CHELSEA JANUARY 2015

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CHELSEA JANUARY 2015 / £3.95

PERFECT FIT?

PERSONAL TRAINING PUT TO THE TEST

CHARLES ON CHARLES I EARL SPENCER: WHY THE KING HAD TO DIE

MICHEL ROUX JR.

ON HIS BBC SPAT & RUNNING INTO RAMSAY

UNDERCOVER WHAT TO WEAR AFTER DARK THIS WINTER STYLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT CH_JAN_COVERS.indd 1

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struttandparker.com

Moore Street, Chelsea, SW3

An immaculate five bedroom house offering balanced and wellthought-out accommodation. Both the ground and lower ground floors have been opened up giving the house great light as well as a west facing patio garden.

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ÂŁ4,250,000 Freehold

2,362 (219.4 sq m) EPC Rating E Drawing room | Kitchen/dining room | Master bedroom with en suite bathroom | Four further double bedrooms | Three further bath/shower rooms | Study | Utility room | Guest cloakroom | Vaults

Chelsea 020 7225 3866 chelsea@struttandparker.com

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Cathcart Road, Chelsea, SW10

This exceptional and deceptively large low-built five bedroom house has the benefit of a 36' garden and off-street parking.

Price on Application Freehold

3,508 sq ft (325.9 sq m) EPC Rating C Living room | Kitchen | Media room | Playroom | Four bedrooms (three with en suite bathrooms) | Bedroom five/study | Family bathroom | Utility room | Wine room | 36'9" garden | Two roof terraces | Off-street parking

West Chelsea 020 7373 1010 westchelsea@struttandparker.com

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Start off the New Year on the right foot...

SHOES MADE ANYWHERE ELSE ” “ I WOULDN’T HAVE MY-Kathleen Turner

ANTHONY ANDREWS BESPOKE CELEBRITY SHOE DESIGNER FOR LADIES & GENTLEMEN

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contents Januar y 2015

50

60 10 ABSOLUTELY LOVES Absolutely’s top picks this month

14 18

ART & CULTURE TALKING TOPICS

Diary dates for January

WHO KILLED THE KING?

Camilla Norton disovers the real story behind the execution of King Charles I in Earl Spencer’s fascinating new book

FASHION 22 FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

Why diamonds are a girl’s best friend... along with ostrich feathers, knee-high boots and pastel colours

BEAUTY 38 BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

FOOD & DRINK 50 TROUXLY SCRUMPTIOUS

22

55 TABLE TALK

INTERIORS 68 INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

57 LIGHT LUNCH

70 LUXURY ON TAP

TRAVEL 60 ALL CHANGE

PROPERT Y 112 LUXURY LETTINGS

A hot haircut (literally) at RYS Hair & Beauty Salon and the absolute must-have beauty products for winter skiing

43 BEST FOOT FORWARD

Gym novice Edwina Langley enjoys a one-onone session with personal trainer Lee Mullins at Bulgari WORKSHOP Gymnasium

Michel Roux Jr. on his favourite dinner and crashing into Gordon Ramsay New Year detox dishes and recipes that won’t leave you hungry

Will Elizabeth Hutton get a raw deal at healthy restaurant Tanya’s Café?

Cover Image Photography helen mcardle Styled by charlie moore

Alexandra Jones checks into in:spa Morocco for readjustment and relaxation

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Beata Heuman rounds up unique and beautiful homeware for the New Year

Pearl Boyd discovers the ultimate bathroom with Drummonds

A round-up of the best and most luxurious properties on the market now

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Sa

up le to no 40 w % o of n f

Battersea I Clerkenwell I Knightsbridge I Mayfair I Notting Hill I Wandsworth I Kent I Surrey @westonebathroom 0333 011 3333

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◆ EDITOR EDWINA LANGLEY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ELIZABETH HUTTON FASHION FEATURES EDITOR VIOLET NAYLOR-LEYLAND INTERIORS EDITOR BEATA HEUMAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CAMILLA NORTON LIFESTYLE ADVERTISING MANAGER NICOLA OWENS ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE HOLLIE LIDDINGTON PROPERTY DIRECTOR ANNA HUTTON-POTTS PROPERTY EDITOR HUGO HUNTER CENTRAL PROPERTY MANAGER LEAH DAY ART DIRECTOR RAY SEARLE SENIOR DESIGNER PHIL COUZENS FREELANCE DESIGNER PIO BLANCO DESIGNERS GEMMA ISTEED, TAHIR KAPUCU ANDREW MAVIN ARTWORKER EKREM YILMAZ JUNIOR DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN PRODUCTION MANAGER STEWART HYDE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT CHRISTINE MANN FINANCE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HVID DIRECTORS GREG HUGHES ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT PA TO THE DIRECTORS MARIANNE MCFADDEN

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Fo l l ow Us O n T wi t t e r @ABSOLUTELY_MAGS Fa c e b o o k ‘ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES’

EDITOR’S letter

I

am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. Not because I think it is wrong to declare acts of self-improvement or to want to better oneself. But because by loftily vowing to do these things – ‘I shall give up drinking’ – I automatically find I am less likely to do them. This is due, I think, to the fact that humans make changes when we are ready to, not when we’re invited to – which we all are at New Year. For this reason, this Health and Fitness Special has not been designed to force or guilt you into doing anything. More, it’s to put ideas your way, should you at any point this year wish to make some lofty changes.

The first change to think about, perhaps, is to read more. In our lead feature this month, Camilla Norton interviews Earl Spencer about his new book Killers of the King, where she discovers who actually murdered Charles I – and what happened to them as a result.

Second change is to eat well (or better). And who else could we

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interview with this in mind than the brilliant Michelin-starred Michel Roux Jr.? This very giggly and wonderful chef chats to me about marathon running, running round the park and running into Gordon Ramsay. Oh, and also about his spat with the BBC, but that’s not as funny.

Third change: get fit. We review a – shock-horror – fairly relaxing gym session and experience the wonders of in:spa in Morocco. All for you!

I do hope you will find at least something in this issue to influence or inspire. And if not, well, coming to that conclusion is, I suppose, a resolution in itself.

Happy New Year. 

Edwina Langley Editor

JANUARY 2015

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10

SLICK SOUND

A cross between technology and jewellery, these headphones have been designed with petrol oil in mind. Slick. £140; wearefrends.com

Things We

ABSOLUTELY CITY CHIC

Representing individuality and a flair for fashion, the feminine, trendy silhouettes at Taifun are both casual and sophisticated.

Their latest collection is inspired

by New York City in the spring. gerryweber.com

DIARY DAYS

It wouldn’t be New Year without a new Smythson diary. We love this seasons’ Dove Grey Dukes Organiser (£425) and rich berrytoned Panama Diary (£70). smythson.com

TASSLED

Make a statement with these stunning tassle earrings from our new favourite Knightsbridge jewellers, JCM. POA; jcmlondon.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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ABSOLUTELY / LOVES

UNDATEABLE

RUBY RED

Fornasetti say they don’t believe in ‘periods’ or ‘dates’ but they do want to celebrate the passing of time. How? Through this quirky celebration plate. £189; fornasetti.com

Fascinated by the way jewels and stones make you feel, Vanessa Kandiyoti’s pieces are designed as good luck charms. These Root Chakra Rubies will help keep you grounded. From £1,296; vanessakandiyoti.com

SNAP!

Ultra-advanced, ultra-waterproof, this Q Camera allows you to share your photos online instantly. Clever. £150; gift-library.com

JANUARY BLUES

Highly-coveted, these bags by Italian-Brazillian Paula Cademartori feature tortoiseshell Pexiglass and woven edging – the perfect purchase to start the year. £855; matchesfashion.com

CHANEL TIME

STEP UP

For the first time in watchmaking history, diamonds and fine pearls have been embroidered together to create this stunning camellia flower.

Absolute perfection. £27,000; chanel.com

We love these metallic peep-toe ankle boots from Burberry Prorsum. The hand-painted floral design means we can wear them in winter and spring. £1,195; burberry.com

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JANUARY 2015

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EW N EW N

N

EW

N

EW

Original, limited-edition Art Deco posters by leading artists

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.

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. 2015

View and buy online at w w w.pullmaneditions.com PULLMAN.indd 1 Pullman Ed Ab Chelsea.indd 1

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> TALKING TOPICS

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WHO KILLED THE KING?

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SNOWDROP DA F ro m 31 Ja n u a ry C h e l s e a P h ys i c G arde n t’ll be blooming lovely at the Chelsea Physic Garden this January where the year’s first snowdrops will be on show. Elevated to eye level, this quirky display allows you to appreciate their subtle complexities. With garden experts and snowdrop specialists on hand, you can walk, talk and learn more about these understated flowers. ◆ 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3, 020 7352 5646; chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

BEWENGUNGSSTUDIE (MOVEMENT STUDY), 1926, RUDOLF KOPPITZ

I

LIBERIAN GIRL

7-31 January R oyal C ou r t T h e atre he Civil War in Liberia saw over 200,000 people killed while a million others were left as refugees. Following just one teenage girl during the conflict, this play tells the harrowing story of life in a war-torn country. Dealing with the issue of sexual abuse, the psychologically dark side of battle is laid bare. ◆ Sloane Square, SW1; 020 7565 5000; royalcourttheatre.com

T

DRAWN

BY LIGHT

BEN MONTAGUE

20 Ja n u a ry T h e T r ou b adou r

Th rough out Jan uary Sc ienc e Mu seum

Make this a date in your diary – the Royal Photographic Society’s collection of images and artefacts at the Science Museum. Featuring landscapes, still lives, nudes and portraits, this collection reveals how cameras have shaped our perception of the world. Illustrating the medium’s enduring power, richness and variety over 200 years of innovation and creativity.

Exhibition Road, SW7; 020 7942 4000; sciencemuseum.org.uk

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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inger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Ben Montague is one seriously talented performer so don’t miss the chance to see him play live. Also at The Troubadour on the 20th are musicians James Walsh and Arno Carstens. It’s set to be a great night. ◆ 263-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5; 020 7341 6333; troubadour.co.uk

S

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DIE GANZE STADT, ZENO & KIKI, 1995

ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS

THE LAST COSMOLOGY Un t i l 23 Ja n u a ry Mi c h ae l Hop p e n G alle r y

nspired by the apocalyptic sky-scapes of the painter Emil Nolde, photographer Kikuji Kawada became obsessed with capturing abnormal and catastrophic weather on film.

Harking back to a time when people presumed there was a connection between astronomy and human life, this supernatural collection is visually spellbinding. ◆ 3 Jubilee Place, SW3; 020 7352 3649; michaelhoppengallery.com

I

must see THE DESERT HOUSE © ANJA NIEMI

DARLENE & ME From 15 January T he Little Bl a ck G a l l er y elling the fictional tale of a woman named Darlene T and the complex relationship that she has with herself, Norwegian photographer Anja Niemi exposes the unpredictability of this woman’s mind though these staged shots.

Secure, comfortable and confident one day, riddled with internal conflict and anger the next. The results are strikingly beautiful. ◆ 13A Park Walk, SW10; 020 7349 9332; thelittleblackgallery.com

Alice Zawadzki 13 Ja n uar y T h e 6 06 Ja z z C l u b

With a truly organic voice, singer-songwriter, violinist, pianist and composer Alice Zawadzki creates the smoothest sounding jazz. An accomplished musician, Alice has worked hard to master her craft. Which means this show will be simply mesmerising.

90 Lots Road, SW10; 020 7352 5953; 606club.co.uk

ARTIST OF THE MONTH Award-winning Art Consultant Nicholas Campbell chooses January’s work

BAS VAN DEN HURK stumbled across this wonderfully abstract piece by Dutch artist Bas Van Den Hurk after trailing through various art fairs in Miami last month.

Having obtained three degrees between 1984-1996, of which two were in Philosophy, Van Den Hurk didn’t show his work publicly until 2007. But from there his career has gathered momentum and he now exhibits in solo and group exhibitions internationally.

The piece that I have chosen here is a

I

15 CH_FEB15_Whats_On.indd 15

beautiful representation of his current work. He is interested in what it means to ‘be’ a painting and this one is both fragile and vulnerable.

Want something bright to hang on your wall for under £5,000? This is the piece for you. Perfect. 

For more information contact Nicholas Campbell, Head Consultant and Director of Narcissus Arts; nick@narcissusarts.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 19:45

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ARTS & CULTURE / TALKING TOPICS CULTURE REVIEW

BOOK PICKS A CONFEDERATE GENERAL FROM BIG SUR Richard Brautigan

C a n o n ga te, £ 8 .9 9 If you want to escape the bleak mid-winter this short, sharp dip into sunny Sixties counterculture Americana is just the ticket. Oozing as much charm as it does absurdity, this is a delightful saunter through the world of two Californian housemates plagued by boredom. ◆

ROMANY & TOM

must read

Ben Watt

A GUIDE TO PARIS

By Alice Coke

aris never fails to enchant. Europe’s most magical city has inspired hundreds of artists, writers and films, so follow in the footsteps of Woody Allen’s time-travelling characters in Midnight in Paris by visiting Montmartre and enjoy a show at the Moulin Rouge. Wander the cobbled streets up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica and visit the former haunts of Scott Fitzgerald, Salvador Dalí and Picasso. People-watch at the Place du Tertre and wash down oysters with a glass of champagne at the whimsical Café des Deux Moulins. Culture lovers should visit the Museé Picasso Paris after its five-year £50 million refurbishment. While the four-star Pavillon de la Reine is perfectly situated nearby in Paris’s hipster Marais district. Wherever you stay, make time for a glass of champagne at the quirky bar designed by Christian Lacroix at the Hotel du Petit Moulin and escape the crowds by strolling along the Seine at midnight. 

P

‘Picasso’s Paris’ at Pavillon de la Reine from €900, Hotel du Petit Moulin from €600 based on two sharing a two-night stay on a B&B basis, two tickets for the Musée Picasso and a self-guided walking tour of the city. Double rooms at Pavillon de la Reine from €380 per night; pavillon-de-lareine.com. Hotel du Petit Moulin from €195 per night; hotelpetitmoulinparis.com. Eurostar offers travel from London to Paris from £59 return.

Blo o m sb u r y, £ 8 .9 9 At the end of a really good biography you hope to feel as though you know the subject. In Ben Watt’s exploration of his parents’ lives however, there is the simple truth that we might never understand the lives of our parents before we walked the earth. A stunning memoir of his parents, of a marriage, of parenthood and of being a child. ◆

NORA WEBSTER Colm Toibin

Pen g u i n , £ 7.9 9 Nora has lost her husband, and with him her identity. She must raise her children alone and face a reality she had been previously shielded from. In this very quiet and very precise book we inhabit the territory of the author’s own childhood, the aftermath of terrible loss is uncluttered by sentimentality - a beautiful and affecting journey through bereavement. ◆

THE ONCE & FUTURE KING T.H. W hite

Vo ya ger, £ 9.9 9 White’s reinterpretation of the Arthurian legend baulks at tradition, relishes anachronisms and weaves a riveting path from light-hearted beginnings to a tragic and brooding conclusion by way of some heart-stopping drama. A familiar tale perhaps, but wonderfully told and a real, rare treat for the uninitiated. A truly terrific read. ◆

THE IRON KING Maur ice Dr uon

Ha r per C o lli n s, £ 7.9 9 Game of Thrones fans take note, this book about a failing monarchy, originally published 60 years ago, has all of the excitement, ruthlessness and desperate power games as seen in your favourite TV programme. Along with a heavy dose of historical truth, this is a readable, gripping and epic novel.

