24 minute read
Dawn Goes Dark
F I F T Y C H E Y N E
No. Fifty Cheyne is delighted to announce that from April 2021 it has been newly appointed as a wedding venue. With its reputation as a flagship for Old Chelsea and a well-known neighbourhood gem, this colourfully painted former pub is now available for the first time for civil ceremonies. Spanning 2 floors, the acclaimed restaurant and cocktail bar overlooks the River Thames and Cheyne Gardens, and with sweeping views out over Chelsea Embankment Gardens and on to iconic Albert Bridge, the drawing room on the first floor is perfect for weddings which can take place each day of the week.
Moments away from the Kings Road, its proximity to a handful of local churches and Chelsea Town Hall means No. Fifty Cheyne is also ideally suited to host receptions and sensational wedding breakfasts and its unique position means that the dining rooms and bar can be used as a full serviced wedding venue.
The endlessly picturesque, high-ceilinged ground floor restaurant is festooned with flowers, art and chandeliers and is highly photogenic. Recently reopened, it is the ideal location for intimate and timelessly romantic ceremonies followed by sophisticated receptions, with thoughtfully catered food and drink options all overseen by executive chef Iain Smith. Iain’s diverse past experience has allowed him to gain the knowledge of how to source the best local ingredients from trusted suppliers and he creates the finest high-quality dishes using seasonal and organic ingredients.
Taking place in the utterly enchanting, country-house style first floor drawing room (which underwent a series of tasteful renovations in 2020), ceremonies are overseen by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea appointed registrars and can accommodate 40 seated guests either side of the sky-blue carpeted aisle.
The reception can be hosted in an array of private and semi-private dining spaces, and for weekday weddings the ground floor Dining Room is also available. Perfect for an intimate London wedding, a venue-takeover will see the lucky couple able to host 44 seated in the Dining Room, increasing to 66 when using the adjacent Vineyard, with formats allowing for a seamless transition from drinks reception to dinner service and of course a wedding dance or two. For those looking to extend the celebrations, late licences can also be applied for and entertainment such as bands from sister venue Ronnie Scott’s jazz club. Packages for weddings vary from a drinks reception for 55 guests in the first floor Drawing Room with a selection of canapes and champagne, to packages for the entire ceremony, wedding breakfast (lunch or dinner) as well as a reception before and drinks into the small hours. For those looking to go above and beyond with an exclusive hire, head chef Iain Smith is excited to work with the happy couple to create an entirely bespoke menu, based on their personal favourites.
Take the Bull by the horns...
As a prestige vehicle and asset broker, we can offer you greater choice and fl exibility
• Finance solutions tailored to suit your requirements • Prestige, Executive, Sports, Classics and Supercars • Professional and personable service • Interest rates from 3.9% subject to status • Loans from £15,000 to £3,000,000 • Wide range of products • Private, High Net Worth Individuals and Business users • Most assets considered
Call today for your tailored quote 01245 245678
info@forzafi nance.co.uk
your
DARK MAGIC
Beauty and power delivered in truly stunning, open-top fashion. The Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge brings a deliberately dark edge to this already impressive masterpiece with added style and performance.
A wave of darkness flows across the ultra-luxurious RollsRoyce Dawn, transforming the most opulent of drop-tops into a potent, dark counterpart, the Dawn Black Badge.
Enhancing the already impressive performance further with improvements across the board, from a power increase to transmission and suspension changes. Most notably of course, is the striking aesthetic that 'Black Badge' affords. Unique visual customisations reserved for those in the series, which now includes Wraith, Dawn and Cullinan - watch this space for the new Ghost variant - bring a distinctive and instantly recognisable appearance to the road.
Delivering an unrivalled presence, the Black Badge series offers the pinnacle of ultra-luxury performance driving from the marque with the Dawn bringing the added spectacle of open-top driving.
Enjoying the same drop-top flexibility as the regular Dawn, including the impressively engineered Aero Cowling which was introduced in 2018, Dawn Black Badge is uncompromising in every respect. Perfectly engineered and meticulously crafted to provide the ultimate experience whether you're driving with the roof up or down.
The additional Aero Cowling is a must for any and all Dawn owners regardless of Black Badge status. Instantly and seamlessly converting the vast four-seater open space into a considerably more dynamic and comfortable two-seater roadster-style car, the extended tonneau cover sits atop the two rear seats. The beautifully designed cowling is not only engineered to reduce air turbulence to improve ride comfort, but also comes complete with two additional storage sections built in for further functionality.
