Vicinitee January 2009 proudly produced by www.runwildmedia.com

VICINITEE JANUARY 2009

JANUARY 2009

Future Labs Take a look aT where all The real men have gone A

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contents 70 20

38 COVER STORIES 12

20

Future Labs Josephine O’Donoghue takes a look at where the real men have gone business traveller We look at what the famous Spanish destination of Barcelona has to offer

42

F E AT U R E S 22

Orient express In the second installment we board the iconic train leaving Singapore for the ride of our lives

26 Unusual travel

Globe trotting with a

difference.

64 Art break hotel

Martin Hulbert talks to us about

inspiration, art and design.

31 luxury luggage

A look at luxury luggage through

the ages.

32 8 is the magic number

Rebecca Walton investigates

private jets, friend or foe?

34 the macrobiotic woman

Kate Harrison has a go at living a

macrobiotic lifestyle.

42

48

Hey Big spender The coolest ways to splash that cash this bonus season

made in England Claire Adler unfolds the story behind Bremont watches.

70 fashion

The Ultimate Glam Rocks 86 artscene

The London Ice Sculpting

Festival 92 Valentines gifts

A sneak peak at the best gifts on

the market.

The ENgineers of communication Forward-looking technology.

Extraordinary materials. Timeless design.

Created by Porsche Design Studio.

porsche design Mobile phones

Ă&#x;9522 London | Munich | Berlin | Hamburg | Moscow | Dubai | New York | www.porsche-design.com /mobile

contents

94 92 52

REGULARS 8 EDITOR’S LETTER 17 MOTLEY FOOL 19

public affairs

50

MOTORING

62 ONLINE 83 Competitions 85 CULTURE

62

94

FOOD & DRINK

102 life coaching 104 citylife recommends 108 WHAT’S ON 110 PROPERTY

Editor the January 09 issue Welcome to the January edition of Vicinitee magazine. The start of every New Year is a time for reflection, resolution and a desire to reshape our future. Taking stock of your current situation and setting yourself new challenges will set the scene for a great year ahead. New Year’s resolutions are on everyone’s mind so why not try something different this year? Whether it’s a style update, fitness plan, career change or simply to be healthy or happier, we have plenty of ideas to inspire you in this issue.

January is often seen as an anti-climax after all the Christmas celebrations and the excitement of the festive season is now over, but there’s never been a better time to take stock and make positive changes for the year ahead. This month is all about ‘To Do’ lists and setting goals. It’s time to leave last year’s baggage behind and live life to the full with a new mood of optimism.

Speaking of change, there is a definite trend this year towards people seeking more adventurous lifestyles. In this issue we take inspiration from Roddy Caxton Spencer in our ‘Adrenaline Junkie’ article, where he shares his own personal stories of cycling from Lands' End to John O’Groats, climbing Mount Everest and his latest adventure – an unsupported trek to the North Pole. Whatever ideas you have for increasing your level of fitness this year, whether it is a new gym membership or a run through the Sahara Desert we are sure that Roddy’s achievements will stimulate your thoughts and motivate you into action.

Continuing with our motivational theme, Claire Adler talks exclusively to the English Brothers who abandoned their high flying City careers to launch a range of luxury watches. We take a close look at how the brothers re-evaluated their lives and careers, and the challenges that faced them in launching their business. With any downturn in the economy comes the opportunity to launch innovative and successful businesses. One of those is ‘Cinnamon Kitchen,’ Rohit Chugh talks us through his transition from the financial world into the restaurant industry and his personal quest for quality and service.

On the social calendar this month we see plenty of activity with the launch of the ‘Vicinitee VIP’ card with its exclusive concessions and privileges. To find out how you can receive your VIP card, please visit www.viciniteevip.com or email vip@vicinitee.com. Don’t forget the Vicinitee Ski Weekender in Chamonix, France taking place from 26th February – 1st March 2009. Chamonix offers breathtaking scenery alongside ideal snow conditions for skiers of all ages and abilities with an abundance of après ski in style. Take advantage of our 10% discounted rate for Vicinitee. com registered users, places are strictly limited so please register your interest or to find out more information please email skiweekender@vicinitee.com The Vicinitee team wishes you all a very healthy, happy and prosperous 2009.

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Richard Fischer Marketing Director Vicinitee.com

VICINITEE JANUARY 2009

Keep reading and we’ll bring you closer to the space around you.

Giles Ellwood Managing Director RunWild Media

JANUARY 2009

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CITYLIFE MAGAZINES Editor: Lesley Ellwood Editorial Director: Kate Harrison Deputy Editor: Kasha Van Sant Editorial Assistants: Stephanie Baxter, Josephine O’Donoghue Art Editor: Carol Cordrey Motoring Editor: Matthew Carter Beauty Editor: Kate Hughes Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds Finance Executive: Kätlin Maasik Sales Director: Eren Ellwood P.A. to Sales Director: Ella Kilgarriff Graphic Designers: James Britton, Hiren Chandarana, Victoria Wren PR & Marketing Manager: Rebecca Walton Managing Director: Giles Ellwood P.A. to Managing Director: Charlotte Evans

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CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Claire Adler is a London based freelance journalist, specialising in jewellery, watches and luxury. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times, Spectator Business, Wallpaper*, Intelligent Life and House & Garden. She also writes for fashion news service WGSN, hotel magazine IN London and magazines published by Bentley, Harrods and Watches of Switzerland, amongst others.

Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist based in Cardiff. Specialising in gadgets and technology, Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites. He writes on flatscreen TVs for What Video and What Plasma magazines and away from technology is also a regular contributor to BBC History and Real Travel magazines.

Martin Bamford is one of the youngest and most successful financial planners in the UK. He runs his own firm of financial advisers – Informed Choice – and regularly contributes to various financial publications. His personal finance book The Money Tree, published in 2006, is a best seller.

Kate Hughes has an established reputation as one of the UK's leading celebrity hair and make-up artists. A regular guest beauty presenter on television, she has worked with a wide selection of actors, presenters, musicians and models.

Kate's hair and make-up consultancy, 'It's All About You', transforms women for weddings, special occasions and red carpet events.

Dr. David Kuo is one of the UK’s leading financial experts, and is head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, the country’s top website for independent financial comparison. As well as providing daily comment and financial news for BBC London, he presents Money Talk­­– Fool’s weekly podcasts which cover all aspects of personal finance.

Win

Prizes in the Exclusive Six Senses in the City

Competition World-renowned spa brand, Six Senses Spas, has created an exclusive urban sanctuary in the heart of Canary Wharf, where Pan Peninsula’s residents and those living and working in the area can escape to tranquility. Opening in March 2009, the Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula provides access to a comprehensive range of well-being care through state-of-the-art facilities, spa treatments, lifestyle programmes, spa products, plus simple and effective take-home advice. Individual express spa treatments to half and full day sensory journeys are administered by internationally trained spa therapists and visiting consultants who embrace the philosophy of Balancing Senses. A limited number of spa memberships are available.

Canary Wharf readers will be amongst the first to enjoy exclusive memberships and half day spa packages for use at the new Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula.

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3 prizes of a half day Six Senses in the City journeys valued at £230 each. These include use of the Thermal Suite, an 80 minute signature four hands Sensory Journey, and a manicure in the Express Retreat.

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WHERE HAVE ALL THE REAL MEN GONE? Claiming to predict the future of the ‘modern man’ and offer an insight into the gender divide over the next fifty years, Josephine O’Donoghue gets to grips with the latest report from the Future Laboratory. Is this really the era of the intelli-‘gent’ or has the rise of ‘womenomics’ destroyed a man’s world once and for all?

feature

The Gender Divide “For men, the twenty-first century looks worryingly female” states the Future Laboratory (FL) report, and as a woman I’m instantly affronted.

Worryingly female? This clearly indicates that the past was worryingly male. Sexist pigs. I throw the report on the floor and ignore it for the rest of the afternoon. But just as I’m about to launch into a ranting, feminist critique of society I stumble upon a press release for Kathleen Parker’s new book, Save the Males.

An American columnist and author, Parker is witty, educated and eloquent; so where has this unusual mission sprung from? “In the process of fashioning a more female-friendly world, we have created a culture that is hostile towards males and contemptuous of masculinity” she explains. “At the same time that men have been ridiculed, the importance of fatherhood has been diminished, along with other traditionally male roles of father, protector and provider, which are increasingly viewed as regressive manifestations of an outmoded patriarchy”.

I stop and consider this for a moment before picking the FL report back up off the floor.

“For men, the twenty-first century looks worryingly female.” I carry on reading the report. “Women’s status gains in the workplace in the twentieth century are set to continue and women may well reach pay parity in 2015. They are making it harder for men to succeed at work”.

This is true – companies that employ more women make more money: fact.

And according to research conducted by performance consultancy Catalyst, companies with more women in senior management make a higher return on equity.

Whilst some men may find this hard to believe (or choose not to believe it at all) the fact is that women are now a permanent and necessary fixture in the world of business – and in most cases, a direct factor of business success. But are we really pushing men out?

Countless studies illustrate that the business world is steadily becoming less ‘left-brain’ and more ‘right-brain’ oriented.

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Whereas success in industry has previously resulted from logical and analytical thinking, it is now responding to increased empathy, holistic reasoning and interpreting emotions. “The male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems,” reveals Cambridge University psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen, “but the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy and conceptual thinking”.

Citing Dell as a prime example, the FL report explains how business success based on ‘right-brain’ thinking alone is fading.

“Last decade, the company’s efficient supply chain and efficiency-eking processes made it a colossal success” says Daniel Pink in his book AWhole New Mind. “Now that approach is hitting a wall. Michael Dell himself had to return to the company to save it. Today he says ‘We’re kind of in the fashion business’; words he never would have uttered just five years ago”.

In order to remain relevant, it seems the solution for men is to develop the ability to utilise both sides of the brain in varying degrees, based on a more refined situational awareness. Transferring this approach into profitable business strategy will require more creativity but if successful, can bring a whole new dimension to a company. “Look at Apple,” says Pink, when asked to give an example of business success in the conceptual age, “With the iPod, it did what’s essential in this sort of economy: it gave the world something it didn’t know it was missing. Large, conceptual leaps like that are hugely lucrative”.

So we rest our little pink vanity cases as the wave of perceptive males champion the cause for women in business, but how have the traditional feminine traits impacted upon the male at large?

Manscara and the Metrosexual Uniting the traditionally ‘male’ and ‘female’ aspects of life is certainly a concept that has become more common over the last few years, at least in lifestyle if not yet the workplace. The term ‘metrosexual’ was coined in the 1990s by Mark Simpson in The Independent and appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary around five years ago: a heterosexual urban man who enjoys shopping, fashion and similar interests traditionally associated with women or homosexual men.

Initially the idea of male make-up, Ranging from ‘manscara’ to self-tan lotion, claim to actively help the skin repair itself. masculine moisturiser and, dare I say it, the from anti-wrinkle creams to waxing strips, Cosmeceutical technologies to watch out ‘back, sack and crack’ wax was energetically no cosmetic product is off limits to men. for include bio-engineered anti-oxidant rejected by the majority of the male Even the meatiest, roughest and most macho ultrasomes and photosomes to undo the community. “Women don’t want to go out of men are taking advantage of the changing damage caused by sun exposure; and hybrid with a preening ponce who spends longer in culture; in an interview with Jonathan Ross creams that could be activated by adrenaline the bathroom and looks better groomed than England ruby player Gavin Henson admitted to release chemicals that calm and soothe they do” insisted Dominic Mohan in The Sun, that before a match he would shave his legs, the skin, and also provide extra moisturiser “Believe me, if they did, Posh Spice wouldn’t use moisturiser and apply fake-tan “to look when the temperature drops. According to look so miserable all the time.” But in recent good alongside his team-mates”. So, as every Knowlton, ‘smart creams’ will be released years this ‘grooming is for horses’ attitude man seems to use L’Oreal for Men this, and by nanospheres or liposomes – tiny capsules and staunch refusal to take an interest in Biotherm Homme that (even my own Dad, that release active ingredients at the right men’s fashion has started to wane. what a shock that was) – where else is there time in the right place into the skin, As women become more powerful, to progress to? activated by temperature or adrenaline. wealthier and generally In direct contrast, more independent, men Parker (in her valiant This is fine as long as we can dwell happily are having to work harder quest to save the men) in the Kingdom of Starbucks, munching our to attract a partner. Marian feels it necessary to biscotti and debating whether nature or Salzman (in her book The stem the progression nurture determines gender identity Future of Men) argues that of male preening. “The modern male heroes are no exemplar of the modern longer rugged Sean Connery male is the hairless, types but rather, they are pretty young boys Predictions from the FL report state that metrosexualised man and decorator boys who like Leonardo di Caprio and Orlando Bloom. more men will be having plastic surgery: turn heterosexual slobs into perfumed ponies” The FL report highlights this with a quote tummy tucks and breast reductions reached she complains. “This is fine as long as we can from Penny Conway (from online dating record levels last year, and there are now dwell happily in the Kingdom of Starbucks, agency Parship) who says that “More women even ‘beer and Botox’ parties especially for munching our biscotti and debating whether are looking for younger partners. They feel men. “Men will need to attack the problem nature or nurture determines gender identity. younger and are looking after themselves of ageing skin from both sides,” says Dr But in the dangerous world in which we even more – they want their partner to John Knowlton, a South Africa based skin really live, it might be nice to have a few guys reflect this”. specialist, “And the best way to improve around who aren’t trying to juggle pedicures Writing for the Times Online, Andrew your physical appearance is cosmeceuticals and highlights”.

Billen states that “The metrosexual isn’t on the outside and nutraceuticals on the With this apparent blurring of roles, dead, he’s just dead common. He’s so inside”. Cosmeceuticals are set to become surely the male bastion that is technology is mainstream now, even in rural England, that very popular; cosmetic products that still a safe seat for those who shun the need he’s hardly worthy of comment any more”. contain pharmacological ingredients, these to preen?

feature

Time Out and Omni-Tech “The greatest challenge for men,” says the FL report “is how they will keep up with, adapt to and embrace new technology over the next thirty years and the changes it will make to society”. As technology develops at rapid speed it continues to become pervasive; men will have to find a balance

between technology helpful to their lives and not getting suffocated by unnecessary tools.

Described as ‘omnitech’ by the experts, technology will take on an omnipotent (allpowerful) and omnipresent (ever-present) persona. With websites such as Facebook and MySpace, we already conduct a large amount of our ‘socialising’ online and for the next generation of men this will be completely normal. Anne Kirah (a former senior design anthropologist at Microsoft) noted that the generation born after 1990 “was born with a keyboard and mouse in one hand and a mobile phone in the other hand. They were born digital...It’s their oxygen: it is fully integrated into their relationships and the world around them. They have learned to socialise and be socialised through technology”. Harmonising technological presence with a real life then is a key change in the future of men, and most important is maintaining real-life social skills in the new digital age.

Men’s attitudes to leisure time is also changing; depicted as intelli-‘gents’ by Will Hersey, men will want to improve themselves not only in business but in all areas of social and home life, extracurricular interests and intellectual thought.

Soon a crucial part of a man’s personal identity will be his pro-am status. That is, he will take his amateur hobbies as seriously as a professional and will be keen to show off his lifestyle education: i.e. that he knows the right temperature to serve champagne, where the finest cheeses come from or how to tie his bow-tie properly.

Finding their day-to-day lives more efficient, wrinkle-free, and organised, it is the area of leisure travel that seems to be reaching the ‘manly’ side of today’s modern male. Feeling somewhat emasculated by their loss of status in the home and the workplace, men are set to embark on more ‘Boy’s Own’ adventures and with more extreme sport experiences. Surveys conducted by the market research group shows that people showing interest in adventure holidays has increased by a fifth since 2005, and helps realign feelings of purpose and achievement.

With a danger of sounding like a chapter on social evolution or emotional intelligence, is this just not a case of men seeing their female contemporaries in a new light?

Truth or fiction?

Is this a man’s world? Perhaps it used to be but it certainly isn’t anymore.Yet, it’s not a woman’s world either.

15

“Here’s the problem,” reasons Zoe Williams in The Guardian, “when you get into a battle of the sexes, both sides have grievances” – and she’s right. Maybe our society and our school system don’t support boys’ left-hand learning patterns. Perhaps boys are generally lazier than girls at school.

Maybe girls are discriminated against in male-only military service roles. Or possibly the female form is simply not designed to withstand those kind of pressures.

Whichever way you look at it, you’ll still have something to argue about.

I’m unable to decide whether I fully agree with Parker’s passionate lament of the loss of all real men. I certainly agree that the extent to which men have started to groom themselves is largely unnecessary. As the fiancée of a military man (with an unnatural attachment to his L’Oreal for Men products and aromatherapy massages), I join her cry that “in the dangerous world in which we really live, it might be nice to have a few guys around who aren’t trying to juggle pedicures and highlights” – particularly when these ‘perfumed ponies’ are the ones charged with important roles like national defence.

In terms of the workplace however, I’m not on Parker’s side. So men might be falling behind women in business; I wouldn’t go as far as to say we’re robbing them of their identity and sending them into a spiral of social inadequacy as Parker suggests. On average women still earn less than men (14% less full-time, 34% less part-time), still look after the children in 93% of parental separations, and won’t have financial equality from the pension system for at least another 45 years – far from equal. Men are simply being pushed to up their game, and together with the influence of female thinking, could generate a far more valuable output.

Fairness, if at all possible to achieve (it is quite possibly a myth) is yet to be established in the great gender divide. The changing ideal of the ‘modern person’ is difficult enough to keep track of, without adding the complications of gender division. Whilst fashion trends and cosmetic fads amongst the male population are well publicised, I think it prudent to remember that many are just that: fads. Far from having destroyed a man’s world, it appears women have simply raised the competition and if that has sparked a desire to be a cleaner, educated and more successful intelli-‘gent’, it might not be such a bad thing. Just mind you stay away from my Crème de la Mer! n

C O N T RO L YO U R OW N F U T U R E

Open the door to opportunity.

At St. James’s Place Wealth Management, we offer only the very best people the opportunity to work with us. As a Partner, we’ll dedicate ourselves to providing you with unparalleled levels of support, giving you the freedom to develop better, more profitable, relationships with high net worth clients. In short, we’ll put you in control of your future.

As a wealth manager, our business is to help clients, whether private or corporate, meet their financial needs and aspirations by building strong relationships based on trust and expertise.

We are a growth company with around £16.5bn funds under management. Our strong record of success and achievement can be identified by our recent award wins including The Daily Telegraph Wealth Manager of the Year for the second consecutive year. The St. James’s Place Partnership is the sole advisory channel for St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

For more information on opportunities available with the St. James’s Place Partnership, email Adrian Batchelor on adrian.batchelor@sjp.co.uk For more information on St. James’s Place Wealth Management, please visit our website at www.sjp.co.uk

business&finance

17

THE YEAR OF THE OX: DON’t LET DEBT BE A BURDEN Learning the lessons of 2008 is crucial in predicting the need for hard graft in 2009

by DR. DAVID KUO Head of Personal Finance at money website Fool.co.uk

T

his time last year, the Rat was peering out from behind the curtains, getting ready for its grand entrance on the world stage. For those who are not up to speed with the Rat, the rodent’s hunger for power and money is legendary amongst followers of Chinese astrology. However, its appetite can be so voracious at times that the Year of the Rat can be peppered with catastrophes.

The ravenous Rat certainly lived up to its reputation during 2008: investment banks disintegrated, insurers swooned and airlines were grounded by the weight of greed and excesses. But trying to outwit the Rat is not easy, and often it is safer to give the rodent a wide berth rather than trying to meet it head on. In fact, my parting words in this magazine twelve months ago were: If something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

Last year, customers of Icelandic banks Landsbanki and Kaupthing quickly discovered to their discomfort that eyepopping savings rates can indeed be too good to be true. Unfortunately for some, the realisation that free lunches in the financial world are about as rare as finding coconut trees swaying in the Reykjavik breeze came too late. They were left nursing hefty losses after the two banks collapsed.

Speculators hoping to cash in on rapidly rising property prices were also caught on the hop when house prices tumbled. The drop in house prices left many overstretched buy-to-let landlords nursing capital losses.

Additionally, they were trapped in negative equity when property prices fell below the value of the outstanding loans secured against them.

If truth be known, all we needed in 2008 was a repeat of the South Sea Bubble, an encore for the dot-com boom or a bout of Tulip mania to complete the full complement of fashion-led investing disasters.

So as the Rat scuttles into the distance, what can we expect from the Chinese Year of the Ox, which ambles onto the scene on 26 January?

the main, it doesn’t matter how much you earn, but it’s vital to make sure you don’t regularly spend more than you take home.

If you live beyond your means too often, you are going to face problems later on. But if you can consistently manage to live below your means, then you have taken the first important step to generating surplus money on a regular basis.

The ravenous Rat certainly lived up to its reputation during 2008: investment banks disintegrated, insurers swooned and airlines were grounded by the weight of greed and excesses Unlike the Rat, which relishes rooting out clever shortcuts, consumers will, by contrast, feel the yoke of responsibility on their shoulders in the Year of the Ox. The next twelve months is likely to be characterised by lots of diligence and oodles of hard work rather than trousering easy money at the expense of others.

The motto this year can, perhaps, be summed up in four simple words: No pain, no gain. Out of the window goes get-richquick schemes, and in its place will be slow and steady investing. Put another way: if you want to make £1 million, it’ll be a lot easier if you already have £900,000 stashed away in the bank.

One of the most important steps to making money is to prepare a realistic household budget and to revisit it often. In

But utilise the surplus money shrewdly.

A clever use of the cash is to pay down any debts you have while interest rates are low.

It may not seem sexy, but paying off more of your mortgage, say, when rates fall will shorten the length of your mortgage term.

You could shorten the length of a £100,000 mortgage by as much as two years if you overpay by as little as £25 a month.

Little and often are the watchwords for 2009. And if you spend time sowing the seeds of prosperity early, you will enjoy the fruits of your labour come harvest time!

Kung Hei Fat Choy to everyone! n

Fool.co.uk Seriously good with money

TM

As a wealth manager, our business is to help clients, whether private or corporate, meet their financial needs and aspirations by building strong relationships based on trust and expertise.

18

citylifepromotion

We are a growth company with around £16.5bn funds under management. Our strong record of success and achievement can be identified by our recent award wins including The Daily Telegraph Wealth Manager of the Year for the second consecutive year. The St. James’s Place Partnership is the sole advisory channel for St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

NEW CAREER, NEW OPPORTUNITIES For more information on opportunities available with the St. James’s Place Partnership, email Adrian Batchelor on adrian.batchelor@sjp.co.uk For more information on St. James’s Place Wealth Management, please visit our website at www.sjp.co.uk

Unexpected redundancy provided the spur for a complete career change for two investment experts with more than 40 years City experience between them.

James Rothman and William Pitman had both, separately, been considering new paths when their respective firms let them go. The decisions acted as the catalyst for both taking a new direction as Partners with the St. James’s Place Partnership.

James had worked as a stockbroker in UK and European equities for S.G. Warburg for ten years before helping to set up an equities operation in Europe for Deutsche Bank,

William Pitman

which he helped run for another ten years before being made redundant.

“It actually proved to be one of those auspicious moments, as I had become somewhat disenchanted with what I was doing and had been seriously contemplating doing something else when it happened,” said James.

“I had always been interested in financial planning and advice and felt that, in general, it was not always particularly well sold into

James joined the Partnership in June

James Rothman

William (43), married with four sons and

2006. “I found the first six months quite

living in the Cotswolds, found the first six

difficult and there was an awful lot to learn,

months very tough. “This was before

but I achieved Double Partner status in my

St. James’s Place Wealth Management set

first full year and am on track to do the same

up their Academy* and there was a steep

again this year, which is very pleasing. I

learning curve,” he said. “I had to tackle

have found it a very rewarding experience

exams with no support, but thankfully the

altogether. I like the opportunity the

wheels slowly started to move.

Partnership provides to build a business over a long period of time.”

“In spite of the challenging market conditions, I’ve enjoyed a good measure of success in winning business, and it

the City market and therefore there was

William Pitman had been working for

an opportunity for someone with a City

Henderson for nine years, six of them in

shows the model does work in terms of

background to work successfully in that area.”

Singapore as an institutional fund manager

developing business and being in control

investing in Asia-Pacific stock markets.

of one’s own lifestyle.

James spent several months talking to various companies about their investment

“My redundancy pay-off provided the

“With people losing their jobs in the City,

processes, researching businesses from the

‘seed capital’ to help me take a new direction

this is a good time for top class investment

perspective of a potential client rather than

into wealth management,” said William. “I

people to think about new challenges and

a would-be employee, and was struck by

didn’t really know much about St. James’s

the wealth management arena offers a great

the quality of the St. James’s Place Wealth

Place beforehand apart from knowing a couple

new career alternative. Clients are always

Management offer.

of Partners socially, but they explained the

likely to trust someone with experience of

business model and it appealed. The business

business and the investment world.”

“It was the St. James’s Place Wealth Management approach to investment management that appealed to me the most,” said James (45), who is married with four

is highly entrepreneurial with robust support from the middle.

“As a former fund manager, I was

St. James’s Place won the Daily Telegraph Wealth Manager of the Year Award for the second year running in 2008, as well as

daughters and lives in West Sussex. “The

attracted by the client offering, especially

winning the Financial Times and Investors

company does not employ any in-house

the investment approach, and the

Chronicle Wealth Manager of the Year earlier

investment managers, selecting instead a

Partnership structure is such that you can

this year. The St. James’s Place Partnership

number of external managers of outstanding

create your own business in your own

is the sole advisory channel for St. James’s

ability to manage its range of funds.”

likeness and be very entrepreneurial.”

Place Wealth Management.

*The St. James's Place Academy was set up two years ago to offer a limited number of outstanding individuals, with no previous experience in a regulated sales environment, the chance to become part of the St. James's Place Partnership.

currentaffairs

19

St Gordon To The Rescue?

It looks like the Prime Minister is back in favour with the nation

E

ver since the Prime Minister ruled In contrast to Labour, the Conservatives increase of six since before the Pre-Budget out an election in the autumn of have appeared uncertain in response to Report. Mr Cameron has drawn clear 2007, the consensus at Westminster the economic downturn. This, and the battle-lines over the economy. Worryingly has been that he would allow so-called ‘Yachtgate affair’, knocked their for him, the electorate appear to be rallying parliament to run its full term and go to the confidence and has led to a whispering to the Labour flag where the recession is country in May 2010. This view became campaign against the shadow chancellor, concerned. even more entrenched during the course of George Osborne, on Conservative blogs Unless the Conservatives can convince 2008 following the Conservatives’ electoral and in traditional Conservative-leaning voters that the government has been successes and the large opinion poll leads they newspapers such as The Daily Telegraph. irresponsible over spending and borrowing, built up before the financial crisis began to Shrill Conservative attempts to divert it is entirely possible that Gordon Brown dominate British politics. public attention away from the economy will have entered the New Year neck At the beginning of autumn 2008, the and on to the pseudo-farce of the aftermath and neck or possibly even in front of the Conservatives were 15-20 points ahead of Damian Green’s arrest do not look to Conservatives for the first time since of Labour. Most commentators believed have washed with the public. Despite all early October. In these circumstances, that Gordon Brown was so certain to lose this, the ‘Brown bounce’ has not resulted would he be prepared to take the biggest – should he even survive as gamble of his career and seek Labour leader – that he had no a mandate from the country Gordon Brown and Alistair choice but to cling on till the for completing the economic Darling are favoured over David last moment before calling an rescue that he has begun?

Cameron and George Osborne as election. Over the past couple of There are powerful months however, the mood has arguments in favour of this. stewards of the economy changed among both MPs and Nobody can accurately predict senior journalists in Westminster. the state of the economy in A number are now taking very seriously the in the Conservatives’ headline poll rating six months time, let alone by the beginning possibility of an election in 2009. falling below the all important 40% mark of 2010. The impact of the fiscal stimulus The immediate cause is the significant - until now. The recent Populus poll saw might well be short-lived, especially improvement in the Prime Minister’s poll the Conservatives slip to 39 points, while as the recession deepens – which most ratings following his handling - so far - of the the Liberal Democrats have recovered economists predict. Unemployment is financial crisis. Gordon Brown has had a good to a relatively respectable 17 points. also likely to be higher in the second half few months bestriding the world stage and Whereas Labour’s advance had appeared of 2009 and early 2010 than it is at the unveiling his rescue packages. Even a furore to be largely at the expense of the Liberal beginning of next year. So Mr Brown over VAT changes in the Pre-Budget Report, Democrats, who dropped to 12% in might think he will never have a better followed by a concerted Conservative the Ipsos MORI poll in November, the chance of winning an election than if he onslaught over Labour’s supposedly hidden Conservatives now look to be vulnerable to goes to the country in the spring, or even ‘tax bombshell’, could not knock Mr Brown both parties. earlier. Certainly, the longer he plays it, off course. At the end of November, the David Cameron will be hoping that by the more powerful the Conservative cry of so-called ‘Brown bounce’ saw Labour cut the abandoning his pledge to stick to Labour’s ‘time for a change’ could become.

