Your Stratford City

SENSATIONAL SPA

Delivering one of the finest spa offerings in the country, just a stones throw from London, Sopwell House’s Cottonmill Spa and Club is the perfect way to escape and relax to start the new year refreshed and ready to face everything 2023 might bring.

The luxurious country house hotel set in 12 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside is ideally located for short weekend breaks and longer stays alike.

Sopwell House, Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 2HQ

THE POWER OF INSTINCT

LONDON ART FAIR

Returning to its traditional January slot from 18-22 January 2023 and now in its 35th edition, London Art Fair launches the international art collecting calendar once again with an exceptional collection of modern and contemporary art.

Offering both seasoned and aspiring collectors a diverse presentation of modern and contemporary art, alongside curated displays, and an inspiring programme of talks, panel discussions and artists insights.

In addition, London Art Fair continues to champion and support regional museums through its annual Museum Partnership, which this year invites the Ben Uri Gallery and Museum who will present key highlights from their preeminent collection to the Fair showcasing the rich contribution to British art made by Jewish, immigrant, and refugee artists.

With over 100 galleries participating from around the world, including Iceland, Belgium, America and Sweden, and new exhibitors Art Gallery O68, Willoughby Gerrish, and Koop Projects; alongside returning names such as Austin Desmond Fine Art, Piano Nobile, and ARTITLEDcontemporary. The Fair will also feature work by some of the world’s most renowned artists, including works by Paula Rego, Tracey Emin, Marc Chagall, Roy

Lichtenstein, Bridget Riley, Pablo Picasso, Grayson Perry, Salvador Dali, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Julien Opie.

These esteemed artists will be exhibited alongside the next generation of international contemporary names. Contemporary gallery highlights include The Finch Project, Elizabeth XI Bauer, and Artistellar - an innovative gallery which launched and showcased exciting emerging talents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

New for this year, is Encounters, curated by journalist, curator, and member of the Encounters Selection Committee, Pryle Behrman. Formerly Art Projects, Encounters is a showcase of the freshest contemporary art from across the globe featuring young, up and coming galleries eager to present their emerging artists on a major platform alongside established names who are creating new and exciting work, taking their practice in a different direction.

The new section of curated solo and group presentations is where the two meanings of the word ‘encounter’ meet. An encounter is often unexpected, perhaps leading to the discovery of an unknown artist or, alternatively, an unexpected style or theme; an encounter can also suggest a confrontation between opposing positions and artworks that challenge entrenched views and understandings.

London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH

Highlights include a display by Shame Gallery whose pieces by Nathan French, originally a fashion designer, reference the multiplicity of tempers, moods and thoughts that occur inside every one of us; Catherine Anholt’s paintings at TIN MAN ART see the artist exploring a range of emotions and experiences spanning childhood, parenting, the natural world, birth and death, having previously been primarily known as an author and illustrator of children’s books.

London Art Fair’s specialism in Modern Art continues to be strongly represented in 2023 through the participation of some of the UK’s leading galleries in the field. Terry Frost’s striking ‘Red, Black and Blue Arrows’ will be showcased by Osborne Samuel among other Modern British works. Meanwhile, Thomas Spencer Fine Art will present works by Keith Vaughan, a Henry Moore bronze from a private collection, and Victor Pasmore prints from

a private collection which were gifted directly to the private source by Victor himself. The Redfern Gallery will be celebrating their own centenary year as well as the centenary of Adrian Heath (1920-1992) with works from a career that spanned six decades.

Purdy Hicks will be unveiling Sandra Kantanen’s new series, Herbarium, at the Fair for the very first time. The series presents familiar and exotic plants with microscopic precision, revealing the intricacy and delicacy of nature’s structures. Alongside this, a display of three fabulous book paintings by Ralph Fleck, who’s painterly language involves movement between moments of close observation and of objective distance.

One thing is for sure, there is plenty to see and do making 2023 one of the biggest fairs yet.

Full ticket types and prices at: www.londonartfair.co.uk/tickets

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Images from left to right: © Sandra Kantanen ‘Bishop’s weed’ 2022 pigment print. Courtesy of Purdy Hicks LAF © Lynn Chadwick ‘Cloaked Couple V’ 1977. Courtesy of Osborne Samuel LAF © Simon Williams ‘A bout portant’ 2016 acrylic and alkyd oil on canvas. Courtesy of VirginiaVisualArts Ltd LAF

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

Since 2012, Piaget has always celebrated Chinese New Year as the key occasion to gather its Piaget Society around those moments of shared joy.

Created as a tribute to the cultural Chinese festivities, the limited-edition Altiplano timepiece feature the year’s zodiac animal in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel.

After eleven horological and enamel creations, this year marks the last zodiac sign in the series that is celebrating the year of the rabbit, an animal which represents hope and long life.

Created by the master enameller Anita Porchet, who has been collaborating with Piaget since 2006, the 38 pieces depict two luminous rabbits, housed in a 38 mm 18K white gold case set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.71 ct). Powered by the Maison’s ultra-thin, manual-winding 430P movement, the boutique exclusive Altiplano is fitted with a black alligator leather strap.

“Demure as a maiden, quick as a rabbit”: this old Chinese saying is an appropriate interpretation of rabbit in Chinese cultural cognition, perfectly signifying the highly incisive and agile image of this zodiac sign. Symbolising graciousness, kindness and benevolence in traditional Chinese culture, the rabbit will take over from the tiger at the Chinese New Year on 22 January 2023.

To celebrate, Vacheron Constantin is pursuing its dialogue with collectors and passionate devotees of Haute Horlogerie by enriching its Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese zodiac with the sign of the rabbit.

China, a nation with which Vacheron Constantin has been cultivating special ties since 1845, first introduce the papercutting technique known as Jianzhi, a popular art echoed in Swiss culture through its famous Scherenschnitt papercutting. This artistic approach, highlighted in the Métiers d’Art The legend of the Chinese zodiac, has been given a fresh interpretation thanks to the expertise of the master engravers and enamellers.

Two new creations, issued in limited series of 9 each, combine the technical excellence of Calibre 2460 G4 with the beauty of artistic crafts. The vegetal motifs appearing on the dial and based on classic Chinese iconography are etched directly in the metal. The pattern remains semi-embedded and stands out from its gold base by a subtle stage-setting of variously accentuating reliefs creating a depth effect. This makes the vegetation appear to be floating over the dial.

Then comes the stage of Grand Feu enamelling, an ancestral technique that remains the preserve of a very few particularly skilled artisans. By applying the enamel in successive layers, the enamel specialist enhances the intensity of the blue or bronze-toned dial. Achieving the necessary mastery of colour and of reactions to firing at temperatures between 800 and 900 degrees Celsius calls for an expertise that can only be acquired over long years of experience. The animal, made of platinum or pink gold, is hand engraved and delicately applied to the dial centre.

Calibre 2460 G4 makes it possible to create a distinctive and ideal stage-setting for the decorative arts, by giving

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the central dial motif a starring role. The hands-free time display is achieved through four apertures showing the hours, minutes, days and dates. These indications - the first two of the dragging variety and the last two of the jumping type - proudly embody the longstanding savoir-faire of the Maison in designing and developing original displays. Clearly visible through the sapphire crystal back of the platinum or pink gold case, the 22-carat oscillating weight features a decor inspired by the Maltese cross emblem. All movement components are indeed finely finished in accordance with the criteria of the Hallmark of Geneva, a quality label of which Vacheron Constantin is the most faithful representative.

Les Roses Carrées

In 2021, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its creation, Parmigiani Fleurier launched one of the most ambitious and demanding projects in its history: an exceptional pocket watch called La Rose Carrée. Based on a Louis-Elysée Piguet calibre with grand sonnerie, entirely restored in the Parmigiani Fleurier workshops, this unique pocket watch continues the legacy of watchmaking art that is precious to the history of the House.

La Rose Carrée has now evolved into Les Roses Carrées, a series composed of 5 unique minute-repeater pieces at the top of the Parmigiani Fleurier range, set against a backdrop of absolute exclusivity.

On the occasion of the birthday of its founder Michel Parmigiani, 2nd December, the brand revealed the first creation in this collection: La Rosa Celeste, an extraordinary creation that pays tribute to the age-old artisanal tradition of Grand Feu enamel and to the favorite colour of the brand’s founder.

The Rosa Celeste is an example of excellent craftsmanship and

fine watchmaking. Its 42mm white gold case is hand-engraved with the “La Rose Carrée” motif and has a hunter’s caseback. The latter and its chiseled dial are covered with grand feu enamel in blue.

Between the petals of this horological flower, Parmigiani Fleurier has concealed a manually wound minute repeater calibre with cathedral gongs. Its skeletonization and bevelling bring together the best of Parmigiani Fleurier’s watchmaking expertise and craftsmanship in a unique and poetic piece.

This motif was engraved on the case middle and covers by hand, without the slightest margin for error on the vast, convex surfaces. The covers were then finished in a deep blue Grand Feu enamel. Infinite detail, energy and passion were devoted to the creation of this flagship piece.

La Rosa Celeste carries all the hallmarks of La Rose Carrée pocket watch. With the Rosa Celeste, these details have been taken to a higher level of wearability and simplicity, making this piece just as unique as the original model. This model also heralds a

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series entirely dedicated to the celebration of handmade watchmaking craftsmanship according to Parmigiani Fleurier.

“Les Roses Carrées” will be the name and the thread that ties these pieces together.

