. Offering breath-taking views of the Himalayan peaks and an abundance of wild flowers, moss, lichens, orchids and two rippling rivers, it isn’t difficult to see why Margaret wanted to return. Health professionals and nutritionists the world over stress that tea, packed as it is with antioxidants and flavonoids, is good for our health so do drop into the flagship store to try the exotically named Jasmine Dragon Pearls, Darjeeling Happy Valley, White Wings or Silver Needle tea, which are as delicious as they sound. Ideally drunk in the afternoon the Chelsea Garden Blend evokes the gorgeous

fragrance of a classic English garden bursting with roses and is perfect for drinking outside on a warm spring day. Whittard pursues an ethical trading policy Whittard, 182 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2EB whittard.co.uk

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Stefano Gabbana, Domenico Dolce, Alexandra Shulman and Coco Brandolini

Rita Ora, Eva Cavalli and Naomi Campbell Jade Parfitt

Martin Roth and Jean-Christophe Babin

Mollie King Emilia Fox and Jack Fox

Lily Allen and Henry Holland

Poppy Delevingne, Peter Dundas, JeanChristophe Babin and Elisa Sednaoui

Trinny Woodall and Giambattista Valli

Evangeline Ling, Angela Scanlon and Bip Ling

Laura Carmichael

Eva Herzigova David Gandy and Valentino Garavani

Christopher Kane and Sarah Burton

Alexandra Shulman, Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino Garavani and Franca Sozzani Photography: Nick Harvey

Naomi Campbell and Elizabeth Hurley

london living

Pack Your Bags WHAT: Moynat Boutique opening WHEN: 12 March WHERE: Mount Street, Mayfair WHO: Jasmine Guinness, David Downton, Virginia Bates and Olivia Grant WHY: Parisian luxury leather goods brand Moynat has packed up its trunks and moved into Mayfair so to celebrate, directors Guillaume Davin and Ramesh Nair hosted an intimate gathering. Guests were greeted by two Jaguars on arrival, which channelled the brand’s pioneering spirit in automobile adventure and paid tribute to the brand’s new Limousine trunk which has been designed to fit exclusively into an F-type convertible. Moët champagne and canapés floated around the shop, as did the likes of Jasmine Guinness, Olivia Grant and David Downton who all checked out the new Art Deco-inspired Moynat digs, designed by Gwenael Nicolas of Curiosity.

Greta Bellamacina and Alistair Guy

Ella Catliff and Nik Thakkar

Ramesh Nair, Samantha Barks and Guillaume Davin

Claudia Donaldson and Jasmine Guinness Marissa Montgomery and Katie Readman

Sofia Barattieri, Noelle Reno and guest

Ciao Bella! WHAT: The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 opening night WHEN: 1 April WHERE: The Victoria and Albert Museum WHO: David Gandy, Livia Firth, Tom Ford and Naomi Campbell WHY: The crème de la crème of Italy’s fashion and social scene gathered at the V&A on a Tuesday night in April to celebrate the opening of one of the most highly-anticipated exhibitions of the year. Leading the fray at the opening night of The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014 (sponsored by Bulgari) were Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Vice Chairman Nicola Bulgari and CEO of Bulgari, Jean-Christophe Babin, who were joined by the most glamorous Italian patriots, including Livia Firth, David Gandy and designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Tom Ford and Giambattista Valli. However, it was not only Italy that was being represented on the night. Flying the flag for Great Britain, K&C cover girl Emilia Fox, along with Lily Allen and Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael, showed that we Brits can be just as glamorous when we put our minds to it.

It’s a Wrap WHAT: Dual launch party of the Hayley Menzies and Ottoline store WHEN: 19 March WHERE: No 5, Portobello Green Arcade, 281 Portobello Road WHY: Made in Chelsea stars Louise Thompson and Binky Felstead were among the many guests who attended the store launch party of Ottoline, the new scarf brand founded by Hayley Menzies. Both women sported Ottoline scarves to show their support, picked up on by several of the other guests in attendance too. Champagne, canapés and sweet treats courtesy of Hemsley and Hemsley and music mixed by Marcello Miele were enjoyed whilst guests browsed the latest collections.

Guest, Olivia Grant, guest and Poppy Jamie

Tara King and Silvia Benavente

Sophie Anderton, Hayley Menzies and Didi Ilse

Samara Morris

Alexandra Felstead and Louise Thompson

Rachel Kersey-Brown Clemmie Myers Alice Gilsenan

Henry Conway and Daisy Lewis

Photography: Antonio Salgado and James Mason, Jab promotions

137

Photography: Chris Allerton Guests

Set Sail WHAT: Ralph Lauren Reception with OCEAN Independence WHEN: 25 March WHERE: Ralph Lauren store, Fulham Road WHY: Guests dropped anchor at the Ralph Lauren Fulham Store for the Ralph Lauren Home Evening Reception with OCEAN Independence. The event celebrated the launch of the OCEAN 2014 Charter Portfolio and the Ralph Lauren Home Spring 2014 Collection. Invitations went out to superyacht owners, interior designers and naval architects, all of whom were given a unique opportunity to see three of Stratstone of Mayfair’s stunning Aston Martins which were on display, along with beautiful, to scale yacht models courtesy of Andrew Winch Designs. Nicholas Dean, Managing Partner of OCEAN Independence, warmly welcomed guests with a speech followed by an evening of jazz, champagne and canapés.

Nigel Swabey, Gabrielle Godfrey, Michele Swabey and Nicholas Dean

Camilla Sommerstedt and Vivian Van Dijk

The Eyes Have It

Tom and Nicky Woods

Ralph Lauren hosts

Kerry Glanville, Anna Favre & Katherine Simpson from Pemberton Greenish

Anthony Fuller of Gladwell & Patterson

Glenn Fuller, Cory Fuller of Gladwell & Patterson and Richard Barber of W.A.Ellis

Richard Barber and Caroline Copland from W.A.Ellis and Simon Stock of Sotheby’s Photography: Alice Elphick

Marigold and Chris Davenport Jones and Marie-Claire Meredith of Gladwell & Patterson

Simon Godson of W.A.Ellis & Katherine Simpson of Pemberton Greenish

WHAT: Tom Davies store launch WHEN: 20 March WHERE: 54 Sloane Square WHO: Heston Blumenthal, Princess Tessy of Luxembourg, Oliver Proudlock and Noelle Reno WHY: The ‘four eyes’ taunt is a thing of the past. After all, these days glasses are a must-have accessory, as shown at bespoke eyewear designer Tom Davies’ recent store launch. Celebrities and socialites including Noelle Reno, Oliver Proudlock and Heston Blumenthal (sporting his own signature Tom Davies specs) were invited to the new shop where walls are lined with luxury frames created from the finest materials, such as 18-karat gold and buffalo horn. Guests were even invited on a private tour of Tom Davies’ laboratory by ZEISS, where he uses the most advanced eye testing equipment to handmake each stylish custom pair.