Conservative lead in the polls to a mere three spending plans, he will have the freedom An election in 2009 would be a gamble, points, according to Ipsos-MORI. As I write to develop a more distinctive message on but Gordon Brown is more confident than in the middle of December, a Populus poll has economic policy. He will seek to contrast he has been for over a year. If the polls are shown the Conservatives to enjoy a narrow Conservative responsibility with Labour in any way favourable at the beginning of four point lead over Labour. Under the profligacy. As things stand, it is not working.

2009 then it is perfectly possible that he current electoral system this would effectively According to Populus, Gordon Brown and might just be tempted. n result in a dead heat. The Liberal Democrats Alistair Darling are favoured over David would then come into play as potential Cameron and George Osborne as stewards Tim Rowbottom is Senior Consultant at Bell ‘kingmakers’. of the economy by nine clear points – an Pottinger Public Affairs

BUSINESS TRAVELLER: BARCELONA Cat Hughes takes on the might and sights of Spain

Barcelona is a city with many faces – on the one hand it’s a Mediterranean seaside destination where the night owls come out to play and on the other it’s cultural melting pot, which attracts foodies and architectural buffs from all over the world. It’s also an economic powerhouse, which is in a permanent state of self renewal.

Grand Hotel Central

Where to stay?

OMM

A unique concept hotel, Omm is the creation of architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lòpez, located in the city’s fashionable Paseo de Garcia district.The hotel is all about contractions of light, with dark halls and light, airy bedrooms.

Rooms feature a mini bar, CD player,Wi Fi, and safe. Moo, the Omm’s Michelin-star restaurant, is a haven for the senses, and is run by three brothers Jean, Josep and Jordi Roca, who’s quirky take on Catalonian food is legendary.

But before you head down for the culinary delights of Moo, go to the terrace and enjoy a relaxing swim in the open air pool, which has an amazing view of the Gaudi’s Casa Milà.

00 800 37 46 83 57 www.designhotels.com

Omm Hotel

takes you back to a bygone era of luxury travel. Located in the centre of the city next to Barcelona’s cathedral, in one of the most preserved medieval quarter in Europe; the hotel has 147 large modern interior designed rooms, which features flat screen TVs, DVD, MP3 players and internet access. When you need to relax make your way up to the roof top infinity pool to enjoy the view over the neighbouring Born district.

00 800 37 46 83 57 www.designhotels.com

Fine Dining

The Grand Hotel Central

Ca l’isidre

One of Barcelona’s most elegant hotels.The Grand Hotel Central’s stylish and eloquent architecture

This restaurant is a favourite with celebrates and royalty alike.

Family owned the restaurant

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Hotel Florida

and for the men, a balancing facial which has been specially designed to treat male skin.

Marina 19-21 Barcelona 8005 00349 3221 1000

Cuttlefish and the Peeled Shellfish Paella comes highly recommended.

La Barceloneta 08003 Barcelona 0034 9 3221 5455

Seal the deal Marmalade

serves traditional Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on seasonal products the menu changes every day depending on the produce Mr Isidre the owner can find at the market. The cellar is one of the most important mainstays for the restaurant, you’ll find little treasures from all over the world.

C/ les Flors 12 08001 Barcelona 00349 3441 1139 Can Majo

A family run restaurant located next to the glistening Mediterranean Sea.This establishment is all about fresh food, dedicated to seafood; Enrique, the owner buys all his ingredients from the local market.

The Rice Broth with Lobster, the

The hottest new joint in town, this is where the tourists in the know and Barcelona’s cool kids hang out. This place will certainly impress your clients – you can enjoy a cocktail or challenge your companions to a round of billiards on the hand carved black matte billiard table. Recommended cocktails: Boozy Rouge Beri, La Diva Del Chocolate and for the more adventurous Red Chilli Mango Margarita. www.marmaladebarcelona.com 00349 34 423 966

Shop ‘til you drop Barcelona is a great shopping destination and has many places where you can part with your hard earned cash.Your first stop should be Plaça de Catalunya for El Corte Inglès, Spain’s largest department store chain. It’s seen by the Spanish as a symbol of their culture – and has everything from fashion to a gourmet store. If you want designer labels Passeig de Gracia, with its grand avenue showcasing the best of Spain’s modernist architecture is the place to go. The elegant road which was once the

way to the door of the city has all the best international boutiques such asYves Saint Laurent, Hermes and Escada.

Spa escape Hotel La Florida

After that meeting you thought would never end, what you need is a revitalising massage or a rejuvenating facial. Set high above the city with views over the deep blue Mediterranean Sea is a beautiful hideaway.The Hotel La Florida has a mere 70 rooms and one of the best spas in the city. This spa is all about you, every treatment can be tailor made. If you want a body scrub you can choose one to match the needs of your skin.

Having a facial you can choose the products and which massage you would prefer to go with it. Now that is the way to relax.

Ctra Vallvidera al Tibidabo 83-93 08035 Barcelona 00349 3259 3000 Hotel Arts Barcelona Spa

Set high above the sea on the 42nd and 43rd floors of the Hotel Arts, the Six Senses Spa has sauna steam rooms and pool that overlook the spectacular views of the sea. Treatments include Hopi ear candling, breathe easy rescue to help clear the stress and strain after a long journey

Day Tripping Barcelona is Gaudi’s city and his vision has made this Mediterranean seaside metropolis into an architectural gem. And if you only have an afternoon to spend sightseeing go and see his works of art, there are many to see here.

Casa Batló is Gaudi at his most hallucinogenic best; this has to be the most unique building in Europe.The locals call it Casa Del Drac (house of the dragon) and it’s easy to see why – as the balcony looks like the jaws of a great beast.

The La Sagrada Familia is not to be missed; the unfinished cathedral dominates the landscape and is the most celebrated work of Antoni Gaudi. www.sagradafamilia.com

Travel accessory Premier ‘Places to Remember’ This fuchsia Premier from Smythson is a wonderful way to remember the special places you’ve visited. Indexed for: wining, dining, entertainment, buildings, museums and art, shops and stores, gardens and miscellaneous. You will now never forget that great bar you went to and you can impress your clients with your local knowledge.

The book cover can be gold stamped with a name or initials. www.smythson.com 020 7318 1515

taste of the

ORIENT

Bridge at Kanchanaburi

Travelling back in time, Josephine O’Donoghue travels from Singapore, through Malaysia and Thailand, in search of colonial glamour on the Eastern and Orient Express. In this, the second of a three part series, she leaves Singapore and climbs aboard the iconic green and cream train for the ride of her life

G

all ABOARD!

leaming green and cream carriages, smiling stewards and an atmosphere thick with anticipation greeted us at Keppel Road train station in Singapore. Boarding the famous train, we had only been seated in our sumptuous State Cabin for a few minutes when our steward rapped on the door. Presenting us with fresh fruit juice and mangoes, this was the first in a long line of treats and tiny details which were to make this journey truly unforgettable.

You don’t need me to tell you about the reputation of this regal beast, as its reputation precedes it and has captured the imaginations of countless before me.

Including my Mum who, for weeks didn’t believe I was taking her on a well-deserved break aboard this fabulous train. Conjuring images of glamour, cocktail dresses and dinner jackets, exotic locations and fine dining, the Orient Express is stuff of legends.

Appearing in books, films and television dramas the train has become iconic; in Bram Stoker’s Dracula Dracula,, the vampire is hunted by a party of men who beat him to Varna by travelling on the Orient Express; Agatha Christie’s famous novel Murder on the Orient Express places an epic mystery on board the train; and the Orient Express is featured in Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel From Russia with Love amongst many others.

jan 0

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travel

Although the original Orient Express (which departed from Paris on its first journey on 5 June 1883) ceased to operate from 1976, the privately owned Orient Express Group resurrected the concept in 1982 with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express from London to Venice. Since then the company have expanded their routes to include Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand, England-Scotland, Peru-Rail and developed the Venice-Simplon network to cover destinations in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Turkey. Our journey was to take us on the Eastern and Oriental Express from Singapore, north across the Straits of Johor, snaking up through Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur and Penang, into southern Thailand, and stopping at Kanchanaburi before terminating in Bangkok.

The State Cabin is the middle-range accommodation in a choice of three on the Eastern and Oriental train (although I would recommend that guests book at least to this standard if they want to avoid bunk beds!). Decorated with rich red and green fabrics and walnut burred wood panels, the cosy compartment features two large windows through which we could already see the scenery changing from urban city to endless palms. As there is limited storage within the Pullman Superior and State Cabins, staff recommend that you pack a smaller case or bag for the three days you are on board, and check-in any larger cases – for those who simply cannot or will not pack light, the Presidential Suite has no luggage limit.

Having managed to scale down our luggage for the journey (no mean feat I can assure you) we settled in for the journey.

Even the smallest details are taken care of whilst on board; our attentive steward pressed and hung all of our clothes (even those just slightly crumpled), brought us afternoon tea at 4 o’clock each day, drinks on request and turned down our beds each night. Cool cotton robes hung in the en-suite shower room, Bulgari products lined the shelves, fresh flowers decorated the cabin each day and fresh floral wreaths were laid out on the beds each night.

Over a quarter of a mile long, the remainder of the train was even more impressive than our cabin. Perhaps the most

23

Mum at Bridge over the River Kwai

Our route

popular part is the Observation Car, located at the very end of the train. Its interior section houses the second of two bars on board and is a great place to indulge in a mid-afternoon gin and tonic or a pre-dinner cocktail surrounded by a colonial ‘veranda’ environment. Teak wood flooring, panelled walls, rattan furniture and potted plants create an elegant but leisurely decor which leads out onto the outdoor observation area. The views are simply stunning; totally unobstructed scenery of mountains, palm plantations, rivers, villages, paddy fields and water buffalo passed endlessly by, with a changing backdrop of early morning light, bright sunshine and beautiful sunsets.

Unable to tear ourselves away, each ‘quick visit’ to the Observation Car ran into hours as we waved to local children and took photographs of the vistas. Further back up on the train, there are four dining rooms each decorated in an individual style and named after an Asian region or country.

Guests on the Eastern and Oriental Express can also make use of the colonial-style reading room (filled with books, magazine, games, antique maps and comfortable reading chairs) before visiting the on-board boutique, selling Orient Express souvenirs from pearls to china, and posters to pens.

Undoubtedly the most decadent part of this journey however, was the evening entertainment and fine dining. Getting ready in our cabin was undeniably less elegant than I had hoped – applying make-up in

Observation Car

the cramped shower room was a challenge, particularly when the original 1920s carriages bumped into each other like a row of dominoes as the engine put its breaks on.

But once the mascara had been wiped off my cheek and the dress zipped up, we made our way to one of the dining cars for our evening meal. Guests are encouraged to wear blacktie in the evenings, and it certainly adds a sense of occasion to the journey.

Dining on the Orient Express is an experience in itself. Returning to the glorious era of luxurious train travel, it doesn’t disappoint. Starched white table cloths, tiny lamps in every window, sparkling crystal and shining silverware transform each dining room into a beautiful setting for a wonderful evening. Our first night started with Warm Scallop and Cheese Soufflé served with Lobster Bisque, a deliciously rich and more-ish dish easing us into an evening of rather naughty over-indulgence.

This was followed by Traditional Malaysian fried rice served with Nonya Curry and

24

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State Cabin at night

grilled Satay which was the perfect balance of texture and spice without being too hot. At each evening meal on the Eastern and Oriental Express, there is a choice of Asian or European inspired main courses; a friend dined that same evening on a tender Medallion of Beef accompanied by Stuffed Pimentos, Spinach and Soya Beans and a fragrant Vindaloo Sauce. Finishing off with Macadamia Parfait with Sago Gula Melaka sauce, we sat back sated, and watching the sky turn to night as we passed through the Moorish Station in Kuala Lumpur.

The second night on-board we enjoyed a meal of Pan-fried Goose Liver Wonton with Orange, Pomelo and Kaffir Lime Leaf condiment, followed by Medallion of Lamb with Jus of Asian Spices with Couscous and Vegetable Tian and a Classic Chocolate Torte with raspberry sauce to finish. Cooked to perfection and beautifully presented, it was difficult to believe that all these meals were prepared in a tiny galley kitchen with hardly any surface space. Peeking into the kitchens on my way to the bar car, there were no Gordon Ramsay sized egos or stressful shouting – the chef and his staff prepared the food with a calm and knowing efficiency and my goodness, it tasted just divine!

Having tasted her first Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel the night before, my Mum was anxious to get to the Bar Car to develop her new found love of the cocktail.

Alongside her new favourite, I opted for one of the Eastern and Oriental’s Signature Gin Cocktails, the Jade Forest. Sitting back in the comfortable bar, we enjoyed the classic tunes played for us by Peter the pianist and listened as his gravelly voice belted out some fabulous Sinatra impressions. The atmosphere was 100% colonial glamour, elegance and high society – and we loved it.

There’s no time to get bored on this journey; the itinerary for a three day trip

Steward

Sitting back in the comfortable bar, we enjoyed the classic tunes played for us by Peter the pianist and listened as his gravelly voice belted out some fabulous Sinatra impressions provides the opportunity for two excursions which ensure that guests get to experience at least a taste of the countries that they are travelling through. Penang was to be our first stop, and we disembarked from the train at Butterworth on the western coast of Malaysia. After taking a ferry across to the island we strolled through the busy market streets of Georgetown before enjoying a trishaw ride through the town.

The following day we stopped in Kanchanaburi to visit the infamous Death Railway built by POWs under Japanese control during WWII, the Railway Museum and the Donrak War Cemetery. Stopping the train on the Bridge over the River Kwai we travelled by boat downriver until we reached Kanchanaburi itself; a representative from the museum delivered a short and informative lecture about the railway before we entered the museum. A harrowing experience, the museum detailed the construction of the railway, the appalling treatment and consequent death of the POWs who built it, and the events of WW11 that took place in south-east Asia. A must-see landmark in Thailand, the museum exhibits original shells, bombs, weaponry, films, photographs and first-hand accounts of the actions that unfolded there. Opposite lies the Donrak War Cemetery – we took the floral wreaths from our cabin and laid them on the graves of British soldiers or airmen who shared our names or birthdays, in a personal act of remembrance.

Hua Hin Station

Only an hour from Kanchanaburi, we finally pulled into Bangkok’s busy train station to be welcomed by a friendly host from our hotel. Settling back into the chauffeur driven Mercedes it was hard to take in all that we had seen and experienced on our short time on the Eastern and Oriental Express; it was truly a once in a lifetime journey. But as we were thrust into the metropolis of Bangkok, and the sights and smells of the city passed by the window, thoughts soon turned to our next destination: The Oriental Hotel. n

For more information about a journey on the Eastern and Oriental Express, visit www.orientexpress.com or call 0845 077 2222 for bookings

Inspired decision. Smart choice.

The Porsche Boxster accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 6.1 seconds, yet delivers a combined fuel consumption of 30.4 mpg and VED ‘Band F’ CO2 emissions.

Combined with a Porsche Preferences finance plan, you can afford to be inspired.

The Porsche Boxster. From £426 per month to the limits you set.

Cash Price

£33,640.00

Deposit

£7,000.00

Amount of Credit

£26,640.00

First Monthly Payment

£500.25

35 Monthly Payments

£425.25

Guaranteed Minimum Future Value

£17,045.93

Total Amount Payable

£39,429.93

Typical 8.9% APR Call 020 8819 8911 or visit info@porscheeastlondon.co.uk

Porsche Centre East London 68-70 High Street Stratford London E15 2NE www.porsche.co.uk/eastlondon

Fuel consumption/emissions in accordance with 80/1268/EC. mpg Urban 20.5; Extra Urban 41.5; Combined 30.4. CO2 emissions (g/km) 222.

The Guaranteed Minimum Future Value is the value of the vehicle at the time your contract ends. Advertised finance offer available on a Porsche Boxster with 12 month road fund licence and first registration fee through Porsche Financial Services on a Porsche Preferences Plan, at participating Porsche Centres. Image shown for illustrative purposes only. Terms and conditions apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. All finance subject to status to over 18’s only. Subject to availability. £75 acceptance fee is included with first payment and £25 option to purchase fee is included in Guaranteed Minimum Future Value. Contract is based on annual mileage of 10,000 miles. Excess mileage will be charged at 14p per mile. Porsche Financial Services, Bath Road, Calcot, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 7SE. Registered in England number: 3708834. Porsche Financial Services Great Britain is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

GLOBETROTTING As the world gets smaller and no destination is off limits to tourism, Josephine O’Donoghue goes in search of the most unusual ways in which to travel, and push the limits of your annual holiday

A

s I’m sure most of you will agree, January is the month in which most of us feel the need for a holiday. It doesn’t matter that we have just had one; the Christmas season is so utterly exhausting and the weather in the New Year so miserable, that January is the perfect month for a change of scenery or a relaxing break. For those with wellearned bonus packets, we’ve put together some of the best holidays to welcome in 2009 and put you on form for an exhilarating and memorable year ahead.

ABerCromBIe & KeNt: PUSHING THE LIMITS Why go to extremes?

Travelling with Abercrombie and Kent is not a ‘holiday’ per se. Priding themselves on creating an entire experience, the team at A&K ensure that even the smallest detail is unforgettable and every day is tailored perfectly to the individual. Forget those companies who simply book a hotel room, dinner and transfers; this is the real deal.

“For a few select individuals, there comes a point when life’s challenges must take on new dimensions. Even the glories of professional and social success can’t compare to the rush of achieving personal quests in

nature” says the team at A&K, “The reason?

No matter how sophisticated and successful we become, nature maintains the upper hand. We respect that. We understand that experiencing nature at its most extreme can reveal exactly who you are, challenging your physical, psychological and maybe even spiritual selves”.

For boys (and girls) in search of the ultimate thrill, South Africa and Namibia offer a range of activities at the very heart of extreme sport. With A&K guests can experience everything from Grand Prix racing in an A1-type racing car at up to

120mph to fast jet flying in a British built Hawker Hunter fighter jet from Thunder City Hangar. Reading from the expedition log book at Thunder City Hangar, a recent visitor explains how “The altimeter reads 18,000 feet already, and the climb indicator is spinning madly. The pilot pulled a hard left at 4 Gs, and we felt as though we were being squeezed into the airframe. Then we banked right...30,000 ft...35,000 ft... We reached the summit of this incredible climb (45,000 ft), the entire curve of the earth’s edge spread out before us. The pilot banked again and we lunged earthward, levelling

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WITH A DIFFERENCE off and sweeping along the coastline of the Cape; the ocean view filled the canopy”. Not quite the normal experience, even when booking a special pleasure flight on holiday. With A&K flights in the BAE Buccaneer and English Electric Lightning jets are also available in South Africa.

If heights aren’t your thing and you prefer the more tangible earth and water, why not sign up for a daring dip with Great White sharks of the coast of Gaansbaai: Shark Alley. After being fully briefed and fitted with all the gear, guests dive into a shark-proof cage before being lowered to a depth in which these powerful creatures dive within inches of their bodies. After this (quite frankly, sublime) experience, sail through Shark Alley and you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a Great White feeding on local seals; further on, the African penguins and other marine birds await at Dyer Island.

If flying high above the clouds at several hundred miles per hour and diving with sharks has given you a taste of adventure and the outdoors, then hop aboard an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) and take on the Namib Desert’s sand-dunes, skimming across the tops like a surfer on the waves. Camp overnight in the desert before flying to the Onguma Tree Top Camp and Game Reserve, opposite the Etosha National Park to discover daily game drives, the Etosha salt pan flamingos and black rhinos.

On the other hand, A&K also offer a variety of snow ‘holidays’. Forget Val d’Isère and Meribel, and think of the South Pole and Antarctica, Norway and un-tamed Alaska. “My binoculars were trained on a father penguin and chick when suddenly the view went fuzzy” says the expedition log book from a trip to Antarctica, “I looked up to see two adolescent penguins waddling straight towards me, curiously eyeing my camera bag.” Travelling from Punta

Arenas, Chile, guests of A&K start at the Patriot Hills base camp before journeying via ski plane over the Ronne Ice Shelf to Berkner Island. The group then continues to fly along the coast of Antarctica until they find a colony of emperor penguins to stop and observe! Living amongst the penguins (roughly 5,500 adults and 3,300 chicks) at distances as close as 50 ft, this is as far away from the City as even your imagination can take you. Or why not travel to the deep north, on the trail of a polar bear? A&K offer expeditions to the Arctic wilderness from Norway.

Snowmobile to the coast from Longyearbyen, encountering high-arctic reindeer, arctic fox and ptarmigan (game-bird) along the way. The remote east coast is polar bear country; the world’s largest land carnivore, the polar bear is a terrifying and beautiful sight. This area of Spitsbergen is the last protected natural polar bear habitat and with a bear population of 4,500 sightings should be excellent.

Trading your usual desert island beach holiday for an A&K adventure certainly sets you apart from the crowd. As one of the team points out, “How many people will raft a wild river inhabited only by grizzlies and musk oxen? Can they say they were one of four humans amidst 100,000 migrating caribou?

Or be one of only a few hundred people in history to arrive on foot at the South Pole?” Embarking on these expeditions gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself in a different environment and discover talents you never knew you had. And in finding yourself at the ends of the earth, the highest point or the fastest speed, what a sense of achievement you’ll gain – far more valuable than a postcard, sun tan or souvenir. n For more information on Abercrombie & Kent, visit www.akextremeadventures.co.uk

ski weekender! the inaugural

26th -1st FEB MA 200 R

9

Chamonix, France

From £450 10%

discount to registered users of www.vicinitee.com

3,4 & 5 star packages available SAMPLE PACKAGE INCLUDES  Transfers to and from the airport to resort  3 nights accommodation  Resort guides  Vicinitee VIP ‘Aprés Ski’ privileges Return flights to Geneva from London City and other airports available on request.

Ski-Hire, Ski Pass and other resort events can be arranged if required.

“Let us show you how its done!”

Join us for sun, skiing and schnapps, what could be better! Off Piste guides, Snow Shoeing, Husky sledging, Paragliding and many more activities available to suit your weekend.

Chamonix offers over 140 kilometres of slope and is situated amongst the highest mountain peaks in the Alps, including the famous Mont Blanc massif at 4,810 metres offering good snow conditions. For the more nocturnal, ‘Après Ski’ is an art form in Chamonix, there are many bars and even a casino to fill time not spent on the slopes.

Early booking recommended as limited spaces available.

For further information, to register your interest, or book please email: skiweekender@vicinitee.com

Vicinitee_Ski_Weekend_FP_Ad_FINAL.indd 1

28/10/2008 16:10:17

EXPLORA: A STAR, SO BRIGHT

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Pool

How many people have seen stars in focus?

Thanks to South American company Explora, adventurers in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert can count themselves amongst the lucky few who can.

Providing travellers with the opportunity to witness the starlit heavens in sharp focus, there is a new observatory at Hotel de Larache. Set amid the driest desert in the world, Explora’s secluded outpost is perfectly situated for the best star-gazing on the South American continent. All fitted out with the recent installation of a Meade 16” f/10 LX200R Advanced RC Telescope, the hotel offers guests the finest tools for astronomical exploration.

High altitude, a virtually cloudless climate, and sparse settlements that minimise distracting light pollution and radio interference make the Atacama Desert of northern Chile a dream destination for star-gazers. High above the desert, the night sky twinkles with the astronomical highlights of the Southern Hemisphere including the

Southern Cross and the southern Milky Way. “We don’t want to be astronomers; we just want to assure explorers a unique experience of observing the wonders of one of the finest skies in the world,” explains Maurice Dides, General Manager of Hotel de Larache. “Guests can look forward to identifying constellations, planets, stars of multiple colours, globular clusters, misty nebulae, and galaxies thousands of lightyears away”.

The Explora observatory is located just 100 metres from Hotel de Larache and inside, guests gather beneath an observation dome measuring five metres in diameter.

The new Meade LX200R is a first-class telescope, accessorised with premium-grade optical glass, a Super Wide Angle Eyepiece, and a ‘piggyback bracket’ enabling the mounting of digital cameras for spectacular astrophotography.

More than a hotel, de Larache is an experience. Alongside the spectacular observatory the facilities include a new

library living room, cocktail lounge, and a new open kitchen offering guests an interactive dining experience as Executive Chef, Laurant Pascualetto and his team prepare delicious dishes inspired by the local specialities. Two Jacuzzis and two Turkish Baths outside offer guests a chance to enjoy hot and cool water therapies in conjunction with four swimming pools and two saunas – the perfect antidote to a hot day in the desert.

Explora is not so much a hotel group, as a revolutionary travel experience. Founded in 1989, they encourage a new attitude towards travel for those who have a passion for discovering new places and new people, in remote and relatively unexplored regions of the southern tip of South America. A getaway with a difference, inspiring a whole new you, this is the perfect New Year choice. n For reservations at Explora en Atacama, please call Explora (+56) 2206 6060 or visit www.explora.com

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travel

RAFFLES: WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? If you really don’t know what to do with your annual bonus but fancy some special treatment, why not let Raffles do all the planning for you? Raffles Resort on Canouan Island is ready and waiting to roll out the red carpet and present their million dollar exclusive retreat for your enjoyment.

Fly to the island on your very own private jet from a choice of five international cities (London, Moscow, Paris, Milan or Madrid); travelling to the heart of the Grenadines, the hotel sits nestled on an exclusive 300 acre Caribbean island estate. In a specially tailored package, spend ten days living the high life in this millionaire’s playground.

This totally unspoiled (and virtually unknown) land of white beaches and azure clear waters, offers the perfect hideaway for guests requiring the utmost privacy on their stress-free escape from city life. Take ownership of a luxuriously secluded four bedroom Raffles Villa with private infinity pool and direct views across the worldclass 18-hole (Jim Fazio designed) Trump International Golf Club and out towards the Caribbean Sea. A private chef and butler will be on hand to serve every whim and showcase the world-class Raffles service.

Unlimited golf course access allows guests to tee off from the sloping landscape with spectacular panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea whenever they fancy, whilst the Raffles Amrita Spa erases all traces of stress, tension or worry with fragrant oils and gentle massage. Whether guests fancy taking a kayak out into the blue lagoon or simply honing their tennis skills with the resident tennis pro, everything you want is right on hand.

A private yacht and crew will be waiting if

guests wish to explore local islands, swim with the resident hawksbill turtles or snorkel in the protected reefs of Tobago Cays, before picnicking on a secluded beach as if they had the world to themselves.

This kind of break surely appeals to everyone; it’s the ultimate escape. Imagine this: as the sun sets, toast your evening with a signature $300 martini in the lively Jambu’s bar before learning to shake with the best of them as the head barman teaches you all the tricks of the cocktail trade. Four restaurants offer a tantalising choice of international flavours from sophisticated gourmet European haute cuisine at La Varenne and indigenous Caribbean treats at Jambu’s, to a lively concerto of Italian fare at La Piazza contrasting with the laid back vibe of Godahl’s Beach Bar and Grill Restaurant. And if you’re feeling up to a little excitement why not take in the island’s Monte Carlo casino. n

Raffles Resort Canouan Island’s Million Dollar Holiday starts from US$ 1,000,000 For reservations contact the London Sales Office on 020 7300 1772 or email patrice.vanisacker@raffles.com

retail

Black & Tan Soft Leather Suitcases, Brigg Spring Collection 2009, Swaine Adeney

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A CASE HERITAGE Stephanie Baxter takes a look at luxury luggage through the ages

Purple St Tropez Cabin Bag, Aspinal of London

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he British nation is a people who have been on the move since even further back than when Henry VIII was on the throne. Back then, the royal court took to the road multiple times a year to take occupancy of the various royal residences around the country. Furthermore, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was a custom for visits to displaced friends and family, as well as the annual fashionable visits to ‘town’ (London, that is) and to Bath, to span over a period of weeks, even months. Meaning that a significant majority of one’s possessions would have to be transported either with the travelling party, or having been sent on ahead in anticipation of arrival. Luggage, in those times, despite not yet being graced with that name, came almost entirely in the form of the trunk.

Indeed, how many times in a BBC period drama have you seen various trunks being loaded to and from a horse-drawn coach? I rest my case. (Pun half intended.)

The word ‘luggage’, by the way, arose in the realm of boat travel, through the act of ‘lugging’ baggage to the ship’s hold as undertaken by servants of the wealthy. Like eighteenth and nineteenth-century travel, the sheer length of the journey meant that

the amount of luggage taken on such voyages was large, to say the least. Stackable luggage was a useful concept in instances like these, with varying sizes of the same case being produced in order that they might be loaded one on top of the other to save space. The sheer weight of all the baggage, then, would have been staggering, with the cases being made of the highest quality of heavy duty, reinforced leather. Luggage, however, has since evolved into a more lightweight affair with the advent of air travel, with strict baggage restrictions having to be enforced to ensure fuel consumption is maintained at a manageable level.

Throughout the last 150 years, one name has dominated the luggage market: Louis Vuitton. This is no surprise, considering that when the company started back in 1854, it was initially a trunk manufacturer, and from the very beginning their goods bore the hallmark ‘L’ and ‘V’ initials that have today become the epitome of luxury luggage. Today, a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage will cost you upwards of £500; a modest price to pay for such quality as theirs, surely. If you’re wishing to invest in something a bit more vintage, Louis Vuitton still carry their classic Alzer series, a range of stackable hard-sided cases that have become “the emblem” of Louis Vuitton.