In this execution, the watch case is mounted on a blue, handsewn alligator leather strap, the reverse side of which is also in alligator leather. With a diameter of 42mm, the case is cut from white gold blocks. The bezel, lugs and caseband are hand-engraved with the La Rose Carrée motif. A hinge located at 2 o’clock on the reverse side of this unique piece articulates its hunter’s back. Its outer face bears a large square fractal rose, also hand-engraved and covered with multiple layers of coloured enamel. On its other side, this unique piece features a dial of solid white gold, with a surface engraved by hand. Countless small carvings are made with immaculate regularity throughout the breadth and depth of the dial. Once the surface has been prepared, the enameler takes over and applies the same shade as on the hunter’s caseback, striving for an identical level of nuance and a play of light made possible by the depth of the work done by the artisanal engraver.

To the movement’s extreme aesthetic refinement, Parmigiani Fleurier has added horological substance on a comparable level. The noblest, most historic complication, the one most directly in line with Michel Parmigiani’s watchmaking practice as a restorer, was chosen to enliven Rosa Celeste: the minute repeater. But striking the hours, quarters and minutes on demand was not enough for this rare timekeeping rose.

The gongs on which the sound is produced are cathedral gongs. Their exceptional length, spanning one and a half trips around the movement, brings a deeper, richer sound, a more sustained vibration and a more palpable intensity. In order to allow this potential to be fully expressed, the case has been carefully designed to optimize the sound of the movement.

The movement is suspended in the case and the heel of the gongs is physically connected to the case by a double screwing. The caseback and case middle have been redesigned to create resonance pockets and to lighten the white gold mass. These two aspects contribute to increasing the acoustic quality of the ringing and its range. A final quality criterion is that the ringing sequence automatically skips dead time. Thus, at 3:19, the three chimes for the hour are immediately followed by a double chime for the quarterhour and again, without silence, by up to four chimes for the minute.

This device, which is unusual in the world of minute repeaters, is an indispensable characteristic for Parmigiani Fleurier. The maison’s legendary criteria for ergonomics and directly perceptible quality are also reflected in a running time extended to 72 hours, i.e. three full days, another rarity for this complication.

The movement, although hidden by a solid dial on one side and by its hunter’s caseback on the other, has nevertheless been the object of an artistic and extensive skeletonization. Usually made visible by the disappearance of the dial, it is here reserved for the owner and his or her closest confidants, a private and exclusive pleasure that speaks to the very unique nature of La Rosa Celeste. The shape given to the bridges,

the cut-out of their profile, and the size and extent of their openwork are artistic signatures, markers of aesthetic identity and indicators of the care given to execution and details. Parmigiani Fleurier has taken this approach to the extreme. The skeletonization of the PF355 calibre is reminiscent of that of the PF361 calibre, known as the Chronor, which was launched in 2016 inside a model that was at the time the pinnacle of the Parmigiani Fleurier collection. With its curves and counter-curves, harmonious inflections, the depth of the chamfers and its 114 inward and outward angles, Rosa Celeste is the product of unparalleled achievement. The bevelling, polishing and surface treatments are all done by hand. Thus, beauty, rarity and substance unite as stem, petal, and fragrance in this rose for the wrist.

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DEFY EXTREME DOUBLE TOURBILLON

Once again affirming its position as the Master of Chronographs, Zenith brings its most advanced and complicated chronograph movement to date to the Defy Extreme line. For the first time, this exceptional 1/100th of a second high-frequency chronograph joins the Defy Extreme core collection in two serially produced references.

The Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon represents the pinnacle of innovative haute horlogerie as Zenith envisions it. Not complicated for complication’s sake, but a true advancement of high-precision chronographs that builds on over 50 years of innovation and improvement of the high-frequency automatic chronograph that began with the El Primero. Constructed like no other chronograph movement, it is equipped with two independent tourbillons completing rotations in 60 seconds for the time-keeping tourbillon and 5 seconds for the chronograph’s tourbillon, making it among the fastest tourbillons ever made, as well as the only 1/100th of a second chronograph, beating at the phenomenal rate of 360’000 VpH.

Conceived with endurance and ruggedness in mind and perfectly suited to house such an intricate and complex movement, the DEFY Extreme Double Tourbillon’s angular and robust case measures 45mm wide and is available in two executions. The first is crafted entirely in titanium with a mix of satin-brushed,

polished and matt surfaces including the bracelet, while the second is done in carbon fibre with sandblasted matt rose gold twelvesided bezel and pusher protectors on a black textured rubber strap. Its open dial, with applied chronograph counters and tinted transparent sapphire elements, allows for an unobstructed view of the groundbreaking movement and its two tourbillon mechanisms with star-shaped cages.

And it’s not just the movement’s exceptional performance and ultra-modern architecture that make it a showstopper. Something of a signature among Zenith’s recent haute horlogerie creations, the movement’s decoration takes on a modern and heavily contrasting look that emphasizes its futuristic nature. First, the movement’s open and satin-brushed bridges are coated in a layer of black PVD. Then, the edges of those bridges are highlighted in rose gold colour, revealing the geometric forms of the bridges in a true departure from traditional watchmaking decoration techniques.

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BREITLING X DEUS

Breitling and the Australian custom motorcycle and surf outfitter Deus Ex Machina have teamed up once again on a limited-edition Top Time Deus chronograph. It’s the second collaboration between the two brands, following their first sold-out watch release in 2021.

Limited to 2000 pieces, the new Top Time Deus is built for openroad adventure with luminescent indexes and a white lacquered dial contrasted by sky-blue on its subdials and speed-measuring tachymeter scale. While the colour scheme is all new, the details that made the first collaboration so successful are back, including the lightning-bolt-shaped chronograph hand, mushroom pushers, racing-themed calfskin leather strap and caseback engraving of a Deus bike and rider designed by Deus creative director Carby Tuckwell. Each caseback is marked with the “One of 2000” limitation.

Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling, says, “Top Time Deus is a watch that’s easygoing, rugged, and stylish at the same time, just like the person it’s made for. The modern-retro look beautifully complements the way Deus styles its boards and bikes.”

First introduced in the 1960s, Breitling’s unconventional Top Time chronograph became a fast favourite with a stylish in-crowd of café racer and sports car enthusiasts. Men and women were equally drawn to its bold proportions and graphic dials. Today, the Top Time remains Breitling’s watch for bikers, boarders, surfers, and digital nomads - and at 41mm, it’s a fit for most wrists.

Each new Top Time Deus comes with a co-branded waxed-

canvas travel tote which is part of the additional partnership on a new line of clothing and accessories that fans of the brands can only get their hands on at six Breitling flagship stores worldwide (Seoul Hannam, New York Madison Avenue, Milan, London New Bond Street, London Regent Street and Sydney).

A symbol of self-expression for those who crave adventure, the new Top Time Deus is available online at breitling.com, in Breitling boutiques and through selected retailers, while quantities last.

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NewScentsYear

Since 2012 Jo Malone London has been committed to helping to stamp out the stigma surrounding mental health, proudly supporting inspirational charities. This year, in honour of their 10-year milestone, the brand launched the Shining A Light On Mental Health Foundation. The Foundation supports individuals and families affected by mental health challenges through dedicated projects with inspirational charities, raising awareness and providing support through the sales of our Charity Home Candle Collection. The newest addition to the collection, Jo Malone London Hemlock & Bergamot Charity Candle, launches in January 2023. The powdery floral notes of hemlock is brightened with bergamot, filling the room with the fresh, inviting scent of a wild, winding path.

For each Charity Home Candle sold in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Jo Malone Limited will donate 75% of the RRP (less VAT) to the Shining a Light on Mental Health Foundation, supported by Jo Malone London, administered by the Charities Aid Foundation, a registered charity.

Hemlock & Bergamot Charity Candle £55.00 from Jo Malone London. Available in store and online.

Inspired by travel, new luxury candle brand Malkia offers a whole host of delectable candle scents from Sea Salt & Moss to Lime & Coconut or Cassis & White Cedar.

Candle, 220g £40.00 from Malkia. malkiacandles.com

Enjoy a moment of calm this January with this beautifully scented candle from Elemis. Featuring notes of Lavender, Chamomile, and Geranium, the candle is made with mineral and natural wax, including soy and bees wax, and is hand poured in England.

Mayfair No.9 Scented Candle, 220g £42.00 from Elemis. uk.elemis.com

Jo Malone London invites you to rediscover the world of Cologne Intense - a collection of alluring, powerful scents inspired by faraway lands, captivating rituals and treasured ingredients. The collection, is now showcased in brand new coloured bottle designs. Whilst most Jo Malone London scents find inspiration in British landscapes, traditions and ingredients, the nine scents in the Cologne Intense range allows us to find inspiration from further afield. Cologne Intense fragrances offer warmth, depth and volume, but still retain the signature clarity and naturality that Jo Malone London is known for.

Highlights of the collection include Cypress & Grapevine, Velvet Rose & Oud, and Vetiver & Golden Vanilla.

Cologne Intense, 50ml £106.00; and Cologne Intense, 100ml £150.00 from Jo Malone London.

Start the new year with brighter skin, here we round up the latest skin saviours for glowing, more hydrating skin.

This concentrated gel with an ultra-light texture helps to break up the most stubborn fat accumulations to target cellulite on the abdomen, hips, bum and thighs. Formulated with Plant Extracts, Maca, Suaeda Maritima and Forskolin, it targets these fatty fragments with its lipolytic and draining action, improving microcirculation in the area.

Perfect Forms HD Lipo Control, 125ml £39.90 from Germaine de Capuccini. germainede-capuccini.co.uk

Pair with the brand's Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream to visibly reduce dark circles, hydrate, and depuff the entire eye area. Created with 10% encapsulated vitamin c complex, niacinamide blend, and peptides the cooling cream illuminates, hydrates, and firms the eye area.

Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream, 15ml £34.35 from Glow Recipe. Available at Sephora.

Visibly reduce the look of hyperpigmentation with this lightweight gel from Glow Recipe. Use as the last step of your routine for a dewy, reflective glow without mica, glitter, or gray cast.

Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, 40ml £31.00 from Glow Recipe. Available at Sephora.

Providing anti-aging benefits, Bear™ is the world's first FDA-cleared medical microcurrent device with Anti-Shock System™. The device visibly improves the facial contour by gently energising and firming all 69 muscles in your face and neck. Microcurrent and T-Sonic™ massage give you real results thanks to science-backed technology. Over time and with consistent use, the treatment helps stimulate your facial muscles to help naturally produce more collagen and elastin.

All microcurrent devices must be used with a conductive serum, Foreo has created one exclusively for Bear™. With squalane & hyaluronic acid, this ultra hydrating serum helps your skin stay resilient to everyday stress.

Its micro-capsules also help push the skin-nourishing formula into deeper layers of the skin, where it works best leaving skin looking more youthful and radiant.

The Bear comes with a free sample of conductive Serum Sérum Serum and the Foreo app, so you'll have everything you need for a clinical facelift treatment at home.

BEAR £279.00 from Foreo. foreo.com

A blend of some of the most powerful facial oils including Argan, Coconut, Castor, Rosehip, Grapeseed and Bergamot oils plus real 24K carat gold leaf (made from recycled jewellery) for the ultimate radiance, this treatment from Doctor A will leave your skin looking healthy, younger, and with an overall improvement in your complexion. With no sticky residue, it contains anti-ageing properties and can be used on acne scarring, pigmentation, fine lines and stretch marks.

24K Gold Royalty Treatment £19.99 from Doctor A. doctoracosmetics.com

Apply Emma Lewisham's Sleeping Mask just a few minutes before bed to wake up to plumper and deeply hydrated skin in the morning. The 22 active ingredients rejuvenate skin while you sleep, triggering night-time cellular repair.

Supernatural Sleeping Mask, 50ml £70.00 from Emma Lewisham. emmalewisham.co.uk

Ultra concentrated, this light-weight night serum visibly reduces deep lines and wrinkles to restore the firmness of the skin and refine texture. With no dryness or irritation, this is a great way to get a potent hit of retinol with none of the discomfort.

Advanced Retinol Nightly MultiCorrect Serum, 30ml £79.00 from StriVectin. Available at sephora.co.uk

This ultimate overnight duo has been designed by Nóttnuit's team of Swedish Natural Skincare Pioneers to soothe, hydrate and restore your skin. Featuring Nottnuit's Vow Barrier Repair Overnight Mask; containing ceramides that repair the skin’s natural barrier and antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage and the Haze Protecting Face Mist; an exclusive antioxidant rich formula that boosts the efficiency of the ceramides, as well as replenishing lost moisture and helping to promote skin firmness, this exclusive duo works to repair, soothe and hydrate your skin from within.

Vitamin C brightens and improves elasticity of the skin, and this lightweight serum from Olivanna London helps protect against further skin stressors, while soothing and comforting the complexion.

Vitamin C Brightening Day Serum £78.00 from Olivanna London. olivanna.com

Created for all skin tones and types, including sensitive skins, Even Tone serum from skincare gurus Omorovicza corrects areas of uneven pigmentation, such as age spots and sun damage, whilst smoothing skin texture.

The light-weight, refreshing texture absorbs in seconds, revealing an instant glow. Perfect for balancing skin tone and reducing pigmentation, amber microalga targets areas of excess melanin only, to preserve skin tone.

Gentle acids smooth skin texture without irritation, whilst niacinamide evens out signs of past and current imperfections, including redness and enlarged pores.

Even Tone £110.00 from Omorovicza. omorovicza.co.uk

With 9 botanical oils, this nutrient rich oil from Alpha H is designed to plump, soothe and nourish the skin. Vitamin F and Jojoba Oil lock in hydration and help to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier function, while antioxidantrich Camellia Seed Oil assists in combatting the visible signs of ageing. Dry, dehydrated skin will thank you!

Golden Haze Face Oil £40.00 from Alpha H. uk.alpha-h.com

Radiant skin starts from within, so support your complexion throughout your life with this powerful combination of certified organic probiotic wholefoods and herbal extracts.

Boosted with iodine to support the normal function of thyroid hormones, skinboosting vitamins A and C, and potent herbal extract for a dose of extra antioxidants, this berry flavoured, youth-restoring powder is the beautiful skin solution.

The Beauty Chef Glow Ageless Inner Beauty Essential, 150g £48.00 from The Beauty Chef. Available at cultbeauty.co.uk

Created with 5% AHAs and edelweiss stem cell, this powerful night treatment deeply hydrates, smooths texture, evens skin tone and visibly reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots overnight.

If you are new to acids introduce to your routine slowly and look forward to the results!

Dewtopia 5% Acid Firming Night Crème £51.00 from Ole Henriksen. Available at boots.com and sephora.co.uk

Hide the damage of the long nights in December with this long-wearing full coverage concealer pen from Sisley Paris. Formulated with Benzoic acid to help minimise blemishes and Alpha-bisabolol to soothe skin, the luminous matte finish instantly reduces the look of imperfections. Available in 11 shades.

Made from two East African Beauty staples; Qasil + Turmeric, this powerful exfoliating mask helps to provide brightness and clarity while improving tone and delivering powerful antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Working to deeply purify and detox pores, for a smoothed and more even healthy appearance, the vegan mask contains a blend of AHA, BHA and PHA acids to help minimise texture on the skins surface as well as penetrate for deeper exfoliation for a radiant complexion. Skin is left feeling smooth, vibrant, and calm thanks to the nourishing properties in Rice Protein and Oat flour.

Qasil Exfoliating Mask, 100ml £38.00 from S'able Labs. uk.sablelabs.co

This balm to oil formula lathers up to gently melt away make-up without stripping or drying the skin. Perfect for the cold weather. Sunflower and Ginger Root Oils effectively dissolve stubborn makeup and impurities, whilst a revitalising blend of Lime, Bergamot and Orange Essential Oils leave skin feeling clean and fresh.

Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm, 100ml £32.00 from Farmacy. Available at cultbeauty.co.uk

Fake a new year glow with Vita Liberata's Heavenly Elixir Advanced Tinted Tanning Elixir. Deliciously scented, the vegan formula melts into skin for an effortless natural looking tan for face and body.

Heavenly Elixir Advanced Tinted Tanning Elixir, 200ml £34.00 from Vita Liberata. vitaliberata.co.uk

Sun-care should be applied all year round. This broad spectrum SPF 50, won't clog pores and works as a great primer under makeup, protecting your skin from the harmful rays. Head to Dr Sam's website to build your own tailor made skin care routine.

Flawless Daily Sunscreen SPF50, 50ml £29.00 from Dr Sam Bunting. drsambunting.com

Stylo Correct 1 £46.00 from Sisley Paris. sisley-paris.com

Add a touch of luxury to your evening cleansing ritual with the Cleansing Oil from Cle de Peau Beaute. This lightweight formula ensures a deep cleanse that leaves no trace of make up or residue behind.

Cleansing Oil, 200ml £60.00 from Cle de Peau Beauté. Available at Harrods.

LUXURIOUS LOCKS

Make a pledge to maintain and protect beautiful hair colour this new year by deeply conditioning and revitalising strands with Rahua's Colour Full Hair Mask. Featuring exclusive Plant-derived Colour Complex featuring Amazonian Rahua Oil, Morete Oil and Lilac Clay, the exclusive formula is packed with antioxidants from Organic Hibiscus Flower that helps reduce UV damage and provide full spectrum colour, to powerful antioxidant and antiinflammatory Blue Tansy Flower Oil, which strengthens and softens hair, and calms the scalp.

Colour Full Hair Mask £44.00 from Rahua. rahua.com

Suitable for all hair types and with heat protection up to 450°F, Olaplex No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum is an antioxidant-rich, leave-in, silicone-free hair serum to shield hair from pollution, heat, and future damage by nourishing hair, blocking pollutants, and neutralising free radicals. Leaving hair with better style memory, tangle and static control, it's a healthy hair must have.

No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum £28.00 from OLAPLEX. Available at Sephora.

Lengthen and strengthen weak locks with Vida Glow's Hairology capsules. Take one capsule a day to reduce hair loss, thinning and support hair growth and maintain thickness.

Hairology Capsules, 30 servings £45.00 from Vida Glow. uk.vidaglow.com

DERMALOGICAXHYDRAFACIAL

Skincare giants Dermalogica and HydraFacial® have joined forces to offer consumers a new supercharged skin treatment, for instant and long-term skin health benefits.

The new Dermalogica x HydraFacial Treatment offers a non-invasive, multi-step treatment that combines the benefits of next-level hydra-dermabrasion, a chemical peel, LED light therapy, painless extractions and a special delivery of antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and peptides - all in one!

What is more, the treatment can also be personalised to include lymphatic drainage to improve detoxification or a personalised booster to improve skin hydration and ageing.

Dermalogica revolutionised the skin care industry thanks to its innovative formulations when it arrived in 1986. With no common irritants, including SD alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil and artificial colours and fragrances, Dermalogica offers professional-grade skin care education, products, and services to skin therapists and customers alike.

Having already introduced PRO Nanoneedling and PRO Microneedling to their portfolio of advanced services in 2022, Dermalogica's new collaboration with HydraFacial’s tailored

technology unite two powerhouse brands together in one service.

Whether you need a quick pick-me-up or a more in-depth treatment, HydraFacial is a non-invasive, 3-step treatment that bridges the gap between medical and consumer beauty. It uses a unique delivery system to cleanse, extract and hydrate the skin, featuring patented hydra-dermabrasion and vortex technology alongside unique serums.

This treatment focuses tailoring HydraFacial technology with powerful formulas from Dermalogica to optimise skin health meaning HydraFacial fans can achieve glowing results from the multi-step technology they know and love, while Dermalogica clients benefit from a treatment that compliments their trusted, athome skin care routine.

