THE PORTMAN
How Chiltern Street became London’s coolest shopping destination
Summer 2014
Living on and around The Portman Estate
9 contents
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As told to Richard Bowden charts the history of The Portman Estate
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Happenings Shakespeare in the garden and summer cocktails
18 Art COVER: CANDLES AT CIRE TRUDON, 36 CHILTERN STREET. PHOTO: SABERA BHAM
SEE PAGE 34
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei goes on show in Marylebone
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Church appeal Finding funds Why a local church needs your support
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Food & drink Pop-ups go permanent at a new Blandford Street venue The Portman is a regular journal about life on and around The Portman Estate Editor Kate White Writers Lorna Davies, Debbie Ward Sub-editor Kate White Designer Andy Lowe Publisher The Portman Estate
Advertising Sam Bradshaw 020 7259 1051 sam@pubbiz.com Send information to The Portman Publishing Business 3 Princes Street London W1B 2LD 020 7259 1050 www.pubbiz.com Printed in the UK © Publishing Business Limited 2014
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Shopping Chiltern Street is crowned London’s coolest address
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Beauty Salons Perfect pampering on The Portman Estate
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Property Empty buildings Marylebone police station’s new residents
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48 Hotels
Top rated The Montagu Place Hotel gets a glowing review
11 as told to
Richard Bowden, archivist for The Portman Estate, has completed a fascinating timeline that charts the history of the London Estate. It shows how the area evolved from fields and farmland into a fashionable district
A matter of time
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I BEGAN WORK on the timeline last summer. The idea was to illustrate the history of the London Estate and to show how the Portman family became involved with it. The timeline begins in 1300 in Somerset, where the family originated from. In 1554 Sir William Portman, later Lord Chief Justice of England, acquired the freehold for what is now The Portman Estate. It remained as farmland until 1755, when it began to be developed. Portman Square was completed in the 1780s. It was very grand, with residents including majorgenerals and earls. In Victorian times the population of Marylebone was almost three times larger than it is today. Servants were a major part of the way society operated, right up until the 1920s. The Estate has always been a wealthy area for the most part, but the biggest workhouse in the country once stood just north of Paddington Street Gardens. Life there was pretty grim. The Second World War caused a great deal of damage on the Estate and contributed to the economic problems of the period. The death of six viscounts between the 1920s and 1940s meant
that by 1949, the death duties were colossal. To deal with this, in 1951 the Estate took the decision to sell all its land to the north of Crawford Street. Transport is a bit of a theme in the area. The first London bus was invented by George Shillibeer and ran along Marylebone Road. The Metropolitan Line, which opened in 1863, was the first underground line in the world and ran through Baker Street. There have been many notable residents on the Estate over the years, including TS Eliot, Edward Lear, Somerset Maugham and John Lennon. We used a splendid image on the timeline of the Apple store, The Beatles’ shop on Baker Street. Portman Square was one of London’s most fashionable addresses in the 18th and 19th centuries. Following the Second World War, the Estate began rebuilding in the 1950s and 60s. More recently, the successful creation of Portman Village, and the re-emergence of Chiltern Street as a specialist retail destination, are indications of how the Estate is going from strength to strength. Explore the timeline by visiting this link: www.portmanestate.co.uk/timeline.aspx
”
12 happenings
Daily bread
Baking bonanza
Gail’s is openinG a new outlet on seymour place in august. The artisan bakery sells award-winning bread, cakes, pastry, coffee and tea. The menu is overseen by head baker Roy levy, who spent time in paris studying the art of French patisserie. it includes san Francisco sourdough, freshly-baked croissants and pastries, cinnamon buns, sausage rolls and carrot cake, together with a selection of sandwiches and salads. products at Gail’s, which is open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, are handmade in london with no artificial additives or preservatives, and are delivered fresh to the bakeries each morning. Gail’s was founded in 2004 by Tom Molnar and Ran avidan, who teamed up with Gail stephens, founder of Baker & spice and TBF – an artisan bakery that supplies london’s top chefs They aim to bake top-quality bread and deliver it fresh to people daily at a neighbourhood bakery. The first Gail’s opened in 2005 on Hampstead High street, and there are now 16 branches across london, from Belsize park to Battersea. Gail’s Bakery will be located at 4-6 seymour place. info: www.gailsbread.co.uk
poRTMan VillaGe is celebrating the summer with its inaugural bake-off and street festival. The event, which takes place on July 23 from 4-7pm, will see head chefs from some of the area’s top restaurants compete to be named best baker. a star judge and team of experts will choose the winner in categories including tastiest cake, best biscuit and best decorative cake. Competitors will also submit a dessert from their native country. sweet-toothed visitors can then decide whether they agree with judges’ decisions, with free samples of all entries available for tasting. Usually reserved for residents only, portman square gardens will open its gates free of charge for the event. in addition to cake-tasting, there will be a host of themed games and entertainment. Following the bake-off, the celebrations will continue around the corner in portman Village, where the area’s designers and retailers will offer exclusive discounts, freebies and prizes, late-night shopping and beauty treatments. Boutiques will serve glasses of bubbly and nibbles and there will be live music. local bars and restaurants will offer specially-designed, limited edition cocktails inspired by sweet treats. info: www.portmanvillage.com
Shakespeare in the square
Spicing things up la poRTe des indes has launched live cooking classes at its Bryanston street restaurant. on the last Friday of every month, awardwinning head chef Mehernosh Mody and his team will unravel the secrets of indian food to guests. They will share insights on the herbs and spices used, and give advice on how to prepare them by roasting, grinding and pounding. The event costs £60 per person and includes a welcome drink, a tour of the kitchens and a cooking class, followed by a food and wine
pairing and a three-course lunch. Guests take away a certificate of participation and an indian spice sachet. The menu at la porte des indes features Gallic-influenced dishes inspired by original recipes sourced from pondicherry, a former French colony in india. Cooking classes begin at 12pm on June 27, July 25, august 29 and september 26 at 32 Bryanston street. info: 020 7224 0055, www.laportedesindes.com
an UnMissaBle performance of shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor will take place in Montagu square garden this summer. The play, which features popular character sir John Falstaff, will be performed by the principal Theatre Company on June 25. This year marks 450 years since the bard was born in stratford-uponavon in 1564. Tickets for the play cost £15 and must be bought in advance from Jonathan potter, the antique map shop at 52a George street in Marylebone. seating will be provided for the performance, which starts at 7.30pm on the north lawn. Guests are welcome to bring their own pretheatre picnic and rugs from 6pm onwards on the south lawn, and further food and drink will be provided at a pop-up bar and grill run by local private members’ club Home House. all profits from ticket sales will be donated to the Rotary Club of st Marylebone.