A Good Impression WHAT: W.A.Ellis Art Series event WHEN: Wednesday 3 April WHERE: Gladwell & Patterson on Beauchamp Place WHY: The world of property and Impressionist painting came together for the inaugural W.A.Ellis Art Series event at fine art dealer Gladwell & Patterson, the first of four events across 2014. Guests were treated to an exclusive hanging of the Knightsbridge gallery’s Impressionist and Post Impressionist collection with works on view from Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, Henri Martin and Maxime Maufra. Simon Stock, Senior International Specialist at Sotheby’s, provided a fascinating comparison of the past, present and future Impressionist auction market. The W.A.Ellis Art Series at Gladwell & Patterson continues on 4 June with a celebration of leading international artists and the gallery’s paintings of London, Paris, Venice as well as the inspirational British and French countryside.

london living Photography: Nick Harvey Tom Davies and Melissa Odabash

Tristan Almada

Oliver Proudlock and Grace McGovern

Suzanne Pirret and Heston Blumenthal

Basak Ozbek Burbidge Fabrizio Zapaterra and Tom Davies

Noelle Reno

Vanessa Arelle and friend

Heston Blumenthal and Tom Davies

139

The Concierge KENSINGTON & CHELSEA Apparel

Sub-Zero & Wolf

Bibendum

The Cadogan Arms

Repairs & Cleaning

Jeeves of Belgravia

251 Brompton Rd, SW3 2EP 0845 250 0010 subzero-wolf.co.uk

81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD 020 7581 5817 bibendum.co.uk

298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG 020 7352 6500 thecadoganarmschelsea.com

123 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7589 9229 jeevesofbelgravia.co.uk

Pampering & Wellbeing

Chelsea Brasserie

members clubs

Hairdressers

Sloane Tailors & Dry Cleaners 69 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8DA 020 7824 8644 sloanetailorsanddrycleaners.co.uk

Precious Pieces

Hari’s 305 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com

Jewellery Valuation / repair

Richard Ward

Bourbon Hanby

82 Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY 020 7730 1222 richardward.com

151 Sydney Street, SW3 6NT 020 7352 2106 bourbonhanby.com

7-12 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EG 020 7881 5999 chelsea-brasserie.co.uk

Beauty Salons & Spas

Gaucho 89 Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DX 020 7584 9901 gauchorestaurants.co.uk

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay 68 Royal Hospital Road SW3 4HP 020 7352 4441 gordonramsay.com

Chelsea Arts Club 143 Old Church Street SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com

The Sloane Club Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk luxury car services

Hawkes and Son

The Chelsea Day Spa

Scalini

Avolus Luxury Transport

50-52 Walton Street, SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com

69a King’s Road, SW3 4NX 020 7351 0911 thechelseadayspa.co.uk

1-3 Walton Street, SW3 2JD 020 7225 2301 scalinionline.com

38 Lombard Road, SW11 3RP 020 7978 6506 avolus.com

Watch Repair

Urban Retreat at Harrods

Umami

business affairs

100 Cromwell Road, SW7 4ER 020 7341 2320 umamilondon.co.uk

couriers

Cartier

87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL 020 7893 8333 urbanretreat.co.uk

143-144 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BL 020 7312 6930 cartier.co.uk

Medical & Dental Services

Delicatessens

The Watch Gallery

Chelsea Consulting Rooms

La Bottega

129 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7952 2731 thewatchgallery.co.uk

2 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8BJ 020 7763 9100 chelseaconsultingrooms.com

14 Gloucester Road, SW7 4RB 020 7581 6980 labottega.co.uk

Medicare Français

2-5 Duke of York Square SW3 4LY 020 7730 7102 partridges.co.uk

Partridges

Vintage Watch Sellers

Watches of Knightsbridge 64 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7JF 020 7590 3034 watchesofknightsbridge.com

3 Harrington Gardens SW7 4JJ 020 7370 4999 medicare-francais.co.uk

For the Home

Cadogan Street Dental Office 47 Cadogan Street, SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811

Katharine Pooley

computer & technology help

Richard Darsa 78 Cadogan Place SW1X 9RP 07768 200 551 richard@darsa.net

lifestyle services london lifestyle service

chocolatiers

FurniturE & furnishings

160 Walton Street, SW3 2JL 020 7584 3223 katharinepooley.co.uk

Selena Courier Service 27 Eardley Crescent, SW5 9JS 020 7912 0062 selenacourier.co.uk

Haute Cuisine

White Circle Collection William Curley 198 Ebury Street, SW1W 8UN 020 7730 5522 williamcurley.co.uk

71 Walton Street SW3 2HT 020 7989 9890 whitecirclecollection.com

drinking

housekeeping

Dining

Bar Boulud Ligne Roset 23/25 Mortimer Street, W1T 3JE 020 7323 1248 ligne-roset.co.uk

140

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA 020 7201 3899 barboulud.com

Boujis

St. Anne’s Housekeeping

43 Thurloe Street, SW7 2LQ 020 7584 2000 boujis.com

19 Bolsover Street, W1W 5NA 020 3397 7495 stanneshousekeeping.com

CONCIERGE

The Concierge NOTTING HILL & HOLLAND PARK For the Home

The Mitre

Smile Style Dental Care

Little Luxuries

FurniturE & furnishings

40 Holland Park Avenue W11 3QY 020 7727 6332 themitrew11.co.uk

146 Holland Park Avenue W11 4UE 020 7727 5810 smilestyledental.co.uk

flowers

Electric House

Business Affairs

191 Portobello Road W11 2ED 020 7908 9696 electrichouse.com

Couriers

222 Westbourne Grove W11 2RH 020 7727 3095 wildatheart.com

Runners 4 U Couriers

Fine Cheeses

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture 202 Kensington Park Road W11 1NR 020 7792 9022 rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

OKA 103 Lancaster Road W11 1QN 020 7792 1425 okadirect.com

Hutch Interiors 61 Golborne Road W10 5NR 020 3659 4320 hutchinteriors.com

Haute Cuisine

chocolatiers

Melt Chocolates

15 Elgin Mews W11 1PU 020 6305 8941 runners4u.com

Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart

La Cave a Fromage 148-150 Portobello Road W11 2DZ 020 7221 1000 la-cave.co.uk

59 Ledbury Road W11 2AA 020 7727 5030 meltchocolates.com

lifestyle services

Pampering & Wellbeing

Infusion Haberdashery and Dry Cleaners

Roberson Wine

3 Chepstow Road W2 5BL 020 7243 8735 infusion-haberdashery.co.uk

348 Kensington High Street W14 8NS 020 7371 2121 robersonwine.com

Hillside Clothes Care

Cigars

Hairdressers

Dining

cleaners fine Wines

Light Hair Studio The Ledbury Restaurant 127 Ledbury Road W11 2AQ 020 7792 9090 theledbury.com

293 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7792 0100 lighthairstudio.com

118 Kensington Park Road W11 2PW 020 7243 6900 hillsidedryclean.co.uk

Beauty Salons & Spas

Ottolenghi Delicatessen 63 Ledbury Rd W11 2AD 020 7727 1121 ottolenghi.co.uk

Notting Hill Cleaning Hydrohealing Spa 216a Kensington Park Road W11 1NR 020 7727 2570 hydrohealing.com

