Tempus issue 40

the riviera issue

issue 40

ÂŁ6

Leave the city behind with the Tempus guide to sun, sea and superyachts

LOGICAL ONE BLACK TITANIUM

Logical one Black Titanium by Romain Gauthier features a revolutionary, friction-minimising ruby-link chain, together with snail cam and sapphire-lined mainspring barrel, offering nearly two days of constant force – the holy grail of precision watchmaking.

The beautifully hand-finished manufacture movement can be appreciated both dial side and through the display back, and is wound using the integrated ergonomic winding pusher on the side of the sleek black titanium case. Logical one Black Titanium: High precision, casual elegance, fine Swiss watchmaking. www.romaingauthier.com

LEGENDS ARE FOREVER EL PRIMERO

I Chronomaster 1969

“FROM THE START, WE CHOSE TO FORGE OUR OWN PATH IN FINE WATCHMAKING. IT IS OUR WAY TO RESPECT HISTORY AND TRADITION. OUR CHALLENGE IS TO SHOW THAT WATCHMAKING IS ABOUT NEW IDEAS AND POSSIBILITIES, NEW INVENTED MECHANISMS”.

W W W . U R W E R K . C O M

UR-105M " DARK KNIGHT " Hour satellite indication with digital seconds and control board with oil change, power reserve and fine tuning screw.

Montblanc Heritage Spirit Moonphase and Hugh Jackman Crafted for New Heights The new Montblanc Heritage Spirit Moonphase features the moonphase complication in the spirit of traditional ďŹ ne watchmaking. Housed in a 39 mm 18 K red gold case, the self-winding Calibre MB 29.14 indicates the moonphase in a crescent-shaped aperture, making this reďŹ ned timepiece a true lifetime companion.

Visit and shop at Montblanc.com

New Collection

WILD BLOSSOM www.schuck-juwelier.ch

Swiss movement, English heart

C9 5 DAY AUTOMATIC 40 MM Incorporating Christopher Ward’s ground breaking in-house movement, Calibre SH21, with 120 hour power reserve and tungsten rotor arm, this modern classic is made available now with a 40mm case for the first time.

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From the Editor...

this issue's timeline

Bags of time – chatting with Nico Rosberg at the Tumi luggage party. Time on our hands – enjoying a cuppa at The Ritz . Playtime – refusing to leave the Kids’ Club on the Britannia cruise ship (the children too). Time travelling – visiting ancient Roman ruins in Marmaris, Turkey. Dinner time – sampling the culinary delights of Luton Hoo. Racing Times – enjoying a flutter at the Quatar Goodwood Festival.

@tempusmagazine

The Tempus team will be heading to Monte Carlo in a few weeks’ time for the wonderful Monaco Yacht Show.

The world’s finest yachts and superyachts will be on display, complete with submarines, anti-aircraft missiles, hair salons and double helipads.

Office chatter has turned to what to wear on our wrists for the event – go for the louche, lounge-lizard-style timepieces or head towards more sporty, yacht-inspired watches.

Brilliant horology writer Alex Doak helped us choose and he shares his selection of both in our Riviera special on page 26.

And if you want the inside track on the biggest superyachts in the world and who owns them (spoiler alert: move over, Abramovich) then you will find boating writer Tim Madge’s investigation on page 46 fascinating.

I’m delighted to tell you that the brilliant Conor McNicolas has joined the team as Motoring Editor. He will be road-testing the world’s best cars and sharing his views. In this issue he drives a Caterham. It was bright pink, as you’ll see on page 76, and Conor says it caused something of a stir in the village where he lives.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we discover luxury homes that come with a golf course on their doorstep or a pool in the garden, and reveal exclusive toys for children that may cost the earth but are endless fun for big kids too.

And if it’s toys for your superyacht that you’re after, then the Lux List goes overboard with a selection of water toys – from jetskis to one of the fastest speedboats on the planet.

I’ve never been invited to holiday on a superyacht, unfortunately. But my winter diary is wide open … just saying.

Dawn Alford Editor

PERFECTION THROUGH EVOLUTION‌ THE NEW AVANTI EVO

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29 Farm Street | Mayfair | London | W1J 5RL

23 News

The latest in luxury world news

33

26 Riviera style

Alex Doak’s guide to timepieces fit for superyachts 33 Lux List

Essential boys’ toys for yacht owners, or for fun

40 World-class yachting

The low-down on superyachts and the super speedy 50 Tim Walker

Monkeying around with his BFF 52 Grooming and beauty

Luxury sun creams for the family 57 Fashion

Avoid sandals and socks with our guide to Riviera dressing

78

61 Fine dining

French fayre at home, thanks to Alain Ducasse 64 Simply the best

Luton Hoo’s fine menu reviewed

89

74 Driven

Motoring Editor Conor McNicholas test-drives the Caterham Seven 420R 78 Women behind the wheel

Dawn Alford reveals the appeal of the Rolls-Royce Wraith 89 Travel special

The Tempus 15-page guide to Europe’s finest destinations 111 Homes

Golfing homes under the hammer and houses with pools 122 Watchwords

111

The latest innovation from Porsche Design

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Who we’ve worked with this issue

Editorial Director

Dawn Alford

dawn@curvecontent.com Alex Doak wrote our Riviera-inspired watch feature on page 26. One of the world’s top horology writers, Alex also writes for Men’s Health, Wired, City AM, FT and the Baselworld Brand Book.

Creative Director

Marcus Leitch

Chief Subeditor

Graeme Allen

Horology writer

Ken Kessler

Editor At Large

Tim Walker

Technology Editor

Peter Jenkinson

Beauty Editor

On his wrist: Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak Automatic

Tracey Shaverien Fashion Editor

Simon Brooke

Travel Editor

Martin Roberts is

Mark Southern

a property expert who presents Homes Under the Hammer for the BBC. He is also an author and travel writer. Martin edited our homes section, starting on page 109, and also reviewed the cruise liner Britannia on page 101.

Motoring Editor

Conor McNicholas Wine & Drinks Editor

Peter Dean

Property Editor

Martin Roberts

Shopping Editor

Emma Oliver

On his wrist: a Ulysee Nardin chronometer

Director and CEO

Jay Boisvert

jay@curvecontent.com Tim Madge is an editor and journalist, and author of many books including: Long Voyage Home, Maiden (with Tracy Edwards, MBE) and Royal Yachts of the World. He is an ocean yachtmaster and flies paragliders whenever he gets the chance.

Head of Sales & Partnerships

Ray Fieldhouse

ray@curvecontent.com Senior Account Manager

Nick Staunton

Finance Officer

Sue Jones

TEMPUS IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY

BY CURVE CONTENT LTD, 30 ROYAL OPERA ARCADE, 5B PALL MALL, LONDON SW1Y 4UY

On his wrist: A very understated Adidas watch

020 3617 4697

@tempusmagazine

tempus magazine

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tempusmagazine.co.uk

70m / 229.7ft Motor Yacht AMADEUS For sale – please contact Central Agent: chris@cecilwright.com

www.cecilwright.com

BULANGANDSONS.COM

Image: Rob Truijen

Super food on superyachts To celebrate its 40th anniversary, superyacht powerhouse Burgess is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Michelinstarred chef agency Kirsty Stanley-Hughes.

The new venture enables superyacht clients to gain direct access to some of the world’s most celebrated Michelin-starred chefs, expanding an already phenomenal global service.

In addition to Michelin-starred cuisine served privately onboard the Burgess fleet of superyachts, the chefs can also offer clients a cookery masterclass, should they wish to pick up some new culinary techniques, or even cook alongside them one evening.

Based across the globe, the talented chefs are available wherever a superyacht

may be cruising – subject to availability – with prices on application. Some of the outstanding chefs available, who represent some of the world’s best restaurants, include David Thompson of Nahm in Bangkok; Atul Kochhar, the first chef in the world to be awarded a Michelin star

Making Britain great Luxury automotive event Salon Privé has teamed up with the GREAT Britain campaign, the government’s high-profile international marketing initiative designed to showcase Britain as a world leader in creativity, industry, tourism and education.

As part of the campaign, Salon Privé will host a special viewing of GREAT Creations, a unique exhibition bringing a variety of UK creativity to life.

Visitors to the event, which runs from September 3-5 at the baroque Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, will enjoy a

spectacular display showcasing British originality and vision.

Exhibition highlights include four iconic photographic portraits of Her Majesty the Queen taken by renowned photographer David Bailey; a handcrafted couture dress by British designer Nicholas Oakwell; a Mulberry handbag designed by supermodel Cara Delevinge in the brand’s signature oak natural leather and embossed with a Union Jack emblem; and a bespoke engraved handcrafted watch by Roger W Smith.

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for Indian cuisine and who’s worldwide restaurants include the Michelin-starred Benares in London; Phil Howard of two Michelin-starred The Square; and one of London’s hottest young talents, Ollie Dabbous, chef-patron of one Michelinstarred Dabbous, also based in London.

A round of applause A new 60-bay state-of-the-art golf driving range has opened at London’s Greenwich Peninsula.

The range uses the latest technology to enhance the golfing experience, including simulators and high-tech performance information. Each bay also comes with a private entertaining area.

The complex features Europe’s largest golf academy, which comes with eight PGAqualified professionals to help you improve your game, 3,000 sq ft of retail space and a riverside restaurant and wine bar, Vinothec Compass.

The restaurant, which is run by Arnaud Compas, who founded Bedales Wines at Borough Market in 2001, offers what it calls ‘casual fine-dining’. It also features an onsite wine school.

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In the director’s chair Watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre will present a special photographic exhibition on Venice’s Lido Island during the Venice International Film Festival later this month.

The exhibition will focus on fascinating behind-the-scenes images from each film whose auteur has won the coveted Glory to the Film Maker! award, for which JaegerLeCoultre partners the board of judges at the world-renowned film festival.

The images have never been on public view before and provide a unique insight into the directors’ working methods.

Previous winners of the award have included diverse and talented artists, such as James Franco (2014) for The Sound and the Fury, Al Pacino (2011) for Wild Salomé, Sylvester Stallone (2009) for The Expendables and Agnès Varda (2008) for her masterpiece Les Plages d’Agnès.

Diamond life The House of Harry Winston has reopened its retail salon in Harrods following a threemonth renovation. The newly expanded space in the store’s fine jewellery room features a dedicated fine jewellery and timepiece gallery. There are also private selling rooms.

Founded in New York in 1932, the House of Harry Winston has acquired some of the world’s finest diamonds, which have adorned the necks, wrists and fingers of some of Hollywood’s leading ladies on the red carpet at premieres and awards ceremonies around the world.

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Paws for thought As the trend towards more personalised experiences continues to expand, it’s the turn of man’s best friend to demand more from luxury travel.

With Britain famously a nation of doglovers, vast numbers of holiday-makers are bringing along their pets with their passports and requesting high-end pampering for their beloved pooches.

A survey by Small Luxury Hotels of the World revealed that 7% of Brits will take their pet with them at all times, while searches for dog-friendly accommodation was up 71% in 2014.

Hotels were going the extra mile by including blueberry facials and hairstyling in a bespoke pet spa, while special mutt menus cater to the most discerning of canine palates.

SAXONIAN HERITAGE...

...timeless elegance, focused to the essential

AUGUSTUS I. case 18 ct rose gold L&H manual winding movement Caliber VII more than 350 individual parts custom-made complex calculation- and switchmechanism for 12 individuall dates and anniversaries

Uhrenmanufaktur LANG & HEYNE www.lang-und-heyne.de

cocktail hours

By Alex Doak

Nursing a Martini as the sun sets on the Côte d’Azur, your average Riviera lounge lizard will have something far from average on the wrist, glinting in the gloaming as ice clinks and heels click by …

A

fter a strenuous day’s pottering about the azure waters of southern France aboard your Riva runabout, an altogether different cocktail of hands, dial and strap are required come cocktail hour. Just as those deck shoes and linen shirt must yield to Gucci loafers and velvet jacket, rubber straps and primary-coloured bezels are out, while crepuscular shades of rose gold, burgundy and anything that speaks 70s are the order of the evening. Balancing the louche with the lush is a tricky act, but get it right and you’ll be commanding all the right looks from your VIP booth or out on the cicada terrace. Just promise us you won’t follow the lead of those original lounge lizards, Gianni Agnelli and Flavio Briatore, by wearing your watch over your cuff …

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Dior Chiffre Rouge C03

Hedi Slimane may be a distant memory at Dior, but no one can deny that his skinny-tailored Homme influence rages on at the fashion behemoth – not least his men’s watch collection, Chiffre Rouge. The C03 model’s devastatingly chic grey-metallised mother-of-pearl dial (which hides a high-end Zenith movement) positively glows with gentle iridescence, making this watch the perfect foil to a crisp tuxedo. C’est genial!

Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas

You can’t overlook the ladies when night falls and the horological fireworks start, especially when it comes to Bulgari’s particularly famous lounge reptile, the Serpenti. In combination with the articulated, elasticated Tubogas bracelet – literally inspired by the gas tubes connected to your gas meter at home and so famously touted by Elizabeth Taylor in the 60s – this is a slithering piece of jewellery that makes temptation seem wholly excusable.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Two-Tone

The Royal Oak had to be in here. Since 1972 the revolutionary octagonal watch has been a permanent fixture on the wrist of every self-respecting Riviera gadabout – either in its simplest form (steel on steel, blue dial, hours, minutes, second) or its beefed-up Offshore chronograph cousin – only partly because of its porthole design motif. This year’s Two-Tone, combining gold and steel in classic 80s style, switches up a classic in a subtle but reassuringly expensive manner.

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Cartier Calibre de Cartier

After Audemars Piguet and Rolex, the brand that’s flashed by most St. Tropez-tanned wrists is, of course, Cartier.