The results are instant with a glowing complexion that looks and feels more radiant. Painless with zero down time, it can be customised to reflect skin concerns and seasonal needs.

The new Dermalogica x HydraFacial Treatment is now available exclusively at Dermalogica’s Flagship stores including Duke of York Square, London. Dermalogica x HydraFacial Treatment - 45mins £120.00. Course of x4 treatments £300 (£180 saving).

dermalogica.co.uk | hydrafacial.co.uk

“We are super excited to collaborate with HydraFacial. With Dermalogica’s reputation as skin health experts, dedicated to education and results driven skin treatments; we are proud to deliver a new protocol with HydraFacial that allows our customers an advanced professional skin treatment option that delivers incredible results.”

Vanessa Burlingham, Dermalogica’s

Head of Retail

your travel

JANUARY RESET

Head to one of the most luxurious spas in the UK, just a stones throw from London to relax, unwind and reset to welcome in the New Year and start 2023 afresh. Sopwell House delivers a British country escape unlike any other with luxury exclusivity at the fore.

BEACH CLUB

INFINITUM BEACH CLUB

The Costa Dorada is well known for its sandy beaches where you can soak up the sun all year round. Situated to the west of Barcelona, 10 kilometres from the beautiful city of Tarragona, the Infinitum Beach Club enjoys a breath-taking setting with the clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea as its backdrop.

Not just a beach club, Infinitum is also a premium golf, lifestyle and real estate resort which won ‘Europe’s Leading Beach Club 2022’ category in the prestigious 29th World Travel Awards and has cemented its reputation as Catalonia’s premiere lifestyle resort. The World Travel Awards acknowledges, rewards and celebrates excellence across all sectors of the global travel

and tourism industry, and offers the highest level of recognition.

With eight swimming pools, the Infinitum Beach Club is the perfect place for both families and adults to unwind. Its Signe pool is reserved exclusively for the latter, providing a peaceful and child-free setting, with the new Pura pool allowing guests to enjoy the best in well-being and downtime.

The Beach Club is ideal for guests to indulge themselves and relax in an oasis of hidden tranquillity behind towering pine trees which line the golden sands of Playa Llarga beach where guests have exclusive access. The club’s two infinity pools offer some of the best views out to the Mediterranean and children are catered

Infinitum, Avda, Pla de Maset s/n. 43840 Salou, Spain

for in the Family Area where they can play in safe surroundings as parents relax in the sun.

To complement its setting, the restaurants at Infinitum offer dishes which are based around signature, local gastronomy and guests can indulge in the culinary delights of Flamma Beach Food house restaurant - as well as its Cocktail Bar - where the best of Mediterranean cuisine takes centre stage. Overlooking spectacular, panoramic ocean views, Flamma delivers a dining experience like no other. Guests at the Pura restaurant can enjoy poke bowls, focaccia’s, dips and fresh tomato and onion salads whilst at poolside bar Gusto, tasty tapas, aperitifs and whole

meals are available for Beach Club guests.

The restaurants at Infinitum are passionate about dishes which are based around signature gastronomy, and they work with producers from the region to provide the healthiest options in contemporary cuisine using local produce wherever possible.

Of course, there are always local restaurants such as llop de mar in Cambrils which specialises in Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine including mouth-watering octopus and seafood paella should you wish to experience something a little different.

Apart from the fabulous Beach Club, Infinitum is renowned for its three exceptional, award-winning golf courses, with the

infinitumliving.com

INFINITUM BEACH CLUB

Lakes course recently hosting the ISPS Handa Championship in Spain - part of the 2022 DP World Tour schedule - before undergoing an extensive renovation programme that saw the course’s fairways re-sown with the more sustainable and durable Bermuda Tifway 419 turf.

The Lakes is perfectly complemented by the Hills, which, perched on the spectacular cliff edge, displays unrivalled views across the coast and the picturesque nine-hole Ruins course designed by Greg Norman. Offering a unique environment, the terrace of the Hills Clubhouse Restaurant overlooks the 18th hole and opens on to an impressive rock quarry; promising unforgettable moments while you enjoy the healthiest dishes in the golfing world, including a gastronomy with an international flare that’s full of surprises.

The resort’s reputation as three-time winners of ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ at the World Golf Awards has also earned it regular hosting honours of the DP World Tour’s Final Stage Qualifying School.

Meanwhile, a stunning selection of BREEAM-certified, highquality homes sit within walking distance of everything you need to live in luxury on Catalonia’s beautiful coast. These properties come in a wide range of sizes and styles so, no matter what you are looking for, the perfect home is waiting.

There is so much to see in nearby Tarragona with its rich history dating back many centuries. Founded before 5th century BC (the real founding date is not known), it is the first Roman military establishment outside the Italian peninsula and what started out as a small military encampment next to the sea ended up becoming one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire.

The best way to explore is to take the extensive Roman Route of Tarragona which includes no fewer than 14 locations that have been acknowledged as World Heritage Sites. Archaeological sites such as the Roman Walls which date back to the second century BC; the remains of the Roman Temple of Tarragona; the Roman Circus of Tarragona (one of the best-preserved in the world) which originally allowed for 30,000 spectators and was built in the first century AD to hold chariot races and the Roman Amphitheatre which is one of the most visited sites in the city are all highlights of the Route. Used to hold gladiatorial combats, fights with wild animals and public executions, the amphitheatre which held up to 15,000 spectators also enjoys the magnificent backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.

Another place worth visiting is Perinet Vineyard which is approximately thirty minutes by train from Tarragona and is in the north of Spain’s prestigious Priorat region. This ancient wine-producing area was founded in 1998 and is one of only two Spanish wine regions with DOQ quality designation. It lies less than twenty miles from the Mediterranean Sea which serves as a major stabilising influence on the grapes grown in its warm, arid climate. The Priorat’s dry, rocky soil where the vines must literally burrow though the crumbled rock in search of water makes for one of the most challenging landscapes in the world, but it also gives the grapes a unique character.

If you go by car, stop at the local Porta del Priorat restaurant which serves locally sourced food and wine in beautiful surroundings.

The Infinitum Beach Club will reopen in June 2023 and you can make bookings by visiting their website.

Infinitum, Avda, Pla de Maset s/n. 43840 Salou, Spain

SOPWELL HOUSE

Boasting immaculate spa facilities and set amongst 12 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, Sopwell House is a luxury country house hotel with a plethora of facilities for all to enjoy. With over 300 years of history, the main building at Sopwell house is home to two restaurants, a conservatory bar and cocktail lounge and 112 guest rooms, ranging from deluxe doubles to family and balcony suites. All rooms boast stylish interiors and offer guests use of the recently refurbished Cottonmill facilities including a large 14.5 metre swimming pool, two vitality pools, sauna and steam room.

Those wishing for even more privacy and space can opt for one of the 16 individually designed, stylish Mews Suites that are located adjacent to the main house behind their own private gates. Offering guests of the Mews use of a communal hydropool set in the beautifully kept gardens created by RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Gold award winner, Ann-Marie Powell, the stunning suites are made up of carefully created rooms and cottages. From feature fireplaces, four-poster beds, duplex levels and high end kitchenettes, to private terraces, cedar wood spa baths, and in-room feature baths with luxury toiletries from Elemis, the modern facilities act as the perfect country home-away-from-home.

Mews guests also gain complimentary access to all the Spa facilities at Sopwell house including The Club at Cottonmill - the country’s first private members’ spa - with the new Spa Gardens, Deep Relaxation Room, Whisper Room and Garden Room.

Adult’s only, the The Spa at Cottonmill is a vision of unprecedented, internationally informed excellence. Conceived as a global leader, its founders have roamed the globe to bring you a unique blend of cutting-edge technology and expert treatments.

With flowing unity in style and substance, there are two distinct areas to the Spa at Sopwell House - Cottonmill and The Club at Cottonmill. Cottonmill facilities includes use of the indoor pool, two vitality pools, a spacious state of the art gym featuring the latest Technogym ‘Artis’ line equipment, a fitness studio, sauna, steam room, poolside terrace and sitting room. After a treatment, guests are invited to rest in the Rose Relaxation Room. Elsewhere and with access through a special wristband to separate dressing rooms, The Club at Cottonmill features world class spaces and facilities including the beautiful new spa gardens, scenic Garden Room, restorative Whisper Room and tranquil Deep Relaxation Room. The Club area is accessible only to a select group of members and a limited number of guests or residents on Club packages.

Sopwell House, Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 2HQ

What’s a state-of-the-art spa without exclusive treatments?

Cottonmill has partnered with leading British brands, Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates, to offer a wide variety of treatments. Traditional therapies, like reflexology and Rahanni healing, sit alongside a range of pioneering treatments developed exclusively for Cottonmill. From bespoke massages, to treatments that work on healing the body as a whole, Cottonmill has carefully blended the finest techniques from ancient cultures.

After a relaxing day in the spa opt for dinner at the brand new restaurant Omboo. Beautifully decorated, the restaurant is inspired by the spice routes of Asia and the Far East. Designed to be shared, the menu features a selection of sharing plates that are delivered to your table fresh out of the kitchen when ready. From pickled cucumber and edamame, to shiitake, shimeji, truffle spring rolls and shrimp tempura - menu highlights include fresh sashimi; seared Japanese A5 grade wagyu with wasabi ponzu sauce; and asparagus rolls with avocado, cabbage, radish and fava bean sauce. Larger plates - following a farm, ocean and field theme - include ginger soy ribeye skewers; steamed wild seabass with black bean sauce; and warm aubergine with sweet chilli soy.