Also carrying the torch for classic vintage-feel luggage is Swaine Adeney, whose pieces have barely changed since they first started producing them many moons ago, with only the addition of a set of wheels here and a

retractable handle there to bring them into the twenty-first century. The result of such little change is a range of the most refined-looking traditional luggage ever to be produced in the UK. Aspinal of London, meanwhile, have built upon their traditional selection of luggage with the inclusion of the St Tropez range, a stylish and chic series of hand-luggage bags (from £460). Whilst it retains the classic shape of their older-looking pieces such as the Grand Tourer Travel Bag (from £315), the crocodile-style leather gives it a very contemporary and stylish look that would look at home in any first-class lounge.

Whilst available in three other colours, it is the purple St Tropez Cabin Bag that is exceptionally stunning, and is guaranteed to be a head-turner. www.louisvuitton.com www.swaineadeney.com.uk www.aspinaloflondon.com

Alzer, Louis Vuitton

IS THE MAGIC NUMBER Rebecca Walton discovers the private jet phenomenon; friend or foe?

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hen I was first offered the opportunity to experience private jet travel with Hangar8, my mind quickly conjured images of movie stars and pop moguls sashaying up red carpets, the flash of paparazzi bulbs, and uniformed pilots standing to attention; in reality, corporate jet travel is completely different.

Sat at my desk frantically trying to complete overdue tasks, I was surprised when a message was put through to say that my driver was outside waiting and I was to come down only when I was ready.

Modern day society (and certainly modern day business) does not normally allow me to make choices with my time, and in my experience drivers expect you to grab your bag and make the descent down the stairs in record time. So, imagine my delight when I left the office to be greeted by a dapper gentleman in a suit who soon reassured me that today, my time really was mine.

I’m sure that everyone will agree that the ability to conduct business whilst travelling is a major plus point. With no noisy train carriages (and without the incessant ringing of other people’s mobile phones and blackberries) my journey to Oxford was quick and simple. Guaranteeing the utmost discretion for all clients, I felt at ease discussing private work issues over the phone for the duration of the drive.

Oxford Airport does not sound like the easiest and best option for travelling from Canary Wharf and The City, but due to the

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...whose philosophy is simple: Always aim to exceed expectations.

ease of the traffic conditions leaving London it is one that should not be overlooked.

Oxford Airport is accessed via the M40 corridor which is the least congested London arterial route in the South East, thus ensuring the journey is much faster than closer airports such as Biggin Hill. Oxford Airport is consequently establishing itself as one of Europe’s most desirable Business Aviation airports.

Once we arrived at Oxford there were none of the usual queues at the check-in desk; I could be driven directly to my plane or I could take an opportunity to relax in style, in the newly opened business executive lounge. The main terminal houses VIP and VVIP lounges, private meeting rooms, board rooms and private shower facilities. Within the attractive modern terminal buildings, the rooms are equipped with all the latest audio, visual and wireless technology allowing business meetings to take place without distraction. Seated in the luxury leather armchairs in the VIP lounge, I was treated to a glass of chilled champagne, gourmet nibbles and personal service that wouldn’t be out of place in a luxury 5 star hotel. With a view of the runway and my jet, I met my host for the day, Dustin Dryden (Managing Director of Hangar8) whose philosophy is simple: Always aim to exceed expectations.

Hangar8 is one of Europe’s leading operators of private jets, with bases at

Oxford, Luton and Guernsey airports.

Boasting a fleet of some of the most desirable aircrafts around and with some of the finest terminal facilities in Europe available to them, they are ideally located as one of the best business aviation companies in the arena of corporate travel. I was in awe of the state-of-the-art flight planning software and attention to detail; staff offered advice regarding the most viable aircraft, airport, flight times, and even offered to arrange a hotel at the destination city.

Soon I was seated back in the BMW on my way to board – with no hefty security checks and long queues I was swept straight into the car and onto the runway to board my aircraft.

My journey was on the luxurious Challenger 601 and once onboard it was easy to see why this model very quickly became one of the world’s best selling large corporate jets.With a wide cabin and stand-up room of over six feet, a passive noise insulation system (which I was told was one of the quietest in the market), it provides superior cabin comfort for up to 10 passengers – even leaving room for luggage and 6 sets of golf clubs (or 8 pairs of skis in winter).

Once settled in my comfortable leather seat I was introduced to Chris Rigby, a long standing pilot with Hangar8, who was to be my travel companion to the beautiful European city of Brussels. Having spent a lot of time in Brussels as a child I was expecting the usual delayed journey, the tedious customs

and security checks, and was fully expecting to plant my feet on Belgian soil a good few hours later. To my astonishment, I was told my journey time was to be just 43 minutes.

I travelled in total comfort and style.

Between delicious bites of seafood and fresh vegetables (sourced locally within the Cotswolds and prepared by a local chef especially for me), I sipped more champagne.

No small or watery microwave dinners in cellophane wrap to be found here! Alongside my meal I was offered an extensive wine list more suited to a Michelin-starred restaurant than a flight across the Channel.

All too soon it seemed we were landing in Brussels, and I was whisked straight off the plane and through customs to my car; the quickest, easiest and most straightforward arrival in a country that I have ever had.

I arrived at my destination relaxed and unflustered. I continued to handle my work commitments whilst in the car and thousands of feet up in the Challenger 601, not losing a moment of my precious time to anything.

It seems inevitable that there will always be people who consider private jet travel as an unnecessary extravagance, but when you look at the ease and simplicity of the whole journey, it might be worth asking: How much is your time really worth to you? n For more information on Hangar8 visit www.hangar8.co.uk or call 01865 372 215

Macrobiotic

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Kate Harrison learns how to become superhuman at SHA Wellness Clinic

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tkins… lemon detox… cabbage soup, I’m always one to take an avid interest in the latest fad diet.

I’ve tried them all with varying levels of success but the end result is always the same, weight loss followed by inevitable weight gain and so the cycle continues. So when I heard the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna were hooked on the benefits of macrobiotics I was immediately curious and eager to trial the concept for myself.

The science Based on a healthy living regime rather than a weight loss programme, macrobiotics is an ancient Japanese philosophy with oriental roots and has yin, yang and energy flow at its core. A holistic ideology, it is applied to all aspects of life with the energy of foods being a fundamental.

Macrobiotics comes from the Greek words ‘makro’ meaning ‘great’ or ‘long’ and ‘bios’ meaning ‘life’. The philosophy dictates that we are the result of and are continually influenced by our total environment, which ranges from the foods we eat and our daily social interactions to the climate and geography in which we live.

The most recent development of macrobiotics stems from Michio Kushi who was inspired by philosopher-writer George Ohsawa, publisher of numerous works combining the western traditions of macrobiotics with 5,000 years of traditional oriental medicine. Michio is now the current world leader in the field and is the creator of Método SHA, macrobiotics for modern times which he oversees at the SHA Wellness Clinic.

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SHA the concept Set atop a mountain in Altea, on the Costa Blanca, SHA offers panoramic views of the open sea, an ideal setting to host the ethos of peace and tranquillity that is behind the SHA concept. A moving story, the clinic is built upon a picturesque plot which was once the holiday home of the Bataller family.

The family had never thought they would develop the land commercially, until the father suffered ill-health and was diagnosed with a tumour that was not responding to western medicine. He sought alternative advice and reverted to a macrobiotic lifestyle to make a full recovery. This experience was so incredible that the family decided to build the first macrobiotic clinic to give everyone the chance to benefit.

The team of renowned specialists coming together to form the backbone of SHA is hugely impressive, with experts and consultants uniting to push the macrobiotics message to the masses. With countless stories of miraculous transformation, the clinic cannot fail to be an inspiration.

At SHA, attention to detail is key. The aspect is of stunning natural beauty, the property and rooms are designed with energy flow in mind and even the mattresses and sheets have been chosen with the utmost

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care. There is even an a la carte service available for both the thread count of sheets as well as 5 different variations of firmness of mattress. Even the mini bar is stocked full of healthy, delicious, macrobiotic snacks to keep you on track with the programme.

Consultations and personalisation Perhaps the most important element of SHA is the fact that the programme on offer is a completely bespoke service to help each guest achieve their personal goals.

Throughout the duration of the programme the medical team adapt the MĂŠtodo Sha concept to meet your personal requirements and they will support you at every stage to

ensure that maximum personal benefits are achieved. The wellness clinic is not about dealing with people with severe illnesses but about promoting preventative lifestyle changes before ill-health occurs.

The programme starts with a compulsory medical check-up to talk through medial history, goals and desired results. SHA has

a definite medical focus which is the main differentiating factor over any spa or health clinic and they make take blood samples if recommended to mark progress as well as assist in diagnosis.

The medical is followed by a Macrobiotic consultation where specialists use methods such as Oriental Diagnosis or Bo-shin, the art of seeing, to analyse facial lines and physical characteristics as a form of preventative medical diagnosis, to suggest foods, natural therapies and activities to help maximise results over the duration of the programme.

These recommendations are then fed to the kitchen and other consultants to ensure that you have a personalised menu and programme created to accurately reflect your specific needs.

Additional consultations complete the holistic approach that SHA offers including an opportunity to meet with the Antiaging medical unit who will give practical suggestions on how to slow down the aging process and prevent illness through adopting new techniques such as maintaining homeostasis and the regulation of hormone levels, amino-acids and vitamins to balance chronological and biological age. To complement this, the Aesthetic medicine unit helps to achieve results through the use of non-invasive techniques with diet being the corner stone to all the programmes on offer.

The food Macrobiotics is an approach to food; it is not a diet but more about making sensible choices and learning how food affects you.

The diet can be controlled and is therefore an important factor in changing a person’s disposition, since certain foods can make us aggressive, competitive or peaceful and calm, depending on the natural energy source. It is best to regulate the diet with balanced energy levels and limit the intake

of very yin or yang produce. The Great Life Pyramid gives macrobiotic dietary guidelines with meat being at the top of the pyramid (for infrequent consumption) and whole grains at the bottom as the central dietary focus and consisting of 40-60% of the daily intake of food. They are then supplemented with vegetables, beans and sea vegetables (which provide a vital source of minerals). Cooking classes are held to explain the different types of foods, their effect on the body and the best cooking methods to use to keep up a macrobiotic diet when at home.

SHA takes the ancient philosophy one step further and is about macrobiotics for modern times, a fusion of the ancient mantra and the modern life. This is apparent in the food that is served which is an eclectic mix of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, both of which are traditionally health diets and the gourmet chef conjures up a menu that provides culinary delight according to the macrobiotic regime. Guests will certainly not go hungry; in fact quite the opposite, lunch consists of two courses and dinner three, with innovative dessert options for those with a sweet tooth! Wine is available for those who are more companions than active participants in the programme but be warned that SHA take the programme and your goals seriously and will do everything possible to help each guest achieve optimum results, even if that means steering you away from your preferred choice of foods at times of weakness.

The programme revolves around three balanced meals a day, chewing your food well and eating reasonable portions. The importance of actually sitting down and taking your time to eat is emphasised, a lifestyle element that families today seem to have lost.

health&beauty

Treatments, Activities and Facilities Natural therapies are acknowledged as a great treasure to be used to harness ultimate health and enhance the body’s flow of energy, the philosophy is such that when chi is disrupted or blocked sickness occurs.

Natural therapies seek to treat the root cause of the illness, rather than the symptoms and Shiatsu and Reiki are regularly used to unblock energy paths. When the mind is relaxed the body is at optimal health and experiencing our true nature is possible.

Thus energy based exercise such as yoga and tai-chi forms an integral part of the programme and personalised classes are available to learn set techniques to take home with you.

A gym, hydrotherapy pools, saunas and steam rooms of varying temperatures all add to the relaxation methods used to complete a tranquil experience. A contemporary hair salon and manicure and pedicure station is available for those you want a little extra pampering and the facials on offer are purely divine. The SHA project is an investment in health and well-being and the specialists are all experts at their professions, be they beauty therapists or yoga instructors.

Results By using macrobiotic principles to address and adjust environmental, dietary and lifestyle influences, thousands of individuals have been able to prolong and enhance their lives. SHA offers a luxurious haven in which to break bad health habits and supports a new way of living.

A wise owl once told me that the optimum state of health and physique is not achieved though a fad diet but can only be achieved through embracing a new way of life and a comprehensive lifestyle change and this is certainly the underlying philosophy at SHA. After 3 days at the clinic I certainly left invigorated with new energy and a determination to keep up the regime, inspired by the therapists, chefs, consultants and managers, each an ultimate believer and great physical ambassador of the modern macrobiotic lifestyle. Let’s hope I can keep up the good work… n

A 7-night SHA Essence programme starts from 4,210 Euros in a Classic Suite based on single occupancy. This price includes accommodation, airport transfers, full personalised macrobiotic diet, in-room healthy bar with fresh natural snacks and juices, medical check up, full macrobiotic health assessment, development of your SHA health plan, aesthetic consultancy, special remedy drinks, preventative medicine consultation, physio assessment, access to the SHA Life-Learning centre, a healing therapeutic treatment and a Thalasso lab circuit. www.shawellnessclinic.com Monarch offers year round flights to Alicante from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £46.50 one way. For more information or to book, visit www.monarch.co.uk

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Prescriptive

Feeling like you need a prescriptive break? Join Kate Hughes as she looks at the best international spas for ultra luxury and wellness

CAPRI PALACE BEAUTY FARM, ITALY Ailment: Bad circulation A tranquil and beautiful location offering healthful restoration and physical and spiritual serenity. This beauty farm is all about “getting back into shape” and is highly committed to the creation of innovative treatment and therapy programmes to restore your equilibrium, energy and wellness.

I visited the beauty farm within the white-washed beautiful Capri Palace Hotel in Anacapri, to try out the famous “Leg School”. The treatment makes the legs look healthy again through the use of truly unique formulas to combat sluggish blood circulation and in the process favours lymphatic draining and reduce swelling. I must admit I was slightly sceptical of this treatment patented and employed by Professor Francesco Canonaco, but left there relaxed and it did work!!

Prices start from 4,850 Euros for 7 nights www.capripalace.com (+39) 081 978 0524

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THE DIOR INSTITUT AT THE HOTEL PLAZA ATHENEE, PARIS Ailment: Lacklustre skin and body Newly launched in September 2008 and the first ever Dior spa in France, this place offers men and women a selection of innovative programmes adapted to time schedules, including rejuvenating face and body treatments.

THE COMO SHAMBHALA ESTATE, BALI Ailment: Dealing with stress

The signature treatment “L’or de vie” is a must as it boasts a miracle concentrate with powerful antioxidant properties and is truly a unique experience.

Christine Ong’s destination spa is a retreat in the heart of the Balinese Jungle near Ubud and is a retreat for change. This is a new style residential health centre where guests are immersed in a positive, holistic and healing experience. The estate is somewhere people go to work through issues to discover their personal potential and face new challenges, and there is a specific stress management programme for a more all round life changing experience.

L’or de Vie treatment is 490 Euros (120 mins) www.plaza-athenee-paris.com (+33) 153 676 535

A 3, 5 or 7 night stress management programme starts at £750 for single occupancy including full board spa cuisine, 2 stress management consultations, 4 treatments, 2 private yoga sessions and the services of a personal assistant.

Pure Bliss! www.cse.como.bz (+62) 361 978 888

THE EVASON HIDEAWAY AT HUA HIN, THAILAND Ailment: Inability to relax This boutique spa resort has just launched a balanced cuisine menu and the idea behind this is to offer “feel good food” combined with exercise and holistic treatments to achieve total balance and well being.

This unique spa opened towards the end of last year and comprises of nine clay domes which appear to float on lotus ponds and were designed by a Feng Shui master. In addition to the four treatment rooms there is a private outdoor Jacuzzi, two steam rooms, a meditation cave and gorgeous relaxation area. www.sixsenses.com (+66) 032 618200

ONE & ONLY REETHI RAH, THE MALDIVES Ailment: Lacklustre mind and body This One & Only Spa

by Espa offers a fresh approach to healing in the Maldives. Guests are encouraged to embark on a physical, mental and spiritual journey in these truly amazing surroundings. Your journey starts with a tailor-made wellbeing consultation with a highly qualified consultant. For extra pampering there are eight stand alone treatment villas, two private spa suites, vitality pools, crystal steam rooms and saunas, as well as a range of holistic treatments specially created for the spa. The signature experiences are a luxurious collection of advanced therapies. We love the Ayurvedic packages! www.oneandonlyresorts.com (+960) 664 8800

HERE COME

THE GIRLS……..

Kate Hughes and actress Nicola Stapleton hit London for a well earned pamper day and night

P Dukes Bar

rofessional women sometimes find it hard to relax but we have a guide that will let you do just that! Our day starts early with a chauffeur driven car picking us both up to drive us to the first appointment of the day. The Elemis Day Spa at the Hotel Intercontinental beckons and we instantly know that we are in for a treat. We arrive to a light breakfast in the ultimate comfort and privacy of our VIP suite, perfect for side by side rituals.

We start with the steam temple where we cover ourselves in therapeutic mud

and relax in the lemongrass and lavenderinfused steam chamber. Only to be finished off with a tropical rain that pours from the beautiful domed room. Then back to our suite for the spa’s signature treatment The English Rose, comprising of a luxurious massage and facial.

Our driver picks us up, relaxed to the max and we head off to the fabulous Angelus for lunch. Our Head Chef, Thierry Tomasin has devised our very own taster menu including complimentary wines and champagne for each course.

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Zuma Sushi Counter

Gullivers London Ltd Prestige Car Service. For 8 hours from £250 per day. www.guliverslondon.net 020 7731 6665

Space NK nail station

After having our fill of treats such as Fois Gras, Salmon, Sole stuffed with Lobster and the most fantastic desserts known to man (Crème Brulee to name but one), we are full and slightly merry! But the delights don’t stop there.

Onwards to Space NK, Knightsbridge for the best manicures and pedicures we have ever had! Praise indeed but true all the same!

Perfectly pampered, we head off to our hotel, the beautiful Berkeley and upon arrival our suite is lavished with goodies. Think hampers containing chocolates, popcorn, ice cream, girlie dvds, Diptique candles, Bliss pampering products and much more. “The Girls Night In Package” is exactly what is says on the tin but we have more planned before we can chill and enjoy it!

The champagne is opened and we dress for dinner. Once again our driver escorts us, this time to the Dukes Hotel where we sample London’s best martinis. Dukes is decadent, no wonder Ian Fleming got his inspiration for the Bond movies here!

Shaken but not stirred we head to Zuma for dinner where Head Chef Ross Shonhan has another taster menu planned. Again,

Elemis Spa The Intercontinental Park Lane www.spaintercontinental.com 020 7318 8691 Space NK www.spacenk.com 020 7581 2518 Dukes Hotel www.dukeshotel.com 020 7491 4840 Zuma Restaurant 5 Raphael Street London, SW7 1DL www.zumarestaurant.com 020 7584 1010

the food is terrific and after plenty to eat and drink we need a boogie to burn some calories off!

So our driver whisks us off to Whisky Mist at the Hilton Park Lane where we party until the early hours. Our driver is on hand to take us back to The Berkeley for a nightcap and we settle down to watch a movie and finally off to sleep.

A perfect girls day and night. n

Angelus Restaurant 4 Bathurst Street London, W2 2SD www.angelusrestaurant.co.uk 020 7402 0083

The Berkeley Hotel Wilton Place, Knightsbridge London, SW1X 7RL www.theberkeley.co.uk 020 7201 1618

BIG SPENDER

Sarah Collinson and Josephine O’Donoghue check out the coolest ways to splash your cash this bonus season

Ice Ice BaBy Spending an extremely large amount of money on rare vintage wine won’t make you unique. It is not unusual to rack up an impressive wine bill after a boozy lunch and buying a bottle of Chateau Petrus or a case of vintage Dom Pérignon has become almost a standard for the luxury elite.While we would never suggest forgoing this habit (the pop of an expensive cork probably being one of the best sounds in the world), it might be time to look beyond the confines of French red and Pinot Noir champagne.

Ice wine (or Eiswein in German) is probably the world’s most exclusive dessert wine. Famously produced in Germany and Canada, Ice wine is pressed from frozen grapes meaning the ‘must’ (the grape juice used in making wines) is unusually concentrated due to the water in the fruit freezing.

By law the grapes have to freeze naturally on the vine during a ‘hard freeze’, meaning the grape harvesters must brave temperatures of minus 8 degrees or more to gather the frozen fruit – a far cry from the usual sun-drenched workers in French vineyards. They must also be harvested in perfect condition so the juice is unaffected by rot, alcohol or the drying processes usually followed to produce sweet wines. The hard frozen grapes are then pressed at huge pressure to extract the tiny amount of juice they still contain, leaving the frozen water crystals behind. Presses have been known to break if the grapes are even slightly too hard, making this the most specific of wine making science.

Both red and white grape varieties can be used and each produces a beautiful range of colours from light gold to deep amber, and pink to burgundy. Even though the sugar count is unusually high (due to the concentration during the freezing process) the taste is surprisingly refreshing with the perfect mixture of sweetness and acidity that avoids the cloying nature of other dessert wines.

Although you can get an average bottle for a reasonable price, the sky is the limit when it comes to buying Ice wine. The premier exporters are Canada and Germany due to their harsh winters and national laws surrounding the ice wine creation. Decent bottles can also be bought from Austria, Luxembourg, France and Australia, but be warned, some of these may well have undergone artificial freezing processes. King of the crop has to be The Royal de Maria 2000 Chardonnay Ice wine.

Coming in at £250,000 per bottle and with only 5 cases ever having been produced, it is arguably the rarest and most exclusive wine in the world. Their Collectors Series is also superb with prices starting at £960 for a half bottle.

Of course this wintery wine is best drunk when surrounded by a matching winter setting (may I suggest drinking it after a five course meal at Canada’s highest mountain top restaurant - The Eagle Eye - in Kicking Horse after a day’s heliskiing), but it would taste fantastic anywhere. www.royaldemaria.com

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Diamonds are Forever Although it may seem preposterous to put forward a precious stone as a potential best friend, it is undeniable that any woman would like to own diamond jewellery. As with any jewellery type there is an almost infinite range of styles from classic simplicity to extravagant opulence.

A simple piece set in white gold or platinum is certainly a ‘safe’ option and will probably be worn frequently but, with diamonds, one should never consider value for money. Buying them should be anything but ‘safe’ – they are a statement that should make the wearer feel incredible … and they are an investment that should make the buyer feel faint.

De Beers, famous for using only exceptional diamonds and working them into consistently beautiful pieces, have created their High Jewellery taking inspiration from both contemporary and classical themes. One of the muses is the intriguing personality of Marie Antoinette – the Eighteenth Century French queen renowned for her luxuriant excess and ostentatious fashions.

Her style in clothes and jewellery are legendary, and the diamonds of the French court – including the rare blue Hope Diamond (probably the inspiration for the infamous Titanic piece worn by Kate Winslet) – are unsurpassed. History has condemned Marie for her constant desire for ostentation, but her character has inspired four key pieces of the High Jewellery collection that are so beautiful I am almost tempted to forgive her.

The star of the High Jewellery collection - if not the entire De Beers range - is the Marie-Antoinette Diamond Necklace. Fashioned from platinum, it features over 181 carats of perfectly cut white and coloured diamonds. The design is ornate and floral with the subtly coloured stones forming the epicentres of three central flowers that descend into a tear-drop white diamond pendant. The flowers are complimented by the leaf-shaped cut of the surrounding stones and the colours lend an unusual element to the design. It may be the superb quality of the diamonds, or the delicate cut and positioning of each one, but this piece diffuses light so beautifully it is almost impossible to look away. www.debeers.com

Office Chic For all those major deals, giant cheques and oh-so-important signatures, the ultimate City Boy (or girl!) needs the ultimate pen sitting proudly on the desk.Yard-O-Led presents the Grand Esprit 200 Limited Edition Fountain pen; a unique design with only 200 available worldwide, this is a must-have office accessory for any stylish City professional. Its large solid silver barrel has an intricate engine-turned diamond cut finish and is coated with a clear, fine lacquer.

Featuring a solid gold nib, the Grand Esprit 200 boasts a handcrafted pen cap which carries six unique bold hallmarks and the eye-catching English lead crystal inkbottle features a hallmarked silver hinged lid.

Grand Esprit 200 LE Fountain Pen, £850 www.yardoled.co.uk

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Little Blue Book Starting the New Year in vogue is a common resolution but it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. Forget the little black book because in 2009, blue is the new black. The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Diary (By Appointment Only) is a unique diary containing invitations for three once-in-a-lifetime experiences, allowing the owner exceptional access to these events, as well as a concierge service that will arrange a series of personalised Blue Label events throughout 2009.

Created and designed exclusively for the brand by renowned luxury stationer Aspinal of London, the diary is bound in the finest leather and finished with a silk ribbon page marker.

Inside are details of VIP access to the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix; the 2009 Johnnie Walker Golf Championships; and a Bespoke Blend by Blue Label experience which includes a mentored tutorial for the owner and friends with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky master blender, finishing with the opportunity to blend their very own bottle of whisky.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Diary 2009, £95,000 Available at Selfridges

Statement Sparkle For those looking for a statement accessory for the New Year, the Lady Serenade Tourbillon is the highlight of the finest art of Glashütte watch-making, set within the beauty and sparkle of brilliant-cut diamonds. Magnificent design, feminine elegance, and one of the most difficult complications of classic watch-making, the Lady Serenade Tourbillon satisfies the practical need for a watch with a naughty nod to extravagance and style. This new design in white gold is not only striking in the rich brilliant-cut diamonds on its case, dial, bezel, and clasp; its off-centre display of time is just as bold. The filigreed flying one-minute tourbillon is placed on the upper half of the dial and is powered by the very finely finished manually wound Caliber 41-00. This masterpiece of haute horlogerie is available in a choice of a natural-coloured Louisiana crocodile skin strap, a black synthetic strap with floral design, or a white synthetic strap with flowering ornaments.

Lady Serenade Tourbillon with Diamonds, £72,500 www.glashuette-original.com

LUXURY BOUTIQUE TO LET

ADJACENT TO HERMÈS AND OPPOSITE LOUIS VUITTON 1 4 / 1 5 R OYA L E X C H A N G E , B A N K , C I T Y O F L O N D O N AGENT PROVOCATEUR, ARTISAN FINE ART, BOODLES, BULGARI, CARTIER, CHANEL, CHURCH'S, CROCKETT & JONES, DE BEERS, GUCCI, HERMÈS, JO MALONE, L'ARTISAN PARFUMEUR, L'OCCITANE, LORO PIANA, LULU GUINNESS, MOLTON BROWN, MONT BLANC, OMEGA, PAUL A. YOUNG FINE CHOCOLATES, PAUL SMITH, PICKETT, PRETTY BALLERINAS, ROYAL EXCHANGE JEWELLERS, SEARLE & CO, SMOKER'S PARADISE, SMYTHSON, TATEOSSIAN, THEO FENNELL, TIFFANY & CO, WATCHES OF SWITZERLAND, WINT & KIDD

W W W.T H E R OYA L E X C H A N G E . C O M

C O N TAC T W I L S O N M c H A R DY F O R D E TA I L S 0 2 0 74 3 9 1 6 6 6

Star Rock Q

We spend time with Jason-Paul Hirsh and discover a hero of the jewellery world

uite often walking into a luxury jewellers can be extremely daunting, the wide expanses of glossy space, the security people discreetly positioned at the doors and we haven’t even commented upon the priceless wonders that prompted your visit. So imagine my delight at walking into Hirsh London in the Burlington Arcade to meet Gemmologist Jason-Paul Hirsh, and discovering that there is absolutely nothing to fear! Incredibly affable, Jason-Paul who is flying the flag for his family business not only knows his gems, (with a degree to prove it) but he is about as stuffy as a glass of bubbly. So what is the story?

“My father started the company in the eighties and I’ve been involved in it, on and off, for quite a long time. I started my career in New York and then Los Angeles gaining experience before I came back. I’ve been back for about four years.” Jason-Paul adds that his true inspiration to become a jeweller came from a sketch that he drew as an eight year old child. Maybe a childish drawing at the time, the piece was produced by his father and went on to sell well. I quickly realise that there is a touch of the sentimental about this young man. Perhaps this is the essence that epitomises the success of the Hirsh brand, despite the financial downturn they are still keeping the cash registers ringing. Perhaps this is just customer confidence in a stylish and timeless brand? “We’re not in the business to make a statement, we’re a family business and we’re run like a family business.”

Hirsh are going from strength to strength whilst others falter, including the faddish designers entering the jewellery design market.

“There are a lot of big retail groups, that have

decided to enter into jewellery thinking that it is a great way to make money while not many have made a success of it yet. If you are used to selling a piece of clothing that you buy for ten pence and sell for £50, its different to buying a rare stone, creating a piece then selling it. That is much more difficult to do.”

Indeed. It is very easy to disregard the craftsmanship that goes into creating a piece of jewellery, and Jason-Paul will testify not many people are cut out for the commitment.

“In my father’s day, he was worked with established people and back then you didn’t need a degree; you worked hard and as you got older you became more respected for what you knew.

Nowadays, I think most people need a degree in Gemmology or they need to be a bench jeweller.

I’m a Gemmologist and felt that I needed a degree in Gemmology.”

He adds, “Our jewellers have been with us for a very long time. It takes them up to 7 years to train to become a jeweller and if you think about this day and age, there are not many people who want to spend that length of time learning a trade before they become a master jeweller.”