14 happenings
Let’s do lunch
MUSSEL SOUP
sixTyone ResTaURanT has launched a new express lunch menu that costs £15 for two courses. The restaurant serves modern British cuisine cooked by chef arnaud stevens, who previously worked at the Gherkin and Maze Grill. The lunch menu is seasonal, with dishes changing daily. options include octopus carpaccio with red pepper confit, sorrel and sesame; squab pigeon, snails, cauliflower and parsley risotto; and marinated sea bream with loch Fyne mussels. The international wine list features 200 bottles. VENISON
stevens, who joined sixtyone several months ago, said: “i am excited about the opportunity to showcase my food to a new audience of customers, in particular the local neighbourhood.” sixtyone is at 61 Upper Berkeley street. info: 020 7958 3222, www.sixtyonerestaurant.co.uk
Pooches’ paradise doGs VisiTinG Marylebone can stay in the lap of luxury at The arch london. The five-star boutique hotel is offering fourlegged-friends a new luxury package, which includes everything from dog-walking services to delicious food cooked to order by a chef. The hotel can also arrange pampering sessions for pooches at the luxurious pet day spa in Chelsea – a calm and relaxing haven where pets can be groomed, indulged and revitalised. What’s more, if owners wish to dine out or spend an afternoon shopping in nearby portman Village or Chiltern street, the hotel offers a dedicated dog-sitting service for their furry friends. The arch london is based at 50 Great Cumberland place. info: 020 7724 4700, www.thearchlondon.com
16 happenings
A taste of Provence
COTE D'AZUR SPRITZ
THe CHURCHill Bar & Terrace is promising to transport guests from portman square to provence this summer, with a new Frenchinspired menu. The bar’s outdoor area has been turned into a provençal idyll, where guests can soak up the sunshine, surrounded by plants that infuse the air with scents of herbs and citrus fruits. a menu of summer cocktails, wines and delicious food will feature the finest French regional produce, ranging from charcuterie boards to cheese plates with olive oil and bread. summer cocktails will include the Cote d’azur spritz – a sharp and refreshing blend of Grey Goose vodka, lillet Blanc, homemade grapefruit cordial and sparkling rosé wine. There’s also a provence sour and a Fig old Fashioned – a twist on a classic Bourbon cocktail made with rosemary and fig-infused brown sugar syrup and sharp orange bitters. info: 020 7299 2035, www.london.churchill.hyatt.com
Glorious garden party GUesTs GaTHeRed in sunny portman square in June for the annual portman square garden party. The event was a huge success, with around 500 people enjoying delicious food and drink, a pimm’s stall, live music, a magician, hair-styling and manicures from daniel Galvin, a raffle and an auction with fabulous prizes. Businesses that sponsored the event, which raised funds for Child Bereavement UK, included Hyatt Regency london – The Churchill, Home House, savills, The Grazing Goat and seddons solicitors. Claire Reynolds, from savills’ Marylebone office, said: “We and the fellow sponsors take great pride in working with the local community and supporting a very worthy charity.”
18 art
life on the road
left: Sparky and Cowboy (Gary roGueS) SChererville, indiana riGht: MeMorial day run, Milwaukee below: Cal, elkhorn, wiSConSin © danny lyon. dektol.wordpreSS.CoM CourteSy of etherton Gallery, tuCSon, u.S.a. and atlaS Gallery, london
When young photographer Danny Lyon joined the Chicago outlaws Motorcycle Club in 1963, it was to take the then-uncommon approach of photographing subjects from the inside, rather than as an observer. the result is the Bikeriders, a seminal work of modern photojournalism featuring an iconic and influential series of photographs of biker culture that Lyon took between 1963 and 1967. the images show the members on long-distance rides and at races, field meets and informal gatherings across the united States, in locations including Milwaukee, Long Island new york, Chicago, new orleans and Detroit. During the four years spent with his subjects, Lyon formed friendships and photographed and recorded interviews along the way, creating an extensive archive of black and white images that reveal the diverse characters and strong narratives of this stereotyped subculture.