Positioned at the back of the restaurant, behind opulent, embossed sliding partition walls, is the private dining area. This more intimate space is perfect for those looking to celebrate something special with friends or family, a business meeting or a Christmas party and is suitable for those in a group of between 8 and 12 people.

Elsewhere, the Brasserie, with a large open place kitchen, offers a range of classics from sirloin steak cooked the grill; the Sopwell House burger with Dedham Vale beef, smoked applewood cheese and streaky bacon; and pearl barley primavera. Breakfast, lunch and Sunday roast are served buffet-style with a fantastic selection of dishes both hot and cold with daily specials inspired by global cuisines.

Whether you choose to stay in the main house or opt for one of the private, cosy mews suites, you won’t struggle to find relaxation at Sopwell House. The new spa facilities are second to none and the upgrade to The Club at Cottonmill are certainly worthwhile especially during busy periods - if you manage to secure a spot on the exclusive list. Just a stones throw from London, this is the ideal weekend escape destination in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside, and one you will find yourself returning to time and again.

Residents to Sopwell House receive complimentary access to Cottonmill Spa. Those wishing to enhance their experience further are welcome to upgrade to The Club at Cottonmill. Prices to upgrade are per person, vary seasonally and are only available on the day itself. Places are subject to limited availability and cannot be pre-booked or guaranteed in any way.

Stays at Sopwell House start from £249 per night in a Deluxe Room on a B&B basis. Stays in a Mews Studio start from £549 per night on a B&B basis with use of The Club at Cottonmill facilities. 01727 864477 | enquiries@sopwellhouse.co.uk | sopwellhouse.co.uk

A FRESH START

January is all about turning a new leaf, making positive changes and recovering from the festive season usually with healthier eating and the obligatory few trips to the gym. But it doesn't always have to be that way. One Aldwych offer up an indulgent, fresh menu to enjoy...with Champagne of course.

YARD SALE PIZZA

Cult neighbourhood pizza shop Yard Sale Pizza is set to partner with beloved comedian and broadcaster Romesh Ranganathan for an extra special pizza for Veganuary.

Yard Sale is no stranger to epic collaborations - and this one is no different. The Romesh Spesh, will be on sale from Wednesday 4th January and will be totally vegan; topped with Sri Lankan curried aubergine, coconut sambol, mint raita and curry leaf + chilli oil on top of Yard Sale’s famous signature dough and classic tomato base.

The pizza will be available in 12” or 18” from all of Yard Sale’s nine locations across London for dine-in, takeaway or delivery.

A portion of proceeds from all pizzas sold will go towards Romesh’s chosen charity, CALM, who stand united against suicide and everyone struggling with life, by offering life-saving support and bringing people together across the country to reject living miserably.

Speaking on the collaboration, Romesh says: "Yard Sale do incredible pizza, so when they told me they wanted to do a Romesh spesh inspired by Sri-Lankan aubergine curry and coconut sambol, and that the proceeds would go to CALM, you're talking career highlight stuff. This pizza absolutely bangs."

The Romesh Spesh will be available from Wednesday 4th January until Tuesday 31st January.

Lorne

Lorne has a full vegan menu on offer all year round, for January dishes such as Scorched onion, king oyster mushroom, chestnuts and truffle or a winter Roast parsnip, cicoria, castelfranco, and burnt apple available on the menu.

Lorne, 76 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE | lornerestaurant.co.uk

Spaghetti House

Crust Bros

Known for their leopard print seared crusts, Crust Bros makes going out for pizza easy for plant-based eaters, with their non-dairy mozzarella and big list of veggie toppings. From 1st January - 5th February, Crust Bros will have a special on the menu, called Little Miss Sunshine made with rega san marzano tomato sauce, basil, yellow ciliegini tomatoes, vegan mozzarella and belazu vegan n'duja. Also on offer is the Vegan Hot One with tomato, vegan mozzarella, peppers, red onions and chillies or Vegan Romagnolo, vegan mozzarella, mushrooms, truffle oil. If these don’t take your fancy, Crust Bros has a ‘build your own’ option, where you can create your ideal pizza, with all your favourite toppings.

crustbros.co.uk

CAVITA

Crudo

Crudo

Located on Marylebone’s Wigmore Street, Cavita, makes for a perfect place to enjoy refreshing and distinctive vegan dishes such as Mooli and pomegranate ceviche, with amaranth, avocado, lemon leaves, lime, habanero and nasturtium flowers, or a smoky Beet Tlayuda with chile butter, black beans, avocado puree and morita sauce or a Tetela de calabaza, filled with butternut squash and crushed chickpeas, served with morita sauce and mixed herbs.

eatcrudo.com

cevicheria’s most recent opening on Mare Street, brings Hackney the freshest raw dishes. Although a classic ceviche includes seafood, Crudo offers options for vegans with dishes such as Avocado & beetroot tartar with orange-ponzu, beetroot, avocado, spring onion, sesame seeds, crispy onion and Shiitake mushroom ceviche with habanero leche de tigre, mushroom, avocado, sweet potato and burnt corn. Crudo will also be relocating their site from Riding House St to Foley St to allow for more dining-in space and the addition of a small wine shop on the site.

Spaghetti House will be serving up delicious Italian vegan dishes this Veganuary with their Maccheroni vegani with a seitan tomato sauce and a Spaghetti Vegani Zucchine & Zafferano, made with pan fried courgettes, toasted pine nuts, black pepper, velvety oat cream sauce and saffron. If you pair this dish with their cocktail special of the month, the NOgroni, this offer is priced at £17.95. There is also vegan pizza options including the Pizza leggera with tomato, grilled vegetables, onion, olives, sundried tomatoes and vegan mozzarella. Spaghetti House will be putting on a one off vegan pasta masterclass on Saturday 14th January, where for £65 you can expect to learn how to make three different Italian dishes, which you will then be able to enjoy with wine over lunch. spaghettihouse.co.uk

VEGANUARY

RAMEN YOKOCHO

Retro ramen bar Ramen Yokocho has created a new wellness menu in collaboration with plant-based Japanese and organic fine food specialist, Clearspring.

Served from January 10th at both Yokocho locations - Regent Street’s hidden gem, Heddon Street and the buzzing heart of Leicester Square on Panton Street - guests will be able to sample the detox menu all day every day for only £18 until 14 Feb 2023.

Discover the refreshing and authentic taste of Clearspring’s wholesome, organic plant-based ingredients whilst celebrating Clearspring’s 30th anniversary with a deliciously healthy Yokocho set menu from Yokocho’s executive chef Kanji Furukawa to keep you warm, lean, and green.

Kickstart with Clearspring’s wonderfully fresh Organic Sea Vegetable Salad with wakame seaweed with silken tofu from Clearspring, winner of 1 Star from the Great Taste Awards before moving on to the main of Vegan Miso Tantan Men Ramen - a delicious concoction of Yokocho’s vegan ramen featuring Clearspring organic white miso based vegetable broth, hosomen thin and straight noodles, marinated organic soya mince, Gamo tofu, Clearspring wakame seaweed, pak choi, bamboo shoots, beansprouts and chili oil for a gentle heat.

Round-up your meal and raise a glass to a super healthy start to the year with Clearspring Organic Japanese Hojicha Tea (VE). Further to this, diners can also claim a free pack of Clearspring’s Organic Japanese Miso Ramen Noodles to take home with each purchase of the set menu.

Ramen Yokocho will also be offering 15% off Clearspring products at Japan Centre stores and Japan Centre online until the 12th of February. Diners can pre-book the Ramen Yokocho X Clearsping Set Menu experience at ramenyokocho.com

Mr Bao

For Veganuary 2023, Mr Bao will be offering innovative plant-based specials for the month. On the menu will be a Katsu celeriac bao, Popcorn oyster mushrooms, Cabbage yakitori skewers and Sesame aubergine dip with lotus root crisps. These specials will be alongside permanent vegan dishes such as the Shiitake mushroom bao with pickled onions and miso, and BBQ corn ribs.

Mr Bao, 293 Rye Lane, London SE15 4UA | mrbao.co.uk

PALATE

BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH AT PING PONG

Priced at just £35.00 per person, indulge this new year with Ping Pong's Bottomless Brunch.

Taking place every Saturday from 12pm, at the St Katharine Docks, Soho, Southbank, St Christopher's Place and Covent Garden locations, the boozy brunch is the perfect way to enjoy your favourite dumplings with friends and family.

Tuck in to 90 minutes of free flowing cocktails carafes, wine, bubbly, beer and a dim sum set menu per person featuring crispy duck spring rolls, 2 har gau, and 2 chicken and cashew nut dumplings.

The vegetarian menu swaps out the duck for veggie spring rolls and also boasts 2 buddha's delights dumplings, as well as 2 mushroom and leek dumplings. Vegan and gluten free menus are available on request.

Even better, guests to Ping Pong’s Soho and St Katharine Docks will get the chance to dance along to resident live DJs, or tune in to the best mix of old school beats and fresh new releases at the trendy Southbank and Covent Garden restaurants.

pingpongdimsum.com

Year of the Rabbit

Showcasing South East Asian hospitality through the finest quality food and drink, a visit to Pan Pacific London is a must for those looking to toast to fruitful new beginnings, as we welcome the Year of the Rabbit. The luxury hotel in the heart of the City is marking Lunar New Year with a unique afternoon tea in partnership with Diptyque in The Orchid Lounge.

Known for her show-stopping patisserie, Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden has created an extra special Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea, in partnership with Diptyque. Inspired by the luxury brand’s Orange Tree and Orange Blossom scent - given that oranges symbolise the bringing of luck and happiness in Chinese culture - the candlelit afternoon tea is served in a beautiful birdcage. Seasonal patisserie such as a mandarin and white chocolate mousse with orange marmalade is packed with citrus flavours whilst standout Chinese savoury choices include crispy wonton with aromatic duck and tofu, as well as a lobster bun and Kaya toast. Enjoy with your choice of tea from The Rare Tea Company or, opt for The Orchid Lounge’s bespoke blend - a perfect mix of loose leaf Indian and Malawian black tea, Chinese oolong tea and Indian rose petals. For a touch of indulgence, add a crisp glass of English sparkling wine.

