Scan Magazine | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

SCAN

METTE LISBY TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN LONDON BODUM: TEA OR COFFEE? SCANDINAVIAN TIMBER HOUSES WHAT IS A MUMTREPRENEUR?

PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

ISSUE 3

AUTUMN 2008

M A G A Z I N E

I am ice my world is silent but for the wind slinking through the fjord it blows fresh through my mind ice cold in slow motion I am ice I am ice clear I am Isklar.

Isklar. Pure glacier Natural glacial mineral water from Norway www.isklar.no

Scan Magazine | Contents

Contents COVER FEATURE 8

Mette Lisby | Takes centre stage in London

DESIGN

8

14

14 We Love This | Scandinavian design that matters 18 Bodum, Tea or Coffee | Just a perfect cuppa!

Scan Business SCAN FOCUS 24 Scandinavian Timber Houses | All the comforts of home

BUSINESS FEATURES 32 SAS Portman | A Personal welcome 34 Mumtrepreneur | What is a mumtrepreneur?

38 Finnair | Those efficient routes east

18

INTERNATIONAL SERVICES 36 Tax Rules | Expert advice from Scan Magazine’s tax columnist

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE 42 News | Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish Chambers of Commerce for the UK

SCAN TRAVEL 46 Finland | Helsinki is your conference destination

FASHION 52 London gets style counselling

24 46

SCAN FOOD 54 Wonderful Herring | The pride of Scandinavian food culture 57 Restaurant of the Month | Scan Magazine looks Deep

SCAN NEWS 58 Scandinavian Newsflash

CULTURE CALENDAR 63 Your Scandinavian Culture Events

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 3

Scan Magazine | Editors Note

Dear Reader, Welcome to the autumn issue of Scan Magazine. We are here to showcase the very best that Brand Scandinavia has to offer and I am in no doubt you will enjoy what we have in store for you this time.

I am really proud of the autumn issue and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.

We start out by featuring the most successful Danish female comedian and the story of how she ended up making a living out of making people laugh. Welcome to Mette Lisby.

Having been inspired by Mette, I warmly recommend that you have a look at the main feature for this month which is Scandinavian-style log houses, starting on page 24. It is astounding to discover that one of Scandinavia’s most popular exports is the very houses we live in. Our wood, we learn, is a great material for building houses: it’s excellent insulating properties mean that log cabins remain warm in winter and cool in summer – and it looks good!

Elsewhere in the issue, we introduce you to Martina Holmgren who is Sales Manager at SAS Radisson Hotel in London. She is doing a great job for Scandinavian trade in the UK. She was also one of the first people to endorse the idea of Scan Magazine and to offer us her support. In those early stages, she gave us confidence when it was most needed. We remain grateful to her.

Thomas Winther PS. Joining the team of Scan Magazine distributors is Stena Line, where the magazine can be found in the Plus Lounges onboard their 4 main routes to Ireland and their route to Hook of Holland. Thanks to Stena Line for collaborating with us in our mission to promote Brand Scandinavia!

SCAN M A G A Z I N E

Published by Scan Magazine Limited Design & Print Liquid Graphic Limited Editor Thomas Winther Art Direction Mads E. Petersen Copy-editor Mark Rogers

4 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Contributors Barbara Chandler Ian Welsh Bronte Blomhoj Rikke Bruntse-Dahl Anna Maria Espsäter Lee-Ann Cameron Anders Madsen

Scan Magazine 53A Clapham High Street London SW4 7TG Phone 0870 933 0423 info@scanmagazine.co.uk ISSN 1757-9589 Published 16 October 08 Next issue 28 November 08

Photos Magnus Arrevad Yiannis Katsaris

Advertising adverts@scanmagazine.co.uk

Culture Calendar Marianne Thomsen

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www.scanmagazine.co.uk All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Scan Magazine Ltd.

Välj.

No one flies to more Scandinavian destinations than we do.

By the way, “Välj” means choose in Swedish – as in, flying SAS gives you more choice. We fly more frequently from the UK to Scandinavia than any other airline.

London

From

Stockholm Copenhagen Oslo Helsinki

£59 £69 £76 £92

Always at flysas.co.uk: Free 20kg baggage Free online seat reservation 33% child discount

Copenhagen Stockholm Oslo Helsinki Gothenburg Bergen Stavanger flysas.co.uk All example fares from London Heathrow one-way including taxes, correct at time of printing and subject to availability.

Scan Magazine | Contributors

Contributors Barbara Chandler is the design writer for Homes & Property, the weekly Wednesday supplement of the London Evening Standard. She has worked as a specialist writer on interiors and decoration for over 30 years, contributing to many leading UK and European publications. Books she has written include The Home Design Source Book, and Where to Get the Look. She is Journalist of the Year 2007 (as awarded by the National Home Improvement Council).

Bronte Blomhoj runs Scandi Kitchen in London, a Scandinavian deli/cafe. Bronte studied in Edinburgh and has a background in investment banking and entrepreneurial start-ups and has worked across most of Europe. Bronte has been London based for the past 7 years where she lives with her Swedish partner Jonas and their “mini-me”, 1 year old Astrid. Bronte is really bad at dancing, but very good at making layer cake.

Ian Welsh is a UK-based independent writer and editor with nearly 15 years experience in business publishing.

With a background in corporate communications, Ian now specialises in corporate responsibility and supply chain issues.

Marianne Thomsen brings together British and Scandinavian music. With her background in sound engineering, event management and promotion she has worked with the biggest international stars and is on the prestigious Voting Committee for the Brit Awards.

Rikke Bruntse-Dahl. Being a greenie at heart, Rikke has written extensively on eco issues for a variety of publications including The Observer, New Consumer and SmartPlanet. Ethical consumerism and green business behaviour are her main areas of interest.

Lee-Ann Cameron is a self-confessed Scandiphile who moved to London after finishing a postgraduate degree in History of Art at the University of Edinburgh.

Lee-Ann currently works for one of the major auction houses and works in the contemporary art department.

Anna Maria Espsäter, who does the magazine's travel features, is a native of Sweden, although based in London for many years. Anna is a freelance travel and food writer specialising in Scandinavia.

Thomas Winther – Editor. Originally from Denmark, Thomas has a background in Economic consultancy and holds a BA and a Masters in Economics. Prior to becoming the Editor of Scan Magazine he worked in the City of London. He is now on a personal mission to take Brand Scandinavia to new heights. Thomas lives in Blackheath London with his beloved fiancée and their very newborn son. Email thomas@scanmagazine.co.uk

6 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

8 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Mette Lisby

Mette Lisby takes centre stage in London

By Rikke Bruntse-Dahl | Photos: Magnus Arrevad

As I’m waiting by Tower Bridge for Mette Lisby, I recognise her even before I can see her face. She is petite with longish blond wavy hair, she’s on high heels with an energetic walk. The energy in her walk is immediately turned into energetic talk as she approaches me. It surprises me how similar she is to her stage persona: incredibly funny, approachable and very very talkative.

Like her comedy, she is completely unpretentious and a prime example of someone we Danes have made famous because, for more than a decade, she has made us laugh and think in that unpretentious way we like so much.

As the most famous Danish female comedian, Mette Lisby has presented big hit television shows including the Danish version of Have I got News For You and her own incredibly successful show, FC Lisby. Four years ago she left the Danish limelight to live in London with her husband, Danish radio presenter, Jesper Bæhrenz. Now she is working the British comedy circuit with her charm and sharp-witted humour.

It started with a song As a teenager Lisby actually wanted to be a singer, but she quickly realised she wasn’t comfortable singing on stage. “It just wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be. The stage was OK, but the singing – hmm, not so much. Then I started performing with a group of girls. We would dress

up as housewives, sing and tell jokes in between the songs and I loved that. I found that being funny on stage was much more me.”

After a while she started getting annoyed that they had to dress up – why couldn’t they just be themselves and be funny? It wasn’t until she went to a show with her dad, Danish musician and comedian Bjarne Lisby, and watched what was essentially stand-up comedy, that she realised that the concept of being yourself on stage doing comedy existed. “It was a complete epiphany. I just knew that was what I had to do! Anything else would be a waste of my life,” she enthuses.

Carefree and lovely years When stand-up comedy took off in Denmark in the early ‘90s, it was led by a small group of twenty-somethings and Lisby was the only girl amongst the likes of Casper Christensen and Povl Carstensen. ”The first couple of years were probably the most carefree time in my career. We were all hanging out, doing standup together, writing for each other and it was lovely. We only did stuff we really liked rather than thinking strategically about our futures. But I also had a feeling of not using my full potential. Comedians can be quite lazy.

It was just gigging at night and writing during the day and

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 9

with 25 minutes a night, there’s only so much material you need to write – it’s not like the workload was killing us, was it?”

of the humour and of what’s happening on the stand-up scene over here, we just felt it was necessary to move here.

Then suddenly TV stations started knocking on Lisby’s door, asking her to do different shows, including hosting a live show, Starjoker. “For me personally this was a great success and I just learned so much. I learned how to make television programmes and how to find my own voice, which helped me immensely when I started hosting Walk the Line – a primetime talkshow.“ Eventually she was offered the hosting of Have I Got News For You, which placed her firmly at the top in the Danish comedy world.

How was it to go from being recognised by everybody when going about your daily life in Denmark to living in London where nobody knew you?

With a really well established career in Denmark as the most famous Danish female comedian, what made you want to move to London?

It was quite an obvious choice, really. For a long time I had wanted to perform in English and I had been trying that for a while in Denmark. But to get into the rhythm of the language, to get all the references right and to get a sense

10 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

The attention didn’t bother us that much when we were living in Denmark, but it was quite a relief when we got here, really. All of sudden I didn’t have to make sure I looked more friendly and happy than I felt when I left the house and it was great being able to go to the supermarket and not worrying about looking pissed off [she laughs].

Did you find it difficult to be funny in English at first?

Yes, and I knew it would be. The first year we just went to lots of stand-up clubs and watched a lot of comedy on TV. What I didn’t know before we came here was that the English think they invented comedy and they’re generally difficult to impress – especially if you’re foreign.

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Mette Lisby

That was quite a thing to overcome and a strange attitude that I just didn’t get. At my first gig here, I did 12 minutes and I had to get rid of half of my material because I used references the audience just didn’t understand — I thought they knew Brigitte Nielsen was Danish! They didn’t. But then Noel Faulkner, who runs the Comedy Café, saw me and immediately gave me a paid gig there, which was great.

What are the main differences between being a comedian in Denmark and in the UK? There are many more opportunities in the UK. The comedy scene here is one of the biggest in the world and you can actually make a living doing comedy on the London circuit.

That wouldn’t be possible in Denmark.

The stand-up scene in Denmark is still not mainstream.

People don’t really go and see stand-up in the same way as they go to the theatre – it’s something young people go to. It’s not like here where you see people of all ages in the audience. Stand-up comedy here is something everybody

knows, everybody approves of and everybody, even at the age of 60-70, has their favourite stand-up comedian.

When I write sketches now, they are very English and that’s not something I’ve done intentionally. It has happened gradually. There are quite a few things that would work in Denmark that don’t work in English – and vice versa. Take political correctness as an example — I wrote some material over here about rappers and as most rappers are black I talked about that, too. In my mind that’s not offensive at all, but people came up to me afterwards saying, ‘you can’t do this kind of material here, people will take offence’, which I found strange — and there weren’t even any black people in the audience.

Sometimes it can be hard coming from Scandinavia, where you can practically say what you want, getting used to certain boundaries over here.

But then in Denmark it’s getting increasingly easy to get attention as a comedian by being shocking and rude, which I don’t agree with. I don’t mind being offensive at

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 11

Scan Magazine | Cover Feature | Mette Lisby

all, but if you have to offend people, do it for a reason. You have to have a point rather than just saying something to shock.

The UK stage Lisby is already hugely involved in the comedy world over here, having performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her own show, at “BBC Comedy Presents”, at the Comedy Gala – a high profile charity event – alongside an impressive line-up of absolute top comedians, The Comedy Store, Comedy Café and Old Rope among many others. She has also written for other comedians such as Stephen K. Amos.

What happens next?

