Absolutely North & East July 2019

NORTH & EAST

ABSOLUTELY North & East JULY 2019 / £3.95

FA M I LY FESTIVALS

ANNA MASON

All the best outdoor entertainment

Queen of dresses

JULY 2019

Time for

TENNIS

Watching Wimbledon all over town

In the

SHADE K E E P Y O U R C O O L I N T H E H E AT

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The heart wants what the heart wants.

Discover rural cottages with acres of space using keyword search.

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DESIGN & FUNCTION

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents

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J U LY 2 0 1 9

114 28

C U LT U R E

10 ABSOLUTELY LOVES

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

69 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

14 AGENDA

71 SUN TRAP

10 things we’re coveting this month

Diary dates for July

16 TENNIS FEVER

Where to watch Wimbledon

This month's best beauty buys

The best SPFs in the business

INTERIORS 80 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

FOOD & DRINK 28 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

32 RECIPES

94 TYPE CAST

Quentin Jones' for Habitat

News from the industry

All things plant-based

News and views from the world of design

93 BRIGHT START

Yellow products for the home

FA S H I O N 50 FREE SPIRIT

T R AV E L 114 CATCHING WAVES

59 COLOUR WORKS

K I D S & E D U C AT I O N

123 SMALL TALK

Bohemian looks from Louise Misha

Eye-catching new jewellery

The UK's best surf spots

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N The online guide to inspirational London living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

ON THE COVER LOUISE MISHA @Mélanie Rodriguez

All your tots could ever want

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Replacing beautiful timber windows and doors, beautifully EDITOR IN CHIEF PENDLE HARTE DIGITAL EDITOR HELEN BROWN EDUCATION EDITOR AMANDA CONSTANCE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT FLORA THOMAS GROUP SALES DIRECTOR CRAIG DAVIES EDUCATION SPECIALIST ANDY MABBITT ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MARKETING MANAGER LUCIE PEARCE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID

Window shopping

DIRECTORS JAMES FUSCHILLO LEAH DAY NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO DIRECTORS EVA LEHOCZKY

For editorial enquiries please email: pendle@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 020 3397 8706 or email: craig@zest-media.com

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We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

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Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELYMAGAZINES T wi t t e r & In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS We b si t e

a b s o l u t e l y. l o n d o n

Wandsworth | Crouch End | East Dulwich

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5 LETTER TYPE FACE

Editor’s ABSOLUTELY’S July issue highlights

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Quentin Jones' new collection for Habitat page 94

T

o many people, July means one thing. Tennis. For tennis fans all over the world, London is reduced to a corner of SW19 as the rhythmic sound of racquets meeting balls emanates from global television sets.

Because with tickets like golddust, most of us will be watching Wimbledon on screens, whether at home or elsewhere. There are lots of brilliant, sociable places to enjoy the tennis outdoors in fun locations, and we have selected the best ones in this issue. The tennis has inspired countless strawberry and cream-themed cocktails and afternoon teas – and even a strawberry and cream pedicure at Brown's Hotel – which we've enjoyed sampling already. And when the tennis is over, we're planning to spend the rest of July lounging on rooftops, so we've rounded up the best rooftop bars here too. Celebrating all the best of summer, we're excited about fashions for the beach as well as for the city, with accessories including sunglasses and colourful jewellery. And we're not exclusively focused on London this month because we're turning our attention to the coast too, rounding up the UK's best surf spots and beach eateries, since there's no better time to visit than a July weekend. Enjoy the issue!

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ANNA MASON

Feminine, frilly and fabulous. page 60

IT'S ALL YELLOW

Sunny hues for the home. page 93

IN THE SHADE

All our favourite sunglasses for summer page 57

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

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VEGAN FARE

Rachel Ama's delicious dishes page 32

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

LIFE IN PAT T E R N Lingerie and swimwear brand Aubade is recognised the world-over for its high-quality products. We love the timeless pattern and flattering cut of this navy number. Top £96 and tie bottom £49; ameliesfollies.co.uk

CU LT CL AS S IC Racil’s SS19 collection draws inspiration from the main characters of the cinema classic Scarface (1983). The infamous line – “don’t call me baby” – sets a seductive, playful and daring tone for the season, while Miami, where the movie is set, informs the colour palette racil.com

SW I N G T I M E

EYE SPY

Add a cheerful and chic vibe to your outdoor space with this gorgeous gingham hammock by Sophie Conran. It’s no doubt the comfiest seat you’ll ever swing in. £120; weddingshop.com

These oversized square-framed sunnies by Burberry are available in four colours but we’ll be donning the blue for a stylish update on classic black. £200; farfetch.com

H E L E N B R OW N

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

CAS HMER E D R EAMS The debut collection from Eric Bompard Creative Director, Emily Harris mixes classic shapes with authentic design and fun patterns, much like this dragon flower print on timeless navy. eric-bompard.com

W H AT ' S N E W The latest collection from PERFF Studio features a selection of light autumn jacket and must-have activewear. Like this crop top, all pieces are designed to fit the active urban lifestyle, without compromising on style. £70; perff.com

T H AT ' S A W R A P Solillas is our go-to for summer shoes. This is our favourite pair so far; sumptuous navy suede with a floral ankle scarf to wrap around your ankle with a playful bow. £60; solillas.com

SHUT EYE

EDITOR’S PICK

As well as sophisticated style and a line of spa products, the Ilse Jacobsen Hornbæk universe includes flower shops, which no doubt inspire much of the brand’s fashion designs. €65; ilsejacobsen.com

FLORAL FEVER We love this black Maeva floral print ruffle midi dress from Paper London for its versatility. Dress down with trainers for day and add a pair of elegant sandals for evening. £415; farfetch.com

S N A P S H OT You can count on Marc Jacobs for predictable unpredictability and punchy designs, as displayed in the playful Snapshot camera bag made from sumptuous blue leather. £320; farfetch.com

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C U LT U R E

ANCA STEFANESCU-PERCEPTIONS JOURNAL-CHAPTER 1 2019

What’s On 14 • Where to watch Wimbledon 16 • Smoke and Mirrors 22 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Agenda

LO N D O N ’S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

F I L M

The Luna Cinema

12-14 July A L E X A N D R A PA L AC E This summer, north Londoners can catch a screening with The Luna Cinema as it pops up in the iconic Ally Pally. Take your pick from not one, not two, but three unmissable screenings; family favourite The Greatest Showman, romanic lyrical drama A Star is Born and classic comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Food will be available on-site from The Luna Cinema’s gourmet partners.

Alexandra Palace Way, N22; thelunacinema.com

A RT

THE OTHER ART FAIR 4- 7 JU LY • W E ST H A NDYS I DE CAN OPY

Expect fantastic opportunities to meet and buy art directly from the very best in emerging artists as The Other Art Fair returns for a 17th edition. Presented by Saatchi Art, the event continues to delight and inspire art lovers with a tightly curated programme of fair features that work to create a platform for the future of British art.

1 Wharf Road, King’s Cross, N1C; theotherartfiar.com

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F I L M

L.A. Nights

From 18 July CAMDEN ROUNDHOUSE Backyard Cinema returns for the summer and it’s bringing the West Coast of America to Camden. Be transported to the sunkissed beaches of Las Angeles for the ultimate beach party screening. On offer is a huge selection of films, from sing-a-longs to unmissable new releases, shown against a bohemian back drop complete with beach bar, creative cocktails and palm trees.

Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1; backyardcinema.co.uk

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CULTURE • TALKING TOPICS

D AY

O U T

OUT OF

National Geographic

TOWN

20-21 July BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE Immerse yourself in a world of food, drink and travel as the inaugural National Geographic Traveller Food Show brings the industry’s best chefs to the Business Design Centre. Broaden your palate stall by stall, see some of the world’s most exciting dishes whipped up in a series of spectacular masterclasses and enjoy a curated programme of interviews and demonstrations from the likes of Tim Anderson, Adam Handling, Raymond Blanc and more. 52 Upper Street, The Angel, N1; foodfestival.natgeotraveller.co.uk

F E S T I VA L

TRAVELLER FOOD SHOW

CORNBURY FESTIVAL 5-7 July G R E AT T E W PA R K From Cornbury Festival you can expect a star-studded music line-up, comedy, theatre, workshops and more. The event is family-friendly and commended as one of the safest festivals in the UK, with activities for all ages. Headliners this year include Keane and KT Tunstall.

Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire; cornburyfestival.com

F AE L T EH SE TAI TV R

BRITISH SUMMER TIME HYDE PARK

This Month’s Must See

5-7 & 13-14 July H Y D E PA R K British Summer Time Hyde Park’s returns for two weekends of legendary musical line-ups, sandwiching a marvellous week of free summer activities. Expect live Wimbledon screenings, outdoor movie nights, street food, pop up bars, and entertainment. Live music this year comes from Florence + the Machine, Celine Dion and Lionel Richie.

Parade Ground, Hyde Park, W2; bst-hydepark.com

T H E AT R E

SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE

MOVIES ON THE RIVER O NGO I NG • TOWER MILLEN N IUM PIER

C

inematic viewing is turned on its head this summer as Time Out Live joins forces with City Cruises to present London’s first ever cinema on the Thames. Each night throughout July, a movie boat will offer a food and drink-fuelled sunset cruise, playing all manner of classic movies on the open-air top deck.

Tower Millennium Pier, Lower Thames Street, EC3N;

From 8 July B L E N H E I M PA L AC E Following its highly acclaimed inaugural season in York, Europe’s first-ever pop up Shakespearean theatre arrives at Blenheim Palace, where four of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will transport audiences to the thrilling atmosphere of an Elizabethan playhouse.

Woodstock, OX20 1PP; blenheimpalace.com

T H E AT R E

THE SINGING CYCLIST 11 July JILL WINDMILL, HASSOCKS The Slow Cyclist are specialists in expertly guided cycling holidays. Join them for a journey through some of England’s most beautiful countryside, before ending the day at Glyndebourne for a breathtaking performance of Dvorak’s Rusalka with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. theslowcyclist.co.uk

citycruises.com

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Summer is SERVED Wondering where to watch Wimbledon on the big screen?

We’ve rounded up a few of the top spots, all you need to do is pour the Pimm’s

By HELEN BROWN

T

he sun is out, the strawberries are hulled and the Pimm’s is flowing.

It can only mean one thing – the Wimbledon fortnight is upon us. So you missed out on tickets to the championship but the idea of spending your summer indoors, glued to the TV is most disagreeable. Luckily, there are a load of London venues ready and waiting with big screens and deck chairs. Pull up a pew and get ready for all the tennis action, this year taking place between the 1st-14th July. This is where to watch Wimbledon in London.

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SKYLIGHT ROOFTOP TO B AC C O D O C K

● Skylight London is a grand rooftop spot with both indoor and outdoor screens. All matches will be shown throughout the duration of the championship, but there are also fun garden games to enjoy, and strawberries and Champagne to devour should you tire of the tennis. skylightlondon.com

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CULTURE • SUMMER

SUMMER AT ECCLESTON YARDS E C C L E S T O N YA R D S

● The inaugural Summer at Eccleston Yards series takes place now until August 2019 with a host of free outdoor events and pop-ups to keep Londoners entertained all summer long. Visitors can enjoy free Wimbledon screenings from deck chairs in the courtyard, while Wild by Tart provide delicious food from 12pm each day. mayfairandbelgravia.com

SCREEN ON THE GREEN F U L H A M PA L A C E & M O R D E N H A L L PA R K Big Screen on the Green is back for another English summer garden party weekender with live music, pop-up films and quintessentially summer sporting action on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July. Located at Fulham Palace Private Gardens and Morden Hall Park, Big Screen on the Green will be serving up summery cocktails, a Champagne lounge, gourmet food, an elegant picnic area and plenty of strawberries and cream. bigscreenonthegreen.com

SUMMER by the River LO N D O N B R I D G E

● London’s largest free festival returns to bring a touch of the Hamptons glamour to London Bridge. Summer by the River promises four glorious months of music, entertainment for all ages, live comedy, fitness events, fantastic street food and all of the summer sporting action, served alongside one of the best views of the city skyline. londonbridgecity.co.uk

Everyman Presents: SUMMER LOVE KING’S CROSS

● Everyman Presents: Summer Love festival returns to King’s Cross with free outdoor film screenings and all of the tennis action. Film-buffs can enjoy everything from family favourites to cult classics throughout the day and evening until 14 July, with breaks for the Wimbledon matches. kingscross.co.uk

PERGOLA PADDINGTON PA D D I N G T O N Summer is in full swing at Pergola Paddington Central which has taken off the roof this year and introduced a brand new line-up of food vendors. Watch the balls fly at Wimbledon and tuck into spicy wanton dumplings from Salvation in Noodles, burgers from Patty & Bun and halloumi fries from Babek Brothers. pergolalondon.com

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ROUND UP

Best in SHOW Get the most out of London’s theatre scene with our top stage picks for the month

MUST SEE

SWEAT

From 7 June

GIELGUD THEATRE

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat

by Lynn Nottage transfers to the Gielgud Theatre for a limited six week run. Centred around the friendships of factory workers and set in an American bar, the play explores the relationships, resentments and fears of a community left divided by deindustrialisation.

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D; sweattheplay.com

By H E L E N B R O W N

PRESENT LAUGHTER Ongoing OLD VIC

Matthew Warchus directs Andrew Scott in Present Laughter, a giddy and surprisingly modern reflection on fame, desire and loneliness. It follows the colourful life of star actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to embark on an overseas tour.

Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soulsearching.

The Cut, SE1; oldvictheatre.com

THIS IS GOING TO HURT 1-13 July

PRESENT LAUGHTER

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE

From 23 July

Join award-winning comedian Adam Kay for an electrifying evening of standup and music as he shares entries from his diaries as a junior doctor. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, This is Going to Hurt tells you everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn't – about life on and off the hospital ward. 404 Strand, WC2R: thisisgoingtohurt.co.uk

DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE

THE ACTOR’S NIGHTMARE

From 16 July

PARK THEATRE

Paula Hawkins’ international best-seller is brought to life in this gripping production starring Samantha Womack. Samantha plays Rachel Watson who finds herself as a witness and even a suspect in a thrilling and unanticipated mystery when the woman she’s been secretly watching from the window of the train suddenly disappears.

St Martin’s Lane, Charing Cross, WC2N; girlonthetrainplay.com

THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Camp Rock's Meaghan Martin makes her professional stage debut in Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare. It offers a snapshot into the eccentric and the absurd, as audiences are given an insight into the madness of the entertainment industry and all the things that those involved in it love to hate. Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, N4; parktheatre.co.uk

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INSPIRATION & DESIGN

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

THE LEHMAN T R I L O GY Sam Mendes directs an epic piece of storytelling B y A M A N DA C O N S TA N C E

S

uperstar director Sam Mendes is normally a dead cert for a bankable hit, but a three and a half hour play with a cast of three about the last two centuries of capitalism? Really? But The Lehman Trilogy took the National Theatre by storm last year, has since sold out on Broadway and is now running in the West End. No doubt part of its success is that while its subject is huge, its focus is small, intimate even. Streamlined from Italian Stefano Massini’s original five hour epic and adapted by Ben Power, the play is the story of one real-life family, the Lehman brothers. It was the picture of the collapse of the Lehman Brothers bank in

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2008 - the picture of the serried backs of shocked staff inside their glass office - that became the emblematic symbol of the Great Crash of the Noughties.

It is this reimagined glass office, complete with piles of boxes, that is the backdrop to the whole play. This might not sound captivating, but in reality it is very much so. The three actors - Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles and Adam Godley all at the peak of their powers - playing 12 characters between them. They move in and around their glass cage like it is a music box, aided by cyclorama behind indexing different times and places and live piano accompaniment. In three, hour-long acts, they show us the move to 1840s Alabama of the three Bavarian Lehman brothers. Their

While its subject is huge, its focus is small, intimate even beginnings as cotton traders to middlemen in New York, to buying and selling money itself as they become bankers. The end comes, catastrophically in 2008. The first act is the most compelling, the depiction of the Lehman brothers as they establish themselves - the Civil War, family deaths and the business of making money - it is all here. Mendes has crafted something brilliant, both a braggadocio opera and a Homeric epic. And it is funny too, achingly funny. Get a ticket while you can.

