VICTORIA NEWSPAPER

S P R I N G/ S U M M E R 2016 ISSUE

Best foot forward Why SW1 has given Jimmy Choo’s creative director a spring in her step, plus shopping, eating, activities and all the latest changes afoot in Victoria

WHAT ’ S HAPPENING IN VIC TORIA

NEWS & VIEWS

T H E L AT E S T R E S TAU R A N T O P E N I N G S A N D R E S I D E N T I A L D E V E LO P M E N T S I N S W 1 , P L U S D E TA I L S O F G U I D E D T O U R S I N T H E A R E A A N D T H E C H A N C E T O W I N A L U X U RY S PA D AY

COMPETITION

A FA N TA S T I C D AY F O R T W O AT G R A C E B E L G R AV I A

Help at hand COMMUNITIES

Grace Belgravia is London’s leading health, wellbeing and lifestyle club for women, built around the philosophy that to thrive today we need to invest in our greatest asset: our health.

This elegant private members’ club is split into four specialist areas: a state-of-the-art gym, spa, restaurant and a medical and wellbeing clinic – the latter two being available to both men and women. With so much available under one roof, Grace Belgravia offers a full-body MOT, with emphasis on ‘inside-out beauty’. Whether it’s arranging a bespoke detox package, a high-octane fitness class or a personal-training session, its expert team of internationally recognised medical experts, health practitioners and therapists together ensure your goals are achieved. Nutrition also plays a key role in the ethos of the Club. Enjoy an array of expertly balanced meals and juices throughout

Homelessness was an issue at the heart of many Land Securities volunteering initiatives in 2015.

Activities throughout the year culminated in the inaugural Victoria Carol Concert, which raised an incredible £13,000 for local charities The Passage and The Cardinal Hume Centre. Meanwhile, a group of young people from the area dipped their toes into the business world by pitching ideas for food stalls to Land Securities ‘dragons’, while the Land Securities’ Property Development Programme introduced A-level students to the property industry through helpful workshops.

“

the day – proving that healthy certainly does not have to mean bland.

In this issue, we’re offering you the chance to win the ultimate body spring-clean with a Grace Spa Day Package for two. This amazing prize – worth over £1,000 – includes access to Grace and full use of the facilities, as well as a 90-minute Grace Signature Massage or Facial, plus a Graceful Hands & Sole manicure and pedicure. We’ll even throw in a two-course meal at The Grace Restaurant & Bar with a complimentary glass of champagne or juice – depending on how naughty or nice you feel on the day.

Visit createvictoria.com/gracebelgraviacomp and enter your contact details for your chance to win this fabulous prize.

You’ll find full terms and conditions there, too.

Victoria is a fantastic place, and things have got better and better over time. It seems like every week there’s a new shop or restaurant. You don’t really need to go anywhere else – everything is on your doorstep.

”

LO R R A I N E KE LLY

25 FACT

ANG E L A H OO PE R PL ACE SW1 THE NUMBER OF YEARS’ SERVICE G IVEN BY THE L AT E W E S T M I N S T E R COUNCILLOR . A NEW P L A Q U E C O M M E M O R AT I N G H E R D E D I C AT I O N H A S BEEN ERECTED IN THE P U B L I C S PA C E B E T W E E N K I N G S G AT E A N D T H E ZIG Z AG BUILDING, AND THE STREET HAS BEEN RENAMED ANGELA HOOPER PL ACE IN HER HONOUR.

SOC IAL MEDIA

TRE NDING NOW ON T WIT TER, WE ASKED FOR YOUR FAVOURITE FASHION STORES IN THE VICTORIA AREA. HERE'S WHAT YOU SAID:

‘Can’t go wrong with Zara for choice, plus M&S still does the best basics.’

RESTAURANTS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Exciting names in the culinary world have been confirmed for Nova, Victoria, due to open later this year. First up, Jamie Oliver will open a branch of his barbecue-steakhouse Barbecoa in the development, marking his second restaurant in the SW1 area following the launch of Jamie’s Italian last year. Joining him will be Franco Manca, the popular mini-chain slowly taking over London thanks to its delicious sourdough pizzas. Finally, Daisy Green heralds London’s latest food craze: Aussie brunch.

Forks at the ready.

@ DixonRochester

‘Is @FARAcharityshop’s retromania allowed?

It’s rescued me from many a jam before.’

RESIDENCES

On tour EXPLORING

Spring is finally in bloom, so now’s the best time to get back on the exercise bandwagon.

Evidence suggests regular brisk walks can be as good as jogging – if not better. Get out and discover the ins-and-outs of SW1 with a guided Blue Badge tour led by Land Securities’ Community Liaison Jonathan Alabaster. This fun and informal tour explores the changing face of Victoria, and takes place on a monthly basis. For more information and to book your place, email Jonathan at communityliaisonvictoria@ landsecurities.com.

BLOCK STAR S When it launches later this year, Nova, Victoria will be more than just London’s hottest new food quarter – it will also be its most prestigious new address, The Nova Building. The development is set to become home to 170 luxury apartments, with residents able to enjoy a host of VIP amenities, including 24-hour concierge, a private cinema and gym, plus communal roof terrace. The new building is the product of a collaboration between cuttingedge practices PLP Architecture, Benson + Forsyth and Flanagan Lawrence, and the apartments have been beautifully designed using the finest materials. novasw1.com/thenovabuilding

DEVELOPMENTS

MOVING ON UP Nova, Victoria is starting to take shape as we enter the exciting final stages. The mixed-use development is due to launch later this year. Progress is being made, with the main floors and ceilings now installed at Nova North and South, while the 170 luxury apartments at The Nova Building have all now been fitted with kitchens.

