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CONTENTS 20

60

The Shoe Must Go On

Rise & Shine

Hannah Lemon jumps into the colourful and zany imagination of sparkling shoe designer Natacha Marro

Olivia Sharpe speaks to the rising British female stars who are changing the face of the jewellery industry

24

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From Top to Toe

Premiership Performer

Get ready for the year ahead with top tips from local health gurus to revitalise body and soul. Hannah Lemon reports

It might not be the most powerful Bentley Continental GT on offer but the V8 S is easily the best, says Matthew Carter

30

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Hunger for Life

Highway to Foodie Heaven

Introducing Sam Claflin: Gabrielle Lane speaks to the Hunger Games star and face of Ciroc

Lauren Jarvis heads to Western Australia for an indulgent gourmet escape as the country’s food revolution picks up pace

The Notting Hill & Holland Park magazine is distributed in W8, W11, W14 and parts of W2, W9 and W10.

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Natasha Corrett, founder of Honestly Healthy, is always our local go-to guru for matters on nutrition. After the traditional festive binge of Christmas roasts with all the trimmings, most of us panic and fall into the trap of intense and short-lived fasting in the new year. But Natasha offers some gentle advice: “Enjoy nourishing smoothies, hearty soups and plenty of green veggies.” Turn to page 24 to find out how else you can transform your lifestyle in the new year.

J A N U A RY 2 0 1 5 s i s s u e 0 2 4 Editor Annabel Harrison Deputy Editor Hannah Lemon Assistant Editor Olivia Sharpe Contributing Editor Kari Rosenberg Editorial Assistants Harriet Baker Liane Nelson Senior Designer Sophie Blain

Cover image: Natasha Corrett founder of Honestly Healthy, honestlyhealthyfood.com Photography by: Lisa Linder

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From the EDITOR It’s arrived: the painful time of year when enough is enough – we can no longer stomach any more food or alcohol and the thought of neighbours seeing our post-Christmas figures is unbearable. To top it all off, we’re constantly bombarded with the news that January is the most depressing month. In order to survive the next few weeks and transform your outlook for the rest of the year, Hannah Lemon has called on local health and wellbeing specialists to tailor a plan that’s going to revitalise you from top to toe (p. 24).

However, if the thought of gym regimes and yet more steamed fish and broccoli make you want to run in the opposite direction, there are plenty of other ways to kick-start your 2015. First things first; carry out a wardrobe spring-clean and replenish it with colourful, fun items like Natacha Marro’s heels, for example, synonymous with the decadent guises of Lady Gaga and the provocative outfits of Dita Von Teese; Hannah Lemon jumps into the zany imagination of this sparkling shoe designer (p. 20). Ladies of Notting Hill can stock up on luxurious staples from new Westbourne Grove boutique War The Robe (p. 40).

As pre-Oscar and BAFTA hype intensifies and fans flock to watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Gabrielle Lane speaks to young Brit actor Sam Claflin, who has been photographed by Mario Testino for a new campaign celebrating international acting talent (p. 30), while Hannah Lemon chats with the flatmates and founders of a creative new pop-up that aims to make you feel right at home; look out for a little yellow door (p. 43).

Lastly, if your aim for 2015 is to make a difference, turn to page 52; Harriet Baker explains how local residents can make a difference to their community by supporting the inspirational work of the Full of Life support group, which provides disabled young people with the opportunity to learn, work and play with others in an atmosphere of mutual care and respect.

Editor

Annabel Harrison

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

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FEATURE

The

Shoe Must Go On

From Portobello Road to Hollywood Boulevard, Natacha Marro’s heels are synonymous with the decadent guises of Lady Gaga and the provocative outfits of Dita Von Teese. Hannah Lemon jumps into the zany imagination of this sparkling shoe designer Portobello has kick-started many a fashion designer’s career; from Preen to Hackett, many have started on a stall to sell their way to the top. Natacha Marro has done this too. Starting out at Portobello Green Market, a treasure trove for vintage fashion and new designers, she has since nurtured her wacky designs. With the help of other local artists, such as friend and fashion designer Meihui Liu, she has been one of the lucky fresh talents to be recognised.

From her early days in Notting Hill, Natacha has hurtled into the celebrity world making shoes for shoots for Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, Vogue and W Magazine, and for elegant actresses like Keira Knightly and Scarlett Johansson to the more experimental fashionistas such as Pam Hogg. Her shoes have also made cameo appearances in Hollywood blockbusters like the Star Wars franchise (she dressed Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson) and Maleficent; although Natacha explains to me that for the latter the heels were hidden under Angelina Jolie’s cloak for the duration of the film despite the extensive cost and time taken to make them.

“I have never seen legs like

that before,” Natacha shares with me, divulging that Jolie’s legs were smaller than most rakish models’.

When I meet Natacha in her Brick Lane studio, she potters around making tea and offering biscuits like I am a guest in her house. A very messy house. There are rolls of material scattered on chairs and bolts of fabric stacked against the walls; music witters from a radio in the background and trial sketches and colour schemes line the workshop tables. Natacha is dressed in a long black top and black leggings and her white blonde hair hangs in two pigtails from her pale face, with thin black pencil lines as eyebrows. The only colour in this monochrome appearance is the blue radiating from the sparkly platforms on her feet.

This unique look is all part of Natacha’s brand of kooky, something that didn’t sit well with her life back at home in Nice. She craved the creativity and outlandishness of a bustling city. “My dream when I was younger was to move to Paris – until I got there,” she explains with the harmonious swirls of a French accent. “I realised that people are so backward there; if you

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FEATURE

are different it is not going to work. And I was different.

I didn’t fit in. After two weeks, I moved to London.” It was here that her quirky style was embraced and celebrated.

She studied design for three years at Cordwainers College (now merged with the London College of Fashion) but believes the real skill is learnt on the job. “College gives you a basic understanding of shoe design. But making them is completely different and of course I wanted to do something that was different. You have to practise it yourself.” After finishing college in 1994, she began designing and made the move across London from the West in Portobello to the East on Brick Lane.

I glance around at the shelves of shoes stacked around her studio. After all these years she has definitely sharpened her signature style: large platforms with bright colours and ostentatious sparkle. “Colours are my main thing,” she tells me.

Flashy hot pinks, cheeky golds and silvers, kinky yellow latex and sexy cherry reds; you certainly have to be a brave soul to wear these, which is why she attracts celebrities who enjoy the limelight of statement fashion. “Not very many people buy the crazy things,” says Natacha. “I like it when people go crazy.” Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness in particular enjoy her footwear experiments and so Natacha has been able to indulge in the more wacky, heel-less designs.

Despite the frequent A-lister name-dropping, Natacha isn’t buoyed by her clients’ fame; she talks of them with a half-hearted interest and certainly doesn’t bestow special treatment on them. “Celebrities are quite funny,” she declares. “They think because they are a celebrity I am going to give them a pair for free but actually that’s the last thing I am going to do!”

Natacha’s designs come from an overactive and fantastical mind. Even as she speaks (it’s hard to get a word in) I can see her brain ticking and her thoughts jumping from one thing to another. “I’m like a child – I’m five years old really,” she chuckles heartily. “My inspiration comes from my imagination.” Wearing her shoes is like jumping into a dream-like world, becoming a character on stage or as Natacha puts it: “I imagine I’m in a cartoon and think what shoes I would want to wear.”

Who has inspired her crazy couture? “When I was growing up, Jean Paul Gaultier was the one for me,” coos Natacha. “I went to see his shows everywhere and I just loved it all.” This explains a lot – the daring, humorous and wavering on kitsch design is something that Gaultier did best. So too is the deconstruction of the gender barrier, something that is seen more and more often in fashion with androgynous models and unisex clothing; David Bowie, Noel Fielding and Grayson Perry have all shopped at Natacha Marro.

“Every shoe is a one-off,” she tells me, which must make the creation process painstakingly hard.

“When I started out I did everything, from beginning to end, but now I can make more shoes than ever before because of the help I have. If I did it all myself I would make around five pairs of shoes a month, but now I can make 20–30 pairs a month.” She now outsources some of the work to an expert in stitching. “It’s not like clothes where you can unpick it and repeat it – if the leather has a hole, that’s it. So I have a stitcher who does it all day and has done it for 30 years. He’s really good.”

The detail that goes into making a unique pair for every customer is a labour of love that doesn’t come cheaply. “We sold some shoes for £3,000 for a wedding.

The lace was used from the bride’s wedding dress, which was from Vivienne Westwood and was £300 for a metre because it was hand-embroidered,” explains Natacha.

I ask if she adds shoes as accessories to an outfit like her customers do but she informs me that it is most undoubtedly the other way round. “Some people have a shoe for a specific dress but not me – I can wear one pair of shoes with every outfit. The shoe decides everything and the top doesn’t matter. For me it’s all the hair, the makeup and the shoes.”

It’s a shame that Natacha has moved to East London and not the West but it’s not far to go if you want to glimpse her latest crazy cartoon designs. Or if you are going for the vintage Natacha Marro look, you can always pop on a film and check out the Jedi style guru Obi-Wan Kenobi’s footwear.

“I imagine I’m in a cartoon and think what shoes I would want to wear”

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natachamarro.com

From

Top toe to

Get ready for the year ahead with top tips from local health gurus to revitalise body and soul.

HAnnah Lemon reports It’s arrived. The painful time of year when we decided that enough is enough – we can no longer stomach any more food or alcohol and the thought of neighbours seeing your post-Christmas figure is unbearable. To top it all off, we are constantly bombarded with the news that January is the most depressing month. In order to survive the next few weeks and help transform your outlook for the rest of the year, we have called on local health and wellbeing specialists to help tailor a plan that’s going to benefit you from the inside out and from top to toe.

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand Photography by: Thomas Zerlaut, supplied by the resort

FEATURE

For the Spirit Incense, candles, humming, mantras, meditation, wishful thinking – you might have tried every last cliche in an attempt to reach a ‘happy place’. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn about Daniele Boido’s ‘non spiritual’ spirituality sessions, which have nothing to do with religions or new-age fads. To quote from the Notting Hill-based therapist’s book The Human Being of the Future: “True spirituality is based on reality, on the continuous understanding of ourselves and our environment. True spirituality has no label, no frame, no shape.” Feeling even more confused? Don’t worry, so was I until Daniele divulged the practicalities of achieving a peaceful state of mind.

“Start small, with something you can manage,” he tells me. “I would start with the basics: your body. Clean your colon, switch to organic foods and avoid any type of processed ones. Exercise regularly, including yoga or Pilates in your routine. Learn some breathing techniques that you can use every day to help you relax.” With all these in place he promises that “you will soon see the difference”. He also advises that you should set aside at least one hour a day to focus on yourself and block out work, family and a hectic social life. “‘Me time’ is essential in our life if we want to remain in balance,” he advises.

I am the kind of person who is particularly reticent about the existence of feng shui and finding my aura (I didn’t know I had lost it), but Daniele is happy to put doubters at ease. When he mentions the word aura he even adds, “if you believe in it” and says that the most important thing is “to keep it real and work with what you can see and change.” This is probably why he is so relied upon by a credible celebrity following, including Colin Firth and Notting Hill’s Annie Lennox.

Contact danbnow@live.co.uk for more information.

For the Soul Keeping up appearances can be a stressful side effect of multitasking and one person who understands this more clearly than most is local resident and journalist Rachel Kelly. “I became overwhelmed at work, at home, as a friend, wife and mother,” she says. “I wanted to keep up appearances across all these different fronts. And I didn’t want to admit I couldn’t manage.” After suffering from severe bouts of depression, Rachel gained wisdom to help master days with the Black Dog. “I use lots of strategies,” she explains. “These include adopting a Mediterranean diet, mindfulness, exercise, gardening, attempting acts of kindness and, oddly, reading poetry.” And, most importantly, surrounding herself with friends and family.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, the first step out of darkness, Rachel advises, is to “seek help; do not suffer in silence.” Cognitive behavioural therapy can provide support in the short term or cognitive analytical therapy in the long term. She also adds that we shouldn’t overly focus on the goal of happiness. “Happiness comes and goes, since life is unpredictable,” offers Rachel.

“But wisdom gives you the ability to meet difficulty with resilience, make good judgments, and accept failure alongside success.

Most importantly, we must try not to get waylaid with the stresses of life. “I will be turning to a favourite poem by Adam Lindsay Gordon,” says Rachel, “to remind me that kindness – both to myself and to others – is a much better long-term mood-enhancer than any punishing diet: Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone: Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.”

Rachel Kelly’s memoir Black Rainbow: How Words Healed Me – my journey through depression is published

by Hodder & Stoughton. All author proceeds go to SANE and United Response. blackrainbow.org.uk

For the Mind A womb-like structure, 37-degree heat and poses that involve you bending like a pretzel – sound like your idea of fun? Head to Hotpod Yoga sessions near Ladbroke Grove and stretch to your heart’s content in heated, inflatable and portable studios.

New teachers and classes will be on the schedule for the upcoming months to calm the mind as well as strengthen the body and purge you of toxins.

Whether you’re an amateur or professional yogi, the Vinyasa method is accessible but challenging enough hotpodyoga.com

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In Sabina, Latium, Italy Photography by: Mirjam Bleeker/TASCHEN GmbH, www.mirjambleeker.nl

for all. Sessions involve controlled breathing and a range of moves to strengthen, tone and promote weight loss, burning 700 calories per hour session. In case you are struggling to find time to fit it in to your busy work schedule, classes can be brought to offices as has been tried and tested by LinkedIn, Coca-Cola and JP Morgan.

Hotpod Yoga, Notting Hill Prep, North Side Lancaster Road, W11 1QS; hotpodyoga.com If you are looking for actual tropical climes, take inspiration from TASCHEN’s book Great Yoga Retreats edited by Angelika Taschen. Execute a one-legged king pigeon or a downward-facing dog at a luxury hotel in Bhutan, a farmhouse in Tuscany, a beach resort in Mexico or visit the birth place of yoga in the holy Hindu city of Rishikesh. Learn about the ultimate techniques and push the boundaries of your body and your atlas with this beautiful guide.

Great Yoga Retreats is published by TASCHEN and available from TASCHEN Store London, Duke of York’s Square, Sloane Square

For the Stress Returning to work and to the city after a long Christmas break can seem overwhelming, but one way to ease yourself back into reality is with a

relaxing massage. Good for the body as well as the soul, an hour-long soothing massage is more than necessary.

Our top pick goes to The Sloane Club which has recently launched a luxurious spa. Open to members and those in the know (which now includes you) guests can indulge in a world of pampering.

Situated on the first floor of the club, it’s a bit like embarking on a secret affair, but with an array of essential oils instead of a new lover. Away from the hustle and bustle of the streets below, you can clear your mind of any thoughts other than how great it feels. Treatments include products from La Prairie for hydration and Dermalogica to soothe and calm skin.

The masseuse battles every knot in your body and will undo any effects of poor posture.

You might as well make the trip even if just to have a peek into one of the most iconic institutes in London – that is if you are not already a member.

Sloane Club Spa, 52 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8BP; 020 7730 9131; Open Tuesday to Saturday

For the Head Hating the way you look can seriously impact on your mood; it has even been scientifically proven by researchers at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. And there’s no better place to start improvements than with the hair on your head. Local Paul Yacomine, a session stylist with a client list that includes Cate Blanchett, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington, knows a thing or two about lifeless ends.

FEATURE

For starters, the local Scotsman tells me about a few of his pet peeves to avoid. “The most annoying habit is blow drying from soaking wet,” he says. “If you have very thick coarse hair then a little extra moisture helps but for the majority it stretches out the cuticle causing breakages and dehydration.” Duly noted.

Paul advises me that we need to learn to look at hair as an accessory just as much as make-up and clothes; so if it isn’t working with an outfit step back and try something else. Make sure you avoid alcohol and gum-based fixatives in the process as it can damage the hair. “If you have to struggle each time to get the look you want then perhaps a different haircut is needed,” he instructs. “It doesn’t have to be drastic; simply adding a few layers or tapering can facilitate major changes in volume and texture.” And as a final tip he suggests adding a little light oil at all times; “It will help keep in the moisture and reduce environmental stress.”

Paul Yacomine Micro Hair Care Products are available at Beauty Works West and Harvey Nichols paulyacomine.com

For the Face Having worked with skin specialists on Harley Street, Debbie Thomas felt that a one-size-fits-all style of treatments did not tackle the needs of each individual client. So she set up her own clinic with her boyfriend and business partner to provide tailor-made therapies.

Laser therapy (not nearly as scary as it sounds) is at the centre of her consultations. The treatments aim to plump up the skin, relieve you of some wrinkles and fade redness, acne, scarring and pigmentation, and usually require treatments for four to six weeks and then a top-up every two-months thereafter.

I was prepared for a scene not dissimilar to that of being tortured by a Bond villain, but it wasn’t nearly that bad (the lasers feel a bit like being repeatedly flicked with small elastic bands). The severity of lasers vary according to skin types and are expertly handled by Debbie and her assistant at the Josh Wood Atelier. My session included a peel, hydrabrasion, yellow laser and red light therapy.

The skin looked a tad flushed and red straight afterwards but the next day I saw healthier, clearer skin.

Josh Wood Lansdowne Atelier, 6 Lansdowne Mews, W11 3AN, joshwoodcolour.com; debbiethomas.co.uk If you are looking for a more relaxing facial, head to Beauty Works West for the Nourish Facial, designed to give skin a surge of hydration for the winter months.

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Black Chicken products are used, which are based on natural oils with lavender as a key ingredient. While you lie in a cosy heated bed the skin is examined to see which products will work best.

The facial includes gentle exfoliation of the skin to remove the dead skin cells, a mask, a steamer and extractions. After this a cleanser and some oils are applied, while you enjoy a soothing face, neck and shoulder massage. Following this is another mask, more massaging and the chance to fall asleep. Skin is left feeling radiant and moisturised and you are left feeling completely relaxed. Definitely a great treat for winter.

Nourish Facial was created by Elize Moritz at BeautyWorksWest, beautyworkswest.com

For the Smile The British are renowned for having bad teeth – not something I think we are particularly proud of. But poor dental hygiene affects more than just our reputation, as Holland Park Dental Centre recently found out. Astonishingly, more than 70 per cent of the women in a survey run by the clinic said they have been prevented from smiling in photographs due to a dissatisfaction with their smiles.

If you find yourself in this percentage, then take action now and I’m not just talking about a bit of whitening toothpaste. To get to the root of the problem (excuse the pun) this often means restructuring the mouth. But don’t fear, discreet orthodontics such as Invisalign, lingual braces and 3D imaging have replaced the humiliating hefty head gear of boarding school years. More and more adults are opting for treatment to improve their pearly whites including the likes of Tom Cruise and the Duchess of Cambridge – so there should be no stopping you.

Holland Park Dental Centre, 170 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UH, hollandparkdental.co.uk

For the Tummy Natasha Corrett, founder of Honestly Healthy, is always our local go-to guru for matters of diet. Although, she is already at my throat with the terminology. “Don’t call it a diet,” she says.

“Pick a cleanse that will fit in with your life rather than fitting in with a diet as that is when you will fail.” After the traditional festive binge of a Christmas roast with all the trimmings, followed by sandwiches made from the leftovers and extended further by turkey and stuffing soup, there is no wonder we all panic and fall into the

Reform pilates Image courtesy of: TenPilates

FEATURE Kale salad Image courtesy of: Honestly Healthy

trap of intense fasting in the new year. “Be gentle doing anything extreme like juice fasting,” warns Natasha.

“It will just put you into a head spin. Enjoy nourishing smoothies, hearty soups and plenty of green veggies.”

Natasha’s top tip is to avoid acidic foods by finding alternatives for sugar, wheat, gluten, dairy, alcohol and caffeine. “Eat as nature intended,” she advises by shopping for pulses, nuts, seeds and lots of greens, which will help you feel fresh. “Adding spices like turmeric to your food is a great anti-viral option,” she adds.

One way to ensure you receive the right nutrients is to follow the Honestly Healthy three-day soup and smoothie cleanse, but it is no easy ride – my tummy was rumbling for most of it. However, it does leave you feeling fresh. “Follow a healthy alkaline way 70% of the time and then for the 30% do what you want,” says Natasha.

“Don’t feel guilty for the 30%, it just becomes your lifestyle and so you never have to diet again.” I think this sounds like the answer to all our problems.

Honestly Healthy Cleanse by Natasha Corrett, published by Hodder & Stoughton (£25), is on sale from the 1 January. honestlyhealthyfood.com

For the Core

Quinoa, lemon, kale and sesame salad Image courtesy of: Honestly Healthy

Helle Hammonds, who runs GymClass in Notting Hill, is almost on a par with Mr Motivator; she cheers you on to your absolute limit. Helle sets realistic goals, whether after a pregnancy, a long day at work or even over-training to make sure you manage to sustain the workouts long term. Her advice for starting a new exercise regime is to “make it local to your home or work and add a social element, which will hopefully keep you more accountable on those cold and dark mornings and evenings when you really don’t want to train.”

GymClass is a combination of high-intensity interval training and strength training which targets the midline core muscles. There is a neat studio space which provides all the gizmos needed for a flat stomach and toned body.

Group classes are the perfect way to find motivation during the winter months and unless you are a seasoned weightlifter, your body will feel the effects the next day.

In some ways sore muscles are comforting, if only as a signifier that you actually have them. “You may mess up by skipping a session, eating or drinking something not on your plan,” says Helle. “But it’s not about that hiccup, it is about how quick you dust yourself off and get your butt back to the gym. The good news is once you have tasted how good feeling fit and healthy is there’s no going back!”

For Toning Tucked away on a street off Ladbroke Grove, TenPilates provides a quiet place to improve your strength, flexibility and posture. Dynamic reformer pilates is not a sweat-filled fist-pumping workout but the next day you can really feel the muscles it has worked on.

Don’t be daunted by the set of spring levers and moving bench, you are expertly guided by a professional to pull the right ones and adjust your body.

You can work up to an advanced level but only once your body is deemed ready by staff. TenPilates also offers expert personal training, which is ideal if you have specific injury niggles and the luscious changing facilities provide a place to wind down afterwards.

TenPilates, 2–4 Exmoor Street, W10 6BD, tenpilates.com

For the Look More and more we are seeing the gym transform into a catwalk of Lycra. As disconcerting as that sounds, if you can’t beat them, join them. Heike Schnell’s sports gear and comfortable yoga attire will have you strutting your stuff on the treadmill in no time. Heike founded Wellicious in 2007 and has since amassed a growing celebrity following in Gwyneth Paltrow, Dannii Minogue, Naomi Watts and Erin O’ Connor. The Notting Hill-based brand ensures that yogis and other fitness enthusiasts can be comfortable and stylish. “I am not personally worried about a ‘glamorous work-out’,” says Heike. “However, I love to wear clothes which improve my performance and make me feel good on the inside and look great on the outside.”

Heike assures me that the eco-friendly clothes are suitable for all occasions. “Our lifestyle pieces can be combined with our active wear to create an outfit that is suitable for drinks with your friends or working in the office, as well as your yoga or sports class.” There are definitely no excuses about finding time for a healthy lifestyle now. wellicious.com Wellicious S/S 15

GymClass, 168 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UH gym-class.co.uk

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Š Copyright Mario Testino for Ciroc on Arrival

FEATURE

Introducing:

Sam Claflin Ahead of the launch of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Gabrielle Lane speaks to actor Sam Claflin as he is photographed by Mario Testino for a new campaign celebrating international acting talent

he email subject line ‘rising star’ pops up in my inbox a lot. My publishing director usually says “no”, although sometimes she says, “who?” I once told her we had been offered an interview with an ‘up-and-coming’ actress, but with the caveat that it also ran in another local title. “At least more people would know who she was” came the reply. Quite.

With this in mind, I’m hesitant to agree to these sorts of profile pieces: what makes a rising star a rising star?

The first thing I did was turn to social media. And somewhere between 29,000 Instagram followers sharing Sam Claflin’s pictures of a discarded tangerine skin (which had been torn to resemble a mini pumpkin), and fans’ messages reading everything from “I loovvve you” (cue picture of him) to “I love your dog, she is so fluffy” (cue picture of dog), I decided to go for it. That and the fact that Claflin has been chosen by Ciroc vodka as the face of Ciroc on Arrival, a campaign shot

by Mario Testino that captures actors on the brink of worldwide fame.

Following appearances in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Snow White and the Huntsman, by the end of this year Claflin will have been seen in The Riot Club, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which will be released imminently, and as the lead in new romcom Love, Rosie. But starting with social media research is much more entertaining.

On the morning we meet (later than expected, because his interviews with Vogue et al overran) Claflin is sat with not one but two

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PRs at his agency HQ – a subtle sign that he is being groomed for big things, lest he reveal some kind of habit/ fetish/lovechild in the process of ascension. Asked about working with Testino, he tells me he’s done so before. “I have been blessed enough to have worked with him on a Burberry campaign. To have an opportunity to revisit that relationship was a dream come true. I feel hugely privileged. He makes you feel very comfortable and free. I am not usually someone who enjoys having their photograph taken,” he beams. So far, so PR-happy.

How has he celebrated his success so far? “For me it’s all about quiet nights in with my friends and family,” he replies. “They are the people that have got me here. I never throw a party just because I’ve got a new job.”

What about on set? “The wrap of every project is different and difficult – everyone goes their own separate ways again immediately. The only time I felt like we all celebrated was when we finished The Riot Club. So often, so many actors finish filming three weeks before everyone else and have gone home – to celebrate with your peers is sometimes a difficult thing to do.”

Perhaps the least promotional soundbite from an ambassador for a premium vodka since fashion designer Giles Deacon (taken on by a rival company) told my editor he “only likes the cheap stuff, mixed with Rolos”, it turns out Claflin is honouring advice he received from former co-star Johnny Depp to stay grounded.

“I once invited my parents to come and see the Pirates set at Pinewood Studios and they spent the lunch break wandering around,” he explains. “Johnny introduced himself to my Dad – who said ‘wow’ and ‘have you got any advice for my son?’ Johnny replied: ‘Never forget where you came from, never forget the people who got you where you are and stay grounded.’ With my parents hearing that advice too, they wouldn’t let me get [arrogant]. I try and share my experiences with my friends and family and I’m still in touch with my old drama teacher.”

It was in LA, two or three years ago, that he sensed his career was starting to take off. “My agent had invited me to a party – Brad Pitt was over there and Sean Penn over here, chatting to Robert Downey Jr. But then I realised I was on my own and had no one to talk to.

When I tell my friends, they say ‘that didn’t happen’ and I think, ‘maybe it didn’t’,” he laughs.

Asked why it’s him rubbing shoulders with Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt, ahead of other drama school hopefuls, he pauses. “I don’t know, I can’t pinpoint why.

I sat on the audition panel at LAMDA when I was in my third year and I’d pick out people I thought were good and [the others] would say ‘no’. I can’t tell you for sure but I think… there’s an enthusiasm, a determination, I think good looks – I’m not saying I’m good looking but I think they can get you far in this industry!”

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

© Copyright Mario Testino

FEATURE

Mario Testino

© Copyright Mario Testino

Obviously, Claflin is good looking in a messy, English schoolboy kind of way. He trained for five hours a day to get into shape for his Hunger Games role as a former champion of the dark and physical fantasy world, and plays the male lead opposite Lily Collins in Love, Rosie, which reflects the missed opportunities of a will-they-won’t-they friendship: it would be easy for the 29-year-old to be cast as the loveable rogue for a while longer at least. “What I’m trying to do is prove I’m not a one-trick pony’,” he explains. “I’ve been lucky and I don’t think I’ve been put in a box so far. No matter what the genre is you can play the same part in different films and still make sure they are contrasting characters. For me, doing a romantic comedy is actually my favourite genre.

Love, Rosie is the first film where I was able to keep my own haircut and accent.”

Pushed to talk about what he wouldn’t want in his career (he initially says he’s “happy to try anything”) he admits: “I am trying to get away from the fantastical, sci-fi world: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Hunger Games and Snow White and the Huntsman were all big productions, with lots of CGI. It’s been hugely enjoyable but over the past few years it’s been a big part of my life and more realistic, nitty-gritty stuff appeals to me now.”If previous form is anything to go by, the opportunity will surely come his way. “The thing about being an actor is that you can never be the best,” he says. “Everyone has a different opinion about who the best actor is. Even if you’ve won your first Oscar, it doesn’t mean you’ve ‘arrived’. Daniel Day-Lewis has won three. It makes me want to work harder. I hope that my career continues on the trajectory that it’s been on for the last three years. Having the opportunity to work with Mario and Ciroc on a campaign to celebrate people that are having a moment is a dream.

Long may it continue.”

When I catch up with Testino a week later, it’s clear the shoot has taken a great deal of preparation time, but that it’s been mutually enjoyable. “This campaign will take us around the world to five different destinations – London, Ibiza, South Africa, Austria and Rio de Janeiro – to search for rising stars and create a campaign about celebration, inspired by the work of photographer Slim Aarons [who is famous for shooting socialites at parties]; what’s not to love?!” he jokes.

“You know, everyone is different when they come to a shoot, some people are very experienced in front of the camera and others need more guidance and encouragement. Working with Sam Claflin was great, he was very professional but relaxed and open to ideas. We created a fun atmosphere on set, and I think you see that in the pictures.”

Sam Claflin is a face of Ciroc: On Arrival.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 is out now

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PARIS / JANUARY 23-27, 2015 / SEPTEMBER 4-8, 2015 PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE

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spotlight

A Victorian Obsession

“We have a keen understanding of the marriage between property and art,” says Lulu Egerton, Partner at Strutt & Parker. And with that, the estate agency is proud to announce its sponsorship of a new exhibition taking place at the iconic Leighton House Museum. A Victorian Obsession: The Pérez Simón Collection showcases over 50 rarely seen masterpieces belonging to the largest Victorian private art collector outside Great Britain, Juan Antonio Pérez Simón.

One of the highlights is Alma-Tadema’s The Roses of Heliogabalus (1888), an iconic image of Roman decadence which has not been exhibited in London since 1913.

Until 29 March; A Victorian Obsession: The Pérez Simón Collection at Leighton House Museum, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ; www.rbkc.gov.uk/AVictorianObsession

John Everett Millais, The Crown of Love, 1875, Oil on canvas The Pérez Simón collection, Mexico © Studio Sébert Photographes

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The Papa of Paparazzi

Illustration: Mai Osawa

notting hill

& holland park

Kate Moss once said: “If Richard’s not there, it’s not really a party”. Few celebrities, especially when they are looking worse for wear, actually like the paparazzi, but Richard Young has managed to achieve an impressive following over the past four decades. His diverse portfolio of some of the most distinguished and well-known individuals has made him iconic in the realm of British photography. The photojournalist has captured the likes of Diana, Princess of Wales and Elizabeth Hurley in that Versace safety-pin dress, and took the last photograph of the legendary Keith Moon at a party with Sir Paul and Linda McCartney. “Uncle Rich”, as Moss affectionately calls him, has launched a book to mark his 40 years in showbusiness. Nightclubbing is a 240-page coffee table edition filled with iconic party shots (selected from an archive of over two million images) which have made Young what he is today.