By Andy Barr, Belgravia Books, 59 Ebury Street, SW1, 020 7259 9336; belgraviabooks.com

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XXXXXX / XXXXXXX SPOTLIGHT

Who Killed The King?

Who was responsible for the death of Charles I? Historian and author Charles Spencer investigates the fate behind the real killers of the King Wo r d s C a m i l l a N o r t o n

E

arl Spencer is undoubtedly a busy man: custodian of Althorp Estate and House, historian, author, journalist, founder of the annual Althorp Literary Festival, and ‘most importantly’, father to seven children and stepfather to two more. It is this role that he treasures the most.

But over the past 16 years, Spencer has also focused on his role as an author.

Writing no less than five books in this time, today he is promoting his most recent: Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I. Having come across a reference to the execution of John Okey (a bit-part player from one of his previous books, who fought for Parliament in the Civil War) and having learnt that Okey was executed for ‘killing the King’, Spencer decided to turn detective. He set about attempting to work out who all the other killers were, and why they got involved in the trial and subsequent execution.

Adequate with his findings, Spencer then preoccupied himself with establishing the fate of these men once Charles II had succeeded the throne in 1660. For Okey, it all ended nastily: he was betrayed and captured, and ended life as one of the 13 killers to be hung, drawn and quartered. ‘It’s hard to think of a more brutal way to go,’ Spencer tells me. ‘Being hanged, then butchered while still alive, before death finally came...’

Whilst it’s understandable that a son might want to avenge his father’s murder, Charles II’s retribution seems

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I would have FOUGHT for PARLIAMENT... Charles I had to DIE pretty severe. Did these regicides really deserve such brutal punishment as that meted out by the new King? ‘Nobody saw Charles II’s return as imminent,’ says Spencer, ‘until virtually the time it happened. Once he was restored, it was inevitable that some of the regicides would have to suffer – Charles II would have been seen as weak, otherwise, and there was a thirst for a scapegoat. Some of those who suffered, though, did not deserve to. John Downes, for instance, fought at Charles I’s trial for the King to be given a voice, rather than merely be sent for execution. This was a brave

and principled stand, that Cromwell was furious about. But at the Restoration, Downes was sent for life imprisonment in the Tower. Conditions were so appalling there, that Downes even asked the governor to have him taken into a quiet place and be put to death. Others, though, can have expected no mercy, once the Royalists resumed power.’

At first glance, all five of Spencer’s books appear to have a Spencer family connection. And I wonder whether this familial link makes history more interesting, real or immediate – both for his readership and indeed Spencer himself. But Spencer is keen to emphasise that the last two books have nothing to do with his ancestors. ‘The biography of Prince Rupert of the Rhine,’ he says, ‘came from a mere fascination with the relatively ‘forgotten’ man – a hero of the Civil War, who opened up Canada for exploration, commanded the British Navy, and was at the forefront of artistic and scientific research.

‘Although my family is descended from Prince Rupert’s brother, it was entirely incidental – I wasn’t even aware of that till after completing the biography.

Equally, I couldn’t care less about any family connections to the King or the regicides,’ he insists. ‘This is about history in the raw – set in a period that is, I believe, the most fascinating of all. I’m not really into ancestor worship.’

Earl Spencer is descended not only from Charles I via four of Charles II’s mistresses – ‘not an entirely honourable bloodline,’ he says – but also from Lord Grey of Groby and Sir Hardress

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ARTS & CULTURE / INTERVIEW History showcases

MAN AT HIS BEST and WORST – as well as [at] his MOST MUNDANE

Waller, both signatories to the King’s death warrant. Having connections to both sides, I’m keen to know where his personal sympathies lie. Interestingly, he says he had initially assumed he would be hostile to the executors of Charles I, but later found he ‘came to respect that the vast majority of them did what they did out of a belief that the King had to be sacrificed if this country was to have a chance of peace. They also felt he had to be held to account for all that had happened, since he raised his standard against his enemies. I would have fought for Parliament.’

That said, he adds, ‘Although I believe Charles I had to die, in the hope of drawing a line under the carnage of the Civil Wars (they remain our bloodiest conflicts, in terms of loss of life per head of population), the court that tried him was legally flawed. Charles I was adamant that he wouldn’t plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ in such a place, in protest at its illegality. Essentially, the court that tried the King was a glorified military tribunal. It was constructed to try the King, but it didn’t really have the authority to do so.’

Either way, it was unprecedented to disregard the Divine Right of Kings and sentence a king to death. Were these regicides exceptional men (as would befit this exceptional circumstance) or just normal men thrust into an exceptional situation? ‘I was staggered to find so many fascinating men engaged in the death of the King,’ Spencer replies. ‘It was very hard to choose which ones to focus on, because there was such a wealth of really interesting tales. This was a unique moment in our history – the trying and condemning of a king – and while every period clearly throws up major characters, I do think the Civil War and its immediate aftermath boasted more than most.

‘For me, history is really just peoplewatching,’ Spencer continues. ‘As a species, we haven’t changed that much in 350 years. We still fight to the death over our causes, and we still are capable of dressing up political motives in religious

clothing. Also, as the book shows, we humans are capable of great dignity and bravery, as well as the most shameful behaviour. History showcases man at his best and worst – as well as, of course, at his most mundane. This particular tale is set against bloody revenge, and so that is the motivator for the hunters and [indeed] the prey.’

When not at Althorp, Spencer lives in Little Venice, a ‘special part’ of London.

‘I lived in Notting Hill before it became trendy and in Chelsea briefly. I remember walking through Little Venice when young, and loving its unexpected beauty.’

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So, for this man of many talents, what is next on the agenda? There was a five year hiatus between writing his Prince Rupert of the Rhine biography and Killers of the King – might we see a similar gap this time around? ‘I will write again, I’m pretty sure,’ he concludes, ‘but I need to feel passionate about a subject before I can embark on it. I have a few ideas – but none have fully captured me yet.’ u Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I, by Charles Spencer, Bloomsbury, £20

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> FASHION CONFIDENTIAL

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GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART

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SPORTS UP If you want to mix fitness with fashion, go for Mary Katrantzou x Adidas Originals’ capsule collection. Because who wouldn’t feel energetic in Katrantzou’s signature kaleidoscopic prints? Available from Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X, 020 7235 500; marykatrantzou.com

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JANUARY 2015

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st y l e C e n t r a l

FASHION Off The Beaten Track

Wo r d s V i o l e t N ay l o r - L e y l a n d

artorial fashion is as transient as the body shapes that inspire it.

The only body trend that I’ve been longing to see the back of is this size 4/6 toned clique of shapeless zombies that have not only ruined what is intrinsically beautiful about a woman’s body, but wrecked many centuries of tailoring to boot. The type of figure I’m talking about doesn’t belong to the natural willowy Twiggy-esque physique or petite person; it is that entirely unnatural body, which the owner has worked very hard on, getting it as trim and as toned as it is possible to be, without looking ill. The result renders them with no shape at all, no physical personality. They’re just a generic-sized pair of boobs, with a small, flattish bum and no hips. It is inspired by celebrities who live in front of cameras, but the reality of this body is in fact boring and unfeminine. Why would you want to get rid of the naturalness that makes you a woman – the softness of your flesh, the nip of your waist and curve of your bottom? It has inspired women’s clothing since time began! So if you’re worrying about having overdosed at Christmas and New Year, take a few pictures of Marilyn Monroe, Kate Upton or Kim Kardashian to the mirror with you, and just check you don’t rather suit those few extra pounds? They’re in Vogue after all… u

Diamonds are our best friend this year, as are ostrich feathers, knee-high boots and indeed the softer palettes…

S

words scarlet crewdson

Perfect Palette Hugo Boss

● V I O L E T N AY L O R - L E Y L A N D Stylist and owner of fancy dress boutique Violet’s Box;

violetsbox.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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Arriving in-store this month is the new SS15 collection by Hugo Boss. Showcasing the brand’s androgynous style and superlative tailoring, the soft palette of much of the collection – whites, nudes, subtle yellows, pinks and blues – are ideal for the newer, warmer season to come. Keep an eye out for the LBDs too – perfect party attire for the New Year. 33d King’s Road, SW3, 020 7901 9041; hugoboss.com

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FASHION / NOTES

I Blue It

BOSSY BOOTS Jimmy Choo

Show ‘em who’s boss in these rather fantastic ‘Derive’ Black Shiny Leather and Calf Knee-High Boots by Jimmy Choo. Imagine walking into the board room in them. Imagine... £1,250, 32 Sloane Street, SW1X, 020 7823 1051; jimmychoo.com

Max out the credit card for the ice look 01

02

RAINBOW GLOW B r o w n s Fa s h i o n

03

It may be pouring with rain but there’s no need to look like a rain cloud. Try the rainbow look instead, with this gorgeous Valentino Double Cloth Intarsia Coat, featuring notched lapels and a three-button front. £3,210, Available from Browns, 160 Sloane Street, SW1X, 020 7514 0040; brownsfashion.com 04 06

RING ON NIQUESA’S DOOR

05

Niquesa Fine Jeweller y

The Niquesa Fine Jewellery showroom is an absolute MUST-visit! Our favourite afternoon last year was spent with Miriam Kennedy, when she showed us this Cosmos Bespoke Ring. In 18ct white gold with round brilliant cut white and yellow diamonds, we’d do anything for it. POA, 19 West Eaton Place, SW1X, 020 7259 4650; niquesafinejewellery.com

07

08

BIRDS ‘R’ US Matthew Williamson

This Lattice Feather Embellished Skirt made in 100% ostrich feathers and sequins, with a crystal and bead-embellished waistband, is the skirt for 2015. If you’re hitting the ground dancing this January, make sure you’re wearing it. £1,779, 26 Bruton Street, W1J, 020 7629 6200; matthewwilliamson.com

23 CH_Jan_Fashion_Notes.indd 23

09

01. ETRO, Paisley Silk Kimono Top, £625; harrods.com, 02. FRENCH SOLE, Blue Scarf, £125; frenchsole.com, 03. J.W.ANDERSON, Pleated Abstract Print Skirt, £810; brownsfashion.com, 04. LANVIN, Blue Silk Blend Lace Cardigan, £950; harveynichols.com, 05. SOMERSET BY ALICE TEMPERLEY, Alice Chemise in Royal Blue, £79; johnlewis.com, 06. TOPSHOP, Ribbed Crop Top, £26; topshop.com, 07. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, Cobalt Blue Cropped Crepe Trousers, £445; harveynichols.com, 08. YOHJI YAMAMOTO REGULATION, Striped SleeveTie Cotton Shirt Dress, £1,075; matchesfashion.com, 09. GIANVITO ROSSI, Suede Pumps, £425; net-a-porter.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 14:27

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STYLE / JEWELLERY

BEJEWELLED JANUARY 1

2

3

8

6

4

7

5

1. DODO, Seahorse Charm in Coloured Enamel and 9ct Rose Gold, £130; store.dodo.it 2. GRAFF, Sapphire and Diamond Grape Earrings with 41.08ct Sapphires and 3.81ct Diamonds, POA; graffdiamonds.com 3. BOODLES, Aurora Bracelet with White, Pink and Yellow Diamonds set in Platinum, POA; boodles.com 4. DAVID MORRIS, Vivid Yellow Brilliant-Cut Diamond 3-Stone Ring Mounted With White Marquise-Cut And Yellow Micro-Set Diamonds, POA; davidmorris.com 5. THEO FENNELL, 18ct Yellow & White Gold Artist ‘Art’ Pendant with 0.35ct Diamond, 2.80ct Orange Sapphire and 0.25ct Yellow Sapphire, £8,250; theofennell.com 6. FABERGÉ, Anastasia Purple Watch in 18ct White Gold with Amethysts and a Diamond-Set White Gold Crown, £11,106; faberge.com 7. JOUBI, Flora & Fauna Pink 8.7ct Kunzite Ring, £9,449; joubi.com 8. JNL, ‘Florence’ Set In Stone Necklace in 18ct Yellow Gold, £2,075; harryfane.com

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JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 14:28

Goo d ni ght

SWEET HEART Adorn yourself in sumptuous silk for slumber time this winter Photography Helen McArdle Styling Charlie Moore

CH_Jan15_FAshion_Shoot_.indd 26

17/12/2014 18:22

Tulle Baby Doll, £345, by Agent Provocateur White Cotton Bodysuit (underneath), £130, by Simone Perele On Right Hand, Gold Love Bite Ring, £85, by Maria Black, Gold Ring from a selection, POA, by Alex Monroe On left hand ring from a selection by Alex Monroe

CH_Jan15_FAshion_Shoot_.indd 27

17/12/2014 18:23

Cashmere Roll-Neck Sweater, £325, Issa

Cashmere Sweater, £109, by Pure Collection Silk Chiffon Bra, £79, and Matching Knickers, £49, both by Made By Niki

CH_Jan15_FAshion_Shoot_.indd 28

17/12/2014 18:23

Gold Lace Chemise, £330, by Gilda & Pearl at Selfridges Nude Silk Bra, £57.50, and Matching Knickers (underneath Chemise), £48, by Damaris On Right Hand, 14ct Gold Plated Star Ring, £29, by Annie Haak 22ct Gold Plate Baroque Ring, £132, by Alex Monroe On Left Hand, Rings from a selection, POA, by Alex Monroe

CH_Jan15_FAshion_Shoot_.indd 29

17/12/2014 18:23

Silk Black and White Striped Pyjama Shirt (as part of a set), £330, by Olivia Von Halle at Fenwicks On Left Hand, Beige Gold and Diamond Coin Ring, £3,805, On Right Hand, Brushed Gold Ring, £1,630, And Gold and Diamond Loupe Pendent, £3,780, All by Dina Kamal at Dover Street Market

STOCKISTS

Photography: Helen McArdle at Kayte Ellis Agency Styling: Charlie Moore Make-Up: Helen Asher at ERA Management using MAC Hair: Jason Crozier for No.74 Hair and Beauty London using Bumble & Bumble Model: Charlotte Pallister at Select With thanks to The Apartments at The Sloane Club, 52 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W, 020 7730 9131; sloaneclub.co.uk

CH_Jan15_FAshion_Shoot_.indd 30

agentprovocateur.com alexmonroe.com anniehaak.com damaris.co.uk doverstreetmarket.com fenwick.co.uk houseoffraser.co.uk madebyniki.co.uk maria-black.com princessetamtam.co.uk purecollection.com sarrieri.com selfridges.com simoneperele.com winderlondon.com winserlondon.com

17/12/2014 18:23

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10/12/2014 16:48:25

17/12/2014 14:38

MENS / NOTES

Discover the ultimate winter hat and a rather smart new timepiece Wo r d s b e r t i e M c G i n n i s

TAG IT UP TAG He u e r

New Year, new timepiece. Go for the TAG Heuer Carrera, Calibre 8 GMT and Grande Date Automatic Watch. Discreet but distinct. £2,925, tagheuer.co.uk

A KIND OF MAGI Paul Magi

Want that magic overnight bag that is both small but also spacious? I advise Paul Magi’s multipurpose ‘Overnighter’. £450; paulmagi.com

OUTER SHELL Burberry

My new seasonal coat suggestion is the Burberry Brit Lightweight Shell Jacket. Mostly because it has an excellent (and useful) detachable gilet. £595; mrporter.com

HATS OFF Canada Goose

If you’re off to the slopes this winter, deck yourself out in Canada Goose. From Parkas to Arctic Rigger Coveralls, look no further for style, warmth and practicality. I especially love their Arctic Tech Shearling Pilot Hat (pictured). £325, Available from Snow + Rock, 188 Kensington High Street, W8, 020 7937 0872; nowandrock.com

33 CH_Jan15_Mens_Notes.indd 33

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 13:50

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX SPOTLIGHT

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Bespoke shoemaker Anthony Andrews talks designing for Michael Caine, Kathleen Turner and clients the world over W o r d s E l i z a b e t h Va n L i e r

T

here is something almost magical about the underground workshop of shoemaker Anthony Andrews.