Lyon, born in new york in 1942, first started taking pictures in the early 1960s as a staff photographer for the Student nonviolent Coordinating Committee at the university of Chicago. During his career, he has studied and photographed death-row inmates, street kids and the transformation of the urban make-up of lower Manhattan. a fascination with humanitarian issues, and the grittier communities on the edge of society, has always formed the basis of his work, and today he is regarded as one of the most important documentary photographers of the last 50 years. the Bikeriders was first published in 1968, and the exhibition ties in with the re-issue of a journal-size book published by aperture. Danny Lyon: the Bikeriders is at atlas gallery, 49 Dorset Street, June 19august 16. Info: 020 7224 4192, www.atlasgallery.com
20 art
ai weiwei goes on show
ai weiwei, forever, 2013 all iMaGeS CourteSy the artiSt and liSSon Gallery
a ghoStLy, carved-marble gas mask, like death’s head emerging from a tomb, is one of the many fascinating pieces in ai Weiwei’s third solo exhibition at the Lisson gallery. Works such as Mask, 2013 relate to the perpetual pollution experienced in Weiwei’s home, to which he is now confined – Beijing. the influential Chinese artist has created a monumental new installation of bicycles as part of an ongoing series, Forever. they sit alongside a number of hand-carved, domestic-scale copies – in materials including wood, stainless steel and crystal – of some highly personal objects for the exhibition. these include a marble recreation of his father’s armchair; two sets of humble cosmetics bottles fashioned from jade; various
handmade facsimiles of coat-hangers and pairs of handcuffs; as well as the window handles taken from Beijing taxis, which have been remade in clear glass. ai Weiwei lives and works in China’s capital, and is currently unable to leave the country after his passport was confiscated. although some of the sculptures in this show relate to his secret detention of 2011 – during which he spent 81 days accompanied only by his interrogators and the scant furnishings of his cell – the overall impression is of Weiwei’s life as it was before and after that time. his groupings of stainless-steel bikes – here configured in different modular shapes and layers of geometrically stacked structures – refer to the famous Forever brand of bicycles that have been mass-manufactured in Shanghai since 1940. once ubiquitous, this classic make, and indeed the perceived profusion of pushbikes on Beijing streets, are now steadily dying out, to be replaced by fume-emitting cars on clogged highways and six-lane ring roads.
will Marytr, So different So appealinG
ai Weiwei is at Lisson gallery, 52-54 Bell Street, until July 12. Info: 020 7724 2739, www.lissongallery.com
picture perfect ai weiwei, MaSk, 2013
LonDon-BaSeD contemporary artist Will Martyr depicts luxurious, clean, modernist structures, conjuring up a sense of privilege, elegance and nostalgia. the usual lack of figures in the compositions, inspired by found images and visited locations, allow a sense of voyeurism. graduating from Slade School of Fine art in 2002 and the royal College of art in 2007, Martyr’s focus has always been on the city and its environment. In 2010, he and a group of other artists, historians, architects and designers, worked on a series of built projects at the Bauhaus in Dessau and Walter gropius’ theaterhaus Jena building in conjunction with the Crash! Boom! Bau! festival. his latest works are a romantic take on his usual style, with clear skies as flawless as beauty adverts, and pools that mirror hotel lights with scalpel-sharp precision. Like holiday postcards, the bold captions such as ‘Stay until tomorrow’, ‘hold My hand’ and ‘It’s only us’ advertise the contented life. Will Marytr: Stay until tomorrow is at hay hill gallery, 35 Baker Street, June 23-July 19. Info: 020 7486 6006, www.hayhill.com
22 church appeal
IT’S THE GRANDE DAME of Bryanston Street, which has stood firm through two world wars, the Blitz and several recessions. But now the Church of the Annunciation, which is 100 years old this year, has to raise £2 million to fund urgent repair works – and it needs the community’s help. “Not much has been done to the building in the last 100 years,” says Father Gerald Beauchamp, who joined the church in 2010. He envisages that works to the Grade-II* listed building will take place in three phases, beginning next year with a full rewiring. “The sheer scale of the church is an issue,” he admits. “The wiring we’ve currently got is called Pyro, which has a shelf life of about 30 years. After that it begins to wear out and as the rubber starts to corrode, the powder pops out.” Rewiring works will be combined with new lighting and high-level cleaning, at a cost of £500,000. Phase two will see the church encased in scaffolding to fit a brand new roof. “After the Second World War there was some re-roofing done, but in the 1940s, basic resources were
very scarce,” says Beauchamp. “They used tiny copper nails to pin on the slates, and those nails are now wearing out.” Brick and stone-work will also take place to prevent water penetrating the walls – which together with the new roof, will cost about £1.2 million. The final phase of works will include internal redecoration and repairs to the organ, and will cost £300,000. It is thought the entire project will take about ten years. Fundraising began on June 15, when the Bishop of London visited the church to lead a special centenary service. Beauchamp will approach major grant-giving bodies including English Heritage the National Lottery, and is also planning a series of special, one-off events to celebrate the centenary and raise money for repair works. The first event will be held on September 16 at 7.30pm, when the church will host a grand, sit-down dinner for 120 guests. Speakers at the event will include the philosopher Alain de Botton; Labour MP Dame Tessa Jowell; and the Times ‡
Church launches urgent fundraising appeal
FATHER GERALD BEAUCHAMP
The Church of the Annunciation behind Marble Arch is one of The Estate’s most beautiful and tranquil buildings. But it needs to find millions of pounds to fund vital repair works, writes Kate White
24 church appeal
columnist and former Conservative politician Matthew Parris. Catering will be provided by five-star hotel Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, which is based in Portman Square. “They have very kindly offered to do the dinner for us for nothing, which is amazingly generous,” says Beauchamp. Tickets cost £50 per person in advance, and it is hoped the evening will raise several thousand pounds. Then in October, the opera singer Jamie Lonsdale will perform a moving concert to mark 100 years since the death of his great-uncle, Norman Somerset. One of the then Prince of Wales’s closest friends, Somerset was killed in the First Battle of Ypres in 1914, aged just 20. A statue of St George next to the church nave is dedicated to Somerset. Commissioned by his family in memory of their only son, the saint’s face is carved in Somerset’s likeness. The poignant concert takes place on October 23 at 7.30pm, with tickets priced £25 on the door. There is a free glass of wine for each guest. The Church of the Annunciation was built in 1914 by Sir Walter Tapper, a renowned architect from the late Victorian and Edwardian era. Tapper was president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and was also appointed Surveyor to the Fabric of Westminster Abbey, where he was later buried. The Bryanston Street church was never actually finished, says Beauchamp. “There should have been a great cloister on the north side, where the Quebec Court flats are today, and a
tower at the west end, which is now part of the Cumberland Hotel. But the First World War began just as the main part of the building was nearly complete. “They finished everything off and made sure it was water-tight, with the assumption that the war would be over by Christmas, and they would carry on building. Of course, four years later the world was a very different place, and money had run out. So we ended up with this somewhat incomplete but rather grand, gothic church.” Beauchamp hopes to garner local support to help raise funds. “I hope the business community will be responsive to us,” he says. “We have an important part to play in the area. We provide a place of quiet and reflection for people, away from the madness of the world outside. We’re also a space for celebration.”