The Cow 89 Westbourne Park Road W2 5QH 020 7221 0021 thecowlondon.co.uk

Pets

Strip Wax Bar 112 Talbot Road W11 1JR 020 7727 2754 stripwaxbar.com

One Kensington 1 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP 020 7795 6533 one-kensington.com

Le CafĂŠ Anglais 8 Porchester Gardens, W2 4DB 020 7221 1415 lecafeanglais.co.uk

The Lonsdale

Canine Culture Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10 4JL 079 4952 3710 canineculture.co.uk

borough-wide BUILDER

William Gaze Ltd Basement, Loft & Extension Specialist 28 Imperial Square 020 7078 8874 williamgazeltd.com psychotherapist

Medical & Dental Services

TThe Portobello Clinic 12 Raddington Road W10 5TG 020 8962 0635 portobelloclinic.com

Purple Bone

Suzanne Thomas

95 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ 020 7985 0903 purplebone.com

07770 378791 suzannethomas @suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk

childcare dog training

42 The Dental Practice 48 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DE 020 7727 4080 thelonsdale.co.uk

223 Notting Hill Gate, Suite 221 W11 3JE 020 7221 2153 nottinghillcleaning.com

Atlam Cigars 111 Portobello Road W11 2QB 020 7602 7573 atlamcigars.com

42 Pembridge Road W11 3HN 020 7229 5542 42thedentalpractice.com

Kensington Nannies 3 Horton Place, Kensington High Street, W8 4LZ 020 7937 2333 kensington-nannies.co.uk

M.A. Dog Training and Services 07547 716076 madogtraining@gmail.com madogtrainingandservices.co.uk

141

PROPERTY

Market Comment Prime Central London rents fell -2.3 per cent in the year to February and -0.7 per cent in Prime Outer London, as the impact of job cuts in the financial industry kept demand in check. Tom Bill, Associate, Knight Frank Residential Research, reports Widespread redundancies in a sector that has traditionally buoyed demand means Prime Central London rents have been falling on an annual basis since June 2012, the month before the start of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, which caused their own short term disruption in the city’s lettings market. Economic data has improved since June 2012, which marked the end of a three-month period when GDP fell -0.4 per cent, and average forecasts point to growth of 2.7 per cent this year and 2.4 per cent in 2015. Knight Frank data shows rental declines are easing, which suggests the market is catching up with this positive underlying trend. Prime Central London rents rose for the first time in 21 months in January and the average fall over the last three-month period is the lowest since the Olympic baton was passed to Brazil in summer 2012. A further sign of reviving demand is the prevalence of relocation agents, which many companies use to move staff overseas. Enquiries from relocation agents to Knight Frank more than doubled between December and January to reach the highest ever monthly level.

Furthermore, lettings volumes in Prime Central and Outer London are up 20 per cent in the year to the end of February, while viewings and applicants are up more than 10 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. The rises coincide with data from recruiter Astbury Marsden that shows London’s financial services sector created 25 per cent more jobs in February this year than the same month in 2013. One explanation why the positive data is not translating more quickly into rising rental values is that personal budgets and corporate largesse are not as high as before the crash. One anecdotal sign of this increased prudence is that more tenants are now doing a “pounds per square foot per week” calculation. Rental yields were 2.84 per cent in Prime Central London and 3.67 per cent in Prime Outer London in February. Though low by real estate standards, capital value growth means that total returns over the same period were 10.6 per cent in Prime Central London and 15.1 per cent in Prime Outer London. The latter was the highest among a set of mainstream asset classes in the last year (see chart below). It underlines how price growth is spreading beyond central London as the UK economic recovery takes hold. In a world where stock markets are skittish, many commodity prices are falling and hedge fund managers are struggling to second-guess central bankers, it highlights the strength of London residential property as an investment class.

Prime Outer London outperforms other investment classes Total return (year to 10 March 2014 unless otherwise stated) Source: Knight Frank Residential Research

EMERGING MARKETS

(MSCI emerging markets share index)

PRIME CENTRAL LONDON

(year to February 2014)

142

PRIME OUTER LONDON

(year to February 2014)

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

(IPD All UK property: year to January 2014)

HEDGE FUNDS

HFRI composite index: year to February 2014

BONDS

(BoA Merrill Lynch Global Broad Market Index)

COMMODITIES (S&P GSCI index)

(FTSE 100 index)

HOMES showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Local News

How will mansion tax affect you?

Expert Comment

The rental market, Earls Court developments, and life in Holland Park, W14 Image courtesy of Winkworth

KnightFrank.co.uk

Observatory Gardens, Kensington W8 Stunning first floor lateral apartment with parking

This elegant apartment has been decorated and meticulously interior designed whilst retaining its original period grandeur. It offers excellent living and entertaining space and comes with the added benefit of parking for two cars. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, reception room, dining room, family room/breakfast room, kitchen, 2 terraces, underground parking for 2 cars, porter, lift. Approximately 230 sq m ﴾2,476 sq ft﴿

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

Share of freehold Guide price: £5,500,000 ﴾KEN140081﴿

K and C - May 3/10 Observ - 08 April 2014 - 49890

10/04/2014 11:24:54

KnightFrank.co.uk

Phillimore Place, Kensington W8

Immaculate family house on the Phillimore Estate A stunning wide five bedroom family house benefitting from good ceiling height with a beautiful south facing garden, situated within the desirable and exclusive Phillimore Estate. 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, double reception room, kitchen/breakfast room/dining room/family room, studio room, utility room, dressing room, patio garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 436 sq m ﴾4,696 sq ft﴿

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

Freehold Guide price: £14,250,000 ﴾KEN130235﴿

Phillimore place 10 K and c mag may - 08 April 2014 - 49898

10/04/2014 11:26:28

KnightFrank.co.uk

Ovington Gardens, Knightsbridge SW3 Newly refurbished two bedroom flat with lift

A brand newly refurbished third and fourth floor maisonette offering well balanced accommodation throughout. Master bedroom with en suite, guest bedroom, guest bathroom, reception room, kitchen, study, entrance hall, upper landing, communal lift. Approximately 134 sq m ﴾1,442 sq ft﴿ Leasehold: approximately 972 years remaining Guide price: £3,750,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/knightsbridge knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 5913 Joint agent: Hamptons knightsbridge@hamptons‐int.com 020 7584 2044

﴾POD130194﴿

K&C Mag May - Ovington Gardens 6, 5 - 19 March 2014 - 49145

26/03/2014 14:38:13

3112

UPPER CHEYNE ROW CHELSEA SW3

CONTEMPORARY LIVING IN THE HEART OF CHELSEA This incredible house is bright and airy and the main feature is the triple height studio reception room. Master bedroom with dressing area and shower room, 5 further double bedrooms (4 en suite), family bathroom, reception room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining area, reading area, cinema room, playroom, study, wine room, cloakroom, patio and roof terrace. EPC rating D. Approximately 691 sq m (7,448 sq ft)