Jason admits that his inspiration and drive comes from the desire to “create something from nothing” and to see the joy on customers faces as their concepts come to life. So how long does it take to make a piece I wonder? “It depends on how complicated it is. We have a lot of beautiful finished jewellery, really unique pieces, but depending on whether it’s a single stoned diamond ring that can take a day, to a bracelet.

I had an enquiry for a very intricate bracelet and the guy wanted it for within a week. Yes it’s

interview

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possible but it’s something I would prefer two decide that they want to do something else.You weeks to make.” can spend a lot of time working on something, if I have to ask about outlandish requests, it you’re a lawyer you can bill someone for your time would be rude not to! but you can’t do that in our case.”

“Ruby and Diamond encrusted back scratchers, Hirsh have obviously got the formula right and are probably the most interesting commission it is apparent that their biggest draw is the rarity that request that we have received.” Requests and purity of the materials that they work with. for replicating other works is a big ‘no-no’ for They take an honest and genuine approach where Hirsh. “We do not copy other people’s rings. We clear advice is given. From guidance in managing got lots of enquiries ‘can we copy this, copy that’ customers’ expectations to letting them know what we don’t do that it’s not our style. If you want colour palettes will suit their colouring and skin something custom made then fine, place a deposit tones. Jason also believes that education is a key and we are happy to create something that it is component in the battle against gem misnomers. beautiful, which you can be a part of.”

I was curious to know more, such as? “I like I can see exactly what he means as I handle to think that anything that has been cut and a striking purple sapphire and diamond ring; comes naturally from the earth is precious; take ponder a perfect getaway and a life in Rio. Back tourmalines and aquamarines for example. How to reality, this isn’t the run of the mill rock by any is an aquamarine considered to be semi-precious means and despite rather interestingly matching while an emerald is precious, they are the same my fingernails, is a mere gem. Just because it is more £32,500. But by the looks of rare to find an emerald, it does Ruby and Diamond it is worth every penny and not mean that aquamarine is encrusted back drop of artisan sweat. In fact semi-precious. It’s a terrible scratchers, are Jason adds that the sheer word. But a stone like blue probably the beauty of his pieces alone topaz is definitely semi-precious most interesting is enough to make them because blue topaz doesn’t exist commission that collectables. in nature. When it’s being used request that we “When we make a large for a piece of jewellery it’s gone have received one-off handmade piece it through an irradiation process. becomes an investment. We Not many people know that.” sold a 51 carat sapphire with 150 individually Jason is very passionate about his craft; and hand-cut diamonds, all hand-set, to a customer there is no compromise on quality, saying he and she says that she is going to put it in a room will never buy an inferior stone. In fact he still with all of her paintings. She wants to hold it in reminisces about an incredibly rare electric blue her hand and look at it, not to wear it!”

Paraiba tourmaline, that he sold over two years I imagine that woman beguiled by what is ago. Nature’s alchemy via copper from a Brazilian not just a beautiful piece of jewellery, but an seam, he has seen nothing like it in an unfruitful investment for the future. In fact part of Hirsh’s search for his Holy Grail. Thus, I still get the success is due to people like this who know that sense of the emotive from this man. Even his bricks and mortar is no longer the mainstay. I advice to choosing the most poignant of wedding would suspect that word of mouth and a fabulous or Valentine’s gifts receives the simplest response. reputation may have more to do with it. Not “You just really need to know the person you are to mention the obvious care that goes into the buying for. It doesn’t have to be a red ruby or service. Jason tells me that heart shaped pendant.” the daily challenges are As I had suspected it really is about getting up the ability to achieve what off bended knee and thinking outside that little a customer wants. “A chocolate brown leather box. n lot of the time you may find the To experience the glory of Hirsh visit: perfect item www.hirsh.co.uk, and then the 56 – 57 Burlington Arcade, London WIJ OQN customer may 020 7499 6814

England Made In

With thousands of City jobs axed, the finest entrepreneurial minds round the country are already kicking into action.

Claire Adler meets watchmakers Giles and Nick English, who abandoned the City a decade ago and never looked back

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ince founding a watch company called Bremont in memory of their late father in 2007, Giles and Nick English have taken the world of fine watches by storm. Their fans and clients range from the King of Spain to Ewan MacGregor, Jeremy Clarkson, Charlie Boorman and takeyour-breath-away, three times world record breaking former PR person turned 90 metre free-diving champion, Sara Campbell. And all this, with zero budget for sponsorships of brand ambassadors.

Over carrot juice and tea at media favourite The Wolseley, the English brothers quiz me about my take on the world of fine watches and my navigation of the colourful characters who inhabit the luxury goods industry. They are chatty, cheeky, self-deprecating, full of life and real. I basically forget about the list

of questions I have scribbled in my notepad and the fact that it is me who is supposed to be interviewing them.

But for all their down to earth, personable and no-nonsense approach to luxury, Nick and Giles English, both professional aviators, have proved themselves to be something of a phenomenon in British luxury in the last two years.

Within 18 months of launching onto the watch scene in July 2007, Bremont timepieces were to be found in the showcases of Harrods, Barneys in NewYork,Watches of Switzerland and the illustrious Edinburgh jewellery store, Hamilton & Inches.The brothers are currently in talks with major retailers in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2008, Bremont received covetable financial investment from two gurus of the luxury world – John Ayton, co-founder of jeweller Links of London, and Robert Bensoussan, the former CEO of Jimmy Choo shoes.

“Most watch brands are soulless because they’re owned by big corporations,” says Giles.

“When we first thought of taking part of a Second World War Spitfire plane and turning it into a limited edition watch, I’m convinced most people would have looked at us as if we were crazy. But because we are brothers, we both thought it was a great idea.The interest has been huge – perhaps because people know we’re a quirky brand up against the big boys.”

The brothers are resolutely patriotic. “The Spitfire was the saviour of the British in World War Two,” says Giles. “We procured a panel of a 1942 Spitfire Mk V aircraft, possibly the most credited WWII fighter in existence, to incorporate into our watches.The aircraft has appeared in films including Pearl Harbour and The Battle of Britain.”

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You could say the story began when Nick and Giles were children tinkering in their dad’s aeroplane workshop in Norfolk. When their father, an RAF aerobatic champion, tragically died in a flying accident in 1995 and Nick only just survived, the brothers re-evaluated their lives and careers. They left their corporate finance jobs at Price Waterhouse Coopers and Williams de Broë, starting up a digital music download business which they sold several years later, with their dream of making watches never far from their mind. While on a flying trip together, they were forced to make an overnight emergency landing in a French field, the owner of which turned out to be as mad about watches and clocks as they were. His name was Monsieur Bremont. The rest is now British watchmaking history.

“It wasn’t long before the US navy test pilot school approached us.They knew our aviation links and were looking for an exclusive aviation watch brand.We now plan to make a maximum of 2,000 watches a year,” says Nick.

So how much cash, sweat and tears does starting up a luxury watch brand ex nihilo really take?

“The main challenge of this business is cashflow,” says Nick frankly. “We both worked five years full time on the brand before the launch. Just building one watch prototype takes several hundred thousand pounds.We were determined that the watch should be Swiss made.The people who finish the cases are the same people who are making jet turbine blades for Rolls Royce, while the movement and hand assembly takes place by skilled watchmakers in Biel-Bienne, home to the factories of big players like Swatch and Omega.”

The brothers joke about their humble

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marketing budget which stands in contrast to their upscale rivals, enthusiastically inviting me on a flight on their family airbus which has two seats including the pilot’s, promising me there will be coffee and a cross bun to follow. But despite self-deprecating claims of amateurishness, they seem to repeatedly pull it all off with enviable style and copious doses of world class networking.

“Before Robert Bensoussan and John Ayton bought into our company, it was as if we’d been in a dark shed for five years.Their support has been fantastic.We sat round John Ayton’s kitchen table with his wife Annoushka Ducas.

Together, they opened 60 worldwide Links of London stores between 1990 and 2006, before selling up for £45 million.Their help is invaluable to us.They’ve given us confidence, opened doors to retailers like Barneys in NewYork and they guide us in running a fast growing small business,” says Giles.

Last summer, Bremont were the official timekeeping sponsors of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the prestigious celebration of cars and motorbikes from the last century.

“We thought we’d save money by buying our own marquee and setting it up ourselves, so we invited a few friends along to help,” smiles Nick. “We could hardly believe it when we saw our humble tent was next to serious players including BMW, Audi and Mazda.”

Bremont’s refreshingly authentic approach to luxury seems to be paying off.The brothers recently scooped up the Walpole Award for emerging luxury brand of the year 2008 at a ceremony which saw other winners include long established names Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and Dunhill. “We set out knowing nothing about luxury but felt we could build beautiful watches,” says Giles. n

SHORT

AND SWEET

Toyota started with a clean sheet of paper when it came to create the iQ. And fittingly, it opens a new chapter in small car design, says Matthew Carter

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car’s name ought to give you a fair idea of what it’s all about. Maserati got it right when it called its big saloon Quattroporte… that’s the Maser Four Door to you and me.

Bentley’s Continental GT also does what it says on the badge, as it’s the ideal Grand Tourer for crossing the continent. But it doesn't always work. The Honda Legend is anything but, while Skoda should have called its biggest car, the It’s-Really-QuiteGood rather than the Superb.

So where does that leave the Toyota iQ. Can it really be that intelligent? The short answer is yes, and the emphasis is all on the word ‘short’. The iQ, you see,

seats four yet comes in at under 3 metres in length: that’s shorter than the original Mini. Clever.

It’s powered by a tiny three cylinder 996cc engine delivering just 67bhp. But as there’s not much of the car to move about, performance is better than adequate while fuel economy is better than good. Also clever.

And although it’s a small car, it doesn't have a small car mentality. That means alloy wheels and air conditioning, electric windows, rear privacy glass and audio controls on the steering wheel are standard on all models, while the better equipped iQ2 adds rain sensing wipers, dusk sensing lights and smart entry with a push button engine start / stop system.

A fully integrated sat nav system is an option and, naturally, you can plug your iPod into iQ for music on the move.

It doesn’t want for much on the safety front, either, with stability control and no fewer than nine airbags all standard.

But before you rush out and buy this mini miracle (it goes on sale this month with prices starting at £9,400 and rising to £11,400) let’s just reconsider a few things first, shall we?

To the best of my knowledge the only person who’s been able to cram more on the inside of a box than on the outside is Dr Who. And the iQ can’t defy the laws of physics.Yes, it has four seats but one is useless if you possess a pair of legs. Not so clever.

motoring

It is, however, a remarkably roomy three seater. By miniaturising major components such as the air conditioning unit, slimming the seats and doing away with things like a glove box, Toyota has provided enough room for a six footer to sit comfortably behind another six footer who’s in the front passenger seat.

But with a steering wheel in the way, it’s simply not possible for the driver to shuffle any further forward, meaning the fourth seat is best used as a perch for a child seat.

Or for the luggage. Ah yes, the laws of physics again. Cramming four seats into a car that’s little longer than a two seat Smart means boot space is, shall we say, limited. In fact it’s worse than

that. There’s just about enough space behind the rear seats for a rolled umbrella and a bag of crisps… provided you don’t mind if they’re crushed.

In reality, most owners will fold down the two rear seats on a near permanent basis and use the space for the shopping, knowing that they can take two or possibly three passengers should the need arise simply by flipping the rear seats upright.

So taking all that into account, how does the iQ stack up?

Pretty well, actually. It might have a clockwork motor under the bonnet (a 1.3-litre is on its way) with performance figures that won’t set the pulse racing – 0-60mph takes more than 14 seconds and top speed is a

mere 93mph – but in its natural habitat, the city, it’s all you need.

Toyota chose to launch iQ in Milan, partly because Italy’s second city has traffic jams Ken Livingstone could only dream about and partly because the style conscious Milanese would give an unbiased opinion on the car. The plan worked brilliantly.

The locals adored the car and it was nippy enough to hold its own in the rush hour. And parking a 3m car with a tight turning circle was a doddle.

Even better, the test car had Toyota’s Multidrive CVT automatic. It’s a highly desirable option for any iQ destined to spend its time in town, even if it raises CO2 emissions from 99g/ km to 110g/km (out of road

51

tax exempt Band A to Band B) and increases the combined fuel consumption from 65.7 to 60.1 mpg. I can live with that.

I could live with the car, too. Despite the ultra short wheelbase, the ride is remarkably refined, only deep potholes or pronounced ridges delivering a jolt through the car’s structure.

Despite the short wheelbase and the skinny economy tyres, it handles well and while it might not be the quickest thing on the open road, once it has reached a happy cruising speed it’ll stay there all day. It’s quiet, too.

Best of all, perhaps, it doesn’t feel like a small car. The build quality is exemplary – bar some interior plastics which appear too easy to scratch – and it does have a sophisticated air, especially when finished in white (rather than black, the only other choice at present) which shows off the unusual shape of the rear side window to best effect. It’s almost as easy to park as a Smart, yet has more room inside and is a better car to drive.

Yes, it’s expensive for a small car. That sort of money could buy you a roomier Mini, Fiat 500 or a new Ford Ka. Or you could go for something more conventional like the Hyundai i10 and save a packet. They are all good cars, but none is anywhere near as clever as the iQ. Meet the new intelligentsia. n

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motoring

HIT ME WITH YOUR UGLY STICK,

HIT ME, HIT ME…

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h dear, oh dear. Now I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder but can anyone seriously think the muchvaunted Porsche Panamera is anything other than pug-ugly? In creating its first four-door four-seater saloon, Porsche designers have simply taken the profile of the evergreen 911 and, er, stretched it.

Actually, to call it a saloon is wrong: it’s a hatchback and is therefore unique in this sector of the market. Doesn’t make it any prettier, though.

Not that oddball looks will have an adverse effect on sales. I remember thinking the Cayenne looked fairly awful when it was launched, yet sales of Porsche’s highly effective SUV continue to confound the sceptics.

The good news is that from behind the wheel, the Panamera should look and drive like a proper Porsche (even if the engine is up front and not behind the rear seats).

It’s due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with sales starting in the middle of 2009.

When it arrives, there will be four different engines on offer, plus a choice of two or four-wheel drive. Starter model (think around £50,000) will be a 300bhp V6, with a 4.8-litre V8 developing 400bhp above that. Top of the tree is a twin turbo V8, with a hefty 500bhp on offer.

Perhaps the most interesting version, though, will be a Hybrid. This adds an electric motor onto the V6 for a 28% cut in fuel consumption and improved acceleration.

Albeit not at the same time. Just a shame they couldn’t make it look better. n

In creatIng Its fIrst four-door four-seater saloon, Porsche desIgners have sImPly taken the ProfIle of the evergreen 911 and, er, stretched It

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RECESSION? WHAT RECESSION? If Audi can continue to sell expensive cars in the current economic climate, it shows just how highly buyers regard the four rings. The new Q5 is likely to reinforce that position, reckons Matthew Carter

motoring

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ccording to the man from Audi, the company dictionary goes from ‘receptive’ straight to ‘recharge’, missing out unpleasant words such as ‘recessive’, ‘recess’ and, worst of all, ‘recession’.

While he may yet come to regret that statement, it does seem as if Audi is better able to ride out the current unpleasantness than most. With a raft of new models arriving almost every week – the new A5 Cabriolet has just been announced and a new A6 saloon is just around the corner – Audi dealers seems as busy as ever.

There’s still a waiting list for the awesome R8 supercar, for goodness sake, though anyone who can’t get a discount off one those gargantuan Q7 4x4s isn’t trying.

The trouble with the Q7 is that it’s frankly out of step with the times. It’s a huge 4x4, powered by a variety of huge engines chucking out CO2 like there’s no tomorrow.

And if we all drove Q7s, there probably wouldn't be a tomorrow.

Never mind, says Audi, try the Q5 instead.

As it name implies, the Q5 is Q7’s baby brother, enjoying the sort of relationship that the Land Rover Freelander, say, has with the Discovery. Except that neither Audi can hope to match the equivalent Land Rover off the beaten track.

But, in all honesty, that probably doesn't matter. As Audi claims (and Land Rover is likely to agree, albeit off the record) so few owners ever use their SUV off-road that ultimate performance away from

the tarmac is largely irrelevant. For this reason don’t think of the Q5 as a hardcore off-roader, but as a surprisingly capable on-road sporting estate that can also handle the occasional foray across a field or down a muddy track.

Although it is about the same size and shape as the dreary Volkswagen Tiguan, the Q5 is a quite different machine. It shares none of its engines with the VW, nor its four-wheel drive technology, nor its suspension set up. And, to these eyes at least, it’s better looking.

It also has the important cachet of four rings on the bonnet: in terms of kudos at the golf club, the Audi has it over the VW any day.

On the road, the Q5 drives a little like a high riding A4. It tracks straight and true and corners with little body roll. Audi’s quattro permanent four-wheel drive system gives a 40/60 drive bias to the rear wheels (unlike the Tiguan which spends most of its time in front-wheel drive) and this helps give the Q5 a more sporting dynamic than its stable mate.

Due in showrooms any day now, the Q5 is available in three trim levels – standard, SE and S-Line – and with three engine options.

The most popular powertains will be the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol and the 2.0 TDI diesel, and neither disappoints.

The new petrol engine is the more powerful of the two – 211bhp vs 170bhp – but oddly feels a little breathless, needing constant gear changes to keep it on the boil.

The diesel, on the hand, just pulls like a steam train. For anyone wanting more urge

55

there’s also a 240bhp 3.0-litre TDI diesel (available in SE and S-Line versions only), but the 2.0 TDI provides the perfect blend of performance, economy and emissions.

It’s a pleasant place to be, too. Audi’s cabins are among the best in the business and the Q5 is no different. Top quality materials, excellent fit and finish and superb attention to detail all go some way to justifying the price tag. Ah yes, not cheap the Q5, especially when you start plundering the options list.

The range will start at around £27,600 for the 2.0 TDI and rise to £37,500 for the 3.0 TDI S-line, but you’ll want to add the Technology Pack (£1,995, kerr-ching) with the easy-to-use MMI communications system, sat nav and parking sensors.You’ll want the panoramic sunroof (£1,100, kerrching). And you’ll want the adaptive cruise control (£1,100, kerr-ching) which uses radar sensors to adapt your speed to the car in front. And, trust me; we’ve only just started on the options…

But the result will be a fine car guaranteed to last you through this recession and possibly into the next one, too. If you really want to go deep off-road, in this sector of the market you can’t beat a Freelander. And if it’s a car-like driving experience you're after, then stick to a car.

But if you want a fine handling and performing machine with the benefits unique to an SUV – like the commanding seating position and the roomy interior – then the Q5 is a winner. n

MAKING A

SPLASH

London International Boat Show; Josephine O’Donoghue checks out what’s on as the City’s biggest boat show returns for its 55th year

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elebrating 55 years of boating, the London International Boat Show returns to ExCeL from 9-18 January 2009. Visitors can embrace the thrill of being onboard one of hundreds of fascinating boats on display, from historic replica vessels to the latest in marine technology. With over 500 exhibitors showcasing power and sail boats, dinghies, deck equipment, charter holidays, sailing courses and more, the Show is set to welcome over 130,000 visitors and promises to offer something for enthusiasts and first time visitors alike...

Following last year’s success, the Main Stage (powered by Fairline) will return as one of the central components of the show. Visitors will be dazzled by theatrical shows, marine inspired catwalk collections, engaging seminars and much more running throughout each day. They also get the chance to get up close and personal with some of Britain’s boating heroes alongside the Main Stage; the show will give an overview of the sailing experiences of some our more high profile boating personalities to those that simply have an inspirational story to tell including Dame Ellen MacArthur, Sir Keith Mills, Geoff Holt, Katie Miller, Dave Brooks and Adrian Flanagan. The London International Boat Show will also look at our water-based

Olympic heroes just back from Beijing, as well as looking ahead towards 2012 and reviewing the mechanics behind a successful team.

The exciting sequel to last year’s star attraction of the Sea Queen Stage Show will once again provide the main draw to the stage, amazing visitors with a stunning ‘underwater’ show. An aerial display, extreme acrobatics, dance and music will all tell the magical and highly memorable A Mermaid’s Tale. Witness this awe-inspiring spectacle with mermaids and watery characters performing stunning aerobatic, dance and aerial routines. As the tempo increases, the show builds towards the finale with a breath-taking Russian Bar performance, an extreme acrobatics act combined with stunning choreography in which two men propel the female flyer seven metres up into the air. Watch as she performs a series of dramatic mid-air back flips and somersaults landing back on the slim bar, which is balanced between the two men!

If you’re more of a creative type, you’ll enjoy seeing the winning designs from the Design a Sail competition, creating a wave of colour with Topper dinghies. This new initiative from National Boat Shows (NBS) will come to a climax at the London International Boat Show with the successful sails on display and the overall winner announced on the Main Stage.

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In association with Classic Boat, Old Pulteney and International Paints, the Classic Boat feature will provide an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a friendly working boatyard; watch, learn and talk to experts about classic boats and find out about the traditional skills involved in their restoration. The boats on display this year include a gorgeous four-berth gaff rigged cutter, a pretty little trailer-sailing ketch, and a majestically sleek Thames launch.

Look over the shoulders of renowned marine artists as they paint these beautiful boats on display. The Classic Boat feature will once again be supporting the Cutty Sark conservation project. Visitors can see how selected artefacts from the famous tea clipper Cutty Sark that were badly damaged by fire in 2006 are being brought back to life using a mix of cutting-edge science and time-honoured skills.

The Royal Victoria Dock will feature some of the largest exhibitor boats in production which cannot physically fit through the doors of the ExCeL building, alongside a dedicated outside exhibition space featuring a number of inland craft. Manufacturers from the inland waterway industry will be showcasing both narrow and wide-beam boats at the west end of the dock. Since 2004, when the Show moved to ExCeL in London’s Docklands, the Royal Navy has worked closely with National Boat Shows to bring a number of frigates and destroyers to the show. The popularity of these Royal Navy vessels is demonstrated every year with approximately 25,000 visitors climbing aboard and exploring the ship throughout the ten days of the show. n

To book tickets simply call the ticket hotline on 0844 209 0333 or book online at www.londonboatshow.com (Children under 15 go free with a paying adult)

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ADRENALINE MD Kristian Walsh chats to Roddy Caxton Spencer about his extreme achievements, adventure lifestyle and his fund-raising for the Stepping Stones charity

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ew Year’s Day: as the high shrieks of Auld Lang Syne become a distant ring in your ears and the lights on the Christmas tree emit their last flicker for another year, thoughts will inevitably turn from the night before to the promise you’re about to make to yourself. The notion of a New Year’s Resolution is a complex one – why people decide to wait until this one day to change their life is a mystery, but none of their goals can be quite as extreme as one man.

Perhaps the most common resolution is to become more active. From squash racquets to running shoes or exercise bikes to barbells; everybody has their own idea as to how they can increase their level of activity.

For Roddy Caxton Spencer however, a gym membership is as useful as the fifth pair of pyjamas from a fourth cousin at Christmas.

Roddy’s level of activity stems beyond the early evening jog through the park, opting for something a little more hardcore, such as the Marathon des Sables (a five-day, 250km run through the Sahara Desert) instead.

Rejecting a few laps in a public swimming pool, Roddy plumps for the World White Water Rafting championship as a more worthwhile endeavour.

49 years old, Roddy is akin to a real-life superhero. By day, he is a Managing Director at insurance broker Besso, hoping to exceed his business budget like most others in his position. But there would appear to be a vast difference between his weekday life and the adrenaline-pumping adventures he partakes in (although Roddy still maintains that the adrenaline begins at work).

“Besso has been massively supportive over the last 12 years, and my job is about as adrenaline filled as it gets. Every day is a different challenge so my sport and work

lifestyle

The North Pole

blend in pretty well. There is always a new challenge or danger to face so there’s no chance of running low on adrenaline, one has to be on the alert the whole time for the many dangers that surround you. For me, the adrenaline starts to pump as soon as I start planning the expedition and it’s already burning for my next one”.

His next expeditions include crossing Baffin Island on foot and cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats this year. He will no doubt see and experience many different aspects of the country as he cycles through it, which is an apt representation of Roddy’s journey throughout his career. He has competed in all conditions, including a climb up Mount Everest and a 400m race to the North Pole. Roddy has also met every facet of Mother Nature, competing on land, sea and desert, something which provided him with constantly changing challenges.

“I’ve gone from conditions of minus 50 to 50 degrees and each event has had its different and unique challenges – who would have thought that when racing to the North Pole perspiration can be a major problem, so managing the kit you wear is very important, and cold can be a problem at night in the desert. Weather played a key part in determining how difficult my expeditions were”.

Thankfully for Roddy, the difficulties have never extended beyond a few lost fingernails and toenails; a miraculous result given the tasks he consistently faces. His effort and

commitment is a persuasive example of trying new experiences this New Year – seek out something new, adventurous and positive; this is the mantra which Roddy adheres to.

“I have enjoyed all of the challenges and that is exactly why I keep on doing them.

The feeling of accomplishment and reaching a goal is one of the best feelings – and it’s impossible to put it in a bottle so it just gives me the incentive to continue”.

There are other incentives for Roddy though; all of his expeditions are organised with the primary hope of raising money for charity. He finds time out of his busy schedule to inspire local schoolchildren through his motivational speeches. He is a patron of the Stepping Stones School which helps sufferers of cerebral palsy. Their hope is to provide opportunities for children and adults with disabilities which increases independence and promotes inclusion within the community. Roddy’s North Pole race in 2007 raised a large amount for the charity, enabling them to establish a bursary for the school. Roddy remains mindful of one of the reasons why he continues to embark on his expeditions.

“Sport has given me so much and now I feel it’s my turn to give something back so I spend a lot of time visiting schools to plant the seed of ambition into children’s minds.

I want to do whatever I can to help and motivate children climb their mountain – or at least their own personal mountain”.

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Roddy can certainly speak from experience – he has conquered every mountain he has attempted to climb, including a team expedition up Mount Everest. During the Himalayan 100, he viewed the peaks of four mountains: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga whilst running 100 miles around what is arguably the most spectacular running course in the world.

He also successfully sailed in the Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race and even more impressively, managed to help navigate a phenomenal 29,000 nautical miles with Team Samsung in the Global Challenge. Proving his lust for adventure, he will embark on his toughest expedition to date in 2010.

“It’s an unsupported trek to the magnetic North Pole and that means we are going to have to walk for around 400 miles (depending on the ice) carrying everything required for up to around 35 days. This is a little more ambitious than any of my previous expeditions”.

Roddy believes that this trek will be his last but concedes that it is possibly one resolution he may break. “I say it every time!” he exclaims after his assurance that his 2010 expedition will be his final one.

There is one ambition he is determined to achieve, however: “I’m going to try to learn how to play the saxophone. I’ve always loved jazz music and this has been a long term ambition”.

Although not one for blowing his own horn, even Roddy must concede that he is an inspiration – not only to his peers and local schoolchildren, but hopefully to everybody who decides to make a resolution. Don’t worry about biting into that forbidden fruit and nut chocolate bar, just take the fall – do something positive for both you and the people around you. n

IT’S WAR! Stephanie Baxter takes a reflective look at the 2008 Nomura Varsity Rugby Match

R

ivalry between Oxford and Cambridge is as old as the universities themselves. That’s almost 800 years of competition to be settled in various clashes throughout the academic year. The most famous and, perhaps, prestigious of the these is undoubtedly the boat race, in which both university sides battle it out on the Thames for 4 miles in what can only be described as a contest of strength, perseverance and sheer determination.

Yet for many Oxonians and Cantabrigians, the annual Varsity rugby match is every bit as exciting to watch, perhaps more so.

Spectators are treated to an 80-minute display of just as much strength, perseverance and determination in an thrilling and seemingly brutal sport, rather than just catching a few second’s glimpse of two boats gliding down the river. Don’t get me wrong, the boat race is such a huge part of the Oxbridge heritage, and rightly so, but the rugby match certainly makes more interesting viewing from a sporting perspective.

The Varsity match, as well as being the most important match of the season in university rugby, is one of the most high profile amateur matches anywhere in the world. For Oxford and Cambridge, the entire rugby season hinges on this game. According to rugby pundits, “you can lose every other match and win this, and it’s been a good season.

Your Christmas is made or broken depending on the result of this match”. Similarly, for students and alumni alike, the Varsity match is one of the greatest social dates in the university calendar; a chance to catch up with friends and have a laugh over a healthy dose of university rivalry, whilst even perhaps being able to cheer on some of the players that you “sort of know”.

For myself, I had been planning to go and watch the match with my dad and a group of friends in tow for months. My heart skipped a beat when Lehman Brothers collapsed with my first thought being, “Who will sponsor the Varsity match now?!” (Luckily for everyone involved, Nomura decided to carry

the sponsorship on.) I had been looking forward to this day for a very long time.

Imagine my consternation, when I came down with flu the very week of the match.

All week I was willing myself to get better in time for the big day but alas, when Thursday came I was feeling just as rough as I had been the rest of the week. I would have to settle for watching it on Sky Sports 1 under my duvet. What a slap in the face.

Having strategically settled myself on the sofa with duvet, tissues, paracetamol and Strepsils, I tried to get myself excited for the match itself, whether I was there or not.

Easier said than done, in between coughs, sneezes and blowing my nose. However, Cambridge had won it for the past 3 years (every year I had studied there, I’d like to add) which meant that Oxford would be on the warpath. It was sure to be a great match.