Both Jesper and I are very open towards the future. It has been really great working with Stephen K. Amos and there are lots of people I would like to work with over here, but I find it very hard to pin down someone or something specific. I always believe in not being too specific about

12 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

my end goals, but being open to the opportunities that appear along the way. People assume I want the same here as I had in Denmark, which I don’t. I still want to work with comedy, but as I’m getting older, I’m really enjoying writing and producing with other comedians. I just want to work with what makes sense to me and right now we’re in a very interesting place with lots of opportunities opening up over here.

Just as we get up to leave, four Danish tourists at a table behind us mutter excitedly to each other: “Is that…no, it can’t be…oh my God, yes it is, it’s Mette Lisby, isn’t it?”

Yes, it is indeed Mette Lisby in all her mighty, funny self.

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METTE LISBY’S LONDON LIFE How did you find it when you first moved to London?

Quite chaotic, really, beneath the rather controlled surface.

Chilling I don’t know why, but we seem always to end up at St James’s Park.

Sunday afternoons

What do you miss about Denmark?

My family.

Somewhere along the Southbank. There’s a nice cafÊ at the British Film Institute.

What do you like about London?

Landmark

That it’s huge and has this great international feel to it.

METTE LISBY’S FAVOURITE PLACES FOR:

It’ll have to be Tower Bridge. An estate agent would claim we can see it from our apartment, but we can’t really.

Eating We often go to an Italian restaurant, La Lanterna, near Tower Bridge.

In October Mette Lisby is part of The Big Joke Festival at Leicester Square Theatre in London.

Drinking La Cave wine bar on Borough High Street.

www.mettelisby.com www.smorgasbord.kaylascomedy.co.uk

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 13

Scan Magazine | Design

We love this...

There is so much cool Scandinavian design that we would like to show you. In fact we love this!

KOPPEL 308 Automatic 24H Black The KOPPEL Automatic 24 hour pays homage to the original understated design that Henning Koppel created back in 1978. Crafted in stainless steel with a black calfskin strap and also 18 carat gold with an alligator skin strap, the KOPPEL Automatic 24 hour is an elegant, sophisticated timepiece that reinforces the KOPPEL collection as a design classic. Retails at £2150 at www.georgjensenstore.co.uk

Pia Wallén’s exclusive jewellery collection includes a variety of unique bold designs in sterling silver, hand-made in Sweden. Retails at £179 at www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

Söndag bench has a plain design with beautiful lines.

Designer Lotta Josefsson, Annette Petersson.

Retails at £491.99 at scandinaviandesigncenter.com

Log I work desk Log I is a handy, wall-mounted, sitdown work station/desk. Design by Lillian Öberg. Retails at £633 at www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com

14 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Splash Pendant 429b (Large) SPLASH is a world renowned Georg Jensen jewellery icon.

As a celebration of Henning Koppel, Georg Jensen re-launches the iconic bracelet made by Koppel as his first jewellery piece ever.

Retails at £260 at www.georgjensenstore.co.uk

Red Kinji Oil Cloth Kinji plastic coated 100% cotton designed by Ingela Hakansson. Graphic spot design from Swedish textile designers Tio Gruppen. Ideal for kitchen and garden tables. £34,50 at www.northlightdesign.co.uk

Scan Magazine | Design

Line Lamp Base Small These Swedish iron lamp bases are like sculptures.

Each is designed and built by Swedish design duo Bengt & Lotta. £74 at northlightdesign.co.uk

Cushion Unique design by Marimekko.

Retails at £45 marimekkomarylebone.co.uk

This champagne glass set by Sagaform of Sweden has been designed by Matz Borgström to make a lasting impression. The glasses are hand-blown with weighty coloured solid glass bases.

The set is presented in a giftbox consisting of a purple and a green glass. £11 at www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

Ultrasilencer Electrolux and leading Swedish designer Pia Wallén have created a remarkable special edition of the Ultrasilencer, one of the world's quietest vacuum cleaners.

Retails at £289 at Skandium. www.skandium.com

Apple Corer by Henrik Holbaek and Claus Jensen.

Retails at £25 at Skandium. www.skandium.com

Wing sideboard. Very smart and very Scandinavian. The three deep drawers can be opened from both sides. Designer Sara Szyber Trademark Design House Stockholm.

Retails at £439.65 at www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 15

Scan Magazine | Design

kids love this...

T-Shirt Dress designed by Aya Naya. 40 available sizes 3 - 10 years. Retails at £40 at www.kidkid.co.uk

The rocking Zebra with the ingenious expression!

Part of the colorful children's room range from the Swedish company Micki.

Retails at £52.11 at scandinaviandesigncenter.com

This is an absolutely adorable Happy Hippo!

Welcome to the colourful and fun world of Rice from Denmark with the happiest toys ever! £14 at www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

Medallion Chair A unique and precious Little Medallion Chair. Designed with your child in mind, it is perfectly proportioned and practical with its drop-in seat that can be upholstered, and re-upholstered, in any fabric of your choice. £139.00 at www.nordicstyle.com

The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Finnish writer Tove Jansson.

They are a family of Scandinavian trolls who are white and round in appearance, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses or capybara. The Arabia artist Tove Slotte-Elevant has designed the delightful Moomin tableware collection for children in keeping with the original drawings. www.cloudberryliving.co.uk

16 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Made entirely from natural materials, feel the difference that only Hästens can give you.

Discover which of our extensive range of craftsmen built beds is perfect for you and each comes with a 25 year guarantee.

Experience the bed of your dreams at one of our three exclusive stores.

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HÄSTENS SURREY Auckland House New Zealand Avenue Walton-on-Thames KT12 1PL Tel: 01932 260 034

TEA OR COFFEE? – Whatever which way, BODUM can cope

By Barbara Chandler | Photos: Bodum

National stereotypes are invidious. Nevertheless (and I know it's a cheap laugh) they go something like this. The British drink mainly tea, serve bad food, and have a good sense of humour. The French don't. The Germans are seriously good at organising (and have very long words).

The sexy Italians are, of course, those famous Latin lovers. And all Scandinavians are blonde – and do great design, which is simple, good-looking, functional, and probably made of wood.

BODUM, particularly known for its tea and coffee makers, is a renowned Danish brand which lives up to what is expected, except perhaps for the wood (and how many of their people are blonde I am afraid I just don't know). But, seriously speaking, its Scandinavian excellence is known

18 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

the world over, for BODUM does business in 17 different countries generating employment for over 600 people.

Their products, made mainly in glass and metal (with some plastics and ceramics, and, indeed, some wood), are well-engineered and carefully designed to fulfil their purpose. They are robust and durable, being well equipped for the rough and tumble of daily life. But perhaps most important of all, they have those simple good looks at which the Scandinavians excel, with no tricksy details or unnecessary ornamental flourishes.

"Actually, in design the simplest things are always hardest to achieve," muses the CEO of BODUM, Jørgen Bodum himself. "A lot of thought goes into finding that very best way to make a product work, and into choosing the best

Scan Magazine | Design Feature | Bodum

Jørgen Bodum in front of BODUM’s head office.

materials. But what we spend time on most of all is deciding what we can do without." It is a question, he added, of making products easier, in a world which is getting increasingly complex. "And, paradoxically, perhaps, streamlining and simplifying a design often makes it more sophisticated in the final event."

until 1974, when Jørgen, then only 26, took over the running of the company. Wanting to trade from a location more in the centre of Europe, Jørgen moved the company to Switzerland in 1979, where its present headquarters are based near Lucerne. BODUM today is owned by Jørgen and his sister Pia.

Appealingly, BODUM is very much 100 per cent a family firm. It was founded in 1944 in Copenhagen by Jørgen Bodum's father, Peter. At first the fledgling company wholesaled a variety of Danish housewares in the difficult times after the war. But, gaining confidence in the 50s, Peter Bodum started to develop his own products. He had a rigorous approach to design, where form strictly followed function. In 1958 Peter Bodum launched his first own-brand product, the Santos glass coffee maker, which, by the 60s became ubiquitous throughout Scandinavia.

Peter Bodum's early and rigorous approach to design, with form following function, is the basis on which BODUM operates today with an in-house design team comprising of designers, architects, engineers and graphic designers.

The Santos uses a vacuum to draw water up from a base spherical jug into a top one which contains the coffee grounds. After a few minutes the water runs down again as rich black coffee leaving the trapped grounds behind.

Sadly, Peter Bodum died in 1967, leaving his wife in charge

Going back for a moment to those stereotypes The British, as everyone knows, eternally hanker after a good cuppa, especially round about 4pm. But most of them also cannot get going in the morning (especially in the office) without a mug of coffee. So you could say that Britain and BODUM are a marriage made in heaven, since products for making coffee and tea are so high on the BODUM design agenda.

Indeed, BODUM is the modern name behind those glassjug coffee makers which are so simple to use yet

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 19

Scan Magazine | Design Feature | Bodum

unfailingly deliver an excellent brew at home or in restaurants. BODUM call them coffee "presses" because of their distinctive plunger/filters which push the grounds to the bottom of the jug, leaving clear coffee for pouring.

The best-known and most familiar version of this classic design is the Chambord, a simple jug made from, light borosilicate glass which sits inside a frame of chromeplated steel. This has a robust Bakelite handle which, beneficially, is a poor heat conductor and therefore makes sure the product is never too hot to handle.

Italy in the 1930s saw the first appearance of the glass jug/plunger way of making coffee, but the idea didn't catch on widely until a French manufacturer took it up after the war. Around 20 years ago, BODUM bought the French company, which they already knew very well. This merger has been a great success and is ongoing. And continuing the Euro-theme, the Chambord today is partly made in Portugal, by skilled craftsmen who, incidentally, work to high environmental standards, as do the other parts of BODUM's production.

Using the coffee press really is as easy as falling off a log, and you'll see its familiar stocky shape in cafes the world over, from Britain and all parts of Europe, to America and beyond. Ground coffee goes in the jug, hot water is poured on top, and down goes the plunger when the coffee is

20 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

brewed. And when you pour the coffee, the plunger's filter catches the dregs of the grounds. Dead simple. And virtually idiot-proof. "The best way to brew an excellent cup of coffee is to get out of the way as quickly as possible," says Jørgen Bodum.

Over the years, BODUM have made several refinements to the basic cafetiere including the introduction of double walled jugs. Making the double walls is very skilful, as the inner beaker is blown by machine, whereas the outer one is mouth-blown. This year two very up-to-date products won coveted "red dot" German international design award, along with the Bistro toaster. But these marks of excellence were indeed only the latest in a string of coveted design awards BODUM has achieved over the years.

As for tea, the British are notoriously suspicious of any equipment that alter firm habits. Traditionally, in the British home, a basic china teapot (often highly decorative), is used in a time-honoured way. You pour in a little boiling water to "warm the pot". Having thrown this away, you add tea leaves, measuring in teaspoons: "one for each person, and one for the pot". Finally, you pour on boiling water, and leave to brew for a couple of minutes. A tea-cosy in knitted wool or padded cotton keeps the pot warm. But tea bags have rendered such charming customs redundant.

Christmas at Nordic Style

www.mossisuss.com

www.nordicstyle.com sales@nordicstyle.com 109 Lots Road London SW10 0RN Tel: 020 7351 1755

Scan Magazine | Design Feature | Bodum

The British are snobby and obsessed with class (more unreliable stereotypes), and argue endlessly about whether milk should go in first or be added later. Some say "milk in first" originated in India, where a scalding liquid helped kill bacteria in milk possibly "on the turn".

Others say the origin came from the owners of fine china, who chose “milk in first” to avoid hot liquids crazing the inside of their fine china.

BODUM’s glass teapot considerably refines the teamaking process, and has converted many Britons in so doing - indeed it was designed at the request of The British Tea Council. A wide filter sits inside the glass pot.

This is filled with leaves, which can swirl freely, after you have added the water (a little off the boil). The teapot is beautifully transparent, so you can fine tune how long the tea stays brewing - which can range from one to seven minutes. “Tea drinking becomes a pleasant visual experience,” explains Jørgen. “It's as though it has travelled through Asia to your palette.”

histories of tea and coffee, which make fascinating reading on their own. You can order your copy online, at www.bodum.com. There are also full details, with abundant illustrations, of all the other products they make, from their iconic double-walled clear-glass cups and glasses to storage containers, kitchen scales, salt and pepper sets, coffee-grinders, jugs, white ceramics and more. BODUM products are sold in many good stores all over the UK - for stockists call 01604 595650. There is also an easy-to-use website (www.bodum.com) with an on-line shop.