Hand crafted from carbon fibre and aluminium, the Aero Cowling can be fitted and removed conveniently - as long as you have somewhere to store it...it's not the smallest piece of equipment - and will completely transform the cars aesthetic and driving comfort if you are alone or driving with just a single passenger. Needless to say the driving experience without this unique feature isn't something to be scoffed at.
Rolls-Royce were looking to encourage a younger, more driver focused clientele when they introduced the first Black Badge offering in the Wraith and with its incredible success, it was only a matter of time before they expanded the collection to include the drop-top Dawn.
Adding a new dimension to the Black Badge line-up, the sleek, distinguished and opulent open-top Dawn offers customers something beyond the realms of any other manufacturer.
Beautifully poised with flowing lines and vast rear deck, Dawn is reminiscent of a luxury yacht. But with the added benefit of the Black Badge customisation, it once again transforms into a striking machine ready for more than a leisure cruise on the Mediterranean.
Deep, intense features ooze dark opulence. From the iconic front grille to the sublime Spirit of Ecstacy, black looks very good on Dawn. Not only does it maintain the air of sophistication Rolls-Royce is built on, but manages to simultaneously take that sophistication and turn it on its head to a place where power and intrigue reign supreme, where the rules are bent beyond recognition and a car becomes an entirely different beast.
The dark side of Rolls-Royce is one of power, performance and unconventional - for them - beauty and none deliver it in quite the same way as Dawn.
Packing a whopping 6.6-litre V12 twin-turbocharged engine under that expansive bonnet, the Dawn Black Badge possesses a staggering 591hp and mind-blowing 900Nm of torque which are delivered through a silky smooth 8-speed ZF transmission to push this monster from zero to sixty-two in just 5 seconds. When you consider the weight of all that luxurious leather and fittings pushing this car to an unladen weight of over two and a half tonnes, that 5 seconds begins to look even more impressive than first thought.
With great power comes an essential ability to be able to stop. Thankfully, the engineers at Rolls-Royce were able to fit some excessively large wheels which are capable of housing brakes that could halt an articulated lorry. It's not just stopping power that
received an upgrade for the Black Badge variant though. The suspension also had a second look - the first time was already rather refined for the original Dawn - and enjoys a slightly firmer and more responsive ride more suited to dynamic driving.
Changes to the transmission and throttle complete the transition from 'regular' to Black Badge Dawn, delivering a more spirited drive thanks to quicker gear selection and faster response. They also had a play with the exhaust to ensure it wasn't all bite, no bark. Gone is the virtually inaudibly smooth note, replaced by a much more suited and agressive bass tone.
Inside, aluminium laced carbon fibre adorns the areas usually featuring fine wood, which can obviously be replaced to your liking should you wish to customise your Black Badge a little more, while the finest leather continues its presence on almost every other conceivable surface.
Comfort is of course at the forefront of any and every project to come out of the Rolls-Royce stable and here they have managed to produce a balance between driveability and comfort that is unrivalled in the market - if there is even a competitor out there for this masterpiece.
It should be said that thanks to the German parent company, you will still have to accept that some features will be very reminiscent of certain other branded cars if you happen to have driven one, but thanks to the engineers at Rolls-Royce being incredibly keen to reduce this as much as humanly possible, you won't find it to be a decision maker.
Power, performance, poise, presence and practicality - yes, it happens to have considerable luggage space in case you fancied popping down to the South of France for a week or so - combine in one of the most stunning packages the British marque have rolled off the production line.
This unique machine is a living juxtaposition, taking the sedate luxury of a comfortable four-seater drop-top and turning it into a high performance monster that looks as menacing as its underneath supports. There are few, if any, vehicles on the road that possess such an impressive specification. Add to that, the ability to customise, almost endlessly, your Dawn Black Badge to enjoy a truly personalised vehicle, and you have a production vehicle that no one else in the world has. This just does not happen with any other four-seater drop-top.
Soak up the sun with the roof down or reflect in closed-top comfort. Either way, there is not a chance that you won't enjoy every second you spend in this car, or in fact just simply looking at it.