Paris’s grande maison is the ultimate dress-watchmaker, with slimness a given and a suite of outré case shapes to keep the most fussy of dandies amused. So a chunky, round sports watch from Cartier shouldn’t work, right? Well, as you can see here, it quite clearly does.

Armand Nicolet L09

For watch nerds, this timepiece is a wonderful way of securing a genuine 50s pocket watch movement – the iconic Unitas UT 600 calibre. It has recently been completely refurbished by a watchmaker who has historically provided brands with expertly adapted movements. For the boulevardiers of Monaco it’s simply a bold and beautiful piece of statement wristwear, with brains.

Glashütte Original Senator Seventies

Unearthed from Glashütte Original’s dusty archives near Dresden in 2011 and wildly popular ever since, the joyful 70s styling of its ‘TV screen’ case is a sumptuous slice of retro charm. It’s in perfect harmony with that midnight-blue dial too – neatly matched to this season’s couleur-du-jour when it comes to the two-piece lounge suit, thanks in no small part to a certain Mr Redmayne and his recent red-carpet Oscar moment.

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Piaget Black Tie Oval

Many prefer to revel in Piaget’s flamboyant, hardstone-dial designs of the 70s, but you’d be forgetting the Swiss brand’s importance the decade before, adorning the pleasureseeking jet-set’s glamourpusses with the world’s most dazzling jewellery watches.

This year’s reissue of the famous Oval has been long overdue. It comes complete with a delicately crafted, linked bracelet whose ‘palace’ gold finish lends an almost iridescent effect, like a silk ribbon embracing the curve of the wrist.

Vacheron Constantin 1972 Prestige

In the same year that Audemars Piguet began playing with octagons, another highly prestigious watchmaker down the road in Geneva got out its set square and started doing the same with trapezoids. Not only that, Vacheron then threw away its set square and made the Prestige de France watch asymmetrical, with a subtle caseback curve that hugged the wrist. The result? A spivvy slice of debonair cool with horological clout – as perfect with chinos as it is with pinstripes.

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teak-tock The decks of the world’s finest yachts are positively creaking with shiny new ocean-going watches this summer, and Alex Doak has chosen six of the best …

A

s our sister piece demonstrates, time on the Riviera can be well spent on dry land, with rose gold, 70s glam and statement jewellery all doing their thing. But out on the water, as luxurious as the Côte d’Azur professes to be, you need to be well prepared for whatever the elements throw at you. But that doesn’t mean that water resistance, robustness, comfort, resistance to saltwater erosion or clear legibility must all preclude classiness – quite the contrary in fact.

These ingredients can add up to a horological cocktail of bright and breeziness to rival a Cristal mimosa.

Christopher Ward C60 Trident-Pro

Decked out in an all-too-rare colourway that has you hankering for the waves on sight, Mr Ward’s diving watch is available in every other conceivable permutation, but this is the most shipshape and Bristol fashion. And because he cuts out the middle man to bring you genuine Swiss quality direct, it’s bafflingly good value for a bona fide 600m diving watch with rotating bezel; £599 worth of value, in fact.

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Mühle Glashütte Marinus GMT

Once a maker of precision ships’ instruments and chronometers, this former German DDR brand was revived by Hans Jurgen Mühle in 1994 and now makes mid-market wristwatches fitted with Swiss Sellita movements, as well as professional quartzregulated ships’ clocks. Like Ward, it offers fantastic value for money (£1,950, the difference accounted for by its indirect distribution model) but with added designer clout. One for the yachtsman who is looking for something alternative.

Corum AC-One 45 Regatta

As we saw in issue 39, Bremont is stealing the headlines with its new America’s Cup sponsorship, but once was a time when the Admiral’s Cup (conceived in 1957, cancelled in 2003) was seen as the ultimate offshore sailing event. And Corum has been the loyal timekeeper ever since – albeit in abbreviated AC form since 2003.

This boasts a genuine regatta countdown complication, allowing the skipper to time his boat’s arrival at the start line.

Pequignet Royale 300

New, and in bang-on-trend urgent orange with an in-house-manufactured movement to boot, Pequignet truly ups its game this year from maker of perfectly nice, Sundaybest watches to the outdoorsy, out-there choice of the connoisseur. With a useful 88-hour power reserve, comfy rubber strap, not to mention off-set crown to free up wrist movement, you’ll do a lot worse than this while splicing the mainsail or simply looking the part, posing by the wet bar.

Zenith El Primero Stratos Rainbow

Strictly speaking, this is a watch that has come to the fore thanks to Zenith’s brand darling, Felix Baumgartner, and his free-falling exploits on the edge of space. But those primary colours, 100m water resistance, plus the fact it’s a flyback chronograph, means it easily qualifies back on the Earth’s surface as a skipper’s regatta countdown instrument. Any excuse to buy an El Primero is good enough for us, though …

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Alpina Seastrong Yacht Timer Regatta Countdown

Another raffish example of both chunky practicality and a colourful regatta countdown function that unwittingly adds up to something truly worthy of the Riviera and all its modishness. It’s kitted out with a Sellita automatic, but modified by parent watchmaker Frédérique Constant, so your £2,495 is going a long way. But set sail for your retailer soon – it’s been out to sea for a few years now and they’re only making 8,888 of them.

»NOMOS is among the best luxury watches out there.« N e w Yo r k Ti m e s

A tiny part that changes everything: NOMOS Glashütte spent seven years researching and developing an in-house escapement. Now Metro featuring the NOMOS swing system is here—and a worldwide first. With selected retailers: Cambridge: Catherine Jones Jewellery; Cardiff: Fraser Hart, Watches of Switzerland; Chichester: Perfect Timing; Derbyshire: CW Sellors; Edinburgh: Hamilton & Inches; Glasgow: Fraser Hart, Orro; Kent: Fraser Hart; Leicester: Stewart’s Watches; London: Fraser Hart, Mappin & Webb, Watches of Switzerland; Manchester: Watches of Switzerland; Ruislip: CS Bedford. Find out more at nomos-glashuette.com, or order online at nomos-store.com

Catch me if you can

Standard or special edition, this super-snazzy Sacs Strider 13 Gran Coupé leaves everything – and everyone – else behind.

From £450,000 sacsmarine.it

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Riviera rendezvous Head south for the summer in spectacular superyacht style

By Emma Oliver

Island Hopper

Whether your choice is a banana boat, a whale rider or a shark, why not jump on and bounce over the brine in big-fun style?

Shark ten passenger: $1,649 watertrampolines.com

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Coffee table Utopia

Somewhere on a distant island, sit and dream you’re on Utopia, the idyllic fictional society imagined in the book of the same name by Sir Thomas More. This remarkable first edition was published in Latin almost 500 years ago peterharrington.co.uk £350,000

Reach for the sky

Available as a single or twin seat, extend your fun with the Jetlev Flyer toy. It reaches an altitude of 10m, with top speeds of 75kph and a cruising duration of two to three hours. No other jetpack offers this experience £71,000 superyachttendersandtoys.com

The ultimate onboard wine cellar

Yacht wine supplier Wine Riviera, led by Master of Wine Louise Sydbeck, can supply the most sought-after wines, spirits and champagnes, free wine advice, tastings and crew training POA rivierawine.fr

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The brightest of objects

Stargaze with the new, high-quality Esprit-150ED Professional Super APO Triplet Refractor OTA, designed for the most demanding astroimages and visual observation. wexphotographic.com £4,230

Seabob F5S

Very much in demand this year are the ultra-fun Seabobs. With an impressive propulsive force of 680 newtons and speeds of up to 20kph, they’re pretty much guaranteed to be your favourite water toy yet.

From £7,720 superyachttendersandtoys.com

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Action camera

Equipped with a Ultra High Definition camera creating 4K content (High Definition x4) this incredible Drone can be controlled via a smartdevice app – perfect for checking out the coast before you drop anchor.

POA flyinggadgets.com

Crystal ball

Map your way around the world with a handcrafted, illuminated floor-standing globe made from hand-blown crystal glass. ÂŁ2,995 shop.columbus-globes.com

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Sea Pool

Easy on the eye and easy to store, what a fantastic idea this inflatable pool is – an extension of your yacht, with a rotproof safety net From £6,000 henshaw.co.uk

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© 2015 TUMI, INC.

NICO ROSBERG · GLOBAL CITIZEN M E R C E D E S A M G P E T R O N A S F o r m u l a O n e T M Te a m D r i v e r

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211 Regent Street, L ondon • 170 Piccadilly, Mayfair, L ondon • Westfield Shepherds Bush, L ondon Also available at Harrods and Selfridges

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Because there’s always a bigger boat Boating writer and yachtmaster Tim Madge reveals the latest trends in superyachts

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I

f you want a glimpse of what superyachts look like, a drive along the seafront in Palma, Mallorca is a good place to start.

You’ll be able to see a succession of them – a fabulous array of floating wealth.

If you can get past security to take a closer look, you’ll notice that one or two berths are empty; maybe the yachts that loiter there were at sea with their owners, but a few of those superyacht parking spaces are for sale.

One berth was recently up for grabs at a tad shy of £8m. For the berth of course, not for the yacht that will be docked there. It is a leasehold price, naturally. The yacht that will live there would set you back maybe 20 times as much, and possibly much, much more.

Welcome to the utterly insane world of superyachts. Their cruising reach is global, their owners rich beyond wildest imaginings, their elegance and style the best that money – and, mostly, good taste – can buy.

Billionaire owners of superyachts generally like to keep a very low profile, protecting themselves

behind a screen of total discretion and tight security.The point about superyachts is that they provide both, along with the delicious frisson that you can position yours anywhere in the world, ready for you to jet in with your family, friends and other guests: film stars, politicians, in fact anyone who brings something extra to the party.

Bling, in vault-loads, is already on board.

Skippers and crew are recruited with elaborate care; hand-picked for their (well paid for) silence about how you conduct yourself. Their rewards, apart from running these beautiful, marine objets d’art and cruising the world, can be considerable.

One story to have recently emerged is that an Arab superyacht owner gave each member of his crew a Mercedes following an enjoyable cruise.

Arabs from the Kingdom and from the Gulf top the list for the biggest, brashest superyachts. Roman Abramovich, best-known for his ownership of Chelsea FC, was said to be miffed that his yacht, Eclipse, was knocked off the top yacht spot by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan, president of the UAE. His yacht –

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Azzam – took four years to build and rocked up at 590ft long, 54ft longer than the Eclipse. It is said to have cost £390m. To give an idea of its size, HMS Belfast in the Pool of London is only 20ft longer.

Azzam, and her many large-scale sisters, may not pack six-inch guns. However, be assured that it will have an extensive and sophisticated defence system against attack at sea. Abramovich’s two superyachts are rumoured to have sophisticated anti-missile defences. It is, unsurprisingly, a subject that no one will talk about, along with what kind of emergency escape systems are in place and the number of security staff on board (and their orders). In this instance, money buys complete silence.

The whole superyacht scene has changed, and not just because of security issues. In the 1980s there was an explosion in super-yachting. Back then it was a first when Burgess Yachts, one of the world’s leaders in brokerage and charter for superyachts, sold Nabila for $30m (owned by Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and named

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Their cruising reach is global, their owners rich beyond wildest imaginings

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after his daughter). Twenty years later 100m (325ft) superyachts were commonplace, and with the bigger size came unbelievably opulent interiors and massive price hikes. Superyachts have today evolved into palatial floating summer homes. Prices, already high, have soared toward the stratosphere. Where once the best of these yachts could be chartered for $50,000 a week, now expect to pay $500,000.

Technology, too, is cutting edge. Take a 80m superyacht; it may well have garaging for a helicopter – maybe more than one – and a submarine. It will have a cinema, Jacuzzi, gym and spa, along with specialist storage for fine wine.

All this takes power, but that has to be generated as silently as possible. To distribute this takes 165km of cabling weighing 30 tonnes.

For water, onboard plant might deliver 40,000 litres a day to 50 taps, 30 showers and four baths.

The Jacuzzi alone will use 6,000 litres of fresh water. There may well be more than a dozen specialist security cameras and hundreds of sensors, checking for untoward movement as well as fire. Smoking on these yachts is usually, and for obvious reasons, prohibited.

Given you own one, or can afford to charter, where on Earth would you go? Abramovich surprised many people when he chose this summer to cruise round the Outer and Inner Hebrides. This would only come as a surprise to anyone who has not sailed these fabulously beautiful islands and coasts, with plenty of neardesert islands to explore, such as Barra.

Remote, isolated and with fantastic scenery, there’s few people to either see or annoy you, and

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most definitely no paparazzi in sight. Superyachts can be pre-positioned anywhere in the world, and they are. But the old favourites remain: the Med is still incredibly popular – notably Corsica – nearby Sardinia, the entire coastline of the Adriatic and remoter islands (yes, they exist) in Greece.

The coast of Turkey has always been popular, especially to Arab owners.

Further away from Europe there are islands in the Caribbean: St Lucia, Sabia, Tobago and St Eustatius that are all known for their diving. Superacht-owners can show their guests the wonders of the deep in their miniature submarines (Eclipse has one), which are becoming a firm favourite to have on board (so much more convenient than having to learn to dive, darling).

Then there is the exquisite Exumas archipelago

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Celebrity parade

of 360 islands in the Bahamas, many of them privately owned.

But then there is the whole of the rest of the world to play in. Islands off Costa Rica beckon (think Jurassic Park, without the dinosaurs).

Unsurprisingly, the south Pacific is becoming the new Caribbean. One superyacht, Hemisphere, is on a two-year voyage around the Pacific, moving towards Australia.

For the more adventurous, Alaska, the Arctic and sub-Arctic (like Ellesmere Island) even sub-Antarctica, are all accessible – at least to these vessels.

As for entertainment, in the broadest sense (think pop stars, actors, the famous and infamous), owners and their families can ask for – and will more often than not get – pretty much anyone they care to invite to come aboard for a week

or two. I mean, who would say ‘no, thank you’ to an invitation to sail and live aboard one of these amazing vessels?