VERDICT

Epic and exhilarating ★★★★★ T H E L E H M A N T R I LO GY UNTIL TO AUG 31. BROADCASTING LIVE TO CINEMAS ON JULY 25

Box office: 020 7452 3000

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View the full collection and shop online at www.lucypittaway.co.uk | E: info@lucypittaway.co.uk | T: 01748 810 965

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CULTURE • FOCUS PHOTOGRAPH OF WILLIAM MARRIOT IN PEARSON’S MAGAZINE CREDIT: IMAGE FROM THE HARRY PRICE LIBRARY OF MAGICAL LITERATURE, SENATE HOUSE LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

SMOKEand MIRRORS Ever wondered what’s behind a simple trick? Discover the secrets of magic at the Wellcome Collection Words A N N A B E L F U L L E R

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH OF MARGERY CRANDON DURING A SÉANCE. COURTESY OF SENATE HOUSE LIBRARY

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moke and Mirrors; The Psychology of Magic is a world-first exhibition showcasing the relationship between magic and the human mind.

The latest exhibition from the Wellcome Collection explores how our biases affect our perception and whether our senses can be hacked, tracing the history of magic from the 19th century to present day.

The exhibition features three major themes, each of which will focus on the different ways magicians use their tricks to manipulate the human mind.

One theme explores the mass appeal of séances, spiritualism and celebrity mediums,

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during the 19th and early 20th centuries and their relationship with the birth of science and psychology. London’s ‘anti-spiritualist’ past is showcased using the Maskelyne and Cooke show which ran in Piccadilly’s Egyptian Hall for 30 years.

The second focus is a magician’s ability to divert audience attention unknowingly, through the technique of misdirection.

Visitors will learn the different distractions used to manipulate cognitive flaws which trick the brain into believing they have witnessed magic in action. Props used by British comedy and magic duo Tommy Cooper and Derren Brown will be amongst those on show.

Mentalism is the final theme and it explores a magician's ability to influence decision-making, creating the impression that they can read minds. Horoscopes, hypnotherapy and telepathy are questioned, proving how simple trickery can adversely impact human psychology. Cases of experienced mentalism are disproved, including the BBC's public extra-sensory perception experiment of 1967.

The exhibition will present a complete collection of magic props, photographs, films and stage posters loaned from across the globe, including the Magic Circle and Goldsmiths’ MAGIC lab.

Having opened in April, the exhibition has already drawn crowds of visitors unable to resist the lure of the seemingly impossible.

Smoke and Mirrors: The Psychology of Magic is open at the Wellcome Collection until 15 September and is free to visit.

OXFORD HALL, ILFRACOMBE. MISS ANNE DE MONTFORD, 1881. COURTESY OF THE BRITISH LIBRARY.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS; The Psychology of Magic Wellcome Collection 183 Euston Road, NW1; wellcomecollection.org

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tiles etc. www.tilesetc.com | angel@tilesetc.com | 020 7607 2700 4 Shillingford Street, London N1 2DP

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CULTURE • Q&A

Q&A

The L A DY vanishes Absolutely quizzes Nicola Rayner about her thrilling debut novel Interview N A N C Y A L S O P

from the lives of the people I love? But also – a stranger question occurred to me, too – what if someone who vanished suddenly from their life appeared to come back?

Q The Girl Before You is that rare thing: both beautifully and perceptively written and an absolute page-turner. Tell us a little about it…

A The Girl Before You opens with Alice Bell, a successful family lawyer, seeing on a train – or convincing herself that she has seen – Ruth Walker, who drowned 15 years ago when they were both at university. Alice becomes a bit obsessed, particularly when her husband, George, confesses to having had a fling with Ruth before he met her, and she starts scratching away at the past to see what might have happened the night Ruth drowned.

Q The idea of vanishing suddenly is dramatically compelling. But for you it also has a highly personal resonance. Can you describe what happened to you one night in Argentina 20 years ago?

“The idea nagged at me: what if nobody ever found out what happened?”

Q How far do you think that your own experience fed into this book?

A I thought and read a lot about the tortuous uncertainty of losing someone you love in mysterious or unresolved circumstances. I also think that having an experience like that in which somebody else thought they had a right to “claim” my body, in a way – to take me to a place I didn’t want to go – led to my thinking about imbalances of power that I had experienced or witnessed closer to home.

A In 2005, I was living and working in Buenos Aires. I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After supper with my uncle, I jumped into a taxi to go back to my hostel, and the driver took a very strange, convoluted journey through the city.

When I tried to get out of the car, he pushed a handgun into my belly and tried to drive me of out of the city. Because of trauma, my memories of that night are pretty fragmented, but I remember things in flashes like him throwing my mobile across the car, or holding my head down on the seat. When he was on the autopista, he had to focus more on the road, and I managed to throw myself (fall is probably more accurate) out of the window. I broke both ankles – the right one quite badly – coming out of the car. When I came back to the UK, the idea nagged at me: what if my family had never found out what had happened to me? What if I had vanished

Q The Girl Before You has already drawn comparisons with blockbuster, The Girl on The Train. How do comparisons like that feel?

A Hugely flattering! I guess my book opens on a train, and there are similar themes – also lots of drinking in both…

Q What are you working on now?

A I’m working on my second psychological

thriller, which is narrated by a single, rather obsessive, character, so it’s very different in lots of ways from The Girl Before You, but some of the same themes recur – privilege, power, obsession and sisters, which, for some reason, I’ll think I’ll always come back to.

T H E G I R L S B E F O R E YO U is published by Harper Collins as an ebook on 27 May, It will be published in paperback in August

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AWARDED DOUBLE GOLD AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION 2018 marylebonegin

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FOOD & DRINK

SPECIAL SERVE THE GUN

The Gun in Spitalfields relaunched earlier this year with a new menu of original cocktails. Wimbledon will be screened daily with a special menu featuring a dessert of smoked cream, vanilla, mint and strawberries. thegunlondon.com

Food notes 28 • Food review 31 • Recipes: Vegan Eats 32 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WHAT TO DRINK

GRAPE news Wine recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this July

By FLORA THOMAS

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

2018 Le Grand Cros, Rosé, Domaine du Grand Cros  £14.50 Very pale in colour with salmon reflections, this is a vibrant rosé. An exuberant nose of fresh fruit with a dominant citrus character. The mouth is both supple and fresh with flavours of red fruit - redcurrant, strawberry and raspberry. Perfect for summer sipping.

2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon by De Martino  £9.95 The wine is surprisingly restrained, a nod to Bordeaux evident in its lean, focused character and fine, grainy tannins. This is, however, still full of fresh blackberry with sweet black cherries completing the long yet refreshing finish.

2018 Berry Bros. & Rudd Vidiano by Lyrarakis  £12.95 The Cretan grape variety Vidiano boasts distinctive characteristics.

Grown on the Ippodromos vineyar at an altitude of 610m., on rocky clay soil, this is an aromatic white wine with an exciting, crispy mouthfeel. This wine is something a little bit different.

BERRY BROS. & RUDD Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's.

bbr.com

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Stratospheric dining in Stratford T H E ST R AT F O R D B R A S S E R I E

Manhattan Loft Gardens is a glitzy new development in the heart of the Olympic Park. The design-led skyscraper is home to luxury apartments, a hotel, a sky garden and two eateries. The Stratford Brasserie offers all-day dining set in an open-plan space. Its menu consists of light sharing dishes under the creative direction of Ben Harrington, formerly at Soho House Group.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 20-22 International Way, E20 thestratford.com

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FOOD & DRINK• NOTES Our pick of the best

LUXURY SUMMER PICNIC S

BRINDISA Gazpacho on-the-go and a limited edition box of Spanish goodies. brindisa.com

Take no prisoners FUGITIVE MOTEL

From former indie band members, David Burgess and Liam Tolan come Fugitive Motel. Guests can expect coffee in the mornings, a co-working space during the day, and 14 craft beer lines to keep them merry. With sourdough pizza from noon till late and kombucha on tap, we predict a successful opening season.

199 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 fugitivemotel.bar

PIQUE

BRICKS AND MORTAR

BABA G'S

Baba G’s has been trading at street food markets for more than a decade but last month, Camden welcomed the company’s very first restaurant.

The menu maintains a focus on boisterous Indian flavours. It features new, refined dishes such as spiralized celeriac bhajis and achaar croquettes.

726-727 North Yard, NW1 bhangraburger.com

Reusable hampers, plastic-free packaging and free-range scotch eggs. piquefood.co.uk

OT TO L E N G H I Za'atar crackers, NOPI olives and Prosecco? Dreamy. Tote bag included. ottolenghi.co.uk

ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT CRISPIN

Anchors Aweigh

FORTNUM & MASON The choice of add-ons to the iconic hamper includes a bucket barbeque. fortnumandmason.com

MRS FOGG'S MARITIME CLUB AND DISTILLERY

Inspired by the explorer Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days, Mr Fogg’s is a collection of adventure-themed bars serving inventive cocktails and innovative dishes with a nod to the maritime world. Say goodbye to bottomless prosecco, this summer the bar has partnered with Bombay Sapphire to offer brunch with free-flowing gin.

37 Broadgate Circle, EC2M mr-foggs.com

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D U K E S LO N D O N A picnic in the park with someone who'll set it up for you, cutlery and all. dukeshotel.com

Spitalfields' eatery Crispin has appointed Fabien Spagnolo and Max Truel as head chefs. The pair aim to deliver a menu of moreish, modern, hyper-seasonal dishes inspired by the food they enjoyed growing up in the South of France. The almond cake comes highly recommended.

Pavilion on the Corner, White's Row, E1 crispinlondon.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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25/06/2019 16:56

Crouch End 128 Crouch Hill London N8 9DY Telephone 020 8341 2020

Islington 42 Cross Street London N1 2BA Telephone 020 7359 4041

www.funktionalkitchens.co.uk

SAVE 20% on kitchen furniture and SIEMENS appliances and FREE dishwasher with every kitchen* Quote ‘Absolutely’ when you call or visit one of our showrooms.

*Terms and conditions apply see in store for details

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW

ABSOLUTELY eats out…

“It’s a feeding frenzy. Gloria is not for the health conscious”

GLORY BE An indulgent throwback to 1970s Capri in the heart of Shoreditch

FOOD Italian

B y F LO R A T H O M A S

G

loria opened earlier this year in the heart of Shoreditch. The vintage-style trattoria offers an immersive dining experience while avoiding gimmicks. It quickly gained cult status thanks to its 1970s decor and Instagrammable dishes (think fresh pasta served in an actual drum of cheese), but it’s taken me months to get round to going.

At 6pm on an unremarkable Tuesday evening it’s filling up fast despite being a 160 cover restaurant set over two floors. In fact, by the time our food arrives there’s a queue.

DECOR Thankfully I’ve been forewarned to arrive hungry, so when the waiter asks if we’d like some bread for the table I’m able to nod with genuine if slightly overzealous enthusiasm.

Supersized focaccia, doused in oil and crunchy salt is irresistible. It comes with a saucer of green olive oil for dipping - totally unnecessary considering the bread is already dripping in the stuff, but boy does it taste good. My companion makes me feel better about the carb overload by ordering deep-fried, black truffle bechamel croquettes. A man from the neighbouring table peers over, taken by the truffle smell and almost visibly

Transports you to Capri

PRICE Mains around £12

VERDICT Decadent, vivacious and fun

salivating: “What are they?” Then, to his partner, “Whatever they are, let’s get them.” It’s a feeding frenzy here incredible indulgence surrounds us, and the only option is to sit back, relax and enjoy it. Gloria is not a restaurant for the health-conscious.

It’s well worth a trip even if you’re vegan like me; there’s much to enjoy even before the food arrives. The decor seems to share the menu’s philosophy: go hard or go home. No detail has been spared, and someone has clearly had fun designing the space. It’s super kitsch, with table lamps and mismatched crockery, but it feels authentic and high quality.

Our server is Italian (Luigi) as are all the other wait staff, and he couldn’t possibly be smiling more widely or exude more genuine charm.

My vegan main course is hummus with nicely done veg. I have asparagus on the side which is crunchy, as I like it. My meal does however pale in comparison to my partner’s over the top, fresh mafalda truffle and button mushroom plate. No matter, as we’re plied with drinks throughout the evening. We finish with frangelico - the dangerously delicious hazelnut liqueur (before limoncello for a last hurrah).

G LO R I A 54-56 Great Eastern Street, Hackney, EC2A

bigmammagroup.com

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Vegan

E AT S Experiment with these animal-free recipes

Wo r d s R AC H E L A M A P h o t o g r a p h y H A A R A L A H A M I LT O N

AFRICAN PEANUT STEW

M

y mum spent many summers in Sierra Leone, where her dad comes from, and this peanut stew was one of her favourite dishes. She usually had it with chicken, but when I made this plant-based version for her to try, she had the biggest smile on her face. This recipe is a definite winner in our house, perfect for when you want a really hearty and comforting dinner with a nice touch of spice to set your taste buds tingling. My favourite way to eat this is with plantains and coleslaw or a light fresh salad. Scotch bonnet chillies can be really hot depending on where they’re from and how ripe they are. For a more gentle heat, you can place half a Scotch bonnet – deseeded but not cut up – into the stew to cook, then simply remove it before serving. This way the chilli flavour can infuse the stew but without adding too much heat. This is a great option if you are new to this quite fiery chilli pepper.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

INGREDIENTS • 1–2 tbsp peanut oil • 500g sweet potatoes, • peeled and diced • 1 × 400g tin of black-eyed • peas, drained and rinsed • 1⁄2 fresh red Scotch bonnet chilli, deseeded and kept whole (optional) • 3 tbsp tomato purée • 1 × 400g tin of chopped tomatoes • 500ml vegetable stock • 125g natural smooth peanut butter • 200g spinach, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice •H andful of fresh coriander, roughly chopped • 2 spring onions, finely chopped • 1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced • Salt and black pepper For the paste • 2 onions, roughly chopped • 5 garlic cloves, roughly chopped • Thumb-sized piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped • 1 tsp paprika • 2 tsp ground coriander • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 2 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground fenugreek

• 1⁄2–1 fresh red Scotch bonnet chilli (to taste), deseeded and roughly chopped • Pinch of salt

METHOD 1 Place all the paste ingredients in a food processor and blitz into a coarse paste.

2 Heat 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil in a large, heavy- based saucepan or shallow frying pan. Add the paste and sauté over a medium–low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a little more oil if the paste starts to stick to the pan.

3 Add the sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, Scotch bonnet chilli (if using – see introduction) and tomato purée and mix to combine. Pour in the tinned tomatoes and vegetable stock, add the peanut butter, season with salt and pepper and stir in well. Cover the pan with a lid and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4 Remove from the heat and stir in the spinach, leaving it to wilt in the pan for 5 minutes. To finish, add the lemon juice, coriander, spring onions and sliced chillies and check the seasoning, adding more salt and pepper if needed.

CURRYROASTED CAULIFLOWER

With Coconut Raita

T

his curry-roasted cauliflower really is amazing. The combination of the aromatic spices with the soft but slightly crunchy cauliflower and the cooling courgette coconut raita is truly addictive, especially when served with a few crispy poppadoms and some mango chutney for dunking them into. This recipe would also make a fantastic side for a curry or dhal.

INGREDIENTS (serves 2 as a main or 4 as a side) • 1 cauliflower, broken into small florets and saving the outer leaves • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 tbsp curry powder • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted • 3 poppadoms, plus extra to serve • Salt and black pepper • Mango chutney, to serve For the courgette coconut raita • 200g unsweetened vegan coconut yoghurt • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1⁄4 courgette, finely grated • Small handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped, saving some whole leaves to garnish • Juice and grated zest of 1 lime (saving half the juice for dressing the cauliflower)

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C fan.