Don’t forget, in keeping with tradition, to post a wish on The Orchid Lounge’s wishing tree. Each guest enjoying the limited-edition afternoon tea will be given a red card or ‘hóngbāo’ to write their hopes and dreams for the year ahead on, before attaching it to the tree.

panpacificlondon.com

Cosy up this January with a hearty dish of authentic Roman cacio pepe from chef Fabio Ciervo at Hotel Eden Rome. Hotel Eden is one of the most exclusive luxury hotels in Rome and is home to a guided Caravaggio art tour, the Eden spa and of course Il Giardino restaurant - where this recipe was born. This dish is simple and easy to recreate for your loved ones and is sure to take the chill off this January.

Spaghetti with Pecorino, Black Pepper & Turmeric

By Fabio Ciervo

“My cooking philosophy is inspired by art and innovation, with the aim to create perfect harmony between exceptional food and a healthy lifestyle.”

Chef Fabio Ciervo

Heading up the kitchen at Hotel Eden, Michelin-starred executive chef Fabio Ciervo takes Italian fare to a new level. He is strongly rooted to his Italian origins - and in particular to Campania - but he knows how to turn this into something intriguing. He’s respectful of the ingredients which he carefully searches. He pays attention to both the nutrients of his dishes, and their quality and aesthetics. His recipes are well structured and enhance the value of the main ingredient adding aromas and flavours that sometimes have distant influences.

For the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the pepper - previously crushed in a mortar - the broth and turmeric powder.

Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. Drain the spaghetti and add to the pan where the sauce is, keep it on a low heat.

Add the Pecorino and Parmagiano-Reggiano, extra virgin olive oil and using a fork, mix until it's creamy. Serve and finish with a dust of freshly crushed pepper.

INDIGO

Home to delicious food from the best independent producers, Indigo in One Aldwych is Covent Garden's go-to neighbourhood restaurant. Overlooking One Aldwych’s buzzing Lobby Bar, Indigo is a comfortable spot for a light lunch or special dinner date. Relaxed and welcoming with impeccable service, the focus is on fantastically executed food in a stylish setting.

Showcasing a menu of British favourites with a gentle twist, Chef Dominic Teague has created dishes that speak to his childhood love of the great outdoors. With a deep respect for the seasons and sustainable sourcing, Chef Dominic goes to extraordinary lengths to find the very best independent food producers from across the British Isles. He is committed to careful sourcing and his menu includes an array of foraged foods and forgotten flavours.

From growers to fishmongers and everything in-between, Indigo celebrates suppliers around the country who are doing remarkable things in food production and it gives Dominic enormous pleasure to cook with this produce and share their stories. In his kitchen these ingredients are handled with skill and passion, celebrating flavour and provenance on every plate – allowing the food to speak for itself.

One supplier used, Chocolarder is one of a handful of beanto-bar chocolate makers in the country. Producing fine quality, stone ground chocolate using organically grown beans sourced from single estate, family run plantations. The select beans used at Chocolarder developed to create individual flavours before being left to mature for at least 28 days. The chocolate is then tempered and crafted into bars before being lovingly wrapped in plastic free packaging. Flying Fish on the other hand, delivers the finest fish from ship to plate within 48 hours. Founder Johnny Godden started his business in Cornwall in 2006 with the ethos to provide

exceptional quality fish that has been responsibly sourced.

Using these magnificent ingredients, Indigo is proud to launch a series of seasonal tasting menus. The most recent being a Champagne and Truffle menu that showcased the delights of Billecart-Salmon Champagne and the earthy truffle.

The next tasting menu will focus on Foraging. Perfect for the upcoming spring months, the menu will be available from 22 February and is inspired by the delights that can be found in the wilderness.

From Roast Orkney Scallops with woodland sorrel and lobster bisque; to Cannon of Rhug Estate Lamb with wild garlic shoots, heritage carrots and crispy sea purslane. The menu is bursting with flavour and textures.

The 5 course meal will finish with a light vanilla brûlée with Yorkshire rhubarb in rosehip syrup and blood orange sorbet. Priced at £95.00 per person, the tasting menu is a great way to experience Indigo, Chef Dominic's innovative visions, and the very best flavours of the season. Indigo, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ | 020 7300 1000

CHAMPAGNE VEGANUARY

2023 is in full swing and people all around the world are taking part in Veganuary - a movement where veganism is adopted for the month of January. Here we look at the perfect Champagne to pair with an array of vegan food and demonstrate that animal products are not the only successful accompaniment to the world’s most prestigious sparkling wine. Many of these pairings are easily recreatable so, why not treat yourself to a vegan Champagne paired feast this Veganuary?

Champagne has long been known as an umami-friendly wine and the key to these savoury Champagne pairings is umami

flavours. Umami is the characteristic savoury taste that we find in stock and intense flavours such as shiitake mushrooms. This distinctive taste comes from the combination of glutamate with ribonucleotides - both present in many fresh and fermented foods. Oysters and tuna, which are classic Champagne pairings, are so successful due to their high umami content. However, plantbased foods and fungi such as roasted cabbage and dried shitake mushrooms are also rich sources of umami and can produce the same taste intensity - especially when paired with the correct Champagne.

To find out more about Champagne visit champagne.fr or enrol at champagne-mooc.com

YOUR PALATE

Avocado on toast

Why not try a classic avocado and wild leaf pesto on sourdough toast garnished with cashew aioli, radishes, pomegranate and pickled mooli sauerkraut. A non-vintage brut is a great pairing option for this dish - a multi-faceted Champagne that is an absolutely essential classic and a perfect accompaniment to the umami flavours that this dish offers.

Winter tabbouleh

A vibrantly coloured and sophisticated rosé Champagne is the ideal accompaniment to a warming winter buckwheat tabbouleh. This can be served with harissa roasted carrots, cucumber, brussel tops and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Rosé Champagne can develop aromas around notes of freshness (citrus fruits and wild strawberries) or, in contrast, aromas that are smoother and more powerful (ripe yellow fruits and small red fruits) - perfectly complimenting the light spice and nutty flavours of the winter tabbouleh.

Vegan sushi

Vegan sushi with nori aubergine, oyster mushrooms, cucumber, avocado and mooli is a dish that encapsulates a whole host of umami flavours and is a great accompaniment to a Blanc de Blanc Champagne. Made entirely from white grapes, Blanc de Blanc is a bright and refreshing style that is all about finesse. With notes of white flowers (hawthorn, honeysuckle, linden, acacia, jasmine and orange blossom), citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon) and exotic fruits - Champagne Blanc de Blancs are excellent at complementing the sushi’s savoury umami flavours.

champagne.fr | champagne-mooc.com

SERIOUSLY SWIFT SUV

Aston Martin have put their racing know-how and automotive experience to work, creating the world's most powerful luxury SUV. Instantly recognisable as a machine from the British marque's stable, this is a serious piece of engineering to enjoy both inside and out.

German manufacturer Volkswagen deliver the sixth fully electric model in the ID. family, expanding the innovative e-mobility offering that has become the focus for the brand.

Available in three guises, the ID.5 comes in two rear-wheel drive 'Pro' and one all-wheel drive 'GTX' variants, boasting 174, 204 and 299PS respectively. The Pro Performance option provides the best of both with sufficient power to propel you from standing to sixty-two miles per hour in 8.4 seconds while offering comfort and functionality.

The ID.5 builds on the software focused foundation that the family is derived from and with this comes the latest generation of ID. software. Bringing with it benefits including reduced charging times, increased comfort and enhanced vehicle operation, turning the tide on the charging versus refuelling argument. ID. software

3.1 also features enhanced, intuitive voice control and an intelligent Electric Vehicle Route Planner which performs intelligent multistop route planning for long journeys ensuring your destination is reached as quickly as possible, calculating charging stops on the capacity of charging stations.

Range anxiety becomes somewhat a thing of the past with ID.5 thanks to an impressive 315 mile range combined with its smart charging capabilities, so you can enjoy everything this car has to offer without the fear of getting stuck. The impressive network of VW supported charging stations should also help.

This, as with the ID.3 and ID.4, is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), which ID.5 brings to a new segment for the first time, the E-SUV coupe. Volkswagen have stated that they expect to build 19 million vehicles on the platform by 2030, so there is clearly volkswagen.co.uk

a lot of potential for this architecture moving forward. In the immediate, it allows for clever positioning of the drive components for optimised efficiency as well as accommodating considerably more space on the inside comparable to other vehicles with the same footprint.

As a result of this, the ID.5 can afford a sleek, sporty, coupé shaped profile without sacrificing passenger space and comfort, further aiding in its efficiency, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.26 and that impressive range. Inside, the spacious ID.5 combines premium quality, sustainability and elegance for a multi-faceted driving experience that delivers in every area. Style and comfort are immediately apparent while incredible functionality comes to the fore once you get on the road.

An intuitive, user-friendly infotainment system allows you to manage and adjust the many safety and driver functions available to suit your needs, with everything from travel assist - which keeps the vehicle positioned in its lane, but can now adapt itself to the user’s driving style, with the ability to keep the vehicle further left or right in the lane instead of exactly in the centre, based on the driver’s preference - to an optional augmented reality headup display at your fingertips, while the twelve weekly over-the-air updates will ensure your car is running the latest features available, just like your smartphone.