But in this regard tight security rules, as does discretion. So we only get snapshots and hints of who is where and with whom at any one time.

You will rarely see these yachts in port with their owners and guests aboard. The whole point of owning a superyacht is to be where everyone else is not.

That’s why top-notch chefs are employed as part of the crew. You, as owner, can offer your guests something money cannot otherwise buy: food, cooked exclusively and served in a setting no one else has access to – watching the sun set, sipping drinks, utterly relaxed, cosseted and secure. It is, in every way, a world apart, if not to say a whole new planet.

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Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft with Bill Gates, held a Bollywood party on board his yacht, Octopus, during the Cannes Film Festival in May. Celebrity guests included Leonardo DiCaprio, Natalie Portman and Antonio Banderas. Octopus has 40 guest suites, a cinema, recording studio, two helicopter landing pads, a mini submarine, a fleet of jetskis and a large swimming pool, as well as a basketball court. Allen, 62, is the 51st richest person in the world with a net worth of $17.5bn.

Singer Mariah Carey was aboard her billionaire boyfriend James Packer’s superyacht Arctic P off the Amalfi coast, also this summer. The impressive, 88m Arctic P was custom-built to offer accommodation for up to 12 guests, pampered by a 25-strong crew.

The vessel was recently refitted to include a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and dining table.

When not in use the pool, the Jacuzzi and dining table create a flush deck to allow it to be used as a huge entertainment area.

And, late in July, Sylvester Stallone was seen with his family on board the 35m Enchantress in Monaco. Launched in 2007, the yacht has interiors by Karen Lynn. With three decks, she can sleep ten charter guests, who will no doubt enjoy alfresco dining areas, outdoor lunges and an amazing deck spa pool.

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Monaco Yacht Show Port Hercules, Monaco 23-26 September 2015

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or anyone who wants to get up close and personal with the luxury superyachting market, the Monaco Yacht Show is a good place to start. This year is the 25th anniversary of MYS, the annual trade yacht sales show where some of the newest luxury yachts are on display. The four-day event features conferences, cocktail parties and many networking opportunities.

This year, the spectacular 57.5m (189ft), 2010-build sailing yacht Twizzle is on view. An award-winning and visionary vessel, Twizzle can be sailed as a highly competitive regatta yacht, or she can simply cruise. With naval architecture

by Dubois and exterior and interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon, the yacht is perfect for the latter, with a retractable centre-board that allows access to shallow anchorages. She is exceptionally eco-friendly in both her design and engineering.

Sleeping up to eight guests in five cabins, Twizzle comes with 11 crew to arrange an unforgettable holiday. Key onboard features include seamless indoor and outdoor spaces, a master suite with a separate dressing room, and decks with uninterrupted sea views. She is a fully custom-ketch rig and has already won a range of awards since her launch, including Best Custom Yacht at the Asia Boating Awards and Best Sailing Yacht Design Over 40m at the International Superyacht Society Awards.

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M CLASS 30M . 35M . 40M To make an entrance. Arrive in style

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“Silver Leafs have especially sharp incisors, but instinctively I knew that he meant me no harm. He, in turn, sensed my trust”

Outrageous Fortune

H

Tim Walker is our Editor At Large. You can contact him at Tim@tempusmagazine.com or on twitter @timwalker

umankind is generally divided into two kinds of people: dog-lovers and catlovers.Words like dependable, loyal and good-hearted tend to be character traits associated with the first group. Stealthy, vain and selfish go with the second. On my summer holiday I discovered I fall into a third group: I am a man who possesses an unusual affinity with monkeys.

As a former gossip columnist, it’s not so surprising.The word ‘cheeky’ is commonly applied to members of my old trade, as it is to my mate, the primate. The selfie that illustrates this piece was more or less taken by the Silver Leaf monkey that I encountered at the Labuk Bay Sanctuary in Sabah, Malaysia. What I love about this place is that all its residents roam free. Thus, if they spend any time with you, they do it because they want to. This particular one – let’s call him Silver – took a shine to me the moment our eyes met. He reached out to take my hand.

Some boring Homo sapiens who witnessed this moment started muttering about how they wouldn’t do that if they were me, but I could see in Silver’s eyes that he meant no harm. I offered him my hand. He played around with my fingers, our eyes still locked, and eventually he took my thumb and put it into his mouth. Silver Leafs have especially sharp incisors, but instinctively I

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knew that he meant no harm. He, in turn, sensed my trust. I felt his tongue encircling my thumb.

As he did so, he stared into my eyes with a look of what I can only describe as love.

We flirted like this for about half an hour – he walked up my arm and licked my face at one point – and I have to say I more or less had to be dragged away from him when the time came to go. I felt for several days afterwards – I still feel it a little even now – a sense of elation. I felt as if I had connected with a part of me that had somehow survived thousands and thousands of years of evolution.

I encountered Silver on what I suppose had been my own Grand Tour, or at least a route of exotic locations to some extent necessitated by the flights that are available when you are on redemption miles.

I had stayed at the Peninsula in Hong Kong – still, for my money, the finest hotel in the world, for all the changes that city has seen – the splendidly colonial Majestic in Kuala Lumpur, and, at the Shangri-La in Kota Kinabalu, I had, a few days after the recent earthquake, been woken when my room shook in an aftershock that measured 5.2 on the Richter scale. For all that, the only time the earth really moved for me on my holiday was at the Labuk Bay Sanctuary. I shall go back, for sure. I like to keep in touch with old friends.

Time is our Family Value. The Robert Mühle Auf/Ab. In 2014, we had plenty of reasons to celebrate, with not only marking 145 years since the company was founded by Robert Mühle, but also the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of the family business. We from Mühle-Glashütte have therefore decided to celebrate this double anniversary by producing an exclusive special edition range consisting of three models featuring calibres manufactured by us. This special

new manufacturing line “R. Mühle & Sohn”. www.muehle-glashuette.de For your nearest stockist in the UK contact info@thebluecompanylondon.co.uk

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edition range, which is named after the company’s founder, represents the launch of our

Rob eR ert Mühle Calibr

K M

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The big

screen Yacht: check. Champagne and strawberries: check. Don’t spoil the summer by looking like a Brit abroad – complete with bright red skin

By Tracy Schaverien

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1 1 Sun Visor, from Goldfaden MD™, is

an ultra-light, oil-free SPF30 broad spectrum sunscreen that shields the skin with a sheer, non-white texture and comes in a convenient spray form for daily use.

Price: £40 for 80ml. Available at Space NK and at goldfadenmd.com

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Launched in June, the new Exuviance®Sheer Daily Protector SPF50 is a mineral, anti-ageing sunscreen with maximum protection but minimum residue.

Price :£34.99 for 50ml. For stockists visit exuviance.co.uk

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3

The Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF30 from Murad is a primer, moisturiser and sunscreen that treats the visible signs of ageing and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Price: £55 for 30ml. Available from selected John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenhams stores, and leading spas and salons nationwide.

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4 Anthony Oil-Free Facial Lotion and

Facial Moisturiser, both SPF30, contain vitamins A, C and E. The paraben-free products are ‘Developed for Men, Borrowed

by Women’.

Price: £33 for 90ml. Available at Space NK.

5

5 P20, the original once-a-day lotion that

gives protection for up to 10 hours, is now also available in SPFs 15, 30 and 50+, and in a spray format for easy application.

Price: £24.49 for 200ml. Available at major retailers, pharmacies and airports.

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6 The new Nuriss Moisturising Sunscreen

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SPF30 is water-resistant and contains titanium dioxide and octinoxate to protect the face, neck and decollete.

Price: £34 for 50ml. nuriss.co.uk

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7 The award-winning Ark Age Aware

Skincare 30SPF Primer provides a perfect summertime base for make-up. It protects skin from premature ageing while giving skin a luminous glow, as well as reducing lines and wrinkles.

Price: £36 for 30ml. arkskincare.com

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8 Environ RAD Antioxidant Sunscreen

SPF15 has been developed by eminent South African plastic surgeon Dr Des Fernandes and comes in a hand-luggage-friendly 100ml tube.

Price: £19.95. Available from beauty salons nationwide,visit iiaa.eu for more information.

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9

Keep the kids safe in the sunshine with the new SenSense Kids SPF 50+ from Australia’s leading sun lotion brand.

Price: £14.96 for 125ml and available from John Lewis, Waitrose, Crawford Healthcare and independent pharmacies.

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10 For sensitive skin try Kalme Day

Defence, which contains a chemical-free, pure zinc mineral 25 SPF with patented ingredients to reduce redness, irritation and inflammation.

Price: £19.95 for 50ml. skinshop.co.uk or call 01794 527433.

11 Skyendor’s Invisible Protective Sun

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Spray SPF 50 is the latest addition to its Sun Expertise range and provides a barrier against UVA, UVB, infrared radiation and photo-ageing.

Price: £39.95 for 200ml. skeyndor.co.uk

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Just add a yacht The European summer look just got even more stylish, says Simon Brooke, Tempus fashion editor

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his summer, designers are celebrating the Riviera look as never before.

Turnbull & Asser’s striped blazer features bold lines, a nipped-in waist and slanted pockets. Pair it with John Lobb’s Lynther docksiders in aubergine suede.

After the beach, leave your old t-shirt and boxers behind and opt for a proper dressing gown. Budd Shirtmakers has a range in silk that are ideal for that pre-dinner cocktail. A pair of pistachio-green mules from Mr Hare complete the look.

Leave behind your ski-bum shades and go for something far more elegant, such as these

light, horn-rimmed versions from Storm and Oliver Peoples. Peter Millar is a preppy US brand which is debuting in Britain – its striped t-shirt is pure Ivy League. Match it with Maison Margiela white trousers.

A pair of crisp, white shorts is a must for the Riviera look. Theory is a US brand that’s now available in the UK. Its timeless, understated elegance is typified by these white shorts and cotton pique polo.

A smart bag is also essential and Ettinger has a range in leather and canvass. You might have arrived on easyJet, but you’ll look like you’ve just stepped off your private jet.

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A true legend of the skies Paying tribute to the iconic World War 1 aircraft, known as the ‘King of the Air Fighters’, the Sopwith Camel is the inspiration for Valour’s first offering – the Sopwith Aviator®, a limited edition model of only 200 individually numbered timepieces.

Different by design Introducing the Sopwith Aviator® desk stand, a truly elegant way to enjoy the timepiece in addition to wearing it on the wrist.

Freephone (UK): 0800 133 7216

Tel: +44 (0)20 3637 0079

www.valourwatchcompany.com

indulge From formal dining to bistro alfresco bites, the French Riviera is not just about sun and sea. Venture beyond the coastline to find some of its more exclusive eateries.

For a taste of France at home, see page 64 for a review of the two-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse restaurant at the Dorchester Hotel.

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Peter Dean is our wine and drinks writer Contact him at Peter@tempusmagazine.com or on twitter @TweetaDean

French Connection

3 of the best

It’s not so long ago that if you said Britain could rival, or even better, French wines and cheeses, you would have been thought to have been either sorely misinformed or out in the sun too long. Although English still wines have a very long way to go until they get anywhere close to the French, if indeed they ever will, sparkling wine is a different matter entirely; there are some powerful contenders in the English canon that would see off many a petillant, cremant or, dare I say it, champagne. It was only 20 years ago that the late Mike Roberts planted his first vines at Ditchling, Sussex. His intentions were clear – to only make the finest sparkling wine using champagne varietals. His vision has perhaps been best realised by the fact that in 2010 wine bible Decanter awarded the Blanc de Blancs 2006 the International Trophy for world’s best sparkling wine over £10, the first time that a non-champagne had ever won the award. Mike’s legacy and his sad passing last year were reflected upon at a 20th anniversary tasting of back vintages at London’s Bloomsbury Hotel, chosen incidentally to reflect the name of the estate’s signature chardonnay-dominant blend.

Eleven vintages in all were shown, from the first vintage of 1996 through to the most recent in 2013, and some of the world’s top wine journalists were in attendance, including Jancis Robinson. What the tasting proved was that these wines not only drink when young but age very well indeed, with added complexity, rich golden hues and amazing balance all coming into play. When you look at what Nyetimber is doing as well with sparkling wine, it’s clear that there’s a corner of England that will be forever France.

Ridgeview Bloomsbury 2009 This was a terrific vintage for Ridgeview and the evidence is here for all to see, smell and taste. It has a lighter golden vivacity than either the 2011 or the 2013, and a far greater complexity.

The nose is simply gorgeous – nutty and fruity – and the palate has bags of greengage fruit that is perfectly balanced by the linear citrus acidity that it is one of Bloomsbury’s hallmarks.

A stunning wine. £24.95 a bottle

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Blanc de Noirs 2013, Limited Release Along with the Rosé de Noirs, this is the estate’s top wine – a classy blend of only red grapes, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The pinot brings an earthiness to the complex taste that makes it an ideal partner for main courses or canapés that include game, mushrooms and lamb. £32.95 a bottle Rosé de Noirs 2013, Limited Release Ridgeview produces two rosés, the Signature Fitzrovia blend that is chardonnay-dominant and this, a wine that is made from just pinot noir and pinot meunier using the saignée or ‘bleeding’method.The colour is a subtle rose-petal pink, with a complex palate of summer berries, honey and toasted brioche. Delicious when drinking with strawberries or a cream tea. £32.95 a bottle

Gin Mare – a taste of the Mediterranean

On the virgin bandwagon

Let them drink claret

150ml sparkling water 15ml Teisseire pink grapefruit syrup 10ml grapefruit juice Finish with two slices of lemon.

The gin revival that has revolutionised how and where we drink gin – both at home and abroad – sees a new twist with a gin that helps bring the tastes of the Mediterranean into your home. Gin Mare (pronounced mar-ray) uses four botanicals: olives from Spain, thyme from Greece, basil from Italy and rosemary from Turkey. Each of these is steeped for more than 24 hours, bringing savoury notes to the gin, such as juniper, tomato plants and olives. The taste of the sea is so much in evidence that Nuno Mendes, head chef at the Chiltern Firehouse, recently made a special cocktail with it … also including plankton. Is that a good thing? Really?