Indeed, it proved itself to be such within even the opening minutes. Cambridge failed to capitalise on an opportunity of an early advantage from a penalty after an offside

sport

ruling against Oxford. After a repeat of this from Oxford, they were able to make a strong start, with an impressive run down the wing from Tim Catling, who dodged his way past several Cambridge players to score the first try of the game after only 5 minutes.

With Tom Gregory failing to convert (a highly controversial ruling in all honesty), Oxford were 5-0 up. Another missed penalty from James Richards for Cambridge was frustrating, but it prompted the side to drive the ball forward to give them a great opportunity for a try from a scrum, just yards away from the goal posts. Thankfully, Cambridge managed to utilise this, resulting in a try from Richards, who then converted it to take Cambridge into the lead.

In what became a bit of a trend for the match, Gregory again missed a penalty, but then made up for it by finally scoring from another 17 minutes into the game. By this point, Oxford looked the dominant side (and the leaner, fitter side too, it has to be said!). They were certainly more speedy,

and after another successful Cambridge penalty scored by Richards, Oxford made a strong restart. With the pressure mounting on both sides, and tempers flaring between the two, a bit of a set-to ensued between some of the players, which prompted a stern telling-off from the referee.

Entertaining viewing, certainly. Another Oxford penalty scored by Gregory brought Oxford ahead 11-10 after 24 minutes.

This prompted a good follow-up from Cambridge, who drove the ball well into the Oxford half in attempt to reclaim the game after a long spell of Oxford possession. Things certainly seemed to be going Cambridge’s way for a while, but they failed to make the most of their chances. This, in turn, spurred Oxford on and a couple of great passes allowed Catling to make another energetic run down the wing, running through a gap in the Cambridge defence, resulting in another try for Oxford, and Catling’s second of the game. Gregory’s conversion saw Oxford creep ahead to 18-10.

Another pacey run soon afterwards was stopped by Richards who unfortunately got in Catling’s way, with both ending up on the floor in a heap. For this, Richards was shown the yellow card and sent to the sin bin. A scrum was awarded in Oxford’s favour, which was capitalised by the side, culminating in another try for the dark blues and a hatrick for Catling, which was again converted by Gregory. The half-time score was 25-10. Not good news for the Tabs.

An Oxford penalty early on in the second half scored by Gregory meant that they were able to creep further and further away from the light blues. Cambridge fought back, however, driving into the Oxford half and, aided by a reversed penalty due to some Oxford lip (!), they were able to score a well-needed try, although it was nowhere near as spectacular as any of Oxford’s previous ones. Indeed, it even needed the help of the video ref to be confirmed due to its controversial nature. Niall Conlon was awarded it nevertheless, and with Richards failing to convert, the score began to even out (albeit slowly) at 28-15.

Rather than giving Cambridge confidence to close the gap even more, it spurred the Oxonians on, who responded with another

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try, this time scored by their captain Peter Clarke after a period of amazing teamwork by him and Peter Wright, who had done much to drive the action way down the field with his speedy run towards the tryline before passing to Clarke who finished off the job by navigating his way around a Cambridge defender prior to touching down. Another failed conversion by Gregory gave them only 5 points.

After this final blow, Cambridge finally looked like they were beginning to fight back, and indeed they dominated the rest of the game. There was much play just short of the try-line which, as a Cambridge supporter, was painful to watch! A crucial opportunity of a scrum was missed, although they managed to win possession after an Oxford line-out, resulting in another scrum which, in turn, finally gave way to a light blue try, again controversial, scored by Joe Wheeler in the 57th minute. Richards converted, bringing the score to 33-22.

From this point, Cambridge seemed to be going from strength to strength, with the light blue side really fighting to stay in the game. Oxford threatened again, but the Tabs held firm. Another converted Cambridge try (James Wellwood, Richards) in the last 5 minutes really shook things up, making it one of the most exciting final 5 minutes of rugby I have seen in a long time, with the score reading 33-29; one more Cambridge try would have tipped the match on its head and reversed the outcome entirely. It was truly a nail-biting final few minutes, with both sides clinging on for dear life and fighting to the death. At one point it really looked as if Cambridge might win – they were pushing hard well into the Oxford half.

Yet the dark blues were just too strong, and they managed to hold on to the end to claim the match and the trophy.

Although it pains me to say it, the best team did win on the day, which made me half glad I had stayed at home in the warm in the comfort and solace of my duvet. I was sure, however, that spectators would have got more than their money’s worth in what was a hard-fought and exhilarating match.

It’s just a shame that side wasn’t victorious.

Oh well, there’s always the boat race to look forward to. n

GADGETS JAMIE CARTER presents this month’s technological highlights

POCKET PROJECTIONS

Optoma has just launched the smallest projector yet. Aimed at those who need to deliver presentations but don’t want to rely on the vagaries of every venue’s equipment, the pocket-sized Pico can throw a 60-inch image.

Weighing just 115g, this DLP projector has a two-hour battery life and can be used with laptops as well as iPods, cameras, PDAs and even mobile phones.

Optoma Pico pocket projector £250 www.optomapico.co.uk

COOL KURO

After perfecting the art of plasma TVs with its high-end ‘Kuro’ screens, Pioneer has launched a sumptuous new line-up of LCD TVs. With gorgeously unusual brushed titanium designs, three HDMI ports and the latest 100Hz, these new 32-inch, 37-inch and 46-inch LCD TVs are a class apart from the ever-cheaper flatscreen pack. A light sensor tweaks the pictures settings automatically while a special filter boosts colour and sharpness.

Pioneer KRL-32V, KRL-37V & KRL-46V LCD TVs £1,300 - £2,000 www.pioneer.co.uk

HI-DEF AT YOUR DESK Able to double-up as a high performance computer and personal hi-def home cinema, it’s almost an insult to call Sony’s latest VAIO a mere laptop. Its 25.5-inch Full HD resolution widescreen can host pictures from its built-in digital TV tuner, while Blu-ray discs can be played either through the laptop, or routed to a TV using a HDMI cable.

Sony VAIO RT-Series laptop £1,999 www.sony.co.uk

TOUCH OF CLASS

Camcorders keep on getting smaller and Flip’s diminutive Mino is one of the best yet. No bigger than a mobile phone and with completely idiot-proof touch-sensitive controls, it records up to an hour of video to its built-in 2GB drive. It’s then a cinch to transfer the finished MPEG4 file to a PC or Mac via the Mino’s pop-out USB connector.

Flip Mino camcorder £120 www.flipmino.com

CLUTTER KILLER Why buy a portable DVD player and a digital photo frame when you can both at once? LG’s new gloss black combo has a eight-inch LCD screen to display DVDs and digital photos, a USB input and a threein-one card reader to cope with SD, MMC and MS memory cards from cameras. The DP391B can be used for three-and-a-half hours on one charge and features two headphone jacks for easy sharing.

Also plays DivX and Windows Media video files, and MP3 music.

LG DP391B portable DVD player £165 www.lge.co.uk

gadgets

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HANDYCAM GOES HD A ‘no compromises’ approach to video comes from Sony, whose HDR-TG3E camcorder can record in stunning high-definition – and even with home cinema quality 5.1 surround sound. The HDR-TG3E’s scratch-resistant, pure titanium body is the smallest and lightest such camcorder available. Recording HD footage to a Memory Stick, the HDR-TG3E uses a Carl Zeiss lens with 10x optical zoom.

Sony HDR-TG3E HD Memory Stick Handycam £450 www.sony.co.uk

LOUD AND PROUD

The iPod is rapidly becoming the dominant way of listening to music at home, but dedicated docks’ sound quality can disappoint. Step forward Kicker’s iKick 500, the loudest portable iPod docking station around. Meaty bass output is created by a built-in subwoofer while 40 watts of power are on hand to help transform your iPod into an impressive hi-fi. iKick 500 iPod dock £199 www.armourhome.co.uk

SKY’S THE LIMIT The ‘Sky+’ experience isn’t just for Sky customers. A new satellite version of Freeview called Freesat launched six months ago and already has 100,000 subscribers. The big draw is free hi-def channels from the BBC and ITV. And this Humax set-top box is the only way you can pause, rewind and record Freesat’s stunning hi-def detail. Its massive 320GB hard drive can store up to 80 hours of HD programming, or up to 200 hours from any of the other digital TV channels.

Humax FOXSAT-HDR Freesat box £290 www.humaxdigital.com/freesat

TECH FOR YOUR NECK

Philips has been making a name for itself recently with some of the finest flatscreen TVs around, and its latest is no exception. Instead of an ‘always on’ LCD panel that often makes pure black look grey or blue, its new 42-inch 42PFL9803H uses over a thousand LED LUX lights to make pictures look ultra realistic. Add Philips’ Ambilight Spectra lights, which pour light onto the walls around the TV, and the 42PFL9803H has wow factor aplenty.

Stereo from a single speaker is the claim from a brand new piece of British technology called airSOUND. It’s being used in a tiny portable speaker from orbitsound, the T3, which can be used with an iPod, laptop, mobile phone, media player or handheld games consoles such as Sony’s PSP. Worn around the neck, the T3 creates a sound bubble around the listener by bouncing sound waves off the user for up to 10 hours per charge.

Philips 42PFL9803H LED TV £2,299 www.philips.co.uk

Orbitsound T3 £80 www.orbitsound.co.uk

PURE AND SIMPLE

ART BREAK HOTEL

Martin Hulbert is famous for his edgy interior designs in some of the world’s best hotels; Josephine O’Donoghue catches up with him to talk about his inspirations, art and designs

W

andering around The Grove Hotel, you might be forgiven for thinking you were in an art gallery, rather than a country hotel. Sculpture, installation art, paintings and painfully stylish interior design make this hotel one of the coolest settings in which to be, and be seen.

Room service in an entirely different sense, interior designer Martin Hulbert pushes the limits of conventional design to create a unique space within the confines of a public domain. A modern art enthusiast, Hulbert has utilised The Grove as an exhibition space for several modern artists, alongside its primary function as a hotel.

German Object Artist Volker KĂźhn was lucky enough to have his entire 200-piece collection purchased by Hulbert so it could be displayed in guest rooms, corridors and throughout the mansion. Americanborn sculptor Gregory Ryan designed the magnificent five-panel aluminium Water

Wall at the entrance to the Sequoia spa as an accurate reproduction of the sea off the coast of Deauville, France. The piece embodies his signature technique of replicating dynamic surface patterns found in nature. In contrast, Somerset-based Neil Wilkin designed several trademark elegant glass pieces especially for The Grove, including the series of Sun Catchers anchored in ponds on The Glasshouse terraces.

Turn a corner in this hotel, and come across a giant giraffe or a pile of Perspex boxes containing hundreds of butterflies.

Feathers, farmyard animals and rubber ducks appear quite at home in a series of console tables and innovative installations of broken household objects create an environment more like the Tate Modern than a country manor. Quintessential British design with a (rather dramatic) twist, Hulbert has given these conventional spaces more than one identity; and one far more relevant to the twenty-first century.

interiors

When did you decide to become a designer?

I knew at school I wanted to be a designer.

I was interested in almost anything creative but particularly in three-dimensional design, which could encompass many different things. I did a university degree in Spatial Design, including theatre set design as well as interiors.

Which has been your favourite project so far?

My favourite project is usually the one I’m working on at that moment. I’ve been very lucky that way.

What is your ultimate career ambition?

In many respects, I have already achieved my ambition. However one current project involves designing the gardens as well as the interiors for a large estate in Tuscany.

Gardening is a passion of mine.

How do you find designing for a hotel different from interior design in homes, offices or restaurants?

Hotels have to be extremely practical and designed with longevity built in, while offering high levels of comfort and quality.

These days they also have to be far-reaching in their design, and appeal to a wide range of people. Private homes can be more personal.

They can reflect the personalities of those who live in them.

How do you come up with an interesting and unusual design concept for a hotel – a space which has to please a large number of guests?

The first thing to do is to establish the essence of a design brief with the client.

It is important to understand the type of people the hotel is aiming to attract.

Putting yourself in the guests’ shoes and understanding their needs is essential. I also take account of the location of the hotel and the nature of nearby businesses and other hotels. The overall concept can come from anywhere. It stems from what a guest would feel in that space.

Ricardo Cinalli Roses in the Lobby

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

I’m proudest of The Grove. It stretched my imagination. It has given credibility and recognition to my approach to design and my design skills.

Who or what is your inspiration?

I take inspiration from all sorts of things. It is very difficult to pin down. It could come, for instance, from new art or contemporary fashion or a recent trip overseas.

Do you think you’ll ever run out of new ideas?

No. I think I might run out of time first...

When you started work on The Grove, what was your design brief and how did you work into it?

My brief was to create an interior that was inspiring and far-reaching but did not alienate. It was to provide a quintessentially country house feel, reinterpreted in a contemporary twenty-first century way.

Why is art important in hotels?

Art is a method of reaching out to people.

It can challenge and give a sense of place. It can also provide a sense of humour.

How do you choose art for hotels?

What makes a good piece for an environment like that?

Two examples; at the Athenaeum Hotel, I commissioned Ricardo Cinalli to create in the lobby a painting of roses and briars on layers of plexiglass. The inspiration behind it was in wanting to use an iconic flower that represented British-ness to connect the sense of place of the interior with the open space of Green Park outside. And at The Grove, I chose a giant photograph of a giraffe for a staircase as a way of playing with scale and humour, both at the same time.

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interiors

Sun Catcher, The Glasshouse Terrace

Can you talk us through your use of installation art at The Grove? Why did you choose these pieces and how are they effective in their chosen spaces?

The Naked Gardener installation at The Grove reflects a relationship to the gardens outside, while also providing a sense of humour. This use of wit can help to bring people together. I remember observing the chairman of a large multi-national corporation watching the video with junior managers and all of them together bursting out laughing.

Are there any unusual or unique pieces in your hotels, or objects with a bit of a story behind them?

I spent several years thinking about and collecting the pieces for The Grove. I bought the pieces of glass from an antique dealer in L’isle sur la Sorgue in Provence.

Apparently the original chandelier hung behind a Ferrari in a Milan car showroom.

Almost all the pieces have a story to tell.

The reason for the horse sculpture in the lobby, for example, lies in the fact that the painter Stubbs used to do paintings of horses in the grounds of The Grove. n For more information on The Grove Hotel or simply to see Hulbert’s work in situ, visit www.thegrove.co.uk or call 01923 807807 for reservations.

The Grove Ferrari glass installation

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Café Culture Napket launched its first designer café-deli on the Kings Road in summer 2007, and following its huge success, opened another three branches across the City. Most recent is Royal Exchange café; with its array of beautifully presented dishes made from quality natural ingredients, Napket offers casual all-day dining in an ultra-modern setting.

Designed by Peter Van Hooreweghe, the decor of Napket features an eclectic collision of influences from modern to baroque. While every Napket has its own signature design features, the décor is tailored to the individual sites and surrounding area. The delicious coffee is Illy, the tea is Mariage Frères, and there is a wide selection of dairy smoothies and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Unique to Napket is the Cannabis Iced Tea, which is natural product from Switzerland. Where better to relax and enjoy a coffee, light breakfast or lunch than in a casual, but sleek and designer setting.

Napket 34 Royal Exchange 020 7621 1831 www.napket.com

NewYear

Strike a

NEWYOU

PERFECT SOLITAIRE

Helpchoice welcome 2009 in style A beautiful for an autumn engagement, De with the Royal Exchange; from Beers presents the Forever Ring. choice of beautiful fragrances to Ahandbags, jewellery to stationery they have engagement solitaire diamonds in a variety of weights, everything you need for a whole new you these are the latest additions to the DeBeers Bridal Collection, with stones guaranteed with the De Beers Marque. With unrivalled expertise in the selection and specification of fine diamonds for over a century, De Beers offers the most authoritative diamond knowledge in the world.

All diamonds aboveThis .20 carats that pass/the De Beersseason, Lulu Guinness has created a collection new Spring Summer stringent specifications are microscopically with inspiredbranded by quintessential sea iconography enhanced by details the De Beers Marque. Completely invisible to the naked from her own vintage jewellery collection. Starting 2009 eye, this microscopic etching ensures that each stone will withand a sense of fun and playfulness, the new collection retain its identity as a De Beers official diamond, is features shell and fish motifs and a colour palette from catalogued in the De Beers Diamond registry, providing an additional level of protection and security. bright corals and aquas, to classic blacks, whites and

true Colours

Forever Ring, prices starting from £1,150 De Beers 13, The Courtyard, Royal Exchange 020 7929 2777 www.debeers.com

beiges. The Large Coral Carmella bag is one of our favourites, and the vibrant hue of the patent leather and cute shell-shaped tag give it an extra bit of Hollywood beach glamour. Perfect for the spring season; be sure to buy in the New Year as these are set to be seriously popular.

Lulu Guinness 23 Royal Exchange 020 7626 5391 www.luluguinness.com

a fresh start Following the huge success of White Jasmine & Mint Cologne in 2008, why not start off the New Year infusing your home with the White Jasmine & Mint Home Candle. This enchanting candle captures the scent of pure white flowers on the morning breeze, combined with an unexpected twist of soft and sensual wild mint. Inspired by a sun-drenched morning in an English country garden, this elegant yet eccentric fragrance is a subtle yet refreshing. Provide a haven from the stresses of the outside world, start as you mean to go on and infuse your day with the restorative ambience of the natural world.

White Jasmine & Mint Home Candle, £38 Jo Malone 24 Royal Exchange 0870 192 5131 www.jomalone.co.uk

Sparkling Stars

Time of your Life The Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph is Montblanc’s first chronograph featuring a movement developed and manufactured entirely in the company’s own workshops. Dedicated to Nicolas Rieussec (who invented the chronograph in 1821) the watch is a timepiece for connoisseurs, and will be available only in limited numbers: 25 watches in platinum 950, 75 in 18k white gold and 75 in 18k yellow gold, together with 125 watches in 18k rose gold. A timeless design using the very highest quality materials, this is a classic watch with which to begin a new time in your life.

Montblanc 10 Royal Exchange 020 7929 4200 www.montblanc.com

De Beers have a wonderful tale to tell this New Year. It is said that in the days when Spirits lived amongst the stars, the Spirit of the Dance, who was named Gugu-Juju, spent his days dancing in the clouds. One day he resolved to steal all the stars and he distracted the other Spirits with a dance. But soon the other Spirits saw that he was stealing their precious stars and as he danced across the sky, the stars fell towards the earth. It is said that every star that fell that day became a diamond, and that the spirit of Gugu-Juju still lives inside them. Spirit of The Morning Star (4.21 carats of rough and polished diamonds set in white gold) represents dreams and aspirations; wear this talisman in the New Year to keep your dreams always within reach.

Spirit of the Morning Star, £11,000 De Beers The Courtyard, Royal Exchange 020 7929 2777 www.debeers.com

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Tiffany and Co. 29a Royal Exchange 020 7409 2790 www.tiffany.com/uk

Wait a minute Mr. Postman!

It’s one of those January chores but everyone has to send their thank you notes come the NewYear. Luckily, there is some gorgeous new stationery around to make sending and receiving mail just a little bit more special. Smythson has collaborated with award winning British designer Giles Deacon, to create a collection of hand engraved correspondence cards with hand lined tissue envelopes.

Achingly stylish, the cards feature five striking haute couture pen and ink fashion sketches by Giles.With only 300 boxes produced, these Giles cards are very limited; each box will contain 10 cards comprising two of each of the five designs.

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✴

GLAM ✴

ROCKS Photography by: Daniel Ward

Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds

77Diamonds 18K white gold necklace with 78 round brilliant cut diamonds £42,350.00, 18K white gold bracelet with 29 round brilliant cut diamonds £13,995.00 and 18K white gold radiant cut diamond with trilliant cut side diamonds £62,500.00 all 77Diamonds, 0844 561 6877 www.77diamonds.com

Cartier White gold, grey pearl, onyx and diamond necklace ÂŁ13,350, Cartier, 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com

De Beers Radiant cut line necklace, 68 stones set in platinum, 86.06cts, POA and cushion cut earrings with pave and platinum setting, 8.20cts, POA both de Beers 020 7758 9700 www.debeers.com

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David Morris Marquise-cut white diamond bracelet set in platinum, 12.69cts POA, Colombian emerald and white diamond earrings emerald weight 26.54cts POA and natural Colombian 3.23ct cushion-cut emerald ring with white diamond micro-surround setting POA, David Morris, 020 7499 2200.

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Hirsh 7.76ct Aquamarine necklace with pink and white diamonds in platinum ÂŁ8,995 and 12.61cts Aquamarine earrings with blue and white diamonds in platinum ÂŁ9,995 both Hirsh, 020 7831 3333 www.hirsh.co.uk

Model: Tiffany Collier at Profile Model Management. With thanks to Gemma.

Hair: Ben Mohapi at Punishment Ltd

David Morris Large rose-cut diamond hoop earrings with diamond microsurround setting, 21.46cts POA and 18ct white gold rose-cut diamond bracelet with diamond micro-surround setting, 12.25cts POA, David Morris, 020 7499 2200

Make-up: Claudine Henderson using The Essentials Clean It All Off Emulsion Cleanser, Skin Drink Soft Moisturiser, 106 Exact Caramel Subli’mine Foundation, 02 Delicate Beige Prisme Libre Powder, Eye and Brow Prism, Prism Again Shimmer Eyes in 44 Precious Shimmer, Phenomenon Eyes Black Mascara, Prism Again Blush in 05 Smiling Brown, Pop Gloss 452 in Exciting Coral, Veris Please in 103 Pretty Pink all by Givenchy.

Retouching: Touch Digital, www.touchdigital.co.uk Shot at The Lanterns Studios www.thelanterns.co.uk. With thanks to John.

‘Tis the season to be sparkling

fashion

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Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds

Talisman £13,500, De Beers, 020 7758 9700 www.debeers.com

DUNHILL Jude law wears black laquered and calf leather A-centric £1,445, 0845 4580779 www.dunhill.com

LUXURYTIMEPIECES STYLE UPDATE

Pasha 42 Chronograph with diamonds and black rubber £70,550, Cartier, 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com

Doumetre a Chronographie £20,900, Jaeger Le Coultre at Watches of Switzerland, 0800 80495051 www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk Limited Edition Avenue Squared £92,500, Harry Winston, 171 New Bond Street, W1, 020 7907 8849 www.harrywinston.com

‘Quai de I’lle’ £20,730 , Vacheron Constantin, 020 7312 6830.

Sonata Cathedral £34,000, Ulysse Nardin at Watches of Switzerland, 0800 80495051 www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

Rare Steel ‘Pre-Daytona’ Chronograph Rolex £55,000, The Vintage Watch Company, 020 7499 2032 www.vintagewatchcompany.com

Da Vinci Chronograph £27,500, IWC at Watches of Switzerland, 0800 80495051 www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

Bright alligator stilettos £600 Ralph Lauren 020 7535 4600 www.ralphlauren.com

Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds

Red crocodile Marcello de Cartier bag £10,600, Cartier, 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com

Crocodile and diamond stilettos £50,000, Jonathan Kelsey at David Morris 020 7499 2200 www.davidmorris.com

LUXURYSKINS

STYLE UPDATE

Bespoke Ricky bag £11,000 Ralph Lauren 020 7535 4600 www.ralphlauren.com

Green crocodile bag £5,166, Zagliani at Matches www.matchesfashion.com

Celeste rainbow snake bag £1,126, Lance rainbow snake stiletto £583 and Tube rainbow snake clutch £735 all Jimmy Choo, www.jimmychoo.com

Cassis lizard Nancy bag £1,200, Smythson, 08705 211311 www.smythson.com

Paris red, purple and orange alligator court £3,000 and Pink red and orange alligator stilettos all Gina, 020 7409 7090 www.gina.com

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83

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To win, just answer this simple question Jose Cuervo Platino is distilled in which country?

Discover the secret of Jose Cuervo Platino

M

ade using a closely guarded secret method, which until recently was used only to make tequila for the family’s private enjoyment; Jose Cuervo® Platino™ showcases a 200-year legacy of tequila craftsmanship. Now Jose Cuervo Platino tequila is giving you the chance to kick off the New Year in style with a secret, bespoke cocktail party for you and five friends at exclusive Mayfair Private Members club Jalouse.

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a)

Colombia

b) Mexico c) Spain Handcrafted in individually numbered, wax-sealed bottles and presented in a luxury blue box, Jose Cuervo Platino is available in select outlets nationwide, including top bars, members clubs, boutique stores, and exclusively at Harvey Nichols nationwide. RRP £50.00, for a 700 ml bottle. www.josecuervoplatino.com Jose Cuervo Platino is 40% ABV. The Jose Cuervo words and associated logos are trademarks. © 2008 tequila Cuervo La Rojeña, S.A. de C.V. Used under licence from the trademark owner.

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Open to all UK residents aged 18 or over only excluding the promoter’s employees, their families, their agencies and anyone professionally connected with the promotion.

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culture

85

On

Screen

Cat Hughes previews the latest releases

It’s a New Year and all we’re hearing is doom and gloom; if you believe what you read, 2009 is not going to be much fun. So, as everything is apparently going to be so bad, I’ve not made any New Year resolutions. I wish I could say that this month’s review is a happy film that will make you forget the troubles of the world, but it won’t. It is however, inspiring – about never giving up, no matter what.

Something which I think is relevant in these uncertain times. Milk is the true story of Harvey Milk, (Sean Penn) the first openly gay man elected to public office. Harvey was a tireless activist for gay rights.

He encouraged people to come out of the closet and fought and defeated Proposition 6; a piece of legislation that would have made it legal for gay teachers to be sacked.

Milk charts the last eight years of his life. While living in New York, Harvey turns 40 and feels he wants more from life. He and boyfriend Scott (James Franco) move to Castro, a district in San Francisco and open a photography shop. Harvey became an outspoken agent for change – seeking equal rights and opportunity for all. With backing from his friends, such as activist Clive Jones (Emile Hirsch) Harvey runs for office. On his fourth campaign he finally succeeds in becoming City Supervisor for District 5. While in office Harvey makes a deadly enemy, Dan White (Josh Brolin) another City Supervisor, whose enmity has tragic consequences for the activist.

As a biopic it’s not up there with Ray or The Aviator. Though the story was one of hope and facing adversity, the film could be a bland in places and something about the narrative felt forced. However, Penn brilliantly captures the flamboyancy and fire of Harvey, and Brolin portrays the ex policeman fabulously.

Milk’s timing is very apt; in the US gay rights have been hitting headlines again. Back in November, California voted for Proposition 8 eliminating the right for same sex couples to marry.

3/5 Director: Gus Van sant cert: 15 runninG time: 130 minutes

Also on this month The Spirit is a star studded comic book film, Rookie cop Denny Colt (Gabriel Macht) is killed in the line of duty, but he returns from the grave as The Spirit. His mission is to fight against Central City’s crime kingpin – the Octopus. (Samuel L Jackson) Out 2 January. Frost / Nixon starring Michael Sheen as David Frost and Frank Langella as Richard Nixon. Frost is intent on getting his confession for the Watergate Scandal, but the former American president is more than

Frost bargained for. Out 9 January. Yet another action packed heroic film starring Daniel Craig, Defiance is set in 1941 during the holocaust. Three brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Scheriber and Jamie Bell) escape the Nazis and take refuge in a dense wood. During their primitive struggle for survival they help save thousands of other desperate Jews.

Out 9 January. Slumdog Millionaire is a story about an 18 year old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who finds himself just

one question away from winning 20 million rupees. He is accused of cheating, arrested and forced to unravel his poverty-stricken story. Out 9 January. Starring Will Smith, Seven Pounds centres on a man who falls in love with a woman after he tries to kill himself. Out 16 January. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is the third instalment of the Underworld series. Serving as a prequel, the film shows why the battle between vampires and werewolves began. Out 23 January

ArtScene

by CAROL CORDREY - carol@artalone.com

LONDON

ICE SCULPTING FESTIVAL

W

e have come to expect January to be a dreary month but for anyone within reach of the centre of London, I am about to change all that! It has taken months of meetings, submissions and carefully planned organisation to overcome last year’s obstacles. So, at long last, the international ice sculpting competition I have been longing to inject into London’s art scene will finally take place on 9 - 11 January 2009.

In partnership with Europe’s leading ice specialist,The Ice Box, the London Ice Sculpting Festival has been created to provide you and your families with the excitement of watching inspirational art forms take shape before your very eyes, outside the world famous Natural History Museum and next to its popular ice rink. And in keeping with my mantra, “art for all”, the London Ice Sculpting Festival is FREE for everyone to enjoy – something I am particularly proud of considering the difficult economic conditions we find ourselves in at present.

Five teams of ice sculptors from France, Italy, Holland, Russia and the UK will use power and hand tools to carve their unique interpretations of the theme, Wildlife in the City, from very large ice blocks. The theme has been specially chosen to link the Festival with its venue of the Natural History Museum and its first class reputation for research into the natural world.

Sculpture in traditional media can take weeks, months or even years to make but these sculptors will have only 2½ days to create their work in the sparkling medium of ice and you can see it happen. Unlike most artists who work in solitary studios, these are used to working in front of the public and they will relish the chance to discuss their designs with you as they sculpt against the clock during the Festival: 11.00 - 20.30, Friday 9 Jan 09.30 - 20.30, Saturday 10 Jan 09.30 - 11.00 Sunday 11 Jan

culture

I’m looking forward to talking to you about their work, so look out for me each day at the London Ice Sculpting Festival.