Nightclubbing, £70 for Classic edition, £400 for Limited edition; Richard Young Gallery, 4 Holland Street, W8 4LT nightclubbingbook.com From top / Dita Von Teese at George Clooney’s 47th Birthday Party. Bungalow 8, New York, 2008; Kate Moss’ 25th Birthday Party, hosted

by Donatella Versace, Paris, 1999.

All Photography: Richard Young

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SPOTLIGHT

Happily Ever After?

Polish born photographer, painter and art director Paulina Otylie Surys has a rare ability to create truly undiluted pieces of art that reflect her very distinctive style and approach to the medium. She follows an initial idea from planning the look of the shoot and set design, and developing the photographs to eventually handpainting them using a combination of toners, chemicals waxes, inks and dry dyes. The Notting Hill resident is inspired by all areas of art history and it is her interest in the old that enables her to experiment with new artistic territories. Her work begins as a photograph, yet she manages to extract the essence of the subject’s self through her own expression.

This results in images that have a very dark and morbid feel, almost existing somewhere between fairytale and nightmare. paulinasurys.co.uk Images courtesy of: Paulina Otylie Surys

Chocoholics Anonymous

Music to Your Ears

For the more realistic and, dare we say it, not so strong willed, Alexeeva & Jones has partnered with The Dalmore this winter to introduce a new chocolate and whisky pairing menu.

The fine artisan store has carefully selected five chocolates from some of the world’s best chocolatiers to enhance and complement five drams supplied by the famous Scottish distillery. Come along and enjoy one (or two) of Franck Daubos’ raspberry truffles with the red fruit aroma of The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve.

Or if you’re still feeling festive, Centho’s orange truffles are perfectly complemented by notes of orange marmalade, cinnamon and nutmeg from the smooth, rich and well-rounded expression of The Dalmore 15.

Chocolate and Whisky Pairing Menu available until the end of February. Alexeeva & Jones, 297 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA alexeevajones.com

Bel & Skar available at Wolf & Badger

If the thought of going out for dinner in January makes you feel just a bit too gluttonous then head down to the 20th Century Theatre to watch Iranian-American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani perform.

Award-winning Esfahani was recently signed to the prestigious German classical record label, Deutsche Grammophon, making him the first harpsichordist signed in over 40 years. In performance and in conversation with classical music industry commentator Norman Lebrecht, the concert puts the music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and his contemporaries into context within the era of the great Age of Reason.

Photography: Matt Munroe

Nature at Its Finest

Berlin: The Age of Enlightenment, 24 January, 7.30pm; £25 20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, W11 2QA aspectfoundation.net

Emerging jewellery brand Bel & Skar have unveiled their latest collection, Verté, a celebration of the beauty of nature. Inspiration is taken from the raw and natural forms that surround us, with many pieces adapted from plant and bone shapes and textures. With a focus on the simplicity of clean strong lines, the collection has been designed for women seeking an elegant and minimalist approach to adornment but with a touch of rock-chic. The collection is available in Notting Hill’s Wolf & Badger.

Wolf & Badger, 46 Ledbury Road, W11 2AB wolfandbadger.com

Photography: Marco Borggreve

covering holland park, notting hill and the surrounding area

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Fare Play Calling all New Year resolution-ers, it’s time to put your intoxicated promises into action. Jog, lunge or even squat down to Fare Healthy, a one day health, food and fitness festival designed to set you up for the year ahead. The concept sees a collective approach to training the body, mind and soul and is presented by some of the champions of exercise, meditation and healthy eating. Attend a class run by the supermodel trainer and brains behind Skinny Bitch Collective, Russell Bateman, get kitted out in stylish workout gear and learn the secrets to an alkaline lifestyle from the founders of (pictured left) Deliciously Ella, Honestly Healthy and The Good Life Eatery.

Fare Healthy, 24 January. Tickets £17. Paradise by Way of Kensal Green, 19 Kilburn Lane W10 4AE theparadise.com

Vladimir Fedorovich Ammon (1826–1879) A View of Moscow from Sparrow Hills Oil on canvas 40 x 60 cm (15¾ x 23 in)

Banksy Blues If you are suffering from a bleak and depressing January, add a bit of colour to the month with a graffiti workshop.

Start out with a brief tour of the local streets of Notting Hill, where you will be shown walls which are home to some of the most well-known graffiti artists around, including an original Banksy. You will then embark on your own piece of artwork, designing a stencil and spraying it onto an individual canvas. The more creative types will be encouraged to freestyle onto a whitewashed wall, unleashing their urban and edgy expression.

Graffiti Workshop costs £40 per person. Must be over 10 to attend. Graffik Gallery, 284 Portobello Rd, W10 5TE graffikgallery.com

To a Fine Art In its first exhibition of 2015, Sphinx Fine Art will be presenting a range of stunning Old Master and Russian paintings, with works dating from the 15th–20th centuries. One of the highlights is View of Moscow from Sparrow Hills, by Vladimir Fedorovich Ammon. It’s an unusually early example of one of the highest points in Moscow, and this is only the second time that the painting has been available for sale in the 150 years since it was painted.

Also exhibiting is a pair of brilliantly observed 17th century studies of butterflies. Italian artist Giovanna Garzoni was one of the most influential female artists of the period and her work in this scientific genre is almost unrivalled. Elsewhere in the exhibition, paintings by Tintoretto, Frans Hals, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Nikolai Roerich will also be on display.

Old Master and Russian Paintings Exhibition, 2 January–28 February Sphinx Fine Art, 125 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP sphinxfineart.com

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One for the Books

Behind the Mask Fine art dealer Hickmet has recently acquired 50 signed limited edition Lalique Masque de Femme perfume bottles. A name synonymous with creative luxury, the 600ml bottle celebrates the true spirit of one of the finest glass makers in the world. It features two panels with raised masks of a beautiful woman sculpted into a frosted glass and is filled with original Lalique perfume. French born René Lalique based his infamous Masque de Femme (mask of a woman) collection on the mythological story of water nymph Aréthuse, who was transformed into a fountain by the god Artémis to fool Alpheus, her suitor. The bottle is presented as a jewel, protected inside a sophisticated black and red square lacquer-ware box.

Lacey Contemporary Gallery has teamed up with a local charity to help raise awareness through the medium of art. Give a Book was set up in 2011 in loving memory of writer and playwright Simon Gray, who loved to read and to share his reading. The organisation uses donations to source new books at cost price and distribute them to individuals who, for differing reasons, might need one. Greek artist Christina Mitrentse, famed for her constructions with books, put on a live installation at the gallery towards the end of November. The interactive performance encouraged members of the local community to bring their favourite books (old or new) to the gallery, which Mitrentse then used to create into a beautiful sculpture. Every £5 donation gives a book, and the team ask that you continue to donate to this worthy cause in any way you can.

Donate at: giveabook.org.uk Lacey Contemporary Gallery, 8 Clarendon Cross, W11 4AP laceycontemporarygallery.co.uk

Lalique Masque de Femme Perfume, 600ml, £3,950 Hickmet Fine Arts, Gallery Eighty Five, 85a Portobello Road, W11 2QB hickmet.com

Save the High Street Home delivery service Hubbub champions local, independent companies by providing customers with an online and mobile platform to order from their local shops when they can’t get to them in person. The team, set up in 2010, has responded to the demands from local residents to deliver fresh, good-quality food straight to their doors and now distributes to Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill, Holland Park and Westbourne Park. Prices are the same as in the shops and there is no minimum spend.

For a customer’s first order, delivery is free and is £3.50 for future purchases, no matter how many shops they order from.

Fourth generation market trader Cheryl Devlin, who runs Devlin’s Greengrocer, and the Portobello Mushroom Man, Tom Dean, are two of the traders who have teamed up with the London-based delivery service. Provenance Village Butchers, Biscuiteers, George’s Fisheries, The Spice Shop and weekend brunch institution Raoul’s Deli are some of our favourites who have also joined the community.

Hubbub delivers Monday to Friday, 4pm–10pm hubbub.co.uk

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Fighting with

Fashion

Ladies of Notting Hill it’s time to arm yourself with a new fierce and feisty wardrobe. Hannah Lemon picks out her weapons of choice from luxury fashion boutique War The Robe

SPOTLIGHT

Westbourne Grove is home to a long line of distinguished guests. With Joseph, Max Mara, Nicole Farhi and Zadig & Voltaire, residents are spoilt for choice on this shop catwalk. Now there is one more to add to the collection. War The Robe, a luxury womenswear brand, has opened a boutique on this affluent promenade.

“When we saw the street and the beautiful brands, there was no question in our minds,” says brand representative Esin Koçali. “There is a unique atmosphere and culture to the area that matches War The Robe perfectly.” We couldn’t agree more.

Launched in October, War The Robe is an independent boutique estabilished under Aster, a textile design company. It has been two years in the making with the team journeying around the globe to source ideas for the collections. “We travelled the world for six months, from Los Angeles to Tokyo, stopping at New York, Miami, Berlin, Stockholm, Shanghai and Hong Kong,” explains Esin. It is easy to tell that there is a powerful international theme running through the different styles; natural yarns used for the fabrics are sourced from India, Italy and Japan. Even the shop is intercontinental; materials for the copper and wood walls and floor were imported from Holland, Germany and Turkey.

This combination of cultures has created a line suitable for powerful, career-driven and independent women. The concept behind the name War The Robe is that women use fashion as “modern century weapons” in a war of expression, enabling them to exhibit their unique personality and character. “We are different because we don’t teach women what they should wear, we make what they want to wear,” says Esin.

The styles include comfortable leisurewear from the Journey collection and the sleek ready-to-wear range of the Signature collection. The latter blends clean, modern Nordic lines with romantic flowing silk and the trademark aubergine hue makes frequent appearances (it’s also the colour of the shop). However, the couture Bohemian collection is the one that stands out for me with its brightly patterned prints and hand-embroidered embellishments.

Additionally, with only one or two custom designs of each style available (priced around £2500) you will be sure to gain an exclusive outfit for your wardrobe – perfect for the frontline of the fashion battle.

Unfortunately, we can’t hog this label for long as War The Robe is to set up another London store this year, as well as embark on expanding its international profile in Berlin, Barcelona, Shanghai and China over the next five years. Expect big things, but until then, let’s give our new neighbours a hearty welcome.

War The Robe, 188 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RH wartherobe.com

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SPOTLIGHT

The House with the

Yellow Door

Hannah Lemon chats with the flatmates and founders of a creative new pop-up that aims to make you feel right at home “That’s my house there with the blue front door.”

These simple words uttered by Hugh Grant to Julia Roberts in Notting Hill made the threshold of Richard Curtis’ house an unlikely Hollywood star. Once the film firmly cemented itself as a cult classic, the door was removed and sold at Christie’s for £5,750. The new owners of the house have since replaced it with a replica and reinstated the building as a tourist attraction. However, this attention is about to be diverted with the arrival of a new brightly-coloured portal in town: The Little Yellow Door.

The latch is off the hook when I arrive and I find myself in the ‘sitting room’ of a Notting Hill ‘flat’ with five ‘flatmates’ who cannot stop laughing hysterically (and swearing) at each other. You may be wondering why I have so generously littered my sentences with inverted commas. To give you the simplest answer: the flat is not a flat, it is the concept for an innovative pop-up restaurant.

While we wait for one of the flatmates – Lalie Jacout – to arrive, the other four are telling me how the pop-up restaurant came to be. Having worked with each other individually for various events in the past, they felt it was the right time to collaborate together for a new project.

All of them keep successful day jobs: Lalie and Jamie Hazeel are from The Wandering Chef, an innovative foody experience; Kamran Dehdashti runs club nights with his company Roxx; Ed Lewis-Pratt puts on themed cinema evenings with Press Play; and Chris Evans-Gordon is a chef. The day I meet them is their first day together in the office above the flat and they are loving it. “It’s f***ing hilarious. You could film us. It’s like a zoo,” laughs Kam. Kam previously worked in the building when it was under the guise of a club and has been in touch with the owner ever since. “The owner called me up as a first point of call [when it became available] and asked if I

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was interested,” says Kam. “I had 24 hours to make up my mind. We all just agreed to it. We didn’t even have a concept!” After this giant leap of faith the team got together to create a theme for their new project. The group battled with ideas for about three days, but with every suggestion they couldn’t avoid the fact the place looked like someone’s home; so that’s what they settled with. They designed The Little Yellow Door as a flat for a group of young professionals who enjoy inviting strangers in to enjoy good food and lots of cocktails. There is a ‘warm up’ of drinks and food on Thursdays, dinner parties on Fridays and full-blown house parties on Saturdays.

They have really gone to town with the interiors to put the message across. The house is hilariously and artfully decorated with a mixture of antique and retro items that the flatmates either own or have collected from local thrift stores. Old family photos, a swearing blue gnome, shoes lined up by the entrance, a vacuum cleaner and a pile of magazines litter the place. The latter is used to display some of the menus and I quickly flick through Notting Hill & Holland Park to see if any of the articles have been defaced. They haven’t. I silently award them Brownie points. Even the loos are accurately and meticulously decked out with posters and tampons in the cabinet. “We have a big focus on décor and set with what we do [as The Wandering Chef],” says Jamie. “That’s Lalie’s great forte. I think we all gave our two pennies’, but Lalie was the mastermind behind it,” says Jamie. My favourite part is the treehouse at the back of the room which accommodates games and toys such as Operation and Duplo and comfy seats for secluded conversations.

The detail and thought put into the design encompasses the diverse personalities of each flatmate. I ask them to describe each other and between their raucous guffaws and jibes I manage to decipher the following:

The ‘flatmates’ (from left) Chris, Jamie, Ed, Kam & Lalie Kam is the patriarch of the group and is the main commentator during the interview. With his business experience and know-how he keeps everyone “in line” and directs the practicalities of running a bar and restaurant. “Kam is dad,” says Chris simply.

Ed is the calm, quiet flatmate. He nods and smiles along with everyone and occasionally adds in a few pearls of wisdom. “He’s the one who takes slightly longer to process things – that’s meant to be a compliment,” laughs Kam, who then explains fully. “When we’re throwing creative ideas around he puts the logic into it and is very open to telling us when to shut the f*** up!”

Lalie is the only lady in this group of loud-mouthed men but is aptly equipped with a sharp tongue and a no-nonsense attitude. “If something needs to be hung up or something needs to be fixed, everyone turns to Lalie rather than one of the guys,” laughs Ed, who then pauses, “...that’s why we have eight falling shelves!”

Jamie is up next. The wordsmith of the group, his dandyish style and booming posh voice makes him one of the more headstrong. “Jamie is the charming one,” says Lalie, who has known him for the longest.

Finally, there is Chris who has been the loudest of the rabble, laughing full throttle and, I sense, the most likely to cause trouble. Energetic but a very talented chef. “We’re pretty busy at the moment,” adds Jamie. “And I think when we start to get less busy we’ll need to buy him a hamster wheel. That’s all that needs to be said about Chris.”

There is one more flatmate who isn’t present: Pierre.

But Pierre is fictional. This character provides The Little Yellow Door with the inspiration for a French-inspired

SPOTLIGHT

menu, which includes foie gras, pork rillettes au tartar, slow-cooked lamb with potato dauphinoise and petit four for dessert. Most importantly, this flatmate will change every quarter to give the chefs a chance to experiment with the menu. “Pierre will move out at some point and we’ll have a new and exciting flatmate,” says Jamie, playing the part. “He’ll get fed up of our parties and head back to Paris.” Here’s hoping the next person is from Japan.

A few days later I attend a Friday dinner party (after booking via WhatsApp) and it is quite the experience I expect it to be. My friend and I are seated between two large parties. To the left, the group is immersed in their own conversation but to the right they are more than happy to make our acquaintance, telling jokes and filling our glasses with their wine. When the website says, “Arrive with a friend or two and leave with ten” they certainly mean it; so if you’re not ready to get stuck in don’t bother turning up. If you are, you’ll enjoy an evening to remember.

The food is exquisite. The duck liver parfait is so moreish I’m slightly offended that my plate has to be taken away so promptly. But the pièce de résistance for me is the rich and creamy celeriac velouté with shredded duck confit and brown shrimp (I contemplate hiding in the treehouse with a large cauldron of it). As soon as we are finished, the chairs are collapsed and the table disappears to make room for petit fours and more guests who have been waiting patiently outside. The slightly haphazard style with which this is all completed only adds to the charm.

By the time I call it a night, people are crammed into every nook and cranny of the small space. I feel a twinge of disappointment that this fun and exceedingly popular pop-up is not a permanent venture but a few words from the group give me hope that this isn’t the last time we will see this band of merry creatives. “Who knows?

There may be The Little Blue Door or The Little Green Door,” says Lalie. “Or we might be hugely successful and have to get really specific,” replies Jamie. “Like One Very Large Orange Gate?” offers Lalie, sending the group into hysterics again, while I fantasise about how much this would fetch at Christie’s. All in good time.

The Little Yellow Door, 68 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3HT thelittleyellowdoor.co.uk

Foodie Flatmates On Thursdays, The Little Yellow Door provides guests with some delicious snacks to see off the evening; they tell us who inspired them.

The Yoga Bunny Every flat has a health fanatic. But there is nothing bland about these dips.

• Lentil hummus, sumac, mint and pine nuts • Taramasalata, confit onions and pork scratchings • Avocado, pickled onions, tomatoes and chipotle • Labeneh, dill, mint, cucumber and smoked aubergine The Fridge Raider Who can resist the Sunday roast leftovers? The harpy’s call for all furtive fridge raids.

• Roast chicken wings, roast potatoes and stuffing sausages, served with bread sauce, gravy, horseradish and mustard.

Mr Overheard in Waitrose The age-old nemesis of The Fridge Raider: the man with the perfect snacks.

• Scotch egg of the day, cured meats of the day, smoked meat of the day, or pâté of the day, served with green salad, baguette, crostini and accompaniments.

The Feaster The guy who has a liquid dinner and chases it with a dirty drunken feast. Guilty pleasures.

• Chipotle glazed pull pork with bacon, red pepper, roast garlic mayo and salsa.

Cheese on Toast We asked Pierre, our French flatmate, to make cheese on toast. We think something may have been lost in translation but we aren’t at all unhappy.

• Roast Camembert, egg yolk, porcini, chestnut mushrooms and truffle, or roast Camembert, pear, candied walnuts and truffled honey; both served with green salad, baguette and crostini.

The Corner Shop Bandit For when only a dash down the road and a salty fix will do.

• Vegetable crisps, popcorn and candied nuts.

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Beauty and Beyond

Hannah Lemon meets entrepreneur and businesswoman Maryam Zandi, who is not afraid to show that success can be stylish

Can women in business wear what they want? It is a question that has consistently been asked as women in top jobs have been scrutinised over their appearance rather than their work. The insinuation that fashionable women won’t be taken seriously by male colleagues has frequently appeared in popular culture; from Melanie Griffith’s 80s masculine power-dressing in Working Girl, which suited a male ideal of the workplace, to Reece Witherspoon’s fluffy, pink wardrobe in Legally Blonde, which no one in law school could take seriously.

For the most part we have reached a point with a new wave of feminism where women can wear clothes and make-up as self-expression, whilst being honestly listened to; Emma Watson wore a beautiful feminine white Dior dress at the United Nations for her speech on the HeForShe campaign and Mrs Clooney carries her Amal bag from Ballin to important human rights cases. However, there are still instances where the media focuses on an outfit rather than the news story. Take, for example, the Daily Mail’s ‘Downing Street catwalk’, which sparked outrage that female politicians were being judged on their appearances rather than their careers, something that didn’t happen to their male counterparts.

Maryam Zandi, owner of boutique beauty salon MYZ, faced this ongoing dilemma as a young lawyer.

After completing her LLB and LPC in 2007, she worked for a year at a small solicitors firm based in Golders Green but kept her interest in fashion to the weekend when she worked in Harrods on Saturdays. “I think if you are stylish and well-dressed, people (especially men) automatically assume you can’t have a brain,” she tells me in a delightful Persian purr. She goes on to say that, somewhat stereotypically, she was even confused with being a secretary.

But Maryam’s determination is evidence of her intelligence. When she moved to London from Iran to study law, she was starting a new life from scratch. “I had

Photography: Bernardo Conti

no family, no friends and spoke very basic English,” she tells me. Not only was she learning a new profession but a new language. “During my first semester I had to translate every single word to Persian, but obviously it got easier and easier.”

After all this perseverance, she realised that her heart was on fashion not law, so in 2008 she moved into fashion buying and managing. This lifestyle involved travelling to Milan, Paris and New York and attending the glittering fashion shows of top designers including Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Chloé, Alexander McQueen, Céline and Stella McCartney. After four years in this jet-set job she decided to concentrate on the management side of

SPOTLIGHT

the business, looking after women’s designer brands in Selfridges. The success and knowledge of the industry and balancing the books gave her the gumption to start her own business – a glamorous beauty boutique off Westbourne Park Road, which opened last year.

Glamour is Maryam’s hobby as well as her job, as she shows me pictures on her phone of parties with Kate Moss and a laughing Simon Cowell. “Kate is amazing, really fun; she has such a great sense of humour and Simon, unlike how he comes across on X Factor, is very kind, caring and humble.” Her clientele in the salon are from the same A-list with Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan and Gerard Butler having been known to pop in for a facial, mani or pedi. “My favourite is Sienna, she is such a yummy mummy,” laughs Maryam.

Maryam looks immaculate with long black hair flowing down her petite frame and startling Persian features. She has a huge fan in Cookie her dog, who is more than at home in this neighbourhood. “Notting Hill is very dog-friendly, which I love,” Maryam says. “I love walking Cookie around. I always stop to talk to others who are walking their dogs too; that’s how I got to know Natalie Imbruglia. At first I didn’t recognise her and was just chatting to her as Cookie and her dog were playing, then when she came to my salon I realised who she was.

Having a dog often means you get to know a lot of new people who you wouldn’t normally meet by yourself.”

Creating the salon was a major project as Maryam chose to refurbish a dilapidated old building all on her own. “I did everything by myself,” she explains. “It might not sound difficult, but from designing my logo and the shop layout to dealing with builders, the council, planning permission, licences, finding the right stock and products, choosing the right treatments … it was all very challenging. I believe if you have a vision, you are determined and work hard, nothing is impossible.” No matter what you are wearing.

New Year, New You Spoil yourself with a selection of Maryam’s favourite winter-themed treatments that will leave you feeling fantastic under all those layers of clothing.

Winter Wonderful Worried about breakouts or wrinkles? Go for a treatment that will leave you with firmer glowing skin. Using Yon-Ka plant-based products, this facial will restore your skin’s natural balance and help you regain vital energy. Enjoy a complimentary organic Juiceman drink of lemon, ginger and manuka honey, before the hour and a half facial and mask, followed by a half an hour back and shoulder massage. Enjoy another juice to cleanse and detox, while you are having Maryam’s favourite pedicure and foot massage. £199 for one (£299 for two) Festive Fabulous This package starts with an hour long Yon-Ka facial, followed by a glass of champagne. Complete this treatment with Maryam’s favourite manicure and pedicure, hand and foot massage and a generous application of hot paraffin wax, which will leave your hands and feet feeling silky smooth. £150 for one (£225 for two) Tinsel Tips Sit back, champagne in hand, and soak your feet in a natural stone foot spa. Enjoy a foot scrub and have your nails filed, cuticles nourished and hard skin removed as the perfect winter treat. Hands, feet and legs will be massaged and then you are free to pick you favourite shade of Essie or OPI nail polish. £99 for one (£149 for two)

myznailsboutique.com

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ART ANTIQUES

BY CAROL CORDREY

Atmospheric Abstracts Expect big crowds on Westbourne Grove when Whitewall Galleries celebrates the launch of new paintings by award-winning Irish artist, Simon Kenny. Looking at Kenny’s abstracts is like looking into his heart and soul; his technique involves applying paint expressively, occasionally with drama, and at other times with delicacy. Various brushes and palette knives are employed according to his mood, and he is masterly at tonal effects and at injecting light which gives each composition an ethereal quality or, sometimes, a surging spirit as demonstrated by Behold or Light of August.

Owners of Kenny’s work can be confident that it has emerged from accomplished hands but they have the added benefit of knowing that his titles are not intended to be defining; Kenny likes people to interpret his compositions in their very own way and that places them in the realm of particularly original art. No wonder that collectors have snapped them up.

Simon Kenny: Sky Light 22–29 January (launch drinks 22 January, 6–8pm); White Wall Galleries, 100 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RU whitewallgalleries.com

Light of August, 48x30 ins

Behold, 48x48 ins

with Andrew Lacey of Lacey Contemporary Gallery and exhibiting artist Laurence Wood Q: As a young gallery, what attracted you to this artist’s work and is this his first exhibition with you?

A: Andrew Lacey: Laurence has spent many years teaching in academia and has had some high‑profile commissions but then went travelling and painting in South East Asia. He has not exhibited in London since 1986 so as a new gallery it felt like a fresh start both for Laurence and Lacey Contemporary. Although in some ways Laurence is mid-career, he is still emerging in London so we seemed like a perfect fit.

Q: What were the sources of inspiration for these new paintings?

A: Laurence Wood: Most were sparked initially by living, working and travelling in South East Asia. Some paintings explore figures and the thematic opportunities they provide, alongside emblematic forms derived from my recent Asian sojourn. These include perforated Indonesian screens, stars, lotus flowers, carved guardian figures, tourists, east/west fashion fusion, ubiquitous ‘hoodies’, architectural references, urban and tropical scenery and propaganda posters. I really enjoy exploring the different languages of painting too, and mixing

Music of the Mosques Oil and acrylic on canvas, 90x90 cm

painting conventions. There are complex interplays in the work which viewers can explore at their own pace.

Q: The compositions are noticeably layered; is that because they are collections of emotional responses or memories throughout a long painting process?

A: Laurence Wood: Although initiated by facets of real places, personal experiences or an engaging contemporary issue or theme, once a painting is

underway I allow related ideas, influences and emotional responses to join the play. The painting becomes a repository of reflections, memories, recorded images and shifting emotional responses. My painting process is about resolving these often competing components in a visually dynamic and colourful way.

Q: Do you agree that the use of lush colour here is reminiscent of the expressive way Matisse used it?

A: Andrew Lacey: That is a good comparison as Laurence does have a boldness in the use of intense, unmodulated colour. Laurence has been influenced heavily by his travels to South East Asia and there has been a change in his work since, as was the case with Matisse after he spent time in Africa. Both are figurative painters drawing upon nature. I know Laurence is a great admirer of Picasso who was, of course, a great friend and rival of Matisse and they were often compared.

Laurence Wood: Around, Among, Within 14–24 January, Lacey Contemporary Gallery, 8 Clarendon Cross, W11 4AP laceycontemporarygallery.co.uk

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ART ANTIQUES World Famous Glass Artist The gallery, Themes & Variations, is well recognised as a source of glass by some of the world’s best contemporary artists but the work of America’s Toots Zynsky is particularly special. It is made from layers of wonderfully coloured, fine glass threads that are fused in a technique known as filet de verre which Zynsky, herself, developed; it is a similar process to the creation of glass optical fibres.

The other characteristic of Zynsky’s work is its sculptural appearance which may have been influenced by that most innovative of glass artists or glass sculptors, Dale Chihuly, under whom she studied. Zynsky pieces are famed for their exquisite colouring and tactile, organic shapes, which, despite their actual strength, look like pieces of glistening silk, delicate shells or flower petals. Rigoglioso instantly recalls the appearance of full-blown tulips whereas Tramontare glows like a piece of the finest orange silk. Her work is held in over seventy international museum collections, including our own V&A. Toots Zynsky, Now and throughout January; Themes and Varitations, 231 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SE themesandvariations.com

Fashionable 17th Century Furniture and Clocks Raffety’s is synonymous with rare antique clocks but it stocks some fine pieces of furniture too. The Christmas period will see it filled with excellent examples of both which were all the rage during the reign of Charles II to that of William and Mary.

The display of clocks will reflect the golden age of clockmaking and include pieces from the workshops of some of the finest craftsmen who were kept busy satisfying the demands of the elite in British society. Examples to look out for are a stunning marquetry, longcase clock by Thomas Harris (c1690) and an olivewood bracket clock with flamboyant, gilt basket-top

by Jacobus Markwick (c1695). The furniture will include an elaborately veneered, fine William and Mary period marquetry chest of drawers that is guaranteed to be an instant conversation piece in any room.

Restoration Flair: Design & Style from Charles II to William & Mary Until 9 January; Raffety Clocks, 79 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BG raffetyclocks.com

From top/ Marquetry long case clock by Thomas Harris, London; William III marquetry chest of drawers

From top/ Rigoglioso vase by Toots Zynsky, 2014, 25x47x27 cm; Tramontare vase by Toots Zynsky, 2014; both filet-de-verre (fused and thermo-formed coloured glass threads), 26x45.5x25.5 cm

The Attraction of Asian Antiques Few independent businesses can equal the reputation and history of Marchant, which is highly-respected for its expertise on Chinese antiques and works of art. The business was established nearly a century ago and it has occupied its Kensington Church Street premises for over 60 years. Best of all for anybody wanting to buy notable Chinese pieces, Marchant’s website proudly declares that “emphasis is placed on rarity, quality and provenance”.

Its stock regularly changes due to purchases by local and global collectors and institutions but I have been lured by these three items: a rare, exact pair of open-mouthed hounds from the Qianlong period (1736–1795); from the same period a large, standing, human figure with a delicately modelled face and wearing an official’s hat and iron-red robes (1736–1795); and a porcelain, octagonal lobed wine-pot and cover painted with vases, precious objects, mountain river landscapes and flowers (Yongzheng, 1723–1735).

Marchant Asian Art, 120 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BH, marchantasianart.com

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From left/ Chinese porcelain famille rose octagonal lobed wine pot and cover, Yongzheng, 1723-1735; Pair of iron-red seated open-mouthed hounds, Qianlong, 1736-1795

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Right Under Your Nose Harriet Baker finds out how residents can make a difference to the local community by supporting the inspirational work of the Full of Life support group “X Factor nation ... we go to war.” We all heard Sir Bob’s heartfelt speech as he took to the stage at Christmas to unveil the new Do They Know It’s Christmas Time? charity single. Bob Geldof’s passionate introduction to the Band Aid 30 single was a reworked version of the 1984 classic and as ever star-studded as one would expect. The video was “harrowing and not suited to an entertainment show,” said Geldof, who insisted that nonetheless it was something the X Factor audience should see, thanking Simon Cowell for using the show as a platform to broadcast the single. Designed to raise money to help tackle Ebola, Geldof’s updated lyrics about the current crisis and suffering were scorned for being patronising and uneducated. Yet, despite the controversy and the media backlash, it raised awareness – so much so that the single still sold in excess of 312,000 copies in the first week, making it the year’s fastest-selling single at the time, according to the Official Charts Company.