The buzz from the hippest bars in town is that virgin cocktails are the ‘new black’. Fresh, fruity drinks don’t necessarily need alcohol, especially if you’re drinking in the heat, or with a mixed range of ages. Whenever I’m at my house in the south of France, the kids lurve mixing cocktails and a great tip is using a range of fruit syrups, such as the Teisseire range. Our staple is the Shirley Temple, which is grenadine topped with chilled lemonade and finished with ice and a slice. Or try this new one, the Pamplemousse Rose.

Every wine collector has their own personal way of storing their flagship wines. Personally, I have temperature-controlled caves, with the majority of my collection in two bonded warehouses. So, top marks to international fine wine brokers AWC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary by creating the ultimate display case for use around the (stately) home. This hand-crafted case has been fashioned from the 350-year-old oak tree that was a favourite of Marie Antoinette and has then been stocked with a bottle each of the 1990 vintages of Petrus, Latour, d’Yquem and La Tache. The case went on sale at Masterpiece, London for a cool £75,000.

London Riviera t Hippess bar in the world

The most exciting trend in urban dining – the pop-up – has come to London’s South Bank in the form of the London Riviera, a superb mishmash of Côte d’Azur sophistication and Miami chintz. Open until the end of September and used to launch Ciroc’s new pineapple vodka, it’s a great way to catch some rays, grab a cocktail and pull up a flamingo. I didn’t know this, but luxury brand Ciroc is one of the few vodkas in the world that is made from fine French wine grapes and distilled five times.

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An affair to remember The French love affair with food reaches its apotheosis in Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester. Eight years since its grand opening, Emma Diggory finds that it is still the perfect way to savour the Riviera, without having to leave London

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f one chef epitomises all that is special about the French Riviera – the cool sophistication, the striving for perfection and the out-and-out quality of the produce – then that person is Alain Ducasse.

For one special lunchtime my partner and I are transported to the Riviera, courtesy of Ducasse’s gastronomic empire; not to his threeMichelin-star flagship, Le Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, nor the Rivea at Hôtel Byblos in St. Tropez, or even La Terrasse in Juan Les Pins. No, we have the good fortune to be seated in the three-Michelin-star dining room of Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, one of just two three-star restaurants in London.

It is a hot midsummer’s day, so we both fall unreservedly on the super-chilled Ducasse Cuvée champagne that is proffered to us by head sommelier Christopher Bothwell. Our table in

the cool salon is adjacent to the Table Lumière, the private dining table that is concealed by a luminescent curtain of 4,500 fibre-optic strands that form the striking centrepiece of the restaurant’s decor.

The highly attentive staff weave so gracefully and inconspicuously among the airy space that more than once I am pleasantly startled by a waiter who appears at my side from nowhere. We have each chosen a different seven-course tasting menu. My mission is to sample as many of the signature dishes executive chef Jocelyn Herland and his team care to prepare for me, which is why I opt for the à la carte tasting menu. My partner chooses the menu d’Eté, created from the best of the current season’s ingredients that are the lifeblood of Ducasse’s cuisine.

The champagne is served with an amuse bouche of freshly baked gougères – mini choux

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pastry balls flavoured with gruyère cheese and a hint of nutmeg – and barbaguian, a specialty from the Riviera: filo parcels of marjoram, spinach, ricotta and Swiss chard. Our fingers walk themselves unbidden back and forth across the table until every morsel has inexplicably vanished, only for two fresh baskets to appear.

My first course proper is Dorset crab, gelée and caviar.The crabmeat, flavoured with shallots, fennel, ginger, coriander, lemongrass and tomato set with agar jelly, is a perfectly judged, light, fresh start to proceedings. And Chris’s wine choice of a crisp 2013 Saumur Domaine Guiberteau is a spectacularly successful pairing.

Next to appear magically before me is a heritage of tomatoes with delicate herbs, which Chris serves with a 2012 Mornington Peninsula Estate Chardonnay from Australia that brings out the delicious zing of the

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tomatoes. I am then treated to a signature favourite – sautéed gourmand of lobster with truffled chicken quenelles.

If I needed any persuading of this restaurant’s standing in the world rankings, this plate does it single-handedly. The succulent medallions of lobster, light quenelles of chicken flavoured with truffle, fine tubes of semolina pasta and fresh ceps are individually near perfection.

When combined in a rich, buttery sauce comprising lobster bisque, butter, shallots, brandy, fennel and marscapone, the dish is simply beyond compare.

Any doubts that the meal has reached an early crescendo are put to rest with the next course, a seared fillet of John Dory with artichoke, baby squid and lemon. The fish is tender and succulent, with the squid and artichoke giving added bite, while the wine – a 2011 Puligny-

Montrachet from Genot-Boulanger – adds a note of saltiness. By the time Chris arrives with a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Clos des Brusquières to complement the first meat course – duck from Burgaud House in the midi-Pyrenées, with peach and dolce forte sauce – I am completely smitten by M. Ducasse and the world in general. The juicy pink duck flesh, married with the rosy peach parfait and scattered light shavings of radish, shows yet more skilful matchmaking, and although the wine is young for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape (a 2012) it is drinking perfectly and keeps the course light and fresh.

And our French affair is not over yet.

It continues with the cheese, of course, a selection of four bite-sized portions each served with its own condiment and matched with a 2010 Rioja Reserva Roda. Heady from all that

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has passed our eyes and lips, we are almost oblivious to the arrival of the dessert course, which is heralded by homemade chocolates and caramels. This, as all perfect desserts should be, is an assortment of signature favourites: a nirvana of seasonal fruit, ganache and pâtisserie.

And then, as if to bring our Riviera fling to a fitting and dignified end, a waiter delivers a silver cloche in which, nestling in a luxuriant apricot syrup, is the famous Baba au Rhum à la Monte Carlo, first served at Le Louis XV in Monaco. The light sponge is cut in half and then fine vintage rum poured liberally over, with lightly whipped cream. It is, quite simply, the best dessert I have ever tasted.

I leave the table not feeling uncomfortable in the slightest, although, in true Riviera style, I do have the tiniest of siestas.

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The elegant touch Kevin Clark’s new tasting menu is the crowning glory of a luxury break at the majestic Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, the perfect place to pamper that someone special in your life.

By Peter Dean There’s something about long, sweeping driveways flanked by aged oaks that speak of a discreet but confident English opulence; the kind that typically cues the opening credits of Great British dramas, such as Inspector Morse in his Mark II Jaguar bowling towards some bucolic adventure. Today it is the missus and I who are following the long and winding road that leads to the door of the Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa. Like a cerebral form of foreplay, every bend, bump and contour adds to the tantalising anticipation of where and how it will end. Less than five minutes after exiting the M1 at Luton we are rolling through the lush 1,000-acre estate (original landscaping courtesy of

the legendary Capability Brown, no less), cutting across the fairway of the 18-hole golf course to emerge outside the stunning neo-classical façade of the former stately home, now luxury hotel.

Already putty in its hands, we are finally done for when we draw up to the entrance and spot a designated parking space bearing our name. We have truly arrived.

En route to our master bedroom suite in the Grade 1 listed mansion we pass through the grand entrance portico and lounge, which hums with guests tucking into afternoon tea and pastries that seduce from antique cake stands. A sneak peak through the prodigious glass doors that enclose the

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opulent Wernher Restaurant (named after Luton Hoo’s illustrious former owner: diamond magnate Julius Wernher who bought the houses in 1903 and was responsible for much of its restoration), and we are again reminded of great things to come.

The private balcony of our second-floor suite overlooks the rear of the mansion, the croquet lawn and lakes beyond. Pausing to check out the Egyptian cotton sheets, sumptuous pillows, ‘his and hers’ washbasins, corner bath, walk-in shower, Molton Brown toiletries and espresso coffee-maker, we are anxious to take a stroll around the magnificent gardens before the strike of cocktail hour. Capability Brown’s

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awe-inspiring 18th-century landscape features some 19th-century additions, including the terraced ornamental gardens and an enchanting sunken rockery. Concealed by artfully planted hedges, shrubs and trees, it reveals a waterfall and cosy nooks that invite secret trysts and other acts of naughtiness.

A quick Lycra change before gin o’clock and we head off to the spa. A short meander from the mansion house (or guests can ‘hail’ one of the hotel’s courtesy black cabs for easy access to the outer reaches of the estate), it is housed within the historic stable building (which, like the manor house, was designed by the 18th-century English architect Robert Adams), along with a gymnasium, brasserie, restaurant, bar and golf club. Offering all manner of luxury pampering, the spa opens on to the indoor pool, a contemporary design of Scandinavian light oak timbers with open views into the surrounding parkland and tennis court that proves irresistible. After we each clock up half an hour on the bike (200 calories to spend in the Wernher Restaurant) and a few perfunctory lengths of the pool, we skip back to our room in increasing anticipation of our dinner date.

Invigorated, shiny and ravenous from our ‘workout’, we are escorted to a seat in the bar to bask in the early evening sunlight that falls through the great windows. Opting for the house cocktails – champagne for her, a Hoo Dew for him – we ruminate on what some of Luton Hoo’s most distinguished former house-guests may have done before us (HRH the Queen and Prince Phillip on their honeymoon tour, Sir Winston Churchill, Edward VII and Lord Mountbatten).

We bet they found the rockery.

And now the moment has finally come. A waiter is leading us through the vast glazed doors into the ‘great dining room’. The Beaux Artsstyled restaurant is already radiant with guests seated beneath the three enormous chandeliers.

Traditional tallow candles light each table and we are primed for the final act. We have already agreed on the tasting menu with the wine pairing.

What better way to sample the culinary prowess of executive chef Kevin Clark. With our sommelier, Jonathan, poised to guide us through the inspired wine pairings, we are at bursting point.

The first entrée act is a tian of crab and lobster served on a coriander jelly with a sweet chilli dressing, paired with an Italian trebbiano (Ca’ dei Frati 2013) which stands up brilliantly to the crab but is equally delicious on its own.

To follow is an assiette of beetroot – a mix of chilled and cooked golden beetroot served with a fennel slaw. Jonathan serves a Chilean riesling that works a treat (TH Undurraga 2011). The third, a fish course, is pan-fried John Dory, confit

potatoes, smoked eel and young vegetables with chive beurre blanc. The subtle smokiness of the eel is really special and is perfectly matched with the acidity of an unusual and delicious white chardonnay from Beaujolais of all places (Oedoria, 2013).

The climactic main act, roast fillet of British beef with parsley and tarragon duchesse potatoes, a shallot purée and pan-fried foie gras is a shining tribute to Clark’s outstanding menu. Our only misgiving is its wine partner, an Argentinian malbec that proves too big for its old leather boots, the way of so much malbec (Catena, 2012). It is simply outclassed by the succulent beef.

A pre-dessert of orange, lemongrass and raspberry granita prepares us for the coming down.

It is icy, crunchy and expertly balanced. For the

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last act – a deconstructed lemon meringue pie made with lemon curd, dark chocolate, butter shortbread and lime meringue – Jonathan serves a French muscat from Rivesaltes in Roussillon (Muscat de Rivesaltes 2013). The missus is not a fan of dessert wine so without ado he fetches up a glass of Morgon and she is happy.

We wake up late the following morning, hazy with the memory of a post-prandial return to the bar, but we have slept so deeply and soundly that we emerge unscathed.

After a first-class traditional English breakfast back in the Wernher Restaurant, we rejoin the long and winding road that leads inevitably back to our own modest front door.

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa lutonhoo.com

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porsche design Timepieces

FIRST IN BLACK. THE NEW ORIGINAL.

Timepiece No. 1 | www.porsche-design.com/timepieces

By Conor McNicholas

Why I’m driven

360b / Shutterstock.com

W

hen you have petrol in your blood you can never shake it.

Like most of us, my passion for cars was ignited by the icons of the 80s: the exotic Lamborghini Countach, the graceful Porsche 959. I pasted my bedroom walls with airbrushed posters from Athena and dragged my father round London’s most glamorous supercar showrooms (he would distract the salesman while I sneaked into a driver’s seat).

I spent many years in the music business as editor of the rock bible NME, but even

then my car passion never left me. When I went on to become the editor of Top Gear magazine the petrol just flowed faster.

Speed is intoxicating, but for me power is nothing without soul. Drama may fade, but a car with spirit will become part of you, will become something more than just a toy.

In these new motoring pages I’ll be seeking that soul, seeking out the special and the rare, and looking to share that with others who also feel the petrol flowing through their veins.

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Racing and Motorsport.

The new collections from Porsche Driver’s Selection.

Porsche and motorsport: the two are inseparable. With over 60 years of racing history and more than 30,000 victories, Porsche is the most successful marque in motorsport.

Now Porsche Driver’s Selection is celebrating this heritage with two exciting new collections.

Marking our Le Mans 2015 bid and Carrera Cup GB Championship, both the Racing and Motorsport collections embody the spirit and success of Porsche on the racetrack as a stylistic element across every item including jackets, polo shirts and espresso cup sets.

The Racing and Motorsport collections are available from our Porsche Centres and online at

www.porsche.com/shop

Discover more about Porsche Driver’s Selection

Up to fastest-ever lotus

By Conor McNicholas

Alfa Romeo reborn One of Italy’s greatest marques was reborn this summer with the unveiling of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia. Delivered in full 503bhp Cloverleaf form, the new sedan is a bold step for a car company rediscovering its soul.

The Quadrifoglio Verde Giulia is powered by a Ferrari-developed aluminium twinturbo 3.0 litre V6 engine and instantly makes for a serious rival to BMW’s M3.