Place the cauliflower florets in a roasting tin with the spices, some salt and pepper and the coconut oil, then mix everything together so that the cauliflower is evenly coated. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and mix in the cauliflower leaves, tearing up any that look too big. Place back in the oven to roast for a further 10 minutes until everything is soft and slightly charred.

3 Meanwhile, mix together all the raita ingredients in a bowl, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

4 Remove the cauliflower from the oven, add the lime juice (reserved from making the raita) and crunch the poppadoms on top. Serve with the raita, mango chutney and poppadoms and garnish with the whole mint leaves.

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ABBEY ROAD

FRAMING

Picture Frames, Mirrors, Prints, Cards & Gifts

020 7328 6915

67 Abbey Road St John’s Wood London NW8 0AE

ABBEY ROAD FRAMING.CO.UK ABBEY ROAD FRAMING NXNW.indd 1 AbsolutelyNorthByNorthWest-1612-AbbeyRoadFraming.indd 1

NHG.indd 1 • North/East_ADVERT PLACEMENTS copy.indd 1

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

3 Using a food mixer or an electric whisk, whisk the aquafaba and cream of tartar at a high speed in a large bowl for around 5 minutes until the mixture has doubled in volume and is light and fluffy.

4 Continue whisking and add the sugar one teaspoon at a time until it has been completely absorbed. Then add the vanilla bean paste and whisk for a further 5 2 minutes until the mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks.

6 Divide the meringue between the two circles drawn on the lined baking sheets, spreading the mixture out evenly but making each circle a little thicker around the edges than in the middle. Place in the oven to cook for 11⁄2–13⁄4 hours or until firm to the touch, then turn off the heat and leave to dry in the oven (or in a cool, dry place) overnight or for a minimum of 4 hours.

7 When the meringues are ready, prepare the rest of the dish. Place the frozen berries and lime juice in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook on a medium heat for 3–4 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool down completely.

8 Meanwhile, whisk the chilled coconut cream using an electric whisk until light and thick like whipped cream. Once the fruit compote has cooled down, add it to the whipped coconut cream with the lime zest, and fold in gently to create a ripple effect, being careful not to stir too much.

9 Carefully transfer one of the meringue bases to a serving plate and spread over half the fruity coconut cream, then scatter over half the seasonal fruit. Carefully place the second meringue on top, cover with the remaining coconut cream and seasonal fruit and an extra sprinkling of lime zest.

Serve as soon as possible.

LAYERED PAVLOVA

With Coconut Cream

T

he meringue is made with aquafaba instead of egg whites.

You may or may not be familiar with aquafaba: it is the liquid from a can of pulses. It’s kind of like vegan magic; it whips up perfectly and makes amazing light meringues with a slight crisp outer shell. The pavlova is finished with an indulgent whipped coconut cream, fresh or frozen berries and a tasty and decorative berry drizzle.

I N G R E D I E N T S (serves 6) For the meringue •L iquid (aquafaba) from 1 × 400g tin of chickpeas

• 1 tsp cream of tartar • 175g golden caster sugar • 1tsp vanilla bean paste For the filling and topping • 500ml coconut cream • 200g mixed frozen berries • Juice and grated zest of 1⁄2 lime, plus extra zest to decorate • 300g seasonal fruit of your choice (such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries or redcurrants, sliced figs, mangos or bananas or passion fruit pulp)

METHOD 1 Preheat the oven to 130°C fan, then line two baking sheets with baking paper and draw a 23cm circle on each sheet.

2 Place the coconut cream in the fridge to chill while you make the meringue.

R AC H E L A M A’ S V E GA N E AT S Ebury Press, £20

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TEL. 01798 344481 07831 886402 A L A N _ C O R D E RY @ YA H O O . C O . U K

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C L IE N T BRAND DAT E DO C U M E N T P R IN T P RO C E SS

S I LEN T PO O L D I S T I LLERY S I LEN T PO O L LO G O 04. 11. 2016 S PG _ LO G O _ W H I T E. a i x

CYAN

MAGENTA

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BLACK

23/05/2019 14:27 18:49 26/04/2019

C O U N T E R

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FOOD & DRINK • KITCHENS

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C U L T U R E

M U G S H OT I I T TA L A

The Iittala Graphics mug collection launched last year and 2019's addition to the series is a new design, Speckle, created by Finnish illustrator Linda Linko. The Speckle mug has a mystical blue background with an organic pattern and bright coloured, asymmetric shapes resembling a nocturnal garden or a field of flowers. £21 iittala.com

2

G R AT E S T U F F MICROPLA NE

Microplane's nifty and stylish graters are the chef's tool of choice.

These blades are photo-etched and long-lasting, making them the world's sharpest. The colourful zester is perfect for citrus as well as cheese, nuts, chocolate, ginger and more. £19.95 hartsofstur.com

STYLISH ADDITIONS TO YOUR KITCHEN

2

3

IT' S A WRAP

HARRIS AND HALL

Harris and Hall's reusable wax wraps are a fantastic, sustainable alternative to cling film. Made with organic cotton infused with pine resin, jojoba oil and beeswax, they feel sturdy and have great sticking power – and they come in a range of stylish prints too. £20 harrisandhall.com

5

4

OH, MICKEY SMEG

4

3

Smeg has teamed up with Disney once again to launch its second Micky Mouse fridge – this time with an adorable original sketch of everyone's favourite mouse. It's available exclusively at the Regent Street store, £1,699 smeguk.com

5

IN THE MIX KITCHENAID

Celebrating 100 years of KitchenAid, the Queen of Hearts collection in bright glossy red spans all the favourite appliances as well as the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer, which has improved over the past 100 years while remaining very close to its original model. kitchenaid.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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SKY’S the LIMIT Soak up some city sun against a backdrop of London’s skyline. The capital has some amazing rooftop bars and venues that are perfect for al fresco dining and post-work drinks. With cocktail in hand and the scent of street food in the air, you’ll forget about the city's bustling streets below.

These are the best rooftop bars in London

By HELEN BROWN

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1

SKYLIGHT

T O BAC C O D O C K

Skylight is back for a summer of fun and games. The rooftop has spectacular views of the financial district with the BT tower, Sky Garden and the Shard also standing tall in the London skyline. There’s a DJ every Friday and Saturday night, with a wide range of games to choose from like croquet and bowls. skylightlondon.com 2

MADISON

NEW CHANGE

Madison boasts a Manhattan style restaurant with a superb selection from the grill. The Bar is a destination in its own right and a real social hub for post-work drinks. It delivers spectacular city views and a wide range of cocktails. madisonlondon.net

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FOOD & DRINK • ROOFTOP BARS

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2

FRANK’S CAFE

PECKHA M

Rooftop bars really don’t come much better than Franks. It’s renowned as one of South London’s best places to party. It is the summertime alter ego of Rye Lane’s multi story car park and welcomes tribes of hipsters. Head here to knock back Campari with a spectacular view of St Paul’s just four miles north. frankscafe.org.uk

AV I A RY R O O F TO P T E R R AC E 4

M O O R G AT E

Aviary is a slick rooftop hotspot, standing ten floors above Finsbury Square. It offers breathtaking views of the capital’s iconic skyline, sensational cocktails and renowned DJs. Head here for Café Del Mar vibes. aviarylondon.com 5

H OT E L X E N I A

K ENSINGTON

If a busy rooftop bar isn’t your thing, Hotel Xenia has the answer.

Located in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea, Hotel Xenia offers a quiet rooftop space, perfect for small groups. This green rooftop terrace promises an intimate setting with a touch of luxury. hotelxenia.co.uk

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STR AND

Radio Rooftop at ME London Hotel has revealed two new spaces for the summer month. One, an English Botanical Garden and the other a Mexican Hacienda. Both will produce their own distinct dishes and beverages in accordance with the themed areas so you can expect a whole lot of Bombay Sapphire Gin and Patrón tequila. melondonhotel.com 7 QUEEN OF H OX TO N

H AC K N E Y

Good news for Londoners looking for a spot of rooftop revelry, Queen of Hoxton’s rooftop terrace is back in action, this time inspired by all things Mexican. It’ll be like you’ve stepped into the colourful town of San Cristóbal as you go all out on tacos, tequila and giant frozen margaritas. queenofhoxton.com

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BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BEAUTIFUL FRUIT

A Taste of South Africa Grown and ripened under the South African sun for the most delicious tasting fruit. Helping to develop the Rainbow Nation

www.beautifulcountrybeautifulfruit.co.uk

AM.indd 1

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FOOD & DRINK • WINE

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L O C A L G R A P E S THE UK WINE INDUSTRY IS GROWING, WITH RECORD NUMBER S OF BOTTLES PRODUCED LAST YEAR. HERE ARE SOME OF THE FINEST HOME-GROWN GRAPES

1

HAMPSHIRE H AT T I N G L E Y

Family-owned Hattingley Valley, established in 2008, specialises in premium, award-winning sparkling wine. The team is headed up by Plumpton-trained Emma Rice who is twice winner of Winemaker of the Year in 2014 and 2016. With over 24 hectares of vines, the ecofriendly vineyard is known for its refreshingly modern approach. hattingleyvalley.com

2

DORSET DIGBY

Digby Fine English is transforming local fizz into an internationally desirable category. Digby's grapes come from the chalky soils of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset and the brand's many awards include Gold at the UK Wine Awards for its delicious 2010 Vintage Brut winning Gold at the UK Wine Awards.

digby-fine-english.com

2

3

EAST SUSSEX RIDGEVIEW

4

Ridgeview has been at the forefront of the evolution of English sparkling wine production since 1995. A family company in the South Downs National Park, its wines are exported around the world. ridgeview.co.uk

4

KENT

H U S H H E AT H

The Hush Heath Estate is home to award-winning English sparkling wine, Balfour Brut Rosé. The Estate has an exquisite selection of wines and ciders; an expert team of winemakers combine their skills in this state-of-the-art winery to deliver a delicious range. hushheath.com

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SURREY HILLS V I N E YA R D S O F T H E SURREY HILLS

3

The newly-formed English wine region Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, is a collaboration of five multi-award winning vineyards. Nurtured on the chalky limestone hills with the same geology as that of the Champagne region, these vineyards have a unique location and represent the very pinnacle of quality in the increasingly-successful English wine industry. surreyhillsvineyards.co.uk

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Monica Galetti, chef

C R E A T I N G

B E A U T I F U L

K I T C H E N S

S I N C E

1 9 8 1

Call 020 7486 1248 to make an appointment at your nearest showroom 120 Wigmore Street, London W1U 3RU 509 Uxbridge Road, Pinner HA5 4JS 77-79 Wycombe End, Beaconsfield HP9 1LX

www.halcyon-interiors.co.uk | info@halcyon-interiors.co.uk HALCYON.indd 1

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FOOD & DRINK • COOKING

THE LANGHAM HOTEL

SKILL SET

Sauce by The Langham's new cookery courses cater to all levels.

Absolutely signs up for a class Words B R A N D O N C L A R K S O N

A

nyone can cook, is the message at Sauce by The Langham. These laid-back cooking courses promise to leave even the least skilled beginner with culinary confidence and new talents. I am here to try it out. First, we are led to the work room, a space that fuses the traditional kitchen with state-of-the-art technology. Remove a pan from the hob and the surface cools immediately, thanks to Samsung’s electro-magnetic magic. Cut on the rubber chopping board and it will ‘selfheal’, practically lasting a lifetime.

Gathered around a fabulously reclaimed French AGA, Chef Millie Simpson kickstarts the session by introducing some basic knife skills. The knives are Global - sharp enough to slice a grain of falling rice. Chef Simpson is seamless in her cutting technique, demonstrating julienne and brunoise cuts with harmonious rhythm and skill.

Our turn. I apprehensively face sharp knives and a selection of root veg. Chef Simpson and Executive Chef Chris King patiently wander our stations to offer a bounty of advice and assistance, ensuring that my carrots, shallots, leeks, peppers and garlic are cut to perfection.

If, like me, you think a souffle is beyond you, think again Anxious anticipation fills the group as we watch Chef King effortlessly perfect a raspberry coconut-crumble soufflé. If, like me, you think a soufflé is far beyond your culinary skills, think again. The recipe is demonstrated and we’re ready to get started. My team is mixing and folding away when suddenly, disaster strikes. Overly confident, I have combined the entirety of my egg white mixture with my boiled raspberry purée.

Before panic can set in, Chef Simpson appears with an understanding smile,

fresh ingredients to hand and the words ‘let’s try that again’.

In the blink of an eye, I have a soufflé fit for Gods. It’s true, anyone can cook; even me.

Prices range from £150pp for the building block courses and up to £995 for a three-course masterclass with Michel Roux Jr himself.

S AU C E BY T H E L A N G H A M 1C Portland Place, Marylebone, London W1B 1JA; saucebylangham.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FOOD & DRINK • DRINKS SEKFORDE Botanical Mixer for Whiskey & Bourbon, £1.50 waitrose.com

EDITOR’S PICK

BAILEYS Strawberries & Cream, £16 tesco.com

HENDRICK'S Midsummer Solstice Gin, £35 masterofmalt

CITADELLE Gin De France, £29.95 31dover.com

SLINGSBY Gooseberry Flavoured Gin, £38.99 tastefinewines.co.uk

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Limited Edition English Estate , £23.95 justminiatures.co.uk

CARTHY & BLACK

That’s the

Yorkshire Lemon Gin Cream Liqueur. £12 morrisons.com

SPIRIT Cool drinks for hot summer nights

By P E N D L E H A R T E

TOKYO MOJITO French Summer Tea Mariage Freres, €40 mariagefreres.com

COCCHI AMERICANO Rosa Vermouth, £21 distillersdirect.com

PLANTATION Xaymaca Special Dry Rum thewhiskyexchange

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JUDE'S Milkshakes, £1.50 sainsburys.co.uk

KAVKA Oryginalna Receptura Vodka, £37.51 thedrinkshop.com

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FA S H I O N

ART WORLD

PALOMA WOOL

Beginning life as an investigation into the act of getting dressed, Paloma Wool has quickly become a cult label.

We love the Barcelona-based brand’s capsule collections featuring sketchy illustrations. palomawool.com

Hansine's floaty fashions 49 · The shoot 50 · The interview: Anna Mason 60 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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FASHION • Q&A

Q&A

Beach

LIFE

Hansine Johnston is the woman behind Hansine Resortwear.

Absolutely meets her Interview P E N D L E H A R T E

Q How did you start?

A I’ve always loved wearing maxi

dresses and my friends were always asking me to get dresses for them on my travels, so I just started making a few things. I knew some of the fabric people in Italy from when I worked at Armani so I was able to find these lovely silks from Como.

Q Tell us about the collection A It’s so versatile. We have these

“I think of it as a modern bohemian aesthetic”

lovely long silk dresses which are so easy to throw on and layer. We have new prints and the SS19 collection has shades of sand blush and fire orange which are beautiful. We also have lovely crop knit cardigans, which are lovely to wear over the dresses in the evening.

Q Where is it made?

A The fabrics are made in Italy but

the collection is made in London by the UK’s largest sustainable clothes manufacturer. I’ve always believed in the importance of ethical standards and sustainable manufacturing.

Q How do you wear it?

A These dresses are so easy to pack

and to wear – you can layer the tea dress over the shifts. They fold up so small and don’t crease; there’s nothing better to travel with. I think of it as a modern bohemian aesthetic – it’s so versatile. hansine.co A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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WILD FLOWER BE A FREE SPIRIT THIS SEASON IN SOFTLY TAILORED SUMMER DRESSES AND PLAYSUITS IN BOHEMIAN PRINT LO U I S E M I S H A .CO M

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ORIGINAL, LIMITED-EDITION ART DECO POSTERS

Limited to editions of 280, our newly-commissioned Art Deco posters feature glamorous holiday destinations around the world, ski resorts in the Austrian, French and Swiss Alps, and the world’s greatest historic automobiles. Over 100 designs to choose from, all printed on 100% cotton fine art paper, measuring 97 x 65 cms.

Priced at £395 each.

Private commissions are also welcome.