With its abundant and muti-coloured displays of suede and leather skins, its smell of polish and woodshavings and its shelf upon shelf of shoemaking knick-knacks, it’s like the setting for a modern day fairy tale.

As Anthony (or Tony as he prefers) leads me around the rabbit warren of a basement, he introduces me to various members of his team, joking with them in his deep, cockney dialect. It’s a sprightly working environment, one that is both captivating and alluring. Witnessing first hand, the detail – the minute detail – that goes into every single design (the stitching, the gluing, the measuring) is nothing short of astounding. And the passion – the sheer passion! At one point Tony shows me a pair of American shoes from the 19th century, and he starts to quiver with excitement – ‘Look, just look at that stitching!’ I’d never seen enthusiasm quite like it.

‘My father [Len] was a sergeant major in the army and following that, went to a tech college to learn shoemaking,’ Tony tells me from the comfort of his rugged

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_FEB15_Footware.indd 34

WHAT I DON’T KNOW about

[shoes] isn’t worth KNOWING

but homely office. ‘After that, he went into orthopedic shoes and got a job in a firm – like the guys downstairs – shoemaking.’

A diligent worker, to please a client one day who needed his shoes fixed quickly, Len decided to take them home to work on overnight – a practise which was forbidden. For this ‘gross misconduct’, Len was sacked. None the wiser, the client returned some weeks later with more

work for Len. When he heard of the redundancy, he marched straight out of the shop to give the work to Len direct. He then decided to give all future work to Len and encouraged him to set up on his own. So Len turned his basement into a workshop and set about making orthopedic shoes.

After school each day, his son – the 11-year-old Tony – would go downstairs to help him, staying up till midnight most days to get through the workload.

So it was that Tony followed in his father’s footsteps. And nearly 50 years on, he is still as obsessed with shoes as ever – ‘what I don’t know about them isn’t worth knowing’, he tells me. Whilst orthopedic footwear might be his speciality, Tony can design and make any shoe. ‘Customers come to us to design (with our help) their own footwear. They choose from our vast selection of colours and prints, and animal skins – like crocodile, snake, stingray and ostrich. [Generally] the most common complaint we come across is from customers finding it difficult to buy ready-made shoes because one [of their] feet is bigger than the other.’

For me this was a light bulb moment.

I have this problem, I thought to myself, why on earth have I not done anything about it before? In fact, why do I always go for the larger-sized shoe, the pair

34 17/12/2014 18:39

ARTS & CULTURE / BEHIND THE SCENES I think, come on now, MICHAEL YOU ARE 80! But he’s a lovely fella, A REALLY NICE GUY.

that accommodates ‘bigfoot,’ and totally neglects the swamped and struggling ‘littlefoot’? I peer down at my factorymade clodhopper plus-size left boot and want to throw it out onto the street.

‘Our most popular style for women is the slip-on court shoe, and for men, the Oxford brogue,’ Tony continues. ‘But we can make hundreds of different designs – even copy an old favourite.’

I must confess I drift off at this point, fantasising about the cloning of my beloved (albeit exhausted) pair of leather thigh-high boots. Might they finally now see the light of another party?

And speaking of party shoes, if anyone knows anything about them, it’s Tony.

He has designed many a pair in his time, some of which were for Hollywood A-listers. ‘Michael [Caine] is such a nice guy,’ he tells me eagerly. ‘So the second time he comes in, he says to Kirk (who runs the orthotics side): “Kirk, where’s

my hat?” (Michael’s got a baseball cap).

Kirk says: “It’s in your pocket.” And Michael says: “[Phew] They’ll f*cking mob me if I go out and they recognise me!” And I think, come on now, Michael you are 80! But he’s a lovely fella, a really nice guy.

‘A lot of [celebrities], if they’ve got a problem, [they] don’t really want me to say anything about it,’ Tony continues.

‘But with people like Kathleen Turner, it’s not a problem. She’s thrilled to bits with our copper insoles, which helped her with her arthritis. And we made a couple of pairs of shoes for her as well. She was just blown away by them.’

35 CH_FEB15_Footware.indd 35

My whole morning is whiled away nattering to Tony. He tells me about his varied and fascinating client list, many of whom come to him from all over the world. Like the woman from the Seychelles, who had, alarmingly, a stump for a leg. Tony and his team designed a pair of boots with a filler to support it.

When she put them on, ‘you wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with her!’ Tony says, full-of-beans. ‘She was in here, crying…’. Then there was the story of a young boy, whose deformed legs were saved from amputation by a pair of Tony’s miracle shoes.

They are truly touching tales. All of which served to confirm what I had thought at the beginning. There is something magical and fairy tale-like about Tony, his workshop and the work that he does. And that he can design a girl her very own bespoke shoes, tailormade to bigfoot and littlefoot, well, that’s just magic also. 

12 New Cavendish Street, W1G, 020 7486 4664; specialfootwear.co.uk

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 18:40

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17/12/2014 15:45

HOLLAND PARK DENTAL CENTRE

New Year, New You: You are NEVER too old to have the straight teeth you always dreamed of.

Holland Park Dental Centre has made that dream even easier to achieve: To celebrate the New Year and the appointment of internationally recognised specialist orthodontist Dr Anthony Lam, Holland Park Dental Centre has a NEW YEAR, NEW YOU offer to make you smile: Orthodontic Consultation at the SPECIAL RATE of £55.00 with FREE tooth whitening at the completion of every orthodontic treatment.

The centre offers a range of orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign, the virtually invisible braces which are almost impossible for people to see you are wearing.

Now there is nothing stopping you from realising your dreams in the New Year.

For additional exciting discounts visit www.hollandparkdental.co.uk Free tooth whitening at the completion of every orthodontic treatment, embarked upon during the promotional period until 30 January 2015.

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12/12/2014 11:25

17/12/2014 18:12

> BEAUTY CONFIDENTIAL

p. 38

QUICK FIT

p. 43

GURUNG’S GOLD We love a good collaboration, and designer Prabal Gurung’s with MAC is pure gold. Includes the Eye Shadow Duo in Satin Ochre (£30) and the lightly frosted, tinted Bronzing Powder (£50). 109 King’s Road, SW3, 0870 192 5195; maccosmetics.com

37 CH_Jan15_Beauty_Opener.indd 37

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 13:46

sa lo n R e v i e w

THERMAL HAIRCUT

Care for your skin on the slopes and discover the perfect lippy…

RYS Hair & Beauty Salon Wo r d s e d w i n a l a n g l e y

W o r d s AT H E N A KO S T O P O U L O S

ith my head lounging back in its basin, my eyes shut drowsily, and Ivo’s hands massaging shampoo into my scalp, I find myself thinking one thought, and one thought only: ‘This – is – the – life.’ We’ve all had our heads massaged before, but there is something about this time that is infinitely more enjoyable.

Perhaps it is because I haven’t gone to RYS for a head massage but a haircut – and isn’t this added extra a spoiling bonus? Or maybe it is because it is bitterly cold outside and cosily warm inside. Or that Ivo knows exactly what he is doing and won’t mind if I fall asleep, because that just means he’s doing a good job. Whatever the reason, it is the best head massage I’ve ever had. And indeed, I probably would fall asleep were it not for the thermal haircut I am up for next. A revolutionary new treatment, the thermal haircut uses ‘hot’ (or electric) scissors, which cuts the hair with heated blades, sealing split ends to prevent further splitting. Whilst I’ve been lucky enough to experience this treatment once before, I am nonetheless mesmerised by Yilmaz – my wizard Director Stylist – who snips and styles my tattered locks with precision and panache. Taming my barnet of frizz (the result of vitamin deficiency, he tells me), in just over an hour my hair looks like it’s been Photoshop-ed. And I feel I have been too.

Yes: this – is – my– life. And it could be yours – if you get down to RYS for a thermal haircut. u

W

Some Like It Hot M a x Fa c t o r

● T H E R M A L S C I S S O R S BY Y I L M A Z £250, 176 Walton Street, SW3, 020 7100 0724;

ryshairandbeauty.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Jan15_Beauty_Notes.indd 38

Celebrating 100 years of glamour, Max Factor’s newest look is that of the delightful Marilyn Monroe. Go for Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara in black (£7.99) and the Lipfinity Lip Colour in Hot (£10.99) to achieve it. Available from Boots, 60 King’s Road, SW3, 020 7589 3234; maxfactor.co.uk

38 17/12/2014 14:22

HEALTH & BEAUTY / NOTES

5

editor’s

FELINE FINE

PICK

Shupette

of the best

Yes the ‘Limited Edition Shupette Ultime7 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil’ is rather a mouthful, but when we saw that it contains the essence of eight exquisite botanical origin oils (to remove make-up, soften the skin, nourish and hydrate) we knew we could manage it. £75, Available from Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7730 1234; harrods.com

SKINCARE PRODUCTS FOR THE SKI SEASON

DROP DEAD FLAWLESS Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden’s Flawless Finish Perfectly Satin 24hr Make-Up SPF 14 Foundation (£29) contains plankton to control sebum, whilst the Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipstick (£21) keeps lips sumptuously shiny. Try them together and the look is flawless.

Available from Peter Jones, Sloane Square, SW1W, 020 7730 3434; elizabetharden.com 01

BARE FACED bareMinerals

This week-long skincare peel, to reinvigorate and detoxify, contains ActiveSoil™ Complex-powered formulas (with exfoliating acids) to reinforce your skin’s support network. 7-day Skin Detox Mineral Brightening Peel, £59, Available from Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X, 020 7235 5000; harveynichols.com

02

03

LIFT ME UP Clarins

Want to shift that cellulite? Clarins’ Body Lift Cellulite Control contains eight plant extracts which act on all stages of adipose tissue formation (the ones that store energy as fat). Results show cellulite is 78% less visible after four weeks. Boom! £36, Available from Peter Jones (address above); clarins.co.uk

39 CH_Jan15_Beauty_Notes.indd 39

04

05 01. AVEDA, Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment, £29.50; aveda.co.uk 02. CLINIQUE, Moisture Surge Overnight Mask, £30; clinique.com 03. DARPHIN, Revitalizing Oil, £24; uk.spacenk.com 04. ELEMIS, Liquid Layer Sunblock SPF 30, £27; timetospa.co.uk 05. SUNSENSE, Lip Balm SPF 50 Moisturising Protection, £5.99; johnlewis.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 14:22

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION : DRINK COLD PRESSED EAT ORGANIC DETOX

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HAIR & BEAUTY

RYS is home to some of the most talented and well-respected hair, beauty and holistic experts in London offering the very latest in styling, colour and treatment technologies.

Situated in the heart of Knightsbridge, RYS Hair & Beauty is spread over two floors with a unique and beautiful extended outdoor Styling Garden where cocktails and fresh juices are made to order.

Brazilian Blow Dry Extensions Massage Threading Waxing Facials Manicures Pedicures Thermal Scissor Cutting Reflexology Concierge

RYS Hair & Beauty

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020 7385 3611

www.beauty-tree.com | 394 Lillie Road, Fulham, London SW6 7PE

17/12/2014 14:38

HEALTH & BEAUTY / FITNESS

QUICK FIT

A gym novice makes the perfect candidate for the Bulgari WORKSHOP Gymnasium and a session with personal trainer Lee Mullins Wo r d s e d w i n a l a n g l e y

I

rarely go to gyms.

And by rarely, read: never. It’s not that I’m against them per se, it’s just, well, why run in a windowless room going nowhere, when you can jog round the park, going somewhere? Furthermore, those ‘personal trainers’…

No thanks. I don’t like being told what to do by anyone, let alone by some ripped He-Man as I pound away on a treadmill, like a hamster on steroids. It’s very much my nightmare scenario.

That said, I am mindful that readers of this magazine might, this time of year, be contemplating a personal trainer. So I decided to trial one – for you, dear reader.

Walking into the Bulgari WORKSHOP

Gymnasium, I realised my anti-gym reservations were justified the moment I noted the institution was windowless. That said – and I am squirming in my chair to admit this – my fears ended there. Because the lean – not mean – personal trainer and WORKSHOP Gymnasium founder, Lee Mullins, bounded up to me shortly after and I liked him instantly.

This was probably because in response to my opening gambit: ‘I’m very bad at exercise’, Lee replied in a half-whisper: ‘Me too’. He, of course, was joking; I, however…

Lee led me through the gym to a discreet corner where we discussed the FRAMEWORK assessment, part of which I was there to trial. Based on a series of tests,

I don’t like

BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO by

anyone, let by alone some RIPPED HE-MAN

43 C&A_FEB15_FITNESS REVIEW.indd 43

the assessment consists of Movement and Nutrition Genetic Analysis, Metabolic Testing and, amongst other things, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Once complete, Lee and his team would then form a goal-orientated personal guidebook and regime for each client to undertake.

My job that day was to trial FMS. This seven-movement test allowed Lee to establish any limitations, imbalances and asymmetries, before teaching me ways to correct them. The session included ‘Deep Squats’, ‘Hurdle Steps’ and, worst of all, ‘Trunk Stability Push-Ups’. Whilst the doing of this ‘screen’ was most undignified (squatting in front of mirrors etc), the results were intriguing. I was told I have a weak bottom – most surprising for its size – and that I also have dismal balance.