WELCOME S P R I N G/ S U M M E R 2016 ISSUE

Best foot forward Why SW1 has given Jimmy Choo’s creative director a spring in her step, plus shopping, eating, activities and all the latest changes afoot in Victoria

SANDRA CHOI, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT JIMMY CHOO, WAS PHOTOGRAPHED EXCLUSIVELY AT THE KINGS GATE PENTHOUSE

Welcome to the VICTORIA newspaper – your regular update on the transformation of SW1. The district is fast becoming one of London’s most desirable places to live, work, shop and dine, and is attracting an influx of new businesses. One of the area’s most recent inhabitants is high-octane ‘anti-gym’ mini-chain Gymbox, which opened its eighth London outlet at 123 Victoria Street. Also new in town is Southern-style cocktail bar and barbecue restaurant Low, Slow & Juke, which you’ll find on Abbey Orchard Street, just off Victoria Street.

On the subject of food, the Nova, Victoria development will cement Victoria’s burgeoning reputation as London’s hottest food quarter when it launches later this year. The diverse array of culinary talent and cuisines confirmed for Nova, Victoria is a reflection of how the average Londoner’s palate is becoming increasingly ambitious. Elsewhere, the recently launched Kings Gate is a landmark new residential building in Victoria. Kings Gate cleverly blends contemporary architecture with exquisite bespoke interiors to create something brand new. It provides further evidence of Land Securities’ continuing investment in Victoria as a place to live, work, shop, dine and enjoy.

Sign up to the Victoria newsletter at createvictoria.com for the latest news and events

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

G E T T Y I M AG ES

@Dick _ Mellor

Head over heels C OV E R S TO RY

WOR DS PE TE R H OWARTH

ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SHOE BR ANDS IS NOW H E A D Q U A R T E R E D I N S W 1 . S A N D R A C H O I , C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R O F J I M M Y C H O O , R E V E A L S W H Y S H E ’ S FA L L E N I N L O V E W I T H V I C T O R I A

S

andra Choi still remembers the day she was given a pair of white patent Mary Janes and realised she loved shoes. She was six years old. ‘It was like, “Oh, high-heeled shoes? I get to wear my own pair of heels?”’ she says. ‘It was Chinese New Year and you always get a new outfit and shoes. I felt so grown-up.

And that was a light-bulb moment.’

It may have been a little-girl thing, but, says Choi, now 43, shoes still have an effect on her: ‘They change a character instantly. The way you think, your posture, the way you take on whatever you’re doing. The whole persona.’

Of course, grown-up women love shoes, too. Especially when they come from Jimmy Choo, the label Choi designs for and has been associated with since its launch by her Uncle Jimmy in the mid-1990s. Though extremely modest, even Choi has to admit that, when women talk of Jimmy Choo, ‘their eyes light up’.

She says: ‘There’s a magic to the name.’

Born on the Isle of Wight and raised in Hong Kong, Choi moved to London, aged 13, to live with her Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Rebecca. She talks of how she learnt her trade: ‘I just picked it up, hands-on. I was helping out in the studio while doing an art foundation at Central Saint Martins. I was making tea and learning, and I was fascinated – I like creating things.’

Mr Jimmy Choo, a Malaysian shoemaker who had started a small, exclusive business making couture shoes for high-society ladies, really is Choi’s uncle, and she is clearly fond of him. ‘He’s charming,’ she says and smiles in an artless way that is not a little charming itself.

The teenager lapped up the comings and goings at the workshop in Hackney and soon began sketching and designing shoes, having decided not to pursue her fashion-degree course after all. In 1996, the brand as we know it today was established, when the first Jimmy Choo store opened on Motcomb Street,

Chelsea. Its high-class clientele would come to choose shoes to match their couture dresses; Choi remembers Diana, Princess of Wales – a regular customer – popping in, and recalls her realisation that even members of the royal family keep an eye out for parking wardens.

Since then, the business has grown into a global phenomenon, offering its customers not just women’s shoes, but also bags and accessories, as well as an equivalent range of products for men. The expansion was helped along by what Choi describes as the Sex and the City years (the brand was memorably namechecked in the TV series when Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw cried, ‘Wait! I lost my Choo!’). Today, with 140 stores in more than 30 countries, and a reputation for dressing everyone from Cate Blanchett to Beyoncé on the red carpet, plus the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge and First Lady Michelle Obama off it, Jimmy Choo has come to mean, in the words of Choi, ‘evening-dressy, sexy, glamorous’. And, of course, ‘heels’ – though she is keen to stress that she also designs flats and trainers, which she wears herself when she is on the school run or working in her studio.

That studio is now at Land Securities’ 123 Victoria Street, opposite, where Jimmy Choo has the top three floors. As creative director, Choi is on the seventh, with floor-to-ceiling windows that afford a 360° vista of the capital.

‘I have a view of all the seasons. London is incredible at the moment – there’s sun, rain and wind, all in the space of an hour. And the light!’ she enthuses. ‘I deliberately made sure my table faced the window so I can look up and dream and be proud of living in this city.’

The brand moved to SW1 from Kensington.

Choi says, ‘As I walk up the street from the station, I’m really in business mode because everybody’s going somewhere. You feel, “Oh, I’m in the city”.’ And that energy is important to her: ‘London’s so special – it’s cosmopolitan, it’s cultural, it’s green. There’s a buzz of creativity.

And that’s my backdrop, my inspiration.’

That buzz is certainly evident in Victoria: even in the relatively short time it has been the base for Jimmy Choo, the area has undergone a considerable transformation. ‘It’s definitely

changing – there are more shops now, more variety, and the work going on is tremendous.