Pullman Editions Ltd 94 Pimlico Road Chelsea London SW1W 8PL www.pullmaneditions.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 0547 Email: georgina@pullmaneditions.com

Our central London gallery

All images and text copyright © Pullman Editions Ltd. 2019

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FASHION • PROMOTION FEEL RIGHT AT HOME WITH THE GLADES’ STYLIST JULIET WYATT

Style GUIDE Fashion crisis? Find sartorial solutions at The Glades' Style Lounge in Bromley

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GET THE SHOES, THE BAG, AND THE DRESS…

he glowing spherical shape in the sky is finally upon us. Rejoice! Invitations to weddings and garden parties are piling up, weekends are stacked with festival and carnival days out and the irresistible lure of an escape to sunnier climes is calling.

Let’s be honest now: with so much to look forward to, hands up who hasn’t looked at all their clothes contemplating how to cruise through the hot-weather season while pondering all the sartorial possibilities downsizing the house to make room for a wardrobe upscale could bring?

There’s no need for any radical measures this season (or at any other time, mind) when there’s the Style Lounge at The Glades Shopping Centre in the heart of Bromley,

South East London, where stress-free curation of timeless, capsule collections for myriad eventualities happens.

With an all-new look and location within Regents Arcade, the centre’s independent retailer quarter, the Style Lounge offers a refreshingly down-to-earth, personal shopping experience led by resident stylist, Juliet Wyatt, who has more than 15 years’ experience under her belt bag.

Juliet’s expertise in solving the trickiest of style conundrums and showcasing the very best version of you during a free appointment – which includes a 20-minute consultation and up to three hours of shopping the brands – is second to none.

Expect to outfit-build with collections from Massimo Dutti, Hobbs, Whistles, Karen Millen, Zara, Phase Eight and Joules to mention a few, not forgetting the likes of L’Occitane, Molton Brown, Jo Malone and the White Company for revitalising the senses and home.

For a chance to perfect the art of seeking out wardrobe gamechangers, with the guidance of Juliet and a £250 Glades gift card to spend, be sure to visit the shopping centre’s Instagram and Facebook pages @ thegladesbrom between now and 15 July 2019.

Appointments with Juliet at the Style Lounge in Regents Arcade at The Glades Shopping Centre are available throughout the week and at weekends. To make a booking, please visit theglades.co.uk/ personal-stylist.

THE REVAMPED STYLE LOUNGE AT THE GLADES SHOPPING CENTRE, BROMLEY

ST Y L E LO U N G E S E RV I C E S Secrets of Style: 20-minute consultation for first-time clients Dress to Impress: Weddings, dates, birthday bashes are covered Bra Fitting: Back to basics with good foundations Beauty of Shopping: Wardrobe topups for existing customers Perfect Gift: Shop for a stylish surprise

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Start Your Adventure Part of the

family

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Rainbow Hues Bright gems for summer dressing

MARCO BICEGO

SUZANNE KALAN

NADINE AYSOY

Africa Gemstone Gold Bracelet, £2340;

18-Karat Gold, Turquoise and Diamond Earrings, £3085;

Celeste Pink Sapphire and Jade Mini Ring, $3.960;

net-a-porter.com

nadineaysoy.com

harrods.com

TABBAH

SUZANNE KALAN

AISHA BAKER

Fusion Choker, POA;

Yellow Gold Rainbow Fireworks Ring, £4675;

The Alcazar 18 ct Gold Bracelet POA;

tabbah.com

harrods.com

shop.aishabaker.com

L'ATELIER NAWBAR

MARCO BICEGO

MARTE FRISNES

Rose Gold, Diamond and Stone Amulets of Light Hoop Earrings, £4375;

Yellow Gold Paradise Gemstones Bracelet, £920;

Cooper Gold-Plated Tassel Earrings in Pink, £152;

harrods.com

harrods.com

modesens.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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SHARP JACKET IN MINT, DENEUVE BLOUSE, SIREN TROUSERS IN SAGE, AW19

BARDOT DRESS, PINK GLITTER STRIPE, AW19

Fr i l l

S E E K E R S Absolutely meets Anna Mason, whose beautiful, feminine designs have a growing fan base Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

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FASHION • PROFILE

KRISTINA MIDI DRESS, NENA CORD, BLUE, AW19

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etail, famously, is failing, but fashion isn’t. Designers are very aware that in order to be relevant, they need to offer something that’s more of an experience than simply inviting people to queue and hand over a credit card, or to click in response to a flat image of a model wearing a dress. Shopping for clothes, now, is all about feeling special as well as owning something special. “What we really need is our own townhouse,” says Anna Mason, who designs beautiful, feminine clothes and has a loyal following among women who like the personal service she offers.

She’s kind of joking, because for the moment, there’s no townhouse. Instead, Mason works from a small studio in Battersea and hosts regular trunkshows around the country as well as occasional pop-ups at George’s in Mayfair. Highlights from her collection are sold at net-a-porter but for her, it’s all about the personal connections and the intimacy.

Anna is stylish, blonde and enthusiastic. “I’m sorry it looks so much like a jumble sale here today,” she says, waving at the rails that line her studio.

Needless to say, it looks nothing like a jumble sale, but she’d rather the clothes were arranged by colour. Though her collection is very diverse in terms of fabric, print and colour (there are paisleys, florals, stripes, lace) Anna’s distinctive clothes have a strong

LAILA BLOUSE LIBERTY, LIV SKIRT CORDROY, SS19

ANNA MASON

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THICK CORD BLUE BAY TROUSERS AND THICK CORD STELLA BLOUSE, AW19

The look is romantic in a 1970s-meets-theEdwardians-on-theprairie way signature style, immediately visible to everyone but her.

“Sometimes I feel like I can’t see it. This is just what I do,” she says – her style is so innate and so intuitive that she struggles to identify it. Varied as the collection is, several characteristics recur in pieces that are awash with detail without being fussy. Long cuffs, spherical buttons, high buttoned necklines, gathered shoulders, tie waists, frills and voluminous sleeves are just a few.

There are maxi dresses and dungarees, blouses, beach dresses and evening dresses, in a look that’s romantic in a 1970s-meets-the-Edwardians-on-the-prairie way.

Her sketches are equally characterful, reminiscent of Barbara Hulanicki’s drawings for Biba, all rouched sleeves, gathered shoulders and fabulous drapes.

As so many women do, Anna started working for herself when her first child was born. She had been working as a designer for Amanda Wakeley – and before that for Karl Lagerfeld, MaxMara and Valentino – but she set up her own styling business and immediately became enormously busy, taking clients shopping and A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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VITA MIDI DRESS, BLACK WITH GLITTER STRIPE, AW19

“A woman followed me all the way up the escalators at Selfridges to ask about my blouse”

selecting clothes for them. In this way she became aware of clothes that she felt were missing from the market – “I kept identifying things that I couldn’t find.” She started making these things for herself with a seamstress she employed to make alterations for clients – and soon women were stopping her in the street to ask about them. “I was stopped by a stranger in Harrods wearing a dress I’d made – the dress that was missing from my selection – so I made her one. Soon afterwards a woman followed me all the way up the escalators at Selfridges to ask about my blouse, so that became an order and I slowly started to feel like I should be doing my own thing.”

But the world of fashion is famously demanding and the next step on from producing a few garments at your kitchen table is a huge one. To be a contender you need to offer several collections a year and be able to fulfil large orders. Mason’s business was growing fast from her family home – “there were clothes everywhere and three seamstresses in what should have been the kids’ playroom and I was pattern cutting at night” – and in 2013 she produced her first collection. “I started selling at a friend’s house in Chelsea, making everything to order.” It was here that people like India Jane Birley became fans and today many of Mason’s regular clients date back to this small, word-of-mouth world. “They like the idea that you’ve found something a bit secret – that’s why a townhouse would be perfect.” In 2017 she launched her first ready-to-wear collection and now she is producing multiple collections a year as well as retaining a core selection of classic pieces, which she

regularly tweaks (“I just can’t leave them alone”). It’s a complex operation, relying on a small team of hugely dedicated staff, all of whom adore the clothes.

Even though Mason insists that her clothes are easy to wear, they’re not for everyone. “Some people just find them too frilly,” she says, and minimalists won’t like them. She insists that despite the focus on embellishments they are practical, wearable pieces – most of them even have pockets, though more for putting your hands in than actually storing things. “It’s important to have something to do with your hands. It upsets me when you can’t put pockets in something.”

Her selection of prints is diverse – including, for SS19, a banana print, a large eye print, some classic Liberty florals and various stripes, among them an impossibly tactile paper silk woven stripe. Choosing prints is instinctive and she knows immediately which ones she wants. For AW19 there’s denim and needlecord too.

“We’d love to be the UK’s Chloe, basically,” she explains.

It’s a fair ambition. annamasonlondon.co.uk

DENEUVE BLOUSE, SIREN TROUSERS SAGE, AW19

PHOEBE DENIM DRESS, AW19

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Keep your luxury handbag in shape

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FASHION • SWIMWEAR

Beach ready The best holiday buys from Amélie’s Follies All available at ameliesfollies.co.uk

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

Vegas Bag by Prima Donna, £39

Pecos One Shoulder Suit by MaxMara Leisure, £195

Clous by Maison Lejaby, £129

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

Art Deco Suit by Maryan Mehlhorn, £195

Triangle by Trubikini, £95 top, £75 bottom

Galleria Kaftan by Jets, £133

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

AMÉLIE'S FOLLIES

La Santa Bikini by Antigel, £40 top, £32 bottom

Aquatic by Maison Lejaby, £80 top, £52 bottom

Vegas by Prima Donna, £92 top, £45 Tie Pant

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Beautiful skin from the inside Skincare innovation in a drink

Skinade has been a game changer for skin hydration “My hair and nails look healthier as well. Even my Dermatologist noticed the improvement in my skin”.

Joelle - March 2019

2 weeks to Wow! “The difference was clear after 2 weeks!

I am now in my 2nd month of Skinade and the suppleness in my skin is incredible. I have noticed a marked difference in the hydration and texture in my face. I am hooked!”

Andrea - March 2019

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The inside-out approach to skincare is becoming an increasingly appealing and effective way to achieve visible results.

As we age, our collagen production slows down, affecting the appearance of our skin. Skinade’s active ingredients work together to produce a daily drink aimed at nourishing and supporting the skin from the inside for beautiful skin on the outside.

Love skinade “I just started my third month and see a great difference in the texture, elasticity and brightness of my skin highly recommend to everyone”.

Claudia - February 2019

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24/04/2019 15:40

HEALTH & BEAUTY

SQUEAKY CLEAN DR ROEBUCKS Aussie sisters Kim and Zoe combined their love of Bondi Beach with their parents' medical expertise to launch Dr Roebuck's, a range of clean, multi-benefit skincare products that really work. drroebucks.com

Beauty notes 69 • Treatment reviews 72 • Perfume 75 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

Fitness tracking, at-home eye masks and an all-in-one oil that can beat jet lag B y H E L E N B R OW N

Glow GETTER

THE REVIEW

FITBIT INSPIRE HR

SKINADE

Skinade is the wonder elixir favoured by beauty editors for its ability to make you look and feel better from within. Each 150ml bottle provides a perfect ratio of liquid to active ingredients to boost your natural collagen production. Holiday glow, here we come. £115.50 (30-day course);

Testing fitness tech B y H E L E N B R OW N

skinade.com

Bright EYES

EDITOR’S PICK

111 SKIN

111SKIN’s scientist-developed formulas are the go-to for skin care obsessives. Now you can reap the rewards of the range from the comfort of your own home with the Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask – a concentrated hydrogel mask that hydrates, plumps and brightens. £12; 111skin.co.uk

CREATING CALM M A L Á KO

Perfect to pack in your suitcase, this blissfully scented oil combines lemongrass, may chang and frankincense to balance and calm energy levels when you’re tired or jet lagged. It’s also great for dry skin, muscle tension and giving you shiny locks. £20; malakoskincare.co.uk

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he new Fitbit Inspire HR is an all-seeing, all-counting tracker that will monitor your heart rate, calorie burn, sleep, steps and food consumed. It will also remind you to move when Netflix has got the better of you, deliver guided breathing sessions to de-stress and track your monthly cycle. At first I was only really interested in the heart rate feature for fitness. Who cares if I sleep lightly or deeply? And do I really want to be confronted with the fact that I haven’t hit 10,000 steps? But studies have found that a fitness tracker can improve both your motivation levels and daily activity and before long, I really come to love to little gadget. First and foremost, it’s surprisingly easy to set up. Simply install the Fitbit app on your phone and follow the on-screen instructions. It takes less than an hour to charge and is ready to go. Every heart rate spike, step and sip of water can be analysed via the app. I enjoy that it celebrates when I do hit my daily step target and I become obsessed with watching my heart rate skyrocket in a HIIT class. Of course, there are features that I don’t use. I take it off before bed for fear of becoming neurotic with sleep tracking, and I’m not in the habit of inputting every snack I inhale. But it has made me reconsider how much I can actually push myself in a gym class.

While I won’t be tracking every minutiae of my day, I’m definitely moving more and my motivation levels have soared.

Fitbit Inspire HR, £89.99, fitbit.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Ages 0-17 The Portland Hospital

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26/06/2019 18/06/2019 10:21 09:26

DR ROEBUCK'S

BEAUTY • PRODUCTS

drroebucks.com

AESOP Protective Facial Lotion SPF25, £39; aesop.com

DRUNK ELEPHANT Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defence SPF 30, £29, Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defence SPF 30, £30; cultbeauty.co.uk

LA ROCHE-POSAY Anti-Pigmentation SPF50+, £20; laroche-posay.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

CLARINS Mineral Sun Care Compact UVA/UVB 30, £27; clarins.co.uk

ORGANII SPF50 Sun Milk, £23.95; pravera.co.uk

CAUDALIE

SUN TRAP

Protect your face all summer long with these non-greasy sunscreen picks

BEAUTY PIE Ultralight UVA/UVB SPF25, from £7.55; beautypie.com

B y H E L E N B R OW N

SOL DE JANEIRO Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF 30, £36; cultbeauty.co.uk

Anti-wrinkle Face Suncare SPF, £19 + Beautifying Suncare Oil SPF30, £21; uk.caudalie.com

BALANCE ME

ORIGINS

Natural Protection Moisturiser SPF25, £26; balanceme.com

SOL DE JANEIRO Bum Bum Sol Stick SPF 50, £24; cultbeauty.co.uk

SPF 40 Age-Defense Moisturizer, £36.50; origins.co.uk

GREEN PEOPLE Scent Free Facial Sunscreen, £18; greenpeople.co.uk

ECO COSMETICS COOLA Eco-Lux SPF30 Tropical Coconut Sunscreen Spray, £22; spacenk.com

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Sensitive Sunmilk SPF 30, £14.45; ecco-verde.co.uk

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Some of London's finest beauty spots, reviewed by the Absolutely team

TO P T R E AT M E N T S

PRIMELASE

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PRIMELASE

THE LANESBOROUGH LONDON FITNESS CLUB & SPA

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Wo r d s H E L E N B R OW N

urely one of the most effective ways to escape the stress of city life, is to head to a spa. The capital has an astounding collection to choose from but for something really spoiling, The Lanesborough Club & Spa should be top of the list. It’s one of London’s most exclusive private members’ fitness and health clubs, voted the World’s Best New Hotel Spa in 2017, and offers a complete 360 approach to wellbeing. Everything from the spa menu to the fitness studio is carefully considered to offer its guests one of the most blissful experiences available in the capital. My day starts with an endorphin-boosting PT session

with trainer Li. Her background in weightlifting and body building means that the session is resistance-heavy with some functional exercises thrown in and a sweaty finisher on the treadmill. Li is extremely personable fun to train with.

After a quick shower and a protein shake, I robe up and let myself be led (the team are very helpful here) to the treatment room for a deep tissue massage. It’s heavenly, and any muscular tension induced by Li’s workout quickly melt away. The Lanesborough’s spa is such an unbelievably relaxing space, it’s hard to imagine that just upstairs, everyday life on Hyde Park corner resumes. Following the treatment I spend the best part of an hour revelling in the quiet and calm of the relaxation room, before heading to the restaurant for lunch. The menu is an exemplar in clean, healthy eating. For mains there is salmon and a delicious Asian noodle dish and for desert, granola bars, fruit and a gorgeous brownie that has all the satisfaction without the sugar.

