Marylebone & Fitzrovia Magazine December 2017

MARYLEBONE

& FITZROVIA DECEMBER 2017 s issue 019 s £5

Season’s eatings

Feast on cheese from La Fromagerie, shop for indulgent hampers and visit Simon Rogan’s new restaurant

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Christmas spirits s occasionwear for the festive season s escape to SRI LANKA

60 60 YEARS YEARS OFOF ADVENTURE ADVENTURE AND AND DISCOVERY DISCOVERY

CA109208_Superocean CA109208_Superocean Heritage II_420x297_The Heritage II_420x297_The City.indd Toutes City.indd les Toutes pages les pages

03/07/201703/07/2017 08:54 08:54

CONTENTS December 2017 28

Regulars 08 10

12

60

Editor’s letter Five minutes with...

Olivia von Halle, founder of the eponymous silk sleepwear brand The agenda A cultural round-up of what to read, see and do this December Feast your eyes

’Tis the season to indulge, in fashion that is

14

In present company The capital’s tastemakers reveal what they’d like to give and receive this year

Features

92

36

20

42

84

20 Simon says

Chef Simon Rogan ends

2017 with a bang, as he

opens a new restaurant

and test kitchen 24 The big cheese

Patricia Michelson,

founder of La

Fromagerie, reveals

how to assemble a

winning festive cheeseboard 28 Acquired tastes

The most indulgent

hampers to add to

your gift list 48 An open book

Seven books illustrated

by Andy Warhol give a

glimpse into his early

days as an artist 88 Christmas cheer

How to stock your

drinks trolley 92 Shaken & stirred

Cocktails to pack a

punch this Christmas,

as recommended by

local bartenders 106 A new dawn

Why Sri Lanka should

be on your travel

bucket list

35 Collection

57 Fashion

82 Health & beauty

99 Travel

44 Art

77 Interiors

84 Food & drink

113 Property

MARYLEBONE

& FITZROVIA D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 s iss u e 0 1 9

Editor Lauren Romano Assistant Editor Melissa Emerson Contributing Editors Hannah Lemon Camilla Apcar Collection Editors Mhairi Graham Richard Brown Acting Assistant Editor Marianne Dick Brand Consistency & Senior Designer Laddawan Juhong Production Hugo Wheatley Jamie Steele Alice Ford General Manager Fiona Smith Executive Director Sophie Roberts Managing Director Eren Ellwood

Proudly published by

s

editor e

From the

FEATURE

In

present company

The capital’s tastemakers reveal what they want to give – and receive – this Christmas

e Karam Sethi

Founder, JKS restaurants

“I received a print of Francis Bacon’s Self Portrait Seated (1970) one Christmas – that was a memorable gift. This year, I’d like to see the new Herringbone griddle pan from Crane Cookware under the tree. All its pieces combine style and functionality and they’re virtually indestructible.

“I also love La Fromagerie. I’m always in the Marylebone shop – it sources fantastic cheeses that can be picked out for Christmas cheeseboards. It also makes up hampers that make for great gifts.”

Hoppers is now open in St Christopher’s Place

ABOVE: C6 hErriNGBONE TWO hOB GriDDlE PAN, £145, cranecookware.coM

Paul Smith

Jason Basmajian

Creative director, Cerruti

“The best Christmas present I have ever received was a surprise visit from my entire family when I first moved to Paris. It was great. We celebrated together in my apartment and it really underlined what Christmas means to me: time with loved ones.

“It’s a pleasure to give, but we have a no gifts policy among close friends and family. Instead, I would like to give my time and experience to young people in the industry who need guidance. We started a collaboration with the Parsons Paris design school this year and it has really inspired me to share my knowledge with the next generation.

“In return, I would like to receive some quiet time with loved ones to read, cook and watch films. As I enjoy travelling I wouldn’t mind a trip away to somewhere I’ve never been, such as Patagonia or Bhutan.”

Designer “Many years ago, my wife Pauline made me a small tapestry with a heart on it.

More recently she commissioned somebody to make me a tape measure in ceramic, which she put into a box covered in tailoring fabric that she’d hand-stitched. I really value gifts that involve effort and thought.

“For the family it gets more and more difficult every year. We’ve given ‘the camera’, ‘the painting’, ‘the holiday’ and so on. But I always try to be attentive to conversations and register when somebody has mentioned something that further down the line might make a nice gift.

A friend mentioned to me recently that she was feeling a bit down but that her love of gardening cheered her up, so I bought her a copy of a fantastic book: The Art of Making Gardens by another friend of mine, Luciano Giubbilei.”

Amanda Wakeley Fashion designer

“One year I was lucky enough to receive Terry O’Neill’s iconic black and white photo of a windswept Brigitte Bardot from my husband Hugh. He had Terry write a special message on it for me. It’s gorgeous. This year I’d like to receive a new pair of powder skis... and a heli-skiing trip to Alaska or Japan to use them!

“When it comes to shopping for Hugh, my first port of call is always Berluti. Every piece is so beautifully designed and crafted; I think I get as much pleasure choosing a present from there as he does receiving it. Connolly will definitely feature on my Christmas shopping circuit, too – Isabel Ettedgui has done the most incredible job of curating the brand as well as creating a divine retail experience.”

ABOVE: Luciano GiubbiLei: The arT of MakinG GarDenS, MErrEll PuBlishErs, £45, MerreLLpubLiSherS.coM

riGhT: Au GrAND jOur lEAThEr POrTfOliO, £1,490, BErluTi, berLuTi.coM

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“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality” – Washington Irving Gastronomically speaking, December is the ultimate endurance test. If at any point you’re not within arm’s reach of a cocktail sausage/glass of mulled cider/tub of Quality Street, then you’re doing something wrong. Indulging is inevitable – so we dedicate this issue to eating, drinking and merriment.

La Fromagerie founder Patricia Michelson tells us why there’s more to a cheeseboard than Stilton (p.24); while we compile a list of the best Yuletide hampers (p.28). Those who don’t plan on budging from the sofa should check out our guide to the spirits able to diffuse even the most tense game of Monopoly with the in-laws (p.88). If the Christmas pudding-infused vodka fails to keep the peace, or you can’t face another turkey and stuffing sandwich, banish cabin fever with a visit to Simon Rogan’s new Blandford Street restaurant (p.20).

Let the festive feasting commence...

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DISTRIBUTION: The Marylebone & Fitzrovia Magazine is distributed in Marylebone, Fitzrovia and the surrounding areas

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8

Lauren Romano Editor Follow us on Twitter @MandFMagazine

On the

cover

Also published by

R u n w i ld M ed i a G r o u p

Patricia Michelson, founder and director of la fromagerie, image credit: alessio donna.

READ michelson’s SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PERFECT cheeseboard ON PAGE 24.

luxurylondon.co.uk A website. A mindset. A lifestyle.

Regulars

5 minutes with... farm. I have fond memories of riding my first horse, Sparkle.

Now I live in Ladbroke Grove.

I love the markets and the vibrancy of the area.

On the weekends, I like to

hyde park, image credit: i wei huang/shutterstock

unwind by escaping to the country, chilling out and riding my horse, Herman.

London is best for autumn walks through Hyde Park.

I go with my son, husband and dog.

My most treasured item of clothing is a black velvet opera

One of my favourite places in London is Mount Street.

coat my grandmother made my mother when she was a teenager.

Jessica McCormack’s salon on Carlos Place is definitely among the city’s best kept secrets.

My first job involved dancing outside a shop called Girl Heaven in Dartford’s Bluewater Shopping Centre dressed as a fairy.

I was 16.

JESSICA MCCORMACK ON carlos place

My most unusual job was

working as a ‘drag princess’ in a nightclub in Leeds. There’s a bit of a theme here!

Setting up my own fashion brand in Islington was exciting, extremely hard work and terrifying at times. For five years, I worked through every holiday and missed out on endless social events.

However, if there was only one item I could save from a fire, it would be my

OLIVIA VON HALLE The founder of the eponymous silk sleepwear brand on how she plans to celebrate the festive season

“This year, I’ve asked Father Christmas to leave me a side saddle under the tree”

I buy clothes at Alessandra Rich, The Vampire’s Wife, Rejina Pyo and Olivia von Halle, of course.

STELLA GREEN FLASH SILK PUFFER JACKET, £895, oliviavonhalle.com

Over the next few months, we’re launching bespoke silk puffa jackets, pink cashmere tracksuits and pyjamas covered in jewels and ladybirds.

For Christmas, both mine and kent, image credit: andrew fletcher/ shutterstock

my husband’s families will be coming to ours. It’ll be chaos!

This year, I’ve asked Father Christmas to leave me a side

The model Isabella Blow has been my greatest inspiration,

saddle under the tree.

although my parents certainly influenced my ambitions: I wasn’t allowed branded clothes so I made my name a brand.

I grew up in Kent (right) on a

engagement ring.

Do I have any regrets? None I can say here!

Left: boots and helmet, image credit: nicole gordine/shutterstock

My only advice is don’t listen to anyone’s advice. Follow your gut.

Olivia von Halle is part of The Wedding Gallery, now open at 1 Marylebone Road, NW1, the-weddinggallery.com 10

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ADV SANTI&SANTI - PHOTO P.BRAMATI

CAVE COLLECTION BY MARCO PIVA – DESIGN: ACQUASANTA LOOP WOOL & SILK AND WOOL & SILK RELIEF - 400X300 CM

LU XU R Y CU S T O M M A D E R U G S D ES IG NED IN IT A L Y LONDON • 62-64 BROOK STREET, MAYFAIR • +44 (0) 20 3887 4589 MILANO • VIA A. MANZONI, 45 • +39 02 8690570 MOSCOW | SHANGHAI | JEDDAH | RIYADH | LOS ANGELES | BAKU | TEHRAN | TOKYO | OSAKA S

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P ARIS МAISON ET OBJET JANUARY 19-23, 2018 HALL 8

Regulars

The agenda

3

Cultural news and events from in and around London

market research

2 1

All turkey and no trimmings makes for a dull Chistmas dinner.

Cue this doorstop of a cookbook, which boasts more than 200 of chef David Tanis’s simple, satisfying recipes, most of which are vegetablebased and focus on the best seasonal produce available. £32, published by Artisan, waterstones.com

kusmi tea has collaborated with alain ducasse to create its first white tea blend, with delicate raspberry and rose notes. £39, 15 ma rylebone H igh Street, W1U, uk .kusm itea.com

retail therapy Designer outlet Bicester Village, which can be reached directly by train from Marylebone station, has opened 30 new boutiques, including Joseph and Orlebar Brown, as well as new eatery the Secret Garden Café, for shoppers in need of an energy boost. bicestervillage.com

under the hammer

4

Embroidery house Hand & Lock hosts its 250th anniversary black-tie gala dinner this month, followed by an auction of handbags designed by the likes of Vivienne Westwood.

6 December, tickets £190 each, handembroidery.com

6

5 set the table For a more colourful Christmas dinner this year, look to Emma Bridgewater’s festive patterned pottery. Our favourite designs are Robin in a Starry Night and Holly Wreath, decorated with blood oranges, holly and fir cones.

81a Marylebone High Street, W1U emmabridgewater.co.uk

Silly Old Bear For the first time in almost 40 years, the V&A will present a variety of original drawings and memorabilia of A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard’s Winnie-the-Pooh. The exhibition will feature around 230 works from 1920 to the present day.

9 December – 8 April 2018, vam.ac.uk

©Egmont & the Shepard Trust

12

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

DURABLE

BY DESIGN MADE WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE FXT B A L L I S T I C N Y L O NTM

OUTLINES

LIVE TYPE

© 2017 TUMI, INC.

PERFECTING THE JOURNEY

PERFECTING THE JOURNE 211 REGENT STREET . WESTFIELD SHEPHERDS BUSH . LONDON CITY AIRPORT CASE . HARRODS . SELFRIDGES TUMI.COM

IG__20170805_ADV_141_210X297_SP_R_CANARY_UK.indd 1

21/08/2017 13:35

In

present company

The capital’s tastemakers reveal what they want to give – and receive – this Christmas

e Karam Sethi

Founder, JKS restaurants

“I received a print of Francis Bacon’s Self Portrait Seated (1970) one Christmas – that was a memorable gift. This year, I’d like to see the new Herringbone griddle pan from Crane Cookware under the tree. All its pieces combine style and functionality and they’re virtually indestructible.

“I also love La Fromagerie. I’m always in the Marylebone shop – it sources fantastic cheeses that can be picked out for Christmas cheeseboards. It also makes up hampers that make for great gifts.”

Hoppers is now open in St Christopher’s Place

ABOVE: C6 HERRINGBONE TWO HOB GRIDDLE PAN, £145, cranecookware.com

Paul Smith

Designer “Many years ago, my wife Pauline made me a small tapestry with a heart on it.

More recently she commissioned somebody to make me a tape measure in ceramic, which she put into a box covered in tailoring fabric that she’d hand-stitched. I really value gifts that involve effort and thought.

“For the family it gets more and more difficult every year. We’ve given ‘the camera’, ‘the painting’, ‘the holiday’ and so on. But I always try to be attentive to conversations and register when somebody has mentioned something that further down the line might make a nice gift.

A friend mentioned to me recently that she was feeling a bit down but that her love of gardening cheered her up, so I bought her a copy of a fantastic book: The Art of Making Gardens by another friend of mine, Luciano Giubbilei.”

ABOVE: Luciano Giubbilei: The Art of Making GARDENS, Merrell Publishers, £45, merrellpublishers.com

e

e

FEATURE

Jason Basmajian

Creative director, Cerruti “The best Christmas present I have ever received was a surprise visit from my entire family when I first moved to Paris. It was great. We celebrated together in my apartment and it really underlined what Christmas means to me: time with loved ones.

“It’s a pleasure to give, but we have a no gifts policy among close friends and family. Instead, I would like to give my time and experience to young people in the industry who need guidance. We started a collaboration with the Parsons Paris design school this year and it has really inspired me to share my knowledge with the next generation.

“In return, I would like to receive some quiet time with loved ones to read, cook and watch films. As I enjoy travelling I wouldn’t mind a trip away to somewhere I’ve never been, such as Patagonia or Bhutan.”

Amanda Wakeley Fashion designer

“One year I was lucky enough to receive Terry O’Neill’s iconic black and white photo of a windswept Brigitte Bardot from my husband Hugh. He had Terry write a special message on it for me. It’s gorgeous. This year I’d like to receive a new pair of powder skis... and a heli-skiing trip to Alaska or Japan to use them!

“When it comes to shopping for Hugh, my first port of call is always Berluti. Every piece is so beautifully designed and crafted; I think I get as much pleasure choosing a present from there as he does receiving it. Connolly will definitely feature on my Christmas shopping circuit, too – Isabel Ettedgui has done the most incredible job of curating the brand as well as creating a divine retail experience.”

right: au grand jour leather portfolio, £1,490, berluti, berluti.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

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e David Gandy Model

“I’ve had so many great presents from so many great people – it would be too hard to choose one in particular. I think the thought someone puts into it is the most important thing. I always aim to make my presents personal, although above all I prefer to see friends and family and to get everyone together.

There isn’t anything I need, so spending time with the people who are special and important to me is what it’s all about.”

David Gandy is ambassador for luxury menswear brand London Sock Company, londonsockcompany.com

IMAGE CREDIT: ALAN CLARKE

Carmel Allen

Creative director, Linley “The present I loved most was from my parents, who were notoriously bad at gift giving because there were nine children and everything was rather last minute. I’d finished university and was heading off to Rome to complete my studies, so they gave me a very special watch with Roman numerals. I was blown away that they’d given it so much thought and I still wear it every day.

“I love Peter Hone’s architectural plaster casts and will be buying a few from the Sir John Soane’s Museum for close friends. The British Museum and the V&A shops are treasure troves and I tend to do a lot of my Christmas shopping there. The Foot of Hermes from the British Museum is definitely for the ‘what do you buy for someone who has everything’ list. From Linley, I’ll be buying lots of AlphaBoxes for my godchildren and sisters – everyone loves a box with their initial on it. I hope I receive one in my stocking, too.”

ABOVE: alphabox, £150, linley, davidlinley.com; right: the foot of hermes, £50, british museum, britishmuseumshoponline.org

IMAGE CREDIT: MEL YATES

FEATURE

RIGHT: TOLEDO 1951, £POA, VACHERON CONSTANTIN, Vacheron-constantin.com

Mark Hix

Francis Sultana

Chef

Interior designer

“The chef Valentine Warner gave me a brass pestle and mortar that once belonged to the food writer Elizabeth David, five piece gourmet knife set, £525, and it’s still the best flintandflame.co.uk gift I’ve ever received.

“As you can imagine, I’ve tried and tested dozens of knives over the years.

They should be a purchase for life and, if looked after, will certainly outlive you.

Flint and Flame knives are of unbeatable quality and have the right look and feel – you can even get your name engraved into the rosewood handle. I’ll be giving them as gifts this year. I’d like a Cobb barbecue. I love cooking fish straight out of the sea, but hot barbecues are a tad tricky onboard a boat. You can pick up and move the Cobb tabletop barbecue with your bare hands while lunch is on the go.”