Alfa has had a chequered history in recent years. Sports cars such as the Ferrari-powered 8C and current lightweight 4C have been well received, but core models have lost their sporting finesse through overweight front-wheel drive platforms. The new rules at Alfa are strict: rear-wheel drive only and a focus on emotional appeal and driving purity.

To achieve something truly different the development of the new Alfa has been run as a skunk-works operation within parent company Fiat to allow its engineers and designers to challenge

established practices and preserve the spirit of the brand.

The new Giulia is the first of a raft of new models from the rejuvenated Alfa, with a larger sedan, a coupe and two SUVs on the way over the next three years.

Alfa has sought to rediscover its past, buoyed by the strong sales of classic Alfas. Auction prices of 1950s and 1960s Alfas have been climbing significantly, with Zagato-designed models particularly desirable.

Famed for the legendary Esprit and celebrated more recently for the lightweight Elise and Evora, British motoring legend Lotus is on the verge of releasing a new generation of sports cars.

It has started the promised rebirth with its fastest and most expensive model ever built, the 3-Eleven. Clocking in at a minimum of £82,000 and increasing to £115,200 for higher spec cars, the new 3-Eleven can go from 0-60mph in less than three seconds and go on to 180mph in race trim.

Powering the car is a 450bhp V6, while the body is constructed from a composite material that is 40% lighter than glass fibre and used for the first time ever in this model. A total of 311 cars will go on sale and the model promises to be an instant classic.

Breitling Bentleys take off Bentley has delivered its most extensive partnership yet with luxury watch brand Breitling – seven beautiful special edition Continentals that have already sold to collectors.

The Continental GT Speed Breitling Jets Team Series cars celebrate the Breitling Jets aerobatic team, which has flown at shows across the world since 2003.

The car’s powertrain has not been modified, retaining the model’s 626bhp W12 engine, but unique design features play inside and out. The exterior is a beautiful two-tone paint scheme with the

jet team’s recognisable yellow accents; inside the yellow accents continue on the specially stitched seats and leather dashboard panels.

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All work has been crafted by Bentley’s bespoke division, Mulliner. Each car is individually numbered and corresponds to one of the seven Breitling Jets.

Driving doesn’t get more pure than the new Caterham Seven 420R

By Conor McNicholas For this, the Riviera issue, we debated our motoring choices with one eye trained longingly on France’s epic Mediterranean coast. There is something undeniably magical about southern France and there’s no better way of soaking up that magic than to get behind the wheel and just drive.

You can enjoy the open road in many different ways. You can glide gracefully over it in a RollsRoyce Wraith (also featured this issue), you can blast across it with the brute force of a supercar, or you can choose to connect completely with the road by stripping out the fat that comes with any modern car and relying on raw engineering muscle and sinew. In short, you can get real.

Driving doesn’t come more real than the Caterham Seven 420R. Caterham essentially produces one brilliant car, the Seven, that grows in bulk as engine power increases.The range stretches from the 160, the baby of the family, up to the monstrous 620. The 160 is super-skinny and runs a three-litre 660cc turbo-charged Suzuki engine, but given it’s pushing something that weighs about as much as a box of tissues it’s still good for 0-60mph in 6.91sec. The 620 is bulkier, peppered with carbon fibre, grinding out 310bhp through its rear tyres to do the 0-60 sprint in a hypercar-rivalling 2.79sec.The car we’re focusing on here is a new Caterham model in a refined line-up, the 420. It effectively sits at the top of the road car range. It doesn’t have the trackfocused, demanding power of the 620 but its 210bhp will still take you from 0-60 in a thrilling 3.8sec and fling you on to 136mph if you have the guts to go there in something so small.

Racing legend

That smallness, however, is at the heart of the Seven project. To write the history of this car

is almost like writing the history of the British sports car. It’s genesis lies in the Lotus Seven, released originally in 1957. Lotus was born from the passion of legendary racing engineer, the great Colin Chapman. Chapman was obsessed with achieving the perfect sports car balance of power and weight saving, and it was a passion that drove him all his life. While he produced a handful of great cars, such as the classic Lotus Elite and Esprit, the Lotus Seven is the most pure evocation of Chapman’s philosophy.

As Lotus moved on, Caterham picked up the right to make the Seven four decades ago and has spent the time since then perfecting and updating the car. In the flesh, the 420 is a very special stopand-stare moment. Our test car was wrapped in a colour that we were assured was Triumph Nuclear Red, and its vibrant magenta hue told you everything you needed to know about the intention of this car. Our model had the £3,995 extra R pack, which delivers a five-speed gearbox, limited slip-differential, rollbar, Momo steering wheel and other essentials.

What strikes you about the Seven is just how much of the engineering is on show. The front wheels are attached to a sleek engine housing with skinny black struts. Large springs support the weight of the car, begging you to crush them into a tight corner. By the driver’s side a huge exhaust pipe and baffle run alongside the base of the car, ensuring you get the full joy of its sonic signature.

The roof is a thick plastic cover supported on more metal cross struts, but it all disappears into the back to leave the car in its purest open-top form (with just a protruding rollbar to save you from any gulley mishap). Thick tyres bulk out the rear of the car, eager to start digging into

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asphalt. You can order your Caterham in kit form and build it yourself if you’re so inclined.

(We’re not, since you asked.)

Philosophy

The Seven is essentially about just enough and no more. It’s about stripped-out interiors and high-powered engines. But most of all, it’s about intense driving feel. Our time behind the wheel of the Caterham was blessed with blazing English summer days on sticky tarmac and warm evenings through scented country air.

Getting into the machine is – let’s be honest – a minor trial. The doors are lightweight plastic flaps, the seats composite affairs with limited manoeuvrability. Your legs are stretched way out in front of you to distant pedals to keep you low.

Seatbelts are complex four-point affairs and the key turn is placed awkwardly under the dashboard.

But turn the key, hit the starter button and the car erupts into a caterwaul of unfiltered energy and menace. It’s intoxicating.

Driving the 420 is a revelation. Sitting low, your body pivots with every turn, you learn to feel for corners with your feet first. Speed comes in great

bursts with thrusting, mechanical gear changes.

Corners become delicious things to be savoured, while the loss of traction from the slidey rear end is a behaviour to be very much encouraged.

It’s all so brutally, viscerally real; just you and the road connected directly. It’s driving in its purest form, and going back to any car afterwards – any car – feels like an anaesthetic.

Existential crisis

Since it’s debut the Seven has been the plaything of the rakish gentleman. It was famously the car that Patrick McGoohan drove at the start of the 60s psychedelic TV thriller The Prisoner.

That era defined the Seven as an all-time classic, but now the 420R is a conundrum as much as it is a snappy piece of engineering. It is at once an incredibly focused machine built to achieve a purity of driving experience, but it’s also an anachronism that struggles to directly answer any question in the modern age. If you want a superlative track car to chase down lap times, then other, more exotic machines will do a better job.

If you want something sporty to jump into on a weekend, then the Caterham is cumbersome and

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edgy. If you want the pinnacle of modern strippedback British sports car created for the road, then Aerial’s Atom or BAC’s Mono will loom large.

But the Caterham isn’t just about engineering perfection. It’s about connecting with something deeper, connecting with a pure spirit of motoring, a moment in history lovingly kept relevant in the modern age. At £30,990 the Caterham Seven 420R really exists as a plaything, the fun toy of any collection. You could drive something smoother, something where compromise and edge has been engineered out, but to get behind the wheel of a Caterham is to say you’re interested in more than that. To drive a Caterham is to say you’re interested in truly feeling every second life has to offer in glorious technicolour.

As you slip through the back roads of the Riviera connecting apexes together, catching the rear of the car as it slips deliciously, feeling every inch of the road below you and reacting to everything in a heartbeat, smelling the lavender and rosemary on the evening breeze, you’ll be truly living. It’s delivering that moment time and time again that makes the Caterham very special indeed.

Limited edition luxury briefcases and luggage for gentlemen

www.beruccio.com

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Stilettos to the Rolls-Royce hopes women drivers will also love driving the Wraith. Tempus Editor Dawn Alford investigates

I

have driven a Rolls-Royce for two periods in my life – with a gap of 22 years in between. My first experience was when I was a chauffeur to an incredibly wealthy Devonshire family. I’d applied to a somewhat unusual situations vacant ad in the Express and Echo evening paper, which had asked for a “female driver with a full clean driving licence – available to take two children to school – 10 hours a week”.

I was a drama student and the hours suited me perfectly. On the day of my interview I drove onto the family’s country estate in my ancient Triumph Dolomite, sporting a full perm and the only suit I owned.

It was quite an entrance. My car bounced up the drive (three of the four shock absorbers had long ceased to exist) and smoke poured from the bonnet as the big end threw a tantrum at being forced to operate for more than three miles.

The family met me at the door and thought the whole scene hilarious. They were landed gentry, but with a healthy dose of Bohemia thrown in.

We hit it off; they glanced at my licence and said the job was mine.

I was shown to the garages and told I would either be driving the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur or the Saab, depending on which car the father had taken to work that day.

The job was simply to drop the children at school, wait until they had disappeared into their prep surroundings and then bring the car home.

Luckily, on most mornings I got to drive the Silver Spur. It was terrifying at first, but then I fell head over heels in love with it. On the days when only the Saab keys were left hanging, my heart would sink.

Looking back, it seems crazy that it ever happened. I think it’s illegal today to advertise

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for female-only staff, and to work with children I’d have to be CRB-checked. As for the cost of insuring a young female student to drive a RR …

Sadly, it only lasted eight weeks – until the kids’ term ended and my course finished. We’ve stayed in touch and still swap Christmas cards, but I still miss the Rolls most of all.

So I jumped at the chance to test-drive the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Inspired by fashion and glamour, the Goodwood-based marketing team told me this was very much aimed at a glamorous younger market, and was a car that any woman would enjoy driving.

And the figures seem to prove their point.

About 10-15 per cent of Rolls-Royce owners are women and the introduction of the Wraith has seen those figures bolstered further.

Yet in no way is this an obviously feminine car.

With an almost 2.5-tonne kerb weight, it’s solid

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and hefty. It is also the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built.The exterior boasts the classic grille and headlights, while at the rear are large, perfectly integrated twin-exhaust pipes.

Under a never-ending bonnet sits a 6.6 litre turbo-charged V12 that puts out 624bhp via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. It can hit 60 in 4.4 seconds and limits its own speed at 155mph. I was happy to believe both facts, rather than testing it for myself on an M2 awash with speed cameras.

The driving experience is exhilarating, yet natural and tranquil, if that isn’t too much of a contradiction. Starting with a simple ‘drive’ selection via the steering-column mounted menu, it feels effortless and the ride is smooth beyond anything I’ve ever experienced.

But its quietness belies the sheer power of the Wraith. Flex your right foot and it’s all there – in

the blink of an eye. Mid-journey, I let my husband take the wheel while I enjoyed the passenger ride and took time to check out the interior. It’s impossible to mention every piece of spec – a feast of luxury materials and ground-breaking tech.

Everything is at your fingertips, right down to my personal favourite: the umbrellas integrated into the car’s wings.

The carpet is a luxurious pile, the mats are made from lamb’s wool and the leather is the finest on the planet. The dashboard is a glimmering work of art.

The sound system is immersive, the sat nav is the best I’ve had and the bird’s-eye view camera made driving around London a little easier.

And while it only has two doors, it would of course be quite a stretch to lean out and close them.

Instead, the Wraith offers a handy, brushed-silver button that electronically shuts them for you.

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Most thrilling of all are the starlights woven into the roof, which are made up of 1,340 fibreoptics. On my second day with the car I drove some friends to the 02 Arena to see a Take That concert. It made driving at night very special indeed – and yes, of course we launched into their Stardust film track hit Rule the World: “You and me we can light up the sky ... ” The Wraith has to be, in my opinion, the finest car on the planet in terms of power, grace and British style.

Will women really buy this car? Yes, why not?

In all honesty it’s not the kind of car you’d pop out to get a pint of milk in, but in every other way it is sleek, smooth and easy to drive.

And would I do the school run in this £231,000 masterpiece – just as I did with the Silver Spur two decades ago as a lowly chauffeur?

Hell, yes.

play time

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Cast your eyes over our group of grin-inducing playthings guaranteed to have the kids beaming* By Peter Jenkinson Say no to mass-produced plastic tat – the vertically challenged deserve more from their free time when not cramming their grey matter with facts and figures from the National Curriculum. It’s time to take play seriously, and with the installation or inclusion of one or more of our outstanding array of toys in your home, you’re not only guaranteed a gathering of grinning kids, but have just bought yourself something you can enjoy too once they’ve hit the sack. A work of genius indeed.

1 Plenty of vroom – Broon F8 Packed with the kind of tech you’d expect in a car for grown-ups, this piece of kit can rightly claim to be the first supercar for kids. On board is a seven-inch touch screen tablet, giving the driver control over all manner of actions, from a selection of the five speeds to opening and shutting the boot, bonnet and door. The car is a real head-turner, even when parked. The drive can be controlled remotely, or on board by the pint-sized driver, who sits in total comfort in the bucket-style seat with a four-point safety harness.

A high-spec suspension gives the driver the glide of their life, while the stereo system adds up to a car that’s hard to get them out of. flyinggadgets.com

1 *Grown-ups are, of course, invited to test where necessary.