DAWN BLACK BADGE
Engine 6.6-litre Twin-Turbo V12 Power (hp) 591 Torque (Nm) 900 0-62mph (secs) 5.0 Max Speed (mph) 155 (governed) Transmission 8-speed ZF Automatic Fuel Consumption (mpg) 17.3 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (g/km) 371 Price (as driven) £348,925
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have introduced a Black Badge variant to their stunning Escapism luggage range. Comprising a 48hr Weekender, 24hr Weekender, Holdall, Tote Bag and Organiser Pouch, the collection is available as a five-piece set or individually.
Designed at the home of Rolls-Royce to combine fine leather and a new material inspired by the unique technical weave first developed for Cullinan Black Badge, the offering is available in an array of colours, including bold colourways taken from the striking Black Badge palette. This collection, designed for informal travels and spontaneous adventures, reflects the bold, self-confident and self-reliant spirit of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge cars.
“Cullinan, Wraith and Dawn Black Badge present our motor cars’ darker, edgier personas, appealing directly to a generation of bold, self-confident people who live life on their own terms. As our global clients begin to traverse the world once again, our new range of Black Badge luggage allows them to complete their distinctive attitude and identity on their adventures as they travel for work and pleasure. And, like the motor cars themselves, these exquisite new pieces represent the very best in Rolls-Royce design, materials and craftsmanship.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The new luggage is designed to complement the darker, edgier personas of the marque’s Black Badge motor cars, which cater to patrons with a bold, confident, and uncompromising attitude to life.
The new range complements and extends the marque’s Escapism Luggage Collection launched in 2020, for those clients who favour a more informal, relaxed appearance. To appease the Black Badge clients, each piece has been designed from the ground up, reflecting the particular tastes, requirements and personalities of Rolls-Royce’s bold alter ego.
The five new pieces - 48hr Weekender, 24hr Weekender, Holdall, Tote Bag and Organiser Pouch - are handcrafted from the finest leather and soft canvas, together with a new material inspired by the unique technical-weave fabric first used in the interior of Cullinan Black Badge. This combination gives the luggage a soft, relaxed and informal feel, with a distinctive technical look.
Patrons can choose from colourways which include bold, eye-catching hues from the Black Badge colour palette or more understated tones. Each item is finished with intricate contrast piping detail - a first for Rolls-Royce luggage, which clients can personalise if they wish - and a metal plaque bearing the Black Badge ‘Infinity’ lemniscate icon.
The Black Badge Escapism luggage collection can be ordered as a five-piece set or as individual items from Rolls-Royce dealers. Prices for the five-piece set start from £22,075 (excl. VAT).
PRE-WAR BEAUTY
This stunning car from the 1930's is a rare find indeed. Pre-war and one of only nine right-hand drive versions ever built - with just two believed to remain today - this 1937 Mercedes-Benz Type 230 (W143 designation) is not only a lucky survivor, but has been very well taken care of.
Boasting an upgraded engine from the standard 6-cylinder 2.3-litre to a 2687cc unit, the otherwise original spec of black coachwork and dark green leather interior is a beautiful matching numbers car.
Surviving over 80 years, this incredible machine has been subjected to an extensive and very high end 'labout of love' restoration over a number of years. A recent £23k engine rebuild with invoicing to show works carried out along with new cylinder head is just a fraction of the time, effort and money that has been put into this amazing vehicle. The previous owner has stated that an investment close to £140k has been put into this car to maintain and restore it to the point of being a former RAC Club Show award winner.
Incredible attention detail combine with the cars already beautiful design to create a vehicle that will turn heads on any street or at any show. You don't need to be Mercedes mad to appreciate this car, but those that are will struggle to find a reason not to buy.
The are often cars you hear about that 'you won't see very often', but this truly is a car you will not see very often. With just two remaining in existence, it is unlikely you will get the opportunity to see its sister, let alone be able to buy it. This is a must see car for any Mercedes enthusiast or collector and will undoubtedly add something unique to your collection.
1937 Mercedes-Benz Type 230 Saloon £POA
your
Time For Renovation
With a surge in home improvement over the past year and a half, many have caught the bug for DIY and are now in search of inspiration and/or help for their next project. If you're one of them, there's no better place for advice than the Homebuilding & Renovating Show.
ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this modern built 3rd floor studio apartment within Larger than average 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Wapping. Comprises this riverside development. The apartment benefits from open plan lounge and of 2 double bedrooms, a spacious lounge, a fitted kitchen and a modern bedroom area, fitted kitchen and 3 piece bathroom suite. Laminate wood floors. bathroom with a separate WC. Lots of storage available. Double glazing Video entry-phone system. Parking space. Close to Wapping station and local bus and wooden floor throughout. Ideal location in central Wapping with a wide routes. £365,000 selection of pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes nearby and with easy access to St Katharine Docks. Offered Chain Free.