“I’m currently designing and making a customised desk with internal drawers for my partner David Gill – it’s something that he will use every day. The best gift I’ve ever received was a Toledo Vacheron Constantin watch, but this year I’d like a ten-day holiday to Mustique.”

IMAGE CREDIT: TOMO BREJC

e

Alice Temperley Fashion designer

“I once received a beautiful huge hippopotamus skull that now lives in my kitchen – it reminds me of seeing them on the river banks in Kenya when I was a kid. I make a few special gifts every year. It’s easier as we get one person from the family to buy for as a Secret Santa. This means you can really think about making it personal. First up, I will be making my boyfriend a textile hanging for some large windows in his new house.

“I’d like to be taken on an adventure... or even just be treated to breakfast in bed. I’m a hopeless romantic and surprises and being super thoughtful are always the best, no matter how big or small.”

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e

Ozwald Boateng Fashion designer

“The best present I’ve ever received is my kids. If I could give anything this Christmas, I’d give my parents more time. I’d also like to find a new bikram yoga spot in central London because the one I used to go to has just closed down and yoga is the only gift I give myself.”

Emma Bridgewater Potter

“Perhaps my all-time favourite gift was a bundle of sticks that turned into a cherry orchard, an inspired present from my husband Matthew one year. Now, ten years later, it is a cloud of blossom in spring and produces baskets full of fruit in summer. The most exciting thing is when a present lasts a lifetime. For our wedding in 1987, we were given a wind-up leather tape measure that has measured all our houses and gardens since: an unqualified success. When it comes to giving gifts, I’m spoilt for choice in having our own factory that makes the most perfect personalised pottery.

A teapot and some mugs with the name of the recipient is probably a favourite gift of mine.”

personalised polka dot teapot, from £59.95, emma bridgewater, emmabridgewater.co.uk

Martine Assouline Co-founder, Assouline

“My printer gave my husband Prosper and I the best gift possible when we received La Colombe d’Or. It was the first copy of the first book by Assouline Publishing and will always be very special to me for many reasons; one of them being that both of us had contributed so much to the creation of it as authors. This year, I’m going to smile – not only to the ones who smile back, but to everyone just as an invitation to feel better.”

LA COLOMBE D’OR, $85, ASSOULINE.COM

FEATURE

Jason Atherton Chef

“My wife, Irha, bought me a Rolex for my 40th birthday.

We didn’t have much at the time and we were religiously saving up for a house, but she had been putting money away for a while. I was so touched by it. I would love to buy her a beach house in the Philippines, her home country; somewhere for us to relax and contemplate life together – the beaches over there are incredible. I’d also organise a river cruise for my parents, as they’re always saying they’d love to go on one.

“If Father Christmas were a Michelin inspector, I would love a second star for Pollen Street Social please. I promise to leave him a glass of milk and a cookie.”

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

yacht-master ii, £13,700, rolex, rolex.com

William Banks-Blaney Founder, William Vintage “The most amazing gift I have ever received was from a couple whose house I decorated in New York when I was an interior designer.

They gave me an original Warhol.

“This Christmas, I’m aiming to give all my closest friends something that has their birthstone in it. I, on the other hand, would like a solid silver ice cream pint holder and a meal with everyone I love at the same table: the greatest luxury of all.”

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Simon says The chef behind the acclaimed L’Enclume in Cumbria returns to the capital with a new restaurant

Quick fire

W O R DS : L a u re n R o ma n o

S

imon Rogan is ending 2017 with a bang: first, his development kitchen and eight-seat chef’s table, Aulis London, opened quietly in Soho in October. Next, he’ll be tying his apron strings at Roganic, which is set to open on Blandford Street – in the space vacated by L’Autre Pied – this month.

Rogan isn’t perhaps as instantly recognisable a figure outside cheffing circles – he’s no Heston or Marco Pierre White, certainly (although he has worked for the latter and knocked the former’s Fat Duck off the Good Food Guide’s restaurant top spot in 2013) – but he’s had his fair share of high-profile cooking gigs.

Rogan’s CV includes a lengthy stint at Fera at Claridge’s, a position he stepped down from in April to focus on L’Enclume –

What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in London?

A meal I had at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon was my all-round best dinner experience, but as you’d expect, there have been so many memorable meals.

What’s your first memory of food?

My nan’s bread pudding; it was so nice.

What’s your go-to dish to cook at home?

A really good quality steak and chips with a proper old-school garnish: grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, peas.

Do you have any guilty food pleasures?

I do love fish finger sarnies.

If you could pick three people to have dinner with, who would they be?

Roger Federer, the guy is just the most perfect human being you could ever meet; Liam Gallagher, he is actually a right foodie, or so he told me; and Brad Pitt, every man would like to be like him, no?

all images of development kitchen aulis london; right: simon rogan

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

his flagship two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Cartmel, Cumbria, named as the UK’s top restaurant for the fourth consecutive year in 2016.

Here, you’re as likely to find him on his farm – ‘our farm’, as he refers to the expansive plot just outside the village that supplies almost all the ingredients for his cooking – as you are in the kitchen. His Cumbrian empire now includes a trinity of eateries; as well as L’Enclume, there’s the more relaxed Rogan & Co and a pub, the Pig and Whistle.

It all sounds pretty idyllic, so what compelled him to move to Marylebone?

“We loved being in Marylebone the last time around,” he says of the first incarnation of Roganic, a pop-up that he ran in the area for two years back in 2011. “I think the vibe really suited us; it’s a great place to live and work. Plus, the variety and quality of the food scene has gone from strength to strength – we want to become part of it and hopefully add a little something.”

What that little something different will be remains unclear as the menu (and most of the restaurant details for that matter) is currently under wraps. But one thing’s for sure, the rebooted Roganic 2.0 will be ingredient-led, with produce coming from Rogan’s farm as well as the cream of the crop of British suppliers. Guests can expect “a Britishinfluenced, smart, clean and imaginative menu, cooked simply with maximum flavour due to the quality of the best produce available to us”, the elusive chef adds.

Rogan’s approach – open pop-up, close pop-up, reappear with a permanent restaurant – seems to be a tried and tested formula in the restaurant business these days.

22

“Pop-ups will always be popular because they offer an inexpensive way of getting a foothold into the restaurant scene,” he says.

“They often showcase new and exciting talent that will gain a reputation to go on to bigger things.”

He hopes his reputation for produce is on a par with his food. “As our ingredients have got better and better, the food style has become simpler – because if they are that good we try to cook them in a sympathetic manner. The food I produce now is very different to three or four years ago,” he admits. “I prefer a less complicated, unfussy style where above all, flavour is everything.

What was the first thing he grew? “Cripes, radishes, I think!” he laughs. “We grew so many things to start with: microgreens, carrots, it could even have been a bed of Good King Henry.”

Rogan’s green fingers were nurtured in childhood. “My father was a fruit and vegetable salesman so from an early age I had a fascination with markets and what you could do with produce,” he says. “Both my parents were working so I was pretty much left to my own devices when I got home from school. I began to use the stuff my dad got from work to regularly cook a family meal, so you could say that period of my life influenced me greatly.”

But despite his simplicity mantra, innovation is still constantly at the forefront of Rogan’s mind – and palate. His new development kitchen, Aulis London, will be run alongside Roganic. Here diners can “observe the latest creations and techniques, hear about each dish as it comes to fruition and the story of where the ingredients come from”.

“For me, it’s really important to have a development space away from the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant kitchen,” Rogan continues. The chef’s most interesting discoveries have involved rotary evaporators and the “manipulation of ingredients at low temperature to produce flavours of amazing clarity and freshness”.

Whether he’s harvesting legumes or experimenting with laboratory apparatus, Rogan’s on a roll and his is certainly not a name to overlook in 2018.

5-7 Blandford Street, WIU, roganic.uk

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

fine mechanical watchmaking, from japan.

Trimatic symbolizes three Seiko inventions that ensure the highest levels of reliability and durability in its mechanical watches.

The BIG

cheese Patricia Michelson, founder and director of La Fromagerie, on the best truckles and tipples for a festive feast

“T

here is a gentle thud in the Cheese Maturing Room at the moment – rather like a child throwing a ball against a wall.

Thud… thud… thud goes the monotonous tone. The turning of cheeses, especially the Stilton, is part of our regular routine, but when you receive hundreds of cheeses of all shapes and sizes – around two tonnes arrived last month – it’s a laborious, but rewarding task. I love this time of year for the sheer variety of produce we sell. Seeing the fruits of our labour displayed on the table is a culmination of a year’s hard work.

Not everyone has family around at Christmas, or even friends; some of us are on our own either through choice or design, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the simple pleasure of cheese. It almost feels fitting given the time of year – to break bread and wine with a little cheese in celebration.

I’m looking at this through rose-tinted lenses of course, because in reality the worst arguments are always when family, or friends for that matter, are thrown together like this – then there’s the cursing that we have bought way too much food, especially cheese, since it is often still languishing in the fridge or bike shed weeks after Christmas. I have to say, I don’t like buying too much, and I will gently persuade anyone who I feel is going over the top, or trying too hard to please all the family by getting too many varieties.

There are the firm favourites – Cheddar, Stilton, Roquefort, Brie, washed rind soft cheeses and fancy little

goat’s cheeses. Our shops in Marylebone, Highbury and Bloomsbury are turned into a showcase of cheese porn – with long tables piled high with cheese of all different shapes, styles and aromas possible. The queue, which usually threads its way down the road, is disciplined in its quiet anticipation – yet we know only too well the irritation the waiting causes, so we ease it with samples, hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies. We always hold back a few baby Stilton and Cheddar as well as boxed Mont d’Or for the last minute shoppers who rush in at 5pm on Christmas Eve in a blind panic.

Mont d’Or is always a big seller at festive occasions: it’s at its peak in winter, since the season starts in late September and finishes in March. We love to serve small boxed cheeses that can be baked like a fondue – it’s the perfect dish for unexpected guests or younger members of the family who want to have their own supper party.

I can’t decide whether Christmas should be all about tradition, or about trying something new. It’s not absolutely necessary to wheel out the Stilton at lunch on Christmas Day – maybe wait until early evening when there’s been time to relax (and digest) to have cheese and biscuits with your chosen wine or spirit.

Looking further ahead still to New Year’s Eve, I’ll be enjoying the Beaufort Chalet d’Alpage, our signature cheese that has been matured specially for the festive season for 30 months or more, together with a slice of our Brie aux Truffes as the clock strikes midnight – and a glass or two of champagne.

FEATURE pATRICIA MICHELSON, IMAGE CREDIT: ALESSIO DONNA; ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF LA FROMAGERIE

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PERFECT PAIRINGS

Torta de Dehesa

Michelson’s suggestions for matching the cheese trolley with the drinks one Sherry: You can’t keep sherry for long once it has been opened, so use it again for a cheeseboard that includes Manchego, or a rather lovely rich and unctuous Torta de Dehesa, made from unpasteurised Churra ewe’s milk with vegetarian thistle rennet. The herd is managed on Hacienda Zorita, a self-contained organic farming estate in Salamanca, and the cheese’s smooth texture is silky with a rich and earthy aroma.

Port: Port is traditionally reserved for farmhouse Cheddar and Stilton, but it’s also great with the nutty acidity of goat’s cheese.

Something like an Azeitão from southern Portugal, which almost flows with ewe’s milk curd as you break open the cheese; or Balanchares Tunel Ceniza from Andalucia,

Balanchares

Manchego

FEATURE

Mont d’Or a sharp goat’s milk log with a dusting of charcoal ash. I also enjoy a slightly chilled white port with fresh goat’s cheese and soft creamy Wigmore ewe’s milk cheese from Berkshire.

White wine: Whether the rich, buttery style of Chardonnay or the racy yet balanced acidity of Sauvignon, there are many cheeses that delight in being paired with white wine.

Favourites such as Comté and Mont d’Or come to mind immediately with Chardonnay; but there are blue cheeses, too, such as a young Zelu Koloria from the Basque region with its metallic hit of blue alongside the earthy sweetness of the ewe’s milk. This works well with white wines with a hint of salty sweetness. The lighter, fresher tasting goat’s cheeses are always perfect with a Sauvignon Blanc and, some may find this surprising, a farmhouse Cheddar with a lovely sharp bite.

Zelu Koloria

Saint-Marcellin

Red wine: I tend towards Italian reds for Christmas such as Barolo and Brunello, simply because they are great wines that work well with opulent dining. Cheeses can be rich, like Saint-Marcellin or a dense and mellow Brie-style Baron Bigod from Jonny Crickmore’s farm in Suffolk; as well as big blues such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort. If you want to go down the French route for wines, I always love Côtes du Rhône or Bordeaux for Christmas meals – enjoy the last drops with some Saint-Nectaire, which marries beautifully with the smooth yet fully-bodied fruitiness of the wine, before moving onto port. Ewe’s milk cheese from southwest France, such as Ossau-Iraty and Napoleon with their sweet notes, are great with bold reds like a Madiran or Gigondas. It’s at this time of year that I also love the flavours of Camembert Calvados: it’s a truly Christmassy taste paired with a glass of Calvados, and if you put my book Cheese on your wish list you’ll be able to make this yourself rather than buy it from me.

Baron Bigod

Saint-Nectaire

”

Camembert Calvados

2-6 Moxon Street, W1U, lafromagerie.co.uk

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acquired

tastes

on ist ic

gif t fo rb usi nes s

or p leasu re

For a Yuletide full of feasting, Camilla Apcar cherry-picks this season’s most indulgent hampers

1

two oasts, Thirteen fine t

foies

f go 25 1 and gras

Harrodian Hamper, ÂŁ2,500, Harrods all wrapped up: O rg ani c Zam b i an h o ne y, Se v i l l e o r ange and Scot t i sh w hisky ma r m al ade , Wi nte r s pi c e c ho c o l ate al mond s ha rrods.c om

–a iar v ca

d he

feature more than six kilog se, with ram chee so g i fh b e ard Th ,s o ieties d var age elldw an ft

2

3 Christmas Pantry Hamper, £185, Selfridges al l w r ap p e d u p : A ssor t e d m i n i m i n c e p i e s , Tr adi t i onal pa n etto n e , W h it e c h oc o l ate a n d p i stac h i o bi s c ui t s se l fr i dge s. c o m

The Ultimate Paxton’s Collection, £1,000, Paxton & Whitfield a l l wrapped up: Ba ked fig b all, C hedda r T ru ck l e , Pe ar an d van i lla confit fo r ha rd cheese pax ton andwhit field.c o.uk

4 The Crowd Pleaser, £300, Harvey Nichols al l w r ap p e d up : G r a p e fr u i t and gi nge r m ar m al ade , G i a n t c h ocol at e coi n, G r e e n ol i v e s w it h l e m on and al m o n d h ar v e yni c h ol s. c om

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

29

6

Mayfair Hamper, £895, Claridge’s

5

al l w r a p p e d u p : Se t of f o ur m ug s , Age d N eg r o n i , Cla r i dg e ’ s b l e n d t ea c l ar i dg e s . co . uk

The Big Day Hamper, £495, Daylesford all wrapped up: Almo nd ric c i a r e l l i , Day lesford sloe gin, Single Glo u c e ste r day lesford.c om

7

Get celebrations underwa yw ith a

tr

al l w r ap p e d up : Al l b u tte r sh or tb r e a d, Si lv e r - plate d te a str a i ne r , Cogn a c c h oc olate tr u ffl e s th e w ol se l e y. c om

s (not the edible kind racker ) nd c sa ne wi of

io The Wolseley Christmas Hamper, £350, The Wolseley

feature

The Imperial Hamper, £6,000, Fortnum & Mason all wrapped up: Ch o colat e co at ed cinnamon s pi ce bis cuit s, H ot banana pi ck l e, Four- p erso n ca nvas p i cni c rucksack f or t numa ndmason.c om

S

8

et to

las tw ats ell tre int y t o2 u 018 bea , com m’s u n t plete r with chef’s hat and Fo

Christmas Extravagance Hamper, £500, Betty’s b e ttys. c o. u k

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

9

al l w r ap p e d up : C h e r ry and al m ond f r u i t c ak e i n a ti n, C h oc ol ate de si r e s, L ady Be tty pe ppe r m i nt cr e am s

31

Regulars

O F

SPIRITS

t h e

s e a s o n

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, we know you deserve at least one of these in your stocking

wa rm the cock les A TAS TE OF c amp fir e emb er s a nd toasted ma r sh mall ow s.

Big Peat at Christmas 2017, £53.95, thewhiskyexchange.com

BERRY CHRISTMAS YO UR c h oice of CHEESeB O ARD STAR T S a nd e nds HE RE. Château Cheval Blanc 2012, £430, clos19.com

SWEET TOOTH a fu n ALTERNAT IV E to mull ed win e.

H ig h gr ov e ’s Ch r is tmas Pudding W ine , £10.50, Highgrovegardens.com

GOOD CHEER YOU CAN’T GO WR ONG WITH A COLOMBI AN RUM TH AT ’S BEE N MAT UR ED FO R 34 y earS. Dictado r 34YO (1981), £176, hedonism. co.uk

a w e e d r am notes of c a ra m e l , va ni l la a nd f u dge A LL TH E WAY FRO M B O NNI E SCOTL A ND .