And if you really want to bone up on tea and coffee making, and their fascinating past, get hold of BODUM’s latest catalogue for 2008-2009 which contains full and erudite

BODUM'S TOP TEA AND COFFEE TIPS

George Orwell, the famous author of 1984, wrote a feature called “A Nice Cup Of Tea” in the Evening Standard in 1946. "The Milk First school can bring forward some fairly strong arguments," he wrote, “but I maintain that my own argument is unanswerable. This is that, by putting the tea in first and then stirring as one pours, one can exactly regulate the amount of milk, whereas one is liable to put in too much milk the other way round."

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• Aim for water with a high oxygen level • Always use cold water, and let it run for half a minute, to clear old stale water from your pipes.

• A water filter will eliminate chlorine and other elements that can spoil the taste of the tea.

• A small kettle is ideal for boiling water as it does not absorb other kitchen odours.

• Use water just below boiling point for coffee (198˚F to 204˚F / 92˚C to 96˚C) • Use coarsely ground coffee.

• Use boiling water for tea.

• Allow to brew for around four minutes before pushing down the plunger.

• Empty a kettle after use, to avoid pre-boiled stale water being used next time.

• Use a lower temperature for green or white teas – 158˚F / 70˚C (add one third of tap to two thirds of boiling water.

Photos of Preloc: Tea Kuikko-Botham

Scan Magazine | Xxxx

24 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

Scandinavian Timber Houses

ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME

By Ian Welsh

Efficient to run, comfortable to live in and from a sustainable resource, Scandinavian designed and built timber homes are hard to beat, as the UK is finding out.

Quality products and top customer service from suppliers have helped Scandinavian-style log houses and other wooden buildings become very popular in the UK, as permanent or second homes. With environmental issues right at the top of concerns for an ever-increasing segment of the public, there is a real desire that major life decisions, like building a house, are as low impact as possible. With traditional UK construction materials – brick, cement and so on – notoriously heavy on carbon emissions, to say nothing of the chemicals involved in their production, it is hardly surprising that home-builders are turning to more natural products.

And nothing is more natural than all-timber construction.

Paul Botham, managing director of housing manufacturer Oy Preloc says: “With a building made from a natural resource, and especially one from renewable forests, customers can feel they have contributed in some way to preserving our planet.”

Oy Preloc Ltd is a firm based in eastern Finland that has been making log houses for 40 years – and it really is a family business as his father-in-law had set up and run

the company for years before Botham took charge.

Botham is an English expat, who first visited Finland as a student. He fell in love with the country and its people, and also the concept of the log house. Now to the amusement of native Finns, he is an expert on log homes and is selling the concept back home.

Preloc sells around 50 houses a year, ranging in size from summer houses for the garden to fully residential homes, but no matter how big, there is a focus on the quality of raw materials. “Our wood is sourced from certified FSC [Forest Stewardship Council] sources, as we and our timber suppliers are committed to forestry conservation and replenishment,” Botham says. He also stresses the special nature of the wood from northern Scandinavian forests. “The trees are tight-grained and slowly grown, meaning the timber is strong and the resulting logs less likely to split or twist.” And, just as importantly, from a conservation point of view, nothing goes to waste, with offcuts and waste wood distributed to farmers local to the forests, or for other uses.

Preloc have a wide range of log houses and other timberbased buildings within the range they offer, but what many clients opt for are custom-designed models – which make up 90% of the company’s production. “We are able to offer a personal design and planning service for each individual

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 25

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

Paul Botham outside one of the Preloc homes.

client, and can come up with simple solutions to what can seem complicated space or construction problems.” As Preloc is a boutique supplier, there is a close relationship between the client and the designer of their new house.

“We can react quickly and adapt to the wishes of the customer,” Botham says.

residents are less prone to allergies caused by the building materials,” Botham says.

Top Finnish product

Botham also highlights the cost issue. “Even though in certain circumstances the cost of a kit for a log house can be more than a traditional brick structure, construction time is less, meaning the final total cost is typically around the same or less for a log home,” he says.

In terms of raw materials, Preloc can supply buildings constructed either from single (or “massive”) logs or, as is becoming increasingly common, from laminated logs.

These are logs that are made through a clever process of gluing together similar timbers in a way that cancels out any stresses producing a resultant log that is stronger and better-looking as knots and defects are hidden from view.

There is even less waste with this process, as more timber can be utilised in the main construction processes.

Robert Sheridan is managing director of Finlog, a partner company of Preloc that sources wooden buildings and supplies them to customers across the UK. He says that for his customers, the style of the finished buildings is a major factor in their popularity. “We find that the simple, almost minimalist, appearance of the buildings is very attractive – and that’s something particular to designs from Finland,” Sheridan argues.

Aesthetically, a log house is instantly appealing, with what Botham describes as “visible warmth from the natural colours of the wood”. And in addition to the excellent insulation properties – making log houses warmer in winter and cooler in summer – the natural breathability of the walls improves air quality inside. “The air inside a wooden house is cleaner, with the added benefit that

He agrees that one of the benefits of living in a timberbuilt home is the sense of a healthy and natural lifestyle, highlighting that they are a “100% natural product”. And the fact that there are “400 to 500 trees in a typical log house, that’s a lot of carbon tied up that’s not going to be released”. With FSC certification all these trees will have been replaced, further reducing the construction’s net

26 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

environmental impact. On top of this, Finlog supports a tree planting scheme in Malawi, something that Sheridan is particularly pleased to be doing. Not only is it adding another environmentally-friendly aspect to Finlog’s business, the scheme also provides much needed education and employment in Malawi.

LEAVING IT ALL BEHIND When Sarah and Craig Denman were looking for a flexible building that they could use for part residential, part holiday letting, next to their guest house near Dumfries in southern Scotland, Robert Sheridan’s team from Finlog were able to supply and install a log cabin that fulfilled the main brief, and also was sympathetic to its surroundings.

Sarah Denman says: “Our guests are blown away by the log cabin. It is warm and comfortable with a very nice feel, fitting into its location wonderfully.” The cabin is divided into two parts, that are separated cleverly so that each is soundproofed and private.

One part is used as self-catering accommodation for guests, and the other is where Mrs Denman’s mother lives, year round. “It is an extremely comfortable place to live, easy and cheap to heat, making it very cosy when the weather is cold or wet. And the way it was designed makes the best possible use of natural light.”

The Denmans are Londoners who moved up to their current home – Cowan’s Farm Guest House – when they tired of the rat-race and their city jobs, and wanted to enjoy a higher quality of life. Scandinavianstyle living appealed to them, and fitted in with the ambience they were trying to create for their selfcatering let accommodation. Mrs Denman highlights in particular the natural and healthy cultural aspects of Scandinavian life.

“Life can be so hard at the moment with people working long hours. It’s great to see them chilling out and unwinding when they come to stay with us for a few days,” she says.

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 27

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

Why slow-growing is best Andrew Walshe is chairman of KDM International, parent company of Swedish timber buildings supplier Svenskhomes. He also emphasises that it’s the excellence of the raw materials that makes Scandinavian-made homes stand out.

“Slow-grown pine from the north of Sweden is of a high quality and structural stability and ideal for timber homes.

We are able to provide a consistent quality product, at whatever volume is required, which reassures our clients,” Walshe says.

As the homes are constructed for the more extreme Scandinavian climate, they are able to deal comfortably with everything that the UK’s weather can throw at them.

They are warm and comfortable, using the most modern design and construction techniques. Typically making the best use of the daylight through cleverly placed windows and doors, triple glazing is the norm, meaning that the significant energy-loss experienced through more traditional windows is drastically reduced.

market. Efficiency of design, and efficiency in terms of everyday use and running costs.

Open plan living is the norm in Scandinavia and housing design reflects this, which fits in closely with what UK buyers want. For busy working families the kitchen is at the centre of the home.

Downstairs upstairs

As Walshe points out: “These are hyper-efficient buildings. There is insulation everywhere, and energy bills are much lower than in other more traditionally-built UK houses. Scandinavian construction ticks all the environmental boxes, with lower CO2 emissions and up to 50% saving in energy bills.”

Walshe says that timber frame construction means that the houses are easy for builders to erect and then for the other trades to fit out. “Once the solid wooden frame is up, it’s a straightforward matter of cladding the walls and finishing them, and very easy for fixing the wiring and plumbing to the client’s specification.” Room layout flexibility means that it’s easy for Svenskhomes’ clients to swap around the living and sleeping areas in their new home – or even go for reverse living. “It’s amazing how people get sold on the idea of having an upstairs living room, for example, once they’ve experienced what a difference it can make – whether from travelling to Scandinavia or after visiting one of our show homes.”

Efficiency really is the driving force behind the popularity of Scandinavian-designed and built homes in the UK

And it’s not just room layout that is flexible. Many bespoke homes, like those from Svenskhomes, are completely

28 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 29

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

Andrew Walshe, chairman of KDM International.

Enjoy panoramic views from the full-length cathedral windows of the Mora range or enjoy an al fresco meal on the verandah.

customised, down to placement of doors, windows and balconies. This means that the most efficient and practical use can be made of the new building’s location – keeping the best views for the living room or master bedroom, for example.

Walshe is keen to dispel some misconceptions about wood-constructed houses, particularly among British people used to bricks, cement and concrete construction materials. “We supply long-lasting solid buildings, with proper foundations. With regular maintenance – just as for other building materials – these homes will last for generations.”

If a client is sold on the environmental and energy-saving benefits of a Scandinavian-designed timber home, but put off by an all-wood interior, Walshe points out that it is easy to plasterboard internal walls allowing for any type of decoration. “It doesn’t have to look like a Swiss chalet!” he says. But whatever the style of the final fitting out, Walshe says that his clients are never disappointed.

30 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

“Everyone always goes ‘wow!’ when they see the end product.”

Build quality and sympathetic style are key factors in the growing popularity of Scandinavian homes in the UK. Scandinavians have a close cultural affinity with the environment, which translates into energy-efficient homes that blend into their surroundings, especially if in a suburban or rural setting. Also Scandinavia’s “reputation for luxury and functionality, with no compromise on quality, means that they expect a job welldone,” Walshe says. And of course it is up to him and his colleagues to ensure that happens.

So with such a reputation, and the fact that timberconstructed Scandinavian-designed homes tick all the right environmental boxes as well, surely it’s inevitable that their popularity will continue to rise. Truly sustainable living? Well perhaps not yet, but certainly getting near it.

Scan Business | Scan Focus | Timber Houses

The Idre makes for grand, stylish living and accommodates up to ten people. With a large decked patio and a sauna too, there is always somewhere to relax and slow the pace down.

TIMBER HOMES ON COURSE Lawrence Gage is managing director of Sunningdale Investments, and developer of the Fairway Lakes Village at the 400 acre Caldecott Hall country estate in Norfolk, which includes an 18-hole golf course, and hotel and leisure facilities. When complete, Fairway Lakes will comprise 48 timber houses supplied by Svenskhomes.

It was the quality of the finished product that attracted Gage to the timber buildings. “We tested the houses for insulation, and were amazed at how well they performed – much better than standard brick-built houses. And now their owners comment to us how efficient they are with really low heating bills.”

Though principally used as second homes, the houses at Fairway Lakes are designed for use 365 days a year, and include many bespoke features. Gage comments: “We were able to offer a high-end finish without having

to charge premium prices.” And this has proved to be irresistible as the new houses have been snapped up.

The timber houses at Fairway Lakes fit into the pleasant leafy surroundings much more easily than traditionally constructed buildings. And from a contractor’s view, the ease of construction and low maintenance are another key feature. “With new-builds you expect there to be a few problems as the houses bed in, but so far we have not had any snags or cracks in the Svenskhomes buildings,” Gage says.