Over the time we’ve been here, two more buildings have gone up. But it doesn’t change the essential spirit of the place – you’re still in London, with characterful backstreets and traditional pubs. That Englishness is precious.’

In many ways, the views from her office, she says, epitomise London’s 21st-century character, with its combination of old and new.

This is something she values, and from which she feels all her design studios – women’s, men’s and accessories – benefit. They also benefit from being in a building she says still feels like a treat, and the move to Victoria has been great for the label from a positioning point of view: ‘This is very luxurious,’ she says, and marvels that they are in ‘a beautiful serviced office with facilities’ and ‘have to use swipe cards to get in’, and ‘the lifts call themselves’.

So, what should we be looking out for from Jimmy Choo this season? ‘Patterns. And lower heels,’ says Choi. Her spring/summer line is all about Los Angeles: ‘I wanted to create something happy, positive and glamorous, all at the same time. Every time I land in LA, I feel, phew, I can breathe, and there’s sunshine, and I can do whatever I want. And the architecture is amazing – Frank Gehry’s work was a reference, too.’ One result of this is the ‘Merry’, Choi’s favourite shoe of the collection: a clog with a simple suede upper, finished with gold-stud detail all the way round and a glitter Plexiglas heel. ‘It’s very glamorous, but laid-back and fun, too. It’s not super-high, but the glamour’s there in the glitter and studs.’

One place Choi might be found wearing her Merrys locally is the red-brick Westminster Cathedral, which she can see out of her studio window. ‘It’s incredible,’ she says. ‘Whenever you need some quiet time, it’s a good place to think and get some perspective.’ She bemoans the fact she doesn’t really have time to go to the Curzon cinema across the road, but she does like Iris & June: ‘They make great coffee.

And I also like The Phoenix pub.’ Her drink of choice? ‘Vodka tonic with a dash of lime.’

So, now you know what to buy her, should you bump into her there!

P H OTO G R A P H S C O U RT ESY O F J I M M Y C H O O; S H OT AT T H E P EN T H O U S E , K I N G S GAT E , S W 1 – LU X U RY A PA RT M EN T S BY L A N D S EC U R I T I ES , O P P O S I T E

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

I CAN ’ T LIV E WITHOUT...

L O R R A I N E K E L LY P I C K S H E R T H R E E FAV O U R I T E P L A C E S I N S W 1 T O E AT, S H O P A N D E X E R C I S E

DINNER

IBÉRICA

DAV I D V EN N I/C H I L L I M ED I A ; A L A M Y

Victoria Street

I really like the new Ibérica restaurant. I’ve tried tapas all over Spain, but the best I've had is here. The food is amazing, the wine wonderful and the waiters all really knowledgeable.

And it has such a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. ibericarestaurants.com

AT HOME WITH...

LORRAINE KELLY INTERVIE W GEMMA BILLINGTON

T H E Q U E E N O F DAY T I M E T V TA L K S L E S S O N S L E A R N T O N T H E J O B , LO S I N G I T OV E R G EO RG E M I C H A E L A N D T H E J OYS O F L I V I N G I N V I C TO R I A

FITNESS

MAXINE JONES Great Smith Street

So, how long have you been based in Victoria?

About 10 years. The reason we chose this area is it’s very close to my work, which is really important when you’re getting up early. We also noticed how much the neighbourhood was improving. It’s a fantastic place and things have just got better and better over time – it seems as if there’s a new shop or restaurant opening every week! You don’t need to go anywhere when you live here – everything’s on your doorstep.

And what, in your view, makes Victoria a great place to live?

I adore living here – it really suits me. I love the area’s cosmopolitan feel and that there are people from all walks of life here. It’s so vibrant and there’s always lots to do. I walk everywhere and SW1 is such a great base. I like the fact I can go one way and there I am in Victoria Street, with all its hustle and bustle, yet if I walk out of the flat and head in another direction, it’s actually really quiet.

You’ve had an amazing career on breakfast TV, spanning more than 30 years. What’s your morning routine?

I get up at 5am, which is not too bad. Because I live so close to work, it’s only a 10-minute commute. From the back seat of the car that collects me every morning, I skim through the front pages for my newspaper review. I do my prep the night before and try to work out a structure for the interviews, but I have to be flexible because I never know which way they’re going to go. I know I’m very lucky and I never take it for granted.

My job is so varied: one minute I'm talking to a gorgeous A-lister like Hugh Jackman, and the next, discussing the crisis in Syria. I think that’s why I still love doing it. In fact, I’m probably having a better time now than I ever have.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learnt in your career?

Do your homework – you might only be talking to someone for six or seven minutes, but you have to put the work in. And be prepared for anything – it’s live television and you never know what will happen.

You’re such a natural, both in front of the camera and in the way you interact with people. Is that all down to experience?

No, I’m just very lucky that, in my role, I’m allowed to be myself.

There aren’t many shows that allow you to do that, to be honest. I’m completely at home on telly and always have been. It’s such a massive privilege doing my job – you get to meet such fascinating people.

Speaking of which, you’ve interviewed a huge number of A-listers in your time. Do you ever get star-struck?

Oh, gosh – all the time! I remember when George Michael was on the show and he was sitting in the make-up room and his PA came along and asked if I wanted to say hello. I wanted to be all sophisticated, but I went bright red and said, ‘I really love you!’

What are you looking forward to in 2016?

My daughter is graduating this year and I’m just beside myself about that. She’s studying journalism in Edinburgh at the moment.

I don’t know what she’s going to do yet – and she doesn’t have a clue!