ID.5 delivers the next page in the ID. family story and is a strong indicator of the marque's intent. Aiming to be the global market

leader

electric mobility by 2025 at the latest, they are making a strong case for the future of electric travel and pushing the innovation surrounding e-mobility to new levels. Whether you're looking for an SUV or not, there is no denying this sleek car's credentials and style and there is clearly a lot more to come from the German genius'.

DBX707

Pushing the boundaries of the SUV market, Aston Martin's DBX707 delivers a potent package of power, performance and luxurious quality. Starting from an award-winning, widely acclaimed base in the V8 DBX, the DBX707 has been precision engineered to deliver the fastest, most powerful and best handling version possible. Every area of this car has been enhanced to not only improve power and performance, but deliver an even more engaging driving experience and further presence on the road - not that the DBX needed much help.

Intent on crafting the ultimate SUV, the British marque has excelled in both design and engineering. Its performance is undeniable, but the ability to create an SUV that looks as good as it performs is often overlooked, fortunately not in this case. A striking aesthetic with vast, gaping grille to the front of the car complete with air vent chasms in the bonnet create an instantly recognisable

appearance that will make anyone take a second look should they see it arriving in their rear-view mirror - probably very swiftly - and the theme continues along the sleek and smooth yet angular profile all the way to the rear of the car.

A dramatic rear-end enjoys aesthetic form and aerodynamic function in equal measure. Providing a sectionalised appearance with enlarged twin split diffuser housing the very vocal large diameter quad exhaust, the beautifully designed DBX707 features flowing lines at every angle, from the body to the distinctive and equally sleek light clusters. Blended into the boot flick spoiler, the lights form part of the physical aesthetic, accentuating the cabin width variation which becomes narrower as you move from the front to the rear of the car, while a new lip spoiler has been added to the roof wing to reduce lift and increase high speed stability as part of the aerodynamic improvements.

Award winning DBX gets an injection of power to create the most powerful luxury SUV on the market and boy does it look good on the road.

The designers have managed to realise an SUV sized car that is instantly and undeniably Aston Martin while providing aerodynamic features that are fitting for a vehicle of this calibre and simultaneously, all the functionality you would expect from an SUV. Not only creating one of the best looking luxury SUV's on the market, but aiding in the cars dynamic performance.

Dynamism and capability are at the heart of this car and it all started with unleashing the full potential of the DBX's 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 engine. Now featuring ball bearing turbochargers and a bespoke engine calibration, the DBX707 boasts even more power and torque. Paired with a new 9-speed ‘wet clutch’ automatic transmission that is capable of managing the increased torque loadings compared with a regular torque converter automatic, this high performance powertrain allows output of the 4.0-litre V8 to be lifted to an immense 707PS and 900Nm, an increase of 157PS and 200Nm over the DBX.

Not only does the transmission accommodate the increased power, but is able to deliver it more efficiently with much faster gear changes and more immediate and direct gear shifts. Should you choose to do the shifting yourself, you will experience much more control and responsiveness over the DBX. This faster shifting naturally improves the DBX707's launch capabilities, reducing the 0-62mph time to

just 3.3 seconds and you can enjoy acceleration all the way to 193mph.

With such huge enhancements in power and speed, it has been necessary to ensure that the rest of the car has been equally improved alongside. As a result, you will find carbon ceramic brakes fitted as standard with 420mm front and 390mm rear discs that are gripped by six-piston calipers allowing for face-stretching braking performance. Not only that, but the high performance system reduces the unsprung weight by an impressive 40.5kg.

Optional 23in alloy wheels - 22in fitted as standard - bring additional dynamic benefits, with the larger diameter tyre offering improved steering response, better body control and all important improved lap times. Further engineering improvements also help including an updated electronic limited slip rear differential which has been strengthened to handle the full 900Nm of torque and features a revised (shorter) final drive ratio of 3.27 compared to 3.07 for the DBX V8.

Front to rear torque distribution remains fully automatic, with the ability to send up to 100% to the rear axle on demand. The e-diff has been carefully calibrated to ensure the DBX707 has the cornering agility, sporting feel and dynamic character of a true sports car despite its size. The integration of chassis and powertrain technology affords

“Right from its first introduction the DBX has represented Aston Martin’s dynamic and design values in a way that proves not all SUVs have to conform to the same compromises. With the DBX707 we have pushed the boundaries in every area to create a car which sets new standards of

the best handling balance possible at all times maintaining both traction and agility.

Of course a key component in any vehicle's handling capabilities is the suspension system, and the DBX707's exceptional agility is largely thanks to the air suspension setup.

Retaining the basic architecture and triple volume air chambers of the DBX V8 - already regarded as the best handling SUV in the market by many - DBX707 has received a dedicated chassis tune which has been optimised to match the uncompromising demands and objectives of this machine such as new damper valving and re-calibration of dynamic spring volume switching to improve body control and steering response. The electronic power steering system has also been adjusted to improve steering feel, with greater effort build up off centre to help you get a clearer picture of increasing cornering loads and available grip and the result is impressive to say the least.

Responsiveness and control are unfathomably good with minimal body roll through cornering and lightning sharp shifts as and when you need them. Changes to the eARC (Electronic Active Roll Control) system have helped with this, offering revised parameters that heighten the sense of agility and improve the dynamic balance of the car.

You can alter the characteristics to suit your needs adding to the driver focussed credentials of the car with alterations and enhancements to the dynamic drive modes allowing you to affect

the ride and shifting for a more 'relaxed', comfortable ride on your every day drive and a stiffer, sharper and dynamic drive when you want to enjoy more of what this car has to offer.

“Race Start” is available in GT, Sport and Sport+ modes to maximise off the line acceleration to truly showcase the enhanced performance and feel the full potential of the DBX707. These drive functions are easily accessible thanks to a redesigned interior space where the lower console features the drive mode selection switches as well as buttons for suspension mode, ESP, manual gear selection mode - which now actually holds manual like a sports car rather than defaulting back to auto - and active exhaust switch which opens the valves of the quad tailpipe system without having to switch to Sport drive mode. All of this removes the need to find options through the infotainment system making it much easier and quicker as a driver to make changes whilst driving, reducing the time you're attention is off the road.

Despite being quite openly a sports car to its very core, the DBX707 isn't just about performance. Fine finishes both inside and out not only hint at this car's luxurious nature, but punch you in the face with quality. Satin blacks compliment gloss black treatment on the outside, while interior features include a dark chrome finish to switchgear as standard or bright chrome and carbon fibre - for the ultimate sporty finish - options available for something different. The interior veneer is a luxuriously sleek piano black as standard, but the carbon fibre or stunning bronze metal mesh veneer options

are not to be ignored. Ideal for giving your DBX707 a striking interior aesthetic.

Options for Alcantara and leather or full Semi-Aniline leather sports seats with embroidered Aston Martin wings on the headrest and perforation pattern in the seat back and base cushion feature inside - with an optional 'comfort seat' if you prefer.

For customers looking to further enhance the exclusive nature of this car and create something truly unique, Q by Aston Martin the brands bespoke service delivers the ultimate in personalisation. Offering an extensive palette of options, from unique graphics through to tinted carbons and bespoke materials on both the interior and exterior, each ‘Q by Aston Martin - Commission’ car can push the boundaries of desire and is completely tailored to you, but the options on offer create such an inviting prospect to start with, you might just find everything you need.

There is little that can be said about this car that isn't immediately and abundantly apparent the second you lay eyes on it. It wears its performance, and luxury, very much on its sleeve and for good reason. It has a lot to shout about. Power, performance, design, comfort and functionality are rare to find in this quantity and quality on one single product, but Aston Martin seem to have found the perfect formula with DBX707.

This striking 1963 Ford Anglia Custom - nicknamed ‘Misfit’comes with an Eaton M45 supercharged BMW E30 M42 engine with E30 manual gearbox and clutch and is the famous winner of the UK Hot Wheels Legends Tour.

This amazing car has been very well documented over the last few years (Google ‘Anglia Misfit’ to see the extent of information), and has been built painstakingly over the last few years to show winning specifications.

The full specifications for the car includes Ford Anglia 105E front headlights with a custom fabricated bonnet featuring an integrated boost gauge to the front end along with a Hillman Imp rack and Ford Sierra discs and calipers. While a custom one-off split screen front windscreen completes the front aesthetic.

Inside, a distinctive custom interior contrasts perfectly with the unique exterior. A custom leather-bound steering wheel, one-off high-top bomber bucket seats and custom fabricated headrests finished in orange perforated leather by MJ Interiors are paired

with 4 point Willian’s harness with custom bar mounts.

Socal clocks and gauges including the boost gauge in the bonnet, custom fabricated gear shifter with Ferrari 308 GTS gear knob, one-off pedals and custom construction throughout including the roll cage, door panels and windows finish the interior look.

Custom Cadillac 59 rear taillights with a fully louvred rear panel are paired with a unique boot built with an aluminium petrol tank make for a truly spectacular rear end.

Controlling the performance is an Emerald K6 ECU which manages everything running through the custom intercooler and tubular stainless steel manifold by Styledynamics.

This is truly a one-off amazing car which creates more attention than any Ferrari or Lamborghini.

1963 Ford Anglia Custom 'Misfit' £POA

ONE AND TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS, SURREY QUAYS, SE8

Trotters Estates are pleased to offer a selection of one and two bedroom apartments located in Surrey Quays, SE8. This beautiful residential development has been recently refurbished to the highest standard, making a cosy living environment for all prospective tenants. The flats benefit from a modern, open-plan fitted kitchen, 3-piece bathrooms, exceptionally light and airy living rooms as well as a good sized balconys. The stunning views of the Canary Wharf towers is one of a kind, features that not many properties can offer in London.