Good press or bad press, it got people talking.

And that’s the one thing that any charity strives for. We are all so aware of the ‘big’ charities because they are backed by huge media campaigns, celebrity followers and tabloid-heavy fundraising events. But what about the smaller, local ones right on our doorstep? We don’t always see them on TV but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware of them.

Full of Life is one such charity. Founded in 1994 by parents who were dissatisfied with the lack of information and support available for them to bring up their disabled children, the charity supports over 500 families who live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It offers free practical and independent advice to parent carers and also runs a centre for young adults with complex needs, with a strong focus on communication, personal development, fun experiences and learning new skills.

In addition, Full of Life provides after school, Saturday and holiday club provision to young adults who require one-on-one support.

This charity provides young people with the opportunity to learn, work and play with others in an atmosphere of mutual care and respect. The service recognises that all people are equal and believes that each individual is capable of making valued contributions

and expressing their full potential with the right help and support.

The staff at Full of Life are committed to providing support tailored to meet the individual’s needs and choices. Many of the young people have ‘high level’ needs, which means their disabilities make communication with others difficult. Makaton signing and communication books are a few of the various ways to provide support, but even with these aids some individuals still struggle with conveying their emotions. A new project has sought to overcome this barrier by giving young people the opportunity to channel their thoughts, feelings and ideas through the medium of art. Art can be fun and interesting for someone who usually struggles to stay focused on

Take a moment to remind yourself of the charities right on your doorstep one activity at a time and allows that person to express themselves in a unique way. The project has seen one individual create a series of dynamic, high-energy paintings by throwing paint-filled balloons at a canvas.

Since art is highly regarded by the residents, visitors and business owners of Notting Hill and Holland Park, what better way to raise awareness than through an exhibition?

Making the Unseen Seen will showcase and honour the individuality of each young person by presenting their works at The Tabernacle from 13–16 January.

So the next time you’re watching TV and pick up the phone to make a donation or go onto iTunes to download a single, take a moment to remind yourself of the charities right under your nose that need just as much attention and support. Christmas isn’t the only month for giving. Make a difference by giving to your local community for the other 11 months of the year too.

Making the Unseen Seen, 13–16 January The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, W11 2AY tabernaclew11.com; Full of Life, fulloflifekc.com

spotlight Photography by: Carmen Klammer

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ELIZABETH STREET ELIZABETH STREET SW1 SW1 Bespoke fine jewellery We invite you to visit our website www.devroomen.co.uk 59 Elizabeth Street, London, SW1W 9PP +44 (0)207 730 1901

collection

salon style We’re looking forward to visiting the newly reopened Patek Philippe Salon; the venerated watch company is now housed across both 15 and 16 New Bond Street and floor space totals a remarkable 420m². Patek Philippe’s London Salon (one of only three Patek Philippe fully owned retail showrooms, together with Geneva and Paris) now carries the largest and most extensive range of the brand’s watches that has ever been available in the UK. Visit to marvel at this beautiful white gold Grand Complication (Ref. 5270G) and the impressive interior, designed by renowned French designer Reda Amalou; the materials used, which include leather, alabaster, sycamore and brass, perfectly complement the elegant and sophisticated aesthetic we’ve come to expect from the brand.

Patek Philippe Salon, 16 New Bond Street; patek.com

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WORLD

of WATCHES

BY RICHARD BROWN

From Space to Sea When Felix Baumgartner became the first human to freefall at Mach 1.25, he did so with a Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th strapped to his spacesuit. If, as Zenith hopes, record-breaking sailor Yann Guichard wins the transatlantic sailing race the Route du Rhum, he’ll do so sporting an El Primero Stratos Spindrift. If you’re looking for a no-fear, sea-faring sports watch, what better option than a chrono that’s stood the test of one of sailing’s most treacherous contests?

El Primero Stratos Spindrift, from £6,000 zenith-watches.com

Raymond Weil Remembered Few are the watch houses still in the hands of their founding families.

One that remains so is Raymond Weil; after 18 years of Raymond’s son-in-law being at the helm, the brand is now under the stewardship of grandson Elie Bernheim.

One of his first acts as CEO, following the recent passing of Mr Weil, was to launch the Maestro Raymond Weil Limited Edition, a rose-gold-fluted chronograph embossed with his grandfather’s signature on its dial.

An automatic-winding mechanical heart sits inside the COSC-certified timepiece, which has to be one of the brand’s most ambitious pieces yet. A fitting tribute indeed.

Maestro Raymond Weil Limited Edition, £14,950, raymond-weil.com

High Performance Polished Precision Bremont, the British watch brand that manufactures its mechanical timepieces in Henley-on-Thames, has introduced a polished steel version of its ALT1-C. The classic piece takes design cues from the company’s 2012 Victory, which remains arguably the brand’s best-looking creation to date. Whereas the Victory was limited (and sold out almost immediately), Bremont will make as many of the ALT1-C/PW as it thinks it can sell, which, owing to its good looks and the cult following the brand commands, will more than likely be an awful lot.

ALT1-C/PW, £4,495, Bremont, bremont.com

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Nestled between the watch world’s superbrands at November’s SalonQP, was industry newcomer Breva. Yet to celebrate its fifth birthday, the Swiss firm graced the Saatchi Gallery to showcase its Génie O2 Air, a watch that in addition to telling the time will indicate both altitude and air pressure. Air pressure is measured using special non-magnetic ‘memory metal’ capsules (invented by Breva) and a mindblowingly complex system of gears. Expect big things from the brand.

Génie O2 Air, £82,000, breva-watch.com

“Perhaps the most important development for a British watch brand for 50 years� C HRIS WA RD

Few watch brands create their own movement and of those that do, only a handful add something really original and important to the world of watchmaking. Our in-house, Calibre SH21, which powers the C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic is one such movement. The C9 Harrison is destined to be one of the most talked about watches in years.

CA LI BR E S H2 1

EXCLUS I VELY AVA I L A B L E AT c h r i st o p h e r wa r d .c o.u k

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03/12/2014 17:32

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JEWELLERY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

Independent Woman Despite having only recently joined the company as head jewellery designer, Lucrezia Buccellati has already made quite an impact, launching a series of rebranding initiatives to make the familyowned, Italian heritage jeweller appeal to a younger generation. Along with a redesigned logo and a line of bejewelled iPad and iPhone covers, Buccellati is in the midst of releasing a series of short films, each featuring one of the brand’s female ‘muses’. The first includes fashion designer Marta Ferri, while the second stars president of Spanish fashion brand Delpozo, Indre Rockefeller. The third muse has not yet been unveiled but we can be sure that she will share with her contemporaries a love of Buccellati, a sense of timeless style and youthful ambition. Along with this, the brand has also just launched a range of more affordable jewellery pieces, starting from £2,000.

Collection IV Rising star Lily Elia has launched a new 10-piece collection for her eponymous brand, Lily Gabriella.

Founded in 2011, the company has gone from strength to strength and this latest collection is indicative of this; the jeweller harkens back to fond childhood memories of holidays in Brazil by creating a range of jewellery pieces which marry the natural and the sculptural, featuring smooth, undulating lines and never-ending circles that conjure up images of rolling clouds and rippling waters. Full finger rings featuring blue sapphire pavé, on the other hand, possess an almost talismanic quality, shielding the wearer like protective armour.

Collection IV, from £8,190 lilygabriella.com

buccellati.com

Scale the Heights

Cutting Edge Noudar Jewels and its exclusive new collection has arrived in Harrods’ Luxury Jewellery room.

Comprising an assortment of ring sets and finger bracelets inspired by Islamic and Arabic cultures, the eclectic range remains signature to the brand. Designer Noor Al Fardan comments:

“The second collection is an edgier and a more daring version of the previous collection; holding onto Noudar’s unique essence, focusing mainly on rings and earrings, taking inspiration from Arabic heritage” - Noor Al Fardan Noudar Jewels, available at Harrods Luxury Jewellery Room harrods.com

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Swiss jeweller Shawish Genève has landed in London and its first flagship boutique is here in Chelsea. Inside, the contemporary design – featuring a spectacular glass tube chandelier centrepiece and a fish skin motif in the facade panels – is in keeping with the brand’s innovative and visionary aesthetic.

Well-known for creating high jewellery pieces which combine traditional techniques with modern technology, arguably Shawish’s biggest claim to fame is designing the world’s first all-diamond ring, cut from a single diamond weighing 150 carats. From the enchanted Magic Mushroom collection to the whimsical Teddy Bear set (just some of the pieces on display), visiting the boutique is a magical experience.

Shawish Genève 143 Fulham Road, SW3; shawish.ch

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BRIGHT

Young Things As we ring in the New Year, Olivia Sharpe speaks to the rising female stars who are changing the face of the luxury jewellery industry

Take Flight “So how big is your team?” I ask Georgina Skan as we sit down for coffee. “You’re looking at it,” she smiles, pointing to herself and her sister. “I like to think of it as the blind leading the blind.”

In spite of her self-deprecating appraisal, it is evident from her jewellery pieces that Georgina is anything but blind; in fact, she is clearly visionary. However, despite having been head designer at Garrard and Asprey, she has remained relatively under the radar. After studying at Central Saint Martins, where she acquired a BA in jewellery design, Georgina then went on to work on the shop floor at Theo Fennell but it wasn’t long before he realised where her talents really lay: “After months of bugging Theo he took me on as his PA but then he realised how useless I was at it,” she explains, laughing. “So I ended up working with him for four years as his head designer.”

Next came Garrard, where Georgina joined Jade Jagger who was creative director at the time. After Jagger left, she was able to make her own mark on the company, responsible for creating the iconic Wings collection. She was then headhunted by Asprey but after a spell as design director she found herself “itching to do her own work” so decided to wing it alone. Last year, Georgina launched her first eponymous collection; The Cocktail Hour.

Comprising 10 pieces, ranging from Art Deco cocktail rings incorporating one-of-a-kind gemstones to a spectacular cuff inspired by French lace, it showcased her unique From top / Cage emerald earrings; selection of cocktail rings from the Cocktail Hour collection; Cocktail Hour lace cuff

design talent and creativity. Because of her old-school training, Georgina scorns computers in favour of traditional crafting techniques, thus giving her pieces an authentic and timeless quality. “I think you can very easily develop a cookie-cutter approach when you’re designing collections,” she comments. “I’ve been guilty of this at times but I know now this isn’t the best way to work.”

Having worked at some of Bond Street’s top jewellery houses, Georgina has a good relationship with some of the most respected stone dealers who emphasise the importance of ethical mining; this is a message that she, too, spreads. “I couldn’t work with a stone dealer unless I know for certain that they’ve gone straight to the source.” Given the incredible response she received from The Cocktail Hour, this year sees the designer extend the collection based around themes she explored initially: Lace, Coulisses and Cage. This will include a beautiful lace wing collar with a matching cocktail ring, a diamond and emerald bracelet based on the original Cage earrings (inspired by the tiny ribcage of a hummingbird) and a pair of wing-like, ethereal earrings which again incorporate beautiful stones but have a greater focus on diamond work. These pieces will be released over the course of the year and the designer will also continue to work on bespoke commissions, this being at the heart of the brand. georginaskan.com

COLLECTION

Kamp Follower with Lily Kamper Q. What are your biggest inspirations?

A: My collections evolve from many different things: furniture, natural materials and architecture. The S/S15 collection I launched last Fashion Week was heavily influenced by an architect called Ricardo Bofill. He designs brightly coloured, geometric buildings. I was also heavily influenced by Art Deco cinema lobbies and old black-and-white films.

Q. Biggest highlight of your career?

A: Vogue coming to interview me in my studio. That was pretty insane. The Vogue Talents Corner was also amazing because I presented my work to Anna Wintour. She was very complimentary.

Q. Last naughty purchase?

A: I got married this summer and we each bought NIKEiD trainers; I wore white trainers with a black tick and he had black ones with a white tick. Both pairs had our initials on them.

Q. What jewellery did you wear on the day?

A: A friend of mine, Ryan Storer (a jewellery designer I met when we were both in Milan) sent me a couple of ear cuffs which were beautiful.

Q. What’s something that’s not commonly known about you?

A: I hate coriander. It’s my nemesis. When I go to a restaurant I have to pretend I’m allergic to it.

Q. Favourite piece of jewellery you own?

A: I have a really weird ring that my grandma gave me which is completely the opposite of my taste. It’s a garnet ring that’s half rose gold and half yellow gold.

It’s very bizarre because I can’t understand why anyone would have repaired it using two different metals but I can’t help but love it.

Q. What have you got in the pipeline for this year?

A: I’m working on an exciting collaboration with Globe-Trotter which will be unveiled in February. lilykamper.com

Image: S/S15 collection

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Renaissance Woman Sabine Ghanem’s career to date sounds too good to be true. After all, here is a woman who fell into the industry almost by chance; after studying at the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, she was unable to find a job so decided to give jewellery design a whirl and after just two years, she has already achieved unprecedented success. Her debut collection Relic, an assortment of medieval-inspired pieces, was snapped up by the likes of Browns in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York. This was followed shortly after by Harlequin, a 35-piece collection based around the colourful Art Deco movement, which was highly sought-after. Speaking to Sabine, she is nothing if not humble: “I’ve just been very lucky. I designed the first collection without even a thought that it would turn into a job.”

It is because of this fateful series of events, perhaps, that she is so relaxed when it comes to her brand. Working from her Belgravia home, Sabine spends hours “overdosing on vintage imagery... my favourite part of my research is looking at old stuff; vintage films, books, even YouTube videos. I’ve just watched a film from 1936 called The Great Zeigfeld and just the costumes could inspire a whole collection.”

The designer is in the midst of creating her third collection, due to launch at the end of this month. While reluctant to give too much away, she does confide that, like the past two collections, she has referred back to a previous era; the Renaissance.

A self-confessed hermit, Sabine jokes how one day she would like to open a store right at the entrance of her flat, “all in velvet and warm colours, like a beautiful jewellery box”. sabineg.com

COLLECTION

Clockwise from left / Sketches of the latest collection; Cocktail Sting ring, Fire Wasp earrings, Honeycomb bracelet and Honeycomb stud earrings (all part of the Predator / Prey collection)

Q. What’s your most treasured possession?

A: My photo albums full of collages and storyboards that I do religiously. I started when I was about 12 and I have so many now I can’t even count but if I had a fire those would be what I’d save.

A Pretty Penny with Tessa Packard Q. What are you currently working on?

A: I’ve just created a collection inspired by English penny sweets.

It started off with the idea of going to a gemstone boutique and it reminding me of being a kid in a sweet shop. I like the juxtaposition of something that originally cost 1p and something that looks like a million dollars. Pieces with a lower price point can be collected over time and layered up, while the more high-end pieces include gemstone-encrusted honey drop rings and earrings, and these watermelon tourmaline slices that look like Brighton rock. It’s really fun.

Q. I understand you do bespoke commissions.

What engagement ring trends are you noticing?

A: I think there will always be a market for the Tiffany-esque single stone setting but I find people come to me because they want something that is classic but also different. I’ve recently finished a commission for a 90 year-old man who wanted a modern brooch for his wife for their diamond wedding anniversary. I love how even at that age they still want to give each other interesting, innovative presents.

Q. What do you love most about Chelsea?

A: It’s ever-changing and never-changing, if that makes sense. There are consistently new shops, new restaurants, new pop-ups. And yet, the Chelsea that I live in now is still the Chelsea that I grew up in; the feeling and the vibe hasn’t changed.

Q. Best beauty secret?

A: Lime juice mixed with granulated sugar as a face scrub. The acid in the lime eats into your skin so you come out looking glowing. I use it at the beginning of spring to give myself a bit of a revamp.

Q. Preferred exercise regime?

A: I do one hour of yoga a week for my back but otherwise nothing. I did ten years of intense running but then I gave up because it made me into a bad person [laughing].

Q. Favourite place to escape to?

A: The middle of nowhere in Mozambique. My family and I stay in a camp where there’s nothing around so it’s heaven.

Q. Worst guilty pleasure?

A: Probably lunchtime drinking. You know you shouldn’t really do it when you’re working but it’s just so nice sometimes!

Q. New Year’s resolutions?

A: To learn how to relax as I’ve become a total workaholic.

I think my husband would really appreciate it if I wasn’t on Instagram every single second. And maybe to make myself feel less guilty when I am on Instagram. tessapackard.com

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Star Struck The start of a new year sees jewellers look to the stars for inspiration

1 Acte V green beryl Genesis ring, POA, Louis Vuitton, louisvuitton.com 2 & 3 Nuit de diamonds necklace in white gold with diamonds and black spinel beads, POA, and Voie Lactée bracelet, £17,500, both from the Comete collection, Chanel, chanel.com 4 Pompadour 18-karat white gold, sapphire and diamond ring, £4,300, Maison Martin Margiela, net-a-porter.com 5 Silver-plated Swarovski crystal necklace, £1,025, Ben-Amun, net-a-porter.com 6 Acte V Australian black opal Genesis necklace, POA, Louis Vuitton, as before 7 Cristal de Lune watch, POA, Boucheron, boucheron.com 8 Radiant gold-plated crystal necklace, £315, Lulu Frost, net-a-porter.com 9 Morning star earrings, £7,200, Mikimoto, mikimoto.co.uk 10 Lady Stardust Crystal Haze ring set in 18-karat white gold with hematite and white diamonds, POA, Stephen Webster, stephenwebster.com 11 Pompadour 18-karat white gold, sapphire and diamond ring, £2,800, Maison Martin Margiela, net-a-porter.com 12 18-karat white gold diamond ear cuff, £780, Anita Ko, net-a-porter.com 13 Rock It! cage pendant, from £2,300, Ornella Iannuzzi, ornella-iannuzzi.com 14 J12 Flying Tourbillon watch, POA, Chanel, as before 15 Pagoda earrings, £14,950, Robinson Pelham, robinsonpelham.com

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M ESUR E ET D ÉMESUR E *

TONDA METROPOLITAINE

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

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

www.my-perfect-t.com

fashion

New BEGINNINGS Given the number of designers who have recently opened flagship stores here – from Victoria Beckham to Roksanda Ilincic – and with more to come (Christopher Kane and Erdem in 2015), London is fast becoming the fashion capital of the world. The newest brand to land this month is none other than Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain; the new store on South Audley Street has been designed by Joseph Dirand who has brought a touch of Parisian chic to Mayfair, with French furniture designers Andres Arbus and Jean Royère featuring heavily. However, Dirand has ensured that the the 220 square metre boutique’s design is in keeping with its new surroundings; the doors, ceilings, mirrors and big stone fireplace all channel the traditionally sober English style. balmain.com

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Speak of the Delvaux Despite being one of the oldest luxury leather goods manufacturers in the world (beating Hermès and Louis Vuitton), Delvaux – the official supplier to the Belgian Royal Court since 1883 – has remained fairly inconspicuous in comparison to its two biggest French rivals. However, having just opened up shop on this side of the Channel on one of the most well-known shopping addresses in the world, London’s New Bond Street, we predict this will not be the case for long. Inside the boutique (designed by Luxembourg-based artists Martine Feipel and Jean Bechameil), you’ll find Delvaux’s most iconic collections, including Le Brilliant, Le Pin and Le Madame.

Delvaux, 36 New Bond Street en.delvaux.com

HER STYLE By olivia sharpe

Home Run

It feels particularly apt to name a collection The Legend when it’s coming from iconic fashion house Alexander McQueen. Part of Resort 2015, the new day bag range comprises three key styles – a tote, a shopper and a clutch – with each one featuring distinctive hardware details such as a chunky zip closure on the tote and clutch, and metallic eyelets on top corners of the tote, giving each bag a tougher, edgier look.

For the past few seasons, fashion designers have been championing the Sports Luxe trend and far from having run its course, judging from S/S15 collections, it seems safe to say that this is a look that is here to stay. While, for the exercise haters among us, this is far from ideal, for those of you who favour a more relaxed aesthetic, this is very good news indeed. As part of his S/S15 collection, British fashion designer Richard Nicoll collaborated with sports clothing brand Sweaty Betty on a ten-piece capsule collection. Launching this January, the range fuses Nicoll’s iconic pastel colour palette and Japanese-inspired prints with Sweaty Betty’s high performance active wear. Functional, technical and artistic, the two brands have undoubtedly hit a home run.

The Legend collection, Alexander McQueen alexandermcqueen.com

Richard Nicoll x Sweaty Betty, available January 2015 sweatybetty.com

What a Legend

On the Trot As far as luxury luggage makers go, Globe-Trotter sets the standard.

This year, the historic British manufacturer has raised the bar once again and launched a jewellery case in two different versions: the Luxe 9” case has been created from the same vulcanised fibreboard and fine leather as the core luggage and has been coated in Urushi lacquer with inner compartments for necklaces, rings and earrings, while the other style comes in ivory, echoing GlobeTrotter’s iconic Safari range. For an added personal touch, the lid of each case can also be initialised with up to six letters.

Luxe 9” case, £995; Ivory case, £625 globetrotter1897.com

Pay a Call While it may have only launched in 2011 by Harvey Nichols during London Fashion Week, footwear brand Crisian has already taken the fashion world by storm, with a string of powerful female followers, including Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Lady Gaga and Nicole Scherzinger. Tucked away behind a discreet black door on Dover Street is where you’ll find the brand’s debut boutique, housing the latest collection of sexy, high fashion shoes which have been crafted as unique objects of desire. Make sure to pay it a call.

Crisian London, 41-42 Dover Street crisianmlondon.com

Putting the Boot In Considering that Hunter has been the welly of choice for English country eccentrics since 1856, it was hardly surprising that the brand chose to commemorate this heritage in its first global flagship store, which opened its doors just a few weeks ago.

The Regent Street boutique takes iconic references from the English countryside, featuring a barn-like structure, puddle tables and mirror tops to resemble a typical downpour and an infinity forest created from Douglas Fir Trees. The new store comes complete with the entire Hunter range, including footwear for women, men and kids.

Hunter, 83 Regent Street hunterboots.com

What’s New? Evidently the philosophy of ‘new year, new you’ is an important one for Lily and Lionel as the luxury accessories brand has chosen to mark the beginning of 2015 with the launch of its first swimwear and ready-to-wear ranges. When it comes to swimwear, the collections have been designed to mirror the brand’s signature scarf prints and include Papillo Stone, an abstract butterfly motif; Flores Pastel, a beautiful composition of delicate powder blue, magenta and peach roses; and romantic midnight florals as part of Nori Black. The swimwear will be dropping in stores from 20 January, along with clothing.

New to the Borough:

lilyandlionel.com

Marie France Van Damme Marie France Van Damme has made a career out of journeying to exotic places and figuring out what women should wear on holiday. After opening stores in Hong Kong and Bangkok, the end of last year saw the designer and businesswoman opening her first boutique in London. Situated on Draycott Avenue, the chic boutique carries a carefully curated selection of mix and match, ‘must pack’ pieces which have been designed to make the transition from beach day wear to evening glamour effortless and stylish. Just what you need for that holiday abroad this January.

Marie France Van Damme, 117 Draycott Avenue, SW3 mariefrancevandamme.com

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Tunnel

Vision It's time to add a breath of fresh air to your 2015 wardrobe by means of sensuous sheers, sharp shapes and dramatic patterns Photographer:

Dominic Nicholls

Stylist:

Anna Woodham

Mint long-sleeved blouse, £350, Edeline Lee, edelinelee.com; Yellow skirt, £70, Isabel Garcia Gold Label, isabelgarcia.it; High-waisted briefs, £29, Hanro, hanro.co.uk; Grey wool coat £575, Marc Cain, marc-cain.com

Cotton tuxedo shirt, £315, Atea Oceanie, selfridges.co.uk; Blue floral skirt with sheer hem, £564, Zeyneptosun, zeyneptosun.com

Orange sheer panel jumper, POA, CO-TE, farfetch.com; White butterfly sneakers, ÂŁ140, F-Troupe, f-troupe.com; Grey crepe shorts, ÂŁ195, Hofmann Copenhagen, hofmanncopenhagen.com

Grey/blue/white pleat dress, ÂŁ329, A-Line London, a-linelondon.com; Classic slip-on plimsoles, ÂŁ55, Vans, vans.com

Silk organza woven skirt, £3,495, Holly Fulton, hollyfulton.com; Green sheer top with black underlay, £220, MOKA London, The Shop at Bluebird, 350 King's Road; Gunmetal hoop earrings, £135, Yael Saloman, yaelsalomon.com

STYLIST: Anna Woodham @ Frank Agency HAIR STYLIST: Julie Read @ Carol Hayes Management using Bumble and bumble MAKE-UP ARTIST: Charlie Duffie @ Carol Hayes Management using MAC PHOTOGRAPHER'S ASSISTANT: Aurora Scheftel Shot on location at House of Vans London (houseofvanslondon.com)

Calling Card

The Boys in Blue

In celebration of its 80th anniversary, British leather goods brand Ettinger is launching a new collection called Saint Crispin. Aptly christened after the patron saint of leather workers and cobblers, the line uses the finest, softest alpine calf leather, in two sets of earthy tones, including Deep Sea & Dry Stone (smart navy and pale grey) and Bracken & Eggshell (beige and brown shades). Choose from a selection of wallets, billfolds and card cases and for an extra personal touch, you can add your initials in gold or silver foil when ordering online.

Having already built on a reputation for using the most state-of-the-art technology in the automotive sector, Bugatti decided to further enhance its influence in the luxury lifestyle world with the recent launch of its own boutique on the Brompton Road. With its main focus on men’s fashion, the two A/W14 lines available in store include the Ettore Bugatti collection, which brings the kind of sophisticated and elegant style synonymous with timeless fashion, and the Performance Luxury range featuring a sharp and sporty, just-got-off-the-racetrack look. Tailor-made and bespoke services are also available.

Bugatti Lifestyle Boutique London, 24-26 Brompton Road bugatti.com

ettinger.co.uk

HIS STYLE By liane nelson

New Guy on the Block

Hand-Tailored in England Leading tailoring house Lutwyche is set to showcase its first full scheduled event at this year’s London Collections: Men, taking place between 9 and 12 January 2015. Focusing on fine, hand-crafted menswear using traditional English artisanal techniques, Lutwyche creates a new standard for today’s gentleman with bespoke suits which showcase attention to both structure and detail.

The event on 10 January will see high-profile guests from the fashion, film, music and sports industries coming together so all fashion-forward men should make sure to note this one down in their calendars. lutwyche.co.uk

New to Knightsbridge’s sartorial scene, bespoke tailor Sean Christopher combines traditional tailoring with a modern twist, making use of top-notch fabrics paired with quality craftsmanship to create some of the best suits in town. Taking a bold and masculine approach, checks, window patterns and chalk stripes make a definite statement, while deconstructed jackets and high-opening waistcoats complete the look.

Clients can have a hand in almost every aspect of the process, from the fabric used down to the stitching, lining and choice of buttons, and with a ‘Perfect Fit Promise’, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

Sean Christopher, 61 Beauchamp Place, SW3; seanchristopher.com

Est. 1937 Flagship Stores

34 Duke of York Square, Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4LY 35 College Green, Dublin 2 Visit our website for retail partners in your area or to buy online

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lifestyle Don’t Sweat It

Focused on keeping you stylish as you work off those extra pounds gained over Christmas, luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter will be introducing a range of activewear from an assortment of well-known brands over the next couple of months as part of its Net-a-Sporter category, launched last summer. Highlights include athleticwear brand Lucas Hugh’s coveted range of leggings, swimsuits and gym essentials, featuring streamlining fused seams, reinforced stitching and breathable mesh panels, and an exclusive pair of Octavia leggings, courtesy of James Duigan’s Bodyism range. Available from February, these incorporate high-tech fabrics with bio-active crystals, designed to absorb body heat as well as reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Bodyism Octavia leggings, £125, available at net-a-porter.com

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WWW.PORCELANOSA.CO.UK // 0800 915 4000

& GARDEN

HOME

BY liane nelson

Turn Up the Heat Give your home’s heating systems a new lease of life this January by investing in one (or several) radiators from Bisque. With its innovative designs, from large pieces that make a statement to space-saving towel radiators that will keep your bathroom cosy, there are endless possibilities to choose from.

Offering a full range of colours (more than 2,000, to be exact), Bisque upholds the philosophy that even practical pieces in your home can be given style and personality. The iconic Archibald towel radiator is bound to liven up even the most pared-down of bathrooms.

Bisque products are available from Victoria + Albert Baths Third floor, north dome, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour (DCCH)

Come Full Circle Offering an array of exquisite home furnishings with more than 150 unique designs, interior brand Davidson has emerged at the forefront of the luxury market. The collection boasts an impressive mélange of one-of-a-kind dining tables, dining chairs, side cabinets, coffee tables, occasional furniture and mirrors made from beautiful woods and veneers, such as macassar ebony, tinted sycamores, walnut and rosewood. The A/W14 collection focuses on mixing metallics with lacquered natural vellum to create a sense of warmth in the home, in stark contrast to cool temperatures outside.

Davidson, First floor, south dome Design Centre Chelsea Harbour

New Age Ever wish you had your own personal DJ to create you the perfect soundtrack to your life? The Aether Cone, known as the thinking music player, is a freakishly smart speaker system, akin to a robotic DJ with access to more than 30 million songs. The cone’s technology allows it to learn what type of music you like and over time it will create an expertly tailored music experience. And it doesn’t stop there; the cone can also take requests so you can use your voice to find and play music, radio stations and podcasts. Despite its compact size, the woofer, dual tweeters and 20 watt amplifier (for those who understand tech talk) create a rich sound suitable for all musical genres.