Further information Preloc – www.preloc.fi Finlog – www.finlog.co.uk Cowan’s Farm Guest House – www.cowans.info Svenskhomes – www.svenskhomes.co.uk Fairway Lakes – www.caldecotthall.co.uk/hotel/fairways

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 31

Scan Business | Business Profile | SAS Radisson

Business Profile: SAS Radisson Portman Hotel

A PERSONAL WELCOME AT THE PORTMAN

By Ian Welsh | Photo: Magnus Arrevad

The Portman Hotel’s resident Swede has some surprises in store for Scandinavian guests.

It’s always a pleasure to spend a few days at a comfortable hotel, but visitors from Sweden now have an extra-special treat at the SAS Radisson Portman Hotel in London: a personal letter of welcome in Swedish from the senior sales manager, and fellow Swede, Martina Holmgren. And not just that: “We also have some special Scandinavianbrand chocolates that we hand out to all our Nordic guests,” Holmgren says.

The personal letter is part of the Portman’s desire to develop close relations with Scandinavian guests, and to cater for their specific requirements. “All of London’s hotels are operating in a tough and competitive environment,” Holmgren says, “and we want to understand what our

32 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

guests want and expect, so that they keep coming back.”

With special responsibility for Scandinavian guests, Holmgren spends a significant chunk of her year travelling to Scandinavia to attend trade shows and develop relationships with new clients and their booking agents.

“Meeting face-to-face is the best way to build trust, and particularly to get a good idea of the customer’s requirements,” she says.

Being Swedish gives Holmgren a head-start when it comes to understanding the Portman’s Nordic guests.

“Value for money, with quality service” are two things that Scandinavian visitors expect, “but it’s also the little things that are important – including the cultural references that we try to provide,” she says. Quick check-outs, high-speed wifi internet access and Scandinavian-inspired décor in some bedrooms are further popular features. “And, of

course, we are just a stone’s-throw away from some of the best shopping in the world, as well as London’s top historic sites.”

To continue developing ties with the Scandinavian community, back home and in London, the Portman regularly co-hosts drinks receptions and other functions with the Nordic chambers of commerce. “We work closely with the chambers as it helps raise the profile of the hotel generally, as well as generating new contacts. Members of the chambers will often be re-locating staff to the UK, and we are always available to help ease the process with a comfortable Scandinavian-friendly place to stay for newcomers while they find a permanent home.”

Spending more time travelling with work is, for her, an attractive aspect of the job. She left southern Sweden for London 13 years ago, “initially just for a couple of months, but I’m still here,” she says. “Living and working in a big city like London does make me appreciate my roots, though, and it’s a pleasure to be home more often.”

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Centrally located, the SAS Radisson Portman Hotel is convenient for all of London’s top attractions, including shopping in Knightsbridge or Bond Street, Buckingham Palace, the Royal Parks and the Palace of Westminster. With quick transport links to the City and Docklands within easy walking distance, as well as rail services to London’s airports, the Portman is also ideal for business guests.

The hotel has 272 rooms, including studios and suites, with high speed wifi internet throughout.

Guests can eat at the renowned Portman Restaurant, which has developed a reputation for the quality of its international menu. For larger functions, up to 600 guests can be accommodated in one of the largest conference and banqueting facilities in London.

Radisson SAS is the full service hotel brand of the Rezidor Hotel Group, and is now the second largest brand in the EU with over 200 hotels ranging from small boutiques to major city landmarks.

Scan Business | Feature | Mumtrepreneurs

Elisabeth Crossly-Wright, Mette Mitchell and Corina Papadopoulou

MUMTREPRENEURS

By Bronte Blomhoj | Photo: Anu Laitila

The term Mumtrepreneur, meaning a mother who uses her entrepreneurial desire and sets up a business along with having kids, crops up regularly in British media: more and more women combine having a family with setting up their own business.

With sky-high childcare costs in the UK (around £60 a day for an average place at nursery) it is not surprising that many Scandinavian ex-pat mothers are also looking for alternative ways of working after they have children.

Compared to Scandinavia, where childcare is often free or discounted heavily, many families living in the UK simply cannot afford to have both adults working. On top of that, the long working hours in most city jobs mean there’s often not much time to spend with the kids at the end of the day.

34 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

In a survey conducted last year, more than 50% of new mums are keen to set up on their own – and one in ten mums on the UK job market feel they have been discriminated against because they are parents and have been over looked for promotion by David Brent type bosses. A staggering one in five mothers have struggled with employers demanding they work longer than their contracted hours. With such figures it is easy to understand why some mothers decide to find a way to combine work and family life differently. Scan Magazine met three such London based Scandinavian mothers who decided to make the jump and set up their own business.

Mette Mitchell is a Dane who’s been in London since 2002 but has lived all over the world before settling down in Fulham. While pregnant she started making clothes for baby Miko, who is now two, and realised that she really

Scan Business | Feature | Mumtrepreneurs

loved the creative side of the work. Mette has since set up her company, Flawless, an online business selling quirky children’s clothing made with re-used and new materials.

Having worked in the furniture business for ten years doing anything from styling to trend spotting, Mette says she fell out of love with big companies and enjoys the feel of being in a small business: “Our daughter caught meningitis as a baby and was close to death. This experience put my life into perspective; how precious life is and I don’t want to waste any of it. I saw no other way of finding a work situation I would like than setting up my own business.”

Corina from Sweden, mum to Melina (4) and Miya (14 months), worked as a TV producer for MTV and CNBC in London for 12 years before starting a family: “In reality, most of the work places in London just don’t cater for women who want to work part time and I wanted to have more flexibility in my life. Both of my own parents run their own businesses, so it may well be in my blood to do something on my own.” Corina has just opened the doors to her own kid’s one-stop store called ‘KIDSEN’ in Kensal Rise, although it was never her original intention to go into the children’s retail market: “During my first years as a mum I really missed a good, local children’s store. I was tired of picking up nappies from one place, food from another and clothes from a third.” Corina says that 80% of her products (from prams and shoes to Scandinavian language books to name but a few) are imported from Scandinavia where kids products are synonymous with both style and quality.

Deciding what specific business area to go into as an entrepreneur, let alone doing so with children in tow, is key to making it a success. Many mothers decide to combine their new business with gaps in the market they have discovered while becoming parents – although others simply want to continue a career in line with their original profession - but with increased flexibility that being your own boss gives.

Meet Elisabeth from Denmark, a Danish lawyer who moved to London from Kosovo three years ago where she was working for the UN. Before the UN, she was a captain in the Danish army. After coming to London she decided to

set up her own legal recruitment firm, Arch Legal: “I wanted to work and be efficient enough to also see my kids. I think working mums are great at multi-tasking and I wanted to manage my own time.” With her firm doing great and having found a niche in the market (recruiting lawyers from city firms, Arch Legal even pay placement bonuses directly to successful candidates), Elisabeth manages to juggle being a mum to two active little boys, Klint and Maximus, as well as not being fazed by the business side of things: “The hardest thing is just to keep the motivation up if there is a downturn in the market” she says “but I think London is generally a great place to set up on your own – people here are generally much more entrepreneurial.”

While setting up your own business is hard enough without taking care of children at the same time, the end result does seem to offer that degree of flexibility that some mothers are asking for. This comes along with providing an outlet where bright, creative and business minded women can still find a job, a business, that challenges and works for them whilst having a young family: “I don’t think I could be employed again,” says Elisabeth, whilst Corina reserves her judgement: “Never... but ask me again in three years!” Mette follows on: “I do find that the UK government encourages people to set up on their own – as a sole trader, you get a lot of freedom business and tax wise. ‘Flawless’ is built on pocket money and goodwill and there is no scheme involved, but it’s still worth it.”

So, who should not think about setting up on their own?

The feedback from these Scandinavian women is clear: whilst being your own boss sounds great, it also brings a lot of late-night paperwork after the kids are asleep and never ending lists of stuff to get done: “You need to be very aware from the outset about how much or how little you want to get out of your business,” says Mette. Corina agrees: “It is absolutely hard work – and there’s very little time left over to yourself. But I guess this also means you end up watching a lot less rubbish on TV,” she laughs. www.flawlessonline.com www.kidsen.co.uk www.archlegal.com

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 35

Scan Business | International Services | Tax

TAX RULES WHEN WORKING ABROAD

By Tax Columnist Helena Whitmore | Photo: Yiannis Katsaris

Those who are thinking of going to work in another country for a period need to be very careful to ensure that they are paying the proper amount of tax in the correct country.

To find the answer to this, it is necessary to go through a number of steps. Careful planning can also minimise the tax cost. To get the best result, it may be necessary to extend or shorten your planned period of absence, and if possible to look at the entity which will employ you.

Firstly, it may be that although you are going to be away from the country where you usually live for a year or more, the tax rules in your home country could still have the effect that you remain treated as resident in that country for tax purposes, irrespective of where you are “registered�. For example, if someone is leaving the UK to work in another country, they will still remain resident in the UK for tax purposes unless they are away for a full UK

36 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

tax year (from 6 April to 5 April). Therefore, someone who is away from the UK from say 1 May 2006 to 31 March 2008 will remain UK resident throughout that period as the absence of nearly two years still does not cover a complete tax year. Other countries have their own rules which look at your continuing connections to that country.

Secondly, the country where you are going will have its own rules to establish if you will be treated as resident there for tax purposes while you are working in that country. This is likely to depend on how long you intend to stay there, but other factors could also be relevant such as whether or not you have a permanent home there. It is likely that if you are going to another country for less than six months you may not be treated as becoming resident there for tax purposes, but this could change if you return regularly over a period of several years. Even if you remain non-resident in your host country, your income from that country will probably still be taxable there.

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It is possible to be resident in more than one country (dual resident) for tax purposes, so it is very important to look at the rules in both countries. The tax situation will be more complicated for those who are dual resident, and this means that it is necessary to see if any relief is available under the Double Tax Treaty between the two countries (assuming that you are going to a country where there is a relevant treaty in force).

The need to look at the rules in more than one country as well as the interaction between the two systems means that it is advisable to get help from a qualified tax adviser in this situation. The above is for general guidance only and does not constitute advice.

Usually, the country where you are resident will potentially have the right to tax all your worldwide income and gains.

Other countries may still be able to tax you on income and gains from that country specifically. If two countries have the right to tax the same thing, some form of credit or relief should be available to avoid double taxation, but the same income may still have to be reported in both places.

Social security contributions are subject to separate rules, so may not be payable in the same country as the income tax.

A Swede by birth, Helena Whitmore is director of tax at Grundberg Mocatta Rakison based in London. She has been with the firm since 1990, and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation since 2002. She writes regularly for Scan Magazine, and over the coming months will examine issues relating to setting up business in the UK, relevant tax laws, how to deal with property purchases and inheritance matters. www.gmrlaw.com

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 37

Scan Business | Business Profile | Finnair

Business Profile: Finnair

EFFICIENT ROUTES EAST

By Ian Welsh | Photos: Finnair

For travellers to East Asian destinations from the UK, Finnair’s modern fleet and easy transfers to long-haul flights in Helsinki, with fast connections from Manchester and London, make it an attractive choice.

Efficiency is the top priority for the aviation sector. With fuel costs continuing to soar, and travelling budgets squeezed for business and leisure customers alike, providing a lean and competitive service is what airlines are aiming to achieve, particularly for long-haul destinations.

38 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Finnish flag-carrier Finnair took a major decision in 2000 to concentrate on developing routes to East Asian destinations from its hub in Helsinki which connects with a comprehensive domestic and European network.

Located on the great circular route between Europe and Asia – in other words, right on the most direct route between the two continents – Helsinki is in fact in a most convenient and efficient location for transfer to long-haul flights from anywhere in Europe.

Scan Business | Business Profile | Finnair

Silver Bird. Finnair’s retro painted anniversary Airbus A319.

For UK passengers, Finnair operates three flights daily – two in the winter – from Manchester that are specifically tailored to connect easily with long-haul flights onwards from Helsinki. There are also four Finnair flights from London’s Heathrow to Helsinki – and countless codeshare options with other airlines in the oneworld alliance, such as British Airways, which connect with other UK regional airports.