To begin the process of correcting these imperfections, Lee taught me a number of stretches to do prior to exercise. The first of these was most taxing: giving myself a massage. This meant placing a massage roller beneath my upper back and thighs and rolling up and down on it.

If this sounds in any way difficult, I’ve not explained it correctly. Indeed, as I rolled away, I also chatted away to Lee – all about his personal training, totally forgetting that this was supposed to be my nightmare scenario.

Post-massage Lee taught me some other warm-up exercises – ‘Superman’ stretches and ones with elastics – which lulled me into such a false sense of security that when he finally sprung on me a half-decent stretch, I yelped at him like a puppy.

To wrap up proceedings, Lee then made me breakfast. This was because, as usual, I hadn’t had any. I’d normally baulk at the idea of imbibing pond-coloured gloop but when it’s made by Lee and flavoured with chocolate, who was I to turn it down?

Whilst yes, this was only the beginning of the FRAMEWORK assessment – I am aware no actual exercise took place – it was the very best entree into such a programme. Lee explained that gym-going isn’t about doing the same thing every day, but about variety. Looking at the impressive space with monster treadmills and boxing corners (not to mention the fine physique of Lee himself) I’m certain it all works. ‘But if all I have done today,’ Lee concluded, ‘is to convince you to eat breakfast, and do those exercises before your next run, this session will have changed your life.’

As I sprung round the park days later – post elastics warm-up, fantasising about breakfast – I realised that Lee was right and I had been wrong: far from being my nightmare scenario, an hour with Lee Mullins had been, in fact, the dream. u 171 Knightsbridge, SW7, 020 7151 1055; workshopgymnasium.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 18:42

XXXXXXXX / XXXXXXXXX

SHAPE UP Get fit and fresh faced this January

TRIYOGA

PRINCESS HAND & FOOT SPA

Sweat and stretch or relax and rejuvenate at triyoga Chelsea – London’s finest yoga and wellness destination. With yoga and pilates for all levels, deluxe treatments ranging from massage and acupuncture to facials, an organic café and a lifestyle shop, you will find yourself nourished and feeling great all year round. Try 30 days for just £40. 372 King’s Road, SW3, 020 3362 3366; triyoga.co.uk

Let yourself be pampered or, as we like to say, ‘indulge yourself like an everyday princess’. We offer the best nail and beauty treatments anywhere in Chelsea and our January offers are second to none, including a 1-hour Full Body Massage for £40 (instead of £55) and 15% off all treatments for first time clients. 399 King’s Road, SW3, 020 7352 8080; princesshfs.co.uk

METAMORPHOSIS ORTHODONTICS There’s no better time than the New Year to straighten teeth, and at Metamorphosis, we know a thing or two about fitting braces. Come in and see for yourself. We’re offering 10% off our popular Damon style, which you can read all about on our new website. Make a new resolution to smile about, and pay us a visit now.

109 New King’s Road, SW6, 020 7731 1077; metamorphosisorthodontics.com

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Jan_FEATURE.indd 44

44 17/12/2014 18:58

ABSOLUTELY XXXXXXXXX//PROMOTION XXXXXXXX

ABSOLUT BLISS ‘Bespoke’, the advanced facial designed

by Michelle Luff-Li, is all about natural elements and a new holistic approach.

Popular with celebrities, such as those from the BAFTA-winning show Made in Chelsea, Bespoke is a fantastic new concept that will leave you glowing for days. 338 Fulham Palace Road, SW6; info@absolutbliss.co.uk

KENSINGTON SKINCARE

KNIGHTSBRIDGE ORTHODONTICS

Kensington Skincare offer Fountain of Youth (F.O.Y). This amazing formula, made up of an elaborate combination of carefully selected ingredients, revitalizes your skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite.

Non-surgical treatments are available at the salon. Get your anti cellulite gel for just £20, available online or in-store.

1a Hollywood Road, SW10, 020 7352 4150; kensingtonskincare.co.uk

For the smile you’ve always dreamed of, Knightsbridge Orthodontics offers bespoke cutting-edge orthodontic treatments. Using state-of-the-art technology, the team are experienced in fitting a wide range of braces, like the Invisalign clear. Best of all Absolutely readers can enjoy a complimentary specialist consultation. Quote ‘ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT’.

168 Brompton Road, SW3, 020 7584 0733; knightsbridgeorthodontics.com

CAVENDISH This boutique medispa offers the very latest medical aesthetic solutions and tailored treatments in a relaxed and friendly setting, and is home to the world’s best fat reduction systems, Coolsculpting and Exilis Elite.

Visit to experience total wellbeing and everything your body needs to relax, refresh and emerge rejuvenated.

185 New King’s Road, SW6; 0207 731 4764 cavendishclinic.co.uk

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JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 18:10

New Year

NEW SMILE Everyone deserves a beautiful smile no matter how young - or young at heart you are.

Treating yourself to a brand new smile doesn’t have to involve discomfort or hard work. In fact all you have to do is visit the professionals at the stylish clinic rooms of Metamorphosis Orthodontics.

We now also offer the following treatments: Protecting Clean

(available to patients in braces)

The Classic

Available to patients in braces. Our caring dental therapist will restore your oral hygiene as she uses a fine tipped sonic scaler to clean away plaque and hard deposit and advise you how to keep your braces and teeth clean between visits.

(clean & polish)

Metamorphosis Orthodontics Classic teeth cleaning treatment combines a clean and polish with oral hygiene advice and a gum health check. It’s the regular treatment to help maintain sweet breath and a dazzling smile.

ZOOM WHITENING

promotional price £295.00

The complete procedure takes less than an hour. The dentist or dental assistant applies the whitening gel, which works together with the Zoom light to penetrate the teeth and break up the stains and discoloration. Leaving you with a dazzling smile fit for any Christmas party.

www.metamorphosisorthodontics.com Metamorphosis Orthodontics.DEC.indd 2

15/12/2014 15:28

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15/12/2014 15:29

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE LAUNCHING OUR NEW PRIVATE DINING ROOM 1ST FLOOR OF THE IMPERIAL AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW... PERFECT FOR ANY PARTY! Seats up to 50 people sit down or 80 people for a drinks reception.

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We also specialise in private parties and outside catering.

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49 CH_Jan15_Food_Opener.indd 49

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 12:58

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

C&A_Jan15_ROUX.indd 50

50 17/12/2014 19:05

FOOD & DRINK / CHEF Q&A

SPOTLIGHT

TROUXLY SCRUMPTIOUS World-famous Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr. on Le Gavroche, being a ‘celebrity chef’ and crashing into Gordon Ramsay Wo r d s E d w i n a L a n g l e y

EDWINA LANGLEY: Did you cook a lot growing up as a child?

MICHEL ROUX: No, because Mum was a very good cook and she didn’t want to let me loose in the kitchen! It all started when I did my apprenticeship at 16.

EL: Was it very tough, your apprenticeship in France?

MR: Yes, but very good. I look back on [those] years with great fondness. An apprenticeship is not just learning a trade or a craft. It’s learning life skills.

EL: I read about that and said to myself, ‘I cannot be late today..!’

MR: [laughs] There’s a dictum which says: If you’re on time, you’re already late…

EL: When your father and uncle opened Le Gavroche in Chelsea, you must have been roughly six or seven. Do you remember the opening – with guests like Charlie Chaplin and Ava Gardner?

MR: No, I don’t really. But I could read the excitement on my father’s and mother’s faces. They were both working extremely hard – Dad was working six days a week and we very rarely saw him. Coming from an idyllic country childhood – where we had a garden and animals, with Mum and Dad [always] around, all perfect harmony – to London and not seeing Dad…

EL: Why did you train in France?

MR: My father [Albert Roux] and uncle [Michel Roux Snr] thought it would be best for me. Let’s not forget it was back in the 1970s, when food in this country was not what it is now.

EL: Heartbreaking!

MR: You know, as a young child, it was. Not really understanding. And then visiting the restaurant – I’ll never forget the smell, the smell of [that] kitchen. Going down into the basement, it was quite scary…

EL: When you came back, why didn’t you go straight into the family business?

MR: Growing up in a family business environment is wonderful but I think it’s very important to learn your trade outside [of it].

EL: I can imagine.

MR: As Le Gavroche was an immediate success, it was always busy. And as a child visiting it was almost as scary as going into church [reminisces for a second]. But yeah, so that was in Chelsea.

EL: Is there one skill in particular that’s stuck with you?

MR: Being on time.

51 C&A_Jan15_ROUX.indd 51

EL: So you did accountancy instead!

MR: All I did was a four-month internship in a chartered accountancy firm to learn the basics – how to read a profit and loss account, and balance sheet – to make sure I understood exactly how to run a financially successful business.

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 19:05

FOOD AND DRINK / CHEF Q&A EL: Why did they pick Chelsea?

MR: I think [they] spent quite a while looking for a place. [It was] an ideal location, and there was a kitchen ready.

EL: Not really. At least fats make things taste of something.

MR: Butter, cream and duck fat. There you are. How very French! [MR and EL laugh very hard]. Can you imagine a diet of cream and duck fat?

EL: Le Gavroche moved here, to Mayfair, in 1981, and you took over from your father in 1993. What a heavy mantle!

MR: It was! [A] huge responsibility – it had already become an institution.

EL: I can! But looking at you, it’s just too unfair if someone as slim as you could live off it.

MR: I do eat very well and I eat a lot – a heck of a lot – but I am up on my feet most of the day. And I do exercise. I [also] eat a balanced diet – no fast food. The biggest issue with obesity has always been sugar, it’s never been fats.

EL: Did you have any idea how successful you would become with it?

MR: No, I never take anything for granted.

I think successful people always think they can do better. I’ve always got a little selfdoubt. But we are still a success [because] we haven’t changed our philosophy. And that is: being French, based on the classics.

EL: It really baffles me how you continue to come up with new dishes. Don’t you ever think: ‘I just don’t know what else I can do with this chicken’?

MR: No! I don’t think so. There are days... [But] with experience, inspiration is easier because you’ve got so much of a memory bank to draw on. But I always think of the classics.

EL: Now, I know you do lots of marathons, but how do you stay so slim?

MR: Long distance running is a hobby of mine. And I do [also] run marathons.

EL: What do you think about when you’re running a marathon?

MR: Food.

EL: [Spits out coffee] That is too funny! What food do you think about? Or is it more: ‘At the end of I this, I am going to eat…’

MR: No, all the way through! I very rarely listen to music. I just like to run; it’s a great moment of peace and tranquility. I can just relax.

EL: ‘Relax by running’. Hmm. Do you get recognized on your runs?

MR: Sometimes.

EL: You run round Battersea Park. I know Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay also

EL: What have you got coming up in 2015?

MR: I’m working on a new [book]. And television-wise, there are a couple of things in the pipeline.

I am not a

‘CELEBRITY CHEF’.

I am a ‘CHEF’ run round Battersea Park. Do you ever run together?

MR: No, we don’t.

EL: Or bump into them?

MR: I have literally bumped into Gordon...

EL: Ha! MR: And that’s not a good thing cos he’s a big bloke! Literally, he came round one corner and I came round the other at full pelt. And we literally went SLAP! EL: That’s quite symbolic, that!

MR: It was not good! I came off second best because he’s a monster of a bloke. I know Gordon very well, he’s a lovely guy. We gave each other a sweaty hug afterwards!

EL: So you’re very healthy in terms of exercise. But in terms of eating, what do you enjoy? What would be your last dinner, for instance?

MR: Roast lobster with loads and loads of garlic butter – of course – and served with big fat chips.

EL: And what would you drink?

MR: Cor! EL: Is THAT the ‘hard’ question?

MR: It’s difficult! But probably a good white Burgundy or a bottle of Krug.

EL: The three top ingredients that you couldn’t live without are…?

MR: Good quality butter. [Thinks long and hard.] Cor… I’m just thinking of fats! I’m thinking: duck fat. I’m thinking: cream. It’s terrible, isn’t it?!

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EL: Do you like working in television?

MR: I do. But television work is not my goal.

EL: It must be frustrating, then, to be labelled as a ‘TV celebrity chef’.

MR: Yes, I don’t particularly like it. And my recent spat with the BBC only reinforces the fact that I am not a ‘celebrity chef’. I am a ‘chef’. Television is a by-product of what I do on a daily basis.

EL: Standing up for your relationship with Albert Barlett Rooster Potatoes was really most admirable.

MR: Because I took the stance of ‘I’m a chef first and foremost’, I could walk away. If being a celebrity was really my goal, I would have dropped my relationship with them, which I was not prepared to do.

EL: I also love that – in view of the recent furore over women not being able to hack it in the kitchen (apparently) – that you have so many women in yours.

MR: Whenever that subject comes up, people should just come here. I’ve got Rachel [Humphrey] who has been with me – [laughs] – a very long time. She started as an apprentice and now she’s head chef. Monica [Galetti] has been with me since the age of 24. And then there’s Renne [Miler], who’s another sous chef. So three female chefs in charge of a two Michelin-star restaurant, of repute, that’s been around for 47 years.

Anybody who says women are not good enough to be in the kitchen are completely wrong. Completely wrong.

EL: That’s a great note to end on.

MR: Good, good to talk to you. u

Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook Street, W1K, 020 7408 0881; le-gavroche.co.uk

52 17/12/2014 19:05

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FOOD & DRINK / NOTES RECIPE

THE IMPERIAL’S SALMON SASHIMI Fo r th e Sa shim i • 1/2 mouli (white radish) • 1 cucumber • 1 avocado • 200g watermelon • 10g sesame seeds • 10g sunflower seeds • 40g fresh coriander • 400g Grade A sashimi salmon • 4 edible flowers

TABLE TALK Detox month is back, but we ain’t going hungry…

Fo r th e D re s s in g • 100ml dark soy sauce • 100ml sherry vinegar • 1 juice of lime • 20g coriander stalks • 1 large red chilli • 100ml sweet chilli sauce • 20g fresh peeled ginger Peel the mouli and julienne.

Slice the cucumber into 4mm rings. 03 Half the avocado, take out the stone, and scoop out the flesh with a large spoon. Slice both halves into thin slithers, lengthways. 04 Dice the watermelon into cm cubes.

05 Lightly toast the sunflower and sesame seeds in a dry pan over a medium heat. 06 Roughly chop the coriander. 07 Remove any skin on the salmon and slice into thin half cm slithers. 08 Pick all the petals off the edible flowers. 09 For the dressing, add all the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until dressing consistency. 10 Divide the salad mixture into four separate bowls.