Wetherby and Hampden Gurney schools hold weekly assemblies at the church, and there’s a regular service for deaf and deaf blind people. It also supports the West London Day Centre on Seymour Place – which helps rough sleepers – with clothing appeals and harvest food donations. The church, which rents out its crypt to the Marble Arch Nursery, can help businesses in other ways too, says Beauchamp. “Last winter I came upstairs on a Friday evening, and discovered all the Cumberland Hotel staff standing in the street. There had been a fire emergency at the hotel and they had all been evacuated. “The guests were taken to other nearby hotels, but the staff had nowhere to go. So I said, in future, please come to the church. It’s a bit warmer than outside in December, and it’s dry. The hotel now has my number and if they ever want to use the church in an emergency, they’re very welcome to do so.” What will happen if the church can’t raise the funds to carry out the repair works? “The building isn’t falling down, that’s the good news,” says Beauchamp. “But if we can’t replace the wiring, then we’ll get to the point where the church couldn’t be used for safety reasons. “And if we can’t replace the roof in the next ten years, then we’ll see slates begin to slip and we’ll get water in. Of course, as soon as you get water
into a building, the damage is terrific. If we don’t raise the money, it will cost more to put right further down the line. Better £2 million spent now than £5 million in ten years’ time.” The church is a place of sanctuary for local people, he says. “A lot of people are very pressurised in today’s world. We run around like mad and it can make us feel diminished. We spent a lot of our time looking at the ground, and to walk into this building, look up and breathe, makes us feel renewed. That is really inspiring.” The church also offers a lifeline to those in serious despair, he says. “We have a visitors’ book, where people often write comments like, what a beautiful building. But one thing that moved me very much was a man who wrote his name, and beside it he’d put, please pray that I may resist committing suicide. “There are people out there who are very desperate, and that’s really why we’re here. Cities can be fantastic, exciting places, but also very lonely, very crushing places. When I was at a parish in Earl’s Court, we had a newborn baby abandoned in the church. We are a big, hopefully safe place, where people can find life, not death.” For more information or to buy tickets for the events, email gerald.beauch@btconnect.com or phone 020 7723 6434.
28 food & drink
Foodie fun
RestauRant pop-ups give London foodies the chance to sample the latest trends, from peruvian to Korean dishes, from the comfort of their home city. they’re sometimes hard to find – often a trek east to the latest food market is in order. But what if you didn’t have to keep searching them out? What if there was one restaurant which selected the crème-de-la-crème of food pop-ups, and hosted them all in the same central London location? step forward Carousel, the new home of foodie nomads, shuttlecock Inc. the four templeton cousins, anna, ed, Will and ex-Moro chef ollie, launched shuttlecock Inc a few years ago, in a bid to create the ultimate pop-up experience, combining flavour with design, performance and music. their irreverent multisensory pop-ups, such as Mile High and Rumble in the Deli, were an instant hit with trendloving Londoners. now they’re moving into a permanent destination in Marylebone, with an ever-changing menu. step inside Carousel at 71 Blandford street and you might find the glamour and sophistication of 1950s air travel brought to life, pan am-style, by the Mile High cabin crew; witness two heavyweight chefs going head to head for three rounds of no-holds-barred culinary oneupmanship at their latest kitchen slugfest; or enjoy a five-course tour de force dinner cooked by one of their resident chefs in the relaxed and intimate dining room. “We wanted to offer a creative foodie hub in London,” explains anna, 32. “somewhere we could host and curate some of the incredibly talented pop-ups we have met, and also to have a restaurant space where we can invite chefs from fantastic restaurants across the world to come and cook here in London.”