Sleep Tight French linen brand Yves Delorme brings visual poetry to the bedroom with whimsical colours and patterns aimed to evoke the feeling of bliss and its many states of expression. Using cosy fabrics inspired by Japanese kimonos and making use of radiant colours, the collection comprises four different parts in relation to the different cycles of sleep, including Drifting Off and Rise and Shine. Fall into dream land, cocooned in floral patterns; traditional interpretations of flowers are transformed thanks to an innovative version bursting with vitality. yvesdelormeparis.com

aether.com

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HOME

Hunt Down Bringing innovative design from across the pond, Chicago-based design brand Holly Hunt has opened its first European showroom in Mayfair. The space showcases custom-made luxury furnishings which provide inspiration for interior designers, architects and retail customers alike. In addition to bespoke furniture, lighting, textiles and rugs, the showroom brings together new products developed specifically for the launch, from the likes of Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Alison Berger. hollyhunt.com

Written in Stone Inspired by the ancient art of calligraphy, Top Floor showcases its new Script collection, comprising nine rugs and wall-hangings by internationally-acclaimed artist Hassan Massoudy. The collection reflects a blend of Middle and Far Eastern styles with deep ties to nature, featuring design names such as Earth, Fire, Water and Roots, with each one having been tagged with a short proverb or a line of verse from the different cultures that inspired Massoudy. The rugs are hand-made using wool and silk and can double as wallhangings, making them the perfect two-in-one pieces.

Top Floor Rugs/Wood, second floor, south dome, DCCH

The Scent of Art Fill your home with the luxurious scent of the new home fragrance collection by Hermès.

Masterfully mixed by Céline Ellena, daughter of Jean-Claude Ellena who is the head of fragrance at Hermès, there are five intoxicating fragrances; Des Pas Sur la Neige (taupe), Temps de Pluie (celadon), Fenêtre Ouverte (lagoon), Champ Libre (sulphur) and À Cheval (pumpkin).

The sophisticated scents are paired with innovative designs by Guillaume Bardet; candle bowls available in three different sizes, a perfumed pebble and a perfumed origami horse which makes for the perfect travelling companion or table decoration. hermesparfumeur.com

Get Carried Away One of the leaders in furniture design, Roche Bobois is well-known for taking a theme and translating it into a ground-breaking collection of furniture. His A/W14 collection focuses on movement characterised by the interplay of graphic, art and product design paired with a range of exciting colours.

Reminiscent of something from a dream and completely handmade, the Bubble sofas are, imaginatively, inspired by the idea of throwing oneself onto a basket of balloons. Honeycomb wool is applied onto black jersey, so you’re guaranteed smooth sailing. roche-bobois.com

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THE LILLE ARMCHAIR

Tempering that ostentatious Louis-XV style with a rustic finish, the Lille armchair oozes timeless appeal. Swoon Editions has sourced the Lille direct from the maker for just £299.

Edition limited to 118.

Limited Editions.

Exceptional prices.

From artisan workshops direct to your door, discover new designs every day without the inflated price tag at Swoon Editions.

THE SANFORD DINING TABLE

A beautifully-designed table injects class into any living space. Boasting a sturdy frame and intricate carving, the Sanford comfortably seats four. Swoon Editions has sourced the Sanford direct from the maker for just £399. Only 12 left.

THE EMILE CHEST OF DRAWERS

THE ELLA DESK

Give traditional settings a modern accent with the charcoal Emile; it marries chic, classical form with a moody kick. Swoon Editions has sourced the Emile direct from the maker for just £299. Edition limited to 36.

From its unfurling cabriole legs and six drawers down to its antiqued handles, the Ella desk makes a graceful addition to any living room, bedroom or library. Practically perfect. Swoon Editions has sourced the Ella direct from the maker for just £299. Edition limited to 27

THE CELINE BENCH

Whether used in a hallway or as a window seat, the intricately carved Celine is sure to evoke an air of refinement. Swoon Editions has sourced the Celine direct from the maker for just £199. Edition limited to 76.

SAVE £50 ON ORDERS OVER £500.

Go to swooneditions.com/kenchel2 and enter voucher code kenchel2 at checkout or call 020 3137 2464* quoting kenchel2.

New designs launch every day and sell out fast.

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Delivery £38 per item (the Celine £29 per item) to UK mainland. See individual items for details. Offer is restricted to one per customer, per household. Discount will be applied to fi rst transaction only. Offer ends at 23.59 on 12.01.14. Enter the voucher code at checkout or quote on the phone. Discount will be shown at checkout. Any refunds will take into account the discount. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Please check delivery terms & conditions online or call 020 3137 2464. *Calls from a BT landline are charged at standard network rate. Calls from mobiles and other providers may cost more.

Products subject to availability. Standard Swoon Editions terms & conditions apply. Check swooneditions.com/terms-conditions for full details.

In our

Genes Liane Nelson goes beneath the surface of Geneu, a new and revolutionary science-based skin health company which looks to your DNA to combat the appearance of ageing

In today’s world, which is very much centred around youth and beauty, we are constantly looking for ways to maintain, or in some instances salvage, that youthful glow. With a plethora of choices regarding anti-ageing regimes and an infinite amount of ‘miracle’ creams that supposedly turn back the clock, it can be hard to decipher which products actually work and which ones are merely a clever marketing gimmick.

Redefining the meaning of bespoke skincare, science-based skin health company Geneu recommends specific anti-ageing serums based on your DNA, which is tested in store in approximately 30 minutes. It may sound like a hoax at first, or something from the future, but after speaking to the mastermind behind it all, Professor Christofer Toumazou, I can see that he is perfectly serious about his product. As well as inventing the DNA microchip (or his ‘baby’, as he calls it) and earning the title of European Inventor of the Year 2014, he has devised an artificial pancreas for people with diabetes and a hearing implant to help deaf people so it is safe to assume that the science behind Geneu is legitimate.

Professor Toumazou aims to give consumers access to high quality products without having to turn to biopharmaceutical companies. He comments: “I don’t want people to be afraid or intimidated of the science

behind our line. It should be very ‘user-friendly’.”

Upon arrival at the sleek, modern and slightly Star Trek-looking flagship store on New Bond Street, I was greeted at the door and walked through what was going to happen during my visit. I was first asked a series of questions on my lifestyle habits, such as smoking and how much sun exposure I get in a year. Then came the DNA extraction, which to my relief did not involve any poking or prodding with needles but rather consisted of a sample simply taken with a cotton swab. After a few circular motions on the inside of each cheek, the cotton swab was mixed with a mysterious solution to help to separate the DNA and target the specific genes which are relevant to ageing. The two genes that Professor Toumazou focuses on are those responsible for antioxidant levels and collagen degradation. “These two factors are extremely important in the ageing process and people may be bombarding their face with unnecessary amounts of collagen or antioxidants if they are not using the correct concentrations.”

The test was carried out by one of the staff scientists, Dr. Maria Karvela, who began by applying my DNA to a microchip and all that was left to do was sit and wait for 30 minutes for my results. Perched upon a Zaha Hadid sofa and sipping a glass of mineral water, I was transported back to university days, nervously

health & beauty

awaiting the results of an exam. Would I have sufficient amounts of antioxidants and collagen or am I already a lost cause? I was pleased to discover that I had high levels of antioxidants but despite my efforts to load up on salmon a few times a week, my results showed that I am a moderate degrader of collagen. As Dr. Karvela presented me with my own shiny Geneu serum dispenser, she explained that the serums, to be used twice daily, had exactly the right concentrations of ingredients needed for my skin. This means they won’t be overpowering it with antioxidants but will give me the boost I need in the collagen department. Feeling young may be priceless, but as it turns out, looking like you have the perfect levels of antioxidants and collagen will only set you back £600 for the initial Geneu package.

As for the future of the microchip, Toumazou envisions portable and easy DNA testing, not only in stores but all public places such as shopping malls, offices and private events: “Geneu is only the first stop for the microchip; eventually this technology will be applied to everything you would need a DNA test for.” If perfect skin is the first stop on Toumazou’s DNA-testing journey, I personally can’t wait to see what is next.

Initial Geneu Experience Package including DNA test and two weeks’ supply of DNA personalised anti-ageing serum, £600 Geneu, 65 New Bond Street, W1S 020 7499 7161; geneu.com

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HEALTH BEAUTY

BY OLIVIA SHARPE

See the Light In order to brighten up the dark pallor of winter skin, MAC Cosmetics has brought a freshness and vitality to its latest colour collection, Lightness of Being. Filled with light, as you’d expect – pastel shades of frosted lavender, pearlised champagne and pale mint green – the complete range of eyeshadows, nail lacquers and lip colours signals the start of the spring season. For a delightful rosy glow to brighten up your complexion this January, try the uplifting peach with orange marble blush with the matching, neutral coral cream lipstick.

Available from January 2015; maccosmetics.co.uk

Slim Chance

Hair Raiser

For 2015, Chanel has chosen to package its Chance fragrance in a new 35ml bottle, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.

Practical and convenient, the travel-size bottles will house each of the three signature scents in the staple colours – yellow, green and pink – so Chance is always close within your reach. The brand will also be launching a hair mist featuring the perfume’s notes and a body cream with the scent of Chance eau Tendre.

Coloured or chemically processed hair needs a lot of attention to keep it looking healthy and nourished.

Enter Paul Yacomine. The stylist to the stars established himself as one of the leading figures in the industry, working with an elite celebrity clientele including Kate Moss and Elle Macpherson, before setting up his own premium haircare range, which combines his expertise in the field with superior ingredients. The compact Colour Collection Kit is one of the signature products and contains Micro Treatment oils which work to protect hair against the elements and smooth down the cuticle, leaving it conditioned and shining.

Available from 16 January Limited edition Chance 35ml bottles, £46 each chanel.com

paulyacomine.com

Too Hot to Handle To celebrate its 250th anniversary, historic French crystal-maker Baccarat has written the next chapter in the company’s history with the launch of a new fragrance; Rouge 540. The scent, created by perfumer Francis Kurkdijian, has been named after the brand’s hallmark golden red as well as the temperature in degrees centigrade that molten crystal must reach in order to achieve this colour. Each of the 250 limited edition, crystal bottles (featuring a remarkable 160 facets) arrives in an exquisite crystal jewel box, designed by Georges Chevalie, and comes with its own individual red crystal pipette. uk.baccarat.com

Sitting Prettly Newly-launched beauty tech start-up Prettly brings the salon straight to your home or office doorstep at just a click of a button, revolutionising the way in which busy, urban-dwelling women keep themselves looking immaculate. Treatments – ranging from manicures and pedicures to hair and make-up – can be booked in seconds and on-the-go through the mobilefriendly website, and prices are surprisingly affordable, with manicures from £25 and pedicures from £30.

Founder and CEO Rhea PapanicolaouFrangista comments: “We found Prettly is that there is no good, easy-to-use offering K&C readers and seamless solution that a 10 per cent discount on allows women to have beauty their first treatment. Simply email Prettly-for-thetreatments – even a simple kensington-and-chelseamanicure – at locations and magazine to bookings@ times that truly work for them. prettly.com to claim At Prettly we have made it our mission to make life in London for busy women just a little bit easier”.

Treatment

of the Month The Michaeljohn Signature Facial

As we begin another new year, many of us are thinking more than ever about how best to keep ourselves looking young. With this in mind, award-winning hair salon Michaeljohn has looked to the art of skincare too, with the launch of its own bespoke signature facial, incorporating IS Clinical products. The treatment begins with a 3D skin analysis using state-of-the-art facial mapping, followed by a facial massage, before concluding with LED Phototherapy to accelerate the body’s natural repair process, resulting in clearer, more glowing skin. Depending on your own skin type and requirements, the treatment will be tailor-made to tackle either fine lines and loss of firmness, uneven complexion and/or congestion, or dry and dehydrated skin.

The Michaeljohn Signature Facial, £160 for 90 minutes Available at Michaeljohn Belgravia Medispa, 8 Motcomb Street, SW1X 020 7752 0652; michaeljohn.co.uk

prettly.com

The New Face of Hair Award-winning hair stylist Sam Burnett has been impressing the industry with his creative and innovative designs for several years now and so it was only a matter of time before he opened up shop. His new salon, Hare and Bone, was unveiled at the end of last year on Great Titchfield Street and has been inspired by Burnett’s philosophy of working with the bone structure of a person’s face in order to truly complement one’s personal style. It has always been the stylist’s number one goal to give clients an exceptional salon experience, not to mention great looking hair. We feel sure you won’t be disappointed.

Hare and Bone, 69 Great Titchfield Street hareandbone.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow With the laser hair removal industry growing faster than ever, Olivia Sharpe reviews the procedure at Strip wax boutique in Chelsea to see whether or not it’s truly worth it Summer has always been a particularly stressful time for me. After months of hiding beneath layers of protective clothing, suddenly the dreaded ‘bikini-bodyready’ era dawns and there are a hundred and one things to consider, from pedicures and fake tan to arguably the most important aspect of all; hair removal.

As such, the prospect of never having to worry about shaving or waxing is (I think I can speak for many women here) very appealing. However, since laser hair removal first came onto the beauty radar in the mid1990s, its success rate has invariably been called into question.

The reason for this is simple: it doesn’t work for everyone.

Only people with coarse hair and dark skin are considered ideal candidates and even then, there is still no guarantee hair will be removed completely, which is why experts generally refer to it as ‘hair reduction’. Saying that, it has been shown that 90 per cent of ideal candidates report permanent hair loss after an average of three to six sessions.

Strip in Chelsea has been at the forefront of hair removal technology for almost a decade and due to increasing demand, this service was extended into the brand’s Notting Hill branch last June. The wax bar bears closer resemblance to a decadent boudoir, painted in the company’s signature teal and complete with curved mirrors and a lingerie boutique. There are six themed and luxurious treatment rooms, including the Berry Room and the Tropical Room, which is where I was based for my six-session course. While I was tempted by either leg or bikini, my inner coward persuaded me against it so I instead opted for underarm, little knowing that this is one of the most sensitive areas and subsequently the most painful.

The first session with my therapist Carleigh involved an in-depth consultation whereby she assessed my

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hair and skin type before conducting a patch test. In layman’s terms, laser hair removal works by shining highly concentrated light onto hair follicles, which absorb it and this destroys the hair. Clients are warned to avoid sun exposure for four weeks before and after treatment to avoid bad reactions, which can include redness, itching, and swelling. I therefore highly recommended you begin your course of treatment during the winter.

Strip uses the industry-trusted GentleMAX laser system by Syneron & Candela, a machine featuring a dynamic cooling device designed to remove pain. However, having a particularly low pain threshold, my experience was far from pain-free. Each ‘shot’ felt like a small, extremely hot electric shock but at least with underarm (being such a small surface area) sessions are short, taking only five minutes.

Apart from a little redness and sensitivity (skin feels as though it’s sunburnt), I suffered from no other side effects and the great thing about laser hair removal is that you are allowed to shave (but not wax) in between courses. I noticed a considerable improvement after just the first session and by my third, I found myself not having to shave for weeks at a time. Following your fourth session, you might notice that hair starts to grow again more rapidly but this, my therapist informed me, is fairly normal as this is when your third hair cycle has just been completed.

With the high cost and lack of guaranteed success rate, many people beg the question, ‘is laser hair removal worth it?’ For myself, I would have to answer yes. By my sixth session, my underarms were practically hair-free and while I do still have to shave very occasionally, this is few and far between. Bring on the summer.

Strip Chelsea, 102 Fulham Road, SW3 6HS 020 7590 0050; stripwaxbar.com

Kids KINGDOM BY liane nelson

Mother Knows Best When mother of five, Celia Muñoz noticed how many compliments her children were being paid on their Spanish attire whilst out and about in London, she thought to herself, ‘why not start a clothing brand of my own?’ Meaning well-groomed, La Coqueta incorporates traditional and timeless children’s fashion with a chic and contemporary style. For S/S15, the theme is carefree; for girls, dresses come in bright fluorescent colours of pink, yellow and cornflower blue with Peter Pan collars, while boys adopt a preppy look in checked and plain shirts paired with colourful chinos and striped shorts. The babywear collection features adorable baby rompers in pastel shades; perfect for the start of spring. lacoquetakids.com

w2

Fairytale Fun

Step into a magical world with childrenswear brand Elfie and its newly opened boutique in the heart of Bayswater.

Designed to resist the wear and tear of playtime, the clothes are durable and can stand up to the mud, dirt and scuffles that young ones invariably experience when out exploring. Inspired

by The Addams Family and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, this season’s collection features an array of collared coats and frocks, traditional Fair Isle knitwear, partywear, baby rompers and booties.

Elfie, 27 Chilworth Street, W2 elfielondon.com

Shoe-tastic Salvatore Ferragamo has launched its debut children’s shoewear line, Ferragamo MINI: a special capsule shoe collection for girls. Featuring two of the brand’s existing iconic designs, the round-toed ballerina and Varina which has been finished off with the signature Varina bow, the collection reflects a spirited charm, perfect for any little princess. As suited for dressing up as playtime, the shoes feature rubber soles and an ultra-soft fit, as well as arriving in a range of textures such as super chic patent, soft suede and shimmering glitter. The colours are just as exciting, coming in Ferragamo Red, New Bisque, Oxford Blue and a selection of metallics. ferragamo.com

Au Naturel

Bringing Out Baby

No matter what age, we all need to keep our skin properly moisturised, particularly during the drying winter months. Loved by mums and dads alike, Sophie La Girafe Baby offers a natural and organic skincare range for babies, free of GMOs, perfumes or synthetic dyes, and incorporating Alva Organics, an industry innovator.

For a great all-in-one product, we recommend the Protection Cream which can be used as a lip balm, moisturemask or hand cream. It contains soothing elements such as lavender water and thyme extract which guarantee to keep your baby’s skin soft and smooth.

In the fast-paced world of London, busy parents need practicality when it comes to their children’s products and the Delta Baby Nursery Bag and Travel Carrycot is exactly that. A great travelling solution for on-the-go parents, the roomy and well-designed changing bag easily converts into a comfortable carrycot for your newborn. The changing bag offers four large compartments (providing plenty of space for all of your baby’s essentials) and one of these has isothermal covers, perfect for keeping bottles warm or chilled.

sophielagirafecosmetics.com

deltababy.be

SW3

A Dream Come True

Opening its first flagship store in London this January, Gigi Brooks brings its imagination-fuelling collection of bespoke furniture, fairytale interiors, toys, clothing and charming accessories to Brompton Cross. Combining British charm with West Coast luxe, collections range from beautifully detailed traditional masterpieces to whimsical, modern creations. In addition to ready-made pieces, Gigi Brooks offers a bespoke service whereby furniture, nurseries and children’s bedrooms can be designed from scratch, allowing you to explore a variety of themes for a particular space, whether it’s creating a mythical forest bedroom or a playroom featuring a child-sized Parisian market. Upholding the belief that anything that one dreams of can therefore be made into a reality, the possibilities really are endless.

Gigi Brooks, 135 Fulham Road, SW3 gigibrooks.com

Handmade with Love Specialists in handsmocked dresses, blouses, dungarees and baby rompers, British children’s clothing brand Amelia Brennan caters for newborns and little ones up to the age of five. The clothes feature playful motifs, from pink ducks and marching soldiers to toy trains, while incorporating beautiful embroidery and stitching hand-finished by skilled seamstresses. ameliabrennan.co.uk

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MOTORING

Premiership

Performer It might not be the most powerful Bentley Continental GT on offer but the V8 S is easily the best, says Matthew Carter

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here are so many compelling sides to this Bentley that it’s difficult to know where to start. Do I talk about the noise, the glorious deep bass growl it spits out of the twin figure-of-eight oval exhaust pipes whenever the accelerator is used with a modicum of enthusiasm? Perhaps I should focus on the necksnapping acceleration; this is a big, heavy car yet it will hurl itself to 60mph from rest in a smidge over four seconds, and there are out-and-out sports cars which can’t do that. Then there’s the remarkable amount of grip. The Continental GT has four-wheel drive and once again, despite its bulk, it can be hurled around with surprising confidence. And, of course, when not behaving like a hooligan, there’s the incredible comfort, refinement and sheer presence of the car. Even though the basic shape has been around for more than a decade (the first generation was launched in 2003) and has become a familiar sight in Premiership cities, it still gathered a crowd whenever it was parked up.

But in many ways the most impressive thing about this Bentley is the way it performs not just against the clock but also at the pumps. Accelerate hard and the instant readout will still show a wallet-punishing fourpoint-something mpg but my average fuel consumption finished in the mid-20s and I wasn’t treating my time with the car as an economy run. Okay, so if you can afford the £139k asked for the car – actually ‘mine’ cost almost £180,000, coming as it did with an eye-watering £41,000 of extras – you probably won’t be too concerned about its thirst for fuel. However, this is about more than just saving a few pennies at the pumps. It reflects the way

the industry is responding to environmental concerns and while the Bentley’s CO2 emissions of 246 g/kms won’t get you a free pass into Boris’s London, it’s a great deal better than was achieved even a couple of years ago.

It’s down to Volkswagen, owner of Bentley since 1998. The 4.0-litre V8 engine was developed by Audi and therefore bristles with advanced technology designed not just to make the car as fast as possible but also as efficient as possible. In performance mode, for example, it’s a full-fat V8 with a suitable heavy metal thunder soundtrack (actually the Sports Exhaust is a

The most impressive thing about this car is how it performs against the clock and at the pumps £1,860 option, but if you have an ounce of high octane fuel in your blood, that’s money well spent). It’s when cruising that the clever stuff starts to kick in. The engine incorporates what Bentley calls variable displacement; when you don’t need all eight cylinders pumping away, four are shut down, turning it into a 2.0-litre four cylinder (not that you’d notice from behind the wheel).

So as soon as you reach cruising speed, the engine quietly cuts half its cylinders but the moment you touch the throttle again, those dormant four cylinders unobtrusively spring back into life. If you didn’t know it was happening, you’d be none the wiser until it came to filling up. Bentley reckons that each tank can provide a range of as much as 500 miles, meaning the Continental

MOTORING

GT really does live up to its billing; it is possibly the most perfect continental grand tourer around.

It is also easily the best of the three regular Conti Coupés offered by Bentley. At the top-of-the-range is the W12, powered by a gargantuan twin turbo 6-litre developing 567 hp and providing creamy-smooth performance along with the thirst of a dipsomaniac. At the bottom is the ‘ordinary’ V8, which develops a perfectly adequate 500 hp. To my mind, the V8 S, with 521 hp, offers the best of everything. Don’t just take my word for it. Talk to a Bentley high-up off the record and he (or she) will agree that few need the W12 when the V8 S is this good. To match its greater power, the S has a more sporting chassis set-up than the V8. It’s been lowered by 10mm, has stiffer springs and revised damping for a more responsive drive. Its electronic systems have been optimised for more sporting performance and the steering has been recalibrated to give better feedback. There’s also a raft of body add-ons – a front splitter, rear diffuser and extended side sills – that add an air of menace without being too vulgar. The result is as close to a sports car as Bentley gets, not quite as involving as a Porsche 911, for me, but not half bad at all.

As we have seen, of those 40 grand of extras – the equivalent of a VW Golf R and a VW Up, for goodness sake – some are worth the money, but some are of more dubious value and some, frankly, should be standard anyway; if Nissan can provide a rear-facing camera as standard on a £17k Juke then Bentley really ought to be able to do the same on a £139k V8 S, especially as visibility out of the coupé isn’t brilliant when reversing. As it is, Bentley wants another £910 so you can

see where you’re going. I also question whether it’s worth paying £480 to have the door mirror caps painted in a contrasting colour to the body – in this case ‘Beluga Gloss’ (black to you and me) over the £3,300 optional ‘Ice’ (that’s white) body colour. The biggest option on the test car was the £6,325 worth of Mulliner Driving Specification which adds little to the driving experience but gives you dramatic 21ins wheels, drilled alloy pedals and, something of an acquired taste, a diamond quilted perforated leather interior.

And talking of taste, among the available body colours is a startling Monaco Yellow. Oh to hell with it: if you’ve got the cash, flaunt it.

IN BRIEF Car: Bentley Continental GT V8 S Price: £139,000 Engine: Front-mounted; 3,993cc, twin turbocharged V8 petrol Power: 521 hp Performance: 192mph max, 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds Drive: Four-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic

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Let Your

Imagination

Run Wild

George Bamford has spent more than a decade building up businesses that tap into the trend for personalisation.

Amy E Williams meets the Chelsea-based man himself to find out more Eleven years ago, George Bamford was given a watch for his 21st birthday by his father (Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB – the digger empire was founded by George’s grandfather Joseph). It was a Rolex Daytona, which to George’s young mind was, he tells me, “the coolest watch on Earth”, one which made him want to “shoot the cuff” at any given opportunity.

This, George says, is what men do to make sure people notice their watch – a subtle, let-me-flash-my-watchat-you-while-ensuring-my-sleeve-does-not-obscure-itsexpensive-face action. At least, this is what he did until he found himself at a dinner party at which someone else was sporting the same watch.

And so the Bamford Watch Department (BWD) was born. “If you have a dress made for you or altered as you wish, you can guarantee you’re not going to turn up to a party in the same dress as someone else, and that’s what I wanted to do for watches.” He has also expanded into bikes, with the launch of the Bamford Cycle Department (BCD): “If you can imagine it, we can create it”.

What was the first watch you ever customised?

I blackened a steel Rolex Submariner. At that time it was all about bling – Jacob & Co watches were all the rage – but I was anti-bling so I turned a Submariner matt black; luckily I was able to go to the design house at JCB to do so. There was an anti-friction process which was used on materials for the mining industry; it turned steel this

amazing petrol-blue/black. It worked on the watch and that was the beginning. I wore it and made one for my father then, just on the back of those two, I got 25 orders.

That’s when I knew there was a market for them.

What has been your favourite BWD creation?

We made a watch for a man that had been designed by his soon-to-be wife. She gave it to him ahead of their wedding day then on the day itself the date dial rolled down to reveal a heart. It made him cry. And it will roll down on every anniversary. That to me is so simple yet amazing; it gets me a bit soppy. No other luxury watch brand offers soppy!

Should watch buffs worry about extreme customising affecting their guarantee?

When you make the changes we do, it invalidates the original warranty so we take over that responsibility and offer our own; we have 17 service centres worldwide

LIFESTYLE

and soon we’ll have 37 BWD dealers. Because we’ve been going a while now our client base is very loyal – A-list celebrities, heads of states, watch collectors. People are constantly inspired by what we can do and they trust us.

town… they are interesting but it’s not something I’d enter into. However, watch this space; in the next six months to a year you will see some new divisions for us. A new collaboration; people will be surprised.

Why did you start the Bamford Cycle Department?

I was taking part in a bike ride from London to Paris and I wanted a personalised bike which didn’t have a brand name on it and didn’t cost a huge amount. I went to companies like Trek and Cannondale but none would work with me on a design as they only deal in very large orders so I thought that I should build my own. I didn’t have enough time prior to the Paris trip to do it but it gave me lots of inspiration. I wanted it to be for long distance cyclists like me; I spend many weekends at my house in Gloucestershire where I ride about 30 kilometres a day.

It has to be comfortable and allow me to ride for up to seven hours without feeling damaged or tired.

What is the most precious thing that you own?

Am I allowed to say my chocolate lab?! A watch, then, but not a particularly extraordinary one; a 1980s Rolex Milgauss. I wear a different watch every day but I wore this one the day I got engaged, on my wedding day, for both births of my children, the day we set up our studio. If I went belly up tomorrow it’s the only thing I wouldn’t sell.

With BCD are you building the bikes from scratch in accordance with customers’ wishes rather than customising them like the watches?

Your bike is completely bespoke, made to measure, from scratch. We look at how someone rides, the type of riding, the types of roads, their weight etc. Do they want comfort? Stiffness? Raceability? This is done before the build begins to get exactly what the customer is looking for. Then we create a fully personalised frame.

Essentially anything is possible.

Watches, bikes… what’s next?

People are often asking if I am going to do cars. There are a lot of customised, blinged-up cars in this part of

Why do you live in the Royal Borough?

When I moved back from New York, I looked at places like Battersea where I could get bigger bang for my buck but for me the convenience of Chelsea is amazing and I love the safety of where I live, near Bibendum; there’s a great community, with Jago’s the butcher and a friendly fishmonger; I thought those places were meant to be dying but they’re thriving here. My fruit and veg man Andreas saves the most unusual tomatoes because he knows I love them; people think that only happens in the country.

What are your favourite local restaurants and shops?

Kurobuta on the King’s Road. During the day I go to Daylesford in Notting Hill; I know it’s my mother’s place but because of that I also know how brilliant the produce is and where it has come from. I’m a fan of Byron Burger and I cook so Whole Foods on High Street Ken is heaven.

I love James Perse on Walton Street for T-shirts too. bamfordwatchdepartment.com; bamfordcycledepartment.com

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high life

the simple life Those wearying of the most popular Caribbean islands, thronging with tourists and high-rise hotels, will be pleased to hear about the opening of Belle Mont Farm. It can be found on Kittitian Hill in St Kitts, twinned with the equally charming Nevis, and its aim is “to create a community where guests can immerse themselves in the vibrant beauty of the West Indies (and) enjoy fresh food foraged from the land and sea”. Within the 400 acres of organic farmland, stretching from the slopes of Mount Liamuiga down to the beach, choose from one-bedroom guesthouses and larger farmhouses with a big central pavilion, private 100-foot infinity pool and space for up to 16 guests.

Three other places to stay on Kittitian Hill – The Village, Yaya Groves and The Golden Lemon – are set to open in 2015. kittitianhill.com

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Travel

THE WORLD BY liane nelson

Sweet Escape Making an Exhibit Hardly a week goes by when we don’t hear about a new boutique hotel launch in London, promising to offer something different but rarely delivering the goods. However, this isn’t the case with The Exhibitionist in South Kensington. As the name would suggest, art and design are the central focus of the newly-opened hotel and the visually impressive foyer and lounge feature artwork from the likes of Mariana Thome, LE GUN and Dandy Diwangkara. Each of the 37 rooms has been individually designed and includes bespoke iPads, allowing guests to customise the scent, taste and feel of their stay. theexhibitionisthotel.com

The Grand Scheme of Things In anticipation of the exciting launch of St. Regis Istanbul in February, the global luxury hotel group has partnered with fashion designer Jason Wu on a collection of scarves, entitled The Grand Tourista. Two of the three scarves have been designed to evoke the ancient city, while the third comes in grey, Wu’s signature colour. The exquisite scarves are 100 per cent silk twill with hand-rolled edges, making them the perfect accessory for today’s discerning luxury traveller.

The Grand Tourista Scarf, £120 stregis.com/boutique jasonwustudio.com

viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

Parisian Chic Newly opened, La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa offers breathtaking views of the Elysées Gardens, Le Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower in an intimate setting; kick back and enjoy a glass of Bordeaux (or two). Between Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the hotel is in an ideal location to access the shops and galleries of the trendy eighth arrondissement, while being nestled on a quiet street away from the hustle and bustle. With a library, indoor pool, gym and spa, not to mention a contemporary restaurant serving French cuisine, you might find it hard to say au revoir! lareserve-paris.com

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Located on the picturesque island of St. Lucia, Sugar Beach Resort is spread across more than 100 acres of tropical forest, featuring a backdrop of the majestic valley of the Pitons and the crystal blue Caribbean Sea. You can choose between luxury beachfront bungalows and Sugar Mill rooms, which are situated in the mountainside. For the ultimate pampering experience, pay a visit to the resort’s newly renovated Rainforest Spa which features an array of delights including sulphur treatments, inspired by the nearby Sulphur Springs and volcano, soothing bamboo massages and an authentic Indian steam room warmed by volcanic spring water. With open-air seaside dining and a selection of bars, this holiday is sure to be as sweet as its name implies.