Finnair is an industry leader in aircraft efficiency – vital not only for reducing carbon emissions but also for keeping fuel costs down. Hänninen says: “New aircraft use much less fuel, and we have one of the youngest narrow-body fleets in the world. On our European routes the aircraft average just over four years old, and by 2010 all our long-haul destinations will be served by the new super-efficient Airbus A330 or A340 aircraft.”

Tomi Hänninen, Finnair’s sales director for the UK and Ireland, says that Helsinki airport’s compact size, three runways and dedicated transfer terminal mean that connecting between European and Asian flights is much easier than at more congested airports. “We are able to timetable connections at 35 minutes between two international flights – and in fact you sometimes only really need 35 seconds! – which compares with the two hours that is the norm elsewhere,” Hänninen says.

As well as continually investing in new aircraft, Finnair has developed a number of clever operating procedures that cut fuel use, including flying at the optimal cruising speeds and altitudes, keeping taxiing on the ground to a minimum, and reducing aircraft weight with lighter cabin seating and interior equipment. “We even wash our engines more often, as the dirt they accumulate hampers performance. Cleaner aircraft are greener aircraft,” Hänninen says.

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 39

Scan Business | Business Profile | Finnair

And, of course, direct routing of aircraft means savings in fuel use and flight time – another great reason for taking advantage of Finnair’s Helsinki connections.

Looking to the future, Hänninen says that the airline will continue to develop efficient long-haul routes. “We’re looking at routes from North America to India via Helsinki – ultra-long routes can be made more comfortable for passengers with a convenient stopping point and also be cheaper to operate with the right aircraft.”

Silver Bird celebrates 85 years 2008 is the 85th anniversary of Finnair’s first operations.

To mark this, the airline have painted a modern Airbus A319 aircraft in the livery of a 1950s Convair and named it Silver Bird. And for special retro flights until the end of the year, the cabin crew will be dressed in 50s-style uniforms.

40 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Since 2001, Finnair has been the fastest-growing carrier on Europe to Asia routes, averaging 25%-30% year-on-year passenger growth. Tomi Hänninen says: “In 2001 the airline had nine flights a week to four destinations in Asia. Now Finnair operates 60 weekly flights to 10 Asian cities.”

In total, Finnair flies from Helsinki direct to 10 major Asian cities: • Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in Japan • Mumbai and Delhi in India • Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing in China • Bangkok in Thailand • Seoul in South Korea

Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce Danish Design – an evening with Bang & Olufsen The Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce invites you to an evening with Bang & Olufsen on the 26th of November 2008 at 6.30pm.

Denmark has a very strong design tradition which reached its peak in the middle of the 20th century – the period today referred to as ‘Danish Modern’. This was also the period of the Danish design ‘heroes’ Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Paul Kjaerholm, Piet Hein, Knud Holscher and Grete Meyer among others. All this contributed to the worldwide respect garnered for Denmark’s design heritage, and nowhere is this truer than in the field of contemporary furniture design.

this fact, the Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce has taken an interest in design and organised an event with one of the greatest Danish design brands around today – Bang & Olufsen.

The objective of our evening with Bang & Olufsen is to promote Danish design in the UK and to generate even greater levels of interest for Danish design companies.

Lars Flyvholm, who is B&O’s new Managing Director, will make a presentation where he will introduce a brand new B&O product, which will set new standards for modern design and integration of software and hardware and is to be launched this fall. Furthermore the evening will be a good opportunity to meet others either engaged or interested in the design industry while enjoying canapés and drinks in tranquil surroundings.

Danish design is by far Denmark’s strongest brand when it comes to profiling ourselves around the world. Owing to Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7259 6795 | Email: info@ducc.co.uk | www.ducc.co.uk

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce Our Corporate Members are entitled to a number of benefits; amongst these is the possibility to host a Connect-Up. This is an event where interesting AngloNorwegian topics can be discussed and it is also an opportunity for a business to present its company and services to all NBCC members and their guests. On 4 November the Results Centre will be presenting “Coaching skills for parents”.

Our annual and popular Young Professional social party at the Kensington Roof Gardens will be on Friday 7 November. Hope to see as many of you as possible as this will be a perfect opportunity to socialize with other Nordic YPs. And do not forget the Nordic Thursday Drinks every last Thursday of the month. Thank you to Scandinavian Kitchen for hosting the next ones.

Our Christmas programme will see a YP dinner, and a Christmas concert in St Martin-in-the-Fields with musicians Tord Gustavsen, Ingebjørg Kosmo and Tore Dingstad.

UPCOMING EVENTS • Connect-Up with the Results Centre – 4 November • Nordic YP Party at the Kensington Roof Gardens – 7 November • YP Christmas Dinner – 28 November • Christmas Concert and Reception – 5 December

Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7930 0181 | Email: info@nbccuk.com | www.nbccuk.com 42 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

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Competition

Win two tickets to see Strindberg’s CREDITORS at the Donmar Warehouse Scan Magazine and Donmar Warehouse give two lucky readers the chance to win two tickets to the show at the theatre located in London’s West End. In which city did August Strindberg grow up?

A: New Orleans B: Cairo C:Stockholm Email your answer to competition@scanmagazine.co.uk and Scan Magazine will draw 2 lucky winners.

Scan Magazine must receive your answer before 15 November. The lucky winners will be contacted directly.

The September competition winners of 3 Klippan throws from Northlight are Laura Engell Holm, Ditte LĂźtken and Juliet Culleton. Congratulations!

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 43

Scan Business | Business Services

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OFSB QL @>KAFK>SF> TFQE QBK> FKB Let Stena Line help you take the strain out of driving to Scandinavia.

With a choice of short routes with frequent crossings and longer routes with overnight journeys we can help to make your journey more relaxing and convenient Onboard our ships you will find a range of facilities all designed to make your crossing as comfortable as possible. Remember to book early for our best fares.

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Scan Business | News | Chambers of Commerce

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK Following our grand launch event and season kick-off on 10 September, a champagne reception at Georg Jensen, our annual Crayfish Cruise and a seminar and dinner with Dr Anders Wall, the Swedish Chamber is offering an autumn full of further exciting events.

Join us on 21 October for a seminar at Nokia’s flagship store on Regent Street. A panel consisting of cutting-edge ITcompanies Nokia, Spotify, Enecto and 3 will discuss “Future trends in business IT solutions”. Also this autumn, learn more

about the financial crisis, the labour market and Swedish fashion.

UPCOMING EVENTS • JCC After Work at Kensington Roof Gardens – 17 October • “Future Trends in Business IT Solutions” – IT Seminar at Nokia – 21 October • Breakfast Briefing at Deutsche Bank: “Global Financial Turmoil – A Route Map to Survival” – 28 October • Swedish Minister for Employment on “Flexicurity” – 4 November • Exclusive H&M Event – Previewing the Spring/ Summer ’09 Collection – 6 November • JCC Exclusive Saturday Drinks at The Cuckoo Club – 15 November • The Annual Christmas Luncheon at the Dorchester – 5 December • JCC Christmas Party – 13 December

Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK | Phone: +44 (0) 20 7224 8001 | Email: info@scc.org.uk | www.scc.org.uk

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce The active autumn of FBCC continues. The last month has been all about Business in Russia and eating crayfish in good company, but now it is time to look forward.

On Monday the 10th of November at 11.30am we are delighted to invite our members to the Economic Update at Nordea London. Nordea's chief economist from Finland Mrs. Leena Morttinen has kindly agreed to give us a presentation on the current economic climate and financial markets. This current event is free of charge and includes a buffet lunch. The Economic Update is preceded by the General Annual Meeting of FBCC. Junior Chamber is visiting BBC on 22nd October. Come and find out where the news is made.

Interested in meeting new people and making contacts?

Nordic Drinks is organised on the last Thursday of every

month. A joint Nordic Party for our Junior members is held at the Roof Gardens in November. Please note that there is no age limit for participating in the JCC’s activities.

UPCOMING EVENTS • JCC visit to BBC – October 22nd • Nordic Drinks – October 30th • Economic Update and AGM – November 10th • Christmas Dinner – December 4th

Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce | Phone: +44 (0) 20 8741 6352 | Email: fbccevents@fbcc.co.uk | www.fbcc.co.uk Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 45

Scan Magazine | Travel | Finland

Event Organising in Finland

By Anna Maria Espsäter | Photos: Esko Jämsä

When it comes to event organising there’s widespread agreement: the Finns have got it right. Despite being a country of only some 5.3 million inhabitants, Finland attracted well over 143,000 visitors to corporate events in 2006, with Helsinki the jewel in the crown of the conference and incentive business.

“Helsinki was ranked the sixth most popular conference city last year and Finland eighth, because of the high quality of accommodation, the reliability and safety,” says Riitta Balza, Senior Consultant at Visit Finland. “There are also totally hidden gems to discover,” she continues, “you could hold a corporate meeting or conference at sea, cruising through the archipelago, or even combine two capitals - Helsinki and Stockholm, or nearby Tallinn in Estonia.”

46 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

The history of event organising in Finland is both long and illustrious – many a treaty and accord has been signed here over the years. During the EU presidency in 2006, the already high standards of infrastructure, technology, facilities and services, were further heightened, putting Finland at the forefront in Europe. “Finland is very well known for good organisational skills and this thoroughness is the same with all kinds of meetings, big or small,” Marjo Sanderson, Managing Director of Guild Travel, a part of the UK-based Finn Guild, comments.

Known for its often harsh climate, it is perhaps surprising to find that the winter months of January to March are the most popular for corporate trips, particularly incentive travel. “Winter incentives remain popular,” Riitta Balza explains, “and nature plays a big part in everything we

Scan Magazine | Travel | Finland

Picture to the left: Midnight Sailing Pictures from top to bottom: Top: Helsinki – with an incentive touch. Middle: City orienteering with team activities (Töölönlahti Bay & Sibelius Monument).

Bottom: RIB boat ride.

offer, even in the capital. A combination of nature, modern living and friendly people is our main asset.”

Photo: © Burn Out City

Some 48% of corporate visitors stay in or near Helsinki and this area has some of the best facilities in the whole country. Many of the central hotels are specifically geared towards C&I travellers, with excellent meeting rooms and state-of-the-art technology. Five-star properties such as Hotel Kämp, in the heart of the capital, Crowne Plaza Helsinki and Scandic Continental, can all cater to large groups and for even bigger events, nearby Finlandia Hall provides further facilities. Another good option in the centre of town is design hotel Klaus K and further afield there are more venues, some with a distinct focus on the unusual.

Voimala, a former power plant, is one of several locations with out-of-the-ordinary features, its boiler hall accommodating up to 1000 people. There are also picturesque seaside villas, such as Villa Andania and Villa Wuorio and even UNESCO World Heritage Site Suomenlinna Fortress, with its own conference and

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 47

Scan Magazine | Travel | Finland

Photo: © Haikki manor

Scan Magazine | Xxxx

Gala dinner at Iittala Gallery.

Top: Crowne Plaza, Helsinki.

Below: Haikko Manor in the summertime.

banquet facilities, to choose from. A little bit further from town lies Haikko Manor, originally owned by a Dominican Monastery of Viborg and dating back to 1362. “Haikko Manor has a fascinating past, with actual links to the Russian imperial family,” says Kai Mattsson, Deputy Managing Director. “Helsinki and Finland have many unique selling points; everything works here; the service is first-class; it’s safe, clean and fresh.”

“One could say that the whole country is a retreat venue,” muses Tuula Lindberg, Managing Director of the Finland Convention Bureau.” There’s a lot of space and many interesting places surrounded by nature. Also 30 airlines have regular flights to Finland, we have 1,100 meeting venues, good quality hotels and experienced event organising companies to take care of meeting planners’ needs.”