– but I’m so proud of her. That’s definitely going to be the highlight of the year for me. Otherwise, I just want to keep doing what I’m doing with the show, and I’m very keen to travel more, whether that’s with a camera or doing some writing, perhaps – or, indeed, just experiencing it.

Living in Victoria is how I discovered my favourite exercise class, run by Maxine Jones.

She’s now part of our gang on TV and we’ve just released an exercise DVD together, which has topped the fitness DVD charts. maxinejones.zumba.com

SHOPPING

VICTORIA STREET SW1

Everything you could possibly want is here in Victoria – it’s like a wee village now. I did most of my Christmas shopping last year just on Victoria Street. I go to Marks & Spencer, Topshop, Mango and Zara, among others. createvictoria.com

Apartments of the highest specification, on the doorstep of Buckingham Palace, and at the centre of one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods.

N O VA S W1. C O M / T H E N O VA B U I L D I N G

020 7409 8756 newhomes@savills.com

020 7861 5499 james.cohen@knightfrank.com

N OVA , V I C T O R I A

CRE ATION STORY WORDS CHRIS MADIGAN

W H E N N OVA , V I C TO R I A L AU N C H E S L AT E R T H I S Y E A R , I T W I L L P L AY H O S T TO A P I O N E E R I N G P U B L I C- A RT T R A I L T H AT P RO M I S E S TO B E A S A R R E S T I N G A S I T S A RC H I T EC T U R E

ROYA L C O L L EC T I O N T RU S T/© H ER M A J ES T Y Q U EEN EL IZ A B E T H I I 2 0 1 5; TAT E/© K EI T H A R N AT T ES TAT E/ N I K I TA S H ERG I L L

W

Qureshi’s piece is a series of ‘mindscapes’, inspired hen Nova, Victoria opens this autumn, by conversations with people who live and work in the visual impact of the development Victoria, created out of plaster and brick dust like will be thanks to a collaboration between a cross between SW1 and Mars, and displayed in developer Land Securities, lead architect Lee glass cases. ‘Instead of battling with the scale of the Polisano, other architectural and design firms, and buildings, the vitrines will reach beyond the physical many specialist contractors. into people’s thoughts and dreams and memories,’ One more element will require collaboration, Morey-Burrows explains. too: the art displayed in and around the buildings.

The choice of Russian-born Neelova is a reflection Artworks have become an important part of the of another aspect of Land Securities’ commitment to public space of contemporary developments, making the arts. The rising star is a former recipient of the a creative statement to match that of the architecture, company’s Graduate Studio Award. Each year, since and enriching the experience of those passing.

From top Saad Qureshi’s wood-and-cement ‘Other Crescents Other Moons’; 2007, the scheme has provided three graduating Land Securities has collaborated with Patrick ‘Partings’: Nika Neelova’s concrete and burnt-timber door casts artists with a bursary, plus a studio for 12 months, to Morey-Burrows of the ArtSource consultancy help them get off the ground. Her installation is a collection of with Morey-Burrows presenting a long-list for the team and since 2006. He’s been very busy, because public art has entrances, or exits, reproduced from doors around London. architect to consider. ‘The artwork has to have a reason to been an important part of the company’s revitalisation of ‘It’s an interesting idea, playing with the significance of be there,’ he says. ‘There has to be a narrative, a story that Victoria. ‘Land Securities doesn’t have a tick-box approach doorways, and it makes you question whether you’re on the connects it to the location, so it has credibility. If there isn’t to acquiring or commissioning art – it’s a considered strategy inside or the outside,’ says Morey-Burrows. one, it soon becomes very apparent.’ and they always fully engage with the artist to ensure his or So, what makes good public art? Not simply something For the public spaces at Nova, Victoria, Land Securities her vision can be realised. I simply act as a sort of diplomat to big and awe-inspiring, says Morey-Burrows. ‘It should be wanted to have a rotating programme of art. To choose the bring together art and commerce.’ something that draws you into a space – a work that you first first pieces, Morey-Burrows gathered a panel of experts, The biggest coup to date has been the acquisition for the acknowledge and later engage with. When I was working with including artist Richard Wentworth, of the New British reception of 62 Buckingham Gate of Grayson Perry’s tapestry the potter Edmund de Waal on a Land Securities project, Sculpture movement, and Eliza Bonham Carter, head of ‘The Annunciation of the Virgin Deal’, which was featured in he summed it up like this: “I don’t want my work to stop people the Royal Academy Schools. The panel selected works by Perry’s TV series about class. More often, though, the focus in their tracks. I want it to slow them down.”’

Londoners Saad Qureshi and Nika Neelova. is on specially commissioned works by emerging artists,

ROUND AND ABOUT

ART BE AT WORDS GEMMA BILLINGTON

A S AU N T E R T H RO U G H S W 1 W I L L R E V E A L S C U L P T U R E S A N D S TAT U E S T H AT A R E C E RTA I N TO S T I M U L AT E C O N V E R S AT I O N

L

W H AT ’ S O N

CULTURE CLUB

PL AY

FILM

ART

ART

MY MOTHER SAID I NEVER SHOULD

St. James Theatre, 12 Palace Street, SW1E 5JA

BOLSHOI BALLET: DON QUIXOTE

Curzon Victoria, 58 Victoria Street, SW1E 6QW

CONCEPTUAL ART IN BRITAIN: 1964–1979 Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG

MARIA MERIAN’S BUTTERFLIES

Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA

My Mother Said I Never Should is the most-performed play in English written by a woman. It follows the relationships between four generations of mothers and daughters, exploring themes of love, social expectation and how the choices we make can alter the course of our lives.

13 April–21 May stjamestheatre.co.uk

The world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet is coming to SW1, for one night only, via a live broadcast at Curzon Victoria.

Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote will be brought to life through vibrant sets and costumes, and critically acclaimed choreography by Alexei Fadeyechev.

10 April curzoncinemas.com

The political and thought-provoking early era of the British conceptual-art movement is explored through 70 works by 21 revolutionary creatives, including the influential Keith Arnatt (whose ‘Art as an Act of Retraction’ is pictured above), Richard Long and Susan Hiller.

12 April–29 August tate.org.uk

In 1699, naturalist Maria Merian travelled to Suriname, where, for two years, she explored the country’s unique wildlife and vegetation. This exhibition displays her illustrations, which were acquired by King George III – more than three centuries on, they are still compelling.

15 April–9 October royalcollection.org.uk

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

Public art reveals much about the ondon is full of hidden gems, and conventions of the time, and who or what nowhere is this more apparent than in was important. Victoria Tower Gardens, for Victoria. A day taking in SW1’s best example, near the Palace of Westminster, is public artworks – from historic sculptures to home to a number of noteworthy memorials, contemporary installations, each one with its including a 1930 bronze effigy of Suffragette own unique story and significance – is a day leader Emmeline Pankhurst and a 1915 cast very well spent. of ‘The Burghers of Calais’. The latter, by Since the late 1990s, Land Securities has French sculptor Auguste Rodin, represents been instrumental in the changing cultural freedom from oppression and tells the story landscape of Victoria. Through a dedicated of the siege of 1347. Continuing the theme and ever-growing public art scheme, it has of liberation is the elaborate neo-Gothic commissioned a number of landmark public Buxton Memorial Fountain, in marble, artworks in the area. The most recent, ‘Silver granite and bronze, which commemorates Forest’, is nestled in the walkway between the 1834 emancipation of slaves throughout Kings Gate and City Hall. This specially the British dominions. commissioned installation was created by Another petite public park, Pimlico German artist Rut Blees Luxemburg and Gardens, near Vauxhall Bridge, plays host comprises large concrete panels screento what is surely one of the capital’s most printed with her photographs of birch groves. peculiar public artworks. A marble statue of It was inspired by Italian Renaissance 19th-century statesman William Huskisson, painter Paolo Uccello’s masterpiece, ‘The ‘Silver Forest’, on the walkway between Kings Gate and City Hall, by German artist Rut Blees commissioned by his widow, it was given Hunt in the Forest’. Subtle yet evocative, Luxemburg, is an evocative work that was specially commissioned for the space an eccentrically anachronistic look by its a review in Architecture Today lauded the sculptor, John Gibson – it depicts the MP in a Roman toga. a number of avant-garde artists – among them Jacob Epstein, ‘brooding quality’ of the work, claiming it ‘enobles this edge Odder still is the unfortunate incident that prompted the Eric Gill and Henry Moore – were invited to sculpt reliefs of City Hall in a quite unexpected way.’ commission: in 1830, Huskisson became Britain’s first railway directly on to the building’s distinctive Portland stone façade.

Some of Victoria’s most famous art is hidden in blinkcasualty, having been run over by George Stephenson’s Looking up at them from street level, it’s difficult to imagine and-you’ll-miss-it locations. Overlooking St James’s Park is pioneering steam locomotive, Rocket. All of which goes to now the furore they caused, but their graphic nakedness the Grade I-listed 55 Broadway. Commissioned in 1926 as prove that, whether cutting-edge, classical or downright created such public outrage at the time that the company’s the headquarters of the company that would become London curious, Victoria’s public artworks have something to pique MD offered his resignation and Epstein was obliged to adjust Underground, its architecture – a distinctive cross shape – everyone’s interest. the proportions of one male figure. was considered very bold. In a further break with convention,

A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE R E S TA U R A N T S

W O R D S S T E FA N C H O M K A I L L U S T R AT I O N A N D R E W J OY C E

T H E A R R AY O F N E W R E S TAU R A N T S O P E N I N G AT N OVA , V I C TO R I A I N 2 0 1 6 R E F L EC T S B OT H T H E C A P I TA L’ S C U L I N A RY M U LT I C U LT U R A L I S M A N D O U R I N C R E A S I N G LY A DV E N T U RO U S PA L AT E S

N

o other capital city in the world embraces the flavours of every nation quite like London does. From restaurants specialising in bao (Taiwanese steamed buns, that is) to ocakbași (aka Turkish flame-grilled meats) via those serving Korean, Japanese or Egyptian fare, it is a veritable melting pot – and metropolitan types like us have our tasting spoons at the ready.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the city’s newest foodie hotspot, SW1, and, in particular, at soon-to-open Nova, Victoria. Here, a range of international cuisines will be represented in a string of new openings, further cementing London’s position as a world-food nexus. Whether it’s Italian pizzas and pasta, US barbecue and burgers, Japanese soup and sushi, Antipodean coffee and brunch, or premium steaks from right across the globe, Nova

Food Quarter will bring a wealth of flavours to the table.

Following in the footsteps of Jamie’s Italian, which opened at Kings Gate last year, sourdough-pizza specialist Franco Manca and stellar chef Jason Atherton will bolster the Latin offering this autumn, with new venues at Nova. Franco Manca will offer a taste of Naples via authentic pizzas, baked in a woodburning brick oven, while Atherton’s as-yet-unnamed eatery will feature a pasta room, where diners will be able to see their linguine et al being prepared from scratch.

Londoners’ current appetite for meat will also be sated by a trip to Victoria. American burger chain Shake Shack is to open its fifth UK site at Nova, and M Restaurants chose the neighbourhood as the location for its second enterprise, M Victoria Street, which serves beef from six countries, including wagyu from Australia, kobe from Japan, rib-eye from Botswana and onglet from France.