All-day dining and high-protein snacks, smoothies and juices are available throughout the day should you wish to drag it out, which you really should. It’s a rather fabulous way to spend a Saturday.

Spa days from £300, personal training from £150 per hour; lanesboroughclubandspa.com

THE LANESBOROUGH

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • REVIEWS

PRIMELASE LASER HAIR REMOVAL

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Wo r d s H E L E N B R OW N

ith summer in sight, you might be upping the ante on your hair removal routine.

But whether you wax, shave or thread, it all costs time and money. Plus there’s the annoying regrowth period and in-growing hairs to contend with. With all things considered, you’ve no doubt thought about laser hair removal. It’s really your only option if you want the permanent disappearance of hair. Luckily, it’s an incredibly quick and effective process.

Especially so, with Primelase. It’s one of the newest devices on the block, 10 times more powerful than other laser devices and as fast as shaving. I’m at Aestha Clinic to start a treatment plan with Samantha Llewellyn, Head of Clinical Training. My first appointment is a consultation in which Samantha takes a medical history, talks me through the treatment plan and does a patch test.

Samantha treats my legs the second time I see her. The process is mildly uncomfortable but certainly nothing distressing. Worse than the sensation is the smell of burning hair, but the whole thing is over exceptionally quickly and Samantha and I chit chat the whole way through. Four weeks after just one treatment and I can already see an astonishing reduction in hair growth. I’m thrilled that in no time I’ll be 100% hair-free. A delightful thought as summer, and a season of confident legbaring, begins.

For more information about Primelase, visit cosmeditech.com

STRAWBERRY AND CREAM PEDICURE

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Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

t the height of Wimbledon, the tennis theme casts its net over everything. Tennis puns abound, afternoon tea menus feature tiny cakes in the shape of balls, and even beauty treatments take on a tennis flavour.

At Browns Hotel, they are offering a Strawberries and Cream Pedicure, which won't improve your game, but does promise to improve the look of your feet. This, unusually, is a dry pedicure, which means that you start on a bed, on your back and the lovely therapist goes straight into shaping your toenails. All the unglamorous scraping of dry skin is dealt with swiftly before the strawberry-infused scrub. This involves actual strawberries, beautifully scented and crushed, which exfoliate my feet further and only then am I invited to soak them in a bowl of strawberry-laced warm water. Once dried, my feet are massaged in a lavish cream, before my carefully selected shade of (strawberry) red is applied, leaving my feet soft, supple and fresh-toed. Just in time for the tennis. £65 To book, email the spa; browns@roccofortehotels.com

THE LANESBOROUGH

THE LANESBOROUGH

HH SKIN

BROWNS HOTEL

DEEP CLEAN HYDRAFACIAL

A

Wo r d s F LO R A T H O M A S

BROWN'S HOTEL

few too many hours in the sun, teamed with a couple of long-haul flights and not enough rest has left my face dry, blotchy and blemished. I look fairly exhausted when I turn up for my appointment with Hayley Hems.

It begins with a detailed discussion - over ginger tea - about my skincare regimen. Hayley listens while I describe at length the trials and tribulations I’ve been through since adolescence with spots, hormones and medications. She puts me at ease, which is no mean feat; I often find the topic difficult to talk about, but Hayley is unintimidating and gentle. It becomes clear that I’ve been overdoing it with products, so much so that my skin is totally out of whack.

We start with a lymphatic massage to reduce swelling and to prepare my skin for the HydraFacial, the aim of which is to cleanse, detoxify, exfoliate, extract and hydrate. I’m naturally skeptical about facials promising too much, but considering Hayley’s impressive celebrity following and return custom I feel in safe hands. The procedure itself is done with a handheld device which feels in part like a soft toothbrush - then like a mini hoover - then sort of like a gentle spot-squeezer. At some point I doze off, and wake to find Hayley massaging a luxurious serum into my renewed skin.

My face looks bright, dewy and less puffy. Its tone is more even, the size of my pores has reduced significantly, and - although I’m politely scolded for touching it - it feels softer than ever before. £160 14 Hay Hill, Ozzie Rizzo, Mayfair, W1J hhskin.london

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • SCENT

PERFUME

Summer Escentuals Beautiful scents for sunny days and holidays B y M I C H A E L D O N OVA N

S

cents of summer sunshine are among my favourite olfactory experiences and I have recently discovered some outstanding examples that work equally well as exotic holiday fragrances or for summer garden parties at home. These are perfumes of exquisite beauty that echo the natural world and conjure the warmth, languid energy and joy of high summer.

Tea Rose from The Perfume Workshop is one such scent and I remember my fragrance mentor, Frederic Malle, waxing lyrical about this perfume: “this is the most classic example of a rose scent that smells fresh from nature, it’s rich but not overpowering”. Tea Rose charmed me instantly – sometimes a short formula fragrance is perfect and this scent is simple, classic and redolent of a hot afternoon in an English garden with bright yellow tea roses emitting one of the finest scents in nature. There is something delicate and demure about the tea rose: she is not as showy as her Bulgarian and Turkish sisters, and it is her quiet grace that I find so beguiling. I was not surprised to learn from India Hicks that this was a favourite fragrance of Diana, Princess Of Wales, as it fits her personality perfectly – radiant, effortlessly chic and with acres of charm. Perfect for the summer holidays and beyond.

I am wearing a new fragrance this month. I like to do this when I travel as the smell will remind me of a trip. It’s amazing how well this works and I appear to have an incredible memory for holidays.

Chabaud (Paris)'s Vert D’Eau or Green Water is a hesperidic/woody fragrance reminiscent of the scents of the Amalfi Coast with its combination of orange and lemon, green fig and tomato leaves.

Fresh and uplifting but full of personality.

I am thoroughly enjoying its energising optimism.

Stylists make our world more beautiful and their endeavours are celebrated in The Stylist, which is a wonderful summer cocktail of a scent with mango and tamarind washed with rum. This fragrance stands out, not because it is loud but because it is beautifully put together. The scent of rum is very interesting as you can actually smell the sugar cane from which it is made, reminiscent of coconut. A wonderfully transporting scent, The Stylist takes me back to Kerala and the mango lassi that I drank on the spice farms there. Chic, timeless and a trifle eccentric.

The Holy Grail of vanilla scents, Vanillia del Madagasca from the Florentine House of Farmacia SS Annunziata is rich and creamy and as far away from the generic realisation of vanilla in mainstream perfumes brands as it is possible to be. This fragrance recreates that wonderful custard confection that one inhales when scraping the seeds from a vanilla pod.

Here it is teamed with a hint of citrus and a velvety amber note at the base. Rich and dreamy.

Two of my favourite recent releases come from Bon Parfumeur in Paris.

‘103’ has become one of our top selling scents overnight with its elegant yet transformative combination of heavenly jasmine and carnal tiare flower. Add a dash of zesty bergamot and a note of white sand and you have a scent that will take you from beach to barhopping with a smile on your face. 302 is a spicy scent that opens with red berries and geranium before descending into a mesmerising mix of incense and cedarwood. The sandalwood base is soft, dusty and full of sunshine.

As we smell via the process of evaporation, scent is particularly sensational in warmer weather as it travel further faster. This glorious soupçon of scents will help us to celebrate this summer in style.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • ACTIVE

The latest fitness tech...

FITNESS NOTES

By H E L E N B R O W N

RESULTS W I T H

L U C Y

WORKING OUT AT HOME HAS NEVER BEEN SIMPLER n an age where there is an app for everything, working out at home has never been easier. Joining the party is leading online fitness, nutrition and health platform for women, Results with Lucy, which recently announced the launch of a brand new app.

Results with Lucy is the brainchild of TV personality Lucy Mecklenburgh and her PT Cecilia Harris who together founded the platform in 2013 in a bid to help women achieve results that last. Accessible wherever you are, Results with Lucy is designed for anyone who wants to fit a quick, effective workout into their day without paying for an expensive gym membership.

Results with Lucy app subscribers will be able to access an enormous variety of content at the touch of a button. On offer are thousands of filmed workouts across HIIT, barre, boxing, yoga, Pilates and more. The app will also be home to weekly live workouts, hundreds of recipes suitable for a range of dietary requirements, individualised meal plans and ‘With Self Love’ mindset courses focusing on building confidence and motivation.

App uses will also be able to take advantage of the community feature where subscribers can chat, upload and share posts with one another.

Results with Lucy is available to download on iOS and Android on a £19.99 a month subscription, the same as the Results with Lucy website.

Members who are signed up to the Fitness, Food & Mindset membership (£19.99) on the website will have access to the app for as long as they are subscribed to the platform.

I

For more information please visit resultswithlucy.com

A M P AT H L E T I C Inside miracle-worker Steve Mellor’s new Marylebone gym

T

Wo r d s H E L E N B R O W N

here’s a new gym in town and it’s making some serious headlines.

Tucked away on a quiet mews off Marylebone and constructed in an ex-car park, AMP Athletic is more than just a gym. It offers a 360 approach to fitness that you rarely find in a class or commercial gym.

Founder and coach-in-chief, Steve Mellor is credited as being a miracle worker. He began coaching clients in their homes and in London’s parks before taking over the gym at Claridge’s Hotel. With AMP, which opened earlier this year, Steve's ambition is to bring his unique ethic of coach-led fitness and nutrition to as many people as possible in a space that is unique.

The concept is simple but effective. Members get access to expert personal training by

way of small group personal training sessions (4-to-1). So far, not so different. But AMP Athletic coaches will train members according to Steve’s science-led methods which combine a dynamic approach with the utmost attention to detail. Basically, the coaches give you their undivided attention as you carry out a series of the most effective cardio and weight bearing exercises so that you pick up the techniques fast, and the results even faster.

This is the biggest difference I notice between my regular gym classes, which are typically pretty loud, club-like and busy, and my session with Steve at AMP. For every move, even the ones I feel familiar with and confident doing, Steve has a tweak or an improvement. Instantly glute bridges and lunges feel tougher than they have done in weeks.

The problem with a busy group

class that’s carried out in a dark room is that it’s easy to get complacent. There are just three of us in the AMP session which means that Steve watches like a hawk. There’s certainly no slacking off here.

Classes take place in a fully equipped, 4500 square foot studio with equipment ranging from TRX suspension systems, kettlebells, barbells and a turf floor where anything goes. We complete a full-body circuit that include sled pushes, planks and TRX rows. I also manage to lift heavier than I ever have before on the leg press.

By the end I feel like I’ve pushed myself harder than I have done in ages. I realise that I’ve been cruising with my fitness for a while, just going through the motions of a class. It’s far more motivating to have someone hold me accountable. Here’s to more hard work.

AMP ATHLETIC Membership starts from £199 a month. 30-day trial available for £149 14a Beaumont Mews, W1G 6EQ; amp.fit

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INTERIORS

COLOUR & FORM SCHNEID

Schneid is a German design studio with a selection of amazing lighting, ceramics and textiles. Their signature is carefully considered use of colour and great exploration of form. yodandco.com

Interior inspirations 80 • Living with plants 82 • Sustainable kitchens 88 A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS NOT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

INDIAN SUMMER MADAM STOLTZ

Madam Stoltz's stylish collection spans textiles, industrial furnitures and lamps, from practical accessories to cozy luxuries. Mostly sourced in India, the Madam Stoltz collections are sold in shops all over Europe, and online at Smallable.

Pictured is the Jute Pendant Light, £98. smallable.com

O F F T H E WA LL JESSICA OSBORNE

Jessica Osborne’s first wallpaper collection is traditionally printed and draws on inspiration from childhood memories.

Pictured is Mallorca Orange – a coral orange background and a blue boat wheel, reminiscent of summers in Mallorca. £80 jessicaosborne.com

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INTERIORS • NOTES

PA L M SPRINGS Tropical touches for the home CHASE AND WONDER Fine China Plate, 10in Tropical Paradise chaseandwonder.com

GARDEN PA R T Y POLKRA X KATIE SCOTT

S E AT I N G P L A N

MAISON MARGOT Jardin Tropical drum lampshade, £115 maisonmargot.com

PARKER KNOLL

British brand Parker Knoll is celebrating 150 years in the furniture trade. Pictured here is the Etienne Grand Sofa in Mancini Charcoal £2,250 and the Fitzroy Chair in Bexley Smoke, from £979. parkerknoll.co.uk

MIND THE GAP Palm Springs Wallpaper, £150 mindtheg.com

AUDENZA Palmier Tropical Table Lamp, £228 audenza.com

FRENCH BEDROOM CO Touch of Tropical velvet stool, £120 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Polkra have collaborated with illustrator Katie Scott to create a collection of five beautiful, hand painted pots and natural wax candles inspired by botanical art. The collection Includes English Garden, True Jasmine, Wild Fig, Portobello Oud and Moroccan Rose; each pot is made in Portugal and filled in the UK. From £49, polkra.com

EYES ON YOU A NEW TRIBE

These hand-painted monochrome plates from Morocco feature a striking eye design and come in two sizes at A New Tribe, East London's stylish homewares boutique. Also on offer are beautiful interior objects and textiles sourced from independent designers and small brands from around the world. anewtribe.co.uk

MIND THE GAP Le Bananier and Le Cocotier Wall Art mindtheg.com

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PLANT LIFE At home with Jin Ahn of Conservatory Archives Wo r d s FERMLIVING.COM

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PHOTOGRAPHY FERMLIVING.COM

INTERIORS • FOCUS

W

hen Jin Ahn took a year off from work in the Korean fashion industry to come to London, it turned into a new course of life. She ended up studying horticulture and a moving permanently to London. Here, she started her own business, living out her new-found dream: plants, and loads of them. Today, Conservatory Archives counts two plant stores in east London and a consultancy service where Jin takes stores and office spaces under her careful counselling to enhance indoor well-being and cultivate them with more greenery. What today projects an overwhelming vibe and green landscape, in reality, and social media, alike was actually never planned for.

She found her home in the old factory building three years ago. Back then, it was used as an artist studio, and although lacking electricity, water, and heating, Jin saw its potential and turned the space into a combined home and studio for her small business. A true paradise for indoor plants, otherwise forced to live in bad lighting conditions in small apartments, her A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Great ideas set in stone

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NATASHA COVERDALE

“Plants are more than just a fleeting trend – they are our lifestyle”

jungle is an ever-changing landscape of plants, interweaving her private and professional life closely together. At times, she uses plants from her personal collection to style a large event or moves them to one of her two stores.

Connecting business and pleasure, she co-founded the company together with her boyfriend Giacomo. When she was opening the first store, he was only occasionally helping her, while finishing his PhD in mathematics. In the meantime, she convinced him to be a part of the company on a full-time basis.

When she finished university, she thought she was going to be a gardener, but as a child of the city, the rainy British weather and landscapes seemed less appealing to her. Hence came the idea of focusing on indoor house plants. When she finally found the perfect space for the store - which opened late in 2015, she had no idea of the prominent attention plants were about to get. Initially, the idea was to combine her love of great furniture and plants based on her background in fashion and graphic design, the but soon after the opening the plants bloomed, flourished and eventually took over.

“At the beginning, the shop was very empty, and we had more furniture than plants. Back then I had no idea that plants would become this popular. People went a bit crazy in my shop,” Jin laughs, as she tells how she experienced that her A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Photography by Paul Craig

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INTERIORS • FOCUS

stock of plants in all shapes and sizes, selling out within the first week.

The overwhelming success was transformed to initial pop-ups and collaborations with brands to style stores or offices. Then, by 2018 the couple was able to open up a second shop - much larger than the first, with room to bring back furniture and design beyond that of the right plant pot.

“I think my background in business and design has helped me a lot. I think I didn’t quite realise that before, but today I can see that I got away with a lot, without any previous experience. I think people were surprisingly trusting when I proposed something crazy,” she says. And she definitely persuaded her still growing audience. Since 2015, plants have been bursting on Instagram thanks to Jin and Conservatory Archives, counting nearly 100,000 followers to date.