FREEHOLD GUIDE PRICE: ÂŁ12,950,000

311242KF_K&C_May14.indd 1

02/04/2014 17:46

KnightFrank.co.uk

Neville Street, South Kensington SW7 Superb seven bedroom family house with lift

A substantial white stucco fronted house with magnificent accommodation arranged over six floors. Master bedroom suite with dressing room, 3 further bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, 3 further bedrooms, bathroom, shower room, double drawing room, dining room, kitchen, entrance hall, utility room, secondary kitchen, cloakroom, garden, lift. EPC rating D. Approximately 344 sq m ﴾3,704 sq ft﴿ Freehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington southkensington@knightfrank.com 020 8128 1253

Guide price: £6,750,000

The K&C magazine May - 07 April 2014 - 49818

10/04/2014 14:54:20

KnightFrank.co.uk

Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill W11 Create your dream house

A sensational opportunity to create a dream home set in a magical and highly desirable communal garden environment. The house is currently arranged over five floors with a wonderful orientation and outlook and flooded with natural light. In addition, the property benefits from two separate planning consents for a subterranean development. EPC rating G. Approximately 319 sq m ﴾3,431 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Freehold Guide price: £8,500,000

K&C May - 115 Elgin Crescent

03/04/2014 17:47:28

KnightFrank.co.uk

Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill W11 Stunning four bedroom house with garden

A magnificent four bedroom home of unbridled style and luxury. Extensively refurbished and completely interior designed throughout. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen/dining room, media room, office, utility room, guest cloakroom, balcony, garden. EPC rating D. Approximately 310 sq m ﴾3,334 sq ft﴿. Freehold Guide price: £4,950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449 Joint Agent: Domus Nova sales@domusnova.com 020 7727 1717

﴾NGH140066﴿

K&C May - 322 Westbourne Park Road

03/04/2014 17:46:13

KnightFrank.co.uk

Norland Square, Notting Hill W11 Grade II listed six bedroom house with garden

Enjoying wonderful light and retaining a wealth of original features, this beautifully balanced Grade II listed home offers excellent family accommodation and an abundance of period charm. 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, dining room, library, conservatory, garden. Approximately 354.2 sq m ﴾3,809 sq ft﴿.

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Guide price: £6,200,000 ﴾NGH130227﴿

K&C May - 19 Norland Square

07/04/2014 15:31:05

KnightFrank.co.uk

Leinster Square, Notting Hill W2 Two bedroom apartment with communal garden

A stunning first floor apartment with west facing views overlooking the beautiful communal gardens on Leinster Square. Master bedroom with en suite, 1 further bedroom, shower room, kitchen/reception room, balcony ﴾undemised﴿, access to communal square. EPC rating E. Approximately 72 sq m ﴾772 sq ft﴿.

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 8166 5449

Leasehold Guide price: £1,350,000 ﴾NGH140048﴿

28C Leinster Square

10/04/2014 12:40:46

FROM Lansdowne Road TO BASSETT ROAD

KNIGHT FRANK KNOWS Notting Hill NOTTING HILL’S ADDRESSES ARE AS RECOGNIsED Caroline Foord, head of our Notting Hill office, and her team are renowned for their years of experience and their property expertise. They specialise in selling a whole range of properties from pied-à-terres to large family homes. Their in depth knowledge of the local market, combined with an extensive network of offices in the UK and around the world, mean that it is possible to match properties to the best buyers. To find out more about how Knight Frank can help with your property requirements, call Knight Frank Notting Hill.

+44 20 7229 0229 KnightFrank.co.uk

AS THE LOCAL KNIGHT FRANK TEAM

KnightFrank.co.uk

Notting Hill/Holland Park May 2014 HP Sales - 10 April 2014 - 50052

Hyde Park Place, Hyde Park W2

Meticulously restored house in prime central London A spectacular Grade II listed family home with exceptional views across Hyde Park. 10 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms, 2 dining rooms, kitchen, study, cinema room, swimming pool, gymnasium, 2 lifts, roof terrace. Mews house with staff accommodation and parking also available. Approximately 1,542 sq m ﴾16,600 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/hydepark hydepark@knightfrank.com 020 3544 2483

Freehold ﴾HPE100123﴿

10/04/2014 15:56:47

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Holland Holland Park, Park, Holland Holland Park W11 Park W11 A stunning A stunning contemporary contemporary maisonette maisonette

An immaculately An immaculately presented presented split level split apartment level apartment in a beautifully in a beautifully designed designed GradeGrade II listed II listed property property whichwhich is enviably is enviably located located in prime in prime Holland Holland Park. Park. 3 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 bathrooms, reception reception room,room, kitchen, kitchen, WC, porter. WC, porter. EPC rating EPC rating C. Approximately C. Approximately 206 sq 206 m sq ﴾2,214 m ﴾2,214 sq ft﴿.sq ft﴿.

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings kensington.lettings@knightfrank.com kensington.lettings@knightfrank.com 020 7937 020 7937 82038203

Furnished Furnished GuideGuide price:price: £2,295£2,295 per week per week ﴾KEQ189933﴿ ﴾KEQ189933﴿

K&C May K&C -May 02 April - 02 2014 April 2014 - 49697 - 49697

07/04/2014 07/04/2014 11:09:03 11:09:03

KnightFrank.co.uk

The Bromptons, Knightsbridge SW3

Stunning apartment refurbished to a high standard and located in a first class residential development. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, double height reception room, mezzanine cinema room, eat in kitchen, 24 hour concierge, underground parking, leisure facilities. Approximately 298 sq m ﴾3,211 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6019

Unique four bedroom apartment

Available furnished

£7,500 per week ﴾KNQ160788﴿ All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

K&C May 2014 1 Rose Square for print final

31/03/2014 12:55:40

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Lansdowne LansdowneRoad, Road,Notting NottingHill HillW11 W11 Stunning Stunning three three bedroom bedroom garden garden flatflat

A stunning A stunning garden garden flat flat withwith a private a private patio patio andand direct direct access access to Lansdowne to Lansdowne Elgin Elgin communal communal gardens. 3 gardens. 3 double double bedrooms, bedrooms, bathroom, bathroom, shower shower room room ﴾en ﴾en suite﴿, suite﴿, reception reception room room with a with a working working fire and fire and kitchen/breakfast kitchen/breakfast room. room. Approximately 131.0 Approximately 131.0 sq msq﴾1,409 m ﴾1,409 sq ft﴿. sq ft﴿. PartPart furnished furnished or unfurnished or unfurnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com 020020 7985 7985 9990 9990

Guide Guide price: price: £1,600 £1,600 per per week week ﴾NHQ176953﴿ ﴾NHQ176953﴿ All potential All potential tenants tenants should should be advised be advised that, as that, well asas well rent, as an rent, administration an administration fee offee £276 of will £276apply will apply when when renting renting a property. a property. PleasePlease ask usask forus more for more information information aboutabout other other fees that feesmay thatapply may apply or visit orKnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

K&CK&C MayMay issue issue 7 7

02/04/2014 02/04/2014 14:09:07 14:09:07

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Carlyle Square, Chelsea SW3 Lansdowne Road, Notting Hill W11 Carlyle Square, Chelsea SW3 Carlyle Square, Chelsea SW3 Immaculate with garden square views Stunninghouse three bedroom garden flat Immaculate house with square views Immaculate house with garden square views Immaculate house withgarden garden square views