11 Add a little of the dressing to each and coat. 12 Arrange and garnish with petals from the flowers.

Add more dressing if required.  01

02

Recipe from The Imperial 557 King’s Road, SW6, 020 7736 6081; the-imperial.co.uk

FINE FETISH

Yes, this month is about abstinence but if you don’t buy into that, try out Pierre Hermé’s newest collection: Fetish Cakes. Containing six different flavoured cakes – such as pear, lemon, chocolate and chestnuts – we’re ditching the diet (just this once) for them. Available from 20th January until 1st March, £19 each, 13 Lowndes Street, SW1X, 020 7245 0317; pierreherme.com

Want a healthy afternoon treat? The Tombo afternoon tea consists of innovative Japanese cakes and sushi, all served with a tea of your choice, like Matcha tea – with ten times more anti-oxidants than green tea. 29 Thurloe Place, SW7, 020 7589 0018; tombodeliandcafe.com

Tuck In

ew to Fulham Broadway is Tommy Tucker, the second venture from the team behind Claude’s Kitchen and Amuse Bouche.

A typical ‘boozer’, Tommy Tucker will showcase seasonal, hearty and adventurous dishes, as well as, home-infused gins and an experimental Bloody Mary. 22 Waterford Road, SW6; TheTommyTucker.com

N

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH It’s detox juice time! We love CPRESS ‘Farmers Market’ with alkalising greens. £6.50, 285 Fulham Road, SW10, 020 7352 7568; cpressjuice.com

55 CH_FEB15_Food Notes.indd 55

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FOOD & DRINK / RESTAURANT REVIEW themselves lacked the crunch of, say, a tortilla (which is what they looked like), when smothered in the basil pesto you can’t tell, and to be honest, I’m just thankful we’re not eating crisps.

Moving on to the main course, I opt for Pad Thai: shredded vegetables with coconut meat (that’s coconut ‘pulp’) and an almond butter sauce. Danielle goes for the Thai Curry Noodles – a mixture of marinated vegetables sitting on a tower of kale, swimming in a moat of tahini dressing. Delightfully presented, both dishes are abundantly colourful.

That said, my Pad Thai lacks a little substance and I can’t help but think there’s a reason it normally comes with chicken or prawns. Danielle’s kelp

I have to ADMIT it all LOOKS quite TEMPTING...

Light Lunch Going out to eat raw isn’t everyone’s cup of (mushroom) tea. Our reviewer takes on Tanya’s Café to find out if it’s hers…

Wo r d s E l i z a b e t h H u t t o n

I

t may be over ten years since the last episode of US sitcom Sex and the City aired but to fans like me, it lives on. One of my favourite episodes is the one where Samantha takes Carrie and the girls to ‘Raw’.

Raw is a new restaurant serving exclusively uncooked food, where the only thing worth writing home about is its dishy headwaiter. Because of this, I have always thought that anywhere ‘cooking’ its food at 40°C or under, would be similarly unsatisfying (food-wise). But this was just a hunch. I felt compelled

to test this theory. So I decided to take on Chelsea’s new raw food restaurant, Tanya’s Café.

With a fresh Orange Zest Tea in hand, my dining partner, Danielle, and I scour the menu. And I have to admit, it all looks quite tempting. It reminds me that visiting a healthy bistro doesn’t have to be about losing weight. It can also be about trying something experimental and new. With this in mind, we tuck into the Superfood Crackers, made of dehydrated buckwheat groats and sunflower seeds, served with a Basil, Cedar Nut and Macadamia Pesto. Whilst the crackers

57 CH_JAN15_Food_Review.indd 57

seaweed noodles, on the other hand, fairs better – it was far more substantial and therefore more filling.

When it comes to choosing pudding I let delightful café owner Tanya Maher pick for us, and two generous slices of cheesecake (one Mulberry and Lemon, the other, Blueberry) arrive soon after. Replacing the traditional buttery biscuit-base with dates and walnuts, I think, is inspired. The base is still sticky, sweet and crunchy, but since it’s made up of healthy fats it’s far more ‘nice’ than ‘naughty’. Similarly, the fruity cashew topping is fluffy and mousse-like in texture; not as luxurious, perhaps, as the regular lashings of cream cheese, but far less fattening (I am certain).

Using the Superfood Glossary on our table, we end with a hot mushroomextract drink, a Cordyceps Latte. Sweet from almond butter and date paste, it slips down quite easily – who needs caffeine, I think to myself.

Whether you’re after a lazy brunch or a quick midweek lunch, at Tanya’s Café you will find it. Whilst some of the dishes I feel need developing, overall eating there is a pleasure. Which is why you’ll find me back in the café, healthy cheesecake in hand, on most of my detoxing days this January. u

● Myhotel Chelse a

35 Ixworth Place, SW3; 020 7225 7538; tanyascafe.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 18:59

Multi-award winning interior architect and design studio with lifestyle showroom in Chelsea.

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16/12/2014 09:26

R&R AT IN:SPA RETREAT, MOROCCO

p. 60

RELAX & UNWIND Alexandra Jones takes steps to a healthier and happier lifestyle for the New Year at the beautiful in:spa retreat just outside Marrakech, Morocco.

59 CH_JAN15_Travel_Opener.indd 59

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 18:04

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX

WELLNESS

ALL CHANGE If the festive season has left you with a muffin top and a perpetual hangover, an in:spa retreat is the perfect detox break Wo r d s A l e x a n d r a J o n e s

T

o give you a sense of what you’re dealing with, I’ll begin with a few admissions. Firstly, I never really ‘got’ yoga. It seemed to me a hobby that people who never exercise take up to make themselves feel better about not exercising. Secondly, sugar has been a ruling force in my life ever since I discovered the joys of the school vending machine; because really, what’s better than a 4pm snack of two Mars bars and a packet of Maltesers? This appreciation – some would call it an addiction – has dogged me through my whole podgyaround-the-middle life. It was something that I had resigned myself to: I would always, always be the person who ate a second dessert and skipped spinning. It’s just how I was made.

The idea of in:spa, then, intrigued me.

The company offers week-long detox retreats. You go along to a luxury location (be it villa, hotel or riad) in a sunsoaked country and, with a group of strangers (between 10 and 20), are schooled by a nutritionist, personal trainers, a yoga

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

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instructor and a chef in the intricacies of health and wellbeing. There is a full timetable of exercises, including two hikes and two 5km runs and all meals are prepared by the chef who flies out with you. The retreat that I went to was in Morocco and while I’m not sure I learned anything groundbreaking about nutrition or exercise, I did learn a great deal about myself. In fact, if I were prone to hyperbole, I’d say this holiday changed my life.

The riad itself, a few miles outside Marrakech, was picture postcard perfect. On the first night, the group of 12 nervously eyed one another across the main atrium and Mel – the nutritionist who had flown out with us from the UK – explained that we had as much opportunity to explore as we wanted.

‘Above all else, this is a holiday, none of the activities are compulsory,’ she assured us. Everyone, however, seemed game enough; the group was made up entirely of women – a doctor and an ambulance driver amongst them – barring one man, a burned-out entrepreneur escaping too many hours in the office.

Each day we’d partake in a programme

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TRAVEL / MOROCCO

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TRAVEL / MOROCCO THE feeling of ACHIEVEMENT was INCREDIBLE that included at least an hour of yoga and two to three hours of aerobic exercise in the form of fitness classes run by a personal trainer. All of which would be supplemented with one-on-one tutoring in food and fitness. This, I quickly discovered, did not mean hardcore workouts at 5am. There was no military style shouting and for real fitness fanatics in:spa probably isn’t the right way to go.

The earliest you rise is 7am, for a 5km run, which you can walk if you like. I ran – it was the first time I’d run 5km in my was hungry, though those first few days without sugar certainly left me craving something sweet.

Things like portion control or how each meal should be balanced (50% greens and vegetables, 25% carb, 25% protein) are dealt with in no-nonsense group sessions with the nutritionist. On the one hand these sessions don’t necessarily cover new territory, but they certainly hammer home the basic facts that you blithely ignore when you pick a packet of crisps over carrot sticks. There are also oneon-one sessions with the nutritionist that life – and the feeling of achievement was incredible. For those of middling ability (me) who go to the gym sporadically, but have a desire to go more, in:spa will work like a balm on your motivation levels.

You’re not going to leave transformed but you will be inspired to try.

All meals are eaten en masse and (apart from dinner) in a buffet style where you help yourself. Food throughout the week is treated with a lot of positivity: the focus is very much on what you can have. For breakfast this means quite a lot: eggs, fruit, gluten-free buckwheat pancakes, vegan bircher muesli, all delicious.

Ditto lunch, think chargrilled chicken, homemade hummus, carrot salad with raisins and tamarind dressing. For both of these meals you’re invited to go for two helpings, three, if you really want. The only restrictions come around dinner time; dinner is two small courses with little flexibility in portion size. Of course you can request more, but then that’s sort of defeating the point. I can’t say that I

MARRAKECH PALMERIE are designed to be as specific as possible to help each individual achieve their goal.

Very few people in the group seemed to be there to lose weight, and in:spa as a company certainly don’t make any claims to helping you shed pounds. Rather the approach is more holistic – each person’s needs are assessed before the meeting, then the nutritionist doles out advice on a case by case basis. Predictably, my

63 CHIS_JAN_ Morocco.indd 63

addiction to sugar was the main topic under discussion. ‘If you can go without it for three weeks, your habit will be broken,’ explained Mel. Three weeks to break the habit of a lifetime? I didn’t quite believe her, but after the first few days, when the cravings had subsided, I was willing to give it a try.

Nine months since the retreat, there are things that, irrespective of how beneficial they were at the time, I haven’t been able to stick with. No alcohol, for example. In the most part though, I am sugar free and exercise more than I ever have done at any other time in my life.

The genius of in:spa is that everything on offer is absolutely top notch: advice from a wonderful team, food from an exceptional chef, accommodation in a beautiful setting. At the very least you’ll leave with that deep sense of calm that only seven nights of blissful sleep will give you. And at most, you could end up like me: not wholly transformed, but certainly believing more in your ability to change. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. u

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ESCAPE AND DINE IN STYLE WITH RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND

Book a Charming British or Irish Escape in one of our country house or city hotels and experience great British or Irish food at it’s best prepared by some of the most renowned chefs. from just £350* per couple…

Participating hotels: Airds Hotel & Restaurant, Amberley Castle, Ballyfin Demesne, Buckland Manor, Chewton Glen, Cliff House Hotel, Cliveden House, Farlam Hall, Gidleigh Park, Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Glenapp Castle, The Goring, Gravetye Manor, Greywalls Hotel and Chez Roux Restaurant, Hambleton Hall, Hartwell House & Spa, Inverlochy Castle, Isle of Eriska Hotel Spa & Island, Kinloch House, Longueville Manor, Lucknam Park, Mallory Court, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Marlfield House, Northcote, Park Hotel Kenmare, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Sheen Falls Lodge, Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Spa, The Vineyard, The Waterside Inn, Whatley Manor, Ynyshir Hall. *VAT may not already be included in some hotels. Dinner without drinks. This offer is valid all year for any holidays taken before December 30th, 2015 included.

Reservations must be made at least 72 hours prior to arrival date and are subject to availability. Changes may be done without prior notice. Rate based on two people sharing a double room. Accommodation in a double classic or superior room, a dinner for 2 people and a sumptuous breakfast for 2 the following morning.

Euros will apply in hotels in Ireland. For reservations please call 00 800 08 251 020** ** Toll free number

www.relaischateaux.com

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TRAVEL / PROMOTION

A ROOM WITH A VIEW Whale watching at Ardmore – The Cliff House takes you to the very edge of excitement, with a whale of a time

F

or a stay with a difference, make the most of the enviable location of The Cliff House Hotel and the expertise of one of Ireland’s leading whale watchers, Andrew Malcolm, and stay in picturesque Ardmore, with a view to seeing some of these spectacular creatures with your own eyes.

Harbour porpoise, common dolphins and fin whales are usually present between October and March each year, off the Ardmore cliff, and occasionally a humpback whale may turn up too.

Capitalise on this rare pleasure with a luxurious stay in The Cliff House, the 5 star seaside boutique beauty and intimate holiday hideaway set into the coast, overlooking the picturesque and historic village of Ardmore in West Waterford, and get to boast of your whale watching prowess, weather and mood-

dependent, of course. A whale watching break at The Cliff House Hotel is a 2-night stay with dinner on one night and a 2-hour whale watching cliff walk with Andrew Malcolm.

Wrapping up warm, with binoculars, campstools and flasks of warm drinks provided by The Cliff House, Andrew will guide guests to Rams Head on the Cliff Walk, where then a certain degree of patience is required. Andrew will introduce flora and fauna of the area while waiting, and while sightings obviously

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cannot be guaranteed, only the other day Andrew saw 200 dolphins and a fin whale!

Should the weather fail, Andrew is happy to meet for an indoor whale masterclass instead, with a general overview of the species found in these waters and why they are to be found in the area. Alternatively, guests may choose to opt for spa treatments in the hotel’s lovely Well Spa. The whale watching package at The Cliff House costs €510 for two people bed & breakfast midweek in a deluxe seaview room, with 1 dinner in the Bar restaurant and a 2 hour guided whale watching walk.

The same package costs €600 for 2 people at weekends, and there are reduced rates available for groups of 6+. The Cliff House Hotel is a member of Relais & Chateaux. u

● THE CLIFF HOUSE HOTEL

00353 24 87800 to book thecliffhousehotel.com relaischateaux.com/cliffhouse

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 12:31

JANUARY

SALE REDUCTIONS ON MOST RANGES

Luxury European Furniture since 1962

London Luxury Furniture Showroom 020 7253 3206 WHARFESIDE.indd 1

wharfside.london 12/12/2014 11:23

> INTERIOR INSPIRATIONS

p. 68

LUXURY ON TAP

p. 70

CUBAN COLOURFUL We’re in love with Jane Churchill’s Havana Collection. The retro Isis Sofa in Seville with the assortment of cushions (pictured above) create a vivid Central American-themed interior. Fabrics available from Colefax & Fowler, 110-112 Fulham Road, SW3, 020 7244 7427; janechurchill.com

67 CH_Jan15_Interior_Opener.indd 67

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 13:51

Interior

Beata’s

top 10 picks

INSPIRATIONS

01

Uniqueness of design and the beauty of past eras light up our homes this New Year w o r d s b e ata H e u M a n

PETER LIPITCH LTD

George III Satinwood Cabinet, £65,000; peter-lipitch-antique-furniture.com

02

HENRI MATISSE

Jeune Femme au Balcon, Observant des Perruches (1929), POA; andipa.com 03

THE RUBY TREE

Lapas Collection, POA; therubytreecollection.com

KOLLEKTIV PLUS ZWEI

Bon Bon Side Table, £1,950; mintshop.co.uk

Homage to the Square:

04

must

HAVE 05

ABSOLUTELY MAGAZINES

CH_Jan15_Interior_Insperations.indd 68

YELLOW EDEN Josef Albers

Christopher Farr’s rugs are intended for the floor – but as it turns out, they work just as well as artworks! £7,200, 6 Burnsall Street, SW3, 020 7349 0888; christopherfarr.com

FIONA MCDONALD

1960s Italian Lamp, £650; fionamcdonald.com

68 17/12/2014 16:01

HOMES & INTERIORS / PORTFOLIO

LAPICIDA BIANCO Sculptured Italian Marble Basin, £718.80; lapicida.com

10

GRAND PIANO SOFA Gubi Olsen

Add a pair of these either side of your fireplace for a modern, stylish boudoir. £4,999, 81 Fulham Road, SW3; conranshop.co.uk

PAOLO MOSCHINO

1950S ITALIAN MIRROR

For Nicholas Haslam Ltd, The Gable Bench, £2,400; nicholashaslam.com

Fiona McDonald

I love the simple, soft lines of this mirror. It’s reminiscent of an artist’s palette. £740, 323 Fulham Palace Road, SW6, 020 7731 3234; fionamcdonald.com

09

FIONA MCDONALD

1960s Italian Lamp, £650; fionamcdonald.com

ZOO MULTICOLORE Vincent Darré

There is something cool and whimsical about this design – the pattern is fun, whilst the black backcloth is wonderfully urban. £108/m, Available from Pierre Frey London Showroom, 107 Design Centre East, Chelsea Harbour, SW10, 020 7376 5599; pierrefrey.com

08

VALERIE WADE

1930s American Scent Bottles, £490/pair; valeriewade.com

editor’s

SCALLOP SHELL WALL LIGHT

PICK 07

Porta Romana

A thing of beauty, you can never go wrong with a shell – or white plaster for that matter. £1,074, G8 Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, SW10, 020 7352 0440; portaromana.co.uk

GUINEVERE

French Opaque Ocean Clue Glass Casket c.1910, £890; guinevere.co.uk

For further ideas, visit interior designer Beata Heuman; beataheuman.com

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06

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 16:01

XXXXXX / XXXXXXX SPOTLIGHT

LUXURY ON TAP This Notting Hill bathroom designed by Milly Goodwin for Drummonds is our favourite room of the month Wo r d s p e a r l b oy d

S

orrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine,’ said 13th century Italian philosopher, Thomas Aquinas.