48 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Finns place distinct emphasis on the great outdoors, regardless of the season, and although there’s no need to venture far to be close to nature, with a national park, Nuuksio, just a stone’s throw from Helsinki, many take the opportunity to turn their corporate event into a real snow adventure by organising a trip to Lapland. “After Helsinki, the most popular place to visit is of course Lapland, attracting 33% of all C&I business,“ says Ines Anttii-Pioka, Marketing Manager of Helsinki Tourist & Convention Bureau. The fact that you can try out a variety of winter adventures from visiting Santa Claus, husky-mushing and reindeer sleigh-rides, to ice rallies, snow mobiling and ice fishing, is a definite attraction for those wanting to organise unusual corporate events. However, it’s not all adrenalin; “the Arctic Circle offers wonderful possibilities for incentive travel,” says Marjo Sanderson,“ including one

Meetings iin nN Nordic ordic luxury luxury Combine a business Combine business meeting meeting and and the the two two b eautiful Nordic No N ordic capitals, capiittallss,, Helsinki Helsinki and and beautiful S tockholm, with with a luxurious luxurious overnight overnight Stockholm, ccruise. ruise. Both Both cities cities are are ideal ideal for for tthose hose who who w ant to to do do business business and and introduce introduce ttheir heir want b usiness partners partners to to Scandinavian Scandinavian business cculture. ulture. Have Have yyour our meeting meeting in in a hotel hotel

o orr o on nb board, oard, a and nd e enjoy njoy tthe he ssights ights o off tthese hese B altic S ea ccapitals. apiittals ls.

Baltic Sea O ake a ttwo-day wo-day b reak ffrom rom b usiness: Orr ttake break business: Stockholm, overnight ffly ly tto oS tockholm, ccruise ruise o vernight tto o H elsinki, a nd rreturn eturn h ome w ith a n Helsinki, and home with an e vening fflight. light. O elax a b it llonger onger evening Orr rrelax bit w ith h otel a ccommodation. with hotel accommodation.

TRAVEL ALL THROUGH TRAVEL THROUGH T THE HE E YEAR For res ervations and enquirie es, please contact G uiild T ravel: 020 7388 4158 reservations enquiries, Guild Travel: Guild TTravel ravvel

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Photo: Anna Maria Espsäter

The lake Lammasjärvi in winter.

of the great Finnish luxuries – silence, away from the buzz of a big city.�

Winter may be the most popular time for corporate visitors, but that’s not to say there’s nothing going on the rest of the year. Some delights, not involving snow, can be sampled anytime. Perhaps the most famed Finnish pastime is the sauna, almost considered a Finn’s second home. There are incentive trips to Saunasaari, or Sauna Island, for the serious sauna lover, 15 minutes by boat from Helsinki and most hotels have their own saunas for business meetings and birch twig whippings. Midnight cruises, ice-hockey and Cossack nights, as well as visits to the Arctic Ice bar, can all be incorporated into a C&I itinerary in Finland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

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Scan Magazine | Fashion | Style Counsel

LONDON GETS STYLE COUNSELING – Denmark’s leading fashion bosses open their London office.

By Anders Christian Madsen | Portrait Photo: Henrik Bulow

Before Style Counsel, there was nothing. Since founding their company in 1997, creative directors Uffe Buchard and Kim Grenaa have not only revolutionised the image of Danish fashion but created it. And last month, London saw the opening of Style Counsel’s international office. Scan Magazine speaks to Uffe Buchard on his way to the Louis Vuitton show on a particularly stormy day during Paris Fashion Week. After producing most of the catwalk shows at Copenhagen Fashion Week, the fashion bosses – as the Danes have affectionately dubbed them – started production on Irish designer J.W. Anderson’s show for London Fashion Week, all the while opening Style Counsel’s office in the city. ‘London’s fashion industry should see Style Counsel as a breath of fresh air from the North and what we’re known for, which is a persistently

52 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

timeless style with a subtle element of surprise,’ says Buchard. ‘It’s a cleaner, cooler and uncompromising approach to design and fashion in general.’

Specialising in fashion campaigns, trend consulting and fashion shows and events, Style Counsel is renowned for what Buchard, with a twinkle, calls ‘an almost German emphasis on precision, organisation and conscientiousness’. Over the past ten years, the company has almost single-handedly shaped Copenhagen Fashion Week. Its present international success can be accredited to Style Counsel’s unrelenting devotion to Danish design, and saying that they’ve played a vital part in making fashion the third-biggest export in Denmark wouldn’t be overstating it. ‘Right now, we feel that we can’t do the Copenhagen market any better than we’re already doing.

Style Counsel’s London Offices

Apart from that, we actually think we’d be able to do a better job than our competitors in London,’ notes Buchard.

With a contact base of some of the world’s best photographers, stylists, art directors, hair and make-up artists, writers, builders, lighting experts and whoever else makes a brand’s heart grow fonder, Style Counsel’s strongest forte lies in the revamping and fine-tuning of fashion and life-style companies. ‘When I’m in London, I often find that simple fashion imagery there isn’t that well-produced. Many of the campaigns look identical, like they have all been done by the same person. They look unfinished and gritty,’ says Buchard. ‘And that’s just not good enough.’ If anyone can, Buchard can get away with blowing his own trumpet. Style Counsel owns DANSK Magazine – the internationally distributed fashion title published in English – whose current cover girl happens to be supermodel Coco Rocha (Style Counsel always gets the biggest models). Inside the issue you’ll find exclusive interviews with fashion’s grand doyenne Vivienne Westwood, and one of the world’s most respected fashion critics, Sarah Mower. That’s just how they roll.

‘We’ve never suffered from bad self-esteem so I have to say that, of course, I think a great many of the English fashion brands could benefit by our acquaintance,’ says Buchard. Along with co-founder Kim Grenaa, directors Camilla Bigler and Jacob Petersen and their team of producers, he will be orchestrating Style Counsel’s international arm from a distinctly Scandinavian office in Margaret Street. Pale grey and white stone walls, glass screens, white Hay desks, Gubi chairs and Style Counsel’s signature piece, the Artichoke lamp by Poul Henningsen, make up for an impressively chic arrival in London.

Buchard explains: ‘When it comes to interiors, our style is tight yet relaxed. We hate colours in abundance, and we despise mess. We always have big bouquets of white roses. Employees’ desks must be cleared completely after each day. And in that way, our furnishing actually reflects the way we work. Less is more and if you cut out everything non-essential, the essential will appear.’

Welcome to London.

www.stylecounsel.com

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 53

Photo: www.imagebank.sweden.se Š Henrik Trygg

Scan Magazine | Food | Wonderful Herring

54 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Scan Magazine | Food | Wonderful Herring

WONDERFUL HERRING

By Bronte Blomhoj

Man has been eating herring for over 5,000 years, but only recently did we discover that the herring’s main way of communicating is farting. Yes, the little silvery beauties, the pride of Scandinavian food culture, like to get together and pump out a few bubbles. Apparently herring use this as a form of communication with each other when swimming along. We’ve been enjoying these little fish longer than Bruce Forsythe has been on TV – and consume over two million tonnes of them a year – but it took a very long time to work out that they bear a stronger resemblance to us than we could ever have imagined...

The Vikings used to cook herring over the open stove; however, it was only in the Middle Ages that we started to pickle it in the form we know now. Much literature from around these times describes the Øresund straight between Sweden and Denmark as being so full of herring that ships got stuck in the fish – and while this may have been a slight exaggeration even back then, today it is still a widely available fish and one of the more environmentally responsible ones to eat. Eating herring is also great health wise: as it is an oily fish, it contains lots of omega 3s and fatty acids as well as a whole bucket load of vitamin B12 and loads of selenium. All round a really good friend to have.

Atlantic and Baltic herring. Just for the record: there is no herring called Red Herring – the “red” actually refers to the word “smoked” – and a smoked herring can be smelled from far away, which is why we often refer to a red herring as a false lead in a mystery. Herring is a popular fish in many corners of the world: aside from Scandinavian cuisine, herring is also very prominent in both Dutch and Jewish cuisines in the form of gefilte fish and rollmops. You also find herring prominent in UK cuisine: a baby herring is called whitebait and a smoked herring is called a kipper.

There are 15 different species of herring altogether, but those most commonly associated with Scandinavia are

A lot of people think that pickled herring is raw fish, but this is not strictly true. The fish is pickled and while eating

Today, pickled herring is still an immensely important part of Nordic food culture: rarely will you attend a Scandinavian lunch and not be offered some herring.

Mostly eaten on rye or crisp bread, pickled herring is presented in different forms: in mustard sauce, in curry sauce, with sliced raw onion, with new potatoes for Midsummer in Sweden, to name but a few: the Smörgåsbord would be terribly naked without it. On top of that, it is a great excuse to have a shot of ice-cold aquavit as this brings out the delicate flavours of the pickled fish.

Or hides it, depending on which side of the fence you’re on.

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 55

Scan Magazine | Food | Wonderful Herring

raw herring is a delicacy in some parts of Europe during spring, this is not part of Nordic herring heritage.

mustard herring. All definitely worth a try next time you want to impress with your Smörgåsbord.

To pickle herring the Scandinavian way, you need some good quality herring fillets (can be bought at your local fishmonger). Then you follow a somewhat complicated and exact two-step process in which the fillets are cured in salt and left overnight to get rid of excess water. The next day the fillets are rinsed and then added to a brine – a mixture of equal units of vinegar, water and sugar plus any flavourings you want (from sliced onions and bay leaf to peppercorns or other spices). This mixture is left for a week or so and voila: Pickled herring. The brine you use – and the size of fillets – determines the final flavour and texture. Dutch and German “rollmops” are traditionally a lot coarser and more sour than Scandinavian herring, largely due to the different way they are pickled.

Scandinavian Kitchen Curried Herring – Danish style

Today most people buy ready-pickled herring – in many different flavours. If you surf on the net you will find that some Scandinavians got so bored with the 73 flavours commonly available that they came up with recipes such as “banana herring” and “ketchup herring”. This is the equivalent of herring treason and is not a good look.

Some countries also have very specific herring recipes that date from way back – one of these is the Swedish “surströmming”, which is basically fermented herring.

The fillets are pickled in minimal salt to keep it from rotting then placed in barrels for a few weeks before being tinned. The pressure inside the tin builds up so much that just before the fish is ready to eat the tins are bulging because of the gasses inside. Several airlines have banned it on flights out of fear of tins exploding and covering everyone in fermented and stinky herring 30,000 feet up in the air. It smells so bad that you have to open the tins outdoors, but tastes divine. Surströmming is eaten with almond potatoes and tunnbröd, a Swedish soft flatbread.

While fermented herring might not appeal to all tastes and most of us are happy to leave the farting and nose-clip fermented herring to the fanatics, this sustainable and plentiful fish exists in a huge variety of pickled forms and flavours and there’s almost certainly a kind of Scandinavian herring to suit most sceptics – from the flavourful Danish curried herring to the sweeter Swedish

56 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

No Danish lunch table would be complete without pickled, curried herring, eaten on rye bread. It is also one of the biggest sellers at Scandi Kitchen - it seems once you've tasted it, you're hooked. Even people who thought they didn't like herring are into this one Ingredients: • 300 grams marinated herring fillets, bite size (a ready pickled jar is fine – we recommend using herring from Christians Ø if you can get it) • 1 dl white wine vinegar • 1 dl sugar • 1 bay leaf • 10 black peppercorn • 1 white onion • 3 tsp madras curry powder • 1 dl (100 ml) mayonnaise • 1 dl (100 ml) Greek yoghurt (or other good quality neutral yoghurt) Roast curry powder on warm, dry frying pan for a few minutes to release the flavour. Add sugar, vinegar, pepper, ½ onion and bay leaf and reduce.

Let the mixture cool off, then strain the reduction and mix in yoghurt and mayonnaise. Add herring fillets and the remaining ½ onion (finely chopped) and let this marinate in the fridge over night, minimum. Both flavour and colour will develop over time. Season with salt and pepper - taste can be adjusted with more curry/sugar/vinegar if desired.

Serve on rye or crisp bread with dill and a semi-soft boiled egg, diced apple and/or red onion slices.

(Recipe by Danish chef Tobias Wung-Sung at Scandinavian Kitchen ©2008)

Scan Magazine | Food | Restaurant of the Mont

Restaurant of the Month:

Deep in the Heart of the Harbour By: Lee-Ann Cameron | Photos: Holger Poten It was a warm September evening when I strolled along Imperial Wharf to arrive at Deep. The Jazz Festival was in full swing, filling the air with lively, upbeat tunes. So my guest and I decided to take our drinks onto the patio to enjoy the entertainment and atmosphere. Deep is in a unique location on the river that makes for a perfect meeting place. On Fridays, the chic minimalist designed restaurant hosts a ‘Happy Hour’ with special deals on selected drinks between 5 and 8pm as well as a Sushi Buffet from 6 to 8pm making it the perfect place for an office function or after-work drinks. In the summer, Deep boasts two Pommery Champagne terraces with views of the Thames. Furthermore, if any Scandinavian expatriates are looking for a taste of home, there is an impressive selection of Akvavit – nineteen different types to be exact!