The designs have to be completed by 11.00 on Sunday in time for the start of the judging, followed at 12.00 mid-day by the presentation of medals and a stunning glass trophy to be awarded to the team that has produced Best Interpretation of Wildlife in the City. The trophy has been specially commissioned from the renowned Peter Layton London Glassblowing Workshop. Come and see if you agree with the judging panel which will be made up of me, Philip Jackson, (distinguished British sculptor) and Bob Bloomfield (Head of Special Projects & Innovation at the Natural History Museum).

And if you’ve always longed to express your own artistic talents, the Festival offers you the chance to do just that! A series of FREE Masterclasses is available for anyone over the age of 12 years (and with parental consent where appropriate) to have a go at sculpting ice using hand tools. The Masterclasses will be under the careful supervision of The Ice Box’s own experienced sculptors who will encourage you to enjoy the pleasures of creating art forms out of ice. The times of the Masterclass will be: 12.00 mid-day, 15.00 and 18.00, Saturday 10 Jan 13.00 and 15.00, Sunday 11 Jan

The London Ice Sculpting Festival will be an exciting addition to London’s cultural calendar and it will add some much-needed sparkle to everybody’s January. Be sure to put the Festival’s dates into your new diaries so that you don’t miss all the pleasures that await you at the Natural History Museum - a great ice rink, a great museum and a great time at the new London Ice Sculpting Festival! n London Ice Sculpting Festival 9 - 11 January 2009, FREE ACCESS Natural History Museum Cromwell Road South Kensington Tel: 020 7942 5000 For more information visit the ‘What’s on’ calendar at: www.nhm.ac.uk www.londonicesculptingfestival.co.uk

87

Temper Tantrum The moody child and former grave digger whose graffiti art has adorned 100 million Sprite cans, is suddenly behaving all grown up. Claire Adler meets Temper, the master of legal graffiti

T

emper is not your average graffiti artist. When he created a collection based on the hours of the day last year, it took all of five minutes before the pictures were snapped up. With a website currently receiving 200,000 hits a month, Temper’s art already graces the offices of Coca Cola and advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. In 2001, his designs covered over 100 million Sprite cans and bottles round the world. When he was given a solo exhibition at Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery, his show broke all attendance records, seeing 38,000 people pass through its doors in four weeks. Not bad for a former forklift truck driver and gravedigger.

The first graffiti artist to work on canvas, Temper is a paradox. In hitting the mainstream through museum appearances and corporate collaborations and commissions, Temper has turned the traditional definition of graffiti on its head. He has whittled it down to art created with spray paint from a can.

“Graffiti is subconscious. It provokes thought patterns. I want my graffiti to translate to everyone. Graffiti for me is not about destroying, it’s about creating. I’d like to see gold-plated gutters,” says Temper, somewhat cryptically.

Temper, Gemini

November’s invite to the preview of his latest three years in the making, 12 piece collection, Post Graphaelite, might have come in the form of a decorated spray can.

But it was encased in a plush red velvet box elegantly engraved with Temper’s signature.

The venue for the show was the Banqueting House – a grand palace across the road from 10 Downing Street, with Temper’s zodiac inspired paintings hanging exquisitely from the Rubens-adorned ceiling and just occasionally on the walls. It would be hard

to conjure up a more establishment setting than this. No sooner had I skimmed through the torch flame entrance of the party in Whitehall, than Temper excitedly whispered to me that he was off to breakfast at Number 11 the following morning. Alistair Darling’s wife had already swung by and was loving his work.

Perhaps reassuringly, Temper does have a sordid past – even if today, in the comfort of the lounge in Mayfair member’s club Morton’s, he comes over infinitely more

culture

Graffiti for me is not about destroying, it’s about creating. I’d like to see goldplated gutters

Temper, Aries

vulnerable and humble than violent and troubled. In fact, on the two occasions I meet Temper, an earnest and cagey-looking lawyer is never more than a few feet away.

Temper, born Aaron Bird in 1971, gained his nickname from the ugly moods he displayed during his school days. When probed, he won’t admit what his worst juvenile crimes were, other than to admit he stole cars and that he can’t expose the name he used when he was an illegal artist. A bored and angry child, Temper found solace in hip hop culture and graffiti art which he read about in magazines. He procured his first spray cans from a friend whose father worked in a car shop.

Aged 11, Temper painted his first piece of street art on a creepy fungi covered wall in an underpass in Wolverhampton. He used an old can to remove the fungi and covered a 12ft by 9ft area with a colourful character in ski goggles and signed it Temper.

At school the next day, it was the subject on everybody’s lips but Temper never admitted it was his. Soon his creations were appearing overnight on crumbling walls round town.

He never considered himself a vandal, often painting over racist slogans, like ‘National Front’ and ‘Wogs Out’. Despite attempts at anonymity, Temper was soon approached by friends asking him to daub jeans, bags and pencil cases.

Now in his mid 30s, Temper acknowledges he has moved on since those early days, artistically, intellectually and emotionally.

The first time he entered a museum was when his work was exhibited in the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in 2001.

He now confesses a love of architecture, churches, craftsmanship and masonry.

“Everything I learned was in the subways,” he says frankly. “I think my life would have ended in tragedy if I hadn’t found art.”

89

It would be hard to blame Temper for his disturbed years. Over a period of a year he lost eight members of his family, including his mother, uncle, cousin and cousin’s new born baby, to a cruel genetic disease.

Temper likens discovering art to finding his saviour. “As soon as I pressed the nozzle on my first aerosol experience, it was like finding G-d,” he has been quoted as saying.

“The trick in life is to keep getting up off your knees,” he says.

Yet Temper still seems at odds with the world around him that isn’t about his art.

“Art is my best friend. It’s my escapism and my realism. I am graffiti. I have 48 projects planned for the future. They will probably take me till I die. Art is bigger than me. It always expresses what I want. My ambition is to become a recluse,” he says, without a smile.

But with a mind boggling 48 projects in the works, what’s next from Temper?

“I love seeing the paint pressurised in the can, flying at speed through the air onto the canvas into a million particles.

But I also think sculpture is like graffiti,” he says hinting at the prestigious public commission he’s currently working on – a 17 storey sculpture Birmingham’s long awaited Cube development, due for completion in 2010.

“What concerns me most about the next phase is that people think they have me pinned down. The next thing may be controversial, then maybe not. I do what I want to do,” he says.

Doing just what he wants seems to be serving Temper well. Collectors already include Orlando Bloom and Daria Abramovich. And by the looks of things, some of London’s political glitterati could soon be added to that list. Who knew graffiti could be this conservative? n

DISAPPEARING ACT

Stephanie Baxter finds a book with an environmental message

E

verywhere we turn at the moment there seems to be a hundred and one things telling us that we need to be more “green”. People who go into the public sphere to talk about green issues often seem to just be jumping on the environmentally-friendly bandwagon. Whilst I whole-heartedly agree and often wonder whether the way in which they deliver their message is something that people can really relate to. Threats of the polar ice-caps melting, for example, is something which is somewhat distant to most people. It is not something tangible that will necessarily make the majority of people take notice and think seriously about their environmentallyunfriendly behaviour.

Yet when confronted with a long list of places that are, in effect, disappearing from our world, one can’t help but sit up and take notice. Holly Hughes’ new book, 500 Places to See Before they Disappear, is a travel guide of sorts, ‘not,’ says the author, ‘a scientific treatise or an eco-sermon.’ Thank goodness for that. The last thing you want to feel when reading a book is guilt. It is, however, a travel guide with a difference.

It doesn’t cover just one area, one country or even one continent, but it is a catalogue of many different places all over the world that are under threat of disappearing entirely from the face of the earth.

At the beginning of the book is an author’s note, which states that ‘between the time this book was being written and the time it would appear in stores – let alone by the time you finally read it – any of these threatened destinations could have radically changed.’ This statement, according to the author, is meant to convey a sense of urgency about the plight of the places outlined in the book. But the underlying feeling that

I experienced when reading these words was one of depression. I mentioned this to Holly Hughes in an interview with her, to which she gave an interesting response: “I hope there are as many messages of hope in this book as messages of gloom and doom…

Just since it's been published, I've learned of three or four examples in which government action has finally been taken to preserve, protect, or restore sites I wrote about.

After I completed my research, I've come to believe that, on the whole, matters are only improving. Now it's up to my readers to bring about more change for the better.”

Organised into different easy-to-navigate sections, the reader is guided through a plethora of this earth’s most wonderful and beautiful places and things (the word ‘places’ is actually somewhat misleading) that, at some point in the future, will no longer be able to be enjoyed, either through natural occurrences or through man’s own folly. One of the best things about this book is its manageability; despite the size of the book, which has the potential to seem rather daunting, it is structured in such a way that it is easy to dip in and out whenever the mood takes you. This is not a book to be read from cover to cover in order one rainy afternoon.

And that is part of its beauty.

Some of the entries in this book are fairly predictable; it is no surprise, for example, to see the Amazon Rainforest listed among its pages.Yet the author still provides information that is bound to be new and shocking to the average reader. In the case of the Amazon, the reader is told that one and a half acres of the rainforest are lost every second.Yes, I knew the Amazon was in trouble, but not to this extent. Such information certainly does make me stop and think.Yet I’m still not about to book a

culture

91

Antarctica

Tower of London

flight to South America to go and see it.

This is one of the limitations of this book. Whilst it is extremely interesting and thought-provoking, many of the places highlighted are just places I would never go and visit, for various reasons, mostly financial. Whilst I would love to go on a cruise to the Antarctic to see all its enchanting wildlife and beautiful landscapes before they disappear, it’s something that just isn’t feasible. Having said that, however, many of the entries that relate to animals, rather than places, do make me seriously consider a future trip to see them, especially the mountain gorillas in Uganda, as this is something I have wanted to do since I was a little girl. It is, therefore, a case of looking at the entries in this book and deciding which of them are actually possible for you to go and see.

This brings me nicely to what I believe to be the book’s main strength. There are many entries that refer to places very local to us, some of which are very surprising indeed. Did you know, for example, that the Yorkshire Dales is one of the only places

in the world where the sky is still properly dark? Or that the Tower of London is at risk of disappearing due to its proximity to the Thames? Or that Venice is sinking at about 6.4cm per decade? These are places that are very accessible, and are therefore the places that the average reader is most likely to visit.

It is also perhaps just worth mentioning that the black and white photographs in the book do not do justice to the beauty of the places it covers. I, for one, would have liked to have seen colour photos throughout, and would certainly have been willing to pay a few more pounds for it. Perhaps this is another attempt at being green.

500 Places to See Before they Disappear is, in many ways, an educational resource. It is, however, primarily a travel guide, and can best be described as one for those people who want to go to places more interesting and worthwhile than the usual week in the Maldives. It is important to note that it is not just a lament for those places in the world that are under threat, but a celebration of those places that are thriving against all odds: “I tried to include the ones that would make the most rewarding travel experiences - for example, I've recommended the coral reefs that are still beautiful and intact, hoping to spur more interest in saving those that are more severely compromised.” Job done, I’d say. n 500 Places to See Before they Disappear £13.99 www.frommers.com

Mountain Gorilla, Uganda

love

IS IN THE AIR With Valentine’s Day around the corner we ask is romance still alive?

Cat Hughes and Rebecca Walton have some ideas to make that special day go with a bang!

O

nce every year in early February loved up individual’s far and wide all fill with the same feeling of dread, what to do for Valentine’s Day? Whether it be a first or a fiftieth together, flowers and chocolates these days just don’t scream ‘I love you’ like they used to. A gift from the heart is something that is personal – something special which has a lot of thought behind it, something you will never forget.

Flying off to a romantic destination used to be the pinnacle of luxury and romance, who wouldn’t want to be whisked away on a jet flying high above the skies to spend hours staring into their loved one’s eyes? In this day and age flying makes one think of long delays and crammed Ryanair flights, hardly the most romantic start to a trip. Luckily for the lovebirds out there all is not lost, Redletter Days are here to help and are bringing romance and luxury back to flying.

The romantic experience begins with a decadent picnic supper of some of the best aphrodisiacs around, including oyster, lobster, pink champagne and strawberries. The sensual feast is served to you in the comfort of a river view room in the Plaza by the River. If the picnic does not get you in the mood then the Aveda Bath and Massage Set combined with heart-shaped Fortnum and Mason chocolates should. Fear not though if all is not going to plan there is also Casablanca on DVD in case of a romantic emergency.

The following morning you and your partner will be picked up by an executive car and whisked away to board your private plane with absolutely no check-in queues in sight.You will then take an exhilarating and most importantly, romantic flight over London taking in all the sights while sipping on a bottle of luxury champagne. Once you’ve landed, your afternoon is free for sightseeing or maybe to just to enjoy each other’s

company in your luxury riverside suite. In the evening the Plaza’s Head Chef will create a sensual ‘love menu’ for you to share, the perfect ending to a spectacular day.

The final icing on the cake is the next morning you can lie-in and have a wonderful champagne breakfast in bed. (£1,800 Book Quoting: I Prefer Valentines Extravaganza 020 7769 2525 www.plazaontheriver.co.uk) There are also of course some more traditional ways of expressing your love, the Celts were one of the first cultures in the UK to give gifts of love. The most famous of these gifts is the Irish Claddagh’s rings. These distinctive rings traditionally depict two hands holding a heart with a crown. The meaning behind this is “With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love. Galantas Irish Gold have some beautiful his and hers diamond set Irish gold Claddagh rings (£620 and £500 respectively) (www.galantas.com).

Not to be out done by their Irish neighbours the Welsh tradition was to give a loved one a love spoon.Young men would carve intricately decorated spoons from a single piece of wood and give them to the girl they loved, if she accepted it they would begin courting. The maker would carve certain symbols which have different meanings; a horseshoe if for luck, a cross for faith, bells for marriage, hearts for love and a lock for security. But if you can’t carve one yourself not to worry you can commission one.

Adam King a wood carver based in High Wycombe can create unique personalised love spoons. Examples of his commissions include an intricate Celtic knot, with a kangaroo and a Welsh dragon and the couple’s initials but they can take any form whether that be pastimes, favourite memories or whatever tickles your fancy. One off commissions starts from £45 (www.adamking.co.uk).

So look past the many pink packages filling the shelves and follow your heart as only you will know what will make your partner’s Valentine’s Day one to remember. n

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Love Tokens Stuck for a gift for Valentine’s Day? Don’t be, because we’ve done the hard work for you, check out our great gift ideas Tickle your Tas T Te buds >

W NT To PoP THe QuesTioN? Wa N? >

Asia de Cuba has teamed up with Laurent Perrier to give you and your partner a romantic five course meal with a complimentary glass of Laurent-Perrier Rosè.

A weekend at Ickworth Hotel, which includes a helicopter ride from London to the country hotel in Suffolk, is a great idea.

You’ll stay in the Chinese Room and enjoy a seven-course dinner served by your personal waiter.

£65 St Martin’s Lane 020 7300 5588

£5,999 www.luxuryfamilyhotels.com

cruise aloNg alo g >

Take fligHT HT

Indulge your loved one with a sensual river cruise with Silver Fleet. The cruise includes a three-course meal and a pink Champagne reception.

London Eye Valentine’s Champagne Flight will do just that. Includes fast-track entry, red rose, chocolate, glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne. £66 per couple 7 - 17 February (excluding 14 February from 6pm) £70 per couple 14 February 6pm - 8pm

Lunch Cruise, 11.30am – 3.00pm, £105 per person Dinner Cruise, 7.00pm – 11.00pm, £125 per person www.silverfleet.co.uk 020 7481 2711

www.londoneye.com

oPera >

There’s nothing sexier than the opera, and Rigoletto, one of Verdi’s most popular works returns to the Royal Opera House.

caN’T geT rid of THe kids? >

For Valentine’s Day Moonfleet Manor near Chisel Beach in Dorset will provide you with a nanny service from 7am, so you and your partner can sleep in and enjoy a massage. £405 per night includes – DBB, flowers, chocolates, a ½ hr massage each and afternoon tea.

14 February Tickets from £14 020 7240 1200 www.roh.org.uk < PamPer yourselves

Enjoy a couple’s massage at the Aqua Sculpture Day Spa. £160 www.wahanda.com

www.luxuryfamilyhotels.com

Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky £29.99 www.isleofjura.com

Wilbur and Gussie, the Love Clutch £135 www.wilburandgussie.com

Handmade Aspinal Heart Coin Purse £35 www.aspinaloflondon.com

A timeless tea time tradition

food&drink

Josephine O’Donoghue ponders the long and distinguished history of the cuppa, from health benefits to tea tourism, from the traditional Afternoon Tea to the newest ‘slimming’ tea blends

T

he first thing on my mind when I wake up in the morning is a cup of tea. When I’m trundling upstairs to my bed, it’s with a cup of tea. When I get writer’s block I make a cup of tea; when I’m feeling blue I make a cup of tea; when a friend comes over I make a cup of tea; and when I have nothing else to do – I make a cup of tea.

Like most Britons, I love tea. Britain is the largest tea consumer in the world per capita and if we were to average it out, that’s equivalent to every person drinking four cups a day. Of course, it doesn’t even out like this and there are those like me who can count nine or ten tea-bags by the kettle at the end of one day, whilst reeling off the various health benefits to anyone who raises an eyebrow. In fact, today I’ve moved my lap-top to the kitchen, just to be closer to the kettle.

“Making tea is a soothing ritual to ease away tension and while away a peaceful moment” says Lyn Harris, a perfumer who has recently created her own blends of tea for the cafe at the back of her fragrance shop. “It’s time out from the daily grind, the hurly-burly that consumes our every waking minute. Tea remains resistant to fickle fashion and fad. It will never date, nor will it fall foul of trends and the relentless march of the new, new, new”.

Brought to the UK sometime in the seventeenth century by Dutch and

Portuguese traders, tea was initially a beverage of the aristocracy. By the midnineteenth however it was the drink of the nation and even today the most common perception from overseas is that we all ‘drink tea and live in castles’. Unlike a ‘tall skinny Gingerbread Latte with caramel syrup’ or ‘extra large Americano with an extra shot and pouring cream’ the cup of tea is a simple and unassuming favourite and Lyn is right – this classic could never go out of fashion.

Fortunately for me, there are numerous health benefits to be had from a traditional cuppa. Properly brewed (in a tea-pot, rather than the paltry dunking of a teabag in a mug to make a weak watery mess) researchers at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen found that the concentration of antioxidants, which soak up damaging free radicals linked to cancer and heart disease, reaches its peak after five minutes’ brewing in a tea-pot.

Testing levels of polyphenols (antioxidants naturally occurring in plants) it was noted that blood antioxidant levels were 60% higher amongst volunteers who drank tea that had been infused for five minutes than those who consumed a watered down one-minute brew. Within only one hour of drinking the five-minute brew, the level of antioxidants in volunteers’ bloodstreams rose by up to 45%.

Wu Long Tea

Nutritionists at King’s College London concluded that drinking three or four cups a day could cut the risk of suffering a heart attack, strengthen bones and protect against tooth decay and in support of these findings, scientists at Harvard Medical School stated that drinking tea can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. In fact, depending on your area of deficiency, it appears there is a tea to help almost any personal health problem.

The cardamom in mixed spice tea for example, can aid digestion problems as it has an analgesic effect, and helps relax the gut lining while boosting the secretion of digestive enzymes. Dandelion tea is the perfect New Year choice for detox as the leaf acts as a powerful diuretic, helping the body clear toxins through the kidneys while the root stimulates the liver to clear toxins by releasing bile into the digestive tract. Alternatively, those suffering from stress and anxiety can benefit from a calming cup of chamomile tea (containing apigenin) which binds to pain-receptors in nerve cells to produce a sedative and calming effect.

Mandeville Zandra Rhodes Tea

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Royal Blend Tea

‘Slimming teas’ are a relatively new addition to the group; teas that have always been around, but have received more attention recently due to their slimming aid properties. Wu Long tea is perhaps one of the most popular at the moment with followers such as Victoria Beckham using it religiously within weight-loss regimes.

Testing the tea early last year, another of our journalists, Annabel Trew noted that “The taste is quite pleasant, a sort of punchier green tea ... it did suppress my appetite, it made me feel more chirpy and it can only do good things to the skin. I say thumbs up!”

Some say the tradition of tea is just as important as the taste, and the process of making and drinking tea has become very ritualistic – not only in Britain but around the world. Lyn recalls “the song of the kettle, the chink of delicate china, the steam that floods the teapot and the subsequent aroma – all these wonderful things connect me to some of my most precious memories”, proving just what an important part of daily life the cup of tea can be. “My grandmother was religious about her daily tea ritual. Four o’clock meant time for tea, and would signal to my sister and me the opportunity to sit with her and indulge in the most civilised of rites” says Lyn, “All the props associated with the making and taking of tea are redolent of a more languorous time, when speed was not of the essence”.

Of course, taking lots of time over tea is a luxury few of us get to enjoy, at least not during the working week. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that formal Afternoon Tea has experienced a come-back in recent years. City hotels now compete for the most luxurious, original or wacky afternoon tea

Darjeeling

on offer, and taking tea in this manner has become a popular birthday treat, first-date destination or graduation gift. A disgustingly indulgent option (and therefore perfect for girly groups) is the Chocolate Afternoon Tea at Brunello, in the Baglioni Hotel. A modern take on this favourite British tradition means that absolutely everything on the menu is made from chocolate! Priced at £28 per person, or £36 with a glass of champagne, guests can start with a tea of their choice or an Italian Chocolate Stirrer over which hot milk is poured to create an incredibly rich hot chocolate drink. Followed by a Chocolate Scone topped with Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, a selection of Chocolate Brownies, pastries and truffles, this is definitely an extra-special cup! If the frills of an old-fashioned tea-time don’t appeal then a trip to the Mandeville Hotel is a must; the Men’s Afternoon Tea (priced at £22.50 per person, or £30 with whiskey) provides a ‘macho-menu’ with hearty morsels such as Roast Sirloin Sandwiches, Chicken Satay and Double Chocolate Brownies, alongside the finest teas and whiskies.

But, if you really love tea (and I mean really love it) you can go one step further than an Afternoon Tea in a London hotel. Tea tourism is a relatively new, yet extremely popular way to holiday. “People can stay in one of the luxurious old colonial buildings, with a veranda surrounding the rooms,” explains Sujit Banerjee (Secretary of India’s Ministry of Tourism) “It’s a great place to sit and watch tea-pickers with wicker baskets on their backs, picking the newest leaves and tossing them into the baskets. There is a great camaraderie and workers often sing

Jasmine

songs to pass the time of day”. Travel agent Trailfinders offer a dedicated ‘tea tourism’ tour of India, where guests can stay at an estate in Munnar, Kerala (priced from £1,599 for 9-nights, flights included) or the Glenburn estate in Darjeeling.

As we move now into the second century of the teabag (100 years old in 2008) and the fourth century of tea-time in Britain (thank-you Dutch traders) I urge you to take a moment to really appreciate that brew.

Made only from the best quality tips of a tea leaf, carefully picked and dried, before being shipped to England from China or India – it’s come a long way to make you a cuppa. As Lyn Harris so aptly notes, tea is “something for which we can always make time. It is an everyday comfort, a necessary luxury and even, with a little care, the highest extravagance of the day”. n For more information on Lyn Harris’ fragrance and tea-shop, visit www.millerharris.com For further details on tea tourism holidays, call Trailfinders on 0845 054 6060 For a wide selection of loose and bagged teas, visit www.fortnumandmason.com or go to the store at 181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER Reserve a table for Afternoon Tea at the Baglioni Hotel, 020 7368 5700 or The Mandeville Hotel, www.mandeville.co.uk/ afternoon-tea

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BITING BACK

AGAINST THE CREDIT CRUNCH

Rohit Chugh

Chris Baraniuk meets Rohit Chugh to talk about his transition from the financial district to the restaurant industry, and the future of good food in the City

P

Charred Fruits

utting the wheels on a bespoke new Indian restaurant in the heart of the city at a time of economic crisis sounds like a bit of a gamble, but that is exactly what Rohit Chugh has been up to and the result, Devonshire Square’s Cinnamon Kitchen (and adjoining Anise bar) are signs that such a move can be a success.

And Rohit’s personal route into the restaurant business has given him a unique insight into how the financial and food industries have changed in recent years. In 2004, Rohit left a career at Goldman Sachs to move into restaurant management at The Cinnamon Kitchen’s big brother restaurant, The Cinnamon Club.

The change, as Rohit explains, was a logical progression for him: “I really enjoyed my time at Goldman Sachs but I realised that it would never be a long term fit for my personality. I decided that ultimately I needed to be working with a smaller business where I could be really hands on and ideally in a sector that I was passionate about, so a restaurant was the obvious choice.”

Main dining room

“The transition was pretty smooth and I have to give a lot of credit to the team at The Cinnamon Club for that, as well as a good number of other people in the industry who were incredibly helpful.”

But outside Rohit’s own experiences, the food industry at large has, like any other, been forced to accept the fact that the British economy is facing a downturn. Can a restaurant like The Cinnamon Kitchen really be justified at a time like this, and haven’t its aspirations been damaged by the crisis? Rohit confirms that the food industry has had to consider its customer base more carefully because of the downturn, but he is quietly confident that the creativity of cuisine at The Cinnamon Kitchen hasn’t been adversely affected: “In terms of creativity, fortunately the move in recent years towards seasonal local produce, which we’ve always supported, does mean that being creative does not mean being expensive.”

“The good news for us so far has been that business has remained strong which has been very encouraging. The credit crunch does mean new challenges and I am actually rather enjoying that. It’s a matter of finding the right balance in everything you do between being innovative and being disciplined.”

The restaurant’s Executive Chef, Vivek Singh, took the time to chat to me when we visited the restaurant in December. He pointed out that the menu and dining room have both been designed to be accessible, and this is probably representative of the fruits of Rohit’s determination to work against a difficult national economic situation. The price range is refreshingly large, with main courses starting at £14 and rising to £32. And of course you can choose to dine at a table, at the grill, grab a snack at the bar next door or hire the private dining room (with a glass view of the kitchens).

As far as decor and setting

go, The Cinnamon Kitchen has made a real effort to fit in to their surroundings with style. They’re part of a series of new developments down at Devonshire Square (some of the neighbouring outlets are still being finished off), and the brand-new feel of Rohit’s restaurant is immediately evident. Clearly, there hasn’t been any need to compromise on trimmings and ornamentation. Rohit himself says that it is an integral part of the experience: “When you look to provide a genuine dining experience, the setting is a key component of that experience.

The design of Cinnamon Kitchen is intended to be sympathetic to the historical use of the building as a warehouse for the East India Trading Company whilst at the same time incorporating subtle touches of Indian textures and lighting. A modern Indian room is very much the ideal place to enjoy modern Indian cuisine”.

The dining room was busy during our visit, hinting at the status of the restaurant as a

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The transition was pretty smooth and I have to give a lot of credit to the team at The Cinnamon Club for that success story in uncertain times.

In terms of the clientele that are coming to The Cinnamon Kitchen, Rohit says: “Of course we do expect to attract diners from businesses in the area, however as with The Cinnamon Club, our aim is to draw guests from a diverse base. Ideally we would hope that our clientele will be anyone who is interested in innovative food and who has an open mind.”

The Cinnamon Kitchen could have opened without the unwelcoming atmosphere of a gloomy British economy, and Rohit Chugh could still be working for Goldman Sachs.

At the end of the day, though, what his personal ambitions and his new restaurant prove is that economic uneasiness is not necessarily an excuse to compromise on quality, service or adventure. Rohit is clearly a man with as much verve as the exciting dishes at The Cinnamon Kitchen and deserves kudos for pulling such a stunt off at such an unfortunate time.

A taste of success Dining at the Cinnamon Kitchen is quite a treat. The restaurant’s modern but intricately ornamented interior design score big points on first impressions. To the side of the main floor space of the dining room is a large grill bar where we chose to sit and watch the chef prepare our meal.

Appetisers were on their way when we were offered an exquisitely presented amuse bouche which was a delightful little square of what could be best described as Indian brioche, garnished with pomegranate

seed. The expert presentation of this opening miniature was a good indicator of how the chefs deployed the later courses – the food here is served with a clear passion for its appearance.

The meal began in earnest with Clove-smoked Salmon and ‘bhaditraka’, a grilled lamb dish inspired by Somesvara’s writings on the Manasollasa in 1127AD. Both of these were sizzled up on the grill right in front of us by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable chef – a display of performance cooking with was reassuringly refined and made Japanese Teppanyaki equivalents look like a tired circus act. The ‘bhaditraka’ is worth a special mention, as the recipe, we were told, contains but four main ingredients and its taste and texture rely heavily on tradition. It seems that the Cinnamon Kitchen has certainly not forgotten its roots.

By now we had high expectations for the main dishes, and they didn’t fail to impress.

The Tandoori King Prawns I ordered were particularly good; the prawns themselves were expertly cooked and beautifully coloured by a characteristic array of well-weighted spices.

Accompanying these was a Bengali Kedgeree which had subtle fish notes and a crumbly, lentil-like texture. The pairings here were superb and epitomised the Cinnamon Kitchen’s use of spice combinations – adventurous, exciting, but rarely overwhelming. All of the above was complemented very well by a selection from the restaurant’s satisfyingly large and varied wine list. We chose the smooth Viognier Mirabel for instant satisfaction.