Images courtesy of: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Highway to Foodie

HEAVEN Lauren Jarvis heads to Western Australia for an indulgent gourmet escape as the country’s food revolution picks up pace, managing to fit in canoeing, hiking and animal-spotting too

Cape To Cape walking trail

TRAVEL

“You must come and wave to Sting!” As guest requests go, it’s certainly one of the more unusual pleas put to Tony Howell, executive chef at a premier winery in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. “It was a pretty surreal moment,” smiles Tony, as we chat in Aravina Estate’s restaurant, overlooking the lake and rolling, vine-lined hills beyond. The Police frontman and wife Trudie had been staying at the nearby luxury boutique hotel Cape Lodge, where Tony used to run the kitchen, and were so impressed with his food that they invited him to move to England to be their personal chef.

“Of course, it was very flattering to be asked,” says Tony modestly. “I’m sure it would have been a great gig but the UK’s far too cold for me.” Instead, happily honouring Trudie’s other, less life-changing request, Tony left his kitchen to wave goodbye to the millionaire pop star as he disappeared in a helicopter over the horizon.

Spend some time in the south-western corner of Australia and you’ll begin to understand why Tony passed up such a golden opportunity. Travel down from WA’s cosmopolitan capital Perth and you’ll not only discover one of the world’s most celebrated wine-making regions in Margaret River but also exciting foodie experiences, secluded luxury lodges and world-class restaurants, all set against a stunning backdrop of wild, untouched coastline and some of the planet’s oldest, most magical forests.

From top / Boranup Forest, in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park; Beef short rib, balsamic red onion, creamed potato, beans, veal jus with Shiraz Tempranillo. All images courtesy of: Tourism WA

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Australia may be famed as the land of the ‘barbie’ but these days there’s more than chargrilled steak on the menu.

“I’ve never seen a food revolution happen in any country in the world like it’s happened in Australia,” reveals Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal at the launch of this Margaret River Gourmet Escape food festival, which took place in November. “The effect that MasterChef Australia has had on the general public is amazing. The enthusiasm for food is incredible”. And Heston’s right; Australia is upping its culinary credentials, from the extensive, award-winning wine cellar and five-star gourmet menu designed by renowned chef Neil Perry on its Qantas flights to catering for a new breed of diner, demanding paleo, gluten-free or vegan in restaurants and hotel dining rooms across the continent. If you’re a food lover, there’s never been a better time to head Down Under.

In the south west, the gourmet uprising has been building over the last five years, with gatherings like Albany’s Saturday-morning farmers’ market offering a platform for super-fresh produce from local smallholders.

Artisan bread, cheese and chocolate makers are getting the attention, and approval, of chefs from the region’s top eateries, including Perth’s multi-award-winning Restaurant Amusé, which offers an imaginative degustation menu featuring locally grown ingredients, each presented at the table by the chefs responsible for their creation.

A delicious tasting menu with equally moreish wine pairings is also on offer at Margaret River’s five-star Cape Lodge, where the resort’s head chef Michael Elfwing is continuing Tony Howell’s tradition of using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients for his modern-Australian dishes, served in a dining room overlooking the lake and forests beyond. Each course is as impressive as the view, with edible wild flowers used to garnish dishes including beetroot ravioli with goat’s cheese, parsley oil, hazelnut and radish, and broccoli risotto with black truffle. “There’s so much amazing produce right on our doorstep,” says Michael. “Local growers drop by at lunch with fruit and vegetables they picked that morning. It’s an exciting place to be a chef.”

Margaret River’s vineyards (including Leeuwin Estate), are producing world-class wines, Denmark’s hip Boston Brewery makes wonderful craft beers and Albany’s boutique Great Southern Distilling Company produces premium-quality whiskies in traditional copper-pot stills; visitors can turn up at the cellar door for tastings year-round. The annual Gourmet Escape brings together top chefs, local producers and food-lovers for

three days every November to celebrate the best the region has to offer. “We host some of the gatherings on our lawns and it’s always such a fun, special event,” says Simone Horgan-Furlong. Her family owns Leeuwin Estate, which also runs an al fresco summer concert series.

With a contemporary art gallery and verandah restaurant overlooking the karri forest, Leeuwin is a perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon, sipping one of its award-winning glasses of Art Series Chardonnays, or indulging in a dinner designed by a Gourmet Escape guest chef, such as Heston, Rick Stein or René Redzepi.

Having been tempted to (over)indulge in foodie delights during my own two-week stay in the south west, I sign up for a tour with a difference; the Margaret River Discovery Company combines a vineyard visit with the chance to burn some calories canoeing along the river and hiking the Cape to Cape Track in the LeeuwinNaturaliste National Park. Paddling along the crystal clear waterway with parrots and cockatoos flying through the towering eucalyptus trees overhead, company owner Sean Blocksidge shares the secret of the area’s wine-

“I’ve never seen a food revolution like [the one that’s] happened in Australia” - Heston Blumenthal

TRAVEL

making success. “Unlike other parts of Australia which suffer floods, frost or drought, we have a fantastic mild climate year-round,” he reveals. “Summer temperatures rarely go above 30˚ and winters rarely drop below zero.”

Our paddle over, it’s back to the serious business of winetasting so we jump into Sean’s 4X4 and head for lunch at Fraser Gallop Estate. Surrounded by aged oak barrels, we tuck into delicious cheeses, olives, dips and salads, and sample the vineyard’s wines, including its 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, voted best Bordeaux blend in the world at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards.

Still bathed in a ruby-red inner glow, we walk along the Cape to Cape Track, watching out for humpback whales and dolphins, as kestrels swoop along the craggy cliffs.

“She’s highly motivated by food but can be easily distracted,” says Adrian Mielke, picking up his black labrador Scrappy and giving her a vigorous belly rub.

“A girl after my own heart!” I think as I follow the duo out into the early-morning mist which is hovering over the farms and fields of Manjimup, the ‘food bowl’ of Western Australia. Scrappy is alert and focused. Her day job? To sniff out ‘black gold’ for The Truffle & Wine Co, now the single biggest global producer of superior black Périgord truffles, despite the fungi’s European heritage. From late May to August, Scrappy and human truffle hunter Adrian work the rows of 13,000 hazelnut and oak trees, with Scrappy pawing the ground every time she sniffs the pungent delicacies which form around the tree roots, and which currently sell for around £1,800 per kilogram.

“We’re really lucky to have such a diversity of fantastic local produce in Western Australia,” says Matt Stone, head chef at the eco restaurant Greenhouse in central Perth. He meets some of these producers in autumn 2014’s Recipes That Rock TV series which saw him exploring Australia’s south west, with Blur bassist and cheese farmer Alex James, and cooking up culinary delights on the terrace of The Rocks hotel, a beautifully renovated Victorian mansion on a hill overlooking the historic town of Albany. “The produce here is so good that I don’t need to do much with it; it almost speaks for itself,” Matt says with a grin. But what he does do, he

does with flair; Greenhouse is one of the new generation of exciting restaurants and hotels driving the dining boom in WA and firmly waving the ‘eat local’ banner.

“The apricots are from my mother’s orchard,” says Noelene Evans, whose family owns The Rocks, as she serves a decadent breakfast during my stay at the property. Perfectly demonstrating Matt’s point, all the ingredients are local and taste even better served in the dining room with sweeping views of the gardens and Albany’s Princess Royal Harbour. Complete with library, billiard room, tennis court and four-poster beds, it’s not just The Rocks’ breakfasts and afternoon teas that will tempt you to return to the grand yet relaxed mansion.

Back at Aravina, I linger over a long lunch of king oyster mushrooms with noodles, wakame and sesame quail egg, with a glass of the winery’s signature Shiraz Tempranillo. As I join Tony for a tour of the garden, where many of the ingredients on his Asian-influenced menu are grown, a helicopter rises from the Estate’s lakeside lawn in the soft late-afternoon light. For a moment, I feel a fleeting pang of sympathy for a pop star, somewhere in a cold corner of England, who didn’t quite get his way.

More Information Travelbag (0845 543 6615 / travelbag.co.uk) offers a self-drive package in WA from £1,352 per person, including two nights in Perth and 10-day Maui Campervan hire. Qantas (qantas.com) flies from London Heathrow to Perth, with economy fares from £1,172 and business fares from £4,225.

Margaret River Discovery Tour bookings (margaretriverdiscovery.com.au); Margaret River Gourmet Escape (gourmetescape.com.au); Western Australia information (westernaustralia.com) Double rooms at The Rocks in Albany from £197 per night and Cape Lodge in Margaret River from £222

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Flying in

Style Annabel Harrison travels from London to Germany and back again as a guest of Heathrow VIP, bypassing the queues and the crowds in favour of a rather more luxurious experience

Consider, for a moment, what you dislike most about travelling by plane. Not the actual time in the air; in particular, before the flight and after it.

When I ask my colleagues, they single out the checkin procedure, the security palaver, the often lengthy distance to the gate and, most of all, other people and the waiting, with queues forming for everything and anything when an airport is at its busiest. I happen to agree most strongly with the last two bugbears; small children, when one doesn’t have one’s own, are, at best, under one’s feet as they joyously wheel about on their Trunkies and at worst, ear-splittingly loud and rambunctious at 7am.

However, I have found the perfect way one can avoid both and this goes by the name of Heathrow VIP. It does, of course, come with a price tag, as everything in life does, but if you’d like to start (and end) your journey in the easiest, quietest, most stress-free and luxurious of fashions, this is the option for you.

In the name of research, I am collected promptly at 6.30am from home by Pervaiz, the friendly chauffeur who will whisk me off to Heathrow VIP’s Windsor Suite in an exceptionally comfortable, brand new MercedesBenz S Class. I arrive 90 minutes before my flight is due to take off and am shown straight to my private lounge; VIP client services team member Uma explains that there are 19 lounges at the airport in total, many the same size as mine and a handful of larger ones, for family groups or, I suppose, those with an entourage.

My lounge is immaculate, decorated in neutral tones. The sofa is long enough to sleep on, should you wish to, and there are two armchairs and luggageinspired side tables flanking it, as well as plenty of papers and magazines to peruse, a huge TV, Wi-Fi and floor-to-ceiling curtains to ensure maximum privacy.

Although absolutely no-one I know (not even my parents or fiancé) would be interested in what I’m doing at 7.30am, Heathrow VIP or not, if intrusion into your private life is a problem you’re used to, you’ll be happy to know that “paparazzi are not allowed in the secure area of our suites and photography of any kind is not allowed at Heathrow without a permit”. I am sure this consideration regarding paparazzi is much appreciated by the high profile guests it is bound to attract.

My luggage is taken away at once and my passport too; I don’t have to deal with one iota of the check-in process, something I’m unaccustomed to and delighted by. I’m mildly amused to discover that Heathrow VIP is happy “to process up to 10 items of hold luggage per person” through its service; again, this must be for the most serious of shoppers and pop stars with a tour wardrobe in tow. I have never travelled with more than two. Uma offers me drinks and takes my order from the breakfast menu; it ranges from a healthy morning booster juice and Greek yoghurt with mango and granola to comforting eggs and Marmite soldiers and a hearty full English breakfast.

How will I be able to travel in the normal fashion now that I’ve seen how the VIPs do it?

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If I were here for lunch I could tuck into a four-course set menu, or something a little lighter (a salad, perhaps, or a sandwich, pasta or a burger).

If you want to fit in some shopping (something many deem a definite airport perk), a personal shopping service is available on request for departing guests.

You’ll be escorted through security and into the terminal shopping area but note that this service is only available if time allows. A VAT Refund Service is available for nonUK/EU citizens too but you’ll need to request the service upon booking and allow half an hour extra for it.

If you’re a control freak like me, you’ll need to chill out and trust the VIP Client Services team that remaining in your lounge until less than 20 minutes before your flight takes off is absolutely fine. They do know best! When the time comes, I am taken to the Windsor Suite’s own security lane (number of people in the queue: 0) and driven straight to my aircraft by private chauffeured vehicle.

This is without question the most peaceful and relaxing pre-flight experience of my life and it only continues when I land after a weekend away. Even though it’s a wet, dark, depressing Sunday evening, Kathy from Heathrow VIP meets me the moment I step off the plane and I couldn’t be happier to see her, especially as my alternative route home would have involved waiting in line for passport control, waiting at the luggage carousel and then spending 90 minutes on public transport to get home. I’m chauffeur-driven back to the Windsor Suite at Terminal 5 and reinstated in my private lounge where I breathe a sigh of relief. Kathy whisks my passport away so that it can be checked by an immigration officer and Uma greets me once again, smiling and offering me afternoon tea. I am ready to accept but am told that, with the efficiency to which I have become accustomed, my car is already waiting. Despite the promise of scones, I am desperate to go home. It’s just 20 minutes from getting off the plane that I’m whizzing out of the terminal by car and it is wonderful. I just don’t know how I’ll possibly be able to travel through Heathrow in the normal fashion now that I’ve seen how the VIPs do it.

More Information Heathrow VIP is available to book for those travelling on First or Business class flight tickets, with all airlines flying to/from Heathrow Airport. The service is not available to those flying Economy or Premium Economy class.

Children may use the service but those under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

For an additional charge, a chauffeur car can be organised to take you to any UK address (subject to availability). Alternatively, your independently arranged driver can enter the private forecourt 30 minutes prior to your scheduled flight time.

Prices start at £2,000 + VAT for up to three people for an arriving or departing flight, as well as those on flights connecting within three hours.

A maximum group size of 12 persons per booking.

Contact the VIP team on 020 8757 2227 or enquiriesvip@heathrow.com; heathrowvip.com

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Where There’s a

Will ..

Annabel Harrison flies to Alicante to test out the SHA Wellness Clinic’s four-day Discovery Programme (and her own willpower: swimming or sunbathing? Water or wine?)

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o wheat. No meat. No alcohol, sugar or dairy. I consume most (and sometimes all) of these on a daily basis; am I going to be famished and grumpy?, I wonder, as I’m whisked by car to the SHA Wellness Clinic. I distract myself by setting some goals for this long weekend of ‘Health and Wellness’. I want to have three blissful nights’ sleep. I’d like to let my digestive system rest and I’d like to tone up. I also give myself two ground rules; no social media and minimal use of my phone.

I needn’t have worried. When I arrive at SHA, all white walls and natural stone, palm trees and water features, I’m greeted by the lovely Valeria who suggests going straight upstairs for a late lunch. It quickly becomes evident that the restaurant area – SHAMADI – is my second favourite thing about SHA, after the food. Dozens of square white tables, set very simply, are arranged in the open air and shielded from the fierce sun (which shines 330 days a year in Alicante) by huge white umbrellas. While you sit in silence and chew conscientiously (something I grow to love), soak up the spectacular view, unimpeded thanks to glass panels rather than walls; a 180˚ panorama wraps itself around the hotel’s terrace, encompassing the gleaming towers of Alicante to the left, craggy, rocky mountains in front, separated from SHA by thousands of little doll-house villas, and glistening azure sea to the right.

Genial restaurant manager Kevin comes over to explain the set-up. For both lunch and dinner, the SHA menu includes a starter, a choice between two mains (generally one is fish and the other whole-wheat pasta) and dessert; it’s “designed for those who wish to learn a healthier way of eating without renouncing the quantity of food or their gourmet spirit”. Biolight is the intermediate diet, for those who want to “take care of themselves a bit more than usual and learn about healthy nutrition and its benefits without setting very strict slimming or detox goals”. A dessert is optional for lunch but you won’t get one at supper. Kushi is the most restrictive, meant for people whose goal is to lose weight or do an intensive detoxification. I’m already delighted; there’s dessert!

First on my agenda is a medical check-up (done by smiling blonde nurse Wendy – height, weight, BMI, fat percentage, blood pressure) and nutrition consultation with Teresa, which will dictate my menu choices, both included on my programme. There’s a slight hiccup in terms of timings which means both sessions are shorter than they should have been but the gist of Teresa’s macrobiotic message is clear; it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle, and one that’s all about balance. It’s a bit preachy but I discover I could be converted (although easier to say

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when all my food is prepared for me); I feel hungry before mealtimes but also fantastically well-fed and not deprived in any way. Teresa’s prescription is that I can choose between Biolight and SHA, and they’re accommodating to some mix ‘n’ match. I like the sound of broccoli and ginger soup, and carrot cake, for example, on the Biolight menu at supper that night but not the spelt pizza which has capers on it. So I swap that with the delicious vegetable and chickpea paella from the SHA menu.

Mealtimes quickly become the pivots around which my days revolve. They’re stretches of mindfulness and peace, in which food is savoured and appreciated, instead of moments during which mouthfuls are gulped down in between talking and fidgeting. The view is intoxicating but just as compelling is people-watching.

I observe a big, friendly group as they filter up to lunch, all in dressing gowns; I eavesdrop (not deliberately) on a loud, animated conversation between two American women; and I try to guess the nationality of the solo guests (up to 60 per cent of the occupants). There are no children; SHA’s 93 suites can host up to 140 adults.

In fact, the only place at SHA that threatens to feel crowded is the spa, which is, in reality, a colossal, futuristic emporium to wellness that has recently doubled in size. A constant stream of white-robed guests wanders in and out with varying levels of purpose and against this flow scurry therapists and staff, in white uniforms like lab coats. It feels professional and clinical, with banks of pristine sofas (white) and matt walls (black). Despite the spa’s size there is no relaxation room (although there are beds in the hydrotherapy area). My first spa experience is a lovely massage by Erika, who gives me advice at the end of my treatment about targeting pressure points on my hands and feet to relax tense shoulders.

Relaxed, I retreat to my room. It’s the perfect space for a long weekend like this; a cool haven of dark wood and crisp linen, with a neutral palette and a TV for curling up in front of after a day of exercise and

early supper. My room’s access card reminds me to “be the best version” of myself and a SHA bookmark reads “health is not everything but without health everything is nothing”. Quite. I’m all for motivational sayings.

On the first night, I fall asleep quickly and there is no need to use the air-con, which helps me to sleep better. I conscientiously set my alarm, going against every fibre of my being (especially on a Saturday morning) for the Nordic Walking beginner class at 8am. On the Discovery Programme, it’s up to me which of the SHA Life Learning activities I participate in. My advice, based on the class I try (and a fellow walker who assures me it isn’t “usually like this”) that if you have an average level of fitness and acceptable coordination skills then go with the advanced group. Mine comprises 11 walkers, two of

Mealtimes become stretches of mindfulness and peace; food is savoured and appreciated whom elect to walk without sticks (what is the point of Nordic walking without the very element that makes it Nordic?!) and one instructor. He becomes impatient but I’m firmly on his side; these two walkers lack any interest and chit-chat rudely as he tries to explain what to do.

Next I head to breakfast for the first time and discover that (a) I need never have feared going hungry here and (b) my breakfasts at home are insubstantial.

I’m served two juices (carrot/apple and detox) followed by miso soup, a piece of (healthy) bread, pureed pear with cinnamon, chunks of cooked apple with raisins and an oatmeal mush with a fruity swirl of purée. It takes me half an hour to eat it and I languish happily on a sunbed afterwards, reading my book. White beds and white cabanas with wafting gauze give SHA a kind of Ibiza vibe, except people are drinking water rather than wine, and the only shots on offer are wheatgrass and watermelon.

I haul myself up for a session of aqua aerobics but one participant grumbles loudly about the lack of music.

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The issue I have with the classes is not SHA’s fault; it’s the varying levels of guest enthusiasm. Ideally every single person needs to commit to each activity and, in fact, this can be said of the whole experience. My tip is to align yourself with the keenest walker / most energetic aqua aerobist and get stuck in. It will pay off.

I enjoy almost ten heavenly hours in bed before getting up in time to join a big group, of perhaps 30-35, for the winding but not difficult walk along a beautiful coast pathway up to the lighthouse and fabulous views, led by the brilliant Fabiana, my favourite SHA instructor.

Some people struggle but others run – it is what you make of it, like SHA. Breakfast upon my return is almost the same as yesterday; it all tastes good but it still feels like too much to eat first thing. I tell myself SHA knows best and tuck in (slowly – ask for a small spoon if needs be). It’s amazing how much more relaxing a meal is without anyone to talk to. I’m getting used to my own company and leave my phone in my room, taking in my surroundings and guessing why people are here. Weight problems are, sadly, the easiest to spot; it’s harder to tell who can’t sleep or quit smoking.

After a couple of hours by the pool, I remove myself (reluctantly) to join the energtic midday Fat Burning session. Smiley and fit, Fabiana puts us through our paces to the sound of some thumping beats, which are the only thing that gets me through the third set of exercise ball sit-ups. Lunch reaffirms that what SHA does really, really well is food. Not having to make any decisions about what I consume, apart from choosing between Biolight or SHA, is refreshing. My favourite dishes include the cod salad, the mushroom tagliatelle and pistachio-chocolate soufflé (which I just can’t believe is as healthy as it is). If you’re on the SHA menu, by the way, you can have a glass of wine or beer with supper; quite a few people do but lots don’t, and I abstain, as I soak up the beautiful live piano or guitar music.

Two things I’d have liked are more yoga sessions – I’m really keen to stretch out after more intense exercise than I’m used to – and stricter rules about mobile phone usage; it’s one thing to hear them ringing round the pool and people on calls at mealtimes but quite another to sit in the spa reception waiting for a treatment and to see seven adults glued to their smartphones while waiting.

As I said, you get out of SHA what you put in.

I arrive determined to sleep well, eat and drink only what is provided and to do as much physical exercise as I’m able. Mission accomplished. It might take longer than a weekend to achieve a perfect state of balance but I spend a wonderful amount of time sleeping and enjoying the sunshine, my digestion improves, I never feel hungry and although my stomach muscles are in a world of pain on the plane home, I’ve toned up and lost a couple of pounds too. Calling it a “lifechanging experience”, as SHA does, might be going a bit far but it was certainly habit-changing and I feel all the better for it.

MORE INFORMATION SHA Wellness Clinic suites from approx. £238 per night based on two people sharing a Deluxe Suite. The SHA Discovery Programme, from approx. £779 per person, is based on a four-day stay, which includes all meals, consultations and treatments (shawellnessclinic.com) Monarch flies year round to Alicante from London Gatwick and London Luton with fares, including taxes, from £73 return (monarch.co.uk)

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From Paris to

Berlin

After several visits to Paris, renowned as the ‘city of love’, in recent years, Annabel Harrison visits Germany’s vibrant capital city for the first time and is captivated by the magnetic energy of Berlin

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here’s something special about Berlin. After only two days there, it’s hard to put my finger on it but when I leave, I feel determined to return and continue to explore, intoxicated by a brief snapshot of the city.

Perhaps it’s the recent history that draws me in so strongly; two weeks before I visit, images appeared online of 8,000 illuminated white balloons, floating over a sea of revellers as a day of celebrations to mark 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall reached its crescendo. I remind myself that the wall, which existed from 1961, completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and East Berlin. It was 96 miles long, which is the length of the drive between London and my parents’ home in Gloucestershire. Try as I may, I just cannot imagine a segment of London being cut off like this and how it must have felt for the residents either side of the wall.

I think of this as my fiancé and I walk around Berlin and in fact, the scope for exploration on foot is another reason this is my kind of city. It’s cold and crisp when we visit at the end of November and during the day, we wrap up warm and walk for hours between various landmarks and museums, stopping for hot chocolate or glühwein when we need to warm up; we see the Charlottenburg Palace, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Emperor William Memorial Church and the Reichstag building.

Our base for the weekend is brilliantly located for seeing the city’s sights; Das Stue is only a 15-minute taxi from Tegel airport but it’s right next to the 210-acre Tiergarten Park in the quiet embassy district and just half an hour’s walk from the famous Brandenburg Gate. The park is a riot of autumnal colours and leaves in shades of burgundy wine, burnt orange and canary yellow appear to rain down as they flutter from the trees.

I decide almost immediately that if Das Stue’s decor and service is any reflection of Berlin as a whole, these are two more reasons I’m sold. The hotel is immediately eye-catching because of the fact its 79 rooms and suites are housed in a stern, striking, grey stone building that was formerly the Royal Danish Embassy, built in 1939. The reception area is uber-cool (an adjective I feel I can justifiably use as I’m in Berlin) and not just because of its perfect symmetry; huge stone staircases flank the double-level space, which is lit up by hundreds of tiny light bulbs hanging at varying heights. We’re greeted by a smiling doorman and a rather

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less friendly oversized crocodile head sculpture by Paris-­based artist Quentin Garel. This is the first sign that makes me sure interior designer Patricia Urquiola must have been inspired by the proximity of Berlin’s zoo; the bar area is home to an awesome (and suitably tall) neon yellow giraffe and two gorillas made of painted chicken net

by Benedetta Mori Ubaldini, as well as a variety of brown leather stuffed animals by cool British brand Omersa (if you’re a fan of animal-related homeware, Google it). This eclectic theme even extends to the barman’s cocktailmaking kit; our silver cocktail shaker is penguin-shaped.

Stue, in case you were wondering, is the Danish word for living room and the hotel wishes to draw attention, firstly, to the true meaning of the word (“a place to withdraw in an intimate circle”) and secondly to allude to the idea of drawing room plays, a genre of theatrical productions and films which have “plots infused with elegance, wit, and entertainment”. For me, it’s the collection throughout the hotel, of dozens of black and white, framed art and fashion photographs, that makes this feeling come to life; you’ll spot chic, iconic works by the renowned Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Helmut Newton and Horst, to name but a few. Retreat to your sleek, chic room and either take a well-deserved nap or make the most of the powerful rain shower if you’ve been out and about before heading downstairs for supper.

It’s Paco Pérez, the Michelin-starred chef from Cataluna, who’s in charge of this domain, which includes Cinco (one Michelin star) and Casual, which is as the name suggests. Our delightful waitress Julia takes great care of us and in fact, every member of staff is unfailingly polite and friendly. The 13 ‘to share’ starter options suggest an exciting, tapas-inspired Spanish/Peruvian/ Japanese fusion. There’s octopus cooked in the Galician

I’m sure that some of Das Stue’s decor was inspired by the hotel’s proximity to the zoo style, Spanish omelette and ceviche mixto as well as tataki of salmon and harumaki spring rolls. We opt for the hot, crunchy shrimp and vegetable tempura, with tangy romesco sauce and citrus mayonnaise, and croquetas de jamon iberico, which are crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft in the middle. The main courses have a more Mediterranean flavour; choose risotto, fish of the day, spaghetti arrabiata, Caesar salad or steak tartare.

My fiancé has the chuleton, beef from Galican cows that are killed at the age of six or seven rather than one and which food and beverage manager Max explains must be

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cooked medium rare – no more. Zain reports that it’s the most interesting steak he’s ever had, and full of flavour. I choose the sea bass with vegetables which is beautifully cooked and delicious. Dessert comes in the form of pineapple crème brulee and a chocolate extravanganza; bonbons, flan, cacao biscuit.

Satisfied, we retire to bed. You’ll sleep well; Das Stue is in a blissfully peaceful area of Berlin, the beds are very comfortable and the blinds/curtain combo most effective. You can also have a lovely lie-in; Das Stue does not commit the cardinal hotel sin of ending breakfast too early on a weekend and it’s available until midday.

There’s an extensive buffet selection on offer, of more-ish croissants, fresh fruit, meats, yoghurt and cheese, and also the option to order additional hearty, egg-based, Spanish dishes – perfect for fuelling up for a day out.

As we return from a long afternoon of sightseeing, we stop at the cosy little Cafe Am Neuen See in the Tiergarten, which is crammed with locals, sharing pizza and beers, bustling staff and wood-burning stoves. We have warming drinks and apple strudel before wandering, for a pre-supper drink, to Green Door, a 20-minute walk away, a cool little joint where barman Torsten will whip up strong cocktails during happy hour. It’s here I come to the realisation that while Paris may come out on top of the polls, Berlin has stolen my heart.

Rooms at Das Stue from ¤200 per night (das-stue.com / +49 30 3117 220). Germanwings flies from London Heathrow to Berlin Tegel. For more information please call 0330 365 1918 or visit germanwings.com

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escape A tranquil oasis amidst the hustle & bustle of Mayfair.

A unique dining experience begins as you walk down a tree-lined pathway to reach The Greenhouse. London fades away and calm descends.

Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Bignon’s acclaimed light touch with highly flavoured dishes brings a thrilling dimension to classic French cuisine.

Make your reservation today at

The Greenhouse, 27a Hay’s Mews Mayfair, London, W1J 5NY 020 7499 3331 www.greenhouserestaurant.co.uk reservations@greenhouserestaurant.co.uk

& DINING

DRINKING

BY liane nelson

Take it Easy

Hell in the Pacific Fusing dim sum with signature rum cocktails and a dash of funky, fresh music may sound a bit off, but Trailer Happiness has got it completely right, creating a fun and quirky atmosphere with international bar takeovers, cocktail master classes and various themed nights each month.

Specialising in Tiki-style, rum-based cocktails, the award-winning bar crew has concocted a mix of sinfully good cocktails such as Hell in the Pacific, featuring dark overproof rum, cherry maraschino, and lime and pomegranate molasses, and the Alpaca Boomerang, comprising Bacardi Superior, pineapple syrup, lime and Prosecco. If you like your rum with lively background tunes, DJs will play a mix of reggae, blues and jazz-influenced hip-hop each weekend, making for a very happy time indeed.

After the indulgent holiday season, most of us are looking to revamp our healthy recipe repertoire.

Celebrity chef and restaurant entrepreneur Wolfgang Puck gives us just that with Wolfgang Puck Makes it Healthy: Light, Delicious Recipes and Easy Exercises for a Better Life. Featured are tasty and easy-toprepare dishes such as chicken bolognese with penne pasta, and buckwheat blinis. Even those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the not-so-sinful dessert section, including recipes for passionfruit soufflĂŠs and chocolate bread pudding with dried cherries and banana. Each recipe is accompanied by nutritional information as well as healthy tips and tricks for ways of cooking the dish, along with recommendations for what to do with leftovers. The book also includes a fitness plan from strength coach and personal trainer Chad Waterbury to keep you on track; what a great start to the new year.