The wooden floors and the neutral colour of the walls make this flat a blank canvass for you to design to your likings or you have the option to have one of our amazing interior designers decorate your future home. This development benefits from private underground parking and ample bike storage with 24HR CCTV security as well as lift access. High standard furniture can be provided for the term of your tenancy upon request.

Location: This flat is in the heart of Deptford giving easy access to Central London, perfect for professionals working

in the city. (Surrey Quays station: 0.5 miles, only 20 mins on train to Canary Wharf). This property is surrounded by several local corner shops, supermarkets, takeaways and restaurants within walking distance making this property more than desirable for any prospective tenants. (Lidl: 0.2 miles)

Deptford Park and the stunning Folkestone Gardens are only o.5 miles away from this property; hence this property is the perfect match for runners or cyclers who also enjoy beautiful views of green land.

Viewing Details: Owing to our commitment to keep both our colleagues and clients safe during this period of recommended isolation, we have many self-serve viewing options available to you. These include video walkthroughs, enhanced comprehensive photography and open-door viewings. Please do not hesitate to contact our expert letting team to make appropriate arrangements.

Disclaimer: The information provided about this property does not constitute or form part of any offer or contract, nor may it be relied upon as representations or statements of fact.

“After a booming two years for the UK property market, buyer commitment has increased according Savills most recent survey”, details Frances McDonald, residential research analyst at Savills.

The survey of 1,500 prospective buyers and sellers of prime property and more than 300 residential sales agents identified needs-based buyers and equity-rich lifestyle ‘right-size’ buyers as the most active groups.

“Although there is some hesitancy, particular among buyers, predominantly driven by higher interest rates and the rising cost of living, there is there is still plenty of opportunity left in the market - with a flight to quality and motivation among needs-based buyers remaining strong.

In fact, a net balance of +3% of all prospective buyers, said they were more committed to moving within the next three months and +12% over the next six months. This rises to +20% for those moving for work, +32% for those moving because of a bereavement and +39% for those looking to reduce levels of borrowing. The most committed group, with a net balance of +48%, are moving because of a relationship breakdown.

These needs-based buyers express the greatest urgency to move within the first half of 2023. By contrast, levels of commitment to moving amongst those looking to ‘right-size’ their homes, whether upsizers or downsizers, rise significantly over the next year or two.

Serious buyers will also take a long term view on their next purchase. A vast majority (93%) of Savills agents agree that the value of home life is now more important than ever for their buyers. Fewer than one in 10 (9.7%) of buyers anticipate owning their next home for less than five years, while 60% expect to own for at least 10 years. A quarter (25%) of aspiring buyers are currently

looking for their ‘forever’ home, with a 20+ year timeframe in mind.

And while values across Prime Central London are set to be down -2.0% across 2023, the long term view suggests that prices will recover and be up by +13.5% by the end of 2027. In the meantime, buyers will continue to capitalise on the dip in values and those homes that offer the golden formula – outdoor space, community and connectivity – the lasting legacy of the pandemic. A vast majority (93%) of Savills agents agree that the value of home life is now more important than ever for their buyers.

In London, the proximity to the nearest train or tube station has overtaken the desire to be within a short distance of parks and open spaces, with proximity to family in fourth place behind shops and amenities.”

Eldon Road Kensington, W8 5PT

Designed and developed by Finchatton, this modern townhouse has wonderful grand proportions and a newly reinstated period external facade, located in Kensington's De Vere Conservation Area.

This charming five bedroom freehold family home comprises approximately 4,672 square feet located on what is generally considered to be one of Kensington's most sought after streets.

Guide Price £14,250,���

Wharf

www.docklandspropertyblog.com

I started my property career working for an independent estate agent in the Wapping area. Since 1994 I have been based in and around East London. I started my own company in 1995 and it has grown from humble beginnings to become a well respected sales, lettings and property management agency operating in the Docklands and East London areas. Then in 2007, I opened my first branch in the Medway area. I am proud that we now have three branches in Kent. My operation is set to expand in 2020 and beyond.

I am a long term member of both the NAEA and ARLA and a former Regional Representative for the latter. As the owner of a growing residential and commercial property portfolio, I understand well the trials and tribulations that property owners go through. I have well over 20 years experience of regenerative Dock’s areas and specialise in new development reporting.

I am happy to advise you on all aspects of property. So, if you are looking at your first buy-to-let (even if it is with another agency), or have trouble with a tenant, feel free to contact me. I offer honest and impartial advice.

Inflation - every Docklands Landlords’ saviour

Some of you reading this will be old enough to remember the 1970s – the bell-bottom trousers, the huge collars, frayed jeans, disco glitter balls, maxi dresses, midi skirts but above everything else – HYPERINFLATION.

With inflation currently standing at 11.1%, many of us envy the last few years when we have been lucky to experience sub 2% inflation.

But in the 1970s, the UK had proper and persistent double-digit inflation for seven of the ten years of that decade.

The average annual UK inflation rate for the 1970s was 12.3% per year, with prices rising by 25% in 1975 alone.

The inflation was caused by several things, including oil prices quadrupling in the 1973 Oil Crisis (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?), powerful unions, a high level of growth and investment in the 1950s and 60s, meaning it was easier for the British economy to experience inflationary pressures in the 1970s and the property market then was not immune to these inflationary pressures.

The average Docklands house rose from £8,220 to £42,578 between the start of 1970 and the end of 1979.

That would be the equivalent of an average Docklands house going from today’s price of £512,837 to £2,656,059 in 2032.

The existing climate of rising prices (inflation) is affecting everyone, from filling up the car with petrol to doing the weekly ‘big shop’. Looking specifically at the buy-to-let market, Docklands landlords are suffering from rising costs and prices

like everyone else, including a substantial increase in labour price inflation as skill shortages have pushed up the cost of using all the trades.

Other worries include whether tenants can pay their rent with the cost-of-living crisis. Also, there is a rise in interest rates which increases landlords’ mortgage payments and professional fees, including accountants, and landlord insurance rates continue to climb.

So, is inflation all bad for Docklands landlords?

Most economists say that inflation is bad for the economy.

The absence of steady and stable prices makes consumers and businesses hold off making decisions to buy things, and when that happens, the economy stalls. Look at what happened in Germany in 1923, where you needed a carrier bag of cash to purchase a loaf of bread. Today, Zimbabwe has annual inflation of 269% a year, and Venezuela has 156% annual inflation, meaning their economies are on their uppers.

Thankfully, nobody is predicting British inflation will reach those levels.

Yet would it surprise you that inflation can be good news for landlords?

Property has grown above the rate of inflation over the last 50 years. It means that your hard-earned savings invested in property will increase in value over and above the inflation rate, which will safeguard your wealth during these periods of high inflation.

However, knowing where we are on the economic cycle makes it easy to spot when house prices are lower in the short term (in real terms), thus buying yourself long-term ‘extra’ profit.

The average Docklands property today is worth £512,837. Roll the clock back to the autumn of 2007, and it was £345,723.

Quite a gain (and no profit) until you look at inflation.

It appears people who bought in 2007 have made money when they have lost it in ‘real terms.

What do I mean by that? What exactly does ‘real terms’ mean? Everyone knows that £100 today doesn’t buy what £100 could have bought you ten years ago and much less than 20 years ago ... that’s the effect of inflation.

‘Real terms’ means the price value after adjusting for inflation and expressed in constant Pound Sterling, reflecting buying power relative to another year. For example, the ‘actual’ price of a Mars bar in 2000 was 26p, yet its ‘real price’ (expressed in today’s prices) is 74p. Why 74p? Because 74p is what a Mars Bar costs today.

What price in the past has the same spending power today? So, looking at the £345,723 average price for a Docklands house in autumn 2007 (as mentioned above), one would need £575,903 today to buy the same amount of ‘retail goods and services (e.g. cars, food, Mars Bars, holidays etc.). i.e. that is what ‘real terms’ mean.

That means even without any house price falls (which many are predicting),

average house prices in Docklands are £63,066 cheaper in ‘real terms’ today than in 2007.

Calculation: £575,903 (autumn 2007 Docklands house price expressed in today’s spending power terms – i.e. in ‘real terms’ less £512,837 (today’s average actual house price in Docklands) equals £63,066).

The other significant advantage of inflation for landlords is buy-to-let mortgages. Most landlords use a buy-to-let mortgage to buy their Docklands property investment. Let me give you some scenarios which explain why this is the case.

Firstly, let’s assume there was no inflation (like in Japan in the last couple of decades). If a landlord took out an interest-only buy-to-let loan of £200,000 10 years ago, then in 10 years, that buy-to-let mortgage, which would need to be paid off, would still have a ‘real value’ of £200,000.

Secondly, let’s assume the same landlord took out an interestonly buy-to-let loan of £200,000 10 years ago (2012). In the last decade, there has been 31.4% inflation, so that buy-to-let mortgage would have a ‘real value’ of only £137,200.

Now inflation won’t be in double digits for the long term in the UK (higher interest rates and a recession will put pay to that), yet let’s say the inflation rate for the next ten years was 4% per annum.

In this scenario, the ‘real value’ of the £200,000 buyto-let mortgage falls to less than half its original real value of £91,278.

So, if one thinks about it, inflation could be just the thing that Docklands landlords need to shrink the ‘real value of their buyto-let mortgage. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining.

On the back of double-digit percentages, growth rises in rents, and everything stated in this article, inflation could be the silver lining!

One place for more information is my Docklands Property Market blog. If you are a landlord or thinking of becoming one for the first time, and you want to read more articles like this about the Docklands property market together with regular postings on what I consider the best buy to let deals in the Docklands area, then it is well worth reading. You can also email via spencer@lmlondon.com

If you are in the area feel free to pop into the office which is based at Landmark Estates, 264 Westferry Road, London, E14 3AG

A global private members club specialising in extraordinary services & experiences, tailored to you. membership@azzura.com