Ede n Mi l l Oak G i n, £ 3 0 , e de nm i l l .c om

F ESTI V E FAV OURITE ADD TO A FRUITY RED FOR THE most impressive glühwein.

C h r i stm as M u l l e d C up, £ 2 7 . 9 5 , m aste r ofm alt.c om

g in- g l e be l l s to p u p t h is r ub y r e d gi n w i t h p r osecc o fo r a festi ve toast. g r e e n a l l’ s sl oe g i n , £ 1 7 . 4 5 , m aster o f m a lt. c o m

Fin e VINTA GE Candied fruits, flowers, spice and all things nice.

Lo uis XIII C o gnac, £2,300, ha rrods. com

bi g f ish a champagne of caviar extract and the finest chardonnay grapes.

L u v i e nz, £ 8 8 0 , l u v i e nz.com

z e st is b e st a pply to t h e r i ght k i nd of toast.

S i r N i ge l’ s O r ange Mar m al ade V odk a, £ 2 5 . 5 0 , fortnumandmason.com

tall order only 299 of these Patrón TEQUILAS are BOTTLED BY LALIQUE. Patrón en Lalique: Serie 2, $7,500, reservebar.com

R oya l compani on Or ig in a lly mad e for k in g E dwa r d V II i n 1903 by b e r ry Br os. & Rudd.

Th e Kin g ’s Gin g e r, £22.50, bb r . com

32

w e th r e e k in g s i nf use d w it h m yr r h a nd fr a nk i nc en se fo r every l o ng j o u r n ey.

Edinburgh Gin Christmas Edition, £36.17, thewhiskyexchange.com

p op star sta r t c el eb r at i ng w i th t h is 1 6 - year mat u re d c ha m pa gne .

Dom Pérignon P2 Vintage 2000, £290, clos19.com

age of excellence a head y m i x of d r ie d f r u it, h a ze l n u ts, c i nn am o n a n d w oo d y to b a cco .

R e m y M a r t i n XO , £ 1 3 4 , thewhiskyexchange.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

TO READ MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS VISIT www.luxurylondon.co.uk

@luxurylondonofficial 

@luxurylondonofficial 

@theofficialll

C AT H E R I N E B E S T 1 A L B E M A R L E S T R E E T, M A Y FA I R

collection Winter wonders Add instant sparkle this holiday season with Chopard.

The Swiss jeweller has launched a fresh interpretation of its Happy Diamonds collection, featuring floating white diamonds fashioned like falling snowflakes.

From ÂŁ1,060, chopard.co.uk

Bracelet set, ÂŁ3,520; Happy Snowflake watch, POA

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COLLECTION

Cartier’s New Home Is there anything by Cartier that we don’t want under the tree this Christmas? Case in point, these one-of-a-kind platinum pieces, in festive red and gold. Head to the new Cartier Room at Harrods, opening on 5 December, to see these dazzling showstoppers for yourself.

POA, harrods.com

Coming up

roses The perfect plus one this holiday season? A twinkling diamond by William & Son. The British jeweller has updated its timeless and romantic Beneath the Rose high jewellery collection, starring rose-cut sapphires in glistening white and hot pink.

POA, williamandson.com

Velvet crush Worn by everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Cindy Crawford, Diane Kordas is renowned for fine jewellery with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. Elevate evening looks with plush velvet chokers, accented by a diamond centrepiece, and long drop earrings adorned with stars.

Earrings from £1,495, chokers from £3,207, dianekordasjewellery.com

Loquet for luck

Bright spark Julien Riad Sahyoun transforms nature into tantalisingly fine jewellery, mingled with ethnic shapes inspired by his Moroccan heritage. The Just Radiant Sun collection offers a joyful dose of sunshine all winter long, set with pavé diamonds.

From £8,200, jsay.com

36

Created by Sheherazade Goldsmith and Laura Bailey, Loquet London brings lockets and charms together in perfect unity. The jeweller has added pendants to its popular repertoire, including whimsical gem-studded stars, crescent moons and lucky four-leaf clovers.

Loquets from £300, pendants from £650, loquetlondon.com

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giovanniraspini.com

5, South Molton Street - London LONDON MILAN ROME FLORENCE VENICE MONTE CARLO

ticking all the

boxes

Behind the scenes at Wempe’s New Bond Street store, with UK managing director Lynn Schroeder W o r d s : D av i d Tay l o r

Lynn Schroeder; all other images: wempe on new bond street

O

n 5 May 1878, 21-year-old certified watchmaker Gerhard Diedrich Wempe founded an eponymous company with the view of trading in pre-owned timepieces.

With scant starting capital, the plucky German set up shop in his aunt’s house in Elsfleth, Lower Saxony, transforming his relative’s front room into what would become the area’s foremost jeweller – earning himself the moniker Gülden Gerd (Golden Gerd) in the process.

Wempe’s business quickly expanded and, through re-investing profits into the opening of more stores, by 1914 he was the proprietor of five jewellers in Hamburg.

On assuming control in 1921, Gerhard’s son Herbert began redesigning the boutiques into a uniform aesthetic, while expanding stock to include some of the biggest names in Swiss watchmaking.

Having survived Germany’s severe pre-Second World War recession, the company fell into the control of grandson Hellmut in 1963. The next 40 years would see the family empire expand to include 29 branches across the world.

In 2013, Hellmut’s daughter, Kim-Eva, took the reins, successfully increasing turnover from €167 million to €441 million in less than a decade.

Wempe’s London store, which opened in 1997, relocated from 135 New Bond Street to the larger 440 sq m premises a hop, skip and jump away at 43-44 in 2007, expanding internally by a further 220 sq m four years later.

collection

UK managing director, Lynn Schroeder, has worked in the London branch for 12 years, and puts Wempe’s success largely down to the acumen and the loyalty of her staff. “If you've been visiting Wempe over the past ten years, you will have kept returning to see the same faces,” she says. “That’s something you won’t find anywhere else.

It plays a big role in terms of trust.”

Since 2007, Wempe London has achieved year-on-year double-digit growth, reflecting the capital’s growing status as a destination for fine watches. “People in UK have become far more educated in watches,” says Schroeder.

“They know a lot more when they walk into the store.

Internationally, London is a world city, a business city, it’s increasingly important for our brand.”

Not only does Wempe stock watches from Rolex, Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet and IWC, but, since 2005, has also manufactured its own timepieces in Germany’s watchmaking heartland, Glashütte.

Looking forward, Schroeder hopes to safeguard the success of Wempe London through training junior sales assistants without the pressure of having to sell immediately to the public. Says Schroeder: “We can offer people the chance to learn everything in a practical way, so that they really go into depth in terms of products, materials and mechanisms without the pressure of selling to customers straight away. We’d rather our sales members really understand a product before they advise our clients.”

With its staff of tomorrow already in the making, the future looks bright for Wempe. “We’ll always be delighted to serve you,” says Schroeder. “And we’ll take all the time in the world to do so.” Gülden Gerd would certainly approve. wempe.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

Wempe Glashütte Established in 2005, Wempe watches are manufactured in the fabled watchmaking town of Glashütte. Here, state-of-the-art chronometer testing is carried out in the town’s reclaimed and refurbished observatory, the original site of Herbert Wempe’s groundbreaking collaboration with Otto Lange, grandson of F.A. Lange, the celebrated German philosopher and sociologist. Between them, Wempe and Lange founded a regulating institution for young watchmakers.

Why, then, after almost 130 years, did Wempe decide to start making watches in-house? “Watch prices have been getting higher and higher,” explains Schroeder. “When Gerhard Diedrich Wempe established the business, there were only a few professions. You had the hairdresser, the doctor, the jeweller and so on. Mr Wempe wanted to be a jeweller for everyone. He thought that people should be able to enter a jewellers at 18 or 21 and be able to afford their first watch. Creating our own timepieces was a way of ensuring that they could.”

Wempe Glashütte produces two series of timepieces, the Zeitmeister and the Chronometerwerke, available in all the company’s worldwide stores. wempe-glashuette.de

Zeitmeister Chronograph, £2,995

Chronometerwerke Automatic CW4, 18k gold, £13,150

39

The personal approach Casting aside conformity for the custom-built, George Bamford has spent the past decade putting the ‘you’ back in luxury. In the wake of an industry-first agreement with LVMH, the king of customisation has now created a watch of his own w o r d s : Rich a r d B r o w n

I

t was at a dinner party that George Bamford realised that his beloved black dial Daytona, given to him as an 18th birthday present – “yes, I’ll admit it, I was a brat back then” – was anything but unique.

Crestfallen, but determined to pursue something truly singular, George created two blackened watches; a Rolex Plexiglass Submariner and a Rolex GMT – one for himself and one for his father, JCB billionaire Lord Anthony Bamford (his mother, should you have failed to connect the dots, is Lady Bamford, founder of the Daylesford Organic Farmshops).

In 2004, his new timepiece strapped to his wrist, George embarked on a road trip around Italy. “I returned with orders for 25 more.” And lo, Bamford Watch Department was born.

“We started by looking at companies that were doing a similar thing,” explains the 36-year-old from the Mayfair townhouse he’s subsequently converted into the world’s most well-resourced man den (it features a wall of vintage stop

Tag Heuer Autavia Chrono Zenith Type 20 Chrono ‘Ton Up’

Bamford Mayfair

Bamford Mayfair

COLLECTION

FROM TOP: Tag Heuer Autavia Chrono; Zenith Pilot Chrono Tipo Cp-2; Tag Heuer Monaco Heritage

clocks and bespoke sculptures

by Natxo Frisuelos). “There were two businesses in particular that inspired me. The first was Bentley and Mulliner, the independent coachbuilder that made bespoke bodies during the 1930s and 40s. The second was Nike, and what it was doing on a personalisation front. I thought ‘why can’t you do that with watches?’”

Bamford began blackening stainless steel models from the likes of Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Panerai – not, it must be said, always with the blessing of the brands themselves.

Coating watches in military-grade PVD (physical vapour deposition), BWD created cases and bezels that were virtually scratch-proof and diamond hard.

“My mentality was always ‘how can I make this individual? How can I make it feel special?’”

Bamford’s run at producing one-of-akind wrist candy for sports stars and his socialite chums continued until summer 2017, when the modification maverick announced he was changing tack.

In June, BWD revealed an agreement with LVMH. Bamford had become the first customisation watch company to be officially authorised by a Swiss watchmaker. Rolex-Bamford watches are a thing no longer. Henceforth, the company will only be modifying watches belonging to the French luxury conglomerate.

So far, LVMH-owned Zenith has let Bamford loose on its Pilot Type 20 and Heritage Cronometro Tipo CP-2, the Swiss watchmaker guaranteeing warranties even after timepieces have been customised. Similar deals have been struck with LVMH stablemates TAG Heuer and Bulgari. The former has allowed George to tinker with its Autavia, Carrera and Monaco models; while the latter’s Octo Velocissimo, Octo Solotempo, Serpenti and Scuba watches are all now available for personalisation.

“The collaboration with LVMH is one of the most exciting and rewarding achievements we have accomplished as a business,” says Bamford. “To offer our take on these incredible timepieces from Zenith, TAG Heuer and Bulgari – I absolutely could not be happier.”

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

I first met George several years ago.

Back then we had talked about the revival of British watchmaking. He’d praised the protagonists of that story, in particular Bremont’s Giles and Nick English, and Giles Ellis at Schofield. I ventured that surely he must be harbouring ambitions of his own Bamford-branded watches?

“I would never produce my own watch unless it was absolutely right,” he had said. “It would have to be the right price, sit within the right market and allow for personalisation. The mechanical movement is also very important. I would want to have something that’s different, something that will make you go ‘wow, you’ve combined that with that!’”

Grand plans for a mechanical timepiece have been temporarily suspended. Before then we get the battery-powered Bamford Mayfair, a stainless-steel asymmetrical sports watch that evolved from a ‘service’ model that Bamford customers would be loaned whenever their timepiece went in for a check up.

“Clients became besotted with this service watch,” says George. “When I’d wear one, people would keep trying to buy it off my wrist. Which made me think there was something there.”

Choose between a 40mm matte black case with a matte ceramic bezel or a matte grey case with an anodised aluminium bezel. Straps come in rubber, nylon or leather.

The Mayfair is water resistant to 10 metres, sports LumiNova indices and houses the ever-reliable Japanese Miyota 2035 movement.

“Think of it as a holiday watch,” says George. “Throw it on; take it to the beach; go anywhere with it.”

In the flesh, the Mayfair is handsome, well-weighted and reassuringly solid. George says that most of his clients already possess a Rolex or Patek Philippe. For the fun factor alone, expect a Mayfair to join those collections.

Zenith x Bamford watches from £8,000, TAG Heuer x Bamford watches from £8,000, Bulgari x Bamford watches from £7,000, Bamford Mayfair, £425, bamfordwatchdepartment.com

41

COLLECTION

s eas o n’s gr e e tin gs £10, w hit e w ov e c ar d w it h engr av e d si lv e r mot if and ti ssu e - l i ne d envelo p e, sm yth son. c om

Objects of

Desire

Swap holly and gilded pine cones for an alternative festive wreath – with feathers £59.95, libertylondon.com

get cracking

merry

christmas

b e sp ok e ch oice o f g i f t s fr om £ 8 0 , w i l l i am an d s o n . co m

42

Year

c lockwise from top ch ristmas tree, £225, baccarat.com, image ©Palast; ang el , £16.95, s kand ium.com; grisela graham reindeer, £10, selfridges.com; diary, €55, astierdevillatte.com; mistl etoe bauble, from £13.50, petershamnurseries.com

ste r l in g silv e r g i f t s £ 2 1 0 e ac h , aspre y. co m

ew

A

A Happy d N n

from a Paul Smith ballpoint to a Turnbull & Asser silk handkerchief £ 5 0 0 for si x , for tnu m a n d m a s o n . co m

ondo on n . co. c o. u k s s l u x u ry llon

28241 Creed Viking_210x297_MayfairAd.indd 1

13/09/2017 09:51

ART

Double vision London Art Week Winter will take place for the first time this season, following the September edition that launched in 2013. The event is dedicated to pre-contemporary art, with talks and special exhibitions from dealers and galleries all within walking distance of each other – from Stephen Ongpin in Mason’s Yard up to Kallos Gallery on Davies Street.

1-8 December, londonartweek.co.uk

Alessandro Maganza, Two Allegorical Figures, 1556-1632, image courtesy of Stephen Ongpin Fine Art

ART

Prize lots Upcoming

E sti m at e: £70, 000 - £90, 000

Sold £1,929,000 E stimat e : £1,200,000 - £1,800,000

A fine and exquisite pair of ‘famille-rose’ ‘sanduo’ cups, Yongzheng marks and period “It is the combination of exquisite quality, provenance and rarity – no other comparable pair of cups is known – that makes these so appealing. The decoration was slightly unusual in that the ‘sanduo’ or three abundances motif usually combines the peach, pomegranate and finger citron. The inclusion of loquats, beautifully painted in soft yellow to blue tones, made them really rather different and special.

The shape of the cups and their glaze is exquisite. It was like holding two jewels of 18th-century Imperial porcelain in the hand.”

– Robert Bradlow, head of Chinese works of art at Sotheby’s London

Repainting, Jonathan Wateridge, 2011 London-based artist Jonathan Wateridge paints fabricated scenes of humdrum reality: an approach he has coined ‘fauxdocumentary’. For Repainting, Wateridge claims he “merely wanted a sense that [the couple’s] whole life, everything that they’re doing, is somehow in flux… If this had been a young couple in their twenties, perhaps the image would seem utopian, it could be aspirational, but this does something else”.

New Now, 7 December, phillips.com E sti m at e: £14, 000 The 1781 Woodland, Asprey X Hand & Lock To celebrate its 250th anniversary, embroidery house Hand & Lock has collaborated with 13 designers on one-off, collectable handbags to be auctioned in December. Pieces include this blue crocodile version of Asprey’s 1781 handbag, decorated with goldwork oak leaves and acorns.

Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust for aspiring craftspeople and the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery.

Hand & Lock charity handbag auction, 6 December, Drapers Hall, EC2N, handembroidery.com

sold: pair of ‘famille-rose’ ‘sanduo’ cups, Yongzheng marks and period, 8.7cm each, Important Chinese Art, 8 November, Sotheby’s London, image courtesy of Sotheby’s/sothebys.com upcoming, From TOP: Jonathan Wateridge, Repainting, 2011, oil on canvas, 282 x 400cm, image courtesy of Phillips/phillips.com; ASPREY, THE 1781 WOODLAND handbag in collaboration with Hand & Lock, blue seta crocodile

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

45

ART

force of inspiration

ART MEETS SCIENCE

shapes

throwing

in reaction to the Abstract Expressionism seen in the 1950s, a group of American artists brought a purist strand to abstract painting in the 1960s and 1970s. Among them was Sam Gilliam, who soaked canvases in paint and then folded them to spread the pigment. His work – from both then and now – will form a substantial part of Impulse!: an exhibition exploring colour and technique.

Until December 22, Pace, 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S, pacegallery.com

miniature genius A last chance to find delightful, pint-sized sculptures of favourite figures including Dickens, Orwell and John Betjeman (pictured) at Sladmore Contemporary.