£465,000
Cape Yard, West Wapping E1W Tradewinds Court, Wapping, E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1st floor 2 bedroom modern built apartment within this popular West Wapping development. The apartment benefits from Spacious and well-presented 3 bedroom modern built duplex Garden lounge, fully fitted kitchen, en-suite shower room to master bedroom and family apartment within this popular West Wapping secure gated development with bathroom. Floor to ceiling windows. Laminate wood floors. Video-entry phone Concierge. The property offers 3 double bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Generous system. Allocated parking space. On-site caretaker. Close to St Katharine’s Dock, lounge with dining area and fully fitted and integrated kitchen. South West Wapping station and Tower Hill stations. Share of Freehold. facing garden with decked area. Garage with an additional parking space. The £675,000Quay 430 is ideally located close to St Katharine Docks and Tower Bridge. £899,000
Burr Close, West Wapping E1W Capital Wharf, Wapping, E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this 1980’s built 2 double bedroom 2nd and Stunning and rare to market riverside 3-bedroom 5th floor apartment in this 3rd floor duplex apartment. The apartment benefits from kitchen diner, reception very popular and exclusive development. Comprises 3 large bedrooms, 2 leading to patio garden. Bathroom with separate Wc. Parking space. Located close bathrooms and an additional guest WC, separate fully integrated kitchen and to Tower Hill Stations and St Katharine’s Dock. spacious reception with South facing balcony with spectacular views of Tower £624,995 Bridge. 24-Hour concierge/security, secure underground parking space and resident gym. Close to St Katharine Docks. Property offered Chain Free.
£1,750,000
Capital Wharf, West Wapping E1W Nightingale House, Wapping, E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer this bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with stunning River views from the balcony on the second floor within this sought after ea2 are pleased to offer for sale this good sized 1 bedroom apartment in development. The master bedrooms ensuite comprises of a 4 piece bathroom the popular South Quay Estate next to St Katharine’s Dock. This 4th floor flat suite. The second bathroom is also an ensuite in the second bedroom. Wooden benefits from a large double bedroom with fitted wardrobes, living room with floors throughout and has a separate cloak room. 24 hour concierge and use Balcony, Separate Kitchen. Lift. Offered Chain Free. Perfect for a first time buyer of residents gym Secure underground parking. Close to transport links to canary or Buy-to-let. wharf and the city. £1,100,000 £375,000
ea2 are pleased to offer this executive Studio apartment to rent within a luxurious landmark Lovely apartment boasting an abundance of character in one of Wapping’s most development. This South Facing apartment comprises of modern open plan fitted kitchen, sought after riverside warehouse conversions with secure allocated parking. contemporary fitted bathroom & Balcony, The flat totals 382 Sq. ft. Residents of Wapping Lane Overlooks and is directly next to a riverside park, Wapping Waterside Gardens, have the benefit of 24hr concierge facilities, exclusive residents health club, gym and enjoy close proximity to DLR and underground stations. £360 Per Week providing the perfect outdoor escape. Well located for access to The City and Canary Wharf. Just a short walk from several riverside pubs and restaurants as well as St Katharine Docks which offers a variety of bars and eateries.
£425 Per Week
Douthwaite Square, West Wapping E1W Queen Victoria Terrace, Wapping, E1W
ea2 are pleased to offer for rent this modern built 2 bedroom ground and first floor duplex apartment. The apartment benefits from lounge, fitted kitchen, 3 piece Stunning 1 bedroom apartment on the ground floor of a newly refurbished bathroom suite. Double glazing. Laminate wood floors. Views over ornamental development at the top of Wapping Lane near Tobacco Dock. Finished to a canal. Allocated parking space. Close to St Katharine’s Dock and Tower Hill stations. high standard with wooden floors, under floor heating, walk-in wardrobe and contemporary bathroom and kitchen. Available furnished or unfurnished. 24hour concierge and bike storage, set around a beautiful communal courtyard. £425 Per Week Ideally located with easy access to The City and Canary Wharf. Parking available. £360 Per Week
ea2 are pleased to show you this 2 double bedroom recently renovated modern Larger than average 1 bedroom apartment with balcony on the 2nd floor of apartment which comprises of 2 bathrooms, this property benefits from a garden this sought after West Wapping gated development with porter and parking. and is close to transport links. Benefits from a fully fitted and integrated kitchen, spacious lounge leading to a balcony, double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and ample storage space and a £425 Per Week modern bathroom. Secure parking space. Benefits from daytime porterage and is located close to Waitrose, St Katharine Docks and the City of London.