a restaurant offering an everchanging series of pop-ups is set to open on Blandford street in august. eating out is about to get very exciting, says Lorna Davies
the team say the chefs will be from “the type of restaurant your friend would tell you about in paris, Melbourne or Berlin. the ones where you have to be in the know to find out about, that are renowned for great food and a great atmosphere rather than fine dining.” Whatever the concept du jour, shuttlecock want Carousel to be known for its exceptional food, its imaginative storytelling and its bacchanalian sense of fun. “I think London is becoming a global capital for food,” says ollie, 22. “We want to give Londoners the opportunity to get to eat incredible food from across the globe without having to leave their city, and to feed them in a relaxed and social environment.” the group will hand-pick the guest pop-ups themselves. “We’ve made so many contacts and friends in the pop-up world, so we know how to separate the best from the rest,” ed, 30, adds. the venue is divided into three floors, with an expansive basement, a light and airy ground floor and a bright upper level with windows on three sides. the ground floor will be Carousel’s showpiece – a warm and welcoming restaurant space with a rustic feel, built around a busy open kitchen and bar. the basement will be a flexible event space for pop-ups, and upstairs is a blank canvas which could be used for daytime events, exhibitions and screenings. the first pop-up will be focused on argentine cuisine, with chef Javier Rodriguez from el papagayo in argentina taking the reins and focusing on modern argentine food. “He is a fantastic chef who has worked at noma, Viajante, tetsuya’s in sydney and andre in singapore,” adds anna. the art of Dining will be taking over downstairs at Carousel. they are putting on a colour
PICTURED THIS PAGE AND OVERLEAF: SHUTTLECOCK INC’S MILE HIGH POP-UP DINING EXPERIENCE
30 food & drink
“We wanted to build a creative foodie hub in London. Somewhere we could host and curate some of the incredibly talented pop-ups we have met” Anna Templeton
FROM LEFT: WILL, OLLIE, ED AND ANNA PHOTO: RUARIDH EMSLIE
experience – a five course meal, each one a different colour. the room, atmosphere, food, drinks, plates and music will change with each course. “You can expect tables to be turned, curtains to be drawn, lighting surprises and taste buds challenged,” anna teases. With anna’s experience in events and tV production, ed’s writing and design skills, Will’s artistic eye and business acumen and oliver’s culinary prowess (along with second chef Matt), coupled with the experience of hosting their own pop-ups, the group are in fine form to create the ultimate pop-up destination. But with a combined age of just 112, the four cousins are relatively young entrepreneurs. Was it daunting, starting their own business? “We just went in, all guns blazing, not really knowing what we were doing at first,” says Will, 28. “Doing the pop-ups beforehand really helped, it was like dipping our toe into the business world, getting us ready for this, the big one.” there have been some lessons learned, says anna: “My advice would be to choose your partners carefully. We have sometimes been too trusting and been pushed to compromise on our values, which always ends badly.” their love affair with food began at a young age, and the group joke that they were always inviting friends to their garden to eat worms with a grass salad. But it must be handy, knowing each other so well. “It’s definitely rewarding working with family,” anna agrees, “but it can be a bit stressful and frustrating as you get into sibling squabbles. But it’s hugely fun and a bit like we are still five years old, playing restaurants in the garden.” With everyone from Kate Moss to Cara Delevingne clamouring for a table at the new
Chiltern Firehouse; Jeremy King and Christopher Corbin’s latest offering, Fischer’s, opening soon; the Lockhart’s relaunch this year; and countless other foodie favourites (Donostia, Daisy Green, Il Baretto, Locanda Locatelli and trishna, to name a few), Marylebone and the portman estate are fast becoming the go-to place for foodie fashionistas, which is why the templetons are delighted with their Blandford street space. “there are a lot of pop-up-style places in soho, but we really wanted to focus on the quality, and I think Marylebone is both high-end, and has its finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the food world right now, so it’s a perfect fit for us,” says anna. their main aim of Carousel is to “mix the best elements of a night out; captivate the audience with amazing food, drink and entertainment; bring out people’s inner child and create a night to remember.” other than the obvious everchanging theme at Carousel, another aspect that makes the restaurant stand out from its Marylebone competition is the informality. “From working in the pop-up world we really learnt the importance of the social side of eating,” says anna. “sometimes that is overlooked in formal dining, but it is an integral part to sharing a meal and makes the night so much more enjoyable. “We sit people on long tables so they get to know their neighbour. It seems daunting at first, but by the end they have met new friends, have had interesting conversations and feel like they got even more than they expected out of their night.” Book yourselves in via the website, www.carousel-london.com, strap in and expect the unexpected. Carousel opens on august 18.