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Fight night – Bionic Bopper cars

Petrolhead – Junior F1L Back to the future – S5 Racer Hoverboard

Think Transformers meets Rock’Em Sock’Em robots with a hint of Robot Wars – this is the result of a cross-engineering program that has resulted in an exhilarating plaything. Competitors stand inside the safety cages, just inches from the robotic, pneumatically driven force of the punch unleashed by the opposition. When a blow has landed on target, the opponent’s head snaps back; this is the knockout you’re looking for. But this is far from a static swiping exercise. Each machine is driven by a petrol-powered engine so you can manoeuvre in and out of the action, defend or attack. hammacher.com

The engineering brains behind this shrunken replica wanted to create something for a junior driver that offered more fun than a go-kart, racing exhilaration and a unit powerful enough to propel grown-ups too. The F1L racer is one of a range of rides created to scale. This model features a 120cc air-cooled engine with a semi-automatic gearbox and a choice of gear configurations, full independent suspension, alloys and, overall, enough grunt to gets heads turning and the hairs on the back of the neck standing to attention. groupharrington.com

Three decades have passed since Michael J. Fox introduced us to the Hoverboard in Back to the Future II. However, the reality is still some distance away. But while we’re waiting, this piece of kit will do. It can propel you with your feet a similar distance above the ground, while its pneumatic tyres offer a smooth ride and get you from A to B at speeds approaching 12kph. A full charge, which can take you about 15km, is achieved in just one hour; the face-ache produced from riding one of these gyroscopic, pressure-pad controlled boards lasts much longer. easyriders.co

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Outside space – dens, hideaways and small houses All manner of bespoke and ready-planned builds for your outside space that are designed to look great when in situ and offer near endless entertainment for kids and their guests.

From corner-space filling cottages for a small gathering to stately-style builds filled with activity elements, each one of these houses has an element of the ‘wow’ factor. Your build can come from pre-ordained specifications or borrowed from previous builds. Or you can simply challenge them to do something you and your kids have drawn up – almost anything is possible. Just add imagination and they’ve got the best play-station on the planet. theplayhousecompany.co.uk

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Slots of fun – Arcade Table You can keep the endless levels on console gaming titles – too many wasted hours of screen-staring for my liking. What I want is a plethora of choice, of nostalgic pick-up-andplay titles, and I’d like more than 300 of them in one place, please. Well, thank the gaming gods, here is one they made earlier: a stylishlooking coffee table with every title you can imagine shoed inside from a decade when games were played with just a few buttons and an actual joystick. This multi-talented piece of kit also happens to be a superb spot on which to place drinks and keep them stable. homeleisuredirect.com

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Fairground attraction – Son of Serpent Coaster

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Standing at around 6ft tall, when finally completed by you and the kids it will take pride of place and plenty of space, wherever you put it. With 5,500 pieces to fix together, this is not a quick job. Since completing construction I’ve now point-blank refused to ever take it down.

To do this I had to promise to play with it every day, which I do. Flick the motorised switch to marvel at the cars climbing steadily up the incline before being released upon a circuit of the impressive track layout. All the fun of the fair, without having to actually go there. knex.co.uk

Feel the Force – Star Wars Battle Pod There are very few arcade games where you need to open a door and step inside before taking your seat – by this stage you know you’re in for a thrill. Taking my position in front of the outrageously large wraparound screen, I immediately felt that I should have sported at least one element of Imperial or Rebel command attire to fully absorb myself.

Select from one of five missions and get set to take out multiple enemies as you race at speed (built-in air-blasters help to enhance this) through your mission. The controls have vibration feedback, there is surround sound stereo and the seat vibrates. This, along with the eye-popping on-screen action, makes it as close as anyone will ever get to actually being on the set of this movie franchise. namco.com

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Luxury attaché

Feel like a local wherever you might be across the globe. With insider knowledge of almost every aspect of every local service to hand, you’ll be armed to the max with all you need to show the kids you really do know best – most of the time.

LUXE BODY WASH APPLE & BEARS True style starts in the bathroom Find out more at appleandbears.com

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Cool pool

This innovative, Belgium-based manufacturer has been producing slick pool tables that can double as dining room tables since 1997.

This piece uses hi-tech nylon stretch cloth with memory, meaning that the pockets stretch out when they collect balls.

Price: On application, www.fusiontables.com

Check out these great new products, services and events - for you and your home - 85 -

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Caffeine-hit

For the coffee-lover in all of us, Mikel has more than 130 stores in Greece, offering a smorgasbord of hot and cold beverages, pastries, sandwiches and ice creams to choose from. Treat yourself – after all, it’s nearly Christmas. mikelcc.gr

Bears necessities

This Apples & Bears gift set comes in four natural fragrances – Bergamot & Green Tea, Pomegranate & Aloe Vera, Grapefruit & Seaweed, and Honey & Hemp. The outcome will show visibly healthier skin and a clear mind, as 5% from all sales goes to Breast Cancer Support.

Price: £34.95, appleandbears.com/stockists

Topless treat

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LAP 63 has been established in Holland Park in London for five years now, but founder Ludovic Parayre has a vast knowledge in the classic car industry, which he has worked in for 24 years. The jewel in his collection is this beautiful, headturning 1970 280 SL Mercedes.

Price: On application, lap63.co.uk

Play your own style.

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Booth #L620

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me there Away from the glorious sandy beaches and the yachtfilled marinas, St. Tropez boasts historic cobbled streets, endless cafĂŠs and pretty terracotta buildings.

Combine a trip to the Monaco Yacht Show with a stay in this pretty town – September is the perfect time to visit.

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By Mark Southern

Jet, set, sail

A date with space

Luxury cruise operator Celebrity Cruises has launched the industry’s first ever VIP private jet charter service to get their passengers to the boat in style.

The company’s pioneering new service operates out of Stansted Airport’s private terminal and includes a 25kg luggage allowance, gourmet food and limousine transfer to the boat on arrival at the destination airport.

Virgin Galactic is due to start testing its new spaceship by the end of 2015 following the loss of the first model in 2014.

Sir Richard Branson claims that lessons have been learned from the crash and that these have been incorporated into the new design. CEO George Whitesides said: “We still have roughly 700 folks who are eager to fly, and things are moving forward in a positive way.”

Paradise found New luxury hotels seem to be opening every week in the Caribbean, and one of the most talked about is the exclusive Paradise Beach in Nevis.

The sophisticated resort features seven beach-front private-pool villas that come with the services of a concierge and oncall butler service.

Situated on the west coast of Nevis, just north of Pinney’s Beach, Paradise Beach Nevis offers views of Mount Nevis, the Caribbean Sea and the neighbouring island of St Kitts. It features a chic beach bar and the luxury thatched beach-front villas, each boasting a plunge pool and an outdoor shower set within lush gardens.

No need to miss Saigon The Reverie Saigon in Vietnam is being touted as the most spectacular hotel opening in Asia this year. The new, ultraluxurious 39-floor Times Square building in Ho Chi Minh’s City central business district is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Each one of the hotel’s 286 rooms has been individually furnished by some of Italy’s finest design houses and have expansive views of the area.

Features of The Reverie Saigon include a one-of-a-kind Bechstein grand piano dating back to 1895 that sits in the La Scala Grand Ballroom, and a three-metre Baldi clock in the main lobby with crystals and 24ct gold accents that was specially commissioned by the hotel.

It also boasts the longest bar in Saigon and a fleet of luxury vehicles, including

a limited edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Dragon. The most exclusive suite is available at just over £9,600 a night.

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Visit Antarctica for a whale of a time One of the most adventurous and impressive sailing yachts in the Y.CO fleet, the Vertigo, will be embarking on an exhilarating tour this November, exploring the extraordinary waters of Antarctica and the pristine islands of the South Pacific.

Guests will be able to get up close and personal with a huge range of the majestic wildlife that thrives in the Antarctic waters, including the chinstrap penguin; blue, humpback, killer and minke whales; and seals and birds. In contrast, the islands of the South Pacific offers guests spotless, secluded white beaches, magnificent coral reefs and lush tropical jungles.

The sailing superyacht was designed by Philippe Briand and can accommodate up to 12 guests. Opportunities for intimate interaction with the environment include wildlife viewing trips, kayaking, ice snorkelling and polar diving.

Weekly charter rates start from £225,000, but further rates will apply for the Antarctica trips.

A promise.

The Bad Ragaz thermal water‘s soothing powers meet every guest‘s needs at our 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa. Everything flows and nothing remains, apart from the constant change and ongoing transformation. Leave your everyday life behind and immerse yourself in your personal source of wellbeing.

Switzerland – www.resortragaz.ch

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By Peter Dean

L

ike Budapest, Porto is two cities in one, divided by a river that is its lifeblood.

On the north lies Porto, a somewhat dishevelled city of churches and tight, twisting streets that tumble down into the river below it. On the south is Vila Nova de Gaia, whose giant red-tiled port lodges are there because of its north-facing aspect and a micro-climate that is ideal for ageing fortified wine.

Spanning the mighty expanse of the Duoro, the ‘river of gold’ that snakes its way through the wine heartland of Portugal all the way to Spain, are six colossal bridges from the industrial age that act like grappling hooks to yoke the two halves of the city together.

Porto is not a pretty city in the classic sense.

This is a working city, one where tin-beaters, seamstresses and clog-makers jostle for space with tradesmen of a more modern era. What the bourgeoisie, having departed for the suburbs, have left behind is a fascinating melange of the dilapidated and the new. The Eiffel-esque Dom Luis I Bridge towers over the narrow, six-storeyed coloured buildings of Miragai Street, and the myriad of old, flat-bottomed port boats that skim across the river below it.

The monuments are carved from solid granite and the houses covered in tiles.

Porto feels more northern European and the climate is wetter than nearby Lisbon.

I’ve seen it described as ‘Portugal without tourists’, but calling it ‘untouristy’ is perhaps more accurate. After all, it was voted 2014 Best European Destination.

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Culture.

Despite its UNESCO World Heritage status, the Medieval centre of Porto – the Ribeira – feels neglected and part of a bygone era. This gives it part of its charm and identity – Art Deco buildings stand abandoned, while life carries busily on around them.

Lello, a Neogothic structure built in 1906, is still a working bookshop. It feels like an old library, with a grand staircase leading to the second floor and large stained-glass windows in the ceiling that bear the bookshop’s monogram.

The city is not overrun by grand civic buildings but the Palacio da Bolsa is an exception. Take a guided tour to get the most out of your visit.

The port industry has helped define Porto as a city and you should visit one of its 55 port lodges.

At Sandeman, guided tours range from €9 to €35.

Architecturally, two buildings that epitomise Porto old and young are the Cathedral and Casa da Musica. The former’s unusual granite stone makes it look more like a castle, while the interior has so much gilt that it could have been applied with a trowel. Casa da Musica is a concert hall designed by Dutch designer Rem Koolhaa that is iconic and controversial in equal measure.

Wherever you go, the houses are tiled on the outside, and some monuments are impressively tiled on the inside – particularly the Sao Bento railway station whose azulejos (tiles depicting historical scenes) are a living, working masterpiece.

Eat.

Portuguese cuisine has been dealt an unfair hand by the critics in the past but many of its restaurants, such as the Michelin-starred The Yeatman, Dom Tonho and Pedros Lemos, are up there with the world’s best. We ate in O Commercial, a chic mix of faded grandeur and ultra-modern fittings.

Porto, like most of the country, is all about the seafood. Go for chargrilled octopus and anything that features local speciality baccala (a salted, dried cod). And don’t miss the rabanada, a French toaststyle fried bread with egg yolks, cinnamon, pine nuts, raisins, lemon and sugar syrup.

It is available at Café Majestic, a beautiful café where little has changed since it first opened its doors in 1921.The waiters in their starched white uniforms weave around the tables in this Art Nouveau interior as the locals chatter above the tinkled-ivories of the grand piano.

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Stay.

If you want to be away from the hustle and bustle then Pousada do Porto is the ideal location. The Yeatman Hotel is located on the Gaia side of the city and boasts panoramic city views from its infinity pool, as well as an unrivalled wine list. Hotel Infante Sagres is also recommended.

Drink.

For wine-lovers the slightly spritzy vinho verde is a northern favourite, but do experiment with reds from the Duoro.

If you want a good drop of port, drink an old vintage, though nothing younger than 1994, which was a fine year. White port is a delicious aperitif, especially as an amuse bouche with a scoop of lemon sorbet in the glass. There are plenty of mid-market bars to go for along Rua Galerias Paris and Rua Candido dos Reis, but one that is more upscale and interesting is Café Lusitano. We drank industrial-strength caipirinhas next to Portugal’s most famous chanteuse, who chain-smoked the night away and was left alone by the hip locals. cafelusitano.com

Get about.

Because the city is built on granite there is little in the way of an underground system. The best way to get about is by foot, on one of the many old-style trams or in one of the plentiful, cheap taxis. There is also a funicular and a cable car that takes you to Dom Luis I Bridge, which was designed by a partner of Gustave Eiffel (yes, that one).

Another must-do is to take a ride on a rabelo, the flat-bottomed boats that were used for ferrying port barrels around the harbour and now carry tourists on hour-long (€15) trips.

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Get there.

TAP Portugal flies daily from both Gatwick and Heathrow. We flew business class; it gives access to the lounge air-side, as well as great onboard food and an impressive wine list. Any airline that serves wine as good as the Colinas Bairrada 2008 Reserva is fine by my book. flytap.com

SENZATI

TM

S E N Z AT I BY D E S I G N Welcome to Senzati. Quite simply, we design and build the world’s finest luxury VIP people carriers. British designed and British built, the Senzati Jet™ Sprinter is unique; from the exclusive mid-ships cabin door & two metre glass roof to the sumptuous custom built seats & furniture. Whether you are travelling for business and making use of the connected mobile office, taking friends out for dinner, making use of the 600 mile uninterrupted fuel range or simply relaxing with movies en-route (it can even boast a private bathroom), the Senzati Jet™ Sprinter is, undeniably, the optimum way to be chauffeured by road. To add to its credentials, it is also the first Mercedes Sprinter in the world to be European Whole Vehicle Type Approved as a passenger car.

JET SPRINTER

High spec as standard, with double glazing, electric black-out blinds, LCD switchable privacy glass, seats which heat/ cool and massage with head support system, remote electric opening side door, high end audio and LCD TV’s. The ‘Hosted’ version includes electric doors to the driver’s compartment. With full height headroom throughout (6’4”) and leather from floor to ceiling, the interior is welcoming and sumptuous.