This impressively six six house benefits from anto impressive first floor Aimpressively stunningproportioned garden flat with abedroom private patio and direct access Lansdowne Elgin This proportioned bedroom house benefits from an impressive first floor This impressively proportioned six bedroom house benefits from an first This impressively proportioned six bedroom house benefits from animpressive impressive first floor reception room and ground floor dining room overlooking thethe communal gardens. 6 floor communal gardens. 3 double bedrooms, bathroom, shower room ﴾en suite﴿, reception reception room and ground floor dining room overlooking communal gardens. 6 reception room and ground floor dining room overlooking the communal gardens. 66 reception room and ground floor dining room overlooking the communal gardens. bedrooms, 6 en suite bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, dining room, study, media room with a working fire and kitchen/breakfast room. dining bedrooms, 6 suite bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, room, study, media bedrooms, 66en en bathrooms, room,344 kitchen, room, study, bedrooms, ensuite suite bathrooms, reception kitchen, dining room, study,media media room, utility room, WC. EPC rating E. reception Approximately sq sq m dining ﴾3,703 sq ft﴿ ft﴿ Approximately 131.0 sq m ﴾1,409 sq ft﴿. room, room, utility room, WC. EPC rating E. Approximately 344 m ﴾3,703 sq room, utility room, WC. EPC rating E. Approximately 344 sq m ﴾3,703 sq ft﴿ room, utility room, WC. EPC rating E. Approximately 344 sq m ﴾3,703 sq ft﴿ Available Partunfurnished furnished or unfurnished Available unfurnished Available Availableunfurnished unfurnished Guide price: £6,000 per week Guide price: £1,600 per week Guide price: £6,000 per week Guide Guideprice: price:£6,000 £6,000per perweek week ﴾CHQ137647﴿ ﴾NHQ176953﴿ ﴾CHQ137647﴿ ﴾CHQ137647﴿ ﴾CHQ137647﴿ Alltenants potential tenants be advised that, as well rent, an administration fee ofapply £276 when will apply when renting a property. All potential should be should advised that, as well as rent, anas administration fee of will renting a property. All potential tenants should be advised that, as well as rent, an administration fee£276 of £276 will apply when renting a property. Please ask usinformation for morebe information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges AllAll potential tenants should advised that, asaswell rent, ananadministration fee ofof£276 Please ask us about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges potential tenants be advised that, wellas as rent, administration fee £276will willapply applywhen whenrenting rentinga aproperty. property. Please askfor usmore for more should information about other fees that may apply or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges Please Pleaseask askususfor formore moreinformation informationabout aboutother otherfees feesthat thatmay mayapply applyororvisit visitKnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

Sq 41 K&C MAY 07 Carlyle K&C May issue 7 14

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings nottinghilllettings@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings chelsealettings@knightfrank.com chelsealettings@knightfrank.com 020 7985 9990 chelsealettings@knightfrank.com chelsealettings@knightfrank.com 020 7349 4300 020 7349 4300 020 020 73494300 4300 7349

10/04/2014 14:49:32 02/04/2014 14:09:07

PROPERTY

Kensington Opening The new JLL residential agency office, dedicated to sales and lettings, opened its doors to Kensington in March; associate director Thomas Middleditch tells us more

Since its launch, the new office has received an influx of enquiries from both the domestic and overseas markets, indicating that London remains a safe haven in which to invest, with an increasingly stable economy. Located at the prestigious 375 Kensington High Street development by St Edward and adjacent to the entrance of Charles House, the Kensington office will support this exclusive development and maintain JLL’s close relationship both with the Berkeley Group and the surrounding Prime Central London area. The office is headed up by Thomas Middleditch who has ten years of residential sales and lettings experience in the London market. Thomas brings to JLL his wealth of knowledge in the estate agency business, having worked very closely with both UK and overseas clients, and he says: “By opening a dedicated office at this important development, we are providing an essential service to our clients in managing their property investment and at the same time increasing our agency presence across Prime Central London. “In JLL’s residential forecasts for 2014, we predict that new central London developments will see positive house price growth of circa 8 per cent. London’s strong profile means that this will always be a desirable market to

“There was strong demand in sales before the office officially opened... and we can only expect this demand to continue” invest in, both for domestic and international purchasers. The new Kensington office reaffirms our commitment to the expansion of the residential business, as well as our confidence in the central London development market. “The St Edward’s development is proving popular among tenants, with approximately 70 per cent of the rental stock let to date. We have seen the level of applicants increase week-by-week, and this has led to competing bids for many of the properties, resulting in either asking or over asking price offers. This demand was clearly visible after our office launch when we agreed rentals on eight properties within one week, with some of the prices being the highest ever recorded in the development. Being a global brand has really helped to establish ourselves as one of the main agents for company relocations, and a lot of the tenancies that we have agreed have been to professional corporate tenants. “On the sales side, there was strong demand before the office officially opened, allowing us to achieve some great results in a very short amount of time; a good example being five sales that were all agreed within the last two weeks of March, with agreed prices near or at asking price. As confidence in the property market grows, we can only expect this demand to continue.” JLL Kensington, 375 Kensington High Street, W14 8QH 020 7087 5696; kensington.sales@eu.jll.com

160

PROPERTY

Development Focus Lillie Square in Earls Court: modern living at its very best. Annabel Harrison reports

On 27 March the first phase of Lillie Square was officially launched; when the development is complete, its 808 new homes will provide modern living amid the best residential districts in London. In fact, a very swish tool in the Lillie Square marketing suite can show you just how easy it is to get to Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham; within walking distance, for example, are shopping hotspots Sloane Street and the King’s Road, two Royal Parks, the Royal Albert Hall and Chelsea Football Club. Location is key; Lillie Square is billed as “one of the most connected addresses in London”. This exciting new development has been designed by architects and urban designers Paul Davis + Partners and options range from one to three bedroom apartments to four or five bedroom family homes with private gardens and garage parking. Lillie Square offers all the perks you’d expect to be associated with such high-spec properties; residents can enjoy fivestar concierge services, 24-hour security and a private residents clubhouse with a gym, swimming pool, spa, bar and private dining. Impressively for such a central site, more than 50 per cent of it comprises open spaces, designed by Andy Sturgeon, who has won six gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show during his career. A great deal of care has been lavished on the outdoor areas to ensure residents and local wildlife are equally well catered for. Inside, it’s just as luxurious; the spec, available in chic dark or bright, light palettes, includes underfloor heating, state-of-the-art Bulthaup kitchens and Hansgrohe bathroom fittings. First completions are scheduled for 2016 with prices starting from £595,000 for a one bedroom apartment. Lillie Square is owned and being developed by a joint venture between Capital & Counties Properties PLC (‘Capco’) and KFI. Gary Yardley, Investment Director of Capco, commented:

“Lillie Square builds on West London’s world-class heritage of premium garden square living, overlaying this with the benefits of a 21st century lifestyle that buyers expect. This is a fantastic opportunity to own a new home in a neighbourhood that will be re-imagined by the wider masterplan in the years to come.” The 77-acre Earls Court masterplan, considered to be the most significant piece of urban re-imagination in Europe, has outline planning consent, as well as detailed consent for the early phases of development. For more information, call 020 7381 9800 or email sales@lilliesquare.com lilliesquare.com