34 shopping
Style street
Chiltern Street has long been associated with quality menswear and good independent shops and cafes. Now, with a new stardrawing hotel in the mix, Conde Nast Traveller has dubbed it London’s coolest street. By Debbie Ward
SiNCE THE OPENiNG of the Chiltern Firehouse boutique hotel and restaurant in a 1889-built, Gothic-style former fire station, the media spotlight has been firmly on Chiltern Street. Diners at the restaurant, led by Michelinstarred chef Nuno Mendes, have included Tony Blair, Orlando Bloom, Simon Cowell, Kate Moss and Cheryl Cole, while Rita Ora and Paloma Faith are said to be regulars. The number of stars visiting the hotel has led the Daily Mail to ask: “is this the world’s hottest celebrity hangout?” As a result, the paparazzi regularly make a beeline for the venue, and the hotel is working closely with local residents to minimise the issues that come with being an A-list destination. With all the attention, it seems there’s never been a better time to set up shop in Chiltern Street. One newcomer is PRiSM, which launched its flagship store at 54 Chiltern Street in March. PRiSM sells handmade spectacles and sunglasses alongside summer-orientated products and accessories like swimwear, espadrilles and travel bags. The ultra-cool brand
counts rapper Tinie Tempah among its clients. Meanwhile, contemporary jeweller Cox & Power has recently relocated from Marylebone High Street, to make and sell its handcrafted jewellery in “more intimate” premises at 10-12 Chiltern Street. For existing retailers too, the spotlight is proving a boon, and most are unsurprised that the street’s eclectic mix of quality independent shops and eateries is drawing attention. Kohatu + Petros, which opened at 58 Chiltern Street in 2010, specialises in affordable, quality, everyday jewellery, with a “longevity but fashion forward” focus. it has already benefited directly from one of the Firehouse’s celebrity visitors – Carrie Fisher called in a few weeks ago to order a bespoke collar for her dog and buy jewellery as gifts. “There are certainly more people in the street just curious to see what all the fuss is about, even down to local residents who maybe haven’t been down Chiltern Street before because it’s not on their route,” says co-founder Varney Polydor. ‡
FROM LEFT: FASHION AT PAULINE BURROWS; SHOPPERS ON CHILTERN STREET; KOHATU + PETROS
36 shopping
Varney and her business partner Joanna Salmond used some foresight in selecting their studio and shop, which also sells select pieces from other designers. Varney says: “When we took on the premises we absolutely knew that the hotel was being developed.” Having lived in the Marylebone area for 14 years, Varney has seen Chiltern Street evolve beyond being the go-to place for “bridal wear and large shoes” into a retail destination. “it’s been very interesting to see the changes with all the small boutiques and cafes that have opened,” she says. “The Portman Estate has been very clever to keep the street full of independent stores.” A few doors down at 50 Chiltern Street, designer Pauline Burrows creates contemporary and classic men’s and womenswear, from shirts to cocktail dresses. She moved from Seven Dials to Chiltern Street three-and-a-half years ago, when her Covent Garden base became surrounded by chains. “i love Marylebone, i love the whole area,” she says. “it’s got a really nice vibe and it’s the right place for me in terms of customers; they understand my brand.”
Pauline offers bespoke tailoring and ready-towear collections. Her style is pared down and understated, with clean lines and quality fabrics sourced from mills in italy and Japan. She produces two collections a year but says her stock is “constantly evolving” with new pieces appearing weekly: “if i buy a stunning piece of cloth i can’t wait to get that in the shop.” As for Chiltern Street being London’s coolest street: “Well, it is isn’t it?” she asserts. “We’ve got more independent shops on the street. We’ve got everything – gifting, jewellery, cafes.” She says the Firehouse opening has meant “definitely more footfall and some interesting new clients”, including some celebrity customers. One of the street’s longest-standing residents, menswear shop Grey Flannel, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. it sells garments produced under its own label and a handful of other designers, including Armani, with the overall ethos of “classic with a fashionable twist”. Owner Richard Froomberg, who is based at 7 Chiltern Street, believes there’s been a positive impact on the street since The Portman Estate took the leases back and brought together a group of quality, complementary retailers. ‡
“It’s been very interesting to see the changes with all the small boutiques and cafes that have opened. The Portman Estate has been very clever to keep the street full of independent stores” Varney Polydor, Kohatu + Petros
OPPOSITE: PRISM SUNGLASSES; ABOVE: CIRE TRUDON
38 shopping
“The hotel has obviously made a difference. it’s upmarket and it’s given the street a new aura,” he adds. “The glamour attracts people and it reflects on the rest of the street. We’ve certainly seen some new customers and primarily that’s a result of the new hotel and the publicity around it.” The number of tourists on the street has also increased, he says. Richard misses some of the retailers, like a pewterware shop he knew from the early days, but he believes there’s now a good mix – and Grey Flannel is certainly planning to stay. its latest collection includes “lots of colour”, he says, with strong greens and blues at the fore. Another heritage brand on the street is luxury French candle-maker Cire Trudon, at 36 Chiltern Street. Reputedly the oldest wax manufacturer in the world, it dates back to 1643 and even supplied Napoleon and the Palace of Versailles. its candles are sold in the likes of Claridge’s and Harrods, but Chiltern Street is its only stand-alone London boutique. Managing director Laurent Delafon says: “We chose this location for the first Cire Trudon store outside of France because we wanted an off-beat location with like-minded retailers; the concentration of which has only increased over the last few years.” Cutting-edge cafe Monocle is based at 18 Chiltern Street. The venue, which opened last year, is linked to the international business, culture and design magazine of the same name. The original Monocle cafe is in Tokyo and the Chiltern Street version has some Japaneseinfluenced food on the menu. The cafe has just brought together all that’s cool for its inaugural Summer Fayre, which will showcase its “favourite brands, retailers and nations”. “We moved into our headquarters on Dorset Street about three years ago, and fell in love with Chiltern Street,” says promotion and events manager Emily Smith. “it’s a beautiful patch, that still seems to have a village feel, despite being so close to Oxford Street.” While famous faces keep being snapped in Chiltern Street, it can only add to its “cool” image. Grey Flannel’s Richard Froomberg witnessed the buzz first-hand when he and a friend got caught in the paparazzi flashbulbs as another celebrity arrived at the Firehouse. He laughs: “i have no idea who she was, but she was pretty and had a good-looking man on her arm.” For more information on Chiltern Street, visit www.chilternstreetw1.co.uk
ABOVE: MONOCLE CAFE BELOW: GREY FLANNEL
40 beauty
Have a beautiful summer
Best for…hair colour Shai Greenberg and Fred Gielly describe their salon as a haven of indulgent satisfaction; a place to gratify the soul. Stepping off the busy streets of Marylebone into Gielly Green, the pair have indeed created a central London sanctum of calm. For summer, Shai recommends a hair colour top-up: “As the sun pokes its head out from behind the clouds, it is important to reassess your hair colour so that you don’t get caught out by the increased levels of light,” he says. Shai’s style of colouring and styling is to bring out the client’s natural beauty. He uses a variety of cutting and styling techniques, “working with the hair’s texture and your face shape to find and bring out each person’s inner glamour.” Colour from £74, cuts from £58.