Available for purchase at CUT at 45 Park Lane or online through Amazon and Hachette, ÂŁ22.50

Trailer Happiness, 177 Portobello Rd, W11 2DY trailerhappiness.com

Superfood Lifestyle Jumping aboard the health-orientated bandwagon is easier than ever now with the vast amount of options readily available across London. Adding to the mix, Partridges of Kensington introduces Superfood Startisans: a collection of healthy products all made by small London-based companies. Geared towards giving customers in the area healthier options for a morning snack, light lunch or something to grab while on the go, the offering includes Vereo salads and snack pots made with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients, Plenish Cleanse cold-pressed raw juices available in seven flavours, and handmade superfood Olly Bars which are both gluten and dairy free; a fantastic way to stay healthy despite of a fast-paced lifestyle.

Partridges of Kensington, 17-19 Gloucester Road, SW74PL patridges.co.uk

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& DINING

DRINKING All-in-One

Nestled in Kensington’s trendy Hotel Indigo, The Kensington Quarter offers stylish yet relaxed surroundings to enjoy fine food and wine. Functioning as a café, restaurant, bar and deli, this is a great spot for a business breakfast, lunch with friends, a post work drink or a romantic evening meal. Using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, the menu boasts an array of delicious choices, such as five spices braised mutton shoulder and chicken and pigeon pastille pie. If you’re with a group of friends, try one of the sharing boards such as the Quarter seafood platter which comes with stuffed baby squid and herb couscous, smoked salmon, Cornish crab, oysters, crispy tuna and orange lime vinaigrette.

The Kensington Quarter 34-44 Barkston Gardens, SW50EW kensingtonquarter.com

More Than Just Sushi Japanese dining is known for precision and presentation, whether it’s a perfect sushi roll or a warming bowl of udon noodles. Kouzu of Belgravia celebrates dining as an art form courtesy of chef Kyoichi Kai, who is regarded as one of London’s most prominent Japanese chefs focusing on dishes that have a contemporary ensemble and traditional formation while delivering exceptional flavour. Offering a wide selection of dishes from traditional sushi platters to grill options such as lamb chops with a spicy miso paste, Kouzu accommodates a range of appetites. Located in a period mansion with a palatial entrance, a rather snazzy chandelier and cosy low-lighting, this makes for a great date night with someone special. If you have first-date jitters, order a dose of liquid courage at the cocktail bar where Japanese mixologists are at hand to create a thrilling selection of drinks.

Kouzu, 21 Grosvenor Gardens, SW1W 0JW kouzu.co.uk

Say Cheese The UK’s oldest cheesemonger, Paxton &Whitfield has opened a pop-up shop on Cale Street just a stone’s throw away from King’s Road and Sloane Street, bringing the wonderful world of artisan cheeses to the heart of Chelsea. Aside from the finest quality cheeses, mouth-watering foods, the top cheese accessories and gorgeous hampers, there will also be a special Cheeseboard Service whereby you can bring your own cheeseboard and have it dressed by the team with a selection of delicious cheeses and accompaniments; the ultimate bespoke cheese service!

Paxton & Whitfield Chelsea Pop-up, 26 Cale Street, SW33QU paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Fit for a King

Last-Minute Treats

Adding to the slew of world-class teas offered in London, the Bulgari Hotel & Residences has launched an afternoon tea crafted by executive pastry chef Alexandre Talpaert, featuring a delectable array of desserts and French patisserie.

Attention, all chocolate lovers; not only can you choose from a selection of loose-leaf teas but you will also have the option of enjoying your dainty pastries alongside a hot chocolate made with chocolate from Alain Ducasse’s bean-to-bar, Paris-based Manufacture de Chocolat. Adding to the chocolate decadence, the highlight of the pastries has to be the dark chocolate bar which offers a take on the iconic Le Louis XV with a chocolate sponge base, crispy praline and topped with dark chocolate mousse and enrobed in dark chocolate.

We crown this tea as one of the best afternoon treats in town.

For those of you who leave planning to the last minute, you can rest assured this season, because Gail’s Artisan Bakery is there to save the day with a range of delectable holiday treats perfect for any festive gathering or party. Treat your guests to a mouth-watering selection of fresh mince pies (we can vouch for how delicious they are), Christmas cakes packed with dried fruit, sweet and savoury biscuits, decadent chocolate cranberry cookies and bags of savoury nuts and seeds toasted to perfection and sprinkled with spices. Yum! gailsbread.co.uk

Signature Afternoon Tea, £42 per person (£52 including a glass of champagne) The Bulgari Hotel & Residences 171 Knightsbridge, SW71DW bulgarihotels.com

A Moroccan Feast

The Return of Zaika We suggest you toast the return of Zaika to Kensington High Street with one of its refreshing chilli cocktails, giving quite the kick-start to your meal. Our recommended starters on the modern Indian menu are Jhinga Shimla-Mirch – three whopping tiger prawns marinated with puréed red pepper and ground spices – and the grilled paneer with a fig and ginger filling, and lentil and spice-encrusted broccoli. Seafood lovers, look no further than the main course of lobster tail with turmeric, garlic and raw mango; if you’re after a proper curry, perfectly seasoned, try Methi Murgh, chicken simmered with ginger, onion and fresh fenugreek leaves. For a sweet finish, don’t overlook tempting treats such as Matka Kulfi, a hazelnut praline parfait and Rum Baba.

Zaika, 1 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP tamarindcollection.com

A husband and wife team has been serving up authentic Moroccan food for more than three decades in a little boutique hidden just off Westbourne Grove.

Don’t be perturbed by the simple exterior of Moroccan Sahara; it is all part of its rustic charm. Inside portraits of camels and desert scenes adorn the walls and punters eat under candlelight from hanging lanterns. To start, we opted for the mixed platter of meatballs, pastries, chicken skewers and sausage; more commonly known in Morocco as kofta, zaalouk, börek, ourka cigars and merguez. This is enough for two with good appetites but if you are craving some heftier aromatic dishes, opt for the chicken tagine with olives, lemon and fresh parsley sauce or the lamb tagine with figs and pine nuts in saffron sauce, plus a side of couscous. Fresh mint tea is served at the end to cleanse the palate and baklava treats for dessert can kill the appetite of any remarkable person still craving food.

Moroccan Sahara, 39 Hereford Road, W2 4AB Open 12-3pm and 6-11pm

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Photography: Dave Benett Olivia Palermo and Tamara Beckwith

Katie Readman

Florence Brudenell-Bruce with guest

Genevieve Gaunt, Olivia Palermo, Monica Vinader and Kyle De'volle

Amanda Kyme, Monica Vinader and Alice Naylor-Leyland

Amber Le Bon

Guest

Guest

Guests

Mary Charteris

Andy Jordan

Eleanor Tomlinson

Henry Conway

Matthew Williamson and Monica Vinader

Sienna Guillory

london living Photography: Graham Martin

Shine Bright WHAT: Monica Vinader’s London flagship launch party WHEN: 4 December WHERE: 71-72 Duke of York Square WHO: Monica Vinader, Olivia Palermo, Amber Le Bon, Mary Charteris, Matthew Williamson, Rupert Sanderson, Poppy Jamie, Genevieve Gaunt and Henry Conway WHY: Much-loved British jeweller Monica Vinader played host at a glittering evening complete with gems, cocktails and devoted fans of her brand, in celebration of the launch of her new London flagship store in the heart of Chelsea. In keeping with the theme of the event, attendees enjoyed bespoke gemstone elixir cocktails, which were accompanied with moonstone macarons and gold-lead mini jacket potatoes. Style icon Olivia Palermo was seen sporting an assortment of the designer’s jewels on her dainty little fingers as she chatted animatedly with fellow guests Tamara Beckwith and Matthew Williamson.

Meanwhile, DJ Mary Charteris kept the tunes fresh and the party going well into the evening.

Paul Kelly

Guest, Courtney Murray and Gary Lineker

Nikki Lovell, Ronnie Irani, Juliette Raine and Gary Lineker

Juliette Raine

Ronnie Irani

Gary Lineker and Aldo Zilli

Safe Haven WHAT: Sub-Zero & Wolf UK Christmas charity auction for Haven House Children's Hospice WHEN: 4 December WHERE: Sub-Zero & Wolf showroom, Brompton Road, SW3 WHY: Early December saw kitchen design and appliance specialist Sub-Zero & Wolf hosting a charity auction to raise funds for Haven House Children's Hospice, an organisation set up to care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The evening, hosted by Gary Lineker OBE, former cricketer Ronnie Irani and chef Aldo Zilli, proved a big success, raising more than £15,000. Guests were treated to delicious canapés by Paul Kelly and his award-winning KellyBronze turkeys, while Billecart-Salmon champagne, The International Wine Society and Snow Queen Vodka provided the tasty libations. Adding a heartfelt touch, Daniella Sicari and Madeleine Joyce sang beautiful acappella carols live.

Lauren and Karen Leck

Honor Pheysey and Sebastien Dalais

Annabel Hall and Helen Fifield

Matt Green and Bob Murrey

Darcey Bussell with students from Royal Ballet School

Steve Gresham and Galip Turhan

Twinkle, Twinkle WHAT: Turning on of the Christmas lights at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour WHEN: 4 December WHERE: Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour WHY: Darcey Bussell, former ballet dancer and judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, was the guest-of-honour at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, as it switched on its Christmas lights for the first time on 4 December. Bussell was welcomed onto the stage by students from her old school, the Royal Ballet School, before the spectacular glass domes of the capital’s premier design centre were illuminated by a galaxy of glowing stars. Amidst the twinkling lights, guests enjoyed warming cups of hot chocolate, served with doughnuts and marshmallows from a snow wall, while stilt-walkers impressively towered above. With tutus, Christmas carols and decadent treats, it couldn’t have been a more festive event.

Mark Steinberg and Darcey Bussell

Amelia Carter and Tania Azadian

Toby Geal and Scott Maddox

Photography: Marcus Dawes / Tom Alexander

121

Photography: Dave Benett Alice Naylor-Leyland and Arizona Muse

Sal Bennett

Poppy Delevingne Alice Temperley

Marissa Montgomery, Osman Yousefzada and Poppy Delevingne

Scared of the Dark WHAT: 4th edition of The Collective WHEN: 24 November WHERE: Rumpus Room at Mondrian London WHO: Poppy Delevingne, Osman Yousefzada, Alice Temperley, Chloe Delevingne and Zara Martin WHY: Models, celebrities and socialites alike flocked to the Mondrian London for an evening of class, culture and a cocktail (or two) in celebration of the 4th edition of Osman Yousefzada’s new journal, The Collective. The collaboration features writers and creatives, including model Poppy Delevingne who partnered with the fashion designer. Guests sipped on bespoke Beluga vodka cocktails created by mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, matching the theme of the journal; light and dark. With all that socialising, even the models were seen working up an appetite as they gave in to the canapés; smoked salmon blinis, chives and caviar, fresh figs and Parma ham, crab cakes with coriander salsa and leek and Gruyère tarts.

Runway Ready

David Downton and Poppy Delevingne

Poppy Jamie

SUITCASE Magazine's Emily Ames, Kate Hamilton, Maria Alafouzou, Sebastian Bland, Serena Guen, Tona Stell and Alex Moussaieff

WHAT: PA5H launch party WHEN: 27 November WHERE: The Wallace Collection WHO: Amber Le Bon, Helen George, Rosie Fortescue, Chloe Green and Jamie Laing WHY: Celebrating the launch of high-end fashion and beauty brand PA5H, guests gathered at the iconic landmark, The Wallace Collection in Marylebone. The brand, London-based and founded this year, is headed up by the three Pashevkina sisters and aims to create designs for the modern woman who is not afraid to turn heads. Amidst the beautiful works of art, guests sipped on Ciroc vodka cocktails and prosecco, while a mouthwatering selection of canapés circulated, including chicken lollipops, ‘haute’ dogs with truffle mayo and piña colada ice creams. DJ Amber Le Bon spun the decks as gorgeous models debuted the new collection, Hard Strand. Towards the end of the night, many of the guests ended up taking cues from the models as they were seen posing for pictures in the on-site photobooth.

Pack Your Bags

William Green of L'Estrange London and Ariana Stein of Paloma Blue

Philippa Cadogan

Charlie Morris and Nicholas Dellaportas, Taylor Morris Eyewear

Martin Morales

Photography: Issy Croker

WHAT: The Modern Society presents the Winter SUITCASE WHEN: 3 December WHERE: 172 Fulham Road WHY: Following on from the success of its summer pop-up earlier this year, The Modern Society once again teamed up with SUITCASE Magazine and Taylor Morris Eyewear to create a unique shopping experience over the festive period. Proving that Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, the unique three-storey boutique (designed by Kiri Barker of Trend & Fayre and Topshop) came complete with Christmas gifts, a wrapping station, a gallery area and even a secret winter grotto serving bespoke cocktails made from Martin Miller’s gin (for those who were in need of a pick-me-up after all that shopping). In order to fully appreciate what the store had to offer, Chelsea-ites on the night of the launch party spent some time sampling the delicious cocktails and trying on Taylor Morris' new range of sunglasses.

london living Photography: James Mason

Roxie Nafousi and Alice Naylor-Leyland

Marina Pengilly, Will Wells and Chloe Fleming Yulia Pashevkina, Amber le Bon, Dasha Pashevkina and Elena Pashevkina

Sabrina Percy and Lexi Abrams

Tor Dashwood, Rob Sandcroft-Baker and guest

Petra Palumbo

Amber Le Bon and Roxie Nafousi

Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle Helen George

Hofit Hola

Blaise Patrick and Will Wells

Elena and Dasha Pashevkina, co-founders of PA5H Chloe Green and Rosie Fortescue

David Tollemache, Tarka Russell, Sabrina Percy and Phineas Page

Andrea Hegard and Daniel Belevitch

Yulia Pashevkina, co-founder of PA5H

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The Concierge What is it you require, sir? How may I help, madam? The Concierge is here to help with every need, whim or wish, however great or small Apparel

Katharine Pooley

Hydrohealing Spa

Bibendum

Repairs & Cleaning

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

216a Kensington Park Rd, W11 1NR 020 7727 2570 hydrohealing.com

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

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

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

Precious Pieces Jewellery Valuation & repair

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

Hawkes and Son 50-52 Walton Street, SW3 1RB 020 7589 2523 hawkesandson.com Watch Repair

Ligne Roset

Strip Wax Bar

Le Café Anglais

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

112 Talbot Road, W11 1JR 020 7727 2754 stripwaxbar.com

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

OKA

Urban Retreat at Harrods

Chelsea Brasserie

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

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

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

Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture

Medical & Dental Services

The Cow

202 Kensington Park Road W11 1NR, 020 7792 9022 rachelashwellshabbychiccouture.com

Cadogan Street Dental Office

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

Sub-Zero & Wolf

Chelsea Consulting Rooms

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

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

Pampering & Wellbeing

Medicare Français

Electric House

Hairdressers

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

The Watch Gallery 129 Fulham Road, SW3 6RT 020 7952 2731 thewatchgallery.co.uk Vintage Watch Sellers

For the Home

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

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

Hari’s

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

The Ledbury Restaurant Smile Style Dental Care

305 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7581 5211 harissalon.com

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

Light Hair Studio

42 The Dental Practice

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

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

127 Ledbury Road, W11 2AQ 020 7792 9090 theledbury.com

The Lonsdale

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

47 Cadogan Street, SW3 2QJ 020 7581 0811

The Mitre The Portobello Clinic

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

FurniturE, SOFT furnishings

12 Raddington Road, W10 5TG 020 8962 0635 portobelloclinic.com

Haute Cuisine Dining

& APPLICANCES

Beauty Salons & Spas

Hutch Interiors

The Chelsea Day Spa

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

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

48 Lonsdale Road, W11 2DE 020 7727 4080 thelonsdale.co.uk

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

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

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

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

CONCIERGE

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

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

Members Clubs

cleaners

dog training

Chelsea Arts Club

Hillside Clothes Care

M.A. Dog Training and Services

143 Old Church Street, SW3 6EB 020 7376 3311 chelseaartsclub.com

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

07547 716076 madogtraining@gmail.com madogtrainingandservices.co.uk

The Sloane Club Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8BS 020 7730 9131 sloaneclub.co.uk

moving services

Infusion Haberdashery and Dry Cleaners

La Bottega

Business Affairs

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

computer & technology help

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

Richard Darsa

Housekeeping

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

St. Anne’s Housekeeping

Delicatessens

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

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

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

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

PICTURE FRAMER

Couriers

Runners 4 U Couriers

Pets

111 Old Brompton Road SW7 3LE 020 7589 7635 sk@framesetandmatch.com

Canine Culture

psychotherapist

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

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

Avolus Luxury Transport

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

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

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

Little Luxuries

lifestyle services

Nikki Tibbles Wild at Heart

london lifestyle service

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

White Circle Collection

Boujis

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

Flowers

specialist services BUILDER

Childcare

William Gaze Ltd The Cadogan Arms 298 King’s Road, SW3 5UG 020 7352 6500 thecadoganarmschelsea.com

Frame Set & Match

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

Drinking

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

Abels Moving Services UK Residential, European and International Removals & Storage 020 3773 5796 info@abels.co.uk abels.co.uk

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

Basement, Loft & Extension Specialist 28 Imperial Square 020 7078 8874 williamgazeltd.com

Suzanne Thomas 07770 378791 suzannethomas @suzannethomas.co.uk suzannethomas.co.uk SHORT-LET RENTAL MANAGEMENT

Easy Rental Services aurelie@easy-rental-services.com +44 7817 722073 easy-rental-services.com EMOTIONAL WELLBEING THROUGH WRITINg

Ease your emotional baggage through writing. Sit with a writer and, using a specially developed format, write out your traumatic event or problem to release it. To book 60 or 90 minute appointments email info@lilybass.com or call 07733 112333 lilybass.com

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Suppliers of quality bespoke doors and ironmongery to some of the UK’s finest homes.

Showrooms: Esher, Surrey & Chelsea Harbour 01932 851 081 or 0207 376 7000 info@solidwoodendoors.com www.solidwoodendoors.com

HOMES showcasing the

finest HOMES & PROPERTY from the best estate agents

Tax Reforms The Autumn Statement explained

Image courtesy of Winkworth

Featured Estate Agents KNIGHTSBRIDGE 168 Brompton Road SW3 1HW 020 7584 2044

hlrlets.com

NOTTING HILL 301 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7717 5311

CHELSEA 117 Sydney Street SW3 6NR 020 7351 7822

HOLLAND PARK 128 Holland Park Avenue W11 4UE 020 3282 1550

douglasandgordon.com century21uk.com NOTTING HILL 10 Clarendon Road W11 3AA 020 7229 1414

CHELSEA 45 Sloane Avenue SW3 3DH 020 7225 1225 KENSINGTON 172 Kensington Church Street W8 4BN 020 7792 1881

crayson.com NOTTING HILL 10 Lambton Place W11 2SH 020 7221 1117

KENSINGTON GATE 22 Gloucester Road SW7 4RB 020 7581 1152 NOTTING HILL 299 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7727 7777

dominiclondon.com KENSINGTON 38 Gloucester Road SW7 4QT 020 7581 0154

SOUTH KENSINGTON 25-27 Harrington Road SW7 3EU 020 7581 8888

knightfrank.co.uk PADDINGTON 4c Praed Street, W2 1JX 020 7717 5313 PIMLICO & WESTMINSTER 50 Belgrave Road SW1V 1RQ 020 7717 5315 SLOANE SQUARE 7 Lower Sloane Street SW1W 8AH 020 7717 5317

BELGRAVIA 82-83 Chester Square SW1W 9JH 020 7881 7722 john-taylor.com MAYFAIR 48 Berkeley Square W1J 5AX 020 3284 1888

FULHAM 203 New King’s Road SW6 4SR 020 7751 2400

harrodsestates.com

joneslanglasalle.co.uk

CHELSEA 58 Fulham Road SW3 6HH 020 7225 6700

KENSINGTON 375 Kensington High St W14 8QH 020 7087 5696

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 82 Brompton Road SW3 1ER 020 7225 6506

WEST END 30 Warwick Street W1B 5NH 020 7201 6699

hamptons.co.uk

domusnova.com BAYSWATER 78 Westbourne Grove W2 5RT 020 7221 7817 NOTTING HILL 17 Kensington Park Road W11 2EU 020 7727 1717 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 37 Alexander Street W2 5NU 020 7908 9338

CHELSEA 134 Fulham Road SW10 9PY 020 7717 5291

CHELSEA 352a King’s Road SW3 5UU 020 7349 4300

Hyde Park 1 Craven Terrace W2 3QD 020 7871 5060 KENSINGTON 54-56 Kensington Church Street W8 4DB 020 7938 4311 KNIGHTSBRIDGE 60 Sloane Avenue SW3 3DD 020 7591 8600

HAMPTONS COUNTRY HOUSE

8 Chertsey Street, Surrey GU1 4HD 01483 339740

henryandjames.co.uk

KENSINGTON 8 Hornton Street W8 4NW 020 7937 9371

BELGRAVIA 1 Motcomb Street SW1X 8JX 020 7235 8861 CHELSEA 2 Cale Street SW3 3QU 020 7581 5011

kfh.co.uk

NOTTING HILL 298 Westbourne Grove W11 2PS 020 7229 0229

BAYSWATER 23 Leinster Terrace W2 3ET 020 3280 3504

SOUTH KENSINGTON 157 Gloucester Road SW7 4TH 020 7871 4111

FULHAM 29 Effie Road SW6 1EN 020 3280 3528

sothebysrealty.co.uk CHELSEA 62-64 Fulham Road SW3 6HH 020 7808 8540 MAYFAIR 26a Conduit Street W1S 2XY 020 7495 9580

Notting Hill 2-6 Kensington Park Road W11 3BU 020 7313 2890 South Kensington 29 Harrington Road SW7 3HD 020 7590 0800

pattersonbowe.co.uk

malverns.co.uk

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 49 Beauchamp Place SW3 1NY 020 7581 3253

KENSINGTON Malvern Court Onslow Square SW7 3HU 020 7589 8122

KENSINGTON 145 Kensington Church Street W8 7LP 020 7535 3300 KNIGHTSBRIDGE 188 Brompton Road SW3 1HQ 020 7581 5234

waellis.co.uk KNIGHTSBRIDGE 174 Brompton Road SW3 1HP 020 7306 1610

Notting Hill 168 Westbourne Grove W11 2RW 020 7727 5750

wilfords.com

SLOANE STREET 139 Sloane Street SW1X 9AY 020 7730 0822

KENSINGTON 6 Holland Street W8 4LT 020 7361 0400

winkworth.co.uk rokstone.com

marshandparsons.co.uk

Marylebone 5 Dorset Street W1U 6QJ 020 7580 2030

Chelsea Rawlings House 2a Milner Street, SW3 2PU 020 7591 5570 Earls Court 246 Old Brompton Road SW5 ODE 020 7835 0620 Holland Park 57 Norland Square W11 4QJ 020 7605 6890

www.russellsimpson.co.uk Chelsea 5 Anderson Street SW3 3LU 020 7225 0277

CHELSEA 43 Cadogan Street SW3 2PR 020 7225 3866 WEST CHELSEA 140 Fulham Road SW10 9PY 020 7373 1010 KENSINGTON 103 Kensington Church Street W8 7LN 020 7938 3666

Knightsbridge & Chelsea 289 Brompton Road SW3 2DY 020 7589 6616 Notting Hill 178 Westbourne Grove W11 2RH 020 7727 3227 South Kensington 123a Gloucester Road SW7 4TE 020 7373 5052

KNIGHTSBRIDGE 66 Sloane Street SW1X 9SH 020 7235 9959

Kensington 9 Kensington Church Street W8 4LF 020 7368 4450 savills.co.uk North Kensington 136 Lancaster Road W11 1QU 020 7313 8350

struttandparker.com

Kensington 118 Kensington Church Street, W8 4BH 020 7727 1500

CHELSEA 196-200 Fulham Road SW10 9PN 020 7578 9000

NOTTING HILL 303 Westbourne Grove W11 2QA 020 7221 1111

129

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Palace Court, W2 A impressive first floor large one bedroom apartment on the best floor of a Victorian building located in one of the most prestigious streets moments from Hyde Park.

With fantastic ceiling heights, generous proportions and a quality finish this is a truly luxurious property. EPC: D

£1,675,000 Leasehold • • • • •

Hamptons Notting Hill Office Sales. 020 7717 5311 | Lettings. 020 7717 5341

Large reception room Separate kitchen Spacious bedroom Two bathrooms Storage

Sydney Street, SW3 A light and bright well proportioned four bedroom attractive period townhouse, located just south of the Fulham Road. Arranged over five floors, this property also benefits from a large elevated first floor private terrace and a private double garage. EPC: D

£4,695,000 Freehold • • • • • •

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

Four double bedroom house Three bathrooms Three reception rooms Terrace Private double garage 2,769 sq ft

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Thornwood Gardens, W8 A three bedroom first floor apartment with superb lateral living accommodation and underground parking in this landmark development with 24 hour concierge and security service. Thornwood Gardens comprises of eight houses and thirty five apartments, exclusively situated around a beautifully landscaped garden square. EPC: B

£6,500,000 Leasehold • • • • • •

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

Three bedrooms Balcony Private parking Porter Lift Approx. 2,120 sq ft

Princes Gate, SW7 A superb two bedroom second floor apartment (with a lift) in this historic Grade II listed building. The property offers very attractive period detailing and generous ceiling heights throughout, as well as attractive views over Princes Gardens. EPC: C

£1,675,000 Share of Freehold • • • • • •

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

Reception room Kitchen Two bedrooms Bathroom Stunning period features Attractive views

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

West Eaton Place, SW1X A beautifully refurbished three bedroom apartment situated on the third and fourth floors of a handsome stucco fronted period building in the heart of Belgravia. The flat benefits from a long lease, generous reception space and plenty of light throughout. EPC: E

£2,795,000 Leasehold Expiring 15/12/2115 • • • • • •

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

Three bedroom Two bathroom Third and fourth floor Long lease 1,428 sq ft Moments from sloane square

Stadium Street, SW10 This beautifully refurbished 5 bedroom family home in SW10 is offering over 2650 sq ft of space. Arranged over 5 floors, this family home is finished to a high standard, and boasts a patio garden, as well as a home office/study. The house offers flexible accommodation that would ideally suit a family looking for a home in Chelsea. EPC: D

£2,200 per week • • • • •

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

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

•

(charges apply)*

Family house Five bedrooms Four bathrooms Three reception rooms Patio garden and small terrace Study

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Kensington Church Walk, W8 A stunning recently refurbished four bedroom house situated on this pretty street, moments from Kensington High Street. The house is set over 2,000 sq ft and benefits from a modern eat-in kitchen, large double reception room with terrace, neutral decor and off street parking. EPC: D

£1,850 per week Unfurnished • • • • •

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

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

•

(charges apply)*

Recently refurbished Four bedrooms Three bathrooms Utility room Terrace Off street parking

Gaspar Mews, SW5 Situated in this quaint cobbled mews, this neutrally decorated property boasts a wealth of natural light and offers superb entertaining space. EPC: E

£695 per week Unfurnished • • • • •

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

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

•

(charges apply)*

Two bedrooms Two bathrooms Gas central heating Large roof terrace Private garage High ceilings

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Culford Gardens, SW3 A second floor two bedroom apartment with a double reception room and beautifully equipped eat-in kitchen/ breakfast room and 2 bathrooms (both en suite). Culford Gardens is conveniently located to the west of Sloane Square and to the north of the King’s Road, with it’s excellent range of shops, restaurants and transport facilities. EPC: E *Tenant Charges Tenants should note that as well as rent, an administration charge of £216 (Inc. VAT) per property and a referencing charge of £54 (Inc. VAT) per person will apply when renting a property. Please ask us for more information about other fees that may apply or visit www.hamptons.co.uk/rent/tenant-charges

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

£1,350 per week (charges apply)* Furnished/Unfurnished • • • •

Double reception room Parquet flooring Balcony En suite bathrooms

PROPERTY

Hot Property: Stanford Road A stunning semi-detached house complete with garage

Situated within the Velotton Estate is a wonderfully presented four-bedroom house with a pretty west-facing garden and terrace, with the added benefit of a garage. The house is arranged over four floors with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and four reception rooms.

The spacious drawing room, sitting room and study, perfect for entertaining, are all on the raised ground floor. On the lower ground floor are the kitchen and dining room together with a utility room, guest cloakroom and plant room. The first floor has two lovely double bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, and on the second floor are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. To the side of the house is a side-passage which provides easy access to the leafy patio.

Stanford Road, Kensington, W8 ÂŁ4,750,000

Stanford Road is located south of Kensington High Street, adjacent to Victoria Road, within the De Vere Conservation Area. It is a highly-regarded residential location in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, particularly by families, due to the close proximity to schools and parks.

020 7938 4311 knightfrank.co.uk

139

KnightFrank.co.uk

Chepstow Place, Notting Hill W2

Fantastic three bedroom house

An opportunity to acquire a charming Victorian period house arranged over four floors and benefitting from flexible accommodation, stunning original period features and impressive volumes. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, reception room, kitchen, dining room, garden. Approximately 193 sq m ﴾2,085 sq ft﴿ Freehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 7229 0229

Guide price: £3,350,000 ﴾NGH140253﴿

K&C Jan - 15 Chepstow Place

03/12/2014 17:02:34

k&

34

KnightFrank.co.uk

Colville Terrace, Notting Hill W11

Stunning two bedroom apartment

A beautifully presented duplex apartment located on the top two floors of this white stucco fronted period building, benefitting from good room proportions and an abundance of natural light. 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen/reception room/dining room, balcony, terrace. Approximately 83 sq m ﴾893 sq ft﴿ Leasehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 7229 0229

Guide price: £1,475,000 ﴾NGH140207﴿

k&c -jan - 3,33 colville terrace

03/12/2014 17:11:30

KnightFrank.co.uk

Lansdowne Road, Notting Hill, W11 Beautifully presented four bedroom house

Arranged over five floors, this stunning family house offers wonderful open plan accommodation and excellent entertaining space with direct access to the communal gardens behind. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 offices, utility room, wine cellar, terrace, garden. Approximately 305 sq m ﴾3,279 sq ft﴿

Freehold

KnightFrank.co.uk/nottinghill nottinghill@knightfrank.com 020 7229 0229

Guide price: £8,995,000 ﴾NGH130158﴿

69 Lansdowne Road

02/12/2014 17:09:49

3201

49

CHEYNE TERRACE CHELSEA SW3

Knight Frank is currently marketing a number of 3-4 bedroom apartments, with parking, within this recently completed super prime development.

Cheyne Terrace provides residents with a high level of security and front of house service 24 hours a day plus the use of a gymnasium, swimming pool and spa.