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savills.co.uk

1 AN ELEGANT FOUR BEDROOM LATERAL FLAT south kensington, sw7 Reception room ø 4 bedrooms (2 en suite) ø family bathroom ø cloakroom ø utility room ø access to 3 communal gardens ø lift ø 150 sq m (1,615 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Savills Chelsea Charlie Bubear cbubear@savills.com

020 7578 9000 Price on application Leasehold, plus Share of Freehold

savills.co.uk

1 EXCEPTIONALLY PRETTY HOUSE ON GARDEN SQUARE WITH STUNNING VIEWS edwardes square, w8 First floor drawing room ø sitting room ø library ø study ø master bedroom suite ø 5 further bedrooms ø 3 further bath/shower rooms ø utility room ø front and rear gardens ø access to the square gardens ø Grade II listed ø 314 sq m (3,388 sq ft) Guide £6.95 million Freehold

Savills Kensington Johnny Fuller jlfuller@savills.com

020 7535 3300

savills.co.uk

1 A RARE DOUBLE FRONTED HOUSE FACING ARTESIAN ROAD moorhouse road, w2 2 reception rooms ø family room ø kitchen/dining room ø 4 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø guest cloakroom ø 2 gardens ø 206 sq m (2,218 sq ft) ø EPC=F

Savills Notting Hill Oliver Lurot olurot@savills.com

020 7727 5750 Guide £4.35 million Freehold

savills.co.uk

1 A QUIETLY SITUATED AND SIZEABLE MEWS HOUSE WITH GARDEN clarendon close, w2 Reception room ø study ø conservatory/dining room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø master bedroom suite ø 3 further bedrooms (1 en suite) ø family bathroom ø cellar ø garage ø garden ø 275 sq m (2,964 sq ft) ø EPC=F

Lurot Brand

Savills Notting Hill

Duncan Petrie Duncan@lurotbrand.co.uk

Oliver Lurot olurot@savills.com

020 7479 1999

020 7727 5750

Guide £5 million Leasehold, approximately 131 years remaining

savills.co.uk

1 NEWLY REFURBISHED THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT IN A SUPERB LOCATION westbourne grove, w11 Reception room ø kitchen/dining room with family area ø master bedroom suite with en suite bathroom ø 2 further bedrooms ø family bathroom ø guest cloakroom ø terrace ø gym ø 198 sq m (2,126 sq ft) ø EPC=D Guide £3.95 million Leasehold, approximately 125 years remaining

Savills Notting Hill Ben Davies bdavies@savills.com

020 7727 5750

savills.co.uk

1 BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED WITH DECKED PATIO AND SECURE PARKING academy gardens, w8 Entrance hall ø reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedroom suites ø cloakroom ø 2 patio gardens ø underground parking space ø communal gym and swimming pool ø 120 sq m (1,291 sq ft) ø EPC=D Guide £3.25 million Leasehold, approximately 985 years remaining plus Share of Freehold

Savills Kensington Thomas Holcroft tholcroft@savills.com

020 7535 3300

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

PEMBRIDGE VILLAS, w2

LANCASTER GATE, w2

Bedroom ø bathroom ø reception room ø separate kitchen ø wooden flooring ø lift ø 83 sq m (898 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=D

3 double bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø separate kitchen ø many period features ø 142 sq m (1,528 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=C

Partially Furnished or Unfurnished £795 per week

Unfurnished £1,100 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill amackinnon@savills.com 020 7727 5751

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

PALACE COURT, w2

STANLEY GARDENS, w11

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø small patio ø newly refurbished ø 107 sq m (1,149 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=D

3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø eat-in kitchen ø communal gardens ø balcony ø 181 sq m (1,949 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=C

Flexible furnishings £1,150 per week

Unfurnished £3,250 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill amackinnon@savills.com 020 7727 5751

3 4

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

CONTEMPORARY AND BEAUTIFULLY REFURBISHED TOWN HOUSE elystan place, sw7 Master bedroom suite ø 5 further bedrooms ø 2 further bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø study ø separate eat in kitchen ø guest cloakroom ø roof terrace ø 267 sq m (2,883 sq ft) ø Council tax=H ø EPC=E

Savills Chelsea Danielle Fearnon dfearnon@savills.com

020 7578 9020

Unfurnished £4,250 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

THE LANCASTERS, w2

PEMBRIDGE CRESCENT, w11

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø separate kitchen ø pool and gym ø concierge service ø private entrance ø 126 sq m (1,357 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

3 bedrooms ø 3 bathrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø roof terrace ø lift access ø access to Ladbroke Square grds ø 170 sq m (1,824 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

Flexible furnishings £1,850 per week

Unfurnished £1,650 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill ndennis@savills.com 020 7727 5751

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Notting Hill amackinnon@savills.com 020 7727 5751

WOLFE HOUSE, w14

FARRIER WALK, sw3

2 double bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø full leisure facilities ø 24 porter ø parking ø 72 sq m (772 sq ft) ø Council Tax TBC ø EPC=B

3 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø separate kitchen ø wooden flooring ø gated development ø 81 sq m (877 sq ft) ø Council Tax=F ø EPC=C

Unfurnished £1,100 per week

Furnished £795 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Kensington alederer@savills.com 020 7535 3333

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Chelsea ibreynardson@savills.com 020 7578 9020

3 4

L L O

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

ONSLOW GARDENS, sw7

EGERTON PLACE, sw3

3 bedrooms ø 2 bathroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø direct access to communal gardens ø 124 sq m (1,340 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=C

3 bedroom suites ø double reception room ø entrance hall ø separate kitchen ø cloakroom ø direct lift access ø 193 sq m (2,080 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=C

Unfurnished £1,750 per week

Unfurnished £3,250 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Chelsea omellotte@savills.com 020 7578 9020

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Knightsbridge cjalexander@savills.com 020 7584 8585

LANCELOT PLACE, sw7

OBSERVATORY GARDENS, w8

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø gym and pool ø lift ø 24 hour porter ø underground parking ø 161 sq m (1,733 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H

2 bedrooms ø 2 bathrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø double fronted own entrance ø private parking ø 156 sq m (1,683 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

Furnished £2,795 per week

Flexible furnishings £1,695 per week

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Knightsbridge tsutton@savills.com 020 7590 5079

+ £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* Savills Kensington ehannam@savills.com 020 7535 3333

3 4

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Harcourt Terrace, SW10 This stunning, stucco fronted, two double bedroom apartment boasts a generous 20’9 x 14’2 reception room, a quiet 15’2 x 10’8 master bedroom with en-suite bathroom to the rear of the building, 11’7 x 8’7 second bedroom, separate shower room and a smart fully fitted stylish kitchen. EPC: C

£2,250,000 Share of Freehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Chelsea Office Sales. 0207 835 1444 | Lettings. 020 7717 5433

Raised ground floor Private street entrance Two bedrooms Two bathrooms 20’9 x 14’2 reception room 983 sq ft