THE WILD AND THE NATURAL When captured in the iconic squares of Instagram, everything seems to be just in its right place. But Jin is no fan of perfection.

“It’s a bit messy in my home, just as it is in my shop. I like things very natural. The same goes for all the plants in here. They are not

what you would call standard shape. They have grown by adapting to their surroundings. They are not perfect, but I like using plants on their own terms instead of forcing them onto ours,” Jin tells. She lost count of the plants a long time ago and can’t even begin to name a single favourite amongst them all. Staying true to both the plants' nature and her own taste, however, she’s found her place in between the burgeoning greenery: “My aesthetics are quite industrial, very open and very much about a lot of light.

When I decorate with plants in that kind of setting, the green plants simply work better. I do like colourful plants with flowers, but it’s just not my style” Jin says.

“If I have to name a favourite,” Jin says and gives in, “I would have to say that I really like cacti. But rather than the species, I’m fascinated by the shape of the plants. They can be very different. I like plants that grow into unique shapes and figures. Texture and shapes are a significant factor when we talk about plants because even if we start with the same Pilea, in time, they will look totally different.”

So, what happens when plants become less trendy, one dares to ask? “Plants are not a finite science,” Jin says and continues, “I’m still learning as I go along. It’s really been a journey, but I think it was meant to be like this. I do believe though, that plants will be more than just another fleeting trend – they will become our lifestyle.” fermliving.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Plywood is resistant to dents and scratches, meaning it will look its best for longer

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INTERIORS • KITCHENS

O F F T H E P E G Q What are the advantages of plywood for a kitchen?

A Lots of our clients go down the plywood route for their design because it’s sustainable, durable, and it simply looks great. We choose the highest quality, most sustainably-sourced wood, focusing on a cross-graining process that improves the plywood sheets’ compressive strength and the wood’s ability to bear weight.

That makes it perfect for holding heavy appliances, crockery or dense, stone worktops. Plywood is also more resistant to dents and scratches, meaning it’ll look its best for longer in busy family kitchens.

Absolutely quizzes Jeremy Price, Sustainable Kitchens’ design director, about his stylish recent project Interview PENDLE HARTE

Q The pegboard is ingenious. Is that a popular choice?

A During the design process, we developed a close relationship with the family and were able to make adjustments to ensure the island unit didn’t dominate the kitchen or compromise the children’s play space. The kids were actually at the heart of the design – the pegboard was designed for them to hang their toys and artwork from. Since then, we’ve seen an increase in the number of clients asking for family-friendly areas within their kitchens, whether that’s a mini play kitchen or worktop space for arts and crafts. They always love playing with the mini kitchen in our showroom while their parents are given a tour of the design studio and workshop.

Tell us about the island on wheels.

A I’d say the moveable island is the real focal feature of the Pegboard Plywood Kitchen.

It contains a single oven and induction hob, A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • KITCHENS

The client wanted to be able to move the island against the wall when entertaining

along with deep storage drawers for pots and pans and slimline utensil drawers. Our client wanted to be able to move the island against the wall when entertaining, so we sat it on oversized, colourful industrial castors with brakes. The orange and yellow curly cables you can see in some of the photos stretch as the island moves, revealing a hidden floor hatch housing the electrical connectors. They can be unplugged whenever the family welcomes guests and wants to move the island to the side of the kitchen. It’s things like this that make our kitchens function in a bespoke way.

Q What makes this kitchen sustainable?

A Obviously, our clients want environmental

and ethical confidence in their kitchen without compromising the look. The birch ply used in this kitchen carries FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, meaning it doesn’t come from endangered tropical

rainforests or illegal sources, and it’s been ethically manufactured.

This kitchen was built to circular design principles to reduce its environmental impact. We have a carefully-curated supply chain at Sustainable Kitchens (packed full of predominantly British businesses); we run our workshop to low-waste and energy consumption principles; and we develop bespoke designs that helps customers adopt a greener lifestyle. We also replenish native trees with a replanting programme.

Q The lighting is interesting – is it flexible?

Tell us about that.

A The pendant lighting feature is a nice, sustainable touch. The iconic Plumen light bulbs offer adjustable, low energy illumination with a lifetime of 20,000 hours.

The track system allows for the lighting to be adjusted to suit different requirements, such as the island being moved, to house a longer dining table for entertaining.

S U STA I N A B L E K I TC H E N S 0117 325 6937 sustainablekitchens.co.uk

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

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INTERIORS • TREND

EDITOR’S PICK ORLA KIELY HOUSE Spot Flower Vase, £13.95 hurnandhurn.com

BOBBY RABBIT Babou Triple Shelf, £72.95 bobbyrabbit.co.uk

IITTALA Kastehelmi votive, £32 iittala.com

SARAH WENT CERAMICS ATKIN AND THYME Archie armchair, £399 atkinandthyme.co.uk

Grass Cup, £25 madebyhandonline.com

SWTCH Double Roo Light Switch, £75 swtch.co.uk

ATKIN AND THYME VITRA Eames Plastic Armchair, £465 vitra.com

YELLOW FEVER

Calvin armchair, £399 atkinandthyme.co.uk

KARLSSON

Coy Digital Rubberised Alarm Clock, £25 hurnandhurn.com

Sunshine shades for an English summer

By P E N D L E H A R T E

ORLA KIELY HOUSE Layered Shadow Spot Flower Vase, £49.95 hurnandhurn.com

ANGLEPOISE Type 75 Floor Lamp Margaret Howell Edition, £225 anglepoise.com

LIGNE ROSET Togo Small Settee, £2,057 heals.com

DANETTI Luna bar stool, £69 danetti.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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INTERIORS • DESIGN 01 Antrausic Rug “The rugs in this project have given me the chance to blow up my artworks onto a much larger scale which I don’t often use.

For ANTRAUSIC I wanted to capture the torn paper edge of collage and have juxtaposed the rigid typography with a more fluid hand painted chevron. It brings a feeling of momentum but also the feeling of a gentle character behind it.” Made from hand tufted wool, this design uses both looped pile and cut pile to create a sense of depth and add interesting texture with hand carved detailing giving extra definition.

170x240cm; £450.00

t y p e

A

cclaimed illustrator and mixed-media artist Quentin Jones launches her first capsule collection for Habitat with a radical curation of original artworks reimagined across textiles for the home. Structured typography, bold primary colours, fluid freehand lines and figurative elements are assembled in Quentin’s signature style, each artwork reworked by hand into rugs and cushions, each showcasing a different hand-finished technique from one of Habitat’s oldest textiles suppliers.

“My artworks are often very layered, with a mix of photography, painting and moving image they don’t translate obviously into interior pieces.

But I have a strong sense for how I like my home to be. I love simple monochromatic and primary palettes that echo the Bauhaus and Constructivism. I am drawn to bold graphic shapes with minimal fuss – which might be from having

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Illustrator Quentin Jones has produced a stylish new collection for Habitat Words P E A R L B OY D

grown up in the house of two architect parents, who were keen minimalists”.

“One strand that runs through my work is the idea of coincidence – I think most collage artists play with this. I play with connections between two converging materials, and the surprises that result from this. I wanted this to play out in my pieces for Habitat, despite not using photography and so I turned my eye to typography colliding with hand painted lines and shapes, and of course was drawn to playing with elements of the human face which becomes a central motif here.”

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CURTAIN CALL

INSPIRED INTERIORS

Our redesigned and extended showroom is now open, incorporating a large Luxaflex design studio showing the latest motorised blinds, nestled alongside nearly new curtains and a huge choice of fabrics to be made to measure as curtains and blinds

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm • Sat 10am-6pm Evenings by appointment 52 Friars Stile Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6NQ 020 8332 6250 • curtaincall@blueyonder.co.uk

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QUENTIN JONES F O R H A B I TAT is available exclusively at habitat.co.uk

03

02 Eye-Eye 1 and Eye-Eye 2 Embroidered Cushion “Figurative elements have always played a central part in my work, as I re-assemble the human body through a mix of collage and illustration. For the EYE-EYE cushions. I worked around the idea that the sofa becomes a character once the cushions are placed on it – a sort of sofa monster surveying the room that could start talking. Here I’ve used very simple painterly brushstrokes, a torn edge cobalt blue iris that ties to the main palette of the collection and the other eye giving a knowing wink.”

50x50cm; £60.00 Each 03 My Love and Tunnel Vision Embroidered Cushion “Painting over paragraphs feels quite a lot like collage, in that it totally ignores the primary purpose of the words, but also celebrates them in a new way.

They become decorative and part of an image, detached from their meaning.”

50x50cm; £60.00 each

02

“I love simple monochromatic and primary palettes that echo the Bauhaus and Constructivism”

04 Wordpool “With this design I like how you don’t actually notice the typographic letters at first and then they become so obvious at a second glance. I wanted to use letters here just for their shape, and not as symbols at all.” Each rug is individually hand carved around the typography, a highly skilled technique using hand scissors that creates different height layers within the design, giving it extra definition and creating a slightly 3D effect.

170x240cm; £500.00

04

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T H E L E G AC Y A L E S S I ’ S M O K A P OT S Wo r d s PENDLE HARTE

T MOKA BY DAVID CHIPPERFIELD, 2019

The coffee maker was the first Alessi product to enter MoMA’s permanent collection

MOKA BY DAVID CHIPPERFIELD

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he Moka is a product deeply rooted in the history of the Alessi family. The first moka was conveived in 1933 by Alfonso Bialetti, founder of the Bialetti brand and grandfather to Alberto Alessi, now president of Alessi.

During those years, the coffee machine was a functional revolution: until then, in Northern Italy coffee used to be made in pots, whereas Southern Italy saw the predominance of the Neapolitan coffee maker. Moka unified the process of making coffee, also thanks to the economic innovation which helped keeping the price affordable: the product became, then, one of the most common objects in Italian homes.

In 1979 Alessi debuted in the world of coffee makers, entering a new market for the brand while transforming a popular object into a design icon. That is how the first Alessi coffee maker, the 9090

by Richard Sapper, was born. Thanks to its innovative lines it was awarded the Compasso d’Oro prize and became the first Alessi product to enter the permanent collection of MoMA in New York.

From 1979 to the present day, the company continued to focus on coffee machines, inviting some of the most

L: ALESSANDRO MENDINI’S MOKA, 2012; R: LA CUPOLA BY ALDO ROSSI, 1993

famous designers and architects to design them. The list includes: La Conica (1984), La Cupola (1988) and Ottagono (1993) by Aldo Rossi, Mix Italia designed in 1993 by King-Kong (Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Venturini), Pellicano (1995) by Michael Graves, RS09 (2006) by Richard Sapper, Pina (2006) by Piero Lissoni, coffee. it (2008) by Wiel Arets, Moka (2012) by Alessandro Mendini, Ossidiana (2014) by Mario Trimarchi – another Compasso d’Oro winner – Pulcina (2015) by Michele De Lucchi and the last Moka (2019) by David Chipperfield.

9090 remains the most popular Alessi coffee maker. Made of stainless steel, it is original not only for its special truncated cone shape but also for functional innovations such as the enlarged base that allows to maximize heat, the anti-drip spout and the lever lock that allows one to open the coffee pot with a simple gesture of the hand.

Designed by architect David Chipperfield, Moka is an artist’s interpretation of a timeless icon of the Italian culture. An eleven-sided volume, the Moka design features a flat lid on which to place the cups to be heated and a knob positioned to allow the lid to be raised using only one hand. alessi.com

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S RE R O FE ST OF IN E K NC AS INA F R

FO

Affordable choice.

Naturally.

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ABSOLUTELY • PROMOTION

FULLY COORDINATED COLLECTION

Dream

HOME

Style the house of your dreams with BoConcept, the premium retail lifestyle brand and interior design service

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oConcept design, produce and sell a range of contemporary Danish design furniture, accessories and lighting for the living room, dining room, bedroom, home-office and outdoor spaces.

Their furniture stores offer everything within modern design ranging from designer sofas and armchairs through to practical wall units and functional TV units.

They also help their customers create a personal home with a free comprehensive in-home or in-store Interior Design service.

YOUR STYLE

BoConcept's Interior Designers incorporate interior decoration ideas, home accessories and more to craft a unique style for your home. They can help you in creating a

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CUSTOMISE YOUR INTERIOR

When browsing through BoConcept's designer furniture, there is a whole line of unseen possibilities behind everything you see. You can create your very own unique home with a wide range of customisation available for each product. Customise every detail with BoConcept's staggering selection of high-quality fabrics and a vast range of finishes. With more than 140 finishes for sofas, dining chairs and bed headboards.

As well as a variety of sizes and options across wall cabinets, wardrobes, dining and coffee tables - the combinations are almost endless. There's no doubt you will be spoilt with choice.

BoConcept’s world famous international designers work closely together to create a totally coordinated look across their collection of furniture and home accessories. All their products suit a large variety of moods and express current trends.

FREE INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE

Whether you need some advice furnishing your entire home or would like some inspiration as to which sofa will work in your living room, BoConcept's team of highly experienced interior designers are ready to help you create a unique home that matches your personal style. Perhaps you want to create a Nordic mood in the dining room with Scandinavian style sideboards, elegant dining tables and dining chairs - or a hotel vibe in your living room with sofas, recliner armchairs and daybeds in leather, velvet or your preferred fabric. BoConcept's design team will advise you in store, or come to your home, take measurements of your space, listen to your needs suggesting fabrics and finishes and produce full 3D renderings showing you how your space could look.

WALLPAPERS, CURTAINS, RUGS & HOME ACCESSORIES

In addition to BoConcept selection of Danish furniture and accessories, they offer a coordinated collection of contemporary bespoke curtains and blinds combined with a measuring and fitting service. To complete your stylish home BoConcept have many Visit one of their stores and see their wide range of multifunctional design furniture, and get professional advice about modern living and interior design. Stores located at Battersea Reach, Finchley Road, Notting Hill, Tottenham Court Road, Kingston, Guildford and now Westfield London or online at boconcept.com A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL

MYTHS AND LEDGENDS CYPRUS

This month, we make tracks to the birth place of Aphrodite where the Anassa resort has made a name for itself as the queen of luxury stays in Cyprus. anassa.com

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Discovering the tranquil and family-friendly side to the glamourous island of Mykonos with a stay at the Myconian Collection Wo r d s C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

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t was Jackie Kennedy that first brought the jet-set crowd Mykonos, an island that’s since become a glittering beacon of glamour in the middle of the Aegean Sea. A cosmopolitan crowd of celebrities holiday on the Greek isle, but the buzz has always focused on the exclusive clubs, the crazy parties and after-dark bar culture.

So I was intrigued to discover that the destination has a more tranquil and peaceful side, perfectly suited to both blissed-out babymooners and new parents in need of a relaxing family getaway.

The Myconian Collection has no less than ten of the leading luxury hotels on Mykonos (three of which are members of Relais & Châteaux) in its portfolio. We are staying at the 5-star Kyma, which has been awarded status as a Design Hotel. The 52-room, 29 suite property has an intimate 1960s feel, alive with colourful modern art and quirky furniture, carefully curated and collected from all over Europe. The rooms and suites are beautifully designed, some boasting terraces with private pools and Jacuzzis.

On the first morning I am woken by the

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light streaming in through my balcony doors. Shining down from a blazing, bright blue sky, I am struck by the magical quality of the beams cast by the sun. The hotel overlooks the hillside of Mykonos Town, and I have panoramic views across the famous 16th century windmills, the pristine white cubic houses and out to the glistening sea.

I can already feel my internal body clock resetting to the slow rhythm of island life.

We eat breakfast in the newly-refurbished George’s Bar overlooking the idyllic pool area, a gentle breeze cooling us from the heat of the sun. Families with babies and toddlers trickle in, and the staff make a huge fuss of them – this is a hotel that clearly welcomes little ones.

The Collection was founded in 1979 by George Dakylides and his wife Eleftheria and today it’s run by their four sons. It’s a true family business and it really comes across in the exceptional service. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble and the hotel really delivers on looking after your every need.