‘I want people to enjoy the very best steaks from across the world,’ says founder Martin Williams.

Joining them will be Jamie Oliver, who is set to bring us a second branch of Barbecoa.

The original, at One New Change, in the City, was the UK’s first barbecue steakhouse when it launched in 2010, and the new venue will be just as big on theatre, with an open kitchen allowing diners to watch chefs tame fire pits, tandoors and Texas pit smokers.

Ricker Restaurants’ The Stoke House, meanwhile, will favour wood-burning pits for its meaty cuts.

Asian fare continues to bring heat and colour to the capital, and Victoria is poised to become

London’s latest Easternfood hub. Rock ’n’ roll ramen bar Bone Daddies will provide fans with their fix of Japanese noodle soup, while Scandinavian-Japanese eatery Sticks’n’Sushi has chosen Nova as the place to grow its empire.

If raw fish and ramen aren’t really your thing, Daisy Green will serve up something that is. The Aussie brunch specialist, also coming to Nova in autumn 2016, majors in food that’s healthy but not ‘worthy’. Think gluten-free broccoli bread, eggs with chilli pesto on sourdough, as well as an eclectic array of wraps, salads and cakes. Speaking at an event on the future of food and the coming of Nova Food Quarter, Financial Times journalist Nicholas Lander offered a timely reminder to us all that, despite technology and its effects being felt in every facet of our lives, ‘The sheer pleasure of food cannot be downloaded. People will always go out to eat.’

Q&A

AMELIA ROPE INTERVIE W GEMMA BILLINGTON

T I M B O OT H; PAU L W I N C H - F U R N ES S/ PAU LW F.C O.U K

T H E C H O C O L AT I E R A N D P I M L I C O R E S I D E N T O N T H E S W E E T R E T R E AT SHE FOUND IN SW1

LET’S DO BRUNCH

R ECIPE PAU L DA N I E L E xe c u t i v e c h e f, V I L L AG E LO N D O N

A

dam White, managing director and co-founder of restaurant group Village London, which comprises Village East, The Garrison and The Riding House Café, is confirmed as the latest name to join the celebrated chefs and restaurants at Nova, Victoria. The Rail House Café is to be modelled on the all-day dining style of the popular Riding House Café and will have a sizeable outdoor dining area, an upstairs bar and private dining room.

Reflecting on his new project, White says, ‘I’ve been interested in this area for many years. In the past, when people thought of Victoria, they thought just of the train station, but there have always been a lot of interesting businesses and plenty of creative people living and working here, and now other amenities are opening, too. Nova, Victoria will be a real neighbourhood hub and I’m proud we’ll be at the heart of it.’

Ahead of the opening later this year, Village London’s executive chef, Paul Daniel, shares a delicious brunch recipe.

Essentially an upgraded eggs Benedict, eggs hussarde is served with a rich, red-wine-based sauce, adding a dose of decadence to a particularly lazy Sunday morning.

SERVES 4 FOR THE BORDELAISE SAUCE 2 banana shallots, peeled 1 cinnamon stick juice of half an orange 250ml red wine 500ml beef stock

1) Chop the shallots as finely as you can.

2) Add the shallots, cinnamon stick, orange juice and red wine to a saucepan set over a low heat. Reduce until sticky, making sure the mixture doesn’t burn.

3) Add the stock, bring the pan back up to a simmer and reserve until required – this sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated then reheated.

FOR THE HOLLANDAISE SAUCE 200g butter 4 egg yolks a pinch of salt 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tsp hot water 1) Melt the butter in a saucepan set over a low heat, skim off any white solids from the top and keep warm. Set the buttery pan aside to use again.

2) Set a bowl over another pan of simmering water, ensuring the base remains above the water. Add the egg yolks and whisk for 8–10 minutes or until they are light and fluffy.

3) Turn off the heat and continue to whisk the eggs as you very slowly pour in the melted butter.

4) Continue whisking as you add the salt, lemon juice and hot water. Keep warm – this sauce needs to be used as soon as possible after it is made.

FOR THE EGGS HUSSARDE 4 thick slices of white bread 4 thick slices of cooked ham 4 thick slices of beef tomato 200g steamed spinach 8 lightly poached eggs a handful of chopped chives 1) Toast the bread and place a slice on each of four plates.

2) Briefly fry the ham and tomato slices to warm them, then layer a slice of each on the four pieces of toast.

3) Briefly reheat the spinach in the buttery pan before dividing this between the toast, then top each stack with two poached eggs.

4) Spoon a small ladleful of the bordelaise sauce around each stack and one of hollandaise sauce over the top.

5) Sprinkle over some chives and serve immediately.

How long have you been based in the SW1 area?

I moved back to Pimlico about three years ago – I’ve lived here on and off since my twenties. I really like this area.

It’s often overlooked, viewed as a sort of passing-through place, but it has a phenomenal community and some brilliant shops, and better restaurants are arriving all the time. It’s also so central – I can get to the West End in 10 minutes, which is brilliant.

You worked in a number of PA and admin roles before setting up Amelia Rope Chocolate in 2007. How did you make the leap into confectionery?

It just sort of happened – I’d never seen myself taking the risk to set up my own business, although I’d always wanted to.

The turning point came when I was a practice manager at a doctor’s surgery – a really busy and demanding job. Through work, I had a session with a life coach and discovered, the more I went to see her, the clearer I was becoming about what was important to me and would make me happy. She helped me believe in myself enough to take the leap.

So, what is it about chocolate that’s so special?