Managed by the dynamic duo Christian and Kerstin Sandefeldt, Deep is loyal to its claim of providing innovative yet reasonably priced “food of the water to be enjoyed by the water”. Having lived in London for the last 15 years, the Sandefeldts built on their experience working at Le Gavroche, Daphne’s, The Landmark, and The Collection by opening The Aquarium in 1996 at St Katharine’s Dock, and culminating in the immensely successful Deep at Imperial Wharf. For dinner, my guest

started by ordering half a Devon crab and scraped every last morsel of the fresh, rich crabmeat out of the shell whilst I began my feast with a delicious tuna tartar embellished with chilli mayonnaise, arctic caviar and crispy squid. The wine we chose was Preece Chardonnay from Victoria, Australia, 2005 and it added a fruity, creamy taste to our meal that was strong enough to complement the food but did not overpower the other flavours. As a main course we enjoyed warm smoked trout with white asparagus, poached egg and truffle hollandaise and a very generous portion of steamed halibut with eggs, prawns, dill and horseradish in melted butter. The pièce de réstistance was the baked Alaska we had for dessert (also known, strangely, as a Norwegian omelette!) For those who have not experienced this wondrous culinary feat, it is composed of ice cream, sponge cake and sometimes fruit covered in a meringue that vaguely resembles a sugary iceberg!

If you are looking for great seafood and an exciting meal, look no further than Deep - in the heart of the harbour.

Deep Restaurant The Boulevard | Imperial Wharf | London SW6 2UB T: 0207 736 3337 | info@deeplondon.co.uk

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 57

Scan Magazine | Scan News

SCAN NEWS Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Re:invented Launch Party Almost 400 Members were present at the Chamber Re:invented launch party and season kick-off at Studio Valbonne on 10 September, supported by Nordea, Sony Ericsson, Danske Bank and Deutsche Bank.

The party was the launch of the Chamber's new profile and brought together sponsors, co-creators and other Members for a full programme of events. The night started with welcome drinks brought by Swedish vodka brand Cape North, supported by especially assigned mixologists. The Rat Pack's Back performed twice during the night to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin etc. Street dance company Boy Blue Entertainment performed an especially choreographed dance piece for the Chamber before the Secretariat itself entered the stage to the music of "You can't stop the beat". The grand finale of the Secretariat performance led to the revelation of the Chamber's new logo and website. A breathless Christina Liljestrรถm, Director, thanked all

Maija Salo, Ossi Laurila, Hanna Soini and Minna Woodward run the Finn-Guild office in Camden Town.

Busy Autumn at Finn-Guild Finn-Guild is promising its members a busy autumn.

The next big event is Welcome to Britain, an information day for newcomers on 25 October. The day includes

58 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

involved in the process and especially icDesign and Britny for working hard alongside the Chamber for months. www.scc.org.uk

short lectures about labour law, finding a job and about the psychological effects of moving to a new country. It gives participants the chance to share their experiences and to make new friends.

That is followed by Kielimuistikuvia on 4 November with actress Susanna Haavisto and playwright/director Satu Rasila. Satu and Susanna will help expatriates to release their own creativity through telling stories and through music.

Finn-Guild is the largest Finnish-British organisation with 16,000 members split evenly between the two countries. It promotes the Finnish language and culture in the UK, gives student grants, and organises and promotes various events every year. These events vary from Finnish tango courses and Kalevala shows to concerts and receptions.

Finn-Guild | Phone: 020 7387 3508 Email: mail@finn-guild.org | www.finn-guild.org

Scan Magazine | Scan News

Corren Troen wins Legal Advisers Class at Little Britain Challenge Cup 2008 Little Britain Challenge Cup is about sailing, team spirit and having a good time. If you appreciate a good splash of salty seawater and a boat leaning dangerously to one side then Little Britain Challenge Cup is for you.

respond quickly and precisely to the situations at hand.

That’s what it’s all about: team work and feeling good while you are achieving your goal.

This is the first time Corren Troen the Anglo-Danish law firm has taken part in this yearly event and definitely not the last. “Now we have a trophy to protect,” says a proud Paul Corren, “we can’t wait to get back and defend our title. Hopefully the X Yacht (Danish built, by the way) Blue Max and skipper Nigel will take us to victory again next year.”

When the team at Corren Troen is not charting their course across the high seas, they specialise in helping people from the Anglo-Nordic region with their business and personal lives. Their lawyers provide a real mix of corporate and commercial legal advice together with strategic off-shore tax planning for our many UK and international clients.

The Little Britain Challenge Cup has been a blustery, as well as enjoyable, experience for the Corren Troen team. Being on a boat is not that different from a day at the office. Everyone has a crucial role and needs to

New Kidsen Store in London No more getting grandma to post all those baby and children must haves. Scandinavian design, quality and style are now available for children here in London.

Kidsen UK’s first extensive Scandinavian Children store, has finally launched and you can pick up all the classic Brio toys , a huge Pippi Longstocking range and clothes by established Scandi brands like Norlie, Holly, Mini a Ture and Lille Barn. The shop hopes to cater for both the Scandinavian community in the UK, but also for those who are just looking for great quality and design in their children’s items. But best of all is that they will be one of only two London stockists to prelaunch what they are calling Sweden’s answer to the bugaboo – the Brio Go! Pop in for a ginger biscuit and mingle with other Scandi loving shoppers.

Kidsen, 111 Chamberlayne Rd, London NW10 3NS Telephone 0208 969 7565 www.kidsen.co.uk

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 59

Scan Magazine | Scan News

Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce helps Danish designers to the UK

The mission of the Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce is to promote trade between Denmark and the United Kingdom. On the 24th of September 2008 DUCC followed this mission to the letter and hosted an evening at the Royal Danish Embassy to promote Danish clothing and fashion to the UK. Successful panel participants were London-based Danish Designer Ms Louise Amstrup, experienced menswear buyer first from Harrods, then John Lewis Mr Carsten Skovgaard and previous and current Agent for Danish brands in the

UK James Haider. In addition to the interesting, entertaining and very valuable lessons presented guests, took the opportunity to mingle amongst fellow fashion designers, Danish brands established in the UK, companies considering export, agents, distributors and buyers from UK department stores. An interesting evening very much appreciated by the clothing and fashion industry.

For information on DUCC and future events please visit www.ducc.co.uk or email info@ducc.co.uk

Kinnarps Furniture Helps School Makeover As part of National School Environments Week, Kinnarps UK has donated a selection of items from its Educational Furniture range for a ‘makeover’ of Southfield Primary School in the London Borough of Ealing. Featured on BBC Breakfast, the makeover is one of a series of initiatives organised by the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) and is a pilot scheme for Ealing’s Primary Capital Programme.

“This was more than simply donating furniture to a worthy cause, we are also demonstrating how a flexible range of well-designed furniture can enhance the educational environment,” explained Marc Bird, marketing manager Kinnarps UK. “Traditional furniture for schools tends to restrict activities and has failed to keep pace with changes in teaching best practice.”

Charlie Morris, headteacher at the 100 year old school, commented: “This has been a brilliant experience

60 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

for the children – and the results are just amazing.

It shows how spaces can be changed and adapted to make them work better for teaching and learning.

Our thanks go to all those who gave freely of their time and resources to contribute to this wonderful project."

As a member of BCSE, Kinnarps UK is playing an active role in helping future school environments to enhance the learning experience, rather than impose limitations on what can be achieved.

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The Norwegian Minister of Education opens a new, stunning playground A new Scandinavian playground was opened in the Norwegian School in London in September 2008.

A playground which mixes freeform elements of adventure play, with the geometric shapes of fixed play equipment. Nature play environments with outdoor teaching facilities and PE with free play. Bård Vegar Solhjell, the Norwegian Minister of Education, opened the playground. The evening also consisted of several Music and Cultural performances, including The Norwegian Schools own rockband, Ha-Young Jung, and The Commander-in-Chief.

The Norwegian School in London was established in 1981, and ever since then it has been the natural choice for Norwegian families living in London.

The school now has an excellent play area and an inviting outdoor arena, which appeal to the entire spectrum of ages from 3 to 16 years old.

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 61

Scan Magazine | Scan News

Young Danish artist on his way to the top

By Torben Juul

Despite his young age of only 28, the Danish painter Martin Krohn Helm is increasingly attracting the attention of art lovers. Martin’s style is figurative abstract using bold colours. The style is unique and the themes he works with are often very imaginative.

‘Baggårdskatte’ (Backyard cat), ‘Emils første skoledag’ (Emil’s first day at school) and other paintings demonstrate the odd perspectives he’s fond of using as motifs. It’s his ability to combine and mix contrasting colours to naturally form a whole that has particularly captured many people’s interest.

Martin himself says: “Placing the colours next to each other and then letting them take hold of or repel each other is fascinating. It’s a balance, a dance if you like. Just like many of my motifs. For instance, why is there a cat lying on some eggs and why are there children inside the eggs? Is there a meaning in that? There is for me.”

Martin started up his own art gallery when he was 23, but after a couple of years he stopped promoting other artists as this took up too much of his time. A year ago he began collaborating with a small gallery in Bogense on Funen, where he lives. ‘Café 44’ is the name of the gallery, which boasts a café, theatre and of course artwork. In November and December he will be showing his work at the gallery

62 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

once more, while also featuring in a couple of exhibitions organised by Danish art associations.

“I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember,” he says.

“Hardly a day has gone by without me sketching or working on canvas. Painting is a very intensive experience for me, and I prefer to do it at night if I can to avoid too many disturbances.” Pricewise, Martin’s paintings have not yet reached the expensive end of the market. His works on canvas can be bought for between DKK 6,000 and 12,000, whilst his works on paper cost around DKK 2,500.

“Quite a few people have asked me if I’m going to put up the prices,” says Martin, “but I’d rather my pictures were something that anyone can afford. Especially when there are lots of younger people who’d love to have one of mine on their wall, and that’s where I’d like my pieces to be hanging,” he smiles.

This winter will see a few more exhibitions of work by Martin, who also goes by the name Hemmingsen. Finally, there is yet another seal of approval on the way for Martin: a major feature article in the Danish journal ‘Kunstnyt’ (Art today).

If you’d like to see more of Martin Krohn Helm’s artwork, go to www.cafe44.dk.

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Scandinavian Culture Calendar – Where to go, what to see? It’s all happening here this Autumn!

ONGOING EVENTS

Just Swedish - craft exhibition at Flow Gallery in London (10Sep - 31 Oct) In the early 20th century, Swedish craft was influenced by function. Today a new generation of makers is exploring boundaries between art, design and craft. This exhibition, co-curated by Mats Jansson of Nääs Konsthantverk in Sweden, brings seven artists together, working in different materials showing the diversity in Swedish Crafts. www.flowgallery.co.uk

Liverpool Biennial: Norwegian contemporary art (20Sep - 30Nov) Norwegian artist, Maren Juell Kristensen’s exhibition ‘art will absolve me’ revolves around ‘doing the right thing’ and what happens when the terrible is neutralised, or is seen as beautiful from a distance. She uses video, both for storytelling and as a physical presence of light. The exhibition consists of four video pieces and four watercolour series, where the installation and objectification is as important as the content. Location : NICE08: FIVE NORDIC WOMEN, Novas CUC, Greenland Street, Liverpool UK, www.biennial.com Liverpool Biennial: Otto Karvonen (20 Sep - 30 Nov) Finnish artist Otto Karvonen is one of 35 artists invited to take part in MADE UP. In a series of signs which cross personal observation with the formal language of street signage, Karvonen will distribute humorous and playful instructions around the city. Based on interviews with Liverpool residents, Karvonen’s signs are designed to capture urban realities and interpretations, emphasising the multitude

of perspectives from which a city can be viewed. Location: Various venues in Liverpool City Centre.