Still Reading, until 4 December, 32 Bruton Place, W1J, sladmorecontemporary.com

Architectural and sculptural inspirations collide at Hauser & Wirth: think concrete and steel.

Structural Exercises, 1 December – 10 February 2018, 23 Savile Row, W1S, hauserwirth.com

Scottish artist Suzi Morris has drawn a link between oil paint and virology in her highly detailed glazed resin paintings for The Viral Sublime, a brief solo show. Research took Morris into laboratories, and the paintings also borrow from her experience of treatment for a virus that affects her vision. An ethereal visualisation of science.

28 November – 17 December, Herrick Gallery, 93 Piccadilly, W1J, herrickgallery.com

An explosion of shapes and colour by British sculptor David Annesley. Oversized but underrated.

Kurumidza, until 6 January, Waddington Custot, 11 Cork Street, W1S, waddingtoncustot.com

clockwise from top left: Sam Gilliam, Onion Skin, detail, 1975, private collection, ©ARS, NY and DACS, London 2017, photography: Damian Griffiths; Suzi Morris, Burden of the Dendrite, 2017; Suzi Morris, Waiting for CRISPR, 2017; David Annesley, Untitled, 1969; Monika Sosnowska, Fence, 2010, Installation view, Hauser & Wirth Somerset, 2017, ©Monika Sosnowska, courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth, photography: Jamie Woodley; Sam Gilliam, FOLD V, 2014, ©ARS, NY and DACS, London 2017, courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, photography: Lee Thompson; Martin Jennings, John Betjeman maquette, 2017, ©the artist, courtesy of Shapero Modern

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CARDS AS UNIQUE AS EACH FLAKE OF SNOW

An open

book A set of seven books illustrated by Andy Warhol offers a whimsical look at his first decade as an artist in New York, writes Jack Watkins

ART

for his n w o ell kn the time- t w s i l k Warhoion to twea of the artis g intent red image ual pursuin honou ne individ ion as a locreative vis their

W

hen Andy Warhol was at the height of his celebrity in the late 20th century, a group of his friends could be forgiven for gazing rather smugly at a cluster of illustrated books he had given them back when he was still a rising talent in advertising art, and for feeling part of an exclusive group given an early insight into his creative mind.

Between 1952 and 1960 Warhol published eight of these books, as well as creating manuscripts for many more that were never printed. Now, when the originals might change hands for thousands at auction, Taschen presents seven in portfolio format, replicating Warhol’s originals as closely as possible.

Warhol is well known for his intention to tweak the time-honoured image of the artist as a lone individual pursuing their creative vision to one of the artist as a businessperson – and his gifting of these books to friends wasn’t quite as altruistic as it might at first seem. Warhol arrived in New York in 1949, aged 21. He had left his native Pittsburgh, where he had studied design at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, with no financial resources to fall back on. Needing to make his mark quickly, these promotional books were among a series of small handmade presents by which he sought to court new clients.

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Although the books were undated, there is evidence to suggest Warhol produced one every year in this early period of his New York career, with several recipients recalling how they received them as Christmas presents.

The first published was Love Is A Pink Cake, most likely in 1952. It had 25 sheets of light blue paper illustrated with 11 pairs of famous lovers (including Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet and Fatima and Bluebeard), each accompanied by individual words, couplets or poems. For all the books, Warhol based his drawings on pre-existing illustrations or photographs. Yet this book has the amateurish feel of a school project, with its somewhat clumsy drawings.

above: From Wild Raspberries, 1959 ©2017 The Andy Warhol Foundation of Visual Arts, Inc.

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ART

After his second book A Is An Alphabet, which devoted a page to each letter, Warhol used animal motifs for the first time in 25 Cats Name[d] Sam and One Blue Pussy, which was also the first book in colour. Warhol had a pack of cats living in the New York apartment he shared with his mother, but for 25 Cats he took inspiration from specialist photographer Walter Chandoha. Although the snapshots were rather conventional, this suited Warhol who chose cats with static, isolated bodies and clearly defined silhouettes. Using garish colours to make them lively again, he made the drawings highly personal. Warhol lore has it that his mother Julia contributed the handwriting. In a surviving original copy, one cat was left uncoloured for the reader to finish, according to a note that advised: “do-it-yourself”.

Julia may also have done the handwriting for À la Recherche du Shoe Perdu, a book that came out in 1955 after Warhol had found lucrative work designing a weekly shoe advert that appeared in The New York Times. The book also paid tribute to Warhol’s personal passion for collecting shoes.

The images bring together footwear from different epochs, from the ‘Sunset and evening shoe’ recalling the 16th century, to a formal shoe with a bow, entitled ‘Alice B. Shoe’, suggesting the 19th century.

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In The Bottom of My Garden was populated with pictures of pinkbuttocked, frolicking putti; while A Gold Book carried images of children, young men, flowers and fruit. It became one of Warhol’s most sought after self-promotional works as the one book in the series that was ostensibly intended as an art publication. The last in the series, Wild Raspberries, was by contrast a spoof cookbook, with illustrations looking like they had been painted by a family matron.

The title was a play on Ingrid Bergman’s film Wild Strawberries: small insets of eccentric advice were inserted, such as “omelette Greta Garbo should only be served by dinner alone and by candlelight”.

It was little known at the time that these books were originally produced beyond a select few. These subsequently much coveted pieces of the Warhol oeuvre are hand-drawn delights that offer a glimpse of the budding genius on the cusp of global fame.

Andy Warhol: Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959, £150, taschen.com

clockwise from top left: From À la Recherche du Shoe Perdu, 1955; From Wild Raspberries, 1959; Cover of 25 Cats Name Sam and one Blue Pussy, 1954, all ©2017 The Andy Warhol Foundation of Visual Arts, Inc.; Andy Warhol, Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959, All images courtesy of TASCHEN

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A large and extremely important 1:96 scale builder’s model of R.M.S ‘Mauretania’, built in 1906 and 103 inches (262 cm) in length.

14 King Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6QU Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 9595 gallery@pullmangallery.com www.pullmangallery.com Monday – Friday: 10.00 – 18.00 Saturdays in December: 11.00 – 17.00 Illustrated across the following pages is a small selection from our extensive inventory, available to view in the King Street gallery, and at our 6,000 square ft warehouse gallery (open by appointment).

We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery soon.

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Dunhill ‘Aquarium’ table lighter, c.1950

‘Normandie’ ice buckets by Christofle, c.1930

Modernist ski figures, c.1930

Crab caviar server, c.1970

Gold ‘Golf’ money clips by Cartier, Paris

Diver’s helmet desk clock, 1890

Long established in King Street, St.James’s, next to Christie’s, the Pullman Gallery specializes in 20th century objets de luxe and collectibles, including:

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Rare Alfa Romeo P2 toy, c.1932

Hardy Bros. shield sign, 1900

Art Deco piano by Strohmenger, 1938

• Vintage posters – motor racing, winter sports, flying, railway, travel and resorts • • Art Deco bronze sculpture • • Automotive Art and collectables • • Antique Louis Vuitton trunks • • Cocktail shakers and barware •

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Novelty cocktail shakers, c.1930

Silver clock-cigar box by Gübelin, c.1930

Royal strongbox by Ratner Safe Co. c.1870

• René Lalique car mascots • • Dunhill lighters and cigar accessories • • WWII naval binoculars and instruments • • Rare tinplate toys, cars and aeroplanes • • Vintage pieces by Hermès, Cartier, Asprey and Tiffany •

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Giant metal Alfa Romeo sign, 1937

Unique, large Aston Martin DBR1 model

‘1967 Targa Florio’ by Dexter Brown

Giant Leica camera models, 1932-1954

Louis Vuitton cigar humidor, c.1950

Long range military binoculars, c.1940

14 King Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6QU Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 9595 gallery@pullmangallery.com www.pullmangallery.com

Monday – Friday: 10.00 – 18.00 Saturdays in December: 11.00 – 17.00

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Bulgari for Dunhill silver cigar box, 1972

Crystal match striker by Asprey, 1912

Sir Winston Churchill bronze bust, 1972

‘Grand Prix de Nice’ poster, 1935

Maserati petrol-powered toy, c.1950

‘Medusa Moderne’ by Kéléty, c.1925 1955 Mille Miglia signed scarf, 1955

Sterling silver Rolls-Royce clock, 1927

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‘1921 Italia GP’ by F.G Crosby, 1921

Our latest gallery magazine, PULLMAN has just been published and is available in the gallery, or to download from our website.

In addition to our West End gallery, we have Pullman Studios, our vast private warehouse gallery near Chelsea Bridge (right), where our complete collection may be viewed by appointment. Please enquire at gallery@pullmangallery.com

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Louis Vuitton leather cigar humidor, 1910

Original ‘FN Motorcycles’ poster, 1935

Mercedes-Benz ‘Streamliner’ bronze, 1955

Art Deco Jazz band by Cogneville, c.1930

Siebe Gorman diver lamp, c.1920

‘Alfa Romeo Tipo C’ by Walter Gotschke, 1936

Mercedes inkwell by Kayserzinn, 1908

‘Grosvenor House, Mayfair’ by L.Woollaston, 1940

‘Weather station’ by Hermès Paris, c.1930

14 King Street St. James’s London SW1Y 6QU Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 9595 Pullman Studios, viewing by appointment only

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gallery@pullmangallery.com www.pullmangallery.com

Monday – Friday: 10.00 – 18.00 Saturdays in December: 11.00 – 17.00

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Signe d’exception.

Available exclusively in fine wine shops and in the best restaurants. champagne-billecart.com

Image credit: CH Carolina Herrera

Perfect presents It is an unwritten rule that in the run-up to Christmas, everyone is frantic about what to wear and what to buy. To make life easier, we plan on visiting Carolina Herrera first – and hopefully last. Whether it’s an evening gown, fragrance, cufflinks or even Christmas Day jumpers for the kids, no one will be disappointed when they see that monogrammed ribbon.

120 Mount Street, W1K, carolinaherrera.com

FASHION

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Our Limited Christmas Edition has landed

luxury shower gel and body lotion in Black Amber & Saffron

www.lilouetloic.com

FASHION

She’s the one Three’s a charm

B ur b e r ry DK 8 8 Top Hand l e Char m , £ 3 9 5 each, b u r b e r ry. co m

CÉ L IN E b rass chain , £ 9 4 , a l phab et pe ndant, £ 3 3 5 , c e l i ne . c om

©william helburn, LLC/courtesy peter fetterman gallery

She is the fourth book in Kate Spade’s New York series, which has so far included a compendium of things that inspire its creative team, plus modern-day guides to entertaining and travel. The final tome celebrates the “muses, visionaries and madcap heroines” who have helped shape popular culture and influence the brand – from Holly Golightly to Iris Apfel. She will serve as a reference for women from all walks of life. £30, katespade.co.uk

M u lb e rry b r ass f l ow e r k e y r in g , £ 1 9 5 , m ul b e r ry. co m

advent in the arcade Burlington Arcade is the gift that keeps on giving this season. In addition to Mulberry’s pop-up store and secret gin bar that opened on 23 November, Sophie Hulme will offer a personalisation service in its newly opened standalone boutique, which will be there for a limited time only.

From £20, 64-65 Burlington Arcade, W1J, sophiehulme.com

Mooncler We’re quite certain that no other fashion house has ever been more suited to designing Moonboots as Moncler. The alpine specialist has created five styles, all named after planets. A match made in heaven.

From £310, moncler.com

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e

feast your Eyes ’Tis the season

to indulge. Choose only the finest for yourself (and the table), then start stacking jewels with relish Photographer alexander beer S t y l i sT graham cruz at A+R Creative

Dress, £1,015, Emilio De La Morena, emiliodelamorena.com; necklace and bangle, POA, Harry Winston, harrywinston.com; earrings and ruby ring, POA, mosaic ring, £18,500, Boodles, boodles.com; citrine ring, £7,800, Stephen Webster, stephenwebster.com; emerald ring, £35,000, James Ganh, jamesganh.com; galaxy ring, £5,750, Spinelli Kilcollin, matchesfashion.com; black and white diamond ring, £28,700, De Grisogono, degrisogono.com; table and glassware from a selection at Harvey Nichols, harveynichols.com

THIS PAGE Dress, POA, Antonio Berardi, net-a-porter.com; headband with Swarovski crystal veil, £260, Piers Atkinson, piersatkinson.com; Illusion bracelet, POA, and Two-flower Palm ring, POA, David Morris, davidmorris.com; Raindrop bracelet, £40,000, and collar, POA, Boodles, as before; Perpetuity ring, £1,400, Dalseen, dalseenjewellery.com; Lady Stardust Crystal Haze ring, £9,000, pave Diamond and garnet ring, £11,500, and Brooch, £32,700, Stephen Webster, as before; earrings, £2,995, and choker, £8,500, Isabella Townsley, isabellatownsley.com; table and glassware from a selection at selfridges, seflridges.com OPPOSITE PAGE Tuxedo, £2,200, shirt, £540, and bow tie, £95, all Dior Homme, dior.com; table and glassware, as before

THIS PAGE Suit, £1,650, Joshua Kane, joshuakanestore.com; jumper, £180, Canali, canali.com; glasses, £160, Dsquared2, dsquared2.com; watch, £15,810, Chopard, chopard.com; table and glassware, as before OPPOSITE PAGE Jumpsuit, $1,695, Cushnie et Ochs, cushnieetochs.com; coat, £22,200, Philipp Plein, plein.com; earrings and watch, POA, David Morris, davidmorris.com; necklace and dragonfly diamond ring, POA, De Beers, debeers.co.uk; Sophie ring, £14,500, and Sophie bracelet, £39,500, Boodles, as before; Moonstone Cats Eye Ring, £4,885, Susan Foster, Harrods.com; sapphire Ring, £17,273, Fabergé, Harrods.com; Cluster Bracelet and ring, POA, Harry Winston, as before; Flora & Fauna ring, £10,000, James Ganh, as before; table and glassware, as before

THIS PAGE Visor, £360, Piers Atkinson, as before; dress, €3,950, Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com; Earrings, £11,400, Stephen Webster, harrods.com; Five row necklace, POA, David Morris, as before; Long necklace, £52,000, Circus ring, £7,300, sweet pea cuff and emerald cocktail ring, POA, Boodles, as before; Marquise cuff, £10,500, Stephen Webster, as before; draperie diamond bracelet and secret cluster ring, POA, Harry Winston, as before; bracelet watch, £43,670, Patek Philippe, wempe.com; flora & fauna ring, £28,000, James Ganh, as before; table and glassware from a selection at Selfridges, selfridges.com OPPOSITE PAGE Jacket, £1,895, Shirt, £190, and Bow Tie, £95, Dunhill, dunhill.com; cufflinks, £4,000, De Beers, as before; watch, POA, Harry Winston, as before; table and glassware, as before

THIS PAGE Dress, POA, Vivienne Westwood Couture, viviennewestwood.com; earrings, £4,950, Spinelli Kilcollin, as before; necklace, POA, Chopard, as before; Rose gold bracelet, £69,900, and ring, £24,400, De Grisogono, as before; opal and diamond ring, £11,650, Dalseen, kabiri.co.uk; blossom ring, £8,600, Boodles, as before; flora & fauna ring, £11,000, James Ganh, as before; Mosaic bangle, £55,200, and circus ring, £7,300, Boodles, as before; link bracelet, £5,600, and ball dangle ring, £1,650, Tiffany, tiffany.co.uk; Celeste ring, £6,075, Spinelli Kilcollin, as before; table and glassware from a selection at liberty, libertylondon.com OPPOSITE PAGE Jacket, £1,495, shirt, £145, and bow tie, £45, Gieves & Hawkes, gievesandhawkes.com, table and glassware from a selection at liberty, as before

set designer Simon Godfrey Design MODELs Rachel Joy at Wilhelmina and Ben Desombre at Premier Model Management Photography ASSISTANTs Radi Konstantinov and Nick Rees HAIR Lewis Pallett at Eighteen Management MAKE-UP Jonas Oliver food provided by No 97 restaurant, no-97.co.uk

design and

architecture Dawn Alford takes a look inside fashion house Delpozo and examines the label’s craftsmanship

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raditional, modern, organic, sumptuous and pure are words fashion editors use to describe Delpozo. There is also a more unusual adjective: architectural.

And that should really not come as a surprise since creative director Josep Font originally trained as an architect.

Since taking the reigns in 2012 he has showcased collections in Barcelona, Madrid, Tokyo and Paris.

Most recently, he was invited to show his couture collections in Paris as a guest member by the renowned Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

The fashion house embraces time-honoured couture techniques with a modern sensibility to create unique and feminine pieces for the contemporary woman.

Jesús del Pozo founded the brand that would become Delpozo in Madrid in 1974. Under Jesús, the brand was celebrated for its creativity and commitment to craftsmanship. It was refreshed and relaunched in 2012 under Font’s creative vision.

The hallmarks of the Delpozo atelier include a creative approach to volume, colour, and silhouette. Artisan techniques and intricate embroideries are used to create its ethereal and timeless aesthetic.

The atelier celebrates what it describes as the essential relationship between thread and fabric, expressed in the art of fashion.