This is luxury on the next level, and guests can take advantage of the concierge, private dining, limousines and even helicopter and

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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TRAVEL • MYKONOS

Island

LIFE

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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GETTING MARRIED?

BOTLEYS MANSION, SURREY

CAIN MANOR, SURREY-HAMPSHIRE BORDER

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TRAVEL • MYKONOS

“It’s a true family business and it really comes across in the exceptional service. Absolutely nothing is too much trouble” private jet charters. The hotel can arrange a car to take you to the other properties, and we love being able to dine in a different restaurant every night, hangout by the seemingly endless picture-perfect pools and visit the island’s beautiful Elia beach (where the Collection has a private section with complimentary sunbeds). The proximity to the coastline makes the properties on this side of the island perfect for families. All of the hotels offer a fine dining experience and

we enjoy meals at four of the restaurants during our stay. NOA at Kyma combines traditional Mediterranean flavours with a gourmet twist. Using the freshest farmto-table ingredients, the Greek mezethes (including fried squid calamari, fava beans with octopus, lentil salad, moussaka, pasticcio and dolmades) is delicious. All dietary requirements can be catered to and there’s a special menu for kids on request. If you prefer to dine without your little ones, a babysitter can be arranged.

During our stay, I also visit the sanctuary that is the hotel’s Satori spa for a morning of ultimate relaxation. First up, 50 minutes spent soaking in the five thalassotherapy pools. Drawing on the cleansing and curative properties of seawater (praised since Greek antiquity), each pool has different therapeutic salinity contents (including lavender and aloe vera) and uses hydro-massage to soothe the skin.

Afterwards, I have a heavenly full-body massage in a cosy treatment room filled with twinkling lights. The spa uses Elemis and Ligne of St Barth products and boasts a long list of cutting-edge beauty treatments. For couples, the spa has a

special bed in the shape of an oyster (one of only five in the world).

Kyma is such a haven of relaxation, that no one would blame you if you flopped onto one of the floating sunbeds in the pool and didn’t move for the rest of your stay.

However, if you want to explore the culture that the island has to offer, the hotel can arrange a number of curated experiences for you. On the second day of our stay, a car takes us to Rizes, a traditional folklore farmstead located in the beautiful undulating countryside of Ano Mera.

Mykonos local Nikos and his wife Yiota have created a peaceful hideaway, where you can learn about the history of island life, take riding and cookery lessons, bake bread and enjoy the farm’s produce.

It makes for a fun day out for children, who are encouraged to join in with the farmstead’s activities.

We also spend an afternoon with a tour guide, exploring the pretty cobbled streets of Mykonos Town (another curated experience on offer from the hotel). In the daytime, it has a relaxed feel, with lots of great boutiques, cafes and restaurants to while away the time.

Afterwards, we take a boat to Delos. The neighbouring island is home to one of the biggest archaeological sites in Europe and is said to be the mythological birthplace of Apollo. The island’s ruins encompass Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues – which are overrun with beautiful wildflowers at the time of our visit. But it’s the magical light that people have travelled here for centuries to soak in.

As the sun sets across the Aegean sea, we get to admire the glistening view out to Mykonos – an island forever etched in my memory for being as glamorous as it is tranquil.

CLASSIC COLLECTION H O L I DAY S 7 nights at Myconian Kyma from £1496 per person. Price based on 2 adults sharing an Apollon deluxe garden view room on a bed & breakfast basis and includes return flights from London Gatwick and private transfers.

Room upgrade: Ocean junior suite sea view from £137 to £166 per person per night depending on season. 0800 047 1064; classic-collection.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Guests come for the seclusion and stay, in some cases, for weeks

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TRAVEL • EUROPE

JEWEL in the CROWN The Anassa is considered the queen of Cyprus when it comes to luxury stays. Absolutely takes a trip.

Wo r d s H E L E N B R O W N

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et’s say you’re a sun-seeking holidaymaker, born and bred on the British Isles, with children perhaps, in pursuance of an actual summer in the summer months. There’s a very good chance you’ve considered Cyprus. More likely, you’ve been. Sunshine is a given, as is the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean. But Cyprus delivers on a level that feels ever so slightly more exotic than a trip to Tuscany or the Côte d’Azur.

Perhaps it’s the blistering heat of the Middle East, or that it’s just that little bit further to fly. Whatever the reason, Brits have long beelined to the island in their droves.

The north and south of Cyprus have been divided by a UN buffer zone since 1974 when Turkey seized the north. Since then, the south has become a tourist trap, bustling with holiday-makers, luxury beach resorts and international food chains. The lesser known Turkish side remains largely unchanged and is where you’ll find sweet

little cafes, miles of green countryside, untouched beaches and charmingly remote villages. For a country that is less than half the size of Wales, it doesn’t half have some character because the west coast feels different again. I’m staying at the Anassa, a fantastically regal, five-star stay at the foothold of the Akamas peninsula. This thick undeveloped finger of land in the far west of Cyprus is all undulating limestone and deep, narrow valleys. It’s a quiet side of the island with breathtaking lagoons and secluded bays, both geologically and geographically unique in terms of flora and fauna (168 variety of birds alone can be found in the 230 square km). The mythology of Cyprus is closely linked to the image of Aphrodite – the goddess of love and beauty, and this place certainly has it in abundance.

With its secluded hillside location and luxurious but unflashy charm, the Anassa hosts an international clientele of celebrities, footballers and families with excessive wealth. Impeccably-groomed and enviablylocated, it’s considered the Cypriat queen of luxury hotels.

Guests come for the seclusion and stay, in some cases, for weeks. There are certain A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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The Maserati of SUVs LEVANTE V6 2019 The Maserati STARTING FROM £500 A MONTH, 0% APR† WITH 3 YEARS FREE SERVICING**

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Model a Maserati Levante V6 GranLusso Fuel economy and CO results forMinimum the Maserati Levante MY19 range inshown mpg is(l/100km) combined: 20.7 MY19 (13.6)(incl. to Tri-coat 30.0 paint, Silver painted callipers, Metallic finish roof rails, Panoramic sunroof, Bowers & Wilkins sound system, Rear laminated privacy glass, Driver Assistance Pack and 20” (9.4). *CO2 emissions: 282 - 207 g/km. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other Efesto cars alloy wheels)tested whichtowill the customer deposit 32% may and not a monthly payment of £600.

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At participating Retailers only. the final payment. It must be in good condition and if you exceed the agreed annual mileage, you will be charged 12p per mile for exceeding 15,000 miles p.a. in this example. Subject to status. Guarantees may be required. T&Cs apply. At participating Retailers only. Maserati Financial Services, SL1 0RW. We work with a number of creditors including Maserati Financial Services. **Three years free servicing offer is based on typical usage (12,000 miles per annum) and is covered by a three service Maserati “Premium Service” plan. The “Premium Service” program covers all the inspections, replacements of components and consumables provided by the official maintenance schedule described in the vehicle owner’s manual. Offer available on new Maserati Levante MY19 range ordered, registered & delivered by 31/03/19. At participating Retailers only.

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TRAVEL • EUROPE

Fronted by the ocean, Anassa’s enviable location isn’t even the best bit

guests who will take a garden studio for the entirety of the summer, decompressing in the private pool and indulging in the fivestar service. This really is a place of utter luxury. Fronted by the ocean and unspoilt coastline, Anassa’s enviable location isn’t even the best bit. The hotel is a regular contender for the World’s Best Spa and as such affords a wealth of opportunities for rest and relaxation. The latest from the spa is that it’s teamed up with 100% natural and non-toxic skincare brand, Tata Harper.

There aren’t two brands more perfectly suited to working with each other. Tata Harper pioneered the farm-to-face obsession and is the undisputed Queen of Green.

Anassa’s Roman-style Thalassa Spa is inspired by the surrounding natural beauty and offers a seriously sumptuous treatment menu for detox and pampering. Choose a facial or a massage, but don’t leave without squeezing in some spa time. Also on offer is a menu of Greek Thalassotherapy which blends the maritime climate with seawater facilities (baths, showers and pools) for something designed to be truly restorative.

A treatment here, plus some glorious Cypriot sun, it’s easy to see why people find it hard to leave.

The rest of the hotel is laid out in the style of a Byzantine village. It sprawls out from the infinity pools (plural) by way of winding paths and terrace areas. Buildings are whitewashed and tucked away behind mature greenery. The sea is close enough for a morning dip before breakfast while the pool’s swim-up bar serves its purpose come cocktail hour. The whole place is effortlessly elegant, refined without being showy.

Food-wise, there are four restaurants to choose from. Basilko is a gorgeous candlelit

cavern, decked out almost entirely in cream, with a focus on Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes. It’s not the fusion food of the 00s though; these elegant dishes marry local ingredients with slick, Asian cooking techniques. The Helios restaurant serves à la carte dishes with a strong French influence, while Pelagos is a seafront taverna with authentic local fare and an open kitchen. There is also a village square next to the chapel, where a weekly evening of entertainment is hosted, with live music and a Cypriot buffet. Breakfast is served in the Amphora and features all manner of local dishes, along with the usual suspects: eggs, pancakes, French toast and the likes.

If you can tear yourself away from the pool, Anassa offers excursions to the surrounding Akamas area. Perhaps the most popular is a trip to the blue lagoon.

This small bay is a spot of astounding beauty, with waters so clear you can see all the way down to the underlying sea bed.

Don’t forget to pack snorkelling equipment and a deluxe picnic hamper from the hotel, stuffed with treats and local delicacies.

There are also bikes to rent on which you can pootle off to the Baths of Aphrodite, where as Greek mythology would have it, The Goddess of Love used to take her bath in a cool pond near Polis. The place provides a magnificent view of the Bay of Polis and the waters here are said to hold special rejuvenating powers. Not that you'll need them after your stay.

ANASSA Scott Dunn offers a seven-night stay at Anassa from £3,000 per person, based on two people sharing a Studio Suite on a half board basis and includes flights and private transfers. For more information please visit scottdunn.com or call 020 8682 5040

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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TRAVEL • ESSENTIALS

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P A C K S M A R T ALL THE MOST STYLISH TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

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C A S E S T U DY GLOBETROTTER

Globetrotter's old-fashioned vanity cases in SS19's Riviera stripe are designed for travellers to separate their cosmetics and toiletries from the rest of their luggage. They have a fitted tray for jewellery and a freestanding mirror. £965 globe-trotter.com

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IN THE FOLD ST OW

Stow's stylish First Class Leather Tech Case applies a stylish spin to the traditional writing case, substituting pen and paper for tech accessories. A modern staple for first-class travelling and correspondence, it features a multitude of compartments, incisions and folds to store essential documents when on the move. £365

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stowlondon.co.uk

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SIZE UP LEFRIK

Lefrik's versatile foldable case can be a wheeled cabin bag, a rucksack and a larger case, folding down to a small bag for easy storage.

This ingenious case is made from recycled plastic bottles by the stylish Swedish brand. lefrik.com

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SAFE SEARCH HADORO

The Hadoro calfskin passport cover is equally stunning and functional at the same time. The first of its kind, this piece is designed to be traceable via Bluetooth. You can track your passport’s location through your smartphone anytime you need to check it. £290 hadoro.com

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S O U N D M OV E S V I FA

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Vifa's Helsinki loudspeaker offers you freedom of movement. This small, compact speaker has a powerful battery, a Bluetooth connection and a leather strap allowing you to bring your music along, wherever you go, packing a large punch in a small package. £349 skandium.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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New WAV E S Absolutely’s favourite UK surf spots Wo r d s P E N D L E H A R T E

NEWGALE, PEMBROKESHIRE NEWSURF

BARRA SCOTLAND

B A R R A S U R F A DV E N T U R E S

● It's a long way to the Outer Hebrides, which are 28 miles from the coast, but the vast, unspoiled beaches are worth the journey.

Plus, they receive the brunt of the Atlantic's force, which Barra and Vatersay are blessed with fantastic, uncrowded surfing beaches that are among the very best in the world.

Large, empty stretches of white sand and crystal clear waters are perfect for learning to surf, or for surfers to improve their skills. barrasurfadventures.co.uk

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● This popular surf spot forms part of Pembrokeshire’s St Bride’s Bay. It’s one of the longest beaches in the area, stretching out for two miles of soft sand backed by a bank of pebbles. Surf conditions are usually reliable but it’s best to avoid high water when the waves hit the pebble bank. It’s suitable for beginners, and there’s always plenty of space. Newsurf is the only surf school situated on Newgale Beach but it’s perfect for all abilities, from beginners attempting to catch their first wave to those looking to improve their cut back. The school offers group and private lessons with a team of coaches who are all qualified surf instructors and qualified beach lifeguards. Other compelling factors include warm showers, a spacious car park and an on-site surf shop. newsurf.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FOOD & DRINK • CHOCOLATE

Surf essentials…

A WETSUIT

The UK is not Mexico. You’ll need a wetsuit, even in summer, and probably a winter weight one. There’s nothing worse than freezing in cold water and for much of the year, surfing in the UK is eminently possible if you have the right kit. That will often include gloves, shoes and even a balaclava. mountainwarehouse.com

POLZEATH CORNWALL WAV E H U N T E R S

● Polzeath might not offer the best surf in North Cornwall but it’s certainly one of the most popular spots. It’s a long beach and a friendly town with countless surf schools, surf shops and eateries aimed at surfers – non-surfers are in the minority here. Even David Cameron has been snapped catching waves in his wetsuit. Wavehunters will provide you with all the kit you need. wavehunters.co.uk

A BOARD

Dick Pierce’s stylish wooden belly boards are handcrafted in Cornwall and designed to last a lifetime. The classic boards come in a wide range of stylish contemporary shades as well as the original wooden finish. Wooden boards are simpler than the newer stand-up boards; until the 1960s, no family holiday to Devon or Cornwall was complete without one. dickpearce.com

SAUNTON DEVON

WA L K I N G O N WAV E S

● One of the best beginner surf beaches in England, Saunton has manageable walls at all stages of the tide and is considered one of the premier long board waves in the country. These long, slow breaking left and rights dish out the perfect conditions to learn to surf in England, with 5-miles of open beach. walking-on-waves.com

TRANSPORT

It’s a long drive to Cornwall, and even further to Pembrokeshire, so weekending urbanites need to make sure that their cars are up to it. There’s a lot of kit and you may find yourself changing into a wetsuit in the back seat. The Mazda CX-5 is spacious enough to transport a family plus kit to even the remotest spots. mazda.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Your Biggest Day. The Smallest Details.

Delighting guests since 1865, The Langham, London continues to set the standard for luxury hotels in the capital. With its unique ‘Private Dining by Roux’ concept in partnership with Michel Roux Jr, genuine service and attention to detail in the lavish surroundings of The Grand Ballroom, The Langham, London will be the setting for your happiest memories.

1c Portland Place, Regent Street, London, W1B 1JA T 44 (0) 20 7636 1000 langhambrides.co.uk

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urn Coastal Retreat is a site offering various different sized selfcatering houses as well as a restaurant, indoor pool and spa. It’s a short walk away from Bude and its beaches, while the retreat itself hosts a programme of holiday activities for children, quiz nights, outdoor tai chi classes and other activities.

THE HOUSE

W

e are in the Glasshouse, a contemporary and spacious three-bedroomed house with a garden and private hot tub. It’s fresh, modern and spacious, decorated in muted shades of grey and fully equipped with everything we could need.

Three bedrooms and three bathrooms, lots of towels, endless cutlery and even cake-baking equipment in case of a rainy day.

THE AREA

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amed the UK’s Best Coastal Town in 2018’s British Travel Awards, Bude is known for its vast beaches, high class eateries and beautiful scenery. Summerleaze Beach has a popular tidal pool, brightly coloured beach huts and several surf schools, while nearby Widemouth Bay is another serious surf destination.