GUIDE PRICES: ÂŁ7,350,000 - ÂŁ15,950,000

320156 KF_KCmag_Jan15.indd 1

04/12/2014 16:42

KnightFrank.co.uk

York House, Kensington W8

Exclusive apartment in gated development with parking York House is one of the most sought after residences in Kensington. This four bedroom apartment has 24 hour porterage,and secure underground parking. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, double reception room, reception room, kitchen, study, parking.

EPC rating C. Approximately 285 sq m ﴾3,074 sq ft﴿

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

Share of Freehold Guide price: £7,950,000 ﴾KEN140258﴿

6 81 Holland Park - K and C november - 08 October 2014 - 52622

04/12/2014 12:19:21

3201

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MASTERMIND THE SALE OF YOUR HOME WITH LAURENCE LAI SPECIALIST SUBJECT: SOUTH KENSINGTON and Earls court Laurence has worked in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for over 22 years and is highly regarded as an exceptionally talented property professional who has acted with integrity and professionalism throughout his career.

Laurence is able to draw on his vast experience having been an Estate Agent for over 24 years when advising clients on the best way to sell their property be it a home or asset. As a resident in Earls Court SW5 where he also ran the most successful office in the area for 17 years, his local knowledge is extensive. This familiarity of the area also spans into neighbouring South Kensington SW7 where he played an integral part in the opening of one of the largest estate agency offices in the area. Laurence has successfully acted for clients in other prime market areas of Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea including Chelsea and Notting Hill, his track record speaks for itself.

Often quoted in local and national press, Laurence has also written a number of articles for various property and lifestyle magazines and he has an excellent reputation within the industry.

Having been a Director at his previous firm for over 22 years, Laurence joined Knight Frank as the head of the South Kensington office and is also a partner of the firm.

Laurence Lai Partner and Office Head E laurence.lai@knightfrank.com T 020 7871 4110 157 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4TH

Laurence Lai is Head of the South Kensington office. He has been working in Estate Agency for 24 years, with 22 years’ experience solely in the Earls Court and South Kensington markets.

Any questions? Just ask this property expert on his specialist subject.

231

In the past six months our website was visited by people from 231 countries

98%

On average we have achieved 98% of the guide price on sales in the past 6 months

£3.3m The average local buyer spends £3.3m

Testimonials “Thank you and in particular Laurence, for your relentless help and assistance in making the transaction go through smoothly.”

Prof W., Vendor “Our previous experience with other estate agents left us feeling a little hopeless, so thank you for your enthusiasm and guidance in helping us make our next move, we were sad to leave, but we love our new home!”

Mr and Mrs M., Vendor “Dear Laurence, you did exactly what you said you would do! Thank you for selling my property!”

Mr C., Vendor “I know you have told me otherwise, but I’m sure I must have been your most demanding client to date! A big thank you for selling my apartment and for putting up with me.”

Mrs H., Vendor “Professional, courteous, knowledgeable and always polite, I wish all Estate Agents were like you Laurence.”

Dr S., Vendor

Please call Laurence today to ensure you are dealing with the most experienced person in your local market.

KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington 320139 KF_KC_Jan15.indd 1

09/12/2014 10:46

KnightFrank.co.uk

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

S

Beaufort Street, Chelsea SW3

Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea SW10

Limerston Street, Chelsea SW10

Q

SOLD

S

Paultons Square, Chelsea SW3

G

SOLD

S

The Vale, Chelsea SW3

E

I admire Knight Frank as a whole organisation for their professionalism, dedication and service

SOLD Redcliffe Square, Chelsea SW10

Mrs K. D., Vendor

To find out how we can help you, please contact us.

020 7349 4300 352a King’s Road, London SW3 5UU chelsea@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/chelsea

SOLD Oakley Street, Chelsea SW3

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

S

Harley Gardens, Chelsea SW10

Carlyle Square, Chelsea SW3

Gilston Road, Chelsea SW10

B

James Pace Office Head

John Waters Partner

Lucy Holroyd Associate

Nick Gaunt Associate

Harriet Taylor Negotiator

Amy Rogers Negotiator

s

KnightFrank.co.uk

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Queen’s Gate, South Kensington SW7

Queen’s Gate Terrace, South Kensington SW7

Gloucester Road, South Kensington SW7

SOLD Gledhow Gardens, Earls Court SW5

You surprised me by going beyond the call of duty a number of times - it’s certainly a better experience buying through Knight Frank

SOLD Cranley Gardens, South Kensington SW7

Mrs M. O., Vendor To find out how we can help you, please contact us.

SOLD

020 7871 4111 157 Gloucester Road, London SW7 4TH southkensington@knightfrank.com KnightFrank.co.uk/southkensington

Earl’s Court Square, Earls Court SW5

SOLD Onslow Gardens, South Kensington SW7

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Bolton Gardens, Earls Court SW5

Queen’s Gate Mews, South Kensington SW7

Hereford Square, South Kensington SW7

Laurence Lai Office Head Partner

Daniel Carrington Negotiator

Olivia Leigh Negotiator

KnightFrank.co.uk

Cadogan Square, Knightsbridge SW1X

Superb penthouse apartment

A beautifully presented triplex in this prestigious Garden Square. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 dressing rooms, reception room, kitchen, dining room leading to large terrace, laundry room, private roof terrace, lift and access to communal gardens. EPC rating E. Approximately 264 sq m ﴾2,839 sq ft﴿ Available furnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings knightsbridge@knightfrank.com 020 7591 8601

Guide price: £4,750 per week ﴾KNQ134333﴿

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

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

K&C mag January 2015 4, 44 Cadogan Square

02/12/2014 17:18:16

K&

16

KnightFrank.co.uk

Upper Addison Gardens, Holland Park W14

A beautifully refurbished five bedroom house

This spacious family home offers generous living accommodation. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, double reception room, eat‐in kitchen, dining room, conservatory, cloak room, roof terrace, patio garden and access to communal gardens. EPC rating E. Approximately 417 sq m ﴾4,481 sq ft﴿

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings kensingtonlettings@knightfrank.com 020 7937 8203

Available unfurnished Guide price: £3,800 per week

﴾KEQ103848﴿

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

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

K&C December

08/12/2014 10:15:52

KnightFrank.co.uk

Paultons Square, Chelsea SW3 Exceptional family house with garden

This four bedroom house has been architecturally renovated throughout while retaining most of its original features. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms, study, dining room, media room, spa, wine cellar, gym, 2 cloakrooms. Approximately 352 sq m ﴾3,792 sq ft﴿ Available unfurnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings chelsealettings@knightfrank.com 020 3641 6022

Guide price: £5,500 per week ﴾CHQ155698﴿

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

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

Paultons Square 5 K&C Mag Jan Issue

08/12/2014 10:18:43

Fa PaP

43

KnightFrank.co.uk KnightFrank.co.uk

Paultons PaultonsSquare, Square,Chelsea ChelseaSW3 SW3 Exceptional Exceptionalfamily familyhouse housewith withgarden garden

This This four four bedroom bedroom house house has has been been architecturally architecturally renovated renovated throughout throughout while while retaining retaining most most of of itsits original original features. 4 features. 4 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception reception rooms, rooms, study, study, dining dining room, media room, media room, room, spa, spa, wine wine cellar, cellar, gym, gym, 2 cloakrooms.

2 cloakrooms.

Approximately Approximately 352 352 sqsq mm ﴾3,792 ﴾3,792 sqsq ft﴿ft﴿ Available unfurnished Available unfurnished

KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings KnightFrank.co.uk/lettings chelsealettings@knightfrank.com chelsealettings@knightfrank.com 020 020 3641 3641 6022 6022

Guide Guide price: price: £5,500 £5,500 perper week week ﴾CHQ155698﴿ ﴾CHQ155698﴿

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

Please Please askask us for us for more more information information about about other other feesfees thatthat maymay apply apply or visit or visit KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges KnightFrank.co.uk/tenantcharges

Falcon Paultons Paultons House Square Square 7 updated 5 K&C 5 K&C Mag Mag Jan Jan Issue Issue

08/12/2014 08/12/2014 11:15:21 10:18:43 10:18:43

savills.co.uk

1 STUNNING PENTHOUSE APARTMENT WITH UNDERGROUND PARKING ledbury road, w11 Open plan reception room/kitchen ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further bedroom ø bathroom ø cloakroom ø lift ø balcony ø 2 underground parking spaces ø 142 sq m (1,532 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Domus Nova

Savills Notting Hill

Ben Podesta benpodesta@domusnova.com

Ben Davies bdavies@savills.com

020 7727 1717

020 7727 5750

Guide £3.95 million Leasehold, approximately 114 years remaining

savills.co.uk

1 IMPRESSIVE LOW BUILT HOUSE WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO COMMUNAL GARDEN ladbroke grove, w11 Double reception room ø dining room/further reception room ø kitchen ø master bedroom with reception room, en suite bathroom and dressing room ø 5 further bedrooms (1 en suite) ø 2 further bathrooms ø guest cloakroom ø 3 storage vaults ø garden ø direct access to communal garden ø off-street parking ø 415 sq m (4,472 sq ft) ø EPC=E Price on application Freehold

Savills Notting Hill Oliver Lurot olurot@savills.com

020 7727 5750

savills.co.uk

1 AN EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY HOME REFURBISHED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD eagle place, sw7 Open plan reception room/dining room/kitchen ø media room ø master bedroom suite ø 2 further double bedrooms ø cloakroom ø external storage ø garden ø garage ø residents parking ø 181 sq m (1,944 sq ft) ø EPC=C Guide £4.25 million Freehold

Savills Chelsea Nicola Ridley nridley@savills.com

020 7578 9000

savills.co.uk

1 STUNNING FAMILY HOME IN A POPULAR CHELSEA LOCATION beaufort street, sw3 Drawing room with terrace ø media area ø office ø kitchen/breakfast room ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing area ø 4 further bedroom suites ø utility room ø garden ø 3 external storage vaults ø 271 sq m (2,912 sq ft) ø EPC=C Guide £5.8 million Freehold

Savills Chelsea Charlie Bubear cbubear@savills.com

020 7578 9000

1 2

savills.co.uk

GLOUCESTER TERRACE, w2

REDCLIFFE SQUARE, sw10

Reception room ø kitchen ø bedroom ø shower room ø 70 sq m (753 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Reception room ø dining room/kitchen ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further double bedroom ø shower room ø 91 sq m (975 sq ft) ø EPC=E

Guide £995,000 Leasehold

Guide £1.595 million Leasehold

Savills Notting Hill afrankish@savills.com 020 7727 5750

Savills Chelsea apwright@savills.com 020 7578 9000

REDCLIFFE SQUARE, sw10

EARLS COURT, sw5

Reception room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø master bedroom with en suite bathroom ø further bedroom ø shower room ø cloakroom ø storage ø 97 sq m (1,049 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bedroom suites ø further bedroom ø cloakroom ø 132 sq m (1,419 sq ft) ø EPC=F

Guide £1.795 million Share of Freehold

Guide £2.175 million Leasehold

Savills Chelsea plister@savills.com 020 7578 9000

Savills Chelsea bharvey@savills.com 020 7578 9000

3 4

1 2

savills.co.uk

ABINGDON ROAD, w8

KENSINGTON COURT, w8

Double reception room ø open plan kitchen/dining room/family room ø 2/3 bedrooms ø 3 bath/shower rooms ø cloakroom ø newly refurbished ø landscaped front garden ø rear patio garden ø 126 sq m (1,358 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Reception room with dining area ø kitchen ø 2 double bedrooms ø bathroom ø cloakroom ø caretaker ø basement storage cupboard ø 84 sq m (904 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £2.85 million Freehold

Asking £1.75 million Leasehold

Savills Kensington sbirch@savills.com 020 7535 3300

Savills Kensington sholmes@savills.com 020 7535 3300

WESTBOURNE PARK ROAD, w11

DENBIGH CLOSE, w11

Open plan reception room/kitchen ø 3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø further bathroom ø roof terrace ø off-street parking ø 109 sq m (1,174 sq ft) ø EPC=D

Open plan reception room/kitchen ø 2 bedrooms ø bathroom ø utility room ø mews parking ø 85 sq m (916 sq ft) ø EPC=C

Guide £1.75 million Leasehold

Guide £1.75 million Freehold

Savills Notting Hill afrankish@savills.com 020 7727 5750

Savills Notting Hill bdavies@savills.com 020 7727 5750

3 4

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

CAMPDEN STREET, w8

ENNISMORE GARDENS, sw7

3 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø bathroom ø terrace ø 136 sq m (1,470 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=E

Double bedroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø shower room ø guest cloakroom ø communal garden access ø 98 sq m (1,062 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=D

Unfurnished £1,550 per week

Flexible furnishings £795 per week

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

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

CAMPDEN STREET, w8

CHEVAL PLACE, sw7

2 bedrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø integrated kitchen ø 2 bathrooms ø roof terrace ø 136 sq m (1,470 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Double bedroom ø reception room ø open plan kitchen ø bathroom ø 66 sq m (713 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=D

Flexible furnishings £2,500 per week

Furnished £750 per week

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

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

3 4

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

L L O

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

HATHERLEY GROVE, w2

CORNWALL GARDENS, sw7

2 bedrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø bathroom ø wooden flooring ø 50 sq m (535 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=D

3 bedrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø 3 bathrooms ø terrace with Kensington views ø balcony ø 164 sq m (1,769 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Furnished £595 per week

Unfurnished £1,995 per week

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

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

LANCASTER GATE, w2

ONSLOW GARDENS, sw7

2 bedrooms ø 2 reception rooms ø kitchen ø 2 bathrooms ø 24 hour concierge ø residents swimming pool and gym ø 128 sq m (1,377 sq ft) ø Council Tax=G ø EPC=E

2 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø reception room ø kitchen ø further bathroom ø 2nd floor ø 134 sq m (1,450 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Furnished £1,700 per week

Unfurnished £1,395 per week

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

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

3 4

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

1 2

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

ELGIN CRESCENT, w11

LEDBURY ROAD, w11

Bedroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø bathroom ø access to communal gardens ø 41 sq m (436 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=F

Bedroom ø reception room ø kitchen ø bathroom with underfloor heating ø newly refurbished ø 41 sq m (441 sq ft) ø Council Tax=E ø EPC=D

Furnished £465 per week

Furnished £525 per week

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

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

NEWTON ROAD, w2

NORTHUMBERLAND PLACE, w2

3 bedrooms ø reception room ø kitchen ø 2 bathrooms ø utility room ø garden ø private parking ø 208 sq m (2,236 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=F

4 bedrooms ø reception room ø kitchen/breakfast room ø 2 bathrooms ø garden ø 159 sq m (1711 sq ft) ø Council Tax=H ø EPC=D

Unfurnished £2,500 per week

Unfurnished £2,250 per week

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

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

3 4

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

savills.co.uk

LETTINGS LAYOUT ONLY

1

NEWLY REFURBISHED CHELSEA HOUSE cathcart road, sw10 Master bedroom suite ø 5 bedrooms (1 en suite) ø drawing room ø dining room ø open plan kitchen ø bathroom ø garden ø 254 sq m (2,734 sq ft) ø Council Tax=D ø EPC=D

Savills Chelsea Oliver Mellotte omellotte@savills.com

020 7578 9020 Unfurnished £2,950 per week + £276 inc VAT one-off admin fee and other charges may apply* *£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/occupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check out fee – charged at the end of or early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished/unfurnished. For more details, visit www.savills.co.uk/fees.

SUTHERLAND PLACE, W2 ÂŁ5,000,000 FREEHOLD A simply breath-taking house, beautifully designed to blend light contemporary style with all the period charm this classic Grade II listed house has to offer.

Rare for a listed building, planning permission is also in place allowing for internal adjustments, if considered necessary, and to extend to front and back below.

However as is, this fine house is already one of the most special in this sought after spot.

Five Bedrooms | Reception Room | Open-Plan Kitchen/Family Room | Utility Room | Study | Four Bathrooms | Garden | Balconies | 2,400 Approx Sq ft | EPC rating E/F JSA Domus Nova: 020 7727 1717

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Chepstow Road, W2

ÂŁ1,600,000 Share of Freehold

An impeccably redesigned first and second floor maisonette featuring elegant proportions and presented in a very contemporary style, in this convenient and central Notting Hill spot.

Two Bedrooms | One Reception Room | Two Bathrooms | Two Double Bedrooms | Maisonette | First Floor | Upper Floor | 950 Approx Sq Ft

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/notting-hill 020 7727 3227 nottinghill@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

ONSLOW SQUARE, SW7

o.i.r.o. ÂŁ3,500,000, STC LEASEHOLD

Located in one of South Kensington’s premium squares, this stunning first floor apartment features wonderful aspects to the front and rear over landscaped communal gardens. Entered via an extremely smart communal area, the property has a lift and two additional store rooms on the lower floor. Internally, the flat has been comprehensively refurbished by the existing Vendors, including solid oak flooring throughout, additional glazing and a high quality kitchen and bathroom. The reception room retains numerous period features, with palladium columns and French doors granting access to the portico balcony.

Smart Communal Entrance | First Floor (Lift) | Caretaker | Entrance Hall | Reception Room with Dining area | Kitchen with Breakfast Bar | Double Bedroom | WC | Bathroom | Two Storage Rooms | 1,303 Approx Sq Ft | Portico Balcony | Communal Gardens access | Qualification for RBKC Parking Permits | EPC Rating D

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

CRESCENT PLACE, SW3 ÂŁ4,950,000, STC FREEHOLD A beautifully presented double fronted three bedroom house tucked away in a quiet cul de sac in this exclusive part of Knightsbridge. The property is laid over only three floors and has a pretty rear garden. This immaculately refurbished property benefits from Sonos sound system, Lutron lighting, underfloor heating, alarm system and safe. Ideally located close to the shops and restaurants of both Knightsbridge and South Kensington; just round the corner from popular Brompton Cross and within easy walking distance of both South Kensington and Knightsbridge underground stations.

Private Front Garden | Entrance Hall | Two Reception Rooms | Dining Room | Kitchen with Breakfast Bar | Two Bedroom Suites | Double Bedroom | Family Bathroom | WC | Wine Cellar | Utility Room | Storage | 1,888 Approx Sq Ft | Rear Patio Garden | Qualification for RBKC Parking Permits | EPC Rating E | JSA Knight Frank LLP

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/knightsbridge-chelsea 020 7589 6616 knightsbridge@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Queen’s Gate Place, SW7 £2,695,000 Leasehold A large and well proportioned, split level three bedroom apartment on the ground and first floor of a converted period house. This fabulous property extends to approximately 1,720sq/ft(159 sq/m) benefits from a large, 413 sq/ft southerly facing drawing room with a separate, raised dining area and excellent ceiling height. Further accommodation includes a fully fitted kitchen, master bedroom suite, second bedroom suite, third bedroom/study, utility room and guest wc. The flat can have access to the gardens of Queen’s Gate Gardens (STUCC) and is offered for sale in good condition.

Entrance Hall | Southerly Facing Reception Room | Kitchen | Separate Dining Area | Three Bedrooms | Two Bathrooms/Shower Room | Utility Room | Guest WC | Access to Communal Gardens (STUCC)

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7373 5052 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Stanhope Mews West, SW7 ÂŁ1,250 per week An immaculately presented mews house which has been the subject of a recent meticulous refurbishment programme. The property comprises two double bedrooms, both with en-suite bathrooms, a large open-plan living room/kitchen, a guest WC and a good sized garage with ample space for parking or storage.

Stanhope Mews is a quiet, discreet mews located close to the shops, amenities and transport links of Gloucester Road as well as the open spaces of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The property is available now on a furnished basis.

Two Bedrooms | Reception Room | Two Bathrooms | House | Furnished

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/south-kensington 020 7373 7370 5052 6767 southkensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Campden Hill Gardens, W8 ÂŁ1,295,000 Share of Freehold A charming and bright two bedroom maisonette (763 sq ft/ 70 sq m) situated on the second and third floors of a double fronted Victorian terraced house. The property is presented in very good decorative order and has long views over the roof tops of Kensington and beyond.

Second Floor Entrance | Reception Room | Kitchen | Two Double Bedrooms | Bathroom | Cloakroom | EPC Rating D

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

Argyll Court, Lexham Gardens, W8 ÂŁ1,275,000 SHARE OF FREEhold A beautifully presented two bedroom flat (731 sq fr/67.9 sq m) situated on the second floor (with lift) of a well maintained building consisting of two converted Victorian terraced houses. The property also has excellent views over (and access to) award winning communal gardens.

Entrance Hall | Reception Room | Modern Kitchen | Two Double Bedrooms | Luxury Shower Room | Lift | Communal Gardens | EPC Rating D

Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

winkworth.co.uk/kensington 020 7727 1500 kensington@winkworth.co.uk

See things differently.

LEW0822 MAL K&C JAN_OL.indd 1

04/12/2014 14:39

PROPERTY

Hot Property: Hereford Road A grand eight-bedroom house with state-of-the-art facilities

Designed by an award-winning architect and expertly built by one of London’s leading construction firms, this house is a testament to some of the best in British architecture today. Moments from the bustling boutiques and restaurants of Notting Hill is a discreet gate behind which lies a unique and contemporary London house. Making imaginative use of the space and with security and privacy as top priorities, the architect has created an elegant eight-bedroom home, with strong, linear interiors, that is filled with light and all of the accoutrements any self-respecting sophisticate has come to expect.

An incredible limestone spiral staircase leads from the control room to the top of the house, and there is a domed skylight through which no other building can be seen – just acres of sky.

The airy Minotti kitchen is kitted out with the latest technology from Gaggenau and features semi-precious embedded labradorite stone surfaces.

Hereford Road, Notting Hill, W2 ÂŁ17.5 million

The 14-metre pool is flooded with natural light from above and a state-ofthe-art gym and Bisazza stone spa complete the holistic experience. The facilities extend to a 1,500 bottle capacity wine cellar, a leather-covered fossil stone bar, cinema and pool table. In addition, there is a beautiful garden, separate two-bedroom flat for staff, a garage and enough off-street parking for up to five cars.

020 7221 1117 crayson.com

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2 SOLD 1 4 SOLD

Hyde Park Gardens, Bayswater W2 Guide Price: £11,000,000 – August 2014

SOLD

Campden Hill Road, Kensington W8, Guide Price: £3,650,000 – November 2014

SOLD

Queensdale Road, Holland Park W11 Guide Price: £2,500,000 – March 2014

SOLD

Sutherland Place, Notting Hill W11 Guide Price: £6,000,000 February 2014

020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

SOLD

Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill W10 Guide Price: £4,750,000 – July 2014

It has been a successful year for Crayson and our clients.

Here are a few standout sales from 2014.

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Oxford Gardens, North Kensington W10 Guide Price: £1,850,000 – May 2014

Newton Road, Notting Hill W2 Guide Price: £2,300,000 October 2014

Kildare Terrace, Notting Hill W11 Guide Price: £4,500,000 – April 2014

SOLD

St Stephens Gardens, Notting Hill W2, Guide Price: £2,300,000 – July 2014

SOLD

Hewer Street, North Kensington W10 Guide Price: £3,500,000 – February 2014

Aldridge Road Villas Notting Hill W11 So this is what you buy if you want a big house in Notting Hill, and would prefer to retain your boho integrity.

In other words, this is the real deal - a Victorian villa, rebuilt inside to suit modern family life, that pulsates with that old uniquely NH vibe.

Joint Sole Agent 020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH John D Wood 020 3151 5832

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Double reception room

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Kitchen/dining/family room

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Master bedroom suite

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Four further bedrooms, two ensuite

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One further bathroom

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Two studies

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Utility room

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Cloakroom

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Garden

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Two entrances

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City of Westminster

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3,375 sq ft / 313.5 sq m

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Guide Price ÂŁ3.96 million

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Freehold

020 7221 1117 hello@crayson.com 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH

We are on the look out for new property to market in 2015.

If you are thinking of selling your property, please get in touch or pop in for a chat.

PROPERTY

The Soul of Discretion Philip Eastwood is moving from Partner at Knight Frank to London Head for The Buying Solution.

Hannah Lemon finds out what well-learned tricks of the trade he’s packed for the journey

Finding The Buying Solution (TBS) is a bit like being let in on an exciting new secret. The head office is tucked away on a quiet street off Brompton Road; there is no expansive shop window or flashy display of expensive properties visible from the outside, just a small buzzer labelled with the buying agency’s name. I am here to meet Philip Eastwood, whose extensive career in estate agency began in 1988 and resulted in him reaching Partner at Knight Frank; but he is moving on to pastures new in January as London Head of TBS. Philip will be part of a team of five and work alongside the other seven TBS members in charge of the surrounding rural counties, all of whom look after five to six clients each at any one time.

With an extensive property rich-list in his pocket and a rounded knowledge of the market in hand, is his time as an estate agent going to be the backbone to his new role? “It’s all about understanding the role of an estate agent but basically doing the opposite,” Philip explains. This may sound contradictory but as part of Knight Frank’s independent buying consultancy, he can work as an unbiased representative.

Philip is not afraid to negotiate or be honest with his thoughts on a transaction; in some cases he has been known to defer one altogether.

“I think the nice thing about being part of a bigger company is that you can take a more pragmatic approach. You can say: ‘You know what? Maybe don’t buy it. I think we can take a step back (especially in light of the changes in Stamp Duty), wait until after the election, or look in another area where they are not redeveloping neighbouring houses.’ It’s a judgement call.” This year, for example, some TBS clients have been advised not to buy off-market properties because the premium is too high. Since April 2014, 21 per cent of TBS purchases have been off-market properties in Prime Central London, although in a normal year, without a looming election, this reaches 50–60 per cent. With a clear perspective of the market and a tailored insight into clients’ requirements, TBS’ London team has saved on average 11.9 per cent on asking prices since April 2014.

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However, surely TBS works like any other property business and aims to seal all the deals? “There is an element of that,” says Philip. “But, ultimately, with house sales and when you are dealing with our calibre of clients, your reputation is more important. If you do a good job, that is your advertising; buying agents promote themselves through what they have done previously.”

“Discretion” is a word that Philip frequently utters during our interview.

Properties that are bought off-market are done so discreetly and kept off the radar, whether that be from their starting price of £750,000 or the more popular bracket of more than £1 million. “Privacy is required across the board,” acknowledges Philip. “You have either got a celebrity who doesn’t want to be in the public eye or somebody who is cash rich and time poor who just wants someone else to do it.”

And it’s easy to see why discretion is so important; society has a huge fascination with house prices. “Napoleon once said: ‘We are a nation of shopkeepers’. But we’re not, we are a nation of estate agents,” laughs Philip. “We are always talking about property. If you go to a dinner party, you’ve always got people who ask how much you paid for a house, but they would never ask: ‘What’s your salary?’” He goes on to say that the values of properties are becoming political, so discretion will be wanted.

Typical Prime Central London property requests from this clientele include good transport links, a well-stocked Waitrose, the cappucino test (which originated, Philip tells me, from a client’s stipulation that a house must be within a two-minute walk from a suitable coffee house) and a villagey feel.

However, others have taken full advantage of the bespoke and personalised TBS service which goes above and beyond a regular buying agency’s duties.

One client audaciously requested not to be anywhere near his ex-wife, while

“My mantra has always been: never worry about the fee, worry about the service” another wanted to know every previous owner of a property dating all the way back to 1702. Additionally, if any new client’s requirements match those of an existing one, TBS will defer their search until there are no conflicts of interest.

Even post-completion, TBS maintain a strong relationship with clients.

“Once you have a client they’re a client for life,” says Philip. “It’s more about the relationship than anything else.” A Partner in the London team, Rachel Thompson, provided help with the decor of one client’s house down to choosing the paint, and helped another by calling in police, forensics and a locksmith to sort out a burglary while the owner enjoyed a hassle-free day at the races. With such esteemed partnerships, TBS ensures that it is the first port of call for clients’ friends and colleagues or for when they are shopping around in the future for their offspring or a second home. “My mantra has always been: never worry about the fee, worry about the service,” summarises Philip. “Do a fantastic job with the service and the fee will come.”

The Buying Solution, 3 Yeoman’s Row, SW3 2AL; 020 7591 2640 thebuyingsolution.co.uk

Philip Eastwood has taken up the role of London Head at The Buying Solution based in Knightsbridge.

Sourcing & buying prime property throughout London & the country Philip Eastwood London Head

Working with the London and Country teams and with his vast experience and first rate market knowledge, Philip’s clients have a real advantage when identifying and securing the very best property in an increasingly competitive market.

To discuss your London property requirements please call the London team on: +44 (0)20 7591 2640 TheBuyingSolution.co.uk

TBS Chelsea&Ken advert A4 - FINAL.indd 1

The independent buying consultancy of

10/12/2014 09:50

Opening doors in London since 1856 From the moment you walk through one of our doors, you’ll only deal with someone who lives and breathes your local property market.

Someone who knows exactly which buttons to press to sell or let your home. And someone who understands that determination and integrity will open more doors for you than any other approach.

So why not visit one of our 22 London offices? As we’ve been saying since 1856, our door’s always open...

marshandparsons.co.uk

PROPERTY

No Time Like the Present Will Hughes-Ward, area sales director of South Kensington and Chelsea for Marsh & Parsons, encourages buyers to take the plunge Four-bedroom maisonette on Cromwell Place, South Kensington, SW7; £3,095,000

The London property market calmed during the second half of 2014, causing a short-term slow-down. Buyers have been sitting on the fence waiting to see what happens to the market this year but in my opinion, it’s the smart ones who are buying now – the UK economy is set to continue stabilising, while the European and world economies grow in conjunction. Demand for property in the capital still far outweighs supply, and interest rates remain at an alltime low – all signs point towards prices continuing to grow in 2015.

The final piece to the jigsaw will be the General Election, and there is no doubt that once the result has been announced and political certainty has been restored, prices will start to veer northwards once again.

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Therefore, buyers should make their move now, as it is more than likely they will get a good deal.

George Osborne’s Autumn Statement sent a shockwave through the property market in December but the Stamp Duty shake-up was long overdue. While the new graduated system should help brighten the UK housing recovery in regions outside of London, any additional strain on the top tiers of the housing market will be absorbed, and the natural rhythm of the property market won’t be disrupted. Buyers investing in Prime Central London property are accustomed to having to pay a higher price than elsewhere across the country, but the unparalleled returns and capital growth on offer make it more than worthwhile, so demand won’t be quashed.

London property taxes have historically been cheaper than other world cities, so this overhaul brings it into line with rival global centres of investment and although one-off purchase costs are always a bitter pill to swallow, it won’t deter people from snapping up their dream home in a desirable location.

Buyers will soon adjust and it will simply become the norm. marshandparsons.co.uk

Stone Hall Gardens, W8 1,307 SQ.FT/121.14 SQ.M

An exquisite two bedroom apartment on the ground floor of a magnificent Jacobean style building (1847) within a secure gated development with communal gardens. Underground parking, porterage, private terrace and 24 hour security.