Stir Fry Pork

The Cinnamon Kitchen offers a wealth of appropriately varied, outstandingly prepared dishes in a flash but accessible setting and has a lasting effect as a restaurant which demands and then flatters your attention. It’s hard to put a price on that. n

For more information about Cinnamon Kitchen, visit www. cinnamon-kitchen.com or call 020 7626 5000 for reservations.

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food&drink

Rule Britannia

British cuisine is back on the menu as Cat Hughes finds out in 1901

B

ritish food is having something of a renaissance; we as a nation see our food to be somewhat inferior to the culinary brilliance of our continental cousins. But with a host of celebrity and top chefs reviving old dishes and creating new ones, the cuisine of our green and pleasant land is back on the menu.

One such restaurant that had gone to great pains to bring fresh seasonal British cuisine is 1901; every dish is sourced from a variety of counties and head chef Dominic Teague has personally visited every farm and fishery that supplies him.

1901 is conveniently located next to Liverpool Street Station in the Andaz Hotel.

When you enter the restaurant and the door shuts behind you, the hustle and bustle of The City's streets feels a million miles away.

The venue's palatial surroundings evoke a bygone era where elegance and refinement predominate. From the huge stained glass domed ceiling, large white columns and classical frescos depicting ancient scenes; this is a venue that would not look out of place in a roman painting.

The food more than lived up to the surroundings; the menu was refreshingly simple. The wine menu, which was as thick as a coffee table tome had a superb selection. My dining partner and I opted for 2001 L'Enclos

du Château Lezongars (£45) a Bordeaux with a distinctly woody taste, our attentive waiter ensured us it was a perfect wine for game.

For my starter I opted for Wood Pigeon from Yorkshire with Wild Mushroom Duxelle, Veloutè of Jerusalem Artichokes (£7) which, in a word was delicious.The meat was tender and pink, and devoid of the shot that the waiter had warned me about. As predicted the wine made the ideal accompaniment. My partner opted for Partridge also fromYorkshire with Pot Roasted Turnips with Honey and Woodland Leaves (£10), commenting that "food like this makes you appreciate British Cuisine."

The Head Chef who is immensely passionate about food cooked a couple of little treats. Firstly the buccal flavour explosion that was the Haddock with Crayfish and a Scallop Mousse, and secondly the Scallop and Pork Belly; where that well established relationship between seafood and pork was cemented.

My only criticism was the Neck of Venison from Suffolk in Red Wine and Port, with Chestnuts, Bacon and Baby Onions (£17), which I chose for the main course. The dish came with a side of mashed potato which was probably a little too salty for my palate.

On the whole I found it to be slightly too rich for my taste but the venison was cooked beautifully – pink and tender. My partner

went for the Elwy Valley Lamb with Panfried Canon, Brioche Crumbs and Herbs with Braised Shoulder and Root Vegetables, (£22). Since we both grew up in the Elwy Valley a picturesque part of North Wales – he wanted to taste a bit of home, all in one sentimental mouthful. The dish came with a side of Cottage Pie, which delighted my partner - another taste of childhood. But without being biased he said the meat was juicy and succulent.

For dessert my partner went for Elderflower Crème Brulee and Blackberries, Rosehip Sorbet, a British twist on a French dish.Whilst I decided upon the Cheese Board, having been mesmerised by the cheese section, (complete with its farm house table made from one enormous tree trunk) for the entirety of my meal. I had to try some. One of the restaurant’s cheese experts helped me choose a selection of five cheeses; I was given a mix of cow, ewe and goat’s cheeses from the UK and France (£9).

1901 is a gem of a place, and with such delicious food all sourced from our fair shores British Cuisine can hold its head high again. Simply brilliant! n 40 Liverpool Street, London, England EC2M 7QN +44 207 618 7000

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Wild About Duck With the festive season over and a farewell to turkey, we say hello to another delicious bird.

SalaD Of Pan SEarED Duck, BakED BEETS anD ParSniP criSPS wiTH a POrT VinaigrETTE ServeS 4 This recipe is intended to use up some of those leftovers that you’ve probably got lurking in your cupboard after Christmas ( particularly the Port!) Plus, it’s light and healthy – the perfect antidote to all that December excess.

METHOD 1

Lightly score the skin of the duck several times and then marinade the duck in the port, caster sugar, Chinese five spice, orange and salt and pepper for two hours.

2

Bake the beetroots whole in the oven on a bed of rock salt until they are soft i.e. you should be easily able to slide a knife in them.

3

Leave the beetroots to cool on the tray for 30 mins and then peel and slice them into rough 1cm cubes. Use gloves if you can or you will have red hands for a couple of days! Toss in the balsamic vinegar and add a pinch of the rock salt you’ve cooked them on and set aside.

4 Heat some oil up in a pan big enough for deep frying your parsnips. Shave ribbon-like strips off the parsnips by shaving round them until you reach the core, then stop.

5 Take one parsnip ribbon and place in the oil carefully to test. If it’s hot enough it will sizzle once it’s dropped in and start to turn golden brown. If the oil is too hot it will burn straight away so you will need to reduce the heat accordingly. Fry all the ribbons in small batches until they are golden brown, then place them on lots of kitchen paper straight away to absorb the cooking oil.They should be lightly seasoned with salt while they are still warm and should be crisp!

6 Take the duck out of the marinade and pat dry with kitchen paper. Heat up a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan, enough to just cover the bottom of the pan over a medium heat then carefully lay in your duck breasts skin side down. Cook slowly for about 5 mins making sure they do not burn. Cooking the duck slowly like this will render down the fat from the skin and will make it very crisp. Once done, turn it over and cook for a further 5 mins. Remove from the pan and keep warm.

7

You can now put the leftover marinade from the duck into a pan and boil over a high heat until it has reduced by half, strain through a fine sieve and cool.

8 Mix the virgin olive oil, light oil, dijon mustard, honey, seasoning and duck reduction with a hand blender until emulsified. Add some water if it becomes too thick.

9 Toss the rocket in a little olive oil and place in the centre of each bowl, now stir in your beetroot and spoon over and around the rocket, slice your duck very thinly and arrange around the rocket (half a breast per person), drizzle the dressing over the whole salad and finish with your parsnip crisps on top.

We hope you enjoy making this dish at home but, alternatively, why not let deWintons take on the responsibility and get us to prepare it for you? Whether you have a private dinner party or a corporate event to organise, we cater for all occasions. So, if you want some of our delicious food, catered and served by delightful people, give us a call on: 020 7627 5550 or e-mail: info@dewintons.co.uk www.dewintons.co.uk

IENTS

INGRED

x 2 x 250ml x 50g x p ts 1 x 1 x 1 x 500g x 2 x sp tb 1 x 1 tbsp x 2 ying Oil for fr x 50ml x l m 0 5 x 1 tbsp x sp 1 tb x 1

sts Duck brea t Por gar Caster su ve spice fi e Chines ice) est and ju Orange (z per ep p salt and Pinch of et Wild rock root et be w a R Rock salt vinegar Balsamic rsnips a Peeled p ive oil Virgin ol e oil iv Light ol stard u m on Dij taste Honey pepper to salt and Pinch of

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lifestyle

DO YOU SUFFER FROM square mile syndrome?

by Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist

T

here are numerous theories about the cause of the current financial crisis. The underlying theme is one of the discussants rolling their eyeballs skyward and tut-tutting with a resigned shake of the head about the foolishness and greed of bankers.

Anyone planning to defend bankers at this juncture would probably need their head examined by a psychiatrist.Yet, it’s entirely possible that just as a herd reaction leads too many to pile in after a rising market so creating a bubble, so there has been a herd response to blaming the bankers.

Instead it’s probable that there is a psychological dimension to the crisis which has been missed, and a result the true reality of what went wrong requires a much more nuanced view.

Previous research has found that in a rising market, men who trade tend to make more money than women. One key gender difference is that men take more risks than women. Evolutionary Psychology argues that the reason for this profound gender difference is that back in our cave man days it made sense for men to take the kind of risks demanded by successful hunting. In contrast the women left back at the camp looking after the children should be more cautious otherwise the kids would be left to crawl off the edges of cliffs.

Risk-taking in a rising market tends on average to produce greater rewards. In a falling market or a volatile one, being more risk averse as women tend to be, means you lose less money if your trading team is more feminine in outlook.

It’s the psychological make up of the kind of person making financial decisions which has been neglected so far in analysis of market and banker behaviour. Is it possible that psychological testing should be used in personnel selection in order to protect financial institutions from the kind of crisis they are now beset with?

One problem is that different stakeholders have different interests. The management and the board of a bank may want risk takers in their trading team because in a rising market

these people tend to ensure everyone gets bigger bonuses. The problem on the other hand for the shareholder, as we have all recently painfully learnt, is that they endure maximum risk. If the bank folds they are left holding worthless bits of paper in the form of their shares.

Given the shareholder takes the biggest risk – is it not possible they should demand

with a cluster of attributes that is drawn to work in the City and frequently rewarded hugely by the culture.

The problem is sufferers from Square Mile Syndrome have a particularly macho approach to risk which means that they make a lot of money in the middle of a bubble. But they also wreak havoc in more turbulent times.

Sure the risk averse are never going to make you as much money in the upswing. But at least you won’t lose everything when the market goes south for the winter

of banks and other financial institutions some kind of protection for their money? While that protection has traditionally been in the form of various management and financial regulation, why not introduce a psychological defense system? Use psychology to help ensure there is the kind personality mix in your management and trading team that ensures that balanced personalities are present who have a disposition to balance risk.

Sure the risk averse are never going to make you as much money in the upswing.

But at least you won’t lose everything when the market goes south for the winter.

My clinical experience of seeing many people in the financial services industry in my private practice is that the women were always given a hard time by the testosterone driven macho culture of these corporations.

Exactly the kind of culture which has now got these banks into trouble. In fact they need a feminine approach to stay in business when times are rough.

Martin Finnegan a partner at City Law Firm Nabarro’s has discussed with me recently the possibility there is a ‘Square Mile Syndrome’. This is something he has observed in his work involved in personnel selection and development. ‘Square Mile Syndrome’ we believe is a personality type

We need to become more aware of Square Mile Syndrome and identify it and manage it in corporations.

I discussed the syndrome with Professor Adrian Furnham, an eminent Professor of Psychology at University College London who believes there should be more academic investigation of the prevalence of the syndrome in financial institutions across the City.

The problem of course is to devise personality testing which foils the sufferers from ‘Square Mile Syndrome’, because they are bright enough to know what the psychologists are looking for, and they are devious enough to give all the right answers to most tests, so as to deny the existence of Square Mile Syndrome in themselves.

We don’t want to stigmatise the kind of personality type which is an engine to economic growth, but we do need to better understand the psychological roots to the current crisis because if we don’t, it will happen all over again, no matter what financial corrections are put in place. This is because the true psychological roots to the crisis will have been ignored. n For more information go to www.drrajpersaud.com

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Entertaining your guests Ever wanted to create a party atmosphere to be proud of? Then read on and become the ‘host with the most’

O

ne way to guarantee a great party, event, wedding or celebration is to keep your guests entertained.

So long as they have a drink or something to eat, something to watch or listen to, to eradicate boredom.The most obvious way to keep your guests happy is to make sure the drink and food is plentiful.This can also be an interactive part of your celebration and work as an icebreaker that gets guests talking to one another as well as enjoying themselves.

Chocolate Fountains are still popular, not only are they delicious, but they look fantastic.

An advantage is that the chocolate can be topped up and the dippers refreshed so it means it can run as long as the party lasts. For tasty and fabulous looking chocolate fountains go to www.theoriginalchocolatefountain.com An ice cream bar or tricycle both look fun and serve delicious ice cream. Guests can choose a flavour and then ‘dress’ their ice cream with their favourite dips or toppers. www.incredibleicecream.co.uk Fruit like Flowers have the advantage of being decorative and delicious. Placing these strategically around your party room or on each table means guests can dip in when they feel peckish. www.fruitlikeflowers.co.uk Food stations during a reception look good and have the potential to serve guests larger than canapé portions.Themed ones such as a seafood bar, dim sum station, crepe stall work well and are popular.

A Champagne or juice fountain is also a great centrepiece for a room, as it looks so impressive - a little decadent, but great fun. Finally, a custom cocktail bar is always popular. Choose 3 or 4 signature cocktails that you would like to

serve to your guests (perhaps even invent your own and name them appropriately) and have the bar tenders mix them up on request.

Live music is a wonderful diversion; I am a big fan of it. We hear recorded music almost anywhere we go in our day-to-day lives the gym, supermarket, lifts, hotel foyers etc.

Live music creates an instant ambience and the fact that the musician(s) can respond to an appreciative audience means there is the option to vary the playlist accordingly. Some of my favourites are the harp (acoustic or electric), wind quintet and Spanish guitar.

For some ideas and great musicians go to www.classicalassociates.co.uk There is also the option during a drinks reception to have some non-musical entertainment such as a magician, caricaturist, mind reader, handbag reader etc.These provide a great talking point and also encourage guests to mingle with one another. A great entertainer adds to the atmosphere, relaxes people and starts the fun for the rest of the party.

Some of my favourites are: Peter Mehtab www.topmagician.co.uk The Grey Man www.thegreyman.com Surprise entertainment is a relatively new phenomenon and certainly adds to the fun factor of a party.The idea is that the performers mingle amongst guests posing as waiting staff and then at some point during the evening draw attention to themselves in a comic manner and the burst into song! The bestknown performers are www.thethreewaiters. com or www.incognitoartists.com who offer a variety of musical styles and performers who mingle as staff, or guests before starting their performance. I find that this sort of

entertainment works best during the meal.

Also popular are tribute acts copying artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Amy Winehouse to name a few. These sing and wander between the tables during dinner and really help to start the party and get guests to enjoy the fun of the occasion.

Bands and DJs are primarily for dancing. A DJ has the option to change the music and play varying styles throughout the evening that may appeal to a wider audience. Most bands tend to specialise in a genre or era of music and have the advantage of being interactive with the audience and they may even encourage guests to get up on stage and dance or sing with them. When choosing a band, ask to hear a CD and see their playlist as this will help you to decide which one is best for your party. Do check that they come complete with lights and PA system as some bands charge extra for this.

For a good selection of top party bands and DJs go to www.functionjunction.co.uk Finally, performance style entertainment works well for a corporate function or for an event where there is no dancing. Cabaret, circus and comedians are all examples of this type of entertainment. Typically a show will last between 30 to 45 minutes, which is just right as an interlude as you do not want it to dominate your party, but to provide one of the highlights of the evening. For great ideas for show like entertainment go to www.preludeentertainment.co.uk n

For more information on Siobhan’s services, call 020 7481 4338 or visit www.siobhancraven-robins.co.uk

citylife

recommends

Fire and Ice

Searle & Co. Ltd

A real fire invokes the thoughts of cosy country cottages and traditional winters. But this whole notion has been turned on its head.

Eco Smart, purveyors of contemporary flames have designed a table which functions as a fire. The Fire and Ice Coffee Table has a recess for the flueless burner, and functional storage space. Made of anodised aluminium, the coffee table features a sliding platform, when moved over the burner it automatically turns off. The fire is fuelled by denatured ethanol, an environmentally friendly and renewable source of energy.

Celebrating 75 years at Number 1 The Royal Exchange, this Jewellers and Silversmiths is a treasure trove full of wonders, from fine and antique silver, to unique pieces of jewellery as well as offering expert advice, valuations, engravings, repairs and commissions.

Well worth a visit.

£8,835 www.ecosmartfire.com

020 7626 2456 www.searleandco.ltd.uk

Write Away

The Key To A Woman’s Heart

A truly timeless gift. Diplomat, the revered German pen brand have been crafting handmade pens since 1922. Hand written letters have become something to cherish in this digital age, and as such they have become a rarity. But with the Guilloche fountain pen you will be inspired to write again.

Beauty, glamour, the timeless luxury of Crème de la Mer and the exquisite expertise of LINLEY have inspired The Uberluxe Vanity Case. On opening the Vanity Case, Crème de la Mer products are showcased on sycamore shelves. A cleverly concealed storage compartment (secret drawers, for which LINLEY is known) is hidden within the main structure of the case and is released on a push catch to reveal the key to the box.

The case contains: The Lifting Face Serum, Crème de la Mer, Hydrating Infusion, Eye Concentrate, The Concentrate and The Lip Balm.

www.diplomat-pen.de

£7,500 Selfridges, Oxford Street

Reschke A good bottle of fine red often makes the evening. Reschke, the leading fine wine label from Coonawarra offers a selection of fantastic reds, making your dinner party a breeze. The UK importer of the Reschke family’s wines is H&H Bancroft who sells a mixed case of twelve bottles (75cl) for £215. www.bancroftwines.com

cityliferecommends

Universal Traveller This is perfect if you’re constantly jet-setting around the world. Universal Traveller from Elemis is the ultimate grooming carry-all. The masculine bag contains Ice-Cold Foaming shave gel, Eye-Awake recovery gel, Skin Soothe Shave Gel and many more products to leave you feeling nourished and refreshed.

A New Year, A New Watch “In a world where detail defines, black dice delivers.”

These beautiful, sleek luxury urban watches from Black Dice are the 2009 must-have. With no London stores, purchase these unique timepieces online only. £190 www.blackdiceindustries.com

£75 01278 727830 www.elemis.com

Eco Warriors

Olfactory Sensation

Ideal for the eco conscious female, eco tools have created a range of grooming products made from sustainable resources that minimise the negative effects on the environment. Made from bamboo, recycled textiles and cruelty-free Taklon bristles, the range consists of a powder brush (£8.49), a blusher brush, (£7.99) foundation brush (£5.99), eyeliner brush and a lashes and brow groomer. You can also opt for the six piece brush set. (£14.99)

The Paris based perfumer Jean-Charles Brosseau has created a collection of three winter fragrances for men.

The scents which include, The Burn, with notes of cumin, lapsang souchong, violet, lavender and orange blossom; Fruit de Bois, which features sandalwood, cedar and juniper; and Atlas Cedar, an evening scent with aromas of cinnamon and notes of nutmeg.

www.treehugger.com

www.murdocklondon.com

Don’t Be SAD If the long dark nights and the credit crunch have got you down, what you need is a little sunshine. The Sun Meadow in the K West Hotel uses the latest technology in light therapy to help you relax. As you sit in a tranquil room with gentle sounds filling your ears, you can feel the mild heat of the UV sun beams caress your body. This is perfect for people who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), eczema, psoriasis and arthritis. Okay, so it’s not the Caribbean, but if you close your eyes you can almost hear the waves lapping the shore. £15 for 20 minutes K Spa K West hotel Richmond Way London W14 0AX 020 8008 6600

105

the hottest card to hit london this winter ‘Discounts at hundreds of shops, bars, restaurants and services, ‘Slap’ on the counter goes my card; ‘‘Ching ching’’ goes the discount’ THE SUNDAY TIMES, STYLE

‘So much free champagne you could bathe in the stuff’ CARTIER INTERNATIONAL

‘Discounts at big-name fashion stores… free drink every day of the year… access to the best parties and events in town’ THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Vicinitee_VIP_DPS_Dec08_revC.indd 1

london’s most powerful network Vicinitee VIP members gain access to an exciting world of

pocket guide containing comprehensive listing on exclusive

exclusive concessions and privileges. They think big, they work

Vicinitee VIP venues and services where preferential rates apply.

hard and they want to shop, dine, go out, work out and party

Our association with The Renaissance Club, means Vicinitee

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VIP members enjoy access to hundreds of exclusive deals,

life to the full and don't want anything to get in their way.

As a club, we retain the right to be exclusive and we make no apologies for that. We provide the perfect opportunities to relax and spend time with other like-minded people and our events provide the ideal platform for this with regular invitations to exclusive parties and events - ranging from the simple & elegant, to the wild & extreme. Our parties are by invitation only and take place in stylish London locations or at famous sporting and social events, with the added benefit that our members may bring their guests to most events.

Vicinitee VIP members are kept up-to-date on Club activities with regular emails, which inform them of up and coming events,

brokered with London’s leading bars, restaurants, retailers, nightclubs and essential services - enhancing your lifestyle whilst saving you time & money. We only form partnerships with companies that members have requested, or that we would use ourselves. Now the legwork has been done – all you have to do is go out and enjoy the affiliations and the privileges arranged on your behalf.

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london’s most powerful network

25/11/2008 16:58:01

what'son

Our guide to this month’s top events

2 - 11 January

7 January - 21 February

THEATRE

THEATRE

MANON

COMPLICIT

For the first time in the company’s 58 year history, the English National Ballet will be performing Manon in London.

The world renowned masterpiece is a thrilling tragedy of a woman trapped between two lovers – an innocent girl or a femme fatale?

Starring Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss and directed by Kevin Spacey, Complicit explores the current political climate in the US. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Ben Kritzer (Richard Dreyfuss) is hauled before the Supreme Court where he faces the dilemma of defending his belief in the freedom of the press or protecting his family.

London Coliseum St Martin’s Lane WC2N 4ES 0871 911 0200 www.ballet.org.uk

The Old Vic The Cut SE1 8NB 0870 060 6628

9 - 11 January

10 - 25 January

EVENT

EVENT

THE FRANCE SHOW

LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL

This is the property and lifestyle exhibition of the year. A number of exhibitors will be bringing you a mixture of food, wine, fashion, travel and culture.

Highlights include Jean-Christophe Novelli, who will be whipping up some gastronomic delights during his live cookery demonstration and caricature artists who will be creating memorable sketches to take home. © Michael Vogel

Southbank Centre Belvedere Road SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk

review

Earls Court Warwick Road, SW5 9TA www.franceshow.com

Returning to the Southbank for its fourth decade, the Mime festival is full of entertaining performances from Familie Floez, French circus ensemble Collectif Petit Travers and American vaudeville maestro Tomas Kubinek. Off-the-wall entertainment for all the family.

theatre

MADAME ZINgARA’S THEATRE OF DREAMS - UNTIL MARCH When I stepped into the spiegeltent tent next to Battersea Powerstation, I thought I had stepped into Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge. In the entrance by the bar sat a decadently dressed woman on a velvet chaise-longue and buzzing around us were service staff dressed as pirates, roman soldiers or wenches.

The lights flickered off the mirrored walls and the stage area was surrounded by extravagantly decorated tables set up for fine dining. This is Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams and indeed it is a dream – a surreal one.

The show originates from Cape Town, South Africa and was the brain child of Richard griffin. griffin wanted to evoke the Victorian concept of ‘dinner theatre’ and from there Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams was born.

This is not an ordinary show; it’s also a dining experience. The ticket includes a four course meal, which can give London’s finest restaurants a run for their money. I recommend for the main course the Chocolate Chilly Beef, a rich dish with a kick. After your main course the waiting staff serve a round of tequila followed by

three tiny delicious puddings – the best being the Crème Brûlée.

While you eat and drink, the artists perform their gravity-defying acts as they spin on ropes, dangle off hoops suspended in the air, fly above your head and contort their bodies in a way you never thought possible. This show is not for children, costumes leave little to the imagination and there is eye candy for both sexes. There is also a touch of cabaret as four enormous African women sing their lungs out to a variety of well known tunes. Oh and there’s an

African Tree god thrown in for good measure.

Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams will capture your imagination and transport you to a world where anything is possible. The superb performance will have you open-mouthed in wonder, and the food will leave your taste buds just as entertained as you will be. A must-see!

Battersea Powerstation 0844 338 8888 www.madamezingara.com

events

109

Until 18 January

20 - 25 January

ART & EXHIBITIONS

EVENT

HERMETIC SEEL

THE DECORATIVE ANTIQUES & TEXTILES FAIR

Shane Branford presents his first encyclopaedia series, which brings to the fore the historical and painterly narrative so crucial to the artist’s practice. The ‘post-Pollock’ dripping technique, which Bradford pioneered is central the show.

January’s foray will focus on the history of Chintz, a fabric which has rarely been out of fashion since it came to prominence in the 17th and 18th centuries. The display will show examples for sale, and aim to demonstrate how a traditional Indian fabric became such an idiosyncratic part of English design history.

Oaklands Basement 64 - 66 Redchurch Street E2 7DP www.vegasgallery.co.uk

The Marquee Battersea Park SW11 4NJ

31 January - 13 April

5 - 8 February

ART & EXHIBITIONS

EVENT

ANDREA PALLADIO: HIS LIFE AND LEGACY

THE DESTINATION SHOW Actor and Long Way Round adventurer Charley Boorman will be making an appearance at The Times Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show. Hundreds of leading independent travel companies will provide inspiration for your next holiday or gap year. Whether it’s exploring Mozambique’s game reserves or taking in North America’s stunning natural beauty, the Times Destinations show will take you there.

The first exhibition to be devoted to Palladio in London for more than 30 years. Called the Architect of Architects, this Italian legend has shaped the way the world looks today.

His public buildings, churches, the palatial town houses and country villas have influenced architects for over five centuries.

The Royal Academy of Arts Piccadilly www.royalacademy.org.uk

Earls Court, Warwick Road SW5 9TA www.destinationsshow.com

EASTERN DELIGHTS If you’re struggling for ideas for a day out in London, for a Valentine’s Day treat or just a new shopping arcade, head east to Canary Wharf this New Year

S

kating on the Canary Wharf Ice Rink is perfect for everyone; taking the kids out for a fun filled Sunday afternoon, taking a romantic date or simply for hanging out with friends.

Complete with rink-side bar for warmed mulled wine or icy vodkas, enjoy the cold weather on the ice until 22 February.

Tickets cost from £10 for adults and from £7.50 for children (www.canarywharficerink.com) Valentine’s Day can be tricky (especially for men!), but shopping at Canary Wharf makes it an absolute pleasure; head to Charbonnel et Walker for divine chocolates, David M Robinson and Montblanc for

watches and jewellery, Feltons Flowers for a breathtaking bouquets and Space NK, Neal’s Yard or L’Occitane for luxurious cosmetics. Don’t forget those wondrous scents and treats from Jo Malone and Molton Brown. For that perfect romantic meal, Canary Wharf is crammed full of awardwinning restaurants. Quadrato Restaurant (set at the five-star deluxe Four Seasons Hotel) serves delicious Northern Italian cuisine led by Executive Chef Marco Bax (www. fourseasons.com/canarywharf).

If modern British and European cuisine tickles your palate then the tempting menu on offer at the Plateau Restaurant, Bar

& Grill, is for you. Located at the top of the Canada Place building, this is a fabulous place to enjoy a meal with a view over the lawns and sculptures of Canada Square Park.

Art exhibitions are central to the cultural buzz around Canary Wharf; see and listen to David Ward’s sea-inspired installation art in Jubilee Park (until 27 February), choose one of Sharon Ting’s beautiful and vibrant handmade collection of scarves (made to order), view Isobel Peachey’s portraits in oil and wood and track Lyndall Phelps’s 100m knitted ropes through One Canada Square, photographed in unlikely locations within the building.

There are monthly showcases for

up-and coming artists, designers and makers on display in Cabot Place East and Canada Place shopping malls, and the current collection runs until 30 January.

For cocktail parties, formal or corporate events, Canary Wharf boasts East Wintergarden as a stunning venue. Based on the wintergardens in NewYork’s Battery Park, it has a spectacular 27m high arched glass atrium with 682 sq metres of patterned marble floor, steamed beech wood wall panelling with views overlooking Jubilee Park and the waterfront promenade.The venue is available for exclusive use hire day or evening and is accessible for public events such as product promotions and exhibitions during the day (www.eastwintergarden.com). n

For more information call: 0203 200 20 30 www.carparkinvest.com

January

UK & International Property

Recession

Defying Luxury

Master Bedroom, Alang Alang

We may be in for a cold and dark winter but Cat Hughes discovers that the sun is still shining in the Caribbean

T

he recession may be hitting the UK hard, but for some echelons of society, such worries barely require an extra thought, as they lounge next to the infinity pool sipping a cool Mojito.

The Caribbean has long since captivated the imagination of the British and since the 1930s islands like Barbados have attracted the rich and famous the world over the world.

Back in those glamorous times, playwright Noel Coward entertained Winston Churchill and the Guinness family wintered in their West Coast villa. It seems that not much has changed as many a celebrity has been ‘papped’ on its golden palm-fringed beaches. Dubbed the Platinum Coast, Barbados’ West Coast is the hub of the social scene and the location for the islands prime properties.

The most famous of them being Alang Alang, the home of property developer Mike Pemberton. His villa took him six years to complete and has been the inspiration for

two major luxury property developments.

Together with his business partner Robin Paterson and luxury brand the Four Seasons Hotel; they have purchased 32 acres of the Platinum Coast line and built 35 luxurious villas and a five star resort named Clearwater. Properties range from £7.4 million to £29 million and all offer privacy, security (perfect if you want to elude the paparazzi) and a direct view of the ocean from your very own private infinity pool.

Interior design comes from the skilled hand of Claudia Norman Longoni, who has created a bespoke space incorporating Feng Shui elements including coconut wood pavilion columns; furniture made of reclaimed teak with Balinese artistry etched into the timber. There is a private wine cellar and bar, water features to create harmony by facilitating the flow of Chi (motivating vital energy); fish ponds with happinessinducing Japanese Koi, and beds that face

Infinity Pool, Alang Alang

property

West to ensure your head is to the East when sleeping.You also have the flexibility to design your own property and can incorporate a spa and gym facilities.