T

here’s no shortage of things to do for families. Surfing and bodyboarding are the area’s most popular activities and lessons can be booked online or simply in the beach car park. A large beachside cafe offers great views and good burgers, and entire days can be spent on these vast sandy beaches.

weekend

THE RESORT

WHAT TO DO

D ESTINATI O N S

TRAVEL • UK GETAWAY

BURN COASTAL RETREAT BUDE, C O R N WA L L

By P E N D L E H A RT E

A comfortable spot for families, close to some of Cornwall's best beaches WEEKEND BREAKS FROM £340 Burn Coastal Retreat, Stratton, Bude, EX23 8SF luxurylodges.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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Unique weddings at Sunbeam Studios CEREMONIES

W E D D I N G S A N N I V E R SA R I E S E N GAG E M E N T PA RT I E S

AN INSPIRING LOC ATION WITH AN EXPERT TEAM BRINGING YOUR BES T IDEAS TO LIFE

Ladbroke Hall | London | W10 6AZ +44 (0)20 8962 3204 www.sunbeamstudios.com

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TRAVEL • UK

2 1 3 4

S E A V I E W S DREAMY SPOTS FOR BEACHSIDE DINING 1

JA M E S SOMMERIN PENARTH

After winning and hanging on to one of Wales’ few Michelin stars at the Crown at Whitebrook, local-boy-made-good James Sommerin has ventured to the seafront to set up his eponymous restaurant with rooms. Located where Cardiff meets the coast, it serves sensational tasting menus and a view of the Severn Estuary. jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk

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FIFTEEN

TH E B E ACH AT B U D E

THE HUT

Jamie Oliver's outpost in Watergate Bay is still going strong and it's a wonderful spot, directly on the vast beach. Italian-inspired dishes are served with simplicity and enormous flair, with all profits going to the Cornwall Food Foundation and Jamie Oliver's training programme. Dishes are a mix of pasta, seafood and fresh, standout ingredients with a lovely wine list and excellent kids' men too. fifteencornwall.co.uk

Some of the best views in Cornwall are to be had from this smart eaterie, set high above beautiful Summerleaze beach. There's a buzzy bar and a serious restaurant with an ambitious menu – think high class, globally influenced dishes with lots of local ingredients including Cornish cod and crab.

This is a stylish spot for a treat – the puddings ane cocktails are clever too. thebeachatbude.co.uk

The Hut at Colwell Bay offers breathtaking views across the estuary, a laidback Mediterranean vibe and impeccable service from ever-smiling staff. Guests can enjoy glasses of the palest rose and dishes such as succulent Garlic Butter Grilled Lobster and Monkfish Tacos. The restaurant is also launching its very own ferryboat service between Lymington and the Isle of Wight. thehutcolwell.co.uk

C O R N WA L L

C O R N WA L L

ISLE OF WIGHT

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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KIDS & EDUCATION

HOME LIFE PEA

Pea is a new ‘go-to’ brand that offers customisable collections created for children and designed for grown-ups. The brand was founded by friends Claire and Paul who set out to inspire children’s imaginations through creative homewares. frompea.com

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DISCOVERMORE

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

Open Days

September 16thst (9:45am - specifically for Y5 & Y6) November 1 /7th (9.30am/ 9.30am) th October 8 (9:45am) st November 15th/21 (7.00pm/ October 16th (9:45am - specifi cally for Y59.30am) & Y6) st October 31 (9:45am - specifically for Y5 & Y6) th November 29 (9.30am) th November 15 (9:45am) November 19th (6:30pm) November 25th (9:45am)

T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com An independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London

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KIDS & EDUCATION • NOTES

BRAND FOCUS

SUMMER FUN

O WA YURIKA

ALEX AND ALEXA

From sun-safe UV beachwear to outfits ready for exploring the sights, AlexandAlexa’s holiday shop has got it all. Make sure you visit before jetting off this summer. alexandalexa.com

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SMALL TALK Summer styles, London/Tokyo looks, fitness for tots and lunchbox talk

STEP IT UP FITBIT

New from Fitbit is the Ace2, designed for tots age six and up to become fitness aware.

The swimproof activity monitoring device has a protective bumper and lots of colourful avatars and cover photos for personalisation, as well as animated clock faces and integrated motivating challenges. £69.99 fitbit.com

SUITS YOU

EDITOR’S PICK

ew childrenswear brands have as interesting a backstory as Owa Yurika.

The collection for girls aged 3-14 is the brainchild of talented mother and daughter duo Yurika and Yuri Oshima. Yuri grew up in Tokyo admiring her mother’s distinct sense of style (she recalls how her mum always stood out at the school gates) – and her mother’s love of fashion rubbed off, as Yuri went on to become a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Both with busy careers (Yuriko was a best-selling author on colour theory) it wasn’t until Yuri’s daughter was born that they saw an opportunity to work together. Combining cutting-edge London design with time-honoured Japanese manufacturing, the pair have created a collection which is both fresh and luxurious. Yurika’s colour expertise plays out beautifully in this season’s pastel palette with dashes of bold colour and Yuri’s fashion know-how can be seen in the clean lines and playful prints.

owayurika.com

POT LUCK

L I T T L E C R E AT I V E FAC TO RY

S ' N AC K BY S ' W E L L

We’re not sure that this ruffled swimsuit from Little Creative Factory could be more adorable.

Perfect for splish-splashing this summer – whether they’re by the pool, at the beach or just running around the garden.

S'nack by S'well is a new range of stainless steel lunch containers that keep food hot or chilled - for up to eight hours.

Perfect for lunchboxes, they come in a range of fun colours and patterns.

 smallable.com

 swellbottle.com

A B S O L U T E LY. L O N D O N

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www.kings-school.co.uk

OPEN MORNINGS 13+ Saturday 5th October

Sixth Form Saturday 21st September

Watch our film

www.kings-school.co.uk/school-film

A 21 Century education within the historical City of Canterbury st

Under one hour from London via High Speed 1 (St Pancras International)

Watch our film

www.junior-kings.co.uk/school-film

www.junior-kings.co.uk

OPEN MORNING Saturday 12th October

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WHERE TO COMBINE EDUCATION AND FUN THIS SUMMER

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CODING

A DV E N T U R E

DRAMA

MUSIC

These camps, in locations all over London, engage children in the core concepts of coding, designed to leave children with a sense of excitement about the technology that surrounds them. The logic behind computing builds children’s ability to think and plan. For a well-rounded experience, they also incorporate outside play and other camp activities. cyphercoders.com

Are your urban tots addicted to screens? There's no better antidote than Camp Wilderness' residential adventure camps for children aged six to 15 spend either three or five days living in bell tents in the forest, cooking on campfires, swimming in lakes and learning survival skills, all the while making friends for life.

With seven sites across the UK, there's no better adventure. campwilderness.co.uk

Huzzah Holiday Camps bring out the best in every child. Children learn key skills like paying close attention, using initiative, sharing with and leading a group and all the various forms of expression you’d expect from a drama, dance and singing class. Each five-day camp ends with a performance to celebrate a job well done; perfect for ages four to 11. huzzahperformingarts.com

The Rhythm Studio’s holiday music camps offer the chance to form bands, perform live gigs, produce tracks, learn DJ or beatboxing skills, and live code electronic music using Sonic Pi. Camps for 8-18 year-olds are taking place throughout the summer holidays in Ladbroke Grove. Receive 10% off The Rhythm Studio’s summer 2019 holiday music camps when you quote Absolutely. therhythmstudio.co.uk

CYPHER

CA MP W ILDER N E SS

HUZZAH

THE RHYTHM STUDIO

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AUSTRIA

AZORES

BORNEO

CROATIA

GALAPAGOS

GOZO

PORTUGAL

SLOVENIA

MOMENTS SHARED, EXPERIENCES LIVED!

This summer, pick Activities Abroad for your family-approved adventure and spend your time creating unforgettable memories in the great outdoors. Hear the kids screech in delight as you navigate the rapids on a rafting adventure; watch as your family dive into the sea and explore a mystical underwater world; join an expert and wander through rainforests to encounter some of the world’s most fascinating animals; or simply, enjoy stopping for ice-cream and soaking up local sights on a bike ride! a&u

TRAVEL AWARDS RUNNER UP 2019

ACTIVITIESABROAD.COM | ABTA No Y6261

01670 333 091

ATOL Protected 6865 AITO Assured

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KIDS & EDUCATION • FESTIVALS

THE BIG FEASTIVAL

23-25 August FOODIE MECCA ow in its ninth year, this Cotswoldian jamboree is a favourite with families, serving up a blend of BBC Radio 2-friendly pop and high-end nosh from some of the nation’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants.

Taking place on Blur bassist Alex James’ cheese farm in idyllic Kingham, the vibe is very much ‘Home Counties Go Wild’, with the Cotswolds’ UFL (up from London) contingent ensuring that the organic English wine keeps flowing and the party lasts well into the night.

This year’s musical line-up sees headline sets

by Jess Glynne and Elbow, while the foodie fun is brought by tastemakers from Raymond Blanc and Mark Hix to sometime supermodel Jodie Kidd. There’s a ton for kids, too, from a souped-up playground and crafts tents to a giant collective campfire (for toasting marshmallows). thebigfeastival.com

N PORT ELIOT IMAGE: LOUISE ROBERTS

F E S T I VA L

FEVER Make the most of the summer with a trip to one of the top family-friendly festivals around the UK

By H E L E N B A R O N and C A R LY G L E N D I N N I N G

VERVE

7-8 September (book ahead) WELLNESS FEST welcome addition to the summer festival scene, Verve emphasises physical and emotional wellbeing, with a range of family-friendly activities including farm runs, yoga and Pilates classes, stargazing and forest bathing.

Located in rural Wiltshire, the festival will also offer a ‘wild and off-grid’ spa, kids’ art and bushcraft classes, seasonal produce from local suppliers and talks on everything from how to engage kids with nature to how kindness can improve your sense of self. And if you like your growth with a side serving of hedonism? Don’t fear: Verve has you covered.

Saturday night will see DJ Emma spinning disco, house and funk anthems while the spiritually refreshed masses sip creative cocktails under the stars. feeltheverve.com

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Richer Education INSPIRATION-LEARNING-FUN

Educational Holiday Camps in South Kensington at Baden Powell House for children aged 4-11 and at Imperial College London for children aged 9-14

www.richereducation.co.uk/camps www.richereducation.co.uk/summer-camps

www.richereducation.co.uk | T: +44 (0) 207 769 6732 | T: +44 (0) 753 522 5432

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KIDS & EDUCATION • FESTIVALS

THE BIG FEASTIVAL

ON BLACKHEATH

ON BLACKHEATH

PORT ELIOT

13-14 July SOUL VIBES his southeast London festival takes place in the well-todo environs of Blackheath, a short stroll from leafy Greenwich Park. Its musical focus is on easygoing, mainstream-friendly acts with a soulful vibe – though this year’s lineup (which includes Soul II Soul, Brand New Heavies, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man and Jamiroquai) ups the ante with a Sunday night headline set from the legendary Grace Jones. Elsewhere, there’s more than enough to keep kids entertained, from the Science Museum’s slime workshops and local baby music specialists Boppin’ Bunnies to BBC kids presenter Andy Day’s band, The Odd Socks, and a hands-on mini zoo. The festival’s food offerings look great, too, with suppliers sourced from Lewisham’s much-loved Street Feast – so there’s no doubting their deliciousness. onblackheath.com

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25-29 July C U LT U R A L O A S I S ne of the few remaining truly independent festivals in the UK, Port Eliot is set in the historical village of St Germans on the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall. The festival prides itself on its inclusive nature – there are no off-limits ‘luxury’ areas and no in-your-face sponsors. It’s the place to go for foodies, fashion and art-lovers, wellbeing junkies and anyone wanting to enjoy a weekend filled with music and comedy, set amongst the wildlife.

This year’s line-up features lots of big names including Lily Allen, Charlotte Church and Dame Zandra Rhodes, to name just a few.

And there’s plenty for kids to enjoy too. Veering off the beaten path into Wildlings Wood, little ones can join the Fire and Steel Forest School, learning den building and campfire cookery; or walk into a weekend outpost of Aardman Studios – creators of Wallace & Gromit – and make their favourite characters with the absolute greats of animation. porteliotfestival.com

O THE BIG FEASTIVAL

CAMP BESTIVAL CAMP BESTIVAL

25-28 July DRESS-UP FUN amp Bestival consistently wins family festival awards year-on-year. Set in the sprawling grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s epic Jurassic coastline, the organisers like to describe it as a ‘festi-holiday’, a family festival experience, combined with an action-packed camping trip.

The festival is famous for its fancy dress, and this year the theme is Heroes VS Superheroes.

Don your capes and get ready dance all night to the likes of Ash, Morcheba and East 17. Or get lost in the enormous Kids’ Garden, where there will be activities from soft play and circus skills to go-carts and glitter.

Little ones can enjoy performances from children’s TV royalty such as Sam & Mark and Mr Tumble too. campbestival.net

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VERVE

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KIDS & EDUCATION • TOT GEAR

PA R E N T A P P R OV E D

CHEW AWAY M ATC H ST I C K M O N K E Y

Including mint green, dusty pink, airforce blue and claret, Matchstick Monkey has launched a new collection of nordic-inspired colours. The award-winning soft teether features a range of different textures to help massage sore gums and ease teething pains. matchstickmonkey.com

NEWBORN HAUL

TOT G E AR I

Reviewed by Jenni Birrell of the Mamas & Papas Parent Approved Panel

PARENTS TO BE M A M A S & PA PA S

Inspired kit to make parenting easier

Mamas & Papas’ ‘Parents to Be’ events (30th June / 14th or 28th July) are full of expert advice, offers and goodies. Topics covered include first aid, car seat safety, birthing and nutrition as well as pushchair demonstrations. mamasandpapas.com/ parents-to-be

EDITOR’S PICK

S T AY C O S Y

M A M A S & PA PA S

Mamas & Papas liners are designed to protect your pushchair and make for a more comfortable trip out and about. Made with 100% cotton to create a cosy and naturally soft space, the high density memory foam cleverly moulds to your baby. mamasandpapas.com

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n preparation for the arrival of my little girl, Mamas & Papas very kindly sent me some of the newborn essentials that I was lacking, so if you have a little one on the way and you’re looking for some inspiration, read on!

When it comes to dressing a newborn, I’m very much into keeping things simple. I find bodysuits are perfect for pretty much every occasion when they are so small (and sleeping most of the time anyway!). This is why I chose the floral all-in-one set of 3 and matching set of 5 floral bodysuits, I just love the subtle colours.

You don’t need a huge amount of toys for the newborn stage but I would definitely recommend the Welcome To The World Starlight Swing. I love the little LED lights that flash overhead on the hood and it has five swinging motions and a selection of melodies to help soothe your baby (if you’re lucky, it might even send them to sleep).

The last thing I highly recommend getting is the Grey Contour Changing Mattress. I had a similar one for Buddy and I just loved that he felt a little more secure in there when being used on top of a changing station. My issue with the one I previously had was that the cover wasn’t particularly nice, whereas this Mamas & Papas one completely fits in with the aesthetic of my nursery. mamasandpapas.com @myweebuddy

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Mayfield B OA R D I N G & DAY S CHO O L FO R GIR L S AGED 11 TO 18

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS WEEKEND RETURN BUS TO LONDON CLOSE PROXIMITY TO LONDON AIRPORTS MINIBUS SERVICE ACROSS SUSSEX AND KENT

Open Mornings

THURSDAY 19 TH SEPTEMBER 2019 TUESDAY 5 TH NOVEMBER 2019

TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT OUR REGISTRAR, MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

WWW.MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG

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New seNior school opeNiNg september 2020

Admis Now osioN for 20peN 20 f or Yea rs 7 to 9

A co-educational independent school for 11-18 year olds

“Maida Vale School will be modern and innovative yet reflect many of the traditions and values established over twenty-five years at our schools.”

- Gardener Schools Group

Book an open event to visit us at www.maidavaleschool.com/openevents To begin at 9.30am on the following dates: • tuesday 17th september 2019 • tuesday 1st october 2019

• monday 14th october 2019 • wednesday 30th october 2019

www.maidavaleschool.com

t. 020 3196 1860 e. admissions@maidavaleschool.com Maida Vale School, 18 Saltram Crescent, London W9 3HW

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