I just love experimenting with it. I started making it at home and really enjoyed it, but lacked confidence – in fact, that was one of the things John Torode and Gregg Wallace said to me when I appeared on Masterchef. Anyway, I sent some samples to national newspapers and magazines and got lucky – they were featured in Stella and then the Daily Mail and the business gathered momentum from there.

And what would you say makes your chocolate so special?

It’s all about the end note – that’s what I strive for. I aim for it to be clean so you don’t crave more and more, which is what happens with cheap chocolate. I think there are three reasons people like mine: the taste, the end note and the packaging.

I think my story inspires people, too, so they buy into the brand.

Finally, what creations do you have planned for Easter?

In 2015, I made Easter eggs for the first time: mini salted caramel, and lemon and salted caramel in both milk and dark chocolate. That’s what I’m going to be doing again this year. ameliarope.com

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

EGGS HUSSARDE

SHOPPING

SPRING INTO SUMMER W O R D S TA M S I N C R I M M E N S

F R O M T H E L AT E S T S T R I P E S T O S H O R T S , S H I R T S A N D S H A D E S , E M B R A C E THE BEST OF THE NE W SE ASON’S TRENDS, ALL SOURCED IN SW1

GROUND CONTROL

M&S Collection shoes, £59, Marks & Spencer, Cardinal Place

NEW ROMANTICS

Silk shirt, £175, Donna Ida, Elizabeth Street

GO BIG OR GO HOME

This year sees the resurgence of the sock, thanks to the likes of Margaret Howell and Lou Dalton. While you’re in M&S stocking up on this year-round staple, grab a pair of its nubuck shoes for seriously stylish summer strolling.

Even the most hardened fashion cynic will swoon at the romantic mood of many SS16 collections. It’s all about ruffles, chiffon and sheer detailing, which this silk shirt from ‘Jean Queen’ Donna Ida perfectly epitomises.

Designers have swapped the tried-and-tested Wayfarer sunglasses styles for an array of oddball silhouettes.

These generous-sized frames, which give a nod to movie-star glamour, are bound to garner attention.

LEAD ROLE

IN THE FOLD

Moschino sunglasses, £125, Specsavers, Cardinal Place

WELL GEL

Bauhaus dog lead, £99.50, Mungo & Maud, Elizabeth Street

Dress, £229, Hobbs, Cardinal Place

Bumble and Bumble Bb Gel, £22.50 for 150ml, Space.NK., Cardinal Place

The devil is in the detail – craftsmanship meets artistry in this luxury leather lead, which combines a contemporary palette with contrast stitching to give your dog some canine kudos on his morning walk.

Hobbs has nailed two trends in one with this colour-pop dress. Delicate pleats – perfect for swishing about in on summer days – were all over the SS16 catwalks, while the bold red oozes Latin-infused sex appeal.

Just-out-of-the-pool hair was the vibe at Kenzo during Paris Fashion Week, where super-stylist Anthony Turner applied Bumble and Bumble Bb Gel to hair and braided it to create wet-look waves. Do try this at home.

NEW FACE

WALK THIS WAY Sandals, £80, Clarks, Victoria Street

Limited Edition shirt, £29.50, Marks & Spencer, Cardinal Place

Functional and minimalist, this Skagen watch taps into the trend for all things Scandinavian. Leather is currently the material of choice for designer timepieces, and the slim black style of this one gives an understated nod to quality.

Clarks has collaborated with Christopher Raeburn for SS16, and the resulting collection of sandals with woven detail and ankle straps is right on the money. In recycled EVA and cork, these will enhance any warm-weather wardrobe.

This season, nightwear transcends the bedroom, with lace-edged nighties, PJs and gowns seen at Balenciaga, Givenchy, Calvin Klein and Alexander Wang. Style with jewellery and jeans for easy after-dark glamour.

Skagen watch, £155, Goldsmiths, Cardinal Place

PYJAMA PARTY

Culottes, £19.99, Zara, Cardinal Place

EARN YOUR STRIPES

Shirt, £39.50, Hawes & Curtis, Victoria Street

BOMBER COMMAND

Bold, retro stripes recently popped up on the runways of Missoni, Roksanda Ilincic and Prada. Take your lead from Zara’s sunny culottes and colourfully clash yours for a fun and carefree summer style.

Expect big, blown-up stripes to be the staple of stylish City gents this spring. Go all-out and wear contrasting stripes of similar tones – or simply dip a toe into the water with a shirt from the array at Hawes & Curtis.

Slip dresses, trainers, army fatigues – the 90s are back.

Tap into the utilitarian look with Topshop’s MA1 bomber jacket – just resist the urge to go full-throttle girlband and remember that the current mood is individual expression.

DIVIDE & CONQUER

EYES RIGHT

SHORT ORDER

Ultimate Divine Collection, £78 L’Occitane, Cardinal Place

No7 Stay Perfect Shade and Define Eyeliner, £7, Boots, Cardinal Place

Adidas Adizero Climacool split shorts, £36.99, Runners Need, Palace Street, Cardinal Place

L’Occitane’s relaunched anti-ageing collection is a surefire way to update your look without having to invest in a new wardrobe. The award-winning line is lightweight yet loaded with a host of skin-boosting botanical ingredients.

An unlikely beauty trend is making waves: pale-blue hues are being seen on the eyes of the coolest girls.

No7’s Stay Perfect Shade and Define in gunmetal grey offers a subtle, sideways move into the trend.

Men’s shorts this spring are extremely short – think 80s-style and cut high to the thigh. Test the waters with a 7in- or 8in-long pair from Runners Need, or go for gold with this keep-you-cool version from Adidas.