His idea of a reviving bath would doubtless have been a very punishing unluxurious experience in comparison to the 21st century wetroom standard. Today, it’s arguable that the definitive domestic luxury is not the superking-sized bed with sheets of the world’s highest thread count, nor the integrated wine cabinet; not a vast cushiony sitting room or a seamless German kitchen, or even a huge underground home cinema. No. The definitive domestic luxury is the ultimate bathroom.

Statistics suggest that the average person spends a total of 18 months in the bathroom over the course of a lifetime – and life is too short to waste that fiddling with a flaky shower or even putting up with an unattractive colourway. Aquinas would probably have found his cure for sorrow in a public bathing house, but for us it’s all about privacy and calm,

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WE’D like a WINDOW with a VIEW, please, and lots of NATURAL LIGHT

sober schemes, fresh scents and smooth surfaces. We want the temperatures (floor, air and water) to be just right – we’d like a window with a view, please, and lots of natural light. It’s also important that the place doesn’t feel like it’s come straight from the bathroom showroom. The best bathroom is a one-off, bespoke concept with its own look; a space where style meets function. The bathroom designer knows that not only does the shower need to offer just the right amount of pressure at precisely the perfect temperature, but it also needs to look stylish and characterful, clean – of course – but not too sterile. So the look should be freestanding rather than uniform and built-in.

This luxurious suite in a Victorian house in Notting Hill, designed by stylist Milly Goodwin, embraces bright colour and rich, polished brass. Best of all, it’s a real room (not a partitioned compartment) with its original fireplace, deep skirting boards and sash windows. Warm metal finishes are a hot trend and they age down to a beautiful patina that adds an element of glamour. The Spey cast

70 17/12/2014 17:57

HOMES & INTERIORS / BATHROOMS Hand-painted Spey Bath, £4980

Classic Mixer Tap in Brass Finish with Walnut Lever Handles, £1,578

iron bath in Salmon pink is the main feature of the room, with Drummonds’ classic un-lacquered solid brassware and burnished black walnut lever handles creating a warm, nostalgic feel. It has been left un-lacquered and un-polished to age naturally, giving it a rich, golden colour and unique patina. The bath is drained through a Plunger waste unit based on a classic Victorian design.

A new wall was created to conceal a shower and loo enclosure, and the Art Deco glass panel was sourced in Paris.

This beautiful piece is backlit, bathing

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the bath in a soft glow in the evening.

Bold terracotta floor tiles were chosen to match the bath by Italian designers Palazzo Morelli, and the stylish walnut vanity units were made-to-order. The fireplace, marble basins and countertop are all from Chesneys, and the rock resin wall-covering from Senso. In all, this is the ultimate bathroom and Aquinas, we are certain, would have been entirely free of all sorrow here. u 27 Chepstow Place, W2; drummonds-uk.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 17:58

EVERYDAY STORAGE. TAILORED TO YOU.

“Like Uber for storage!”

— The most seamless storage service

1.

YOU BOOK

2.

WE PACK & COLLECT

3.

WE STORE

4.

WE DELIVER IT BACK

Book a free 1–hour pick–up slot online or over the phone.

We arrive with large crates, can pack for you and accept larger items from suitcases to sofas.

Your items are securely stored in our warehouse and itemised on your online profile.

Book a 1–hour return slot, available as early as the next day.

Find out for yourself why London is loving bySTORED.

bySTORED.com +44(0)20 3637 1234

USE CODE “ABSOLUTELY” TO GET 30% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

LARGE STURDY CRATES Borrow our 80 litre crates for free.

LARGE ITEMS From suitcases to sofas, garden furniture to bikes...

GARMENT BAGS Specially designed garment bags for seasonal clothing.

MOVING? We’ll help you pack up your old place, and in to your new.

AS SEEN IN

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01/12/2014 11:32

> CRACKING CODE

p. 75

SMALL TALK

p. 77

START THE YEAR RITE Think trustworthy children’s shoes, think Start Rite. Be it the Digby Boys Brown Boots (£40) or the Clare Girls Navy Blue Leather Classic Shoes (£47), with Start Rite the shoe fits. Available from Trotters, 34 King’s Road, SW3, 020 7259 9620; startriteshoes.com

73 CH_Jan15_Kids_Opener.indd 73

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 13:55

LC Luntley Court Farm Holiday Cottages In Herefordshire

LONDON SHOWROOM The Plaza, 535 Kings Road, London SW10 0SZ 0207 3511955

www.obc-uk.net

6382_Absolutely_Jan.indd 1

_ADVERT PLACEMENTS.indd 6

Luxury self catering cottages with sixteenth century origins in the centre of the famous Black and White Village Trail. Set amongst Herefordshire countryside between the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye and Ludlow.

T:01544388422M:07814797721 www.luntleycourtfarm.co.uk Luntley Court Farm Cottages, Pembridge, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9EHinfo@luntleycourtfarm.co.uk

COTTAGE 01/12/2014 10:26 ADVERT.QUARTER.2.indd 1

17/12/2014 16:12

17/12/2014 18:13

KIDS & EDUCATION / SCHOOL TALK

Cracking Code If coding is the new literacy, are your children falling behind?

Wo r d s A m a n d a C o n s ta n c e

D

o you know your Javascript from your Perl? Or your HTML from your Ruby? No, me neither. And did you know that since September last year, ‘coding’ has replaced ICT (information and communications technology) on the new National Curriculum? Again, me neither. In its simplest terms, coding is telling a computer what you want it to do. This involves typing in step-by-step commands for the computer to follow. It’s often likened to learning a foreign language and it’s certainly double-Dutch to most parents. But in a world where coding powers our digital world, where every website, smartphone app, computer program, calculator and even microwave relies on code in order to operate, we all need to understand it. The coders of the future will be the architects and builders of the digital age.

Kathryn Parsons, chief executive and co-founder of Decoded, a company in the heart of east London’s Tech City, which runs Code in a Day courses, says ‘Coding is the new building block for the world.

Bringing coding alive is essential, not just in the classroom but also by parents sitting down with their kids and learning together. Whether you are six or 60, this has a place in everyone’s lives. Coding is the new literacy.’

In west London, two enterprising women are bringing coding into the classrooms of Notting Hill. BlueSHIFT Coding was set up by Heather Lyons, a web designer, and Elizabeth Tweedale, an architect, designer and computer scientist. Both have young children and a missionary zeal to get kids coding.

CODING is the new BUILDING BLOCK for the WORLD ‘Our aim is to enable young people to become creative users of technology rather than passive consumers,’ says Tweedale, a 30-year-old American.

‘In future we all need to have some understanding of computation.’

BlueSHIFT Coding is already running classes at Chepstow House School, Wetherby and Falcon School for Girls, as well as after-school courses at the company’s studio in Monmouth Road, and will be launching new classes in Kensal Rise after Christmas.

Tweedale and Lyons have developed their own approach to teaching code to children between the ages of 5-12.

Tweedale explains that, traditionally, computer science has only been taught

75 CHIS_JAN_Education.indd 75

at university level and the teaching for younger children has often been a ‘watered down’ version. ‘That just doesn’t work for children,’ she says. ‘It’s too slow.

Have you ever seen a three-year-old work an iPad? They’re so quick.’

BlueSHIFT Coding is all about ‘taking creativity in all forms in order for children to solve problems’, says Tweedale. She describes a favourite project in the lessons – ‘Teddy Hacking’.

This is when the children bring in old soft toys and turn them into robots by adding sensors, LEDs and other micro-controls.

It’s great fun.

From now on, KS1 (Key Stage 1) children will have to understand core elements of computer science, while those in KS2 must be able to understand and edit code and KS3 pupils must learn to be able to write their own code. At the latter stages, the teacher will need training in computer science. There is currently a huge shortage, Tweedale says.

Despite the dearth of qualified teachers there are plenty of initiatives for keen coders. Founders4Schools recently held an Appathon UK to get students to design and create an app prototype – the top three were then coded by university students and the winners were presented with their winning apps in House of Commons last November. And Code Club, a nationwide network of volunteer-led after school coding clubs, now has more than 2,000 clubs up and running. u The Kensal Rise Coding Club will begin in the New Year: Term-time: Mondays, 4-5pm from 12th Jan – 23rd March, £200 for 10 weeks at Gracelands Yard, 102 Liddell Gardens, NW10. For more information email: mimi@blueshiftcoding.com or book at: blueshiftcoding.com

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 11:33

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

Open Days January 12th/21st (9.30am/7pm) January 30th (9.30am)

a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and

February 11th/25th (7pm/9.30am)

discovery, laughter and friendship.

March 23rd (9.30am)

T: 0208 742 2038 E: info@kewhouseschool.com W: www.kewhouseschool.com

The new independent co-educational senior school for students aged 11-18 in West London KHS.indd 1

@kewhouseschool

15/12/2014 12:16

KIDS & EDUCATION / NOTES WEAR

Roberto Cavalli Junior

Be it the Satin Coral Leopard Skirt (£123), the White & Navy Blue Cheetah Print T-Shirt (£114) or the Baby Ruffle Silk Dress (£378, pictured), we’re quite certain you won’t find a cattier collection in the whole of Chelsea. childrensalon.com

SHELF LIFE

BATTLE BUNNY

Mac Barnett, Jon Scieszka & Matthew Myers £12.99, Walker Books Ltd

SMALL TALK Reading, writing and designing.

It’s time to get creative!

DESIGN F i n Fe l l o w e s

If you’re after exquisitely beautiful birth announcement cards, personalised thank you notes or bespoke baby shower invitations, look no further than Fin Fellowes. Prices vary; finfellowes.com

lex is unimpressed when his A grandmother presents him with the soppy and cutesy Birthday Bunny and sets about making some improvements with his HB pencil. The result is a transformed book – the adorable bunny becomes a dangerous animal hell-bent on evil and surrounded by zombies, which only the pencilled-in Alex can stop with the help of some pencilled-in US presidents. A funny, subversive act of vandalism that will instantly appeal to all mischievous imaginations, young and old. 

WRITE

CUDDLE

Monchhichi Classic

Harr y Potter S tationer y

Don’t tell us this doesn’t bring back memories! As soft a monkey coat as ever. £239, Available from Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X, 020 7730 1234; harrods.com

Minalima established the visual graphic style of the Harry Potter films, and now have launched a range of Hogwarts stationery, including these fabulous exercise books. £24.50 each; minalima.com

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Review by a n dy b a r r

JANUARY 2015

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THE

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YOU D E S E RVE

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Property Absolutely

January 2 0 1 5

> PROPERTY NEWSp. 98 IN THEIR OWN WORDS p. 110 PRIME PURCHASE p. 108 LUXURIOUS LETTINGS p. 112

Drayton Gardens, SW10

ÂŁ2,395,000 Freehold

A unique freehold house with a tucked away entrance that offers a fabulous open-plan entertaining space on the first floor.

This unusual house boasts three bedroom suites, a patio garden to the rear and a flat roof area on the top floor.

020 7373 1010

westchelsea@struttandparker.com

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JANUARY 2015

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Period property, extensively refurbished just off Harley Street

Matching people and property in London for 150 years.

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Queen’s Gate SW7 £4,250,000 This magnificent four-bedroom duple apartment occupies the upper oors of an imposing, hite stucco fronted period building. hare of Freehold. EPC=E

South Kensington: 020 7590 0800 sales.skn@marshandparsons.co.uk

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Knivet Road SW6 ÂŁ1,695,000 This stunning four-bedroom family home features, a large double reception room, a beautifully ďŹ nished open plan kitchen/living room and a superb private patio garden. Freehold. EPC=E

Fulham: 020 7736 9822 sales.ful@marshandparsons.co.uk

M&P.indd 4

17/12/2014 13:24

facebook.com/struttandparker twitter.com/struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Mendora Road, SW6 SOLD

Campana Road, SW6 LET

A wonderful, fully extended four bedroom house.

Asking price £1,300,000 Freehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 7100

An immaculately presented and bright end of terrace house.

Asking price £1,100 per week Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100

Parkville Road, SW6

Clonmel Road, SW6

LET

A charming and neutrally presented three bedroom house.

Asking price £850 per week Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100

SP_Absolutely Fulham_DPS_LHP.indd 1 SP.indd 1

SOLD

An immaculately presented house.

Asking price £2,450,000 Freehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 7100

09/12/2014 17/12/2014 12:06 13:28

Cristowe Road, SW6 SOLD

Brookville Road, SW6 LET

An opportunity to purchase an impressive five bedroom house.

Asking price £2,650,000 Freehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 7100

A beautifully presented four bedroom family house.

Asking price £950 per week Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100

Burnfoot Avenue, SW6

Parkville Road, SW6

LET

An outstanding and fully extended four bedroom house.

Asking price £1,200 per week Unfurnished Fulham Lettings 020 7731 7100

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SOLD

An exceptionally designed house.