Price: ÂŁ3,225,000

L/H plus Share of Freehold

020 7590 9339

Egerton Gardens, SW3 1,005 SQ.FT/93.3 SQ.M

A bright three bedroom lateral flat with excellent proportions, situated on the third floor (with lift) of a well maintained red brick period building. Caretaker and access to access to the communal gardens.

Price: ÂŁ2,300,000

LEASEHOLD 94 YEARS

020 7590 9339

38 Gloucester Road, SW7

www.dominic.london

sales@dominiclondon.com

LADBROKE ROAD, W11 ÂŁ6,500,000 Freehold

This five-floor, Victorian terraced property property has been skilfully redefined as one of London’s most exciting contemporary houses.

Cubic Studios made the most of unconventional materials to create stunning new features and spaces within a unique and exceptional home. epc = c -

Open-plan entertaining space Hand-finished kitchen Four bedrooms Steam room Jet stream swimming pool Approx 298.2 sq m (3,210 sq ft)

Domus Nova Notting Hill 17 Kensington Park Road W11 020 7727 1717 nottinghill@domusnova.com

K+C mag JANUARY Edition.indd 26-27

TALBOT ROAD, W2

ÂŁ4,650,000 Freehold

An exquisite five-bedroom Notting Hill house with a south-facing garden and a lovely outlook.

Providing perfect family accommodation, the property has been meticulously designed to create superb living space. epc = d

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Grand reception room Large kitchen/dining area Five bedrooms (two en-suite) South-facing rear garden Home office Approx 252.69 sq m (2,719.9 sq ft)

05/12/2014 17:31:08

AUBREY WALK, W8 ÂŁ8,500,000 Freehold

An immaculately presented new-build townhouse situated in arguably one of the most peaceful addresses in Kensington.

Constructed approximately 10 years ago to an extremely high specification, this five-storey property offers exceptional accommodation. epc = c -

First-floor drawing room Kitchen/dining room Large family/media room Foor double bedrooms Garden and communal gardens Garage and off-street parking Approx 341 sq m (3,672 sq ft)

Domus Nova Bayswater 78 Westbourne Grove W2 020 7221 7817 bayswater@domusnova.com

K+C mag JANUARY Edition.indd 28-29

LEDBURY ROAD, W11

£2,500 per week – admin fees apply* Long let A superb Victorian terraced house with the rare benefit of two off-street parking spaces.

Beautifully presented and offering exceptional living space, this home is situated moments from the fashionable boutiques on Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road. epc = c

*

Exceptional reception space Four double bedrooms Games room and TV room Large rear garden Two off-street parking spaces Approx 220 sq m (2,364 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

05/12/2014 17:31:25

WESTBOURNE GROVE, W11 £2,500 per week – admin fees apply* Short let Available for short let only. A stunning threebedroom triplex apartment located in the heart of Notting Hill.

Occupying three floors and benefiting from its own ground-floor entrance, the property has a wonderful dining area, making this a fabulous home for entertaining. epc = d *

Exceptional first-floor reception space Three double bedrooms Stunning decked roof terrace Private entrance Superb finish and detailing throughout Approx 172 sq m (1,866 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

Domus Nova Notting Hill 17 Kensington Park Road W11 020 7727 1717 nottinghill@domusnova.com

K+C mag JANUARY Edition.indd 30-31

w FERMOY ROAD, W9

£525 per week – admin fees apply* Long let A newly refurbished two-bedroom property located on the first floor of a Victorian conversion in Westbourne Park.

Finished to a high standard with fantastic attention to detail throughout, the property includes a bright reception room featuring high ceilings, solid wood floors and an exposed brick feature wall. epc = c *

Large open-plan kitchen/reception room Fully fitted modern kitchen Large double bedroom with built-in storage Second double bedroom/study Approx 51.2 sq m (551 sq ft) domusnova.com/administrationfees

05/12/2014 17:31:37

PRINCE MEWS, Fulham KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW3 FulhamGATE Riverside, SW6 •1 Bedroom • Bullet point 1 •1 Bathroom • Bullet point 2 • Private patio3 • Bullet point • 24 Hour concierge • Bullet point 4

• Private leisure facilities • Bullet point 5 • 1 Underground parking space • Bullet point 6 • Approx.

549point sq ft (87.3 sq m) • Bullet 7 • Bullet point 8

spacious one bedroom ““AAn exceptional apartment, furnished apartment, with excellent ceilinglocated heights within an exclusive new quote throughout, maximum development.” is four lines.”

Price £1,650 £450 per PRICE PERweek WEEK Furnished FURNISHED For more more information, information, call call Simon Kyle Best, For Godson 020 7087 or email email sgodson@waellis.com kyle.best@eu.jll.com 020 7306 5696 1630 or

387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA

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

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

PRINCE MEWS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW3 Trinity GATE House, Kensington W14 •1 Bedroom • Underground parking • Bullet point 1 • Bullet point 5 •1 Bathroom • Approx.

580 sq ft (53.8 • Bullet point 2 • Bullet point 6 sq m) • 24 Hour concierge • Bullet point 3 • Bullet point 7 • Private leisure • Bullet point 4 facilities • Bullet point 8

A very impressive, fully “ An exceptional apartment, furnished one ceiling bedroom with excellent heights apartment tomaximum rent in quote throughout, Trinity House.” is four lines.”

Price £1,650 £650 per PRICE PERweek WEEK Furnished FURNISHED For more more information, information, call call Simon Kyle Best, For Godson 020 7087 or email email sgodson@waellis.com kyle.best@eu.jll.com 020 7306 5696 1630 or

387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA

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

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

Wolfe House, Kensington W14 • 5 Bedrooms • 5 Bathrooms • Roof terrace • Kitchen • 24 hour concierge

• Private leisure facilities • 2 x Underground parking • Approx. 3,891 sq ft (361 sq m) • EPC rating C

Price £13,000,000

“ A spacious penthouse over two floors, located within the exclusive new development by St Edwards, 375 Kensington High Street.”

387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA

Leasehold 999 years For more information, call Jessica Conway, 020 7087 5696 or email jessica.conway@eu.jll.com

coming 26 January 2015

JLL.co.uk/residential

Albert Hall Mansions SW7 • 4 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • 3 Reception rooms • Private entrance

• Approx. 3,000 sq ft (278.7 sq m) • EPC rating C

“ A very impressive, grand family flat with its own private street entrance.”

Price £7,450,000 387 Kensington High Street London W14 8QA

Share of Freehold For more information, call Jessica Conway, 020 7087 5696 or email jessica.conway@eu.jll.com

coming 26 January 2015

JLL.co.uk/residential

ROYAL AVENUE, CHELSEA SW3 • 4/5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Cloakroom • 2/3 Reception rooms • Kitchen

• Utility room • Balcony • Garden • Approx. 2,771 sq ft (258 sq m)

GUIDE PRICE £6,400,000 FREEHOLD For more information call Richard Barber on 020 7306 1620 or email rbarber@waellis.com

“An elegant and immaculately presented, Grade II listed house situated on the east side of this broad, tree-lined avenue close to Sloane Square” W.A.Ellis 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

WAELLIS.COM

CADOGAN SQUARE, KNIGHTSBRIDGE SW1 • 3 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • Reception room • Kitchen • Terrace

• Communal gardens • Lift • Approx. 1,721 sq ft (160 sq m) • EPC rating: current (D) potential (C)

“ A spectacular fourth and fifth floor penthouse on the southern side of the square.”

GUIDE PRICE £5,950,000 LEASEHOLD WITH 98 YEARS REMAINING For more information, call James Burridge 020 7306 1610 or email jburridge@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

WAELLIS.COM

TRINITY HOUSE, KENSINGTON HIGH STREET W14 • 2 Double bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • Reception room • Open plan kitchen

• Terrace • Use of leisure facilities • Approx. 1,188 sq ft / 110 sq m • EPC rating: current (B) potential (B)

“ A luxury apartment in this prestigious new development on Kensington High Street.”

PRICE £1,400 PER WEEK FURNISHED For more information, call Kerry Morley 020 7306 1630 or email kmorley@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

WAELLIS.COM

W.A.Ellis will make an initial one-off tenancy agreement charge of £240 per tenancy plus £60 referencing charge per tenant. A minimum of six weeks’ rent will be required as deposit for all properties. For further details of our services and charges please visit waellis.com.

MELBURY ROAD, HOLLAND PARK W14 •5 •3 •2 •2

Double bedrooms Bathrooms Guest cloakrooms Reception rooms

• Kitchen/dining room • Roof terrace & garden • Approx. 5,071 sq ft (471 sq m) • EPC rating: current (D) potential (C)

“ An elegant and impressive house in this prime location in the heart of Holland Park.”

PRICE £6,950 PER WEEK FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED For more information, call David Mills 020 7306 1630 or email dmills@waellis.com

W.A.Ellis 174 Brompton Road London SW3 1HP

WAELLIS.COM

W.A.Ellis will make an initial one-off tenancy agreement charge of £240 per tenancy plus £60 referencing charge per tenant. A minimum of six weeks’ rent will be required as deposit for all properties. For further details of our services and charges please visit waellis.com.

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

Paultons Street, Chelsea, SW3 A fantastic four bedroom family house (approx. 1,626 sq. ft.) set on a pretty residential street in Chelsea. The accommodation comprises a double reception room, a separate kitchen, dining room leading to a south-facing garden, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Paultons Street is well located just off the King’s Road and within close proximity to the many shops and restaurants of Chelsea and South Kensington. EPC rating D.

Freehold Guide Price: £3,250,000 020 7225 5752 John.harris@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Herbert Crescent, Knightsbridge, SW1X A stunning first floor, one bedroom apartment refurbished to a very high standard. Accommodation of approximately 902 sq. ft. / 83 sq. m. comprises reception room, eat in kitchen, double bedroom with ensuite bathroom and guest cloakroom. Herbert Crescent is conveniently located for all the shopping, entertainment and transport facilities of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park itself. Available now, for long term let on a fully furnished basis. EPC rating B.

Price per week: £1,500 Plus property fees: £180 Admin & £165 Checkout.

References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants

020 7225 6602 Karen.boland@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Pont Street, Belgravia, SW1X A fabulous two bedroom apartment on the ground floor of this period building in the heart of Knightsbridge. The accommodation of approximately 1190 sq. ft. includes elegant reception room, kitchen, two double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. The apartment also benefits from wooden floors throughout, high ceilings and a caretaker. Pont Street is conveniently located for the amenities of Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. Available now for long term let on furnished basis. EPC rating D.

Price per week: £1,350 Plus property fees: £180 Admin & £180 Checkout.

References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants

020 7225 5881 candice.fletcher@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 020 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 020 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0) 20 7225 6700 HARRODSESTATES.COM

Holland Park, W14 A magnificent apartment laid out over the upper floors of this beautiful stucco double fronted villa, refurbished to the very highest standard and with direct lift access. The apartment has excellent entertaining accommodation with a large reception room/dining area and a separate cinema room/study. The master bedroom suite has a walk through wardrobe leading to a stunning bathroom, and there are 4 further bedrooms. There is ample outside space with balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floor and a large terrace on the 4th. Currently rented at £5,150 per week.

EPC Rating D John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, £9,000,000 London W1J 5AX Share of Freehold Tel: 020 3284 1888 Email: london@john-taylor.com ABU DHABI MEGEVE •

• AIX-EN-PROVENCE • BARCELONA • CANNES • COURCHEVEL • COSTA BRAVA • GENEVA • GSTAAD • LONDON MERIBEL • MILAN • MONACO • PARIS • ST-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT • ST-PAUL-DE-VENCE • ST-TROPEZ • VALBONNE

www.john-taylor.com

West Halkin Street, SW1X An elegant and spacious 2 bedroom apartment is situated in one of the most sought after streets in the heart of Belgravia. Having recently undergone refurbishment of the highest quality throughout it not only offers an exceptional lateral layout over the 2nd floor, but is also flooded with natural light looking onto open views from all the rooms offering sought after privacy. The rear of the apartment has a generous sized roof terrace, ideal for entertaining. The property has the added advantage of a resident caretaker and a long lease and is therefore ideal as either a home or as a long term investment.

EPC Rating E John Taylor UK 48 Berkeley Square, £4,500,000 London W1J 5AX Leasehold Tel: 020 3284 1888 Email: london@john-taylor.com ABU DHABI MEGEVE •

• AIX-EN-PROVENCE • BARCELONA • CANNES • COURCHEVEL • COSTA BRAVA • GENEVA • GSTAAD • LONDON MERIBEL • MILAN • MONACO • PARIS • ST-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT • ST-PAUL-DE-VENCE • ST-TROPEZ • VALBONNE

www.john-taylor.com

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nottinghill@century21uk.com

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10 Clarendon Road London W11 3AA

020 7229 1414

CADOGAN SQUARE, CHELSEA, SW1X

£2,500 PER WEEK • THREE BEDROOMS • EAT-IN KITCHEN • BRIGHT • PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED • • INTERIOR DESIGNED• COMMUNAL GARDENS WITH TENNIS COURT • EPC E • PLUS £240 ADMINISTRATION FEE AND £60 REFERENCING FEE PER PERSON

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

•

ELYSTAN STREET, CHELSEA, SW3

£1,695,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD • TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS • RECEPTION ROOM • LIFT ACCESS • MODERN KITCHEN • 24 HOUR PORTER • • LEISURE CENTRE WITH SAUNA AND SWIMMING POOL • UNDERGROUND PARKING • EPC E •

CHELSEA OFFICE 2 Cale Street, London SW3 3QU +44 (0)20 7581 5011 chelseaoffice@henryandjames.co.uk

henryandjames.co.uk

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

Royal Burrow Ban Council declares victory in war on mega-basements: Plans to significantly limit subterranean development in the Royal Borough have officially been given the thumbs up, after what Kensington & Chelsea Council has dubbed “a historic battle”.

Despite “aggressive” opposition from developers “every step of the way”, RBKC’s proposals to address concerns over excessive excavation were finally declared sound in a report published by the Government’s Planning Inspector.

This means that strict new guidelines limiting the size of new basement projects will come into force in mid-January 2015, including: a reduction in the maximum distance basements can extend under the garden, from 85% to 50%, with that 50% being a single area of space; a restriction to a single storey in most cases (with exceptions for large sites); an outright ban on basement developments under listed buildings; and a requirement for construction traffic management plans to be submitted alongside planning applications.

“Basements have been the single greatest planning concern our residents have expressed to us in living memory,” said councillor Tim Coleridge. “Many have experienced years of misery from noise, vibration, dust and construction traffic. Two years ago we started drafting a policy to try and strike the right balance between addressing our residents’ concerns and the genuine need for people to expand their homes.

“It hasn’t been easy and basement developers have aggressively opposed us every step of the way. We are delighted that the Inspector agrees that we have got it right while at the same time praising us for our extensive public consultation.

This ruling is a victory not only for the council but also our residents who have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we have been trying to do.”

London Bashing NICK CRAYSON asks residents to proudly acknowledge and defend their instrumental input into the economy and property market

Since I started Crayson I have seen the top rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rise from 4% to 12%. That’s a stunning 300% increase in just four years. But am I moaning? I am not against the principle of paying tax when it is spent wisely for the greater good. But I think that there is something larger going on and what I am talking about is London.

In 2013 London generated 22% of the UK’s GDP, with only 13% of the UK’s population – evidentially this 13% are better at making money than the remaining 87%. However, of course, there is a price to pay.

Lengthy commutes in crammed transportation, pollution and stress are just some of the added extras that come with working in London. Also everything costs so much more; restaurants, cinemas, food and drink.

So it seems that Londoners are just used to paying more for everything, therefore it is no surprise that the 2% of home-buyers who lost out in the SDLT hike are mostly London-based.

The Scottish referendum showed the strength of feeling that many Scots have for either independence or at least some further devolution. It

also served to highlight the strength of various nationalistic feelings within the UK – for example, many English MPs calling for English votes on English issues. Is it therefore a natural evolution that regions and cities should have more control over their tax revenues? How much further do things have to go with London subsidising the rest of the country?

Many people have chosen London to live in as it is the best place to work to progress their careers – not necessarily because it is the best place to live. Likewise many people have chosen other places to live – not necessarily because it is the best place to further their careers.

Everyone has different priorities and values. If you work in London, you can choose to commute vast distances or you can live in London. You most certainly will have to pay far more than our out-of-London cousins and for something far smaller, and now if you want to move because you have got married or had a child it is going to cost you even more.

‘God, Queen and country’ has a modern equivalent: London, England and then the United Kingdom. Mind-sets are becoming more regionalised and I think that a time is coming when London will fight back. I hope that it is able to argue its corner more effectively than it has recently. London is an international powerhouse – not just a capital city.

I hope that this country sees the bigger picture of how much London contributes and stops bashing Londoners as they did the bankers.

Crayson, 10 Lambton Place, W11 2SH crayson.com

PROPERTY

PrimeQResi Journal of Prime Property

primeresi.com

Rising Stamp

Graph courtesy of: LCP using Land Registry data

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) system targets high value homeowners: George Osborne rounded off the Autumn Statement with “a complete reform” of the SDLT system, ditching the much-maligned slab structure in favour of a voter-friendly progressive regime that will mean significant increases for most Kensington and Chelsea buyers.

This is an overdue reform that has the moral high-ground, but it hits high-value home-buyers, hard. While 98% of buyers across Britain are better off, half of all homes in central London are now subject to a higher SDLT charge than before, with some hefty increases kicking in as values rise. A £2m buyer is now £53,750 worse off, paying 54% more tax than previously; a £5m home will see its SDLT rise from £350,000 to £514,000; and a £10m home is now subject to a £1,067,350 charge.

There’s a “break-even” point at £937,500 (plus a small sweet spot between £1m and £1.125m) below which buyers will pay less tax than before the reform; above that price, however, charges escalate quickly at a 12% tax rate on anything above £1.5m.

A lot of property agents and buyers were understandably upset by the changes, but the higher rate band is likely to take the wind out of Labour’s Mansion Tax sails, reducing the likelihood that a new annual levy will be imposed. What’s more, the Treasury seems to have done its homework on London’s international viability, with the new rates sitting pretty much in line with property taxes in other global centres.

While there may be howls of anguish from the wallets of the wealthy in the short-term, it’s probable that London’s market will eventually absorb the tax hike to leave the country with a much healthier property landscape.

Market Comment Good Things for Those Who Wait?

Elena Dimova, managing director of CENTURY 21 Sophia Elena, wonders what next year will bring

The Prime Central London sales market has been going through a period of reflection, with varying activity levels. Prices have been stable so far, but what next?

Due to the General Election in 2015, the change to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) regime for non-residents from April 2015 and the speculation regarding a potential Mansion Tax, some people are taking a wait-and-see attitude. Stamp Duty Land Tax has just been overhauled in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, introducing a progressive tax regime, the effect being Stamp Duty on properties below £937,500 and in the range of just over £1million to £1.125million will be lower; higher value properties will attract a higher effective rate of Stamp Duty. This may go some way to address the political and financial agenda to introduce Mansion Tax or not as the case may be.

More supply may come to the market before the April 2015 CGT regime change date, as some players look to crystallise gains.

Further detail on the draft legislation has been announced, clarifying that only gains arising and realised on or after 6 April 2015 will be taxed. The default option will be to rebase to that date, but there are two alternatives for a tax payer: one is to time apportion over the whole period of ownership; the second option is to calculate using the original cost base, which may be advantageous if the property is worth less on 6 April 2015 compared with the original purchase price. Principal Private Residence Relief (PPRR) is to be made available to nonresidents, but they will need to spend ‘90 midnights’ in the property in that tax year, which is associated with other complexities.

Markets do not typically like uncertainty and whether, eventually, the news is good or bad, markets deal with it. We already have more clarity on CGT and PPRR, as well as news on Stamp Duty. Over the coming months, we should know more about Mansion Tax and eventually the outcome of the election. The period in between will be one of opportunity. On the one hand, sales stock may be plentiful as people rush to sell before April 2015 or may be scarce if there is negative sentiment over the uncertainty. For buyers the flip side of the above applies: they may be able to have a good amount of choice or struggle to find anything. Watch this space.

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

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PROPERTY

PrimeQResi

Property News

Journal of Prime Property

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

The Return of the Russians

Graph courtesy of: Knight Frank

Super-prime deals soar as vendors cut prices: “The Russians are back” in London and there’s some “serious interest” from mainland Chinese buyers, says Knight Frank, as it reports a 92% increase in the number of super-prime £10m+ deals compared to 2012’s levels.

The agency sold a third more eight-figure homes between January and October this year compared to 2013, and a massive 92% more than in 2012. And the pace is, if anything, picking up in the run-up to May’s General Election; Knight Frank sold as many £10m+ properties in June and July as during the previous four months combined.

That “may seem counter-intuitive” notes the firm’s Head of London Residential Research Tom Bill, but a “large contributing factor” is that vendors seem to be having a pique of realism, slashing prices by between 5% and 10% to lure in high-net-worth buyers.

And lure them they have, from all over the globe. Russian buyers accounted for 21% of super-prime deals in the six months to October, compared to 13% in the previous six months. Chinese buyers were behind 3% of sales “after negligible demand in previous years.”

Price trends at the very top of the market are pretty fickle, with just a couple of deals able to skew graphs quite considerably. In general terms, though, £10m+ prices have risen by 48% since March 2009’s low-point “but annual growth has been moderating since the double-digit rises recorded after the financial crisis, easing to 3.3% in October.”

Royal Neighbours Planners give green light to landmark ultra-prime development next to Buckingham Palace: Westminster City Council has given approval – subject to a S106 agreement – to Northacre’s plans for the development of No.1 Palace Street, next to Buckingham Palace.

The developer promises that the massive 302,377 sq ft scheme will “set a new standard for ultra-prime residential developments in London,” retaining the existing Grade II listed facade, and incorporating all five of the buildings’ historic architectural styles. Completion is slated for the end of 2017.

Earlier plans, devised for Yitzhak Tshuva’s Delek Global Real Estate Development by PLP Architecture, for 78 luxury units were approved by Westminster in July 2013, but then Northacre invested £10m in the project in December 2013 – marking Niccoló Barattieri di San Pietro’s first major play as CEO – and was appointed development manager at the beginning of this year.

Northacre – responsible for the likes of Observatory Gardens, Earl’s Terrace, The Bromptons, Kings Chelsea, The Phillimores and The Lancasters, and rumoured to have bought New Scotland Yard – has taken the project and run with it, creating what is likely to become a serious landmark in London’s ultra-prime landscape.

The developer’s in-house design team, N Studio, and architecture uber-practice Squire & Partners have been charged with making the most of the five building array.

Palace Street Image courtesy of: Northacre

210

=AG GINNY TIARKS HICKS SOPHIE

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

Brompton Square, knightsbridge, SW3

Burnaby Street, Chelsea, SW10

This elegant family house is situated on the west side of Brompton Square with a superb garden/terrace overlooking the Holy Brompton church. The house has a flexible layout with good reception areas including a conservatory sitting room, drawing room, dining room and a study. This house has a wonderful feeling and lends itself ideally to entertaining as well as family living. There is also a double garage.

A newly refurbished house tastefully decorated and finished with limed wood floors. A large ground floor reception room leads to a brand new kitchen with access to a fabulous paved garden. There is a separate one bedroom flat on the lower ground floor which can be rented by separate negotiation. Burnaby Street is conveniently situated on the borders of Chelsea walking distance of Imperial Wharf station.

FOUR DOUBLE BEDROOMS - THREE BATHROOMS DRAWING ROOM - DINING ROOM - CONSERVATORY STUDY - UTILITY ROOM - GARDEN TERRACE - DOUBLE GARAGE

£2,950

per week UNFURNISHED

DOUBLE RECEPTION ROOM THREE BEDROOMS (TWO DOUBLES) - TWO BATHROOMS (ONE EN-SUITE) - SEPARATE WC - GARDEN - ROOF TERRACE

£1,200 PER WEEK

UNFURNISHED

Elm Park Gardens, chelsea, SW10

Harley Gardens, South Kensington, SW10

Newly refurbished two/three bedroom lateral apartment decorated in neutral tones. The flat is flooded with natural light and benefits from views over the gardens, to which it has access. Fantastically located off the Fulham Road and close to South Kensington’s tube station and restaurants.

A beautiful house with off street parking rarely on the market in this highly sort after road. The house is wider than average with elegant well proportioned receptions and a charming courtyard garden leading to a studio garden room. Newly decorated throughout in neutral colours but still retaining many of its original features, this house has a wonderful feel and would be ideal for entertaining as well as family living.

TWO DOUBLE BEDROOMS - TWO BATHROOMS - DOUBLE RECEPTION ROOM - STUDY/3rd BEDROOM COMMUNAL GARDENS - LIFT

DINING ROOM - DRAWING ROOM - FIVE BEDROOMS FOUR BATHROOMS - KITCHEN/FAMILY ROOM - STUDY STUDIO - GARDEN - ROOF TERRACE OFF STREET PARKING

£900 PER WEEK

FURNISHED/ UNFURNISHED

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

£3,950 per

week UNFURNISHED

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

UK Residential, European and International Removals.

Import, Export and Storage by air, road and sea.

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Founded as a family business Abels has grown into one of the most highly regarded removal companies in the country, holding the Royal Warrant by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen for removals and storage.

Our acclaimed services that include UK Residential Removals and Storage, European Moving and International Relocations, are all part of the service. So, no matter how far you’re going, we’re never too far away to help.

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Telephone: 020 3773 5796 E-Mail: enquiries@abels.co.uk www.abels.co.uk

31/10/2014 12:41

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Lamont Road, SW10 SOLD

Campden Hill Court, W8 SOLD

An impressive four bedroom flat.

Asking price £4,850,000 Share of Freehold Kensington Sales 020 7938 3666

Prince Edward Mansions, W2 SOLD

A superb four bedroom house in the Ten Acre Estate.

Asking price £3,850,000 Freehold West Chelsea Sales 020 7373 1010

An outstanding five bedroom penthouse in need of modernisation.

Asking price £3,750,000 Share of Freehold Notting Hill Sales 020 7221 1111

Elm Park Gardens, SW10

Portobello Road, W11

LET

This magnificent apartment offers views over the communal gardens.

Asking price £3,500 per week Unfurnished West Chelsea Lettings 020 7373 1010

SP_DPS1_LHP.indd 1

LET

A modern three bedroom house situated in the heart of Notting Hill.

Asking price £2,250 per week Unfurnished Notting Hill Lettings 020 7221 1111

05/12/2014 17:26

SP

17:26

Cadogan Place, SW1X SOLD

Bedford Gardens, W8 LET

A large lateral flat with a double width garden.

Guide price £12,000,000 Share of Freehold Knightsbridge Sales 020 7235 9959

St Michael’s Mews, SW1W LET

An immaculately presented four bedroom contemporary townhouse.

Asking price £3,200 per week Unfurnished Knightsbridge Lettings 020 7235 9959

A beautifully presented five bedroom Grade II listed house.

Asking price £3,750 per week Unfurnished Kensington Lettings 020 7938 3866

Hans Place, SW1X

Walpole Street, SW3

SOLD

A well-proportioned flat with garden views.

Guide price £3,250,000 Share of Freehold Knightsbridge Sales 020 7235 9959

SP_DPS1_RHP.indd 2

LET

A stunning split level flat.

Asking price £895 per week Furnished Chelsea Lettings 020 7589 9966

05/12/2014 17:26

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Royal Avenue, SW3 SOLD

Victoria Road, W8 LET

An outstanding stucco fronted family house sold above asking price.

Asking price £5,950,000 Freehold Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866

A wonderful seven bedroom family house with off-street parking.

Asking price £4,750 per week Unfurnished Kensington Lettings 020 7938 3866

Ovington Gardens, SW3

Ladbroke Gardens, W11

SOLD

An elegant Knightsbridge townhouse.

Guide price £5,350,000 Freehold Knightsbridge Sales 020 7235 9959

SP_DPS2_LHP.indd 1

LET

A stunning three bedroom upper maisonette with a lift.

Asking price £1,500 per week Unfurnished Notting Hill Lettings 020 7221 1111

05/12/2014 17:09

SP

17:09

Onslow Square, SW7 SOLD

Abingdon Road, W8 SOLD

A beautiful newly remodelled three bedroom lateral apartment.

Asking price £3,000,000 Share of Freehold Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866

A wonderful family house.

Asking price £4,150,000 Freehold Kensington Sales 020 7938 3666

Cadogan Gardens, SW3

Tor Gardens, W8

LET

A beautiful modern apartment located in this prestigious area.

Asking price £750 per week Furnished Knightsbridge Lettings 020 7235 9959

SP_DPS2_RHP.indd 2

SOLD

An outstanding family house.

Asking price £7,850,000 Freehold Kensington Sales 020 7938 3666

05/12/2014 17:10

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Rawlings Street, SW3 LET

Evelyn Gardens, SW7 LET

A stunning second floor two bedroom flat benefitting from a balcony.

Asking price £850 per week Furnished West Chelsea Lettings 020 7373 1010

Rosaville Road, SW6 LET

A beautifully refurbished house offering neutral décor throughout.

Asking price £2,200 per week Unfurnished Chelsea Lettings 020 7589 9966

An immaculate four bedroom family house in ‘The Villes’.

Asking price £995 per week Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100

Evelyn Gardens, SW7

St James’s Chambers, SW1Y

SOLD

An exceptional two bedroom flat with views over communal gardens.

Asking price £2,500,000 Share of Freehold West Chelsea Sales 020 7373 1010

SP_DPS3_LHP.indd 1

LET

A beautifully presented and newly refurbished top floor flat.

Asking price £1,950 per week Furnished Knightsbridge Lettings 020 7235 9959

05/12/2014 17:40

SP

Cadogan Gardens, SW3 LET

Queensdale Place, W11 LET

A completely stunning three bedroom duplex.

Asking price £4,750 per week Furnished Chelsea Lettings 020 7589 9966

Bina Gardens, SW5 SOLD

An exceptional three bedroom penthouse maisonette.

Asking price £3,750,000 Share of Freehold West Chelsea Sales 020 7373 1010

A modern three/four bedroom house.

Asking price £1,750 per week Unfurnished Notting Hill Lettings 020 7221 1111

Palace Gate, W8

Cadogan Square, SW1X

LET

An immaculate four bedroom maisonette with a terrace.

Asking price £2,700 per week Unfurnished Kensington Lettings 020 7938 3866

SP_DPS3_RHP.indd 2

SOLD

A beautiful two bedroom penthouse.

Asking price £4,950,000 Leasehold Chelsea Sales 020 7225 3866

05/12/2014 17:40