Liverpool Biennial: Jesper Just (20 Sep - 30 Nov) Danish artist/film-maker Jesper Just new film was commissioned for MADE UP. The film Romantic Delusions is shot in the Romanian cities Bucharest and Constantza and explores how personal relationships are mirrored at socially and political. He has created a unique cinematic language, which is deeply informed by film history. www.biennial.com & www.jesperjust.com

Danish Band TV-2 in London Danish band TV-2 will be playing at the famous Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on November 1st, 2008. It is the fifth time the band will play at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and furthermore it is their only concert this Fall.

Starting out in the early eighties playing the minimalist new rock of that time the band TV-2 developed into a unique brand in Danish rock. Their music has its roots in rock with a style that is simple but sharp, and with lyrics that have gotten more and more complex over the years.

Still, listening to the songs you will discover a playful and yet disciplined ambiguity, which has changed into a more raw kind of sensitivity lately. TV-2 has maintained a high level of quality, and albums like "Rigtige mænd" (Real Men), "Vi bli'r alligevel aldrig voksne" (We'll Never Grow Up Anyway) and "Nærmest lykkelig" (Almost Happy) have

been an important addition to Danish rock with songs that reflect the times we live in.

The concert has been organised by The Danish YWCA in London, The Danish Church and The Danish Club. The three organisations team up regularly to present concerts in London, most recently Kim Larsen in May 2008 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Tickets are £25 (standing) and £35 (seated) and can be purchased on www.ticketweb.co.uk. www.tv-2.dk

Issue 3 | Autumn 2008 | 63

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar objects, has used William Morris fabric to transform an 18th century stairwell in Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.

Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm (Thurs. until 8pm), £6.50 adults, £2 children, £3.50 students Location: Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TJ, West Sussex (Tel: 01243 774557), info@pallant.org.uk, www.pallant.org.uk

Ulf Stark's play Can You Whistle, Johanna?

(24 Sep - 14 Mar) Ulf Stark's classic play about friendship, change and loss adapted by Nick Wood tours schools in Britain this autumn. Can You Whistle, Johanna? tells of a little boy who goes to an old people's home to look for a grandfather. Funny and poignant, the play explores the bond that grows between a child and the man who becomes his adopted grandfather. (Age range: 8-11 years) To make a booking, please call Kitty Parker on 0115 873 6203 or email: kittyp@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

Jens Haaning hits ‘The Street’ (11 Sep - 2Nov) The Danish conceptual artist Jens Haaning has created a new work for Whitechapel Gallery’s 12-month art project ‘The Street’. A clock set to Baghdad time is mounted to the side of a Brick Lane restaurant, thus acting as a reminder of a situation occurring in another time zone. The artwork highlights economic and diplomatic relations between the UK and Iraq.

Baghdad Time 2008, Location: Sheraz Bangla Lounge, 13 Brick Lane, London E1 6PU

OCTOBER Danish movie: FLAMMEN OG CITRONEN (23 Oct 7.30pm) Drama/action-movie (2008) by Ole Christian Madsen. This movie tells the story of “Flammen” and “Citronen”, active members of the Danish WW2 resistance who lost their lives.

Food is available from 18.30 (£5.50) – pre-order necessary. Location: The Danish Church, 4 St. Katharine’s Precinct, Regent’s Park, NW1 4HH (Tel 020 7935 7584), www.danskekirke.org

Gateshead Nordic Festival (15 Nov - 10 Jan) The local Finnish community is participating in this Nordic feast of theatre, dance, music, films, exhibitions and other arts. Tickets can be purchased from Gateshead Nordic Festival Box Offices.

Nico Widerberg exhibition at new Kings Place Gallery (1 Oct - 28 Nov) Norway's most distinguished sculptor, Nico Widerberg, inaugurates King’s Place Gallery with a one man show 'Past in Future' of largeand small-scale sculptures in granite and glass. Widerberg has exhibited throughout Europe, as well as the US and comes from one of Norway’s most distinguished artistic families. Kings place Gallery (Mon-Sat 10am7.30pm; Sun 11am-6.30pm), Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG. Admission Free (Tel: 0207 520 1485) Installation - Nina Saunders (until Spring 2009) Danish artist Nina Saunders, who works principally with textiles, furniture and found

64 | Issue 3 | Autumn 2008

Mystery of the Wolf (25 Oct 11:00-12:30) First Light Young Jury Award winner for Best Feature at the London Children's Festival 2007.

This eco-action film is a mixture of chases, stunning wildlife and fantastic characters. 12year-old Salla discovers a family of wolves under threat from local hunters and enlists her friend Matias's help to protect them. Subtitles read aloud.

Place: London. Street address: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2 (Tel 020 7638 8891). Links: www.barbican.org.uk Alphabeat UK Tour (20 Oct – 11 Nov) Alphabeat is being praised as perhaps knocking Aqua off the charts as Denmark’s

most successful music export. Irresistible and irrepressible happy tunes! www.myspace.com/thisisalphabeat

Those Dancing Days (21 Oct 2008) Those Dancing Days are an indie pop band with Northern Soul and girl-group influences, from Nacka, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, formed in 2005. The band consists of five young girls from Stockholm. Their name derives from the Led Zeppelin song "Dancing Days". They were nominated for the Best Swedish Act prize at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007. 21/10 at KCLSU, London.

MADCON (Oct-Dec) Norwegian hip hop duo Madcon went straight to number 7 in the UK singles chart with their track ‘Beggin’. It was a #1 hit in their homeland. Check their UK performances on the website. www.madcon.co.uk

NOVEMBER Danish comedian in London (11 Nov 8pm) The popular Danish comedian Anders Matthesen aka “Anden” opened his new standup show on the 1st August in Copenhagen and tours Denmark in 2008. The Danish YWCA, The Danish Club and The Danish Church have convinced “The Duck” that his tour would be incomplete without a visit to London.

Location: 11th Nov 20.00, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Tickets: £25. Bookings through YWCA 020 7435 7232 or www.ticketsource.co.uk/danskkfuk

Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar

Strindberg’s

CREDITORS

Now showing at the Donmar Warehouse, an awardwinning theatre located in London’s West End, is Strindberg’s CREDITORS in a new version by David Greig.

Anxiously awaiting the return of his new wife, Adolf finds solace in the words of a stranger. But comfort soon turns to destruction as old wounds are opened, insecurities are laid bare and former debts are settled. Regarded as Strindberg’s most mature work, Creditors is a darkly comic tale of obsession, honour and revenge. This production continues the Donmar’s commitment to presenting European drama in new adaptations for a modern audience.

Creditors is directed by Alan Rickman with a cast including Tom Burke, Anna Chancellor, Owen Teale.

Creditors is now playing until 15 November. To Book 0870 060 6624 | www.donmarwarehouse.com

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Scan Magazine | Culture Calendar Raivio & Kulju at NICE08, Liverpool (20 Nov – 30 Nov) NICE08 is a combined arts festival presenting the best in collaborative works between the UK and the Nordic countries.

Raivio & Kulju are two Helsinki-based Finnish designers Päivi Raivio and Veera Kulju. The duo operates in the field of experimental design and art, seeking communication between space, object and interaction with viewers.

Location: Liverpool Christmas Market at the Swedish Church in London (20, 22, 23 Nov) Tickets: £1 (children free) Opening times: Thursday 20, 11–20, Saturday 22, 11–18, Sunday 23,13–17. Location: Swedish Church in London, 6 Harcourt Street, London W1H 4AG. Norwegian Christmas Market, (21 - 22 Nov) Visit the Norwegian Christmas Market and get a taste of the Norwegian Christmas spirit.

Plenty of food, clothing and Christmas decorations. 21st Nov (11-18) & 22nd Nov (10-17) Finnish Christmas Fair (21 Nov - 29 Nov) Once a year The Finnish Church becomes like a department store filled with Finnish design, glass and ceramics, wooden products, food, confectionary, Christmas decorations and cards, jewellery and a grand raffle with excellent prizes. Location: 33 Albion Street, London SE16 (Tel 020 7237 1261)

IDA MARIA (4 Nov – 27 Nov) Ida Maria has been in the top UK charts for some weeks now. Her voice is an ululating yelp speckled with gravelly grunts, and pours from the elfin Norwegian's throat as she clings to the mic stand. Go see her on her UK Autumn tour. See her in London 27th November.

Ticket for the whole evening including dinner is £29 (book before 20th November); Concert and Party £8 in advance, £10 at the door; Party only £4 in advance, £5 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased from Gateshead Nordic Festival Box Offices. Location: Mansion House, Fernwood Road, Jesmond, Newcastle

SCENE NORWAY (14-22 Nov) Scene Norway is a mini-festival within the London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3. The event opens with the world premiere of new commissions by UK saxophonist and composer Iain Ballamy and Norwegian electronics artist Jan Bang. For tickets, Kings Place 0844 264 0321 www.kingsplace.co.uk or London Jazz Festival www.serious.org.uk

Finnish Independence Day celebrations (06 Dec, 6-10pm) Come and celebrate the Finnish Independence Day at the Finnish Church - you can also watch the live TV broadcast from the Palace of the President of Finland. Location: London, 33 Albion Street, SE16 (020 7237 1261) www.finnishchurch.org.uk

Heidi Mortenson (20 Nov, 7pm) Heidi Mortenson is at the forefront of the experimental pop scene. As a one-woman band Heidi is full of surprises. Sultry, silly, soulful and playful. See her at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London and check out www.myspace.com/heidimortenson Speaker Bite Me (20 Nov, from 8pm) Originating from the Copenhagen underground in the mid 90s, Speaker Bite Me, their sound is playful, loud, soft, political, personal. This concert includes Action Painting, choir and percussionists. Watch them at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, London

Danish Christmas Market 2008 (29 Nov, 12-5pm; 30th Nov, 12-4pm) Take part in this annual tradition and experience the real Danish Christmas spirit.

This year’s Danish Christmas Market will take place at the Danish YWCA in Hampstead.

Location: 43 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5TF

Cellist Anssi Karttunen (16 Dec, 7.30-9pm) Oliver Knussen conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Martin Owen (Horn) and Anssi Karttunen (cello).

Place : London. Street address: Barbican Hall, Silk Street, London EC2 (Tel 0845 120 7596). www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/symphonyorchesta I'm From Barcelona will be back in the UK in November (24 Nov - 26 Nov) I'm from Barcelona is a pop group from Jönköping, Sweden, with 30 members and eclectic mix of instruments including clarinets, saxophones, banjos, accordions, kazoos, and keyboards among others. Emanuel Lundgren is founder, principal songwriter and lead singer for the group. 25 Nov at Scala, London.

DECEMBER Hanoi Rocks (31 Oct 10 – 5 Nov) Loud and proud, flamboyant and full of attitude. Finnish rockers are still going strong!

31.10 London, Astoria. Check online at www.hanoirocks.com for other venues.

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Traditional Finnish Christmas preparations (13 and 20 Dec) 13/12/2008 14.00-16.00; Come and enjoy an afternoon of traditional Finnish Christmas songs, glögg and Christmas shop.

20/12/2008 14.00-16.00; Finnish Christmas Carol Concert (Southwark Cathedral). Tickets available from the Finnish Church from October.

Location: London, 33 Albion Street, SE16 (020 7237 1261), www.finnishchurch.org.uk

Finnish Independence Day Party (6 Dec) 6pm, 3 Course Celebration Dinner, 8pm Concert with Finnish baritone Jaakko Kortekangas and pianist Ilkka Paananen, 10pm to midnight.

TINA DICO UK TOUR (1 Dec -10 Dec) Tina Dico has just received the prestigious Culture Prize Award in her home country Denmark. She will be touring UK in December with her amazing new album. See her live at The Union Chapel on the 10th of December.

Be quick, tickets run fast. www.tinadico.com Apocalyptica (2 Dec – 12 Dec) There aren't many rock bands on this planet that wouldn't like to be regarded as unique: Finland's Apocalyptica deserves it more than most. Utterly original, these classically-trained merchants of genre-shattering metal sound quite unlike anything else in musical history.

Playing in: check them out online at www.apocalyptica.com.

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