JET CLASS

With an almost limitless choice of colours, textures, fabrics and veneers, your Senzati Jet™ Sprinter is genuinely bespoke.

Senzati’s commitment extends beyond your initial investment. Our comprehensive warranty, obsessive customer service and on-going support, will ensure that your ownership experience is unprecedented.

Let us create the most exceptional vehicle for you.

Senzati is proud to announce the launch of its Jet Class range. Based around Mercedes new model V Class, the sleek, stylish and sporty exterior is the perfect complement to the luxury and comfort found inside. With Senzati’s unrivalled attention to fine detail, the new Senzati Jet™ Class is already attracting global attention and is undeniably, a very classy addition to the Senzati portfolio.

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This wasn’t just a room with a view, it was THE room with THE view

turkish delights

Culture, cuisine and keeping the kids content - all done with style

By Dawn Alford

T

he early signs were good. We boarded the plane – and turned left.

Our seats were as close to the cockpit as is possible, with plenty of space for the short flight ahead for us, our offspring and their sprawling collection of entertainment.

Some airlines still have a strict ‘no kids up front’ policy in premium and above, but Monarch Airlines happily accommodates children in its premier class – phew.

Travelling with our children over the years has had mixed results.

Often, we’ve found that even some of the best hotels in the world don’t cater particularly well for children. Suites can be cramped and rooms with inter-connecting doors don’t always exist, and on one occasion a well-known five-star resort in Mauritius gave us two rooms so far apart that we were sure they had a different climate.

We’ve known luxury hotels without children’s activities or menus (not all three-years-olds have a palate that’s ready for lobster) and night-time entertainment turned up to level 11 until the early hours – resulting in sleep-deprived moodiness (the kids were a bit grumpy, too).

So, our quandary: a love of travel; the need to unwind; the desire to create/implant memorable moments for the kids; and to find a place where they can have fun and let off some steam. This, plus finding a half-term adventure with class, can be a tricky business.

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Stay.

Unquestionably the best hotel in Marmaris, D-Resort Grand Azur is a five-star hotel in a first-class location. There are 324 spacious and luxurious rooms, plus king and grand suites. dresortgrandazur.com.tra

So it was with a modicum of trepidation that we chose Turkey as our latest destination/victim for our terrible two – a week of guaranteed sunshine and some legendary service from a nation that has been dishing it out with grace for decades.

After a seamless and event-free flight we were met at arrivals by our driver, a man with what had to be the biggest grin in the Mediterranean.

This man-mountain was able to handle all of our luggage on his own, direct us to the waiting air-conditioned ride, open our doors individually and take his own seat without breaking sweat, and, still smiling.

The drive along the coast from Dalaman to our resort of Marmaris from the airport took less than an hour, but the stunning scenery, temperaturecontrolled comfort and a sleeping youngster helped to make this a very pleasant 60 minutes.

Our arrival at the D-Resort Grand Azur hotel must have coincided with a lull in activity as no fewer than ten staff turned out to welcome us with cooling towels and ice-cold drinks.

We’ve learnt that the furthest our accommodation is away from the check-in desk, the quieter it tends to be. Our suite, on the top floor and to the far, eastern reaches of the hotel, most certainly was not quiet, as the kids charged

through and found the balcony. Our 12-year-old declared this wasn’t just a room with a view, it was THE room with THE view.

The three-piece balcony spanned more than 70ft and offered inspiring views over the hotel’s grounds, the sea and entire resort from a secluded and serene spot. The suite itself and its vastness meant we could all claim space to call our own, and with four televisions and two bathrooms we could also command a TV and wash basin apiece too.

The on-site eateries include a poolside bar and a main restaurant for breakfast and evening meals, with a range of dishes on offer at each sitting to satisfy the most demanding and difficult palates on the planet. The casual nature of these places meant the kids, and therefore us, felt at ease and it made meal-times a relaxing affair. Even our visit to the penthouse Steak and Bar restaurant for a more formal meal included a kids’ menu featuring special cuts for the younger carnivore.

The resort has invested heavily in expanding its spa facilities and offers an extensive menu of treatments, and plenty of time to relax on your own. After all, the kids wouldn’t thank you for taking them away from the pools – a small one with slide for non-swimmers, a stunning larger

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pool and a lazy river. Surrounding the pools are numerous plump sun loungers and call buttons under the parasols.

Our days were punctuated with strolls down by the beach – a pathway outside the hotel offers a route to a plethora of other watering holes and food should you fancy heading out. But if you prefer to stay put, then afternoon tea is served every day.

After dinner you can head off to the D-resort’s beach bar, with high-quality singers and acts accompanying the sounds of the sea.

An aqua water park opposite the hotel offers plenty of thrills, while a walk down to the marina and castle is a must for a lazy afternoon stroll, as is a trip to the bazaar, where high fashion collides with steep traditions.

The definition of luxury travel for kids may be diametrically opposed to that of parents in many respects. Ask our children what they loved the most about this hotel and they will cite the ping pong tables and multiple flavours of ice-cream. For me, it would be peace and quiet, happy children, a hot stone treatment and a decent claret.

Luckily, this hotel ticked off everything on our wish list: top-class staff, wonderful food and a beautiful setting – oh, and a mini disco too.

Get there.

Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates flights to Dalaman from Birmingham, London Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and London Luton airports, with fares, including taxes, starting from ÂŁ49.99 one way (ÂŁ140.98 return).

For further information, or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, visit monarch.co.uk

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Lledo / Shutterstock.com

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Britannia

rules Martin Roberts and his family head off on a luxury break aboard P&O Cruises’ latest flagship, the Britannia

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“I

t’s food porn,” says the chef.

The statement might have been inappropriate were it not being made by Eric Lanlard, master patissier and star of Channel 4’s Glamour Puds and Baking Mad. He oozes sex appeal as effortlessly as his chocolate orange and ginger soufflé oozes its melted fondant centre.

I’m in the The Cookery Club, one of a selection of imaginative new features that turns this cruise from being a simple week’s floating, overeating holiday into a break that has something for everyone.

“Lift it and let the flour float through your fingers,” insists Eric, as myself and 20 other

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eager students are taught the fine arts of making shortcrust pastry.

Using terminology more suited to a lesson in sensual massage, we knead, roll, fold, melt and whisk our way through three tantalisingly wonderful dishes. Two hours later, we each proudly display and then eat our hand-baked fig, lardon and dolcelatte tart, West Indian chocolate tart and hot gingerbread soufflé.

During the week there are masterclass courses in breadmaking, macaroons, Thai street food, Spanish tapas and French brasserie – one for kids and one that’s suitable for the whole family.

Eric is one of the celebrity chefs, or Food Heroes as P&O Cruises call them, that have been bought together to turn the cruising/food experience on its head.

He is joined by James Martin, Atul Kochhar and Marco Pierre White – with wine expert Olly Smith on hand for alcoholic accompaniments. They each give passengers a unique opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ with them.

On our cruise around the fringes of the Bay of Biscay, Eric joins us on a shore excursion to La Rochelle. We walk the markets under his guidance and commentary, and end up at a hand-picked patisserie where he introduces us to the local delicacies and over-indulgent confectionery delights.

Back on board he hosts an intimate dinner for 12 where he oversees the preparation of our food; the conversation flows, as does the unlimited champagne and wine. It all adds up to a unique and memorable experience in its own right. Throw in everything else that’s on offer

and it would seem that cruising has gone stellar.

We had included an extra complication in to the mix by bringing along our two young children – eight-year-old Scott and five-yearold Megan. We’d carefully researched cruise ships with facilities that would ‘cater’ for their needs. And judging by the fact that they were battering down the door at the Kids’ Club every morning, I think they judged the offering a success.

That offering is, quite simply, state of the art, with facilities, activities and staff that are impossible to fault. From 9am to midnight you could, in theory, leave them in the capable hands of the energetic and enthusiastic Youth Team – with the exception of a one-hour break for lunch and tea. In that time they are entertained, exercised, inspired and educated. Narrow age groups for the various clubs (2-4, 5-8, 9-12 and 13-17) mean they are with like-minded and similar-aged soon-to-be-friends. There’s also a complimentary nursery and night nursery for the under-twos. And of course, if the kids are happy you can get on with guilt-free enjoyment of the rest of the liner’s facilities.

This could be relaxing by one of the ‘quiet zone’ pools – an adults only area – having a massage in the spa, steaming in the hydrotherapy suite, working off a token gesture number of calories in the gym or sipping cocktails in one of the elegant bars, one of which features more than 20 different types of boutique gin.

General food offerings range from the carefully thought through, queue-free buffet, to fine dining at the – it isn’t, but should be Michelin-starred – Epicurian restaurant.

All the Food Heroes make their mark at some

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point. It could be a Marco- or James Martindesigned Gala Dinner, Atul Kochhar’s Sindhu Indian restaurant or afternoon tea served in the glamorous atrium or the Epicurian with sandwiches and patisseries created by Eric Lanlard, the likes of which I have never seen before: roast beef brioche; smoked duck breast; raspberry and cucumber sandwiches; orangeinfused almond cake; pistachio and strawberry tart … the tiered serving platter groans under the weight.

Traditional cruise-ship entertainment has been given a makeover too. There’s a fully equipped TV studio, where you can try your hand at being a presenter, and a 900-plus seat West End-standard theatre.

My favourite was the Limelight Club – a dinner and music venue in the fashion of a Chicago jazz club where soul and blues star Jaki Graham performed an intimate set as we were served what was becoming the now normal mouthwatering culinary offering.

Staying in one of the Britannia’s suites brings additional delights, as well as extra cabin space, including your own butler, private facilities for breakfast and all the other niceties you would expect. But to be fair, the overall décor and design of the ship gives all passengers a sense of opulence and pampering.

Critically analysing what this cruise provided, I couldn’t think of any holiday that so well married the diverse requirements of an active five and eight-year-old, and their luxury, relaxation and culinary-minded parents.

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Information.

P&O Cruises has a wide variety of cruises; year round and worldwide. To book, call 0843 374 0111, visit pocruises.com or visit your local travel agent.

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THE PU R SU ITS COLLECTION F O R T H E M O R E D I S C E R N I N G L E I S U R E S E E K E R . Crafted for the demands of a country sporting life, yet a perfect match for the most urban of pursuits. Exquisitely detailed, hand-stitched, waxed hide, and eighty years of unswerving experience permeating the weather-proofed cotton drill.

Rugged and refined in equal measure. E T T I N G E R . T O E A C H T H E I R O W N .

ETTINGER.CO.UK

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Some destinations should be explored from behind the wheel of a vintage sports car. Mark Southern slid into a DB6 and channelled his inner Bond to discover the old-school glamour of Montenegro

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T

here are many places on this wonderful planet that demand to be explored on foot, while others insist upon being seen by air or sea. However, without wanting to sound too Jeremy Clarkson here (note to Editor: be calm, no controversy here), there are some destinations that simply need to be beheld behind the wheel of a classic sports car.

Montenegro is one of those places, and some.

To experience this ourselves we picked up an obscenely beautiful 1970 Aston Martin DB6 from the always-stunning city of Dubrovnik, and set off for a three-day road trip to and around the sovereign state of Montenegro.

It’s fair to say that the diminutive nation, which is half the size of Wales, has had a gargantuan history, which undeniably, and understandably, still impacts upon it today. For hundreds of years Montenegrins faced a relentless succession of power-crazed empire builders wrestling for control of new frontiers, before being annexed

by Yugoslavia in 1918. Then came close to a century of further difficulties before it gained independence in 2006.That’s some list of scrapes to pull through.

This memorable legacy has left its mark on the state, nestled into a tight little gap of Adriatic headland between Croatia to the north, Serbia to the east and Albania to the south, and it’s

along this breathtaking coastline that we wind our way into Montenegro.

There’s an immediate, old-fashioned charm about the place, with roads slaloming around lush green mountains, and a kind of sepia colour palette that oozes cinematic splendour.

The Aston glides past vista after vista until we arrive at the spectacular Bay of Kotor, hidden between a high, mountainous frame, and with the crystal-blue Adriatic Sea twinkling as far as the eye can see. As the road beckons us around the final corner, the walled town of Kotor itself emerges stage left, creating an introduction to a country like no other I’ve seen.

It’s a glorious opening sequence from a yet-tobe-made Bond movie.

We settle into the classically Montenegrin waterfront Palazzo Radomiri, where whitewashed buildings and sun-drenched terracotta rooftops blend into the deep green mountainside, reflected back by the deep blue sea. The hotel is bijou and contemporary classic, and we enjoy dinner on the hot flagstones of the outside dining area.

In the morning, after yoga at sunrise on the private jetty, we fall back into the DB6 and set off on our coastal adventure once more, wistfully seeing the Bay of Kotor drift into the background.

However, out of sight and out of mind, as just moments later vertiginous mountains lead us on a

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merry zigzag through their passes, as one perfect fishing village after another sprawls chaotically beneath our bird’s-eye view.

As we emerge from the passage, the high walls of the town of Budva provide yet another perfect set for the best Elizabeth Taylor movie Elizabeth Taylor didn’t make. Its movie-star glamour is perfectly congruent with the simple beauty around it.

We drive into the city and to the quite wonderful Aman residence of Sveti Stefan, the famous island hotel. What was once a 15th-century fortified village is now possibly the most iconic luxury hotel in Europe, reached by a narrow isthmus. Here, we explore the heartbreakingly stunning island and enjoy the excellent spa before taking dinner as the sun sets on the romantic courtyard.

Little happens in Montenegro in any great hurry, and the final day of our trip is spent leisurely driving inland for lunch in the capital, Podrica, where Sundays are mostly spent in a state of simple calm, before winding our way back to Dubrovnik.