HIDE TO SEEK

BRIGHT IDEA

STYLE, SQUARED

Suede jacket, £59.99, Mango, Victoria Street

Bikini top, £15, and bottoms, £12, Accessorize, Cardinal Place

Boss Orange frames, £149, Specsavers, Cardinal Place

The 70s vibe that’s dominated our wardrobes in recent seasons has hit the kids department, too. Mango’s suede jacket hits the style jackpot – it’s the perfect piece to take them from winter to spring with effortless cool.

Acid brights were all over the SS16 runways, from psychedelic-hued lace to bright orange block patterns.

Too full-on? Add a splash of colour to your wardrobe with a bikini. This cheerful two-piece fits the bill perfectly.

Men’s sunnies are big and bold for SS16, and in three distinct shapes: square, round and aviator. We loved the square tortoiseshell frames on the runway at Salvatore Ferragamo.

Get the look on the high street, courtesy of Hugo Boss.

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

ABOUT FACE

MA1 bomber jacket, £60, Topshop, Cardinal Place

Best of both K I N G S G AT E

L A N D S E C U R I T I E S ’ L AT E S T R E S I D E N T I A L D E V E L O P M E N T C O M B I N E S C U T T I N G - E D G E C O N T E M P O R A R Y D E S I G N W I T H A S E N S E O F H I S T O R Y, R E F L E C T I N G T H E FA S T- C H A N G I N G FA C E O F V I C T O R I A WORDS GEORGIE L ANE-GODFREY

A

sk any SW1 resident and they’ll tell you their favourite corner of central London has changed – a lot. In recent years, Victoria has evolved from a mere transport hub to a go-to destination for food, shopping and global designer brands. At the heart of this transformation is bustling Victoria Street, where futuristic developments such as Cardinal Place are attracting ever more businesses and retailers to the area.

And now, with the completion of Nova, Victoria on the horizon, the neighbourhood has never been more enticing.

As a result, an increasing number of residential projects are popping up, such as the luxurious Kings Gate. Designed by Lynch Architects, its contemporary exterior is in keeping with the locale’s new look, while its interiors, by Millier, evoke its rich history. Millier’s team was responsible for the apartments’ layouts and finishes. ‘We opted for natural materials and a rich palette of neutrals to keep it timeless,’ says partner Helen Westlake. ‘We wanted the fixtures and fittings to be subtle yet strong, so buyers wouldn’t feel the need to replace them. To do this, we used texture wherever possible, choosing timber grain for the doors and a tactile leather effect for the stonework.’

Tactility was one of the key elements Millier employed to turn these sleek apartments into welcoming homes. ‘People want their home to look different from their office environment,’ explains fellow partner Alex Nord. ‘And they now appreciate that how a property feels is just as important as the way it looks, making homely features such as fireplaces more popular.’

This page, from top Kings Gate’s contemporary exterior, by Lynch Architects; the building’s striking angles; Millier took its design cues from nearby St James’s Park Opposite Interiors, including the roof terrace, by Spinocchia Freund, are ‘sleek, young and sexy’

In choosing the colour scheme for Kings Gate, Millier took as inspiration the surrounding streets and nearby St James’s Park.

‘We wanted to soften the appearance of the building and also give it a sense of context, so we took the image of the sun setting over the park and the historic red-brick buildings of Victoria as our starting point,’ explains Westlake. ‘That instantly gave the interiors greater warmth, which can often be quite a challenge in a new-build development.’

That warmth is something the team at Millier was keen to capture in Kings Gate. ‘We wanted to create homes that looked as if they had been built to be lived in, rather than purchased solely as an investment,’ continues Nord. ‘What differentiates these apartments is the proportions of the rooms. The ceiling heights and luxury-sized bathrooms were intended to give a sense of being in a grand space. Unlike in many developments, where smaller furniture is plotted on the plans to make rooms seem bigger, we designed the layouts so larger luxury furniture can be accommodated without compromising on space.’

Luxurious furnishings are part of the Kings Gate identity, and each show apartment has been given a bespoke look by interior designers Spinocchia Freund. ‘The neutral context gave us the opportunity to try different palettes to ensure no two properties would be the same,’ says designer Lauren Wood. ‘Every item of furniture was created in-house and is unique, as are the artworks and accessories, giving each home an individualised feel.’

The Spinocchia Freund team used as its springboard the development’s bronze window frames and brass bathroom taps.

‘We used lots of metallics, pairing them with greens and rust tones,’ explains Wood. ‘My favourite pieces are the armchairs in the penthouse. They have striking, geometric, rose-gold arms that echo the building’s angular, modern architecture, but we upholstered the seats in a soft, lush, forest-green velvet. Pieces like this were our way of tying the sharp, masculine exterior of Kings Gate with its softer, warmer interiors.’

Briefed to create something new and unseen before in a residential development in the capital, Spinocchia Freund was keen to move away from the traditional, Art Deco-flavoured ‘London’ look that has been popular in recent years. It sums up the result of its endeavours as ‘sleek, young and sexy’. ‘When it comes to the new direction Victoria is taking, Kings Gate is leading the way,’ says Wood. ‘It’s a bold new architectural development that takes its interior inspiration from the design highlights of the past. What could possibly suit Victoria better?’

T H E S P R I N G/S U M M E R I S S U E

I M AG ES C O U RT ESY O F JA M ES O’ B R I EN , I N T ER I O R C U LT U R E

WHEN IT COMES TO VICTORIA’S NEW DIRECTION, KINGS GATE IS LEADING THE WAY

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SUPERIOR COLLECTION APARTMENTS NOW COMPLETE AND AVAILABLE FOR SALE KINGSGATESW1.CO.UK

020 7318 5196 newhomes@struttandparker.com

020 7409 8756 newhomes@savills.com