Asking price £1,700,000 Freehold Fulham Sales 020 7731 7100

09/12/2014 17/12/2014 12:05 13:28

PROPERTY | NIGEL LEWIS

London's MOST POPULAR

Nigel Lewis, Absolutely's resident property writer, takes a look at London's most viewed property: 22 Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead

T

here are 58,596 properties listed for sale in London at the moment and at the time of writing this was the most viewed online of any of them. It’s also the most expensive house for sale in the capital although it’s not the dearest property – an apartment within One Hyde Park in Knightsbridge is currently listed at £64.9 million which, I know, is a lot of money for a five bedroom flat. Better value is to be had if you buy 22 Lyndhurst Road in Hampstead (it has a garden, for starters) as well as an interesting history. Over the past four years it has been owned by a high profile Russian oligarch who in turn bought it off a London property magnate.

Both men have spent considerable sums doing the property up and the house now

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features a very high standard of interior finish. Highlights include an Ionic columnlined indoor swimming pool and a smaller outdoor pool too plus one of the grandest entrance halls in London, according to selling agent Grant Alexson of Knight Frank, in which a huge ornate stone fireplace stands sentinel.

The property, which is on the market for £46.5 million, has been viewed on Zoopla by over 80,000 people since it came on the market in June this year. Such popularity would please the man who built this seven bedroom, six bathroom house in 1896 – Liberal Party MP and shipping millionaire Russell Rea, who twice made it into parliament representing both Gloucester and later South Shields.

What he probably wouldn’t recognise are its interiors, which are distinctly modern. This includes what Grant Alexson

describes as an opulently decorated ‘man cave’ cum office with wood panelling plus there’s a steam room, space for up to eight cars and a dining room that comfortably seats 18 people.

What most buyers might find astounding is that such a large, 14,700 sq ft property with a carriage drive and half acre back garden is to be found in the busy streets between Hampstead and Belsize Park tube stations, both of which are a short walk from the house.

But the area has, since it was first developed in the late 1860s, been a favoured spot for affluent Londoners looking for seclusion, civilisation and space away from the madness of central London. And anyone who thinks recent arrivals to the UK owning properties in this area is a new trend should remember that a wealthy Turkish diplomat once lived in nearby Rosslyn Lodge during the 1850s – a house that has sadly now been demolished.

And a nice link to this delightful diplomat is that Knight Frank reckons the property to be ‘ambassadorial’, which indeed it could be – although the children’s slide that runs down from the property’s rear sun terrace to the garden reveals a cheekier, less serious side.

88 17/12/2014 11:06

PROPERTY | NEWS

Buying off market PHILIP EASTWOOD

Partner at The Buying Solution 020 7591 2640; thebuyingsolution.co.uk

P

hilip has worked in the prime property market for over 25 years where he started his career in a boutique agency in Chelsea in 1988. Prior to joining TBS in January 2015, Philip worked for Knight Frank since 2000 when the Notting Hill office opened and had previously worked for another international agent in Knightsbridge and Kensington.

Working alongside the rest of the TBS London team, Philip is able to deliver a highly focused, professional and discreet service, providing his clients the best opportunities to purchase in such a complex and competitive market.

Looking at all the various property websites, portals and social media accounts, the assumption is that all property is represented on the web. This, however, is not the case. Many vendors prefer discretion and do not want their property actively marketed in a global pool. They are often high net worth individuals who do not wish to attract attention to themselves and prefer to transact out of the glare of the public eye. In many instances these are the most sought-after properties. Our role is to locate, source and evaluate these properties through our personal and business contacts, which a buyer may not be aware of. The other benefit is that your email account will not be jam packed with endless unsuitable properties that are consistently matched to you by a computer system that invariably never understands your needs. We are here to source the ‘wheat from the chaff ’. An estate agent’s primary responsibility is to look after the vendor and obtain the best price. Our role, as buying agents, is to make your requirements centre stage and to negotiate for you a favourable price, advise throughout the transaction and to take the stress out of the purchase of a home.

The London Management Company provides both property and related lifestyle services to both private and corporate clients.

From finding the perfect home, investment or office through to managing a pied a terre, rental property or building we offer the services and advice required to extract the maximum value out of our clients property investment.

You breathe, we do the rest.

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08/08/2014 10:50 10:13 11/08/2014

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JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 11:07

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

BUCKINGHAM GATE, SW1E

1,450,000 SHARE OF FREEHOLD

A fantastic two bedroom mansion block flat arranged over the first floor situated just off Buckingham Gate. The apartment offers excellent access to the amenities of Victoria Street and the transport links of St James', Westminster or Victoria. In good order with well presented and evenly balanced accommodation throughout.

First Floor Flat, Red Brick Mansion Block, Excellent Location, Two Bedrooms, Close to St James' Park, Range of Transport Links Nearby, Well Presented

PIMLICO & WESTMINSTER | 020 7828 1786 pimlico@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/pimlico-westminster

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Scan this code to download the Winkworth iPhone app

OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

19/11/2014 10:28

A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON BUYING, RENTING AND SELLING HOMES.

CAUSTON STREET, SW1P 1,900,000 LEASEHOLD A superb two/three bedroom, two bathroom duplex apartment forming part of an attractive red brick mansion block. The open plan kitchen and dining area look out into the fantastic garden of generous proportions and the apartment is tastefully decorated and well presented throughout.

St George's Mansions are well placed for access to the transport links of Pimlico, Victoria and Vauxhall just over the bridge, whilst a wide range of amenities can be found nearby along Warwick Way, Wilton Road and Vauxhall Bridge Road.

Mansion Block Apartment, Close to Transport, Fantastic 69.22 sq m Private Garden, Two/Three Bedrooms and Two Bathrooms, Well Presented, Long Lease

PIMLICO & WESTMINSTER | 020 7828 1786 pimlico@winkworth.co.uk

winkworth.co.uk/pimlico-westminster

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OFFICES IN LONDON, THE COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

19/11/2014 10:28

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THE JUDGING PANEL FOR THE ESTAS 2015...

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For more information go to

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020 7381 4998 • 190 Fulham Palace Road London W6 9PA sales@lockettestates.co.uk • lettings@lockettestates.co.uk • www.lockettestates.co.uk

ROSEBANK, HOLYPORT RD, SW6

NELLA ROAD, W6

A light and spacious two bedroom apartment in this sought after purpose built block close to the River Thames. The property benefits from a balcony and an allocated parking space. EPC C

A spacious and light four bedroom Edwardian house located on the highly sought after Crabtree Estate. EPC D

Two Double Bedrooms, Bathroom, Cloakroom, Reception Room, Kitchen, Balcony, Allocated Parking Space

Four Bedrooms, Bathroom, En-Suite Shower Room, Two Reception Rooms, Kitchen, Small Conservatory, West Facing Garden

£749,950

£1,275,000

020 7381 4998

020 7381 4998

DISTILLERY WHARF, REGATTA LANE, W6

CHIPSTEAD STREET, SW6

A stunning fourth floor apartment located within this new riverside development benefiting from a balcony with views of the River Thames.

A stunning house which has been fully extended and renovated to a very high standard throughout.

Two Double Bedrooms, Bathroom, En-Suite Shower Room, Open Plan Reception Room/Kitchen, Balcony, Parking Space

Seven Bedrooms, Five Bathrooms, Double Reception Room, Kitchen/ Breakfast Room, Family/Media Room, South West Facing Garden EPC C

£700.00 pw

£2,995 pw

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020 7381 4998

020 7381 4998

16/12/2014 15:27

sullivanthomas.co.uk | carterjonas.co.uk

£950PW/£4,117PCM*

BURLINGTON ROAD SW6 A newly refurbished bedroom family house on this popular road close to Putney Bridge tube station and the amenities Fulham High Street has to offer.

Fulham Parsons Green Lettings: 020 7751 8898

• Bedrooms

• Separate tility

• Reception Room

• Cloa room

• Eat-in Kitchen

• Patio

• Bathrooms

• Energy Efficiency: Band G

*Rent excludes administration fees. Please contact your local office for further information.

£1,100PW/£4,767PCM*

LYSIA STREET SW6 A charming 4 double bedroom family house with garden on this quiet residential road off Fulham Palace Road and close to Hammersmith Broadway.

Fulham Parsons Green Lettings: 020 7751 8898

• 4 Double Bedrooms

• En-suite Shower Room

• Double Reception Room

• Conservatory

• Eat-in Kitchen

• Garden

• Bathroom

• Energy Efficiency: Band D

*Rent excludes administration fees. Please contact your local office for further information.

Part of a network of 11 offices in London and a further 19 across the country

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FOR ALL YOUR PROPERTY NEEDS IN 2015 SPEAK TO CARTER JONAS Please get in touch for a complimentary market appraisal: Fulham – Parsons Green Sales – 020 7751 8899 Lettings – 020 7751 8898 parsonsgreen@carterjonas.co.uk Fulham – Bishops Park Sales – 020 7731 3333 Lettings – 020 7751 8898 bishopspark@carterjonas.co.uk

carterjonas.co.uk | sullivanthomas.co.uk Incorporating Sullivan Thomas as part of the Carter Jonas network

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Chelsea

£1,500 pw Unfurnished

3 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | House Garden | Near Tube & Amenities | EPC – F | Sole Agents Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174 knight@brlets.co.uk

Eleven offices open six days a week Monday - Saturday Beaufort Park | Canary Wharf | City | Ealing | Greenwich | Hampstead | Highgate | Hyde Park | Imperial Wharf | Kensington | Knightsbridge Additional charges apply: Tenancy Agreement, Credit Check & Inventory Report. For details visit www.brlets.co.uk/tenantinfo

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To arrange a viewing or for more information call

020 7319 9783

Imperial Wharf

£475 pw Furnished

London’s Letting Agency

info@brlets.co.uk www.brlets.co.uk

Knightsbridge

£600 pw Furnished

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Lift | Gym | EPC – B | Sole Agents Imperial Wharf 020 3503 0015 iw@brlets.co.uk

1 Bedroom | Reception | 1 Bathroom | Mansion Block Porter | Lift | Near Amenities & Tube | EPC – C Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174 knight@brlets.co.uk

Chelsea

Imperial Wharf

£775 pw Furn/Unfurnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment Porter | Lift | Communal Garden | EPC – C Knightsbridge 020 3302 7174 knight@brlets.co.uk

£825 pw Furnished

2 Bedrooms | Reception | 2 Bathrooms | Apartment 24hr Concierge | Lift | Balcony | EPC – D | Sole Agents Imperial Wharf 020 3503 0015 iw@brlets.co.uk

Dubai | Hong Kong | India | Malaysia | Singapore

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Property News

London Square unveils show home at Fulham’s exclusive new residential square

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ondon Square has unveiled a spectacular show home at Fulham’s most exclusive new square – with a garden created by 2014 RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner Jo Thompson and interiors by leading design specialists Honky Interior Design. Over 60 percent of homes have already been

London’s super-prime rental market is booming

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eauchamp Estates reports that London’s ultra prime (£100,000+ per annum) and super-prime (£1m+ per annum) rental markets are currently booming; an undersupply of luxury properties and concerns about the 2015 election, mansion tax and new Stamp Duty are currently driving the rental market.

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sold at London Square Fulham. Set beyond a grand gated arched entrance, The Pembridge show home is one of 40 elegant townhouses inspired by the Georgian symmetry of homes often found in famous squares, but also offers first-class specification and the latest trends in contemporary London living. The new show home and London Square Fulham Sales

Initially, the £1m+ super-prime rentals market was confined to Mayfair and Knightsbridge, however more recently Chelsea, South Kensington, Notting Hill, Regent’s Park, St John’s Wood and Holland Park have all seen properties let at rents equivalent to over £1million per annum.

Beauchamp Estates 0207 499 7722; beauchamp.co.uk

Suite will be open from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 28th June. The Pembridge is priced at £3,650,000, while prices for other properties at London Square Fulham start from £2,600,000.

London Square, Fulham 0333 666 2737; londonsquare.co.uk

Spotlight on

W1

Average asking price - £3,403,571 Average asking rent - £1,685 pcm Average property value - £437,065

Data provided by

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PROPERTY | ROUND UP

The INSIDE SCOOP of NEWS in your area RUPERT COLLINGWOOD

Harrods Estates Chelsea host Christmas carols with Servite RC Primary School

Founder & Managing Director at The London Management Company 020 7193 9979;

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he Harrods Estates Chelsea Office was delighted to support the local community with a Christmas Carol event on Tuesday 9th December, in partnership with Servite RC Primary School.

The children made their own sparkly Christmas decorations, which now hang proudly from the Christmas tree in the Chelsea office. The afternoon ended with each of the children receiving a Harrods goody bag, complete with chocolates and Jasper, the Harrods Christmas 2014 teddy bear. Shirley Humphrey, Director at Harrods Estates commented: “We were delighted to host this Christmas Carol event with Servite RC Primary School and give back to the school by raising funds for new books for the children. The

Drayton Court, SW10

£4,250,000 Share of Freehold

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he apartment is finished to an exceptional standard with a luxurious and contemporary feel. There are two generous bedroom suites, a study area and plenty

PRIME LOCATION.COM

thelondonmanagementcompany.com

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children had a wonderful time and those from the local community joined in, singing the carols and treating themselves to a mince pie.”

Harrods Estates, Chelsea 020 7225 6700; harrodsestates.com

of storage. The apartment benefits from air conditioning, underfloor heating as well as an integrated AV system. There is also a caretaker within the building.

Aylesford International, 020 7351 2383; aylesford.com

he definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, or so the saying goes. Is it not 'insane' for a managing agent to continually and repeatedly serve statutory notices and demands to an address from which they receive no response?

As an example, one of the main roles of a block management company is to collect the service charge. This charge needs to be collected in order that important building expenses and works can be paid for. Indeed one could surmise that collecting these funds is perhaps the most important job for any managing agent.

It is extraordinary then that managing agents continue to send letters to leaseholders at addresses from which they receive no response yet still expect to receive a payment. Of course any solicitor will tell you that the agent has “fulfilled their statutory duty” by serving the notice at the property. Of course they would say that wouldn’t they, because after the agent has sent their demands, they hand it over to the lawyers. These lawyers, in their infinite wisdom continue to serve their increasingly expensive notices to exactly the same address, racking up ever increasing bills.

Now I can quite understand that it would require some work to maintain a clear line of communication with the many leaseholders in London's various buildings, especially as many in our particular city tend to move around the world. However, should this not be a key part of the agent’s job, given the importance of collecting such monies. Surely in this modern connected world, it does not take an Eisenstein to research and find the relevant contact details for any given individual or their representative and thus duly send notices to an address, be it physical or virtual that is at the very least more likely to garner a different and more positive result.

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JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 11:09

87% of our London properties were purchased or let by foreign buyers and tenants in 2012.

Isn’t it time you chose Park Street W1K Cadogan Square SW1X £2500.00 £POAa truly global agency to get the best result?

Per week

for Sale

Georgian 3 bedroom freehold house on Park Street, Mayfair

First floor 2 bedroom lateral apartment in Cadogan Square

We currently have one of the largest property networks in the world, with over Established 1977, Engel & This Völkersallows is a premium brand 500 offices in 38incountries. us to have an extensive global reach to and one of the largest estate agencies in buyers and tenants frominternational around the world.