Artisanship is key. The handmade embroidery is masterfully created with the most exquisite and avant-garde materials, using techniques from both haute couture and the respected Ecole Lesage of Paris.

To protect the tradition of artistry in the fashion industry, Delpozo established a foundation to promote educational initiatives for young talent. The foundation will ensure that the artisan talent of fine embroidery and design will continue for many decades to come – and that the Delpozo house will remain at the forefront of stunning architectural fashion design.

Indeed, taking design cues from its Spanish sister store, Delpozo’s shop on Sloane Street displays Font’s sculptural creations across its brass rails and within glass vitrines, like exquisite works of art.

Delpozo, 134 Sloane Street, SW1X, 020 7881 0950, london@delpozo.co.uk

FASHION PROMOTION

Josep Font The creative director expands on his vision for the latest collection in his prêt-à-couture range

What kind of woman wears Delpozo?

The Delpozo woman has no age, profession or nationality. I always think of a global woman, she dresses for herself. She has a mystery that makes her stand out unintentionally. It’s all about her attitude.

They are clearly works of art – but can some pieces be worn everyday?

Absolutely. I create pieces, so our customers can adapt to their own wardrobes and mix with what they already have. I love to see how my clients show off their look on Instagram and just recently I saw a wonderful woman wearing our gold fil-coupé vest, which you would normally wear at an evening cocktail or even to the opera, but she mixed it with torn jeans and sneakers and I absolutely loved her look.

What has inspired the next season’s looks?

Nature and water has inspired my new Resort range. I had discovered this magical ‘bubble gum pink’ lake in Australia and it reminded me of a neon green lake I’ve visited in Lanzarote, in the Spanish Canary Islands. So, I started looking for more interesting lakes around the world, and found the white calcareous ones in Turkey. Those three shades set the tone for the colour palette. I’m always inspired by two different ideas. On the one hand here were the lakes, and on the other, the work of American

dancer Loïe Fuller. She is considered an experimental artist and is best known probably for her “serpentine dance”, in which she filmed herself dancing and added colour to her flowy gowns. I wanted to lighten the collection with silks and light fabrics with a punch of colour inspired by the lakes. I also worked on new volumes and using undone bows as knots around skirts, pants and coats.

How do your international clients differ?

We have customers in every part of the globe. Our London store includes British women of course but also Russian, Asian and Middle Eastern.

That said, I feel that British women balance out the colourful quirkiness with an artsy touch. They are not afraid of volume, which I use a lot.

Tell us about the women in your life who have inspired you.

The woman who has foremost inspired me was my mother. She was a very elegant woman and as she worked in fundraising, she had a lot of galas to attend. I would accompany her on her shopping trips for those events. From a young age, she always turned to me for my opinion.

I guess she saw something in me. If I did not like a gown, she would not buy it. I remember one in particular: it was poppy red in silk, and it had a large bow on the neck. It was sleek and with a clean silhouette. She looked stunning.

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D re s s to

impress Raishma’s bespoke bridal and occasionwear collections celebrate craftsmanship of the highest level. Now, the Eastern-inspired label’s couture-led designs have evolved into a ready-to-wear range of eveningwear, perfect for the party season

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raftsmanship remains the luxury industry’s currency of choice. Artistry and skill hold sway in a sector that champions a sense of timelessness and classic style, regardless of trends. In contrast to the fast but fleeting high-street fashion landscape, couture houses and bespoke labels epitomise a certain flair and degree of finesse rarely found elsewhere.

The devil is in the detail, to which Raishma Islam, founder of couture-led fashion label Raishma, is testament to. Her eponymous brand was founded in 1998 to celebrate imagination, individuality and skill by combining traditional Asian heritage with contemporary silhouettes and design.

Islam worked as the assistant designer to Elizabeth Emanuel (who famously created Princess Diana’s wedding dress) before deciding to launch her own brand specialising in bespoke evening and occasionwear, as well as wedding attire handmade in India. Since then, her couture designs have revolved around beautiful fabrics, intricate beadwork and embroidery, and have graced the pages of Vogue. They have also proved a hit from the red carpet to the runway – and even among the Royal family (everyone from HRH Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to Hollywood royalty Goldie Hawn has worn Raishma creations).

Today, Raishma’s couture designs and bridal collections have given way to a ready-to-wear diffusion line of more affordable, versatile pieces that demonstrate exquisite attention to detail: including beautifully-cut beaded tops, silk scarves and vibrant, embroidered kaftans; perfect for running the gamut

Raishma’s couture designs have given way to a ready-to-wear diffusion line

FASHION PROMOTION

of the party season and beyond. There’s also a resortwear range, Rai, that comprises flowing dresses, wrap jackets and silk separates in colourful prints. The ready-to-wear line has enabled the brand to flourish; it was recently awarded Retailer of the Year 2017 at the British Small Business Awards. Select pieces are now available at a number of UK stockists, including online at John Lewis and Little Black Dress; as well as at 12 Debenhams stores across the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, and Middle Eastern online retailer, Namshi.

To fully showcase the expanded ready-to-wear and couture offerings, Raishma’s first boutique opened in Marylebone in spring 2017. The compact but elegant space is spread over two floors, decked out with marble, raindrop chandeliers and sketches of elegant gowns lining the walls.

The first floor houses the ready-to-wear and resort collections of fashion and accessories. The bridal and couture collections await downstairs. Here, the rails are filled with ethereal, bohemianinspired, intricately embellished creations in tulle and lace, which sets the scene for bespoke, made-to-order bridal appointments. Islam and her specialist fitter Sharon Lakhanpal work closely with brides each year; together they have created more than 2,000 bespoke wedding dresses over the past decade.

Capturing a sense of occasion is what the brand does best, and this is reflected in the retail experience itself. Regular invitationonly shopping events, for example, often have stylists and hair and make-up artists in attendance to offer guidance on how to put together a complete party look.

Raishma favours a personal approach – one that you won’t find on the high street. True craftsmanship takes time, and its appreciation shouldn’t be rushed.

Ready-to-wear collection from £125; bridal collection from £390; bridal couture from £4,000, 73 York Street, W1H, raishma.co.uk

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FASHION

life’s rich tapestry Dynamic duo It has been a decade since Thom Widdett and Luke Sweeney set up shop on Weighhouse Street. Now they are celebrating the milestone with a Mr Porter capsule collection and new store in New York.

From £120, thomsweeney.co.uk

IS THE AGE of athleisure and minimalism drawing to a close? Favourbrook’s relocation from Piccadilly Arcade to the prestigious Pall Mall suggests that it just might be. Number 17 is a one-stop shop for debonair gentlemen – stocking bow ties, waistcoats and tailoring all under one roof, plus a 1,000 sq ft fabric room on the lower ground floor. The décor in the Edward Lutyens building echoes the brand: a lavish and slightly eccentric mix of marble, bronze and wood. It’s time to stand out from the crowd again.

17 Pall Mall, SW1Y, favourbrook.com

In with the new New & Lingwood’s Jermyn Street store has been given a makeover. Pop in and peruse the improved footwear section, neon lighting and – of course – those fabulous prints. newandlingwood.com

evening Essentials Eau d e Parf um, £ 1 1 0 , Bent ley, harro ds.c om

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Sca r f, £ 7 9 , C h r i sti an La c r oi x x B r i an K e nny, c h r i sti an- l ac r oi x . c om

cuf f l in ks , £ 7 , 0 0 0 , de ak i nandfra n ci s . co . uk

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SPECIAL EDITION 2017 HÄSTENS TRIBUTE Available for a limited time only

Hästens Tribute is a celebration of our 165 years of bed making expertise, a beautiful exercise in handcraft, quality and aesthetics.

Clad in a fresh, modern Taupe Check, Tribute brings a timeless elegance into any bedroom.

Its look can be enhanced effortlessly by styling with brights or more neutral tones.

£5,680 (£6,580)

Hästens Tribute with BJ top mattress 160x200cm CHELSEA | 115 FULHAM ROAD, SW3 6RL FITZROVIA | 66–68 MARGARET STREET, W1W 8SR HARRODS | 87-135 BROMPTON ROAD, SW1X 7XL HASTENSLONDON@HASTENSSTORES.COM FULFILLING DREAMS SINCE 1852 HAS T E N S . COM

INTERIORS

Gold plated

If you need an excuse to peacock, the festive period is the time – and Amara’s Midnight Jewel collection will certainly ruffle some feathers. The online homeware boutique has curated a Christmas range in plush amethyst and sapphire shades, featuring crockery from Wedgwood alongside glassware from the likes of Waterford and Moser. amara.com

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Showroom: 1 Western Avenue, London, W3 0BZ 020 8993 4415 info@thesofaandchair.co.uk www.thesofaandchair.co.uk

interiors

Baby, it’s cold

Outside

subtle finishes

Ginger spice Snap up this limited edition saffron and ginger candle – encased in silver hand-blown glass – while you still can. £50, lilouetloic.com

Christmas dECORATIONS don’t have to be over the top.

Farrow & Ball has some helpful inspirations for incurable minimalists. The warm Wimborne White paint provides a blank canvas to make your tree – and select embellishments – truly stand out. Metallics will look radiant or snow-covered rather than gaudy... and the best part? The room will look fresher than ever when you take everything down in January.

From £43.50, 64-65 Paddington Street, W1U, farrow-ball.com

p l ay th e h ost w ith th e m ost wi th th is art deco bar tr ol le y £ 2 9 5 , and r e w m ar ti n. c o.u k

extra padding Howe’s things Antiques expert Christopher Howe has partnered with The New Craftsmen to curate wintery curiosities including a decorative lichen nest and a moped mechanic’s chest.

Until 23 December, thenewcraftsmen.com

Melody Rose’s eye-catching cushions will instantly jazz up your living room; some of the prints might raise a few eyebrows too. £85, melodyrose.co.uk

Scandi Society Get your hands on a unique piece of Nordic design, such as this delicate box by Evald Nielsen, at The Fine Art Society’s selling exhibition.

Until 3 January, thefineartsociety.com

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on set, £395, uk .jon at

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dealer’s choice More than 1,000 pieces of sycamore, walnut, oak and birch make up this house for 500 clay chips. The box is edged in pheasant feathers, and closer inspection will reveal its limited edition number engraved on the skull’s hand-cut gold tooth.

Limited edition of 15, £11,250, alexandralldesign.com

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Darts

oN POINT

Poker

By the rulebook Linley’s craftsmen have been creating boxes for more than 50 years. The shell of this one is made from American black walnut. Inside, black flocked material cushions 200 branded chips, a dealer button, three blind buttons and two decks of cards. The lid’s marquetry uses Bolivar, Anigre and Tay woods, all hand dyed and bleached. £1,400, davidlinley.com

These stylish mottled turkey feather and Pennsylvanian wood darts are crafted by hand in Brooklyn $132 for a set of three, fredericksandmae.com

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Backgammon

Opening rolls Good strategy is vital to winning a game of backgammon – but a set of checkers that are smooth to the touch are particularly comforting when a coup classique heads your way. Resin and solid brass counters both hold sleek allure, but these light and dark olive woods take the crown. Cased in olive burl from the tree’s root, the playing surface of this set is also inlayed with maple and walnut points. £225, conranshop.co.uk

interiors

Chess

pawn structure Zaha Hadid designed the Field of Towers chess set in 2014: a polished black, silver or red resin representation of her architectural practice’s study of towers (the pawns almost resemble her design for the Central Bank of Iraq). The bottom of the board slides out to double as storage.

Limited edition of 200, from £9,999, zaha-hadid-design.com

turning the scales Chic diversions for when time is precious

Compendium

Gaming paradise In its Florentine workshop, strongbox specialist Agresti uses Italian materials to build its smart compendiums. Backgammon, dominoes, playing cards, dice, 170 poker chips and a mahogany and maple chess set lie within the Notte di giochi (right), while a mahogany roulette wheel, 345 poker chips, chess and backgammon sets, dice, leather cups, dominoes and playing cards are hidden in the Casinò passion (left). Made from maple briar wood, the latter weighs in at a hefty 32.5kg.

Both POA, agresti.com

£759, Gallotti & Radice, harrods.com

Chess

Power play

£85, dior.com

This hand-painted chessboard features an optical illusion with purpose.

“The title – Endgame – is as much a question as an answer about the limitations of power,” says its creator, artist Caio Locke. £4,995, purlinglondon.co.uk

£450, smythson.com

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bright spark

i go

the dazzling lights holiday beauty collection from Yves Saint Laurent Beauté takes fireworks as its theme. Twinkling explosions are engraved on the casing of the limited edition Touche Éclat – a stellar stocking filler for fans of the cult highlighter – and even on the Rouge Pur Couture lipstick itself. Finish the look with a festive manicure in classic red and gold shades.

From £19.50, yslbeauty.co.uk

the power of perfumery

ng for gol d

1

Psychedelic Love is the latest addition to Initio Parfum’s Carnal Blends collection. Notes of rose and bergamot are paired with hedione – an ingredient science suggests can activate the brain’s pleasure centre. £190 for 90ml, harrods.com

2

role play

3

4

5

1. Meteorites Gold light powder pearls, £44, guerlain, harrods.com 2. EYE FOIL IN BLONDE GOLD, £28, Victoria beckham x ESTÉE lauder, esteelauder.co.uk 3. Falling in Leaves Eau de Parfum, £300 for 100ml, atkinsons, exclusive to harrods, harrods.com 4. gold dust hair powder, £55, david mallett, net-a-porter.com 5. N°5 FRAGMENTS D’OR body gel, £70, chanel, chanel.com

St Giles launches its first five characterful scents this month. To feel inspired, try The Writer with memoryboosting rosemary, or to make a glamorous entrance, opt for The Actress, with a powerful oriental lily note at its centre. £130 for 100ml, exclusive to Selfridges, selfridges.com

health & beauty

salon R E VIE W

THE MANE EVENT Lauren Romano treats her tresses to some TLC with a visit to Sassoon’s South Molton Street salon

P

arty season is almost upon us – a time when convention decrees we must temporarily drag ourselves out of hibernation and be sociable, no matter how much we’d prefer to stay in and binge-watch Stranger Things.

But looking presentable at any given moment is a chore, especially if, like me, your hair doesn’t play ball. With a work event later in the evening, I decide to see if I can get more suitably swooshworthy locks during my lunchbreak, with a visit to the Mayfair branch of Sassoon.

In general, hairdressers and I don’t have the best track record. No matter how many different inspiration ideas torn from magazines I come armed with; or how many products the stylists use; or how vigorously my hair is curled, it always ends up looking exactly the same and returns to its default poker-straight, slightly limp mode within half an hour of leaving the chair.

Creative stylist Nicole listens patiently to my hair gripes. Having established that I struggle to dry my

IMAGES COURTESY OF SASSOON

own hair, let alone style it – my technical ability extends to tying it back into a ponytail – she suggests I admit defeat and go for a simple, one length look with a blunt fringe to make things more interesting.

For an instant boost, she also recommends one of the salon’s new intensive treatments. Whether you want a replenishing dose of moisture or longer lasting colour – there’s a formula to match.

It’s shine I’m after – and as time is also of the essence, I opt for the express shine treatment. After a relaxing head massage, a thick mask is applied to the ends of my hair before the deeply hydrating formula is left to work its magic under a heater for five minutes.

The results are almost immediate; as soon as it is washed off, my hair feels noticeably softer and Nicole’s comb glides through it as she sets to work meticulously snipping away. Once my new do has been blow-dried, it looks shinier still. What’s more, not only does it continue to stay silky smooth and in place all evening, but it still has that just-done look the next morning too. With hair this great, Netflix can wait...

Express shine treatment, £15, 60 South Molton Street, WIK, sassoon-salon.com

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food

Sugar and spice

Swap fruit cake for an extravagant festive bake from Bea’s of Bloomsbury. For a dinner party showstopper, choose from the bakery’s Christmas Red Velvet Cake, with chocolate drizzled down its mascarpone frosting and sweet treats on top, or the Semi Naked Gingerbread Cake with treacle and cream cheese frosting, crowned with macarons.

27a Devonshire Street, W1G, beas.london

food & drink

bowled over

new Openings

the prince regent

tombo in fitzrovia has added hot Donburi bowls – meat, fish or vegetables served on black and white rice – to its menu.

Diners can mix and match extra toppings including a poached egg, crispy shallots and Hijiki seaweed. Afterwards, try swapping your wintry gingerbread latte for one of Tombo’s more unusual varieties, including vanilla and turmeric.

4 Windmill Street, W1T, tombopoke.com

Brightly coloured seating and chandeliers make for an eclectic mix in the newly re-opened gastropub. Opt for a gammon, chicken, beef or nut roast on Sundays, or book a festive buffet feast of cheese, crab and calamari for ten or more guests.

71 Marylebone High Street, W1U, theprinceregentw1.co.uk

french connection Fans of Fitzrovia restaurant Pied à Terre, take note; its former general manager Mathieu Germond and chef Ed Dutton have teamed up on new opening Noizé.

Expect simple French cuisine and dishes tailored to diners.

39 Whitfield Street, W1T, noize-restaurant.co.uk

il tetto

a carousel christmas

Des McDonald has returned to Selfridges for a year-long rooftop restaurant residency, inspired by Italy’s rustic neighbourhood trattorias. Order pizza from the traditional oven, or beat the chill with the Etna hot-tail, a blend of white wine, brandy and honey.

Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1A, iltetto.co.uk

Carousel will be taking a break from its regular residencies, with co-founder and resident chef Ollie Templeton and his team manning the kitchen for the festive season.

Hearty fare from smoked beef short rib to wood-grilled venison will feature on the menu.

12-22 December, 71 Blandford Street, W1U, carousel-london.com s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

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food & drink

R estau r an t R e vie w

Hoppers W O R D S : m e l i ss a e m e rso n

T

he queues at Soho restaurant Hoppers are as long as when it opened two years ago, but there’s now good news for those who’ve yet to score a table. Its owners (also responsible for Michelin-starred Indian restaurants Trishna and Gymkhana) have opened a second, larger site in Marylebone – and it takes bookings.

Set across two floors, it seats 85 plus groups in its four private dining vaults, where the décor is inspired by the Tropical Modernist movement (think plants, rattan screens and varnished wood) often associated with the late Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa.

The restaurant’s namesake dish, the hopper – a crispy bowl-shaped pancake made from a fermented lentil and rice batter – also hails from Sri Lanka, and the menu focuses on the country’s traditional cuisine, with some influence from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Some dishes exclusive to this branch include larger ‘rice and roast’ mains and new karis – the Tamil word for curry – with options ranging from lamb shank to aubergine.

My guest and I begin with some short eats – small plates designed to get you started – with cocktails. For a Sri Lankan

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twist on a classic, try the George Gardner, a G&T with mango leaf and grapefruit bitters, or the Arrack Attack no 2, akin to a Moscow Mule with lime, turmeric and arrack, a Sri Lankan spirit made from the sap of the coconut blossom flower.

We pair our drinks with juicy corn on the cob, smothered in hot spiced podi butter and topped with a coriander relish and some exceptionally tender Jaffna beef rib fry. The lamb kothu roti – a popular type of street food where meat or vegetables are chopped and mixed with greens, chunks of scrambled egg, and roti – is a one-pot wonder.

Service is speedy and dishes arrive in quick succession.

Finally I get to try the hopper. We go for the special edition with a fried egg at the bottom, which isn’t as messy to eat as you’d think. We use it like a naan to dip in our pots of chunky cauliflower and chicken kari. The crepe-like podi dosa, shaped like a cone and coated in a coarse spicy powder mix of ground dry spices and seeds, serves a similar purpose, but we need a side of yoghurt to cool us down afterwards.

If you’re not having curry, other sides and dips for the podis and dosa include Brinjal Moju (pickled aubergines) or Indian-style chutneys. There is an ice cream dessert if your mouth is still on fire, but for us, the mains are the definitive high note. And it’s all so good, I’d have happily queued for it.

77 Wigmore Street, W1U, hopperslondon.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

Festive FEASTING. Feasting Dinners FOR 10-100 GUESTS

New Years Eve £65 • £95 SET MENU

Cocktail Bar TUE-SAT • 5PM-LATE

62 Seymour St. Marylebone W1H 5BN 020 3826 7940 bernardis.co.uk

@Bernardislondon

Christmas c h e e r

The family’s coming for Christmas. It’s time to get the drinks in, writes Chris Allsop

FOOD & DRINK

T

he stars have aligned: it’s your place for Christmas this year and it’s the full set (even the Americans). Deep breath. Your wallpaper is facing off with the youngest grandchild and her crayons. Your youngest’s whippet has been given the rights of a full human being, regardless of house rules. Your octogenarian father-in-law’s boundless capacity for the re-telling of old stories: his, and, on occasion, your own told back to you…

Success – and survival – is a matter of chemistry. The drinks are key. And everyone’s tired, so punching up the percentages is vital to ensure the proper Christmas spirit. Your father taught you well. He’s the easiest – a Scottish single malt devotee who prefers something peaty to marinate in of an evening. He travels with a bottle of Lagavulin 16 (not something we’re to worry about, Mum claims), but some saline, smoky Sanaig from Kilchoman, Islay’s newest distillery, might jerk him from his one-note complacency. Or throw up a different kind of challenger: maybe a sipping rum like the 15-year-old El Dorado, which is essentially Christmas cake in a glass.

But that’s for afters. Think aperitif. It’ll need to be fresh and light, an invigorating up-note, a jolly hurrah to get proceedings off on the right foot.

A gin and tonic is the safe bet – anything seen as too trendy or continental might rouse the older generation into bringing up Brexit… …which your American cousin undoubtedly will. He’s into his artisan gins almost as much as he likes to stoke debate, so distract him with a G&T mixed with local Sipsmith, or maybe something more obscure to occupy him, like Portobello Road Gin No.171 with its festive hints of nutmeg. He’ll have too much, then we can bring up Trump. Best defence is offence, as he likes to say during Monopoly.

Or maybe not a G&T at all. Your 40-year-old sister is debuting the latest in a string of whirlwind fiancés, this time an accountant from Seville she picked up while hiking the Camino (a sprained ankle was feigned, apparently). A rich sweet vermouth with some orange zest added will make him feel at home, so have a bottle of porty, spicy Carpano Antica Formula on hand. Yes, Carpano’s an Italian brand, but, come on, she and the Spaniard haven’t even passed the four-month mark yet…

Of course, any sign of vermouth around the sister will put her in mind for a negroni, her car-crash cocktail of choice for the last umpteen years. Delay the inevitable prickly defensiveness at not entirely innocent questions – “what are you implying, mother? I simply stare into Hernando’s eyes and we converse in the universal language of love” – by trying to replace the gin with soda water and serving her up a more appropriate Americano instead.

The drinks are key. And everyone’s tired, so punching up the percentages is vital to ensure the proper Christmas spirit

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FOOD & DRINK

If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to use peer pressure.

A batch of eggnog. Why not? Sounds awful, tastes worse; but it’s hearty and traditional. You’d prefer a punch bowl, but probably best keep it more filling and less appealing – you wouldn’t want a repeat of the Christmas of 2009, especially when you’re hosting. The eggnog is perfect for the traditionalists, almost an irresistible annual dare for those who already know they prefer to drink it over anything else, and, if the addition of cognac (more delicious than brandy) is kept to a low level, one for the older children as well. A late evening eggnog could be made as per the extravagant Martha Stewart recipe, with Mount Gay rum and Maker’s Mark bourbon added to round off the evening with a bang of drunken dysfunction.

And so to mothers. Your jolly hockey sticks mother-inlaw remains easy and reliable: a light sweetish wine with everything. Any drinks with too much body and she overheats and must lie down. The turkey, however, prefers a full-bodied oaked white, like a white Burgundy or a Californian Chardonnay, which is why she always ends up with a whole bottle to herself and becomes, in her words, ‘tipsy’, or in yours, ‘insufferable’.

Instead, you could experiment with an orange wine for the table this year. Choose something light enough for the mother-in-law, like the Slobodne Oranzista 2015.

And surprise your non-wine drinking brother with some sour Modus Operandi from The Wild Beer Co, powerful enough to hold its own amid the baroque sensory-scape of your Christmas spread.

Your own mother, on the other hand, is less simple.

Something of an alcoholic dilettante – the opposite of father – she flits between recent recommendations regardless of past experiences. Her new best friend, the former Las Vegas showgirl that initially scandalised her on the latest cruise with her ‘clingy dresses’, put her onto cocktails featuring St-Germain elderflower liqueur.

Simple enough to mix with champagne, and voilà you’ve a suitably refreshing festive cocktail. In fact, that’s not such a bad idea for yourself. Bubbly, but not too strong.

And for the digestif, well, Dad will be on the Lagavulin, but everyone else might like a snifter of Christmas pudding-infused vodka. Not too much faff. Made in advance it’s perfect, before we move onto a game of who falls asleep first in front of the fire…

A batch of eggnog. Why not? Sounds awful, tastes worse, but it’s hearty and traditional

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Raise a glass Keep the drinks trolley well stocked this festive season

K il ch om an S an aig, £ 5 5 . 2 0 , k i l c h om andi sti l l e ry. c om

m a ke r ’s m ar k , £ 3 0, wai tr ose . c om

E l D or a do 15-y e a r - o l d sp e cial r e se r ve, £ 5 0 . 9 5 , th e w h i sk ye x c h an g e . co m

Portob e l l o R oa d Gin N o.171, £ 2 5 , por to be l l or oadgi n. c om

S l ob o d n e O r an z ista , £26.95, VAGA B ONDWINES . CO . UK

C ar pan o A n tica F or mu l a, £ 1 4 , oc ado. c om

MO U NT GAY BLAC K BARRE L R UM , £ 2 9 . 9 9 , wai tr ose . c om

M o dus O p e r an d i, £ 4 for 3 3 0 m l , w i l db e e r c o. c om

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

#TIMEFORSHARING

AVAILABLE NOW: EDENMILL.COM

Shaken&

stirred Eight local bartenders recommend cocktails that pack a festive punch

Where: Bar Termini Centrale Cocktail: Marsala Martini Ingredients: • 50ml gin • 15ml Marsala mix (Marsala and dry vermouth mixed together in equal parts) • Three dashes almond bitters • Prosecco

Word from the wise: Tony Conigliaro, owner “The Marsala Martini is a complex mix of sweet and savoury with an amazingly delicate almond aroma that I associate with my childhood memories of Italy. It makes the drink so moreish, and specific to Bar Termini. We like to garnish it with a pickled almond for a finishing touch.”

31 Duke Street, W1U, bar-termini-centrale.com

Where: Purl Cocktail: Mind the Gap Ingredients: • • • • •

35ml gin infused with kumquats 25ml Kamm & Sons 15ml lemon juice 10ml Angostura and orange syrup Top up with elderflower tonic water

Word from the wise: Lukas Stafin, bar manager “This cocktail was inspired by the UK’s most popular drink: gin and tonic. Purl’s version takes gin, infused with fresh kumquats, and mixes it with Kamm & Sons aperitif, Angostura orange bitters, lemon juice and elderflower tonic for a refreshing, zingy twist. It’s served in a London souvenir tin and garnished with an edible logo.”

50-54 Blandford Street, W1U, purl-london.com

food & drink

Where: Bourne & Hollingsworth Bar Cocktail: Love Potion No.9 Ingredients: • • • •

20ml spiced Merlet Cognac 20ml Drambuie 20ml blackberry shrub Sparkling wine to top

Word from the wise: Jim Wrigley, group bar manager “Love Potion No. 9 is Bourne & Hollingsworth’s bestselling cognac cocktail. Fresh winter spices married with the soft complex flavours of the Merlet Cognac give depth and length, while the subtle acidity and succulent fruit marries perfectly with the sparkling wine to elevate the flavour.”

28 Rathbone Place, W1T, bandhbar.com

Where: The Wigmore Cocktail: Mulled Over Ingredients: • 20ml Lindisfarne spiced mead •T op with Fines Oedoria sparkling red wine

Word from the wise: Steve Georgiou, bar manager “For me, Christmas is all about warming spices: cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon – so I used those as a base and went from there. I’ve got a few mulled syrup recipes that I turn to every year and tweak slightly; sometimes I make it with a little red wine, sometimes with cider. This year we are combining spiced mead with a sparkling Beaujolais, a combination that sets it apart from your standard mulled wine. We’re serving it cold, however, so it’s a refreshing twist on a classic.”

15 Langham Place, Regent Street, W1B, the-wigmore.co.uk

Word from the wise: Manon Kapfer, head bartender Where: Seymour’s Parlour, The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone Cocktail: Scarlet’s Antidote Ingredients: • 30ml of Ocho tequila • 30ml of beetroot cordial • 1.25ml of Kümmel

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

“Inspired by a traditional German beetroot salad that my mother used to make, these flavours are replicated here with homemade beetroot cordial and the caraway-flavoured liqueur Kümmel.

Beetroot, a true superfood full of vitamins and antioxidants, was often used for medicinal purposes in Victorian times. I believe our Wicked Uncle Seymour would have easily been persuaded to enjoy many a Scarlet’s Antidote to help counteract the effects of his other indulgences.”

28-30 Seymour Street, W1H, thezettertownhouse.com

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food & drink

Where: The Oscar Bar at The Charlotte Street Hotel Cocktail: Oscar’s Gimlet Ingredients:

Word from the wise: Cristian Solomon, head bartender “This year, we have collaborated with local micro-distillers, Bloomsbury Distillery, to create Oscar’s Gin. It’s an entirely unique spirit, exclusively available at Oscar Bar & Restaurant.

It balances traditional juniper with an intriguing profile of coriander, lime leaf, angelica root, galangal, cubeb and black tea. This winter, I recommend our new Oscar’s Gimlet made with homemade ginger, thyme and lime cordial.”

15-17 Charlotte Street, W1T, firmdalehotels.com

• 40ml Oscar’s Gin • 1 0ml homemade ginger, thyme and lime cordial

• Lime twist

Where: The Punch Room at The London Edition Cocktail: Mulled Wine Punch (to share) Ingredients:

Where: Long Bar at Sanderson Cocktail: The Sanderson Flight Ingredients:

Word from the wise: Davide Segat, bar manager

TonTon: • 2 5ml Tonka beans infused with Belvedere • 30ml passionfruit cordial The Great Wave: • 40ml Ki No Bi gin • 1 bar spoon Noilly Prat • Brine • Samphire Champagne sorbet

Bernard: 25ml Silent Pool gin 20ml raspberry cordial White chocolate foam Tarragon sprinkle

• • • •

Word from the wise: Thierry Brocher, head bartender “The Sanderson Flight is a great way for our guests to experience a selection of some signature cocktails with a festive twist. We use our very own homemade cordials, Champagne Laurent-Perrier sorbet and Ki No Bi gin served with pickled samphire – it’s festive all round.”

50 Berners Street, W1T, morganshotelgroup.com

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• • • • • • • • • • • • •

35ml Grey Goose O ne bottle of Merlot 10ml Jameson Dry orange Mulled syrup 5ml Ratafia One cinnamon stick 50ml apple juice Two star anise 25ml mulled syrup 20 cloves 250g sugar Two dashes of Boker’s Bitters

“With the festive season approaching so quickly it was time to spice things up at The London Edition. So, we did just that with our Mulled Wine Punch. Working with our favourite flavours of Christmas, our punch has a little bit of everything that’s nice: crisp cinnamon, subtle notes of almond and apricots, a neat touch of Boker’s Bitters, all married with fresh apple. The real protagonist is Merlot – it’s the core of the punch. But with the appearance of Grey Goose, Jameson and a dash of Ratafia you get a taste of something familiar but at the same time unexpected.”

10 Berners Street, W1T, editionhotels.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

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Rafan House helps people who are struggling with ordinary, but nonetheless traumatic, difficulties that arise both professionally and personally.

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For more information please contact: Dr Emma Loveridge Director Rafan House

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9935 rafanhouse.com se.com Rafan House is a Harley Street clinic with national reach with the aim of helping people who are struggling with the demands of 21st century life.

We offer psychological services for professionals, individuals and families, including couples and children.

Please do ring with any concerns, as we may be able to help.

For more information please contact us on:

020 3542 9935

reception@rafanhouse.com

www.rafanhouse.com

TRAVEL

Winter warmer

Welsh country house hotel Palé Hall has partnered with Forager’s Gin on a two-night ‘gin-venture’ package, which includes cocktails on arrival, a stay in a master suite and an eight-course tasting menu.

A visit to Snowdonia Distillery and hunting for botanicals on Mount Snowdon are also on the agenda – and there’ll be a bottle of the spirit to take home with you as a reward for your efforts.

From £1,642 for two guests with accommodation, breakfast, dinner and excursions included, palehall.co.uk

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WELLNESS

as an Art

Oasis gives you a moment to stop and take a breath.

Feel the freedom and relaxation in your body and mind.

Let your senses be inspired in a private paradise.

It is all waiting for you. The art of wellbeing.

The Oasis by Don Carlos Resort · Boutique Hotel Experience · Marbella T (+34) 933 271 455 · dcreservas@expogrupo.com · www.doncarlosresort.expohotels.com/en/the-oasis · www.expohotels.com

TRAVEL

alpine

appeal The Waldhaus Flims Alpine Grand Hotel and Spa in Switzerland has re-opened after an extensive renovation. Sipping cocktails by the fire in the new après-ski bar The Summit is the perfect way to warm up after a day of skiing (or an icy dip in the outdoor natural lake), while the spa now boasts a private suite with a sauna and hammam.

From approx. £350 a night for a villa room; from £420 a night in the Grand Hotel, waldhaus-flims.ch

a regal retreat Ireland’s Adare Manor hotel is the stuff of fairytales with its chateau-like appearance, medieval ruins, and walled gardens. Now re-open after nearly two years of restoration, you can dine by candlelight in the oak-panelled dining room or recline on an ottoman to admire The Great Hall’s vaulted arches and heraldic designs. A championship golf course will open in the spring, while a 42-bedroom wing and La Mer spa are also new additions.

From £280 a night, adaremanor.com

snow white

c a s taway

The Valsana hotel in Switzerland is a romantic winter getaway, bordered by snowy mountains, a lake and the Arosa forest. The nearest ski lift is just a short walk away, or get your dose of alpine air from hotel’s rustic balconies.