With the warmer weather finally here, we’ve delved into our beauty bible and selected the best places on The Portman Estate to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul
The price includes a follow-up session after five days and after-care products. All the facial treatments, such as a mini version of the green peel facial, include a consultation and massage of the face, neck, scalp and shoulders to help relaxation and lift the muscles. Beauty Rose, recently rebranded from Greenhouse Hair and Beauty, offers IPL hair removal, waxing, massage, manicures and pedicures, eyelash extensions, spray tanning and hair cuts and colours. Facials from £60, the green peel classic facial is £260. Beauty Rose, 21 New Quebec Street. Info: 020 7724 2114, www.beautyrose.co.uk
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Gielly Green, 42-44 George Street. Info: 020 7034 3060, www.giellygreen.co.uk
Best for…a facial Beauty Rose’s founder Katja Falinski is the queen of facials. Using products from renowned German dermatologist and allergologist Dr Christine Schrammek, facials such as the green peel use special herbs for a five-day intensive herbal peeling process. The herbs are rubbed into your skin and create a prickling sensation, which Katja says some of her celebrity clients love because “you can feel it working”, but there are no harmful chemical substances or synthetic abrasives, making it ideal for sensitive skin. “It’s great for the treatment of wrinkles, premature ageing, sun damage, discolouration and acne scars,” she says.
GIELLY GREEN
KATJA FALINSKI AT BEAUTY ROSE
42 beauty
Best for...inner healing Beauty comes from within, and VerneyCarron has your aches and pains covered. The private health practice offers holistic therapies in a relaxed space decorated with contemporary art. The brain child of Dr Boniface Verney-Carron, the Spanish Place practice offers osteopathy, acupuncture, nutrition, reflexology, sophrology and massage, to name a few. “Body language is the first thing I see, it’s about who you are and how you interact. I listen to clients, hear their stories, look at how they sit, look, how they interact with me and within ten minutes I tell them what I’m getting. “If that’s what they want then happy days, away they go, but if not, then we work on it,” explains Boniface, who trained as a surgeon before deciding he wanted to work in an environment where the person themselves is taken into consideration, rather than purely their clinical health. “I work on the mechanics of the body, the circulation and help the body to be at its optimum health – that is what osteopathy is. After that, I might suggest a change in nutrition, for example, and I’ll refer them to my colleague.”
Best for…nails
The practice has built up an outstanding reputation for solving everything from back problems to IBS. Practice appointments from £85, home visits from £180.
Revealing your toes from beneath their thermal socks and tights can be a frightening prospect come the summer months. But Beauty & Melody has it sorted. Its manicure and pedicure treatments include OPI gels, a microdermabrasion treatment and a ‘chocolate pedicure’, ridding your feet of hard skin ready for flipflops. Manicure from £18 (shape and polish).
Verney-Carron Health Practice, 2 Spanish Place. Info: 0203 581 1515, www.vchealthpractice.com
Best for...massage
Beauty & Melody, 19 Great Cumberland Place. Info: 020 7723 5028, www.beautyandmelody.co.uk
Step out of your routine, breathe in the soothing scents of the Far East and indulge yourself at Lemongrass. The boutique spa offers a range of luxurious treatments, but its Thai massage has to be tried. This ancient form of massage, using oil and yoga techniques, develops whole body flexibility and eases muscle pain and tensions. The massage is applied using thumbs, hands, elbows, feet and knees. If you don’t fancy the whole body treatment, the Thai techniques are available as a foot massage, herbal compress massage and a body scrub. Massage from £35. Lemongrass Spa, 8 Seymour Place. Info: 020 7258 7997, www.lemongrassboutiquespa.co.uk
ABOVE: LEMONGRASS LEFT: VERNEY-CARRON
LEFT: CARA AND SARAH AT WEST ONE BEAUTY BELOW: BEAUTY & MELODY
Best for...instant weight loss One of West One Beauty’s best-loved treatments is Ionithermie, especially for summer holidays or special occasions. The slimming treatment targets stubborn areas like the bottom, hips and thighs, and works by breaking down fat cells, toning the muscles and boosting metabolism. “We use a cheek-lift treatment, covering the thighs and bottom with algae clay and using electroids on the main muscles to contour and firm the body, improve circulation and moisturise the skin,” salon manager Cara Cummings explains. Clients are recommended a course of five treatments to get the best results, and are measured before and after to see how many inches they have lost. The salon has also built up a reputation for manicures and waxing, including Brazilian and Hollywood hot waxes. Lonithermie treatment £80 for one, or £350 for a course of five. West One Beauty, 60 Chiltern Street. Info: 020 7486 1415, www.westonebeauty.co.uk
Brows and lashes iBrows etc 16 Seymour Place. Info: 020 7725 5791, www.ibrowsetc.co.uk Hair extensions Great4Hair 20 Seymour Place. Info: 020 7569 7170, www.great4hair.com Holistic beauty and laser Bharti Vyas 5 & 24 Chiltern Street. Info: 020 7935 5312/7486 7910, www.bharti-vyas.com
46 property
On their guard