£395 Per Week
The Highway, Wapping E1W The Grainstore, Royal Docks, E16
ea2 are pleased to offer a fantastic opportunity to rent this 2 double bedroom house which has been re furbished completely to a high standard throughout. The property offers a reception with bi-folding full length doors leading to garden. Fully fitted kitchen. First floor bathroom. Utility room/ground floor cloakroom. Can be Impressive 3 bedroom duplex warehouse conversion boasting almost 2,000 sq.ft. of living space and set within this former grain store close to the Excel. Comprises an exceptionally large reception and open plan fully fitted kitchen furnished or unfurnished. Garden with decking. Close to Tower Hill and within easy with diner area. Private South facing terrace, 3 double bedrooms with fitted access to the City & Canary Wharf. wardrobes, modern bathroom and additional ensuite bathroom to the master £460 Per Weekbedroom. Concierge and convenient location with easy access to The O2. £650 Per Week
As the final few weeks of the summer holidays pass by, parents’ thoughts will turn to corralling backpacks, plimsolls and other assorted primary paraphernalia as their children prepare for their first day at school.
But parental preparations have been ongoing – choosing a school, the anxious wait for a place, and, for some, moving house to stand the best chance of getting in.
In the great schools scramble, across England 91.8 per cent of primary school applicants received an offer from their first choice for the academic year 2021/22, higher than the 90.2 per cent seen in 2020/21.This figure varies from 95.1 per cent in the North East
House Prices and The Great School Scamble
with Dan Miller, Director, Savills Wimbledon
to 86.2 per cent in Inner London, where competition for school places is often more intense. Kensington and Chelsea in London, for example, has the lowest percentage of primary school applicants who got their first choice (67 per cent) but has the highest average house prices at £1.9 million. Here, many parents are opting for independent schooling as an alternative.
Highly regarded schools have long been a key driver for housing demand and we know that parents are willing to pay over the odds to live near state primary schools that are rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Certainly for some of the highly rated local primary schools in and around Wimbledon, when we take a house on in its catchment area we just know that it will attract plenty of interest.
You can almost expect that as soon as it goes online, the phone will start ringing. We recently sold a house opposite Wimbledon Park Primary which is an Ofsted outstanding school – it’s one of the most sought after in the area. In just two weeks we had over
60 viewings and that was from buyers’ at all different stages, some with children and others without.
Increasingly we will see young couples future planning who will look in a neighbourhood which they know has a good school as it means not having to make that move again later down the line.
It’s not unusual for a house in a catchment radius to go well over the guide price and seemingly this isn’t just the case here, the same can be said for many locations across London with good schools and a strong family friendly local lifestyle. It almost doesn’t seem to matter what condition a property might be in, as long as it is close by, people are more than prepared to do work in order to hopefully gain a place at the school.
In fact Savills research indicates that in London, buyers can expect to pay a premium of £189,000 (or 39 per cent) to be near the best primary schools, when compared with those that require improvement or are considered inadequate and premium of 16% compared to a school rated just good.
However, because of the fierce pressure on places, some families are now looking beyond the capital. For both the South East and the East of England, buyers pay £360,000 more to be close to outstanding primary schools, 27 per cent and 32 per cent higher respectively, than they would for property near inadequate schools or those that require improvement.”
Clabon Mews Kensington, London SW�X �EQ
Knightsbridge School (0.2m / 3 minute walk) Hill House School (0.3m / 5 minute walk) Sussex House School (341 ft / 1 min walk)
Guide Price £5,700,000
Local Authority / County
Westminster
Lambeth
Kingston upon Thames
Barnet
Wandsworth
Merton
Hammersmith and Fulham
Islington
Camden
Kensington and Chelsea
% of Primary School Applicants who got their First School Choice (2021/22)
86.3
86.1
84.0
82.9
82.5
82.5
79.6
78.5
77.8
66.6 Average Value (12 months to March 2021)
£1,461,156
£652,017
£589,701
£668,519
£783,417
£676,001
£924,715
£776,145
£1,042,420
£1,923,559