From approx. £290 a night on a b&b basis, valsana.ch

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

Go island-hopping in French Polynesia as The Brando – a resort on private island Tetiaroa – opens two overwater suites on Bora Bora.

From approx. £2,163 a night, thalasso. intercontinental.com

The Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island is the atoll’s only resort, with private pools and beach access a given.

Island Debut offer MarchDecember 2018, from approx. £587 a night, fourseasons.com

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S u i t e d rea m s

The Dorchester Words: Marianne Dick

T

he Dorchester is having a moment. Not only has Alain Ducasse just celebrated ten years and three Michelin stars at this Park Lane palace, but the hotel has just finished its five-year suite renovation project by Alexandra Champalimaud – the New York-based design studio responsible for jazzing up The Stafford in St James’s and the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Some of The Dorchester suites, notably the Park suites and penthouses, have been modernised quite dramatically. Others such as the Mayfair and Belgravia suites – a nod to the hotel’s proximity to these West End locations – exude a traditional glamour befitting the rest of the building’s Art Deco style.

My guest and I stay in one of the Belgravia suites.

The bedroom has a palette of soft, shimmering pinks and golds; while the living room is a spectrum of blues and finished with pieces of dark, Eastern-style furnishings. Both the bathroom and shower rooms are lined with light Italian Carrara marble.

The views over Hyde Park and the city are spectacular: we are lucky to have chosen a bright, crisp and clear autumn day to check in. Just ten minutes after we begin to settle in, our two royal householdstandard butlers introduce themselves and present us with one of the hotel’s signature cocktails – Her Majesty’s Cup. Created for the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee, this special blend contains Earl Grey-infused berries, rhubarb, Hendrick’s gin and champagne. It is poured from a floral china teapot into cups perched peculiarly on stems, like champagne coupes.

TRAVEL

Our butlers are on hand throughout our stay as part of the newly launched Essence of Belgravia experience, which also includes a private tour of the workshop of Belgravia-based chandler Rachel Vosper, followed by a masterclass in candle-making.

We manage to fit in a visit to the aromatic steam room and relaxation room in the basement spa for some downtime before dinner at The Grill. The restaurant was opened when the hotel was established in 1931, and the dramatic décor – rejuvenated by Bruno Moinard in 2014 – reflects this period, as well as many of its theatrical guests including Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick.

A commanding Murano glass chandelier takes centre stage, and rotating panels on the windowless walls alter the ambience depending on whether it’s day or night. Grand, gilded and dimly lit (since it is the evening), it reminds me of the gold room in Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining – perhaps it served as inspiration.

It would be silly not to choose a soufflé when dining at The Grill, which boasts the first dedicated sweet soufflé menu in London. I opt for the savoury Westcombe cheddar version to start, while my guest waits until dessert to select the Sicilian pistachio and salted caramel (after much deliberation).

For the main course, we both decide to dine from the grill menu: my guest has a juicy Black Angus beef fillet and I am served two succulent slices of pork belly. The lemon tart serves as the perfect palate cleanser and is presented simply yet beautifully – encased in a meringue shell.

Back upstairs, the bed is even more marshmallowlike than I expected, which makes rising for breakfast particularly hard. The restaurant’s atmospheric panels have been turned, and it feels as vibrant as the jugs of fruit juice that frame the buffet. My guest opts for a failsafe eggs Benedict, while I – as indecisive as ever – build my own, adding more components as our waiter suggests what seem like all my favourite things.

Butlers are on hand throughout our stay as part of the newly launched Essence of Belgravia experience

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The suites have been refurbished but the hotel’s mystery, romance and inimitable character is still discernible. Yes, the Essence of Belgravia experience might include butlers that will cater for your every need (within reason, of course), but as far as I’m concerned The Dorchester already has it covered.

Belgravia suites from £1,258, or with Essence of Belgravia experience, until 31 December, from £1,458, 53 Park Lane, W1K, dorchestercollection.com

This page from top: The spa; afternoon tea at the promenade; the grill; the relaxation room in the spa opposite page: the belgravia suite, all images courtesy of the dorchester collection

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Testing As the island paradise of Mauritius prepares to celebrate 50 years of

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ts azure waters, tropical foliage and mountainous interior make Mauritius a tropical paradise, and as the Indian Ocean island celebrates 50 years of independence next March, it’s one to add to your 2018 travel wish list.

Far from the epic voyage I was expecting, it’s a relatively straightforward journey: two six-hour flights from London via Dubai, in one of Emirates’ business class cabins (think fully-reclining seats, complimentary champagne and Bulgari amenity kits). I saunter to the bar for cocktails at 40,000 ft, reasoning that it’s never too early to get the holiday started.

I’m en route to Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, which encompasses a sprawling 34 acres of beachfront in Trou d’Eau Douce Bay, on the island’s eastern coast.

Mauritius only has two seasons, summer and winter; but the latter’s balmy 26 degrees suits me just fine. As tempting as it is to hole up in my Frangipani ocean view suite, with its natural design touches such as reclaimed,

t h e wat e rs independence, Melissa Emerson raises a glass at the Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa

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weathered timber, coral wall sculptures and giant bathtub, the ocean beckons.

Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok has a more intimate feel than other resorts I’ve stayed at. The wing in which my suite is set is found on a man-made island accessed by a bridge. Apart from the seclusion this offers, additional perks include sparkling wine on arrival, a complimentary minibar restocked daily, the option to breakfast on the sand at Republik Beach Club & Grill and an additional adults-only swimming pool. I take most of my dips here, under the clusters of weaver bird nests in the trees above.

It’s impossible not to feel relaxed. A stroll around the grounds the next morning – the resident giant tortoises are a highlight – reveals a spa garden, where herbs are grown to be used in treatments.

The Sense of Place massage I enjoy at Chi, The Spa is so soothing I can do nothing but lay on the beach for the rest of the morning, watching the impressive manoeuvres of the waiters zipping back and forth across the sand on Segways, balancing trays and catering to guests’ every whim.

Service is no less slick on the resort’s private island Ilot Mangénie. After arriving via the resort’s free shuttle boat, I’m greeted on the jetty by smiling

Le Touessrok has a more intimate feel than other resorts I’ve stayed at

attendants. They clean my sunglasses and lead me to a spacious cabana, with a table set for lunch on the sand nearby, and a personal butler always on hand.

A visit to another nearby island, Ile aux Cerfs, is a little more energetic. Home to an 18-hole championship golf course, it’s a sports hub.

Complimentary activities for resort guests include kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, and windsurfing. It’s here that I discover a natural ability – I have video evidence – for waterskiing, and parasailing, which is equally exhilarating and gives me the best aerial views of the unbroken barrier reef that rings the island (one of the largest in the world).

For those averse to heights, exploring the coastline on a speedboat might be the better option. I recline on tan leather seats and observe lounging monkeys in the treetops as we approach the Grand River South East Waterfall. Later I dive off the side of the boat for a spot of snorkelling in the crystal-clear, calm waters within the reef.

Back onboard, we cruise around some more tiny islets, stopping for lunch on the white sands – after which, I’ll never feel quite the same about blustery park picnics back home.

The last islet we sail by is Île de la Passe – the centre of an 1810 naval battle between the British and French, which serves as a reminder of the island’s multicultural history. The Portuguese first landed in

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Mauritius in the 16th century, and the island was successively a Dutch, French and a British colony.

English remains the government’s official language and the island’s French history is evident at Château de Labourdonnais, in northern Mauritius. Built in 1856, the chateau has since been restored and converted into a museum, and its La Table du Château restaurant in the grounds is a hidden gem. I stop for lunch after exploring the nearby Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden – worth a visit for its pond of giant Victoria amazonica water lilies.

Should you choose to, however, you don’t have to leave Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok. It has five restaurants and three bars, so there are plenty of options to choose from, ranging from sushi and Wagyu beef at Kushi to Indian cuisine at Safran. One night, I enjoy a beach barbecue at Republik Beach Club & Grill, where lounge seating is sunk into the sand; before sampling the interesting rum concoctions at Sega Bar, its open walls allowing a final glimpse of the sunset across the main pool. I’m starting to think that this must be the definition of heaven, but Mark Twain beat me to it: “Mauritius was made first and then heaven; and heaven was copied after Mauritius,” he once said.

And that was before Shangri-La came along.

I’m starting to think that Mauritius must be the definition of heaven

MORE INFO From approx. £374 a night on a B&B basis for two sharing a Frangipani ocean view junior suite, shangri-la.com; business return flights from London Gatwick to Mauritius from £3,672, and business return flights from London Heathrow to Mauritius from £3,705, emirates.com

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A new dawn With its ancient Buddhist temples, unspoilt beaches and abundant wildlife, Lauren Romano discovers why Sri Lanka should be on your travel bucket list

CHENA HUTS

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T

he sun sinks behind the trees, staining the horizon a diluted millennial pink hue. Even the blink-and-then-it’s-gone sunset at Ulagalla, a former ancestral estate turned boutique hotel in Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka, is on trend.

Sri Lanka is very much the destination of the moment. Having emerged from its more than 20-yearlong civil war in 2009, a slew of new boutique luxury hotels are spearheading a tourism revival the length and breadth of the island, spanning lush, vertiginous tea plantations, 2,000-year-old temples, exquisite coastlines and elephant-filled national parks.

I’m here with Uga Escapes, one of the pioneers of the country’s ecoconscious tourism boom. Its five boutique hotels are dotted from Trincomalee in the north to Yala on the southern coast and offer an immersive introduction to the Sri Lankan way of life. You can organise tours between the different properties for an overview of the most remarkable regions, of which Ulagalla, in this corner of Anuradhapura is one.

If only all evenings began with sundowners (potent martinis infused with star anise) on a helipad in the middle of a lush green paddy field. Not even the persistent buzz of a scourge of mosquitos darting covertly through the air can spoil the setting.

Darkness descends quickly here and no sooner has the

plunge pool; villa living area; setting up for signature dining, all ulagalla

sun started to smoulder, it has dipped beyond the forest canopy in the distance, plunging us into velvety blackness.

We make our way back to the hotel’s Liya Wela Restaurant by torchlight on golf buggies (these ferry guests to and from the 150-year-old manor house at the centre of the estate). There are just 25 chalets dotted around the 58 acres of this ecologically-minded resort, where half of all energy is generated by the on-site solar farm. The breeze from the semi-open-tothe-elements first floor dining room negates the need for air conditioning. Here, I make the

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fortunate mistake of ordering the straightforward enough sounding Sri Lankan curry. ‘Curry’ turns out to be an endless succession of little bowls filled with aubergine, potato, lentil and meaty stews that have to be set up on their own little tray as there are too many to fit on the table.

The stars are out in force when we emerge, utterly stuffed, into a darkness soundtracked by nocturnal insects and the surprisingly loud clicking noises of the many geckos that dart about the place, a pair of which have taken up residence in my chalet.

Each of the chalets sits on stilts, with glass walls on three sides, including the bathroom for those who want to be truly at one with nature, (there are blinds for those who don’t) offering uninterrupted views of your private deck, plunge pool and beyond. It’s quite the view to wake up to from my four poster bed the next morning – the elevation and dark wooden touches give the space a luxe treehouse feel.

Immersion in nature is the Uga way and the rooms are equipped with wildlife literature and manuals including a field guide listing the numerous species of birds that can be spotted on its properties (the hotels collectively boast 100 resident and migratory species).

On our guided sunrise nature walk we spy Ceylon jungle fowl and kingfishers among the dawn chorus, although we quickly become distracted by a family of monkeys swinging through the trees at vertigoinducing heights and a territorial, prehistoric-looking land monitor lizard stalking the grass by the lake.

The rest of our stay at Ulagalla passes by in a haze of activity. There’s a cooking demonstration at the open-air kitchen found within a large garden where we pick ingredients for a dahl curry and tempered okra with green chilli and mustard seeds. We go on a guided cycling tour of Anuradhapura – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and visit Ruwanwelisaya stupa, where monks in bright orange habits mingle with barefooted worshippers, and a team of daredevil

We become distracted by a family of monkeys swinging through the trees

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the residence, colombo

painters attempts to scale a makeshift ladder, lashed together with old scarves, suspended from the very top of the dome. Afterwards we take a detour to Vessagiri, the ruins of an ancient Buddhist forest monastery, to have a picnic on its giant boulders.

The following morning, it’s another early morning start as we head to Wilpattu – Sri Lanka’s oldest national park, where natural water basins attract exotic birds, sloth bears and leopards. We bristle with excitement after observing a herd of spotted deer grazing in the undergrowth not far from the entrance and this optimism carries us through the next few hours. It peaks when we spot some leopard footprints in the sand and follow the unsteady trail through the bush, battling overhanging branches as we go.

We’re not rewarded for our efforts and return to Ulagalla momentarily deflated, although a visit to the

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hotel’s serene spa, accessed via stepping stones and past a waterfall helps assuage the disappointment and the aching muscles.

One of the best places to spot leopards (Sri Lanka boasts the world’s largest concentration) and some of the country’s 5,800 resident elephants, is Yala National Park on the south-east coast. We decide to break the journey from north to south with a pitstop at Residence, another Uga property in the capital, Colombo.

The bustling street scenes from our chauffeur-driven van provide excellent in-transit entertainment: mango sellers barter from carts propped up at the side of the road; mountains of bananas sit by the kerb; tuk-tuks veer along the congested streets, somehow without colliding.

We shut the door on the rigmarole of traffic and general chaos at Residence. Behind its imposing gates sits an 11-suite boutique hotel with an internal courtyard and pool. The former home of an influential barrister, the 19th century townhouse was once frequented by British governors and India maharajas, and the cosmopolitan glamour remains with grandly proportioned rooms decked out in dark teak and magnolia and jewel-toned accents.

It’s the perfect base for exploring the up-andcoming city. Evidence of the capital’s former glory days can be unearthed at almost every corner, if you know where to look. We go on a walking tour led by the brilliant and informative Mark Forbes, who produces an iPad loaded with black and white photographs dating back to when

Sri Lanka boasts the world’s largest concentration of leopards, and Yala National Park is the best place to spot them Colombo was a thriving port so we can compare then and now. As we wander along the streets, it’s good to see that a wave of luxury hotels is injecting life back into the city and resurrecting some of its most magnificent (but crumbling) buildings.

We start off at the Dutch Hospital, the oldest building in the fort area to survive the Civil War – which is now home to several independent shops and the must-try restaurant Ministry of Crab – and end at the Grand Oriental Hotel for a gin and tonic overlooking the port, which was once where those who wanted to see and be seen hung out.

Today the city’s cosmopolitan crowd head to the Residence Bar, which is pleasantly bustling mid-week, with live musicians serenading guests with renditions of Western hits. Follow this with a visit to Rare restaurant next door where

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traditional Sri Lankan ingredients are given a modern twist. Here, highlights include crab cakes with pungent tomato chutney and lime aioli; Asian sea bass with a roasted almond crust; and homemade passion fruit and chilli ice cream – there’s a fishy seeni sambol and sprats soft scoop for those with more adventurous palates. The band is striking up a soulful version of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You when I return to my room. It’s an unlikely serenade, but I fall into a deep sleep the moment my head touches the pillow.

Another day, another destination: this time Chena Huts in Yala National Park. The long drive skirts the choppy coastline where waves spit and fizz violently, as well as numerous little villages amid the coconut groves. Four hours later we arrive in paradise.

Chena Huts sits in an enviable position, with jungle on one side and a rolling sandy beach on the other. You can’t get much closer to nature than this: Chena is separated from Sri Lanka’s second largest nature reserve by a ring of bushes. Sea turtles have been known to lay their eggs on the beach here by moonlight and there’s even an errant, mischievous elephant who makes the pond his watering hole from time to time, trampling everything in his path and leaving incriminating footprints in his wake.

Fourteen domed cabins are set over seven acres, with rustic design features, including an impressive log headboard that separates the generously proportioned platform bed from the bathroom.

The set-up resembles a safari camp, if those ordinarily came with a freestanding bath and a private patio with a five-metre plunge pool. At night guests are advised to padlock themselves into their rooms, such is the density of the wildlife here. No sooner have I returned from a barbecue dinner of seafood kebabs on the beach, and bolted the door, I hear loud stomping noises just outside. Could it be the elusive elephant?

If it’s close encounters you’re after, chances are you’ll find them at Yala National Park. We’re quietly optimistic as we set out with a Chena Huts ranger for a late afternoon game drive. And sure enough, it’s not long before a hubbub of excitement, and a traffic jam, starts to form. Just above our heads in

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The beach and guest cabins at chena huts

the canopy of some overhanging trees is a lounging leopard, fast asleep. He’s extremely well camouflaged but we spot him with the help of binoculars, evidently unperturbed by the excitement his presence has provoked.

But somehow it doesn’t seem that special sharing the moment with seven other truckloads of people, all waving their cameras about. It’s only later when we’re trundling down a deserted path, the entourage nowhere to be seen, that our driver stops the engine and points in the direction of some rustling bushes.

Up ahead a mother elephant is followed by her calf, stripping the branches for shoots. Then, as we turn to the right, an entire elephant family, with three babies weaving around their mothers’ feet, strides across the open plain. It’s a heart-warming sight and one that we get to enjoy all by ourselves, as the sun fades into another spectacular sunset.