Scarsdale Villas, W8 An outstanding six bedroom family house which has been cleverly re constructed to provide superb entertaining space, which has been beautifully refurbished to the most exacting of standards. Scarsdale Villas is a highly regarded address to the south of Kensington High Street with fine stucco fronted houses within walking distance of Holland Park. EPC: D

£7,500,000 Freehold • • • • • •

Hamptons Kensington Office Sales. 020 7937 9371 | Lettings. 020 7717 5459

Double reception room Kitchen/dining room Cinema room Six bedrooms Garden 24 hour bespoke concierge service

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Montrose Court, SW7 An immaculately presented and generously proportioned three bedroom lateral apartment on the seventh floor of this secure and well located portered apartment block. Accommodation comprises a stunning reception room with limed oak wood flooring, dining area, immaculate contemporary kitchen, a wonderful master bedroom with stunning en suite bathroom, two further bedrooms family bathroom and guest cloakroom. EPC: C JSA: Douglas & Gordon

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Sales. 020 7717 5461 | Lettings. 020 7717 5463

£3,600,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

Reception room/dining room Kitchen Master bedroom with en suite Two further bedrooms Separate bathroom Guest cloakroom

Royal Avenue, SW3 A beautifully refurbished Grade II listed period house situated on one of Chelsea’s premier squares. The property has been architecturally designed to an exacting standard using the finest quality finishes and successfully recreates period elegance with innovative and exciting contemporary design. The reception space includes high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. EPC: D

£6,950,000 Freehold • • • • • •

JSA Strutt and Parker

Hamptons Sloane Square Office Sales. 020 7717 5481 | Lettings. 0207 717 5483

Five bedrooms, three bathrooms Terraced house Three reception rooms Roof terrace and patio High ceilings Architecturally designed

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Thistle Grove, SW10 A stunning two double bedroom, two bathroom apartment offering over 1000 sq ft of accommodation with wood floors throughout. EPC: D

£895 per week Unfurnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

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

Hamptons Chelsea Office Lettings. 020 7717 5433 | Sales. 0207 835 1444

•

Great entertainment space Light reception room Redecorated rooms Finished to the highest standard Two bedrooms Two bathrooms

Iverna Court, W8 A beautifully presented three bedroom apartment set on the fourth floor (with lift) of this mansion building, located moments from Kensington High Street. The property is neutrally decorated, bright and benefits from a day porter and access to a pretty communal garden square. EPC: E

£1,250 per week Unfurnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

Hamptons Kensington Office Lettings. 020 7717 5459 | Sales. 020 7937 9371

•

Three bedrooms Two bathrooms Separate kitchen Day porter Lift Communal garden

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Princes Gate, SW7 Situated on the second floor of this well run period building, this apartment has just been finished in neutral tones and boasts hard wood floors. The location is ideal for providing ease of access to the wide open green spaces of Hyde Park itself as well as the varied shopping and transport links of South Kensington and Knightsbridge. EPC: C *Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

Hamptons Knightsbridge Office Lettings. 020 7717 5463 | Sales. 020 7717 5461

£1,295 per week Furnished (charges apply)* • • • •

West facing High ceilings Wealth of natural light Contemporary style

Rawlings Street A beautifully refurbished four bed family home with beautiful wooden floors in the reception rooms and neutral decor throughout. The house offers excellent entertaining space with double drawing room and open plan kitchen reception room. This house is ideal for a small family and is perfectly positioned for many of the schools in the area. EPC: E

£2,350 per week Unfurnished (charges apply)* • • • • •

Hamptons Sloane Square Office Lettings. 0207 717 5483 | Sales. 020 7717 5481

Double reception room Open plan kitchen Four double bedrooms Family home Wooden floors

Why choose an estate agency when you can hire an Intelligence Agency? Whether it’s a dream home you’re after – or just tracking down that elusive buyer who’ll pay the price you had in mind – it all comes down to one thing: intelligence. Sharper market intelligence: Having agents on your side with crucial inside information – and local market research. Smarter intelligence: Having the brightest and most determined professionals working with you. But above all, having an agent with the intelligence to know that nothing can beat a very special, personalised service. Something worth bearing in mind, if you’re buying or selling. Something you’ll find if you phone the CIA, at the number below. The Crayson Intelligence Agency.

brain@crayson.com TT020 hello@crayson.com 020 7221 7221 1117 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Pembroke Square, Kensington W8 A big house for sale in perfect Pembroke Square â&#x20AC;&#x201C; beautiful, elegant, quiet and, of course, extremely well-located. On the western side of the square, this Grade II listed house is found on one of the prettiest squares in Kensington, giving it some fairly hefty square footage and an epic double reception room on the ground floor.

Double reception room Kitchen / dining room Master bedroom suite Two ensuite bedrooms One further bedroom / one further bathroom Dressing room / study Direct access to the garage (garage available by arrangement) Utility room Wine cellars Front and back gardens Terrace Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 3,034 sq ft / 281.9 sq m EPC Rating Band E Guide Price ÂŁ6.25 million Freehold

Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Pembridge Villas, Notting Hill W11 A rare opportunity to create a unique stand-alone Notting Hill townhouse, complete with carriage driveway in the Royal Borough. Plans have been drawn up and submitted to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea to meld this pair of semi-detached houses into one substantial property measuring just under 10,000 sq ft. Four floors of vast lateral space creating an amazing house set back from the road and fronted by a wide sweeping carriage driveway.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pembridge Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name subject to formal approval Subject to planning permission. All images are computer generated

Proposed plans include: Drawing room Dining room Kitchen / dining room Study Master bedroom suite Five further bedrooms Five further bathrooms Swimming pool complex Gym Cinema Wine cellar & utility room Two bedroom staff accommodation Separate tradesmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance Front and back gardens Off-street parking for 4-5 cars Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 9,895.5 sq ft / 919.3 sq m Current EPC Rating Band D & E Price on application Freehold

Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Hereford Road, Notting Hill W2 Secluded behind an anonymous gate, and sheltered by a terrace of stucco houses is a truly unique contemporary London house. Designed by an award-winning architect for a Danish badminton champion, and built by one of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading construction firms, this house is a testament to the very best of contemporary british architecture.

Reception room Dining room Kitchen Dining area Entertainment room with bar, cinema & wine cellar Gym / pool / spa Master bedroom suite Seven further bedrooms Five further bathrooms Garden Two bedroom staff flat Utility room Garage and off-street parking for up to 5 cars Air-conditioning Creston interactive technology Lutron lighting Genesis alarm system Under floor heating City of Westminster 10,706 sq ft / 994.6 sq m EPC Rating Band C Guide Price ÂŁ19 million Freehold Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill W11 The archetypal Notting Hill house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bohemian, well-located, exemplary provenance, and still intact. There are not that many left. Buy now. Kensington Park Road is one of the main arteries through which pumps the lifeblood of Notting Hill. A highly desirable street, it is minutes away from the retail and gourmet delights of Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove.

Double reception room Kitchen / dining room / family room Master bedroom suite with walk -in wardrobe Two further bedrooms Two further bathrooms Utility room Cloakroom Front and back garden Terrace Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea 2,046 sq ft / 190.1 sq m EPC Rating Band D Guide Price ÂŁ5 million Freehold

Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grove, Barnes SW13 You could be excused for thinking you are in a boutique hotel, so chic and comfortable is the redesign of this Arts and Crafts house. Having said that, any mother of small children would faint with delight at the perfection of the family friendly facilities.