Marylebone Police Station closed down last year as part of the Met’s plans to sell off a large swathe of its london property porfolio. now the station is home to a new set of residents – but there isn’t a handcuff or police helmet in sight. the latest occupants are property guardians, who have moved into the station to look after it whilst its owner, the Portman estate, draws up plans to redevelop the Seymour Street site. the guardians rent the building from camelot, an international property management service provider that protects empty buildings until they are put back into use. it has 18 offices and nearly 300 employees across europe. large numbers of buildings in britain are left empty for long periods of time, with 23,000 empty homes in Scotland alone. together with the nation’s chronic housing shortage, it makes a compelling argument for putting empty buildings back into use. camelot’s property guardians are often young professionals and key workers looking for lowcost accommodation. they include doctors, nurses, teachers, policemen and firemen. “We find them very good guys to work with, because of all their training,” says Jules Heron, camelot’s UK corporate account manager. “We’re very reliant on key workers and we’re keen to provide accommodation for them.” employing a firm like camelot has a number of advantages for property owners, he says. “boarded up property looks terrible, and it often attracts vandalism and the wrong type of people. it can lead to graffiti, fly-tipping and metal theft. “our live-in guardians prevent all those issues from happening, and if there are any problems with the building, like a burst pipe, it gets repaired straightaway. they are also a 100 per cent guarantee that the property won’t be squatted. “it means that property owners don’t have to hire security guards, which can be very expensive. their building is looked after, and we return the property to them clean and empty with just three weeks’ notice.” Simon loomes, strategic projects director for the Portman estate, says that working with camelot brings numerous benefits. “From the estate’s perspective, camelot make a good partner company,” he says.
empty buildings are a magnet for all sorts of problems, from vandalism to metal theft. but property guardians offer a solution – and they’ve moved into the former Marylebone police station. by Kate White
LEFT: THE FORMER MARYLEBONE POLICE STATION AT 1-9 SEYMOUR STREET ABOVE: CAMELOT’S LIVE-IN GUARDIAN SCHEME AT A POLICE STATION IN GERMANY AND (BELOW) AT A DUTCH SCHOOL
“the presence of guardians provides security for our properties, whilst ensuring that the property continues to make a useful local contribution, during periods which would otherwise see them lying fallow. “the opportunity to provide accommodation at low rent to occupiers, who are often key workers, helps to maintain the local community. the property remains closely supervised and the area does not suffer from the ‘lights-off’ effect.” an influx of new residents also means an increase in footfall for local shops and businesses, he adds. “nearby retailers benefit from the new custom. it works well on all fronts.” camelot has worked with the Portman estate before, when it protected the chiltern Street fire station before it was redeveloped into a five-star hotel. the opportunity to set up home in such prestigious buildings is a big draw for prospective guardians, says Heron. “they get to live in some fantastic properties, for a very small percentage of the going market rate. if you wanted to rent a place just off oxford Street it would cost you hundreds, if not thousands of pounds a week, and we’re charging ten per cent of that.”
48 hotels
The Montagu Place Hotel has just received a top TripAdvisor rating for the fifth year running. We find out why guests love to stay there
A home from home “THIS IS EASILY THE BEST combination of comfort, service and value we’ve found in London. The staff can’t do enough to help,” writes one TripAdvisor reviewer about a recent break at the Montagu Place Hotel. “The whole hotel is furnished exquisitely,” writes another. “It has a modern feel to it that made us feel instantly cocooned in a relaxed environment, which was both sophisticated and effortlessly luxurious.” These are just two of the glowing reviews posted on TripAdvisor about the four-star hotel. Thanks to hundreds of contented customers, it is ranked an impressive 78th out of 1,074 London hotels. Now the Grade-II-listed townhouse in leafy Montagu Square has scored its fifth TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which is awarded to the top ten per cent of properties reviewed on the popular website. General Manager Marta Wasilewska has been based at the hotel since 2008. “We’re really proud to have received another certificate,” she says. “I think it’s mostly down to our customer service. “We have a good location and a great product, but it’s the personal level of service that makes a difference. The people working here are really dedicated, and we treat the hotel as a home. “We know the names of our guests and what they like off by heart. Most of our guests are
returning customers, and we get a lot of corporate guests who find us on TripAdvisor or by accident, and end up staying with us every week.” The hotel has 16 bedrooms in three different categories: comfy, fancy and swanky. All feature Molton Brown toiletries and air-conditioning, and guests receive complimentary, freshly-ground coffee each morning of their stay. “I believe the hotel is a home away from home for our guests,” says Marta. “We’re a small hotel and we don’t have full facilities, but if people want to stay somewhere that is comfortable, secure, safe and homely, then we are the perfect place.” Marta makes a point of replying to guests who leave reviews on TripAdvisor. “I think it’s important, because if someone makes an effort to write a review, we really appreciate it. It’s nice to reply and say thank you,” she says. Marta has found that the hotel’s top ratings online have led to more people booking rooms at the venue. “We do get a lot of guests saying that they found us on TripAdvisor,” she says. “Whenever I go away, I check TripAdvisor before I book a hotel. I think all the positive comments help our guests to make the decision to stay with us, and most of them are really happy with their choice.” The Montagu Place Hotel is at 2-3 Montagu Place. Info: 020 7467 2777, www.montagu-place.co.uk