NEED TO KNOW SriLankaInStyle (enquiries@srilankainstyle.com / srilankainstyle.com / +94 11 239 6666) offers this seven-night Uga Escapes itinerary from £3,800 based on two people sharing. This includes a private air-conditioned car or van with an English speaking chauffeur guide; accommodation at Ulagalla (B&B three nights), Uga Residence (B&B two nights) and Chena Huts (all-inclusive two nights); the Hidden History City Walking Tour in Colombo and two return flights from London to Colombo. Terms and conditions apply and pricing is subject to change and availability.

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Property Listings See below for estate agents in your area

Aston Chase 69-71 Park Road NW1 6XU 020 7724 4724 astonchase.com

Kay & Co 20a Paddington Street W1U 5QP 020 7486 6338 24-25 Albion Street W2 2AX 020 3468 0917 kayandco.com

CBRE Henrietta House 8 Henrietta Place W1G 0NB 020 7182 2000 cbre.co.uk

Chestertons 47 South Audley Street W1K 2AQ 020 7629 4513

Knight Frank 55 Baker Street W1U 8EW 020 3435 6440

48 Curzon Street W1J 7UL 020 3195 9595 (lettings) pastor-realestate.com

Robert Irving Burns 23-24 Margaret Street W1W 8LK 020 7637 0821 rib.co.uk

5-7 Wellington Place NW8 7PB 020 7586 2777 knightfrank.co.uk

Rokstone 5 Dorset Street, W1U 6QJ 020 7486 3320 rokstone.com

40 Connaught Street, W2 2AB 020 7298 5900 chestertons.com

Hudsons Property 24 Charlotte Street W1T 2ND 020 7323 2277 hudsonsproperty.com

Pastor Real Estate 11 Curzon Street W1J 5HJ 020 3879 8989 (sales)

Marsh & Parsons 94 Baker Street W1U 6FZ 020 7935 1775 marshandparsons.co.uk

For estate agent listings please contact Sophie Roberts at s.roberts@runwildgroup.co.uk

Sotheby’s Realty 77-79 Ebury Street SW1W 0NZ 020 3714 0749 sothebysrealty.co.uk

HOMES showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Elegant & exclusive The latest prime properties

Image courtesy of Knight Frank

Nottingham Place, Marylebone W1 A beautiful freehold Georgian townhouse This magnificent property has been finished to a high standard throughout. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 3 further bedrooms, 2 further bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, study, large open plan kitchen with dining area, guest cloakroom, private patio, terrace, balcony.

EPC: C. Approximately 244.1 sq m (2,627 sq ft).

Freehold

Guide price: £4,950,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/marylebone marylebone@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7938

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/MRY170144

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Welbeck Way, Marylebone W1 A superb freehold mews house with a garage The house provides well balanced accommodation spread over three floors, and is located on a quiet mews.

Master bedroom with en suite shower room, further double bedroom, bathroom, superb reception room, open place kitchen/ dining area. EPC: C. Approximately 135.4 sq m (1,457 sq ft).

Freehold

Guide price: £2,500,000

KnightFrank.co.uk/marylebone marylebone@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7938

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

KnightFrank.co.uk/MRY140080

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Bryanston Square, Marylebone W1 Two bedroom apartment on a Georgian garden square An immaculately presented apartment on the third floor (with lift) offering an abundance of natural light with access to the private manicured gardens. Master bedroom with en suite shower room, second bedroom, bathroom, large modern open plan kitchen/reception room. EPC: D. Approximately 92.1 sq m (991 sq ft).

Leasehold: approximately 999 years

Guide Price: £1,850,000 KnightFrank.co.uk/MRY170159

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KnightFrank.co.uk/marylebone marylebone@knightfrank.com 020 3641 7938

@KnightFrank KnightFrank.co.uk

13/11/2017 12:27:44

property

Property news PrimeResi brings you the latest news in prime property and development in London

Refurb to rent A newly-renovated Grade I-listed former embassy building is being pitched as “Regent’s Park’s first purpose-made refurb-to-rent mansion”

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newly-renovated Grade I-listed former embassy building on Regent’s Park is being offered to rent for £520,000 per annum.

The John Nash-designed townhouse on Cumberland Terrace is valued at around £16.5m, and has been refurbished by its ownerdeveloper with a clear focus on the super-prime rental market. It’s now being offered for £10,000 per week (£520,000 per year), via Rokstone and Carter Jonas.

The property comes in at 4,643 sq ft, offering five bedrooms (the master suite occupies its own private floor) plus a newly-installed basement level.

It was originally the home of Spanish nobleman and racing driver, Pedro Mones, the Marques de Casa Maury, and more recently provided embassy accommodation.

CGIs have been created to help market the townhouse, giving would-be renters a view of both empty and dressed rooms.

Rokstone anticipates that the

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townhouse will appeal most to super-wealthy Middle Eastern and Asian students and socialites wanting a “glam-yet-temp” pad in the capital.

Nervous EU residents might also be interested, opting to rent rather than buy while they wait and see how Brexit negotiations play out.

Renting the house out is an “extremely adroit” decision by the owner, says Rokstone’s Becky Fatemi, which “reflects the dramatic transformation of London’s ultra-prime residential market.”

Super-prime property ownership in the UK is now a long-term investment, working out over 10-15 years, she says.

Hefty stamp duty rates also mean that a tenant could also – potentially – be making a relatively savvy financial move by renting.

The stamp duty land tax bill on Rokstone’s full £16.5m potential value would come to £1.893m; that’s more than a little small change above the £1.56m rental cost over three years.

Charlotte Street art house gets heritage status A post-war artists’ hub in Fitzrovia has been Grade II-listed Approved plans to turn the former home and studio of abstract artist Adrian Heath into three apartments have been withdrawn, after the building on Charlotte Street was given Grade II-Listed status by Historic England.

The application to convert the thenunlisted house into three self-contained flats was put in by the Heaths’ son, Damon, and involved enlarging the basement and adding rear extensions to the first and second floors.

Now, however, Heath has withdrawn the plans after local campaigners, led by the Bloomsbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee and Historic England stepped in to recognise the building’s architectural and cultural value. Any development of the property would now require Listed Building Consent.

Built in 1766, 28 Charlotte Street has been listed as a heritage asset at Grade II thanks to it being “an externally little-altered example of an 18th-century terraced townhouse with an inserted 19th-century shop front”.

No.28 became a hub for the abstract art movement in the 1940s and ’50s, hosting the likes of Victor Pasmore, Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon and Patrick Heron. An impressive double-height studio – designed

by Charlotte Baden-Powell – was added at the back of the property in the 1960s.

Birgit Skilöd then used the property as a print studio, attracting names including David Hockney and Eduardo Paolozzi.

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BUCKINGHAM GATE ST. JAMES’S SW1 A UNIQUE 3 BEDROOM DUPLEX APARTMENT MOMENTS FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE This double-lateral apartment, 5,189 sqft, offers accommodation across two floors and two buildings, with a total width of c.60 feet (18.3 metres) across six windows. Offering views over the grounds of the Royal Palace, this meticulously designed apartment has been renovated for 21st-century living and is serviced by a range of private amenities.

Accommodation: Entrance hall, drawing room, living room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom suite with ensuite shower, bathroom and dressing room, two further bedrooms with ensuite shower and bathrooms, guest cloakroom.

Amenities: Lift access, secure underground car parking, 24-hour concierge, three private terraces, two utility rooms.

£14,000 / Week

louise@beauchamp.com

No tenant fees

+44 (0)20 7205 2481

www.beauchamp.com

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24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF

·

+44 (0)20 7205 2481

NEWTON ROAD BAYSWATER W2 A UNIQUE FREEHOLD BUILDING CONSISTING OF THREE FLATS An imposing building, Robeson House is situated between in Bayswater and moments from Notting Hill. Its location is such that commuting around the capital and further afield is straightforward with many transport links close by including Bayswater and Royal Oak tube stations and London Paddington for trips outside London.

Flat 1 Accommodation: Entrance hall, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, library, master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and dressing room, bedroom one with ensuite cloakroom and dressing room, two further bedrooms, guest bathroom, guest cloakroom, 3,310 sq ft. Flat 2 Accommodation: Entrance hall, studio/drawing room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, guest shower room, kitchenette, 2,082 sq ft. Flat 3 Accommodation: Kitchenette, living room/bedroom, bathroom, storage space, 310 sq ft.

£8,500,000

Paul Finch

Freehold

paul@beauchamp.com

Joint Sole Agents

+44 (0) 20 7158 0915

www.beauchamp.com

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24 Curzon Street, London W1J 7TF

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+44 (0)20 7158 0915

property

Property news The Russian return Buyers are back in prime central London

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ussian oligarchs were a dominant force in London’s luxury property market a few years ago, but went rather quiet in 2015.

The pause in buying activity coincided with restrictions on foreign currency transactions to help stem Russia’s outward flow of capital, and with international sanctions being imposed after actions in the Crimea.

Things are beginning to change once again, though, reports mortgage brokerage Enness – and a fleet of other prime central London insiders – with “a clear influx” of Russian clients looking to purchase or refinance property in the capital.

Knight Frank picked up on the trend at the start of the year, noting a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in enquiries from Russian buyers between January and April this year, while buying agency Black Brick recorded a 22 per cent pickup in the year to September compared to the same period in 2016.

Russian buyers have been back in north London “with newfound gusto” since June or July, according to Glentree’s Trevor Abrahmsohn.

Shaun Drummond of Harrods Estates confirms that his firm has “seen an increase in Russian nationals looking to buy property in prime central London over the past two months.”

Marylebone/Hyde Park specialist agency Kay & Co notes: “17 per cent of deals done between June and September 2017 were to Russians, compared to none in the previous year,” according to the firm’s managing director, Martin Bikhit.

looking ahead Arya Salari, head of lettings at Knight Frank’s Marylebone office gears up for the festive period As we approach the Christmas period, it is important for landlords and tenants to ‘make hay while the sun shines’.

There is still a good selection of properties on the market with landlords motivated to find tenants before the holidays.

There is also high demand from our corporate services department, with a spike in relocations from the US and Asia.

Chiltern Place, a stunning development in the heart of Marylebone, is due for completion this month. We have let the first property off-market to move in shortly after completion, resulting in both a very happy landlord and tenant. This development is one of the many reasons why Marylebone is outperforming other prime central London locations.

In other news, I would like to introduce Abigail Thurston, who joins the team as a senior lettings negotiator. Abigail has joined us from the Notting Hill office where she helped grow the department over the last two years. She is a fantastic addition to the team and will work alongside our experienced negotiators Lizzie Normandale and Daisy Munro.

If you are looking to rent or let out your property, do not hesitate to contact us on 020 3641 9968 and we will gladly help. We are open 8am-7.30pm weekdays and 5pm on Saturdays. knightfrank.co.uk

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NO ONE NEEDS PERSUADING AS TO WHY THEY SERVICE THEIR CAR, YACHT OR PLANE. BUT THERE HASN’T BEEN AN EQUIVALENT FOR THEIR HOME UNTIL BOLD & REEVES

CONVENIENCE. PEACE OF MIND. VALUE. INFO@BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK | 020 7408 7590 | BOLDANDREEVES.CO.UK

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-West by SPAB Scholar Ptolomy Dean

Founded by William Morris, the SPAB protects the historic environment from decay, damage and demolition. It responds to threats to old buildings, trains building professionals, craftspeople, homeowners and volunteers and gives advice about maintenance and repairs. Since 1877 countless buildings have been saved for future generations.

Information about maintaining your home is available through events, courses, lectures, publications and telephone advice.

To support our work why not join the SPAB? Members receive a quarterly magazine, our list of historic properties for sale and access to our regional activities.

www.spab.org.uk 020 7377 1644 A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales. Company no: 5743962 Charity no: 1113753 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY

SE1

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Block party The mansion apartment has enduring appeal, argue three local agents

Knight Frank Ali Mathews, sales negotiator The mansion flat enjoyed its first heyday in the late 1800s, when the Victorians brought a touch of glamour to the lateral apartments, nestled in some of the most prestigious, highly sought-after postcodes. Today the buildings are still very much in fashion and location remains a major search criteria, as does appearance.

Ordinarily, mansion blocks feature impressive entrances with uniform well-kept exteriors and grand interiors to match. Crucially, the original layout has been preserved in the vast majority of these properties, meaning they offer an unbeatable sense of space which is emphasised by the high ceilings, large windows – that fill the properties with an abundance of natural light – and

2 Mansfield street

generous proportions.

A luxury apartment in a mansion block is ideal as a convenient pied-aterre, as everything from the collection of residents’ post to the cleaning of communal areas is taken care of.

Mansion blocks also offer great levels of security, with the majority benefiting from a 24-hour porter.

No. 2 Mansfield Street, pictured, is

Rokstone Becky Fatemi, director Since their Victorian construction, mansion blocks have been, and are still, extremely popular, proving highly appealing to a wide variety of buyers.

With their traditional and quintessentially British frontage, mansion blocks provide a taste of Victorian architecture with a real London vibe and more often

an exclusive mansion block in Marylebone close to Regent’s Park, with an excellent team of porters who operate around the clock to ensure an extremely well-run and secure building, which contributes to the private and luxurious atmosphere.

55 Baker Street, W1U, 020 3641 7938, knightfrank.co.uk/marylebone

than not occupy prime locations. Undoubtedly, mansion blocks, like any period home, require a bit of tender loving care with landlords’ consent usually being required ahead of any renovations. However, the benefits are numerous. Residents of a mansion block enjoy high ceilings, large windows and a grand façade.

With most mansion blocks, residents are also provided with safety and convenience, with porters and management services on site, meaning the burden of maintenance work and possible security concerns are

property

FLAT 17, BRYANSTON MANSIONS, £1,150,000

Kay & Co Martin Bikhit, managing director The term ‘mansion flats’ dates back to Victorian times, when it was derived to describe blocks of purpose-built apartments. Most housing in those days was low-rise and terraced, but these new residences represented an aspirational way of life to middle-class buyers. Mansion blocks took off in smart residential areas of London, becoming the must-have dwelling for any sophisticated, social climber in 19th-century London.

Mansions flats have always been popular and they remain so today.

People love the period charm and original features they offer. They represent an old piece of England and nothing like them will ever be built again. They also benefit from central locations and are very spacious with high ceilings. Yet, like all period buildings, the regular maintenance can sometimes come with higher than average service charges. Modern conveniences such as parking are mostly non-existent and renovations can be challenging due to potential listings and strict control of building works. Not all

FLAT 8, NOTTINGHAM MANSIONS, £1,200,000

communal areas are great, but highquality ones can boost the value of a property by 15 per cent. Mansion

blocks that have been renovated have renewed appeal with purchasers.

Kay & Co currently has apartments to buy or rent in some of the most popular areas, including Bryanston Court, Bryanston Mansions, Montagu Mansions, Portman Mansions, Nottingham Mansions, Bickenhall Mansions, Hyde Park Mansions, Crawford Mansions and Clarence Gate Gardens.

20a Paddington Street, W1U, 020 3394 0027, kayandco.com

PORTMAN MANSIONS

minimalised. Mansion blocks provide real history and residents often come together to maintain the building and are usually more hands-on with its upkeep. The most sought-after blocks tend to be the ones located in prime central London or well-connected suburbs, with Marylebone, Kensington and Westminster thought to be some of the most attractive and valuable locations.

5 Dorset Street, W1U, 020 7580 2030, rokstone.com

s l u x u ry l o n d o n . c o. u k s

129

Beaumont Mews

W1G

New Cavendish Street

W1W

Chiltern Street

W1U

Cramer Street

W1U

Eastcastle Street

W1W

Glenworth Street

NW1

Great Cumberland Place

W1H

Hallam Street

W1W

Luxborough Street

W1U

Luxborough Street

W1U

Marylebone High Street

W1U

Devonshire Street

W1G

Wrapping up 2017

Marylebone Road

NW1

Molyneux Street

W1H

New Cavendish Street

W1W

Marylebone Lane

W1U

Ossington Buildings

W1U

Paddington Street

W1U

Paddington Street

W1U

Porter Street

W1U

Thornton Place

W1H

Thornton Place

W1H

Upper Wimpole Street

W1G

Weymouh Street

W1G

Are you considering selling or letting in 2018?

Speak to one of our property experts today.

Devonshire Place

W1G

Devonshire Street

W1G

Devonshire Street

W1G

Eastcastle Street

W1W

Great Porland Street

W1W

Great Titchfield Street

W1W

Grosvenor Street

W1K

Hallam Street

W1W

Cavendish Street

W1W

Marylebone High Street

W1U

Marylebone High Street

W1U

Marylebone Lane

W1U

with our successes

Marylebone High Street

W1U

Nottingham Place

W1U

Nottingham Street

W1U

Ossington Buildings

W1U

Portland Place

W1B

Queen Anne Street

W1G

Stourcliffe Street

W1H

Thayer Street

W1U

Wigmore Street

W1U

Wellbeck Street

W1G

York Street

W1H

Whitehall Court

SW1A

To book a valuation call 020 3394 0027 or email valuations@kayandco.com.

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