Lord Byron once described the Montenegrin coast as “the most beautiful contact between the earth and the sea”. As we begrudgingly hand back the keys of our new favourite car, we can’t help but agree.

Get there.

British Airways flies direct to Dubrovnik from London Gatwick.

Don’t forget to try its award-winning First Class service. ba.com

Kotor stay.

Enjoy the stunning Bay of Kotor from the delightful Palazzo Radomiri. palazzoradomiri.com

Budva stay.

Experience a hotel like no other on Earth at the Aman Sveti Stefan. amanresorts.com

Car hire.

Make the most of some of the most incredible roads in Europe with a vintage hire car from Classic Car Hire World. classiccarhire.com

Home from home.

Combine a holiday with a search for a new first or second home. The stunning Lustica Bay development is now open and you can make an appointment to viewings the exclusive properties via the website lusticabay.com

NEW HOMES FOR SALE BOOK A VISIT

Life as it should be

Hidden within Montenegro’s mountainous terrain and undulating landscape, is where you will find Luštica Bay, a pioneering real estate and lifestyle development. Encompassing luxury villas, quaint townhouses, two marinas, boutique hotels, and a signature 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, Luštica Bay is leading the charge in placing Montenegro on the map.

The inherent active lifestyle is one of this region’s greatest attractions. Life is best enjoyed outdoors, where sunrise yoga sessions, golf competitions and sailing regattas rule the roost. Located just ten minutes from Tivat airport, it is tantalisingly close to various cultural hubs including the quiet town of Perast and the UNESCO world heritage site of Kotor. Design at Luštica Bay pays homage to the classical Montenegrin architecture found at these locations, with each home resonating the region’s traditional style, coupled with modern, eco-technology.

“I used to crave peace and quiet”

UNTOUCHED NATURE APARTMENTS, TOWNHOMES AND VILLAS SEVEN HOTELS GARY PLAYER SIGNATURE GOLF COURSE TWO STATE OF THE ART MARINAS MEDICAL CENTRE RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS info@lusticabay.com Registered under LEED® for Homes™

+382 77 200 100

lusticabay.com

Luštica Development AD Tivat , 85323 Radovići, Montenegro

LEED REGISTERED PROJECT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Battersea Reach Penthouse Apartments London’s award-winning riverside destination The Sapphire Penthouse, Trafalgar House, Battersea Reach Established as an exclusive waterside community, Battersea Reach has more to offer than just its fine living spaces. With an excellent range of amenities, open spaces and riverside location, residents can enjoy a lifestyle that refreshes and inspires, supported by a 24-hour concierge service to cater to your every need.

Living here means you can work flexibly and on your terms. The private business centre in Kingfisher House has all the facilities you’ll need for meetings with colleagues or clients. After your appointments, take some time out in Gym & Tonic – the residents’ fitness facility – and follow it up with a massage at Fred Fergé Fitness with Style.

The Sapphire Penthouse is located on levels seven and eight of Trafalgar House, offering stunning views across the London skyline.

From exquisite entrance lobbies, complete with polished plaster walls and stone flooring to elegant interiors and grand terraces, the Sapphire Penthouse boasts a truly impeccable standard throughout.

Price: £2.65m batterseareach.com

Computer-generated images of the Trafalgar Penthouses are indicative only

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By Martin Roberts Golf fanatic or not, buying a property close to a golf course can be a sound financial investment. If you can buy close enough to enjoy views over the greens themselves, then you’ve got a property that benefits not only from an aesthetically pleasing aspect, but also an instant barrier to further development, helping the property to hold its value. Further afield, buying a property in an overseas golf hot spot sets you up well for the holiday rental market; demand for golf properties continues to be strong and homeowners are able to charge more in rent the closer the property is to a golf course. Here’s some to tee off with.

West Park, West Drive, Wentworth, Virginia Water, Surrey

A new house approaching 17,000 sq ft GIA, built to an exacting standard by the Stonehaven Group and occupying a private setting among mature pine woodland. With views over sweeping lawns and gated access to the 12th tee of the world-famous PGA golf course, this home occupies one of Wentworth’s best locations. It has four reception rooms, a games room, cinema room, five bedroom suites, superb indoor swimming pool complex, gymnasium, staff accommodation, secure underground parking (with car lift) for up to ten cars. It also comes with stunning, landscaped south-facing gardens (grounds all fully security fenced).

Guide price: £15.95m knightfrank.com

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By Martin Roberts The French Riviera is home to some of the best golf courses in mainland Europe, including the famous Monte Carlo and Royal Mougins golf clubs. But if you’re looking to ‘putt’ your pounds into a property there, what at the chances of a below-par performance?

Despite complaints of overcrowding, the French Riviera resorts of Cannes and St.Tropez continue to remain in vogue.The property market here has bucked the trend of a somewhat stale general French market and agents are seeing green shoots across the board, most notably for those properties sitting within the €5m-€12m price band.

Mark Harvey, head of French residential sales at Knight Frank, says: “The combination of a weakening euro, low interest rates and tentative improvements in France’s economy should help fuel the feel-good factor, and comfort those whose wealth advisors’ take on France has been extremely bearish over the past few years.” So while it has been a slow start to 2015, this year may prove to be an important turning point.

Ville Belle Vue, St. Tropez, Côte D’Azur

Located between St.Tropez and Pampelonne beaches, this exceptional, light-filled villa enjoys fine views from the Alps to the Baie de Canoubiers. Built in 1910 it has been the subject of a thorough and sensitive renovation, comprising six bedrooms and four reception areas, with impeccable amenities.There is a separate guesthouse and outbuilding with wet room, sauna, Jacuzzi and Turkish bath, as well as a fully-fitted gymnasium.

Guide price: £22.5m knightfrank.com

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Caddying in Cannes

This newly built, sumptuous Palladian-style property comes with stunning sea views, a south-facing position and extraordinary amenities. With eight bedrooms, deluxe kitchen, two cellars, study library, secretary study and a large cinema room, this exceptional residence offers large spaces.The landscaped grounds of approximately one hectare include a large swimming pool and panoramic views of the sea, a summer kitchen, a large summer salon with bar and an extensively equipped spa with sauna, massage space, cloakrooms and showers.There’s also two staff bedrooms, a wine cellar, laundry room and guest toilets. With the Cannes-Mougins Golf Club just 4km away and seven more courses within 10 km, this home is a nothing less than a Mediterranean paradise.

Guide price: POA Contact: home-hunts.com

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SWISS ARTIST

Now Available The Aston Martin DB5 Sculpture The Aston Martin DB5 is the second of five sculpture in the award winning artist series of iconic sports cars. The other sculpture are the Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Ferrari 250 GTO, Lamborghini Miura and the Ford GT40.

A limited edition of 50 pieces of the 1:24 scale sculpture will be made in solid silver finished with 24 karat gold.

One special edition of each iconic sports car will be made in solid gold of 18 karat and finished with 24 karat gold.

Every art piece comes with a piano black lacquered case containing a solid silver USB Stick finished with 24 Karat gold, containing the certificate and a number of videos of Dante’s artwork.

Design by Dante GmbH | Murtenstr. 34 | CH-3202 Frauenkappelen | Switzerland | info@dantedesign.ch | www.danteart.ch

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Properties for Pleasure

By Martin Roberts I spend a lot of my time talking about property as an investment, but one thing that differentiates bricks and mortar as an asset class is the fact that it also has the potential to vastly improve your lifestyle and wellbeing. So while installing a swimming pool in the grounds of your home might not reap a massive financial uplift in your home’s value, what price do you put on the joy it can bring to you and your family? And as one golf enthusiast confessed after he’d had a putting green built in his garden, his barbecue parties have become very popular.

So this month I’m featuring properties that give you pleasure, including those with fantastic swimming pools that are only a ray of sunshine and a sip of iced tea away from a holiday destination. For those who’d rather be improving their backswing than their backstroke, or would rather be climbing themselves than tending the climbing hydrangea, our Home Style page has ideas of how to create your own outdoor pursuit Mecca in the garden.

Take the Plunge

It’s well-documented that they don’t necessarily add value to a home, but if there’s one property feature that says ‘I’ve made it’, then it’s a swimming pool. And when it comes to houses it’s not all about financial return - for those who love to swim, being able to stroll downstairs in a bathrobe for an early-morning dip or dive in for a refreshing float-about after a heated day at the office, it’s worth every penny. A pool requires plenty of upkeep and maintenance, and they do of course come with their dangers, but if you like the idea of having your own personal piscine, then it’s better to buy a house with one already. Here are a few that are making a splash on the property scene today.

Belvidere House, West Malling, Kent

Set in nearly ten acres of grounds comprising formal gardens, mature parkland and a paddock, this impressive Victorian country home boasts a large swimming pool with steam room, shower room and kitchenette. It’s cleverly housed in a glass complex, meaning you can experience that poolside holiday feeling any time of year.

Guide price: £3m fineandcountry.com

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Duntisbourne House, Duntisbourne Abbotts, Gloucestershire

Steeped in history, Duntisbourne House is a 21st-century home in an 18th-century house, where modern contemporary living meets a traditional period Cotswold home, blending aesthetics and comfort.

The Cotswold-stone exterior has been preserved throughout an extensive six-year renovation that has included raising the roof and removing walls. It is now a ‘healthy home’ that employs the latest technology to control lighting and temperature, and to reduce emissions. The outdoor swimming pool benefits from a summer studio, and in keeping with the careful management of resources it has an automatic chlorine regulator.

Guide price: ÂŁ17m savills.co.uk

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Thakeham Manor, Pulborough, West Sussex

Located on the outskirts of the village of Thakeham and less than 50 miles from central London, Thakeham Manor comprises 11,683 sq ft of internal floor space and 16 acres of land. With six bedrooms, five reception rooms, six bathrooms, a cinema room, gymnasium, staff quarters, outdoor swimming pool, summer house, helipad, tennis court and putting green, it’s almost a destination in itself.

Guide price: ÂŁ6.6m fineandcountry.com

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Bespoke climbing wall

style Garden Adventures

Gardens are usually a place of tranquillity and relaxation, but if you prefer adrenaline to azaleas, check out some of these gung ho garden products that come with more zoom than Zen

The idea of having a towering grey fibreglass monstrosity in your garden might not sound too appealing, no matter how much you love the idea of a challenge. However, if you employ a specialist climbing wall design company like Entre Prises and allow it to work its magic, it means you can have a structure into your garden that you won’t even see if you don’t want to. Benefiting from the latest in auto belay technology you can safely climb to your heart’s content, and since all the footholds and handholds are easily moved, you can adjust the difficulty of the route to suit your ability. If you can’t go up, the company also does traverse walls, and for real climbing junkies, roped walls too.

Prices will vary depending on the construction; auto belay is approx £1,500

Designer treehouse

Upmarket garden sheds have become something of a design statement, but building something into the trees really takes this concept to a new level. Not just for kids, designer treehouses are being installed in homes across the UK as yoga and fitness studios, music rooms and art or hobby workshops. You can make them as adventurous and as inaccessible as you desire – ensuring some peace and privacy if that’s what you want.This Fibonacci treehouse from Blue Forest was inspired by the geometry of the Fibonacci Spiral in snails’ shells.

Price: by quotation blueforest.com

By Martin Roberts While the idea of an English country garden adorned with beautiful flowers sounds very romantic, what about those who have little time or patience for the preening, watering and tending that this romantic idyll requires? And as those with energetic families will testify, those pretty primrose borders don’t look so prim when they’ve had the out-of-control football booted in their midst a few times.

If you prefers adrenaline to azaleas, you’re not alone – there’s a growing trend of people bucking the idea of trying to grow things in the garden, instead using the outdoor space for themselves by creating their own private adventure or hobby space.

If you fancy indulging your favourite pastime just outside your own back door, then there are some diverse products to choose from.

Energy-generating cross trainer

Typically installed in public parks, the outdoor gym is a step up from the traditional indoor home equivalent.These machines are extremely robust, and as expected, completely weatherproof, so you can enjoy all the benefits of a workout in the open air without having to endure the sweaty odour usually associated with indoor arrangements. For extra satisfaction opt for an energy-generating system, which allows you to recharge your mobile device while you’re working out.

Price: £3,631 + VAT tgogc.com

Personalised putting green

If you’ve got the space, building your very own putting green in your garden has to be the ultimate indulgence of a hobby. Not only will your golf scores improve, your barbecues will become popular for miles around. There are several companies that specialise in designing greens to be suitably challenging and which can be landscaped into your garden, incorporating water features and even bunkers. In this game bigger is definitely considered better, with grander and more extreme designs taking precedence. One installation currently being undertaken by Southwest Greens involves more than 1,000 sq m of synthetic lawn being laid and 3,000 tons of earth being moved.

Price: £3,000+ per metre of installed surface southwestgreens.co.uk

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Porsche Design, which prides itself on innovation, has launched the Chronotimer Collection. The collection celebrates the brand’s natural passion for racing. Looking at the specific needs of racing drivers, Porsche Design founder Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche relied on matte black surfaces and titanium at an early stage.These strengths have not lost any significance since then, and feature in this new collection of 11 timepieces that embody sportiness, speed and performance. porsche-design.com

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NOT ONLY M I NE BUT A PAR T OF ME F V EV O S 18 “ C o b r a ” Su sp e nde d Sk e l e t o n FRANC VILA manufactured calibre FV18 Limited edition to 88 pieces

www.francvila.com / info@francvila.com · FRANC VILA BOUTIQUE 21, Quai du Mont-Blanc, Genève

TH E V 12 VAN TAG E S EXTREME SPORTS

POWER:

ACCELERATION:

SPEED:

565BHP

0-60MPH IN 3.7 SECONDS

205MPH

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S urban 12.6 (22.5); extra-urban 27.7 (10.2); combined 19.2 (14.7). CO2 emissions 343 g/km. The mpg/fuel economy figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing and they are for comparability purposes only.

WWW.ASTONMARTI N.COM/EXTREME