Please call us as we would be more offer network a free valuation thethan world.happy With ourto unrivalled and reach, weand can our expert advice. attract potential buyers and tenants for your property from| www.engelvoelkers.com/chelsea London and all over the world.| 293 Brompton Road SW3 2DZ, London | chelsea@engelvoelkers.com 0207 584 1100

that you receive the best possible sales and lettings ENGEL VOLKERS_CHELS_JAN.3.indd service.2 So if you are thinking of selling or renting your

17/12/2014 14:42

0207 584 1100

www.engelvoelkers.com/chelsea 293 Brompton Road SW3 2DZ, London | chelsea@engelvoelkers.com

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P H OTO G R A P H S BY T I M CO L E W W W.TI M - CO LE .CO M

You may know us from walking your dog, local charity events or simply recognise a familiar face.

Because many of our agents live where they work, they really understand what matters to buyers and sellers there. And because people know us, time and again we are able to sell and let properties more quickly and at a better price than anyone else.

ANDREW EVERILL A S S O C I AT E D I R E C T O R

Andrew has been a sales force in Chelsea for Bective for over 10 years and knows pretty much every square inch of Chelsea. This intimate knowledge, superb contacts and genuine expertise makes him the “go to” agent when selling your property. Old fashioned and perhaps slightly eccentric, Andrew has the enthusiasm and passion of a young buck yet with the benefit of wisdom and experience. You will be assured comprehensive and professional advice backed with plenty of energy and enthusiasm.

C H E L S E A 0 2 0 7 5 8 9 6 67 7 — K E N S I N G T O N 0 2 0 7 7 9 5 42 8 8 N O T T I N G H I L L 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 4 8 0 5 — L A D B R O K E G R O V E 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 0 3 3 0 — B R O O K G R E E N 0 2 0 76 0 3 51 8 1 L A N D & N E W H O M E S 0 2 0 7 3 1 3 7 7 1 1 — P R O P E R T Y M A N A G E M E N T 0 2 0 7 2 2 1 0 0 9 9 — C O M M E R C I A L 0 2 0 7 9 8 5 07 1 5 W W W. B EC TIVE .CO.U K FIND US ON

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Smart knows where to be seen when selling.

Over 30 million visits per month

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PROPERTY | STYLE BIBLE

300 YEARS of the Georgians Wo r d s N I G E L L E W I S

a celebration of georgian architecture

This year we’ve all been remembering those who died during the First World War, however 2014 is the anniversary of a less famous but happier event – the 300-year anniversary of London’s Georgian homes, which were built from 1714 until the 1790s.

It started with the arrival of George I, the first of four Georges, who heralded a period of architectural revolution as London embraced several generations of architects all obsessed with the order of Palladian architecture. This included familiar names including Wren, Hawksmoor, Vanbrugh, Nash, Soane, Holland and the Adam brothers – designers who all, along with many imitators, brought a new and distinctive look to London. Georgian, though, is not a precise term. Pure Georgian architecture began with a Palladian influenced style that ran from 1714 to 1760 but was then followed by the Adam period (named after Scottish brothers Robert and James Adam) until the 1790s, after which the Regency period began.

Symmetry

Order, symmetry and proportion frown down from the brick and stone of London’s Georgian properties as do their large sash windows (an innovation introduced by the

Georgians), railings and, if you’ve ventured inside one at any time in your life, their wood panelling and wide floorboards.

At the moment the most fashionable Georgian area of London is Spitalfields, whose Hugenot-era houses were saved from being demolished by a group of enthusiasts during the 1970s and which have now become highly desirable and often authentically restored properties.

But there’s plenty to choose from if you don’t want to live there. London experienced one of its most energetic bursts of expansion under the rule of the four Georges (helped by the availability of new build plots following the Great Fire of London in 1666) and by 1753 it had become larger than Constantinople, making it the biggest city in the world.

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Perhaps the prettiest and most intact Georgian gem north of the Thames is Bedford Square, between Tottenham Court Road and the British Museum; an undisturbed piece of Georgian construction dating from the late 1770s.

The most famous however is Canonbury Square in Islington; in large part because authors Evelyn Waugh and George Orwell once lived there. But while there’s history, owning a 300-year-old property comes with maintenance responsibilities.

Georgian properties are well known for needing regular refurbishments as wooden door and window lintels lead to sagging apertures, roof trusses crumble after several centuries of duty and chimney stacks wobble as masonry fails. Despite German bombing and the frequent threat of demolition (especially when out of fashion), huge swathes of Georgian buildings still stand and North of the river Georgian properties run from Hyde Park to the City and up as far as Islington, which is still one of the bastions of this period's homes, as well as Highgate (which is home to Little Green Street, a wholly intact street built during the 1780s). Georgian London had less impact south of the river but made it to Clapham Old Town, which is full of the period’s signature flat-fronted, parapet-topped terraced streets.

Despite the fact that we have lost a large amount of London’s Georgian property to demolition and destruction, what remains forms part of London’s history and character. On the 300th anniversary of London’s Georgian homes we can be confident that what is left is cherished and will be well looked after.

JANUARY 2015

17/12/2014 11:11

Offices throughout London

Fulham Road, SW6

£899,995

Fulham Park Gardens, SW6

£525,000

Moments from Parsons Green Underground station, this spacious two double bedroom maisonette also profits from a private roof terrace. The property includes a large eat-in kitchen, large reception, 2 bedrooms, refurbished bathroom and roof terrace. Share of Freehold. EPC: E

Offering bright and spacious accommodation, this excellent one bedroomed flat situated within a 'Lion House' on one of Fulham's most desirable streets. High ceilings and in beautiful condition the property is ideally located to the local amenities and transport links. SoF. EPC: D

Fulham Office | 020 7731 9680 | fulham@bushells.com

Fulham Office | 020 7731 9680 | fulham@bushells.com

Philbeach Gardens, SW5

Rostrevor Road, SW6

£549,000

£515,000

This spacious studio, with garden, set within a newly refurbished white stucco fronted period build is presented in stunning condition. Located on a beautiful residential crescent, close to Earls Court tube station and will benefit from the investment in the area. Leasehold. EPC: C

This bright and well presented first floor one bedroom flat forms part of an attractive Victorian house and is located in a sought after street off Fulham Road. Rostrevor Road is 5 mins walk to Parsons Green tube. This property is being sold with a share of the freehold. EPC: D

Fulham Office | 020 7731 9680 | fulham@bushells.com

Fulham Office | 020 7731 9680 | fulham@bushells.com

Acton  Balham  Bloomsbury  Battersea  Camden  Clapham  Dulwich  Fulham  Hammersmith  Highbury  Islington  West Hampstead

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bushells.com

Munster Road, SW6

£795,000

A brilliant two double bedroom garden flat on the ever so popular Munster road. The flat comprises of a great sized kitchen, high ceilings throughout, two double bedrooms, bathroom and a lovely private garden. Located in the mix of Munster village with easy access to local amenities bars and restaurants. EPC: E

Fulham Office | 020 7731 9680 | fulham@bushells.com PART OF THE EDMUND CUDE GROUP

Acton  Balham  Bloomsbury  Battersea  Camden  Clapham  Dulwich  Fulham  Hammersmith  Highbury  Islington  West Hampstead

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PROPERTY | NEW TO THE MARKET

Prime Purchase FEATURE PROPERTY

Cadogan Gardens, SW3, £3,250,000

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his exceptional lateral flat is conveniently located close to Sloane Square and Knightsbridge. Stretching just over 1,200 sq.ft, it boasts high ceilings and modern touches while maintaining its original features. The luxurious living space provides a fabulous entertaining room and indulgent master bedroom set within breathtakingly large rooms. The south-facing reception room enjoys large windows that open up, the internal space with boasting an unbeatable views over the communal gardens to which the flat enjoys access. Cadogan Gardens is very well located for all the shops, restaurants and transport links that the area has to offer.

Douglas and Gordon, Chelsea 020 7225 1225; douglasandgordon.com

Rawling Street, SW3,

Dawes Road, SW6,

Bolton Gardens, SW5,

ith an abundance of reception space, this bright, immaculately presented five bedroom home comes with an excellent roof terrace and garden.

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n exceptional two bedroom lateral purpose built apartment beautifully refurbished to the highest of standards and offering a luxurious and boutique lifestyle finish.

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n exceptional four bedroom house. The property offers excellent light throughout owing to its dual aspect and unusual benefit of three windows across the facade.

Bective Leslie Marsh, Chelsea 020 7589 6677; bective.co.uk

KFH, Fulham 020 7731 0051; kfh.co.uk

Strutt & Parker, West Chelsea 020 3773 4787; struttandparker.com

£3,995,000 - Freehold

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£699,950 – Leasehold

£5,250,000

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niper ri e, W Two Bedroom £65 pw

mpressive two bedroom apartment situated on the si th loor o the sou ht a ter attersea ea h development.

awes Road, W6 i Bedroom £ ,2 , 5

stunnin and spa ious si bedroom house wal in distan e to Fulham roadwa nder round station.

ney Hea h, W 5 Two Bedroom £ , 5

er well presented two bedroom lat ideall lo ated or a ess to both utne eath and utne i h treet.

King Henrys Reach, W6 Two Bedroom £542 pw

Fabulous two bedroom apartment situated in the private development.

Tel: 0208 563 0202 | 404-406 North End Road, Fulham, London SW6 1LU

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Charlie Dawson Assistant Manager at Aspire, Fulham Central

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Photography: rebecca noonan

ometimes it takes time, sometimes a lot of time, to find out what one would actually enjoy doing for a living, particularly in a diverse city such as London. Many people end up 'in employment', waking up with that awful feeling of ennui, reluctant to face each day or bored out of their minds in jobs they really do not enjoy. It has certainly taken me some time to find a job I enjoy so much and I have been extremely lucky to find something that suits my character perfectly, even if estate agents do not always have the best of reputations. I certainly get a real buzz of satisfaction every time a transaction completes and is of mutual benefit to both the vendor and the purchaser.

Having moved to South West London for university – I won’t tell you how long ago – I have continued to live in a SW postcode and have worked in Fulham for a total of 11 years during that time. This has given me detailed knowledge of the SW6 postcode and South West London in general and has definitely helped me to enjoy and appreciate everything this part of London has to offer, which is a very useful attribute when valuing and selling Fulham property. I thoroughly enjoy the daily challenge that the ever competitive Fulham property market provides and I particularly enjoy interacting with our client base, which is becoming more and more diverse. Fulham has become and continues to be a popular choice for buyers from all over

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the world. In my role as one of the managers of Aspire Fulham, I am dealing with a hugely varied stock list, both in type of property and value, as well as an assortment of buyers with different nationalities, languages and wealth. I am very excited to be part of the Aspire management team at this time, the whole company has recently undertaken a complete rebrand. The new Aspire brand reflects that we are an evolving and expanding company and how we wish to relate to the new and flexible market place.

It has become clear that we are now working in a very different market place with things cooling dramatically. Contrary to press reports now is actually a great time to buy! There is less competition as there are fewer buyers in the market and so there is more property available. I think a lot of prospective buyers are holding off until after the general election when confidence is likely to return and competition will rise again.

If you look at the mortgage market, there are some very good rates on offer currently. In short, it is a good time to buy.

Although I start this year with some trepidation as to what the Fulham market may or may not do over the coming months, I am truly happy to be fulfilling a job I thoroughly enjoy in an area I know and love. The bonus is that I get to do it working for a company I can grow alongside during such an exciting time.

020 7381 7381; aspire.co.uk

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PROPERTY | PROFILE

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PROPERTY | NEW TO THE MARKET

Luxurious Lettings FEATURE PROPERTY

Chipstead Street, SW6, £2,995 Per Week

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stunning seven bedroom house on this wonderful tree lined street on the popular Peterborough Estate in the heart of Parsons Green. The property has been fully extended and renovated to a very high standard throughout and offers great light with a contemporary feel.

Lockett Estates, Fulham 020 7381 4998; lockettestates.co.uk

Fitzgeorge Avenue, W14,

Fulham Road, SW10,

St Georges Court, SW3,

stunning two double bedroom apartment with balcony in a gated mansion building.

Comprises a spacious reception room, separate kitchen with dining area.

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stylish two bedroom flat located in West Chelsea. This beautiful split level apartment is situated on the second and third floor of this period conversion.

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Featherstone Leigh, Fulham 020 7384 3012; featherstoneleigh.co.uk

Cluttons, Chelsea 020 7584 1771; cluttons.com

£2,708 Per Month

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£825 Per Week

£495 Per Week

his spacious one bedroom apartment is on the 2nd floor of a portered block near Knightsbridge and South Kensington.

Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings, Knightsbridge, 020 7581 2112; brlets.co.uk

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London’s most prestigious riverside location featuring 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and penthouses and an exclusive health and fitness club.

Prices from £769,950 to £3,799,950* Fulham Reach Riverside Show Apartments and Marketing Suite, Distillery Road, London W6 9RU +44 (0) 208 003 6492 | enquiries@fulhamreach.co.uk | www.fulhamreach.co.uk

Computer generated image is indicative only. *Prices correct at time of going to press.

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BRADBOURNE STREET, Fulham SW6 A wider than average end-of-terrace, six bedroom house (approx.

2,512 sq. ft.) located in the enviable Peterborough estate.The property has been in the same ownership for over 40 years and therefore offers an opportunity for any buyer to create a family home finished to their own personal style. The accommodation currently including a large reception room, dining room, kitchen, six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a utility room and a private garden. Bradbourne Street is located in the heart of Parsons Green, with a fantastic selection of shops and restaurants nearby. EPC rating D. Freehold Guide Price: ÂŁ2,750,000 +44(0)20 7225 5752 john.harris@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 (0)20 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 (0)20 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0)20 7225 6700

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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EBURY STREET, Belgravia SW1W A fabulous three bedroom apartment on the raised ground floor of this portered building in Belgravia. The property has been refurbished to a very high standards and offers approximately 1,636 sq. ft. of elegant accommodation with wooden flooring throughout.

There is a spacious reception room / dining area, kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room, further two bedrooms and bathroom. Ebury Street is located within walking distance of all amenities of Hyde Park Corner and Victoria. Available now for long term let on furnished basis. EPC rating C. Price per week: £1,750 Plus Property Fees: £180 Admin & £210 Checkout.

References: £42 per person* *http://www.harrodsestates.com/tenants +44(0)20 7225 5881 candice.fletcher@harrodsestates.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE OFFICE: 82 BROMPTON ROAD LONDON SW3 1ER T: +44 (0)20 7225 6506 MAYFAIR OFFICE: 61 PARK LANE LONDON W1K 1QF T: +44 (0)20 7409 9001 CHELSEA OFFICE: 58 FULHAM ROAD LONDON SW3 6HH T: +44 (0)20 7225 6700

HARRODSESTATES.COM

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