There are no short cuts here and every need is catered for, right down to entertaining. If you’re having a dinner party, you can hire your very own private chef, waiters and butler. Housekeeping is impeccable as the maids will ensure that your linen is freshly laundered, that your bathroom is supplied with fluffy white towels and that your fridge is fully stocked.

Owners will also have full use of the hotel gym, spa and restaurants. “We believe that Alang Alang

our clients have the right to be demanding, and we need to do whatever it takes to provide dedicated and personal attention to each and everyone,” states Pemberton.

Barbados is a great destination for celeb spotting and Clearwater is no different, Lord Lloyd Webber and Simon Cowell are just some of the famous names, who have bagged a property in this exclusive resort.

But Barbados isn’t the only gem that Mike Pemberton and Robin Paterson are exploring, having embarked on a new project in the lesser known Island of Grenada. In 2004 Grenada was hit by a devastating hurricane, 80% of the buildings were left roofless, and as testament to the sunny disposition of the island’s inhabitants, they created a new cocktail called the ‘Grenada Hurricane.’

Pemberton and Paterson are adding their own signature in the shape of 71 luxurious villas on Hog Island, a tiny island just off the mainland, and 103 properties on the Grenada mainland on Mount Harmon. Prices will range from £2.1 million to £13.5 million and are modelled on the aforementioned Alang Alang villa. Inspired by the outside-in concept, each property has a tropical theme, with teak walls, coconut wood columns and sits subtley amongst its natural environment – some even come with their own private jetties.

The architecture is designed by Dallas

113

based architects HKS Hill Glazer, a company renowned for their craftsmanship. Their portfolio reads like the who’s who of the top international luxury resorts. Each property will sit in its own landscaped garden, designed by James Hyatt.

Longoni has also interior designed this luxury resort, taking inspiration from Clearwater. She has incorporated the Barbados resort’s Feng Shui elements and has used the contrasting materials of white marble and rough aged wood in the bathrooms.

Residents will have access to the yet unnamed five star hotel’s gym, spa and restaurants, and villa owners will also be able to put their property into the villa rental scheme operated by the hotel.You will have plenty to do on the resort, if you’re a golf fan you can spend the day on the 18-hole championship golf course designed by McKenzie and Ebert. There will be a tennis academy with a clubhouse with all-day dining; a 130-berth Marina with a marine research centre and sailing school; a marina village with bars, restaurant and shops and a beach club, with several dining options. Paterson says that his “mission is to create a brand identity that cannot be replicated in any of its elements anywhere else in the world and to give our clients an experience like no other.” No mean feat, but high standards seem to be a part of his brand ethos, he adds, “We have to work even harder in today’s economy to stand out from the rest at every step of the way so we only seek locations that are unique, service partners that are world class, and people who are the in the best business.”

All this is sure to attract a number of high net worth buyers, but what will pull in the super rich and Hollywood royalty is the lack of paparazzi, while Barbadian paparazzo camp outside the airport. In Grenada they are noted by their absence. Twelve properties have already been sold, three to Goldman Sachs executives, proving that the recession is not necessarily being felt by all. n www.cinnamon88.com www.mounthartmangrenada.com www.clearwaterbarbados.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

Keepier Wharf, Narrow Street E14

Pemberton House, East Harding Street EC4

Beautifully presented one bedroom apartment set in this smart portered development on Narrow Street.

This furnished apartment has just been completely redecorated boasting a fully fitted kitchen, newly tiled bathroom suite, guest WC, utility room, porterage, parking and stunning south facing views of the river.

Available in January.

Smart one bedroom apartment in lovely building in the heart of the City very near Fleet Street. Light bright reception room with victorian style fire place and french doors leading to patio area, fitted separate kitchen, bathroom with shower and wooden floors.

£350 per week

Knight Frank City Lettings 020 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

57 Stamford Street, SE1 4th floor two bedroom apartment in this impressive development at 57 Stamford Street. Offering a good sized open plan living area and two generous bedrooms, one with en suite and a second bathroom with a balcony off the master bedroom and living area. 57 Stamford Street is ideally located for Waterloo Station and offers all the amenities of modern development. Available furnished from the 9th January 2009. £500 per week Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

£395 per week

Espirit Court, Brune Street E1 Modern and bright one bedroom apartment set in the heart of the City moments from Liverpool Street. This 3rd floor apartment has a fully fitted kitchen, nice bathroom suite, wooden floors, modern furnishings available now. £300 per week Knight Frank City Lettings 020 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

Spirit Quay, Wapping E1W

Brewhouse Lane, Wapping E1W

Furnished House set in a quiet location in Wapping.

Accommodating three double bedrooms, three bathrooms, bright reception room, fitted kitchen with separate dining area. The property benefits from it’s own garden, parking and views of the canal.

Spacious and unusual one bedroom house set in this central location in Wapping. This 3 level unit has a been recently redecorated boasting a fitted kitchen, large reception room, bright double bedroom and two bathrooms. Available furnished.

£495 per week

£375 per week

Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Orient Wharf, Wapping High Street E1W Spacious split level one bedroom apartment set on the top two floors of this purpose built block in Wapping. This large unfurnished flat has two reception rooms, one double bedroom, modern bathroom with shower and a separate fitted kitchen. Also offering south facing views of the river from the bedroom and reception room. £380 per week Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Gun Wharf, Wapping High Street E1W Well presented one bedroom apartment based in this portered block on Wapping High Street. Accommodation comprises of one double bedroom, bathroom, large reception room, fully fitted kitchen parking and plenty of storage. £350 per week Knight Frank City Lettings 020 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

KnightFrank.co.uk/Lettings

China Court, Quay 430 E1W Smart one bedroom apartment within walking distance of The City. Accommodating double bedroom, bathroom with shower, sitting/dining area, open plan kitchen and secure parking. £315 per week Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

The Sanctuary, Wapping E1W Spacious and well presented two double bedroom two bathroom 3rd floor apartment set in this attractive warehouse conversion on Wapping High Street. This lovely flat has a good size south facing dual aspect reception room, fitted kitchen with a separate dining room, new bathroom suites, beautiful wooden flooring and exposed brick work. £475 per week Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

Oliver’s Wharf, Wapping High Street E1W

Times Square, Hooper Street E1W

Beautifully presented 4th floor 3/4 bedroom, 3 bathroom 2300 sq foot apartment set in this attractive warehouse conversion on Wapping High Street. This stunning unit has a lovely open plan kitchen reception room, stunning bathroom suites, excellent storage, lovely wooden flooring, under floor heating in the bathrooms, park views and underground parking.

Modern one bedroom 5th floor apartment set in this smarted portered development on the edge of The City.

This stylish flat has a open plan kitchen reception room, luxury bathroom suite, wooden floors, new furniture package and a private balcony.

£1,000 per week

Knight Frank City Lettings 020 7606 1560 gary.hall@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Wapping Lettings 020 7480 6848 wapping@knightfrank.com

£350 per week

KnightFrank.co.uk

Dunbar Wharf, Limehouse E14

Cinnabar Wharf West, Wapping E1W

Offering panoramic views of London and the River Thames, a superb 2 bedroom apartment on the sixth floor of a well maintained portered development. River views from all principal rooms, and presented in good order throughout. 105 sq m (1135 sq ft)

Unsurpassable Tower Bridge views from all principle rooms. On the 3rd floor of this contemporary riverside development. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open plan kitchen. River front terrace. Parking and porterage.

105 sq m (1137 sq ft)

Share of Freehold

Leasehold 990 Years

Guide price: £750,000

Guide price: £985,000

Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

New Crane Wharf, Wapping E1W A charismatic warehouse conversion on the top floor with views over the courtyard and towards Canary Wharf.

A spacious 2 bedroom flat with unusually high ceilings, within a popular development. Reception room, kitchen, bathroom, walk-in dressing cupboard, garage parking space, 24 hour porterage 91sq m (983 sq ft) Leasehold 104 Years Guide price: £515,000 Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

Times Square, City E1 A good sized flat in a recently completed building.

One of the largest 2 bedroom flats in an attractive new development with a balcony running along one side of the flat. Reception room, kitchen, en suite shower, bathroom, lift, porter. 68 sq m (737 sq ft) Leasehold 124 years 550k Guide price: £550,000 Knight Frank Wapping 020 7480 6848 sales@knightfrank.com

City Office 020 7236 8399 citylettings@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk

Princelet Street, E1

£795 per week

Commercial Street, E1

£600 per week

A stunning newly refurbished three bedroom warehouse apartment.

Situated just off vibrant Spitalfields and just moments from Liverpool Street. With over 2500 square feet, this is essential viewing.

A fantastic duplex penthouse in the converted Telephone Exchange.

The apartment has been refurbished to a high standard, is spacious and boasts two bedrooms, floor to ceiling windows and a balcony.

St. John Street, EC1M

Prescot Street, E1 £365 per week An unusual one bedroom Mezzanine apartment overlooking the gardens of this Grade II listed building. This property has a 24 hour concierge service and secure parking by separate negotiation.

£475 per week An unfurnished/furnished third floor one bedroom apartment in fashionable Clerkenwell. With floor to ceiling windows to the front of the property and a balcony to the rear, this apartment offers great light and space.

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Firstname Surname Visit www.hamptons.co.uk to find Office London House Department 01403 262828 the home that’s just right for you.

Email horshamcountryhouse@hamptons-int.com

Q Q Q Q

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Price on application Freehold

An expanding network of over 70 offices - local, national and international

A972_TenancyCmpn_AD_220x100_LETS.indd 1

25/11/08 14:23:28

City Office 020 7236 8398 city@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk

Featherstone Street, EC1 £395,000 Leasehold An impressive apartment within this popular development offering stylish contemporary accommodation on one floor with its own street entrance and private car parking.

Pepys Street, EC3

Mansell Street, E1

The Strand, WC2

£450,000 Leasehold A smart two bedroom apartment with a private terrace and westerly aspect towards the City. The development also provides a daytime concierge and a communal roof terrace.

perty address

£499,950 Leasehold A smart 3rd floor corner apartment within this prestigious development which provides contemporary accommodation and a concierge on the doorstep of the Tower of London.

£410,000 Share of Freehold A two bedroom apartment in a period building in a sought after location overlooking One Aldwych.

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West Smithfield, EC1 £339,950 Leasehold Firstname Surname don House Department 01403 262828 A stylish and contemporary dual aspect one bedroom apartment Office London House Department 01403 262828 within this imposing period building adjacent to Smithfield rshamcountryhouse@hamptons-int.com Email horshamcountryhouse@hamptons-int.com Market on the southern edge of fashionable Clerkenwell.

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Garden Walk, EC2 Price on application

£390,000 Leasehold

Price on apartment applicationlocated in the heart of Shoreditch.

A smart contemporary Freehold Finished to a high standard the property enjoys access to a private Freehold

balcony and a communal roof terrace.

An expanding network of over -70local, offices - local, national and international An expanding network of over 70 offices national and international

Tower Bridge Office 020 7407 3172 towerbridgelettings@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

Disney Heights, Borough SE1

£800 per week

Providence Square, SE1

£550 per week

A stunning two bedroom two bathroom split level penthouse apartment with private lift entry and three terraces boasting fabulous views of the London skyline. Furnished.

A beautifully presented two double bedroom two bathroom apartment with private decked terrace offering views of a communal Japanese style water garden. Furnished.

Spice Quay, SE1

Sandpiper Court, E1W

£825 per week Stylish two bedroom apartment with a stunning dual aspect reception room, mezzanine level with dining area and kitchen, floor to ceiling windows, balcony and panoramic views. Parking space.

Furnished.

£795 per week A fantastic two bedroom apartment boasting reception room with wood floors and balcony overlooking the beautiful St Katharine’s Dock, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms and an eat in kitchen. Furnished.

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Anise Building, SE1

£425 per week An exceptionally spacious one bedroom apartment set on the 1st floor of a warehouse conversion moments from Shad Thames. The property offers wood floors in the reception room, a modern kitchen and a well proportioned double bedroom. Unfurnished.

St Georges Wharf, SE1

£375 per week Attractive one bedroom apartment, situated in a warehouse conversion in the heart of Shad Thames boasting wood floors, exposed brick and parking. Furnished.

An expanding network of over 85 offices - local, national international An expanding network of over 70 offices - local, national and and international

The Pepper Mills, SE1

A new development by Award Winning Designers

Located in the Shad Thames area, with dock views.

Four exceptional apartments.

Available December 2008.

Call o20 7407 3173

Hamptons Tower Bridge 41 Shad Thames SE1 2NJ towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk

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16/12/08 10:48:26

Tower Bridge Office 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

Property Property address address

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Axis Court, London, SE16

A 1528 sq ft two bedroom duplex penthouse built by Berkley Homes, Tem et ex quat lumsan ullutatem quam, qui Temdo do exeu eufeugiam feugiam quat ullutatem quam,Jubilee qui tem temLine at with twoetterraces, balcony andlumsan underground parking. euguerit volesed tat lor am duipsummod tio eum velit, summy vent euguerit volesed tat lor am duipsummod tio eum velit, summy vent in in Bermondsey or London Bridge Tube eugait eugaitacilis acilisalit alitiliquam iliquamillut illutvullan vullanhenim henimiusciliquis iusciliquis et et niamet niamet augue augue dolorting exercincil er si. dolorting exercincil er020 si. 7407 3173 Tower Bridge Office

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towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

Firstname FirstnameSurname Surname

Office OfficeLondon LondonHouse HouseDepartment Department01403 01403262828 262828 Email Emailhorshamcountryhouse@hamptons-int.com horshamcountryhouse@hamptons-int.com

Price Price on on application application Freehold Freehold £749,000 Leasehold

An Anexpanding expandingnetwork networkof ofover over85 70offices offices--local, local, national national and and international international 70

Tower Bridge Office 020 7407 3173 towerbridge@hamptons-int.com

www.hamptons.co.uk www.hamptons.co.uk

Vogans Mill, SE1

The Flag Store, SE1

Cottesloe Mews, SE1

Aston Webb House, SE1

£895,000 Leasehold A superbly presented and much improved 10th floor three bedroom apartment with stunning views across the City and South London, including Tower Bridge and the Thames.

£699,950 Freehold A beautifully presented and refurbished three bedroom mews house, within a gated and cobbled development, 150m from Lambeth North tube and 500m from Waterloo station.

£645,000 Leasehold A beautifully presented and recently refurbished warehouse apartment in central Shad Thames, with fantastic character. This 1154 sq ft loft style apartment has no chain.

£575,000 Leasehold A 1214 sq ft two bedroom apartment in a period conversion with separate kitchen, two en-suite bathrooms, cloakroom, communal roof terraces and 250m from London Bridge station.

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Empire Square East, SE1

£495,000 Leasehold

A beautifully presented fourth floor apartment within this Berkeley Homes development, with two bedrooms, en-suite to the master, City views and concierge services.

Vanilla & Sesame Court, SE1

£495,000 Leasehold

A top (7th) floor, west facing, two bedroom apartment with full width terrace, views of Tower Bridge and the City, and private, offstreet parking.

An expanding network of over 85 offices - local, national international An expanding network of over 70 offices - local, national and and international

docklands excel

l Sales 020 7582 7989 l Lettings 020 7476 0125

London's Finest Properties

Sales l Lettings l Corporate Services l Property Management Sales Address

Bedrooms

Floor

Price

Ref

Paramount Court, University Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 6JW

Studio

3rd floor

£225,000

2552

Axis Court, 15 Chambers Street, Shad Thames, London SE16 4WG

Studio

1st floor

£250,000

1467

Ontario Tower, Fairmont Avenue, Canary Wharf, London, E14 9QB

Studio Suite

22nd floor

£280,000

541

Gainsborough House, Canary Central, Cassilis Road, Isle of Dogs, E14

1 bed

2nd floor

£305,000

2309

New Providence Wharf, 1 Fairmont Avenue, London, E14 9PW

1 bed

17th floor

£305,000

1777

Coral Apts, Capital East, Royal Victoria Docks, London, E16 1AQ

1 bed

1st floor

£315,000

2495

Seacon Tower, Hutchings Road, Canary Wharf, London E14

2 bed

1st floor

£379,900

2506

Marina Heights, Basin Approach, Limehouse, London, E14 7JA

2 bed

2nd floor

£380,000

2619

Antonine Heights, City Walk, Long Lane, SE1 3DF

2 bed

4th floor

£440,000

2522

Horseshoe Court, The Edge Apts, Brewhouse Yard, EC1

2 bed

4th floor

£485,000

2270

London House, Aldersgate St, London, EC1A 4HU

2 bed

3rd floor

£485,000

2469

New Providence Wharf, 1 Fairmont Avenue, London E14 9PA

2 bed

15th floor

£495,000

2295

Seacon Tower, Hutchings Road, Canary Wharf, London, E14

2 bed

15th floor

£529,950

1925

New Providence Wharf, Fairmont Avenue, London, E14 9QJ

2 bed

16th floor

£560,000

2519

Lettings Development

Bedrooms

Floor

Features

Rent Per Week Ref

Lowry House E14

1

Ground

On-site Leisure Facilities

£265

5952

Gainsborough House E14

1

Ground

Indoor Swimming Pool & Sauna

£280

3841

Idaho Building SE13

2

3rd

Large Private Roof Terrace

£288

2054

Indiana Building SE13

1

2nd

Allocated Parking

£315

6752

Westgate Apartments E16

2

8th

Fully Equipped Gymnasium

£288

2054

Gainsborough House E14

1

9th

Parking

£330

5456

California Building SE13

2

2nd

Onsite Leisure Facilities

£334

6797

Lowry House E14

2

2nd

Allocated Parking

£350

6307

Ontario Tower E14

1

22nd

On-site Gymnasium

£355

6658

Venus House E14

2

3rd

Very Spacious Apartment

£370

2131

Marina Heights E14

2

3rd

Marina Views

£390

108

Channel House SE16

2

4th

Private Balcony

£395

5618

New Providence Wharf E14

2

16th

On-site Health & Leisure Centre

£425

1228

Warehouse W E16

2

3rd

Fantastic Dock Views

£795

6519

For more properties in Docklands and across London please see our website.

www.liferesidential.co.uk

Central London 020 7582 7989

Acton 020 8896 9990

Docklands 020 7476 0125

Deptford & Greenwich 020 8692 2244

property

125

Vital

Vietnam

Alistair Powell, CEO of 7CI (Seven Continent Investment) explores the virtues of Vietnam

V

ietnam is considered to have exciting investment potential in 2009. It has experienced strong economic growth consistently around 6.5 – 8% since 2000 which is attributed to international investment, a strong consensus on economic reforms, addressing corruption and building a strong legal system.

It is expected to continue this pattern of steady growth for a further five years and is believed to have the strongest potential for capital growth in both residential and commercial property in Asia, after

China. Furthermore, foreign investment into Vietnamese property hit £3.4 billion in 2007 and £15.3 billion in the first three quarters of 2008.

Subsequently, the cost of land has rapidly increased.

The most sought after regions for investors include those with larger populations, as that is where the local money is concentrated. This includes Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon), which Price Waterhouse Coopers lists as one of the top ten most promising Asian markets, and Hanoi.

Furthermore, international visitors to the country have steadily increased over the past ten years. International visitors to the country to date has reached 3,597, 841 arrivals, 3.5% higher than for the same period in 2007 with the majority coming for tourism and a smaller proportion for business. Visitors come mainly from China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, USA, Australia, France and the UK. Consequently, the country is heavily investing into the coastal regions which are popular due its fantastic beaches.

Previously, foreign investors could not own property for their own personal use in Vietnam but could invest in property development projects. In addition, they could develop

houses for lease or for sale and will be issued with an investment certificate, which stipulates the duration of their permitted investment presence.

However, as of 1 January 2009, a resolution passed by Vietnam’s National Assembly on 22 May 2008 came into effect and will reduce the restriction enabling some foreigners to buy property.

There are several groups of foreigners who qualify for the exemption including expats investing in Vietnam, foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens and foreigners working in specialised areas of employment with university degrees.

The resolution will restrict foreign ownership to apartments in approved developments and after 50 years, must be either sold or given away. The properties must be occupied by the owners and cannot be rented out or used as an investment.

While some foreign investors may see this continued restriction as a barrier to entry, in reality, it is another step towards the opening up of the Vietnamese property market. n For further information on 7CI’s investment strategies and properties: 020 3 22 900 70 www.7cinvest.com invest@7cinvest.com

A DEVELOPER’S DREAM

Whiterocks Retail Mall

After years of realising developers’ dreams, three British architects have decided it’s time to make a few of their own dreams come true. Dinah Hatch discovers that the partners of newly-formed property development company, Blue C Developments, are thinking big with their first residential resort development on the island of Cyprus

I

t was just four years ago that Steve Carle, Mark Lumbis and Sarah Grave came together to form Integrated Developments Ltd (IDL), a company of architects based in central London. Creating their second company, Blue C Developments, the three started work specifically on the development of Whiterocks (a luxury residential resort complex in Cyprus) and today, at the start of 2009, they are set to make their mark in the residential resort property market.

Upscale design appealing to a high-end consumer is bread and butter for Carle and his partners, who number among their IDL clients Champney’s Health and Spa Resorts (owned for many years by Frank Chapman, a pioneer of the timeshare industry) alongside Marks & Spencer and The Royal Festival Hall in London. “In previous roles I’d spent so much time working on great designs for other people,” says Carle, “People would come to me with fantastic land parcels and ask me to design something wonderful on them and I realised that I’d actually like to be doing that for myself. I knew I’d be taking on board more of the risk by being the developer, but that also meant a greater share of the potential rewards”.

Neals Yard Remedies - Westfield London

Whiterocks The small village of Bafra in Cyprus will be home to the £55 million Whiterocks development of wholly-owned properties set in a resort-style complex. It is the only officially-designated tourist area

M&S Home - Concept

in northern Cyprus and investment in tourism infrastructure in the village will fund a new marina, coastal tropical gardens and a golf course. Blue C Developments will also be building a boutique-style shopping mall adjacent to the luxury residential complex – this will be the most luxurious development in Cyprus for years.

“Whiterocks will be a cut above what you would expect from a development on Cyprus and it will most definitely be a truly five-star development,” explains Carle, “The luxurious, high-quality finish will differentiate our product from others in this region”.

The luxury aspect of the development does not, however, eclipse another key feature of the resort: sustainability.

Construction material will be sourced locally, the incorporation of a crossventilation system will minimise the need to use the air-conditioning, and smart shading will reduce the potential for overheating. All electric lighting will be energy-saving and the grey water will be recycled for use in the irrigation of the resort gardens.

The Plan The first phase of construction is due for completion this year; there will be 11 complexes on four or five levels in Phase One, with a total of 96 twobed apartments. Like the rest of the development, they will be sold ready to move in and enjoy, coming with everything a home needs, right down to the wine glasses in the kitchen and the towels in the bathroom. Luxury will be present throughout, from the branded appliances in the kitchen, to the 36-inch HD plasma TV and designer furniture in the lounge.

The second phase will comprise 250 one to three-bed apartments and penthouses in elegant linked terraces. A ‘village square’ will be created that sits at the heart of the resort where residents will be able to visit the Turkish baths, work out at the gym, go for a dip in either the indoor or outdoor pool, or simply sit and read the papers and chat to friends in the communal gardens.

Family needs are high on the agenda with

property

127

Champneys

playgrounds, children’s pools, internet cafes and crèches as part of the plan.

Phase three will see Blue C concentrating on the more private accommodation in the resort, creating two sites of individual villas with their own pools. “We’ll still make sure the residents in these properties have all the advantages of the facilities on site, but we’ll be adding more privacy and exclusivity to the deal,” adds Carle.

The Market As the consumer cash liquidity crisis bites ever deeper, finding purchasers will be a challenge, but Carle believes the location of Whiterocks will be a big plus in sales: “All the signals are strong that both governments in Cyprus are now behind reunification and, if that happens, property values are likely to rise so it represents a good investment. Also, we’re dealing in the very stable Turkish Lire, not the Euro, so we don’t have exchange rate issues.

Blue C is the first European development to sign up to Group RCI’s unique Rental & Exchange (R&E) Programme.Through this new R&E Programme, Group RCI, a long-time innovator in the leisure real estate industry, provides property developers with

an attractive option to deal with the challenges of selling to a cautious consumer in today’s unsettled economic climate.The programme gives developers of wholly-owned leisure real estate the ability to offer their purchasers the opportunity to put their unused weeks into the global rental network of Group RC’s sister company, the Holiday Cottages Group, to generate potential rental income.

“We’re delighted to welcome Whiterocks, the first luxury five-star resort in northern Cyprus, as our first European affiliate to the Group RCI R&E Programme,” says Jonathan Back, MD of Group RCI, “As architects, Blue C Developments has brought vision and creativity to the design of Whiterocks and we’re proud to work with them”.

For more information visit www.whiterocksbafra.com or call 0800 328 0126 www.idc.eu.com

Stake your Place in Europe’s Most Exciting Investment Market Buying off-plan property in a market where values are appreciating is a guaranteed way to ensure an immediate return on your investment.

No market in Europe is enjoying the same level of growth as that of North Cyprus.

With revived reunification talks now taking place in Cyprus, property prices in the North are poised for a

boom. Whiterocks offers investors the chance to purchase superior property in order that each of our clients may capitalise on the push toward reunification.

Thanks to a world first partnership with market leaders Group RCI, investors in Whiterocks can expect maximum occupancy rates for their properties. A two bed, two balcony luxury

apartment at Whiterocks can be bought from £85,000.

Investors should anticipate annual rental returns of up to £13,000 - a yield of 15 % thanks to Group RCI’s global marketing network.

Predicted 15% Annual Yields

“At the moment property prices in the North are half of property prices in the South of the island, and a third of that in Spain. Should reunification happen, property prices, along with tourism are likely to rise rapidly, so would-be early birds should start thinking about investing now.”

lovethefestivalhall.org.uk

Daily Telegraph Online, June 12 2008

An investment in the right place at the right time.

Today is the Day to Make Your Best Investment Yet Though property in North Cyprus has been enjoying fantastic appreciation in recent years some investors have been reluctant to invest because of the political climate.

But the election of Demetris Christofias to the Republic of Cyprus presidency in February 2008 has turned sceptics into optimists. He joins his TurkishCypriot counterpart Mehmet Ali Talat as the second piece of a

pairing determined to solidify a solution to the political situation in Cyprus.

They have already met more times this year than their long standing predecessors met in their entire political careers.

Since September 3rd 2008, the date on which negotiations officially began, Christofias and Talat have been holding regular meetings in order to work out the specifics of a blueprint for reunification.

£12,000 Worth of Furniture, Fittings and Equipment is Included in the Price.

When the gap between the two sides of the island closes so too will the difference in property prices, and it is the early bird investors who are set to gain most from the union.

Five star luxury throughout. Visit www.whiterocksbafra.com for full details of the fixtures, fittings and equipment included.

lovethefestivalhall.org.uk

The Whiterocks resort has been designed by Blue C’s major shareholder, IDL (EU) Limited, a team of highly respected, award-winning architects who have worked with some of the most distinguished names both on the high-street and in property development, in the UK and overseas.

Their experience and expertise, combined with Blue C’s incontestable initiative in developing

unrivalled property the world over, are the foundations on which the Whiterocks resort is based.

Blue C believes that their Whiterocks resort raises the standard for property in North Cyprus, and the company is adamant that they are uniquely positioned to provide uncompromising quality and specification, making Whiterocks a far more lucrative investment opportunity than any other

property currently available in North Cyprus.

These high calibre properties represent a level of quality that will both immediately attract holiday makers, thus securing lucrative rental returns, and also endure well into the future, thereby granting the possibility of reselling the property in years to come.

Unprecedented capital appreciation forecast

Invest Now Before Prices Rise

lovethefestivalhall.org.uk

Thanks to a world first partnership, Blue C Developments are delighted to be able to offer all of our clients the advantage of using an industry leading rental corporation, Group RCI, to manage the bookings on each apartment and, crucially, to maximize the monthly yield that each of our investors receives on these fantastic properties.

Group RCI manages a network that includes over

3 million members and accesses a massive number of international databases, extending the advertising reach of these fantastic properties and ensuring that each property will be bringing in rental returns for the vast majority of the year.

Group RCI offers our clients a hands off investment opportunity, with all aspects of the property’s maintenance and management taken care

of. Each investor is guaranteed 70% of the monthly rental returns on their property.

But that’s not all. With reunification now in sight, your £85,000 initial investment could grow to £190,000 in less than two years, as the disparity between property prices in Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus closes.

Not Just an Investment – a Continual Source of Income!

1

propertysecrets*

Register online at

* unveiling the truths of property investment

CYPRUS PR O PE R T Y M A R K E T PR O F I L E W h a t a uni t ed Cyp r us w oul d m ea n for p r op er t y i nv es t or s

www.whiterocksbafra.com for your free copy of property secrets comprehensive market profile on Cyprus. quote ref: BLUECCWM25

AS KI N G AN D A N SWERI N G A LL THE KEY I N VEST MENT Q UES T I ON S Published November 2008

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ith the New Year truly under way and hopefully lots of resolutions in tow we give you a glimpse of what’s to come in the next issue. Think about wrapping up super warm and heading off to the slopes as we bring you the BEST SKIING RESORTS around. We have part three of LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL as the majestic Orient Express takes its final journey with us. We also find out what makes mothers tick in our MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE. And don’t forget our look at RARE RESOURCES and are we running out of the sparkly stuff so soon?

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