Seven bedrooms Two dressing rooms Reception room Dining room & kitchen Study, cloakroom & playroom Utility room & pantry Boot room Parking for four cars Temperature controlled wine cellar Roof terrace & balcony Garden & all weather play area Swimming pool & pool changing room The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames 4,398 sq ft / 408.6 sq m EPC Rating Band F Guide Price ÂŁ5.35 million Freehold

Joint Sole Agent hello@crayson.com T 020 7221 1117 10 Lambton Place London W11 2SH

Property News PRIME RESI provides us with a comprehensive monthly round-up of key news about the local luxury property market

Back to the Future Copy Kensington and Chelsea’s model to solve London’s housing shortages: “The enduring popularity and desirability of London’s Sloane Square, Mayfair and Notting Hill neighbourhoods speak to the strengths of mid-rise as a form,” says a report by the Prince’s Foundation on London’s housing crisis. The solution to both housing shortages (quantity and quality), it argues, is to bring back the traditional architecture and layouts of the capital’s most prime and salubrious areas. “It’s worth remembering that Kensington and Chelsea, which so far lack tower blocks, is the densest London borough” said HRH Prince Charles. Victorian and Georgian mansion blocks in particular “should be celebrated as a local form to aspire to: allowing for a flexibility of living spaces, supporting shared green spaces and providing appropriate densities in sites across the city.” Such mid-rise buildings have much more staying power – and good looks – than the “ubiquitous skyscraper model that is beginning to render city skylines indistinguishable from one another” and “brutalise” streetscapes. Earls Court developer Capco’s flagship Lillie Square scheme, launched to the market in March, seems to be a timely blueprint for the plan.

Images by The Prince’s Foundation

High Society Rare portfolio in The Knightsbridge hits the market: A highly-prized portfolio of six flats in one of London’s most expensive apartment blocks has just hit the open market. The individual units are all on the first and second floors of The Knightsbridge, a landmark development built in 2005 with the aim of providing levels of facilities and service to rival “any five-star hotel”. The 1.7 acre site (just down the road from One Hyde Park) includes 201 residences arranged around a private Feng Shui garden; it’s one of the few addresses in the world to regularly achieve prices of more than £4,000 per square foot. This unusual six-unit package extends to nearly 10,000 square feet in all, with allocated parking spaces for each flat. The asking price is a cool £45 million for the lot, so you’re looking at £7.5 million a pop. The development itself employs an army of staff, including doormen, 24 hour security and porterage in the lobby, and residents benefit from full gym and spa facilities including a 20 metre swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna and treatment rooms.

Racing Start Chelsea, Knightsbridge & Kensington transaction levels up 49%: K&C has had a pretty lively start to 2014, with year-on-year transaction levels in SW3, SW7, SW10 and W8 (as recorded on Lonres) soaring by 49% in February. ‘Behind the scenes’ action is driving the market, says estate agency W.A.Ellis, which claims that off-market deals are propping up the supply of properties. Downsizing is another big factor in this year’s market activity: “We are increasingly seeing a number of people downsizing from properties in the £5-£7 million price range,” says W.A.Ellis’s Richard Barber, “and the market below £2 million remains as strong as ever due to the stamp duty threshold and threat of a mansion tax. We were recently marketing a property priced just above £2 million that received three bids all below the stamp duty threshold, reflecting buyers’ aversion to the cost of SDLT above £2 million.”

PROPERTY

PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property

primeresi.com Image by: Oxyman, CC-BY-2.0

Prime Partnership Thurloe Estate snapped up for £100m: The Thurloe Estate – a swathe of prime land in between South Ken and Sloane Square – has been bought for around £100 million by a “joint partnership” between Canadian investor Ivanhoé Cambridge and Bruce Ritchie’s Residential Land. The partnership acquired Brandeaux Group’s interests – totalling 127,566 square feet of top drawer resi and retail space, including 141 flats in Pelham Court, Thurloe Court and on Pond Place – with plans to “reposition the buildings in a true London spirit of quality real estate”. A second asset – Strathmore Court – was also acquired in an off-market deal for £40 million. The acquisitions bring the partnership’s total investments to around £430 million. The Thurloe Estate dates all the way back to the 1700s, when Oliver Cromwell gifted some land to his Secretary, John Thurloe, for services rendered.

Building Concern Nick Crayson asks the big question; will your building be classed as a ‘mansion’ after next year’s General Election?

Talk of a ‘mansion tax’ has not gone away but details remain vague. To date, the Liberal Democrats and Labour Party are ardent supporters; the Lib Dems propose to tax homes valued at £2m+. The Conservatives oppose its introduction. Danny Alexander, the Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury, confirmed that “a lot of work” had been done on how best to impose the charge, suggesting it could be introduced soon after the election. Labour also proposes to tax properties over £2m, saying that it will lead to tax cuts for working families and pay for the reinstatement of a 10 pence tax rate to help low and middle incomes. Recently, David Cameron gave his support to stamp duty and council tax but ruled out a mansion tax if he returned to office. Mayor of London Boris Johnson, is also against its introduction. Chancellor George Osborne, however, appears to be more open to the idea. The exact number of properties to be affected by the mansion tax is open to much debate but it will certainly have a far greater impact on London and the South East. The possible cost implications for ‘mansion’ owners? Last year it was reported that the Treasury calculated it will cost on average £36,000 a year. And the feasibility of implementing the new scheme? Some believe that the existing council tax system should be updated; others that local solutions should be sought, with additional council tax revenue directed locally to tackle

affordability in the country’s most expensive regions. What does seem certain, a Labour or Liberal Democrat win in the election will be swiftly followed by the launch of a new mansion tax. Uncertainty and, for some, concern remains.

Country

Total no. of £2m+ sales

Total sales values (£ million)

Total sales (%)

Greater London

2,035

7,569,503,494

86.5

Surrey

171

515,828,200

5.9

Buckinghamshire

102,174,340

1.2

Hertfordshire

94,866,266

1.1

Oxfordshire

64,763,900

0.7

Windsor and Maidenhead

52,058,500

0.6

Hampshire

37,379,000

0.4

Poole

36,825,000

0.4

West Sussex

35,654,797

0.4

Kent

32,090,000

0.4

crayson.com

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Palace Gardens Terrace, W8 ÂŁ8,750,000 Freehold A broad five bedroom stucco fronted Victorian terraced house (3320 sq ft/308 sq m) with a generous secluded rear garden. This bright and beautifully presented property has excellent accommodation including a large bright drawing room with high ceilings and principal bedroom suite with sitting room, study, walk in wardrobe and bathroom. Entrance Hall | Drawing Room | Kitchen/Dining Room | Further Reception Room with Kitchen | Principal Bedroom Suite with Sitting Room, Study, Bathroom and Walk in Wardrobe | Four Further Bedrooms | Two En Suite Shower Rooms | Family Bathroom | Utility Room | Cloakroom | Storage | Rear Garden | Front Garden | EPC Rating D